Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-23

Aus kOOu cNcuIuS, SeuttcSucu, Nulu
ne. quietly. How are you?"
Better than--than when we saw you
last" I answered.
D'ri had not moved; he looked at
me with sympathetic smile.
ri presume" said his lordship. in
that familiar. lazy tone. as he lighted
a cigar. there was--ah-good room
for Improvement. was there not?"
Abundant" said I. thoughtfully
you were not in the best of health
yourself that evening""
True" said he; Il was in bad
fettle and worse luck"
How are the ladies?'
"Quite WE'LL" said he, blowing long
puff.
Ready 10 deliver them?" I in
quired.
Presently" said he. There are
some formalities."
Which are-?" added quickly.
"A trifle Of expenses and condi-
tion." said he. lazily.
How much. and what?" I inquired.
as D'ri turned his ear.
lone thousand pounds" said his
lordship. quickly. mot a penny more
than this matter has cost me and his
majesty"
What else?" said l.
This man." he answered calmly.
with little gesture aimed at D'ri.
My friend rose. struck his palm with
the pipe-bowl. and put up his knife.
"Ef We re goin' t tex me-" said he,
better begin right of. err We won't hev
time fore breakfast"
Then he clapped the moose-horn to
hts lips and blew a mighty blast. It
made the two men jump and set the
near thicket Keeling. The weird barry
tone went OFF moaning in the far
wastes Of timber. Its rush Of echoes
had begun. put my hand to my
sabre. for there in the edge Of the
gloom saw thing that stirred me to
the marrow. The low frs were moving
toward us. root and branch. their twigs
falling. Gods of war! II made my
hair stand for jiffy to see the very
brush take feet and legs. On sea or
land l never saw a thing that gave
me so odd feeling. We stood for
breath or two then started back, our
sabres flashing: for. as the twigs fell
we saw they had been decorating a
squad Of the British. They came on.
struck at the lantern. but too late
for his lordship had swung it away
He stumbled, going TO his knees; the
lantern hit the earth and went out.
had seen the squad break. running each
way. to surround us. D'ri grabbed my
hand as the dark fell and we went
plunging through the little pines. hit
ting a mar heavily. who fell grunting
We had begun to hear the rattle oil
boats. a shouting, and quick steps or
the shore We crouched moment
D'ri blew the moose-horn. pulling me-
aside with him quickly after the blast
Lights were now flashing near. coulf
see little hope for us. and D'ri.
thought. had gone crazy. He ran a
the oncomers, yelling. Hey Rube!" a.
the top Of his lungs. lay low in thu
brush moment They rushed by me
Dirt in the fore with Tending sabre. A
tawny hound was running in the lead
his nose down. baying loudly. Their
I saw the truth. and made after then
with all the speed of my legs. The!
hustled over the ridge. their light
flashing under. For fifty could SCI
only. here and there. leaping glow IL
the tree-tops. rushe on. passin!
one who had tumbled headlong TIL
lights below me scattered quickly ant
stopped. heard a great yelling, ;
roar of muskets, and clash of swords
A hush fell on them as | came near
Then I heard a voice that thrilled me
"Your sword, sir!" it commanded
stop" said ]. sharply. comin'
near.
There stood my father in the lantern
light. his sword drawn. his gray hal
stirring in the breeze. Before hin
was my old adversary. his lordshir
sword in hand. Near by the squad O
British. now surrounded. were givin
mp their arms. They had backed +
the rivers edge; could hear it lap
ping their heels. His lordship sneered
looking at the veteran who stood il
a gray frock of homespun. for all tn
world. fancy, like one of those oil
yeomen who fought with Cromwell.
your sword. SIR" my father re
peated.
Pardon me-" said the young mar
with fascinating GOODNESS of man
ner. but shall have to trouble you
He hesitated. feeling his blade
"How?" said my father.
ITO fight for it," said his lordshil
quietly.
"Surrender-fool!" my father ar
swered. "You cannot escape"
tut. TUT" said his lordship
never heard so poor complimen
Come in reach and shall make 20
think better of me-"
"Give up your sword"
"After my life, then my sword" sal
he. with a quick thrust.
Before I could take step, the
swords were clashing in deadly CON
bat. l rushed up to break in upo
them. but the air was full of steel, an
then my father needed no help. II
was driving his man with fiery vigo
I had never seen him fight; all l ha
seen Of his power had been mere pla
1t was grand to see the old ma
lighting as If, for moment. his yout
had come back to him. ] knew 1t cOu
! not 70 far. His fire would burn O