ready for the nextdetachment which comes along west. No, boy, I am obliged as an officerto agree with my superior that every man must be cleared out of thatHall before we can stir. Sir Godfrey Markham has his fate in his ownhands."
"What do you mean, father? Surrender?"
"Of course. He shall have due respect paid to him and his followers;but it is madness to expect it of him, even for their sake."
"For their sake, father?"
"Yes, my boy. There, I may as well tell you. I am not the stern,implacable enemy you think me. I wrote to Sir Godfrey last night,asking him to surrender for his wife and daughter's sake."
"You did this, father?" cried Fred, eagerly.
"I did, my boy."
"And what did he say?"
"He sent a stern, insulting message, similar to his last, and those whowere with him threatened to crop the next ambassador's ears if he daredpresent himself at the Hall."
"Let me go and make another appeal to Sir Godfrey."
"You heard the threat?" said Colonel Forrester, looking at his soncuriously.
"Yes, I heard, father."
"And will you risk it, if I give you a message to take?"
"Yes, father, it was a vain boast. They dare not insult a messenger."
"No, my boy, you shall not go," said Colonel Forrester, laying his handupon his son's shoulder. "It would be courting injury for no goodpurpose."
"But if it would save Sir Godfrey and poor Scarlett?"
"It would not, Fred."
"Don't say that, father. If I could see Scar Markham, he would perhapslisten to me; and if he did, he might have as much influence upon SirGodfrey as I have upon you. Father, let me try."
"No, Fred, it cannot be," said the colonel, sternly. "I am not incommand here. The general has sent twice, the second appeal being madethrough my request, and in each case the answer was an insult."
"But, father--"
"It is useless, my boy, so say no more. Sir Godfrey brings the assaulton himself. I have done all I can. General Hedley acknowledges it, andyou see I have ceased to be the stern officer to you, and have spokenkindly and in the spirit you wish."
"But one moment, father. Do you think we could persuade Sir Godfreythrough Scarlett?"
"No, my boy, and I am afraid I should act precisely the same were I inhis place. No more now."
"But, father, shall I be expected to go forward with the troops?"
"No. I have provided against that, Fred. You and I will not becombatants here."
"Why, father!" cried Fred, excitedly. "Look!"
"Yes," said Colonel Forrester, sadly. "They have begun. I thought itwould not be long. I dreaded being in the general's confidence overthis."
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.
WATCHING THE ATTACK.
That which Fred had dreaded had indeed begun, for about a hundred andfifty men had been told off for the attack, and these had preparedthemselves by picketing their horses, arming themselves with stout axesfor the barricades, and dragging after them stout scaling-ladders.
The advance had seemed to be dilatory before, and the generally receivedopinion in the camp had been that the defending party, to save risk, wasto be starved into submission.
But those who judged did not know the general. He had been waiting histime, for sundry reasons: respect for Colonel Forrester, and mercy,being among these; but now that he found it necessary to adopt strongcoercive measures, he was prompt and quick in every step.
Fred Forrester was freed from the terrible necessity of taking part inthe attack, but that did not lessen his eagerness to see what would bethe result, and in consequence he hurried to the top of the nearestwoodland summit, and from thence prepared to witness the issue of thefight.
As he reached the clump of beeches which crowned the hill, he caughtsight of the back of some one lying at the very edge of the wood, in thecommanding spot he had selected for himself, and where he had oftenstood to make signs to Scarlett in the old boyish days. For a moment ortwo he hesitated, and then approached, wondering who it could be, andtaking the precaution to draw his sword, for it was not likely to be oneof their own men.
It was disconcerting to find any one there, and for the moment he wasready to draw back. But, on the other hand, it might be a spy of theenemy, who had crept up there to watch their proceedings; and underthese circumstances, Fred felt that there were only two courses open tohim, flight or bold attack.
To make such an attack in cold blood required consideration. It was notlike taking part in an exciting charge, amid the stirring din of battle,when the pulses were bounding, and the bray of the trumpet called themto advance. He, a mere youth, had to go single-handed to an encounterwith a great broad-backed fellow, who, at the first brunt, might turnthe tables upon him.
"But he is a spy," said Fred to himself; "and he is sure to be halfafraid;" and without further hesitation, the lad advanced softly,keeping well behind.
As he drew nearer he could see that the man was upon his chest with hisarms folded for a support; his morion was tilted back over his ears, sothat it covered his neck, and as he watched the advance, he slowlyraised first one and then the other leg, crossing them backwards andforwards, and beating the ground with his toes as if they were portionsof a pick-axe.
A peculiar feeling of hesitation came over Fred again, and he foundhimself asking whether he ought not to go down for help, and whetherthere were any of the man's companions near.
This he felt was only common prudence; and, stepping back, he carefullysearched among the trees and round the edge of the hill. But no, theman seemed to have come up quite alone; and, gaining confidence fromthis, he went softly back, taking care not to trample upon any deadtwig, so as to give the alarm.
In a few minutes he was again at the edge of the wood, near enough tosee that the man wore a backpiece, and that the hilt of his sword wasquite near his hand.
The hesitation was gone now. A glance showed that the attacking partywere near the end of the lake, and that outposts of three or four menwere dotted here and there, ready to drive back or capture any of theCavaliers who might try to make their escape.
"I'll do it," said Fred to himself; and, stooping down, he crept nearerand nearer, holding back any twig or obtruding branch with his sword,and wincing and preparing for a spring, when a bramble grated againstthe edge of his blade.
But the man was too intent upon the scene below, and paid no heed to awarning which, had he been on the alert, would have placed Fred at aterrible disadvantage.
The lad's eyes, as he crept on with sword in advance, were fixed on theback of the man's half-hidden neck; and he had made his plans, but forall that he could not help glancing down at the advancing men, andpausing to note that the Cavaliers were at the barricaded windows, readyfor their enemy.
And now for a moment Fred again wondered whether he was doing right, andwhether his more sensible plan would not have been to go down to thecamp and spread the alarm.
His answer to this thought was to set his teeth, which grated so loudlythat his grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, and he felt sure thathe must have been heard.
But no; the man lay perfectly still, watching intently, as motionless,in fact, as if he had been asleep; and Fred crept step by step nearerand nearer, till he felt that he was within springing distance, and thenstopped to take breath.
"How easy it would be to kill him," he thought, "and how cowardly;" andhe was about to put his first idea into action, namely, to make one boldspring forward, and snatch the man's sword from the sheath.
But the sword might stick, the sheath clinging to it tightly, as itwould sometimes; and if it did, instead of the man being helpless, itwould be he who was at the mercy of one who might beat him off withease.
So, giving up that idea, he paused a few moments, till the man raisedhis head a little higher, so as to get a better view of those below, andthen with one bold spring, Fred was upon his back, with the point of hissword driven in a peculiar way into th
e soft earth.
That idea had occurred to him at the last moment, and even in theintense excitement of the moment he smiled, as he saw in it success, forit effectually baffled the man in what was his first effort--to draw hissword, which was pinned, as it were, to the ground by Fred's weaponbeing passed directly through the hilt.
There was an angry snort, as of a startled beast, a tremendous heave,and a coarse brown hand made a dart at the sword-blade, and was snatchedaway with an exclamation of pain. Then in fiercely remonstrant tones aharsh voice shouted--
"You coward! Only let me get a chance!"
"Samson!" cried Fred, starting back as he removed his knee from the backof the man's head, and the ex-gardener's steel cap rolled over to theside.
"Master Fred!" was the answer;