e talking about? Blood-money?"

"Yes; the reward for taking me."

"Reward! For taking you?"

"Yes, where are your bloodhounds?"

"Well, you are a rum chap," said Waller, laughing. "You talk like a
fellow in a romance. We have no bloodhounds. We have a pointer, a
water-spaniel, and a retriever. Why, what sort of an idea have you got
in your head about bloodhounds hunting you?"

"I--I meant the soldiers," said the poor fellow faintly: and his eyes
began to close. "Let me sit up, please. I think I'm dying."

CHAPTER THREE.

ON PAROLE.

The words sounded so real, and there was such a deathly aspect in the
pallor and the cold perspiration that started upon the prostrate lad's
ghastly-looking face, that Waller was convinced at once, and quickly
rising from where he sat he bent over and raised the lad's head a
little, but only to lay it down again as the poor fellow fell back quite
insensible.

But the attack passed off as quickly as it had come, and, relieved by
the removal of the heavy pressure upon his chest, he began to breathe
more freely, his eyes opened slowly in a wild stare of wonder as if he
could not comprehend where he was, and then, as his senses fully
returned, a faint smile dawned upon his thin lips.

"Don't laugh at me," he said. "It was like a great girl. I must have
fainted dead away."

"Yes, you did, and no mistake," said Waller. "Come down to the stream
and have a drink of water.--If I let you get up you won't try to
escape?"

"No," said the lad bitterly, as he raised one hand, and let it fall
again heavily amongst the bracken. "I am as weak as a child."

"Yes," said Waller, "you are. Now, look here; you remember what you
said about the honour of a gentleman?"

The lad bowed his head slightly.

"You are a gentleman?"

"Yes."

"Then give me your word that you won't try to escape."

"I will not try to escape. I could not if I wished. I tell you it is
all over now, I am taken at last."

"I say," cried Waller, gazing at the poor fellow anxiously, "why are you
here? What have you done?" And then slowly, and in almost a whisper,
as he glanced sharply round for the pistol, "You haven't killed anybody,
have you?"

"Killed! No! What have I done? Nothing that should disgrace a
gentleman. Nothing but fight for the cause of my lawful king."

Waller looked at the lad curiously, for his words and the wildness of
his looks again brought up the idea that he was a little