town as long as there was the
least danger of infection.

"Is he _never_ to return?" asked the queen, whimpering, when she heard
these orders given.

"No, _never_!" answered the king in that awful tone which the poor queen
knew too well meant something like a decree of Fate.

"Oh, father!" remonstrated Hafrydda--and Dromas loved her for the
remonstrance--"not even if he is cured?"

"Well, of course, if he is cured, my child, that alters the case. But
how am I to know that he is cured?--who is to judge? Our court doctor
knows as much about it as a sucking pig--perhaps less!"

"Perhaps the Hebrew knows," suggested Hafrydda--and Dromas loved her for
the suggestion!

"Ah, to be sure! I forgot the Hebrew. You may call at his hut in
passing and take him with you, if he has come home yet. He's an amiable
old man, and may consent to go. If not--make him. Away! and cease to
worry me. That's the way to get rid of business, my queen; isn't it?"

"Certainly--it is one way," answered the queen, turning to the two
commanders. "Go, and my blessing go with you!"

"Success attend you!" murmured the princess, glancing timidly at
Dromas--and as Dromas gazed upon her fair face, and golden curls, and
modest mien, he felt that he loved her for herself!

Success did not, however, attend them at first, for on reaching the
Hebrew's hut they found it empty, and no amount of shouting availed to
call Beniah from the "vasty deep" of the chasm, or the dark recesses of
the secret chamber.

Pursuing their way, therefore, the small army was soon lost to view in
the forest.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

CROSS PURPOSES AND COMPLICATIONS.

We turn now to another scene in the wild-woods, not far distant from the
Hot Swamp.

It is a thickly-wooded hollow on the eastern slopes of the high ridge
that bounds one side of the valley of the Springs. Sturdy oaks, tall
poplars, lordly elms and beeches, cast a deep shade over the spot which
was rendered almost impenetrable by dense underwood. Even in brightest
sunshine light entered it with difficulty, and in gloomy weather a sort
of twilight constantly prevailed, while at night the place became the
very abode of thick darkness.

In this retreat was assembled, one gloomy afternoon, a large body of
armed men, not connected with the searching parties which had been
ransacking the region in the vain duplex search which we have tried to
describe. It was a war-party under the command of Addedoma