Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-23

true U1aL uS hucW uUtuiuB OA aIi icy but surely a man who could pick his way at night through the forests of Maine would not be baked in finding 50 well known a house as that of the archbishop of Paris.
 And then the thought of escape oc- cured to his mind. Might he not even now be in time perhaps to carry his own message? Who were these men who had seized him? And where were they taking him to? Full of curiosity, he peered out of the windows.
 A horseman was riding close up on 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 shimmering light. To the right lay the open country, broad plains with clumps of woodland and the towers of castles pricking out from above the groves. On the left, but far away, lay the glimmer of Paris. They were leav- ing 1t rapidly behind Whatever his destination, it was neither the capital nor Versailles. Then he began to count the chances of escape. His sword had been removed, and his pistols were still in the holsters beside his unfortunate horse. He was unarmed. then. even if he could free himself, and his captors were at least dozen in number. There were three on ahead, riding abreast along the white moonlit road. Then there was one on each side, and he should judge by the clatter of hoofs that there could not be fewer than half a dozen behind. That would make ex- actly twelve, including the coachman-- too many. surely, for an unarmed man to hope to bafie. At the thought of the coachman he had glanced through the glass front nt the broad back of the man, and he had suddenly in the glim- mer of the carriage lamp observed something which struck him with hor. TOT. 4 n
 The man was evidently desperately wounded. It was strange indeed that he could still sit there and flick his whip with so terrible an injury. In the back of his great red coat. just m der the left shoulder blade, was gash in the cloth where some weapon had passed, and all round was wide patch of dark scarlet which told It's own tale. Nor was this all. As he raised his whip the moonlight shone upon his hand, and De Catinat saw, with shudder. that 1t also was splashed and clogged with blood. The guardsfnan craned his neck to catch glimpse of the mans face. but his broad brimmcd hat was drawn low. and the high col. lar of his driving coat was raised, so that his features were in the shadow.
 And now they had come to spot where the main road ran onward. but . smaller side track wound away down the steep slope of hill, and 50 In the direction of the Seine. The advance guard had kept to the main road and the two horsemen on either side were trotting In the same direction when. to De Catinat's amazement, the carriage suddenly swerved to one side and in an instant plunged down the steep in- cline. the two stout horses galloping at their topmost speed, the coachman standing up and flashing furiously at them and the clumsy old vehicle bound ing along in way which threw him backward and forward from one seat to the other. Behind him he could hear a shout of consternation from the es- cort and then the rush of galloping hoofs. Fast as the coach vent Its pursuers went faster still. The rattle of their hoofs was at the very back, and suddenly at one of the windows there came into view the red. dIstend- ed nostrils of horse. Slowly 1t drew forward, the muzzlc. the eye. the ears. the manc, coming Into sight as the rider still gained, and then above them the fierce face of Despard and the gleam of brass pistol.
 At the horse. Despard; at the horse!" cried an authoritative voice from be- hind.
 The pistol flashed. and the coach lurched over as one of the horses gave a convulsive spring. But the driver still shrieked and dashed with his whip. while the carriage bounded onward.
 But now the road turned a sudden and there. right in front of