Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 3.djvu/360

Rh As the words left his lips, on the quiet of the air a single shot rang.

The first sunbeam had slanted through the slender chink above; the stillness was intense; far below the measured step of the sentinel fell muffled on the turf, and the liquid stealing music of water, that fell down through thick acanthus foliage without, alone was dimly heard. At that moment, as the brightness of the day reached high enough to enter the vaulted chamber of the upper story of the granary, the stillness was thus broken. There was a stifled cry; then silence reigned again; and on that silence there was heard no more the monotonous tread to and fro of the soldier on guard.

He started to his feet, his hand on the Venetian steel he had just grasped.

"The man is shot!"

His voice was low and rapid, his eyes turnd on hers with the same thought that came to both ahke. There were those in that world they had lost who would have done all that courage and true friendship could in his service had they known of his extremity; there were those also by the score who would have let their lives be mowed down like the millett sheaves around them in her cause, had they had power to reach her from the grip of priest and king.