k of being
betrayed.

"We must obtain disguises of some sort, though it may be difficult to
find them," said Stephen, "for it would be dangerous to enter a town."

It was certainly important to get rid of their uniforms, for those alone
would betray them, as soon as the fate of the battle was known. At the
same time they thought if they could obtain the dresses of gentlemen,
they should less likely be suspected while travelling, at all events,
than if they disguised themselves as countrymen, as their dialect and
appearance would at once show that they were strangers. The long
summer's day was well-nigh closing in when they reached a hilly
district, where they hoped to find concealment.

"What shall we do with our horses?" asked Andrew. "It will be difficult
to hide them and find provender for them at the same time; besides
which, should they be discovered, they would betray that we were in the
neighbourhood. To turn them loose would be equally dangerous, for they
would break into some corn-field or garden, and inquiries would be made
to whom they belonged."

"The only way, I fear, will be to kill them and throw them over the
cliffs," said Stephen.

"Then we shall have no means of travelling farther on," observed Andrew.
"At all events, do not let us kill them to-night, but try to find some
place where we can conceal both ourselves and them."

They rode on, the sun descending on their right into the waters of the
Bristol Channel, enabling them to steer a tolerably direct course. At
last they came to a deep wooded dell, the sides covered with trees,
being so steep that it at first appeared that they could not possibly
get down them. The sound of falling water assured them that there was a
stream at the bottom, which would enable them to give their horses
water. They were not likely to find a better place. They accordingly,
dismounting, led their horses down, endeavouring as little as possible
to disturb the ground, so as to leave no traces behind them. They were
not disappointed in the locality. There was water and grass for their
horses, and they had some dry bread and fish, with which the old
fisherman supplied them, in their knapsacks for themselves, while the
trees grew so closely that it was impossible for any one above to
discover them. They, therefore, having watered their horses and eaten
some of their scanty provision, lay down with a sense of tolerable
security to sleep, while their animals cro