The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-02-02
~
A ROSE OF (
NORMANDY
WILLIAM r. 4. WILSON
2 g.
CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.
WhErEIN A SEA IS CROSSED, A Sc
CRET IS DISCOVERED, AND TONTI
RECEIVES A BLOW.
The lights were soon gone, but still
tho silent figure Of La Sale remained
on the poop. Pompon, selling a rope,
soon Raised his head above the level
of the eail. So wrapped in thought
was La Sale that he took no notice
of him until he had reached the deck.
Then startled at the sudden noiseless
appearance Of a human form so near
him, he stepped back a pace, and,
drawing his sword demanded who 1t
was.
Save your sw~ord-thrusts for your
ehemies; use them not on a friend"
replied tie figure.
what! POmpon's voice!" exclaimed
La Sale, as he seized his hand in great
delight. "Pompon's facet" he added,
~ he peered a%nxiously through the
darkness. mon Dieu! I was think
ing Of you and Tonti but a moment
ago. Where IL he, for surely you are
together"
"He is taking a last view Of the
shore-lights from his private balcony.
Perhaps he has finished" was the re-
oily: and leaning over the rail, Pompon
gave q low whistle. In a moment
Tonti had clambered up, and soon all
three we're engaged in an eager con-
versation.
II had given you up for lost" said
La Sale. "All Paris vas whispering
of your duel with the Comte de Miron
and his death. But all was mystery.
He had disappeared, his body no doubt
secreted by his coachman; you, too,
had disappeared, having fed to En-
gland. 1t was said; while Pompon,
whom I searched for diligently, was
nowhere to be found. The king was
inclined to be vexed over your dis
obeying his order concerning duelling,
but I think he was secretly pleased at
getting rid of the Comte de Miron,
whom he disliked. Only the inlu-
ence Of Colbert kela him about the
court"
Thus did the par tners in the firm
of M. Tonti and Company hold their
first meeting outside France, and the
night wat far spent before they fin
fshed %recounting their adventures and
laying plans for the future. No light
was thrown upon the identity of their
mysterious protector, and the matter
was finally dismissed as a riddle to
be solved at some later day.
There was plenty of time for the
full discussion Of their plans, for the
saint Honore," although a stanch lit
tie craft Of $50 tons. was driven from
her course by contrary winds, and
drifted through many lazy days for
lack Of any. The passengers consisted
of a party Of soldiers sen to swell the
available fighting force to be used
against the Indians; a flock of 30 girls
travelling under the care of Madame
Bourbon, all seeking homes and hus-
bands in the new strange lands across
the sea-; sliip-carpenters and workers
in iron, for the need of building small
ships to trade with the Indiana and
explore tho coasts had been empha-
sized by Frontenac in his letters to
the king and Colbert; stone masons
and builders to help the settlers erect
their homes as well as build new forts;
adventures, escaped exiles, and poll
tical refugees, seeking under new
names to travel in the kings ship,
and then lose themselves In the saw
age wilds. Among these were some
80 men whom La Sale had tempted
by goodly sums and far goodlier prom
Uses of riches to be found in the New
World, and tales Of mystery and of
untold wealth that only needed daring
hearts and hands to secure It.; some
were honest artisans whom he needed
in his explorations, especially to build
ships on tie lakes. Fer this purpose
= store of iron, cordage, and anchors
was carefully packed away In the hold.
II Sale and Tonti kept 10 them
selves. but Pompon went about the
ship making friends with every one In
spite OF his ugly face, busying himself
IN finding out everything he could
from each persoa. amusing them. hut
te3ling nothing IN return. He diced
With the soldiers ard adveisturers, and
spun yarns with the eAilhrs derived
from HIS experiences IN the galleys. but
~sasespllr <tssulS4d, ~ himpSlk usual
Et t1t