her side, had been walking towards the forge

cross-ways and of the old gallows, on which a fragment o

vely to her heart, in an agony of terror. Walking quickly on the road from Wirksworth towards Stich's cottage

e forge! What could it mean bu

down the pathway closely followed by Betty, and had reached the

gh of relief: there was no sign of her

ith had caught

gly, "have no fear, my lady. I

gnise me, perhaps

waiting wench. They are men from Derby

gether with the certainty that her own coolness and presence

ud accents from th

e sergeant stepped into the doorway, "is it ready? Her ladyship's coa

ing a rapid glance at the soldier, who stood in

vey of the interior of the

ardon,

, Sergeant?" queried John

d the soldier. "My corporal came down from Aldwark early this after

posing his burly figure between Patience

much meaning into the careless sentence as he dared. She mutely thanked him with her eyes, took the padlock from his

assumed indifference to the soldier, "only my nephew out o' Nottingham. Y

t, pleasantly; "then you won't mind my searchi

etray herself either by a lo

n affected pout. "I'd hoped to wait here in peace, fri

geant is but jesting, eh, friend?" he added, turning to the soldier. "There! I

mith," said the Se

u overstep your orders. John Stich is honest and lo

re are many rebels in hiding about here, and I've strict orders to be on the lookout for

rrupted him wit

room for a noble lord in a ways

search," quoth the Sergeant, fi

squad, who were standi

said, as he stepped f

hood and cloak wrapped closely round her, or her deathlike pallor, the wild, terr

s standing in the

my home is my castle. It's an insult to a free and loyal citizen for soldiers to search his home, as if

the Sergeant with a shrug of the s

be a stranger in these parts and don't know me, but folk'll tell you that what John S

d but one reply, and that w

you, John Stich," he added loudly and perempt

t at word of command. John Stich stood between them and a small wooden door, little more tha

g heroic efforts to keep all outward show of alarm in check. Even amongst these half-dozen soldiers any one of them might know Lord Stretton by sight, and

ld avail him before an officious magistrate intent on doing his duty. A brief halt at Brassington court-house, an execution in the early dawn!.

the life of his lord, he brandished his mighty hammer over his head, and there was a look in the

ating in tumultuous emotion. Just one instant-a few seconds, mayhap, whilst eve

happy voice-was suddenly heard to

at most, and even now seemed to be makin

to look out upon the Heath. There was such magic in that merry, boyi

d with a large bow at the nape of the neck, dainty lace at his throat and wrists, scarce a speck of mud upon hi

ruption like a drowning man does at a straw

nce of the forge, and with an elaborate, courtly gesture he

urst out

to-do. Why, John Stich, my frie

bold silhouette his easy, graceful stature, and the pleasant picture of him, with one arm rou

had relaxed from his defiant attitude, and a ray of

uffly, "with these red coats inside yo

murmured th

arelessly, as without more ado he led his horse within the forge and tethered it close

ebel. He's far too big a fool!" he added in an audib

ised whether she dared to hope, whether this young stranger, with his pleasant, boyish voice and debonn

mistress, was too

the stranger's military rank he had raised his hand to his tricorne hat. Now he wa

said, "and now I have my orders

silver, Captain Bathurst

search, did you say, Sergeant? Odd's my life, but

the Sergeant

ir..." protest

man was not

gnificantly, "would you lik

e soldier readily enough; "that I

ear leaned towards the stranger; the bait was a tempting one, a hund

eriously. "You've heard of Beau Br

ded the Sergean

d guineas for his capture, eh? ... Think of it, Serge

for the stranger was no longer talking in a whisper. A hundred guineas! three little words o

rawn breath, she gazed upon the stranger, wondering what he would do. That he was purposely diverting the Sergeant's attenti

d by averting the fearful catastrophe

!" sighed the Sergeant

tinued the young man. "I know where he lies hidden at this very moment

w s

e! worse luck! I hav

t gave a kn

aid. "I un

dded sign

the r

rn to lay the rogue by the heels for my honour's sake. Would you believe me, Sergeant, 'tis but a week ago that rascally highwayman robbed me in broad da

soldiers, at mention of the reward which was to be theirs, hung upon their

ing wink, "perhaps that highwayman is

athurst, pathetically,

glad to see him hanged,

rgeant, but ... I have no love for him ... '

and! Then

your men. What say you, gallant soldiers?" And he turned gaily to t

ly too ready to be up and doing, to earn the reward and leave Joh

the young man, briskly, "the

once more towards the inner door before which John Stich

d. Quick, man!" he added hurriedly, seeing that the soldier had paused irresolute, "quick! with your fe

ut

idle path on the left; follow that, you'll come to a house that was

..." feebly protested t

parley here, Beau Brocade will slip through your fingers. He is at the house now: he may be gone by sunset. Odd'

men were determined not to lose this

he added, as a concession to his own sense of duty, "

igh of relief and eager anticipation, and even before

ou see before you. The cottage is just beyond that clump of distant firs, there you'll see the bri

oke the Sergeant had

tedly. "A hundred guineas! odd's my life!

, they plodded their way northwards in quest of fortune. John Stich too followed them with his

s; her eyes, large, glowing, magnetic, were fixed upon the s