Micah Clarke

ignal fires which proclaimed the landing of the invader. One great beacon throbbed upon the summit of Butser, while beyond that, as far as eye could reach, twinkling sparks of light showed

ound it, hearing the tramp of our horses and the clank of our arms, set up a

he had assumed in the presence of my father, and rattled away with man

able to speak freely without being expected to

er in those pious exerc

I told you how I was at one time taken prisoner by the Turks and conveyed to Stamboul. There were a hundred of us or more, but the others either perished under the bastinado, or are to this day chained to an oar

id you make your

of these infidels, I did set myself to work upon it. To this end I observed the fashion in which our guard performed their morning and evening exe

rror. ‘You did preten

ourselves, as it might not stand me in very good stead with some Reveren

ho had been leading the exercises of a pious Christian family, that I was fairly beref

ntil I so prevailed upon my gaolers that the doors were opened for me, and I was allowed out on condit

capable of any

d Giaour became the talk of the city, and I was provided with a hut in which to make my sacred meditations. Here I might have done well, and indeed I had well-nigh made up my mind to set up as a prophet and write an extra chapter to the Koran, when some foolish trifle made the faithful suspicious of my honesty. It was but some nonsense of a wench being found in my hut by s

to our talk — or rather to my companion’s, for I did little more than listen. In truth, my mind was so full of anticipations of what was before us, and of thoughts of the home behind, that I was in no humour for sprightly chatter. The sky was somewh

in anger?’ asked Saxo

,’ I a

d see your foeman’s eyes, you will straightway forget all rules, maxims, a

did but teach me to strike an honest downright blow.

d that it is a fine piece of steel. One of the real old text-compellers and p

ir religio

ic blows a

ot fenced

at all,’

those who are most skilled at the shooting of the popinjay, the cleaving of the Turk’s head, and other such sports, are ever laggards in the field. Had the popinjay a crossbow as well, and an arrow on the str

rusty squire

squire ere ju

r these weeks past, lest I should set the

with more reverence and less flippancy of my father, who would assuredly nev

ome to you, no doubt, in your more mature years. What, man! within five minutes of seeing me you would have smitten me on the head with an oar, and ever since you have been like a bandog at my heel

hotly; ‘my temper is peaceful, but covert t

ake me to Monmouth’s camp in sections. Nay, nay, we shall have fighting en

lied. ‘The lights of Bishopstoke

already some faint flush of dawn in the east. Hullo, what hav

ved itself as we approached into the figure of a man, stretched at full le

ap, from the villag

s beak-like nose like a vulture which scents carrion.

light of the early dawn shimmering upon his staring eyes and colourless face showed th

e and passing his hands over his pockets. ‘Footpads, doubtless. Not a stive

king down at the poor vacant face, the emp

A man of position, too, I should judge from his dress — broadcloth coat by the feel, satin breeches, and silver buckles on his

hat greater privilege than to execute

o give us a surfeit of it. I would fain overtake these robbers that we may relieve them of their spolia opima, together with any other wealth which the

uld we conceal

rested on suspicion. Should we clear ourselves, which is no very easy matter, the justice will at least want to know whence we come and whither we go, which may lead to inquiries that may bode us little go

need to trail it in so unseemly a fashion. If it must be moved hence, I shall carry it with all due reverence. ‘So saying, I picked the body

for if my memory serves me, he said words to that effect. A few handfuls of dust will hide the stains. Now we may jog upon our way withou

ine, Algerine picaroons, and other such folk. Yet I cannot call to mind one who hath ever been able to retire in his old age on a sufficient competence. It is but a precariou

at end all,’

, be hanged at the end of it, and finally burn for ever, he hath assuredly wandered on to a thorny track. If, on the other hand, one could al

e few score pieces which these bloodthirsty wretches have filched from

prove useful in the meantime. This you say is

k, from Bishop’s W

ded to the wars. All this day the western roads will be crowded with couriers, and mayhap patrolled by cavalry as well, so that we cannot show our faces upon it without a risk of being stopped and

be engaged before we c

the scene as two loyal yeomen, who had ridden all the way from Hampshire to strike in against the King’s enemies? We might chance to get some reward in money or in land for our zeal. N

came straggling along a byroad, and the drivers waved their broad hats to us and wished us God-speed. At Dunbridge the folk were just stirring, and paused in taking down the cottage shutters to come to the garden railings and watch us pass. As we entered Dean, the great red sun pushed its rosy rim over the edge of the horizon, and the air was filled with the buzz of insects and the sweet scent of the morning. We dismounted at this latter village, and had a cup of ale while resting and watering the horses. The

apped up from either side of the road at the sound of the horses’ hoofs, and once a herd of red deer sprang to their feet from among the ferns and scampered away in the direction of the forest. Once, too, when passing a dense clump of trees, we saw a shadowy white creature half hidden by the trunks, which must, I fancy, have been one of those wild cattle of which I have heard the peasants speak, who dwell in the recesses of the southern woods, and are so fierce and intractable tha

ore the King’s troops can come down upon him. He has, mark ye, not only his troops to find, but their weapons, which is like to prove a more difficult matter. Suppose he can raise five thousand men — and he cannot stir with less — he will not

ed three or four days e

de them into regiments. I scarce expect to find him at Taunton, though we were

not,’ I

plunder! A bottle without the wine — a shell without the oyster. See the house yonder that peeps through the trees. I warrant there is a store of all good things under

you tha

hath a claim on the plunder of him who borroweth it.” In this discourse he cites a case wherein a Spanish commander having lent a steed to one of his captains, and the said captain having captured the general of the enemy, the commande

ou. See yonder, over the brow of the hill, how the sun shines upon the high cathedral tower

Leipsic, when I was serving my first campaign, I got a candlestick, which I was forced to sell to a Jew br

lankiness and length of limb gave him an awkward appearance, but on horse-back, with his lean, gaunt face looking out from his steel cap, his breastplate and buff jacket filling out his figure, and his high boots of untanned leather reaching to the centre of his thighs, he looked the veteran man-at-arms which he purported to be. The ease w

gst the trees,’ I remarked. ‘We are a

to have spent all their days in piling stones upon stones. And yet we read of tough battles and shrewd blow

dle, for Covenant was beginning to show signs of laziness. ‘But

us. Both rider and steed were grey with dust and splashed with mire, yet he gallop

is mare across the road so as to bar the

ether like bees in the swarming time. There are some thousands in arms already, and all Devonshire is on the move. The rebel horse under Lord Grey hath been beaten back from Bridport by the red militia of Dor

lit the rebels may draw their swords and fling away their scabbards, for it’s either victory for them or thei

rd Grey had met wi

d he if he could, for it is out of his track. It was one of those three-shots-and-a-gallop affrays, where each side runs away and each claims the victo

and with many rough military oaths, gave strict injunctions as to their treatment. He then clanked into the inn parlour, and throwing himself into one chair w

rk ye, landlord, no palming off your stale, musty goods as fresh, or of your washy French wines for the true Hainault vintage. I would have you to understand that my friend here an

the Blues, who were waiting for it in the next apartment. This kept them fasting for another half-hour, and we could hear their oaths and complaints through the partition while we were devouring their