One day, however, as they were returning, they saw a cloud of dust in
the distance, and heard the sounds of drums and fifes playing a
joyous tune. Kenton drew the old mare behind the bank of a high
hedge, and the boys watched eagerly through the hawthorns.
Presently they saw the Royal Standard of England, though indeed that
did not prove much, for both sides used it alike, but there were many
lesser banners and pennons of lords and knights, waving on the
breeze, and as the Kentons peeped down into the lane below they saw
plumed hats, and shining corslets, and silken scarves, and handsome
horses, whose jingling accoutrements chimed in with the tramp of
their hoofs, and the notes of the music in front, while cheerful
voices and laughter could be heard all around.
"Oh, father! these be gallant fellows," exclaimed Jephthah. "Will
you let me go with these?"
Kenton laughed a little to himself. "Which is the good Cause, eh,
son Jeph?"
He was, however, not at all easy about the state of things. "There
is like to be fighting," he said to Steadfast, as they were busy
together getting hay into the stable, "and that makes trouble even
for quiet folks that only want to be let alone.
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