ore than had I been a
fly. With a loud whoop, he dashed away in pursuit. He had not gone
twenty yards from me, when there was a great shout and clatter of
horsemen, and before I well knew what had happened, I saw Sir Ludar
disarmed in the clutches of half a dozen men. I rushed to his help, but
could do nothing except share his fate. For they were too many for us,
and we had no time even to hit out.

"Where is the captain?" cried one of the men.

Just then up rode a man at sight of whom the blood tingled in all my
veins. I mean Captain Merriman.

I do not know if he recognised me at first, for he scarcely gave us a
look.

"Away with them to your master," said he, riding on, "and see they give
you not the slip."

So we were marched off, a pretty end to our jaunt. And to make our
plight worse, Sir Ludar whispered to me as we went along, "Unless I
mistake, the master of these men is my guardian, Sir William Carleton."

Sure enough it was.

The house we were conducted to stood in a large park with a view far
over the river, perhaps the fairest view in England. Yet I had no mind
just then to admire it; for the presence of that hated horseman made me
forget all except one fair face, which I seemed to see as I had seen it
that day at Finsbury Fields. He rode forward as we entered the park and
bade the men bring us safely in.

"Come, step out," said one of the men, giving me a flick with his
riding-whip, "we have been waiting for you these three weeks, my
gentlemen; and I promise you a warm welcome from his worship. The
captain, his visitor, will be in high favour, now that he has run the
vermin to earth--what say you, Hugh?"

"I warrant you that," said Hugh. "For our master had set his heart on
catching the vagabonds, and nothing could please him better."

"Heigho! It is we have had all the watching these weeks past; but this
gay spark will have all the glory now. Well, so the world goes. I
shall be glad to see him started on his Irish wars, for I like him not."

"Nor I--and yet we are not like to see the last of him soon, if the
rumour which my lady's maid hath whispered me, that some fair company is
expected shortly at the hall, be true."

The other laughed.

"No, truly, he is no proof against the flutter of a skirt, as some here
know. Did I tell you what befel him not long since in London town, at
the place where the 'prentice boys' sport? I had it from one of his own
men. But here we are at