CHAPTER VII.
I FIND A COMRADE.
But I must go back a little and tell you what befell in my expedition.
I had scarce trudged out of sight of my friends, down the hill, whenit struck me that my footprints in the snow were in the last degreedangerous to them, and might lead Settle and his crew straight to thedingle. Here was a fix. I stood for some minutes nonpluss'd, when abovethe stillness of the wood (for the wind had dropp'd) a faint sound as ofrunning water caught my ear, and help'd me to an idea.
The sound seem'd to come from my left. Turning aside I made across thehill toward it, and after two hundred paces or so came on a tinybrook, not two feet across, that gush'd down the slope with a quiteconsiderable chatter and impatience. The bed of it was mainly earth,with here and there a large stone or root to catch the toe: so that,as I stepped into the water and began to thread my way down between thebanks of snow, 'twas necessary to look carefully to my steps.
Here and there the brook fetch'd a leap down a sharper declivity, orshot over a hanging stone: but, save for the wetting I took in theseplaces, my progress was easy enough. I must have waded in this mannerfor half a mile, keeping the least possible noise, when at an angleahead I spied a clearing among the pines, and to the right of thestream, on the very verge, a hut of logs standing, with a wood rickbehind it.
'Twas a low building, but somewhat long, and I guess'd it to be, insummer time, a habitation for the woodcutters. But what surpris'd mewas to hear a dull, moaning noise, very regular and disquieting,that sounded from the interior of the hut. I listen'd, and hit on theexplication. 'Twas the sound of snoring.
Drawing nearer with caution, I noticed, in that end of the hut whichstood over the stream, a gap, or window hole. The sound issued throughthis like the whirring of a dozen looms. "He must be an astonishingfellow," thought I, "that can snore in this fashion. I'll have a peepbefore I wake him." I waded down till I stood under the sill, put bothhands upon it, and pulling myself up quiet as a mouse, stuck my face inat the window--and then very nearly sat back into the brook for fright.
For I had gazed straight down into the upturn'd faces of Captain Settleand his gang.
How long I stood there, with the water rushing past my ankles and mybody turning from cold to hot, and back again, I cannot tell you. But'twas until, hearing no pause in the sleepers' chorus, I found couragefor another peep: and that must have been some time.
There were but six rascals beside the Captain (so that Jacques must havedied hard, thought I), and such a raffle of arms and legs and swollenup-turn'd faces as they made I defy you to picture. For they were pack'dclose as herrings; and the hut was fill'd up with their horses, readysaddled, and rubbing shoulder to loin, so narrow was the room. It neededthe open window to give them air: and even so, 'twas not over-freshinside.
I had no mind to stay: but before leaving found myself in the way ofplaying these villains a pretty trick. To right and left of the window,above their heads, extended two rude shelves that now were heap'd withwhat I conjectured to be the spoils of the larder of the "Three Cups."Holding my breath and thrusting my head and shoulders into the room, Iran my hand along and was quickly possess'd of a boil'd ham, two capons,a loaf, the half of a cold pie, and a basket holding three dozen eggs.All these prizes I filched one by one, with infinite caution.
I was gently pulling the basket through the window hole, when I heardone of the crew yawn and stretch himself in his sleep. So, determiningto risk no more, I quietly pack'd the basket, slung it on my right arm,and with the ham grasp'd by the knuckle in my left, made my way up thestream.
'Twas thus laden that I enter'd the dingle, and came on the sad sighttherein. I set down the ham as a thing to be asham'd of, and bar'd myhead. The girl lifted her face, and turning, all white and tragical, sawme.
"My father is dead, sir."
I stoop'd and pil'd a heap of fresh snow over the blood stains. Therewas no intent in this but to hide the pity that chok'd me. She had stillto hear about her brother, Anthony. Turning, as by a sudden thought, Itook her hand. She look'd into my eyes, and her own filled with tears.'Twas the human touch that loosen'd their flow, I think: and sinkingdown again beside her father, she wept her fill.
"Mistress Killigrew," I said, as soon as the first violence of her tearswas abated, "I have still some news that is ill hearing. Your enemiesare encamp'd in the woods, about a half mile below this"--and with thatI told my story.
"They have done their worst, sir."
"No."
She looked at me with a question on her lip.
Said I, "you must believe me yet a short while without questioning."
Considering for a moment, she nodded. "You have a right, sir, to betrusted, tho' I know not so much as your name. Then we must stay closein hiding?" she added very sensibly, tho' with the last word her voicetrail'd off, and she began again to weep.
But in time, having cover'd the dead baronet's body with sprays of thewither'd bracken, I drew her to a little distance and prevail'd onher to nibble a crust of the loaf. Now, all this while, it must beremembered, I was in my shirt sleeves, and the weather bitter cold.Which at length her sorrow allow'd her to notice.
"Why, you are shivering, sore!" she said, and running, drew my buff-coatfrom her father's body, and held it out to me.
"Indeed," I answer'd, "I was thinking of another expedition to warm myblood." And promising to be back in half an hour, I follow'd down myformer tracks toward the stream.
Within twenty minutes I was back, running and well-nigh shouting withjoy.
"Come!" I cried to her, "come and see for yourself!"
What had happen'd was this:--Wading cautiously down the brook, I hadcause suddenly to prick up my ears and come to a halt. 'Twas the muffledtramp of hoofs that I heard, and creeping a bit further, I caught aglimpse, beyond the hut, of a horse and rider disappearing down thewoods. He was the last of the party, as I guess'd from the sound ofvoices and jingling of bits further down the slope. Advancing on the hutwith more boldness, I found it deserted. I scrambled up on the bank andround to the entrance. The snow before it was trampled and sullied bythe footmarks of men and horses: and as I noted this, came Settle'svoice calling up the slope----
"Jerry--Jerry Toy!"
A nearer voice hail'd in answer.
"Where's Reuben?"
"Coming, Captain--close behind!"
"Curse him for a loitering idiot! We've wasted time enough, as 'tis,"called back the Captain. "How in thunder is a man to find the road outof this cursed wood?"
"Straight on, Cap'n--you can't miss it," shouted another voice, not twogunshots below.
A volcano of oaths pour'd up from Settle. I did not wait for the end ofthem: but ran back for Mistress Delia.
Together we descended to the hut. By this time the voices had faded awayin distance. Yet to make sure that the rascals had really departed, wefollow'd their tracks for some way, beside the stream; and suddenly cameto a halt with cries of joyful surprise.
The brook had led us to a point where, over a stony fall veil'd withbrown bracken, it plunged into a narrow ravine. Standing on the lip,where the water took a smoother glide before leaping, we saw the lineof the ravine mark'd by a rift in the pines, and through this a sliceof the country that lay below. 'Twas a level plain, well watered, anddotted here and there with houses. A range of wooded hills clos'd theview, and toward them a broad road wound gently, till the eye lost it attheir base. All this was plain enough, in spite of the snow that cover'dthe landscape. For the sun had burst out above, and the few flakes thatstill fell looked black against his brilliance and the dazzling countrybelow.
But what caus'd our joy was to see, along the road, a small cavalcademoving away from us, with many bright glances of light and color, astheir steel caps and sashes took the sunshine--a pretty sight, and theprettier because it meant our present deliverance.
The girl beside me gave a cry of delight, then sigh'd; and after aminute began to walk back toward the hut: where I left
her, and ran uphill for the basket and ham. On my return, I found her examining aheap of rusty tools that, it seem'd, she had found on a shelf of thebuilding. 'Twas no light help to the good fellowship that afterwardunited us, that from the first I could read her thoughts often withoutwords; and for this reason, that her eyes were as candid as the noonday.
So now I answer'd her aloud---
"This afternoon we may venture down to the plain, where no doubt weshall find a clergyman to sell us a patch of holy ground--"
"Holy ground?" She look'd at me awhile and shook her head. "I am not ofyour religion," she said.
"And your father?"
"I think no man ever discovered my father's religion. Perhaps there wasnone to discover: but he was no bad father" she steadied her voice andwent on:--"He would prefer the hillside to your 'holy ground.'"
So, an hour later, I delv'd his grave in the frosty earth, close by thespot where he lay. Somehow, I shiver'd all the while, and had a cruelshooting pain in my wound that was like to have mastered me before thetask was ended. But I managed to lower the body softly into the holeand to cover it reverently from sight: and afterward stood leaning onmy spade and feeling very light in the head, while the girl knelt andpray'd for her father's soul.
And the picture of her as she knelt is the last I remember, till Iopen'd my eyes, and was amazed to find myself on my back, and staring upat darkness.
"What has happen'd?"
"I think you are very ill," said a voice: "can you lean on me, and reachthe hut?"
"Why, yes: that is, I think so. Why is everything dark?"
"The sun has been down for hours. You have been in a swoon first, andthen talk'd--oh, such nonsense! Shame on me, to let you catch thischill!"
She help'd me to my feet and steadied me: and how we reached the hut Icannot tell you. It took more than one weary hour, as I now know; but,at the time, hours and minutes were one to me.
In that hut I lay four nights and four days, between ague fit and fever.And that is all the account I can give of the time, save that, on thesecond day, the girl left me alone in the hut and descended to theplain, where, after asking at many cottages for a physician, she wasforced to be content with an old woman reputed to be amazingly wellskill'd in herbs and medicines; whom, after a day's trial, she turn'dout of doors. On the fourth day, fearing for my life, she made anotherdescent, and coming to a wayside tavern, purchased a pint of aqua vitae,carried it back, and mix'd a potion that threw me into a profuse sweat.The same evening I sat up, a sound man.
Indeed, so thoroughly was I recover'd that, waking early next morning,and finding my sweet nurse asleep from sheer weariness, in a corner ofthe hut, I stagger'd up from my bed of dried bracken, and out into thepure air. Rare it was to stand and drink it in like wine. A footsteparous'd me. 'Twas Mistress Delia: and turning, I held out my hand.
"Now this is famous," said she: "a day or two will see you as good a manas ever."
"A day or two? To-morrow at latest, I shall make trial to start." Inoted a sudden change on her face, and added: "Indeed, you must hearmy reasons before setting me down for an ingrate;" and told her of theKing's letter that I carried. "I hoped that for a while our ways mightlie together," said I; and broke off, for she was looking me earnestlyin the face.
"Sir, as you know, my brother Anthony was to have met me--nay, forpity's sake, turn not your face away! I have guess'd--the sword youcarry--I mark'd it. Sir, be merciful, and tell me!"
I led her a little aside to the foot of a tall pine; and there, tho'it rung my heart, told her all; and left her to wrestle with this finalsorrow. She was so tender a thing to be stricken thus, that I who haddealt the blow crept back to the hut, covering my eyes. In an hour'stime I look'd out. She was gone.
At nightfall she return'd, white with grief and fatigue; yet I was gladto see her eyes red and swol'n with weeping. Throughout our suppershe kept silence; but when 'twas over, look'd up and spoke in a steadytone----
"Sir, I have a favor to ask, and must risk being held importunate--"
"From you to me," I put in, "all talk of favors had best be dropp'd."
"No--listen. If ever it befel you to lose father or mother or dearlyloved friend, you will know how the anguish stuns--Oh sir! to-day thesun seem'd fallen out of heaven, and I a blind creature left gropingin the void. Indeed, sir, 'tis no wonder: I had a father, brother,and servant ready to die for me--three hearts to love and lean on: andto-day they are gone."
I would have spoken, but she held up a hand.
"Now when you spoke of Anthony--a dear lad!--I lay for some time dazedwith grief. By little and little, as the truth grew plainer, the paingrew also past bearing. I stood up and stagger'd into the woods toescape it. I went fast and straight, heeding nothing, for at first mysenses were all confus'd: but in a while the walking clear'd my wits,and I could think: and thinking, I could weep: and having wept, couldfortify my heart. Here is the upshot, sir--tho' 'tis held immodest for amaid to ask even far less of a man. We are both bound for Cornwall--youon an honorable mission, I for my father's estate of Gleys, wherefrom(as your tale proves) some unseen hands are thrusting me. Alike we carryour lives in our hands. You must go forward: I may not go back. For froma King who cannot right his own affairs there is little hope; and inCornwall I have surer friends than he. Therefore take me, sir--takeme for a comrade! Am I sad? Do you fear a weary journey? I willsmile--laugh--sing--put sorrow behind me. I will contrive a thousandways to cheat the milestones. At the first hint of tears, discard me,and go your way with no prick of conscience. Only try me--oh, the shameof speaking thus!"
Her voice had grown more rapid toward the close: and now, breaking off,she put both hands to cover her face, that was hot with blushes. I wentover and took them in mine:
"You have made me the blithest man alive," said I.
She drew back a pace with a frighten'd look, and would have pull'd herhands away.
"Because," I went on quickly, "you have paid me this high compliment, totrust me. Proud was I to listen to you; and merrily will the miles passwith you for comrade. And so I say--Mistress Killigrew, take me for yourservant."
To my extreme discomposure, as I dropp'd her hands, her eyes weretwinkling with laughter.
"Dear now; I see a dull prospect ahead if we use these long titles!"
"But---"
"Indeed, sir, please yourself. Only as I intend to call you 'Jack'perhaps 'Delia' will be more of a piece than 'Mistress Killigrew.'" Shedropp'd me a mock curtsey. "And now, Jack, be a good boy, and hitchme this quilt across the hut. I bought it yesterday at a cottage belowhere----"
She ended the sentence with the prettiest blush imaginable; and so,having fix'd her screen, we shook hands on our comradeship, and wish'deach other good night.