CHAPTER X.
THE HUT AT OUTREMONT.
How did the Cossacks ever discover that poor little hut sheltered amongthe rocks?
Simon's wife and children reached this place, and said to old Lasvene:
"Simon is fighting for France. Will you give us shelter?"
Lasvene took them in with a simple "yes." They were all very weary.Jacques had done all in his power to protect his little sister, who wasnot in the least frightened, only curious.
The old man shook out some fresh straw, gave them each a great bowl ofsmoking soup, and said:
"Everything here is yours, eat and sleep."
And when all was quiet the old man brought out two guns, which he hadkept in spite of Napoleon's edict. He sat down by the fire, and began toclean them.
Suddenly, he felt a hand--a small one--laid on his arm, and a voicesaid,
"What are you doing with your guns? Do you think there is any dangerhere?"
The old man hesitated for a reply, and the boy said,
"Show me how to manage them, it may be useful."
Lasvene hesitated a moment, but finally decided to teach little Jacqueshow to fire these long guns. The boy quickly grasped the movement. Whenhe bit his first cartridge he made a wry face. When one is inexperiencedthe powder gets between the teeth.
"Once more," he said, "I am not quite sure yet."
When the clock struck three, Jacques could load the gun like any oldgrenadier, but he had not been permitted to fire it.
"Your mother is asleep and little sister too," the old man said.
Jacques did not persist.
"Now lie down, my boy, and get a little sleep."
At six o'clock in the morning--it was at that hour that Simon died--apistol shot scattered the straw on the roof of the hut.
Lasvene rushed to the door and half opening it, cried:
"The Cossacks!"
He knew them well, for he had been in the campaign of 1805.
Jacques started to his feet, and Francoise, pale as death, clutched herlittle girl to her breast.
"They are only going by," said Lasvene. "They know there is nothing topillage here."
Lasvene believed himself and his guests under his roof to be safe. He,therefore, threw open the door wide.
He saw about fifty Cossacks.
"I am not making any defence," he said, "what do you want?"
The old soldier said this reluctantly, for the blood leaped hot in hisveins, but he had a woman and two children there.
The Cossacks sat still on their horses, and seemed to be waiting. Forwhat were they waiting?
Suddenly and most incomprehensibly, from behind old Lasvene came twoshots. Two Cossacks fell. Who had fired? He ran back into the hut.Jacques stood near the chimney, looking at the guns which he had notfired. Who had?
These shots were answered by a furious clamor. A volley was fired intothe cottage. Lasvene ran to the other side of the hut, and saw two menrunning away. It was these men who fired. Both were dressed likegipsies, but one was Cyprien, the lacquey of Monsieur de Talizac.
"We are lost!" thought Lasvene.
Instantly he pulled across the door his old oaken chest, and piledchairs and tables upon it, the bed, everything that was movable in thehut. Then, snatching one gun, he said:
"We must fight. Take the other!"
The Cossacks were amazed, but they fired through the window.
"Now!" cried Lasvene, and an officer fell. Jacques handed him the othergun, and loaded the first.
Again a Cossack fell.
Francoise rushed to the old man's side.
"Save the children!" she cried.
"At the peril of your life?" he asked.
"Yes," was the reply of the devoted mother.
"Then take the other gun!"
Francoise obeyed.
"Come!" said the old man to Jacques.
"No," answered the boy, "they will kill mamma!"
"For Simon's sake!" cried Francoise.
Then Lasvene stooped to the ground, and with the aid of an iron ringlifted a trap door.
"Down with you!" said the old man. "It is a subterranean passage, andleads to the Fongereues estate. You have a league to go. God guard you!"
Another deafening discharge of musketry. The mother sank on her knees.
"Save Francinette!" she moaned.
"They have killed my mother!" sobbed the boy.
"Go!" cried Lasvene, "they are coming in!"
He seized the little girl and put her in her brother's arms, andthrusting a pistol into the hands of the little fellow, he pushed himtoward the trap door.
"Mother! Mother!" cried the boy.
There was no time to lose. Lasvene lifted him by the collar and droppedhim into the dark hole, and closed the cover. Francoise extended herarms to the old man. "Thanks!" she said.
"We are caught like rats in a hole!" he growled.
The Cossacks began to tear down the walls.
"Can you walk?" said the old soldier to Francoise.
"No!"
"Then you must die!"
"Will the children be saved?"
"Yes."
"Then do what you will!"
Lasvene snatched a burning log from the fire and threw it into themiddle of a pile of brushwood.
"Fan it!" he whispered hoarsely.
And Francoise dragged herself forward and fanned the flames with herdying breath.
"Brave woman!" cried Lasvene. "And now, welcome death! Vive la France!"
He poured his flask of powder on the floor. There was a terribleexplosion.
Francoise and old Lasvene have done their duty ere they died. The wallsof the hut fall, and hide the trap door.
The Son of Monte-Cristo Page 12