"Go on down!" cried Waller, and he gave the table a heavy thump with his hammer before listening to the girl's descending steps, and breathing hard as if he had been running the while. As the girl's steps died out he faced round to look in the fugitive's eyes. There was a faint smile on the lad's lips as he caught Waller's hand and gripped it fast. "Thank you," he said very calmly. "It's all over, Waller--brother Waller. There, I am going to meet it like a man." "What!" said Waller, in a hoarse whisper, as if he thought their words might be heard through the open window. "What are you going to do?" "Surrender," was the reply, "and take care that you come to no harm for harbouring me here." Waller laughed mockingly, as he snatched away his hand and clapped it and its fellow upon the other's shoulders. "You've been too long in France," he whispered. "An English boy would not give up like that. Never say die!" "What do you mean?" panted the other, startled by Waller's earnestness. "To dodge these bloodhounds, as you call them, and give them the slip; and as for old bumpy Gusset, this is his doing, because he's got a spite against father, and if you and I don't serve him out for it, my name's not Waller Froy. Pst!" he whispered, with his lips close to the other's ear. "Don't make a rustle nor a sound," he continued, after whispering for a few moments, "and never stir. I'll send them about their business, never fear." Short as was the time that this interchange of words had taken, it was too long, for loud, hoarse voices were heard as of men assembling in the hall, and, giving his companion an encouraging slap upon the back, Waller dashed out of the room, banged to the door, locked it, and thrust the key into his pocket, keeping his hand there as he carelessly made for the staircase, descended to the gallery, and the next minute was looking over the broad balustrade down into the hall, where a couple of soldiers stood, with grounded muskets, staring through the dining-room door, while another was in the porch on guard, and voices came from out of the room. "Hullo!" shouted Waller to the two soldiers, who had turned to look at him directly. "Who are you, and what do you want?" Without waiting for an answer he took a couple of steps, threw himself on to the great carved balustrade, and, rapidly gliding down upon his chest, literally shot off before he reached the upright scroll at the bottom, and faced the men. His loud questioning voice brought out a sergeant, musket in hand, and sword and bayonet in his diagonal belt behind, closely followed by a big, fat, puffy, unwholesome-looking man with sallow face and baggy eyes. CHAPTER FIFTEEN. THE SEARCH CONTINUED.