Woodward had not proceeded far on his way when he was overtaken by
an equestrian, who came up to him at a smart pace, which, however, he
checked on getting beside him.
"A fine morning, sir, after an awful night," observed the stranger.
"It is, sir," replied Woodward, "and a most awful night it assuredly
was. Have you heard whether there has been destruction to life or
property to any extent?"
"Not so much to life," replied his companion, "but seriously, I
understand, to property. If you had ridden far you must have observed
the number of dwelling-houses and out-offices that have been unroofed,
and some of them altogether blown down."
"I have not ridden far," said Woodward; "I was obliged to take shelter
in the house of a country gentleman named Goodwin, who lives over in the
trees."
"You were fortunate in finding shelter anywhere," replied the stranger,
"during such a tempest. I remember nothing like it."
As they proceeded along, indulging in similar chat, they observed that
five or six countrymen, who had been walking at a smart pace, about a
couple of hundred yards before them, came suddenly to a stand-still,
and, after appearing to consult together, they darted off the road
and laid themselves down, as if with a view of concealment, behind the
grassy ditch which ran along it.
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