"He and our men are safe inside; they're barricading the stable door. There be some few scratches and knocks among us; nothing more."
"What made the rascals fly so suddenly? A cry of danger, say you? What danger?"
"A cry of danger raised by their watchman in the road. He joined them as they fled. Let us go up and look."
The two ascended to the oriel whence Hal had fired down on Rumney's first assault. Kit's gaze instantly sought the road. At the distant gate stood a large group of horsemen, who appeared to have just come up, and to be scanning with interest the front of Foxby Hall. Several of them wore cuirasses and steel head-pieces. In a moment, one of these turned his horse toward the mansion; the others followed.
"Tis plain now," said Kit. "Rumney's watchman liked not the looks of this party; perhaps he recognized that fellow at their head, and took him to be after the Rumney gang."
"And who is the fellow at their head?" asked Hal, with a strange thrill,—for he divined already the answer.
"'Tis Roger Barnet," said Kit, gruffly.