Crown and Sceptre Part 54

"Do you know where they have gone?"

"No, sir, only along the Exeter road. News came, I think, of the enemy being there, and I'm afraid we shall be having more wounded to-night."

The girl went on to where Samson and the other man lay, and soon afterward the landlord's red face appeared at the head of the stairs, to cry hastily--

"Here, Polly! d.i.c.k has just come in from the top of the hill, and he could see soldiers riding this way to meet the regiment going along the road. There'll be a fight not far from here, I'll wager, and--Hark at that!"

"I don't hear anything, father."

"But I do. Horses galloping. Now can you hear?"

There was a faint distant sound, gradually increasing--a sound which soon developed into the rapid beat of horses' hoofs, and the girl climbed to the window to look out again.

"Yes, father, I can see them," she cried.

"Well, well, what is it? the king's regiment?"

"Yes, father, coming galloping back along the road, and--yes, I can see them too, a great regiment of the other side galloping after them, and you can see more soldiers off on the moor."

"Coming this way?"

"No; going right off behind the wood."

"To cut them off," cried the landlord. "It's some one who knows the country, and if the king's regiment keeps to the road those last will get before them; they'll be between two parties of the rebels, and they'll be cut to pieces."

"Hooray!" came from the straw where Samson lay, and the landlord turned upon him angrily, but there was too much that was exciting outside to let him find words of reproof.

The clatter of hoofs and jingle of sword against stirrup increased, and Fred lay with his eyes glittering, panting heavily as, full of excitement, he listened to the sounds of hurried flight.

Then came another trumpet blast, sounding distant, and a rushing sound as of a coming storm, ever increasing in power.

Then another blast, and another, both sounding farther away, and as the wounded lad lay there, he pictured to himself the advance of two more regiments of the Parliamentary cavalry rapidly coming on in pursuit, his mental pictures being endorsed by the words of the landlord's daughter, as she forced her head out of the little opening to watch the retreat and pursuit, turning from time to time to speak to her father in answer to some eager question.

"Are they keeping to the road, Polly? Quick, my girl? Why don't you speak?"

"Yes, father; they are keeping to the road."

"Can't you tell 'em to turn off across the moor?"

"No, father; they are too far away."

"Shout to them."

"It's of no use, father. One, two, three rebel regiments are coming along at full gallop."

"All on the road?"

"No; one on the road, the others across the moor."

"The poor fellows will be cut all to pieces. Can nothing be done?

Here, Polly, come down, and let me look."

"There is plenty of room beside me, father. How they are galloping now!"

In spite of his weakness, Fred had turned himself a little on one side, so as to watch the backs of the pair who were now blocking out the little light which came from the window; and as the exciting events went on, and he listened to the galloping of the horses, the shouts of the hors.e.m.e.n--his own party--and the trumpet calls, the perspiration due to excitement stood upon his brow, and he at last groaned out--

"Oh, if I could only see!"

"Ay, Master Fred, if we could only see!" came from close at hand. "Hark at 'em! hark at 'em!"

There was no need for Samson's adjuration, for Fred's sense of hearing was strained to the utmost, and he was picturing mentally the effects of the scattered shots which were now being fired.

"All waste, Samson; all waste," he said hoa.r.s.ely. "No man can take aim when he's galloping full stretch."

"No, Master Fred; but it'll scare t'other side a bit, p'raps make some of 'em surrender."

Fred shook his head slowly, and then listened again as the girl exclaimed excitedly--

"Look, father; there's one down!"

"Ay, how could he expect to leap the wall on a horse blown like that?"

"Those two have galloped up to him. Ah, cowards! two to one. Father, they're killing him. Oh!"

"They're not," cried Fred, hotly. "They're taking him prisoner."

"Right!" cried the landlord, turning sharply; "but how did you know?"

"Because I know our side would not act like butchers with a defenceless man," said Fred, proudly, "They take prisoners, sir, and always give quarter."

The landlord uttered a grunt, and turned sharply to watch the progress of the fight and pursuit.

"Look, Polly!" he cried; "they have got to the top of the hill, and see their danger."

"Yes, father; look, look--they have halted and turned. Yes; they are coming back."

"Can the two regiments trying to cut them off see them?"

"No, I think not; they are down in the hollows. Look, father; they're coming back."

"The enemy?"

"No; the king's men. Can't you see!"

"See? yes," cried the landlord, with increased excitement. "Why, they're mad. They're coming right into danger. Whatever do they mean?"

"I don't know, father. Why, they'll all be taken."