His brother looked at him with a sudden light in his face. "You?" he said. "I never thought of that!" But he began to think of it; and as he thought, his face bore witness to the struggle which was passing in his mind. The lad beside him was a mere child; the risk to which he would expose him was such that a grown man might shun it without shame. And the boy was not a child only, but his own brother--one who had a claim upon him and a right to expect at his hands peculiar care and protection. [Illustration: But he began to think of it.--Page 108.] He knew, in a word, that he was not justified in exposing the child to the risk he meditated. But on the other side lay inclination and more than one cunning argument. The prospect of turning defeat into victory, and building on misfortune a claim to gratitude shone brightly before him. He saw himself the saviour of the army, thanked, honored, and exalted by men who had lately looked coldly on him. And then again was it not the duty of every subject, young and old, to dare all for the King; to think nothing which aided him dishonorable, nor any danger by which he might profit excessive? In some such creed he had been brought up, and it came to his help at this moment. "I do not see why you should not do it," he said slowly and thoughtfully. "You would run less risk after all than a grown man, and be subject to less suspicion." "Only I don't think I could count--not thousands," said Jack despondently. "That is easily managed," Frank answered with a slight frown. "But you had better not do it if you are afraid." "I am not afraid," Jack said, with a flushed face. "It is only the counting, Frank." Frank nodded and stood awhile in doubt, twisting a bit of fern to and fro between his fingers. "If they caught you doing it they might--I do not know what they would do to you, Jack, lad," he said at last. "I do not mind," the boy cried bravely. "It is for the King, is it not, Frank?" "Of course it is." "It might put him on the throne again, might it not, Frank?" "It might," said Frank. "But----" "What?" the boy asked, his face falling at the word. Frank did not answer. The child's loyalty and courage touched him almost to the point of giving way. For a moment it was on his tongue and in his mind to refuse the offer. But then his own past error stepped in his way. The temptation to turn the tables by a dazzling success on those who had blamed him for his breach of parole--the still greater temptation to justify the breach by showing, at least, that he had not sinned in vain, overcame him. "You think you could do it, lad?" he said at last--instead of that which he had meant to say. "I am sure I could--if I could count," Jack answered eagerly. "Well, then, look here," Frank said. "Or wait a moment."