Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/261

Rh said to account for her absence. All this, together with the fact that Edgar had hinted to the garrison—for the sake of encouraging them—that there might be relief expected from outside, led this shrewd man to the truth. He guessed that Amabel had been sent out to carry the news of the siege; and, seeing that she was thus beyond his malice, he made up his mind to desert from the garrison. An opportunity came during the taking of the intrenchment. He threw himself to the ground, as if he had been killed, and remained among the Count's men after the capture of the earthwork.

Then, awaiting his opportunity, he seized the Count's foot as he was passing. Instantly the Count snatched his foot away, and raising his sword was about to slay the fallen man, when the soldier cried:

"Wait, my lord! I am a deserter, and I have news for you."

The Count, reaching down, caught the man by the collar and jerked him roughly to his feet, asking at the same moment, "Where are you wounded, knave?"

"I am not wounded," the soldier replied. "I fell to the ground that I might have speech with your lordship."

"A scoundrelly deserter!" exclaimed the Count