"There was a running fire, then a whole volley. "'Mademoiselle,' said I, 'it appears to me to be increasing very much.' "'So much the better,' answered she. "She was as brave as a lioness, that young girl. For my part I acknowledge I felt very uncomfortable. But it appears I was doomed to witness engagements both by land and sea. "'The firing is coming nearer,' said Zephyrine. "'I am afraid so, Mademoiselle,' answered I. "'On the contrary, you ought to be delighted. It is a sign that the robbers are flying.' "'I had rather they fled in another direction.' "There was a loud clamour, and cries as if they were cutting one another's throats, which, in fact, they were. The shouts and cries were mingled with the noise of musketry, the sound of the trumpets, and roll of the drum. There was a strong smell of powder. The fight was evidently going on within a hundred yards of the grotto. "Suddenly there was a deep sigh, then the noise of a fall, and one of the sentries at the mouth of the cave came rolling to our feet. A random shot had struck him, and as he just fell in, a ray of light which entered the grotto, we were able to see him writhing in the agonies of death. Mademoiselle Zephyrine seized my hands, and I felt that she trembled violently. "'Oh, M. Louet.' said she, 'it is very horrible to see a man die!' "At that moment we heard a voice exclaiming--'Stop, cowardly villain! Wait for me!' "'Ernest!' exclaimed Zephyrine. 'It is the voice of Ernest!' "As she spoke the captain rushed in, covered with blood. "'Zephyrine!' cried he, 'Zephyrine, where are you?' "The sudden change from the light of day to the darkness of the cave, prevented him from seeing us. Zephyrine made me a sign to keep silence. After remaining for a moment as if dazzled, his eyes got accustomed to the darkness. He bounded towards us with the spring of a tiger. "'Zephyrine, why don't you answer when I call? Come!' "He seized her arm, and began dragging her towards the door at the back of the grotto. "'Where are you taking me?' cried the poor girl. "'Come with me--come along!' "'Never!' cried she, struggling. "'What! You won't go with me?' "'No; why should I? I detest you. You carried me off by force. I won't follow you. Ernest, Ernest, here!' "'Ernest!' muttered the captain. 'Ha! 'Tis you, then, who betrayed us?' "'M. Louet!' cried Zephyrine, 'if you are a man, help me!' "I saw the blade of a poniard glitter. I had no weapon, but I seized my bass by the handle, and, raising it in the air, let it fall with such violence on the captain's skull, that the back of the instrument was smashed in and the bandit's head disappeared in the interior of the bass. Either the violence of the blow, or the novelty of finding his head in a bass, so astonished the captain that he let go his hold of Zephyrine, at the same time uttering a roar like that of a mad bull. "'Zephyrine! Zephyrine!' cried a voice outside.