The Splendid Spur

by Arthur Quiller-Couch

  CHAPTER VI.

  THE FLIGHT IN THE PINE WOOD.

  By the sound of their steps I guess'd one or two of these dozen rascalsto be pretty far gone in drink, and afterward found this to be the case.I look'd round. Sir Deakin had pick'd up the lamp and was mixing hisbowl of punch, humming to himself without the least concern----

  "Vivre en tout cas C'est le grand soulas"--

  with a glance at his daughter's face, that was white to the lips, butfirmly set.

  "Hand me the nutmeg yonder," he said, and then, "why, daughter, what'sthis?--a trembling hand?"

  And all the while the footsteps were coming up.

  There was a loud knock on the door.

  "Come in!" call'd Sir Deakin.

  At this, Jacques, who stood ready for battle by the entrance, wheeledround, shot a look at his master, and dropping his point, made a sign tome to do the same. The door was thrust rudely open, and Captain Settle,his hat cock'd over one eye, and sham drunkenness in his gait, lurchedinto the room, with the whole villainous crew behind him, huddled on thethreshold. Jacques and I stepp'd quietly back, so as to cover the girl.

  The door was thrust rudely open.--Page 88.]

  "Would you mind waiting a moment?" inquir'd Sir Deakin, without lookingup, but rubbing the nutmeg calmly up and down the grater: "a fractiontoo much, and the whole punch will be spoil'd."

  It took the Captain aback, and he came to a stand, eyeing us, wholook'd back at him without saying a word. And this discomposed him stillfurther.

  There was a minute during which the two parties could hear each other'sbreathing. Sir Deakin set down the nutmeg, wiped his thin white fingerson a napkin, and address'd the Captain sweetly--

  "Before asking your business, sir, I would beg you and your company totaste this liquor, which, in the court of France"--the old gentlemantook a sip from the mixing ladle--"has had the extreme honor to bepronounced divine." He smack'd his lips, and rising to his feet, lethis right hand rest on the silver foot of the lamp as he bowed to theCaptain.

  Captain Settle's bravado was plainly oozing away before this politeaudacity: and seeing Sir Deakin taste the punch, he pull'd off his capin a shamefaced manner and sat down by the table with a word of thanks.

  "Come in, sirs--come in!" call'd the old gentleman; "and follow yourfriend's example. 'Twill be a compliment to make me mix another bowlwhen this is finish'd." He stepped around the table to welcome them,still resting his hand on the lamp, as if for steadiness. I saw his eyetwinkle as they shuffled in and stood around the chair where the Captainwas seated.

  "Jacques, bring glasses from the cupboard yonder! And, Delia, fetch upsome chairs for our guests--no, sirs, pray do not move!"

  He had waved his hand lightly to the door as he turned to us: and inan instant the intention as well as the bright success of this comedyflash'd upon me. There was now no one between us and the stairs, andas for Sir Deakin himself, he had already taken the step of putting thetable's width between him and his guests.

  I touch'd the girl's arm, and we made as if to fetch a couple of chairsthat stood against the wainscot by the door. As we did so, Sir Deakinpush'd the punch bowl forward under the Captain's nose.

  "Smell, sir," he cried airily, "and report to your friends on theforetaste."

  Settle's nose hung over the steaming compound. With a swift pass ofthe hand, the old gentleman caught up the lamp and had shaken a drop ofburning oil into the bowl. A great blaze leap'd to the ceiling. Therewas a howl--a scream of pain; and as I push'd Mistress Delia through thedoorway and out to the head of the stairs, I caught a backward glimpseof Sir Deakin rushing after us, with one of the stoutest among therobbers at his heels.

  "Downstairs, for your life!" I whisper'd to the girl, and turning, asher father tumbled past me, let his pursuer run on my sword, as ona spit. At the same instant, another blade pass'd through the fellowtransversely, and Jacques stood beside me, with his back to the lintel.

  As we pull'd our swords out and the man dropp'd, I had a brief view intothe room, where now the blazing liquid ran off the table in a stream.Settle, stamping with agony, had his palms press'd against his scorch'deyelids. The fat landlord, in trying to beat out the flames, hadincreased them by upsetting two bottles of aqua vitae, and was dancingabout with three fingers in his mouth. The rest stood for the most partdumbfounder'd: but Black Dick had his pistol lifted.

  Jacques and I sprang out for the landing and round the doorway. Betweenthe flash and the report I felt a sudden scrape, as of a red-hot wire,across my left thigh and just above the knee.

  "Tenez, camarade," said Jacques' voice in my ear; "a moi la porte--avous le maitre, la-bas:" and he pointed down the staircase, where, bythe glare of the conflagration that beat past us, I saw the figures ofSir Deakin and his daughter standing.

  "But how can you keep the door against a dozen?"

  The Frenchman shrugg'd his shoulders with a smile---

  "Mais-comme ca!"

  For at this moment came a rush of footsteps within the room. I saw a fatpaunch thrusting past us, a quiet pass of steel, and the landlord waswallowing on his face across the threshold. Jacques' teeth snapp'dtogether as he stood ready for another victim: and as the fellows withinthe room tumbled back, he motion'd me to leave him.

  I sprang from his side, and catching the rail of the staircase, reach'dthe foot in a couple of bounds.

  "Hurry!" I cried, and caught the old baronet by the hand. His daughtertook the other, and between us we hurried him across the passage for thekitchen door.

  Within, the chambermaid was on her knees by the settle, her face andapron of the same hue. I saw she was incapable of helping, and hasten'dacross the stone floor, and out toward the back entrance.

  A stream of icy wind blew in our faces as we stepp'd over the threshold.The girl and I bent our heads to it, and stumbling, tripping, andpanting, pull'd Sir Deakin with us out into the cold air.

  The yard was no longer dark. In the room above someone had push'd thecasement open, letting in the wind: and by this 'twas very evident theroom was on fire. Indeed, the curtains had caught, and as we ran, apennon of flame shot out over our heads, licking the thatch. In theglare of it the outbuildings and the yard gate stood clearly out fromthe night. I heard the trampling of feet, the sound of Settle's voiceshouting an order, and then a dismal yell and clash of steel as we flungopen the gate.

  "Jacques!" scream'd the old gentleman: "my poor Jacques! Those dogs willmangle him with their cut and thrust--"

  'Twas very singular and sad, but as if in answer to Sir Deakin's cry, weheard the brave fellow's voice; and a famous shout it must have been toreach us over the roaring of the flames--

  "Mon maitre-mon maitre!" he call'd twice, and then "Sauve toi!" in afainter voice, yet clear. And after that only a racket of shouts andoutcries reach'd us. Without doubt the villains had overpower'd andslain this brave servant. In spite of our peril (for they would be afterus at once),'twas all we could do to drag the old man from the gate andup the road: and as he went he wept like a child.

  After about fifty yards, we turn'd in at a gate, and began to cut acrossa field: for I hop'd thus not only to baffle pursuit for a while, butalso to gain the wood that we saw dimly ahead. It reach'd to the top ofthe hill, and I knew not how far beyond: and as I was reflecting thatthere lay our chance of safety, I heard the inn door below burst openwith loud cries, and the sound of footsteps running up the road afterus.

  Moreover, to complete our fix, the clouds that had been scurrying acrossthe moon's face, now for a minute left a clear interval of sky abouther: so that right in our course there lay a great patch brilliantlylit, whereon our figures could be spied at once by anyone glancing intothe field. Also, it grew evident that Sir Deakin's late agility was buta short and sudden triumph of will over body: for his poor crooked legsbegan to trail and lag sadly. So turning sharp about, we struck for thehedge's shadow, and there pull'd him down in a dry ditch, and lay witha hand on his mouth to stifle his ejaculations, while we
ourselves heldour breathing.

  The runners came up the road, pausing for a moment by the gate. I heardit creak, and saw two or three dark forms enter the field--the remaindertearing on up the road with a great clatter of boots.

  "Alas, my poor Jacques!" moan'd Sir Deakin: "and to be butcher'd so,that never in his days kill'd a man but as if he lov'd him!"

  "Sir," I whisper'd harshly, "if you keep this noise I must gag you." Andwith that he was silent for awhile.

  There was a thick tangle of brambles in the ditch where we lay: and tothis we owe our lives. For one of the men, coming our way, pass'd withintwo yards of us, with the flat of his sword beating the growth over ourheads.

  "Reu-ben! Reuben Gedges!" call'd a voice by the gate.

  The fellow turn'd; and peeping between the bramble twigs, I saw themoonlight glittering on his blade. A narrow, light-hair'd man he was,with a weak chin: and since then I have paid him out for the fright hegave us.

  "What's the coil?" he shouted back.

  "The stable roofs ablaze--for the Lord's sake come and save the hosses!"

  He strode back, and in a minute the field was clear. Creeping out withcaution, I grew aware of two mournful facts: first, that the stable wasindeed afire, as I perceiv'd by standing on tiptoe and looking over thehedge; and second, that my knee was hurt by Black Dick's bullet. Themuscles had stiffened while we were crouching, and now pain'd me badly.Yet I kept it to myself as we started off again to run.

  But at the stile that, at the top of the field, led into the woods, Ipull'd up--

  "Sorry I am to say it, but you must go on without me."

  "O--oh!" cried the girl.

  "'Tis for your safety. See, I leave a trail of blood behind me, so thatwhen day rises they will track us easily."

  And sure enough, even by the moon, 'twas easy to trace the dark spotson the grass and earth beside the stile. My left boot, too, was full ofblood.

  She was silent for awhile. Down in the valley we could hear the screamsof the poor horses. The light of the flames lit up the pine trunks aboutus to a bright scarlet.

  "Sir, you hold our gratitude cheaply."

  She unwound the kerchief from her neck, and making me sit on the stile,bound up my knee skillfully, twisting a short stick in the bandage tostop the bleeding.

  I thank'd her, and we hurried on into the depths of the wood, treadingsilently on the deep carpet of pine needles. The ground rose steeplyall the way: and all the way, tho' the light grew feebler, the roar andoutcries in the valley follow'd us.

  Toward the hill's summit the trees were sparser. Looking upward, I sawthat the sky had grown thickly overcast. We cross'd the ridge, and aftera minute or so were in thick cover again.

  'Twas here that Sir Deakin's strength gave out. Almost without warning,he sank down between our hands, and in a second was taken with thathateful cough, that once already this night had frightened me for hislife.

  "Ah, ah!" he groaned, between the spasms, "I'm not fit--I'm not fit forit!" and was taken again, and roll'd about barking, so that I fear'd thesound would bring all Settle's gang on our heels. "I'm not fit for it!"he repeated, as the cough left him, and he lay back helpless, among thepine needles.

  Now, I understood his words to bear on his unfitness for death, andjudg'd them very decent and properly spoken: and took occasion to hintthis in my attempts to console him.

  "Why, bless the boy!" he cried, sitting up and staring, "for what d'yethink I'm unsuited?"

  "Why, to die, sir--to be sure!"

  "Holy Mother!" he regarded me with surprise, contempt and pity, alltogether: "was ever such a dunderhead! If ever man were fit to die, I amhe--and that's just my reasonable complaint. Heart alive! 'tis unfit to_live_ I am, tied to this absurd body!"

  I suppose my attitude express'd my lack of comprehension, for he lifteda finger and went on--

  "Tell me--can you eat beef, and drink beer, and enjoy them?"

  "Why, yes."

  "And fight--hey? and kiss a pretty girl, and be glad you've done it?Dear, dear, how I do hate a fool and a fool's pity! Lift me up and carryme a step. This night's work has kill'd me: I feel it in my lungs. 'Tisa pity, too; for I was just beginning to enjoy it."

  I lifted him as I would a babe, and off we set again, my teeth shuttingtight on the pain of my hurt. And presently, coming to a little dingle,about half a mile down the hillside, well hid with dead bracken andblackberry bushes, I consulted with the girl. The place was wellshelter'd from the wind that rock'd the treetops, and I fear'd to gomuch further, for we might come on open country at any moment and sodouble our peril. It seem'd best, therefore, to lay the old gentlemansnugly in the bottom of this dingle and wait for day. And with mybuff-coat, and a heap of dried leaves, I made him fairly easy, reservingmy cloak to wrap about Mistress Delia's fair neck and shoulders. Butagainst this at first she protested.

  "For how are you to manage?" she ask'd.

  "I shall tramp up and down, and keep watch," answer'd I, strewing acouch for her beside her father: "and 'tis but fair exchange for thekerchief you gave me from your own throat."

  At last I persuaded her, and she crept close to her father, and underthe edge of the buff-coat for warmth. There was abundance of dry brackenin the dingle, and with this and some handfuls of pine needles, Icover'd them over, and left them to find what sleep they might.

  For two hours and more after this, I hobbled to and fro near them, aswell as my wound would allow, looking up at the sky through the pinetops, and listening to the sobbing of the wind. Now and then I wouldswing my arms for warmth, and breathe on my fingers, that were sorelybenumb'd; and all the while kept my ears on the alert, but heardnothing.

  'Twas, as I said, something over two hours after, that I felt a softcold touch, and then another, like kisses on my forehead. I put up myhand, and looked up again at the sky. As I did so, the girl gave a longsigh, and awoke from her doze---

  "Sure, I must have dropp'd asleep," she said, opening her eyes, andspying my shadow above her: "has aught happened?"

  "Aye," replied I, "something is happening that will wipe out our tracesand my bloody track."

  "And what is that?"

  "Snow: see, 'tis falling fast."

  She bent over, and listen'd to her father's breathing.

  "'Twill kill him," she said simply.

  I pull'd some more fronds of the bracken to cover them both. She thank'dme, and offer'd to relieve me in my watch: which I refus'd. And indeed,by lying down I should have caught my death, very likely.

  The big flakes drifted down between the pines: till, as the moon paled,the ground about me was carpeted all in white, with the foliage blackas ink above it. Time after time, as I tramp'd to and fro, I paus'd tobrush the fresh-forming heap from the sleepers' coverlet, and shakeit gently from the tresses of the girl's hair. The old man's face wascovered completely by the buff-coat: but his breathing was calm andregular as any child's.

  Day dawn'd. Awaking Mistress Delia, I ask'd her to keep watch for atime, while I went off to explore. She crept out from her bed with alittle shiver of disgust.

  "Run about," I advis'd, "and keep the blood stirring."

  She nodded: and looking back, as I strode down the hill, I saw hermoving about quickly, swinging her arms, and only pausing to wave a handto me for goodspeed.

  * * * * *

  'Twas an hour before I return'd: and plenty I had to tell. Only at theentrance to the dingle the words failed from off my tongue. The oldgentleman lay as he had lain throughout the night. But the bracken hadbeen toss'd aside, and the girl was kneeling over him. I drew near, mystep not arousing her. Sir Deakin's face was pale and calm: but on thesnow that had gather'd by his head, lay a red streak of blood. 'Twasfrom his lungs, and he was quite dead.