n of the night,
bandaged, bruised, and sadly damaged in their personal appearance, but
with heads erect and keeping step with Ben Martlet, who looked as if he
were flushed with victory instead of labouring under defeat.

The men were drawn up in line in the middle of the narrow square, and as
they caught sight of Roy just by the general, their military manners
gave place to a touch of human nature, for Ben nodded eagerly to his
young captain, and wounded and sound all waved steel cap or hand, Farmer
Raynes the latter in a left-handed way, for his right was in a sling;
and then all burst into a cheer.

Just then, behind the prisoners and over the heads of the line of
mounted men, whose horses' hoofs were trampling the flower-beds, Roy
caught sight of something white in the open hospital window, and his
heart leaped as his mother waved her handkerchief to him, wafting away
with it the last trace of the vile mist Master Pawson had raised around
her by his assertion.

Roy eagerly responded to the salutation, and then had his attention
taken up by the action of the general, who walked along the little line
of prisoners, who, to a man, returned his stern scrutiny with a bold,
defiant stare. Then turning to Ben, he said--

"How many of these are disciplined soldiers, sergeant?"

"All of 'em far as we could make 'em," replied Ben.

"Yes. But how many were in the Royalist army?"

"Three and me," said Ben.

"You three men, two paces to the rear," said the general, sharply; and
the three troopers stepped back.

"Nay, nay!" shouted Farmer Raynes, angrily. "Share and share alike. We
were all in it; and I say if you shoot them, shoot us, too;" and he
stepped back, the others after a momentary hesitation following his
example.

There was a murmur in the Parliamentary ranks as the men witnessed this
little bit of heroism, and the general shouted his next order in a very
peremptory way.

"Attention!" he cried, addressing the prisoners. "I do not shoot brave
men in cold blood, only cowards and traitors."

"Then have that hound down from yon window, general," cried Ben,
excitedly, pointing to where Master Pawson stood looking on, "and shoot
him. Nay, it's insulting good soldiers to ask 'em to do it, sir. We've
an old stone gallows here on the ramparts; have him hung."

A yell of execration burst from the prisoners, and the ex-secretary
disappeared.

"Silence!" cried the general. "Attend there. You, sergeant, and