“A little change of language will do your holy ears good, if you are a monk,” was the answer. “Where do you wish to take us?” “Why, to the Governor.” “Come, then,” said Gerard in a tone of almost submissive readiness. “Have they caught the rascal yet, Louis?” asked the sergeant, and the man addressed turned his head to look. “Now,” cried Gerard, and on the instant hurled himself on the sergeant, who was taken entirely by surprise. Gerard wrenched his musket from him and clubbing it, knocked him senseless to the ground. Dubois, divining Gerard’s intention, had edged close to the second man and dealt with him in much the same fashion, while Pierre engaged the third. The struggle lasted scarcely more than a few seconds, and as soon as it was over, Gerard and Dubois ran to the assistance of Babillon, whom the soldiers had captured. Seeing help coming, they released him and levelled their muskets at the onrushing men. But Babillon with ready wit jostled one against the other so that the shots were fired in the air. The rest was easy. The two men broke and fled, but were soon caught and treated like the rest of the party, in order to prevent the danger of pursuit. “Now for the wall,” said Gerard. “It is impossible, monsieur. The boat must have been seen, and the further bank of the river is alive with soldiers,” said Babillon, “and they have seized the boat. It was that made me return.” “We must get away, then. Those shots will soon bring a whole company to the spot. Did the men know you, Babillon?” “No, monsieur.” “Good! then lead us back to your house. You have served us magnificently, my good friend; and that last trick of yours may have saved our lives.” They ran to Gabrielle and explained the failure of the venture, and started to return to Babillon’s. It was a galling disappointment, but neither Gerard nor Dubois was likely to waste time in fruitless repining; and by the time they reached Babillon’s house, both had thought their way to the same decision. They must make for Malincourt. Gabrielle wished it also. “The two points are--what has happened there, and can we hope to reach there safely?” said Gerard, as he and Dubois sat discussing it, Gabrielle having again gone to seek rest. “I would that I had been in the cell with the Governor,” growled Dubois. “It would have gone hard with me if I had not found a way to end his power to do us more evil.” “We are soldiers, Dubois,” said Gerard. “We shan’t be soldiers long if the Tiger can get his way with us.” “My cousin will be up in forty-eight hours.” “Forty-eight minutes may suffice for what he may do if he but gets his hand on us.” “He will not dare to use violence to me,” said Gerard. “His head would pay for it.” “But it wouldn’t put either yours or mine back on our shoulders, my lord, if he’d struck them off first. And as for daring--what won’t a madman dare? And a madman he is. My advice is to keep out of his clutches so long as we can.”