Wallace D. Wattles Ultimate Collection--10 Books in One Volume by Wallace D. Wattles

Author:Wallace D. Wattles [Wattles, Wallace D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9788026842002
Publisher: e-artnow
Published: 2015-08-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Table of Contents

HARRISON and his escort rode in a leisurely fashion along the road to Saltire Castle, beguiling the time with pleasant conversation. The night air was cool and fresh, and the moon was shining brilliantly. The two gentlemen rode abreast in front, with the troopers following a little way behind. It was past midnight, and they had come in sight of the lights of Shoresby, where they were to rest until morning, when they heard a horse galloping hard behind them, and drew rein to see what the occasion of such haste might be. And the rider proved to be Lady Alicia's footman, bare-headed and splashed with mud, who rode up and spoke to Harrison.

"My Lady sent me, sir," said he, "to tell you that Andrew Hogg has killed your son." And he added: " I saw his body brought in."

Captain Keatley cried out in horrified astonishment, and turned sharply to Harrison. An instant comprehension of the whole plot came to the Virginian. He realized that Lady Alicia had been right, and that the King's invitation had been procured to get him out of the way while his son was murdered. But whatever passed in his mind, his countenance did not change in the least, and his voice was calm and natural as he answered:

"Ah ! In that case, much as I regret to lose your pleasant company, Captain, I suppose I must turn back." He waited an instant for a reply, and then slowly turned his horse about.

Captain Keatley hesitated in some perplexity. He had been very favorably impressed by Harrison, and he felt a keen sympathy for the man who met such dreadful news with so gallant and unwavering a front; and also, there began to dawn upon his mind a suspicion that he, himself, had been made an instrument in carrying out some vile plot. On the other hand, he had his instructions from Cunningham, and his almost superstitious reverence for the King's command, and, for a moment, he could not decide between his sympathy and what he conceived to be his duty. As the American started his horse on the backward way, Keatley found voice, and said:

"But, sir, his Majesty ordered me to bring you to him, and if I return without you, what shall I tell him?"

Harrison slowly turned his horse about again, coming face to face with the soldier; he rode up until his horse's head overlapped the captain's thigh, and their faces were scarcely twelve inches apart. The moonlight fell full on the Virginian's countenance; he was smiling pleasantly, but Keatley's blood ran cold as he caught his look, for his eyes were like coals of fire, yet when he spoke his voice was soft and low.

"Tell him," said Harrison," to go to Hell!" Captain Keatley leaned backward as if he had received a blow, and uttered an exclamation of horror.

"And tell him," the other went on, "that if I had believed you to be a co-conspirator with Andrew Hogg in this, I would have run my sword through you the instant I had the news.

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