The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-04-24


little open space they satisfied them
selves that he was not following them
"We've passed our landing place,
said Hilary.
Looking out across the gray waters
he perceived, close at hand, and ap
parently beached on the shore, thu
white sail of sloop. 1t seemed to b.
the vessel which they had seen earlier
that afternoon, lacking toward thu
| south shore.
The men looked at each other, an(
the same unspoken question was II
the eyes of each. Then LATE grabbed
Hilary by the shoulders.
"See here!" he said. Eve amt go
ing to stay and fight Brousseau's gant
| just for the fun Of it. / guess it's
Pierre and Leblanc in that boat al
right, and that they're on their way
home. We beat it for ours as hard as
we can go-see? You amt fit to de
no more fighting anyway" he pleaded
"And I won't, no matter what happens
that's straight to you. I'll fight any
man with fists If I got to, but Tn
darned if I'll stand up against that
scum with camp knives"
you're quite right, Lafe," answered
Hilary. "Come, let's get to the boat as
quick as we can"
But as they started there rang out q
woman's cry. Again came the scream
and in an instant, forgetful of their
resolution, they had turned and raced
back along the trail.
Not many steps, and, breaking
through the trees, they saw Marie Du-
pont struggling in Pierre's arms, while
Leblanc and Nanette stood near them,
laughing.
LATE leaped at Pierre, and his bony
fist caught the outlaw beneath the
chin. Pierre went down in a heap.
Hilary made for Leblanc, whose ex-
preston would, under other circum-
stances, have been comical in its sur
prise.
He turned upon the girl and
knocked her down savagely. Then.
without another glance at Hilary, he
made for the sloop.
Leaving Pierre where he had fallen,
LATE Joined in the pursuit. But LIE
blanc had several yards start, and his
experience of Hilary's prowess lent
wings to his feet. He plunged into the
water and, by a miracle of strength,
swung the sloop clear of the sand on
which she had been beached. AS the
vessel was carried clear by the swift
flowing tide the ex-jobber scrambled
aboard, dripping, and pushed off with
the oar. Lafe and Hilary stood. baf-
fed, upon the brink of the water.
while Leblanc, at an ever increasing
distance. began to put up the sail,
shouting back defiant curses mean
while.
They heard sound Of feet upon
the single behind them, and turned
quickly. It was Pierre, but he was
boiling for the woods. They ran at
him. but he had gained the shelter Of
the trees, and it was growing too dark
to follow. They stopped and looked
back. Leblanc was now quite dis
lance from the island, and making for
the north shore upon the incoming
tide.
Lets CO." said Hilary, and he took
Marie gently by the arm. She went
with him obediently, and LATE fol-
lowed with Nanette, whose lip was
bloody from Leblanc's blow.
Tho lido uyoc 20; III &ox
Boniface. 1t was almost dark now,
but the wind had died away and the
stars were brilliant. Hilary. taking
on his overcoat, wrapped it about
Marie. The girls bewilderment had
yielded to abject gratitude. She
raised Hilary's hand to her lips and
pressed it. Beside her Nanette,
wrapped in Lafe's waterproof, was
sobbing wildly and wiping her
wounded lip. The words that passed
were drowned in the sound Of the lap
ping waves before they reached the
ears Of Louis, at the tiller.
snow, what happened?" asked Hill
airy of Marie. .Tell me, and wen
clap those ruffians into Jail, assure
you. How did they get you into that
boat?"
Marie sobbed out her explanation;
but when Hilary gathered, with diff
Guilty from the broken words, STAN
mered in French, that she had gone
aboard with Pierre to marry him in
Quebec, he could hardly believe his
ears.
sand your father knows nothing of
this?" he inquired. when she had
ended.
'He knows nothing, monsieur. All,
monsieur, you saved me before, and l
Il was ungrateful. Promise me,
swear to me, that be shall never
know!"
"And you, Nanette," continued Hill
airy, addressing the weeping girl,
what have you to say, who lured her
here, knowing this?
Il Gid not know, monsieur" cried
Nanette. "Pierre told me that If I
bring her he would get me back my
Leblanc, eh?"
"Oui, monsieur. Then he take me
to Quebec, and we get married. And
he promised me wedding ring of