"I want to talk," she said; "let us sit down and be sociable. I
daresay they will be some time in killing their quarry. We will
enjoy ourselves till they come back. They shall not hurt you; I
will ensure that."

Stark smiled a little at the girl's assurance.

"More likely they may suffer at our hands, lady. There are more of
us scattered about the forest. But our aim is not to slay, but to
obtain prisoners who shall give us news; so you need not fear that
harm will befall your brother--least of all if he speaks the
English tongue as you do. If I might make bold to ask you of
yourself, how comes it that an English girl is in such a wild spot
as this, and amid the soldiers of France?"

"I am not English," answered the maiden, with a smile; "I am French
upon my father's side, and my mother was a Scotchwoman. I have
lived in Scotland, where I learned your tongue; and I always spoke
it with my mother so long as she lived. It is as easy to me as my
father's French."

"And how come you to this wild spot in the heart of these forests,
and with warfare all around?"

"I will tell you that, too. My father has always been a man of
action, who has loved travel and adventure. Since the outbreak of
this war in the west he has longed to be in the midst of it. He is
something of a soldier, and something of a statesman, and he is the
friend of many great ones at Court, and has been entrusted before
now with missions requiring skill and tact. He is also the kinsman