Raising his hand for silence--though, God knows, we were and had been silent enough during that long rush through the forest--he said, in a low, keen whisper which cut the silence like a knife: "My friends, the time is come for action.

God be thanked, who has now brought us face to face with our foes! But we must be careful here--not on our own account, for we wish nothing more than to rush on and conquer or die--but for the sake of her whom you love, and whom I, too, love.

She is in danger from anything which may give warning to those fiends.

If they know or even suspect for an instant that we are near, they will murder her.

.