Part 4 (1/2)
CHAPTER V
FROM BERWICK TO WINDSOR
On this ride from Berwick to Windsor we had but one adventure to break the monotony of our journey, and that was of so little ith It was as ere nearing York, and passing through a great forest which lines that road on either side, like two great rustic walls placed there to screen Nature's lowliest children from the murderous hand of man, for a considerable distance, that ere attacked by a band of highwaymen, hich this forest doth abound Indeed 'tis said that here they do grow upon the trees like poisonous fruit We had been riding hard all day, and, as the evening was drawing nigh, alking our horses, in order to give them a rest in the cool of the forest, ere we should allop
Suddenly, about five score yards in front of us, two horsereat road, with draords in their hands They started to coht they meant mischief Then two more followed, and these were dressed as were the first We now became convinced that ere the attraction which seelanced over my shoulder, and there, about the same distance behind us as were the others in front, were fourtheir swords in their hands
”We are in for a skirmish now,” said I
”Yes,” replied Harleston; ”but if we be careful we can do for them yet
If they do atteht, and I will do the same on the left, then dash forward and see if we cannot pass the others The ones behind we need not bother with However, use great caution and do not show signs of resistance too early in the ganal”
When the first two men ithin a few paces of us, they suddenly wheeled their horses straight across the road, thus coht you want, sirs?” asked Harleston, in his sweetest tone
The manner in which he spoke did see but stare for a moment Then the first to recover himself answered:--
”All that thou hast, and be da it” This in a voice that told, in the plainest terms, the life these fellows lead
My companion fumbled with his purse for a s as the wolf doth gaze in greedy aduards, our swords did leap froh they had been made of putty--which, mayhap, they were We now drove our spurs into the flanks of our horses and dashed at the other two They waited until ithin a score of yards of theed theirthe same fate as their fellows; for they turned their horses into the greenwood, and disappeared along one of those many narrow paths, hich these forests are burrowed, and which they knoell as I do the corridors of the palaces at Westminster or Windsor
We did not attempt to follow them, but rode on at full speed for the distance of a th slackened our pace and looked back, not one of the six was to be seen
They had evidently thought to overawe us by a great show of numbers and the copious use of bluster; but after two of their nue of the rest did forsake them, and they lost their appetites for our purses, for which they should have to pay such a price
So we rode into York, nothing the worse for our little adventure which had helped to , hard ride
When we had entered our inn, and were preparing us for our supper, a great crowd gathered about the door; for the news had soon leaked out, ere and what our business was; for around inns every one doth know one's business better than that person does hiave thereat victory our army had won, and told them that the Duke of Gloucester now occupied Berwick When they heard this they ith delight, and we had to shut ourselves in our roo carried, on their shoulders, all over the city; so great was the adland's stalwart sons
Bonfires were lighted wherever they could find sufficient open space in which to build theh the streets, singing and cheering
We had intended staying here for a few hours, in order that we et some much needed sleep; but we soon found this to be outside the bounds of possibility, on account of the uproar which was increasing everyour folly in telling theer tiet soe of horses, and then proceed on our journey
Needless to say, we did eat ravenously, after the long ride we had had
When we had refreshed ourselves, all that it was possible for us to do, we , half-drunken ates
One drunken fellohich did recognize us as being the persons who had brought the good news, caughthim in a friendly bowl at a near by inn When I tried to persuade hio, and to excuse the duty that did make our presence with hiin, your Royal Highness shall not pass out of the old city of your father without drinking with sohness, thy father, alive he would not pass out till he had made the whole town drunk, and so shall not you Stay and revel with us, for this is a glorious day for England,--glorious day,” and he did lean his head against the neck of ht thus
I spurred my steed sharply and, as he bounded forward, the poor tradesround; but as we rode on we could still hear hi as he couldon around us He evidently thought that I was the Duke of Gloucester, and he wasus what he considered a glorious tiates, e had told our business; and so we rode forth froht's ride, through alternate wood and open country
All that long night we rode on, now dozing in our saddles, and then waking with a start, when an oould break the stillness of the forest with his unearthly noise, which see with bats, serpents, brieneral sounds of Hades, h the forest