Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-12-21
CLARKE
). > By A. Conan Doyle. = y
cHAPTER NXI.-lContinued.l


we may, therefore, thank this Sir ia
cob aud his giant messenger for his fore
cast as well as for his gold. But here
comes the worthy mayor of Taunton the
oldest of our councillors and the young
est OF our knights. Capt. Clarke, | de-
sire You to stand at the inside of the
door and to prevent intrusion. What
passes among us will, | am we'll con
yinced be safe in your keeping
| bowed and took I'M my post as or
dered. while the councilmen and COM
manders gathered round the great oaken
table which ran down the center OF the
hall The mellow evening light was
streaming through the three western
windows, while the distant babble of the
soldiers upon the Castle Green sounded
like the sleepy drone of insects. Mon
mouth paced with quick, uneasy step uO
and down the farther end OF the room
until all were seated. when he turned
towards them and addressed them.
You will have surmised. gentlemen
he said, that / have called you together
today that | might have the benefit of
your collective wisdom in determining
what our next steps should be. We have
new marched some forty miles int our
kingdom, and we have met wherever we
have gone with the warm welcome which
we expected. Close upon eight thousand
men follow our standards, and as many
more have been turns away for want
of arms. We have twice met the enemy
with the effect that we have armed our
selves with their muSkets and field
PIECES. From first to last there hath
been nothing which has not prospered
with us. We must look 10 it that the fu
ture be as successful as the past. To in
sure this / have called We together and
ROW ask ye to give me- your opinions of
cur situation, leaving NE after | have
listened to your views to form our plan
81 action. There are statesmen among
We, ard there are soldiers among We and
there are godly men among We who may
chance to get flash of light when
statesman and soldier are in the dark.
Speak fearlessly. then, and let me know
what you have in your minds"
From my central post by the door I
could see the lines of the faces on either
side Of the board, the solemn, close
Shaven Puritans, sunburnt soldiers, and
whitewigged, mustachioed courtiers NV
eyes rested particularly upon Ferguson's
Scorbutic features, SaXOn's hard auuiine
profile, the Germans burly face. and the
peaky thoughtful c0untenance of the
Lord of NVark.
If Inaebody else will gle an opeenion.'
cried the fanatical doctor. iii cen speak
myself as led by the inward voice. For
have | no worked in the cause and shaved
in it, much enduring and suffering mOny
things, at the bonds O the. froward
whereby my ain speerit hath plentifully
L
Wine-press, and cast cot wi hassing
and Scornlng into waste placeS;'
We know your merits and your
Suiferings, doctor" said the King. The
question before us is as to our course
of action
Was there no voice heard in the
EastY cried the old Wing WAS there
no sound as o Il great crying. the cry
ing for broken covenant and a sinful
2gaG,nIeration? Whence, came the cry?
Whas was the voice? Was it no that o
the man Robert Ferguson. wha raised
himself up against the great ones in the
land and wOuldna be appeased?'
Ay. ay, doctor, said Monmouth, inn
patiently. Speak to the point or give
Il shall MAX myself clear. your
majesty. Have we no heard that Argyle
is cutten off? And why was he cutten
off? Because he hadna due faith in the
Almighty and must needs reject the help
o the children o light in favor o the
pa barIeelegged spawn o Preiia,cy, wha are
walked in the path o the Lord
he wudna be lying in the Tolbooth
o Edinburgh wi the tow or the axe be
fore him. Why did he not grid up his
oins and march straight onward wi the
banner q light, instead o dallying here
and biding there like Il half-hairted
Didymus? And the same or waur will
IA upon us # we dinna march on in
tae the land, and plant our ensigns afore
the wicked toun o London-the toun
whore the Lords wark is tae he done.
and the tareS tac be separated frac the
wheat and piled up for the burning
Your advice, i'll short is that we
march on?' said Monmouth.
That we march on, your majesty. and
that we prepare ourselves tac he the
vessels q grace, and forbear frac pol
lutlng the cause o the gospel by wear
ing the livery o the devil'-here he
giared at gaily-attired cavalier ut the
ether side of the tablc-"or by the play
ing o cards. the singing o profane songs
and the swearing o oaths, all which are
NIGHTLY done by members o this army
vi the effect o giving much scandal tae
Gods ain folk
y hum Of assent and approval rose mp
from the more Puritan members Of the
council at this expression OF opinion.
while the courtiers glanced at each 9TH
er and curled their lips in derision, Mon
mouth took two or three turns and then
called for another opinion.
You. Lord Grey. he said. ARE sol
der and man Of experience. What IS
Your advice? Should we halt here or
push forward towards London
To advance TO the East would. in my
humble judgment. be fatal to us Grey
answered. speaking slowly. with the
manner Of a man who has thought long
and deeply before delivering an opin-
ION. James Stuart is strong in horse.
and we have none We can hold our
avn among hcdgerows or in broken
country, but what chance could We have
n the middle of Salisbury plain. With
jae Dragons round MS we should be like
2 Hook of sheep amid pack Of wolves.
Again, every step which we take to-
wards London removes rs from our nat
0fai vantage ground. and from the fertile
r9nntry which supplies our necessities.
while it strengthens orr enemy by short
ming the distance he has to convey his
iroopS and his vctual. Unless. there
lore, we hear of some great outbreak
tSeWhere, or Of some general movement
ID London in our favor. we would do best
3" hG!d our ground and wait an attack
on argue shrewdly and well, my
Lord Grey" said the King. But how
i"hg are we to wait for this outbreak
which never comes. and for this support
"alcn is ever promised and never provid-
"a: We have now been seven long days
ID England, and during that time Of Nil
ne House of Commons no single man
AatA came over to rs and of the lords