Alain. Vive M. le Capitaine! What shall we do with him?"
said many friendly voices.

"Take him to the Centenier under the Gallows-hill," said Alain, availing
himself of the rising tide. "Or, stay"--as he caught a look from Querto,
in which agony and reproach were mingled--"If he prefers it, carry him
on board the first ship bound for France. I will answer for his passage
money. Handle him as he deserves."

To hear was to obey with the angry islanders. Hustled and disarmed,
bonnetted and bound with handkerchiefs, Querto was borne off, howling
and cursing. In a few minutes all was once more still in and about the
house, only the good watch dog had suffered. He would never sound
another alarm. One strobe of Querto's sabre had severed his faithful
head from his body.

Alain returned to the parlour.

Reassured by his telling them the story, they were easily persuaded to
retire to their chamber. Alain's next care was to seek the king's hiding
place.

"You must stay where you are till morning, sir," he said, without
entering. "I will watch over the only way by which any one can approach
you."

"As you will," cried Charles from within. "But hark ye, captain!
methinks a pint of claret would not be amiss, warm with a spiced toast
floating on the top."

The man and his wife who waited on the ladies had been spirited away by
some intrigue on the part of Benoist, and the king would have to pass
the night alone in the small kitchen.

More amused than disgusted with the royal levity, Le Gallais--who knew
the ways of the house--brewed the desired tankard, and, returning to the
kitchen, set the hot drink upon the table; then wishing the king "good
repose;" left him to his meditations.

On returning to the parlour, Le Gallais carefully secured both the inner
and the outer door, put a log upon the fire, looked to the priming of
his pistols, laid his sword upon the table, threw a cloak over his
knees, sate up in his arm chair with a look of resolute vigilance, and
sank into a profound sleep, from which he did not wake till day streamed
through the casement. His first care was to go to the stable and release
Benoist, but that slippery rascal, after his wont, had released himself.
His gag and bandage lay upon the stable floor, along with a bar shaken
out of the loophole in the wall, leaving an aperture just large enough
for a lean man to push through.

Returning to the house, Le Gallais found the graceless monarch seated at
ta