"Let twenty of your children ride back with us to Pisa," said the Free-lance.

"Yes, I will," said the free-lance without a moment's hesitation.

"The sword cuts all bonds," said the Free-lance, with a laugh; "but we would gladly avoid strife.

"With these sentries holding us up at every cross-roads, there is no use trying to get to Antwerp," said the free-lance.