d Amyas; "for those negroes will
hurry down at her cry, and then found we must be."

"Are you mad, madam, to betray yourself by your own cries? The negroes
will be here in a moment. I give you one last chance for life, then:"
and Eustace shouted in Spanish at the top of his voice, "Help, help,
servants! Your mistress is being carried off by bandits!"

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Let your woman's wit supply the rest: and forget not him who thus saves
you from disgrace."

Whether the brothers heard the last words or not, I know not; but taking
for granted that Eustace had discovered them, they sprang to their feet
at once, determined to make one last appeal, and then to sell their
lives as dearly as they could.

Eustace started back at the unexpected apparition; but a second glance
showed him Amyas's mighty bulk; and he spoke calmly--

"You see, madam, I did not call without need. Welcome, good cousins. My
charity, as you perceive, has found means to outstrip your craft; while
the fair lady, as was but natural, has been true to her assignation!"

"Liar!" cried Frank. "She never knew of our being--"

"Credat Judaeus!" answered Eustace; but, as he spoke, Amyas burst
through the bushes at him. There was no time to be lost; and ere the
giant could disentangle himself from the boughs and shrubs, Eustace had
slipped off his long cloak, thrown it over Amyas's head, and ran up the
alley shouting for help.

Mad with rage, Amyas gave chase: but in two minutes more Eustace was
safe among the ranks of the negroes, who came shouting and jabbering
down the path.

He rushed back. Frank was just ending some wild appeal to Rose--

"Your conscience! your religion!--"

"No, never! I can face the chance of death, but not the loss of him. Go!
for God's sake, leave me!"

"You are lost, then,--and I have ruined you!"

"Come off, now or never," cried Amyas, clutching him by the arm, and
dragging him away like a child.

"You forgive me?" cried he.

"Forgive you?" and she burst into tears again.

Frank burst into tears also.

"Let me go back, and die with her--Amyas!--my oath!--my honor!" and he
struggled to turn back.

Amyas looked back too, and saw her standing calmly, with her hands
folded across her breast, awaiting Eustace and the servants; and he half
turned to go back also. Both saw how fearfully appearances had put her
into Eustace's power. Had he not a right to suspect that they were there
by her appointment; that