CHAPTER FORTY TWO.
A RECONNAISSANCE.
Instead of viewing the rural scenery, the two colonels had come there tomake a reconnaissance. The town itself, its fortified _enceinte_, thegates piercing it, and the roads around, were the objects to which theirglances were given. And, for a time, all their attention was engrossedby them, neither speaking a word.
At length Massey, having made survey of them through the telescope,handed it to the knight, saying,--
"So you think there's a chance of our taking the place?"
Sir Richard but ran the glass around hastily. He had been up therebefore, and more carefully reconnoitred, their chief object being toascertain the strength of the garrison.
"Yes, your Excellency," he rejoined, "a chance, and something more, ifKyrle prove true; or rather should I say, traitor. And," he added, witha significant smile, "I think we can trust him to do that."
"As it wouldn't be the first time for him, no doubt we can. He hastwice turned coat already. And's no doubt itching to give it anothershift, if he can but see the way without getting it torn from his back.Marston Moor has had its effect on him, too, I suppose."
"It has, and our affair at Beachley will strengthen it. He'll want tobe back on what he believes the winning side now more than ever. Hiscommunication to me, though carefully worded, means that, if anything.But we'll be better able to judge when our despatch-bearers reportthemselves at High Meadow House. I think we may look for a letter fromhim."
It was at High Meadow House their men were encamped; the main body underMassey having just arrived, while Sir Richard, with his troopers inadvance, had been there overnight. And that same morning the cadgers,hastily summoned from their home at Ruardean, had been despatched toMonmouth market: Jack, or rather the sister, with secret instructions,and Jinkum with full panniers.
"They ought to be back soon now," added Sir Richard, again raising theglass to his eye, and turning it on the town, his object to see if themarket people had all gone away.
When he last looked, they were streaming out through the gates, thecommercial business of the market being over long ago. And now therewere only some stragglers on the outgoing roads, men who had lingered bythe ale-houses in gossip, or standing treat to the ever-thirstysoldiery.
Just then there came within his field of view a group composed ofelements altogether different from the home-returning rustics.
"What do you see?" asked Massey, observing the telescope steadied, andthe knight looking through it with fixed, earnest gaze.
"A party of horse, carrying the lance--most of them."
"Where?"
"Just coming out of the northern gate."
"A patrol, perhaps?"
"No; something more. There are too many of them for that. Over ahundred have passed out already. And--yes; prisoners with them?"
"Let me have a look," said the Governor, stretching out his hand for thetelescope, which, of course, the other surrendered to him. Reluctantlythough, as Sir Richard felt more than a common interest in the prisonersso escorted.
"You're right," said Massey, soon as sighting them. "Prisoners theyhave. But whither can they be taking them? That's the road to Ross."
"To Hereford also, your Excellency. The route; are the same as far asWhitchurch."
"Ah, true. Still it's odd their starting out at such an hour! And whycarrying prisoners away to Hereford? Surely Monmouth Castle affordsgaol room enough. I hope it's not so full. If so, all the more reasonfor our doing what we can to empty it."
"I don't think they're for Hereford, either. If I'm not mistaken, I sawsomething which tells of a different destination. If your Excellencywill allow me another look through the telescope, perhaps--"
"Oh, by all means, take it!" said the Governor, interrupting, and againhanding over the glass.
"Yes! just as I supposed they were--Harry Lingen's Horse!" exclaimed SirRichard, after viewing them for a second or two. "And those poorfellows, their prisoners, likely enough are my own men--one of them,though I can't identify him, my unfortunate troop captain, young Trevor.They're _en route_ neither for Ross nor Hereford, but Goodrich Castle,where Lingen has his headquarters. It's but a short six miles, whichmay account for their setting out so late."
"But Trevor's party was taken at a place near Ruardean--Hollymead House,if I recollect aright."
"True; the house of Master Ambrose Powell. It was there Lingensurprised them, through a scoundrel who turned traitor."
"Then why were they brought to Monmouth at all? Ruardean's but a stepfrom Goodrich."
"Just so, your Excellency, I was puzzled about that myself up till thismorning. Now I know why, having got the information from our cadgerfriends. It appears that when Lingen made his swoop on Hollymead he wason the way to join Wintour at Beachley, so kept straight on throughMonmouth, where he dropped his _impedimenta_ of prisoners. On returnhe's now picked them up again, and's taking them on to his ownstronghold."
"That's it, no doubt," assented Massey. "But," he added, with a smileof triumphant satisfaction, "whoever those captives be, pretty sure noneof them have been brought up from Beachley. Nor is their escort aslarge as it might have been had Lingen left Wintour to himself. We gavetheir ranks a good weeding there--all round."
"Yes, indeed," rejoined the knight, rather absently, and with thetelescope still at his eye. He was endeavouring to make good theidentity of the captive party, and assure himself whether it was reallywhat he had conjectured it to be.
But he could have little doubt, as he had none about the soldiersforming their escort--Lingen's Horse to a certainty--a partisan troop,variously armed, but most carrying the lance. And while he stillcontinued gazing at them, they commenced the ascent of the Ley's_pitch_, which passes over the col between Little Doward and the TableMount, the road running through woods all the way. Under these theywere soon lost to his sight, and as the last lance with its pennondisappeared below the tops of the trees, he lowered his telescope with asigh, saying,--
"What a pity the river's between, with a flood on! But for that wemight have crossed at Huntsholme, and caught up with them ere theycould--"
He broke off abruptly at sound of footsteps: the tread of heavy boots,with the chink of spurs, and the louder clank of a steel scabbardstriking against them.
He making all these formidable noises was Sergeant Rob Wilde, seenascending the steep pitch, and evidently on some errand that called forhaste.
Sir Richard, advancing to meet him, saw that he had something in hishand, with a good guess as to what it was.
"Jerky Jack ha' brought this, colonel," said the sergeant, saluting, ashe held out a slip of paper, folded and sealed. "He ha' just got up fraMonnerth; an', accordin' to your command, I took it out o' his leg."
"You did quite right, sergeant. Was there nothing more in the leg?"
"Only some silver, colonel; the difference o' the money he got for thefowls an' what he gied for the grocer goods. He stowed it theer, afeerdo' the King's sodgers strippin' him o't."
"A wise precaution on Jerky's part," observed the knight, with a smile."And called for, no doubt."
Then, returning to where Massey stood awaiting him, he said,--
"We shall know now, your Excellency, what Kyrle means doing. This isfrom him--I recognise the script."
The superscription on the letter was only the initials "R.W.," SirRichard's own, who otherwise knew it was for himself, and while speakinghad broken open the seal.
Unfolding the sheet, he saw what surprised and at first fretted him--that device borne on his hat and the standard of his troop--thesword-pierced crown. It appeared at the head of the page, in roughpen-and-ink sketch, and might be meant ironically. But no; the writingunderneath gave the explanation:--
"By the symbol above R.W. will understand that K. abjures the hatred thing called `Kingship' henceforth and for ever. After this night he will never draw sword in such a cause, and this night only to give it a back-
handed blow. R.W.'s proposal accepted. Plan of action thus:-- M. at once to retire troops from High Meadow, news of which a messenger already warned will bring hither post haste. But good reason must be given for retiring, else K. might have difficulty getting leave to go in pursuit. Withdrawal appearing compulsory, there will be none. H., who commands here, is a conceited ass, ambitious to cut a figure, and will rush into the trap as a rat after cheese. R.W. may show this to M., and himself feel assured that if the sword of his old comrade-in-arms be again employed in the service of the P., it will cut keen enough to make up for past deficiencies, which K. hopes and trusts will be forgiven and forgotten."
No name was appended to the singular epistle nor signature of any kind.It needed none. Sir Richard Walwyn knew the writer to be Robert Kyrle,a lieutenant-colonel in the Royalist army, who at the beginning of thewar had drawn sword for the Parliament. In days gone by they had foughtside by side in a foreign land,--more recently in their own,--and Kyrlecould well call Sir Richard an "old comrade-in-arms." Now they were inopposite camps; but if that letter could be relied upon as a truthfulexponent of the writer's sentiments, they were likely soon to be in thesame again. Already there had been a passage of notes between them, andthe knight had now a full comprehension of what his anonymouscorrespondent meant, knew to whom the various initials referred--inshort, understood everything purposed and proposed.
"What's your opinion of it, Colonel Walwyn?" asked the Governor, afterhearing the letter read, and receiving some necessary explanations. "Doyou think we can trust him?"
"I do, your Excellency; feel sure of it now. I know Kyrle better thanmost men, and something of his motives for going over to the other side.Nothing base or cowardly in them; instead, rather honourable thinotherwise. For, in truth, it was out of affection for his old father,whose property was threatened with wholesale confiscation. Walford, upthe river, this side Ross, is their home. It is within cannon range ofGoodrich Castle, right under, and Lingen would have been sure to make aruin of it had Kyrle not gone over to the King. Now that the chances ofwar are with us again, and he thinks that danger past, his heart boundsback to what it once warmly beat for. I know it did, as he has oft toldme, in tent and by camp fire."
"To what?" asked Massey, himself a veteran of the Low Country campaigns,and feeling interest in souvenirs of sentiment.
"This?" answered the knight, pointing to the device inside the letter,still in his hand. "I believe he will be true to it now, as hepromises; and if we get nothing more by it than his sword, it's oneworth gaining, your Excellency. Than Kyrle I don't know braver orbetter soldier."
"Well, Colonel, since you seem so disposed to this thing, and confidentof success, I'm willing we should make the attempt. At the worst we canbut fail, though, indeed, failure may cost us a good many of our bestmen. Best they must be to form the forlorn hope."
"If your Excellency permit, I and my Foresters will form that. With myconfidence in them, and faith in Kyrle, I have no fear of failure--ifthe details of our scheme be carried out as designed."
"They shall be, Sir Richard, so far as I can effect it. You may relyupon me for that. Nay, I leave the ordering and arrangement ofeverything to yourself."
"Thanks, your Excellency. But the sooner we set about it the better.Kyrle, as you see, counsels the withdrawal at once."
"But what about the reasons for doing so? Without that, he tells us--"
"I've thought of that, too," interrupted Sir Richard, now all haste."It's part of my plan already arranged. But it will take a little timeto procure this reason, so that it may appear plausible--the time itwill take a man, mounted on a good horse, to gallop to Coleford andback."
"I don't quite comprehend you, Colonel. For what purpose this gallopingto Coleford?"
"To get news from Gloucester--telling us it is threatened by Rupert."
The Governor gave a start, as if actually being told it was so. Then,recovering himself, as he saw the smile on Sir Richard's face, at thesame time catching the purport of his dubious words, he smiled, too,admiringly upon the soldier knight, as he rejoined,--
"An admirable idea! It will do! But, as you say, Colonel, there mustbe no time lost. The messenger must be despatched at once. So let usback to High Meadow House."
Saying which, he started off down the hill.
Sir Richard was about to follow when his big sergeant, who had been allthe while standing near, stepped up to him, and saluting, said,--
"There be a woman as wants a word wi' ye, Colonel."
"A woman! Who, Rob?"
"Cadger Jack's sister."
"Where is she?"
"A little ways down the lane. I didn't like bringin' she up, fears youor the Governor mightn't wish bein' intruded on. Besides, her businessbe more wi' yerself, Colonel."
"Well, Wilde," half jocularly returned the knight, "your discretionseems on a par with your valour. But let us down, and hear what thecadgeress has to say. If it be a question of squaring the marketaccount, you can take that upon yourself. I give you _carte blanche_ tosettle scores; and if they've brought back groceries, you may distributethem among the men."
"It bean't nothin' o' that Win want to speak ye about?"
"What is it, then? You seem, to know."
"There be herself, Colonel. Her can tell you better'n me."
He pointed to the Forest Amazon, who but a short distance below stood bythe trunk of a tree, from behind which she had just stepped, Masseyhaving passed without seeing her.
"Well, Mistress Winifred," said the knight, when near enough to commenceconversation, "my sergeant tells me you've something to say."
"Only a word, your honour; an' I be's most feered to speak it, since itant a pleasant one."
"Out with it, anyhow."
"Him be wounded."
"Who?"
"The young officer as wor took at Hollymead--Captain Trevor."
"Ha! Wounded, too! Who told you that?"
"'Twor all about Monnerth the day, wheres him be in prison. I tried geta chance to speak wi' he, but couldn't, bein' watched by the sodgersroun' the Castle."
"Did you hear whether his wound be serious?"
"No, Sir Richard; nothin' more than that it wor from a gunshot, an' hadlaid he up. Hope it won't signify no great deal; but I thought itbetter you be told o't fores it reach the young lady at Gloster--so'syer honour might break it to her a bit easier."
"Very thoughtful of you, Mistress Winifred, and thanks! I'll endeavourto do that."
He passed on with quickened step and shadowed countenance. EustaceTrevor, whom he had grown to regard as a brother, wounded! This wasnews to him. And a gunshot wound which had laid him up--that lookedgrave.
All the more reason for taking Monmouth, and soon. But however soon, hehad a presentiment, and something more, it would be too late--so far asfinding Eustace Trevor there. He felt almost sure that, whetherslightly or severely wounded, his troop captain had been taken on toGoodrich.