ing their noble work, or dead and in
their sainted graves--in any case, again in military phrase, "all
present or all accounted for!"

To the Hermitage of San Ildefonso, therefore, recently enlarged and
erected into a monastery, Rollo directed his steps. It was no easy task
at such a time. There was the great railing to negotiate, and a passage
to force through a town by this time alive with enemies. In spite of the
darkness the gipsies at any point might stop his way, and he was
burdened with a child whom he must protect at all hazards.

But this young man loved to be driven into a corner. Danger excited him,
as drinking might another man. Indeed, so quick were his parts, so ready
his invention, that before he had left the reed-bed he had turned over
and rejected half a dozen plans of escape. Yet another suggested itself,
to which for the moment he could see no objection.

He spoke to the little Isabel, who now nestled closely and confidently
to him.

"Did they not tell me," he said, "that there was somewhere about the
palace a dairy of cows?"

"Yes--it is true," answered the little Queen; "at least, there is a
place where they are brought in to be milked. It belongs to my mother.
She loves them all, and often used to take me there to enjoy the sight
and to drink the milk warm with the froth upon it because it is good for
the breathing!"

"Can you show me the way, little Princess Isabel?" said Rollo.

"Yes, that can I, indeed," she made answer; "but you must not take away
my mother's milk-pails, nor let the wicked gipsies know of them. Old
Piebald Pedro drives the cows in and out every day, riding upon his
donkey. They live at my mother's farm in the valley that is called in
French '_Sans Souci_!' Is it not a pretty name?"

"His donkey?" said Rollo, quickly, catching at the idea; "where does he
keep it?"

"In a little shed not far from the dairy," she answered, "the stable is
covered all over with yellow canes, and it stands near a pool where the
green frogs croak!"

It had been Rollo's intention to drive some of the royal cows out before
him as a booty, passing himself off as one of the gipsy gang. But upon
this information he decided that Pedro the cowherd's ass would suit his
purpose much better, if he should be fortunate enough to find it. He was
sure that among so many gipsies and ill-conditioned folk who had joined
the tribes of Egypt for the sake of adventure and booty, there must be
many who were p