of night towards
me.

"Jacob, is it you?" I asked, as he drew near.

"Yes, Master Ernst; and I have almost lost my breath through fright and
running. I am little accustomed to that."

"But have you found where they have carried her, good Jacob?" I asked
eagerly.

"Yes, yes, I will tell you," was the reply; "but I am afraid even now I
am followed. We will go into the house before we attempt to speak."

On entering the hall, a glass of wine restored the worthy Jacob's powers
of speech.

"I hope they are not coming, though, for they would carry me off to
prison too, and perhaps burn me for living in the house of a heretic!"
exclaimed Jacob, who, though a Protestant at heart, had of late
conformed to the Romish system.

"But say, my good friend, where they have taken Mistress Aveline!" cried
Captain Radford.

"I will tell you, sir, if you will have patience," said Jacob. "I soon
overtook them after they left the house, but had to keep at a cautious
distance, lest I should be seen. They slackened their pace in a short
time, and I was then able to keep them easily in view. I judged, from
the direction they were taking, that they were making their way to the
Water Gate; and my great fear then was, that they might be going out of
the city altogether, and I might find it impossible to follow them. I
thought of you, Master Ernst, for I knew how grieved you would be. On
they went; now taking their way through the narrow streets and lanes in
that direction. I had to get nearer than was prudent, for fear of
missing them. Several times I was afraid that they would see me, but I
suppose they did not. At length I was greatly relieved when I saw the
party stop before a house a short distance from the Water Gate. The
door opened, and they all went in. I immediately hurried up to the
door, on one side of which I contrived with the point of my dagger to
make a mark which I am sure I shall know again. What the character of
the house is I know not. Just as I was coming away, the door again
opened, and I had to run to escape detection. I believe that I was
followed, but I soon distanced my pursuers, and for the sake of the
young lady I would gladly have run twice the risk I did."

We all, of course, thanked Jacob for the service he had rendered. He
promised us that as soon as it was daylight he would gladly set out
again with either of us, to try and discover the house into which
Aveline had been carried. Maste