The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-10-30
CHAPTER II.
A Squadron Of Guards

A Squadron Of 0uards
I must have slept for hours. for
when I did awake the sun was In
the west. All was still.
Feeling hungry again. Isdescend-
ed to the deserted room below.
helping myself to food and drink.
II was some hours until night.
and after eating, I lay down on q
bench TO wait the shadows, en-
deavoring to revive some definite
memory Of the country I must
traverse thru the dark. II was
vague enough. that road to Paris.
only I would be safer to ride be-
tween Douai and valenoisnnes,
both OF which would contain garri-
sons. Once beyond Lourches, I
might proceed at ease. fSoothI It
did not look to be so hard q task.
and l closed my eyes again.
/ must have slept, for the tram
pling of horses without, and the
tone Of loud voice, startled me to
my feet. There were men outside,
and hcrses-how many l could not
Judge. Whoever they were they
must be soldiers and enemies, and
backed toward the ladder leading
to the loft. I was half way up
when hand roughly shook the
door; then q heavy boot crashed
against 1t.
They've barred the door, sir"
said coarse English voice.
Then your kicking is waste Of
good leather" and I could distin-
guish the Jingle of a steel scab-
bard. as the leader swung down
from his saddle. Look about for
something with which to force the
lock. Once inside. and we have
the CASTLE"
Taking advantage of the noise to
conceal my own movements,
crept into the attic. I could hear
as plainly as In the room below.
My heart beat rapidly, for I fully
the peril which
would follow my discovery. The
Austrlans, or Hollanders, would
have served me better than these
brawling English. They would
show small mercy to one wearing
my uniform.
And what could they be doing
there? Twas said in camp the
duke of Cumberland was to the
north, yet here surely was a squad
ron of Guards.
I could distinguish the move
ments below as they all tumbled
into the taproom.
Saunders" called the voice OF
the officer, start fire In the
CRATE, man. and Austen make q
search for lights. What think you
has become of mine host?"
Frightened away by our last
visit, no doubt Captain" replied
laughing. "He was a cow
ardly fool, and the Lambs were
frolicsome. l wonder what the
louis did with the body"
"Ah! faith, but I had forgotten
that, Dorm. Here, two of you men;
flash lanthorn up the ladder
there, and see IL there be a body
above. II 80, pass 1t outside"
| could see the faint glimmer of
light as the fellows came thru the
opening I lay motionless, for |
recognized them now as a detach-
ment of Shepard's Lambs, and
knew my death warrant signed
were l once discovered. They
flashed the lanthorn my way, but
the pile of quilts caught their at
tention first, and thus they came
upon the corpse with no delay. And
they made little enough of their
job. thrusting the body down the
ladder into the grasp Of others be-
low.
The captain halted the squad,
and must have stepped up to have
glimpse at the dead mans face, for
l heard him say:
Its the fellow, Dorm. I wish
he'd lived that ] might question
him about the mission of my lady,
for never was there a hussy with
q tighter lip. Ay! bury him; back
a bit from the road. Go with them
yourself, Dorm, and then bring In
the princess-for tits my humor
she sup with two of us here"
Am | to bury the body first
Captain Awlrigbt?"
"St. Christopher - yes! She
doesn't know the man ia dead, nor
what he may have told us. I'll
match her wits, the vixen, before
she faces the duke"
Encouraged by the shuffling OF
feet, l crept across to the head of
the ladder. Here, crouched in the
darkness, / could gaze down on the
scene in the room below with slight
danger Of discovery.
The glow Of the fire lighted the
apartment. A soldier still poked
this into brighter flame. while an
other was busy at the taproom
kegs. Their uniform was that Of
the English Guard.
The officer sprawled on the
bench, bottle and glass already be-
fore him. He was a man of 40. |
judged, . big fellow, with dark
mustache. His uniform. well worn
by campaign, had evidently been
cut by . master-tailor. The day
must have gone well with him, for
he was in rare good humor.
Some tang to that stuff, Saun-
ders," he commented gayly. These
Frenehmen know good wine. You
must have found mine hosts pri-
yate stock. Ills to be hoped 1t