with his left hand, and gripping the bridle between his teeth,
dug his spurs into his horse's 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 Reuben's 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 Monmouth's camp.

'A narrow shave, friend,' quoth Reuben, with his hand to his cheek. 'He
hath tattooed my face with powder until I shall be taken for Solomon
Sprent's younger brother.'

'Thank God that you are unhurt,' said I. 'See, 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.'

'For Christ's sake, either slay me or set me down!' he cried. 'I cannot
bear to be carried in this plight, like a half-weaned infant, through
your campful of grinning yokels.'

'I would not make sport of a brave man,' I answered. 'If you will give
your word to stay with us, you shall walk between us.'

'Willingly,' said he, scrambling down and arranging his ruffled attire.
'By 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.'

'We were upon the hill before we cut you off,' quoth Reuben. 'Had 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.'

'Where have I seen you before?' asked our captive, bending his dark
eyes upon me. 'Aye, 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 Ogilvy--Major 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