said, putting her hand on her shoulder.
"Surely God sent this gentleman to our rescue when we were very near
death. Why should we not accept this fresh kindness at his hands?"

Her mother looked up. "My daughter has chosen for me, Colonel Campbell.
I accept your offer with the deepest thankfulness. Were I to refuse now,
the time might come when I should be reduced to such straits that for
my daughter's sake I should bitterly regret that I had refused your
generous offer; therefore I accept it, and thank you from the bottom of
my heart."

"I do not wish you to see it in that light," he said with a smile. "At
best it is but an arrangement for our mutual advantage, and I, on my
part, thank you and mademoiselle most heartily for falling in with my
wishes."

CHAPTER XV: THE BATTLE OF MARIENTHAL

The decision had scarcely been made when one of the lieutenants ran in.
"Captain Mieville requests me to state that sounds have been heard
in the forest, and that he believes there is a large body of men
approaching."

"Then, ladies, I must beg you to mount the stairs to the turret at once.
I will place six men on guard there. The main body I must keep in front
of the chateau, as that affords a protection to our rear. Do not be
alarmed. I do not think the place is likely to be attacked; but should
it be, the six men could hold it for any time. As soon as I have beaten
the main body I will at once attack those who may be assailing the
turret, though I hardly think that they will do so, for they know that
there is nothing to be obtained that would in any way repay them for the
loss that they would suffer. They are marching here for the purpose of
attacking us."

He called to the two sentries.

"See the ladies up the stairs to the turret, and take up your post on
the lower stairs. Four more men shall join you at once."

He found that Mieville had already got all the men under arms, and had
ranged them between the bivouac fires and the still glowing chateau.

"Move your men along farther, Mieville. Let your left flank rest on the
angle of the old castle, then we shall not be made anxious by another
attack on the turret. Let the right flank rest upon the chateau where
the old castle joins it. We shall then be in darkness, while the
assailants, if they come from that side, will have to cross the ground
lit up by the glow from the ruins. Let the centre of the line be some
ten yards in front of the building; let the line be