the air, and deluged it with water, entreating him to look up and
speak.

A few long painful gasps, and the eyes were half unclosed, while a
scarce audible voice said, "Gaston! is it thou? I deemed it was
over!" and then the eyes closed again. Gaston's heart was lightened
at having heard that voice once more, even had that word been his
last--and answering, "Ay, truly, Sir Knight, all is well so you
will but look up," he succeed in pouring a little water into his
mouth.

He was interrupted by several of the men-at-arms, who came trooping
up to the door, looking anxiously at the wounded Knight, while the
foremost said, "Master Gaston, here is gear which must be looked
to. Thibault Sanchez and half a dozen more have drawn together in
Montfort's tower, and swear they will not come forth till we have
promised their lives."

"Give them no such pledge!--Hang without mercy!" cried another voice
from behind. "Did not I myself hear the traitorous villains send
off Tristan de la Fleche to bear the news to Carcassonne? We shall
have the butcher of Bretagne at our throats before another hour is
over."

"Cowardly traitor!" cried Gaston. "Wherefore didst thou not cut the
throat of the caitiff, and make in to the rescue of the Knight?"

"Why, Master d'Aubricour, the deed was done ere I was well awake, and
when it was done, and could not be undone, and we were but four men
to a dozen, what could a poor groom do? But you had better look to