king the pistol from where it hung, examined
flint and priming and charge and laid it on the table.

"Should you need me at any time, shoot off this pistol and I will come"
says I, "so good-bye, my lady!" But scarce was I without the cave than
she comes to me with my chain-shirt in her hands, and when I would have
none of it, grew the more insistent.

"Put it on," says she gently, "who can tell what may befall you, so put
it on I pray!" Thus in the end I donned it, though with ill grace;
which done, I took my pike across my shoulder and strode away. And
when I had gone some distance I glanced back and saw her standing where
I had left her, watching me and with her hands clasped tight together.

"Good-bye, Martin!" says she. "O good-bye!" and vanished into the
gloom of the cave.

As for me I strode on at speed and careless of direction, for my mind
was a whirl of conflicting thoughts and a bitter rage against myself.
Thus went I a goodish while and all-unheeding, and so at last found
myself lost amidst mazy thickets and my eight-foot pike very
troublesome. Howbeit I presently gained more open ways and went at
speed, though whither, I cared not. The sun was westering when, coming
out from the denser woods, I saw before me that high hill whose rocky
summit dominated the island, and bent my steps thitherward; and then
all in a moment my heart gave a great leap and I stood still, for borne
to me on the soft air came a sudden, sharp sound, and though faint with
distance I knew it for the report of a firearm. At this thrice-blessed
sound an overwhelming great joy and gratitude surged within me since
thus, of her infinite mercy my lady had summoned me back; and now as I
retraced my steps full of thankfulness, I marvelled to find my eyes
a-watering and myself all trembling eagerness to behold her loveliness
again, to hear her voice, mayhap to touch her hand; indeed I felt as we
had been parted a year rather than a brief hour. And now I got me to
dreaming how I should meet her and how she would greet me. She should
find a new Martin, I told myself. Suddenly these deluding dreams were
shivered to horrible fear and myself brought, sweating, to a standstill
by another sound that smote me like a blow, for I knew this for the
deep-toned report of a musket. For a moment I stood leaning on my pike
as one dazed, then the hateful truth of it seized me and I began to run
like any madman. Headlong I went, bursting my way throu