.

THE BARGAIN.
By the lanthorn's yellow glare Crispin beheld the two men-a mass of writhing bodies and a bunch of waving legs--upon the ground.

Kenneth, who was uppermost, clung purposefully to the parson's throat.

The faces of both were alike distorted, but whilst the lad's breath came in gasping hisses, the other's came not at all.
Going over to the bed, Crispin drew the unconscious trooper's tuck-sword.

He paused for a moment to bend over the man's face; his breath came faintly, and Crispin knew that ere many moments were sped he would regain consciousness.