"You'll shoot me before you leave this room," he cried.
They stood glaring at one another and saying many bitter things--they who had been friends for half a century. Then they felt ashamed and were silent, though each was bent on victory. This lull in the quarrel was broken by the sound of horses' hoofs upon the frozen ground.
"They're off," she cried, and running to the window had opened and cleared it before the priest could get there. And in peace time she walked with a stick!
He followed her as best he could, but alas! when he reached the ground she had disappeared. The place was deserted, the night dark. He ran hither and thither looking for her, his one thought to snatch away the revolver. He remembered all the terrible things they had done to women in France and Belgium for less than killing a Prussian officer. And she was a good shot. He had seen her hit the bull'seye over and over again, in the little shooting-range behind the shrubbery.
A shot rang through the air--it came from the kitchen side. He was too late! He could no longer save her from herself! Ah, they were already on her, for he could hear hoarse German oaths and a woman's screams. Yes, that was her voice. Oh, my God, that he should come to this! They were torturing her, subjecting her to unspeakable martyrdom, wreaking vengeance for the death of their chief.
In the kitchen entry he stumbled over a Prussian helmet. Its owner lay near by, on his face ... he hurried on...
The huge room resounded with the clash of steel, women's screams, men's oaths. There was a struggling mass of humanity in the gloom. Ian, his face bleeding, was fighting for his life with a trooper. Father Constantine butted at them, to catch the German in his big paunch. But something sharp and cold hit his head and he knew no more.
When he recovered his senses he was lying in a cold, dark place. His head ached greatly. Somebody was bathing it with water.
"The Countess? The Countess?" He tried to rise, but could not.
"She is safe. Please lie still, Father Constantine." This in English. It was Minnie.