-

"Are you sure you are right, sir? I can't see aught."

"I am certain," was the reply. "But let us go now. No one is likely to
find the entrance here."

"And no one is likely to get out of it here," said Samson to himself, as
they walked slowly away, to be hailed directly after by one of the
officers.

"I thought you two had gone fishing?"

"Yes, sir," said Samson; "and we've left our rods by the lake. We're
going down again by-and-by to see if there is a bite."

The officer nodded, laughed at them, and went on.

"You let your tongue run too freely," said Fred, angrily.

"Well, sir, you wouldn't speak; and it's quite true. When shall we go
down and see if we've got a bite?"

"This evening," said Fred, shortly; and they went back to the camp to
stay a few hours, and then get leave to go down again, making their way
round the east end of the lake, up through the scattered woodland to the
old patch of forest, and then in and out till they gained the broken-in
entrance hidden by the dead blanches of the oak.

"It's all right, sir," said Samson, drily, as he caught sight of the
opening at the same time as his master.

Yes: it was all right; for the bait Samson had placed there to test the
presence of his brother was gone.

"Samson," whispered Fred, "this is our secret. I want to be loyal to my
party; but I feel as if I must help these poor fellows."

"That's very sad, sir," replied Samson; "and I feel as if I ought to go
and fetch a dozen of our men to search this place; but whatever you tell
me to do, I shall do--that is to say, so long as you don't ask me and
Nat to make it up."

"I will not ask you, Samson," said Fred; "I'll leave you to ask me if
you may."

CHAPTER FORTY THREE.

THROUGH THE FIRE.

That fight within the Hall was more desperate than Fred had imagined,
for until overpowered by numbers, Sir Godfrey, his son, and the brave
and reckless Cavaliers by whom he had been surrounded, had fought in a
manner that kept their enemies at bay.

In the rush and noise and confusion of the struggle, Sir Godfrey had not
at first noticed the smoke, and when he did he was under the impression
that it was merely the result of the firing, and caused by the heavy
powder of the period. It was not until the flames had gained a hold on
either side that he realised the truth; and when it did come home to
him, he had staggered forward to strike at a couple of the many enemies
by whom he was surround