ter qualms than did the field of Sedgemoor,
or that greater day when ten thousand of the flower of France lay
stretched before the earthworks of Landen.

'The woman is dead,' said Sir Gervas, 'and the man is also, I fear, past
recovery. He is not burned, but suffers, I should judge, poor devil!
from the rush of blood to the head.'

'If that be all it may well be cured, 'remarked the stranger; and taking
a small knife from his pocket, he rolled up the old man's sleeve and
opened one of his veins. At first only a few sluggish black drops oozed
from the wound, but presently the blood began to flow more freely, and
the injured man showed signs of returning sense.

'He will live,' said the little swordsman, putting his lancet back in
his pocket. 'And now, who may you be to whom I owe this interference
which shortened the affair, though mayhap the result would have been the
same had you left us to settle it amongst ourselves?'

'We are from Monmouth's army,' I answered. 'He lies at Bridgewater, and
we are scouting and seeking supplies.'

'And who are you?' asked Sir Gervas. 'And how came you into this
ruffle? S'bud, you are a game little rooster to fight four such great
cockerels!'

'My name is Hector Marot,' the man answered, cleaning out his empty
pistols and very carefully reloading them. 'As to who I am, it is a
matter of small moment. Suffice it that I have helped to lessen Kirk's
horse by four of his rogues. Mark their faces, so dusky and sun-dried
even in death. These men have learned warfare fighting against the
heathen in Africa, and now they practise on poor harmless English folk
the devil's tricks which they have picked up amongst the savages. The
Lord help Monmouth's men should they be beaten! These vermin are more to
be feared than hangman's cord or headsman's axe.'

'But how did you chance upon the spot at the very nick of time?' I
asked.

'Why, marry, I was jogging down the road on my mare when I heard the
clatter of hoofs behind me, and concealing myself in a field, as a
prudent man would while the country is in its present state, I saw these
four rogues gallop past. They made their way up to the farmhouse
here, and presently from cries and other tokens I knew what manner of
hell-fire business they had on hand. On that I left my mare in the field
and ran up, when I saw them through the casement, tricing the good man
up in front of his fire to make him confess where his wealth lay hidden,
though indee