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Rh me well; but 'twas this work which has caused the city to be shut like a bear's cage with the door barred."

"You got them away then?"

"Two separately while the light lasted and two together after nightfall, but the last piece was hazardous. They were seen, and I escaped capture by no more than a hair's breadth. And since then at every doubtful point where such a thing could be attempted soldiers have been posted."

"This is both good and ill news you give, friend. You have done that which will earn you a higher reward than at present I can name. But now, can you increase my gratitude, and get us past these guards? Think. It is Pascal, of course," he said to Gabrielle, while Babillon stood thinking. "He has trebled the messengers to Cambrai. Now, Babillon, how say you?"

"There is the river," he answered, shaking his head doubtfully. "Men might do it, but" he glanced toward Gabrielle and shook his head again.

"Tell me," said Gerard quickly.

"It runs for some three hundred yards by the walls between the north and east gates: the walls are high there and no one would look for an attempt at such a spot; and so the guards are but sparsely set. I have done it, but I have swum the stream. I can scale the walls and could plant a rope ladder for you all—but there is the stream," and once more he shook his head as he glanced toward Gabrielle.

"You can go that way, Gerard," she said instantly. "I can lie hid if need be"

"We shall not part," he answered. "Could we not get a boat or even some planks?" he asked Babillon.

"It would be full of hazard, monsieur. With such a watch set as there is to-night we should almost surely be seen before we had crossed. They would fire upon us and, even if we escaped their shots, they would send