CHAPTER XXXII
I found Rye a snug little town, and so entirely peaceable-looking thatwhen I went out in the morning I was afraid there would be nobodythere who would join me in the hazardous task of taking possession ofthe place of so well-known a man as the Earl of Westport. But I didnot know Rye then as well as I do now: it proved to be a great resortfor smugglers when they were off duty and wished to enjoy the innocentrelaxation of a town after the comparative loneliness of thesea-coast, although, if all the tales they tell me are true, theauthorities sometimes made the sea-shore a little too lively for theircomfort. Then there were a number of seafaring men looking for a job,and some of them had the appearance of being pirates in moreprosperous days.
As I wandered about I saw a most gigantic ruffian, taking his easewith his back against the wall, looking down on the shipping.
"If that man's as bold as he's strong," said I to myself, "and I hadhalf a dozen more like him, we'd hold Brede House till the day there'sliberty in Ireland;" so I accosted him.
"The top o' the morning to you," said I genially.
He eyed me up and down, especially glancing at the sword by my side,and then said civilly:
"The same to you, sir. You seem to be looking for some one?"
"I am," said I, "I'm looking for nine men."
"If you'll tell me their names I'll tell you where to find them, for Iknow everybody in Rye."
"If that's the case you'll know their names, which is more than I domyself."
"Then you're not acquainted with them?"
"I am not; but if you'll tell me your name I think then I'll know oneof them."
There was a twinkle in his eye as he said:
"They call me Tom Peel."
"Then Tom," said I, "are there eight like you in the town of Rye?"
"Not quite as big perhaps," said Tom, "but there's plenty of good menhere, as the French have found out before now,--yes, and theconstables as well. What do you want nine men for?"
"Because I have nine swords and nine pistols that will fit that numberof courageous subjects."
"Then it's not for the occupation of agriculture you require them?"said Peel with the hint of a laugh. "There's a chance of a cut in theribs, I suppose, for swords generally meet other swords."
"You're right in that; but I don't think the chance is very strong."
"And perhaps a term in prison when the scrimmage is ended?"
"No fear of that at all at all; for if any one was to go to prison itwould be me, who will be your leader, and not you, who will be mydupes, do you see?"
Peel shrugged his shoulders.
"My experience of the world is that the man with gold lace on hiscoat goes free, while they punish the poor devil in the leatherjacket. But, turn the scheme out bad or ill, how much money is at theend of it?"
"There'll be ten guineas at the end of it for each man, win or lose."
"And when will the money be paid?"
"Half before you leave Rye, the other half in a week's time, andperhaps before,--a week's time at the latest; but I want men who willnot turn white if a blunderbuss happens to go off."
The rascallion smiled and spat contemptuously in the dust before him.
"If you show me the guineas," said he, "I'll show you the men."
"Here's five of them, to begin with, that won't be counted againstyou. There'll be five more in your pocket when we leave Rye, and athird five when the job's ended."
His big hand closed over the coins.
"I like your way of speaking," he said. "Now where are we to go?"
"To the strong house of Brede, some seven or eight miles from here. Ido not know how far exactly, nor in what direction."
"I am well acquainted with it," said Peel. "It was a famous smuggler'splace in its time."
"I don't mean a smuggler's place," said I. "I am talking of thecountry house of the Earl of Westport."
"Yes, curse him, that's the spot I mean. Many a nobleman's house isput to purposes he learns little of, although the Earl is such ascoundrel he may well have been in with the smugglers and sold them tothe government."
"Did he sell them?"
"Somebody sold them."
There was a scowl on Peel's face that somehow encouraged me, althoughI liked the look of the ruffian from the first.
"You're an old friend of his lordship's, then?" said I.
"He has few friends in Rye or about Rye. If you're going to doanything against Westport, I'll get you a hundred men for nothing ifthere's a chance of escape after the fight."
"Nine men will do me, if they're the right stuff. You will have goodcover to sleep under, plenty to eat and drink, and then I expect youto hold Brede House against all the men the Earl of Westport can bringforward."
"That's an easy thing," said Peel, his eye lighting up. "And if worsecomes to the worst I know a way out of the house that's neitherthrough door or window nor up a chimney. Where will I collect yourmen?"
"Assemble them on the road to Brede, quietly, about half a mile fromRye. Which direction is Brede from here?"
"It lies to the west, between six and seven miles away as the crowflies."
"Very well, collect your men as quickly as you can, and send word tome at the 'Anchor.' Tell your messenger to ask for The O'Ruddy."
Now I turned back to the tavern sorely troubled what I would do withFather Donovan. He was such a kindly man that he would be loath toshake hands with me at the door of the inn, as he had still two orthree days to stop, so I felt sure he would insist on accompanying mepart of the way. I wished I could stop and see him off on his ship;but if we were to get inside of Brede's House unopposed, we had to actat once. I found Paddy almost recovered from the assault of the daybefore. He had a bandage around his forehead, which, with his redhair, gave him a hideous appearance, as if the whole top of his headhad been smashed. Poor Paddy was getting so used to a beating each daythat I wondered wouldn't he be lonesome when the beatings ceased andthere was no enemy to follow him.
Father Donovan had not yet appeared, and the fire was just lit in thekitchen to prepare breakfast, so I took Jem and Paddy with me to theeating shop of the town, and there a sleepy-looking shop-keeper let usin, mightily resenting this early intrusion, but changed his demeanourwhen he understood the size of the order I was giving him, and thefact that I was going to pay good gold; for it would be a fine joke onThe O'Ruddy if the Earl surrounded the house with his men and starvedhim out. So it was no less than three cartloads of provisions Iordered, though one of them was a cartload of drink, for I thought thecompany I had hired would have a continuous thirst on them, beingseafaring men and smugglers, and I knew that strong, sound ale wasbrewed in Rye.
The business being finished, we three went back to the "Anchor," andfound an excellent breakfast and an excellent man waiting for me, thelatter being Father Donovan, although slightly impatient for closeracquaintance with the former.
When breakfast was done with, I ordered the three horses saddled, andpresently out in the courtyard Paddy was seated on his nag with thetwo sacks of pistols before him, and Jem in like manner with his twobundles of swords. The stableman held my horse, so I turned to FatherDonovan and grasped him warmly by the hand.
"A safe journey across the Channel to you, Father Donovan, and apeaceful voyage from there to Rome, whichever road you take. If youwrite to me in the care of the landlord of this inn I'll be sendingand sending till I get your letter, and when you return I'll bestanding and watching the sea, at whatever point you land in England,if you'll but let me know in time. And so good-bye to you, FatherDonovan, and God bless you, and I humbly beseech your own blessing inreturn."
The old man's eyes grew wider and wider as I went on talking andtalking and shaking him by the hand.
"What's come over you, O'Ruddy?" he said, "and where are you going?"
"I am taking a long journey to the west and must have an early start."
"Nonsense," cried Father Donovan, "it's two or three days before I canleave this shor
e, so I'll accompany you a bit of the way."
"You mustn't think of it, Father, because you had a long day's rideyesterday, and I want you to take care of yourself and take thought onyour health."
"Tush, I'm as fresh as a boy this morning. Landlord, see that thesaddle is put on that horse I came into Rye with."
The landlord at once rushed off and gave the order, while I stoodthere at my wit's end.
"Father Donovan," said I, "I'm in great need of haste at this moment,and we must ride fast, so I'll just bid good-bye to you here at thiscomfortable spot, and you'll sit down at your ease in that bigarm-chair."
"I'll do nothing of the kind, O'Ruddy. What's troubling you, man? andwhy are you in such a hurry this morning, when you said nothing of ityesterday?"
"Father, I said nothing of it yesterday, but sure I acted it. See howwe rode on and on in spite of everything, and did the whole journeyfrom London to Rye between breakfast and supper. Didn't that give youa hint that I was in a hurry?"
"Well, it should have done, it should have done, O'Ruddy; still, I'llgo a bit of the way with you and not delay you."
"But we intend to ride very fast, Father."
"Ah, it's an old man you're thinking I'm getting to be. Troth, I canride as fast as any one of the three of you, and a good deal fasterthan Paddy."
At this moment the landlord came bustling in.
"Your Reverence's horse is ready," he said.
And so there was nothing for it but to knock the old man down, which Ihadn't the heart to do. It is curious how stubborn some people are;but Father Donovan was always set in his ways, and so, as we rode outof Rye to the west, with Paddy and Jem following us, I had simply totell his Reverence all about it, and you should have seen theconsternation on his countenance.
"Do you mean to tell me you propose to take possession of anotherman's house and fight him if he comes to claim his own?"
"I intend that same thing, your Reverence;" for now I was as stubbornas the old gentleman himself, and it was not likely I was going to beput off my course when I remembered the happiness that was ahead ofme; but there's little use in trying to explain to an aged priest whata young man is willing to do for the love of the sweetest girl in allthe land.
"O'Ruddy," he said, "you'll be put in prison. It's the inside of agaol, and not the inside of a castle, you'll see. It's not down theaisle of a church you'll march with your bride on your arm, but itshobbling over the cobbles of a Newgate passage you'll go with manacleson your legs. Take warning from me, my poor boy, who would beheart-broken to see harm come to you, and don't run your neck into thehangman's noose, thinking it the matrimonial halter. Turn back whilethere's yet time, O'Ruddy."
"Believe me, Father Donovan, it grieves me to refuse you anything, butI cannot turn back."
"You'll be breaking the law of the land."
"But the law of the land is broken every day in our district ofIreland, and not too many words said about it."
"Oh, O'Ruddy, that's a different thing. The law of the land in Irelandis the law of the alien."
"Father, you're not logical. It's the alien I'm going to fighthere,"--but before the father could reply we saw ahead of us the bulkyform of Tom Peel, and ranged alongside of the road, trying to lookvery stiff and military-like, was the most awkward squad of men I hadever clapped eyes on; but determined fellows they were, as I could seeat a glance when I came fornenst them, and each man pulled a lock ofhis hair by way of a salute.
"Do you men understand the use of a sword and a pistol?" said I.
The men smiled at each other as though I was trying some kind of ajoke on them.
"They do, your honour," answered Tom Peel on their behalf. "Each oneof them can sling a cutlass to the king's taste, and fire a pistolwithout winking, and there are now concealed in the hedge half a dozenblunderbusses in case they should be needed. They make a loud reportand have a good effect on the enemy, even when they do no harm."
"Yes, we'll have the blunderbusses," said I, and with that the menbroke rank, burst through the hedge, and came back with thoseformidable weapons. "I have ammunition in the carts," I said, "did yousee anything of them?"
"The carts have gone on to the west, your honour; but we'll soonovertake them," and the men smacked their lips when they thought ofthe one that had the barrels in it. Now Paddy came forward with thepistols, and Bottles followed and gave each man a blade, while I gaveeach his money.
"O dear! O dear!" groaned Father Donovan.
"There's just a chance we may be attacked before we get to Brede, and,Father, though I am loath to say good-bye, still it must be said. It'srare glad I'll be when I grip your hand again."
"All in good time; all in good time," said Father Donovan; "I'll go abit farther along the road with you and see how your men march. Theywould fight better and better behind a hedge than in the open, I'mthinking."
"They'll not have to fight in the open, Father," said I, "but they'llbe comfortably housed if we get there in time. Now, Peel, I make youcaptain of the men, as you've got them together, and so, Forward, mylads."
They struck out along the road, walking a dozen different kinds ofsteps, although there were only nine of them; some with the swordsover their shoulders, some using them like walking-sticks, till I toldthem to be more careful of the points; but they walked rapidly and gotover the ground, for the clank of the five guineas that was in eachman's pocket played the right kind of march for them.
"Listen to reason, O'Ruddy, and even now turn back," said FatherDonovan.
"I'll not turn back now," said I, "and, sure, you can't expect it ofme. You're an obstinate man yourself, if I must say so, Father."
"It's a foolhardy exploit," he continued, frowning. "There's prison atthe end of it for some one," he murmured.
"No, it's the House of Brede, Father, that's at the end of it."
"Supposing the Earl of Westport brings a thousand men againstyou,--what are you going to do?"
"Give them the finest fight they have ever seen in this part ofEngland."
In spite of himself I saw a sparkle in Father Donovan's eye. Thenationality of him was getting the better of his profession.
"If it were legitimate and lawful," at last he said, "it would be afine sight to see."
"It will be legitimate and lawful enough when the Earl and myself cometo terms. You need have no fear that we're going to get into thecourts, Father."
"Do you think he'll fight?" demanded the father suddenly, with a glintin his eyes that I have seen in my own father's when he was telling usof his battles in France.
"Fight? Why of course he'll fight, for he's as full of malice as anegg's full of meat; but nevertheless he's a sensible old curmudgeon,when the last word's said, and before he'll have it noised overEngland that his title to the land is disputed he'll give me what Iwant, although at first he'll try to master me."
"Can you depend on these men?"
"I think I can. They're old smugglers and pirates, most of them."
"I wonder who the Earl will bring against you?" said Father Donovan,speaking more to himself than to me. "Will it be farmers or regularsoldiers?"
"I expect they will be from among his own tenantry; there's plenty ofthem, and they'll all have to do his bidding."
"But that doesn't give a man courage in battle?"
"No, but he'll have good men to lead them, even if he brings them fromLondon."
"I wouldn't like to see you attacked by real soldiers; but I thinkthese men of yours will give a good account of themselves if there'sonly peasantry brought up against them. Sure, the peasantry in thiscountry is not so warlike as in our own,"--and there was a touch ofpride in the father's remark that went to my very heart.
After riding in silence for a while, meditating with head bowed, helooked suddenly across at me, his whole face lighted up with deliciousremembrance.
"Wouldn't you like to have Mike Sullivan with you this day," he cried,naming the most famous fighter in all the land, noted from Belfast toour own Old
Head of Kinsale.
"I'd give many a guinea," I said, "to have Mike by my side when theEarl comes on."
The old father suddenly brought down his open hand with a slap on histhigh.
"I'm going to stand by you, O'Ruddy," he said.
"I'm glad to have your blessing on the job at last, Father," said I;"for it was sore against me to go into this business when you were ina contrary frame of mind."
"You'll not only have my blessing, O'Ruddy, but myself as well. Howcould I sail across the ocean and never know which way the fight cameout? and then, if it is to happen in spite of me, the Lord pity thefrailness of mankind, but I'd like to see it. I've not seen a debatesince the Black Fair of Bandon."
By this time we had overtaken the hirelings with their carts, and themen were swinging past them at a good pace.
"Whip up your horses," said I to the drivers, "and get over the grounda little faster. It's not gunpowder that's in those barrels, and whenwe reach the house there will be a drink for every one of you."
There was a cheer at this, and we all pushed on with good hearts. Atlast we came to a lane turning out from the main road, and then to theprivate way through fields that led to Brede House. So far there hadbeen no one to oppose us, and now, setting spurs to our horses, wegalloped over the private way, which ran along the side of a gentlehill until one end of the mansion came into view. It seemed likelythere was no suspicion who we were, for a man digging in the garden,stood up and took off his cap to us. The front door looked like theGothic entrance of a church, and I sprang from my horse and knockedloudly against the studded oak. An old man opened the door without anymeasure of caution, and I stepped inside. I asked him who he was, andhe said he was the caretaker.
"How many beside yourself are in this house?"
He said there was only himself, his wife, and a kitchen wench, and twoof the gardeners, while the family was in London.
"Well," said I, "I'd have you know that I'm the family now, and thatI'm at home. I am the owner of Brede estate."
"You're not the Earl of Westport!" said the old man, his eyes openingwide.
"No, thank God, I'm not!"
He now got frightened and would have shut the door, but I gentlypushed him aside. I heard the tramp of the men, and, what was more,the singing of a sea song, for they were nearing the end of their walkand thinking that something else would soon pass their lips besidesthe tune. The old man was somewhat reassured when he saw the priestcome in; but dismay and terror took hold of him when the nine men withtheir blunderbusses and their swords came singing around a corner ofthe house and drew up in front of it. By and by the carts camecreaking along, and then every man turned to and brought theprovisions inside of the house and piled them up in the kitchen in anorderly way, while the old man, his wife, the wench, and the twogardeners stood looking on with growing signs of panic upon them.
"Now, my ancient caretaker," said I to the old man, in the kindesttones I could bring to my lips, so as not to frighten him more thanwas already the case, "what is the name of that little village overyonder?" and I pointed toward the west, where, on the top of a hill,appeared a church and a few houses.
"That, sir," he said, with his lips trembling, "is the village ofBrede."
"Is there any decent place there where you five people can getlodging; for you see that this house is now filled with men of war,and so men of peace should be elsewhere? Would they take you in overat the village?"
"Yes, sir, it is like they would."
"Very well. Here is three guineas to divide among you, and in a weekor thereabouts you will be back in your own place, so don't thinkdisaster has fallen on you."
The old man took the money, but seemed in a strange state of hesitancyabout leaving.
"You will be unhappy here," I said, "for there will be gun-firing andsword-playing. Although I may not look it, I am the most bloodthirstyswordsman in England, with a mighty uncertain temper on me at times.So be off, the five of you!"
"But who is to be here to receive the family?" he asked.
"What family?"
"Sir, we had word last night that the Earl of Westport and hisfollowing would come to this house to-day at two of the clock, and wehave much ado preparing for them; for the messenger said that he wasbringing many men with him. I thought at first that you were the men,or I would not have let you in."
"Now the Saints preserve us," cried I, "they'll be on us before we getthe windows barricaded. Tom Peel," I shouted, "set your men to preparethe defence at once, and you'll have only a few hours to do it in.Come, old man, take your wife and your gardeners, and get away."
"But the family, sir, the family," cried the old man, unable tounderstand that they should not be treated with the utmost respect.
"I will receive the family. What is that big house over there in thevillage?"
"The Manor House, sir."
"Very well, get you gone, and tell them to prepare the Manor House forthe Earl of Westport and his following; for he cannot lodge hereto-night,"--and with that I was compelled to drag them forth, the oldwoman crying and the wench snivelling in company. I patted the ancientwife on the shoulder and told her there was nothing to be feared of;but I saw my attempt at consolation had little effect.
Tom Peel understood his business; he had every door barred andstanchioned, and the windows protected, as well as the means to hishand would allow. Up stairs he knocked out some of the diamond panesso that the muzzle of a blunderbuss would go through. He seemed toknow the house as if it was his own; and in truth the timbers andmaterials for defence which he conjured up from the ample cellars orpulled down from the garret seemed to show that he had prepared theplace for defence long since.
"Your honour," he said, "two dangers threaten this house which you maynot be aware of."
"And what are those, Tom?" I asked.
"Well, the least serious one is the tunnel. There is a secret passagefrom this house down under the valley and out and up near the church.If it was not guarded they could fill this house unknown to you. Iwill stop this end of it with timber if your honour gives the word.There's not many knows of it, but the Earl of Westport is certain tohave the knowledge, and some of his servants as well."
"Lead me to this tunnel, Tom," said I, astonished at his information.
We came to a door in one of the lower rooms that opened on a littlecircular stone stairway, something like a well, and, going down to thebottom, we found a tunnel in which a short man could stand upright.
"Thunder and turf, Tom!" said I, "what did they want this for?"
"Well, some thought it was to reach the church, but no one ever livedin this house that was so anxious to get to church that he would gounderground to it. Faith, they've been a godless lot in Brede Placeuntil your honour came, and we were glad to see you bring a priestwith you. It put new heart in the men; they think he'll keep off SirGoddard Oxenbridge."
"Does he live near here? What has he to do with the place?"
"He is dead long since, sir, and was owner of this house. Bulletwouldn't harm him, nor steel cut him, so they sawed him in two with awooden saw down by the bridge in front. He was a witch of the veryworst kind, your honour. You hear him groaning at the bridge everynight, and sometimes he walks through the house himself in two halves,and then every body leaves the place. And that is our most seriousdanger, your honour. When Sir Goddard takes to groaning through theserooms at night, you'll not get a man to stay with you, sir; but as hecomes up from the pit by the will of the Devil we expect his Reverenceto ward him off."
Now this was most momentous news, for I would not stop in the placemyself if a ghost was in the habit of walking through it; but Icheered up Tom Peel by telling him that no imp of Satan could appearin the same county as Father Donovan, and he passed on the word to themen, to their mighty easement.
We had a splendid dinner in the grand hall, and each of us was wellprepared for it; Father Donovan himself, standing up at the head ofthe table, said the holy words in good Latin, and I wa
s so hungry thatI was glad the Latins were in the habit of making short prayers.
Father Donovan and I sat at table with a bottle for company, and nowthat he knew all about the situation, I was overjoyed to find him aninhabitant of the same house; for there was no gentleman in all thecompany, except himself, for me to talk with.
Suddenly there was a blast of a bugle, and a great fluttering outside.The lower windows being barricaded, it was not possible to see out ofthem, and I was up the stair as quick as legs could carry me; andthere in front were four horses harnessed to a great carriage, and init sat the old Earl and the Countess, and opposite them who but LadyMary herself, and her brother, Lord Strepp. Postilions rode two of thehorses, and the carriage was surrounded by a dozen mounted men.
Everybody was looking at the house and wondering why nobody was thereto welcome them, and very forbidding this stronghold must have seemedto those who expected to find the doors wide open when they drove up.I undid the bolts of one of the diamond-paned windows, and, throwingit open, leaned with my arms on the sill, my head and shouldersoutside.
"Good day to your ladyship and your lordship," I cried,--and then alleyes were turned on me,--"I have just this day come into myinheritance, and I fear the house is not in a state to receivevisitors. The rooms are all occupied by desperate men and armed; but Ihave given orders to your servants to prepare the Manor House in thevillage for your accommodation; so, if you will be so good as to driveacross the valley, you will doubtless meet with a better receptionthan I can give you at this moment. When you come again, if there areno ladies of the party, I can guarantee you will have no complaint tomake of the warmth of your reception."
His lordship sat dumb in his carriage, and for once her ladyshipappeared to find difficulty in choosing words that would do justice toher anger. I could not catch a glimpse of Lady Mary's face at all atall, for she kept it turned toward the village; but young Lord Strepprose in the carriage, and, shaking his fist at me, said:
"By God, O'Ruddy, you shall pay for this;" but the effect of the wordswas somewhat weakened by reason that his sister, Lady Mary, reachedout and pulled him by the coat-tails, which caused him to be seatedmore suddenly than he expected; then she gave me one rapid glance ofher eye and turned away her face again.
Now his lordship, the great Earl of Westport, spoke, but not to me.
"Drive to the village," he said to the postilions; then horsemen andcarriage clattered down the hill.
We kept watch all that night, but were not molested. In the southernpart of the house Father Donovan found a well-furnished chapel, andnext morning held mass there, which had a very quieting effect on themen, especially as Oxenbridge had not walked during the night. Theonly one of them who did not attend mass was Jem Bottles, who said hewas not well enough and therefore would remain on watch. Just as masswas finished Jem appeared in the gallery of the chapel and shoutedexcitedly:
"They're coming, sir; they're coming!"
I never before saw a congregation dismiss themselves so speedily. Theywere at their posts even before Tom Peel could give the order. Theopposing party was leaving the village and coming down the hill when Ifirst caught sight of them from an upper window. There seemedsomewhere between half a dozen and a dozen horsemen, and behind them agreat mob of people on foot that fairly covered the hillside. As theycrossed the brook and began to come up, I saw that their leader wasyoung Lord Strepp himself, and Jem whispered that the horsemen behindhim were the very men he had encountered on the road between Londonand Maidstone. The cavalry were well in advance, and it seemed thatthe amateur infantry took less and less pleasure in their excursionthe nearer they drew to the gloomy old house, so much so that LordStrepp turned back among them and appeared to be urging them to makehaste. However, their slow progress may be explained by the fact thata certain number of them were carrying a huge piece of timber, soheavy that they had to stagger along cautiously.
"That," said Tom Peel, who stood at my elbow, "is to batter in thefront door and take us by storm. If you give the word, your honour, wecan massacre the lot o' them before they get three blows struck."
"Give command to the men, Peel," said I, "not to shoot any one if theycan help it. Let them hold their fire till they are within fifty yardsor so of the front, then pass the word to fire into the gravel of theterrace; and when you shoot let every man yell as if he were a dozen,and keep dead silence till that moment. I'll hold up my hand when Iwant you to fire."
There was a deep stillness over all the beautiful landscape. Thebushes and the wood, however, were an exception to this, although thesongs of the birds among the trees and singing of the larks high inthe air seemed not to disturb the silence; but the whole air of thecountry-side was a suggestion of restful peace, at great variance withthe designs of the inhabitants, who were preparing to attack eachother.
Father Donovan stood beside me, and I saw his lips moving in prayer;but his eyes were dancing with irredeemable delight, while his breathcame quick and expectant.
"I'm afraid those chaps will run at the first volley," he said,smiling at me. "They come on very slowly and must be a great trial tothe young lord that's leading them."
It was indeed a trial to the patience of all of us, for the timeseemed incredibly long till they arrived at the spot where I haddetermined they should at least hear the report of the blunderbusses,although I hoped none of them would feel the effects of the firing.Indeed, the horsemen themselves, with the exception of Lord Strepp,appeared to take little comfort in their position, and were now moreanxious to fall behind and urge on the others on foot than to lead theband with his lordship.
I let them all get very close, then held up my hand, and you wouldthink pandemonium was let loose. I doubt if all the cannon in Corkwould have made such a noise, and the heathen Indians we read of inAmerica could not have given so terrifying a yell as came from my ninemen. The blunderbusses were more dangerous than I supposed, and theytore up the gravel into a shower of small stones that scattered farand wide, and made many a man fall down, thinking he was shot. Thenthe mob ran away with a speed which made up for all lost time comingthe other direction. Cries of anguish were heard on every side, whichmade us all laugh, for we knew none of them were hurted. The horsesthemselves seemed seized with panic; they plunged and kicked like mad,two riders being thrown on the ground, while others galloped acrossthe valley as if they were running away; but I suspect that theirowners were slyly spurring them on while pretending they had lostcontrol of them. Lord Strepp and one or two others, however, stoodtheir ground, and indeed his lordship spurred his horse up oppositethe front door. One of my men drew a pistol, but I shouted at him:
"Don't shoot at that man, whatever he does," and the weapon waslowered.
I opened the window and leaned out.
"Well, Lord Strepp," cried I, "'tis a valiant crowd you have behindyou."
"You cursed highwayman," he cried, "what do you expect to make bythis?"
"I expect to see some good foot-racing; but you are under an error inyour appellation. I am not a highwayman; it is Jem Bottles here whostopped nine of your men on the Maidstone road and piled their saddlesby the side of it. Is it new saddlery you have, or did you make aroadside collection?"
"I'll have you out of that, if I have to burn the house over yourhead."
"I'll wager you'll not get any man, unless it's yourself, to come nearenough to carry a torch to it. You can easily have me out of thiswithout burning the house. Tell your father I am ready to compromisewith him."
"Sir, you have no right in my father's house; and, to tell you thetruth, I did not expect such outlawry from a man who had shown himselfto be a gentleman."
"Thank you for that, Lord Strepp; but, nevertheless, tell your fatherto try to cultivate a conciliatory frame of mind, and let us talk thematter over as sensible men should."
"We cannot compromise with you, O'Ruddy," said Lord Strepp in a verydetermined tone, which for the first time made me doubt the wisdom ofmy proceedings; for of course it was a
compromise I had in mind allthe time, for I knew as well as Father Donovan that if he refused tosettle with me my position was entirely untenable.
"We cannot compromise with you," went on the young man. "You have noright, legal or moral, to this place, and you know it. I have advisedmy father to make no terms with you. Good day to you, sir."
And with that he galloped off, while I drew a very long face as Iturned away.
"Father Donovan," I said, when I had closed the window, "I am not surebut your advice to me on the way here was nearer right than I thoughtat the time."
"Oh, not a bit of it," cried Father Donovan cheerfully. "You heardwhat the young man said, that he had advised his father not to makeany terms with you. Very well, that means terms have been proposedalready; and this youth rejects the wisdom of age, which I have knownto be done before."
"You think, then, they will accept a conference?"
"I am sure of it. These men will not stand fire, and small blame tothem. What chance have they? As your captain says, he could annihilatethe lot of them before they crushed in the front door. The men who ranaway have far more sense than that brainless spalpeen who led them on,although I can see he is brave enough. One or two more useless attackswill lead him to a more conciliatory frame of mind, unless he appealsto the law, which is what I thought he would do; for I felt sure asheriff would be in the van of attack. Just now you are opposed onlyto the Earl of Westport; but, when the sheriff comes on, you'refornenst the might of England."
This cheered me greatly, and after a while we had our dinner in peace.The long afternoon passed slowly away, and there was no rally in thevillage, and no sign of a further advance; so night came on andnothing had been done. After supper I said good-night to FatherDonovan, threw myself, dressed as I was, on the bed, and fell into adoze. It was toward midnight when Tom Peel woke me up; that man seemedto sleep neither night nor day; and there he stood by my bed, lookinglike a giant in the flicker of the candle-light.
"Your honour," he said, "I think there's something going on at themouth of the tunnel. Twice I've caught the glimpse of a light there,although they're evidently trying to conceal it."
I sat up in bed and said:
"What do you propose to do?"
"Well, there's a man inside here that knows the tunnel just as well asI do,--every inch of it,--and he's up near the other end now. If acompany begins coming in, my man will run back without being seen andlet us know. Now, sir, shall I timber this end, or shall we deal withthem at the top of the stair one by one as they come up. One goodswordsman at the top of the stair will prevent a thousand getting intothe house."
"Peel," said I, "are there any stones outside, at the other end of thetunnel?"
"Plenty. There's a dyke of loose stones fronting it."
"Very well; if your man reports that any have entered the tunnel,they'll have left one or two at the other end on guard; take you fiveof your most trusted men, and go you cautiously a roundabout wayuntil you are within striking distance of the men on guard. Watch thefront upper windows of this house; and if you see two lightsdisplayed, you will know they are in the tunnel. If you waited heretill your man comes back, you would be too late; so go now, and, ifyou see the two lights, overpower the men at the mouth of the tunnelunless they are too many for you. If they are, then there's nothing todo but retreat. When you have captured the guard, make them go downinto the tunnel; then you and your men tear down the dyke and fill thehole full of stones; I will guard this end of the passage."
Tom Peel pulled his forelock and was gone at once, delighted with histask. I knew that if I got them once in the tunnel there would nolonger be any question of a compromise, even if Lord Strepp himselfwas leading them. I took two lighted candles with me and sat patientlyat the head of the stone stairway that led, in circular fashion, downinto the depths. Half an hour passed, but nothing happened, and Ibegan to wonder whether or not they had captured our man, whensuddenly his face appeared.
"They are coming, sir," he cried, "by the dozen. Lord Strepp isleading them."
"Will they be here soon, do you think?"
"I cannot tell. First I saw torches appear, then Lord Strepp came downand began giving instructions, and, after counting nearly a score ofhis followers, I came back as quick as I could."
"You've done nobly," said I. "Now stand here with this sword andprevent any man from coming up."
I took one of the candles, leaving him another, and lighted a third. Iwent up the stair and set them in the front window; then I openedanother window and listened. The night was exceedingly still,--noteven the sound of a cricket to be heard. After a few minutes, however,there came a cry, instantly smothered, from the other side of thevalley; another moment and I heard the stones a rolling, as if theside of a wall had tumbled over, which indeed was the case; then twolights were shown on the hill and were waved up and down; and althoughPeel and I had arranged no signal, yet this being the counterpart ofmy own, I took to signify that they had been successful, so, leavingthe candles burning there, in case there might have been some mistake,I started down the stair to the man who was guarding the secretpassage.
"Has anything happened?"
"Nothing, sir."
I think the best part of an hour must have passed before there wassign or sound. Of course I knew if the guards were flung down thehole, they would at once run after their comrades and warn them thatboth ends of the tunnel were in our possession. I was well aware thatthe imprisoned men might drag away the stones and ultimately win apassage out for themselves; but I trusted that they would bepanic-stricken when they found themselves caught like rats in a trap.In any case it would be very difficult to remove stones from below inthe tunnel, because the space was narrow and few could labour at atime; then there was every chance that the stones might jam, whennothing could be done. However, I told the man beside me to go acrossthe valley and ask Peel and his men to pile on rocks till he had agreat heap above the entrance, and, if not disturbed, to work tillnearly daylight, so I sat on the top of the circular stair step withmy rapier across my knees, waiting so long that I began to fear theyall might be smothered, for I didn't know whether the stopping of airat one end would prevent it coming in at the other, for I never heardmy father say what took place in a case like that. Father Donovan wasin bed and asleep, and I was afraid to leave the guarding of the stairto any one else. It seemed that hours and hours passed, and I began towonder was daylight never going to come, when the most welcome sound Iever heard was the well-known tones of a voice which came up from thebottom of the well.
"Are you there, Mr. O'Ruddy?"
There was a subdued and chastened cadence in the inquiry that pleasedme.
"I am, and waiting for you."
"May I come up?"
"Yes, and very welcome; but you'll remember, Lord Strepp, that youcome up as a prisoner."
"I quite understand that, Mr. O'Ruddy."
So, as I held the candle, I saw the top of his head coming round andround and round, and finally he stood before me stretching out hissword, hilt forward.
"Stick it in its scabbard," said I, "and I'll do the same with mine."Then I put out my hand, "Good morning to your lordship," I said. "Itseems to me I've been waiting here forty days and forty nights. Willyou have a sup of wine?"
"I would be very much obliged to you for it, Mr. O'Ruddy."
With that I called the nearest guard and bade him let nobody up thestair without my knowing it.
"I suppose, my lord, you are better acquainted with this house than Iam; but I know a spot where there's a drop of good drink."
"You have discovered the old gentleman's cellar, then?"
"Indeed, Lord Strepp, I have not. I possess a cellar of my own. It'syou that's my guest, and not me that's yours on this occasion."
I poured him out a flagon, and then one for myself, and as we stood bythe table I lifted it high and said:
"Here's to our better acquaintance."
His lordship drank, and said with a wry face, as he
put down the mug:
"Our acquaintance seems to be a somewhat tempestuous one; but Iconfess, Mr. O'Ruddy, that I have as great a respect for yourgeneralship as I have for your swordsmanship. The wine is good andrevivifying. I've been in that accursed pit all night, and I came tothis end of it with greater reluctance than I expected to when Ientered the other. We tried to clear away the stones; but they musthave piled all the rocks in Sussex on top of us. Are your men toilingthere yet?"
"Yes, they're there, and I gave them instructions to work tilldaylight."
"Well, Mr. O'Ruddy, my poor fellows are all half dead with fright, andthey fancy themselves choking; but although the place was foul enoughwhen we entered it, I didn't see much difference at the end. However,I did see one thing, and that was that I had to come and make terms. Iwant you to let the poor devils go, Mr. O'Ruddy, and I'll be parolethat they won't attack you again."
"And who will give his parole that Lord Strepp will not attack meagain?"
"Well, O'Ruddy,"--I took great comfort from the fact that he droppedthe Mr.,--"Well, O'Ruddy, you see we cannot possibly give up thisestate. You are not legally entitled to it. It is ours and always hasbeen."
"I'm not fighting for any estate, Lord Strepp."
"Then, in Heaven's name, what are you fighting for?"
"For the consent of the Earl and Countess of Westport to my marriagewith Lady Mary, your sister."
Lord Strepp gave a long whistle; then he laughed and sat down in thenearest chair.
"But what does Mary say about it?" he asked at last.
"The conceit of an Irishman, my lord, leads me to suspect that I canultimately overcome any objections she may put forward."
"Oho! that is how the land lies, is it? I'm a thick-headed clod, or Iwould have suspected something of that sort when Mary pulled me downso sharply as I was cursing you at the front door." Then, with aslight touch of patronage in his tone, he said:
"There is some difference in the relative positions of our families,Mr. O'Ruddy."
"Oh, I'm quite willing to waive that," said I. "Of course it isn'tusual for the descendant of kings, like myself, to marry a daughter ofthe mere nobility; but Lady Mary is so very charming that she morethan makes up for any discrepancy, whatever may be said for the restof the family."
At this Lord Strepp threw back his head and laughed again joyously,crying,--
"King O'Ruddy, fill me another cup of your wine, and I'll drink toyour marriage."
We drank, and then he said:
"I'm a selfish beast, guzzling here when those poor devils thinkthey're smothering down below. Well, O'Ruddy, will you let my unluckyfellows go?"
"I'll do that instantly," said I, and so we went to the head of thecircular stair and sent the guard down to shout to them to come on,and by this time the daylight was beginning to turn the upper windowsgrey. A very bedraggled stream of badly frightened men began crawlingup and up and up the stairway, and as Tom Peel had now returned Iasked him to open the front door and let the yeomen out. Once on theterrace in front, the men seemed not to be able to move away, butstood there drawing in deep breaths of air as if they had never tastedit before. Lord Strepp, in the daylight, counted the mob, asking themif they were sure every one had come up, but they all seemed to bethere, though I sent Tom Peel down along the tunnel to find if any hadbeen left behind.
Lord Strepp shook hands most cordially with me at the front door.
"Thank you for your hospitality, O'Ruddy," he said, "although I camein by the lower entrance. I will send over a flag of truce when I'veseen my father; then I hope you will trust yourself to come to theManor House and have a talk with him."
"I'll do it with pleasure," said I.
"Good morning to you," said Lord Strepp.
"And the top o' the morning to you, which is exactly what we aregetting at this moment, though in ten minutes I hope to be asleep."
"So do I," said Lord Strepp, setting off at a run down the slope.