Part 5 (1/2)

”No!”

”But I was. It's not Young Glory's way to desert a comrade, Dan.”

The Irishman pressed his hand warmly.

”It's the lucky man who has yourself for a friend, Young Glory.”

Dan began foraging about the hut now.

”It's food an' drink I'm afther,” he explained, ”an' partic'larly the last. Ha! what's this? Wine! Well, it can't be helped.”

”What did you expect to find?”

”A drop of the craythur, shure. It's much I'd give for three fingers of whisky.”

The two seamen made a good meal of some cold fish and bread and the bottle of wine, most of which latter going down Dan's throat.

Then Dan lit his pipe.

”Hurroo! but it's great. It's happy as a king I'm feelin'.”

”For how long? We can't stay here, Dan; we must get out of this.”

”But not till it's dark.”

”Perhaps not.”

”It's Captain Miles won't go away, Young Glory. He'll be afther kapin'

the cruiser near.”

”Yes, I feel certain he will. I've no doubt he's doing his best to rescue you, Dan.”

And so the two talked on, Dan smoking and Young Glory thinking how they might make their escape.

It seemed as if night would come and find them chatting.

An interruption took place.

Young Glory from time to time went to the door of the hut and glanced up and down the road. Now he came back quickly.

”Your hiding-place again, Dan.”

”Why?”

”There are more soldiers coming.”

”Murther!”

”There will be if you don't hurry.”