Dick, wondering and frightened, had just gathered up enough courage to step from behind the haystacks when, with horses spume-flecked and riders swaying, past swept a Royalist troop at a hand-gallop, the earth shaking as they went by. Five minutes had scarcely passed before a long train of horsemen came more slowly down the road, with silken guidons fluttering in the April wind and the sun glittering on armour and bridle-chains. Dick's heart stood still. In the midst--tallest, handsomest, most debonnair--rode the gentleman who had teased and threatened him at Lumley. He had taken off his helmet, and was fanning himself with a lace handkerchief, commenting at the same time on the heat, the dust, and the tiresome haste of the enemy. He broke off to point at the seven thorn-trees by the inn door, then to the sign. He called an order, and he and his cavalry rode slowly on, leaving two officers and about a dozen men behind. They came into the yard, and discovered the boy behind the hay-ricks. They drove the cow off from her pasture, and led out the old white horse. The ducks were driven from their pond, and the pigs, squeaking and grunting, from their sty. They killed the cocks and hens, and the mongrel dog, who interfered injudiciously. They cut up the hay-ricks and bore them off in sections, and took all the corn they could find in the granaries. Dick, meanwhile, stood quaking at the officers' mercy, being questioned, and giving confused replies. He did not dare to look up, fearing recognition. He knew both the gentlemen--one was called Balston, and had declared he had attended Dick's funeral, and the other was Captain Osborne, who had taken him before the teasing gentleman and his friends at Lumley. "Was the man Tomlinson your father?" asked Osborne. "No, sir," said Dick. "Do you know where he is?" "Gone with the enemy." "With the rebels? Come--answer!" Dick replied, and after much questioning they got from him the account of how Tomlinson and Dame Joan had been carried off. "Ha! Traitor to both sides, of course," said Balston. They dismounted and went into the house, leaving their chargers in Dick's care. He could hear them talking in the hall. "We must take him," said Osborne. "Take that dirty boy with us? Heavens and earth, Osborne! I'd as soon take a sack of coals!" "Orders," said the other. "He can ride behind me, if you're afraid he'll soil your armour, my over-delicate gentleman. Or, 'slife, we'll give him a bath first in the pond."