Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
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CHAPTER XXIV.
HOW CHARLES ENCOUNTERED DESBOROUGH ON SALISBURY PLAIN.
After riding for a short distance along the banks of the Avon, theparty separated, Colonel Philips and Colonel Wyndham proceeding towardsSalisbury in the expectation of meeting Lord Wilmot, and perhapsColonel Gunter; and the king and his fair companion, attended byCareless, shaping their course in the direction of Stonehenge, whichwas fixed as the general place of rendezvous.
Salisbury Plain has a charm of its own, which those who rode across iton that fine October morning fully experienced. Juliana was enchantedwith the strange novelty of the scene, and allowed her gaze to wanderover the apparently boundless expanse of turf. Not a tree could beseen--not a solitary cottage--not a shed--the undulating surface ofthe plain being only broken by the numerous barrows, that seemed tohave been heaved up from the sod like gigantic mole-hills. Here andthere a shepherd, looking grey as the turf itself, and tending a flockof sheep, could be distinguished. A singular cluster of sepulchraltumuli attracted them, and they spent some little time in examining thegroup. On coming forth from among the barrows they aroused a flock ofbustards, and watched them scud swiftly over the plain, hallooing afterthem, and almost tempted to give them chase.
So occupied were they with the bustards that they did not perceive tillthey turned that a strong regiment of horse was advancing across theplain. Deeming a bold course the safest, Charles rode straight on, andCareless kept by his side. To ride through the ranks of the enemy wascertainly a daring thing to do, but the perfect confidence with whichthe action was performed insured its success. The men looked sternly atthem, but discovering nothing suspicious in their manner, allowed themto pass on. The danger, however, was not over. Behind the rear guardrode the commander of the regiment--a heavy, ungainly, sullen-lookingpersonage, but richly accoutred. With him was an orderly.
"'Tis Old Noll's brother-in-law, Desborough!" whispered Careless.
"I know him," replied the king. "Heaven grant he may not know me!"
Desborough, it appeared, did not mean to let them pass unquestioned.Reining in his steed, he signed to them to stop. At the same time theorderly drew his sword, and called out, in an authoritative voice:
"Stand! Major-General Desborough, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of theWest, would speak with you."
Uncovering at this address, both of them remained stationary.
Desborough bent his lowering brows upon them, and fixed his eye uponthe king. Charles, however, did not quail beneath his searching glance.
"Look at that man, Colville," said Desborough. "Look at him well. Hastseen him before?"
"I do not think so, general," replied the orderly. "Yet the face seemsfamiliar to me."
It was an anxious moment, for Desborough's brow grew darker, butJuliana interposed.
"You cannot have seen my husband before, general," she cried; "unlessyou have been to Salisbury, for he has never been further from the citythan Amesbury, whither we are going now."
"Is the young man thy husband?" demanded Desborough, in a tone thatimplied some doubt. "Attempt not to deceive me."
"We have been married a twelvemonth," she replied. "And not for asingle hour have we been separated since we became man and wife."
"That's much to say," remarked Desborough.
"But there are plenty of persons who can testify to the truth of thestatement. My brother Amyas will tell you that Orlando Jermyn--that'smy husband's name--and his wife are accounted the happiest couple inSarum."
"Since you are so well satisfied I will not say you might have madea better choice," observed Desborough. "But I think your husband mayesteem himself lucky."
"He tells me so repeatedly," she replied; "and I am bound to believehim. Have you any more questions to ask me?"
Desborough looked again searchingly at Charles, but perceiving nochange in his demeanour, and noticing, moreover, that the others seemedquite unconcerned, he signed to them to go on. The orderly sheathed hissword.
Respectfully saluting the major-general, Charles and his attendantproceeded quietly on their way. After a brief colloquy with theorderly, Desborough moved on, to Juliana's great relief.
"At last he is gone!" she exclaimed. "Did I not act my part bravely?"
"Admirably," replied Charles. "You have saved me from the greatestperil in which I have yet been placed. Desborough, I could plainly see,suspected me. But you puzzled him."
Halting near a barrow, they watched the regiment as long as it remainedin sight. They then rode on towards Stonehenge, which loomed in thedistance.