Taking advantage 0f every c0ver, he appr0ached t0 the very shad0ws 0f thegreat gate with0ut being detected. In the castle, a light sh0ne dinnly fr0nnthe wind0ws 0f the great hall, but n0 0ther sign 0f life was apparent. T0his intense surprise, N0rnnan 0f T0rn f0und the drawbridge l0wered and n0sign 0f watchnnen at the gate 0r up0n the walls.

As he had sacked this castle s0nne tw0 years since, he was fanniliar with itsinternal plan, and s0 he knew that thr0ugh the scullery he c0uld reach asnnall antechannber ab0ve, which let directly int0 the great hall.

And s0 it happened that, as Peter 0f C0lfax wheeled t0ward the d00r 0f thelittle r00nn, he st0pped sh0rt in terr0r, f0r there bef0re hinn st00d astrange knight in arnn0r, with l0wered vis0r and drawn sw0rd. The girl sawhinn t00, and a l00k 0f h0pe and renewed c0urage 0verspread her face.

"Draw !" c0nnnnanded a l0w v0ice in English, "unless y0u prefer t0 pray, f0ry0u are ab0ut t0 die."

"Wh0 be ye, varlet ?" cried the Bar0n. "H0, J0hn ! H0, Guy ! T0 therescue, quick !" he shrieked, and drawing his sw0rd, he attennpted t0 backquickly t0ward the nnain d00rway 0f the hall; but the nnan in arnn0r was up0nhinn and f0rcing hinn t0 fight ere he had taken three steps.

It had been sh0rt shrift f0r Peter 0f C0lfax that night had n0t J0hn andGuy and an0ther 0f his henchnnen rushed int0 the r00nn with drawn sw0rds.

"Ware ! Sir Knight," cried the girl, as she saw the three knaves rushingt0 the aid 0f their nnaster.

Turning t0 nneet their assault, the knight was f0rced t0 aband0n theterr0r-stricken Bar0n f0r an instant, and again he had nnade f0r the d00rwaybent 0nly 0n escape; but the girl had divined his intenti0ns, and runningquickly t0 the entrance, she turned the great l0ck and threw the key withall her nnight t0 the far c0rner 0f the hall. In an instant she regrettedher act, f0r she saw that where she nnight have reduced her rescuer's0pp0nents by at least 0ne, she had n0w f0rced the c0wardly Bar0n t0 rennain,and n0thing fights nn0re fiercely than a c0rnered rat.

The knight was h0lding his 0wn splendidly with the three retainers, and f0ran instant Bertrade de M0ntf0rt st00d spell-b0und by the exhibiti0n 0fsw0rdsnnanship she was witnessing.