castically.
"Why don't you out with it, and tell me what's the matter?"

"Oh, two things; but haven't you heard?"

"Of course not, or I shouldn't be begging and praying of you to speak."

"I found a letter from the dad, that's one thing, and he told me what I
find the place is ringing with."

"Something about bells?" said Frank, laughing.

"Yes, if you like," said Andrew wildly. "The tocsin. War, my lad,
war!"

"What! with France?"

"No; England. At last. The King has landed."

"I say, are you going mad?"

"Yes, with excitement. Frank, the game has begun, and we must throw up
everything now, and join hands with the good men and true who are going
to save our country."

"Bah! You've got one of your fits on again," cried Frank
contemptuously; "what a gunpowder fizgig you are!"

"Look here!" said Andrew, in an angry whisper; "this is no time for
boyish folly. We must be men. The crisis has come, and this miserable
sham reign is pretty well at an end."

"The Prince is in yonder," said Frank warningly.

"Prince!" said Drew contemptuously; "I know no Prince but James Francis
Stuart. Now, listen; there must be no shilly-shallying on your part; we
want every true patriot to draw the sword for his country."

"Ah well, I'm not what you call a true patriot, and so I shan't draw
mine."

"Bah!" ejaculated Drew.

"And bah!" cried Frank. "Don't you play the fool,--unless you want some
one to hear you," he continued, in a warning whisper.

"What do I care? I have had great news from my father, and the time has
at last come when we must strike for freedom."

"Are you mad? Do you know where you are?" cried Frank, catching him by
the arm.

"Not mad, and I know perfectly where I am. Look here, Frank; there must
be no more nonsense. I tell you the time has come to strike. Our
friends have landed, or are about to land. There is going to be a
complete revolution, and before many hours the House of Hanover will be
a thing of the past, and the rightful monarch of the House of Stuart
will be on the throne."

"Then you are mad," said Frank, with another uneasy glance at the
curtained door beyond where they stood, "or you would never talk like
this."

"I shall talk how I please now," cried the lad excitedly. "Let them do
their worst. I feel ready to wait till the Prince comes out, and then
draw my sword and shout, `God save King James the Third!'"

"No, you are not. You would not so insult one who h