k, he knew, was there on the table
when he lay down. Could he have taken it into the bed-chamber? No, he
was sure he had not. Besides, there was a pen laid upon it, and it was
open at the fly-leaf. Frank panted with excitement, for there, written
in his friend's hand, were the words:

"_Good-bye, old Frank. We'll shake hands some day, when I come back
in triumph. I can't forget you, though we did fall out so much.
You'll be wiser some day. I can't write more; my wound hurts so much.
I'm going to escape. If they shoot me, never mind; I shall have died
like a man, crying, `God save King James_!'

"_Drew F_."

The tears rose to Frank's eyes, and he did not feel ashamed of them, as
he closed the book and thrust it into his pocket.

"Poor old Drew!" he said softly; "he believes he is doing right, and it
is, after all, what his father taught him. My father taught me
differently, so we can't agree."

What should he do? He must speak out, and it could make no difference
now, for Drew must be safe away. He did not like to summon the sentry,
and he shrank too, for he felt that he might be accused of aiding in the
escape; but while he was thinking he heard steps crossing the open space
in front, and glancing through the chamber window, he saw Captain Murray
and the doctor coming toward the place.

The next minute their steps were on the stairs, the sentry challenged,
the key rattled in the door, and the doctor entered first, to say
jocularly as Frank advanced from the chamber:

"Morning, Gowan. Wounded man's not dead, I hope."

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

IN MORE HOT WATER.

Frank gazed sharply at the doctor, but remained silent, his countenance
being so fixed and strange that Captain Murray took alarm.

"Hang it, Frank lad, what's the matter? Why don't you speak?"

He did not wait to hear the boy's answer, but rushed at once into his
bed-chamber and returned directly.

"Here, what is the meaning of this?" he cried. "Where is young Forbes?"

"Gone, sir," said Frank, finding his voice.

"Gone? What do you mean?"

"I sat up watching him till I could not keep my eyes open. Then I lay
down, and when I awoke this morning the window was open, and he had
escaped."

"Impossible!" cried Captain Murray angrily.

"Humph! I don't know so much about that, Murray," said the doctor,
after indulging in a grunt. "The young rascal was gammoning us last
night, pretending to be so bad."

"But there