Preston Fight Part 39

Then addressing the brigadiers he added, "Obtain possession of the ends of the town as speedily as may be, and set fire to the houses, in order to dislodge the rebels, who no doubt occupy them. Next make lodgments for your own men, so as to prevent the sallying forth of the rebels upon them, and check the escape of the enemy."

"It shall be done, general," said Brigadier Dormer.

"Before commencing hostilities, however, I shall send a summons of surrender to General Forster," said Wills. "But I do not think he will comply with it."

Scarcely were the words spoken, than several shots were fired from a farm-yard near the town, by which an orderly near the general was killed, and another officer wounded.

"Soh!" cried Wills, fiercely. "There will now be no summons to surrender. Let the attack commence forthwith."

Brigadiers Dormer and Munden with the regiments under their command, then rode off to the north side of the town to attack the Lancaster avenue; while Lord Forrester led Preston's foot towards the upper end of the Wigan avenue, followed by the dismounted dragoons, and sustained by Brigadier Honeywood's regiment.

Shortly afterwards, sharp firing announced that the attack had commenced on both sides of the town.

X.

By whom the Countess and Dorothy were liberated

THE leader of the troop seemed an important personage, since he was treated with marked deference by Parson Woods. After putting a few questions in an undertone to the minister, he turned to the ladies, and said: "Am I to understand that I am addressing Lady Derwent.w.a.ter and Miss Forster?"

"You are, sir," replied the countess. "And if you are satisfied on the point, I presume we shall not be detained?"

The officer made no direct reply, but said rather bluntly: "Who are these persons with you?"

"One is Lord Derwent.w.a.ter's chaplain," replied the countess. "The other is a private servant."

"Your ladys.h.i.+p must excuse me if I appear inquisitive, but I am obliged to ask where you are going?" said the officer. "Moreover, I must request a precise answer to the inquiry?"

"It is not my habit to equivocate, sir," replied she. "My destination is Dilston, and if we are allowed to proceed, Miss Forster will accompany me."

"I presume your ladys.h.i.+p thinks Preston unsafe, or you would not quit it in this manner?" remarked the officer.

Lady Derwent.w.a.ter made no reply.

"That question ought not to have been put," said Dorothy. "We are not called upon to explain the cause of our departure."

"But when General Forster's sister flies, it may be presumed that the place is not likely to hold out long," remarked the officer.

"You may draw any inference you please," rejoined Dorothy. "My own opinion is that General Wills will be driven away to-morrow. He has certainly had the worst of it to-day."

"Then you will have an opportunity of witnessing his defeat," said the officer; "for I propose to send you back to the town. Parson Woods," he added to the minister, "since you have made this important capture, you shall conduct the ladies to the Fishergate avenue. I will send a party of horse to sustain you."

"I don't require support, general," said the minister.

"General!" exclaimed the countess. "Is it possible we are speaking to General Wills?"

"Has your ladys.h.i.+p only just made that discovery?" cried Parson Woods, laughing.

"I suspected it from the first," observed Dorothy.

"You can tell your brother, the general, that you have had a conference with me," said Wills; "and that you told me to my face that I should be defeated on the morrow."

"I told you the truth, general, however disagreeable it may be to hear it," said Dorothy.

"Well, time will show," rejoined Wills; "but I rather think that before to-morrow night General Forster will have surrendered, and in that event the Earl of Derwent.w.a.ter will be given up as a hostage."

Just then a horseman, who proved to be Sir Henry Hoghton, rode up, having with him a lady on horseback.

"I am glad I have found you, general," said Sir Henry. "This lady has something important to communicate to you."

"Pray come this way, madam," said Wills, taking the lady aside.

Thereupon, a whispered conversation took place between them.

"I know that voice," observed the countess to Dorothy. "But surely it cannot be-"

"It is Mrs. Scarisbrick," was the reply in a low tone. "I always thought she played my brother false. Now we have positive proof of it. She has come to give information respecting the state of the town."

Dorothy was quite right in the conjecture.

When the conference between Wills and Mrs. Scarisbrick was ended, and the lady found that the countess and Dorothy were close at hand, she became very uneasy, and begged General Wills to set them free.

"If they go back, I cannot," she observed. "They will tell General Forster they have seen me here, and what explanation can I give him?"

"It matters little now what explanation is given," replied Wills. "But you shall not be exposed to any annoyance. You must be on the spot. Tomorrow, you are certain to have important information to give me."

"I will not fail," she replied.

General Wills then called to Sir Henry, and after consigning Mrs. Scarisbrick to his care turned to Parson Woods, who was waiting for final orders, and said: "I have altered my plans, parson. Take Lady Derwent.w.a.ter and Miss Forster with their attendants across the river, and then set them free."

"It shall be done, general," replied Woods, with a military salute. "Be pleased to follow me, ladies."

He was not quite so civil to Father Norman and Newbiggin.

"I hope we are not liberated at that lady's request;" said the countess. "I would not willingly be under any obligation to her."

"You need not be uneasy," said Wills. "You are under no obligation to any one but me. Goodnight, ladies. I wish you a safe journey to Dilston. When I tell you that General Carpenter will be here with two thousand men to-morrow, you may be glad to be out of the way."

He rode off, while the ladies and their companions were taken across the ford by Parson Woods, and then liberated.

Xl.

An Unlucky Shot.

AFTER their unsuccessful attempt to cross the ford, Charles Radclyffe and Captain Douglas did not return to the town, but concealed themselves among some trees till they had ascertained that the countess and Dorothy were to be liberated. They then went back tolerably well satisfied with the issue of the adventure.

As they were riding slowly up the lane leading to the Fishergate avenue, they caught the sound of horses' feet behind them, and stopped to listen.

It was so dark that nothing could be seen distinctly, but they heard voices, and Captain Douglas drew a pistol and called out, "Who goes there?"

"A friend," replied a voice.

"To whom?" demanded Douglas. "To King James, or King George."

"I am no rebel," replied the person who had spoken. "But it seems you are, and I am therefore bound to make you a prisoner. It will be useless to resist, for I have a dozen men with me."

"I would not yield if you had twice the number," rejoined Douglas. "Advance a step further, and I will shoot you."

"Let him go, Sir Henry," cried a female voice.

"'Tis Sir Henry Hoghton," said Charles Radclyffe.

"So it seems," said Douglas. "Come, Sir Henry," he cried. "'Tis for you to yield-not me."

"This is my answer," replied Sir Henry, firing at him, but without effect.

"And this my rejoinder," cried Douglas, firing in his turn.

A shriek followed.

"What have I done?" cried Douglas.

"Wounded a lady," replied Sir Henry. "Are you much hurt, madam?" he asked.

"Mortally, I fear," she replied, in a faint voice. "Support me, or I shall fall from my horse."

"'Tis Mrs. Scarisbrick!" cried Charles Radclyffe.

"It is," rejoined Sir Henry. "This is a most unlucky accident. But there must be a truce between us," he added, ordering back his men, who were preparing to advance.

"What would you have us do?" asked Charles Radclyffe.

"Bid them take me to the town," said Mrs. Scarisbrick, faintly. "Let me not die here."

She was then placed on the saddle before Captain Douglas, who rode on as fast as he could under such distressing circ.u.mstances.

Long ere he reached the barrier Douglas thought his burden felt inanimate, but when she was lifted down, and a light fell upon her pallid face, it was found she was quite dead.

END OF THIS BOOK.

end.