prayed earnestly and had made up his
mind.

"I do not think that we are sure to win, Neal, but I hope that our
fighting will enable those coming after us to obtain by other means the
liberty and security which will surely be withheld from them unless we
fight. I do not say these things to every one, but I feel safe in saying
them to you. You will not fear to die, if death is to be the end of it
for us."

Neal felt convinced that Hope himself would go calmly, steadfastly on if
he were quite sure that the gallows waited for him. It was to Hope, more
than to either of the others, that he complained about his confinement
in Matier's house.

"I cannot bear," he said, "to be shut up here. I am not ill. The cut
on my head is cured now. There must be some other reason for keeping
me here. Am I not to be trusted? You say that you believe I will not
shrink. Why keep me here as if you were all afraid of my turning coward
or traitor?"

Hope parried these complaints as well as he could, telling Neal that a
soldier's first duty was obedience, that in good time he would be given
something to do; that in the meanwhile he must show himself brave by
being patient!

"It is harder," he said, "to conquer yourself than to conquer your
enemy."

One day, when Neal had been a week in captivity, he broke out
passionately to Hope--

"I cannot bear this any longer. I hear of you and my uncle and the
others risking your lives. I hear of the brutality of the soldiers.
I hear of great plans on foot. I claim my share of the danger that
surrounds us. I understand now why you all combine to keep me here. You
are afraid of my running risks. I claim, I claim as a right, that I be
allowed to take the same risks as the rest."

James Hope sat silent. His fingers played with the dark lock of hair
which hung over his forehead. Neal knew the gesture well. It was common
with Hope when he thought deeply and painfully. His fine dark eyes were
fixed on Neal's, and there was the same curiously gentle expression in
them which had attracted Neal the first time he noticed it.

"I admit your claim," said Hope, slowly, at last. "I shall speak to your
uncle. To-morrow, I think I may promise this; to-morrow you shall come
with me, and we shall do something which will be difficult, and I think
a little dangerous too."

CHAPTER IX

James Hope kept his promise. About noon the next day he came to the inn
and found Neal waiting for him impatiently.

"We