Phroso

xity into the strongest excitement. For Phroso's laugh ended-ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth-and there was a second of absolute stillness.

round. 'Hogvardt and Watkins are ready at the back; they're firing from the wood,' he went on. Then

of revolver-fire, I wanted to see that all was well and to make the best disposition against this unexpected onset. Yet I did not reach the kitchen; half way to the door which led to it I was arrested by a cry of distress. Phroso's laugh had gone,

f about three inches. Dropping the pick, I fell on my knees and seized the edge nearest me. With all my strength I tugged and pulled. My violence was of no avail, the boards moved no more. Impatient yet sobered I sought eagerly for the spring which my pick had found. Ah, here it was! It answered now to a touch light as Phroso's own. At the slightest pressure the boards rolled away, seeming to curl themselves up under the base of the staircase; and there was revealed to me an aperture four feet long by three broad; beneath lay a flight of stone steps. I seized my pick again, and took a step downwards. I heard nothing except the noise of retreating feet. I went on. Down six steps I went, then the steps ended, and I was on an incline. At that moment I heard again, only a few yards from me, 'Help!' I sprang forward. A loud curse rang out, and a shot whistled by me. The open tr

urt?' I cr

tly,' she answered. 'But

go after hi

e way, you don't know the dangers; ther

id I. 'Wha

they said, "Ah, she has saved us the trouble!" and began to drag me away. But I would not go, and I called to you. I twisted my feet round Vlacho, so that he cou

was less scrupulous about that oath than you

told them,' she a

leave, I fear) I caught her up in my arms and began to run back. I ju

to Phroso. Then I called to Denny, 'What cheer, Denny?' Denny turned ro

ards farther than any they've got, and I can pick 'em off before they get dangerous. I

here must be four or five men hidden behind trees and emerging every now and then to pay us a compliment. But they had not attempted a rush. The mischief was quite different, being just this, that Watkins, who was not well instructed in the range of fire-arms, was cheerfully empty

we were ready for them, my l

patiently t

make a fool of himsel

were,' observed Hogvardt philosophically.

oing?' I asked i

five long and strong saplings; to the head of each of these most serviceable lances there

bing his hands, and rising from his seat with the

have been more useful

ut you know you wouldn't, my lord. You'd be afraid of hurting his feel

The mischief was done; the cartridges were gone; we had the lances

es very useful,' said Hogvardt, f

ured to carry out the latter. Indeed I found afterwards that it was the latter on which Constantine laid most stress; for a deputation of the islanders had come to him, proposing that he should make terms with me as a means of releasing their Lady. Now since last night Constantine, for reasons which he could not disclose to the deputation, was absolutely precluded from treating with me; he was therefore driven to make an attempt to get Phroso out of my hands in order to satisfy her people. This enterprise I had

of it,' said I desponde

ns appeared with bre

the cow at luncheon?' he asked, as

,' I answered, smiling.

, but she is a poor th

o her in time, W

the world held; Watkins could not believe that Providence would deal unkindly with a man of my rank. They toasted our recent success, and listened with engrossed inter

s out through Constantine's fault, not her

a little cave in the rocks on the seashore, ne

'it might help

her head,

end strongly guarded now, because

t force

than one man to go at a tim

t besides?

to try to go in the face

ke in at

you shot? Are we going to leave

my mind; and now

fanopoulos? There was not time for them to ha

he. 'I will show you if you like. Bring a torch; you mu

more serious attack might be in store, and I would not trust the house to Hogvardt and Watkins alone. So I took a l

eful,' said he. 'A thing l

nce. Phroso signed to me to give her the lant

earshot of the

y into the passage. I prayed her to let me go first, for it was jus

e, we have always kept the secret from the islanders. I think that, if

I exclaimed.

d of Vlacho. Still, perhaps, some day-' Th

our way slowly along and edged by the body of Spi

ose in the island. That was what Stefan tried to do, and would have done, ha

second pla

, turned round

ruling lord would show him great favour; and, as a crowning mark of his confidence, he would bid him come by nigh

the o

hores of the island,' answered Phroso. 'For look!' and she held the lantern high above her hea

ean a little on his shoulder. Thus they would go on, the other a pace in front, the lord leaning on his shoulder; and the lord would hold the torch, but he would not h

and I believe I

so suddenly that the other would start and be for an instant ala

ital of the savage, simp

I. 'And at t

grow heavy as lead and with a great sudden impulse the other would be hurled forward, and

ough the empire it protected was but nine miles long and five broad.

on either side. The path ran on, a flat rock track about a couple of feet wide, forming the top of an upstanding cliff; but on either side there was an interval of seven or eight feet between the path and the walls of rock, and the path was unfenced. Even had the Stefanopoulos held his hand and

l he grew weary, unless he chanced to find the only opening; and if he found that and passed through, he would come to a rapid, where the water runs swiftly, and he would be dashed on the rocks. Only by a miracl

I asked, peering at the dark

Stefan is there at the bottom. Perhaps another Stefanopoulos is there also; for his bo

mphasis, as I rose to my feet. 'I wis

h a smile, 'I should not be

d. For a more villainous contrivance I never heard of in all

pression of eagerness, hesitation and fear. Then s

in who has wronged me, if-if I

' I exclaimed wit

ve me here alone on the island? If you will, I will tell you another thin

hether you don't,' said I

then, loved him very much, and brought him here, and showed him the path and the water under it. And he, the Englishman, came next day with a rope, and fixed the rope at the top, and let himself down. Somehow, I d

I will tell you." For he saw t

d not wait for them to kill him, as they were bound to do; but he took a great flagon of wine, and poured into it the contents of a small flask. And his kindred said: "Well done, Lord

oi than it perhaps deserved: my thoughts were with the Englishman, not with his to

ot out!' I cried, ga

aid she simply. 'But

d, smiling; 'and Constantine will be guardi

r if you go that way and esca

good a right to

ill me. You'll t

re I will

he is promising. Yet I did not look into Phroso's eyes, but stared awkwardly over her head at the walls of rock. Then, w

send Den

it down into the dark water below. And I told Denny of the Englishman who had come alive through the pe

'S BODY AND F

said I, pointing with my finge

wn, shook his h

rl?' he ask

es too,'

s. I thought that even his audacious courage was a little dashed

her fellow got throug

id Denny scornfully. 'I

are you so

g himself from my arm, 'how Beatrice

if I failed in that, to appear angry. But it was no

an,' said I. '

I had made to Denny before we left England, I could not h