Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-04-28
CHAPTER XXI.


We hired team and wagon Of the
irpkeeper, and man to paddle up
river and return with the horses.
| had brief talk with our tall pris-
oner while they were making ready.
"a word of business, your lord
ship" | said as he came out, yawning,
with the guard.
"Ah, WE'LL" said he, with SILVER,
ct hope it is not so cold as the air."
at is hopeful; it is cheering" was
my answer.
"And the topic?"
IAN exchange-for the ladies'"
He thought a moment, slapping the
dust off him with a glove.
This kind OF thing is hard on the
trousers" he remarked carelessly. II
will consider; l think 1t could be ar
ranged. Meanwhile, I give you my
word OF honor, you need have no
worry"
We were off at daybreak with our
prisoners; there were six Of them in
all. We put a fold Of linen over the
eyes of each, and roped them all to-
gether, so that they could sit or stand,
as might please them, in the wagon
! box.
ITS barbarity," said his lordship, as
we put on the fold. you Yankees
never knew how to treat prisoner"
IT'LL youJearnt us" said D'ri, quick
1y. Gould MT never fergit tibet lesson.
Eff he'd my way bout you, d haul we
up t. tn top o. tibet air dead pine over
yender, n let we slide down"
Rather too steep, l should say"
said his lordship, YEARLY.
"Ye would mt need no grease" said
D'ri, with a chuckle.
We were four days going to the har-
Dor. My father and his men came
with us, and he told us many a tale,
that journey, of his adventures in the
old war. We kept our promise, turn
ing over the prisoners a little before
shutdown of the 10th Each was given
a great room and every possible COM
fort. | arranged soon for the release
of all on the safe return of the ladies'.
In the evening of the nth his lord
ship sent for me He was bit nerv-
Gus, and desired a conference with the
general and me. De Chaumont had
been over to the headquarters that day
in urgent counsel. He was weary of
delay and planning an appeal to the
French government. Gen. Brown
was prepared to give the matter all
furtherance in his power and sent
quickly for the Englishmdn They
brought him over at nine o'clock. We
uncovered his eyes and locked the door,
and gave him crack at the old Ma
deira," as they used to say, and made
him as comfortable as might be at the
CHEEKY fireside of the general.
I've been thinking" said his lord
ship, after a drink and word of cour-
tesy. | never saw man of better
breeding or more courage, am free to
say You may not agree II is posi-
BILE, but anyhow, l have been trying TO
think. You have been decent to me.
| l don't believe you are such bad lot,
after all; and while | should be sorry
to have you think me tired OF your
hospitality, desire to hasten our plans
a little. propose an exchange Of
Of"
He hesitated, whipping the ashes of
his cigar.
"Well-first OF confidence" he went
on. Il will take your word if you will
take mine"
In what matter?" the general In
quired.
That of the ladies and their relief,
said he. "A little confidence will
will"
Grease the wheels of progress?" the
general suggested. smiling.
quite So" he answered lazily. "To
begin with, they are not 80 miles away
if | am correct in my Judgment of this
locality"
There was a moment of silence.
My dear sir" he went on presently
this ground is quite familiar to me
I slept in this very chamber long ago
But that is not here nor there. Day
after tomorrow, little before mid
night the ladies will be riding on the
shore pike. You could meet them anC
bring them out to a schooner, sup
: pose-if-"
He stopped again. putting thought
fully.
l IF we could agree" he went on
: Now this would be my view of 1t
You let me send a messenger for the
3 ladies. You would have to take then
by force somehow but, you know,
) could make it easy-arrange the tim'
and place, no house near, no soldiers
g no resistance but that of the driver
9 who should not share our confidence
no danger. You take them to thu
& boats and bring them over; but
D first"
J.. He paused again, looking at tn
u smoke-rings above his head in
dreamy manner.
First" my chief repeated.
y We'll" said he, leaning toward hin
J. with a little gesture, Ito me the wore
of a gentleman is sacred. I know yo1