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

n puFly nxure Aad doomed up through
the & ao;n on the path upon which they
were go.lS. As II approached. a col
ored lamp Dangling from one Of the
trees shone upon the blue and silver OF
{ an oit.cer OF the guards II was Major
lie Brissac Of he Catinat's own regi-
meat.
Hello, Whittier awayY' he a. sed.
TO Paris. major"
Il go there myself within an hour.
NIL you not wait that We may go
DgetherT'
Il am sorry. but ride on matter
u urgency"
Very good. Good night aud "A pleas
ant ride"
as he a trusty man. orr friend the
majorT' asked Amos Green. CHANGING
bach.
True as steel"
Then l would have a word with
him" The American hurried back
along the way they had come. while
De Catinat stood channg at this IN
necessary delay. II was a full Ave
minutes before his companion Joined
him, and the fiery blood OF the French
soldier WAS hot with Impotence.
Il think that perhaps you had best
ride into Paris nj your leisure. my
friend" said be. IF I 90 upon the
kings service / cannot DO delayed
whenever the within takes YOU"
Il am sorry" answered the other
quietly Il had something 10 say to
your major, and I thought that maybe
I might not see him again.
We'll, here arc the hcr-es.~ said the
guardsmnn as be pushed open the
I-cStern gate. Have you fed aud wa
tered them. JaquesY~
Yes. my captain" answered the
man.
Boot und saddle. then. friend Green.
and we hall not draw rein again until
we see the lights OF Paris"
For a nile or more the comrades
galloped along The road was very
dark. and IL was hard bat for the loom
upon either side 20 tell where Il lay.
De Catinat at least found Il so. and lie
peered anxiously over his horses ears
and stopped his face % the name In
his efforts 20 see his way.
'W hat - you make OF the roadY''
he asked az last
1T looks as O.: a cood many carriage
wheels had PASSED over il today"
What. Non Dleu. Do you mean 70
say that you can see carriage wheels
thereT''
Certainly. Why notY'
Why. man. I cannot see the road at
all"
Amos Green laughed heartily. when
you have travelled In the woods 10y
night as often as I have" said be.
when 70 show a light may mean "a
lose your hair. one comes TO learn 70
use ones eyes"
Then YOU had best ride on. and I
shall keep just behind you So! H0la.
What Is the matter nowT
There had been the sudden sharp
snap OF something breaking, and the
American had recled for an instant IN
the saddle
"Irs one OF my stirrup feathers. II
has fallen"
Can you end it7"
'Yes. but can ride IA we'll without
II. Let us push on"
Very good. can just see you
now"
They had gailoped for about FIVE
minutes In this fashion. DE Catinat's
horses head within q few feet Of the
others taN. when there was second
snap. and the ruurismau rolled out 81
the saddle on % the ground He kept
his grip OF the re.us. however. and
was up In an Instant at his horses
head
~ thousand thunders Of heavenr'
he cried. What was II that happened
them
your leather has gone too"
Two stirup feathers IN five min
utesT''
1T IS not possible that II should be
chance" said the American grnveiy.
swinging himself on his horse. "why,
what Is thisl My other leather is cut"
And so Is mine. l can feel Il when
/ pass my hand along. Have you n
finder bOxy Let us strike n light"
"NO. no; the man who is in the dark
is In safety. I let my enemy strike
lights"
MY rein II cut also"
And 50 Is mine"
and the cirth Of my saddle"
1T Is "a wonder that we came so far
with whole bones. Now. who has
played Us this little trickT'
who could IL be but that rogue
JaquesI He has had the horses In his
charge. By my faith. he shall know
what the strappado means when l see
Versailles agaln!"
But why should he DO itG''
"Ah. he has been set on 10 II. He
has been a tool In the hands OF those
who wished 10 hinder our journey"
VERY Ike. But they must have had
some r-aSon behind. They knew well
that To cut our straps would not pre-
vent US from reaching Paris, since we
could ride bareback or for that mat
ter, could run IL II need be"
They hoped 10 break our necks."
zone neck they might break. but
scarce those Of two. They could not
have thought 10 stop u.s. What did
they mean. then? They could only
have meant TO delay US. And why