"Till this time to-morrow," answered Careless; "for then we shall be far off." "Then ye mean to leave me here?" said the prisoner. "We shall leave thee, but the tree will be watched," remarked Charles. Madmannah asked no further questions. Naturally, his presence was a great annoyance to the king and his companion, and they moved as far from him as they could, and conversed in whispers. Things went on thus for more than an hour, when the voice of Ezra was heard from below, calling out: "Art thou still here, Madmannah?" The prisoner heard the inquiry, but did not dare to make any answer, for he felt the point of the poniard at his throat, and Ezra departed. No one else--friend or foe--came near the oak. The day seemed interminable--but night came at last. In expectation of the arrival of William Penderel, they had got all in readiness for departure. But what was to be done with the prisoner? That was rather a perplexing consideration, for the king did not altogether like to leave him in the tree. Charles was still undecided, when a signal was given, and peering out from the screen of foliage he could just distinguish three huge figures standing at the foot of the tree. "The fellow shall go down with us," he observed in an under tone to Careless. "William Penderel and two of his brothers are below. They will dispose of him. Unloose him quickly." Careless obeyed the injunction. "Am I to be set at liberty?" asked the prisoner, joyfully, as his hands were unfastened. "That depends," replied Careless. "The bandage will not be removed from thine eyes, so it will behove thee to be careful in descending." Meantime, the king had gone down to explain matters, taking the basket and the cushion with him. As he expected, he found William Penderel, with Trusty Dick and John. All three were amazed to hear that a prisoner had been made. Though the task was by no means agreeable to them, Dick and John did not for a moment dispute his majesty's commands, but agreed to convey the trooper to a distance. "We will conduct him to the roughest part of the wood and leave him there, to find his way out as he best can," said Dick. "If he gets drowned in a pool, or stifled in a bog, it won't much matter," added John. Madmannah reached the lowest branch in safety, but he then slipped down and fell to the ground. When he arose he was seized on either side by a vigorous grasp, while a stern voice--it was that of Dick--bade him come along, and keep silence. "We have got thy pistols," added John, "and we will shoot thee through the head shouldst thou attempt to fly, or give the alarm. So take heed what thou art about." They then marched off with the prisoner between them. As soon as they were out of sight and hearing, William Penderel cautiously conducted the king and his companion to Boscobel House. CHAPTER IX. HOW CHARLES SLEPT IN THE SECRET CLOSET; AND HOW CARELESS SLEPT IN A PRIEST'S HOLE IN THE GARRET.