Belle-Rose — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

A STEP IN LIFE. 29 “Come, do you know that all I have to dois to move my finger in order to blow out your brains?’’ said the chief. “Move it, then, for I shall not serve you as guide in my — country and against my own people.’’ The pistol was slowly lowered. ‘Then you do not wish to lead us to the frontiers,’’ added the chief, slipping his pistol under the saddle-bow. “*T cannot. ’’ ‘““Then it is I who will lead you there. ”’ The chief spoke some words in a foreign tongue, and be- fore Jacques could suspect the danger which threatened him, three or four soldiers had seized and bound him. “There is in the company some old halters which will do you for a cravat,’’ continued the chief, addressing him- self to Jacqtes. ‘‘When we come to the limits of Artois I intend to leave you there, suspended to the most beautiful branch of the most beautiful oak I can find, in order to make you serve as an example to the inhabitants of the place. If the ravens permit you, scoundrel, you will have leisure to there meditate on the results of your honesty.”’ Upon a sign from the chief, two soldiers threw Jacques behind acavalier. They tied him on the saddle like a sack, and the whole troop started ata trot in the direction of Hesdin. Jacques, bent in two, beat with his head and his feet the horse’s flanks; the blood rushed to his extremi- ies, his face became purple, his eyes grew blood-shot, a painful and confused buzzing filled his ears, the name of Suzanne expired upon his lips, -and he closed his eyes. But just as the red vail which floated befcre his half-closed eyes was obscuring most his mind, he carried, by a most violent effort, his hands to his head. The straps which bound them touched his lips. He bit them, and the in- stinct of self-preservation returning with the hope of de- liverance, he soon loosened the knots with his teeth. The cavalier was singing and polishing the guard of his saber. Jacques suspended himself by one hand to the horse’s crupper, and with the other undid the strap which held him to the saddle. When he felt his limbs free he looked around him to see if any soldier of the squadron was watching him. /The chief and the officers were riding in front, and the squadron followed them without thinking of the captive. The cavalier, busy with his weapon, did not press his horse, who, more heavily loaded than the others, had lost some ground and was now at the rear end of the column. Jacques let himself glide softly down into the road. No sooner than he felt the ground under his feet Eomicbooks €o