to move about, and I was pursued, as I left the
place, by a hoarse shout to bid me return.  I
pushed on, however, and was soon far from
Fladswäst.

For some time I walked on rapidly, trying to
drown thought by violent exertion.  Then, when
I found myself far along the way from the
village to the sea, I passed through a gap into a
meadow, flung myself on the soft turf beneath a
gnarled evergreen oak, and gave myself up to
thoughts that were anything but pleasant ones.
Boy that I was, I knew little and cared less for
the political bearings of the case; but my
sympathies were with the Danes, among whom I had
lived, and from whom I had received much homely
kindness.  I had been an honoured guest in their
great farm-houses, where employers and servants
sat together in primitive fashion around the
huge stove in winter, and where the copper and
tin vessels on the walls glittered like actual
gold and silver in the candlelight.  They had
taught me to shoot and to manage a boat, had
taken me out on many an expedition by land
and water, and always vied with one another in
good-natured hospitality to the lonely English
lad, their pastor's pupil.  And now——

I thought of my poor friends, disarmed, brow-
beaten, trodden down by the German majority,
and perhaps even driven from their homes and
fields to make way for the conquerors.  I
thought of the slaughter and disgrace of the
handful of troops at Flaxbye, taken unawares
as they would be, and weakened, as I had but
yesterday heard they were, by the withdrawal of
most of the infantry either to Alsen or the
strong intrenched camp of Düppel, lying north
on the mainland, and at the usual ferry between
the island and the Schleswig coast.  And then
I thought, more in sorrow than resentment, how
shamefully I had been deceived in Captain
Bluenose, my best friend among all those hardy
fenmen, and one whom I had esteemed as a
brave, honest-hearted old patriot.  To be sure,
he was in debt, so he said, and debt often
drives men to shameful acts; but then how
could old Bluenose be in debt.  It was a puzzle
to me, as I remembered his farm, freehold
land, small but well stocked, his sloop, and
his thrifty habits.  I had got thus far in my
perturbed thoughts, when something bright-
coloured, like a tropic bird, went flashing past
between the green hedges of the lane.  I raised
myself on my elbow and looked after it.  It was
but a moment and the trees shut it out from
view, but my eye caught a glimpse of a child
wearing a little scarlet cloak with a hood, such
as "Lille Lilien" wore, and on account of which
I often named her in jest "Little Red Riding
Hood," and bade her take care lest wolves should
eat her.  The hood had fallen back, and a tress
of the little maiden's hair hung loose and gleamed
in the setting sun for an instant, then all vanished
like a dream.  I called her name, but there was
no reply, and I supposed myself mistaken.
The sun sank lower and lower, but the air was
still warm, and I was in no hurry to go back to
Fladswäst. It was not that I stood in awe of
M. Blenck's reproaches; my good tutor's anger
at my truancy was sure to be gently expressed.
But I could not endure to hear the bustle and
din made by the Germans in the village, and I
was averse to witnessing the humiliation of my
friends.  Poor Captain Bluenose! I could never
again sit at his fireside or go out with him in
his boat, listening gladly to his stories of faraway
scenes and adventures.

Before I had gone half a mile towards
home, I heard the steady tramp of troops,
and the head of the column appeared.  First
rode two videttes, with carbines unslung.  On
catching sight of me, they came up at a trot,
and called to me to halt.  I looked about me
for the means of escape, but the hedges were
high and thick, and I had no choice but to
obey.  One of the hussars clutched me by the
collar, and compelled me to walk beside his
horse till I was led into the presence of Brigadier
Halm, who bluntly accused me of being a
spy, and ordered me to be searched.  Nothing
of a compromising nature, of course, was found
in my pockets; but I think the general was
sorry for the circumstance.  He gruffly said that
"Englanders were a conceited set, and must not
think to have their own way when dealing with
Royal Prussian officers."  Instead of suffering
me to go home, he gave orders that I should be
placed beside the guides, and accompany the
column.

For some time, I really did not venture to
look at my companions.  There were tears in.
my own eyes, and I could not bear to look Voss
in the face.  Presently I stole a look at Han.
To my surprise, he was no longer the shame-
stricken lad who had stood beside his father
that day, cowering under the popular scorn.
No.  His head was erect; his eye bright and
bold.  He looked like a young hero, marching
out to battle in a good cause and with a good
conscience.  There was a newly-awakened
intelligence in his face that seemed to transform it.
Bluenose–who had betrayed his own people for
German bribes–it was wonderful to see how
calm he was as he walked, under a strong guard,
in front of the column.  Both he and his son
were fastened by cords to the saddle-bows of
Prussian troopers, and were vigilantly watched,
but allowed to talk to each other in a low voice.
The skipper gave me a nod as I was placed near
him, and I suppose, even in the dusk, he saw
the working of my face, since he said, quietly:

"I thought it was not the English fashion to
be hasty in judging an old friend.  I know what
you think, boy; but, wait— wait."

Presently Han asked if I had "seen Lilien?"

"Then it was Lilien," said I, eagerly, "who
ran past in her red cloak; but why—-"

"Silence, all.  Silence!" said an officer, who
rode near; and nothing more was said.  The
march was conducted cautiously, without beat
of drum, and the soldiers were very quiet,
though the Free Corps often broke into snatches
of the National Hymn, and it cost the chiefs
much trouble to hush them.  First rode the
hussars, then came the Prussians, and thirdly