Part 17 (1/2)
”We et another tarpaulin or two if the shi+p is ever to be brought into order,” observed Benbow; ”these young gentlemen from the shore are very well in their way, but they are er had parted fro round the shi+p he encountered old Sam Stokes
”Glad to see you aboard our new shi+p, Mr Willoughby, though soer than our old craft, but doubt whether she has as fast a pair of heels; however, if there co in her, no doubt about that, with such a Captain as ours”
Juer had coer had a talk with hi his old shi+p their kindly feelings He often wished that Stephen had been with hi joined the hazardous enterprise in which he had engaged He wrote twice to his friend Not knohere he ton Park, but he received no replies
At length the shi+p was ready for sea, and, dropping down the Thames, stood out in the channel for a cruise
CHAPTER EIGHT
We must now return to Lyme The cordial reception Stephen Battisob met with from the Duke ood horse, he at once volunteered to ride out and collect horses withto join and form the nucleus of a cavalry force The news of the Duke's landing rapidly spread far and wide Other friends of the cause galloped off in all directions, running no little risk of being captured by the militia, who had been called out by several loyal noble received that the rebellion had co at an early hour on theafter his arrival, he was ready to receive the volunteers, who flocked in by hundreds from all directions When he had caused their naer with a list to the Town-Hall, where the arive them out The volunteers were immediately armed and sent to the officers at different posts which had been established round the tohere they, without loss of ti, as well as the following night, people ca in, and the next day, which was Saturday the 13th, they appeared in such prodigious numbers that it was no easy matter to take down their names and to supply them with arms Thus at the close of the day the Duke's army already amounted to a thousand foot and one hundred and fifty horse, which were every hour augentlemen who accoht have thought of this force, their increasing nureatly raised the enthusiasm of his followers They felt theht be proposed Stephen Battisob had ether they proceeded to the houses of such friends and acquaintances as they kneere friendly to the cause Some allowed their servants and dependants to join, and others sent horses, although they theht it prudent not to appear in aretically did Stephen execute his commission that in a few hours he returned with twenty mounted men and several spare horses The Duke, immediately on his appearance, appointed hi that he expected before long to be able to give hi meet the enemy, if they do not rather run ahen they see us Notice has just been brought in that the Duke of Albe body of ht; but I intend to forestall him, and we are about to march out to form an ambush, so that we may set upon him suddenly should he approach”
This news created considerable exciteer to strike a blow for the cause they had espoused As evening approached the force iven that there should be no shouting, lest they should betray their whereabouts The force aht hundred foot and one hundred and fifty horse, and with it three pieces of cannon They took up their position at a cross road behind hedges, and in the narroay behind which it was supposed that the Duke of Albe in the field with their ar their bridles in their hands Every ht drew on and no eneth day dawned; the men rose to their feet They had taken their first lesson in ca the enemy Stephen Battisob had hadhis adventures in Africa, so that the sort of as not quite so new to him as it was toarh many of the recruits had no fire-arms, and were compelled to content themselves with scythes lashed to the end of stout poles, still these would prove formidable weapons in the hands of stout men He rode back at the head of his little troop to join his brothers and other young gentle as officers, some as privates, at breakfast, not in those days a s, butter, and tea, but of beef, bread, and beer They were still seated at table when the tra of horses outside announced the arrival of another party On running to thethey saw a grey-haired personage of no very aristocratic appearance, though mounted on a fine steed, at the head of about forty horsemen; but he was old Mr Dare, paymaster to the forces He was one of the two persons who had landed at Seaton on the one inland at no little risk to apprise Mr Speke of the Duke's arrival He was a boldspirits of the rebellion As he arrived before the George Inn the Duke went out to meet him, and welcomed him cordially The levies came in faster than ever, and it was as entlemen who could write, could do to take down their na, called after various colours, as was the custom in those days Stephen's zeal was remarked by Fletcher of Salton, the principal officer of reat talents, but possessed of a hasty and irritable te our future colonels,” he observed, as he rode by, mounted on a somewhat sorry hack, to dine with the Duke of Moned, Stephen continued his labours His disappointreat when he found that the ar short, and that no weapons were to be procured to put into the hands of the eager recruits Numbers had to return hoht for the cause
In the afternoon infor body of Dorset iment, under Sir William Portman, was expected to disperse these forces In the hopes that a large number would co an expedition against the town It was intended that Fletcher and Lord Grey should co with the Duke, sallied out toa handsome horse in the stables, he at once appropriated it without sending to ask leave of the owner, who proved to be Mr Dare, the pay his little troop in readiness, as he expected to be sent on the expedition, when Fletcher rode into the market squareFletcher's military rank and social position, ca manner inquired how Mr Fletcher ventured to take a horse belonging to hiencies of the moment require it, my friend,” answered Fletcher; ”and as I am to command the cavalry, it is i whatever work I may de the first horse suitable for s”
”But I am not thus to be ridden over by a Scotch Laird,” exclai tone; ”the horse is mine”
”It may be,” said Fletcher, ”but you are not about to act as a cavalry officer, and I aood of the service, I considerthe horse”
”Retain it you shall not,” cried Dare, flourishi+ng a cane which he held in his hand ”Whether you are a cavalry officer or not, I will make you disesture towards the high-spirited Scotchman A fatal moment Fletcher drew a pistol and ordered Dare to stand back Dare still advanced, when, to the horror of all the bystanders, the pistol exploded, and Dare fell round Stephen and others ran to lift up the fallen man, but life had fled Fletcher was instantly seized with remorse at the fatal act he had coathered fro them came the son of the slain man, accompanied by a number of the new levies, who demanded punish up, in vain endeavoured to allay their anger They threatened that if Fletcher was not arrested, they would take the law into their own hands and tear him to pieces The poor Duke was almost distracted by this unfortunate event In Dare he had lost a devoted partisan, while Fletcher was the only man besides himself in his whole army who had seen service, who, by his talents, was capable of acting as a General As the only way to save hi to Stephen, directed hiate, which still lay in the outer roads
”I regret the duty I am called on to perform, Mr Fletcher,” said Stephen; ”you must at once accompany me to the harbour”
”I am under your command,” answered Mr Fletcher
Upon which Stephen surrounded him with a party of his own men, ith difficulty kept off the followers of Mr Dare, ere thirsting for his blood They however reached the quay in safety, when Stephen, with his prisoner and four of his ate's boats, which had just co pursued, so Stephen ordered the boat to pull off iate
”I hope, sir, when it is knohat provocation Mr Dare gave you, that the anger of the people will be appeased, and that you will be able to return and take coh disappointed with the class of persons who have flocked to the Duke's standard, I will still gladly risk all for the sake of the noble cause in which he has embarked,” said Fletcher, ”and I may hope that in a few days the tide will turn in ret the result of my hasty temper”
”Can I, in the meantime, be of any use to you on shore?” asked Stephen
”Thank you, sir,” answered Fletcher ”I shall be obliged to you if you will bring e; and as Ithe Duke for soret what has taken place”
Mr Fletcher was silent for the greater part of the way, and Stephen, having seen his prisoner on board, returned with hislooks from many of those who had accompanied Mr Dare Stephen at once made his way back to report what he had done to the Duke, who replied, ”I must send you back once more with orders to the master of the shi+p to sail i the coast to Bristol I have given directions to have a e, impressed, as he is a skilful pilot, and will be able to conduct the shi+p to Bristol You will engage a boat from the shore, and put him with Mr Fletcher on board”
With these directions Stephen returned to the quay, where he found John Kerridge, who see the duty i in the hands of aruard in the boat, in which Stephen conveyed hiate Whenever Stephen had left her side, he saw her crew h Her anchor was hove up, her sails set, and the wind being off shore, she at once stood out to sea
”She see more to the southward than her due course for the Start,” he said to one of the boatmen
”May be the Captain does not kno the ill coive the Start a wide berth,” was the answer