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glancing red。 But this was better； since it could only mean that blows
and bloodshed were in the air。
〃Is there going to be a battle？〃 panted Harold； hardly able to keep up
for excitement。
〃Of course there is；〃 I replied。 〃We're just in time。 Come on！〃
Perhaps I ought to have known better； and yet The pigs and poultry；
with whom we chiefly consorted； could instruct us little concerning the
peace that in these latter days lapped this sea… girt realm。 In the
schoolroom we were just now dallying with the Wars of the Roses； and did
not legends of the country…side inform us how Cavaliers had once
galloped up and down these very lanes from their quarters in the village？
Here； now； were soldiers unmistakable； and if their business was not
fighting； what was it？ Sniffing the joy of battle； we followed hard on
their tracks。
〃Won't Edward be sorry；〃 puffed Harold； 〃that he's begun that beastly
Latin？〃
It did； indeed； seem hard。 Edward； the most martial spirit of us all；
was drearily conjugating AMO （of all verbs） between four walls； while
Selina； who ever thrilled ecstatic to a red coat； was struggling with the
uncouth German tongue。 〃Age；〃 I reflected； 〃carries its penalties。〃
It was a grievous disappointment to us that the troop passed through
the village unmolested。 Every cottage； I pointed out to my companions；
ought to have been loopholed； and strongly held。 But no opposition was
offered to the soldiers； who； indeed； conducted themselves with a
recklessness and a want of precaution that seemed simply criminal。
At the last cottage a transitory gleam of common sense flickered
across me； and； turning on Charlotte； I sternly ordered her back。
The small maiden； docile but exceedingly dolorous； dragged reluctant
feet homewards； heavy at heart that she was to behold no stout fellows
slain that day； but Harold and I held steadily on； expecting every instant to
see the environing hedges crackle and spit forth the leaden death。
〃Will they be Indians？〃 inquired my brother （meaning the enemy）； 〃or
Roundheads； or what？〃
I reflected。 Harold always required direct； straightforward answers
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not faltering suppositions。
〃They won't be Indians；〃 I replied at last； 〃nor yet Roundheads。
There haven't been any Roundheads seen about here for a long time。
They'll be Frenchmen。〃
Harold's face fell。 〃All right；〃 he said； 〃Frenchmen'll do； but I did
hope they'd be Indians。〃
〃If they were going to be Indians；〃 I explained； 〃II don't think I'd go
on。 Because when Indians take you prisoner they scalp you first； and
then burn you at a stake。 But Frenchmen don't do that sort of thing。〃
〃Are you quite sure？〃 asked Harold doubtfully。
〃Quite；〃 I replied。 〃Frenchmen only shut you up in a thing called the
Bastille； and then you get a file sent in to you in a loaf of bread； and saw
the bars through； and slide down a rope； and they all fire at youbut they
don't hit youand you run down to the seashore as hard as you can； and
swim off to a British frigate； and there you are！〃
Harold brightened up again。 The programme was rather attractive。
〃If they try to take us prisoner；〃 he said； 〃wewe won't run； will we？〃
Meanwhile； the craven foe was a long time showing himself； and we
were reaching strange outland country； uncivilised； wherein lions might be
expected to prowl at nightfall。 I had a stitch in my side； and both
Harold's stockings had come down。 Just as I was beginning to have
gloomy doubts of the proverbial courage of Frenchmen； the officer called
out something； the men closed up； and； breaking into a trot； the troops
already far ahead vanished out of our sight。 With a sinking at the heart；
I began to suspect we had been fooled。
〃Are they charging？〃 cried Harold； weary； but rallying gamely。
〃I think not；〃 I replied doubtfully。 〃When there's going to be a charge；
the officer always makes a speech； and then they draw their swords and
the trumpets blow； andbut let's try a short cut。 We may catch them up
yet。〃
So we struck across the fields and into another road； and pounded
down that； and then over more fields； panting； down…hearted； yet hoping
for the best。 The sun went in； and a thin drizzle began to fall； we were
muddy； breathless； almost dead beat； but we blundered on； till at last we
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struck a road more brutally； more callously unfamiliar than any road I ever
looked upon。 Not a hint nor a sign of friendly direction or assistance on
the dogged white face of it。 There was no longer any disguising it we
were hopelessly lost。 The small rain continued steadily； the evening
began to come on。 Really there are moments when a fellow is justified in
crying； and I would have cried too； if Harold had not been there。 That
right…minded child regarded an elder brother as a veritable god； and I
could see that he felt himself as secure as if a whole Brigade of Guards
hedged him round with protecting bayonets。 But I dreaded sore lest he
should begin again with his questions。 As I gazed in dumb appeal on the
face of unresponsive nature； the sound of nearing wheels sent a pulse of
hope through my being； increasing to rapture as I recognised in the
approaching vehicle the familiar carriage of the old doctor。 If ever a god
emerged from a machine； it was when this heaven…sent friend； recognising
us； stopped and jumped out with a cheery hail。 Harold rushed up to him
at once。 〃Have you been there？〃 he cried。 〃Was it a jolly fight？ who
beat？ were there many people killed？〃
The doctor appeared puzzled。 I briefly explained the situation。
〃I see；〃 said the doctor； looking grave and twisting his face this way
and that。 〃Well； the fact is； there isn't going to be any battle to…day。 It's
been put off； on account of the change in the weather。 You will have due
notice of t