r. These were agony to him, feeling as he did more and more how
utterly insignificant and helpless he was; but he had one satisfaction
to keep him going and make him look forward longingly for the next
meeting--paradoxical as it may sound--so as to suffer more agony and
despair, for he could plainly see that his mother clung to him now as
her only stay, and that she was happiest when he was with her, and
begged and prayed of him to come back to her as soon as he possibly
could, now that she was so weak and ill.

"I believe, my darling," she whispered one evening, "that I should have
died if you had not been here."

"Yes, my lad," said the Princess's physician to him as well; "you must
be with Lady Gowan as much as you can. Her illness is mental, and you
can do more for her now than I can. Ha--ha! I shall have to resign my
post to you."

"Yes," said the boy to himself, "Captain Murray is quite right;" and he
went straight to his friend's quarters, as he often did, to give him an
account of his mother's state.

"Yes, sir," he said; "you were quite right: it would have killed her if
I had gone away."

"Come, you are beginning to believe in me, Frank. Now I have some news
for you."

"About Drew Forbes?" cried Frank eagerly.

"No; I have made all the inquiries I can, but I can hear nothing of the
poor fellow. His father is with yours; but the lad seems to have
dropped out of sight, and I have my fears."

"Oh, don't say that," cried Frank excitedly; "he was so young."

"Yes," said the captain grimly; "but in a fight young and old run equal
chances, while in the exposure and suffering of forced marches the young
and untried fare worse than the old and seasoned. Drew Forbes was a
weak, girlish fellow, all brain and no muscle. I am in hopes, though,
that he may have broken down, and be lying sick at some cottage or
farmhouse."

"Hopes!" cried Frank.

"Yes, he may get well with rest. Better than being well and strong, and
on his way to suffer by the rope or axe."

Frank shuddered.

"Now then," cried the captain sharply, to change the conversation; "you
found my advice good?"

"Yes, yes," said Frank.

"Then take some more. Look here, Frank; the doctor and I were talking
about you last night, and he is growing very anxious. He said the blade
was wearing out the scabbard, and that you were making an old man of
yourself."

"Not a young one yet," said the boy, smiling sadly.

"Never mind that. You'l