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Constance," he said, gravely, “buckle my sword for me before the battle."

She did it, trembling and tearful. Then, while Faith Ingleby did the same office for Algernon, he took her in his arms and kissed her lips in the sight of all the army. Every man took it as a lesson for himself. He was to fight for love as well as liberty. A deafening shout rent the air.

Then Lord Chester sprang upon his horse and rode to the front.

Everything was now in readiness. The cannon, masked by bushes, were protected by the pond in front; on either side were the Guards ready to lie down; behind them, the regiments, massed at present, but prepared for open order and in the trees could be seen the gleaming helmets and swords of the cavalry.

;

"Let us go to my father," said Faith; "he and Clarence will pray for us."

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Algy," said Lord Chester, cheerfully, "what are you thinking of?"

"I was thinking how sorry Jack Kennion will be to have missed this day."

And then there happened the most remarkable, the most surprising thing in the whole of this surprising campaign. There was a movement among the men in front, followed by loud laughing and shouting; and then a party of girls, some of the Company of women which followed the army, came flying across the Heath breathless, because they had run all the way from Marble Arch to convey their news.

"They have run away, my lord!" they cried all together.

"Who have run away?"

"The Army of Avengers-the Convict Wardens. They have all run away, and there is not one left."

"Run away? What does it mean? Why did they run away?"

Then the girls looked at each other and laughed, but were a little ashamed, because

X

they were not quite sure how the Chief would take it.

"It seemed such a pity," said one of them, presently, "that any of our own brave fellows should be killed."

"Such a dreadful pity," they murmured. "And by such cruel men.'

"Such cruel, horrible men," they echoed.

"So that we

we stole into the camp

when they were asleep and we frightened them; and they all ran away, leaving their arms behind them."

Lord Chester looked at Captain Dunquerque. "Woman's wit," he said. "Would you and I have thought of such a trick? Go, girls, tell the Bishop."

But Algy looked sad.

"And after all this drilling," he said, with a sigh, “and all our shouting, there is to be no fighting!"

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CHAPTER XIV.

THE ARMY OF AVENGERS.

THE awful nature of the crisis, and the strangeness of the sight, kept the streets in the neighbourhood of the Camp in Hyde Park full of women, young and old. They roamed about among the tents, looking at the sullen faces of the men, examining their arms, and gazing upon them curiously, as if they were wild beasts. Not one among them expressed the least friendliness or kind feeling. The men were regarded by those who paid them, as well as by the rebels, with undisguised loathing.

About midnight the crowd lessened; at two o'clock, though there were still a few stragglers, most of the curious and anxious politicians had gone home to bed; at three, some of them still

remained; at four -the darkest and deadest time of an autumn night-all were gone home, every special constable even, and the Camp was left in silence, the men in their tents, and asleep.

There still remained, however, a little crowd of some two or three dozen girls; they were collected together about the Marble Arch. They had formed, during the evening, part of the crowd; but now that this was dispersed, they seemed to gather together, and to talk in whispers. Presently, as if some resolution was arrived at, they all poured into the Park, and entered the sleeping Camp.

The men were lying down, mostly asleep; but they were not undressed, so as to be ready for their early march. No sentries were on duty, nor was there any watch kept.

Presently the girls found, in the darkness, a cart containing drums. They seized them and began drumming with all their might. Then they separated, and ran about from tent to tent; they pulled and haled the sleepers, startled