on their C-springs; but no slackening of speed took
place, and the artillerymen hurried their horses along, as if the load
they drew were some heavy gun or a waggon full of ammunition.

Twice over Frank gazed at the foremost carriage in alarm, so nearly was
it upset in one of the ruts of the ill-kept road; but the rate at which
they were going saved it, and they thundered along without accident to
where the gradient grew less steep.

There was very little traffic on the road at that time of the night, and
not many people about, while before those who were startled by the noise
of the passing troops had time to come out the prisoners had gone by.

Holloway and Highbury were passed, and Islington reached, but no sign of
an attempt at rescue caught Frank's anxious eyes; neither was there any
appearance of fresh troops till the head of the escort turned down the
road which entered the city at the west end of Cheapside. But here the
boy started, for they passed between two outposts, a couple of dragoons
facing them on either side of the road, sitting like statues till the
whole of the escort had passed, when they turned in after it, four
abreast, and brought up the rear, but some distance in front of the rear
guard.

At the end of another fifty yards two more couples were seen, and at the
end of every similar interval four more dragoons turned in at the rear,
strengthening the escort, while it was evident that they had previously
cleared the road of all vehicles, turning them into the neighbouring
ways, so that the cortege was enabled to continue its progress at the
same steady military trot as they had commenced with on leaving
Highgate.

Again and again Frank, now growing breathless, had hoped that the
walking pace would once more be renewed, so as to afford him a chance to
speak to his father; but he wished in vain, for, except at two sharp
turnings, the whole body of dragoons swept along at the sharp trot, and
without change, saving that as London was neared the men flanking the
carriages were doubled.

But though no sign of rescue caught Frank's eyes, he saw that the
stationing of the dragoons to keep the way and the turning of the
traffic out of the road had had their effect; for at every step the
collection of people along the sides and at the windows increased, till,
when the road changed to a busy London street, there was quite a crowd
lining the sides.

"There will be no rescue," sighed the lad; and he tur