The noise, however, had awakened her, and recognizing her father's
voice, she rushed into the room. With great joy she hurried into his
outstretched arms. He kissed her rosy cheeks and looked at her long and
tenderly.
The Count decided to continue his flight that very night from the land
which once had been to him a paradise but was now only a murderers' den.
On the same boat that had safely carried his wife and son, he now took
passage. The old fisherman led the way and Richard followed last. The
night was clear and the heavens bright with stars. Suddenly they heard
sounds of shooting, and voices shouting: "Halt! Halt!--Halt, halt!--You
are deserters!"
It so happened that when the fire in the prison had been extinguished,
the soldiers had carefully searched each cell, to find if anyone had
escaped. To their great astonishment, they found the cell of Count
Berlow empty. The soldier who had lost his uniform cried loudly with
rage: "He has flown with my clothing and my weapons. Up and follow him!"
The pursuers soon found a clue to the Count's route.
[Illustration: "On the same boat that had safely carried his wife and
son he now took passage."]
The poor Count and Richard were almost stupefied when they heard the
distant shouting, but they seized the oars all the more firmly and rowed
with every muscle strained to the utmost. Soon the soldiers reached the
shore and began to fire upon the occupants of the boat. Marguerite crept
under the seat, while the men tried to dodge the bullets.
Pages:
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164