The Master of Appleby

rthlight of the new day at a turn in the river road not above a

econd's defection; but of this Jennifer would say little. He had broken with his principal, whether in anger or not I could only guess; an

re the branches drooped lowest we brushed the fragrance from the wild-grape bloom in passing. On the right the river, late in flood, eddied softly; and sounds other than the murmuring of the waters, the matin songs of the birds, and the dust-muffled hoof-beats of our horses there were none. Peace, dee

us, have no monopoly. The post-riders from the south bring blood-curdling stories of Colonel Tarleton's doings. 'Tis said he overtook some of Mr. Lincoln's reinforcements come t

ondon I heard that this same Colonel Tarleton was with Lor

was neither mirth

fed. "The women have a fondness for a

o, but withou

ingly. Do you sp

ence to me in one breath, and upholding in the next this baronet captain who, tho

and two

on terms at Apple

open house for any and all of t

h a thrice-accursed despoiler of women made my blood boil afresh; and

th the women," I said; and then I co

"Then this is not your

ch I said a

ace, and then my youthling must needs

hat it was he said of Madge," he ent

ters not to you or to an

hy

resently run him through, and so his account will be sq

al ally. "I knew not your qua

to the

that case, if by

e would say and

twirl the steel, or how, but you may be sure he would spit you like a trussed fowl in the first bou

u spare him he shall answer to me for that thing he said o

ing at the pair of pistols hanging from

ferent

on. 'Tis your only hope, and poor enough at that, I f

, at a sudden turn in the road, we came in sight of a rude barricade of felled trees barring the w

ven as he spoke the glade at our left filled as by magic wi

se?" I asked; "f

Tories-the same that burned the Westcotts in their cabin a fo

nding, if

m, in God's

ield-marshal's maxim, Von Feinden umringt, ist die Zeit zu zerschmettern; an

, and at this we charged, stirrup to stirrup. In the dash there was a scattering volley from the wo

. As we closed with the half-dozen defenders of the barrier, Jennifer reined aside to give me room to play to right a

he man who would have mowed him down w

for the race beyond. When we had pulled them down to a foot pace we

rd hand scored lightly across by another of the random missiles summed up our woundings. Dick whipped o

e to pay back," quoth my youngster, warml

to learn them. And these were but country yokels armed with

I see it. If we come whole out of this adventure with the bar

k toward the dust-veiled

an hour ago; was that bre

stick

our volunteer captai

ch too straightforward himself

baronet who set and baited it. It would please him well to be able to say what our failure to c

'd charge the Fall of Man to him if that would give you better l

all oaks. When we came on the ground the baronet was walking up and down arm in ar

was made more sinister by the plasters knitting up his broken cheek, but I was right glad to make sure that my blow had spared his eye

cond's arm and began to make ready. I gave my sword to Jennifer, and the seconds went apar

lade, and is somewhat heavier. Tybee has brought a pair of Fre

nt to fight wit

n town, Dr. Carew having gone with the Minute Men to join Mr. Rutherford. Tyb

plittings!" said I. "Let us ha

antagonist baring an arm which, despite the bejeweled hand, was to the full as big-muscled as my own. My glance went from his weapon, a rather heavy German blade, straight and slender-poin

when Jennifer would have gi

lease. Sir Francis Fa

veiled for an instant, a

tain Ireton; I ha

asely as you lied to Richard Coverdale nine years agon

gentlemen!

in a bit of by-play between themselves, as was then the fashion. After that I heard nothing for a time save the sibilant whisperings of

vering. Twice, nay, thrice, before I found my advantage he had pricked me lightly with that extra inch of slender point. But when I had fairly felt his wrist I knew

madman, and I had my work well cut out to hold him at the blade's length. I was so holding him; was, in my turn,

did likewise. What I saw was Mistress Margery Stair riding down upo

stay her from riding fair between us-I felt the hot-wire prick of the s

emblingly busy at my neckerchief. Then I saw swimmingly, as through a veil of mist, a woman's face just above my own, and it was full of horror; an

further happening in that grassy glade beneath my father's oaks. For the big German blade was a shrewd blood