During half an hour we proceeded, he leading the way, directing his footsteps by marks upon the trunks of the trees, so near the ground that they would have escaped the notice of any but those who knew of their whereabouts. Once I thought I detected a dark figure between the trees, and fearing that it might be one of the sentries, whispered a word of warning to my guide, but he reassured me by telling me that we were skirting the frontier outside guarded territory, therefore there could be no danger. Nevertheless, as he turned to me, I thought his furrowed face looked darker, and his teeth gleamed whiter than usual. We walked on. The forest was silent, save for the soft whisper of the pines. Without uttering any word I was following closely the footsteps of my guide, when suddenly, how it occurred I know not, I was conscious of being stopped dead by my evil-faced companion, who, with a quick movement, brought up his ready revolver to a level with my head. Fate had played me an ugly trick. One thought remained uppermost in the chaos of wild, feverish fancies that seized me--the thought of the woman who was my wife. CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. BAD COMPANY. "Well," I managed to ejaculate, standing quite still, without moving a muscle. I saw that his attitude was one of determination, and that he had been joined by a ruffianly-looking companion who had emerged from the undergrowth as if by magic. My only thought was of my past life. How had I been able to bear the suspicion and suspense so long? I had borne it because the star of hope had glimmered in the darkness. And now the star had vanished, and the hope was dead. Darkness had fallen upon my soul, and a storm arose within it like the chill whirling wind that swept across the steppe at dead of night. I could not think; I forgot where I was, forgot everything except my anger. My heart was full of blind despair. I was conscious that the gaol-bird spoke. He was demanding my money, and threatening to put a bullet through my head if I refused. "I promised you money on condition that you took me to Sonia Korolenko," I answered. "I am ready to pay when you have fulfilled your part of the contract." Both men laughed heartily. "We have no knowledge of her," declared the man who had been my guide. "All we know is that you have money; if you don't hand it to us quietly your grave will be in yonder heap of dead leaves." "He'll be company for the others," observed the man with a fox-like countenance, who had joined us, and was leaning upon an old Berdan rifle. "Then I understand you have brought me here, to this spot, on a false pretence. You mean to rob me?" I said. "You assured me that you were Sonia's messenger, and so implicitly did I trust you, that I left my revolver behind at the inn."