him. He forgot his own peril, forgot everything save that after two years' fruitless search he was face to face with Hortense De Barre. With his dark, greenish eyes ablaze, and those sharp white teeth gnashing like the incisors of an enraged hedgehog, he looked at her, hissing:

"I have found you at last, now come with me!" But there was one who had watched his movements, and, like a dark meteor, old Saturiova leaped between Gyrot and the girl, a long, keen knife in his hand.

"No!" he cried in his own tongue. "She is my daughter-touch her and die!"

Gyrot fell back, and, in the excitement which ensued, ran from the camp, and, with a defiant shout, leaped into the wood.

"He is gone to warn the Spaniards, monsieur," cried Hortense.

Before De Gourges could speak, Saturiova issued an order to four of his young men, and they plunged into the woods after the fugitive.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE PLAN OF ATTACK.

THE incidents with which the foregoing chapter closed transpired so rapidly that De Gourges was stunned by the dénouement, as dramatic as it was unexpected, and could hardly comprehend the dangerous character of Gyrot until he had disappeared. Then, although four young Indians had been sent to bring back the fugitive, De Gourges still felt uneasy.

"We must capture or kill the scoundrel," the commandant declared. "I will send a party to

arrest him."

"Your men know not the forest, nor are they accustomed to making long runs," said Saturiova. "They will be lost and perish in the wood. I have sent four swift young men to kill or seize him, and I will send fifty more to guard every path about the forts on this river, and also at St. Augustine, so that he can never reach the Spaniards.

"Do so at once."

Old Saturiova selected fifty of his young men,

16

241

sending twelve to watch each of the forts on May River, and fourteen to guard every avenue to St. Augustine. They were instructed to interfere with no one save the evil man with the face of death. They received their orders and all silently disappeared into the forest.

Peter De Bray assured De Gourges that nothing more could be done toward the capture of John Gyrot.

After the flight of the traitor, Hortense retired to the interior of the camp, and sat down on a log, her mind harassed with fears and doubts. If Gyrot reached St. Mattheo, Francisco would certainly be slain, for the Spaniards, incensed at the invasion of the French, would not spare one of their own countrymen who was friendly toward them. De Gourges went to her, and asked:

"Is this Mademoiselle De Barre?"

"It is, monsieur."

"I knew your father; he once saved my life, and I registered a vow that I would befriend him and his under any and all circumstances when in trouble. To fulfil that vow was one of the incentives which brought me here.”

Hortense bowed her pretty head.

"Now, mademoiselle, tell me about yourself, your coming to America and your suffering here." As briefly as she could, Hortense related her sad