1828.] A Tale of the Pyrenees. 467 
issuing from an inner room, threw herself between the combatants, and 
effectually stopped that conflict which would have so assuredly terminated 
in death. 
« For the Virgin’s sake, Bertin!” she exclaimed; “ for me—for your- 
self—as you hope for happiness—spare him, and take my heart as the 
return !” 
« Your heart!” he said, looking at her sorrowfully. “ If I could 
believe that, Marie But my hopes are as chaff upon the wind: I 
cannot trust again.” 
* Yet, for the love you bore me, do not shed his blood! As a testi- 
mony of that love—perhaps a last act—Bertin, do not refuse me !” 
She clung to his arm, and gazed at him with that eloquent look, which 
no mortal can resist from the object of his worship. He bent in silence 
his eyes upon her fair face, and slowly answered— 
« Tt is not that I trust the future—not that I can now be moved into 
reliance upon you, who have so deceived me ;—in memory of the past I 
listen to you—for your voice has the softness of other days, Marie, and 
I am not so changed but I must yield to it—Go, wretched villain! and, 
if this lesson can teach thee aught, let me never see thee more.” 
Eguiapal obeyed the word, and days passed before he again ventured 
to seek the partner of his stolen pleasures, or dared run the risk of encoun- 
tering the fiery Etchehon. But he could not wholly abandon so con- 
firmed a habit and system of life ; and Etchehon again had knowledge 
of his renewed intercourse with Marie. His determination was now 
taken, and executed as follows. 
It was on the same narrow wooden bridge over the Adour which has 
before been mentioned, that Eguiapal had to pass, on his return home- 
wards from a marriage-feast a few miles off. The winter’s first snow lay 
on the ground, partly liquified, partly congealed, by the alternate changes 
of thaw and frost, which succeed each other in that climate often only for 
a duration of a few minutes. Picking his way slowly and deliberately, 
Eguiapal moved on to the bridge ; now humming a scrap of a_ bridal 
song—now letting fall a word or two of his thoughts, which had been 
rendered rather more volatile than usual under the magic of copious liba- 
tions. The name “ Marie” fell from his lips more than once with an 
emphasis of considerable tenderness ; and just as he reached the centre 
of the bridge, he was uttering the words,— 
“ Toujours fidelle a toi, Marie, 
Fidelle toujours a toi,”— 
when his progress and his song were stopt in an instant by the appear- 
ance of Etchehon, who, springing up from the other bank, darted upon 
him, and made a bound to clasp him in his arms. The other, urged 
q possibly by despair, possibly animated by the liquors he had swallowed, 
was not now irresolute in his conduct, but opposed himself stoutly to his 
aggressor. They struggled for a while together, and the superior strength 
of Etchehon had at last succeeded in giving him an advantageous hold 
of his antagonist, when his foot, sliding along the treacherous surface of 
snow, failed him at the crisis, and both fell headlong to the earth. Their 
combat was here renewed: neither could regain his footing ; but still 
Etchehon had the mastery in the conflict. He contrived to shift a little, 
from time to time, towards the edge of the bridge ; and, at last, seizing a 
momen favourable to his purpose, Ls collected his whole strength— 
« i 
