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Updated: May 2, 2025
The fire died away into a few red embers, occasionally fanned into uncertain flame by breaths of air sucked up the gorge. By the time my guard ended I was so thoroughly unstrung that each flitting glimpse of deeper shadow tempted me to fire. It was at midnight, or as close to that hour as I was capable of judging, when I aroused De Noyan and crawled into his place on the bed of boughs.
"A guess?" I echoed, taken completely by surprise. "It is small chance you would hit right what might your guess be?" "Chevalier Charles de Noyan." "How know you that?" He chuckled grimly, evidently well pleased at my astonishment. "'Tis no work of the evil one, friend.
Instantly burst forth a fierce roar of disapproval; war-clubs pounded the floor, spears rattled as they were brandished overhead, while above the din I caught, again and again, the shriek, "Français! Français!" The Queen shook her head, her fair face darkening, and glanced aside into the questioning eyes of De Noyan.
"God guide us!" I exclaimed, so soon as I could trust myself to speak. "This is a hard ending to all our toil, nor do I understand how it came about." "Sacre!" commented De Noyan, glancing across at the fellow. "It looked to me as if yonder canting preacher either was taken with a fit, or sought to make ending here of two papists."
Over him we went, his pudgy fingers digging vainly for some holding-place along the slippery planks, his eyes staring up in terror. "For God's sake, cling tight, Eloise!" I heard this shout of warning from De Noyan as he fell backward into the water, which, luckily, was scarcely above his waist.
God's aid seems usually granted to those doing most for themselves. I felt little confidence by the time Alphonse returned, yet my firm determination to make the effort had in no way abated. Indeed, had failure been an absolute certainty I should have gone forward exactly the same, for I was bound to it by my pledge to Eloise de Noyan.
He performed his portion of the work well, bearing with apparent ease fully one-half the burden, while De Noyan and I staggered beneath the remainder, until together we sank the boat well out of sight behind the thick brush. "And why not a fire?" the stranger questioned abruptly, noticing Eloise spreading forth our stock of provisions on the grass.
Without pausing for his answer I dropped the heavy cover over him, and gave vent to a sigh of relief. So far, at least I had won; thus far the gods had favored me. In spite of the obstacle of temperament I had found means to attain my end, to work my will, yet I realized well De Noyan would never bear such uncomfortable posture long; whatever was to be accomplished must be done quickly.
It did me good to listen while De Noyan issued energetic orders, swearing at us ardently in army French as if we were of his own squadron of chasseurs.
It was when I turned back, loathing the sight yet unable to resist facing it, that I beheld for the first time those I sought Eloise, De Noyan, and the Queen Naladi. An instant I blinded my eyes with uplifted arm, half believing that the horror had turned my brain, that all this was vision.
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