Certain it is that he kept no
garrison that would suffice to offer a stout defence against a strong
band, although the precaution was taken of keeping a watchman, night
and day, in one of the turrets. The sound of his horn was heard by the
horsemen, as soon as they began to descend the hill.
"A pest on the knave!" Lord Grey exclaimed. "He will slip through our
fingers, yet."
It was scarce a minute later when a mounted man was seen to dash out,
at full speed, from the other side of the building. He was evidently
well mounted; and although the pursuit was hotly kept up, for two
miles, he gained the forest while they were still a quarter of a mile
behind him, and was lost to view; for although they beat the wood for
some distance, they could find no traces of him.
When passing by the house, a detachment of a hundred men were ordered
to surround it, and to suffer none to enter or leave it. On the return
of the pursuing party the house was entered, and ransacked from end to
end. The male retainers found in it were ruthlessly killed. The
furniture, which showed at once the good taste and wealth of the owner,
was smashed into pieces, the hangings torn down, and the whole place
dismantled.
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