Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-08

Tonti At this the brides were re- leased and the men removed their hats. "You must be in Orleans by morning." the leader said, respectful ly. Wait here and refresh yourselves with the food and wine you have with you. We shall return shortly, bringing fresh horses" .I
 In due time they were on their way again on new mounts, feeling heart- ened by the wine and food consumed. On through the drizzling night they went, Pompon showing strange fla miliarity with /-e road whenever any question of tlI.t character arose.
 Thus they advanced, showing the talismanic circlet whenever required and receiving in return fresh horses, hiding-place to sleep, and different disguises, so that their progress could not be traced On they fared through Blois, Tours and Chinon, Loudon and Parthenay, and over the mountains to Fontenay. Here their mysterious ring procured them a guide, who conducted them by roundabout way, avoiding the city of La Rochelle itself, to the coast, and along the waters edge to a rock, where they could overlook the harbor and see the ship Saint Hon. ore" that was to bear them to new lands riding at anchor not half Q league away. They watched it day by day, as boat-loads of provisions can non, soldiers, and passengers were taken out and placed on board. Their faithful guide remained with them, going out at night for food and for in- formation relative to the progress of the vessels lading. Thus passed sev- eral weeks, and they were beginning to weary of their confinement when news came that La Salle had arrived and that the vessel would sail at the turn of the tide the next evening. Their guide also learned that thor ough search of the ship had been made for them by the soldiers, and that final visit would be made before dark.
 At length the day darkened and the night came on. A small fishermans boat that had been at work all the afternoon near by, drew in towards the shore as night fell, and soon sig nal from their ally brought it close to them. Tonti surrendered the ring upon request and sought to repay their guide, but as in all the other cases, he refused the offered money. So help ing them into the boat, he waved good-by from shore, as they fast dis appeared in the darkness.
 The boatman pulled hard at the oars, and they soon found themselves nearing the ship. A few lights on her decks served to render the confusion existing there visible, but they were not bright enough to illuminate the waters about the vessel, while the noise of departure-her anchor was al- ready raised and her small forward sails set-made cautious approach unnecessary. At last they found themselves directly under her stern, and the ripping of the water warned them to hasten ere she got fully un- der weigh. By the advice of the boat man, Pompon. agile as a cat, swung himself up on to small swinging scaffold that had been used in paint ing the stern of the vessel, and had been overlooked in the hurry of sail ing, with small leather pouch tied to his body that he had brought with him from Paris. Tonti then handed up his sword and with parting boost from the boatman soon found himself crouched alongside Pompon. A fragile, swaying seat it was indeed, but safe, for they would not dare to climb to the deck above until the vessel had cleared the harbor.
 Thus did three men sail on the Saint Honore," parting from the sunny land of France with diverse emotions In the stern stood La Sale. looking back at the fast-receding lights Of La Rochelle, murmuring the words of that plaintive song of Mary Stuart as she sailed from Calais:
 "Adieu! oh plaisant pays,
 Adieu! oh ma patrie.
 La plus cherie. qui a nourrit
 Ma belle enfance-adieu!'
 Yet tinged as was his mind with re- gret at leaving civilization and the new love that had arisen in his heart, he still looked forward with eagerness to the great task before him. All was secondary to this. For this he lived: for this he would die.
 Shivering in his cramped position on the swinging stage below him, a little man with scared face and crafty eye shook his fist in triumph at his escape from the land and the woman that had both used him so i'll.
 Another man beside him, as the tacking of the ship brought the dis tant lights in view for the last time, stretched towards the shore a hand trembling with new and sweet emo-