ring which assured even a novice like myself
that he was indeed a trained man of war.

'That is the Avon which glitters amongst the trees,' I remarked. 'We are
about three miles from Salisbury town.'

'It is a noble spire,' said he, glancing at the great stone spire in
front of us. 'The men of old would seem to have spent all their days in
piling stones upon stones. And yet we read of tough battles and shrewd
blows struck, showing that they had some time for soldierly relaxation,
and were not always at this mason work.'

'The Church was rich in those days,' I answered, shaking my bridle, for
Covenant was beginning to show signs of laziness. 'But here comes one
who might perhaps tell us something of the war.'

A horseman who bore traces of having ridden long and hard was rapidly
approaching us. Both rider and steed were grey with dust and splashed
with mire, yet he galloped with loosened rein and bent body, as one to
whom every extra stride is of value.

'What ho, friend!' cried Saxon, reining his mare across the road so as
to bar the man's passage. 'What news from the West?'

'I must not tarry,' the messenger gasped, slackening his speed for an
instant. 'I bear papers of import from Gregory Alford, Mayor of Lyme, to
Ins Majesty's Council. The rebels make great head, and gather together
like bees in the swarming time. There are some thousands in arms
already, and all Devonshire is on the move. The rebel horse under Lord
Grey hath been beaten back from Bridport by the red militia of Dorset,
but every prickeared Whig from the Channel to the Severn is making his
way to Monmouth.' With this brief summary of the news he pushed his way
past us and clattered on in a cloud of dust upon his mission.

'The broth is fairly on the fire, then,' quoth Decimus Saxon, as we rode
onwards. 'Now that skins have been slit the rebels may draw their swords
and fling away their scabbards, for it's either victory for them or
their quarters will be dangling in every market town of the county. Heh,
lad? we throw a main for a brave stake.'

'Marked ye that Lord Grey had met with a check,' said I.

'Pshaw! it is of no import. A cavalry skirmish at the most, for it is
impossible that Monmouth could have brought his main forces to Bridport;
nor would he if he could, for it is out of his track. It was one of
those three-shots-and-a-gallop affrays, where each side runs away and
each claims the victory. But here we are in the streets of Salisbu