The Prince Incognito (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. A DESERT WEDDING. started four hours later for the general rendezvous of pastors of the Desert and their flocks, in the Gevaudan. The cabin that had sheltered us was closed, and all signs of habitation were, as much as possible, effaced. The dear log on which we had sat nightly was rolled down the steep slope, and it made a dam across the little stream. The shepherd, who had been summoned at midnight, was to drive away our goats and add them to his own flock on a neighboring hillside. We were going away forever. I have never seen that Desert refuge again. We set out, Justine and Martin, who carried their scanty stock of clothes; the boy Rhodez, the elder from Montauban, my father, Monsieur Theophile, and ourselves. The morning was sympathetic: all nature breathed of happiness. Our hearts sang in our breasts, as one by one the stars faded in the purple mists of the dawning. 99 639748 A My betrothed and myself were suffered to walk side by side wherever there was space enough to let us do so. This was seldom, however, for the paths were mere foot-tracks, meandering between boulders, up and down the sides of the mountain, apparently with no definite direction. But the elders of our party plodded on, while the sky grew ruddy in a long line over the tree-tops, and the sun prepared to come forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber, rejoicing to run his course. Ah, that walk I was not used to mountainclimbing, but that day I felt no fatigue; I trod on air. It seems to me I can recall every step we took; the soft turf occasionally under our feet; the keen wind, for which we cared not; the autumn tints upon the foliage of the chestnut trees; the steep ascents, where Rinaldo's arm aided me; the mountain streamlets, over which he...