The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-04-24
CHAPTER III.
Without Fear.

Without Fear.
The glider was at work gliding the
great ball on top of the church steeple.
Every twenty years this had to be
done, and it was an event in the vii
lage Moreover, it was dangerous, and,
like all dangers, fascinating.
The boys of vicques stood in groups
in the street with their heads bent
back, watching the tiny figure Of a
man that crept up an invisible ladder
far in the air, dashed to the side of the
steeple. Up and UP it went, like fly,
crawling on the fieche, and there was
sinking feeling in each boys stom-
ach which was delightful, to think how
at any moment that creeping black
spot which was the glider might fall |
down, down, and be dashed to pieces.
Achille Dufour suggested. Even
Francois would not dare climb that |
ladder to the bail. Dare you?"
The great brown eyes of Francois |
turned about the group; the boys wait
ed eagerly for his answer. 1t was al
ways this one who led into the dan
gerous places; always this one who
went a bit further when the others
courage failed.
Il dare" said Francois. Then the
dark heads came together in an I'M
easy mass, and there was whispering.
| At the dinner-hour that day several
mothers of the village remarked that
their small lads were restless, not in
tent as usual on the black bread and
the soup of chopped vegetables and
the green beans-all anxious to finish
and get away. Only the mother OF
Francois, however, reasoned from this
that mischief was brewing. When the
slim, why, little figure slipped from
the table and out through the open
door, she rose and followed and stood
in the great entry watching him race
across the field toward the church He
veered but once in his straight path
to turn to the Prilpoteaux cottage.
where the glider lodged while in Vic
ques.
How soon will one be at work up
there AGAIN." he asked through the
window of Auguste Philpoteaux sit
! ting at his dinner, and the man an
7 swered good-naturedly
ut may be in half an hour, my boy,
Not sooner" And Francois raced on.
, BY this time boy here and boy
; there had stolen from their dinner
tables and were gathering in groups
: down the street, but the elders paid
r no attention. Francois disappeared in
] to the church; the boys began to grow
2 breathless.
e 1T will take some minutes for the
i stairs" one said, and they waited
d Two minutes, three, perhaps i've
e something rose out of the trap-dool
s leading to the platform from which tht
steeple sprang-a figure, looking ver1
d small so far up above them. Instant,
l. it attached itself. like crawling fly
L to the side of the steeple; it moved up
d ward. Henri Dufour, below in tn
8 street, jumped as hand gripped hi
arm. He looked up frightened at Il
4 Claire.
II is that my Francois?" she demand
4 ed sternly. but the boy did not need I
4 answer.
4 With that, by degrees people cam
Y from the cottages as at some myster
Il GUS warning and stood silent, afraid
i breathe. watching the little figur
Il creeping up, up the dizzy narrowin
II peak of the church steeple. ride
a galloped down the road; seeing tn
4 groups, he pulled in his bay horse an
( his ewes followed the upward glanc
of the whole village.
i "Who is it?" he flung at the nearei
! knot of peasants; his voice was abrul
and commanding.
nj The men pulled OF their caps, an
IA one answered respectfully: 1t is i
e tie Francois Beaupre, my seigneur;
aH is a child who has no fear; he is
sI1 most at the top, but we dread it whs
he descends."
mon dieu!' the man on horseba'
growled. IF he looks down he is los
= the lad is born hero or born lun
ng tic"
ed The crawling spot up there shove
dark in the sunlight against the ne
ge gliding of the ball. 1t stopped; Z
nd blot was fixed for a second; anoth
ed. second. From the crowd rose gasI
ed and excited broken sentences.
m. "He has the vertigo! He is lost
it'll The dark blot chung against the gi
ass ing. Then suddenly it moved, beg
He to make a slow way downward, and
long sigh, like ripple on water, T
81 through the ranks of people. No o
t spoke; all the eyes watched the lit
figure slip down. down the unseen Ii
hat der in the air. AT last it was at
eg" bottom; it disappeared into the tn
lr," door. Every one began to talk volu'
us. at once; woman cried for JOY. thel
e a child spoke in high voice.
her See" she said skrilly. "the mott
of Francois goes to meet him."
on LIE Claire was far down the sire
the gliding toward that church d