proposes; but his purpose was destined to failure. The sky had cleared
in the sudden way so common at midnight in these islands. The guard at
Lesbirel's, turning out to patrol, had at last caught sight of the fire
burning on the point above them. Taking alarm, the sergeant, who was an
intelligent and aspiring soldier, guessed that something was amiss, and
set off at the head of his men to search for the escaped prey. Taking
the road to the manor, where he had reason to believe Lempriere's
messenger would be found, and spreading his men among the shadows of the
bordering walls and hedges, he came upon the fugitive in a lane. To his
challenge, "Who goes there?" he received for answer a pistol-shot, which
laid him low in the mire of the lane, with a great flesh wound in the
right shoulder; but the soldiers hearing the report ran up from both
sides. Le Gallais was overpowered and secured after a brief resistance.

"Search him and take him to the governor," said the wounded sergeant, as
he swooned from loss of blood.

The following morning found Sir George and his clerk in their old places
in the Gorey Castle. Pale and draggled, Le Gallais confronted his
examiners with such firmness as he could gather from a good cause.

"You have nothing against me, Messire de Carteret," he said firmly.

"If I have not I shall soon make it," said the governor fiercely.
"Whence were you coming when you pistolled my sergeant?"

"I was going to join my company of militia, in order to be present at
morning exercise," answered the prisoner, undauntedly. "Your sergeant
laid hands on me without warrant or warning on a public thoroughfare,
and I shot him in self-defence. What would you have done in my place?"