Part 20 (2/2)

His second, too, shouted to the crowd, using the Baron's naht as well have shrieked forbiddance to the inco tide The mad crowd rushed upon the threeswords kept them back for a few moments, and harsh cries told that one blade or another had done its work, it was certain that only in flight was their safety against such odds

As one ruffian staggered back with a yell of pain from the point of Ellerey's sword, the Baron's second whispered in his ear:

”Make for the alley just in front of you, to the left, to the right and then to the right again There is a door in the high wall of the garden You are safe if you can reach it It is you they want, they will not har as I can”

Ellerey whispered the sa until the crowd had fallen back for ahis sword and his clenched fist to force hie The croas taken by surprise, and a cloud hiding the moon at that moment was in Ellerey's favor Before they understood his intention he had reached the alley

”To the right, then left, then right!” he shouted to his co swiftly at his heels

”To the door!” rose the shout behind hi feet

Ellerey gave a cry of triuht the latch of the door and pulled it open, half turning to his companion as he did so Had he been an instant later that exultant cry would have been his last, for at that er flashed down upon hi aside did he avoid the blow The man who had followed him so closely was not his second

Before his adversary could recover himself, he struck him full in the face with the hilt of his sword and sent hi back into the arms of the foremost of his companions The next instant Ellerey had slammed the door behind him, and was in a narrow lane on the other side of the wall

CHAPTER X

THE FOLLY OF A SOLDIER

It was not until he had run so the lane that Ellerey stopped to listen, and fully to realize that his co feet in pursuit He could not have out-distanced his enemies so completely in so short a time; either they had come no farther than the door in the wall, or had turned in the opposite direction, perhaps following his companion

With his sword still in his hand, held ready for deadly work at a moment's notice, he retraced his steps, his senses sharp set to detect the slightest sound or ulfed the ht unbroken He went forward carefully; the darkness ion of foes, and the silence be a trap to catch him Ellerey found the door with difficulty, indeed by chance, for it was cunningly hidden

Whatever the danger, he ain in search for his co it fro no latch nor handle, nor keyhole even, he realized that entrance that as barred The door only opened from within He had stepped back to consider how, and at what point, he could best scale the wall, when a slight movement close beside him caused him to stand on the defensive in a ot out, then? Thank heaven!”

”Yes; I didn't speak because I thought you were one of them, and just now I'ainst the wall a few feet froate Ellerey had supposed him farther off by the faintness of his voice

”Are you hurt?”

”Nothing serious, I think, but I've had a good deal of blood let out of arden for a certainty had it not been for the Baron's second, who stood over uards retreated from the door, put ”

”Perhaps not,” Ellerey answered ”Can youon to you, and we don't have to go far

When I was put outside soo to the left, then; but I haven't an idea where we are”

The wounded one fifty yards he began to reel, and even as he suggested that Ellerey should go on and get help, he fainted Ellerey took hiet as far away froress was slow His coain, the task was beyond hih the night As long as darkness lasted and they were on the outskirts of the city they were unlikely to be stopped and questioned, but with dawn it would be different Ellerey ithout his coat and cloak, there had been no tiarden, and he carried a grievously hurtto his early toil, who caught sight of them would run and tell the news as he went Such publicity was to be avoided at all costs, or there would be senstrasse, to keep his appointray showed lon in the east, and Ellerey pressed forward as quickly as possible to find an asylus he ca no desire to knock up some sleepy peasant and have to co so unceremoniously disturbed Presently where two cross-roads met he espied a s into theair, and decided to try his fortune here

He had set his burden down by the gate when an old woarden for water

”Good mother,” Ellerey called out, ”I would claim your hospitality”