Why, the cockroaches that crawl around here
are literally starving. It's a marvel you got past old Cunningham with
this basket. Nothing infuriates him so, and this morning I saw him
knock on the floor a bowl of broth brought to one of the prisoners."

"Oh! I can't understand it."

"No, and you never will until you get better acquainted with men like
Cunningham, which God forbid. But tell me about the 'Mis-er-'"

"'Mischianza?' Oh, it was the most delightful affair ever known. You
should have seen it. The floats on the river, the parades, the arches,
the battles between the knights and all! Well, Major Andre was a true
prophet when he said no Roman fete would equal it. I simply can't find
words to describe ever so little of it."

With you present I couldn't have realized its magnificence if I had
seen it, was the thought in Enderwood's mind, but what he said was:
"They tell me it was gorgeous, and you may say with the old Roman,
er--how do those Latin words go? Anyhow it was to the effect that he'd
been a part of the doings, quite a big part at that."

"I? Why, I was but a crumb at the banquet."

Ah, Lisbeth! Those flashing eyes, that colour such as "blended rose"
never had, that lithe, rounded figure radiating vitality, bespeak too
much of modesty in your words.

"Go on, Nat, old boy, faster! We must save the girl. Up and at 'em,
Rangers! Cheated of promotion, and by a girl! Oh, Lisbeth, how could
you do it! You knew I'd believe what you told me."

"Who is that?" The girl's face is pale and her voice trembles.

"Another victim. I was about to ask you, if possible, to have a doctor
sent here. Cunningham refused it. You know him, surely you do. It's
poor Rodney Allison. He'll not ride many more races, I'm thinking,
such as the night he rode and overtook your horse and stopped it."

"Rodney! Don't you know me, your old playmate? Don't you know Lisbeth?
How hot his head is!"

The girl sat, as one dazed, with her cool hand on the lad's forehead.
He lay more quietly under her kindly touch.

"He hasn't got to suffer as long as the most of us. It will only be a
question of a few days in this place," said Lawrence, bitterly.

Lisbeth looked up, and Lawrence saw that her eyes glittered and her
face looked hard. She bade him adieu and was gone before he could say
more.

"She come in like an angel o' mercy an' went out with a face like
Jezebel's. Guess she was feared she mought ketch the fever," said one
of the pri