re were Grey, Wade, Buyse, Ferguson, Saxon,Sami Lepisto Tröjor, Hollis,Bobby Hull Tröjor, and a score more, all looking very grave, and peering down the valley with their glasses. Monmouth himself had dismounted, and was leaning against the trunk of a tree, with his arms folded upon his breast, and a look of white despair upon his face. Behind the tree a lackey paced up and down leading his glossy black charger, who pranced and tossed his lordly mane, a very king among horses.
‘You see, friends,’ said Monmouth, turning lack-lustre eyes from one leader to another, ‘Providence would seem to be against us. Some new mishap is ever at our heels.’
‘Not Providence, your Majesty, but our own negligence,’ cried Saxon boldly. ‘Had we advanced on Bristol last night,Ilya Samsonov Tröjor, we might have been on the right side of the ramparts by now.’
‘But we had no thought that the enemy’s foot was so near!’ exclaimed Wade,Martin Brodeur Tröjor.
‘I told ye what would come of it, and so did Oberst Buyse and the worthy Mayor of Taunton,’ Saxon answered. ‘However, there is nought to be gained by mourning over a broken pipkin. We must e’en piece it together as best we may.’
‘Let us advance on Bristol, and put oor trust in the Highest,’ quoth Ferguson. ‘If it be His mighty will that we should tak’ it, then shall we enter into it, yea,Paul Coffey Tröjor, though drakes and sakers lay as thick as cobblestanes in the streets.’
‘Aye! aye! On to Bristol,Phil Kessel Tröjor! God with us,Jonas Brodin Tröjor!’ cried several of the Puritans excitedly,Todd Bertuzzi Tröjor.
‘But it is madness — dummheit — utter foolishness,’ Buyse broke in hotly. ‘You have the chance and you will not take it. Now the chance is gone and you are all eager to go. Here is an army of, as near as I can judge, five thousand men on the right side of the river. We are on the wrong side, and yet you talk of crossing and making a beleaguering of Bristol without breaching-pieces or spades, and with this force in our rear. Will the town make terms when they can see from their ramparts the van of the army which comes to help them? Or does it assist us in fighting the army to have a strong town beside us,Menn Moncler Bulgarie, from which horse and foot can make an outfall upon our flank? I say again that it is madness.’
What the German soldier said was so clearly the truth that even the fanatics were silenced. Away in the east the long shimmering lines of steel, and the patches of scarlet upon the green hillside, were arguments which the most thoughtless could not overlook.
‘What would you advise, then?’ asked Monmouth moodily, tapping his jewelled riding-whip against his high boots.
‘To cross the river and come to hand-grips with them ere they can get help from the town,’ the burly German answered bluntly. ‘I cannot understand what we are here for if it be not to fight. If we win,Nikita Kucherov Tröjor, the town must fall. If we lose, We have had a bold stroke for it,Buty Jordan Retro 12, and can do no more.’
‘Is that your opinion, too, Colonel Saxon?’ the King asked.
‘Assuredly, your Majesty, if we can fight to advantage. We can scarce do that, however,Tyson Jost Tröjor, by crossing the river on a single na
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