lovely, and so innocent; and I know you can't be
happy as you are. You must live otherwise. And oh, I pray you--I
entreat you to set your affections elsewhere!"

"Well, then, I think it's very, very horrid in you to press me so,"
said, Minnie, with something actually like asperity in her tone; "but
it's _quite_ impossible."

"But oh, why?"

"Why, because I don't want to have things any different. But if I have
to be worried and teased so, and if people insist on it so, why,
there's only one that I'll _ever_ consent to."

"And what is that?" asked Tozer, looking at her with the most
affectionate solicitude.

"Why, it's--it's--" Minnie paused, and looked a little confused.

"It's what?" asked Tozer, with still deeper and more anxious interest.

"Why, it's--it's--Rufus K. Gunn."

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THE IMPATIENT BARON.

The brigands had resisted stubbornly, but finally found themselves
without a leader. Girasole had disappeared; and as his voice no longer
directed their movements, they began to fall into confusion. The
attacking party, on the other hand, was well led, and made a steady
advance, driving the enemy before them. At length the brigands lost
heart, and took to flight. With a wild cheer the assailants followed
in pursuit. But the fugitives took to the forest, and were soon beyond
the reach of their pursuers in its familiar intricacies, and the
victors were summoned back by the sound of the trumpet.

[Illustration: "THE DISCOVERY OF A BODY ON THE SHORE OF THE LAKE."]

It was now daylight, and as the conquering party emerged from the
forest they showed the uniform of the Papal Zouaves; while their
leader, who had shown himself so skillful in forest warfare, proved to
be no less a personage than our friend the Baron. Led by him, the
party advanced to the old stone house, and here, drawing up his men in
front, their leader rushed in, and searched every room. To his
amazement, he found the house deserted, its only inmate being that
dead brigand whom Girasole had mistaken for Hawbury. This discovery
filled the Baron with consternation. He had expected to find the
prisoners here, and his dismay and grief were excessive. At first he
could not believe in his ill luck; but another search convinced him of
it, and reduced him to a state of perfect bewilderment.

But he was not one who could long remain inactive. Feeling confident
that the brigands were scattered every where in headlong flight, he
sent