rney."

Roland stopped in his walk, and turned abruptly towards the sound. He
saw standing there, just descended from the stairway at her back, one
quite evidently a lady; not more than eighteen, perhaps, but
nevertheless with a flash of defiance in her somber eyes, which were
bent fearlessly upon him. The two tirewomen accompanying her shrank
timorously to the background, palpably panic-stricken, and ready to
faint with fright.

"Ah, Madam, how came you here?" cried Roland, ignoring her insulting
words, too much surprised by her beauty of face and form to think of
aught else.

"I came here, because your bully upstairs hammered at my door and bade
me open, which I would not do, defying him to break it down if he had
the power. It so happened that he possessed the power, and used it."

"I deeply regret that you should have been disturbed, Madam. My
lieutenant erred through over-zeal, and I ask your pardon for the
offense."

The girl laughed.

"Why, sir, you are the politest of pirates, but, indeed, your lieutenant
seems a harsh man. Without even removing his bonnet, he commanded me to
betake myself to the courtyard and report to his chief, which obediently
I have done."

"I did not guess that women inhabited this robber's nest. My lieutenant
is searching for men in hiding, so please accept my assurance that you
will suffer no further annoyance. You are surely not alone in this
house?"

"Oh no. Her ladyship the Pfalzgraf's wife, and her entourage, have
sought shelter in another part of the Castle, and presently they will
all troop down here, prisoners to your most ungallant subordinate; that
is, should their doors prove no stouter than mine, or if your furious
men have not dislocated their shoulders."

"How came you to be absent from her ladyship's party?"

"Because, urbane pirate captain, I am an unwilling prisoner in this
stronghold, being an obstreperous person, who refused to obey my
superiors; those set in authority over me. Consequently am I immured in
this dismal dungeon of the water-rats, and thus, youthful pirate, I
welcome even so red-handed an outlaw as yourself."

"Then are we in like case, my lady of midnight beauty, for I, too, am a
prisoner in Pfalzgrafenstein, and, when you came, was cogitating some
plan of escape. Therefore, rebellious maiden, the sword of this
red-handed freebooter is most completely at your service," and the
speaker once more doffed his bonnet with a gallant sweep that ca