I hesitated for a moment before I made up my mind which to try and save; and the thought of Lizzy Green came in my mind, and I said to myself, "I love her too well to cause her pain," when, giving up Captain Dyer, I aimed at the gunner by poor Harry Lant. "Don't fire!" said a voice just then; and turning, there was Lieutenant Leigh. "The black-hearted wretches!" he muttered. "But we are all ready; though now, if we start, it will be the signal for the death of those two. But what does this mean?" What made him say that was a chief, all in shawls, who rode forward and shouted out in good English that they gave us one hour to surrender; but at the end of that time, if we had not marched out without arms, they would blow their prisoners away from the mouth of the guns. Then, for fear we had not heard it, he spurred his horse up to within ten yards of the gate, and shouted it out again, so that every one could hear through the place; and though I could have sent a bullet through and through him, I could not help admiring the bold daring fellow, riding up right to the muzzles of our pieces. But all the admiration I felt was gone the next moment, as I thought of the cruelties practised, and of those bound there to the gun-muzzles. There was nothing said for a few minutes, for I expected the lieutenant to speak; but as he did not, I turned to him and said,-- "If all was ready, sir, I could drop one gunner; and I'd trust Measles-- Sam Bigley--to drop the other, when a bold dash might do it. You see, they've retired a good thirty yards, and we should only have twenty more to run than they; while the surprise would give us that start. A good sharp jack-knife would set the prisoners free, and a covering-party would perhaps check the pursuit while we got in." "We shall have to try it, Smith," he said, his breath coming thick and fast with excitement; and then he seemed to turn white, for Miss Ross and Lizzy came into the room. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STORY ONE, CHAPTER FOURTEEN. I should think it must have been the devil tempting Lieutenant Leigh, or he would never have done as he did; for, as he looked at Miss Ross, the change that came over him was quite startling. He could read all that was passing in her heart; there was no need for her to lay her hand upon his arm, and point with the other out of the window, as in a voice that I didn't know for hers she said,-- "Will you leave those two brave men there to die, Lieutenant Leigh?" He didn't answer for a moment, but seemed to be straggling with himself; then, speaking as huskily as she did, he said,-- "Send away that girl!" And before I could go to her--for I should have done it then, I know--and whisper a few words of hope, poor Lizzy went out, mourning for Harry Lant, wringing her hands; and I stood at my post, a sentry by my commander's orders, so that it was no spying on my part if I heard what followed.