idway on the bridge, when it sank suddenly to one side. A moment it
acted as a dam, then bridge, horse and rider were swept away with a
crash and carried downward with the driving flood. Vainly the trooper
sought to turn his steed toward the shore; the debris from the
structure soon swept him from his saddle. Striking out strongly, he
succeeded in catching a trailing branch from a tree on the bank, but
the torrent gripped his body fiercely, and, after a desperate struggle,
tore him away.

As his helpless follower disappeared, the free baron gave a brief
command, and he and his troops posted rapidly down the bank. The young
girl breathed a sigh of relief; her eyes were yet full of awe from the
death struggle she had witnessed. Fascinated, her gaze had rested on
the drowning wretch; the pale face, the look of terror; but now she was
called to a realization of their own situation by the abrupt departure
of the squad on the opposite shore.

"They have gone," she cried, in surprise, as the party vanished among
the trees.

"But not far." The jester's glance was bent down the stream. "See,
where the torrent broadens. They expect to find a fording place."

Once more they set forth; he knowing full well that the free baron and
his men, accustomed to the mountain torrents, unbridled by the melting
snows, would, in all likelihood, soon find a way to cross the freshet.
His mind misgave him that he had loosened the bridge at all. Would it
not have been better to force the conflict there, when he had the
advantage of position? But right or wrong, he had made his choice and
must abide by it.

To add to his discomfiture, his horse, which at first had lagged, now
began to limp, and, as they proceeded, this lameness became more
apparent. With a twinge of heart, he plied the spur more strongly, and
the willing but broken creature responded as best it could. Again it
hastened its pace, seeming in a measure to recover strength and
endurance, then, without warning, lurched, fell to its knees and
quickly rolled over on its side. Jacqueline glanced back; the animal
lay motionless; the rider was vainly endeavoring to rise. Pale with
apprehension she returned, and, dismounting, stood at the head of the
prostrate animal. Determinedly the jester struggled, the perspiration
standing on his brow in beads. At length, breathing hard, he rested
his head on his elbow.

"Here am I caught to stay, Jacqueline!" he said. "The horse i