Evening star., 1903-08-01
CHAPTER xxi.
Stratagem.


buildings showed that war had been no re-
specter of sculptured beauty. lone pike
man paced up and down before the cathe-
dral door but paused as he say this I'M
petuous rider whose horse had stumbled
and fallen at the top of the rubbish heap
What do you there?" shouted Arm
strong springing nimbly from his fallen
horse. Didn't you hear the firing! Down
to the street and help your comrades; the
town Is attacked. Run.
II was told to stand here" objected the
bewidered guard.
Run. confound you! Do you question
the word of an officer?'
The man, trailing his spear. ran. and d.s-
appeared down the street.
Frances Frances, are you within? Open
!he small door; it IS l. Armstrong
Yes. yes; l knew you would come, he
heard her say, and then the welcome rattle
of bolts. But they must be speedily drawn
If they were to clear the way for u man
hard pressed. over the barracade surged
a wave of pikemen, twoscore or more. the
mounted colonel behind them, urging them
on with pungeent oaths.
Sanctuary! Sanctuary" shouted Arm
strong raising his sword aloft. standing
under the arched doorway, steadfast as one
of the stone knights behind him.
Sanctuary be d-d,' cried the colonel
urging his horse up the embankment
Down on him, you dogs, and take him
dead or alive
In spite of the cursing of the colonel in
spite OF the battered condition of the great
church in spite of the deadening influence
of the war. the cry of Sanctuary struck
home to many of the hearts there opposed
to the fugitive. and the p!ke-toppcd crest
of the human wave paused for one brief in
stant. yet it was enough. Before the wave
broke and fell. the small door gave and
swung inward As the pixies ratified against
it, armstrong had the bars and bolts in
their places again.
Break down that door, he heard the
colonel roar outside while the impetuouS
William clasped the girl in his arms and
kissed her.
Lord lassie I'm glad to meet you again,
although it's just dark enough in this place
for the seeing of anyone.
The young woman shook herself free
we wasted too much time at that be-
fore. Let 1t be a lesson TO us: This place is
saddles are still on them"
But is there a way out?'
Yes. small door in the northeast cor
ner. Come along
1T will he guarded surely
"No. l think they wanted me to escape
for they went out that way after barring
the front door. But they didn't think you
would he with me when l took my leave.
Come quickly, or they will be round to it
from the front"
Il doubt it. The colonel is a Birmingham
man and a powerful swearer, who knows
nothing of this church, any other, l
think The men will not remember the
back door until 1t is too late, and then l
PITY them; they will hear language from
the colonel"
The two made their way to the further
end of the cathedral. where the horses We're
stalled The vast nave was dark and
would soon he black a cellar until the
moon rose. 1t was used as a military store
house, as stable. and dormitory for
troops when the accommodation In the town
was overtaxed. AS Armstrong and his
companion stumbled over obstructions to-
ward the horses the spacious chamber rang
with the impact of timber against the stub
born doors. Frances. knowing the geogra-
ply of the place. led the way with her
horse, and Armstrong followed with his
once outside there was more lighl than he
wished for, but their way to the rear was
clear, and mounting he took the lead, cross
Ing an alpine bridge which had done duty
during the siege. and taking a somewhat
terrifying leap down to the greensward of
the field at the back OF the cathedral. Then
they ran north through slight valley and
FOR the moment, were safe from observa-
tion.
The moon Will be up soon" said the
young man. "and | don't know whether To
welcome II or fear it."
I'VE shall do neither. as we have no
influence one way another and must
bear It's disadvantages the reverse, as
chance wills. Now tell me what happened
How did you escape?"
The tale was soon told half humorousiv.
as IL II We're AN eScapade rather than an
escape, and the narrator wound up with a
determination TO avoid the main road in
future.
There I do not agree with you" she
SAID i have been alone in that cathedral
some three hours or more, and have had
time TO think. You said We blundered into
the ambuscade. and we did. You have
hewn your way out, by a marvellous COM
bination OF luck and prowess, but such ex-
ploltS are not TO he depended upon. You
must use YOUR mind well as your right
arm and the swiftness of your horse If
you are to win Scotland"
Frances, you discourage me- 7 looked
upon my escape rather a triumph of wit
than OF muscle. The setting of the Round
he ads at each others throats in the mist
seemed an inspiration, and the cry of
sanctuary gave me just the moment OF
TIME that was needed. Your estimate of
me Is Just that OF the Rev Henderson of
Edinburgh. who held / had barely sense
enough To direct a stout blow"
No. no; l give YOU full credit for great
ingenuity, but we stumbled upon the par
lamentations with no plans made Every
tnlhs mas been done ON the spur of the
moment and has not been thought ont
before the crisis came. A few chance re-
marks got US clear at Warwick; while in
splratlon and fog We're your safety at
ltChiield. and even then by one brief in
stant OF time. The recurrence of such
strokes of luck and good management are
not to be looked for. Some time the mo-
ment needed will so against us, and then
all is lost
True enough What do you propose?"
Il propose we take to the main road
again. which must he near at hand on our
left"
You must remember we have no pa ss
from Cromwell now. The lieutenant has it,
You Will have pass for yourself the
moment YOU are north of Manchester
which cannot be more than fifty or sixty
miles away We must get over those miles
as speedily as possible; therefore the main
road is our route
Yes, If II were practicable, but surely
danger lies thick along tho main
Il do not think so. While in the ca
thedral | heard troop after troop of men
going To the north. They will carry the
news of your capture. but not of your
escape. Until they beat in the door of the
cathedral and search the place thoroughly.
no messenger will be sent north. We are
ahead of them once more. with the news
of your capture travelling in front of us.
We Will keep ahead. SO long as we ride
fast, and until We stop somewhere for the
night: then, having relays of horses while
We have only our own they will pass us.
I'VE cannot ride all night, or we shall XIII
our horses. but we can cover good deal
of the ground between here and Manches-
ter. Once north of Manchester / think you
are fairly safe. SO l propose we ride at
10.