“Don’t you believe it. That fellow can lie, and you know it. Hold this stool steady so that I shall not fall.” Katrine obeyed, and Theresa mounted the stool, and took down a stout saber which hung from a pair of branching antlers over her head. She lifted the stout weapon, and looked at it with beaming eyes. “My grandfather’s sword,” she said. “It has struck good blows for the honor of his nation. May it do as much for the honor of his granddaughter.” Assisted by Katrine, Theresa mounted the wide window-sill, and strove to pry up the spikes which had been driven in to close the lattice. But they were strong and resisted her best efforts. Seeing the uselessness of this attempt, she begun to cut away the inner fastenings of the lattice bars, and with the aid of the now active Katrine, at length succeeded with but little noise, in detaching the ends of these bars. The way of escape was then gained, since it was hardly five feet from the ground. “We are safe,” whispered Theresa. “Let us thank God.” The two fell upon their knees for a moment, before they attempted an escape. The shots had begun to fall about the building. Katrine passed out first, and Theresa followed, still bearing her grandfather’s sword. CHAPTER XI. IT IS FINISHED. Passing around the house to escape from the rear, the two girls suddenly came upon two men, whom, in the darkness, they conceived to be Van Zandt and Carl. Theresa, in the excitement of the moment, lifted her sword in her hand and pointed it at the breast of the nearest, who rushed toward her. “Stand back,” she cried; “I will not be taken alive.” “Theresa!” “Willie!” The strength which had sustained her until this moment gave way, and she sunk into the arms of her lover. “Let us away,” said Willie. “Come, Robert, you are slow.” Robert Holmes dropped the bar with which he had been prying open the window, and came forward, saying: “Our work is taken out of our hands. Katrine, have you no greeting for me, now that I am no longer Boston Bainbridge, but Robert Holmes?” His voice broke the spell; she was in his arms in a moment, sobbing. “They told me you were dead. I thought I knew your voice.” “Let us get out of this, Robert,” said Willie. “You had better carry Katrine. How much they must have endured.” “Preserve the sword, Willie,” whispered Theresa, “it has saved me.” Keeping in the rear of the house, they stole out of the postern gate through which they had entered, and soon placed the girls in safety in the house which was first taken. This done, the young men went back to their duty. Van Curter was there. “Have you succeeded?” he cried, taking his cue from their happy faces. “Yes, thank God, the girls are out of that villain’s power, and we have nothing to restrain us from an attack upon the house. Give me that white scarf, and I will speak to them.” “Be careful, Robert,” said his brother; “they are desperate men, and may not respect the flag.”