She would have said more, if she had not found comfort in the captain's next words. "So the only course left," he went on, "is to set him outside our lines, and let him make his own way unto the nearest of our garrisons. You, Rupert Hinkel, shall go with him. Take him unto his kindred, and they will requite you well. Fail the lad, or play him false, and I shall seek you out and hang you." This last the captain said as quietly as if he promised Rupert a box on the ear, or a ha'penny, or some such trifle. Yet quiet as his voice was, there was in it something that made Merrylips shrink and Rupert stiffen. "I will not fail him, sir, on the faith of a gentleman," Rupert promised, in a voice almost as quiet as the captain's own. Then Captain Norris made Rupert stand by him, on the side opposite Merrylips, whom he still held fast, and he pointed out to him on the map lines that were paths and little specks that stood for villages. Point by point he taught Rupert the way to the nearest Cavalier outpost at King's Slynton, fifteen miles distant, and he gave him a pass-word, by which the commander of that garrison should know that he came indeed from Monksfield, and was to be helped upon his journey. "He will find means to send you both to Walsover," said Captain Norris. "Your troubles all are at an end when once you reach King's Slynton, and the distance thither is not great." Then he laid upon the table a handful of small coins, shillings and sixpences and groats. These he bade Rupert hide within his clothes. "Show but one piece at a time," he cautioned. "'Twill rouse question if so young a boy seem too well stored with money." "And shall I take my carabine, sir, for our defence?" asked Rupert. He was fairly a-quiver with eagerness, and his face fell when the captain answered, "No." But Rupert felt better when the captain pointed to the form by the fire and said that yonder lay what they must bear upon their journey. For on the form was not only a packet of what seemed food, and a flask, but a small pistol, with a steel patron full of cartridges and a touch-box, all complete. "You have your orders," said Captain Norris. "Now rest you here till you are sent for, and eat your suppers too." He rose as if the talk were at an end, and for the first time spoke to Merrylips. "Thou must lay off that Cavalier sash, be sure," he said. "And art thou warmly clad against this journey?" "Ay, sir," Merrylips answered. She spoke cheerily. For she was going to leave Monksfield, that in the last hours she had found so hateful. Almost she could have laughed for joy. "That's a brave lad!" said Captain Norris; yet somehow he seemed a little disappointed that she bore it so bravely. "Well, God speed thee, Tibbott, and farewell!" he added after a moment, and then suddenly, with his hand upon her shoulder, bent and kissed her. She felt the roughness of his untrimmed beard against her cheek, and then, in that same minute, he was gone from the mess-room.