Belle-Rose — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

A TRAP. me 169 Belle-Rose and he were cornered. On the side opposite to the wood was a large rock. Belle-Rose urged on his horse toward it, and sure of not being hemmed in, he faced the enemy. Déroute was already at his side, sword and pistol in hand. Monsieur de Villebrais rallied his troop and ad- vanced toward the rock. There were a dozen cavaliers be- hind him ranged in a semi-circle. He rode slowly, like a man who only fears that his prey may escape him. ‘“‘Yesterday it was your turn; to-day it is mine,’’ he cried to Belle-Rose; °*‘I take my revenge.”’ **You steal it!’’ replied Belle-Rose, who prepared to sell his life dearly. ‘‘Agreed!’’ said Monsieur de Villebrais; ‘‘I will not cavil about terms. I have it; the rest matters little to me.”’ As he was speaking, there was heard the distant noise of a gallop rolling like thunder over the path. Belle-Rose and Monsieur de Villebrais looked in the direction from which the noise came. A troop of cavaliers was coming up at headlong speed, guided by a woman riding a white horse. Monsieur de Villebrais recognized Madame de Chateaufort. He paled and drew his sword. ‘“We take these,’’ he exclaimed, pointing out Belle-Rose and Déroute; *“‘you take those,’’ he said, addressing him- self to a scarred soldier who appeared to be the lieutenant of the band, ‘‘Burk; gallop.” Two-thirds of the troop followed Burk, who rode, saber in hand, toward the path. The rest followed Monsieur de Villebrais. But Belle-Rose and Déroute spared him three- fourths of the Way. On seeing them immovable for a mo- ment at sight of the cavaliers who were coming at fright- ful speed, Déroute had leaned toward Belle-Rose. ‘‘Tet us charge these rascals!’’ he said to him. Belle-Rose and Déroute fell like a thunderbolt upon the band of Monsieur de Villebrais just as Burk’s troop and that of Madame de Chateaufort came together. The shock was terrible on both sides. Burk, who was at the head, - seized Madame de Chateaufort by the arm as she was - riding toward Belle-Rose. ‘‘Wh!’’ said he, ‘‘eyes like diamonds and gold around the neck! a double wind-fall!”’ ‘“‘You touched me, I believe,’’ said Madame do Chateau- | fort, proudly. And raising her pistol, she blew out the soldier’s brains. It was the signal of combat. Twenty detonations followed it and the swords clashed. At the first discharge, one of (E(@) GOmicboo <