The Children of the New Forest | Page 9

a quarter of an hour more thick smoke rose up in the dark but
clear sky; at last the flames burst forth from the lower windows of the
mansion, and soon afterward they lighted up the country round to some
distance.
"It is done," thought Jacob; and he turned to bend his hasty steps

toward his own cottage, when he heard the galloping of a horse and
violent screams; a minute afterward James Southwold passed him with
the old lady tied behind him, kicking and struggling as hard as she
could. Jacob smiled as he thought that he had by his little stratagem
saved the old woman's life, for that Southwold imagined that she was
King Charles dressed up as an old woman was evident; and he then
returned as fast as he could to the cottage.
In half an hour Jacob had passed through the thick woods which were
between the mansion and his own cottage, occasionally looking back,
as the flames of the mansion rose higher and higher, throwing their
light far and wide. He knocked at the cottage-door; Smoker, a large dog
cross-bred between the fox and blood-hound, growled till Jacob spoke
to him, and then Edward opened the door.
"My sisters are in bed and fast asleep, Jacob," said Edward, "and
Humphrey has been nodding this half hour; had he not better go to bed
before we go back?"
"Come out, Master Edward," replied Jacob, "and look." Edward beheld
the flames and fierce light between the trees and was silent.
"I told you that it would be so, and you would all have been burned in
your beds, for they did not enter the house to see who was in it, but
fired it as soon as they had surrounded it."
"And my aunt!" exclaimed Edward, clasping his hands.
"Is safe, Master Edward, and by this time at Lymington."
"We will go to her to-morrow."
"I fear not; you must not risk so much, Master Edward. These Levelers
spare nobody, and you had better let it be supposed that you are all
burned in the house."
"But my aunt knows the contrary, Jacob."

"Very true; I quite forgot that." And so Jacob had. He expected that the
old woman would have been burned, and then nobody would have
known of the existence of the children; he forgot, when he planned to
save her, that she knew where the children were.
"Well, Master Edward, I will go to Lymington to-morrow and see the
old lady; but you must remain here, and take charge of your sisters till I
come back, and then we will consider what is to be done. The flames
are not so bright as they were."
"No. It is my house that these Roundheads have burned down," said
Edward, shaking his fist.
"It was your house, Master Edward, and it was your property, but how
long it will be so remains to be seen. I fear that it will be forfeited."
"Wo to the people who dare take possession of it!" cried Edward; "I
shall, if I live, be a man one of these days."
"Yes, Master Edward, and then you will reflect more than you do now,
and not be rash. Let us go into the cottage, for it's no use remaining out
in the cold; the frost is sharp to-night."
Edward slowly followed Jacob into the cottage. His little heart was full.
He was a proud boy and a good boy, but the destruction of the mansion
had raised up evil thoughts in his heart--hatred to the Covenanters, who
had killed his father and now burned the property-- revenge upon them
(how he knew not); but his hand was ready to strike, young as he was.
He lay down on the bed, but he could not sleep. He turned and turned
again, and his brain was teeming with thoughts and plans of vengeance.
Had he said his prayers that night he would have been obliged to repeat,
"Forgive us as we forgive them who trespass against us." At last, he fell
fast asleep, but his dreams were wild, and he often called out during the
night and woke his brother and sisters.
CHAPTER III.
The next morning, as soon as Jacob had given the children their

breakfast, he set off toward Arnwood. He knew that Benjamin had
stated his intention to return with the horse and see what had taken
place, and he knew him well enough to feel sure that he would do so.
He thought it better to see him if possible, and ascertain the fate of
Miss Judith. Jacob arrived at the still smoking ruins of the mansion, and
found several people there, mostly residents within a few miles, some
attracted by curiosity, others busy in collecting the heavy masses of
lead