up and bursting out in a trembling
frenzy-fit of protestation.

"Oh, 'tis all a mistake, my good sir--a devil's own trap! I--I am not
the man; I pledge you my sacred word! I--hands off, you cursed villains,
or I'll have the law on you!" this last when one of the men cast the
noose of a rope over his head whilst a second drew his arms to his sides
in the looping of another cord. "By God! you shall all smart for this;
all, I say! Take me to Colonel Tarleton. The king has no stancher friend
in all the province than I. Why, damme,'twas I who--"

A trooper came behind and gagged him with the loose end of the rope; and
Tybee held the candle to light the knotting of it. And so they marched
him out, with Tybee muttering between his teeth that it was
rat-catcher's work, and no soldier's, this killing of vermin, and
bidding his men make haste.

L

HOW RICHARD COVERDALE'S DEBT WAS PAID

For some breathless moments after we three were left alone in the
Stygian darkness of the wine cellar, no word was spoken. The rolling of
the thunder drum was muffled now, as it were booming out the dirge of
the man who had digged a pit and had himself fallen therein; and the
lightning flashes coming at longer intervals served but to intensify the
gloom they lit up for the instant.

It was a minced oath from Richard that first broke the spell that bound
us.

"'Twas too much for Madge," said he, "she has fainted. Swing the door,
and light another candle."

I did both as quickly as might be, and we bedded her on the floor,
stripping our coats to soften the stone flagging for her and trying by
all the means known to two unskilled soldier leeches to bring her to.

"Water!" said Dick; but when we had laved her face with that, and with
wine as well, without effect, we were well dismayed, I do assure you.
For all our efforts she lay as one dead; and neither of us could be
cold enough to pry her lips apart to play the drenching doctor with the
wine.

"Lord!" cried Dick, the sweat standing out upon his face in great drops;
"this is terrible! What shall we do?"

"Jeanne will know what to do," I asserted. "We must get her out of this
and up to her chamber."

Richard started to his feet and stooped to gather the dear body of her
in his arms. But in the act he paused and straightened himself to look
fixedly at me.

"Do you take her, Jack; she is--she is--your wife."

"Nay," said I, drawing back. "You are her own true lover; and could