The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-01-29

iIeaT LTeQlDle IN my eye, yet was uOI
ASHAMED, for it's mate glistened in his
own, and he was a man not given to
goyer-weeping.
CHAPTER III.
ABOARD LIE DAUPHIN.
The morning dawned moist and cold,
with q stiff westerly wind. Just be-
fore daylight q small boat pushed off
fthealew beach, scraped along the shall
lows, skirted the western edge Of the
island which there lies endwise across
the harbor, and put me aboard lie
slDauphin.
I alone had no part in all the noisy
preparation for departure, but sat alb
sorbed In thought near an open port
listening to the straining Of the masts,
the Tapping sails, the low complaining
beat of the wind tormented waters.
Above the creak of the wfndlass rails
Ing anchor, I could catch snatches of
whispered conversation just outside
the port. The wv men were beyond
my n of vision. One seemed to be
tossing in a boat, the other hung down
the vessels side by a ladder. I made
out, disjointedly:
Along in September-as soon as you
return-all will be In readiness-two
thousand Creeks, -Chickasaws. Natchez
we ought to have no difficulty-Yvard
Spanish ships. The fall Of Biloxi will
be a greater thing for u.s." And much
more that I could not heal clearly.
But ! had heard enough to know
there was some truth in the rumor Of
a Spanish-Indian alliance, and an at
tack on Biloxi. And the name Ward,
being unusual. chung somewhat to my
memory.
tered over towards that side, seeking to
discover the traitor. No one Was there,
only a little group Of officers walking
about; towards the shore were the
sretreating outlines Of a light boat. I
knew none Of these officers, any one Of
whom might have been the man I over
heard. and so I burst ask no questions.
E1#could therefore confide in 10 one on
board for fear Of making a mistake, but
must rely upon giving Bienville prompt
warning upon ray return, and I must
needs hide my reluctance and mtngle
with officers and men, for ~perchance
by this means I might uncover the
scoundrel.
Although I made free with the men,
pitched quoits. and Joined in their
rough play, / trusted none, suspected
al, 40. not all. There were two young
fellows whom I was many times on the
paint OF calling 10 my confidence. but,
thinking 1t wiser, kept my own coun-
sci. Treason could eve wear a smiling
froat and air Of ~frankness.
I4eVert was q man much older than
myself. of gloomy and taciturn nan
le1s, yet something there was SO mas
teFtul about him men obeyed him
whether they wonld or no. A more ST.
lsslt man / never knew, yet courteous
and stately withal, and well liked by
h men. But it was to Achille Brous-
lsard my heart went out In those days
1of loneliness. His almost childish light
a5Y1nSg&nf 1jcnnCtffonF and hia N&4f-far1lv
ways won me completely, and. we be
lcarne fast comrades. "A noble looking
lad, with the strength of a young Titan,
and the blonde curls of a woman. Dur
ing the long idle hours OF the afternoon
1t was his custom to banter me for a
bout at swords, and Levert generally
acted as our master of the lists. al
first he was muchsmy superior with the
3Ifoils, for during his days with the en-
bassy at Madrid, and In the schools at
Paris, he had learned those hundreds
of snowy and fancy little tricks OF
which we In the forests knew nothing
However, I doubted not that on the
methods would count for quite as
much.
With all the five long weeks of daily
practice, I gathered many things from
him, until one day we had an expert
ence which made us lay the foils aside
FOR good.
We had been sitting after the din
-ner hour, discussing his early life in
Paris. He wound UP with his usua.
declarations, "As for myself, give me
the gorgeous plays, the fetes and
smiles OF the Montespan, rather than
the prayers, the masses and the sober
gowns Of de Maintenon. And now II
something of your escapades, your
days Of folly in dear old Paris"
II have never seen Paris" I answered
simply.
What! Never been to Paris? Then
man, you have never lived. But where
have you spent all your days?"
In the colonies-Quebec, Montreal
portunity, for l am going
I had almost told something Of my
mission, ere / checked a too huent con.
16ence.
L Levert. who had been pacing up anc
down the deck in his absorbed and in.
my shoulder and challenged me to the
foiis.
NO, 1t is too early yet" Achille re.
piled, besides, we were talking OF 9th
er things. AS you were saying. com.
race. you go--7-?"
"Oh, you two talk too much" Lever
broke In again, s"let us have a bout; Tn
half a mind l can handle a foil my.
self. A still tongue. a clear head and {
sharp blade are the tools of fortuns.''
1t seemed almost that he had tyvic,
Interrupted %purposely to keep me fron
talking. / thought I read that deepe.
meaning in his eyes. Somehow I grew
to distrust him from that moment
What consequence was 1t to him o
what / spoke?
1t was not Levert'o business to gov
ern my tongue for me, so l only said
May, we'll try our skill somewha
later; not now" and resumed my con
~rersatton with Achille.
While his manner showed a concern
/ deemed the matter little to warrant
vet it did make me consider, SO / de
s:srmined not to speak truly Of myseil