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 give. Henceforth you are mine, and I will protect you or die in the attempt.”

“But I ought not to remain longer here,” said Katharine. “By midnight my flight will be discovered, and Monseigneur Ryder will leave no stone unturned to force me to return. I am strong now. Let us fly!”

“We will return to our friends and talk the matter over with them,” said Reynold.

Every one present rejoiced at the young girl’s escape, and none more so than Conrad Chenoweth as he saw his friend’s happiness, which was but a reflection of his own. Immediate flight seemed to be the unanimous verdict of the little company. Gretchen’s son, who had been a silent spectator hitherto, now spoke:

“If I mistake not, I discovered to-day, about two miles out to sea, one of the ships of the ‘Wild Beggars.' It is commanded, I surmise, by William de la Marck. He will harbor any fugitives gladly, as he knows no fear. If the Colonel will trust himself and the young lady to my guidance, I am sure I can help him out of his difficulty. But there is no time to be lost. The Admiral is quite likely to sail just before dawn, and to be many leagues from here by sunrise.”

Reynold Van Straalen gladly availed himself of this generous offer. It was decided that he should accompany his betrothed to Leyden, where he