As they settled down at last into the line of march, Fred found himself for the present with the staff, riding behind his father, who was General Hedley’s most trusted follower, but hours went on before a word passed between father and son. Such conversation as did ensue was with Samson, who rode behind, neither being considered sufficiently recovered to go back to the regiment, but settling down to the work of aide-de-camp and orderly.
And as they rode slowly on, the cavalry halting from time to time to give the infantry opportunities for keeping up and preserving their position in the column, it soon became evident that the Royalists, who had made no sign in their neighbourhood for weeks, must be somewhere near at hand. For the greatest precautions were taken, scouting parties were out, and a regiment of horse formed flankers well away on either side to guard against surprise.
Fred was riding slowly on at a short distance behind his father, thinking with all a convalescent’s freedom from fever and pain, of how beautiful everything around seemed to be, and longing to cast aside the trammels of discipline, so as to be a boy in nature once more, as well as in years, when a low voice behind him made him sharply turn his head.
“Don’t it seem a pity, Master Fred?”
“Eh? What, Samson?”
“Why, sir, that we should be all riding and walking along here over this moor, thinking about hoeing up and raking down people and mowing ’em off, instead of enjoying ourselves like Christians?”
“Ah, yes,” sighed Fred; “it does. It is very beautiful, though, all the same.”
“Beautiful, sir? Ah, Master Fred, how I should like to put away my tools—I mean this here sword and pistol—and for you and me to take off our boots and stockings, and wade up yonder stream after the trout.”
“Hah!” ejaculated Fred, with his eyes brightening. “Yes.”
“Or to go away north, and get out on that there short soft grass, as always looks as if it had been kept well-mown, out there by the Rill Head, and lie down on our backs, and look at the sun shining on the sea and ships a-sailing along, eh, Master Fred?”