Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-02-14

tenQant.
Frontenac before long became con-
scious Of a new force that was aiding
his enemy, insidiously undermining his
influence among many OF his adher-
ents. He was at loss to account for
this, and II was some time ere he sus-
pected the stranger. Finally, several
discoveries confirmed his suspicious.
and he realized that in the person of
the young man there lay a useful nlly
for the intendant and q dangerous
enemy to himself. He was powerless
to do anything. however, as the Comte.
although an acknowledged friend of
Duchesneau, was still louder in his
professions of friendship and resrect
for the governor and the colony. so
Frontenac was obliged to bide his time
until by some overt act or word he
would lay himself liable to legal in
reference.
The mischief that he made became
go great that the governor was des-
perate. At length an audacious speech
made by the Comte de Miron one even
ing was reported to him. He saw his
opportunity. The Comte was brought
before the council, and several wit
nesses testified to having heard him
boastingly remark that there was
nothing like righting ones wrongs
oneself. and that when the English cut
on the head of Charles l. they did
good thing, besides several utterances
oil a similar tenor. He was, therefore
accused OF speaking i'll of royalty in
the person OF the king of England, and
uttering words tending to sedition.
The intendant and his followers in the
council did their utmost to protect
their ally. but in vain. Frontenacs
influence carried the day and he was
adjudged guilty. The governor forced
the council to impose the most humil-
iating penalty possible, in order to
discourage any others from taking up
the cause of Duchesneau. According
ly. he was dragged ANONYMOUSLY from
prison by the public executioner and
led by rope around his neck, with a
torch In hand, to the gate of the Cha
teau, there to beg pardon of the king;
thence to the pillory of the lower town,
where he was branded on the cheek
with a fieur-de-lis and set in the stocks
TOT half an hour; then he was led back
10 prison and placed in irons. This
was TO be repeated three times.
The man while passing through the
terrible ordeal of the day had seen the
face OF Madame BLIZZARD in the crowd,
who smiled and nodded encouragingly.
They had become great friends. and
the Comte was glad to find one kindly
glance. The room in which he was
confined was on the ground-foor of the
himself exhausted upon the bed placed
beneath the little grated opening that
admitted air and light, when a sum-
mons at the door engaged his guards
attention for the moment. Just at this
Juncture the prisoner felt something
drop on his chest from above, and saw
that tiny parcel had been thrown ia
through the window. He quickly
opened it and recognized key fitting
his letters, wrapped in a piece of pa
per. on which was written:
Escape tonight at IL; there is |
worse in store for you. You will find |
all the doors unlocked" There was no |
name signed, but he recognized the
writing.
At dark his jsiler left him and was
replaced by four trusty soldiers of
Frontenac. They examined his irons
and then left him to himself, a seem
ingly half-unconscioua being. huddled
upon the bed near the door, which was
fastened upon the inside by an iron
cross-bar. After their conversation be-
gan to flag they stacked their arms,
took the one light in the room to
further corner, leaving the bed in
half shadow, and proceeded to pass
away the time with cards. The prison
or hearkened to a distant clock in the |
Chateau striking ten and heard the |
rounds Of closing the building for the |
night as the inmates retired. Care
fully he inserted the key into the lock |
or the iron on his right hand. which |
was freed; then into that of the left
and 1t was liberated also. Slowly he |
reached down, watching with half |
closed eyes the group Of soldiers in the |
corner attentive TO their game. and |
withdrew his legs from the encircling |
letters. He waited impatiently for the |
clock to sound II and wondered what |
he would do If he found his informa- |
ton false. Perhaps n was all a trap to !
induce him to attempt to escape, He
would chance IT, Eleven O'Clock |
struck; the players laughed guardedly |
at their game. He arose. and with ore |
bound seized the four guns.
The rafting noise attracted the at |
tention of the soldiers. who started up |
only to find their prisoner freed and |
with one OF the guns pointed at them. |
Before they recovered from their as
constituent he had slipped the bolt: |
the door swung open. Speeding down
the corridor. he found the doors that |
barred his way were all unfastened. |
He heard the shouts Of alarm raised by |
the soldiers; the last door opened into |
the night air: he was freel
The next day all Quebec was astir |
with search-parties hunting for the /