Outside, the whole castle seemed emptied into the south court; Leveson’s and Turner’s men, some in coats and more in shirt-sleeves, who shouted questions and the tidings back and forth, and swore and scuffled at the jostlings of the crowd. The sun was down, but the early twilight still was clear between the gray walls, enough to bring out every detail of the swarming courtyard, and to enable Hugh to distinguish the faces of the men. Down in the thick of the throng he caught sight of Frank, with a groom holding The Jade, and he ran down from the doorway to him. At that, some of the men set up a cheering, under cover of which Frank, putting his arm round Hugh’s shoulders, said in a low tone: “I want you to take the mare, Hugh; she’s faster than Bayard, and she’s not been used these two days; and I did not know it was your cornetcy I was taking, and I want you to ride her. Into the saddle with you!” Without wit or time to reply, Hugh found himself on the mare’s back, felt her quiver beneath him, and had opened his mouth to bid the groom let go her head, when the shouting swarm between him and the great gateway was suddenly cleft apart. Up the lane Black Boy came swinging with Strangwayes pulling taut on the bridle so he eased up at Hugh’s side. “Get you down,” Dick cried without question, and, springing to the ground himself, began tearing off his cuirass. “What will you have? Be brisk,” Hugh shouted, coming out of his saddle. Strangwayes flung his cuirass about him, and began very deliberately taking in the straps to fit Hugh’s body. “Did you think you were going on a pleasure ride?” he asked. Frank burst into a nervous laugh, which others caught up, and some began cheering for the lieutenant. Hugh heard The Jade prancing with impatience at the sound, and he himself fairly squirmed under Dick’s touch. “Let me be off!” he cried. “You’ve all night before you,” Strangwayes drawled. “Hold up your arm so I can get at the strap.” Just then, through the clatter of The Jade’s restless hoofs and the hum of the eager crowd about him, Hugh heard his name called. Looking over his shoulder he saw Cowper, with his face the color of ashes, limp up between two comrades. “They said ’twas you should go to Kingsford, sir,” the man addressed him. “I’m to venture it,” Hugh answered. “How left you matters there, Cowper?” “The captain has the church and the graveyard, sir. The rebels hold the village and the bridge over the Arrow. I got across two mile up at the Blackwater ford. The river ran high, and they had set no guard. ’Twas breaking through the village they shot at me.” “Go tend your hurt now,” Hugh found thought to urge. “I’ll remember the ford, be sure. Are you done now, Dick?” “Done with that,” replied Strangwayes. “Are your pistols in order? And the word for the night is ‘Gloucester’; you’ll need it at the gates.”