More definite was the knowledge got of him through a telescope, which one of the attendants carried. Glancing through it, Sir Richard recognised the uniform of a Parliamentarian dragoon--one of Massey's own regiment. Coming that way, and at such a speed, the man must be a messenger with despatches; and for whom but himself? Separating from his party, and taking Hilbert with him, the knight trotted off to the nearest point where the Ruardean road passed over the shoulder of the hill, there halting till the dragoon should come up. Nor had he long to wait. As conjectured, the man was a messenger, bearing a despatch that called for all haste in the delivery, and therefore came galloping up the slope without lessening his pace. He seemed some little disconcerted at seeing two horsemen drawn up on the road before him, but a word from Sir Richard reassured him, as he perceived it was the knight himself. As the despatch was for Sir Richard, this brought his gallop to an end; and, drawing up, he handed over the document, simply saying-- "From Governor Massey, Colonel." Addressed "Colonel Walwyn," it read,-- "Gerrard has slipped through out of South Wales, by Worcester, and now _en route_ to join the King at Oxford. I've got orders from the Committee to march out and intercept him, if possible at Evesham, or before he can cross the Cotswolds. I shall want every man of my command. So draw off from the Ruardean, for Gloucester, and reinforce its garrison. Start soon as you get this--lose not a moment. Time is pressing. "E. Massey." When Sir Richard returned to the hawking party his hurried manner, with the serious expression upon his features, admonished Vaga Powell that her presentiment was on the eve of being fulfilled. Sure was she of it on hearing his answer to Sabrina, who had anxiously questioned him on his coming up. "Yes, dearest! A courier from Massey at Gloucester. I'm commanded to proceed thither in all haste. We must home." And home went they to Hollymead, hurriedly as once before. But not to stay there; only to leave the ladies within a few minutes in getting ready for the "route." Then back down to Ruardean to order the "Assembly" sounded; soon after "Boots and saddles"; in fine, the "Forward, march!" and before the sun had sunk over the far Hatteral Hills, the sequestered village had resumed its wonted tranquillity, not a soldier to be seen in its streets, nor anywhere round it. CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. AGAIN PRESENTIMENTS. "Don't you wish we were back in Gloucester, Sab?" "Why wish that, Vag?" "It's so lonely here." "How you've changed, and in so short a time! While in the city you were all longings for the country and now--" "Now I long to get back to the city." "The prosaic city of Gloucester, too!" "Even so. And am sorry we ever came away from it."