Utica Free Academy - Academician Yearbook (Utica, NY)

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ce-pczs fviazfi, Cher monsieur? To-morrow at dawn you hang from the battlementsf' ' ' ' ' HSacre tonners,'7 exclaimed the innocent prisoner, realizing the graveness of the mistake, what jest is this that you wish to hang Gervais of Marsan from your battlements for some matter he knows nothing about? ' Q 'Q - J est indeed! Do you not already feel the rope around your neck? You are certainly a very fine actor, Monsieur Marsan. The meatre Francais will have sufferedra .gre.at...loss..indee.d. But you .can 't deceive such a' sly old fox as Captain Felix. Men lead the traitor away, but since he has not many more hours on this earth, give him a hearty supper and a good bed. 4'This is an outrage, cried Gervais as he was seized to be led away. 4'Can Ihave no trial to prove my innocence of this false accusation? Will no justice be shown me? A ' As for a trial, sneeringly replied the cruel captain, to prove you innocent, as you say, why it would be a waste of precious time. As much justice as you would have accorded your victim ,will be shown you. In twenty-four hours,...Mrg Poquefort, you will be pleasantly wandering in a .warmer clime. Now away with him men, till the dawn. . Forthwith poor Gervais was dragged protestingly from the room amid the scornful laughter of the heartless soldiers. He was thrust into a small and cheerless room, in the middle of which stood a large bed and 'a candle was flickering on a table nearby. The big oaken door had been soundly locked and bolted from without, and so he sat 'down at the table to think over his situation. ' A y i z Here he was in a strange part of the country, without a friend who could help himf He had been seized as a prisoner and was 'going to be hanged, within a few hours, for a crime he knew nothing about. If he could die for a friend or for his country, he would willingly go to his execution. 'But to be taken as a traitor -and killed for some person he had never known or seen-life was too sweet for that, so he decided' he must make a bold attempt to escape. A As he was thus brooding, the door was unlocked and in came the officer of the party which had captured him, bringing -21-- ' . ., . f ,fn f- U .-1 ff af, ff'-1 f f .ff Cy 'ff -A'-1 . 9:51971 .ff ff 4'-ff 'f mf 'f-QM ' 4 f u -1' A- 1 59 ' 4,a.-.uw Jdf zddifffl-if-ffi'-fn

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XV 1' JZ' f fffif ZTj,f1'f? '?'ff?' ?5 :g Y, -QZBZIIZ ,ffrwwfwyiiifffiaf fgfgfgagfjfffifff-. J --,- e--A--My-ff F -'-' - r . l I i l ' r s kffyff' which could be explained when he came before Captain Felix, decided that it was best to go along quietly with them, and SO having had his sword, which he prized- most highly, taken away from him, he set out guarded by the five soldiers, ,along the road which he had just passed. . It was late in the afternoon when they started, and the chill of the evening was just beginning to be felt, the country was everywhere whitened, and the cold and severe. hand of winter held the traveler in its icy grip. The party of six, very cold and hungry from their long ride, arrived late in the evening within sight of the chateau of St. Arcles, and even Gervais was glad that. the journey was over, this chateau, situated upon a small hill in the woods some miles from Vouv- ray, was surrounded by numerous towers.. The prisoner was led into the great quadrangle and through a splendid hall into thepresence of Captain Felix. Captain Felix, a bully, and a hot-tempered French soldier, whose name was attached to many infamies was in command of the chateau of St. Arcles. He had been trying to capture and hang a certain.Monsieur Poquefort,-.who had been con- nected with some plot against the throne, but who had escaped. .Since a large prize was put upon his head, Captain Felix was very anxious to be the one to catch the traitor and had sent' many men out to scour the country. At first no trace could be found of him, but finally it was rumored that he was riding :about the country in the disguise of a fencing master, conse- 'quently when the horsemen spied Gervais, they decided that he was Poquefort, and accordingly followed and seized' him, think- ing that there could be no doubt, of his identityq The room in which Gervais found himself face to face with Captain Felix was elegantly designed according to the customs ofthe period: The walls and ceiling alike were panneled and painted, the tapestry chairs had come from Paris, the other furniture was perfect in symmetry and design. ' ' mAh! Monsieur Poquefortf' said Captain Felix, who had been informed of the capture, your disguise is really most excellent. You certainly should have been a fencing master. But in France a traitor does not go at large very long, Nfesj- -20- j ,

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f Al ,gfg,4ffff4?44f,22 -iff' 'f '1'f?ff2fK5t,ffffff. .42-115551 if f g -.gf-an-Y-A A-Y-N :E 1 i 1 1. 1 P1 I I I1 ,E 1 I l V. 'x I, ! I 1 i i Q1 3 '. il 52 if ll V 'R 1 i 11 i l 3 . 1 1 l 1 some supper, and fastening the door behind him. Gervais had in his mind to spring upon his visitor and fkill him, but the guard would then rush inand he would surely 'be hanged, so he put that thought aside. The trooper set thesupper down on the table and said, I have been ordered to eat and drink with you, and lowering his voice, HI am very glad, for I believe you are not Poqufort from your honest look, therefore you can count on me as a friend. .V Gervais jumped to his feet and grasped the officer's hand. Not too loud,7' continued his new friend, the guard in the hall might hear. Sit down and eat. I have an old score against the captain,that I would like to pay, and then get away, for I don't like it hereat all. by G 'A When the supper had been finished, the trooper began, 9'Now listen. I am on guard before your door for the second watch, and to let you know that its I, I'll drop my musket,, Then when all is quiet, I'll unlock the door and give you your sword, which the captain gave me. You see how they trust me, letting me eat with you, and putting me on your guard, and if I was to be caught, I would hang with you at dawn too. VVell, when you get the sword you can climb quietly up to the captain's bedroom just at the top of the stairs, where you'll find a guard, but methinks you can manage the rest all right. Then when you get through with Captain Felix, you'll find me outside with a couple of good steeds, and then to Angonleine where' we will be safe. - ' So after Gervais had thanked him for his friendship and assured him that he would be ready on time, the officer left the room, and Gervais heard him mutter to the guard down the hall, thatit was .hard to have to eat supper with a traitor. When the prisoner was alone, he rejoiced that he had such a friend, and a chance to revenge himself on his enemy, the captain, and perhaps escape. t U With great hopes and anticipations, he waited in the dark- ness for what seemed centuries, 'till he might be released. Finally he heard the change of guards, the clatter of a falling musket, an oath, and he knew that it was his friend. After some time, when all was again still, he caught the sound of the -23-