the Lord
of Hosts would assuredly strengthen the hearts of His servants for such
a fray. How many, friend, do you suppose they number, those unwashed
sons of Belial?"

"I can only guess. There were twelve oars in the boat passing us on
the lower river, while four others sat with guns in their hands;
besides these are the Marquis de Serrato and the Capuchin priest,
making a total of eighteen, all of whom we must reckon upon as being
fighting men at a pinch."

"Faith, merely enough to make the affair of interest," muttered De
Noyan, as I explained my words to him. "Hardly enough even by your
count, as the officer nurses a cracked rib, while the priest would
prove of small moment when it came to blows. I am for bearing down
upon the knaves in sudden onset; it will require but a crack or two ere
the villains let us by."

"May the God of Battles place me within fair stroke of that accursed
gray-backed emissary of Rome," snorted the Puritan, his red hair erect.
"I promise, Master Benteen, to smite as did David at Goliath."

I gazed uneasily about from where I lay at the feet of Madame, only to
perceive her eyes resting upon me as if she waited anxiously my
decision.

"Do not suppose," she said quickly as our glances met, "that I shall
shrink from the peril of encounter. If it is best, you may trust me to
do whatsoever may become a daughter of France."

"Nor do we question it, Madame," I returned warmly, noting the
unrestrained flash of pride leaping into the careless eyes of her
husband at these brave words. "But to invite such conflict in our
present condition would be sheer madness. There are only two men among
us, for I am but half a man, the rapier thrust has robbed me of so
large an amount of blood; nor do we possess fit weapons to wage battle
against so well-armed a company as blocks our passage. De Noyan sports
his straight sword, which would be well wielded at close quarters; I
possess my rifle, with small store of powder and ball, all of which are
likely to be needed to save us from starving in this wilderness; while
Cairnes here might indeed prove a strong arm with the tuck I brought
back with me, yet probably knows nothing of the secrets of thrust and
parry. Pish! 'tis not worth thinking about. Pit such an outfit as
this against eighteen well-armed men,--for the Marquis can shoot for
all his cracked rib, nor do I doubt the fighting qualities of the
priest,--and the venture becomes too difficult fo