“I believe we’re in for a row, sir,” continued the man, leaning over to him and speaking in a low voice. “Strikes me the best thing for you to do would be to step into the carriage to your friend before the fight begins: I’ll hold your horse.”
“I!” said Frank sharply. “I wouldn’t be such a cur.”
“Well said, youngster. Then you try and stick by me. We shall be in the thick of it, and nobody shall hurt you if I can help it.”
“Do—do you think, then, that there will be trouble?”
“Yes, for some of us, sir,” said the man. “They mean to try and get the prisoners, and the attack will be here.”
Frank was unconscious of a movement behind him, till a horseman forced his way in between him and the dragoon, and Captain Murray said sharply:
“Try and ease off, my man.”
“Not to be done, sir,” replied the dragoon.
“There’s going to be an attempt at rescue, Frank,” whispered the captain. “Shake hands with your father before we are forced away.”
At that moment word was passed along from the rear, running from man to man as they still kept on at a slow walk: