elf had not been pillaged, except of portable provisions. This
was probably owing to its distance from the camp, or it would have fared
but ill. Unable to hear what had become of his young friends, Mr
Willoughby had gone on to Bridgewater, and had run a great risk of being
seized as a suspected adherent of the Duke of Monmouth, and it was only
by asserting that he was brother-in-law to Colonel Tregellen, a
well-known Royalist, that he had escaped. He had done his most to gain
information of his young friends, of course in vain. It would have been
folly to try and get access to any of the leaders for the purpose of
purchasing their pardon till he could learn where they were. He said
that he was sick at heart at the sight of the heads of the hapless
rebels which were seen at the entrance of every village, while gibbets
in great numbers lined the roads in the neighbourhood of Bridgewater.
Mr Willoughby had several narrow escapes, when he encountered an old
acquaintance, who was no other than Cornet Bryce. He had to look at him
hard, for he little expected to see him in military guise. The Cornet
looked much cast down. Mr Willoughby learned from him the cause of his
depression, the escape, namely, of two prisoners. He fully expected to
be placed under arrest and severely punished, should it be discovered by
the General that they had got off. Mr Willoughby was not long in
ascertaining that the two missing prisoners were the sons of his friend.
He kept his counsel as to his object in coming to Bridgewater, and
returned home as soon as he could. Alice was glad to see him arrive, as
she thought he might possibly try to induce Stephen and Andrew to
escape. He saw clearly the danger to which the Colonel would be
exposed, and declined in any way committing himself, though he promised,
should they be delivered over to the officers of the law, to use every
exertion to obtain their pardon or liberation.

As the sergeant had not ordered the man he sent to Lyme to make any
haste, it was late in the day before he returned with orders to carry
his prisoners to Dorchester. "I suppose, Colonel, that you do not
insist on our setting out this afternoon?" said the sergeant. "It is a
long day's march to Dorchester. We should make it better by starting
fresh in the morning."

The Colonel assured the sergeant that he was welcome to remain. He knew
that in the meantime Mr Battiscombe was exerting himself, through
certain friends,