Evening star., 1909-05-16

who knows?-is hardly to be justified be-
tween gentlemen. But l shall be pleased to
hear what monsieur has to say, if he will be SO
kind as to say it with-with-wh is it you say
in English ?-suddenness.
Tell me first why you wish to capture me-,
asked Henry, smiling at the Frenchman's sud
denness. "
A H Monsieur's request is not at all unex-
= pected, and it is so reasonable that should
gladly make full answer, if it would be-if it
what would you English say?-would be-to
the expediency. But my heart is sore because
cannot tell it to you
DO YOU expect to rob me?'' asked Henry,
feeling sure, however, that robbery was not the
purpose. ... os
mother forbid" answered the Frenchman.
DO you expect to hold me for ransom?'
quered Henry. If SO, you will be disappolnt-
ed; for | poor as church mouse, and all
my friends could not raise a hundred plstoles.
No, no, 1t is not ransom we want, answered
the Captain protestingly 1t is only monsieur
monsieur himself You will pardon me, but
it NAV reassure monsieur il | tell him that we
know he is poor devil who must coin his sword
into crowns and pistoles If he would have
money Yes, we know monsieur,-l should say
'meester'; that is the way you English speak
tive know meester has no money that he
would not give to us for the asking if we needed
it. In our brief comradeship we have learned
that he is generous. We have learned to love
shall put money in his purse rather than take it
from him.
Take our horses, our arms, and my purse,
and let us go our way. There is more money IN
the purse than you suppose, said Henry, ceas-
ing to be amused by the Captain polite speeches
and tossing the purse at the fellows feet.
No, no! We have horses and arms to
spare" returned the Captain, " and as for your
purse, keep it, and we shall put more gold in it
if need be"
TT Co,+o;, +oo1, tho ,,,,rea from the cnow
and returned it to Henry. The situation was
becoming bewildering to the young man. He
could not surmise his captors' ultimate purpose.
IF your purpose is neither robbery nor ran
son. tell me what IN the devil name you 90
want with mel" demanded Henry, smiling in
spite of suppressed anger. Do you believe
that l am a criminal? Do you imagine that
YOU know me!
Henry knew that the ruffians did not know
him; for the French Captain evidently sup
posed he was an Englishman.
Indeed we do not believe that meester IS
criminal. We know that he is not, We like
him. and we want him to go with US, because
because we want the pleasure of his company.
That is why we are taking you; at least, that IS
all the why / can give you.
You know nothing of me. You do not even
know where am from, insisted Henry
Nor do we want to know, answered the
fellow. "Meester may be English. Who can
tell? But in view of the uses to which he will
be put, it is greatly to our interest not to know
what he is nor where he is from, and, though
the information would be pleasing to us. we beg
that he will not honor us with it. Monsieur is
himself, and that is all sufficient for us to
know"
Where do you propose to take me!" asked
Henry.
"Ah! Monsieurs request is SO reasonable
that to refuse is to pain" responded the Cap
TAIN bowling before Henry But pardon my
seeming discourtesy. / cannot give you light.
You will learn all these interesting facts from
my master after-after long journey. If you
have any more reasonable questions, beg you
to make haste; for we must be travelling.
The Captain was beginning to show his teeth.
"One more" answered Henry. What are
you going to do with my servant?"
''Ah at last there is to me OF pleasure, re-
sponded the French Captain. You ask to me
a question that can answer. 1t will be to de-
tanned your servant for an hour after we have
resumed our journey: then it will be to relieved
him of his arms and to warn him not to follow
us on pain of death Then he will be directed
to tell your friends that you have been captured
by band of kind hearted brigands"
MAY l have word with my servant!"
asked Henry.
Mon Dien! You again give me pain. /
grieve, l weep, L"
oh well, let start at once, interrupted
~ Henry IF poor old Peter is to be kept
here in the cold for an hour after we start, he
will be frozen if we don't go Immediately.
Will you give him this silver? / fear the old