Evening star., 1901-09-14
worst Of all it would b. yet five hours til,

| daylight.
| As they crouched among the reeds the
effect OF his sudden discontinue OF the
captors OF the child Isabel became appar-
ent. The whole palace was ringed with
sudden leaping fire of musketry. The an
CRY fusinade was promptly answered from
the balconies. and Rollo had the satisfac-
tion of knowing from the shouts and yeiis
I OF pain and fury beneath that not only
were his folk on the alert, but that he had
| reason to be satisfied with the excellence
of their craftsmanship.
Rollo, Immediately upon his return TO
the thicket, had recovered and recharged
his pistols by touch, and presently. having
made all ready, he caught up the little SRI
in his arms, urging her to be silent what
ever happened and to trust everything TO
him.
Isabel, who was Of an affectionate and
easy disposition, though ever quick to
anger. put her arm readily about the young
mans neck. He had winsome and grac-
ious manner with all children. which. per-
haps, was the same quality that won nim
a way with women
Rollo had an idea which had come to him
with the chime Of the hermitage bell as
1t toiled the hour of midnight. There,
anywhere, he would find good men, inter-
ested in the welfare OF the princess, anu
with hearts large enough to remain calmly
at the post Of duty, even In deserted ana
plague-ruined town.
To the hermitage of San Ildefonso, there-
fore, recently enlarged and erected into q
monastery Rollo directed his steps. IL
was no easy task at such time Inere
was the great railing to negotiate, ana a a
passage to force through a town by TINS
time alive with enemies. In spite OF the
darkness the gypsies at any point might
stop his way, and he was burdened with
child whom he must protect at all nazafoS.
| But this young man loved to be driven
into q. corner. Danger excited MIN as
drinking might another man. Indeed, SO
quick were his parts, SO ready his inven-
ton that before he had left the reed bed
he had turned over and rejected half
dozen plans of escape. Yet another sug-
gested itself to which for the moment he
could see no objection.
He spoke to the little Isabel who now
nestled closely and confidently to him.
Ibid they not tell me- he said, that
! there was somewhere about the palace a
dairy Of cows?''
queen, 'at least there is place where
they are brought to be MIXED 1t De
longs to my mother. She loves them all,
and often used to take me there to enjoy
the sight and to drink the milk with the
froth upon it.
Can you show me the way, little Prin-
cess Isabel?" said Rollo.
Yes, that can I, indeed" she made an
swer. but you must not take away my
mothers milk pals nor let the wicked gyp-
sizes know Of them. Old Piebald Pedro
drives the cows in and out every day. rid
mothers farm in the valley, that is called
in French Sans Souci.' Is it not pretty
name%
His donkey?' said Rollo, quickly catch
ing at the idea. where does he keep it?'
.'In little shed not far from the dairy,
she answered.; 1.-The stable is covered all
over with yellow canes, and it stands near
pool where the green frogs croak.
1t had been Rollo's intention to drive
some Of the royal cows out before him
as a booty, passing himself off as one OF
ton he decided that Pedro, the cowherd's
ass, would suit his purpose much better
so be that he was fortunate enough to
find it. He was sure that among so many
gypsies and ill-conditioned folk who had
joined the tribes of Egypt for the sake of
adventure and booty there must be many
who were personally unknown to each
other. And though he could not speak
deep Romany like La Giralda and the ser
geant, Rollo was yet more expert at the
"crab bbed Gitano" than nine out of ten Of
the northern gypsies, who, indeed, for the
most part used a mere thieves slang, or as
it was called, ''Trampers' Dutch.
The little girl directed him as well as
she could but, nevertheless, 1t was some
time before he could find the place he was
in quest Of For Isabel had never been out
at night before, and naturally the forms Of
all things appeared strangely altered to an
imaginative child. Indeed, it may be adj
mitted that Rollo stumbled upon the place
more by good luck than because he was
guided thither by the advice of Isabel. For
the utmost the child could tell him was
only that Piebald Pedro's hut was near the
dairy, and that the dairy was near Pedro's
hut.
Rollo set the princess on the ground, bid
ding her watch by the door and tell him If
any one came into sight. But the little
girl. not yet recovered from her fright
clung to his coat and pleaded so piteously
to be allowed to stay with him that he
could not insist. First of all he CROPPED all
round the light, cane-wattled walls OF Pc
serve to disguise him. After little Rollo
found the old coWherd's milking blouse
stuffed in an empty corn chest. He pulled
the crumpled old garment out and donned
it without scruple. His own sombrero,
much the worse of wear and weather,
served well enough, and with the brim
turned down, to give the young man the
appearance of peasant turned br1gand Tor
His next business was to conceal the lit
tie girl in order that they might have
chance of passing the gypsy picket at the
gates, and of escaping chance questionlngs
by the way.
Rollo therefore continued to search in
the darkness till he had collected two large
bundles, one of chopped straw and the
other of hay which he stuffed into the pan
niers in the larger of which he meant to
find room for the princess. Once settled,
sheet thrown over her shoulders ana
the hay was lightly scattered over all
Then she was ordered to lie down and to
keep especially still If she should hear any
one speak to her companion. And SO nat
urally did the little girl take to secrecy and
adventure that after having assured HeT-
self of Rollo's kindness not a murmur
passed her lips.
On the contrary, she promised all careful
obedience, and it was no great while before
| they set out, making so bold as to pass
| once more by her own private kitchen.
For Rollo had resolved to take possession
of some of the silver utensils that he
might have somewhat wherewith to satisfy
| plunderers If they should chance to be
stopped and the ass burden in danger of
| being examined too closely.
| They found the silver vessels and pans
| lying where they had been piled outside
| the door. Apparently one had been near
| them.
! They kept wide Of the palace itself. how
| ever, for though the fire had slackened,
| and the besieged only replied when one OF
| their assailants incautiOusly showed him.
| self, yet the place evidently still COM
| pletely beset, and the loaded trains of
mules and donkeys departing from the
| storehouses had released many of the
| younger and more adventurous gypsies
| who had brought no beast with them on
| which to carry off their plunder.
At about the same time red glow began
| to wax and wane uncertainty above the
granaries most distant from Rollo and his
| charge. A ruddy volume of smoke slowly
| disengaged itself from the roofs. Win
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