Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

THE QUEEN’S BODY GUARD. a1 suit. Beyond the lawn the way led through a stretch of heavy undergrowth, and the path was devious and at some places very narrow; careful as he was, his foot would occasionally light on a dry twig or would crunch noisily upon some pebbles. At each sound the shadowy figure that he kept ever in sight would look over its shoulder in a frightened way, though not before Cottrell had quickly stepped back into the shrubbery. The distance by this winding path was a good half mile, and he traversed a little over half the distance when he suddenly became aware that he was being folloWed. “ Humph!” thought he, “I am both pursuer and pursued! Who the deuce can be after me?” It was a most disquieting state of affairs. He could catch no sight of his invisible follower, nor was he distinctly conscious of any sound of pursuit, but for all that he knew perfectly well that some one was dogging his footsteps. Cottrell had not lived out West in his younger days for nothing, and he was more or less familiar with Indian tactics. So suddenly quickening his pace, he forged ahead till he came to a turn; once around it, he quickly dived into the underbrush, and crawling on his hands and knees, doubled on his tracks for about twenty yards and waited close to the edge of the path. He had begun to think that perhaps he was wrong in his surmise when there was audible a faint patter patter, and then before him passed quickly the bent, cautious figure of a man. Cottrell could hear him pant with the exertion of his rapid gait. The fellow had come and was gone so quickly in the darkness, that Cot- trell had not time to discover who he was. But what riveted his attention and almost froze the blood in his veins, was an object the man carried. It was a long, sharp, shining knife. ‘“‘ Whoever you are, my friend,” mused Henry, as he once more continued his walk towards the beach, “ I much prefer to have you in front of me than in the rear, especially now that I know what you carry!” By this time both figures were lost to his sight, and Cottrell had to trust to luck and his own caution that he might come up with the one and escape the attention of the other. Once through the thicket, the American was obliged to cross a stretch of level, sandy turf, which ended in a series of sand dunes that ran parallel to the beach. These were covered with long, hairy grass. The dunes either rose sheer from the beach, or were partly hollowed out by the action of the surf at high tide. Cautiously Cottrell made his way to one of these mounds of sand. It was avery dark night, but there was enough light, he knew, for him to be seen out- lined against the sky. When he had come to the dunes he threw himself flat on the ground, and glided along through the long grass till he reached the edge; then he looked - cautiously over. Surely his lucky star was in the ascendant that night, for there, just below him, and so near he could have touched their heads with his hand—were Count Rignault and Mademoiselle Anne Trevoir. GORGE OOO A) ZX oY) ceo