The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-01-30
CHAPTER iV.-Continued.

DuckhurSt looked AT me, long
enough to see that the end OF his rope
had come. Then he slowly turned his
deadly eyes on the girl before him.
Scarlet to the roots of her hair, she
stood there. utterly stunned. Then
the sudden double beat of horses
hoofs broke out along the avenue be-
low, and, through the red sunset
saw dozen horsemen come scamper-
ing up the drive toward us. At the
same moment I stepped out into the
driveway to signal the riders, raising
my hand.
Instantly a pistol fiashed--then an
other and another, and q dozen harsh
voices shouted: "Houura Hourra.
Preussen!"
Mile tonnerre," roared belmont;
'the Prussians are here!"
Look out! Stand back there! Get
the women back" | cried, as an
Uhlan wheeled his horse straight
through bed OF geraniums and fired
his horse pistol at me.
belmont dragged the young Count
ess to the shelter of an elm; Sylvia
Elven and Tavernier followed; Buck
hurst ran to the carriage and leaped
I'm.
mo resistance" beloved belmont,
as Bazard snatched up the pistol
had taken from Buckhurst. But the
invalid had already fired at horse
man, and had gone down under the
merciless hoofs with lance through
his face.
My first impulse was to shoot Buck
hurst, and l started for him. / ran
past Bazard's trampled body and fired
at an Uhlan who had seized the
horses which were attached to the
carriage where Buckhurst sat-
Again | ran around the wagon,
through a clump OF syringa bushes,
and up the stone steps to the terrace,
and after me galloped one of those in
comparable cossack ridersx-an Uhlan.
lance In rest, setting his wiry little
horse to the stone steps with a loud
"IIourra!"
1t was too steep a grade for the
gAilant horse. | flung my pistol in
the animals face and the poor brute
reared straight up and fell backward,
rolling over and over with his unfol~
tunate rider, and falling with a tre-
mentlous splash into the pool below
In Gods name stop that" roared
Delmpnt from below. Give up, Scar
lett! They mean US no harm!"
Come down, hussar!" called an Of
deer. 1--WE respect your uniform"
will you parley?" / asked. listen
ing ingently for the gallop of my
promised gendarmes. Ii could only
gain ti,pe and save Buckhurst.
"FoulsZ-fous fous rendre? Oui gu
non?" shouted the officer, in his ter
rlble French.
"E'h bsen. mont" cried, and
doorway they shot at me, but l only
fed the Easter, springing up the stair
way. Here l stood, saber in hand,
ready to stop the first man.
Up the stairs rushed three Uhlans,
sa0ers shining in the dim light from
the window behind me; / laid my
forefnger fiat on the blade of my
saeer and shortened my arm for a
thrust-thsn there came binding
flash, roar, and / was down, trying
to rise, until a clinehed fist struck
me in the face and / fell fiat on my
back.
They got me out to the terrace, and
{.AI IN Ior 1f 4,
men brought cup of water from the
pool
Herr Ritmeister." | said, family, 81
had prisoGer here; he should be in
the carriage. Is he?"
The officer walked briskly over to
the carriage Nobody here but two
women and a scared peasant" he
called out.
Two soldiers lifted me again and
bore me away In the darkness. | was
perfectly conscious.
And all the while I was listening for
the gallop OF my gendarmes. not that
i cared very much. now that Buck
hurst was gone.
Suddenly the chapel bell OF La
Trappe rang out a startling peal: the
Prusslsn captain shouted: stop that
bell! Shoot every civilian in the
house," But the Uhlans. who rushed
up the terrace. found the gteat doors
bo,ted and the lower windows
screened with steel shutters.
On tho battlements of the south
wing red radiance grew brighter;
somebody had thrown wood into the
iron basket of the ancient beacon
end set fire to it,
THAT teaches me lesson." ha-sed