Engage thee boats for Royalist troops; bring the men here for payment first; and mark, thou art within range. Your sister will remain as your hostage, young malignant." The youth's face fell. He had hoped to escape his unwelcome escort, but the old campaigner was too much for him. The lad therefore complied, and soon returned with the ferrymen, who at once changed countenance when they perceived they had been misled. A few words in an undertone re-assured them, and their leader nodded assent. The men had at first refused to ferry the Puritans across, alleging that the passage was his Majesty's, and not for his enemies. But after a parley, and perceiving that Watson was quite capable of hanging them all, and that some of his men had already drawn their swords, they consented with an ill grace, and a scarce-concealed expression of revenge which boded no good to the Parliamentary troops. The tide was rather low, but the wind was up channel, and plenty of water would soon arise. None but the fishermen knew how soon or in what volume it would come, and the troopers, dismounting, kept guard while the horses were taken down. Then the men were embarked, but John and his sister were kept behind by the fishermen. Several trips were made half-way across the ferry. In the centre was a reef of rocks, and on these stones the troopers were landed in detachments, as the men declared that the water was too shallow to ferry them farther, and that they might wade across or wait the flood tide. This appeared reasonable, and then the ferrymen, without undue haste, returned for John and Kate Penderell and the light baggage of the soldiery. Very leisurely did they pull back, but before they could reach the bank the soldiers began to make an attempt to wade the stream before them; but the water was too deep. The tide had been flowing fast, almost unperceived, till the stream raced up, and threatened to invade the rocks on which the Parliamentary soldiers stood. "Look! look!" cried Kate. The wave-the wall of water! K CHAPTER V.-THE BLACK ROCK PASSAGE-DEATH OF THE ROUNDHEADS-RAGLAND CASTLE, AND THE TRICKS AND MACHINES THEREIN. ATE PENDERELL covered her face with her hands. But John and the Royalist ferrymen, made of sterner stuff, watched the approaching wave with more courage, and the fishermen viewed it with satisfaction. They had known quite well what the probable result of the landing on the rocks would be, and, determined enemies of the Parliament as they were, detesting with all the strength of unreflecting zeal the soldiers of the "traitor" Cromwell, these men had carried the soldiers to a death quite as certain, more unexpected, and less honourable than they would meet in the field of battle. The resistless tide-wave advanced, sweeping along the banks, rushing into the muddy bays, and covering the stones and rocks. On, on, in a resistless flood, the foam-topped muddy wall of water rushed, lapping first at the corslets of the wading soldiery, then catching them suddenly off their feet, as if by unseen hands their legs had been lifted underneath, and throwing them sideways up-stream, to toss them about at will amongst the billows. The poor horses, more alive to the danger, whinnied, and made vain attempts to escape by swimming. The Severn made no distinction between the animals, biped or quadruped. The same sudden rush and curling wave which had overwhelmed men on foot overtook the men on horseback; and all up-stream the river was dotted with frantic strugglers or distorted figures, lifeless as the muddy tide. It was a terrible sight, but ere Kate had removed her hands from her face the wave had passed on, and the smoother water, hurrying up in obedience to Nature's laws, had already planed away the inequalities of the rocks, and made all level as the hand of death which had "Look, John! | preceded it. Not a vestige of the troops reOh, mercy!" | mained. The rocks were deeply covered; the flood was now a rapid, the smooth and running they carried John Penderell and his sister safely water but a grave.* Running to her brother, she laid her head upon his shoulder, and wept, while he endeavoured to console her, but ineffectually. "They were our enemies, Kate. They would have taken our king prisoner," he said. "But we should forgive our enemies," she pleaded. "Oh, John! that was terrible! so many called suddenly to account-the poor troopers!" "Poor troopers, mistress?" interrupted one of the ferrymen. "Poor! Odds fish! Let them lie! Better in the mud of Wye or Severn than in Ragland Castle. Poor, I warrant thee, now, and rightly so." John Penderell made no answer, nor did Kate. He was aware that the ferrymen had saved his life and his sister's, and he was not inclined to bandy words with the revengeful Royalists. He lamented the death of the soldiers in such a way, but was Royalist to the back-bone, so rather felt inclined to condemn the act than to discuss it. But the question what he and Kate were to do now arose, and he put it to the ferrymen, who replied that if they wanted to cross to Monmouthshire they would give them passage, and they could join the king's attendants at Ragland. A force of men were also about to descend on Chepstow, then held by the Royalists, for Morgan, in Gloucester city, had conceived the idea of reducing it. He had already summoned Ragland, but his invitation to surrender had been declined by Henry, Marquis of Worcester. To Ragland Castle, then, were John Penderell and his sister bound. They had little chance of escaping the advancing Parliamentary forces, and to attempt to reach home under the circumstances without money, and in Puritan garb, would be impossible. After some little bargaining, the fishermen agreed to supply the lad with somewhat less Puritanical garments, while Kate was content, because obliged, to appear in the coif and the sober dress of the Puritan maiden. The ferrymen were as good as their word; This incident actually occurred when the Royalists were pursued by the Parliament troops, across the "Passage," which was destined soon to be abolished, for when Cromwell heard of the occurrence, and of the death of the detachment of troopers, he destroyed the ferry, and it was only re-established at the commencement of the eighteenth century. Taking a hearty and grateful farewell of the generous ferrymen, the young adventurers made the best of their way towards Ragland Castle. But the pair did not proceed far without interruption. The king had lately been to Creek, or Crick, at the house of Mr. Moore, and at that place John Penderell, with his wits about him, made inquiry with such good purpose, that he and Kate were accommodated for the night, and went forward next day through Shirenewton. The lad had gathered some information from the Parliamentarians, and when he reached Ragland, those assembled there had something to say to him. Ragland, or Raglan, Castle is situated about eight miles from Monmouth, and can be reached by rail in these days; but when our adventurers proceeded thither from the south, they had a more simple conveyance to the Malin-y-Gwent, or Yellow Tower of Monmouthshire, which, as represented by Ragland Castle, stands, as it then stood, on the Twyn-y-Ceros, or Cherry Hill (Cherry Tump), and commands a view unrivalled in Wales. The hills of Blorens and other eminences are visible from the keep, which was six-sided, five storeys high, and the walls ten feet thick. The bridge over the moat still exists, and in the moat and yard the Marquis of Worcester had his water-engines and fountains which so alarmed some of the Parliamentary searchers-as you shall hear presently. There were three gates: the outer one was guarded by two towers. Having entered this, John Penderell and his sister found themselves escorted into the Pitched Stone Court, and the Kitchen Tower in front of them recalled some memories of a dinner the day before. But what surprised our young visitors more than all at first was the White Horse Fountain, which stood in the centre of the court. This fountain was an equestrian statue which threw up water in pretty jets, the sparkling liquid being then conveyed to the fish-ponds. As the young people entered the castle, they had feared the great portcullis and the armed men, who regarded Kate with some distrust, and more unwelcome admiration; but the fountain discharging water so curiously astonished the young visitors. "Ah!" said an attendant, in reply to their inquiries, "these water machines and engines of the marquis have done us good service. Not long since came hither the Searchers, and required our hand-guns, and even our swords, quotha! But his Excellency, with true courtesy, let them seek and find an' they could." come. "Did they find any?" inquired the lad. "They did not, young sir, though in plenty. But the whole point of the narrative is yet to The noble marquis had given me and my fellows instructions to open the water-taps for his engines, which, when running into the pipes, make most unearthly and gruesome noises, like so many wild beasts roaring for their prey. We complied right willingly, and in a moment the tearing and rending was as if the tigers of Eastern legend had got loose in our midst. One of us then ran in seeming terror to our noble marquis, and cried, 'Save thyself, save thyself, my lord! the lions and tigers have broken away! Fly for thy life!" "And the Searchers ?" asked Kate, laughing. "The Searchers, odds life! they scattered to the four winds! They raced for their lives, and so long as the hungry 'beasts' kept roaring they never looked back. He he he! my sides ache at the memory. He! he he!" "It was well and cunningly devised," said Kate, still laughing; "and the noble marquis hath much excellent humour too. Besides, he understandeth many hidden mysteries." "In sooth that doth he," replied the servitor. "There are here a century of inventions of machines of varied kinds-water engines for movement by steam and fluids, a coach-saving engine, an oft-discharging pistol, many water screws, a ship-raising engine, with water-wheels and stupendous works, which, were I to enumerate them, would fill thee with confusion of mind." "Indeed, this is a wondrous place, and I have curiosity to examine it," replied John Penderell, "but just now you must know that I have business with the noble marquis himself.." "It doth, good Sir Steward, it doth rightly. concern him. We have but yesterday escaped the sacrilegious hands of the Parliamentary troopers, and have some little intelligence to impart concerning the intended movements upon Chepstow which we overheard." "I will do thine errand, then,” replied the old man. "Follow me, jackanapes, and the maiden if she listeth, for the marquis loves a merry modest face, and better in his presence than in the court-yard." Kate thought so too, for the soldiers, or retainers, had inspired her with some little terror, and much aversion for their bold looks; so she gladly acceded to the old steward's suggestion, and accompanied him closely to the great tower, where the king's apartments were situated. CHAPTER VI.-KING CHARLES AT RAGLANDJOHN PENDERELL IS MADE A KING'S PAGE -BAD NEWS-THE SIEGE-LIFE AT RAG F LAND-THE PARLEY. ROM the Fountain Court the steward, chattering as he went, conducted the young people across to the south side, where in the south-west tower a flight of steps ascended to the apartments occupied by the fugitive Charles. The king is familiar to us all as a persecuted and unfortunate ruler, but granting his misfortunes, we must seek the cause in himself in great measure. After quitting the fatal field of Naseby, Charles I. fled, accompanied by a few horsemen, to Ashby and Hereford. Digby and Ashburnham ruled his movements, and instead of joining Goring and Greenville in the west, he proceeded to Wales, and at Abergavenny met the Commissioners of Array, who promised, but did not perform any thing. Charles then proceeded to Ragland Castle, where, in the society of the devoted marquis and his adherents, and surrounded by the Duke of Richmond, Lords Digby and |