Roger Willoughby: A Story of the Times of Benbow

by William Henry Giles Kingston

As they had scarcely recovered from their fatigue, they were glad enough to lie down again and get some more sleep. They were aroused for dinner, which was composed chiefly of fish, and as soon as it was over, they went out to look at their horses. Andrew led his from the stable, and walked it up and down; it already appeared better. “I really think we might push forward; it would be safer than staying here. The chances are Feversham’s cavalry will be scouring the country in all directions to make prisoners, and before long some of them may be here.”

Stephen agreed, and went back to the hut to pay the old man and wish him good-bye. He was standing at the door of the hut, when Andrew cried out, “Quick! quick! I see some horsemen in the distance, and they are coming this way. They may be friends, but they are more likely to be enemies.”

The old man heard what was said, but made no remark. Stephen hurried to the boat-house, and quickly bridling and saddling his horse, mounted, without stopping to look behind them.

“Halloo! I thought you were going the other way,” the old man shouted after them.

They waved their hands without replying. On they galloped, and soon lost sight of the horsemen; but whether the latter were pursuing them was the question. Andrew’s horse went better than they expected. The country was generally level, though the roads were none of the best. They had proceeded for a couple of hours or more when Andrew’s horse began to flag; the animal was evidently feeling its lameness; still they had reached no place where they could hope to obtain the concealment they sought for. Their wish was to get among the rocky and wooded part of North Devon, and beyond the district from which any of those who had joined the rebellion would come; there would then be less chance of their being sought for. Yet they felt, if it was suspected that they had been with Monmouth, they would even so run the risk of being betrayed.

“We must obtain disguises of some sort, though it may be difficult to find them,” said Stephen, “for it would be dangerous to enter a town.”

It was certainly important to get rid of their uniforms, for those alone would betray them, as soon as the fate of the battle was known. At the same time they thought if they could obtain the dresses of gentlemen, they should less likely be suspected while travelling, at all events, than if they disguised themselves as countrymen, as their dialect and appearance would at once show that they were strangers. The long summer’s day was well-nigh closing in when they reached a hilly district, where they hoped to find concealment.

“What shall we do with our horses?” asked Andrew. “It will be difficult to hide them and find provender for them at the same time; besides which, should they be discovered, they would betray that we were in the neighbourhood. To turn them loose would be equally dangerous, for they would break into some corn-field or garden, and inquiries would be made to whom they belonged.”

“The only way, I fear, will be to kill them and throw them over the cliffs,” said Stephen.

“Then we shall have no means of travelling farther on,” observed Andrew. “At all events, do not let us kill them to-night, but try to find some place where we can conceal both ourselves and them.”