as well might you pursue the wind, as seek to overtake that light-footed
page."

"You have kept me till it is too late to make the attempt;" murmured the
other; and, his thoughts reverting to what had just passed, he continued
to himself, "A pretty page, truly! and who, but a fool, or a mad-cap,
like myself, could have looked at those eyes once, and not know them
again?"

"You are disturbed, young man," said the priest, regarding him
attentively; "and that disguise, for whatever purpose assumed, seems to
sit but ill upon you."

"You speak most truly, good father; but I hope to doff these tawdry
garments before morning, if the saints prosper my undertaking."

"Time is waning, my son, and that which you have to do, do quickly; the
dawn of day must not find you lingering here, if your safety and honor
are dear to you."

"You know me!" said the young man, surprised, "but I am totally
unconscious of having ever seen you before."

"I am not sought by the young and gay," replied the priest, "but we may
meet again; yonder is your path," pointing towards the fort, "mine leads
to retirement and solitude."

With these words he turned from him; and the young man, with hasty
steps, pursued his lonely way to the fort of St. John's.