Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-05-10

escaped the fagots at Notre Dame out
OF the fire into the frying PAM
Above the tumult of the torrent his
stentorian tones We're plainly heard.
Without response the jester inserted
the plank between the structure and
the middle support. The other. per-
, ceIVlng his purpose. uttered an execra-
ton that was drowned by the current
and irresolutply regarded tie means
OF communication between the two
shores. obviously undetermined about
trusting his great bulk to that fragile
ilternledium. Here WAS Temporary
check on which he had not calculated.
But if he demurred about crossing
himself the free baron did not long
display tie same infrmty of purpose
regarding his followers.
over with you he cried an2rily to
t'.eli The lightest first Fifty pis-
toles to the first across And then.
calling out to the fool: In half an
hour YOU. my fine wit cracker, shall be
hanging from IL branch AS for the
maid she is Il witch, | am t0id-we
will test her with drowning"
Tempted hy their leaders offer, one
Of the troopers. a lank, muscular look
ing fellow. at once drove the spurs into
his horse. Back and forth moved the
lever in the hands of the jester The
soldier was midway on the bridge
Wien it sank suddenly to one side A
moment it acted as a darn: then bridge,
horse and rider We're swept away with
a crash and carried downward with
the driving flood. Nain!y the trooper
sought to turn his steed toward the
shore; the debris from the structure
soon swept him from his saddle Strik-
ing out strongly. he succeeded in catch
ing a trailing branch from tree on
the bank, but the torrent grpped his
body fiercely and. after a desperate
struggle. tore him away.
AS his helpless follower disappeared
the free baron gave a brief command.
and he and his troops posted rapidly
down the bank. The Young girl breath
ed Il sigh of relief Her eyes We're vet
full of awe from the death struggle
she had witnessed. Fascinated, her
gaze had rested on the drowning
wretch the pale face the look of ter
ror-but how she was called to a reali-
zation of their own situation by tie
abrupt departure of the squad on the
opposite shore.
''They have gone!" she cried in sur
prise as the party vanished among the
trees
"Rnt not far" The TESTERS glanc,
was bent down the stream. See
where the torrent hroadens. They ex-
rect to find a fordng place.
Once more they set forth; he know
ing full well that the free baron and
his men, accustomed to the mountain
torrents, unlridlcd by tie melting
SHOWS. would in all likelihood soon find
way to cross the fresilet His mind
misgave him that he had loosened the
bridge at all. Would it not have been
better to force the conflict there, when
he had the advantage of position? But,
right or wrong, he had made his choice
and must abide by it,
TO add to his discontinue. his horse.
which at first had Jagged, now began
to limp, and as they proceeded this
lameness became more apparent. With
twin%e of heart he piled the spur
more strongly, and the willing but
broken creature responded as best it
could, Again it hastened it's pace.
seeming in a measure to recover
strength and endurance, then, without
warning, lurched. fell to its knees and
quickly rolled over on its side ,yac-
queline glanced back; tie animal lay
motioness; the risies was vninly en-
deavorin" to rise. Pa.e With appre-
hension. she returned and, dismount-