ther
kill fifty men, than to stay by myself five minutes, with the smallest
of the fifty after he was killed."

"Well, then, you foolish fellow, go to the hall to-night and inform them
of her death, and excuse me to Colonel Temple for my abrupt departure,
and meet me with the rest of the men at Tindal's Point as soon as
possible. I will bide there for you. But first help me to take the poor
girl's body into the wigwam. I suppose she will rest quietly enough here
till morning. Major Hansford," he added, courteously, "our horses are
ready I perceive. You can take Holliday's there. He can provide himself
with another at the hall. Shall we ride, sir?"

With a sad heart the captive-bound Hansford mounted with difficulty the
horse prepared for him, which was led by Thompson, while Bernard rode by
his side, and with more of courtesy than could be expected from him,
endeavoured to beguile the way with conversation with his prisoner.

Meanwhile Holliday, whistling for company, and ever and anon looking
behind him warily, to see whether the disembodied Mamalis was following
him, bent his steps towards the hall, to communicate to the unsuspecting
Virginia the heavy tidings of her lover's capture. The rough soldier,
although his nature had been blunted by long service and familiarity
with scenes of distress, was not without some feelings, and showed even
in his rude, uncultivated manners, the sympathy and tenderness which was
wanting in the more polished but harder heart of Alfred Bernard.

CHAPTER XLIV.

"Go to Lord Angelo,
And let him learn to know, when maidens sue,
Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,
All their petitions are as freely theirs,
As they themselves would owe them."
_Measure for Measure._

It were impossible to describe the silent agony of Virginia Temple, when
she learned from Holliday, on the following morning, the capture of
Hansford. She felt that it was the wreck of all her hopes, and that the
last thread which still hung between her and despair was snapped. But
even in that dark hour, her strength of mind, and her firmness of
purpose forsook her not. There was still a duty for her to perform in
endeavouring to procure his pardon, and she entertained, with the
trusting confidence of her young heart, the strong hope that Berkeley
would grant her request. On this sacred errand she determined to go at
once. Alt