me."

"Of course I can, Fred, and I will. Yes; the attack is to be made
directly."

"And will it succeed?"

"It must. It shall. No. I will not interfere," he added to himself a
moment later.

"And you, father?" said Fred, anxiously.

"Well, my boy, what of me?"

"You--Oh, father. Must I speak out. Don't be angry with me. I have no
right to say such things to you, but I always looked upon Scar Markham
as a brother, and they always treated me at the Hall as if I was a son;
and it does seem so terrible for you to be going up at the head of armed
men to attack our dear old friends."

Colonel Forrester stood with his brow knit.

"You are angry with me, father; but I can't help speaking. I say it
seems so terrible. You ought not to do this thing."

Fred's hesitation had gone. He had taken the plunge, and now he felt
desperate, and ready to speak on to the end. He gazed full in the stern
face with the lowering brows, but it checked him no longer. His words
came fast, and he caught his father by the arm.

"If you speak to General Hedley, he will listen to you, for Sir Godfrey
is your oldest friend; and think, father, how horrible it would be if
the Markhams were to be killed."

The brows appeared to be knit more closely, and Colonel Forrester's gaze
seemed fierce enough to wither his son.

But Fred kept on, begging and importuning his father to do something to
change the general's purpose, without obtaining any reply.

"Then you are going to lead the attack on the Hall, father?" said Fred
at last.

The colonel turned upon him sharply.

"You must not, you shall not," cried Fred, excitedly. "Yes; I see you
are angry with me; but--"

"No, my boy, not angry," said the colonel, gravely; "but very, very
proud of you. No, my boy, I am not going to head the fight."

"Father!" cried Fred, joyously.

"And I have done more than beg General Hedley to excuse me from all
participation in to-day's work."

"Then it really will be to-day?"

"Yes, my boy, it really will be to-day, and I'd give anything for this
day to be past, and the worst known."

"But they will give them quarter, father?"

"Yes, my boy, of course, but who can say what may happen in dealing with
fierce, reckless men, fighting as they believe for their lives. Those
with whom they are engaged may be willing to take them prisoners, but
they will fight with terrible desperation, incited by Sir Godfrey's
example, and no one can say how t