Part 11 (2/2)

It was characteristic of the man whom Kenneth held to be destitute of all honourable principles, to stand thus in the midst of perils, when every second that sped lessened their chances of escape, turning over in his mind calmly and collectedly a point of conduct It was in his passions only that Crispin was ungovernable, in violence only that he ift--in all things else was he deliberate

Of this Kenneth had now a proof that set hi with impatient fear Anxiously, his hands clenched and his face pale, he watched his corey eyes staring at the ground At length he could brook that, to hier

”Sir Crispin,” he whispered, plucking at his sleeve; ”Sir Crispin”

The knight flashed hier Then the fire died out of his eyes; he sighed and spoke In that second's glance he had seen the lad's face; the fear and iusted hiainst the boy

”I was thinking how it ht be accomplished,” he said

”There is but one way,” cried the lad

”On the contrary, there are two, and I wish to choose carefully”

”If you delay your choice er, none will be left you,” cried Kenneth i fears, and resolved now upon his course, Galliard set himself to play upon them until terror should render the boy as wax in his hands

”There speaks your callow inexperience,” said he, with a pitying s as I have done, and endured asof your life as often as have I--you will have learnt that haste is fatal to all enterprises

Failure ht it would mean the forfeiture of our lives, and it were a pity to let such good efforts as these”--and with a wave of the hand he indicated their two captors--”go wasted”

”Sir,” exclaih beside hio alone!”

”Whither?” asked Crispin dryly

”Out of this”

Galliard bowed slightly

”Fare you well, sir I'll not detain you Your way is clear, and it is for you to choose between the door and the ”

And with that Crispin turned his back upon his co inthe soldier's swordbelt--to which the scabbard was attached--he girt hi his back to Kenneth, who stood between hi up the sword that he had left there, he restored it to the sheath As the hilt clicked against the mouth of the scabbard:

”Come, Sir Crispin!” cried the lad ”Are you ready?”

Galliard wheeled sharply round

”How? Not gone yet?” said he sardonically

”I dare not,” the lad confessed ”I dare not go alone”

Galliard laughed softly; then suddenly waxed grave