Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-09-08


1 cried lie Nivonne. He has neither
horse n0r arms. You. Despard and
Raymond de Csrnac. guard the other.
that he play IA no trick. DO you. La
tour. aud You. Turberville, ride down
the road and wait by the south gate.
IL be enter Paris az all he must come
in that way. IL you get him. tie him
before you on your horse and bring
him TO the rendezvous. In any case, 1t
matters little. for be is a stranger, this
fellow. and only here by chance"
The two horsemen rode of I'm pur-
suit OF the fugitive. and De Catinat.
! still struggling desperately 20 escape.
was dragged down the ST Germain
! road and thrust into the carriage.
which had waited az some distance
while these incidents were being en-
acted Three or the horsemen rode
ahead. the coachman was curtly or
dered 10 follow them. and De vivoDne.
having dispatched one OF the band
with note 10 his sister. followed after
the coach with the remainder OF bis
| desperadoes.
The unfortunate guardsman had now
| entirely recovered his senses and
| found himself with a strap round his
ankles and another round his wrists. q
1 captive inside a moving prison which
J numbered heavily along the country
road. He had been stunned by the
shock OF his fan and his leg was badly
bruised by the weight OF his horse
| His mind. however, palned him more
| than his body. lie sank his head into
I his pinioned hands and stamped madly
with his feet. rocking himself 10 and
I fro In his despair. What fool. n ire
| BILE fool, he had beenl He. an old sol
der. who had seen something OF war.
| 20 walk with open eyes into such
| trap!
But then came return OF that com
mon sense which lies so very closely
beneath the impetuosity OF the Celt
The matter was done now. and he must
see II il could not be mended. Amos
| Green had escaped. That was one
grand point in his favor. And Amos
Green had heard the kings message
and realized its Importance. 1t was
true that he knew nothing OF Paris.
but surely a man who could pick his
way at night through the forests OF
Maine would not be baked In finding
SO well known house as that OF the
archbishop OF Paris.
And teen the thought OF escape oc-
CURED 10 his mind. Might he not even
now be In time perhaps 10 carry his
own message: Who were these men
who had seized himg And where were
they taking him TO? Full OF curiosity.
he peered ont OF the windows.
a horseman WAS riding close up or
either side. but there was glass In
front OF the carriage. and through this
he could gain some idea as TO his where
abouts- The clouds had cleared now.
and the moon was shining brightly.
bathing the whole wide landscape in
its sbimmerlng light. To the right Law
the open country. broad plains with
| clumps OF woodland aud the towers OF
castles pricking out from above the
groves ON the left. but far away. lay
the glmmer OF Paris They were leav-
ing IL rapidly behind. Whatever his
| destination. IL was neither the capital
nor Versailles. Then he began 10 count
the chances OF escape. His sword had
been removed. aid his pistols were still
Ia the holsters beside his unfortunate
horse. He was uuarmcd. then, even II
be could free himself. and his captors
were az least dozen IN number. There
were three on ahead. riding abreast
along the white mc0nlt road. Then
there was one on each side. and he
should Judge by the chatter OF hoofs
that there could not be fewer than half
n dozen behind. That would make eN.
actiy twelve. including the coachman-
too many. surely, Tor an uuarmed man
10 hope q bllic. At tie thought OF the
cOachman he had glanced through the
glass front at the broad back OF the
man, and lie had suddenly I'm the glim-
mer Of the carriage lamp observed
something which struck him with hor.
rOr.
The man was evidently desperately
wounded. IL was strange indeed that
he could still sit there and dick his
whip with so terrible an injury. In
the back Of his great red coat. lust un.
der the LETT shoulder blade, was cash
in the cloth where some weapon had
passed, and all round was Il side patch
OF dark scarlet which told its own taIe.
Nor was this all. As he raised his
whip the moonlight shone upon his
hand. and De Catnat saw. with a
shudder, that II also was splashed and
clogged with blood. The guarGsman
craned his neck 10 catch n glimpse of
the mans face, but h's broad brimmed
hat was drawn low. a. the high col.
lar or his driving coat was raised. so
that his features were On the shadow.
And now they had come 70 spot
where the main road ran onward. but
q smaller side track wound away down
the steep slope Of hill and 50 in the
| direction OF the Seine. The advance
guard had kept 10 the main road AM
the two horsemen on either side were
trOtting In the same direction when. 70
De Catinat's amazement, the carriage
suddenly swerved TO one side and in
IN instant plunged down the steep in
| Glue, the two stout horses galloping
at their topmOSt speed. the cOachman
standing up and lSshing furiousiy at
them and the clumsy old vehicle bound
Ing along in Il way which throw him,