lay close to the earth and heard
them cross the stream. And then, to my astonishment, they came directly
along the stream by the way I had first come; I rose to my feet just in
time to face the leader as he stopped his horse within a yard of me.

He gazed over the neck of his steed at me, and the Countess, and our two
animals. He was a tall, well-made, handsome man, seasoned but still
young, with a bronzed, fearless face.

"Good evening," said he, in a rich, manly voice. "So the youngster has
come to his senses,--and found a friend, it appears."

"I don't exactly understand you, Monsieur," said I.

"You are not to blame for that," he replied good-humouredly. "It is true
I met your young friend awhile ago, but as he was more dead than alive
at that time, he couldn't have told you much. How is it with him now?"

"I am not much hurt, Monsieur," replied the Countess for herself.

"I scarce knew how I should find you when I returned," said the
newcomer.

"Then you saw him here before, Monsieur?" said I.

"Yes; it was I who brought him here,--but, faith! he was in no condition
to see what was going on. We were searching this forest on the King's
business, when I heard something a little ahead, which made me gallop
forward, and there I saw half-a-dozen ruffians around a horse, and one
of them dragging this youth from the saddle. I shouted to my comrades
and charged at the robbers. They dropped the lad, and made off along the
path. I stopped to see to the young gentleman, and ordered my companions
to pursue the rascals. The youngster, let me tell you, seemed quite done
for. He had been struck, as you see, evidently just before he was pulled
from the horse."

"Yes, Monsieur," said the Countess; "and I knew nothing after the blow."

"So it appeared," replied the horseman. "I saw that water was needed,
and remembering this stream we had crossed, I carried you to this place
and did what I could for you. But I had to go and recall my men,--I
feared they might be led too far, or separated by the robbers running in
different directions. That explains my leaving you alone. We have a
piece of work in hand, of some importance, and dare not risk anything
for the sake of catching those knaves."

"I suppose they are part of the band that haunts this forest," said I.

"No doubt. But this forest is at present the haunt of larger game. Those
scoundrels escaped us this time--they were favoured by the dusk and the
undergrowth. I was