John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. III.Cumberland, Richard
General
John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. III.
Cumberland, Richard
Wales, North -- Fiction
None, cried the Captain; pass! Let all stand clear! ’Twas then we saw,
in the behaviour of that wretched man, how abject guilt can be: That
insolence, which I have witnessed, now was sunk into despondency, and
but that pity would in me have been almost a crime, I could have pitied
him, when in a melancholy tone, he said--I am your prisoner. Misery
beyond mine, man cannot suffer. You have known me, Major Wilson, in
better days: I am a gentleman; at least I have been such: Don’t let your
people use me ill, I pray you--He was at this time in so helpless a
state, that we were obliged to have him lifted into the boat. Henry
gave orders to be rowed to the shore: A considerable party of his
officers and men were there discovered waiting for his landing: When we
approached, they cheered him, and as soon as he had set his foot on
shore, the air again rang with their shouts--Comrades! he cried, as they
were crowding round us, you will stifle us with your kindness: Form a
circle, and give us air; don’t you perceive the prisoner is fainting? He
caused his soldiers instantly to make a kind of military litter by
taking hands, and in this manner they bore off the wretched criminal by
his order to the guard-house. Whilst this was passing I had taken notice
of an officer in the same uniform with the others, who had separated
himself from his comrades, and stood apart from the circle, not
interfering, but much interested, as it seemed, in what was going on.
When my brother had given orders for his men to take Ap Owen to the
guard-house, he called this young officer to him, and bade him take a
party with him to Mr. Devereux’s house in the square, for the purpose of
escorting us through the streets, where a crowd was now collecting. This
young gentleman is now on guard upon the house, waiting till my brother
shall come, and dismiss him: Mr. Devereux invited him to accept of some
refreshment; but he declined it on the plea of duty to the special
orders of his commanding officer.
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