Hugh Gwyeth: A Roundhead Cavalier

by Beulah Marie Dix

Then he walked away to seek Von Holzberg, and, getting his permission to ride to Everscombe, routed out Saxon to make ready Bayard and two other horses, while he went in search of Frank, for whom he had a feeling of responsibility. Not finding him at first, he was a bit worried till, chancing to step into one of the deserted cottages, he came upon the lad, curled up snugly on a settle and fast asleep. He jumped to his feet in a hurry as Hugh’s hand was laid on his forehead, and after a first bewildered stare put on a great assumption of alertness and came stumbling out into the roadway. “You see, we were in the saddle all yesternight,” he found tongue to explain, as the two boys, with Saxon in their wake, rode out from Kingsford. “So perhaps ’tis no great blame I just shut my eyes a moment. But, Hugh, I’d take it kindly if you did not tell Dick I went to sleep for so little. And by no means let Captain Turner know.”

Hugh promised soberly, then, as they trotted along the highway, relapsed into heavy silence. But Frank still chattered on gayly, insisting on a rejoinder: “How does it seem to come home thus? Sure, you’re a dutiful lad to ride this distance to see your grandfather.”

Hugh blinked at Bayard’s erect ears, and told himself in dull fashion that while he was at Everscombe he would see Lois again and thank her, but he did not hold it necessary to speak it all to Frank.

A little patrol of horse guarded the park gate, but knowing Hugh they suffered him pass through with his companions. For all the roadway was cut with horse hoofs they ventured a brisk trot, and so came speedily out into the open, and following the track across the lawn drew up by the west wing. The rest of the house was silent, but here were stationed two sentinels of Turner’s troop, a wagon had just been brought lumbering to the door, and from within the long guardroom Strangwayes himself hailed them: “Get off your horse, and come in, Master Cornet. I’ve recovered my cuirass from the plunder of these crop-eared thieves, and I’m thinking I’ve lighted on your buff coat and sword.”

Sliding off his horse, Hugh strode briskly into the big room. At one side a long table had been hastily set forth, at which a squad of Turner’s men were making a nondescript meal, but the rest of the hall was littered with arms and accoutrements that the troopers were still fetching in noisily; they must have stripped the manor house of every warlike furnishing. “Yes, the work is near done, and we can be off,” Strangwayes said low to Hugh. “Sure, I’m not the man will be sorry. Did you know, my lad, there’s a harder thing than storming a town, and that’s to keep your troop from stealing the town after you’ve taken it? As ’tis a sort of family matter Captain Gwyeth is loath to have this house plundered, so we’ve done our best. But it’s well Leveson’s thieves have been used in clearing the stable; our own men have held the house, and they are the best and most obedient in the regiment. I’ve knocked down one or two of them, and put three under arrest, and promised a few floggings, but barring that they’ve been good as lambs and not stole from the house more than each man can hide in his pockets. Trust them? I’d trust my troop anywhere, that I had my eyes on it,” he concluded lugubriously. “But now I’m going to risk taking one eye off them and leave Griffith to see the spoils loaded in the wagons, while I tie up your hurts again.”

Accordingly, Strangwayes sent men running for water and bandages, and, putting Hugh on a bench against the wall, was dressing his head and arm, when Captain Gwyeth came in. Hugh caught sight of him as he paused an instant in the doorway, and at the changed expression of the man’s face a sudden fear struck him, for it came home to him that, though the captain forgave the son who had defied him, he might never forgive the son’s friend who had threatened to bar the door upon him. It was a new thought, and it checked Hugh’s first impulsive movement to rise to meet his father; instead he moved a bit nearer Dick. There was an instant’s dangerous silence, then Master Frank, nodding half-asleep at Hugh’s side, perceived Captain Gwyeth and ran to him. “Why, this is a lucky meeting,” he cried, leading the captain over to the bench. “And did I not tell you, sir, when once you were acquainted with Hugh, he was a right friendly, generous fellow for all his stubborn face?”

That made Dick turn and come to his feet, stiff and respectful. “Maybe ’twill please you look to Hugh’s hurt now, sir,” he said, with a slight bow.

“Nay, you’ve looked to his hurts before this, Lieutenant,” the captain said slowly. “You’ve the right to do so now.” He hesitated, then held out his hand, and Strangwayes took it.

Next moment Strangwayes was tying the bandage about Hugh’s arm again, while he talked briskly with Captain Gwyeth of the ill ride they had had from Tamworth, and the worse ride they were like to have back, to which the captain replied with a satisfied account of the good spoil of horses and arms they had made in compensation for those lost at the first overthrow of his troop. “So soon as the carts are laden, you are to quit the house, so Captain Turner bids,” Captain Gwyeth finished in an everyday tone. “We must be out of the village before sunset.”

Then as Strangwayes, ending his surgery, jumped to his feet to aid Griffith in superintending the loading, the captain turned to Hugh: “I bade you stay rest at the church, but since you’ve taken your way and come hither you can do me service.” He dropped his voice a little, though they were screened well enough under the racket of the men who were carrying forth the captured arms: “Get you to the east wing of the house, where the family have withdrawn, and, if you can, procure access to Master Oldesworth. He denied it unto me. Tell him from me that it is for the sake of his daughter and his daughter’s son that I have saved his house from utter spoil to-day. And tell him that I will use Tom Oldesworth better than he deserves, and exert my influence to have him speedily exchanged. That’s all.”