D*AKTA6NAN THE MUSKETEER. 199 twenty-one, wlio was reared in the rural district quite a distance from Paris. His father was a, renowned swordsman in his young manhood, and had taught his son every trick of fencing he had acquired from his tutors, as well as by actualcontact with the blades of his numerous adversaries, with which he had crossed swords in his lifetime, and his son being a likely fellow acquires aU his .parent was able to. im- jjart, and. upon reaching his majority his father pre- sents iaim with his only nag, which is dun and sorry- looMng and thin. "With the horse is presented his own tried and true sword, an Ul-filled purse and a let- ter to a friend in Paris. The father's parting words to his boy were not as is frequently the case: "Get ricli honestly, but get rich," but told his boy to iight Ti'ilii his good sword at every opportunity; be. right, but fight; and D'Artagnan surely is made by- the nov- elist to heed the admonition of his sire. The first night of his arrival in Paris he is sauntering about the, 6ity after night, when aU at once he hears a slo? gan, then the next thing he observes three men being hard pressed by a superior number. Instantly D'Artagnan draws his sword and without a word ar- rays himself alongside of the three, and then begins the first introduction to the Three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, who are veritable Bayards, eacii c E them. Of course you contemplate the result of the "-<"li)i ]. D'Artagnan kills several, and from thence Ifle
- -;■;• ;r,p; {?rriscon becomes the protege and constant com-
p.V'.'.ioI the Three Musketeers. - .Toi- the principal officers had decided to hold. V '^ '..."unnment and joust, it was submitted to Uie
