'Listen to me, misguided fools,' he continued, standing up upon his stirrups and speaking to the peasants at the other side of the waggon.

'What chance have ye with your whittles and cheese-scrapers?
Ye may yet save your skins if ye will but deliver up your leaders, throw down what ye are pleased to call your arms, and trust to the King's mercy.' 'This exceedeth the limitations of your privileges,' said Saxon, drawing a pistol from his belt and cocking it.

'If you say another word to seduce these people from their allegiance, I fire.' 'Hope not to benefit Monmouth,' cried the young officer, disregarding the threat, and still addressing his words to the peasants.

'The whole royal army is drawing round him and--' 'Have a care!' shouted our leader, in a deep harsh voice.
'His head within a month shall roll upon the scaffold.' 'But you shall never live to see it,' said Saxon, and stooping over he fired straight at the cornet's head.

At the flash of the pistol the trumpeter wheeled round and galloped for his life, while the roan horse turned and followed with its master still seated firmly in the saddle.
'Verily you have missed the Midianite!' cried Hope-above Williams.
'He is dead,' said our leader, pouring a fresh charge into his pistol.
'It is the law of war, Clarke,' he added, looking round at me.