st him in every way, and, should he
require money, to furnish him with it, I undertaking to make myself
responsible for the same, and to pay all monies and other charges
that he may incur."

"The first thing to do," Charlie said, as he placed the letters in
his doublet, "is to let the leader of our band know that other
bodies of troops, besides that at the hut, are about to enter the
forest. He may decide that it is necessary to march away at once."

As soon, indeed, as the outlaw received the tidings, he issued
orders for the band to prepare for instant departure.

"A party of five or six men together," he said to Charlie, "might
hide in this forest for years. But a band of fifty is too large to
be long concealed. To begin with, they must get food, and must
either buy it or hunt for it; and in the second, there are a
considerable number of men living in the forest, charcoal burners
and herders of goats and swine, and any of these, if questioned by
the troops, might mention that they had seen a considerable number
of men passing. As it is, we will break up into parties of seven or
eight, and appoint a rendezvous where we may meet again."

The band was speedily mustered, for, with the exception of those
who were watching the forest through which the troops at the hut
must march to reach them, the whole were close at hand. A messenger
was sent off to call in the scouts. Then the booty that had been
taken during their late excursions was brought out, and emptied on
the ground. It consisted of money and jewellery. It was divided
into equal portions, of which each member took one, the lieutenants
of the band two, and the captain three.

"You don't share this time," the latter said to Charlie; "but next
time, of course, you and your comrade will each have your portion."

When this was done, the men were told off in parties of six or
seven, and instructions given as to the point of rendezvous. Each
band chose its own leader, and, in an hour from the reception of
the news, the place was deserted, and the parties were making their
way in different directions through the forest.

Charlie and Stanislas formed part of the captain's own force, which
numbered ten in all.

"Do you think they will all turn up at the meeting place?" Charlie
asked the leader, whose name he now ascertained was Ladislas
Koffski.

"They may," he said. "But it is seldom that bands, when they once
disperse like this, ever come together again. It i