the
father and said something, which resulted in the old man joining the two
lads and pressing their hands, looking at them sadly.

The next minute the smuggler signed to them to join his follower who was
waiting by the door, while he stepped to the King, spoke to him firmly
for a few minutes, and then led the way out into the darkness, with the
two English lads, who were conscious that they were being followed by
the royal fugitive and his men, out along the shelf in the direction of
the forest-path, which they had just gained when a distant shot rang
out, to be repeated by the echoes and followed by another and another,
ample indication that there was danger very near at hand.

The captain said a few words to his follower, and then turned to Pen.

"Keep with this man," he said, "when I am not here. I must go back and
see what is going on."

The lads heard his steps for a minute amongst the crackling husks of the
past year's chestnuts and parched twigs. Then they were merged with
those of the party following.

"I say," whispered Punch, "how's your leg?"

"I had almost forgotten it," replied Pen in a whisper.

"That's good, comrade. But, I say, all that set a fellow thinking."

"Yes; don't talk about it," replied Pen.

"All right. But I say, isn't this lovely--on the march again with a
loaded gun over your shoulder? If I had got my bugle back, and one's
officer alongside, I should be just happy. Think we shall have a chance
of a shot or two?"

The smuggler, who was leading the way, stopped short and turned upon
Punch with a deep, low growl.

"Eh?" replied Punch. "It's no good, comrade; I can't understand a
word."

The man growled again, and laid his hand sharply upon the boy's lips.

"Here, don't do that!" cried Punch. "How do I know when you washed that
last?"

"Be quiet, Punch. The man means we may be nearing the enemy."

"Why don't he say so, then?" grumbled Punch; and their guide grunted as
if satisfied with the effect of Pen's words, and led on again in and out
a rugged, winding path, sometimes ascending, sometimes descending, but
never at fault in spite of the darkness.

Sometimes he stopped short to listen as if to find out how near the
King's party were behind, and when satisfied he led on again, giving the
two lads a friendly tap or two upon the shoulder after finding that any
attempt at other communication was in vain.

At last after what must have been about a couple of hours' tr