they are both fair--"

"Enough!" exclaimed I through my teeth, and digging my fingers into the
palms of my hands till the blood came.

"I understand you, Captain. Depend on me."

"Thanks, good fellow," said he, not heeding my troubled voice. "We
shall meet again soon. And, by the way, see specially that a certain
hare-brained poetic fool and a swaggering bully, his companion, come not
near the place. If you catch them, you will do well to hang them on the
gate. Heaven knows they have marred sport enough! And now, farewell.
Your hand on this."

I gave him such a grip that he well-nigh danced with pain, and let him
go.

I was in a state of wild tumult. Within those very walls, then,
unconscious of all that came and went, lay the two sweet maids, for
whose sake I have travelled thus far from London. And this fool of a
villain was even now leaving me to guard them, while he, deferring his
crime for a more convenient season, went to show himself to my Lord
Deputy! 'Twas more like a dream of good fortune than real fact; and I
dreaded every moment to find myself awake with all my hopes vanished.

But no. The Captain and his men went to horse, and presently the order
was given to march out.

"Farewell," cried he to me as he rode forth; "be trusty and vigilant.
Draw up the gate after we be gone, for there be rogues in plenty about.
We shall meet again. Meanwhile, when you see my angel, tell her I left
in tears, breathing her name. Ha! ha!"

And he spurred off gaily.

I stood stock-still, I know not how long, till the sound of the hoofs
had clattered away into silence, and the voices were lost in the gentle
moaning of the night-wind among the trees. Then I turned and glanced up
at the house. All was dark; not a light flickered, nor was there aught
to show behind which of these windows slumbered my sweet Jeannette or
her fair mistress.

"Sleep on for to-night, dear hearts," said I. "To-morrow by this time
ye shall be safe for ever from the talons of yon cursed hawk."

Then, bidding my men draw up the gate and dispose themselves for the
night, I took up my post by the door, and waited patiently for the
morning.

My men were soon snoring, for we had travelled hard and long. But sleep
was never further from my eyes. As I sat there, listening to the rising
wind in the trees, and the rush of the river below, with now and again
the wail of a sea-bird crying out seaward, I grew to hate the darkness.
Despi