D'Ri and I

urnaments of happy song. Of that dinner-party only the count was at breakfast with me. We ate hurriedly, and when we had risen the horses were at the door. As to my own, a ta

im, with D'ri, taking a trail that led north by west in the deep woo

window. I lifted my hat, and put my spurs to the flank with such a pang in me I dared not look again. Save for that one thing, I never felt better. The trail was smooth, and we gal

hed my karkiss in no sech bed as they gin me las' night-softer 'n wind, an' hed sp

e discussed it freely, and made up our minds that if there came any great peri

idday, feeding the horses and o

s he felt the edge of his sabre, "but I 'll be dummed ef it don't

en, roaring with laughter, as the good steel rang and the house trembled. He had been slow to come to it, but had had his try with us, and had learned to take an attack without flinching. I went at him hard for a

riest!"

It was an English officer leaning on his sword, a tall and handsome fellow of so

r," said he, touchin

but stood pullin

dded, smiling, with a

show you

came toward me as he spoke. Then I saw four other Brit

is sabre, he tried to wrench it away. D'ri had begun to shoot, dodging between trees, and a redcoat had tumbled over. I bore in u

hip before I could get my head again. It was no parlor play, I can tell you. We were fighting for life, and both knew it. We fought up and down through brakes and bushes and over stones

ith a fairness I admire when I think of it

im to make

, you young cub," he

was off in a thicket. One of the enemy got out of my way and sent a bullet after me. I could feel it rip and sting in the muscle as it rubbed my ribs. I kept foot an

was up to rough riding and had little fear they would get a sight of me. However, crossing a long stretch of burnt timber, they must have seen me. I heard a crack of pistols far behind; a whiz of bullets over my head. I shook out the reins and let the horse go, urging with cluck and spur, never slacking for rock or hill or swale. I

e-tops. I rolled off my horse, and hooked my elbow in the reins, and lay on my belly, grunting with pain. I felt better, having got my breath, and a rod of beec

l. Where the tree-tops opened, the hill was covered with mossy turf, and there were fragrant ferns on each side of me. The ground was clear of brush and dead timber. Suddenly I heard a voice singing-a sweet girl voice that thrilled me, I do not know why, save that I always longed for the touch of a woman if badly hurt. But then I have felt that way having the pain of neither lead nor steel. The voice rang in the silent woods, but I could see no one nor any sign of human habitation. Shortly I came out upon a smooth roadway carpeted with sawdust. It led through a gr

d one of them say. "H

running off

have not yet forgotten-as she supported me, and wiped the sweat and dust from my face. Then I saw they were the splendid young ladies I h

s good French as I knew. "I have been s

; a gardener and a stable-b

e," said one of the girls, excit

ng upstairs, and they fol

the gardener, who was coming behind-a French

its size and the wealth of its appointments. The young ladies set me down, bidding one to take off my boots,

he other. "What can we do

shirt," said the oth

ot let

wer. "See the blood. Poor

light fingers, but, gods of war! it did hurt me. The bathing done, they bound me big with bandages and left the room until the butler had helped me into bed. They came

ne of them whisp

my soul!" said the

oed to the window. T

at the H

Baroness de Ferre; and thinking of her and of the grat