int by which the Manor gardener must
pass.

Samson was not long in recognising him, and, checking the speed of the
stout cob he rode, the mutual effort brought the two together at the
sought-for spot.

"Here you, Samson, who told you to exercise my pony?"

"Exercise, Master Fred? You look at him."

"Look at him? I am looking at him. Poor old fellow! he's all in a
lather."

"Yes; he hasn't had such a gallop for months."

"How dare you, then! Jump off directly, and walk him home."

"Shan't!" was the laconic refusal, accompanied by a grin.

"What!" cried Fred, doubling his fists threateningly.

"Shan't come off, sir. There!"

"Oh, won't you!" cried Fred, seizing Samson by the leg, and proceeding
as if to tilt him over.

"You leave your father's special messenger alone, Master Fred, or you'll
get into trouble."

"Did my father tell you to take the pony?"

"Course he did, and to take what he called a despatch."

"Despatch?"

"Yes. To Barnstaple."

"What for?"

"How should I know? It was a big letter, all tied round with ribbon and
sealed up, and I've got another like it in here."

As he spoke in a voice full of importance, he tapped a leathern wallet
slung over his right shoulder.

"Why, Samson, who did you take it to?"

"To that gen'leman who was here the other night."

"Captain Miles?"

"Yes. At Barnstaple, and some more gen'lemen was with him when I got
there, and he read the letter, and they read the letter, and then they
said they'd write another, and I was to go down and have some bread and
cheese and cider, and I did--a lot."

"I wonder what it means?" said Fred, as he walked on beside the pony,
holding by its thick mane, for it was uphill.

"I think I know, Master Fred."

"You do? What is it?"

"Well, sir, it's something to do with the king and the Parliament. They
were talking about it at the Red Hind."

"King and the Parliament?"

"Yes, Master Fred; and there were some there as said we should most
likely have to fight for our rights."

"But we haven't got any rights to fight for."

"Oh yes, we have, Master Fred," said Samson, importantly. "A man there
told me all about it."

"What did he say?"

"Well, sir, I don't quite understand, but they're trying to take our
rights away."

"Who are?"

"Well, that's what I didn't get quite clear, you see, sir. But it's
some'at like this. Every man has--I don't quite remember what it was he
said there, but I do recolle