Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-10
Copyright, 1904. by Arthur Y. Marchmont)
CHAPTER XXI.
At Malincourt Again.

divided"
''Feign a surrender" answered Gerard,
and they walked calmly up to the soldiers,
Pierre following.
What is it. sergeant" said Dubois, IN
a quiet tone of authority.
"IIo. it's you again and Master Pierre.
is it? You don't fool me twice with your
tale of captain. You are our prisoners
now" 1t the sergeant, Vauban, whom
Dubois had knocked down in the escape
from the Castle, and his tone betokened
intense satisfaction.
You mutinous dog! Do you dare to
speak to me like that?" was Dubois reply
in a voice of thunder.
"Mutiny or no mutiny, you will come
with us and explain to the governor. Ii
you're not one of the escaped prisoners,
I'm no man.
There can be no objection to that, mon
sieur," said Gerard quietly to Dubois.
"And who are your demanded the SER
geant roughly. with so many of your
cursed brood in the city, there's no room
for honest men,.
Rough words are no proof of honesty.
my friend" answered Gerard so quietly
that the man had no inkling of his inten-
ton.
"A little change of language will do your
holy ears good, if you are a monk, was
the answer.
Where 90 you wish to take us?'
why, to the governor"
Come. then" said Gerard in a tone of
almost submissive readiness
Have they caught the rascals yet.
LOUISE asked the sergeant, and the man
addressed turned his head to look
Now cried Gerard and on the instant
hurled himself on the sergeant who was
taken entirely by surprise. Gerard wrench
cd his musket from him and clubbing it,
knocking him senseless to the ground. Du-
bois. dvining Gerard's intention, had edged
close to the second man and dealt with
him in much the same fashion, while Pierre
engaged the third.
The struggle lasted scarcely more than a
Few seconds, and as soon as ii was over,
Gerard and Dubois ran to the assistance
of Babillon, whom the soldiers had cap
tured.
and leveled their muskets at the onrushing
men. But Babillon with ready wit jostled
one against the other so that the shots
We're fired in the air.
The rest was easy. The two men broke
and fled, but were soon caught and tied
like the rest of the party in order to pre-
vent the danger of pursuit.
Now for the WALL said Gerard.
eft is impossible monsieur The boat must
have been seen. and the further bank of the
river is alive with soldiers" said Babillon,
land they have seized the boat. 1t was
that made me return
We must get away, then. Those shots
will soon bring a whole company to the
spot. Did the men know you, Babillon?'
mo. monsieur"
Good! then lead us back to your house.
You have served us magnifcently, my good
friend; and that last trick of yours may
have saved our lives
They ran to Gabrielle and explained the
failure Of the venture, and started to re-
turn to Babillon's.
1t was CALLING disappointment, but
neither Gerard nor Dubois was likely to
waste time in frutless repining, and by the
time they reached Babillons house, both
had thought their way to the same decision.
They must make for Malincourt.
Gabrielle wished it also.
THE two points are-what has happened
there. and can we hope to reach there
safely?" said Gerard. he and Dubois
sat discussing 1t, Gabrielle having again
gone TO seek rest.
II would that l had been in the cell with
the governor" growled Dubois. 1T would
have gone hard with me if I had not found
evil"
1--WE are soldiers, Dubois" said Gerard
I'VE shan't be soldiers long If the Tiger
can get his way with US
My cousin will be up in forty eight
hours
"Forty-eight minutes may suffice for what
he may do If he but gets his hand on us
He will not dare to use violence to me-"
said Gerard. His head would pay for it
But II wouldn't put either yours or mine
back on our shoulders, my lord. If he'd
struck them off first. And as for daring
what won't a mailman dare? And a mad
clutches so long as we can"
And what We have to consider is the
best way of doing it. Tell me, Babillon,
what chance have we of reaching Malin-
court undiscovered, and what is the dis
tance?"
Twenty minutes would take us there.
could we go direct. monsieur: but the road
Is very open one. and /" he finished
the sentence with a doubling shake of the
head.
rs there no other road?"
Yes. monsieur. but it trebles the dis
lance: and miladi is already overwrought"
And the devil of 1t is that we don't know
what we should find when we get there"
said Dubois Mademoiselle can't tramp
the city all night. / have thought Let
me go and find out what is passing there
and smell out the chances of safety, Could
the rest lie safe here. think you?' he asked
Babillon.
For the night. should think. yes was
the reply. But can best GO l could get
into the house and carry any message"
You can guide me-" said Dubois land
get me a workman's blouse. 1t Is best
So, he added to Gerard. IF Pascal is
there holding the house. / can gauge the
chances of our getting in and arrange for
him to send out to meet us. What say
your
Il could do it all and better alone mes
sieurs. urged Babilon. "One can get
through where two may well be stopped
ANA II they were to arrest me- / am known
TO be frequently at Malincourt | have a
II L
We're seen eN eryone would deem il but nat
ural Tor me to be anxious Tor her at such
t!me|
There is wit in what he says, Dubois"
True, he assented. and then murmured
but there is little to please my wit in sit
ting inactive here"
Shall / cry you patience, good friendo
Co Babillon. and make all speed" decided
Gerard. 1T will not be long now before
the dawn breaks. and we must be inside
the house while il is yet dark, if we are to
get there at all" ~
IF all goes well an hour will see me
lie is shrewd. nimble-witted fellow"
sara Gerard when the man had left
a.. ana you will be shrewd, my lord If YOU
MI the time by snatching a soldiers nan
I'll keep watch" p
By your leave. my lord. let me watch"
put In Pierre. Watching is my business :"
ana with that the other two lay down on
the iioor and We're soon asleep
Bablllon was as good as his word and in
less IMAM an hour and half he was back
ana brought good news
lie had seen Pascal and learned that the
mouse had already been searched by the
castle troops. and small body of soldiers
left 10 guard II. These Pascal was pre-
pared to overpower at any moment Babil-
lon had found the road thither fairly clear
also, and had ascertainsd the best route to
take.
I'm half an hour at most we can reach
the woods of Malincourt my lord. and the
captain will be there with a strong force to
II