Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-02-07

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/ pass my hand along. Have you a
finder boXf Let us strike a light"
mo, no; the man who is in the dark
is In safety. let my enemy strike
lights
my rein is cut also.
"And so is mine"
"And the girth of my saddle"
at is a wonder that we came so far
with whole bones. Now, who has
played us this little tricky"
WHO could it be but that rogue
Jaques? He has had the horses in his
charge. By my faith, he shall know
what the strappado means wheu ! see
Versailles again!"
But why should he do it?"
"Ah, he has been set on to it. He
has been a tool in the hands of those
who wished to hinder u journey"
Every like. But they must have had
some reason behind. They knew we'll
that to cut our straps would not pre-
vent us from reaching Paris, since we
could ride bareback or, for that mat.
ter, could run it if 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 us?''
For heavens sake broke in De
Catinat impetucusly.
"Why should they wish to delay us.
then? 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 it, captain. I'd lay you a
beaver skin to a rabbit pelt that I'm
On the track. There's been a party Of
a dozen horsemen along this ground
since the dew began to fall. If we
were delayed they would have time to
form their plans before we came"
by my faith, you may be right"
said De Catinat thoughtfulIy. What
would you ]proposeT'
That we ride back. and go by some
less direct way"
1T is impossible. We should have
to ride back to the Meudon crossroads,
and then it would add ten miles to our
Journey. We are surely not to be
turned from our path by a mere guess
There is the st. German crossrOGd
about a mile below. When we reach
it we a strike to the right along the
south side of the river and so, change
our course"
They mounted and rode on. Sud
denly De Catinat's eye caught some
thing in the gloom which brought a
smile to his face. Away in front of
them, between two dark tree clumns,
lay a vast number of shimmering, gilt
;ering yellow points, as thick as flow
ers in a garden. They were the lights
of Paris.
''See" he cried, pointing. There is
the city, and close here must be the
st. German road. We shall take it,
so as to avoid any danger"
Every good! But | should not ride
too fast, when your girth may break
at any moment"
"Nay, come on. We are close to our
journeys end. The st. Germain road
opens just round this corner, and then
we shall see our way, for the lights
will guide u.s.
He cut his horse with his whip, and
the two %galloped together round the
curve. Next instant they were both
down in one wild heap of tossing heads
and struggling hoofs, De Catinat part
ly covered by his horse, and his com
hurled twenty PAGES, where he
lay silent and motionless in the renter
Of the road.
NJ. de Vivonne had laid his ambus-
cade with discretion. With a closed
carriage and a band of chosen ruffians
he had left the palace d good half hour
before the kings messengers. On
reaching the branch road he had or
dered the coachman to drive some lit
tie distance along it and had tethered
all the horses to a fence under his
charge. He had then stationed one of
the band as a sentinel some distance
up the main highway to flash a light
when the two couriers were approach
ing. A stout cord had been fastened
eighteen inches from the ground to the
trunk of a wayside sapling, and on re-
ceiving the signal the other end was
tied to a gatepost upon the farther
side. The two cavaliers could not pos
sibly see 1t, coming as 1t did at the
very of the road, and as n conse-
quence their horses fell heavily to the
ground and brought them down with
them. In an instant the dozen rufians,
who had luTked In the shadow of the
trees, sprang out upon them, sword In
hand, but there was no movement from
OF their victims.
NJ. de Yivonne lit a lantern and
cached it upon the faces Of the two
unconscious men. This Is bad busi-
ness, Major Despard," said he to the
man next him. II believe that they
are both gone.'
Tut tut! By my soul, men did not
die like that when / was young!" an
swered the other. leaning forward his
fierce, grizzled face into the light OF
the lantern. "Pass your rapier under
the third rib Of the horses, De la
Touche. They will never be fit to set
hoof to ground again."
Two sobbing gasps and the thud Of
their stralnlng necks falling back to