Preston Fight by W. Harrison Ainsworth

No immediate answer being returned, his suspicions were aroused-especially as he could hear the two horsemen, who had now come up, talking together in a low tone-and he was just about to gallop off, when one of the men dashed suddenly forward, seized his bridle, and presenting a pistol at his head, told him he was a prisoner.

“Ah! I now know who and what you are, villains,” cried the earl.

“We are loyal subjects of King George, my lord,” replied the man who held his bridle, “and as such are bound to capture all those who appear in arms against him. We have been very lucky tonight in arresting a rebel leader. Your lordship will not be surprised to learn that we intend to take you as a prisoner to Newcastle.”

The earl suppressed the wrathful exclamation that rose to his lips, and said:

“Have any of my household turned traitors?”

“No, my lord,” replied the man. “You may set your mind at ease on that score. All your servants are true to you. We are Sir William Lorraine’s officers, and have been employed by him to watch Dilston. We were therefore aware of your visit this evening, and followed you on your return to Hexham, being resolved on your arrest.”

“If your lordship is content to go with us quietly,” said the other man, “we will show you every attention. But if you attempt to escape, we will shoot you through the head, without hesitation. And now be pleased to deliver up your arms.”

“I have no arms except my sword,” replied the earl, “and I will part with life rather than with it.”

While the man, whose hands were disengaged, was striving to take the weapon from him, the fierce barking of a dog was heard, accompanied by shouts, and the earl at once comprehending from the sounds that Nathan the woodcutter was at hand with Cheviot, called out loudly:

“To the rescue, Nathan; to the rescue!”

“Here I am, my lord,” responded the sturdy woodcutter, as he and his hound burst through the trees.

A bullet whistled past his head, as he appeared on the scene, but luckily did him no injury.

Next moment, however, the stout cudgel he grasped was falling heavily upon the earl’s captors, while Cheviot’s fierce barking terrified their horses so much, that the animals broke away in spite of their riders’ efforts to restrain them, and being allowed no rest by the hound who continued to attack their heels, were soon driven off altogether.

“I shall not forget the great service you have just rendered me, Nathan,” said Lord Derwentwater. “But for you these villains would have carried me off as a prisoner.”

“I am right glad I arrived in time,” replied the woodcutter. “Cheviot warned me of your lordship’s danger.”

“Ah! did he so?” cried the earl.

And when the faithful animal came back from the chase, he warmly praised him and caressed him.

“Now, hie thee to the castle, Nathan,” said the earl. “See her ladyship, and tell her from what a peril you have rescued me. She will know how to recompense you.”

“I want no recompense, my lord,” replied the honest woodcutter. “I only wish I could always be at hand to succour your lordship when in need.”

“I wish you could,” said the earl.

With this, he galloped off and arrived without further molestation at Hexham; while Nathan proceeded, as bidden, to the castle, and related the earl’s adventure in the forest to the countess.

A good supper for each of them was the immediate reward of himself and his hound.

END OF BOOK THE FOURTH

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BOOK THE FIFTH

THE MARCH FROM HEXHAM TO LONGTOWN

I

The Junction with the South Country Scots

Next morning, at a very early hour, the whole of the insurgent troops assembled in the marketplace of the ancient town of Hexham, preparatory to marching to Rothbury.

Here Lord Widdrington took leave of his friends for a time, having, at General Forster’s earnest request, undertaken another journey into Lancashire to confer with the Jacobites and High Church Tories in that county, and endeavour to induce them to rise without delay.