ierce thrusts of Dacres's
knife, and Hawbury tore the rifle from a third. With the clubbed end
of this he began dealing blows right and left. The men fell back and
leveled their pieces. Dacres sprang forward, and was within three
steps of Girasole--his face full of ferocity, his eyes flashing, and
looking not so much like an English gentleman as one of the old
vikings in a Berserker rage. One more spring brought him closer to
Girasole. The Italian retreated. One of his men flung himself before
Dacres and tried to grapple with him. The next instant he fell with a
groan, stabbed to the heart. With a yell of rage the others rushed
upon Dacres; but the latter was now suddenly seized with a new idea.
Turning for an instant he held his assailants at bay; and then,
seizing the opportunity, sprang into the woods and ran. One or two
shots were fired, and then half a dozen men gave chase.

Meanwhile one or two shots had been fired at Hawbury, but, in the
confusion, they had not taken effect. Suddenly, as he stood with
uplifted rifle ready to strike, his enemies made a simultaneous rush
upon him. He was seized by a dozen strong arms. He struggled fiercely,
but his efforts were unavailing. The odds were too great. Before long
he was thrown to the ground on his face, and his arms bound behind
him. After this he was gagged.

The uproar of this fierce struggle had roused all the ladies, and they
turned their eyes in horror to where the two were fighting against
such odds. Ethel raised herself on her knees from beside Lady
Dalrymple, and caught sight of Hawbury. For a moment she remained
motionless; and then she saw the escape of Dacres, and Hawbury going
down in the grasp of his assailants. She gave a loud shriek and rushed
forward. But Girasole intercepted her.

"Go back," he said. "De milor is my prisoner. Back, or you will be
bound."

And at a gesture from him two of the men advanced to seize Ethel.

"Back!" he said, once more, in a stern voice. "You mus be tentif to
miladi."

Ethel shrank back.

The sound of that scream had struck on Hawbury's ears, but he did not
recognize it. If he thought of it at all, he supposed it was the
scream of common terror from one of the women. He was sore and bruised
and fast bound. He was held down also in such a way that he could not
see the party of ladies. The Baron's carriage intercepted the view,
for he had fallen behind this during the final struggle. After a
little time he was allow