Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: "Old Squire Metcalf, as he went out to meet him, broke into a roar of laughter." (Page 84.)] THE WHITE HORSES BY HALLIWELL SUTCLIFFE _Author of "Ricroft of Withers," "The Open Road," "A Chateau in Picardy," "The Strength of the Hills," etc._ WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED LONDON, MELBOURNE AND TORONTO 1916 To my Sister’s Memory *CONTENTS.* CHAPTER I.—WHO RIDES FOR THE KING? II.—SKIPTON-IN-CRAVEN III.—SOME MEN OF FAIRFAX’S IV.—THE LAST LAUGH V.—THE LADY OF RIPLEY VI.—HOW MICHAEL CAME TO YORK VII.—A HALT AT KNARESBOROUGH VIII.—HOW THEY SOUGHT RUPERT IX.—THE LOYAL CITY X.—THE RIDING IN XI.—BANBURY CAKES XII.—PAGEANTRY XIII.—THE LADY OF LATHOM XIV.—A STANLEY FOR THE KING XV.—TWO JOLLY PURITANS XVI.—THE SCOTS AT MICKLEGATE XVII.—PRAYER, AND THE BREWING STORM XVIII.—MARSTON MOOR XIX.—WILSTROP WOOD XX.—THE HOMELESS DAYS XXI.—SIR REGINALD’S WIDOW XXII.—MISS BINGHAM XXIII.—YOREDALE *Illustrations* "Old Squire Metcalf, as he went out to meet him, broke into a roar of laughter." . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ (Page 84.) "’You’re the Squire of Nappa, sir?’ he said." "’Yes, you can be of service,’ he whispered." "’Say, do you stand for the King?’" "Without a word of any kind, a third prisoner was thrown against them." "They saw, too, that his sword was out, and naked to the moonlight." "’Well, sir?’ she asked sharply. ’You rob me of sleep for some good reason doubtless?’" "They turned sharply as the door opened, and reached out for their weapons." "’We hold your life at our mercy,’ said Rupert." "’Lady Ingilby, come to see whether her husband lives or is dead for the King.’" "’If the end of the world came—here and now—you would make a jest of it.’" "Her eyes searched eagerly for one only of the company, and disdained the rest." *THE WHITE HORSES.* *CHAPTER I.* *WHO RIDES FOR THE KING?* Up through the rich valley known now as Wensleydale, but in those days marked by the lustier name of Yoredale, news had crept that there was civil war in England, that sundry skirmishes had been fought already, and that His Majesty was needing all leal men to rally to his standard.