| Show THE SPLENDID SPUR c < i I Being Memoirs i of the Adventures of John Marvel Ser ant of I ii i His Late Majesty King Charles I in the Years 16423 Written by Himself EDITED IN MODERN ENGLISH I I I I i Twas the sound of a mans footfall and to the oar npptarM to bo descending n flisiit oft of-t pf oc be other sido of tho door I bent j iy car c > iLo Ioyiwlo thon stepped to n caJc fi Luliaia that stood handy by 1 tool out r t felt in ny pocket for Dliis hcr t t tlir Kjf Jiai given me caught up apikj fj t L pJo btake in tho corner and fcriiy I lowing Gt1t tv j h root tack to Ira c rd hr 1 the door when it opened I1 o footstep still descended I bead an ngi I voice mattering frViiivol my bones ugbl I tgh I Wintry wo K wlujry work 1 Heros an hcr to icud agnlfatberly man ajrroping for l keg 0 powacr1 pow1r A whrezy cough closet tho sentence a a koy was with difficulty fitted in tho lock Ugh 1 ugh Euro the lcck ai I be a pair for stiff joints The loor creaked back against mo and a knf t of lifiht pierced tim darknefw Within the threshold with his back t me sOd a gray bearded servant and tottered so that the lantern shook in his band It shamed me t lift a pike against one s weak Instead I dropped it with a clatter and leaped forward The old fellow jumped like boy turned and faced with a tured e mo dropped jaw which gavo TOO an opportunity to thrust four or five bullets not over roughly into his mouth Then having turned him on his back I strapped Delis kerchief tight across his mouth and took the lantern from his I I band Not a word vrta sid Suro the pnor old mans wits were shaken for ho lay meek as a ro sand stared up at me while I unstrapped his belt and bound his feet with it His hands 1 trussed up behind him with his own neck coth and catching up the lantern left him there I locked the door after me and slipped the key into my pocket a I sprang up the etairs beyond But here a light was shining s once more I extinguished my lantern The steps ended in a long passage with a handsome lamp hanging at tho uttermost end and beneath this lamp I stepped into a place that filled mo with astonishments Twas I could Dot doubt the entrance ball of the governors house An oak door very massive fronted me t left and right were two smaller doors that plainly led into apartments apart-ments of tho hour Also t my left and nigher then the door on that side ran up abroad a-broad staircase carpeted and brightly lit all the that blaze fell I teay s a very on me a stood Under the first flight close t my left shoulder line of with cloaks I was a lne pegs many coa 11 and hats depending therefrom Underfoot I I remember the hall was richly tiled in squares j of red and white marble I I Now clearly this was a certain place wherein t bo caught But thought I I behind one of the two doors to left or t I I right must Ho the governors room of business busi-ness and in that room as likely as nothis i keys Which door then should I choose i For t stay hero was madness While I stood pondering the doubt was answered for ma From behind the right 1 band door canto a burst of laughter and clinking of glasses on top of which a mans voice the voice of CoL Essex led out for more wine I took a step t the door on the left paused for a second or two with my hand on tho latch and then cautiously pushed it open The chamber was empty Twas a long room with a light burning on a square center table and around it amass a-mass of books loose papers and documents strewn seemingly without order The floor too was littered with the Clearly this was the colonels office colonels ofce I gave a rapid glance around Tho lamps I rays scarce illumined the far corners but in II one of these stood a great leathern screen arid over a fireplace near it a rack was hanging j hang-ing full of swords pistols aud walking towards it I of canes Stepping it caught sight j Anthonys sword suspended there amongst i nmong the rest they had taken it from me on the day of my examination which noV I took down II and strapped at my side I then chose out a pistol or two slipped them into my sash aud advanced to the center table I Under the lamp lay his majestys letter open I openMy hand was stretched out t catch it up when I heard across the hall a door opened I and tho sound of mens voices They wero j coming towards tIle office j j There wasfcarcc time to slip back and hide I behind the creel before the door latch was j lifted and two men entered laughing yet i j Business my lord business said tho first twas GeL Esses I have much to do I tonight I tnlgbt the other answered I Sure answere thought i we bad settled it You arc t lend me a thousand out of your garrison Which on my own part I would willingly I do Only I beg you t consider my lord that my position hero hangs on a thread Tho extreme men are already against me They talk of replacing mo by Fiennes Nat Fieiines is no soldier uNo but hos a bigot a stronger recommendation recom-mendation Should this plan miscarry and I losa n thousand men Heavens alive maul It cannot miscarry Hark yo therci Ruthen of Plymouth will take the south road with all his forces A days march behind 1 shall follow along roods to northward parallel for a way but afterwards converging The Cornishmen aro all in Ho miu Wo shall como on them with double their number almost treble C cu doubt the issue i Scarcely with the Earl of Stamford for general The carl was too fa occupied to notice this compliment Twill bo swift and secret ho said Ha Death himself and u se Let the fact that Hopton is all at sixes and sevens sic tbe marquis shipped for Walps and at daggers dag-gers drawn with Mohuu Said the colonel slowly Ay the notion i good enough Were 1 not in this corner I would not think twice Listen now only ibis morning they forced ino t order a young mans hanging who might if ktpt alive Ije forced in timo t give u news of value I dared not refuse He that yon caught with tho kings letter let-ter UAya trumpery missive dealing with naught but summoning of the sheriffs posse and the lc There i more behind could we but wait t get nt it1 loosen his And The gallows mlyloen hi tongue how of the girl that a taken tool I hayo her in safe keeping This very evening I shall visit her and make another trial t get somo speech Which puts me in cnlndr pindr The colonel tinkled a small hand bell that lay on the table The pause that followed was broken by the earl earlilsy I see that letter The colonel handed t a tinkled the bell again more impatiently At length stops were heard in the hal and a servant opened the door Whore f Giles f asked tho colonel Why R1O you taking his place Giles cant be found your honor Hey I Hes a queer oldster your honor n maybe may-be gone t bed wil his aches and pains Lknow pretty well that Giles had done no such thing but be euro I kept thaknowl fidirti safe behind my screen a 1 Then go seek him and say No stop 1 I cant t OrIIr the coach around at the barbican in t cny minutes from now twenty minutes ininJ without fail And saytwiil save time ihe fellows to drive mo to Mistral n tbs house in St Thomas street sharp1 As tho man departed on his errand tho earl laid down his majestys letter Hang the fellow ho said if they want it the blame if any will bo thc But in the lame of heaven colonel dons fail in lending ino this thousand men Twill finish the a out of hand Ill do it answered tho colonel slowly And Ill renumber it1 said the earl Tomorrow To-morrow at 0 oclock I set out The two men shook hands 011 their bargain and left the room shutting tho door after them I crept forth from behind the screen my heart thumping on my ribs Thus far it had been all f and trembling with ao butiiow this was changed to a kind of panting joy Twos not that I had spied the prison keys hanging near the fireplace nor that behind tho screen lay a heap of the colonels riding boots whereof a pair ready spurred fitted mo choicely well but that my cars tingled with news that turned my escape to a matter of public welfare and also that tho way t I escape lay planned in my head Shod in the colonels boots I advanced again t the table With sealing wax and the governors seal that lay handy 1 closed up tho kings letter and sticking it in my I I breast caught down tho bunch of keys and I made for the door I The hal w void I snatched down a I cloak and heavy broad brimmed hat from ole of the pegs and donning them slipped back tho bolts of the heavy door It opened without noise Ten with a last hitch of the cloak t bring it well about mo I stepped forth into the the door int night shutting dor quietly on my heels My feet were on the pavement of the inner ward Above one star only broke the blackness black-ness of the night Across tho court was a sentry tramping As I walked boldly up ho stopped short by the gate between tho wards and regarded me Now was my danger I knew not tho right key for the wicket and if I fumbled the follow fol-low would detect me for certain I chose one and drew nearer the fellow looked saluted luted stepped t the wicket and opened it himself Good night colonel I did not trust myself to answer but passed rapidly through t the outer ward Here t my joy in the arched passage e of the barbican gate was tho carriage waiting the porter standing beside the door and hero also to my dismay was a torch alight and under it half a dozen soldiers chatting A whisper passed on my approach Tho colonel and I they hurried into the guard room i Good evening colonel 1 The porter bowed i low holding tho door ide I I passed him rapidly climbed into the p shadow of the coach and drew a long breath I Then ensued a hateful pause a the gates were unbarred I gripped my knees for im i j patience The driver spoke a word 4o the porter who came round t the coach door again uTo Mistress Finchs i it not Ay I muttered and quickly I The coachman touched up his pair The I wheels moved went quicker We ore outside i tho castle j With what relief I leaned back a the castle j gates closed behind us And withwhat impatience im-patience at our hlow paco 1 sat upright again next minute 1 Tho wheels rumbled over the bridge and immediately we wero rollinc easily dow through street of some importance im-portance but by this time the shutters were up along the shop fronts and very few people abroad At the bottom we turned sharp to the left along a broader thoroughfare and then suddenly drew up Are we come 1 wondered Cut no twas tho city gate and here wo had to wait for three minutes at least till the sentries recognized rec-ognized tho colonePs coach and opened the doors t u They stood on this side and that presenting arms as wo rattled through and neat moment I was crossing I broad bridge with the Avon on either side of me and the vessels thick thereon their lanterns casting cast-ing long lie of yellow ou the jetty water their masts and cordage looming up against tho dull glare af tha city Soon we were between Hues of building once more shops private dwellings and warehouses intermixed then passed a tall church and in about two minutes more drew up again I looked outFacing out-Facing me was a narrow gateway landing t a house that stood somewhat back from tho street a if slipping away from between the lines of shops that wedged it on either hand Over the grill a link was burning 1 stepped from tho coach opened the gate and crossing the small court rang at tho house belL I At first there was no answer I rang again and now had the satisfaction to hear a light footfall coming A bolt was pulled and a t girl appeared holding candle high in her band Quick a thought I stepped past her into tho passage sepp I Delia 1 uJakl Hist Close tho door Where is Mistress Finch Finchf FinchUp stairs expecting Cot E = sex Oh tho happy dayl Conic She led mo into a nar I I row back room and setting down the light regarded mo Jxckiny red for rep me cmj eyes are I i theslI I see they ae Tomorrow I was t be I hanged She put her hands together catching her breath and very lovely I thought her in her I j straight gray gown and Puritan cap They have been questioning me Didst get my lettrl I The answer was on iny lip when there came a sound that made us both start I Twas the dull echoing of a gun firing up at the castle I uDcll whit liesat ttiolmck herof A garden and a garden door after these a lane leading t Rcdcliff street I inusfc go this moment And 11 She did not wait my answer but running out into the passage she came swiftly back with a heavy key 1 opened the window Delia Doll Tvas a womans voice calling her at tho head of the stairs Mistress Finch Ay itre 1inch Who was at the door 1 sprang into the garden and held forth a hand to Delia In ono moment mistress called she and in one moment was hurrying with mo across the dark garden beds 1 she fitted her key to tho garden gate I heard the voice again DeliaP Tvas drowned in a wild ratatatt on the street door and the shouts of many voices Wo were close pressed Now Jack t the right fur our lives Ah the clumsy skirt I We turned into the lano and raced down it For my part I swore t drown myself in Avon rather than let those troopers retake me I heard their outcries about the me he outries arut house behind us a we stumbled over the frozen rubbish heaps with which the lane a bestrewn be-strewn Whats ou direction I panted I catching Delia bad t help her alone To tho left now for the river = We struck into n narrow sido street and with that heard a watchman bawl Past nine 0 the night au a The shock of our collision sent him t finish fin-ish his say in the gutter Thieves ho yelled 1 But already we wero twenty yards away and now in a broader street whereof one side 1 was wholly lined with warehouses And hero ito i-to our dismay wo heard shouts behind and tho noise of feet running I I About half way down the cot 1 spied a gateway standing ajar and pulled Delia aside I into a courtyard littered with barrels and timbers and across it to a black empty barn I of a place where a flight of wooden steps glimmered that led t an upper story Vo I climbed these stairs at n ruu I Faugh What a vile smell The loft was piled high with great hale of I wool ns I found by tho touch and their odor j enough t satisfy an army Nevertheless 1 I i was groptnabeut for a place to hiiio when i Delia touched mo on the arm and pointed j Looking I descried i tho gloom a tall I quadrilateral ofpurplo not Live steps away I with a speck of light shining near the top of it and threo dark streaks running down the I sr middle whereof one was much thicker than I the rest Twos an open doorway tho speck I a star framed within it the broad streak a I i ships mast reaching up and th6 lesser one two ends or a rope working over a pulley I above my head and used for lowering tho boles of wool on shipboard Advancing I stood on the sill and looked I dow On tho black water twenty feet below be-low lay a throe masted trader close against the warehouse My toes stuck out over her I deck almost At first glance 1 could see no sign of life onboard I on-board but presently was aware of a dark I figure leaning over tho bulwarks near the bows He was quite motionless His back I w towards u blotted against the black shadow and the man engaged only it seemed seem-ed in watching the bright splash of light I flung by the ships lantern on the water beneath be-neath him I I resolved to throw myself on tho mercy of this silent figure and put out n bad t test the rODe One end of it was fixed t a balo i i j of wool that lay a it had beets lowered on the dock Flinging myself on tho other I found it sink gently from the pulley as tho weight below moved slowly upwards and j I sinking with it I held on till my feet touched the dock I Still the figure in tho bows was motionless I paid out my end of the rope softly lowering I low-ering back the bale of wool and as soon as it rested again on deck signaled t Delia to I let herself down I Sho did so As she alighted and stood beside j be-side me our hands bungled The rope slipped up quickly letting down tho bale with a run We caught at the rope and stopped it justin I just-in time but the pulley above creaked vociferously I vocif-erously I turned my head The man in the bows had not moved CHAPTER X CAPT POTTERY AND CAPT SETTLE Now either I am mad or dreaming I thought I for that the fellow had not heard our noise was starkly incredible I stepped I along tho deck towards him not an inch did I ho budge I touched him on tho shoulder He faced round with a quick start I Sir I said quick and low before he could get a word outSir wo are in your hands I will bo plain Tonight I have broke outof Bristol Keep and tho colonels men aro after me Give mo up t them and they hang me tomorrow give my comrade up and they persecute her vilely Now sir I know not 1 which side you be but theres our case in a nutshell i i The man bent forward displaying a huge rounded face very kindly about tho eyes and set ntop of the oddest body in the world for under a trunk extraordinary broad and strong straddled a pair of legs that a baby would have disowned so thin and stunt were they aud to make it queerer ended iu i feet the most prodigious you over saw I A 1 said this man leaned forward and i shouted into my ear s that I fairly leaped in tho air My names Pott rBi Pottery capn 0 tho Godsend an you cant make mo hear not if you bust you cll i You may thiuk this put mo in a fine quandary quan-dary I I bo a deaf u nails I bawled he Twas horrible for the troopers I thought i anywhere near could not miss hearing him His voice shook the very rigging i An o1 my crow the half ashore gettin I drank the half balow in an a very dcc6m pushed state o liquor so theres no chanco for e t speak 1 i j Ho paused a moment then roared again I I What a pity Cos you make me very curiousthat you do1 I Luckily this moment Delia had tho sense t put a finger to her lip The man wheeled round without another word led us aft over the blociks cordage and all manner of loose gear that encumbered the deck to a ladder j i I that towards the stern led down into darkness I dark-ness Here ho signed to u to follow and descending first throw open a door letting out a fait stream of light in our faces Twas tho captains cabin lined with cupboards and lockers and tho light camo from an oil lamp hanging over a narrow deal table By this light Cspt Billy scrutinized us for an instant I then from ono of his lockers brought out pen paper and ink and set them on tho table before me i i I caught up the pen dipped it nnd began i I to write j I 1 am John Marvel a servant of ICIng rle and this night am escaped out of Bristol castle I you he j Thus far I had written without glancing up iu fear to read tho disappointment of my hopes But now the pan was caught suddenly sudden-ly from my fingers the paper torn in shreds I j and there was Master Pottery shaking u I both bythohand nodding and bitching and smiling the while all over his big red face I I But he ceased at last and opening another of hia lockers drew forth a horn lantern a mallet and a chisel Not a word was spoken as ho lit the lantern and passed out of the cabin Delia and I following at his heels Just outside at the foot of tho steps he stooped pulled up a trap in the flooring and disclosed another ladder stretching as it seemed down into the bowels of the ship This wo descended carefully and found ourselves our-selves in tho hold pinching our noses twixt finger and thumb For indeed the smell hero was searching to a very painful degree for tho room was narrow nar-row and every inch of it contested by two puissant essences the one raw wool tho other bilge water With wool tho placo was pied i but also I noticed not far from tho ladder several casks set on their ends and t these tho captain led us l They were about a dozen in all stacked close together and Master Pottery rolling I two apart from the rest dragged them to I another trap and tugged out the hung A I stream of fresh water gushed from each and splashed down tho trap into the bilge below Then having drained them he staved in their heads with a few blows of his mallet His plan for us was clear And in a very few minutes Delia and I were crouching on the timbers each with a cask inverted over us our noses at tho bungholes and our car listening to Master Potterys footsteps a they climbed heavily back to deck The rest of the casks were stacked close round us 0 thnt even had the gloom allowed wo could i see nothing at all Soon I heard the noise of foot above and a string of voices speaking ono after another louder and louder And next Master Pottery began t answer upand drowned all speech but his own When be ceased there was silence far some minutes after which wo heard a party descend t the cabin and tho trampling of their feet on the boards above as They remained there too while discuS ing and then came footsteps down the s ond ladder and a twinkle of light reached me through tho bunghole of my ck quick I said a husky voice overhaul the cargo heel I bcd some halt dozen troopers bustling about wool the bold and tugging out tho boles of f URi called Master Pottery an when youve demo rummaging myship put every I thing back as you found it I 1Pobo about withyoiir swords commanded omfl ed the husky voice Whatsin thoso barrels yonder i Water sergeant answers a trooper rolling i roll-ing out a couple I I Nothing behind them No theyre right against tho side I I Drop em thee Plague on this business I Tis my notion theyre a mile away and Capn I i Stubs no better than Ii fool t tend us back I I here libs grudging promotion thats what hoisj Hurry there hurry P l I Ten minutes later the searchers wero gone and we In our casks drawing long breaths of j thankfulness and strong odors And so wo I crouched till about midnight Capt Billy I down of biscuit brought us a supper ships bisuit I which wo crept forth t eat boing sorely cramped I I Ho could not hear cur thanks but guessed I I themNow 1 Now say not a word I Tomorrow we sail i for Plymouth sound thence for Brittany I fist We be all kings men aboard tho Godsend I God-send though I little YetI snd hearing nought say lte I have my reasoning heresies holding tho j Lords Anointed t bo an anointed roguo but I nevertheless t be served just as aboard tho Godsend I boCapn Billy an you plain Jack be your virtues what they may An the con 1 elusion isdamn all mutineers an1 rebels I I Though t bo sure th words bo a hit lusty for a young gentlewomans enrs1 I Wo went back t our casks with lighter hearts Howbeit twa near 5 in tho morning morn-ing I dare say before my narrow bed chain j her allowed me to drop asleep j Iwoko to spy through my bunghole tho faint light 6f day struggling down tho hatches Above Inboard a clanking noise and tho voices of tie men hiccoughing a dis I mal chant They were lifting anchor I I crawled forth and woko Delia who was yetI yet-I sleeping and together we ato tho breakfast that lay ready sot for u on tho head of a barrel I Presently the sailors broke off their song and we heard their feet shuffling to and fro on deck Sure cried Delia we ore moving I And surely wo wero a could be told by tho altered sound of tho water beneath us and tho many creakings that the Godsend began t keep Once more I tasted freedom again and tho joy of living and could have sung I for the mirth that lifted my heart Let us but gain open sea said I and Ill have tit for tat with these rebels I But alas before wo had left Avon mouth twenty minutes twas another tale For I lay on my sido in that dark hold and longed to dio and Delia sat up beside mo her hands in her lap and her great eyes fixed most dole fujly And when Capt Billy came down I with tho news that we were safe and free togo I to-go on deck we turned our faces from him and said wo thanked him kindly but had no longer any wish that way too wretched even t remember his deafness I Let me avoid then some miserable hours and como t the evening when faint with fasting and nausea wo struggled up t the deck for air and looked about us Twas gray gray everywhere tho sk lead colored with deeper shades towards the I east where a bank of cloud blotted the coastline J coast-line the thick descending straight with I hardly wind enough t sot tho sails flapping I the sea spread liko a plato of lead save only I whereto leeward a streak of curded white I I crawled away from under the Godsends keel I i On deck a few sailors moved about red eyed and heavy They showed no surprise to see us but nodded very friendly with smile for our strange complexions Here again a ever did adversity mock her own imago I But what more took our attention was to see a row of men stretched on tho starboard side hike corpses their heads in the scuppers their legs pointed inboard and very orderly arranged They were a dozen and two in all and over them bent Capt Billy with a mop in his loud and a bucket by his side who I beckoned that wpshould approach i Arrayed in order merit said ho pointing point-ing with his mop like showman to tho line of figures before him 4 I Vo drew near I This here U Matt Soames master o this vessel an hes dead Dead j Dead drunk that is 0 tho gifted man Como up Ho thrust tho mop iu tho fellows heavy face There now I Did he move did he wink No says you 0 an accomplished I drunkard Ho paused a moment then stirred up No i 2 who opened ono eye lazily and shut it again in slumber You saw Opened one eye heyl Thats Benjamin Halliday The next is a blackman black-man as you see a man of dismal color and hath other drawbacks natural t such Can the Ethiop shift his skin No but hell open both eyes Sec there a perfect Christian ins in-s far < drink can make him With liko comments ho ran down the line To he brief twas not till the fourth afternoon after-noon by reason of baffling head winds that we stepped out of the Godsends boat upon a small beach of shingle whence between a rift in the black cliffs wound up the road that was to lead us inland Iho Godsend as wo turned t wave our hands lay at half a miles distance and made a pretty sight for tho day that had begun with a whit frost vas now turned sunny and still s that looking look-ing north we saw tho sea all spread with pink and lilac and hyacinth and upon it tho I I ship lit up her masts and sails glowing liko a gold piece And there was Billy leaning over the bulwarks and waving his trumpet for Goodby Thought I for I little dreamed to see these good follows again what a witless game is this life to seek ever in fresh conjunctions what wo leave behind be-hind in a handshake Wo followed the road after this very moodily mood-ily for Delia whom I had made a sharer of tho rebels secret agreed that no tie was to be lost in reaching Bodrain that lay a good thirty miles to the southwest Night fell and the young moon rose with a brisk breeze at our backs that kept us still walking without any feeling of weariness Capt Billy had given me at parting a small compass of now invention that a man could carry easily in his pocket and this from time t time I ex sined in tho rscenHght gliding our way almost duo south in hopes of striking into the main road westward I doubt not we lost a deal of time among the byways but at length 1 happened on a good road bearing south and followed it till daybreak when to our satisfaction satis-faction wo spied a hill in front topped with a stout castle and under it a town o importance I impor-tance that we guessed to bo Launce ton I By this my comrade and I were on tho best of terms again and now drew up tot to-t consider i we should enter the town or avoid It t tho west trusting to find n breakfast in I some tavern on the way Because wo know not with certainty tho temper of the country t coun-try it seemed bet to choose this second course s wo fetched around by certain bar I ren meadows and thought ourselves lucky to hit on a road that by the size must bo tho one wo sought and a tavern with a wide yard before it and a carters van standing cc I the entrance not three gunshots from tho town walls I I Now Providence hath surely led us t breakfast said Delia and stepped before into the towards tho door me bit yard twards I I I was following her when Inside of a gate t tho right of the house I caught the gleam I II I of steel and turned aside t look To there stood a score of my dismay thor1 near scor charters in this second court saddled and I I dripping with sweat My first thought was to run after Delia but a quick surprise made m rub my oyes with wonder tw the sight of a sorrel mare among ttjem n maro with ono high white stocking I a thousand I could have told her forMally Throe seconds after I was at tho tavern door and in my ears a voice sounding that stop short aud told mo in one instant that without Gods help all was lo Twos tho voice 0 f Capt Settle speaking in tho tap room and already Delia stood past concealment by tho open door 1 IAnd thcref oremaster car teri fc grieves me t disappointthec but mnacoeth this aay towards Bodinln Sudh D my ix > rd of I Stamfords ordcrsrwhose servant I am and a captain of this troop I am sent t exact them As they displease you his lordship is I but twentyfour hours behind you can abide him and complain Doubtless he will hearTen hear-Ten million dovilsl I herd his shout as ho caught sight of Delia i I i saw his crimson face < ho darted out a1ll gripped her i say or half saw tho troopers crowding out after him For a moment I hesitated Then camo my pretty comrades voice shrill aboyo the hubbub I I Jack they have horses outsidol 1 Leave meI am taon and ride dear lad rido I In a flash my decision was taken for better out house or worse I dashed around tho vaulted tho gate and catching at Mollys iuto the saddle mane leaped iut sdde A dozen troopers were at tho gate and two had their pistols leveled Surrender I Bo hanged if J do I set my teeth and put Molly at the low wall As sho rose like a bird in the air the two pistols rang out together and a burning pain seemed to tear open my left shoulder In n moment the marc alighted safe on tho other side flinging me forward on her neck But I scrambled back and with a shout that frightened my own cars dug my heels into her flanks Half a minute moro andI was on tho hard road galloping westward for dear life So also wero a fcoro of rebel troopers Twenty miles and moro lay before mo and a baro hundred yards was all my start I CHAPTER X i ash > DOWN INTO PL And now I did indeed abandon myself t I despair Fow would have given a groat for my life with that crew at my heels and I I least of all now that my dear comrade was lost The wound in my shoulder was bleeding bleed-ing soreI could feel the warm stream welling I I well-ing yet not so sro a my heart And 11 pressed my knees into tho saddle flap and 1 wondered what the end would be Tho sorrel mare was galloping free and strong her delicate car laid back and the network of veins undor her soft skin working with tho heave and fall of her withers t by the mud and sweat about herI knew sho must have traveled for before I mounted I heard a shot or two fired far up tho road though their bullets must have fallen short tat t-at least I heard none whiz post But the rebels shouting was clear enough and the thud of their gallop behind I think that for a mile or two 1 must have I ridden in a sort of swoon Tis certain not an inch of tho road comes back to me nor did I onco turn my head to look back but sat I with my ey fastened stupidly on the mares neck And by and by as wo galloped tho J smart of my wound tho heartache hurry I pounding of hoofs all dropped to an enchanting en-chanting lull I rode and that wns all I For swoon or no I was lifted off earth as it seemed and on easy wings to nn iucrcdiblo height where wero no longer hedges nor rond nor country round but a great still j ness and only tho mare and I running languidly lan-guidly through it Ride I Now at first I thought twas somo ono speaking this in my ear and turned my head I But twos really the last word I had heard from Delia now after half an hour repeated I in my brain And as I grow awaro of this the dullness fell off mo and all became very distinct And the muscles about my wound had stiffened which was vilely painful and I I the country I saw was a brown barren moor dotted with peat ricks and I cursed it This did me good for it woko tho fighting man in me and I set my teeth Now for the first time looking back I saw with a great j gulp of joy I had gained on the troopers A j I long dip of the road lay between mo and the I foremost now topping the crest The sun had broke through at last and sparkled on his cap and gorget I whistled to Molly I could not pat her and spoke t her softly the sweet thing pricked up her ears laid them back again and mended her pace Her stride was beautiful to feel She was going her best but tho best was near spent The sweat was oozing her satin coat losing the gloss the spume flying back from her nostrils Salt It I called t her sob I my beauty wo ride to save an army The loose stones flow right and left a she reached out her neck and her breath came shorter and shorter I A mile and another milo we passed in thus trim nnd by tho end of it must have spent threequarters of an hour at tho work I Glancing back I saw tho troopers scattered far behind but following The heights wore still a weary way ahead but I could mark J their steep sides ribbed with bowlders Till I these wore passed thero was no chanco to hide Tho parties in this race could see each f other all tho way and must ride it out And all the way the ground kept rising I 1 I bad no means to ease tho mare oven by pulling off my heavy jackboots with ono arm and that my right dangling useless I Onco she flung up her head and I caught sight of her nostril red as fire and her poor I eye starting I felt her strength ebbing between I be-tween my knees Hero and there she blundered I I blun-dered in her stride And somewhere over tho ridge yonder lay tho Army of the West and we alono could save it I But sweet gallant Molly must havo held on for the next thing I woke up to was afoul a-foul holed cross beside tho rood and soon I after wo were over the ridgo and clattering i down hill j I A rough tar load risen full in frQnt but tho road swerved to tho left l and took us down among the spurs of it Now was my last lookout I tried to sway less heavily in the saddlo and with my eyes searched tho plain at our feet Alas I Beneath us the waste land was II spread mile upon mile and I groaned aloud Forjust below I noted a clump of roofless cabins and beyond upon the moors the dotted walls of sheep cotes ruined also but in all the sad colored leagues no living man nor tho sign of one It was done with u I reined up the mana and then in the same mofiou wheeled her sharp t the right j High above on tho hillsidcr a voico w calling I I looked up Below the steeper ridge of I tho tar a patch of laud I had been cleared for tillage and here a yoko of oxen was moving leisurely before a plow twas their tinkling bells I had hoard just now while behind followed by tho wildest shapeby the voice a woman j Sho was not calling mo but to her team and a I hut Molly at tho slope her chant rcso and l In the mournfulest singsong I Sohoa Oop Comely Venal oop then I ooop I I roso in my stirrups and shouted I At this and the sound of hoofs she stayed tho plow and hand on hip looked down tho dope Tho oxen softly rattilng the chains on their yoke turned their necks and gazed With sunk head Molly heave herself up tho lat few yard ad game to a halt with a stagger I slipped out of the saddle and stood with a hand on it swaying Whata thy need young manthat com cst down to Temple wi sword adanglinT I The ir was a half naked savage dressed only in a strip of sacking that barely reached I her knees and a scant bodice of the same laced in front with pock thread that loft her J bosom and brown arms free Yet sho appeared ap-peared no whit abashed but leaned on the plow tail aud regarded me easy and frank a a man would Sell me a horsoP I blurted out Twenty guineas will I give for on within five minutes min-utes and moro if he be good I ride on the kings errand n Ten got thee back t thy master an1 say no horse shall ho have c mtfrnor any man that uses horseflesh so Sho pointed Mol lys knees that wero bowed and shaking and the bloody froth dripping from her month Girl foe Gods sake sell me a horse They are after me and I am hurt I pointed up tho road Better than I aro concerned in thisGod God nor kin know I young man But what on thy saddle cloth there Twos bo smear where my blood had soaked and looking and seeing the pnrplom ss caked < S 1 with mud and roam on tne sorrers flank 1 felt suddenly very sick The ir made a step tome Soil theo a horse Hiro thee a bedman more lke Nay then lad But I saW no longer nly called oh oh i twice like a little child and slipping my hold of the saddle dropped forward ou her breast WaklngvX found myself In Uarkncss not like that of night but of a room where tho lights havo gone out and felt that I was dying But this hardly seemed I thing to b minded There was a smell of peat and bracken about Presently I heard the tramp I of feet somewhere overhead and a dull sound of voices that appeared t bo cursing I Tho footsteps went t and fro the voices I muttering most of tho time After a bit I caught a word Witchcraft and then a voice speaking quit close Theres bl o I pen her hands an theres blood yonder by I the plow Said another voico higher and 1 squeaky Theres scent behind a fox but I you dont dig it up an tko it home The tramp passed on and tho voices died fe I I f By this I knew tho troopers were close and seeking me A foolish thought carao that I was buried and they must b rummaging I over my grave but indeed I had no wish to inquire into it no wish t move oven but I just to lie and enjoy the lightness of my limbs The blood wasstillrunning I felt the warmth I of it against my back and thought it very I yer pleasant So I shut my oyes and droppodoff again Then I heard the noisoof shoutingfaraway and a long while after that was roused by tho touch of a hand thrust in against my naked breast over my heart Who is itf I whispered Joan answered a voice and tho hand was withdrawn Tho darkness had lifted somewhat and though something stood between mo and tho light 1 marked a number small specks like points of gold dotted around mo I Joanwhat besides Joans enough I reckon lucky for thee I tis none else Joan o the Tor folks call me but may yet b Joan i Good Tim So hold thy peace lad an cry outso little as may be I I felt a ripping of my jacket sleeve and shirt now clotted and stuck t tho fesh It pained cruelly but I shut my teeth aud after that cause tho smart and delicious ache of water as she rinsed the wound Clean through tho flesh ladin an out like country dancin No bullet t probe nor bono t sot Heart up soco Thy mother shall kiss the yet Whats thy name MarVel Joan Jack Marvel An marvel tis thourt Marvel yet Good blood theres in thee but little enow I She bandaged tho sore with linen torn from my shirt and tied it round with sack cloth from her own dress Twas all most gently dono and then I found her arras under me and myself lifted a easy as a baby Left arm round my neck Jack an sing out if tis hurtin thee I seemed but six Steps and wo wero out on the bright hillside not fifty paces from where the plow yet stood in the furrow I caught a glimpse of a brown neck and a pair of firm red Up of tho gray tor stretching above us and farther aloft a flock of field fare hanging hang-ing in the pale sky and then shut my eye for tho dazzle but could still feel the bet ef Joans heart a she held me close and the touch of her breath on my forehead Down the hill she carried mo picking the softest turf and moving with an easeful swing that rather lulled hurt than lule my jolted it I I i was dozing even when a strange noise awoke mo I moTwas a high protracted note that seemed I at first t swell up towards us and then i broko off in half a dozen or more sharp yells Joan took no heed of them but seeing my eyes unclose and hearing me moan stopped short shortHurts thee lad No Twos not my pain but tho sight of the sinking sun that wrung tho exclamation from nioI was thinking I muttered I Dont tie bad for health But bide theo still awhile and shalt lie pan a soft bed I I By this time we had como down to the road and tho yells were still going on louder r than over We crossed the road descended I another slope and came all at once on a low i pile of buildings that a moment before had i been hid Twas but three hovels of mud stuck together in the shape of a headless 1 cross tho main arm pointing out towards the I I moor Around the whole ran a battered wall patched with furze and from this dwelling i the screams were issuing UcOuI the voica began JoanJan Ter gagles nclawin my legs Garrout thou hell cat Blast thee let me zog Pulln off Joan Joan I The voice died away into a wail then broke out in a racket of curses Joan stopped to the door and flung it wide A my eye grew used to the gloom inside they saw this I A rudo kitchen the furniture but two rickety chairs now tossed on their faces an oak table with legs sunk into the earth a keg of strong waters tilted over and draining drain-ing upon tho mud floor a ladder leading up to a loft and in two of tho corners a few bundles of bracken strewn for bedding To the loft as one entered was an open hearth but tho glowing peat turves wero now pitched to right and left over the hearthstone and about the floor where they rested filling the den with smoke Under ono of the chairs a black cat spat and bristled while in the middle of the room barefooted in the embers em-bers crouched a man He was half naked old nnd bent with matted gray hair and beard hanging almost t his waist His chest from of and legs were bleeding a score scratches and he pointed at tho cat opening and shutting his mouth like t dog and barking bark-ing out curse upon curse I I No way upset Joan stepped across the kitchen laid me en one of tho bracken beds and explained I Thats feyther hos drunk I With which sho turned dealt the old man I a cuff that stretched him senseless and gath m erlnc UD the turves pied them afresh on the hearth This done she took the keg and gave me a drink of it The stuff scalded me but I thanked her And theu when sho had shifted my bed i bit to ease the pain of lying she righted a chair drew it up and sat beside mo The old man lay like a log where be had fallen and was now snoring Presently the fumes of the liquor or mere faintness mastered mas-tered mo and my eyes closed But the picture pict-ure they closed urn was that of Joan a she leaned forward chin on hand with the glow I of tho fire on her brow and in the depths of her dark eyes I CHPERX nOW JOAN SAVED TiE ARMY 0V TIE WEST I But the pain of my hurt followed into my dreams I woks with a start and tried to 1 i sit up Within tho kitchen all was quiet The old savage was still stretched on the floor the cat curled upon tho hearth The girl had not stirred but looking towards the window holo 1 saw night outside and a frosty star sparkling far dovrn iu the west i Joan whats the hour I Suns been down these four hours She I turped her face t look at me Ivo no business lying here I Chose to come 10 none axed thee that I knows by I i Whores the mar Must sot me across I her back Joan and let mo rido on I t Mares in stable wi fetlocks swelled like I puddens Chose t come lad an choose or I no must bide I Tis for the General Hopton at Bodmin I am bound Joan and wound or no must win there this night And thats seven milo away wi a bulletin bullet-in thy skull and a peat quag thy burial For they went south and thy road lieth moro south than west The troopers Ay Jack an work I had this day wi1 those some bloody warriors but take a sup at the keg and bite this manchot of oat cakewhile I tell thee And so haying fed me and set my bed straight she sat On the floor beside mo for tho better hearing andin her uncouth tongue told how I had been saved I cannot write herjancnace but the tale in sum was this t t When dropped forward into her arms Joan for a moment was taken aback thinking think-ing mo dead But to quote her no good said I in cuddlin a lad pen the hillside for folks to sec though bo havo agot curlsliko a wench an dead or live no use to wait for others to make sure So she lifted and carried mo to a spot hard by that she called the Jews Kitchen and where that was even with such bearings as I had she defied mo to discover There was no time to tend mo whilst Molly stood near to show my whereabouts so she lot mo his and went to lead the sorrel down to stable Her hand was on the bridle when she heard a whoop up the road and there were half a j dozen riders on the crest and tearing downhill down-hill towards her Joan had nothing left but to feign coolness and went on leading the mare down the slope In a while tip comes the foremost trooper draws rein and pants out Wheres ho to1 Who asks Joan making out to be surprised sur-prised Why the lad whoso mare thourt leatliur Milo an half away by now Hows that Freshly horsed explains Joan The troopers thoy were all around her by this swore twas a lie but luckily being down in the hollow could not see over the next ridge They began a string of questions J all together but at last a little tun bellied sergeant ser-geant called Silence and asked the girl 7 did she loan the fellow a horse I Hero I will quote her again Sir to thee I answered no loan at all but fair swap for our Gray Robin Thats a lie ho says an I wont believe thee Might so well says I but go to the stable an see for thyselV Never had gray horse to my name Jack but thinks I thatj hkn lookout They went did these simple troopers to look at the stable and sure enough there was no Gray Robin Nevertheless some amongst them had logic enough to take this as something less than proof convincing and spent three hours and more ransacking the house and barn and searching the tar and the moors haowit I learned too that Joan had como in for some rough talkto which she put a stop as she told me by offering to fight any man Jack of them for the buttons on his buff coat And at length about sundown sun-down they gave up the hunt and rode away over the moors toward Warleggan having as the girl heard them say to bo at Braddock Brad-dock before night Where is this Braddockf Nigh to Lord Mohnns house at Boconnoc seven mile away to the south and seven mile or so from Bodmin as a crow flies Then go I must cried I and hereupon I broke out with all the trouble that was on my mind and the instant need to save these gallant gentlemen of Cornwall ere two armies should combine against them I told of the kings letter in my breast and how I found the Lord Stamfords men at Launce ston how that Rnthen with the vanguard of the rebels was now at Liskeard with but a bare days march between the two and none but I to carry the warning And Oh Joan I cried my comrade I left upon the road Brighter courage and truer heart never man proved and yet left by me in the rebels hands Alas that I could neither save nor help but must still rule on and here is the issue to lie struck down within ten mile of my goalI that have traveled two hundred And if the Cornishmen not warned to give fight before Lord Stamford comes up alls lost Even now they be outnumbered So lift me Joan end set mo astride Molly and Ill win to Bodmin yet Reckon Jack thoud best band me thy letter Now I did not at once catch tho intent of these words so simply spoken but stared at her like an owL Theres horse in stall lad she went on though no Gray Robin Tearaways the name and strawberry the color But Joan Joan if you do thia feel inside in-side my coat here to the loft you will save an army girl may be a throne Hero tis Joan seeno not that here I Say the seal is that of the governor of Bristol who stole it from me for a while but the handwriting will be known for the kings and no handout hand-out yours must touch it before you stand before be-fore Sir Ralph Hopton The king shall thank you Joan and God will bless you fort Hope so Im sure But lam me what to say lad for I bo main thick witted So I told her the message over and over till she had it by heart Shant forgii now she said at length an so hearken to me for a change Bide still nor fret thysel Heres pasty an oatcake oat-cake an a keg o water that Ill stow beside thee Pay no heed to feyther an if he wills to get drunk an fight wi Jan Tergagle thats the cat why letn Drunk or sober heBno count She hid the letter in her bosom and stepped to the door On the threshold she turned Jack forgot to ox what be all this bloodshed blood-shed about w For church and king Joan Hm same knowledge ha I oboth oa thats nought Bet I dearly loves fair play i Sho was gone In a minute or so I heard tho trampling of a horse and then with a scurry of hoofs Joan was off on the kings errand and riding into the darkness Littlo rest had I that night but lay awakar on my bracken bed and watched the burning peat turves turn to gray and drop flake by flake till only a glowing point remained The door rattled now and then on the binge y out on the moor the light winds kept a noise persistent as town dogs tit midnight and alii the while my wound was stabbing and the bracken pricking mo till I groaned aloud A day began to break the old man pickedJ himself up yawned and lounged out returning ing after a timo with fresh turves for thal hearth Ho noticed mono more than a stone but when the fire was restacked drew up his chair to the warmth and breakfasted on oat cake and a liberal deal of liquor Observing Observ-ing him the black cat uncoiled stretched J I himself and climbing to his masters knee safcj there purring and the best of friends I also judged it time to breakfast found my store took a bite or two and a pull at the keg andJ lay back this time to sleep I When I woke twas high noon The doors stood open and outside on the vrall the winter sunshine was lying very bright and clear Indoors the old savage had been drinking steadily and still sat before the fire with tho cat on one knee and his keg on the other ii i sat up and strained my ears Surely If Joan j had not failed the royal generals would march I I f out and give battle at once and surely if they were fighting not ten miles away some 1 sound of it would reach me But beyond the purring of the cat I heard nothing j I i I crawled to my feet rested a moment to stay the giddiness nnd tottered across to the door where I leaned listening and gazing south No strip of vapor lay on the moors that stretched all bathed in the most wonj derf ul bright colors to the lip of the horizon t i The air was like a sounding board I heard the bleat of an old waSher a mile off upon they tars and was turning away dejected when far down in the south thero ran a sound thafc set my heart leaping Twas the crackling of musketry There was no mistaking it The noise ran like wildfire along the hills before the echo could overtake it a low rumbling followed and then the brisker crackling again I 4 caught at the door post and cried faint witbj the sudden joy Thou angel Joan thou angel And then as something took me bythf throat Joan Joan to see what thou seest1 A long time leaned by the door p t there drinking in the sound that now was renewed at quicker intervals Yet for as far as 1 cpuld sec twos the peacefulest scene though dreary quiet sunshine on the hills and th < sheep dotted here and there cropping Bui 1 down yonder over the edge of the moors men were fighting and murdering eaci other and I yearned to how sea the dar want This story was commenced in THE STHTDAI HERALD on May 4 Back numbers cu be obtained at this offlce1 TO B3 CONTINtJED XE3T STOfDATJw w W |
