Part 19 (1/2)

”We should be off as soon as we have taken some food,” whispered Stephen to his brother ”I wish that we had gone a couple of hours ago; the moon is in the sky, and we could have seen our way”

They rose to their feet, and looked about them; they could see no one in the hut Presently the old man appeared from behind a piece of an old sail, which served to screen off his sleeping-place

”We , friend,” said Stephen, ”and ill thank you for some more food, as we know not e may obtain any”

”You shall be welcome to e have,” and he called out to his wife, ”Mollie, Mollie, get up and cook soentlemen; they wish to be on their way”

While thethey went out to look at their horses The ani some oats, which it was evident that either the old ot some water, which the poor beasts much required Both animals looked much better for their food and rest Stephen and Andrew hoped that they should be able today's journey, and find some safer place of concealment than the hut of the old fisherman On their return to it they found breakfast ready, which they discussed with good appetites; and then paying the oldhe had afforded the to ride off without further delay Stephen led out his horse, and Andrew follohen, as he was about to mount, he exclaimed, ”Why, the poor animal is lame” He led him on a few paces; there could be no doubt about it

”This is unfortunate,” he said ”But I will not delay you, Stephen; you ride on, and I will run down his leg; perhaps in the course of an hour or two the lao off I cannot fancy what has caused it”

”No, no,” answered Stephen; ”I will remain with you whatever happens; the chances are the news of the fight won't reach this place for some days to come We will share each other's fortunes, whatever they may be” All Andrew could say would not induce Stephen to ride on alone

They exa, but could discover no cause for its la, and did all they could in hopes of taking it off Presently the old fisher that the horse was lame

”We er,” said Stephen ”We should run the risk of having the horse break down altogether e to proceed in its present condition”

The old man made no objection, so they put their horses back into the boat-house, and re-entered the hut They inquired if his son had returned on the previous evening

”Yes,” he answered; ”and he has now gone out in the boat to catch soh to feed you You ht”

As they had scarcely recovered froet some more sleep They were aroused for dinner, which was composed chiefly of fish, and as soon as it was over, they went out to look at their horses Andrew led his from the stable, and walked it up and down; it already appeared better ”I really think wehere The chances are Feversha the country in all directions tosoreed, and went back to the hut to pay the oldat the door of the hut, when Andrew cried out, ”Quick! quick! I see so this way They may be friends, but they are more likely to be enemies”

The old man heard as said, but made no re and saddling his horse,to look behind the the other way,” the old man shouted after thealloped, and soon lost sight of the horse them was the question Andrew's horse went better than they expected The country was generally level, though the roads were none of the best

They had proceeded for a couple of hours or ; the ani its lameness; still they had reached no place where they could hope to obtain the conceal the rocky and wooded part of North Devon, and beyond the district from which any of those who had joined the rebellion would coht for Yet they felt, if it was suspected that they had been with Mon betrayed

”We h it may be difficult to find theerous to enter a town”

It was certainly iet rid of their uniforms, for those alone would betray them, as soon as the fate of the battle was known At the saentle, at all events, than if they disguised themselves as countrymen, as their dialect and appearance would at once show that they were strangers The long su in when they reached a hilly district, where they hoped to find concealment

”What shall we do with our horses?” asked Andrew ”It will be difficult to hide them and find provender for them at the same time; besides which, should they be discovered, they would betray that ere in the neighbourhood To turn theerous, for they would break into soarden, and inquiries would be ed”

”The only way, I fear, will be to kill them and throw them over the cliffs,” said Stephen

”Then we shall have nofarther on,” observed Andrew