“Not a word. I fear he has fallen into the hands of the enemy or we should have seen him ere now. He is not a man to let the grass grow under his feet.”
“We can ill spare him now, for a stouter soldier I never met, and one with knowledge gathered on half the battle-fields of Europe.”
“Was his heart in the cause?--that is the main thing.”
“You would not ask the question if you knew the man; Cromwell won Naseby with his fellows.”
“H´m!” Walker said, turning away. “Captain Ashe, will you walk as far with me as the Town House? Good-morning, sir.”
Murray stood for a moment looking after the tall retreating figure of the old parson, and then turned to Gervase with a smile. “That smacks too much of dissent for the Governor´s nose, Mr. Orme. There´s a great heart in yon cassock but half of him is only a parson, after all. He would have us drilled from the pulpit steps, and no man may march but to the tune of the prayer-book. A very good tune too, but every man can´t step to the time. But I wonder how it has gone with your old captain--I wouldn´t lose Macpherson for a regiment.”
“I spent a fortnight in his company,” said Gervase, “and none can know his worth better than I do.”
“He will need to make haste if he is alive. In a week not a mouse could creep into the city. Even now, you can see how the enemy´s lines are drawn round us, and I can hardly hope he will get through. And they will draw them closer yet, for they will have to starve us out; storm us they cannot. Pray God, they do not sleep in England. Now, Mr. Orme, your commission has been made out, as I promised, and I would have you carry a message to Colonel Crofton at Windmill Hill. We have much work to do to-day.”
Gervase found his first day of garrison life full of interest and excitement. Apparently satisfied with the sharp skirmish of yesterday, the enemy had not attempted any further offensive operations, but lay sullenly in their quarters, or employed themselves in exercising their levies. Occasionally indeed, a great gun sent its iron missive into the city, but the artillery practice was very imperfect, and as yet did little injury.
At Windmill Hill Gervase found four companies under arms in the trenches, but the enemy never came within musket-range, and to Gervase it seemed that the royal army had very little advantage in discipline and order over the silent and determined men who sat in the trenches round him. Ill-armed and ill-clad, the royal troops were wanting in the fine spirit that inspired the defenders of the city. In his own mind Gervase came to the conclusion that whatever might be the issue the struggle would be a long and bitter one.