hoofs behind him galloping quickly over the road.

"Some one coming after me," he thought. For the first time in his life
he felt what abject fear was. His knees trembled under him, and to save
his life he could not have run farther. Still James Grey was no coward.
In a good cause he could have fought as well as any man. Soon he heard
a voice behind him cry out, "Jump up, James; I guessed what you were
after. It was my idea you were going to enlist; so will I. Jump up, I
say; no time to lose."

It was Ben Page who spoke. For some moments James scarcely understood
him. Ben had a led horse. He threw himself into the saddle, and they
were quickly in the town, where the horses were left at a stable; Ben
having told a carter to come for them.

The two young men then went out to look for the recruiting-sergeant. He
was soon found. He cast his eye up and down over James, asked him a few
questions, told him to let him see his handwriting, and at once enlisted
him.

"If you are steady, as you look, you will be a corporal before many more
months are over, and a sergeant soon after," he said, with a nod of
approval.

A body of recruits were starting that very morning for the depot, whence
they were to embark. James was ordered to go with them.

The sergeant was uncertain as to what regiment Ben would suit. He was
scarcely of sufficient height, and a very different looking sort of man.
He promised, however, to give him an answer in the course of a few
days.

James was very thankful when he found that Ben was not to go with him.
He thought, "He has already led me into evil; if he comes now, how shall
I be able to withstand him better than I have done?"

James's heart was heavy, yet he tried to keep his spirits up among his
new comrades. He was anxious, too: every stranger he saw looking about
he thought might be a sheriff's officer, come to take him prisoner.
Most of the men were hoping that the day they were to go on board the
ship might be put off: his great wish was that they might sail sooner
than had been expected. He had written a letter to his kind uncle,
asking his forgiveness for what he had done, and expressing his love and
gratitude to him.

He had heard nothing from Ben. This was so far well. He could have
gained nothing, if Ben had come.

At length the day arrived for the troops to embark. The ship sailed,
and bore James Grey far away from the shores of Old England.

STORY ONE, CHAPT