Despard, the Spy: Or, The Fall of Montreal — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

10 DESPARD, THE SPY. the gentleman in the cloak, “ But, by our Lady of Mercy, you shall show me that this is not a lady you are carrying away. If it be a man, go your ways, in God’s name. It is different with a woman, In that case you carry her onward e~ly above my dead body.” “Have your,way then,” said the spokesman of the opposing party, in a tone of concentrated passion. “ Down with this stubborn knave !” A rush was made at the single man. It was a day when men put every thing to the arbitration of cold steel, and no people were more forward than the French, to whom fighting was and-is a pastime. Yet it is no light thing to meet an at- tack from. three swo.dsmen in the dark, The gentleman did no such thing. Dodging past them in: the darkness, catching their thrusts in his cloak, at the risk of an awkward cut r two, he snatched up the prostrate body and dashed out of the dark street into Nétre Dame street again. Here, near the corner, & watehA-fire gleamed, and three musketeers were on duty. One of them sprung forward and’ advanced his wea- pon, with the usual challenge: — Qué est la ?” “ A friend, with the countersign.”’ “ Advance, friend, and give the countersign.” The gentleman gave the word, and darted up to the. fire. “Tam pursued, my lads,” he said. ‘“ Let us: give the fel- lows a reception. Here is light enough for our purpose.” The men laughed at the coolness*of the speaker, and made ready their weapons as he laid-his burden down. At the same moment the pursuers: came’round the corer. Seeing the watch-fire and the. figures of the guard, they felt that discretion was the better part of. valor, and turing again, buried themselves: in the darkness: The man. in the cloek now-looked toward the burden he had. carried, and began to unwfap the long cloak in which it was swathed. As the last fold came off, and tle light of the wuteli-fire fell full upon it, he saw the face of a lady, of all others the belle and pride of Montreal, Marie D’Arigny. She was bound hand and foot, end a gag thrust into her mouth. With a muttered curse, responded to by the “ sacrés” and “scelerats” of the: guard, the gentleman cut the cords and released her: COmicbooks.€©