THE seasons of the year seemed to take their tone from the spirit of the times and the discord that was raging throughout the land. The summer was gloomy and full of storms : instead of bright sunshine and smiling skies, heavy clouds had been gathering over the heavens from the beginning of the year, and although every now and then a warm and splendid day, such as that which we have described in the beginning of this tale, broke in upon the heavy aspect of the summer, as if to remind man of finer and happier times, yet week after week passed in tempests, rain,and gloom; and signs and portents, such as might have alarmed nations in more superstitious days, were seen in the sky, and filled the hearts of the more timid with apprehension.

It was upon the morning of one of these sad and frowning days that a troop of horse, consisting of about a hundred and fifty men, well armed and mounted, took its way across a wide and somewhat barren plain about forty miles to the north-east of Bishop's Merton, encumbered with a good deal of baggage, and escorting two or three of the heavy carriages of the times,in which were some six or seven women.

The

prospect was wide and dreary, extending in a number of grey lines which afforded the eye no pleasing object to rest upon, except here and there a little mound or tumulus bearing on its top a clump of black looking trees; in the distance was a range of low wood, apparently stunted and withered by the chilling blasts which swept over the plain; and a piece of water of some extent was seen glistening on the right with the sandy road along which the cavalcade took its way, winding between the mere and the wood. No hedge-rows broke the wide extent, and the ground appeared to be somewhat marshy, for numerous ditches intersected it in every direction, and a large

trench ran along on either side of the path, with here and there a small wooden bridge to cross from the highway to the green turf of the plain.

The progress of the party was not very quick, for, as we have said, the carriages were heavy, and their wheels as well as those of two or three carts and waggons sunk deep and loose in the shifting soil of the road. By the side of the foremost of the carriages generally rode a cavalier, with whom the reader is already acquainted under the name of Lord Walton, and ever and anon he laid his hand upon the heavy door, and spoke in at the window to his sister or to Arrah Neil, the latter seldom replying except by a monosyllable or a look. Annie Walton, however, conversed with him gaily and lightly; not that her heart was by any means at ease, or her bosom without its apprehensions, but she was well aware that her brother was grieved for all the inconvenience that she suffered, and for the danger to which she was exposed, and with kindly and generous feeling towards him she made as little as possible of every annoyance on the march-concealed all the fears that she might experience, and seemed unconscious of the perils of the way. She might not, it is true, deceive her brother as to her own sensations, for he knew her well and understood her kindness and devotion; but still it made the burden lighter to him to hear no murmur and to witness no terror.

From time to time during the march of the two preceding days some of the rumours which, true and false alike, always run through a country in a state of agitation, had reached Lord Walton's party, speaking of troops marching hither and thither in the neighbourhood. Now it was a detachment from Lord Essex's army; now it was a body of men crossing the country to reinforce Waller; now it was a body of

militia called out by parliamentary commissioners from the district or the county through which they were passing. But Lord Walton paid but little attention to these reports, having taken every necessary precaution by throwing out several small parties in front, at the distance of about two or three miles, to guard against surprise, and secure his onward course towards Coventry. When any rumour reached him, indeed, which bore more strongly the semblance of truth than the rest, and was corroborated by his own knowledge of the position and designs of the various persons to whom it referred, he would ride forward to the head of the line, and converse for a few minutes with a thin bony grave looking personage in black, who bore few signs of being a military man, except his large boots of untanned leather, his heavy steel-mounted sword, and the pistols at his saddlebow. Thus when they had got about half way across the plain a horseman galloped up from the right, leaping one or two narrow ditches by which it was intersected, and then, not able to cross the wider trench which separated the road from the turf, riding along by the side of the troop and making signs to Charles Walton that he had something to communicate; the young nobleman accordingly reined in his horse, and suffering his party to pass on, lingered behind till they were out of ear-shot.

"Well, Master Hurst," he then asked, "what is your news? I was sorry you would not join us, but I am glad to see you here."

"I told Langan I would follow you, my lord," replied the new-comer; "but I had to put my house in order and sell some hay, for it does not do to go soldiering in these times without money in one's pocket, and I had but short notice. However, my lord, you had better be on your guard, for as I came over the moor, I found a boy keeping sheep out there between the wood and the water, and wishing to know whereabouts you were, for I could not see you at that time

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"You did not mention my name I hope," said Lord Walton.

"Oh no, my lord," answered the horseman; "I took care not to do that; I only asked if he had seen a body of soldiers, without saying horse or foot. So the boy said! oh yes, that there

were five hundred and fifty lying behind the wood-for he had counted them, seemingly-like a flock of sheep.' Then I asked him how many horse there were; to which he replied by saying two, and that all the rest had guns and bandoliers and steel caps, except a few, who had long pikes in their hands.' "This looks serious," replied Lord Walton; 66 we must look to this intelligence.

"There is more serious work behind, my lord," replied Hurst; "for this news gave me the key of what I saw myself in the morning. These musketeers are not alone. They have got cavalry for their support, my lord, or I am much mistaken: not two hours ago I saw the tail of a troop going into the little village, the spire of which you can just see rising up there. I should have taken them for your men, but that they were coming the contrary road; so I avoided the village, for fear of worse."

"Well, Hurst, ride on to the next bridge," said Lord Walton, "and then join me on the road with Major Randal, whom I must consult on our proceedings." Thus saying, he spurred on his horse, and galloped forward to the head of the line, where pulling up by the side of our spare friend in black he communicated to him all that he had just heard.

"Ah!" said Randal, in his usual dry and deliberate tone-"Ah! Five hundred and fifty musketeers, rather better than three to one. That would not matter if the ground were fair; but these ditches, these ditches, they are awkward things in the way of cavalry; if our horses could leap them as easily as their shot, the matter would be soon settled. Does any one know what like the ground is there! They will gall us sadly if we have to expose our flank to the wood."

"I fear so indeed," replied Lord Walton; "but perhaps if I were to pass the next bridge, take a circuit round and dislodge them, while you pursue your way along the road, we might contrive to get into better fighting ground."

"Let us see what it is like first," said Randal; "here comes your newsmonger, my lord, we shall learn more from him. Now, master yeoman, how does the land lie about the wood; is there good room for a charge, or is it cut up like this?"

"Between the wood and the road," answered Hurst, "it is just like a gridiron, with ditches enough to drain the sea!" "And behind the wood do you know any thing of that?" continued Randal.

"It is good enough there," said the horseman, divining the object of his question, "but you cannot get at it for the river."

"They have got some good soldiers amongst them," said Randal. "Such ground was not chosen by one of the old bottle-nosed serving men of London."

"They must have good intelligence too," said Lord Walton, "tofix so exactly on a point where they can best attack us. If it were not for my sister and the women, we might take their fire in passing, and get into the good ground beyond. But the carriages and baggage would prove a sad incumbrance.'

"Ah, women, women!" cried Randal, "they are the causes of all the mischief in the world. However we must dispose of them, and must take our resolution quickly; there is no going back now, my lord, and we must make our way forward at whatever risk-luckily you have brought all the spare horses and the women's saddles, they must quit the carriages and mount; the baggage must take its chance and belong to the winners."

"But I cannot expose my sister," exclaimed Lord Walton, "to such an affair as this-she can go back to the village."

"No, no," said Randal quickly, "there is no need of that; this good yeoman can guide her round with the rest of the women, while we make our way forward, and do the best that we can with these gentry in front. They will not chase her if we keep on our way; but if we quit the road, they will of course draw to their left and cut us off between the causeway and the water. Now, my lord, be quick; get them out and away, I will send a dozen of my men to escort them, with Barecolt at their head. 'Tis the best task for him; for with women he will have room to talk, and that is his occupation. He may lie too, there, as much as he likes, and nobody will find him out. Now, master yeoman, you be guide-lead these ladies over the moor, round by the back of that great pond, and into the open ground above it. When you get to that mound with the

trees on it you may halt a bit, and watch what we are about on the road. If you see that we get the worst, put to the spur and gallop on till you rejoin the Coventry road, then on as fast as may be to the king, who will be in Coventry by noon to-morrow. If you see we make good our ground, come back and join us."

"But there are horse in that village, sir," answered Hurst.

"That can't be helped," rpelied Randal, "we have no other chance; besides they may be our people as well the enemy's Stay, it may be as well to see, I will send on Barecolt, while you halt on the hill. He can play either part-swear and swagger like the most licentious cavalier, or cant and pule like the most starched puritan."

While this conversation had been taking place, the party had not ceased to advance slowly along the road, but the order to halt was now given, and preparations were made for carrying into execution the plan decided

upon. The carriages were stopped, Miss Walton and her attendants placed hastily upon the spare horses which had been brought from Bishop's Merton, and the sinall body under Captain Barecolt were drawn out and commanded to fall into the rear. Annie Walton did all that she was told to do without a word, but she looked in her brother's face as he placed her on horseback, and bending down her beautiful head kissed his cheek, while a silent irrepressible tear rose in her eyes.

"Do not fear, Annie, do not fear," said Charles Walton-" we will soon put these fellows to the rout."

But it is in vain in moments of danger and difficulty to commend courage to those who by fate or situation are doomed to inactivity, for they must still feel for those that they love if not for themselves; and though Miss Walton considered for not one moment the personal peril which she encountered, her heart beat with apprehensions for her brother, which no words could quiet or remove. Lord Walton then turned to Arrah Neil, who was already mounted, and leaning his hand on the horse's neck he asked-" Can you manage the horse, my poor Arrah; had you not better ride behind a trooper?"

"Oh no," she said, "no, I can ride

quite well-I remember now;" and indeed the manner in which she held her rein, the ease and grace with which she sat the horse, and the command which she had over it, though a powerful and spirited animal, clearly showed that at some time she must have been well accustomed to such exercise. Lord Walton looked down with a thoughtful expression of countenance as if there was something that puzzled him. But just at that moment Major Randal rode up, exclaiming "We must lose no more time, my lord; if we halt any longer here, they may see what we are about, and act accordingly. I shall order the troop to advance, for women are always slow, and they must come after us as they can, till they reach the little bridge up yonder. Let the carts and carriages come first, and they can bring up the rear.

Now

mark ye, Barecolt, follow this good yeoman with the ladies under your charge, till you reach that little mound with the trees. You can deliver your stomach by the way of any of the wild imaginations that may fret you; but when you get to the mound you must give up talking, and, riding on to the village alone, make use of your wits, if you have any left, to ascertain whether there be a troop of horse in it, and of what side."

"Alone!" said Barecolt.

"To be sure," answered Randal with a laugh; "the man who preached in the morning at Rochelle, and defeated the papists in the evening, who defended the pass in the Cevennes single-handed against a whole army, may well go on alone to reconnoitre a handful of cavalry. Besides, it will make you careful, Master Barecolt, when you know that your own life depends upon your own tongue."

"It has often done that," answered Barecolt. "I remember when I was in Spain being attacked by some twenty banditti, and putting my back against a rock

"March!" cried Randal interrupting him, "tell that to the girls: 'twill do to pass the time, as well as any other lie;" and riding on he led the way, while Lord Walton continued by his sister's side, till reaching the little bridge, the good farmer Hurst turned off from the road into the meadows, followed by the young lady, her servants, and the escort.

With anxious eyes Annie Walton and Arrah Neil watched the advance of the larger party of horse towards the wood before them, although neither of them had heard the exact cause of alarm, or were aware of where the danger was to be apprehended, or what was its nature. All they knew was, that peril lay upon the onward road; and notwithstanding all the assiduities of Captain Barecolt, who riding by their side, wherever the space admitted it, endeavoured to entertain them with some of the monstrous fictions in which his imagination was accustomed to indulge, they listened not to his tales, they scarcely even heard his words, but with their eyes turned constantly to the road they had just quitted, pursued a path, forming with it an acute angle which led round by the back of a large piece of water, which lay gleaming before them Once or twice they had to dismount, and lead their horses over the little wooden bridges which crossed the ditches intersecting the plain; and more than once, where these were so insecure as to give way under the horses' feet, they were forced to quit their direct line, and take a circuit round. Nevertheless, as they cantered quickly over the turf between, they had reached the little tree-covered knoll which had been pointed out as their halting-place, before the troop which was pursuing the high road had arrived at the spot, where the low wood we have mentioned

skirted the way. That wood did not indeed approach close to the road, but lay at the distance of from a hundred to a hundred and fifty yards, extending parallel with it for nearly a quarter of a mile, having a green meadow and the continuation of the broad trench we have mentioned between. A river of some width and depth flowing from the right crossed the highway under a bridge of two arches, at a short distance from the wood, and at the moment that Miss Walton and her companions reached the mound, the head of her brother's troop was at the distance of some three hundred yards from this bridge.

Knowing well that Major Randal was not a man to be trifled with, Captain Barecolt, as soon as they had arrived at the appointed place, took a flowery and ceremonious leave of Miss Walton, and rode on towards the vil