e bathed his father's
face, forced a few drops of the strong spirit down his throat, and the
old man opened his eyes. In the flickering light he caught sight of
the green cap and coat.

"Curse you," he whispered.

"My father!" cried the young officer. "It is I."

"My son!"

"What has happened?"

"The Cossacks--I fought for the honor of your sister. Where----" the
old man's voice faltered.

"She is dead yonder," answered the son.

"Thank God," came the faint whisper from the father. "Mademoiselle
Laure--she--the wagon-train--the castle----"

His voice died away, his eyes closed. Frantically the young man
recalled his father to his senses again.

"It's no use," whispered the old man, "a ball in the breast. I am
going. What do you here?"

"On the service of the Emperor," answered the young officer. "Father,
speak to me!"

"Alas--poor--France," came the words slowly, one by one, and
then--silence.

Marteau had seen death too many times not to know it now. He laid the
old man's head gently down, he straightened his limbs, he went over to
the form of the poor girl. To what horrors she had been
subjected--like every other woman in the village--before she died!
Like his father, he thanked God that she was dead. He lifted her up
tenderly and laid her down on a huge settle by the fireplace. He stood
a moment, looking from one to the other. The irreligion of the age had
not seized him. He knelt down and made a prayer. Having discharged
that duty, he lifted his hands to heaven and his lips moved. Was he
invoking a curse upon these enemies? He turned quickly and went out
into the night, drawing the door behind him, fastening it as tight as
he could.

He forgot that he was hungry, that he was thirsty, that he was tired,
that he was cold. For the moment he almost forgot his duty toward his
Emperor and France, as he walked rapidly through the trees toward the
great house. But as he walked that stern obligation came back to him.
His sister was dead, his father murdered. Well, the first Cossack he
came upon should pay. Meanwhile there was his duty. What had his
father said?

"The Cossacks--the wagon-train--the Countess Laure."

What did it mean? Part of it was plain enough. The Cossacks had
raided the village, his father had been stricken down defending his
daughter, his sister had died. That was easy, but the wagon-train, the
castle, the Countess Laure? Could she have come back? Was that