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Ah！ Boys； Boys； had you arrived but five minutes sooner； the
Spaniard would have been done for； and two thousand Pistoles our
own。 But you are always out of the way when you are most wanted。
You are the most unlucky Rogues！'
'Well； well； Father！' answered Jacques； 'Had you been of my mind；
all would have been over by this time。 You； Robert； Claude； and
myself； why the Strangers were but double the number； and I
warrant you we might have mastered them。 However； Claude is
gone； 'Tis too late to think of it now。 We must wait patiently
for the arrival of the Gang； and if the Travellers escape us
tonight； we must take care to waylay them tomorrow。'
'True！ True！' said Baptiste； 'Marguerite； have you given the
sleeping…draught to the Waiting…women？'
She replied in the affirmative。
'All then is safe。 Come； come； Boys； Whatever falls out； we have
no reason to complain of this adventure。 We run no danger； may
gain much； and can lose nothing。'
At this moment I heard a trampling of Horses。 Oh！ how dreadful
was the sound to my ears。 A cold sweat flowed down my forehead；
and I felt all the terrors of impending death。 I was by no means
reassured by hearing the compassionate Marguerite exclaim in the
accents of despair；
'Almighty God！ They are lost！'
Luckily the Wood…man and his Sons were too much occupied by the
arrival of their Associates to attend to me； or the violence of
my agitation would have convinced them that my sleep was
feigned。
'Open！ Open！' exclaimed several voices on the outside of the
Cottage。
'Yes！ Yes！' cried Baptiste joyfully； 'They are our Friends sure
enough！ Now then our booty is certain。 Away！ Lads； Away！ Lead
them to the Barn； You know what is to be done there。'
Robert hastened to open the door of the Cottage。
'But first；' said Jacques； taking up his arms； 'first let me
dispatch these Sleepers。'
'No； no； no！' replied his Father； 'Go you to the Barn； where your
presence is wanted。 Leave me to take care of these and the Women
above。'
Jacques obeyed； and followed his Brother。 They seemed to
converse with the New…Comers for a few minutes： After which I
heard the Robbers dismount； and as I conjectured； bend their
course towards the Barn。
'So！ That is wisely done！' muttered Baptiste； 'They have quitted
their Horses； that They may fall upon the Strangers by surprise。
Good！ Good！ and now to business。'
I heard him approach a small Cupboard which was fixed up in a
distant part of the room； and unlock it。 At this moment I felt
myself shaken gently。
'Now！ Now！' whispered Marguerite。
I opened my eyes。 Baptiste stood with his back towards me。 No
one else was in the room save Marguerite and the sleeping Lady。
The Villain had taken a dagger from the Cupboard and seemed
examining whether it was sufficiently sharp。 I had neglected to
furnish myself with arms； But I perceived this to be my only
chance of escaping； and resolved not to lose the opportunity。 I
sprang from my seat； darted suddenly upon Baptiste； and clasping
my hands round his throat； pressed it so forcibly as to prevent
his uttering a single cry。 You may remember that I was
remarkable at Salamanca for the power of my arm： It now rendered
me an essential service。 Surprised； terrified； and breathless；
the Villain was by no means an equal Antagonist。 I threw him
upon the ground； I grasped him still tighter； and while I fixed
him without motion upon the floor； Marguerite； wresting the
dagger from his hand； plunged it repeatedly in his heart till He
expired。
No sooner was this horrible but necessary act perpetrated than
Marguerite called on me to follow her。
'Flight is our only refuge！' said She； 'Quick！ Quick！ Away！'
I hesitated not to obey her： but unwilling to leave the Baroness
a victim to the vengeance of the Robbers； I raised her in my arms
still sleeping； and hastened after Marguerite。 The Horses of the
Banditti were fastened near the door： My Conductress sprang upon
one of them。 I followed her example； placed the Baroness before
me； and spurred on my Horse。 Our only hope was to reach
Strasbourg； which was much nearer than the perfidious Claude had
assured me。 Marguerite was well acquainted with the road； and
galloped on before me。 We were obliged to pass by the Barn；
where the Robbers were slaughtering our Domestics。 The door was
open： We distinguished the shrieks of the dying and imprecations
of the Murderers！ What I felt at that moment language is unable
to describe！
Jacques heard the trampling of our Horses as we rushed by the
Barn。 He flew to the Door with a burning Torch in his hand； and
easily recognised the Fugitives。
'Betrayed！ Betrayed！' He shouted to his Companions。
Instantly they left their bloody work； and hastened to regain
their Horses。 We heard no more。 I buried my spurs in the sides
of my Courser； and Marguerite goaded on hers with the poignard；
which had already rendered us such good service。 We flew like
lightning； and gained the open plains。 Already was Strasbourg's
Steeple in sight； when we heard the Robbers pursuing us。
Marguerite looked back； and distinguished our followers
descending a small Hill at no great distance。 It was in vain
that we urged on our Horses； The noise approached nearer with
every moment。
'We are lost！' She exclaimed； 'The Villains gain upon us！'
'On！ On！' replied I； 'I hear the trampling of Horses coming from
the Town。'
We redoubled our exertions； and were soon aware of a numerous
band of Cavaliers； who came towards us at full speed。 They were
on the point of passing us。
'Stay！ Stay！' shrieked Marguerite； 'Save us！ For God's sake；
save us！'
The Foremost； who seemed to act as Guide； immediately reined in
his Steed。
' 'Tis She！ 'Tis She！' exclaimed He； springing upon the ground；
'Stop； my Lord； stop！ They are safe！ 'Tis my Mother！'
At the same moment Marguerite threw herself from her Horse；
clasped him in her arms； and covered him with Kisses。 The other
Cavaliers stopped at the exclamation。
'The Baroness Lindenberg？' cried another of the Strangers
eagerly； 'Where is She？ Is She not with you？'
He stopped on beholding her lying senseless in my arms。 Hastily
He caught her from me。 The profound sleep in which She was
plunged made him at first tremble for her life； but the beating
of her heart soon reassured him。
'God be thanked！' said He； 'She has escaped unhurt。'
I interrupted his joy by pointing out the Brigands； who continued
to approach。 No sooner had I mentioned them than the greatest
part of the Company； which appeared to be chiefly composed of
soldiers； hastened forward to meet them。 The Villains stayed not
to receive their attack： Perceiving their danger they turned the
heads of their Horses； and fled into the wood； whither they were
followed by our Preservers。 In the mean while the Stranger； whom
I guessed to be the Baron Lindenberg； after thanking me for my
care of his Lady； proposed our returning with all speed to the
Town。 The Baroness； on whom the effects of the opiate had not
ceased to operate； was placed before him； Marguerite and her Son
remounted their Horses； the Baron's