Part 37 (1/2)
Once we ca all our hopes and fears
It was just as ere nearing the town of Bosworth, in our search for Stanley's force, that we fell in with a straggling body of yeomen and some few men-at-arms I asked theht ahead, sir, until thou coht Here turn, and that road will take ye unto your destination, which is the Town of Bosworth,” replied their leader
I thanked hi his directions
Soldiers of all ranks and ar by every road
Presently we drew in sight of Bosworth The town see at every moment
”Ho! sirrah, canst thou inform me whose force it is that occupies yonder town?” I asked of a straggler by my side
The fellow stared atspace and then answered:--”Why, his Majesty King Richard's, to be sure Thou didst not think that Richmond had taken it, didst thou?”
”Hill!” ejaculated Michael
I ca mine emotion; but controlled myself in time and asked:--”But where doth Lord Stanley keep his camp?”
”To the North and West about aforinto the hands ofour horses about we retraced our steps until we came upon the road that we had left at the direction of the yeoman This we pursued for some little distance, and then we beheld Lord Stanley's camp before us
We rode up to before the noble Lord's tent and to the guard before the door I gave my name and asked to be admitted
The soldier had scarcely entered when out rushed Harleston
”Ah! my dear friends!” he cried to Michael andye both here? Methought ye ith the noble Earl,” and he nodded to the ard
”But why are ye so gluone amiss?” he asked, with an anxious look
”Ay, Frederick, everything has gone amiss” And then I told hi thoughtfully before him Then he put his hand upon my shoulder, and tenderly he said:--
”I need not tell thee to be brave; that thou ever art But console thee I may Bethink thee now of that which shall happen to-e; for the noble Richo, with his head upon his shoulders, such an one as Catesby”
”Ay, but think of that which may happen to my dear Hazel ere we have Catesby in our power”
”Nay, thou reater than it is”
”How is it possible for it to be greater than it is? Is she not in that fiend's power?”
”That I grant you But rereatly occupied with his master's business, and shall have short tiue-like presence on her
”Her, no doubt, he hath sent to some place of safety, where she shall remain until after the battle
”The Usurper's friends all think that their victory is assured, and that Richmond, ere sunset to-morrow, shall be without a head Little do they suspect that Northumberland's forces will move not to foul Richard's aid; or that Lord Stanley here, and his brother there, will join with the noble Richmond