CHAPTER SIXTY SIX.
ON THE TRAIL.
Words cannot depict the feelings of Sir Richard Walwyn and EustaceTrevor as they reined up by the burning house. With both it was anguishof the keenest; for they knew who were the incendiaries, and thatincendiarism was not the worst of it. They who ruthlessly kindled theflames had, with like ruth, carried off their betrothed ones. And forwhat purpose? A question neither colonel nor captain could help askinghimself, though its conjectural answer was agony. For now more vividlythan ever did Sir Richard recall what had been told him of Lunsford'sdesigns upon Sabrina; while Trevor had also heard of Prince Rupert'spartiality for Vaga.
As they sate in their saddles contemplating the ruin, they felt as mightan American frontiersman, returned home to find his cabin ablaze, firedby Indian torch, his wife or daughters borne off in the brutal embraceof the savage.
No better fate seemed to have befallen the daughters of Ambrose Powell.White savages, very tigers, had seized upon and dragged them to theirlair; it were no worse if red ones had been the captors. Rather wouldthe bereaved lovers have had it so; sooner known their sweetheartsburied under that blazing pile than in the arms of the profligate Rupertand Lunsford the "bloody."
Only for an instant did they give way to their anguish, or the angerwhich accompanied it--rage almost to madness. Both were controlled bythe necessity of action, and the first wild burst over, action wastaken--pursuit of the ravishers.
Some time, however, before it could be fairly entered upon; inquiry madeas to the direction in which they had gone. There were hundreds on theground who could be interrogated. Half the people of Ruardean werethere. Roused from their beds by the cry "Fire?" they had rushed out,and on to the scene of conflagration. But arrived too late to witnessthe departure of those who had set the torch, and could not tell whatway they had gone. Neither could the house-servants, now released fromtheir lock-up; for to hinder them doing so was the chief reason fortheir having been confined.
As it was known to all that the Royalists had come up from Monmouth,conjecture pointed to their having returned thither. But conjecture wasnot enough to initiate such a pursuit; and Colonel Walwyn was toopractised a campaigner to rely upon it. Certainty of the route taken bythe enemy was essential, else he might go on a wild-goose chase.
As that could not be obtained at the burning house, not a moment longer,stayed he by it. Scarce ten minutes in all from the time of theirarrival till he gave the command "About?" and about went they, back downthe long avenue, and through the park gate.
Soon as outside, he shouted "Halt!" bringing all again to a stand; hehimself, however, with Captain Trevor and Sergeant Wilde, advancingalong the road in the direction of Cat's Hill. Only a hundred yards orso, when they reined up. Then, by command, the big sergeant threwhimself out of his saddle; and, bending down, commenced examination ofthe ground.
Had Wilde been born in the American backwoods he would have been a notedhunter and tracker of the Leatherstocking type. As it was, hisexperience as a deer-stealer in the Forest of Dean had been sufficientto make the taking up a horse's trail an easy matter, and easier that ofa whole troop. He could do it even in darkness; for it was dark then--the moon under a cloud.
And he did it; in an instant. Scarce was he astoop ere rising erectagain, and turning face to Sir Richard, as if all had been ascertained.
"Well, Rob," interrogated the latter, rather surprised at such quickwork, "you see their tracks?"
"I do, Colonel."
"Going Cat's Hill way?"
"No, Colonel. The contrary--comin' from. None o' 'em fresh neyther.Must a been made some time i' the afternoon."
"Have you assured yourself of that?"
"I have. But I'll gie 'em another look, if ye weesh it, Colonel."
"Do."
The colossus again bent down and repeated his examination of the tracks,this time making a traverse or two, and going farther along the road.In a few seconds to return with a confirmation of his former report. Atroop of cavalry had passed over it, but only in one direction--upward,and some hours before sunset.
"Sure am I o' that, as if I'd been here an' seed 'em," was the tracker'sconcluding words.
"Enough?" said Sir Richard. "Into your saddle, and follow me."
At which he gave his horse the spur, and trotted back towards the parkgate. Not to rejoin his men, still at halt, however. Instead, hecontinued on along the road for Drybrook; the other two keeping withhim.
At a like distance from the halted line he again drew up, and directedthe sergeant to make a similar reconnaissance.
Here the reading of the sign occupied the tracker some little longertime; as there was a confusion of hoof marks--some turned one way, somethe other. Those that had the toe towards Hollymead gate he knew tohave been made by their own horses; but underneath, and nearlyobliterated, were hundreds of others almost as fresh.
"That's the trail of the scoundrels," said Sir Richard, soon as thesergeant reported the result of his investigation. "They've gone overto the Gloucester side; by Drybrook and Mitcheldean. How strange ournot meeting them!"
"It is--very strange," rejoined Trevor; "but could they have passedthrough Mitcheldean without our meeting them?"
"Oh yes they could, Captain," put in Wilde, once more mounted; "theer beseveral by-ways through the Forest as leads there, 'ithout touchin' o'Drybrook. An' I think I know the one them have took. Whens us get towhere it branch off their tracks'll tell."
"Right; they will," said Sir Richard, laying aside conjecture, andcalling to the officer in charge of the men to bring them on at quickpace.
At quick pace they came; the Colonel, Captain Trevor, and the bigsergeant starting off before they were up, and keeping several horselengths ahead.
The route they were taking was the same they had come by--back forDrybrook. But coming and going their attitude was different. Thenerect, with eyes turned upward regarding the glare over Hollymead; nowbent down, cheeks to the saddle bow, and glances all given to theground. For, as Wilde had said, there were several by-ways, any one ofwhich the pursued party might have taken; and to go astray on thepursuit, even to the loss of ten minutes' time, might be fatal to theirpurpose--the feather's weight turning the scale.
But no danger now; the moon was giving a good light, and the road forlong stretches was open, the trees on each side wide apart. So they hadno difficulty in seeing what before they had not thought of looking for;the hoof marks of many horses, that had gone towards Drybrook. Thetracks of their own, going the other way, had almost obliterated them;still enough of the under ones were visible to show that two bodies ofhorse had passed in opposite directions, with but a short interval oftime between.
As this could be noted without the necessity of stopping or slowingpace, Colonel Walwyn carried his men on in a brisk canter, designinghalt only at the branch road of which the sergeant had spoken.
But long before reaching it they got information which made stoppagethere unnecessary, as also further call on the ex-deer-stealer's skillas a tracker--for the time. Given by a man mounted on a hotel hack,who, coming on at a clattering gallop, met them in the teeth. His cry"For the Parliament?" without being challenged, proclaimed him a friend.And he was; the innkeeper of Mitcheldean, recognised on the instant bySir Richard and Rob Wilde.
His coming up caused a halt; for his business was with Colonel Walwyn--an errand quickly told.
"Prince Rupert and two hundred horse, with prisoners, have passedthrough Mitcheldean!"
Half a dozen questions rapidly put, and promptly answered, elicited allthe circumstances--the time, the direction taken, everything thepatriotic Boniface could tell. They had come down the Plump Hill, andgone off by Abenhall--for Newnham or Westbury; or they might be makingfor Lydney.
Down the Plump Hill! That accounted for their not being met. And thetime--so near meeting, yet missing them! All the way to Hollymead andback for nothing!
But lamenting the lost hours would
not recover them. They must be madegood by greater speed; and, without wasting another word, the spur wasburied deeper, and faster rode the Foresters. Rode with a will; few ofthem whose heart was not in the pursuit. They were on the slot of ahated foe, against whom many had private cause of quarrel and vengeance.Prince Rupert, for the past twelve months, had been harrying the Forestdistrict, making their homes desolate; his licentious soldiers abusingtheir wives, sisters, and daughters--no wonder they wanted to come upwith him!
At mad speed they went dashing around Ruardean Hill, down into the valeof Drybrook; then up by the Wilderness, and down again to Mitcheldean;once more startling the townspeople from their slumbers, and fillingthem with fresh alarm; soon over on seeing it was the green-coats.
Only a glimpse of them was got, as they galloped on through; staying nota moment, never drawing bridle till they came to the forking of theroads by Abenhall--the right for Littledean, Newham, and Lydney; theleft to Westbury. Then only for an instant, while Rob Wilde swung hisstalwart form out of the saddle, and made inspection of the tracks. Forthe moon was once more clouded, and he could not make them out, withoutdismounting.
As before, brief time it took him; but a few seconds till he was back onhis horse, saying, as he slung himself up,--
"They're gone Westbury ways, Colonel."
And Westbury ways went the pursuers, reins loose and spurs plied afresh,with no thought of halting again, but a hope there would be no need forit, till at arm's length with the detested enemy.
Even when the turn in Flaxley Valley brought the Severn in sight, withits wide sheet of flood-water, they stayed not to talk of it. To themit was no surprise; but a few hours before they had waded it farther up.No more was it matter of apprehension, as it had been to the partypursued. Instead, something to gratify and cheer them on; for,extending right and left, far as eye could reach, it seemed a very net,set by God's own hand, to catch the criminals they were in chase of!