l had fainted.

"Not her Highness?" Maurice asked, the weight of dread lifting from his
heart.

"No. Her Royal Highness sent Camille, her maid of honor, veiled and
dressed like herself, to play an innocent jest on her old nurse. Some
one shall account for this; for they mistook Camille for her Highness.
I'm going to wade out into the water," von Mitter added, staggering to
his feet.

"You'll never get off your boot," said Maurice.

"I'll cut it off," was the reply, "I shall faint if I do not cool off
the leg. The ball is somewhere in the calf." And he waded out into the
water until it reached above his knees. Thus he stood for a moment, then
returned to the maid, who, on opening her eyes, screamed. "It is all
over, Camille," said the Lieutenant, throwing an arm about her.

"Your face is bleeding!" she cried, and sank back with her head against
his broad breast.

As Maurice gazed at the pair he sighed. There were no obstacles here.

Soon Scharfenstein came loping down the hill alone.

"I killed his horse," he said, in response to queries, "but he fled
into the woods where I could not follow. A bad night for us, Carl, a bad
night," swinging off his horse. "A boy would have done better work. Whom
have we here?"

"Kopf," said Maurice, "and he has a ball somewhere inside," holding up a
bloody hand.

"Kopf?" Scharfenstein cocked his revolver.

The maid of honor placed her hands over her ears and screamed again. Max
gazed at her, and, with a short, Homeric laugh, lowered the revolver.

"Any time will do," he said. "Ah, he opens his eyes."

The prisoner's eyes rolled wildly about. That frowning face above him...
was it a vision? Who was it? What was he doing here?

"Who put you up to this?" demanded Maurice.

"You are choking me!"

"Who, I say?"

"Beauvais."

Scharfenstein and von Mitter looked at each other comprehensively.

"Who is this Beauvais? Speak!"

"I am dying, Herr... Your knees--"

Maurice withdrew his knees. "Beauvais; who is he?"

"Prince... Walmoden, formerly of the emperor's staff."

Johann's eyes closed again, and his head fell to one side.

"He looks as if he were done for," said Maurice, standing up. "Let us
clear up the rubbish and hitch a horse to the carriage. The mate's all
right."

Von Mitter assisted the maid into the carriage and seated her.

"Go and stay with her," said Maurice, brusquely; "you're half fainting."

"You are very handy, Carewe," said von Mitter grateful