Part 26 (2/2)
I put ht ahead, Iof his horse behind me, before what I feared happened My horse stuave hi In a quarter of a ain, and this ti free of him before he had entirely slipped down in the soft sea et him to anshen I pulled at the bridle My father reined up besideis broken,” he said ”It is inopportune Ah, they are still after us” And he turned to look behind hi?” I cried ”Ride on, sir!”
”And leave you here with the paper in your pocket?” said ot the better of you The other pistol, Made it Here they come, to be sure Would you not think the fools would realize I can hit them?”
He fired into the darkness and a riderless horse ran alht, he reared and wheeled, and a second shot answered my father's
”Ah,” said my father, ”they alill shoot before they can see The pistol from the holster, if you please, Mademoiselle”
They had not realized we had halted, for the last rider charged past us before he could check hiht, and I saw hi furiously at his bit--an unfortunate rass was bad, and his horse slewed and fell on top of him
”Pah!” exclaio, Henry He is knocked even more senseless than he was before Keep the saddle, Mademoiselle, and ill lead you across I fancy that is the last of theh thenoisily at every step, but my father was correct in his prophecy Only the noise of our progress interrupted us The sand dunes were beco more than a shadow My father walked in tranquil silence at the bridle, while I trudged beside him
”Are you hurt, Captain?” Mademoiselle demanded
”Indeed not,” he replied ”What was there to hurt
That is all; but why do you ask, my lady?”
”Only,” said Mademoiselle, ”because you have been silent for the past five ay than when you embark on an adventure I never heard you say tords, Captain, until that night on the Loire”
”Let us forget the Loire,” replied my father ”Shall I be quite frank with you, Made from the saddle towards him, ”if it were only possible,” she added
”Then listen, Mademoiselle,” he continued, ”and I shall be very frank indeed It must be the sea air which makesare nearly over, and at present they seem to stretch before me most interminably In a moment we shall see the boat, and in a moment the _Sea Tern_ I fear I have been very foolish”
”Father,” I inquired, ”will you answer me a question?”
”Perhaps,” said my father
”What has my uncle to do with the paper?”
”My son,” said my father, ”may I ask you a question?”
”Perhaps,” I replied
”How much money did your mother leave you at her death?”
”She had none to leave,” I replied quickly
”Ah,” said my father, ”have you ever wondered why?”
”You should be able to tell me,” I answered coldly
”Indeed,” said my father ”But here we are at the dunes The boat, my son, do you see it?”