e unequal. In less time than it takes to tell
it, one of the men plunges his bright, long steel in Pierre's side.
The latter falls like a lump of clay on the scaffold flooring. Several
of the bayonets speed toward the inert lump, with the intent on the
part of their owners to fling the body contemptuously from the
scaffold to the floor.

But a more refined cruelty speaks: "Save him for the guillotine!" The
soldiers leave the crumpled-up, desperately wounded Pierre, dooming
him yet to taste La Guillotine's embrace. They subdue de Vaudrey and
truss him up anew.

The roars of the crowd die down. Comparative order is again restored.
The master of ceremonial, having recovered the habit of command,
orders Jean, the remaining executioner, to complete the stricken one's
job.

[Illustration: HENRIETTE SAVED FROM THE GUILLOTINE'S KNIFE.]

Fortunately for our heroine under the knife, the second executioner is
slow and awkward. He has seen butchery come quite too close to his own
flesh! Still somewhat unnerved, he prepares himself for the task with
clumsy movements and halting fingers. The master bids him hurry--Jean
takes his time, he's not going to bungle the job....

As the supreme moment nears, it is well that we should note what is
happening with Danton and his Centaurs--

CHAPTER XXIX

DANTON'S RIDERS

About half way of the journey through the City, Jacques-Forget-Not and
his men take up a stand in front of the onrushing cavalry.

They wave orders and prohibitions.

They yell to the horsemen to draw rein.

Resistlessly the troopers keep their careering course--the talk and
gestures are but as the East Wind to tensed Danton, stern-set Captain,
and the rest.

Forget-Not's tribe escape the deadly horse hoofs by quick side jumps.

Within the next few minutes--even while the head executioner is making
the little victim ready--Danton and his riders reach the barrier on
the Guillotine side of Paris. Orders had already been received to
close the gates at the cavalry's approach.

"Quick! there is not a moment to lose," yells the Jacobin commander as
he sights the oncoming host. He hastens to deploy his soldiers with
spears and pikes across the barrier, whilst the keepers bring the
heavy gates to.

The barred gates and the opposing fighters threaten to dash Danton's
every hope of saving by reprieve his "dear one of treasured memory."
Indeed, as we have seen, but for frenzied Pierre's maniacal slaughter
of t