Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-12-23
D'ri and /
BY IRVING BACHELLER
Author of Eben Holden" Of TIE Blessed Isles Etc.
Copyright, 1901, BY lesArop Publishing Company,
CHAPTER VII.


The sun was lifting above the tree
tops when the counts valet called
me that morning at the Chateau LIE
Ray. Robins were calling under my
windows, and the groves rang with
tournaments of happy song. OF that
dinner-party only the count was at
breakfast with me. We ate hurriedly
and when we had risen the horses were
at the door. AS to my own, a tall
chestnut thoroughbred that Mr.. Parish
had brought over from England, I
never saw him in finer fettle. | start
ed Seth by Caraway Pike for Ogdens-
burg with the counts message.
Mine host laid hold of my elbow and
gave it good shake as l left him,
with D'ri, taking trail that led north
by west in the deep woods. They had
stuffed our saddle-bags with a plenty
for man and horse.
l could not be done thinking of the
young ladies. 1t put my heart in a
f1utter when looked back at the cas-
tie from the woods edge and saw one
OF them waving her handkerchief in
a window. lifted my hat, and put
my spurs to the flank with such q
pang in me that dared not look back
again. Save for that one thing, l
never felt better. The trail was smooth.
and we galloped along in silence for
mile or so. Then it narrowed to a
stony path, where one had enough to
do with slow going to take care of his
head. there were so many boughs in
the way.
"Jerushy Janet" exclaimed D'ri. as
he slowed down. "Thet air g q gran
place. Never he'd my karkiss in no
sech bed as they gin me las night
softer n wind, an he'd springs on like
them new wagins We see over n Yer
mont. Jerushy! Dreamed l was flyin'."
l had been thinking of what to do
il we met the enemy and were hard
pressed. We discussed 1t freely, and
made up our minds that if there came
any great peril Of capture we would
separate, each to take his own way
out Of the difficulty.
We halted by small brook at mid
day, feeding the horses and ourselves
out of the saddle-bags.
Amt jest eggzac'ly used t this
kind Nv sickle" said D'ri, as he felt
the edge Of his saber, "but IL be
dumed eff it don't seem es eff d orter
be ruther dangerous with tibet air n
my hand"
He knew little about rough fighting
with q saber. He had seen my father
and me go at each other hammer and
tongs there in our dooryard every day
of good weather. Stormy days he had
always stood by In the kitchen, roar
ing with laughter, as the good steel
rang and the house trembled. He had
been slow to come to 1t, but had had
his try with us. and had learned to
take an attack without dinching. went
at him hard for final lesson that day
In the woods a great folly. I was
soon to know. We got warm and
made more noise than I had any
thought Of. My horse took alarm and
pulled away, running into a thicket.
turned to catch him.
Judas Priest!" said D'ri.
There, within 10 feet of us, I saw
what made me, ever after, more pru-
dent man. 1t was an English officer
leaning on his sword, tall and hand
some fellow of some 40 years, in shiny
top-boots and scarlet blouse and
gauntlets of brown kid.
"You are quite clever" said he,
touching his gray mustache.
made no answer. but stood pulling
myself together.
You will learn" he added, smiling,
with a tone of encouragement. Let
me show you trick"
He was most polite in his manner,
like play-hero, and came toward me
as he spoke. Then 1 saw four other
Britishers coming out close in upon
us from behind trees.
He came at me quickly, and I met
him. He seemed to think it would be
no trick to unhand my weapon. Like
a flash, with whip of his saber, he
tried to wrench 1t away. D'ri had