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

II.
"whyf"
Elise maybe they won't find us when
they want u.s."
what do you mean?"
For answer the American. with
twist and a wriggle. drew bis two
hands apart and held them in front OF
bis comrades face.
BLESS you, it's the first thing they
teach the papoOses in an Indian wig
wan! Put your hands out" With a
few dexterous twists he loosened De
Catinat's bonds until he also was able
TO slip his hands free. Now for your
feet. il you'll put them up. They'll find
that we are easier to catch than 10
hold"
But at that moment the carriage be-
gan TO slow down. and the clank OF the
hoofs OF the riders In front OF them
died suddenly away. Pecping through
the windows. the prisoners saw huge,
dark building stretching In front OF
them. so high and so broad that the
night shrouded Il In upon every side.
great archway hung above them.
and the lamps shone on the rude wood
en- gate studded with pOnderous clamps
and nails. IN the upper part Of the
door was a small square iron grating.
and through this they could catch a
glimpse OF the CLEAN Of lantern and
OF bearded face which looked out az
them De Nivonne. standing in his stir
rups. craned his head up toward the
grating. so that the two men most IN
fn~a. 81 =
versation which followed. They saw
only that the horseman held a gold
ring up In the air and that the face
above. which had begun by shaking
and frowning. was new nOdding and
smiling. An instant later the head
disappeared the door swung open up-
on screaming hinges. and the carriage
drove on into the courtyard beyond.
leaving the escort with the exception
Of he Nivo9nC. outside. As the horses
pulled W. : knot Of rough fellows clus-
tered round. aud the two prisoners
were dragged roughly out. In the light
OF the torches which Jared around
them they could see that they were
hemmed in by high turreted walls
upon every side. bulky man with a
bearded face. the same whom they had
seen at the grating. was standing in
the center Of the group OF armed men
issuing his orders.
ITO the upper dungeon. SimonF' he
cried. And see that they have two
bundles OF straw and loaf OF bread
un;il we learn our masters will"
4 know not who your master may
be-" said. De Catinat. ''but would ask
you by what warrant he dares 10 stop
two messengers OF the king while
travelling IN his sery iceT'
"By ST Denis. II ms master play
the king a trick. Il will be but tie ana
Tie" the stout man answered. with n
grin. "But no more talk. Away with
them. si'"en. snd you answer TO ne
for their safe keeping
IL was IN vain that De Catinat raveI
and threatened. invoking the most ter
rible menlces upon all who were con
cerned I'm OBTAINING him. Two stout
knaves thrustjng him from behind and
one dragging In front forced him
through narrow gate and along "a
stone Jagged passage. They made
their way down Three successive corrl-
doris and through three doors. each or
which was locked AMI barred behind
them. Then they assembled wh,iiu-
stone stair. and finally they were
thrust iuto snail square dungeon.
ana two trusses OF straw were thrown
In after them. An Instant later a
heavy key tUruei IL the lock. am they
We're left 20 their own mcditati1us.
Very gy.n and dark those meClta-
tons wee 10 tie case OF Ne Caunat.
a stroke OF good luck had r,a,c him
at court. and now this other ~ m for
tune had destroyed him. There we've
his people ia Paris, to0-his sweet
Adele, his old uncle. who hal been as
good as father 20 him. What pro-
tsctor would they have IN their
troubles now that he had lost tie
power that might have shielded themr
But his energetic comrade had yielded
10 no feelinS OF dependency. The in
staLt that the claug OF the prison door
had assured him that he was safe
froIu interruption lie had felt al
round the walls AM ..c5r.ng 10 see
what manner OF place this might be.
His search had ended Ia the discovery
Of a small fireplace ar one corner AID
OF TWO great clumsy billets or wood.
which seemed 10 have been left there
20 serve as pillows for the prisoners.
Having satisfied himself that the chin
ney was so small that il was utterly
impossible 10 pass even his head up IL,
he drew the two blocks Of wood over
to the window and was able by plac-
Ing che above the other and standing
on tiptJe on tie highest 10 reach the
bars which guarded 1t. Drawing him
self up and fixing one toe in an in
equality OF the wall. lie managed 10
look out on - the courtyard which
they had just quilted. The carriage
and De Nivonne We're passing out
through the gaze as he looked. and he
heard moment later the slam of the
heavy door and the clatter OF hOofs
from the troop OF horsemen outside.
The scnesciai and his retainers had
disappeared; the torches. too. We're
a