‘Besides, mother, I shall be getting better all the way,’ he continued. ’—­I must go home at once and see whether there is anything left to go upon.’

He rose the same instant, and, regardless of the good woman’s entreaties, crawled out to go to Redware.  She followed him at a little distance, and, before he had walked a quarter of a mile, he was ready to accept her offered arm to help him back.  But his recovery was now very rapid, and. after a few days he felt able for the journey.

At home he found a note from his father, telling him where to find money, and informing him that he was ready to yield him Oliver the moment he should appear to claim him.  Richard put on his armour, and went to the stable.  The weather had been fine, and the harvest was wearing gradually to a close; but the few horses that were left were overworked, for the necessities of the war had been severe, and that part of the country had responded liberally on both sides.  Besides, Mr. Heywood had scarce left an animal judged at all fit to carry a man and keep up with the troop.

When Richard reached the stable, there were in it but three, two of which, having brought loads to the barn, were now having their mid-day meal and rest.  The first one was ancient in bones, with pits profound above his eyes, and grey hairs all about a face which had once been black.

’Thou art but fit for old Father Time to lay his scythe across when he is aweary,’ said Richard, and turned to the next.

She was a huge-bodied, short-legged punch, as fat as butter, with lop ears and sleepy eyes.  Having finished her corn, she was churning away at a mangerful of grass.

‘Thou wouldst burst thy belly at the first charge,’ said Richard, and was approaching the third, one he did not recognise, when a vicious, straight-out kick informed him that here was temper at least, probably then spirit.  But when he came near enough to see into the stall, there stood the ugliest brute he thought that ever ate barley.  He was very long-bodied and rather short-legged, with great tufts at his fetlocks, and the general look of a huge rat, in part doubtless from having no hair on his long undocked tail.  He was biting vigorously at his manger, and Richard could see the white of one eye glaring at him askance in the gloom.

‘Dunnot go nigh him, sir,’ cried Jacob Fortune, who had come up behind.  ’Thou knows not his tricks.  His name be his nature, and we call him Beelzebub when master Stopchase be not by.  I be right glad to see your honour up again.’

Jacob was too old to go to the wars, and too indifferent to regret it; but he was faithful, and had authority over the few men left.

‘I thank you, Jacob,’ said Richard.  ’What brute is this?  I know him not.’

’We all knows him too well, master Richard, though verily Stopchase bought him but the day before he rode, thinking belike he might carry an ear or two of wheat.  If he be not very good he was not parlous dear; he paid for him but an old song.  He was warranted to have work in him if a man but knew how to get it out.’