The Quest of the 'Golden Hope': A Seventeenth Century Story of Adventure

ons on the Br

e Captain composedly, for he had regained both his breath and his

at screened us from the soldiers, and lay hidden in the

ways a general favourite amongst the youths in and around Lymington--Consta

ken, when we heard the clatter of the troopers' horses as their hoofs struck the road. Knowing that it

cruelty by reason of their service at Tangiers, and, though I knew it not at the time, ready to practise the barbarities ac

here hath he gone? Are we to let a guinea sl

amation of triumph to the partially concealed tracks on the roa

, gazing across the wilderness of gorse. "So long as he stuck to his mou

horse down the road to where we were, "hast s

ully enough; "no horsem

ping his pistols significantly. "You do but

t sil

through the gorse by the side of the road, shouted, "

he dragoon who had overtaken us. "Ba

ed, as stoutly as I coul

l from his holster. There was no help for it. I had to go with him. "R

illain. "You'll come in useful to make this young

not a word, although by the expression of her eyes she said,

bout that stubborn young rebel at Dulverton--it was Dulverton, wasn't it, David?--who thought to deceive one of Cornbury's Dragoons? A little tow tied to his thumbs did the tri

xample. Whipping out his broadsword, he struck me a heavy blow on the ankle with the flat of the wea

ure was in sight. Even if there had been, 'twas difficult to imagine that a s

of dry grass,"

very moment is precious. I know of a way." And, thrusting his huge fingers through my sister's golden locks

ing he was quite capable of carrying out his threat, I was torn with con

of dashing my clenched fist in the face of Constance's assailant. With his right hand the dragoon gripped me by the nape of t

and like an arrow from a bow Jeremy Miles flung himself upon th

ponderous fist, and the ruffian's arm fell nerveless to his side; and a second blow stretched him lifeless on the grou

ooper was, the Captain, thanks to his strenuous life afloat, was his master. For a while they swayed to and fro in a desper

nched his bulky foe clean off the ground, and hur

exclaimed, in a matter-of-fact tone, although

irl! Although not much hurt, for the rogue had not had time to carry out his threat to the fullest extent, she

said Captain Jeremy kindly. "Then hasten back, for I'll warran

bers?" he asked, after I had returne

in Lyndhurst this morning.

in a hurry," he exclaimed. "We've e

ad?" I asked

es to me. The Duke is taken. I saw him seized by some of Portman's Militia near Ringwood but yesterday. Fai

did you

tisfied them, for they searched no more. Farmer Shearing of Ringwood lent me his mare, and I rode off early this morning, intending to shape a course for Pitt's Deep, for 'twould have been mad

bliterated all signs of the struggle. The troopers' horses were contentedly nibbl

if they came within hearing of a trumpet call they would most likely trot off to rejoin their fellows. Yet, as there were no troopers within sev

t of one of the animals, he examined its hoof. There, in a manner that could not be effaced, were the royal mon

their death warra

w s

fe and liberty are at stake, it behoves us to take stern measures. Now, I pray y

I hastened to rejoin Constance. We had barely gone a hundred p

is that?" as

to tell her the plain truth. "Captain M