Part 13 (1/2)
”Heavily? _Parbleu_! it has unhostlyto whisper, in fear of my own voice Eloise, are you there? or have the spectres of this haunted journey floith you?”
”Angels or de unconsciousness of his hts, I fear, have been sufficiently sad to accord ith the gloom, only my shadows are within, not without”
”_Sacre_! esture the vast extent of angry water ”Why should I bear heavy heart, except for brooding phantoht? Life is still reatly valued it, to be sure, yet 'tis soht, and there is always pleasure left in the world for the young Fros your ht ith ht be better if you dwelt upon the brighter view of our own future He is at rest; no tears can be of aid But we can look forward to dreareat ocean, seeking better fortune on the Continent
France, they say, has ever a vacant place for a good sword, nor is the king likely to refuse service to a nephew of Bienville You and I, Eloise, shall yet tread the Paris streets, nor shall we go as beggars”
I ht it not wholly untouched by sadness, as she attempted answer
”We will hope for the best; yet, Monsieur, we are still deeply buried in the wilderness Ay! worse--in the country of our enemies You may not comprehend the full truth of this, but Spain lays clai it O'Reilly has already despatched soldiers as high as the e; so there is peril lurking before us, as well as behind”
”O'Reilly has sent soldiers northward? Ho you this, Eloise?”
”It was common talk in the town I saith my own eyes the departure of one expedition It was composed of a captain, with twelve soldiers, destined for the Ohio I have heard that twice since others have been despatched northward, although to what points was unknown”
”The saints defend us! 'tis indeed serious I supposed the boat which passed contained all the Dons on the upper river, but if this be true we may have to desert the stream, and take to the eastern trail on foot _Sacre_! I like it not! What say you, you sphinx of an English border?”
”It is news to me,” I answered soberly ”But if three expeditions have already been despatched north, there is little hope the land routes have been forgotten Beyond doubt every trail, white or Indian, leading toward French or English settleain passage by surprise That man-of-war boat will spread far the rumor of your escape, so every Spaniard between here and the Ohio will be on the lookout for our coht stole into the ht press our way through that scattered line of guard, and attain the upper Ohio; how easily, only for the danger and distress to which so desperate an atteive the idea utterance
”Messieurs,” she said earnestly, her cal this for an hour past I know you would experience s your way through them, were I not with you Yet this is not beyond remedy I had sincerely hoped to prove of service when I usurped the slave's place in the boat; instead, I a whom you must protect at the risk of your own lives Fortunately it is not yet too late to leave you free; it cannot be many miles back to New Orleans, and the current would bear me swiftly doard I have loyal friends in the town to hide the daughter of Lafreniere, should the Spaniards ar against a woht make the shores of France Perhaps I should be there in advance of you What say you, Messieurs, to such proposal? Would it not be best?”
The indignant feeling which sweptupon Yet I held e of De Noyan to etful of caution in instant enthusiasood a head as heart, Eloise _Sacre_! never before did I realize the treasure in e well the wishes of a soldier; 't is not pleasant to one ofto lurk thus in the shadows like a skulking spy _Bish_! nor do I love this toll at the oars--'tis the work of slaves I would prefer trusting all to the rapier, writing with its point a Frenche of defiance Holy saints! I am already half inclined to say yes to your proposal; yet Benteen, ord have you to speak regarding this plan?”
”That if she goes back to New Orleans, I ered by his flippant words and tone
”'Tis a plan not to be seriously considered a moment, Chevalier If carried out it would merely place Madame de Noyan in the power of Cruel O'Reilly I doubt if the sacrifice would preserve our worthless lives
She can only return by one, we should be coe, unprovisioned, into a trackless wilderness, feeling our way blindly for hundreds of leagues through unknown, savage tribes If we survived their cruelty we should be crazed with hunger and fatigue long before our eyes were gladdened at sight of the upper Ohio I do not say such a journey could not be made, but I retain vivid htly seek another I iine, Captain, you have small conception of the horrors of the black forests, when you choose recklessly to plunge into their depths”
”I served against the Creeks,” he announced somewhat sullenly
”So I heard, yet that was es You would discover different foe the mountain tribes to the north and east Do not suppose I question your courage, but I realize the dangers, as you cannot from your town life, while as to Madame de Noyan, she will be safer here with us than with those black brutes in New Orleans”
”You refuse to be comrade with me then?”
”Ay, if such comradeshi+p involve the desertion of your wife”
”Desertion!” The ter in the face of a French cavalier Did I not already owe you the debt of life, Monsieur, I ht endeavor to teach you a lesson in etiquette”
”I pere in such an experi roisterer, but have never been above giving and receiving blows”
I judged froled his sword hilt, he had grave purpose of backing up his pretty words I should rather have enjoyed giving the doughty gentleside, had not Madame hastily calmed our hot blood with sober speech other own