He ceased speech abruptly, seeing it was overheard by the street passengers, who, attracted by the oddness of the group, had begun to gather round it. He was about to demand of the cadgers, _sotto voce_, where they intended putting up, with a view to further conference, when a man of herculean stature--soldier in cavalry uniform--made appearance inside the circle of bystanders, going straight up to the woman, and speaking some words, as one who had familiar acquaintance with her,-- "Ah! Sergeant Wilde," said the Volunteer officer, "you know these people, do you?" "I ought to, Captain. All o' us war born an' brought up in the Forest o' Dean, not very far apart." "Enough," said, or rather thought, Birch, who, after a whispered word with the colossal trooper, gave permission for the cadger party to pass on over the bridge. Rob went with them; soon as beyond earshot of the crowd, saying: "Dear Win! I ha' got leave o' guard duty for the whole o' an hour. Captain Trevor coined back to the gate 'most the minnit ye left it. When I tolt him who'd passed through, it war, `Rob, go and see to their bein' stowed in comfortable quarters.' Kind o' him, warn't it?" "Deed war it," answered Win, but without thinking it strange; her woman's instinct told her the why and wherefore of Captain Trevor's kindness. Jerky seemed less satisfied than either of the other two; for a reason he knew of, equally known to his sister. That detention on the bridge's head had been torture to him; it might forfeit the reward promised and expected. She cared less for it, hers already gained, in having her beloved Rob once more by her side. The two, talking of old things and times, might have lagged upon the way, had Jack given them time and opportunity, which he did not; on the contrary, urging greater haste than ever, while persuading Jinkum to make still better speed by a multiplication of "gee-ups," and a storm of solid thwacks administered by the cudgel. But they had not reached the Bird in the Bush--were scarce beyond sight of the people who saw them depart from the bridge--when he who had just held speech with them was accosted by one whose speech and air told that she, too--for it was a woman--had a secret to communicate; but, unlike the cadgeress, wanted--was impatient--to reveal it. And altogether unlike the latter otherwise was the new applicant for converse with Captain Birch--so far as could be seen of her--for she was cloaked and hooded. But when the hood was tossed back, so that she could herself see and speak freely, a face was revealed, beautiful and of delicate outlines, unmistakably that of a lady. That she was not unknown to the young Volunteer officer might be told from the start of surprise at seeing her. Still better proof of their being acquainted in the words she addressed to him, spoken in panting haste and excitedly. He had said, interrogatively: