The Fight by the Way
They watched us furtively, as, with seeming carelessness, we descended
the slope, slowly at first, but gradually increasing the pace as the
ground became less steep. There were five of them in all, and presently
I perceived that the one a little in advance of the group was the
unknown cavalier whom we had directed to the house of Etienne Cordel.
"Draw level, monsieur. Now!" and the next instant we were dashing down
the remaining part of the slope at terrific speed.
It was a wild ride, a ride so mad that many a night afterwards I started
from sleep with the sensation of being hurled through space. The horses
flew, their hoofs seeming not to touch the ground; had we wished, we
should have found it impossible to check their headlong career. Nearer
and nearer we approached; the horsemen wavered visibly, their leader
alone remaining unmoved.
There was a loud report; a ball whizzed past, and we heard a cry of "In
the king's name!"
For answer we discharged our pistols almost at point-blank distance, and
a horse rolled over heavily with its rider.
"One down!" cried Jacques in triumph, drawing his sword and aiming a
desperate blow at the leader, who called out--"The boy! Capture the boy!
Shoot his horse, you dolts!"
He thrust at me vigorously, but, parrying the attack more by luck than
good management, I dashed on, Jacques crying, "This way, monsieur,
quick!"
With a tremendous leap we sprang into the river, the poor animals
struggling franticly to keep their footing.
"This way!" shouted Jacques, "we are too far to the right; the ford lies
here. Forward, forward! Use your spurs; they are after us. To the front;
I will hold them at bay!"
"No, no; we will stand by each other."
"Nonsense!" he cried, "remember the packet!" and, having no answer to
that, I pushed forward, though with reluctance.
It was a wild scramble, now swimming, now wading, stumbling, and
floundering along with the yells of the pursuers in our ears. I reached
the opposite bank, and while my gallant animal clambered up, Jacques
turned to face the enemy. Almost immediately there came the clash of
swords, and, looking back, I saw him engaged in desperate conflict with
the foremost of the pursuers.
The contest was short. With a howl of pain the fellow dropped his sword,
and the water reddened with his blood.
"Spread out!" cried the cavalier angrily, "'tis the boy we want!" and at
that, Jacques being powerless to prevent them from slipping past, rode
after me.
"Only three to two now!" he exclaimed joyfully; "shall we stop? It will
be a good fight."
"No, no, we may get away; we are the better mounted."
"I do not think so, monsieur; their horses are the fresher."
Once again Jacques proved correct. The three men, the cavalier leading,
hung stubbornly on our track, and began steadily to ride us down.
"If we could reach a village," I gasped, "the people might be for us!"
"Or against us, monsieur."
On we went across the open stretch of upland, the pace becoming
perceptibly slower, the pursuers approaching steadily nearer. Below us,
white and dusty in the sunlight, wound a broad road, with a high bank on
one side of it.
"If we could get there," remarked Jacques, "we could fight with our
backs to the wall, and the odds are not so heavy."
"Let us try."
The animals responded nobly to our urging, though their nostrils were
blood-red, and their quivering haunches flaked with spume. Panting and
straining, they raced along, so that we gained the road a considerable
distance ahead of our pursuers; but the pace could not be maintained and
Jacques counselled a halt.
"The horses will get back their wind," he said, "and we shall engage at
an advantage. If we go on, the creatures will be completely blown. Only
three against two, monsieur; your father would laugh at such odds!"
"I am not thinking of myself, Jacques, but of the Admiral. The papers
make a coward of me."
"This is the best chance of saving them. Let us wait here. Fortunately
their firearms are useless, and they must trust to the sword. Just fancy
you are engaged in a fencing bout in the courtyard, Monsieur Edmond, and
we shall beat them easily."
We drew up on the dusty road, with our backs to the high bank, and
waited--perhaps for death. The sobbing animals, trembling in every limb,
were grateful for the rest, and drew in deep breaths. The sun beat down
on our heads; not a ripple of air stirred the branches of the trees; for
a few moments not a sound broke the eerie stillness.
"Here they come!"
They had struck the highroad some distance above us, and it gave me
heart to see how blown their animals were. But the cavalier, catching
sight of us, spurred his jaded beast and advanced, crying out loudly,
"Surrender, Edmond Le Blanc! I arrest you in the king's name!"
"What charge have you against me?" I asked.
"I have an order for your arrest. Lay down your sword."
"Faith!" broke in Jacques, "those who want our swords must take them. We
are free men."
"Then your blood be on your own heads!" exclaimed the cavalier.
"Forward, my lads. Capture or kill; 'tis all one."
"Keep cool, monsieur," advised Jacques, "those two cut-throats are no
sworders. They are far handier with a knife than a sword, and are
unused to fighting in the sunlight."
"A truce to words!" cried their leader; "at them, my lads!" and he
himself led the way.
Jacques met him boldly, while I found myself furiously engaged with his
followers. They were sturdy fellows, both, and fearless of danger; but
fortunately for me without trick of fence, and almost in the first blush
of the fight I had pricked one in the side. The misadventure taught them
caution, and they renewed the attack more warily.
Jacques was on my left, but I dared not look to see how he fared, though
fearing that in the unknown cavalier he had met his equal, if not his
master.
Thrust and parry--thrust and parry; now a lunge in front, now a
half-turn to the right, till my arm ached, and my eyes became dazzled
with watching the movements of the flashing steel. A laugh of triumph
from the leader of our foes warned me that some misfortune had happened
to my comrade, but whatever the mishap the gallant fellow continued to
keep his adversary fully employed.
"Ride him down!" cried the leader, and once more the two ruffians
attacked me furiously. One of them paid the penalty of his recklessness.
With a rapid lunge I got beneath his guard, and my sword passed between
his ribs. He fell forward on his horse's neck, groaning, and I cried
exultingly, "Courage, Jacques! Two to two!"
But disaster followed swiftly on the heels of my triumph. A
half-suppressed cry of pain came from my comrade, and I saw his horse
roll over. Warding off a blow from my opponent, I turned and attacked
the cavalier so hotly that he was forced back several paces, and Jacques
disengaged himself from the fallen animal.
"Look to yourself, monsieur," he said, "I still count."
I had only a momentary glimpse of him as he staggered to his feet, but
the sight was not encouraging. His face was covered with blood, his left
arm hung limply at his side, and he had received a wound in the
shoulder. But in spite of his injuries he faced his opponent boldly,
using his horse's body as some sort of protection.
"Yield!" cried the cavalier, "and I will spare your lives. You are brave
fellows."
"Fight on, monsieur," said Jacques stolidly.
"As you will," exclaimed the other, and once more the clash of steel
broke on the air.
How would it end? The contest was going steadily against us. I could
easily hold my opponent in check, but Jacques was seriously wounded; he
was on foot, and must inevitably be beaten. I thought once of riding off
in the hope of drawing the others after me, but they might stop to kill
my comrade, and that I dared not risk.
He still fought with his accustomed skill, but he was becoming weaker
every minute; he could no longer attack, and had much ado to defend
himself. Our sole chance lay in disabling my opponent before Jacques was
over-powered. I rode at him recklessly, but he was a wary knave, and,
judging how matters were likely to go, he remained on the defensive.
We were still battling vigorously, though I was fast losing all hope,
when the tramp of hoofs sounded in the distance. Who were the
travellers? They could not make our situation worse; they might improve
it. Our assailants seemed to be of the same opinion, and, leaving
Jacques, they flung themselves at me.
Could I hold out a few minutes longer? I set my teeth hard, and braced
myself for the effort. Twice the unknown cavalier missed my breast by a
hair's breadth; but I was still unwounded, save for a slight scratch,
when a body of mounted men turned the bend in the road. They appeared to
be a nobleman's bodyguard, and wore blue favours, but this told me
nothing.
Jacques, however, was better informed. "Lord St. Cyr!" he cried feebly.
"For the Admiral!" and sank to the ground.
Echoing my comrade's words, I cried lustily, "For the Admiral!" at which
the gentlemen set spurs to their horses, while our assailants as hastily
rode off.
Before the troop came up, I dismounted, and bending over my comrade
whispered, "Who is this St. Cyr?"
"A friend," he replied; "the papers are safe now; you can trust him."
A noble-looking gentleman rode in front of the troop. He was well
advanced in years--at least fourscore, as I afterwards learned--but he
sat erect in his saddle, and his eyes were keen and vigorous.
"What is the meaning of this, monsieur?" he asked sternly, as I went
toward him.
"Am I speaking to the Lord St. Cyr?" I asked.
"I am the Count of St. Cyr."
"Then, my lord, I can speak freely. My name is Edmond Le Blanc; my
father is the Sieur Le Blanc----"
"Sufficient recommendation," he interrupted, with a genial smile.
"My servant and I were on our way to Tanlay, carrying important
despatches to the Admiral. At the ford we were attacked by five
ruffians. Two were wounded; the others followed us here."
"What was their object?"
"I fear, my lord, they must have learned the nature of my mission."
"And wished to obtain possession of the papers! Are they really of great
importance?"
"The original bearer, my lord, was waylaid and grievously wounded near
my home. He assured me solemnly that their loss would probably plunge
thousands of Frenchmen into mourning. He hinted at some special peril to
the Admiral."
"You have made a gallant fight," said the count, "and Providence has
plainly sent us to your aid. Your servant is wounded I see. Leave him to
my care, and meanwhile I will provide you with suitable escort. The
ruffians will think twice before venturing to attack my gentlemen."
"One of our assailants is hurt, my lord."
"We will attend to him also; he cannot be left to die."
During this conversation, a man soberly clad and evidently a minister of
the Religion--he was, in truth, though wearing a sword, the count's
private chaplain--had been attending to Jacques. Now he stepped forward,
and said, "The man is weak from loss of blood, but his wounds are not
serious; he should speedily recover his strength."
"That is good hearing for Monsieur Le Blanc," said the count. "Pray tell
your servant that he has fallen into friendly hands."
I ran joyfully to Jacques, who looked at me with a smile. "It is all
right now, monsieur," said he; "the journey is as good as done."
"Still, I wish we could finish it together, but that is impossible. I
must leave you with Lord St. Cyr, and push on. He has promised to
furnish me with an escort."
"Do not delay, monsieur; time is precious."
I gave him a portion of my money, bade him be of good cheer, and
returned to the count, who had already selected six of his gentlemen to
accompany me.
"Keep free from brawls," he advised their leader, "and ride with all
speed. Remember that you are engaged on a matter that may involve the
life of our chief."
"We will waste no time on the road, my lord."
Amidst a cheer from the rest of the bodyguard we rode forward, and were
soon out of sight. My new comrades were kindly, gallant gentlemen, in
whose company I soon recovered my spirits. Jacques was in no danger,
while it was certain that I should now be able to place the paper in the
Admiral's hands.
Indeed, the remainder of the journey can be passed over almost without
comment. We travelled fast, making few halts, and on the evening of the
next day rode into Tanlay.
The Admiral, who had just finished prayers, granted me immediate
audience, and my heart throbbed with excitement as I entered his room. I
was about to see, for the first time, this splendid gentleman, who was
to many thousands of Frenchmen the pride and glory of France.
He was of medium height, strongly made, well proportioned, and of a
ruddy complexion. His eyes had a grave but kindly expression; his
countenance was severe and majestic. "Here," was my first thought, "is a
true leader of men!" He spoke slowly, but his voice was soft, pleasant,
and musical.
"Well, my young friend," he said, "you have something of importance to
communicate to me?"
I had ripped the lining of my doublet, and now handed him the packet.
"My story can wait, my lord," I said, "this is the more pressing
matter."
He broke the seal and read the letter, slowly, as if committing each
word to heart. Then he said in his grave manner, "This is from La
Rochelle, and should have reached me by the hand of Ambroise Devine.
Where is he?"
"There are those who desired that you should not receive this
communication, my lord, and the original messenger lies in my father's
house, grievously wounded. As there was none other to bring it, the
packet was even entrusted to my keeping."
"You are of the Religion?"
"The son of the Sieur Le Blanc could not well be otherwise, my lord."
"The Sieur Le Blanc has proved his devotion on more than one
battlefield. So you are his son! And you have risked your life to help
me! I am grateful, my young friend, and others will be grateful also;
but I will speak with you again. For the present I must place you under
the care of my gentlemen. There is much here," touching the packet, "to
be considered, and that without delay. But you have deserved well of the
Cause, boy, and the Sieur Le Blanc can be justly proud of his son."
I was thoroughly tired by my long, hazardous journey, but I lay awake
for hours that night, my cheeks burning at the remembrance of the
Admiral's words. He had praised me--Edmond Le Blanc--this hero whom I
regarded as the highest, the bravest, the noblest gentleman in the whole
world! It seemed incredible that I should have obtained such honour!