e old fir-tree and pull down
the rope. I almost wonder that you didn't break your neck. You must
have been half-mad, old fellow."

"Yes," said Godfrey, with a sigh, "I must indeed."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE SEARCH.

Godfrey started up from a deep sleep, to see it was morning with the sun
shining brightly, and that the birds were singing, while Waller was
standing by his bedside smiling at him as he looked at him wonderingly,
and apparently quite confused.

"Come, old fellow, wake up," said Waller. "I have been up two hours."

"Up two hours! I--there's nothing wrong, is there?"

"Wrong? No. You are always thinking some one's coming after you. It's
all right."

"But I don't understand," said Godfrey.

"Why, you don't mean to say you've forgotten all about last night?"

"Last night!" cried the lad, with a start.

"Oh, I had forgotten. No; I was not quite awake. You have been up
early to go and get that rope."

Waller pointed to the big, old easy chair.

"Does seem like it, doesn't it? There it is, all soaked with dew. I
soon got it down, and I have been busy over the bed. You had trampled
it terribly, and there were two great bits of ivy snapped off as well
and lying there. I've made it pretty tidy, and there has been such a
heavy due that your footprints on the grass, and those of Joe Hanson,
going round the house, are pretty well taken out. They'll be all right
now, I think."

"Oh, thank you," cried Godfrey, with a sigh; "but now, I suppose, I must
give up all hope of going into the woods with you again."

"Nonsense! I only want you to wait till it's sensible to go."

"Ah!" cried Godfrey. "I like to hear you talk so. Do you know, I was
dreaming this morning about what you said the other day."

"What was that?"

"About getting me down to Lymington, and on board a fishing-boat."

"And so I will."

"Thank you. Then we will start to-night."

"That we won't!" cried Waller. "Stuff! Nonsense! I hear from our
gardener that there are soldiers going about from place to place in the
forest, and as likely as not we should run right up against them, for
they would be sure to be keeping watch at night. You wait a bit, and as
soon as I think it's safe, and we have made all our plans, we will go.
But don't you be in such a hurry. You are company for me, and I am sure
my father wouldn't mind your staying on a while to get strong. I want
to hear that the soldiers are gone, and then you