“Now,” he went on, this time speaking aloud, “if that girl makes the least noise, run her through with your sword at once.  Don’t hesitate a moment.”

“Very well,” Ralph said in the same tones.  “I will silence her, never fear.”

Ralph sat down close to the girl and watched her sharply.  They had fixed the shawl as well as they could, but he felt sure that by a sudden effort she could free her mouth sufficiently to scream.  She sat perfectly still; but in about three minutes he saw her suddenly throw her head back, and in an instant he clapped his hand over her mouth.  She struggled violently in spite of her bonds, and tried to bite; but with the other arm he held her head firmly, and succeeded in preventing the slightest sound escaping her.  Then he glanced up the path.  As he had expected the girl’s quick ear had heard approaching footsteps that were inaudible to him.  A figure was bounding rapidly toward them.  As it reached the gate Desmond sprang upon it.  There was a sharp scuffle for a moment.

“All right, Conway.  I have got him.”

It was a lad of some fifteen years old this time.  He struggled furiously till Desmond placed a pistol against his head, and told him that he would blow his brains out if he was not quiet, and taking out the handcuffs fastened them on to his ankles.

“There is no fear of his doing any running now.  Just come and sit down by this wall, my lad, and remember if you make the slightest sound I will run my sword through your body.”

The lad shuffled to the wall and sat down.  Ralph released his grasp of the girl.

“This is a regular young wildcat, Desmond.  She very nearly got my hand in her mouth, and if she had she would have bitten a piece out.  Well, I shouldn’t think there will be any more of them.”

“No, I should think not.  They would scarcely send off more than two messengers.  However, we must still keep a sharp lookout.”

But no one else came along, and in a quarter of an hour they heard the deep tramp of a body of men approaching, and Captain O’Connor soon came up at the head of the company.

“Well, any news, gentlemen?” he asked as the two young officers stepped out.

“Yes, Captain O’Connor.  We have two prisoners—­a girl and a boy.  They came along about ten minutes apart, both running at full speed and evidently going with messages.  We put the handcuffs on the boy’s ankles, and tied the girl’s with our handkerchiefs.”

“Sergeant, tell off two men and let them take these prisoners back to the village, and guard them carefully till we return.  They may as well keep the handcuffs on the boy’s ankles, and untie the girl’s; but let one of them keep a tight hold of her arm, and be sure that she doesn’t slip away.”

Two men were told off for the duty, and the march was then resumed.  Daylight was faintly breaking when they reached the edge of the cliff.  Ralph, with ten men, was posted at the spot where a slight track was visible going down into a sort of gulley.  Captain O’Connor then proceeded with half the company to the right, Desmond taking the remainder to the left; each posting men at intervals along the edge of the cliff, and placing parties of four at every point where there appeared the smallest probability of an ascent being practicable.