reatened to kiss me."

"Indeed, that was terrible," said Ma'm'selle Le Ray. "You must
have been afraid."

"Yes," said she, smiling, "afraid he wouldn't. They were a
good-looking lot."

"I do not think he was speaking of you at all," said the baroness.
"He was looking at me when--"

"Ciel!" exclaimed Louison, laughing. "That is why they turned
suddenly and fled into the fields."

I fled, too,--perhaps as suddenly as the Britishers,--to save
myself the disgrace of laughter.

The great clock in the hall above-stairs tolled the hour of two.
The ladies had all gone to bed save the baroness. The butler had
started upstairs, a candelabrum in his hand. Following him were
the count and Mr. Parish, supporting the general between them. The
able soldier had overrated his capacity. All had risen to go to
their rooms. Of a sudden we were startled by a loud rap on the
front door. A servant opened it, and immediately I heard the
familiar voice of D'ri.

"Is they anybody here by the name o' Mister Bell?" he asked.

I ran to the door, and there stood D'ri, his clothes wet, his boots
muddy, for it had been raining. Before he could speak I had my
arms around him, and he sank to his knees in my embrace. He was
breathing heavily.

"Tired out--thet's whut's the matter," he muttered, leaning over on
one hand. "Come through the woods t' save yer life, I did, an'
they was tight up t' me all the way."

"Poor fellow!" said the baroness, who stood at the door. "Help him
in at once and give him a sip of brandy."

"Tuk me prisoner over there 'n the woods thet day," said he,
sinking into a chair and leaning forward, his head on his hands.
"They tuk 'n' they toted me over t' Canady, an' I tuk 'n' got away,
'n' they efter me. Killed one on 'em thet was chasin' uv me over
'n the Beaver medders on the bog trail. Hoss got t' wallerin' so
he hed t' come down. Riz up out o' the grass 'n' ketched holt uv
'im 'fore he c'u'd pull a weepon. Tuk this out uv his pocket, an'
I tried to git the boss out o' the mire, but didn't hev time."

He sat erect and proudly handed me a sheet of paper. I opened it,
and read as follows:--

"To CAPTAIN ELIAS WILKINS, _Royal Fusiliers_.

"_My dear Captain_: You will proceed at once across the river with
a detail of five men mounted and three days' rations, and, if
possible, capture the prisoner who escaped early this morning,
making a thorough search of the woods in Jefferson County. He has