ard it, and prepared to decamp at a moment's notice,
should the girl display any undue curiosity as to the contents of the
hut.

But she did not. She was used to seeing it padlocked, and to listen in
vain for an answer to her call. Percy was evidently abroad, probably
waiting for her up at Kennedy's lodge. So she hurried back. As soon as
she had disappeared beyond the bridge, the two men put their pipes into
their pockets.

"If they've begun looking for him we'd best sheer off, Corporal."

"That's right," replied Corporal--"at once."

Whereupon they descended from their perches, and having looked carefully
up and down, unlocked the dungeon door.

Their prisoner was lying so still and motionless, that for an instant
they had their misgivings as to whether the gag had not been a trifle
too much for his respiration. But a moment's examination satisfied them
the boy was alive--much to their relief.

The sack was once more brought into requisition, and turned out to be a
great deal larger than it looked, for it was found quite roomy enough to
accommodate the whole of the person of Percy Rimbolt, who in this
dignified retreat quitted the scene of his labours on the back of one of
his captors. The hut having been once more carefully padlocked, the
party travelled at least a mile into the depths of the lonely woods,
where at least there was no lack of shade and seclusion.

Percy was deposited somewhat unceremoniously on the ground, and left in
the sack (with just sufficient aperture in the region of his nose to
allow of respiration) for some hours more, unheeded by his custodians
except when he attempted to move or roll over, on which occasions he was
sharply reminded of his duty to his company by an unceremonious kick.

Some time later--it may have been an hour or two, or only five minutes--
he was aware of a conversation taking place outside his sack.

"Risky," said one voice.

"More risky not to do it," said the other. "What use would he be if he
was a dead 'un? Besides, how are we to carry him all that way?"

"All right, have it your way," said the other surlily.

Then Percy was conscious of some one uncording the mouth of the sack and
uncovering his head.

"Young feller," said the gruffer of the two voices, "do you want your
throat cut?"

Percy shook his head in mild deprecation of such a desire.

"Do you want your tongue cut out?"

Once more Percy disclaimed any consuming anxiety in that directi