Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

142 REYNOLDS’ WORKS of mind for a single moment, I did not hurry my pace until perfectly assured that I was beyond eye-shot of the sentinels. ‘“ When once, however, deep in the shade of the grove, I tossed away the cigar, which had well-nigh made me sick and left the most nauseating sensation behind. Then I did speed onward with all possible swiftness. Knowing, ‘rom all that had been said in my presence, in which direction the brigadier’s column lay, I took precisely the opposite one, for I was fearful if I fell into the hands of the troops I might be sent to Barcelona on account of the jewel business. After making a slight circuit, so as to get clear of the emi- nence on the slope of which the tower stood, I took a north- erly direction for the purpose of pushing my way toward the French frontier. As I caught the last glimpse of the old building whose summit appeared just above’ the trees, I thought to myself how boundless would be the rage and de- spair of Count Christoval when my flight should be dis- covered. But I was rejoiced at having effected my escape, and with as much speed as on the memorable night when I fled from Barcelona, did I pursue my way. “ T had with me a little money, just the same sum in fact which I possessed when flying from the above-mentioned city, and I was resolved to obtain a change of apparel as soon as possible. I need hardly observe that I had not dared bring with me my own female raiment, for there were no means of concealing it under the tight-fitting uniform, and it would have been ruinous to my enterprise to come forth from the tower with a bundle. The enjoyment of liberty seemed to nerve me against fatigue, and gave a vigorous elasticity to my footsteps. I proceeded onward for hours, only resting at long intervals, and then but for a few minutes at a time. The morning dawned, the sun rose, and still I proceeded onward, through a wild and mountainous country without a single habitation. The Pyrenees were already in view, and I began to look about in every direction for a cottage, farmhouse, or some dwelling, in short, where I might obtain refreshment and a change of raiment. All of a sudden I came upon the highroad, and there the follow- ing spectacle met my view: “In the middle of that highway, a post-chaise lay over- turned, and a gentleman was leaning in a disconsolate man- ner, and with his arms folded, against it. One horse, whose (E(0) m cComicbooks