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He saw her again with her hair streaming in the breeze, and felt again the subtle strength and vigor that were in her. Had he not thought then that it would be good to fight in her cause? Why should he rage at the circumstances which had forced him into it? When he entered the tower Grigosie was asleep, and he lay down to snatch what rest he could before relieving Anton and Stefan.
In the sudden confusion Ellerey gave quick commands, as, with sword in hand, he sprang to the rising ground where Grigosie stood; but his orders were either not heard or came too late for obedience. Before the soldiers could come to him, the brigands were between them. "It is madness to stay," whispered Grigosie. "The hill behind us is clear."
"I'm my own manufacture for the most part," answered Grigosie, "but I'm not too proud to learn from an old campaigner like you, Stefan." The soldier drew himself up in his saddle, and looked knowingly at his young comrade. "There's sense in you. Maybe I can teach you a few things.
Some definite conclusion had been arrived at. "They seem to have hit upon another way of getting at us," said Stefan. "Is there another way?" asked Grigosie, repeating the same question he had asked before. No one answered him, nor did he seem to expect an answer. He stood watching the now moving mass below, little interest in his eyes. His alertness had departed.
Presently Anton slept too. Ellerey awoke with a start. Some shock in a dream seemed to wake him, and as he raised himself his hand went to his breast, as it constantly did on waking. The token lay there safely. Then he leaned over toward Grigosie and stretched out his arm. The lad's place was empty.
"Once I didn't care for anybody," Stefan said to the lad one day. "You didn't know father then." "No; and for a long time after that I hated women." "Until you met my mother?" asked the boy. "Yes; and until I knew Grigosie." "Grigosie? Who was Grigosie?" "She was a Princess." "My mother is a Princess. Father says so."
"That isn't true, is it, Captain?" whispered Grigosie. "We know better than that." Ellerey laughed, but he was not displeased to keep the lad in low conversation. The song had let loose a flood of jest and anecdote which lost none of their ribaldry in the telling. They were ill suited for a boy to hear and batten on. "Yes, lad; we know better, you and I," he said.
Stefan read the pencilled lines, turned the paper over meditatively, and then read them again. The words seemed to burn their way into his brain as they had burnt into Ellerey's, but the effect was somewhat different. "It is not like a woman, is it?" said Stefan. "Very like, I think." Stefan shook his head, as though he regretted his companion's ignorance. "I took a liking to Grigosie," he said.
"Wait!" exclaimed Grigosie. "Ask for time to consider." "Who wants to consider such a thing as that?" growled Stefan. "We gain time," said Grigosie, turning to Ellerey. "Say you will consider the suggestion and answer them tomorrow. We sorely need rest; what does it matter how we gain it?" "My gorge revolts against their even fancying that we should consider such a thing," said Stefan.
Stefan turned toward him and shut one eye. "Dodge the distinctions, lad, as you would the devil. They lead to Court and the society of women, two things to be avoided." "Why so, Stefan?" "Court fetters a man as a chain does a dog, and is unnatural, while a woman is the keenest weapon in all the devil's armory." "I have heard some well spoken of," said Grigosie.
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