f the prisoners, no time being
allowed them to bid farewell to Rosalie and her father. She, indeed,
had wisely kept out of their way to prevent any suspicion. They limped
along, looking as woe-begone as they could, though their hearts were in
no way sad. Their only regret was, that they must part from Devereux
and their captain, but they consoled themselves by believing that they
could report where they were, and thus manage to get them exchanged.

"We are nearing the spot," said Paul. "This is the scenery Rosalie
described, and this must be the hill. I hope Reuben understands what he
is to do. Ah! there is the stone. Come, let us sit down."

They made signs to the last guard that they would follow. Believing
that they were ill he allowed them to remain. They saw that Reuben was
watching them.

"We mustn't stay long, though," said O'Grady.

"No; now's the time. Over we go," cried Paul; and suiting the action to
the word, over he rolled, followed by O'Grady, and both were speedily
hid from sight in the brushwood.

CHAPTER NINE.

The two midshipmen rolled away down the hill at a very rapid rate, and
then, getting on their feet, rushed on through the brushwood, not
minding how much they tore their clothes, and running no little risk of
scratching out their eyes. As yet no shouts had reached their ears,
which they knew would have been the case had their flight been
discovered. They had got so far that they did not mind speaking, and
were congratulating each other on escaping so well, when they heard
several voices cry out, and some shots fired in rapid succession.

"That must be Reuben," cried Paul. "Oh, I hope that they haven't hit
him."

"The first shot did not, or they wouldn't have fired others, and they
wouldn't have fired at all had he not got to some distance before they
shouted, on discovering that he had escaped," observed O'Grady.
"However, as we cannot help him, we must push on, or we shall be retaken
ourselves."

Paul saw that his friend was right, though he did not like the idea, as
he thought it, of deserting Reuben.

"If he does not join us, we must send or come and look for him. He is
not likely to leave the shelter of the wood," he observed.

They spoke as they ran on, verging always to the right. They forded the
shallow though rapid stream, found the road, and continued their flight,
till they came to the remarkable old tree which had been described to
them. There was an e