one of the most formidable branches of the secret association. The
incidents of the murder of Mr. Horsfall and the attack upon Mr.
Cartwright's mill are strictly accurate in all their details.

In this story I have left the historical battlefields, across so
many of which I have taken you, and have endeavored to show that
there are peaceful battles to be fought and victories to be won every
jot as arduous and as difficult as those contested under arms. In
"Facing Death" my hero won such a battle. He had to fight against
external circumstances, and step by step, by perseverance, pluck,
and determination, made his way in life. In the present tale
my hero's enemy was within, and although his victory was at last
achieved the victor was well nigh worsted in the fray. We have all
such battles to fight, dear lads; may we all come unscathed and
victorious through the fray!

Yours sincerely,

G. A. Henty



CHAPTER I: A FISHING EXPEDITION


It has just struck one, and the boys are streaming out from the
schoolroom of Mr. Hathorn's academy in the little town of Marsden
in Yorkshire. Their appearance would create some astonishment in
the minds of lads of the present generation, for it was the year
1807, and their attire differed somewhat materially from that now