l, and in a moment was within.

He said aloud, "Princess Isabel, I am your friend! Trust me! I have come
to deliver you from these wicked people!"

But there was no answer, nor did he discover the little Queen's
hiding-place till an uncontrollable sobbing guided him to the spot.

The child was crouching underneath the polished stove with which in
happier days she had so often played. Rollo took the little maid in his
arms.

"Do not be afraid," he whispered, "I, Rollo Blair, am your friend; I
will either take you to your friends or lay down my life for you. Trust
me!--Do what I tell you and all will be well!"

"Your voice sounds kind, though I cannot see your face," she whispered;
"yes, I will go with you!"

He lifted her up on his left arm, while in his right hand he held the
knife ready to be plunged to the hilt into any breast that withstood
him.

One swift rush and they were without among the reeds.

"I will take you to your mother--I promise it," he said, "but first you
must come through the town with me to the Hermitage of the good friars.
The palace is surrounded with wicked men to-night. We cannot go back
there, but to-morrow I will surely take you to your mother!"

"I do not want to go to my mother," whispered the little Queen, "only
take me to my dear, _dearest_ Dona Susana!"

And then it was that Rollo first realised that he had undertaken
something beyond his power.

CHAPTER XXXV

THE EXECUTIONER OF SALAMANCA

But, indeed, the problem before Rollo was one difficult enough to cause
him to postpone indefinitely all less immediate and pressing evils. As
they lay hid among the reeds, and while Rollo endeavoured more
completely to gain the good-will of the little Queen, they heard the
bell of the Hermitage of San Ildefonso strike the hour sonorously.

Rollo could hardly believe his ears as the number lengthened itself out
till he had counted twelve. He had supposed that it must be three or
four in the morning at the least. But the night had worn slowly. Many
things which take long to tell had happened in brief space, and, what to
Rollo appeared worst of all, it would be yet some five hours till
daylight.

As they crouched among the canes, the effect of his sudden discomfiture
of the captors of the child Isabel became apparent. The whole palace was
ringed with a sudden leaping fire of musketry. The angry fusillade was
promptly answered from the balconies, and Rollo had the satisfaction of