"Peace, wench," he began sharply. But at that moment, when all eyes were turned on the girl, Sir Peter dealt a furious blow in the captain’s chest, driving him back against the bank, and at the same time wrenched the reins from his grasp and dug his spurs into the horse’s flanks. The animal leaped forward suddenly, and before the men could recover from the confusion and make a further move to stop him, the prisoner was clear of the surrounding circle and galloping rapidly down the road, while Mistress Barbara clapped her hands and laughed delightedly at their discomfiture. Captain Protheroe sprang to his feet in an instant, furious with rage, but quickly realising that it would be vain with their wearied horses to attempt to overtake the fugitive, he opened his lips to give the order to fire, that the man might be stopped, dead or alive. But ere he could speak the word, two arms were flung round his neck, and two soft hands were pressed tightly over his lips, while again the girl’s mischievous laugh rang in his ears. For a moment the captain was too much astonished to move, then astonishment gave place to anger. Roughly seizing the girl’s wrists, he pulled away her hands and shouted to the men to fire at once. But it was already too late, the fugitive was out of sight, and though several troopers presently set out in pursuit, it was obvious that the hope of recapture was very slight, seeing he rode a fresh horse, and the moon, already low in the sky, promised soon to give the pursued the protection of darkness. Then, balked of his prisoner, Captain Protheroe turned furiously upon the cause of his failure. "You hussy," he exclaimed harshly, "I will teach you——" He stopped abruptly, for the girl’s hood had fallen back, and he found himself gazing into the most wonderful eyes he had ever beheld. Then a soft voice drawled in sympathetic tones, "’Deed, captain, hath he really escaped thee? How vastly annoying. For, an I mistake not, the orders were to take him at all costs, dead or alive, and now, being but few miles from the coast, and being well mounted, ’tis very like he may be altogether quit of the country by to-morrow morn. I vow ’tis too bad. But sure, you are eager to pursue him, so I will no longer delay you. I wish you a very good even." She dropped him a sedate curtsey and turned to walk back to the house. But by this time Captain Protheroe had recovered from the effect of her eyes. He seized her roughly by the wrist and dragged her back. "Not so fast, my girl. I must have some information from you first concerning this same rebel." Barbara eyed him in grave astonishment. "You are hurting my wrist," she complained reproachfully. The captain dropped her wrist instantly, and she held it out to him gravely, that he might see the red marks of his fingers on the white flesh.