HESTER'S HISTORY.

A NEW SERIAL TALE.

CHAPTER XXVII. HESTER, THE SPY.

THE landing on which they emerged was in
flames; also the staircase on before them. For
those who had been ignorant of the planning of
the castle there had been no hope. Sir Archie
knew where to look for the small door which led
to the narrow stair made of stone, which wound
down, and down, all through the building, to
the servants' quarters at the back of the castle.
On the stone stair they were safe, and in a few
moments they were breathing freely in open air.
That back door, through which Miss Madge's
rebel had rushed one evening, was unfastened.
Through this they passed out into a thick lonely
grove near the small old-fashioned entrance.
Then the ancient drawbridge was straight before
them.

"My mother!" said Sir Archie. "I must
return and look for her!"

"She's safe, sir—the family's all safe," said
Pat, at his elbow. "It's you they're afther.
It's yourself ye have to save! Cross the bridge,
and get into the moat."

"You must not wait for me," said Hester.
"I will run to the village, to Mrs. Hazeldean."

"I will not leave you till I leave you with
her," said Sir Archie. " We will go on together."

Discussion could only waste time. Hester's
fears put wings to her feet. The glare from
the burning castle was all over the sky. They
could hear the horrible roar of the flames, and
the shouts of the soldiery. Showers of sparks
fell about them as they crept along in the hollow
of the moat, sheltered under the high bank,
with its fringes of ferns, and its drooping
bushes.

They ventured on the road at last. By-and-by
they heard a group of soldiers coming noisily
along, and hid behind some bushes in the hedge.
One of the soldiers swore he had seen
something moving in the ditch, and poked among
the bushes with his bayonet. The bayonet
grazed Hester's arm, as it stuck in the soft
moss and earth by her side. Happily this
soldier's companions believed he had been
mistaken, and insisted on dragging him on. They
were in haste to reach the scene of action.

After this little adventure Sir Archie kept
clear of the road. It was safer, though slower,
ploughing through the heather, with knolls and
rocks for shelter at right and left. At some
places he had to carry Hester, being deaf to her
entreaties that he would go on without her. A
grey lightness began to glimmer upon the air.
"Oh God, keep it dark till we reach the bay!"
prayed Hester. But the night was on the wane.
The clouds quivered and parted, leaned together
a while, then loosened their hold, and fell back
to north and to south, to east and west, leaving
the sky a sea of pallid green, with faint stars
struggling and expiring in its depths.

The curve of the bay was reached at last,
but a little distance from the village. The boat
was still waiting, with the faithful boatman; who
proved to be Madge's rebel, Polly's lover.

"I will not go," said Sir Archie, "till I
leave you safe with Mrs. Hazeldean."

"Step into the boat!" cried Hester, almost
maddened by the thought of the delay and its
risk. "Do not lose an instant. When you
are gone I shall be cautious, and take care of
myself; but if you come a step further with
me, I will throw myself on the first bayonet I
meet."

Sir Archie looked at her in amazement, the
meek Hester quivering and glowing with
passion.

"I cannot leave you to go by yourself," he
said.

Hester was in despair: but a happy thought
struck her, and changing her manner, she began
to complain bitterly.

"Oh, why will you insist on destroying me?"
she said, wringing her hands. "Do you not
know that I am only in danger so long as I am
in your company? When you are gone I shall
be safe."

"She's right, yer honer," said the boatman.
"Ye'll only be the ruin o' her."

Sir Archie, with a shock, seemed to see truth
in this argument.

"I have been mad," he said, "not to think
of that." And he sprang into the boat. "Fly,
in God's name, then!" he cried, as he saw her
standing alone and defenceless on the shore.

"I shall be quite safe!" cried Hester, radiant,
as she saw the boat move off. "Nothing can
hurt me now."

Sir Archie, from the bay, saw her flying
figure disappear among the houses of the village.