n they should take. They agreed that it would be madness to
attempt returning home. They were proscribed men, and even should they
reach Langton Park, search would be made for them, and their father
would be exposed to danger for sheltering them. Stephen said that he
was sure Mr Willoughby would willingly try to conceal them, but the
Colonel might object to his doing so, from the danger to which he would
be exposed should they be discovered. They agreed at length that their
safest course would be to push to the north coast of Devon or Cornwall,
where they might obtain concealment in the cottages of the fishermen or
miners, who were generally favourable to the Protestant cause, and
thence cross over to the Welsh coast.

"Let us then commence our march," said Stephen, "and pray that we may
escape the dangers that surround us." They rode on rapidly without
speaking. Both their hearts were sad; they had lost many friends and
faithful followers, whom they had led to join the ill-fated expedition.
Stephen was full of self-reproaches. He thought of Alice, who had
warned and besought him not to engage in the enterprise. He had acted
with courage on several occasions, but following the example of his
chief, he had fled from the field of battle, and he felt ashamed of
himself for not having remained with the brave men who fought to the
last, and fallen among them.

"We should have done it," he exclaimed at length, as they had to rein in
their steeds while they ascended a steep hill.

"Done what?" asked Andrew.

"Died on the field, as I wish that the Duke and Lord Grey had done
rather than run away," replied Stephen.

"As we are doing," remarked Andrew; "for my part, I think it is the
wisest course we could have pursued. I hope they will escape to fight
in the same cause on a more favourable occasion; we should have gained
nothing by remaining on the field of battle, and lost everything if we
should have either been killed or captured."

"We should have preserved our honour," said Stephen.

"I do not consider that we have lost that, since every man who had a
horse to carry him has done the same; but there is little use discussing
the subject. At present we must exert our wits to preserve our lives,
and any honour we have lost may be retrieved on a future opportunity."
Andrew had generally an answer for his brother's remarks. Having gained
the brow of the hill, they again pushed forward, keeping as near the
coast