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IGH‘I'ED IN user a ‘13-.  --./3.. r.
- - r a .. 3721:? mm   

ENTERED AT THE Pom Orncx AT NEW YORK. N. Y.. n SECOND (‘uss MAIL Runs.

published Every CL’MI/Y/p n".  ~](7(1771..<. (7)11/5/1'5‘7) 27‘s 1- c. u 00 .
V01.  Week. 98 W'ILLIAM STREET, N. Y.. October 25. 1&1. ’ $1533.;c‘3y NO' 15 7

MOURAD, THE MAMELUKE; or, THE THREE SWORDMASTERS.

A TALE OF THE GRAND ARMY-

 

BY COL. THOMAS HOYER MONSTERY,

CHAMPION-A T-ARMS OF THE TWO AHERH'AS.

‘c-mon ()1: "mm: v.1.xx7, rm: SWORDMABTEB," “THE DEMON ncxus'r,“ “um CZAB SPY,” 110., 110., m

 

“smxvmm no“! Ian‘s THE TRICK 2” an women n ma: COMBAT wrrn THE EYE or A IAS'I'ER or rm: sworn).

 

 

Mourad. the Mameluke;
The Three  .
a run or run cassn 

BY COL. THOMAS HOYER'MDNSTERY,
Champion at Arms of the Americas.

I.

 

horses or “mom wrusr." "m ‘nnuox
DUELIS’I‘," “an sumo nasvo," arc. ' -
~ ,v . Camus. I...

in. manuramor nation {sitcom/H ~‘.
 eat ‘bazaar- at Ale’xan ria was all

I

  
  

astir. h in ince’sgant clatter < tongues, so
diife" from its m‘dinsryvsleepy 'quie .‘that
one I , knowvfsomething'pnusual' ha hap-
pen ,. r‘w ,  - ~ _  -. v
8 , and-an customsdflguites were hust-
Iiu' smou_%:e‘. 
whfi sat int ' , 5% les’qifiathe wall, «"113
sh - sm long ohibonques or, longer
w ' rm n robes andga ,shawls.

I ,s . V weret lap. in ht blith'
coa‘evith bras-buttons, .tliat.looked a d to
Oriental eyes; and they Wore black stocks
three- cornered hats with cockades, tight
breeches and gaiters, and had their hair
clubbed .into pig-tails that were all the same
coloro—a light gray. ' ‘ -

Such queer people the sober Turks and Copts
had never seen before 1798.

“God is great!" piously remarked Haleb

Eifendi, the coffee-merchant, to his next neigh-

bor, Nail» * ller' ‘ e Franks have. sent
giganafir‘ . “ young-spakst
e sign”,- *.
“y You are an untraveled fool, Who has no

knowledge of the world,” was the polite reply

of Naib, who had once been on strip t% Malta,

and was therefore an authority on rab'kish,
customs. “ Their hair is all sorts of colors, but

they cover it up with grease and flour, on ac-

count of the order of their chief, who wants

them all to look alike. Do you not. see that

they have shaven their faces so as to look like *
boys? These Franks are the sons of the devil.

God is merciful!”

Haleb said nothing, for at that moment a
little weazened old Frank, in tight black clothes,
with a face seamed with wrinkles like a withered
apple, stopped in front of the shop of Isa, the
shawl merchant, who sat on the other side the
bazaar, and they heard him say, in very good
Arabic:

“ How much do you ask for this shawl, my
friend? Peace be unto you!”

“ Unto you. peace; three thousand piastres.”
was the indifferent reply of Isa, who scorned to
show astonishment at hearing a Frank talk
Arabic with a fair accent.

The old man turned to his companion who had
a gold epaulet on one shoulder and a sword by.
his side, and remarked in French:

“ i told you how it would be, Lafungere.- He
asks seven hundred and fifty francs for what he
will sell in the end for two hundred and fifty.
If you want to study Eastem manners and cus
toms, this is the place to do it in.” r '

The otilcer addressed laughed and said:

“Thanks, my dear professor, but I have no
wish to become an Orientalist like you. I only
know that this bazaar smells most abominehly
and that I wish we had neVer left Paris to hunt
empty dreams in this ridiculous place they call
Egypt. I don‘t want the shawls' but [do want
soup of this coffee they brag about so much”
Let us go on to the rafv; confefi I prefer
France to the Orient as far as I have seen it.” .

They were but dro in the stream; unitaof’.

tlli' French army of ‘gépt, just landed under V

eneml Bonaparte, and

the distinguished young _
‘ the-

they strolled on out of the bazaar tow
grand cafe
Greek, where people talked French andwhere
the lace was crowded with officers. ‘.

T e rofcssor was ,an Orientalist who had
ruined his eyes over Arabic and Persihn‘ Wau-
script and wore l:fiectacles; the cm r, a6 one
can d see by his u ,orm. was maitre ’nmaor
swordmaster of a dungeon regiment, as yet un-
provided with horses.

They took their seats, sat-amt and swordmaster,
in the pleasant court of the cqfe, ,lookin out in-
to the old port, beyond which they coul see the
blitz: Megiterranean‘ h mfled by a fair
w a , e e t ; a the
Ten—aria“ a mgwighe mp— our
Eesgel, wh ch lay. at anchor with the M" ; , ,

ee . '~- . . " ' 4

Everything that way- was'full of life and aiik

   
 
 
 
 
   

mation, with men-of-war and transports coming '

to anchor or shifting‘ from t
old, the water emu-ed-  , ll boats, th
shore With we ons,’came 'd”% and .3;
thing that con , _ cadre to_assist
in disembarki e Itoer item” ,,

“I think this gyegt on the eontrary,‘a very
nice place,” ohserv Professor Bld‘t tohis com-
sanion. ‘We have all we want to eat and
, rink, a glorious climate and the riches of the

pew port to the

Mourad, the. Mamelnke.

- ~hard nuts to crack.”

kept by Demetrius Peristalti es. the. a,

I--." ,

 

East before us, when'we get, to Cairo. What
would yen have!” ‘ - ' .

uParis,” replied Infangere, Iaconicallyr ‘.‘ It
is the only place in the world.- One can. have
anassault eVery day there, and here they are
4. 'rbarians who usgiclubs and maces and. never
. a foil in their ves.” ‘ ’ "

v‘oice close to Lafangere: “mtj think that he.
l " under a mistake. He can ‘ all theassault
2h wants and he will flndfithe‘g elukes very

Lafangere' looked hang  around. 'He was
a young man, show in 's tm'e.‘but-;Very, ,
act and muscular,‘,and his dark face and rile

- apt black eyes showed, him to be a Gasch b,
‘ smug” mew. .. =1 .. '-  .’
' ,fie- held haters 'Qfii rly 

young, man, darker .
:raven b k
‘ curls to '

'f Ipseli‘, whgawore
r, w ‘ ,u '- ‘wder, in ‘wi
d: uldere‘, mafia the uniform o ‘
the Gfll , a.body’ rd.;to‘young‘£iéneral
Ilium arte,iristitnted yhimln taiytwoyears
iii‘i‘i‘ ' " * ‘

g . x - , ' x , ,
, ‘swordmuteflmeapm‘ad. ‘ :the‘other‘ from
head to foot with astare of arrogance such as
he was wont to practice whencoaxing. a duel
38!. a “unsound” observed with . tropical '
. l ness: ' '.  ' .' .-,',

“Monsieur is possibth judge"il Millet-'-
ters. He may even be some great master of the .
sword in disguise, for all I know.”

“Nothin of the sort—only Emil St. George,
sergeant o the eneral’s escort, at your ser-
vice,” was the quiet rep] . “ But you were la-
menting that you won d have no affairs in
Egypt. On the contrary, I think you can have
al you wish, perha more.”

"The expression perhaps more ’ is one that I
' at permit from‘a sergeant,” in

‘ ' re‘, ‘ 'th severity. ".YOu do knoww
$132 w o I aldz‘lsafangére'; atry mama:
ou wi l of course withdraw your ensive re-

mark.”

St: George. rmi a lazy smile to disturb
his tramisonioptedocitfi.d  " " ~ v- '« -

“I don’t see why I should. It will be an honor
for la simple ser saint of Gnifles toi ofoss swords
wit a master ' e, curse, an h am oun
enough "to aflord to {are azlesson.  
have always maintained that your system is a
false one; that you do not know how to fence."

Lafangere started as if he had been stung and
his swarthy face flushed crimson. _.

“I’ll show you, this evening at sunset, on the
sands b the Aboukir wall,’ he said in a low
tone, " if you are in earipest.”

St. Geor eyawned sl ghtl .

“ I’ll be t ere,” he said in be same low tone.
Then he continued calmly:

“P9 is think because we are one army in
the m .tof enemies that we. shall have no af-
fairs among ourselvealmt I am ready to wager
a month’s ay that before we get .w Cairo, our
people wil be so ill-tempered they’ll be quar-
roling and ready to cut each othér’s throats,
while-such endemen as y0u, Monsieur le Pro-
fes’seur, wilfbe cursedhighiand low." ,

The old professer smiled good natured] y. He
knew the remark was not made in malice. -

i‘ I think '01: are ri ht, my friend,” he an-
swered. “ ereis nos tcof mind so roue'to
ill-temperas‘ignoranoe, andour men 'now as
much about Egypt as I do about the inhabitants
of the moor. hey think that the sands are full
of gold and that bottles of wine ban on the
trees, whereas they will find vpryli to eat

marathon Cairo. You are, t, my friend;

Have you ever beenhere before ’ a w
“No more than 'bu.”. eplied‘St. George;
,“but, like youI read, and I n member what a
hard road Sit. Louis of Francc" found it to,
8816111 four centuries a o. v0ur fencing
- ndhasheardofSaint Lou i”

n‘ of
, inventor of
' blast—because

sergeant was a vim:st makin
him, the renowned ,
e romp d‘amf hr a
he he neglected'the rest‘at‘
learning to fence. ,  .
“ Of course I know, who 80. £14011]! was,” hi

 
      

4n" ‘  ' .
will?” " i we '

wevery. enc ng-m r -
and present, and the name of ~ , y _
of a great Italian swordsman..w of ‘
killed n a duel at Venice while he, 

' Saint uis wls more properly King Louis the
Ninth of ranoe, who led the last crusade to the East
and was made prisoner by the Turks and was only

, 1131933031 for a busy ransom.

retorted, fiercely, ‘.‘ fill may able to teac
you, who areso p _ of your'flswr , aIesson
on. negrfilearn ,‘ .orlew-how‘to keep your

‘ when , , in) nent. ’
But the annoying as _ nit dn’t seem tobe
in thels’asgyalirmed '1 ‘ ,torhewent'
ha   inc;  I...
a. _ " ‘ry"&thau§§crusade
_ p t, , mymir with
f ' ‘  ” 60
to

 

      
 

    

 
 

 

 

- -‘_‘I Crave the master’s pardq ”’ Said afhiau‘d“

u

,education while”

‘4

 

but raw wheat and bonus, mills bélpg' unknown .

Again Lafang’ere colored “ng This £33m -‘

' sdya words n my invoke

smug  ..

‘ ' {a get, Indies?

,St

king

was in Holland. He had never been able to get

a man who claimed'to have been in it.
~ - ‘3 Did monsiem' have new with, ,
thfi‘master of Venice?” he asked,_more respect:
u y, _ i , . 1 ,- ‘ ~ ,. '
. George“ wawned and took". suck at the
~lon water-£33m brought him bygdmegro slave
of a cafe fore answering: ‘v‘ r"- '

“‘A trifle. It cost the t ree "months in the
sallode [apolic .and lmissod the gran . saclé
at Paris, 'where, the general was reofeiw ' jghe
Directory. But he is aregulur dsvn, thaw.
Bonaparte, if ;he catchesJSlman'Jn‘ an sf! ,
‘where he'killsnr disablesf somehuifwhink he
likes me—he ought to, for I saved him tnice
1mm the Austrians when‘he was‘no‘t as rest a
man as he ‘now is-only' plain little enema
.Bonaparte, t e ill-tempered, Corsican officer.
always gram ring; but he doesn’t care ‘a'bent
saving lives if he caiChesa mail in a duel.”

“ But,” persisted Lafange
ness, ““ onsieur ‘wessa'ying be killed Mimtori.
Mag-I  how, if nonsieur, dbesfnot object to
to n ' -
, St george laughed slightly. ., -

“Upon m word that is a modest request,
when, we unzip try ii? in the eveninfii Do you
 knowm‘y points-in advance ’ I
» lLafmgereblnshea. ‘ "

"No, no, monsieur, Ihope you donot think I '

could be guilty—”

“ You are a Gascon and they all know how
to skin their neighbor’s shee b mistake if they
find them astray,” reigned t. eorge sarcastic-
ally; "but I Will tell you, if on will promise
not to tell any one else. I I ran him through the
body under t e right nipple, entirely in conse-

uence of his trying the coup d’arret on me,
it: jgwhy ling. tili‘igifk youdtoéi’tI know how

‘onsg ‘ Q an 1'9, 1"  stand
.tHatity‘ grmc'kofall tniy ’lf- 3 ‘, '7

The ascon colored ‘ sin hnd hit his lip.
There was something in t e quiet impudence of
this handsome young man, who was not even a
commissioned ofllcerfthat exasperated him and
at the same time shook his nerve.

So much was this the case that at last he
dropgied the conversation and went away, leav-

f t. George and ProfeSsor Blot alone in the
ca e. '

 

CHAPTER II.
THE mam Is QONCLUDED.
WHEN Lafangere had gone out. the wrinkled
old professor turned to 'his young companies
and asked him serious] :

“Are you really go ‘to- ht this master!
It will be no shame for mu to" ecline an ail‘uir
with him for he isa pro essional, you know."

“Perhaps I am one too,” answered St. George
ii hilly. "-“I am flattered by your concern,

onsleur e Professeur, but if on like to come
to the flel this evening, I wil show you it is
needless.” . .V

“Who? I?” ejacuth Mr. Blot astounded.
“I attend a duel!. pardon, my friend, I
am a noncombatant.‘ I am onl ' attending this
exficdition by imitation. of t e eneral. to
0(1) ect, Arabic manusa'ipts. It won d be out of
p ace. - .

" Never mind,” answered St. George in :1 tom-
of indiil’crence. “ I thought you might like to
see the fun. That’s all. I do not press you.
By the by I take a great interest in these Arabs
myself and if ‘ haveno ob action I should
like our help ginning their anguage.”

- “ ou cert are a most extraordinary

young man,” the old proteasor dryly. "I

think 1 ug safely say there is not another Ser-

geant in army that has any ambition to he-

come an 0rlentahst._ I help you with

pleasure,  you wash. y I ask you a ll:-
n

1 I“ rtainly' monsieur.”
t ffor all the racious permission, St.
’8 face chan slightly, and the change
so ened as‘B’lot d:_

‘ What par-tot ce do you come from 3"

“ None. I am a creole,” was the reply, with
a certain accent ot bitterness that Blot could
not understand. , , V

“ Ah, indeed, then you should be sure of 1m»
motion,” said the professor gayly; “for our

oung general, they say, loves the creoles, since

e married Madame Beauharn’ais." You shou d
make our court then and you are sure of a
comm on.” ‘ , _

St. George curled his li m a‘bitter smile.
.“Onthpcontra ,1! am “Would
would es-
“'a di ' to touch my hand."

“$1133 why? Surely you mistake, I know
madamyell, and she is he kindest of women

to all.” ’3‘

——yes—but I—tell it if you
‘cannothel my birth—r1 am
Do you know w t that means in
D0 yqa know that we—we

m
Ibiood
 Teacher de In P I' e, afterward

France, 1! as to know, a
creole, born in  first W de

 

to .
Beauhamais, who was guillotined during the Revo‘
lution, afterward to General 30mm,

the particulars of the duel before, and here was .

re with great sweet- ,

-, 

~ A a use

’0
H.
u:

N-
4

n.—...‘..

s.»
r?-
n-

E‘

 
 

 Mourad, the Marnelulie; '

. .—__.._V «.7

St. Georgenottogo; but hewentonand‘in‘nr
. l(it;((eirodrnoment had met the.MameIuko sang' e-
n .
 soldier:f at the  were putrid to ,
or fear urtmg 1r own man, a :
singular combat commenced, in which the '
Mameluke, a large powerful man, made huge
swee ing cuts at St. Geo‘r e, while the latter
st on the defensive, not, arin to cut back ’
for fear the other _might get a C etc deal i
him aslash. . i
In another moment the Frenchmen at the
gate gave a wild shout. '

. They saw St. George beat up. the Mameluke’s
sword, catch him by the wrist with left
hand,.and in the same moment drive his saber
shnaugh the throat of the Turk, so that he fell

ea

And then came a clatter of boots and scab-
bards in the street and up rode asmall
man in a general‘s uniform, followed by a -
liant staff, who halted and asked: _ '

—. so.

 

 

 

 

 

“ Come on, then,” he said between his teeth.
“ Let‘s see if you can attack!) .

In a moment St. George was on him, plyin
him: with thrust on thrus , till Lafangerefoun
the opportunity he coveted to execute his
famous “ sto thrust.” The stop thrust is a
very simple t ing in itself and,depends entirely
on what is known as the “ upper. attack.”-

If one man lunges at another, audthe second,
instead of parrying, thrusts hack, the one who
thrusts at the upper part of the body is sure to
hit first, because that part is nearest to the
enemy. .

St. George made a 10w thrust at Lafangere,
.and the swordmaster instantly thrust back at

who look the same as the rested Iyou-Twin) are

not so dark as that Gascon bully am to meet

tonight—that we. have no rights a white man

need respect, because there urks in our veins

one little d of the blood of the people of this

continent! ou wonder wh r I am to fight this
.. Gascon to-ni‘ght, monsieuri will tell you. It
is to show him that a half-blood can beat a pure-
blood,'”and because he is the best fencer in this
arm . '

The old professor was wi ing his glasses with
~‘ 11 pursing of the lips that to d he did not like the

otuer’s words. . ' _ . .

“ My young friend,” he observed d 1y. “I
think you are unduly sensitive. Since t re Rev-
r‘lutinn we in France care nothing for blood. his enemy’s throat.

Deeds are everything. You are about ill, if > With a sudden stoop the creole dropped on
you can, another man on account of race, his léft knee and hand, with point up. La-
bocause ou think he despises yours, and you fangere’s sword ripped up the collar of his
are ui wron . I know Lafangere, and jacket, but St. Gcor ’s blade took .the sword-
thoug he is a vr n ruin of little education, he master full in the rig 1 breast under the nipple,
is no fool. But you will find yourmistakesome and had not the creo e at the same moment

a I N-.- -~. .... _... .. 0...-.. '«r

‘1':

day. In the mean time I will ask liberty to r‘rnwn back his band would have spitted th'e “What the deuce is all this! ,Do  not i
change my mind, and I will come to .the field otherlilze a lark. As itwas, Lafangere leaped know the orders?” . ~
this evening. I hope you will not try to kill back with a cry of sin, leavin his sword en- —— _ ,

each other. tangled in the other :i caller, an pressing both
St. George smiled. . - ., , g - hands to his breast, exclaimed:
“That is not necessary, but I must give him “Ah, man Dow, he has done
a lesson. -. You» think I am cruel,~.monsieur. would. lam killed!” , ,-
Wait till you havebeeu br ht up, as I was,-a _ gt. George had risen and was cleaning the
slave—potted- and 111% no .doubt, but ‘ point of the sword in thesand. . . .
knowing that my father might sell my mother “ You are mistaken, monsieur,” he said in from the sand tar ahead of then}. , ‘
and axe-whenem‘hetook a whim to it. You coldly. “ I have not served you, as I did a great red disk of the moon, rising‘in the . 4
would mghgnnhy it is! hate the race ofmy , Mimtori. The blade went in lessthan onelnch. East, was obscured by the smoke of. fires .along x
” ~ You will only lose a little blood, and .be more the, banks of the Nile, and soldiers knew
careful in. future. You see  the coup 4’ that the whole army of the melnhns lay in.

~CHAP-TER III. . .
. A Nicarxmmnon. , ,
Tamar: weeks later, the French army 00". .
ered with dust, in in bivouac in the midst of
enormous wheat elds attthe e of the desert. .
with the gigantic forms of the yrarnids loom-

it as he said he

0 . l -_ o _
“But we have no slaves now,” persisted the

old meant. “ You forget the Revolution.” v arrot is not the whole of fencing. , _ - r , ifront of Cairo to dispute, their pmsedbn of .
“NO,” "Swered Sh'George, bitterl , “no Lafangere was in fact onl htly'‘vrrorintltziui1 ,E pt. ' .    
A slaves: onl the slave taint. And  but he was completely so u ,audtbe - 'ggvhelb'end weremuch,d‘upixuod by thehpt
; Bonaparte is a creole, as you say. Therefore, frankness andcourafig ofhis nature came'outin weather. and 'the - ' poverty ,‘of’ the.
I am onlya sergeant,» though. as you see, Inhave the way he took his feat.  . I . co try through chh_~.t_be_. passed. In the . '
eduoaflon better than that of your friend, “ Monseiur St. G rge,” he said to the creole, mi t of thousands“ acres  wheat they had I.

an 7
Lafangere, whosportsthe epauleton his shonl- “ you fence better t man I, and it is I who have 38.9018“ was not a minus". the
I - ta

1 der.” . . ., h , . en the.an not you. Stilllwsrn you; iooun :andltha ‘ ‘ to feed 0, rhesus and . .

l The old meant shrugged his shoulders. Ho, ,that cannot be dhne twiCe to me, and there is wfldzvyatermel y E’diiet which  much 4. E

3 saw it-was tic-use to argue-with.this man, im- only one wayin which weoan avoid killing bling. In their march ey had  ,
bxttered by the-injustice,“ a false system. so he one other the next timewe meet.” . - found a town or a decent bohsa. . othin' ' 

said nothing, and soon after left the cafe. .
_ When evenings-um kennel toting:-
trcrnity of Alexandria, where the old Arab
I wall had once so ted the town focus the o
peninsula of Abou ir, and-where the sands» e a
right up against the ruins. Here he found a-« w
fangere, with two officers of his regiment and
a swordease, walki nervously up and down,
. waiting the arrival o , his adversary. .
As soon as the three saw the old satqnt com-

“ And .what is that?" askedSt. George) , l .mud-walled hovels, inhabited by ragged ' {1111- ,,
. ‘.‘By becomingth friends, if you will honor tinny who had pothir . sellheesuee 9
me so “gar,” was t e fencing niastet’sreply. has ' ’  ' h xlies.  . , 0t .
,wamm agaanend' mango . themonte .m we bands'. ,. i
thing. seven kfllhéael’oqf these, ,ihelultes, Arabs cabanpOMegm his tihndg‘bes‘ig ‘ ;
8m  WSW, .a '. ‘ « h)“ r. 
h Sta‘aeorge iled a'rid gavefiszyothgt hla .mfim  d .  [,8,‘  . r 2’
an. ~. . . , fan ere, lon arr for Peri ' nowanl
cod fellow, after all,” one of agcmwd of o who§$~ up mini

“I'believd you area . I , V
be said, whercat M. Blot _urried up, crying: cessant grumbling and. wished they. were back , .

  
  

ing they hidthe sword-case, and affected to be “I told you so, young man. I told you he in Italy. . . . ,. - ,
cxamming some agatee in the sa d,.but the was no fool. Upon my word now, I am glad 1n the midst of the dry.dusty bivouac'. where
professor set them at ease by remar mg: this has ended thus Lafapgere, you must come the yellow douds bung thickes burned a .litt'e V

“Never mind-me, gentlemen. I come b in—
, yitation merely as a spectator, and wool not
. disturb your pious dut of cutting one anoth-
, cr's throats for the \v0 (1. It is truly a curious
u. thing to an old man like me that three vigorous
‘r youn men in the service of our common mo-
.” thor, rance, should come out here and hide be-
hind a wall for the Ipm ' of putting each
" other into .the hospita . ut here, I see, comes
Monsieur St. George, and I hope you will get
through our business in time to get back to
tattoo rol -call.-”

The officers looked uneasy under his Open
raillery; but they did not result it, for at that ?
moment the slender, graceful figure of St.
(lctrge, in his hussar uniform, came strolling ,
along under the walls. followed by three sol- ;
diers of the Guides with their long sabers: and
the light was too precious to be wasth in dis-
putes. - '

There was a good deal of stiffness. in the'
salutes of the officers; for they didnlt like to be !
compromised in an affair with enlisted menu
but, under the republic, discipline, so far as etl- ’
quctte went, was much relaXed in the French
.- army, and duels between mam-es, d’armes—

 

_”

 

\A -..

Riggs grow. or .yOu'li hays a fever from loss of
And the reunited combatants were about to
embrace each other whens-whiz! came a car-
bine bullet close totheminto the sand. and the
next moment with a loud yell of triumph, down
rushed a squad
lean ponies,-headed by _Mameluke, blazing
with old and steel, an mounted On a bay
mare t at seemezl fairly to fly. ,
How they had ot there no one could tell.
though they had card of the audacity of the
filameluke scouts, but there was no time .to

Tho whole French party, headed by Professor
Blot, took to their heels as hard as they could
go, running to the ruined gate of the old wall
and shouting for help. when the guard hastily
turned out and fired a scattering volley at the
Arabs, which sent them to the right about and
saved Professor Blot, who was almost over-
taken. , ,

The brilliant Mameluke, however, was not to
be frightened so easily, and hedashed up to the
very gate, intercepting. one of the .dragoon
officers who had come out with Lafangere. ,

of wild ragged Arabs on their .

fire of dry sticks; and a small ende figure
the uniform of a general oft the tench -
public could be seen standing with his hands
:eliind his back,.his head slightly bent in an at-
titude of meditation, while groups of staff oili—
oers in or sat around, talking in. low tones.

St. rgewho hadgone over to the bivouac
of his new friend Lafangere, baring the latter
grumbling, remarked: ‘

f‘You are no Worse ofl' than the general. See
how patient he is. He has not mounted his
horse all day. And see Cafarelli, the engineer,.
a cripple: vet he has walked all day on his
wooden leg, ’

“He doesn’t care,” retorted Lafangere in a
tone of raillery. "He has one leg in‘France
an how.”

'hereat the others laughed, and one of the.

donkeys, tethered close by, for the use of the

sciojnltific men accompanying the army, brayed.
ou .
Lufhngere turned to his friends. . .
“ Listen to the sawnt .‘ he is telling us all he
knows about Egypt. ” .
And the joke, poor as it was, restored them
to good-humor, so variable are the tempers of

,1 who ware in the lowest of commissioned grades ‘ The belated enedrew his sword and sinned a soldiers on cam n. - 1:
; --~and sergeant were not regarded as out of , blow at the Mameluhe, who took it on his left “ I wonder w‘hzitgtbey are doing‘over there,” 
. place. ‘ I . arm with aclang that told he wore armor un- remarked St. vmusiugly, to his friend g
3 St. Gear 0 waivadrthe privltlge of choosing . der his rich arments, and retaliated with a Infuse lacking 0781‘ It the d I “no 01' 3
.4 sabers an _ cheerfully acoep - the slender f slash across t e other’s face, made apparently smoke tlllft marked the camp of the amelukes.
swords of his_adVersary. . _ With little cil'wt. Lafangcre, who turned “ if I had a friend or two to accompany me I
He even-paid him a compliment, ohsennng: would take a. little t ' over there.” ,

“ If I am totake a lesson from them-stewards-
man in France, let it be with the weapon belles
made famous with the stop thrust.”

The mcn were placed opposite to each other,
the swords clashed and both leaped back in a
, moment out of measure. Then one mi ht see
 the difference of their schools as St. I
“ lmd his sword and handon his right knee and

l

 watched , his antagonist, who assumedvthe old.

«4-  -

? fashioned fencing attitude with the left hand no Marneluke uttered a so purse 1! “Ya tory over  and the Mamelnke, and they ,
raised in a supposed sw band. Allah !” and dashed in his 5 stirrnpircns, strolled th the cam till they came tothe
extended. The one was rcstin andwaiting, causing the poor creatureto opoaon three outskirts beheld the are of the

I, the other working before he ma e a. step.
tly Lafangere lunged fainted. and
made a prolonged attack on fit. George,,who
kc t leaping back,dozng ve lit la n ing,
til the master’ssWOrdexecutc as l ht tinge
'- in com, when the creole madfaclgc. _ sweep
urns t GEM s
, flinastuightt rustle
7 , y in hiatusth

 

A hisfoot angrily.

at the gate, uttered a cry of horror.
The Iamelnke’s saber, with its sickle
edge, had sliced 0 t Fro man’s ad at
th'rhmouth gs if it, (is cm a carrot.” '
l6 nex moment ,t. Geo e’ with a of

f , was running after the WWW
lat , apparently satisfied, wheeledh mare to
flea, and before the _
her a fierce blow, which cut the hamstringand
cri pled her. ~

leéd, but as soon as he had gota hundred" yards
r be turned and uttered such a'profusion of
nmledictions, his saber .that‘ it w
clear he w Ilefang'the Frenchman to fight:
Inamomen St. a ran out with his own
101) salfirmrigkwavcrd'fhwd the Sign“ “6
arm.- e- us on v _ . a
leaped his marathon he an“: Shook his
saber. as f tosay: r ,
“ Come here, if you dare.” .
The soldiers at the gets called warningly to

beast could" start baddealt.

 

, “but, besides beja dangerous, it
nst orders to go outside th‘e pickets. ’,’
“, e ” persisted 8t. George,in a low
tone, "I know a way to ' ' ourselves -—
yonand I-if on dare it. Comeand take
thwalk wIth me and II tell rim.” _
The Queen rose, for he had acquired a great.
on since the lath vie—

in

guaid reserve abuita hundred yards out. on the

 stoppedand Wuefiid 

nerve

St.

,“ I MIL. .
 of theI general and bear agooddeel t&.
w a

“ Naturally. Go on."

“Thenk you for no hing,” rotated the fenc- .

“.N 1W.”    be me tat-i
round.3  ourIondu‘fulmi.”“ I ‘ I
You know we Quides'areneai‘fln

 

 

4

Mourad, the Mameluke.

 

 

“To-Eight I heard him say something.”
“Ind ? What was it?‘

“ He said to Cafarelli, ‘it would be well
worth promotion to any man who could find
out for me whether those Mamelukes have any
field artillery; but I can’t order any one out,
the risk is too reat.’ ”

“ Indeedl nd what did you do?”

“I stepped u and saluted and I said to him:
‘ My general, i you will excuse me from guard
duty tonight I will go,’ and he gave me one of
his sharp looks and asked: ‘ Who are you?’ I
stood up like a stake and answered: ‘ St.
George, sergeant of Guides.’ He turned his
back on me and walked away as if he was think-
ing. Then he came back and said: ‘ Have you
a orsel’ ‘ No, general,’ I said, ‘he has had a
wounded man on him all day.’ ‘ You can take
mine,’ he answered: ‘ he has not been ridden all
day.’ You know the general walked.”

‘Well,” observed Lafangere, dryly; “ why
do on tell me this? I have no horse.’

t. George laughed.

“Do you remember the general’s first order
to the army of Ital ?”

“No,” answered he master still more dryly.
“ I was in Holland with Pichegru. know
nothing of your army of Italy.”

“You n n’t sneer my little man. The
soldiers of Italy don’t deserve it. But I will
tell you about that order. It said: ‘801—

dier you need ev thing, and the enemy has
it.‘ on must take t from him. You can, if
you have courage.”

“And In posethatI am to find a horse in
the camm he Mamelukes—is that what you

mean! nk you. I prefer to wait till we
have beaten them.”
“Listen,” lied St. George, “I oifer you a

share in this a venture because I think you to
beamasterof thesword. What I p is
this: Let us go out now in thedark, w on no
one will expect us. We will be sure to come on
Some of the Mameluke or Arab scouts and if
we are sharp, we can take them by surprise,
steals horse each and make a dash for their
camp. If you are afraid, go back. I am going
on.

La hesitated, but as the latter walked
steadil awa toward the desert, the Gascon
sudden y  e up his mind, slipped his am

through that of ‘St. George, and observed:

“ A maitre d’armes more or less makes no
diflerence. I am with you. But why did you
not take the general’s horse?"

“ Because he was not enough,” said St.
George, coolly. “ I wan the best to be had,
and t e are all with Mourad Bey.”

“ Ha to! qui no la I” suddenly run out from
the sentr on the extreme outpost w o lay be-
hind a h lock of sand and heard em coming.

St. George answered the challenge and gave

the countersign, remarking:

“We are (goingon a little expedition b the
general’s or ers. Have you seen any 0 the
enem since sunset?”

“ here are a lot of them over the hill von-
der,” said the sentry, Emily. “ I can smell the
roast mutton at their 0 in the little puffs of
wind. Is it not a shame that heathens should
feast on the fat of the land, while we good
Frenchmen have nothing but dry beans?”

“ Wait till we beat them,” was the consoling
re ly of the creole. “ We’ll have plenty, then. ’

he soldier owled and resumed his weary
watch, while be two friends stole forward in
the moonlight, keeping under the shadow of
the sandhills and stepping) softly.

They had no Weapons ut their swords. and
as soon as they were out of sight of the sentry,
they drew these and stole alon like thieves.

It was a well-nigh despera task for these
two men to hope to steal on Arabs, born in the
desert, by surprise, but these were no common
men.

St. George, born in San Domin o, where the
Maroons and Caribs still haun the jun 1e,
and where ambushes were frequent, kept is
eiyes rolling on all sides, his ears open to the
s ightest sound, and finally stopped short and
whis fired:

“ he are over the next hill. Down!”

Both hmen sunk to the earth and listened
intently. They could hear the sound of voices
and the occasional rattle of a harness as a horse
shook himself.

The sounds came from the other side of a low
hillock of saw] that formed the bank of one of
those irri ting canals of which Egypt is full,
and whic are eft dry and dustyin the hot sea-

son.

into this canal the two adventurers had ,
and had now come to the point behind wh ch
enemies were sheltered; how many no one could

say Iylet.

‘ isten,” whispered the creole, “ we have
only one chance—a surprise. I have
read about these is, and know that when
they are on ey never tie their horses.
The animals stand loose, ready to mounted.
Look at my saber. It is that of the meluke.
You see it is sharp. Feel it with our fingers.”

Lafangere felt the edge and u tered‘aslight
cry of sur rise.

‘ Mon ' u I it is like a razor. I have cut the
skin in just feeling it.”

“Very good. Observe too that it is curved
with the edge inside like a scythe and has a
broad back. One can cut oil! arms and legs with
it like carrots. You have only your small
sword. You must get a scimitar like this.”

Lafangere shook his head.

“1 am satisfied with this. I know the point
and I trust to it before all your cuts.”

The creole nodded.

“ Very well then, come along.”

They cre t gently up the embankment on
hands and nees, and St. George meal over,
instantly drawing back his head and koning
to Lafangere, who was behind him.

“ There are two Mamelukes; the rest Arabs,”
he whispered. “ we can handle them.”

The swordmaster crept up beside him and
they both lay downon the top of the bank, look-
i lug down on a strange scene.

rouped around a small stinking fire of dry
camel’s dung, were about a dozen Arabs, in
various degrees of rag ed and picturesque cos-
tume, with their swor s lying on the sand, their
spears stuck by them, and their scrubby little
horses in a patient row, awaiting orders.

Sitting next to the Frenchmen, with their
backs toward them, were two men, whose bright
steel helmets wreathed in gay shawls, their
chain-mail vests and silk and velvet robes, no less
than their very gorgeous arms, proclaimed them
to belong to the terrible Mamoluke cavalry.

They sat sing at the fire and smoking short
chibouques n rim silence, as if they disdained
to join in the c atter of the Arabs, who seemed
en in telling stories. Beside them, their
long ridles trailing on the ground, stood two
beautiful bay horses, magnificently caparisoned,
a carbine and a short mace hanging at the sad-
dle-bow of each.

The M'amelukes, as they could see, had the
sashes round their waists full of pistols and
iiaaggers, while each had his saber lying on his

e whole group was not twenty feet oil, and

St. George plucked the sleeve of his companion.
They were too near to risk a wh r, but he
inted to one of the Mamelukes as to ask if
fangere could make account of him, and the
Gascon nodded and drew up his feet to make a

spring.
Slowl and cautiously they crawled to the top
the Ara being too busy to notice them an

on a sudden made a spring to the bottom at the
bunk, each on his man.

St. George’s victim never uttered a sound as
he sheared 01! his head at a sin is cli withthe
terrible scimitar, but the man w o fel to Lafan-
gere’s share jumped up turned half round and
tried to draw a pistol, net as the Gascon, with
a straight lungs, spit him, mail shirt and all.

With a d ng roar of agony and fury the
Mameluke t rew up his hands and fell, while
the Arabs, who had for one moment sat para-
lyzed, leaped up and drew their swords.

“To the horses!” yelled St. George, and in
another moment he was in the saddle of the
nearest.

Lafangere tu ged at his blade, but it was
stuck fast in t e Mameluke’s body, and St.
Geor e shouted:

“ ake his saber and mount!”

The order Was instantly obeyed and the two
Frenchmen dashed into the midst of the de-
moralized Arabs, where their skill with their
weapons made itself felt in a moment.

Had two common soldiers tried the same
game they would have been cut to ieces; but
two swordmasters, active, powerfu and skill-
ful, handled the Arabs like boys, so that in less
than five minutes they fled, leaving three dead
on the field.

“I told you we could do it,” observed St.
George, coolly. “You see the point is not
always the best in a scufiie like this. Come, let
us strip these Mamelukes. They are worth
three or four thousand francs each; for they
carry all the have on their backs and saddles. ’

“ ’e are tted out,” cried the Gascon, full of
delight. “Who could ask more? St. George,
you are a creole angel, and I will go with you
wherever you will.’

“1 will to goto Embabeh and find if the
Turks have any artille To do that we need
to be disguised as Mame ukes. If we are chal—
len ed we have good horses.”

efinhastily assumed the outer dress of the
slain melukes, Lafangere observing:

“These gentry are well built. '1‘ ey would
have given us a pretty little tussle had we
allowed them time to think. Bee, one, two,
four pistols—English too—two daggers and an
En lish carbinH biunderbuss and this saber
which, I must confess, cuts well. My man is a
perfect arsenal.” .

“And mine is no lamb either,” said 813.
George dryly. He has a spiked mace in addi-
tion.

They rode awaw last adm their good
fortune, and St. rge directed t eir course
strai ht for the distant glare of Mourad Boy’s
watc fires.

“I have learned a little Arabic from our
friend the professor.” he observed, as thev rode
on, “and you want to know it too. If you
meet a man in this country, you don’t say good-
evening but ‘ Salam Aleikum.’ Try it.

 

 

“Very —‘Salam Aleikum.’
pose he tal or wants to talk?”
“I'll‘hen we must kill him,” said St. George
coo .
“ I¥I mistake not, we shall soon have occasion
for all we kn0w, as I see the glitter of steel
yonder in the moonlight.”

CHAPTER IV.
MOURAD m MAXELUKE.

Tm: two adventurers were ap roachin
camp of the Mameluke Boys, as ey
from the long dusky line of smoke that hung
over the palm trees on the banks of the Nile by
the little village of Embabeh.

A low bank, that had the a pearance of a
fortification, stretched for ha] a mile alotrgs
the bank, and the space in front was dot
With tents and parties of troops bivouacking, so
that St. Geo observed:

“ Those fel ows are careless enough in all con-
science, or the have too many men toget in-
side their wor s. The do not seem even to
have a picket out. Ha lo! who’s this?”

As heaifioke they descried a rapidly moving
figure d ing through the enemy’s camp, to -
lowed by several others, all horsemen, and saw
the flashes of pistols.

“ A deserter, by the blue!” cried Lafangere,
exciteetgg. “See! it is a Mameluke tool”

Ind ,‘ they could tell from the first that the
fleeing was a horseman, and as he came.
nearer the glitter of his arms showed him to be.
a Mameluke. Re a to be mounted on a
gray horse of great swiftness, for he was gain-
l'lalfdon his pursuers, and St. George hurriedly

aw. must help him. If he is a deserter he,
is p’gninst them, and all against them are for-
“8.

Infangere nodded, and they rode on at a.
mogelratt: , drarring their long Hameluke
pis s, ready or any .

In less than five minutes immunolqu
had cleared the cam , to all appearance un-
scathed by the hasty ots fired at him from all
(garters, and came skimming over the made of:
t e desert like a bird.

Then they halted, and both cried as he came

p:

ThWhfi) g'oes illiNhuiidgued his horse
e eein m e

on its haunc es. threw up his mafia and

But sup-

 

the
see

ll

shouted, totheir as, (a .

“ThankGodi I eartheoldton eonce
more! You are French, messieursl 0 am I.
also! Thank God!”

“Come on then," cried Lafangere full .
“Who are those behind you?” ’ joy y

“Some of the bey’s slaves,” answered the-
stranger, as he rode up. “They are nothing,
messieurs. We three can take them all. But
how come you here?”

“We are on a scout, to find if the enemy have
any field artillery. We surprised and killed
two Mamelukes. Can you tell us, have they
an?r guns to move?”

t was St. George who spoke.

“Not one six-pounder. They are all ship’s
guns on clumsy carriages, not to be moved
out,’ answered the stranger, in the same hur-
ried, nervous way. Take care, messieurs. They
are coming. Can you fence?”

“We are both masters,” answered the Gas-
con, proudly. “And on?”

“I can beat the best of them, and they all
know it,” returned the stranger. “ Put up your
pistols. Give them the cold steel. Pistols are:
tools on galloping horses. Now, messieurs.”

They had only time to observe that he was a
young-looking man with a slight black mus-
tache and a handsome face, while his dress and
arms were of the richest. Then they galloped
to meet the oncorring foes, who were five in
number, trailing after each other according to
the speed of their horses.

In another moment they had closed on the
leader, who roved to be a tall negro, black as
jet, on a wh to horse.

The stranger encountered him, and Infangere
uttered a of admiration.

“ Splendi ly done! that’s the trick 1”

He looked at the combat with the eye of a
master of the sword.

The negro, in true Mameluke style, had raised
his arm to make a sweeping cut, and the stranger,
instead of tryin to parry, cut back at the
Strike wrist, an took 011' his hand with a light

s .

Not stopping a moment, they swept on at the
next two who were together, and before any
one coul sa how it happened. both went
down, one fi ng a pistol-s ot that missed its
aim, when the last pair turned their horses and
fled in dismay.

“Now, messieurs,” observed the stranger, as
coolly asif nothing had happened, “we have
done enough for the honor of our beauiiiul
France. Utus strip these dead dogs and go-
into your camp.”

St. George hesitated.

“ You are quite sure about those shi ’s guns .3”
he said. “I don’t want to go bac to the.
general without knowing.”

“Of course, I am sure,” returned the other
sharply. “I was Mourad Bey’s favorite slave

 

 

 

Mourad, theMMaele.

 

 

 

till an hour a o, and I have been over the
whole camp. can draw a plan if you like.
Aha! here is our black friend coming back. Not
dead yet. Come, letus kill the dog. He was
the first man to call out as I fied.”

In fact, at that moment they saw the negro
on the white horse, trying to skirt away round
them to the Turkish camp.

The stranger had put his horse to a slow

. center to intercept the crippled man, when St.

Geoige sudden] seized his bridle.
“ 0," said t e creole firmly, “he is helpless
and we do not need him. Let him 0.”

The young stranger flushed ang ' y.

“ Let go my bridle,” he cried.
think you can stop Mourad the Mameluke? 1
am goin to kill him!”

For i answer St. George, releasing the
bridle, seized the other round the arms an held
him with agripe of iron, while he shouted to the
wounded negro:

“ Run! Run!”

The black seemed to understand him, for he
increased his pace, while the stranger writhed
in the arms of St. George, but all in vain, so
great was the creole’s strength, till a side leap
of his horse separated the two and St. George
let him drop on the ground.

The stranger was up in a moment, shouting
in a tone of fury to his own charger, which he
.galloped away, and the obedient creature was
returning when St. George caught the bridle.

“ No, no,” cried the creole,“ you cannot have
him till that poor devil is safe. We French do
not murder cri les.”

Mom-ad the ameluke, as he had called him-
self, lstamped his foot with fury and drew a
piste .

“Insolent!” he cried. “ You shall repent
thi . Let go my horse or I fire.”

“If you fire, you are a coward,” was the
steady reply. “ e saved you from your pur-
.suers, and you cannot fight us without dis-
grace.”

“But you insult me,” cried Mourad, though
be lowered his pistol. “I demand satisfaction."

“You shall have it,” answered St. George
quietlyfri “ I sea that poor fellow is out of dan-
ger. ere is your horse.”

He let the animal go, and it instantly trotted
11g to its master, who sprung on its back, drew
h saber and was just about to rush on St.
George, when Lafan re interposed [by riding
up beside Mourad an seizing his swo arm by
surprise, snatchingx away the saber.

“ N 0,” said the ascon firmly. “I cannot let
this go on. You are a desertcr and my pris-
oner. I am an ofilcer. Sergeant St. George, I
forbid on to fight under penalty of arrest.

The ameluke deeerter seemed to be tho-
rou hly taken aback.

e looked helplemly from one to the other
and at last burst out laughing.

“Manners have changed in France,” he said
at last, “ or two entlemen would not interfere
with another. hat is the way with the
crmaille. Have I made a mistake? Are you
not gentlemen?” _

Lut’angere frowned; for he was an ardent
Red Republican.

“ We have no gentlemen now. We are all
citizens. Are you an aristocrat?"

The st r did not seem to understand him,
for he s a moment and then asked:

“ Who is king of France new?”

St. George gave a short laugh.

“We have no kin . We are all equal. We
cut off the head of uis Capet, who used to be
kimfive years ago.” -

young Mameluke seemed to be utterly
astounded b the news.
“No kingl What

“ Dead!” 0 muttered.
then is France?” _

“ The republic, one and indivisihle," was the
simultaneous reply. at which Konrad the Mame-
:uke uttered a sort of sigh, and then said quiet—

” I surrender, gentlemen—no, citiaans I mean
—I have not seen France since I was a boy. I
‘will go with on where on wish.”

He rode qu etly on wi them. his head haug-
ing as if he were much dejected, and when La-
fangere oflered him his saber, he shook his head,

sayiliag:

“ ever mind. Ishallnot need it. When I
left France the sword was the weapon of a gen-
tleman: and you say there are no anger gentle-
men in France.”

“ You mistake," said St. George gently. “ We
are all gentlemen now, if we do not aull our
honor. Itis honor and truth that mar the
gentleman.”

“ Monsieur—I mean the cities; will I trust,
excuse me,” answered the other tlicold polite-
ness. “1 have, I own, the misfortune to be
noble. though I have been a slave for twelve
years. I am astonished by our news. Give
me time to become used to {be new order of
things vAland without tlemen! The king
dead! Then how do on mrry on the govern.
ment without a nobility!”

“ We govern ourselves,” returned hfangere
proudly, “and any man in- France can rise if

e have the talent. If you are of noble birth,
citizen, I would advise Iyou to keep it secret.”

The deserter gave a s ort bitter laugh.

“ Do you-

“ Did I ea I was noble? It was a lie. I am
Mourad the ameluke. Call me nothing else.
That is enough. I am in your power of course,
if you choose to betray me, but .you may be
men of honor. At least on can use a sword.”

Lafangere stopped his orse.

“Do you doubt my honor, citizen?” he asked.

Mourad laughed again.

“I doubt no man’s honor,” he answered.
“ You so. there are no gentlemen left in
France. fie satisfied citizen. I a aprisoner.”

Lafangere looked doubtful! at im as if he
would like to provoke a due , but St. George
coughed warnineg and they rode on in silence
till they came to the French outposts, where
they were halted in the usual fierce style of the

da .

floured the Mameluke listened to the short
colloquy that ensued, and as they finally rode
past the sentry, observed in a low tone, as if
wonderin .

“ And t ey have chan ed the uniform too.”

“ Yes,” answered St. rge quietlgér “We
leave white to the Austrians now. e have
the tricolor for our tie and we wear the blue
uniform. You are go ng now to the general’s
headvauarters."

“ hat is the general’s name?” asked the
Mameluke as they went on.

“General Bonaparte,” was the proud answer.
“The greatest soldier in Euro .’

It was St. George that spo e, but Lafangere
inte rather testilé‘:5 .

“ ot so, comrade. neral Pichegru is as

a man, or Moreen or Hoche. You men of
taly think no one like your own general.”

St. George smiled but made no answer.

“The stran er "listened and shook his head.
“ Bonaparte, 'chegru, Moreau—these are all
new names. I never heard them.”

“  where have you lived all these years?”
inquir Ilafan re amazed.

“ In Egypt,’ was the simfile reply. “We
have no journals here, and s ves are not per-
mitted to hear much news. But this General
Bonaparte, who is he?”

“ A Corsican artillery officer,” saidthe sword-
master with a shrug. “ A man of esterday.”

“ A man of genius,” corrected t. George,
“ who in his first campaign took more prison-
ers and guns than he had in his own arm and
drove three Austrian nerals into the yrol
one after the other. oreover, comrade, your
general now.”

Lafangere shrugged his shoulders silently.
At that early period there was a great deal of
jealousy among the different armies of France,
and the wonderful genius of the young Corsican
was not fully recognized among soldiers who
had never served under him.

However, the swordmaster said no more, for
they were approaching the modest headquar-
ters of the general followed by a buzz of com-
ment from the troops at the si ht of three Ma-
nielukes riding into the midst o the army, and
in a few moments more St. George pulled up,
dismounted and stood stifily before a slender
figure by a little fire, saying:

“ The Mamelukes have nothing but ship’s
guns. general. We have a Frenchman with us,
who has been a slave and made his escape. He
“Thaw youngon the mm“ bee sta d’ b th

a gen n n in y e
fire mils usual attitude of thoughtju's head
bent, his hands behind his back.

He lookedn quickly.

" Where is t e deserter?”

“Here, general.” -

He beckoned, and the gorgeous Mameluke
dismounted and bowed slightly with a certain
grace in his movement that did not escape the
general’a keen y eyes. . V I

“ You are a renchman ?” he asked sharply.

“ I was, monaieur le general.”

“ Aha! you are noble?"

His tone was low and confidential.

“I was once.”

There was a bitter tone in the reply.

“ What is your name?”

The general affected not to notice the tone.

“St George ”

Thecreole sergeant veaviolent start, and
the oral looked at hi1: stormy.

“ rgeant, you forget yourse f. My soldiers
are never surprised.”

A in he turned to the Mameluke.

“ here were you born!”

“In Martini ue.”

The general coked interested.

“ How came you to Egypt, and how long
have you been here?"

“ It is a long story, general.”

“Make it short and tell it.”

The Mameluke nodded stimy.

“You have the right to give orders in your
own cam , but I am a gentleman. Hy father
always an d if you please."

The general smiled sli htly.

“You will obli eme y tellin .”

A courtly bow nom the Mame uke.

“ I am at monsieur’s service. I was sent as a
child to France to be educated. Theship sailed
for Toulon by the Strait of Gibraltar. We
were taken by an Algerine corsair, and I was
sold as a slave.”

“How old were you?”

 

Dra oons,

under him.
if it comes to that.”

greatestso

you- knew what I
this letter will! not go by boat, but must ride to

 

 

“ Ten, monsieur.”

“ What year was it?”

“ Seventeen eighty-six.”

This time the general started slightly.

“The very year I graduated from Brianne.

You are then twenty-two?”

“Yes, monsieur.”
“ But how came you in Egypt?”
“ My master came here and sold me to Mou-

rad Bey, in 'whOse service I have been ever
since.”

“Ver good. Can you tell me his force?”
“He as seventy guns in position, with twelve

thousand Mamelukes and some forty thousand
infantry, who will run if the Mamelukes are
beaten."

“ Has be any field guns?”
“ Not one. The Turks use none in pt.”
The general turned away and pace up and

down in thought for some moments. At last he
came to St. George.

“ You will be lieutenant tomorrow,” he said,

kindly. “ I have told my adjutant to make out
your commimion. Who is your friend holding
the horses?”

He looked at Lafangere as he spoke.

“ Lafangere, maitre d’armcs of the Seventh
replied the Gascon, saluting.

“ on will re rt to me after the battle of to

morrow," said t e general, with a smile of pe—
culiar favor. “The Republic likes to reward
brave officers. Go now. I wish to speak to
this entleman alone.”

In angere and St. George saluted and went

away, and the creole, as soon as they were out
of hearing, asked:

“Well, what do you think of the general!"

Lafangere broke out warmly.

leasure to be
t Pichegru,

“He isa rand man, it is a
even think he could

St. George laughed.
“ I told Iyou you would think so. He is the
dier in the world.”

Then he seemed to become gloomy all of a

sudden, and Lafangere asked:

“ What is the matter, comrade?”
“Did you hear what the dewrter said was

his name?” asked the creole slowly.

“ No. What was it?”

“ The same as mine.”

“Hasheasgoodari httoiti”

St. George’s eyes fias ed.

“ The creoles say no, but thank God, the

Republic has changed that. Nevertheless he is
my brother.”

 

CHAPTER V.
TH); DISPATCH.
IN the midst of the captured intrenchment of

Embabeh, surrounded by dead bodies. overturn-
ed guns and cariiages, and all the hideous con-
fusion of a place that has been takentby assault,
stood the
of the next day, his long hair tossed back from
his pale face, while he hastily wrote on the top
of a soldier’s knapsack a letter which se( med to
interest him greatly. His gra eyes fiashed as
he wrote and a smile was on 
letter was a love epistle.

young General Bonaparte, at evening

5 lips: for the

And yet it was only to his wife.
But in those early days the young Bona

adored his creole Wife, and his first care ter a
Victory was to send her one of his short nervous

istles. He had done so in Italy, and now at

the other end of the earth he did not neglect the
habit. And truly it was a triumphant letter he
wrote, and such as few other men could have
written with
“ Ham or it! Im: * .

“ I send you the love of my whole nature from un-
der the shadow of the
arms oflictory w hm ha
yours. my ose e, w t torment is it to
thinkvthat a thousand miles of ocean roll between
us,  1 “Wave is W h d
av or pt e. e ave riven
thzl-tigamgukeahlnto he  E: ii] a
fugi ve; alro ours‘ an my ao y,
oh! if Josephine were ere to see her ownufiia
one kim from on would be more precious an all
the riches of t. Bu
and as soon as ve pacified the coun
to rejoin you. The veidiota whoall
Directors, and think rule
meiiinEg pt. Ishallreturnwhen
it.
them, and learn all' you an for me: for Ihave no
news from '
this by a gentleman from Martinique, who has been
a slave among the Turks for twelve ears. His
name is Saint George. Treat him we and send
him back with news.

ousand ldaaes.

truth. .

surrounded by the
cannot make me forget

by wishing. I have

Icon!

France, cannot bury
the least expect
e meantimekeep ongoodterms with

ace for some months. I send you

“ A th Thine own

_ “ Nmuox. “
As he finished and sealed the letter he looked

upandsaidinanordinary to

ac:
“ Volunteers to go to France!”
It was ludicrous to notice the eager way in

which all the officers leaped toward him,
cryiig: .
“ e! General. me! Take me!”

The general smiled mrcastically.
“Perhaps you would not be so eager to go it
mean. The man who takes

the wa we came, through the

Aug?“ Y
Ara anddoitto-nig t.”

 

6

Mourad. the Mameluke.

 

 

 

There was a general drawing back, for the
desert was known to be swarming with Arabs.

Only one man remained near the neral, and
he wore the uniform of the Gui es. On his
shoulder was a new epaulet, and the stripes
of a sergeant had lately been unpicked from his
sleeves. where the marks still remained on his
dust ' jacket. He saluted stiffly.

“ am ready to go, general, if I can take two
friends with me.”

“ Who are your friends?"

“They both long to see France, which one
has not seen for twelve years.”

“ And the other?” -

" The other is Maitre d’ Armes Lafangere.”

The general compressed his lips.

“ On my word you creoles ave assurance.
Vi'ill they go?”

“ They will, if Task them, neral. And we
three can get to Alexandria a rve.”

“ Humph! I thought so. In fact, I have t
in the letter that St. George would bring it, ut
not you. The other.”

The creole colOred deeply under his olive skin
and answered stiifly.

“Very good, eneral.- If he is preferred, I
have no complaint to make, though he is my
younger brother.” '

The enerai looked keenly at him.

“W at romance is this you tell? You are
not from Martinique; you are from St.
Domingo.”

The new lieutenant smiled bitterly. '

“ I know it, general. Unfortunately, our fa—
ther had estates in both islands. You are not a
creole, general; but you have married one.
You should know there are brothers in the
Antilles that white man’s law does not recog-
nize; but God does.” ’

The general listened attentively, and then
bowed to the creole with a manner that showed

some res ct.
think about these things in

pe

“ W‘hatever the
the Antilles, lien nant, I hold men for what
they are worth in brains and courage alone.
You have rmission to seek your comrades,
and you sh l have the letter.”

St. George turned away, highly elated, and
found his friend Lafangere sitting ona captured
gun with a mournful air.

“ Well, Lafangere, we have had a great vic-
tor ',” he remarked.
he swordmastermade a rimace.

" So much the worse. If t ey had beaten us,
we should have retreated to our ships and gone
back to France. As it is, we shall ave to stay
and take care of this accursed burned up coun-
try, where the Israelites used to be made slaves;
and it served them right for coming here.”

“ How would you like then to go back to
Alexandria tonight and sail for Paris at once
with a dispatch? asked 8t. Geo .

Lafan ere jumped up and gave a shout.

“ yl Have I a chance? Heaven! I
would go through another battle to get it. But
you are not sure v in earnest.”

“ I am,” rrained the creole gravely, “ but it is

. We must ride all the way to

“ No matter,” returned Lafangere obsti-
nately. “I’ll try it. You and I can do it—at
least we could if we had that brother of yours
along. We three could storm the mouth of
hell I verily‘believe. Where is he, b the by?”

“ iglrfly ikgqufi. liltiiavsetnot seen in aiqce

ester ay n , aa . George moodi y.

0 has been with the neral ever since, I sup-

, telling him all a ‘ t the country. I see
him nowhere.”

"That is because you don't look in the right
place," retorted Lafangere laughing. “Look
yonder on the other side of the general. ”

They could indeed see the handsome face and
slender, active figure of the Mamelake deserter,
talkin to Bonaparte: though, a moment before,
he b not been visible.

The eneral seemed to be speaking to him
earnest and seriously, while he young man
listened with respect. ’

Present] he came over to them, and said, with
a bow to t. George:

“The general says you wish to speak to me,
and tells are further that you bear the same
name as I. That is singular. How is it, and
what have you to say?" ‘

There was a t of haufihtiness in his tone
that marked the eflacea e spirit of the old
French nobles-a

The v creole “answered with just as much
ha htinem:

“ here is nothing strange about it. I am
your elder brother. That is all.” ‘

The other St. George started back and laid his
hand on his sword.

“You lie,” he cried fiercely. “ I am my
father’s only son, Adrian de St. George. I never
had brother or sister.”

Emil St. George’s mouth seemed to harden
into lines of bronze as he answered:

“ You are mistaken. I do not say you lie, be-
cause you are my brother, and I do not want to
kill you. But your father and mine were the
same, ’and he loved my mother better than

ours. ’ ‘

Adrian de. St. George turned white to the lips.

“ Was that what y ou wished to say i”

“No. I wished to ask if you dared to ride
with me to Alexandria with a letter for the gen-
eral. If you are afraid, say so. You are all

stand now? Let us See which is the braver of
r us two.”

The escaped Mameluke looked at the other in
a singular way, and Iefwgem watched them
keenly. Being a native Frenchman he knew
little of the customs and nothing of the feelings
of the natives of the French Antilles, where the
institution of slavery had but lately culminated
in the horrors of the St. Domingo rebellion.

He saw these two young men, singularly alike
in face and figure, unmistakably brothers, gazin '
at each other with looks of intense hatred an
jealous .

The ameluke’s face was just like that of the
Guide, the features somewhat sharper, the eyes
more fierce; but St. George’s hair curled in
ringlets while there was no tinge of color on his
olive cheek.

Adrian looked at Emil, who returned his
glance in the same burning Way, and at last the
younger brother said:

“ You wish to know if I am afraid. I am the
Count of St. George. Tell that to your com-
rades here, the butchers, the grocers, the soul]-
ions. Tell them I am aristocrat to the back-
bone and that my father died in the Tuileries
defending the king a inst a mob of savages.
(Tell, 'them that, and en see if I am afraid to

ie. ’

Lafangere had listened with more patience
than he Would have shown six years before;
but the sentiments of Red Republicanism Were
growing weaker in the French army under the

irecto

Emiirgt. George waited till the other had
finished and relplied gravely:

“France sti lives and needs the services of
her sons, not that they should kill each other.
The general sends dispatches to France by me.
I have the privilege of taking two comrades
with me by way of the desert. Will you be
one of them i”

The escaped Mameluke nodded.

“I will go. But I tell you beforehand that
the chances are against us. The country is full
of enemies, exasperated by defeat. .”

“ That is why ask you to go. I need a brave
comrade, and, though we hate each other, you
are, after all, St. George as well as I.”

Adrian favored him with a haughty sneer as
he retorted:

“ Iam sorry I cannot return the compliment.
You have assumed the name of St. George,
which is as good as any other for you, but I, or
one do not recognise it as yours. I will go
with you because France needs us both; but,
once at home, I warn you two St. Georges can
not live.”

 

CHAPTER VI.
THE BROTHERS.

A PARTY of swarth , villainous-looking Arabs
on lean ponies wit rag tunics and long
cane spears, had ust hal by the banks of the
Nile near Daman our to water their horses.

All around them were fields of yellow wheat,
trampled down by the ssage of armies and
beaten into the dust of. e long summer.

“ Oh son of Habib,” said one Arab, “ I begin
to think
from the true believers to smile on the Franks.
Such a victory never was won. The Mamelukes
are scattered, to the four winds and their power

e;

‘ 0h, non of Ayoub,” replied the second, “the
best thing we can do is to make a friend of the
Frargk’ general by killing all the Mamelukes we
mee .

“ Easier said than done,” remarked a third.
“The Mamelukes have pistols and gun and
their horses are the of Arabh, wh e we
have only our 3 and a few swords. The
Franks can kill them, for they are lords of the
fire; but we must k friends with the Mame-
lukes till they are all sad.”

The were interrupted in their colloquy bin
warn ng cough from the scout, who sat on is
horse at top of the bank, watchin the desert.

“What is it, oh son of Abdal ' i" asked Ibu

Babib. “ Who comes?” '
The scout held up three finger-a inst the
sky, and made a circular motion his head

as if indicating a turban.

“ Three Mamelukea,” muttered the son of
Habih‘. “Let as set on them, brothers. We
are seventeen, and the but three. It will earn
us the favor of the Izanks to bring them in,
dead or alive.”

And as the son of Ayoubseconded the idea on
the ground that there were only three of tirernci
the whole party rode into a dry canal and hi
fhemselves to wait for the coming of the Marne-

es.

In the meantime the advancing cavaliers were
riding on at an easy amble and any one close to
them could see that, though their dress and
arms were those of Modems. their faces were
shaven'after the fashion of the Franks.

“I see no traces of marauding Arabs,” the
maitre d‘arma observed, looking toward the
moonlit Nile. “ The country seems to be

 

white: I am of the mixed blood. You under- .

that therProphet has turned his face '

 

deserted b all. What do on think has become
of them, onsieur Mon ”

Mound the Mameluke shook his head gloom-
ily as he answered:

“ So much the worse for us. They have fled
to upper Egypt, and will make head in more
force than ever. Besides, I don’t wish you to
call me Mourad. I am the Count of St. George."

Lafan ere smiled.

“ We ave no counts now: and my comma»
here, is the only St. George I know. To us w n
are Monrad the Mameluke, till you have en i‘In-«i
the title of a Frenchman, who loves France
better than a decayed noblesse.”

Mourad’s eye flashed.

Coming back among Frenchmen after a
twelve years’ slavery, brooding over the feudal
glories of his house, he had not yet become
educated to the republic, and, all through the
journey Lafangere had kept taking the half-
blood’s part and calling the aristocrat nothing
but Mourad.

The oung man’s fierce spirit, chafing under
the in 'ction, now burst out in fury, and he
suddenly cried out:

“Then get to Alexandria bv yourselves. I
can take care of m own head.’

With that he w eeled his horse and dashed
away, as it happened, right into the d canal
where the Arabs were in ambush, to sur-
rounded in another moment and fighting for
his life.

The valiant sons of Habib, Ayoub and 'Abdah
lah charged him simultaneously as he struck
the bed 0 the canal, and splintered their cane
lances on his mail shirt, knocking him out of the
saddle before he could defend himself.

Then, with loud yells, thewumped down to
finish him; but in a moment was up, fightin
fiercely, sweeping his razorlike scimitar mung
him, and cutting of! limbs at every stroke

_which reached his enemies.

Still, they were too many for him and had
the advantage of surprise. .

Just as he cut down the son of Habib, another
Arab rode at him from behind, and trampled
him down, when they all rushed in to kill him
as he lay.

St. George and Lafangere saw him go over
the bank and heard the yells, and the maitre
d’armes laughed savagely. ‘

“Let him take care of his head now,” he
cried. “The accursed aristocrat is well served.
His friends have him.”

But St. George drew a pistol.

“ Come on i” he said, to the Gascon. “He is
my brother, and God sees us. Let us go to his
rescue.”

A louder burst of yells and the clash of
swords came over the bank of the canal as he
spoke, and Lafangere cried out:

“Let them fight. It will clear our wayto
Alexandria. ”

For all answer St. George dashed at the canal
and was over in another moment, when Lafan-
gere heard a pistol-shot.

The Gascon no longer hesitated.

Drawin both pistols he galloped to the canal
and saw 9 creole hotly engaged with a dozen
Arabs, while several more were busy round the
prostrate tom of Mound, the Mameluke,whose
horse was trottin ofl, nei hing wildly.

The Gascon das ed into he midst of the fra ,
firing both pistols as they nearl touched t e
bodies of a couple of Arabs, an then set to
work with his saber, cutting ri ht and left at
the poorly-armed Bedouina, ab y seconded by
his comrades. '

The Arabs, at the best of times, had been
desperately afraid of the Mamelukes, and these
three men or at least two of them, seemed to
be more iorrnidable than any they had ever
met before. ,

Hemmed‘upin thenarrow bed of the canal,
they could not-surround the two men, who kept
charging and cutti with their long sabera.

The Arabs. being orant of fencing, rarely
pa , and trust toggmping one side from a
cut, t here they had no opportunity to do so.
It was give and take, two men against a doaen;
but. the two had armor and long labors like
ranors, the dozen were naked and had only
abort‘gataghans.

In t ree minutes from the beginning of the
fight the Arabs fled, leaving four dead men in
the canal, and Infangere said:

“Ouraristocrat has had his allowance. He
could take care of his head: but, after all, his
headisthe only one that has suffered in this
little aflair.” .

He was actual] wheeling his horse to ride
away, when St. eorge dismounted and went
up to the body of Mourad, which lay still at the
how the “'5‘11." h id M

‘ comra e e a: re] . “
brother has been hurt, and fit; if: lookian
down at us now. ” -

There was something so sim 1e and solemn in
his words that the Gascon, w 0 had not, after
all, a bad heart, immediately returned and as.
sisied him to examine the body of Mourad.

To their surprise they found no blood on it,
:hlgugh he was deadly pale and quite inaensi~

Lafangere felt his pulse and exclaimed:

“ It beats yet, but where is he hurt?”

new»

 

, whi e Villeneuve made

Mourad, the Mameluke.

 

 

St. Gem? lifted him up, and Mound uttered
a faint ' . .

Presen he began to move and tried to
stand up, coking round as if bewildered and
muttering in Arabic.

“What cheer, comrade!” asked Lafangere.
" Did the cut you anywhere?"

Mo turned his head and seemed to re~
c0 ize him, for e asked faintly:

‘ e you hurt ’

“ n. We found you down, and my comrade
St. George shot one of the scamps. l difiosed
of two others, and your brother took 0 the
head of a fourth.”

Mourad looked round into the face of St.
George wistfully.

“ Did you come to my hel i” he asked.

“ You are the lawful hea of my house,” was
the rave answer of the creole. ‘God sees us,
my rather, as he saw Cain and Abel. Are you
hurt badly i”

“ A horse knocked me down. I think .he
broke my ribs,” said the Mameluke in a faint
tone. “Go on to Alexandria. The way IS
plain from here.’ ve me.” _ _

“ Not till we are safe within the tes,” said
St. Geo quietly. “ You can ri e at a foot
paw, an we are not ten miles from the place. "

Mourad turned away his head With a con-
vulsion expressive of great pain. ‘ g

“I will try,” he said slow’l’y, “ but you will
have to help me on my horse.

The did lo,-a.nd be nearly fell 03 in a faint,
tho ' ‘ the docile creature stepped as gingerly
asi walking on glass, and seemed to be con-
scious that his master was hurt.

Slowly they rode over the plain, Mourad
swaying from side to side as if dizzy with the
pain the creole riding close to him and sugporn
lfildllim as tenderly as a mother tend g a
c . .

Note soul was in si ht; for the Arabs had
deserted the country ce the spread of the
news of the battle of the P ramids, and, in two
hours after, they saw the ts of Alexandria
glimmeriuga _.. . . g .

Then Mound spoke fai tly. ‘

“You are very kind,” esaidto St. Geo .
“ Will you grant me a favor when we go in

“I will,” replied the creole unhesitatingly.

“ Call me henceforth nothing but Mourad. I
have learned a lesson to—night, and I feel that I
am not so worthy of the name of St. George as
you, who have been a brother to one whom you
owe naught but hate.”

“ You mistake,” returned St. George gent] .
“ We could neither of us hel being born. T
wrongla inonewho isd . He m hthave
sold me are slave. Instead, be me to
be educated as a man, and the Republic makes
us all equal.”

“Nevertheless,” returned the other, “Lg-rant
ray finest. None know me save as the ame-
l e oursd. Letme bethatto allthe world,
and do you continue to make worthy the name

you bear.”

Still 8t. Geo hesitated.

“The genera knfiws, and ourdis “has men.
tlonyourname. cannnthe._ nfromthe

"-1: mart-«piles lionnd.‘  killed
bytheArabs'oyouliiam' ' a
prisoner, whotalks no ranch. , w ded
‘13; 3,3118 fight. Promise ins-this, or wi turn
“I ” answored St. George' “ but here
is Lam ' '

“He will promise too,“ returned Konrad,
:hfor he is man 3f theytsmirl trig, and we

res, united, can 0 an ' a -
where. Bee, yonder comes  st.
What is it!" '

Thedashmdsullonboomof aguno‘utatsea

answered him. .
“ It a the English fleet,” said hangers-

' CHAPTER VII.
I!!! cant: nuances. ‘

mix was indtgsd the  fleet, under 
mains on unwary , aa
Providence, whim ' therto av the
French: were wag of seeing its gifts abused.
On one day the tie of the - made
Bonapartethe, rofF¢y_;en next
hisneetwas yedb thea ostincredible
carelessness of an a , who expiated the

fault with his life. ‘

Nelson, wi only thirteen ships, ca tured
or ruined a of fifteen French's of

which five were strap or than, his best; and in '

a bda the'Fre‘ saw ‘ lv‘. cutoff
fromlFrananddoOmedtos eymino Finn-for

m.
an indefinite time,‘ for the five French shl
which escaped from Nelsen made a! for (Jorf'd,I
and were not seen a 'n‘ forum-tbs.

Our three adven who- had seen the
whole duster-iron: the , were wounded
and heart-broken. ,

Inoaemome‘nt tobe dashed from thehightof
mum to the depths of Was

for any than,“ in , with
their mercurial , one, doubly so. 7

Wheels-random vtatonthe
beach, watchingthe flnfilfih an French ships,
or: led and dismasted, in at their anchors,
w th five vessels that

had not fired ashot during the battle, and the
maitrs d’armes wept like a child.

“We shall never see France again,” he
sobbed. “Oh, my friends, why did we ever
come to this accursed country, and why does
Heaven allow these Englishmen to beat us on
the sea, with all the .chancesia our favor?”

St. George who had been standing homily
watching t e bay of Aboukir, here bro e in on
the other‘s tirade: '

“ We have had a heavy blow," he sai “ but
I was with the eneral at Arcola, when a1 hung
on a thread, an we beat at last. I am going to
France, if you will come with me.”

Lafangere made a gesture of d 'r.

“How can we 0? Do you no see all our
ships are gone or ken!”

“ There are hundreds more in the port. I can
see their masts.”

" But they are not ships of war.”

“They can sail, and, as you see. the English
are in no condition to pursue. To-day is our
time. To-morrow will be 1:00 late. They will
haVe refitted” What thinks Konrad?”

The Mameluke, who st ked le and Weak
from his acoident, bowed hea .

“ I think you are right,” he said. “ If we can
find a Greek felucca in rt We can get 01!. The
Greeks are devils to chases.”

“ But we do not know their lan ge," o ' t-
ed Lafangere, determined tobe m rable, ‘ and
you are in no condition togo with a broken rib.”

Mourad allowed a faint smile to cross his (ace
as he answered:

“ A broken rib soon heals at sea. and we
Mamelukes are used to bro en bones. I know
their languages here. If y are willing lam
ready to go.’ ,

St. Geor nodded gravely.

“Moura .is right. Let us do
row .will be tee late. See. The
busy as bees.”

In fact they could see the masts and rigging
of the crippled English ships black with men,

etting up new masts, and general] repairing
damages, with a vigor and nest that s owed they
appreciated the perils of their position should a
storm come on. '
_ They were too usy even to find time to fire
at the crowds of reach an the shore carryi
01! what the could save from two strands
ships and it 'an actual fact that the French
flag dew on the deserted line-of-battle ship Ton-
nant for many hours, because the English were
too bus to send a boat aboard thewreck.

“ Suc are the chances of war,” observed St.
George, gloomily, as th‘e’y gassed the Tonnant.
“ Oh, man Dim, what ll e general say when
he hears the neWs'l” '

“ ht we not to go back and tell him?”
asked tangere.

“ By no means. The news will go fast enough
to him and to France too. We have our orders
to to Paris. Let others take this news to
Ca . I go where the opera! tells me, for he
is the first soldier in world, as you will
admit. comrade.” ' ‘

rt. To-mor-
glish are as

“ That is comnde. He is.”
Laf , surrendered at discretion
after the ttle of the Pyramids, and never was

heard to talk of Pichegru again. ,

The went slowl along the shere to where
them left their orses and rode into Alex-
an .

Tbecit wasle in confusion‘with a motley
crowd o sailors, Arabs,  Maltese and
therest,,taiking together with gestures of dis-
 at the disaster that had ust befallen them.

ey we hardly noticed the gen con-
fusion an w‘ent dawn to the port, w ch was
crowded with transports andtradi ‘vesels
of all the Mediterranean nations, bu nearly
ginofmen, whohsd gone‘tolookatthe

It lm‘ ear-lyre" ;forthe battle of
AhoukirBeyhadlas mastofthe ni t,and
:0 tug: breeze was blowing. out. of t ' 'port

wa

'“Now ” oth the Gascon “thqu is.
how 3: get to seat den sr'e ships, but
where are the sailors? we have no mono .”

“Let not that m e you,” interrupted. t.
A . “The general gave me an order for
fundsonflie masts-antiwecsmaellour
horses for two francs each to the cm-
cers. - ‘

“ I propose then,” re the Gascon whose
spiritsseemedtobe gwiththe p ’ of
goinfi to France, “that we divide our rs.

wi sell the horses and the money, while
you two procure the ship. '

“An exmlle‘nt idea, observed Konrad. ‘ “I
see a man I thinkI know, yonder.”

They gave up their horses to Lafangere who
led them away to the WW oflice,
where he knew he could them stalwarts“,
taking with him 8t. ’s orde

r.
Thentheothertwowal alongthe quavto
was-ta

looking at the water. , V
Konradqagstothis man in some language

8t. Geo . not understand. and the other

shnaggellhis shoulders and made an indiiferent

 

reply.
“ I asked him if he had a Vessel ready to sail,”

where a slender, swarm Greek nding
atthestsps, with a'l‘urk‘lhpipo in his. mouth, _

 

he says howcanhe
eiscrnrmanif we pay
' face. He is a picaroon.

sax-Kan Mom-ad, “an
without a 0?
en h. I know

“ what?”

“ A picaroon. Half these Greeks are robbers,
when they get a chance to do it, and esca un-
known, by sinking the ship they take m the
Tni‘ghktg ” It is their only way to get even with the

l"

“ Then this man will not be a safe one to take
ustoFrance, He may want‘to sell us to the
Turks.”

“ I have thought of that, and it is certain that
we must be on our. guard. But, after all, we
three are a match for a dozen Greeks, and he
has but a dozen.”

“ Which is his vessel?”

Mourad pointed to a low. black vessel, hardly
more than a large boat.

She had a long. pointed stern, like the beak
of a stork. a raised cabin at the stern, covered
with gilded carvings three short, stumpy
masts, two raking forward, the third cooked up
behind the cabin, on the ve end of the stem,
two long yards tapering an set ,at an angle to
the decks, and a general outlandish and pictur-
es ue appearance that en ested the Orient.

‘ That is his Xebec ” sai the Mameluke. “I
know her well, for I ave seen her before. She
can sail like a witch, pulls twelve sweeps, and
all she needs is a gun to make her a regular
picaroon.”

“ But what dOes she here?”

“Oh, a peaceful traden, of course, since the
French came in. Master Nikolai has the repu-
tati n of being a spy if he can enough pay.”

at on ink of going on ' vesse .”

“ It is ause he is such a rascal.”

“ How is that an inducement?"

“An honest trader would not take. the risk
Nikolai will, 'for money.”

“ How much shall we oifer him?"

“Half to start and the other half when 'he

uts us ashore at Marseilles”

“ But if he tries treachery on the way!”

“ He will not.”

_ “ Why not?”

Mourad smiled sarcastically.

" He knows me too well. I have seen him
before. I once had him bastinadOed.” -

“ What is that?"

“Beaten tea jelly. He thinks I amatill a
Mameluke who has deceived the French, and
that I want to go to Stamboul-Constanti-
nople.” '

‘ Indeed? Why do you tell him that?”

“ use he is sue ascamp. If Itold him
I want to go to France he would take me to
C(mstantinople. If I tell him I want to to
Stamboul, he will think it a Very smart trig: to
take me to France.”

While the two were thus convening apart,
the Greek who bore such a slender reputation
goked his pipe and cast furtive glances at

m.

Heknaw notexactl what tomakeof them
on account of their umeiuke dress. He saw
t apparently on friendl terms wifidthe

men co be.

such, and wondered who,
Deserterspossibly. ‘
Konradtookcaretobeephimi'mmtalkingto
BtGeoge,whomhecautionedtousenoFrench
before, ikolai and to and intercept La-
1.betore thes‘ort yGasoon ca'meih to

al
e return to 't as -

Then h ed he Gr and the to!
lard? dialogue ensued: ‘ ‘

“ ou cannot sail without a , you can
at takepamengers to'Btam I 1

“Wu V‘s ’ it I gulweuweumgw hf" '"

“ at 0 you '

"Ten ’ each. i

pushes

“ You shall have it when we get asap.”

“ That is not enough.”

H Why not!” , .

“ I want to see the money now. ”

“ You shall a half. We will give you
fifteen thousan plastres as we leave poet, and
fifteen mosewhen you land mmnwewish
toland.” -‘ ' _‘ ‘

- "At Stamhoul?’ ' ' '

R‘ Egab‘iookmefi'm smaller 3 begs

e more e n
to scentan adventure. ‘ '

“You are thenimportaut _,"hesaidin
a whisper. “ Who is with t“sou

“Ifyou pnnnisenotto llwillpayit.”

“Iswearbythecrossofst. Basil-—

“ {tat is et'i'ough. Do you know what has

in“ W.
“ Yes. The English have beaten the French
foolsandthefateofthearmy issealed.”
“You are wrong. The French hold 
They have beaten the. Mamelukel: teken .
and I has fled.” _ ”

W _
Nikolai stopped and Hour-ad watched him.
He saw the struggle going on in the Greek’!
mind between two conflicting ideas. ,

... mm-._...__w — —.

. .m «7.7.. V..... .N- -_.-..___,_a.... «W...

coming down the quay.

8

He was thinking should he get most from
taking the supposed Mameluke envo to Co -
stantinople, or selling him to the
0008

 

 

The wil Mameluke, tutored by slavery in  Mourad.

habits of ouble—dealin , slipped in:

“ Sup one you go an inform on me now, you i
at would be foolish, as you would :

mean ?

ench at 1

Mourad, the Mameluke.

.__. -,A.. .., ..____...

._4._..._. .. . -

A-.- ,

answered St. George quietly. “What is the
matter now i”

“ We are far enough to the ' north, and it has
; become necessary "to change our course,” replied
“ I have been trying to persuade
x Nikolai to sail for the west and he refuses."
“ I expected as much. Why?”
“ He says he engaged to take me to Stamboul,

lose all the money we are to pay you, and the . and he is going there. I think he suspects we
Franks would seize it, and perhaps give you I are French.’ '

the bastinado too. ”
Nikolai winced at that idea.

He only knew the East, and his‘memory of ’

former bastinadoos was vivid. He had no doubt
that the French behaVed as an Oriental
would with the stick—used it to pay all incon-
venient debts.

Nikolai made up his mind.

“ i will take you, if you will pay down fifteen ‘

thousand piastres now and the rest when I land
on.
“ It is a bargain.”
Mound turned away and filled his two friends
e hurried toward
them and asked:

“ Well, how much have you got?”

Lafangere was full of excitement.

“ l have sold the horses for seven thousand
francs, and the harness for two thousand more.
Then our order was for three thousand, so that
we have twelve thousand francs in gold. Is it
not grand? How much must we pay for our

passe e?”

“ Fifteen thousand piastres, at four to the
franc; that is, let me see—3”

“ Three thousand seven hundred and fifty
hanoe, leaving as eight thousand and two him-
dred and (if to spend in France. Monsieur
Mourad, our ortunes are made. With that sum
we can see Paris.”

“ Remember we are not there st. You
must not s hit a word of French fore the
Greek. I t ink he will try to give us up to the
first French frigate he meets. ”

“ Just what we want; but why!”

“Because he thinks u2 Turkish spice. If he
knew we were French, e would try to sell us
to the English out 1yonder.”

Lafangere whist ed. I , ‘

“ What an unconscionable scoundmli”

“He is a Greek, 1!) friend, and they are all
liars,” replied Mour' , calmly. “Come, let us

I see he is signali his boat.”

In” fact,vthey saw the rock Waving his hand,
and ver soon after a small boat shot from the
side of t e xebec and came to the stairs, where
Mourad and his two comradae got in and were
rowed to the little vessel. -

The Manielnke paid over the moneyeand did
all the business while St. George and
were compelled to assume the role of. unites to
avoid exposing their race, and Nikolai remarked
sus iciously:

‘ ow quiet your friends are. One would
think they were unde a vow. ” -

“ They are,” said ourad, readily. “ They
took an oath after our defeat to I to no
man but till they had seen the su tan.”

Then kolai went out of the little cabin,
and'they watched the crew of slim and swarthy
Greeks bending to their sweeps as the xebec

At outmigfg: Elfin ha b can

my 0, y W -
eulty in leaving the place wit out aper t; but
the in and alarm were so great that the
omciais were away from their posts, and it is
rohablathat a single division of troops could
ve captured Alexandria by a brisk assault.

Once ouidde the crew spread the wide lateen
mils of the little vessel, andshe shot away over
the waves at a that caused Lafangere to
1!th to St. gs: ' \

“ s can run from the E0233: at any rate.
Ibeginfitohol self was dyet revisit

*—

cnar'rna vm. '
mo '1'!!! WAY.~

as the little xebec stretched awa to the north,
when observed, in a no of-uncasi-

nastiest. : ~
“ don’t knonrhat you think, but Iiamthof
thatwe vegonelong enough a s
My Itislsnelamnosailor,hutl
learned- achool and I know the

‘n hall’s”: mil," replied the 1
‘ y , a ' oreoe
“liar-edema mlmIt’al underthe eneral
-l’ooheyosders. e are Hound’s s,

hpwillchangsonrcoussawhenitisneces-

well, but he is de-
m 0"” m- em a. .0
e, and

and monitor he cause with anon-
pnlgnfofconccnonkis fen
“ yfrleads,”he said, “ fearweshallhave

fangere‘

“Why not tell him so, and make him turn

l the boat to the west?”

A

“ Because to do so we must fl ht, and, if we
kill all the Greeks, we are as ha y of as eVer.”
u y 30?" _

“ Because we are not sailors.”

St. George shrugged hisshoulders.

"It is 'not necessar to be bred a sailor to
handle a vessel like t is with a fair wind. I
am a creole, and have crossed the Atlantic more
than once. A man cannot do that without
learning something of the sea.”

Mourad looked at him attentively.

“ Do you mean to say—l” he began.

“I mean to ea that I am going to France
with these Gree 3. if the will let me: with-
out them if the will no . To get there we
must have discip ‘ne and a head. I propose that
Lafangere, who is the oldest officer among us,
take the command, that we call this Greek aft,
and tell him who we are.”

Mourad seemed to be ilxlnfipressed by his words,
for he answered respectf y:

“ I think you are always right, but I would
rather you were the chief.’

“ So would I,” inter ed Lafangere. “ What
do I know of the sea When we get to land I
will do what yoq' lease: but I confess I feel
like a fool here'.“ am ready to obey your
orders, St. George."

“ Very well "answered the. creole. “ Call the
Greek here. boos he understand French?”

“I, think he does a little, but he will pretend

“ Tell him then, in Arabic, Greek or whatever
lan age you like.”

ourad called to the Greek captain who had
been watching them furtiVely from 'a group of
sailors forward, and Nikolai nstantly came to
them, followed by the whole of hismen, with a
swaggering manner that boded ill for their

e . .

“ gall him to send his men forward," said St.
(.‘leorglel,i uietly, and as he spoke, he and Lafan-
gere their hands on the tols in their
sashes, at which the Greeks fell ck and allow-
ed the ea in to come on alone. I

“Now ll him,“ continued the creole, “that
we are three French officers, who have dis-
patches that must to France and that, if he
takes us there safe )9 he shall have the money
we romised him. ell me his answer.”

urad explained to Nikolai and the Greek
burst into a torrent of words which the Mame
luke translated as follows: v

" He says that he is a r man; that he never
would have left Alexan ria had we not deceived
him; that it is quite impossible to reach France
on account of the English cruisers, which swarm
ev where, and that he would rather go back
to exandria and give up all the money than
run the risk.” ‘ .

St. George smiled. _ '

“ I see he is growing cautions. He wants to
gobacktogiveus up to the English who are,
, this time, ableto sail. Tell he has no

oice. He must do as we wish.” . '

Konrad translated the answer, and the Greek
immediatelyo ran back to his men, and began to

“W m’ made them to tak
“ a in to 0 us
' m’fysaki Managed. “.What areyour or-
am, Monsieur St. I

St. and Lafan re rose.

"In the first place,‘ said the creole, “it is
necessaryforoaeof astotake the helm. Dan

on two handle them fellows alone, or shall we

one of our foes to steer the vessel?"

A doubt on this point was ended by Nikolai

m loudly in Greek to the steersman, who
iatel leftthe tiller and ran forward, let-

tingthe xe flyvfl) into the wind, which she
would have done th disastrous effect, had not
St. George seiaed the helm at the right mo t.

“Now, ntlentsn,” pursued the .crtognas
calmlyas f nothing had happened, “there is
no time to pin with these men. ‘They are
twelve to threahut they have onlytheir knlm
and we have four . a carbine and a
em to surrender, Mound.”
The Hamelu e did as hewas ordered, but
Nikolai answered, defianifl:

“You are nobody. e English are the

rulers. You are risoners.” .
“Coma taeuathemifyoucan”criod
nouns, and with that be leveled his lstol ,at
the Greek again who in a moment row his
knife full at a Melnke’s breast. -

Summ

were

the Greeks made a

knives. a

Konrad had received the Greok‘s baa.an on
his whence it a! to e deck

 

witha clangthattol thadstmck armor,
andhe and the mitt-«warmer iiredofl their

‘ lishman.

Thefisshand reportofthew'l‘urkishpiml
andle to when all
 flieir

 

long pistols with such efl’ect that their as-
sailants turned and made for the fore-hatch,
when they dived down in terror leaving the
captain and three dead men behind them on the

deck.

“Don’t go forward,” cried St. George. in a
warning tone, as the Gascon was about to rush
on. “ here are eight yet, and your pistols are
emfty. Load up.” .

nd, not till they had obe his orders,
would the cautious creole perm t them to go to
the fore hatch, when Mourad looked down and
called out: '

“Come up, one by one, or we will come dawn
and kill'you all.”

Pretty soon a trembling Greek, who had
thrown away his knife, came crawling up and
was brou t to St. George, who questioned him
through urad, and found that the captain
had promised them all a share in the reward
to be id b the English in case they took the
Fre men n to‘Nelson’s fleet.

“Ask him if he and his comrades are willing
to sail the boat under our orders,” said the creole.

The Greek swore by all the saints in his cal~
endartodo the biddmg of the French if they
would spare his life, and the result was that the
eight men of the crew left alive were brought
up on deck, sworn to fidelity, disarmed of their
knives, and set to work.

The course of the little vessel was also changed
to the west, and Lafangere remarked, as he
saw a k sailor once more at the helm:

“ We may st to France after all.”

“ We get to France,” responded St.
Geoge. “The only question is, how soon?”

B Mourad still seemed uneasy.

“ You cannot trust those Greeks,” he told the
other. “ They are only waiting till we are aslee )
to chan the course of the vessel. We shal
have to cop watch.”

“One at a time,” answered Lafangere. “ It
is only icket dut after all. Here we have
three re iefs, and would like to see these fel~
lows wt the best of three good Frenchmen like
us. he takes first watch? I am willing. for
I feel as if I should need no sleep to-night.

It was a d that St. Geor e and the Mame-
luke shoul go to sleep in the 'ttle deck cabin,
fully armed, while Lafangere acted as captain
till he got too slee y to watch longer. and.
somewhat to the ct er's surprise, the Queen
neVer waked till the sun was risin astern
of them; when 9 shack St. George t3: 3
shoulder and told him:

“ I kept them due west all ni' ht, but I see 1!.
ship ahead of us that. may Very ely beau En-
Not being a sailor, I don‘t exactiy

ow how to t out of his wa .”

St. GeOr Jumped up instanzly and went out
on deck, w he found that the were still
sailing west with a fair breeze, w ile a large
frigate lay, with her maintopeail aback, not
twomiles of dead ahead. as if waiting for them.

Away tothe north were some blue hills, ust
flng gut of the sea, and the creole cheer to

an ere:

“That is Candis, and its ha s are full of
picaiioons; so we  run 1:0 t  We must
run orAfrloaa we pa, escapean
En lish prison”:

‘ u Heavens l” exclaimed Lafangere,
not done right?” , . r -
made no angst till he had take;

    
 

the his ‘direofed sailors signs
tri thexeh‘g'fittoth'ewindsoabsytoslant
awa fromthe

Thyenhenldfoflfan re:

“You are not a aaior, it is true: but you
must know that’s a ship’s guns are more power
ful than our field batteries That to can
Ink Isifwecome within gunshot. Seal she is
“has”  at ...... -

a as a . were aw th
great yards the hnaushlp ngg round?
will. swarm of black want rapidly up

0 0

When! ngtounderreefedwpsails
before, as if wanna; but, as they looked a
{firmness- “ *- "m‘
rom y a n
to ngegrough the watu, mmm:
intention of cutting them 08 hon further

westernprogress. ~_

“How far doaship’s gunscaaryf' themaifre
d’annesaskadwith‘a tdealofintsreatms
won’asy becameqnftnlearevantohhlands-
manae 6. ' . ’

St. G hisshoulders.

“Ithng . We shall soon see

wthisshlp carries.
y were bowling alon at a rapid pace.
°'° " “'°’ °‘i".’:‘t

a
eating intothewindn

and.” toverifySt. ,a,
banned fromtheside thofrlgntgalflthev
saw the pats of w to sprayuaa
wmwllgoverthewsvu. itdisa-
Feared utaqnarta-ofamflsfrcmtheinie
nadireot line. '

“N r " remarked th
was? new °
goodgmaers

At this moment Mourad tl.e Mumeluke. who
had been sleeping soundly, came on deck out of
the cabin, awakened by the noise of the gun,
and exclaimed in French:

“ Take care. Now is the time to beware of
treacher . The Greeks are sailors: we are not.
Watch t .”

There were onlv four of the Greeks on deck
as he spoke and St. George asked him quickly:

“ Have you ever been at sea since you were a
child?”

“Certainly. I am used to these craft here
thou h I know nothing of your big ships. l
see, or instance, that you have something tow-
ing overboard, and that it must retard our
5 d.”

St. George started and ran to the port quar-
tcr,rghere, sureenough, was arope towing over-
Loa .

As be hauled at it, he found an unusual re-
sistance, and Mourad came to his help.

Between them they hauled on board a spare
sail, to all appearance left to tow on purpose,
and the Mameluke said savagel :

“ I thought so. The cows s are afraid to
iiubt. but they want the frigate to catch us.
i allot what’s that?”

Another flash and boom, and a second shot
that dropped into the water close abeam, told
what it was.

The English frigate was getting nearer.

Another cable length, and they would be
within range.

With a guttural Arabic curse Mourad drew
his saber and rushed all round the bulwarks,
looking over the side to find if any thing else
were towing. ,

Presentl he made a back at something out-
side, and t. George saw, to his intense amaze-
ment, a sack of grain o floating astern, while
the increased speed wit which the xebec slip-
ped through the water sufficient! showed the
means that had been used to her.

Then the Mameluke shouted in Arabic to the
steersman who was looking very pale and
l'iighte and bellowed down the hatcbway
somethi that brought the Greeks running
upon dec in a bunch, jabberingjrgether.

“ Whatis the matter?” asked fangere, inno-
centl . “ What have they done?”

“ heated us out of two points in the wind,”
cried Konrad, savagely. ” knowthethicves.”

And he kept up such a hectoring and beating
with the fist of his saber, that he speedily had
the Greeks hauling at the ropes, trimming every-
tuiug flat as boards, while the felueca slipped
away from the frigate at such a rate that it
was easy to see they would escape, when the
ell'llp fired a third gun.

he shot fell into the water about two cable-
lcngths abeam, and in the same moment the
Greek steersman uttered a loud cry, as if of
terror, and let go the tiller.

In an instant the b0ws of the little xebec flew
up into the wind, all her sails shivered, and she
began to drift down on the fri ate.

‘ Cut the dogs to pieces!” e led Mourad, be-
side himself with fury. “ It s our only chanco."

As he spoke he flew at the steersman, and,
had not the Greek instantly jumped overboard,
would have cut him down.

Then he caught the helm, brought the xebec
to the wind, and held on his course like grim
death, assisted by the fact that St. George, seis-
in the situation at a lance, had presence of
mind enough to run to t e jib sheet and hold it
to windward till the vessel paid off.

Lafan ere, confused by these strange maneu-
vers, di not understand what was going on till
the hum of a round shot ssing betWeen their
masts told him that this 't trick of the Greeks
had brought them within range.

“What am I to do?" he called out; for he was
alone on deck, St. G-o being at the jib,
Mourad at th; tiller, while the Greeks, in a
frightened group were watching their Comrade
inlthe sea, now swimming for the English ves-
so .

Mourad looked 'at the frigate, then at the
Greeks, and in :de up his mind.

“ Drive these dogs overboard!” he cried.
“ They are better away than here. The English
will stop to pick them up, and give us time to—
llurryl Here’s another shot!"

Again came the flish and boom of the ,
and this time the shot went humming putt ir
stern.

Lafangere looked; understood; drew his saber
and rushed at the (ile-ks.

“ Overboard, co unis! Swine I” he shouted.

They unders as Well as if he had spoken
the best Romaic, for he aimed a cut at the
nearest, which the man only avoided by leap-
iiz" over the low bulwaiks. ,

Into the sea they all went, one after the
other preferring the chanco of drowning to the
ixlrtainty of decapitation, and the Mamelnke re-
marked wi;h o. rhn smile:

“ Now, Mons eur Rosbif, if your next shot
does not hit us, we shall be out of range in two
minutes."

On skimmed the little xebcc like a bird, and
they noticed that, besides keepin to windward
they haddrawnahcad of the sh , which had
bcz'un the chase broad abearn.

Thiscircumstancpfavoredtheminsofarthat

9

 

the ship could no longer try any gun of her
broadside, but was restricted to her how—
chaser on one side, unless she lost distance by
yawing.

A single gun takes time to reload, and the
next shot came so feebly, on account of the
long range, that, although it passed over the
cabin, it drop into the water, spent, on the
other side of t e vessel.

“That is the last shot that reaches us,”
observed Mourad cooll '; and he proved to be
right. for the next ropped a cable-length
astern, and in ten minutes more they

to St. George:

T“ I w: it for orders, captain, there is room to
S l
sai s, wrth our friend from Gascony.”

St. George came aft, and it was at once
resolved to try running down and passing the
frigate
man’s stupidity of fangere, who didn’t know
the name of a single rope and misinterpreted
everything he heard. Ifowever, by dint of
patience, they beat it into his head at last that
to unfasten and let out a rope gradually while
the vessel was turning had the effect of alterin
the inclination of a sail, and, as they only edg
off gradually to the west till they got before
the wind, wing-and—wing, the Gascon finally
exclaimed:

“ Why, it’s easy enough after all. I believe I
should make a sailor in time.”

They were then nearly three miles ahead of
the cruiser, runnio down before the wind with
a speed that the editerranean xebocs never
exhibit so much as when rimning wing-and-
wing and the huge frigate, with studding-sails
set, slow and aloft, came tailing after them like
a cart-horse after a thoroughbred.

As the morning wore on they began to drop
her astern, till at noon she was but a speck on
the horizon, and vanished into the Mediter-
ranean. .

Then Lafangere gave a sigh of relief.

“ Now we can go to France all right,” he said
innocently. “ How long will it take ?”

St. Gear ewho had relieved Mourad at the
helm, sh his head graVely.

“Along time, I fear.”

“ Why a long time?" ,

“ Because we have no chart, and can only
make for Italy and creep along the coast, as
people did, hundreds of years ago. My. friend.
you see the place is full of English cruisers, and
we have only three men to work this vessel.
You have been up all night and must be worn
out. I see only one way for us to do, stand cn
all day and take down the sails at night. To
be frank, b to-morrow night we shall none of

get to France depends on just two things—a
kind Providence and a favoring wind.”

Lafan looked disappointed. .

“ I tb nk I’m sorry we ever came to sea,” he
remarked.

 

CHAPTER IX.
CAPTURE!) AT LAST.

Tris: English brig-of~war Bulldog was stand-
ing oil and on, about ten miles from Marseilles,
a month or so later, when the lookout on the
fore royal yard shouted down:

“ Sail ho! A lateener trying to run in on the
port uarter, sir.”

“T e deuce she is” quoth Lieutenant-com-
manding Brown, with a growl of astonishment.
“She'll have to be uncommon sharp to do it
under our teeth, eh, Manson?"

Mr. Munson, first lufl, grinned respectful ap-
proval of his commander’s speech, and proceed-
ed to ut the brig under all sail to intercept the
impu ent felucca that was trying to run the
blockade.

The Bulldog had been put on the outside
line of vessels on account of her known speed
and it was Captain Brown’s boast that not so
much as a floating cork could get by him in
da light.

9 brig, under a press of sail, soon came in
sight of a small: hot: that was slipping over the
waves with wonderful speed, comin down,
win -and-win , before the breeze, w ile the
Bul dog was 0 ose hauled.

“ B J ovel” ejaculated Manson. “ it’s lucky
that allow isn’t a mile further 01!, captain, or
I verily believe he’d all by us. As it is We
shall just shave him, an ass he bears 
stands off.” . ' -,-,:~»

But the little xebec did not seem to feel any
fear of the brig, for she continued to stand on,
sailing like a wrtch, and in a uarter. of an hour
snore tgross no;t cable-lea from the Bull-

ogs ws, passin on.
hWhy don’t be h g to!” muttered Browp
amazed. “ Does be t ink that his majesty 8
ships are not able to stop him? Give him a shot
between the masts.”

The brig bore up and fired a gap over the
xebec, the ofllcers watching her keenly through
their glasses.

Only three men were visible on board and
Munson exclaimed:

“ By Jove, sir, I believe they’re Turks.”

“ Turks or whatever they are, they can’t fool

 

Mourard, «the, hiameluke.

l

were so ' roared Brown angrily.
far ahead of the cruiser that Mourad called out I hit her, I’ll stop the grog of the whole ship's

l

by, now, if you are ready to handle the i as Munson re rted, “

l
i

lhe only difficulty in the way was the lands- ‘

us know w ere we are; and whether we ever .

 

 

quoth Brown angrily.

me,” “I do believe
they’re trying to do it. uare s.an and give
them another gun, Mr. unson. nock the

sticks out of the impudent hooker.”

The xebec had already crossed their bows and
was skimmin awa to the leeward at a rate
that prom' to e them out of gunshot iii a
very short time. when this order was given.
The Bulldog put up her helm to come round
and let fly another gun, the shot grazing the
felucca‘s main-yard, but still she kept on.

“ Load the port broadside and bring her to,”
“If some of you don't

com 11y.”
The order was rapidly (beyed, and, as soon
ll ready, sir,” the brig

yawed and ed a whole brcadside of t“ elve-

: pound shot at the tiny craft, so. impudently de-

ying them.

They heard the snapping of sticks, and, a mo-
ment later, do“ n came the huge mainsail of the
xebec, which at once ran up into the wind and
lay drifting. '

“ I thought I’d settle our bash,” the irate
captain growled. “Now et's see what you’re
in: d} of, [0 try and pass the Bulldog;

They ran down to the helpless xe , and saw
that she was already settling in the water,
nhilethree men in Oriental dress were stand-
ing on the deck as if in despair, staring at the
wreck of the mainsail.

Five out of the nine guns of the brig had
struck the tiny craft, and she was a perfect
wreck.

When the three men were hailed from the
brig they looked defiantly up, and one of them
shook his fist and said something to his com-
panions which made Munscn observe:

“It’s only a French trick after all. That
man’s a French man.”

“ What did he say?” asked Brown.

“ He was calling us adores coquins, which in
English means, ‘confounded rascals,’ that’s all,
captain. The boat seems tobe sinking. Hadn’t

we better pick them iii)?” h
' unson.. Throw t em a

“ Certainly, Mr.

rage, sir, at once.”

at though the brig steered up so" as to shave
the felucca, and a re was thrown. none of the
three men deig‘ned notice it. They seemed
resolved to sin ,

" Lower a boat and take them off,” said the
ca thin. “There’s something strange in all
th How do they come out here!” - ‘

The jolly-boat was lowered an}? pulled up to
the felucca, when a midshipman ailed them:

“Hollo, you, I say, Johnn Crapaudl Do
you want to get drowned? our craft will go
down in five minutes. Come into this boat.
We don’t want to hurt you.”

The, three men stared angrily at him; but
made no answer though they spoke to each
other in French.

“The accursed rosbr'fs,” said hfan re.
“ think that We are afraid to drown, after av-
ing escaped all other perils. Let us show them
a renchman can die anywhere.”

“On the contrary,” observed St. George.
“they mean kindly. We have done all we can
to get to France snd deliver our dispatches.
Let us surrender since as cannot escape, and
threw the papers overboard.”

“ You have no right to destroy them.” said
Mournd. “They are, as you say, only to the
general’s wife, and—”

“ Therefore the enemy must not read them,”
answered St. George firmly. “ Well, my
friends, I take the reiponsioility.”

He mOVed to the de of the xebec and cost
overboard the packet of letters he had kept so
carefully. To his moniflcaiion they did not
rink at once, and the niidshipman excitedly
yelleéi: b0

“ ive wa , s. Save those rs!”

The boat dashe’d forward audit-lifboy man-
aged to save the while packet just as it was
Sinking.

St. George watched him and said quietl :

“It is the will of Hiaven we should sliver
those dispatches. or they would have sunk. It
is time we surrendered. comrades.”

They made no more difficult of stepping into
the boat, and it “as just in tilne that they did
so: for, ere they reached the brig, the xebec
went down. '

Then they were taken to the quarter-deck of
the Bulldog. where Captain Brown mcaptain
by courtesy—recein he report of the mid»
shi man and the packet of letters, and observed
w. an im rtant air:

“ Ahai. unset:I I thought it was some French
trick. hese fe ows are probably oflcers in

disguise. and, as such, liable to be hung as spies...

Important es no doubt. You read their
huge, I believe. You shall translate them when
the ’re dry. Ask these fellows who they1 are.”

unenn obeyed, with more politeness t an his
commander would have shown, and Infangere
answered:

“ As the senior emcer present I will tell you.
We are French officers, my friend and I, just
(firms from Egypt, with our Mameluke servant

ourad. “e are innocensecombatantsordis-
given-borers, oar letters being from General

naparte to his wife, and, theatre, private.

/

 

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e ...g.

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-'),a-~IE' , flaws“..- «won.
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v“.'«.4vg.fl.‘ I , 3- v.

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’ they have any

  

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If you are a gentleman you will return them,
or will give us satisfaction for the affront.”

Manson translated the answer and the cap-
tain burst out laughing: _

“Does he think we care any thing for his
French monkey notions? Ask him his name
and rank, and tell him be will be a prisoner un-
less the admiral chooses to relieve him.” '

Munson gave the Frenchman the substance of
this speech. and the fiery maitre d’armes was
much disgusted. _

However, he gave the name and rank of his
companion. St. George, accounting for Mourad,
as before, as their servant, and refused to an-
SWcl‘ any further uestions.

Munson tried to ad out'how they came there
and from whence, but it was all in vain; and he
finally reported to his captain that there was
something very suspicious about these French-
men at which Brown observed:

“ Of course. All Frenchmen are rascals. Put
them in irons and we’ll signal the admiral. In
the mean time dry and read those dis tches.”

The three prisoners were according y Put in
irons down in the hold, and the maitre d armes
said gloomily: \

“ It is all over. We shall never see France.”

It was Mourad the Mameluke who answered
him with spirit: -

“On the contrary we shall land there and get
to Paris. We have not found our way here
alone for nothing.”

 

CHAPTER X.
A DESPERATE ATTEMPT.

FOR some hours the prisoners were left alone
down in the hold of the brig with the pleasant
odor of bil water to console them in their
captivity, w lie the vessel bowled along ata
rapid rate as they could tell from the swash of
the waves that ' .

The atmosphere was stifling and they all felt
more or less dejected, preserving a gloomy
silence. ‘ v

At last a door Opened above and they saw the
marine sentry standing at a carry, while an
officer called down to them in true Anglo-
French:

“ Vooly vous come up—stairs—I mean ascendy,
mousseersi” ‘

The three, prisoners rose up and followed the'

omcer between decks, when they saw through
an open port that the brig was alongside of a
hu e line-of-battle ship.

he oflicer waved them to the ladder on deck,
took them to the gangway and pointed to a

bout lying alongside.

“ Entry, mousseers,” he said blandly. “Nooz
allong voir Sir Sidney—I mean we’re going to
see the commOdOre.” ' ‘ ' '

He seemed 'so proud of his French that none
of the three smi ed, and they were soon in the
boat and rowin to the ship.

The oflicer f0 lowed them up the side-ladder
and took them to the handSome‘cahin, where he
saluted a tall, jolly—looking oflicer who was
writing at a desk and said snffly:

“The prisoners. Sir Sidney. Mr. Brown
thinks the ‘re epics, sir, as they had on Turkish
clothes ant can’t talk anythin but French, sir.”

The English commodore loo ed up.

“Very good, air. [’11 uttend‘to them. Did
apers'!”

"Yes, sir. '1 hese." '

The officer was about to hand his superior the
ackage which St. George, had thrown ovor—
loard, when the creole, somewhat to the asterisk-

mcnt of his companions, seized them and said to
Sir Sidney in French:

"If you are a gallant man, sir. as I supposo,
you Will not examiwe those pa ‘rs. T. cy are
private and by no means contra and of war—a

etter from General Bonaparte to Madame his
wife. I led you my honor as a French
ofllci-vr to t t ct.” ‘

The Engiish’eommodore looked amazed but
he evidently understOod French well for it was
in that language h answered:

“ That is all var well mensieur: but in war
nothing is private. Give up those papers and
do not compel me to call a guard if you are an
officer."

St. George hesitated. .

" I know you have the pOWer, monsieur, but
Ientreat you not to abuse it. The love of a
husband for his wife is not a thing to be made a
jest of in your English pagrs.”

Sir Sidney seemed to struck by his re-
mark, for he asked, without insisting on the re-
turn of the papers: .

“ What is your, name, sir, and haw do you
come here?” '

“ I come from E ypt, inonsieur, where I was
promoted on the lie d to he an oflcer of Guides
the body-guard of the General Boua rte.”

" Ah! said the Englishman wit a bright
smile. “i have heard of this Bonaparte,
though Inever'saw him. Where was be? In
Alexandria?”

“No, monsicur, opposite Cairo, where he had
just defeated Mourad Bey under the shadow of
the Pyramids. The Glacial news of the battle
was sent by the river, but the general permit-
ted me wit my two comrades to carry this let-
ter to his wife through the desertto Alexandria,

 

l

 

Moped; Mendelss-

where we arrived in time to witness a terrible
misfortune to our people.”

“I know. Nelson licked them all to bits,”
broke in Sir Sidne in English. “Curse the
luck, and I wasn’t t ere! Too bad, too bad!"

St. George waited till he had done and then
pursued: '

“I should not have told you this news, had I
not apprehended you knew it already, for we i
have en a month on the way here, owing to I
the English cruisers. I therefore am not ex- 1
ceeding my dut in giving the information.” i

“ But how di ou get here?” asked the En- i
glish officer. “ he captain of the brig sends ,
word that you three were alone in a xebec. l
How did you get from Alexandria? Are you
sailors?”

“Never was at sea in my life till I went
to Egv t,” interrupted Lafangere brusquely.
“ But FY-enchmen can learn an hing.”

‘he En lish commodore smi ed.

“Indee ? Who are you?”

“Lafangere, maz‘tm d’ armes Seventh Dra-
oons, at your service, and sailor or soldier as
orig as the wind is fair.”

“ And how came you here, monsieur?”

“ Faith, simple enough. We hired a lot of
rascally Greeks to take us to France, and they
tried to sell us to the English. 80 we drove
them overboard and we three have been sailing
along ever since, not knowing) where we were
till we came on that accursed rig of ours, and
we could not run from her as we di from the
rest. That’s all, mensieur.”

The commodore listened with a smile of some
amusement, and, when Lafangere had finished,
turned to the officer in attendance:

“You can go back, sir. Tell Mr. Brown to
resume his station. I will take care of these
men. They are not dangerous.”

The lieutenant touched his hat and departed
and Sir Sidney turned to St. George.

“ If I give you my honor to conceal the con-
tents of these pa rs if they turn out to be pri-
vate, will you et me examine them without
troubling me to send for a guard?”

“ No, monsieur,” returned St. George firmly.
“ I have given you the word of a French editor
that these are private property. If you take

 

them by force you are a marauder, and I shall
proclaim you such whenever I am exchanged.” I
The En rlish commodore flushed scarlet.
“Enou i. I take that risk. Sentry!” .
Before e could say another word the three ‘
Frenchmen were on him and had him pinned by I
the throat in a silent, desperate stru gie.‘ l
None but trained ath etcs like t em would
have dreamed of such an apparently insane un-
dertaking as attacking the com'manderof_a liner
of-battle-ship in his own cabin, but Circum-
stances favored them for the moment.

the moment alone in his cabin, the door shut.

He had only escaped from a French prison I
himself a fcw months before, and in'his long so- 3
jouru had learned to talk their tongue so Well
that he was proud 01’ it.

In the info of getting ini ortant news from ‘
tiicso prisoners he had shut himself in with them, 
hoping to gain their confidence by apparently I
generous treatment. Therefore for the moment,
he was owvrless, and Lafangere whispered:

“Lets kill him; lock the door and blow up '
the shi ) before they hear 11s.” 1

St. cor'go shook his hcad.

“ Lock him in down—stairs,” he said. “ There
is always a trap-door to the store~room undor
these cabins.” _

All this passed with s ed in silence and In
another uionzent they liar bundled the commo-
(lure, completely stunned, down' into the store-
rocm, and stood alone in the cabin. _

“ What next i” asked Lafangt re briskly. “I
feel that i may see France yet.”

St. George pointed to the stern windows
from whence they could see the harbor of Mar—
seilles with its crowds of shi ing.

“We are onl two mileso ," he said, “ and if
you can all smm as well as I, We can get there."

He stole to the door and locked it.

“ That will give us half an hour. They will
think the commander did it. This ship is in
command of the blockaders, and it is near sun-
set. She will probably 0 in as close as she
dares before dark; for t at is the time traders
try to et out. Let us be read to jam over-
board i any one comes. At a l events have
in papers safe 'onco more.”

ey took of! their outer garments, made
them into bundles, tied them on their heads.
and Went to the stern windows to look out for
a chance.

The settin sun shone directly into the cabin
and they we. ted till they saw it dip under the
western horizon and heard the ship’s bell strike.

Then came a sharp rap at the cabin door.

“They begin to grow uneasy,” quoth the
Gascon with a grin. “ Let them knock it little
more.” -

After a pause came a second rap, and St.
Geor e said in a low voice: , ’ ’

“ hey will think the commodore is imay as
soon as they try the lock and Will go away.
Get ready.”

 

Pretty soon some one shook the door and-they
heard a voice call outi

“Please, sir, the captain’s compliments and
wishes to know if—”

They could not understand the rest, but St.
George went to the middle of the cabin and
called out:

“No, no, nol”

The answer seemed to satisfy the rson at
the door for he went away and nothing more
was heard till it was quite dark.

All this time the vessel seemed to be lying
still; but they could notice that the harbor of
Marseilles was much nearer and St. George
whis red:

“ current is setting us in. They must have
wanted to know if they could not make sail and
stand out. That is why I called out ‘ No, no.’
It was the only word of English I could think
of. I wonder what has become of our friend
down stairs. He is ver quiet.”

“ I took care that hes ould dro on his head."
observed Lafangere dryl . “ e is certainly
senseless, perhaps dead. filark.’ what‘s that!"

They heard a rush of feet outside and the
cabin door bent inward.

“They have found it out at last,” cried the
creole. “ Now is the time.”

As he spoke the words he slipped through the
narrow port and the three Frenchmen dropped
into the sea under the stern of the line-of-battle
ship and began to swim for the lights of the
cit of ligameilles. 1 t

ey e tperfect si ence,va a contrast to
the ship-o -war behind them,gvrvehich re-echoed
with shouts while lights ran to and fro, show-
ing that an active search was bein prosecuted
for the insensible commander andt e prisoners.

Presently they heard the rattle of blocks and
saw a boat lowered.

“Keepas iet as you can,” whispered St.
Geo e. “ ey can never find us in the dark,
and t e current is carrying us in all the time."

Pretty soon they heard the dip of oars close
by them and the form of another boat loomed
up ahead.
They ceased to swim and it passed by them
when the heard a low voice say:

“ Am ez I” [Stop] v ' ,

“ It is our own people,” cried thaugere in‘ a
tone of great joy. “ Help. comrades, we have
just escaped from the English.” ‘

The boat stopped rowing and just then the

; flash of a gun from the ship showed them a long
' black boat pulling a dozen ears of a side, with

the well known blue and red uniforms in the
stern. . . ' ‘ . .

In another moment they had swum toward
it and were bein ., helped in by French marines
who hurriedly as ed:

“ Who are you? How did you escape i"

‘All answer was cut off b the report of a

_ , second gun from the ship, am this time a shower
- Sir Sidney, a habitually reckless man, wasfor i of grape shot flew over their heads, showing I

that they were seen.

“ Pull!” Cried the French oflicer commanding,
and away they Went toward Marseilles, the
English boat coming after them in lively style
fer several hundred yards when she apparently
thought better of it and turned bar ' to the

shill};
en St. George‘found time to ask:
“ What is this boat, and how came she here.”
“\Ve are the outer guard host, ’ was th .-
, replv. “ Whenco come you last 3'”

“From Egypt,” answered Lafangere. “ Vl'o
beat the Turks; but the English have beaten
our fleet. Only one comfort remains.”

“And what 3 that?” r ‘

“ That we three at least will see France onl-a
more.” ‘ '

“ I told you we should," observed the creel -.

CHAPTER XII.
A MARCH 0N crms’murs.

WHEN the‘ boat touched the steps of the quay
in the harbor, our three adventurers had r >-
sumed their Oriental clothin , and St. Gmrge
said to the officer in comman of the crew:

“I sup we ought to report to the com.
mandant of he port. We are oiIlCers from Gen-
eral Bonaparte , with letters to Madame, and I
have‘an order on the paymaster here for funds,
the English having robbed us of all our arms
and money.”

The officer shrugged his shoulders and gave a
short laugh.

“ I fear your order will not be respected as
much as it would have been a week ago."

“ Indeed, and why not?”

“ Because we have had news fromEgy t that
our fleet is destroyed, which settles the ate of
the army and the gneral. The English com-
modore outside, Sir meet, sent us the news with
the usual sarcastic liteness of those English
devils, but it is none he less good news for some
of our gentry in Paris.”

The three friends listened in astonishment.
and St. George exclaimed: ‘

“ But it is not possible any One in France can
re oice in our misfortune?”

ofllcer laughed again.

“There are some le here who hate Bona-
parte worse than the ngiish and Austrians. I
am not one of them; but you will see. I am
glad I was able to rescue you. Good-night,
niessieurs.”

Then they found themselves alone on the

 

3‘:

 

a..-;-_.,. . .. 

 

 

 

quay at Marseilles, escaped from the rils of
tric sea and enemies, but none the less an
cold and penniless in their native land, for y
had been robbed of all their money when they
were first put in irons on the brig.

“Upon my word, this is a hospitable way to
receive escaped prisoners,” remarked the Gas-
con, ruefull‘y. “ Vl’hat shall we do?”

“ Report tothe commandant,” said St. George,
promptly. “ It is our duty as soldiers. I know
the way to his quarters, for I have been here
infore. ’

The Y plbdded wearin through the streets till
they ound the house of the commandant, when
the sentry stopped them.

“ You can’t go in to-night. The general sleeps.
The adjutant’s office wil be open at ten in the
morning.” _

“ But we are prisoners escaped from theEng-
lish. with news irom Egypt, and the general
will be glad to see us."

“ It cannot be «low. Stand back.”

“But is there no place where we can find shel-
ter for the night? I tell you we are escaped
prisoners—officers.”

“ A likely story! Begonel”

And they had to oiley, for the sentry cocked
his musket as he spoke, and there is no glory in
bein shot b one’s own people. They wan-
der round t 6 city till they found an archway,
Where they were forced to £2 to sleep like beg-
gars for the night, and fangere observe ,
bitterly:

“ If this is the we the treat veterans in a
French city, I shal wis I was back in the
English vessels again.”

“Patience, comrade.” answered Mourad.

“ “'e are, after all, in France, which I have not
seen for twelve years. There is a mistake
somewhere. It is night. lVe don’t know the
pro r place to apply. It will be very different
in t e morning.”

St. George said nothing. He seemed to be in
a brown study.

In the morning they found themselves the ob-
jects of curiosity to a crowd of small boys, who
stared at their Mameluke dresses and threw
stones at them from round the corners, but still
Mourad remarked:

"That is nothing. They never saw a Mame-
luke before. “'ho has anymoney or anything
to sell, so that we can get breakfast?”

But no one had anything, so that they were
forced to go without eating till it was time to
present themselves at the adjutant’s office,
which they did the moment the doors were
opened. -

The adiutant was arough man who had risen
from the ranks, and was a republican of the old
ferocious stamp of ninety-three.

When St. George saluted politely, this person
gave a grunt.

“ Who are you, citizen? The Republic has
no time to waste on bows. Leave that to the
emigrants. What do you want, and why are
you masquerading in t ose clothes? Are you a
play actor?”

“ I am an ofilcer of the Guides, promoted by
my general on the field of battle,” returned St.
Georg: proudly. “I come from Egypt with
dispa lies—7’

“I know: from that hypocrite Bonaparte,
who thinks himself better than any man in
France. Well, thank fate, he is gone and the
Republic will no longer be bothered With his
airs and proclamations.” .

Lafangere started forward to give a fiery
answer; but St. George restrained him with a
look and replied calmly: .

“ I do not propose to dispute with you on the
merits of my commanding oflicar, citizen, but
merely to remind you that I also am in the
service, that I am an escaped prisoner and that
lneedmone toenableme ingot to Parisand
deliver my ' tches.”

The adjutan sneered.

"Very possibly, but as General Bonaparte
does not command this department, you can
get none here.” .

“ But I have an order from him to the pay—
master- general—”

“Itis useless. A week ago we would have
honored it. To-day Bensparte has lost as a
fleet and the Republic must take care of itself.”

The adjntant turned away, but St. George
made a last effort. .

“Can we not even procure uniforms from the
quartermastet!”

. “ No. Go to your own department. We have
nothing to do with the arm of Egypt.”

Then they came away an asthey went down
the steps St. George ground his teeth and said
in a low savage tone:

“So much the worse for you all, gentlemen
of theDirectory. You will rue this when he
comes back.”

“What do you mean?” asked the Gascon,
amazed at hearing St. George, usually so quiet,
give way to passion. .

The creole smiled in a singular way.

“You will see when he comes back. In the
mean time I am going to Paris. ltis toe month
of September and the chestnuts are ripe.
(mar s soldiers lived on roots before the bat-
tle of Pharaohs, but they were masters of the
world after it.”

    

’Mou‘rad, the

 

Lafangere was puzzled.

“ What are you talking of, comrade? I have
heard of Cesar, but I don’t see what he has to
do with us‘Snd 1 am very hungry. I .for one,
would not ashamed to go to the first soldier’s
mess we see and ask a comrade for a share.”

“ On the contrary,” said Mourad, who seemed
to be ruminating over the singular treatment
they had received, “I agree with St. George
that we walk to Paris. I am ready to march.”

Lafangei'e, who seemed to be bewildered by
the turn affairs had taken, fOIIOWed them in
silence out of the city and out into the great
chestnut woods that abound in the south of
France, where they were fain to satisf their
hunger 8.103 with the village swine, a Mou-
rad observ :

“God isagneat deal kinder han man. We
shall not starve on the road to 's.”

They set off on the road and tra steadily
along till nightfall overtook them y the edge
of a forest where the found a warm shelter
among the loans ina. iollow. Next day they
resumed their march and tramped on, finding
the roads in a strangely deserted Condition.

This was explained to them next day when
they were stopped by Esparty of armed men in.
all sorts of rags, who ed them:

“ Whene are you going and who are you?”

St. George answered uietly:

“ Officers sent from 'pt by General Bona‘
parte, with letters to dame. No One will
give us anything to eat and we have no money.
Now tell us who you are?” .

The leader of the part stared and laughed.

“I thought you were 'ipsies. Have you no
money at all hidden away? There are too
many people now a days trying to play tricks
on us to cheat us of our dues.”

“You can search us if on will,” answered
the creole. “We have not in but this letter
and these papers which seem be ofno value
now.

The other man took the letter and scanned
the direction carefully.

“ MADAME Bonnaam,
“ Rue de la Vii-mire,
“ arts."

He turned it over and was about to open it
when St. George said, quickly:

“Pardon comrade. It is to a lady and pri-
vate. No Erenchman will open it.”

The other man lau bed.

“Youare a hold ellow tb object. Do you
know who I am?”

“No but I ess.”

“ W 0 then ’

“ A brigand.”

“As you please. None the less, my name is
Vidocq and you seem to be agood fel ow in dis-
tress. Can you handle a sword i”

St. George waved his hand to his comrades.

“This is Laf ere, I am St. George, and
this is our friend ourad, a Mameluke, who has
turned Frenchman.”

Vidocq uttered a cry of delight.

“ You are just in time to jom us. We want
brave fellows like you. I am a bit of a master
myself and I have heard of this Lafangere.
Come, you will find France changed in the last
three months. The only people that have an
chance to-darv are we gentlemen of the r
Join usand have a plan to propose that will
enrich us all.”

“ W hat is it?” asked Lafan re uspiciously.

“ Never mind,” interrup) St. r e. “It
is inadmissible. We are 0 llged to *ou or your
offer, Monsieur Vidocq. but while t e chestnuts
are ripe we can live. When all fails we may
take to the road for a living. Do. you wish to
search us?”

Vidocq shrugged his shoulders.

“No, 1you are evidently poordevils, and be-
sides, I ave an admiration for your eneral.
He is the only man who has given us he vic—
tory wherever he goes. I am sorry you will not
join us. At least come and dine with us. There
is no harm in that.” . .

“No indeed,” cried Lafangere eagbrly: “ no
harm at all; and I feel as if a change from
chestnuts might.he aces able, for it takes a
great deal of stoopin to nd a m .”

The brigands la ed and too them to a hol-
low in the woods where they found a regular
enca eat with fires, women, chickens, pigs,
sheep, s of wine and all the proceeds of
many .a successful foray. and learned for the
first tune that half of France was in a simi-
larcondition to the province they were in at
the time. .

“The white oockades (myalists) are up in
Brittany,. hinderhannes holds the forests of
Ardennes, artouche makes his quarters in
Fontainebleau when he’s not in Paris, and I
thought that I could do no better than live in
clover here while the Directory is good enough

.to leave the police without pay ” said Vidocq

while they were at dinner. “One must live
and it’s no good to be a soldier in these times.
The soldiers e; the government oflcials
steal. andthe only way a man can live if he has
no omceis to steal too. You'd better join us,
Monsieur St. George. The role of hon has
brought on g rs and chestnuts, whie'we
have an (plan to eat.”

But the three frien e rs ted all solicitations

, .. .5. .v.......... «we

1.....- --- - A». ... ,,. &

~ they heard the clash

 

and asthe bandits seemed to be a jolly lot of
fellows who had no fear of arrest, the allowed
them to pass on, Vidocq sending a ectionate
messages to his friend. Cartoiiche, whenever
they met him on their way.

That night they slept in a stone quarry and
Mourad the Mameluke thoughtfully observed:

“Is it not stra e that the only kind wouls
we have heard in rance should come from the
ll 5 of a thief? I don’t know but what I would
almost prefer Egypt again; yet 1 have dreamed
of France for twelve years as the sweetest place
on earth.”

No one made any answer for the were all
very much depressed in spirits, an thus the
three adventurers traveled on, the same as the
Gipsies, shunned by every one, till they at last
reached Paris.

The only consolation they hau in their march
was that there was no rural police to ask them
inconvenient questions or put them in prison as
va ants.

rance seemed to have resolved itself in the
conntr into an anarchy strongly resembling
that o the dark ages, when every man did
what was right in his own eyes, and vagrauts
wandered abroad at their own sweet will.

They saw evidences of organized bands of
robbers in every department, and bordering
every high road more than ten miles from a
town, and were only saved from constant stop~
pa by the meanness of their appearance.

TE: towns within their old medeval walls
seemed to be the only refuges of law and order,
and into these they did not care toenter for
fear of a rough rece tion.

“ By my faith,” 0 rved Lafangere. as they
at last stood on the top of Montmartre and saw

Paris spread below them, “I have always
th ht it strange that any man should hesitate
to k' a vagrant or thief on sight, but I begin

to think that even vagrants and thieves may
once have been men like us, when I see the way
peo 1e look at us as we we pass.”

ourad sighed deeply as he muttered:
. “France is not what I thought it.”

In the whirl and roar of Paris they were
swallOWed up and not noticed as they had been
in the villages and country towns, but when
they arrived at the Rue de la Vicitoire and asked
a crossingI swee. r for the house of the con-
queror of taly t e man grinned:

“You’re from the country, I see,” he said.
“Don’t you know he’s gone to E ypt and the
Turks have eaten him up! I’m glad of it for he
killed one of my brothers, with his cursed ar-
tille in the Revolt of the Sections”

“ at Madame Bonaparte surely lives there
yet,” suggested St. George.

“Madame? Oh, no. he has bought a fine
palace in the country that they call Malmaison

n miles from here at least. She is too proud
to live in that little house any more, citizens.
Helasl what is the use of living under a re b-
lic. Here am I, sweeping a crossing. pa leu
-—why’,, what is your business! Don’t hurry
awa .

But the three strangers were gone and Lafan—
gere was saying: ~

“ It seems as f weshcnld never get a chance
to deliver those dispatches. Let us take a look
at the city before we go.”

They trudged along, Mourad starin' g at all he
saw with suc wonder that Lafangere remarked

sarcastically:

“One would think you had never been in
Paris my friend.” I

“No more I have,” was the sim l reply.
“ You forgot that I was born in Martlii no and

taken for a slave on my voyage to co.
This is the first time I ever was ere, yet I can
tell everyafpot I see. I have so often heard my
mother of it. There. Yonder is the Thi-
leries I will wager.”

“ on any true, comrade, and the five kings
rule there now i of one. What say you,
St. George, shall we 0 in and ask the rascals
for our pay! ’Twoul be a good joke.”

They were in just that carelem, reckles state,
produced by vagrant life in the fine autumn
weather that the suggestion fell in with their
humor and the three ragged vegahonds ran up
the step past the rgeousfiwiss on guard and '
asked 0 See the DEectoi-s.

The usher in waiting stared. at them as if he
thought them only but Lafangere cried:

“ Jlum , hem, Emp; don’t you know:i the

e o t repn 0 pay your wages an are
$35M r resentatives of the pie? Go nick
and tell onsieur Barres t t three 0 cers
from General Bonaparte are here to see him or
I’ll know why.”

There was somethin so strange in the appear-
ance of these three w' d Vagrants that the usher
ran awe to seek a guard, and St. George im-
proved o rtunity to a? all the doors
and look in at t e gorgeom cos that led into
the hall. The others were similarly occupied till
of m ts on the pave-
ment and saw the usher p0 nting them out to a
sour-looking lieutenant of Municipal Guards,
who cried out, harshly: .

“Come, you three rascals, knaves, get out of
this, i! you don’t want to get into the sallede la

ice. This place is not meant for vagabonds

c you! Be all” '

 

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12

And tl‘ey went out Without further trouble,
St. Geo e saving i l a low voicc:

“I’ve ear enough for us.
of! to Malmaison."

CHAPTER XII.

THE LETTER ABRWES.

A LADY, tall, slender and graceful, with

Thrown curls clustering over her forehead, was
seated by the open window of a large country
houSe some lea ues from Paris, looking out over
a beautiful parI: in the light ofan autumn day,
when a servant entered, and said:

“ Three persons—I should say men—wish to see
madame. They say they come from Egypt, but
th? look like beggars.”

he lady started up, her face wreathed in
.smiles.

“ From
at once, Jac ues

Jacques geted.

“ If madame please—they are in rags—and—I
fear they are impostors.”

The lady looked vexed.

“If the are from Egypt they cannot be im—
postors. hngfton, they must have news from
the eneral. i, nd them here.”

Still Jacques hesitated.

“ If madame plewthey are not fit to come
into the saloon. I made them wait outside.
They are ragged and dirty, and all they will say
is that they want to see madame to give her some-
thin . It may be the plague, for all I know,
for t ev say it is raging in Egypt.”

The lady, looking still more vexed, stamped
her little foot.

“ Plague or no plague, I care not, so they
come from Egypt. Send them up.”

Jacques‘bOWed resignedly, mutterin :

“ If madame please. I have done al I can to
kefip them out. ,

e went down to the hall and opened the door.
On the stops outside sat three men in rags, bare-
footed, dusty bearded, haggard with fatigue
and hunger. They looked as if they had walked
a lonu way, as indeed they had.

" on can come in,” said Jacques, grufiiy.
“ Madame will see you; but if I had my way
she would send for the gendarincs and have
you arrested as suspicious people.”

One of the men, a swarthy Gascon from his :

looks, laughed.

“ If you had your way perhaps, France
would be in a pretty pickle.

“She would have no such people as you at all
chnts. It is not because my mistress lowered
herself by marrying a Republican that we are
to fraternize with tramps," answered Jacques,
crustily. ,

“ Hola, citizen, you appear to forget that this
is the year Seven of the Republic, one and Ii!-
divisible,” retorted the Gascon fiercely. “Are
we fallen into a den of aristocrats hei'ci”

His two com anions had said nothing and he ’

appeared to be ully equal to doing all the talk-
ing required. .
acques laughed in a sneering way.

“Your republic has brought things to a pretty
pass,” he said. “ The sans culottes are not so
strong as they used to be, thank Heaven! and
my mistress belongs to the old families.”

The Gascon was about to make a hot reply
when one of his com paniona laid his hand on
his shoulder and said quiet) :

“ Hush! Lafan ire, we 0 not handy words
with servants. y friend, you told us madame
was willing to receive us. Why do you not
take us thither!”

“ Why don’t you come along then i” retorted
Jacques. “ Follow me and shut the door after
you. ’ V

“ Pardon me,” returned the ragged man in a
tone of extreme politeness. “ I never do an—
other's duty. Go on, fri nd, We follow.”

Ja ues slammed the cor viciousl and pre-

ceded hem to the salon where the ady came '

several steps to meet them and then recalled,
niurmuriibg:

“Mon iw! poor creatures!”

In truth, they looked about as forlorn objects
as co (1 be seen in a day’s traval. The re. of
their meluke dresses were covered with y-
seed showing where they had passed most of
their nights and their thin unshaven faces looks
ed wild n the extreme, as the lady ejaculated:
_ "_”Who are you and what do you wish with
me: .'

With a stra air of dignity the tallest of
the three drew imself up and replied:

“Do I stand in prpsence of Madame la Gen-
eralesse Bonaparte?

" Yes, es. monsieur. What is it?”

“ I am bearer of a letter from the neral
which would have reached you a mont since
gut fpr the fortune, of war, madame. It is

ere.

And St. George handed the lady the yellow
and water-stained missive which is chief had

written und'er the shadow of the Pyramids at
the close of ul . '
The lady looiod doubtingl at it fora mo-
ment, then tore it open and
“ It is true; it is true.
heard from him at last!”
She devoured the letter with her eyes, and

ed out hurriedly:
h, man Dieu, I have

Uome, let ’us be

Egypt! , Why do you not admit them ‘
pi

 

’ “Madame comes from Martinique.

 

Moms the Memeluke-

then turned to the bearer with a smile of sin-
gular sweetness. '

“ How can I apologize to monsieur for the
rudeness of my servant and my own. You
are no doubt the Monsieur Saint George men-
tioned by the general in his letter. But how is
it possible you have not been welcomed and
providedwith all you need in France? Bear-
ing news of victory, too?"

‘Alas, madame,” returned the creole sadly,
“we bear news of victory on land but of a ter-
rible disaster at sea. On the very da we de.

arted, the whole French fleet was estroyed
Before our e es. The general has, it is true,
possession of gypt; but his retreat is cut of!
and the arm can never return to France."

Josephine listened and turned pale.

“Are you sure of this, monsieur?”

“I saw it with my own eyes, madame.”

The lady had sunk on an ottoman and mur-
mured half to herself:

“ 0h, heavens! what shall we do!”

St. George turned on the old servant J acques,
who was listening with all his ears and said
with the utmost politeness:

“ My friend, it is the custom of polite society
for you to set chairs and retire, as soon as you
have introduced visitors. Can you understand
plain French?”

Jacques took the hint and went out and then
St. George advanced to the lady, who seemed
to be perfectly stunned by his news and said
gravely:

“Madame possibly knOWS the general better
than I, but I, on my part,have been with him
under fire in bad places, and I learned from him
never to despair. The iu-my may never return
from Egypt, but the general will, and he is
worth ten armies. Let madame take courage.
We three are on her side - and we three can do
an thing in the world when We are incited.”

oscphiiie looked up with a faint smile.

“You are a brave man, monsieur, but you
don’t kn: nv in what a condition these men have
plunged lv‘rance. They are jealous of Bonaparte.
They hate him and will do all they can to hurt
him with the people, and he is a thousand miles
(liwuyfrom home with no one to befriend him
icrc.’ '

“' You mistake, madame. He has five friends
that I know of, who will work for him as none
else can."

The lady looked puzzled.

“ Five friends. Who—i”

“ First is madame the closest of all."

“ Ah, yes, monsieur, but only a woman and so
weak!”

“ Women are mighty in their love and can do
many things men can not.”

“ Well, monsieur, who are the others?”

“Second are we three, who have made our
way hither 5 Me of English fees and French
ti'ui‘.ors who ate the general. As I told you,
we three together can go any“ [ere and do an y-
thin . That is four.” _

“ find the fifth, monsieur?”

“ The fifth is fate. Madame is like myself a
creole, and has heard of the voudou.”

Josephine looked interested at once, for she
was exceedingly superstitious. '

“ What do you know of voudou!” she asked.
She was
once Mademoiselle dela Pageric. Is it not so,
madame?”

Jose hiiie sighed. I

“It 5 true, monsieur. Were

Ah, how happy

those days when I had no care, before But
never mind. Go on.” .
“ Madame may remember a prophec made

about her when almost a child, by one of the
priestesses of the ancient rite.” y

Josephine shuddered and rose up.

“Yes, I remember. Oh, monsieur, how did
you know of it?”

St. George’s friends we looking at him in
silent amazement, for t o lady seemed to be
strangely affected.

“ madame remember the words of the
oracle?" asked St. George calmly. '

“ Well,'how well! She told me that‘I should

0 beyond seas to be wed; that he I loved should
Ea slain on the seaflold: that I myself should be
on the int of death—” ’

'She s p "and hid her face. ‘ ~

“ And w at more?” asked the deep voice of
the creole. “ Has it not all come true, so far?
Your husband Beauharnais, perished on the

0;: was only saved .by the

uillotine an y _
oath of l'ibbespierre from a like fate. But the

oracle said further. W'as it not this? ‘And
after that you shall be Queen of France—ay,
more than queen—and the people shall bless
your footsteps.’ ”

“Y yes,” interrupted Josephine, hurried] .
“How ow you this. Tell no more. 'For t 6
last is—” ' '

“ The last is the fate of all,” ansWered St.
George, vely, “that on should die.”

“But days of robe ion,” interrupted Jose-

phine, quickly. _
St. George shru ed his shoulders slightly.
“What matters than? Death. wipes out all
troubles. Madame has yet a iorious destiny
before her. Let these men do With France what
they will, till he comes back. cannot

kill Bonaparte. They cannot quench is star.”

 

' “ In Heaven’s name, monsieur, tell me how
you know all this?” asked the lady, and as she

ke she laid her white hand on his ragged
s eeve with that bewitching smile few, not even
the iron-willed Bonn rte, could resist. “ You
are from Martinique' ’

“ No, lam from St. Domin o, madame.”

“ Then how do you kncw this prophecy?”

St. George turned away his head and looked
at one of his companions with a burning glance
as he asked in Arabic:

“Shall I tell the truth, my brother?”

Both the lady and Lafan ere looked at him
in amazement as the the tgird man, who had
been standing like a statue all this time, an~
swered in the same language:

“ No. She will despise you as I did before I
knew ou, my brother.”

St. orge shook his head.

“ My part of the truth must be told. Let
yours rest where you wish it.”

Then he turned to Madame Bonaparte.

“Madame wishes to know how'l know this
pro hecy. It was delivered to me by the lips
of i e prophetess, and she was—”

He pausied, as if almost afraid to speak, and
then said. in a low tone:

“-—M mother’s mother.”

JOSep ine started violently, and then looked
at him in a strange way.

“ It is im ible, ’ she murmured. “He is
as white as am.”

St. George smiled proudly.

“ And yet in my veins flows the one drop of
blood of the prophetess. Enou h, madame, I
knew 'ou won (1 not trust me w on on knew
that am not all of your race. I w' 1 take my
leave.”

“Stay, monsieur,” said Josephine earnestly.
“It is true that when a child I was brought up
to abhor all taint of impure blood, but the world
and the Revolution have showed me the folly of
all that. You are a brave man: my husband
trusted you. Be my friend and help me. I
trust you as fully as would my own son, who
is now with the neral.”

A softer light amed in the eyes of the creole
as he asked her gently:

“ And will you, a creole, born of the race of
the master. trust me as one of your own ran-i».
kn0wing that my mother was a slave and the
child of a slave?”

“ Certainly, monsieur.
now, to throw swagger? who are faithful.”

She held out her n to the creole who fell
on his knees with a sort of sob.

“Then hear me, God of the white nun and
the black!” he said huskily. “ Smite in: dead
with palsy, and make my name a thin;: to be
cursed by little children, f ever I falter from
the general’s side and that of this noble lady till
the last drop of my blood is shed.”

Impressible Josephine was already Weeping
as St. George rose up, and now she tried to smile
as she said:

" It is a compact, messieurs. I know you will
be able to help me. Now tell me first how I can
help you.”

" Parbleu, madame, la gmeralesse,” said La-
fangere bluntly. “The first thing is to let us
have something to eat, for on my taith when a
man has marched from Marseilles on roasted
chestnuts and few enough of them he feels as if
12:! go’pd dinner would be a good thing for

m.

Jose hine withaface full of concern ran to
the be cry ::

“ My poor eliowsl It is infamous! And how
came you in such a plight?”

“Parblau, madam, t seems, since we went
toEgypt that France isturned upside down.
The eneral’s order on the paymaster at Toulon
was aughed at; we had lost all our own money
in the sea, and as no one would recognize as in
our characters as officers with dispatches we
even had. to tramp here as beggars.”

Josephine e no answer until she had div
noted the astonished Jacques who had answered
the bell to procure a cold dinner at once f0r
ktgfie gent emen, officers of the general‘s

Then, when he had disa peered to exe
the order she observed hri tly: cute

“ Perhaps so much the  Had they let
you pass as officers they m' t have ordered
you somewhere else. As p vate citizens, no
one need know you, and I will supply you with
all the funds you need till he comes back. You
can repay me then. In the mean time you
must take up your abode at Malinaison.”

“Pardon, madame,” answered St. George
“at Malmaison—that is here—we can do yod
no good. It is at Paris we must work for the
moral. As for funds, we three will not starve.
I assure you. All we need we can re as
Soon as I reach a friend of mine in . W2,
Will not trespass on your hospitality after we
have dined.”

And d ite all the lad ’s remonstrances, but
very muc to the relic of Jacques, the three
ra adventurers trumped away on the high
row to Paris that evening, causing the old
butler to observe to himself:

“ We‘re well rid of them anyhow. I declare

I have too few friends

 

I was afraid of the spoons all the time they
were here.”

 

 

‘out in the Antilles.

 '  r Mou’rad, the Mameluke.

Out on the high-rind Lifangcre asked St. the general. Oh you may stare. You don't

Geor e; know [was in Italy with him. Ican be an
“I§it’s all the same to you, comrade, I’d like honest man on occasion, and I would rather

to know where you propose to 30?” l rob an Austrian any day than a Frenchman.”

“Certainly,” was the answer. “I am going , The sentiment was gieeted with applause, for
to the forest of Fontainebleau.”  of the oup in the forest most were deserters
I from different armies. and the remains of old
CHAPTER XIII uniforms were on them, except on the body of

. ' the branded man.
11" THE FOREST- “Yes,” continued Casse Tete, “ a man must

OCT in the middle of the Forest of Fontaine- I live somehow, and when he was here, he took
bleau a group of a dozen men sat round the 3 us into the enemy’s country and gave us liberty
smoldering embers of a little fire and talked to to plunder after a battle. But now, parbleu,
each other in thieves’ slang. l we’re beaten everywhere, and reduced to rob-

Said one, a beetle-browxd ruflian, with a red 1 him; our own peo le under this cowardly batch
mark on his forehead, shaped like 21 fl ur-tle (is ‘ of knaves the ca 1 a Directory—halal Game!”
and evidently branded t ere, many yeuis be- i He brokeo as a shrill whistle rung through
fore with a hot iron: 5 the forest, the signal of their sentry that travel-

“ The Directory suits me very well, brothers, l ers worth robbing were coming along the road.
since that little devil, Bonaparte, is gone to} Ina moment the men jumped up, with all
Egypt. There’s more money for us when he is g sorts of rusty weapons.
away than when he’s home, and I hope he‘ll ‘ Carbines, old muskets, long horse-pistols, one
die of the plague out there.” or two old sabers, Were amon them, and they

“ For my part I want to see His Sacred and I ran off to the edge of the wo that commanded
MostChristian Majest back,” rejoined a second [ the road to Paris, where they saw a traveling
rufllan. “ I‘m tired 0 your republic. A pretty ; carriage, with four horses coming slowly up a
re uhlic, where a man can’t ask for a purse lou want.
without havin gendarmes come after him! 1 fiaiting till it was near by, they rushed out,
The guillotine is 'ust as bad as the old gallows: ; seizing the horses’ heada, and Casse Tate,
.I am a man who loves to o to church—” ‘ throwing o n the door, red in.

“ Yes; to pick pecltets,” rake in a third. He behcl two persons inside, a stout old gen-

“Well, su )pose I do, what then? Now there 1 tleman and a oung lady, who shrunk behind
are no crow for all the churches are shut. To ‘, her father, an cried faintly:
pick a pocket one must have a fine coat and “Oh, heavens!”
money to go to the theater, where people more. “ Don’t be alarmed, monsieur; have no fear,
over, are In the look-out for one. No; I want . mademoiselle,” said Oasse Tete politely. “We
to see the king and the clergy back.” i will not hurt you; but we require your money

“King and clergy, indeed,” growled the ‘and 'ewelry. One must live, you know, and
branded man. “You're youn , CasseITeta, and l the Directory gives a man no chance nowa-

ou don’t remember what evils they were. days.”

ook at my face. Gal‘eys for life, you say? l “But thisis infamous,” broke in the old gen-
Yes, but what for? Do you know?” i tleman, who had at first remained as if ara-

“ Faith. not I. Di-‘l you, too, pick pockets in i lyzed by astonishment. “Do you know w o it
church. Gros Pierrcf‘ , is you have the audacit to stop?”

“Pick pockets in church! no, not I. But I l ‘Parbleu, no, and I on’t care,” returned the
was a peasant, and my 1:2: ‘ r in those day's , bri and cooll .
wasa marquis—fro Marquis of St. George. He
had estath in Provence and Normand , and
Well, he was a bad ellOW,

 

“ Come, no nonsense.”
'1‘ )0 click 0 his long horse-pistol as be cooked
it caused the young lady to scream out:
“ No, no, for mercy, don’t kill my father.”
As she spoke she actually pulled the old man
,back into the corner, and stood in front of him.
“ You are mad,” she exclaimed. “ Do you
not know that this is Monsieur Rewbell, and
that if you hurt us all the power of the police
will be u )on you?”
Casse ete uttered a low whistle and drew
back.

this marquis—”

“That goes without saying, " interrupted sev-
eral voices. “All marquiscs are bad. Go on,
Gros Pierre. T1) the story 1”

“ Yes, the story. All you think of is the story,
when it was all my life before they sent me to
the gulleys. I had a sister, and this marquis
sent for hcr to his castle. She was to be mar-
ried the n; xt day but she was pretty. So what “ Parbleu, comrades ” he said, “ ’tis Rewbell,
would you! My lord must be amused, and we one of the Directors. What shall we do? Let
were only peasants. He had some law in his him go?”
favur, and he said he liked the irl. She should “Let him go? No,” growled Gros Pierre. “ If
stay in the castle and her bus and should not he be a Director, so much the better. He is the
have her. I went to the castle and I begged cause of half the trouble in France. Let him
lim on my knees—yes, brothers, on my knees— ay his way or search the carriage. Who knows?
to spare the honor of my family, whom anccs- crhaps the old thief has some of the people’s
tors hml been faithful to his for centuries. One money in there.”
of us saved one of theSt. Georges from an En- The old man would probably have been
glish ax at the battle of Crcssy. Brothers, be dragged out in another minute, had not the
on] laughed at me.” . wntc ful sentr signaled more people coming

The sweat stood out on the br0w of the oon- dewn the road mm the t0p of the hill, where
vict over the degrading lirand, as he told his three ragged tramps soon made their appearance
story, and the roughest became silent, till Casse ~ armed only with long sticks of rough wood, cut
Tete asked soberly: in the forest.

“Well, what did you do!” As soon as the young lady beheld these men

“I took a knife with me in my bosom,” said ; through the front window of the carriage she
the convict hoarsely, ‘ ‘ and I let him have it then. I suuk thick by her. father. murmuring:

He sto ped 1a hing.“ “Oh, heavens, we are lostl Here are more

“Di you kil him .4" asked one man. of the wretches. ’ .

“ No, more’s the pity. Had he died, I should The old. man was trembling all over, and mut-

 

have swung and the trouble have all been over. tered :
But he got well, and l was sent to the galleys “ Give them your watch. They may let us
for life. However. I got even with him at last.” pass then.”

“ How?” asked Casse Tete.

“In ninety-two, on the tenth of August. I
was with the rest.

They understood him then. The tenth of
Augst. 1792, was the day the mob took Louis
XV from the Tuileries and killed the Gardes
du Corps.

“Yes,” pursued the convict abeently. “I
had been released from the galleye by the order
of the National Assembly. on account of my
being charged with no. crime but stabbing a
noble, and lwas in the crowd that took the
Tuileries. I saw him as I rushed on, with my
pike, alon with the rest. He knew me,
brothers. Ila did not laugh. then. ‘ Remember
Manon ’ I said to him as I ran him through, and
Ilau bed in my turn then. But I will admit
that. e died game. Had we been alone, he
might even have at the best of me, for he was '
a good fighter. at there was ten many of us,
.we of the gople. Ah well, those days were

"y are gone now. The aristocrats

The girlwas drawing it forth, when the three
tramps on thetop of the hill suddenly gave a
ell, and came running down on the robbers,
brandishing their long staves with both hands
in such vigorous style that Casse Tote cried out:

" Give it to them,‘comrades.” ' '

As he spoke he tired of! his old box-sepisz
hastily, and the other men tried to imitate him
but with still lea success, for most of their wea-
pone were more dummies, only meant to scare
timid travelers, and the others had been loaded
so long they would not off.

The upshot of it was t the three tramps,
who were active and vigorous men, came run-
ning down and laid about them with their big
clubs in such slashing style that the whole ban
of a dczen took to flight, to pick up stones.

Then one of the tramps shouted to the postil-
lions fiercely: ’

“ Why don’t {Sn run, you fools? Do you ex-
pect us to stay re all day?”

The astounded postillions, recovering their
senses, laid on the whip, and the carriage rum-
bled away to the top of the hill, the three
tramps runninalafter it, while the robbers, in
amazement at e very audacity of the exploit,
could only follow at a faint-hearted sort of a
not, and not as if they really wanted to catch
- an one. ' '

“ nd who is he?" asked Gros Pierre he fact was that they were so astounded at

“General Bonaparte, parblru. If. he were the boldne- and e at the powers of
back! wouldn’t be here today.” I those three tramps, that t y were afraid to

“ Don’t believe it ” retorted Came Toto, in an
obstinate tone. “ here are as many as ever,
only waiting till the Prussians and Austrians
come into rance, to come with them. The
only man that could keep them out is gone
awn .

 

“ Why not?" venture a second asxault.
“Because, parbleu, I’d go to the wars with They had but poor weapons, and the three

 

.13

tramps seemed to handle their long cudgels like
masters of arms.

Casse Tete lay senseless in the Mad, Gros ‘
Pierre had an arm broken,and the lesser fry
were not anxious to make any further acquain-
tance with such ugly customers.

As soon as the carriage reached the top of the
hill, Monsieur Rewbell ooked out of the back
window, and called out:

“Get on, my friends. Get on.”

It required no second invitation, for a long
descent was before them, and the three tramps
jumped up, two behind and one on the box.

hen t ey had got to the bottom of the hill
the robbers were out of sight, and one of the
tram called to the postilh'ons:

“ alt! that will do. We want to get 03."

The carriage stopped, and he got 03 and
came to the door. where he bowed with the
grace of a gentleman, saying:

" I hope mademoiselle will excuse our peculiar
method of proceedin ; but there are half a
million of francs in go d under the seat of that
carriage. We don’t wish to be greedy, but we
must request that on furnish us twelve thou-
sand francs, whic the nation owes us for
money lost in its service.”

Monsieur Rewbell fell back in his seat in
min led anger and terror.

“ on Dieu, Claire,” he exclaimed, “ they are
worse robbers than the others."

“Pardon me, no,” replied the tall tram'i‘p.
“ We are officers from the army of Egypt. e
are'refused everything when we come home,
because we serve General Bona rte. The
money under that seat belongs to t e treasury,
and you are taking it home to your house,
monsieur. We want our pay: now. If you are
wise, you will hand it out. hen you can drive
on.

Monsieur Rewbell looked at them in a doubt-
fnl way: then dived under the seat, fished out
two leather bags, and threw them to the tall
tram .

“ here it is. Now let us drive on.” he said.

“Thank you, monsieur, but not till I have
counted the money,” was the cool reply.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
maumsnLLn CLAIRE.

WHEN Monsieur Rewbell heard the cool reply
of the tramp he became at once confused, and
stammered:

“It is needles. I made a mistake. There
are only five thousand francs in each bag. Here,
take another. That is more than you asked.”

“ B no means, monsieur,” replied the other.
“ I wrsh you to understand that we are not rob—
hers, but soldiers who have lost their money in
the service of the State. I will take only what
we lost,” and he quietly proceeded to count out
the requisite sum from the third bag, the
postillions sitting still on their horscs as men
who had no interest in the matter.

When he had finished be emptied the rest
into Mademoiselle. Claire’s lap, and drew back
with a bow, saying:

“You are now at liberty to prOCced. Had
we not nscued you. the gentry in the forest
would have taken all, and rhaps insulted
mademoiselle. I trust you wiHeremember that
in extenuation of what is. I admit, questionable
conduct on our part, onl justified by necessity.”

“ You are three rob rat” answered the old
Director, viciously, “and shall yet have the
pleasure of seeing you guillotined, I hope, all
three of on.”

But ademoiselle Claire be8towed a sweet
smile on the tall tram .

“ I think on have n very pplite,”she said,
“ and I thin you are nnreasona 1e, my father;
for any one an see these gentkmen are only in

' ise. Funewell, mesa‘eurs.”

sunk back in her corner, the door was
closed, and the carriage rattled away. leaving
:he three tramps in the road by the side of the
orest.

Then Lafangere burst out laughing .

‘ Upon in Word, St. George, this is a prett
adventure or an cfllcer of the French army.
Do on know we have become footpads, all of
a an den!" ‘ -

“In war all things are fair.” rejoined the
creole. “We came beck to France, as you
know, penni and what was our reception?
We were deal even the smallest rt ition:
tapered as strangers; the general's er dis-
honored. We had to cross the breadth of
France in the character of be , and in the
germ time, hfire are these 13:  who call

emse ves irectors,- stea g t le’s
money. Do you know how I suspectefigphad
that gold under the seat of his carriage!”

“ o. I have been puzzling over that ever
since you told us you were comin to Fontaine-
bleau. How did on get scent of t?”

“ Sim . You reinember when we
went to aris to d the general’s house?”

“ Of course.”

“ And how we went tothe Government offices
toseeifwecouldgetjustioe?”

“ I remember that too.” ‘

“Well, while w waited in the hall, Iheard

and one of them said to

the secretaries
the other ‘ I hear the returns from Dijon are

 

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14,

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Mourad, the”l\/l_ameluke.

 

late, and Monsieur Rewbell has gone to collect I though it turned out in the end to have a whole

them.’ The other laughed and said: ‘The are
alwa 3 late. He hasa way of stoppin at on-
taine leau that‘costs the nation a g deal of

money.’ That was all, but putting it together 5

with what I had seen and heard on the way
from Marseilles, I came to the conclusion that
this Rewbell is systematically plundering the
treasury, and that he passes through Fontaine-
bleau, where he has a house in the town. to hide
his lunder and make his accounts straight.”

“ ut the others must suspect.”

“Of course and probably they share in the 9
plunder. So I resolved to try our chance with ,
monsieur, and it seems that others have the ‘

y people behind it.
i The first party was the Reds, the men of ’93
: who regretted t e abolition of the ever-present
guillotine of that year, and believed in the
wine right of the people of Paris, as repre-
sented by any mob that could be gathered in an
hour or two, to change the government of all
France at the point of the pike whenever they
pleased.

These peo le had been quiet since the cele-
brated Revo t of the Sections, when the young
general of artillery had mowed them down
with his grape-shot, but, now that he was away
in Egypt, they began talk of sounding the

l tocsin again and reviving the guillotine to crush

same idea.” ,
Here Mourad, who had been silent all the way, .
burst out:
“Oh, France! that a state she is in. It

seems as if robbery were the rule, honesty the
exce tion.”

“ nd so it will be until the general comes
back,” said St. George gloomily. “ But we at
least have only taken our own. Now comes the
question, where shall we go, and what shall we
do?" .

“I am in favor of goin back to Egypt,” said
Mourad decidedly. “ e shall be with the
general there. ”

“I, on the contrary,” observed Lafangere,
“am determined togo to Paris, and wait for
him till he comes.”

“ Why ?” asked St. George.

“Because in Paris a man who has a good
head and a stout body can always llv an we
can do what we promised Madame 8. Gen-
eralesse, help her and watch over her intercs ”

“ I am in favor of Lafangere’s plan,” put in
the creole. “In Paris we are near the central
government, and can find the opinions of the
people. 1 am of opinion that this state of things
can onl end in one way.”

‘fAn what is that?” asked Mourad quickly.
“In the restoration of the king?”

“No, no the French peo le~need no kings.
We need the best man in t 6 world, and he is
General Bonaparte.”

Mourad shrug ed his shoulders.

“ On my wor , you seem to idolize this Gen-
eral Bona rte.”

“ So wi i you, some day. He is the only man
who can put France at the head of Europe.”

Lafangere turned away impatiently.

“Will you two always talk this tiresome
politics? will tell you what is moreto the
purpose. You, St. George, are always on the
ook-out for news, but you have missed what

. will serye us better than anything else.”

“ And what is that?”

“ There is to be a grand meeting of the sword-
masters in Paris in three weeks from tomor-
row, and the Directors are to give prizes for
saber an i rapier. I, for one, intend to bethere.”

Mourad b htened up.

“For the as. r, you sags?”

“Yes, there isa long t of prizes, and one
for the best feats with the saber on horseback.”

The Mameluke turned to St. George with
animation and exclaimed: .

“ Let neg: at once. We three can win the
best prices tween us, and after that our future
is secure, till the eneral comes back. I am, it
is true, in favor o the king, if we can Iget him;
as Lafan ere, here, is in favor of the public,
without irectors: but we three can unite in
one thing at least."

“ And what is that?” asked the Gascon in a
doubtful sort of tone.

“'In servin the eneral till we can get our
own way, an in a vancing our own interests
by stic g together.”

“ Mound is ri ht,” said St. George in a
decided tone. “ ogether we can do anything,
but, if we quarrel, we are nowhere. Let us
agree to drop ll political ideas save one, to
stick together til the general comes. And 110w
let ago to Paris, for our purses are full once
more.

 

CHAPTER XV.
_ MONSIEUR 81‘. 61030:.

Tu season of 1798-9 wasas y as usual in
Paris. What mattered it that e French had
lost the Italy won for them by Bonn ; that
the barbarous Russians of Sn warrow addriven

, the veterans of Montenotte and Lodi back into

Provence; that alLGermany was menacin the
Republic; that the treasury was en: ty an the
State in debt a hundred millions: t at bandits
swarmed on the hi h-roads, while foofipads
demanded urses under the shadow of otre
Dame: so ong as the Directons received their
salaries and there was money for the entertain-
ments at the 'I‘uileriesl .

Paris was as gay as ever, and the halls of the
Directory still gayer. .

To be sure, under the surface of gayety a
great deal of trouble was gathering, and it was
thickest of all in Paris, then, as now, center of
the nation.

It culminated in the clubs for Paris has
alwa shad cluhscvsr since the Revolution of ’98
whic was mulch theclubs.

was div ded into two great parties,
with a small third one, the. kept very quiet and
was looked on with con mpt by the others,

out the second party.

This second party was composed of people
who had lost social position and roperty in the
Revolution, nobles, riests, peop e with a “ de ”
to their names, and) a many tradesmen
who wanted a court again. Since the return of
law and order, this party had risen to consider-
able im rtance, and its boldness had increased
so far t at that the gentlemen even )ut white
cockades in their hats, a proceedirgz t at would
pave insured them the guillotine ve years be-

ore.

But the Directory, being in favor of law and
order, permitted no Red Re blican to dra
any white cockade be pleased fore a tribun
of safety.

And moreover the Tribunal of Safety had
been abolished.

So that the Whites and Reds had to be con-
tent with scowling at each other and seeking
every pretext to indulge in duels.

The spread of duelin was assisted by the Red
and the White clubs w ich met in every uar-
ter of Paris, in num rs of from fifty to a un-
dred people in each club.

The gentlemen with white cockades went to
their clubs to drink champagne and Burgundy,
while they sung, “ 0h, Ri hard! eh, m roi 1"
and other royalist airs. They were all well-
dressed and had money.

The men of the Red clubs drank 17in ordi-
naire at ten cents a bottle, and bellowed the
“ Marseillaise,” “ Ca Ira,” and other like melo-
dies under the windows of the “ Whites ” when-
ever the patrol was coming down the street.

By this means thewccomplished two objects.
They irritated the “ bites ’ and prevented re-
taliation at the time for fear of the patrol. The
Marseillaise was still a legal air and “ Richard,
oh man roi I” was not.

But they could not prevent single encounters
between hot-blooded members, and in fact that
was just what they wanted to provoke.

Outside the barriere Montmartrc there were
affairs daily, at sunrise and sunset, and, when
the moon was at the full, they kept them up all
ni ht.

hey had these affairs with all sorts of wea-
ns, and between all sorts of people; for the

‘Whites ” had ceased to be squeamish on the
subject of blood in any sense.

A duke of the old peerage, if he felt himself
able, would fight a butcher with the cleavers
fresh from the slaughter-house.

It reminded one of the days when knights
fought with battle-axes, onl [these modern com-
batants had no armor an the contests were
more sanginary. .

But, af r all, the usual weapons were small
swords because the Reds did not like to be
taunted with inabilit to use the weapon of
the aristocrat, and in that they were just
as 00d men as the others in every respect.

which cause a t many Reds bit the
dust beyond the barrier; for, as a matter of
fact they were not as good swordsmen as the

“ W’hites.”

During this winter the third party of which .
we have made mention kept very quiet.

. Many people did not know that it existed at
all; for .no one acknowledged openly that he be-
lon ed to it.

is was the party that looked to the return
of General Bonaparte for a solution of all the
troubles under which France groaned.

So far as known, onl one man in Paris belong-
ed to this party, and e was a creole, who was
frequently seen at the public, festivals of the
Directory in attendance on Madame Bonaparte.

Poor- thin i In those days the creole was
about the on attendant she had, for every one
in office or who hung on the skirts of office look-
ed coldly at her,'or pretended not to see her.

Nevertheles this gentleman was as faithful
and devoted in his attentions as if she had been
an empress and be her chamberlain.

He went by the name of Monsieur St. George,
was exceedingly handsome; lived,.no one knew
how; dressed with simple elegance, and was
said tobe a great favorite with Mademoiselle
Claire Rewbell, daughter of the Director who
was certain to go out in the autumn and who
was p01:an said to be feathering his nest be-
fore vlng -view of that cmutinfigncy.

Mademoiselle Claire and the gentleman
were always tower when the latter was not
attemllng on ame Bonaparte, and ple
saidshewasa fool. to bestowso mucht eon

 

one who might possibly have been rich before
the St. Domingo troubles, but whose estates

 

were certainly deserts, now that the slaves were
all set free and would not work.

However, Monsieur St. George went on the
even tenor of his wa , and seemed, somehow,
to have wound himse into the good ees of
Rewbell senior, with whom he actua y went,
on more than one occasion,"in his own carriage
traveling to Dijon.

In fact it was whispered in some quarters that
Monsieur St. rge was a police spy or a des-
perado whom Monsieur Rewbell hired to pro-
tect him on his journeys to Dijon, in the notori—
ously unsafe condition of the roads outside of
Paris.

However that might be, Monsieur St. George
was the only man in Paris—in society that is—
who openly proclaimed that he believed Gen-
eral Bonaparte would yet return from Egypt
and that, in such an event, the peo le would
certainly elect him a Director, if not ictator of
France 'or life. .

And though a good many people would have
liked to strangle St. George for saying this, no
one ventured to try the operation. for this creole
had the reputation of being mauvais homme—a
bad man to handle.

One evening in the month of August, 1799,the
Directory had an unusually brilliant fete, and
Madame Bonaparte had come as usual with her
cavalier, though she looked very pale and
Jan uid, and took refuge on a couch in an alcove
of t e grand saloon.

“Do not let' me keep you,” she said in a low
tens to her escort, who lingered near. “Find
Claire and tell her to come to me. I must know

'if this news is true.”

“I have told you it is impossible madame,”
he answered in the same tone. “ e general
is not a fool, to rush to the assault of a petty
town like a common soldier."

“Yet he led a charge at Arcola,” she whis-
pered, very pale.

"‘ That was different. The Austrians had us,
and it was life or death to break them. But
here is a petty Turkish town that any Lillccr of
grenadiers can assault, and which is not import—
ant in any sense to the army. I will stake m
life, madame, that this report is only a mah-
cious lie, invented by the Directors to answer
their ho .”

“At east seek Claire,” she urged. “ I shall
feel easier.”

He bowed and went across the ball-room to
where Claire de Rewbell, her pretty face
dimpled with smiles, sat playin with her fan
and listening to the nonsense o a fair-haired
youn man called Bottot, secretary to Barres.
one o the Directors, and watching the advance
of the creole.

A look of intelligence between the tall hand-
some creole and the lady passed like a flash, and
Mademoiselle Claire said archly:

“Now, Monsieur Bottot, I am going to ask
you the greatest of all favors. "

The young gentleman jumped up, eager and
alert, in a moment.

“ It is done, mademoiselle. What is it i"

“ It is to leave me.” '

“ Ah you are cruel l”

“ Only to take a message for me.”

“ That is diflerent. To whom 2”

“ To Madame Bonaparte."

Bottot’s countenance fell.

" I don‘t like Madame 
h “ Then you don’t like me,for positively adore
er. .

Bum made a grimace.

b “ Besides, shehis opt of favor. One loses caste

y speakin to er.

Claire‘s egos flashed.

“Enough, monsieur. You are speaking of
m dearest friend. ” -

tot looked sulky. ,

“Well,” he said, hesitatingly, “ I will, of
course, take the message if you wish it, but I
don’t like to do it in this ball-room. To be
frank, mademoiselle, if Monsieur Barres sees
me, I shall get a scolding.”

‘ Well, and can you not stand a scolding for
my sake?” she asked archly, at which the young
man entirely subdued, murmured:

“ I would do anything for you. What is the

e?’

“ Tell madame simply this: the news is false.
That is all.”

“ But what news?”

“ That is no affair of yours. Whrn a lady
honors you with a commission, it is for you to
execute it without askin estions.”

Bottot bowed ratherco d y, but went off, and
St. Geo e, who had been watching this little
comedy rom a short distance off, came up and
observed quietly:

“ You seem to be in trouble with our young
friend, mademoiselle. Does he begin to chafe
at the curb, or is it the spur that he needs?”

Claire looked down at the floor. ‘

“ I don’t know,” she murmured, “if I am not
a fool to take so much trouble on your account
when you show me so plainly that it is all
trouble in vain.” ’

He took a Seat beside her with the easy grace
of a rivileged person, and asked:

“ hat is the matter now? Have any of
these people been inventing stories about me to
tease you?”

. think that I am in love with madame?

“ They only scv what I See for myself,” she
answered in a low voice.

“ And what is that!” '

“ That you care more for a word of Madame
Bonaparte than for in y best effortsto please you.
You only use me to gain news for her and—"

“ In short,” he replied as she hesitated, “ ou ‘

We 1, 1
admit that she is a charming person,.wiih a
singular grace about her that is raiely found,
except in her race; you know we are both
Creoles.”

His large dark eyes were watching the ohan -
ing color of the girl as he spoke, and a s ‘e
was on his lips.

Claire tapped the floor with her little foot in
a nervous way.

“ You are laughing at me,” she said with the
tears in her eyes, " and I do not deserve it.”

“ But indeed you do," he replied gravely.

“Why, monsieurl” .

Her tone was cold and injured.

“Because,” he answered, still more gravely,
“ ou permit yourself to be swayxeed by the
falsehoods of people you know to her ene-
mics and mine. You are the only person in
Paris, Claire, that knows me as I am. Do you
permit yourself to think that I, who adore my

general, would cherish a single thought other ;

than respect toward my general’s wife—a wo-
mnn sanctified by her misfortune! Some one
has been trying to poison your mind against
mc. I know who it is——”

“ I swear to you that this foolish Bottot does
not so much as influence a single thought.”

Mourad,"the Ma

r

        

meluke.

[ “All England cannot 3prevent him coming

back when he wishes. on do not know my
general, Claire. He is a demigod among these
pigmies. But come, We have quarreled enough
for one evening. Tell me you trust me. ”

“ Aingou know I 00 when you are near me,

Emil. ut when youare away and.l hear
things—”
“Answer them in your heart thus: ‘He

trusts me with his life; I will trust him also!’ ;
When he comes back I
all will be well again, and in the mean time be- i

We must wait, Claire.

lieve that I love you always. See, here is Bot-
tot again. Now you shall see I am more gen-
erous than you. 1 know he is in love with you
'et I trust you with him. Find out all you can
or me.”

He rose and went away as Bottot came bow—
ing up to her and the girl murmured:

“ hes, it is easy to trust when one does not
care: but 1—1 am desolated with jealous ."

Then she watched the creole jo'm adame
Bonaparte and sighed as she looked.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
THE GUILLOTIN‘E ('LUB.

THE Guillotine Club was in session at No. 419
Rue de Tabac, and the president had put On his
red cap, an example followed by all the mem-
bers, each of whom had a glass of red wine be-

§ fore him on the table. flanked by a black bottle.
“No, you do not," she interrupted eagerly,

It looked very imposing and was also very
cheap; for the wine was only worth half a

. franc a bottle or ten cents American coin.

“No, but Bottot’s master does, the Director '

Barres. What did he say to you?” .
He spoke to her as if she were a child, be her

teacher, as indeed he was, in the art-of love; '

for it needed no spectacles to see that Claire
was over head and ears in love with the hand-
some creole. All Paris could see it, and Paris
seldom makes mistakes in affairs of the heart.

St. George knew his power and used it.

Claire blushed deeply and looked ashamed.

“ It is nothing, after all,” she- murmured.
“and 1 don’t think Monsieur Barras knew

was within hearing when he spoke. it was to. -
' ' diers, and some of its members g cried in the

day at our house. when my hither and he were
talking business before the meeting.”

“ Yes, and what-passed?”

Tnere was a slight tremor in the creole’s'
voice, for he was very eager to know. , _

“ Clhey Were talking of the rumors in the En-
glish papers that Bonaparte had been killed in
the-assault on-St. Jean d’ Acre, and Bnrras
laughed and said: ‘That is not possible, for I
have received dispatches from him since then,
which tell me that he is master of all Palestine.
But that is not the worst of it. The little ras-
cal has the inipudenie to tell me in his letter,
that, if the news in the papers is true, and the
kings are marching against France, he will re-
turn to Europe at once. Fancy hisimpudencel
He will return without orders 1’ 5’

“ Well," said St. George, “ was that all?
“'hat said your father?”

“ 0h, he tried to excuse Bonaparte, and even
said that he would be glad to see him back to
reorganize the army, which was falling into
disre ute in Bali."

"(.th! he hadt e courage to say that? Well,
what answered Barras, who thinks that he rules
France by ri {ht of brains!” .

“ He returted on my Kath =r,“ Oh, yes, you
think I don’t know you are one of his creatures,
since you have savi (1 so much money. I know
all about this brave St. George, who has made
a convert of you by means of your dau rliter, at
the same time that he makes love to idsine
Bonaparte. If you are not a fool you will send
this creole packing, or you will find yourself in
a bad box. "

“ Did he say that!”

H Yes.”

“Do you think he'snspects that I“ am on the
staff of the enerul, and receive news from him
by Moring .

“He knows you are of the general’s part .
N o one can help that, to hear you talk soopen y
in his favor.” -

St. George fell into a fit of thought, from
which he was roused by Claire’s voice, timidly
asking:

“ Emil, is it true?" >

“ Is what true!” he retorted absently. .

“ [sit true that'you have only played With
me and that you make love to Madame!”

He looked at her with a singular mixture of
tenderness and raillerv:

“ Little jealousy! If I were making love to
Madame Dona te, should I Elkot to brin back
the general? ‘laire, you are e a lake 0 clear
water. One can see the white sands of purity
in the depths of your soul. I am, it is true. like
the turbid sea after a storm, not so easily
fathomcdgbut l swearto you that I love you
more than any one iiLthis would, and that my
only object in bringing your father to our side
is to secure his safety from the storm that is
gathering. France is coming to a tempest, and
only one man can save her. That man is my
general." i '

“ But hais in Egypt and cannot get hack. 1 r
the English hold the Seas.”

The Guillotine Club had the reputation of
being the most ferocious " Red ” club in, Paris,
and the violet cc of its speeches was proverbial,
though its members rarely went to the barriers
for chairs of honor.

They wished for the restoration of “ Madame
Guillotine,” as they‘ fondly called her, and did
not believe in giving the accursed aristocrats
any chance to perforate the bodies of the sov-
ereign people. In the coarse but expressive
phrase of the journalists of ‘hicago, “they

I : were waiting for a sure thing."

The Guillotine Club was not com of sol-

that fact they had never been out of Paris.
“The enemies of the'Re ubliccan bestbe met
here, citizens,” remurke J iii-quot, the tailor,

g “and I am in favor of securing the rear of the
. army, as we did in ’93, by killing all the sneak—

 

ing aristocrats who act as spies for the hordes
of despotism.” -

So Citizen Jacquot stayed at home along
with twenty six other tailors, fourteen citizens,
who cobbled shoes for a living, thirty ocers,
a dozen ‘ bakers, one butcher,- and ‘itizens
Georges anthnscon.

Citizens Georges and Gascon were new men
who had been admitted to the society only a
few months, but they had acquired a reputation
which was very useful to the club.

Whenever any of the members had an affair
with one of the “ Whitis,” it was the invariable
custom of the club to hold a. meeting and con~
sicler whether the di nity 01 the sovereign
people would not be imperiled by sending a
re )resentative to the barrier, when he might be
killed. In most cases the club decided that duel-
ing was a remnant of barbarism, and that it
would be better to go in a body at night and
break the windows of the “ White” who had in-
sulted their member, instead of allowing the
duel to take place. '

The result of this was that the “Whites,” ina
mean spirit of revenge, used to call the mem-
bcrs of the Guillotine Club “cowards "when—
ever they met them alone, and some even went
so far as to spit on them in public in broad day-
light on the streets.

It was Citizen Gascon who broke through this
custom the very night after his initiation, by re-
fusing to obey a vote of the club, going out to
the barriers to meet a famous fighting " White”
called the Count de Brissac, and runnint,r him
through the body at the second pass wit an
ease and dexterity that showed him to be an old
hand at the 5“ 0rd. After that, whenever a
member was insulted by one of the “Whites,”
he used to tell Citizon Gascon, and Citizen Gas-
con invariably hunted u the offender, went to
the barrier with him anr inked him.

So that the Guillotine ub
tion for fighting, and Citizen
great favorite. .

There was even talk of making him the presi-
dent; but he refused the honor, and only asked

rmission to brin in a friend of his to assist

im in his duties 0 general champion.

he club receivad the new member with en-
thusiasm. He was a tall, dark man, who was
introduced as “ Citmen Georges,” and said very
little in meeting. - I

But he was always ready to volunteer for a
duel, and had a peculiar guy of his own by
which he almost always d med his adversary
whenevor he had an aflair. He was very polite
in Lia demeanor. much more so than Citizen I
Gnscon who had the rough mannerst asoldier, .
and had been known to Call the president oftbe 
club an “ old fool ” when he asserted that “ duel- 1
ing was an evidence of cowardice; that it re i

ained a reputa-
ascon became a

‘ wildly. ‘-‘ I
l sweeper is my brother, he is one of the people—

, qui red more courage to refuse a challenge than
, to accept one in these times.” t

I, “ That’s all very well,” Citizen Gascon once
l said in open meeting, “but, to my thinking, it
| requires very little courage to submit to be
_ kicked. The smallest dog will do that, and then
! run away.” ’

“That is the argument of physical force ap-
propriate only to the dark ages,” said the presi-
dent on that Cl casion. “ No man has any right
to kick his fellowman.”

" But . they do it,” retorted obstinate Citizen
. Gascon “ and as long as I understand the sav-

afte I shall kick back."

The suratte is a way of fighting in which the
art of kicking is reduced to a science.

On the night of the Directory ball at the Tuil-
eries, President J scquot took his seat at the
head of the loo table-——in fact on it, for Jacquot
had got so use to sitting with his legs crossed

, that the club granted him that privilege—and
he cried out in his most imposing voice:

“Citizens, the session has (ommenced. Let
us open with the usual toast. Stop! where is
Citizen Gascon?”

“ He is at the barrier!" cried a dozen voices.
“ He will be here at ten of the night.”

“ Very good. Are your glasses full 1"

“ All full, citizen.”

The members raised their glasses and the
president said oracularl ':

“ To the memory of adame Guillotine. May
we have her back before the snow falls!"

“Amen!” cried the twenty-six tailors in a
piping chorus, While the grocers, bakers, «.ol»
blers and the solitary butcher growled:

“ Down with the aristocrats. ’ ‘

Then they drank 03 their glasses at a gulp, _
and the butcher observed:

"In ninety—three we had real blood in the
glnSses Ah. what a pity those da s. are gone!
Never mind. We‘ll have them back.”

" Has any one seen Citizen Georges to-night?"
asked the president, looking round.

“ I am here,” answered a quiet voice as Citi-
zcn Georges entered the room. “ What is re-
quired!” . ,

“ The club has just learned from Citizen Poi~
rier, the ct bbler, that. the aristocrats of the
Dauphin Club, in the next street, are to have a
grand banquet to-night. We have not taken a.
vote on the suject. as the formal meeti has
not opened, but it is proposed that we spoi thv ir
ion for them by breaking the windows.”

“I am opposed to any such thing,” remaiked
Ci tizen Georges quietly. '

There was a murmur of surprise,

“ (pposed! Why ‘1”

Ha any other member said as much, a dl 7m:
“ Guillotines ” would have. been on their feet at
once.howling: “Coward!” butit was not i hon}; L:
prudent in the club to call either Citizen Gt“ l'gcs
or (‘itizkn Gasoon a coward to his face.

Only the president could do that, in a strictly
parliamentary sense and in the abstract, in
saving that dueling was cowardly.

President Jacquot now repeated the murmur;
of the club officially, by saying:

" Why are you op l’ .

“Because, to break the windows of a party-
of people at dinner is COwardly, and you we
sure to inn away as soon as you have done the
Ids-ed,” answered Citizen Georges. .

President Juoquot blew his nose.

W hen the president of the Guillotine Club
blew his n0se, which he did with a poise like
the blast of a horn, it was a signal that the
debate was about to Open.

Citizen Georges quietly took his seat and
allowed his glass to remain before him.

Then Citizen Gigot, the orator of the club, and
a man who mended shoes in very superior stvle,
rose up in his place and blew his nose also. '

“The Citizen Gigot is about to address the
meeting. The citizens will preserve order,”
proclaimed J acquot.

Gigot looked around him with fire in his eye.

and .

“W ch of you, citizens, has not suffered
from theaccursed aristocrats who today return
to ilasten their hunger fangs in the Vitals of
exhausted Frances 'hich of you has not been
forced to pass in the streetsthe hated white
cockade, flaunu-d in our faces b the insolent
tyrants who think that their time as come once
more? Only today, I, Pierre Gigot, of the
sovereign people, passing along the street,
received a splash of mud in my eye, citizens, in
that eye-given me by France that I might see
the glorious tri-color. And. whence came that
mud. think ‘011? Whence came that mud i"

“ From tre broom of a sweeper,” suggested
the president. “Those rascals think it fun to
pretend to be hard at work.” .

“No, no.” shrieked Gigot, waving his arms
could have borne that: for a

 

 

though 1 admit, Citizen President, that some of
them are very insolent to sober citizens. who
own their shops, parbleu—own their shops, and
can pay for their bottle of wine No. it was no
sweeper. It was from the cam-w wheels of a
Vile aristocrat, and his coachinan had a white
cockade on his hat. Are we slaves once more
that we are to be blinded by these minions oi
tyranny with mud from the chariots of their

. rem... .__-....,_ y _

 

 

.LU

 

 

luxury! No, to arms, citizens.

l

Form your =

were they fairly out of hearing than Citizen

battalions, and march on till their impure  Gigot burst into an impassioned speech on the

blood gluts our sewers.”

Citizen Gigfit'h effort was rewarded with a
burst of how and the whole club roared the
Marseillaise chorus, from which he had made
so apt a quotation, till he waved his hand for
silence, and roceeded:

“ These stocrats have a Banquet in the very
next street, and l have a big stone ready for
them. Here it is.”

He showed a huge cobble-stone tied up in a
napkin, and in a moment every man in the club
except the president and Citizen Georges star
up with a similar stone.

“ Now put it to the vote, Citizen President,”
cried Gigot excitedly, “and let us see who in
this club will oppose the will of the sovm'eign
peo le in this matter.”

ve one looked at Citizen Georges, but he
sat st and said nothing.

“ Has Citizen Georges any opposition now?”
asked Gigot sneeringly.

“ No," answered the other, dryly. “I see it
is no use. But I warn you that you will have
to do your own fighting in case the ‘ Whites’
turn the tables on you.”

His remark produced an uneasy silence
broken at last by the president.

“ Does the citizen think the ‘ Whites ’ know of
our plan to break their windows?"

Citizen Georges shrugged his shoulders.

“ You have made enough noise about it, and
I heard, up at the Tuileries, that they had ap-
plied for a and to-ni ht.”

“ Ah, ba , the gua won’t shoot,” said Gigot
carelessly. “ The Directors wink at these
things. twould be different, indeed. if that
little devil Bonaparte were here.
had one.”

“ How do you know he will not be here very
soon?” asked Georges.

The Turks have

“He will never come back.
picked his bones,” wled the butcher, “ and I
was too stuck-up for me.

He wasa

am glad of it, for
He did not own his master, the people.

The president rapped on the table.

“ We are not discussin General Bonaparte,
who is moreover, an excel ent republican. The

uestion is, shall we break the windows of the
auphin club toénight.”

“ es, g3!” shouted the members wildly, and
just at t moment the door opened and Citi-
zen Gascon made his a pearance, with a smile
on his swartby face, an cried out:

“What is the question? I wish to vote. I
have just spoiled the fencing of one of the
“Whites” for six months—an Grognard—
split his swordarm 11. What’s the uestion?”

The president efined it, and Cit zen Gas-
con brought down is fist on the table with a

ban .
“§io,parbleu, no!” he cried. “Do you su -
we came here to have you pick uarre s
or us, you accursed ck of scallions! Vhen I
took you up, sacreb ,you were the butt of
Paris, making our grand Revolution a farce
with your cowardice and boasting. You break
windows indeed! Why, do ou know if you
dare to think of such a thglfi, I’ll go to the
Dauphin Club m if and to them to sally
out on you, swo in hand? These men wear
swords, I tell you, and know how to use them.
If you break their windows, you do it alone.
My comrade and I will leave the club.”

And as Citizen Georges left his place and
came and stood beside his friend, the club began
to hesitate, and the president cried:

“ Let us hava the noes, then.”

Georges and Gascon cried out “no” loudly,
and then, one by one, the members of the Guil-
lotine Club laid aside their cobble-stones and sat
down, each saying “no,” in the feeblest of audi-
ble tones.

“ The proposition is lost.” proclaimed Citizen
Jacquot, with as much dignity us though he
had not secretly favored it. “Any other pro-
position is now 11 order.”

U jumped Gascon in a moment.

“ cry well, citizens," he cried. “ Since you
have listened to reason, my comrade and I have
a proposition to make. We will all go in a
body to the Dauphin Club, sword in hand, and
make them sing the Marseillaise. Who dares
follow uni”

There was a dead silence, and then Citizen
Gigot ot up and said decidedly:

“ I' vote ‘ no.’ The citizens of the re-
public pay the soldiers to do their tightin . If
ever an enemy marches on Paris, my bl will
be the first to be shed at tho barricades: but to
engage in a brawl like this is an offense against
the  of the people. I will not coun-
tenance sue an outrage. ’

Citizen Garcon laughed, and tamed to his
friend, who was smiling sli htly.

“Come, comrade,” he d, briskly, “there is
no fun for us here. I have fought my last duel
for this club. The spirit of ninety-three is dead,
and you are right.”

Citizen Georges got up and bowed low to the
president, ing:

“ I told on that you were only brave cnou h
to break windows and run away. ’Good-nigh .”

Then the two friends strolled carel; ssly out of
the room amid adead silence, and no sooner

1
l
!

 

infamy of concealed aristocrats sneaking into
the clubs of the sovereign upeople and roposed
that a formal vote of exp sidn should taken
at once on “ the two cowards who had just
do rted.”

he vote seemed likely to follow the speaker,
for the Guillotine Club’s spirit was up in arms,
when President Ja not said:

“ I think that oughrother Gigot ovorlooks the
fact that these two men are expert with all
sorts of weapons. Let us ad ourn the debate
till to-morrow night, and bre the windows of
the Dauphin Club to-night.”

This sition was received with cheers,
and the Guillotine Club preceeded to execute
its plan, so far as leaving the room was con-
cerned, but, once in the street, a stran e hesi-
tancy, not to say timidity, disclosed itse f.

They did not march in a body as usual, sing-
ing the Marseillaise and “ Ca Ira.”

“ No,” said citizen Gigot, “to succeed in our
lorious undertaking, we must be wary and
iscreet. Let us advance silently one at a time,

so that the patrol may not notice a gathering,
and collect under the windOWs of the accuer
aristocrats in half an hour. Then strike for
liberty l”

The proposition was so wise and full of subt-
lety that the Guillotine Club dispersed in si-
lence, ver much like a gang of thieves. Half
an hour ater the gentlemen of the Dauphin
Club, over their wine, were startled by a single
stone crashing in at the window, and rushed
down the stairs, sword in hand, to find a tall
gendarme holding a small handy-legged tailor

y the collar.

“ This is the rufllan, citizens ” he said. “ He
was running away when Icau ht him. I know
him well; i is Jae not the ta' or.”

“What shall We 0 to him i” asked one of the
revelers, jestin l .

“ Kill me, aristocrats,” cried the little man in
a dramatic tone. “ Lead me to the scaffold. I
am ready to die.”

“ You are not worth the killing,” retorted the
tall gendarme; “ shall I kick him and let him
“ism”, a ted in: u

e roposi on was gree w a use,
J not, was duly kicked and dismingg, and,
cm the valiant Guillotine Club, not a mem-
ber made his appearance again that night.

CHAPTER XVII.
uovaan’s anruax.

WHILE the President of the Guillotine Club-—
its onlv coura eons member perhaps—was try-
ing tobreak 9 Windows of the aristocrats at
the Dauphin Club, the two friends, who were of
course our two adventurers, were hurrying
along the streets to an obscure quarter of aria
where the had lodgings.

“ Well,’ asked Lafangere as they went on,
“ have. you heard any news?”

“ Yes. The report of the general’s death is
false.”

“ Of course. I never believed it. I have onl
seen him in one battle, but that man is not m e
to be killed by the Turks.”

“ So I told madame.”

“ lVas she frightened?”

“ Ver much. ’

“ An how did you bear the news?”

“ By my channel of communication. ”

Lafau ere laughed.

“ You ave a good head, St. George.”

“ Why?”

" Oh, you have a good head.”

“But why do you say so?”

“ Oh, on have the impudence of the devil.
To thin that you shou d have been able to
make friends With old Rewbell and make love
to his daughter, after we had robbed him, it is
too rich for belief. Yet you did it.”

“ Do you know howl”

“My faith, no.
that a soldier who is over curious is not
his usition.”

“ evertheless you are curious.”

“ Well, yes.”

“ Very 00d. I have used to gain over this
Monsieur ewbell, two things.”

“ What are they 1”

“ Fear and avarice.”

“ Ah, how do you do it?”

“ Simply enough. In the first place this Rew-
bell is a thief.”

“ So are the others.”

“Granted: but he has a daughter, and it is
for her that he steals.”

“ How does that make a difl’erenoe‘i”

 

It has always been madden
or

“ In this way. Monsieur Rewboll was a poor
man before the Revolution.”
“80 was I.”

“So were a good many. But he was very
poor and yet had a taste for luxury.
“ do have I.”

“Let me tell in stcr . Don’t interrupt.”

“ (in on, m friy d. yI am all attention.”

“ In those ays when—he has told me so—
saw his wife die of want, and was unable to re—
lieve her. His daughter was onl saved from
starvation by the Sisters at the on Boe-
pltal. He was a beggar when the Bevo ution
arose. Yet he was a man of education.”

mourau, the .LVl'cuIIBlu e:

 

 

“Poor devil! I never felt the need of any
education since I learned to fence.”

“ In the Revolution he saw his chance and
come to the top. Ever since that he has had a
morbid horror of poverty. He pinched and
boarded in the Reign of Terror, and buried his
money in the earth. At the fall of Robespierre
he brought it out and became a financier.
The money he had stolen became a means to
make more and ut him into a situation where
he had control 0 the treasury.”

“ Well, this is all matter 0 report. How does
it affect your position with him i”

“ You shall bear. Monsieur Rewbell is in that
position new that his colleagues on the Directory
are scandalized at the public stories about him,
and it is settled that he is to go out in the fall of
the year. He cannot be reelected. He is afraid
that, after he is a private citizen, inquiries will
be made as to how he got his money, and, if so,
he can hardly escape trial.”

“ Very probable,” returned Lafangere, dryly.
“ In fact, it seems to me that—”

“That what?”

“That this Monsieur Rewhel] is an internal
rascal, who ought to be tried.”

“Possibly, if France did not suffer under
worse evils just now.”

“ What evils?”

“ Treachery, disorder, the enemy on her
frontiers, and the only man who can save her
awa in the East.”

“ ell, go on. What has that to do with
Monsieur Rewbelli"

“This: that it there be a change of govern-
ment in France—not merel a Chan 6 of Bi
rectors—the man who helps it on will eserve a.
full pardon for all oflenses.”

Lafangere started.

“ And this Rewbell'?”

“ Is our fast friend, on the promise of Madame:
Bonaparte that he shall not be disturbed if the
general comes back and the people choose him-
as they will—Dictator.”

u Hen I" ,

a The maitre d’anrws uttered a loud whistle,
and then burst out:

“I said you had a good head, and you have.
But Madame is no fool, neither. ’

“ When a woman lavas,” observed the creole.
senteutiously, “ she becomes as cunning as a fox
to defend those she loves.”

“Then it was she who arranged all this fine
scheme, was it?”

“She gave me the hint. and I went to Rew-
bell. I admit I had someth'oubla, but I had an
ally in the house.”

“ You mean mademoiselle. How did you
manage there, St. George?”

The creole suddenly became cold and reserved
in his manner.

“I cannot answer that, even to you, com-
rade. The fact is, I love Mademoiselle Rew—
bell and, if the general permits, we shall be
We when he returns.”

Lafan said nothing for a little while as
they wa ed on, but at last he broke out:

‘ Do you know it is very lucfifor the general
that he as us two for his frie here?”

“ No! three. You to st Mound.”

“True. It is an excel ent partnership. Each
does something the other cannot do. Now I,
for instance, would be out of place in the saloon
of the Tuileries, but you seem to be quite at
home there in the court. Isuppose it is your
confounded aristocratic blood—I beg pardon,
comrade, no offense. And then you would be
nowhere in the Faubourg St. Antoine. They
would pect you in an instant. But I, with my
rough way, the tell me everything, and I see
one thing, that e wildest of them are getting
sick of the feeble and dishonest Directo . Even
those asses of the Guillotine Club hate he Gov-
ernment for lettin the nobles come back, to
live like other e. ”

“ y, bnfw at would be the useof our know-
ing al this, if the general did not knew it too?”

‘True, and there is where I say the general
isa lucky man: for Mourad comes in to make
01%;; 1:211:00 iomhpleta What a lucky 131mg the

im, n a , so t t he can
pass for a Turk himsam @100 passage freely,
even in an English shigi.”

“Yes. Tosaytrut , I am not surebutthat
Mound is the most useful member of our trio,
Lafangere.”

“ No, no, one is as good as the other. To-
gether, we can do anything. Alone we are
nothing. Hallo, what’s that A light in our
window! I wonder who is men?”

They went up to their humble 10d ng. ex-
pectingto find a prying landlad ; w on they
were astonished by t t of ourad. in his
full Mameluke dress, Brno ng a chibouque, sit-1
ting crosalegged on the floor.

‘ Salaam alet'koum,” he laid, gravely, and
they were so much astonished that Lafangere
con d only ejaculate:

“ m heavens, how came you here?”

M made no answer but a silent .
which implied that some one was listen ng, and
motioned to them to lock the door of the ante—
chamber and the room in which they were at
the time.

Then he said in a low tone:

“Come near. The walls mustnot hearus.”

i

 

 

They come close to him, and he whispered in
a low tone: -

“ Don’t start. Don’t eXclaim. The general
(a in France.” '

But for his warnin . it is certain that the
mitrc d’ armes woul have shouted for joy.

As it was, he turned purple in his efforts to
restrain himself, and crammed his handkerchief
down his throat till he was nearly choked.

St. Geor c, more selfcontained in his nature,
yet utte a deep sigh of relief. .

“And it is you, my brother, that bri the
news,” he murmured almost inaudibly. “ ank
the good God!"

Here Lafangere coughed and spluttered,

ulled out the handkerchief and hugged the
Biameluke like a bear repeatin :

“ In France! In France! t is too good to
be true.”

St. George, on his part, looked at Mourad
ver closely and whispered:

“ ell us all about it. How did you get in?”

“ I came in at the door, and the cam-{w e was
so fri htened that he nearly fainted. ire-
tend to understand no French, and us ed
my way past him to your room, and 9 has
been watching outside, under the idea, I sup-
pose, that I am a savage, come to murder eVery
one in the house. I wonder he has not gone out
to call the patrol.” ‘

“ In that case we’d better tranquilize his
mind.” observed Lafan , risin . ‘He may
call the trol now, an we don I: want to see
anfi one at ourselves to-ni ht.”

e went outta the co dor and found the
r concierge shivering with cold and terror.

“ Ohl monsieur, has he hurt you? Who is this
barbarian? See what he did.”

And the concierge showed him the rail of the
balustrade, cloven in half by a clean cut of the
Mameluke’s saber.

“ Had I been in the way he would have taken
my head off, I am sure; and yet I only asked
him to get out.”

Lafa re laughed.

“ He did that to frighten you. This is a ver
ble Turkish gentleman, a priest of their
rel ion.” -

I“ h, man Dieu .‘ a priest! If their priests are
like that whatare their roldiers? And people
say our men are fighting these, monsters in
Egypt, and that they have killed the brave
young General Bonaparte, who used to lodge in
my house in ’95, monsleur. Yes, it is true. He
lodged here, with his adjutant, Junot, and many
a time have they been without a dinner in those
days. But I don’t want to see him killed, for
the general was always a good man.”

“ ear not, my friend,” answered Lafangere.
“They can’t kill General Bonaparte so easily.
Now go down-stairs. Our Turkish friend Will
hurt no one, for he is smoking his'pipe.”

The concierge went down-stairs, comforted:
and Luis ere came back, when Mourad at
once begun is story: _ ,

“ You remember when I left you heref’

“ Surely. And yet it was not necessary.”

“ It was best, my friends. You see I am‘like
a fish out of water, here in Paris. I was a
French gentleman as a child, and, after that, a
soldier under orders in [mend this liberty
and squility are strange . Besides, there
isalwa s‘a diflculty with us in'Paris. ’lhere
cannot two at ' and a 'Mameluke is
nowhereamong‘Frenc. twas hestformeto
return to Egypt and take the general the letters
from Madame.” '

“How did you succeed?"
“Toamarvel. IsailedforNa lesasaFrench
merchantandinlggpleslmokt oharscterof

a an to dim 'I was not
mpckt’ed?% lundflflm “fitwhereI pro-
curedahorse and arms,“ made mywayto
the figural." ‘,

“ heredi {ended him!”

“In Syrih.a Robson; and I gave himthe
l n and for him a compan of
Mamehkea. that has ed to the Guinea.
Hagar-smelly comm onulloamd,and
from bmcsi' Adrian St. George
from the calcium” ,

3mm, what next. Were-you’at Acre!”

a. .

“Was hehurt them!"

“ No. Who says at)?”

“ There was

a .”

“It 'flhnaflei Butthattellombjsmr.
foiledus,fcrwehadnosi smiling andthe
mums that , irsxneet,
whom we left up in own shim. %

pouri inminforcsmsnssh the sea. e
Muhammabutitwaztoba”

“w” on becktcl! pt!" '

“ ea  alwaggs , came

inwhilewewereaway,sndwe nota
reinforcement At last we

si 10 man of '
hang them before us at Aboukir,in the very
place where th:I E 1: took fleet, Ind
wekilledthem lor vethom ntothessa.
Tumwhennhsdbutenauour enemies and
if: “:1 “M. ' i‘w”mn‘“:’nd‘¥i.“'fi‘"
sen use 0 ,
733% Iran night's. no“ hh'mlnd to
. cu
Ecsjpegidhetookmamm ’He ianowat
us.‘

Mourad, theMameluk-e.

“At Frz-jus? And how came you here?”

“ We touched at Corsica on the way and I
took a swift sailing boat from there to France
with orders to come to Paris and warn you to
be ready. The general was to land at Frejus in
two days. He is now there and posting for
Paris. The English are all in front of Toulon
and Marseilles.’

As Mourad finished his story he gave an irre-
pressible yawn.

“What is it? You are tired?” exclaimed the
maitre d' armes. “ How did on tr::vel?"

“ I rode by post and I have ad no sleep for
three days and nights,” answered Mound
quietly. “ In fact I am, I think, tired out. Go
and tell Madame. l—want—to sleep.”

As he spoke his head dropped on his breast
and he sunk back on the floor where he fell as
fast asleep on the hard boards as If he had been
on a down couch.

St. George looked at him pityingly.

“ Let us can him to bed, Infangere.”

They took h m to the couch and laid him
there, and then the creole said to the Gascon:

“ Do you watch over him, while I go to tell
Madame.

Lafan re nodded.

“Iun erstand. Our work is only beginning
now. We have a great deal to do.’

“Yes, and it is important that no one should
know of the general’s arrival till he is well on
hiswaytoParlaThaseD rsarenot
much to fight Austrians, but they will not will-
ingly relinquish their gripe on the throat of the
French people.” .

He took n his cloak, left the house and hur-
ried to the no de la Victoire where he knew he
would find Madame Bonaparte.

It was nearly midnight but lights were burn—
ing in the house and old Jacques opened the
door to him.

The old man accorded 8. ve different wel-
come to the distinguished loo lng gentleman
from that with which he had ted the
bearded ragamuifln who had sou t entrance
at Malmaison near] a year before.

“It is you. Mons eur St. George? Come in.
Madame expects you.”

“ Expects me: how?"

“ Madame will tell you.”

He ushered the creole into the salon where
Josephine was uietl reading a book, and she
looked up with or c rming smile.

“I expected on, monsieur,” she said, just as
old Jacques ha intimated. ‘

“And what madman expect me, madame?”
he asked, still puzzl .

“ Just after you left me at home I went to
the salon intending to retire for the night when
I found this on the table.”

She showad him a note which he read. It
contained only these words:

“St. George will call on you at midnight with
good news. . Moram.”

“Jacques says it was left at the house by a
ho&, who said it was given him by a Turk who
ta ed French. How is this, and What is your
news monsisur? This Mom-ad is the third
mem r of your famous trio, is he noti, What
has he been doing?” , ; .

.2 as.“ w  ham
'~ came w ' to sica,
and he en'eral is now in France.” a

The y started up, her countenance radian
with joy. ~

“In France! where? Let meily to him!”

“ At Frejus to night! madame; but he is post-
ingto Parisandshou behereiuthrse days at

the furthest. ” _

“Monsieur St. George, can I ask you a favor,
agrsat favor?" ' - ,

' Certainly, madame.” -

“Get me pest-horses stories. I mint meet
thegeneral,‘ Ishallnotfeelaafe till I see him
OIIOO W. .

“Itshallbedoneatoace, madame.”

CHAPTER XVIII.
carnxo law‘s.

Pans was full of .axcitement and Oriental
forum The conqueror of
and had brought a real _
lam—one Mourad-f-whodres'ed in a
had never seen before, was able to cut sheep in

Mm“ blow was rumorsdtto have at
ves n m afi e waith
the ne¥alasflilfhe m'mvsley at. on

rover 9' one gorgeous
Mameluke was insattendanee g a certain
Orientalsplendortoevery thingsroundhimand
reducing to insignificant» .the most splendid
liveries of the Direcutggy. a” ,

There was no to larity of
General hens , whowen't s pomhere and
was “coined Eggnog corneh bid of wheat:
con u o w o cons

q scab the Austrians." '

8878 cm
Madame Bonaparte was no snubbed or
 ignored attbe Directory but had
a ci e of admirers wherever she went, while
f theganeral’s b'iendswu'e high‘kiflaoe and
ever. . ,
Mura who had come fmm On his

chief‘s 1‘s was G vernor of , Lucia:
Bonaparte e general’s brother had been elect-

 

 

17.

 

 

ed President of the deputies and the new Direct-
ors. who had come into office were said to be all
friendly to Bonaparte, while Monsieur Rewhell,
who had gone out, had become President of the
Council of the Ancients. ‘
And yet, underneath all the feasting and
floutinghin Paris over th:  ogezllie hero of
t,t erewas agree on o ' ousyand
heai‘tf—burning, the deeper because it dared not
show itself 0 ly. .
The old Republicans, new a feeble
minority, d the new man because he
was not one of a crowd but indisputably one by
himself.

The Royalists, who trusted to forei aid to
at the Bourbons back on the throne 0 France,
cared Bonaparte, because they knew that he

was certain to beat all the foreign hnnies that
could be brought into France. ‘v The feeble
Directory had played into their hands, but the
mgr was certain to spoil all their nice little

p .

It was in the midst of these conflicts of feel-
ing that St. and Lafangere, one day,
met in the Place de la Concorde.

Both were dressed as lcitiaens and had
no trace of the soldier in their appearance.

“ Well,” observed the Gascon, “ I have been
through the Faubourg St. Antoine, and the
people are in doubt. What have you found
amon the ‘Whites ’2'" ~

“ T e ‘ thites ’ are in dougt mflthen is
a t in avor of ' t e on ac-
..s’. 2:. m...” ""8 ‘°

“Indeed? Wh ?” .

“ Because she belongs in the old noblesee and
has a wonderful influence our the general.
The are in to and bribe him?”

“ ribe im Wit what?”

“ With the post of Constable of France, it he
willhead a Royalist movement.”

Lafangere burst out laughing.

“ A fine plan truly to give him that which
those weak fools have not the wer to grant
in any event. The people woul never stand a
king of France again."

“801 think, but thereisnoharm inletting
them think the other way."

“ Why not?” f d

“ Because we want friends, not oes, an every
friend ained he! 5 us. ”

The ascon loo ed dissatisfied. .

“ I don’t like treating with these " Whites.’
They are a lot of old women and worth nothing

one wa or theo er. I am for the Republic,
with neparte or its head, because he will
make us d, and I am weary of seeing

the tricolor dragged under the feet of these

Austrians.”
“ So am i. But I have more news than that.”
“ What is it?

Has Mademoiselle Claire found
out anythin i”

“ N 0. Bo Mourad has.”

“ Mourad! How?” -

“ You know he cannot unde
French since he came to Paris.”

Lafsngere laughed heartily.

“ Yes. He‘ plays it well.”

“ Yet the general sends him everywhere with

memages,
“ l have notiCed that. Why does he do it i"
“Simple enough. On every letter are writ-
ten directions On the outside, and the rascal car-
riesapaperentmafingalitohelpthe bearer, a
Turk, to deliver his . lost of these
letters are toDirectors,aud oundhasto wait

forananswer.” .
“Isee,andthe talk betel-shim.”
“Ofcouras. canefearstctalkh'enchbe-

foreaTurk. So Ionrsdhearsthiugn."

“And what has he heard lately!" '

St. George looked aloud and lowered his

sword of

V
e‘_;‘J'l,‘,heyangoiagtotryaad‘arrs'stthereon-
WWhatf l m darenot ‘I‘hepeople
I or .
wkmmcuefi‘im.’ 
“ truaunless "can aaood
todecluehimatmr
libsrtyofFrsnee." ..
“Yes. Thatwoaldbsahhddiarga. hit
thatwhichtheymakei”
.“Idon't know yet, and I require your help

to find out.”

8‘8
B

whenwe are er.
andwhat balmy

b
inhalant! Tellmea .” _ '

emet- hadtowaitinthe
Butyouknow theyarev'eryslolite to thegen

oral, and havt s tier: of
stolid‘ wilay, was admitmd tensequ letter."
0 ,

,‘ Ann's-others?”x . a. d
“ '0: , Barns, an
no... Wham... a...
itca the , :‘Dah! a mic foolery
of that hypocrite, One comfort-—
hswon’ttroubleaslong, and than he and the

 

 

18 *

rest laughed, while Golder pretended to be
shocked, and observed: ‘ For shame, gentlemen;
I have invited the general to dinner tomorrow
evening.’ Then they all laughed again. and
Barras said with a sneer: ‘You have read in

history of the fox who invited the goose to a I

banquet.’ That was all, for it suddenly seemed

to strike them that Mom-ad was listening, and

B irras told him there was no answer.” ‘
“ Did he go out?”

“ Of course not. He understands no French,
so Barres had to take him by the arm and point
to the door. Then he understood and went.”

“ And from all this you conclude l"

“ That there is a plot to arrest the general at
dinner at Gohier’s to-night.”

, Lafangere nodded his head.

“I see. Very well. We will be there.”
“ No need of’that.”
“Why not?”
“Because the general will decline the little in-

vitation at the very. last moment".

“Then what are we to do?”

“ I will tell on to-night. Meet me at the
Brid eof Arco when the clock strikes seven.
'It is ark at that time. Put on citizen’s clothes,
but have a sword, pistols and a cloak to covor it
all. Bring also a mask.”

“ Diable .' are we going to turn burglars?"

“ Perhaps, in the interest of France. You
will not fail me?”

"Of course not. But I must admit i don’t
like this mysterious business in the dark. I‘d
much rather facea man boldly and let carte
and tience settle the business for us.”

" My triend, there is a time for all ‘ things.
How many duels have you fought since you
came to Paris?”

“ This year—let me see—”

The Gascon, seemed to be engaged in some
abstruse calculation, counting on his fingers.
At last he said: ‘ .

“Forty—seven with the ‘ Whites,’ but only
forty-five had any blood in them. I disarmed
the other two.”

“Very well, then. Rest mtisfled. To-night

on will have perhaps all the fighting you want,

t it will be with any sort of weapon that
comes handiest. ” ,

2: But there will be fighting in any event?”

“ That isafi :- t. I will come at seven. Now

I will take a stro through the market to hear

what the fishwornen have to say about the gen-

eral. Au reroir.” I
Be strolled leisurely away, and St. George

muttered to himself:

“Assure:in we three can go anywhere and
do anything.

 

CHAPTER XIX.
m names: or moon.

A COLD fog had been creeping up over the
city of Parisall day from the south-west bring-
ing the salt sea me fromthe Bay of lliscay;
and the night set in with a drizzle and mist that
made everything intensely dark.

And the lamps of Paris in those days were
not much '

Gas had not been invented, and whale oil did
its dutyatter a sickly tubion.

Moreover there were not man oil lamps and
those they had swing from ch in the mid-
dle of the narrow streets, crooked, paved with
slipper; cobblestones, ,with an o n kennel in
the ml , which was gutter sewer in one.

The Paris “.1799 was very like the Paris of
four centuries before, a medieval city, pictur-
esque, dirty, and just (begins for murder and
robbery at n '

There were mm yet, ahd the col broad
streets were on Boulevards, so the barri-
cadeswereas 1y erectedasthey had been in

the Reign of error.

Undera swinging lamp in a narrow street
that led down to the Seine were bored several
men, method in long cloaks, am wearing three-
cornered hats, with the front flap let down to
hide the face. . .

One of them looked at the sickly cam
i): the lantern, and sad with a tract cred

“ you know, when Ila'st saw that lamp it

had a man swingingqu it byhisneck, kick-
ing like a mulef' '

“ Khan was gm, gidocql” a’ske‘d anotgehr.
. rues, e s ear. , we
had fine times then, bettggo go have now a

good deal. . .- . .

“ I don‘t complainof these-times,” broke in
third in a deep hassgrowl, “The are g
on h if we can keep them, and i that infer-
nal sail not made head of the govern-
We, I'm“ “fil‘t‘fil‘di’ :5.

n a nev , en ‘ ,
you: But “1...?” pizkmp new.” a
The men seemed to awaiting for some one,

and  , to awa thetime.
Present! Vigocqohseivedi “ ', ‘ I
“Doesmy one know where we are to go to-
night? I I iv in orderstowaithsretill-”
mg..- “'3 also?” a n W
V q 8 man.
V ‘,' ' of Acacia,”  one of the
men. ‘Theyhavechan thename”
“ I shall

e
call it the ol name," growled the

l

y.

 

other. “What do I know of your Arcolas,
Casse Tote?"

“Nothin , Gros Pierre, nothing. I acduit
you of all nowledge of honorable warfare.’

An Casse Tote laughed sneeringly.

“ I know enough to rip out your heart if you
sneer at me,” quoth Gros Pierre in a passwn,
when Vidocq cried:

“Patience, comrade, patience. Never quarrel
when two are in the same boat, or both mav

o to the bottom. “70 shall have work enouib
o-night without fighting each other. Har l
There’s to clock.”

The d up tones of the clock of Notre Dame,
followed by those from a dozen other churches
and public buildings, rung out the hour of
seven, and the whole party moved down the
street to the Bridge of Arcola, where they
found three men waiting for them, while a
fourth had just halted in the cabriolet, and was
speaking in a low voice. '

The group from the side street, headed by
Vidocq advanced, and the leader hailed the man
in the cab in the same guarded tones in. which,
all their conversation seemed to be carried
on that night:

“lIolal citizen, what are you doing out so
late in the rain?”

“ There is no rain to one who wears the right
shield.’.’ answered the man in the cab.

“ And what shield do you prefer?”

“ The shield of liberty. .

“ For my part I Wear three.”

“ ‘Vliat are they, citizen?"

“ Liberty, equality and -- you know the
other?”

“Fraternity. it is well. Have you the
private, word of the night?”
“ I have.”

“ \Vliispcr it then.” . I

Vidocq went up to the cab and whispered to
the man, who at once answered:

“ Correct. Follow me.”

1I‘leawaa whippinghp his horse when Vidocq
(IS '0 Z ‘ .

" Who are those others? I did not know we
were to have strangers in this." ‘ ‘

“ They are not strangers. They come by the
orders of Monsieur Barras, and have his signa-
ture to the a rs. ”

“ Well,” grumbled Gros Pierre, “for all that,
we seven are enough, and we want no others to
share in the reward.”

The other three men, who had been standing
a little apart listening, now came forward, and
one of them said, with a strong accent of Gas-

con ':

“)We‘are not here for any reward, you. fool.
but to show you how to do the trick in the
right way.”

‘ Ay,” corroborated the man in the cabriolet,

“ you are goin on a dangerous errand ' for
the man you see is a soldier and armed. ore-
OVer, he has a man sleeping across his door
every night, with a saber that cuts a person in
half at a low.”

Gros Pierre laughed. '

“ Bah! tell that story to children. Even
Madame Guillotine c'mM-nte herself by ch ping
(if a head, but as for cutting men in hell? hat
is all Table.” ‘

“It is your place to obey Orders, not to ask
questions and criticise,” cried the man in the
cabriolet, angrily. “Do you wish to decline
the ob? If 30, say so, and l llgo on.”

“ ,no, no,” answer-adv org, scothingly.
“ Do not!» so hasty, H Bottot--” ,

The man in‘ the oabflolctstarted;

‘9 owl ,You knowlmei” . .

-" f course. Every one knows thehandsome'
secretary of Monsieur Barras, who, people say, ,
furnishes brains for the Directory.’ 1
' ' Bdttot—I-for it was that vain youth~conld not
avoid d pleased accent in his Voice as he whip-
ped up his horse and said: '

“ Comoon'thon. We are losing time.”

The seven men from the side street and the
three from the bridge wont on after the cabrio»
lot, but theyhhqt in two groups, the seven fol-
“if?” ° meta ' whi ' d 'r

’ e 99‘ ex n spar, an one 0
them 142le into fiddler group and said in
atoneof familiarity ‘ . , .

“Good-evenly: , ons‘lenr Vidocq. It is a
nice place, this nowadays, for gentlemen
yo! our prof _ .” v ,

Vid casts (officials glance at him.

“ Gen men oar profession? You don’t
bole? to our crowd?" . 1

f‘ ow do you know that! Iknow you well
enough, and in fee have dined With you.”

"‘ here!" asked idooq, curtly. ’
f‘lnthe forests of AnVergneLa ago. You
Wanted mtgljoin on than, we had other
businesses: nd. ow the cassisvery h:-
g‘th Y mwe’ngdtooolgag togt at .

'e a em ‘ ts are 0 ' oes.
.  q’lookggapttfiin; do’pbtfully. _ l
. on tremem ' 0n. ‘ ' . ' .

“'fiosdlg . W1; Winona name them”!

“ ow ' co ' ~.

“'We who’ll): rs and hsd'marched from
Marseilles on raw ate.” A

“.ROI‘! "You don’t m n it! Are you those
th 10! fellows? An what have you been
doing all time!”

Mourad', the Mameluke.

'vu h getting
magi-an am

10 wed him t

 

“ 0h, we’ve filled our pockets. By the by,
how much are you promised for to-n' ht?"

“More than we shall get, my litte man, if
I don’t mistake our job.”

“ Indeed, and what do on know of the job?”

“What do you know?x asked Vidocq, seem-
ing to become-suspicious again.

“Only that we are expected to follow this lit-
tle man in front, to receive our orders from
Monsieur Barras in~.person, and there to entvlr
the service of the State by arresting some per—

son who will be pointed out to us in the street.” ‘

Vidocq touched the other on the arm and
they fell back in the rear of the rest. still fol-
lowing the cabriolet, which was driving at a.
foot ace.

“ k here, my friend—what’s your name?”

“ Gascon.”

“ lVell, Gascon, have you anv idea who this
person is, that is to be arrested i”

“ No. Have you?”

“ Do you mean that?"

“ Mean what?”

“ That you do not know who it is?”

“ Ccrtaml I do not.”

“Well, I o.”

“ And who is it?” _

Vidocq looked round, fell back further, and
Whisgered in the other’s ear:

“ enrrnl Bonaparte I” .

The Gascon started—or feigned to start.

“ Impossible. They would not dare.”

“ Oh, they won’t risk anything. It is we who
run the risk. Have you a mask!”

“ Yes. That was the order.”

“I know it, and so with ours. Now, you
know, Government officers, making a legal ar~
rest, don’t need masks? -

“Just what I t ink, Monsieur Vidooq.”

And therefore haVe come to this conclusion,
that, if we succeed in carrying OR this unknown
man, whom I suspect of being General Bona-
parte, it will he only as an experiment, of
which this rascally Barres will reap the advan-
tage, while We shall run all the risk.”

“Monsieur Vidooq, you talk like a man of
sense: but what say our comrades?”

Vidoc shrugged his shoulders

“ Oh, t ey are blockbeads only fit to fellow.
ln confidence, Monsieur ascan, I have had
serious thoughts of late of turnin honest man.
It is so distressing to be compel] to do all the
thinking for these men whocannot see an inch
before their noses. I am tired of it.”

Gascon cast a eurionsglance at the robber,
but said nothin for several, minutes, during
which they pl ded along through the mud.
At last he asked: ,
“ What is {our opinion of the masks then 1”
“Simply t at if we fail we can be disavowed

'as a band of assassin.- That’s all.”

“ To be frank, I think so too. Why should
we do all this, Vidocq, to hurt a man who never
harmed us?”

“ Oh well, thereward is handsome. A hun-
dred usand francs is not to be picked up

every night, Gasco ”

n.
Gascon nodded his head and said no more.
Presently the cabriolet stopped in rear of the
Lutemhourg and Bottot sai :
“Gain yonder by the stra’ ht path to the
small door n the east wing. nock four times
and give the servant the secret word. ,will
take. you np-stairs to Monsieur Barns. I go in
the other way.” , .
He drove oi! andGascon {omdtimeto
wh to his flames: , . I d
‘.‘ new , a uldrsd thousand. an
afraid. If we confind an-
i “:33...” ‘3'” L '
one D an we on to
bar, where Vid knocked”! , five the
‘ 19', Pk Cub

, com
the little .
word, and was admitted in
ridor evidently a serv ’ entrance.
/ ,“ me after me. ,‘aretwanty’nine
:51 on the stain. and one turn to the right in
corridor above,” said, the porter, in a ruff
we, , as it he did 'not like his guests. endihey
1% the darkness, till allaht.
nu er a' door sho ed them they were sp-
proaclllng their journey's end. .' .
t1lThe ortor ocked at the door and lagged
em toaargerooqurnllhedlplon ',
with a fire burning on the hearth. 3
There was no one in it. v .
“Ignitdhg: till Monsieur comes, and don‘t

§hen vanished. . R . ,.
ow the seim #100 to  curiousl at
the three. by the Debt 0 the keep. as they ad
not before had an appertunity. inspect them
in the stint. . ' , .

Gran. Pierre was especially curious and peer-

sdiatotheirfscesinsnchsninsolsqt‘ u that
one ofthem fled: _‘ ‘0_
“Will you knowme againhfr ‘ 9 It’s a
pity I have no mark like fyouth me out of
,ac‘rowd, ., I no em." »
‘. _ crimsonal: theannslon to
9’10. . 00 his Mud. ensigrowm fierce-

yl'ra have you: ‘w an '1,’ "' fa- that
brand in ’98 with twe va inches cold steel in
the bowels of it. George the aristocrat. Keep

a civil tongue'or on ma get asmuch."
- The man he dressedy was a dark and very

 

 

4’ V" \

Mourad, the Mameluke.

 

19

 

 

handsome fellow, and he eyed Gros Pierre in a

singular way, as ing: _ ,
‘Soyouaretgeman,areyoui Well, Ishall
known goo again.”

Gros 'erre returned hisstare with interest,
and his countenance clouded. .

He looked quickly from the dark man to his

‘ bor who resembled him ve much but

. features rather sharper, an drew hack
among his comrades, muttering:

“ How likel How aocursedly like!”

Further conversation was cut of! by the en—
trance of a haughty, sarcastic~loolring person,
in full court dress, who came out of a recess
concealed by a curtain, advanced with a rap'
step toward them and said b uely:

‘ We] where are you? ow man are
there? you may to undertake the Job or
not? Who’s your] er?”

The dark man drew back among the rest and
pointed to Vidocq.

" There’s our captain, monsieur. He will
treat for us all.” ,

There was something in the air of author-it
of the sarcastic gentleman that seemed to gue
all the rufflans of the party. Even Gms Pierre
stood ga ing at him. .

But idochi not seem.to be at allins
humor to be aw , for. he stood up boldly.

“ Here we are, monsieur, ten of us,. ready to
go anywherepbut we must know what we are
to et.‘

‘gBottot told you. A hundred thousand
francs and a tree pardon for the past.”

“ That is not enough, monsieur."

“ Not enough?”

The haughty gentleman seemed to be struck
dumb b the presumption.

“An how much do you
read consider a fair price. it venture to
aski’gliermtorted sarcastically, “' that is not
one

“ In the first place security that we are not
breaking thelaw again,” answered the robber
coolly. “ Promises are easily made, but money
down never lies.”

“You want money down?” demandel the
gentleman hastily. “You can have half as
earnest; but not unlem you submit to be fol-
lowed b aguard, to see you don’t cheat me.”

“An how are weto know yoru will notcheat
us?” asked Vidocq. “Tell us what we are to
do first, and we’ll answer.” r . ‘

“You are to go to numba' 387 Rue de la
France," said the gentleman impatiently, when
Vidooq interrupted him. .

“ e house of Monsieur Gohier.. I see, Mon-
sieur rras, what you are at.”

Barres—tor it was that ambitious and mrp-
ing Director. whohad been the first to raise
Bonaparte, and now wished to pull him down

y. .
esume interrupt me. You will
go there. There is a dinner-party tonight, and
the person you are toarrest will be there. You
will know him by his being tollowed by a
chasm- to his car .

He isa small thin man w ' a a uni-
ves on the pave-
put on your masks.

we close earth" ' in
 sshe

s~ '
out lace him the anddrl . .”
.e > :9... who... marsh

gentlemen of the
ma

‘ ten :eucannot "drive away in one carriage,

" «idon‘twantm betcha-Into
 and  the Kame-
ithetriesto mdown-at
oneeithe “hi-sabermrbewillhurt some
anew. will put general in the
carriage handm! him, and keep him
there. bnewillbeou s with miscre-
, who  twobehind. That
six. e o 1- four courthere-
treattlllthe , ,iwut sight. Itlsdark
and! ._ j .‘uflhtwhem sort of tree
hie _ , put away your mash
andd rse.  _ workis donecome
in mm ms... wh-  .
‘ on o ousau

“a: Elvis. atrka

w n

“Aoceptfifcaptain. 'M Barre-is very

' Barnum like one wellpleased, andVi-
decorum: , . ,. u .

“- cry well; if In corn will take the
flatwwew . it; fibers} all wego now!”

he thaw“; to

reuniteatthehouse. ecsr w hein

aitingfeeyou there.” ' . r, . .
wqi, alndtheproeession filed tot
, room, ntothedsrkeorrldor. hen
they were againiu the gardens of the Luxem-
bou .flmlfidfitpfld: , . ' '

“are! Pierre and Casse‘l‘ete you takethe
firms“ C and, at the next;
Pl and quet be next. We Igni- will

take the other two. at the house.
tattoo V
ran his use mum-1y of the
n . ,

 ms: a wordwitli
you on the way.”

.  Will ou i”
idocq l‘oo eda him quiuically.

_ was: me todo,afi

A

.l

' CHAPTER xx

VIDOOQ.

Tum? went silently along the dark street. In
front Vidooq and St. Geor ; behind them
Latangere and Mourad the melake, the lat,
ter dressed in Fronch citizen’s clothes and muf-
fled in a cloak, but wearing his terrible scimitar,
as always.

Vi‘dgq seemed   to make
min say somet , a Geooge w .

Presently the robber said in a confldentid

his

wa : I .

j Well, you ought to be very grateful'to me.”

“ Why?” asked St. George, quietly.

“ For not exposing you.’ .

“ You could not have exposed us.”

“ Yes, I could. Barras did not know on,
yet you have orders signed by him, accor '
to his secretary’s story.

Lafangere, who was behind. chuckled.

“Hols a deep man, this Vidocq. What an
agent of secret police he would make.”

St. George smiled slightly. Be very rarely
lau bed; but-he seenied to be amused.

“ ow do you know the secretary isnot in the
game we play, on our side ?" I

Vidocq stopped and began to laugh in his
turn '

“ That idiot? You would not trust him. No.
You have forged the orders, and, on my soul,
you must be a deep one to do it so we I.” ‘

“Monsieur Vidocq," observed the creole in
the same cyen tone in which he alwaly‘s spoke,
“ I t ink you are a great fool, after a ”

“ by? I have not made a mistake.” ‘

“Yes, you have a grout one, and one that
has lasted for at east ten years; for I don’t
think you are over thirty.” '

Vidocq seemed to be} struck by this remark.

“I don't understand why you think I am a
fool, citizati,” he said thoughtfully.

“Because, with your head, you ht be
something better than a mere robber, w1th the
galleys in prospect as soon as the country be-
comes settled. You think you could have ex-
?” us to Barres? Do you know who we
are ‘

“ Supporters of Bonaparte. I remember you

' of old though the others did not.”

“And suppose you had exposed us, as you
say. to Barres, do you know what would have
happened at once?‘ ‘ .

th, a fight of course. But we were two to
one, you know.”

“Precisely: but you are not aware that we
were waiting for that Very thing, and that we
should have beaten you to a certainty.”

Vidocq stopped again.

“ Oh come, may little man,” he exclaimed
angrily, “you out an pose on three could
have beaten us?. Why, myee , would match
any one of you, and my men are hard nuts to
crack too—old liters.”

calmly as ore, f‘ you not know that you
are cove now by the morale: of two gmls;
and that hadyoumidavmrdtoBarras the
or you would have fallen at the
firstflre. .Wehad you picked cum each of
m‘hfidhis piste cached underhls .”

n ' .,
thofightof'that. Wheredid ou
learnt ttrick» ' - ‘ ' y

’jLIgev mind: ftis a good one, you will ad.
in: . . . ,. ,
_ .“Yes: but after all, there would still have
been four to three.” ‘ ‘ .
“And those three masters all. See'here.
.Thereisat’eixllalley earlierhwitha km .' [Ill-e: us
oomeup era, wx wager on, V8 no
any one of us time can  {we at the tin

“And whattorl I don’t care to be made a
fool of. But what pussies nie is this; what do
word t Biggest ’1? “l:
o o
matings (at is in theZflm, now; but why

trying.» make' an

7 are‘you talking to me,ald

honest mane! mel” . . _
, “.Bpoauae' we need your help. You see I am
hank. Monsieur Vid' '. Iw tyou to come
“a  fiesta-tat”. ,

(leesQ violently. ' - '
Am ~§3L 4' ‘ ' ens

W

just cons-3n ‘to try  mehim.”

it

much. em for oatoeee
gmzmghgemym‘who
ve on aassuranoe yard ‘
onthgmt’voiibfi  on, .

.V'd an d ' V *4
' :hifie 

   

 

17

 

who?” , . .
woman that tooled Bottotl No man

“Monsieur Vi ocq,” gourmet! the creole, as.

 

coulddoitso easily. Thereis awomanin it

, maewhera I know it.”

smiled: Lafangere chuckled.

“He is a born detective, that Vidocq," said
the Gascon. “ What a shame be is only a thief!
Whats shame!”

St. Geo echoed the sentiment.

“Truly itisa shame; and yet he may bea
great man in his line.”

Vidocq shook his head.

“ No, you don’t know anything about it. You
are not one of us. Didn’t you notice how they
all suspected you the moment they saw you?
You have not the air. of thieves. You can’t talk

their age“ And you don’tknow what is
the pe tie—”
He shud red slightly.

“No, it is impossible. Every thief in France
knows me, an were I to turn traitor they
would take a horrible reven e.”

“You mean they would kill you!”

“ Wherever I was seen, without remorse.”

“ Very well. 80 shall we, tonight, if you do
not at once consent to come with us.’

As he spoke the robber heard the click of
pistol locks all round him and the sweat started
out on his forehead. .

He felt all the more afraid, because he was al-
ready half-hearted in the cause which he had
undertaken. -

“ Listen.” continued the creole in the some
even. passionless tone, “ you know as well as I
that Paris counts a dozen murders a night and
that not one 01 them is our dizcovered in these
times. We are three to one, and the Seine is at
the end of this street. We are, as you have said,

of the Bonaparteparty, and it is life or death

within: to night. ,We can {oil your plot now
by killing you and then setting, on the others as
they come up in ' x Tbsy suspect nothing.
But that is not a we want.

Vidocq wiped away the sweat.

“ What do .you want then 1”

His voice was hoarse and low as he made the

inguiré’.
t. eorge took him by the arm and said in a
low Voice: . ,
.“ We u-ajnt to arrest Burma and Gohier."
Vidovq started violently and then remained
perfectly silent for a minute wipin away the
sweat that gathered on his forehea from time
to time and to all appearances thinking in-
tense] '.
At last he uttered a deeglaigh.
“ It’s a d scheme! eaVensi You are a
master! am almost tempted to join you, but
I am afraid.” . .
“ Afraid of what?” ’
“pf the others. They heard me take the of-

“ The others must join us.”

“ They will not do it. At least all will not.”

“ Who will not!”

“ Gros Pierre for one. The man with the
brand. He is a violent Bed.”

“I do not want him,” ansWered St. George
quietly. “’In ‘I angohutokill himthis

W
“Because he is the man who killed my father
on the 2d W”
Vidoeq l at him keenly. .
“What! are you an a l”

“Asfarfiomitascan be,but Imnnothear
amanboast 0t killing my father and not re.

ve his duth.”
men out-name is St. George.”

story a hundred times of how he {avenged
 ofhissisterby the larquis of
t. George. But that a stair. flettle
as you lease, citisen. There hone
you would ve amongthem, however.”
“ And‘who isthatl”
“Game'l‘ete. Hound tabs in the Amiyot
Italy,th desuted since Bonaparte went to

Wanna. He will brin theothersover.
Butltis ouwewant that. ill y
ornotl berthatFrapce‘ismoaie
achangeandthat to-néghtisthecrlsk To-
morrowisflielighteen Brumalreaadwhen
the sun at Bonaparte will be master of

9'
. O .
“Or dead, .W may Yoneannot
wees. _'mequed:ioa' re~
mainawill cage ktoBamsandtellhim
ouhave ,that yOur flat isde
{int General has'notdinedatthe
houseot Diwirfictor ‘,,anu;ideo‘lose our
mono ,or joinus make s
'uéflflflfi derancebydeliverlnghimhis
snemlesbonndhandandfootl‘" '
Vidocqhesitated. I
“You have-a confounded nyotW.
canIseethisGenenlBonapsrte
"Atonoe,it youdeaireit. But—J
“MwhatP

“Butltlwsse Iwould canons-3th
seam“. mwgsaeba bar-

“Youare ht. Well, suppose! vo
whatamltoxdgl" ' m' u,

  

__._——-._

 

“ Bring over our companions and obey my
orders for to-nig t.” “ ‘

Vidocq struck his hand into the creole’s palm,
and said heartilfilze

“ I’ll do it. fact is, you are the onl man
I have met for ten years who has a hea I’ll
obey you. Give your orders.”

There was something in his tone that gave

, assurance of his sincerity, and St. Geor e did

not hesitate to trust him. As for his' ends,
they were willing to follow him an where.
They went along toward the R e de la rance,
and as they went Vidocq rapid y sketched out
a plan of action.

“ You want to arrest Burma and Gohier and
serve them as they want to serve Bonaparte, I

suppostT’. _ . _

‘ That is precisel our obJBect, citizen.”

“And you so. eueral onaparte will not
dine at Gohier’s’é ’

“ No. He has sent an excuse at the last, the
ve last moment.”

“ en Barras has not. heard of it yet?”

“ N 0, but he will before ten o’clock.”

“ Then we have no time to loos.”

“Certainly not.”

“ Can’twe arrange for a false general to be
arrested, so that we can get the reward out of
Barres? '

g Want do you man?” sod d Via

t. eorge seem surpri , an

looked much elated. ocq

“Come, I am not altogether a fool after all.
That never occurred to you. Yet it is the very
first thing came into my mind. Caste Tete
shall do it.” '

They hurried on, Vidocthooking V8T{68 er
and exoited, till they saw 1; e house in t e ac
de la France, all lit up, with a line of carriages
in front, and is staring from the sidewalks at
the figures on ng the house under the awning.

“ There’s Bottot," whispered Vidocq, point
ing to a carriage on the opposite side of the

way drawn up and waiting with a single man
on the box. “And yonder are Casse Tete and
Gros Pierre in the crowd. The others must be
near by. We must at them out. Has the
getmrai’s message reac ed Gohier etf”

“ No. As a matter of fact Iam a) take it my-
self at eight o’clock, in the character of his staff

,ofllcer.”

“ And it is now, what?”

“ Very near that time.”

“ Then you will be late.”

to N0. 71

“Why not 5”

‘ “ I have my uniform under these clothes and
the general’s carriage is at the end of this line.
The dinner is supposed to begin at eight o’clock,
but they are always late.”

Vidocq mminated a moment and then struck
his forehead. .

“I have it. Just the thing. We have ten
minutes to do it in. Will you trust me for ten
minutes and do ust what I 53?” .

Infangere a Mound sh it their heads in
silent warning, but St. George said:

“ Yes, if yourscheme is.good.' What-are you
going to do?” > . ,

Vidocq drew him to one side and said in a
whis r of great glee: ,

“ m oing to the Rue de la Victoire, car—
riage an all to arrest the general. Howie that
for a scheme my friend?” '

“It dc ads.”

' “ On w at? '

"‘ 0n whether Bottot will follow. ”

“‘ Leave him to me, I’ll show you.” ‘

The carriage-i kept moving on to the door of
the illuminated mansion, depositing their loads
of guests and at the very end of the line was a
handsomecoach withapairofgrayaa Hame-

v lube rising” the footman’l perch behind the

bod thg carriage. _
arted over to the carriage waiting
on the oppodte side of the street and said in a
low tone: I
“ [ancient Bottot, I want to speak to you.”
The blonde secretary of Barres was not yet
inhisroleofoonsplratoranditwuavery

whim“. ,
Ht oe trembled as he whispered beck:
, “What’hthomatteri Don’tonlioutmyname
W Comeupon hebox.” , l
was just what idocq wanted, and he

was up in a moment.

“Bonn V is. not in his ,” he whis-
Bered. “ hat the head of the line empty. He

son an excusehy his servant.” V

Bottot bled from to foot. .

its“? arms” » u...

‘a ,i you ve ,, rep '

therobberrathercon 'tuously. .-

“ But what me we do, Dd Mm

“Why, go menthoule' a arrest
ofoourle. He has no He is nothing
huts ivate citisen new.” ‘

Bot held‘ated. , ' ,

“But you’ll have to do it all by yourselves. I
(figlyhgr’onised to drive the carriage to the

ca . ‘ ' .

“Obi” saidV “Thenflie " ris
to to the  I! that it? Whey

form-reception?" ‘ ' .

“ Ofconrse t2? are. I have the order for the

Governor, sign by Barns.”

 

__Mou_rad, the Mameluke.

 

 

 

“Does it mention the prisoner’s name?” -

“ Of course not; we are not fools enough for
that. In case there is a row tomorrow and he
is found, it will be all a mistake, but it is my
opinion he will not be found.”

And Bottot chuckled.

Then he seemed to realize the new difficulty
for he asked nervous! :

“ Well. What sha l we do?”

“ Come to Bonaparte’s house. We will go in
and do the business. When we come out you'll
have '0!“ prisoner.”

Bot t nodded.

“All ri ht. I’ll drive there.”

“ And will bring on the others.”

Vidocq jum d down and went over to the
crowd, where e whispered to Gros Pierre:

“ Come along to the Rue de la Victoire. Our
man is there. He’ has sent an exouse and will
not dine here to-night. Tell the rest.”

In the mean time St. George sauntered down
to the last carria on the line.

“Bola!” he ina 10w tone to the driver on
the box. “18 that you, Captain Perrini I’Ve
news."

The coachman, Who had retired into the
depths of his tail collar, looked suspiciously out:

“ Who the devil’s that?”

“ St. George.”

“ Oh, indeed. Well?"

“ There’s no need of going l2) to the door.
You will be wanted at the cues, yow and
Junot.” ' >

“ All right. Shall we turn round?” .

“ Not yet. When you see the carrla on the
o posite side of the street drive off, to ow it at
tge distance of a street. It igngoing to the gen-
eral’s house. Have you arms

Perrin laughed.

“We are regular arsenals But it isamost
infernal night for plots and a man fresh from
E ypt feels the climate more than you fellows
who have been home all the time. ” I

At that moment Vidocq strolled past arm in
arm with Groe Pierre. and St. George left the
carriage and sauntered own with the ion of
robbers and convicts whom arms had so
cleverly to kidnap the hero of ypt.

They asaed along the streets n the driszling
rain all f and turned into the Rue de la Vie-
toire. As t ey walked on in grou s of twos and
threes, one man kept shifting rom group to
group, exchanging earnest words with one and
the other.

Tl‘i‘at man was Vidocq, and St. George let him
w r .
31s they came near' the general‘s home, Lafan-
gere whispered to the creole:

“ Are you sure he will not play as false?”

“Quite sum” was the answer. “You don’t
know what I have in reserve at the house, but
you will see mti friend.” .

As he spo e ey came to the house.

CHAPTER XXI.
uonsrnun Banana.
A8 they came to the house in the Rue de la

‘Victoire the "rattle of a carriage was heard, and

Bottot drove up and halted near by. At the
same time the distant rumble of. another car-
riage warned St. Ge that the general’s ve-
hic o with two di ise officers, was coming up.

He hurried to idocq. ‘

“ Are they read if” he asked. .

“All but Groo ierre and Crocaue. I have
not sounded them, for I know it is no use. But
Cause Tote is furious, since he knows who it is
that is,tobe arrested. He is readytor any-

“ ery well. Come into the house.”

He went up and knocked at the door which
was opened by old Jacques, whyhrunk hook at
the II ht of so many men mum in cloaks,'and

was a utto slam the door,an St. George

said. ,
“Horne no fear, Jacques; we are here as

“Ah. it h you, Monsieur 6t. Georges,”crled
theold mamreli'ovfi. “ On my word, Ithooght
it was some plot'of cam-whites to kidnap
the general and ‘.” .

St. George smiled as he at in. .

“ It was, but we have the tables.
Where is the general?”

“ in the salon, monsieun Arman these—gon-

tlemeu—togoinl" ‘

The man wuecandallaedat the faces of
me the anshe saw, but St. George an-
swe :.

“. casual-stow. Whogoeeout,is

“thwewfha they entered the hall.

wheretheseven tVid , ptund,
lookin all! the “Mimi-my ewpwhat to o.
t. ‘ hithew 'tothe dwrnf‘the

. threw it 0 an was confronted in a
moment by an in ’br'llliant umform, sit-
tinfilw an ottoman the door.

is odlcer , laid his hand on his
sword and ‘ ' ' .

fierce .
“ What means all thisyl Who are y
Gros Pierre uttered a cry of autism. fa’
summit we“ "is?" 
n t wn ran ' WI ‘
kets do them,  ' not
at a table, writing by the light of “sup. with

 

a Sword and a brace of pistols lying on the table
before him.

St. George threw back his cloak and answered
the officer gayly; '

“ W e are friends, my dear Rapp.”

Then the general looked u . '

“ It is thou, St. George? ell, what is it?”

The soldiers never stirred, but looked on in the
apathetic way of men who wait for orders.

St. George advanced to the table. and whis-
pered to his beloved chief: r

“I have fathomed the plot, and, if you, gen-
eral, will ‘ve me the authority, I will hay»
Barres an Gohier prisoners before the generals
come to breakfast.’

Bonaparte looked at him shyly.

“ What authority do you n 1’

“An order from yourself, directing the com-
manders of all and prisons to obey me,
in the service 0 France for the safety of the
Republic.”

“ You are modest, monsieur. You wish me
to re ‘ implicit confidence in you.”

“ ave I deserved it so far, general?”

The creole’s tone was cold and injured.

The general allowed one of his rare smiles to
light up his pale face.

“ You have. But to arrest these men is a
measure that requires military law and a‘ guard.
How can you penetrate the Luxembourg, for
instance, to take Barns?”

” With a ard I cannot. With the men I
have, I can 0 it.”

The general nodded.

“ Aha! I see. You have bought them. Well,
I will ratify your bargain tomorrow, if you can
do what on say. Is that enou h?”

“ I s i be more than sat , general.”

The general wrote rapidly a few moments,
and then handed St. George ‘two slips of paper.

“See if those are enoug ."

8.3. George scanned them eagerly.

The first ran thus:

“ For the safet of the Republic, imperiled by
traitors, Iordera officers and soldiers within the
limits of Paris to obey the wishes of Citizen Georges,
who has pOWer to make all necessary arrests.

“Bowman;
“ General commanding."

The second was as follows:

“I promise to ratify any engagements made in
my name by the Chevalier st. George.
_ ' ‘ Bosnmrn."

St. George bowed low and his voice trembled
as he said in a low tone: 2

“ You reposethis confidence in me, general;
You shall see I do not abuse‘it.”

The general casts ance at the dark group
by the door and aske :

‘ “ Who are your friends, St. George? Have
you been scouring the galleys for allies?” ‘

The creole bowed again.

“ The gilleys were scoured, general, but not
b ' me. oreover, I have found there a jewel
h dden away.”

“ And who is your jewel l”

The tall man in front there, with the large
nose. His name is Video?”

“ Vidocq, Vidoch He s a robber. I heard
of him three years ago in Auve e.”

“The same man, general, but or all that he
is a jewel, for he knows every thief in France
and is "Willing and anxious to join the secret

lice '

The flashing eyes of Bone rested on the
harsh features of Vidocq , .

“He looks like a an of ” he said.
“ ell, St. trust oer giant-etion.

W 'nyourworks more here._

Theoreolebowed and re ired,'motioning his
frigid; to follow ha m

9 were 0 Bone called:

“8 y I-wangtomy Me.de I am
lost out Hound. ' . ‘

8ti  Wiener-a1,“ i‘l‘i‘ifim' him to-ni h

H a t
worse t snry‘gi o” g
Bonaparte s '
I u w.l

shoulders.
I so I mas t submit. You
are all thels'ame.

You seem to think I am

. of so: importancsjto'any one.”_ ”
m e no snow to aw at
around wE 'Eo hesitated we to nmfipxi’oc,

and then to close the deer. .
“nl want you all," he said pointedly. “ Come
on. ' ~

They followed him into thestreet. when Gros
Plane, who had been rfectly ‘gniet in the
house brokeoutwitha uriomoa .

“What is all this? There is some hocus«

going and Ian: not lnit.‘.Whereis
{he man we are to arrest!” ' ,

“ You shall find him if you will follow us,”
answered Vidocq imttmfly. “You’re I. fool.
GmsPlerre. Whatdo oncarewhobarifested
or not arrested, so ong as you get your

Th,” i sed ristocrnt’s l
“ ere a some occur a ct
going on here,” rotor-ted Pierre.“and am
on out with Crecasse. on, I am ‘going to
dpoigour sport for you." ,

“ w asked a voice suddenly, and the
flag: tho'flameiuke stepped up near

They could hardly see him in‘ the darkness
but they heard the clink of steel as he spoke.

 

 

i

Mourad, the Mameluke.

21

 

 

Bros Pierre turned on him savagely.

“Howl I’ll show you! By killin you as I
killed St. George, you sneaking a rat!"

He reached to his belt for a pistol, but it had
become fastened for some cause, and Mourad
cried out:

“The second boast. Die then!”

In the same instant the bystanders saw some-
thing fiash between the two;'and a. cry of max-
prcssible horror burst from Vldocq, who was
nearest, as the huge frame of the galley slave
fell on the pavement. ,

“ Mon Dial! II t’ a roupe en deua‘!” [My
God! He has cut him in two.) .

The Mameluke quietly stepped back and mut-
tered something in Arabic to St. George, who
at once started into the midst of the group.

“He has cut in two the man who sand the
feet was a. fable. Let him lie there. Now.only
a word. The man Barras sent you to arrest 13
in that house. It is General Bonn , the
hero of Egy You see from what I have
saved you. ow comes the question. Do you
want to earn from BonAparte twice the money
promised by Barres?” _ .

“ Of course we do,” cried Vldocq, readily.
“ What do on say, Casse Tete?”

“I say t any man who follows General
Bonaparte is certain to find victory,” answered
Cease Tete, with enthusiasm. “ i am ready to
do what this gentleman wlshes.”

“ And so am I,” echoed quuet.

“Bidet and Plorniet, are you read to earn
twenty thousand francs apiece?” ask Vidocq,
turning tothem.

" I am ready to try,” replied Bidet, curtly.

“And I haven’t seen so much money for a
ion time,” Observsd PIOIDIJI'. “ Count me in.”

Sgt. George stepped to the side of the only
man who had not spoken. and asked:

“ What says our riend, Crocnssel Is he ready
to earn two. thousand francs or another blow
of our Ia uke’s mhsrl He awaits to know,
close behind you.”

Crooasse turned, and even in, the darknem,
sawthe rolling ey. of Mourad,as the y
Mamelnke stood, with his saher drawn hag

_ force of his

Wm
warn you

a hack-handed hio

“ ‘t stir,” curved 8t.
1. “Ifyoamovehswillcut,
that saber will cut a hair."

“ Mercy!” muttered Crocaase, thoroughly
awed by the imminentpesil in which he .
“ I will do anything you wish.”

“Take him between youz t and Caste
Tete,” commanded Vidocq, ‘ a then come on,
for we have no time to loss.”

He came up close to St. 

" Well, captain, have I kept alth so, far with
you?” he asked, confidential .

“ You have Can we trns Crocnssei” I

“ With the others on each side of him. It’s
i’ust as well our friend cut Gros Pierre in half.

thought t ese Mamelukes didn’t understand
an French ?"

‘ This one does a little. You know he’s Gen-
eral Bonaparte's personal attendant.”

They were hurryingon through the streets as
they convened, making the best of their way to
the Luxembourg.

Suddenly Vidocq stopped.

“ By heavens, i forgot!
Has no one seen him?”

He uttered an impatient oath.

“ How could I be such a fool! He must have

seen us come out, and have suspected something.
I don’t remember seeing him anywhere as we
came out.”
] Laiil'angere, who was close behind, began to
an .
“Siot so sharp as I thought him, this Vidocq.
Bottot is taken care of by our owu people.”

“ How i” asked Vidocq, wonderingly.

“ B the peOple on the general’s carrla e. Our
frieu is now snug, within thewalls of t ,e sane
dc la police of the garrison, under General Mu-

Where is Bottot’i

rat's orders”

“ How do on know!"

“Iknow t. Gearge,and1mwhim s to
Captain Perl-in, who was on the box. errin is

not the man to let Botiot fool him.”

Vid took off his hat in the midst of all the
rain. an bowed profoundly.

“Monsieur St..George,_ your head is better
than mine, and I count myself no fool. You
for at nothin .”

on of the

silently; ey came to the
{radiance of embourg, and St. rge said to

“(Ifogw it is your turn. I don’t tool able to
cos: the man outside. Can you do itl”

Vid laughed. . .

“ Ob, t‘s nothing Certain! . Have your
carriage reel-island ll get Mon ur Barraaout
here in five. ntes.”

“Do you want any one with our”

“Yourself if you arenot n edout here.”

“No. Infangere, take command out here.

You can see the carriage following us. NM'L
ieur V

, Iamatyourorders.”

erobheren thegardensofths
ducal follow the ad
.. .l .... as means»...
thou-admission.

The porter came and gruffly demanded:

 

“ Well, what do on want?" '
“ The safety of e Republic,”re lied Vidocq.
“The word is all right. You’ll d Monsieur

Barres. up-stairs, w ere you went before, and
he’s pacing up an dowa, looking as annous
as-—”

Crack!

Vidocq was standing close by him, and of a
sudden raised his hand and dealt the other
what seemed to be a gentle tap on the nape of
the neck. ,

Yet under that ta the porter suddenly fell
forward on his face n the passage, and lay as
still as if he had been dead.

" He’s safe for the present,” observed the rob-
ber, cooll . “ Now, Monsieur St. George, I
hcpé you’ I rot oLjec-t to standing outside while
I goin to B . 'You can see and hear all, but
I don’t want hlm to see you.”

“ A good arrangement.”

They stole lip-stairs and Vidocq knocked at
the door of Barras’s gorgeous cabinet, while St.
George hid himself behind an angle of the wall.
The anxious Director came to the door instant-
ly and threw it open.

“Well,” he demanded, as soon as he saw
Vidocq; “ have you got him i"

“ Yes, your excellency. That is-”

“What? What?”

Barres seemed fairly devoured with his
anxiet ashe asked:

“ t do on mean?”

“ Imean, t at is, if we have ., the right
man. you kllaow,‘ Mongleur l ttilt-algbymtltl;
descri ton cou on a , oug t,

p y lying. a"81f that is the

one man in the city of
man, we have him. _

Barr-as looked frowningly at him, gnawing
his li and appearing to heeltate.

“ l at man bore you got?” he asked at last.

“ General Bonaparte. I hope we’ve not made
amistake, monsieur.”

Barns looked intensely relieved, and a smile
broke out allover his face. .

“ , no, there isnomistake. Youhave done

ri t. You want the money!

I gtizie it to you at once.”

“ Itmi:l not that, monsieur: I am I ‘itc read
to trust to monsienr’s honor. must i
monsienr that there is a littlb We amougths

M23?" '
“ ‘1‘ lo! of whathind!”

“One of them. monsiour, Ca-eTstebyname,
used to serve with the eneral in Italy, and he
rec ized him at the 'me of the arrest. He
has to tell the niacin that there dis soul;
mistake that t e genera s a good pat ; an
has worked on the others so that the would
not let Monsieur Bottot drive to the icetre,
but insisted on cumin here stones.”

"Then where is oral Bonaparte new!”

asked Barres, with a le face.
“ Outsideat the gate. in a close carriage
muffled god and bouu .”

“ And angst do you want me to do?”

“ To go out to them and tell them with your
own lips that they have the right man, and that
General Bonaparte is a traitor to the French
republic. That will satisfy them, but nothing
short of it.” V

Barras drew a deep breath.

“ Is that all? Certainly. I will go.”

He was going out, when Vidocq coughed.

“ Excusa me, mousienr, but 1 think that it
would aid very much in‘ convincing the men if
you took out with you—"

He coughed a second time, delicately, but with
a volume of meani .

“ Take with me w at?"

“ The money, monsieur.”

“ True, true. You are a sharp fellow. Help
yourself first, and hel me carry the rest.”

St. George heard 1; e chinkin of gold, and,
pingK round the corner, saw idocqfstufling
poc ets with money with a n 0 mafia-

ge safiisfacw‘tiélgig‘n 1lili‘s face,.w ' eh Bari-ais p1: was

oom' y , e a man w o '
a desperate game of chance and finds the Idle?
goingvzfiainst him. V

“ , are you ready?” he asked, at last.

“ Certainly, monsieur. Shall I precede or
follow on ’ asked Vid politely. ‘ “ It is
very , Monsieur ras, ow differ-
ent are the fee of a man who has nothing
buts. few sons in his pocket, as I had when

entered this place, and the same man when he

hasflve rouleans of ten thousand francs,
in echlon’eengdhn mm} "replied Bu‘ras,
“ oura ma,
sternly. “Yonyf to whom you ”
Vidocqtggkofl ~ :1 hat and bow inaway
indicating em profound.
. “Ihope  'I aalutathe

sun as itsbads mmethelastgloryouts hes-u.

ShallIshow thewayi"

Barrasn ed.

“Goon. Yousssmtohsancrkinalzhutu
asyouhavstakenGonsralBumrteIam

? satisfied to let you have a lit freedom

ortomight”

at“Vidocq preceded him the and

Ii tillthsywsrsatthedoorbe
forehe “.323. "
Heheard m

 

Barras y:
“ Ugh! What a night. I must get my hat.”

 

“ By no means. Let monsieur take my cloak.
It has a hood and will cover munsieur from the
importinent elements, that have no more re.
 for a Director of France than a street

y.
And in a moment Vidocq had taken off his
cloak, and was wra ping it tenderly round the
velvet coat of the lreclor.

“ Now, monsieur, forward. Take care of the
step. Now is our time.”

s be said the last words he saw St. George
behind Barres. In another minute a second~
cloak was flung over the cheated Director‘s
head, and both men grasped him with all their
strength.

CHAPTER XXII.
OTEER PLOTTEBB.

Moxsnwn- Baaaas was so surprised and
alarmed by the sudden ousla ht made on him,
that he could make no 6 ctual resistance,
though he kicked and struggled desperately.

But he was in the hands of two powerful
wiry men, one of whom had him by a bee
wrapped up in a cloak while the other d his
legs and hustled him along like a bag of meal to
the carriage, where they a ere about to bundle
him in. when St. .George said:

“No, us. Give him a chance to yield with
due d' ity. Hold him 1”

He w of! the smothering cloak and mid

sternly to the unha Director: .
“ A cry for help w insure your death. You
are a

nested by order of General Bongelnric.
Are you ready to quietly, ormustwe and
gs you, as you wIShed done to Bonaparte!"
arr-as, pale with his desperate struggle, yet
retained dignity enoughto say:
“Isnrrendertoforee. Wheluarayonabout
wt¥e3wgummot the garrison Y
“ o e . cu
willbelelaaaedaa soon as France b tranquil.
Doyou ve pamlenottoattsmpttoc-
capeoa ewa ,a-mrbtweaecuruyoul"
“Iwillnotaimntoesmpa Quorum
mightat mawhomads him
whatheMtheindigni ofhonds,”said3auna,

bitter! .
to8t. dhorgemadsnomtohhmlmttnmcd
“ You and Mom;d_go inside with him. Who

isthatonthabox

“Pen-la," flieeoachmfromhr
hindhis collar. “Iathiaancflurlahflt-
forthcspit

Lahngerehnghed and took Ban-as,th
can-lea while St. George and Vidmgrru-ned
away ththeothermmaathecoach nofl
intothedarkness. ‘

“Go to fiphier‘sficalnddgait,” called”? St.
George as e vs a paced they
could hear the voice of Penis, shaming hack to-

m:

“ One at a time. I will bothers.”

“ Well, gentlemen,” said St. Geo to the six
ruiflana by whom he wassurround , “so farao
good. You have earned ten thousand francs
apiece, and Monsieur Vidocqhas itin his hat.

other ten thousand will be much .”

Vidocq fidgeted and whispered:

“ What made you tell them that?"

“Leave all to me. You shall lose nothin ,”
was the answer of r the creole. “ Pay out
money to the other five.”

Vidocq, with an air of resignation, pulled out.
the rouleaux of gold from his pockets and was
about to give one to each of his comrades, when
St. George interrupted:

“ No, on second thought we will not y in
advance, or anything at all till the job over.
You might leave me in the lurch. I did this to
trydyou. Which of you is desirous of being
pal t(Blifrand going home at once without further
tron e

silent; and
“ You know you’ll only get half the money.
The ' b is only half done.’
“ ‘en thousand francs is enough for me,” the
ruilian growled in a surly tone. “Pay me and
let me go.”

rowlod Crocame; but the rest were
t. George answe :

tobegiv’enhimhySt.
“Now, or C " continued the
creoleinthesame tone “I am about to do a

coasts laugh:
“ That’s my look-out. Good-by.”

 

22

 

Crack!

1n the very same place where Vidocq had .
struck the porter, Casse Tete struck C
on the nape of the neck, and with the same wea‘
pon a pistol butt. ‘

Without a groan or struggle Crocasse fell on
his face, and Cass'e Tete was stooping to take
back the money, when St, George said:

“ No, let him keep what he has earned. By ,

. the time he comes to his senses we shall be safe.
Come alon , men. For to-night at least you
are not rob rs, but men trying to save France
from the Austrians. ' It remains to be seen
which will bring you most profit, the role of a
robber or an honest patriot. Forward in the
name of France." .

The five remaining robbers seemed to be much
struck by this appeal to their honor, and as
they hurried forward through the ,‘ rain, the
creole heard Casse Tete mutter to Riquet:

“I tell you thing} will be different now, and
we may as well be n the winning side if it pays
as well as to—night!”

V hurried on with the leader before the
rest an found time to whis r to St. Georve:

“It is all right, captain. he rest will stick.
But arewe eno ” '

“Enough for'what is left to do. I can man-
age that alone if necessary, but I wish to give
your man a chance to rove they are not un-
worthv of the name of renchmen.”

Asthe creole had ex ected, Vidocq di‘oRped
backhamrgii his tfgien s to re trt this ftlle
speec , a m at moment . George e t
safe from any further treachery.

In due time they arrived at the Rue de la
France, and found it ' emtpst’?’ of carriages,
thou h the mansion of Mo eur Gohier was
still hted up. ' ' ' v '

The dinner sin progress,” said the creole to
Vidocq. “ Now, as soon as our friends come,
we are read to‘begin operations.” .

They wa up and down theistijee’t' in the
sleet and mist iii 'rs at a distance from each
other. Vidocq keptjwith StaGeoi-ge.

Presently he' observed in a tone of concern:

“ We are‘not‘alone. There are some other
men watching the same house.” j

‘fOf course. They are the men who think
they‘are oing to catch the general.” I, ' .

“ But arras sent us to do that? ' “

“ Y'Ou see how‘much be trusted you. He was
going to watch you after all.” ' ' ' '

The counfcd’the‘ watchers in the street, and
found they weneabout a dozen men who 'kept
themselves muffled up and seemed desirous. of
avoidingfobservation. ' ‘ I '

Most of them ‘ turned away in'to'side streets
when t ’ were approached, but followed'the'

'seven 00n ederates at a distance as soon as their
backs were turned. V _

“On my soul,” muttered Vidocq, “this is
growing interesting. I must tell the rest ’that
thIe’f7 may not be caught in a trap after all.”

e went away for this purpose, and St.
George, in spite of his assumption of indiffer-
ence began to feel uneasy.

“ ere are twelVe to seven. Are they friends
or hes?” he thought. “ If fOes, our work is not
over for to-night. ’

With this thought in his mind he lounged
near one of the strangers and managed to come
on him face to face. ‘ '

“Good-evening. citizen, " said St. Geor e. ,

The man addressed nodded his heat very
slightly and ssed on, muttering something
the creole cou d not catch.

St. George cocked a pistol under his cloak
and followed the other.

“As he had expected, the sound of his foot—
steps caused the man to turn and exclaim:

“ What do you want with me?”

“Simply to find who you are and why you '

are pacing up and down this street.”

The man gave a short, uneasy laugh.

“ I thought the streets were free under your
republic, Citizen.”

“ Ahat- I see, you are a royalist.”

The stranger started vicicntly.

“ What do you mean?”

“ That I am an agent of the police citizen, and
that we have a hundred men waiting in the
houses round here for the signal of a pistolshot.
Shall I fire it?”, ' V

The stranger began to tremble.

“ Monsieur, I swear to you—”

“ There! I said you were a royalist. Oi! your
gouard you say monsieur. I think it is my duty

arrest you.” '

The stranger started back did threw the flap
of his cloak aside. ' " v ‘ '

“Try”it'at your peril. I am armed and des-

rate ' ‘

St. George remained impassive. '
“You are foolish. If you fire it will bring
out the police in a minute. Come, I don’t van

to hurt on. Between us two this republic is a
miserahe farce and our is i clout to
su You can a nt, mondléurf”

us.

stranger dropped his cloak again» and

“mire " I‘ll " desiof 'onsyby
“ ouean so a , , in '

keeping your mouth ut.” ‘” ‘ ' ,‘ "
“Ofeourse. Howmuch?” ' '
“How much do ouwahti’".

“ Ten thousand rancs."

Mourad, the Mameluke.

“ You shall have it.”

“ But I must know Iwhat ou’re after.”

“That is ourbusiness. l I want is to he
left alone.” .

“Verygood monsieur, but I must tell you
that I cannot keep all my men auiet Without
kn0wing what you want us to do.

‘.‘ I want you to kee your e es and ears shut
with re in to all tha takes p ace outside that
house w ich is lighted up.” _

“ Oho! you mean Monsieur Gohier’s?”

“ Hush! yes. There is no need of mentioning
names. Hark! here comes the carriage. ”

In fact they could hear the rumbliugof a
carriage coming down the street. ' '

St. George. com letely mgtifled. resolved to
wait further deVe opments fore he did any-
thing further. He suspected the carriage now
approaching to be that sent from the general’s
house, but it was evident that this stranger,
whom he knew to be a roynlist, expected 'an-
other carriage. ' .

Here was another, lot oin on, and the
creole had no idea of w at i con (1 be about.

The a proaching Carriage dashed into the
Rue de Fa France and St. George saw it had
bay horses. It was not the vehicle he himself
was expecting. 4
While he wondered and hesitated the stranger
ca 9 close to him and whispered:

shew take this and keep quiet. It is only a
visit that will not hurt you at all. Gohier is
with us and you will seea obs in a few
,months when our frimds will not be sorry
if they helped us. What is your name, my
friend.’ _ - 1'

“ George Lafangere,” answered the creole, at
a venture, feeling that the other had passed him,
a roll of money. “ What is yours?” '

The carriage had drawn up 'at the house now
and the strangers swered hastily: .

, “Never mind. hen the king has his own
again call on his Minister of Justice. I’ll re-
mem r your name. ” ‘

Gmrge could see b the lightjof ,the'lamps two
,dark' groups on eac side of the awning. .

At the opposite side of the street hesaw his
0 men, watching, in a third group. ' " ,

. vThey. too, were mystified by the other car-
riage. and the stran are, so much stronger in
numbers than themse ves. ~ '

The creole crossed the street and found Vidocq
looki on with a smile on his harsh features,

“_ av'e ou found out who'they are, captain”
he asked, nowingly. ' y ‘ ' ' ‘
“Yes. Rave on?” i ', w " ,‘ --

“Certainly. . or are Chouans' but 'what
puzzles me. is,‘ what the doing there?"

“Look,” whispered also Tete, "‘ some one
descends to the street."

They could see under the awning by the light
of the lamps, a Whiteheaded gentleman in the
crimson velvet court-dress o a Director of
France descending the ste s arm in arm” with a
second person who wore t e simple black velvet
of a gentleman in the evening. . V '

The watchers at the opposite side of the
street stole forward, when in a moment the
dark groups by the side of the awning broke u
and a dozen men confronted them in the roa ~
wa .

"y Not a step further here,” said a low mena-
cing voice. “ We'll not be taken alive. Kce
silence and go your own ways and we will u
hurt you, but you must not go near the car
ria e. ’

“ Eh, pm'blcu, we don’t want to hurt the
carriage, my friend,” said Vidocq, jeeringly.
“It’s plain enough some person is in it who
does not wish to be known. Come, talk reason.
lVe are or men.” .

At th s mement the carriage door slammed
and they heard the voice of t e old gentleman

sa aloud: '
‘Fareweil, monseigneur. Good fortune at
tend you in your undertaking.”

, The Chouan leader uttered a deep curse.\
“Drive on,”he shouted to the driver, and

then he turned on St. George’s party as the

coach dashed off at a furious .

“ You know who it is, but he will be out of
your reach before you- can alarm Paris. Now
which will you do: fl ht or take money?"

His tone was that o a desperate man, and the
clicking of pistol-locks followed on both sides as'

es ke.

Vdocq lau lied aloud:

“You foo I told you we “were ‘poor man.
You can’t take a hint. ' '

“Take the money, then,” cried the Chouan.
in a tone of dl ,-a’nd he threw "Vidooq' a
heavly e. “ ll weask is five‘minutes.”

“ m,” cried Vidoc and awe. went the
Chouans,'running down , street net as the
rumble of wheels was heard on the other side,
angrtlhe “:3 gra hmhog 181d ht. ' ‘ _ .

1 rue , . Gouge:

“N? is our tigie cagitaignfl he w isperod.“
“The fates'are‘trip diyto-night.” \ , 

St. George nodded. ‘ ‘ ' ‘ ' V '

“Come 0 men“ Don’t stopto touch that
moh'ey,”hsv emishayfl‘y. ' ~ ' ‘ ‘

He saw than no the’g‘raf-

‘of his house was cl

‘mghti
He hurried oi! toward the house where 8t. '

 

 

Director
slowly reascen ing the steps and deed, that

there Wt'l“) ll0 servants around.

The seven dashed across the street, headed b
the creole and Vidocq, and overtook the o d
man at the steps. ,

“ Monsieur Gohier,” said St. Geor e, as he
laid’his hand on the old man’s sho der, “we
are here. hen is the general to come out?"

Gohier looked round surprised. .

“Why? Did you not know he had sent an
excuse? I thought Barras had attended to that."

“ He has, monsieur, and here is the carriage.
The one which just drove away—what was it?”

“What do you mean? That is none of your
business,” answered Gohier. tremulousl .

“ It is the business of every citizen 0 the re—
public to protect it from Chouan plots,” re-

lied the creole, tightening his gripe. “You
vs come down alone. You dared not let even
your servants hear you call that man by a title
orbidden by the laws. Monsieur Gohier, you
are my prisoner, in the name of the republic.”

Monsieur Gohier trembled violently. He was
a ve different man from Barres.

“ y dear frien I assure you there was no
harm in all this. Rel n of Terror is over,
and monseigneur only wis ed to—” ‘

He stopped, unable to proceed. St. George

im.

prom to I ,
“ onseigneur onl wished ” to sound the
Directo on the possibility of a restoration.”

“ I to] him it was impossible,” urged Gohier
pitifully. “ Isent him awalv. Do not expose
me citizen. Barres isequal guilty?

‘ Barras‘is a risoner an so are you,”an-
swered the creo gravslly. “You will enter
this carriage at once etly, or We shall kill
you on the spot as a trai to the republic.”

A_.s he spoke, ‘Vid . Casse Tete and the rest
forced the unha'p y bier into the carriage“
the old man not arin to protest, for the doo
by his, own .pi'der and
his servants saw nothfii . St. George stopped
amomenttos aktoYi  I, .,_

“You have, opt your wo Can you, depend

,on mine now?” . . .,
“I must whether I will or no,” was the very !

phil ‘ ’cal reply. , , ,
“I all .See if on do. Pay the men and.
come to the generfigs house to-morrow morning
at daylight. I w 1 see that you do not lose by
then ration.” . , '
 ‘Igmwgtdblepdms “Olin: " ’
‘ e , mu one. omorrow'z,
Thecarriagedroveofl. ' r 7 ' ~'

 boxwasPerrl, ' ‘ofgrenadm ' ‘
arises as a  ’ nside were Goh‘ig",

angers and Mourad with St. George. La~

fan burst into a chuckle.

“ e have done it at last. I said we three
could go anywhere and do anything. Do you
know what has just ha uedl’ ’ .

“ What?” asked er, nervously, for he
seemed to think the remark was addressed to
himself. ,

“Sieyes and Ducos have come to General
Bonap‘arte’s house bringing with them Moulin’s
resignation and tomorrow the general will
have authorit to secure the safety of the re-
public at any azard."

Sieyes, Ducos, and Moulins were the other
three Directors.

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE ORDER.

Tax: morning of the 18th Brumaire, 1799,
dawned clear and cold with a biting east wind
that froze the mud in the streets: and the house
of General Bonaparte in the Rue de la Victoire
presented an animated scene, without and with-

n.

The street was crowded with handsomely
canarisoned horses held by orderlies, the house
full of generals and ‘colone ' , come to take break-
fast with the conqueror of Egypt.

Among these imposing Eamon were two
officers n the simple uni rm 0 lieutenants
who attracted little attention and were snubbed
by inest of the enerals.

“ One wore t green and red chasseur dress
of the Guides, the other a dragoon uniform.
They kept apart from the rest at a side table,
and did not pretend to mingle with their supe-
riors. The only person who spoke to them was
Madame Bonaparte, who 'was always, gracious
to everybody.

Thegeneralofallgeneralsa tobein
verygood spirits, la ed a' joked with his
comrades in arms, was constantly attended
by a gorgeous ke, whom he was said to
have brought from W and who was re-

rted to understand no ranch, for the general
Sirocted‘him y and a few Arabic words
he had picked up the East.

The breakfast was full of fun and jollit ; for
there were so many guests that they could not
sitdoWh to table. and had to eat _ 01'
sitting. wherever the happened fo’ , 50 t
there was no forui'aliév about the meetinl-

In the midst of t e buzz of conversation a,

' carriage drove up, and the Directors, Bieyes and .
Ducos were announced. " ' j
They were greeted with gfound

on to the eadtgf
cant for them.

nd had a cunning
u retiied butcher. As

the Corsican general, and

a table that had been kep
Siesz had been a Ere-i

face; Ducos looked ll

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mourad, the ,Mameluke.

 

 

 

they took their seats, the ex-abbe said  Bona- ,

parte: . -

“ The motion prevailed. Send a confidential

man to Lucien at once, that it may  an- 4

nouncod publicly." I
The general looked round and his eye fell on
the two lieutenants at the side table, who
" seemed to be there on purpose to catch his
He nodded, and the lieutenant of

lance. . . ‘
'8uides started up and came to him in a mo ’

mcnt. .

“ Go to the Luxembourg; report to the Presi-

dent of the Council of ncients, and he Will
give you an order,” said Bonn arte, in a low
voice. “ It will be necessary to )cprepared for
violence onthe way back. on understand .7"

The lieutenant saluted. .

a.’ “ Can I take my comrades, general?”

The general made a grimace. _

“ You want Mourad'! Whom am I to have in
his lace l” '

“ ustaa, general, another Mameluke, who
is now down-stairs.” ' t

The general gave him a searching looks. ,

“ Does he understand French I”

“The same as Mourad general, and he has
the further recommendation of knowing every
thief in Paris. It is the man I told you of. ”

The tone of their conversation had been low
and guarded, apd it was in the same tone that
the general answered: _ ;

" If you are responsible, send bun up.” I

The lieutenant. bowed and departed._ IIe
dropped a few words in Arabic to M d, who
followed him,” also the lieutenant dragoons.

Soon pfter they had left the room a tall, raw:
boned man, with harsh features and very pierc—
ing black eyes, entered the room and took up
his plfice behind Bonaparte’s chair, dressed as a
Mame uke. ' ' ‘ '

“ Hanoi”. obserVed Sieyes, _“, have . you mo
heathens in our'employ, general” ‘ '

~~ Yes. '1‘ is one is Roustan.‘ He‘Uhderstands
no Frenchat all. I have to'converse with him
in Arable fitogether, or b signs.” ’ “

The tall ameluke st ‘
of the chair 9 if he heard nothing- but it was
the eyes‘of ldoc that'scanned the generals
round him as coo y aslff be had been ameng
thgdmal‘lzhislitfle. t‘ n”‘ ' ‘ '*  '

ean ime e we eaten , an dqtad‘
mounted horscs held out in e at?
dashedyoifhfull speed, to the Inuembourg.

The people had gathered in groups on the
sidewal ; usi ess seemed to be suspended, and
all Paris had t e appearance of a city on the
eve of some imPortant event. ,

The 18th rumaire and the d December are
the same y, both fateful to rancid. ‘ '

“Itl s' like a‘revolution,” sai .Lafangere

tion,”i the people s

uld declare against us to
dav '

1

1e are  V9 1 'and red}. gm.
Ery anytbln for a. change,” at???" the tranb’utl
answer of St. George. “ See how they look at
us. They are only curious, yet they know‘a
change comes to-day. They would scowl and
murmur, if they did not wish it.” .

They came to the-Luxembour ,' which they
found surrounded with troops, an were halted
by an officer who commanded at the great door-
way. ,

St. George and Lafangere had dismounted
while Mourad held the homes.

“ You cannot enter, gentlemen. The Council
of Ancients is in session,” said the officer. ‘

f‘We come from General'Bonaparte to re-
ceive the orders of his brother who is the
premdent of the council,” replied the creole.

“ That is different. Pass in.”

They traverse l the stately halls and came to
the Igjgislative Chamber, where a great tumult
seem to be raging within. '

There was no sentry at the door, and, as they
entered, they rceived the president on the
1-0 :trum pound ng with his gavel for order.

As soon as they were perceived silence on-
sucd and St. George saluted the presidcnt.

“ General Bonaparte’desircs to announce by
us that he is at the service of the Republic, to
restore order, in Obedience to the commands of
the Council 'of Ancients". ‘ _

The graVe men in long re who had been
making such a noise. stand at esetwo oung
men, so different from themselves, wi cu~
riosit ; hut‘the dent responded:

“ ne'ral Ben parts has the centldenoe of the
council, and we have issued an order assignin .'
him to the soprano command of the troops of

e t b

‘stolidly at the back'

land .

as the rode along° “we are in a critical pesi-'

‘3 .Revolutions re onl ' 'ble when the )90-.
One reE‘m of lip ‘ I

l The murmurs of titled assent were univer-
; sal; for the Counc l of Ancients had become
1 sticklers for forms in the moment when they
‘ were submitting to their new master!

' The courier came forward with a huge yellow
envelope in his belt. He was a little, withered
old man in a ma niflcent uniform of red velvet
I and gold and loofied as if he could hardly ride

a horse, much less fight. ‘ ' '

“These officers will act as your escort, and
! you will deliver this letter forthwith to General
onaparte,” said the President. I
The courier bowed, and'rcplied in a cracked,
trembling voice:

“ I obey, your excellency.”

Then he hobbled from the room, and, once

outside, turned to StuGeor'ge‘
’ “It will be a terrible ti .6. The Red Clubs
have swom to have my life if I try to deliver
the order; but I am ready to shed my blood for
the Council of Ancients. ’

Lafamzere lau bed reassuring} .

F, “The Red Clu are no great fighters.
will manage to take you in safely.”-

Out in front of the palace they found a white
horse, magnificently caparisoned; and the
courier observed proudly: -

“ That is Buccphnlus, my charger. He has
been in the service'of the state twenty yr-ars
now; for he carried the king’s courier in the old
times." ‘ , .

'I he friends exchanged glances. It was clear
they did not admire the 'virtuos of the White
steed 'of the State in an emergency like the pres-
ent. -St. George whispered: ' »

f‘ Weymust take him between ‘us, and if they
try to st!) us. we’ll drive Bucephal-us on, if we
havotok'il him.” i _ ‘ ‘ '

Lafangere nodded, and they helped the old
man climb up into'his saddle, when Buccphalus
trotted slew! y out of the gate, with the step of
an ancient elephant. ' ’* . l

The two. Officers vaulted on their r horses:
passed a few words to Moprad, and then set out
gvn their hazardous journey to the line do la
' 'lc o:re.- » '

I be”

We

ed nothingzbut‘ as neon as the crowd outside
saw the velvet coat of the'decre it'courier, they

began to run ther and she :
' “ The order? a order!" '
He me a cry from anotherq r:
“ 3 0m: rte!” ' ‘ "" *

It wastake'n by ‘ of’the crowd; when
another part roaredm a 1y: ' "' v - .

" A has Bona urte! 07‘s la loi!” [Down
with Bonaparte Outlaw him] ‘ -

Then some one in the rear threw a stone at
the old man, and instantl rose a great con-
fusion of yells in the mi st of which people
came running from the side streets, and, as it
seemed, in a moment, the' whole place was
blocked with a crowd-yelling to each other,
swaying to and fro, and not one man seeming
to know exactly what was the matter out of the
whole assembly. ' ”

The old courier looked on the crowd. and
shook his gray head as he said: '

“ It is impossible to get through. I must re-
turn and report the fact to the council.”

81:. Geo and Lafangcre drew their swords
and took old of the reins of Buce halus on
either side, while Munrad the Mamelu 6 dashed
in his spurs and made his horse plunge amon
the people so they cleared a space in front 0
the old courier. ‘ -

St. George exerted his voice to its utmost to
be heard over the tumult. '

“Citizens of the Republic! The nation is in
peril, and Bonaparte alone can save us. Make
way for the order which saVes France from the
Austrians and kings !” '

The last words struck the right chord and
there was a shrill yell of “ Viva Bonaparte ."’

magic in the street.

“No time to lose! Forward!” shouted the
creole and away went the trio.
. Mound the Mnmeluke dashed along in front,
swinging .th long saber and uttering furious
veils, while _Lal‘angere and St. George, the
former pricking Bucephalus with the point of
his sword at every few ste ., made that aged
steed renew his youth and y down the street
liken Eplt. it ‘ - -

n t ey won or several squares, the cheers

following themlikes'waves of the sea, till all at
once a mob of Red Caps surged- in from a side
street, and a shout arose of: _ '

“ 've la Republique .' A baa Bonaparte .'”

" s that villain, , with the Red

 

Had they been alone they would hays fear-e

r public at any

amid which a long lane was cleared as if by

Mourad turned roundin his saddle and looked
back at St. George: - _ .

“ Remember me, brother,” he said amply.
“There cannot be two Sta any
longer, and it is fit the last marquis should do
like his father.” , . .

Lafangere heard him and so did 8t. George;
but they had no idea what he meant till they
saw him charge into the mob ct Red Caps, all
alone, and begin to cut and slash‘cn all sides
like a demon incarnate, while a broad lane
opened itself though the crowd for them to

pass.

St. George knew well that a Paris mob, that
has once tasted blood, is dangerous, and he
turned Buce halus into the lane and sptd on to

23.

the Rue de a Victoire, leaving Mourad behind ‘

to Qght the Red Cap Club alone.
\ hen they got to the house he and Lafan ere

tore the old courier off his horse and rushed im~
‘ into the mansion and up-

stairs into the middle
of the throng of generals, till they came in trout
of Bonn rte. -

Here t. George saluted hastily, and, without
giving the old courier time to utter a word,
whisked the big envelope out of his belt and
handed it to the general, saying:

"We had to cut our way. through. general,
and Mourad' is behind yet. Can we have leave
to rescue him i” ..

Bonaparte nodded impatiently even as he
tore open the big yellow pa 1', so full of fate to
France, containing as it di the order pendant--
ing him general-in—chief and announcingthe ab-
dication of the Directory. . . » .

“ Ay. ay, take Roustan,” be said. -

Then, as they were leaving the man. he re
and read to the excited generals: . . -
“18th Brumdira, In the gear VIII or (he 'Rvpul.aac,,

and and nix/inhibit; .

“ In view of the intense political exotic-menarer .

vailii in Paris, and to secure to the 3 am to re-
tentativcs of the pegp'le the freedom of ellbera ion
menaced by a mob unn ' 3 hi and, further-,in
view of the fact that the rages-shunts, was
and Golder, have basely resigned t eir posts, it has
been resolved by the 0011“ of Ancients, that their
lf-lmlgle d, and  N Bopaparte

t. y ou ape , \
given the supreme cmnmand ‘of the troops of the
.uatlon and directed to preserve the peace {the Re

hazard. th . I
“Inthehameof eRepub c, ‘
.. ... 3m“, , .

“ Vine Bona rte!” -
None cried, “ Viva la ‘ Repu
they began to see the difference. e .
he young leader, with flashing eye, thrust

the paper in his breast, and cried out, as be "

snatched up his hat:
“ To horse, gentlemen! I answer for the
safety of Francel ‘ Forward!” .
There was a thunder of feet, a Clank of spurs
and steel scabbards on the stairs, a waving of
plumes, and a glitter of gold bullion, as the fu-
ture marshals,-dukes and kings of Eur e rushed
down to the street after their young c let, each
as r to be first in the saddle. ,
hey heard a wild cheering in the street far
away, but thought little of it, and félt no fear
of any possible mob; for generals. staff, order-
lies and all, made a bod of four or five hundred
mounted men, all We] armed. The mere im—

posing presence of such a body would overawe «

any crowd in Christendom.

Away they went with a clatter and rattle of
accouterments, followed by the cheers of the
people till they dashed into the broad avenue
that led to the Luxembourg, and saw the whole
place black with people.

Bonaparte said a word to Murat, hisadjutant,
who rode beside him, and out rode all the order-
lies in a compact line, with their sabers drawn,
shouting: - ‘ -

“ Clear the way!" .

The crowd shrunk back on all sides in terror
and admiration, as the glittering bod of gen-
erals and staff officers dashed by, and shouts
of “ Yive Bonaparte!” became louder than
ever.

In front of all the glittering epanlets and
gold lacings, in his simple dark green coat,

bros-cornered hat, white» breaches and top-
boota,theleastattractiveflgurein~tho, ,
rode the victor of Arcola and the Pyramids, on

a y Arab, his pals face eager and full of
ll 6, as he sw on to his estiny, looking
straight before

He never even noticed, so great was «his ab-

 

takeplaminthe- of.
100: m

‘ Leona an, 
-_ 'fimfitq'tk council.“ ‘
A «yam-hook th‘swomeandtbeomo- 
‘ cers, by onemotion, flashed out Haeirswoeds
and shouted: - . , g -

bligne." Already, ..

\

the nation. were just about to send he,” 'ed Infangere excited] . “Now we straction a ran of horsem ‘
our couriere but fear bo.will be treated wit ‘ must fig t. You ought to laan finished him the side o’f tge street, 'ust digofifigcrgiiai‘
violence in he lamb.  you feel «5th ‘4) last ht. 8t, Georfieea’ ’ mt” clay-ed mans M r .
escprt him back. . v . , As A Spoke the Caps rushed men the His eyes were fixed as pate. of the
If the Prelident will dutrust me with the ssage: and Croesus, with a long plhs'in his Luxembourg, his busy lead dread dreaming
order,” re lied St. George, “Twill deliver it to nd roared; , ; ' of the future glories luster-e for filing of
the gene dead or alive, tif the 'pehple see ‘ "We have you at last, traitors.‘ 'Deatlitothé victory. He never lnokad to bonds of the
the uniform of the {wilder cannot answer , Turks!” ' " e ‘ ' ‘ street where the last aflofl: of the wild man of
the consecpuences, till the general has The other Red Ca 9 had armed themselves: "93 hdd spent itself in vain oppodtioa to! the
command.  ‘- . ' ’ ‘  the trap-hazard sty bf the‘Revolutieu; wit: Decrease Fate. v  '
There were murmurs all round the chamber. butcher’s cleavers, lmiv piles, forks, sickles; ' Yet there, at the side of the attest, to thee '
“ No, no; the dignity of theoonncil.” any hing flicker)ng 11:13 or bide.‘  first of many m whowere new. 30'
“gurbflegmwtvgoflh 2 ..  v beach :13 ulster}!ng bonus of parts nm'ght wear the org-m of 1mm
_ x '  W, . ans W' 0, 0V0 I " . an! m ‘
wulinglo’muil: M, weaken? M y' ex‘s‘beloro." ‘ :5 q ‘ e smug-18' a” d ' ' mu y m. “a, h

 

 
 

24

 

Mourad,_g_then Mameluke.

 

 

of self-sacrifice that only a soldier’s creed can
teach.

For there in a little cleared space, at which
people gazed with shuddering exclamations of
pity, lay five men, gashed and half drowned in
a red pool of blood, and in the midst of them
riddled with pikes and knives, beside his de
horse, lay the corpse of Mourad the Mameluke,
with St. George kneeling by it.

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
'rwo nnaons.

IT was indeed Mourad, the Mameluke, dead
in the midst of his foes; and Lafangere was
weeping openly above him, while St. George
knelt bv the body, looking down on it as if
petrifl with grief and murmuring:

“My brother! my brother!”

Vidocq, in his Mameluke dress, had drawn his
saber and kept the crowd back as the precession
of generals rode by. He looked up at the Cor-
sican man of fate as he passed and muttered:

“ This is the first victim; but it will not be the
last for many a year, or I mistake that face.”

“ Oh, my comrade!” sobbed Lafangere, laying
his hand on St. George’s shoulder, “our league
is broken. We three together could have scat-
tered them like chaff, and now he is gone, the
best of us all.”

St. George bowed his head on his hands.

“ Yes,” he groaned, “the best of us all, the
best of us all! He gave his life, he, the true St.
George, that I might remain, I, the accident,
the tainted blood, the man who let him perish,
that I might obey my orders.”

The clatter of hoo s and the jingle of horse
equipments was louder than evar, as a squadron
of cuirassiers trotted b closin the procession,
and the crowd swept 0 after t em to gape at
the soldiers and shout:

“Viva Bona i”

Lafangere heard the shout, and said, in a bit«
for tone of voice:

“ Ay, shout for the rising sun! He goes on
to his fate, and we are left alone. He never
looked this way, St. George. Not once.”

The creole ;ose to his feet and glanced round

him.
The crowds had dis‘persed. Red Caps and all
had vanished. The ast spark of the spirit of

’98 had rished in the abortive effort of a
single clu , led by a thief to stop three resolute
men, an order that had changed the
fate of France for fifteeen years.

“Ay, we are left alone,” he said, “but
France is safe, and my brother died to savo her
from the kings of Europe. Let us carry him
awa . Lafangere.”

“ here?” asked the maitre d’armes in a
desolate tone of voice.

“ To the house whence we came. He died for
the general, and the general must see to it that
he rests in honor. ”

“But it will shock Madame Bonaparte.”

“ Madame Bonaparte is a soldier’s wife. She
will respect the body of one slain in her hus-
band’s cause.”

They took up the body reverentially, and
made a litter of the pikes that had slain him, on
which they laid Mourad in his orgeous Oriental
raiment; stained with blood, ut still beautiful
to see.

They bore him to that famous house in the
Rue de la Victoire, now grown too small for the
man who held in his hands the destinies of
France.

They took him into the court-yard where so
many horses haxi pawed the ground that fateful
morni , and found no one but old Jacques,
sauntermg about, looking melancholy.

“ h, man Dieu, messieurs I” he cried aghast;
“ what is this? Is there another revolution?
Who has been killed?” '

“ The Revolution is accomplished," saidVidocq

brusquely. “This is the solitar victim on our
side, but he was a ood man, or he killed five
before the finishe him. It is Mourad, the

real Mame uke, you see. I am only a sham one,
who has taken his place for a day.”

“Where is Madame Bonaparte?” asked St.
Geor e of the old servant.

“ ame is within, and only Mademoiselle
Rewbeli is with her. She is greatly distressed

monsieur, with fears for the enerai. If you
plan ’give her any news it will a godsend for
er.

“ I will go ” said St. George, gravel ; and he
went up-stairs to the salon, where Ire found
Madeline and Claire sitting on a sofa, weeping

et er.
osephine started up.

“ Oh Monsieur St. George! How good of
on! on have come back to tell us news. Is
esafe? How did the people receive him? Mon

Dieu! I am half wild with fears. It issodiifer-
out to the risk of a battle. These terrible civil
quarrels! Tell me all i" .

" e,” replied the creole, gravely, “I
saw the general near the Luxem r sur-
rounded with tnoops, while the people fcIiowed
in crowds, shouting: ‘Vive Bona rte!’ The
Revolutionisaccomglished. It ison yaquestion
of firmness now. he danger was t when

the order arrived. From hencefort General
Bonaparte can dispose of France as he pleases,

 

for the Government has abdicated in his favor,
and the army adores him.”

Josephine clasped her hands.

“ Oh, how thankful I am! And was there no
fighting, monsieur?”

“ None, after the general had mounted his
horse, madame.”

Claire Bewbell had been watchinfiohim anx-
iously, and now she pulled Madame naparte’s
sleeve.

“ What is it, my dear?” asked the lady.

“ Something has happened. How pale he
looks!” whis ered the girl.

Madame onaparte turned anxiously to the
creole.

“ You say no fightin occurred after the gen-
eral mounted his her . But Wu brought the
order. Had you any trouble? ere you hurt?”

“ No, madame, I am unhurt.”

“But some one else is hurt?”

“Not hurt, madame; but one of our league of
three has given his life for France.”

His tone was ve and solemn.

“ Who?” askefirtnhe lady anxiously.

“ My brother, madam. ’

Both ladies uttered exclamations.

“ Your brother! I did not know—”

“ To you he was only Mourad the Mameluke,
but in truth he was the last Marquis of St.
George. My mother, as you know, madame,
and as it is my duty to tel mademonselle now,
that I ma not sail under false colors, was a
slave of t 6 mixed blood. My brother, as a
child, coming to France, was seized by Barbary

irates and sold in Eg pt, where he became a

ameluke. He escapeg to our lines before the
battle of the Pyramids; but refused to take his
true name. for the sake of me, his illegitimate
brother. To enable me to obey my orders, he
faced the mob alone, and the ast Marquis of
St. George now lies dead in your court-yard,
while, through his death, your . husband, ma-
dame, has become the master of France.”

Josephine had listened to him silently, with
her eyes full of tears. When he had finished,
she answered vely:

“ Monieur t. Georg: you are worthy to be
his brother, and he to yours. Remain here.
It is fitting that I, who owe him so much, should
pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of
a here.”

She moved away from the room, and St.
George remained buried in gloomy thought, till
he was roused by the sound of a stifled sob from
Claire Rewbell.

He looked uneasily at her, but as she con-

tinued to sob he approached her.
“ Why do you weep, mademoiselie?” he
ask: :1 gently.

“For you. You must have loved him so
much, and it is terrible to lose one that is
loved. Ah, Emil, you must have loved him
better than all the world."

“ He was my brother.”

“ Yes, lfrost, I say so. And you loved him so
that yo have forgotten that there are others
in the world, who would die to console you.”

The creole looked at her sadly.

“No one loves me enough to console me,
Claire. I have a curse in my blood, the black
drop that can never be efl’aced.”

“ God gave it to you, and God gives no
curse, Emil, save for crime. You say no one
will love you. Ah, you are wrong, so wrong!”

St. George made a step toward her, his face
convulsed with emotion.

“ that! spite of all I have said, is it possible
that one can love me?”

“ Ah, Emil, you do not know women.”

“ I know one woman, for whom I could even
forget my dead brother in time.”

"There is no need of that, Emil.
mourn him together.”

We can

 

A few short years have passed away, and
General Bona rte has become the Emperor,
Na leon the irst.

onspicuous among the brilliant figures that
surrounded the emperor at his coronation was a
tall handsome officer, in the uniform of a gen-
era of cavair . -

“Who is t at officer?” whispered one lady
to another. “ To my thinking he is better look-
ing than Marshal Murat.”

“Yes.” rejoined the second, “Murat, they
say, puts his hair in papers every night, but
any one can see those are natural curls that
cluster round the brow of that man.”

“But who is he?”
“My faith, I don’t know. Let us ask this

gentleman.”

“But he is a stranger. It would not be the
correct thing.”

“ Don’t you see he has the badge of the secret

lice on him? It is his business to tell, for he

nows every one.”

They addressed a tall dark man, with very
sharp eyes, which wandered over the brilliant
thron incessantly.

“ onsieur, can you tell us the name of that
handsome officer, with the lady dressed in blue
and white satin i”

“ Certainly, madame, that is St. George, with
his wife.”

“ St. George. Is he not a great fencer? I have
heard my husband speak of him.”

 

 

“Yes, madame. He has invented a peculiar
parry of his own, which they call the St. Geo ,
after him.”

As the tall woman moved away, the lady
said to her companion:

” Do you know who that wasi”

“ No. Who?"

“That is Vidocq, the great detective. They
say he used to be a robber.”

‘ And why is be here?”

“M faith, I suppose on the look-out for his
old fr ends.”

As Vidocq moved through the crowd he nod-
ded here and there. He seemed to know every
one, and every one to know him.

“ It’s a strange thing,” remarked a man,
dressed in ultra fashionable garments, to his
friend, as Vidocq passed them with a smile and
bow, “ that a man like that, with such a face
and figure, should be able to assume a disguise,
but I’ve seen him become a dozen different men
in as many days, and on my honor I did not.
know him in an character.”

“ Monsieur Vidocq must be quite a great man
Lafangere. He seems to have thriven well
under the emperor. By the by I’ve heard that
you had a good chance in the army. Why did
you not take it? You also might be a general.”

“My faith, no. I am, and always shall be,
only a maitre d’armes. They cannot rise. In
the army I should be a lieutenant still, driiiin
stupid conscripts. As a private individual,
am the best master in Paris, and peo le crowd
to me at ten francs a lesson. I am we l content,
my friend, for I do not have to face those fool-
ish bullets, that have no more respect for a
master than a recruit.”

The cathedral is empty, the emperor has
driven to the Tuileries.

St. George and his wife enter their own can-
ria e, and the general sa s to the driver:

‘g'l‘o the cemete of ere la Chaise.”

They alight att e tea and the pair pass
through the shad w till they come to an
altar of white mar le.

The lady lays on the altar a wreath of immor—
telles and says to her husband:

“ Do you know what I was thinking of during
the coronation i"

“Perhaps the same as I.”

“ And what thought out”

“ That my brother’s y should he interred
at the foot of the throne.”

“Ah, yes Emil, it is true, for it was the first
stepon which General Bonaparte set his foot
when he ascended the throne of France. But
you also did your duty.”

“ We three, Claire we three. But Mourad
was the best of us all.”

m END.

Beadle’s Dime Library.

111 Tax Sundown CAPTAIN. By Ned Buntiine.. 100
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