“Have you ever seen snow mountains, Tom, towering to the very skies in virgin whiteness, with the rivers of ice, miles in width, flowing silently down their rocky sides?  It is a strange and marvellous sight when viewed for the first time.  I could find it in my heart to wish I stood in your shoes, that all these new things might be seen and heard for the first time!”

“And I would that I knew more of these strange lands, and the ways of the people there,” answered Tom; “for I fear me lest mine ignorance may lead us into peril.  But if such a thing as that were to befall, I would lay down my life to save yours, my lord.”

“I believe you, Tom,” answered the other very gravely.  He was silent a while, and then he said slowly, “Tom, I am going to say a strange thing to yon—­at least it would sound strange to some; and, indeed, I should not dare to say it to every companion in peril.  But I believe you to be stanch and true.”

“I trust you will ever find me so, my lord.”

“Well, Tom, this is the word that I would say to you.  It may chance that things come to this pass with us, that one of us twain must needs fall into the hands of the enemy, and die; for there is little hope of any other end when that befalls.  And if we know and can so arrange matters, it must be you and not I who will fall into that peril.”

Tom looked back without flinching.

“You speak well, my lord,” he said.  “It must be my lot to die.  You will not find me hold back when the moment comes.”

Lord Claud took his hand and held it in both of his.

“It must be you, Tom; and yet I would rather it were myself.  But I have that intrusted to me which I must speak in the Duke’s ear.  The despatches are as little compared with what I have had from Marlborough’s own lips—­what may not be trusted upon paper.  Moreover, I could find my way through the countries, where you would be lost for lack of words to ask your way.  If one of us has to be delivered over to death, it must be you.”

“It must.  I see it well.”

“Yet we may both succeed in getting through, or we may both leave our bones lying amid the eternal snows.  Perhaps in years to come it will matter little enough.  Just now it seems a matter of more importance.  But I have told you this to show my trust in you, Tom.  There are not many comrades to whom I could have thus unburdened myself.  I should have had to use subtlety where now I use truth and openness.”

“You shall not find me fail you, my lord,” answered Tom.

CHAPTER X. IN PERIL.

“Halt! and declare yourselves!” cried a hoarse voice speaking in the French tongue.

“Now for it, Tom,” said Lord Claud quietly, speaking between his shut teeth.  “Remember what I have told you.  Be wary, be ready.  We shall get through all right.  There are but two or three score, and none of them mounted.”