Captain Blood

e ivy that clothed its lower parts. Approaching it now, through the fragrant orchards amid which it seemed to drowse in Arcadian peace beside the waters

glazed with lassitude and fear looked up piteously out of haggard faces at Mr. Blood and his companion as they rode forth; hoarse voices cried a warning that merciless pursuit was not far behind. Undeterred, however, young Pitt rode amain along the dusty road by which these poor fugitives from that swift rout on Sedgemoor came flocking in ever-

s, they were presently clear of that human flotsam and jetsam of the battle, and riding through t

yard, and Baynes, the master, of the homestead, grave o

nose-stretched on a cane day-bed under one of the tall mullioned windows, in the care of Mrs. Baynes and her comely daughter

ps existence itself, to forward the ambition of a worthless adventurer. Because he had liked and honoured this brave lad he paid his case the tribute of a sigh. Then

d him not at all. For one thing, he was not easily disturbed; for another, his task absorbed him. But his lordship, who had now recovered consciousness, showed cons

ded, nor upon those who harbour them." He still had, you see, illusions about Christians. He held a glass of cor

zen jack-booted, lobster-coated troopers of the Tangiers Regiment, led by a stu

and daughter shrank away in renewed fear. Mr. Blood, at the head of

swaggered forward, his gloved hand bearing down the pummel of his sword, his s

olonel Kirke's dragoons. W

erocious truculence. It express

r of rebels, sir. This

amped forward to the day-bed, and scow

ounds. A damned rebel, and that's enough for me." He f

ween the day-bed

er. "This is England, not Tangiers. The gentleman is in s

Hobart w

king him? There's gallows being planted along the road from Weston to Bridgewater, and he'll serve for one of the

n, it's mistaken I am. We're in Tangiers, aft

crown of his periwig. He noted the spare, active frame, the arrogant poise of the head, the air of authority

may you be?"

, sir-Peter Blood

name. You were in French s

surprised, he d

w

ive years ago, or more

. I knew yo

aintance." The Captain laughed unple

. I was fetched to atte

lie-as he conceived it-rang

ccalaureus,"

h at me, man," snapped

s smile an

tising my calling in t

eached by way of Lyme Regis in th

ur wit were as big as your voice, my dea

was speechless. The col

me great enoug

y patient here, you may be putting a rope round your own neck. He's not the kind you may stri

is pe

k by these three words, wh

have asked his name before ordering him to

ip spoke for himsel

nmouth. I'll take the consequences. But, if you please, I'll

deal of timidity deep down in Hobart. The announcement of his lordship's rank had touched those depths. A servile

onsider. Mr. Blood, observing his pause, a

o'll have something to say to Colonel Kirke if his lordship should be handled like a common felon. Yo

cted upon it none the less. "Take up the day-bed," said he, "and convey him

ney," Blood remonstrated. "H

ebels." He confirmed his order by a gesture. Two of hi

rds Mr. Blood. "Sir," he said, "you leave me in your

the men: "Bear him steadily," he c

out, the Captain became bris

rsed rebels do

, sir. His

u've lied to me...." He broke off, snarling, to give an order. Four of his dragoons went out. In a moment they were heard moving n

profit to himse

very good day I'll be

remain awhile," the

u're tiresome," he said. "I wonder yo

othes-press in which the unfortunate Pitt had taken refuge. The Captain smiled malevolently. His eyes raked the room, resting first sardonically on the yeoman, then on t

he wings of its massive oaken door. He took the huddled inmate

s this?" quoth he.

hipmaster going to adorn one of them, strung up without trial, in the place of the other victim of whom the

Sir Thomas Vernon, who's married to that slut Moll Kirke, sister to y

reafter young Pitt discreetly held his peace, the Captain

ing the lad by the shoulder, and glaring i

id Blood, "hang him, and

to the hands of his men. "Fetch him along to Bridgewater. And make fast that fellow al

r terror. The Captain strode across to them. He took the girl by the shoulders. She was a pretty, golden-headed creature, with soft blue eyes that looked up

rimly. "Let that quiet you, little re

in the arms of her anguished mother. His men stood, grinn

ering girl. "I'll stay awhile-to search out this place. There may be other rebels hidden here."

ation. Beneficial, that is, to humanity. In any case, the dragoon was obviously plethoric and would be the better for a blood-letting. The difficulty lay in making the opportun

ht to t

Bridgewater is my destination, and but that ye

ion there will

Ye're sure

f you prefer it. It's merely

f the grip of the dragoons, for he was strong and agile, but they closed with him again immediately, and bore him

e his orders to the other waiting troopers. "Go search t

pphire eyes were blazing. On his lips trembled a threat of what he would do to Hobart if he should happen to survive this business. Betimes he remembered that to utter it were probably to extinguish his chance of living to execute

they set out there was the fullest confirmation of Mr. Blood's hideous assumption that to the dragoons this was a conquered enemy country. There were sounds of rending timbers, of furniture smashed and overthrown, th

from his feet by the rope that attached him to the stirrup leather, and he was dragged helplessly a yar

delicious July morning, that man-as he had long suspected-was the vilest work of God, and