uttered Jack Blunt, kneeling there, by the
stiffening form of the wreck of a once brilliant Queen's officer. He
dared not lift his craven eyes!

"He had the making of a gallant soldier in him!" cried Hardwicke, as he
turned to the American, and motioned to the rope ladder. "We must not
let Miss Johnstone see the body. Some of you run and get a ladder or
some other means to aid her descent. And rouse up the nearest farm
people. Get a carriage and bring the old Professor and maid here!"

While a dozen volunteers darted away to bring a conveyance, the rest
hastily covered Hawke's body with their coats. The gun-room was now lit
up, and in five minutes the waylaid carriage was drawn by hand to the
door of the lonely tower. Within it lay the bruised and exhausted
old scholar, bareheaded and ghastly, in the light of the flickering
lanterns, while pretty Mattie Jones, with a shriek of terror, ran to the
side of her sweetheart, his arms still bound with Prince Djiddin's sash.
Jack Blunt's "swell mob" assurance stood him in good stead.

"It's all a mistake, my girl," bluntly said the mobs-man, feeling safe
now that Alan Hawke's lips were sealed in death. While the old Professor
was revived with copious draughts of "usquebaugh," Jack Blunt saw the
flash below him, on the darkened seas, of a red light above a white one.
And he heaved a great sigh of relief,

"There goes the Hirondelle now, driving along out to sea with the whole
gang," he murmured. "Now, by God, I am safe if this yellow masquerader
only plays the man!" There was a hubbub of cackling voices, as on the
night when the geese saved Rome! Above them, on the barrack room floor
of the Martello tower, Harry Hardwicke was already holding Nadine
Johnstone's drooping head upon his breast, while the lanky American
gazed at the strange picture before him. The girl's arms were clasped
around her lover's neck. "Do not leave me--not a moment!" she moaned.
Alaric Hobbs, with quick forethought, tossed his blankets down below,
with a significant gesture.

"Darling! You will be mine for life, now!" cried the happy soldier, as
he covered her shivering form with his coat. Alaric Hobbs had promptly
descended and hastened the necessary preparations for departure. "Damn
the explanations. Let's get the whole party out of this!" he said to
Captain Murray, and then rejoined Hardwicke.

"Tell me all, quickly!" said Hardwicke. "I am a Queen's officer and
shall telegraph to the Home Guards