The Dauphin of France - the boy-heir to the French crown, Louis 17th (Morgan Mason) - has fled Revolutionary France to New Orleans with his governess, only to be overtaken there by anti-royalist spy Henri La Gaux (Cesare Danova). Under cover of taking the kidnapped pair to visit French settlers at Vincennes, Indiana - but in reality smuggling them back to France , La Gaux hires an unknowing Daniel as a guide.
Another cloak and dagger episode with the interesting twist of the French Revolution thrown in, which wouid place this about 1793-94. Unfortunate that no French Hollywood expatriates could be enlisted for the non-American parts, but Italian Danova ("Cleopatra," 1963) substitutes as nicely as the Revolutionary agent. Israel Boone is along for the coach ride as well, and gets the same-age foil of Dauphin Charles (improbably clad in Court of Versailles garb for a rough Mississippi coach trip) to play against.
The backdrop of New Orleans (the Salem, NC set again) is always a welcome urban break from the Boonesborough fort. The Natchez Trace route north from NOLA is by necessity routed through NBC studio sets and southern California, but the tradeoff for some outdoor chase action is worth it.
The story is an offshoot of the Lost Dauphin legend that circulated after the French Revolution, which purported that the boy Louis 17th had been replaced in his prison before his reported death and smuggled out to preserve the Bourbon line of succession. Incredibly, one version claimed that he grew up to become the wildlife painter John James Audubon. Forensic investigation years later largely disproved the Lost Dauphin claims.
Interestingly, American audiences are usually presented with the Royalists and non-revolutionaries as the sympathetic parties of the French Revolution, notably in the "Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Tale of Two Cities" renderings. Though the aristocracy in its pre-1790's actions did little to warrant sympathy, the sheer brutality of Robespierre and Co. Likely forswore much positive myth-making for the imsurgent side.
A tightly-written episode with a unique flavor for Daniel and Israel.
