The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-09-19
CHAPTER Viii.
Dreams Of the Night.


J%acquellne and l were together, the
only human beings within a score Of
miles. We were seated side by side
In the sleigh at which the dogs pulled
steadily.
The mystery Of Jacqueline's rescue
by Captain Dubois had been a simple
one. The young man with the mus
tache was a certain Philippe Lacroix,
we'll known to Dubois, a member Of a
good family but Of dissolute habits
just such a one as Leroux found 1t
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 Matched the plot to kid
nap J%acquellne after l had been struck
down.
Fortunately for us, Lacrolx, igno-
rant, as was Leroux himself, that the
two ships had exchanged roles and du-
ties, took J%acqueline aboard the
Sainte-Vierge, where Captain Dubois,
who was watching in anticipation of
just such a scheme, seized him and
marched him at pistol point to the
house on Paul street, In which Lacroix
was kept q prisoner by friends of Du-
bols until the Sainte-Vierge had sailed.
Dubois left us ut st. BOniface with
q final caution against Leroux, and
proceeded along the shore with his
bags Of mail but first he had q salts
factory conversation with M. Danton
concerning us.
Danton, who Of course knew Jacque-
line, took the opportunity of assuring
me that her father, though a recluse
and a misanthrope who had not left
his ~seigniory for forty years, was said
to be a man Of heart and would IN
doubtedly forgive us. He a clearly
under the impression that we were
married, and since Dubois had not en-
lightened him on this point l did not
do so.
M. Danton had his sleigh and eight
lne-looking dogs ready for us. l pur-
chased these outright In order to carry
no hostages. We took with us several
days supply Of food, a little tent.
sleeping bags and frozen fish for the
animals.
1t was a strange situation. 1t might
easily have become an impossible one.
But 1t was sacred comradeship, refined
above the love Of friend for friend, Of
lover for lover, by her faith. her help
lessness and need.
I think that she liked best to sit be-
side me In the narrow sleigh and lean
against my shoulder, her physical
WEAKNESS the reflection of her spirit
ual unrest. She did not want to think.
and she wanted me to shield her.
But even In this solitude fear drove
me on. for I knew that a relentless
enemy followed hard after us, camp
ing where we had camped and reading
the miles between us by the smolder-
ing ashes Of our old fires.
At nightfall I would pitch the tent
for Jacqueline and place her sleeping
bag within. and while she slept l would
lie by the huge Are near the dogs. and
we kept watch over her together.
So passed three days and nights.
The fourth short day drew toward
It's end a little after four o'clock. l
remember that we camped late, for
the sun had already dipped to the level
horizon and was casting black, mile
long shadows across the snow.
I hammered In the pegs and built a
Are with dry boughs. collecting a guam
tity Of wood sufficient to last until
morning. Then JacQueline made tea
and we ate our supper and crept into
our sleeping bags and lay down.
I could not still my mind. The un-
certainty ahead Of us, the knowledge
Of Leroux behind tried me sorely. and
only Jacqueline's need sustained my
courage.
Az I was on the point Of dropping
asleep I heard q Isos we'll howl from
afar. and instantly the pack took up