The instant resistance was over, Captain Davenant ran out with his men to secure the horses.  A few of the Hessians, who had escaped from the front door, had jumped on the backs of the nearest animals and ridden off.  The rest had fled on foot, and the exulting troopers counted seventy-two horses remaining in their hands.  Captain Davenant at once returned to the house.

“Where are you, Walter?” he shouted; but there was no answer.  Getting more light, Captain Davenant searched hastily among the numerous bodies scattered in the hall, and soon came upon Walter, who was lying, insensible, just at the foot of the stairs.  The excitement had supported him so long as the defence had to be continued; but, as soon as succour appeared, and the assailants retreated, he had stumbled forward with his men, and had fallen insensible from loss of blood at the foot of the stairs.  Captain Davenant hastily examined him.

“Thank God,” he said to Larry, who had smuggled himself over with the second detachment, “he has no other wound but this on the shoulder, and has only fainted from loss of blood!  Run upstairs, and snatch a sheet from one of the beds.  We will soon make some bandages.”

Larry did as he was ordered.  Slips were torn off the sheets, and, after cutting Walter’s coat and shirt from his shoulder, Captain Davenant bound and bandaged up the wound.  In the meantime, Larry had got some spirits from the buffet in the dining room, and a spoonful or two were poured down Walter’s throat, and in a few minutes he opened his eyes.  For a moment he looked confused, then he smiled at his father.

“You were just in time,” he said.  “We couldn’t have held out much longer.”

“Yes, we were just in time, thank God!” his father said; “but where are the ladies?”

“In the drawing room.  Mrs. Conyers has fainted.”

Captain Davenant ran upstairs.  Claire had succeeded in restoring her mother, who had just sat up when Captain Davenant entered.

“My daughter tells me that you have rescued us, you and your son,” she said faintly.  “How can I thank you enough?”

“Never mind that now, my dear lady,” Captain Davenant said hastily.  “Just at present, we have no time to lose.  The fellows who have escaped will carry the news to William’s camp, and in half an hour we shall have a regiment of cavalry here.  I must retreat at once, and carry my wounded with me.  What will you do?  Will you stay here, or will you and your daughter come with us?”

“Oh, I will go with you, please.  If I was sure my husband would come with them, I would not fear; but he may not hear of it, and there is no saying what they might do.”

“How is Walter, Captain Davenant?” Claire—­who had been waiting impatiently for her mother to finish—­burst in.  “He was wounded, and there was such terrible fighting afterwards, and he has not come back with you.”

“He fainted from loss of blood,” Captain Davenant said; “but I do not think his wounds are serious.