Part 16 (1/2)

MY LORD TURNS RESCUER AND COMES NIGH ENDING HIS

LIFE

LATE that afternoon Carstares left Thurze House on one of his friend's horses He waved a very regretful farewell to O'Hara and his lady, proain soon O'Hara had extracted a soleot into difficulties he would let hiain, and that's flat”

Jack had assented gladly enoughto have a friend once iven Miles the nae where he would find hi the mare over himself So Carstares rode off to Trencham and to Jim, with the memory of a very hearty handshake in his ht of his friend's words when he had shown hiive the required pro devil, ye'll do as I say, and no nonsense, or ye don't leave this house!”

For six years no one had ordered hi Somehoas very pleasant to be told what to do, especially by Miles

He turned down a lane and wondered what Ji at the Green Man, he was certain, for those had been his orders He was annoyed with the man over the incident of the pistols for he had inspected them and discovered that they were indeed unloaded Had his captor been other than O'Hara, on whoht have proved his undoing Apart froence always roused his wrath A rather warm twenty minutes was in store for Salter

For quite an hour Carstares proceeded on his ith no mishaps nor adventures, and then, suddenly, as he rounded a corner of a deserted roadlittle ht met his eyes In thetheruffian, while two others were engaged in what appeared to be a life-and-death struggle at the coach-door

Jacked reined-in his horse and rose in his stirrups to obtain a better view Then his eyes flashed, and he whistled softly to hiraceful girl of notthe efforts of her captors to drag her to another coach, further up the road Jack could see that she was dark and very lovely

Another, elderly lady, wasat one of the aze went froure at the side of the road in the shadow of the hedge, evidently the stage-er ”It seehed joyously as he fixed on his , took a pistol from its holster, and ran softly and swiftly under the lea of the hedge up to the scene of disaster, just as the man who covered the unruly and vociferous pair on the box made ready to fire

Jack's bullet took him neatly in the neck, and without a sound he cru harmlessly as it fell to earth

With an oath the silent onlooker wheeled round to face the point ofblade

Carstares drew in his breath sharply in surprise as he saw the white face of his Grace of Andover

”da out his own rapier

”Certainly,” agreed Jack pleasantly ”On guard, M le Duc!”

Tracy's lips curled back in a snarl His eyes were almost shut Over his shoulder he ordered curtly: ”Keep watch over the girl I will attend to this young jackanapes”

On the word the blades clashed

Jack's eyes danced with the sheer joy of battle, and his point snicked in and out wickedly He knew Tracy of old for an expert swordsirl's persecutors retained a firhts were centred on the duel The ot out their blunderbuss, ready to fire should the need arise, and the girl herself watched breathlessly, red lips apart, and eyes agloith fright, indignation, and excitement As for the old lady, she positively bobbed up and down shrieking encourageainst one another; time after time the Duke thrust viciously, and ever his point was skilfully parried He was absolutely cal, he had not the faintest idea; he only knew that his opponent had recognised hiht with deadly grimness and purpose Carstares, on the other hand, had no intention of killing his Grace He had never liked hiood-natured to contemplate any serious bloodshed He was so used to Tracy's little affairs that he had not been filled with surprise when he discovered who the silent figure was

He did not like interfering with Belmanoir, but, on the other hand, he could no more stand by and see a woht on with the idea of disare and to be able to command his withdrawal froed, and a little blood trickled down over the Duke's hand No sign made Belmanoir, except that his eyelids flickered a moment and his play became more careful

Once the Duke thrust in tierce and Jack's sword arm wavered an instant, and a splash of crimson appeared on his sleeve He, for thefor the Duke to tire Soon his Grace's breath began to come unevenly and fast, and beads of moisture started on his forehead Yet never did the sneer fade nor his teh his face was livid, and his brain on fire with fury, no trace of it showed itself in his sword-play

Then Carstares changed his tactics, and began to put into practice all the arts and subtleties of fence that he had learnt abroad He seeile and untireable was he Ti so his Grace back and back He was not panting, and now and again he laughed softly and happily The blood froround, yet it seemed to Tracy to affect hith rapidly, and must make an end

Suddenly he feinted, and fell back Tracy saw his advantage and pressed forithin the wavering sword-point

The next instant his shirled froazing up at the masked face and at the shortened rapier How he had been thrown he did not know, but that his opponent was a past master in the art of fence he was perfectly sure

My lord gave a little chuckle and twisted a handkerchief about his wounded arm

”I am aware, m'sieur, that this is most unusualand, in duelsobdden But I aree that the circu!” He turned his head to the two irl's arm and started forward

”Oh, no!” drawledhis head ”Another step and I spit your master where he lies”

”Stand,” said his Grace calmly

” Bien! Throw your arms down here at my feet, andahrelease Madeed deprecatingly, lowering his point to Tracy's throat

” Eh bien! ”

They still hesitated, casting anxious glances at their master

”Obey,” ordered the Duke

Each irl ran to her aunt, who began to soothe and fuss over her

Jack stifled a yawn

”It is not ht Neither am I a childor a fool

Depechez! ”

Belmanoir saw that the coacher to fire it, and he knew that the game was up He turned his head towards the reluctant bullies who looked to hi!” he advised

Two ers joined their co a quick eye over the e noseyes, o pick up the pistol our defunct friend dropped”

Theanother pistol on to the heap

My lord shook his head impatiently

” Mais non Have I not said that I am not entirely a fool? The unexploded pistol, please

You will place it here, douceood”

His eye travelled to the men on the box The coachman touched his hat and cried: ”I'ood as to keep these gentleive the order And now, M le Duc, have I your parole that you will return swiftly fro this lady unmolested, an I permit you to rise?”