I should have ridden with my troop had I thought that there was a chance of falling in with outposts or videttes.'
'We were upon the hill before we cut you off,' quoth Reuben. 'Had that pistol ball been a thought straighter, it is I that should have been truly the cut-off one. Zounds, Micah! I was grumbling even now that I had fallen away, but had my cheek been as round as of old the slug had been through it.'
'Where have I seen you before?' asked our captive, bending his dark eyes upon me. 'Aye, I have it! It was in the inn at Salisbury, where my light-headed comrade Horsford did draw upon an old soldier who was riding with you. Mine own name is Ogilvy--Major Ogilvy of the Horse Guards Blue. I was right glad that ye did come off safely from the hounds. Some word had come of your errand after your departure, so this same Horsford with the Mayor and one or two other Tantivies, whose zeal methinks outran their humanity, slipped the dogs upon your trail.'
'I remember you well,' I answered. 'You will find Colonel Decimus Saxon, my former companion, in the camp. No doubt you will be shortly exchanged for some prisoner of ours.'
'Much more likely to have my throat cut,' said he, with a smile. 'I fear that Feversham in his present temper will scarce pause to make prisoners, and Monmouth may be tempted to pay him back in his own coin. Yet it is the fortune of war, and I should pay for my want of all soldierly caution. Truth to tell, my mind was far from battles and ruses at the moment, for it had wandered away to aqua-regia and its action upon the metals, until your appearance brought me back to soldiership.'
'The horse are out of sight,' said Reuben, looking backwards, 'ours as well as theirs. Yet I see a clump of men over yonder at the other side of the Avon, and there on the hillside can you not see the gleam of steel?'
'There are foot there,' I answered, puckering my eyes. 'It seems to me that I can discern four or five regiments and as many colours of horse. King Monmouth should know of this with all speed.'
'He does know of it,' said Reuben. 'Yonder he stands under the trees with his council about him. See, one of them rides this way!'
A trooper had indeed detached himself from the group and galloped towards us. 'If you are Captain Clarke, sir,' he said, with a salute, 'the King orders you to join his council.'
'Then I leave the Major in your keeping, Reuben,' I cried. 'See that he hath what our means allow.' So saying I spurred my horse, and soon joined the group who were gathered round the King. There were Grey, Wade, Buyse, Ferguson, Saxon, Hollis, and a score more, all looking very grave, and peering down the valley with their glasses. Monmouth himself had dismounted, and was leaning against the trunk of a tree, with his arms folded upon his breast, and a look of white despair upon his face. Behind the tree a lackey paced up and down leading his glossy black charger, who pranced and tossed his lordly mane, a very king among horses.
'You see, friends,' said Monmouth, turning lack-lustre eyes from one leader to another, 'Providence would seem to be against us. Some new mishap is ever at our heels.'
'Not Providence, your Majesty, but our own negligence,' cried Saxon boldly. 'Had we advanced on Bristol last night, we might have been on the right side of the ramparts by now.'
'But we had no thought that the enemy's foot was so near!' exclaimed Wade.
'I told ye what would come of it, and so did Oberst Buyse and the worthy Mayor of Taunton,' Saxon answered. 'However, there is nought to be gained by mourning over a broken pipkin. We must e'en piece it together as best we may.'
'Let us advance on Bristol, and put oor trust in the Highest,' quoth Ferguson. 'If it be His mighty will that we should tak' it, then shall we enter into it, yea, though drakes and sakers lay as thick as cobblestanes in the streets.'
'Aye! aye! On to Bristol! God with us!' cried several of the Puritans excitedly.
'But it is madness--dummheit--utter foolishness,' Buyse broke in hotly. 'You have the chance and you will not take it.