The Splendid Spur

as vanished and a glistening coat of rime spread over all things. Down here the pines gave way to bare elms and poplars, thickly dotted, and a

road went stretching away to the northwest and the hills against the sky there; whither beyond, we neither knew nor (being both y

ove, by reason of the cold, and purple-black below, for lack of a

you are not deaf,

tis an unseemly sight, yet tickling to the mirthfully minded. Haw-haw!" He c

for I was growing nettled), "your mirth is a ridd

'd he: "and to me, that am a

old him so, and left him staring after us; nor heard th

But from one-an old woman-we learn'd we were walking toward Marlboro',

h the road took us. Here, by a bridge, we came to an inn bearing the sign of "The Broad Face," and

of beer while I bargain with the hostess for fresh fo

ome at once!" Setting down my half emptied mug, I went after her across the bridge and up the road, wond

ible-wicked-shameful! Ugh!"

is sha

ly, but walk'd

, for my part," sigh

ou must

O

l'd roun

o. If you are to have a

passably content

ou must buy me a suit of boy's clo

the noise of guns

is thunder! I do mortall

at this time of year.

t that I m

ad o

thicken'd and spread as we advanced. 'Twas only, however, after passing the ridge, and when daylight began to fail us, that I became alarm'd. For the wood grew denser, with a tangle of paths c

ut warning, I heard a sound behind me, and lo

here's

's am

m going t

-a man and a woman. The man carried an infant in his arms: and tho' I call'd on them to stop, the pair ran by us with no more

in my arms and stumbled forward, hoping to find the end of the wood soon. For now the rattle of artillery came louder and incessant through the trees, and mingling with i

an open space upon the hillside, with a dip of earth in front; and beyond, a long ridge of pines standing up black, be

ite cheek seem rosy. Up amid the pines I clamor'd, and along the ridge to where it broke o

all and hid them: only the turmoil beat up as from a furnace, and the flames of burning thatches, and quick jets of firearms like lightning in a thundercloud. Great sparks floated

ughter, driving the rebels out of the place, and back on the road to Bristol. Had we guess'd this, much ill luck had been spared us; but we knew nought of it, nor whether friends

for Delia. To sleep was impossible, even with the will for it. For the tumult and fighting went on, and only died out about an hour before dawn: and once or twice

water meadows beside a tiny river (the Kennet, as I think), and saw, some way beyond, a high road that cross'd to our side (only the bridge was now broken down), and further yet, a thick smoke curling up; but whence this came I could not

e on a broken musket flung against the hedge, with a nauseous mess of blood and sandy hairs about the stock of it; and just beyond was a dead horse, his legs sticking up like b

out: and from the back, where some out-building yet smoulder'd, rose the smoke that I spied. But what brought me to a stand was to see the doorway all crack'd and charr'd, and across it a soldier st

ans. They issued from the upper chamber of the cottage. I steppe

With one hand he seem'd trying to cover a big wound that gaped in his chest: the other, as my head rose over the ladder, he stretch'd out with all the fingers spread. And th

d without a speck of blood. They were clean, though coarse; so thinking they would serve for Delia, I took th

Jack-they do not fit

and also, lying hard by, a pair of shepherd's shears, which I took also, having a purpose for

fless alders, and clapp'd her hands

e clothes, and munching

y's suit that y

t a very choice on

ter for esca

like to b

n the clothes. I left her eyeing them doubtfully, and stroll'

hey do not

ng her. Now this was a lie: but she took me more tha

t in them!" she pouted,

more, and let t

Jack, I have suc

aid I, pulling the sh

at these h

hair, and only gave in when I scolded her roundly. So I took the shears and clipp'd the chestnut curls, one by

folks. For, to spare her the sight of the ruin'd cottage, I had taken her round through the fields, and by every bypath that seem'd to lead westward. 'Twas safer to journey thus; and all the w

into an outpost of rebels, as

s helping Delia over, when out of the ground, as it seem'd, a voice shriek'd, "Run-run!-the King's men are on us!" and then, my

ce, and a second on the hedge, they thought better of it. Before I could scramble up, one pair

lantern,

ve look'd. The fellows were all clad in green coats, much soil'd with

y concerning the movements of his Majesty's troops, from which, indeed, I learn'd much concerning the late enc

off to Capt

at had his hand thrust in on my breast: "b

lip while they cluster'd round, turning the l

the sergeant in the troop): "hand me the letter, there! Zacchaeus Martin and Tom Pine-you two bide

up with a tag fr

, under a tavern lamp, by the door, was a man perch'd up on a tub, and shouting forth portions of the Scripture to some twenty or more green-coats assem

bottles. Between these, on a deal table, lay a map outspread, and

a green uniform like the rest: only hi

to the sergeant's story; and at the close fix'd an inquisitive gaze on

your possession?"

I, "I must de

wly through. For the first time I began heartily to hope that the paper contain'd nothing of moment. But the man

tinue our march. Meanwhile keep these f

yloft of the inn and hearkening to their curious talk, that was half composed of Holy Writ and half of gibes at

orn ensigns and little heart in their movements. The sky began a cold drizzle as we set out, and through this saddening whether we trudged all day, Delia and I being kept well apart, she with the vanguard and I in the rear, seeing only the winding column, the dejec

the same sights and sounds. There were moments when I thought to go mad, wrenching at my cords till my wrists bled, yet with no hope to escape. But in time, by good luck, my wits grew dea

e who had come out to learn news of the defeat, which, the day before some fugitives had carried to Bristol. To their questions, as to all else, I listen'd like a man in a trance: and recall this only-that first I was shivering out in the rain and soon after was standing

in a great hall, near forty yards long (as I reckon it), and rafter'd with oak. At the far end, around a great marble table,

pens in their hands. But the one on whom my eyes fastened was a tall, fair soldier that sat in the

g given you into our hands, you will not

to tell," answer'd

a handsome, irresolute mouth, and was, I could tell, of ver

er orders fr

n a snappish little

," said I. - "Well, then,

do

ing himself up-"That boy with you-that fellow disguis'd

ir, you a

saw him, a year back, at Douai, helpi

e!" cried I, and b

the table. "I tell you the boy is a Papist!" He pointed furious

eed,

you,

o make so certa

aw y

even tell m

t?" asks the tall sol

sir: I am no boy

le man went purple in the face, and the r

am so very, very sorrow: but I cannot

company with

Colonel Essex-for 'twas he-t

low is a Papist, too. I knew it f