cuts, the gullies and ravines. She knew where one might, with a good

jumper, save a wide detour, and as she rode toward Blentz she passed

in review through her mind each of the many spots where a sudden

break for liberty might have the best chance to succeed.

And at last she hit upon the place where a quick turn would take her

from the main road into the roughest sort of going for one not

familiar with the trail. Maenck and his soldiers had already

partially relaxed their vigilance. The officer had come to the

conclusion that his prisoner was resigned to her fate and that,

after all, the fate of being forced to be queen did not appear so

dark to her.

They had wound up a wooded hill and were half way up to the summit.

The princess was riding close to the right-hand side of the road.

Quite suddenly, and before a hand could be raised to stay her, she

wheeled her mount between two trees, struck home her spur, and was

gone into the wood upon the steep hillside.

With an oath, Maenck cried to his men to be after her. He himself

spurred into the forest at the point where the girl had disappeared.

So sudden had been her break for liberty and so quickly had the

foliage swallowed her that there was something almost uncanny in it.

A hundred yards from the road the trees were further apart, and

through them the pursuers caught a glimpse of their quarry. The girl

was riding like mad along the rough, uneven hillside. Her mount,

surefooted as a chamois, seemed in his element. But two of the

horses of her pursuers were as swift, and under the cruel spurs of

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