Uttering these words, she breathed her last sigh, and her head declined upon Careless's shoulder.
"She has died for me!" exclaimed Charles. "'Tis a sad and sudden ending, but she anticipated her doom."
"Anticipated it, sire! How mean you?" cried Careless.
"I will explain hereafter, if we escape," said Charles.
Several more shots were fired by the troopers, but no one was hurt. The current swept the boat down so rapidly that those within it were soon out of reach of harm.
"What will you do?" said Charles to Careless.
"I know not," rejoined the other, distractedly. "But I will never rest till I have avenged her. But think not of me, my liege. Save yourself. If you go further down the river, you will most assuredly fall into some new danger."
"If I might venture to advise your majesty," said Pope, "I would recommend you to land as soon as possible, and return at once to Abbots Leigh."
"Thy advice is good," rejoined Charles. "But what is to be done with the unfortunate victim of this treacherous design? How is she to be disposed of?"
"Leave her to me, sire," replied Careless. "Again, I implore you to save yourself. Return to Abbots Leigh, as Pope suggests. If she could speak," he added, solemnly, looking at the lifeless figure, which he still held in his arms, "she would urge you to take this course!"