was no deceit about the wound."

"Not a bit, man; but he was making far more fuss about it than was real.
It was only a clean cut, especially where I divided the skin and let
out the ball. By George! though, the young rascal could bear a bit of
pain."

"But do you mean to tell me that he could escape alone with a wound like
that to disable his arm?"

"Oh yes. It would hurt him terribly; but a lad with plenty of courage
would grin and bear that, and get away all the same. I'm glad of it."

"What! Glad the prisoner has escaped?"

"Oh, I don't mean that," said the doctor. "I mean glad he had so much
stuff in him. It was a clever bit of acting, and shows that he must
have the nerve of a strong man. I beg his pardon, for last night I
thought him as weak as a girl for making so much fuss over a mere
scratch. It was all sham, that insensibility. I knew in a moment--you
remember I said so to you when we went away."

The captain nodded.

"But I thought it was the weak, vain, young coxcomb making believe so as
to pose as a hero who was suffering horribly."

"But once more," cried Captain Murray warmly, "do you mean to tell me
that, with one arm disabled, that boy could have managed to escape from
the window without help?"

"To be sure I do. Give him a pretty good sharp, cutting pain while he
was using his arm. Did you hear him cry out, Gowan?"

"No, sir," said Frank sharply; and he turned angrily upon the captain:
"You said something very harsh about Drew Forbes not being able to get
away without help. You don't think I helped him to get away?"

"Yes, I do, boy," said the captain, with soldierly bluntness. "I think
you must have known he wanted to escape, and that you helped him to get
out of the window; and I consider it a miserably contemptible return for
the kindness of your father's old friend."

"It is not true, Captain Murray," cried Frank hotly. "You have no right
to doubt my word. Doctor, I assure you I did not know till I woke this
morning, when I was utterly astonished."

"And ran to the door, and gave notice to the sentry," said Captain
Murray coldly.

"No, I did not do that. I see now that I ought to have done so, and I
was hesitating about it when you both came. But I had only just found
it out then."

"And I suppose I shall be called to account for letting him go," said
the captain bitterly. "Why didn't you go with him? Were you afraid?"

"Oh, come, come, Murray," cried the doc