lowing morning before her absence was discovered.

Malcolm tried his best to distract Thekla's thoughts from her parents,
and from the strange situation in which she was placed, and chatted to
her of the events of the war since he had last seen her, of the route
which he intended to adopt, and the prospects of peace. In two hours'
time the girl, unaccustomed to exercise, acknowledged that she was
tired; she therefore took her place in the wagon.

Malcolm covered her up with straw and threw some sacks lightly over
her, and then continued his journey. He travelled all night, and in the
morning stopped at a wayside inn, where his arrival at that hour excited
no surprise, as the peasants often travelled at night, because there was
then less chance of their carts being seized and requisitioned by the
troops. He only stopped a short time to water and feed the oxen, and
to purchase some black bread and cheese. This he did, not because he
required it, for he had an ample supply of provisions in the cart far
more suited for Thekla's appetite than the peasant's fare, but to act
in the usual manner, and so avoid any comment. Thekla was still asleep
under the covering, which completely concealed her. Malcolm journeyed on
until two miles further he came to a wood, then, drawing aside from the
road, he unyoked the oxen and allowed them to lie down, for they had
already made a long journey. Then he woke Thekla, who leaped up gaily
on finding that it was broad daylight. Breakfast was eaten, and after a
four hours' halt they resumed their way, Thekla taking her place in
the wagon again, and being carefully covered up in such a manner that
a passerby would not suspect that anyone was lying under the straw
and sacks at one end of the wagon. Just at midday Malcolm heard the
trampling of horses behind him and saw a party of cavalry coming along
at full gallop. The leader drew rein when he overtook the wagon.

"Have you seen anything," he asked Malcolm, "of two seeming craftsmen, a
man and a boy, journeying along the road?"

Malcolm shook his head. "I have seen no one on foot since I started an
hour since."

Without a word the soldiers went on. They had no reason, indeed,
for believing that those for whom they were in search had taken that
particular road. As soon as Thekla's disappearance had been discovered
by the waiting woman she had hurried to the governor, and with much
perturbation and many tears informed him that the young counte