Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1919-11-29
CHAPTER Vill.
Dreams Of the Night.

JaC0uelinr ana | W"r" together. me
only human beings within "a score of
miles. We were seated side toy side
in the sleigh at which the dog, pulled
steadily.
The mystery of Jacqueline'S rescue
by Captain Dubois had been simple
one. The young man with the mus
tache was certain Philippe LacroiX,
we'll known 10 Dubois, member of
good family but of diSsOlUte habits
lust such a one as Ler0uN found il
convenient to attach TO his political
fortunes by timely financial aid.
There was no doubt that he had
been in New York with LerouX. and
that they had hatched tn" plot To kid
nan Jacuueline after | had been struck
down.
Fortunately for us. LacroiN. ignO-
rant. as was Leroux himself that the
two ships had exchanged roles and du-
ties. took JaCquelne aboard the
Sainte- Vierge. where Captain Dubois,
who was watching in anticipation of
Just such scheme. seized him and
marched him at pistol point to the
house on Paul street, in which LacrOiX
was kept prisoner by friends of Du-
bois until the Sainte-Vierge had sailed.
Dubois left us ut st. Boniface with
a final caution against Leroux. and
proceeded along the shore with his
bags of mail; but first he had salts
factory conversation with VI. DantOn
concerning us.
DantOn. who of course knew Jacque-
line, tool, the opportunity of assuring
me that her father. though recluSe
and Il miSanthrope who had not left
his Seigniory for forty years, was said
10 be n man Of heart and would I'M
douhtedly forgive H.. lie was clearly
under the impression that we were
married and since Dubois had not en-
. lightened him ON this point ! did not
do SO.
". Danton had his sleigh and eight
fine-loOking dogs ready for Us. | pur-
chased these outright in order To carry
no hostages. We took with W. several
days supply of food. little tent
sleeping bags and frozen fish for the
animals.
II was strange situation. II might
easily have become an impossible one
But it was sacred cOmrndeship. refine,
above the love of friend for friend. %
lover for lover. by her faith her help
lessneSs and need.
think that she liked best to sit be
side me in the narrow sleigh and lear
against my shoulder, her physical
WEAKNESS The reflection of her spirit
nal unrest. She did not want to think
and she wanted me to shield her.
But even in this solitude fear drOv
me on, for I knew that RELENTLESS
enemy followed hard after uS. camp
ing where we had camped and reading
the miles between us by the SmoldeI
ing ashes of oursoId fires.
At nightfall I'would pitch he ten
for Jacqu"line aJd place her Sl"epin
bag within, and .hi,e she 81, slept ,ol. won
lie by the huge t're near the dogs, an
we kept watch over her together.
So passed three days and nights.
The fourth short day drew towar
It's end little after four o'clock.
remember that we campcd late fo
the sun had already dipped 10 the lev,
horizon and was casting black, mil,
long shadows across the snow.
hammered I'm the peg; and built
e fire with dry boUCh~, collecting a qual
5 tity of wood ~uIicieA To last UNI
! morning. Then Jacqueline made te
I and We ate our supper and crcDt int
+ our sleeping bags and lay down.
+ could not Sjill my mind. The II
certainty ahead of us the knowled-
Of LcrouN behind tried me ~orcly. an
only JacqueIue'S need sustained II
courage.
As / was on the point of droppir
asleep heard a lone wolf howl fro
, afar. and instantly the pack took I
the cry. one of the dogs, a grea
tawny beast who led them, ere
toward me and put his head down
mine. whimpering. The rest roam,
ceaseIessly about the fire, anSweril
= the VOLTS challenge with deep wo
@ like baying.
S | drew my pistols from the poke
< of my fur coat. II was pleasant
!, handle them. They gave me asst
e ance. We were two fugitiveS in la
G where every mans hand might
a against US, but at least l had I
4 means to guard my own.
I Jacqueline glided. out of the te
r and knelt beside me. putting her ar
about the dogs neck and her ne