Hazel leaned forward, with her left hand leaning upon the table, her body stretched forward, her lips compressed until no colour did remain in them. With her right hand she struck, quickly, the dagger into the table's top, then drew it out and struck again. Still was she silent,--and a small piece came off mine other ear. "Oh, God! God! God! it is too much! too much!" shrieked the poor maiden; and, throwing her hands above her head, she fell forward upon the table as though she were dead. Catesby and one of his men then rushed to where she lay, and seized her in their arms and started for the door. "Touch her not with your contaminating hands! Oh! false knight, I will have the last drop in thy heart for this! Oh, thou accursed slave of Hell! unbind me, and I will tear out thy throat with my bare fingers! "Michael! for God's sake come! they are carrying her off with them!" and I cursed, and shrieked, and struggled with my bonds until they cut deep into my wrists. "All Hill take this accursed door! It'll go now, or Oi'll brake moy damned back!" There was a tremendous crash; the whole house did seem to shake; and Michael burst through the door with parts of it still clinging to his armour, which was battered from head to foot; and his great hands were red with blood. "At last Oi'm here, yer honour; but, Oi fear, too late," gasped he, as he tried the outer door, and found it locked. He then cut with his dagger the cords that bound me. Too late, too late we were indeed. Another door had to be battered down ere we were able to gain the outside. This occupied some time, and when at last we did rush tottering forth we found no sight of our enemies, or our dear, brave, little maiden. Our horses' reins had been cut, and the beasts themselves were wandering far from the house. How Michael did swear, as tenderly he bound up mine ears with pieces of the cloth that had served to cover the basket we had brought. "Oh, sure sor, Oi did moy viry bist; but Oi couldn't git through in toime, yer honour. Forgive me, Sor Walter; but Oi'll nivir rist till Oi have the varmint, and the dear swate Lady Hazel is safe returned to thee, sor," sobbed the poor fellow, like a child, as he knelt at my feet, praying pardon for not having accomplished more, in but a few short moments, than three ordinary men might do in one whole day, and then feel proud of their work. "Rise, my brave Michael, and never again ask of me pardon; for thy mighty work this day hath saved my life, and, had it been within the power of man, it would have saved the Lady Hazel." Michael brought out my helm and put it on me. The wounds in mine ears were mere trifles; so I suffered no inconvenience from my headpiece. We caught our horses and, after mending their harness, we mounted and set out for Leicester, by roads not travelled by the army.