n, my child. I know,
too, what circumstances have done to embitter it. Our heavenly Father
will take all that into account. Yet there is no one who has not within
himself faults and temptations to contend with. Many have far greater
than yours to combat, and yet they conquer gloriously. I cannot say
more. My children, the hour has come which is to decide much for us all.
Remember my legacy to you,--Have Faith and Love."

They knelt before him. He laid his hands upon their heads, and in a
brief and fervent prayer blessed them. Both were sobbing. Tears ran down
his cheeks also; but his countenance was bright in its uplifted
serenity, wearing a strange expression of grandeur and of joy.

XLIII.

_THE COMBAT._

Pomp, rifle in hand, bearing a torch, led the patriots on their rapid
return through the caverns.

"Lights down!" he said, as they approached the vicinity of the sink. "We
shall see them; but they must not see us."

They halted at the natural bridge; the torch was extinguished, and the
patriots placed their lanterns under a rock. They then advanced as
swiftly as possible in the obscurity, along the bank of the stream. In
the hall of the bats they met Carl, who had seen their lights and come
towards them.

"Hurry! hurry!" he said. "They are coming down the trees like the
devil's monkeys! a whole carawan proke loose!"

Captain Grudd commanded the patriots; but Pomp commanded Captain Grudd.

"Quick, and make no noise! We have every advantage; the darkness is on
our side--those loose rocks will shelter us."

They advanced until within a hundred yards of where the shaft of
daylight came down. There they could distinguish, in the shining cleft
under the brow of the cavern, and above the rocky embankment, the forms
of their assailants. Some had already gained a footing. Others were
descending the tree-trunks in a dark chain, each link the body of a
rebel.

"We must stop that!" said Pomp.

The men were deployed forward rapidly, and a halt ordered, each choosing
his position.

"Ready! Aim!"

At that moment, half a dozen men of the attacking party advanced,
feeling their way over the rocks down which Penn and his companions had
been seen to escape. The leader, shielding his eyes with his hand,
peered into the gloom of the cavern. Coming from the light, he could see
nothing distinctly. Suddenly he paused: had he heard the words of
command whispered? or was he impressed by the awful mystery and silence