sound of the trooper's voice from the village
street again reached me.

A sudden thought flashed through my mind. Each moment might now be
precious; and stooping down, I lifted the end of the plank and sent it
with a crash into the stream; the other soon followed it, and before
I was in my saddle again the torrent was carrying them along amid the
rocks of the stream.

"Here is a misfortune," cried the peasant, in a tone of misery; "the
bridge has been carried away by the flood."

"_Tonnerre de ciel_! and is there no other way across?" said the
dragoon, in a voice of passion.

I waited not to hear more, but giving the spur to my horse, dashed up
the steep bank, and the next moment saw the light of the chateau,--for
such I guessed to be a bright star that twinkled at a distance. "Speed
now will do it," said I, and put my strong Norman to his utmost. The
wind tore past me scarce faster than I went, while the beating rain came
round me. The footway soon altered, and I found that we were crossing
a smooth turf like a lawn. "Ha! this is the old gate," thought I, as
a tall archway, overhung with ivy and closed by a strong door, opposed
farther progress. I beat loudly against it with the heavy handle of my
whip, but to no purpose; the hoarse voice of the storm drowned all such
sounds. I dismounted and endeavored to make myself heard by knocking
with a large stone. I shouted, I cried aloud, but all in vain. My terror
increased every instant. What was to be done? The dragoon might arrive
at any moment, and then I myself must share the ruin of the others.
Maddened by the emergency that each moment grew more pressing, I sprang
into the saddle, and following the direction of the wall, rode round
to the other side of the chateau, seeking some open spot, some break
whereby to enter.

I had not gone far when I saw a portion of the wall which broken and
dilapidated, afforded the opportunity desired. I hesitated not, but
dashed wildly at it. My horse, unaccustomed to such an effort, chested
the barrier, and came rolling head foremost to the earth, throwing me
several yards before him. A cry of pain escaped me as I fell; and I
scarcely could gain my knees to rise, when the hoarse bay of a savage
dog broke upon my ear, and I heard the animal tearing through the
brushwood towards me. I drew my sabre in a trice, and scarce knowing at
what side to defend myself, laid wildly about me, while I shouted with
all my might for help. The furio