Part 11 (1/2)

On the other the ground fell away in a very long slope, which ended in a bushy valley many hundreds of feet below These fellows, you understand, were hardy mountaineers, who could travel either up hill or down very much quicker than I They wore abarcas, or shoes of skin, tied on like sandals, which gave them a foothold everywhere A less resolute man would have despaired But in an instant I saw and used the strange chance which Fortune had placed in e of the slope was one of the wine-barrels II dived into it feet foremost, and with a roll of my body I tipped it over the side of the hill

Shall I ever forget that dreadful journey--how I bounded and crashed and whizzed down that terrible slope? I had dug inmy body into a compact bundle so as to steady it; but my head projected from the end, and it was a , smooth slopes, and then ca into the air like a goat, co doith a rattle and crash which jarred every bone in my body

How the histled in iddy and nearly senseless! Then, with a swish and a great rasping and crackling of branches, I reached the bushes which I had seen so far below h them I broke my way, down a slope beyond, and deep into another patch of underwood, where, striking a sapling, my barrel flew to pieces From a in every inch of it, but h within reat was the feat which I had acco on the hill

A horrible nausea had seized one, and I felt as I did upon the ocean when first I experienced those lish have taken so perfidious an advantage I had to sit for a few moments with my head upon my hands beside the ruins of my barrel But there was no time for rest

Already I heard shouts abovethe hill I dashed into the thickest part of the underwood, and I ran and ran until I was utterly exhausted Then I lay panting and listened with all my ears, but no sound came to them I had shaken off my enemies

When I had recovered h several brooks, for it cas

On gaining a clear place and looking round ht that in spite of my adventures I had not been much out of my way Above me towered the peak of Merodal, with its bare and bold suroves of dwarf oaks which shrouded its flanks

These groves were the continuation of the cover under which I foundto fear now until I reached the other side of the forest At the saainst me, that I was unarmed, and that there were many people about me I saw no one, but several tiun in the distance

It was hard work pushi+ng one's way through the bushes, and so I was glad when I caer trees and found a path which led between them Of course, I was too wise to walk upon it, but I kept near it and followed its course I had gone soined, nearly reached the li sound fell upon ht it was the cry of soht the French exclareat caution I advanced in the direction from which the sound proceeded, and this is what I saw

On a couch of dried leaves there was stretched a rey uniform which I wore myself

He was evidently horribly wounded, for he held a cloth to his breast which was crimson with his blood A pool had formed all round his couch, and he lay in a haze of flies, whose buzzing and droning would certainly have called roans had not co so above all other feelings, I ran forward and knelt by his side

He turned a haggard face upon one beforeeyes to tell

”Gerard!” said he; ”Gerard!”

I could but lookswiftly out of hientleht it?”

”Have you flint and steel?”

”It is here!”

”Then I will light it to-night”

”I die happy to hear you say so They shot me, Gerard But you will tell the Marshal that I did my best”

”And Cortex?”

”He was less fortunate He fell into their hands and died horribly If you see that you cannot get away, Gerard, put a bullet into your own heart Don't die as Cortex did”

I could see that his breath was failing, and I bent low to catch his words

”Can you tellwhich can help me in my task?” I asked

”Yes, yes; de Pombal He will help you Trust de Pombal” With the words his head fell back and he was dead

”Trust de Po at the very side of me