u off, do not give up hope, for Griffeth and
our own men will be after you to rescue you. Now let me go, and try not
to be afraid. I think we can hold them at bay till we are more equally
matched."

The child's eyes dilated with horror. She caught Wendot by the hand.

"Give me up," she said firmly. "I will not have you killed for me. I
would rather go with them. Give me up, I say!"

"No, Gertrude; I will not give you up," answered Wendot very quietly,
but with an inflexibility of tone which made his voice seem like that of
another person. "Your father placed you in my hands; to him I must
answer for your safety. What is life to a man without honour? Would you
have me stain my name for the sake of saving my life? I think not that
that is the English code of honour."

Child as she was, little Gertrude understood well what was implied in
those words, and a new light flashed into her eyes. Something of the
soldier spirit awoke within her, and she snatched at a small dagger
Wendot carried in his belt, and drawing her small figure to its full
height, she said:

"We will both fight, Wendot; we will both fight, and both die rather
than let them take us."

He smiled, and just for a moment laid his hand upon her head; then he
drew on his mailed gloves and looked well to the buckles of the stout
leathern jerkin, almost as impervious to the stabs of his foes as a suit
of mail itself. The temper of his weapon he well knew; he had no fear
that it would play him false. He had not the headpiece of mail; he had
started in too great a hurry to arm himself completely, and speed was
too much an object for him to willingly encumber himself needlessly. But
as he skirted the narrow ledge, and placed himself beneath the
protecting arch, he smiled grimly to himself, and thought that the stone
would be as good a guard, and that here was a place where a man could
sell his life dear, and send many a foe to his account before striking
his own colours.

Scarcely had he well established himself in the commanding position he
had resolved upon, when the sound of voices became more distinct. The
party had plainly arrived at the appointed place, and Wendot could hear
them discussing who was best fitted for the task of traversing the
dangerous ledge to bring back the captive who was to be found there. The
wild Welsh was unintelligible to Gertrude, or she would have known at
once what dark treachery had been planned and carried out by her trusted