as the first to break the silence.

"What would it be best for me to do, Sir Godfrey?" he said at last.

"Send for some of your men, my boy, and I will surrender."

"Father!" cried Scarlett, in anguished tones.

"It is not fair to you to keep you shut up in this dreadful place. Let
us give up, and--No, you can leave me safely in Fred Forrester's hands.
He will not hinder your escape."

"No, father," said Scarlett, sadly, "he will not."

"What do you mean, my boy?"

"You know, father."

"Yes," said Sir Godfrey, after a pause; and his voice sounded sadly weak
and broken. "I have prayed to him to escape, Fred; but he would never
leave me, and he will not go now."

"No, father! I will not go now," said Scarlett, turning away.

There was silence for a few minutes, and then Fred said slowly, and in a
discontented way--

"I'm very sorry, Sir Godfrey, but I'm too stupid to think of anything
better. This is a terrible place; but I suppose you must be here till
you grow strong enough to walk or ride. We shall have to bring you food
and things as well as we can."

"No, my boy," said Sir Godfrey, sadly; "you must not compromise yourself
by helping the enemy."

"But, then, I don't feel as if you are an enemy, Sir Godfrey. There,
it's of no use; come what may, I will help you."

"Don't want to speak without leave, Master Fred, sir," said Samson, in
his gruff tones; "but I've been thinking about my brother here."

"Yes, Samson; quite right," said Fred.

"No, sir, it ain't quite right. He'll be no end of time getting well in
a place like this."

"I'm afraid so, Samson."

"Well, sir, why not you and me and Master Scarlett there set to work
first dark night, and get 'em away, one at a time, on old Dodder?"

"The pony?"

"Yes, sir."

"But where to, man--where to?"

"Well, sir, I've been thinking about that, and I thought of the Manor,
where they'd be comfortable; but that place wouldn't be safe, nor the
barns nor stables, nor none of the cottages round."

"No; it would be madness to attempt it."

"But it wouldn't be, if we got 'em to the Rill caves."

"Samson!" cried Fred; "the very place."

"Hah!" ejaculated Samson, drawing along breath, as if perfectly
satisfied with himself.

"What do you say, Scarlett, to that?"

"Yes," replied Scarlett, thoughtfully, "if you think it could be done."

"If it could be done," said Sir Godfrey, faintly. "I might live if you
could get me there, Scar, my boy.