-
maid were hastily packed into the vehicle, the latter taking the reins;
David's duties as a fighting-man forbidding all thought of his domestic
offices now. Then the silver tankard, teapot, pair of candlesticks like
Ionic columns, and other articles too large to be pocketed were thrown
into a basket and put up behind. Then came the leave-taking, which was
as sad as it was hurried. Bob kissed Anne, and there was no affectation
in her receiving that mark of affection as she said through her tears,
'God bless you!' At last they moved off in the dim light of dawn,
neither of the three women knowing which road they were to take, but
trusting to chance to find it.

As soon as they were out of sight Bob went off for a pike, and his
father, first new-flinting his firelock, proceeded to don his uniform,
pipe-claying his breeches with such cursory haste as to bespatter his
black gaiters with the same ornamental compound. Finding when he was
ready that no bugle had as yet sounded, he went with David to the cart-
house, dragged out the waggon, and put therein some of the most useful
and easily-handled goods, in case there might be an opportunity for
conveying them away. By the time this was done and the waggon pushed
back and locked in, Bob had returned with his weapon, somewhat mortified
at being doomed to this low form of defence. The miller gave his son a
parting grasp of the hand, and arranged to meet him at King's-Bere at the
first opportunity if the news were true; if happily false, here at their
own house.

'Bother it all!' he exclaimed, looking at his stock of flints.

'What?' said Bob.

'I've got no ammunition: not a blessed round!'

'Then what's the use of going?' asked his son.

The miller paused. 'O, I'll go,' he said. 'Perhaps somebody will lend
me a little if I get into a hot corner?'

'Lend ye a little! Father, you was always so simple!' said Bob
reproachfully.

'Well--I can bagnet a few, anyhow,' said the miller.

The bugle had been blown ere this, and Loveday the father disappeared
towards the place of assembly, his empty cartridge-box behind him. Bob
seized a brace of loaded pistols which he had brought home from the ship,
and, armed with these and a pike, he locked the door and sallied out
again towards the turnpike road.

By this time the yeomanry of the district were also on the move, and
among them Festus Derriman, who was sleeping at his uncle's, and had been
awakened by Cripplestraw