ver them. After some time one of the
young men returned and came up to Stephen's bed. Finding that he was
awake, he made a sign to him to get up, and arouse his brother as
noiselessly as possible. As soon as they were both on foot he beckoned
them out of the room.

"Our father's ale and cider are pretty strong, and if these fellows wake
we are more than a match for them. We may either bind them and keep
them prisoners somewhere in the neighbourhood, or we may put them to
death, or you may escape by yourselves, while you lame their horses to
prevent them from following you."

"If we had the power we would choose the latter course," said Stephen.
"May they not revenge themselves by imprisoning your father and
destroying his farm?"

"He will be far away from this before morning," answered young Stubbs.
"They will not catch a sight of any of us if we are in hiding, and they
can scarcely injure our poor old mother, who will know nothing of your
flight."

"Then by all means let us try the latter course," said Stephen, his
spirits rising as he thought of once more obtaining his liberty.

"Come along then," said young Stubbs. "One of us is going with you, the
rest remain, for we are safer in hiding close to the farm than we should
be in travelling across the country. We wish to serve you as we know
you well. Mother will remain in the house, and be as much surprised as
the soldiers when they find you, their prisoners, have gone. She is a
wonderful woman, and will not yield an inch, besides which, we shall be
at hand; should any violence be offered her by the soldiers, we will be
ready to astonish them."

Simon said this while he led the way to the stables. He quickly led out
Stephen's and Andrew's horses, with one for himself.

"Mount," he said. "There is no time to lose. My brothers will look
after the troopers' animals, and take good care that they are not in a
fit condition to follow us. They have had no food all this time, poor
brutes. Some they will lame, others they will let loose. Stay, there
is one thing we forgot. The uniforms you wear are likely to betray you.
It will be better to change them for my brothers' clothing. Wait here,
and I will be back in a minute." Simon, who had not yet mounted,
hurried into the house. He soon returned, bringing a couple of bundles,
with two countrymen's hats. "Now we will mount and away, and change
these when we are farther on the road, before daybreak."

At