"My Fairy Prince!" gasped Maid Sally, "my Fairy Prince!"
"Make no more talk," said the third man, stoutly. "No harm hath been done, no harm whatever! And well paid are we to be. The lad will simply be detained until too late to join his comrades, a matter of two days or so."
"I half fear me the sharp wits of the lad will find him a way of escape," said the first speaker, "and he is but six hours' ride from Pamunkey turnpike, where the others will ride at noon to-morrow."
"Aha!" said the third man, "but Farmer Hinds will watch him well. His reward will sharpen his eyes, no doubt."
"He would be all right could he but get a horse," said the first man.
"And no horse will he get within miles of Darius Hinds's old farm place for days to come," said the second man. "Plenty of oxen, but never a horse or a mule. But come on! Tired out I am. Our work is done. And no one knoweth aught, except that the pert young plotter Bromfeld was told that, at the last moment, Sir Percival Grandison's upstart warrior had changed his mind and started on a little journey."
CHAPTER XIX.
ONE NIGHT
Home went Maid Sally, head down, heart full. She knew the whole story. What should she do? Tell Parson Kendall, and let him fly to the rescue? Then might the king's men interfere, and great trouble come to the good parson.
Ah! she knew what to do. Find Reginald Bromfeld, and let the gay troop pass that way on the morrow and release their comrade. That they could easily do, even should it take a little time.