blessing of Heaven upon me. He then drew my companion aside, and I
heard the jingling of coin, from which I judge that he was giving him
something wherewith to start upon his travels. My mother clasped me to
her heart, and slipped a small square of paper into my hand, saying that
I was to look at it at my leisure, and that I should make her happy if I
would but conform to the instructions contained in it. This I promised
to do, and tearing myself away I set off down the darkened village
street, with my long-limbed companion striding by my side.

It was close upon one in the morning, and all the country folk had been
long abed. Passing the Wheatsheaf and the house of old Solomon, I could
not but wonder what they would think of my martial garb were they afoot.
I had scarce time to form the same thought before Zachary Palmer's
cottage when his door flew open, and the carpenter came running out with
his white hair streaming in the fresh night breeze.

'I have been awaiting you, Micah,' he cried. 'I had heard that Monmouth
was up, and I knew that you would not lose a night ere starting.
God bless you, lad, God bless you! Strong of arm and soft of heart,
tender to the weak and stern to the oppressor, you have the prayers and
the love of all who know you.' I pressed his extended hands, and the
last I saw of my native hamlet was the shadowy figure of the carpenter
as he waved his good wishes to me through the darkness.

We made our way across the fields to the house of Whittier, the Whig
farmer, where Saxon got into his war harness. We found our horses ready
saddled and bridled, for my father had at the first alarm sent a message
across that we should need them. By two in the morning we were
breasting Portsdown Hill, armed, mounted, and fairly started on our
journey to the rebel camp.