CHAPTER XLI.

HOW THE UNHAPPY RUSSELL FINDS THE DANGER OF PLAYING WITH EDGE-TOOLS.

When Lopez, with the assistance of Rita, had burst into the castle,
he had left his prisoners in the tower in the charge of a couple of
guards, these prisoners being Brooke, Talbot, and Russell. During the
attack on the castle there was a time in which Russell might very
easily have escaped. The two guards were eager to join the melee, and
as their instructions had reference principally to Brooke and Talbot,
they paid no attention whatever to the "Hungarian lady." They knew
that Rita had done an act for which the captain would reward her, and
concluded that the "Hungarian lady" was a friend rather than a
prisoner. Under such circumstances escape would have been easy enough
to Russell, had he been bold enough to attempt it.

Yet, after all, how could he really escape? To go back over the same
road would be only to encounter fresh perils, perhaps worse than any
with which he had met hitherto. To go in any other direction would be
simple madness. There was, therefore, no other course open to him
than to remain where he was.

After a long time some of the men came back, at the command of Lopez,
with orders to bring the prisoners into the castle. The guard obeyed
and followed, taking with them Brooke and Talbot. Russell was about
to accompany them, and was just hesitating as to the path, when
suddenly he found himself confronted by Rita, who had just come up.

"H-s-s-s-sh!" she said. "All is safe. I haf my reward. The captain
haf pay me. Now we shall go. Alla right. Come!"

Russell felt a strange sinking of heart. As to going away with her,
that was not to be thought of, and he only sought now for some
plausible excuse.

"I--I'm too tired," he said; "I'm worn out, Rita. I cannot walk."

"Bah!" said she. "Come--you shall not go far: I take you to where you
shall restar."

"But I'm tired," said Russell. "I want to rest here."

"Bah! you not too tired to go one two mile; that not mooch to go.
Come!"

"I can't," whined Russell.

"But you will be captar--you shall be a preesonaire--you shall be
deescovaire--alla found out by the capitan; so come--fly, you haf no
time to lose."

"I can't help it," said Russell, in despair. "If I'm caught again I
don't care. I'm worn out."

"But you moos!"

"I can't!"

"Come--I shall carry you; I shall lifta you, and carry you to your
safetydom.

Come!"

"It's impossible," said Ru