Part 54 (1/2)
”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 rus.h.i.+ng 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?