ushed to where she lay, and seized her
in their arms and started for the door.

"Touch her not with your contaminating hands! Oh! false knight, I will
have the last drop in thy heart for this! Oh, thou accursed slave of
Hell! unbind me, and I will tear out thy throat with my bare fingers!

"Michael! for God's sake come! they are carrying her off with them!"
and I cursed, and shrieked, and struggled with my bonds until they cut
deep into my wrists.

"All Hill take this accursed door! It'll go now, or Oi'll brake moy
damned back!"

There was a tremendous crash; the whole house did seem to shake; and
Michael burst through the door with parts of it still clinging to his
armour, which was battered from head to foot; and his great hands were
red with blood.

"At last Oi'm here, yer honour; but, Oi fear, too late," gasped he, as
he tried the outer door, and found it locked.

He then cut with his dagger the cords that bound me. Too late, too
late we were indeed. Another door had to be battered down ere we were
able to gain the outside. This occupied some time, and when at last we
did rush tottering forth we found no sight of our enemies, or our dear,
brave, little maiden.

Our horses' reins had been cut, and the beasts themselves were
wandering far from the house.

How Michael did swear, as tenderly he bound up mine ears with pieces of
the cloth that had served to cover the basket we had brought.

"Oh, sure sor, Oi did moy viry bist; but Oi couldn't git through in
toime, yer honour. Forgive me, Sor Walter; but Oi'll nivir rist till
Oi have the varmint, and the dear swate Lady Hazel is safe returned to
thee, sor," sobbed the poor fellow, like a child, as he knelt at my
feet, praying pardon for not having accomplished more, in but a few
short moments, than three ordinary men might do in one whole day, and
then feel proud of their work.

"Rise, my brave Michael, and never again ask of me pardon; for thy
mighty work this day hath saved my life, and, had it been within the
power of man, it would have saved the Lady Hazel."

Michael brought out my helm and put it on me. The wounds in mine ears
were mere trifles; so I suffered no inconvenience from my headpiece.

We caught our horses and, after mending their harness, we mounted and
set out for Leicester, by roads not travelled by the army.

Now was I determined to join Lord Stanley's force in time to take part
in the great battle. There would I meet Catesby, a