On his ride to Lord Fairholm’s rendezvous, he wondered much what could be the nature of the adventure in which they were about to embark.  He knew that both his friends were full of life and high spirits, and his thoughts wandered between some wild attempt to carry off a French officer of importance, or an expedition to rescue a lovely damsel in distress.  Hugh, equally wondering, but still more ignorant of the nature of the expedition, rode quietly on behind.

The road was an unfrequented one, and during the last two miles’ ride they did not meet a single person upon it.  The hamlet of Dettinheim contained four or five houses only, and no one seemed about.  Another five minutes’ riding took them to the entrance to the little valley in which the mill stood.  They rode up to it, and then dismounted.

“It’s a lonesome dismal-looking place, Master Rupert.  It doesn’t seem to bode good.  Of course you know what you’re come for, sir; but I don’t like the look of the place, nohow.”

“It does not look cheerful, Hugh; but I am to meet Lord Fairholm and Sir John Loveday here.”

“I don’t see any sign of them, Master Rupert.  I’d be careful if I were you, for it’s just the sort of place for a foul deed to be done in.  It does not look safe.”

“It looks old and haunted,” Rupert said; “but as that is its natural look, I don’t see it can help it.  The door is open, so my friends are here.”

“Look out, Master Rupert; you may be running into a snare.”

Rupert paused a moment, and the thought flashed across his mind that it might, as Hugh said, be a snare; but with Lord Fairholm’s letter in his pocket, he dismissed the idea.

“You make me nervous, Hugh, with your suggestions.  Nevertheless I will be on my guard;” and he drew his sword as he entered the mill.

As he did so, Hugh, who was holding the horses’ bridles over his arm, snatched a brace of pistols from the holsters, cocked them, and stood eagerly listening.  He heard Rupert walk a few paces forward, and then pause, and shout “Where are you, Fairholm?”

Then he heard a rush of heavy feet, a shout from Rupert, a clash of swords, and a scream of agony.

All this was the work of a second; and as Hugh dropped the reins and rushed forward to his master’s assistance, he heard a noise behind him, and saw a dozen men issue from behind the trees, and run towards him.

Coming from the light, Hugh could with difficulty see what was taking place in the darkened chamber before him.  In an instant, however, he saw Rupert standing with his back to a wall, with a dead man at his feet, and four others hacking and thrusting at him.  Rushing up, Hugh fired his two pistols.  One of the men dropped to the ground, the other with an oath reeled backwards.

“Quick, sir! there are a dozen men just upon us.”

Rupert ran one of his opponents through the shoulder, and as the other drew back shouted to Hugh, “Up the stairs, Hugh!  Quick!”