us beast sprang like a tiger at my
throat, and, though wounded by a chance cut, seized me in his terrible
fangs. Fortunately the strong collar of my uniform served to protect me;
but the violence of the assault carried me off my balance, and we rolled
one over the other to the ground. Grasping his throat with both hands, I
endeavored to strangle him, while he vainly sought to reach my face.

At this critical moment my cries were heard within, and numerous lights
flitted up and down in front of the chateau, and a crowd of persons, all
armed, were quickly about me. Seizing the dog by his collar, a peasant
tore him away; while another, holding a lantern to my face, cried out in
a voice of terror, "They are upon us! we are lost!"

"_Parbleu!_ you should let Colbert finish his work,--he is a 'blue;'
they are but food for dogs any day."

[Illustration: The Chouans 327]

"Not so," said another, in a low, determined voice; "this is a surer
weapon.', I heard the cock of a pistol click as he spoke.

"Halt there! stop, I say!" cried a voice, in a tone of command. "I know
him; I know him well. It 's Burke; is it not?"

It was De Beauvais spoke, while at the same moment he knelt down beside
me od the grass, and put his arm round my neck. I whispered one word
into his ear. He sprang to his feet, and with a hasty direction to
assist me towards the house, disappeared. Before I could reach the door
he was again beside me.

"And you did this to save me, dear friend?" said he, in a voice half
stifled with sobs. "You have run all this danger for my sake?"

I did not dare to take the merit of an act I had no claim to, still
less to speak of her for whose sake I risked my life, and leaned on him
without speaking, as he led me within the porch.

"Sit down here for a moment,--but one moment," said he, in a whisper,
"and I'll return to you."

I sat down upon a bench, and looked about me. The place had all
the evidence of being one of consequence in former days. The walls,
wainscoted in dark walnut wood, were adorned with grotesque carvings
of hunting scenes and instruments of venery. The ceiling, in the same
taste, displayed trophies of weapons, intermingled with different
emblems of the _chasse_; while in the centre, and enclosed within a
garter, were the royal arms of the Bourbons,--the gilding that once
shone on them was tarnished and faded; the fleurs-de-lis, too, were
broken and dilapidated; while but a stray letter of the proud