A Young Hero | Page 9

the wood, and it
was by guesswork, for the stars were clouded over, that the Doctor
made for what he believed to be the south, but not to go far in the
darkness, on account of the twinkling fires which shone out here and
there as if all around them. That night they slept in another pine wood,
to keep on starting up from time to time during the night, awakened
now by a shot, and twice over by the sound of a bugle, which came
from the direction of the watch fires.
There was no further engagement during the next day, but every
attempt to get out of the wood in which they sheltered was in vain; for
they were surrounded by the troops dotted here and there, as if
watching for the next attack.
They had not come away empty-handed, but the food given to them by
their French hostess had come to an end, and at a word from the Doctor,
as evening fell, Phil sprang to his feet.
"Yes," he cried, "they won't see us now. Oh, how I wish I was different,
Dr Martin! But I can't help it."

"Different?" said the old man, pressing his shoulder. "In what way?
Why?"
"I keep on getting so hungry and wanting to eat, when I know I ought
to be patient and wait."
"Poor boy," said the Doctor, with a little laugh. "How strange that you
should be perfectly natural, Phil, eh? There, we'll make a brave effort to
get right away now, and perhaps we shall find another French friend
whose husband is away in the fight."
"And then we could sleep in a bed once more," said Phil after a long
silence, during which they had been pressing on, with the bushes
through which they passed rustling loudly.
"Yes, after a splendid supper," replied the Doctor, in French.
"Oui!" cried Phil, joyously, and then his heart seemed to stand still, for
from just in front, where all looked dark, there was the rattle of muskets
and a voice shouted in plain English:
"Halt! Who goes there?"
CHAPTER SIX.
"Stop! For pity's sake," cried the Doctor. "Don't fire!"
There was a rush and they were surrounded. Phil was seized roughly by
two soldiers, while two more dragged the Doctor to his knees.
"I've got a monster, sergeant," cried one of the men. "Hold still, you
wriggling little worm."
"Let me go," cried Phil, angrily.
"Now then, who are you?" cried a harsh voice out of the darkness.
"Spies from the French camp, sergeant; that's certain," said another
voice.

"Silence in the ranks!" roared the sergeant. "Now then, sir, what are
you?"
"Travellers going south to escape from the war," said the Doctor,
huskily.
"Won't do," said the sergeant. "Bad attempt at English. Why, you were
speaking in French just now."
"Yes; I am a French teacher--the tutor to my little pupil here, the son of
an English officer."
"Bah!" cried the sergeant. "What a lame tale. You talked French or
some other lingo, and I heard the boy say `Oui!'"
"Yes, sir; we talk in French sometimes so that the boy may learn."
"Oh, indeed! Well, you're prisoners now, and he shall be taught to
speak English. Bring them along."
"Pardon, sir. You belong to the English force?"
"I rather think we do, mounseer. Search them, my lads. No, wait till we
get them to headquarters. What papers have you?"
"Papers, sir?"
"Yes, despatches. Letters."
"Only my pocket-book," said the Doctor.
"Got it, sergeant," said one of the men.
"Nothing else?"
"No, sergeant; not that I can find."
"Perhaps they're hidden upon the boy. Like enough."

Phil soon found that it was vain to resist, and he had to suffer being
roughly searched.
"Eh? What's that?" said the sergeant.
"Says he wants to be taken to his father."
"Yes, I want to go to my father, to tell him Dr Martin has been taken
prisoner by English soldiers."
"Then you can't go," growled the sergeant. "Here, who is your father,
young shaver?"
"Captain Carleton, of the 200th Regiment, sir," said Phil, stoutly.
"The 200th Regiment, eh? I don't know any Captain Carleton. But
bring them along."
The prisoners were marched off at once through the darkness towards
where the fires were burning brightly, and after being challenged again
and again, the sergeant led them to the front of a tent, out of which a
couple of officers, evidently high in command, came quickly, and were
about to hurry away, but stopped for a few moments to listen to the
sergeant's report.
"You are sure they have no despatch upon them?"
"Certain, sir. They have been searched twice."
"Let them be detained," said the officer, sharply.
The sergeant marched them off to a large tent, and into this the two