e the road runs, narrower than ever, between
banks covered with bushes. All at once the perfect loneliness and
silence were broken by three or four men leaping out of the bushes in
front of me and barring the way, one presenting a pistol, another a long
pike, while a third prepared to seize my rein. I instantly spurred
forward, to make a dash for it: at the same time I was conscious that
other fellows had sprung into the road behind me. The knave caught both
reins close to the bit, and hung on under the horse's head, while the
poor animal tried to rear. I drew sword and dagger, and leaned forward
to run this fellow through. As I made my thrust, my senses suddenly went
out in a kind of fire-streaked darkness. As I afterwards learned, I had
been struck on the back of the head with a loaded cudgel by one of the
unseen men behind. When I came to myself I was lying on the earth in a
little bushy hollow away from the road: my hands were tied behind me,
and around each ankle was fastened a rope, of which one of my assailants
held the loose end. These two fellows and their four comrades were
seated on the ground, eating the fowls and drinking the wine and milk I
had provided for the Countess. One of them wore my sword, another had my
dagger. My purse lay empty on the grass, and my horse was hobbled with
the strap from my baskets.

My first thought was of the key. Searching about with my eyes, I
presently saw it, with the other one, at the edge of the bushes, where
they had doubtless been thrown as of no value.

My head was aching badly, but that was nothing to the terror in my heart
for the Countess: if I was hindered from going to her, who was to give
her aid?--nay, who was to release her from that dark hiding-place? She
would die for lack of food and air,--her cell of refuge would be her
tomb!

"Ah!" exclaimed one of the robbers; "the worthy young gentleman comes to
life."

"You are right," said I, trying to hit the proper mood in which to deal
with them. "I'm not sorry, either, as I was in some haste to get on. My
friends, as you appear to have emptied me of everything that can be of
any use to you, what do you say to allowing my poor remaining self to go
about my business?"

"And to give information about us as soon as you get to Chateaudun, eh?"
said one.

I was satisfied to let them think I was bound for Chateaudun.

"No," I replied. "Poor as I am, the toll you have collected from me is
not as much as my necessit