moments he was divided between the ideas that the enemy had
come to arrest him and that his companion had passed away in his sleep.
But these were only the ragged shadows of the night, for the boy was
still sleeping soundly, the food remained untouched, and, upon
cautiously looking outside, there was nothing to be seen but the
beauties of a sunny morn.

Pen drew a deep breath as he returned to the hut, troubled with a
sensation of weariness and strain, but still light-hearted and hopeful.

There was something invigorating in the mountain air even deep down
there in the valley, and he was ready to smile at his position as his
eyes lit upon the little pail.

"Oh, I say," he said to himself, "it is like temptation placed in one's
way! How horribly hungry I am! Well, no wonder; but I must play fair."

Taking out his knife, he was about to divide the piece of cake, which
had so swollen up in the milk that there seemed to be a goodly portion
for two; but, setting his teeth hard, he shut the knife with a snap and
pulled himself together.

"Come," he muttered, "I haven't gone through all this drilling for
months to snatch the first chance to forget it. I will begin the day by
waiting until poor Punch wakes."

He gave another look at his companion to make sure that he was still
sleeping soundly and was no worse; and then, after glancing at the
priming of his rifle, he stepped out to reconnoitre, keeping cautiously
within shelter of the trees, but not obtaining a glimpse of any of the
vedettes.

"Looks as if they have gone," he thought, and he stepped to the edge of
another patch of woodland to again sweep the valley-sides as far as was
possible.

This led him to the edge of the river, where, as soon as he appeared, he
was conscious of the fact that scores of semi-transparent-looking fish
had darted away from close to his feet, to take shelter beneath stones
and the bank higher up the stream, which glided down towards the fall
pure as crystal and sparkling in the sun.

"Trout!" he exclaimed. "Something to forage for; and then a fire.
Doesn't look like starving."

Pen took another good look round, but nothing like a vedette or single
sentry was in view; and after a few moments of hesitation he snatched at
the opportunity.

Stepping back into the shelter of the woods, he hurriedly stripped,
after hanging his rifle from a broken branch, and then dashing out into
the sunshine he leaped at once into the beautiful, cl