It was very still and dark. Nothing could be seen but the occasional glance of a star, peeping down between the upper branches of the trees; and nothing could be heard but the ripple of a stream, hidden somewhere in the deep, dry undergrowth of the thicket. Justin was completely bewildered, knowing not which way to turn. “The unfortunate woman, whoever she is, must be murdered or worse before this! At all events, she is silenced,” he said to himself. At that moment another cry arose; but this time it was a man’s voice—weak, quavering, cracked—but unmistakably a man’s voice, crying: “Help! Murder! Help! Oh, all good Christians, help!” “Gracious Heavens! has the woman got the better now, and is she killing the man; or what is the meaning of this second outcry?” exclaimed the colonel, in droll perplexity. And guided by the cries, he clutched his sword with a firmer clasp, and strode on in the direction from which they came. He had not gone many yards before the cries arose for the third time; and now, as in the first instance, it was the woman’s voice, screaming: “Murder! Murder! Help! Help!” “This is very perplexing. Apparently there are two of them in distress, and they take turns in yelling,” said Justin, as he rushed on towards the scene of action. Suddenly he came upon it. Striking through the thicket, he entered an opening in the grove where the clear bright starlight shone down upon a strange picture—a man, and a woman, each bound to a tree, only a few yards from each other. “Help! Murder! Help!” shrieked the man. “Don’t come near me, you monster! I have a revolver concealed in my bosom and I will shoot you as soon as I would a mad dog!” screamed the woman. “ELFIE!” exclaimed Justin Rosenthal, in astonishment, advancing towards her. “Oh, Justin dear! Justin, is it you? Thank Heaven! But I took you for a prowling guerrilla!” cried Elfie, struggling to free herself enough to welcome him. “I was drawn here by your cries for help, Elfie. But who had the insolence and barbarity to treat you in this manner?” demanded Colonel Rosenthal, as with his sword he severed the cords that bound the girl and set her free. “Let me sit down and breathe, and then I’ll tell you all about it,” said Elfie, with a sigh of relief, as she sank down on a heap of dry leaves at the foot of the tree. Justin stood looking at her with eyes full of doubt, pity and anxiety. “Don’t stand staring at me as if I had two heads, man! Go and set the parson free. He is a Christian hero, he is! and by that time I shall recover my breath and be able to talk to you,” said Elfie, with something of her old snappishness. And truly the poor girl had had enough to make her feel cross and nervous. “I beg your pardon, Elfie,” said Justin, smiling, as he turned to obey her. He cut the cords that bound the minister, who immediately stretched his arms, and then dropped upon the ground with a fervent: “Thank goodness!”