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I gazed uneasily about from where I lay at the feet of Mada upon me as if she waited anxiously lances met, "that I shall shrink from the peril of encounter If it is best, you hter of France"

"Nor do we question it, Mada the unrestrained flash of pride leaping into the careless eyes of her husband at these brave words "But to invite such conflict in our present condition would be sheerus, for I ae an ae battle against so well-are De Noyan sports his straight sword, which would be ielded at close quarters; I possess my rifle, with small store of powder and ball, all of which are likely to be needed to save us froht indeed prove a strong arht back withof the secrets of thrust and parry Pish! 'tis not worth thinking about Pit such an outfit as this against eighteen well-armed men,--for the Marquis can shoot for all his cracked rib, nor do I doubt the fighting qualities of the priest,--and the venture beco up as I noted the hot-headed gallant preparing for speech, "nor is this all we should have to contend with Above, along the upper river, there are at least three other expeditions of Spanish soldiery They are warned of De Noyan's escape, already guarding every junction Suppose we succeeded--which in itself would be aour way out fro against the current, or escape a clash with those others? I know the difference between a bold dash and the utter foolhardiness such a hopeless venture as this would be"

"Sacre! you appear strangely over-cautious all at once," and I detected a covert sneer in the Chevalier's low, drawling tone "The Spaniard's blade must have let out the best of your blood Were you a soldier, now, instead of a mere forest rover, the odds you mention would only serve to stir you into action"

"Pardon, Monsieur," I said quietly, holding my temper, "it may be I have seen harder service than some who boast loudly their soldiership It requires -schools, to make a soldier inwhen a proper time comes to strike blows"