The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-08-06

harness, and voices coming nearer.
With a step backward the landlord
flashed glance from under bushy
brows down the corridor, through the
open door at the end, which gave on
the court of the inn.
Mon dieu!" He faced the three,
standing startled. He spoke fast and
low. Madame, it is a squad of Aus
trian soldiers; they are upon us. What
can we do?" He hesitated only sec
ond. "Bleu-bleu-my horse saddled
under the tree yonder-if one Of the
princes-if the prince" He glanced
uncertainty from one lad to the other.
But the game was out of his hands.
Quicker hands than his had caught the
play. Francois Beaupre, the saber of
the old cavalryman cleaning in his
grasp, sprang to the doorway.
cit is monsieur there who Is the
prince" he explained rapidly to the
landlord. Hide him, take care of him
are gone, see that the prince and the
queen escape. That is for you; you
are responsible"
There was the rush Of flying figure
down the hallway, and out Francois
flashed across broken line of dozen
dismounted riders, straight toward the
landlords horse held by a groom I'M
der the trees. There was shock of
startled silence as the impetuous ap-
partition, saber cleaning at wrist, shot
across the court Then there was a
hubbub of voices, and mass of uni
formed figures fell toward him as he
threw himself on the horse. A sol.
| der caught at the bride. The naked
sword twinkled and the man was un,
| der Bleu-bleu's feet. For second
there was vortex Of men and fran.
tic horse, and riding the storm buoy
ant figure of fury, flashing a blade
with infinite swiftness, this way and
that Then horse and lad shot out
from the living canvas, streaked the
background of trees second and were
gone, and the Austrian troopers scram
bled into their saddles to follow.
Through sun-spotted, breeze-tossed
woods tore the chase; across road
and over low fence, and still Fran
co.'s led, but the heavy horses gained
1t was hopeless hunt, for the land
lords mount was no match for the
big cavalry horses, yet the rider:
light weight and clever horsemanshiI
counted, and it was fully four miles
from the inn when Bleu-bleu stumbled
and fell at a ditch, and Francois
pitched over his head. His lead was
short by now, and they were On hin
in a moment, in a mass; he was seized
by dozen burly Austrians.
The leader took sharp .ook at hin
as he stood painting, staring 6efiantly
what is this?" the Austrian de
manded sternly, and wheeled to ;
trooper in bunch. friedrich, thcl
knowest the cub of the Bonapartes. Il
this lad he?"
And Friedrich lunged forward, gasp
ing, for he had run his horse hard, ant
shook his head. mo, my captain.
have never seen this one"
The boy looked from one to anoth
er Of the threatening group, smiling
composed in spite of his quick breath
ing. The captain took :. step close Il
him and shook his fist in his face.
you have fooled us, yous youn,
game-cock, have you? But wait. D,
you know what we will do to you. yol
bantam of Frenchman? Do you NOV
how we will treat you for this. we Aus
TRANS ?''
Color deepened in his cheeks, an,
Francois drew UP his figure magnif
} Gently.
You may do what you like, Mes
!. sieurs," he said gally st is for you
my part is done. The prince is safe.