Plot

Will and Henry meet up with the vagrant, Ozymandias, who gives them a compass and a map to help them on their way. But, first they must find a boat captain who will help the two runaways cross the channel to France.

Will's mom calls the two boys down to breakfast. When they don't appear, she goes up to their room and finds a note indicating they are running away. Will's dad contacts the newly-capped Jack to help find them. They assemble a group of about five men on horseback to search the area. Meanwhile, Will and Henry are pinned down in a shed by a nearby Tripod. But when the horseback team blows their horn for assembly, the Tripod turns. This allows Will and Henry to proceed to Five Ways, hoping they are not too late to meet Ozymandias. Luckily, he is still there, hiding in the bushes. He warns them that only a few runaways make it through to the White Mountains. As they continue to hide from the horsemen, Ozymandias presents them with two maps, a compass and some English money. He shows them how to use the maps and compass to find their way to the seaside village of Rhymney. Once there, they are to seek out Captain Curtis who will take them aboard his ship, The Orion, to France. The horsemen keep pursuing the two boys. At one point, Ozymandias draws the searchers away. In the subsequent chase he is struck by a horse and killed. The boys make their way to Rhymney, but are noticed by some ship personnel who are anxious to impress runaways into service. After a bold attempt to flee, they are captured and shoved into a locked cabin. Through the porthole, they can see Captain Curtis. When they attempt to attract his attention, the captain who captured them warns them to keep silent.—Garon Smith