Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-09
CHATTER XIV.

CHATTER Nv.
Dri's narrative was the talk Of the
garrison. Those who heard the tell
ing, as | did not. were fond OF quoting
its odd phrases, and of describing how
D'ri would thrust and parry with his
iack-knfe in the story of the bouts.
The mystery of that plunge into
darkness and invisible water was n
trial to my nerves the like Of which
| had never suffered. After they had
pulled his lordship out of the grave,
and | knew there would be no more
fighting. began to feel the strain he
had put upon me. He was not so
strong as D'ri, but I had never stood
before 4 quicker man. His blade was
as full Of life and cunning as a cats
paw. and he tired me. When went
under the water felt sure il was all
over. for I was sick aid faint. had
been thinking OF D'ri IN thar quick de-
scent. | wondered if he was the man
who had got away and gone down tbs
slide. was not the less amazed. how
ever. to feel his strong hand upon me
as l came up. | knew mo-, hing for
time D'ri has told me often how he
bore me up in rapid water until he
came into an eddy where he could
touch bottom. There, presently, got
back my senses and stood leaning on
his broad shoulder awhile. wind
was blowing. and We could hear boat
jumping in the ripples near by. We
could see nothing, it was so dark. but
D'ri left me. feeling his way slowly.
and soon found the boat. He whistled
to me, and | made my way to him.
There were oars in the bottom of the
boat. Dri helped me in. where / lay
back with mighty sense of relief.
Then he hauled in a rope and anchor.
and showed off The boat, overrunning
the flow in moment, shot away rapid
ly. l could feel ii take Roadway as We
Glove the murmuring waters. Dri set
the oars and helped it on. lay awhile
thinking of all the blood and horror
In that black night--like dream of
evil that leads through dim regions
Of silence into the shadow of death.
thought of the limited peril of the
slide that was to be the punishment of
poor courage.
D'ri had plausible theory of the
slide. He said that if we had chung
to the sides of it TO break our speed
we'd have gone down like q plummet
and shattered our bones on rocky
shore. Coming fast. our bodies leaped
far into the air and fell 10 deep water.
How long ! lay there thinking, as |
rested, | have no satisfactory notion
Louise and Louison came into my
thoughts, and plan of rescue. A rush
of cavalry and reekng swords, a dash
for the boats. with flying horse under
each fair lady, We're IN that moving
vision. But where should we find
them? for I knew not the name of that
country cut of which we had come by
ways of darkness and peril. The old
query came 10 me: II had TO choose
between them. which should | take?
There was as much OF the old doubt
In me as ever. For verify, | loved
them both, and would die for either
! opened my eyes at las, and, rising,
my hands upon the gunwales, could
dimly see the great shoulders of Dri
swaying back and forth as he rowed
The coming dawn had shot an arrow
into the great, black sphere of night,
cracking it from circumference to core,
and floods OF light shortly came pour
ing in, sweeping down bridges of dark
ness, gates OF gloom, aud massy walls
of shadow. We were in The middle Of
a broad river-the ST. Lawrence. we
knew, albeit the shores were unfa-
miliar to either of us. The sunlight
stuck in the ripples. and the breeze
famed them into flowing fire. The
morning lighted the green hills of my
native land with q mighty splendOr.
A new life and great joy came to me
as ! filled my lungs with the sweet air
Dri pulled into cove, and neither
could speak for little. lie turned,
looking out upon the river, and
brushed a tear off his brown cheek.
mo use talkin'." said he, in low
tone, as the bow hit the shore. "ain'
no country LUX this 'un, don care where
We GO
AS the oars lay still we could hear
in the far timber n call of fife and
drum. Listening. We heard the faint
familiar strains Of yankee Doodle "
We came ashore in silence. and |
Rugged the nearest tree. and was not
able to say the Thank God" that fell
from nv lips only half spoken.