eep at home for the present."

"Oh, Fred, what's the matter?" whispered Scarlett.

"Don't you know?"

"Ye-es, I'm afraid I do."

"That's it. I didn't know we were going to have trouble about it down
here in Coombeland. But, I say, Scar, we're good friends, aren't we?"

"Yes, of course."

"That's right. They're both cross to-day; they'll make it up
to-morrow."

"Fred!" said Colonel Forrester over his shoulder as he rode off.

"Coming, father. Good-bye, Scar; and, I say, don't tell anybody about
the secret place just yet."

"Very well."

"It will be all right again directly. Father soon gets good-tempered
again after he has been cross; but it always makes him angry if anybody
praises up the king."

"Fred!"

"Coming, father."

The boy darted off after the departing horseman, and Scarlett sat
watching them till they disappeared among the trees, when he went slowly
into the house, catching sight of his father striding up and down in the
dining-room, and with a more serious look in his face than he remembered
to have seen before.

"I hope there is not going to be trouble and fighting, the same as there
has been elsewhere," thought the boy; and he involuntarily glanced
through the open hall-door at the beautiful landscape, across which
seemed to float visions of soldiers and burning homesteads, and
destruction such as had been brought to them in the shape of news from
far distant parts.

The coming of his father roused him from his reverie.

"Why, Scar, lad, don't look so serious," cried Sir Godfrey, clapping the
boy on the shoulder. "I spoke angrily, didn't I, my boy? Well, I was
obliged in these rebellious times. Remember this, Scar, no matter what
comes, `God save the king!'"

"Yes, father," cried the boy, flushing as he took off his cap and tossed
it in the air, "`God save the king!'"

CHAPTER FIVE.

ANOTHER DISCOVERY.

Fred was right; the two elders did soon make it up, and the political
ebullition seemed to be forgotten. The boys were soon together again,
enjoying their simple country ways as of yore, while the clouds
gathering around only looked golden in their sunshiny life.

The search for the outlet to the secret passage was renewed without
success, and then given up for a time. There was so much to see and do
that glorious autumn time when the apples were ripening fast, and
hanging in great ropes from the heavily laden trees, beneath whose
tangled boughs all was grey and g