Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28
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CHAPTER v.
The Road to KeItonhi1l.

The Road to Ke1tonhin
'And now, Billy" said the wagner,
abruptly dropping the manner and speech
Of Pierre Dubois and assuming those Of
Captain Maurice Raith. ''how came YOU
heref I left you q corporal in the Cam
eronians. I ind you a ragged deserter.
about to be kidnapped and pressed into the
service OF the enemy. You deserve to be
had out and shot, so far as can seer
Billy Marshall replied in the broad Gal
loway speech which a dozen years of desul-
tory military service had not overlaid.
Master Raith," he said, rye haze dune a
guild turn to Billy Marshall this day. an
dell TAX him and breen him In reid pitfire
gin he forgets 1t. Bet, do you near tna1
ST hear, William" said his lady. She
was seated busily preparing fowl for
the pot, which she had found stray1ng
upon the road and had nipped up beneath
her apron without permitting the moribund
to emit even cry OF surprise f was 1of
her husband. graciously permitted Bet to
accompany him upon his marches and CAM
paigns.
Get on with your tale. Marshall" inter
ing yet to prove that you are not the de-
serter I thought you at first"
And what for no should no be DOT on
just sic wee bit quiet job as your ain,
y,
what am doing here does not immedi-
ately concern you," said the disguised Of
fcer Il have saved you from the drill SER
geants of King Louis. want to be sure
shall have to deliver you to the halter Of
the queens provost marshall
The gypsy gave vent to low chuckle.
cts easy seen that We are no RIGHT Gal
loway man, captain" he said. cor we wad
ken that no for a. the hangin' provosts and
cornels in the Armies, or a the queens an
emperors and siclike in Kirsendom, wad
Billy Marshall miss Keltonhill fair. Sac
said to Cornell Grier O. the sax and twen-
tieth, says I, 'Ye ken Billy, sir, an that II
he doesna get leave to gang to Keltonhill
fair, he will tax leave and syne be hangit
for his pains! And the cornell, him kennin'
me an. me kennin' him, bade me drive
ABBOTT my business and TAX Bet WI me.
But he CARED me swear on the crossed
horn-spunes that I wad be back to him in
three months time. An sac will I gin the
sole O my feet dinna wear DOT on the
road!"
colonel of the Cameronians and recognized
that the tale was worthy Of credit, ''in that
case what are we dom here on a mountain
in the very middle Of France7'
The gypsy looked at him cunning1y. cit
Is no possible that We may hae your rea-
sons and that I may haze my reasons" he
said quickly, there's a sea to the south
as weel as to the north Of France. And the
shortest cut Is whyles the Largest travel!"
With which collection of proverbial lore
Maurice Raith had for the time to be per-
force content.
BY this time the horses were thoroughly
wearied. The long ascent Of the Cause
had tried them severely, and it became nee
essary to rest them either at the first way
side inn which presented itself, or to make
their camp upon the open face of the des-
ert. They were, however, so close to the
disturbed regions that the utmost care was
poff fOn IL nY1f vy,uU
case of arms which mad been cunningly
concealed in the sacking under the first
wagon. The eyes of the gypsy glittered at
the sight
1T haze naething but this gully knife" he
said, IAN faith, pistol or twa doesna
come wrang whites in this ootlandish coun-
try!"
He strapped the satchel Of powder and
shot carefully about his waist under his
tattered blue blouse with chuckleS OF I'M
concealed satisfaction.
Mind" said Maurice Raith. none OF
your CARD tricks here! Ye are to threaten
none, take no mans purse, put no way
farer in fear. You are to consider yourself
under my orders as much as If you were
in the camp Of my Lord Marlborough him
self. And more, in word and deed. We are
to treat me as Pierre Dubois. the wagner
Of Roche-au-Bayard and Hoo, who has
picked you up on the way"
With this he strobe off to test the halters
and heel ropes Of his horses. For the true
Gaussenards, Camisards and Cadets Of the
Cross alike were famous horse stealers and
every stable in the limestone country had
two doors, one which opened outward and
the other inward, and that In spite Of
drawn bolts and shot bars.
So Maurice Raith, till he should find him
self safe in the camp Of the Camisard lead
ers, preferred to stable his horses at the
sign Of La Belle Etoile, and guard them
himself with his pistols upon his knees.
Maurice wrapped his cloak closely about
him and sat sleepless, listening to the
time he had had time to think since he left
the camp of the allies before Namur He
had dealt severely with Billy Marshall, as
he told him self for the good Of his gypsy
soul, but he knew the good qualities of the
sometime corporal of Cameronians, his
courage. fidelity and strength. his unswerv-
ing purpose and ready resource in time of
danger.
Maurice resolved that Billy should not
see Keltonhill fair this year II possible, but
bide with him upon the perilous tablelands
Of the Cevennes if money or love could keep
him there.
The stars swung silently overhead. de-
scribing their longer or shorter circles
round the pole star and Maurice continued
to look into the gray, indefinite waste of
nothingness. His mind went back invol-
unfairly to the glowing vision he had seen
among the corn that day above the Meuse-
the light, girlish figure, the lips astonish-
ingly red, the eyes bluer than the skies. at
once sapphire dark and diamond bright.
seemed to speak from very far away, go
back and see that my lords letters are
prettily copied or you will be whipped
Then it was that Maurice Raith slept, and
as he slept he dreamed. and as he dreamed
he smiled.