"By St. Edward of Netley!" exclaimed Redward, "wherever I go, whether Francewards or otherwise, thou shalt go too; for methinks there is as much danger in Merrie England as in the land of the Fleur-de-Lys!"
"But how camest thou here, father?" asked Raymond. "I thought thou wert at Lepe."
"Ah, lad! it was there I saw the foemen sail towards Southampton; so I rode hot-foot to Hythe.[1] There I took a boat—stole it, I fear—and tried to cross; but in the fog I nearly ran into the thick of the galleys. Then I knew I was too late; so back to the shore I rowed, and came round the head of the Water by land. 'Twas a long journey by Totton, and by the time I reached Millbrook it was daylight, and the men of Romsey were marching in upon the town."
By this time Raymond had washed his face and hands, and had brushed most of the grime from his clothes, having removed his white surcoat and breastplate.
"We have had a hot time, father. They pressed us hard. Fourteen men lie stretched upon the straw, and nine are dead. Poor old Dick Wyatt is no more."
"Heaven rest his soul!" exclaimed Redward, piously crossing himself. "He was a good and true comrade to me through thick and thin, and I trow 'tis hard to be stricken down almost within sight of home."
Together father and son ascended the winding stair that led to the upper rooms. There lay the wounded defenders, carefully tended by the Lady Audrey. As Raymond entered the room, she looked at him in a puzzled manner. Then, holding out her hand, she exclaimed:
"Why, 'tis my gallant preserver! And what a difference a clean face doth make ye are but a boy, and a handsome one at that!"
A deep flush overspread the youth's face. Redward, knowing nothing of the circumstances of her rescue, could but express his astonishment, and, leaving the pair engaged in eager talk, he ascended to the roof, where lay the bodies of Richard Wyatt and the other soldiers, each grim and stern in death.
From Will Lightfoot he learned most of the particulars of the defence, including his son's intrepid act of rescue.