Ovingdean Grange by W. Harrison Ainsworth

The sight stung Stelfax to the quick. His prey he now felt would escape him. If the fugitive should reach the bottom in safety, his escape was inevitable. Long before the valley could be gained by any secure descent, he would be far out of harm’s way, and Stelfax, fearless and venturesome as he was, did not like to essay this perilous descent, not deeming his horse sufficiently sure-footed to accomplish it. There was but one way of arresting the fugitive. Stelfax took a pistol from his holster, and fired. His mark had not been the Cavalier, but his steed. The ball lodged in the gallant animal’s brain. Instantly quitting the almost sliding posture he had assumed, he sprang with a slight bound in the air, and then dropped. The Cavalier had managed to disengage himself from the saddle, but fell in the attempt, and could not recover his footing. He and his slaughtered steed rolled together to the bottom of the declivity, where both lay motionless.

“We have Abijam now—dead or alive,” cried Stelfax to his men, who by this time had come up. “Mattathias and Enoch go ye down to the valley by yon safe though circuitous route on the left, while Nathan Guestling and I will find our way down on the right. Lose no time—though there is little fear that our prey will escape us now. He hath not stirred since he fell, and I fear me is killed outright.”

III

OF THE GUESTS AT THE POYNINGS’ ARMS

ON reaching the valley, Stelfax, closely followed by Nathan Guestling, rode towards the spot where the luckless Cavalier was lying. Hitherto, he had not moved; but when the Roundheads drew near, he began to exhibit some symptoms of animation, and made an effort to regain his feet. The exertion, however, was too much for him, and he sank back with a groan.

Flinging himself from his horse, and giving the bridle to Guestling, Stelfax bent over the prostrate Cavalier, and carefully studied his features. The result of this examination was by no means satisfactory. The person under his scrutiny was some ten years older than Charles Stuart, though his slight figure and swarthy complexion, fine black eyes, and long dark locks, had given him a general resemblance to the youthful monarch. On closer inspection, however, the likeness vanished, and the stranger’s lineaments were found to be different in many points from those of the king. Stelfax gave vent to his disappointment in a loud and angry exclamation, and called out to the two other troopers, who rode up at the moment, that it was not Abijam after all. Hearing what passed, the prostrate Cavalier raised himself upon his elbow, and cried, “So you took me for the king—ha! No wonder you gave me so hot a chase. Learn to your confusion that his Majesty is safe from pursuit, and never likely to fall into rebellious hands.”

“So your friend, Lord Wilmot, affirmed, Sir,” rejoined Stelfax; “but I attached little credit to his assertion, and I attach no more to yours. You are my prisoner. Under what name and title do you surrender?”

“It is my pleasure to guard my incognito as long as I can,” the Cavalier replied. “I must therefore decline to furnish you with my name. As to title, I have none.”

“You are too modest, methinks, sir,” Stelfax cried. “Remain unknown, if you will, for the present. If you are not treated with the consideration due to your rank, you have only yourself to blame.”

“I have no rank whatever, I repeat,” the Cavalier replied. “I am but a simple gentleman—and a very poor gentleman into the bargain—thanks to the fines and confiscations of your State Council. Will one of your men lend a hand to lift me up?”

“I will do as much for you myself, sir,” Stelfax replied, helping him to his feet. “I hope you are not much hurt?”

“No bones are broken, I think,” said the other; “but I am a good deal shaken. You gave me rather an awkward tumble down the hill—but I should not heed that if my horse had been spared,” glancing, as the words were uttered, with great commiseration at the body of the poor animal lying stark beside him. “He was a gallant steed! I shall never get such another.”