Part 32 (1/2)

On returning to the camp Terence found that his comrade had already arrived with a gentleman and three ladies. The tent had been given up for the use of the latter. Herrara had warned him not to say a word to the old gentleman of his adventure.

”He and the others know nothing about it,” he said, ”and it is just as well that they shouldn't, for he is somewhat rigid in his notions, and might be rather horrified at your a.s.saulting a bishop, however great a scoundrel he might be, and would be specially so at the borrowing of his ring.”

At twelve o'clock heavy peals of thunder were heard, followed by a tremendous outbreak of firing from the intrenchments, two hundred guns and a terrific musketry fire opening suddenly.

”The French are attacking!” Herrara exclaimed.

”I don't think so,” Terence replied. ”It is more likely to be a false alarm. The troops may have thought that the thunder was the roar of French guns. Soult would hardly make an attack at night, or, not knowing the nature of the ground behind the intrenchments, his men would be falling into confusion, and perhaps fire into each other.”

As, after a quarter of an hour of prodigious din, the fire slackened and presently ceased altogether, it was evident that this supposition was a correct one. The morning broke bright and still, and an hour later the cannonade began again. Terence at once, after telling Herrara to form the troops up and march them down to the end of the bridge, left the camp, and after proceeding a short distance took off his uniform and donned the attire of the ecclesiastic, and then hurried down into the town. He was accompanied by the two troopers in their peasant dress. These left him at the bridge. The din was now tremendous, every church bell was ringing furiously, and frightened women were already crowding down towards the bridge.

Their point of crossing had already been decided upon--it was at the end of a street close to the convent, and when Terence reached the convent the two men were already standing at the end of the street, awaiting him.

”Now, you do your part of the business and I will do mine,” Terence said, and he moved forward to the door of the convent, where he would be unseen should anyone look out.

The two troopers went to the middle of the street, opposite the window which the officer had described to Terence, and both shouted in a stentorian voice:

”Mary O'Connor!”

The shout was heard above the tumult of the battle and the din in the city, and a head appeared at the window and looked down with a bewildered expression.

”Mary O'Connor,” Bull shouted again, ”a friend is here to rescue you. You will leave the convent directly with the rest. Look out for us.”

Then they walked on, and pa.s.sed Terence.

”Have you seen her face?”

”We have, sir. We shall know her again, never fear.”

Terence now seized the bell and rung it vigorously. The door opened, and a terrified face appeared at the window.

”I have a message from the bishop to the lady superior.”

The door was opened, and was at once closed and barred behind him. He was led along some pa.s.sages to the room where the lady superior, pale and agitated, was awaiting him.

”Have the French entered the intrenchments?” she asked.

”I trust they have not entered yet, but they may do so at any moment. The bishop is at the Serra Convent, and from there has a view over the town to the intrenchments. He begs you to instantly bring the nuns across, for they will be in safety there, whereas no one can say what may happen in the town. Here is his episcopal ring in proof that I am the bearer of his orders I pray you to hasten, sister, for a crowd of fugitives are already pouring over the bridge, and there is not a moment to be lost.”

”The nuns are just coming down to prayer in the chapel, and we will start instantly.”

In two minutes upward of a hundred frightened women were gathered in the courtyard.

”Are all here?” Terence asked the lady superior.

”All of them.”

”I asked because I know that he is specially anxious that one, who is a sort of prisoner, should not fall into the hands of the French, as that might cause serious trouble.”

”I know whom you mean,” and she called out ”Sister Theresa!” There was no answer.