For The Admiral

ilous

night grows late and there are strange rumours afloat.

ng's troops are robbing and slaying as they please. Fran?ois of the mill told me a pret

they approach very slowly. My fath

pace the Sieur Le Blanc would get down and walk! But the traveller

d. "One can never tell these d

overlooking a wide plain, and was defended by a dry moat and massive walls. A score of resolute men inside

ible state. The nation was divided into two hostile parties-those who fiercely resisted any changes being made in

en, by virtue of his office, generally called him. Severely wounded in one of the numerous skirmishes, he had returned home to be nursed bac

pace into the courtyard. The stranger accompanying him sat his h

father. "Edmond, let your mother know

He had a swarthy complexion, and small, black, twinkling eyes that gave the impression of good-humour. His right arm, evidently brok

nce of wounds, set the broken limb, while I, after sponging his face with warm water, applied some salve

ound in your side," said my father cheerily. "I ho

and I must to the road again. A m

my father, humouring his fancy. "Edmond, get off his boots, a

bed, when my father bathed and bandaged his side, saying, "It looks worse t

ve no time for sleep. An hour lost here may pl

d his brain; but he spoke sensibly en

will be a week yet before you are able

tened, "you are the Sieur Le Blanc. I hav

no wish to pry into your business; but perhaps

then, raising himself in bed, he s

eding before you reached the courtyard. Come, throw aside your fears; I make no secret of my friendship for Gaspard de Coligny, and it i

sently he said, "Monsieur, if I rested

eplied, "and even then a score of

e my doublet. A murrain on the knaves who brought me to this! A knife, monsieur, and slit the l

Tanlay. Man, it will be a month before you can reach Tanlay; and the

ses and the Queen-Mother have laid their plans; the Loire is guarded

dé is at

ys, 'and there will be no more Huguenots.' And the chiefs at Rochelle chose me to carry the warning. 'There is

e has his spies in Rochelle, and they would follow you on the

of them-and I was taken unawares. But it was a good fight," and, in spite of his pain and distress of mind, his face lit up with

e? That is the important point. The Admiral must have them without loss of time, an

d the sick man

rvant; I will vouc

It was plain he did n

d, on a sudden impulse, "and I

l of danger," said my father. "I fear

older head, and I will t

y a boy," ob

will suspect I am engaged

el day and night, and from the moment the papers are in your hands your life belongs to the Admiral. If y

l do m

seat in the saddle, and he is more thoughtful than most boys of his age.

aving informed Jacques that we should start at dawn I went straight to bed,

sprang up quickly, dressed-my mother had sewn the preciou

ral's safety was at stake, and we of the Religion were well content to make any sacrifice for our beloved leader. I embraced her fondly, assuring h

into the Admiral's own hands, and remember t

said my father, "and can bu

be of good courage, I descended to the courty

advised. "And now, may God bless you, and bring you safely through. Do not forget

, as he vaulted into the saddle; and, with a last word of counsel from my

village. "'Tis odd what a chance encounter may bring about; but for the Sieur's meeting with the wounded man we should still be snug abed. There is some on

a wise ma

day, and Pierre will be a cunning man if they do not strip him as bare as a trussed fowl. 'Tis more satisfactory these days to spe

er as the Italian woman, and he regarded

ir thumb. What with them and her Italian favourites there is no room in France for an honest Frenchman. Listen,

ancing round. "He will overtake us in a

here is no need; should he be an e

tranger in the district, and wish to discover the whereabouts of one Etienne Cord

a nose like a hawk's beak, and eye

lly, "you have his picture to a nicety. That i

. "We shall pass within a mile or two of his

n which I had not counted. I spent the night at the inn yonder, but the dolt of a landlord

e had his reasons for making a fool of you," for in truth the land

ls in his holsters. His dark brown hair escaped over his forehead in short curls; his face was strong and capable; he had good features, and a rounded chin. His eyes were blue, deep,

's," said he, addressi

r. You might easily have reach

arrived at the inn, and my horse had done a heavy's day wor

rict wide enough," I

these parts; you are fortunate. One ca

ques, "'tis a peace

igh, as if saddened at the mere thought of bloodshed; "and yet it is whispered

ws of the outside

quicken the pace. We have pressing business to transact," to which our chan

our horses' hoofs on the hard road. But once, when the stranger had shot a few paces to the front-