ent as he rose, while his companion, who had
followed the example, took a couple of steps towards the open dormer
window, and stood there with his lips pinched together and hands
clenched.

"What do they want?" cried Waller sharply, as he caught his companion by
the wrist.

"They are coming to search the house, sir."

"What?" shouted Waller hoarsely.

"Coming to hunt for spies, sir."

Waller drew a deep breath as if pulling himself together to face the
desperate position, and his companion looked at him wonderingly as he
called out, in a voice full of assumed bravado:

"Oh, are they! I will come down to see about that!"

"Yes, sir, do, please. Martha's in such a way, and she's quarrelling
with her brother awful."

"Go on down!" cried Waller, and he gave the table a heavy thump with his
hammer before listening to the girl's descending steps, and breathing
hard as if he had been running the while.

As the girl's steps died out he faced round to look in the fugitive's
eyes. There was a faint smile on the lad's lips as he caught Waller's
hand and gripped it fast.

"Thank you," he said very calmly. "It's all over, Waller--brother
Waller. There, I am going to meet it like a man."

"What!" said Waller, in a hoarse whisper, as if he thought their words
might be heard through the open window. "What are you going to do?"

"Surrender," was the reply, "and take care that you come to no harm for
harbouring me here."

Waller laughed mockingly, as he snatched away his hand and clapped it
and its fellow upon the other's shoulders.

"You've been too long in France," he whispered. "An English boy would
not give up like that. Never say die!"

"What do you mean?" panted the other, startled by Waller's earnestness.

"To dodge these bloodhounds, as you call them, and give them the slip;
and as for old bumpy Gusset, this is his doing, because he's got a spite
against father, and if you and I don't serve him out for it, my name's
not Waller Froy. Pst!" he whispered, with his lips close to the other's
ear. "Don't make a rustle nor a sound," he continued, after whispering
for a few moments, "and never stir. I'll send them about their
business, never fear."

Short as was the time that this interchange of words had taken, it was
too long, for loud, hoarse voices were heard as of men assembling in the
hall, and, giving his companion an encouraging slap upon the back,
Waller dashed out of the room, banged to the door