Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 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 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
l had come TO look at one another
meaningly. We were moving in a
dreary, silent procession through heavy
rain, with the prospect of the night
closing i'm 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-
V%enience by resorting TO the hill slopes
on our left, but found the attempt a
waste of time. as n 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
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 plash at a
snail's 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 were
scared by the eXpanse of God before
them, we crept wearily on until the
moon rose. 1t brought, alas! an access
of light, but no comfort. The water
seemed continually TO grow deeper, the
current III our right swifter. and each
moment / dreaded the announcement
that farther advance was impossible.
1t seemed 10 nave TO come to that at
last. for | saw the duchess and her hus-
band stop and stand waiting for me,
their oark shadows projected far over
the moonlit surface.
What is 10 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. I"
| had expected to hear this, yet | was
so dumfounded-foT, this being true, we
We're lost ~indeed-that for a time /
could not answer. No one had uttered
4 word of reproach. but / knew what
they must be thinking. had brought
them TO this. 1t was my foolish insist
eHce had done IL. This poor beast under
me shivered. / struck him with my
heels. we must go forward" / said
desperately. "Or whatg What do you
think? Go baek?"
steady, steady, Master Knight Err
ranti'' the duchess cried In her calm,
brave voice Il never knew you so bad
a counselor b~efore,"
1T Is my fault that you are here /
/ said. looking dismally around.
Perhaps the other roa Is as bad
Master BERTHE replied. AT any rate,
hat is past and gone. The question is,
What are we to do now? To remain
here is TO die OF cold and misery. To
go hack may be. TO run into the enemy's
arms. To go forward
'.yVill be to be drowned" Mistress
Anne cried. with a ritiful sob.
I could not blame her. A more gloomy
outlook than ours. as we sat on our
faded horses in the middle OF this waste
OF waters, which appeared In the loon
light TO be boundless, could scarcely be
imagined. The night was cold for the
time of year, and the keen wine pierced
Our garments and benumbed our limbs.
AT any momen the rain might begin
! afresh and the moon be overc~ st. OF
| ourselves. we could not take a step
without danger. and our guides had
manifestly lost their heads and longed
only TO return.
"Yet l am for going forward" the
duchess urged. IF there be but this
one bad place. we nay pass 1t with
care
I'VE may" her husband assentcd du-
biously. But suppose when we have
passed II we can so no farther. Sup
pose the
1T Is no good supposing,i she retort-
ed. with some sharpness. Let us cross
tbs place first. Richard, and we will
deal with the other when we come tc
III IL.
He nodded assent, and we moved
slowly forward, compelling the guides
to go nrst. In his order we waded
some hundred yards through waite,
which grew deeper with each step
until It rose nearly TO our girths. Their
the lads stopped.
Are we overe' said the duchess
eagerly.
For answer one Of them pointed /.