ft voice. Lorry's eyes
sought hers and thanked her. A lump came into his throat as he looked up
into the tender, anxious blue eyes. A thrill came over him. Princess or
not, he loved her--he loved her! "You were very brave--oh, so brave!"
she whispered in his ear, her hand touching his hair caressingly. "My
American!"

He tried to reach the hand before it faded, but he was too weak. She
glided away, and he closed his eyes again as if in pain.

"Look up, old man; you're all right," said Anguish. "Smell this
handkerchief. It will make you feel better." A moist cloth was held
beneath his nose, and a strong, pungent odor darted through his
nostrils. In a moment he tried to raise himself to his elbow. The world
was clearing up.

"Lie still a bit, Lorry. Don't be too hasty. The doctor says you must
not."

"Where am I, Harry?" asked the wounded man, weakly.

"In the castle. I'll tell you all about it presently."

"Am I in her room?"

"No, but she is in yours. You are across the hall in"--here he
whispered--"Uncle Caspar's room. Caspar is a Count."

"And she is the Princess--truly?"

"What luck!"

"What misery--what misery!" half moaned the other.

"Bosh! Be a man! Don't talk so loud, either! There are a half-dozen in
the room."

Lorry remained perfectly quiet for ten minutes, his staring eyes fixed
on the ceiling. He was thinking of the abyss he had reached and could
not cross.

"What time is it?" he asked at last, turning his eyes toward his friend.

"It's just seven o'clock. You have been unconscious or under the
influence of ether for over four hours. That guard hit you a fearful
crack."

"I heard a shot--a lot of them. Was any one killed? Did those fellows
escape?"

"Killed! There have been eight executions besides the one I attended to.
Lord, they don't wait long here before handing out justice."

"Tell me all that happened. Was she hurt?"

"I should say not! Say, Gren, I have killed a man. Dannox got my bullet
right in the head and he never knew what hit him. Ghastly, isn't it? I
feel beastly queer. It was he who turned on the lights and went at you
with a club. I heard you call, and was in the door just as he hit you.
His finish came inside of a second. You and he spoiled the handsomest
rug I ever saw."

"Ruined it?"

"Not in her estimation. I'll wager she has it framed, blood and all. The
stains will always be there as a reminder of your bravery, and that's
what she says she's bound to keep.