dence of the girl's whereabouts, so
they pressed on toward Stutevill.

Some two miles beyond the spot where the white palfrey had been found,
they came upon the dead bodies of the five knights who had accompanied
Bertrade from Stutevill.

Dismounting, Henry de Montfort examined the bodies of the fallen men.
The arms upon shield and helm confirmed his first fear that these had
been Bertrade's escort from Stutevill.

As he bent over them to see if he recognized any of the knights, there
stared up into his face from the foreheads of the dead men the dreaded
sign, NT, scratched there with a dagger's point.

"The curse of God be on him!" cried De Montfort. "It be the work of the
Devil of Torn, my gentlemen," he said to his followers. "Come, we need
no further guide to our destination." And, remounting, the little party
spurred back toward Torn.

When Bertrade de Montfort regained her senses, she was in bed in a
strange room, and above her bent an old woman; a repulsive, toothless
old woman, whose smile was but a fangless snarl.

"Ho, ho!" she croaked. "The bride waketh. I told My Lord that it would
take more than a tumble in the mud to kill a De Montfort. Come, come,
now, arise and clothe thyself, for the handsome bridegroom canst scarce
restrain his eager desire to fold thee in his arms. Below in the
great hall he paces to and fro, the red blood mantling his beauteous
countenance."

"Who be ye?" cried Bertrade de Montfort, her mind still dazed from
the effects of her fall. "Where am I?" and then, "O, Mon Dieu!" as she
remembered the events of the afternoon; and the arms of Colfax upon the
shields of the attacking party. In an instant she realized the horror of
her predicament; its utter hopelessness.

Beast though he was, Peter of Colfax stood high in the favor of the
King; and the fact that she was his niece would scarce aid her cause
with Henry, for it was more than counter-balanced by the fact that she
was the daughter of Simon de Montfort, whom he feared and hated.

In the corridor without, she heard the heavy tramp of approaching feet,
and presently a man's voice at the door.

"Within there, Coll! Hast the damsel awakened from her swoon?"

"Yes, Sir Peter," replied the old woman, "I was but just urging her to
arise and clothe herself, saying that you awaited her below."

"Haste then, My Lady Bertrade," called the man, "no harm will be done
thee if thou showest the good sense I give thee credit for. I will