I received from him, or rather from Master Ferguson, instructions to be on the lookout for ye and for several others of the faithful we expect to join us from the East.

By what route came ye ?' 'Over Salisbury Plain and so through Bruton.' 'And saw ye or met ye any of our people upon the way ?' 'None,' Saxon answered.

'We left the Blue Guards at Salisbury, however, and we saw either them or some other horse regiment near this side of the Plain at the village of Mere.' 'Ah, there is a gathering of the eagles,' cried Master Joshua Pettigrue, shaking his head.

'They are men of fine raiment, with war-horses and chariots and trappings, like the Assyrians of old, yet shall the angel of the Lord breathe upon them in the night.

Yea, He shall cut them off utterly in His wrath, and they shall be destroyed.' 'Amen! Amen!' cried as many of the peasants as were within earshot.
'They have elevated their horn, Master Pettigrue,' said the grizzly-haired Puritan.