the prisoner from the fever of indignation that must otherwise have consumed and maddened him. Only with slowly returning life did memory and reflection reappear; and, as consciousness revived but dimly for a time, the strong man was spared the mocking torture of self-reproach for his own manly trustfulness.
Quiet resignation, and dignified acceptance of the fate now expected exhibited the knightly courage of the prisoner. Through the intervention of Agaphia, Nicolas Jaroslav, still immured in the same prison, became aware of the neighborhood of the illustrious captive. By appeals to those lurking sentiments of humanity which even jailers seldom wholly lose, Nicolas contrived to communicate his presence and some details of information concerning the cause of their common sufferings.
Even the guards learned, as they generally do, to estimate the coarse injustice exhibited in the case of these two prisoners; and a kind word and a respectful tone often relieved and cheered the lonely hours of both men. Through this source Zawis acquired some intimation of the probable manner of the abstraction of the missing record. “I know my wife and children are safe,” he mused. “Witek and Drda, and good old Lord Boppo, if he survives, will defend my fortresses to the last. Only a brave example of the undaunted soul that integrity can impart becomes me now; and I know I shall never shrink from a knight’s full duty, whether in the face of the declared foe, or the dark conspirator. I con-
