Firm and unflinching Barbara followed him to the door. Simon laid his hand upon the latch, another moment and they would have been in the street. Suddenly he paused. He turned his head to listen, and a smile of low cunning crept slowly into his eyes. For they heard the opening of a door, and a man’s cheery whistle sounded in the room above. Barbara gave a quick gasp of terror, she felt the pedlar’s eyes were fixed upon her face. "Quick, quick," she cried losing her wits in her excitement; "let us be off. Someone is coming." "Aye," said the man slowly; "someone is coming. And there are two rewards to be won in Taunton." He released her arm, and still with his hand upon the latch, turned to confront the newcomer. Barbara could do no more. With a sigh of desperation she sank into a chair and covered her face with her hands. The door opened and Captain Protheroe appeared. For a moment the two men stood staring at each other, then the truth flashed to the brain of the soldier and he made a spring forward to secure the pedlar. But the man was too quick for him; he darted through the already opened door, into the street, slamming the door behind him. Captain Protheroe was about to follow, but recognising the hopeless folly of such action, he stopped, and having fastened the door turned to where Barbara sat, white and trembling. "The fellow knew you?" he asked sharply. "Yes, he was about to take me to the guardhouse," she answered, trembling. "Good Heavens! why didn’t you cry for help? We might have seized him perchance." "I—I feared, an I did so, he would discover that you and Ralph were here," she stammered. "’Twould have undone all three. And Ralph——" "You would have gone without a word?" Barbara hesitated. "I—I could not bear that Ralph should be taken," she muttered, shy even then, of confessing her fear for his capture too. He looked down at her for a moment with deep pain in his eyes: "I see," he said gently; "I—I understand." She knew that he did not understand but she could not tell him so, and indeed he gave her no time. In an instant he was alert, ready for action. "No time to lose, Mistress Barbara," he said cheerily. "We must be out of this directly. I’ll give your friend a quarter of an hour to tell his tale and return with the guard." "But how! Where?" she cried desperately. "Ralph can’t travel yet." "He must. You don’t know, Mistress Barbara, what can be done when it’s a case of do it or hang. Come." They hurried upstairs, summoned Mistress Fytch, and quickly told their story. Ralph was up in an instant. "I’m ready," he cried abruptly. "What are the orders?" He had learned much during the past ten days. Despite his jealousy of Captain Protheroe he knew him as one to be relied on, and his love for Barbara forbade him do aught that would increase the difficulties of the one man who could save her.