A RESCUED PARTY 242

of these men, to whom I am much beholden for the kind-
ness he has shown me.”

He went across to Ladislas, who had heard what was
said.

“You will not think it ungrateful for me to quit you so
suddenly, Ladislas,”’ he said in a low voice.

“Assuredly not. You have done us a service indeed in
thus enabling us to obtain favour with the count. He is
one of our richest and most powerful nobles, and our for-
tunes are as good as made.”

“T will introduce you to him personally,” Charlie said.
“This, count, is the leader of the party. He has shown me
very great kindness, and has proved a true friend. From
what I have seen of him I have no doubt whatever that, in
spite of certain acts of lawlessness to which he and his
friends have been driven of late, you will find him, in any
position you may be good enough to give him, an honest
and thoroughly trustworthy man.”

“T will bear it in mind,” the count said. “Now the
sooner we are off the better. How far is it to the next
village?”

“ About seven miles, count.”

The count gave orders for the sledge to be taken on to
the road again.

“One moment,” the captain said, taking Charlie aside.
“Pray tell us in a few words what has happened. ‘The
burning of the tree is a mystery to us, and we shall die of
curiosity if we have to remain here for another two months
with the matter unexplained.”

In as few words as possible Charlie related to the men
the story of the preceding night, which was greeted with
exclamations of surprise and admiration.

“Truly you have your wits about you,” the captain said.
“T should have been frozen to death if T had been in your
position, for I should certainly never have thought of lighting