e
come. I want to talk to you about your father and mine. They'll be in
town to-morrow, I should say."

"Yes, I know. Tell me, what are you going to do?"

"Do? We're going to raise the mob, have a big riot, and rescue them. I
want to know what you can do to help."

"We are trying to help in another way," said Frank excitedly.

"How?"

"Petitioning the King through the Prince."

"No good," said Drew shortly. "There's no mercy to be had. Our way is
the best."

"But tell me: you are in a terrible state--you want money."

"No. We've plenty, and plenty of friends in town here. Don't think
we're beaten, my good fellow."

Frank's supply of biscuit came to an end, and to keep up appearances he
began to delude the ducks by throwing in pebbles.

"There's one of those spy fellows coming, Frank," said Drew suddenly.
"Don't look round, or take any notice."

Frank's heart began to beat, as he thrust his hand into his pocket, for
his fingers to come in contact with one little fragment of biscuit
passed over before, and, waiting till he heard steps close behind him,
he threw the piece out some distance, and stood watching the rush made
by the water-fowl, one conveying the bit off in triumph.

Frank searched in vain for more, and he was regretting that he had been
so liberal in his use of the provender, and racking his brains for a
means of keeping up the conversation without risk to his companion, when
about half a biscuit fell at his feet, and he seized it eagerly.

"He's pretty well out of hearing, Frank; but speak low. I don't want to
be taken. You'd better move on a bit, and stop again. I'll go off the
other way after that spy, and work round and come back. You go and sit
down a little way from the bushes yonder, and I'll creep in behind, and
lie there, so as to talk to you. Got a book?"

"No," said Frank sadly.

"Haven't you a pocket-book?"

"Oh yes."

"Well, that will do. Take it out after you've sat down, and pretend to
make a sketch of the trees across the water."

"Ah, I shouldn't have thought of that."

"You would if you had been hunted as I have. There, don't look round.
I'm off."

"But if we don't meet again, Drew? I want to do something to help you."

"Then do as I have told you," said the lad sharply; and he shuffled
away, limping slightly, while, after standing as if watching the
water-fowl for about ten minutes, and wondering the while whether he was
being watched, Frank stro