Part 46 (2/2)

Froands caly, fourscore of them at least Each man looked up at the plateau as he issued froave way at once to an easier and h that the object of their co had been attained, that no further hurry was necessary Some went to the places where the fires had been, and kicked the ashes together; while others stacked their ar the pass

”Those were revolver shots that woke us, Captain,” said Stefan thoughtfully ”I expect Grigosie oing, and intended us to make the best of our chances”

”And we've missed them,” said Ellerey ”I fancy this is meant to be our last adventure, Stefan”

”They'll come up the path presently, and the sooner the better,” was the answer ”A few of theht our last fight here, Captain, not in the tower yonder”

”I have a sudden lust for life, Stefan, a longing to be face to face with Vasilici once ined the ht hear his secret ”If ait until sundoe inal plan,” Stefan answered ”I auards yonder, I'll turnon the e, and an empty stomach does not put my eye out”

But the bird seery ands meant to throay their lives by an attempt to win the plateau They posted sentinels, one near the foot of the zig-zag path, and one beyond the camp-fire toward the head of the pass; the rest sat or stood at their ease between these two points, and, unless they changed their plan at night, Ellerey perceived that, if the sentry at the foot of the path were once silenced without being able to give warning, the road to the way taken by the Princess and her captors would be clear He studied the shape of the hills and the distance carefully, so that hea time elapsed between the relief of the sentries If they attacked the er start would they obtain

The day wore on, and he and Stefan finished the scraps of food which were left, and thanked their good fortune that they had not the terrors of thirst to face Stefan still watched the mountains above for a bird, and Ellerey planned the work of the night in every detail, explaining some new point to the soldier every time he approached him He had paid little attention to the men in the valley below for so out clearly in the still air For a ot his bird at last, but the next instant the soldier was beside him, as startled as he was It was the sentry toward the head of the pass who had fired, and he now ca toward his companions, who quickly seized their weapons

”Do I hear horses?” exclaimed Stefan excitedly ”By the father andup the pass There are several of theands were evidently unprepared for such an attack, and did not appear to have a capable leader aht, only to starve two eneral movealloped son froands, and turned to shout to others who had not yet couard only,” ht the same, and those who could not reach the an a hasty retreat up the pass, firing in a desultoryto hold their position; safety was all they cared about The horseed, but there was little fighting Two or three of the brigands were cut down, and one horseht his horse to the ground, but that was all The brigands scrambled into the mountain paths or up the mountain slope out of reach, and the leader of the troop checked any pursuit of those ere fleeing rapidly up the pass

”Is this a rescue, or have we only changed our ene, and will co e had better meet them at the top of it,” said Stefan

Only one man came up to the such an enemy, Captain Ellerey,” he said ”Baron Petrescu!”

”At your service, although barely recovered fro Time pressed, so I did not wait for a doctor's certificate of fitness”

”I thank you, but I hardly understand the situation, Baron,” said Ellerey

”And that is not to be wondered at,” was the answer; ”but there will be tih that we can shake hands over a past quarrel for which I have paid the penalty, and know that we stand together now”

Ellerey took his outstretched hand without a word

”The Princess is with you?” Petrescu asked

”She was until this ”

”Killed!” cried the Baron

”No; and yet I do not know that worse has not happened to her”

”While you explain, Captain, have I your leave to go down and make the acquaintance of our new comrades?” said Stefan ”My stomach yearns toward theotten,” said the Baron hastily ”You can explain while we eat and drink, Captain”

”A fewa consent to Stefan, ent down into the pass quickly Then he went on: ”Do you know the Princess's plans, Baron?”