The Highwayman - Billy 6LG

Longingly, I gazed out of my gleaming, glass casement, wishing for my lover to suddenly appear out of the coal-black sky. The deserted, overgrown moor was lit up by the moon, which was a ghostly galleon. Surrounded by gusty trees that were blowing gracefully in the breeze, I spied the road that he would ride.

Moments later, as I heard the tlot, tlot of the horse’s hooves, a calming, familiar rhythm danced into my ears; only my true love would sing this! As my eyes widened and sparkled, a handsome Highwayman, wearing a crimson, velvet coat, came galloping towards me. He reached out for my hand and told me his cunning plan: “I’ll be back with some fancy, yellow gold before sunrise.” I nodded as he galloped over the purple, moon-lit moor until he became out of sight to the west.

As The Highwayman trotted off, the old, murky stable wicket slowly creaked open and blood-red eyes glared suspiciously along the road where The Highwayman had ridden. I examined the never-ending, misty track and out of the thick layer of fog, a red-coat troop - King George’s soldiers - came marching to me. I was hoping that one of those figures (emerging from the mist) was The Highwayman. “I’ve been waiting all day!” I muttered, “From the early hours of the dawning to the rise of the moon and nothing!” I was furious.

As the wooden inn door creaked ajar, the red-coat troop came sneaking in. If The Highwayman comes back, he would be shot dead, wouldn’t he? I thought. “He’s innocent!” I told myself, as I silently slipped out of the shattered door: I was trying to get a better view. I spied them slurping down ale, unprofessionally. In a blink of an eye, they slammed down the transparent mug and came charging towards me. Cowering, I hid. They laid an eye on me so I slipped back into my room, bolting the door shut. “Open up!” a soldier bellowed, banging on the door until it broke. “Ey, where be The Highwayman then? ‘Ave ya seen ‘im anywhere?” I sat there speechless. Ferociously, they grabbed me by the neck and tied me against the leg of the bed with a musket for protection. Helplessly, I screamed as I saw The Highwayman come gracefully galloping back… Would this be the end?

As the ancient, wooden clock tower chimed midnight, I realised what I had to do - I had to sacrifice myself; I had to warn him with my death! With one last deep breath, a finger escaped onto the trigger of the musket. “Goodbye my precious love!” I bellowed as I pressed down the trigger. BANG! Faintly (as I saw everything slowly fade away) I caught sight of The Highwayman coming to a halt. My head was ringing. My mind was blurry. My eyes began to close but at least I had warned my love - warned him with my death...