while I worked he
seemingly thought nothing of himself, but, oblivious to pain, his face
was ever turned to the prisoner, his lips moving in petition for his
soul. I caught but scattered sentences.

"Oh, Christ, this one--unworthy, yet I beseech Thee--Be merciful, O
Virgin--out of the wilderness ariseth the voice of Thy servant--purge
the soul of all past iniquity--yield me this one brand plucked from the
burning--Thine be the glory forever--let my life be given for this
soul--this one precious reward for my ministry."

A little later the three of us partook, although largely in silence, of
the sustaining food which Cairnes furnished in abundance. Throughout
the meal I felt it necessary to be ever watchful to prevent the two
zealots, who were now my comrades, from clashing. Again and again the
priest sought to lead the sectary to his way of thinking, but the gray
face only hardened ominously, his bull voice denouncing bitterly all
Romish deeds.

"Come, be at peace, you two," I commanded at last, thoroughly tired and
angry. "Hold your tongues over those questions, at least while I am
with you. Odds! I care nothing as to your Catholic or Protestant,
your popes or preachers. Be done, and bear yourselves like men. I
will no longer have you vexing the air with controversy while our very
lives are hanging by a thread. There are other things to talk about
just now. So, Cairnes, if you cannot bide quietly in our company, then
stay here alone while I take the Jesuit out into the sunlight, where we
can hold sensible counsel together."

Leaving the fellow growling to himself over the remnants of the meal, I
bore the priest along the short passage, until we discovered a secure,
comfortable resting-place outside, where our eyes could sweep the full
extent of the wide valley. It was a quietly beautiful scene at this
hour, the glow of the sun over all. We could distinguish gangs of
slaves toiling in the fields, and a group of warriors, their spears
glistening, clustered together before the gloomy altar-house. Yet my
eyes barely rested upon either scene, for there, close beside the open
door of the Queen's dwelling, my glance, sharpened by love, perceived
the movements of a woman's apparel, and from the faint color of it,
distinguishable, even at that distance in the sun glare, I knew I
looked once more upon Eloise. It would be difficult to express in
prosaic English with what intense relief I realized, through the