his forehead for a few minutes longer, and then let him sleep.
We shall be back before many hours, but the surgeon will be here before
then."

"Yes, sir."

"And tell your father that General Markham will see that he is paid for
all his trouble."

"Oh, sir," said the girl, "you need not think of that. We'll do our
best."

By this time Scarlett was at the door, and Fred had turned his eyes
toward him, but he did not look back.

"Come, Nat," he cried loudly; and his follower stumped over the rough
straw; the steps creaked, and voices were heard below. Loud orders
followed. Then the trumpet brayed out again, the trampling of horses
followed, and the girl set down the bowl, and went to the end of the
loft, where she climbed up and looked through the little window, staying
there till the trampling of the horses had died away.

"Gone," she said, as she returned to Fred's side, and prepared to bathe
his brow once more.

"No," he said gently; "let me sleep now. But haven't I seen you
before?"

"Yes, sir; you came here and brought Captain Markham and the prisoners,"
said the girl, turning a deeper red, as she recalled her own action upon
that occasion, and gazed suspiciously in his face for signs that he knew
of all that she had done.

"Yes, I remember now."

"And I suppose you were wounded when they were rescued by a party of the
king's horse?"

"Yes," sighed Fred. "I thought I remembered you. The little inn near
the moor."

"Yes, sir. Father's inn."

"And you are Royalists, I suppose?"

"I don't know what we are, sir. We only wish the war was over, and we
want to do all we can for the poor wounded folk."

"For rebels, too?" said Fred, bitterly.

"For any one who is in trouble, sir; and if you don't want me to bathe
your head again, I'll go and attend to your servant. Father says
there's nothing like clean cold water for a cut."

"Yes, go and help the two poor fellows; but, one moment--there was quite
a regiment there, was there not?"

"Yes, sir; the greater part of one. Came from the town."

"Do you know where they have gone?"

"No, sir, only along the Exeter road. News came, I think, of the enemy
being there, and I'm afraid we shall be having more wounded to-night."

The girl went on to where Samson and the other man lay, and soon
afterward the landlord's red face appeared at the head of the stairs, to
cry hastily--

"Here, Polly! Dick has just come in from the top of the hill, and he