As he approached the farm he slackened his speed to a walk; and neared the house very carefully, for he thought it possible that one of the parties of the enemy might already have taken up his quarters there.  The silence that reigned, broken by the loud barking of dogs as he came close, proved that no stranger had yet arrived, and he knocked loudly at the door.  Presently an upper window was opened, and a woman’s voice inquired who he was, and what he wanted.

“I am Harry Furness, Dame Arden,” he said.  “The Roundheads are at the hall, and I have sliced their captain’s face; so I must be away with all speed.  Please get the men up, and lose not a moment; I want my arms and horse.”

The farmer’s wife lost no time in arousing the house, and in a very few minutes all was ready.  One man saddled the horse, while another buckled on Harry’s breast and back pieces; and with a hearty good-by, and amid many prayers for his safety and speedy return with the king’s troops, Harry rode off into the darkness.  For awhile he rode cautiously, listening intently lest he might fall into the hands of some of the Roundhead bands.  But all was quiet, and after placing another mile or two between himself and Abingdon, he concluded that he was safe, drew Rollo’s reins tighter, pressed him with his knees, and started at full gallop for Oxford.

CHAPTER V.

A mission of state.

When Harry rode into Oxford with the news that the Roundheads had made a raid as far as Abingdon, no time was lost in sounding to boot and saddle, and in half an hour the Cavalier horse were trotting briskly in that direction.  They entered Abingdon unopposed, and found to their disgust that the Roundheads had departed an hour after their arrival.  A party went up to Furness Hall, and found it also deserted.  The Roundheads, in fact, had made but a flying raid, had carried off one or two of the leading Royalists in the town, and had, on their retirement, been accompanied by several of the party favorable to the Commons, among others, Master Rippinghall and the greater portion of his men, who had, it was suspected, been already enrolled for the service of the Parliament.  Some of the Royalists would fain have sacked the house of the wool-stapler; but Colonel Furness, who had accompanied the force with his troop, opposed this vehemently.

“As long as we can,” he said, “let private houses be respected.  If the Puritans commence, it will be time for us to retort.  There are gentlemen’s mansions all over the country, many of them in the heart of Roundhead neighborhoods, and if they had once an excuse in our proceedings not one of these would be safe for a minute”

Leaving a strong force of horse in Abingdon, Prince Rupert returned to Oxford, and Colonel Furness again settled down in his residence, his troop dispersing to their farms until required, a small body only remaining at Furness Hall as a guard, and in readiness to call the others to arms if necessary.  The colonel warmly approved of the steps that Harry had taken to save the valuables, and determined that until the war was at an end these should remain hidden, as it was probable enough that the chances of the strife might again lead the Roundheads thither.