the tracks we were leaving in the snow.

She turned from him, and addressed herself to the other three.

"You will stand by me, my friends," she cried. "Giacopo, here, is a
coward; but you are better men." They stirred, and one of them was
momentarily moved into a faint semblance of valour.

"We will go with you, Madonna," he exclaimed. "Let Giacopo remain behind,
if so he will."

But Giacopo was a very ill-conditioned rogue; neither true himself, nor
tolerant, it seemed, of truth in others.

"You will be hanged for your pains when you are caught!" he exclaimed, "as
caught you will be, and within the hour. If you would save your necks,
stay here and make surrender."

His speech was not without effect upon them, beholding which, Madonna
leapt from the litter, the better to confront them. The corners of her
sensitive little mouth were quivering now with the emotion that possessed
her, and on her eyes there was a film of tears.

"You cowards!" she blazed at them, "you hinds, that lack the spirit even
to run! Were I asking you to stand and fight in defence of me, you could
not show yourselves more palsied. I was a fool," she sobbed, stamping her
foot so that the snow squelched under it. "I was a fool to entrust myself
to you."

"Madonna," answered one of them, "if flight could still avail us, you