A small party on horseback rode quietly along upon the very verge of
Sedgemoor, where the land begins to slope upward. They were still upon
the moor, however, which was in those days a moor in reality; for few
spots on the eastern side of the Atlantic have undergone a more
complete change in the short space of two hundred years. A slight
elevation of the ground--one of the waves, as it were, of that
earth-sea, concealed the travelers in a degree from the field on which
the battle had lately been fought; but this shelter was not complete,
for the little ridge was irregular, and in some places sunk to the
level of the rest of the marsh. Nevertheless, the party pursued their
way unmolested for more than three miles, not hurrying their horses,
nor putting on any appearance of haste or dismay. Lady Danvers was in
the front, with Ralph on one side, and the good old farmer on the
other; and their spirits and hopes were beginning to rise, from the
impunity with which they had proceeded on their last half hour's ride.
They were taking a slanting course somewhat away from the field of
battle, and Hortensia fondly trusted that every forward step put her
and Ralph further from danger. The old man upon her left, too, was
cheerful and light-hearted, and seemed to anticipate no peril or
obstruction. Suddenly, however, as they turned a little angle of the
ground, they saw two mounted men with carbines on their knees, fixed
motionless right in the middle of the way, evidently posted there to
cut off any fugitives who, after having made their way round the
flanks of the enemy's position, might now be seeking to escape by
favor of the hollow way.
A little confusion occurred in Hortensia's party as soon as the
soldiers were perceived; and one of the farm-servants, who was riding
behind, exclaimed, "Let us gallop away across the hill."
"Stay!" said Ralph, whose presence of mind generally came to his aid
in moments of danger, "every thing now depends upon coolness and
propriety of conduct. These men can not be avoided. We must meet them,
and then act according to circumstances."
Thus saying, he begged Hortensia to halt for a moment, and then rode
on alone, waving his hand to the man who was nearest. He was speedily
challenged, and replied at once, "The king--King James."
"Ay, ay," said the soldier, "every one calls out King James this
morning, though many a one hallooed out King Monmouth last night."
"We, at least, hallooed nothing of the kind," said Ralph, "for I was
prevented from going to Bridgewater by hearing that the duke was
there. At all events, you can not suspect that a lady took any part in
such things, and I trust you will let her pass quietly, as every good
soldier ought in a woman's case."
"I can't let any body pass, man or woman," replied the soldier,
gruffly; "my orders are strict to stop every one, and have him
examined by one of the superior officers. You must stay where you are,
and so must every one of your party, till we make the signal from that
bit of a mound. Take care that you stay quite still, and do not
attempt to move away, or my companion will fire in front, and I will
fire upon you in flank."
"We will remain in perfect quiet where we are," answered Ralph, in an
indifferent tone; "but one thing let me add, that we would greatly
prefer to speak with one of the generals, who probably might know us,
than with any inferior officer."
"That's as it may be," answered the man. "I saw the general Himself
there just now. Perhaps he may look back, if he's not gone too far.
Well, you go back and stay with the rest."
Ralph returned to his party, and communicated what had taken place,
evidently greatly to the alarm of Hortensia.
"Don't be afraid--don't be afraid," said the old farmer, in a cheerful
tone. "I've got a secret that will tame them, especially if they bring
us one of the colonels or generals."
But Hortensia's fears were roused for Ralph. "I am not in the least
alarmed for myself," she said, in a low voice; "but indeed, Ralph, you
are in a situation of great peril. Will it not be better for you to
turn your horse, and try to make your escape the other way."
"No, no," he said, "I should only bring suspicion on you, and probably
be taken before I had ridden a couple of miles. Besides, dear lady, I
am wearied with this continual uncertainty; and, in truth, I think I
have fully as good a chance of passing unobstructed in this direction
as in any other."
Hortensia hung her head, and his answer did not seem fully to satisfy
her. But no great time was allowed for thought or consultation. In
less than five minutes the head of a considerable party of military
men appeared over the hill; and, riding at a quick pace, they were
soon in the little ravine leading to the spot where Hortensia and the
rest were waiting. Preceding them by a step or two came a man,
somewhat above the middle height, of distinguished aspect, and a
countenance which, though not absolutely handsome, was expressive of
high mental qualities, if there be any truth in physiognomy or
phrenology. The panoply of war had evidently been thrown aside since
the battle, and he was now dressed in the ordinary costume of a
gentleman of the court, with the exception of the large jack boots and
long heavy sword, with which no mere courtier would have liked to
encumber himself. He gazed with a keen, shrewd, penetrating look upon
the party as he rode up; but when, within about five paces, he seemed
suddenly to recognize one of their number, and, doffing his hat, he
spurred on up to Hortensia's horse, saying, "Dear Lady Danvers, can I
believe my eyes?"
"Yes, indeed, Lord Churchill," she answered, with a well-pleased
smile, for she well knew the courtesy of that great but heartless man;
"and, to tell you the truth, I have some cause to be very angry with
you, for you have been art and part in the offense, I fear, of forcing
me many a mile out of my way, breaking my carriage to pieces, and very
nearly getting me into the midst of a battle."
"Serious offenses, indeed," said Churchill, with a laugh; "but how
have I had any share in these terrible acts?"
"Why, the simple fact is, I have been trying to pass toward Wells with
this gentleman who is escorting me," said Lady Danvers--Churchill
pulled off his hat with a low bow toward Ralph, and a keen look at his
person, and Hortensia proceeded: "I could not effect my object,
however, for I always found some of your troops in the way, and I was
not a little afraid of them."
"Nay, nay, what a satire," exclaimed Churchill; "we should have
treated you with all courtesy, as if we had been knights of old."
"No satire, but homely truth, general," replied Lady Danvers,
pointedly. "The first we met with was Colonel Kirke's Tangier
regiment; and his men, we heard from every tongue, were plundering the
whole country, and abusing every one who fell into their hands."
Churchill's brow contracted, and he muttered, "This is too bad. That
man ought to be punished. I hope you did not suffer insult or injury
At his hands?"
"No; but I escaped only by turning down a narrow lane," answered
Hortensia; "there my carriage was broken to pieces, as I have said,
and I was obliged to mount a horse, and get away as fast as I could.
What has become of the carriage and its contents, my maid, and my
servants, remains yet to be seen."
"I grieve exceedingly that you have suffered such inconvenience,"
replied the officer; "and I can only compensate for it by insuring
that you shall be safely and immediately escorted to Wells, or any
where else that you think fit to go within reasonable distance. But
who are these three gentlemen behind," he continued, in a louder tone,
"in such exceedingly country attire?"
"Why, general, don't you know me?" said the good farmer, riding up; "I
saw you at my lord's head-quarters yesterday morning. There it is, all
about it. I am Josiah Bacon; and I think that ought to pass me and
every one with me;" and he held forth a scrap of paper which he had
produced from his pocket.
"I think I do remember your face," said Churchill, taking the paper,
on which were written the following words:
"These are to certify that Josiah Bacon, a true and loyal subject of
our sovereign lord, King James the Second, has voluntarily furnished
eighteen horses for the service of the royal artillery, and to require
all faithful lieges of his said majesty, and officers in the army
under my command, to suffer the said Josiah Bacon to pass and repass
the several posts and stations upon his lawful business or the king's
good service. FEVERSHAM."
Below was written, "I hereby prohibit any soldiers or officers being
quartered in the house or on the premises of the above-named Josiah
Bacon, and require all men in the king's name to give him aid and
assistance on every lawful occasion."
"Good," said Churchill, when he had read; "but who are these two men
behind?"
"They are only two of my lads," replied the farmer; "you see the way
of it was this, general--her ladyship there and this young gentleman
came to my house yesterday afternoon, wanting to make their way to
Bristol, or Bath, or Wells, or any of those places, but in a great
fright about your soldiers, for Kirke's lambs had scared them. They
had a servant with them then, and while we took them in and did the
best for them, they sent the man on--Stilling I think they called
him--to see which way they could get on in safety. I heard them with
my own ears; so this morning, you see, after watching the battle last
night from the windows--and heartily did we all pray for the king's
success--they determined to go on when they heard you had won the
victory; but, being still a little bit frightened about stragglers
from the army and such like, they got me and these two fellows to come
with them and show them the way, and take care of them."
Hortensia bad seldom, if ever, so much wished a long speech at an end;
but Churchill listened with exemplary patience, and when the farmer
had done, inquired, "Do you assure me, upon your loyalty, Master
Bacon, that these two men are actually your farm-servants, and that
they took no part in the battle last night?"
"Upon my soul and conscience they never were out of the house, and
have been with me for the last two years," replied the farmer.
"Well, then, you can pass," said Churchill. "Will you ride on with
them, Lady Danvers?"
"Come, Ralph," said Hortensia, joyfully.
But Churchill interposed with a grave look. "I beg your pardon," he
said, "but I must ask this young gentleman a few questions before he
proceeds with you."
He paused, as if he expected her to go forward; but Hortensia kept her
hand tight upon her bridle rein, and the general then proceeded,
saying, "May I inquire who you are, sir?"
"A very unimportant personage, my lord," replied Ralph.
"Not so, I should suppose from your bearing, sir," interrupted
Churchill, in a courteous tone, "though not so important as I at first
believed. You are about the same height as the Duke of Monmouth; and I
fancied, when first I saw you, that I had caught the bird for which we
had been beating the bushes all the morning. I perceive my mistake;
but may I ask your name? You must be of the court, I think; but I have
not the honor of recollecting you."
"My name, sir, is Woodhall," replied Ralph, at once.
"Your Christian name?" asked Churchill.
"Ralph Woodhall," answered the young gentleman, calmly.
"Then I fear, sir," rejoined the general, "that I must request you to
accompany me to my quarters, and deprive Lady Danvers for a time of
the advantage of your escort. I will take care, however, that your
place is properly supplied, and that she shall suffer no
inconvenience."
"That is all I could desire," replied Ralph; but Hortensia demanded,
fixing her beautiful eyes upon Churchill's face with a look earnest
and intense, "Does he go as a prisoner, my Lord Churchill?"
"Not exactly as a prisoner, dear Lady Danvers," replied Churchill,
"but as my guest for the time;" then, seeing a look of doubt and grief
on Hortensia's face, he added, "The truth is, then, and I must not
conceal it from you, that I have heard at the quarters of Lord
Feversham, the commander-in-chief, that orders have been given for the
apprehension of a gentleman of the name of Ralph Woodhall on some
charge, I know not well what. I do not apprehend him myself, because I
am not a constable or a messenger; but I feel it my duty to stop him,
in obedience to the intimation I have received."
"Then the offense with which he is charged is not a military offense,"
said Lady Danvers; "and, if so, there can be no need for Lord
Churchill to make himself a constable for the occasion. I beseech you,
my lord, as you must well know that this gentleman has had no share in
this most unfortunate rebellion, to suffer him to pass on with me, for
I feel that I have been greatly the cause of his having been placed in
this situation. Had he not undertaken to see me safely to Wells, he
would have been many miles from this spot at the present moment."
"Dear Lady Danvers," said Churchill, with that captivating grace which
so peculiarly distinguished him, "you have been now at the court of
England nearly three years, I think. Where few pass unassailed, you
have retained an unblemished reputation--and your honor is too high
and pure for envy even to attempt to cloud it--"
The color rose in Hortensia's cheek; for she thought he was about to
censure her traveling with Ralph, and point to the effect it might
have upon her fair fame; but Churchill turned his speech quite in a
different manner, saying, after a momentary pause, "You esteem this
reputation highly, dear Lady Danvers; not the softest or tenderest
persuasions would induce you to swerve from the line of duty, or do
one act that could tarnish your fair fame. The honor of a soldier must
be kept equally unsullied; he must be as well prepared to resist
entreaties as any beautiful lady in the land, and, be the temptation
what it will, keep his conduct beyond all imputation. Was not this so,
I fear I should yield to you at once."
Hortensia seemed still about to remonstrate, but Ralph besought her
not to do so, and then spoke a few words in a low tone to the general
himself.
Churchill made a sign to the escort which had accompanied him, spoke
with an old officer who rode forward, and then some changes took place
in the disposition of his little force. It was all done very rapidly,
and while the troopers were cantering in different directions, the
general once more advanced close to Lady Danvers, saying, in a low
tone, "Do not be apprehensive about this gentleman, dear Lady Danvers.
Doubtless no harm will happen to him. I believe the charge against him
is something concerning a duel not quite regular in its forms; but in
these days such events are never treated severely when the first
effect of them upon the public mind is passed. We will endeavor to
keep the matter back as long as possible, and there can be no doubt of
the result."
"Will you promise me, Lord Churchill, to do the very best you can for
him, and on no account to give him up to Colonel Kirke?" asked Lady
Danvers, in a voice trembling with emotion.
"I give you my honor of both," replied Churchill, "and I think you
need be under no alarm."
At the same moment Ralph approached, and, taking Hortensia's hand, he
bent his head over it, saying, "Farewell, dearest lady; may God bless
and protect you ever;" and, without waiting for a reply, he turned his
horse and cantered away.
Hortensia saw that, as he rode, two of Lord Churchill's soldiers
joined him, the one placing himself on the right, and the other on the
left. Without a word to Lord Churchill--for her heart was too full to
speak--she urged her horse forward on the road she had been previously
pursuing. The moment after, the old officer who had spoken with
Churchill, accompanied by two or three troopers, followed and took his
place by her side, saying, "Lord Churchill has commanded me, my lady,
to see you ten miles on the way--or further, should you require it."
Hortensia merely bowed her head in reply; and at that moment she would
have given much for a vail or a mask, for the tears were streaming
rapidly down her cheeks.