"And who holds the bridge at Hilsea?" "Ridge's regiment of foot." "And the countersign?" The prisoner made no reply, and Firestone repeated the question, without result. "A charge from your bandolier, sergeant." Lawson handed a cartridge to the colonel, who, deliberately breaking the paper, ostentatiously scattered the grains of powder over the right knee of the prostrate man. "Make ready flint and steel, sergeant," said our leader. "Now, sirrah," he added to his prisoner, "for the last time--the countersign?" The man was still silent for a moment then he answered sullenly: "'The sword of Gideon.'" "Ah, we have it," explained Firestone. "Now, help me truss this man up." A few moments sufficed to bind our prisoner, a gag being placed in his mouth, while our leader tied his scarf over his own shoulders. Lawson thereupon removed the man's pistols from his holsters, and hobbled his horse. Our captive was lifted to the other side of the hedge, and in high spirits we remounted and resumed our way. Hardly had we ridden two hundred yards, however, when, to our surprise, we heard a shout followed by the sound of a galloping horse. "A plague on the man!" exclaimed Firestone. "He has slipped his bonds, and has ridden to give the alarm. Ten thousand countersigns will avail little, should he reach the bridge before us!" Relentlessly we spurred our steeds, and, in a quarter of an hour, we drew rein before Portsbridge. By the glow of a huge wood fire we could see the motionless, yet alert, forms of the musketeers and pikemen mounting guard, while the firelight flickered on the gaping muzzles of a park of artillery. "'Twill be touch and go, should the password be false," muttered the colonel, and, loosening our swords in their scabbards, we trotted daringly towards the outpost. The countersign satisfied the sentries, but, on gaining the far side of the creek, an officer demanded who we were and what was our business. "Captain Hosea Smith, and dragoons, of Garth's regiment, with despatches for Colonel Voysey at Petersfield." "How fares our cause against the malignants?" "The castle has fallen." "The enemies of the Lord are as ripe corn before the sickle. Pass, captain, and fare ye well." We lost no time in taking our departure, for already my quick ear detected the sound of approaching horsemen along the distant Portsmouth road; and barely had we left the outpost a hundred paces behind us when a fierce hubbub arose from the Parliamentary troops, while a musket-shot gave the alarm that something was amiss. "They'll be at our heels within five minutes," exclaimed Lawson. "Ride straight for the hill!" Clattering through the sleeping village of Cosham, we turned aside from the main road that leads to the City of London, and gained the grassy sward, and I began to realise that our horses were slowly and laboriously climbing a long and steep ascent.