to be sixteen, and with life before you. God bless all
boys! How little they know how grand a thing it is to be young!"

There was silence after this speech--a silence which lasted till Fred
entered eagerly.

"The horse is quite right, sir," he cried.

"How do you know, boy?"

"How do I know, sir? Because he is eating his corn so well, and feels
so comfortable and cool. I say--"

"Well?"

"He's a fine horse."

"Yes. So he is. A splendid fellow. There, my kind hosts, I'll say
good night. I would I had come on another mission, but it is only duty,
and you must forgive me. I shall be off at dawn. Good night, madam.
Good night, Forrester. I knew I could depend on you. Good night, my
boy. You'll forgive me for pinching your shoulder so hard. It was to
try your mettle."

"Oh, I didn't mind," cried Fred. "Good night, sir; and when I do become
a soldier, will you have me in your regiment?"

"I will," thundered out the guest. "Forrester, that's a bargain. Good
night."

There was silence in the room as the two men went out together; and as
soon as the door was closed, Mistress Forrester dropped into the nearest
chair, and covered her face with her hands.

"Mother, dear mother," cried Fred, going on his knees before her, and
throwing his arms about her neck, "you are crying because I said I would
be a soldier!"

"No, my boy," she said, looking up, "I was weeping for the evil days in
store for us all. Heaven be with us, and guide us all aright. Good
night, my boy, good night."

Fred kissed her tenderly, and suffered her to lead him to the door on
his way to his room.

He passed his father on the stairs, and there was a troubled look in the
colonel's eyes, as he bade his son good night.

A quarter of an hour after, Fred was in bed dreaming of secret passages,
and the captain helping him to fight men in rusty armour after they had
won their way to the inner chamber where the old arms lay; and then it
seemed to him that he heard the trampling of horses, and he woke to find
it was morning, and the sun shining into his room.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

NAT IS VERY MUCH IN THE WAY.

Fred lay for some few moments thinking over his vivid dream and unable
for a time to realise that he had been fast asleep. That was the
morning sunshine sure enough, and this was his room; but his head felt
in a whirl, and as if it was mixed up with some puzzle.

But that was not the coinage of his brain that distant _p