"We two have met thrice," pursued Le Gros Guillem. "Once I fell on you at Ste. Soure and made _you_ run," he laughed harshly; "secondly, you fell on me unawares, and _I_ came off the worst. The third time we met on the Beune. It might be esteemed a drawn battle, but as I had captured you, I had got what I wanted. However, I have been over-reached; I am outwitted once more this time. Take care how we encounter for the fourth time. Do you mark me, Ogier del' Peyra? The fourth time--that will be the fatal meeting for one or other of us. The fourth time, Ogier." "The fourth time. I shall remember," said the old man dreamily, and touched his forehead. "Lead him away. Peyrot and Heliot, you shall ride with the Sieur and his son to Le Peuch. Stay a moment! a word before you go." He waited till Del' Peyra and his son had left the hall and were descending to the courtyard. Then he said-- "Attend them till you are at Le Peuch, get my daughter safely into your hands, and then cut them down--these cursed Del' Peyras--and bring me their heads at your saddle-bows. You shall be paid what you choose to ask." CHAPTER XIX. A NIGHT RIDE. WHEN Jean del' Peyra with his father and escort arrived at the point opposite the house of the ferryman on the Dordogne he shouted for the boat. Night had set in, but the moon would rise in an hour; in the meanwhile some light lingered over the sunken sun, and the stars were shining faintly. The river gliding on in rapid descent, but without rush and coil, reflected the light above. It was as though a heaven of sparks seen through tears lay at the feet of Jean as he stood and waited in vain for the ferry. He was vexed at the delay. Time was speeding along. His father's condition made him uneasy. The old man was singularly reticent and stolid; he expressed no satisfaction at his release. After waiting and renewing his shouts to no purpose, one of the men said-- "There is a wedding in this ferryman's wife's family. I have a notion that he may have gone to the merrymaking. It is not often that there are passengers at night that need his punting-pole." "We must try the ford," said the other. "Where is that?" asked Jean, impatiently. "Further down." "Then lead to it immediately. We have already squandered too much valuable time." The party now descended the river-bank till the spot was reached where the Dordogne could be traversed without danger by the horsemen. The beasts went in. There had not been much rain of late, consequently the ford was passable. The water, however, surged up the leg when the horses had entered to their girths. Then, all at once, Ogier del' Peyra laughed. "What is it, father?" asked Jean, startled. "It is not a vision. I am not asleep!"