The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-11-15

Amos Green laughed heartily. "WheI
you have Travelled In the woods by
night as often us | have" said he
when to show light may mean tC
lose your hair, one comes to learn tc
use ones eyes"
"Then you had best ride on. and
shall keep just behind you. Sol Hola
What Is the matter nowT
There had been the sudden sharp
snap OF something breaking, and the
American had reeled for an instant In
the saddle
TITS one of my stirrup feathers. II
has fallen"
Can you find III"
"Yes, but l can ride as well without
It. Let us push on"
"very good. I can just see you
now"
They had galloped for about Ave
minutes in this fashion, De Catinat's
horses head within few feet Of the
others tail when there was a second
snap, and the guardsman rolled out Of
the saddle on to the ground He kept
his grip OF the relns, however, and
was up In an Instant at his horses
head.
"A thousand thunders Of heaven"
he cried What was 1t that happened
thenT
"Your leather has gone too"
1.-TWO stirrup feathers in five min
utes?"
at is not possible that It should be
chance" said the American gravely.
swinging himself Off his horse. "Why.
what is this? My other leather Is cut"
"And so IL mine. ! can feel 1t when
I pass my hand along Have you q
tinder box? Let us strike II light"
"No, no; the man who Is In the dark
is In safety. let my enemy strike
lights"
my rein is cut also"
"And 80 Is mine"
"And the girth Of my saddle"
ut is a wonder that we came so far
with whole bones. Now, who has
played US this little trick?"
"Who could 1t be but that rogue
Jaques2 He has had the horses In his
charge. By my faith, he shall know
what the strappado means when l see
Versailles again"
But why should he do iti'
"Ah, he has been set on to II. He
has been tool In the hands Of those
who wished to hinder our journey"
VERY like. But they must have had
some reason behind. They knew well |
that to cut our straps would not pre-
vent MS from reaching Paris, since we
could ride bareback or, for that mat. |
ter, could run II II need be-
''They hoped TO break our necks"
"One neck they might break, but |
scarce those of two. They could not
have thought to stop us. What did
they mean. then? They could only
have meant TO delay us. And why
should they wish to delay usi"
For heavens sake broke In De
Catinat impetuously.
"Why should they wish to delay us,
them There's only one reason that
can see-in order to give other folk
time to get In front OF us and stop us.
That is II. captain. ia lay you
beaver skin to rabbit pelt that I'm
On the track. There's been d party OF
! dozen horsemen along this ground
Since the dew began TO fall. II we
we're delayed they would have time to
'orm their plans before we came"
by my faith. you may be ria,.t
bald De Catinat thoughtfully. "What
would you proposer'
That we ride back, and 20 by some
,ess lirect way"
III IL impossible. We should have
10 ride back to the Meudon crossroads,
and then II would add ten miles TO our
journey. We are surely not to be
turned from our path by mere guess.
There Is the ST. Gerinain erossroad
about mile below. When we reach
4 we can strike TO the right along the
south side OF the river and 80 change
,ur course"
They mounted and rode on. Sud
ienly De CatInats eye caught some.
hing In the gloom which brought a
mile TO his face. Away Ia front Of
hem, between two dark tree elumps,
ay vast number OF salmmcring. gilt.
ering yellow points as thick as iow
'rs In a garden. They were the lights ,
Il Paris
See" lac cried. pointing. There is ,
be city. and close here mast be the ,
II. Germaln road. We shall take II. ,
o as 10 avoid any danger" I
Very gooal Eut should not ride I
90 fast. when your girth may break Z
4 any moment" /
Nay. come on. We are close 10 our ,
enrney's end The 81. Gcrmaln road I
pens just round this corner. aud then q
sc shall see our way, for the lights
viii guide us" e
He cut his horse with bis whip, and r
be two galioped together round the a
nrve Next instant they were both c
own In one Wild hesp OF tossing beads Ii
nd struggling boots. DE cstinai part. r