CHAPTER IV.
THE MINE.
Some days elapsed before the conspirators ventured forth from theirpresent abode. They had intended to remove the rest of the powderwithout loss of time, but were induced to defer their purpose on therepresentations of Tresham, who stated to Garnet, that in his opinionthey would run a great and needless risk. Before the expiration of aweek, Tresham's apparent remorse for his perfidy, added to his seemingzeal, had so far reinstated him in the confidence of his associates,that he was fully absolved of his offence by Garnet; and, after takingfresh oaths of even greater solemnity than the former, was againadmitted to the league. Catesby, however, who placed little faith in hisprotestations, never lost sight of him for an instant, and, even if hemeditated an escape, he had no opportunity of effecting it.
A coldness, stronger on his side than hers, seemed to have arisenbetween Viviana and Guy Fawkes. Whenever she descended to the lowerroom, he withdrew on some excuse; and though he never urged herdeparture by words, his looks plainly bespoke that he desired it. Uponone occasion, she found him alone,--the others being at the time withinthe vault. He was whetting the point of his dagger, and did not hear herapproach, until she stood beside him. He was slightly confused, and adeep ruddy stain flushed his swarthy cheeks and brow; but he averted hisgaze, and continued his occupation in silence.
"Why do you shun me?" asked Viviana, laying her hand gently upon hisshoulder. And, as he did not answer, she repeated the question in abroken voice. Guy Fawkes then looked up, and perceived that her eyeswere filled with tears.
"I shun you, Viviana, for two reasons," he replied gravely, but kindly;"first, because I would have no ties of sympathy to make me cling to theworld, or care for it; and I feel that if I suffer myself to beinterested about you, this will not long be the case: secondly, andchiefly, because you are constantly striving to turn me from my fixedpurpose; and, though your efforts have been, and will be unavailing, yetI would not be exposed to them further."
"You fear me, because you think I shall shake your resolution," sherejoined, with a forced smile. "But I will trouble you no more. Nay, ifyou wish it, I will go."
"It were better," replied Fawkes, in accents of deep emotion, and takingher hand. "Painful as will be the parting with you, I shall feel moreeasy when it is over. It grieves me to the soul to see you--the daughterof the proud, the wealthy Sir William Radcliffe--an inmate of thiswretched abode, surrounded by desperate men, whose actions youdisapprove, and whose danger you are compelled to share. Think how itwould add to my suffering if our plot--which Heaven avert--should bediscovered, and you be involved in it."
"Do not think of it," replied Viviana.
"I cannot banish it from my thoughts," continued Fawkes. "I cannotreconcile it to my feelings that one so young, so beautiful, should bethus treated. Dwelling on this idea unmans me--unfits me for sternerduties. The great crisis is at hand, and I must live only for it."
"Live for it, then," rejoined Viviana; "but, oh! let me remain with youtill the blow is struck. Something tells me I may yet be useful toyou--may save you."
"No more of this, if you would indeed remain," rejoined Guy Fawkes,sternly. "Regard me as a sword in the hand of fate, which cannot beturned aside,--as a bolt launched from the cloud, and shattering all inits course, which may not be stopped,--as something terrible,exterminating, immovable. Regard me as this, and say whether I am not tobe shunned."
"No," replied Viviana; "I am as steadfast as yourself. I will remain."
Guy Fawkes gazed at her in surprise mixed with admiration, and pressingher hand affectionately, said,
"I applaud your resolution. If I had a daughter, I should wish her to belike you."
"You promised to be a father to me," she rejoined. "How can you be so ifI leave you?"
"How _can_ I be so if you stay?" returned Fawkes, mournfully. "No, youmust indulge no filial tenderness for one so utterly unable to requiteit as myself. Fix your thoughts wholly on Heaven. Pray for therestoration of our holy religion--for the success of the greatenterprise--and haply your prayers may prevail."
"I cannot pray for that," she replied; "for I do not wish it success.But I will pray--and fervently--that all danger may be averted from yourhead."
At this moment, Catesby and Keyes emerged from the vault, and Vivianahurried to her chamber.
As soon as it grew dark, the remaining barrels of powder were broughtout of the cellar, and carefully placed in the boat. Straw was thenheaped upon them, and the whole covered with a piece of tarpaulin, asupon the former occasion. It being necessary to cross the river morethan once, the conduct of the first and most hazardous passage wasintrusted to Fawkes, and accompanied by Keyes and Bates, both of whomwere well armed, he set out a little before midnight. It was a clearstarlight night; but as the moon had not yet risen, they were under noapprehension of discovery. The few craft they encountered, bentprobably on some suspicious errand like themselves, paid no attention tothem; and plying their oars swiftly, they shot under the low parapetedging the gardens of the Parliament House, just as the deep bell of theAbbey tolled forth the hour of twelve. Keeping in the shade, theysilently approached the stairs. No one was there, not even a waterman toattend to the numerous wherries moored to the steps; and, without losinga moment, they sprang ashore, and concealing the barrels beneath theircloaks, glided like phantoms summoned by the witching hour along thepassage formed by two high walls, leading to Old Palace Yard, andspeedily reached the gate of the habitation. In this way, and with theutmost rapidity, the whole of the fearful cargo was safely deposited inthe garden; and leaving the others to carry it into the house, GuyFawkes returned to the boat. As he was about to push off, two personsrushed to the stair-head, and the foremost, evidently mistaking him fora waterman, called to him to take them across the river.
"I am no waterman, friend," replied Fawkes; "and am engaged on businessof my own. Seek a wherry elsewhere."
"By heaven!" exclaimed the new-comer, in accents of surprise, "it is GuyFawkes. Do you not know me?"
"Can it be Humphrey Chetham?" cried Fawkes, equally astonished.
"It is," replied the other. "This meeting is most fortunate. I was insearch of you, having somewhat of importance to communicate to Viviana."
"State it quickly, then," returned Fawkes; "I cannot tarry here muchlonger."
"I will go with you," rejoined Chetham, springing into the boat, andfollowed by his companion. "You must take me to her."
"Impossible," cried Fawkes, rising angrily; "neither can I permit you toaccompany me. I am busied about my own concerns, and will not beinterrupted."
"At least, tell me where I can find Viviana," persisted Chetham.
"Not now--not now," rejoined Fawkes, impatiently. "Meet me to-morrownight, at this hour, in the Great Sanctuary, at the farther side of theAbbey, and you shall learn all you desire to know."
"Why not now?" rejoined Chetham, earnestly. "You need not fear me. I amno spy, and will reveal nothing."
"But your companion?" hesitated Fawkes.
"It is only Martin Heydocke," answered Chetham. "He can keep a closetongue as well as his master."
"Well, sit down, then," returned Fawkes, sullenly. "There will be lessrisk in taking them to Lambeth," he muttered, "than in loitering here."And rowing with great swiftness, he soon gained the centre of thestream.
"And so," he observed, resting for a moment on his oars, "you stillcherish your attachment to Viviana, I see. Nay, never start, man. I amno enemy to your suit, though others may be. And if she would placeherself at my disposal, I would give her to you,--certain that it wouldbe to one upon whom her affections are fixed."
"Do you think any change likely to take place in her sentiments towardsme?" faltered Chetham. "May I indulge a hope?"
"I would not have you despair," replied Fawkes. "Because, as far as Ihave noticed, women are not apt to adhere to their resolutions inmatters of the heart; and because, as I have just said, she loves you,and I see no reasonable bar to your union."
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br /> "You give me new life," cried Chetham, transported with joy. "Oh! thatyou, who have so much influence with her, would speak in my behalf."
"Nay, you must plead your own cause," replied Fawkes. "I cannot hold outmuch hope at present; for recent events have cast a deep gloom over herspirit, and she appears to be a prey to melancholy. Let this wearoff,--and with one so young and so firm-minded it is sure to do so,--andthen your suit may be renewed. Urge it when you may, you have my bestwishes for success, and shall have my warmest efforts to second you."
Humphrey Chetham murmured his thanks in accents almost unintelligiblefrom emotion, and Guy Fawkes continued,
"It would be dangerous for you to disembark with me; but when I put youashore, I will point out the dwelling at present occupied by Viviana.You can visit it as early as you please to-morrow. You will find no onewith her but Father Oldcorne, and I need scarcely add, it will gladdenme to the heart to find on my return that she has yielded to yourentreaties."
"I cannot thank you," cried Chetham, warmly grasping his hand; "but Ihope to find some means of evincing my gratitude."
"Prove it by maintaining the strictest secresy as to all you may see orhear,--or even suspect,--within the dwelling you are about to visit,"returned Guy Fawkes. "Knowing that I am dealing with a man of honour, Irequire no stronger obligation than your word."
"You have it," replied Chetham, solemnly.
"Your worship shall have my oath, if you desire it," remarked MartinHeydocke.
"No," rejoined Fawkes; "your master will answer for your fidelity."
Shortly after this, Guy Fawkes pulled ashore, and his companions landed.After pointing out the solitary habitation, which possessed greaterinterest in Humphrey Chetham's eyes than the proud structures he hadjust quitted, and extracting a promise that the young merchant would notapproach it till the morrow, he rowed off, and while the othersproceeded to Lambeth in search of lodging for the night, made the bestof his way to the little creek, and entered the house.
He found the other conspirators anxiously awaiting his arrival, and thecertainty afforded by his presence that the powder had been landed insafety gave general satisfaction. Preparations were immediately made foranother voyage. A large supply of provisions, consisting of baked meatof various kinds, hard-boiled eggs, pasties, bread, and other viands,calculated to serve for a week's consumption, without the necessity ofhaving recourse to any culinary process, and which had been previouslyprocured with that view, together with a few flasks of wine, occupiedthe place in the boat lately assigned to the powder. At the risk ofoverloading the vessel, they likewise increased its burthen by aquantity of mining implements--spades, pickaxes, augers, and wrenchingirons. To these were added as many swords, calivers, pikes, andpetronels, as the space left would accommodate. Garnet and Catesby thenembarked,--the former having taken an affectionate farewell of Viviana,whom he committed, with the strictest injunction to watch over her, tothe care of Father Oldcorne. Guy Fawkes lingered for a moment, doubtingwhether he should mention his rencounter with Humphrey Chetham. He wasthe more undecided from the deep affliction in which she was plunged. Atlast, he determined upon slightly hinting at the subject, and to beguided as to what he said further by the manner in which the allusionwas received.
"And you decide upon remaining here till we return, Viviana?" he said.
She made a sign in the affirmative.
"And you will see no one?"
"No one," she answered.
"But, should any old friend find his way hither--Humphrey Chetham, forinstance--will you not receive him?"
"Why do you single out _him_?" demanded Viviana, inquiringly. "Is he inLondon? Have you seen him?"
"I have," replied Guy Fawkes; "I accidentally met him to-night, and haveshown him this dwelling. He will come hither to-morrow."
"I wanted only this to make me thoroughly wretched," cried Viviana,clasping her hands with anguish. "Oh! what unhappy chance threw himacross your path? Why did you tell him I was here? Why give him a hopethat I would see him? But I will _not_ see him. I will quit this houserather than be exposed to the meeting."
"What means this sudden excitement, Viviana?" cried Guy Fawkes, greatlysurprised by her agitation. "Why should a visit from Humphrey Chethamoccasion you uneasiness?"
"I know not," she answered, blushing deeply; "but I will not hazardit."
"I thought you superior to your sex," rejoined Fawkes, "and should neverhave suspected you of waywardness or caprice."
"You charge me with failings that do not belong to me," she answered. "Iam neither wayward nor capricious; but I would be willingly spared thepain of an interview with one whom I thought I loved."
"Thought you loved!" echoed Fawkes, in increased astonishment.
"Ay, _thought_," repeated Viviana, "for I have since examined my heart,and find he has no place in it."
"You might be happy with him, Viviana," rejoined Fawkes, reproachfully.
"I _might_ have been," she replied, "had circumstances favoured ourunion. But I should not be so now. Recent events have wrought an entirechange in my feelings. Were I to abandon my resolution of retiring to acloister,--were I to return to the world,--and were such an eventpossible as that Humphrey Chetham should conform to the faith ofRome,--still, I would not--could not wed him."
"I grieve to hear it," replied Fawkes.
"Would _you_ have me wed him?" she cried, in a slightly mortified tone.
"In good sooth would I," replied Fawkes; "and I repeat my firmconviction you would be happier with him than with one more highly born,and of less real worth."
Viviana made no reply, and her head declined upon her bosom.
"You will see him," pursued Fawkes, taking her hand, "if only to tellhim what you have just told me."
"Since you desire it, I will," she replied, fixing a look of melancholytenderness upon him; "but it will cost me a bitter pang."
"I would not tax you with it, if I did not think it needful," returnedFawkes. "And now, farewell."
"Farewell,--it may be, for ever," replied Viviana, sadly.
"The boat is ready, and the tide ebbing," cried Catesby, impatiently, atthe door. "We shall be aground if you tarry longer."
"I come," replied Fawkes. And, waving an adieu to Viviana, he departed.
"Strange!" he muttered to himself, as he took his way to the creek. "Icould have sworn she was in love with Humphrey Chetham. Who can havesuperseded him in her regard? Not Catesby, of a surety. 'Tis aperplexing sex. The best are fickle. Heaven be praised! I have long beenproof against their wiles."
Thus musing, he sprang into the skiff, and assisting Catesby to push itinto deep water, seized an oar, and exerted himself stoutly to make upfor lost time. The second voyage was as prosperous as the first. A thickveil of cloud had curtained the stars; the steps were deserted asbefore; and the provisions, arms, and implements were securely conveyedto their destination.
Thus far fortune seemed to favour their undertaking, and Garnet, fallingon his knees, offered up the most fervent thanksgivings. Prayers over,they descended to the cellar, and their first care was to seek out aplace as free from damp as possible, where the powder could be depositedtill the excavation, which it was foreseen would be a work of time andgreat labour, was completed. A dry corner being found, the barrels wereplaced in it, and carefully concealed with billets of wood and coals, soas to avert suspicion in case of search. This, with other arrangements,occupied the greater part of the night, and the commencement of theimportant undertaking was deferred till the morrow, when an increase oftheir party was anticipated.
Throughout the whole of the day no one stirred forth. The windows werekept closed; the doors locked; and, as no fires were lighted, the househad the appearance of being uninhabited. In the course of the morningthey underwent considerable alarm. Some mischievous urchins havingscaled the garden wall, one of them fell within it, and his cries soterrified his playmates that they dropped on the other side, and lefthim. The conspirators reconnoitred the unhappy urc
hin, who continued hisvociferations in a loud key, through the holes in the shutters,uncertain what to do, and fearing that this trifling mischance mightlead to serious consequences, when the subject of their uneasinessrelieved them by scrambling up the wall near the door, and so effectinga retreat. With this exception, nothing material occurred till evening,when their expected associates arrived.
The utmost caution was observed in admitting them. The new-comers wereprovided with a key of the garden-gate, but a signal was given andrepeated before the house-door was opened by Bates, to whom the officeof porter was intrusted. As soon as the latter had satisfied himselfthat all was right, by unmasking a dark lantern, and throwing itsradiance upon the faces of the elder Wright, Rookwood, and Percy, hestamped his foot thrice, and the conspirators emerged from theirhiding-places. A warm greeting passed between the confederates, and theyadjourned to a lower chamber, adjoining the vault, where the sound oftheir voices could not be overheard, and where, while partaking of afrugal meal--for they desired to eke out their store of provisions aslong as possible--they discoursed upon their plans, and all that hadoccurred since their last meeting. Nothing was said of the treachery ofTresham--his recent conduct, as already observed, having been such as torestore him in a great degree to the confidence of his companions.Percy, whose office as a gentleman-pensioner gave him the bestopportunities of hearing court-whispers and secrets, informed them itwas rumoured that the Earl of Salisbury had obtained a clue to someCatholic plot, whether their own he could not say; but it would seemfrom all that could be gathered, that his endeavours to trace it out hadbeen frustrated.
"Where is Lord Mounteagle?" demanded Catesby.
"At his mansion near Hoxton," replied Percy.
"Have you observed him much about the court of late, or with the Earl ofSalisbury?" pursued Catesby.
"No," replied Percy. "Yet now, I bethink me, I did observe themtogether, and in earnest conversation about a week ago. But LordMounteagle knows nothing of _our_ plot."
"Hum!" exclaimed Catesby, shrugging his shoulders, while significantlooks were exchanged by the others, and Tresham hung his head. "LordMounteagle may not know that you or I, or Fawkes, or Rookwood, areconspiring against the State; but he knows that a plot is hatchingamongst our party. It is from him that the Earl of Salisbury derived hisinformation."
"Amazement!" exclaimed Percy.
"A good Catholic, and betray his fellows!" cried Rookwood; "this passesmy comprehension. Are you sure of it?"
"Unhappily we are so, my son," replied Garnet, gravely.
"We will speak of this hereafter," interposed Catesby. "I have a plan toget his lordship into our power, and make him serve our purposes inspite of himself. We will outwit the crafty Salisbury. Can any one tellif Tresham's sudden disappearance has been noticed."
"His household report that he is on a visit to Sir Everard Digby, atGothurst," replied Rookwood. "I called at his residence yesterday, andwas informed that a letter had just been received from him dated fromthat place. His departure, they said, was sudden, but his letter fullyaccounted for it."
"The messenger who bore that letter had only to travel from Lambeth,"observed Catesby, smiling.
"So I conclude," returned Rookwood.
"And, now that our meal is ended, let us to work," cried Fawkes, who hadtaken no part in the foregoing conversation. "I will strike the firstblow," he added, rising and seizing a mattock.
"Hold, my son!" exclaimed Garnet, arresting him. "The work upon whichthe redemption of our holy church hangs must be commenced with duesolemnity."
"You are right, father," replied Fawkes, humbly.
Headed by Garnet, bearing a crucifix, they then repaired to the vault. Asilver chalice, filled with holy water, was carried by Fawkes, and twolighted tapers by Catesby. Kneeling down before that part of the wallagainst which operations were about to be directed, and holding thecrucifix towards it, Garnet commenced praying in a low but earnest tone,gradually raising his voice, and increasing in fervour as he proceeded.The others knelt around him, and the whole formed a strange anddeeply-interesting group. The vault itself harmonized with itsoccupants. It was of great antiquity; and its solid stone masonry hadacquired a time-worn hoary tint. In width it was about nine feet, and ofcorresponding height, supported by a semi-circular arch, and its lengthwas more than twenty feet.
The countenances of the conspirators showed that they were powerfullymoved by what was passing; but next to Garnet, Guy Fawkes exhibited thegreatest enthusiasm. His ecstatic looks and gestures evinced the strongeffect produced upon his superstitious character by the scene. Garnetconcluded his prayer as follows:--
"Thus far, O Lord, we have toiled in darkness and in difficulty; but wehave now arrived at a point where all thy support is needed. Do notdesert us, we beseech thee, but let thy light guide us through thesegloomy paths. Nerve our arms,--sharpen our weapons,--and crumble thesehard and flinty stones, so that they may yield to our efforts. Aid ourenterprise, if thou approvest it, and it be really, as in our ignorancewe believe it to be, for the welfare of thy holy Church, and theconfusion of its enemies. Bear witness, O Lord, that we devote ourselveswholly and entirely to this one end,--and that we implore success onlyfor thy glory and honour."
With this he arose, and the following strains were chanted by the wholeassemblage:--
HYMN OF THE CONSPIRATORS.
The heretic and heathen, Lord, Consume with fire, cut down with sword; The spoilers from thy temples thrust, Their altars trample in the dust.
False princes and false priests lay low, Their habitations fill with woe. Scatter them, Lord, with sword and flame, And bring them utterly to shame.
Thy vengeful arm no longer stay, Arise! exterminate, and slay. So shall thy fallen worship be Restored to its prosperity.
This hymn raised the enthusiasm of the conspirators to the highestpitch, and such was the effect produced by it, as it rolled in sullenechoes along the arched roof of the vault, that several of them drewtheir swords, and crossed the blades, with looks of the most determineddevotion to their cause. When it was ended, Garnet recited otherprayers, and sprinkled holy water upon the wall, and upon everyimplement about to be used, bestowing a separate benediction on each.As he delivered the pick-axe to Guy Fawkes, he cried in a solemn voice--
"Strike, my son, in the name of the Most High, and in behalf of our holyreligion,--strike!"
Guy Fawkes raised the weapon, and stimulated by excitement, threw thewhole strength of his arm into the blow. A large piece of the granitewas chipped off, but the mattock snapped in twain. Guy Fawkes lookeddeeply disconcerted, and Garnet, though he concealed his emotion, wasfilled with dismay.
"Let me take your place," cried Keyes, advancing, as Guy Fawkes retired.
Keyes was a powerful man, and exerting his energies, he buried the pointof the pick-axe so deeply in the mortar, that he could not remove itunassisted. These untoward circumstances cast a slight damp upon theirardour; but Catesby, who perceived it, went more cautiously to work, andin a short time succeeded with great labour in getting out the largestone upon which the others had expended so much useless exertion. Thesight restored their confidence, and as many as could work in the narrowspace joined him. But they found that their task was much more arduousthan they had anticipated. More than an hour elapsed before they couldloosen another stone, and though they laboured with the utmostperseverance, relieving each other by turns, they had made but a smallbreach when morning arrived. The stones were as hard and unyielding asiron, and the mortar in some places harder than the stones.
After a few hours' rest, they resumed their task. Still, they made butsmall progress; and it was not until the third day that they hadexcavated a hole sufficiently wide and deep to admit one man within it.They were now arrived at a compost of gravel and flint stones; and ifthey had found their previous task difficult, what they had now toencounter was infinitely m
ore so. Their implements made little or noimpression on this unyielding substance, and though they toiledincessantly, the work proceeded with disheartening slowness. The stonesand rubbish were conveyed at dead of night in hampers into the garden,and buried.
One night, when they were labouring as usual, Guy Fawkes, who wasforemost in the excavation, thought he heard the tolling of a bellwithin the wall. He instantly suspended his task, and being convincedthat he was not deceived, crept out of the hole, and made a sign to theothers to listen. Each had heard the awful sound before; but as it waspartially drowned by the noise of the pick-axe, it had not produced muchimpression upon them, as they attributed it to some vibration in thewall, caused by the echo of the blows. But it was now distinctlyaudible--deep, clear, slow,--like a passing bell,--but so solemn, sounearthly, that its tones froze the blood in their veins.
_Guy Fawkes and the other Conspirators alarmed whiledigging the mine_]
They listened for a while in speechless astonishment, scarcely daring tolook at each other, and expecting each moment that the building wouldfall upon them, and bury them alive. The light of a single lanternplaced upon an upturned basket fell upon figures rigid as statues, andcountenances charged with awe.
"My arm is paralysed," said Guy Fawkes, breaking silence; "I can work nomore."
"Try holy water, father," cried Catesby. "If it proceeds from aught ofevil, that will quell it."
The chalice containing the sacred lymph was brought, and pronouncing asolemn exorcism, Garnet sprinkled the wall.
The sound immediately ceased.
"It is as I thought, father," observed Catesby; "it is the delusion ofan evil spirit."
As he spoke, the tolling of the mysterious bell was again heard, andmore solemnly,--more slowly than before.
"Sprinkle the wall again, in Heaven's name, father," cried Fawkes,crossing himself devoutly. "Avoid thee, Sathanas!"
Garnet complied, and throwing holy water upon the stones, the sameresult followed.