Part 13 (1/2)

”In one sense, at any rate,” said Master Freake, ”I am the senior partner, and as such o on to Stone, but that will, I think, be best for our purpose As I view the situation, two things are requisite, first that you, Master Wheatet Mistress Waynflete in advance of all the royal troops, and so out of danger, and secondly that we should learn precisely what has becoreed ”The action of Lord Brocton in sending the Colonel north instead of south, or at least of lodging him in jail at Stafford, is inexplicable True, his plan separates father and daughter, which is what he wants, but either of the other methods would have served equally well for that”

Of course I said nothing of the other idea that was haunting et rid of the Colonel altogether

In his lust and anger he ht not stick at that, and any kind of encounter with the enemy would serve his turn The rascals under him orthy of their commander, a fact of which we had already ample proof

”It looks crooked, I confess,” was his reply, ”but there is this to be said for it, that the Duke is following north along with the bulk of his army, and, I hear, intends to make Stone his head-quarters”

”That seems absurd,” said I, ”but of course he knows best”

”The movements of the Prince's army are uncertain The plan of their leaders is never to say where the next halt will be They will be to-day, I know, in or near Macclesfield, and I learn that it is possible they may turn off for Wales, where they believe they will find o, the better placed he will be for checking theuard is posted at Newcastle The question is, how are you to get there first and without being taken?”

”By travelling the by-roads,” said I ”We'll go through Eccleshall”

”How long will it take you to get there?” he asked

”About three hours,” said I, ”if Mistress Waynflete can stand the pace”

”Very good,” he replied ”I will join you there, and dothe with me”

”That's splendid,” said I, ”but I'd rather we e

Not more than a mile and a half beyond it on the Newcastle road there's a little wayside ale-house called the 'Ring of Bells,' at the foot of a steep hill, with a large pool ringed with pines, known as Cop Mere, in front of it It's a lonely place and will serve better Set to the 'Ring of Bells'

You cannot e on the Newcastle road

Whoever's there first will await the other”

”Then in about three hours we'll ood news of the Colonel Believe me, dear lady, short of foul play on Brocton's part, and we have no reason to suspect that, your father will be all right Plain John Freake is not without influence As for the ruffian lying dead in the road, think nohe unhitched his horse, led her into the road, and mounted He bowed and s of Bells,'”

and cantered off

I stepped between ood friend there, Mistress Waynflete Noe'll put the hat and coat as we found thee for your doave thee I folded up the coat, put the hat on it, looked again at the still, stiff horror in the road, soaking in its own blood, and silently followed her

CHAPTER X

SULTAN

The lie of the land was as follows: To get to the ”Ring of Bells,” Master Freake would have to ride over the hill to the main road at Weston, thence some six miles north-west to Stone, thence another six or seven miles south-west to the inn Mistress Waynflete and I had a stiff walk of about nine miles in front of us For the first three miles our way ran east by north, and then bent almost due east to the ale-house Our difficulty would co point, for there we should have to cross thewhich the troops would be filtering north to get into touch with the Prince and his Highlanders If the Duke had heard of the supposed intention of the Jacobites to turn off for Wales, he would, I ih Eccleshall to look out for them, and we should, for the second tihbourhood of that village The ”Ring of Bells,” however, lay north of that village, off his obvious line of ood chance of passing unchecked to our goal, provided that we got across the main road north in safety

Fortunately, at the place where I intended to cross, it climbed over a fairly steep hill, and we could, if need were, lie and watch the road till it was safe to venture out

It was ticklish work at the best and any break in our run of luck ht ho safe under cover in the cottage I had, of course, brought back the birding-piece and, after onceMistress Waynflete into the do the hood because ers lost control of themselves at the touch of her hair, I sat down to reload it, intending to carry it with affer, Doley, by putting one of uineas conspicuously on the table, and was just finishi+ng my task when Mistress Waynflete, who had stepped to the rearand was looking back on the scene of my recent exploit, suddenly called out, ”Oliver! Come here!”