“No, father; they are too far away.”
“Shout to them.”
“It’s of no use, father. One, two, three rebel regiments are coming along at full gallop.”
“All on the road?”
“No; one on the road, the others across the moor.”
“The poor fellows will be cut all to pieces. Can nothing be done? Here, Polly, come down, and let me look.”
“There is plenty of room beside me, father. How they are galloping now!”
In spite of his weakness, Fred had turned himself a little on one side, so as to watch the backs of the pair who were now blocking out the little light which came from the window; and as the exciting events went on, and he listened to the galloping of the horses, the shouts of the horsemen—his own party—and the trumpet calls, the perspiration due to excitement stood upon his brow, and he at last groaned out—
“Oh, if I could only see!”
“Ay, Master Fred, if we could only see!” came from close at hand. “Hark at ’em! hark at ’em!”