very pale, but very quiet and resolute. "He is your dear friend, I
know," she said, calmly, "but he belongs to me as he does not to anybody
else in the world. I may not have him long, so please don't grudge me
the comfort of watching." Wilkinson had to go away, more pained at heart
for the sad eyed watcher awaiting the impending blow than for the
unconscious friend on whom it was to fall more mercifully. Mr. Bangs
took charge of the outside guard that night, in which the clergymen had
volunteered to serve. Mr. Rigby took a grey blanket out to the stables,
and lay down near his prisoners, with baton and pistol close at hand.
About eleven o'clock Ben Toner, on guard before the house, saw a female
figure approaching, and challenged. "Squit yer sojer foolins, Ben, and
leave me pass," came from the well known voice of Serlizer. "Is the gals
up in the kitchen?"

"They is," replied Mr. Toner, humbly and laconically; and his ladylove
proceeded thitherward. Miss Newcome looked in upon Tryphena, Tryphosa,
and Timotheus, Mr. Maguffin being asleep, and, after a little
conversation, guessed she'd go and see Ben. She had found out that the
constable had two prisoners in charge, quite incidentally, and listened
to the news as something that did not concern her. Instead of going to
see Ben, however, she visited the stables. The corporal was evidently
tired of lying in front of his captives, and probably proposed to
himself an improving game of geography over a mug of cider in the
kitchen, for he had risen and unlocked the door. Serlizer stood by it
with a stout handkerchief in her hand, in the middle of which was
knotted a somewhat soft and unsavoury potato. As Mr. Rigby slipped out,
after a glance at his shackled charges, that potato went across his
month, and was fastened in its place by the handkerchief, firmly, though
quickly, knotted at the back of his neck. The terror of Russians and
Sepoys struggled for liberty, but he was a child in the arms of the
encampment cook. Halters, ropes, and chains of many kinds were hanging
up, and with some of these the Amazon secured her prisoner in a stall.
Then she searched him, retaliating upon the constable the indignities he
had practised on his former victims. Handcuff and padlock keys were
found in his pockets, and with these she silently freed her venerable
father, who, in his turn, delivered young Rawdon from his bonds. "Now,
you two," said the rescuer, quietly, "go round the end of the sta