ance, and bid them take
cover."

"They will scarce be within hail of each other at that," says the
lieutenant.

"Near enough, with ten gold pieces to sharpen their eyesight. Go you
with them and hold them to their work."

The line was presently extended as the order ran, each link in the
cordon chain advancing fifty paces on its front into the forest. Dick
fetched a deep sigh of relief; and I thought less of the thin-leafed
cover and the scarlet coat of me.

Falconnet had resumed the pacing of his sentry beat before the lodge,
but when his men were out of sight and hearing he stopped short and
stole on tiptoe to lay his ear to the flap.

"So, you are awake, Mistress Margery? Send your woman out. I would speak
with you--alone."

There was no reply, but we could both hear the low anguished voice of
our dear lady praying for help in this her hour of trial. Dick inched
aside to give me room, freeing his weapon, as I did mine. We were not
over-quiet about it, but the captain of horse was too hot upon his own
devil's business to look behind him.

Having no answer from within, he stooped to loose the flap. It was
pegged down on the inside. He rose and whipped out his sword; the
firelight fell upon his face again and we saw it as it had been the face
of a foul fiend from the pit.

"Open!" he commanded; and when there was neither reply nor obedience, he
cut the flap free with his sword and flung it back.

The two women within the wigwam were on their knees before a little
crucifix hanging on the lodge wall. So much we saw as we broke cover and
ran in upon the despoiler. Then the battle-madness came upon us and I,
for one, saw naught but the tense-drawn face of a swordsman fighting for
his life--a face in which the hot flush of evil passion had given place
to the ashen graying of fear.

We drove at him together, Dick and I, and so must needs fall afoul of
each other clumsily, giving him time to spring back and so to miss the
claymore stroke which else would have shorn him to the middle. Then
ensued as pretty a bit of blade work as any master of the old
cut-and-thrust school could wish to see; and through it all this king's
captain of horse seemed to bear a charmed life.

There was no punctilio of the code of honor in this duel _a outrance_.
Knowing our time was short, we fought as men who fight with halters
round their necks; not to decide a nice point at issue, but to kill this
accursed villain as we would kill a