The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-06-12
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 cloak before him, and
thus burdened could not we'll go beyond
a smooth anble. while the guides. who
were on foot. INC the pack horses found
this pace as much as they could nam
age. A little while, and the exhilara-
morning was followed by a wet even
ing. and before we had left Enmerich
three miles behind US Master BERTHE n
l had come to look at one another
meaningly. We were moving IN a
dreary. silent procession through heavy
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 u
waste of time, rs 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 our right. turned out
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
NM wv AAsAN w 'tioA dlHN pittSll az ii
snails pace. one of the guides on a
pack horse leading the way and Master
BERTHE in charge of his wife coming
next; then. at some distance. for her
horse did not take kindly to the water,
the younger woman followed in my
care. The other guide brought up the
rear. In this way. stopped constantly
by the fears of the horses. which We're
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 or our right swifter. and each
moment I dreaded the announcement
that farther advance was impossible.
1t seemed to ave to come to hat at
last. for l saw the duchess and her hus-
band stop and stand waiting for me.
their dark shadows projected far over
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"
l had expected to hear this. yet L was
so standardization, this being true, we
We're lost indeed-that for a time
could not answer. No one had uttered
u word of reproach, but l knew what
they must be thinking. 1 a brought
them to this. 1t was my foolish insist
ence had done 1t. The poor beast under
me shivered. l struck him with my
heels. I'VE must go forward" 1 said
desperately. "Or what? What do YOU
think? Go back?"
STEADY. steady. Master knight Err
rant" the duchess cried in her calm,
brave voice. Il never new you SO bad
a counselor before!!"
1T is my fault that you are here"
said. looking dismally around.
Perhaps the other road is as bad"
Master BERTHE replied. any rate,
that is past and gone. The question is,
What are we to do now? To remain
here is to die of cold and misery. TIC
go back may be to run into the enemy.s
arms. To &c forward
VIII be to be drowned" Mistress
Anne cried, with Il pitiful sob.
l could not blame her. A more gloomy
outlook than ours. as we sat on oul
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 was cold for the
time of year, and the keen vino pierced
our garments and benumbed our limbs
AT any m h rain might begir
afresh and the noon be overcast. OF
ourselves, we could not axe a ster
lnanifestly lost their heads and longeC
only to return.
yet 1 am for going forward" the
duchess urged. IF there be but this
one PAD place, We may pass 1t will
care"
we may" her husband assented du.
biously. But suppose when we have
passed it we can go no farther. Sup
pose the
cit is no good supposing!" she retort
ed. with some sharpness. Let us eros!
this place first. Richard, and we vii
deal with the other when we COM I,
it,"
He nodded assent, and we moved
slowly forward. compelling the guide.
to go first. In this order we wadee
some ndr yards through watel
which grew deeper with each step
until it rose nearly to our girths. The1
the lads stopped.
Are we over??" said the duchess
eagerly.
For answer one Of them pointed I,