sword. _Realm_. Can
they be friends of the prisoners sent forward as scouts?"

"Do you think so?" said Frank.

"Yes," replied the captain thoughtfully; "and if they are, we are quite
right. The prisoners have not passed, and I should not wonder if there
were an attempt made to rescue them before they reach town."

Frank's head began to buzz, and he nipped his horse so tightly that the
animal broke into a trot.

"Steady! Walk," cried the captain; and the next minute he drew rein, to
sit peering forward into the darkness, listening for the tramp of
horses, which ought to have been heard for a mile or two upon so still a
night.

"Can't hear them," he said in a disappointed tone. "But we will not go
any farther."

At that moment Frank's horse uttered a loud challenging neigh, which was
answered from about a hundred yards off, and this was followed by
another, and another farther away still.

"There they are," said the captain, "halting for a rest to the horses
before trotting down. Forward!"

They advanced again; but had not gone far before figures were dimly seen
in the road, and directly after a stern voice bade them halt.

The captain replied with a few brief words, and they rode forward, to
find themselves facing a vedette of dragoons, a couple of whom escorted
them to where, upon an open space, in the middle of which was a pond, a
strong body of cavalry was halted, the greater part of the men
dismounted; but about twenty men were mounted, and sat with drawn
swords, surrounding a couple of carriages, each with four horses--
artillery teams--and the drivers in their places ready to start at a
moment's notice.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

THE ATTEMPT AT RESCUE.

Frank's eyes took all this in, and then turned dim with the emotion he
felt, and for a few moments everything seemed to swim round him. His
horse, however, needed no guiding; it kept pace with its companion, and
the lad's emotional feeling passed off as he found himself in presence
of the officer in command of the escort and his subordinates, a warm
greeting taking place between Captain Murray and the principal officer,
an old friend.

"Don't seem regular, Murray; but with this note from the Prince, I
suppose I shall be held clear if you have come to help the prisoners
escape," said the officer lightly.

"Escape!" said Captain Murray sharply.

"No, no; nonsense, old fellow," said the dragoon officer merrily. "Of
course I was bantering you.