Part 11 (1/2)
”I had not heard,” said the rider
”Do you come alone?” asked the man
”Quite alone”
”Each man counts--may count for much--but you should have ridden in at the head of a troop We'd have cracked our throats with roaring a welcome”
The rider smiled, and passed on to the castle
Here was the centre of bustle and exciteeneral clamour In the castle field was encamped an army of six thousand ht but their tools for weapons, but enthusiasts all, certain of the righteousness of their cause, prepared to die for the King they had made and whom they trusted and loved There was order of a sort, but it seeely like confusion to the horseain a welcoe carried to King Mone of the cavalry, or Master Ferguson who could tell him all he wanted to know--or Buyse, or Wade, or--
”Monry retort ”And quickly, or you'll suffer for such laggard service”
He spoke with such authority that there hispered speculation who this stranger ht be Perhaps he was the first of those nobles who had proer went quickly, and soon returned The King would see hier entered the chaathered, one man rose and came forward to meet him
”Gilbert Crosby!” he exclaimed ”Never was friend loomy a moment before, was suddenly lit with a brilliant sraciousness, that it was easy to understand the influence such a leader athered in the town of Bridgwater He was a handsome man, in appearance a born leader of s which lay underneath this attractive exterior, he could not remember them just now There was the teet the self-iht in contact with Mon, and had ended by giving him a friendshi+p which was truer and stauncher than any other he had ever possessed When, a few years since, Monhout Somersetshi+re and Devon, Crosby had been much in his company, had entertained him modestly at his own iven in honour of the Duke by Thynne of Longleat
”Gentlemen, this is a very dear friend ofhim to the company, ”Mr Gilbert Crosby of Lenfield Manor, than e could not welcoentleman”
”Pardon, reat cause,” said a long, lean man, bent in the shoulder, and with lantern jahich est of Scotch accents ”I'ainst the enee”
”I would not beto Monht”
”I regret to hear you say so,” Monmouth answered ”I a taken a few steps towards a door leading to another room, he stopped ”No, Crosby; friendshi+p must stand aside for a while I must have no secrets from these comrades, who are with me heart and soul in this enterprise”
”That's better--uson ”Let us hear the ht of those who are bearing the heat and burden of the day”
”I would urge that our conversation be in private,” said Crosby
”And I would urge otherwise,” said Ferguson ”Such a desire for privacy has the savour of treachery about it”
”Can a man be a traitor to a cause he has never espoused?” Crosby asked quietly
”Is it, then, that ye are afraid to speak before honest hly, the eruption hich his face was plentifully covered glowing a fiery red as he thrust his head forward like an angry vulture
”Afraid!”
”Gentle,” said Monh he does not throw in his lot with us I warrant he has naught but kindness in his heart for water”
”The gentleman can certainly not be accused of cowardice if he comes to vilify your friends,” said one e”