could see that
they were mitigated by a strange, formal flower-garden, with quaint
statues and fountains. There were grim black allees of clipped trees, a
curiously wrought iron gate, and twisted iron espaliers. On one side the
edifice was supported by a great stone terrace, which seemed to him as
broad as a Parisian boulevard. Yet everywhere it appeared sleeping in
the desertion and silence of the summer twilight. The evening breeze
swayed the lace curtains at the tall windows, but nothing else moved. To
the unsophisticated Western man it looked like a scene on the stage.

His progress was, however, presently checked by the first sight of
preservation he had met in the forest,--a thick hedge, which interfered
between him and a sloping lawn beyond. It was up to his waist, yet he
began to break his way through it, when suddenly he was arrested by the
sound of voices. Before him, on the lawn, a man and woman, evidently
servants, were slowly advancing, peering into the shadows of the wood
which he had just left. He could not understand what they were saying,
but he was about to speak and indicate by signs his desire to find the
road when the woman, turning towards her companion, caught sight of his
face and shoulders above the hedge. To his surprise and consternation,
he saw the color drop out of her fresh cheeks, her round eyes fix in
their sockets, and with a despairing shriek she turned and fled
towards the house. The man turned at his companion's cry, gave the
same horrified glance at Dick's face, uttered a hoarse "Sacre!" crossed
himself violently, and fled also.

Amazed, indignant, and for the first time in his life humiliated,
Dick gazed speechlessly after them. The man, of course, was a sneaking
coward; but the woman was rather pretty. It had not been Dick's
experience to have women run from him! Should he follow them, knock the
silly fellow's head against a tree, and demand an explanation? Alas,
he knew not the language! They had already reached the house and
disappeared in one of the offices. Well! let them go--for a mean
"lowdown" pair of country bumpkins:--HE wanted no favors from them!

He turned back angrily into the forest to seek his unlucky beast. The
gurgle of water fell on his ear; hard by was a spring, where at least he
could water the mustang. He stooped to examine it; there was yet light
enough in the sunset sky to throw back from that little mirror the
reflection of his thin, oval face, his long, c