The Splendid Spur

by Arthur Quiller-Couch

  CHAPTER VIII.

  I LOSE THE KING'S LETTER; AND AM CARRIED TO BRISTOL.

  Almost before daylight we were afoot, and the first ray of cold sunshinefound us stepping from the woods into the plain, where now the snow wasvanished and a glistening coat of rime spread over all things. Down herethe pines gave way to bare elms and poplars, thickly dotted, and amongthem the twisting smoke of farmstead and cottage, here and there, andthe morning stir of kitchen and stable very musical in the crisp air.

  Delia stepped along beside me, humming an air or breaking off tochatter. Meeting us, you would have said we had never a care. The roadwent stretching away to the northwest and the hills against the skythere; whither beyond, we neither knew nor (being both young, and one,by this time, pretty deep in love) did greatly care. Yet meeting with awaggoner and his team, we drew up to enquire.

  The waggoner had a shock of whitish hair and a face purple-red above,by reason of the cold, and purple-black below, for lack of a barber. Hepurs'd up his mouth and look'd us slowly up and down.

  "Come," said I, "you are not deaf, I hope, nor dumb."

  "Send I may niver!" the fellow ejaculated, slowly and withcontemplation: "'tis an unseemly sight, yet tickling to the mirthfullyminded. Haw--haw!" He check'd his laughter suddenly and stood like astone image beside his horses.

  "Good sir," said Delia, laying a hand on my arm (for I was growingnettled), "your mirth is a riddle: but tell us our way and you are freeto laugh."

  "Oh, Scarlet--Scarlet!" answer'd he: "and to me, that am a man o'blushes from my cradle!"

  Convinced by this that the fellow must be an idiot, I told him so, andleft him staring after us; nor heard the sound of his horses moving onagain for many minutes.

  After this we met about a dozen on the road, and all paus'd to stare.But from one--an old woman--we learn'd we were walking toward Marlboro',and about noon were over the hills and looking into the valley beyond.

  'Twas very like the other vale; only a pleasant stream wound along thebottom, by the banks of which the road took us. Here, by a bridge, wecame to an inn bearing the sign of "The Broad Face," and entered: forCaptain Settle's stock of victuals was now done. A sour-fac'd woman metus at the door.

  "Do you stay here," Delia advis'd me, "and drink a mug of beer while Ibargain with the hostess for fresh food." She follow'd the sour-fac'dwoman into the house.

  But out she comes presently with her cheeks flaming and a pair ofbright eyes. "Come!" she commanded, "come at once!" Setting down myhalf emptied mug, I went after her across the bridge and up the road,wondering. In this way we must have walk'd for a mile or more before sheturn'd and stamp'd her little foot--

  "Horrible!" she cried. "Horrible--wicked--shameful! Ugh!" There weretears in her eyes.

  "What is shameful?"

  She made no reply, but walk'd on again quickly.

  "I am getting hungry, for my part," sigh'd I, after a little.

  "Then you must starve!"

  "Oh!"

  She wheel'd round again.

  "Jack, this will never do. If you are to have a comrade, let it be aboy."

  "Now, I am very passably content as things are."

  "Nonsense: at Marlboro', I mean, you must buy me a suit of boy'sclothes. What are you hearkening to?"

  "I thought I heard the noise of guns--or is it thunder?"

  "Dear Jack, don't say 'tis thunder! I do mortally fear thunder--andmice."

  "'Twouldn't be thunder at this time of year. No, 'tis guns firing."

  "Where?--not that I mind guns."

  "Ahead of us."

  On the far side of the valley we enter'd a wood, thinking by this toshorten our way: for the road here took a long bend to eastward. Now, atfirst this wood seem'd of no considerable size, but thicken'd and spreadas we advanced. 'Twas only, however, after passing the ridge, and whendaylight began to fail us, that I became alarm'd. For the wood grewdenser, with a tangle of paths criss-crossing amid the undergrowth. Andjust then came the low mutter of cannon again, shaking the earth. Webegan to run forward, tripping in the gloom over brambles, and stumblinginto holes.

  For a mile or so this lasted: and then, without warning, I heard a soundbehind me, and look'd back, to find Delia sunk upon the ground.

  "Jack, here's a to-do!"

  "What's amiss?"

  "Why, I am going to swoon!"

  The words were scarce out, when there sounded a crackling and snappingof twigs ahead, and two figures came rushing toward us--a man and awoman. The man carried an infant in his arms: and tho' I call'd on themto stop, the pair ran by us with no more notice than if we had beenstones. Only the woman cried, "Dear Lord, save us!" and wrung her handsas she pass'd out of sight.

  "This is strange conduct," thought I: but peering down, saw that Delia'sface was white and motionless. She had swoon'd, indeed, from wearinessand hunger. So I took her in my arms and stumbled forward, hoping tofind the end of the wood soon. For now the rattle of artillery camelouder and incessant through the trees, and mingling with it, amultitude of dull shouts and outcries. At first I was minded to runafter the man and woman, but on second thought, resolv'd to see thedanger before hiding from it.

  The trees, in a short while, grew sparser, and between the stems Imark'd a ruddy light glowing. And then I came out on an open space uponthe hillside, with a dip of earth in front; and beyond, a long ridgeof pines standing up black, because of a red glare behind them; andsaw that this came not from any setting sun, but was the light of aconflagration.

  The glare danced and quiver'd in the sky, as I cross'd the hollow. Itmade even Delia's white cheek seem rosy. Up amid the pines I clamor'd,and along the ridge to where it broke off in a steep declivity. And lo!in a minute I look'd down as 'twere into the infernal pit.

  There was a whole town burning below. And in the streets men werefighting, as could be told by their shouts and the rattle and blaze ofmusketry. For a garment of smoke lay over all and hid them: only theturmoil beat up as from a furnace, and the flames of burning thatches,and quick jets of firearms like lightning in a thundercloud. Greatsparks floated past us, and over the trees at our back. A hot blastbreath'd on our cheeks. Now and then you might hear a human shriekdistinct amid the din, and this spoke terribly to the heart.

  Now the town was Marlboro', and the attacking force a body of royaltroops sent from Oxford to oust the garrison of the Parliament, whichthey did this same night, with great slaughter, driving the rebels outof the place, and back on the road to Bristol. Had we guess'd this,much ill luck had been spared us; but we knew nought of it, nor whetherfriends or foes were getting the better. So (Delia being by this timerecover'd a little) we determined to pass the night in the woods, and onthe morrow to give the place a wide berth.

  Retreating, then, to the hollow (that lay on the lee side of the ridge,away from the north wind), I gather'd a pile of great stones, and spreadmy cloak thereover for Delia. To sleep was impossible, even with thewill for it. For the tumult and fighting went on, and only died outabout an hour before dawn: and once or twice we were troubled to hearthe sound of people running on the ridge above. So we sat and talked inlow voices till dawn; and grew more desperately hunger'd than ever.

  With the chill of daybreak we started, meaning to get quit of theneighborhood before any espied us; and fetch'd a compass to the southwithout another look at Marlboro'. At the end of two hours, turningnorthwest again, we came to some water meadows beside a tiny river (theKennet, as I think), and saw, some way beyond, a high road that cross'dto our side (only the bridge was now broken down), and further yet, athick smoke curling up; but whence this came I could not see. Now wehad been avoiding all roads this morning, and hiding at every sound offootsteps. But hunger was making us bold. I bade Delia crouch downby the stream's bank, where many alders grew, and set off toward thiscolumn of smoke.

  By the spot where the road cross'd I noted that many men and horses hadlately pass'd hereby to westward, and, by their footmarks, at a greatspeed. A little further, and I came on
a broken musket flung against thehedge, with a nauseous mess of blood and sandy hairs about the stockof it; and just beyond was a dead horse, his legs sticking up like bentpoles across the road. 'Twas here that my blood went cold on a sudden,to hear a dismal groaning not far ahead. I stood still, holding mybreath, and then ran forward again.

  The road took a twist that led me face to face with a small whitewashedcottage, smear'd with black stains of burning. For seemingly it had beenfir'd in one or two places, only the flames had died out: and from theback, where some out-building yet smoulder'd, rose the smoke that Ispied. But what brought me to a stand was to see the doorway allcrack'd and charr'd, and across it a soldier stretch'd--a green-coatedrebel--and quite dead. His face lay among the burn'd ruins of the door,that had wofully singed his beard and hair. A stain of blood ran acrossthe door stone and into the road.

  I was gazing upon him and shuddering, when again I heard the groans.They issued from the upper chamber of the cottage. I stepped over thedead soldier and mounted the ladder that led upstairs.

  The upper room was but a loft. In it were two beds, whereof one wasempty. On the edge of the other sat up a boy of sixteen or thereabouts,stark naked and moaning miserably. With one hand he seem'd trying tocover a big wound that gaped in his chest: the other, as my head roseover the ladder, he stretch'd out with all the fingers spread. And thiswas his last effort. As I stumbled up, his fingers clos'd in a spasm ofpain; his hands dropp'd, and the body tumbled back on the bed, where itlay with the legs dangling.

  The poor lad must have been stabb'd as he lay asleep. For by the bedsideI found his clothes neatly folded and without a speck of blood. Theywere clean, though coarse; so thinking they would serve for Delia, Itook them, albeit with some scruples at robbing the dead, and coveringthe body with a sheet, made my way downstairs.

  "Oh, Jack--they do not fit at all!"--Page 121.]

  Here, on a high shelf at the foot of the ladder, I discover'd a coupleof loaves and some milk, and also, lying hard by, a pair of shepherd'sshears, which I took also, having a purpose for them. By this time,being sick enough of the place, I was glad to make all speed back toDelia.

  She was still waiting among the leafless alders, and clapp'd her handsto see the two loaves under my arm.

  Said I, flinging down the clothes, and munching at my share of thebread---

  "Here is the boy's suit that you wish'd for."

  "Oh, dear! 'tis not a very choice one." Her face fell.

  "All the better for escaping notice."

  "But--but I _like_ to be notic'd!"

  Nevertheless, when breakfast was done, she consented to try on theclothes. I left her eyeing them doubtfully, and stroll'd away by theriver's bank. In a while her voice call'd to me---

  "Oh, Jack--they do not fit at all!"

  "Why, 'tis admirable!" said I, returning, and scanning her. Now this wasa lie: but she took me more than ever, so pretty and comical she look'din the dress.

  "And I cannot walk a bit in them!" she pouted, strutting up and down.

  "Swing your arms more, and let them hang looser."

  "And my hair. Oh, Jack, I have such beautiful hair!"

  "It must come off," said I, pulling the shears out of my pocket.

  "And look at these huge boots!"

  Indeed, this was the main trouble, for I knew they would hurt her inwalking: yet she made more fuss about her hair, and only gave in whenI scolded her roundly. So I took the shears and clipp'd the chestnutcurls, one by one, while she cried for vexation; and took occasion ofher tears to smuggle the longest lock inside my doublet.

  * * * * *

  But, an hour after, she was laughing again, and had learned to cock thepoor country lad's cap rakishly over one eye: and by evening was walkingwith a swagger and longing (I know) to meet with folks. For, to spareher the sight of the ruin'd cottage, I had taken her round through thefields, and by every bypath that seem'd to lead westward. 'Twas safer tojourney thus; and all the way she practic'd a man's carriage and airs,and how to wink and whistle and swing a stick. And once, when she leftone of her shoes in a wet ditch, she said "d--n!" as natural as life:and then--

  We jump'd over a hedge, plump into an outpost of rebels, as they satmunching their supper.

  They were six in all, and must have been sitting like mice: for all Iknow of it is this. I had climb'd the hedge first, and was helpingDelia over, when out of the ground, as it seem'd, a voice shriek'd,"Run--run!--the King's men are on us!" and then, my foot slipping, downI went on to the shoulders of a thick-set man, and well-nigh broke hisneck as he turn'd to look up at me.

  At first, the whole six were for running, I believe. But seeing onlya lad stretch'd on his face, and a second on the hedge, they thoughtbetter of it. Before I could scramble up, one pair of hands was screw'dabout my neck, another at my heels, and in a trice there we werepinion'd.

  "Fetch the lantern, Zacchaeus."

  'Twas quickly lit, and thrust into my face; and very foolish I must havelook'd. The fellows were all clad in green coats, much soil'd with mudand powder. And they grinn'd in my face till I long'd to kick them.

  "Search the malignant!" cried one. "Question him," call'd out another;and forthwith began a long interrogatory concerning the movements of hisMajesty's troops, from which, indeed, I learn'd much concerning the lateencounter: but of course could answer nought. 'Twas only natural theyshould interpret this silence for obstinacy.

  "March 'em off to Captain Stubbs!"

  "Halloa!" shouted a pockmarked trooper, that had his hand thrust in onmy breast: "bring the lantern close here. What's this?"

  'Twas, alas! the King's letter: and I bit my lip while they cluster'dround, turning the lantern's yellow glare upon the superscription.

  "Lads, there's promotion in this!" shouted the thick-set man I hadtumbled on (who, it seem'd, was the sergeant in the troop): "hand me theletter, there! Zacchaeus Martin and Tom Pine--you two bide here on duty:t'other three fall in about the prisoners--quick march!' The wicked havedigged a pit--'"

  The rogue ended up with a tag from the Psalmist.

  We were march'd down the road for a mile or more, till we heard a loudbawling, as of a man in much bodily pain, and soon came to a smallvillage, where, under a tavern lamp, by the door, was a man perch'd upon a tub, and shouting forth portions of the Scripture to some twenty ormore green-coats assembled round. Our conductor pushed past these, andenter'd the tavern. At a door to the left in the passage he halted, andknocking once, thrust us inside.

  The room was bare and lit very dimly by two tallow candles, set inbottles. Between these, on a deal table, lay a map outspread, and overit a man was bending, who look'd up sharply at our entrance.

  He was thin, with a blue nose, and wore a green uniform like the rest:only his carriage proved him a man of authority.

  This Captain Stubbs listened, you may be sure, with a bright'ning eye tothe sergeant's story; and at the close fix'd an inquisitive gaze on thepair of us, turning the King's letter over and over in his hands.

  "How came this in your possession?" he ask'd at length.

  "That," said I, "I must decline to tell."

  He hesitated a moment; then, re-seating himself, broke the seal, spreadthe letter upon the map, and read it slowly through. For the first timeI began heartily to hope that the paper contain'd nothing of moment. Butthe man's face was no index of this. He read it through twice, folded itaway in his breast, and turn'd to the sergeant--

  "To-morrow at six in the morning we continue our march. Meanwhile keepthese fellows secure. I look to you for this."

  The sergeant saluted and we were led out. That night we pass'd inhandcuffs, huddled with fifty soldiers in a hayloft of the inn andhearkening to their curious talk, that was half composed of Holy Writand half of gibes at our expense. They were beaten men and, like allsuch, found comfort in deriding the greater misfortunes of others.

  Before daylight the bugles began to sound, and we were led down to thegreen before the ta
vern door, where already were close upon five hundredgather'd, that had been billeted about the village and were now formingin order of march--a soil'd, batter'd crew, with torn ensigns and littleheart in their movements. The sky began a cold drizzle as we set out,and through this saddening whether we trudged all day, Delia and I beingkept well apart, she with the vanguard and I in the rear, seeing onlythe winding column, the dejected heads bobbing in front as they bent tothe slanting rain, the cottagers that came out to stare as we pass'd;and hearing but the hoarse words of command, the low mutterings of themen, and always the monotonous _tramp-tramp_ through the slush and mireof the roads.

  'Tis like a bad dream to me, and I will not dwell on it. That nightwe pass'd at Chippenham--a small market town--and on the morrow wenttramping again through worse weather, but always amid the same sightsand sounds. There were moments when I thought to go mad, wrenching at mycords till my wrists bled, yet with no hope to escape. But in time, bygood luck, my wits grew deaden'd to it all, and I march'd on with therest to a kind of lugubrious singsong that my brain supplied. For hoursI went thus, counting my steps, missing my reckoning, and beginningagain.

  Daylight was failing when the towers of Bristol grew clear out of theleaden mist in front; and by five o'clock we halted outside the wallsand beside the ditch of the castle, waiting for the drawbridge to be letdown. Already a great crowd had gather'd about us, of those who had comeout to learn news of the defeat, which, the day before some fugitiveshad carried to Bristol. To their questions, as to all else, I listen'dlike a man in a trance: and recall this only--that first I was shiveringout in the rain and soon after was standing beside Delia, under guardof a dozen soldiers, and shaking with cold, beneath a gateway that ledbetween the two wards of the castle. And there, for an hour at least, wekick'd our heels, until from the inner ward Captain Stubbs came stridingand commanded us to follow.

  Across the court we went in the rain, through a vaulted passage, andpassing a screen of carved oak found ourselves suddenly in a great hall,near forty yards long (as I reckon it), and rafter'd with oak. At thefar end, around a great marble table, were some ten or more gentlemenseated, who all with one accord turn'd their eyes upon us, as thecaptain brought us forward.

  The table before them was litter'd with maps, warrants, and papers; andsome of the gentlemen had pens in their hands. But the one on whom myeyes fastened was a tall, fair soldier that sat in the centre, and heldhis Majesty's letter, open, in his hand: who rose and bow'd to me as Icame near.

  "Sir," he said, "the fortune of war having given you into our hands, youwill not refuse, I hope, to answer our questions."

  "Sir, I have nought to tell," answer'd I, bowing in return.

  With a delicate white hand he wav'd my words aside. He had a handsome,irresolute mouth, and was, I could tell, of very different degree fromthe merchants and lawyers beside him.

  "You act under orders from the--the--"

  "Anti-Christ," put in a snappish little fellow on his right.

  "I do nothing of the sort," said I.

  "Well, then, sir, from King Charles."

  "I do not."

  "Tush!" exclaim'd the snappish man, and then straightening himselfup--"That boy with you--that fellow disguis'd as a countryman--look athis boots!--he's a Papist spy!"

  "There, sir, you are wrong!"

  "I saw him--I'll be sworn to his face--I saw him, a year back, at Douai,helping at the mass! I never forget faces."

  "Why, what nonsense!" cried I, and burst out laughing.

  "Don't mock at me, sir!" he thunder'd, bringing down his fist on thetable. "I tell you the boy is a Papist!" He pointed furiously at Delia,who, now laughing also, answer'd him very demurely---

  "Indeed, sir--"

  "I saw you, I say."

  "You are bold to make so certain of a Papist--"

  "I saw you!"

  "That cannot even tell maid from man!"

  "What is meant by that?" asks the tall soldier, opening his eyes.

  "Why, simply this, sir: I am no boy at all, but a girl!"

  There was a minute, during which the little man went purple in the face,and the rest star'd at Delia in blank astonishment.

  "Oh, Jack," she whisper'd in my ear, "I am so very, very sorrow: but I_cannot_ wear these hateful clothes much longer."

  She fac'd the company with a rosy blush.

  "What say you to this?" ask'd Colonel Essex--for 'twas he--turning roundon the little man.

  "Say? What do I say? That the fellow is a Papist, too. I knew it fromthe first, and this proves it!"