He had
been among those who had charged through the enemy, and ridden
towards Bristol, but his horse had been struck by a stray shot, and
killed under him. He had avoided the pursuers by scrambling through
a hedge, and then had thought it best to make his way through the
fields to his own home, until, seeing the party on the hill, he had
joined them, expecting to find his parents among them.
Sir George he knew to be on before him, and probably almost at
Bristol by this time. Poor Jack had been left weeks ago on the field
of Naseby, though there had been no opportunity of letting his family
know. "Ill news travels fast enough!" And as to Harry, he had been
shot down by a trooper near about the bridge, but mayhap might be
alive for all that.
"And my brother, Jeph Kenton," Steadfast managed to say. "Was he
there?"
"Jeph Kenton! Why, he's a canting Roundhead. The only Elmwood man
as is! More shame for him."
"But was he there?" demanded Stead.
"There! Well, Captain Venn's horse were there, and he was in them!
I have seen him more than once on outpost duty, prating away as if he
had a beard on his chin.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119