it-pat_ of a
horse's hoofs upon the hard road; and springing out of bed, he ran to
the window, threw it open, and looked out, straining his neck to get a
glimpse of the distant way.

For a few moments he could see nothing. Then there came into sight,
rising out of a hollow, the head and broad shoulders of a horseman. As
he progressed, more and more of his figure appealed as he ascended a
slope, till at last the horse was in full view, but directly afterwards
they seemed to top the ascent and begin to go down on the other side,
with the sun flashing from stirrup and buckle, and from the hilt of the
rider's sword. There were other bright flashes too all around, but they
were from the dewdrops which spangled grass and leaf, as the rider
seemed to grow shorter, his horse disappearing, till only his head and
shoulders appeared above the ridge, and then they passed away, and the
_pit-pat_ of the horse's hoofs died out.

"Gone!" said Fred, thoughtfully. "No! there he is again;" and he
strained his eyes to gaze at the tiny distant form of the
military-looking man who had made so strong an impression upon him, but
he did not become visible; it was only the sound of his horse's hoofs
which were heard for the space of a minute, faint but clear, on the
morning air. Then all was silent.

"I half like that Captain Miles," said Fred to himself. "Wish I was
going with him. Wonder where he has gone? To Plymouth, perhaps."

Fred began to dress, after hesitating whether he should go to bed again.
But the bright morning was so attractive, and after the first
application of cold water, he felt a positive eagerness to get out in
the fresh air.

All the time he was dressing his head was full of his confused dream and
the fight in the narrow passage, while the events of the preceding day
had so impressed him that he hurried downstairs, glanced at the hall
clock, which pointed to a quarter to five, and, taking his hat, ran out,
and down the garden.

"Morning, Master Fred," came from behind the hedge; and it was so sudden
that the lad jumped.

"You, Samson?" he cried. "Yes; I've been starting that gen'leman who
come yesterday. Had to get up at four and have his horse ready. Going
fishing?"

"No; only for a walk."

"Over to the Hall?"

"Yes, Samson," replied the lad, impatiently. "Then, if you see that bad
brother o' mine, Master Fred, don't you speak to him. I'm getting
ashamed of him."

"No: he's getting ashamed of