disappeared.

They saw no more of him for the next quarter of an hour, and then came
upon him sitting waiting at a spot where the beaten track swept away
from the river.

"At last!" said Marcus, eagerly, as the ponies' heads were turned; and
before they had gone many hundred yards they had the satisfaction of
seeing the trees open out and the sky look lighter.

Lupe sprang on in front and disappeared, but at the end of a few minutes
they came upon him again, standing gazing straight before him,
motionless, while as the ponies reached him, they too stopped short.

"What does that mean?" whispered the old soldier. "Has he seen anything
to scare him?"

Serge had hardly spoken when from somewhere in front there came the
distant whinnying of a horse.

"From the army!" cried Marcus, excitedly. But Serge clapped his hand
upon the boy's lips.

"Our army is not there," he said, in a hoarse whisper, and the driver
gave a quick snatch at the reins, just as one of the ponies stretched
out its neck to answer the challenge.

"Good!" said Serge, sharply. "Now then, back."

"Turn back," said Marcus, "now we are so near?"

"Yes, boy, and try to get round to the camp another way."

"You think the enemy are near?" whispered Marcus.

"And enough to make me, boy, seeing how our people have been surrounded
and followed. I thought we were getting on too fast."

"But look here," said Marcus, excitedly, "I don't like to turn back
without making sure. Let me go on alone and see if you are right."

"Well," said Serge, slowly, "it would be best, for then--No, I can't let
you do that, boy. We'll stay here for a while till it grows darker, and
then, go on together, creeping amongst the bushes to see what we can
make out, and then come back to the chariot."

"Why not make a brave dash forward?" said Marcus.

Serge shook his head.

"It would be too rash," he said. "We'll take the horses into yon clump
of trees, where they can stand well hidden and it will be easy to find
when we come back."

"Serge, we shall never find it again in the darkness. Better keep with
it," whispered Marcus, excitedly.

"Well, maybe you are right, boy. Lead on, then, my man, as silently as
you can. This way."

Serge stepped in front, and with the darkness closing in fast the ponies
were led forward some twenty yards and then out of the clear open space
in amongst the dark patch of young growth, and the chariot was hardly
hidden from the sig