“I don’t require support, general,” said the minister.
“General!” exclaimed the countess. “Is it possible we are speaking to General Wills?”
“Has your ladyship only just made that discovery?” cried Parson Woods, laughing.
“I suspected it from the first,” observed Dorothy.
“You can tell your brother, the general, that you have had a conference with me,” said Wills; “and that you told me to my face that I should be defeated on the morrow.”
“I told you the truth, general, however disagreeable it may be to hear it,” said Dorothy.
“Well, time will show,” rejoined Wills; “but I rather think that before to-morrow night General Forster will have surrendered, and in that event the Earl of Derwentwater will be given up as a hostage.”
Just then a horseman, who proved to be Sir Henry Hoghton, rode up, having with him a lady on horseback.
“I am glad I have found you, general,” said Sir Henry. “This lady has something important to communicate to you.”
“Pray come this way, madam,” said Wills, taking the lady aside.
Thereupon, a whispered conversation took place between them.
“I know that voice,” observed the countess to Dorothy. “But surely it cannot be-”
“It is Mrs. Scarisbrick,” was the reply in a low tone. “I always thought she played my brother false. Now we have positive proof of it. She has come to give information respecting the state of the town.”
Dorothy was quite right in the conjecture.
When the conference between Wills and Mrs. Scarisbrick was ended, and the lady found that the countess and Dorothy were close at hand, she became very uneasy, and begged General Wills to set them free.
“If they go back, I cannot,” she observed. “They will tell General Forster they have seen me here, and what explanation can I give him?”
“It matters little now what explanation is given,” replied Wills. “But you shall not be exposed to any annoyance. You must be on the spot. Tomorrow, you are certain to have important information to give me.”
“I will not fail,” she replied.
General Wills then called to Sir Henry, and after consigning Mrs. Scarisbrick to his care turned to Parson Woods, who was waiting for final orders, and said:
“I have altered my plans, parson. Take Lady Derwentwater and Miss Forster with their attendants across the river, and then set them free.”
“It shall be done, general,” replied Woods, with a military salute. “Be pleased to follow me, ladies.”
He was not quite so civil to Father Norman and Newbiggin.
“I hope we are not liberated at that lady’s request;” said the countess. “I would not willingly be under any obligation to her.”
“You need not be uneasy,” said Wills. “You are under no obligation to any one but me. Goodnight, ladies. I wish you a safe journey to Dilston. When I tell you that General Carpenter will be here with two thousand men to-morrow, you may be glad to be out of the way.”
He rode off, while the ladies and their companions were taken across the ford by Parson Woods, and then liberated.
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Xl
An Unlucky Shot
AFTER their unsuccessful attempt to cross the ford, Charles Radclyffe and Captain Douglas did not return to the town, but concealed themselves among some trees till they had ascertained that the countess and Dorothy were to be liberated. They then went back tolerably well satisfied with the issue of the adventure.
As they were riding slowly up the lane leading to the Fishergate avenue, they caught the sound of horses’ feet behind them, and stopped to listen.
It was so dark that nothing could be seen distinctly, but they heard voices, and Captain Douglas drew a pistol and called out, “Who goes there?”
“A friend,” replied a voice.
“To whom?” demanded Douglas. “To King James, or King George.”
“I am no rebel,” replied the person who had spoken. “But it seems you are, and I am therefore bound to make you a prisoner. It will be useless to resist, for I have a dozen men with me.”
“I would not yield if you had twice the number,” rejoined Douglas. “Advance a step further, and I will shoot you.”