of the spy will have been settled, for the commander does not waste time in such small matters!" 

 He turned away to follow his painted band, and I, shaking in my impotent rage and fear, called after him:— 

 "As God lives and is my witness, if the lad comes to any harm, these hands will visit it upon you an hundredfold, till you scream for death's mercy!" 

 But the Black Abbé moved off as if he heard no word, and left me a twisted heap upon the turf, gnawing fiercely at the tough deer-hide of my bonds. 

 

 

 Chapter III 

 Tamin's Little Stratagem 

 I had been gnawing, gnawing in an anguish at the thongs, for perhaps five minutes. There had been no more than time for the Abbé's wolf-pack to vanish by a turn of the road. Suddenly a keen blade slit the thongs that bound my wrists. Then my feet felt themselves free. I sat up, astonished, and saw stooping over me the droll, broad face of Tamin the Fisher,—or Tamin Violet, as he was rightly, though seldom, called. His mouth was solemn, as always, having never been known to wear a smile; but the little wrinkles laughed about his small bright eyes. I sprang up and grasped his hand. 

 "We must not lose a moment, Tamin, my friend!" I panted, dragging him into the thick shade of the wood. 

 "I was thinking you might be in a hurry, M'sieu," said my rescuer. "But unless the mouse wants to be back in the same trap I've just let it out of, you'd better keep still a half-minute and make up your mind. They've a round road to go, and we'll go straight!" 

 "You saw it all?" I asked, curbing myself as best I could, for I perceived the wisdom of his counsel. 

 "Oh, ay, M'sieu, I saw it!" replied the Fisher.  "And I laughed in my bones to hear the lad talk up to the good father. There was more than one shot went home, I warrant, for all the Black Abbé seemed so deaf. They're festering under his soutane even now, belike!" 

 "But come!" said I.  "I've got my wind!"  And we darted noiselessly through the cool of the great trees, turning a little east from the road. 

 We ran silently for a space, my companion's short but massive frame leaping, bending, gliding 

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