hed a lot, though some say it was her cat that
screeched and she died mum."

"If we could get into the water now, Dick?"

He shook his ash-hued head.

"The pools are frozen. Moreover, as well die of heat as cold; I love not
ice-water."

"What counsel, then, Dick?"

"You'll not take the best, master--to loose my bow upon them. That fine
fellow did well to be afraid, for had you not knocked up my hand there'd
be an arrow sticking in his throat by now. He was right, Death walked
near to him."

"It must not be, Dick, unless they strike first. What else?"

"Perchance, when the smoke begins to trouble them, which it must soon,
they'll move. Then we will run for the river; 'tis but fifty yards. The
Lady Eve can swim like a duck, and so can you. The tide has turned, and
will bear you to the point, and I'll hold the bank against any who try
to follow, and take my chance. What say you of that plan, lady?"

"That it is good as another, or as bad," she answered indifferently.
"Let's bide where we are and do what we must when we must. Nay, waste no
more breath, Hugh. I'll not yield and go home like a naughty child to be
married. It was you who snatched away Grey Dick's shaft, not I; and now
I'll save myself."

"Red Eve!--that's Red Eve!" muttered the henchman, with a dry chuckle of
admiration. "The dead trouble neither man nor woman. Ah, she knows, she
knows!"

After this there was silence for a while, save for the roar of the fire
that ever drew more near.

Eve held her cloak pressed against her mouth to filter the smoke, which
grew thick.

"It is time to move," said Hugh, coughing as he spoke. "By Heaven's
grace, we are too late! Look!"

As he spoke, suddenly in the broad belt of reeds which lay between them
and the river bank fire appeared in several places, caused doubtless
by the flaming flakes which the strong wind had carried from behind
the mound. Moreover, these new fires, burning up briskly and joining
themselves together, began to advance toward the three in the hole.

"The wind has turned," said Dick. "Now it is fire, or water if you can
get there. How do you choose to die?" and as he spoke he unstrung his
bow and slipped it into its leathern case.

"Neither one way nor the other," answered Eve. "Some may die to-night,
but we shall not."

Hugh leapt up and took command.

"Cover your faces to the eyes, and run for it," he said. "I'll go first,
then you, Eve, and Dick behind. Make for the point and l