The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-06-11
CHAPTER XIII.

Only to feel that we were moving
was a relief, though our march was
very SLOW. Master BERTHE carried the
child slung in a cloa before him, n
thus burdened could not well go beyond
a smooth amble, while the guides. who
were on foot, and the pack horses found
this pace as much as they could man.
age. A little while, and the exhilara-
ton of the start died away. The fine
morning was followed by a wet even
ing, and before we had left Emmerich
three miles behind US Master Berthe and
I had come to look at n another
meaningly. We were moving in a
dreary, silent procession through heavy
rain, with the prospect Of the night
closing in early. The road. too, grew
more heavy with each furlong and pres
emily began to be covered with pools
OF water. We tried to avoid this incon-
venience by resorting to the hill slopes
on our left, but found the attempt a
waste of time, as a deep stream or
backwater, bordered by marshes, inter-
vened. The narrow road. raised but
little above the level OF the swiftly
flowing river on right. turned out
to be our only possible path, and when
Master BERTHE discerned this his face
grew more and more grave
We soon found, indeed, as we plodded
along that a sheet OF water. which pale
ly reflected the evening light, was TAX
ing the place Of the road, and through
this we had to plash and piash at a
snail's pace, one of the guides on a
pack horse leading the way n Master
BERTHE i'm charge of his wife coming
next; then, at some distance, for her
horse did not take kindly to the water,
the young woman followed in my
care. The other guide brought up the
rear. In his way, stopped constantly
by the fears OF the horses, which were
scared by the, expanse of flood before
them, we crept YEARLY on until the
moon rose. 1t brought, alas! an access
of light, but no comfort. The water
seemed continually to grow deeper, the
current on Jul right swifter, and each
moment / dreaded the announcement
that farther advance was impossible.
1t seemed to have to come to that at
last, for I saw the duchess and her hus-
band stop and stand waiting for. me,
the moonlit surface.
What is to be done?" Master Berthe
called out as we moved up to them.
THE guide tells me that there is a
broken piece Of road in front which will
be impossible with this depth of water"
so standardization, this being true, we
were lost indeed-that for a time /
could not answer. No one had uttered
q word of reproach, but I knew what
they must be thinking. I had brought
them to this. 1t was my foolish insist
ence had done 1t. The poor beast under
me shivered. I struck him with my
heels. I'VE must go forward" l said
desperately. "Or what? What do you
think? Go back?"
STEADY, steady, Master Knight Err
rant" the duchess cried in her calm,
brave voice. 81 never knew you so bad
a counselor before!"
1T is my fault that you are here" 1
said, looking dismally around.
Perhaps the other road is as bad"
Master BERTHE replied. AT any rate,
that is past and one The question is,
What are we to do now? To remain
here is to die of cold and misery. To
go pack may be to run into the enemy's
arms. To go forward
VIII be to be drowned" Mistress
Anne cried. with a pitiful sob.
/ could not blame her. A more gloomy
outlook h ours, as we sat on our
Jaded horses in the middle of this waste
of waters, which appeared, in the moon
light to be ~boundless. could scarcely be
imagined. The night vas cold for the
time of year, and the keen wind pierced
our garments and benumbed our limbs.
At any the rain might begin
afresh and the moon be overcast. OF
ourselves, we could not take a step
without danger. and our guides had
manifestly lost their heads and longed
only to return.
yet I am for going forward" the
duchess urged. IF there be but this
one bad place, we may pass 1t with
care"
I'VE may her husband assented du-
biously. But suppose when we have
passed II we can go no farther. Sup
pose the
at Is nc good supposing!" she retort-
! ed, with some sharpness. Let as cross
this place first, Richard, n we will
deal with the other when we come to
| it," M
, He nodded assent, and we moved
| slowly forward, compelling the guides
to go first. In this order we waded
some hundred yards through water
which grew deeper with each step,
until 1t rose nearly to our girths. Then
7 the lads stopped.
} Are we over" said the duchess,
eagerly.
For answer one Of them pointed tc