Part 75 (1/2)

”When he knows me as well as he does his own son!”

”Ride back, and tell your leaders that I have laid the contents of their letter before the gallant gentlemen who are my companions here.”

There was a buzz, and an attempt at cheering, which ceased as Sir G.o.dfrey went on.

”They all join heart and soul with me in the determination to hold my home here in the name of his majesty the king, so long as there is a roof above us and a piece of wall to act as shelter, to help us keep your rascally rebellious cut-throats out of the place.”

Fred felt all of a tingle, and his eyes flamed as he gazed up defiantly at the speaker.

”Tell your leaders that if they will at once lay down their arms and return to their homes, they shall be allowed to do so in peace.”

”Huzza!” came from within.

”But if they still keep in arms against his majesty, they must expect no mercy. Once more. Tell your leaders that we treat their proposal with the contempt it deserves.”

”As we shall treat your silly proposition, sir,” said Fred, quite losing his temper at being made the bearer of such an absurd defiance from a little knot of men, completely surrounded as they were. ”Am I to fully understand that you are obstinate enough to say you will hold out?”

”Look here, insolent boy,” said Sir G.o.dfrey, sternly, ”you are safe-- your character of messenger makes you so--but if you stay where you are in front of this my doorstep another five minutes, one of the men shall beat you away with a staff. Go!”

Fred turned white, then red, and he felt the bitterness of the general's words the more keenly from having forgotten himself and departed from his neutral position of messenger to speak as he had. He wanted to say something angry that should show Sir G.o.dfrey and his companions, and above all, Scarlett, that he was obliged to go, but that it was on account of his duty, and not that he feared the man with the staff. But suitable words would not come, and, bubbling over with impotent wrath and annoyance, he touched his horse's flanks with the spurs, turned as slowly and deliberately as he could, and began to move away, but only to face round fiercely as the tall Cavalier at the window said banteringly--

”Good-bye, young game-c.o.c.k.”

There was a roar of laughter from the careless party looking on.

”You coward!”

”Not I, my lad,” came back in cheery tones. ”I was only joking.

Good-bye, and good luck go with you, though you are a Roundhead. Think better of it; let your hair grow, and then come and ask for Harry Grey.

I shall have a regiment again some day, and I shall be proud to have you at my side.”

The words were so frankly and honestly said that Fred's eyes brightened, and pa.s.sing the pike-shaft into his bridle hand, he raised his steel cap to the Cavalier, replaced it, and rode off, while the Royalist officer turned to Scarlett.

”As frank and st.u.r.dy a boy as I have ever met, excepting you, Scarlett Markham, of course,” he added, as merrily as if there were no danger near.

”Yes, he's as true as steel,” said Scarlett, flus.h.i.+ng. ”He always was.”

”You know him?”

”It's Fred Forrester, Colonel Forrester's son, from the Manor. We were companions till the war broke out.”

”Three cheers for bonnie Coombeland and its boys,” said the Cavalier.

”Why, Scarlett, my lad, we shall have to get him away from these wretched rebels. Can't it be done?”

”No,” said Scarlett, gravely. ”Fred is too staunch and true.”

And staunchly enough, Fred, with his trumpeter behind, was riding back to camp with his message, which he delivered to General Hedley and his father.