ched up the bar wherewith the winding cogs of the gate
were turned, and, having broken more than one man's head with it, he
forced the massive doors apart by main force, so that they were able
all unharmed to withdraw themselves into the shelter of the woods. So
near capture had they been, however, that over and over again they
heard the shouting of the parties who scoured the woods in search of
them.

It was the worst feature of their situation that the Marshal de Retz
certainly knew of their presence in his territories, and that he would
be easily able to guess their errand and take measures to prevent it
succeeding.

Their last and most fatal failure had happened several days before,
and the first eager burst of the search for them had passed. But the
Scots knew that the enemy was thoroughly alarmed, and that it behoved
them to abide very closely within their hiding-place.

The Lord James took worst of all with the uncertainty and confinement.
Any restraint was unsuited to his jovial temper and open-air life. But
for the present, at least, and till they could gain some further
information as to the whereabouts of the maidens, it was obvious that
they could do no better than remain in their seaside shelter.

Their latest plan was to abide in the cave till the marshal set out
again upon one of his frequent journeys. Then it would be
comparatively easy to ascertain by an ambush whether he was taking the
captives with him, or if he had left them behind. If the maids were of
his travelling company, the three rescuers would be guided by
circumstances and the strength of the escort, as to whether or not
they should venture to make an attack.

But if by any unhoped-for chance Margaret and Maud were left behind at
Machecoul, it would at least be a more feasible enterprise to attack
the fortress during the absence of its master and his men.

Alone among the three Scots Malise faced their predicament with some
philosophy. Sholto ate his heart out with uncertainty as to the fate
of his sweetheart. The Lord James chafed at the compulsory confinement
and at the consistent ill success which had pursued them. But Malise,
unwearied of limb and ironic of mood as ever, fished upon the tidal
flats for brown-spotted flounders and at the rocky points for white
fish, often remaining at his task till far into the night. He
constructed snares with a mechanical ingenuity in advance of his age.
And what was worth more to the company tha