e next minute, with Mark and Ralph coming last, all were outside the
mouth of the cavern, grouped in two parties, with presented weapons,
breathing the soft, cool night air, and waiting for the attack of their
foes.

Sound after sound came from the opening, but not such as they longed
with bated breath to hear. Once there was a loud order which came
rolling out, and a little later a gleam of lights was seen, but no rush
of footsteps, no sign of pursuit; and suddenly a voice broke the silence
of the peaceful night air, as Nick Garth roared out:

"'Taren't likely. Rats won't show for hours after the dogs have hunted
'em in their holes."

"Ah! might wait for a week," growled Dan Rugg. "It's all over for
to-night."

"They're right, Eden," whispered Ralph.

"Yes: they're right," said Mark, with a groan. "We're beaten--beaten,
like a pack of cowards. Let's go home."

"I did not see much cowardice," said Ralph bitterly. "But it's all
over, and we must retreat. Give the word."

"What! to retreat?" cried Mark passionately. "I'll die first."

"It is not fair to the men to keep them longer."

"Well, you're a soldier's son, and know best, I suppose. Give the word
yourself."

Ralph hesitated, for his companion's words seemed to be tinged by a
sneer, but he knew that it was madness to stay, and hesitating no
longer, he gave the word to retire.

"We're not going back for your orders," said one of Mark's followers
surlily.

"Yes, you are," cried his young master fiercely. "Back home now.
March!"

There was a low growling on both sides, but the orders were obeyed, and
slowly and painfully the two parties, stiff with exertion, and smarting
with wounds, filed over the steep stone-besprinkled slope.

As they walked down, the two lads drew closer together, and at last
began to talk in a low voice about their failure.

"Head hurt much?" said Ralph.

"Yes, horribly; and I've left that old iron pot behind. Air's cool to
it, though."

"Shall I bind it up?"

"No: don't bleed. I say."

"Yes."

"How are we going to meet our fathers to-morrow morning? Nice state the
poor lads are in."

Ralph uttered a gasp at the thought of it. There was no leading
prisoners back in triumph, with their hands bound behind them. They
were beaten--cruelly beaten, and he was silent as his companion, as they
tramped slowly on, at the head of their men, till the Steeple Stone was
seen looming up ahead, where they would separat