After a long time some of the men came back, at the command of Lopez, with orders to bring the prisoners into the castle. The guard obeyed and followed, taking with them Brooke and Talbot. Russell was about to accompany them, and was just hesitating as to the path, when suddenly he found himself confronted by Rita, who had just come up.
"H-s-s-s-sh!" she said. "All is safe. I haf my reward. The captain haf pay me. Now we shall go. Alla right. Come!"
Russell felt a strange sinking of heart. As to going away with her, that was not to be thought of, and he only sought now for some plausible excuse.
"I—I'm too tired," he said; "I'm worn out, Rita. I cannot walk."
"Bah!" said she. "Come—you shall not go far: I take you to where you shall restar."
"But I'm tired," said Russell. "I want to rest here."
"Bah! you not too tired to go one two mile; that not mooch to go. Come!"
"I can't," whined Russell.
"But you will be captar—you shall be a preesonaire—you shall be deescovaire—alla found out by the capitan; so come—fly, you haf no time to lose."
"I can't help it," said Russell, in despair. "If I'm caught again I don't care. I'm worn out."