During the night the fire had crept in again, from the surrounding mass; but there were plenty of hands now, and in an hour it was again extinguished.

The hearthstone was soon cleared and raised, and Martin brought out a crock, in which he had placed the gold.
"Now, Leigh," he said, "you had better have a talk with your boys, and arrange where they are to meet you.

I should not press any of them who are unwilling to go.

This is a private business, and I do not think that it would be right to urge them." "Certainly not," Leigh agreed.

"I am quite sure that all our boys will go with us, both for Patsey's sake, and because they are furious at the chateau being burnt down; as to the others, I shall put it to them that they are perfectly free to do as they wish.
They can go with us, or they can rejoin the army, just as they like.
"If they go, I think that it would be as well that they did not enter the town; but should take up their quarters in a copse, or in a deserted house, a mile or two away, so that we could call them if we wanted them.