ewhere up here. Which way has he
gone?"

Rodd did not take his eyes from the frantic darting of the fish, but
gave line in silence as it flashed through the water to the far side of
the pool, while the soldiers grounded arms and looked on with the
deepest interest.

"Prisoners escaped," said the sergeant loudly, as he, too, still gazed
at the rushings of the trout--"Frenchman--came up this way--Yes, a big
'un, youngster--Mind! You'll lose him!--One was quite a lad, and--Well
done! You have got him yet!--We saw him run up this way, and--Well
done!--You have handled a fly-rod before--Did you see anything of him?"

"Eh? What?" said another voice sharply, and a fresh comer suddenly
appeared upon the scene in the shape of Uncle Paul, who stared in
astonishment at the group as he stepped into the little amphitheatre
from behind the rocks.

His appearance acted like magic upon the soldiers, who brought their
muskets to the carry, while the sergeant sprang to attention and
saluted.

"After escaped prisoners, sir. Asking the young gentleman if he had got
one of them up here."

"Pooh! Nonsense! Absurd!" cried the gentleman addressed, just as Rodd
brought his fish to land and went down on one knee to grip it in his
left hand. "Prisoners, no!" literally barked the fresh comer, setting
down his bottle and net, and taking off his straw hat to wipe his
streaming face with a big yellow and red bandanna handkerchief. "Here,
Rodd, boy," he cried, with a chuckle, "empty your pockets and then open
your creel and show the sergeant how many prisoners you have caught.
Hot up here, my lad!" he continued, and the sergeant and men grinned.
"Thirsty?"

"Yes, sir," said the sergeant, grinning; "pretty tidy. We have had a
precious good run."

"Well, there's plenty of beautiful water. Shall I lend you my
drinking-cup?"

"Thankye, sir," said the sergeant.

"Thankye, indeed!" said the bluff speaker, with a chuckle, and he thrust
his hand into his pocket. "There you are; there's a shilling for you to
get some cider. I dare say you know where better than I can tell you.
No, we have seen no prisoners."

"Thank you, sir! You are a gentleman," said the sergeant. "Didn't want
to interfere with the young gent's sport, but we had got our duty to do.
Left face, my lads! Forward!" And the next minute the military party
were on the tramp, to pass through the entrance to the little
amphitheatre and disappear, just as Uncle Paul wa