ain hope, to a gentleman and a
soldier."

Moseley was conducted down a dark flight of steps, damp and slippery.
The ooze and slime rendered his footing tedious and insecure. Soon he
recognised the mighty voice of Gideon bellowing forth a triumphant
psalm. Another stave was just commencing as the door opened, and the
torch glared lurid and dismally on the iron features and grisly aspect
of the captive. A pair of rude stocks, through which Gideon's long
extremities protruded, stood in the middle of the dungeon. He scowled
terrifically at the intruders; but suddenly resumed his exercise.

"Still at thy devotions?" said Moseley; but the moody fanatic
vouchsafed not to reply.

"We must wait the finishing of this duty, I fear," said the captain,
knowing that interruption would be useless. Silently they awaited the
conclusion, when Gideon abruptly cried out--

"Captain Moseley, are ye, too, cast into this den of lions?"

"I came hither on an embassage, and I have craved this visit ere I
depart."

"Hast furnished my breakfast?" inquired this stalwart knight from the
enchanted wood. "I think your garrison be short of victual, or my"----

"Hold thy tongue, thou piece of ill-contrived impertinence," said the
gaoler. "We have victual and drink too; but for such as thou art, it
were an ill-bestowed morsel. I marvel what can have possessed my lady to
keep thee alive!"

The gaoler drew out from his provision bag a small dark-coloured loaf,
which he threw at the hungry captive, who, to say the truth, had been
half-starved since his imprisonment.

Gideon was devouring it greedily without any further notice, when he
suddenly cried out to his keeper--

"Where gat ye this coarse stuff? I would not say good-morrow to my dog
with so crusty a meal."

"It was tossed over the wall," replied the gaoler. "Our friends oft
supply us that way with provision, captain. I picked it up as I came,
and thought it was too good for thy dainty appetite."

"Captain Moseley," said the hungry drummer, with great earnestness,
"take this. Break it before thy brethren, and show them how vilely these
Egyptian task-masters do entreat us in the house of bondage."

There was something more than usually impressive in his manner. Moseley
took the loaf as requested; and the gaoler, as if the object before him
were beneath suspicion, exclaimed with a knowing look--

"Had I not brought the manchet myself, and watched thee narrowily, I
should have guessed