Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-01

a cloud and shone through various thin
places here and there. like a lantern that
is moved to and fro in a tent.
There was no trail to be followed upon
the dusty, pebble-strewn grayness Of the
limestone upland. But as the dark figures
took their way across the moons disk.
Frances had almost involuntarily observed
that a long, low. Jagged scarp Of limestone
showed like a broken tooth against the ris-
ing moon, also in the line Of their march.
This now appeared very obvious imme-
diatcly in front Of her, lying pallld and un-
earthly right across her path, the moons
rays striking mistily upon It.
Flower-o'-the-Corn felt a sudden terror
overpower her. She was, of course, armed
as usual. But there seemed to be some
~daunting influence abroad tl.at night upon
the face of the waste. It was so high up
under the moon that somehow spirits OF
good and evil alike might be expected to
choose 1t as their natural playground in
preference to the warm, homely, farm-be-
strewn valleys beneath, where dogs barked
at night and cocks crowed clarionliRe in
the lawn.
Frances stole on into a little circle OF
blanched and moonlit crags which rose out
of the bald plain. casting long fiat shadows,
like a lunar crater.
There-there-quite near her, because the
circle OF pallid rocks measured nowhere
more than 200 yards across. were men who
crawled nearer and nearer to a certain point
on the opposite face of a natural amphi-
theater.
Suddenly on a rock, fat on top like a ia
! bel. she saw a man spring erect and throw
up his hands. He showed black against a
slate-blue horizon. Instantly here and
/ thoro hole q do1an abota want off Changing
loudly among the rocks and reverberating
from innumerable narrow gorges. The dark
crawling figures raised themselves erect
and rushed upon a group of wagons and
horses encamped some distance out on the
plain.
1t seemed to be no surprise, for flashes
OF fire met them here and there as they
came. There was no shouting on either
side. Only a knot or two of dark bodies
writhed and struggled on the ground, and
anon grew still.
The camp of Pierre, the kings wagner,
was In the hands of his enemies sooner than
he had anticipated. He himself lay gagged
and helpless while the Camisard leaders
Investigated first the royal marks on his
wagons, then the commissions in his pock-
cts, and last Of all the official seals which
had been set upon his casks Of wine.
One after the other a dark lantern was
upon the faces OF the three prisoners.
LET us question the servant" said a tall,
red bearded man, evidently a leader among
the assailants. I'VE will make him tell
us what the kings wine and the kings
wagoners are doing here so far from the
marshal's camp"
XIII the accursed of God-I bid you,
brethren, the enemies Of his people!" COM
~a--l.1 NAA rANaA 49, sT - NhAp,
that carry the wine for the lips of evil
doors drink deep Of the cup of wrath and an
ger and trembling. KILL say-kill!"
And among that throng of fierce, grave
men there arose an ominous murmuring.
well spoken, Castinat the Prophet. Have
they spared us? Have they not slain young
and old alike-the mother with the babe
gray hair and goldilocks! Kill! The ac-
cursed of God shall not live half their
daysi"
The tall man with the red beard had
meantime been in~terrogating the gypsy.
But he could not get Billy Marshall beyond
the muttering Of threats and oaths In an
unknown tongue which sounded profane to
his questioner.
81 can make nothing of him. He is either
a fool or a madman." he said at last, ris-
ing up from his knees. What is your will.
men of the bond7 Shall these die?"
AYE, let them diet" cried the crowd,
pressing iercely forward each with a
weapon N his hand.
But before a weapon could be unsheathed,
the light figure of Flower-o'-the-Corn
flashed through between them.
STAY" she cried, Brothers OF the Bond.
These men are innocent-at worst they are
but servants Of those who do us evil. Re-
..A-A.- AN-. ~ .nI1 NAnN ~ 49, 49,
take the sword shall perish by the sword.
And who restored the ear Of the high
priests servant which Simon Peter cut
OFT"
This appeal was precisely that which was
best suited to influence the men about her.
Frances Wellwcod was not her fathers
daughter for naught.
81 ask not that the two men and the
woman should go free" she cried. Take
them back to the village with all their
horses and gear. Then II they have done
evil let them die the death. But let not
the Brethren OF the Bond Stay the limo
cent in cold blood"
Some were for mercy and cried. ''To the
village with them! Let the ministers
judge!" But there remained a dark-browNd
minority. men OF much suffering and many
:ravelings, eye-fo--eye and tooth for
men, who continued 10 edge nearer to the
prisoners. lingering restieSsly at their
Weapons
The quick instinct Of Frances Wildwood
caught the movement. She drew her pistol
and set herself determinedly in front,
standing almost across the PROSTATE body
OF Pierre the wagner. In the small I'M
certain light OF the lantern she saw that a
cruel gag had been thrust into his mouth.
She bent down and released the V-shaped
twig wrapped about with a handkerchief
which had been used TO hold the jaws
apart,
AT least let the man answer for him
self" she cried who and what are
your"
The WAGNER was too much exhausted
with his late rough experiences and pres
ent pain to do more than lift up his finger
and point TO the second Of the three
wagons-that which carried the largest
cask Of wine. II was marked with much
distinctness. For the private cellar OF the
Marshal de Montrevel, a present from His
Most Christian Majesty"
There" said Pierre, the WAGNER,
hoarsely, 'let what you find there speak
for me-"
CHAPTER VII.