Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 130: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

122 ALFRED DE ROSANN. from the walls of Brest, and rolled over the fertile plains which he and his companion were traversing. “The riot is at length concluded,’ exclaimed Belle-Rose, “and our flight is discovered. But do not be alarmed, my dear fellow,’’ he added, noticing the extreme terror of De Rosann, who would rather have entered a lion’s den than have returned to the galleys: “ when I escaped with Leblond—then called Ledoux—from Toulon, I was only at the gate of the town the instant the warning guns were fired; and we are already a good league from the glacis. Take courage—march boldly on—let us gain yonder wood, and I pledge my existence to our safety.”’ The cannon again fired three times as Belle-Rose uttered these words, and De Rosann required no other stimulus to urge him forward. He walked with a desperate courage, determined not to be overcome by fatigue, nor to give way to weariness; and his com- panion from time to time held out such hopes as rea- son declared to be feasible. Presently they entered the wood, and De Rosann gave vent to an exclama- tion of joy. Belle-Rose reiterated his assurance that they were now beyond the reach of danger, and might indulge in a quarter of an hour’s repose; for the rea- der must recollect all they have gone through since day-break. ‘They seated themselves on a green bank, and were hazarding conjectures relative to the event of the riot in the prison, when, to their astonishment, the report of artillery fell upon their ears a third time. There was no mistaking that sonorous explosion— once—twice—thrice again. Belle-Rose started up, and looked towards the town they had left far behind them. ‘Thence came the smoke once more, borne upon the breeze that blew steadily from the ocean. “This is a glorious day,’’ cried Belle-Rose; “ three convicts have escaped !”’ : “ But who can be the third?”? asked De Rosann. Gomichbookstco