g others by
themselves, were, notwithstanding their many past experiences of the
treacherous cruelty of Rome, strangely unsuspicious of their popish
neighbors.

"The descent was scarcely yet accomplished by our young friends, when
startled by the sound of heavy footsteps and gruff voices in their rear,
and casting a look behind them, they beheld, rapidly approaching by
another path which wound about the base of the mountain, two men of most
ruffianly aspect.

"A wild terror seized upon the maiden as for an instant she caught the
gaze of mingled malice and sensuality they bent upon her; and seizing
Henri's hand, she flew over the ground toward La Tour with the fleetness
of a hunted doe.

"For herself what had she not to fear! and for the child that he might
be slain or reserved for a fate esteemed by the Vaudois worse than
death, in being carried off to Pignerol and brought up in an idolatrous
faith.

"The men pursued, calling to her with oaths, curses, obscene words, and
jeering laughter.

"These but quickened her flight; she gained the bridge over the
Angrogna, sped across it, over the intervening ground, and through the
gate into the town; the footsteps of her pursuers echoing close behind.

"'Ah ha! escaped my embraces for the present, have you, my pretty
barbet?' cried one of the miscreants, following her with gloating, cruel
eyes as she sped onward up the street, feeling only comparatively safe
even there. 'Ah well, it but delays my pleasure a few hours. I know
where to find ye and shall pay my respects to-night.'

"'And I,' added his companion with a fierce laugh; 'to ye and many
another like ye. It's work quite to my taste Holy Mother Church has laid
out for us to-night, Andrea.'

"'Yes, yes, Giuseppe, we'll not quarrel with the work or the wages; all
the plunder we can lay hands on; to say naught of the pretty maids such
as yon, or the escape from the fires of purgatory.'

"They were wending their way to the convent of the Recollets as they
talked. Arrived at its gates they were immediately admitted, to find it
filled with cut-throats such as themselves, and soon learned that the
church also and the house of the cure were in like condition.

"'Good!' they cried, 'how many names in all?'

"'Seven hundred,' said one.

"'Eight hundred,' asserted another.

"'Well, well, be it which it may, we're strong enough for the work, all
the able-bodied barbetti being on the frontier,' cried Andrea,
exultingl