Gerfaut -- Volume 4

ole valley was as fresh and laughing as a young girl who had just left her bath. The rocks seemed

oing, the dogs were starting a concert of irregular barks, and the horses were jumping about, s

face cold, and never removed the wrinkle between his brows. An incident, perhaps sadly longed for, but unhoped for, increased this gloomy, melancholy expression. Just as the cavalcade passed before the English garden, which separated the sycamore walk from the wing of the chateau occupied by Madame de Bergenheim, Octave slackened the pace of his horse and lingered behind the rest of his companions; his eyes closely examined each of the windows; the blinds

said he to him; "we are

an observation about you

join example to advice. I admire your c

y guests and talk with

ast glance toward the chateau. They soon rejoined the cart which carried several of the

ly by the trot of the horses and the so

river." Just at this moment the dogs, who could be seen in the distance, hurried to the water-side, in spite of all that their leader could do to prevent them.

they have scented," ob

ssional hunter; "if it were a wolf, they could not make a greater uproar. Is it by ch

g place which excited to the highest pitch everybody's curiosity. Before they reached the spot, the keeper, who ha

dy! a

n!" he exclaimed, whe

cutor who arose and jumped from t

e name of the law, let nobody to

ed out to him. Everybody dismounted and followed him. Octave and Berge

an, thrown by the current against the trunk of the tree, and t

ad prevented the head from being seen until then, for he recognized the workman's liv

who, in spite of his boldness, co

ve recognized him-how disfigured he is!" exclaimed the others

justice," observed the nota

ed this openin

o escape," said he, "and in his h

or shook his head w

ay above the rock and not here. It is evident that he must have drowned himself or been drowned farther down. I say, been drowned, for you can see that he has a wound upon the left side of his forehead

t had taken place, he stood motionless, with his eyes fastened upon the river and avoiding a glance at the dead body. D

ll do me the favor to act as witnesses while I draw up my official report. If any of you have a stateme

ch a penetrating glance at the Baron

ractive about this spectacle, and I assure you that if my duty did not keep me here, I should be the first to withdraw. Baron, I beg of you to se

Christian, whom these words de

he hunters turned their steps in the opposite direction in order to take their positions. They soon reached the ditch alongside of which they were to place themselves. From time to time, as the

he Baron, when they were about si

he ground, was hardly flat

let us choose our own positions. I think you wish to place yourself upon the outskirts, because it is al

considerably, since it threatened t

refractory hunter; "I shall be very much pleased if he has an opportunity to f

arrier, striking the ground with the butt-end of his gun,

ountenance changed suddenly; the smiling look he had assumed, in order to co

come in our direction. At the moment when I call out, 'Take care!' I shall expect you to fire

m still more weight. The public prosecutor has already begun his preliminary proceedings; remember that it depends on me how they shall be c

fatal secret that you have confided to him, Monsieur. If I survive today, I shall have

reproach, the Vicomte bo

before the trunk of an old oak, "and there

and said, in a

he truth. I hope for your peace of mind, and my own, that you will believe my last words. I

from Christian without

ew seconds later, two feeble reports were heard, followed by an imprecation from Monsieur de Camier, whose caps flashed in the pan. The Baron, who had just leaned forward that he might see better through the thicket, raised his hand to warn Octave to hold himself in readiness. He then placed himself in position. An extreme indecision marked Gerfaut's attitude. After raising his gun, he dropped it to the ground with a de

aimed Bergenheim,

was heard. When Gerfaut looked through the smoke caused by his gun, at

behind him a trail of broken branches-and Bergenheim lay behind the tr