Part 26 (2/2)
”But, sir--”
”Noa trooper to his side, he whispered an order in his ear
As the man withdrew they wheeled their horses, and at a sharp word of coeant and a trooper
CHAPTER XX THE CONVERTED HOGAN
Night black and impenetrable had set in ere Kenneth and his escort clattered over the greasy stones of Walthah Street, and drew up in front of the Crusader Inn
The door stood wide and hospitable, and a warlitter upon the wet street Avoiding the coh the inn-yard, and into the hostelry by a side entrance He urged the youth along a die On a door at the end of this he knocked, then, lifting the latch, he ushered Kenneth into a rooe fire burnt cheerfully, and with his back to it, his feet planted wide apart upon the hearth, stood a powerfully built htness of carriage assorted ill with the grey of his hair, pronouncing that greyness premature He seemed all clad in leather, for where his jerkin stopped his boots began A cuirass and feathered headpiece lay in a corner, whilst on the table Kenneth espied a broad-brie sword, and a brace of pistols
As the boy's eyes caure on the hearth, he was puzzled by a fa in the fellow's face
He was racking his htly elevated eyebrows and a look of recognition in his somewhat prominent blue eyes
”Soul of my body,” exclaimed the man in surprise, ”Master Stewart, as I live”
”Stuart!” cried both sergeant and trooper in a gasp, starting forward to scan their prisoner's face
At that the burly captain broke into a laugh
”Not the young man Charles Stuart,” said he; ”no, no Your captive is none so precious It is only Master Kenneth Stewart, of Bailienochy”
”Then it is not even our ruave,” cried the sergeant ”Jasper Blount he told me he was called It seenant, and that I ell advised to bring hiesture of disdain In that an--the man whose life Galliard had saved in Penrith
”Bah, a worthless capture, Beddoes,” he said
”I know not that,” retorted the sergeant ”He carries papers which he states are froh, to Colonel Pride Colonel Pride's nae? Why else did he say he was called Blount?”
Hogan's broere of a sudden knit
”Faith, Beddoes, you are right Remove his sword and search him”
Calmly Kenneth suffered them to carry out this order Inwardly he boiled at the delay, and cursed hiiven the naan would have straightway disht that after all they would not long detain hi upon him but Ashburn's letter, surely they would release hih They drew off his boots, and well-nigh stripped hi each article of his apparel to a careful exaan held Ashburn's package, turning it over in his hands with a thoughtful expression