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diff --git a/23382.txt b/23382.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eddc9fb --- /dev/null +++ b/23382.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18698 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Crown and Sceptre, by George Manville Fenn + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Crown and Sceptre + A West Country Story + +Author: George Manville Fenn + +Illustrator: J Nash + +Release Date: May 16, 2013 [EBook #23382] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CROWN AND SCEPTRE *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Crown and Sceptre +A West Country Story +By George Manville Fenn +Illustrations by J Nash +Published by Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London. + +Crown and Sceptre, a West Country Story, by George Manville Fenn. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +I groaned a bit when I saw that this story was about the Civil War in +England, in the mid-seventeenth century. But I soon realised that it +was a very good story, told in the tension-laden Fenn style. + +We start off in the Devon coombes (valleys near the sea) with two +families that are close friends. The Markhams live at The Hall, while +the Forresters live at The Manor. There are two teenage boys: Scarlett +Markham and Fred Forrester. The boys come upon secret passages and +secret chambers in the Hall, and also some other long-forgotten shafts +and wells leading to the outside. + +Then came the Civil War, in which the Roundheads fought for a country +subservient to Parliament, while the Cavaliers fought for the King. +The Markhams and their household became Cavaliers, while the Forresters +were Roundheads. Thus the two families became, at least in theory, +deadly enemies. Needless to say, it didn't always work out exactly like +that, and the boys at least, now young officers, and the family +retainers, sometimes helped one another in ways the fathers would not +approve of. + +The manor is burnt down, and Sir Godfrey Markham very seriously wounded. +It is only by Scarlett's knowledge of the secret passages that he is +saved. We will not spoil the rest of the story for you by telling you +the rest of it, but we assure you that it very well written, and did not +at all merit my initial groans. Another very good read, or listen. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +CROWN AND SCEPTRE, A WEST COUNTRY STORY, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + +CHAPTER ONE. + +IN THE WEST COUNTREE. + +"Derry down, derry down, derry down!" + +A cheery voice rolling out the chorus of an old west-country ditty. + +Then there was a run of a few yards, a sudden stoppage, and a round, red +missile was thrown with considerable force after a blackcock, which rose +on whirring wings from among the heather, his violet-black plumage +glistening in the autumn sun, as he skimmed over the moor, and +disappeared down the side of a hollow coombe. + +"Missed him," said the thrower, thrusting his hand into his pocket, and +bringing out a similar object to that which he had used as a missile, +but putting it to a far different purpose; for he raised it to his +mouth, drew back his red lips, and with one sharp crunch drove two rows +of white teeth through the ruddy skin, cut out a great circular piece of +apple, spat it out, and threw the rest away. + +"What a sour one!" he cried, as he dived after another, which proved to +be more satisfactory, for he went on munching, as he made his short cut +over the moor towards where, in a sheltered hollow, a stone building +peeped from a grove of huge oaks. + +The sun shone brightly as, with elastic tread, the singer, a lad of +about sixteen, walked swiftly over the elevated moorland, now descending +into a hollow, now climbing a stiff slope, at whose top he could look +over the sea, which spread away to north and west, one dazzling plain of +damasked silver, dotted with red-sailed boats. Then down another slope +facing the south, where for a moment the boy paused to deliver a sharp +kick at something on the short fine grass. + +"Ah, would you!" he exclaimed, following up the kick by a jump which +landed him upon a little writhing object, which repeated its first +attack, striking with lightning rapidity at the lad's boot, before lying +crushed and helpless, never to bask in the bright sun again. + +"Serve you right, you nasty poisonous little beast!" cried the boy, +crushing his assailant's head beneath his heel. "You got the worst of +it. Think the moor belonged to you? Lucky I had on my boots." + +He dropped upon the ground, drew off a deer-skin boot, and, with his +good-looking, fair boyish face all in wrinkles, proceeded to examine the +toe, removing therefrom a couple of tiny points with his knife. + +"What sharp teeth adders have!" he muttered. "Not long enough to go +through." + +The next minute he had drawn on his boot, and set off at a trot, which +took him down to the bottom of the slope, and half up the other side of +the coombe, at whose bottom he had had to leap a tiny stream. Then, +walking slowly, he climbed the steeper slope; and there was a double +astonishment for a moment, the boy staring hard at a noble-looking stag, +the avant-guard of a little herd of red deer, which was grazing in the +hollow below. + +The boy came so suddenly upon the stag, that the great fellow stood at +gaze, his branching antlers spreading wide. Then there was a rush, and +the little herd was off at full speed, bucks, does, and fawns, seeming +almost to fly, till they disappeared over a ridge. + +"That's the way!" said the lad. "Now, if Scar and I had been out with +our bows, we might have walked all day and never seen a horn." + +As the lad trudged on, munching apples and breaking out from time to +time into scraps of song, the surroundings of his walk changed, for he +passed over a rough stone wall, provided with projections to act as a +stile, and left the moorland behind, to enter upon a lovely park-like +expanse, dotted with grand oaks and firs, among which he had not +journeyed long before, surrounded on three sides by trees, he came in +full sight of the fine-looking, ruddy stone hall, glimpses of which he +had before seen, while its windows and a wide-spreading lake in front +flashed in the bright sunshine. + +"Whoa hoo! whoa hoo! Drop it! Hoi!" shouted the boy; but the object +addressed, a great grey heron, paid no heed, but went flapping slowly +away on its widespread wings, its long legs stretched straight out +behind to act as balance, and a small eel writhing and twisting itself +into knots as it strove in vain to escape from the scissor-like bill. + +"That's where the eels go," muttered the boy, as he hurried on, +descending till he reached the shores of the lake, and then skirting it, +with eyes searching its sunlit depths, to see here some golden-bronze +pike half-hidden among lily leaves, shoals of roach flashing their +silver sides in the shallows, and among the denser growth of weeds +broad-backed carp basking in the hot sunshine, and at times lazily +rolling over to display their golden sides. + +"Oh yes, you're big and old enough, but you don't half bite. I'd rather +have a day at our moat any time than here, proud as old Scar is of his +big pond." + +As the lad reached the head of the lake, where the brown, clear waters +of a rocky stream drained into it from the moor above, he caught sight +of a few small trout, and, after crossing a little rough stone bridge, +startled a couple of moor-hens, who in turn roused up some bald coots, +the whole party fluttering away with drooping legs towards the other end +of the lake. Here they swam about, twitching their tails, and dividing +their time between watching the now distant intruder and keeping a sharp +look-out for the great pike, which at times sought a change of diet from +constant fish, and swallowed moor-hen or duckling, or even, preferring +four-footed meat to fowl, seized upon some unfortunate rat. + +"Hi, Nat!" shouted the boy, as he neared the grassy terrace in front of +the hall, and caught sight of a sturdy-looking young man busy in the +garden. + +"Hullo, Master Fred!" + +"Where's Master Scarlett?" + +"Where's Master Scarlett, sir?" said the man, slowly and deliberately +straightening his back, and resting upon the tool he handled. + +"Yes. Don't you say he has gone with them, or I'll never give you a mug +of cider again." + +"Well, I wasn't going to say as Master Scar's gone with 'em," said the +man, with a look of wonder in his eyes. "He was here a bit ago, though +I didn't see him." + +"Then, how do you know he was here?" + +"Because nobody else wouldn't--" + +"Wouldn't what?" + +"Well, you see, Master Fred, it was like this here. I was a-stooping +over the bed, tidying up the edge o' the grass, when--whop!" + +"What, did he hit you, Nat!" said the boy, grinning. + +"Well, sir, he did and he didn't, if you can understand that." + +"No, I can't. What do you mean?" + +"This here fox-whelp come and hit me side o' the head, and it must ha' +been him as throwed it; and that made me know as he was at home." + +As the man spoke, he took a cider apple from his pocket, a hard, green, +three-parts-grown specimen of the fruit, and involuntarily began to rub +the place where he had been struck. + +"Yes; that looks as if he was at home, Nat," said the boy, showing his +white teeth. + +"Yes, Master Fred, that looks as if he was at home; but you wouldn't +have laughed if you'd had it." + +"He did it to wake you up, Nat." + +"Oh, I was waken enough, Master Fred; but how's Brother Samson?" + +"Like you, Nat, half asleep," cried the boy, looking back as he hurried +on toward the house, leaving the man staring after him thoughtfully. + +"Yes," he muttered, "Samson is a deal like me. Wonder whether Master +Fred ever chucks apples at he?" + +Meanwhile the lad addressed as Master Fred made his way along the house +front, peering in at first one and then another window, till he reached +the great door opening on to the end of the shingled terrace. + +Without the slightest hesitation, and behaving like one who was quite at +home, he entered the great oak-floored hall, and looked round--not at +the groups of weapons and suits of armour that were arranged as trophies +about the place, nor yet at the pictures and various interesting objects +hung between the stained-glass windows, on the oaken panels surrounded +by carving and surmounted by the heads and antlers of deer killed on the +adjacent moor. + +Fred Forrester had eyes for none of these objects, as he looked here and +there, now in the low-ceilinged and carved-oak dining-room, then in the +drawing-room, and, lastly, in Sir Godfrey Markham's library--a gloomy, +tree-shaded room, where he thought it possible that his friend and +companion might be hiding. But all was still, and there was no one +behind the heavy curtains, nor inside the huge black oak cabinet beside +the great mullioned window. + +"Wonder whether he's in the stables?" said Fred, half aloud, as he came +slowly out of the gloomy room and stood beneath the broad gallery which +crossed the end of the hall. "I know. He's with the dogs," said the +lad, taking a step from out of the shelter of the gallery, and then +staggering forward and nearly going down on hands and knees; for at that +moment a wool mattress, which had been poised ready on the gallery +balustrade, was dropped upon his head, and a peal of laughter echoed +from the panelled ceiling as Fred recovered himself, and rushed up the +broad staircase to attack his aggressor. + +There was a good-tempered wrestling bout on the landing, and then the +two lads, Fred Forrester and Sir Godfrey Markham's son Scarlett, stood +panting and recovering their breath. + +"And you are quite alone?" said Fred at last. + +"Yes, all but the women; but I knew you'd come over, and I lay wait for +you, as soon as I saw you crossing the park." + +"Well, what shall we do?" + +"Let's fish." + +"Come along, then. Got any bait?" + +"No; but we'll make Nat dig us some worms. Let's go and get that +mattress first. It belongs to the spare-room." + +No sooner said than done. The two boys ran down the broad oaken stairs, +leaping the last six, and, each seizing one corner of the mattress, they +trailed it up the stairs, along the gallery, and into a sombre-looking +room, after which Fred rushed to the top of the staircase, seated +himself astride the broad balustrade, and began to glide down, but only +to be overtaken by Scarlett, with the effect that the latter portion of +the descent was achieved with additional velocity. + +The ride was so satisfactory, that it was tried again and again, +sometimes one first, sometimes the other. + +"Wonder whether I could travel all along the gallery and down to the +bottom, hanging on to the balusters," said Fred, looking up at the +turned supports, which grew thin in one place, and offered a tempting +grip for the hands. + +"Try," said his companion. + +"You'd play some trick!" + +"No, I wouldn't." + +"Honour bright!" + +"Honour bright." + +"Here goes, then." + +Fred bounded up the stairs, ran along the gallery, climbed over the +balustrade, and lowered himself down till he hung by his hands, holding +on to the thin part of the balusters, while Scarlett looked up and his +grim-looking ancestors looked down. + +For as Fred Forrester, son of Colonel Forrester, of the Manor, performed +his feat, with no little display of agility, old Sir Gabriel Markham, +who had built the hall in the days of Henry the Seventh, frowned from +his canvas in one of the panels, and looked as cold and angry as an old +knight clad in steel could look. + +There, too, was Sir Henry, seeming equally stern in his court suit and +hat, and Dame Markham, in stomacher and farthingale and ruff, with quite +a look of alarm on their countenances, which was reflected from that of +another of the old Markhams--all appearing either angry or startled at +such a freak being played in their august presence. + +There was one exception though, in the face of a sweet-looking lady of +about twenty, whose eyes seemed to follow the boys, while a pleasant, +mirthful smile was upon her lip. + +But the boys did not even give a thought to the portraits, whose eyes +seemed to watch them till the feat, which required the exercise of no +little muscular effort, was dexterously performed, and Fred stood on the +oaken floor. + +"Well, I suppose you think I couldn't do that, do you?" cried Scarlett. + +"Not I. Any one could do it if he tried." + +"Yes, I should think he could, and in half the time you took. Look +here; I'll show you." + +"Try if you can do it with your face turned this way, Scar," cried Fred. + +For answer, the boy, who had reached the gallery, ran along to the end, +climbed over, and then lowered himself down till he hung at full length +by both hands clasping the balusters. Then he hung by one, and cleverly +swinging round, grasped another baluster, and hung facing his companion, +who stood looking up and eagerly watching every movement. + +"Go on, Scar." + +"Oh yes, it's very easy to say go on; but see how awkward it is this +way." + +"Well, try the other." + +"Going to," said Scarlett, laconically, as he swung himself back, and +then hand over hand passed along the front of the gallery, reached the +turn, grasped the second of the descending balusters, loosed his hold of +the last one on the level of the landing, made a dash to catch the first +baluster side by side with that he already held, missed it, and swung +round, hanging by one hand only, when suddenly there was a loud +_crick-crack_, and, under the impression that the slight wooden pillar +had broken, Fred sprang up the stairs to his companion's assistance, but +only to trip as he nearly reached the top and fall sprawling upon the +landing upon a great deer-skin rug. + +CHAPTER TWO. + +BEHIND THE STAIR. + +Fred was up again in a moment, ready to pass his arms through and help +his friend; but the latter had already recovered himself, and was +holding on with both hands, now staring between the balusters like a +wild beast through the bars of his cage. + +"What's the matter?" he said. + +"I thought you were falling. Which one broke?" + +"I don't know; neither of them." + +"But what was that clacking noise?" + +"I don't know. The baluster seemed to turn half round, and then fly +back as if it had a spring at the bottom." + +"I know! Look here. It wrenched this stair loose. I trod on it, and +that's what made me fall." + +"Wait till I've gone down to the bottom," said Scarlett, "and we'll soon +put that right." + +As he spoke, the lad went on down, hand by hand, as Fred had made the +descent before him, and then came running up the polished oaken stairs +to where his companion stood by the top stair but one, upon which lay a +broad stain of red and gold, cast by a ray of light passing through one +of the painted windows. + +"It must have come unnailed," said Scarlett, as he knelt down. + +"I don't think it has," replied Fred, as he knelt beside him. "Look +here, it's quite loose; and see here, you can push it right in." + +He thrust at the oaken board as he spoke, and it glided horizontally +from them under the top step which formed the landing, and left a long +opening like a narrow box the length and width of the stair. + +"Don't push too far," cried Scarlett, "or we shan't get it back. Pull." + +The boys pulled together, and the oaken tread glided back toward them +with the greatest ease, like a well-made drawer. + +"Mind!" shouted Fred. And they snatched away their fingers just in time +to save a nasty pinch, for the board came swiftly back into its +position. There was a sharp _crick-crack_, and the stair was as solid +as before, and the broad stain from the painted window lay in its old +place on the dark brown wood. + +Scarlett Markham turned and stared at Fred Forrester, and Fred Forrester +turned and stared at him. + +"I say, what do you think of that?" said Scarlett. + +"I don't know. What do you?" + +"I don't know either," said Scarlett, trying to move the board again. +But it was firm as the rest of the stairs. + +"Did you see that baluster?" said Fred. + +"See it? No. What do you mean?" + +"It seemed to me to move and make that noise." + +"Nonsense! How could it?" + +"I don't know, but it was just the same noise as it made when you missed +your hold and swung round." + +"So it was; and I had hold of it," said Scarlett, thoughtfully, as he +laid his hand on the piece of turned and carved wood. "But it's quite +firm." He gave it a shake, but with no effect. "You come and try," he +said. + +Fred took his place, and shook the baluster, then the other--its +fellow--but there was no result. + +"I don't know what to make of this," said Scarlett. "I wonder whether +all the stairs are made the same. There, never mind; let's go and +fish." + +"Stop a moment!" cried Fred, excitedly. "Look here; you can turn this +thing half round. See!" + +"Well, that's only because it's loose. They're getting old and--" + +_Crick-crack_! + +Scarlett Markham started back, so quick and sudden was the sound, but +only to resume his position on his knees before the oaken stair-tread, +which again yielded to a thrust, and glided under the landing once more, +leaving the opening the length and breadth of the great stair. + +"Why, it's like the lid of a sliding box, Scar," cried Fred. "Now then, +let's pull it over once more. But look here, it won't go any further." + +This was the case, for about an inch of the carved front was left for +them to take hold of and draw it back, which they did, the board gliding +easily toward them, and closing with a loud snap. + +"There! I did see it then," cried Scarlett. + +"What?" + +"That baluster. It half twisted round. Why, Fred, it's a hiding-place. +Here, let's open it again. Perhaps it's full of gold." + +Fred was quite willing, for his curiosity was excited; so, seizing the +baluster with both hands, he gave it a twist. There was the sharp sound +as of a catch being set at liberty; the board moved, and was once more +thrust back. + +"Now let me try," cried Scarlett, "so as to make sure." + +The opening was closed again, the baluster twisted, and it was again +opened, the lads pausing before the dark cavity, across which the +coloured rays played over a bar of dancing motes. + +"Seems to me," said Fred, "that we've discovered a secret. Does your +father know of it, do you think?" + +"I feel sure he doesn't. I say, let's see if there's anything inside." + +"Do you think we ought to?" + +"I wouldn't, if I thought my father knew about it; but I don't believe +he does, so I shall try. Of course I shall tell him." + +"Yes, of course," said Fred, whose curiosity pricked him on to action, +and who felt relieved by his companion's words. "But do you think it's +a secret drawer?" + +"Yes, I'm sure it is, or it wouldn't be made like that." + +"But perhaps they are all made this way." + +This was a damper; for if the stairs were all made in this fashion, +there could be no secret. + +"Let's try," said Scarlett; and together they turned and twisted with +all their might at every baluster from top to bottom, but without +result. + +"Then it is a secret drawer," said Fred, in a low, husky voice. + +"More like a coffin," said Scarlett. + +"Ugh!" + +"I hope no one's buried here." + +"Oh, I say, don't talk like that," cried Fred. "It's too horrible." + +"Well, it might be so. Some one been killed years ago, and put there." + +"'Tisn't likely," said Fred. "But, if it is a secret place, we oughtn't +to let any of the servants know." + +"I didn't think of that," replied Scarlett; and, drawing the oaken board +back, the spring was closed, and the boys went and looked out to see +that Nat Dee was busy over the garden beds; and further investigation +proved that the indoor servants were all in the other part of the house. + +"They would go up the back-stairs if they wanted anything," said +Scarlett, as they returned to the place where the coloured light shone; +but it had already somewhat altered its position as Fred seized the +baluster, turned it, and the board lay loose. + +"Now, then, what are we going to find?" cried Scarlett, as he thrust +back the board, and then recoiled a little and looked at his companion. + +Fred looked at him, and both lads felt that their hearts were beating +fast. + +"Not scared, are you, Fred!" + +"No, I don't think so." + +"Then you may have first try if you like. What do you say?" + +"Nothing," replied Fred. "I feel as if I should like to, but all the +same I don't like. Let's try with a stick. There may be something +nasty there; perhaps rats." + +"They wouldn't have stopped; but you're right. Go down and fetch a +stick." + +"You will not try till I come back?" said Fred, doubtingly. + +"No, I shall not try. Make haste." + +Fred was not long running down to one corner of the hall, and obtaining +a stout ashen cudgel, which he handed to his companion, who, after a +moment's hesitation, thrust in the staff, and found that the opening was +about half as deep again as the height of the step; but though he tapped +the bottom, which seemed to be firm, and tried from side to side, there +was nothing solid within, nothing but a fine, impalpable dust, which +made its presence known, for both lads began to sneeze. + +"I'm glad there are no bones in it," said Scarlett. "It was only meant +to put something in; made on purpose, I suppose. Just a long box: +nothing more, and--Halloa!" + +"What have you found?" + +"Nothing, only that it's all open at the back, and I can--yes, so I +can!--reach right back; yes, as far as the stick will go." + +"That place wouldn't be made for nothing, Scar," cried Fred. "I know. +That's the way to somewhere." + +"Nonsense!" + +"I don't care; I know it is, and you see if--" + +"Some one coming," whispered Scarlett, stooping down and dragging the +board toward him, when there was a sharp crack, and the stair was once +more firm, just as steps were heard coming along the corridor, and one +of the servant-maids passed along the gallery and entered a room at the +end. + +"Wait a bit," whispered Scarlett, as soon as the maid had passed out of +hearing. "We'll get a bit of candle and lock the end door, and then +we'll see what this means; for, as you say, it must have been made for +something. But it can't be a way anywhere, or they would have made it +upright like a door." + +"If they could," said Fred, thoughtfully. "Perhaps it was meant for +people to go through lying down." + +"Well, wait a bit," said Scarlett, "and we'll see." + +Unkind people say that girls have the bump of curiosity greatly +developed, far more so than boys. This is a vulgar error, for the +latter are quite as eager to know as their sisters, and from the moment +that the heavy oak board was replaced, Fred Forrester and Scar Markham +suffered from a fit of excitement which they could not allay. For, as +is usually the case, the person they wanted to go seemed determined to +stay. That person was the maid, who appeared to have found something +very important to do in the room at the end of the corridor; and it was +impossible to continue the examination till she had returned to the +servants' quarters. + +Scar fetched a candlestick with a short piece of candle burning therein, +and shut it up in one of the great cupboards in the hall, so as to lose +no time. + +Then they fidgeted up and down, listening intently the while; examined +some of the well-oiled, warlike weapons on the walls; crept upstairs and +along the corridor to listen at the bedroom door; ran down again, and +waited until the suspense seemed unbearable. + +"I believe she has gone to bed and fallen asleep," whispered Fred. + +"Nonsense! She dare not in that best room." + +"Let's go out in the garden, then, and leave it till another day." + +"And when will that be? Why, everybody will be about then. No; we must +examine the place to-day." + +"What's that?" cried Fred, suddenly. "What's what?" + +"I can smell fire." + +"Well, they're cooking in the kitchen, I suppose." + +"No, no; it's wood burning. Oh, Scar, look there!" + +As Fred pointed toward the great closet in one corner of the hall, the +lads could see a thin blue film of vapour stealing out through the crack +at the top; and their first inclination was to run away and shout +"Fire!" But second thoughts are best. + +"Come on," cried Scar; and he ran to the closet door, swung it open, and +the reason for the smoke was plain enough to see. The candle which they +had hidden there till the maid came down had been badly fastened in the +socket; had fallen over sidewise, probably when the door was closed, and +was now leaning up against the oak wainscot, guttering down rapidly, and +burning a long, channel-like hole in the woodwork, which was pouring +forth smoke, and would in a few minutes have become serious. + +As it was, a little presence of mind was sufficient to avert the danger. +The candle was removed, and a handkerchief pressed against the +smouldering wainscot stifled the tiny fire, while the windows being +open, the pale blue smoke soon evaporated, and the candle was left +securely now as the lads re-entered the hall and carefully closed the +door once more. + +"We should have looked nice if the old hall had been burned down," said +Fred. + +"Oh, nonsense!" was the reply. "The place is too strong and full of oak +and stone. The hall couldn't be burned. Here, it's of no use waiting +any longer; she will not come down. Let's go out in the garden." + +Fred glanced at the stairs, and followed his companion unwillingly; but +no sooner were they outside than Scar called his companion's attention +to the bedroom window, where the maid in question was leaning out, +watching Nat Lee, as he slowly did his work. + +The girl caught sight of the two lads, drew back, and as they waited in +the great porch they had the satisfaction of hearing her go back, along +the corridor, closing the door at the end. + +"Now, Fred," said Scarlett, excitedly, "we're safe at last." He dashed +up the stairs and slipped the bolt of the door through which the maid +had just passed, and returned to the top of the stairs. "Come along," +he whispered. "Don't stand there. Bring the light." + +Fred ran to the great closet and obtained the burning candle. The +baluster was twisted; there was the familiar _crick-crack_; the loose +step was thrust back, and the boys stood looking into the long box-like +opening. + +"Wouldn't it be safer to fasten the front door too?" said Fred in a +whisper. + +"Yes, and be quick," replied his companion in the same low, excited +manner. + +Fred ran down, closed the great oaken door, ran a ponderous bolt into +its receptacle, and again joined his companion. + +"Now then," whispered Scarlett, "what shall we do?" + +As he spoke he knelt down and thrust the candle in as far as he could +reach, disclosing the fact that this was no rough back to the staircase, +but a smooth, carefully finished piece of work. + +"Shall we try if we can creep in?" suggested Fred. + +"I hardly like to; but if you will, I will." + +"I will," replied Fred, laconically. + +"But how are we to get in? It isn't deep enough to crawl." + +"Tell you what," cried Fred, "I think the way is to lie down in it and +then roll along. There's plenty of room that way." + +"Will you try?" + +"If you'll come after me." + +"Go on, then." + +Fred hesitated a few moments, and then holding the candle as far forward +as he could he lay down, but instead of rolling, shuffled himself along +under the landing, finding plenty of room for his journey, and pushing +the light onward as he crept sidewise. + +"Coming, Scar?" he whispered rather hoarsely. + +"Yes, I'm coming. Mind the candle doesn't set fire to anything. What's +that?" + +"Only a cobweb burning. The place is full of them; and--Oh, Scar!" + +"What is it?" + +"I can get my legs down here, and--yes, it's a narrow passage, and I can +stand upright." + +Wondering more and more, Scarlett shuffled along to his companion, and +directly after they were standing together in a passage so strait that +they could barely pass along it as they stood square, their shoulders +nearly touching the sides. + +"Yes, it's a passage, sure enough," said Scarlett, in an awe-stricken +whisper, as by the light Fred held he could see that the sides and +ceiling were of rough oak panelling, the floor being flagged with stone. + +"Shall we go on?" whispered Fred. + +"Yes. Why not? You're not afraid, are you?" + +"Yes, a little. It's all so strange. Don't you feel a little--" + +"Yes, just a little; but there can't be any thing to be afraid of. You +must go first." + +Fred hesitated a few moments, and then went on for quite forty feet, +when the narrow passage turned off at a right angle for about another +twenty, when it again bent sharply round in the same direction as at +first. + +"This cannot be a chimney?" whispered Scarlett, for the darkness and +heavy dusty air seemed to oppress them. + +"No; they wouldn't make a chimney of wainscotting. Oh!" + +"What have you found?" + +"Look here; a lot of stone steps." + +The boys stood looking at the old stone stairway, which seemed to invite +them to a higher region, but still as narrow as the passage. + +The stones were dusty, and cobwebs hung in all directions; but +everything seemed as if it had been unused ever since the architect put +the finishing touches to the place. + +The two boys looked at the stairway, Fred holding up the candle, and +Scar peering over his shoulder for some moments before the former spoke. + +"Think we'd better go back now." + +"Yes," said Scarlett; "only doesn't it seem cowardly?" + +Fred remained silent for a while, and then said with a sigh-- + +"I suppose it does. Come on." + +"Are you going up?" + +"Yes. I don't want to. It's all so dark and creepy; but we should +laugh at each other for being frightened when we got out." + +Scar nodded his head, and after a little more hesitation, Fred went +slowly up the stairs, to find that from the top another narrow passage +went off at right angles. + +As they stood together on the narrow landing, Scar exclaimed-- + +"Here, I know. These are only openings through the thick walls to keep +them dry." + +"Look!" said Fred, pointing before them at a thin pencil of light which +made a spot on the wall. + +"That's sunshine," cried Scarlett, "and shows what I said. This is one +of the walls we are in, and that must be the south." + +"Why?" said Fred, trying to touch the slit through which the light came. + +"Because the sun shines in. Let's go on to the end." + +This was soon reached, for at the end of a dozen steps they came upon a +narrow door studded with great nails, and after a little hesitation, +Fred pushed this, and the boys started back at the hideous groan which +greeted them. + +CHAPTER THREE. + +HOW THE LIGHT WAS EXTINGUISHED. + +There was something very strange and weird about that sound--one which +sent a chill of horror through both the hearers, but they laughed the +next moment at their fears, for the noise was only such as could be +given out by a pair of rusty hinges from which an unused door had hung +for a hundred years, the sound being rendered more startling from the +hollow space beyond. + +Fred felt more startled than ever, in spite of his forced laugh; but he +held the candle before him, and gazed through the narrow opening into a +little low-ceiled room, panelled throughout with oak, and festooned with +cobwebs, while on one side there was quite a cluster of long, thin, +white-looking strands and leaves hanging over and resting upon a heap of +crumbling, fungus-covered sticks. + +"Why, it's quite a little chamber," Scarlett exclaimed; "and look at the +ivy. It has come in through that loop-hole." + +"And look at that old jackdaw's nest. I say, Scar, can your father know +of this place?" + +"No, nor any one else. But it is queer. A regular secret chamber." + +"Yes, but what's it for?" + +"I don't know. Must have been made when the house was built to keep the +plate in for fear of robbers." + +"Look at the spiders! There's a big one!" + +"Yes, but I'm trying to puzzle out where it is. I know. It must be +somewhere at the west corner, because that's where there is most ivy." + +"But is it upstairs or downstairs?" + +"Up, of course; and look here." + +Scarlett pointed to what had at first escaped their sight--to wit, a +second door, ingeniously contrived in one angle of the little chamber, +and in the dim light shed by the candle hardly distinguishable from the +panelling. + +"Where can that go?" + +"Oh, it's only a cupboard. Stop a moment." + +Scarlett went to the other side, crushing down the heap of rotten twigs +brought in by the birds, and thrust his hand amongst the mass of sickly +ivy strands, to find that the opening through which they came was +completely choked up, but after a little feeling about he was able to +announce that there was a narrow slit-like window, with an upright rusty +iron bar. + +"Why, it will be glorious, Scar," cried Fred. "Let's clear the place +out, and cut away the ivy, and then we can keep it all a secret." + +"Yes, and bring some furniture--chairs and table, and a carpet. Why, we +might have a bed too." + +"How are you going to get them here?" + +Scarlett gave his dark curls a vicious rub. "I never thought of that." + +"Never mind; but we could bring some cushions, and store up fruit, and +make this our cave. You will not tell anybody?" + +"I should think not." + +"Not even Lil." + +"No; she'd go and tell every one directly. Why, Fred, this will be +splendid. What a discovery!" + +"When we've cleaned it up it will be a little palace." + +"And we can keep our stores in the closet there, and--Think there'll be +any rats?" + +"No signs of any. Can't smell 'em." + +"They've never found their way here. Dare say there are some bats; but +we'll soon clear them out. Wish there were a fireplace. We could cook +the birds and fish we caught." + +"Let's see what's in the cupboard." + +Fred crossed the little chamber to the corner where the second door +stood ajar, and it was so similar to the panelling that but for its +being partly opened, it would not have been seen. + +This, too, gave forth a dismal hollow groan as it was drawn inward upon +its concealed rusty hinges, and then, as Fred raised the light to see +what was inside, he exclaimed-- + +"Why, it isn't a cupboard. Here's another flight of steps!" + +Scarlett pressed forward and stood beside him, peering beneath the +candle, and looking down the dusty stone stairs into utter darkness +beyond the faint light shed by the candle. + +Then he turned to Fred as he grasped his arm and looked inquiringly into +his face. + +"I will if you will," said Fred, as if his companion had asked him a +question. + +"Come along, then," cried Scarlett, excitedly. "Only let's keep +together." + +"Of course. Shall I go first?" + +"No, I'll go," said Scarlett, after a momentary hesitation. + +He snatched the candle from his friend's hand, and took a step forward +on to the little square landing. + +"Mind the door doesn't blow to. Push it wide open." + +Fred did as he was told, the rusty hinges giving forth another dismal +groan, which seemed to echo hollowly and then to die away. + +"Come along," said Scarlett, in a low voice; and, holding the candle +well before him, he began to descend the narrow steps, the distance from +side to side being precisely the same as before. + +"Smells cold and damp," whispered Fred, when they had descended about +twenty steps; "just like a wine cellar." + +"Perhaps it is one when we get to the bottom, and full of old wine." + +"Are there many more steps?" + +"Can't see. Shall we go any farther?" + +"Oh yes; we'll go to the bottom, as we are here." + +"Stop a moment. What was that?" + +"I didn't hear anything." + +"Yes; there it is again." + +"Sounded like a drip of water in a pool." + +"Perhaps it's a well." + +"They wouldn't make a well here. Let's go to the bottom, and then be +satisfied for one day." + +"Take hold of hands then, in case." + +"In case of what?" + +"There may be foul air at the bottom, same as there was in the Manor +well." + +"You are saying that to frighten me." + +"No." + +"Well, it sounded like it. Let's go on." + +The two explorers of this hidden way went on down and down, with the +sounds made by their feet echoing strangely; but still there were fresh +steps, and the distance seemed in their excited state to be tremendous. +Scarlett, however, persevered, though his movements were slower and +slower; and more than once he turned back to hold the light as high as +possible, so as to gaze up at the way they had come, looking over his +shoulder, and still holding tightly by Fred's hand. + +"We must be right down ever so much below the house," he said at last. +"Shall we go any farther?" + +"Oh yes, I'd go on," replied Fred, quietly; and once more the two lads +gazed in each other's eyes as if looking for signs of fear. + +"Come along then," cried Scarlett, manfully; and he went down and down +more steps to stand at last on level stones, a narrow passage stretching +out before him, while the stone walls and ceiling gleamed as if slightly +damp. + +"Hold the light up a little higher, Scar," whispered Fred. + +Scarlett raised his left hand to the full length of his arm; there was a +soft _dab_, and Fred uttered a subdued "Oh!" as his companion's right +hand grasped his with spasmodic violence. + +For Scarlett had pressed the candle up against the stone ceiling, and +the arched surface thoroughly performed the duty of extinguisher, +leaving them in total darkness. + +Half a minute must have passed, during which they were stunned by the +horror of their position, before Scarlett exclaimed-- + +"Oh, Fred, what shall we do?" + +There was no answer, Fred holding the other's hand tightly, and it was +not until the question was repeated that he uttered a low gasping sigh. + +"We can find our way back," he whispered, in an awe-stricken voice. +"There's nothing to mind, for we can't go wrong." + +"But we might take a wrong turning, and never find our way out." + +"There are no turnings," replied Fred, stolidly. "Come along." + +"Listen! Wasn't that something?" + +"I don't hear anything, only the echo. Hoi!" + +Fred half shouted the last word, and as they listened it seemed to run +right away in an echoing, hollow way, to die at last in quite a whisper. + +"What a horrible place!" faltered Scarlett. "Let's make haste back. I +say, don't you feel scared?" + +"I don't know," whispered back Fred. "I feel as if I do. I'd give +anything to be out in the sunshine again, and I wish we had not come. +Let's make haste." + +Scarlett needed no further urging, but pressed on so closely behind his +companion that they seemed to move as one, Fred passing his hand along +the cold stone wall as they went on, up and up the apparently endless +flight of steps, till the landing was reached, and the leader grasped +the door. + +"There!" he cried, as they passed into the little room, Scarlett closing +the door behind them, the hinges creaking dismally. "Now for the other +door. I don't seem to mind so much now." + +"I don't think I do; but it seems very queer. What's that?" + +"Only me. I touched you with my hand." + +"It felt so cold on my cheek, it sent a shiver through me. Let's make +haste." + +"You go first this time, then. You remember where the door is?" + +"Yes, I remember," replied Scarlett. "It was just a few steps over here +and--I say, Fred, it's gone!" + +"Nonsense! It can't have gone. Feel about with your hands." + +Scarlett felt here and there, and then uttered a low sigh. + +"I can't find it. Come over here." + +Fred crept to him, and as he felt about in the utter darkness, he +touched his companion, who uttered a cry and rushed away from him. + +"Don't be a coward, Scar. It was only I." + +"I'm not a coward," cried Scarlett, angrily; "only I fancied something +was going to touch me, and you came so quietly. Where are you?" + +"Here. And, I say, you made me turn about, and I don't know which nay +the door is now. But we'll soon find it." + +Nothing seems more simple to talk of, but nothing is more confusing than +to be standing in profound darkness, not knowing which way to go, the +slightest deviation beginning the confusion, which seems to augment. + +Fred's attempt to regain touch of their position was simple enough. He +went forward, and after a step or two touched the wall. + +"Here we are, Scar," he said. "Come along. The door is just here. +Yes; here it is." + +He seized the edge, and it gave forth its dismal creak again. + +"That's the wrong door," cried Scarlett, excitedly. "The one we just +came through." + +"Is it?" said Fred, confusedly. "Yes, I suppose it is. Then we must +try again. How stupid!" + +The second trial was more successful; and slowly and cautiously passing +through, they began directly after to make their way along the first +passages they had traversed, feeling their course round the angles at +the sharp turns, and with their spirits rising fast as they felt that +they were approaching the entrance; and as they at last reached it, with +the daylight shining through, feeling ready to laugh at their fears. + +"Here we are, Scar," cried Fred, as he lay down and rolled himself over +and over till he was in the hollow stair, and directly after climbed +out, bent down and took the candlestick from his companion's hand, +leaving him free to follow, but Scarlett uttered a cry. + +"What's the matter?" + +"Something has got hold of my jerkin." + +Fred burst out laughing. + +"Why, it's only that knob. Meant to open the stair from inside, I +suppose." + +_Crick-crack_! The board was drawn back into its place, and the boys +went slowly down into the hall. + +"Why, Scar, you look quite white." + +"Do I? So do you," was the reply. "Look, we're covered with dust. +Come along, and let's go to my room and have a wash." + +"And then we can sit down and talk about it." + +Scarlett nodded; and once more ascending the stairs, they passed over +the secret entry, unlocked the door in the corridor, and entered +Scarlett's bedchamber, where it took some time to get rid of the marks +of their journey. After which they sat down in the sunshine by the open +window, to discuss their find, and settle two or three points in +connection therewith. + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +"GOD SAVE THE KING!" + +"Seems queer now," said Fred, as they gazed down into the garden, "that +we could have felt so scared." + +Scarlett was silent. + +"What are you thinking about!" + +"Whether I oughtn't to tell father about that place." + +"I suppose you ought," said Fred, after a pause; "but if you do, we +shall have no more fun." + +"I didn't see any fun in it," said Scarlett, slowly. + +"Not then; but see what we could do with a secret place of our own to +retreat to whenever we liked, and no one knowing where we had gone. I +say, don't tell anybody." + +"But I feel as if I ought to tell my father, as it's his place." + +"Yes, I suppose you ought; but let's wait a bit first." + +"Well, we might wait a little while. I say, Fred, what cowards we +were!" + +"But it was so dark, and I couldn't help thinking that we might never +find our way out." + +"Yes; that's just how I felt, and as if something was coming after us +out of the darkness." + +"And, of course, there couldn't be anything. You could see by the dust +on the steps that nobody had been there for years and years." + +There was a long silence here, during which the two lads looked out at +the garden flooded with sunshine, where Nat was working very +deliberately close by the sun-dial. And beyond him, at the lake, from +which the sunbeams flashed whenever a fish or water-fowl disturbed the +surface. + +"I say," said Fred at last, "don't let's sit here any longer. You're as +dull as if you had no tongue. What are you thinking about now?" + +"I was wondering whether I shall be such a coward when I grow up to be a +man." + +"I say, Scar, don't keep on talking like that; it's just as if you kept +on calling me a coward too." + +"So you were." + +"No, I was not; but it was enough to frighten anybody. It was all so +dark and strange." + +"Should you be afraid to go again?" + +"No," said Fred, stoutly. + +"Will you go, then?" + +"What, alone?" + +"No; both together." + +"I'll go, if you will. When shall we go?" + +"Now," said Scarlett, firmly. + +"Now?" + +"Yes. I want to know where that place leads to; and I don't like to +feel that we were frightened because it was dark. Come along." + +"What now--directly?" + +"Yes; you're not afraid, are you?" + +"No," cried Fred, starting up. "Get two candles this time, and we'll +take one apiece." + +The lights were obtained, the door at the end of the passage bolted, and +once more the two boys stood at the top of the staircase. + +"Think we had better go now?" said Fred. + +"Yes; we may not have such a chance again for ever so long. Do you feel +afraid?" + +"Not exactly afraid; only as if I didn't want to go. I'm not so brave +as you are, Scar." + +This last was said with a bit of a sneer, which made the boy wince, and +then draw himself up proudly. + +"I'm not brave," he said, "for I feel as if I'd give anything not to go; +but it seems to me as if it would be very cowardly to give up, and I +mean to go." + +He seized the balustrade as he spoke, gave it a wrench, the stair shot +from its fastening, was pushed back, and without another word Scarlett +thrust in his lighted candle, followed it, and Fred stood looking in as +his companion gradually disappeared. + +"Come along, Fred," came in muffled tones from beneath the landing; and, +uttering a sigh, Fred thrust in his candlestick and followed, to rise, +after a slow horizontal progress, to a perpendicular position, behind +his leader. + +The way seemed far easier now, and in a very few minutes they were +standing again in the chamber, where they paused for a few moments +before Scarlett drew open the panelled door in the corner, and once more +held the light above his head as he gazed down the mysterious stairs. + +"Shall I go first?" asked Fred, in a voice which invited a refusal of +his services. + +"No; it's our place, and I'll lead," was the reply. + +"Don't put the candle out again," said Fred, with a sigh of relief, and +speaking in warning tones. "I say, Scar, perhaps there's a place like +this at the Manor." + +"We'll see, when we've found out all about this," replied Scarlett, as +he began to descend, while Fred followed closely, the two lights making +their task easier, while their confidence began now to increase as they +encountered no danger. + +The foot of the steps was reached in safety, the candle being held low +down, so as to guard against any pitfall or fresh flight of stairs in +the way. + +But all was perfectly level as the boys went on along the narrow, +arched-over passage, their light footfalls sending on before them a +curious series of reverberations, while their progress for quite a +hundred yards was singularly monotonous and uneventful. + +"Why, how far does it go?" said Fred at last, becoming bolder now, but +feeling startled as he heard his words go whispering away. + +"Very little farther. Look!" + +The lights were held up, and they stopped short, for a few yards before +them was a narrow, nail-studded door, very similar to the one leading +into the chamber, but heavier looking, and with a great rusty bolt at +top and bottom. + +"That's the end of it, then," said Fred. "I say, I know what it is. +That's the vault where they used to bury the old Markhams." + +"That it can't be, for they were all buried at the church." + +"Well, it looks like it," said Fred. "Shall we go any farther?" + +"Yes, of course. I want to see what's behind the door." + +Nerving himself to the effort, Scarlett stepped over the intervening +space, and took hold of the top bolt, which, like its fellow, was shot +into a socket in the stone wall. + +But the bolt was rusted to the staples, and he could not move it with +one hand. + +"Hold the light, Fred," he exclaimed; and his companion stood behind +him, bearing both candles, as Scarlett tugged and strained and wrenched +vainly at the corroded iron. + +"Wants a hammer to start it," said Fred, as the interest in these +proceedings drove away the sensations of nervousness. "Shall we go back +and fetch one?" + +"I'm--afraid--we shall have to," panted Scarlett, as he toiled and +strained at the stubborn bolt. "It's of no use to try and--" + +There was a sharp creak, the bolt gave way a little, and the rest was +only a work of time, for by wriggling it up and down the rust was ground +out, and at last it yielded and was drawn back. + +"Let me have a try at the other," cried Fred; and Scarlett squeezed by +him and took the candles, to stand, hot and panting, watching intently +while his companion attacked the lower bolt. + +This was even more compactly fixed than the other; but the thumb-piece +was projecting, and Fred began on this with his foot, kicking it upward +with his toe, and stamping it down again, till it gradually loosened, +and, after a little more working, shot back with ease. + +Fred drew away from the door then, and looked at his companion. + +"Shall we open it now?" he said, with his old hesitation returning. + +Scarlett did not answer for a few moments. + +"Think it is a tomb?" he said. + +"You said it was not," replied Fred. + +"It would be very horrible if it is; I shouldn't like to look in." + +The door opened from them, and, as they stood there, they could see that +it had given a little, so that the edge was nearly half an inch from the +stonework, and a faint, damp odour reached their nostrils. + +"Don't let's be cowards," cried Fred; and, raising one foot, he placed +it against the door, gave a hard thrust, and started back so suddenly +that he nearly overset Scarlett with the lights. + +But the door did not fly open. It only yielded a few inches, the hinges +giving forth a dismal, grating sound, and for a few moments the boys +stood hesitating. + +"I don't care," cried Fred, excitedly. "I mean to have it open now;" +and he rushed at the door, and thrust and drove, each effort moving it a +little more and a little more, the ironwork yielding with groan after +groan, as if it were remonstrating for being roused from a long, long +sleep, till the door struck against the wall with an echoing bang; and +once more the boys hesitated. + +But there was nothing to alarm them. The heavy, dank odour came more +plainly, and, after a few minutes, Fred took one of the candles and +advanced into a stone vault about a dozen feet square, with a very low, +arched doorway opposite to them, and another flight of steps descending +into darkness, while on one side lay a little heap of rusty iron in the +last stages of decay. + +"Why, the place is nothing but passages and cellars," cried Fred. + +"This must be the end, though," replied Scarlett, eagerly. "We have +come a good way, and there should be a door at the bottom of these +stairs leading into the park." + +"Let's come and see, then," cried Fred, advancing boldly enough now. +"What fun if we've found another way into the--Here, Scar, look, look!" + +The boy had stopped half a dozen steps down, and he was stooping and +holding the candle as far as he could stretch as Scarlett reached his +side. + +"Water?" + +"Yes; water." + +"What is it--a well?" + +"I don't know. We could soon tell, if we had a stick. Here! what are +those at the side?" + +They went back to the heap of old iron, and to their surprise found that +it was a collection of old arms and armour, rusted almost beyond +recognition. + +From this heap they dragged a long sword, one which must have been +heavy, but which was now little better than a thin collection of scales. + +"This will do," said Fred, returning to the farther doorway, and +descending till he was on the lowest step, where, reaching out, he tried +to sound the depth. + +This proved an easy task, for, as near as they could make out, the water +was about a yard deep, and the steps went to the bottom, where all was +level ground. + +They stretched out the lights, and gazed before them to where the +retreating passage grew lower and lower, till the top of the arch seemed +to have dipped down and touched the black water; and having satisfied +themselves that no farther progress could be made, Fred turned and said, +as he rubbed one ear-- + +"Now, if we were fishes or water-rats, we might find out some more. +But, I say, Scar, we've taken a deal of trouble to find out very +little." + +"I think we've found out a great deal," replied Scarlett. "This is no +well. It's the edge of the lake, and this--" + +"Nonsense!" + +"I feel sure it is, and this must be a secret way into the house, hidden +under water. Fred, we must have a search outside, and see if we can't +find the place." + +"Then you will not stay here any longer?" said Fred, throwing down the +sword upon the rusty heap. + +"No; let's go back now. We have found out a very curious thing; and if +we can discover the way in from outside, it will be splendid." + +"Come along, then," replied Fred, crossing to the heap of old armour, +and stooping over it, candle in hand. "But I wonder how old these +things are. Do you think we could clean the armour, and make it look +bright again?" + +Scarlett shook his head as he picked up the remains of an old helmet. + +"It must have been a time of war when this house was built," he said +thoughtfully; "and the secret passage was forgotten when it became a +time of peace." + +"But it is not a time of peace now, is it? I heard that there would +very likely be war." + +"Who told you that?" + +"I heard your father and my father talking about it; and they both grew +cross, and your father soon got up and went home." + +"Then your father must have said something he did not like against the +king." + +"My father does not like the king," said Fred, sharply. + +"And my father does," cried Scarlett, with a flash of the eye. + +"Oh, never mind about that now," said Fred, looking at his old companion +in a troubled manner. "What has it got to do with us? What shall we do +now?" + +"Go back," replied Scarlett; "for we cannot get any farther along here. +I say, Fred, it does not seem such a terrible place now you are used to +it, does it?" + +"Terrible!" cried Fred, stoutly. "Why, I like it. Don't, pray don't, +tell anybody about it, and we can have fine games here. It's ever so +much better than a cave, and we can smuggle all sorts of things up here. +I mean up there in that room." + +"Yes, if I don't tell my father about it." + +"Oh, don't tell him yet! not till we're tired of it. Then I don't +mind." + +Scarlett made no reply, but holding his candle above his head, went out +of the vault, stopping afterwards while Fred drew to the door. Then, +with the ease begotten of use, they went along the tunnel, up the steps +to the chamber, and then along the passages to the great staircase, +lying down and rolling themselves over, and emerging to listen intently +before closing the opening, and hurrying to Scarlett's room for another +wash and clearance of the cobwebs and dust. + +This done, they hurried out, full of eagerness to run down to the side +of the great lake, where they fully expected to find the opening at +once. + +Failing in this, they stopped by a sandy bank, and, taking a piece of +stick, Fred set to work to sketch on the sand a plan of their +wanderings. + +"You see, we started from here, Scar; then we went off so far to the +left, then to the right, then to the left again, and then up into the +chamber. Then we went out of the right-hand corner, and down that long +flight of stairs to the passage, which led straight away to the vault, +and down into the water." + +"Well?" said Scarlett, coolly. + +"Yes, of course, I see it now. Then, according to my plan, the way into +the lake must be just under where we are sitting." + +"Where is it, then?" + +Fred looked up at his companion, rubbed his ear again, and then looked +down at the water's edge. + +"It must be here somewhere," he said. "Let's have another look round." + +Scarlett rose to his feet from where he had been lying, and they once +more searched the side of the lake, which toward the house was deep and +dark below its high bank. + +There were places where it might be possible for a tunnel to run down +into the water, shady spots where willows and alders overhung the lake; +places where birch and hazels grew close up to the patches of rushes and +reed-mace, with its tall broken pokers standing high above the waving +leaves. + +In one indentation--a spot where the flat-bottomed boat lay moored-- +Scarlett felt certain that they had found the entrance; but when they +lay flat on the overhanging bank and peered down below, there was +nothing to be seen but black leaves and dead branches far below, while +in mid-water, bar-sided perch in golden green armour, floated slowly to +and fro, seeming to watch the movements of sundry carp close to the +surface, gliding in and out among the stems of the lilies and nestling +beneath the leaves. + +"It's of no use, Fred. I'm afraid we have made a mistake. That must be +a kind of well made to supply the house with water, and it is all fancy +about the passage coming down here." + +At that moment there was a loud burst of barking, and the lads started +up to run towards the house, for two mounted men were on their way along +the winding road which crossed the park, evidently making for the great +entrance-door of the Hall. + +"They've come back together," cried Fred as he ran; but before they +could reach the door, one of the horsemen had swung himself down, thrown +the reins to Nat, who was waiting, and walked up to the top of the +steps. Here he turned, and stood frowning for a few moments, while his +companion sat beating his boot with his whip so vigorously that the +horse kept starting and fidgeting about, making a plunge sufficient to +unseat a bad rider. + +"Will you come in, Forrester?" said the dismounted man. + +"What for?" was the stern reply. "To renew the argument, and have harsh +words said to me?" + +"Nonsense, my dear Forrester," said the other. "I only spoke out as a +loyal man should, and I am sorry you took it so ill." + +"And I only spoke out as a loyal man should." + +"Loyal?" + +"Yes, to his country, sir." + +"Why, my dear Forrester--" began the dismounted man, angrily. "There, I +beg your pardon. I was a little heated. Come in, Forrester. Stay and +dine with me, and we can chat matters over coolly." + +"Better not," said the mounted man, coldly. "Fred!" + +"Yes, father." + +"You were coming home with me?" + +"No, father; I was going to stop with Scar for a bit." + +"Humph! Better come home now, my boy. I think Sir Godfrey wishes to +talk to his son." + +"I was not going to do anything of the kind, Forrester; but if you are +bent upon a division between us, I am not the man to baulk you." + +"Very good, sir, very good. Then be it so." + +"But it seems to me a great pity that two old friends should be divided, +and our boys, who have been like brothers, should be separated upon a +question about which you must feel, upon calm consideration, that you +are wrong." + +"If I felt that I was wrong, Sir Godfrey Markham, I should at once +apologise; but I am not wrong." + +"And our boys?" + +"It is impossible for our boys to be friends, Sir Godfrey, until you +have apologised for what you have said." + +"Apologised, Colonel Forrester! Why, sir, I commend myself for my +restraint. If it had been any other man than my oldest friend who had +dared to utter such disloyal thoughts against the king, I should have +struck him from his horse. Good day, sir, and I pray Heaven to place +better thoughts in your mind! Scarlett, my boy." + +"Yes, father." + +"Come here." + +"Mayn't I shake hands with Fred Forrester first?" + +"No. Yes. You boys have no quarrel. But it will be better that you +should keep at home for the present." + +"Oh, Fred, what's the matter?" whispered Scarlett. + +"Don't you know?" + +"Ye-es, I'm afraid I do." + +"That's it. I didn't know we were going to have trouble about it down +here in Coombeland. But, I say, Scar, we're good friends, aren't we?" + +"Yes, of course." + +"That's right. They're both cross to-day; they'll make it up +to-morrow." + +"Fred!" said Colonel Forrester over his shoulder as he rode off. + +"Coming, father. Good-bye, Scar; and, I say, don't tell anybody about +the secret place just yet." + +"Very well." + +"It will be all right again directly. Father soon gets good-tempered +again after he has been cross; but it always makes him angry if anybody +praises up the king." + +"Fred!" + +"Coming, father." + +The boy darted off after the departing horseman, and Scarlett sat +watching them till they disappeared among the trees, when he went slowly +into the house, catching sight of his father striding up and down in the +dining-room, and with a more serious look in his face than he remembered +to have seen before. + +"I hope there is not going to be trouble and fighting, the same as there +has been elsewhere," thought the boy; and he involuntarily glanced +through the open hall-door at the beautiful landscape, across which +seemed to float visions of soldiers and burning homesteads, and +destruction such as had been brought to them in the shape of news from +far distant parts. + +The coming of his father roused him from his reverie. + +"Why, Scar, lad, don't look so serious," cried Sir Godfrey, clapping the +boy on the shoulder. "I spoke angrily, didn't I, my boy? Well, I was +obliged in these rebellious times. Remember this, Scar, no matter what +comes, `God save the king!'" + +"Yes, father," cried the boy, flushing as he took off his cap and tossed +it in the air, "`God save the king!'" + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +ANOTHER DISCOVERY. + +Fred was right; the two elders did soon make it up, and the political +ebullition seemed to be forgotten. The boys were soon together again, +enjoying their simple country ways as of yore, while the clouds +gathering around only looked golden in their sunshiny life. + +The search for the outlet to the secret passage was renewed without +success, and then given up for a time. There was so much to see and do +that glorious autumn time when the apples were ripening fast, and +hanging in great ropes from the heavily laden trees, beneath whose +tangled boughs all was grey and green leaves and gloom, every orchard +being an improvised wilderness, which was allowed to bear or be barren +according to its will. + +There was always so much to do. Trout to hunt up the little moorland +streams; loaches to impale among the stones of the swift torrents; rides +over the long undulating stretches of the moor, from far inland to where +it ended abruptly in steep cliffs by the sea. + +And so life glided on at Manor and Hall. The king and country were not +mentioned; Colonel and Mistress Forrester supped at the Hall, and little +Lil listened to the sweet old-fashioned ballads the visitor sang. Then +the Scarletts spent pleasant evenings at the Manor, and the two fathers +discussed the future of their sons, while Dame Markham and Mistress +Forrester seemed to be like sisters. + +But all the while the storm-clouds were gathering, and a distant +muttering of thunder told that the tempest threatened to break over the +pleasant west-country land. + +"There's going to be a big change o' some kind, Master Scarlett," said +Nat, the gardener; "and if there is, it won't be any too soon, for it +will put my brother Samson in his proper place, and keep him there." + +"Yes, Master Fred, I went and had a mug o' cider down in the village +last night, poor winegar wee sort o' stuff--three apples to a bucket o' +water--such as my brother Nat makes up at the Hall; and there they all +were talking about it. People all taking sides all over England. +Some's Cavaliers and some's Roundheads, so they say, and one party's for +the king, and the other isn't. Precious awful, aren't it?" + +"Perhaps it's only talk, Samson?" + +"No, Master Fred, sir, I don't think it's all talk; but there is a deal +o' talk." + +"Ah, well, it's nothing to do with us, Samson. Let them quarrel. We're +too busy out here to bother about their quarrels." + +"Well, I dunno, sir. I'm not a quarrelsome chap, but I heard things as +my brother Nat has said quite bad enough to make me want to go again +him, for we two never did agree; and when it comes to your own brother +telling downright out-and-out lies about the Manor vegetables and fruit, +I think it's time to speak, don't you?" + +"Oh, I wish you and Nat would meet some day, and shake hands, or else +fight it out and have done with it; brothers oughtn't to quarrel." + +"I dunno, Master Fred, I dunno." + +"Ah, well, I think all quarrels are a bother, whether they're big ones +or whether they're little ones. They say the king and Parliament have +fallen out; well, if I had my way, I'd make the king and Parliament +shake hands, just as Scar Markham and I will make you and Nat shake +yours." + +"Nay, Master Fred, never!" + +"I'm going to meet him this afternoon, and we'll talk it over." + +Samson shook his head. + +Home studies were over for the day, and by a natural attraction, Fred +started by a short cut to the high point of the moor, just at the same +time as Scar Markham left the Hall for the same spot. + +"He'll be in some mischief or another before he gets back," said Samson +Dee, as he ceased digging, and rested one foot upon the top of his +spade, watching his young master contemplatively as he went along the +road for a short distance before leaping up the bank, and beginning to +tramp among heath, brake, and furze, over the springy turf. + +Samson shook his head sadly, and sighed as he watched Fred's progress, +the figure growing smaller and smaller, sometimes disappearing +altogether in a hollow, and then bounding into sight again like one of +the moorland sheep. + +"Yes; some mischief!" sighed Samson again, and he watched the lad with +the sorrowful expression on the increase, till the object of his +consideration was out of sight, when he once more sighed, and +recommenced digging. "You don't catch me, though, making it up." + +Oddly enough--perhaps it would be more correct to say naturally enough-- +Nat Dee ceased digging up in the Hall garden to watch Scarlett Markham, +who, after sending his sister Lil back into the house in tears, because +he refused to take her with him, started off at a rapid pace. + +"Wonder what mischief he's going to be at," said Nat, half aloud; and +he, too, rested a foot on the top of his spade, and contemplated the +retiring form. + +Perhaps, after all, digging is exceedingly hard work, and a break is +very welcome; but whether it be so or no, the fact is always evident +that a gardener is ready to cease lifting the fat mellow earth of a +garden, and stand and think upon the slightest excuse. + +Nat Dee waited till Scar had disappeared, and then he slowly and +sorrowfully resumed his task, and sighed with a feeling of regret for +the time when he too was a boy, and indulged in unlimited idleness and +endless quarrels with his brother Samson. + +Fred Forrester whistled as he slowly climbed the hill, which was shaped +like a level surfaced mound, and stood right up above the ordinary +undulations of the moor, and Scarlett Markham whistled as he slowly +climbed the other side, while high overhead, to turn the duet into a +trio, there was another whistler in the shape of a speckled lark, +soaring round and round as if he were describing the figure of a +gigantic corkscrew, whose point was intended to pierce the clouds. + +There had been a shower earlier in the day, and the earth sent forth a +sweet fragrance, which mingled with the soft salt breeze, and sent a +thrill of pleasure through the frames of the two lads hastening to their +trysting-place. They did not know that their feet crushed the wild +thyme, or caused fresh odours to float upon the air, or whether the +breeze came from north, south, or west; all that they knew was that they +felt very happy, and that they were out on the moor, ready to enjoy +themselves by doing something, they knew not what. They did not even +know that they were each performing a part in a trio, the little lark +being so common an object as to be unnoticed, while the top of the hill +divided the two terrestrial whistlers from each other. + +Fred was at the highest point first, and throwing himself down on the +turf, he lay watching the coming figure toiling up, while the +grasshoppers _chizzed_ and leaped from strand of grass to harebell, and +thence to heather, and even on to the figure lying there. + +The view was grand. Away to right were the undulations of the moor; to +the left the high hills which seemed as if cut off short, and descended +almost perpendicularly to the sea, and in front of them the sea itself, +glistening in the sunshine beyond the cliff, which from the point where +Fred lay looked like a lion _couchant_, end on to him, and passing out +to sea. Here and there some boat's sail seemed like a speck upon the +sea, while going in different directions--seaward and toward Bristol +were a couple of what Fred mentally dubbed "king's ships." Away as far +as eye could reach to right and left lay the softly blue Welsh coast; +but Fred's attention was divided between the lion's head-like outline of +the Rill, and the slowly advancing figure of Scarlett Markham, who +finished his ascent by breaking into a trot, and zigzagging up the last +steep piece to throw himself down beside his friend. + +They lay for some few minutes enjoying themselves, their ideas of +enjoyment consisting in lying face downward resting upon their crossed +arms, which formed a pillow for their chins, and kicking the turf with +their toes. Then, as if moved by the same spirit, they leaped to their +feet with all a boy's energy and vital force. + +"Let's do something," exclaimed Scar. "Shall we go to the lake?" + +"That's just what I was going to say," cried Fred; but they did not go +far in an aimless way--they began to descend the hill slowly at first, +then at a trot, then at headlong speed, till they stopped a part of the +way up the next slope, after crossing the bottom of the little coombe +between the hills. + +This second hill looked wearisome after their rapid descent, so they +contented themselves with walking along its side parallel with the +bottom of the little valley, talking of indifferent matters till they +came upon a little flock of grey and white gulls feeding amongst the +short herbage, where the rain had brought out various soft-bodied +creatures good in a gull's eyes for food. + +The beautiful white-breasted creatures rose on their long narrow wings, +and flapped and floated away. + +From force of habit, Fred took up a stone and threw it after the birds, +not with any prospect of hitting them, for they were a couple of hundred +yards away. + +"Wish I could fly like that," said Scarlett. "Look at them; they're +going right over the Rill Head." + +The two boys stopped and watched until the birds glided out of sight, +beyond the lion-like headland, an object, however, which grew less +lion-like the nearer they drew. + +"What would be the good?" replied Fred. "It would soon be very stupid +to go gliding here and there." + +"But see how easy it would be to float like that." + +"How do you know?" said practical Fred. "I dare say a bird's wings ache +sometimes as much as our legs do with running. I say, Scar." + +"Yes." + +"Let's go and have a look at the caves." + +"What caves?" + +"Down below the Rill. Now, only think of it; we were born here, and +never went and had a look at them. Samson says that one of them is +quite big and runs in ever so far, with a place like a chimney at one +end, so that you can get down from the land side." + +"And Nat said one day that it was all nonsense; that they were just like +so many rabbit-holes--and that's what he thought they were." + +"But our Samson said he had been in them; and if they were no bigger +than rabbit-holes, he couldn't have done that. Let's go and see." + +"Bother! I had enough of poking about in that damp old passage, and all +for nothing. I thought we were going to find the way in there." + +"Well, so we did." + +"But I mean the other end." + +"Bother, bother! what's the good!" + +"How do I know? It's very curious. There's something seems to draw you +on when you are underground," said Scarlett, dreamily. + +"Hark at the old worm! Why, Scar, I believe you'd like to live +underground." + +Scarlett shook his head. + +"I mean to find that way in to our place some day, whether you help me +or whether you do not. Never mind what your Samson said about the Rill +caves. He don't know. Let's go and see." + +"What's the good?" + +"I don't know that it will be any good, but let's see. There may be all +kinds of strange things in a cave. I've read about wonderful places +that went into the earth for a long way." + +"Yes; but our Rill cave would not. My father told me one day about two +caves he went into in Derbyshire. One had a little river running out of +it, and he went in and walked by the side of the water for a long way +till he came to a black arch, and there the gentlemen who were with him +lit candles and they waded into the water and crept under the dark arch, +and then went on and on for a long way through cave after cave, all wet +and dripping from the top. Sometimes they were obliged to wade in the +stream, and sometimes they walked along the edge." + +"And what did they find?" + +"Mud," said Fred, laconically. + +"Nothing else?" + +"No; only mud, sticky mud, no matter how far they went; and at last they +got tired of it, and turned back to find that the water had risen, and +was close up to the top of the arch under which they had crept, so that +they had to wait half a day before it went down." + +"What made the water rise?" asked Scarlett; "the tide?" + +"No; there were no tides there right in among the hills." + +"Then how was it?" + +"There had been a storm, and the water had run down and filled the +little river." + +As they chatted, the lads walked steadily on, and began to ascend the +long, low eminence, which formed, as it were, the large body of the +couchant lion, but which from where they were, seemed like the most +ordinary of hills. + +"There was another cave, too, that my father went into, but that was +very different. It was high up in among the hills, and you went down +quite a hole to get to it, and then it was just as if the inside of the +hill had come full of cracks and splits along which he kept climbing and +walking with the two sides just alike, just as if the stone had been +broken in two." + +"Then this was stone, not mud," said Scarlett, who was deeply +interested. + +"Yes, solid stone--rock; and every here and there you could see curious +shapes, just as if water had been running down, and it had all been +turned into stone." + +"I should like to go and see a place like that," said Scarlett. + +"Yes; I shouldn't mind seeing a cave like that. Father says it went in +for miles, and nobody had ever got to the end of it, for it branched off +into narrow slits, and sometimes you were walking on shelves, and you +could hold the candle over and look down horrible holes that were nobody +knows how deep, and there you could hear the water gurgling at the +bottom, and hissing and splashing, and--Oh!" + +"Scar!" yelled Fred, making a dash at his companion just in time to +catch him by the arm as he suddenly dropped down through a narrow +opening in the midst of the short green turf over which they were +walking. + +So narrow was the opening, and so nearly hidden by grass and heath, that +Scarlett had no difficulty in supporting himself by spreading out his +arms, as soon as he had recovered from the first startling effect of his +slip. + +But he did not stop many minutes in this position. Fred hung on to his +arm. He threw himself sidewise, grasped tightly hold of a stout branch +of heath, and scrambled out. + +"Who'd have thought of there being a hole like that?" said Scarlett, as +soon as he was safe. "But I don't suppose it's very deep, after all. +Got a stone?" + +"No. Listen." + +Fred had thrown himself upon his breast, and craned his neck over the +place, trying to peer down, but only into darkness, the hole evidently +not going down straight; it being, in fact, a narrow crack, such as he +had described in telling of the Derbyshire cavern. + +Scarlett, who looked rather white from the shock he had received, joined +his companion, and bent down to listen. + +"Hear that?" said Fred in a whisper. + +"Yes; water." + +"Water! Yes, of course; but listen again." + +They kept silence, and there ascended from below, through the almost +hidden crevice, a low whisper of an echoing roar, which died away in a +peculiar hissing sound that was thrilling in its strange suggestiveness. + +"There must be a waterfall somewhere below there," said Scarlett at +last. + +"Why, don't you know what it is?" + +"No." + +"The sea. Didn't think it was the end of your passage, did you?" + +"What there? Nonsense!" + +"Yes, it's the cave; and the sea runs right up here." + +"It couldn't; it's too far away." + +"I don't care; that's the sea. Now listen again, how regularly it +comes. Every wave must be rushing in, and you can hear it go whishing +out." + +Scarlett and his companion listened for a few minutes. + +"Yes; it's the sea, sure enough," said Scarlett. "Why, Fred, I didn't +think we had such a place here." + +"No," said Fred. "But, then, nobody ever comes up here. Why, it's +quite a discovery, Scar. Let's get down to the shore, and go in." + +"Yes, I'm ready;" and together the two lads made their way to the edge +of the slaty cliffs, and then a long way by the edge, before they could +find a rift of a sufficient slope to warrant their attempting a descent. + +Even this selected path looked far more easy than it proved; but by the +exercise of a little care they got about half-way down, and then +stopped; for it was plain enough to see, from the point of vantage they +had gained, that even if they climbed to the narrow line of black slaty +shingle between them and the perpendicular rock, they could not reach +the face of the Rill Head, which projected, promontory-like, into the +sea, and low down in which for certain the cave must be. + +"What a bother!" exclaimed Fred. "I thought we were going to have a +fine bit of adventure, and discover seals, and lobsters, and crabs, and +all kinds of things. What shall we do?" + +"Wait till low water." + +"But it's nearly low water now. Can't you see?" + +The marks of the last tide were plainly visible high up on the rugged +rock-face, the last tide having left every ledge covered with washed-up +fucus and bladder-wrack, speckled with white shells and sandy patches. + +"Then it must always be deep in water?" said Scarlett. + +"Well, I tell you what, then, let's borrow somebody's boat and try and +get right in that way." + +"I don't know who somebody is," said Scarlett, drily; "and if I did, I +don't suppose he has got a boat." + +"Don't talk like that," cried Fred. "I say, couldn't we get a boat?" + +"There isn't one for miles. Old Porlett bought one--don't you +recollect?--and the sea knocked it all to pieces in the first storm." + +"Yes, I recollect," said Fred, thoughtfully, "though it was twenty feet +up on a broad shelf of rock. Shall we swim to the cave?" + +Scarlett shook his head. "No," he said. "It would be too risky." + +"What shall we do, then?" + +"Give it up." + +"And I just won't," cried Fred, emphatically. "I say, Scar, look here." + +"Well?" + +"If we can't get in one way, let's get in the other." + +Scarlett stared at him wonderingly, "Let's go down the same way that you +were going, only not in such a hurry," he added with a grin. + +"What, climb down the hole?" said Scarlett, thoughtfully, and ignoring +the smile. "Yes. Why not?" + +"Oh yes, we could, with a rope. Drive an iron bar down into the earth, +and tie one end of the rope to it, and then go down." + +"You would not dare to go down that way." + +"Yes, I would," said Fred, stoutly; "and so would you," he added. + +"I don't know," said Scarlett, dreamily. "But I do. Shall we do it? +I'm ready if you are. Come along, then, back to our place, and let's +make old Samson lend us a couple of good ropes." + +Scarlett nodded acquiescence, and the two lads, little thinking how +their act would be of importance in the future, re-climbed the cliff and +started toward the Manor at a run. + +It proved very easy to propose getting a rope, but much harder to get +one, for everything in the shape of hempen cord was under the care of +Samson Dee, who had to be found, not at all a difficult task, for he was +digging--at least, handling a spade--down the garden. + +Samson greeted the coming of the lads with a smile, for it was another +excuse for taking a foot from the ground, and resting it upon the spade. +But as soon as he heard the want, the smile faded from his face. "You +want a what?" he said. "You know what I said, Samson, so no nonsense. +Let us have one directly." + +"You want a rope, Master Fred?" + +"There, I told you that you did hear me. Yes; I want the longest rope +about the place directly." + +"What yer want it for?" + +"Never you mind. I tell you I want the rope." + +"To make a swing with, of course. Well, then, you can't have it." + +"Can't I?" said Fred, sharply. "We'll soon see about that. Come along, +Scar. Any one would think the ropes were his." + +"Look here, Master Fred, if you--" + +Samson ceased speaking, for he was wise enough to see that he was +wasting words in shouting after the two lads. But he began muttering +directly about a "passell o' boys" coming and bothering him when he +hadn't a moment to spare. + +"And look here," he shouted, as he saw his visitors trotting off with a +coil of strong new rope belonging to the waggon, "mind you bring that +rope back again. Now, I wonder what them two are going to do?" he ended +by muttering, and then set to work digging once more, but in so slow and +methodical a fashion that the worms had plenty of time to get away from +the sharp edge of the spade before it was driven home and cut them in +half. + +"Poor old Samson!" said Fred; "he seems to think that everything belongs +to him." + +"So does our Nat," replied Scarlett. "I often fancy he thinks I belong +to him as well, from the way he shouts and orders me about." + +"But you never do what he tells you." + +"Of course not; and--Oh, Fred!" + +"What's the matter?" + +"We've got the rope; but what are we going to fasten the end to when we +go down?" Fred stopped short, and rubbed one ear. + +"You hold it while I go down, and I'll hold it while you go down." + +"I shouldn't like to try that," said Scarlett. "We're not strong +enough." + +"Nonsense! Not if we let the rope bite on the edge of the hole?" + +"That would not do," said Scarlett, decisively. + +"I know, then," cried Fred. "Come along." + +"No. Let's go back and get an iron bar to drive down in the earth." + +"I've got a better way than that," said Fred. "There's a pole across +the opening in that stone wall half-way up the hill. We'll lay that +across, and tie the rope to it." + +Scarlett nodded acquiescence, and they trotted on to the rough stone +wall, built up of loose fragments piled one on the other, the gateway +left for the passage of cattle being closed by a couple of poles laid +across like bars, their ends being slipped in holes left for the +purpose. + +The straighter of these two was slipped out by Scarlett and shouldered, +and they hastened on, attracted by the discovery they had made, but +recalling, as they went on, that they had been told before about the +existence of this opening by more than one person, though it had slipped +from their memory for the time. + +"Who's going down first?" said Fred, as they slowly climbed the last +hundred yards of the slope. + +"I will." + +"No; I think I ought to go first." + +"Long bent, short bent," said Scarlett, picking a couple of strands of +grass, breaking them off so that one was nearly double the length of the +other, and then, after placing two ends level and hiding the others, +offering them to his companion to draw one out. + +Fred drew the shorter, and Scarlett had the right to go down first--a +right which but for the look of the thing he would willingly have +surrendered. For as they reached the long, narrow, grass-grown crack, +the strange whispering and plashing sounds which came from below +suggested unknown dangers, which were more repellent than the +attractions of the mysterious hole. + +Fred looked curiously at Scarlett, who noted the look, and tightened +himself up, assuming a carelessness he did not feel. + +"Doesn't go down quite straight, seemingly," he said. + +"All the better. I say, shall I go down first?" + +"What for? I won the choice, and I'm going," said Scarlett, sharply, as +he took one end of the rope and tied it to the middle of the pole, which +proved to be of ample length to go well across the opening. + +"Tie it tightly, Scar," cried Fred. + +"Never fear. Mind the rope is so that it will uncoil easily. There, +run it down, and let's see if it is long enough to get to the bottom." + +Fred raised the rings of stiff twisted hemp, and dropped them down out +of sight; but it was evident that the rope did not descend very far, the +main portion lodging only a little way down; but Fred raised it a yard +or two and shook it, with the effect that more fell down and lodged, but +only to be shaken loose again and again, showing plainly enough that the +hole went down in a sharp slope for a long way, and then that the rope +had dropped over a perpendicular part, for as it was drawn up and down +it fell heavily now. + +"There," said Fred, "that's it. I dare say that reaches the bottom. If +it doesn't, you must come up again. Ready?" + +"Yes." + +And with all the recklessness of boys who never see the reality of +danger until it is there, Scarlett stripped off his jerkin and lowered +himself down into the crack, hanging with one arm over the pole for a +few moments before seizing the rope, twisting his legs round it, and +letting himself slide down. + +"Keep on calling out what it's like; and as soon as you get down, sing +`Bottom!' and then I'll come too." + +Scarlett nodded, and let himself slide slowly, to find, and call up to +his companion, that the hole went down at a slope into the darkness, so +that he was not swinging by the rope, but supporting himself thereby, as +he glided down over the shaley earth of which the hill was composed, but +only to come to a sudden stop as he found that the hole zigzagged back +in the opposite direction at a similar angle to that by which he had +descended. + +"Are you right?" cried Fred from above. + +"Yes." + +"Is it easy?" + +"Yes, quite." + +"Then I shall come down now." + +"No, no," cried Scarlett; "the rope is not strong enough for two." + +"Make haste, then. I want to see what there is. Found anything good?" + +"No," said Scarlett, as he glided slowly down into the darkness, with +his companion's words buzzing in his ears, just as if they were spoken +close by, and listening as he descended to the peculiar, trickling, +rushing noise of the scraps of disintegrating slate which he dislodged +in passing, and which fell rapidly before him. + +"Keep talking," said Fred from above. + +"There's nothing to talk about," cried Scarlett. "I'm only sliding down +a slope, and--yes, now I'm hanging clear, and turning round. Hold the +rope: it's twisting so." + +"I am holding it tight," came back; "but I can't help its turning round. +What's it like now?" + +"Just like day beginning to break, and I can see something shining down +below." + +"Is it the water?" + +"Yes, I suppose so. Shall I go down any lower?" + +"Yes, of course." + +"It isn't water that's shining," said Scarlett, after turning slowly +round two or three times, as he descended another twenty feet. + +"What is it, then?--gold or silver?" + +"It's only a reflection, I suppose; but I can't quite see." + +"Aren't you at the bottom yet?" cried Fred, impatiently. + +"No." + +"Make haste, then." + +"Yes, I am at the bottom," cried Scarlett, directly after, as his feet +touched firm rock. + +"Look out, then," cried Fred. "Down I come." + +"No, no; wait a moment," was the reply. "I want to try and find out +what it's like." + +_Whirr, whizz_! + +"What's the matter?" cried Fred, as he heard his companion utter a loud, +"Oh!" + +"Something rushed by me." + +"What was it?" + +"I couldn't see. Ah! there it is again." + +"Hold tight; I'm coming," cried Fred. "I dare say it was an owl or a +bat. Oh my! doesn't it scrape you?" + +Scarlett's response was a sharp ejaculation and a jerk at the rope. + +"Here, what are you doing?" cried Fred. + +There was no answer, only a panting noise. + +"Don't swing the rope about like that, Scar! Do you hear? I won't come +down, if you don't leave off." + +"Hah! that's it," came from below. + +"What's the matter? What are you doing?" cried Fred, who had paused at +the bottom of the first slope, holding tightly by the rope, which +Scarlett seemed to be trying to jerk out of his hand. + +"It's all right now," panted Scarlett. "You sent down a lot of slate +and earth, and it came on my head." + +"Well, I couldn't help it. Why didn't you stand on one side?" + +"I did," cried Scarlett, "and stepped back off the edge. Fortunately, I +had tight hold of the rope, but slipped down ever so far, and had to +climb up again. Come along down, now." + +There was a serious sound and a spice of danger in this little recital, +which, added to the darkness into which Fred had plunged, made him +descend for the rest of the way slowly and very cautiously down the +second slope, and then, as he hung perpendicularly, and felt himself +slowly turning round, he kept on asking how much farther it was, till +his feet touched his companion's hands, and he stood directly by his +side in the faint grey light, which seemed to strike up from below, both +clutching the rope tightly in the excitement of the novel position, and +trying to pierce the gloom. + +"Ugh! What's that?" cried Fred, suddenly, as he kicked against +something which made a rattling noise. + +"I don't know. Sounds like pieces of wood." + +"Ugh!" ejaculated Fred again, "bones! Come away, Scar; it's a +skeleton." + +The two boys shrank away in horror, and for some moments neither +ventured to speak, while, as they clung together, each could feel his +fellow suffering from no little nervous tremor. + +"Some one must have slipped down the hole and died here of starvation," +whispered Scarlett at last. "You know how dangerous it is." + +"Yes," said Fred, thoughtfully, and with his shrinking feeling on the +increase. "No," he exclaimed directly after, "I don't think it's that. +I know--at least, I should know if I touched it." + +"What do you mean?" + +"It's some sheep slipped down when feeding, and never been missed." + +"Do you think it's that?" said Scarlett, eagerly. + +"I feel sure of it. If it had been a man, he would have found some way +of getting out. I say, Scar, will you stoop down and touch it?" + +"No," said Scarlett, with a shudder. + +"Well, I will, then. Yes; I'm right. It is a sheep's bones." + +"How do you know?" + +"You can feel some wool down here. If it had been a man, it would have +been clothes. Well, I am glad." + +Scarlett showed his satisfaction by drawing a long breath full of +relief, and the spirits of both seemed relieved by the knowledge that +the grisly relics told no tale of a human being's terrible fate. + +"I dare say there are more bones about, if we were to search," said +Fred. "But what a great gloomy place it is! Who'd have thought that +there was such a cave on our shore?" + +"I can't see any good, now we have got down in it," said Scarlett, +rather discontentedly. "I don't suppose we shall find anything." + +"Why, we have found something." + +"Yes; bones. I wish we had a light." + +"Where was it you stepped over?" said Fred, speaking in a whisper now, +for the silence and darkness were not without their effect upon him. + +"There." + +"Where's there? I can't see which way you mean." + +"Exactly behind you," said Scarlett. + +Fred made an involuntary movement in the opposite direction, one +imitated by Scarlett, with the result that they edged along about a +dozen feet before they were stopped by the wall of rock, which sloped +away above their heads. + +"I wish it wasn't dark," said Fred. "Now let's try how far we can get +this way." + +Still holding on tightly by the rope, they moved in a fresh direction, +finding the rock upon which they stood made irregular by the heaps of +slate and earth which had crumbled down from above; but over this they +cautiously made their way for seven or eight yards, when they were again +stopped by the sloping wall of rock. + +The next investigation suggested itself as being the edge over which +Scarlett had stepped, and for the moment they shrank from that, and made +their way cautiously back, keeping close to the wall. + +"Let's see how far it goes in that direction," whispered Scarlett. "I +fancy that's where the light comes from." + +Fred acquiesced, and the little mounds of slate were crossed, and the +way followed till they had nearly reached the limit of the line, when, +low down before them, they made out a dark, rough-looking edge, black +upon the very pale light which struck into the cave. + +"Why, that's the edge of the rough shelf we are standing on," said +Scarlett. "Now, let's get close to the line there, and look over." + +"Shall we?" + +"Yes; why not? I don't feel half so frightened now I've got over that +fall." + +"I never felt frightened at all," said Fred. + +"Oh?" + +"Well, not much. Come along." + +They approached cautiously, finding that the shelf grew narrower, and +evidently ended in a point. + +"Mind!" + +"Mind what?" + +"I've got to the end of the rope." + +"Well, let's leave go, and creep to the edge without it." + +"No," said Fred, who felt that the rope was like a hand connecting them +with the upper surface. "Perhaps it has caught somewhere, and we +haven't got it all loose. Wait till I give it a jerk. Here, leave go +for a moment." + +Scarlett loosened his hold, and Fred stepped back a foot or two before +sending a wave along the cord, which was followed by a rattling noise, +as if a quantity of the shale and earth had been set at liberty, and was +falling in a shower upon the rocky floor. + +"There, I told you so," cried Fred. "I can draw yards and yards in, and +yards and--" + +He was suiting the action to the word, hauling more and more of the rope +towards him, when there was an end to the rattling sound, and one dull +flap. + +"What is it, Fred?" + +"I--I'm not sure." + +"I am," cried Scarlett, in agony. "Why, you've dragged at the rope till +it has come untied." + +"I'm afraid so," faltered Fred, in a husky voice. + +"And nobody saw us come here," cried Scarlett. "Oh, Fred, Fred, we +shall be buried alive!" + +CHAPTER SIX. + +UNEXPECTED AID. + +For a few minutes the two lads were so overcome by the horror of their +position that they stood there in silence, afraid to move. Then +Scarlett recovered himself a little, and said huskily-- + +"Pull the rope again, and make sure." + +"I'm sure enough," said Fred, sulkily. "It's all down here. How could +you have tied it so badly?" + +"I don't know. I thought it was tight. Ah! there it is again." + +There was a whizzing, whirring sound heard above the plash and whisper +of the water down below, and for a few moments the boys remained +perfectly still. + +"Why, I know what that is," cried Fred. "Pigeons. I've often seen them +fly into the holes of the rocks. They build in these places, and roost +here of a night." + +"Wish I was a pigeon," said Scarlett, sadly. "We shall never be able to +climb up that hole." + +"We shall have to try," said Fred, "unless we can find a way down. +Here, let's creep to the edge and look." + +Scarlett hesitated for the moment, but it was a work, of stern +necessity; and together, using the greatest caution the while, they +crept on hands and knees to the edge of the great shelf, and looked over +to see that the light came in from some opening away to the right, to be +reflected from the wall of rock opposite, and shed sufficiently strong a +dawn to let them see fifty feet below them the creamy foaming water +which flowed in and then ran back. + +"Don't see any way down," said Fred, rather despondently. "This place +sticks right out over everything." + +"But we can get down by fixing the rope up here, and sliding down." + +"I'd forgotten the rope," said Fred, with a deep sigh. "But suppose we +do get down. What then?" + +"Why, we can find our way to the mouth of the cave, and look out and +shout at the first boat that comes by." + +Fred brightened up. + +"I say, Scar," he said cheerfully, "what a clever fellow you are! Let's +try at once." + +"Hadn't we better try first whether we can climb up the hole?" + +The suggestion was so good that it was at once tried, but without +effect; for a very few minutes' search proved that there was a +perpendicular face of rock to scale, and, unless they cut steps with +their knives, ascent in that way was impossible. + +"It's of no use, Scar," said Fred, "unless we can get away by the mouth. +I say, is it as dark as it was when we first came down?" + +"Our eyes are getting used to it," said Scarlett, as they both stood +gazing across the opening at the black-looking rock-face before them, +and, gaining courage from familiarity, they once more approached the +edge of the shelf, and felt their way about, seeking vainly for the +means of descent. + +"I'm afraid it's of no use, Fred. The only way is for one of us to let +the other down with the rope, and the one who goes down to call for +help." + +"But why not both go down?" + +"Because there is nowhere to fasten the rope; and, after it slipped as +it did just now, I should not like to venture." + +"That was with your tying. You wait till I've found a place." + +There did not seem much risk of a fall after Fred's securing of the +rope, for the simple reason that he was not likely to tie it. +Everywhere, as they searched, they found smooth rock without a +projection, or shivering shaley slate, which crumbled down at a touch, +and, at last, Fred gave up with a sigh of despair. + +"It's of no use," he said. "One of us must go down and try the mouth of +the cave. I don't want to, but I will go if you'll hold the rope." + +"I feel so much afraid of not being strong enough, that I ought to go, +and let you." + +"Let's have a look, and see if we can make out what it's like first," +said Fred; and, creeping cautiously to the edge, he lay down, and peered +over, Scarlett following his example, and looking into the gloom beneath +from close by his side. + +"Looks very horrible," said Fred; "but I suppose it's because it's so +dark. I don't believe it would be anything to mind, if it was so light +we could see clearly." + +"Perhaps not," replied Scarlett, gloomily; "but then, it is dark; and +how dreadful the water sounds as it rushes into the mouth of the cave!" + +"Oh, it always does; but there's nothing to mind." + +"But suppose one of us did get down and found the mouth?" + +"Well, we must find the mouth, because that's where the light and water +come in." + +"But if we did, the water's deep outside, and we should have to swim +round to somewhere and land." + +"Seems to me very stupid that we know so little about the shore under +the rocks," said Fred, as he tried to pierce the pale grey light below. +"Seems a stupid sort of shore, all steep cliff, and nowhere hardly to +get down. Well, what shall we do? Will you go down, or shall I?" + +"I'd rather trust to your holding the rope than mine." + +"That's just how I feel," cried Fred. "But you went down first, and now +it's my turn, so here goes. Now then, let's gather the rope into a +coil, and throw one end down. Then you sit flat here on the ledge, with +your legs stretched out, hold tight by the rope with both hands, and +then let it hang between your legs and over the edge. It won't be hard +to hold." + +"I'll try," said Scarlett, nervously; "but I hardly like doing it." + +"And I don't like going down, but it has got to be done, and the more +fuss we make over it, the worse it will be. When you've got to take +physic, down with it at once." + +"Yes," said Scarlett, drily, "that's the best way, but the best way is +often the hardest." + +Fred had gathered the rope into rings, and was taking a final glance +down at what seemed to be an uglier descent the more it was inspected, +and but for very shame he would have given up. He set his teeth, +though, and handed one end of the rope to his companion. + +"Catch hold--tight," he said in a low voice. "If you let that go we're +done. Now then--one, two--" + +He did not say three, for at that moment a gruff, husky voice came +rumbling and echoing down toward them with the cheery hail of-- + +"Anybody at home?" + +"Now, I wonder what them boys are going to do," said Samson, over and +over again, and each time that he said so he sighed and rubbed his back, +and ended by resting upon the handle of his spade. + +"No good, I'm sure," he muttered. "Yes," he added, after a thoughtful +pause, "that's it--going to let one another down over the cliffs so as +to break their necks; and if they do, a nice mess I shall be in, for the +colonel 'll say it was all my fault for letting them have the rope." + +Samson turned over a couple of spadefuls of earth, and then drove the +tool in with a fierce stab, leaving it sticking up in the ground. + +"Here, I can't go on digging and knowing all the time as them lads is +breaking their necks over the cliff side. Never was in such a muddle as +this before. Why didn't they say what they were going to do?" + +"Here, this must be stopped--this must be stopped!" he cried, with a +display of energy such as he had not before shown that day; and, +snatching up his jacket, he started off in the direction taken by the +lads, he having had no difficulty in seeing that their aim was the mass +of slaty rock, rounded and covered with short green turf, known as the +Rill Head, up which he climbed just in time to shout down the grassy +crevice the words which sent joy into the boys' hearts. + +"Hurrah! There's help!" cried Scarlett, starting up. + +"Mind! you nearly knocked me over." + +"I could not help it, Fred. Here, hi!" + +"Anybody at home? Where are you?" + +"Why, it's old Samson," cried Fred, groping his way to where he believed +the bottom of the crack by which they had descended to be. "Hi! +Samson!" + +"Hullo!" came back. "Where are you? What are you doing?" + +Fred hastily explained their plight. + +"Serve you both right," cried Samson; and his voice, as it rumbled down +the hole into the cavern, sounded, as Scarlett thought, like the voice +of a giant. "Well, what are you going to do? Live there?" + +"No; you must help us out." + +"Help you out?" + +"Yes. How did you know we were here?" + +"How did I know you were there, indeed!" growled Samson, with +aggravating repetition of the other's words. "Why, I knowed you'd be in +some mischief as soon as I saw you both go by with that rope." + +"But you didn't see us come down here." + +"No; but I see your clothes lying aside the hole. What did you want +here? Somebody's sheep tumbled down again?" + +"Hear that?" whispered Fred. "No, Samson; but don't stand there +talking. Did you bring a rope?" + +"How could I bring the rope, when you'd got it?" + +"Go and fetch another." + +"There isn't one that'll bear you. Can't you throw up the end of that +one?" + +"Impossible! You must fetch another." + +"And who's to do my gardening while I'm hunting all over Coombeland for +ropes as nobody won't lend?" + +"Look here, Samson," cried Scarlett. "Go up to the Hall, and ask Nat to +lend you one of ours." + +"Go up and ask my brother Nat to lend me a rope?" + +"Yes." + +"I'd sooner go and jump off the cliff. There!" + +"Well, you must do something, and pray make haste." + +"What am I to do?" + +"I know," cried Fred. "Go and get your garden line." + +"Why, that wouldn't bear a cat, let alone a boy like you." + +"You do as I tell you, and bring a big round stone, too, one that you +can tie to one end of the line. Be quick." + +"Oh, I'll go," said Samson; "but mind you, I warn you it won't bear." + +"You do as I tell you," cried Fred, again; "and don't tell my mother +where we are." + +"I may tell the colonel, I suppose?" said Samson, with a laugh to +himself. + +"No, no, no!" cried Fred; but the words were not heard, for Samson had +set off down the hill at a trot. + +"I say, what a pair of stupids we are," said Fred, after trying two or +three times over to find out whether Samson was still there. + +"Don't talk," replied Scarlett. "Let's listen for his coming back." + +"But he must be half an hour, at least; and we know we are all right +now. I say, Scar, I've a good mind to go down lower, and see if there's +a way to the sea." + +"No, you will not," said Scarlett, rather gruffly. "Let's sit down and +think." + +"It's too dark to think," cried Fred, petulantly. "I wonder how this +place came. Think it was made by the hill cracking, or by the sea +washing it out?" + +"I don't know. But shall we come again, and bring a lanthorn?" + +"Yes, and regularly examine the place. We will some day. I wonder +whether we're the first people who ever came down into it? I mean," +said Fred, "the first people who were not sheep. Here, hi! Scar! what +are you thinking about?" + +"I was thinking what a hiding-place it would make for anybody who did +not want to be found." + +"Do for smugglers. Wonder whether any smugglers ever knew of it?" + +"No; if they had there would have been some way down to the mouth." + +"And perhaps there is, only it's too dark for us to see where it is." + +Then the conversation languished, and they sat on the rough shaley +earth, trying to pierce the gloom, and listening with quite a start from +time to time to the sharp whirr of the pigeons' wings as they darted in +and out. + +At last, just when they were beginning to think it a terribly long time, +Samson's voice was heard. + +"Here you are! I've brought my line." + +"And a big stone?" + +"Yes, Master Fred; eight or nine pounder. But I warn you once more that +line won't bear you boys." + +"You do as I tell you. Now tie the stone to the line." + +There was a few moments' pause, during which they seemed to see the +red-faced gardener as he busied himself over his task, and then down +came the words-- + +"All right." + +"Lower it down." + +"What?--the stone?" + +"Yes. Quick." + +Directly after, there was a rattling and falling of tiny bits of shale, +which went on as Samson shouted-- + +"She won't come no farther." + +"Draw the line and start it again." + +Samson started the stone after hauling it up a bit, and this time it +glided out of the angle in which it had rested, increased its speed, +bringing down quite a shower of shale, and then there was a dull thud. + +"That's it, Samson. I've got it." + +"Good job, for there ain't much more." + +"There's quite enough," cried Fred, as he rapidly set the stone loose, +and tied the line to the rope's end. "Now, then, haul away." + +"No, no, my lad; I tell you it won't bear you. You'd only have a nasty +tumble." + +"Haul!" + +"And I shall be blamed." + +"Will you haul? Oh, only wait till I come up!" + +Samson gave quite a snatch at the line, and drew it up rapidly, while +the boys waited to hear what he would say when he found their meaning. + +"Why couldn't you have said as you meanted that!" he grumbled. "I see +now. Want me to make this here fast to the pole." + +"Yes, of course; then we can climb up." + +"To be sure you can. I see now." + +"Make it quite fast, Samson." + +"I will, sir. And try it, too," he added under his breath, as he +knotted the rope fast, seized and drew it tight, and then lowering +himself into the crevice, he began to glide down rapidly, sending a +tremendous shower of shale on to Fred's head, and making him start away +just as he had drawn the rope tight ready to ascend. + +"Why, what are you doing?" he shouted. + +"Coming down, sir," panted Samson; and the next minute he was on the +broad shelf in company with nearly enough disintegrated rock to bury the +skeleton of the sheep. + +"Well, 'pon my word, young gentlemen," cried the gardener, "you've got +rum sort of ideas. Wouldn't no other place please you for a game but +this?" + +"We wanted to explore it," exclaimed Fred; "to see if there's a way down +to the shore." + +"Well, you can hear there is, lads. But why didn't you bring a +lanthorn?" + +"I wish we had." + +"Wish again," said Samson, with a chuckle. + +"What for?" + +"Because then you'll get one," said the gardener, laughing. + +"Why, Samson, what do you mean?" cried Scarlett. + +"This here!" + +There was a rattling sound, a clicking noise of flint upon steel, and +soon after a glowing spark appeared, then a blue flame, a splint burst +into a blaze, and directly after Samson's red and shining features could +be seen by the light of the candle he had lit inside a lanthorn. + +"There, lads," he said, closing the door with a snap; "you didn't think +to tell me to bring that, but I thought of it, and there we are. Now we +can see what we're about," he continued, as he swung the lanthorn above +his head; "and not much to see nayther. Only an 'ole. Yes, of course. +There you are. Sheep's bones. Dessay many a one's tumbled down here. +Hole don't go up very high," he added, once more raising the lanthorn +above his head; "but it goes down to the sea for sartain." + +"Oh, Samson, and you've left the line up above. If we had it here, we +might have swung the lanthorn down and seen how deep it was." + +"That's just like you, Master Fred," said Samson. "You always think +other folk will do what you'd do. You'd ha' left the line up at the +top, same as you did your clothes, but being only a gardener, and a very +bad one, as my brother Nat says, I put that there line in my pocket, and +here it is." + +Fred's answer was a slap on Samson's hard broad back, as he tied one end +of the line to the lanthorn-ring, swung it over the edge of the shelf, +and they watched it go down sixty or seventy feet, feebly illumining the +sides of the cave, and as it grew lower an additional radiance was +displayed by the light striking on the bottom, which proved to be full +of water kept slightly in motion by the influx of the waves outside. + +"Not much to see, my lads," said Samson. "No gold, nor silver, nor +nothing. Shouldn't wonder if there's pigeons' nesties, though, only you +couldn't get at 'em without a ladder. There! seen enough?" + +"No; I want to see whether there is any way down," said Fred. + +"Any way down?" said Samson, swinging the lanthorn to and fro. "No, my +lad--yes, there is. Easily get down at that corner. Slide down or slip +down. See!" + +"Yes," said the lads in a breath; and long afterwards they recalled +their eagerness to know about a means of descent from that shelf. + +"Yes," said Samson; "you might make a short cut down to the sea this way +if you wanted to. But you don't want to, and it wouldn't be any good if +you did, because you'd be obliged to have a boat outside; and if the +boat wasn't well-minded, it would soon be banged to matchwood among the +rocks. There, my bit o' ground's waiting to be dug, and I've got you +two out of your hobble, so here goes back." + +As he spoke, he rapidly hauled up the lanthorn, forming the line into +rings, untying the end from the ring, and, after giving it a twist, +thrusting it back into his pocket, while he undid the strap he wore +about his waist, thrust an end through the lanthorn-ring, and buckled it +on once more. + +"Will you go first, Samson?" said Fred. + +"No; I mean to go last. I don't leave here till I see you both safe. +What should I have said to your mothers if you'd been lost and not found +for a hundred years? Nice state of affairs that would ha' been." + +"Go on first, Scar," said Fred; "we'll hold the rope tight, so that it +will be easy." + +Scarlett reached up, seized the rope, and began to climb, getting the +thick cord well round his legs, as he struggled up for nearly twenty +feet, and then he slipped down again. + +"Can't we go down the other way, and climb the cliff?" + +"No, you can't," said Samson, gruffly. "You've got to go up as you come +down. Here, Master Fred, show him the way." + +Fred seized the rope, and began to climb, but with no better success; +and he, too, glided down again after a severe struggle. + +"The rope's so slippery," he said angrily. + +"And you call yourselves young gentlemen!" grunted Samson. "Why, you'd +ha' been just as badly off if your rope hadn't slipped. Here, give us +hold." + +Samson seized the rope, and they heard him grunt and pant and cease his +struggle, and then begin to grunt and pant again for quite ten minutes, +when, just as they rather maliciously hoped that he would prove as +awkward as themselves, they heard the lanthorn bang against the rock, a +shower of shale fell as it was kicked off, and Samson's voice came +down-- + +"Line is a bit slithery," he said; "but I'm all right now." + +They could not see, but they in imagination felt that he had reached the +first slope, up which he was climbing, and then felt when he passed up +the second, showers of shale and earth following every moment, till, all +at once, there was a cessation of noise, and of the shower, and Samson's +bluff voice exclaimed-- + +"Up a top! Now, then, lay hold, and I'll have you up to where you can +climb." + +"Go on, Scar." + +"Go on, Fred." + +The boys spoke together, and, after a little argument, Scarlett seized +the rope, felt himself hoisted up, and, once up at the slope, he soon +reached daylight, Fred following in the same way, to stand in the +sunshine, gazing at his companions, who, like himself, were covered with +perspiration and dust. + +"You look nice ones, you do," said Samson, grinning; "and all that there +trouble for nothing." + +But Samson was a very ignorant man, who knew a great deal about +gardening, but knew nothing whatever about the future, though in that +instance his want of knowledge was shared by Fred and Scarlett, who, +after resuming their jerkins, took, one the pole, the other the coil of +neatly ringed rope, and trudged back to the Manor with Samson, who +delivered quite a discourse upon waste of time; but he did not return to +his digging, contenting himself with extracting his spade from the +ground, wiping it carefully, and hanging it up in his tool-house, close +to the lanthorn. + +"Going home, Master Scarlett?" said Samson. + +"Yes, directly." + +"Won't have a mug o' cider, I suppose?" + +"No, thank ye, Samson." + +"Because I thought Master Fred was going to fetch some out, and you +could have a drop too." + +"Hark at him, Scar! There never was such a fellow for cider." + +"Oh yes, there was; but I've yearned it anyhow to-day." + +"So you have, and I'll fetch you a mug," said Fred, darting off. + +"Ah, that's better," grunted Samson. "Never such a fellow for cider! +Why, my brother's a deal worse than I am, and you wouldn't ketch him +leaving his work to take all the trouble I did to-day, Master Scarlett. +Hah! here he comes back. Thank ye, Master Fred, lad. Hah! what good +cider. Puzzle your Nat to make such stuff as that." + +"He says ours is better," said Scarlett. + +"Let him, sir; but that don't make it better." + +"Bother the old cider! Who cares?" cried Fred. "Look here, Samson, +don't say a word to anybody about our having found that hole." + +"No, sir; not I." + +"Why did you tell him that!" said Scarlett, as they walked away. + +"I don't know," said Fred, starting. + +"Perhaps I thought we ought not to tell, in case we wanted to hide some +day." + +"Hide! What from whom from!" + +"I don't know," said Fred again, as he looked in a puzzled way at his +companion; and then they parted. Fred felt that he should have liked to +have told his friend why he wished the discovery to be kept a secret, +but the puzzled feeling grew more intense, and when at last he dismissed +it, he was obliged to own that he did not know himself any more than +when he spoke. + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +FRED TAKES A JUMP. + +The adventure in the Rill cave was talked about for a few days, and +several plans were made for its further exploration; but, in spite of +the talking, no further visit was made in that direction. + +"You see, we ought to get a boat," Fred said, "and row right to the +mouth, and go in that way next time, and we haven't got a boat." + +"And no likelihood of getting one," said Scarlett, thoughtfully. "Shall +we go down again, and take your Samson with us this time?" + +"I don't see that there's any good in it; and see what a mess we should +be in again. I was full of little tiny bits of slate all in my hair, +and down my back, and, after all, it wasn't worth the trouble." + +"Made me feel a bit queer. I say, Scar, only fancy being shut up there, +and starving to death." + +Scarlett gave an involuntary shiver. + +"Don't talk about it." + +"I say, starving to death makes you think about eating. When are your +people coming over again to supper?" + +"I don't know," said Scarlett, with an uneasy sensation. + +"What's the matter, Scar?" + +"I don't know. I'm not sure. I think your father and mine have fallen +out again." + +"What makes you think that?" + +"Something I heard my mother saying to him." + +"Well, they'll soon be friends again, I dare say." + +"I hope so. But, Fred, how everybody seems to be talking now about the +troubles in the east." + +"Well, let them," laughed Fred. "We don't want any of their troubles in +the west. What do you say to an afternoon's nutting?" + +"The nuts are not half ripe." + +"Well, let's get your Nat's ferret, and try for a rabbit." + +"He would not lend it to us." + +"Let's go down on the shore, and collect shells for your Lil." + +"She has more than she wants now." + +"Well, let's do something. I vote we go down and hunt out the way into +that passage. We can do that without getting our heads full of slate." + +Scarlett acceded readily, the more so that ever since their adventure in +the passage, the place had had a peculiar fascination for both lads. +They often stopped in the middle of some pursuit to talk about the +curious idea of making a door to be entered by lying down, and +contriving it out of a stair. Then there were the ingenious +peculiarities of the old passage, and the strange gloom of the oak +chamber, and the dark vault, with its heap of old arms, which they +regretted not to have brought out to try and restore to something like +their former condition. + +For, in spite of previous failure, the idea of discovering the second +entrance to that passage was often suggesting itself to the lads; and, +in consequence, they began to haunt the edge of the lake, feeling sure +that some day or another accident would direct them to the very spot +they had searched for so long. + +Scarlett insisted that they would find the opening right down in the +water, while, on the other hand, Fred maintained the opposite. + +"Nobody would be such a noodle as to build his back-door right down in +the water," he said, "unless he meant the place for a bath. No; we +shall find that doorway out in the wood somewhere, you mark my words, +Scar. I dare say, if we were to take billhooks and cut and hack away +the branches, we should find it soon enough." + +Scarlett shook his head, but joined in the search, one which, in spite +of their peering about, proved to be in vain, and, after being well +scratched by brambles and briars, Scarlett had his own way again, and +they began to hunt the shore. + +The broad sheet of water ran up in quite a bay toward the fine old +English mansion, and round this bay were dense clumps of hazels, patches +of alder, and old oak-trees grew right on the edge of the perpendicular +bank, their roots deep down beneath the black leaf-mould, which here +formed the bottom of the clear water. + +"It must be here somewhere," said Scarlett, one sunny afternoon, as they +sat on the mossy roots of one of the great oaks, and idly picked off +sheets of delicate green vegetable velvet and flakes of creamy and grey +lichen to throw into the water. + +"Yes, it must be here somewhere, of course; but I don't see any use in +getting scratched by briars for nothing. We never seem to get any +nearer to it. Perhaps we were wrong, and it's only a kind of well, +after all." + +"No," said Scarlett; "they would not make a well there." + +"Then we got muddled over the way we went, and, perhaps, while we are +looking for the entrance this side, it's over the other." + +"No," said Scarlett again, "I don't think that." + +"But if there had been a way in here from the lake, some one must have +seen it before now. We should have noticed it when we were fishing or +nesting. Or, if we had not seen it, your Nat or one of the other +gardeners must have found it." + +"No, they must not. I don't see any must about it. Perhaps it's too +cleverly hidden away, or I shouldn't wonder if, since it was made, a +tree had grown all over the entrance, and shut it right up." + +"And we shall never find it." + +"Not unless we cut the tree down." + +"And, of course, we don't know which tree to cut." + +"And if we did, my father would not have a tree touched on any account. +Remember how angry he was with the wind?" + +"What, when it blew down the big elm?" + +"Yes." + +There was a pause. + +"I say," said Fred, yawning, "let's give it up. What do we care about +where the passage comes out! We know where it goes in." + +"Foxes always have two holes," said Scarlett, dreamily. + +"So do rabbits. Lots of holes sometimes. But we're not foxes, and +we're not rabbits." + +"No; but you'll be like a water-rat directly, if you sit on that moss. +It's as slippery as can be close to the edge. Come and get some nuts." + +"Not ripe enough," said Fred, idly. + +"Never mind; let's get some, whether or no." + +"Where shall we go? We've got all there are about the edge of the +lake." + +"Let's go down there by the big oaks. There's a great clump of nuts +just beyond, where we have not been yet." + +"Oh yes, we have," said Fred, laughing; "leastwise, I have--one day when +I came over and you weren't at home." + +"That's always your way, Fred. I never come over to your place and take +your things." + +"Halloa!" laughed Fred, rising slowly from where he had lounged upon the +mossy, buttress-like roots. "Who came and helped himself to my +gilliflower apples?" + +Scarlett laughed. "Well, they looked so tempting, and we were to have +picked them that day. Come along." + +They went crushing and rustling through the woody wilderness for about a +hundred yards from the side of the lake. It was a part sacred to the +birds and rabbits, a dense dark thicket where oaks and beeches shut out +the light of day, and for generations past the woodman's axe had never +struck a blow. Here and there the forest monarchs had fallen from old +age, and where they had left a vacancy hazel stubs flourished, springing +up gaily, and revelling on the rotten wood and dead leaves which covered +the ground, and among which grew patches of nuts and briar, with the +dark dewberry and swarthy dwale. + +Here, as they walked, the lads' feet crushed in the moss-covered, rotten +wood, and at every step a faint damp odour of mould, mingled with the +strong scent of crushed ferns and fungi, rose to their nostrils. + +"Never mind the nuts," said Fred; "let's get out in the sunshine again. +Pst! there he goes." + +He stopped short as he spoke, watching the scuttling away of a rabbit, +whose white cottony tail was seen for a moment before it disappeared in +a tunnel beneath a hazel clump. + +"No; we'll have a few while we are here," said Scarlett, making a bound +on to the trunk of a huge oak which had been blown down and lay +horizontally; but while one portion of its roots stood up shaggy and +weird-looking, the rest remained in the ground, and supported the life +of the old tree, which along its mighty bole was covered with sturdy +young shoots for about thirty feet from the roots. There it forked into +two branches, each of which was far bigger than the trunk of an ordinary +tree; but while one was fairly green, the other was perfectly dead, and +such verdure as it displayed was that of moss and abundant patches of +polypody, which flourished upon the decaying wood. + +Opposite the spot where Scarlett leaped upon the tree-trunk--that is to +say, on the other side--the thicket was too dense to invite descent, and +the lad began to walk along toward the fork, pressing the young branches +aside as he went, followed by Fred, who had leapt up and joined him. + +"Here, I'm getting so hot," cried the latter. "What's the good of +slaving along here! Let's go back." + +"I don't like going back in anything," replied Scarlett, as he walked on +till he reached the fork, and continued his way along the living branch +of the old tree, with Fred still following, till they stood in the midst +of a maze of jagged and gnarled branches rising high above their heads, +and shutting them in. + +These dead boughs were from the fellow limb to that on which they stood, +the two huge trunks being about six feet apart. + +"There, now we must go back," said Fred. + +"No. It looks more open there," cried Scarlett. "If we could jump on +to the other trunk, we could go on beyond." + +"Well, anybody could jump that," said Fred. + +"Except Fred Forrester," replied Scarlett, mockingly. + +"What! not jump that? I'll soon show you." + +"No, no; you can't do it, Fred, and you may hurt yourself." + +"Well, that will not hurt you. Here goes." + +"Mind that branch there." + +"Oh yes, I'll mind the branches; and you have to do it when I've done. +Way he!" + +Fred stooped down, with his feet close together and his arms pressed to +his sides, bent forward and jumped cleverly quite over the intervening +space, and came down upon the great dead moss-covered trunk. + +There was a crash, and it seemed to Scarlett for the moment that his +companion's heels had slipped, and that he had gone down on the other +side among the bushy growth that sprung up; but a second glance showed +him that the apparently solid trunk was merely a shell, through which +Fred had passed completely out of sight. + +"Hoi! Fred! Hurt yourself!" cried Scarlett, laughing heartily. + +There was no reply. + +"Fred! Hoi! Where are you?" + +Still no reply. And now, beginning to feel alarmed, Scarlett lowered +himself down, and forced his way through the tangle of little shrubby +boughs growing round him, to the dead trunk, and found himself within a +breastwork of rotten bark as high as he could reach, and which crumbled +away as he tried to get up, one great green mossy patch breaking down +and covering him with damp, fungus-smelling touchwood. + +"Fred! Where are you? Don't be stupid, and play with a fellow. Do you +hear?" + +Still there was no reply, and Scarlett gave an angry stamp on the soft +ground. + +"He's hiding away. I won't trouble about him," muttered the boy. Then +aloud--"Very well, lad. I shan't come after you. I'm going back to the +lake side." + +Scarlett began to struggle back, making a great deal of rustling and +crackling of dead wood; but he had not the slightest intention of +leaving his companion behind, in case anything might have happened to +him. So he clambered back through the brush of oak shoots on to the +sound limb, and walked slowly back to the folk to try and walk along the +dead portion of the tree; but before he had progressed six feet, he +began to find that it was giving way, so he descended, and then slowly +creeping in and out among the dead branches, sometimes crawling under +and sometimes over, he began to make his way to the spot where Fred had +disappeared. + +It proved, however, a far more difficult task than he had imagined, for +pieces of the jagged oak boughs caught in his jerkin; then he found that +in stretching over one leg he had stepped into a perfect tangle of +bramble, whose hooked thorns laid tight hold of his breeches, and +scratched him outrageously as he tried to draw his limb back. Finding +that to go forward was the easier, he pushed on, and took three more +steps, vowing vengeance against his companion the while. + +"It's horribly stupid of me," he muttered. "I don't see why I should +take all this trouble to help a fellow who is only playing tricks, and +will laugh when I find him. Oh, how sharp!" + +Still there was the latent thought that Fred might have hurt himself, +and Scarlett pressed on; but, all the same, seeing in imagination Fred's +laughing face and mocking eyes. In fact, so sure, after all, did he +feel that his companion was watching him from somewhere close by, that +he kept thrusting the rough growth aside, and looking in all directions. + +"I'll give him such a topper for this," he muttered; and then as he +struggled on another foot, he suddenly stopped short, looked straight +ahead, and exclaimed loudly, "There, I can see you. Don't be stupid, +you old ostrich, hiding there. Now then, come out." + +Scarlett's ruse was a failure. "He knows it isn't true," muttered the +lad. "Serve me right for telling lies. It was only my fun, Fred," he +cried hastily, to make honest confession of his fib. "But don't go on +like that. Come out now, and let's get back. It makes me so hot." + +He listened, and in the stillness of the wilderness he could have heard +any one breathing, if he had been close at hand; but all was perfectly +still, until, high up in a neighbouring tree, a greenfinch uttered its +mournful little harsh note, which sounded like the utterance of the word +_wheeze_. + +"Surely he hasn't hurt himself," muttered Scarlett; and then aloud, as +an uncomfortable sensation came over him--"Here, Fred! Fred! lad, where +are you? Why don't you speak?" + +"As if I don't know where he is," muttered Scarlett again, now growing +thoroughly alarmed. "He must have slipped and hurt his back.--All +right; I'm coming," he cried. "With you directly, as soon as I can get +through this horrible tangle.--That's better. Now then, what's the +matter? Fred, where are you? I say, do call out, or something. I +don't like it. Fred, lad, are you hurt?" + +And all this time he was forcing his way onward, the brambles tearing +and the old oak wood crackling. The greenfinch uttered its mournful +_wheeze_ once more, and fled in alarm as Scarlett broke down a +good-sized branch which barred his way, the rotten dry wood snapping +with a sharp report; and then, panting and hot after his heavy labour to +get through so short a space, he forced himself to the place where Fred +had landed, and, to his utter astonishment, found that on his side the +whole of the trunk was gone, merely leaving the shell-like portion which +had impeded him before, while below the crumbled tree-trunk was a great +gap. + +For a few moments he stood there aghast. Then, recovering his presence +of mind, he pushed aside more of the growth which impeded him, and +looked down into a narrow pit which was choked with broken wood and +ferns. + +"Fred!" he shouted; but there was no reply. There, however, beneath +him, he could see his companion's head and shoulders, with eyes closed, +or seeming to be in the dim light, and only about five feet below where +he stood. + +Without a moment's hesitation, but trembling the while for fear that +this might be some terribly deep pit into which his companion might fall +if once the broken boughs which supported him gave way, Scarlett tried +bough after bough of the old oak to find one upon which he could depend; +but they all crackled in a way that threatened snapping if he trusted +one; so, reaching back, he got hold of a stout hazel which seemed to be +a dozen or fourteen feet high, dragged it down, and holding it by +twisting his hand among the twigs at the top, he began to descend. + +At every movement the earth crumbled, and the bed of rotten wood +supporting Fred, as he lay back with his face to the light, shook so +that at any moment Scarlett expected to see it descend into the profound +abyss below. But in spite of this, as he climbed down the short +distance, he realised the state of affairs--that in its fall the oak had +crushed in the masonry arch over some old well-like place, leaving this +terrible hole securely covered till the wood had rotted away; and that +now it had been Fred's misfortune to leap upon the spot, go through, and +be held up by the broken wood, which formed a kind of rough scaffold a +short distance below. + +Should he run back for help? + +No; he could not leave Fred like that. And yet when he reached him he +was afraid that the slightest touch would send him down; and now he +realised how fortunate it was that Fred had been hurt, and had remained +insensible, for if he had struggled, the possibility was that he must +have gone through at once. + +Short as the distance was, Scarlett had to take the greatest +precautions, for, as he tried to get foothold, something gave way +beneath him, and he hung by the hazel, feeling as if all the blood in +his body had rushed to his heart, for there was a loud hollow splash, +which went echoing horribly away, and he found himself with his eyes on +a level with the old crumbling masonry forming an arch. + +He recovered himself though directly, for he could stretch out a hand +and touch Fred. + +The touch had instant effect, for the lad opened his eyes, stared at him +wildly, and then said quickly-- + +"What's the matter?" + +"Nothing much, if you are careful. You have fallen, and are hanging +here. Now--" + +"Fallen? Oh yes, I remember; the tree," cried Fred. "Oh, my head, my +head!" + +"Never mind your head," whispered Scarlett. "Now listen." + +"I say, what hole's this? Is it a well?" said Fred, eagerly. + +"Don't, pray don't talk. Now, can you reach up and get hold of the +hazel above my hands?" + +"Dare say I can," said Fred, coolly. "Yes. There!" + +"Then be careful. You are held up by that broken wood. Now try and +draw yourself out." + +"Can't," said Fred, after one effort. "I'm held tight; wedged in by +this wood." + +"Try again; but be careful, whatever you do." + +"Wait a moment. Oh, my head, my head! I hit the back of it on +something." + +"Ah, mind!" cried Scarlett, in agony. "Don't think about what is +beneath you, but try to climb up." + +"Of course: only my head hurts so. I gave it such a knock." + +"Yes, yes," cried Scarlett, impatiently; "but do mind." + +"Well, I am minding; only don't be in such a fuss. I must get this +piece of broken bough away." + +"No," cried Scarlett, in agony; "don't leave go your hold." + +"But can't you see," cried Fred, impatiently, "that this is just like a +wire trap? I've gone through it, and the points are all round me, +holding me from coming back." + +"Yes, I see something of the sort; but if you leave go, you may fall." + +"How?" + +"By passing through. Now, I'll pull you if I can. Make a struggle at +once before you grow weaker." + +"Wait a bit. I'm not going to grow weaker. I mean to get stronger. +Don't you fidget. I'll be up there in no time." + +Scarlett groaned in his nervous agony, and the great drops stood upon +his brow. He had found hold for one foot by thrusting it in above a +snake-like root which formed quite a loop in the broken-away soil, and +now, reaching down, he thrust his hand within the collar of Fred's +jerkin, and held with all his force. + +In those moments of excitement, he could not help thinking how often it +was that the looker-on suffered far more than the one in peril, and he +found himself marvelling at his companion's coolness, suspended there as +he was with the dreadful echoing abyss below him, that which had given +forth so terrible a splash when the stones of the old arch gave way. + +"Now then," cried Fred, as he gazed in his companion's ghastly face, +"when I say `Now,' you give a good tug, and I'll shake myself clear in +no time." + +"No, no; I dare not," faltered Scarlett. + +"What a coward! Well, then, let go, and let me do it myself." + +"No, no, Fred; pray take my advice. Don't attempt to stir like that. +Only try making one steady draw upward. As soon as you get free of +those broken branches, which hold you so tightly, they'll all fall with +a splash below." + +"Of course they will," said Fred, coolly. + +"I don't seem to be able to make you understand your danger." + +"Isn't any," said Fred. + +"No danger?" + +"No; and, look here, it's getting precious cold to my legs, so here +goes." + +"Fred, listen! If you shake and move those branches which hold you +down, you will go to the bottom." + +"Can't," cried Fred. + +"How can you be so foolish, when I am advising you for your good?" + +"I'm not foolish. I want to get out, and you want me to stay." + +"But you'll fall to the bottom of this horrible hole." + +"Can't," cried Fred. + +"Can't?" + +"No; I'm standing on the bottom now." + +"Fred!" + +"Well, so I am, with the water just over my knees." + +"Oh!" + +"Well, if you don't believe it, come down here and try." + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +THE SUBTERRANEAN WAY. + +Scarlett hung there from the hazel bough staring, and for a few moments +utterly unable to realise that which his companion had said, till Fred +gave himself a shake, like a great dog coming out of the water, and by +degrees got one leg free, then the other, trampling down the broken +wood, and standing at last on a level with his companion. + +"Did you think it was deep?" said the lad. + +"Deep? Yes; I did not know how deep. Then it is not a well?" + +"Why, of course not. Don't you see it's the passage we were looking +for, and it does go down to the lake." + +"The passage?" + +"Of course. Look, you can see a little both ways. Of course the top's +broken in here. Isn't it droll that we should find it like this. But +oh! my head. I gave it such a crack when I fell. It served me just as +if I was a rabbit. I don't know how long I've been like that." + +Scarlett could not answer him, so excited had he become at the strange +turn things had taken. + +"There, my head's better now," said Fred, as he sat at the edge of the +hole after climbing lightly out: and as he spoke he amused himself by +kicking down fragments of the side to listen to the echoing splash. +"What do you say to going up to the house for a light? No; let's get +Nat's stable lanthorn, and then go down here and see where the way out +goes." + +"I know," cried Scarlett, eagerly. + +"Where?" + +"Why, down there, right away by the old tree clump--right out yonder." + +"There can't be a way out there, because we should have seen it." + +"Perhaps it's covered up so as to keep it hidden till it was wanted." + +"Let's go and see. But, stop a moment. We don't want another way in, +now we've got this." + +"No," said Scarlett. "I don't know, though. Let's go and see." + +"All right; it will dry my legs," replied Fred. And, getting up, the +two lads made their way down to the head of the little bay nearest to +the house, and then worked along among the alders which hung over the +lake till they came to the part of the old forest Scarlett had named--an +evergreen patch of about an acre, on which stood a dozen or two of the +finest trees in the park. + +"Why," cried Scarlett, "I remember old Dee--" + +"Nat's father?" + +"Yes--saying that there once used to be a boathouse down here." + +"Then, why didn't we look there first?" + +"Because it was not a likely place, all that distance away." + +Neither did it seem a likely place now, as they climbed over a rough, +moss grown fence, and entered the unfrequented spot, to find old masses +of rock peering out of the soil, ancient trees coated with ivy, and an +abundance of thick undergrowth such as they had been fighting with a +short time before. + +The task was less difficult, and they spent the next half-hour hunting +along the edge of the lake, whose shore here was for the most part high +and rocky, but broken here and there by shrubby patches of gorse and +heather, in company with fine old birches, whose silvery trunks were +reflected in the lake. + +"I knew you were wrong," said Fred at last, as he sat down in a sunny +spot to let his legs dry, "it couldn't be here." + +"Why not?" + +"Because, if it were here, we should have found it." + +Scarlett said nothing, but stood at the edge of the rocky bank, now +looking down into the water, now toward the bushes which were +overhanging the lake. There were plenty of rather likely places, but +none quite likely enough, and reluctantly agreeing at last that he might +have been mistaken, he turned slowly away from the ivy covered +perpendicular bank, and sauntered slowly back with his companion in +silence. + +"My legs are getting drier now," said Fred, suddenly. "What do you +say--shall we fetch a lanthorn, and go down into the passage?" + +"I don't see what you want with dry legs, if you are going to wade," +replied Scarlett, thoughtfully. + +"You don't want to go." + +"Yes, I do." + +"You're afraid." + +"Perhaps so," replied Scarlett; "but you are not, so let's go and get +the lanthorn." + +A quarter of an hour later, the lanthorn was secretly obtained, lighted, +and a supply of pieces of candle included, and then the question arose, +How were they to get it down to the little wilderness unseen? + +"Somebody would be sure to come and look what we were doing." + +"I know," cried Scarlett. "Let's get a big bucket, and a couple of +rods, and they'll think we are going to fish." + +The idea was accepted at once, and the lads marched off, rods over +shoulder, and the bucket swinging between them, its light unseen in the +broad sunshine. The place was soon reached, and, taught by experience, +they found a better way to the prostrate oak, and after a little +struggling and scratching, stood gazing down. + +"Look hear, Scar," cried Fred, "if we find a better way in, we can +easily cover this place over with some old branches and fern roots, +because it must be a secret way, or it's of no use." + +Scarlett quite agreed to this, and there they stood gazing up at the +arrowy beams of sunshine which shot down through the leaves. Then they +had a look down into the hole which, with its watery floor and darkness, +was anything but tempting. + +"Don't look very nice, Scar, does it?" + +"Not at all. Shall we give it up?" + +"If we do, as soon as we get home, we shall say what cowards we were." + +"Yes, I shall," replied Scarlett, "but, all the same, I don't want to go +down. Do you?" + +"No." + +"And you don't want me to go alone?" + +"No, I don't think so. Here, Scar, don't let's give ourselves a chance +to call ourselves cowards. I'll go, if you will." + +"I don't want to go, but I will, if you will. Come along." + +The hesitation was gone. + +"I'll go first," said Scar, "because you have been down, but I suppose +we must be careful so as not to loosen any stones." + +"Very well," said Fred, rather unwillingly. "Give me the lanthorn to +hold." + +The light was drawn out of the bucket, and Scarlett prepared to descend; +but this proved a longer task than was expected, for it was first +necessary to drag out several pieces of broken branch. + +This being done, Scarlett looked up at his companion, who let himself +down without hesitation, and they stood together with the daylight above +them, and the narrow lugged stone passage stretching away to right and +left. + +"Which way shall we go first?" asked Scarlett. + +"This way," cried Fred, and his voice sounded so strange and hollow, +that as he stood there up to his knees in water, which glimmered and +shimmered on the black surface, he hesitated and wished that he had not +agreed to go. + +For there before them lay a narrow path of light, ending in quite a +sharp point, and seeming to point to the end of their journey. + +They both told themselves that they were not likely to meet anything +that would do them harm, but, all the same, neither of them could help +wondering whether there would be any unpleasant kind of fish in the +depths as they neared the lake. That word depth, too, troubled them. +It was easy enough to wade now, but suppose it should grow deeper +suddenly, and they should step into some horrible hole. Suppose-- + +"Look here," cried Fred, suddenly, as they waded slowly on, listening to +the whisper and splash of the water, "I wish you'd be quiet with your +suppose this, and suppose that. You don't want to frighten me, do you?" + +"Why, I never spoke," cried Scar. + +"Then you must have been thinking aloud, for it seemed to me as if you +were saying things on purpose to scare me." + +"Well, it is enough to scare anybody, Fred; and I don't mind saying to +you that I don't like it." + +"But we will not go back?" + +"No." + +"Only you might hold the light a little higher." + +Scarlett obeyed, and they cautiously went on, with the water still about +the same depth, and for prospect above, before, and on either side, +there was the arch of rugged stones, the dripping wall, and the gleaming +water. + +That was all, and after going about fifty yards, Fred exclaimed-- + +"I say, this can never be of any use to us. Who's going to wade through +water for the sake of having a secret place?" + +"Nobody," replied Scarlett; "but let's go on, as we've gone so far." + +"Ugh!" + +"What's the matter?" cried Scarlett, stopping short suddenly. + +"I thought something laid hold of my leg. Mind!" + +Scarlett nearly dropped the lanthorn. "Oh, I say, Scar, that would be +too horrible. Do be careful. I don't want to be in the dark again." + +"It was your fault, you pretending to be frightened." + +"I didn't pretend. I was frightened. It did seem as if something +touched my leg. I say, how much farther do you think it is?" + +"What! to the end? I don't know. Come along." + +"Well, if anyone had told me that I should do such a thing as this, I +wouldn't have believed him," grumbled Fred. "How cold the water feels!" + +"You wouldn't mind if it was one of the streams, and we were after +trout." + +"No; because it would be all light and warm there, and we could see what +we were doing. Don't you think we might go back?" + +"No. Let's go to the end now. I'm sure this is the way down to the +lake, and we shall find the entrance. Perhaps we shall find the end +blocked up, and then when we open it all the water will rush out, and we +shall have a dry passage after all." + +"Then you will not give it up?" + +"No," said Scarlett, doggedly. "It's our place, and I want to be able +to tell father all about it." + +"No, no; don't do that," cried Fred, in dismay. + +"I don't mean yet. I mean when we've done with it." + +"I've done with it now," muttered Fred. "I don't see any fun in going +sop, sop, squeeze, squatter, through all this cold, dark water. Eh! +what's that--the end of it?" + +"I think so," said Scarlett, holding the lanthorn up as high as he +could. "Here are some steps and a door." + +"Of course; then that must be the door that opens on the lake." + +"No, it can't be, for the steps are dry, and--I say, Fred!" + +"What is it?" + +"Look here," cried Scarlett. "This is strange. Here's a chamber or +cellar." + +"Just like the other we found." + +"Like it," cried Scarlett; "why, it is it!" + +"What nonsense! That one was toward the house. This one is toward the +lake." + +"Nonsense or no, there's the old armour in the corner." + +The two lads stood with the lanthorn held up, staring at the heap, and +then at the rusty hinged door, and lastly at one another. + +"Do you believe in enchantment, Fred?" said Scarlett, at last. + +"No, not a bit. Enchantment, and witches, and goblins, and all those +sort of things, are nothing but stuff, father says." + +"But isn't it curious that we should have found ourselves here? It is +the same, isn't it?" + +"I think so. Yes, that's the way into the house," said Fred, staring +along the dark passage. "But I don't care whether it is or whether it +isn't. My legs are so wet that I mean to get out as soon as I can." + +Scarlett held the lanthorn up again, and had one more good look round. +Then, without a word, he turned, descended the steps into the water, and +began to wade back. + +"Oh, I say, it is wet!" grumbled Fred, as he followed the lanthorn, +watching their grotesque shadows on the wall, the flashing of the light +on the water, and the glimmering on the damp walls. + +Neither of the lads spoke now as they waded on, for each was trying to +puzzle out the problem of how it was that they should have journeyed +backward; but no light came. + +"I shall make it out," said Fred, "as soon as we get in the sunshine +again. Go on a bit faster, Scar." + +But there was no temptation to go faster, and the slow wading was +continued, till a glimmering of light cheered them; and then quicker +progress was made, for the opening seemed to send down more and more +light as they approached, till they could see quite a fringe of roots, +which had forced their way through the arch of rugged stones, and at +last make out how the roof of the passage had been driven in by the fall +of the tree. + +"Oh! there is something now," cried Scarlett, starting. + +"What is it?" + +"Something did touch my leg." + +"Kick it!" cried Fred, huskily. "Look out, Scar! it's swimming towards +you. Mind, mind!" + +The boy had raised up his foot to kick, but placed it down again, for +the terror proved to be a piece of rotten wood floating on the surface. + +"How easy it is to be frightened!" said Scarlett, drawing a long breath, +as they stood once more at the opening. + +"Yes, far too easy," grumbled Fred. "I wish it wasn't. Shall I go up +first, or will you?" + +"Isn't it a pity to go up without finding the way?" said Scarlett, +hesitatingly. + +"It does seem to be; but I've had enough of it. Let's go up now." + +"Shall we? I know we shall want to come down again." + +"Yes," said Fred, hesitating; "I suppose we shall. Do you feel to mind +it so much now?" + +"I don't think so." + +"Let's go on, then." + +"Shall we, Fred?" + +"Yes; didn't I say so?" cried Fred, crossly. "Go on; you've got the +light." + +Without another word, Scarlett held the light above his head. + +"It seems very rum though, Scar. That must be the way to the house." + +"Well, let's see." + +Scarlett started once more with the lanthorn along the tunnel in the +other direction, apparently toward the house, while, with a maliciously +merry laugh on his face, Fred hung back, and half hid himself among the +fallen wood and stones. + +Scarlett went on quite a couple of dozen yards, talking the while, every +word he said coming back as in a loud whisper distinctly to the mouth of +the hole. + +"Don't seem to get any deeper, Fred. I'm glad we came, because we shall +find it out this time." + +Fred chuckled and watched, and, to his surprise, he saw his companion +and the light gradually disappear, leaving the tunnel in obscurity. + +"Why, I shall have to go in the dark," cried Fred to himself. "Oh!" +And, startled more than he had startled his companion, he hurried after +him, so eager to overtake the light that he nearly went headlong in the +water, for his body went quicker than his legs. + +"Hi! stop a minute, Scar!" he cried; and he noted, as he hurried on, +that the passage made a great curve, though it was so gradual that he +could not tell its extent. + +"Why, I thought you were close behind me," said Scarlett, as he overtook +him. "Lean a little forward, and you'll find it easier to go along +through the water. It's getting just a little deeper now." + +"Then this must be the way to the lake, after all." + +They persevered, going steadily on for some time, and, with the water +gradually creeping up and up till it was mid-thigh, and then higher and +higher till it was almost to their hips, and then they stopped. + +"I shan't go any farther, Scar," cried Fred. "I don't want to have to +swim." + +"Yes, it is getting deep," said Scarlett, thoughtfully. + +"Couldn't get a boat down here, could we!" + +"No; but we might get one of the big tubs," replied Scarlett. "It would +hold us both. Shall we go back now?" + +"Yes; we're so horribly wet; but hold the lanthorn up higher, and--Oh, I +say!" + +Scarlett had obeyed, and raised it so high that the lanthorn struck +slightly against the rough roof, and, as the candle happened to be +already burning away in the socket, this was sufficient to extinguish +it, and for the moment they were in total darkness, or so it seemed to +them in the sudden change. + +Then Fred cried exultantly, "Look! look!" and pointed to a bright, +rough-looking star of light. + +"Sunshine," cried Scarlett. "Then that is the entrance. Shall we go +on?" + +Fred had already squeezed by him, and was wading on toward the light, +which proved to be not more than fifty feet away. + +"Come along!" he cried; "it isn't very much deeper, only up to my middle +now. Here, I'm touching it. This is the end, and--it's--it's--no, I +can't quite make out where it is," he continued, as he darkened the hole +by placing his face to it; "but I can see the lake, and I could see +where, only there's a whole lot of ivy hanging down." + +"Can you get your head through?" + +"No; too small. Come and look." + +Fred made way for his companion, and, while he was peering through, the +other amused himself by feeling the flat surface which stopped farther +progress, and soon made out that there was a wall of rugged stone, built +up evidently to stop the entrance; and this was matted together with ivy +strands and roots which had forced their way in. + +"Yes," said Scarlett, at last, as he drew away; "this is the entrance, +and now we've got to find it from outside." + +"Yes; but how?" + +"Oh, we shall soon find it. Get the boat, and hunt all along till we +find a place that has been built like a wall, and then search for this +hole." + +"And how about the ivy all over it?" + +Scarlett was silent for a while. + +"I had forgotten all about the ivy," he said. + +"If we could tell about where it was, I dare say we could soon find it." + +"Yes, but we can't tell yet." + +"And we shan't find out by stopping here, Scar; and oh, I say--" + +"What's the matter?" + +"The water's right up in my pockets. Come along back." + +"But we've got to go in the dark." + +"Can't help it. I don't mind so much now, for we can't go wrong. Come +along." + +Fred took the lead now, and they went steadily back, feeling their way +along by the damp wall, and casting back from time to time regretful +looks at the bright star of light, which grew less and less, and then +disappeared; but as it passed from sight, they saw to their great +delight that there was a faint dawn, as it were, on ahead, and this grew +brighter and brighter, till they seemed to turn a corner, and saw the +bright rays shooting down through the hole, which they reached with a +rather confused but correct notion that about here the passage took a +double curve, somewhat in the shape of the letter S; but they were too +eager to get out into the wood again to give much attention to the +configuration of the place. + +"Hah!" exclaimed Fred, taking a long breath, and then beginning to +squeeze the water out of his nether garment, "that's better. I say, +hadn't we better hide this hole?" + +"I don't think we need; nobody ever comes here. Let's go and have a +look down by the lake." + +CHAPTER NINE. + +SOMETHING THE MATTER. + +The two lads were so accustomed to rough country life and to making +wading expeditions for trout in the little rivers, or rushing in after +the waves down by the seashore, that, after giving their garments a +thorough good wring, they soon forgot all about the dampness in the +interest of searching for the entrance to the secret passage down by the +lake. + +"I know how it must all have been," said Scarlett. "When our house was +built, there must have been wars. I dare say it was in the War of the +Roses, and that place was contrived, so that in case of need any one +could escape." + +"Yes; and if the place was taken, the rightful owners could get in +again." + +"And now it's all peace," said Scarlett, thoughtfully, "and we can make +it our cave, and do what we like there." + +"But it isn't all peace," said Fred. "I heard father say that if the +king went on much longer as he's going on now, there might be war." + +"Who with--France?" + +"No; a civil war." + +"What Englishmen against Englishmen! They couldn't." + +"But they did in the Wars of the Roses." + +"Ah, that was when people knew no better, and there were different kings +wanted to reign! Such things never could occur again." + +"I hope not." + +"There! this is where the entrance must be." + +The two lads had reached the edge of the lake now, and began once more +to search along the most likely spots where the rocky banks were +perpendicular and high, and covered with ivy and overhanging trees. + +But it was labour in vain, and at last, as the afternoon grew late, they +sat down on a piece of slaty rock in the hot sunshine, swinging their +legs over the side, gazing out at the bright waters of the lake. + +"I don't care," cried Fred, pettishly; "I'm tired of it. I don't mind +now whether there's a way in or a way out. It's of no use, and I'm +hungry. I shall go home now." + +"No; stop and have supper with us." + +"Very well. I don't mind; only let's go." + +The two boys went straight up to the Hall, passing Nat on the way, ready +to exchange a salute and a grin. + +"What are you laughing at, Nat?" cried Fred. + +"Only at you two, sir. You've been up to some mischief, I know." + +The boys exchanged hasty glances, which, being interpreted, meant, "Has +he been watching us?" + +"I always knows," said Nat, with a chuckle. + +"No, you don't," cried Fred. "You're just like our Samson." + +"So would you be, Master Fred, if you was a twin." + +"I did not mean that. I meant being so precious cunning and sure about +everything when you don't know anything at all." + +"Ah, don't I, sir! Ha, ha, ha! I could tell Sir Godfrey a deal more +than you think for." + +"Yes, you'd better," cried Fred. "You do, that's all, and I'll go home +and lead Samson such a life." + +"Wish you would, sir, for he deserves it. A nasty, stuck-up, obstint +fellow as never was. I never meet him without he wants to quarrel with +me and fight. Thinks he's the strongest man there is, and that he can +do anything. And talk about a temper!" + +"Shan't," cried Fred. "What do we want to talk about tempers for? Our +Samson has got as good a temper as you have." + +"Nay, nay, Master Fred; now that aren't a bit true. And I beg your +pardon, sir: our Sampson's father was my father." + +"Oh yes! and his mother was your mother. That's what you always say." + +"Which it's a truth, Master Fred," said the gardener, reprovingly; "and +Master Penrose say as a truth can't be told too often." + +"Then I don't think the same as Master Penrose. Do you, Scar?" + +"No, of course not. Well, Nat, what were you going to say?" + +"Only, sir, that Sampson's my brother; but I'm mortal sorry as he's the +gardener for any friends of yours, for a worse man there never was in a +garden, and I never see it without feeling reg'lar ashamed of the +Manor." + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Fred. "Why, that's just what our Samson says +about your garden." + +"What, sir? Our Samson said that about the Hall garden?" + +"Yes, lots of times." + +Nat had a hoe in his hand, and he let the shaft fall into the hollow of +his arm as he moistened his hands, took a fresh hold of the ash pole as +if it was a quarter-staff, and made half a dozen sharp blows at nothing +before letting the tool resume its place on the earth. + +"That's what's going to happen to Samson Dee next time we meets, Master +Fred; so p'raps you'll be good enough to tell him what he has got to +expeck." + +"Tell him yourself, Nat," said Scarlett, shortly. "Come along, Fred." + +The gardener stood looking after them till they disappeared through the +great door of the Hall, and then went on hoeing up weeds very gently, as +if he did not like to injure their tender fibres. + +"Master Samson won't be happy till I've given him stick enough to make +his bones sore. Hah! we shall have to get it over somehow. Samson +won't be content till we've had it out." + +The supper of those days was ready when the boys entered the great +dining-room, Fred having declared himself ravenous while upstairs in +Scarlett's bedroom, where, the lads being much of a size, he had been +accommodated with a complete change, even to dry shoes. + +Sir Godfrey and Lady Markham were waiting, the former looking very +serious, and his countenance becoming more grave as he saw Fred enter. + +"You bad boys," whispered Scarlett's sister, as she ran up to them, with +her dark hair tossed about her shoulders. "Father was beginning to +scold." + +"How do, Lady Markham?" said Fred, and her ladyship looked troubled as +she took the boy's hand. "How do, sir? It was so late, and I am so +hungry, that I thought you would not mind my stopping to supper with +Scar." + +"Ahem! No, my boy," said Sir Godfrey, trying to be cordial, but +speaking coldly. "Sit down. Been out with Scarlett?" + +"Yes, sir. All the afternoon in the woods," replied Fred, looking at +the baronet wonderingly, for he had never heard him speak in such a tone +before. + +Ever since he could remember he had been in and out of the Hall at +meal-times, even sleeping there often, and Scarlett's visits to the +Manor had been of the same character. To all intents and purposes the +life of the boys had been that of brothers, while that of their fathers +had been much the same. + +It was a genuine old-fashioned Coombeshire repast to which the hungry +boys sat down, eating away as boys of fifteen or sixteen can eat, and +bread and butter, ham, cake, junket and cream, disappeared at a +marvellous rate. + +"Is your father poorly?" whispered Fred, after satisfying his hunger to +some extent. "I don't know. Don't speak so loud." + +"Wasn't speaking so loud," said Fred, kicking Scarlett under the table. +"What's the matter with him?" + +"I don't know. Heard some bad news, perhaps." + +"Shall we tell him about the secret way? He'd like to hear, I dare +say." + +"No, no; let's keep it to ourselves for the present." + +That something was troubling Sir Godfrey was evident, for his supper was +hardly tasted, and twice over, when Lady Markham spoke to him, and +pressed him to eat, he declined in an irritable way. + +"I shall have to join them, if these things go on, Margaret." + +"Godfrey!" + +"Yes; I feel it is a duty to one's self and country. If we country +gentlemen are not staunch now, and do not rally round his majesty, what +are we to come to?" + +Lady Markham shook her head, and softly applied her handkerchief to her +eyes, ending by rising and going to where Sir Godfrey sat and, laying +her hand upon his shoulder, she bent down and whispered a few words to +him, which seemed to have a calming effect, for he took her hand from +where it lay, raised it to his lips, and looked up in his wife's eyes +for a few moments before she returned to her place. + +All this seemed very strange to the lads, who, feeling uncomfortable, +began chatting to Lil, but a complete damp was thrown over what was +generally a pleasant, sociable meal, and it was with quite a sense of +relief that Fred rose at a hint from Scarlett, and they went out into +the hall to walk up and down,--talking for a few minutes before Scarlett +ran up the stairs and down once or twice to make sure that all was right +by the topmost balusters. + +"Glad I did not make up my mind to tell father," he said, as he stood +once more by the open door. + +"What's the matter?" + +"I don't know. Father has had letters, I suppose, that have upset him." + +"But he said something about the king--and rallying round him." + +"Yes." + +"Well, never mind that. Shall we get the boat out to-morrow morning, +and have a hunt along the side of the lake? We must find that archway." + +"Yes, of course." + +"What time shall I come--directly after breakfast?" + +"Yes, and I'll have the boat baled out. She's half full of water. Job +for Nat." + +"Then I'll run home now. Good night.--Good night." + +The second good night came from half-way to the west end of the lake, as +Fred ran on down to the narrow track which skirted the water-side. + +"He will not go and hunt for it by himself," said Scarlett, +thoughtfully, as he turned to go in, little thinking what a shadow was +falling over his home. "No," he added laconically, "too dark;" and, +after a glance toward the woodlands at the east end of the gate, he +entered the house whistling merrily. + +CHAPTER TEN. + +CAPTAIN MILES. + +Fred's way across the fields to the Manor was among sweet autumn scents, +and with moth and bird taking his attention at almost every step. + +The white owl was out, with its peculiar grating cry; so was the tawny +owl, breaking forth into its loud hail--_hoi-hoi-hoi_! Skimming about +the oak-trees he saw the nightjars again, every swoop meaning death to +some unfortunate moth or beetle. + +But all these objects were too familiar to call for more than a passing +glance as the boy hurried on. Down in the hollows the mists were +gathering and floating a little way above the ground, as if there were a +fire near, while far away in the east a bright planet burned like silver +opposite to the warm glow left in the west. + +"Hurrah! there we are," cried Fred, as he topped the last hill, and +looked down at the lights which showed where home lay; and he was not +long in getting over the ground, almost quicker than he was satisfied +with, for he was making his plans for the next morning respecting the +discovery of the entrance to the passage. + +For the whole of the incidents in connection with the secret chamber had +thoroughly excited him, and he felt as if he could not rest till he had +found out everything about the place. + +To his great surprise, as he entered the house, he found that supper was +not begun. + +"Been waiting for me, mother?" he cried to the calm, sweet-faced lady +seated working by the light of rather a dim candle. + +"No, Fred," she said, smiling gravely, as she drew him down and kissed +his brow. + +"Because I had mine with Scar. Where's father?" + +"In the library. He has a gentleman with him." + +"Gentleman?" + +"Yes; he has come from Bristol to see your father on business." + +"Oh!" said Fred, carelessly; and he sat down and rested his head upon +his hand. + +"Does your head ache, my boy?" asked his mother. + +"Head? No, mother. I was only thinking," said the boy, as his mother's +words brought him back from wandering in the water-floored passage. + +"Thinking of your studies?" + +Fred started a little, for his studies had been rather neglected of +late. + +"No, mother, only of a hunt Scar and I had in the Hall woods to-day." + +It was in the boy's heart to tell his mother all that had passed, and +their discovery from beginning to end, but he argued, "If I do, it will +not be a secret any longer." + +There was a pause. + +"Father said that a well-intentioned boy would have no secrets from his +father and mother, and that they should be always looked upon as his +best friends. But it isn't mine altogether," argued Fred, after another +very long pause; "and I've no business to tell Scar's secret to any one +till he has told it to his own father and mother; and, besides, as it's +a private place, they would not like any one to know about it, and--" + +"Yes, Forrester, we may throw away all compunction now," said a loud, +firm voice; and Fred rose from his seat as his father entered in company +with a tall, broad-shouldered man, whose grizzled, slightly curly hair +was cut very close to his head, and whose eyes seemed to pierce the boy, +as he gave him a sternly searching look. He had a stiff, military +bearing, and he did not walk down the long low room, but seemed to march +rather awkwardly, as if he had been riding a great deal. + +He nodded familiarly to Mistress Forrester, who looked at him in rather +a troubled way, as he marched straight to Fred, slapped him sharply on +the shoulder, and gripped it so hard as to give him acute pain. But the +boy did not flinch, only set his teeth hard, knit his brow, and gazed +resentfully in the visitor's dark eyes, which seemed full of malice and +enjoyment in the pain he was giving. + +"So this is Fred, is it?" he said in a harsh voice, which sounded as if +he was ordering Colonel Forrester to answer. + +"Yes, sir," said Mistress Forrester, with dignity, "this is our son;" +and she looked wonderfully like her boy in the resentful glance she +darted at her guest, for she could read Fred's suffering. + +"Hah! made of the right stuff, like his father, Mistress Forrester. Did +that hurt you, my boy?" + +"Of course it did," said Fred, sharply. + +"Then why didn't you cry out or flinch, eh?" + +This was accompanied by a tighter grip, which seemed as if the +stranger's fingers were made of iron. + +The grip was but momentary, and the boy stood like a rock. + +"Well," said the stranger again, "why didn't you cry out?" + +"Because I would not," replied the boy, frowning. + +"Shake hands." + +Fred tried to hold back, but the command was so imperious, and the firm, +sinewy hand before his face seemed to draw him, and he laid his own +within it, to feel the fingers close in a warm but gentle grasp, the +pressure being firm and kindly; and in place of the fierce look a +pleasant, winning expression came into the visitor's countenance, while +the left hand was now clapped upon the boy's shoulder, and closed in a +pressure as agreeable as the other was harsh. + +"Glad to know you, my lad. That's frank and manly of you. The right +stuff in him, Mistress Forrester. He'll make a good man, colonel. +Well?" + +"I didn't speak, sir," said Fred, in answer to the question and look. + +"That's right, too. Don't be in too great a hurry to speak," said the +visitor; and somehow, to his own astonishment, Fred felt himself drawn +toward this imperious personage, who seemed to take command of every one +in the place. "Well, Forrester, you'll make a soldier of him." + +"I--" + +The hesitatingly spoken pronoun came from Mistress Forrester, who seemed +checked by the guest's quick look of reproof. + +"I had not decided yet," said Colonel Forrester, gravely; and Fred +noticed that his father seemed to have suddenly grown rigid and stern in +manner and tone of voice. "What do you say, Fred? should you like to be +a soldier?" + +"Yes, father; like you have been." + +"No, no, Fred, my boy!" cried his mother. + +"Madam," said their guest, "ladies do not always understand Latin, but a +certain Roman poet called Horace once said, `_Dulce et decorum est pro +patria mori_'. Let me modify it by saying, `to offer in time of need to +die for your country.' It does not follow that a man who fights for his +home and liberty dies. Good lad. Be a soldier." + +"I will, sir," said Fred, firmly. "Father didn't die, mother." + +"No, nor you shall not, my boy. There, now, we know one another, and I +hope we shall become well-tried friends." + +"But I don't know you yet, sir. You have not told me your name." + +The visitor clapped Fred on the shoulder again, and there was a merry, +kindly light in his eyes as he cried-- + +"Come, I like this, Forrester. Your Coombeland boys are the genuine, +frank English stuff. Fred, my lad, I like your out-spoken ways. From +some lads it would have been insolence, but from you it seems sturdy, +honest independence. You may know me for the present, my boy, as +Captain Miles." + +"Miles, a soldier," said Fred to himself but the visitor heard him. + +"Right," he cried. "Miles, a soldier. Mistress Forrester, I +congratulate you on your home and surroundings. And now, pardon my +frankness, I have travelled far to-day and I journey far to-morrow, I am +a-hungered and a-thirst, madam; and afterwards, as your good husband and +tried soldier and I have done our business, I shall be glad to press a +pleasant west-country bed." + +With winning courtesy, but at the same time with a half-shrinking, +troubled look in her eyes, Mistress Forrester led the way to the table, +and as soon as he was seated the guest seemed to cast off his imperious +military manner, and become the courtly scholarly gentleman who had read +much, travelled far, and thought deeply. So pleasant and interesting +was his conversation that Fred grew more and more attracted by him, and +listened with wide-open eyes to all he said. + +Only once did the business-like, firm and decisive officer appear after +supper, when he suddenly apologised and rose. + +"I have an old-fashioned way of looking after my best friends, Mistress +Forrester," he said. "At the present moment, on this journey, my horse +is one of my best friends. You will excuse my visiting him?" + +"If you will trust me, Captain Miles," said Colonel Forrester, placing +some emphasis on the name, "I can promise you that your good horse has +everything that will help him to make a long journey to-morrow." + +"I do trust you, Forrester," said the visitor, smiling. "I would I had +ten men like you, and as worthy of trust." + +As he spoke, he subsided into his chair, but Fred was already on his +legs. + +"I'll go and see after the horse," he said. + +The visitor gave him a kindly approving nod, and the boy left the room. + +"How old is he, Mistress Forrester?" he said. + +"Sixteen," replied the hostess, sadly. + +"Just on the dawn of manhood, madam. Hah, Forrester, old friend, it is +a grand thing to be sixteen, and with life before you. God bless all +boys! How little they know how grand a thing it is to be young!" + +There was silence after this speech--a silence which lasted till Fred +entered eagerly. + +"The horse is quite right, sir," he cried. + +"How do you know, boy?" + +"How do I know, sir? Because he is eating his corn so well, and feels +so comfortable and cool. I say--" + +"Well?" + +"He's a fine horse." + +"Yes. So he is. A splendid fellow. There, my kind hosts, I'll say +good night. I would I had come on another mission, but it is only duty, +and you must forgive me. I shall be off at dawn. Good night, madam. +Good night, Forrester. I knew I could depend on you. Good night, my +boy. You'll forgive me for pinching your shoulder so hard. It was to +try your mettle." + +"Oh, I didn't mind," cried Fred. "Good night, sir; and when I do become +a soldier, will you have me in your regiment?" + +"I will," thundered out the guest. "Forrester, that's a bargain. Good +night." + +There was silence in the room as the two men went out together; and as +soon as the door was closed, Mistress Forrester dropped into the nearest +chair, and covered her face with her hands. + +"Mother, dear mother," cried Fred, going on his knees before her, and +throwing his arms about her neck, "you are crying because I said I would +be a soldier!" + +"No, my boy," she said, looking up, "I was weeping for the evil days in +store for us all. Heaven be with us, and guide us all aright. Good +night, my boy, good night." + +Fred kissed her tenderly, and suffered her to lead him to the door on +his way to his room. + +He passed his father on the stairs, and there was a troubled look in the +colonel's eyes, as he bade his son good night. + +A quarter of an hour after, Fred was in bed dreaming of secret passages, +and the captain helping him to fight men in rusty armour after they had +won their way to the inner chamber where the old arms lay; and then it +seemed to him that he heard the trampling of horses, and he woke to find +it was morning, and the sun shining into his room. + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +NAT IS VERY MUCH IN THE WAY. + +Fred lay for some few moments thinking over his vivid dream and unable +for a time to realise that he had been fast asleep. That was the +morning sunshine sure enough, and this was his room; but his head felt +in a whirl, and as if it was mixed up with some puzzle. + +But that was not the coinage of his brain that distant _pit-pat_ of a +horse's hoofs upon the hard road; and springing out of bed, he ran to +the window, threw it open, and looked out, straining his neck to get a +glimpse of the distant way. + +For a few moments he could see nothing. Then there came into sight, +rising out of a hollow, the head and broad shoulders of a horseman. As +he progressed, more and more of his figure appealed as he ascended a +slope, till at last the horse was in full view, but directly afterwards +they seemed to top the ascent and begin to go down on the other side, +with the sun flashing from stirrup and buckle, and from the hilt of the +rider's sword. There were other bright flashes too all around, but they +were from the dewdrops which spangled grass and leaf, as the rider +seemed to grow shorter, his horse disappearing, till only his head and +shoulders appeared above the ridge, and then they passed away, and the +_pit-pat_ of the horse's hoofs died out. + +"Gone!" said Fred, thoughtfully. "No! there he is again;" and he +strained his eyes to gaze at the tiny distant form of the +military-looking man who had made so strong an impression upon him, but +he did not become visible; it was only the sound of his horse's hoofs +which were heard for the space of a minute, faint but clear, on the +morning air. Then all was silent. + +"I half like that Captain Miles," said Fred to himself. "Wish I was +going with him. Wonder where he has gone? To Plymouth, perhaps." + +Fred began to dress, after hesitating whether he should go to bed again. +But the bright morning was so attractive, and after the first +application of cold water, he felt a positive eagerness to get out in +the fresh air. + +All the time he was dressing his head was full of his confused dream and +the fight in the narrow passage, while the events of the preceding day +had so impressed him that he hurried downstairs, glanced at the hall +clock, which pointed to a quarter to five, and, taking his hat, ran out, +and down the garden. + +"Morning, Master Fred," came from behind the hedge; and it was so sudden +that the lad jumped. + +"You, Samson?" he cried. "Yes; I've been starting that gen'leman who +come yesterday. Had to get up at four and have his horse ready. Going +fishing?" + +"No; only for a walk." + +"Over to the Hall?" + +"Yes, Samson," replied the lad, impatiently. "Then, if you see that bad +brother o' mine, Master Fred, don't you speak to him. I'm getting +ashamed of him." + +"No: he's getting ashamed of you, Sam," cried Fred, tauntingly. "What?" + +"Well, he said so last night." + +"Ashamed of me, sir. I should like to see him be 'shamed of me. I'd +give him something to be 'shamed about." + +"Oh yes, of course," cried Fred; and he ran on, forgetting all about the +gardener in his eagerness to get to the lake. + +The birds were twittering and singing in the woods and coppices, the +soft, silvery mists were rising from the hollow, and each broad fern +frond glistened as if set with tiny jewels of every prismatic hue. Away +too in the distance, as he topped a hill, one corner of the Hall lake +could be seen glistening like burnished silver set in a frame of vivid +green. + +But these were too common objects to take the boy's attention as he +walked up the hill slope and trotted down the other side, for he was +intent upon one thing only, a faint indication of which was given by his +exclaiming once-- + +"How surprised old Scar will be!" + +It was not to go under his window and rouse Scar by throwing pebbles up +at the lattice-pane, for instead of taking the dewy path round, by the +high trees, which would have taken him at once to the house, Fred ran +down the sharp slope into the little coombe, through which ran off the +surplus waters of the lake. Here there was a clump of alders growing +amongst the sandstone rocks, and three of the larger trees had been cut +down to act as posts, to one of which the old flat-bottomed boat was +fastened by a chain. + +The boy had about fifty yards to go through this clump of alders, a +little winding path trampled by the cattle forming his way; and along +this he turned, so as to get to the opening where the trees had been cut +down, and the boat lay. + +But before he was three-parts of the way through, he heard a peculiar +scraping sound, followed by a splash, and then a repetition, and another +repetition, in regular rhythm and measure. + +Fred stopped short, listening. "How tiresome!" he muttered. "Scar must +have told old Nat to bale her out before he went to bed. Wonder how +long he'll be?" Evidently intending to wait until the man whom he heard +was gone, Fred crept softly along, listening to the rhythmic splash of +water, till he could peer through the thin growth at the person bailing +out the boat. + +No sooner did he catch sight of him than he dashed forward to where +Scarlett sat on the edge of the old punt wielding a shallow iron pot. + +"Fred!" + +"Scar!" + +"Why, what brought you over so soon?" + +"What are you doing there?" + +"Baling." + +"Yes; and you were going over yonder without me?" + +Scarlett sat tapping the gunwale of the boat with the pot, having ceased +to bale. + +"Yes, I knew you were," continued Fred, in an altered tone, as the other +remained silent. + +"Come, now, confess." + +"I don't know that I need call it confessing," said Scarlett, throwing +back his head and speaking haughtily. "It's our boat, and our lake, and +that place is all ours." + +"Yes; but we were schoolfellows, and we found it together." + +Scarlett winced a little at this. "And you were going to steal a march +and find it all out by yourself. I do call it mean," cried Fred, +angrily. "I didn't think you'd do such a thing, Scar, and--" + +"You thought just the same," said Scarlett, quickly, "and meant to take +the boat before I was up, and that's why you are here." + +He looked sharply at Fred, who thrust his hands in his pockets, and +suddenly became interested in the movements of a bald coot, which was +paddling in and out among the reeds which grew right into the lake. + +"There now, you're found out too, and you're as bad as I am," cried +Scarlett. + +"Well, I only meant it as a surprise. Is she very leaky?" + +Scarlett seemed disposed to hold off, but the interest of the project in +hand swept all that away, and he replied sociably enough. + +"No; she has been so deep in the water and got so soaked, that I don't +think much comes in." + +"Bale away, then," cried Fred. + +"Suppose you have a turn. I'm getting hot." + +Fred required no further hint, but stripping off his jerkin and rolling +up his sleeves, he was soon at work scooping up the water and sending it +flying and sparkling in the morning sunshine, while Scarlett sat and +chatted. + +"I didn't care to ask Nat to clean out the boat," he said, "for he's +such an inquisitive fellow. He'd have wanted to know what I was going +to do, and if I hadn't told him--" + +"I know," said Fred, making a momentary iris as he sent the water +flying, "he'd have hidden away and watched you." + +"Yes; sure to." + +"And Samson's just the same. I have to cheat him sometimes. But it +didn't matter cheating old Nat. What I think was so shabby was trying +to cheat me." + +Scarlett was silent for a minute. + +"I should have told you afterwards," he said. "Here, let me have a turn +now." + +"No; I shall finish," replied Fred, wielding the old pot with increased +energy, "just to show you how forgiving I am." + +"Ah! but you're found out too," cried Scarlett. + +"Well, I didn't mean any harm," cried Fred, with a droll look, "and +should have told you afterwards." + +"Yes; but--" + +"Look here," cried Fred, "you say another word about it, and I'll throw +all the water over you." + +"Let's make haste, then, and go and find the way in before breakfast." + +For answer Fred scooped away at such a rate that he had soon cleared the +boat down to the little well-like hollow arranged to catch the +drainings. + +"Now then," he cried, "I'm tired. You row." + +Scarlett unhooked the chain, gave the boat a good thrust, seized the +oars, and in ten minutes more they were coasting along as near to the +bank as the overhanging trees and projecting bushes would allow. + +For quite half an hour they searched to and fro, but without result. +There were plenty of likely looking places overgrown with ivy, and +sheltered by the willows, alders, and birches, but not one showed a sign +of having been built up with rough blocks of stone, or presented a hole +such as they had seen from the inside. + +"We shall never find it like this," said Fred, at last. + +"How are we to find it, then? And we must go soon, as some one will see +us, and wonder what we are doing." + +"Oh no; they'll only think we are fishing," said Fred. "I'll tell you +how to find it." + +"How?" + +"We must cut a long willow, and strip it all but the leaves on the end." + +"What for?" + +"Then one of us must go down the opening yonder, wade along the passage, +poke the stick out through the hole, and shout." + +"Yes; that would do it nicely," said Scarlett. "But who's to do it?" + +"Let's both go." + +"Then we should be no wiser, because there would be no one out here to +listen." + +"No," said Fred; and then, "Let's have another try." + +They had another try--a long and careful search, but the entrance had +been too cunningly masked. + +"It's of no use," said Scarlett, drawing in the oars. "One of us must +go." + +Silence. And Fred seemed to be deeply interested in the proceedings of +a great flap-winged heron which had alighted on the further shore. + +"Will you go, Fred?" said Scarlett, at last. + +"No. It's your place, and you ought to go." + +"Yes," said Scarlett, slowly; "I suppose I ought." + +"No, no, I'll go," cried Fred, eagerly. "I will not be so shabby. +Let's cut a stick, and then set me ashore." + +Scarlett nodded, and resuming the rowing, ran the boat's head ashore, +close to a clump of willows. Then, taking out his knife, he hacked off +a rod about ten feet long, trimmed off the twigs and leaves, all but a +patch on the end, and, before his companion could realise what he +intended, he had leaped ashore, given the boat a thrust, and run up the +bank. + +"No, no," cried Fred. "I'll go." + +"It's my place, and I shall go myself," replied his companion. "Take +the oars and row gently along. I don't think I shall mind. If I do, +I'll come back and you shall go." + +"But you have no light." + +"No," said Scarlett, gravely; "but I know the way now, and that there's +no danger, so I shall not care." Before Fred could offer further +remonstrance, Scarlett had run into the nearest patch of woodland and +disappeared. + +"I don't like letting him go," muttered Fred, as he gazed at the spot +where his companion had disappeared. "It seems as if I were a coward. +Perhaps I am, for it does seem shivery work to do. Never mind, I'll go +next time," he added quickly; and, taking the oars, he sat down where +his companion had vacated the seat, and began to row slowly back to +where he fancied the entrance must be. + +Then followed so long a period of waiting that the boy grew anxious, and +after rowing to and fro for some time outside the thick growth which +edged that portion of the lake, he made up his mind that something must +be wrong, and determined to land and go in search of Scarlett. + +"How horrible if he has waded into a deep place, and gone down!" he +muttered, as he bent over the oars, to pull with all his might, when he +fancied he heard a distant hail. + +He ceased rowing, and the water rippled about beneath the front as he +listened. + +"Where are you?" he cried. + +"Here," came from apparently a great distance. + +"Where's here?" + +"Here, here, here. Can't you see?" + +The voice seemed to come from far away, and he drew in the oars, and +stood up in the boat to look from side to side, searching eagerly, and +trying to pierce the bushes and overhanging ivy, which screened the +rocky shore. + +"Here! Hoy!" + +Fred faced round now, and looked across the lake, to see Nat standing on +the farther shore. + +"What are you doing? Got any?" shouted Nat. + +Fred put his hands to the sides of his mouth, and shouted back. + +"No! not yet." + +"Where's Master Scarlett?" + +"Ashore." + +"Oh!" + +"He thinks we've been setting eel-lines," muttered Fred, as, to his +great annoyance, he saw the gardener seat himself on the distant bank +and watch him. + +"Oh, what a bother!" he cried, with an impatient stamp on the bottom of +the boat. "Well, he must think so, then." + +To induce the spy upon his proceedings to go on in this belief, Fred +stooped down in the boat, and picked up and threw in an imaginary line. +After which, he took up one oar, and, standing upright, began to paddle +the boat in toward the bank, where a large birch drooped over and dipped +its delicate sprays of leaves almost into the surface of the lake. + +"I'll moor her fast here," thought Fred, "and go ashore and warn Scar. +We can't do any more, with that fellow watching." + +To this end, he paddled the boat close to the silver trunk of the birch, +whose roots ran down into the clear water, forming quite a delicate +fringe, amongst which the tiny perch loved to play. + +He was in the act of fastening the chain as he stood up, and had passed +it round one of the lower boughs, being fairly well screened now from +Nat's observation by the delicate spray, when a fly seemed to tickle his +ear. + +Fred struck at it viciously without looking round, and went on fastening +the chain, when the fly again seemed to tickle him, this time low down +in the nape of his neck. + +"Get out! Will you?" he cried: and he turned, sharply struck at the +fly, and caught-- + +The end of the willow rod with its tuft of leaves. + +"Oh!" he ejaculated, as the tug he gave at the wand was replied to by +another at the end; and as he looked, he saw that it came from out of a +dense mass of twiggy alder above his head, where a quantity of ivy grew. + +"Scar," he cried, giving the wand a shake, "are you there?" + +"Yes," came in a faint whisper that sounded very hollow and strange. +"Didn't you hear me shout!" + +"No." + +"I was afraid to cry too loud, because it goes backward so, rumbling all +along the passage. Whereabouts is it?" + +"By the big birch-tree; just where we thought it couldn't be." + +"Eh? Speak up." + +"By the big birch-tree; just where we thought it couldn't be; and I +can't speak louder, because Nat's over the other side, watching." + +"Can he see you now?" + +"No. But are you all right!" + +"Yes." + +"You're higher up than I thought. Stop till I push the boat closer, and +I'll see if I can find any loose stones." + +"Stop a minute," said Scarlett, in the same smothered voice, which +sounded faint as a whisper. "Let me see if I can move any of them." + +Fred waited, and, peering through the twigs, he could see that Nat was +patiently waiting for him to come in sight again. + +"Some of them seem loose," came from within; "but I can't get them out." + +"Don't stop to try now," said Fred. "Let's come another time; we can't +make any mistake, now. Oh!" + +The cry was involuntary, for all at once a patch of ivy just above the +level of the water seemed to be driven outward, and several stones about +the size of his head fell with a splash down among the alder roots, +followed by a heavy gush of water, which poured forth fiercely into the +woody edge of the lake, and continued to pour as if a fresh lake was +discharging its waters into the old one. + +So near was the edge of the boat, that the water nearly rushed in; but +though it was afterwards slightly drawn toward it, a snatch at a bough +drew it back, and Fred stood gazing wonderingly at the rush which foamed +in. + +Then he looked across the lake, wondering whether Nat could hear and +see. But he was too far distant to see more than a little ebullition +which might have been caused by the movement of the oars and boat, for +the water that poured in was discharged in quite a dense thicket of +moisture-loving growth. + +"I say, Scar," cried Fred, at last, alarmed by the silence, and after +listening to the surging noise of the water for a few minutes. + +"Yes." + +"Are you all safe?" + +"Yes, of course." + +"What does all this water mean?" + +"I was pushing against the wall high up, and slipped, and my knees +struck against the bottom, driving out some of the stones." + +"Then--Stop a minute; Nat's going away." + +The lad held some of the twigs aside, and could see that the gardener +was moving off, apparently tired of waiting, and, once he was out of +sight, there was no occasion to be so particular about shouting, and a +conversation was painfully carried on above the rushing noise of the +water. + +"I can't understand it, Scar," cried Fred. "There must be a stream +running through that passage." + +There was no reply; but the willow wand was withdrawn, and the next +minute it appeared through the hole where the water was rushing. + +"I say, Scar." + +"Yes." + +"Haven't you done some harm, and oughtn't we to let them know up at the +house?" + +"I don't know. I couldn't help it." + +"I thought the passage was partly under the water," said Fred to +himself, "and so it ran in; but it couldn't have been meant to be wet +like that. I say, Scar," he cried aloud, "whereabouts is the bottom +where your feet are?" + +"Eh?" + +"I say, where are your feet?" + +"Where this stick is," came back more clearly now. + +And it suddenly struck Fred that the water was not pouring out in quite +so great a volume. But for the moment he could not see the stick for +the foam. Directly after, though, he made out where it was being moved +to and fro, exactly on a level with the surface of the lake. + +"I'm coming back now," cried Scarlett; and his voice was plainly heard, +after which Fred sat watching the water, rapidly draining away with less +and less violence, till he heard a shout, answered it, and soon after +Scarlett came along, forcing his way through the hazels till he reached +the edge of the lake, and, by the help of one of the boughs of the +birch, swung himself lightly into the boat, and began looking curiously +at the opening, nearly hidden by the growth, through which the water +still poured. + +"No wonder we could not find the place," he said, as he at once placed +the right construction on the presence of the water; "and, do you know, +all that could not have come from the lake." + +"Where could it have come from, then?" + +"It must have drained in by degrees from the sides in wet weather, and +the stones at the end dammed it up, so that it couldn't get away." + +"Nonsense! The water would have pushed the stones down." + +"It did, as soon as I pushed too. The wall was only just strong enough +before." + +"I tell you it must have run in from the lake." + +"It couldn't, Fred. The bottom of the passage is higher; and when I +came out the water was only just over my shoes. By to-morrow you see if +it isn't drained right out. There, you see, it has pretty well stopped +now." + +Scarlett was quite right, for the water was now flowing out silently, +and in very small volume. + +"Well, we will not argue about it," said Fred. "Perhaps you're right, +but I don't think you are. Anyhow, we've found the way in, and you +couldn't have done it without me." + +"No; nor you without me, Fred." + +"No; and I say--Oh!" + +"What's the matter?" + +"Don't I want my breakfast." + +"Yes; it must be nearly time. Come up and have some with me." + +Fred shook his head. + +"No," he said. "Your father did not seem to want me there last night." + +"Nonsense!" + +"Oh no, it was not. You come home with me. What's that?" + +Scarlett listened, for there was a rustling and crashing noise, as of +some animal forcing its way down through the hazel stubs to get to the +edge of the lake to drink. + +They waited breathlessly as the sounds grew nearer, and then stopped. +The silence only lasted a minute, and then plainly enough came a +familiar voice. + +"I thought it was just here. Now, where have they got themselves to?" + +Then the rustling was continued, and Nat came into sight. + +The boys glanced sharply at the place where the water flowed, but there +was nothing now but a feeble trickle, not likely to excite attention. + +"Oh, there you are, Master Scarlett! Well, how many have you caught?" + +"Not one, Nat," cried Fred, sharply. + +"You don't put your lines in the right places, lads. Where are they +now?" + +"Not going to tell you," replied Fred, sharply. "There, hear that? +Didn't some one call?" + +"No," cried Nat; "I didn't hear nobody. Show me where your lines are +laid. Aren't put any down here, have you?" + +"No; it wouldn't be any use." + +"I should think not. Why, if you hooked an eel, he'd run in and out +among the dead wood and roots till your lines would be all tangled +together, and you'd lose them." + +"Will you come and show us a good place, then, Nat?" said Fred, for +Scarlett was a little puzzled as to what was going on. + +"Yes; I'll show you," said the gardener, who, like most of his class, +was as much interested in the chance of a little fishing as the boys +themselves. So, swinging himself into the boat, he took the oars, and, +to the great relief of the two lads, rowed right away towards where a +little rivulet entered the lake. + +"Glad I saw what you were both going to do," continued Nat. "Only waste +of time muddling in there among the wood. You might catch a few perch +or an old carp, but that would be about all." + +Ten minutes later he ceased rowing in front of the mouth of the rivulet. + +"There," he said; "set your lines about here, and you'll catch as many +as you want, and--breakfast-time. Let's get ashore." + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +THE COLONEL'S MESSAGE. + +No farther visit was paid to the passage that day; but the next, in the +afternoon, the boys made their way down toward the lake, and met Nat, +who approached them with rather a mysterious look on his face. + +"What's the matter?" asked Scarlett. + +"Ah, that's what I want to know, sir. You didn't hear it, of course, +because you were out in the boat." + +"Hear what?" + +"Oh, I don't know, sir," said the gardener, mysteriously. "I've just +come from the kitchen, where the servants was talking about it." + +"About what?" + +"It, sir, it; I don't know what it is. I told 'em it was howls, but I +don't think it was. Still, if you tell maid-servants as there's +something wrong in the house, they'll either go out of the house or out +of their skins." + +"Do you know what you are talking about, Nat?" + +"Yes, sir. Course I do." + +"Well, then, just be a little plain, and don't go smothering your words +up as if they were seeds that you'd put in to come up in a month. Now, +then, what is it?" + +"You needn't be quite so chuff with a man, Master Scarlett--a man as is +trying to do his duty." + +"Well, go on, then." + +"I will, sir. I went into the kitchen, and the women was all talking +about it. Her ladyship's maid was the one who heard it, yes'day +morning, before breakfast." + +"Heard what?" + +"Groans, sir, and cries." + +"Where?" + +"That's what they can't make out. All she could say was that it sounded +close to the best bedroom, and it was as if somebody was crying for help +in a weak voice, and then shouting, `Red--red!' which they think means +blood." + +"Stuff and rubbish, Nat!" cried Fred, hastily. + +"That's what I said to them, sir." + +"Then go and tell them so again," cried Fred. "Come along, Scar; I want +a run." + +He hurried his companion away, and they went off down to the lake, +leaving Nat staring after them before going slowly away toward the +garden, muttering to himself-- + +"It's all very well," he said; "but it couldn't be howls." + +"What made you hurry away so?" cried Scarlett, as they walked on, and he +came to a stop. "Let's go back and speak to my father. Something may +be wrong. How do we know? Nat--" + +Fred burst out laughing. + +"Why, don't you see?" + +"No: what do you mean?" + +"Didn't you tell me you were afraid to shout yesterday because your +voice went echoing along the passage?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, what did you call?" + +"Fred--Fred!" + +"Well, wouldn't that sound to any one who heard it like, `Red--red'?" + +"Of course," cried Scarlett, laughing. "I never thought of that." + +"Now, then, which way shall we go? Straight to the mouth where the +water ran, or to the hole in the wood?" + +"To the hole;" and, after taking the trouble to make quite a circuit, so +as to be sure of avoiding observation, they entered the little wood, +made their way to the prostrate oak, and found that the bottom of the +hole was dry. + +"There!" cried Scarlett, "I was right." + +They dropped down, and found that by the time they had reached the end +of the portion illumined by the light which came down the hole, faint +rays were there to meet them from the other end, the light striking in +strongly from the bottom of the walled-up entrance, and showing that the +floor which they had to follow was damp, but every drop of water had +drained away. + +On reaching the end, it was quite light; and a little examination proved +that other stones at the bottom were sufficiently loose to be easily +pushed out, Fred sending out a couple, which went down into deep water +at once. + +"I wouldn't have done that," said Scarlett. "It's like opening a way +for any one right into our house." + +"But any one will not know the way," replied Fred, as he went down on +hands and knees, and thrust out his head and shoulders. "Easy enough to +get out now," he said, as he thrust the bushes aside, "only we should +want the boat. Water's quite deep here. Stop a moment!" he cried +excitedly, as he twisted himself round and looked up before drawing his +head back. "Why, Scar, we could climb up or down there as easily as +could be." + +"Could we?" + +Scarlett crept partly out in turn, and looked up for a minute or two. + +"Yes," he said, as he returned, "that would be easy enough." + +"Then, do you know what we have to do next?" + +"No." + +"Go and stop up the big hole in the wood." + +Scarlett thought for a moment, and then agreed, following his companion +to the opening, and climbing out in turn. + +"How shall we do it?" he said. + +"The rougher the better," cried Fred, who was by far the more practical +of the two. "Let's get great dead branches, and lay them over anyhow, +leaving a hole like a chimney, so as to give light. Come along; I'll +show you. The more natural the better, in case any one should come +here." + +"Which is not likely," replied Scarlett. + +"I don't know; Nat might. Work away." + +They did work away, and with good effect. They had no difficulty in +getting plenty of rough pieces, which they laid across, first like the +rafters over a shed, and then piled others upon them in the most +careless-looking fashion, after which some long strands of ivy and +bramble were dragged across, to act the double purpose of binding all +together and looking natural. + +"But they seem as if they had been just placed there," said Scarlett, +looking rather dissatisfied with their work. + +"Of course they do to-day; but before a week has gone by, they'll have +all their leaves turned up to the light, and go on growing fast. Now, +then, who could tell that there was a way down there?" + +Scarlett was fain to confess that the concealment would be perfect as +soon as the leaves were right, and a shower of rain had removed their +tracks. + +"And we shall not want to come here at all now, only get in by the +proper way. I wish that hole was not broken through." + +"We should not have found it without." + +"Oh yes, we should," said Fred; "because some day we should have brought +candles, and waded down to the mouth." + +"Well," said Scarlett, as they strolled away at last, "what's the good +of it all, now we have found it out?" + +"It doesn't seem quite so much now we have found everything; but still +it is interesting, and it will do to hide in when we want to get away +from everybody." + +"But we never do." + +"No," said Fred. "But never mind; there's no knowing of what use it may +be, and it's our secret, isn't it?" + +"Oh yes, it's our secret, Fred." + +"And how we could scare the servants now, by hiding and groaning." + +"Till my father examined and found it all out. I shouldn't like to look +him in the face when he did." + +"No," said Fred; "it wouldn't be nice. I say, what stupids we should +look!" + +"Did you get up so early on purpose to come over here yesterday?" said +Scarlett, suddenly. + +"No. I was woke up by hearing Captain Miles go." + +"Captain Miles? Who is he?" + +"I don't know; an old fellow-officer of my father, I think. I say, +Scarlett, I'm to be a soldier." + +Scarlett laughed, and his companion felt nettled. + +"Well," he said, "I shall grow older and stronger some day." + +"Why, you couldn't pull a sword right out of its sheath," said Scarlett. + +"Couldn't I? Let's go into the house and try." + +"Come along, then," cried Scarlett; and the two lads ran right into the +Hall, where Fred seized an old weapon from one of the suits of armour, +and proved his ability by drawing it from the sheath, Scarlett following +his example. + +"Now, then!" cried Fred; "_en garde_!" + +Nothing loth, Scarlett crossed swords with him, just as his father came +thoughtfully out of the library, and stopped to watch them. + +"I say, this old sword is heavy though," said Fred, as the point of the +long blade seemed attracted toward the ground. + +"It's because you haven't muscle enough," replied Scarlett, as the +blades grated together. "Wonder whether this one ever cut off a man's +head?" + +"Is this an omen?" said Sir Godfrey to himself. "Friend against friend, +perhaps brother against brother, all through our unhappy land. Well, +Heaven's will be done! My duty is to my king." + +Meanwhile, the two boys were laughingly making a few cuts and guards +with the clumsy old weapons; but directly after they started apart in +confusion, as Sir Godfrey said aloud-- + +"Boys, do you remember the words of Scripture!" + +Neither answered; but, with the points of the swords resting on the old +oak floor, they stared at him abashed. + +"`They that take the sword shall perish with the sword.'" + +There was silence in the grand old hall for a brief space, as the two +boys stood there in the centre, with the bright lights from the +stained-glass windows showering down upon them, and the portraits of +Scarlett's warlike ancestors seeming to be watching intently all that +was taking place. + +Then Sir Godfrey moved slowly across the hall, paused and looked back, +and then said gently-- + +"Put the weapons away, my lads. Warfare is too terrible to be even +mimicked in sport." + +He sighed and passed through the farther door, leaving the boys gazing +at each other in silence. + +"How serious he is!" said Scarlett, at last. "Let's put them away. I +thought he was going to scold us for taking them down." + +"Yes, I thought that," said Fred. "But I should like to be a soldier, +all the same, only without any war. Ugh! only fancy giving a man a chop +with a thing like that," he added, as he replaced the weapon. "Here, +I'm off home," he cried, as he ran to the door. + +"Good-bye, old soldier without any war. I say, Fred." + +"Well?" + +"That will be a capital place for you to hide in when you are a soldier, +and the war comes." + +"That's right," said Fred, good-humouredly; "laugh away. I dare say I +am a coward, but I don't believe everybody is brave. Coming over +to-night?" + +"Perhaps," was the reply; and Fred went off homeward at a trot, thinking +of how delightful it would be to grow into a man, and carry a sword and +ride about on a horse like Captain Miles. + +He thought a good deal about Captain Miles as he went home, and wondered +whether he had gone to Plymouth. + +"Because he might have been going to Tavistock or Barnstaple." + +The recollection of the sturdy, keen-eyed soldier seemed to oust every +other thought from the boy's brain, and he saw in imagination the +distant figure as it mounted the rising ground, and, passing over, +disappeared. + +"I wonder what he came for?" thought Fred. "It didn't seem like the +visit of a friend, and it could not be about business, because father +never does any business now; but they were so serious, and my mother +looked so troubled." + +Fred gave his ear a rub, as if he were vexed. + +"I suppose it was thinking so much about that rabbit-hole of a place up +at the Hall," he muttered. "I never thought any more about mother +looking so serious, and having tears in her eyes. I'll ask her what's +the matter." + +He walked slowly on till he came in sight of the western road, which +looked like a narrow path crossing the distant hill. + +"Why, there's somebody coming," he cried, as he sheltered his eyes to +make out what was evidently a mounted man moving slowly along the road. +"He's coming this way," said Fred, musingly. "I wonder who it is?" + +Not much of a matter for consideration, in modern days; but to the +dwellers in that retired part of Coombeland, far away from a town, the +coming of a strange horseman was an event, and, regardless of where he +put his feet, Fred went on trying to keep the mounted man in view, as he +disappeared at times in the hollows, and then came into sight again, +evidently moving at a foot's pace. + +"It must be Captain Miles coming back," cried Fred, as the figure +disappeared from view in consequence of the lad having to descend into a +hollow before rising the opposite hill. + +"That old place will be no end of a game when we have cleared it out," +mused the boy, as he went slowly down the hill. "It will be a lot of +trouble though, and we shall have to sweep and clear away the dust and +cobwebs too. I wish we could set Samson and Nat to work, only we can't +do that, because, if we did, it wouldn't be a secret place; and, +besides, they would do nothing but quarrel, and get no work done. +Wonder whether brothers always do quarrel. Why, they're worse than Scar +and I are, though we do have a pretty good row sometimes." + +Ten minutes later he was mounting the hill, and, as he reached the top, +he hastened his pace, so as to get within view of the coming horseman, +who was for the moment shut out from view by a patch of woodland; but +the regular beat of the horse's hoofs came plainly enough. + +"Sounds in the distance just like my pony's trot," said Fred, +thoughtfully; and directly after he burst out with a loud, "Oh!" full of +vexation in its tone. "Why, it's only old Samson, after all," he cried. +"Think of me taking him for Captain Miles!" + +He set off at a sharp run across the moorland, so as to cut off a great +piece of the road, and reach a point by which the Manor gardener must +pass. + +Samson was not long in recognising him, and, checking the speed of the +stout cob he rode, the mutual effort brought the two together at the +sought-for spot. + +"Here you, Samson, who told you to exercise my pony?" + +"Exercise, Master Fred? You look at him." + +"Look at him? I am looking at him. Poor old fellow! he's all in a +lather." + +"Yes; he hasn't had such a gallop for months." + +"How dare you, then! Jump off directly, and walk him home." + +"Shan't!" was the laconic refusal, accompanied by a grin. + +"What!" cried Fred, doubling his fists threateningly. + +"Shan't come off, sir. There!" + +"Oh, won't you!" cried Fred, seizing Samson by the leg, and proceeding +as if to tilt him over. + +"You leave your father's special messenger alone, Master Fred, or you'll +get into trouble." + +"Did my father tell you to take the pony?" + +"Course he did, and to take what he called a despatch." + +"Despatch?" + +"Yes. To Barnstaple." + +"What for?" + +"How should I know? It was a big letter, all tied round with ribbon and +sealed up, and I've got another like it in here." + +As he spoke in a voice full of importance, he tapped a leathern wallet +slung over his right shoulder. + +"Why, Samson, who did you take it to?" + +"To that gen'leman who was here the other night." + +"Captain Miles?" + +"Yes. At Barnstaple, and some more gen'lemen was with him when I got +there, and he read the letter, and they read the letter, and then they +said they'd write another, and I was to go down and have some bread and +cheese and cider, and I did--a lot." + +"I wonder what it means?" said Fred, as he walked on beside the pony, +holding by its thick mane, for it was uphill. + +"I think I know, Master Fred." + +"You do? What is it?" + +"Well, sir, it's something to do with the king and the Parliament. They +were talking about it at the Red Hind." + +"King and the Parliament?" + +"Yes, Master Fred; and there were some there as said we should most +likely have to fight for our rights." + +"But we haven't got any rights to fight for." + +"Oh yes, we have, Master Fred," said Samson, importantly. "A man there +told me all about it." + +"What did he say?" + +"Well, sir, I don't quite understand, but they're trying to take our +rights away." + +"Who are?" + +"Well, that's what I didn't get quite clear, you see, sir. But it's +some'at like this. Every man has--I don't quite remember what it was he +said there, but I do recollect he said that if things were not altered, +we should have to fight." + +Fred looked at him wonderingly. + +"I should have got it all quite pat, you see, only just as I was getting +into the marrow of it and understanding it all, that captain sent for +me, and give me the big letter I've got in here. And now I must hurry +on." For the top of the hill was reached, and the pony broke into a +sharp trot without urging. + +But Fred kept hold of the mane, and ran easily by his side, coming soon +after in sight of Colonel Forrester, standing at the garden gate, +evidently waiting for his messenger's return. + +As soon as he saw them descending the slope, he walked quickly forward +to meet them, holding out his hand for the despatch, and looking so +anxious and severe that his son forbore to speak. + +"Take the cob round to the stables, and treat him well," said the +colonel, sharply, as he tore open the missive and began to read. + +Fred felt eagerness itself to know its contents, and he was about to +stop, examining the missive the while with eager eyes; but, recollecting +himself, he went off at a trot after Samson, who had dismounted, and was +leading the pony. + +"Hope it's good news, Master Fred." + +"I dare say it is. I don't know." + +"The captain said I was a gardener, wasn't I; and I told him the truth, +and said I was." + +"Why, of course, stupid." + +"Ah, you don't understand, Master Fred. It isn't every day that a +gardener has to carry despatches. And then he said, as he give me the +answer, `Well, you say you are a gardener, don't let the grass grow +under your feet.' I didn't, Master Fred. Ask Dodder." + +"No need to ask him, poor old fellow," said Fred, patting his +favourite's neck. + +"Fred!" came from the road. + +"Yes, father," cried the boy, and he ran back. + +"I thought you were by me, my boy," said the colonel, gravely, as he +laid one hand upon his son's shoulder, and held the despatch in the +other, gazing thoughtfully before him toward the old house they were +approaching. + +"I hope you have not had bad news, father," hazarded Fred. + +"No, on the whole, good. It must come--it must come." + +Fred looked at him inquiringly. + +"What are you, Fred--sixteen, isn't it?" + +"Yes, father." + +"Ah, if you had been six and twenty, how useful to me you could have +been!" + +Fred flushed. + +"I could be useful to you now, father, if you would let me be," he said +in an injured tone. "I could have ridden over to Barnstaple with your +letter quicker than Samson did, and I shouldn't have tired Dodder so +much." + +"Yes, I thought of that, Fred, but you are only a boy, and you were at +play." + +There was a silence for a few moments, and then Fred spoke. + +"Is it wrong for a boy to play, father?" + +"Heaven forbid. No; of course not. Play goes with youth, and it gives +boys energy, strength, and decision. Yes, Fred, play while you can. +Manfully and well. But play." + +Fred looked up at his father in a puzzled way, as he stopped short, and +began beating his side with the despatch he had received. There was a +dreamy look in his eyes, which were fixed on vacancy, as he muttered-- + +"Yes; I must be right. I have hesitated long, but it is a duty. But +what does it mean--friendships broken; the land in chaos; brother +against brother; perhaps father against son. No, no," he added, with a +shudder, as he turned sharply on his boy. "Fred, my lad," he tried, "if +trouble comes upon our land, and I have to take side with those who +fight--" + +He stopped short. + +"Who fight, father? You are not going to fight." + +"I don't know yet, my boy; but if I do, it will be for those I believe +to be in the right. What I believe to be right, you, too, must believe +in, and follow." + +"Of course, father," said the boy, quietly. + +"No matter what is said against me, or how you may be influenced. I +know about these matters better than you do, and I shall ask you to +trust to me." + +Fred smiled, as if his father's words amused him, for it seemed absurd +that he should have any opinion against his own father. + +"Why, of course, I shall do as you tell me," he said, taking hold of his +father's arm, and they walked together into the house, where Mistress +Forrester, looking pale and large-eyed, was awaiting her husband's +return. + +She did not speak, but looked up in his eyes with so eager and inquiring +an air that he bent down and kissed her forehead. + +"Yes," he said. + +"Oh, husband!" + +"It cannot be avoided. My duty is with the people. That duty I must +do." + +"But home--me--Fred?" + +"You will be safe here," he said. "It is not likely that the tide of +trouble will flow this way." + +"But Fred," she whispered. + +"Fred. Ah, yes, Fred," said the colonel, thoughtfully. + +"Oh no, no, no," cried Mistress Forrester, in agony, as she saw her +husband's hesitating way, and suspected the truth. "No, no, husband, he +is too young." + +"He will grow older," said the colonel, with quiet firmness. "Wife, +when the country calls for the help of her son, he must give it freely. +If your boy is needed in his country's service, he will have to go." + +Fred heard these words, and went slowly and thoughtfully away-- +thoughtfully, for his head was in a whirl--the coming of his father's +military friend--his father's old life as a soldier--and these hints +about civil war. + +"I don't think I should mind," he said to himself, "not if Scar went +too. He and I could get on so well together. Of course we should be +too young for regular soldiers, but we should soon grow older." + +Then he began to recall different things of which he had heard and read, +about youths going off to the war in olden times to be esquires, and +after deeds of valour to become belted knights who had won their spurs. + +Fred's was not a romantic nature, for that night, quite late, after he +had gone up to bed, he sat at his window looking out at the starlit sky. +And as he gazed all the thoughts of the evening came back to make him +burst into a derisive laugh. + +"It's all nonsense," he said; "knights and squires never did half the +things they say. And if we had a war, and I had to go, I'm afraid it +would be all rough and different to life here at home. But if Scar went +too, I should not mind. They want all the men at such a time as this. +Samson would have to go, and Nat, and no end of the farm lads about." + +Fred rose from his seat, and closed the window softly, for fear that he +should be heard, and at last lay down, but not to sleep, for his young +brain was excited, and a feeling of awe came over him as he began +thinking of her who was sleeping only a few yards away. + +"If father goes and takes me with him, and there is a terrible war, what +will my mother say?" + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE. + +"Godfrey!" + +"Hush, my darling; think of the children. Be firm. Be firm." + +"But it is too horrible." + +"Is this my dear wife speaking?" said Sir Godfrey, gravely, as he took +his dame's hand. + +"Yes," said Lady Markham, excitedly. "Would you have me sit silent when +such a demand is made?" + +Sir Godfrey's brow was knit, and his nether lip quivered as he heard his +wife's words, while Lil, who seemed alarmed, crept to her brother's side +and held his hand. + +"The demand is just, wife," said Sir Godfrey, at last. "I am a soldier, +sworn to help my king." + +"You were a soldier once, love," interposed Lady Markham. + +"I am a soldier, wife. Still a soldier, though during these peaceful +years I have been allowed to live peacefully here at home. The time has +now come when my master needs the help of all his loyal servants. He +calls me to his help, and do you think I am going to play the coward and +knave, and hide here in idleness while every rogue is striking at the +crown? Come: be a woman. Do your duty." + +"My duty is to those children, Godfrey," said Lady Markham, piteously. + +"And to your husband. You, as a brave, true woman, now that the +perilous time has come when ruin and destruction threatens the kingdom, +you, I say, should be the first to buckle on your husband's sword." + +"Father!" cried Scarlett, "are you going away?" + +"Yes, boy; I am summoned to Exeter. From there, perhaps to Bristol." + +"And when do you come back?" + +Sir Godfrey was silent for a few moments, and then said calmly-- + +"Heaven knows!" + +"Godfrey!" cried Lady Markham, and she threw herself sobbing on her +knees. + +"Oh, father, father!" cried Lil, running to him and catching his hand, +but only to be snatched up to his breast and kissed passionately; +"don't, pray don't go away. You'll break poor mother's heart." + +"Hush, child!" said Sir Godfrey, sternly. "Do you think I wish to leave +all who are dear to me for the risks of war? Remember there is such a +thing as duty." + +"Yes, father," sobbed Lil, nestling to his breast. + +"Scar, my boy, what have you to say? You have heard the king's throne +is in danger, and he calls upon his loyal west-country gentlemen to come +to his help. Are we loyal or are we not?" + +"Loyal, father, of course." + +"And you say, then?" + +"That you must go, father. Yes, you must go." + +"Right! my brave boy, right!" cried Sir Godfrey, seizing the lad's hand. +"I must go--at once. And you, while I am gone, will be your mother's +help and support--your sister's protector." + +Scarlett did not speak, but looked his father firmly in the face. + +"I shall leave everything in your hands, and from this day forward you +must cease to be a boy, and act as a calm and thoughtful man. I make +you my steward and representative, Scarlett. Do your best, and by your +quiet, consistent conduct, make yourself obeyed. You understand?" + +"I hear what you say, father." + +"Well, sir, why do you speak in that hesitating way?" + +"Because, father, I shall not be here." + +"Scarlett!" cried Sir Godfrey, in a tone full of displeasure. + +"Don't be angry with me, father," cried the lad. "You are going away-- +because the king wants the help of every loyal heart. Well, father, you +will take me too." + +"Take--you? Scar! No, no; you are too young." + +"I expected to hear you say that, but I shall soon be older; and, though +I am only a boy, I could be useful to you in a hundred ways. I suppose +I am too young to fight." + +"Yes, yes; of course." + +"Well, others could do the fighting. Couldn't you make me something-- +your esquire?" + +"Knights do not have esquires now, my boy," said Sir Godfrey, with a +smile; "but--" + +He stopped short, while his son gazed at him eagerly, waiting for the +end of his speech. + +"Yes, father--but--?" said Scarlett, after waiting some time. + +"I was only thinking, my son, as to which was my duty--to bid you watch +over your mother and sister here, or to devote you to the service of +your king." + +"Devote me to the service of my king, father," cried Scarlett, proudly. + +"No, no, my boy," cried Lady Markham. "Don't try to stop me, mother," +said Scarlett. "You know I should have to stay here in peace to take +care of you who are not in danger; but ought you not rather wish to have +me trying to watch over him who will be in the war?" + +Lady Markham bowed her head. She could not trust herself to speak, for +her son's words had set his going in a new light. But she still +hesitated, clinging first to father, then to son, and ending by +exclaiming-- + +"Heaven's will be done! I can say no more." + +"No, mother. Let me go, and I will do all I can to protect my father." + +She gazed piteously at him through her tears, and then cast herself +sobbing upon his breast, while Sir Godfrey gravely set his daughter by +her mother's side, and laid his hand upon her head. + +"Scarlett is right, dearest. He can do more good by embracing his +father's profession at once. He will learn to be a soldier, and-- +perhaps--he may be able to protect me. Who can tell!" + +Lady Markham took and kissed her husband's hand, and then once more +embraced her son, ending by taking her daughter to her heart, and +weeping over her silently, while Sir Godfrey paced the room. + +"Yes, my boy?" he said suddenly, as he caught his son's eye. + +"When shall you start, father?" + +"To-morrow at the latest. Quite early in the morning, if we can get +away." + +"So soon?" + +"Yes. Have you begun to repent already?" + +"Oh no, father; but I thought that I should like to go over to the Manor +to say good-bye." + +Sir Godfrey held up his hand. + +"Impossible, my boy. By the same despatch I learned that Colonel +Forrester--unhappy man!--has cast in his lot with the Roundheads. I am +told, too, that he has been harbouring one of the enemy's generals, who +has been about the country organising revolt against his majesty, under +the name of Captain Miles. Scarlett, my boy, the Forresters are the +enemies of the king, and therefore ours." + +"Poor Fred!" said Scarlett, half aloud. + +"Ay, poor Fred!" said Sir Godfrey. "Do you think it possible that you +could save him from this fate by bringing him over to us? He is your +friend, Scarlett?" + +"Yes, father, but--" + +"Yes, my boy, you are right. It would be a cowardly deed to try and +separate father and son. Would it were otherwise, for I like the boy." + +"Like him, father? It seems horrible; just as if one was losing a +brother, and could not stretch out a hand. And you would not like me to +say good-bye to Fred, father?" + +"You cannot now, my boy; neither while he is against us can I take +Colonel Forrester's hand again." + +There was a painful pause here, broken by Lady Markham's sobs; and then, +with a sudden display of soldierly firmness, Sir Godfrey bent down and +kissed his wife. + +"Come, my darling," he said, "remember your duty as the wife and mother +of two soldiers suddenly called away." + +"I'll try," said Lady Markham, rising sadly. + +"And succeed," replied Sir Godfrey, gently. "Come, Scarlett, my boy. +Time flies. You will choose which horse you like, and prepare the very +few necessaries that you can carry. We shall get our equipment at +Exeter, so work hard, as if you momentarily expected to hear the trumpet +call, `To horse.' Why, it stirs my blood again, after all these years +of idleness. That's better, my darling. Women should not weep when +those they love are about to leave on duty, but give them smiles." + +"Smiles, Godfrey!" said Lady Markham, sadly. + +"Yes, smiles. Every soldier who goes to fight does not get hard blows +or wounds. Many escape everything, and come back covered with glory and +full of the sense of duty done. There, Scarlett, my boy, away with you +and pack your valise. Recollect you are a soldier now." + +Scarlett dashed at his mother, kissed her, and then, bewildered by +excitement, he hurried out to go to the stable and select the horse he +might need to carry him in many a perilous time; but before he reached +the long range of buildings where Sir Godfrey's horses led their +peaceful life, he was attacked by Nat. + +"Here, Master Scar," he cried excitedly, catching the lad by the sleeve, +"is it true?" + +"Is what true?" + +"That the war's coming nigher our way, and they've sent for the master +to fight?" + +"Yes, Nat; true enough," said the lad, proudly drawing himself up. "Sir +Godfrey and I are going off to the wars to-morrow morning." + +"You, Master Scar? You?" + +"Yes, Nat; to-morrow." + +"Why, dear heart alive, Master Scar, lad," cried Nat, laying his hand +affectionately on the boy's shoulder, "it seems only t'other day as you +used to come and coax me to leave my mowing and go on hands and knees to +make a horse for you to ride, and now you're talking about going to the +war." + +"Yes, Nat. Time goes." + +"But, dear lad," cried the gardener, letting his hand slide down to +Scarlett's biceps, "why, you haven't got the muscle in your arm to +handle a scythe, let alone a sword to mow down men." + +"I can't help that, Nat," cried Scarlett, angrily. "Let go. There'll +be muscle enough to thrash you some day." + +"I hope so, dear lad. But try and thrash brother Samson first. I +should like to see you do that." + +"Don't talk nonsense. And come along. I want to look at the horses." + +"But are you really going, Master Scar?" + +"I--am--really--going, Nat, and I want to settle which horse I shall +ride. So please say no more about it." + +Nat took off his hat and scratched his head, his face wrinkling up all +over as he followed his young master to the stables, just like one of +his own pippins which had been lying in the apple loft all through the +winter. + +Then, as they reached the door, and Scarlett entered, Nat put on his +cap, gave his knee a slap, and with one set of wrinkles disappearing +from his countenance to make room for another, like a human dissolving +view, he burst out into a low chuckle. + +"That'll knock the wind out of old Samson's sails! A miserable, +cowardly, fat-headed old puddick. He wouldn't have the courage to do +that." + +"Nat!" + +"Coming, Master Scar;" and Nat hurried into the stables to find his +young master standing beside the light cob his father often rode. +"Hullo, Master Scar, sir, thinking about having Moorcock?" + +"Yes, Nat. My father is sure not to take him for his charger, and he +would suit me exactly." + +"Well, yes, sir, I dare say he would. But why not have Black Adder?" + +"Because I thought my father would like him." + +"Nay, sir; master'll choose Thunder, as sure as can be, and--Hush! Here +he is." + +"Well, my boy, have you made your selection?" said Sir Godfrey, as he +entered the stables, where eight horses raised their heads to look round +and utter a low whinny. + +"Yes, father; I have been hesitating between Moorcock and Black Adder, +but I thought you would like the black." + +"No, my boy, I have made up my mind to have Thunder." + +"I think I'll take Moorcock all the same," said Scarlett, thoughtfully. + +"He will suit you better now. Two years hence, I should have said take +Black Adder." + +"Why not take 'em both, Master Scarlett?" said Nat, respectfully. +"Black Adder knows me by heart, and I could ride him and take care of +him when you didn't want him, or he'd do for master if Thunder was out +o' sorts." + +"Why, Nat, my good fellow," said Sir Godfrey, smiling, "you will be here +at the Hall, helping to protect her ladyship and cutting cabbages." + +"No, I shan't, Sir Godfrey," replied the gardener, with a stubborn look +in his bluff English face. "I shan't be here, but along o' you and +Master Scarlett, and 'stead of cutting cabbages, I shall be cutting off +heads." + +"Nonsense, man!" said Sir Godfrey, but with far less conviction in his +tone. + +"Beg your pardon, sir, but I don't see no nonsense in it. I've +sharpened scythes till they cut like razors, and if you don't believe +it, look at our lawn. Think, then, if I take my best rubber with me, I +can't sharpen a sword?" + +"Oh, nobody doubts that, my man; but--" + +"Why, look here, Sir Godfrey, I'll keep yours and Master Scar's swords +with such an edge on 'em as shall frighten your enemies into fits. +You'll let me go, won't you, dear master? I can't stay behind." Sir +Godfrey shook his head. "Master Scarlett, sir, put in a word for me. +Don't go and leave me behind. I'll be that faithful and true as never +was." + +"Nobody doubts that, my man." + +"Then let me go, Sir Godfrey. Why, see how useful I can be. I can wash +for you, and cook for you--anything, and cut a few armfuls of heath of a +night to make your beds. And, look here, gen'lemen, soldiers on the +march never gets a bit o' vegetable; but if there's any within a dozen +miles of where you are, you shall always have it. So there!" + +"You do not know the hardships of a soldier's life, my good fellow," +said Sir Godfrey, as he patted the neck of the noble-looking, +dark-dappled grey in one of the stalls. Nat laughed. + +"Well, master," he said, "if you gen'lemen as never gets yourselves wet +can bear 'em, I should think I can. Let me go, sir, please." Sir +Godfrey hesitated. + +"Well, my lad," he said, "I must warn you of the risks of what you ask. +We both go with our lives and liberties in our hands." + +"All right, sir; and I'll take my life and liberty in my hand, though I +don't zackly know what you mean." + +"I mean that any day you may be cut down or shot." + +"Oh, that, Sir Godfrey! Well, so's our flowers and fruits every day. +That's their chance, I suppose, and I'll take mine same as you take +yours. Maybe I might help to keep off a bit o' danger from both on you, +and I don't suppose Master Scarlett would let any man give me a chop, if +he could stop it." + +Sir Godfrey gave his horse a final pat on his fine arching neck, and +walked back out of the stall, to stand gazing full at his man, who +slipped off his hat, and drew himself up awkwardly in soldierly fashion. +Then, without a word, and to Nat's dismay, he turned to his son. + +"Yes," he said; "take Moorcock, my boy, and the stoutest saddle and +bridle you can find." + +Then he walked straight out of the stables, leaving Nat gazing after him +in dismay. + +"And me with such arms, Master Scar!" he cried, in a protesting tone. +"Look here, sir." + +He stripped off his jerkin and rolled his shirt up over his knotted +limbs, right to the shoulder, displaying thew and sinew of which a +gladiator might have been proud. + +"Well, Master Scar, sir, as I'm not to go, I wish I could chop off them +two arms, and give 'em to you, for you'd find 'em very useful when you +came to fight." + +Just then the stable door was darkened by the figure of Sir Godfrey, who +looked in, and said sharply-- + +"Scarlett, my boy, I have been thinking that over. It would be wise to +take Black Adder too, in case one of our steeds breaks down." + +Nat's ears gave a visible twitch, and seemed to cock towards the +speaker, as he continued-- + +"I'll leave it in your hands to settle about Nat. You can take him if +you wish." + +He walked away, and in an instant Nat was squatting down, and going +through what is known to boys as the cobbler's hornpipe for a few +moments, a triumphal terpsichorean performance, which he ended directly, +and ran to the wall, ducked down head and hands, till he planted them on +the stone floor, and, throwing up his heels, stood upon his head, and +tapped the wall with the backs of his boots. + +"Nat, come down," cried Scarlett, laughing. "Why, what does that mean?" + +"Mean, sir? Why, I feel as if I could jump out o' my skin." + +"Why?" + +"Because I'm a-going along o' you, and to show my brother Samson as +we've got some stuff in our family." + +"But I didn't say that you were to go." + +"No, Master Scar; but you're going to, aren't you?" + +Scarlett was silent. + +"Oh, Master Scar, sir, don't you run back. Do, do pray take me. Ah, I +see a twinkle at the corner of your mouth. You're only teasing a +fellow. I may go, sir?" + +"Yes, Nat; and I'm very, very glad." + +Nat startled the horses by throwing his cap to the roof of the stable, +and made them tug at their halters, but it did not seem to matter to +him, for he caught up a pitchfork, shouldered it, and began to march up +and down, shouting rather than singing a snatch of a song he had heard +somewhere in the neighbourhood, where the war fever had been catching +more men than they knew-- + + "`So it's up with the sword that will fight for the crown, + And down with the--down with the--down with the--' + +"I say, Master Scar, what comes next?" + +"I don't know at all. But I'll tell you what must come next." + +"Yes sir." + +"Pack up and be ready for the march to-morrow, and we've got to say +good-bye." + +"Yes, Master Scar, and glad I'll be when it's over, for there'll be some +wet eyes in the Hall, both parlour and kitchen, before we set away." + +Nat was right. There were tears, many and bitter, for master and man +that night; and next morning when, after tying a scarf round her son's +shoulder, Lady Markham clung to him passionately, till, with a last +hasty kiss to his sister, a final embrace to his mother, Scarlett set +spurs to his sturdy horse, and galloped off across the park to where Nat +was waiting, and there he drew rein to allow his father to come up. + +Sir Godfrey rode fast till he was within about twenty yards, when he +signed to them to ride on, and the trio went forward slowly till they +were at the top of the slope, where they instinctively turned to take a +farewell look at the old Hall and the handkerchiefs waving adieu. + +"So peaceful and happy," said Scarlett to himself; and then, with a +curious sensation as of a film being drawn over his eyes, he turned +away, pressed his horse's sides, and when he strained round in the +saddle again to look back, it was to see the tops of trees growing about +his home, and the moorland spreading away to the sea. Nothing more. + +"Hah! I'm glad that's over, Master Scar," said Nat, with a sigh of +relief as they went gently along the lane which opened upon the +high-road lying to west and east, and there crossed it and led on +towards the Manor. + +They were within twenty yards of the cross-roads, when Nat looked +cautiously back, to see if his master was within hearing, and seeing +that he was not, he chuckled and said softly-- + +"Master Scar, sir." + +"Yes," said Scarlett, starting from a reverie full of recollections +about the times he and Fred had traversed that road on very different +missions to the present. + +"I was just thinking, sir, that I'd give every penny I've saved up again +I get married, which may happen some day, to see our Samson come +shuffling up yonder lane. How he would stare, and how mad he would be, +and--" + +"Hush, Nat. Look!" + +The ex-gardener sat up, round-eyed and as if turned into stone, while +the clatter of horse's hoofs behind told that Sir Godfrey had set spurs +to his horse, and was riding on to join them, which he did, drawing rein +as they reached the cross-roads, an act duly imitated by the group of +three horsemen coming up the lane from the opposite direction, and there +at the intersection of the great main western road, the two little +parties sat gazing at each other, accident having arranged that master, +son, and servant from Hall and Manor should be exactly opposite to each +other, gazing in each other's eyes. + +For full a minute no one spoke, and then Thunder, Sir Godfrey's charger, +threw up his noble head and whinnied loudly what might have been taken +as a defiance. + +"Now, Master Scar," whispered Nat, "isn't the master going to give the +word. It's war now, and we can soon do them." + +"Silence!" cried Sir Godfrey, sternly; and then, turning to Colonel +Forrester, he raised his plumed Cavalier hat, the colonel responding by +lifting the steel morion he wore. + +Then it was as if Sir Godfrey's command had had its effect upon all +present, for they gazed straight at each other, Nat and Samson with the +look of a couple of angry dogs waiting to be let loose and fight; the +two lads in a puzzled manner, as if ready to shake hands, and held back +by some invisible chain; and their fathers with a haughty look of anger +and disdain. + +Sir Godfrey was the first to speak in a stern tone of voice, as he +looked straight in Colonel Forrester's eyes. + +"May I ask, sir," he said, "in which direction you are going?" + +"No, sir," was the calm reply. "You have no right to make such a +demand." + +"Then I will address you in a more friendly spirit, Colonel Forrester. +The road here to the east leads towards the king's followers--the gentry +of the west who are gathering together beneath his banner to put an end +to the disorder and anarchy now running riot through the land. You +will, I presume, as a loyal gentleman, join us, and we can ride +together." + +"Is this banter or earnest, Sir Godfrey?" replied the colonel, as the +two boys sat with their ears tingling. + +"Earnest, Colonel Forrester. What other course could I expect an +officer to take?" + +"Then, if it be in earnest, sir--no; I ride not with you to help to +bolster up a tyranny which makes every true man in England blush for his +country." + +"Colonel Forrester!" + +"Sir Godfrey Markham!" + +There was a pause, during which the two old friends gazed defiantly at +each other, and then Colonel Forrester continued-- + +"No, sir; I ride to the west, to join those whom you call the inciters +to riot, anarchy, and confusion; but whom we, as true, honest +Englishmen, think of as those who are fighting to free our land and to +rescue it from the degradation to which it has been brought. Let me +entreat you, sir, as a gentleman, to think twice before you take the +road to the east, for the way is open still to the west. Ride with us, +Sir Godfrey. So old and gallant a soldier would be most welcome to our +ranks." + +"And a traitor to the king, whose commission I hold, and whose uniform I +shall once again wear." + +"Traitor!" said Colonel Forrester, starting, and his hand darted to the +hilt of his sword; but he drew it back with a hasty "Pish!" + +"Yes, sir, traitor, as you seem disposed to prove; but I warn you in +time. The king will prove the master over the wretched band of +anarchists who have risen against him." + +"Enough!" said Colonel Forrester. "That has to be proved." + +"Proved or no, sir, I command you to ride with me or to return to your +home. You are in arms against the king, the government, and the law of +this land. Surrender!" + +"Sir Godfrey, too much commanding of slaves to your wishes has rendered +you absurd of speech." + +"Do you hear me, sir?" cried Sir Godfrey. "I order you to follow me." + +Colonel Forrester's hand went again to his sword, but he snatched it +back. + +"I cannot answer your intemperate words, Sir Godfrey," he said; "and I +will not presume to utter so vain a command to you. This is free +England, sir, where every man who dares to think, thinks according to +his belief. We have been old friends; our boys have grown up together +as brothers, but the exigencies of our political faith sunder us widely +apart. Ride you your way, sir, and I pray you let me go mine; and may +our ways be farther and farther separated, so that we may never meet +again till it is in peace." + +As he spoke, he turned his horse, and rode slowly away down the western +road, leaving Sir Godfrey chafing angrily, and fidgeting with the hilt +of his sword, as he sat gazing after his old friend calmly ignoring his +presence, and followed by his son and his serving-man. + +"I ought to arrest him--a man openly in arms against the law; an enemy +to his majesty, who may work him terrible ill. But I cannot do it; I +cannot do it. Old friends--brothers; our wives who have been as +sisters." + +He paused for a few moments, gazing after the retiring figures, and then +jerked his horse round so sharply that the poor beast reared. + +"Left! Forward!" cried Sir Godfrey then, and he rode on to the east, +followed at a short distance by Nat and his son. + +Before they had gone a dozen yards, Nat, who was fidgeting about in his +saddle, evidently in a state of considerable mental perturbation, +wrenched himself round and looked after the Manor people, to see that +Samson was waiting for him to do so; and as soon as he did look, it was +to see a derisive threatening gesture, Samson, by pantomime, suggesting +that if he only had his brother's head under his arm, he would punch his +nose till he made it bleed. + +"Ur-r-r-r!" snarled Nat, with a growl like that of an irritated dog. + +"What's the matter, Nat?" + +"Matter, sir? See that Samson--ah, he's a rank bad 'un--shaking his +fist at me, and pretending to punch me? Here, I must go and give it him +now." + +"No, no," cried Scar, catching at Black Adder's rein. "Your orders are +to follow your colonel." + +"But are we to let that brother of mine insult his majesty's troops?" + +"We can afford to treat it with contempt," said Scarlett, solemnly, +though Nat's words and allusions made him feel disposed to laugh. + +"But I want to treat it to a big leathering, Master Scar. Here, sir, +mayn't I ride after him and fetch him off his horse?" + +"No; certainly not." + +"But, Master Scar, what could your father be thinking of? Here had we +got three of the ugliest Philistines in Coombeland in our hand, and +we've let 'em go to blight and freeze and blast everything. What could +Sir Godfrey be thinking about?" + +"Nat." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do you know what is a soldier's first duty?" + +"To fight, sir." + +"No: to obey orders." + +"But we aren't soldiers yet." + +"I think we are; so be silent." + +"Yes, sir; but if I only had leave, I'd draw my sword, gallop after that +bad brother of mine, and fetch him off his horse, or jackass, or +whatever the miserable beast is that he has his legs across." + +"And kill him? Your own brother?" + +"Kill him? Not I, sir. He arn't worth it. No; I'd take him prisoner, +nearly knock his head off, and then I'd tie his hands to the tail of my +horse, and drag him to the king's camp in triumph." + +Scarlett made no answer, for he had no faith in his servant's threats; +and together they rode on and on after Sir Godfrey, over the pleasant +moor, and on to the cultivated lands, and then on and on still into the +darkness, which seemed, as it thickened, like the gross darkness of war +and destruction, sweeping down upon the fair and sunny west. + +So thought Scarlett Markham, as he still rode on through the darkness, +and then his thoughts returned to home, and his mother's attitude as she +flung herself upon her knees, her clasped hands toward heaven, as she +uttered a prayer for the protection of those she loved. + +Sir Godfrey made no sign. He merely turned from time to time to see if +those he led were close behind, and then rode slowly on to join those +whose hands were raised against their brothers--father and sons to +plunge into the terrible warfare, which, once begun, seemed to know no +end. + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +WARLIKE EXPERIENCES. + +A year rapidly passed away, during which, young and slight as they were, +Scarlett Markham and Fred Forrester seemed to have changed into boyish +young men. The excitement of a soldier's life had forced them on, and +with great rapidity they had mastered the various matters of discipline +then known to the army. Sir Godfrey and Colonel Forrester were received +by the opposing factions with delight, their old military knowledge +making them invaluable, and they were at once placed in command of +regiments of horse, newly raised, and whose training caused them immense +effort. + +But the men were of splendid material, and before long Forrester's and +Markham's Horse were looked upon with respect; soon after with envy. + +In these two regiments the boys from Coombeland served six months as +ordinary soldiers, till, partly for their ability, partly from the dash +they had shown, they were nominally raised to the rank of officers, the +men of their troops willingly following the lead of the brave boys who +rode with them into dangers many enough. + +For, in those stern times, no father could spare his son. Those who +elected to serve had to run all risks, and the consequence was that on +either side the making of a good fighting army took but little time. + +"It do me good to see you, Master Scar," Nat used to say, as he rode +always at his young master's heels. "Think of a boy like you being an +orficer!" + +"A very poor one, Nat." + +"Nay, Master Scar, I don't know another in the regiment the men would +sooner follow." + +Equality of situation brings similarity of remark, and it was in like +words that Samson, after a tirade about his unnatural brother for +fighting against him, would address his young master from the Manor. + +And so another six months passed away, with the war-tide setting here +and there on the borders of Coombeland, but never spreading its +devastating influence there. The two lads grew more and more imbued +with the war-faith of their parties, and as they became sturdier and +more manly, hardened as they were by the rough, open air life they led, +a feeling of bitterness foreign to their natures rapidly increased, till +they were ready to speak with hate and contempt of the enemy they blamed +for destroying the peace of the land. + +And all this time, to Fred and Scar, home was becoming rapidly a memory. +By the merest chances, they heard that all was well, and, compelled to +be content with this scanty news, they plunged into their work again, +till the roar of cannon and clash of steel became familiar as were the +terrors of the scene of some desperate fight, such as modern soldiers +would speak of as a desultory skirmish. + +Eighteen months with the army, and, in spite of exposure, neither of the +Coombeland lads had met, or, as far as they knew, been near each other, +and neither of the two little parties from Hall and Manor had met with a +wound. + +But sterner times were near at hand. After much desultory fighting, the +Parliamentary forces were mustering strongly in the far west, and those +of the king had made Bristol a stronghold, and were moving on. + +There were two leaders of opposing ideas, who prayed that the war might +not sweep their way, but, as they prayed, they felt that the prayer was +vain, and their brows grew rugged as they read how surely what they +dreaded must follow, and felt how likely a battle-ground the moor would +prove in the neighbourhood of their peaceful homes. + +The little petty encounters kept on day after day, week after week, as +if each side was practising its men and trying their strength for some +great fight to come, and all the while, round and about Barnstaple and +away toward Exeter, the forces were gathering, till all at once, when +least expected, scouts came in from east and west with news that told of +a probable encounter, perhaps before another sun had set. + +Those who knew best, however, were not so sanguine till after that sun +had set, and among those was General Hedley, who gradually and +cautiously advanced, feeling his way step by step, each step being a +natural stronghold, which would help him against the dashing onslaughts +of Charles's cavaliers. + +But forty-eight hours had not elapsed before the rival forces were face +to face, when a little skirmishing took place, and then darkness put an +end to the varied encounters, the combatants waiting for daylight, when +a battle was bound to ensue. This fight must inevitably prove serious +to one or the other side, and either the Parliamentarian forces would be +driven back into the far west, where their scattered strength could be +quenched as the remains of a fire are beaten out, or else the king's men +would be driven towards Exeter, after what must prove a deadly blow. + +That night the occupants of Hall and Manor lay down to sleep within +hearing of the sentinels of each army, and the two lads, worn out with +fatigue, slept heavily, to dream of the homes they were so near--dreams +full of trouble and anxiety, as they seemed to see the sweet faces of +those they loved anxiously listening to the roar of gun and clash of +sword, and wondering what was to be their fate and where they could flee +if matters came to the worst. + +A trumpet roused Scarlett Markham from his dream of home. The deep roll +of drums awakened Fred, and as daylight came, and the larks sprang from +the dewy moor to carol high in the soft, grey, gold flecked sky, there +was the trampling of men and the snorting of horses, and then the first +gun belched forth its destroying message against the advancing forces of +the king. + +Needless to tell of that fight of brother against brother with the +horrors of the field. Hour after hour went by, hours of manoeuvring and +change of front, and always with the king's men gaining ground, and +driving back the Parliamentarians, whose position seemed to be growing +desperate. And as the Royalist leaders saw their advantage, they grew +more reckless, and urged their men on, till it seemed as if a dozen +lesser fights were in progress, the grim men of the Commonwealth +fighting hard to hold their own. + +This went on till the afternoon, when, in their exhaustion, the king's +men paused almost with wonder at the stubborn front still presented to +their steel. + +"It is their last despairing stand," said the Royalist general to +himself, and he gathered his men for a final advance upon the low hill +crowned by the enemy. + +The advance was made by men wearied out, against those who had not done +half the marching and counter-marching, and as they swept on, they saw +the change in the front for which they had looked so long--at first with +triumph, then with despair. For now General Hedley sent forward his +grim squadrons, held so long in reserve, and, raging with their long +inaction, they dashed down the slope like a thunderbolt which met the +Cavaliers half-way, broke through them, rode them down, and before the +two parts into which they were divided could recover in the slightest +degree, from the right and left flanks fresh squadrons broke down upon +them, and in five minutes the imaginary triumph had become a rout. + +The king's banner that day lay low, the royal standard trailing in the +dust, as a wild shout of victory was raised by the soldiers of the +Parliament, and the gaily caparisoned Cavaliers in bitter despair fled +broken and in disorder for their lives. + +"Oh, evil fortune!" groaned Sir Godfrey, as he reluctantly galloped away +beside his son, their jaded horses going heavily, with heaving flanks. +"Quick, my boy, quick!" + +"Oh, father," cried Scarlett, "and we are galloping away from home." + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +FRED FORRESTER'S PRISONER. + +Wild nearly with excitement, Fred Forrester kept his place in the ranks +of his father's regiment all through that busy day of advance, retreat, +and skirmish; but the Forresters were held in reserve during the final +charge which resulted in the scattering of the king's forces before the +warriors of the Parliament. + +The day was won, and pursuit was going on in all directions; but the +main body of the Parliamentarians were camping for the night, and tents +were being set up, the wounded brought in, and strong parties engaged in +burying the dead, while, as troop after troop returned with batches of +prisoners, these were placed under guard, after being carefully +disarmed. + +The Forresters had dismounted at the edge of a beautiful, grove-like +patch of timber at the foot of a hill. A stream of pure water babbled +among the rocks, and, as the soft summer evening came slowly on, the +grim, warlike aspect of the scene seemed to die out, and the smoke of +the camp-fires, the pennons fluttering in the evening breeze, and the +glinting of breastplate and morion formed a picture against the +background of green, which might from a distance have been taken for one +of peace. + +Fred had dismounted, and, after taking off his heavy morion, which he +would never own was too big and uncomfortable to a degree, hung it from +the pommel of his saddle, while he patted and made much of his horse, +unbuckling the bit, and leading the handsome beast to where it could +make a meal from the soft, green grass. + +"Poor old lad!" he said; "you must be nearly tired out." + +The horse whinnied, and began feeding at once, while, after watching the +men making their preparations for the bivouac, Fred was about to throw +himself down, being too weary after his many hours in the saddle to care +for food, when his father rode up, followed by a couple of the officers. + +"Ah, Fred, my boy," he cried; "that's right: take care of your horse. +There will be some supper ready in about half an hour. A glorious day, +my boy, a glorious day; and I'm proud of the way you behaved!" + +"Are you, father," said Fred, sadly. "I don't think I have done much." + +"You have done all I could wish to see you do. But, there, I must go +and see after our men. Come up to my quarters soon, and eat, and then +lie down and sleep. I may want you before long." + +"To go on guard, sir?" + +"No; for any little duty--to take charge of prisoners, perhaps. Where +is Samson?" + +"Gone, father." + +"What? Not killed?" + +"I hope not, father; but after that gallop, when we last changed front, +I missed him, and, though we have searched, we can't find him. I'm +afraid the enemy carried him off." + +"Poor lad! A brave fellow, Fred. There, I must go." + +"Shall I come with you now, father?" + +"No; lie down and rest till the meal is ready." + +Colonel Forrester rode off with his followers, and his son walked +wearily to where his horse was feeding, and led it where it could have a +hearty drink of the pure water. Then, having turned it loose again, he +threw himself down, and lay gazing at the sunlit scene, wishing that the +war was over, and that he could go back to the dear old manor house, and +enjoy the pleasures of home and peace. + +How beautiful it all looked, the golden sunshine glorifying the +oak-trees with their tender leaves, and turning the pine trunks +bronze-red! The films of wood smoke from the camp-fires spread in a +pale blue vapour, and the babbling stream flashed. But, restful as the +scene was, and pleasant as the reclining posture was to his aching +bones, Fred did not feel happy, for he knew that not far away men were +lying in fever and weariness, cut, stabbed, trampled by horse hoof, and +shattered by bullet, many of them waiting anxiously for death, the same +death that had come upon so many of their fellows, who were lying stark +on the field, or being hastily laid in rows in their shallow grave. + +"When will it all be over?" he said to himself. "I wonder where Scar +is;" and then he thought how horrible it would be if ever he were to +meet his old friend in action. + +"And him with a sword in his hand and me with a sword in mine," he +muttered. "Should we fight? I suppose so," he added, after a few +moments' thought. "We are enemies now." + +He started up on his elbow, for just then there was a cheer, in +salutation of a man who was coming slowly up, leading his horse; and it +only needed a second glance to show that it was Samson. + +Fred forgot his weariness, sprang up, and ran toward his follower, who +caught sight of him directly, and hastened to meet him. + +"Oh!" ejaculated Fred, as he drew nearer and caught sight of the man's +face. "What a horrible wound! Samson, lad, we thought you a prisoner, +or dead." + +"I arn't a prisoner, because I'm here," grumbled Samson; "and I arn't +dead yet, thank ye, Master Fred." + +"But your wound. Come on to the surgeon at once." + +"My wound, sir?" + +"Yes. Your face looks terrible. How did you manage to get here?" + +"Face looks terrible--manage to get here! I'll tell you, sir. A big +fellow with a broad grey hat and feathers, and all long hair and ragged +lace, spurred at me, and, if I hadn't been tidy sharpish, he'd have rode +me down. Hit at me, too, he did, with his sword, and caught me on the +shoulder, but it didn't cut through the leather; and, 'fore he could get +another cut at me, I give him a wipe on the head as made him rise up in +his sterrups and hit at me with his fist." + +"His fist, Samson?" + +"Yes, sir. There was his sword in it, of course, and the pommel hit me +right on the nose; and before I could get over it, he was off along with +the rest, full gallop, and I was sitting on the ground, thinking about +my mother and what a mess I was in, and my horse looking as if he was +ashamed of me, as I was of myself. I wonder he didn't gallop off, too; +but I s'pose he thought he wouldn't get a better master." + +"But your face, Samson? It looks horrid." + +"Well, I can't help that, Master Fred, can I? Didn't make my own face. +Good enough to come and fight with." + +"Come along with me to the surgeon." + +"What, and leave my horse? Not I, sir." + +"A man's wounds are of more consequence than a horse." + +"Who says so? I think a mortal deal more o' my horse than I do o' my +wounds. 'Sides I arn't got no wounds." + +"You have, and don't know it. You have quite a mask of blood on your +face. It is hideous." + +"Yah! that's nothing. It's my nose. It always was a one to bleed. +Whenever that brother o' mine, who went to grief and soldiering, used to +make me smell his fist, my nose always bled, and his fist was quite as +hard as that hard-riding R'y'list chap's. Called me a Roundhead dog, +too, he did, as he hit me. If I'd caught him, I'd ha' rounded his head +for him." + +"Yes, yes, of course, Samson; but come down to the stream, and bathe +your face. Your horse is grazing now." + +"You're getting too vain and partic'lar, Master Fred," grumbled Samson. +"You're thinking of looking nice, like the R'y'lists, when you ought to +be proud of a little blood shed in the good cause." + +"I am proud and ready too, Samson; but come and wash your face." + +"I'll come," grumbled Samson; "and I never kears about washing myself +now. Never a drop o' hot water, no towels, no soap, and no well, and no +buckets. Once a week seems quite enough, specially as you has to wait +till you get dry." + +By a little persuasion, Samson was led to the stream, where he knelt +down and bathed his face, looking up to his master from time to time to +ask if that was better, the final result being that, beyond a little +swelling on one side, Samson's nose was none the worse for the +encounter. + +"There!" he cried at last; "I suppose that will do, sir." + +"Yes, my lad, and I'm very, very glad you have escaped so well." + +"Oh, I've 'scaped well enough, Master Fred; deal better than I deserved. +We're a wicked, bad, good-for-nothing family. Look at our Nat, +fighting against his own brother." + +"It is very sad, Samson," said Fred; "but, remember, you are fighting +against him." + +"That I arn't, sir. It's him fighting against me, and I only wish I may +run against him some day. I'd make him so sore that he'll lie down and +howl for his mother, poor soul, and she breaking her heart about him +turning out so badly; and, I say, Master Fred, if I don't have something +to eat, I shall be only fit to bury to-morrow." + +"Come with me, Samson; I'm going up to my father's quarters. I'll see +that you have plenty to eat, if there is anything." + +"Who'd be without a good master?" muttered Samson; and then aloud, "Here +he comes." + +For Colonel Forrester came cantering up. + +"Alive and well, Samson? Good lad! We couldn't spare you. Fred, my +boy, news has come in that a little party of the enemy has taken shelter +in the woodland yonder over the hill. Take a dozen men, surround them, +and bring them in. Don't let one of them escape. Turned back by one of +the regiments crossing their path as they were in retreat. Now, then, +to horse and away!" + +Burning with excitement, Fred forgot all his weariness, buckled his +horse's bit, mounted, and turned to select his men, when he found Samson +already mounted, and at his elbow. + +"Here, what do you want, sir?" he cried. + +"What do I want, Master Fred? Why, to go with you." + +"Nonsense! You are fagged out. Go and rest, and your horse too." + +"Now, I do call that likely, Master Fred. Let you go without me. I +should just think not." + +"But this is nonsense, Samson. I want fresh men." + +"Just what I thought, sir. Nonsense for you to go without me, and you +don't want no fresh men. You want me, and I'm coming--there!" + +Fred had neither time nor inclination to combat his follower's desire; +in fact, he was rather glad to have the sturdy, west-country man at his +elbow, so he rode up to the main portion of the regiment, selected +eleven out of a hundred who wanted to go with the young officer, and +rode off at a moderate trot across country, forded the stream, and then, +bearing away from the woodland, made as if to leave it on his right, so +as not to excite suspicion in case they were seen. But just as he was +well opposite, he gave an order, the men divided in two parties, and set +off at a gallop to surround the trees, the mounted men halting at about +a hundred yards apart, and waiting for the signal to advance. + +The manoeuvre was soon executed, and the circle moved steadily toward +the centre of the park-like patch of ground, so open that as the ring +grew smaller there was not the slightest prospect of any of the enemy +breaking through unseen. + +Fred, in his anxiety to carry out his father's commands successfully, +had remained at the foot of the wooded slope, Samson being on his right +and another trustworthy fellow on his left, for he felt sure that those +of whom they were in search would break out in his direction. In fact, +he sat there waiting for his men to drive the intended prisoners down +for him to take. + +The task was not long, for the tramping of horses was heard, and the +rustling and crackling of the undergrowth; but the enemy did not break +cover. + +At last, though, there was a rush and the clash of steel, and, with his +heart throbbing, the lad signed to his nearest men to close up, and they +advanced together, then set spur to their horses, and made a dash for a +clump of bushes, where three horsemen were striving to get out through +the tangle; and as they reached them Fred uttered an exclamation full of +anger. + +"Look at that!" cried Samson. "Why, they're our own men." + +Fred uttered an impatient cry. + +"Couldn't you see them?" he said to the first man who struggled out of +the bushes. + +"No, sir; nobody there." + +"Then you must have missed them, and they are there now." + +"We searched the place well," said another man; and one by one, as the +party closed up, they told the same tale. + +"Father was deceived," thought Fred; and the more readily, that it was +not the first example by many of pieces of false news brought in by +spies. + +"Here!" he cried aloud, "we'll all ride through again. Ah! look yonder. +Forward! Gallop!" he shouted; and, setting spurs to his horse, he +dashed off, followed by his men, for there, a quarter of a mile to the +left, was a little party of six horsemen stealing along a narrow coombe, +after evading their pursuers in some way. + +They were well in view as Fred emerged from the wooded land, and were +evidently spurring hard to escape, and for the next quarter of an hour +the chances seemed even, for the distance was maintained, and each party +kept well together; but after that the pace began to tell, and horse and +man tailed off till both parties seemed to be straggling over the +ground, the better-mounted to the front, the worse hanging behind. + +It was soon evident that the pursuers' horses were far fresher than +those of the Royalists; and after shouting to his men to come on, Fred +raced forward, with Samson close behind, and after a headlong gallop of +about ten minutes, the young leader had overtaken the hindmost horseman, +who was standing in his stirrups, his morion close down over his eyes, +his back up, and apparently blind to everything that was before him as +well as behind. + +"Have him, Samson, lad," cried Fred, as he spurred on past this fugitive +to try and overtake the leader, a young-looking man in showy cavalier +hat and feathers, who kept on turning in his saddle and encouraging his +men to fresh exertions. + +The next minute, as they thundered along, Samson rode straight at the +man with the morion over his eyes, but before he could reach him the +fugitive's horse made a poor attempt to clear a bush in his way, +stumbled, fell headlong, and shot his rider half a dozen yards in front. + +"Prisoners; and don't hurt them," shouted Fred, waving his sword, and +his men gave an answering yell. So did the pursued, for no sooner did +the young leader discover that one of his men was down than he checked +his horse, held up his sword for the others to rally round him, and +turned at once on the party headed by Fred. + +It was a gallant attempt, but useless. Their horses were spent, and as +they were checked before they could make any effective stand, Fred's +party literally sprung at them. There was a sharp shock; the exchange +of a few blows, and it was all over, the little party being literally +ridden down, their leader going over, horse and all, at Fred's charge. + +The young Cavalier struggled free from his fallen horse, and tried to +drag a pistol from the holster at his saddle-bow, for his sword had +flown a dozen yards away among the bushes; but Fred had him by the neck +directly, his hand well inside the steel gorget he wore, and in one +breath he shouted, as he held his sword at his breast, "Surrender!" and +then, "Scar Markham! You!" + +"Yes. Give up, my lads," cried the prisoner. "We've done all we could. +Let the crop-ears have a few prisoners for once in a way." + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +TEASING A PRISONER. + +Fred Forrester was too much astonished at the result of his pursuit to +make any sharp retort, but sat holding his prisoner by the gorget, +staring wildly at his old playmate, who seemed wonderfully changed since +their last meeting, and who had looked, in spite of dust and sweat, tall +and handsome in his gay frippery, scarf, scarlet feather, and long +curling hair. + +"Well, rebel," cried the prisoner; and Fred started from his reverie. +"Am I the first you ever had the luck to take that you stare in that +way? Don't choke me." + +Fred's tanned cheeks grew crimson, and his brow was knit as he turned +away his face to look after his men, who in the meantime had taken the +whole of the little party, dismounted those who needed it, bound their +arms behind their back, and collected the horses. + +"Look ye here, sir," cried Samson, dragging forward the man in the +morion, who came behind limping, "I've got him at last. This is my +wretch of a brother, who has taken up arms against me." + +"Against you--you ill-looking dog!" cried Scarlett, fiercely. "How dare +you! Crop-eared rebel!" + +"That will do, sir," said Fred, sternly; for, after being a little +overawed by the gallant aspect of his prisoner, he was recovering +himself, and recollecting his position. "Will you give your promise not +to escape, or must I have you bound?" + +"Promise to a set of knaves like you?" cried the youth, fiercely. "No. +Do what you will; only, mind this--our time will come." + +"Yes; and when it does," cried Nat, shaking his head to get rid of the +iron cap which was over his eyes, for his hands were bound, "we'll show +them what it is to be rebels, eh, Master Scarlett--captain, I mean?" + +"Silence, sir!" cried Fred, angrily; and, after giving the men orders, +the little party returned with their prisoners in their midst, Scarlett +behind, gazing haughtily before him, and paying no heed to a few words +addressed to him at first by his captor, who reined back at the slight, +and followed afterwards at the rear of his little troop, angry and +indignant at Scarlett's contemptuous manner, and at the same time sorry +and glad, the latter feeling perhaps predominating, for he had +successfully carried out his father's commands. + +"I wish it had been some one else," he was thinking, as the little party +rode on, the prisoners mounted on their horses, but looking in sorry +plight with their hands bound behind. "What will my father say when he +sees who it is?" + +At that moment the sound of angry voices and a hoarse laugh from the +troopers made Fred urge his horse forward. + +"What is this?" he said. "I will not have the prisoners insulted." + +"It's the prisoners insulting us, Master Fred--I mean captain. It's +this ne'er-do-well of a brother o' mine bragging and bouncing because +his hair's grown a bit longer than mine. He keeps calling me crop-ears, +sir, and showing off as if he was a Cavalier." + +"So you are a crop-ear and a rebel," said Nat, for his fall had hurt +him, and made him disagreeable. + +"Silence, sir!" cried Fred, as he made a gesture as if to strike the +ex-gardener a blow with the flat of his sword. + +"Shan't silence," said Nat. "You're not my master. Rebels can't be +masters, and you daren't hit me now I'm tied up, much as you'd like to. +Cowards, all of you!" + +"Beg pardon, captain," said Samson, "but may I untie his arms, sir, and +have him down under the trees with our buffs off? I could give him such +a leathering in five minutes." + +"Silence! Forward! Samson, rein back;" and they rode slowly on till +the outskirts of the camping place were reached, sentries challenging +and men cheering the little party as they came in with their captives +right to where the regiment lounged about the camp-fires. + +Here Colonel Forrester strode out from his tent, followed by half a +dozen officers, all ready to cheer the boy who had so successfully +carried out the reconnaissance. + +"Any one hurt?" asked the colonel, looking very cold and stern, and +hardly glancing at his son. + +"Only a few scratches and bruises, sir. We took the whole party." + +"That's well. Which is the leader? Here, you!" + +Scarlett paid no heed to the command, but a couple of the troopers +seized his arms, and hurried him before the colonel. + +"Which way has the main body of your forces gone, sir?" + +"You had better follow and find out for yourself, Colonel Forrester," +said the prisoner, coldly. "You will get no information from me." + +"Scar Markham!" exclaimed the colonel, in astonishment. "My poor boy, I +am sorry that we should meet like this." + +"And I am glad, sir," cried Scarlett, excitedly, "for it gives me an +opportunity to say that I, too, am sorry to see you like this, a rebel +and traitor to your king." + +"Silence, sir! How dare you! Take the prisoners away, and see that +they are well used." + +"Yes, father," replied Fred; and he saw the five men disposed of, and +then led Scarlett to his own little tent which he had placed at his +disposal, and saw that he had an ample supply of food. + +He then took his own, of which he was in sore need, and began to eat in +silence, furtively watching the prisoner, who remained silent, and +refused the food, though he was famishing. + +Fred's anger had subsided now, and remembering the old days before these +times of civil war and dissension, he said quietly-- + +"I am sorry I have nothing better to offer you." + +Scarlett turned upon him sharply, with a flash of the eye, as if about +to speak; but he turned away again, and sat looking straight before him. + +There was a long silence then, during which Fred thought how hard it was +for his old friend to be dragged there a prisoner, and he said softly-- + +"I was only doing my duty, Scar. I was sent out to take the party seen +from our outposts." + +"Have the goodness to keep your pity for those who need it, crop-ear," +said Scarlett, scornfully; "and recollect that I am, though a prisoner, +one of his Majesty's officers, one who holds no converse with rebels." + +Fred's cheeks flushed again, and his brow wrinkled. + +"Very well," he said angrily. "We are fighting on opposite sides, but I +did not know that we need insult each other when we met." + +As he spoke he left the tent, and Scarlett winced, and his eyes +softened. + +"Poor old Fred!" he said below his breath; "and I used to think he was +like a brother." + +It was a glorious evening as Fred Forrester strolled away from the tent, +stopping to speak to one of the sentries about the prisoner in the +little tent, though he felt that he need hardly take any precaution, for +Scarlett was not likely to try to escape and leave his men behind. + +"Wonder whether we shall ever be friends again," he thought, "and be +back at the old places as before. This terrible fighting cannot always +go on. What's that?" + +A great deal of shouting and laughter in the centre of a little crowd of +soldiers took his attention, and one of the voices sounding familiar, he +walked slowly toward the group, hardly caring in which direction he went +so that it was away from his tent. + +"What are they doing?" he asked of one of the men. + +"Don't quite know, sir. Teasing one of the prisoners, I think." + +Feeling that his father would be angry if the prisoners were annoyed in +any way, he walked sharply to the throng, and, as he reached it, he +heard a familiar voice say-- + +"Now, that's what I call behaving like a brother should, gentlemen. He +goes away into bad company and disgraces his name, lets his hair grow +ragged and greasy and long, and comes here a prisoner with a nasty dirty +face, so what have I done? I give him my supper because he was hungry, +and he ate it all, and called me a crop-eared rebel for my pains. So +after that I washed his face for him and cut his hair, and made him look +decent, but I didn't crop his ears, though the shears went very near +them two or three times. But look at him now." + +There was a roar of laughter at this, and Fred could hardly keep from +joining in, so comical was the aspect of Sir Godfrey Markham's old +servant, as he stood there with his hands bound behind him. + +For, as Samson said, his brother was now quite clean, and he had cut his +hair, which had grown long, in a bad imitation of a Cavalier's. But +this was not merely cut off now, but closely cropped, so that Nat's head +was round and close as a great ball. + +"All right, Sam," he said, as his brother came close to him. "Wait a +bit till our side wins, and then perhaps I may take you prisoner, and if +so--" + +"Well, if you do--what then?" + +"Wait, my lad, and see." + +Fred Forrester could never after fully explain his feelings. He left +the group feeling as if some spirit of mischief had taken possession of +him, and kept suggesting that he too had fed his brother, had given up +everything to him, and been reviled for his pains. Why should not he +show Scarlett Markham that courtesy was due to those who had made him +prisoner of war? As it was, his old companion seemed to have grown +arrogant and overbearing. He had spoken to him as if he were a dog, and +looked at him as if he were one of the most contemptible objects under +the sun. + +"No," he said, with a half-laugh, "I could not do it." + +Then he recalled a long list of injuries he had received from Scarlett, +things which had made his blood boil, and he felt tempted again. + +But his better self prevailed the next minute, and, shaking his head, he +returned to his tent, to find that after all Scarlett had partaken of +the food, and had now thrown himself down on Fred's cloak and gone to +sleep. + +As he lay there in the dim light, Fred gazed at his old companion's +handsome young face, flowing curls, and soiled but still handsome +uniform, with something like envy. But this passed away; and soon after +he lay down outside the tent, to fall into a fit of musing, which was +mingled with the pace of sentries, hoarse orders, and the blare of +trumpets. Then all was silent, and he fell fast asleep, out there on +the bare ground, only to awaken at the morning calls. + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +A LESSON IN SELF-CONTROL. + +"You will take twelve men as escort, and guard those prisoners to Newton +Abbott; there you will give them up, and return as quickly as you can to +me." + +"Yes, sir. The men need not be bound?" + +"Yes; every one." + +"Scar Markham, father?" + +"Yes; you must run no risks. You might meet a party of the enemy, and +if your prisoners fought against you, what then? Let them be bound +while on the road. They will have comparative freedom when you have +given them up." + +The stern school of war in which Fred Forrester was taking his early +lessons of discipline and obedience had already taught him to hear and +to obey. + +This was after a halt of three days in their temporary camp, during +which the careful general of the little army had thought it better to +rest and recruit his men than to weary them in a vain pursuit at a time +when they were pretty well exhausted with previous work. + +Fred had seen a great deal of the prisoners during the time, but only +for the estrangement between him and his old companion to grow greater. +For Scarlett was suffering bitterly from the reverses which had befallen +his party, and was in agony about his father's fate. He had tried to +obtain some news of the division to which they had been attached, but +all he could learn was that in the late engagement it had been cut to +pieces, and its components who remained had fled in all directions, +while he could not discover whether his father had been among the many +slain. + +Stung by his sufferings, and irritable to a degree, he was in no mood to +meet Fred's advances, looking upon him, as he did, as one of his +father's murderers, and when he did not give him a fierce look of +resentment, he turned his back upon him, and treated him with the +greatest scorn and contempt. + +Their relations under these circumstances did not promise well, then, +for their journey to Newton Abbott, and matters seemed to culminate for +ill when the escort was ready, the prisoners' horses brought out, and +Fred announced that the time of departure had come. Scarlett rose from +where he had been lying upon his cloak in silence; but the sight of his +old companion seemed to rouse him to speak; and in a bitterly +contemptuous way he turned to his men, saying to Nat-- + +"They might have sent a man to take charge of us, my lads." + +Fred winced, and felt small in his military uniform. He bit his lip, +and told himself that he would not notice the petty remark, but the +words leaped out-- + +"I dare say I shall be man enough to take you safely to your prison, +sir;" but Scarlett turned angrily away. + +The prisoners took their cue from their leader, and behaved in an +exaggerated, swaggering manner, that was galling in the extreme. + +"Seem to have starved our horses," said Nat, to one of his fellows; and, +less full of control than his leader, Samson spoke out. + +"No, we haven't, for we've given the poor things a good fill out, such +as they hadn't had for a month; and my word, Nat, you look quite +respectable without those long greasy corkscrews hanging about your +ears." Nat turned upon him fiercely. "Do I?" he cried. "Wait till our +turn comes, and I'll crop you." + +"Don't want it," cried Samson, gleeful at his brother's rage. + +"Your hair don't, but your ears do, so look out." + +"Silence!" cried Fred, sternly; and then he gave the order for all to +mount. + +As he was obeyed, and Scarlett swung himself into the saddle, his +nostrils dilated, and as he felt the sturdy horse between his knees, he +involuntarily glanced round at the surrounding country. + +Fred saw it, and smiled. "No, sir, not this time," he said. "I think +you will be too well guarded for that." + +Scarlett showed that he was well dubbed; for his pale cheeks flushed the +colour of his name as he turned away, feeling hot that his action should +have been plain enough for his enemy to read his thoughts. + +Then he set his teeth fast, and they grated together, as he heard Fred's +next orders, and saw a couple of men close up on either side of the +prisoners, thrust a stake beneath their arms and across their backs, to +which stake their arms were firmly bound, and the ends of the cords +which formed their bonds made fast to their horses' necks. + +"No fear o' you cantering off, Master Nat," said Samson, as, with keen +appreciation of his masterful position, he tied his brother as tightly +as he could, while Nat resisted and struggled so that he had to be held +by Samson's companion, his steel headpiece falling off in the encounter. +"That's got him, I think," said Samson, tightening the last knot which +held him to the horse. "Dropped your cap, have you? All right, you +shall have it. There!" + +A burst of laughter followed Samson's act of politeness, for he had +stuck on the steel jockey-like cap with its peak towards the back, and +the curve, which was meant to protect the back of the head, well down +over his eyes. + +"Only wait," grumbled Nat; "I'll save all this up for you." + +"Thank ye, Nat. I say, you haven't got a feather in your cap. Anybody +got a feather? No. I've a good mind to cut off his horse's tail for a +plume; the root of the tail would just stick upon that spike. Hallo, +what's the matter there?" + +Nat turned sharply from his brother to where Scarlett was hotly +protesting. + +"It is a mistake," he said, angrily, to the two men who had approached +him on either side with stake and cord. "I am an officer and a +gentleman, and refuse to be bound." + +"It's the captain's orders, sir," said one of the men, surlily. + +"Then go and tell him that you have mistaken his orders," cried +Scarlett, ignoring the fact that Fred was seated within half a dozen +yards. + +The men turned to their officer, who pressed his horse's sides and +closed up. + +"What is the matter?" he said. "Of what do you complain, Master +Markham?" + +"Tell your officer I am Captain Markham, of Prince Rupert's cavalry," +said Scarlett, haughtily. + +"I beg your pardon, captain," said Fred, coldly. "Now, then, of what do +you complain?" + +"Of your scoundrelly rabble, sir," cried Scarlett, turning upon him +fiercely. "You see, they are about to treat me as if I were a dog." + +"They were going to bind you, sir, as your men are bound. In our army, +the officers are not above suffering and sharing with their men." + +Scarlett winced at this, and flushed more deeply, but he tried to turn +it off by a fierce attack. + +"Then this is some cowardly plot of yours to insult one who has fallen +into your hands." + +"I am obeying the orders of my superior officer, who placed you and the +other prisoners in my charge, with instructions that they were to be +conveyed bound to their destination." + +"The men, not their officer, sir." + +"Ah," replied Fred, coldly. And then, laconically, "Bind him." + +"You insolent dog!" cried Scarlett, in his rage. "It is your malignant +spite. You shall not bind me, if I die for it." + +As he spoke, he struck his spurs into his horse's flanks, snatched the +stout ash staff one of the men held from his hand, leaned forward, and +then, as Fred seized his horse's bridle to stop him from galloping off, +struck his captor with all his might. + +The blow was intended for Fred's head, but the movement of the horses in +the _melee_ caused the staff to fall heavily across the young officer's +thigh. + +Unable to restrain a cry of rage and pain, Fred snatched his sword +three-parts from its sheath, and then thrust it back, angry with himself +for his loss of temper, while Scarlett sat struggling vainly, for the +man who held the rope had skilfully used it just as a child would a +skipping rope, throwing it over the prisoner's arms, crossing his hands, +and passing one end to a soldier on the other side. In an instant, +Scarlett's elbows were bound tightly to his ribs, and there held, while +a couple more men thrust a fresh staff behind his back and under his +arms, another rope was used, and with the rapidity which comes of +practice upon hundreds of previous prisoners, the passionate young +officer was literally bound and trussed, the ends of rope being made +fast to the horse he rode. + +The men who were looking on, murmured angrily at the blow which they saw +fall on their young officer. + +"Hang him to the nearest tree," shouted one of the party. + +"Silence!" cried Fred, sternly; and speaking quite calmly now, though he +was quivering with pain, he pressed his horse closely to that upon which +his prisoner rode. + +"That was a cowardly blow, Scar Markham," he said, in a whisper. "I was +only doing my duty. You'll ask my pardon yet." + +"Pardon?" raged the lad; "never! Oh, if I only were free and had my +sword, I'd make you beg mine for this indignity. Miserable wretch! +Rebel! I shall live yet to see you and your traitor of a father hung." + +Fred started angrily at this, but he checked himself, reined back his +horse, and looking very white now from anger and pain, he gave the word +of command. Six of his men formed up in front of the prisoners, the +other six took their places behind; swords were drawn, and the horses +bearing the prisoners needed no guiding, but in accordance with their +training as cavalry mounts, set off in rank as the word "March!" was +given, the young leader waiting till all had passed, and then taking his +place beside the last two men, one of whom was Samson. + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +A COWARDLY REVENGE. + +No word was spoken as they crossed the fields that separated them from +the road, which they reached by the leading men turning their horses +into the rapid stream, and letting them wade for a few yards through the +flashing water knee-deep, and sending the drops foaming and sparkling in +the bright morning sun. + +"Left," shouted Fred, as the road was reached, and the next minute the +little detachment was trampling up the dust which rose behind them. + +"Did it hurt you much, Master Fred?" whispered Samson. + +"Hurt me? I felt as if my leg was cut off; and it is just now as if the +bone was broken." + +"Perhaps you'd better not go, sir." + +"Not go? I'd go if it was ten times as bad." + +"And what are you going to do to Master Scar?" + +"Half kill him some day." + +"Why not to-day, sir? Draw up somewhere in a wood, and we'll all see +fair. You can whip him, Master Fred; I know you can. We'll set them +free for a bit, and I'll stand by you, and Nat shall stand by his young +master." + +"Don't talk nonsense, Samson." + +"'Tisn't nonsense, sir. You nearly always used to whip him when you two +fell out, and you're bigger and stronger now." + +"But we are in different positions now, Samson," said Fred, +thoughtfully; "and it is impossible." + +"Don't say that, sir. The men would like to see you whip him for what +he did." + +"No, Samson. It could not be done." + +"You aren't afraid of him, are you, sir?" + +"Afraid? How dare you?" + +"Oh, I beg pardon, sir. I was only saying so because I thought the men +would think you were, for putting up with a crack like that." + +Samson's words stung more deeply than he expected, though he had meant +then to rankle, for to his mind nothing would have been more fair or +more acceptable than for his young leader to face the Royalist prisoner +with nature's weapons, and engage in a regular up and down fight, such +as would, he felt sure, result in victory for their side. + +They rode on in silence for some time before Samson hazarded another +word. + +"Beg pardon, sir," he then said, humbly. "I didn't mean to hurt your +feelings." + +"No, no; I know that, Samson." + +"It was only because I thought that the men might think you afraid of +Master Scarlett." + +Fred turned upon him angrily. + +"I beg your pardon again, sir," whispered Samson; "but it's just as I +say. I know you aren't scared of him a bit, because I've knowed you +ever since you was a little tot as I give pigabacks and rides a-top of +the grass when I'd a barrow full. But the men don't know you as I do, +sir. Call a halt, sir, and fight him." + +"Samson, I am talking to you as my old friend now, not as your officer. +It is impossible." + +"Not it, sir. The men would like it. So would you; and as for me--let +me fight brother Nat same time, and I'll give him such a beating as he +won't know whether it's next We'n'sday or last We'n'sday, or the year +before last." + +"I tell you, man, it's impossible, so say no more." + +"Very well, Master Fred. I only tell you the truth; and if you find the +lads aren't so willing to follow you, mind, it's that." + +"I have my duty to do, sir, so say no more." + +"What a nuisance dooty is," said Samson to himself, as his young leader +went slowly to the front, and rode for a time beside the leading file. +"They'll set him down as a coward. 'Course I know he isn't, but they'll +think so. Ha, ha, ha!" + +"What are you laughing at?" said the man on his right. + +"At him," cried Samson, pointing forward at his brother. "Looks just +like a trussed turkey." + +"Ah," said the man, quietly, "and who knows when it may be our turn to +ride prisoners just the same? Knew him before, didn't you?" + +"Eh? knew him? Well, just a little," said Samson, drily. "Come from +the same part o' Coombeland. Me and him's had many a fight when we was +boys." + +"And the young captain and that long-haired popinjay met before, haven't +they?" + +"Often. I was gardener to our captain's father--the colonel, you know; +and that fellow with his headpiece on wrong was gardener to his father +as hit our officer." + +"Took it pretty quiet, didn't he?" said the man. + +"Well, just a little. That's his way." + +"Wasn't afraid of him, was he?" + +"Afraid? Why, he don't know what it means!" + +"Humph! Looked as if he did," grumbled the man; and further +conversation was stayed by Fred checking his horse, and letting the +detachment pass on till he was in the rear. + +They rode on hour after hour, till the horses began to show the need of +water, and the men were eager for a halt to be called, so that they +might dine and rest for a couple of hours under some shady tree; but for +some time no suitable spot was found, and the advance and rear guards +rode on, keeping a keen look-out for danger one minute, for a shady +grove and water the next. + +Once there was an alarm. One of the advance guard came galloping back +after seeing a body of horsemen about half a mile away, their arms +glittering in the sun; but the party, whatever it was, seemed to be +crossing the road at right angles, and for safety's sake, Fred drew back +his men and took refuge among some trees in a hollow a hundred yards +from the road, where, to the great satisfaction of all, a spring was +found rushing out of the rock. + +Here in a regular military fashion the horses' girths were loosened, +they were watered, and allowed to crop the grass. Outposts were +planted, hidden by the trees; sentries were placed over the prisoners, +whose bonds were not unloosed, and the men opened their wallets to +partake of a hasty meal. + +As soon as all the arrangements had been made, Fred saw that his +prisoners were supplied with food, a man being deputed to attend to +their wants, and this done, the young officer strolled off to the edge +of the woodland, where the road could be seen east and west, and stood +there watching for the first approach of danger. + +His thoughts were divided between his charge and Scar's blow and +insulting, contemptuous conduct, which rankled bitterly, for he could +not help feeling that the men would judge him according to their lights; +and, think of the matter how he would, he felt that he had placed +himself at a disadvantage. + +"If I had only struck him back I wouldn't have cared." + +"Thought that over, sir?" + +Fred started, and turned to find that Samson had followed him and +approached over the soft moist ground beneath the trees unheard. + +"Thought that over?" faltered the young officer. + +"Yes, sir. Here's a splendid place for it just below among the big +trees. Nice bit of open turf, quite soft for when you tumble down; and +it would just please the men to see my young dandy cockerel's comb cut +after what he did for you." + +"Samson, you are talking nonsense. After serving so long in the army, +you ought to know something of what an officer's duties are." + +"No, sir; I shall never learn nothing about dooties. I can fight, +because it comes nat'ral to a man, and I'm obliged to; but I shall never +make a good soldier." + +"You don't know, then, what you are saying." + +"Oh yes, I do, sir; and I know what the men are saying; and if you won't +fight, it must be me, for there's bound to be a rumpus if they go on +saying you behaved as if you had a white feather in your cap." + +"Who dared to say that?" + +"Several of 'em, sir; and I wouldn't hit out, because I thought you +would think better of it and fight." + +Fred turned away angrily. + +"Well, sir, I can't help speaking plainly; and I thought it better to +tell you what the lads are saying about it." + +"I cannot help what they say, sir; I am doing my duty. Now go back to +yours." + +"Yes, captain; but don't be angry with your old servant as followed you +to the wars. Give me leave to fight Nat, and that will be something." + +"Impossible, sir." + +"But it would keep the men's tongues quiet, sir. Just about a quarter +of an hour would do for me to thrash him, and it would be all right +afterwards. The men wouldn't talk so much about you." + +Fred marched up and down without a word. + +"You see, sir, it's like this. Young Master Scar Markham's bouncing +about and ordering and behaving as if he was everybody.--You won't fight +him, sir?" + +"No!"--emphatically. + +"Then why not do something just to show him he isn't everybody, and that +you are not afraid of him?" + +"You know I am not afraid of him, Samson," cried Fred, hotly. + +"Of course I do, sir; but the men don't know. How could they? There +isn't one there as took you in hand from a little one, when you was +always tumbling down and knocking the skin off your knees." + +Fred made an impatient gesture. + +"You see, sir, if you'd only do something it wouldn't so much matter. +Any one would think, to see the airs he puts on, that he was Prince +Rupert himself." + +Fred turned away, and stood with his back to his henchman, lest Samson +should see from his face how he longed to forget his duty, and to cease +being an officer for a few minutes, becoming once more the careless boy +who could retaliate sharply for the blow received. + +"He's sitting yonder, sir, in his scarlet and gold and feathers, and +tossing his head so as to make his ringlets shake all over his +shoulders. Proud as a peacock he is, and looking down on us all like my +brother Nat did till I sheared off his long hair, and made him a +crop-ear too. It's done him no end of good. I only wish some one would +serve his lordship the same." + +Samson little thought what effect his words would have on his young +leader, who again turned away and walked up and down to master the +emotion which troubled him. The blow he had received seemed to smart; +he pictured the faces of his men looking at him with covert smiles on +their lips, and he seemed to see Scarlett sneering at him as some one so +cowardly as to be utterly beneath his notice; and he was suffering all +this because he believed it to be his duty. + +The blood rushed up into Fred's cheeks, and then to his brain, making +him feel giddy as he strode away to avoid temptation, for his nerves +were all a-tingle, and the desire kept on intensifying to seize some +stout staff and thrash his prisoner till he begged his pardon before all +the men. + +But he could not do such a thing. He told himself he must suffer and be +strong. He had certain duties to perform, and he would do them, boy as +he was, like a man. And to this end he walked quietly back to the +little camp, giving a long look round to see that all was safe. + +The mossy ground beneath the trees deadened his footsteps as he +approached his prisoners to see that all were right; and there, as +Samson had described, sat Scarlett, looking proud and handsome in his +uniform, while he fanned his face with his broad-leafed felt hat and +feathers, each waft of air sending his curls back from, his face. + +Fred had involuntarily stopped short among the bushes to gaze at the +prisoner, heedless of the fact that Nat and the other men were just +before him, hidden by a screen of hazels. + +Then the blood seemed to rush back to his breast, for a familiar voice +said-- + +"Don't tell me. He used to be a decent young fellow when he came over +to our place in the old days; but since he turned rebel and associated +with my bad brother, he's a regular coward--a cur--good for nothing but +to be beaten. See how white he turned when the captain hit him with +that staff. White-livered, that's what he is. Do you hear, sentries? +White-livered!" + +The men on guard uttered a low growl, but they did not say a word in +their officer's defence; and a bitter sensation of misery crept through +Fred, seeming for the moment to paralyse him, and as he felt himself +touched, he turned slowly to look in a despondent way at Samson, who +stood close behind him, pointing toward the group as another prisoner +said-- + +"Why, if we had our hands free, and our swords and pistols, we'd soon +send these wretched rebels to the right-about. Miserable rabble, with a +miserable beggar of a boy to lead them, while we--just look at the young +captain! That's the sort of man to be over a troop of soldiers." + +It was doubtful whether Scarlett heard them, as he sat there still +fanning his face, till at last, in a fit of half-maddening pique, Fred +turned again on Samson, and signed to him to follow. + +Then, striding forward, he made his way to the sentry nearest to where +Scarlett was seated. + +"Why are your prisoner's arms at liberty, sir?" he cried. + +"Don't know, sir," said the man, surlily. "I didn't undo them." + +Fred gazed at him fiercely, for he had never been spoken to before like +this, and he grasped the fact that he was losing the confidence of those +who ought to have looked up to him as one who had almost the power of +life and death over them. + +"How came your hands at liberty, sir?" cried Fred, sternly, as he turned +now on Scarlett. + +The latter looked in his direction for a moment, raised his eyebrows, +glanced away, then back, in the most supercilious manner, and went on +fanning himself. + +"I asked you, sir, how your hands came to be at liberty?" + +"And, pray, how dare you ask me, insolent dog?" flashed out Scarlett. + +The altercation brought three more of the guard up to where they stood, +and just in time to see Fred's passion master him. + +"Dog, yourself, you miserable popinjay!" cried Fred. "Here, Samson! +Another of you--a fresh rope and stake. You must be taught, sir, the +virtue of humility in a prisoner." + +Without a moment's hesitation, he sprang at the young officer, and +seized him by the wrists, but only to hold him for a moment before one +hand was wrenched away, and a back-handed blow sent Fred staggering +back. + +He recovered himself directly, and was dashing at his assailant to take +prompt revenge for this second blow; but Samson already had Scarlett by +the shoulders, holding on tightly while the staff was thrust under his +armpits, and he was rapidly bound as firmly as two strong men could +fasten the bonds. + +Fred woke to the fact that his followers were watching him curiously, as +if to see what steps he would take now, after receiving this second +blow; but, to their disgust, he was white as ashes, and visibly +trembling. + +"Be careful," he said. "Don't spoil his plumage. We don't have so fine +a bird as this every day. Mind that feathered hat, Samson, my lad. He +will want it again directly. Here, follow me." + +Scarlett burst into an insulting laugh as Fred strode away--a laugh +foreign to the young fellow's nature; but his position had half maddened +him, and he was ready to do and say anything, almost, to one who, he +felt, was, in a minor way, one of the betrayers of his father; while as +Fred went on, gazing straight before him, he could not but note the +peculiar looks of his men, who were glancing from one to the other. + +Fred felt that he must do something, or his position with his men would +be gone for ever. They could not judge him fairly; all they could +measure him by was the fact that they had seen him struck twice without +resenting the blows. + +What should he do? + +He could not challenge and meet his prisoner as men too often fought, +and he could not fight him after the fashion of schoolboys, and as they +had fought after a quarrel of old. + +Fred was very pale as he stopped short suddenly and beckoned Samson to +his side, the result being that the ex-gardener ran to his horse, was +busy for a few moments with his haversack, and then returned to where +his master was standing, looking a shy white now, and with the drops of +agony standing upon his brow. + +The next minute Fred had tossed off the heavy steel morion he wore, +throwing it to his follower, who caught it dexterously, and then +followed closely at his leader's heels. + +"Master or Captain Scarlett Markham," he said, in a husky voice, "you +have taken advantage of your position as a prisoner to strike me twice +in the presence of my men. It was a cowardly act, for I could not +retaliate." + +Scarlett uttered a mocking laugh, which was insolently echoed by his +men. + +Fred winced slightly, but he went on-- + +"All this comes, sir, from the pride and haughtiness consequent upon +your keeping the company of wild, roystering blades, who call themselves +Cavaliers--men without the fear of God before their eyes, and certainly +without love for their country. You must be taught humility, sir." + +Scarlett laughed scornfully, and his men again echoed his forced mirth. + +"Pride, sir," continued Fred, quietly, "goes with gay trappings, and +silken scarves, and feathered hats. Here, Samson, give this prisoner a +decent headpiece while he is with us." + +He snatched off the plumed hat, and tossed it carelessly to his +follower. + +"And while you are with us, sir, you must be taught behaviour. You are +too hot-headed, Master Scarlett. You will be better soon." + +Scarlett was gazing fiercely and defiantly in his old companion's face, +hot, angry, and flushed, as he felt himself seized by the collar. Then +he sat there as if paralysed, unable to move, stunned, as it were +mentally, in his surprise, and gradually turning as white as Fred as +there were a few rapid snips given with a pair of sheep shears, and +roughly but effectively his glossy ringlets were shorn away, to fall +upon his shoulders. + +Then he flung himself back with a cry of rage. But it was too late; the +curls were gone, and he was closely cropped as one of the +Parliamentarian soldiers, while his enemy-guard burst into a roar. + +"There, Master Scarlett Markham," said Fred, quietly, "your head will be +cooler now; and you will not be so ready to use your hands against one +whose position makes him unarmed. Samson, the headpiece. Yes, that +will do. Master Scarlett, shall I put it on, as your hands are bound?" + +"You coward!" cried Scarlett, hoarsely, as he gazed full in Fred's eyes; +and then again, with his face deadly pale, "You miserable coward! Bah!" + +He turned away with a withering look of scorn, and, amid the cheering of +his men, Fred tossed the shears to Samson, and strode away sick at heart +and eager to walk right off into the wood, where, as soon as he was out +of eye-shot, he threw himself down and buried his face in his hands. + +"Miserable coward!" he said hoarsely. "Yes, he is right. How could I +do such a despicable thing!" + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +A CLEVER SCHEMER. + +Fred Forrester felt that he had had his revenge--that he had hit back in +a way that humbled and wounded his enemy more deeply than any physical +stroke could possibly have done; and, as has been the case with +thousands before and since, he had found out that the trite old +aphorism, "Revenge is sweet," is a contemptible fallacy. For even if +there is a sweet taste in the mouth, it is followed by a twang of such +intense bitterness that no sensible being ever feels disposed to taste +again. + +He had struck back fiercely, and bruised himself, so that he felt sore +in a way which made him writhe; and at last, when, urged by the +knowledge that he must attend to his duty, he rose, instead of walking +back to where his men were waiting the orders to continue the route, +proud and elate, he felt as if he were guilty and ashamed to look his +prisoners in the face. + +No sooner, however, was he seen by his men than there was a loud buzz of +voices, and he learned what a change had taken place between them, for +instead of being welcomed back with sidelong glances and a half meaning +look, the soldiers saluted him with a loud cheer, in which sentries and +the two outposts joined. + +His action, then, was endorsed by his followers, who began laughing and +talking merrily among themselves, looking from time to time at the +prisoners, among whom sat Scarlett, with his arms upon his knees and his +face lowered into his hands. + +Fred's first inclination was to go straight to his captive, offer him +his hand, and beg his pardon for what he had done; but two strong powers +held him back--shame and dread. What would Scarlett say to him for the +degradation? and what would his men say? They would think him ten times +the coward they thought him before. + +It was impossible; so giving his orders stoutly and sharply, the horses +were bitted and the girths tightened. The prisoners were then helped +into their saddles, and the ends of the ropes made fast after an +examination to see that the bonds were secure, and once more they sought +the road, the advance guard well to the front, and the relative +positions of the early part of the march resumed. + +There does not seem to be much in a few snips with a pair of big +scissors; but the young leader's use of those cutting implements had +completely changed the state of affairs in the little party. For while +the guard were merry, and looked in the best of spirits, the common +prisoners seemed as if they felt most bitterly the insult offered to +their young captain, sitting heavily in their saddles, with their chins +down upon their chests, and neither looking to right nor left, while +Scarlett Markham gazed straight before him, his eyes flashing beneath +the steel headpiece he now wore. His face was very pale, and his whole +form was rigid as he sat there with his arms well secured to the cross +staff at his back, and his lips tightened and slightly drawn back from +his teeth as he drew his breath with a low hissing sound. + +A few hours before, although a prisoner, he had looked the dashing young +Cavalier in his scarlet, feathers, and gold, and, in spite of his +uniform being stained and frayed with hard service, the lad's mien had +hidden all that, and he seemed one to look up to and respect. + +Now all was changed: the gay hat and feathers had been replaced by the +battered steel morion; the long clustering effeminate curls were shorn +away, and the poor fellow looked forlorn, degraded, and essentially an +object for pity; his uniform showed every stain, and the places where +the gold lace was frayed--and all through the working of a pair of +shears among his locks. A short time before the smart young Cavalier, +now only Fred Forrester's prisoner--nothing more. + +As they rode onward the men commented upon the change aloud; but not +half so intently as did Fred Forrester in silence. + +The afternoon grew hotter; there was a glorious look of summer +everywhere, for nature was in her brightest livery; but to the young +leader everything seemed shrouded in gloom, and twice over he found +himself wishing that a party of the enemy would come upon them suddenly +and rescue those of whom he had charge. + +As they rode on slowly with Fred in the rear, he noted that the two men +who formed the advance guard were not in their proper places; and, +seeking relief from his torturing thoughts in striving to give the +strictest attention to his father's military lessons, he turned to +Samson. + +"Ride forward and tell those men to advance another hundred yards. They +are far too near in case of surprise." + +Samson spurred his horse, cantered forward, gave the order, and then +halted as the advance guard trotted on for a hundred yards or so. + +As the party came up, Samson exchanged looks with his brother, whose +lips moved as if he were saying-- + +"Only just you wait, my fine fellow, and I'll serve you out for this." + +But Samson laughed and rode to his old place in the rear beside his +captain. + +As Samson went by Fred, the latter caught sight of something scarlet, +and the colour suggesting his prisoner, he turned sharply upon his +follower. + +"What's that?" he said. + +"Only the young captain's hat, sir." + +Fred frowned as he saw that Samson had fastened the grey felt hat with +its gay feathers to his saddle, and then glanced forward at Scarlett, +whose cropped head was sheltered by the heavy, uneasy steel cap. + +"Ride forward," he said, "and give the prisoner back his hat." + +Samson stared, but of course obeyed. Untying the hat from his saddle, +he rode forward to where Scarlett sat, gazing straight before him. + +"Captain sent your hat, sir. Shall I put it on?" + +There was no reply. + +"Your hat, sir. Shall I put it on?" + +Scarlett took not the slightest notice, and after a momentary hesitation +Samson uttered a grunt, pressed his horse a little closer, took the +steel cap from the young prisoner's head, and placed the feathered felt +there instead. + +Then, backing his horse, he allowed the party to pass on, while he +resumed his place, hanging the steel headpiece to his saddle-bow by the +strap and chain. + +"What's that? Look!" cried Fred, sharply. + +He checked his horse as he spoke, and looked back, needing no answer, +for there behind them in the dusty road, battered and disfigured, lay +Scarlett's dashing head-gear; for so badly had it been replaced that, in +his suppressed rage, the prisoner had given his head an angry toss, the +felt hat had fallen, and it seemed as if, out of malice, every horse had +passed over it, and trampled it down in the dust. + +"Shall I pick it up, sir?" said Samson. + +"No; let it be there," was the reply. "Take the prisoner the headpiece +again." + +Samson muttered to himself as he unhooked the steel cap and rode +forward, while, in his resentment at having to go through the same duty +twice, he took pains to treat the helmet as if it were an extinguisher, +literally putting Scarlett out, so far as seeing was concerned. + +And all the while, with his arms bound behind him, Scarlett Markham rode +on with his head erect. + +"Another insult," he said to himself. "The miserable coward! I could +kill him as I would a wasp!" + +The afternoon glided slowly by, and the detachment kept to a walk, for +the heat was great, there was no special haste needed, and Fred wanted +to spare his horses as much as possible. But after a short halt for +refreshment at a roadside inn, where the landlord dispensed cider and +bread-and-cheese liberally to either side, so long as he was well paid, +but all the same with a strong leaning toward the Royalists, the little +party rode on at a trot, very much to the disgust of the landlord, who +stood watching them from his door. + +"Poor lad!" he said. "Must be Sir Godfrey Markham's son from over +yonder toward the sea. How glad he seemed of that draught of milk the +lass gave him! Seems hard to be a prisoner, and to his old +schoolfellow, for that's young Forrester, sure enough. I've a good mind +to. No; it's interfering, and I might be found out, and have to hang on +one of my own apple-trees as a traitor. But I've a good mind to. Yes, +I will. Dick!" + +"Yes, master," came from the stable, and a stout boy with some oat chaff +in his rough hair made his appearance. + +"How long would it take you to get to Brownsand?" + +"On the pony?" + +"Of course." + +"Four hours by road. Two hours across the moor." + +"Take the pony, then, and go across the moor. There's a regiment of +horse there." + +"Them as went by day afore yesterday?" + +"Yes. Ride straight there and tell the officer. No, I can't do it." + +"Oh, do, father, please--please!" + +"You here, Polly?" + +"Yes, father," said his rosy-cheeked daughter, who had fetched the mug +of milk from the dairy. "You were going to send and ask them to save +the prisoners." + +"Was I, mistress? And pray how do you know?" + +"I guessed it, father. That poor boy!" + +"Perhaps I was," grumbled the landlord; "but I'm not going to do so +now." + +"Oh, don't say that, father!" + +"But I have said it; and now, both of you go about your work." + +"Oh, father, pray, pray send!" + +"Do you want to see me hung, madam?" + +"No, no, father; but nobody will know." + +"I know--you know--he knows; and there's an end of it. Be off!" + +The girl and boy both went out, and directly after the former made a +sign which the latter interpreted to mean "Come round to the kitchen." + +As soon as the landlord was left alone he drew himself a mug of cider, +lit his pipe, and chuckled. + +"Wonder how my apples are getting on?" he said. "I must have a good +cider year this time; ought to be, anyhow." Then aloud at the door, +"Keep an eye to the door, Polly," he cried. "I'm going down the +orchard." + +"Yes, father; I'll mind." + +"That'll do it," said the landlord, laughing till his face grew as red +as his own apples. "Nobody can't come and accuse me of sending the boy, +and they'll never suspect her." + +He walked right down the orchard, and then crept quickly to the hedge, +stooped down, went nearer to the house, and then watched and listened. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" he laughed softly. "I knew she would. Good-hearted girl! +There he goes." + +The landlord rubbed his hands as, turning to a hole in the hedge, he saw +his boy Dick go off at a canter, lying flat down on the back of a little +Exmoor pony, his arms on each side of the pony's neck, till he was over +the nearest hill and descending into the valley, when he sat up and +urged the pony on at as fast a gallop as the little beast could go. + +"Nice promise of apples," said the landlord, contentedly smiling up at +the green clusters. "Now, if I could have my wish, I should like a +splendid crop of fox-whelps and gennet-moyles. Then I should like +peace. Lastly, I should like to see all the gentry who are fighting and +cutting one another's throats shake hands outside my door, and have a +mug of my best cider. And all these wishes I wish I may get. There, +now I'll go in." + +He went slowly back to the house, puffing away at his pipe, and directly +after encountered his red-faced daughter, who looked ruddier than ever +as the old man looked at her searchingly, chuckling to himself the +while. "I'll give her such a scare," he said. + +"Want me, father?" + +"Want you? Of course I do. Go and call Dick." + +"Dick, father?" she faltered. + +"Yes; didn't I speak plainly! Call Dick." + +"He's--he's out." + +"Who sent him out?" + +"I--I did, father." + +"Oh, you did, did you--without my leave?" + +"Oh, father--father," cried the girl, sobbing, "don't--don't be angry +with me!" + +"Not I, Polly," he cried, bending down and kissing her. "Only I don't +know anything, and I don't want to know anything, mind." + +"And you're not cross about it?" + +"I'm not cross about anything; but I shall be if I don't have a mug of +cider, for I've been thinking, and thinking's thirsty work." + +"Then you had been thinking that--" + +"Never you mind what I had been thinking, my lass. My thoughts are +mine, and your thoughts are yours, so keep 'em to yourself. When I've +had my drop o' cider, I think I shall go out for a ride." + +"Oh father!" cried the girl. + +The old man chuckled. + +"Don't you tell me that the pony has gone out, too," he said. "There, +it's all right, Polly, only I don't know anything, and I won't be told." + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +A SUDDEN REVERSE. + +And all this time Fred Forrester rode on at the rear of his little +detachment, longing to get to Newton Abbot and be rid of his painful +charge. The evening grew more pleasant and cool, the moths came out, +and with them the bats, to dart and flit, and capture the myriad gnats +which danced here and there beneath the trees. Then, as they passed +beneath some umbrageous oak, which stretched its ponderous and gnarled +arms across the road, a night-hawk swooped from where it had been +resting upon its parrot toes, its beak toward the bole of the tree, and +skimmed round and round for a time to capture a great moth or two in its +widespread, bristly-edged gape, before swiftly darting back to its +perch, where it commenced its loud, continuous purring noise, which died +softly away as the party rode on. + +Sweet moist scents rose from the dewy ground, and as they neared a +marshy pool, a low, musical whining and croaking told that the frogs +which made the stagnant place their home had a full belief that before +long it would rain. + +Tired though the party were, it was pleasant travelling now, and as some +horse, feeling freshened by the cool moist air, snorted and tossed its +head, there followed a loud tinkling of accoutrements and an +uncalled-for increase of pace. + +As they rode on deep down in a hollow between mighty hedges, a loud hail +seemed to come from the road on the hillside, "Hoi, hoi!" which was +followed by another on the opposite slope, but no one stirred. The call +of the hoot-owl was too familiar to the Coombeland men to deceive. + +It was so dark at times down there amid the trees that the horses' heads +were hardly visible, and when fire was struck by an impatient hoof from +a loose stone, the flash given forth seemed by comparison to lighten up +the lane. + +Half an hour's increasing darkness was followed by a glow in the east, +and then, slowly rolling up, came the moon, to silver the patches of +firs, to lighten the pensile birches, and make the glossy-leaved beeches +glisten as if wet with rain or frosted with silver. The little river +which ran at the bottom of the valley, meandering on its way, shone out +with flashes of light, as the moon rose higher; and once, in the midst +of Fred's gloomiest thoughts, came, like a gleam of the moon on the +water to lighten all around, the feeling that the world was, after all, +a very beautiful place, and that it was man himself who made it +miserable. + +"I mean boy," said Fred, in his musings. "No, I do not; I mean man, for +he is to blame for all this terrible war in which we are going against +the king. But my father says it is just, so I have no right to think +differently." + +"How far are we from Newton, Samson?" he asked his follower. + +"'Bout four miles now, sir. We've got to turn out of the main west +road, and go through the wood next. Soon be there now." + +The turning was reached at the end of another half mile, and the advance +guard soon after came to the edge of the wood, through which a good road +had been cut, the only drawback being that the overhanging trees made it +dark. + +Upon this occasion, though, the moon was rising higher and higher, +pouring down a flood of silver light, which lit up the denser part with +its soft diaphanous rays. + +The solemn beauty of the scene, with its velvety shadows and silvery +light, impressed every member of the party, so that they rode on in +silence, the horses' hoofs sounding loudly, and the night being so still +that the patter of the advance guard and of those in the rear was +plainly audible. + +"How much more is there of this woodland, Samson?" asked Fred, after a +time. + +"Not much more, sir, though I can't be sure--it's so many years since I +rode through it with your father--when I was quite a boy." + +"What's that?" + +"Nothing, sir. Fox, perhaps, or a deer. Everything sounds so plainly +on a night like this. Hear the advance?" + +"Yes. Keep close, my lads," cried Fred. "No straggling in the +darkness." + +The men closed up, and they were going steadily on, congratulating +themselves on the fact that they would soon be out in the open. A keen +eye was kept upon the prisoners, though there was very little chance for +their escape. The bonds were secure, and their horses' bridles out of +their reach, while, had there been a disposition to urge a horse away +from the rest, and make a dash for it in the darkness, the chances were +that the poor beast would have declined to stir from his companions. +The horse is by nature an animal which, for mutual protection, goes with +a drove of his fellows; and, allowing for the formality of cavalry +movements, there is something in the formation of troops and squadrons +so similar to the natural habits of the horse, that they keep together, +to such an extent that in warfare the "trooper" that has lost his rider +regains the regiment and keeps in his place. + +They were so near the edge of the wood now that the advance guard had +passed through into the clear moonlight, and were going calmly on in +full security, as they believed, when all at once a clear sharp order +rang out on the night air; there was a quick trampling of horses, and +the road in front was occupied by a strong body of men, whose position +was between Fred's little detachment and their advance guard. + +To have gone on burdened with their prisoners would have meant failure, +to have plunged to right or left into the dense black wood no better +than madness. There was only one course open--retreat; and in the +emergency, young as he was in military evolutions, Fred proved himself +worthy of his charge. + +Setting spurs to his horse, he dashed to the front, giving his orders +promptly. The men faced round ready for action, and, in defiance of the +loudly shouted commands to surrender, the prisoners' bridles were seized +and a rapid retreat commenced; but only for the little party to realise +that they were in a trap, for in the darkness ahead they heard fresh +shouts to surrender, from a second body of horsemen, who had been hidden +in the wood till they had passed, and now occupied the road--how strong +it was impossible to tell. + +However, here lay their route now. If he had known that he had an enemy +in his rear, Fred would have made a dash forward to try and reach his +advance guard. Under the circumstances, it would have been fresh waste +of time to turn, so again rushing to the front, he cheered on his men, +and, sword in hand, charged, hoping by a bold manoeuvre to reach his +rear guard now, and gallop back with his prisoners. + +It was a vain hope. He had time to get his men well in hand, and the +compact little body charged along the dark road, captors and captives +together, for about a hundred yards, when there was the shock of meeting +an advancing troop of the Royalist cavalry. The clashing of swords and +the sharp rattle of blows struck at helmet and breast-piece; the +plunging of horses, yells, and shouts; the deep groans of wounded men; +and then, in the midst of the wild turmoil and hopeless struggle, it +seemed to Fred that there was a short sharp crash of thunder, +accompanied by a mingling of tiny flashes of lightning, and then the +noise and confusion of the skirmish died away--and that was all. + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +COMPANIONS IN MISFORTUNE. + +It was quite in keeping with his life for Fred Forrester to be awakened +by the blast of a trumpet, and, according to his habit, he made one turn +and was about to spring from his rough pallet. + +But he did nothing of the kind. He let his head fall back and his arm +drop, as he uttered a groan of pain and weakness, which seemed to be +echoed from close at hand. + +Then there was a peculiar dizzy feeling of sickness; mists floated +before his eyes, and, in a confused, feverish, dreamy fashion, he lay +wondering what it all meant. + +After a time he felt clearer, and found himself gazing at a small square +window, unglazed, one through which a great beam of sunshine fell, +making a widening bar of light which cast a distorted image of the +opening upon a rough brick wall. That beam of light was full of tiny +motes which rose and fell and danced into the brightest part, and away +into the gloom till, as they skurried and floated here and there, it +seemed as if he were gazing at a miniature snowstorm, of which all the +flakes were gold. + +There were sounds outside of trampling feet; of hoofs and the snorting +of horses; but all seemed distant and confused, as if his ears were +stopped or the sounds were coming from a distance; but directly after a +very familiar note arose--the sharp, cheery chirping of a sparrow, +followed by a low groan. + +But it did not seem to matter, for he was tired and sleepy and in pain, +and he seemed to drop off to sleep and wake again wondering what it all +meant, and why it was, and how he came to be lying there. + +After a time he stretched out one hand in a feeble way, to find that he +was touching straw, and that beneath the straw there were boards. But +there was straw everywhere; even the ceiling seemed to be straw, coarse +straw, till he realised that it was reed thatch, and by degrees that he +must be in the upper part of a stable--the loft, for he could smell hay; +and as he satisfied himself that he was right so far, he discovered +something more--that there were horses somewhere below, for there was a +loud snorting and the rattle of a headstall. + +But still it did not seem to matter, for everything connected with the +war and his duties had passed entirely from his mind, till he heard once +more a groan from somewhere close at hand, and then a familiar voice +said-- + +"Don't go on like that, lad. I dare say you're very bad, but so am I; +and you'll disturb the captain." + +"Captain? what captain?" thought Fred, dreamily, and who was he that he +should not be disturbed? + +But he felt no inclination to speak, but lay listening to the chirping +of the sparrows, and moved his head slightly to find that it was resting +upon a piece of sacking laid over the straw. + +That movement brought on the dizzy sensation again, and his head +throbbed painfully for a time. + +But the pain grew easier, and he lay perfectly still, watching the +beautiful beam of sunshine which came through the open window, above +which the roof went into a point, showing him that this was the gable +end of the loft where he lay. + +This did not surprise him, for he had been accustomed for months past to +sleep in shed, stable, or loft, as well as in houses with decent rooms. +At one time for a month a church had been the barracks where he had +lain. Rough quarters had become a matter of course, and he lay quite +still, for how long he did not know, to be roused once more by a deep +groan. + +"Do you hear, lad? What's the good of going on like that?" said the +familiar voice again. + +"My head--my head!" moaned some one. + +"Well, and my head, and my ribs, if you come to that; but I don't howl +and groan." + +"Samson!" + +"Master Fred! Captain, I mean. Hey, but it does a man good to hear you +speak, again. Don't die this time, dear lad." + +"Die? I don't understand you." + +"Then the Lord be praised, you are not going to die!" + +Fred lay wondering, for there came something like a sob from close at +hand, though when he tried to turn towards the sound the horrible +dizziness came back. + +"Samson!" + +"Yes, Master Fred." + +"What are you doing there?" + +"Blubbering, dear lad, like a great calf as has lost its mother; but +it's only because I'm so glad." + +"But, Samson, what does it all mean?" + +"What, don't you know, my lad?" + +"No." + +"Not that you are badly wounded--cut down same as I was when we +charged?" + +"When we charged?" + +"Yes, when they took us front and rear in the dark wood." + +"Dark--wood?" + +"Yes, lad. Some of us killed--I don't mean us--Smithers and Pelldike. +The advance escaped, and so did the rear. All of us with the prisoners +got hurt more or less." + +"Oh!" + +The scene in the gloomy wood came back now clearly enough; and in an +excited tone Fred exclaimed-- + +"And the prisoners, Samson?" + +"Oh, they were taken again! They're right enough." + +"Scarlett Markham?" + +"Yes; he came up here yesterday to see how we were." + +"Oh!" + +"What's the matter, my lad?" + +"My father--my charge. Samson, I'm disgraced for ever." + +"What, because about sixty men surprised us in that hollow road, and cut +us all down? I don't see no disgrace in fighting like a man, and being +beaten by five to one, or more than that." + +"But how came we to be surprised so suddenly?" + +"Dunno, Master Fred. Some one must have known we were going through +that wood, and set a trap for us." + +"And I allowed my poor fellows to walk right into it. Oh, Samson, I can +never look my father in the face again!" + +"Hark at him! Nonsense! It's all ups and downs--sometimes one side +wins, sometimes t'other side. We had the best of it, and then they have +the best of it, and we're prisoners. Wait till we get well, and it will +be our side again. Long as we're not killed, what does it matter?" + +"Then you are wounded, Samson?" + +"Well, yes, lad; I got a tidy chop aside of the head, and a kick in the +ribs from a horse in the scrummage. Leastwise, it wasn't a kick, 'cause +it was done with a fore leg, when somebody's horse reared up after I'd +cut his master down." + +"And there is some one else wounded?" + +"Yes, sir--Duggen." + +"Badly?" + +"Tidy, sir; tidy chop. But we shall soon mend again. Bark 'll grow +over, same as it does when we've chopped an apple tree. I was afraid, +though, as you was badly, sir?" + +"Was I wounded, Samson? I feel so weak." + +"Wounded, sir! Well, it was a mercy you wasn't killed!" + +"It seems all so confused. I cannot recollect much." + +"Of course you can't, sir. All the sense was knocked out of your head. +But it'll soon come back again." + +"Samson!" + +"Yes, sir." + +There was a pause, and Fred's henchman rose painfully on one arm to try +and make out the reason of the silence, but he could only see that the +young officer was staring at the window. + +"Poor boy!" said Samson to himself. "Seems hard for him to be made into +a soldier at his time o' life. Ought to be at school instead of wearing +a sword." + +"Yes, sir," he said aloud. + +"Yes?" + +"You called me, sir." + +"Did I?" said Fred, vacantly. + +"Yes, sir; you said `Samson.'" + +"Oh yes, I remember. Did you see much of the fight, Samson?" + +"As much as any one could for the dark." + +"We were attacked front and rear, weren't we?" + +"That's it, sir. Trapped." + +"It was all my fault, I suppose," said Fred, with a sigh. + +"Fault, sir; not it. Nobody's fault. People can't do impossibilities. +Why, there was sixty-five of 'em in the troop, and of course they +regularly rode us down!" + +"But you did see something of the fighting?" + +"To be sure I did, sir." + +"Did--did I disgrace myself, Samson?" + +"Did you what yourself, sir? Come, I like that! If digging your spurs +into your horse, and shouting to us to come on, and then going to work +with your sword as if it was a scythe, and the pleasaunce hadn't been +cut for a month in June's disgracing yourself, why, I suppose you did!" + +"Then I did fight?" + +"Fight! I should think you aid." + +"Like a man, Samson--like an officer should?" + +"Why, of course you did, sir!" + +"As my father would have liked to see me fight, if he had been there?" + +"Well, sir, that question's a puzzler. You see, fathers is fathers, +and, as far as ever I've been able to find out, they don't like their +boys to fight. Why, my father was always giving me and Nat the strap +for fighting, because we was always at it--strap as he wore round his +waist, when he wasn't banging our heads together. You see, Nat was +always at me, and knocking me about. We never did agree; but our old +man wouldn't let us fight, and I don't believe your father would have +liked to see you trying to cut people's heads off with that sword of +yours." + +"Well, then," said Fred, smiling faintly, "would my colonel have been +satisfied with what I did to save the prisoners and my men?" + +"Wouldn't be much of a colonel if he wasn't. There, dear lad, don't you +fret yourself about that. I've heered the men here say you did wonders +for such a boy, and a big sergeant who fetched you off your horse was up +here yesterday--" + +"Yesterday?" interrupted Fred. "Why, we were travelling yesterday!" + +"That we were not, my lad, for we've been lying here two days." + +"Oh!" ejaculated Fred. + +"While you've been off your head." + +"Oh, Samson!" + +"Well, sir, that's better than your head being off you." + +"Then you are sure I did my duty?" + +"Duty, sir? Yes; that's what I was going to tell you. The big six-foot +sergeant who fetched you off your horse with a great cut of his heavy +sword was up here yesterday to see you; and I heered him say to himself, +`Poor boy! I feel ashamed of myself for cutting him down. What would +his poor mother say to me if she knew?'" + +"I can lie patiently now till I get well," said Fred, after a pause. "I +was frightened by my thoughts, Samson." + +"Yes; them's what frightens most of us, sir." + +"I mean by the thought that I had not done my duty by my charge." + +"But you did, sir; and it's the fortune o' war. They was prisoners the +other day; now we're prisoners this day." + +"And Master Scarlett Markham, and your brother, and the other men?" + +"All here, sir. There's about a thousand of the enemy about, waiting, I +suppose, to drop upon our side, if our side doesn't drop upon them. +Fortune o' wars sir--fortune o' war." + +Samson waited for Fred to speak again; but as he remained silent, the +ex-gardener went on-- + +"I've been expecting to hear some news of my beautiful brother, but I +haven't heered a word, only that he's about somewhere. Oh, I am proud +of him, Master Fred! I shouldn't wonder if we was to be sent off +somewhere--Exeter or Bristol, maybe, and Master Scarlett and my brother +had charge of us. Be rum, wouldn't it?" + +Fred sighed as he recalled the past. + +"Couldn't cut our hair short, sir, could they?" + +Fred remained silent, and his follower went on. + +"Nat said first chance he had, he'd crop my ears. That's like him all +over. But he dursn't, sir. Not he. I should just like to catch him at +it. Pst! some one coming." + +Fred had already heard steps below, and then the creaking of a rickety +ladder, as if some one were ascending. + +Directly after a door on his left was thrown open, a flood of sunshine +burst into the cobweb-hung loft, and an officer and a private of cavalry +came rustling through the straw till they were within the scope of the +wounded lad's gaze, and a chill of misery ran through him like a shudder +as he saw Scarlett Markham, followed by Samson's brother Nat. + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +SAMSON AND HIS BROTHER. + +In spite of the cropped appearance of his head, a cropping that was +still closer now in consequence of his having had Fred Forrester's +clumsy shearing regulated, Scarlett Markham had pretty well regained his +old dashing cavalier aspect. He had somehow obtained a fresh hat and +feathers, and, as he stood at the foot of Fred's straw bed, with one +hand resting upon the hilt of his long sword, the other carelessly +beating a pair of leather gauntlet gloves against his leg, he looked, in +his smart scarlet and gold uniform, the beau ideal of a young officer. + +Following the action of his leader, Nat passed on, and stopped at the +spot where his brother lay, to stand gazing down at the wounded man. + +Fred was too weak to do more than move his head slightly, so as to gaze +back at his enemy; but he met Scarlett's stern look defiantly, and +waited for him to speak. + +And as he lay there the rough loft and its straw seemed to pass away, +for the background of his mental picture to become the park and grounds +about the old Hall, on one of the old sunny days when he and Scarlett +had had a quarrel about some trivial matter, and were gazing +threateningly at each other after uttering dire words, and were +declaring that everything between them was quite at an end, and that +they were never going to speak to each other again. + +Then the present came back, and there stood Scarlett, looking stern and +frowning, as he involuntarily passed his great gloves into his left +hand, and began to let his finger and thumb play about his lips, where +he tried to find--and failed--an imaginary moustache, which, all the +same, he twisted up into airy points to add to his fierce aspect. A +little bit of conceit which he had picked up during his soldier life. + +"What a miserable peacock he has grown!" thought Fred. "And I am in the +power now of such a court fop, whose only idea is dress and show. Well, +I'm glad I belong to the haul, quiet Parliamentarians. Better than +being like that." + +But somehow, all the while, Fred could not help thinking of his own +plain buff-leather uniform, with its heavy, clumsy, steel breast and +back plates, which, like his hard, head-aching helmet, were more often +rusty than bright, and, though he would not have owned it, he could not +help admiring the figure before him, and looking at it with something +like envy. + +"Why don't he speak?" thought Fred, with a faint flush coming into his +cheeks. "Does he think he is going to stare me down?" + +The faint flush deepened a little, as he grew indignant at his enemy +coming to triumph over him in his helplessness; and then he thought of +how he had triumphed when it was his day, and how he had humbled his old +companion to the dust. + +"And what a mean, contemptible triumph it was, and how it stung me far +more than it did him! But he shan't humble me. I can be as defiant as +he is, and I'll die before I'll show him that he has gained the day." + +But as Fred defiantly returned Scarlett's calm, stern look, a thick mist +seemed to gather slowly between them, making the face of the young +Cavalier grow faint and distant, a singing noise came in his ears, and +slowly and painfully everything seemed to pass away till all was dark +once more. + +Meanwhile, Nat Dee had crept close to his brother's head, and, kneeling +in the straw, allowed a grin to overspread his rustic countenance. + +"You've got it, then, this time?" he whispered. + +Samson had "got it this time," indeed, for his bandages wanted changing, +and his wounds were hot and painful; but, in spite of his anguish, he +echoed, so to speak--visibly echoed his brother's broad grin, and +acknowledged the fact, fully resolved that, as Nat had come to triumph +over him, he should be disappointed. + +"Yes," he said in a cheerful whisper; "I've got it this time, Natty." + +"Don't you feel ashamed of yourself?" + +"Not a bit." + +"Then you ought to. Suppose your poor mother saw you now, what do you +think she would say?" + +"Say? Say, `Get your ugly great carcase out of the way, and let poor +Samson have room to breathe.'" + +"Nay, she would not; she'd say, `Here's my wicked young black sheep as +leaped out of the fold to go among the wolves, properly punished, and +I'm very glad of it.'" + +"Well, then, I'm very glad she isn't here to listen to her ugly son Nat +telling such a pack of lies." + +"Nay, it's the truth." + +"Not it," said Samson, cheerily. "My poor old mother couldn't say such +words as that. She'd more likely say, `If I didn't know you two boys +was my twins, I should say that Nat belonged to some one else, and was +picked up by accident.'" + +"Nay, she wouldn't; she'd be ashamed of you." + +"Never was yet, Nat; and if I wasn't lying here too weak and worn-out to +move, I'd get up and punch your ugly head, Nat, till you could see +better, and make you feel sorry for saying such wicked things about my +poor old mother." + +"She's my mother as much as she is yours." + +"Yes, poor old soul; and sick and sorry she is to have such a son as +you." + +"Nay, it's sick and sorry she is to have a son as deserts his king, and +goes robbing and murdering all over the country with a pack of ruffians +scraped from everywhere." + +"No, I didn't; I never desarted no king. I wasn't the king's servant, +lad." + +"Yes, you was." + +"Not I, Natty. I was master's servant, and he says, `Will you come and +fight for me, Samson,' he says, `against oppression?' `'Course I will, +master,' I says. `And handle a sword instead of a spade,' he says. +`You give me hold of one, master,' I says, `and I'll show you.' That's +how it was, Natty." + +"Your master's a bad man, and him and you will be hung or chopped as +sure as you're alive." + +"You always was a muddlehead, Natty. It's your master as is the bad +man; Colonel Forrester's a thorough gentleman, and we always had better +fruit and garden stuff at the Manor than you had at the Hall, and that's +what makes you so wild against me." + +"Yah! Why, you never grew anything but weeds at the Manor. Your garden +was just as if pigs had got into it." + +"Did you think so, Natty?" said Samson, good-temperedly. + +"Yes." + +"That shows what I say 's right. You always was such a muddlehead that +you couldn't tell good from bad, and you don't know any better now. +Poor old Nat, I don't bear you any malice or hatred in my heart. I'm +sorry for you." + +Nat ground his teeth gently, for his brother's easy-going way angered +him. + +"Sorry for me?" he said. "Why, you're a miserable rebel, that's what +you are." + +"Not I, Natty; not a bit miserable. If you was not here, I should lie +back and sing." + +"Shall you sing when they take you out and hang you?" + +"Not going to hang me, Natty; not ugly enough. Now, if it had been +you--I say, Nat, I should like to have you hung up in the Manor garden +to keep away the birds." + +"What?" + +"To scare 'em. You do look such an old Guy Fawkes. I say, who cut your +hair?" + +Nat's hand went involuntarily to his freshly shorn head, and a dull red +glow came into his cheeks. + +"You wait till I get better, and I'll crop it for you neatly. Why, you +don't look one thing nor the other now. Cavaliers wouldn't own you, and +I should be ashamed to set aside you in our ranks." + +"Go on," said Nat, grinning viciously. "That's your nastiness; but it +don't tease me. I'm sorry for you, Samson. What a pass for a +respectable Dee to come to, only you never was respectable. But there's +an end to all things. Made your will?" + +"Nay, Natty, not yet." + +"Thought you might like to leave any clothes you've got to your +brother." + +"Well, I did think about it, Natty; but, you see, my brother's grown to +be such a high and mighty sort of chap as wouldn't care for anything +that wasn't scarlet and gold. I say, Natty, I have got something though +as you may as well have--hidden away in the roof of my tool-shed." + +"Eh? What is it?" said Nat, who was betrayed into eagerness by the idea +that perhaps his brother had a pot of money hidden away in the thatch. + +"Perhaps I'd better not let you have it. You're proud enough as it is." + +"You can do as you like with it, of course," said Nat, with assumed +indifference. + +"Ah, well, it will be useful to you, if what you say's true about me. +It would be a pity for any one else to get it, wouldn't it?" + +"Well, I am your brother, after all," said Nat, quietly. + +"Yes, so you are, Natty; and you're just the chap to be proud of it, and +wear it stuck in your steel pot. Look here, you go into the tool-shed +at the Manor, first time you're that way, and as soon as you're inside +the door, reach up your hand, and in the dark corner you'll find a +bundle of our old peacock's moultings when he dropped his tail. You +shall have 'em, Nat, and I hope I shall live to see you with 'em in your +iron cap. My! you will look fine!" + +"If you wasn't such a miserable scrunched-up garden-worm of a man, I'd +baste you with my sword-belt, Samson," whispered Nat, angrily. + +"Thank ye, Nat, lad. Thank ye. It's very kind of you to say so. Save +it up, lad, till I'm better. It will be pleasanter then for us both." + +"Nat," said Scarlett just then. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Come here." + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +AN EXCITING WATCH. + +Fred lay insensible for a few minutes, and when he did struggle back +into consciousness, it seemed to him that he must be still dreaming, or +else that the bewildering excitement of the civil war, with the misery, +despair, and wretchedness, was all the result of his fevered +imagination. + +What did it all mean? he asked himself. Were they back at home, and had +he fallen from the pony and struck his head against a rock? or was he +over at the Hall, and was this the time when he climbed the great elm to +get the magpie's nest, and had that horrible fall? + +No; it was all true--this was the war time--he was badly wounded, and +his enemy, Scarlett Markham, the young Cavalier, was bending over him in +mocking triumph at his downfall, and revenging himself for the insult he +had received in the loss of his flowing curls. + +It was a cruel revenge--one which, in spite of his efforts, brought the +weak tears to his eyes, and, as he closed them tightly to hide his +emotion three or four great drops were shut out by the lids, and rolled +slowly down on either side, tickling him for the time before they were +washed away. + +Then, as the time glided on, Fred opened his eyes, and looked up in +Scarlett's, as he again asked himself whether it was all a dream, the +consequence of his fevered state. + +For there, kneeling in the straw, was Scarlett Markham, his buff +gauntlet gloves thrust in his sword-belt, his cavalier hat cast aside, +and his brow knit and glistening with perspiration, as he kept on +dipping a white kerchief in a bowl of cold water held by some one at the +back, and carefully bathed Fred's forehead. + +How cool and delightful that water felt as the kerchief was opened out, +and spread right across the brow from temple to temple! Then how hot it +grew, till it was softly removed, to be resoaked and applied once more +with all the tender solicitude that would have been shown by a woman. + +Fred wanted to speak, but no words would come; he could only lie there, +with his breast heaving, as he watched the calmly stern, handsome face +bending over him, and thought of the past--their old boyish friendship, +the delightful days when they frolicked in the park; and fished, and +sought for plovers' eggs on the moor. How short a time ago it seemed, +and now they were acting the parts of men fighting on either side in the +terrible civil war which was devastating old England; enemies--deadly +enemies, and Scarlett Markham was pouring coals of fire upon his head. + +"Shall I fetch some more water, sir? This is getting quite warm," said +a pleasant voice. + +"Yes, I was going to ask you to get some more," said Scarlett. "Be +quick, my lass; we shall be called away directly." + +Then Fred had a glimpse of a bonny, little, round-faced lass, with red +cheeks and hands, as the bowl was borne away. The straw rustled, and +steps were heard upon the rough loft ladder, to be followed by the +rattle of a chain, and the creaking of a windlass, Fred seeming to see +all as plainly as if he were there, and watching the girl's actions at +the draw-well in the yard below. + +And all this time the two boys gazed at each other in silence--a silence +that was broken by the splash of water; then there were footsteps on the +ladder again, and the red-faced lass came back, knelt down behind the +injured lad's head, the kerchief was soaked, and the cool refreshing +water did its work. + +"And we are enemies," thought Fred, with his eyes now closed, and a calm +restful feeling coming over him like the beginning of sleep, from which +he started, for there was the loud trampling of horses, the jingling of +accoutrements, and the brazen bray of a trumpet. + +Scarlett started up, shook the water from his hands, snatched up his +broad-leafed hat, and took his gloves from his belt. + +"Bathe his forehead for a few minutes longer, and then let him sleep. +We shall be back before many hours, but the surgeon will be here before +then." + +"Yes, sir." + +"And tell your father that General Markham will see that he is paid for +all his trouble." + +"Oh, sir," said the girl, "you need not think of that. We'll do our +best." + +By this time Scarlett was at the door, and Fred had turned his eyes +toward him, but he did not look back. + +"Come, Nat," he cried loudly; and his follower stumped over the rough +straw; the steps creaked, and voices were heard below. Loud orders +followed. Then the trumpet brayed out again, the trampling of horses +followed, and the girl set down the bowl, and went to the end of the +loft, where she climbed up and looked through the little window, staying +there till the trampling of the horses had died away. + +"Gone," she said, as she returned to Fred's side, and prepared to bathe +his brow once more. + +"No," he said gently; "let me sleep now. But haven't I seen you +before?" + +"Yes, sir; you came here and brought Captain Markham and the prisoners," +said the girl, turning a deeper red, as she recalled her own action upon +that occasion, and gazed suspiciously in his face for signs that he knew +of all that she had done. + +"Yes, I remember now." + +"And I suppose you were wounded when they were rescued by a party of the +king's horse?" + +"Yes," sighed Fred. "I thought I remembered you. The little inn near +the moor." + +"Yes, sir. Father's inn." + +"And you are Royalists, I suppose?" + +"I don't know what we are, sir. We only wish the war was over, and we +want to do all we can for the poor wounded folk." + +"For rebels, too?" said Fred, bitterly. + +"For any one who is in trouble, sir; and if you don't want me to bathe +your head again, I'll go and attend to your servant. Father says +there's nothing like clean cold water for a cut." + +"Yes, go and help the two poor fellows; but, one moment--there was quite +a regiment there, was there not?" + +"Yes, sir; the greater part of one. Came from the town." + +"Do you know where they have gone?" + +"No, sir, only along the Exeter road. News came, I think, of the enemy +being there, and I'm afraid we shall be having more wounded to-night." + +The girl went on to where Samson and the other man lay, and soon +afterward the landlord's red face appeared at the head of the stairs, to +cry hastily-- + +"Here, Polly! Dick has just come in from the top of the hill, and he +could see soldiers riding this way to meet the regiment going along the +road. There'll be a fight not far from here, I'll wager, and--Hark at +that!" + +"I don't hear anything, father." + +"But I do. Horses galloping. Now can you hear?" + +There was a faint distant sound, gradually increasing--a sound which +soon developed into the rapid beat of horses' hoofs, and the girl +climbed to the window to look out again. + +"Yes, father, I can see them," she cried. + +"Well, well, what is it? the king's regiment?" + +"Yes, father, coming galloping back along the road, and--yes, I can see +them too, a great regiment of the other side galloping after them, and +you can see more soldiers off on the moor." + +"Coming this way?" + +"No; going right off behind the wood." + +"To cut them off," cried the landlord. "It's some one who knows the +country, and if the king's regiment keeps to the road those last will +get before them; they'll be between two parties of the rebels, and +they'll be cut to pieces." + +"Hooray!" came from the straw where Samson lay, and the landlord turned +upon him angrily, but there was too much that was exciting outside to +let him find words of reproof. + +The clatter of hoofs and jingle of sword against stirrup increased, and +Fred lay with his eyes glittering, panting heavily as, full of +excitement, he listened to the sounds of hurried flight. + +Then came another trumpet blast, sounding distant, and a rushing sound +as of a coming storm, ever increasing in power. + +Then another blast, and another, both sounding farther away, and as the +wounded lad lay there, he pictured to himself the advance of two more +regiments of the Parliamentary cavalry rapidly coming on in pursuit, his +mental pictures being endorsed by the words of the landlord's daughter, +as she forced her head out of the little opening to watch the retreat +and pursuit, turning from time to time to speak to her father in answer +to some eager question. + +"Are they keeping to the road, Polly? Quick, my girl? Why don't you +speak?" + +"Yes, father; they are keeping to the road." + +"Can't you tell 'em to turn off across the moor?" + +"No, father; they are too far away." + +"Shout to them." + +"It's of no use, father. One, two, three rebel regiments are coming +along at full gallop." + +"All on the road?" + +"No; one on the road, the others across the moor." + +"The poor fellows will be cut all to pieces. Can nothing be done? +Here, Polly, come down, and let me look." + +"There is plenty of room beside me, father. How they are galloping +now!" + +In spite of his weakness, Fred had turned himself a little on one side, +so as to watch the backs of the pair who were now blocking out the +little light which came from the window; and as the exciting events went +on, and he listened to the galloping of the horses, the shouts of the +horsemen--his own party--and the trumpet calls, the perspiration due to +excitement stood upon his brow, and he at last groaned out-- + +"Oh, if I could only see!" + +"Ay, Master Fred, if we could only see!" came from close at hand. "Hark +at 'em! hark at 'em!" + +There was no need for Samson's adjuration, for Fred's sense of hearing +was strained to the utmost, and he was picturing mentally the effects of +the scattered shots which were now being fired. + +"All waste, Samson; all waste," he said hoarsely. "No man can take aim +when he's galloping full stretch." + +"No, Master Fred; but it'll scare t'other side a bit, p'raps make some +of 'em surrender." + +Fred shook his head slowly, and then listened again as the girl +exclaimed excitedly-- + +"Look, father; there's one down!" + +"Ay, how could he expect to leap the wall on a horse blown like that?" + +"Those two have galloped up to him. Ah, cowards! two to one. Father, +they're killing him. Oh!" + +"They're not," cried Fred, hotly. "They're taking him prisoner." + +"Right!" cried the landlord, turning sharply; "but how did you know?" + +"Because I know our side would not act like butchers with a defenceless +man," said Fred, proudly, "They take prisoners, sir, and always give +quarter." + +The landlord uttered a grunt, and turned sharply to watch the progress +of the fight and pursuit. + +"Look, Polly!" he cried; "they have got to the top of the hill, and see +their danger." + +"Yes, father; look, look--they have halted and turned. Yes; they are +coming back." + +"Can the two regiments trying to cut them off see them?" + +"No, I think not; they are down in the hollows. Look, father; they're +coming back." + +"The enemy?" + +"No; the king's men. Can't you see!" + +"See? yes," cried the landlord, with increased excitement. "Why, +they're mad. They're coming right into danger. Whatever do they mean?" + +"I don't know, father. Why, they'll all be taken." + +"They must have a fool for leader." + +"Ah!" sighed Fred, as he strained his ears to catch every word and sound +from outside. + +But the landlord was wrong. The king's regiment of horse had no fool +for colonel. On the contrary, he had suddenly woke to the fact that a +regiment of Ironsides on his left, and another on his right, were trying +to get round him by short cuts, so as to head him back to the regiment +in pursuit; and, what was more, he saw that there could be no doubt of +the success of the manoeuvre. + +With a gallantry that almost approached recklessness he faced round his +regiment, and in the full intent of attacking his enemies, corps by +corps, he gave the order to charge, and dashed right at the pursuing +regiment. + +This movement resulted in bringing the engagement well within view of +the spectators in the loft, or rather, it should be said, of the +spectator; for, as soon as the landlord's daughter saw that a deadly +shock was inevitable, she covered her face with her hands, stepped down +from beside her father, and fell upon her knees in the straw close to +where Fred lay. + +"God help them, poor men!" she murmured. "How horrible it is!" + +Then there was a painful silence within that straw-spread loft, while +without there was a rushing sound, as of two great torrents hurrying to +meet, and above this came the jingling of sword and spur, the hoarse +shouting of words of command; then the brazen blare of trumpets, +followed by a distant cheer; then one more near; and then one horrible, +crashing, hurtling noise, as man and beast dashed at man and beast, and +came into collision. There was the clash of sword upon sword, of sword +upon helmet, and again of sword upon breastplate. Yells of pain, wild +shrieks, shouts of defiance, and then one confused din, broken by a loud +"Hah!" from the landlord. + +"Polly," he cried, "it's awful! Ah, here comes another regiment, and-- +yes, here comes the other!" + +Almost as he spoke, came the sound of another shock, and then of +another, followed by desperate clashing of steel, which grew less and +less and less, and then gradually died out, to be followed by a dull, +low murmur, and then silence, which lasted only a few moments, to be +succeeded by a series of deafening cheers. + +"Is it all over, father?" whispered Polly, with hands over her face. + +"Yes, my girl," said the landlord, in a sad voice; "it is all over for +the poor fellows." + +"Who have won, father?" + +"What's the use of asking that? What could you expect, when it was +three to one? Plenty of killed and wounded, and not a man escaped. +Yes; there they are, two or three hundred of them, and all prisoners." + +"Will they bring the wounded here, father?" + +"I don't know, Polly. Where are we to put them, if they do?" + +"Ah!" sighed the girl, rising and wiping her eyes, "it is very dreadful, +and I nearly swooned away when they brought the first wounded men here; +but I must be about and ready to help when they come. They'll want all +we can do." + +She smoothed down her apron in a calm, matter-of-fact way, and then +moved over the rustling straw, as if ready for any duty; but she seemed +to recollect something, and came back to where Fred lay. + +"It's your side that has won, sir," she said. "You will not be a +prisoner any longer, and--" + +"Yes?" said Fred, for she stopped short. + +"You heard what my father said, sir? You know he likes the Royalists, +and if he fought would fight for the king?" + +"Yes, I could see all that from his manner. I had no need to hear his +words." + +"But he is so good and kind, sir. He would not hurt a hair of any man's +head. You will not betray him to the soldiers, sir, and let him be +treated as a spy." + +Fred was conscious that the girl was talking to him, but her words +seemed to be coming through a thick mist, and she looked far away +somewhere down a long vista of light, which stretched right away into +space, beginning upon the straw where he was lying, and passing right +out through the end of the loft. And there, within this vista of light, +surrounded by dancing motes, was the landlord's daughter. Then, as if a +thin filmy cloud had passed over the sun, a cloud which grew thicker and +thicker, so that the broad beam of light gradually died away, the +pleasant young homely face grew less and less distinct, and, lastly, all +was confused and mingled with singing noises and murmurs in his head, +and then--a complete blank. + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +DISCOVERING THE TRAITOR. + +When Fred came to himself, he was no longer lying upon straw, but upon a +comfortable bed, in a clean, white-washed room. It was evening, for the +sun seemed to be low, and sending a ruddy glow through the open window. + +For a time he felt puzzled, and wondered why he was there; and as he +tried to collect his thoughts, and the memory of the fight which he had +heard came back, it seemed as if it was all a dream. + +But no; that was no dream. Tramp--tramp! tramp--tramp!--the heavy march +of an armed man. It was a sentinel going to and fro beneath the window +sure enough; for the footsteps sounded faint, grew gradually louder, as +if passing close to the window, became gradually fainter, and then grew +louder once more, and this over and over again. + +At the same time that he was listening to this, he became aware of a +peculiar scratching noise close by, but until in his heavy drowsy state +he had settled in his own mind that it was a sentinel, he could not pay +any heed to the scratching. + +By degrees he recognised the sound as being that of a pen, and knew that +some one was writing, and just as he had arrived at this conclusion, +there was the faint scrape of a chair, a clinking noise such as might be +made by the hilt of a sword against a breastplate, and directly after a +sun-browned, anxious face was gazing earnestly into his. + +"Father!" whispered Fred, feebly. + +"My dear boy! Thank Heaven!" + +The first sentence was uttered aloud--the second breathed softly. + +"How is it with you, Fred?" + +"Bad, father, bad," he murmured. "I seem to have no strength left, +and--and--and--oh, father," he gasped, as he clung to the hand which +took his, "I did--indeed, I did my best." + +"Why, Fred, my boy, Fred. Don't--don't take it so seriously as that. +You were overpowered and wounded." + +"Yes, father, but you trusted me with the prisoners, and I allowed +myself to be out-manoeuvred, and I have disgraced myself." + +"What! How?" + +"And I did try so hard to do my duty. I wish now I had been killed." + +"Fred! My son!" + +"Don't be angry with me now I am so weak." + +"Yes, too weak, my dear boy," said Colonel Forrester, as he knelt down +by the bedside, and passed his arm beneath the lad's neck as he kissed +his forehead, "too weak to talk about all this. Be silent and listen to +me." + +Fred answered by a look. + +"You think you have disgraced yourself by letting your enemies +out-manoeuvre you, and with the prisoners turn the table on your little +escort?" + +Fred gave another pitiful look. + +"That you have disgraced yourself for ever as a young officer?" + +"Yes," whispered the wounded lad. + +"And that I, your father and your colonel, am angry for what you look +upon as a lapse?" + +Fred tried to bow his head, but failed. + +"Well, then, my dear boy, let me set your poor weak head at rest. I +know everything you did from your start until you were trapped in the +wood, the enemy letting you pass one troop, and having another waiting +for you at the end of the wood." + +"Yes, that is how it was, and I did not take sufficient care." + +"Yes, you did, my boy; your precautions were all that an officer on such +a duty could take, and all that I should have taken." + +"You seem to be giving me fresh life, father," whispered Fred. "But how +did you know?" + +"Partly from the advance guard, partly from Samson; and both join in +saying that my son behaved as a gallant officer should. I am quite +satisfied, my boy. I sent you upon a dangerous expedition, and in spite +of the perils of your journey, you have escaped with life, and you are +no longer a prisoner. In fact, we have turned the tables on the enemy +again, and read them a lesson they will not forget." + +"Yes; I heard the fighting, father." + +"And do you know whose men they were?" + +"No." + +"Sir Godfrey Markham's." + +"Father?" + +"Yes; and his son, lately your prisoner, was with them." + +"And they are prisoners now?" + +"No, my boy; they cut their way out with about a hundred mere, and +escaped. This war is one of constant change." + +"Then you are not angry with me, father?" + +"On the contrary, Fred, I am proud. You acted better than many older +officers would have done." + +"You say that to comfort me over my disgrace." + +"I say it because it is true, and because you are not in disgrace. A +far more experienced man would easily have been led into such an ambush, +betrayed as you were." + +"Betrayed?" said Fred. + +"Yes; some one must have carried information to the enemy." + +"You think that?" + +"Of course." + +"But who could have done so? We had no traitors with us." + +"Perhaps not, but the enemy may have had friends near." + +"Impossible, father!" + +"Quite possible, my boy. Where did you stay to refresh your men?" + +"Here, father--at this very place. At least," added Fred, as he glanced +round, "if this is the little inn where I was a prisoner in the loft." + +"The very place, my boy; and now the secret is out. Lie still now, and +don't speak." + +Fred gazed at his father eagerly as he rose from his knees and crossed +to the door, which he opened, passed out on to the landing, called for +the host, and returned. + +Instead of the florid landlord, there was a heavy step on the stairs, +and the shock-headed boy of the place entered the room to look from Fred +to Colonel Forrester and back. + +"Where does the nearest doctor live?" said the colonel, quietly. + +"At Brownsand," replied the lad, with another sympathetic glance at the +wounded officer. + +"Rather a long ride?" + +"Only twelve miles, sir." + +"But that's where a body of the king's men lie, is it not?" + +"Well, no, sir, I don't think so now. Those is them that you had to +fight with. They were at Brownsand t'other day." + +"You have a horse here, have you not?" + +"No, sir, only a pony; and if I took the short cut it would not be a +long journey." + +"But could the pony do the journey to-day?" + +"Do it to-day, sir? Yes; she's as hard as a stag." + +"That will do for the present," said Colonel Forrester. + +"Shall I ride over for the doctor, sir?" + +"No. Send up your master." + +The lad went down quite sulkily, and delivered his message, while +Colonel Forrester smiled at his son. + +"Well, Fred," he said, "I suppose you see now?" + +Fred's answer was cut short off by the heavy step of the landlord, who +came up with a sympathising look in his face, and seemed eager to serve. + +"The young gentleman's not worse, sir, I hope." + +"You are sorry for him, then?" said the colonel, quietly. + +"Sorry for him, sir? Why of course I am." + +"As sorry as you were for the young prisoner he brought by here." + +"Oh yes, sir, I was sorry for him, too; but he was not wounded." + +"You treacherous dog!" cried the colonel, in a voice of thunder, as he +seized the landlord by the throat, and forced him to his knees; "so +nothing would do but you must bid that boy take the pony and ride over +to Brownsand so as to betray the fact that an escort of prisoners had +halted at your house and were gone on by the Brownsand road." + +"No, sir; I never--I never did." + +"You lie, you old villain: tell the truth before I hand you over to my +men, and have you hung for a spy on the nearest tree." + +"I swear, colonel, I never did anything of the kind," cried the +landlord, piteously. + +"No, sir, it is not true," cried a girlish voice; and the landlord's +little daughter appeared in the doorway. + +"Then pray who did?" cried Colonel Forrester. + +"I did, sir," said the girl, undauntedly. + +"And pray, why?" + +"Because I heard that the young officer was Sir Godfrey Markham's son, +and it seemed so horrible that he should be dragged off a prisoner." + +"What do you know of Sir Godfrey Markham?" asked the colonel, sternly. + +"I had heard my father speak of him, sir." + +"And so you planned all this and executed it yourself?" + +"Yes, sir; I sent our lad off with a message to where the king's men +lay." + +"I need not ask, I suppose, whether you are telling the truth," said the +colonel, grimly. + +"No, sir. Why should I tell a lie?" replied the girl, quietly; and she +looked unflinchingly in her questioner's face. + +"And at the first opportunity, I suppose, you will betray us into the +enemy's hands?" + +"Oh no, sir," said the girl, with the tears in her eyes, as she glanced +at Fred. "I would sooner try and save you, though you are the enemies +of our king." + +"Silence, girl! there is no king now in England, only a man who calls +himself king. A tyrant who has been driven from the throne." + +The girl flushed and held up her head. + +"It is not true," she cried, proudly. "God save the king!" + +"What!" cried Colonel Forrester, in a voice of thunder; and for the +first time the innkeeper spoke, his ruddy face now mottled with white, +and his hands trembling as he placed them together beseechingly. + +"Don't take any notice of what she says, sir. She's a foolish, wilful +girl, sir. I've been a miserable coward to hold my tongue so long, but +I will speak now. It was all my doing. I held back so as not to seem +in the business, because I wanted to be friends with both sides, sir; +but I could not bear to see the young squire carried off a prisoner, and +I winked at it all. It was my doing, sir. Don't believe a word she +says." + +"Father, what have you said?" cried his child, clinging to him. + +"Hush! Hold your tongue," he whispered angrily. + +"So we have the truth at last," said the colonel. "You convict yourself +of being a spy and traitor; and you know your fate, I suppose?" + +As Colonel Forrester spoke, he rose and walked to the window, made a +sign with his hand, and directly after heavy steps were heard upon the +stairs, accompanied by the clank of arms. + +In an instant the girl was at the colonel's feet. + +"Oh, sir, what are you going to do?" she shrieked. "He is my father." + +The guilty innkeeper's lips were quivering, and the white portions in +his face were gradually increasing, to the exclusion of the red, for the +steps of the soldiers on the stairs brought vividly before his eyes the +scene of a spy's fate. He knew what such a traitor's end would be, and, +speechless with terror, he could hardly keep his feet, as he looked from +his child to the stern colonel and back again. + +"Father!" she cried, "why don't you speak? Why don't you ask him to +forgive us?" + +"Mercy--mercy!" faltered the wretched man. + +"What mercy did you have on my poor boy?" cried the colonel, fiercely. +"Through your treachery, he was surrounded by five times the number of +his own men; and, for aught you cared, instead of lying wounded here he +might have been dead." + +"Mercy! I did not know," gasped the miserable culprit. + +"Mercy? Yes; you shall have the choice of your own trees on which to +hang," cried the colonel. + +"No, no; mercy!" gasped the trembling man, dropping on his knees; "for +my child's sake--for Heaven's sake--spare me!" + +"Father!" cried Fred, excitedly. + +"Silence, boy! I am their judge," said Colonel Forrester, sternly. +"Yes, man, for your child's sake, I will spare you, in spite of your +cowardly treachery." + +"Father, father!" cried the girl, excitedly; but he could not speak. + +"Yes, I will spare you for your child's sake," said the colonel again. +"There, little woman, I forgive you, for you are as brave and +true-hearted as can be. I believe you--every word. Your little heart +was moved to pity for the prisoner, as it has been moved to pity for my +poor boy here, and for my men." + +He took her hand in his, and held it. + +"I have heard of all your busy nursing, and I do not blame you; I would +rather praise. There, help the old man downstairs, and I am not afraid +of your betraying us." + +The girl raised his hand and kissed it before rushing to her father, +flinging her arms about him, and helping him away, so weak and +semi-paralysed by fright that he could hardly totter from the room, the +colonel following to the door, and signing to the soldiers to go down. + +"There, he has had his punishment," said the colonel, smiling; "and now +you will be able to rest in peace." + +"Thank you, father, thank you," whispered Fred, huskily. + +"You see you were not to blame now." + +"Not so much as I thought, father." + +"Not to blame at all. There, make haste and grow strong, my boy, before +we are driven out in turn by the enemy." + +"Are they near, father?" + +"No; as far as I know, my boy. But the victors of yesterday are the +defeated to-day, perhaps to win again to-morrow. Ah, my boy, it is +fratricidal work! and, though I love my cause as well as ever, I would +give all I possess as one of the richest men in our county to see home +smiling again in peace." + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +TOWARDS HOME. + +Weeks followed of desultory warfare. One day messengers came bringing +news to the little inn--which had gradually become head-quarters from +the coming there of General Hedley, and the centre to which +reinforcements were continually gathering--that the king's men were once +more in force, and preparations were made for a hasty move. + +"Far sooner than I could wish, my boy," said the colonel, as he sat +beside his son after a busy day. + +"But I feel quite strong again, father," pleaded Fred. "You are too +anxious about me." + +"Too anxious, my boy? No, I think not. Well, you will have to try and +sit your horse again, even if you are a non-combatant." + +"Which way shall we retreat?" asked Fred. + +"Retreat? Who said anything about retreat?" cried a stern voice, and +General Hedley entered the room. "Oh, you, eh, boy?" he continued, +shaking one of his buff gauntlets at the convalescent. "Don't you let +Captain Miles hear you say that again. We may move to a different +position, but we will not talk of retreat yet." + +Fred felt the colour burning once more in his pale cheeks, and the +general went on-- + +"Forrester, I want a chat with you. Come into my room. I have fresh +despatches." + +The colonel followed his leader out of the little parlour which had been +devoted to the wounded lad by the general's command, he having insisted +upon its being retained when he joined them there, and tents had sprung +up in all directions upon the moor close to the inn. + +Directly after, there was a hoarse cough heard outside, in company with +a heavy step. + +"Hem! Master Fred, sir." + +"You, Samson?" + +"Yes, sir. Alone, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"May I speak to you!" + +"Yes; go on." + +Samson's head appeared at the window, upon the sill of which he leaned +his arms as he gazed in. + +"Getting quite tidy again, arn't you, sir!" he said, in a hoarse +whisper. + +"Yes, quite strong; and you?" + +"Never better, sir; only wind feels a little short sometimes, and I gets +too hot too soon." + +"You didn't come to tell me that, Samson." + +"No, sir; I come to tell you there's news in the camp." + +"What of?--a movement?" + +"Yes, sir; that's it." + +"Do you know where we're going next!" + +"No, sir; do you?" + +"No, Samson; and I should say that is the general's secret. We shall +know when we get there." + +"Start to-morrow, don't we, sir?" + +"Impossible to say. What do they say in the camp?" + +"Weather-cockery." + +"What?" + +"Well, sir, it's just like a vane in a wind: now it's east, now it's +west, and when it ain't east or west, it's north or south. Everybody +says everybody else is wrong. But we are going somewhere directly; +that's for certain. And, I say, Master Fred." + +"Yes?" + +"How do you feel about mounting your horse again?" + +"I long to, Samson. How are the poor beasts?" + +"Lovely, sir. The farrier doctored the cuts and scratches they got in +the skirmish, and they're pretty well healed up now. It's a cowardly +thing to cut at a horse. Then you feel strong enough to have a try, +sir?" + +"You wait till we get the orders to start, Samson, and you shall see." + +Samson rubbed his hands and began to smile, but the pleasant look was +ousted by a grotesque twitching of the countenance. + +"What's the matter?" + +"I always forget, sir. Wound reminds me when I go too fast, and aren't +careful. All right again soon, though. Don't hear no noos of the war +being over, sir, I s'pose?" + +"No, Samson, none. Tired of it?" + +"Tired, sir? I don't know about tired, but I can't help thinking of the +manor now and then, and what sort of a state my garden will be in. Why, +Master Fred, sir, you know that bit under the north wall, where the +mistress's herbs and simples grow!" + +"Yes." + +"Well, sir, I shan't know that bit again. That there patch in +partic'lar 'll be one big touzle o' weeds, and--" + +_Tantara, tantara, tantara_! A trumpet rang out, sending a thrill +through Fred, as he grasped its meaning, and that of the blasts that +followed, with the rush of feet and trampling of horses. For a +messenger had come in bearing a despatch, and in an incredibly short +space of time tents were struck, baggage waggons loaded, and the little +force was marching slowly to the west, Fred having only time to shake +hands with his little nurse, and assure the landlord for the fiftieth +time that he forgave him for being the cause of his wounds, and was most +grateful for the kindness he had received. + +Then, to his intense delight, he was once more mounted on his horse, +which gave a whinny of recognition as his master patted his neck and +smoothed his velvet muzzle. The trumpets rang out the advance, and with +the sun flashing from the men's arms, the array moved slowly off, and +the youth's eyes sparkled as he drew in long breaths of the soft sweet +air, while he gazed wonderingly in the direction they were taking, his +breast filled with new hopes, in which he was afraid to indulge, lest +they should prove to be false. + +The longing to question his superior officers was intense, though he +knew that even they would probably be in ignorance of their route; and +never before had he felt so strongly that a soldier is only a portion of +one great piece of mechanism moved by one--the general in command. + +As they settled down at last into the line of march, Fred found himself +for the present with the staff, riding behind his father, who was +General Hedley's most trusted follower, but hours went on before a word +passed between father and son. Such conversation as did ensue was with +Samson, who rode behind, neither being considered sufficiently recovered +to go back to the regiment, but settling down to the work of +aide-de-camp and orderly. + +And as they rode slowly on, the cavalry halting from time to time to +give the infantry opportunities for keeping up and preserving their +position in the column, it soon became evident that the Royalists, who +had made no sign in their neighbourhood for weeks, must be somewhere +near at hand. For the greatest precautions were taken, scouting parties +were out, and a regiment of horse formed flankers well away on either +side to guard against surprise. + +Fred was riding slowly on at a short distance behind his father, +thinking with all a convalescent's freedom from fever and pain, of how +beautiful everything around seemed to be, and longing to cast aside the +trammels of discipline, so as to be a boy in nature once more, as well +as in years, when a low voice behind him made him sharply turn his head. + +"Don't it seem a pity, Master Fred?" + +"Eh? What, Samson?" + +"Why, sir, that we should be all riding and walking along here over this +moor, thinking about hoeing up and raking down people and mowing 'em +off, instead of enjoying ourselves like Christians?" + +"Ah, yes," sighed Fred; "it does. It is very beautiful, though, all the +same." + +"Beautiful, sir? Ah, Master Fred, how I should like to put away my +tools--I mean this here sword and pistol--and for you and me to take off +our boots and stockings, and wade up yonder stream after the trout." + +"Hah!" ejaculated Fred, with his eyes brightening. "Yes." + +"Or to go away north, and get out on that there short soft grass, as +always looks as if it had been kept well-mown, out there by the Rill +Head, and lie down on our backs, and look at the sun shining on the sea +and ships a-sailing along, eh, Master Fred?" + +"Oh, Samson, Samson, don't talk about it!" sighed Fred, as he gazed +right away in imagination at the scene his rough companion painted. + +"Can't help it, sir. Feel as if I must. Steady, my lad! you mustn't +break away for a gallop. We're soldiers now." + +This was to his horse, which felt grass beneath its feet and the wind +blowing, and wanted to be off. + +"'Member how the rabbits used to scuttle off up there, Master Fred, and +show their white tails as they popped into their holes?" + +Fred nodded, and let his reins fall upon his horse's neck. + +"And that there hole up in the Rill, sir? 'Member how I come and found +your clothes up beside it, and fetched my garden line to fish for your +rope?" + +"Oh yes, yes, yes!" said Fred, sadly. + +"And we never went down that place again, after all, sir. Well, let's +hope that we shall some day. I'm getting tired of soldiering, and feel +as if it would be a real pleasure to have a mug of our cider again, and +pull up a weed." + +"I'm afraid I am getting tired of it, too, Samson; but I cannot see the +end." + +"And on a fine day like this, sir, with the blue sky up above, and the +green grass down below, and the birds singing, it's just lovely. Why, I +feel so well and happy this morning that I do believe, if he was here, I +could go so far as to shake hands with my brother Nat." + +"Why, of course, Samson," said Fred, thoughtfully. + +"No," added Samson, "I don't think I could go so far as that." + +"And if Scarlett Markham were here," thought Fred, "I believe I could +grasp his hand, and be like a brother again, as in the past." + +"Wonder where we are going, and whether it means another fight, sir?" +said Samson, after a pause. "Look, sir!--the colonel. Master's waving +his hand." + +Fred saw the motion, and trotted up to his father's side. + +"Fred, my boy, do you know where we are making for?" + +"No, father!" + +"Home." + +"Oh, father!" said Fred, with his pale face flushing. "I am glad." + +"Oh, Fred, my boy," replied his father, seriously, "I am very sorry." + +"Sorry, father? Why, we may have a chance to see them all again." + +"Yes--perhaps; but we are taking the horrors of war to the abode of +peace, my boy." + +"Yes," said Fred, thoughtfully. "I did not think of that." + +"It was our duty and hope that we might keep the ruin and misery brought +by war from our pleasant moors and lanes. Better not see those we love +at such a cost." + +"Then, don't let's go, father." + +Colonel Forrester shook his head. + +"A soldier's duty is to obey, Fred. Our general has had his orders, and +feels that for military reasons our district will be the most suitable +place for intercepting a force which is threatening the west; and our +duty is to go." + +"Yes, father. But shall we see my mother?" + +"I hope not, Fred." + +"Oh, father!" + +"Not yet awhile, my boy. We must only think of those we love when our +duty to our country is done." + +They rode on in silence for a time, with Fred picturing, amid the +trampling of hoofs and jingle of weapons, the scenes of his boyhood, but +to be awakened from his dream by his father's voice. + +"Do not talk about our destination. I only tell you, my boy, because it +is a matter which interests us both." + +"No, father. You may trust me." + +"I know that, or I should not speak. Our destination is--" + +"Not the Manor, father?" + +"No, my boy, the Hall." + +Fred sat staring wildly at his father, as bit by bit he grasped what +this really meant to these who had always been their nearest friends; +and then, bubbling over with excitement, he exclaimed-- + +"Oh, father, Sir Godfrey will think this is your doing." + +"Yes, my boy." + +"And is it, father?" + +There was a pause. + +"Oh, father, how could you?" + +"Don't misjudge me, boy," said the colonel, sternly. "I have done +everything I could to stop it." + +"And--" + +"Failed, Fred. It is a strong position for many reasons, and I have +been compelled, by my duty to my country, to hold my peace. Rein back." + +It was the officer speaking now, and Fred checked his steed till Samson +was nearly abreast of him again, when, after quite a dozen attempts to +draw his young master into conversation, Samson muttered to himself, "In +the grumps;" and rode on in silence too. + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +A PETITION TO THE GENERAL. + +It seemed to Fred Forrester a strange stroke of fate, when, after three +days' slow and steady advance, feeling their way cautiously, as if at +any hour they might meet the enemy, he rode with the advance to take +possession of the Hall, for in spite of the colonel offering his own +home again, the general kept to his decision that the Hall was the more +suitable place for head-quarters. + +The day was bright as one of those when, full of boyish spirits, he used +to run over to spend the day with Scarlett Markham; and where was he +now? A fugitive, perhaps; who could say where? And Sir Godfrey, where +was he? + +Fred felt very sad as he rode on, with the horses' hoofs trampling +deeply into the soft green turf. But how beautiful it all seemed, with +the rich red-brown stone of the old house contrasting so well with the +green of the stately trees. The lake glistened like a sheet of silver +in the sunshine, and all seemed familiar and welcome, and yet somehow as +though connected with his life long, long ago, and as if it was +impossible it could have been so short a time since he was a boy, and +played about there. + +"I hope the men will be careful," he found himself thinking; "and that +every one will be respectful to Lady Markham." + +He had not much time for thought after that, for the men were halted on +the level grass land in front of the terrace garden, and he found +himself one of the officers who, after an advance guard had ridden up to +the front, and others had been despatched to form piquets surrounding +the place, rode up in the train of the general. + +To Fred's surprise, Lady Markham and her daughter came to the broad step +in front of the entrance, and the general touched his horse's sides with +the spurs, and rode up. + +Fred was so near that he heard every word, and he bent forward, looking +in vain for some token of recognition from the pale, careworn lady and +her shrinking daughter, who received the general. + +The latter saluted Lady Markham gravely. + +"I regret to trouble you, madam," he said; "but we are compelled to take +possession of your house for the present." + +Lady Markham bowed coldly. + +"We are at your mercy, sir," she said. + +"Nonsense, madam!" cried the general, shortly. "You and the pretty +young lady there by your side need not talk about mercy. The stern +necessities of war bring us here, so all I have to say is, be good +enough to reserve such apartments as you need for yourselves. You and +your servants will be perfectly unmolested." + +Lady Markham bowed once more. + +"The housekeeper is here," she said, "and will provide all we have. We +have no men-servants now, to show where the stables and granary lie." + +"Pray don't trouble yourself about these matters, madam. My men will +find what they want, and I dare say," he added sarcastically, "unless +General Markham comes to look us up, and forces us to make more +reprisals, we shall ride away, and you will find the Hall little the +worse for our visit." + +A sudden change came over Lady Markham at the mention of her husband's +name, and after a few minutes' hesitation, she stepped out to stand with +joined hands, looking supplicatingly at the general. + +"My husband?" she said imploringly, "is--is he well?" + +"You ask me a question I cannot answer, madam," said the general, taking +off his morion, and speaking in a quiet sympathising voice. "But there +is one of my young followers who may be able to give you some +information." + +He turned and made a sign to Fred, who touched his horse's flanks, and +rode forward with a peculiar singing noise in his ears. + +"You!" said Lady Markham, looking at the young officer in a startled +manner, and then turning from him with a look of disgust, while he saw +that Lil shivered. + +"They look upon me as if I were some one who had been the cause of all +this," he thought; but his countenance lightened directly, as Lady +Markham turned to him again, and said gently-- + +"Forgive me, Fred. This meeting brought up the past. It seemed so +terrible that my boy's companion should be among our enemies." + +As she spoke, she held out her hand, which Fred seized and held for a +few moments before he could speak, and when he did give utterance to his +words, they were in a voice broken by emotion. + +"I am not your enemy, Lady Markham," he said. "I would do anything to +spare you pain. Lil, won't you shake hands?" + +The girl hesitated for a few moments, and then held out her little hand +timidly, but only to turn to her mother directly, and cling to her as +she strove to keep back her sobs. + +"Ask him--ask him," she whispered. + +"Yes. Tell us, Fred--my poor boy," said Lady Markham, in a low voice, +so as to be unheard by the soldiers close at hand. "Where is my +husband?" + +"The last I heard of him, Lady Markham, was that he was with the Cornish +men beyond Plymouth. They are all on the king's side there." + +"But was he safe and well?" + +"Yes; quite safe and well, and Scarlett--" + +"Yes; pray go on. I dared not ask, for fear of hearing bad news." + +"I heard that he was quite well, too, and acting as his father's +aide-de-camp." + +"Thank Heaven!" sighed Lady Markham, piously. "It is so long since we +had heard from them. Now I can feel more at rest." + +She seemed to gain strength from the news; and after a pause she went +on-- + +"Tell your leader," she said, "that I am grateful, for my child's sake. +He has been most courteous. I did not expect this consideration." + +"Oh, Lady Markham, I am sure that you have nothing to fear. The +discipline is so strict among our men. They will only take food and +shelter for a night or two. Any act of disorder would be punished." + +Lady Markham drew a breath of relief. + +"You are our enemy, Fred," she said softly, "and when we meet again, I +shall not forget to tell my husband of the treatment we have received. +There, Lilian and I will go to our room. You know the place by heart. +See that everything is done for your officers' comfort. Let them learn +that Sir Godfrey Markham can show hospitality, even to his foes." + +She bowed stiffly, and, taking her daughter's hand, was withdrawing into +the house, when Lil snatched her hand away, and stepped quickly to +Fred's side. + +"I hate you," she whispered. "You are dear father's and Scar's cruel +enemy; but please, please, Fred, don't let them do us any harm." + +"Don't be afraid, dreadful enemy," said Fred, smiling, as he saw the +depth of his old playmate's hatred. "I'll do everything I can, Lil +dear, for all your sakes. Good-bye, if I do not see you again." + +She gave him a quick look, which seemed in an instant to bring up sunny +days when he had swung her on the lawn, rowed on the lake, and climbed +the apple-trees to get her fruit; and then she was gone, and he was +listening to the trampling of horses, the shouting of orders, and he was +called away. + +Directly after, he was making use of his knowledge of the place to +fulfil Lady Markham's wishes, and over these he worked the harder, +because he felt that by hastening the production of the necessaries for +the troops, much waste and destruction would be spared. + +The result was that in less than an hour the Hall was occupied by the +little force, which was in high good humour with its pleasant quarters, +while sentries were put in different directions, and every precaution +taken against surprise. + +"Capital quarters, my boy," said the general, as he sat with his +officers in the old oak dining-room; "and I wish your father was here to +share them. But you have not taken care of yourself in all this +business." + +"Oh, I have snatched a little food, sir," replied Fred. "I'm not +hungry, but--" + +"Well, what is it? Speak out. What do you want?" + +Fred hesitated for a moment, as if collecting himself. + +"You know that the Manor is only two miles from here, sir?" + +"Eh? So near. No; I knew it was somewhere about this part," said the +general, smiling. "Oh, I see, my boy. Well, it's quite right, but +risky. And besides, we may stay here a week or we may stay a minute. +How do I know how soon the enemy may rout us out? No, Fred, my boy, +love must give way to duty. I cannot spare my young officer, even to go +and see his mother, much as I should like to say `Yes.'" + +"You mistake me, sir," said Fred, colouring a little. "I would not have +asked leave at this busy time for that." + +"Then what do you want, my boy?" + +"Lady Markham and her daughter, sir. This is no place for them." + +"Humph! No. But we have no time for paying attentions to ladies." + +"No, sir; but what I want to do is a little thing. We may stay here +some time, and other troops join us." + +"Yes, I am expecting reinforcements. What do you want to do?" + +"As this may be quite a rendezvous for some time, to get them away." + +"I cannot undertake such duties, my boy; but Lady Markham and her +daughter are free to go anywhere." + +"Thank you, sir. That is what I want; but the only asylum for them is +our old home, and they would not go there unasked." + +"Well, ask them." + +"It would be of no use." + +"My good lad, I am tired out. I want to snatch a few hours' sleep. +What is it you want?" + +"I want to take half a dozen men to ride over and fetch my mother here. +They were once dear friends, and if my mother came, she could persuade +Lady Markham, for her child's sake, to go back with her." + +The general sat frowning for a few minutes, during which he poured out a +little wine in a long Venice glass, filled up with water, and drank. + +"Yes," he said in a quiet, decided voice, as he set down his glass, +"take a sergeant and half a dozen--no, a dozen men, ride over and do the +business as quickly as you can, so that the men and their horses may get +back and rest. It means a double journey, you see. No; no thanks. +Despatch!" + +Fred looked his thanks, and retired with the promptness loved by his +leader; and a very short time later, just as the turret clock was +striking ten, he rode out with his little detachment, being challenged +again and again by the mounted sentries placed along the road which +skirted the west end of the lake. + +"Only think of it, Master Fred," whispered Sergeant Samson Dee, as they +rode slowly along beneath the light of the stars--"going home in this +way. What will the mistress say?" + +They were not long in hearing. + +As they rode over the familiar ground, Samson was very silent, for he +was thinking of the old garden, while Fred felt a swelling sensation at +his breast as every object so well-known peered cut of the surrounding +darkness. There was the pond in which Dodder took refuge one day after +he had broken out of the field to escape capture, and there stuck so +tightly in the mud that cart ropes had to be thrown over him, and he was +dragged out looking the most drenched and deplorable object possible. + +There, looming up under the stars, was the great hollow elm where the +owls regularly bred and slept all day. Another minute, and the horses' +hoofs were slashing up the babbling water of the stream which crossed +the road--the tiny river where they had so often waded after trout and +stone loaches. + +There at last, calm and still in the starlight, lay the Manor, and the +young officer felt a wild kind of joy, which he had to fight down, lest +he should seem childish before his followers, for the impulse of the +moment was to leap from the horse and rush through the garden, over the +lawn, and up to the doorway, shouting for joy. + +But discipline, the desire to seem manly, and a strange feeling of dread +kept him calm and stern beyond his years, the feeling of dread soon +dominating the other sensations. For how could he tell but that a party +of the enemy had ridden up to his dear old home, as they had that +evening ridden up to Scarlett's, and were perhaps behaving with far less +consideration than they had shown? and how did he know that his old +habitation was not a ruin, and his mother a wanderer far away. + +A curious dimness came over his sight at these terrible thoughts, and he +felt as if he were going to fall from his horse. His old injuries +throbbed and stung, and it seemed to him that his fears were correct, +for the old Manor did not look as it should be. Surely the windows were +all bare of glass, the great chimney stack was down, and the ivy which +clothed the front torn away and scorched by fire. + +The giddy sensation increased, and he involuntarily clutched the pommel +of his saddle as he bent forward, staring wildly at the dear old place, +when he was suddenly brought to himself by the voice of Samson, who said +aloud-- + +"All fast asleep. Oh, Master Fred, I wonder how my dear old garden +looks." + +The misty, giddy sensation had gone, and in a firm voice Fred cried, +"Halt!" + +For there before him, dimly seen in the starlight, lay the old Manor, +quite unscathed, for the tide of war had not yet swept over that part of +the pleasant land. + +Fred dismounted, passed through the little oaken gate, and walking up +the path, was about to rap at the door with the hilt of his sword. + +But the trampling of horses and a loud neigh like a challenge had +awakened those within. A well-known casement was opened, and a familiar +voice exclaimed-- + +"Who's there?" + +"Mother!" whispered Fred, hoarsely. + +There was a cry of joy from the open window; then a clicking noise of +flint and steel, a light gleamed blue and faint on the ivy leaves which +framed the casement; then a brighter light, and in a few minutes the +lower windows were illumined; there was the sound of the bolts being +shot, and directly after Fred was in the little hall, clasped in his +mother's arms. + +"My boy!" she whispered in a deep voice. Then, in a quick, agitated +manner, "Your father?" + +"Safe and well, mother." + +"And you have come to stay? Thank God, thank God." + +"No, not to stay," he cried earnestly, "but to ask you to perform a +duty, an act of kindness towards--" + +"Some wounded men? Yes, yes, my boy; bring the poor fellows in." + +"No, no, mother, not towards men," said Fred, holding her tightly to his +side, "to one who was once your dearest friend--to her and her child." + +"Lady Markham? Oh, Fred, my boy, they are still dear to me, though this +terrible war keeps us apart. But they are there. Oh, why do you stop? +Bring them in at once." + +"No, no, dearest mother, you are too hasty," whispered Fred. "They are +at their own place. But it is taken by our troops. It is to be a +little camp for us, perhaps for weeks. It is no place for them. +General Hedley consents, and I want you to come and fetch them here." + +"Yes, yes, my boy; but Lady Markham would not leave her home." + +"Yes, she will, at your persuasion, mother. You must come at once." + +Mistress Forrester drew a long breath, stifled a sob, and said firmly-- + +"I will be ready in a few minutes." + +"Shall I saddle Dodder, mistress, or will you ride pillion behind the +captain?" said a gruff voice at the door. + +"Ah, Samson, my good, true lad," cried Mistress Forrester, "I am glad to +hear your voice again." + +She ran forward, and held out her hand. + +"And it's like the sweet music of the birds to hear yours, mistress," +said the rough fellow, kissing the extended hand. + +"Quick, my boy!" whispered Mistress Forrester. "Give your men +refreshment. Saddle the pony, Samson. I will soon be down." + +She ran to the staircase, and Samson tramped off to the old stable, +thrust his hand in the thatch over the door, where, to use his +expression, "the key always laid," and a neigh of recognition greeted +him as soon as he spoke. + +In five minutes he was leading the pony round to the gate, where he was +in time to find a huge black jack of cider being passed round with horns +to the men, one of the maids having hastily dressed and come down. + +Directly after, in her dark riding-habit and hat, Mistress Forrester was +at the door, was helped into the saddle by her son, and the little +cavalcade was on its way back through the dark lanes, and over the +stretch of moor. + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +HOW SCARLETT VISITED HIS MOTHER. + +"Oh, mother darling, how shocking it all seems!" said Lil, after a long +burst of weeping, as she knelt by her mother in the darkness of their +own chamber that dreary night. + +"Yes, yes, my child; but we must be patient and wait." + +"But it seems so terrible. These men here--our dear old home full of +soldiers, and poor father and Scar--" + +"Hush, hush, my darling!" whispered Lady Markham. "You do not know what +pain you are giving me. Heaven's will be done, my child. Let us pray +for the safety of those we love." + +She softly sank upon her knees beside her child in the darkness of the +sombre chamber, and through a broken casement the bright starlight shone +down, shedding sufficient lustre to show the two upturned faces with +their closed eyes. + +The trampling and bustle had gradually died out. The loud orders and +buzz of talking had ceased by degrees, and now the silence of the night +was only broken by the impatient stamp of a horse, the regular tramp of +armed sentries, and from time to time a low firm challenge. + +Some time before Lady Markham's attention had been drawn by Lil to the +gathering of a little detachment of horsemen, and she had recognised the +voice of him who gave the order to advance, while from the open window, +themselves unseen, they had watched the faint gleam of the men's +breastplates, as they rode down the avenue, to be seen afterwards like a +faint moving shadow on the banks of the lake before they disappeared. + +Then all was still. The frightened servants had gathered, as it were, +under the wings of their mistress, and two of them were occupying the +inner room--Lil's, and had sobbed themselves to sleep. + +"But you will not go to bed, mother?" Lil had whispered. + +"No, my child; I will sit up, and watch by you." + +"But I could not sleep, mother," said Lil; and the result was that they +were keeping vigil, and sank at last in prayer for those in danger far +away. + +How still it all seemed as Lady Markham rose from her knees at last, and +went with Lil to the open window, where they seated themselves to look +out at the darkened landscape, and the faint glimmer of the star +reflections in the lake. + +They felt calm now and refreshed, but neither spoke. It was as if they +were unconsciously waiting for something--they knew not what, but +something that was to happen before long--and in which they were to play +some part. + +Tramp, tramp! tramp, tramp! on the terrace; and tramp, tramp the sentry, +whose post was from the porch right into the great oaken-panelled hall +and back. + +The weary troopers were asleep, and the stillness of the old +west-country home was oppressive, not a sound coming now from the +undulating moorland stretching to the sea. For there is a grand +solemnity at such times in the wild open country, away from busy towns, +and when the sentry by the porch let his thoughts stray back to the days +of peace, and some merry-making in the village from which he came, and +began to hum gently to himself the air of an old ballad, it sounded so +strange that he stopped short, shifted his heavy gun, and continued his +tramp in silence. + +He had just reached the front of the great stone porch, and was gazing +out across the park, and then to right and left, before turning to +resume his march right up the hall to the back, when-- + +_C-r-r-rack_! + +The man turned sharply, brought his clumsy piece to the present, and +stood listening and gazing before him into the dark hall. + +Not another sound. + +Should he fire and give the alarm? + +What for? It was not likely that danger would come from within. It +could not. The place was too well guarded on all sides. Besides, if he +fired and gave an alarm that turned out to be false, there would be a +severe reprimand from the officers, and a long course of ridicule and +annoyance from the men. + +Shifting his piece once more, the sentry stood listening for a few +minutes, and then drawing his sword, he walked boldly into the dark +hall, looking to right and left, then along all the sides, and ended by +standing at the foot of the stairs, gazing up at the gallery which +crossed the end, and went right and left into the two wings of the great +house, where the rooms were occupied by the officers and men. + +"Wonder whether one of the officers did that to see if I was on the +look-out?" thought the man. "If he did, and he only came within reach, +I'd let him see that I'm wideawake." + +He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five +minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, +with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by +night. + +"Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled +seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, +that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons. + +"Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned +his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and +faced round and marched toward the door. + +As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had +fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the +top stair but one--moved gently. There was a faint gliding sound, and +then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot +of the stairs and listened. + +He turned, walked right round the hall, and out once more to the front +of the porch, while something long and soft seemed in the darkness to +rise out of the top stair but one, as from a long box, on to the stair +below. + +The sentry marched in again, slowly and steadily, right to the end of +the hall, and back to the front of the porch; and as he went the gliding +sound was heard again, followed during the next march back by a very +faint crack, and then for quite five minutes the long, soft-looking +figure lay on the stair motionless. + +Then, when the sentry was tramping along the porch, the figure gave a +quick writhe and lay still a step higher. + +Again, when the sentry was his farthest, there was another writhe, and +the figure was on the top of the stairs, to roll by degrees gently over +and over across the landing, and lie close to the panelled wall. Then +began a slow crawling motion as if some hugely thick short serpent were +creeping along the polished oaken boards almost without a sound, till +the end of the gallery was reached. Then all was still but the regular +tramp of the sentry, who told himself that he had done wisely in not +giving the alarm. + +Not the first man who has congratulated himself upon making a great +mistake. + +Meanwhile, Lady Markham was seated at the window, with Lil's hand +clasped in hers, waiting, as it were, for that something which seemed as +if it would happen. No great wonder, at a time when change succeeded +change with marvellous rapidity. They had neither of them spoke for +some time, till suddenly Lil pressed her mother's hand. + +"What is it, dear?" + +"Listen!" + +Lady Markham bent forward, and remained silent for some minutes before +saying-- + +"I heard nothing, Lil." + +"I thought I heard horses a long way off. Oh!" + +She started violently, for there was a sharp, but faint tap on the panel +of the door, as if some one had sharply loosened one finger-nail with +the other. + +Neither stirred for a few moments, and then the sharp cracking sound was +repeated. + +Lady Markham did not hesitate, but walked across to the door. + +"Who is there?" she said in a low, firm voice. + +There was a faint rustle, as of some one moving a hand over the door +outside, and then from low down came a low-- + +"Hist!" + +It was from the keyhole without a doubt, and stooping, Lady Markham +repeated her question, placing her ear close to the keyhole, as she +listened for the answer. + +That reply sent the blood thrilling through her veins, as it was +whispered through the keyhole, and for the moment, she felt giddy with +anguish, love, and fear. + +It came again, with an addition. + +"Mother! Open! Quick!" + +With her hands trembling so that they almost refused their office, she +turned the key, felt a strong grasp on the handle, the door was thrust +open softly, closed, and locked, as she stood trembling there, and a +pair of arms were clasped around her neck. + +"Mother, dearest mother!" + +"Scar, dear Scar, me too," whispered Lil, for Lady Markham was +speechless with emotion. + +Brother and sister were locked in a loving embrace, and then Lil shrank +away. + +"Scar," she whispered; "why you are all wet." + +"Yes," he said, with a half-laugh. "I had to swim across part of the +lake." + +"Oh, my boy, my boy, how did you get here?" whispered Lady Markham. + +"Oh, I found a way, mother dear." + +"But your father? Oh! There is no bad news?" + +"No, no; don't tremble so. He is quite well, and not many miles away." + +"Thank Heaven!" she sighed; "but, Scar, my darling, you do not know." + +"Oh yes, I do, dear," he said calmly; "the house is full of rebels, and +they have their outposts everywhere. I have had a fine task to get here +without being seen." + +"And you must not stay a moment, my darling. You must escape before you +are discovered." + +"Hush! don't speak so loudly; we may be heard. There is no danger, if +you keep still." + +"But, Scar, my boy, why have you run this terrible risk?" + +"Soldiers have to run risks, mother. My father, who is at Ditton, with +a strong body of horse, was terribly anxious about home. A spy came in +and said the rebels were in this direction, so I said I could make my +way here and get news, and he trusted me to come. That's all." + +"But if you are taken, Scar?" + +"I don't mean to be taken, mother. I shall go back as I came. Rebel +sentinels are clever, but some people can manage to elude them." + +"Oh, my boy, my boy!" + +"Don't--don't fidget, dear, like that. I tell you there is no risk. +But I must not stay long." + +"Are you sure no one saw you come?" + +"Quite certain. But I am sorry that I have such poor news to lake back. +But, mother dear, they have treated you with respect?" + +"Oh yes, my boy. Fred Forrester's with them." + +"Ah!" ejaculated Scarlett, angrily. + +"And he has been most respectful and kind." + +"For a traitor." + +"Do not speak harshly of him, Scar." + +"Not I; but have they sacked the place?" + +"No, no. Nothing has been touched." + +"I'm glad of that, for poor father's sake. He will be enraged when he +knows they have taken possession here." + +"But he is in no danger, Scar?" + +"Not more than usual," said Scarlett, grimly. + +"And when is he coming home?" said Lil, thoughtfully. + +"Coming home, Lil! Ah, who can say that? Well, I must soon be going. +If I stay, it is to be taken prisoner." + +"My darling!" + +"Hush, mother! the sentries may hear you speak. They are all around." + +"I will be careful, dear," she whispered. "Then you must go? So soon?" + +"Yes; and it is bad news to take to my father, but he will not care when +he hears that you are safe and well. What's that?" + +He ran softly to the window, and they realised that he was barefooted, +and only dressed in light breeches and shirt. + +There was the sound of a challenge, a reply, and then the trampling of +horses came through the open casement. + +Lady Markham seized her son's hand as he stood listening at the deep +mullioned window, while Lil clung to the other. + +"A fresh detachment joined, I suppose," whispered Scarlett, as he drew +back. "Perhaps I had better wait half an hour before I go back." + +"Oh, Scar, Scar!" half sobbed Lil. + +"And you so cold and wet, my darling," sighed Lady Markham. + +"Pish! what of that. I don't mind. I would not go so soon, for it is +quite delightful to be with you again, but I must be right away before +it's light, and one never knows how far one may have to go round to +escape notice from the enemy's men. They seem to swarm about here, +mother." + +Lady Markham could say nothing, only kiss and embrace her boy, torn as +she was by conflicting emotions--the desire to keep him, and that of +wishing him safe away. + +All at once, Scar started from his mother's encircling arm, and darted +to the window, but only to draw back, for there were two sentinels +talking just beneath. + +Then he ran to the door, but drew back, for steps of armed men were +heard coming along the corridor, and escape was cut off there. + +"Caught," he said grimly. "Poor father will not get his news." + +At that moment there was the sharp summons of a set of knuckles on the +door. + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +HOW LADY MARKHAM LEFT THE HALL. + +"Hist!" whispered Lady Markham, in her agitation snatching at the first +straw that offered. "They may think we are asleep, and will go away." + +Vain hope; there was another sharp rapping at the door. + +"Answer," said Scarlett, in a low, firm voice. "Hear what they have to +say." + +"Who is there?" + +"I, Fred Forrester, Lady Markham. Have the goodness to open." + +"The traitor!" muttered Scar, glancing once more at the window, but the +sounds from without told him that attempt to escape there was vain, for, +if he dropped from the sill, the chances were that he would hurt +himself, and even if he succeeded in reaching the ground unharmed, the +alarm would be given by the sentinels, who would fire at him, and if +they missed, there was a detachment of horse waiting to ride him down, +for the steeds were stamping impatiently, and uttering a loud snort from +time to time. + +"Why am I disturbed at this time of the night?" said Lady Markham, +trying to speak firmly and haughtily. + +"I am sorry to have you disturbed, Lady Markham; but there is good +reason. My mother is here." + +"A ruse," said Scarlett, softly. "Never mind, dear. It is not the +first time I have been a prisoner. It is madness to try to escape. I +surrender." + +"No, no," whispered Lady Markham. "You shall not." Then aloud. "I +refuse to open my door at this time of night." + +"Lady Markham, will you admit me alone to speak with you?" came now from +outside. + +"Hist!" whispered Scarlett. "They do not know I'm here. Open the door. +It will be best." + +As soon as he had spoken, he ran toward the great bedstead, but came +back and whispered quickly-- + +"Open, dear mother, and try to invent some plan to get them all away +from this room. Then I can easily escape. Quick. Open." + +He darted to the bedstead, and drew one of the head curtains round him; +while driven, as it were, to obey the stronger will of her son, urged, +too, by his words about escape, Lady Markham went to the door, opened +it, and Mistress Forrester stepped in, to pause for a moment, then, +forgetful of everything but their old friendship in the happy days, she +threw her arms about the trembling woman, and kissed her passionately. + +"I have come to fetch you and dear Lilian," she said, "at my son's wish. +He has obtained permission from the general, and horses are waiting. +You are to come at once." + +"Come--leave my husband's house?" + +"Hush! do not oppose the plan," said Mistress Forrester, gently. "This +is no longer a place for you. Perhaps for some time to come it may be +the retreat of rough soldiery. My home is so near, and you will be at +peace." + +"I cannot leave my husband's home," said Lady Markham, firmly. + +"You must," said her visitor. "It is for Lilian's sake as well as your +own." + +For Lilian's sake? Yes, and it was for Scarlett's sake. For what had +he said? Get them away from this room, and he could escape. How or +when she had no idea. All she knew was that he had said decidedly that +he could, and she must believe him. + +"Ah, you are hesitating!" said Mistress Forrester, tenderly. "You are +thinking of enemies. What is this warfare to us? We are mothers, and +our duty is toward our children. Say that you will come and stay with +me in peace till better times are here." + +Lady Markham hesitated no longer. It was a way of escape for her son, +and protection for herself and daughter. Besides which, the old +sisterly affection was as warm as ever. + +"He would tell me to go, if he were here," she said to herself. "It is +to save my boy;" and without another word she laid her hand in her +visitor's. + +Mistress Forrester kissed her eagerly, embraced Lilian, who stood there +trembling and cold, and then ran to the door. + +"Fred, my boy," she said quickly; "have all ready. Lady Markham will +come." + +There was the first sense of relief to the trembling mother's overladen +heart as she heard the tramp of men in the corridor, and she glanced +quickly toward the curtains which concealed her son. + +"It will leave the way open for his escape," she said to herself. Then +to Mistress Forrester, as she pointed at the farther door-- + +"Two of the servants who have remained with me through the troubles are +there," she said. + +"And they will accompany us, of course," said her visitor. "Will you +tell them to get ready?" + +"If you would not mind," said Lady Markham, appealingly; and without +further parley Mistress Forrester crossed the room, tapped lightly, and +passed through the door, while Lady Markham darted to the curtain and +seized her son by the arm. + +"Am I doing right?" she whispered. + +"Quite, dearest mother," he replied in so low a tone that she could +hardly hear. "Some day perhaps Fred and I may be friends again." + +"Then I am to go?" + +"Yes; it will give me a chance to escape." + +"They are dressed and ready," said Mistress Forrester, returning. "Poor +things, they have not been to bed." + +At that moment there was another tap at the door, and upon its being +opened, Fred was standing there. + +"The horses are ready," he said quietly. "I have had your pony saddled, +Lilian. Lady Markham, the two servants will have to ride pillion behind +a couple of our men." + +For answer Lady Markham drew her hood over her head, and assisted +Lilian, who was ready to burst into a fit of hysterical sobbing; and in +fear lest she should betray her brother's whereabouts, her mother +hurried her to the door, but stopped to see all out before her, leaving +last, and taking the precaution to slip the key from the lock, lest some +one should come and her son should find it fast. + +Ten minutes later, Scarlett Markham stood at the window listening to the +setting off of the little party, with his head well hidden behind the +curtain, and remained motionless till the trampling of the horses died +away in the silence of the night. + +"Ah," he said to himself, "nothing could have happened better, as the +enemy is in possession. Poor mother! Poor Lil! What a pang to have to +leave the dear old home; but they will be away from the tumult and +bloodshed if the rebels stand. Now for my news, if I can carry it +without being caught." + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +SCARLETT ESCAPES UNDER DIFFICULTIES. + +"Ugh! it's cold," said Scarlett, as he moved away from the window in his +mother's chamber, and gave one look round in the gloom at the familiar +old place, associated with his childhood and boyish life before he was +forced into this premature manhood by the exigencies of the war. "But +never mind; I shall soon be warm enough--hot enough, if I am seen and +pursued." + +He tightened the belt he wore, and drew a long breath, as if about to +start running. Then crossing the room softly, he opened the door, +meaning, as his mission was at an end, to make a bold quick rush for the +secret stair, to open the slide and pass in. If he made a little noise +there, the sentry might hear it and welcome, he would discover nothing. + +A sudden thought struck him. + +"Capital!" he said to himself, joyously. "Fifty men quietly introduced +by the secret passage, and led right into the house. Why, we could +surprise them all asleep, and the place would be taken without loss of +life. What a result to an accidental discovery!" + +Then a damping thought occurred. + +"No," he muttered; "Fred will have remembered it, and made all safe. +Perhaps let us get in, and trap us. He is too clever to leave that +place open. He has not had time to secure it yet. What a pity we two +are on opposite sides!" + +As he thought this, he involuntarily raised his hand to his shortly cut +hair, and a look of vexation crossed his face. + +"Forward!" he muttered, as if giving an order, and to put an end to his +musings; and at the word he was in the act of passing through the +doorway, and had taken a step into the corridor when there was a sharp +challenge from the sentry down in the hall. But the password was given, +and by the sounds it seemed to Scarlett that two armed men had begun to +ascend the stairs. + +Yes, undoubtedly two, for one said something lightly, and he caught the +reply. + +"We'll soon see about that." + +The words were in a subdued tone of voice, and passing back into the +room, Scarlett drew the door after him, leaving a mere crack, so that he +could listen. + +"Officers going to their quarters," he thought. "I wonder which room +they occupy." + +He listened, and they reached the top of the stairs, turning to the +left, a movement which brought them towards him. + +He would have closed the door entirely, but dreading a noise that might +betray him, he left it ajar, and stood waiting for them to pass, but +only to flush crimson with indignation as a sudden thought struck him in +answer to his wondering question. + +"They would not dare!" he ejaculated in an angry whisper; and he turned +to flee into the farther room, where the servants had been, and where as +a rule his sister slept. But as he moved towards it quickly, it +occurred to him that there were no such voluminous curtains for hiding +behind, and, quick as thought, he darted to his old place of +concealment, only just having time to throw the heavy hangings round him +as the door was thrust back, and two men strode into the room. + +"The cowardly, plundering villains!" muttered Scarlett, and his hands +involuntarily clenched, and he felt ready to rush out and face these +nocturnal marauders, but he checked the desire. + +"Poor mother!" he sighed; "she would not value every jewel she possesses +as a featherweight against my safety. They must go, I suppose; but oh, +what a delight to make the rogues disgorge!" + +"Plaguey dark," said one of the new-comers. "Light enough for what we +want to do, my lad. Shut and fasten the door. We don't want any one to +share our bit of luck." + +"No. Just enough for two. It may be weeks before we get such another +chance." + +They were evidently well-to-do men, by their conversation, probably +officers; and Scarlett bit his lip with rage as he thought of his +mother's watch and chain, and the beautiful set of pearls, his father's +present to her in happier days. Then, too, there was a case with rings +and brooches, beside many other elegant little trifles that would be +welcome to a plunderer. + +Once more the desire to rush out and face these wretches was strong upon +him, but a moment's reflection told him that to do so was to surrender +himself a prisoner, and place himself beyond the power of giving +valuable information to the general, his father, who might unwittingly +come on to his old home and walk into a trap. + +"Better lose a thousand times as many jewels," he muttered, "than that. +Let them steal, for I suppose my poor mother would not have placed her +treasures in a place of safety." He listened breathlessly behind the +thick curtain, hoping that the plunderers would be quick and leave, and +give him the opportunity to escape. + +The chance came more quickly than he had anticipated, for it seemed from +the footsteps that the men had gone into the inner chamber, leaving him +free to slip out. + +His hand was upon the thick fold of the curtain, for all was still in +his mother's room, and he was mentally going on tiptoe to the door, when +there was a loud yawn from the _prie dieu_ chair close to the bed's +head, and a voice almost at his elbow said-- + +"Well, what's it like?" + +"Can't see much; but it seems a cosy little nest, as soft as can be." + +"Which will you have, that or this?" + +"Oh, I'll stop here," was the reply. + +"Then may the trumpeter forget to blow for twenty-four hours," said the +voice at Scarlett's elbow, "and the enemy never know that we are here." + +"Amen!" came from the further room. + +"And, I say," exclaimed Scarlett's neighbour, as he seemed to be moving +about vigorously. + +"Yes." + +"Don't disturb anything. Poor ladies! it's like sacrilege to take +possession here; but when there's a soft bed on one side and some straw +on the boards of a loft on the other, one falls into temptation." + +Clump went a heavy boot on the thick rug, and then another. + +"Yes. Goodnight. Don't talk any more," came from the inner room. + +"Not I," said Scarlett's neighbour; and there was the sound of a +sword-belt being unbuckled, and the weapon laid across a table. + +Then, as Scarlett stood there, hot and indignant, he heard the soft +sound of stockinged feet crossing the room, and directly after a faint +rattle at the door, followed by an angry exclamation, and then by a loud +rumbling noise. + +"What are you doing?" came from Lil's chamber. + +"Pushing something against the door--big table. There's no key." + +"Oh!" + +The table seemed to be followed by something else heavy, and directly +after the occupant of the room crossed to the bed, and it seemed to +Scarlett that he threw himself upon his knees for a few minutes. + +Then he rose, sighed, and yawned. + +"Oh, for dear old home again, and peace," he muttered, and threw +himself, all dressed as he was, upon the bed. + +"By your leave, Dame Markham," he muttered again, with a sigh of +satisfaction. "If you knew how dog-tired this poor soldier is, you +would forgive me. Hah!" + +There was a long deep sigh, and as Scarlett stood there so closely that +he could have laid his hand upon his enemy's head, he felt that he was +completely trapped, and that perhaps even to move was to ensure capture. + +"What shall I do?" he asked himself. "It will be getting toward morning +soon;" and now the necessity for escaping at once seemed ten thousand +times more clear. + +"He will come in search of me, for he will never think that the enemy +can be at the Hall, or if he does, he will come to try and save me, +thinking I am a prisoner, and there will be a battle here." + +As he listened, trying hard to stifle his breathing and the throbbings +of his heart, which sounded so loud that he felt sure he would be heard, +the Parliamentary officer turned uneasily upon his bed, muttered +something about home, and then his breathing became regular and deep. + +When Scarlett had started upon his expedition to see if the enemy were +near, and finding that they had taken possession of the Hall, determined +to make use of the secret passage and see how his mother fared, he knew +that everything depended upon quickness of movement, and that fighting +would be of no avail. So he had stripped off buff jerkin and gorget, +and placed them, his weapons, cavalier hat, and heavy horseman's boots +in the wood where he had secured his horse. Hence he was absolutely +defenceless. + +He thought of this as he for a moment dwelt upon the possibility of +slaying this man as he slept, and so escaping. + +But he indignantly thrust from him the treacherous thought, and trusting +to the possibility of getting away when his enemy should be sound +asleep, he gradually let the curtain fall to his feet. + +In the silence of that room the noise made as the thick material rustled +down, seemed to Scarlett to be enough to awaken the sleeper, but he did +not stir; and after waiting a few minutes, which seemed like an hour, +the young Royalist began to move gently from his hiding-place. + +The distance he had to traverse was very short, but there was a great +difficulty awaiting him--the removal of the table and the other object +placed against the door. But the sleeper was sound enough now, and +Scarlett's hopes began to rise as, with outstretched hands, he softly +touched the stand upon which lay the sword, and then his heart's +pulsations seemed to stop, for he kicked against one of the heavy +jack-boots in the darkness, and the great stiff leather foot and leg +covering fell over with what seemed quite a loud noise, while to his +horror Scarlett learned that the door between the rooms was open, so +plainly sounded the other officer's voice. + +"Anything the matter?" he said; and there was the rustling sound of one +rising upon his elbow. + +It was the saving instinct of the moment, and it had its intended +effect, the boldness of the conception carrying all before it. For, as +the officer in his sister's room asked that question, Scarlett covered +his face with his hand, and uttered a deep yawn, like that of a +half-sleeping man. + +For a moment or two he dreaded lest he had betrayed himself, but to his +intense delight, as he stood with every sense on the strain, he heard +the questioner subside in his place, and Scarlett, with a quick +appreciation of his difficulties, seized the opportunity of the man's +movement to cover the sound he made as he glided quickly across the room +to the door, laid his hand upon the table, and recognised it by the +touch as the one which generally stood in the great embayment of the +window. + +But, just as he touched the heavy carved side, he broke out into a cold +perspiration, for there came in a sharp, short, imperious tone-- + +"Halt!" + +"He was not asleep," thought Scarlett; and in an instant he had seized +the table to drag it away, when a loud sound from the adjoining chamber +made him drop down on his hands and knees, in the expectation of a +bullet from a petronel. + +The sound he had heard was that of a man leaping from his bed. Then +there were the dull soft steps of stockinged feet, and he could hear the +second officer enter the room. + +"What's the matter?" he said, as he advanced toward the bed where his +companion lay. + +"Left troop to the front!" came from the bed. + +"Poor old fellow!" muttered the second officer. "He cannot even keep +this weary work out of his sleep." + +Scarlett heard him walk back to the inner room, and as soon as he felt +that the door was passed, he began to feel for the second obstacle +between him and liberty. + +For a few moments he could not make out what it was. He tried softly to +left and right, but there was nothing. All he could detect was that the +end of the long table was against the door, and then as he rose and +stretched his hand across it, he discovered at once what it was--nothing +but a heavy oaken chest, which had been lifted up and stood upon the +table, to give it weight. + +Meanwhile, he could hear every movement of the occupant of the inner +chamber, and a dull feeling of despair came upon him, as he knew that to +attempt to stir the table, heavily laden as it was, would make so much +noise that he would be detected. + +"But could I get through in time to reach the stair?" he thought. + +Impossible! He would be heard by the officer, and probably by the +sentinel in the hall, and with his heart sinking, he determined to make +for the window, and drop down from there. + +The casement was still open, and crossing softly, he cautiously looked +out, to find that a couple of sentinels were marching to and fro to meet +every minute just beneath the spot where he stood. + +"No," he said to himself, "there is but one road;" and going back to the +table, he nerved himself for the effort, and began to draw it softly +away by almost imperceptible degrees. + +Fortunately for him, the floor by the door was covered by a thick rug, +over which the table began to move; but, to Scarlett's horror, it had +not passed a couple of inches before there was a sharp crack. + +An impatient movement came from the far room, and Scarlett knew as well +as if he were present in the broad daylight, that the officer had +started up and was listening; but, fortunately at that moment, the heavy +sleeper said something aloud and stirred upon the bed. + +This was sufficient to satisfy his companion, who lay down again. But +it was impossible to attempt more for a time, and the would-be fugitive +was forced to crouch there, letting the valuable moments fly, and +fretting, as he knew how impossible it would be for him to escape if he +waited till day. + +At last, with the feeling of despair upon him strongly, he seized the +table again, and, lifting one end, drew it slowly towards him, this time +finding, to his great delight, that the rug glided with it over the +oaken boards, so that he knew that with a little more effort, the +obstacle would be sufficiently far away for him to open the door. + +Had it been light, he would have seen the danger, but, all he realised +was that the table came along more and more easily, and then in the +black darkness there was a loud crash, the coffer placed upon the table +had, consequent upon its being inclined, glided slowly over the polished +surface, till it was right beyond the edge, and then it was but a matter +of moments before it overbalanced and fell. + +Scarlett heard two loud ejaculations and the leaping of his enemies from +their beds; but, quick as thought, he had dragged the door open, bounded +into the corridor, and ran to the left to the top of the stairs. + +He was in the act of seizing the balustrade, when shouts came from the +door he had left. Worse still, he saw a faint spark of light below him, +and heard the challenge of the sentry in the hall. + +To have tried to escape by the passage would have meant the discovery of +the way, for there was not time to get the stair open, so without +hesitation, as he heard the alarm spreading, he dashed down the stairs, +followed by the shouts of the two officers as other doors were opened, +and the noise of gathering feet could be heard. + +There was a sharp flash, a loud report, and Scarlett heard the thud in +the wainscot beside him as he leaped the last half-dozen stairs, right +on to the sentinel, who was driven backward by the force of the blow, +while Scarlett darted across the hall, through the porch, and between +two of the men stationed outside so closely that they touched him. + +"Fire, fire!" roared a voice from the gallery, and matches were blown, +and shots went whizzing after the fugitive, who was hard followed by +half a dozen of the heavily armed men. + +But the darkness held good, and Scarlett had the advantage of knowing +every inch of the ground, every bush and clump which could give him +shelter; and besides, he was dressed for running, his pursuers being +heavily hindered by their thick garments, steel protections, and heavy +boots. + +Still the pursuit was kept up, and the piquets round, alarmed by the +sounds of firing, began to close in. + +It was a desperate game to play, but Scarlett played it. He made +straight for the lake, and kept as near to its bank as he could for the +overhanging trees, till he neared the eastern end, where, with the +shouts of his pursuers ringing in his ears, he slowly lowered himself +down by the steep rocky bank, stepped silently into the clear water, +which looked terribly black and treacherous, waded out a short distance, +with the water rapidly rising to his chest, then to his chin, and began +swimming as easily as an otter for the opposite side. + +It was a cold plunge, but Scarlett did not notice it in his excitement. +His mind was too much taken up with endeavouring to swim steadily and +quietly, so as not to betray his whereabouts by a splash. + +As he swam, he could see lights moving about in the Hall, and he could +tell by the shouts that his pursuers were not very far distant, while +soon after he began to realise, with a profound feeling of satisfaction, +that the men and their leaders had come to the conclusion that they had +only to form a line across from the house down to the shore in two +places to succeed in capturing him, for the lake would be an effectual +bar to his escape in that direction. + +"And all the time this is the high-road to freedom," Scarlett said to +himself, as he swam on, thinking of how long it would take him to reach +the further side, and reaping now the advantage of having acquired an +accomplishment in his earlier days, whose value he little appreciated +then. + +The distance seemed greater than he had reckoned upon, and he had not +been in the water for a long time before that night, the consequence +being that after he had been swimming about ten minutes, a peculiar +weary sensation began to make itself felt in his arms, and a strange +aching at the nape of his neck, as if he had been forcing his head too +far back so as to enable him to keep his lips and nostrils above the +surface. + +Then, too, he became aware that swimming without clothes was one thing, +with them clinging to his limbs another; and the thought occurred to +him, as unpleasant thoughts will, just when they are not wanted, that it +was somewhere out here he and Fred Forrester had lowered down a weight +at the end of a piece of twine, to find in one spot it was twenty feet, +in another twenty-five; but all over this eastern end there was a great +depth of water. + +It was impossible after that to help thinking about people losing their +lives. A boy had once been drowned out there through trying to cross +the ice before it was sufficiently strong, and-- + +A curious hysterical sensation attacked Scarlett Markham just then, and +for a few moments, unnerved by the excitement of the evening, he began +to strike out more quickly, under the mistaken notion that he would +reach the opposite side much sooner; but the fatigue of the effort +warned him that he was doing wrong, and growing calmer, he turned over +on his back to float for a few minutes, while he diverted his thoughts +from his position by forcing himself to think about his pursuers, whom +he could hear plainly enough calling and answering each other. + +Then once more the thought forced itself upon him that it was terribly +deep down below, that he was growing utterly exhausted, and that if he +sank and was drowned, no one had seen him enter the water, and his +father--his mother-- + +"Oh, am I such a coward as this!" he muttered angrily. "After being in +battle and skirmish, and hearing the cannons roar, I will swim across." + +He turned, and will did what will often does, gives to those who are +determined powers that others do not seem to possess; and so it came +that the rest of the task grew comparatively easy, the bank which in the +gloom had seemed to be so distant suddenly loomed over him, with the +pendent branches of the birches within easy reach, and a few moments +later he was ashore, had climbed the bank, paused to look back, and then +started off at an easy run, with the load of water he carried becoming +lighter at every step. + +Later on, mounted men came round both ends of the lake, and began to +search on the further side, but by this time the fugitive was well on +toward where he had left his horse and arms, and his dangers lay in +front, and not behind. + +Long before all this, Lady Markham had arrived at the Manor, with Lil +weeping silently at her side. There had been a brief and formal +leave-taking, a quick embrace from his mother, and Fred rode back with +his detachment, to reach the Hall, take possession of the quarters +assigned to him, and after thinking deeply of the events of the night, +he dropped asleep. He was aroused by the noise, and heard that the +sentinels had fired upon an escaping figure, which had endeavoured to +break into the room occupied by two of the officers. + +There were those who said it was an attempt at assassination, and others +that it was a false alarm, which the ill success of the search-party +seemed to confirm. + +Then fresh sentinels were posted, and the day soon after began to break +with its promise of a glorious morrow, and soon after the first glow of +orange in the east told of the coming sun, and as it shone through the +casement of a long low room where a pale slight girl was lying asleep, +it illumined the handsome sad countenance of one who had not slept, but +had knelt there praying for the safety of her son. + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +A DESPERATE GALLOP. + +To Fred's great satisfaction, the sturdy, serious-looking followers of +General Hedley treated the Hall and its surroundings with a fair amount +of respect. + +They did not scruple to make bountiful use of the contents of the +garden; and, as far as they went, revelled on the productions of the +dairy, while they one and all declared the cider to be excellent. + +So comfortable were the quarters, that the absence of news of the +expected reinforcements gave great satisfaction to all but the general, +who walked up and down Sir Godfrey's library fretting at the inaction, +and shaking his head at his young follower, who was for the time being +acting as his secretary, but with no despatches to write. + +"It's bad, Fred Forrester--bad," he said. "When you have anything to +do, let it be done firmly and well. Let there be no procrastination. +Your father ought to be here by now." + +"I don't think it can be his fault, sir," said Fred, stoutly. + +"It's somebody's fault," said the general, angrily. "No, no; I am sure +it is not his. Well, I must have the men out to do something. No rust, +Fred Forrester, no rust. What are you going to do?" + +"Take my place in the regiment, sir, if you have no more writing for me +to do." + +"Don't want to go over to the Manor, then, to see the ladies, and ask +how all are?" + +"Of course I should like to, sir, but I was not going to ask leave." + +"You can go, my lad. There is no news of the enemy, and the scouts are +well out in every direction. Be on the look-out though, and I cannot +give you more than three hours." + +Overjoyed at this unexpected piece of good fortune, Fred hurried to his +sleeping quarters, to try and give a few touches to his personal +appearance, for, after months in the field, he did not feel at all proud +of his sombre and shabby uniform. + +This done, he made off just as the little force of well-mounted, sturdy +men under the general's command were filing slowly out, and making for +the broad open park, where a long and arduous drill was to be carried +out. + +It was a glorious day, and the prospect of being at home for even so +short a time, and seeing his mother and those who had been his best +friends was delightful. There was no sign of warfare anywhere, such as +he had seen in other parts, in the shape of devastated crops and burned +outhouses. But as he rose one of the hills that he had to cross, a +glint of steel, where the sun shone on a morion, showed where one of the +outposts was on the look-out. Further on, away to the left, he caught +sight of another, and knowing pretty well where to look, he had no +difficulty, sooner or later, in making out where the different vedettes +were placed. + +"Puzzle an enemy to catch our weasel asleep," he said to himself, +laughingly, as he trotted on. "Why, if all our leaders were like +General Hedley and my father, the war would soon be at an end--and a +good thing too." + +He rode on, thinking of the reception he would get, and hoping that Lady +Markham would not behave coldly to him; and then the watchfulness of the +pupil in military matters came out. + +It was not his business to see where the outposts were, but it seemed to +come natural to him to note their positions. + +"I might have to place men myself, some day," he said; "and it's as well +to know." + +"Yes; there he is," he muttered, as he caught sight of another and then +of another far away, but forming links of a chain of men round the camp, +well within touch of each other, and all ready to gallop at the first +alarm. + +"There ought to be one out here," said Fred, at last, just as he was +nearing the Manor; and for the moment he was ready to pass him over, and +think of nothing but those whom he had come to see, but discipline +mastered. + +The spot he was approaching was a little eminence, which commanded a +deep valley or coombe, that went winding and zigzagging for miles, and +here he looked in vain for the outpost. + +"Strange!" thought Fred; and he rode on a little further, till he was +nearly to the top of the eminence, when his heart leaped, and by +instinct he clapped his hand to his sword. For there, with lowered +head, cropping the sweet short grass among the furze and heath, was the +outpost's horse; and this, to Fred's experienced eye, meant the rider +shot down at his post. + +Half dreaming a similar fate, he looked sharply round, and then uttered +an angry exclamation, as he touched his horse's flanks, and rode forward +to where the man lay between two great bushes. + +But not wounded. The secret of his fall was by his side. By some means +he had contrived to get a large flask of wine up at the Hall, and the +vessel lay by him empty, while he was sound asleep. + +"You scoundrel!" cried Fred, closing up and bending down to take hold of +the man's piece, where it stood leaning against a bush. + +As he raised it, a distant flash caught his eye, and there, winding +slowly and cautiously along the bottom of the coombe, with advanced +guards, came a strong body of horsemen, whose felt hats and feathers +here and there told only too plainly that they belonged to the +Cavaliers. + +To his horror, Fred saw that some of the advance were coming up the side +of the valley not two hundred yards away, and that unless the alarm were +given, the little force so calmly going through their manoeuvres in the +park would be surprised. At the same moment, he saw that he had been +noticed before he caught sight of the approaching enemy, but he did not +hesitate. Raising the heavy piece, he fired, and at the shot the +grazing horse tossed its head and cantered to his side, leaving its +master to take his chance. + +"He'll get no wine as a prisoner," said Fred, bitterly, as he spurred +his horse to a gallop, just as shot after shot from the other outposts +carried on his alarm--while, following a shout to him to surrender, came +shots that were not intended to give the alarm, but to bring him down. + +Fred glanced back once, and saw that the advance guard of the enemy were +in full pursuit, a sight which made him urge on his steed to its utmost, +while as he glanced back on getting to the top of the next hill, he +could see that the enemy had divided into two bodies, and throwing off +all concealment, they were thundering on, so as to get up with those who +would spread the alarm, intending to spread it themselves, and to a +dangerous extent. + +"They'll overtake me," muttered Fred, as he looked back and saw how well +some of the leading men were mounted, and also that some of those in the +main body were better mounted still, and were rapidly diminishing the +distance between them and their advance guard. + +Right and left and well ahead of him he could see their own outposts +galloping in toward the centre, but, strive how he would, he felt that +he must be overtaken long before he could reach the Hall. + +"They will not kill me," he said to himself. "They would only make a +prisoner of me, unless some fierce Cavalier cuts me down." + +"But I have saved them from a surprise," he continued; and he once more +tried to get a little speed out of the worn-out horse he rode. + +It was a neck-or-nothing gallop, and over and over again Fred would have +been glad to change his mount, and leap on to the trained horse which +kept its place riderless by his side. But the enemy were thundering on +in full pursuit, and to have paused meant certain capture. + +On they rode, the Cavaliers behind, with their blades flashing, and +their feathers streaming, and in the excitement of the race he could not +help thinking of the gallant appearance they made, as they spurred one +against the other in their reckless endeavour to overtake him. + +He had forsaken the road, and turned on to the rough moorland, a more +difficult way, but he and his horse were more at home there, and he knew +how to avoid the roughest rocky portions, and the pieces of bog, while +there was always the hope that the pursuers might try to make some cut +to intercept him, and so find themselves foundered in the mire. + +The race had lasted some minutes now, and the fugitive was in full hope +that the alarm had been spread by the inner line of vedettes, when a +bright thought flashed across his brain. + +He glanced back, and could see about a dozen of the Cavaliers some forty +yards behind, and a few hundred yards behind them a couple of regiments. + +"They will follow my pursuers," he argued; and as he came to that +conclusion, he drew his right rein, and bore off a little, making +straight for a deep hollow where the peat lay thick, and it was +impossible for a horse to cross. + +If they followed him there, he could swerve off to the right again as he +reached the treacherous ground, and edge safely round it, while the main +body of his pursuers would in all probability plunge in. + +"That would ensure their defeat," he said to himself, as in imagination +he saw the gallant regiments floundering saddle deep in the black, +half-liquid peat. + +As he had hoped, so it seemed to be. His nearest pursuers turned off +after him, so did the main body, and, almost indifferent now as to +capture, so long as he could save those at the park, he turned to look +back, when, just as the Cavaliers were thundering on to destruction, one +horseman dashed in front, waving his plumed hat, and meeting them-- +sending all but about half a score round to the left, so that they +skirted the morass, just as they were on the point of charging in. + +"Some one who knows the danger," muttered Fred, as he galloped on. +"Scarlett, of course. It must have been he." + +Another five minutes, with the foremost men not half a dozen yards +behind, brought Fred to the top of a hill, beyond which he could see the +park, and to his horror the general's men were only then hurrying up +into formation, with their officers galloping excitedly to and fro. + +"Hold out, good old horse," panted Fred,--as he glanced back once more +to see that capture must be certain now. "Another five minutes, and I +could be with them," he sobbed out breathlessly; and, as if his horse +understood him, or else nerved by the sight of his fellows so near at +hand, he lay out like a greyhound, just as a trumpet blast rang out on +Fred's left from the main body of the Cavaliers, a call whose effect was +that Fred's pursuers who had skirted the right of the morass, turned off +to the left, and rode on so as to regain their places in the ranks, +where their presence would be of more value than in pursuing a few +scattered outposts. + +To an ordinary commander, the act of the Royalist leader seemed utter +madness. The horses of his men were half-blown by a long gallop, and +they were about to charge a body of sturdy cavalry, whose mounts were +rested and fresh. + +But there was no hesitation. As they drew near, the trumpets rang out, +steel flashed, feathers flew, the horses snorted, and with a wild +hurrah! the Royalist troops literally raced against the advancing +Parliamentarians. There was a shock, the crash of steel, a roar as of +thunder, horse and man went headlong down on the green turf of the Hall +park, and to General Hedley's chagrin, and in spite of the valour of his +officers, and the stern stuff of which his men were composed, the +gallantry and dash of the first regiment was such that it seemed as if a +wedge had been driven through his ranks, and his discomfiture was +completed by the following charge of the second Cavalier line. + +One minute his well-trained horsemen were advancing in good formation to +meet the shock of the Royalists, the next, discipline seemed to be at an +end, and the Parliamentarians were in full flight. + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +SAMSON TO THE RESCUE. + +Unscathed, in spite of the terrible dangers of the _melee_, Fred, after +succeeding in reaching his companions, joined them in their charge, and +was driven back in their reverse, riding headlong as they rode in what +was hardly a retreat, but rather a running fight, till seeing his +opportunity, he made for where he could see General Hedley striving, in +company with the officers, to check the retrograde movement, but +striving in vain. + +For there was a wild valour and dash exhibited by the Cavaliers, which +for the time being carried all before them. No sooner had something +like a rally been made by the Parliamentarians, than the Royalists +charged at them in a headlong rush, which would have ended in almost +total destruction with some troops. + +But there was a sturdy solidity about the followers of General Hedley, +and the result of these charges was that, while some fell, the others +were merely moved here and there, and as soon as their assailants had +passed on they seemed to hang together again, driven outward always, but +not scattered. In fact, for mile after mile the running fight was +continued, growing slower and slower as horse and man were wearied out, +till, had a minute's grace been afforded them, General Hedley felt that +he could have gathered his men together, and by one vigorous charge have +changed the state of affairs. + +But the opportunity for re-formation was never afforded, and the great +crowd of mounted men of both parties rode on mingled together in +confusion, right over the wild moorland countryside. The number of +individual combats was almost countless, and their track was marked by +the heather being dotted with fallen men, the wounded, and often the +dismounted, and by exhausted or hopelessly foundered horses. + +And still the fight went on, with the attacks growing more feeble, till +the Cavaliers' horses could hardly be spurred into a canter, and many a +one stopped short. + +It was a strange flight, in which the beaten gave way slowly, and with +an obstinate English tenacity of purpose, which made them cling to their +enemies, and refuse to acknowledge their rout. They were broken up, +and, according to all preconceived notions of cavalry encounters, they +ought to have scattered and fled, but they only went on as they were +driven and broken up in knots, and the Cavalier leader knew perfectly +well that the moment he ceased his efforts, the other party would, as it +were, flow together again and return their charge, perhaps with fatal +results to his little force, for his men were growing completely +exhausted. + +"If I could only get a troop together!" muttered General Hedley between +his teeth; and again and again he tried to rally his men. But the +Cavaliers dashed at them directly, the efforts proved vain, and the +_melee_ continued--a struggle in which order was absent, and men struck +and rode at each other, broke their weapons, and often engaged in a +mounted wrestling bout, which ended in a pair of adversaries falling +headlong to the ground. Fred would have been out of the skirmish early +in the engagement from the exhaustion of his horse, but as the pace grew +slower, the poor brute recovered itself somewhat, and whenever flight or +attack grew more rapid, exerted itself naturally to keep as near as +could be in the ranks. + +The scene was terrible for one so young, as he sat there grimly, often +in the middle of a confused crowd, his sword drawn ready more for +defence than offence, for now that the excitement of the flight was +over, and he had rejoined his regiment, there was little of the blind +desire to strike and slay in Fred Forrester's breast. He contented +himself with turning aside thrusts and meeting blows with a clever +guard, as some Cavalier tried to reach him, while twice over he found +another sword interposed on his behalf. + +The fight must have lasted for half an hour, when about a dozen of the +Cavaliers raised a shout, and made a dash at where General Hedley was +slowly retreating, their object being evidently to take him prisoner +before, from sheer exhaustion, the pursuit was given up. + +But the idea was not so easy to carry out, though for the moment the +general was alone. The horse he rode was strong and fairly fresh, those +of his would-be captors pretty well foundered, and, in addition, there +was help at hand. + +Fred had just had a narrow escape, for a stout Cavalier had forced his +own horse alongside, contriving, in spite of the lad's efforts, to get +upon his left or weaker side, and pressing him sorely. Fred had need +for all the skill with the sword he had picked up since he had been with +the army, and he had dire need for more power in his muscles, for after +a minute's foining and thrusting, he found his guard beaten down through +his adversary's superior strength, a hand was outstretched, catching him +by the collar of his jerkin, and in spite of his efforts he was dragged +sidewise toward the pommel of his enemy's horse. + +"I'll have one prisoner, at all events," growled the man, fiercely; and +he gave Fred's horse a savage kick in the ribs, with the intention of +making him start away. + +Had the horse followed the enemy's wishes, his rider would have been +unseated, but, instead of starting away, the well-drilled beast pressed +closer alongside the horse by his side, and Fred still clung to the +saddle. + +"Ah, you wretched young Puritan spawn! Would you sting?" growled the +man, as Fred made a desperate effort to use his sword. "Then take +that." + +The Cavalier rose in his stirrups, and was in the act of striking with +all his might, when a fresh sword parted the air like a flash, swung as +it was by a muscular arm, and the middle of the blade caught the +Cavalier trooper right upon the plated cheek-strap of the morion he +wore, dividing it so that the steel cap flew off, and the man dropped +back over the cantle of his saddle, his frightened horse making a bound +forward and carrying his master a dozen yards before he fell heavily on +the heath. + +"Who says I can't use a sword as well as a scythe?" cried a familiar +voice. + +"Oh, Samson, you've saved my life," cried Fred. + +"Serve you right, too, my lad--I mean, serve him right, too. Trying to +chop down a boy like you." + +"I am sorry. Look, look, look!" cried Fred, excitedly. + +"Eh? Look? What at?" + +"Over yonder, where all those Cavaliers are crowding together to make +another charge." + +"Yes, I see 'em. What a state their horses are in!" + +"But don't you see Scarlett Markham? And who's that with them? I see +now. Your brother." + +"What, Nat? Where, where? Let me get at him. There's going to be a +prisoner took now, Master Fred, and he'll have to look sharp to get +away." + +Samson set spurs to his horse, but Fred checked him by seizing the +bridle. + +"No, no," he said; "keep by me, and let's close up to the general. This +is no time for personal feelings, Samson. We must think only of our +party." + +"Ah, well, I won't hurt him, Master Fred; but how would you like your +brother to be hunting you about the country, as Nat has been hunting us? +Wouldn't you like to have a turn at him?" + +"I have no brother, Samson," replied Fred, as he glanced in the +direction where, about a hundred yards away, Scarlett was in the midst +of a group of the Cavaliers, who were steadily driving the grim +Cromwellian troopers before them, and effectually keeping them from +combining so as to retaliate with effect. + +Then Scarlett was hidden from his sight, and yielding slowly step by +step, the Parliamentarians kept up a defiant retreat. + +It might be supposed that at such a time the slaughter would be +terrible; but, after the first onset, when men went down headlong, the +number of killed and wounded were few. For there were no withering +volleys of musketry, no field-pieces playing upon the disorganised +cavalry from a distance; it was a sheer combat of mounted men armed with +the sword, against whose edge and point defensive armour was worn; and +in consequence many of the wounds were insignificant, more injuries +being received by men being dismounted than by the blades. + +The officers of the retreating party kept up their efforts to rally +their little force, but always in vain, for the gathering together of a +cluster of men resulted in the Cavaliers making that the point for which +they made, and they carried all before them. + +"They are more than two to one, literally," growled the general, +fiercely, as he felt that there was nothing to be done but to summon his +men to follow, and, taking advantage of the fresher state of their +horses, put on all the speed they could, and make for a valley right +ahead, where they might elude their pursuers, and accepting the present +defeat endeavour to make up for it another time. + +Giving the order then, the trumpet rang out, and the men sullenly +obeyed, setting spurs to their horses, and for the most part extricating +themselves from their pursuers, whose horses began to stagger and even +stop as their masters urged them to the ascent of a slope, up which the +Parliamentarians were retreating. + +This being the case, their own leader ordered his trumpeter to sound a +halt, and the successful party set up a tremendous cheer as they waved +their hats and flashed their swords in the sunshine. + +"Yes," muttered General Hedley, as he looked back at his triumphant +enemies exulting over his defeat, but too helpless to pursue, "make much +of it; a reverse may come sooner than you expect." + +"I don't like being beaten like this, Master Fred," grumbled Samson, +leaning over to smooth the reeking coat of the horse his young master +rode; "and it's all your fault." + +"My fault? How?" + +"Holding me back as you did, and letting that brother of mine get away +sneering and sniggering at me, with his nose cocked up in the air, and +swelling with pride till he's like the frog in the fable." + +"How do you know he was sneering at you?" said Fred, who felt stiff, +sore, and as if he would give anything to dismount and lie down among +the soft elastic heather. + +"How do I know, sir? Why, because it's his nature to. You don't +understand him as I do. I can't see him, because I can't look through +that hill, but I know as well as can be that he's riding on his horse +close to Master Scarlett, and going off." + +"Going off?" + +"Yes, sir, in little puffs of laughing. It's his aggravating way. And +he's keeping on saying, `Poor old Samson!' till it makes my blood bile." + +"What nonsense! He is more likely to be riding away jaded, and sore, +and disheartened." + +"Not he, sir, because he aren't got no heart, and never had none-- +leastways, not a proper sort of heart. I can feel it, and I always +could. He's a-sneering at us all, and thinking how he has beaten us, +when, if you had let me have my head, I could have gone at him sword in +hand--" + +"And cut his head off?" + +"Cut his head off, sir? Why, it aren't worth cutting off. I mean to +keep my sword, which is a real good bit o' stuff, and as sharp as a +scythe, for better heads than his. I wouldn't stoop to do it. No, +Master Fred, I tell you what I'd have done: I'd have ridden up to him +right afore 'em all, and I should have said, `Nat, my lad, your time's +come;' and I should have laid hold of him by the scruff of the neck, and +beat him with the flat of the blade till he went down on his knees and +said he wouldn't do so any more." + +"Do what any more, Samson?" + +"Everything as he have been doing." + +"And suppose he wouldn't have let you beat him before all the others?" + +"Wouldn't have let me, Master Fred? He'd have been obliged to. I +should have made him." + +"You are too modest, Samson," said Fred, laughing. + +"Oh no, I'm not, sir--not a bit. I wish sometimes I was a bit more so. +But you should have let me go at him, sir. I'd have made him run, like +a sheep with a dog at his heels." + +"Ah, Samson," cried Fred, wearily, "it's sore work when brothers are +fighting against each other." + +"No worse, sir, than two such friends as you and Master Scarlett was. +Why, you was more than brothers. Oh, I don't like this here at all." + +"What?" + +"Running away with our tails between our legs, like so many dogs with +stones thrown at 'em." + +"It is miserable work, but better than being taken prisoners." + +They rode on down into the coombe, and followed its wanderings with rear +and advance guards, though they felt but little fear of pursuit, and for +a long time hardly a word was spoken along the ranks. The horses were +going at a foot-pace, and as they went the troopers played surgeon to +each other, and bound up the slight wounds they had received, for these +were many, though not enough to render them beyond fighting if necessity +should occur. + +Once the general called a halt, and posted scouts on the hills around, +while he gave his men an opportunity to water their horses at the +running stream at the bottom of the coombe, and to attend to the wounds +the poor beasts had received, many a sword-cut intended for the rider +having fallen upon his horse. + +The surgery in these cases was simple and effectual. It consisted in +thrusting a pin, sometimes two, through the skin which formed the lips +of the wound, and then twisting a piece of thread round and round the +pin, passing it first under the head, and then under the point, the +result being that the wound was drawn close, and so retained with a pad +of thread. This rough treatment generally proved sufficient, and while +the treatment was in progress the poor animals stood patiently turning +their great, soft, earnest eyes upon the operator with a mournful look +which seemed to say, "Don't hurt me more than you can help." Sometimes, +but these were the exceptions, when instead of the above a stab had to +be attended to, and a plug of flax thrust in, the horse would start, and +give an angry stamp with its hoof, but only to stand patiently again, as +if it resigned itself to its master, who must know what was best. + +The general soon gave orders to continue the march, for he knew that the +longer they stayed the stiffer and sorer his force would be; and once +more the retreat was continued in a south-westerly direction, while, as +the afternoon began to grow old, Samson, after having been very silent +for a long time, turned sharply round. + +"What are you thinking about, Master Fred?" + +"I was wondering whether Scarlett Markham will behave as well to my +mother as I did to his." + +"He'd better," said Samson, fiercely. Then, after a pause, "Oh, I don't +feel afraid about that, sir. He's sure to. You see, he's a gentleman, +and there's a deal in being a gentleman. He'll take care of her, never +fear. That's not what I was thinking." + +"What were you thinking, then?" said Fred, anxiously. + +"Well, sir, to speak the plain, downright, honest truth, as a Coombeland +man should, whether he be a soldier or a gardener--" + +"Yes, yes. Go on. You talk too much, Samson," said Fred, pettishly, +for he was faint and sore. + +"Well, sir, suppose I do. But I aren't neglecting anything, and there's +nothing else to do. Seems quite a rest to hear one's self speak." + +"Then speak out, and say what you were thinking." + +"I was thinking, sir, that I wish I was a horse just now." + +"A horse? Why?" + +"So as I could have a good fill of water, and keep on taking a bite of +sweet fresh green grass." + +"Why, Samson!" + +"Ah, you don't know, Master Fred. I'm that hungry, it wouldn't be safe +to trust me anywhere near meat; and not so much as a turnip anywhere, +nor a chance to catch a few trout. I wish I could tickle a few; I'd eat +'em raw." + +"I'm sorry, Samson, and I haven't a scrap of food with me." + +"No, sir, nor nobody else. You see, we were all out for exercise, and +not on the march, with our wallets full. And that aren't the worst of +it. Master Fred, I could lie down and cry." + +"Because you are so hungry?" + +"No, sir; but when I think of what we've left behind at the Hall. +Ducks, sir, and chickens; and there was hams. Oh!" groaned Samson, +laying his hand just below his heart, "those hams!" + +Fred was weak, tired, faint, and low-spirited, but the doleful aspect of +his henchman was so comic that he burst into a fit of laughter. + +"Well, Master Fred," said the ex-gardener, letting the reins rest on the +horse's neck, as he involuntarily tightened his belt, "I did think +better of you than to s'pose you'd laugh at other folk's troubles. Then +there was the cider, too. It wasn't so good as our cider at the Manor, +sir, for they hadn't got the apples at the Hall to give it the flavour, +spite of old Nat's bragging and boasting; but still, it wasn't so very +bad for a thirsty man, though I will say it was too sharp, and some I +tasted yesterday told tales." + +"What of, Samson?" + +"My lazy, good-for-nothing brother, sir," said Samson, triumphantly. + +"Told tales of your brother--of Nat?" + +"Yes, sir. There was a twang in that cider that said quite aloud, +`Dirty barrel,' and that he hadn't taken the trouble to properly wash it +out before it was used; but all the same, though it was half spoiled by +his neglect, I'd give anything for a mugful of it now, and a good big +home-made bread cake." + +"So would I, Samson," said Fred, smiling. + +"And them enemies with my brother are all riding comfortably back to +feast and sleep; and while we're camping cold and miserable on the +hills, they'll all be singing and rejoicing." + +"I hope they are thinking more of the poor wounded fellows they will +have to pick up on their way back. Hallo! Look! Steady there. Halt!" + +He passed the word received from the front, for half a mile ahead, on +one of the hills, a scout was signalling. + +Fresh men were sent forward, and as the signals evidently meant danger +ahead, the general hurriedly took up a position of advantage, one which +gave him the choice of advance or retreat. + +"Dismount!" was the next order, so as to rest the horses as much as +possible. + +"More fighting," said Samson, in a low, grumbling tone. "Well, if one +don't get enough to eat, one get's enough hard knocks, and I never felt +miserly over them. Look here, Master Fred, are we going to have another +scrummage?" + +"Hush! Yet, I think so." + +"So do I, sir," said Samson, taking up his belt another hole. "Very +well, then; I'm that hungry, that I'm regularly savage now, and this +time I mean to hit with all my might." + +"Silence, there!" said a deep stern voice, and General Hedley rode along +the regiment, scrutinising his little force, and waiting the return of +the men sent out before deciding whether he should make a bold advance +or a cautious retreat. + +The horses took advantage of the halt to begin cropping the tender +growth around, and as Fred listened and watched the movements of the +scouts far away on the hillside, it seemed hard to realise that he was +in the midst of war, for high overhead a lark was singing sweetly, as it +circled round and round, ever rising heavenward; and at his feet there +was the regular tearing sound of the grass. + +These recollections of home and peace came back as, with a look of +boyish pleasure on his face, Samson pointed to the lovely little copper +butterflies flitting here and there, their dotted wings glistening in +the sun. + +"Look at 'em, Master Fred," he whispered; and then stood with his hand +upon his horse's withers, the stern man of war once more, as his master +made a gesture bidding him hold his peace. + +For quite half an hour they stood there by their horses' sides, every +minute being of value in the rest and refreshment it afforded the weary +beasts. + +The scouts could be seen following up, as it were, the movements of some +force hidden by the hills from where the regiment had halted, and by +degrees they began to work over the eminence and disappeared, while the +general seemed to be fretting with impatience, till all at once those +near him heard him utter a low "Hah!" and he gave the order to his men +to prepare to mount. + +A thrill ran through the long line of men, and Fred heard his follower +utter a low, adjuration to his unwilling steed. + +"Leave off eating, will you? Hold your head up. Who are you, that you +are to go on feasting while your master starves?" + +The horse looked at him reproachfully, and had to content itself with +chewing a few strands of grass off his bit. + +The reason for the general's order was plain enough directly, for they +could see one of the advance men coming back at full gallop down the +distant hill, and long before he could reach them the other scouts +appeared, retiring slowly in two lines, one sitting fast and facing the +approaching force, while the other careered by them, and took up a fresh +position in their rear. + +There were only ten men out, at a distance of sixty or seventy yards +apart, but as they drew nearer to their goal their lines contracted, and +this was continued so that they could ride in as a compact little knot. + +Meanwhile the first man came tearing in as fast as his horse could go, +and when he was a few hundred yards away, the order was given, and the +dismounted men sprang into the saddle. + +"Don't seem to have a bit of fight left in me now," muttered Samson. +"No dinner, and no Nat here to make a man feel savage. Wish I was back +at the Manor, digging my bit o' ground. Anybody might fight for me." + +At that moment a fresh order was given, and every man sat stern and +ready for the advance or retreat, wondering which way they would go, and +of what nature the force was, evidently advancing fast. + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +THE HALL CHANGES MASTERS AGAIN. + +The cheering and triumphant congratulation amongst the Royalist party +was mingled with regret at being unable to crown their little victory by +taking their opponents prisoners to a man. But their horses were +exhausted, and they had the mortification of seeing the little body +under General Hedley ride away. + +Then the order to return was given, and a strong party was told off to +the painful duty of picking up the wounded, and bearing them back to the +Hall. + +Sir Godfrey Markham gave the order that they should be taken there, and +Scarlett was deputed to see that the work was properly carried out--a +gruesome task enough; but he was growing used to such scenes, and the +feeling of doing good and affording help to those in need robbed the +duty of much of its terrors. + +In this case the task was comparatively light, for there were very few +dead, and of the wounded, fully one-half were able to limp slowly back +toward the Hall, the troops remaining to cover them till they had +reached one of the great barns which was set apart for the temporary +hospital. + +To the credit of all concerned, be it said that, principally due to the +action of Sir Godfrey Markham, who was in command of the two regiments +which had routed the late occupants of the Hall, the wounded were +treated as wounded men, no distinction being made as to whether they +were Cavalier or Roundhead. + +All this took some time, and at last Scarlett rode up to where his +father was standing among a group of dismounted officers, whose +followers were letting their tired steeds crop the grass in the same way +as that practised by their enemies, when one of the outposts came +galloping in with news which sent the Cavaliers once more into their +saddles, when lines were formed, and Sir Godfrey gave the order to +advance. + +"Could you hear what he said?" whispered Scarlett to Nat, who was close +behind him. + +"Coming back, sir, three times as strong," whispered Nat. "Means +another fight." + +The hurried orders and the excitement displayed on the part of the +officers endorsed Nat's words; though, had there been any doubt, the +summons Scarlett had to his father's side cleared it away at once. + +"Listen, my boy," said the general, as Scarlett cantered up; "the enemy +are upon us, and we shall perhaps have to retreat, for, jaded as we are, +they will be too much for us. Be cautious, and don't let your men get +out of hand through rashness. We must give way as they did to-day." + +"Run, father?" + +"No; bend back right to the earth if necessary, so that the rebound may +be the stronger. Now, to your place." + +As Scarlett regained his troop, the young officer over him was talking +loudly to his men. + +"They're not satisfied with the beating they have already had," he was +saying. "Let's show them now what we can do when we are in earnest. It +was a mistake to show the rascals mercy this morning. Why, if I had +been in command of the men, instead of Sir Godfrey, I would not have +left two of the rebels together. Now you see the mistake." + +"I have no doubt that my father and Colonel Grey did what was right," +said Scarlett, hotly. + +"And what does a boy like you know about it, sir?" cried the young +officer, fiercely. "To your place." + +Scarlett felt ready to retort angrily, but he knew his duty, young +soldier as he was, and resumed his place without a word. + +It was none too soon, for directly after there was a glint of steel over +the edge of one of the undulations of the moor, and seen at the distance +they were, with the western sun shining full upon them, it seemed as if +a long array of armed men was rising from the earth, as first their +helmets, then their shoulders, breastplates, and soon after the horses' +heads appeared, and then more and more, till a line of well-mounted +troops appeared advancing at a walk, while behind them, gradually coming +into view in the same way, a second line could be seen. + +As they approached over the moor, a third line came into view, while, in +obedience to their orders, the Cavaliers retired by troops in slow +order, each in turn having the duty of facing the advancing enemy. + +When it came to Scarlett's turn to sit there motionless watching their +approach, he could not help letting his eyes stray over the moor, every +foot of which was familiar. Away behind him to the left the ground +rapidly descended to the park, with its lake and woods, through which he +had made his way so short a time before. There, hidden by the noble +trees which flourished as soon as the moorland proper, with its black +peaty soil, was passed, lay the Hall, and a feeling of sadness and +depression came over him as he thought of his home being made the scene +of a bloody fight, and again falling into the enemy's hands. + +"May I speak a word, Master Scarlett?" said a voice behind him, in a +whisper. + +"Yes; what is it?" said the young officer, without turning his head. + +"Hit hard, Master Scarlett, and do your best. I don't like killing +folk, and you needn't do that; but do hit hard." + +"For the king," said Scarlett, thoughtfully. + +"Yes, I suppose so, sir," said Nat, mournfully; "but I was thinking +about the old home and my garden." + +"Silence, there!" came in a stern voice from the leader of the troop; +and the next instant the trumpet rang out, and they had to face about +and trot behind the foremost troop of all, leaving another to face the +coming enemy. + +This went on till the slope was reached upon which General Hedley's men +had been going through their evolutions in the morning; and here, in +full view of the old Hall, Sir Godfrey Markham and the colonel of the +other regiment drew up in a favourable position for receiving the charge +which seemed to be imminent from the action of the enemy. + +This position would force the Parliamentarians to gallop up a hill, and +it was the intention of Sir Godfrey to meet them half-way with the +_elan_ given by a rapid descent, when he hoped to give them a severe +check, one which would enable him to either rid himself of his enemies +or give him time to make good his retreat on one of the towns in his +rear, where he hoped to find reinforcements. + +All turned out as he expected, with one exception. The troop in which +Scarlett rode was selected by him, naturally enough, to go on in front +on the line of retreat, while the rest of his little force sat fast on +the hill slope, waiting the moment when the enemy were coming up the +hill for their own advance to be made. + +The young officer at the head of the little troop of about forty men +muttered angrily at having such a task thrust upon him, but he did his +duty steadily and well, riding slowly on over the moor down toward the +Manor, which, like the Hall, would be left upon their right. + +As they passed over the top of the hill, Scarlett glanced back to see +that the enemy were evidently about to deliver their charge; and his +heart beat painfully as he felt that he would have to imagine what would +take place, and pray that no harm might happen to his father. + +The next minute the long slope with its dotted trees was out of sight, +and he was descending steadily, his ears strained to catch the sound of +the impending shock, as the notes of a trumpet, softened by the +distance, fell upon his ear, and then his heart gave a sudden bound, and +seemed to stand still. + +For at that moment their advance guard came galloping back, and before +they could more than realise their danger, a line of fully a hundred and +fifty men wheeled into sight, right in their front, from behind a patch +of wood a hundred yards away, and came sweeping down upon them. + +To have retreated would have meant annihilation, and with a ringing +cheer the little band dashed down to meet their advancing foes. + +Then, in the midst of the wild excitement, as the moor seemed to quiver +beneath their horses' feet, there was a cheer, a clash of steel, and +amidst shouts and the blaring of trumpets, the stronger prevailed over +the weaker, and Scarlett found himself in the midst of a confused group +of his men being driven back upon the main body higher and higher up the +hill, till he reached the summit among a scattered party of his own +side, through whose ranks the Puritans were riding furiously. + +One glance showed him where his leaders were, and he made for the spot, +fully realising that the Royal force had been driven back by the bold +charge delivered, and then in the midst of the confusion consequent +thereon, utterly routed and scattered by the dashing attack on their +rear, while, to fulfil the truth of the adage about misfortunes never +coming singly, a fresh troop wheeled up on their flank and completed the +downfall. + +"Ah, quick, my boy! Here!" cried a familiar voice, as Scarlett rode up, +and a party of about fifty dashed down the slope, headed by Sir Godfrey, +and, hotly pursued by a squadron of the enemy, galloped round the head +of the lake, leaping the stream and then the low stone wall of the Hall +garden, to take refuge there. + +As they reached this haven, a trumpet sounded a recall, and the pursuing +squadron missed their opportunity of capturing the flying band, while, +when they advanced again, it was to find that the horses were well +secured within the Hall yard, whose stout oaken gates were closed, and +that the old house was garrisoned by a desperate little force ready to +withstand a siege. + +"Better than giving up as prisoners, Scar, my boy," said Sir Godfrey, +sadly; "and better than being hunted down. All was over, and it was in +vain to keep up the fight. It only meant the useless loss of brave +men." + +"Will they attack us here, sir?" said Scarlett. + +"Most likely, and if they do, we'll fight till the very end--fight for +our hearth and home, my boy. But there, we must do all we can to make +the place more secure before night comes." + +"Look!" said Scarlett, pointing. + +"Yes, I see, my boy," said Sir Godfrey, sadly; "completely scattered, +and a strong body in pursuit. Ah, they are going to bivouac there, and +we shall have them here directly foraging for food and shelter. Well, +cheer up. These are times of reverses. They were here yesterday; it is +our turn to-day." + +And without another word, Sir Godfrey went into the hall, to pay the +double part of commander and host, his words and example soon putting +spirit in the disheartened band. + +"But we shall have to surrender, Sir Godfrey, shall we not, unless we +wait till dark, and then take our horses and try to get away?" + +"You may depend upon one thing, gentlemen," said Sir Godfrey, "the enemy +are far stronger than we think. Every path will be carefully guarded, +our horses are worn-out, and we are safe to be taken." + +"But we cannot defend this place, sir," said another. + +"Why not? I say, defend it as long as one stone stands upon another." + +"But food--ammunition." + +"Plenty, sir, for a month," continued the general, "unless all was +carried off by our friends. No fear. Their occupation was too short, +and we took them too much by surprise. Why, look there," he said, +pointing to one corner of the hall, "there are enough of their pieces +there to arm us all. What is it to be, gentlemen? Surrender or fight?" + +For answer, hats were tossed in the air, and the carved beams of the +roof rang with the hearty cheers of the Cavaliers, and the cry of-- + +"God save the king!" + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +WHAT FRED FOUND IN THE WOOD. + +"Why, Fred, my boy, what a long face. What's the matter?" + +For answer, Fred pointed to the trampled garden, the litter in the park, +and the desolation visible at the Hall, where window casements had been +either smashed or taken off, and rough barricades erected; so that where +all had once been so trim and orderly, desolation seemed to reign. + +For the little band of devoted Royalists, under Sir Godfrey Markham, had +offered a desperate defence to every attempt made by the attacking +party, which for want of infantry and guns, had settled down to the task +of starving them out. + +The prisoners and the wounded from the barn, irrespective of party, had +been sent to the nearest town; and as no immediate call was being made +upon his services, and his orders were to wait for reinforcements, so as +to render the men under his command something like respectable in +number, General Hedley set himself seriously to the task of crippling +the Royalist forces, by securing the person of Sir Godfrey Markham, +whose influence in the district was very great, and whose prowess as a +soldier had worked terrible disaster to the Puritan cause. + +The little siege of the Hall had been going on four days, when Colonel +Forrester, who had been with the relieving party, found his son +contemplating the ruin. + +"Yes," he said, "it is bad; but better so than that these Royalists +should be destroying our home, my boy." + +"Is it, father?" said Fred, doubtingly. + +"Is it, sir? Of course. That is the home of our most deadly enemy, a +man who has wrought endless mischief to our cause and country. Why, you +do not sympathise with him?" + +"I was not thinking of sympathy, father, but of the happy days Scar +Markham and I used to spend here." + +"Pish! Don't talk like a child, sir. You are growing a man, and you +have your duty to do." + +"Yes, father, and I'm going to try and do it." + +"Of course. That's better, Fred. As to Markham, we are behaving nobly +to him by having his wife and daughter at the Manor, and caring for them +there." + +"I don't see much in that, father." + +"What, sir?" + +"Men do not make war upon women, and I think it was our duty to protect +Lady Markham, and I acted accordingly." + +Colonel Forrester turned fiercely upon his son, but checked himself. + +"Humph! Yes. I suppose you were right, Fred. There, we need not argue +such points as these. Too much to do." + +"Of course, father; but one cannot quite forget the past." + +"No, certainly not. But do your duty to your country, my boy, and leave +the rest." + +"Yes, father," said Fred; "but are we going to attack the place again +soon?" + +"Yes; and this time most vigorously. The nest of hornets must be +cleared out, eh, Hedley?" he said, as the general came up from the rough +tent erected under one of the spreading trees. + +"Of what are you talking?" + +"My boy, here, asks me if we are going to attack the Hall again." + +"Yes; if they do not march out by to-night, and give themselves up, I +shall attack, and as I shall send them word, they must expect little +mercy. By the way, Forrester, I want to talk to you." The pair marched +slowly away, leaving Fred to his contemplation of the Hall and its +surroundings; and he seated himself upon the mossy roots of a huge beech +on the slope facing the old red stone building, and gazed eagerly at the +distant figures which appeared at the window openings from time to time, +wondering whether either of them was Scarlett, if he was with his +father, for he was not among the wounded, or whether he had escaped +among the scattered Royalists after that last fierce charge. + +"He is sure to be there," said the lad to himself, as he sat on the +rough buttress with his sword across his knees. "Poor old Scar! how I +remember our taking down the swords and fighting, and Sir Godfrey coming +and catching us. It seemed a grand thing to have a sword then--much +grander than it seems now," he added, as he looked gloomily at the +weapon he held. + +He gazed moodily across the lake again, and then thought of his father's +words about his duty to his country; and his young brow grew more and +more wrinkled. + +"Yes," he said; "I ought to do my duty to my country. Those people can +hold us off, and there'll be a desperate fight, and some of our men will +be killed, and nearly all theirs. I could stop it all and make an end +of the fight easily enough by doing my duty to my country. But if I +did, I should be sending Sir Godfrey and poor old Scar to prison, +perhaps get them killed, because they would fight desperately, and I +should make Lady Markham and poor little Lil miserable, and be behaving +like a wretch. I don't like doing such duty." + +"Let me see," continued Fred, as he gazed across the lake, "how should I +do it? Easily enough. Get thirty or forty men, and take them in the +old boat across to the mouth of the passage, ten at a time. What +nonsense! March them after dark round to the wilderness, pull away the +boughs, drop down, and thread our way right along the old passage into +the Hall, surprise every one, and the place would be ours. + +"And a nice treacherous thing to do; and I should fail," he cried +joyously, "for Scar will have given me the credit of planning such a +thing, and I'll be bound to say he has blocked the place up with stones. + +"No; I couldn't do that, and if ever we meet again as friends, and Scar +tells me he was sure I should attack them there, and that he guarded +against it, I'll kick him for thinking me such a dishonourable traitor." + +Fred sat musing still--wondering what the garrison were doing, and +fighting hard to keep the thought of the secret passage out of his mind. + +What would his father say if he knew of the secret he was keeping back? +and conscience ran him very hard on the score of duty to his country. + +"But," he said at last, "duty to one's country does not mean being +treacherous to one's old friends. I'm obliged to fight against them; +but I'll fight fairly and openly. I will not, duty to my country or no +duty, go crawling through passages to stab them in the dark." + +It was a glorious day, succeeding two during which a western gale had +been blowing, drenching the attacking party, and making everything +wretched around; and as Fred rose from where he had been seated and +walked slowly along by the edge of the lake towards its eastern end, the +water, moor, and woodlands looked so lovely that there was a mingled +feeling of joy and misery in the lad's breast. + +He thought of the besieged, then of those who were in all probability +still at the Manor, from which duty had kept him absent, even his father +having refrained from going across, though they had had daily +information as to Mistress Forrester's welfare. Fred thought then of +his own position, and all the time he was gazing down into the clear +water, where he could see the bar-sided perch sailing slowly about, and +the great carp and tench heavily wallowing among the lily stems, and +setting the great flat leaves a-quiver as they floated on the surface. +Ah, how it all brought back the pleasant old days when he and Scar used +to spend so much time about the water-side! + +"I wonder whether he can see me now," he muttered, as he came up to one +of the little patches of woodland, and stood gazing across the lake at +the ivy and bush-grown bank where the secret passage had its opening. + +"No; I don't suppose Scar would know me at this distance," he said; and +he took half a dozen steps forward, to be stopped short by the rattle of +arms and a sharp "Halt!" + +For the moment Fred thought himself in the presence of one of the enemy, +and his hand darted to the hilt of his sword; but he realised directly +after that it was one of their own men posted there, and he shivered as +he wondered whether the sentry had noted the direction of his gaze. + +"Only taking a stroll round, my man," said Fred, as he gave the +password. + +"Not going into the wood, are you, sir?" + +"Yes; right on, towards the Hall." + +"Better take care, sir. There are some clever marksmen there, and I +should get into trouble if you were hurt." + +"Don't be alarmed," replied Fred, smiling. "I'll take care." + +He pushed on, and the sentinel remained at his hidden post, while, as if +he found a certain pleasure in revisiting the spots familiar to him in +the boyish adventures with his old companion, Fred wandered listlessly +here and there, meeting sentry after sentry, posted so that the besieged +should not have an opportunity of getting away, or sending a messenger +in search of help. + +"And all the time," muttered Fred, "I know how easily a messenger could +be sent, and help obtained." + +He stopped short at last, with his head in a whirl, wondering which +course he ought to pursue, as the thought occurred to him that he should +be answerable for the injury to his own party if Scarlett did send for +assistance, making use of the passage as a means by which he could avoid +the sentries. + +"But he would not avoid the sentries, for they would catch the messenger +all the same," he cried; "and I am driving myself half crazy about +nothing, and--What's that?" + +He stood listening, for it seemed to him that a low harsh moan had come +from out of the dark shady woodland near where he stood. + +He listened, but there was no further sound, and then he looked round, +puzzled for the moment as to where he was. But he recognised certain +features in the dense piece of forest directly after, and found that he +had during his musings wandered in and in among the trees till he was in +the old wilderness, close to the great fallen tree where they had made +the discovery of the broken way into the hole. + +He turned angrily away, for the thought of the secret passage brought +back his mental struggle, as to which course he ought to pursue, and +flight being certainly the easiest, he was about to hurry off, when once +more the low harsh moan smote his ear. + +"Two boughs rubbing together," he muttered, after listening for a +repetition of the sound, recalling the while what peculiarly strange +noises two fretting branches would make. + +"But there's no wind," he said to himself; and directly after there came +the sharp chirp of a bird, and then the low moan. + +It was so unmistakably a cry of pain, that Fred took a few steps forward +among the dense bushes, and then looked around. + +There was nothing visible, but he was not surprised, for he was close +now to the hidden hole down which he had fallen when he made his jump, +and crushed through part of the touchwood trunk, and everywhere there +was a dense thicket of undergrowth, through which, after another pause, +he forced his way. + +Nothing to see--nothing to hear; and he paused again, listening +intently, and bending forward in the direction of the hidden opening, as +the thought struck him that the cry might come from there. + +Still, there was no further sound, and feeling convinced that he had hit +upon the true source of the noise, and with a shiver of dread running +through him as a dozen terrible suggestions offered themselves in +connection with the sound and with Scarlett, he was about to force his +way to the hole and drag away some of the broken branches which they had +heaped there, and which he could now see were intact, and with the ferns +and brambles and ivy growing luxuriantly, when a fresh moan met his ear, +evidently from quite another direction. + +It was with a feeling of relief that he turned from the way to the +passage, and forcing his way on for some little distance, he paused +again, and listened with almost a superstitious dread, for the sounds +heard were in the midst of the gloomy wilderness, where the foot of man +rarely trod, and appealed strongly to the superstitious part of the +youth's nature. + +In fact, after listening some time, and hearing nothing, the +uncomfortable sensation increased, and he began to back away, when the +sound was again heard--a harsh, wild, but very subdued cry from quite a +different direction, thrilling the lad's nerves, and making him turn +hastily to flee from the dark precincts. + +For it was like no other sound which he had ever heard. No animal or +bird could cry like that. The hedgehog, if shut up in a pit, would +sometimes utter a wild strange noise, which, heard in the darkness, was +startling as the shriek or hoot of an owl. But it was none of these, +and giving way for the moment to ignorant superstition, Fred began to +get out of the wilderness as fast as he could, till he stumbled over a +briar stretched right across his way, fell heavily, and as he struggled +up again, he heard the cry repeated. + +"Oh, how I wish some one was here to knock me over!" he muttered +angrily. "What a miserable coward I am!" + +And now, fully convinced that some unhappy wounded man had crawled into +the thicket to die, he went sharply back to where he had seemed nearest +to the sound, and began to search once more. + +It was for some time in vain, and probably he would have had to give up +what seemed to be a hopeless task, had he not suddenly seen a bramble +strand feebly thrust aside, and the point of a rusty sword directed +toward him. + +He drew his own weapon, and beat the rusty blade away, hacking through a +few bramble strands, and there, deep down in a tunnel of strands and +boughs, was the ghastly blood-besmeared countenance of a man, with +hollow cheeks, sunken eyes, and a look of weakness that strongly +resembled that which, to his sorrow, he had so often seen upon the field +of battle. + +The wretched man seemed to make an effort to raise his rusty sword +again, but it fell from his grasp, and he lay staring wildly at his +finder. + +"Who are you? How came you here?" began Fred, involuntarily, though he +felt that he knew; and then, with a cry of surprise and horror, he +dropped upon his knees beside the wounded man. "Nat, my poor fellow," +he cried, "is it you?" + +The man looked at him wildly for a few moments, as if he were dreaming, +before the light of recognition came into his sunken eyes. + +"Master Fred!" he whispered. "You? That's right. Put me out of my +misery at once." + +"Are you wounded?" + +"Water--for Heaven's sake, water!" + +Fred started up. + +Water? How could he get water? + +The lake was close at hand, if he could reach it unseen, for he shrank +from calling help, which meant condemning the poor fellow to a +prisoner's life as soon as he grew better. So, forcing his way along as +cautiously as he could, he contrived to reach one of the trees whose +boughs overhung the lake, and taking advantage of the shelter, he lay +down upon his chest, grasped a stout hazel, lowered himself to where he +could reach the surface, where he took off his steel morion, dipped it +full, and rose carefully to bear the refreshing fluid to the suffering +man. + +It was not an easy task, for the undergrowth seemed to be more tangled +than ever; but by stepping cautiously, he managed to bear almost every +drop, and kneeling down, he gave the poor fellow a little at a time, an +appealing look in the sufferer's eyes seeming to ask for more and more. + +"Can you speak, Nat?" Fred said at last, as the man lay back with his +eyes closed, and without opening them he softly bent his head. + +"Are you wounded?" + +"Yes; badly," came in a faint whisper. + +"You were hurt at the last encounter?" + +"Yes, and crawled here. Water!" + +Fred administered more, every drop seeming delicious to the fevered lips +of the wounded man. + +Just then Fred remembered that he had a little bread in the wallet at +his side; and breaking it up, he soaked a small piece in the water, and +placed it between poor Nat's lips. + +This was eaten, and a few more scraps, the refreshment seeming to revive +the sufferer wonderfully, and he looked up now in Fred's eyes, as he +whispered faintly-- + +"I was dying of thirst. I hid here--after the fight--and used to crawl +at night to my old garden for food. Then I grew too weak. Master Fred, +it would have been all over, if you had not come." + +"Thank Heaven! I heard you," said Fred, giving the poor fellow a few +more scraps of the moistened bread till he signed to him to cease, and +then he looked up in his benefactor's face with a faint smile on his +parched and cracked lips. + +"Oughtn't you to kill me, Master Fred?" he whispered. + +"Oh, Nat, don't talk like that, my lad! I can't forget the past." + +"Nor can I, Master Fred. But tell me, lad, Master Scarlett? Don't say +he's dead." + +"No, no; I believe he's alive and well," cried Fred, eagerly. And he +saw the poor fellow close his eyes and lie back, with his lips moving as +if he were in prayer. + +But he opened them again, and looked round wildly, as if he were +slightly delirious, but as his eyes rested on Fred's face he grew calm, +his lips parted, and he looked earnestly at him who was playing the good +Samaritan where he lay. + +"Ah, that seems to put life in me!" he sighed; "but you'll get in +trouble, Master Fred, for helping such a one as me. We're enemies, +don't you see?" + +"Wounded men cease to be enemies, Nat," said Fred, bluntly, "so don't +talk about that. You were separated from your master?" + +"Yes, sir, with a sword. I don't know whose it was; but it went through +my shoulder and laid open my head." + +"Ah, well, don't talk. Drink a little more water, and I'll go and bring +some men with a litter to fetch you away, and you shall be tended +carefully; rest assured of that." + +"No, no, Master Fred; let me bide here. How do I know but what Master +Scar will come looking for me with some of our lads. I've been +expecting them every minute, ever since I crawled in among the bushes; +but it seemed a long time, and no one came, and no one--" + +He ceased speaking, and lay back fainting. + +Fred sprinkled and bathed his face for a few minutes, and then becoming +alarmed at the poor fellow's long-continued swooning, he was about to +get up and run for help, when Nat slowly opened his eyes again and his +lips moved. + +"Where's that Samson?" he whispered faintly. + +"With my regiment." + +"Not hurt badly like me, is he, Master Fred?" + +"No; he has escaped wonderfully." + +"I'm glad of that, sir, because I shouldn't like for anybody else to +give him his lesson. That's to be my job, as soon as I get better. I'm +going to take him in hand, Master Fred, and weed him. He's full o' +rubbish, and I'm going to make him a better man. A villain! fighting +again his own brother." + +"There, Nat, drink a little more water, and eat some of this cake, and +then I'll go and get help to have you carried up to camp." + +"What? A prisoner? No, Master Fred. Sooner die where I am, than let +that Samson see me like this, and jump upon me." + +"Nonsense! Samson's a good fellow at heart, and as soon as he sees you +in trouble, he'll be only too glad to help you." + +"Not he, sir; he's my born enemy." + +"He's your brother, and I shall send him, for one, to fetch you." + +"No, Master Fred, don't; don't, pray don't, sir. Let me lie here. I +don't feel the cold and wet much, and if you'd come once a day and bring +me a bit o' bread and a drop o' water, I shall soon get well. Don't +have me made a prisoner, sir." + +"But I can't leave you helpless, and--" + +He was about to add dying, but he checked himself. + +"And free, Master Fred? Why not? You let me alone, sir. You've saved +me this time, for I was going to die to-night. Now I'm going to live. +Rather strange for enemies, sir, isn't it? Hark!" + +Fred was already listening to a trumpet call, and springing to his feet, +he prepared to go. + +"I shall send a litter for you to be borne up to camp," he said. + +"No, Master Fred, please. I'm a poor helpless thing now, not strong +enough to lift a spade, but if you leave me the rest of that bread, I +shall do; and if you can come and look at me once or twice, that will be +all I shall want. But, Heaven bless you, sir! don't have me made a +prisoner." + +"Well, Nat, I shall leave you to-night, as it's going to be fine. But +let me look at your wounds." + +"No, sir, let them bide. I did all I could to them. Come back +to-morrow, sir, and if I ain't better then, you may talk of sending me +away a prisoner, with my brother Samson to stand and sneer because I am +so weak." + +A second trumpet call rang out, and, unable to stay longer, Fred hurried +back into the open, and made his way over to the little camp, asking +himself whether he had not better disregard the poor wounded man's +prayers, and have him fetched out, always coming back to the conclusion +that he would at all events leave him for another day, when he would +take him an ample store of provision, if possible, and decide then as to +his future course. + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +A VAIN APPEAL. + +That same night, an officer was sent with a flag of truce to the Hall, +and bearing a summons to surrender. + +To his intense delight at first, and intense sorrow afterwards, Fred +found that it was to be his duty to bear the flag and the message to the +officer in command of the little garrison. + +He received his instructions and a despatch to Sir Godfrey Markham, and +carrying a small white flag, and preceded by a trumpeter, he rode slowly +through the evening mist, which was rising from the lake and the low +meadows down by the stream, till he reached the path leading up to the +Hall garden, where he stopped short, gave the order, and the man blew a +cheery call, which echoed and re-echoed from the red stone walls. + +Then, riding forward with his white flag well displayed, he advanced +boldly to the front of the barricaded porch. + +For a few minutes he sat there gazing up at the front, and wondering +that no heed was paid to his coming. So still was everything, that it +seemed as if the Hall had been deserted, till, happening to glance to +his left, he caught sight of a dark eye at one of the windows, and +directly after he realised that this eye was glancing along a heavy +piece, the owner taking careful aim at him as if about to fire. + +It was impossible under the circumstances to avoid a feeling of +trepidation; but second thoughts came to whisper to him as it were-- + +"You are under a flag of truce--an ambassador, and sacred." + +"But he might be ignorant, and fire," thought Fred, as he glanced to his +right, where, to his horror, he saw a second man taking aim at him, and +apparently only waiting the word. + +Fred's first thought was that he ought to clap spurs to his horse, wheel +round suddenly so as to disorder the men's aim, and gallop back for his +life. + +"And then," he said to himself, "how should I dare face the general and +my father?" + +Drawing a long breath, he sat firm, and then fighting hard to keep down +his trepidation, he turned his head, and called to his follower, bidding +him summon the garrison once more. + +The man raised his trumpet to his lips, and blew another call, falling +back again at a sign from the flag-bearer, and though he would not show +that he knew of their presence, a glance to right and left told Fred +that the two men were taking aim at him still. + +"They dare not fire. They dare not!" he said to himself, as he sat +fast; and directly after a group of showily dressed Cavaliers appeared +at the large open window above the broad porch. + +He could see that Sir Godfrey Markham was in the centre, with a tall +fair man with a pointed beard on one side, a grey dark man on the other, +and half behind him stood Scarlett, with some dozen more. + +"Well, sir," said Sir Godfrey, sternly, and speaking as if he had never +seen the messenger before, "what is your business?" + +"I am the bearer of a despatch, sir," replied Fred, "for the chief +officer here." + +"That will be you, sir," said Sir Godfrey to the gentleman on his right. +"Well, boy, pass the letter here." + +"How, sir?" + +"Put it on the point of your pike, and pass it up." + +Fred did as he was bidden, and sticking the folded missive on the point +of the pike which carried the white flag, he held it up, and it was +taken. + +"You had better retire while it is read," said Sir Godfrey, +contemptuously. "I see there are two of our men paying attention to +you. Rein back, if you are afraid." + +It was a hard struggle, for with those two fierce-looking troopers +watching him along the barrels of their pieces, Fred's inclination was +still to turn and gallop away as fast as his horse would go. + +But at that moment he raised his eyes, and could see that Scarlett was +looking down at him, as if to watch the effect of Sir Godfrey's words. + +This look seemed to stiffen him, and he sat perfectly erect upon his +horse, with the pike-shaft resting upon his toe, as he told himself that +he hoped if the men fired they would miss; that before he would run +away, with Scar Markham to laugh at his flight, they might riddle him +with bullets through and through. + +"Well, sir," said Sir Godfrey, half mockingly, "are you going to +retire?" + +"I am under a flag of truce, Sir Godfrey," said Fred, quietly. "I +thought the Royalist party were gentlemen, and knew the meaning of such +a sign." + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the tall Cavalier by the general's side. "That's +a good sharp retort for you, Markham. Well done, youngster! Don't be +afraid." + +"I am not," said Fred, stoutly; but at the same time he said to himself, +"Oh, what a horrible lie, when I'm all of a cold shiver." + +"I didn't quite mean afraid," said the tall officer, laughing, "I meant +to say that no one here shall harm you, my young ambassador. But look +here, how comes it that you, who are evidently a gentleman, are taking +sides with that beggarly scum of tatterdemalions who have taken up arms +against their sovereign?" + +"Look here, sir," said Fred, "is this meant for flattery or insult?" + +"Neither one nor the other, young ferocity," said the Cavalier, +laughing. "But don't look like that; you alarm me. Here, young +Markham, you had better come and deal with this pernicious enemy; he is +too much for me." + +But Scarlett did not move, and Fred drew a deep breath, as he prepared +for the next verbal encounter, for the fair Cavalier was leaning +carelessly out of the window, and looking down at him till, as if +fascinated by his look, and after a long struggle to keep his gaze fixed +on the stonework upon a level with his nose, Fred raised his eyes, and +found that the Cavalier was regarding him with a pleasant, friendly +smile. + +"I did not mean to affront you," he said; "I only thought it a pity that +such a stout lad as you should be on the opposite side." + +"Thank you," said Fred, haughtily. + +"I suppose we are enemies, are we not!" + +Fred nodded. + +"And next time we meet you will be trying to send the point of your +sword through me, or to ride me down, eh?" + +"I suppose I shall try," said Fred, smiling in spite of himself, and +showing his white teeth. + +"Ah, it's a pity. You're going wrong way, young man. Better come in +here, and fight for the king." + +"Better stand up manfully for my own side, and not be a traitor," +retorted Fred, hotly. "How dare you, standing there in safety, keep on +this wretched temptation?" + +"Wounds and wonder!" cried the Cavalier, "what a fire-eater it is. +Here, I don't wonder that we are shut up helplessly here. I say, +Roundhead, will you have a glass of wine?" + +"Keep your wine," said Fred. "I've come on business, not to talk and +drink." + +At that moment, Sir Godfrey spoke to those about him, drawing back from +the window, and the conversational Cavalier followed, leaving Fred +sitting stiff and fretful, with all his moral quills set up, the more +full of offence that he believed Scarlett was still watching him. + +As he sat there, assuming the most utter indifference, and gazing with a +solidity that was statuesque straight before him, he could hear a loud +buzzing of voices, following the firm deep tones of Sir Godfrey Markham, +who had evidently been laying the contents of the message before his +companion. + +"Will they surrender?" thought Fred. "I hope they will. They are +debating the question. It would be a relief; and Scarlett Markham and +I--no, Scar and I," he said, mentally correcting himself--"might perhaps +be together again. If he would promise not to take up arms, I dare say +my father and General Hedley would let him off from being a prisoner if +I asked, and he could go with me to where poor Nat lies out in the wood, +and look after him." + +"Huzza! God save the king!" + +The shout and words came so suddenly that the little horse Fred rode +started and reared, and he was in the act of quieting it down, feeling +the while that his ambassage had been in vain, when the party defending +the Hall reappeared at the window. + +"Youngster!" began Sir Godfrey, in a stern deep voice which annoyed +Fred. + +"When he knows me as well as he does his own son!" + +"Ride back, and tell your leaders that I have laid the contents of their +letter before the gallant gentlemen who are my companions here." + +There was a buzz, and an attempt at cheering, which ceased as Sir +Godfrey went on. + +"They all join heart and soul with me in the determination to hold my +home here in the name of his majesty the king, so long as there is a +roof above us and a piece of wall to act as shelter, to help us keep +your rascally rebellious cut-throats out of the place." + +Fred felt all of a tingle, and his eyes flamed as he gazed up defiantly +at the speaker. + +"Tell your leaders that if they will at once lay down their arms and +return to their homes, they shall be allowed to do so in peace." + +"Huzza!" came from within. + +"But if they still keep in arms against his majesty, they must expect no +mercy. Once more. Tell your leaders that we treat their proposal with +the contempt it deserves." + +"As we shall treat your silly proposition, sir," said Fred, quite losing +his temper at being made the bearer of such an absurd defiance from a +little knot of men, completely surrounded as they were. "Am I to fully +understand that you are obstinate enough to say you will hold out?" + +"Look here, insolent boy," said Sir Godfrey, sternly, "you are safe-- +your character of messenger makes you so--but if you stay where you are +in front of this my doorstep another five minutes, one of the men shall +beat you away with a staff. Go!" + +Fred turned white, then red, and he felt the bitterness of the general's +words the more keenly from having forgotten himself and departed from +his neutral position of messenger to speak as he had. He wanted to say +something angry that should show Sir Godfrey and his companions, and +above all, Scarlett, that he was obliged to go, but that it was on +account of his duty, and not that he feared the man with the staff. But +suitable words would not come, and, bubbling over with impotent wrath +and annoyance, he touched his horse's flanks with the spurs, turned as +slowly and deliberately as he could, and began to move away, but only to +face round fiercely as the tall Cavalier at the window said +banteringly-- + +"Good-bye, young game-cock." + +There was a roar of laughter from the careless party looking on. + +"You coward!" + +"Not I, my lad," came back in cheery tones. "I was only joking. +Good-bye, and good luck go with you, though you are a Roundhead. Think +better of it; let your hair grow, and then come and ask for Harry Grey. +I shall have a regiment again some day, and I shall be proud to have you +at my side." + +The words were so frankly and honestly said that Fred's eyes brightened, +and passing the pike-shaft into his bridle hand, he raised his steel cap +to the Cavalier, replaced it, and rode off, while the Royalist officer +turned to Scarlett. + +"As frank and sturdy a boy as I have ever met, excepting you, Scarlett +Markham, of course," he added, as merrily as if there were no danger +near. + +"Yes, he's as true as steel," said Scarlett, flushing. "He always was." + +"You know him?" + +"It's Fred Forrester, Colonel Forrester's son, from the Manor. We were +companions till the war broke out." + +"Three cheers for bonnie Coombeland and its boys," said the Cavalier. +"Why, Scarlett, my lad, we shall have to get him away from these +wretched rebels. Can't it be done?" + +"No," said Scarlett, gravely. "Fred is too staunch and true." + +And staunchly enough, Fred, with his trumpeter behind, was riding back +to camp with his message, which he delivered to General Hedley and his +father. + +There was a pause after he had done, and the general sat gazing straight +before him. + +"Well, Forrester," he said at last, "I have done my duty so far, and I +must go on. We cannot leave this little nest of hornets in our rear to +act as a point to which other insects will gather for the destruction of +those who are fighting for their homes. It is of no use to give them +time." + +"No," said Colonel Forrester, sternly. "I agree with you. They must +fall, or be taken to a man." + +"And their blood be upon their own heads." + +"Amen," said Colonel Forrester, in a deep voice; and as Fred glanced at +him he saw that he was very pale, while a cold chill of dread ran +through the lad's veins as, in imagination, he seemed to see stout, +handsome Sir Godfrey Markham borne down by numbers, with Scarlett making +frantic efforts to save him; and then all seemed to be dark--a darkness +which hung over his spirit, so that he led his horse mechanically to the +improvised stabling beneath the trees, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, +till a voice said-- + +"No, no, Master Fred, I'll see to your horse;" and he turned and found +Samson there, and this set him thinking about poor Nat lying helpless in +the wood. + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +SAMSON VISITS HIS BROTHER. + +No orders were given for attack that night, and Fred went to the rough +shelter that served him for tent, to lie down, but not to sleep, for his +thoughts were either at the Manor, which was to him as if it were a +hundred miles away; at the Hall, where he knew that the little Royalist +party were doing everything to resist the impending attack; or in the +gloomy old patch of ancient forest they called the wilderness, where +poor Nat lay helpless, and very little removed from death. + +"I can't sleep," said Fred, at last, as he rose from his bed, which +consisted of a pile of heather, over which his horseman's cloak was +thrown, and impetuously hurrying out, he stood gazing up at the bright +stars, with the cool moist wind from the north-west bearing to his hot +cheeks the freshness of the sea. + +"Perhaps dying," he said to himself at last. "I can't lie there +thinking about it. I will go, at all costs, and he shall go with me." + +He stepped back into his rough tent, buckled on his sword, threw the +strap of a wallet over his head, and then took the remainder of his +evening meal and a small flask, which he placed in the wallet. This +done, he paused for a few moments, and then sought a scarf and a couple +of handkerchiefs, which he also thrust into the wallet. + +The next minute he was groping his way toward the place in a thick grove +where the horses were picketed; and he had not far to look, on reaching +his own, before finding Samson curled up in a half-sitting, half-lying +position between the mossy buttresses formed by the roots of a huge +beech. + +Stooping down, he seized his henchman's shoulder, and shook him, but +only elicited a grunt. + +He shook him again, but though his act was more vigorous, it only +elicited a fresh series of grunts. + +"You idle pig!" cried Fred, angrily, as he administered a kick; "get +up!" + +_Snore_! + +A long-drawn, deep-toned snore. + +"Samson! I want you." No response. Samson's senses were so deeply +steeped in sleep that nothing seemed to rouse him. + +"I wish I had a pin," muttered Fred, as he kicked and shook again, +without effect. "And there isn't a thorn anywhere near. Spurs!" he +exclaimed. "No," he added in a disappointed tone--"too blunt. There's +no water to rouse him nearer than the lake; and if there was, it would +be too bad to let him go about drenched. What shall I do? Samson, get +up; I want you. I'll prick you with my sword, if you don't wake up." + +"Tell him the enemy's here, sir," said a sleepy man lying close by. + +"Wouldn't wake him, if he did," grumbled another. + +The men's remarks suggested an idea which made Fred smile, as he went +down on one knee, placed his lips close to Samson's ear, and whispered-- + +"Well, I wouldn't let him meddle with my garden. Your brother Nat." + +That one word, "Nat," seemed to run echoing through all the convolutions +of Samson Dee's brain, and he started up at once, full of eagerness and +thoroughly awakened, as if by a magic touch. + +"Nat?" he said. "Who spoke of Nat? Here, where is he?" + +"Are you awake?" + +"Awake, sir? Yes, sir. I was dreaming about my brother Nat coming and +interfering with our garden. Beg pardon, Master Fred, but I was dead +asleep. Want me, sir? Your horse?" + +"I want you to come with me." + +"Yes, sir, of course," cried Samson, "Ready in a minute." + +He was ready in less, for all the dressing he had to do consisted in +buckling on the sword, which hung from a knot in the beech-tree, and +sticking on his steel cap. + +"Don't ask questions, Samson, but come along." + +Fred led the way out of the camp and down by the lake, which he skirted +till he had passed round the extreme end, when, to Samson's +astonishment, Fred struck out straight for the wilderness. + +"We going to surprise them up at the Hall, sir, and take it all by +ourselves?" Samson whispered at last, for he could contain himself no +longer. + +"No; I am going to surprise you, Samson," was the reply, in a low +whisper, as they went on, their way lying between two lines of +sentinels, the outposts being posted further away, and those who hemmed +in the little garrison being run right up as near as possible to the +Hall, so as to guard against any sally or attempt at evasion. + +"Nothing won't surprise me now," muttered Samson, as he tramped on +slowly behind his leader in a very ill humour, which he did not display, +for it was not pleasant for a heavy sleeper to be roused from his rest. +"But it don't matter. I'm about ready for anything now. Why, what's he +going to do up in the old wilderness? Oh, I know; after rabbits. Well, +that's better. A biled rabbit for dinner to-morrow, and a bit o' bacon, +will be like a blessing to a hungry man. Heigh--ho! ha--hum! how sleepy +I do feel." + +"Hist!" + +"Right, Master Fred." + +"There are sentinels a hundred yards to the right, and a hundred yards +to the left," whispered Fred, in his companion's ear. + +"Which as you haven't measured it, sir, you don't know," said Samson to +himself. But replying in a whisper, he said, "Yes, Master Fred, but you +didn't fetch me out of bed to tell me that." + +"No; I tell you now, to keep you from yawning like the Silcombe bull." + +"Well, I couldn't help it, sir; but I won't do so no more." + +"Keep close behind me, tread softly, and as soon as we get up to the +wilderness move every bough as carefully as you can." + +"Rabbits, sir?" + +"No, no. Silence! Follow me." + +"'Course I'll follow him; but what's he going after? Well, I aren't +surprised. Nothing surprises me now that the place is turned upside +down. I don't believe I should feel surprised if my brother Nat was to +want to shake hands, though that would be a startler." + +Samson went on musing after his fashion, as he kept close to Fred's +heels, and they went quickly and silently on over the soft wet grass, +till a great black patch began to loom over them, grew more dark, and +then, after a few moments' hesitation and trying to right and left, Fred +plunged in, to force his way as carefully as possible, but making very +slow progress toward the spot he sought, for to a great extent it was +guess-work in the utter blackness which reigned around. + +"I say, Master Fred?" whispered Samson, as a pause was made. + +"Yes." + +"You said something just now about the Silcombe bull." + +"Well?" + +"I wish he was here." + +"Why?" + +"So as to go first and make a way. I'm getting scratched all to bits." + +"I think we are right. Come along." + +"Come along it is, sir; but I'm getting so thirsty." + +They went on for a few minutes more, and then Samson uttered an +exclamation. + +"Hush!" whispered Fred. + +"But didn't you hear that, sir? It's the guytrash." + +"Here, this way," whispered Fred. "I can find the place now." + +"No, no, dear lad, don't go near it," said Samson, under his breath. +"You never know what may happen, if you go near it. Don't, pray don't +go." + +Samson emphasised his appeal by holding tightly to his young master's +jerkin, impeding his movements to such an extent that Fred turned upon +him fiercely. + +"You ought to be ashamed of yourself," he said, "with your guytrashes +and goblins, and witches and nonsense." + +"What, sir! Why, didn't you hear it moan yonder?" + +"I heard a sigh." + +"Well, sir, that was the guytrash calling to you to come, so as to get +hold of you; and if it did I should never see you again." + +"Not if it keeps as dark as this, you stupid old grub. I know what made +that sound. Come along." + +"What, are you going to risk it, sir, in spite of all I said?" + +"Yes; I am going on there." + +"Very well, sir. I didn't want to die like this in the dark, and I +don't know whether weapons is of any use against things like that; but +I'll stand by you, Master Fred, to the end." + +As he spoke, there was a faint grating sound which attracted Fred's +attention. + +"Were you drawing your sword?" he whispered. + +"Yes, sir." + +"What for?" + +"To cut the guytrash down, if I can." + +"Put it away," whispered Fred, angrily. "What you have come to see +wants no cutting down. It's a wounded man." + +"Oh!" ejaculated Samson, as he thrust his sword back into its sheath. +"Why didn't you say so sooner, Master Fred?" + +"This way--this way," came back to him, accompanied by the rustling of +branches and the sharp tearing noise made by thorns. "Yes; here we +are." + +Samson followed closely, with his arms outstretched, and in a minute or +two he heard a sound which made him bend down to feel that Fred was +kneeling, and the next moment talking to some one prostrate there in the +darkness. + +"Well, how are you?" + +"Is that you, Master Fred?" came in a husky whisper, which made Samson +start. + +"Yes; I've brought you some bread and wine. How are the wounds?" + +"Don't give me much pain, sir, now." + +"Master Fred." + +"Well?" + +"Who's that?" + +"Can't you hear, Samson? Your brother Nat." + +There was utter silence for a minute, during which it seemed as if +Samson was holding his breath, for at the end of that pause, he gave +vent to a low hissing sound, which continued till it seemed wonderful +that the man should have been able to retain so much air. + +"Drink some of this," Samson heard Fred whisper; and there was the +peculiar gurgling sound as of liquid escaping from a bottle, followed by +another whisper bidding the sufferer eat. + +"Look here, Master Fred," said Samson, as soon as he had sufficiently +recovered from his surprise to speak. + +"What is it?" + +"Do you know who it is you're talking to there in the dark?" + +"Yes; your brother Nat." + +Samson remained silent and motionless as one of the trees for a minute. +Then he caught Fred by the shoulder. + +"What is it, Samson? Do you hear any one?" + +"No, sir; I was only thinking about what I ought to do now. Just stand +aside, and let me come." + +"What for?" + +"Well, sir, that's what I don't know. Ought I to--? You see, he's an +enemy." + +"Samson, we can't leave him here, poor fellow! He may die for want of +attention." + +"Well, sir, then there'd be one enemy the less." + +"Yes. Shall we leave him to die?" + +"No, sir; that we won't," said Samson, severely. "We've got to make him +prisoner, taking him up to my quarters, let the doctor make him well, +and then I've got to spend an hour with him, just to set him to rights +and pay him all I owe. Here, you sir, do you know who I am?" + +"Yes," said the wounded man, feebly. + +"Then look here; you've got to come on my back, and I'm going to carry +you up to the camp." + +"Master Fred." + +"Yes, my lad." + +"Don't let him touch me," whispered Nat. "I couldn't bear to be moved, +sir." + +"Not if we carried you gently?" + +"No, sir; I feel as if it would kill me. If you could leave me some +bread, sir, and some water, and let me alone, I should get well in time. +I'm only doing what the dogs do, sir, when they're hurt. I've crawled +into a hole, sir, and I shall either die or get well, just the same as +they do." + +Fred refused to be convinced, but on trying to raise the poor fellow he +seemed to inflict so much agony that he gave up, and felt disposed to +return to his first ideas of coming to see the poor fellow from time to +time, and giving him food. + +"Better, after all, Samson," he said. + +"What, leaving him, sir?" + +"Yes. You do not want to see him a prisoner?" + +"I don't want to see him at all, sir. He has disgraced his family by +fighting against his brother. Did you bring anything to cover him up, +sir?" + +"No, Samson, I did not think of that." + +"Well, sir, you mustn't let him die," muttered Samson; and there was a +peculiar rasping sound. + +"What are you doing?" + +"Only getting off my leather coat, sir. Lay that over him. It may rain +again any time, and he might be getting cold." + +Fred caught the coat, laid it gently over the wounded man, and he was in +the act of bending down to hear what he whispered by way of thanks, when +there was a sharp report close at hand. + +"Quick! An attack," said Fred, excitedly; and the next moment he and +Samson were struggling out of the wilderness, just as shot after shot +ran along the line, as the alarm spread, and directly after the +ear-piercing call rang out on the clear night air, and was echoed again +and again among the distant hills. + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +COLONEL FORRESTER IS NOT ANGRY. + +It was no easy task to run the gauntlet of the sentinels, now that the +alarm had spread, for they were falling back upon the camp, and twice +over Fred was challenged, and had to run the risk of a bullet; but +partly by knowing the ground far better than those who challenged, and +partly from the darkness, the pair succeeded in reaching the little +camp, to find all in commotion, horses saddled, men ready to mount, and +an intense desire existent to know from which side to expect the attack. + +After a time the hurry and excitement quieted down, for after scouts and +patrols had done their work, the whole alarm was traced to one of the +sentinels, who had heard whispering in the wood near which he was +stationed, and had fired at once, his nearest fellow having taken up the +signal, fired, and slowly fallen back. + +"Better too much on the _qui vive_ than too drowsy," said the general, +at last, good-humouredly. "I was afraid, Forrester, it was an attempt +on the part of the enemy to escape." + +"And we could clear it all up with a word, Samson," said Fred, who was +full of self-reproach. + +"But don't you speak it, Master Fred," whispered Samson, who had +contrived to get another jerkin. "If you tell, they'll go down to the +wood, and find that brother of mine, and bring him in, and here he'll be +lying in clover, and doctored up, and enjoying himself, while poor we +are slaving about in sunshine and rain, and often not getting anything +to eat, or a rag to cover us." + +"I shall not speak, Samson, for there was no harm done," said Fred, +quietly; "but I wonder at your covering your enemy from the cold." + +"Needn't wonder, sir. Didn't I always cover my tender plants from the +cold? It wasn't because I liked them, but so as they'd be useful +by-and-by. My brother Nat will be useful by-and-by. I want him. I +shall give him such a lesson one of these days as shall make him ashamed +of himself." + +A trumpet rang out again on the night air, and men dismounted, picketed +their horses once more, and some lay down to snatch a few hours' rest, +while others sat together talking and asking one another questions about +the attack they foresaw would most probably take place that day, for the +night was waning, and they knew that before long the dawn would be +showing in the east, and that it would be morn; while, in spite of +plenty of sturdy courage and indifference to danger, there were men +there who could not refrain from asking themselves whether they would +live to see the next day. + +It was somewhere about sunrise when Fred fell asleep, to dream of being +in the dense thicket, carrying Nat, the Hall gardener, on his back to +the hole broken through into the secret passage, where he threw him +down, and covered him up with bushes to be out of the way till he got +better; but, as fast as he threw him down, he came back again, +rebounding like a bladder, till Samson came to his help, drew his sword, +and pricked him, when he sank down to the bottom and lay still. Then +Scarlett seemed to come out of the hole and reproach him for being a +coward and a rebel, seizing him at last and shaking him severely, and +all the while, though he struggled hard, he could not free himself from +his grasp. So tight was his hold that he felt helpless and half +strangled, the painful sensation of inability to move increasing till he +seemed to make one terrible effort, seized the hands which held him, +looked fiercely in his assailant's eyes, and exclaimed, "Coward, +yourself!" + +"Well, sir, dare say I am," was the reply; "but what can you expect of a +man when you take him out of his garden and make a soldier of him all at +once." + +"Samson!" + +"Yes, sir. Breakfast's ready, sir, such as it is. What's the matter +with you? I never had such a job to waken you before." + +"I--I was very sound asleep," stammered Fred, rising hastily. "Did--did +I say anything?" + +"Pitched an ugly word at my head about not being so brave as you thought +I ought to be, that's all." + +"Don't take any notice of what I said, I must have been dreaming." + +"That's what I often wake up and feel I've been doing," said Samson. "I +often don't know whether I'm on my head or my heels; it seems so +strange. Wonder how that Nat is. He always gets the best of it. Lying +there with nothing to do. Just his way, sir, curling himself up snug, +and letting other people do his work. There you are, sir, bucket of +clean water from the lake. Have a good wash, and you'll feel like a new +man. What a difference it must make to you, sir, dressing yourself out +here, after having your comfortable room at home, and you so near it, +too. Why, sir, the colonel might have told you to go home to sleep. +Say, sir!" + +"Well?" said Fred, taking his head out of the bucket of clear cold +water, and feeling afterwards, as he rubbed himself dry, that new life +was running through his veins. + +"Wouldn't it be nice for you to run down to the Manor to breakfast, sir, +and bring back a few decent things to eat? I wouldn't mind coming with +you and carrying the basket." + +Fred looked hard at Samson, whose face was perfectly stolid for a few +moments; but a little ripple gradually spread over his left cheek, and +increased till it was a broad grin. + +"Well, sir, you see it is so tempting. I'd give anything for a bowl of +new warm milk. When are we going to have a good forage again, so as we +might catch some chickens and ducks or a young pig?" + +"I'm afraid there'll be other work on hand to-day, Samson," replied +Fred, sadly, as he glanced in the direction of the Hall. "There, take +away that bucket." + +"Yes, sir. Done you good, hasn't it? and you can dry your head. Puzzle +some of them long-haired chaps to get theirs dry." + +Samson went off with his young master's simple toilet arrangements, and +Fred joined his brother-officers in their frugal meal, after which he +spent the morning in a state of indecision. + +"I will do it," he said, when afternoon had come; and, giving his +sword-belt a hitch, and thrusting his morion a little on one side, he +began striding forward, planting his boots down heavily on the soft +heather, in which his great spurs kept catching till he at last nearly +fell headlong. + +Recovering himself, he went on, hand upon hip, and beating his gloves +upon his thigh, till he came to where Colonel Forrester was slowly +pacing up and down, with his hands clasped behind his back. + +As Fred drew nearer, an orderly came up to the colonel, and presented a +letter, which brought the lad to a standstill. He had been having a +long struggle with self, and had mastered his shrinking, but he was so +near the balance of vacillation still, that he felt glad of the excuse +to hang back, and walked aside, feeling like one who has been reprieved. + +"How do I know what he will say?" thought Fred, glancing back at his +father's stern, wrinkled countenance as he read his despatch. "It isn't +like the old days, though I used sometimes to feel shrinking enough +then. It is not between father and son, but between colonel and one of +his followers." + +Fred felt as if he would like to walk right off; but there were those at +the Hall occupying his thoughts, and he made an effort over his moral +cowardice and stopped short, meaning to go to his father as soon as the +messenger had left. + +He had not long to wait, for the orderly saluted and rode off, but there +was something else now to check him. His father looked so very severe, +and as if there was something very important on his mind. + +"I have chosen a bad time," thought Fred. "I'll go away and wait." + +"No, no," he said, half aloud; "how can I be so foolish? I will go up +and speak to him like a man. It is mean and cowardly to hang back." + +He stepped toward the colonel again, but there was another reprieve for +him, the general riding up; and for the next quarter of an hour the two +officers were in earnest converse. + +"Yes," said Fred; "I have chosen a bad time. I'll go." + +But he did not stir, for at the same moment he felt that the general +might be planning with his father that which he sought to prevent. + +"I'll go and speak now they are together," he said to himself, +desperately. "General Hedley likes me, I think, and he could not be +very cross." + +"No, I dare not," he muttered; and he paced to and fro again till the +general touched his horse's flanks, and rode slowly away, Colonel +Forrester following him thoughtfully for some distance, till in a fit of +desperation Fred hurried to his side. + +"Want me, my boy?" said the colonel, gravely. + +"Yes, father. I want to ask you something." + +"Yes; go on. I am very much occupied just now." + +Fred looked at him piteously, his words upon his lips, but refusing to +be spoken. + +"Well, my boy, what is it? Are you in some great trouble?" + +The words came in so much more kindly a tone, that Fred made a step +toward his father, and the barrier of discipline gave way, and it seemed +to be no longer the stern officer but the father of the old Manor house +days he was longing to address. + +"Well, my boy, what is the trouble?" said Colonel Forrester, kindly. + +"It is about--" + +Fred did not finish his sentence, but pointed across the lake. + +"Ah, yes, about the Hall!" said the colonel, with a sigh. "Well, my +boy, what do you wish to say?" + +"Are they keeping to what was in Sir Godfrey's message, father?" + +"Yes, my boy," sternly. + +"But don't you think they could be persuaded to surrender?" + +"Yes, Fred." + +"Oh, father, I am glad," cried the boy, joyously. + +"Yes, persuaded," continued Colonel Forrester, in measured tones, "with +sword and gun, not till they are utterly helpless. Then they may." + +"Oh, father!" + +"Yes, my boy; it is very sad, but they will not see that their case is +desperate." + +"Is the attack to be made to-day, father?" + +"I am not the general in command, my boy. That is a matter for another +to decide." + +"Yes; but you know, father, and you can trust me." + +"Of course I can, Fred, and I will. Yes; the attack is to be made +directly." + +"And will it succeed?" + +"It must. It shall. No. I will not interfere," he added to himself a +moment later. + +"And you, father?" said Fred, anxiously. + +"Well, my boy, what of me?" + +"You--Oh, father. Must I speak out. Don't be angry with me. I have no +right to say such things to you, but I always looked upon Scar Markham +as a brother, and they always treated me at the Hall as if I was a son; +and it does seem so terrible for you to be going up at the head of armed +men to attack our dear old friends." + +Colonel Forrester stood with his brow knit. + +"You are angry with me, father; but I can't help speaking. I say it +seems so terrible. You ought not to do this thing." + +Fred's hesitation had gone. He had taken the plunge, and now he felt +desperate, and ready to speak on to the end. He gazed full in the stern +face with the lowering brows, but it checked him no longer. His words +came fast, and he caught his father by the arm. + +"If you speak to General Hedley, he will listen to you, for Sir Godfrey +is your oldest friend; and think, father, how horrible it would be if +the Markhams were to be killed." + +The brows appeared to be knit more closely, and Colonel Forrester's gaze +seemed fierce enough to wither his son. + +But Fred kept on, begging and importuning his father to do something to +change the general's purpose, without obtaining any reply. + +"Then you are going to lead the attack on the Hall, father?" said Fred +at last. + +The colonel turned upon him sharply. + +"You must not, you shall not," cried Fred, excitedly. "Yes; I see you +are angry with me; but--" + +"No, my boy, not angry," said the colonel, gravely; "but very, very +proud of you. No, my boy, I am not going to head the fight." + +"Father!" cried Fred, joyously. + +"And I have done more than beg General Hedley to excuse me from all +participation in to-day's work." + +"Then it really will be to-day?" + +"Yes, my boy, it really will be to-day, and I'd give anything for this +day to be past, and the worst known." + +"But they will give them quarter, father?" + +"Yes, my boy, of course, but who can say what may happen in dealing with +fierce, reckless men, fighting as they believe for their lives. Those +with whom they are engaged may be willing to take them prisoners, but +they will fight with terrible desperation, incited by Sir Godfrey's +example, and no one can say how the attack will end." + +"Yes, father, I see," said Fred, sadly, "but could you not persuade +General Hedley to give up the attack?" + +Colonel Forrester was silent for a few moments, and then said sadly-- + +"No." + +"Oh, father! think of Lady Markham and of little Lil." + +"I have thought about them, my boy," said the colonel, speaking in a +slow, measured voice, "and I have three times over begged of the general +to spare the Hall and its defenders, and to let us go on at once." + +"And what did he say?" cried Fred, eagerly. + +"He asked me if it was the voice of duty speaking, or that of +friendship, and what could I say?" + +Fred looked at him piteously. + +"How could I leave that nest of hornets to harass our rear, and gather a +fresh and stronger force together, so as to be ready for the next +detachment which comes along west. No, boy, I am obliged as an officer +to agree with my superior that every man must be cleared out of that +Hall before we can stir. Sir Godfrey Markham has his fate in his own +hands." + +"What do you mean, father? Surrender?" + +"Of course. He shall have due respect paid to him and his followers; +but it is madness to expect it of him, even for their sake." + +"For their sake, father?" + +"Yes, my boy. There, I may as well tell you. I am not the stern, +implacable enemy you think me. I wrote to Sir Godfrey last night, +asking him to surrender for his wife and daughter's sake." + +"You did this, father?" cried Fred, eagerly. + +"I did, my boy." + +"And what did he say?" + +"He sent a stern, insulting message, similar to his last, and those who +were with him threatened to crop the next ambassador's ears if he dared +present himself at the Hall." + +"Let me go and make another appeal to Sir Godfrey." + +"You heard the threat?" said Colonel Forrester, looking at his son +curiously. + +"Yes, I heard, father." + +"And will you risk it, if I give you a message to take?" + +"Yes, father, it was a vain boast. They dare not insult a messenger." + +"No, my boy, you shall not go," said Colonel Forrester, laying his hand +upon his son's shoulder. "It would be courting injury for no good +purpose." + +"But if it would save Sir Godfrey and poor Scarlett?" + +"It would not, Fred." + +"Don't say that, father. If I could see Scar Markham, he would perhaps +listen to me; and if he did, he might have as much influence upon Sir +Godfrey as I have upon you. Father, let me try." + +"No, Fred, it cannot be," said the colonel, sternly. "I am not in +command here. The general has sent twice, the second appeal being made +through my request, and in each case the answer was an insult." + +"But, father--" + +"It is useless, my boy, so say no more. Sir Godfrey brings the assault +on himself. I have done all I can. General Hedley acknowledges it, and +you see I have ceased to be the stern officer to you, and have spoken +kindly and in the spirit you wish." + +"But one moment, father. Do you think we could persuade Sir Godfrey +through Scarlett?" + +"No, my boy, and I am afraid I should act precisely the same were I in +his place. No more now." + +"But, father, shall I be expected to go forward with the troops?" + +"No. I have provided against that, Fred. You and I will not be +combatants here." + +"Why, father!" cried Fred, excitedly. "Look!" + +"Yes," said Colonel Forrester, sadly. "They have begun. I thought it +would not be long. I dreaded being in the general's confidence over +this." + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +WATCHING THE ATTACK. + +That which Fred had dreaded had indeed begun, for about a hundred and +fifty men had been told off for the attack, and these had prepared +themselves by picketing their horses, arming themselves with stout axes +for the barricades, and dragging after them stout scaling-ladders. + +The advance had seemed to be dilatory before, and the generally received +opinion in the camp had been that the defending party, to save risk, was +to be starved into submission. + +But those who judged did not know the general. He had been waiting his +time, for sundry reasons: respect for Colonel Forrester, and mercy, +being among these; but now that he found it necessary to adopt strong +coercive measures, he was prompt and quick in every step. + +Fred Forrester was freed from the terrible necessity of taking part in +the attack, but that did not lessen his eagerness to see what would be +the result, and in consequence he hurried to the top of the nearest +woodland summit, and from thence prepared to witness the issue of the +fight. + +As he reached the clump of beeches which crowned the hill, he caught +sight of the back of some one lying at the very edge of the wood, in the +commanding spot he had selected for himself, and where he had often +stood to make signs to Scarlett in the old boyish days. For a moment or +two he hesitated, and then approached, wondering who it could be, and +taking the precaution to draw his sword, for it was not likely to be one +of their own men. + +It was disconcerting to find any one there, and for the moment he was +ready to draw back. But, on the other hand, it might be a spy of the +enemy, who had crept up there to watch their proceedings; and under +these circumstances, Fred felt that there were only two courses open to +him, flight or bold attack. + +To make such an attack in cold blood required consideration. It was not +like taking part in an exciting charge, amid the stirring din of battle, +when the pulses were bounding, and the bray of the trumpet called them +to advance. He, a mere youth, had to go single-handed to an encounter +with a great broad-backed fellow, who, at the first brunt, might turn +the tables upon him. + +"But he is a spy," said Fred to himself; "and he is sure to be half +afraid;" and without further hesitation, the lad advanced softly, +keeping well behind. + +As he drew nearer he could see that the man was upon his chest with his +arms folded for a support; his morion was tilted back over his ears, so +that it covered his neck, and as he watched the advance, he slowly +raised first one and then the other leg, crossing them backwards and +forwards, and beating the ground with his toes as if they were portions +of a pick-axe. + +A peculiar feeling of hesitation came over Fred again, and he found +himself asking whether he ought not to go down for help, and whether +there were any of the man's companions near. + +This he felt was only common prudence; and, stepping back, he carefully +searched among the trees and round the edge of the hill. But no, the +man seemed to have come up quite alone; and, gaining confidence from +this, he went softly back, taking care not to trample upon any dead +twig, so as to give the alarm. + +In a few minutes he was again at the edge of the wood, near enough to +see that the man wore a backpiece, and that the hilt of his sword was +quite near his hand. + +The hesitation was gone now. A glance showed that the attacking party +were near the end of the lake, and that outposts of three or four men +were dotted here and there, ready to drive back or capture any of the +Cavaliers who might try to make their escape. + +"I'll do it," said Fred to himself; and, stooping down, he crept nearer +and nearer, holding back any twig or obtruding branch with his sword, +and wincing and preparing for a spring, when a bramble grated against +the edge of his blade. + +But the man was too intent upon the scene below, and paid no heed to a +warning which, had he been on the alert, would have placed Fred at a +terrible disadvantage. + +The lad's eyes, as he crept on with sword in advance, were fixed on the +back of the man's half-hidden neck; and he had made his plans, but for +all that he could not help glancing down at the advancing men, and +pausing to note that the Cavaliers were at the barricaded windows, ready +for their enemy. + +And now for a moment Fred again wondered whether he was doing right, and +whether his more sensible plan would not have been to go down to the +camp and spread the alarm. + +His answer to this thought was to set his teeth, which grated so loudly +that his grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, and he felt sure that +he must have been heard. + +But no; the man lay perfectly still, watching intently, as motionless, +in fact, as if he had been asleep; and Fred crept step by step nearer +and nearer, till he felt that he was within springing distance, and then +stopped to take breath. + +"How easy it would be to kill him," he thought, "and how cowardly;" and +he was about to put his first idea into action, namely, to make one bold +spring forward, and snatch the man's sword from the sheath. + +But the sword might stick, the sheath clinging to it tightly, as it +would sometimes; and if it did, instead of the man being helpless, it +would be he who was at the mercy of one who might beat him off with +ease. + +So, giving up that idea, he paused a few moments, till the man raised +his head a little higher, so as to get a better view of those below, and +then with one bold spring, Fred was upon his back, with the point of his +sword driven in a peculiar way into the soft earth. + +That idea had occurred to him at the last moment, and even in the +intense excitement of the moment he smiled, as he saw in it success, for +it effectually baffled the man in what was his first effort--to draw his +sword, which was pinned, as it were, to the ground by Fred's weapon +being passed directly through the hilt. + +There was an angry snort, as of a startled beast, a tremendous heave, +and a coarse brown hand made a dart at the sword-blade, and was snatched +away with an exclamation of pain. Then in fiercely remonstrant tones a +harsh voice shouted-- + +"You coward! Only let me get a chance!" + +"Samson!" cried Fred, starting back as he removed his knee from the back +of the man's head, and the ex-gardener's steel cap rolled over to the +side. + +"Master Fred!" was the answer; and Samson turned over and sat up, +staring in his assailant's face. + +"You here?" + +"Here, sir, yes; and look what you've done. Don't ketch me sharping +your sword again, if you're going to serve me like that." + +He held up his hand, which was bleeding from the fact of his having +seized hold of the blade which had pinned down his hilt. + +"But I thought you were one of the enemy--a spy." + +"Then you'd no business to, sir. I only come up here to see the fight." + +"But I thought you were down in the ranks--gone to the attack." + +"Me? Now, was it likely, sir, as I should go and fight against the +Hall? No, sir, my bad brother Nat, who is as full of wickedness as a +gooseberry's full of pips, might go and try and take the Manor, if it +was only so as to get a chance to ransack my tool-shed; but you know +better than to think I'd go and do such a thing by him. Would you mind +tying that, sir?" + +Samson had taken a strip of linen out of his morion, and after twisting +it round the slight, freely bleeding cut on his finger, held it up for +Fred to tie. + +"Thank ye kindly, sir. I meant that for a leg or a wing, but it will do +again for them." + +"I am very sorry, Samson," said Fred, giving the knot a final pull. + +"Oh, it don't matter, sir; only don't try any o' them games again. So +you thought I was a spy?" + +"Yes." + +"And what was you going to do with me?" + +"Make you a prisoner, and take you down to camp." + +"Well, you are a one!" said Samson, looking at his young master, and +laughing. "Think of a whipper-snapper like you trying to capture a big +chap like me." + +Fred winced angrily. + +"Well, not so much of a whipper-snapper as Master Scarlett, sir; but you +haven't got much muscle, you know." + +"Muscle enough to try." + +"Yes, sir," said the ex-gardener, thoughtfully; "but it isn't the muscle +so much as the try. It's the thinking like and scheming. You see a bit +of rock stands up, and you can't move it with muscle, but if you put a +little bit of rock close to it, and then get a pole or an iron bar, and +puts it under the big rock and rests it on the little, and then pushes +down the end, why, then, over the big rock goes, and it's out of your +way." + +"Yes, Samson," said Fred, thoughtfully, as he watched the advance; "and +so you didn't care to go to the attack?" + +"No, sir, I wouldn't; but it was tempting, though; ay, that it was." + +"Tempting?" + +"Well, you see, Master Fred, Nat has got some chyce cabbage seed, and +he'd never give me a pinch, try how I would; no, nor yet sell a man a +pen'orth. He kept it all to himself, just out of a nasty greedy spirit, +so that his cabbages might be bigger and heavier than ours at the Manor. +I'd have had some of that seed if I'd gone, for he couldn't have come +and stopped me now." + +"No, poor fellow! I wonder how he is?" + +"Getting better, sir. He's as tough as fifty-year-old yew. Nothing +couldn't kill him; but look, sir, look! See how they're getting up to +the terrace. Ah!" + +This exclamation was made as a white puff suddenly seemed to dart from +one of the windows of the Hall, and then there was another, and another, +the reports seeming to follow, and then to echo from the next hill. + +But no one in the attacking force seemed to fall, neither did it check +them. On the contrary, they appeared to be spurred into action, and +instead of creeping on as it were in a slow steady march, they broke up +into little knots, and dashed forward, while a second line kept steadily +on. + +"Look at them! look at them, Master Fred! Don't it make you feel as if +you wished you was in it?" cried Samson, excitedly. "That's it; fire +away; but you won't stop 'em. All Coombeland boys, every man-jack of +'em, and you can't stop them when they mean business." + +"No," said Fred between his teeth, as he tried to keep down the feelings +of elation engendered by the gallantry of the attack, by forcing himself +to think of how it would be were he Scarlett Markham, and these men +enemies attacking his home. "Look, look, Samson!" he whispered, with +his throat dry, his tongue clinging to the roof of his mouth, and the +scar of his worst wound beginning to throb. + +"Yes, I'm a-looking, sir," said Samson, in as husky a voice. "There, +they've got a ladder up against the big long window, and they're +swarming up it. They'll be in directly, and drive the long-haired +gentlemen flying like leaves before a noo birch broom." + +"No," said Fred, shading his eyes with his hands; "no. Ah, did you hear +the crash? How horrible! Some of them must be killed." + +"Not they, Master Fred. But I don't see how they did it. Fancy turning +the ladder right back with seven or eight lads running up it! But it +was well done." + +"Can you see whether any one is hurt?" + +"Not at this distance, sir. Not they, though, unless they've got any of +those long thin swords skewered into them. I've tumbled twice that +height out of apple-trees, and no one to fall upon. They'd all got some +one to tumble on, except the bottom one, and I don't suppose he's much +hurt." + +"Hurt, man? He must be killed." + +"Tchah! not he, sir. T'others would be too soft. Look, sir; don't lose +none of it. You may never have such a chance again. Yes; there, +they've got the ladder up once more, and some's holding it while the +others goes up. Yes. Huzza! they'll do it now. No. If they haven't +overturned it again." + +"Yes," said Fred, sadly, and yet unable to help feeling pleased, so +thoroughly were his sympathies on both sides. "They're giving it up, +Samson; they're retiring." + +"No, sir; only carrying some of the hurt ones out of the fight. There +goes another ladder up--two. Hah! look at that!" + +Fred's eyes were already riveted on the fresh scene, for, plainly seen +even at that distance, the strong oaken-boarding screen nailed over the +window at the end of the terrace on the ground floor was suddenly thrown +down, and with a shout which was faintly heard on the hill, a party of +about five and twenty Cavaliers rushed out, sword in hand, taking the +attacking party in the flank with such vigour that they gave way, the +two scaling-ladders were overturned, and for the moment the Puritans +took to flight, and the attack seemed to have failed. + +"Beaten, Samson," said Fred, unable to crush down a feeling of +satisfaction, even at the reverse of his own party. + +"Beaten, sir? Not they. Only driven back. It's just like the waves +down by the cave, yonder; they come back again stronger than ever. Told +you so, sir. Look at that." + +Samson Dee was right, for a solitary figure had suddenly stepped forward +from the second rank, rallied the beaten men, and advanced with them +slowly and steadily. There was a desperate _melee_, as the Cavaliers, +reinforced by more from within, tried to complete their rout, and then, +as it seemed to the excited watchers, the Royalists were driven back +step by step, by sheer force of numbers. Then in the midst of a +seething confusion, all swayed here and there along the terrace, and on +and on, till the barricaded windows and porch were reached, and then, as +they were checked by the stubborn walls as water is stopped by a pier, +they struggled fighting ever sidewise, a stream of mingled men along the +front of the house and over the broken-down boarding, till the tide of +confusion set right through the open window into the Hall. + +At first this human current was a mingling of both sides; then the +Cavalier element seemed to disappear, and as Fred watched with starting +eyes, he could see at last that it was a steady stream of their own men +which flowed through the opening. + +"They're in, Master Fred! The day's ours. Hark! Hear them firing +inside? Look! Look!" + +It was plain enough to see: from the window, whence the scaling-ladders +were thrown down, men come dropping forth sword in hand, Cavaliers +evidently, to be encountered by those of the Puritan party still +without. Then out came other Puritans, to take the Cavaliers in the +rear, as they fought together in a knot facing all round, with their +swords flashing as they made their gallant defence. + +Then a rush seemed to take place, and they were overpowered, while the +smoke came slowly rolling out from the open window, though the firing +had ceased. + +The fighting still went on within for a few minutes; then a rush as made +out from door and window, and a tremendous cheer arose, loud enough to +strike well upon the spectators' ears, helmets were seen flashing, +swords flourished in the air, and it was plain enough that resistance +had ceased, while the attacking force were gathering together once +again. + +"Smoke seems long while rolling out, Master Fred; must ha' been a deal +o' firing we did not hear." + +"Oh!" shouted Fred, as like a flash the truth came home to him. + +"What's the matter, lad? Are you hurt?" cried Samson. + +"No, no; look! The dear old Hall!" cried Fred. "Don't you see?" + +"Smoke, sir? Yes." + +"No, no, my good fellow, not smoke alone; the poor old place is on +fire." + +And without another word, Fred, followed closely by Samson, dashed down +the hill. + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +"IS THERE NOTHING WE CAN SAVE?" + +It was too true. + +Whether started by some smouldering wad, or by a piece of furniture +being driven into one of the fire-places, or, as was more probable, by +the wilful act of one of the Royalist party, who was determined that the +victors should not profit by their success, the Hall was on fire, and +the smoke, which rapidly increased in volume, showed that the danger +must be great. + +"Don't run quite so fast, Master Fred," panted Samson. "You can't keep +up at that pace. Better take it a bit more coolly." + +There was wisdom in the hurried words, and Fred slackened his speed a +little, so as to allow his follower to come alongside; and in this way, +taking in the whole proceedings as they ran, they continued their course +down the park slope, toward the lake. + +There before them in the evening glow was the fine old house, with the +dense cloud of smoke slowly rising, and shouts reached them as men were +seen running to and fro in obedience to the orders, but what those +orders were it was impossible to tell. + +In front of the building a strong body of the general's men was drawn +up, and in their midst the prisoners stood in a knot, while from time to +time horsemen came slowly in, leading other prisoners, who had evidently +been captured in efforts to escape. + +But though Fred strained his eyes eagerly, the distance kept him from +recognising any familiar faces, and a terrible sense of heart-sinking +increased as he hurried on. + +All at once the thundering of horses' hoofs was heard behind, and a +familiar voice shouted Fred's name. + +He turned to see that it was his father, who slightly checked his +powerful horse as he came up. + +"Quick! you two," he cried; "lay hold of the mane, and run." + +Fred grasped the idea in an instant, seized the horse's thick mane, and +dropped into step as the sturdy beast trotted on. But the mane was all +on Fred's side, and Samson missed his opportunity, but as the horse +passed on, he made a snatch at the tail, twisted his hand in the thick +hair, was nearly jerked off his feet, but recovered himself, and held +on, improving his position by degrees, and contriving to keep up. + +"They must have done this themselves, Fred," said Colonel Forrester, in +a deeply troubled voice. "Hah! that's right. We must save the place." + +"What are they doing, father?" + +"Our men are joining line toward the stable yard, and getting buckets, I +think. Hold on tightly." + +"I'm quite right, father," panted Fred; and he kept up till they reached +the men who surrounded the prisoners, and who burst into a cheer as the +colonel came up. + +Fred's position prevented him from seeing exactly who were numbered +among the prisoners, and at that moment the general drew rein at their +side. + +"You shouldn't have let them fire the place, Hedley," said Colonel +Forrester, in a voice full of reproach. + +"It was not our doing, man. Some of their own party started it. There +was a fire in the big dining-room. Hangings, chairs, and linen were +thrown upon it. The fire blazed up the oak panellings, and the open +windows fanned the draft." + +"We must save it. Come on." + +"We are doing everything possible, man; but the water is in a well, and +what can we do with three or four buckets?" + +"Give me a score of men to try and tear down the burning part," cried +Colonel Forrester, who had leaped from his horse, and thrown the reins +to the nearest soldier. "Here, quick! fifty of you come on." + +He was close up to the porch, from which the men were tearing down the +barricade, but the general was bending over him directly. + +"Look at me, Forrester," he said. + +The latter gazed up at him sharply, to see that his face was blackened +with smoke, and the general's lips parted to speak. + +"I stayed in yonder till I was driven out by the fire. It is not safe +to go." + +"But we must save the place," cried the colonel; and he dashed through +the opening the men had made, followed by Fred and Samson, a dozen more, +including the general, influenced by his friend's example, rushing after +them. + +They reached the Hall, but only to find that the flames were literally +rushing out of the great dining-room door, on the one side, and running +up the panelled walls, setting the beautiful ceiling ablaze, while from +the library, on the other, there was a furnace-like roar, as the flames +literally charged up the oaken staircase, whose balusters were already +glowing, and the gallery and corridor were fast flaring up as the fire +licked and darted and played about. + +"You see," said the general, as he seized the colonel's arm again, "if +we had ample water and the proper means, we could do nothing." + +Colonel Forrester groaned as he saw the fire darting up the panels, the +carved beams of fine old oak already well alight, and the various +familiar objects falling victims to the flames. Even as he gazed, with +the cool air of evening rushing in behind them through the porch, and +wafting the clouds of smoke upward to pass rapidly along the corridor as +if it were some large horizontal chimney, he saw the canvases of the old +family paintings heave and crumple up, while the faces of Sir Godfrey's +ancestors seemed to Fred to be gazing fiercely through the lurid light, +and reproaching him for helping to desolate their home. + +Frames, panelling, the oaken gallery rails, blazed up as if they had +been of resin in the tremendous heat; the stained-glass in the various +windows crackled, flew, and fell tinkling down. + +"Well," said the general, quietly, "you see, the place was fired in two +places. We can do nothing?" + +"No," groaned Colonel Forrester, as he looked wildly round. Then, in a +despairing tone, as he gripped his son's arm, "Fred, is there nothing we +can save?" + +As he spoke, a great burning fragment of the gallery balustrade fell +with a crash on to the oaken floor, the embers scattering in all +directions, the gallery floor rose in the intense heat, as if a wave +were passing through it, and as all backed involuntarily toward the +door, one of the suits of armour fell forward with a crash. + +"It would be utter madness," said General Hedley. "At least here. We +could not have stayed a minute but for the cool air rushing in behind. +If you wish to try and save anything, we must break in through the +windows from outside." + +The argument was unanswerable; and after a last wild gaze round, the +little party gave way step by step, and were literally driven out by the +tremendous heat, Fred's last look back being at the splendid staircase, +now one raging mass of fire, which was spreading upward with terrific +speed. + +As they stood outside once more, the dense clouds of smoke were pouring +through the upper windows, and directly after, from the broad casement +above the porch, where Fred had held converse with the Cavaliers in his +character of ambassador, a great billowy wave of lurid smoky flame +lapped and flapped like a fiery banner, and then floated upward into the +soft cool air. + +The afternoon had been calm and windless, but now it seemed as if a +sharp breeze was setting in toward the doomed house, fanning the flames +and making them roar, while overhead, and rapidly increasing in volume, +floated a huge cloud of smoke, spreading and spreading till it resembled +the head of a gigantic tree, whose black and purply grey foliage +brightened from time to time with a lurid glow. + +But by this time axes were at work breaking down the stout boarding from +the wide drawing-room window to the right of the porch. This great wide +window had been completely covered, as a means of defence, save that +here and there slits had been left to enable the defenders to fire on +their enemies. + +So stoutly was this work done with boards torn from stabling and barn at +the back of the house, that it took some time to clear an opening and +dash in a portion of the casement, and the fire had been gaining +strength so potent, that as the first casement was driven in a volume of +hot stifling smoke shot out, was apparently driven in by the air which +rushed toward the house, there was a dull report, and the interior, that +had been black the moment before, suddenly glowed with dull red, which +was brightened by flashes. + +Colonel Forrester was checked for the moment, as he tried to climb in, +but calling on Samson and his son to follow, he rushed on. + +Samson was second, and Fred had reached the sill, when there was a +bright flame, which illumined the smoke-filled room, and he uttered a +cry for help, and hesitated, for he had caught a glimpse of those who +had preceded him lying prone upon the floor. + +The help was quickly rendered, a dozen stalwart troopers dashing in, +half to come struggling out choking and blinded. + +What followed, Fred hardly recalled. He knew that he had leaped down to +try and drag his father out, when something seemed to seize him by the +throat, a terrible dizziness robbed him of sense, and the next thing he +comprehended was that he was lying on the grass, with a man bathing his +face, and that for a few minutes he could not speak or make out what it +all meant. + +"Better, my lad?" said a well-known voice; and he recognised the face of +the general bent down over him, and saw that the morion he wore gleamed +in the bright light cast upon it. + +"My father!" cried Fred, as his understanding grew more clear. + +"Safe. He has just recovered a little. Your servant, too. Yes; here +he is." + +"Fred, my boy," said a husky voice. "Thank Heaven! he is safe." + +"Safe? Yes, father; only a little giddy. You have escaped?" + +"Yes; they dragged us out in time. Look at the poor Hall." + +Fred turned to see that from half the windows the flames were rushing +out with a fearful violence, the centre of the old building being now a +glowing furnace, whose flames fluttered and roared and leaped, while the +wings were rapidly being eaten into by the flames. + +"And we can save nothing, Hedley," said the colonel, sadly. + +"Yes, sir, our lives. We can do no more. Pretty well that we got you +out, and that the prisoners left the place." + +Fred had risen, and was standing by the general's side, looking at him +wildly. + +"Well?" said the latter. "What are you thinking?" + +"The wounded, sir--the dead?" said Fred, huskily. + +"There were no dead. The wounded were all brought out, I feel sure. My +boy, we have done our best. Forrester, are you well enough to move?" + +"Yes; better now." + +"You see the place is doomed. It is a sad affair; but we are guiltless. +I will place the prisoners in your hands. See that they are +courteously treated, and send them off under the escort of a troop to +Barnstaple--at once. You can go and help." + +This last was to Fred, who accepted the duty eagerly, and the next +minute he was making his way with his father in the direction of the +knot of prisoners, whose armour shone in the light of the glowing pile. + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +A FRUITLESS SEARCH. + +As Colonel Forrester and his son approached the prisoners, who were +lying about on the grass in a variety of easy, careless attitudes, +gazing at the fire, which had now assumed terrible proportions, Fred +became aware of the fact that in place of being despondent, the +Cavaliers were chatting away in the most indifferent manner. + +But their conversation ceased, for from behind came a loud crashing +noise, caused by some floor falling, and a buzz of wonder and admiration +arose as the glowing windows suddenly belched forth flame, spark, and +glowing flakes of fire, in so many eddying, whirling columns, which rose +up and up to mingle and gild the lower surface of the cloud of smoke +which glowed with orange and purple and red, while sparks flashed and +glittered as they darted here and there like the flakes of a snowstorm +suddenly changed to gold. + +The scene was glorious now, for after a moment's pause, the burning wood +which had fallen formed fresh fuel to the mighty furnace within the +thick walls, and the flames rushed up with renewed violence, illumining +the scene far and near. Great sombre trees grew visible, brightened by +the wondrous glow; the lawn seemed to be cut up into paths of light, and +further away, ruddy reflections flashed from the lake; while the noble +old Hall seemed to stand out against a dark background, with every +angle, battlement, and vane clearly cut, till the smallest carving was +plainly defined. + +But for the horror of the scene, Fred could have stood and gazed with +delight at the wondrous series of changes that were taking place; the +clouds of smoke, which seemed to form vast spirals, ever turning, and +rolling over, now dull red, now bursting into light, as if from fires +therein; the eddying scintillations which crackled and exploded, and +disappeared; the ruddy tongues of flame which darted in and out as if +the long low windows were monstrous dragons' mouths, from which the +darting forks came to play over golden stony lips, and lick the mullions +and buttresses around. Then came a fresh explosion, as pent-up gases, +generated by heat, burst forth to augment the fire with hiss, crackle, +and flutter, as it seemed to gain its climax, and then sank down with a +low dull roar. + +From time to time there was a sharp tinkling, as the higher windows +cracked, broke, and fell upon the stones. Then came pouring down a +spouting torrent of silver fire, shooting right out of a stone +gargoyle-mouth as the molten lead from one part of the roof, dammed up +by other lead which had not melted, at last forced its way spattering on +to the paved terrace below. + +But after these brilliant bursts, which had enchained Fred's attention +for a time, he turned once more toward the group of prisoners, whose +loud, careless talking had begun again, and he passed between two of the +guard stationed round them in a circle, while lying outside, in a +confused heap, just as they had been thrown, were the weapons of which +the Cavaliers had been deprived. + +As Fred drew nearer, he could see that the careless attitudes of some of +the party were assumed, for in spite of the glow shed by the fire, it +was plain enough that the cheeks of several were of a deathly pallor, +and that they were suffering intense pain. One had a scarf tied tightly +round his arm; another had a broad bandage about his brow; hardly one +seemed to have escaped some injury in the desperate sally and defence. +But the aim of all was to carry their defeat with an air of the most +careless indifference--as if wounds were nothing to them, and they held +their Puritan captors in the most profound contempt. + +"Hallo!" shouted a voice Fred had before heard, "here's my fire-eating +young ambassador. Why, hang it all, sirrah! How is it you were not to +the front before? I'd rather have given up my sword to you than have +had it knocked out of my hand by the ugliest crop-eared knave I ever +met." + +Fred, the moment before, was eagerly scanning the group in search of Sir +Godfrey and his old companion; but he had searched in vain, and he was +anxiously debating within himself as to whether that meant bad news or +good. Had they escaped? and were they now safe, or--? + +He was checked by the greeting of the tall, fair Cavalier, and advanced +to him at once, the high-spirited officer continuing his bantering +speech the while. + +"Why, you heinous young rebel," he cried, "have you come to trample on +your poor prisoners now you have taken them; or are we to be shot, or +hung, or what?" + +"Don't talk to me like that, sir," said Fred, eagerly, as he paused by +where the Cavalier lay; and now he could see that his jerkin was +darkened in one spot with blood. + +"How do you want me to talk, then, eh?" + +"Sir Godfrey?--Scarlett Markham? Where are they?" + +"Escaped," said a gentleman lying by, with careless levity. "Run for +it--broken through your lines, and got clean away." + +"Not they," said the tall Cavalier, warmly. "Sir Godfrey Markham was +not the man to leave his friends in the lurch; and as for my young +friend Scarlett, he would have stood by us to the end." + +"But they are not here?" said Fred, anxiously. + +"Here, sir? No. They must be with your other prisoners." + +"Other prisoners?" faltered Fred, turning pale, as a horrible thought +assailed him, and he darted a frightened glance at the burning Hall; +"there are no other prisoners but these." + +"What!" cried the Cavalier, starting to his feet, and then turning +faint, so that he would have fallen, but for Fred's arm. "Thank you, my +lad," he said frankly; "a little weak, I suppose. Yes; I will lie +down." + +Fred helped him into a reclining position again upon the turf. + +"Tell me all you know about them, sir," said Fred, going down on one +knee to help the wounded officer. "Scarlett and I used to be great +friends. Did they escape right away?" + +The Cavalier seemed at first to be about to respond in his old careless, +bantering, half-mocking way, but as he saw the eagerness of manner, and +the anxiety in the lad's eyes, his manner changed. + +This was no ruse, he saw; no cunning trick to find out which way the +Markhams had gone, but a true honest feeling for one who had been a +friend, but was now transformed by political troubles into an enemy. + +"Shake hands," he said warmly. "I like you, boy. I'll tell you all I +know." + +Fred eagerly took the prisoner's hand, as the others looked on +curiously, their assumption of carelessness gone, and a dull look of +despair making its appearance in their eyes and at the angles of their +mouths. And as Fred took that hand, it was cold and damp, and the grip +was feeble, as its owner said slowly-- + +"Sir Godfrey Markham and I divided our little force, after drawing lots +for choice; I won the choice, and selected the task of making the sally. +It would have been too irksome to me to stay behind a barrier and wait +to be attacked. I suppose you know--your people were too strong for us, +and we were beaten back, followed by your men, till we were all together +struggling in the dining-room, from there into the hall, and then on the +great staircase. I saw Sir Godfrey and young Scarlett several times +during the struggle; then we were all pell-mell, here, there, and +everywhere, and I recollect no more." + +"But where did you see them last?" + +"I cannot say--in the drawing-room, I think." + +"Yes. What were they doing?" + +"What do you think they were likely to be doing, boy? Fighting bravely +for their king." + +There was a pause. + +"You do not think that--" + +Fred did not finish his sentence. "That they set fire to the Hall? No; +Sir Godfrey was too proud of his old home to destroy it." + +"I did not mean that," said Fred, hoarsely; "I meant--" + +"Wounded--killed?" Fred bowed his head. He could not speak, for there +was a horrible idea tugging at his brain, one which he could not shake +off. + +"Wounded? Perhaps. Killed? Heaven forbid! No; I hope and believe +that they fought to the last, and then escaped, or else, far more +likely, they are--" + +He stopped short, for the idea that troubled Fred had now been +communicated to him, and he drew in his breath with a look of horror. +Then, as if unable to control himself, he glanced sharply at the burning +building, while, giddy and weak with emotion, Fred walked slowly back, +to make his way to his father, who met him and took his arm. + +"Have you heard any news of them?" said the colonel, hoarsely. + +"No, father," half whispered Fred; and he repeated the Cavalier's words. + +Colonel Forrester glanced at the burning Hall, nearly every portion of +which had now been seized upon by the flames, and he drew a deep hissing +breath, as he whispered to himself-- + +"No, no; impossible! They must have escaped. Fred," he said aloud, +"they will not tell us if we ask--it is quite natural; so we are quite +in the dark as to how many the defenders were. There were none killed, +and I find that the wounded were all carried out. Sir Godfrey and his +son must have escaped, or if not, they will be brought in by some of the +outposts." + +Fred made no answer; he could not speak, for a terrible picture was +before his eyes--that of Sir Godfrey, wounded to the death, unable to +stir, and Scarlett trying to bear him out to safety, but only to be +overtaken and beaten down by the flames. + +He walked on by his father in silence, while the latter gazed straight +before him, thinking to himself of the past, when he and Sir Godfrey +were the fastest of friends. + +"This cruel war!" he said to himself. "Friend against friend, brother +against brother. Poor Godfrey! Poor Scarlett! So full of brave +manliness and courage. Fitting end for two brave spirits; but I feel as +if I had assisted at their death." + +But at that moment Fred made a mental effort. + +"I will not believe it," he said, with a shudder. "It is too horrible." +Then aloud, "Father, may I take something to the prisoners, and help +them? They look very bad." + +"Yes, yes; of course," said the colonel, starting as it were back to the +present. "Poor fellows! The surgeon must be with them now; but go and +do your best." + +But hard as Fred worked by the light of the burning house, he could do +little to assuage the pains, mental and bodily, of the prisoners. They +assumed a careless indifference, a good-humoured contempt for their +captors. They were Cavaliers--gentlemen who did not scruple to serve as +ordinary soldiers for the benefit of their country; and they smiled at +the rough stern men of the Puritan ranks. But deep in their hearts +there was a despairing rage at being conquered, which bit and stung, and +made them writhe more than the throbbings of their wounds. + +The refreshments Fred took to them, helped by Samson, were simple, but +most welcome; and more than one eye brightened and directed a friendly +grateful look at the lad who busied himself on the captives' behalf. + +"No; no more, my boy," said the tall, fair Cavalier, smiling at Fred, as +he pressed him to eat. "I have a wound here that throbs as if some one +were thrusting a red-hot iron through my shoulder. I suppose it is all +right, but your surgeon has not hands like some delicate lady." + +"Can I do anything?" said Fred, eagerly. "Shall I bathe the wound?" + +"No, my desperate and deadly enemy, no," said the Cavalier, smiling as +he look Fred's hand; "and look here: some of these days the war will be +over, and if you and I are not sleeping too soundly, you must come and +see me, and I'll come and see you. At present our duty is to kill each +other, or take one another prisoner. By-and-by we shall have more time. +There," he said, drawing a ring from his finger; "you wear that, and +remember that Harry Grey always feels respect and esteem for a brave +enemy, while for you--Oh, curse it! We are not enemies. God bless you, +my lad! You and Scar Markham ought to be working together as a pair." + +He turned impatiently away, laid his head upon the folded cloak, of +which Fred had made a pillow and closed his eyes, as if annoyed that he +should have seemed weak; while, after pressing the ring tightly down in +its place, Fred stood back watching the group of wounded and captive men +for a few minutes, before turning away, and then stopping short by the +little heap of swords of which they had been deprived. + +As it happened, one with a peculiarly shaped guard took his attention, +for he remembered having seen it hanging to the belt of the Cavalier he +had been tending. + +Stooping down, he was in the act of drawing it from among the others, +when the sentinel made a movement to arrest his hand. + +"Don't interfere," said Fred, sharply. "I will be answerable to Colonel +Forrester for what I have done." + +The man drew back, and stood resting upon his clumsy firelock again, +while, as the lad stood with the sword in his hand, he raised his eyes +from the hilt, and found that the Cavalier was watching him, and making +a sign to him to approach once more. + +Fred stepped to his side. + +"No," he said; "you cannot have it. You are a prisoner." + +"Of course," said the wounded man, smiling; "though if I had it, I could +not use it. I was going to say I am glad you have taken it. A capital +blade, my boy. Here, unbuckle the belt, and take it and the sheath. +Yes, I insist. That's right. Keep it, lad, and don't, if we meet +again, use it on me. No, no thanks; it is yours by right of capture. +Now I want a nap." + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +A SAD REPORT. + +The Cavalier let his head sink once more upon his pillow, and Fred went +slowly away, to go and watch the flames rising and falling as the Hall +burned rapidly, sending forth a glow of heat that could be felt far +away. + +And now that the hurry and excitement were at an end, Fred had time once +more to think of those of whose fate he was still uncertain. + +Just then a prisoner was being brought in, and he hurried to the spot, +but only to turn away disappointed, to go and gaze once more at the +burning pile, musing sadly on the times when he had passed such pleasant +hours about the place which had been to him as a second home; and +thinking, as he gazed through the open windows into the furnace within, +of the various rooms where every object was so familiar--picture, +ornament, carved cabinet, trophy--and now all turning to glowing embers. + +"Seems a pity, Master Fred, don't it?" said a voice at his elbow. + +"You here, Samson?" + +"Yes, sir; just come from round at the back." + +"Has the fire made its way there?" + +"Oh, bless you, sir, it's been creeping and rushing and leaping over +everything! Even the big tool-house and fruit-room's burned. Such a +pity. Nice lot of tools all destroyed; and, not that I want to find +fault, but a deal better set than we ever had at the Manor. Why, there +was a barrow, sir, as run that light in your hands, no matter how you +filled it, as made it a pleasure to work." + +"And all burned, Samson?" + +"All burned into ashes, sir. I never could understand it, but it always +did seem hard as a man like brother Nat should have such a barrow as +that, while I had one as I was ashamed of." + +"We must get to the wilderness to-night, Samson, somehow." + +"Oh, he won't hurt, sir," said Samson, roughly. "He's right enough; but +I've got a bottle o' cider, and three bread-cakes, and half a roast fowl +to take with us when we go." + +"That's right," said Fred, smiling in spite of himself; but only to turn +serious as an agonising thought shot through him, for a portion of the +roof of the Hall fell just then, and a whirlwind of sparks sprang into +the evening sky. + +"Have you heard any news, Samson?" whispered Fred. + +"News, sir?" + +"Of Sir Godfrey and Scarlett?" + +Samson stood gazing straight at the fire, his eyes half shut, and his +forehead a maze of puckers and wrinkles, and he seemed not to have heard +in the intentness of his watching the progress of the fire. + +"Do you hear what I say?" reiterated Fred. "Is there any news of Sir +Godfrey and Scarlett?" + +"Yes, I hear what you say, sir." + +"Then why don't you speak?" + +"'Cause I haven't nothing good to say." + +"Oh, Samson, there is no bad news?" + +"No, sir; there's no bad news at all." + +"Then what do you mean? What have you heard?" + +"Don't, don't ask me, my lad." + +"But I do ask you, and I will know." + +"I only know what the men think, and of course that may mean nothing." + +"What do they think?" + +"Now, look ye here, Master Fred," cried Samson, appealingly, "what's the +good of your bullying me into saying things which will only make you +cross with me, and call me a thundering idiot, or some other pretty +thing like that?" + +"But anything's better than suspense, and I want to know the worst." + +"Well, then, you can't," said Samson, gruffly. "There aren't no worse, +because it's all guessing." + +"Well, then, what do they guess?" + +"Now, look ye here, Master Fred--is it fair to make me tell you, and put +you in a passion; and you a-standing there with a sword by your side, +and another in your hand?" + +"Speak, sir--speak!" + +"Very well, sir; here goes. And if you fly in a passion, and do +anything rash to me, it will only be another triumph for my brother +Nat." + +"Will you speak, sir?" + +"Yes, I'm going to, sir; but one must make a beginning. Well, then, +Master Fred, it's only hearsay, and you know what hearsay is. Some one +heard one of the prisoners say that he saw Sir Godfrey go down wounded, +and young Master Scarlett jump across him, fighting like a madman; and +then people were driven all sorts of ways, but not before there was a +regular burst of fire sweeping along; and they think that Sir Godfrey +and poor Master Scarlett was overtaken by the flames. Master Fred! +Master Fred! don't take on like that. It's only what they say, you +know, dear lad, and it may be all wrong." + +The rough fellow laid his hand upon his master's arm, as Fred turned +away. + +"But it's what I fear--it's what I fear," he groaned. "And my father +thinks the same; I know he does. Oh, Samson, how horrible! how +horrible! If I only knew who fired the place!" + +"Oh, I know that, sir," said Samson. "One of the prisoners boasted +about it--not one of the gentleman Cavaliers, but one of the rough +fellows like me. He says he set the place a-fire in two places, when he +saw the game was up; and he said that it was so as we shouldn't have +comfortable quarters--a mean hound!" + +"Poor Scar! poor old Scar!" groaned Fred, walking slowly away, to try +and get somewhere alone with his sorrow, as he thought of his brave, +manly young friend. + +He walked on till he was right away down by one of the clumps of trees +at the west end of the lake; and as he groaned again he started, for he +thought he was alone, but Samson had followed him softly. + +"Don't 'ee take on, Master Fred, lad. Be a man. I feel as if I should +like to sit down and blubber like a big calf taken away from its mother, +but it won't do, lad, it won't do; we're soldiers now. But if I could +have my way, I'd just get them all together as started this here war, +and make 'em fight it out themselves till there wasn't one left, and +then I'd enjoy myself." + +"Don't talk of enjoyment. Samson, my lad." + +"But I must, for I just would. I'd go and get the sharpest spade I +could find, and take off my jerkin, and bury what was left of 'em, and +that would be the finest thing that could happen for old England." + +"Nonsense, man! You don't understand these things," said Fred, sadly. + +"And I don't want to, sir. What I understand is that instead of +fighting the French, or the Spaniards, or any other barbarous enemies, +we're all fighting against one another like savages; and there's the +beautiful old Hall burning down to the ground like a beacon fire on a +hill, and who knows but what it may be our turn next?" + +"What, at the Manor, Samson?" + +"Yes, sir. Why not?" + +"Heaven forbid, man! Heaven forbid!" + +"And I say `Amen,' sir. But come back to camp, and let's get you a bit +of something to eat; and, I say, sir, you did give my hand a deep cut. +Think that new sword you've got's as sharp as the one I whetted for +you?" + +"I don't know, Samson," said Fred, drearily. "I hate the very name of +sword." + +"And so do I, sir, proud as I was the first day I buckled mine on. I +aren't much of a smith, but I can blow the bellows like hooray, and when +the time comes, as it says in the Bible, I'll make the fire roar while +some one hammers all the swords and spears into plough-shares and +pruning-hooks, and cuts all the gun-barrels up into pipes. That's +right, sir; come along." + +Fred said no more, but, with their shadows darkly shown upon the +trampled grass, the pair walked back to camp. + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +NAT IS LOST. + +"Have I been to sleep, Samson?" + +"Yes, sir, sound as a top. You dropped off after you had that bread and +cider." + +"And the Hall?--is it still burning?" + +"Yes, sir; a regular steady fire down at the bottom, with the walls +standing up all round." + +"And the prisoners?" + +"All gone, sir. They packed 'em off to the west'ard in a couple of +waggons, and a troop of our men as escorts. Fine fellows, sir, all but +that one as fired the Hall. I couldn't help being sorry to see how +wounded and helpless they were. But how they carried it off, laughing +and talking there till they'd been seen to, and were tired and got +stiff! Then it began to tell on 'em, and they had to be lifted into the +waggons and laid on the straw almost to a man." + +"I hope they'll all recover," said Fred, sadly. + +"So do I, sir, even if we have to fight 'em again. But we shall see no +more of the poor lads for a long time, unless some of their party +rescues them, cures them, and the game begins over again. Feel ready, +sir?" + +"Ready?" + +"Yes; it's about twelve o'clock, and I thought you might like to come +and help me bully that ugly brother of mine." + +"Why, Samson," said Fred, with a sad smile, "every one says you two are +so like." + +"So we are, sir, to look at," replied Samson, grinning; "but I never +said I was good-looking, did I?" + +"Yes, I'm ready," said Fred, rising from his heather couch. "Oh, how +stiff and cold I am!" + +"You've just wakened; that's why. You'll be as fresh as fresh soon. +Come along, sir, and we'll give that rascal such a bullying." + +"With care and chicken," said Fred, with a miserable attempt at being +jocose. + +"Now, don't I keep telling you it's only to make him strong, so as he +can feel it all the sharper when I give him the big beating I've +promised him? Come along, sir." + +Fred made a few inquiries as to the state of affairs; learned that the +camp was quite at rest, and that he was not likely to be called on duty, +and then, with a terrible depression of spirits, increasing at every +step, he walked on beside Samson on as dark a night as he could recall. + +"Dark, sir?" said the ex-gardener, in response to a remark. "Well, yes, +sir, it is; but it don't make any difference to us. We could find our +way where we are going with our eyes shut." + +The darkness was not their only difficulty: they had to avoid the +sentinels again, and neither could say for certain whether any changes +had been made. + +Still, both had been on moorland, over bog, and through the deepest +woods in the dark on trapping expeditions times enough. They had even +been in the darkness on the dangerous cliff slopes again and again, so +that they had no hesitation in going rapidly on till the lake had been +skirted and the wilderness reached, without their being challenged. +Then the dense undergrowth was entered, and they stood listening for a +few moments. + +There were distant sounds--the snort of a horse where it was picketed, a +low humming as if some sentry were cheering his dreary watch by +recollections of an old west-country ditty, and then from a little +distance there was the half-hissing, half-grating cry of a white owl, as +it flapped along upon its downy, silent pinions, while, through the +trees at the edge of the wood, there was a dull red light, which showed +where the embers of the great oaken beams of the Hall sent forth their +dying glow. + +"Let's go on," whispered Fred, just as something came gliding along the +edge of the wilderness, and as they moved it uttered a piercing screech, +turned, and swept away. + +"Ugh!" ejaculated Samson; but Fred's hand was upon his lips, and they +stood close together with throbbing hearts, wondering whether the two +cries would alarm the nearest sentinel. + +But they heard nothing, and as silently as possible stole in among the +trees, it being impossible to make any selection of route. + +"How them owls do chill one, like, in a unked place like this! 'Member +that one as come out of the wood shed as we went in last winter? Always +scares me." + +"I dare say it scares them more than it does us," whispered back Fred. +"Now don't speak." + +"Right, sir." + +Fred led on, moving more by instinct than sight, and seeming to feel +which was the way to the spot where they had left the injured man; but +it was a long and arduous task, and not till after he had gone astray +three times did he pause in perplexity. + +"If I could get any idea of where the Hall lay, perhaps I could find +him," whispered Fred; "but we have turned about so, that I don't know +which way we are looking now." + +"More don't I, sir; for aught I know we might be somewhere hundreds of +miles away. It's so plaguey dark." + +"Look! Isn't that the reflection of the fire?" + +"No, sir; there's nothing there. Ah, look there!" + +A dull low sound fell upon their ears, and simultaneously there was a +flash of light in quite a different direction to that in which they had +been straining their eyes. + +"What's that, sir?" + +"Some part of the Hall fallen in." + +"And made the fire flash up just as it does when you're burning rubbish. +That's right, sir." + +"Yes; and I can find it now," whispered Fred. + +The struggle through the undergrowth was resumed, every step having to +be taken with the greatest caution; and at last, after making endless +diversions to avoid tree-trunks and masses of tangled growth that they +could not force their way through, Fred stopped short. + +"What is it, sir?" + +"This is the place." + +"No, sir, I don't think it is." + +"Yes; I can tell by the touch. I am close up to the fallen tree. +There, I can feel the touchwood. Be quiet. Hist! Nat! Nat!" + +There was no reply, and after a pause, Fred called again, as loudly as +he dared. + +"No, sir; I thought it wasn't," said Samson, softly. "It's further up." + +"Be silent, man," said Fred, impatiently. "I am sure we are right. It +may be a little to the left or a little to the right, but its close +here." + +He called again and again softly, but without result. + +"Let me try, Master Fred, as you are so sure." + +Fred gave his consent, whispering to his companion to be careful. + +"Nobody won't take any notice of what I do, Master Fred," whispered +Samson. "I'll give him an old cry we used to have on the moor, when we +were boys;" and directly after, sounding distant and strange, and as if +it could not possibly have been given by his companion, there rang out a +peculiar low piping whistle, followed by a short jerky note or two. + +"That's oyster-catcher, Master Fred, as you well know. If he hears that +he'll answer and know it's friends--I mean enemies." + +Fred made no reply to his follower's paradoxical speech, but listened +intently. + +"Again," he said, after a time; and the cry rang out, to be followed by +a dull thud as of footsteps, and a clink of steel against steel. + +Fred felt his arm grasped, and Samson's hot breath in his ear. + +"Keep quiet. There's a sentry close by, and they're going the rounds." + +The dull sound of footsteps died away, and not till then did Samson +venture upon another call, that proved to be as unavailing as those +which had preceded it. + +"P'raps he's asleep," said Samson, softly; "but that ought to have +roused him." + +Fred drew a long breath, as in imagination he saw the poor wounded +fellow lying there in the dark and cold; and as a chilly perspiration +bedewed his face, he felt a horrible feeling of reproach for not having +given notice of an injured man lying in the wood. For he told himself, +and the thought gathered strength, that perhaps they had come too late. + +For a few minutes he could not speak, and when he did, his heart was +beating heavily, as he whispered-- + +"Samson, do you think--?" + +He could not finish the terrible sentence, one which his companion +misconstrued. + +"Of course I do, sir. I told you so. This aren't the place, I'm sure." + +"It is! it is!" said Fred, with passionate energy, "Here, I am touching +the old tree; and, yes--I know. Here is the place where he must be +lying." + +"Very well, then, sir, stoop down and lay hold of his leg gently, and +give it a pull. Be on the look-out, for he can be very nasty at being +woke up. Maybe he'll kick out. He used to when we were boys." + +Fred felt dizzy as he listened to his companion's careless utterance, +and he asked himself whether he should tell him what he thought. Twice +over he was on the point of speaking, but he clung to the hope that his +ideas might be only fancy, and he stood there turning icily cold. + +The idea seemed so terrible--to stoop down there in that utter darkness +and touch the form of the poor fellow who had been left in despair and +loneliness to die, untended and without a soul to whom he could say a +farewell word. No; he could not do it, and he felt as if he must turn +and rush out of the wood. + +"Feel him, Master Fred?" whispered Samson. + +Again the sensation of cold and dread came over Fred, and he was about +to yield to it and hurry away, when his determination mastered, and, +setting his teeth fast, he bent down, went upon hands and knees, and +felt on before him, letting his hand sink slowly so as to reverently +touch him who he felt must be lying dead. + +"Well, sir--got him?" + +"No!" whispered Fred, hoarsely, as his hand touched the twigs and +leaves. + +"Try again, sir." + +Fred crept on, and again stretched out his hand. + +"Now you have him, sir?" + +"No," said Fred, with a throb of excitement sending a thrill through +him; "he is not here." + +"There, what did I tell you!" said Samson, in a satisfied tone. "You +would be so obstinate. This aren't the place." + +"But it is," whispered Fred. "I can feel where he laid. The twigs are +all levelled down." + +"Nonsense, sir!" + +"I tell you I am right; it's the hole he made for himself. This is the +place, and--Hah!" + +"Got him?" + +"No; but here is your jerkin that you left to cover him." + +"Then you are right, sir. Well, feel about more." + +"I cannot get any further. This is the place, and he has either been +found, or he has crept away, and--Yes, that's it; he hasn't had strength +to creep back." + +"Then we must call again." + +"Yes." + +Samson repeated his cry, over and over again, without result, and then, +Fred having rejoined him, they stood listening. + +"We cannot find him to-night, Samson." + +"No, sir. Well, it doesn't much matter. He's ever so much better, or +he wouldn't have gone out for a walk. Here, let's sit down and eat this +here bread and chicken, and drink the cider, sir. I feel as if I hadn't +had anything for a week, and the food has been bumping about my lips and +asking to go in ever since we started. I'm glad now I brought it, but +I've been sorry I was so stupid all along." + +"Do you think we could find him if we searched?" said Fred, ignoring his +companion's remark about the food. + +"Sure we couldn't, sir, without a lanthorn; and if we had one we +durstn't use it. Let's set down and have a bite." + +"No, no. Look here! If he has crept away, he is sleeping somewhere not +far off, and he is sure to come back. Give me the food, and I'll lay it +in there ready for him. He'll find it when it's light." + +"Put it there, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"But the slugs and snails and beetles and things 'll come and eat it all +before morning. Don't let's waste good food, sir, like that." + +"Do as I bid you, sir. Give me the food." + +Samson sighed and obeyed. The bread and fowl were placed with the +bottle on the jerkin at the far end of the little tunnel where Nat had +lain, and Fred backed out. + +"Come," he said laconically. + +Samson grunted dismally, and followed his leader; and after they had +struggled out of the wilderness, they made their way back to camp +without any further check than a challenge or two, the password enabling +them to reach the tent not long before morning dawned. + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +BAITING A TRAP. + +"Yes, my boy; sad, sad indeed," said Colonel Forrester. "I would have +given anything to have prevented it." + +Father and son were walking round the ruins of the Hall, which were +still too heated to allow of approach, while from the heap of _debris_ +within a thin filmy smoke arose. + +"Do you think there is any hope, father?" said Fred, after a long pause. + +Colonel Forrester looked at him quickly. + +"I mean of Sir Godfrey and poor Scar being alive?" + +Colonel Forrester did not reply, but turned away with his brow full of +deep furrows; and feeling as if everything like happiness was at an end, +Fred turned away from the scene of desolation, and walked up toward the +little camp on the hill, wondering how it would be possible to convey +the terrible tidings to the two who must be suffering a very martyrdom +of anxiety at the Manor. + +"I could not do it. I dare not," muttered Fred. "And besides, it is +too soon. There may be hope." + +But as he said those last words to himself, he pictured the wounded +father defended by his son, and then the rushing flames, and he groaned +in spirit as he felt how hopeless it all seemed. + +"Heard all the news, Master Fred, I s'pose?" + +Fred started, for he had not heard the approach of Samson. + +"No; I have heard nothing. I have been with my father at the ruins." + +"I was there at 'bout six o'clock, sir. Couldn't have thought the old +place would have burnt so fast." + +"But you said news, Samson?" cried Fred, eagerly. "Not news of them?" + +"No, sir; not news of them," replied Samson, sadly. "News of our +stopping here for the present." + +"No." + +"Well, sir, I hear that's to be it, unless a stronger party comes and +drives us away. Seems to me as we're like the little ones playing king +o' the castle; and no sooner is one up a-top than another comes and +pushes him down. But, Master Fred; had your breakfast, haven't you?" + +"Yes," said Fred, whose thoughts were at the ruins. + +"So have I, sir. Well, look here, sir; I want to see whether the slugs +and snails have been at that there food in the wood. What do you say to +going to see?" + +"We cannot go till night, Samson," said Fred, sadly. + +"Yes, we can, sir. Look here; I'll cut a couple o' long willows, and +get some worms in the Hall garden, and I dare say I can find a basket. +Then let's you and me go careless like to the far end of the lake, just +as if we were going to try for a fish or two, and nobody will notice us +then. Once we are there, we can creep up through the bushes to the +wilderness, and get that bit o' food." + +"And see if your brother is better?" + +"Nay, nay; I'm not going to take all that trouble 'bout such a fellow as +him, sir. 'Tis 'bout that food I'm thinking. Shall we go, sir?" + +"Yes, Samson, yes; and look here: don't try to deceive me like this, +because it will not do." + +"Oh well, it never was no use to argue with you, sir, when you was a +schoolboy. Now you're a young officer, you're harder still. There, I'm +not going to say any more; but is it likely I should do all this 'bout +an enemy, unless it was to make him a prisoner? There, I'm off to get +them rods and worms." + +Samson went across to the Hall garden, and shortly afterwards reappeared +with a pot and basket. + +"We can get the two rods somewhere down by the lake," he said; and one +of the sentinels as he stood, firelock in hand, smiled grimly, and +thought of how he would like to leave his monotonous task, and go down +to the lake side to fish, after the fashion he had so loved when a boy. + +This man watched them right to the edge of the water, where he saw +Samson select and cut two long willow rods, and strip them clean of leaf +and twig before shouldering them, and marching on beside his master. + +"It's well to be them," grumbled the man, "for who knows whether in +these days of bloodshed a lad may ever have a chance to fish again?" + +He shouldered his firelock, and continued his slow tramp to and fro, +looking out for the enemy, but more often turning his gaze toward his +fishing friends. + +"Bring the hooks and lines, Master Fred?" said Samson, as they went on +toward the west end of the lake. + +"Hooks and lines? No." + +"Well, sir, we can't fish without lines. Didn't I tell you to get 'em +while I got the worms?" + +"No." + +"Well, now, that's strange. But I did mean to, sir. What are we to do? +Go back?" + +"No, no! Don't let's waste time." + +"But we can't catch no fish without a hook." + +"We don't want to catch any fish." + +"But we want people to think we do." + +"Yes; and if they see us with rods down by the water, they will think +so." + +"More stoopids they, sir. I needn't carry this here ugly pot o' worms +and the basket, then, no longer, sir?" + +"Yes, you must. Don't throw them away. We had better keep up the look +of being fishermen." + +"Very well, sir; just as you like. But I say, Master Fred, what's the +good of all this? Don't let's go." + +"Not go?" + +"I don't see why we should take the trouble to go and look after a +fellow like Nat. He never was any credit to me, and he never will be. +Like as not, if he gets better, he'll give me a topper." + +"Come along, and hold your tongue, Samson. Do you suppose I can't see +through you?" + +"Yes, I do, sir," said Samson, with a chuckle. "Chap did try to make a +hole through me just after we turned soldiers, but it's all grown up +again. I say, Master Fred, though, ser'us--think Nat is alive?" + +"Yes, of course, poor fellow! No, don't hurry now. Some one may be +watching us. Let's pretend to be picking out a good place." + +"Poor fellow!" grumbled Samson, as he obeyed, and began holding +overhanging boughs aside and leaning over the water. "Don't suppose +you'd say, `Poor fellow!' if I was to be lying wounded there, Master +Fred." + +"No, of course not," said Fred, angrily; "I should say I was very glad +to get rid of you, and I wouldn't stir a step to bring you bread or +water or anything." + +Samson stopped short, and burst into a roar of laughter. + +"What's the matter, now?" cried Fred, wonderingly. + +"Oh, you can tell 'em when you like, sir," cried Samson. "Haw, haw, +haw! No, no, no; you won't get me to believe that. But let's get on, +sir; we're 'bout out o' sight of the sentries. No; there's one looking +at us over the hill. Let's sit down just yonder, and seem to begin." + +A glance casually taken showed the wisdom of this proceeding, and one +chose a spot by a tree, the other went twenty yards further toward the +wood, and they began to go through the motions of people fishing, +changing their places from time to time, Samson passing right on beyond +Fred, and the latter after a few minutes going on past Samson, till they +were well in among the trees, and not far from the steep rocky bank +where the passage came down to the lake. + +For the first time since the discovery, Fred went on without recalling +that day when they drained the place, for he was too eager to go in +search of Nat, who must be, he felt sure, lying somewhere in the wood, +weak and suffering, and praying for their help. + +"Now," said Samson, at last, "let's carry our rods a little way in and +hide 'em with the basket, ready for us when we've done. I may pitch the +pot o' worms away now, sir, mayn't I?" + +"No, no; put them with the basket. There, in that bush--that's the +place." + +The rods were thrust in amongst the thick undergrowth, and then Fred +took a final look round, seeing nothing, and then leading the way, +easily enough now by day, for the displaced twigs showed to their +practised eyes where they had passed before. + +But even now it was no easy task to achieve before they came to the +fallen oak, with its two mighty trunks, the one living, the other dead. + +Then they stopped--startled; for there was a loud rustling, the leaves +and twigs were forced apart, and for the moment they felt that they were +discovered. + +"Only a rabbit," said Samson, coolly, as the sound died away. "What a +noise them little chaps can make, Master Fred! Go along." + +"No, no; stop," cried Fred. + +"It was only a rabbit, sir." + +"Yes, I know; but don't you see?" + +"See what, sir?" + +"If there have been rabbits here, it's a sure sign that Nat is not in +his hiding-place." + +"Yes; I didn't think of that," said Samson, taking off his steel cap to +give his head a scratch. "Never mind, sir; go on. He may have been +back and gone out for a walk. It's just like him; being as awk'ard and +contrary as can be." + +Fred hesitated a moment or two, and then, feeling depressed and +disappointed, thinking that the poor faithful follower of the Markhams +was sharing their misfortunes, and perhaps lying dead hidden among the +bushes, he took a step or two further on, pressed the twigs aside, and +peered into the verdant tunnel Nat had made his temporary home. + +"He is not here," he said sadly, as he crept in. + +"Nor yet been there, sir?" + +"No! Yes," cried Fred, changing his tone from one full of despondency +to the very reverse. "He has been here, Samson. The food is all gone." + +"Don't shout, sir. We may be heard. But that don't prove nothing. +Rabbits and rats and field mice and all sorts of things may have been +and eaten it. Cake and chicken! What waste! I might as well have +eaten it myself," he muttered. Then, once more aloud, "We may as well +drink what's in the bottle, sir." + +"But it's gone, Samson," cried Fred, from the end of the tunnel. + +"Gone, sir? The rabbits couldn't have--" + +"And your jerkin is gone, too." + +"Hooray! Then the poor old--" + +Samson checked his jubilant speech before it was half ended, and +continued, in a grumbling tone-- + +"That's just like Nat I told you how awk'ard he could be." + +Fred came struggling back out of the verdant tunnel, and rose to his +feet. Then, looking round, he said-- + +"We must try and follow his track, Samson. Which way is he likely to +move--" + +He, too, stopped short, staring wildly before him; and then he caught +Samson's arm, unable to speak, so sudden was the hope which had flashed +in upon his brain. + +"See him, sir?" whispered Samson, as he stood gazing in a startled +fashion in the same direction. "Oh, Master Fred, sir," he burst out, +"don't, don't say the poor lad's dead. Nat, Nat, old chap, not without +one good-bye grip of the hand." + +"No, no, no," gasped Fred, half dragging his companion back. + +"Not dead, sir?" panted Samson. + +"No, no, no!" + +"And you couldn't see him, sir?" + +"No." + +"Then what do you mean by serving a fellow like that?" muttered Samson +to himself. "I didn't think I could make such a fool of myself--about +an enemy, too." + +"Samson," whispered Fred, excitedly, "can I trust you?" + +"No, sir. 'Tarn't likely," growled the man, morosely. "I'm sartain to +go and tell tales everywhere, and blab it all out, whatever it is." + +"No, no; I don't believe you, lad. You always were true as steel, +Samson." + +"Master Fred, lad, I'd die for you!" half sobbed Samson, with his face +working; and he clung now to the hand extended to him. "But do, do +speak, sir. Poor Nat aren't dead?" + +"No, no! How could I have been such an idiot!" + +"Such a what, sir? Here, who says so?" cried Samson, truculently. + +"I can't think how it was I never thought of it before." + +"Here, sir, 'pon my head, I don't know which hole you're coming out of. +What do you mean?" + +"They're alive, Samson; they're alive!" + +"_He's_ alive, sir--_he's_ alive, you mean." + +"No; I mean they must be alive." + +"But there never was but one Nat, sir; and that was quite enough." + +"You don't understand me, man." + +"No, sir, and nobody else could, talking like that." + +"No, of course not. That's why I said could I trust you. Scar and Sir +Godfrey and Nat must be all safe." + +"Do you know what you are talking about, sir, or are you a bit off your +head?" + +"I'm as clear-headed as you are, man. Look there!" + +"Yes, sir, I'm a-looking, and there's a heap o' sere 'ood with a bit of +a hole in it." + +"Yes; some one has been through there." + +"What, do you think he has made himself another hole?" + +"Yes, Samson." + +Fred gave a quick, excited look round, but they were alone in the patch +of forest. + +"Yes, sir, I'm a-listening." + +"There's a secret passage leads from there right up to the Hall." + +"Secret grandmother, sir!" + +"There is, I tell you," cried Fred, with his voice trembling from +excitement. "Scar and I found it one day, and traced it right to the +edge of the lake." + +"Not gammoning me, are you, sir?" + +"No, no, Samson." + +"You didn't dream all this?" + +"No, I tell you. We found it by accident, and when we were looking for +the end we found that hole where that fallen tree had broken a way into +the passage. We piled up all those branches to hide the place." + +"Well, you stun me, Master Fred. And you think our Nat heard 'em there, +and has gone to jine 'em?" + +"He found them, or they found him. Hist!" + +Fred crept close to the heap of dead wood, a portion of which, +sufficient for a man to creep through, had been removed, and pressing as +far in as he could, he made a trumpet of his hands and cried softly-- + +"Any one there?" + +Samson had followed close to him, and he listened to his master's voice +as it seemed to go in a hollow whisper echoing along under the earth. + +"Well, it do stun me," he said, taking off his morion for a fresh +scratch. + +"Is any one there?" cried Fred again, as loudly as he dared; and there +was no response. "Scar! Nat! Sir Godfrey!" he cried again; and after +pausing to listen each time for a reply which did not come, he turned at +last to encounter Samson's dubious face. + +"Hope you're right, sir!" he said. + +"Yes, man, certain. You see? You can hear?" + +"Yes, sir, I can hear; and I suppose there's a sort of drain there." + +"Drain, man? I tell you it's a secret passage." + +"Maybe, sir; but that don't prove they are hiding in it." + +"But they must be," cried Fred, excitedly. "Scar knew of it. They were +cut off by the fire. They took refuge there, and I am sure they are +hiding now; and, thank Heaven, safe." + +"Well, sir, they're all mortal enemies, but I'm so glad to hear it that +I say _Amen_ with all my heart; but is it true?" + +"Oh, yes, I am sure; it's true enough!" cried Fred, with his eyes full +of the joy he felt. "Samson, I don't know how to contain myself--how to +be thankful enough! Poor old Scar! I should never have felt happy +again." + +Samson's iron pot-like cap was tilted off again, and he scratched his +head on the other side as he looked at Fred with a quaint smile upon his +countenance. + +"Well, sir, all this here puzzles me. It do--it do really. These here +are our enemies, and we've been taught to smite 'em hip and thigh; and +because we find they're living, instead of dead, here's you ready to +jump out of your skin, and me feeling as if I could shake hands with old +Nat. Of course I wouldn't; you see, I couldn't do it. Indeed, if he +was here I should hit him, but I feel as if I should shake hands all the +same." + +"What will be best to do, Samson?" + +"Do, sir? If you're right, get off as soon as we can." + +"And them wanting our help." + +"Tchah! They don't want our help. They want us to be out of their way. +If they come and catch us here, sir, how do we know but what they may +turn savage, and try to serve us out?" + +"Samson, you are talking nonsense," said Fred, angrily; and he ran to +the hole again and called aloud the names of those he believed to be in +hiding, his words echoing and whispering along the dark passage, till +Samson made him jump by touching him on the shoulder just as he was +listening vainly for a reply. + +"Don't do that, sir." + +"Why not?" + +"If that there passage goes right up to the Hall, the men yonder by the +ruins on dooty will hear you hollering and find out all about it." + +Fred started away as if he had been stung. + +"You are right, Samson," he said; "I did not think of that." + +"You didn't, sir?" + +"No." + +"Then that shows you that I am not so stoopid as you tell me I am +sometimes." + +"Oh, but I don't always mean it." + +"Then you shouldn't say it, sir. Well, hadn't we better get back now?" + +"But I want to make perfectly sure that they are hiding there, Samson, +my good fellow; and how can we find out without waiting and watching?" + +"Oh, I can soon do that for you, sir." + +"How?" + +"Set a trap." + +"What?" + +"Set a trap, and bait it same as you would for a fox, or a polecat, or +one of them big hawks we see on the moor." + +"I don't understand you. Pray do speak out. What trap could we set?" + +"Oh, I'll soon show you that, sir. Here's the bait for it." + +Samson opened his wallet, and drew therefrom a round flat cake, which +had been cut open; and as he held it on his hand he raised the top, +treating it as if it were the lid of a box, and grinned at Fred as he +showed him within four slices of boiled salt pork. + +"There, sir," he said, as he shut the top down again, "there's a bait +for a trap as would catch any hungry man." + +"Yes; but what are you going to do?" + +"I'll show you, sir. I'm just going to hang that inside yonder hole; +and if my brother Nat's there he'll smell it half a mile away, and come +and take it. I know him like a lesson. We'll leave it there, go away, +and come back again; and if the cake's gone we know they are there." + +"We shall know some one is there," Fred said thoughtfully. "Yes, we +shall know that Scar is there," he added with more show of animation, +"for no one but us two know of the existence of that hole. He must have +come out and found your brother." + +"Shall I bait the trap, then, sir?" said Samson. + +"Yes, of course." + +"Ah," said Samson, placing the cake in a fork of one of the dead +branches right in the hole, "you often laugh at me, sir, for bringing a +bit o' food with me, but now you see the good of it. There!" + +He drew back to look admiringly at his work. + +"That'll catch him, sir," he said. + +"Yes, they'll see that," cried Fred, eagerly. "Now let's get back to +the lake, and fish for an hour." + +"But we aren't got no lines, sir." + +"Never mind; we must pretend, in case we are watched. Come along +quickly." + +Fred spoke in a low excited whisper, just as if he had helped in the +setting of a gin for some wild creature; and as he hurried Samson back +toward the lake he turned once, full of exultation, and shook his +follower warmly by the hand. + +"What's that there for?" said Samson, feigning ignorance, but with his +eyes sparkling and his face bright with satisfaction. + +"Because I feel so happy," cried Fred. "It's a long time since I have +felt so satisfied as I do now." + +"Ah, I gets puzzleder and puzzleder," said Samson, grimly, "more than +ever I was. I never knowd why we all began fighting, and you don't make +it a bit clearer, Master Fred. I believe you're a reg'lar sham, sir, +pretendin' that Master Scar's your enemy, and all the time you seem as +if you'd go through fire and water to help him. Why, we shall be having +your father and Sir Godfrey shaking hands and dining together just as +they did in the old times." + +"And you and Nat quarrelling good-temperedly again as to which is the +best cider, that at the Manor or theirs at the Hall." + +"No, Master Fred; that's going a little too far, sir. Eh? What say?" + +"Look here; I'll show you where the proper entrance to the passage is. +That hole, as I told you, was only broken through." + +Fred turned off a little, and made his way down to the edge of the lake +by the rocky bank where the birches drooped down till their delicate +leaves nearly dipped in the water; and as they hung over, after a +careful look round, Fred pointed out the opening. + +"What! that little bit of a hole, sir?" + +"That's where Scarlett kicked out a stone or two. The whole of the rest +of the arch is built up." + +"Well, sir, I s'pose it's true, as you tell me it is," said Samson, +thoughtfully; "but if anybody had told me all this without showing me +the place, I should have said, `Thank ye; now see if you can tell a +bigger story.'" + +"You know now it's true," said Fred, thoughtfully. "And look here," he +continued, after he had related in full how he and Scarlett discovered +the place, "let's go up to the Hall, and see if there is any sign of the +opening there. Think the ruins will be cool?" + +"No, sir, nor yet for another week. Why, some of the men was roasting +meat in the hot embers, and cooking bread there this morning." + +"Never mind. I had not the heart to go there when I woke. I am eager +to see everything now, and I tremble for fear that the way may have been +laid open. Come along." + +Samson followed, nothing loth, the rods and basket being forgotten, and +they made their way round by the edge of the lake on the side nearest to +the Hall, Fred having hard work to keep from gazing back at the patch of +the old forest which concealed the passage where he felt certain now his +friends--he mentally corrected himself--his enemies, must lie. + +A sad feeling came over the lad, though, once more, as he led the way +through the hazel wood, where Sir Godfrey had had endless paths cut, +every one of which was carpeted with moss; for there were the marks of +hoofs, hazel stubs had been wantonly cut down, and the nearer they drew +to the ruined Hall, the more frequent were the traces of destruction, +while, when at last they came from the shrubbery and stood in full view +of the place, the picture of desolation was so painful that Fred stood +still, and his eyes felt dim. + +"Poor Lady Markham! poor little Lil!" he said in a low voice. "What +will they say?" + +"Yes, and your mother, Master Fred, sir; she'll be terribly cut up too." + +"Well, Fred, my lad," said a grave voice, "have you, too, come to see?" + +Fred started round, to find that his father was leaning against one of +the fine old beeches with his arms folded, gazing at the still smoking +ruins. + +He did not wait to be answered, but sighed deeply, and walked slowly +away. + +"Don't he know?" whispered Samson. + +Fred shook his head, and stood gazing after his father till his follower +touched his sleeve. + +"Aren't you going to tell him, Master Fred?" + +"I was wondering whether I ought." + +"So was I, sir; and you oughtn't." + +"You think that?" + +"Yes, sir. If you tell him, he'll feel it's his duty to send in search +of them, and make 'em prisoners." + +"Yes," said Fred, thoughtfully. + +"And that's just what we want done, of course, Master Fred; only they +ought to be our prisoners, and we want to do just what we like about +'em, not be enterfered with--eh?" + +"Don't talk to me, please," said Fred, as he watched his father go where +his horse was being held, and saw him mount and ride thoughtfully away. + +"Now, Samson, quick! and don't point or seem to be taking any particular +notice." + +"I understand, sir." + +"Let us look as if we were walking round just out of curiosity, and do +nothing to excite the attention of any sentinel who may have us under +his eye." + +Fred led the way, and Samson followed, as he walked completely round the +ruins of the old building, apparently indifferent, but taking in +everything with the most intense eagerness. But, look as he would, he +could see no trace of any opening in the skeleton of the fine old Hall. +Every vestige of roof had gone, and in its fall parti-walls had been +toppled over, and where they still stood it was in such a chaos of ruins +that the eye soon grew confused. + +As to finding the entrance to the passage, that was impossible. It was +easy enough to trace the entrance hall, but the carven beams of the roof +had entirely gone, and there was not the slightest trace visible of the +grand staircase or the corridor which ran to right and left. +Smouldering ashes, calcined stone, and here and there the projecting +charred stump of some beam; but no sign of a passage running between +walls, and at last Samson, who had edged up closely, whispered-- + +"Are you sure you are right, sir? I can't see aught." + +"I am certain," was the reply. "But let us go now. No one is likely to +find the entrance here." + +"And no one is likely to get out of it here," said Samson to himself, as +they walked slowly away, to be hailed directly after by one of the +officers. + +"I thought you two had gone fishing?" + +"Yes, sir," said Samson; "and we've left our rods by the lake. We're +going down again by-and-by to see if there is a bite." + +The officer nodded, laughed at them, and went on. + +"You let your tongue run too freely," said Fred, angrily. + +"Well, sir, you wouldn't speak; and it's quite true. When shall we go +down and see if we've got a bite?" + +"This evening," said Fred, shortly; and they went back to the camp to +stay a few hours, and then get leave to go down again, making their way +round the east end of the lake, up through the scattered woodland to the +old patch of forest, and then in and out till they gained the broken-in +entrance hidden by the dead blanches of the oak. + +"It's all right, sir," said Samson, drily, as he caught sight of the +opening at the same time as his master. + +Yes: it was all right; for the bait Samson had placed there to test the +presence of his brother was gone. + +"Samson," whispered Fred, "this is our secret. I want to be loyal to my +party; but I feel as if I must help these poor fellows." + +"That's very sad, sir," replied Samson; "and I feel as if I ought to go +and fetch a dozen of our men to search this place; but whatever you tell +me to do, I shall do--that is to say, so long as you don't ask me and +Nat to make it up." + +"I will not ask you, Samson," said Fred; "I'll leave you to ask me if +you may." + +CHAPTER FORTY THREE. + +THROUGH THE FIRE. + +That fight within the Hall was more desperate than Fred had imagined, +for until overpowered by numbers, Sir Godfrey, his son, and the brave +and reckless Cavaliers by whom he had been surrounded, had fought in a +manner that kept their enemies at bay. + +In the rush and noise and confusion of the struggle, Sir Godfrey had not +at first noticed the smoke, and when he did he was under the impression +that it was merely the result of the firing, and caused by the heavy +powder of the period. It was not until the flames had gained a hold on +either side that he realised the truth; and when it did come home to +him, he had staggered forward to strike at a couple of the many enemies +by whom he was surrounded, and whose swords had wounded him severely in +four places. + +That blow was the last he could give, for, faint from loss of blood, the +effort was too great; he overreached himself, stumbled and fell prone +upon the polished floor. The moment before, his enemies were retiring, +but at the sight of the fallen officer one of the men raised a joyous +shout, and half a dozen charged back to make him prisoner. + +It was at that moment Scarlett saw the great danger, and boy as he was, +rushed to the rescue, striking out boldly as he leaped across his +father, and keeping the enemy at bay. + +The odds were absurd, and the men were only kept back by the suddenness +and dash of the youth's attack. Then, with a laugh of derision, they +were about to seize both, when a warning shout reached them, and they +rushed away to avoid the onslaught of the terrible enemy against which +their weapons were of no avail. + +Scarlett saw the danger, and cowered down over his father as a wave of +flame was wafted above their heads, fortunately for them a current of +air keeping off the next just long enough for him to seize Sir Godfrey +by the wrists and drag him back into the centre of the hall, the +polished boards rendering the task an easy one. + +"Escape, Scarlett. I am spent," said Sir Godfrey, faintly. + +"What! and leave you, father?" cried Scarlett, excitedly. + +"Yes. You cannot get away here for the fire. Run upstairs, my boy, +quick--leap from one of the windows." + +"If you will come with me, father," said Scarlett. + +"No, no, my boy; I am helpless. Make haste. The fire--for Heaven's +sake, make haste!" + +The flames and their accompanying suffocating fumes advanced so fast +that for the moment the terrible peril unnerved Scarlett. The natural +inclination was to flee, and he received an additional impulse from his +father's words, which in their tone of urgent command made him dash +half-way up the broad staircase before he checked himself, turned +sharply, with one bound leaped down again to the floor, and ran to Sir +Godfrey's side. + +"Father, I can't leave you to be burned to death," he cried. "It is too +horrible." + +"Horrible? Yes," panted the wounded man; "but I can do nothing, my boy; +and you--you are so young. The poor old Hall--the poor old Hall!" + +For a few moments Scarlett knelt beside his father, suffocating in the +gathering smoke, and looking about wildly for a way of escape, but +finding none; for the defenders had taken such precautions to keep the +enemy out, that in this time of peril, they had kept themselves in. +Even now Scarlett felt that, by making a bold rush through the fire and +smoke gathering in force to right and left, he might escape, singed and +scorched, perhaps, but with life. To attempt this, however, with a +wounded man, was impossible; and, with the strong desire for life +thrilling every fibre, he uttered a despairing groan. + +As the mournful sound escaped his lips, he caught tightly hold of his +father's hands, to cling to them as if seeking strength, and asking him +to keep his weak nature from repeating its former act and taking refuge +in so cowardly a flight. + +The hands he grasped felt wet and cold, and in the misty choking gloom +Scarlett could see that his father's eyes were nearly closed, and that +there was in them a fixed and glassy stare. + +"He's dying!" he groaned; "he's dying!" + +His son's cry seemed to rouse Sir Godfrey to a knowledge of his danger, +for his eyes opened wildly, and he gazed before him, and then struggled +to rise, but sank back against his son's arm. + +"You have not gone!" he groaned. "Scarlett, my boy, escape!" + +"I cannot leave you, father. Let me try and help you. If we could get +to the upper windows!" + +"And ask our enemy to take us prisoners! No, no; my poor old home is +crumbling around me--where could I die better?" + +"Oh, father!" + +"But you, my boy, with all your young life before you! There is yet +time. God bless you, Scar! Good-bye!" + +He made a faint effort to thrust his son away, but Scarlett still held +his hands, while the fire crackled and roared in the rooms on either +side, and kept on narrowing the space they occupied, as the great smoke +wreaths, pierced by ruddy tongues, rolled heavily overhead. + +Scarlett set his teeth and closed his eyes for a moment, as a feeling of +horror ran through him, and there before him, beyond the smoke of the +burning woodwork, he saw in a instant the bright sunshiny paths of life +inviting him on and on for a long career, such as youth may look forward +to in its growing vigour; but he made a desperate effort to crush out +the temptation, clinging frantically to his father's hands as he groaned +despairingly-- + +"I cannot leave him. It would be too base." + +Till that moment the shock of their position had robbed him of energy, +but no sooner had he come to the brave determination to stop and die +that horrible death by his father's side, than the strong current of +life seemed to bound again in his veins, and, with a feeling of wonder +that he could have been so supine-- + +"Father!" he cried; but there was no reply. "Father!" + +Still no response, and he could just make out that the wounded man's +eyes were closed. But Scarlett was full of energy now, and, leaping up, +he seized Sir Godfrey by the arm, and dragged him by main force to the +foot of the great staircase. + +"I must get him to the corridor somehow," he thought; and, stooping +down, he clasped his arms about him, terribly impeded by the breastplate +and backpiece he wore, and then, panting and suffocating, he dragged him +up step by step, every one being into a more stifling atmosphere. The +increasing heat bathed him with perspiration, and a growing sense of +languor made him feel as if each step would be the last. + +But, raging and grinding his teeth in his efforts, he toiled on till the +topmost step was reached, and there he paused, chilled now by a terrible +and despairing sense of his position. The fire had eaten its way +upwards, and to drag his insensible burden to the right through the door +leading to the servants' apartments, or to the left along the corridor, +was on either hand into a burning furnace. + +Scarlett Markham sank upon his knees beside his father on the polished +oaken floor of the gallery, and giddy now with the heat and exhaustion, +his lips cracking, and every breath he drew laden with the poisonous +fumes, he felt that all was over, and, with a prayer coming confusedly +to his mind, he made a snatch at his father's hand, missed it, and fell +sidewise. + +But even then there was the natural involuntary effort to save himself +from falling headlong backwards from top to bottom of the stairs, and +one hand grasped at the balustrade, caught one of the carved oaken +pilasters; there was a sharp cracking sound, the stair by his shoulder +shot back an inch or two, and a draught of cold revivifying air +literally rushed whistling through the orifice. + +It was life, energy, hope, renewed courage, all in one, as he gasped and +panted and wildly thrust back the loose stair till the way was open; +and, gathering strength as the fresh air rushed up into his nostrils on +its way to fan the growing flames, he seized his father where he lay on +the top of the staircase, drew him towards his breast, and let him drop +right into the opening, whose sloping floor made the rest comparatively +easy. + +But Scarlett worked manfully, lying down beside his father, and edging +him along a few feet, before going back to close the opening in the +stairs. + +He paused for a few moments, feeling now that he was safe, and gazed +upon the ruddy smoke clouds, listened to the roar and crackle of the +flames, which were now within a few feet; and as he gazed, he could see +that the sharp draught rushing by him drove the flame and smoke back, +and fanned the former till it glowed more brightly. + +But there was no time to lose. Seizing the woodwork, he drew it over +his head, to find to his horror that already the heat had warped the +wood so that it was hard to move; and, feeling that no time was to be +lost, he rolled himself along, forced his father on and on, till the +horizontal shallow passage was at an end--a passage already growing +heated above where the fire licked the boards, and then, standing +upright and breathing freely, he paused to think of his next proceeding. + +CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. + +IN UTTER DARKNESS. + +It was not easy to think and lay plans in such a position as that in +which Scarlett Markham found himself. His temples throbbed painfully, +his head swam, and at every exertion it seemed to him as if hot molten +lead were rolling from side to side of his head. But the cool damp air +came by him in a continuous draught, and feeling now that before long +the narrow passages and the little chamber beyond must certainly grow +heated in the conflagration, perhaps be swept away in the general +destruction, he set himself the task of getting Sir Godfrey upon his +back, and, after several failures, found that his first step in that +direction must be to unbuckle and cast aside the defensive armour his +father wore. + +This done, the steel falling on the stone floor of the passage with a +heavy clang, he once more tried, successfully, and, bending beneath the +weight of his load, traversed the narrow passage, with a dull low roar +sounding in a muffled way on his left. + +The air came fresher and fresher as he pressed on in the intense +darkness, till, recalling by an effort of memory every step he and Fred +had formerly taken, he felt his way into the little chamber, having +drawn his sword and used it for a staff, and to guide his way. + +How well he recalled the shape of that little hiding-place, with its +dust and cobwebs, and the colourless strands of ivy hanging down! And +as he paused here, asking himself whether he should stay for the +present, a silent answer was given to his question, for the hand which +rested upon the wall felt that the stones were, growing sensibly warm, +sufficiently so to suggest that the fire was raging on the other side. + +Taking a long breath of the cool fresh air, he had no difficulty in +telling which way to turn for the further door, whose half-open edge the +extended sword touched directly. Then, grasping it with his hand, it +grated heavily as he drew it towards him, passed through the low +opening, and knew that he was at the top of the long narrow descending +stairs. + +What a terrible depth it seemed as he went down very slowly step by +step, but heartened each minute by the feeling that every step took them +more out of the reach of the fire, while the steady current of air drawn +in from the wilderness and the lake side by the fire within the +building, rendered it certain that no flame or suffocating fume could +reach them there. + +The bottom at last! and Scarlett paused to rest. He was bathed in +perspiration, and a curious dull feeling of exhaustion was setting in, +but he did not speak; he had set for himself the goal which he must +reach, and at which they would rest for the present. After he had bound +up his father's wounds, he might recover somewhat, so as to walk a +little with assistance; and then the opening at the end of the passage +was there, and freedom for them both, if the enemy had gone. + +But he had not reached that vault-like refuge yet, and the way seemed to +be interminable. The excitement and effort had produced a dull, half +stupefying effect upon his senses, and this was growing rapidly now, so +much so, that with legs bending beneath him, he dropped his sword, which +fell with an echoing clamour upon the stones, and supported himself by +the wall. + +And now in that pitchy darkness he crept slowly along, with a singular +nightmare-like sensation growing upon him; he ceased to have any command +of the power of thought, and went on and on, inch by inch, ever ready to +sink beneath his burden, but always at the last moment making a +desperate effort, and regaining enough strength to go on. + +How long it took, how he ever got through his terrible task, he never +knew. All that he could ever recall was a feeling of journeying on and +on beneath an ever-increasing load, till suddenly the support on either +side ceased; he made a desperate effort to save himself, but went down +upon his hands and knees, felt that the burden he bore had suddenly +rolled from his back, and that his face was resting on the cool damp +stones. + +Then all was darkness, mental as well as visual, and he sank into a +stupor, which lasted he could not tell how long. + +The awaking was strange. + +Scarlett opened his eyes involuntarily, and looked above him and to +right and left. He closed his eyes, and the effect was the same. Then +he lay for a time thinking that he must be asleep, and that this was +some portion of a dream. + +But the sensation of faintness, his aching head, and the sore stiffness +of every muscle--so painful that he could hardly move--soon warned him +that he was awake, and he set himself to battle with his confused brain, +to try and make out where he was, and what it all meant. For, as far as +the past was concerned, it was as if a dense black curtain were drawn +across his mind, and this great veil he could not thrust aside. + +He was cold--he was stiff and sore--he was hungry and feverishly +thirsty,--he could realise all these things, but that was all, and he +lay thinking and asking himself again and again, "What does it all +mean?" + +The first hint which his brain seemed to seize upon was given by a low +deep sigh which came from close at hand. + +Scarlett started up, staring wildly in the direction from which the +sound came, while his hands and brow grew moist with terror--a terror +which passed away, as a flash of mental light illumined his obscured +brain, and he cried aloud-- + +"Father!" + +There was no reply, and Scarlett's horror and dread grew more intense, +not from weak foolish imagination, but from the feeling that his father +was lying wounded there, perhaps at the point of death, while he, who +ought to have been aiding him in every way, must have been selfishly +asleep. + +The self-shame was not deserved, for nature had been too strong for +Scarlett Markham, and it was more the stupor of utter exhaustion to +which he had succumbed than sleep. + +He crept to where Sir Godfrey lay, and felt for his face, which was cold +and clammy, sending a shudder through the fingers which touched the icy +brow, and then sought for the region of the heart. + +Incongruous ideas of a trivial nature occur to people even in the most +terrible times, and it was so here, for as Scarlett's hand sought for +his father's breast, he found himself thinking of how good a thing it +was that he removed the armour when he took him upon his back. + +The heart was beating faintly, but the pulsations could be plainly felt, +and this gave Scarlett some little hope, such as was badly needed at +this crucial time. But what was he to do? How could he help him? For +aught he could tell, they must have been there many hours, and once more +a terrible chill ran through the youth, as the thought struck him that +his father might be bleeding to death. + +And what could he do? He was in utter darkness, and could not tell +where the wounds might be. + +There was comfort once more in the fresh thought which came, suggested +by his experience in the skirmishes in which he had been engaged, and by +his duties in tending the wounded. + +For he recalled how, in the majority of cases, unless some important +vessel was divided, Nature interposed as the great surgeon for the +preservation of her children's lives, causing the veins to chill and +contract, and the bleeding to cease; and as Scarlett Markham knelt +beside his father, and pressed his lips to the icy brow, he prayed that +it might be so now, and that his life might be spared. + +"Now, what is to be done?" he said to himself, half rising, as if the +act he had done had given him refreshment and a new access of thought. + +He stood for a few moments thinking, and then, feeling his way about the +place, he satisfied himself where the openings out of the little vault +lay, his doubt as to which led to the lake being solved by the steps +down to where it was formerly water, but which on testing he now found +to be firm floor, and by the little heap of rusty arms over which he +nearly fell as he crept about. + +His first need was light and help for his father, and to obtain these he +felt that perhaps it would be best to surrender. + +With this aim in view, he made his way back along the passage, kicking +against and recovering his sword, and up the flight of narrow stone +steps, becoming conscious that the air was growing warmer as he +proceeded, and finally that the walls were hot, while straight before +him, as he reached the top and tried to penetrate into the chamber, +there was a confused pile of heavy stones leaning towards him, as if +some party wall or portion of the roof had fallen in that direction, and +blocked the way. + +He could not stay to investigate, the heat was too great; but the +freedom with which he breathed taught him that the ruins had not +completely stopped all the chamber, for a steady current of air was +flowing past him from below. + +He felt instinctively that the fire must have done its work, and that +the greater part of the secret passage had been obliterated by the +falling ruins, so that he must not look for help from that direction. + +Retracing his steps, then, he once more reached the vault, whose +coolness was pleasant after the stifling heat above. Then, crossing the +dark place, he slowly descended the steps, and went onward with extended +hands, feeling his way toward the two entries--the original, and that +which had been broken through by the fallen tree. + +He had not far to go before a faint light stole down to guide his way, +and he reached the spot where the passage was roofed in with dead +branches and twigs, and as he reached it, just faintly heard, came the +shrill cry of a blackbird--_Pink-pink-pink_!--from somewhere in the wood +above. + +A trifle that he would not have heeded at another time, but which now +sent a thrill of hope through him, for it told of light and liberty, and +help for the sufferer lying in that gloomy vault. + +But he wasted no time, passing over the crackling refuse of broken wood +and stones which here impeded his way, till almost directly after he had +cleared all this, and made a turn, catching sight of the bright +star-like light low down by the floor of the passage--the opening that +he had made, and by which the water which had been gathering probably +for generations had been drained away. + +He was soon at the rough wall which stopped the arch, and, going down on +one knee, he listened, for peril had made him cautious, besides which +the lessons of life he was receiving in his regimental work taught the +necessity for being prepared for enemies at every turn. + +All seemed to be perfectly still, and as far as he could judge it was +early morning, soon after daybreak. The first rays of the sun appeared +to be brightening the surface of the lake as he tried to peer through +the orifice, and every now and then the cry of the water-fowl and the +splash of water endorsed his belief in there being no danger near. + +Feeling satisfied that there was no danger, he returned to the broken +opening and stopped short as he heard a sharp rustling, followed by a +sound that was evidently the sharp utterance of some one impatient at +his position, or because one expected did not come. + +Did whoever it was know of the existence of the hole through which the +faint light streamed down, showing the configuration of the rough +branches which covered the broken place? It seemed only probable, and, +feeling the necessity for the greater caution, Scarlett stepped slowly +and carefully among the broken fragments till he had passed the risky +spot, and then hurried on as rapidly as he could till he reached the +steps, and, mounting them cautiously, he stood once more in the chamber. + +Feeling rapidly about, he uttered a cry of joy, for his hand touched his +father's brow; and as it did so, he felt it raised by the burning +fingers of the sufferer, who began talking quickly. + +"Quick! Which way did they go--Lady Markham--my child Lilian? Why do +you not speak? Tell me; they are not in the burning house?" + +"Father! don't you know my voice?" whispered Scarlett. + +"Know your voice--know you? Yes, yes, my boy. Scar, lad, help me. +They must be somewhere here. I am looking for them. Yes, somewhere in +the house." + +"No, no, father; they are in safety down at the Manor." + +"Here, I tell you, sir. Help me to find them. Quick! They are in the +burning house and Scar, my boy, is that you?" + +Then, seeming to drop off to sleep as his son knelt by him, there was a +sigh or two, and then he was breathing regularly, although the +inspirations sounded faint and low. + +Scarlett could contain himself no longer, but, rising from his knees, he +hurried down the few steps and along the lower passage, pausing for a +moment before stealing carefully beneath the broken portion of the +arched tunnel. For there could be no doubt about the matter: there was +a rustling sound somewhere above that did not seem such as would be made +by any wild animals likely to haunt the forest, and a certainty was +given to his ideas by a low-muttering arising, followed by a hasty +ejaculation as of impatience or pain. + +So near did this sound, that Scarlett remained motionless in the +obscurity of the tunnel arch, afraid to stir for quite an hour, during +which he listened, feeling assured that this opening had been discovered +by the enemy, and that they had placed a sentry there to trap any one +who attempted to escape. + +"Oh!" ejaculated Scarlett at last, softly, as what he believed to be +enlightenment flashed across his brain. "Why did I not think of that +before? Fred Forrester, of course! He remembered our discovery, and he +has explained all to his father, with the result that there are +sentinels all about, waiting to take every poor wounded wretch who seeks +to escape." + +It was a painful thought, for it troubled him to think that Fred had +been so unprincipled as to betray their old boyish secret. + +"He might have been content to fight with his party against ours, and +not make use of his knowledge to do his old friends an evil turn." + +The feeling of bitter anger mingled with scorn increased as he stood +there in weary inactivity, longing to rejoin Sir Godfrey, but dreading +to stir, for fear he should bring danger upon his father's head. + +And all this time he might be awake, and in grievous suffering; perhaps +dying, and feebly stretching out his hands for help, even believing that +his son had left him there to die. + +Scarlett could bear the agony of his thoughts no longer; at any cost he +must pass beneath that opening, and rejoin his father, and to this end +he stepped forward softly, to find that he had planted his foot upon a +rotten stick fallen from above, and lightly as he trod, the dry, decayed +piece of wood parted with a loud noise. + +Scarlett turned cold, and the chilly moisture gathered upon his brow and +within the palms of his hands. + +"It is all over!" he muttered, as his hand went involuntarily to the +hilt of his sword; and then he dragged it from its sheath, and raised +the point, thinking of how strong his position was, and how few men +would dare to descend with that sharp point awaiting the first enemy who +came. + +Then, half stifled by holding his breath, he began to breathe freely +once more, for there came a low sigh from above, then a faint rustling, +and then the regular, low breathing of some man asleep. + +Scarlett stayed no longer, but stepped quickly across the wood-strewn +patch of the floor, and then hastened along the passage, and up the few +steps in the total darkness; and after a very little groping about, +found himself beside his father, who was sleeping peacefully, while his +head was cool, telling how the fever of his wounds had gone down. + +CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. + +COMPANIONS IN MISFORTUNE. + +Scarlett Markham passed some hours by his father's side, listening to +his breathing in the darkness, and from time to time taking his hand as +a low moan was uttered, accompanied by a restless movement; but as the +time passed on, in spite of anxiety and his own weariness and pain, an +intense desire for food of some kind kept on attacking him, and each +time with more force. + +What was he to do? + +Had he been alone the task would have been simple. He would have gone +at once to the broken archway, waited his opportunity, and crept out. +Then he would have done his best to escape, and the worst that could +have happened to him would have been seizure by the enemy, who, in spite +of party hatred, would have given their prisoner food. + +But he felt that he could not take this course, and risk capture, which +would mean imprisonment to his father as well. + +The difficulty was solved at last by an uneasy movement on Sir Godfrey's +part. He seemed to start suddenly from sleep, and, after listening for +a few moments, Scarlett said gently-- + +"Are you in pain, father?" + +"Ah, my boy, you there?" said Sir Godfrey, feebly. "I was puzzled and +confused. I recollect now. Have I been asleep long?" + +"Yes, father, I think so. I cannot tell, for I have been asleep too." + +"Where are we?" + +Scarlett explained, and from time to time Sir Godfrey uttered a few +words of surprise and wonder, till his son had finished. + +"I could hardly have thought it possible," he said, as Scarlett ceased. +"Then we are so far safe?" + +"Yes; but your wounds, father? What am I to do about getting help?" + +Sir Godfrey remained silent for a few minutes, and then said quietly-- + +"I am terribly weak, boy, and in a good deal of pain; but from what I +know of such things, I do not think my wounds are either deep or +dangerous, and if this is so, nature is the best chirurgeon. But you +say there is a way out?" + +"Yes, father; and I am afraid that Fred Forrester has given notice, and +that it is watched." + +"The young villain!" muttered Sir Godfrey, and somehow those words +seemed to send a sting through Scarlett's brain. + +After a silence, Sir Godfrey went on. + +"Well, my boy," he said, "I shall not be able to escape for days to +come. You must go and try and make your way to our friends." + +"And leave you?" + +"Only for a time, my boy, of course. You must find some of our men, and +come and get me away." + +"I cannot leave you, father;" said Scarlett, firmly; and Sir Godfrey +remained silent for a time. + +"Thank you, Scar," he said at last; "and of course I do not want to be +left. Can you propose any better way, for my thinking powers are very +weak?" + +Scarlett was silent in turn, and then he said quietly-- + +"Yes, father; I will wait my chance, steal out, and then contrive to +make my way to some cottage where I can get food. I can bring it back, +and we can continue to remain here in hiding till you are strong enough +to go." + +"Not a very pleasant prospect, Scar," said Sir Godfrey, "but I can +propose no better." + +"I might be able to make my way to the Manor." + +"No, no; you must not get help from there, my boy," said Sir Godfrey, +hastily. + +"Why not, father? My mother and Lilian are there." + +"True, Scarlett, but--" + +"Mrs Forrester would be only too eager to help us." + +"Her husband's enemies?" + +"She is affording protection to my mother. Yes," added the lad, after a +pause, "I must go there." + +Sir Godfrey remained silent. + +"Father." + +"Yes." + +"You frightened me by being so still." + +"I was only thinking, Scarlett," replied Sir Godfrey, sadly--"thinking I +was wrong to speak as I did. There, I have fought my best, and it is my +turn to lie down. I would we were both prisoners in such good hands." + +"Then you consent to my going, father?" + +There was another pause before Sir Godfrey said in a low, weary voice-- + +"Yes, my boy; you must throw yourself upon their mercy. This is no time +to nurse one's hatred against one's foes. When shall you start?" + +"Directly I can get unseen from the opening, for you must have +refreshment, father, and it is absolutely necessary that I should be +back to-night." + +"Heaven's will be done," said Sir Godfrey, softly; and, after a long +firm pressure of the hand, he added, "Be careful, my boy; keep your +liberty if you can. The king wants the help of every loyal hand." + +"And you will not mind my leaving you?" + +"No, my boy. I dare say, in my weak state, I shall pass many hours in +sleep." + +Even then Scarlett felt that he could not go, and it was not until long +after, when he felt the absolute necessity of obtaining food and help, +that he at last tore himself away, but with the one satisfaction of +knowing that Sir Godfrey had dropped into a heavy sleep. + +It was while he was once more making his way to the opening that +Scarlett realised how faint and weak he, too, was. But, summoning all +his energy, he stood at last beneath the opening, trying to make out +where the sentinel or sentinels might be. + +He drew his sword ready for action, and then, with an impatient +movement, restored the weapon to its sheath, realising fully that if he +was to succeed, it must be by cunning stratagem, not by blows. + +All was silent, but the occasional twitter of some bird. If a watcher +was there, he gave no sign of his presence, and quite a couple of hours +must have passed away before, utterly tired out, and hearing not the +slightest sound, Scarlett determined to venture so far as to get his +head above the top of the opening. + +No; he felt that would be only to court seizure, for his position would +be so disadvantageous that he could not defend himself if he were +seized. Besides, he would be betraying his father into the enemies' +hands. + +In spite of his trouble and anxiety, a smile came upon his lip, as he +thought of a plan by which he might make the watcher or watchers +discover their presence. He believed thoroughly that he had not so far +been heard, and, under that impression, he took hold of one of the +hazels above his head, and, trusting to old forest recollections in the +days when he had hunted rabbits with Fred Forrester, he shook the bough +above him so as to make a sharp rustling noise, and uttered with his +compressed lips a sharp screeching sound such as is made by the little +white-tailed furry denizen of the wood when trapped or chased by a +stoat. + +"That will bring him to see," thought Scarlett, as he felt that such a +sound would suggest to a foraging soldier a capital addition to his +camp-fire supper. + +But there was not a sound in reply, and, beginning to doubt his belief +that there was a sentry watching, he uttered the shrill squeal again. +Then his heart gave a bound, for there was a movement close at hand, as +of some one trying to pass through the bushes, but it was not continued; +and, while the lad was wondering, there came a low groan. + +"No sentinel! Some poor wounded fellow who has crept into the old +wilderness for safety," thought Scarlett. + +"But will it be an enemy?" he asked himself. + +"No; one of ours," his heart replied. "An enemy would have called for +help." + +"Ah, if I was only as I used to be!" came in a low-muttering tone. "Is +he in agin?" + +"Nat!" cried Scarlett, the word starting from his lips involuntarily, +and without his seeming to have the power to stay it. + +"Eh!" came from close by, "who called? Master Scar, that you?" + +"Yes, yes," cried Scarlett; and, leaping up, he caught at a bough, which +snapped in two, and he dropped down again. But his next attempt was +more successful, for he drew himself out, and the next minute was +kneeling by his old follower, as Nat lay nearly hidden among the +undergrowth. + +"I say, don't play tricks, sir," said Nat, feebly. "I aren't dreaming, +are I?" + +"Dreaming, Nat?" + +"I mean, I've been all in a squabble, with things mixed up in my head, +and people talking to me, and rabbits squealing, and Master Scar +shouting `Nat,' I aren't asleep now, are I?" + +"Asleep now, Nat? No, no, my dear old fellow," cried Scarlett, whose +voice sounded thick with emotion. "But you are badly hurt eh?" + +"Well, tidy, Master Scar, tidy. They give it to me pretty well. But +I'm better now, dear lad; I'm better now. Oh, oh, I say, Master Scar, +lad, hit me in both eyes hard. I'm so weak I'm going to blubber like a +gal." + +"No, no, my dear old Nat," whispered Scarlett. "Keep up, man, keep up. +I want you to help me." + +"Help you, Master Scarlett? Why, I don't believe I could even pull my +sword out of its sheath!" + +"But you will soon, Nat," whispered Scarlett, eagerly. "I want your +help. My father is wounded, and in hiding close by here." + +"The master?" + +"Yes, yes." + +"Sir Godfrey?" + +"Yes, yes, Nat; badly wounded. We were nearly burned in the fire, when +the Hall was in a blaze; but we got out, and he is badly wounded, and I +was going to try and get food." + +"Oh, if that's it," said Nat, feebly, "it's time there was an end to all +this nonsense. Here, give's a hand, Master Scar. I must get up." + +The poor fellow made an effort, then sank back with a groan. + +"Pitchforks and skewers!" he muttered. "Didn't that go through one." + +"Lie still, Nat." + +"Needn't be afraid, Master Scar," groaned the poor fellow, with a +comical look in his young master's face. "I don't think I shall get up +yet." + +"No; lie still. I'm going to try and steal away to the Manor." + +"Eh? Then if you come across my brother Samson, you knock him down, +sir. Don't you hesitate a moment. Knock him down." + +"Nonsense! Now look here." + +"Oh yes, sir, I'm a-looking," said Nat, dismally; "and a pretty dirty +face you've got." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, it's all black, as if you'd been--" + +"Why, Master Scar, what yer been a-doing to your hair?" + +"Hair? My hair?" + +"Yes, sir. Them Roundhead vagabonds cut it all off before, but now it's +all scorched and singed away." + +"Eh? Yes. I suppose so," said Scarlett, sadly. "I did not know, Nat. +I suppose it was in the fire." + +"And your face all scorched too." + +"Is it, Nat? I did feel that it smarted and was sore." + +"Why, my poor dear lad, what have you been a-doing of? And me not with +you, but lying here like a pig in a sunny hole, pretending I was bad!" + +"Hush! not so loud. Never mind the singeing, Nat. There, keep quiet +till I come back with some food. Do you want a drink of water?" + +"Food? What did you say about some food?" + +"I'm going to try and get some, Nat. I am starving." + +"Think of that now!" cried Nat, feebly. "Why, I've got some here. +Master Scar! Now, let me think. I'm all in a muddle like in the head, +and can't tell what's been dreaming and what isn't; but I've got a sort +o' notion that some one come in the dark, and talked to me or talked +about me, and then said they'd leave me something to eat." + +"Dreaming, Nat, my poor fellow! Your loss of blood has made you a +little off your head." + +"Well, then, if I was dreaming, there aren't nothing to eat, Master +Scar. But if I warn't dreaming, there's something close by me here, +and--There, Master Scar, it warn't a dream!" + +"Nat!" cried Scarlett, joyfully, as the poor fellow feebly brought forth +the food Fred and Samson had left. "May--may I take some?" he faltered. + +"Take it all, my dear lad, take it all, and yeat it. I couldn't yeat +anything now. Shouldn't mind a big mug o' water. That's about my +tune." + +In spite of himself, Scarlett broke off a piece of the bread cake, and +began to eat ravenously. + +But he recollected himself directly, and placed some to the wounded +man's lips. + +"Thank ye, lad, no," said Nat, sadly; "but if you could get me a drop o' +water, I'd be 'bliged, for I feel just like a flower a-drying up in the +sun." + +Poor Nat did not look it, whatever he might feel; but almost before he +had ceased speaking, Scarlett had slipped through the hole as the safest +way, gone to the opening by the lake, dipped his hat three-parts full of +water, and borne it back, placing it safely between two boughs at the +side of the top, while he climbed out; and the next minute he was +holding the dripping felt to Nat's lips. + +"Hah!" ejaculated the poor fellow, feebly; "it's worth being chopped a +bit and lying here for the sake of the appetite it gives you." + +"Appetite, Nat?" said Scarlett, taking up the bread. + +"'Tite for water, lad. That's the sweetest drop I ever did taste, I +will say." + +"Drink again?" + +"Ay, that I will, hearty," whispered Nat; and he partook of another long +draught. "There," he said, "now you give me one bit o' that cake to +nibble, and you may go. To get food, didn't you say, sir, just now?" + +"I want some--for my father, Nat, but--if--I can have some of this?" + +"Take it all, my dear lad, take it all. Where is the master, sir?" + +Scarlett told him in as few words as possible, and Nat stared at him. + +"No, it's of not a bit o' good, Master Scar," he said sadly. "I know +you're telling me something, but I bled all the sense out of me, and I +can't understand what you mean. Never mind me. I dare say it's all +right." + +"But, Nat," cried Scarlett, eagerly, as a thought struck him, and he +realised that it was useless to try and impress upon the poor fellow +about the secret passage, "you are lying out here." + +"Yes, sir; not a nice place, but cool and fresh." + +"Could you, if I helped you, get down that hole, where my father lies?" + +"Sir Godfrey?" + +"Yes." + +"But you said you were going away somewhere, sir." + +"Only to get some food, and you have enough for the day. To-night I'll +go out and get more. Do you think you could crawl down?" + +"I think I could try, sir, if it comes to that." + +"And trying is half the battle, Nat." + +"Right, sir; I'll try. That drop o' water seemed to put life in me." + +"But--" + +Scarlett stopped short, thinking. Some one had been and brought Nat +food, for there it was in solid reality, tempting him to eat; and if he +took the poor fellow down into the secret passage, it would no longer +prove to be a secure hiding-place, for those who missed the wounded man +would search perhaps and find. + +That did not follow, though. They might think that he had crept away; +and besides, the case was desperate, and he must risk it. + +"You said, `But,' Master Scar," said Nat, feebly, after waiting for his +young master to go on. + +"Nothing, nothing," said Scarlett, hastily, for his mind was made up. +"Now then, pass your arms round my neck, clasp your hands together, and +hold tightly. I'll draw you out of that place." + +"Take the food first, Master Scar. There, stuff it in your wallet, +lad." + +Scarlett did not hesitate, but placed the precious treasure in the +receptacle, and then bent down. Nat obeyed his instructions, and by a +strong effort he was drawn out. + +"Have I hurt you much, Nat?" said Scarlett, as he gazed through the dim +light at the pallid face so close to his. + +"Well, sir, not to make much bones about it, tidy, pretty tidy. What +next, sir?" + +"I want to lower you down through the branches into that hole." + +"Eh?" ejaculated Nat, forgetting his weakness and the aching pain he +suffered, as he gave quite a start. "No, no, Master Scar, don't do +that." + +"But you will be safe there for the present, Nat." + +"Safe enough, I suppose, sir," groaned the poor fellow. + +"Well, let me lay your legs here, and I can slide you down." + +"But I aren't dead yet, dear lad. Don't hurry it so fast as that." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Going to bury me, aren't you, sir?" + +"What nonsense, man! There's a long passage there leading to a vault." + +"Yes, sir; that's what I thought. Don't do it till I'm quite gone." + +In spite of hunger, misery, anxiety, and pain, Scarlett Markham could +not refrain from laughing at Nat's perplexed countenance, with so +reassuring an effect that the poor fellow smiled feebly in return, took +heart, and allowed himself to be slid down through the opening, the task +being so well managed that Nat sank on the stone floor, and when +Scarlett loosened his hands, he subsided gently against the wall. + +Then, after removing a few of the tracks of his passage, the elasticity +of the undergrowth and its springing up helping the concealment, +Scarlett descended to his henchman's side, and after a pause helped him +along the passage right to the vault, where, as soon as he had got rid +of his burthen, the lad found his father sleeping calmly. + +"Aren't it a bit dark, Master Scar, or be it my eyes?" said Nat, feebly. + +"Dark, Nat, quite dark. But you will, I hope, be safe here till we can +escape." + +"Right, sir. I'll do what you tell me, for I feel just like a big babby +now with no legs, and my head all of a wobble, 'cause there's no bone in +the neck. Yes, sir, thank ye, sir. Ease my head down gently. That's +it. That's it. That's it. That's it. Ah!" the poor fellow kept on +repeating to himself, and ended with a low sigh of relief; and when +spoken to again there was no reply. + +Scarlett's heart seemed to cease beating, and then it gave a leap. + +Had he done wrong in getting the poor fellow down there, exhausted as he +was? How did he know but that he might have caused the wounds to bleed +again? + +There was consolation directly after, for he could hear Nat's calm, +regular breathing, and, satisfied and relieved, Scarlett stepped now to +his father's side to touch him, but found that he too was still sleeping +calmly, while for the present it seemed that his duty was to keep guard. + +He seated himself on the stone floor, with his back in one of the +angles, and listened for a time to the regular breathing; then his +ravenous hunger made itself known to such an extent that, after +comforting himself with the promise that he would get food that night, +he took out and broke a piece off the bread cake, put it back, thought +that those by him might require it, and determined to fight down his +hunger. + +Hunger won the day. + +Scarlett made a brave fight, but he was weak; and, try how he would, his +hand kept on going to the pocket wallet, and at last he did what was +quite necessary under the circumstances--he ate heartily and well; and +then, with a guilty feeling; troubling him, he yielded to a second +kindly enemy. + +The breathing of his two patients was as regular as clockwork, and the +silence and darkness seemed to increase, with the result that they acted +in a strangely lulling way, and with such potency that, after a time, +Scarlett started up, and stared about him at the dense blackness around. + +"Have I been to sleep?" he muttered, as he drew himself up a little more +tightly, and prepared to keep his black watch firmly and well to the +end--that is to say, till the time when he would start at dusk for the +Manor. + +The next instant he was on his way there, creeping cautiously through +the undergrowth, listening to the crackling of the wood he pressed with +his feet, and finally making his way to the old house, where he was able +to embrace his mother and sister, feeling his cheek wet with their +tears, while Mistress Forrester made him up a basket of dainties, such +as would invite the appetite of a wounded man. + +How delightful it all was! only he had to start back so soon, and as he +hurried away, his mother called him back. "Scarlett! Scarlett!" How +the words rang in his ears, as he looked back through the darkness-- + +Scarlett leaped to his feet, with a feeling of shame and contrition. + +"I must have been asleep," he exclaimed; and he listened to the +breathing once more. "And what a vivid dream that was! How real it +seemed!" he added. "I'll go along to the opening, and look out. That +will keep me from going to sleep again." + +He started down the steps, and climbed out, wondering whether he had +slept a minute, an hour, or a day, and to his delight he found and took +back with him the provision lately placed there by Fred and Samson. + +"Well, we shall not starve," said Scarlett, thankfully, as he began +thinking of his dream; but all the same, the voice which had broken in +upon him calling his name sounded wonderfully real. + +CHAPTER FORTY SIX. + +SAMSON DISOBEYS ORDERS. + +"Ho! Scar!" + +No answer. + +"Hoi! Scar Markham!" + +The second call was louder, and this time Fred Forrester had thrust his +head down the hole, so that his voice went echoing along the passage, +and died away in a whisper; but the only effect it had was to produce a +low chuckling sound from Samson. + +"What are you laughing at, sir?" cried Fred, angrily. + +"Only at you, Master Fred, sir." + +"How dare--" + +"No, no; don't be cross with me, sir. I only felt as you'd have felt if +you'd been me, and I'd been you." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Why, it seemed so rum for us to have slipped down here again, +pretending to fish, so as to be laughed at because we hadn't caught any, +and for you to turn yourself upside down, with your head in the hole, +and your legs up in the air, shouting like that!" + +"Don't be a donkey, Samson." + +"No, Master Fred; I'll promise you that, faithful like; but it do seem +rum. 'Tarn't likely, you know, sir, 'tarn't likely." + +"What isn't likely?" + +"Why, that aren't, sir. Even if Master Scar is hiding there." + +"If? He must be. Nobody else knows of the existence of the place." + +"Wouldn't our Nat, sir?" + +"No. How could he?" + +"Well, sir, I can't say how he could; but he always was a nasty +hunting-up-things sort of boy. So sure as I hid anything in my box at +home, or anywhere else, he'd never rest till he found it; and as he was +hiding away here, he may have hunted out this hole, and took possession +like a badger." + +"It might be so," said Fred, thoughtfully; and he approached the hole +once more. + +"'Tarn't no good, Master Fred," said Samson, chuckling. "You might just +as well go to a rabbit's hole, and shout down that, `Hoi! bunny, bunny, +come out and have your neck broken.'" + +"Don't talk so," said Fred, angrily. + +"No, sir, not a word; but you forget that we're enemies now, and that +it's of no use to call to Master Scarlett or our Nat to come, because +they won't do it. There's two ways, sir, and that's all I can make out, +after no end of thinking." + +As Samson spoke, he held up his hand, and went back a few yards to +reconnoitre. + +"Don't see nor hear nothing, Master Fred," he said, as he returned; "but +we're making a regular path through the wilderness, so plain that soon +every one will see." + +"Then we must go for the future to the opening by the lake, and try what +we can do there." + +"And get wet!" + +"What did you mean by your two ways of finding out whether they are +there?" + +"Well, sir, one's by putting bread and meat bait afore the hole, and +coming to see whether it's been taken." + +"But we've tried that again and again, and it is taken," said Fred, +impatiently. "What's the other way?" + +Samson chuckled, and thrust his hand into his wallet, where he made a +rattling noise. + +"Don't be stupid, Samson," cried Fred, angrily. "What do you mean?" + +"These here, sir," cried Fred's follower, drawing something out of the +wallet. + +"Well, what's that--flint and steel?" + +"Tinder box and bit o' candle, Master Fred. That's the best way, after +all." + +"Samson!" cried Fred, joyously. "I did not think of that. Come along." + +"Stop a moment, my lad; don't let's do nothing rash. Just think a bit." + +"I've no time to think." + +"Ay, but you must, sir. That there's a long hole, and you're thinking +of going down it." + +"Yes, of course." + +"Suppose there's somebody at home?" + +"That's just what I hope to find." + +"But we shall be like a couple of rabbits running into a fox's hole, and +he may bite." + +"Not if he knows that we come as friends." + +"No, Master Fred, p'raps not; but we're enemies." + +"No, we're not, Samson, and you are wasting time." + +"Which I don't want to contradict you, Master Fred; but enemies we are +by Act o' Parliament, and that you know as well as me." + +"Then you are afraid of the adventure?" + +"Who says so?" growled Samson. + +"I do, sir. So you had better go back, and I'll make the venture +alone." + +"I wish you was somebody else, Master Fred." + +"Why?" + +"Oh, I'd know, sir." + +"Give me the flint and steel and the candle." + +"What for, sir?" + +"To light," cried Fred, impatiently. + +"Nay, I'm going to light that candle, and I'm going along with you, +Master Fred. Why, what would the colonel say if he found out that I'd +left you in the lurch?" + +"Better leave me than give me a coward for a companion." + +"Well, I do call that cruel to a man as only wanted to tell you what a +risk it was. Never know'd me to be a coward yet, Master Fred, never! I +only wanted you to understand the worst. Come along, sir." + +Before Fred could interfere, Samson had taken two or three strides, and +then made a leap right on to the dead branches which masked the entrance +to the hole. The result was as might be expected; he crashed through +feet first, and disappeared. + +"Samson!" exclaimed Fred, as he dashed to the opening. + +"I'm all right, sir, so far," said the rough fellow, looking up with a +grim smile on his face. "That's the worst of being a coward and afraid. +It makes you rush at things, instead of taking 'em coolly. Here, let +me help you down." + +"I can manage," replied Fred, quietly, as he felt annoyed with himself. +"Better draw your sword." + +"No, sir," said Samson, coolly; "if I do they'll think I'm afraid; and +besides, there's no room to give it a good swing for a cut, and the +point's blunt since I used it for digging up potatoes." + +"No, no; I can get down," said Fred, quickly, as Samson once more +offered his help, and the next moment he was also standing in the old +passage, peering before him, and listening. + +All was as silent as the grave, and a chilly feeling of dread came over +the lad, as he wondered whether poor Nat had, after all, only crawled in +there to die, just as some unfortunate wounded creature seeks a hole to +be at rest. + +"What nonsense! when he took the food we put there," he muttered the +next moment. + +"What say, sir? Shall I strike a light?" + +Samson did not wait for an answer to his first question before +propounding the second. + +"Yes. Go a few steps forward out of the light," whispered Fred, "and +then we are not likely to be heard." + +"Not from outside," grumbled Samson; "but how about them inside? +They'll come down and spit us like black cock on a big skewer." + +"What are you muttering about?" whispered Fred, as his companion went +forward and knelt down. + +"I was only saying, don't blame me if they come down on us with swords +that hasn't been used to dig potatoes, Master Fred." + +"Let me come by you, and I'll stand on guard while you strike a light." + +"No, sir; I shan't," said Samson, gruffly. + +"What's that?" + +"You heared, sir." + +"Yes, I did hear," whispered Fred, angrily; "and please remember, sir, +that I am your officer." + +"Can't remember that now, Master Fred, only that you're to be took care +of. I had strict orders to be always ready to shove my big body in +front of you when anybody was going to" (_nick_, _nick_) "cut at you" +(_nick_, _nick_, _nick_)--"Look at that!--with a sword." + +"Who gave you those orders?" said Fred, sharply. + +"Your mother, sir, 'fore we" (_nick_, _nick_) "started for the wars at +first." (_Nick_, _nick_) "I shall never get a light." + +Samson was down upon his knees, striking a piece of flint sharply upon a +thin bar of steel turned over at each end, so as to form a double hook, +which the operator grasped in his left hand, while Fred stood gazing +straight before him, sword drawn, and the point held over his man's +head, ready to receive any attack. + +At every stroke with the flint, a number of sparks shone out for a +moment, lighting up the striker's face, but though he kept on nicking +away, there was no result. + +"Why, Samson," whispered Fred, as he mastered a curious sensation of +emotion at the man's words, which brought up the memory of a pair of +tender, loving eyes gazing into his at the moment of farewell, "you have +forgotten the tinder!" + +The nicking sound ceased on the instant, and Samson began indignantly-- + +"Well, I do like that, Master Fred. I mayn't be a scholar, and I never +larnt Latin, and that sort of stuff, but I'll grow vegetables and make +cider with any man in Coombeland." + +"What has making cider to do with tinder, you great oaf!" cried Fred, +angrily, so as to hide his emotion. + +"Nothing at all, sir; only you seem to think I'm such a bog-walker that +I haven't sense to know how to strike a light." + +"Well, where is the light? and how can you expect to get one without +tinder?" + +"I don't. Here's the tinder in a box, but all the sparks are blown over +it by the draught." + +"Then strike lower man." + +"There, then," cried Samson, viciously, as he nicked harder, with the +result that one of the tiny sparks, instead of fading out, seemed to +remain motionless on the floor. This spark Samson blew till it +increased and glowed more brightly, showing his face close to the light, +and the point of something yellow being applied to the red glow. + +That something yellow, being a pointed match dipped in brimstone, began +to melt, and then boil and burst into a blue fluttering flame, which +ignited the match; and the next minute Samson held up the lighted candle +close to the arched roof of the passage, exclaiming, "There!" in a +triumphant tone; and then, "Why, this is only a big drain, Master Fred!" + +"Hist! Give me the light," said Fred, as he listened intently. + +"Going along here, sir?" + +"Yes, of course." + +"All right, sir; I'm candlestick," said Samson, making a rattling noise +as he replaced the light-engendering apparatus in his pouch. + +"No, no; I'll go first," said Fred, impatiently. + +"Yes, sir; you shall go first after the light." + +"Samson!" + +"Yes, sir. What would your mother say, if I let you go straight into +danger like this, with me here?" + +"Will you recollect that you are a soldier, sir?" + +"Of course I will, Master Fred. How is a man to help it, with an iron +pot on his head rubbing him bald? Ready, sir?" + +"Ready? Yes." + +"Then here goes!" said Samson. "Can't expect a man to obey orders when +he's underground." + +Samson strode on with the candle in his left hand and his sword now in +his right, leading the way, with his young master close behind, and +their shadows following and seeming to dance on the floor and walls, +which glistened here and there with moisture. + +They proceeded slowly, Samson twice over hazarding a remark on the +dampness, but only to be sternly told to proceed, till at last the +little flight of steps appeared leading into the vault, where they came +to a sudden halt, for something suddenly flashed in the light of the +candle, and a harsh voice cried-- + +"Stand!" + +CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. + +AT THE POINT OF THE SWORD. + +Fred Forrester had been expecting the challenge from the moment they +began to move, but so suddenly and unexpectedly did it come at last, +that he remained for the moment speechless, gazing at the dimly seen +figure framed in the arched way, with the light playing upon the sword +extended toward his breast. + +Samson was the first to speak. + +"Take hold of the candle now," he whispered, "and I'll rush him. There +isn't room to strike, sir; and I can put aside his point." + +"No, no," said Fred, forcing himself to the front, and addressing him +who barred the way. "Put up your sword; we are friends." + +"Friends!" came back mockingly. "Then put up your own weapon." + +"Of coarse," said Fred, quickly sheathing his sword. "I didn't know who +might be here. Scar Markham, we're come to help you." + +"To help?" said the guardian of the vault, in a voice which sounded +strangely hollow in the narrow place. "Is this some fresh treachery?" + +"What!" shouted Fred, angrily, as he stepped forward and pressed right +up to the point of the sword. Military life and training both were +forgotten, and in an instant the lad felt back in the old boyish days +sit home, when some sharp contention had taken place between him and his +companion. + +"Stand back, sir!" said Scarlett, sternly, "or--" + +"No, you wouldn't," cried Fred. "Put down your sword. You wouldn't be +such a coward. How dare you accuse me of treachery?" + +Without a moment's hesitation, the sword-point was dropped, and Fred +cried eagerly-- + +"Now, then, come out into the daylight, and--Oh, what a fool I am! Scar +Markham, we've come to help you. I say, where's Sir Godfrey? Is he +safe?" + +Scarlett tried to answer, but his feelings were too much for him. +Hunger, misery, confinement in that dark, depressing place, and the +mental agony he had been called upon to bear, rendered him speechless, +and he half turned away. + +Fred sprang at once to his side, and his quick movement excited +Scarlett's suspicion for the moment; but he thrust his sword back into +its sheath, and stood there motionless. + +"Look here," said Fred, excitedly, "of course, we're enemies, Scar; but +we want to help you all the same." + +"I suppose we must surrender now," said Scarlett, sadly. "I can do no +more. Have you your men outside?" + +"No; I haven't got my men outside," cried Fred, in a boyish, petulant +way. "Can't you believe me? What am I to say?" + +"Nothing, Fred Forrester," replied Scarlett, mournfully. "I believe +you, though we can't shake hands now." + +"Can't we?" said Fred, in a disappointed tone. + +Scarlett shook his head. + +"I have held out as long as I could. I thought we might escape; but it +was impossible with two wounded men, and I could not get through the +lines in search of food." + +Fred raised the light above his head, and then bent down over where he +could see some one lying on the stone floor. + +"Yes; he is asleep," said Scarlett, sadly. + +"Is he much hurt?" whispered Fred. + +"Terribly; but he is better now, and--" + +"Here he is, Master Fred," whispered Samson, as he knelt beside the +grim-looking figure of his brother, who seemed to be smiling mockingly +in his face. "Nice object, isn't he? Brother to be proud on!" + +"Silence!" said Fred, sternly; and at that moment there was an +ejaculation, a hasty movement, and Sir Godfrey made an effort to raise +himself upon his arm, the light, feeble as it was, dazzling him so that +he could not see. + +"Scarlett! My boy! Are we prisoners, then?" + +"No, Sir Godfrey," cried Fred, hastily; "right or wrong, I'd sooner go +and jump off Rill Head into the sea than give you up." + +"Ah, my lad," said Sir Godfrey, faintly, "these are sad times; but, for +pity's sake, tell me--my wife and child?" + +"Quite, quite safe, Sir Godfrey." + +"Ah!" ejaculated the wounded man; and then, as he stretched out his hand +to Fred, "God bless you for that news!" + +Fred eagerly grasped the extended hand, and wrung it, to turn directly +after in a shamefaced way toward Scarlett, as if apologising to him for +letting his father grasp hands with so bitter a foe. + +Scarlett stood gazing sadly at him for a few moments, and then slowly +raised his own cold, thin hand, which was literally snatched by Fred, +and the lads stood together in silence, neither daring to trust himself +to speak. + +Fred was the first to break the silence. + +"What would it be best for me to do, Sir Godfrey?" he said at last. + +"Send for some of your men, my boy, and I will surrender." + +"Father!" cried Scarlett, in anguished tones. + +"It is not fair to you to keep you shut up in this dreadful place. Let +us give up, and--No, you can leave me safely in Fred Forrester's hands. +He will not hinder your escape." + +"No, father," said Scarlett, sadly, "he will not." + +"What do you mean, my boy?" + +"You know, father." + +"Yes," said Sir Godfrey, after a pause; and his voice sounded sadly weak +and broken. "I have prayed to him to escape, Fred; but he would never +leave me, and he will not go now." + +"No, father! I will not go now," said Scarlett, turning away. + +There was silence for a few minutes, and then Fred said slowly, and in a +discontented way-- + +"I'm very sorry, Sir Godfrey, but I'm too stupid to think of anything +better. This is a terrible place; but I suppose you must be here till +you grow strong enough to walk or ride. We shall have to bring you food +and things as well as we can." + +"No, my boy," said Sir Godfrey, sadly; "you must not compromise yourself +by helping the enemy." + +"But, then, I don't feel as if you are an enemy, Sir Godfrey. There, +it's of no use; come what may, I will help you." + +"Don't want to speak without leave, Master Fred, sir," said Samson, in +his gruff tones; "but I've been thinking about my brother here." + +"Yes, Samson; quite right," said Fred. + +"No, sir, it ain't quite right. He'll be no end of time getting well in +a place like this." + +"I'm afraid so, Samson." + +"Well, sir, why not you and me and Master Scarlett there set to work +first dark night, and get 'em away, one at a time, on old Dodder?" + +"The pony?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"But where to, man--where to?" + +"Well, sir, I've been thinking about that, and I thought of the Manor, +where they'd be comfortable; but that place wouldn't be safe, nor the +barns nor stables, nor none of the cottages round." + +"No; it would be madness to attempt it." + +"But it wouldn't be, if we got 'em to the Rill caves." + +"Samson!" cried Fred; "the very place." + +"Hah!" ejaculated Samson, drawing along breath, as if perfectly +satisfied with himself. + +"What do you say, Scarlett, to that?" + +"Yes," replied Scarlett, thoughtfully, "if you think it could be done." + +"If it could be done," said Sir Godfrey, faintly. "I might live if you +could get me there, Scar, my boy. For their sake--for their sake," he +added sadly to himself. + +"Oh, I know it could be done," said Samson. "If Master Fred makes up +his mind to do it, and asks me to help him, it's as good as done. Hear +that, you ugly Coombeland ruffian?" he added in a whisper, as he pressed +his doubled fist in the semi-darkness against his brother's nose. + +"Just you wait till I get well," whispered back Nat, doubling his own +fist and holding it against Samson's nose in return. + +"Yes, and just you wait till I get you well," whispered Samson. "I'd +give it to you now, only it would be like hitting at a bit o' clay. +Why, you're as soft as boiled bacon! I'd be ashamed to call myself a +man!" + +"Just you say all that again when I get well," whispered Nat. + +"Yes, that I will a hundred times over.--Yes, sir?" + +"We must be going now, Samson. Leave what food you have." + +"I stood it in the corner there, sir." + +"And the flint, steel, tinder, and matches. I wish I had thought to +bring more candles. This one will not last very long." + +"So you did, Master Fred. Leastwise, I did. There's five there, and +one before makes six." + +"Hah! that's right," cried Fred, joyfully. "Then, now you can have a +light sometimes: and look here, Scar Markham--to-morrow I'll go and look +at the Rill caves, and see what can be done, so be ready to escape at a +moment's notice. We may come any time now. Good-bye, Sir Godfrey. +Lady Markham shall know that you and Scarlett are safe." + +"It is compromising yourself, my boy," said Sir Godfrey; "but I cannot +say to you forbear." + +"Good-bye!" + +"God bless you, my lad! and may this war soon cease," added the knight +to himself, as his son followed their two visitors to the opening. + +"Till we meet again, Scar Markham," whispered Fred, as Samson climbed +out first to reconnoitre. + +"Till we meet again, Fred," said Scarlett, once more holding out his +hand. + +"As friends?" + +"As enemies in name. Thank you, for my father's sake." + +"It's all clear, Master Fred," was whispered down the hole; and, after +another word or two of warning to be prepared for a sudden move, Fred +seized Samson's extended hand, leaped up out of the hole, and they made +their way back to camp unquestioned, while Scarlett Markham crept back +to his father's side, to sit there, listening to his breathing, and to +think of the possibility of escape to the cavern beneath Rill Head, +where perhaps they might end by obtaining a boat to go right away. + +CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. + +HOW SAMSON TRIED TO PASS THE SENTINELS. + +"Samson!" cried Fred, the next morning, in a fit of excitement, "oh, if +we had properly looked over that cave in the old days, and seen what it +was like!" + +"Well, sir, I s'pose it would have been better, sir. All the nicer, +too, for Sir Godfrey, if we'd reg'larly furnished it, and set up a +couple of four-post bedsteads, and had down carpets and such." + +"Do you mean this for banter, sir?" + +"No, sir; I was only thinking it was stoopid of you to talk in that +way." + +"Samson!" + +"Master Fred! How are we to know what's going to happen so as to be +prepared? Human folks aren't seeds, as you know what they'll do. If I +puts in a bean, it comes up beans; but you never know what we're going +to come up." + +"Don't ramble on like that. Now, listen to me. We must get them to the +cave at once." + +"Right, sir." + +"Then what shall we do first?" + +"First thing's wittling the place, and putting in some stores." + +"Now, that sounds sensible. Quite right. We must get some blankets." + +"From the Manor, sir?" + +"Right again, Samson. And all the food we can. Why, Samson--" + +"Yes, sir; I know what you are going to say. We've got to tell the +ladies at the old home to hold their tongues, and say nothing to nobody, +but go up to the Rill Head with a basket o' wittles, and enjoy +themselves, looking at the ships sailing by on the sea, and not eat +nothing themselves, but tumble everything down that hole, with blankets +and pillows, too, if they like, and do it every day." + +"Samson," said Fred, joyously, "I did not think of half that, and I'll +never call you a stupid again. The very thing." + +"Ah, I am a clever one, I am, sir, when you come to know me. But how +are you going to get to the Manor?" + +"You will have to go with a message from me to my mother. Yes, this +very day; but don't tell them whom the provisions are for, and bid them +be very cautious." + +"You leave that to me, sir," said Samson. "And now, how are you going +to get them to the cave?" + +"We shall want a rope." + +"I'll have it ready, sir. When?" + +"This very night." + +"Yes, sir." + +"And we'll take them some of our men's caps and cloaks." + +"Good, sir, and a pair of shears." + +"What for?" + +"No use to dress 'em up as our men when they've got long hair. Did you +see our Nat, sir?" + +"Yes, of course; but what do you mean?" + +"Hair sprouted all over his head like a badly cut hedge, sir. He's been +trying to grow like a Cav'lier, and he looks more like a half-fledged +cuckoo." + +"Don't waste time in folly. Can you get over to the Manor this +afternoon?" + +"Yes, sir, if you get me leave." + +"And I will get the caps and cloaks." + +"Don't want a donkey, I suppose, sir?" + +"No, Samson; we must risk getting our horses there behind the Hall." + +"Risky's the name for it, sir." + +"Yes; but the poor wounded men cannot walk. We can do it no other way, +and at any cost it must be done." + +"Will they shoot us if we're caught, sir?" + +"Don't talk about it. Leave the consequences, and act." + +"Right, Master Fred; but I hope they won't catch and shoot us for being +traitors." + +"Don't call our act by that ugly name." + +"Right, sir; but if we are caught and I am shot, you see if my brother +Nat don't laugh." + +"Why, man, why?" + +"Because he'll say I was such a fool." + +"So shall I, Samson, if you talk like that. Now, I cannot ask my father +for leave to go across to the Manor without his questioning me as to why +I wish you to go. You must get leave to go, so do what is necessary and +get off at once." + +"Don't you fear about that, Master Fred. And about poor Sir Godfrey, +Master Scar, and that brother of mine? They must be terribly hungry." + +"They must wait. We cannot go near them to-day. What we left must do, +and they will be watching the more eagerly for us, all ready?" + +"Then you mean it to-night, sir, without fail?" + +"Without fail, Samson. Sir Godfrey must be got away to-night." + +"Rope, wittles, blankets, and anything they like," said Samson, as he +parted from his master; and after hesitating a little about asking leave +to quit the camp, he came to the conclusion that it would be wiser to +get permission from his officer to fish, and then, after selecting a +spot where the trees overhung the water, steal off through the wood. + +This he proceeded to put in force at once, to be met with a stern rebuff +from the officer in question, a sour-looking personage, who refused him +point-blank, and sent Samson to the right-about, scratching his head. + +"This is a nice state of affairs, this is!" he grumbled to himself. +"Here's Master Fred, thinking me gone off to carry out his orders, and +I'm shut up like a blackbird in a cage. Whatever shall I do? It's no +use to ask anybody else." + +Samson had another scratch at his head, and then another, and all in +vain; he could not scratch any good idea into it or out of it; and at +last, in sheer despair, he walked slowly away, with the intention of +evading the outposts, and, being so well acquainted with the country +round, dodging from copse to coombe, and then away here and there till +he was beyond the last outpost, when he could easily get to the Manor. + +Now, it had always seemed one of the easiest things possible to get out +of camp. So it was in theory--"only got to keep out of the roads and +paths, cross the fields and keep to the moor, and there you are." + +But when, after making up his mind which way to go, Samson tried to +practise instead of theorise, he found the task not quite so easy. His +plan was to go out of the park to the south, and then work round to the +west; but he had not gone fifty yards beyond the park, and was chuckling +to himself about how easy it was, and how an enemy might get in, when, +just as he was saying to himself, "Sentinels, indeed! Why, I'd make +better sentinels out of turnips!" + +"Halt!" rang out, and a man appeared from behind a tree. + +"Halt? What for? You know me." + +"Yes," said the sentry. "I know you. Can't go out of the lines without +a pass." + +"What! Not for a bit of a walk?" + +"Where's your pass?" + +"Didn't get one. No pass wanted for a bit of a ramble." + +"Go back." + +"Nonsense! You won't turn a man--" + +"Your pass, or go back." + +"Go back yourself." + +Samson took a step forward, and the man blew the match of his heavy +piece, and presented it. + +"Back, or I fire!" he cried. + +"Yes; you dare, that's all!" cried Samson. "Such nonsense!" + +But the man was in earnest, that was plain enough; and, seeing this, +Samson went growling back, made a long _detour_, and started again. + +This time he thought he had got through the chain of sentinels, and, +congratulating himself on his success, he made for a little grove of +birch-trees. + +"Only wanted a little trying," he said. + +"Stand!" + +He started back in amazement, for he had walked right up to the muzzle +of a firelock, the man who bore it proving more stern and severe than +the one he had before encountered. + +Samson went back, growling savagely; and this was the first line of +sentinels! A second would have to be passed, and beyond that there were +patrols of cavalry guarding the camp in every direction. + +"Well, Master Fred shan't say I didn't try," he muttered, as he made now +for the back of the Hall, where the great groves of trees sheltered the +place from the north and easterly winds. + +Here he again hoped to be successful, and, feeling assured at last that +he had avoided the the sentries, he was about to make for a narrow +coombe on ahead, when once more a man stood in his path, and asked for +his pass. + +"Haven't got it here," said Samson, gruffly. + +"Then go back." + +"Go back yourself," growled Samson; and, putting in effect a +west-country wrestling trick, he threw the sentry on his back, and +dashed down the slope toward the coombe. "He daren't go and tell," +muttered the fugitive, "for he'd get into trouble for letting me go by." + +_Bang_! + +Samson leaped off the ground a couple of feet, and on coming down upon +the steep slope, staggered and nearly fell. Not that he was hit, but +the bullet sent to stop him cut up the turf close to his legs, and +startled him nearly out of his wits. + +"I'll serve you out for that, my lad," he muttered, "I shall know you +again." + +He ran on the faster though, and then to his disgust, found that another +sentry was at the bottom of the coombe, and well on the alert, running +to intercept him, for the shot fired had spread the alarm. + +Seeing this, Samson dodged into the wood that clothed the western side +of the coombe, and by a little scheming crept out a couple of hundred +yards from where the sentry was on the watch. + +"Tricked him this time," said Samson, chuckling, and once more starting, +for a bullet whistled by his ear, and directly after there was the +report. + +But he ran on feeling that he had passed two of the chains of sentries, +and that now all he had to do was to clear the mounted patrols. + +This he set himself to do with the more confidence that there was no +horseman in sight; and, with his hopes rising, he kept on now at a +steady trot, which he changed for a walk as he reached the irregular +surface of the moor, scored into hundreds of little valleys running into +one another, and the larger toward the sea. + +"Nothing like a bow, after all," muttered Samson, as he ran. "Shoot +four or five arrows while you're loading one of those clumsy great guns. +Got away from you this time, my lad. Ay, you may shout," he muttered +as he heard a hail. "Likely! You'd have to holloa louder to bring me +back, and--Well, now, look at that!" he grumbled, as he got about five +hundred yards away, and suddenly found that he was the quarry of two of +the mounted men, who had caught sight of him, and were coming from +opposite directions, bent on cutting him off. "Well, I think I know +this bit o' the country better than you do, and if I aren't mounted on a +horse, I'm mounted on as good a pair o' legs as most men, and deal +better than my brother Nat's." + +He said all this in an angry tone, as he made straight for a patch of +woodland at the edge of the moor, when, seeing this, and that the man on +foot was steadily running in Samson's track, the two horsemen +immediately bore away so as to intercept the fugitive on the further +side, and soon disappeared from view. + +"I thought you'd do that," said Samson to himself; and he turned sharply +round, ran a few yards towards his pursuer, and then turned along one of +the courses of a stream, and in a minute was out of sight, but only to +double again in quite a different direction along the dry course of +another rivulet, which wound here and there to the south. + +"Get round 'em somehow," said Samson; and, settling himself into a slow +trot, he ran on and on for quite a quarter of an hour, to where the +hollow in which he had been running opened out on to open moor all +covered with whortleberry and bracken, offering good hiding should an +enemy be in sight, and with the further advantage of being only about a +mile from the Manor. + +"I shall trick 'em now," he said. "Once I've told 'em at the old house, +they may catch me if they like; but they won't care to when they see me +going back to camp." + +"Halt!" + +A sword flashed in poor Samson's eyes, and he found that the opening of +the dry course was guarded by another mounted man, who spurred up to him +and caught him by the collar before he had dashed away a dozen yards. + +"Don't choke a fellow. I give in," grumbled Samson, as the man held +him, and presented his sword-point at his breast. "There, I won't try +to run. It's of no good," he added; and he made no opposition to a +strap being thrown round his neck, drawn tight, and as soon as the man +had buckled the end to his saddle-bow, he walked his horse slowly back +toward the camp. + +Before they had gone far, the other two mounted men trotted up, and +seemed ready to administer a little correction with the flat of their +swords. + +"Yes, you do," said Samson, showing his teeth; "and as soon as this bit +o' trouble's over, I'll pay you back, or my name aren't what it is." + +"Let him alone," said his captor. "Come on, lad." + +He spurred his horse to a trot, and Samson ran beside him, while the two +others returned to their posts. + +As it happened, Fred was riding along the outside of the camp with his +father as the prisoner was brought in, and as soon as he saw who it was, +the colour flushed to his face, and he felt that it was all over, and +that he would have to confess. + +"How now, sir!" cried the colonel. "You?" + +"Yes, sir. I was only stretching my legs a bit, and this man tried to +run me down." + +"Are you the man reported by the sentry as trying to desert?" + +"Me trying to desert, sir!" cried Samson, indignantly. "Do I look the +sort o' man likely to desert, colonel, unless it was to get a good +draught o' cider?" + +"But you were out of bounds, sir." + +"Father," began Fred, who was in agony, "let me--" + +"Silence, sir! He is a soldier now, and must be treated as a soldier." + +"Yes; don't you say nothing about me, Master Fred, sir. I can bear all +I get." + +"Go back to your quarters, sir. You are under arrest, mind, I will deal +with you to-morrow." + +Samson gave Fred a meaning look as he was marched off, and Fred's agony +of spirit increased as he asked himself whether he ought not to confide +in his father. A dozen times over he was about to speak, but only to +hesitate, for he knew that the colonel would sacrifice his friend on the +altar of duty, even if he had to sacrifice himself. + +"I must save them," muttered Fred, as he went slowly back to his tent. +"I am not firm and stern like my father;" and then, as soon as he was +alone, he sat down to think of how he was to contrive the escape unaided +and alone. + +Night came, with his mind still vacillating, for he could see no way out +of his difficulty, and, to render his position more difficult, the +colonel came to his tent and sat till long after dark chatting about the +likelihood of the war coming to an end, and their prospects of once more +settling down at the home whose open doors were so near. + +"And the Royalists, father? What of them?" said Fred at last. + +"Exiles, I fear, my boy, for their cause is lost. They must suffer, as +we must have suffered, had our side gone to the wall." + +"Father," said Fred, "if you could help a suffering enemy now, would you +do it?" + +"If it was such help as my duty would allow--yes; if not, no. +Recollect, we are not our own masters, but servants of the country. +Good night, my boy. I think you may sleep in peace to-night;" and he +strode out of the little tent, where his seat had been a horseman's +cloak thrown over a box. + +"Sleep!" said Fred to himself, "with those poor fellows starving in that +hole. I must, I will help them, and ask his forgiveness later on. But +how?" + +"Pst! ciss!" came from the back of the tent. + +CHAPTER FORTY NINE. + +SAMSON IS NOT TO BE BEATEN. + +"What's that? Who's there?" said Fred, sharply. + +"Pst! Master Fred. Don't make all that noise. You'll have the guard +hear you." + +The mischief was done, for there was the tramp of feet, and directly +after a sergeant and his men stopped opposite Fred's tent. + +"Must have been somewhere here," said the sergeant, in a deep voice. + +"Yes," said Fred, stepping to the tent opening; "it was I, sergeant. I +thought I heard some one call." + +"No, sir; all's well. Good night, sir." + +"Good night." + +"You nearly did it that time, Master Fred," whispered Samson. "What +made you holloa like that?" + +"You, sir. How came you here?" + +"Slit a hole in the guard tent, and crept out; that's all, sir. Tent +walls are soft enough. Now, then, are you ready?" + +"Ready? Yes--no--what can we do?" + +"What you said, sir." + +"But we cannot take them to the place to starve." + +"Who's going to, sir?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Only that I crept out o' the tent hour and a half ago, ran down to the +Manor--easy enough in the dark--and told 'em what to do as soon as it +was light in the morning, and then ran back." + +"But the rope?" + +"Here it is, sir; wound round me like a belt. Come along, and let's +go." + +"But the horse--how are we to get Sir Godfrey there?" + +"I dunno, sir, only that we've got to try. Come on; we can only make a +mess of it." + +Fred hesitated no longer; but taking his sword and cloak, he stepped out +into the dark night, joined his man, and then stole with him cautiously +along the tents to where the horses were tethered. Samson untied the +halters which kept them prisoners, and led them silently away over the +soft glass. + +The task proved more easy than they had expected, for there were no +watchers near. Strict ward and watch were kept, but only by those on +duty. Those who were off devoted the time to rest and sleep. + +All round the camp there was every precaution taken against surprise; +but in the interior of the tented space there seemed to be none to +interrupt. + +"Bridles, saddles?" whispered Fred. + +"If we can't do what we want without them, sir, we shan't do it at all," +said Samson. "Tie your halter to his head, and leave the horses alone. +The two beasts 'll follow us like dogs, and it's all right so long as +they don't whinny." + +Samson was correct. The two horses followed them like dogs, their hoof +tramp being almost inaudible, and they went on through the darkness at a +pace which seemed terrible to Fred in its sluggishness, nearly down to +the lake, and then round its western end, and in front of the ruined +Hall. + +"We shall never get them there." + +"Oh yes, we shall, if we can get them through the lines, and it's so +dark that I don't feel no fear of that. Now, sir, we'll tether them to +these two trees, and then get to work." + +Fred followed his companion's example, glancing round from time to time, +and listening as every sigh of the wind seemed to be the breath of a +watcher; and then, tethering his steed, which calmly began to crop the +luxuriant grass, Fred started for the wilderness, his sword drawn to +feel his way beneath the trees, and at last contrived to reach the spot +where they had entered from time to time. + +"Shall I go first, Master Fred?" whispered Samson. + +"No, no." + +"Better let me. I'm thicker-skinned, and it's going to be all feeling, +sir." + +But Fred would not give up, and, entering the tangled underwood at once, +he went cautiously on, till about half-way, when a rush through the +bushes brought his heart to his mouth. + +"Only rabbit, sir. Keep on," grumbled Samson. + +"Think we are going right?" + +"Yes, sir, far as I can tell; but it's blind man's work." + +Instinct or guess-work, one or the other, led them right to the fallen +tree, when the hole was soon discovered, and Fred crept through and +dropped into the passage, closely followed by Samson. + +"Don't find fault, sir," whispered the latter, as he touched the bottom, +"I should ha' done it, only I was took." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Brought a light." + +"Never mind; I can find my way." + +"Let me go first, sir." + +"No; follow closely, and don't talk now." + +"Only this one word, sir," whispered Samson, holding tightly by his +master's arm. "When we get 'em safe off, and my brother Nat starts +boasting, mind, sir, it was to help Sir Godfrey and Master Scar I came-- +not him." + +"Silence!" + +"How like his father he do grow!" muttered Samson; and he obeyed. + +Fred wondered to himself that he felt no shrinking at the strange task, +before creeping step by step into the utter darkness of this place; but +he was strung up now, and determined to carry his task through, come +what might. + +Never before had the way seemed so long ere he struck his foot against +the first short flight of steps; and then, as he reached the top +unchallenged, a horrible sense of dread assailed him, for all was as +silent as it was dark, and he asked himself what had happened to his +friends. + +He stood listening, but could hear nothing; and at last he gripped +Samson by the shoulder, and whispered-- + +"What does it mean? Have they gone?" + +"That's what I was asking myself, sir. Speak--or shall I? Anybody +here?" he said aloud. + +There was a whispering echo, nothing more, and Fred felt the cold +perspiration ooze from his brow, as he tried to imagine what could have +happened since they were there last. + +Those moments seemed long-drawn minutes, and then relief came in a long, +low sigh; and as that ended, the breathing of a sleeper and a restless +movement were plainly heard from the corner of the vault. + +"Hist!" whispered Samson; "hear that, sir?" + +"Yes; they are asleep." + +"No, sir; that behind us?" + +"No." + +"Listen." + +Fred listened intently, and his hand went to the hilt of his sword, for, +sure enough, there was the sound of steps coming slowly and cautiously, +and as if he who made them listened, along the passage from the +direction of the lake. + +"Some one tracking us," said Fred, with his lips to his follower's ear. +"Stand aside. Don't strike. Let him enter, and then we must seize and +gag him when I say `_Now_!'" + +A pressure of Samson's ear against his lips told of his acquiescence, +and they stood, one on each side of the arched opening, waiting as the +steps came nearer, apparently more and more cautiously, till the +stairway was reached, against which whoever it was stumbled slightly, +and then ascended with many pauses, and stepped right inside the vault, +breathing heavily, and seeming to listen. + +"What shall I do?" thought Fred. "Seize him, or what?" + +"Master Fred--Master Fred, do say `_Now_', or our chance is gone," said +Samson to himself; and as if this was communicated to the young officer +by some peculiar sense, he was drawing in his breath previous to giving +the word and dashing at their tracker, when a low, piteous voice said +half aloud-- + +"Gone, or he has forgotten us. What shall--" + +"Don't you talk like that o' Master Fred, sir," cried Samson, in +indignant tones. + +"Scar!" cried Fred; and he threw his arms round his boyhood's companion, +who uttered a low sigh, and would have sunk to the stony floor but for +Fred's support. + +"Samson." + +"Well, sir, what did he mean by scaring us and talking like that?" + +"Have you been outside?" + +"No," said Scarlett, in a low, hesitating voice. "I was ill and +feverish. I went to the end to get some water, and I think I must have +fallen down and slept. I have not slept much, and it has been so long +and dark, and I thought you had forsaken us." + +"Forsaken you!" cried Fred, reproachfully. "But your father--and Nat?" + +"I hardly know; they seem to have done nothing but sleep." + +"Don't talk now. Rouse them at once. You must escape." + +"Escape? Where?" + +"I have provided the refuge for you. Horses are waiting in front of the +Hall. Now, let's try and get them out at once." + +"In front of the Hall?" said Scarlett, whose weakness seemed to be +chased away by his old friend's words. + +"Yes." + +"Fred, we can get down from the oak chamber into the ruins. A piece of +the wall has fallen. Will not that be a better way?" + +"Of course," cried Fred. "Then wake them at once." + +This was done, and the news of the coming of help conveyed to Sir +Godfrey and his man, who rose with pain to their feet; but it soon +became evident that the former could not stir a step, though Nat +declared he could walk anywhere, and nearly fell on trying to cross the +vault. + +"It is of no use," said Scarlett; "but I thank you, Fred Forrester, and +I can never call you enemy again." + +"No," said Sir Godfrey, piteously. "I am too weak to stir; but God +bless you, my brave, true boy--never our enemy again." + +"Look ye here," said a gruff voice, "I don't know nothing 'bout no other +way, so you've got to show me or lead me. I'll hold a strap in my +teeth, and some one can lead me by that. What you've got to do, Master +Fred, is to set Sir Godfrey well on my back, and I can carry him +anywhere. Never mind about that brother o' mine. Chuck him down in any +corner, if he won't walk. I aren't going to carry him." + +Nat uttered a low grunt, and muttered something out of the darkness +about kicking, as, after a vain protest, Sir Godfrey was helped on to +Samson's back, the sturdy fellow stooping down, and then rising up with +a bit of a laugh. + +"Dessay him I was named after was pretty strong; but he couldn't ha' +carried you, sir, any better than that." + +"My brave-hearted fellow!" said Sir Godfrey, faintly; and he set his +teeth hard to keep back a moan of pain. + +"Now, then," said Samson, "what sort of a way is it?" + +"Just like that we came," said Fred, quickly as he drew Nat's arm over +his shoulder. + +"Then I don't want no leading," said Samson; "some one go first, and I +can feel my way with my ears." + +"Go first, Scar," whispered Fred. "Don't speak; only tell him when you +reach the stairs. Now, forward!" + +"Forward it is, gen'lemen. March! Never mind about that Nat. Got him +all right, Master Fred?" + +There was a low chuckle by Fred's ear that sounded like one of Samson's, +as he answered--"Yes. Go on." + +"Go on it is, gen'lemen; give the old donkey the spur, if he won't go." + +The long passage was slowly traversed, and then began the toilsome +ascent of the stairs leading to the oak chamber, poor Nat being very +feeble, and Fred's task hard; but the top was reached at last, and the +soft fresh night air blew freely upon the rescuers' heated brows, as, +under Scarlett's guidance, they crossed the little room to the corner +where the wall had fallen away. + +Here greater difficulties began in the getting down to the level of the +ground floor, stones giving way, and the darkness adding to the +difficulty. Once there was quite a little avalanche of calcined +material; but perseverance won, and all stood safely at last on the +trampled lawn in front of the ruined Hall. + +"Shall we let them rest here for a bit?" whispered Fred. + +"No, Master Fred, sir; they must rest on the horses' backs. Come on; +they're not fifty yards away." + +A low whinny from one of the faithful beasts followed this speech, and +the party listened in dread that the sound might have been heard. + +"Come on, sir," whispered Samson; "heard or no, now's our time;" and he +walked quickly to where the horses were tethered, with the others close +behind. "Now, sir," he said in a whisper, "I've got to get you on that +horse. If you can put a leg over, do. If you can't--" + +Answer came in the shape of a brave effort on Sir Godfrey's part, and +the next instant he was sitting erect on the horse's back. + +"Hooroar!" whispered Samson. "Now t'other one. Foot in my hands like a +lady. Nat, old chap. Ready? Up you go. That's brave. Yah! I forgot +as we was enemies. Come along. You lead him, Master Fred, as you would +bring him along." + +"Can you walk all right, Scar?" whispered Fred. + +"Yes. I'll take hold, though, of the horse's mane." + +"Ready, Samson?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then, forward, and not a word; we must leave everything to chance. Our +only hope is that we may pass between the sentinels, and that the +darkness may screen us from their eyes." + +A quarter of an hour's slow and careful progress over the soft grassy +moor, and then they stopped short, for there was the chink of metal and +the sharp stamp of a horse. + +"If ours challenge him with a neigh, we are lost," thought Fred, as he +stood trembling, and patting his horse's nose. + +"Poor old lad, then!" whispered Samson; and, their attention taken by +their masters' caressing hands, the brave beasts remained silent, and +then moved on till there was a road to be crossed, and Samson halted. + +"Can't help it, sir; there's no other way," he whispered; "and it's all +stones." + +"Forward!" whispered Fred; and they crossed the road, but not without +making a sharp sound or two. Then they were once more on the soft turf, +and bore away more and more to their right, till Scarlett whispered-- + +"Are you making for the shore?" + +"No; for the Rill Head--the cavern," said Fred. + +"Then it must be close here, for we are only a little way from the edge +of the cliffs." + +Endorsement of his words came in the low roar of a breaking wave from +below; and just then the stars peeped out from behind a cloud, and they +saw exactly where they stood. + +Ten minutes later they were close by the narrow entrance, and as Fred +searched for the exact place he uttered a cry of satisfaction, for there +by the gaping rift lay two large bundles, whose contents he pretty well +guessed. + +CHAPTER FIFTY. + +BACK TO CAMP. + +"Now, Samson," whispered Fred, "we must trust to our horses standing +fast." + +"You let their halters lie on the ground, sir, and they'll not move," +was the reply. "Wait a minute, till I've unrolled the rope from my +waist, and then I'm ready." + +"What can I do?" said Scarlett, in a low anxious voice. + +"Nothing, sir. Now, Master Fred, let's get them two down first off the +horses, and they can lie on the grass till we're ready for them. Then, +if you think as I do, me being strongest, you'll go down first, while I +hold the rope." + +"Can you?" + +"Can I?" exclaimed Samson, in a tone full of contempt. "Then when +you're down, I'll lower down the stuff first, and you take it and cast +the rope loose each time; and next, I'll let Sir Godfrey down and Master +Scar, and then--" + +He stopped short. + +"Your brother," said Fred, sharply. "We cannot do better." + +Everything was done according to Samson's plans, beginning with the +helping down of the two wounded riders, after which Fred took the end of +the rope, and was lowered into what, in spite of his determination, +seemed to be an awful chasm. + +But he had no time to think, for directly he touched the shaley floor, +the rope was drawn up, and almost directly after, he was hastily taking +from the rope the burdens which it bore, while, to his surprise, +Scarlett came next. + +"You?" said Fred in his wonder. + +"Yes; I thought I could help most here; and it seemed so terrible a +place for you to be alone." + +"Scar!" whispered Fred, quickly, as a thought struck him, due to +Samson's general forethought, "open those bundles, and see if there is +anything to get a light." + +Sir Godfrey was lowered down, and when Fred was helping Nat to sink +gently on the flooring of the cave, the sharp clicking of flint and +steel fell upon his ears, and soon after the gloomy place was illumined +by a candle stuck in a niche of the rock. + +"I wouldn't be longer than 'bout an hour, Master Fred, sir," came down +the opening. "We may as well get back safe if we can." + +Fred answered, and then set to work, to find that the forethought of +those at the Manor had provided ample store for the prisoners; and if +ever wine was welcome to man, it was to the sufferers lying exhausted +there upon the shaley bed of the cave. + +"As soon as I am up," said Fred at last, "I shall throw down the rope, +and with the light you can explore the lower part of the cave, and see +what means there are of getting to the mouth; for sooner or later a boat +and men shall come to take you both where you will. Now, Scar Markham, +God bless you, and good-bye!" + +Fred had previously bidden Sir Godfrey farewell. Nat had sunk into the +sleep of exhaustion long before, and now he stood grasping Scarlett's +hands in his. + +"Some day," said the latter, sadly, "this war must end, and then we may +meet again." + +"And not till then, Scar, for I can--I must do no more. Good-bye." + +He snatched his hands from the grasp that held them, caught hold of the +rope, and calling up to Samson, in another minute he was half-way up, +but only to call down to Scarlett-- + +"Have no fear about supplies; there are those not far away who will see +that you have all you want." + +There was no reply, for in his weakness and misery Scarlett Markham had +thrown himself upon his face, and lay for hours almost without moving, +and till long after the light had burned out, and the faint bluish dawn +rose from the chasm below. + +Meanwhile Fred had reached the top, lowered down the rope till its +weight made it glide swiftly from his hands, and then mounted his horse +to ride back, through the darkness, trusting to chance to reach the camp +unchallenged. + +This time they were not so successful, for all at once a sharp voice +bade them halt and give the word. + +"Forward's the word, Master Fred," whispered Samson, "full speed, knee +to knee." + +Their horses answered to the touches of their heels, and bounded through +the darkness, the man who challenged trying to fire in their direction; +but the match merely made the priming flash, and before he could +communicate with his fellows, Fred and Samson were far over the moor +toward the park, dashing by an outpost, whose men fired and raised the +alarm. It was too late to stop the adventurous pair, who were close up +to the tents and off the horses, which they left to their fate, while +the men whom they encountered now treated them as others who had been +alarmed by the firing on the moor. Drums were beating, trumpets +sounding, and men mustered quickly, waiting a night attack, till the +sentinels were questioned and told their tale. An hour more, and it was +broad daylight, and the men dismissed, after what was treated as a false +alarm. + +"And when I went to the tethering stakes, Master, Fred, sir," whispered +Samson, "there were our horses standing alongside o' the others, with +their halters hanging down just as if they'd never left their places." + +"But weren't you missed? You were a prisoner." + +"No, sir, s'pose not. I should ha' thought they'd ha' looked at me now +and then; but I'd done nothing very wrong, and when a man did tramp into +the tent, he found me lying down, and didn't see the slit through which +I crept out and in." + +"Then you are released, Samson?" + +"Yes, sir; your father ordered me to be let out, and, oh, how sleepy I +do feel! I say, though, sir, if the colonel know'd all we done last +night, what would he say?" + +"Don't talk about it, my good fellow. I hope he would be glad at heart; +but as a soldier--Samson, we must keep our secret, perhaps for years." + +Samson gave his mouth a slap with his horny palm, and walked away. + +CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. + +GREETINGS AFTER LONG YEARS. + +During the month which followed Sir Godfrey's escape, the forces of the +Parliamentarians achieved success after success, Colonel Forrester and +his son being despatched with a little column to the east two days +later. + +The dilemma to Fred before starting seemed terrible, but just as he felt +that there was nothing left for him to do but confess all he had done to +his father, he encountered Samson. + +"Why, Master Fred!" he exclaimed, "you look as if you'd got the worries +on you." + +"Worry? Why, man, we have to march almost directly, and those poor +people in the cave are--" + +"What poor people? in what cave? Only wish I was one of 'em. Having it +luscious, that's what they're a-having, Master Fred, sir. Chicken and +eggs, and butter and new bread, and milk and honey, and nothing to do. +Blankets to wrap 'em in, and cider and wine, and ladies to go and talk +to 'em." + +"Samson, are you sure of this?" cried Fred, joyfully. + +"Wish I was as sure as all this human being cock-fighting was nearly +over, Master Fred." + +"Then you've been over?" + +"'Course I have, sir. I aren't like the colonel, about here all these +weeks, and never going home nor letting you go. I got leave this time, +for I met the general, and told him how near I was to my garden, and how +anxious I was about the weeds, and he laughed and give me a pass +directly." + +"And my mother?" + +"Your mother, Master Fred? Why, I couldn't get to know about them in +the cave for her asking me questions about the colonel and her boy! She +would call you a boy, sir, though you think you're a man, and no more +muscle in your arms than a carrot." + +"But the people in the cave, Samson?" + +"Don't I tell you they're all right, sir--right as right can be; and +first chance there's going to be a boat round from Barnstaple to take +Sir Godfrey and Miss Lil and my lady away across the sea to France, and +Pshaw! I never heard the like of it; they're going to take that great +rough ugly brother of mine with them. They're all right." + +Many weeks of busy soldiering followed, by which time the king's power +was crushed, and the Parliamentary forces had swept away all opposition. +Regiments were gradually disbanded, and the Forresters at last returned +to the Manor, from which Colonel Forrester's stern sense of duty had +kept him away, as much as the calls of his military life. + +"There, Samson," he said, smiling, as they rode home, "you may sheathe +your sword, and sharpen your rusty scythe; while you, Fred--what are we +to do with you? Send you back to school?" + +"No, father, I must be what I am--a soldier still," said Fred, proudly; +"but I hope in peace more than in war." + +"Yes; we have had enough of war for years to come." + +The colonel drew rein that sunny afternoon as they were passing the +ruined Hall, and Fred heard him sigh, but he forgot that directly after +in his eagerness to get home; and soon after father and son were locked +in turn in sobbing Mistress Forrester's arras. + +There was abundance to tell that night as they sat in the old, old room, +where mother and son exchanged glances, each silently questioning the +other with the eye as to whether the time had not come for telling all; +but still they hesitated, till all at once Colonel Forrester exclaimed +sadly-- + +"This is nearly perfect happiness--home and peace once more; but it is +not complete. You say Lady Markham and her daughter left a month ago +for France?" + +"Yes, dearest," replied Mistress Forrester. + +"Ah!" sighed the colonel, "I'd give all I have to know that mine enemy +was saved from the horrors of that terrible evening." + +"Will you give your forgiveness, father?" said Fred, rising. + +"Forgiveness?" + +"Yes: to one who was somewhat of a traitor to his cause." + +"My boy! what do you mean?" cried the colonel; and Fred told all he +knew, Mistress Forrester supplementing his narrative with a vivid +description of how the fugitive Royalists had been helped into the +cavern, and had then escaped by sea. + +The colonel rose, and stood staring straight before him, and then he +slowly went to the door, signed to them not to follow, and they heard +him go upstairs, where, in dread at last, Mistress Forrester followed, +to find him on his knees. + +When, half an hour after, he returned to the dining-room, his face +seemed changed, and there was a bright look in his eyes as if a weight +had been lifted from his mind, while twice over his son heard him +whisper softly--"Thank God! Thank God!" + +It was after years had passed, and various political changes had taken +place, that one bright May day, bright as such days are sometimes seen +in the west, a heavy carriage drawn by four horses, and attended by two +gentlemen and a sturdy servitor on horseback, passed slowly up and down +the hills along the road leading to the Hall. + +One gentleman was stern and grey-looking, the other tall and grave +beyond his years, while, seated in the carriage were a careworn-looking +lady and a beautiful, graceful-looking girl. + +As they neared the old entrance to the park, the gentleman ordered the +coachman to stop, and himself opened the carriage door, after +dismounting, and handed the ladies out on to the soft turf. + +"It is more humble for pilgrims to travel a-foot," he said, with a sad +smile. "Do you think you feel strong enough to bear the visit?" + +The lady could not answer for a few moments. Then, mastering her +emotion, she said, "Yes;" and, taking the speaker's arm, they were +moving off, followed by the younger pair, the whole party looking like +courtly foreigners, when, after tethering the horses to so many trees, +and leaving them in charge of the coachman, the stout serving-man strode +up to the elderly gentleman. + +"Would your honour let me have a look at my old garden once again?" + +"Yes, Nat, yes. Take a farewell look. It is a fancy to see the old +place in ruins, and have an hour's dream over the past. Then we will +say good-bye for good." + +The man touched his hat, and turned off through the plantation, while +the party moved on slowly along the familiar old drive, the ladies, with +their eyes veiled with tears, hardly daring to look up till they had +nearly reached the great entrance to the fine old place, when they +started at a cry from the younger man. + +"Father!" he cried. "What does this mean? This is your work--a +surprise?" + +"Scar, my boy, no; I am astounded." + +For there before them, almost precisely as it was of old, stood the +Hall, rebuilt, refurnished, bright and welcoming, the lawn, terrace, and +parterre gay with flowers, all as if the past had been a dream, while at +that moment Colonel and Mrs Forrester appeared with Fred, hat in hand, +in the porch. + +Sir Godfrey Markham drew himself up, and his eyes flashed as he turned +upon the colonel. + +"I see," he cried. "Usurper! Well, I might have known!" + +"That this was the act of an old friend to offer as a welcome when you +should return," said Colonel Forrester, holding out his hand. + +Sir Godfrey looked at the extended hand, then in Colonel Forrester's +eyes, and again round him in utter astonishment. + +"I--I--came," he faltered, "to--to see the ruins of my dear old home. +How could I know that the man whom I once called friend--" + +"Till all those dreadful changes came, and set us wide apart. Yes, I +heard you were coming down." + +"Godfrey! husband!" whispered Lady Markham; "can you not see?" + +"I am confused. I do not understand," he faltered, as he caught his +wife's hand in his. + +"Lil, can't you shake hands with your old friend?" said Fred, as the +tall graceful girl looked at him half pleased, half shrinkingly. + +"And your father has done all this, Fred?" said Scarlett, in an eager +whisper. + +"Yes; I found him busy one day when I came home for a visit, and it has +been his task ever since." + +"But--for Heaven's sake, man, be frank with me--he meant it for your +home?" + +"Scarlett Markham, because my father differed from you in politics, and +sided against the king, don't brand him as a cowardly miser. No; he +said that some day Sir Godfrey would return, and that he would show him +that he had not forgotten they once were friends." + +"Father, do you hear this?" cried Scarlett. "Colonel Forrester, is the +old time coming back?" + +"Please God, my boy, now that the sword is to be beaten into a +ploughshare. Godfrey Markham, I did this in all sincerity. Will you +accept it from your enemy?" + +"No," cried Sir Godfrey; "but I will from my true old friend." And as, +trembling with emotion, he grasped the colonel's hands, he turned to see +Lady Markham in Mistress Forrester's arms. + +Meanwhile, a curious scene had been taking place at the back of the +Hall, where Nat had directed his steps to lament over the weeds and ruin +of the neglected place. He had walked on along familiar paths through +the plantation to the back of the kitchen garden, passed through an old +oaken gate in the high stone wall, and there stopped aghast. + +"Here, who's been meddling now?" he cried. "Who's been doing this?" + +For, in place of the ruin he had expected, he found everything in the +trimmest order--young crops sprung, trees pruned, walks clean, +everything as it should be; and, worse than all, a broad-shouldered man, +looking like himself, busy at work with a hoe destroying the weeds which +had sprung up since the last shower. + +Nat did not hesitate, but walked down the path, and at right angles on +to the bed, where he hit the intruder on the chest with his doubled +fist. + +"So it's you, is it, Samson?" + +"Yes, it's me, Nat," was the reply; and the blow was returned. + +"How are you, Samson?" said Nat; and he hit his brother again on the +other side. + +"Tidy, Nat. How are you?" replied Samson, returning the blow. + +"You've got a bit stouter." + +"So have you." + +"Long time since we met." + +"Ay, 'tis." + +"Like this here garden?" + +"Middling." + +Each of these little questions and answers was accompanied by a blow +dealt right out from the shoulder, sharp and short, till the men's +chests must have been a mass of bruises. Then they drew back, and +stared at each other. + +"Who told you to come and work in my garden?" said Nat at last. + +"Nobody; I did it out of my own head." + +"And pray why?" + +"Because I thought, if ever you came back, it would make you mad." + +"So it has. How would you like me to come and rout about in your +garden?" + +"Dunno. Come and try." + +"Well, I would ha' put in that row o' beans straight if I did." + +"Straight enough, Natty; it's your eyes are crooked. Come back to +stop?" + +"No; going back to furren abroad." + +"Then what's the good of my master building up the house again?" + +"What? Did he?" + +"Ay; came and see me doing up your garden as it had never been done up +before, and went away and ordered in the workpeople." + +"Hum!" said Nat. + +"Ha!" said Samson. + +"Well, aren't you going to shake hands?" + +"Ay, might as well. How are you, Nat?" + +"Quite well, thank you, Samson. How are you?" + +"Feel as if I should be all the better for a mug o' cider. What says +you?" + +"Same as you." + +"Then come on." + +And Nat came on. + +For peace was made, and though rumours of the next war at the +Restoration came down to the west, those who had been enemies stirred +not from the ingle-side again till Fred Forrester was called away; but +Scarlett had become a student and a scholar, and the young friends met +no more in strife. When they did encounter, and ran over the troubles +of the past, it was with a calm feeling of satisfaction in the present, +and the old war time as years slipped by seemed to them both as a dream. + +"Yes," cried Sir Godfrey, eagerly, as he laid his hand on Colonel +Forrester's shoulder; "some day, with all my heart." + +"I am very glad," said the stern colonel, smiling at a group by the +house where the ladies were seated, and Fred and Lil, so intent on each +other's converse, that they did not perceive that they were watched. + +But other eyes had noted everything during the past year, and it was +evident that the time would come when Fred Forrester and Scarlett +Markham would be something more than friends. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Crown and Sceptre, by George Manville Fenn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CROWN AND SCEPTRE *** + +***** This file should be named 23382.txt or 23382.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/3/8/23382/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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