k, straightened his broad back and leant his heavy hammer upon the anv

kling him. Ah!" he added with a short sigh, "the soldiers,

ugh worsted stockings, thick flannel shirt with sleeves well tucked up over fine, muscular arms, and a large, greasy, well-worn leather apron, denoting the blacksmith's trade. But though the hands and face were covered with grime, a more than casual o

of his hammer upon the anvil once more filled the forge with its pleasant echo. But though John's tongue was slow, his ear was quick, and in one moment he had perceived the d

id whisper, pointing to the

anger-was as alert as that of the smith. With a sudden effort he pulled himself together, and quickly seized the heavy

e, taking a quick survey of the interior of

udly, as he unfolded the Proclam

hn Stich, the blacksmith, was an important personage all around Brassing Moor, and

hammer out of respect for the King's name. "Well, and what does His M

of Parliament and concerns all loyal subjects of the King. Who be yon

uietly, "my sister Hannah's child. You recollect her, Cor

uch a fine lad of her own," commented the Corporal, as the young man

Stich, pleasantly; "but come, let's hear His Majesty's Proclamati

' 'tis to be read, so says this Act of Parliament. You might have

ohn Stich, drily, and th

acted that these persons are guilty of high treason and by the laws of the kingdom are therefore condemned to death. It is further enacted that it is unlawful for any loyal subject of the King to shelter or harbour, clothe or feed any such pers

n his hammer, the young man once more busied himself with the bellows. Outside, the

ll, and are you going to tell us who are those persons, Corporal, whom our village lads are told

weeks ago, persons who were known to be in hiding

were forty persons whom 'twas lawful to

hanged, most of them," re

out o' Nottingham," for the latter was staring with glowing eyes and quiv

ords, you see, and had a headsman all to themselves on Tower Hill, that's up in London: some lesser folk have been hanged, and now there are

Well, and who are th

e, then Squire Fairfield, you'd mind h

apist and he clung to the Stuart cause ... young man,

g Earl of

Stich in open astonishment. "Jim, lad,"

last name mentioned by the Corporal; and the bellows whi

it seems," added honest John, with a laugh, "but let me perish i

ed mayhap! Our Derbyshire lads haven't

Corporal, 'Derbyshire born

ation. "That's just it. Odd's buds! they want some sense. What's a rebel or a traitor bu

more, attentive to duty, ready to obey, neither willing nor allowed to reason for himself. He had been taught that rebels and traitors were ve

mment on the Corporal

her time, Corporal," he said at la

eh? His Majesty's orders! and I had them from the Captain, who had th

ind it we

poral in conciliatory tones, for John was a power in the district, "and

, Corporal," said Jo

row to you,

d-mo

turned on his heel and presently his voice

Right turn-Q

d to skirt the cottage: the dull thud of their feet quickly dying away, as they woun