tchman had comfortably sweated his obedience and content; the Cavalier had paced it with a pretty air of patronage and an eye for m

usk was growing into night, the hour came for his visit to the Nell Gwynn. With his two soldier friends and Councillor Drayton, he started by a roundabout for the p

nter the house quietly or boldly, as the case may be. Plan one: a message from his excellency to Miss Leveret, that he wishes her to join him on the Nell Gwynn. Once outside it's all right. She cannot escape us. We have our cloaks and we have the Spanish drug. Plan two: make her ours in

e. I know the house

they heard footsteps, and two figures appeared. It was Iberville and

ee," said Iberville,

no oth

ome upon, as last night; though, confe

pe it will be when I have do

t-hatred, and the joy of battle. "Shall it be here or y

nde

ville hummed ir

here I have fo

oss my shoulde

w. "I understand this thing. That's a pair of gallant y

ne full of holes if the

pulco way, dear lad... And now, here's my plan all changed. I'll have my young lady out to stop the duel, and, God

was had sat down. Very carefully he felt for the spring and opened the door. Jessica was seated at the table with paper and an ink-horn before her. She was writing. Presently she stopped-the pen was bad. She got up and went away to her ro

go now where you stopped them last nig

her eyelashes. She brushed it away with her dainty fingertips and, as she sat down, saw the paper. She turned pale, caught it up, read it with a little cry, and let it drop with a shudder of fear and dismay. She looked round the room. Everything was as she had left it. She was dazed. She stared at the paper again, then ran and opened the panel through which Bucklaw had passed, and found the outer door ajar. With a soft, gaspin

their swords, were not far, and both men heard. Gering,

ing. They saw the kidnappers and ran. Iberville was the first to find what

red. Iberville and Gering passed through the bushes also, but could neither see nor hear the quarry. Gering was wild with excitement and lost his presence of mind. Meanwhile Iberville went beating for a clue. He guessed that he was dealing wi

ddenly said to Gering, "and rouse the house and t

d making for the shore, in the sure knowledge that the ruffians would take to the water. He thought of Bucklaw, and by some impossible instinct divined the presence of his hand. Suddenly he saw something flash on the ground. He stooped and picked it up. It was a shoe with a silver buckle. He thrilled to the finger-tips as he thrust it in his

was bleeding from the wound in his side and slightly stiff from the slash of the night before, but every fibre of his hurt body was on the defensive. Bucklaw knew it, and seemed to debate if the game were worth the candle. The town was afoot, and he had earned a halter for his pains. He was by no means certain that he could kill this champion and carry off the girl. Moreover, he did not want Iberville's life, for such devils have their likes and dislikes, and he had fancied the chivalrous youngster from the first. But he doubted only for an instant. What was such a lad's life compared with his revenge? It was madness, as he knew, for a shot would guide the pursuit: none the less, did he draw a pistol from his belt and fire. The bullet grazed the lad's temple, carrying away a bit of his hair. Iberville staggered

. "Alive!" he said. "Alive, thank the mother of God! Mon b

to the cloaked figure. He undid the cloak and saw Jessica's pale face. He shook his head. "Always

woodsman, he cared first for the girl. Between her lips he th

t is nothing-you are safe. Ah, the sweet lady! Come, le

there," he said; "it is all right. Now for my poor Iberville." He took Iberville's head to his knee and thrust the drinking-horn between his teeth, as he had done with Je

ried. "Oh, good-good," he added

she? Whe

ly; "but you-you are wounded." She came

a little. You cared for her

" he said: under his breath. Then

ville. "And Bucklaw

rrot, touching the wounds, which he had already beg

ndage, but Perrot said in his broken Engli

ed down at her feet, and then, with a touch of humour, sa

, which he could enjoy even

," said Jessica, blushing

ll but put your hand into my waistcoat here," he said to her, "you will fin

t from loss of blood, "a Frenchman ca

ok of pain cr

she asked. "Oh no, mademoiselle," said

errot, till presently he leaned a hand also on Jessica's shoulder-she had insisted. On the way, Perrot told how it was he chanced to be there. A band of coureurs du bois, bound for Quebec, had come upon old Le Moyne and

t prevented that. Iberville left, however, with a knowledge of three things: that he was the first Frenchman from Quebec who had been, or was likely to be, popular in New York; that Jessica Leveret had shown a tender gratitude towards him-naiv

ieur," said Iberville at l

essica was standing not far away, and Gering did not instantly reply. In the pause, Iberville said: "Au revoir! A la bonne heure!" and walke

THE