news. The soldiers are gone. I am sorry to
say."

"You are sorry to say?"

"Why, of course," said Waller sadly. "Doesn't it mean that I have to
keep my promise and help to get you away?"

"Yes," said Godfrey softly, and his fingers began to grip his
companion's shoulder; "but some day I hope that I shall be able to cross
over again, not as a poor fugitive, but in peace, and come here and see
you, if you will have me when I am not a prisoner."

"If I will have you, lad!" cried Waller enthusiastically. "Why, you
know I will; and my father will be glad to see you too, if you don't
come, as old Bunny said, to try and steal the crown. Why, of course,
you and I are going to be friends always. And you will write to me, and
I shall write to you."

"Yes, yes; of course," cried Godfrey eagerly. "I don't want to go away,
Waller, but I must; and as that man--Bunny you call him--does not bring
us any news, I want you to let me start off to-morrow night as soon as
it is dark, and make my way to Southampton."

"To be caught and put in prison," cried Waller, "and--Bother that owl!
That's the third time it has hooted this last five minutes. No!" he
cried in an excited whisper, as he rested his hands on the window-sill.
"Hist! It's Bunny Wrigg!" And then, clapping his hands to each side of
his mouth, he softly imitated with wonderful accuracy the call of one of
the woodland owls.

"_Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi_!"

"_Pee-week_! _Pee-week_! _Pee-week_!" came from below them in the
shrubbery a little to their left.

"All right, Bunny," whispered Waller. "I'll come down."

"Nay, lad; hold hard. I'm coming up."

The darkness was so dense that, as the lads gazed down, they had but a
mere glimpse of a shadowy animal, as it seemed to be running across the
lawn, and directly after there was a faint, soft rustling in the thick
ivy.

"Isn't it dangerous for him?" whispered Godfrey.

"Not it. Bunny can climb like a cat. He'll be right up in the big
gutter directly."

The lad was quite correct, for, with wonderfully little noise,
considering, the active fellow climbed up by the huge old stems of the
ivy, and a couple of minutes later he was standing in the stone gutter,
holding on by the division between the open casements.

"Catch hold of this 'ere bundle--on my back," he whispered. "It's only
hanging on by the strap over my neck."

Waller did as he was told, and, pulling the strap over the man's head,
he drew a big so