ed. Another scarlet
troop was moving upon them from that direction. Without a word Grahame
turned the cart into the glen, and drove as far as the limits would
permit within the shade. They alighted.

"This is our only chance," he said. "The eight men with muskets are
rebels whom the troops have cornered. There may be a large force in the
vicinity, ready to give the soldiers of Her Majesty a stiff battle. The
soldiers will be looking for rebels and not for harmless tourists, and
we may escape comfortably by keeping quiet until the two divisions
marching towards each other have met and had an explanation. If we are
discovered, I shall do the talking, and explain our embarrassment at
meeting so many armed men first, and then so many soldiers. We are in
for it, I know."

No one seemed to mind particularly. Honora stole an anxious glance at
her father, while she pulled a little bunch of shamrock and handed it to
Arthur. He felt like saying it would yet be stained by his blood in
defense of her country, but knew at the same moment how foolish and
weak the words would sound in her ears. He offered himself as a scout to
examine the top of the hill, and discover if the rebels were there, and
was permitted to go under cautions from Grahame, to return within
fifteen minutes. He returned promptly full of enthusiasm. The eight men
were holding the top of the hill, almost over their heads, and would
have it out with the two hundred soldiers from the town. They had
expected a body of one hundred insurgents at this point, but the party
had not turned up. Eager to have a brush with the enemy, they intended
to hold the hill as long as possible, and then scatter in different
directions, sure that pursuit could not catch them.

"The thing for them to do is to save us," said Grahame. "Let them move
on to another hill northward, and while they fight the soldiers we may
be able to slip back to the ship."

The suggestion came too late. The troops were in full sight. Their
scouts had met in front of the glen, evidently acting upon information
received earlier, and seemed disappointed at finding no trace of a body
of insurgents large enough to match their own battalion. The boys on the
top of the hill put an end to speculations as to the next move by firing
a volley into them. A great scattering followed, and the bid for a fight
was cheerfully answered by the officer in command of the troops. Having
joined his companies, examined the positio