Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-05-13
CHAPTER Y.
Continual

1sunceston.
Looking that way. saw a great
company of horses coming down over
the crest. the sun shining level on their
arms and n green standard that they
lore in their midst.
Joan spied them the same instant.
and checked her scbs. Without a
word we flung ourselves down full
length on the turf TO watch.
They were more than n thousand.
as l guessed. and came winding down
the road very orderly till. being full
or them. il seemed n long serpent
writing with shiny scales. The tramp
of hoofs and jinSling OF bits were
pretty 20 hear
Rebels whispered I.
Joan nodded.
There were three regiments IN all.
whereof the first Cthe hi-gesO 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 leisurely past thought
or Master Tingcomb's threat. and won
dered what this array could intend.
Nor. turning it over. could find any
explanation. for the Earl OF Stamford's
gathering. be had said. was fin the
northeast and I knew such troops as
the Cornish generals had 20 be quar-
tered at Launceston. Yet here. on
the near side OF I.aunccston. was n
large body Of rebel horses marching
quietly 10 the sou'west. Where was
the head or tail to IL?
Turning my head as the last rider
disappeared on the way 10 Bodmln. I
spied a squat. oddly shaped man strid-
Ing down the hill very briskly: yet he
looked about him often and Kept 70
the hollows or the ground: and was
crossing below us. as 81 appeared.
straight Tor Joan's cottage.
Cried /. There is but one man I'm
the world with such a gait-and that's
Billy Pottery"
And jumping 20 my feet for he was
come directly beneath us, / caught up
great stone and sent It bowling down
the slope
Bounce IL went past him. missing his
legs by a foot or less The man
turned. and catching sight OF me as I
stood waving. made his way mp 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 Launcest0n this morn
ing. and trudged livery foot o. the way.
A thirsty land. Jack-neither horses
meat nor mans meat therein. nor q
chair to sit down on; and three women
only have ] kissed this day. He broke
OF and looked at Joan. "Beggin' the
lady's pardon FOR sea manners and
way o. speech"
Joan" said l. 'this is Billy Pottery.
y mariner and friend OF mine. and as
deaf as q paddock"
Billy made a leg; and as pointed to
the road where the cavalry had just
disappeared. went on with a nod
That's so; old Cargo Cudlelghs
troop o. horse sent of To BOdmin TO
seize the High sheriff and his posse
there. Two hour agOne l spied EN-,
and ha' been ever since playin spy"
Then where be the Kings forces ="
AAL0t oAlAA l ~ D1 clAAS-
Marched out o. Launceston to-day.
lad-an' but a biscuit a man between
'em. poor dears-for Stratton Heath. l.
the nor'east. where the rebels be en-
-camped. Heard by scouts O. these
gentry bein' sent 70 Bodmin. and
were minded 70 fight the Earl OF STAN
ford while his ORA goonerS was away.
And here's the long an short OF;
thOu'rt wanted, lad. TO bear hand WI
us up yonder-an' the good lady here
can spare thee
And here we both looked at loan
/ shamefacedly enough. and Billy with
q puzzled air. which he tried very deli
-cately 10 hide.
She put her hand in mine.
ITO fight. ladE"
nodded my head.
'Then GO" she said without n shade
In her voice: and as made no answer
went On-"Shan 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
way 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 a good lassr'
Joan, some PAGES ahead. turned al
this and smiled: whereat having II
idea he'd spoken above whisper, Billy
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