Anon a vast blaze gleamed broadly and redly on the night, revealing a thousand striking objects unseen before,--the church of St. Peter, with its gleaming windows, and the Gothic façade of Wolsey's ruined college. A loud explosion followed, a shout rose up from the town below; then all became still, and it seemed, as before, to float in the calm misty light of the silver moon.
"Finland has blown up the English magazine," said the Earl; "and here he comes."
The clatter of hoofs and wheels ringing in the narrow streets, and rumbling above the hollow bridge of the Orwell, approached; steel caps flashed in the moonlight above the parapet, the gleam of arms was reflected in the surface of the river, and in a few minutes Douglas, Walter Fenton, Gavin of that ilk, and their party seated on the tumbrils, dashed up with four pieces of beautiful brass cannon, marked with the broad arrow and red rose of England, and drawn by twelve horses captured for the occasion.
"Bravo, Finland!" exclaimed the Earl; "here are four braw marrows for old Mons Meg."
"Would to heaven, my lord, they were in the Maiden Castle alongside of her, with the standard of the Cock o' the North waving over them!"
"What news, my tall grenadier?--You have the rix-dollars, I hope."
"My Lord Earl, the devil a tester. This English burgomaster was not a whit dismayed by my threats, but assailed me with a band of tip-staves; so, with drawn rapier, I was glad to beat a retreat and gain Finland's band with my skin whole."
"And what think you inspired him to beard us thus?" asked Walter.
"By the head of the King, I care not!" said Dunbarton, setting his teeth and rising in his stirrups. "I will hang him from yonder steeple and inquire after."
"Jeddart justice all the world over," muttered old Wemyss.
"He had received news that Sir John Lanier, with his regiment of Dragoon guards and Langstone's horse, have already reached Saffron Waldron, in which case it were madness in us to tarry."
"Gavin, must we then retreat?" said the Earl, colouring with passion. "Who brought these evil tidings?"
"Pshaw--I don't think he can be relied on."
"I know him to be a man of good repute," replied Gavin: "Sir Tufton Shirley of Mildenham. He fought for the King at Sedgemoor. I warrant him brave and honourable as any cavalier in his country."