Wills looked fiercely at him, but made no response.
“If Colonel Mackintosh returns, I shall return, general,” said Lord Derwentwater, “and then the truce will be at an end. Attack us when you please, we shall be prepared for you.”
“Is this your decision, my lord?” cried Mackintosh, joyfully. “I am glad of it.”
“Hold!” exclaimed Wills, who did not desire that matters should take this turn. “Since the arrangement is partly concluded, I will not disturb it. By to-morrow these feelings of irritation will have calmed down, and then you will see that I have granted all I could.”
“Nothing has been granted,” said Colonel Mackintosh. “We shall be worse off to-morrow than we are to-day. Come with me my lord. Let us die together at Preston.”
“You cannot depart,” said Wills, authoritatively. “Tomorrow you may have an opportunity of proving your bravery. To-night you must remain here. Let them be taken to their quarters, colonel,” he added to Churchill. “I am sorry I cannot offer you better accommodation.”
“Make no apologies, general,” said Lord Derwentwater, haughtily. “We know with whom we have to deal.”
They were then taken to a farm-house, where Parson Woods and his men were quartered, and where very inconvenient lodgings were found for them.