Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-07
CHAPTER XVIII.


The officer stared with growing anger,
first at Dubois. then back at Gerard, and
lastly at the four of his men who had
moved away and left him and the one cas-
tie soldier alone in the middle of the room.
rs this mutiny?' he cried furiously,
drawing his sword.
I'm answer that" said Dubois. 1T
would be a mutiny if they were TO turn
against their own officer. And they Will
not. This is my doing, and the RESPONSE
b.lity is mine. 1 will not let you take your
prisoners away"
"You will resist capture at your peril;
and the officer turned on him.
81 am quite prepared for that, captain,
interposed Dubois; but it is you who are
in peril, not We. You will give me your
sword
The answer was a swift rush and an at
tack which Dubois parted with tire cool-
ness of a wary and practiced fencer: Inc
four sold ers looked on stolldly. ana the one
who had been disarmed watched the ouei
with the staring gaze of beWllderment anu
alarm.
1t lasted but a minute or two. when Du-
bois forcing the fight with lrreslstlple
v1gor drove his antagonist back uh' step
ping on the fallen musket he trlppeo anu
fell and his sword went clatterlng out Oh
his hand over the boards.
Dubois picked it up and sheathed his own
weapon. AT that moment tHe CeStie 7o'uiSt
made a dash for the door to escape only
to be stopped by two of the Bourbon men:
you should not have driven me TO inns,
monsieur" said Dubois in tone OF q ules
authority The officer had risen and STOOD
with folded arms his face flushed with an
ger and his brow sullen with the chagrih
and humiliation of his ignominious failure;
You must accompany me. no marin w WI
come to you if you obey. But we are reso
lutte men, and our lives may be at STAKE
He signed to his own soldiers to bring the
prisoner along, and all left the room.
what is he going to do. Gerard asheu
Gabrielle How terrible he looked in that
3'He's a strenuous antagonist to face at
such a time: but he meant only to dlsarm
the other. He could have killed him half a
dozen times had he been so minded. lie
has done splendidly.
Dubois and the four soldiers returned
then. Dubois dressed in the uniform OF
castle man: and Gabrielle could not re-
strain a little cry of establishment at rec
ognizing him, while Gerard smiled as he
OWNED his intention.
NV plan is. my lord. that we use our
men and play the guard to escort you and
mademoiselle as prisoners through the
streets. We have secured the captain and
his man, so that they can give us no
trouble"
And good plan it is. Dubois agreed
Gerard. I'VE are well through an ugly
business. thanks to you. The sooner We
start the better
1t was about two hours after noon when
they left Babillon's house but while they
had been sheltered there events had oc-
CURED which had set the whole of the little
city IN ferment.
The first cause had been slght-a very
trife: no more than the young leutenants
curiosity at Lucette's name at the attempt
to pass the gate. He had, in the first place,
sent men to follow her; and although she
had reached Gerard and Gabrielle and got
well away undiscovered, the pursuit had
been far from frutless. Two of the men
I0lteflng about had Gerard whom
returned with the horses
They were making their report of this
when the soldier whom Pascal had tricl1ed
returned without him. Alarmed by this
the lieutenant had sent at once to the
castle. with the result that instant and
most vigorous measures were taken to
trace the fugitives. The fact that the
horses had been obtained at no great dis
lance from Babillon's house caused that
district To be searched first while large
the city. II
This step reused the citizens again. and
despite Dubois opinion as to the indeci-
SION or the burSher leaders they had re-.
solved to take active measures while the
bulk OF the citizens innamed nv their
lonS-standinS wrongs, were quickly on fire
"hen the soldiers turned out and the news
spread that they were huntinp for cahri
ellie.
The governor, hearing of the danger of
trouble in the city. hurried from the castle
Win the intention of comforting with the
chief burghers and renewing the assur-
ances already given that no harm threat
ened Gabrielle; and he CHANGED to reach the
market place just when the crowd was in
its most dangerous temper
In the center of the market place the Off
GERS who were conducting the search had
taken up position, guarded by a number
OF troops, and to them all the prisoners
captured by the patrols and search parties
We're brought for purposes of Identical
ton The crowd, constantly swelling in
numbers. watched the proceedings with in
tense indignation. Jeers and groans greet
cd the arrival of every prisoner, and loud,
6outing laughter went UP whenever a pris-
oner was identified and released accompa-
MED by threatening murmurs of discomfort
and anger.
At last stones began to be thrown and
when one struck the officer in command in
the face the crowd raised a wild shout of
delight. Smarting under the blow he or
dered the crowd to be charged. Several
were wounded. and the sight so enraged
the rest that volleyS of stones came from
other directions just as the governor rode
up
His first command was for the market
place to be cleared. This was done for the
crowd broke and fed before the weapons of
the troops; and a great number of the sciti-
Zens were caught, stones in hand and
brought back to the governor. His temper
was up now. and, threatening them with
heavy punishment, he orde: ID the whole
of them to be marched to the castle by the
troops.
The fear of a rescue necessitated the es-
cort being very heavy and this step left
the troops round him comparatively weak
IN numbers. When the crowd began to re-
turn some one was quick to perceive this
weakness. and called on the rest who came
surging back in great strength. An ugly