Part 10 (1/2)
It seemed as if my heartdown the passageway I heard the sharp click of a gun-barrel in the sentry's hand as he presented ar latch, yet remained so paralyzed by the suddenness of it as to be fairly helpless, unable to h this new act forarette
”The devil ca back upon his stool ”Begin your paternosters, friend Benteen, or he will fly aith both of us”
Fortunately these h to per uponwide open Nor did I trust rel Latin, until it had been safely closed again Had I sought to exercise my wits on this occasion, my companion permitted small opportunity for words
”Ah! so it is you, you black-faced Arab?” he exclaiuard peered curiously in ”Not content to wait the striking of the shi+p's bell, you entleht on earth, to push yourself in between him and the consolations of the holy father _Sacre_! had I only a se across your black Spanish heart which would teach your uard a French cavalier safely, and still be decent about it”
It is doubtful whether the officer comprehended this tirade It was voiced in French, yet tone and uished athe unpleasant duty of a soldier, and the length of time the priest had retained the key, ere the intruder finally backed out closing the door behind hi footsteps had died entirely away in the distance; even until De Noyan addresseddrawl
”So, Father, you hly I value your ministrations Faith! never until this hour have I truly enjoyed the prayers of any _padre_; I knew not what I missed Still there is limit even to such pleasure, and it is time now to conclude; I have heard better Latin in my day, while your provincial accent rasps painfully upon the ears”
”You made your play quite well, Monsieur,” I said shortly, somewhat mortified he should thus take the leadershi+p out of er ”But there et free of this shi+p So coet into the box?”
He looked down at it doubtfully, with a shrug of the shoulders
”_Pardieu_! I would ask certain questions first,” he said with greater show of seriousness ”For how long a tie?
It will prove soth of limb”
”I hope bothto hold up the lid for him to enter ”Yet I know of no other possiblehalted by the guard at the door
There is no certainty in this, yet there is a chance, Chevalier, and that ought always to be invitation to a brave man Beyond this it is God's affair”
The soldier twisted his longin the eyes that frontedforward in sudden resolution
”As you say itinto a coffin three sizes too small for the deceased Still I 'll bide therein for a while, only, I warn you, you better be easy when you put me down, or the corpse may furnish a sudden resurrection”
It proved truly no easy task to stow him safely in that contracted space At any other ti the final result of our combined efforts, especially at the expression, half ludicrous, half pathetic, upon his face as he gazed up at me just before the lid was closed
”Now ravely, for had I ventured upon a smile at his predicaain, ”you are to make no movement of any kind until left alone When certain of that you may venture out of the chest, but reain”
[Illustration: Had I ventured upon a smile at his predicaain]
”You believe you knoay?”
”Under God's guidance yes, if you will only bear your part”
Without pausing for his answer I dropped the heavy cover over hih of relief
So far, at least I had won; thus far the Gods had favored me In spite of the obstacle of temperament I had found means to attain my end, to work my will, yet I realized well De Noyan would never bear such unco; whatever was to be accomplished must be done quickly Fortunately my plan, dim and doubtful as it was, had already taken outline I had determined what to endeavor; it must be atteone forever Pulling the hood acrossout upon the curious sentry To my relief he was alone
”I suppose the Coive me a lift out with this box?” I asked in Spanish
”No, senor _padre_”