Belle-Rose — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

ee “ ty ra) &: ‘ - ' 80 A STEP IN LIFE. all his vigor returned to him, and turning aside from tha road, he took his way through the fields. But scarcely had he made two hundred steps when he heard a detonation, and at the same moment, a ball plowed up the sand at his feet. He turned his head and saw three or four cavaliers in pursuit of him, muskets in hand. Jacques was lithe and vigorous. He crossed hedges and ditches like a squirrel, but he could not hold out long against horses. ‘The cavalier to whose care he had been confided showed himself the most ardent in his pursuit. Already he-was some hundred steps in advance of his comrades, when Jacques, realizing the uselessness of his flight, stopped. The cavalier came galloping upto him ~ with raised saber, but Jacques avoided the stroke by — throwing himself to one side, and seizing the soldier by ~ the left leg, he pulled him down from off the horse. While — the soldier, bruised by his fall, was writhing on the ground, Jacques leaped into the saddle and rode away. For some minutes the comrades of the vanquished man followed after him, two or three balls scratched the soil about him, but soon the marauders slacked their course. The squadron was far behind them, and in front there extended anun- known country, where the enemy might rise up at any moment. One of them drew up his horse and turned back, the second imitated him, then the third also, and Jacques no longer heard their furious gallop sounding in his ears. In his turn he tightened the reins and put his steed toa slow trot. Jacques had not ridden a quarter of an hour in the direction of St. Pal when he discovered, beyond __ Fleury, a troop of cavaliers carrying some foot-soldiers on the croups of their horses. The first encounter had taught the falconer’s son enough of the usages of war to render him circumspect. For a moment he thought of entering a little patch of woods, when a new reflection decided him fo push straight on. He was too close to St. Pal,astrong city occupied by a large garrison, to fear that the enemy had dared venture this far. A sentry who was riding two ~ or three hundred steps from the troop, astonished to see a great fellow having only a pair of pants and a shirt er a * ing upon a thoroughly equipped horse, stopped Jacques. ‘“Lead me to your captain,’’ said Jacques to the most conspicuous one of the band. "That 1 is just what [ was going to propose to “you, my comrade,’’ replied the brigadier. The captain was a handsome young man whose good ap- pearance was enhanced by the military costume, A song er ee Ag * 7 _— ys “ 4 Be Pat ‘ y wit Ab ai. ‘ 7. a’ att? j a at a Ja’? a.” os ; | ‘on ae a nie com c eS res ‘S.COl