n to himself, as his young leader
went slowly to the front, and rode for a time beside the leading file.
"They'll set him down as a coward. 'Course I know he isn't, but they'll
think so. Ha, ha, ha!"

"What are you laughing at?" said the man on his right.

"At him," cried Samson, pointing forward at his brother. "Looks just
like a trussed turkey."

"Ah," said the man, quietly, "and who knows when it may be our turn to
ride prisoners just the same? Knew him before, didn't you?"

"Eh? knew him? Well, just a little," said Samson, drily. "Come from
the same part o' Coombeland. Me and him's had many a fight when we was
boys."

"And the young captain and that long-haired popinjay met before, haven't
they?"

"Often. I was gardener to our captain's father--the colonel, you know;
and that fellow with his headpiece on wrong was gardener to his father
as hit our officer."

"Took it pretty quiet, didn't he?" said the man.

"Well, just a little. That's his way."

"Wasn't afraid of him, was he?"

"Afraid? Why, he don't know what it means!"

"Humph! Looked as if he did," grumbled the man; and further
conversation was stayed by Fred checking his horse, and letting the
detachment pass on till he was in the rear.

They rode on hour after hour, till the horses began to show the need of
water, and the men were eager for a halt to be called, so that they
might dine and rest for a couple of hours under some shady tree; but for
some time no suitable spot was found, and the advance and rear guards
rode on, keeping a keen look-out for danger one minute, for a shady
grove and water the next.

Once there was an alarm. One of the advance guard came galloping back
after seeing a body of horsemen about half a mile away, their arms
glittering in the sun; but the party, whatever it was, seemed to be
crossing the road at right angles, and for safety's sake, Fred drew back
his men and took refuge among some trees in a hollow a hundred yards
from the road, where, to the great satisfaction of all, a spring was
found rushing out of the rock.

Here in a regular military fashion the horses' girths were loosened,
they were watered, and allowed to crop the grass. Outposts were
planted, hidden by the trees; sentries were placed over the prisoners,
whose bonds were not unloosed, and the men opened their wallets to
partake of a hasty meal.

As soon as all the arrangements had been made, Fred saw that his
prisoners were supplied w