Despard, the Spy: Or, The Fall of Montreal — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

\ DESPARD, THE SPY. ere ee rm ee eee ee CHAPTER I. THE SPY, Was it a cry for help? The night was dark as Erebus, and the city lay wrapped in its sable mantle. But, out of the gloom of the street called Notre Dame, came a low cry, stifled immediately after. Few persons were on the avenue, and most of these were soldiers, intent upon some duty, who passed along with hurried steps. One man, muffled in a cloak, paused as he heard the sound, and laid his hand upon his sword. The sound was not. Te- peated, and he passed on, turning the corner toward Great St. James. Ag he did so, he met a party of three men, two of whom bore some burden between them, which looked like a human body... The man did not hesitate, but, drawing his sword, sprung at them, shouting, in French : “ Halte la /” | They paused at the summons, and lowering their burden to the pavement, the rattle of steel was heard, while a stern voice demanded: “ Who.is he would stop us in the pursuit of our business ?” “ One who will have an answer,” replied the man. in the cloak. “I heard a cry. Whois it you are bearing away between you? By. heaven, the cry I heard sounded like the voice of a woman, If it should prove so, then look to your- self.” “ J.xcuse me, monsieur. It seems to me, though perhaps I may be wrong, in which case you will of course correct. me where I err, that you take an unwarrantabl« liberty in thus putting yourself in the way of a man engaged in the perform- ance of a yow.” “Tam not the man to interfere without sae Se replied comicbooOoks GO