Mr. Jervoise led them back to a spot that he had selected, where the road dipped into a deep valley, in which, sheltered from the winds, was a small wood.  Leaving one at the edge, to give warning directly the escort appeared on the road over the brow, he told the rest to dismount.  Most of them were armed with pistols.  All had swords.

“Do you,” he said, “who are good shots with your pistols, fire at the men when I give the word—­let the rest aim at the horses.  The moment you have opened fire, dash forward and fall on them.  We are already as numerous as they are, and we ought to be able to dismount or disable four or five of them, with our first fire.  I shall give the order as Sir Marmaduke arrives opposite me.  Probably the officer will be riding.  I shall make the officer my special mark, for it may be that he has orders to shoot the prisoner, if any rescue is attempted.

“I don’t suppose they will be at all prepared for an attack.  They were vigilant, no doubt, for the first two days but, once out of Lancashire, they will think that there is no longer any fear of an attempt at rescue.  Pursue those that escape for half a mile or so, and then draw rein, and, as soon as they are out of sight, strike due north across the fells.  Keep to the east of Glossop, and then make your way singly to your homes.  It will be better for you to travel up through Yorkshire, till you are north of Ingleborough, so as to come down from the north to your farms.

“I know that you have all engaged in this affair for love of Sir Marmaduke or myself, and because you hate to see a loyal gentleman made the victim of lying knaves; but when we come back with the king, you may be sure that Sir Marmaduke and I will well reward the services you have rendered.”

It was an hour before the man on the lookout warned them that the troop had just appeared over the hill.  They mounted now, and, pistol in hand, awaited the arrival of the party.  Two troopers came first, trotting carelessly along, laughing and smoking.  A hundred yards behind came the main body, four troopers first, then the lieutenant and Sir Marmaduke, followed by the other six troopers.

With outstretched arm, and pistol pointed through the undergrowth, Mr. Jervoise waited till the officer, who was riding on his side of the road, came abreast of him.  He had already told the boys that he intended to aim at his shoulder.

“They are the enemies of the king,” he said, “but I cannot, in cold blood, shoot down a man with whom I have no cause for quarrel.  I can depend upon my aim, and he will not be twelve paces from the muzzle of my pistol.”

He fired.  The officer gave a sudden start, and reeled on his horse, and, before he could recover himself, the band, who had fired at the flash of the first pistol, dashed out through the bushes and fell upon the troopers.  Four men had dropped, one horse had fallen, and two others were plunging wildly as, with a shout, their assailants dashed upon them.  All who could turn their horse’s head rode furiously off, some along the road forward, others back towards Manchester.  The lieutenant’s horse had rolled over with him, as that of Mr. Jervoise struck it on the shoulder, with the full impetus of its spring.