The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-07-20
BY ARTHUR T. QUILLER COUCH:
CHAPTER X.
(Continued.)

In mine, and a burning remorse in my
heart, when I heard the clear notes
of a bugle blown, away on the road to
launceSton.
Looking that way, I saw a great
company of horses coming down over
the crest, the sun shining level on theiE
arms and a green standard that they
bore in their midst.
They were more than q thousand
as I guessed, and came winding down
the road very orderly till, being full
of them, it seemed a long serpent
writhing with shiny scales. The tramp
of hoofs and jingling Of bits were
pretty to hear.
"Rebals" whispered I.
Joan nodded.
There were three regiments in all.
whereof the first the biggest was OF
dragons. So clear was the air / could
almost read the legend on their stand
ard, and the calls of their captains
were borne up to us extremely dis
tinct.
AS they rode leisrrely past I thought
of Master Tingcomb's threat, and Won
dered what this array could intend
Nor, turning it over. could I find any
explanation. for the Earl of Stamford's
gathering, he had said. was IN the
northeast, and 1 knew such troops as
the Cornish generals had to be quar-
tered at Launceston. Yet here, on
the near side of Launeeston, was a
large body Of rebel horses marching
quietly to the sou'west. Where was
the head or tail to it?
Turning my head as the last rider
disappeared on the way to Bodmin. l
spied a squat, oddly shaped mai strid-
ing down the hill very briskly; yet he
looked about him often and kept to
the hollows Of the ground; and was
crossing below us, as it appeared,
straight for Joan's cottage.
Cried I: "There is but n man In
the world with such a gait-and that's
Billy Pottery:"
And jumping to my feet flor he was
come directly beneath us) I caught up
a great stone and sent it bowling down
the slope.
Bounce it went past him, missing his
legs by a foot or less. The man
turned, and catching sight Of me as /
stood waving, made his way up the
hill. Twas indeed Captain Billy; and
coming up, the honest fellow almost
Rugged me for joy.
"Was seeking thee, Jack" he
bawled; Learned from Sir Bevill
where belize I might find thee. Left
his lodging at Launceston this morn
ing, and trudged livery foot O. the way.
A thirsty land. Jack-neither horses
meat mol mans meat therein, nor a
chair to sit down on; and three women
only have I kissed this day" He broke
off and looked at Joan. Begin the
lady's pardon for sea manners and
way o. speech"
JOAN" said I, "this is Billy Pottery,
a mariner and friend Of mine, and as
deaf as a paddock"
Billy made a leg; and as I pointed to
the road where the cavalry had just
disappeared, went on with a nod:
That's so; old Cargo Cudleigh's
troop O. horse sent off to Bodmin to
seize the High Sheriff and his posse
there. Two hour agone I spied 'em,
and ha' been ever since playin' spy"
"Then where be the Kings forces?"
] made shift to inquire by signs.
Marched out O. Launceston to-day,
lad-an' but a biscuit a man between
'em. poor dears-for Stratton Heath, i
the ~nor'east, where the rebels be en-
camped. Heard by scouts O. these
gentry bein' sent to Bodmin, and
were minded to fight the Earl Of SIAM
ford while his %dragooners was away.
And here's the long an short OF;
thou'rt wanted, lad, to bear a hand wi
US up yonder-an' the good lady here
can spare thee"
And here we both looked at joan
I shamefacedly enough, and Billy with
q puzzled air, which he tried very deli
cately to hide.
She put her hand in mine.
ITO fight, lad"
I nodded my head.
Then CO." she said without q shade
in her voice; and as l made no answer,
went on-"Shall a woman hinder when
there's fighting toward? Only come
back when thy wars be over, for
shall miss thee, Jack"
And dropping my hand she led the
%ay down to the cottage.
Now, Billy. of course, had not heard
a word of this; but perhaps he gath
cred some import. Anyway he pulled
up short midway on the slope,
scratched his head, and Numbered:
What q good lass!w
Joan, some PAGES ahead, turned at
this and smiled; whereat, having no
idea he'd spoken above a whisper, Billy
blushed red as any peony.
Twas but q short half hour when,
the mare being saddled and Billy fed
we took our leave of Joan. Billy
walked beside one stirrup, and the
girl on the other side, to see us a few
yards on our way. At length she
halted:
mo leave takings, Jack, but
Church and King! Only do thy best
and not disgrace me-"
And Church and King" she called
thrice after US, standing in the road
For me, as 1 rode up out of that valley
the drums seemed beating and the
bugles calling to a new life ahead. Thu
last light of day was on the tors, thu
air blowing fresher as We mounted
and with Molly's every step the pas
fro rnon+hc onpoor'6 IN dissolve an(