The Children of the New Forest | Page 4

nothing."

"Yes," replied the leader, "their abodes are full of these popish
abominations; but there is one way which is sure; and if the man
Charles be concealed in any house, I venture to say that I will find him.
Fire and smoke will bring him forth; and to every Malignant's house
within twenty miles will I apply the torch; but it must be at night, for
we are not sure of his being housed during the day. James Southwold,
thou knowest well the mansion of Arnwood?"
"I know well my way to all the offices below--the buttery, the cellar,
and the kitchen; but I can not say that I have ever been into the
apartments of the upper house."
"That it needeth not; if thou canst direct us to the lower entrance it will
be sufficient."
"That can I, Master Ingram," replied Southwold, "and to where the best
ale used to be found."
"Enough, Southwold, enough; our work must be done, and diligently.
Now, my men, tighten your girths; we will just ride to the dell: if it
conceals not whom we seek, it shall conceal us till night, and then the
country shall be lighted up with the flames of Arnwood, while we
surround the house and prevent escape. Levelers, to horse!"
The troopers sprung upon their saddles, and went off at a hard trot,
Southwold leading the way. Jacob remained among the fern until they
were out of sight, and then rose up. He looked for a short time in the
direction in which the troopers had gone, stooped down again to take
up his gun, and then said, "There's providence in this; yes, and there's
providence in my not having my dog with me, for he would not have
remained quiet for so long a time. Who would ever have thought that
James Southwold would have turned a traitor! more than traitor, for he
is now ready to bite the hand that has fed him, to burn the house that
has ever welcomed him. This is a bad world, and I thank Heaven that I
have lived in the woods. But there is no time to lose;" and the old
forester threw his gun over his shoulder, and hastened away in the
direction of his own cottage.

"And so the king has escaped," thought Jacob, as he went along, "and
he may be in the forest! Who knows but he may be at Arnwood, for he
must hardly know where to go for shelter? I must haste and see Miss
Judith immediately. 'Levelers, to horse!' the fellow said. What's a
Leveler?" thought Jacob.
As perhaps my readers may ask the same question, they must know that
a large proportion of the Parliamentary army had at this time assumed
the name of Levelers, in consequence of having taken up the opinion
that every man should be on an equality, and property should be
equally divided. The hatred of these people to any one above them in
rank or property, especially toward those of the king's party, which
mostly consisted of men of rank and property, was unbounded, and
they were merciless and cruel to the highest degree, throwing off much
of that fanatical bearing and language which had before distinguished
the Puritans. Cromwell had great difficulty in eventually putting them
down, which he did at last accomplish by hanging and slaughtering
many. Of this Jacob knew nothing; all he knew was, that Arnwood was
to be burned down that night, and that it would be necessary to remove
the family. As for obtaining assistance to oppose the troopers, that he
knew to be impossible. As he thought of what must take place, he
thanked God for having allowed him to gain the knowledge of what
was to happen, and hastened on his way. He had been about eight miles
from Arnwood when he had concealed himself in the fern. Jacob first
went to his cottage to deposit his gun, saddled his forest pony, and set
off for Arnwood. In less than two hours the old man was at the door of
the mansion; it was then about three o'clock in the afternoon, and being
in the month of November, there was not so much as two hours of
daylight remaining. "I shall have a difficult job with the stiff old lady,"
thought Jacob, as be rung the bell; "I don't believe that she would rise
out of her high chair for old Noll and his whole army at his back. But
we shall see."
CHAPTER II.
Before Jacob is admitted to the presence of Miss Judith Villiers, we
must give some account of the establishment at Arnwood. With the

exception of one male servant, who officiated in the house and stable as
his services might be required, every man of