their own men.

It was disconcerting to find any one there, and for the moment he was
ready to draw back. But, on the other hand, it might be a spy of the
enemy, who had crept up there to watch their proceedings; and under
these circumstances, Fred felt that there were only two courses open to
him, flight or bold attack.

To make such an attack in cold blood required consideration. It was not
like taking part in an exciting charge, amid the stirring din of battle,
when the pulses were bounding, and the bray of the trumpet called them
to advance. He, a mere youth, had to go single-handed to an encounter
with a great broad-backed fellow, who, at the first brunt, might turn
the tables upon him.

"But he is a spy," said Fred to himself; "and he is sure to be half
afraid;" and without further hesitation, the lad advanced softly,
keeping well behind.

As he drew nearer he could see that the man was upon his chest with his
arms folded for a support; his morion was tilted back over his ears, so
that it covered his neck, and as he watched the advance, he slowly
raised first one and then the other leg, crossing them backwards and
forwards, and beating the ground with his toes as if they were portions
of a pick-axe.

A peculiar feeling of hesitation came over Fred again, and he found
himself asking whether he ought not to go down for help, and whether
there were any of the man's companions near.

This he felt was only common prudence; and, stepping back, he carefully
searched among the trees and round the edge of the hill. But no, the
man seemed to have come up quite alone; and, gaining confidence from
this, he went softly back, taking care not to trample upon any dead
twig, so as to give the alarm.

In a few minutes he was again at the edge of the wood, near enough to
see that the man wore a backpiece, and that the hilt of his sword was
quite near his hand.

The hesitation was gone now. A glance showed that the attacking party
were near the end of the lake, and that outposts of three or four men
were dotted here and there, ready to drive back or capture any of the
Cavaliers who might try to make their escape.

"I'll do it," said Fred to himself; and, stooping down, he crept nearer
and nearer, holding back any twig or obtruding branch with his sword,
and wincing and preparing for a spring, when a bramble grated against
the edge of his blade.

But the man was too intent upon the scene below, and paid no heed to a