But it was not to shafts of this kind the knight had reference; instead, arrows projected from muskets and arquebusses for setting fire to assailed forts and houses--a species of ordnance which then formed part of the equipment of every well-appointed _corps d'armee_. With the master of Hollymead the argument was conclusive. He saw his house could not be held, with any hope of successful defence, if attacked by a force strong and determined. And that such would come against it he had been as good as sure, ever since that hour when Reginald Trevor placed in his hands the letter of Loan by Privy Seal-- altogether sure, when Lunsford, later, came to make the levy itself. Only a day or two longer had he remained in it, to pack up his plate, with other cherished penates, and have them transmitted to a place of safety--to Gloucester--the nearest city promising asylum to the harried partisans of the Parliament--going thither himself with his family. He had, however, made but short stay there. The seaport of Bristol beyond was a "city of refuge" more to his mind, because of a house in it that offered him hospitality--a sister's--and under its roof he and his were sojourning on that night of dread danger, averted almost as soon as apprehended. Nor in that crisis was the refugee from Dean Forest himself inactive. When men stood gazing with eyes full of keen apprehension at the fire-glare over Durdham Down, Ambrose Powell was moving briskly through Bristol's streets, urging its citizens to arm and defend it. Along with him a clergyman, who added his appeal with eloquent tongue and passionate speech. He was Tombes, of Leominster, who had been mobbed in that town of woolstaplers, and driven out of it by drunken roughs; no doubt the progenitors of those who in the late Parliamentary election in like manner dishonoured themselves. To Darwin's transmutation and improvement theory, the human animals of Leominster seem to be an exception; especially as regards the improvement, for its Jingo cur of to-day is rather a falling off from the quality of his prototype--the Cavalier wolf of the Great war time. CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. A HOME GAYER THAN CONGENIAL.