While holding the discomfited Cavalier in his iron grasp, Stelfax scanned his features for a short space; and then shouted to Delves, who by this time had regained his legs, demanding, “Tell me—whom dost thou hold this malignant to be?”
“It is not Charles Stuart,” the sergeant replied, surveying the captive.
“Charles Stuart!—tush! This man of middle age. Look again, and carefully. Hast thou beheld that face before?”
“Yea, verily have I, and at Worcester,” the sergeant answered. “It is the face of one who, at that conflict, commanded the left wing of the army of Abijam, the son of Rehoboam. It is the Lord Wilmot.”
“Thou art right,” Stelfax exclaimed. “It is the Lord Wilmot. Of a truth, this is an important capture—next to that of the Young Man himself, the most important that could have been effected, and the one that will give the greatest satisfaction to the Lord General. But though we have taken a commander of a division, the leader of the whole army may have escaped us. Peradventure, it was Abijam himself who hath just fled. Didst thou note the features and person of the man whom thou didst vainly essay to capture?”
“I looked upon him as he charged me,” Delves replied; “and methought he was younger, and more active than this man, and of a swarthy complexion—”
“‘Tis he!—’tis Charles Stuart in person! I am well assured of it,” Stelfax cried out in great excitement. “Sound boot and saddle! I will pursue instantly. I will scour the country round but I will have him.”
“You are deceived, sir,” said Lord Wilmot, who had not hitherto uttered a syllable. “It is not the king who hath just ridden off. His Majesty is safe across the Channel.”
“I will not take your word on that point, my lord,” the Ironside leader rejoined. “What ho!” he vociferated at the top of his stentorian voice. “My horse without a moment’s delay—’tis well I kept him ready for instant service—three men to go with me. The rest shall remain here to guard the prisoners till my return. The fugitive is yet in sight; but I shall lose him if ye delay—quick, knaves, quick! Ha! he has gained the top of the hill—he disappears—he will escape me if ye loiter!”
“Heaven be praised!” Lord Wilmot exclaimed, with irrepressible emotion.
“Give praises to Heaven if I fail to take your young monarch, my lord, but not before. Here comes my horse,” cried Stelfax, vaulting into the saddle. “Lead our noble captive into the house, sergeant. Let his person be searched carefully, and then put him with the other prisoners. If I return not speedily, remove them all to the church tower, and keep strict watch over them. And hark ye, sergeant, if rescue be attempted, spare not, but smite.”
“Fear nothing, captain,” Delves replied. “I will make a terrible example of all such as oppose our authority.”
Three mounted troopers having by this time joined their leader, the little party struck spurs into their horses, and galloped along the valley, and then up the steep escarpment on the left, pursuing the course taken by the fugitive; while Lord Wilmot was led into he house by Delves and the other Ironsides.
Book VI
The Devil’s Dyke
I
SHOWING HOW NINIAN ESCAPED; AND HOW THE OTHER PRISONERS WERETAKEN TO THE CHURCH TOWER
A CONFLICT, such as we described in the last chapter, between Cavalier and Roundhead, where the odds were so greatly against the former, could not fail to excite vividly the feelings of staunch partisans of the royal cause like Clavering and John Habergeon. But the person among the prisoners who profited by the confusion incident to the capture of Lord Wilmot and the flight of his companion was Ninian Saxby. While the attention of the guard was attracted to what was going on outside, the young falconer slipped suddenly between two of the soldiers, and, almost at a bound, reached the entrance to the passage leading to the buttery.
This passage was thronged with various members of the household, and amongst them was Ninian’s own father, who beheld with the utmost anxiety the daring attempt of his son. At the head of the passage Besadaiah Eavestaff was posted, carabine in hand. But he failed to impede the young falconer’s flight. Before he could level his gun, his arms were seized by those behind him, and Ninian was enabled to pass by. No sooner was he gone than the passage was blocked up, and it could not be cleared till pursuit was useless. Fortunately for Ninian, the patrol at the rear of the mansion had just been removed, so there was no further hindrance to his retreat.