that
hole. I must, I will help them, and ask his forgiveness later on. But
how?"

"Pst! ciss!" came from the back of the tent.

CHAPTER FORTY NINE.

SAMSON IS NOT TO BE BEATEN.

"What's that? Who's there?" said Fred, sharply.

"Pst! Master Fred. Don't make all that noise. You'll have the guard
hear you."

The mischief was done, for there was the tramp of feet, and directly
after a sergeant and his men stopped opposite Fred's tent.

"Must have been somewhere here," said the sergeant, in a deep voice.

"Yes," said Fred, stepping to the tent opening; "it was I, sergeant. I
thought I heard some one call."

"No, sir; all's well. Good night, sir."

"Good night."

"You nearly did it that time, Master Fred," whispered Samson. "What
made you holloa like that?"

"You, sir. How came you here?"

"Slit a hole in the guard tent, and crept out; that's all, sir. Tent
walls are soft enough. Now, then, are you ready?"

"Ready? Yes--no--what can we do?"

"What you said, sir."

"But we cannot take them to the place to starve."

"Who's going to, sir?"

"What do you mean?"

"Only that I crept out o' the tent hour and a half ago, ran down to the
Manor--easy enough in the dark--and told 'em what to do as soon as it
was light in the morning, and then ran back."

"But the rope?"

"Here it is, sir; wound round me like a belt. Come along, and let's
go."

"But the horse--how are we to get Sir Godfrey there?"

"I dunno, sir, only that we've got to try. Come on; we can only make a
mess of it."

Fred hesitated no longer; but taking his sword and cloak, he stepped out
into the dark night, joined his man, and then stole with him cautiously
along the tents to where the horses were tethered. Samson untied the
halters which kept them prisoners, and led them silently away over the
soft glass.

The task proved more easy than they had expected, for there were no
watchers near. Strict ward and watch were kept, but only by those on
duty. Those who were off devoted the time to rest and sleep.

All round the camp there was every precaution taken against surprise;
but in the interior of the tented space there seemed to be none to
interrupt.

"Bridles, saddles?" whispered Fred.

"If we can't do what we want without them, sir, we shan't do it at all,"
said Samson. "Tie your halter to his head, and leave the horses alone.
The two beasts 'll follow us like dogs, and it's all right so long as
they don't wh