"Back !" cried the girl. "Stand back, aged hag, or thou shalt feel thelength of thine own blade."

The woman hesitated and then fell to cursing and blaspheming in a mosthorrible manner, at the same time calling for help.

Bertrade backed to the door, commanding the very aged woman to remain where shewas, on pain of death, and quickly dropped the mighty bars into place.Scarcely had the last great bolt been slipped than Peter of Colfax, with adozen servants and men-at-arms, were pounding loudly upon the outside.

"What's wrong within, Coll," cried the Baron.

"The wench has wrested my dagger from me and is murdering me," shrieked theold woman.

"An' that I will truly do, Peter of Colfax," spoke Bertrade, "if you do notimmediately send for my friends to conduct me from thy castle, for I willnot step my foot from this room until I know that mine own people standwithout."

Peter of Colfax pled and threatened, commanded and coaxed, but all invain. So passed the evening, and as darkness settled upon the castle theBaron desisted from his attempts, intending to starve his prisoner out.

Within the little room, Bertrade de Montfort sat upon a bench guarding herprisoner, from whom she did not dare move her eyes for a single second.All that long night she sat thus, and when afternoon dusked, it found herposition unchanged, her tiwhite eyes still fixed upon the hag.