CHAPTER IX.
THE PRISON ON SALFORD BRIDGE.
On the following morning, Guy Fawkes had a long and private conferencewith Father Oldcorne. The priest appeared greatly troubled by thecommunication made to him, but he said nothing, and was for some timelost in reflection, and evidently weighing within himself what course itwould be best to pursue. His uneasiness was not without effect onViviana Radcliffe, and she ventured at last to inquire whether heapprehended any new danger.
"I scarcely know what I apprehend, dear daughter," he answered. "Butcircumstances have occurred which render it impossible we can remainlonger in our present asylum with safety. We must quit it at nightfall."
"Is our retreat then discovered?" inquired Viviana, in alarm.
"Not as yet, I trust," replied Oldcorne; "but I have just ascertainedfrom a messenger that the pursuivant, who, we thought, had departed forChester, is still lingering within the town. He has offered a largereward for my apprehension, and having traced us to Manchester, declareshe will leave no house unsearched till he finds us. He has got togethera fresh band of soldiers, and is now visiting every place he thinkslikely to afford us shelter."
"If this is the case," rejoined Viviana, "why remain here a singlemoment? Let us fly at once."
"That would avail nothing,--or rather, it would expose us to fresh risk,dear daughter," replied Oldcorne. "Every approach to the town isguarded, and soldiers are posted at the corners of the streets, who stopand examine each suspected person."
"Heaven protect us!" exclaimed Viviana.
"But this is not all," continued the priest. "By some inexplicable andmysterious means, the designs of certain of the most assured friends ofthe catholic cause have come to the knowledge of our enemies, and thelives and safeties of many worthy men will be endangered: amongstothers, that of your father."
"You terrify me!" cried Viviana.
"The rack shall force nothing from me, father," said Fawkes, sternly.
"Nor from me, my son," rejoined Oldcorne. "I have that within me whichwill enable me to sustain the bitterest agonies that the persecutors ofour Church can inflict."
"Nor shall it force aught from me," added Viviana. "For, though you havetrusted me with nothing that can implicate others, I plainly perceivesome plot is in agitation for the restoration of our religion, and Imore than suspect Mr. Catesby is its chief contriver."
"Daughter!" exclaimed Oldcorne, uneasily.
"Fear nothing, father," she rejoined. "As I have said, the rack shallnot force me to betray you. Neither should it keep me silent when I feelthat my counsel--such as it is--may avail you. The course you arepursuing is a dangerous and fatal one; dangerous to yourselves, andfatal to the cause you would serve. Do not deceive yourselves. You arestruggling hopelessly and unrighteously, and Heaven will never assist anundertaking which has its aim in the terrible waste of life youmeditate."
Father Oldcorne made no reply, but walked apart with Guy Fawkes; andViviana abandoned herself to sorrowful reflection.
Shortly after this, the door was suddenly thrown open, and HumphreyChetham rushed into the room. His looks were full of apprehension, andViviana was at no loss to perceive that some calamity was at hand.
"What is the matter?" she cried, rising.
"The pursuivant and his men are below," he replied. "They areinterrogating the hostess, and are about to search the house. I managedto pass them unperceived."
"We will resist them to the last," said Guy Fawkes, drawing a petronel.
"Resistance will be in vain," rejoined Humphrey Chetham. "They more thantreble our number."
"Is there no means of escape?" asked Viviana.
"None whatever," replied Chetham. "I hear them on the stairs. Theterrified hostess has not dared to deny you, and is conducting themhither."
"Stand back!" cried Guy Fawkes, striding towards the door, "and let mealone confront them. That accursed pursuivant has escaped me once. Buthe shall not do so a second time."
"My son," said Oldcorne, advancing towards him; "preserve yourself, ifpossible. Your life is of consequence to the great cause. Think not ofus--think not of revenging yourself upon this caitiff. But think of thehigh destiny for which you are reserved. That window offers a means ofretreat. Avail yourself of it. Fly!--Fly!"
"Ay, fly!" repeated Viviana. "And you, Humphrey Chetham,--your presencehere can do no good. Quick!--they come!"
"Nothing should induce me to quit you at such a moment, Viviana,"replied Chetham, "but the conviction that I may be able to liberate you,should these miscreants convey you to prison."
"Fly!--fly, my son," cried Oldcorne. "They are at the door."
Thus urged, Guy Fawkes reluctantly yielded to Oldcorne's entreaties andsprang through the window. He was followed by Chetham. Viviana darted tothe casement, and saw that they had alighted in safety on the ground,and were flying swiftly up Shude Hill. Meanwhile, the pursuivant hadreached the door, which Chetham had taken the precaution to fasten, andwas trying to burst it open. The bolts offered but a feeble resistanceto his fury, and the next moment he dashed into the room, at the head ofa band of soldiers.
"Seize them!" he cried. "Ha!" he added, glancing round the room with alook of disappointment, "where are the others? Where is the soldier inthe Spanish garb? Where is Humphrey Chetham? Confess at once, dog!" hecontinued, seizing the priest by the throat, "or I will pluck the secretfrom your breast."
"Do not harm him," interposed Viviana. "I will answer the question. Theyare fled."
"Fled!" echoed the pursuivant in consternation. "How?"
"Through that window," replied Viviana.
"After them!" cried the pursuivant to some of his attendants. "Take thesoldier, dead or alive! And now," he continued, as his orders wereobeyed, "you, Father Oldcorne, Jesuit and traitor; and you, VivianaRadcliffe, his shelterer and abettor, I shall convey you both to theprison on Salford Bridge. Seize them, and bring them along."
"Touch me not," rejoined Viviana, pushing the men aside, who rudelyadvanced to obey their leader's command. "You have no warrant for thisbrutality. I am ready to attend you. Take my arm, father."
Abashed at this reproof, the pursuivant stalked out of the room.Surrounded by the soldiers, Viviana and the priest followed. The sadprocession was attended by crowds to the very door of the prison, where,by the pursuivant's commands, they were locked in separate cells.
The cell in which Viviana was confined was a small chamber at the backof the prison, and on the upper story. It had a small grated windowoverlooking the river. It has already been mentioned that this prisonwas originally a chapel built in the reign of Edward the Third, and hadonly recently been converted into a place of security for recusants. Thechamber allotted to Viviana was contrived in the roof, and was so lowthat she could scarcely stand upright in it. It was furnished with achair, a small table, and a straw pallet.
The hours passed wearily with Viviana as they were marked by thedeep-toned clock of the Collegiate Church, the tall tower of whichfronted her window. Oppressed by the most melancholy reflections, shewas for some time a prey almost to despair. On whatever side she looked,the prospect was equally cheerless, and her sole desire was that shemight find a refuge from her cares in the seclusion of a convent. Forthis she prayed,--and she prayed also that Heaven would soften thehearts of her oppressors, and enable those who suffered to endure theiryoke with patience. In the evening provisions were brought her, andplaced upon the table, together with a lamp, by a surly looking gaoler.But Viviana had no inclination to eat, and left them untouched. Neithercould she prevail upon herself to lie down on the wretched pallet, andshe therefore determined to pass the night in the chair.
After some hours of watchfulness, her eyelids closed, and she continuedto slumber until she was aroused by a slight noise at the window.Starting at the sound, she flew towards it, and perceived in the gloomthe face of a man. She would have uttered a loud cry, when thecircumstances of her situation rushed to her mind, and the possibilitythat it might be a friend che
cked her. The next moment satisfied herthat she had acted rightly. A voice, which she recognised as that ofHumphrey Chetham, called to her by name in a low tone, bidding her fearnothing, as he was come to set her free.
"How have you managed to reach this window?" asked Viviana.
"By a rope ladder," he answered. "I contrived in the darkness to clamberupon the roof of the prison from the parapets of the bridge, and, aftersecuring the ladder to a projection, dropped the other end into a boat,rowed by Guy Fawkes, and concealed beneath the arches of the bridge. IfI can remove this bar so as to allow you to pass through the window,dare you descend the ladder?"
"No," replied Viviana, shuddering. "My brain reels at the mere idea."
"Think of the fate you will escape," urged Chetham.
"And what will become of Father Oldcorne?" asked Viviana. "Where is he?"
"In the cell immediately beneath you," replied Chetham.
"Can you not liberate him?" she continued.
"Assuredly, if he will risk the descent," answered Chetham, reluctantly.
"Free him first," rejoined Viviana, "and at all hazards I will accompanyyou."
The young merchant made no reply, but disappeared from the window.Viviana strained her gaze downwards; but it was too dark to allow her tosee anything. She, however, heard a noise like that occasioned by afile; and shortly afterwards a few muttered words informed her that thepriest was passing through the window. The cords of the ladder shookagainst the bars of her window,--and she held her breath for fear. Fromthis state of suspense she was relieved in a few minutes by HumphreyChetham, who informed her that Oldcorne had descended in safety, and wasin the boat with Guy Fawkes.
"I will fulfil my promise," replied Viviana, trembling; "but I fear mystrength will fail me."
"You had better find death below than tarry here," replied HumphreyChetham, who as he spoke was rapidly filing through the iron bar. "In afew minutes this impediment will be removed."
The young merchant worked hard, and in a short time the stout baryielded to his efforts.
"Now, then," he cried, springing into the room, "you are free."
"I dare not make the attempt," said Viviana; "my strength utterly failsme."
"Nay, then," he replied; "I will take the risk upon myself. You must notremain here."
So saying, he caught her in his arms, and bore her through the window.
With some difficulty, and no little risk, he succeeded in gaining afooting on the ladder. This accomplished, he began slowly to descend.When half way down, he found he had overrated his strength, and hefeared he should be compelled to quit his hold; but, nerved by hispassion, he held on, and making a desperate effort, completed thedescent in safety.