Upon which he rushed out of the church, followed by his men.
Sergeant Delves Reprimanded
II
IN WHAT MANNER COLONEL GUNTER WAS LIBERATED
No notice, as we have shown, was taken by Lord Wilmot and the little party under his command of the trumpeter’s summons; but as it was almost certain that a messenger would speedily be sent to order their return, preparations were made for his reception. For this purpose, John Habergeon and the elder Saxby dismounted and entered the stable; and as soon as Nathan Guestling arrived there, the door was closed upon him, and, being seized by these two powerful men, he was thrown down bound hand and foot with a halter, and almost stifled with a horse-cloth wrapped round his face.
This task accomplished, the pair issued from the stables, and found that, in the interim, Lord Wilmot had sent the horses, in charge of the grooms, to a particular spot at the back of the garden indicated by Ninian. Stelfax had been sent to go to the church with a party of men, and the house being left comparatively undefended, his lordship apprehended little resistance, and ordered his party to set forward at once.
As they approached the mansion, the sentinel called out to them, “How now, comrades! Are ye come at last? Wherefore did ye not answer the recall? Did ye not hear the alarm-bell rung from the church?”
“Question us not—we are in haste,” Lord Wilmot hastily replied, pressing on with the others. “Come with me inside, and thou shalt hear that which will surprise thee.”
“What hath happened?” demanded the man, preceding them into the house. But scarcely had he crossed the threshold than the Royalists closed round him and disarmed him.
“Utter but a cry,” said Lord Wilmot, clapping a pistol close to his head, “and it will be thy last. Thou art wholly in our power. But do as I bid thee, and thy life shall be spared. Dost heed me, knave?”
The man made no reply, but did not attempt to give the alarm.
At the moment when the Royalists thus gained admittance to the hall it was empty. On a table at one side a lamp was burning, but Ninian quickly extinguished it, and plunged the place in darkness. Just as this was accomplished, the door of a room adjoining the library was opened, and a harsh voice demanded who was there.
“Do thou answer,” said Lord Wilmot to the sentinel, still holding the mouth of the pistol to his head.
“‘Tis I—Gabriel Flint,” responded the sentinel.
“Ha! what dost thou there, Gabriel?” inquired the other.
“Speak as I enjoin thee,” muttered Lord Wilmot, breathing a few words in his ear.
“The captain hath sent a file of men for the prisoner,” said Flint.
“Ay, bring him forth without delay,” added John Habergeon, in a snuffling, puritanical voice. “We are to take him to his friends at the church.”
“Ye shall have him, and welcome,” replied the other. “But tell me, comrade, what was the meaning of that ringing of the church bell?”
“‘Twas a mere trick of the prisoners,” responded John; “they had barricaded the door of the tower wherein they were confined, and I suppose contrived to clamber up the walls and reach the bell-rope. The noise is checked now.”
“Ay, our captain would soon put a stop to such vagaries, I’ll warrant him,” responded the trooper. “Come forth, prisoner,” he added.
“Whither would ye take me?” demanded Colonel Gunter, as he approached the door of the room.
“To your friends,” replied the trooper, in a jeering tone. “They are anxious for your company.”
“They are,” Lord Wilmot answered, “Be quick!”
Colonel Gunter fancied he recognized the voice, and accelerated his movements.
“Here is the prisoner,” said the trooper, pushing the colonel forth—”take him! But the lamp has gone out, I perceive. I will bring a light instantly.”
“It is needless,” John Habergeon replied. “We care not to behold the Amalekite’s features. We will take thy word that it is the right man.”
While this brief colloquy occurred, Lord Wilmot grasped the colonel’s arm, and made his presence known to him in a whisper.
“You here, my good lord, and in that garb?” exclaimed Colonel Gunter, in a low tone.