.

THE ORDEAL BY STEEL.
The women for the most part fell like sacks and slept where they alighted, dead weary.

The men, when they had cared for the horses, followed the example; for Badelon would suffer no fire.

In less than half an hour, a sentry who stood on guard at the edge of the wood, and Tignonville and La Tribe, who talked in low voices with their backs against a tree, were the only persons who remained awake, with the exception of the Countess.

Carlat had made a couch for her, and screened it with cloaks from the wind and the eye; for the moon had risen and where the trees stood sparsest its light flooded the soil with pools of white.