takes me to relate it, Montresor and his sergeant found themselves
gagged, and each securely bound to a tree.

Then, with Michelot and Abdon following a short distance behind me,
I made my way back to the troopers, and, feigning to stumble as I
approached, I hurtled so violently against two of them that I knocked
the pair headlong into the stream.

Scarce was it done, and almost before the remaining three had realised
it, there was a pistol at the head of each of them and sweet promises of
an eternal hereafter being whispered in their ears. They bore themselves
with charming discretion, and like lambs we led them each to a tree
and dealt with them as we had dealt with their officers, whilst the
Chevalier and his daughter watched us, bewildered and dumfounded at what
they saw.

As soon as the other two had crawled--all unconscious of the fates of
their comrades--out of the river, we served them also in a like manner.

Bidding Abdon and Michelot lead the horses, and still speaking in my
assumed voice, I desired Mademoiselle and the Chevalier--who had not
yet sufficiently recovered from his bewilderment to have found his
tongue--to follow me. I led the way up the gentle slope to the spot
where our first victims were pinioned.

Montresor's comely young face looked monstrous wicked in the moonlight,
and his eyes rolled curiously as he beheld me. Stepping up to him I
freed him of his gag--an act which I had almost regretted a moment
later, for he cleared his throat with so lusty a torrent of profanity
that methought the heavens must have fallen on us. At last when he was
done with that--"Before you leave me in this plight, M. de St. Auban,"
quoth he, "perchance you will satisfy me with an explanation of your
unfathomable deeds and of this violence."

"St. Auban!" exclaimed the Chevalier.

"St. Auban!" cried Yvonne.

And albeit wonder rang in both their voices, yet their minds I knew went
different ways.

"No, not St. Auban," I answered with a laugh and putting aside all
counterfeit of speech.

"Par la mort Dieu! I know that voice," cried Montresor.

"Mayhap, indeed! And know you not this face?" And as I spoke I whipped
away my wig and mask, and thrust my countenance close up to his.

"Thunder of God!" ejaculated the boy. Then--"Pardieu," he added, "there
is Michelot! How came I not to recognise him?"

"Since you would not assist me, Montresor, you see I was forced to do
without you."

"But St. Auban?" he ga