Year: 1859

direct and powerful agent that could
cause death in so strange manner.


l had crossed the little cascade of
Saint Esprit, and was descending a
short, steep hillside, when l saw a boy
by the roadside, at the foot of the des-
cent, engaged in whipping a mule. He
was a slightly built fellow, not more than
fifteen years of age, and his coarse gar
ments were covered with meal. / knew
that there was a mill upon branch of
the Verdon, not far back, and / supposed
he might be the miller's boy. As 1 came
nearer, saw large sack upon the
ground, close by where the mule stood.


What's the matter, my boy ?" 1
asked, as ] drew up near him.


This ugly mule has thrown both me
and my bag of corn from his back" the
boy answered.


Are you hurtT l continued.


"My left shoulder is hurt" he said.
I" and 1 can't lift this sack again. If
Monsieur would help me, / would be
very grateful"


Until this moment, the idea of sus-
pecting the boy had not entered my
head; but the suspicion flashed upon me
now. He was altogether too keen a
looking fellow for miller's apprentice.
He gave me a glance from pair of
quick, sharp eyes, that meant more than
he had spoken. And then, if / had not
been very much mistaken, had seen
him holding his mule firmly with that
left hand.


l leaped from my saddle, and moved
towards the boy, being careful to watch
his every movement.


Now" said he, if you will take
hold of that end, we will put it on."-
He lifted at the other end, and pretend
ed that it hurt his shoulder and he beg
ged of me to lift it on alone.


professed to be willing to comply,
and stopped down for that purpose,
keeping my head in such position that
could watch by a sidelong glance. As l
bent over and took hold of the sack, l
saw him carry his hand to his bosom,
and draw something out. l saw his
dark eye flash, and heard his quick,
eager breathing. In an instant l seized
his wrist, and bent it upward, and as I
did SO, heard sharp report, ike the
explosion of a percussion cap, and saw
a tiny wreath of smoke curl up from the
hand l held. He struggled to free him
self from my grasp, but 1 held him with
a grip OF iron, and fastened my gaze up
on him.


"Pve found you, have II" 1 said,
drawing one of my pistols, and cooking
it. 81 will simply inform you, that l
am an officer of the Prefecture, and that
l have been hunting for you. Just Of
fer particle more of resistance, and a
bullet goes through your brain! Now
give me that weapon"


.


The boy was frightened, and trembled
violently.


" 1t is only tobacco-pipe," he said, as
he handed it to me.


And certainly, it looked like nothing
more; but l had seen enough of it to
know that evil was in it. 1t appeared to
me to be an ordinary meerschaum pipe,
the bowl being colored as though by long
use-only the amber mouth-piece was
missing. / did not stop to examine it
then, but turned my attention to its own
er. / saw that he was still trembling
with fear, and knew that now would be
the time to work upon him.


So you are selling your soul to Mon.
sieur Louis Cazaubon ?" / remarked
by way of letting him know that / wa:
thoroughly informed.


i He started, and I saw very plainly
that be knew just what ] meant but hc
tried to recover himself, and clumsily as
serted that he did not know anything
about the individual / had named.


You needn't lie to me-" / sternly re
piled, for l know all about it. Louil
Cazaubon has been watched by me wher
he didn't dream of such thing. HI
} thought was a tradesman. But you arr
young, and would save you. Confes
every thing to me, and ] promise 20,
that your life shall be spared"
/ saw that the boy wayered, and
: followed up mY advantage; and ere lonl
l had him bent TO my wishes. mad,
! him understand that / held his life in M
} hands; that could protect him from tb
vengeance Of any one whom he nigh
criminate and that he had everythin,
; TO gain, and nothing to lose, by a ful
, confession. He came to il gradually an
: reluctantly but my wit finally triumph