"It's the goodman," said the foremost, a red-faced, good-natured
looking fellow more like a hostler than a soldier, "have you seen
Captain Lundy's men pass this way?"
"Not I!" said Kenton, "we lie out of the high road, you see."
"But I saw them, a couple of hours agone, marching into Bristol,"
said Jephthah coming forward.
"There now," said the man, "we did but stop at the sign of the 'Crab'
the drinking of a pottle, and to bathe Jack's foot near there, and we
have never been able to catch them up again! How far off be
Bristol?"
"A matter of four mile across the ferry. You may see it from the
hill above."
He looked stout enough though he gave a heavy sigh of weariness, and
the other two, who were mere youths, not much older than Jeph, seemed
quite spent, and heard of the additional four miles with dismay.
"Heart alive, lads," said their comrade, "ye'll soon be in good
quarters, and mayhap the goodman here will give you a drink to carry
ye on a bit further for the Cause."
"You are welcome to a draught for civility's sake," said Kenton,
making a sign to his sons, who ran off to the house, "but I'm a plain
man, and know nought about the Cause.
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