Part 16 (2/2)
Several woive him no further infor during the night Being unable to gain any further infor the road, he saards the east another body of uard of the king's forces, and that it would be prudent to keep out of their way
He hurried back, therefore, to the plantation in which he had before concealed hi in tolerable order, and he soon saw by their flags that they were the Duke of Mon them several horses and a number of persons, ere evidently prisoners by the way they were guarded
Here and there some of the men appeared to have been wounded Then there , and Moner He now returned ho heroic, but he had acted with prudence in keeping out of the way The Colonel, with Madao to church when he arrived, and by his uncle's desire he accompanied them When they reached the church-door, however, except Master Holden and the clerk, with half a dozen poor wo, Master Holden performed the service, but it was evident that he was puzzled what to preach about, as it would have been useless to such a congregation to warn theainst rebellion, as had probably been his intention He therefore dis that at anytheir peaceful village, and that they would be safer in their own houses than abroad Froer's account the Colonel had no doubt that Bridport had been attacked, that the cavalry having been roughly handled had retreated, neither horses noraccustomed to stand fire, while the infantry perhaps had held their own, having driven back their eneain after dinner to obtain sorounds, as it was likely that the king's forces would advance upon Lyht uselessly get involved in a skirmish The remainder of the day, however, passed quietly The next er was to start on his journey He rose at an early hour; the whole faed that John Platt was to accompany him for the first twenty miles on the road towards London He had a stout cob, which his uncle had given him to be sold in London for his benefit
”Your father's friend Mr Handsob will certainly find a purchaser,”
observed the Colonel ”Now, farewell, my lad, it may be months, it may be years, before you come back; you know not to what part of the world you may be sent You have acted wisely; continue to do so, and should your life be preserved you will rise in your profession”
Roger's other farewells were made, and he mounted his horse He carried a brace of pistols in his holsters, a sword by his side, and a valise strapped on behind the saddle John Platt rode with an arquebuss hanging at his back, a good pistol in one holster, and a broadshich had done duty in the Civil War The Colonel ordered them to push forward as fast as possible towards London, that they , and have less chance of being interrupted John Platt promised to carry out his master's instructions
”They shall pay dear, whether king's men or rebels, if they atte sword, which in his younger days he had used with powerful effect as a trooper under the Colonel, though at present it seeh to wield it The Colonel gave thees as they rode out of the court-yard and pushed forward, as they had been directed, towards Salisbury by by-paths hich John Platt ell acquainted Here and there they erly inquired news of the Duke Soht; others said that they understood the Duke had landed with an army of ten thousand men, which by this time had increased to twenty thousand
”He landed with not ten thousand or not ten hundred either,” answered John dryly ”He may have a thousand or two about hio back ho him”
The advice, however, was seldo upon honest John as a nant As they advanced they entleh they had no personal affection for hiive an account of hi some of these zealous Royalists that his intentions were honest He was allowed, however, to go on, till at length the ti froer did not consider it derogatory
”Circuers get into your confidence; give theht on; when you arrive at an inn, see to your horse yourself that he gets properly fed; if a stranger enters into conversation, listen to what he ive hier proreatly to his advantage His horse held out well, and by judicious et to London in five days after leaving Eversden On entering London he found the city perfectly quiet, not the slightest sign, as far as he could discover, of a proposed outbreak, the fact being that the king had arrested all suspicious persons of influence
He inquired his way to the house of Mr Handsob, who lived not far from the Thames The cloth- somewhat pale and anxious, andforward in the south Roger gave him all the information he possessed, but Mr Handsob made but few remarks in return
”Now, et on board your shi+p the better for you Captain Benbow is expecting you, and I promised to send you down as soon as you arrived, for I o you must take some refresh”
”Where snail I find the _Benbow_ frigate?” asked Roger
”She is not the shi+p you are to join,” answered Mr Handsob ”Her Captain has parted with her, and is now in couns, lying at Deptford”
Mr Handsob was absent while Roger was taking the food provided for hi dress
”I have ements for the sale of your horse as your father requests me; here is the amount which the animal will probably fetch, put it in your pocket and do not throw it away; and now coer
”Yes, in the character of your father, going to see you on board your shi+p Circumstances make it convenient to be away from London just at present, and the idea has struck me that I could not have a better opportunity Your chest has been transferred to the _Ruby_, and you can carry your valise while I carry mine”
They hastened down to the boat and ian to row lustily down the strea thee, and were now as, soh the day was long, it was dusk before they reached the _Ruby_ Shaking Roger by the hand, Mr Handsob bade him answer the hail of the sentry, and then without loss of time stepped up the side with his valise
”Are you not cooing on board a merchant vessel which sails by the next tide
Fare thee well I hope to ain some time when you return home; at present I know not exactly what is to be er, as desired, answered the sentry's hail, and was allowed to step on board, when the boat glided away iht
Captain Benboas on board, received hi hier expected to be questioned as to as taking place in the west, but the Captain showed very little interest in the matter He merely observed, ”The Duke of Mon, but will do a wiser if he gets out of the country as fast as he can Now, Willoughby, there is plenty of work for us on board; we have to fresh-rig the shi+p and get the crew into good discipline At present except the ate, for one and all volunteered to follow er ell pleased at being treated in a confidential way by his Captain; it showed that he was looked upon not only as a sailor, but as fit to become an officer Except one lieutenant, the e as it ularly bred to the sea