"An excellent idea!" They rushed for the church and Ned followed.

Old Jack did not get the saddle and bridle that had been promised to him.

When the boy leaped from his back he snatched off the halter of withes and shouted loudly to him: "Go!" It pained him to abandon his horse a second time under compulsion, but there was no choice.

Old Jack galloped away as if he knew what he ought to do, and then Ned, running into the church with the others, helped them to bar the doors.
The church was a solid building of stone with a flat roof, and with many loopholes made long ago as a defence against the Indians.

Ned heard the cavalry thundering into the village as they barred the doors, and then he and half a dozen men ran to the roof.