Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-15

whether they have other business. We
are upon the road under suspicion:
circumstances in time Of genera
suspicion, and that is enough to insure
our arrest If we are overtaken. May
l ask, monsieur, whether you pro.
pose in that event to surrender, or re.
sist?"
Resist, by all means!" was the
quick and stern reply. Resist, and tc
the death. 1 will not be taken alive
Il am delighted to hear you say so
The fact is, 1 look upon death by a
halter as altogether so vulgar and dis
agreeable, that I am afraid I might
have been inclined to oppose your
wishes if you had decided otherwise
1t is better though to avoid the alter
native, If It can be done and, as the
horses will require all my attention
1 must request you to turn an occa-
sional glance backward, in order that
we may get the earliest notice Of their
approach"
Mile after mile was passed over, and
still there was no appearance Of the
pursuing party. Raoul we'll understood
that they might be in a few hundred
yards Of him nevertheless, and he kept
his horses at the fastest pace they
could bear without the risk Of break
ing down. The storm was beginning
to abate, and the first streaks of light
dappled the east when Burr thought
he discovered the dim outlines of
horsemen in the rear,
They are coming" he said. Had
you not better increase our speed?"
mo. They will overtake us at any
rate 1t must come to life and death
struggle sooner or later, and we shall
gain some advantage by taking 1t cool
| ly. Can you make out how many there
are?"
Il see but three"
"Three only! There must have been
more when they started, and some
have broken down by the way"
For two miles further the horses
were kept at the same steady pace.
The day had grown brighter, and the
snow was falling less rapidly than 1t
had been.
"They are gaining on u.s." said Burr,
but it is very slowly. 1t will be an
hour before they can overtake us. even
at our present rate of travelling"
do you see no more than three now,
monsieur"
There are no more"
"Then the chances are all In our
favor"
So saying he refined the jaded horses
to a slow trot, dropped the buffalo
robe from his shoulders, and divested
his hands Of the thick fur gloves which
incased them.
Get your arms ready, monsieur, and
use them promptly. Not only our own
lives, but the fate of Quebec depends
upon getting the first fire"
A few minutes only elapsed before
the pursuers galloped alongside and
sternly ordered them to halt. Raoul
complied, suddenly inquiring for what
purpose peaceful travellers were thus
interrupted on their journey.
"Ah, Monsieur Audigier!" answered
the leader of the party. ut seems you
have forgotten an old acquaintance.
You might have remembered Cornet
Cnow captain) Robert Campbell, Of his
majesty's-Dragoons, and save your
self the trouble Of asking for his au-
thority''
Il remember" said the Frenchman,
with a knit brow and a flashing eye,
that you shot down my brother by my
side, and that you treated me like a
dog when I was helpless prisoner
under your charge; but l did not know
that these acts gave you authority to
arrest me, or my companion on the
highway. Where is your warrant"
OH" replied Campbell. drawing a
pistol from his holster, "it is seldom
that / am unprepared with a sufficient
warrant for the arrest of a traitor and
a spy"
Quick as lightning, Raoul thrust a
hand in his bosom-in a moment a
loud report shook the morning air, and
Robert Campbell fell without a groan
to the ground. The ball had touched
his heart. Almost at the same time
Burr's pistol was discharged, desper-
ately woundng another of the dra-
goons. The remaining one seeing how
il had Jared with his comrades, hasti-
ly returned the fire, and, wheeling his
horse, betook himself to flight. Two
shots were discharged after him, by
one of which his horse was so badly
wounded that, at the distance of one
hundred yards, he stumbled and fell.
THAT will do" said Raoul, coolly
drawing on his gloves. Before he can
procure assistance and put another
pack of blood hounds on our trail we
shall be far enough beyond danger
from pursuit"
1t turned out as he predicted. and
the remainder of the journey was un-
varied by accident or adventure. En-
tering Montreal Burr proceeded di-
rectly to the headquarters of General
Montgomery, to make his report. That
gallant officer, charmed by the address
and daring of the young volunteer,
conferred upon him the military rank
of captain, and assigned him place
on his own staff.
That the reader may clearly under
stand the events just narrated, it may
be necessary to explain that when
Raoul Audigier drove off from the inn
door at Three Rivers, he was mistaken
in supposing that he had not been rec
ognized by his old enemy, Captain
Campbell. 1t is true, that individual
could not at the moment recall his
name, or the time and place where they
had met; but both the face and the
voice were familiar to him, and he
kept thinking and taxing his memory
until the truth flashed upon him. BY
that time Raoul and Burr were safe
i'm the convent Now Captain Camp
bell had very little respect for either
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