Part 20 (1/2)

CHAPTER NINE

Stephen and Andrew Battisob had, without hesitation, given their names and other particulars of their family to Cornet Bryce

”Well, my friends, I can tell you that I think there is a chance, though a slight one, that you side the in front and two guarding the rear ”Our General and so bribes, and if you can persuade theet off, provided they do not hang you without asking questions I give you the hint, as it may be of value to you”

”Thank you,” said Andrew ”I am very sure that our father will be ready to pay any sum he can afford to save our lives; should we even now obtain our liberty, the person who enables us to escape would be handsomely rewarded”

”He will probably be shot or lose his colect his duty as a soldier,” answered the Cornet ”No, no, young gentleave you advice for your benefit, not forthe proposal to ht take it I thirst for no man's blood, and I have no wish to handle blood-h I aotten the principles of my ancestors Would that I could free you without dishonour!”

These remarks accounted for the Cornet's kind treatment to his prisoners They had too much reason to fear that they should not find many like hiht, all the horses being too tired, the Cornet knocked at the door of a farm-house and demanded admittance The farmer cast an eye of co, and, without a moment's hesitation, admitted the officer and his troopers, while he sent two of his men to lead their horses to the stables His wife, on observing that two of the troopers ounded, came forward and offered at once to dress their hurts

”I have some skill in that way,” she said, ”and I hope that if any of the Duke of Mon help, I should not be hardly dealt with if I gave it”

”I would advise you, dame, not to try the experiood up if you were to afford help to the youngest drummer-boy in the rebel arood wo up the poor people by scores; we do not desire to get our necks into the saood sir, that we are peaceable people, that we gave you an instant welcome, and will provide the best our house can afford”

”Do as you propose, good dame, and I will report as well of you as I can,” said the Cornet, placing himself at the table, where he directed his two prisoners to sit, close to hi his wife As Stephen exanised it as that of a man who had been in Monmouth's army He made no reed in discussing their food, the farlance at Stephen and Andrehich showed, Stephen thought, that he also recognised them, and said very clearly, ”Do not take any notice ofto the Cornet, said, ”If you will giveto my friends in Dorsetshi+re I may not have another Farmer Stubbs here will, I doubt not, be able to despatch a letter; and when he knows that life and death depend on it, he will exert himself to convey it in safety”

The far himself spoken of by name, which Stephen did inadvertently

”Ay, that I will, you entle a ht If the Cornet will give me a safe pass that I ht, I will undertake to convey the letter myself as soon as it is written”

The Cornet did not appear to think that there was anything unusual in this proposal, and without hesitation promised to write a pass if Farentleot up and had been searching about in a cupboard, as she produced several sheets of coarse letter-paper, very different froether with a bottle of ink, so-wax

Stephen at once co that he and Andrew had been captured on the supposition that they were escaping froemoor; that they should probably be executed forthwith unless they were ransomed; and he pointed out to his father the i a person of trust with a sufficient suht endeavour to obtain their liberation

Supposing that Roger Willoughby was still in England, he wrote a short letter to hi that he would coet him to exert his influence This was done, it must be understood, under the idea which Stephen entertained, that after the slaughter of the battle-field was over, the prisoners captured would have a fair trial and time for their defence

He little dreamed of the cruel way Colonel Kirk and his lambs would treat those placed in their power, or the bloody assize under Judge Jeffreys As soon as the letters were finished, he asked the Cornet to give his promised pass to the worthy farreat consequence

”He shall have it, and I shall be very glad if he succeeds in obtaining your release,” said the Cornet

At length the far that his good wo a matter of life and death, he intended to start a couple of hours before daylight

To this Cornet Bryce made no objection ”Very wise, as I suppose you know the road,” he observed

More satisfied than they had been for some hours, Stephen and Andrew placed their heads on the pillow of the rough pallet which had been prepared for them; the soldiers stretched themselves on the floor, except the tounded ain looked carefully to their hurts They were all four soon snoring in concert Andrew had joined the if there was any possibility of escaping From what Cornet Bryce had told him, he knew that there was a risk thewithout exa been so treated by Feversham and Colonel Kirk It was far safer, therefore, to escape, if it could be done The Cornet hi with the farth turned into the truckle bed provided for him, and was soon as fast asleep as hiscertain preparations apparently for his journey, filling his saddle-bags with provisions, his holsters with a brace of pistols and aed as noiselessly as possible when the door opened, and two young er to her lips as they gazed somewhat astonished at the number of occupants of the common room

Presently another ca to the this Stephen's hopes rose If they were all staunch htest difficulty, but then serious consequences ht ensue to the farmer Probably his house would be burnt down and his property destroyed, should the troopers suffer any violence It seelected his duty as to go to sleep without placing a watch over thethat he ake, he et up, and arouse his brother as noiselessly as possible As soon as they were both on foot he beckoned them out of the roo, and if these felloe are more than a match for them We may either bind thehbourhood, or we may put them to death, or you may escape by yourselves, while you la you”

”If we had the poould choose the latter course,” said Stephen

”May they not revenge the his far,” answered young Stubbs