know
you're telling me something, but I bled all the sense out of me, and I
can't understand what you mean. Never mind me. I dare say it's all
right."

"But, Nat," cried Scarlett, eagerly, as a thought struck him, and he
realised that it was useless to try and impress upon the poor fellow
about the secret passage, "you are lying out here."

"Yes, sir; not a nice place, but cool and fresh."

"Could you, if I helped you, get down that hole, where my father lies?"

"Sir Godfrey?"

"Yes."

"But you said you were going away somewhere, sir."

"Only to get some food, and you have enough for the day. To-night I'll
go out and get more. Do you think you could crawl down?"

"I think I could try, sir, if it comes to that."

"And trying is half the battle, Nat."

"Right, sir; I'll try. That drop o' water seemed to put life in me."

"But--"

Scarlett stopped short, thinking. Some one had been and brought Nat
food, for there it was in solid reality, tempting him to eat; and if he
took the poor fellow down into the secret passage, it would no longer
prove to be a secure hiding-place, for those who missed the wounded man
would search perhaps and find.

That did not follow, though. They might think that he had crept away;
and besides, the case was desperate, and he must risk it.

"You said, `But,' Master Scar," said Nat, feebly, after waiting for his
young master to go on.

"Nothing, nothing," said Scarlett, hastily, for his mind was made up.
"Now then, pass your arms round my neck, clasp your hands together, and
hold tightly. I'll draw you out of that place."

"Take the food first, Master Scar. There, stuff it in your wallet,
lad."

Scarlett did not hesitate, but placed the precious treasure in the
receptacle, and then bent down. Nat obeyed his instructions, and by a
strong effort he was drawn out.

"Have I hurt you much, Nat?" said Scarlett, as he gazed through the dim
light at the pallid face so close to his.

"Well, sir, not to make much bones about it, tidy, pretty tidy. What
next, sir?"

"I want to lower you down through the branches into that hole."

"Eh?" ejaculated Nat, forgetting his weakness and the aching pain he
suffered, as he gave quite a start. "No, no, Master Scar, don't do
that."

"But you will be safe there for the present, Nat."

"Safe enough, I suppose, sir," groaned the poor fellow.

"Well, let me lay your legs here, and I can slide you down."

"But I aren't dead yet, d