riend. Never mind, Gowan, old fellow; if they cashier us, we must
offer our swords elsewhere. I say," he continued, turning to the
captain of the guard, "you are not going to arrest these boys?"

"The two pages? No; absurd. They found out that there was an affair
on, and came to see. Got over the wall, I suppose. I should have done
the same. I can't see them. Now, doctor, as soon as you say the word,
my men shall carry our German friend on their muskets. How is he?"

"As I said before--bad," replied the surgeon sternly. "Better send two
men for a litter. He must be taken carefully."

"Then I'll leave two men with you while I take my prisoners to the
guard-house. Fall in, gentlemen, please. You boys get back to your
quarters. Now, messieurs--meinherrs, I mean--you are my prisoners.
Vorwarts! March!"

"Aren't you faint, father?" whispered Frank, who took Sir Robert's
uninjured arm.

"Only sick, boy--heartsick more than anything. Frank, your mother must
know, and if she waits she will get a garbled account. Go to her as
soon as you get to the Palace, and tell her everything--the simple
truth. I am not hurt much--only a flesh wound, which will soon heal."

"And if she asks me why you fought, father," whispered Frank, "what am I
to say?"

Sir Robert frowned heavily, and turned sharply to gaze in his son's
eyes.

"Frank boy," he said, "you are beginning trouble early; but you must try
and think and act like a man. When I go, your place is at your mother's
side."

"When you go, father?"

"Yes, I shall have to go, boy. Tell her I fought as a man should for
the honour of those I love. Now say no more; I am a bit faint, and I
want to think."

The strange procession moved in toward the gates, the German officers
talking angrily together, and paying little heed to their
fellow-prisoners, save that one of them darted a malignant glance at Sir
Robert Gowan, which made Andrew turn upon him sharply with an angry
scowl, looking the officer up and down so fiercely that he moved
menacingly toward the lad; but the Guardsman at his side raised his arm
and stepped between them.

Just then the boys' eyes met, and Frank, who was still supporting his
father, gave his friend a grateful look.

When the guard-house was reached, it was just sunrise, upon as lovely a
morning as ever broke; and it contrasted strangely with the aspect of
the men who had been out for so sinister a design.

Frank felt something of