Micah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซMicah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
As the Blues retired we observed that a single officer brought up the rear, riding very slowly, as though it went much against his mood to turn his back even to an army. The space betwixt the troop and him was steadily growing greater, yet he made no effort to quicken his pace, but jogged quietly on, looking back from time to time to see if he were followed. The same thought sprang into my comradeโs mind and my own at the same instant, and we read it in each otherโs faces.
โThis path,โ cried he eagerly. โIt brings us out beyond the grove, and is in the hollow all the way.โ
โLead the horses until we get on better ground,โ I answered. โWe may just cut him off if we are lucky.โ
There was no time for another word, for we hurried off down the uneven track, sliding and slipping on the rain-soaked turf. Springing into our saddles we dashed down the gorge, through the grove, and so out on to the road in time to see the troop disappear in the distance, and to meet the solitary officer face to face.
He was a sun-burned, high-featured man, with black mustachios, mounted on a great raw-boned chestnut charger. As we broke out on to the road he pulled up to have a good look at us. Then, having fully made up his mind as to our hostile intent, he drew his sword, plucked a pistol out of his holster with his left hand, and gripping the bridle between his teeth, dug his spurs into his horseโs flanks and charged down upon us at the top of his speed. As we dashed at him, Reuben on his bridle arm and I on the other, he cut fiercely at me, and at the same moment fired at my companion. The ball grazed Reubenโs cheek, leaving a red weal behind it like a lash from a whip, and blackening his face with the powder. His cut, however, fell short, and throwing my arm round his waist as the two horses dashed past each other, I plucked him from the saddle and drew him face upwards across my saddlebow. Brave Covenant lumbered on with his double burden, and before the Guards had learned that they had lost their officer, we had brought him safe, in spite of his struggles and writhings, to within sight of Monmouthโs camp.
โA narrow shave, friend,โ quoth Reuben, with his hand to his cheek. โHe hath tattooed my face with powder until I shall be taken for Solomon Sprentโs younger brother.โ
โThank God that you are unhurt,โ said I. โSee, our horse are advancing along the upper road. Lord Grey himself rides at their head. We had best take our prisoner into camp, since we can do nought here.โ
โFor Christโs sake, either slay me or set me down!โ he cried. โI cannot bear to be carried in this plight, like a half-weaned infant, through your campful of grinning yokels.โ
โI would not make sport of a brave man,โ I answered. โIf you will give your word to stay with us, you shall walk between us.โ
โWillingly,โ said he, scrambling down and arranging his ruffled attire. โBy my faith, sirs, ye have taught me a lesson not to think too meanly of mine enemies. I should have ridden with my troop had I thought that there was a chance of falling in with outposts or videttes.โ
โWe were upon the hill before we cut you off,โ quoth Reuben. โHad that pistol ball been a thought straighter, it is I that should have been truly the cut-off one. Zounds, Micah! I was grumbling even now that I had fallen away, but had my cheek been as round as of old the slug had been through it.โ
โWhere have I seen you before?โ asked our captive, bending his dark eyes upon me. โAye, I have it! It was in the inn at Salisbury, where my light-headed comrade Horsford did draw upon an old soldier who was riding with you. Mine own name is OgilvyโMajor Ogilvy of the Horse Guards Blue. I was right glad that ye did come off safely from the hounds. Some word had come of your errand after your departure, so this same Horsford with the Mayor and one or two other Tantivies, whose zeal methinks outran their humanity, slipped the dogs upon your trail.โ
โI remember you well,โ I answered. โYou will find Colonel Decimus Saxon, my former companion, in the camp. No doubt you will be shortly exchanged for some prisoner of ours.โ
โMuch more likely to have my throat cut,โ said he, with a smile. โI fear that Feversham in his present temper will scarce pause to make prisoners, and Monmouth may be tempted to pay him back in his own coin. Yet it is the fortune of war, and I should pay for my want of all soldierly caution. Truth to tell, my mind was far from battles and ruses at the moment, for it had wandered away to aqua-regia and its action upon the metals, until your appearance brought me back to soldiership.โ
โThe horse are out of sight,โ said Reuben, looking backwards, โours as well as theirs. Yet I see a clump of men over yonder at the other side of the Avon, and there on the hillside can you not see the gleam of steel?โ
โThere are foot there,โ I answered, puckering my eyes. โIt seems to me that I can discern four or five regiments and as many colours of horse. King Monmouth should know of this with all speed.โ
โHe does know of it,โ said Reuben. โYonder he stands under the trees with his council about him. See, one of them rides this way!โ
A trooper had indeed detached himself from the group and galloped towards us. โIf you are Captain Clarke, sir,โ he said, with a salute, โthe King orders you to join his council.โ
โThen I leave the Major in your keeping, Reuben,โ I cried. โSee that he hath what our means allow.โ So saying I spurred
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