Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-04-25

ground, and then with an oath of an
noyance tossed my feet loose to go
after it. But the rascal rOared to me
to keep my seat.
Forward, Monsieur!" he shouted
brutally. 'Go on!"
"But my hiatt" l cried. mile ton
nerres, man! Imust--''
Forward, Monsieur, or shoot"
he replied inexorably, raising his gun.
"One-two-"
And l went on. But, oh, I was
wrathful! That l, Gil de Berault,
should be outwitted and led by the
nose, like a ringed bull, by this Gascon
lout! That l, whom all Paris knew
and feared-if it did not love me-the
terror of Zaton's should come to my
end In this dismal waste of snow and
rock, done to death by some pitiful
smuggler or thief! It must not be!
Surely in the last resort l could give
an account of one man, though his
belt were stuffed with pistols!
But how? Only, it seemed, by open
force. My heart began to flutter as
planned it: and then grew steady
again. A hundred PAGES before us a
gully or ravine on the left ran up into
the snow-field. Opposite its mouth a
tumble Of stones and broken rocks COW
cred the path. l marked this for
the place. The knave would need both
his hands to hold up his nag over the
stones, and, if I turned on him sud-
denly enough, he might either drop
his gun, or fire it harmlessly.
But in the meantime, something hap
pened; as, at the last moment, things
do happen. While we were still 50
yards short of the place, I found his
horses nose creeping forward on lev
Ell with my crupper; and still advanc-
ing, until L could see it out of the tail
Of my eye, and my heart gave great
bound. He was coming abreast of me:
he was going to deliver himself into
my hands! To cover my excitement
I began to whistle.
"Hush!" he muttered fiercely: his
voice sounding strange and unnatural.
My first thought was that he was i'll,
and turned to him. But he only said
again, FLUSH! Pass by here quiet
ly, Monsieur"
"'Why?" I asked mutinously, curios-
ity getting the better of me. For had
been wise had taken no notice; ev-
cry second his horse was coming I'D
with mine. It's nose was level with
my stirrup already.
flush, mani" he said again.. This
time there was no mistake about the
panic in his voice. "1'hey call this the
Devils Chapel. God send us safe BY
1t! 1t is late to be here. Look at
those!" he continued, pointing with
a finger which visibly shook.
looked. At the mouth of the gull
~, in small space partly cleared of
stones stood three broken shafts.
raised On rude pedestals. "Well?". l
said in a low ~oice.. The sun which
was near setting flushed the great
peak above to the color OF blood: but
the valley was growing gray and each
moment more dreary. "Well, what of
those?" I SAID In spite Of my peril.
and the excitement of the coming
struggle I felt the chill of his fear.
Never had ] seen so grim, 50 desolate,
SO God-forsaken a place! 1nvoluntari-.
ly I shivered. * ~ ~ - A.
"They We're crosses" he muttered,
in voice little above whisper, while
his eyes roved this way and that in
terror. ""The Cure de Gabas blessed
the place. and set them up. But next
morning they were as you see them
now. Come on, Monsieur, como on!"z
he continued, plucking at my arm. TT
is not. safe here after sunset Pray
God. Satan be not q homs;" 5. .t 81