rty.

Manasseh was fast losing all self-control. "I will find a way out of
this!" he cried, in a frenzy.

Running to the door, he seized its iron ring and shook the heavy portal
in impotent fury. Then he turned back and surveyed his place of
confinement with searching eyes. It was now fairly well lighted by the
ruddy glare that came through the air-hole. The place had formerly been
a wine cellar, but every cask and barrel was now gone. The support on
which they had rested, however, remained behind. This was a massive oak
beam which had served to keep the wine casks from the damp earthen floor
of the cellar.

"Lanyi," commanded Manasseh, in quick, energetic tones, "take hold of
one end of this beam, and we will batter the door down."

"I'm your man!" responded the gipsy, with alacrity. He was small of
person, but every sinew in his wiry frame was of steel. He grasped the
beam behind while Manasseh carried the forward end, and so they
converted it into a Roman battering-ram.

The booming of cannon was drowned now by the pounding on the iron door.
The two prisoners wondered that no one in the house seemed to hear them.
But those who might before have heard were engaged elsewhere, while to
those outside the noises in the street drowned all tumult in the cellar.

At length the lock gave way under the tremendous battering to which it
was subjected, and soon the door flew open. The outer door was of wood,
and yielded readily.

"Hold on, stand back!" cried the gipsy, as Manasseh was about to run up
the stairs. "Wait until I take a peep and see if the coast is clear.
I'll mayhap find a gun that some one has thrown down."

"But I can't wait," returned the other, brushing him aside. "I need no
gun. The first man that dares get in my way shall furnish me with arms.
I am going to seek my wife! Let him who values his life run from before
me!"

He burst through the door, and sprang up the steps. No sooner was he in
the open air than an armed figure confronted him. But Manasseh did not
strike down this person, for it was a woman,--Zenobia. A dirk and a
brace of pistols were stuck in her belt.

"Take care!" she cried to Manasseh, and she made as if to shield him
from view with her cloak. "Stay where you are!"

But Manasseh seized her by the wrist and shouted hoarsely in her ear:

"Where are my wife and sister?"

Zenobia understood his tone and the frenzy with which he grasped her
arm. With a sad smile she made answer: