, there waited no home over there.

"The sun has gone," said the maiden presently, laying her hand on
Ludar's arm.

He said nothing; but took the little hand captive in his, and stood
there, watching the fading glow.

Then she began to sing softly; and I, knowing they needed not my help,
left them.

I remember, as I made my way, stumbling through the thick heather,
towards the little village, feeling that this trouble of mine would be
less could I tell it to some one; and then, I know not how, I fancied
myself telling it to sweet Jeannette; and how prettily she heard me,
with her bright eyes glistening for my sake, and her hand on my arm,
just as a minute ago I had seen that maiden's hand on Ludar's. Heigho!
I who called myself a man was becoming a girl! Happily the heather was
thick and the path steep, so that I presently had some other care for my
head to busy itself with.

So I came down to the little bay, and set the boat in readiness for to-
morrow's voyage, and then, having nought else to do (for the old nurse
was abed already), I curled myself up in my corner and fell asleep,
dreaming of I know not what.

Now, you are not to suppose that from the time we dropped anchor in
Leith Roads till now our travels had been easy. On the contrary, the
perils we had met by sea had been nothing to those we encountered by
land. Well for us, in parting company with the _Misericorde_ (which we
left in the hands of the honest pilot to render up to the Frenchman's
agents in Scotland), we had taken each our pistol and sword. For scarce
had we set foot in Edinburgh, but we were called to use them. Sometimes
it was to protect the maiden from the gallants of the Court, who deemed
each pretty face their private game, and were amazed to find Ludar and
me dispute their title. Sometimes it was to defend ourselves from the
hungry redshanks who itched to dig their daggers into some body, little
matter whose. Sometimes it was from rogues and vagabonds whose mouths
watered at the sight of the box. Sometimes it was from the officers,
who took us one day for English spies, and the next for lords in
disguise. As for the poet, the day of our landing he had fled for his
life from the terrors of the place, and so we lost him.

I cannot tell what battles we fought, what knocks we got, or what we
gave in return; how night by night we slept, sword in hand, at the
maiden's door; how day by day we sought to escape from the city and
cou