glance round, ran to one of the stables, and
fetched the sacks.

"Now, Neal, pack up, pack up."

He pushed his own cases into one of the sacks. Neal followed his
example.

"It won't do," said Hope, "the sacks don't look natural. There are too
many sharp corners bulging out. Charlie, lad, fetch us some straw--a
good armful."

While they were stuffing the sacks with the straw one of the dragoons
swaggered across the yard. He stood watching Hope and Neal for a minute
or two, and then said.

"What have you there that you're so mighty careful of?"

"Whisht, man, whisht," said Hope, "it's not safe to be talking of what's
here."

He winked at the soldier as he spoke--a sly, humorous wink--a wink which
hinted at a good joke to come. The dragoon, a fat, good-natured man',
grinned in reply.

"I won't split on you, you young thieves. I've taken my share of loot
before this, and I expect some pickings out of the croppies' houses
before I've done. I won't cry halvers on you. What's yours is yours. But
tell us what it is."

"It's cases of cartridges," said Hope, winking again. "We're taking them
to the general in command of the rebel army, so don't be interfering
with us or maybe they'll hold a courtmartial on you."

The fat dragoon laughed. The idea of packing up ammunition for the
croppies in the temporary barrack of a squadron of dragoons, and using
His Majesty's straw to stuff the sacks, appealed to him as extremely
comic. Hope and Neal shouldered their bundles and left the yard.

"I'm afraid," said Hope, "that we can't store these in Matier's house.
When Barber learns that the cases are gone he'll search high and low for
them, and Matier's will be just one of the places he'll look sooner or
later. Are you good for a tramp, Neal, with that load on your back?"

"Yes," said Neal, "I'll carry mine for miles if you like."

"Then," said Hope-, "we'll just look in at Matier's as we pass, and if
the coast's clear I'll leave word where we're going. I know a snug place
on the side of the Cave Hill where we can lie for the night. To-morrow
you can join your uncle at Donegore."

There were no soldiers round the inn when they reached it. Felix Matier
and Donald Ward were both out. Hope left his message with Peg Macllrea,
who was sanding the parlour.

"So you're going to sleep out the night on the Cave Hill?" she said to
Neal. "That'll be queer and good for your clouted head I'm thinkin'."

"It'll do my head no harm," sa