nd at last held
his restless hand. Elise, with the quick intelligence of love, stood
ready. The old woman caught the jug from her, swung it into the hollow
of her arm, poured the cup half full, and motioned the girl to lift
up Valmond's head. Elise raised it to her bosom, leaning her face down
close to his. Madame Degardy instantly pushed back her head.

"Don't get his breath--that's death, idiot!" she said, and began to pour
the liquid into Valmond's mouth very slowly. It was a tedious process
at first, but at length he began to swallow naturally, and finished the
cup.

There was no change for an hour, and then he became less restless. After
another cupful, his eyes half opened. Within an hour a perspiration
came, and he was very quiet, and sleeping easily. Parpon crouched near
the door, watching it all with deep, piercing eyes. Madame Degardy never
moved from her place, but stood shaking her head and muttering. At last
Lagroin came, and whisperingly asked after his chief; then, seeing him
in a healthy and peaceful sleep, he stooped and kissed the hand lying
upon the blanket.

"Beloved sire! Thank the good God!" he said. Soon after he had gone,
there was a noise of tramping about the tent, and then a suppressed
cheer, which was fiercely stopped by Parpon, and the soldiers of the
Household Troops scattered to their tents.

"What's that?" asked Valmond, opening his eyes bewilderedly.

"Your soldiers, sire," answered the dwarf.

Valmond smiled languidly. Then he saw Madame Degardy and Elise.

"I am very sleepy, dear friends," he said, with a courteous, apologetic
gesture, and closed his eyes. Presently they opened again. "My
snuff-box--in my pocket," he said to the old woman, waving a hand to
where his uniform hung from the tent-pole; "it is for you, madame."

She understood, smiled grimly, felt in a waistcoat pocket, found the
snuff-box, and, squatting on the ground like a tailor, she took two
pinches, and sat holding the antique silver box in her hand.

"Crazy Joan's no fool, dear lad," she said at last, and took another
pinch, and knowingly nodded her head again and again, while he slept
soundly.

CHAPTER XIV

"Lights Out!"

The bugle-call rang softly down the valley, echoed away tenderly in the
hills, and was lost in the distance. Roused by the clear call, Elise
rose from watching beside Valmond's couch, and turned towards the door
of the tent. The spring of a perfect joy at his safety had been fo