Chapter XV. " A Rescue, Gentlemen 1"

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 39

Chapter XV. " A Rescue, Gentlemen 1"

Monsieur Berfcin and bis friends bad not recovered from their amazement and alarm at the revelations of the Swiss soldier who could speak Frenoh whan Pierre was mysteriouklj called from the 100 mby Jean. It was to receive Jocepb, the Duke's valet. " You see, Master Pierre," he said, " I dressed thß Count, and while be made hia toilet he told me> what had been dene in Paris. Monsieur Grebauval I have known since* I was a lad. He bates the Count. The Duke hates Monsieur Grebauval. Mademoiselle is of the same opinion. Madame la Duchesse fears him. A. sergeant of the National Guard posted at the gates of the Chateau was at the same 6chool with me. He said nearly every nobleman with the King bad been betrayed and killed. I never doubted that our dear Count was wrong not to let Monsieur le Vicomte Languedoc and bis illustrious company fight for his liberty and the honour of the name. It was mademoiselle who influenced him. Ladies aro naturally timid. But he is goitig to bis death, depend upon it. They will butcher him in the Btreets ; the sergeant as good as said so. ' Detain them, nevertheless,' was written on the paper Grebauval gave to the commissary. lam ahead of them. Rudolphe and Lejjp, the postilions, will throw the horses down, so that mademoiselle and the Duke may bo compelled to remain at the Lion dOr, if you agree. I have run on for your advice." " Joseph, you confirm all my fears," said Pierre. "Come into the house. A brave company of tho Count's friends and the Duke's are within." Taking Joseph by the arm, he hurried him into the house. " Messieurs," he said, " this is Monsieur le Due's confidential servant. The Count is on the road, a prisoner. Following him are the Duke and mademoiselle. They are betrayed. The Deputy Grebauval gives them a false passport. The commissary is .his creature. He has his secret orders to detain them on their arrival in Paris. The Count's friend*, with the Vicomte Languedoc, would have resisted the arrest, but were over -persuaded by mademoiselle and the Duke, who relies upon the justice of the Government and the protection of the Sing. His Majesty, as

monsieur the Swiss Guard tells us, retreated to the Hotel de Villa. If the King is a prisoner, will they spare the Duke 1 Will they spare mademoiselle 1 If it was a crime to defend the Ktng, for which his Majesty's troops and his Majesty's personal friends have been sacrificed, what is Monsieur the Count to expeot ? " " Death t " said Monsieur Galetierre. " Gentleman, our mission to St. Germain is too late. Oar place is either in Pailb or on the frontier." "We must keep our rendezvous at Bfc. Germain. Oar friends will await us there ; it is of the gravest importance that we do not disappoint them. If we ooald take the Duke atd the Count with us they would strengthen our council." " A rescue, gentlomen 1 " exclaimed the elder Dolauny— " a repcue ! " at which those who had not already risen to their feet got up with a clatter of sworda and spun*. " ' What become* of tbe noble«gc if they do not stacd by their order?' is what Monsieur le Vicomto said, " s'il vous plait, messieurs,' remarked Joseph. " Again my father's last wo'rdj," said the younger DeUuny. " A rescue, gentlemen I " All eyes turned to Monsieur Bortin. 11 It is a seriona step," ho said. " Far more serious tt we allow the martyrdom of this unhappy day to be swollen with blood we ne«d ; far more seriou3 to fling that sweet creature, tho betrothed of our friend Hanri, into tbe brutal arms of the treacherous Grebauval," said Gaietierre. '• Yes, yes 1 " shouted every voice save that of Monsieur Berlin. " A rescae I " tihouted Dulaauy, nnd " Vive le Roil" Galetlerro and tbe Swibs soldier, who was burning wits a desire to avenga his massacred countrymen or die in the attempt. " Then be it so, gentlemen," said Monsieur Bertin. "Tohowe 1 " " Delauny fcioe for our captain ," said MonBieur Gtiilleberfc. " Agreed 1 " cauae the hearty response \ and the young officer of dragoons led the way to the stables. In a few minutes they were mounted and in the road. The night had grown lighter; the orescent moon shone like a jewel, with a few scattered diamonds here and theie. "At the bend of the road, by the foreet," said Pierre, " would bo a good station for action." 11 Lead on, then," Baid tho captain. "If we tight, let each man mark down his quarry." " We shall attack on foot," said the Swiss soldier, giving iuitruotions to bis comrades in their native language. They had baroly halted in tbo shadow of the wood when tho lights of tho flambeaux of tb« gendarmerie came in sighL " Tho CoHot, disarmed, is between two soldiers," said Joswph, who bad run by tha aide of the elder Delauny, whose brother, the sous-lieutenant, whiuporod, " Thanks, mbsuieurs, for your torches ; we ehall suo your vllUinous faooß tbe better." "Bid them stand, Delauny, and demand their prisoners. If thoy deliver them, well i if not, we must take them." " Right," said Dslauny. ■ " And you, Joseph, look to your master, and tell the postilion to diive like mad for tbe bridge, and thence to StJSexmain." By this time the gendarmes and tbeit prisoner bad entered tha bend of the road, wh«r« the reecuirg party was posted. H Monsieur Benin, my brother, and yora, | Monßieur Galetierro, will advance with me ; the rest await tbe word of command ; it will be, " A rescue ! " On came tho troop of gendarmes, and forward went the four royalUta. " Stand, tneseieurji 1 " said Dolauny aloe, reigning up his borne against tho flambeaux, which suddenly seemed to dance. "Wo demand the release of your prisoner." " Who are you ? " shouted the captain of the guard, riding up. "Loyal gentlomen of Franoo," laid Delarniy. "Then reapecb the law," said tho oommUsary, pulling up his steed by the side of tbe officer. " When you set us the example," replied [ Delauuy. " We sue its officer*," said tbe captain. " And wa it* def endtrs. FUleaeo Monaieui the Count de Fournier." " Comrades," said the captain, drawing hia sword, " prepare for action ! " There was a sudden olatter of accoutrements. •• Gentlemen," shouted De Fournier, " stay your hands." 11 De Fournier, you are betrayed," replied Delauny ; " you are golDg to your deatb. The comis«ary has Grebauval's orders to imprison the Duke and mademoiselle." "Itis a lie 1 " said the commissioner. "It is the truth, dear Monsieur le Comte," said the voice of Joseph, as if from the earth. "It is written; the commissary has the paper I " " We waste ti<r.e," said Delauny. "We do," said the captain, who had brought his company into line. " Present I Fire I " The order was sudden, but the volley was not delivered before " A resoue 1 " brought the reserve on the scene pell-mell ; and the intentionally murderous volley — olumsily fired, the "Ready!" not being givenmissed its aim, witb the exception of tearing a oap here aad there, and slightly wounding Delauny, which only gave an added f ary to his onslaught. In a moment Bertin and Galetierre were in the thick of the fighting, and the Swiss, with a wild cry, rushed upon the enemy, dragging the captain from his horße and butchering him as he fell. Delauny, with a shout of " Vive le Roi I " want 101 l tilt upon the commissary and unhorsed him with a blow that cut him down through tha shoulder. One of the gendarmeß guarding De Fournier fired bis pistols at the prisoner, who was down with the shock before the fight may be said to have fairly bagun ; but only one charge had struck him, the bullet hitting him obliquely and wasting itself upon his hat — a marvellous escape, ■which argaed favourably for the activity of his guarding angel. He was no sooner down than Pierre picked him up. "No, not hurt," be said, "only shinned Give me your arm." "And here's the beggar's sword. Bate Pierre, helping the Count to rfcmnnnt. ma

dragging forth the sword o! the gendarme, whom he had felled with the butt end of his pistol. " Back to the Chateau 1 " screamed the botgeant of the gendarmes, galloping from the field. " Help from the National Guard I " Bfcd away went the UDhoreed half of the defeated troop. "The Duke and Mathilda?" said De ITonrnler. " Here, Monsieur le Oomte," said Joseph. They were both in the road, the maid remaining huddled up ia a corner of the carriage, her head bidden among the Cushions. •• Henri ! " exclaimed Mathilde. The Count leaped from his saddle. "My fleareat, back into your carriage." "And back to the Chateau," said the Duke. 41 Oh, no, monsieur," said Joseph. " You Are ordered to La Force or the Abbayo or the Conctergerie, God knows ! " "Monsieur le Doo's carriage forward for the rendezvous. Joseph knows the way. Poßtilionp, a pocketful of crowns for ycur best speed." The words acted like magic. The Duke was hustled into the carriage, and Mathilde by his Bide. "Away for St. Germain," whispered Joseph to the postilions, who, putting spurs Into their horses, quickly bad the family ohariot fairly leaping on its way, and went pell-mell along the highroad, speedily pasaing the Lion dOr, Joseph in the boot, De Foamier and Monsieur Bertin galloping one as advance, the other as rear guard. •• Now, gentlemen," Baid Delauny, " are wo nil on muster 7 All mounted ? " " Except the Swiss." " Any wounded 1 " « One killed," said Pierre—" the Swiss ; five of the enemy." " Damn the enemy ! " said Delauny, " Any of ours who cannot travel ? " " None," said his brother ; " a cut or two— none to bad that we cannot be our own anrg"ons." " Vary well. Mount the two Swies." One of tho King's old gaard took the captain's horse ; the other bestrode that of the commissary, who lay gasping out his life in the blood of his military companion. , " Muster complete, gentlemen 1 " aeked Delauny. " Only short of the dead Swiss." " Place him before one of his comrades; we will give him honourable burial." Jean, who had proved his loyalty and his valour to the satisfaction of big master, assisted Pierre to lift the dead body ia front of the Swiss who rode the captain's horse. " Ready, gentlemen 1 " " Ready all I " shouted his brother. " Forward, then, for the rendezvous ; and Zide like the devil 1 " (7*o be continued.)