x:_
No. We should have heard.

_Ireton:_
And yet it seems to be moving.

_Fairfax:_
Gentlemen, we must keep counsel with ourselves. This is to waste. Nerves
must be unclouded to-day.

(He returns to his seat, the others with him.)

_Fairfax:_
Finally, if we on the right have to fall back on Mill Hill, bring your
horse down on to the Kilmarsh Road, Pemberton, if it be any way
possible.

_Pemberton:_
Yes--there's a ford there, at the fork if we are upstream.

_Ireton:_
I'll speak to Whalley, too.

_Fairfax:_
If at last there should be a general retreat, it is to the west of
Naseby, remember.

_Ireton:_
Yes. To the west. That there should be that even in the mind!

_Fairfax:_
In that case, the baggage is my concern.

(Outside is heard a low murmur of excitement.)

_Fairfax:_
Staines, will you tell Conway that five hundred of his best men must
dispute the Naseby road to the east. And let Mitchell command under him.

_Staines:_
Yes, sir.

(The noise outside grows.)

_Pemberton:_
What is it?

_Fairfax:_
See.

(PEMBERTON goes to the tent opening and looks out.)

_Pemberton:_
Our men are watching something. It is something moving. Horsemen--it
must be.

(The excitement grows and grows. IRETON joins PEMBERTON.)

_Ireton:_
There is something.

_Fairfax:_
Gentlemen, let us promise ourselves nothing.

(IRETON and PEMBERTON move into the tent at FAIRFAX'S word. As they do
so the voices outside break out into a great
shout--"_Ironsides--Ironsides--Ironsides is coming to lead us!_" The
scout comes in, glowing.)

_Fairfax_
(rising):
Yes?

_The Scout:_
General Cromwell is riding into the field with his Ironsides, sir, some
six hundred strong.

_Fairfax:_
Thank God!

(CROMWELL comes into the tent, fully armed, hot and dusty from the road.
The shouting dies away, but outside there is a sound as of new life
until the end of the scene. SETH, OLIVER'S servant, stands at the tent
opening.)

_Fairfax:_
You are welcome; none can say how much.

_Cromwell:_
A near thing, sir. I only heard from Westminster yesterday at noon.

_Fairfax:_
They told us nothing.

_Cromwell:_
There are many poor creatures at Westminster, sir. Many of them, I doubt
not, would have willingly had me kept uninformed of this. But we are in
time, and that's all. Henry. Good-morning, gentlemen. How goes it?

_Fairfax_
(taking his seat, CROMWELL and the others also at the table):
The battle is set. Our foot there,