Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-10

way. / had held to the main road
southwark, being guided In direction
by the sun or the stars. Moreover,
had l made detours, or skirted cities,
Barbemouche might have gone ahead
by the main road and lain In wait
further south for my coming up. for
Frolichard. the peasant, had heard me
tell the woodman my destination. So.
in that first days flight. had trusted
to the speed of my horse, and now
there was some reason to believe that
Barhemouche had abandoned pursuit
as the soldiers had done who chased
me from Paris. And yet, it seemed
to me that this ugly Barbemouche was
not one TO give up his chosen prey SO
soon.
Despite my intention, | fell asleep,
and when l awoke II was daylight. l
sprang up and went cautiously down
stairs. sword in hand. But there was
no danger. Only the host and n SER
want were stirring in the inn. l made
a rapid breakfast, and went TO see my
horse fed. Before the shed, l saw
the young man who had made such
drunken tumult in the kitchen the
previous night. He was just about
to mount his horse: but there was
now nothing OF the roysterer about
his look or manner. lie had restored
neatness to his attire, and his ex-
preston was sedate and humble.
though strength and sturdiness We're
as apparent in him as ever.
"A fine morning" l said. as the
inn-servant brought out my own
horse.
"Yes, monsieur said the young
man, in very respectful tone. "A
sunrise like this is gift from the
good God"
"Yet you look pensive."
"ft is because know how little
deserve such mercy as To live on such
a day" answered the man, gravely;
and he bowed politely, and rode south
ward.
This deyoutuess and humility im-
pressed me as being strangely our
of harmony with the profanity and
the one seemed no less genuine than
the other.
My horse fed, / mounted and rode
after the sturdy youth.
Not far from Mirebeau, happening
to turn my head towards the north,
saw, in the distance, a group OF
horsemen approaching at a steady
gallop. From having looked back at
this group many times during the
preceding day. l had stamped certain
of its figures on my memory, and l
now recognized ii as Barbemouche
and his party.
Another day of it, | said. 10 my
self, and spurred my horse TO a gallop.
An increase in their pace told me
that they in turn bad recognized me.
This grows monotonous," ! mused.
IF there were only fewer of them. or
more of me, / would make a stand.
Presently / came up with the young
man in the brown doublet. lie stared
AZ me with a look OF inquiry as
passed at such speed: then he looked
back and saw the distant horsemeu
coming on at equal speed. He ap-
peared to realize the situation at
1-lancc. Without a word. he gave his
own horse a touch of the spur, with
the manifest intention of Keeping my
company in my fight.
You have a good horse" | said 10
him. at the same time watching him
out OF the corner OF my eye, seeking
some indication that might show
whether. on occasion, he would stand
as my friend or my enemy.
Better than yours, fear, monA
sieur. he replied.
Mine has been hard run, ] said
lightly.
Presently he looked back, and said;
"Ah. the devil! Your friends. back
there. are sending out an advance
guard. Three of them are making a
race of it, to see which shall have the
honor of first Joining YOU.