The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-09-18

my friend" said O'NeiIl calmly
glancing rapidly about him and giving
up at once any idea of resistance, fol
he was surrounded by at least a doZer
men, one or two of whom had laiG
violent hands upon him-"my friend,
he said, speaking in broken English
with a well. simulated French accent
Il am an officer of the king of France
travelling for pleasure through your
great country. 1 hear of the old cas-
tle-I wish to see it; hence l come here
have done nothing. You will let me
go free?'
"A Frenchman""
Eyes. monsieur, | have that honor"
'Well, that settles it. You've got to
come along with us now. A frog eatin
Frenchman's our natural born enemy
''But, monsieur, there is no war DE,
tween my master ana your king"
Don't MONSIEUR me. don't take
no palaverin', an | don't know nothin'
about whether there is war or not"
said the sergeant brusquely; 'but we
always did hate the bloody Trenches.
an we always will, an whenever we
ketch one of 'em around here he's got
to give an account of hisself. Now, if
you come along peaceable like, all
right-we won't hurt you. If you
don't, We'll just pick you up and carry
you. You can take your choice" he
added indifferently.
A horseman galloping in from the
town at this moment drew rein in front
of the little group.
"Ah, sergeant, what is it? Whom
have you there?" he queried sharply.
"'Tis Frenchman, sir. We found
him a-prowlin' round here. He's spy.
I takes it," answered the sergeant, sa-
Iuting, but still retaining his grasp.
Pardon me, monsieur" said O'Neill;
81 am no spy. | am a gentleman Of
France, as | explain to this man. /
travel-come here to see the CASTLE
"Well. sir, | can assist you to at
tain your end" interrupted the lieuten
ant on the horse, land, since you de-
would not object to taking a look at
1t from the inside"
GAS a prisoner, monsieur"
"Well, l am sorry you put it that
way, but shall be compelled to turn
you over to the governor"
But l protest, monsieur"
you can protest to the admiral IL
you wish-the governor, l mean-for
you will have to come along now, I'M
der the circumstances. We hear that
id Scots buccaneer Paul Jones is
on the coast, and we don't know when
he might strike or whom he might
send on shore. We can't be too care
full, you know"
VERY well. monsieur. | come" said
O'Neill, struggling his shoulders and
resigning himself gracefully to the in
evitable.
That's good" answered the young
officer. Bring him along. sergeant"
Eyes, leftenant. Now, you Johnnie,
right about face, march,
1t was in this unexpected and undig-
nified manner that O'Neill gained en-
trance to the castle. AS they walked
beneath the great gates of the gloomy
fortress his heart. in spite Of the seri-
GUS nature of his position. gave a bound
Of elation. This reckless young man
had as yet no other thought than that
by every step he had been brought a
little nearer to lis divinity. If other
thoughts had come it is doubtful if he
would have allowed them to stop him
now. AS the party halted in the court
yard, while the lieutenant dismounted
and fastened to apprise the governor
Of the capture, he even ventured most
imprudently to ask the sergeant if
Lady Elizabeth Howard was in the
castle.
"She isl replied the astonished func-
tionary. "Wot's that to you, I'd like
to known