We must not venture to lie down in our wet clothes. We must not even
rest long at a time, lest a chill should come upon you."

"But I'm quite warm, papa, and only a very little tired. I could walk
for miles yet." She said this cheerily, but she could not help looking
anxious. The night was so dark, however, that no one could see her
looks.

"Do let me go off alone, father," urged George; "I am as fresh as
possible, and could run over the hills until I should fall in with--"

"Don't mention it, George; I feel that our only hope is to keep
together. Poor Peter! what will become of that boy?"

Mr Sudberry became almost, desperate as he thought of the small clerk.
He started up. "Come, we must keep moving. You are not cold, dear? are
you _sure_ you are not cold?"

"Quite sure, papa; why are you so anxious?"

"Because I have a flask of brandy, which I mean to delay using until we
break down and cannot get on without it. Whenever you begin to get
chilled I must give you brandy. Not till then, however; spirits are
hurtful when there is hard toil before you, but when you break down
there is no resource left. Rest, food, sleep, would be better; but
these we have no chance of getting to-night. Poor Jacky! does he keep
warm, George?"

"No fear of him," cried George, with forced gaiety. "He's all right."

Jack had broken down completely soon after nightfall. Vigorously,
manfully had he struggled to keep up; but when his usual hour for going
to bed arrived, nature refused to sustain him. He sank to the ground,
and then George wrapped him up in his shooting-coat, in which he now
lay, sound asleep, like a dirty brown bundle, on his brother's
shoulders.

"I'll tell you what," said Fred, after they had walked, or rather
stumbled, on for some time in silence. "Suppose you all wait here for
ten minutes while I run like a greyhound to the nearest height and see
if anything is to be seen. Mamma must have alarmed the whole
neighbourhood by this time; and if they are looking for us, they will be
sure to have lanterns or torches."

"A good idea, my boy. Go, and pause every few minutes to shout, so that
we may not lose you. Keep shouting, Fred, and we will wait here and
reply."

Fred was off in a moment, and before he had got fifty yards away was
floundering knee-deep in a peat-bog. So much for reckless haste,
thought he, as he got out of the bog and ran forward with much more
caution. Soon those waiting belo