front of them. They are a wicked and heartless bunch. And these highwaymen aren’t much better.”
“Yes, Jacques did warn me about them.”
“Well, we’ll keep a sharp lookout for the next few miles. Once we are in Ashburn, it’s not so bad. By the way, these pistols are only good up to about eighty yards so don’t start shooting the minute you see one of them fellows. They usually come in pairs so I’ll tell you when I want you to fire. It’s not in my nature to kill them. Let the sheriff take care of that. I always alert him if I see any, and simply knowing we have arms usually puts a stop to whatever they’re planning. You understand?”
“But, of course, Luc. You well know what you’re doing and I do not. Up until this summer, my life was peaceful. I certainly didn’t foresee all this trouble. You have met my cousin, Jacques. He loves adventure, but me—I can well do without it.”
A slight movement drew their attention to the rise in front of them. There on the hill, the shadow of a man on horseback stood out against the blue sky. Then slowly the shadow split, revealing two individuals. As he saw Luc straighten up, Pierre’s heart gave a sudden lurch. Jacques had been right about England. Their troubles were not over yet.
Chapter 14
“T here, up on the hill, Pierre,” Luc pointed. “That’s two highwaymen. In another few minutes, we’ll start shooting. Better let your family know.”
“There are highwaymen on the ridge,” Pierre called down to Claudine.” Get your pistols ready.”
“Alright then,” Luc yelled. “Fire!”
Five shots rang out and echoed through the low hills. As suddenly as the two horsemen had appeared, they took off over the ridge and disappeared from sight.
“I think it’s going to be okay now,” the coach driver exclaimed. “They prefer a surprise attack, and it’s the poor, unarmed travelers they go after, especially if they’re alone. They know we’ve got firepower now, so they’ll most likely leave us be.”
“Zut alors, that was exciting. What type of people are these ‘highway men’ anyway?’ Pierre inquired once his heart had slowed down, and he could breathe again. “I had never heard of such criminals until Jacques mentioned them.”
“What? You’ve never heard of your famous countryman, Claude Duval?”
“No, I’m sure I haven‘t.”
“He’s considered the most dashing of all the highwaymen,” Luc began, looking pleased to be telling a story. “A fellow by the name of William Pope wrote a book about him not long ago. You should read it when you get to London. It’s quite famous.”
“I’m afraid I’ll need a few English lessons before I do that.” Pierre laughed.
“Anyhow,” Luc continued, “this Duval lived in Normandy. He was working in Rouen as a groom, when a group of English royalists hired him to tend their horses. During the time of the commonwealth, most of the English nobility fled to France, as I’m sure you know?”
“Yes, I have heard that.”
“Well, after Oliver Cromwell died, parliament recalled Charles II to restore the throne; this French fellow came to England with one of them noblemen. By then he was quite the gentleman. He had picked up all their ways. He dressed in high fashion and was most gallant with the ladies. Somehow, he drifted into a life of crime and became known as the ‘gentleman highwayman.’ Apparently he was an expert card player and gambler and lived a life of wine, women, song, and thievery.”
“Is he still around then? Maybe that was him?”
“No. Unfortunately, for him, he got drunk in a London pub one day. They managed to capture him, and send him to Newgate Prison. Now there’s a hellhole to be sure. I’m not sure if there was ever a fair trial, but they hanged him in any case. It all happened about fifteen years ago, so you won’t meet Gentleman Claude out here on the moor anymore unless it‘s his ghost.” Luc laughed and gave the horses the whip, as they
“Yes, Jacques did warn me about them.”
“Well, we’ll keep a sharp lookout for the next few miles. Once we are in Ashburn, it’s not so bad. By the way, these pistols are only good up to about eighty yards so don’t start shooting the minute you see one of them fellows. They usually come in pairs so I’ll tell you when I want you to fire. It’s not in my nature to kill them. Let the sheriff take care of that. I always alert him if I see any, and simply knowing we have arms usually puts a stop to whatever they’re planning. You understand?”
“But, of course, Luc. You well know what you’re doing and I do not. Up until this summer, my life was peaceful. I certainly didn’t foresee all this trouble. You have met my cousin, Jacques. He loves adventure, but me—I can well do without it.”
A slight movement drew their attention to the rise in front of them. There on the hill, the shadow of a man on horseback stood out against the blue sky. Then slowly the shadow split, revealing two individuals. As he saw Luc straighten up, Pierre’s heart gave a sudden lurch. Jacques had been right about England. Their troubles were not over yet.
Chapter 14
“T here, up on the hill, Pierre,” Luc pointed. “That’s two highwaymen. In another few minutes, we’ll start shooting. Better let your family know.”
“There are highwaymen on the ridge,” Pierre called down to Claudine.” Get your pistols ready.”
“Alright then,” Luc yelled. “Fire!”
Five shots rang out and echoed through the low hills. As suddenly as the two horsemen had appeared, they took off over the ridge and disappeared from sight.
“I think it’s going to be okay now,” the coach driver exclaimed. “They prefer a surprise attack, and it’s the poor, unarmed travelers they go after, especially if they’re alone. They know we’ve got firepower now, so they’ll most likely leave us be.”
“Zut alors, that was exciting. What type of people are these ‘highway men’ anyway?’ Pierre inquired once his heart had slowed down, and he could breathe again. “I had never heard of such criminals until Jacques mentioned them.”
“What? You’ve never heard of your famous countryman, Claude Duval?”
“No, I’m sure I haven‘t.”
“He’s considered the most dashing of all the highwaymen,” Luc began, looking pleased to be telling a story. “A fellow by the name of William Pope wrote a book about him not long ago. You should read it when you get to London. It’s quite famous.”
“I’m afraid I’ll need a few English lessons before I do that.” Pierre laughed.
“Anyhow,” Luc continued, “this Duval lived in Normandy. He was working in Rouen as a groom, when a group of English royalists hired him to tend their horses. During the time of the commonwealth, most of the English nobility fled to France, as I’m sure you know?”
“Yes, I have heard that.”
“Well, after Oliver Cromwell died, parliament recalled Charles II to restore the throne; this French fellow came to England with one of them noblemen. By then he was quite the gentleman. He had picked up all their ways. He dressed in high fashion and was most gallant with the ladies. Somehow, he drifted into a life of crime and became known as the ‘gentleman highwayman.’ Apparently he was an expert card player and gambler and lived a life of wine, women, song, and thievery.”
“Is he still around then? Maybe that was him?”
“No. Unfortunately, for him, he got drunk in a London pub one day. They managed to capture him, and send him to Newgate Prison. Now there’s a hellhole to be sure. I’m not sure if there was ever a fair trial, but they hanged him in any case. It all happened about fifteen years ago, so you won’t meet Gentleman Claude out here on the moor anymore unless it‘s his ghost.” Luc laughed and gave the horses the whip, as they
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