Then Munn, who had ridden foremost all that day, raised a shout:—
"Crashaw! 'Truth, 'tis never Eustace Crashaw!"
He put his horse to the gallop, and when Merrylips and the others came up with him, they found him shaking hands and asking questions and giving answers, all in one breath, with the stammering lieutenant from the Monksfield garrison.
"Here's a r-rare meeting!" said Crashaw, and stammered more than ever. "R-renounce me, if ye have not l-little Tibbott with you! Now on my word, l-lad, Captain Norris will b-be blithe to see thee s-sound and well."
"And is Captain Norris here at Walsover, sir?" Merrylips asked in great surprise.
"Ay, that he is," Crashaw answered, "or will b-be with the dawning. For after M-Monksfield fell, we were shuffled off into the w-west, and now at the l-last are joined to the Walsover garrison. Captain Brooke l-led one troop hither but this d-day, and t'other one is hard at our heels. So speedily your old friends will be here to w-welcome you."
"So!" said Dick Fowell, dryly, as they rode on once more. "Then I shall be fortuned to speak again with Lieutenant Digby?"
Merrylips' heart beat fast to hear him say this. She waited breathlessly for Crashaw's answer.
But Crashaw, who was a Romanist, crossed himself. Said he:—
"God r-rest him for a brave soldier! There is now no m-more to say of him."