not find it in my heart to censure him. Having distanced
my poorly mounted pursuers I stopped to water my horse at the spring
before riding the few hundred yards to the gates of Cartillon. While
yet waiting by the spring I was horrified to see men struggling on top
of the great tower. Their fight was brief and decisive. Two of them,
one being Maurice my most trusted man at arms, were thrown violently to
the courtyard below. Of the others some were killed, some overpowered
and carried below again.

All of this took only an instant, for it appeared but the end of a
desperate encounter which had been raging elsewhere. The time,
however, was long enough for me to see that those of the larger party
wore the white sash and cross which distinguished my assailants in
Rouen.

"God in heaven, what murder's work have we at Cartillon?" I cried aloud
in my misery. Then one who could answer came running toward me from
the castle, gashed, with snapped sword in hand.

"Oh, master, master, the Catholics, the Catholics," was all he could
speak out before he fell a senseless mass at my horse's feet.

Cartillon was not now a refuge.

Immediately the distant sound of hoof beats came loud and louder yet,
from the direction of Rouen. Ortez was coming.

"Quick, Gaston, we must fly."

My overtaxed horse failed me now. Pulling the rein he only sank slowly
to his knees, and after a few spasmodic twitches, stiffened out forever
upon the rocky road. I stood erect a moment, child in arms,
irresolute. There was short shrift to think. My blood rebelled at
flight.

"Here, Gaston, take the boy; hide in the wood. Carry him to the Abbot
of Vaux, and conjure the good priest, by our fathers' love and ours, to
save my baby."

Gaston had hardly passed from sight among the trees before a dozen
well-armed horsemen, bearing the same white cross in their caps,
spurred round a curve in the forest road, coming suddenly upon me
beside my fallen steed. Sword in hand, I fronted them, determined,
come what would, to fly no further. The evil face of Ortez shone with
gratification at so unexpectedly finding me alone.

"Now, yield thee, sirrah," he cried, as his men surrounded me. A quick
sword thrust through the body of his horse, brought him to the ground.

"Not yet, thou slayer of women; here, upon equal footing, thy life
shall pay for those of wife and child."

I verily believed the Almighty vengeance was in my blade, and doubt not
I s