There was no reply, for in his weakness and misery Scarlett Markham had thrown himself upon his face, and lay for hours almost without moving, and till long after the light had burned out, and the faint bluish dawn rose from the chasm below.
Meanwhile Fred had reached the top, lowered down the rope till its weight made it glide swiftly from his hands, and then mounted his horse to ride back, through the darkness, trusting to chance to reach the camp unchallenged.
This time they were not so successful, for all at once a sharp voice bade them halt and give the word.
“Forward’s the word, Master Fred,” whispered Samson, “full speed, knee to knee.”
Their horses answered to the touches of their heels, and bounded through the darkness, the man who challenged trying to fire in their direction; but the match merely made the priming flash, and before he could communicate with his fellows, Fred and Samson were far over the moor toward the park, dashing by an outpost, whose men fired and raised the alarm. It was too late to stop the adventurous pair, who were close up to the tents and off the horses, which they left to their fate, while the men whom they encountered now treated them as others who had been alarmed by the firing on the moor. Drums were beating, trumpets sounding, and men mustered quickly, waiting a night attack, till the sentinels were questioned and told their tale. An hour more, and it was broad daylight, and the men dismissed, after what was treated as a false alarm.
“And when I went to the tethering stakes, Master, Fred, sir,” whispered Samson, “there were our horses standing alongside o’ the others, with their halters hanging down just as if they’d never left their places.”
“But weren’t you missed? You were a prisoner.”
“No, sir, s’pose not. I should ha’ thought they’d ha’ looked at me now and then; but I’d done nothing very wrong, and when a man did tramp into the tent, he found me lying down, and didn’t see the slit through which I crept out and in.”
“Then you are released, Samson?”
“Yes, sir; your father ordered me to be let out, and, oh, how sleepy I do feel! I say, though, sir, if the colonel know’d all we done last night, what would he say?”