CHAPTER VI.
HOW COLONEL JAMES HALTED BENEATH THE OAK.
Nothing more passed between them for some time, and Charles seemed tobe once more yielding to lethargic feelings, when he was effectuallyaroused by the trampling of horse. Evidently a small detachment oftroopers was coming that way, and a halt took place beneath the oak.No sooner did the voice of their leader reach Careless's ears, than heremarked in a whisper to the king, "Tis Colonel James, sire."
"We must not quit this forest empty-handed," said James. "Unless theknave and his wife who have care of Boscobel have deceived me, CharlesStuart is not concealed there. Neither is he at either of those housesof abomination, White Ladies, or Black Ladies. Yet I am well assuredhe is hereabouts, and have him I will; for what answer shall I give tothe Lord General, if the head of the malignants be suffered to escape.Search, then, most carefully. Let men be posted at various points, andif any one be found in the forest--woodman or not--compel him to givean account of himself, and if he fails to do so satisfactorily, arresthim."
"We did discover a youth in the forest, but being exceeding fleet offoot, he escaped us," remarked one of the soldiers.
"How? escaped!" cried Colonel James, angrily. "It might have beenCharles Stuart himself. Why did you not shoot him, Madmannah?"
"It was not Charles Stuart, colonel," replied the soldier. "'Twas amere stripling. We were close upon his heels when he disappearedsuddenly from our sight--nor could we find him again."
"Ye are not half quick enough," said Colonel James, sternly. "In whichdirection did the youth run?"
"Towards Boscobel House, colonel," replied another of the soldiers."But he could not have gained the house."
"Ye have done your work negligently," said James, still more sternly.
"The reproof is unmerited, colonel," said Madmannah. "We have shown nolack of zeal."
"Find me Charles Stuart, and I will retract what I have said. But Irepeat, ye have done your work imperfectly. I will have every tree inthe forest searched wherein a man might be hidden, and I will beginwith this oak."
It will be readily supposed that the determination thus expressed byColonel James caused great alarm to Charles and his companion, buttheir uneasiness increased when the Republican leader continued in anauthoritative voice:
"Thou art active, Ezra. Dismount at once, and climb the tree."
The king and Careless gave themselves up for lost. There seemed to beno possibility of escape. But they were quickly relieved by Ezra'sresponse to the order.
"No use in searching this oak, colonel."
"No use, sayst thou?"
"None, colonel. I have already discharged my caliver into the tree."
"That is true," said the other soldiers.
"Nay, if that be so, 'twere a waste of time to climb the tree," saidJames. "We will look out for another, further on."
"Shall we fire a volley into the tree, colonel, to make sure?" askedanother of the soldiers.
"'Tis needless," replied James. "March!"
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651 Page 49
