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Thus as I went, chancing to stuainst a tree, I leaned there awhile; and now re those two blows under the ar and my fall and lack of food, for I had eaten but once that day, I grew faint and sick But as I leaned there, out of the gloom came a hand that fumbled timidly my bowed head, my arm, my hand

"Sir--are you hurt?" questioned a voice, and here once again I was struck by the strange, vital quality of this voice, its bell-like depth and sweetness

"No whit!" says I Now as I spoke it chanced she touched the knife in rasp and I felt her shiver a little

"Did you--O sir--did you--kill him?"

"And wherefore no?" I questioned "And why call o like the beggar I as I am no 'sir'"

"How may I call you?"

"Call ue, thief, murderer--what ye will, 'tis all one But as for you," quoth I, lifting one--see yonder!" and I pointed where a light winked through the trees, a light that danced to and fro, co slowly nearer until it stopped all at once, then rose a shout answered by other shouts and a roar of dismayed blasphemy At this ain

"Let us be gone!" she whispered "Marjorie, coether at speed, and ever as ent that small, soft hand was upon the hand that held the knife So we sped on through the dark, these twolittle by reason of our haste

Presently the rain ceased, the wind abated its rage and the thunder pealed faint with distance, while ever and anon the gloo cloud-wrack, a faint moon peeped

Guided by that slender hand, so soft and yet instinct arh leafy ways, traversed a little wood, on and ever on until, the trees thinning, showed beyond a glih road Here I stayed

"Mada some ado over the unfamiliar word "You should be safe now--and, as I do think, your road lieth yonder"

"Peet horses Coht you shall find co of the roads, and well enough in hedge or rick!" and I would have turned but her hand upon my sleeve restrained me