"Lead on!" quoth I, answering this compelling voice. The griping
fingers slipped down and clasped my hand in the dark, and with
never another word she led me away unseeing and unseen until we
came where we were more sheltered from rain and wind; and now I
took occasion to notice that the hand that gripped mine so
masterfully was small and soft, so that what with this and her
voice and speech I judged her one of condition. But my curiosity
went no further nor did I question her, for in my world was no
place for women. So she led me on at haste despite the dark--
like one that was sure of her whereabouts--until I suddenly
espied a dim light that shone out from the open lattice of what I
judged to be a small hedge-tavern. Here my companion halted
suddenly and pointed to the light.

"Go!" she whispered. "Go--nay, first take this!" and she thrust
a small pistol into my hand. "Haste!" she panted, "O haste--and
I do pray God shield and bless you." Then with never a word I
left her and strode towards the beam of light.

Being come nigh the casement I paused to cock the weapon and to
glance at the priming, then, creeping to the open lattice, I
looked into the room.

Three men scowled at each other across a table--desperate-looking
fellows, scarred and ill-featured, with clothes that smacked of
the sea; behind them in a corner crouched a maid, comely of
seeming but pallid of cheek and with cloak torn by rough hands,
and, as she crouched, her wide eyes stared at the dice-box that
one of the men was shaking vigorously--a tall, hairy fellow this,