he other he
doubted not would be accorded to him in his time of need; there remained
therefore nothing for him to do but to make his arrangements and then to
carry them out.

He looked at his watch. Two o'clock, just four hours to sunrise; he had
not much time to spare, for when the sun next rose. Gaunt and his child
must be once more safe within the walls of the fort, or--well, that must
not be thought of.

So taking one more keen glance around, to make quite sure that all was
safe, Henderson went softly down the staircase leading to the court-
yard, and quietly directed Manners and Nicholls to rejoin him at once
upon the parapet. This done, he entered his own room. A lamp, turned
low, was burning upon the table, and by its light he was just able to
see that his little Lucille was sleeping calmly where he had laid her;
but his wife was absent, he needed not to be told where she was. He
stood for a moment looking with unspeakable fondness upon the sleeping
child, and then bending softly over her, he pressed one long lingering
kiss upon her forehead. As he did so she smiled in her sleep, her
rosebud lips quivered a moment, and then he heard her whisper, "Dear
Percy!" It was enough; had he felt the least lingering hesitation about
the carrying out of his plan, that unconscious appeal made by his
sleeping child would have effectually banished it, and dashing away the
tears that rose to his eyes, the doctor quietly withdrew. There was a
light burning in Mrs Gaunt's room; and as he passed the door on tiptoe
and stealthily, as though he had been engaged upon some unlawful errand,
he caught the low murmur of his wife's voice, and a stifled sob. That
was another appeal not to be resisted; and without venturing to disturb
the two mourning watchers--though he never before yearned so hungrily
for a parting word with his wife, or a sight of her sweet face--he
passed noiselessly on, and so regained the parapet, where Manners and
Nicholls already awaited him. To them he fully unfolded his plan,
minutely explaining not only his own but also their part in it; after
which he gave them his final instructions, and then taking _both_ of
Gaunt's magazine rifles in his hand, and thrusting a brace of revolvers
into his belt--having previously loaded each weapon most carefully with
his own hands--he quietly lowered the outer ladder, cautioning his
companions to draw it up again after him, and stepped briskly but
noiselessly out thr