“You have acted like gallant fellows, whoever you are,” he said, turning to Stephen, and getting off his horse, stepped forward to assist in lifting up Andrew, whom Stephen was endeavouring to help. The two dragoons who had first been encountered now came up swearing vengeance. The officer ordered the other men to look to their hurts, while he attended to Andrew’s, which was not so severe as Stephen had at first supposed.
“You have come from the field of Sedgemoor,” he said, surveying the two young men. “You will return with us to Lord Feversham’s camp, and must take the consequences of your folly. You are gentlemen, and I do not wish to treat you as I should common clowns.”
The hurts of the wounded men being bound up, the two prisoners were placed on their own horses, having been deprived of their weapons, while their arms were bound behind them, and their feet secured under their saddles. The officer now led the way along the road they had just come.
“We have had a long search for you,” observed the officer. “We heard of your having been harboured at a fisherman’s hut, and have been following you ever since, though you managed to elude us yesterday. I do not wish to alarm you, but you must be prepared for the fate which has overtaken all the rebels that have been captured. General Feversham is not very lenient, and Colonel Kirk, who is expected immediately, is inclined to hang every one he can catch. I myself will do what I can for you, for I am pleased with the bold way that you attacked us; I despise a cowardly enemy.”
“We are much obliged to you for your courtesy,” answered Stephen. “But, sir, does it not occur to you that we should be less inconvenienced if we had at least our arms at liberty, and were able to guide our horses over this rough road. Should they fall, we shall be in an unpleasant predicament, and may chance to break our necks or limbs.”
“Will you give your word that you will not attempt to escape, rescue or no rescue?” asked the officer.
Stephen thought for a moment without answering. There might be an opportunity of getting free, and should they give their word of honour not to escape, they would be unable to take advantage of it. There was, however, very little probability that any party of their friends would be found able to attack five well-armed dragoons, for even the wounded men were still able to make a stout defence. The officer appeared to suspect his thoughts.
“Remember, my friends,” he observed, “should a rescue be attempted, the first thing we should do would be to shoot each of you through the head.”
“Thank you for your frankness, sir,” said Stephen. “What do you say, Andrew; shall we give a promise not to escape, with a remote prospect of being rescued, and the tolerable certainty of being shot should we make the attempt to take advantage of it?” said Stephen.
“We will give our word provided we are also to have our legs at liberty, and can ride like gentlemen,” answered Andrew. “We must do it provisionally, however. If the number of men who may attempt to rescue us is double that of the dragoons, they will then have a good excuse for letting us go; and that is, I believe, after all, what Cornet Bryce wishes.”