Moonfleet

by John Meade Falkner

  CHAPTER 15

  THE WELL

  The grave doth gape and doting death is near--_Shakespeare_

  The bucket was large, for all that the turnkey had tried to frighten meinto think it small, and I could crouch in it low enough to feel safe ofnot falling out. Moreover, such a venture was not entirely new to me, forI had once been over Gad Cliff in a basket, to get two peregrines' eggs;yet none the less I felt ill at ease and fearful, when the bucket beganto sink into that dreadful depth, and the air to grow chilly as I wentdown. They lowered me gently enough, so that I was able to take stock ofthe way the wall was made, and found that for the most part it was cutthrough solid chalk; but here and there, where the chalk failed or wasbroken away, they had lined the walls with brick, patching them now onthis side, now on that, and now all round. By degrees the light, whichwas dim even overground that rainy day, died out in the well, till allwas black as night but for my candle, and far overhead I could see thewell-mouth, white and round like a lustreless full-moon.

  I kept an eye all the time on Elzevir's cord that hung down thewell-side, and when I saw it was coming to a finish, shouted to them tostop, and they brought the bucket up near level with the end of it, so Iknew I was about eighty feet deep. Then I raised myself, standing up inthe bucket and holding by the rope, and began to look round, knowing notall the while what I looked for, but thinking to see a hole in the wall,or perhaps the diamond itself shining out of a cranny. But I couldperceive nothing; and what made it more difficult was, that the wallshere were lined completely with small flat bricks, and looked much thesame all round. I examined these bricks as closely as I might, and tookcourse by course, looking first at the north side where the plumb-linehung, and afterwards turning round in the bucket till I was afraid ofgetting giddy; but to little purpose. They could see my candle movinground and round from the well-top, and knew no doubt what I was at, butMaster Turnkey grew impatient, and shouted down, 'What are you doing?have you found nothing? can you see no treasure?'

  'No,' I called back, 'I can see nothing,' and then, 'Are you sure, MasterBlock, that you have measured the plummet true to eighty feet?'

  I heard them talking together, but could not make out what they said, forthe bim-bom and echo in the well, till Elzevir shouted again, 'They saythis floor has been raised; you must try lower.'

  Then the bucket began to move lower, slowly, and I crouched down in itagain, not wishing to look too much into the unfathomable, dark abyssbelow. And all the while there rose groanings and moanings from eddies inthe bottom of the well, as if the spirits that kept watch over the jewelwere yammering together that one should be so near it; and clear abovethem all I heard Grace's voice, sweet and grave, 'Have a care, have acare how you touch the treasure; it was evilly come by, and will bring acurse with it.'

  But I had set foot on this way now, and must go through with it, so whenthe bucket stopped some six feet lower down, I fell again to diligentlyexamining the walls. They were still built of the shallow bricks, andscanning them course by course as before, I could at first see nothing,but as I moved my eyes downward they were brought up by a mark scratchedon a brick, close to the hanging plummet-line.

  Now, however lightly a man may glance through a book, yet if his ownname, or even only one nice it, should be printed on the page, hiseyes will instantly be stopped by it; so too, if his name be mentionedby others in their speech, though it should be whispered never so low,his ears will catch it. Thus it was with this mark, for though it wasvery slight, so that I think not one in a thousand would ever havenoticed it at all, yet it stopped my eyes and brought up my thoughtssuddenly, because I knew by instinct that it had something to do withme and what I sought.

  The sides of this well are not moist, green, or clammy, like the sides ofsome others where damp and noxious exhalations abound, but dry and clean;for it is said that there are below hidden entrances and exits for thewater, which keep it always moving. So these bricks were also dry andclean, and this mark as sharp as if made yesterday, though the issueshowed that 'twas put there a very long time ago. Now the mark was notdeeply or regularly graven, but roughly scratched, as I have known boysscore their names, or alphabet letters, or a date, on the alabasterfigures that lie in Moonfleet Church. And here, too, was scored a letterof the alphabet, a plain 'Y', and would have passed for nothing moreperhaps to any not born in Moonfleet; but to me it was the _cross-pall,_or black 'Y' of the Mohunes, under whose shadow we were all brought up.So as soon as I saw that, I knew I was near what I sought, and thatColonel John Mohune had put this sign there a century ago, either by hisown hands or by those of a servant; and then I thought of Mr. Glennie'sstory, that the Colonel's conscience was always unquiet, because of aservant whom he had put away, and now I seemed to understand somethingmore of it.

  My heart throbbed fiercely, as many another's heart has throbbed when hehas come near the fulfilment of a great desire, whether lawful or guilty,and I tried to get at the brick. But though by holding on to the ropewith my left hand, I could reach over far enough to touch the brick withmy right 'twas as much as I could do, and so I shouted up the well thatthey must bring me nearer in to the side. They understood what I would beat, and slipped a noose over the well-rope and so drew it in to the side,and made it fast till I should give the word to loose again. Thus I wasbrought close to the well-wall, and the marked brick near about the levelof my face when I stood up in the bucket. There was nothing to show thatthis brick had been tampered with, nor did it sound hollow when tapped,though when I came to look closely at the joints, it seemed as thoughthere was more cement than usual about the edges. But I never doubtedthat what we sought was to be found behind it, and so got to work atonce, fixing the wooden frame of the candle in the fastening of thechain, and chipping out the mortar setting with the plasterer's hammer.

  When they saw above that first I was to be pulled in to the side, andafterwards fell to work on the wall of the well, they guessed, no doubt,how matters were, and I had scarce begun chipping when I heard theturnkey's voice again, sharp and greedy, 'What are you doing? have youfound nothing?' It chafed me that this grasping fellow should be alwaysshouting to me while Elzevir was content to stay quiet, so I cried backthat I had found nothing, and that he should know what I was doing ingood time.

  Soon I had the mortar out of the joints, and the brick loose enough toprise it forward, by putting the edge of the hammer in the crack. Ilifted it clean out and put it in the bucket, to see later on, in caseof need, if there was a hollow for anything to be hidden in; but neverhad occasion to look at it again, for there, behind the brick, was alittle hole in the wall, and in the hole what I sought. I had my fingersin the wall too quick for words, and brought out a little parchment bag,for all the world like those dried fish-eggs cast up on the beach thatchildren call shepherds' purses. Now, shepherds' purses are crisp, andcrackle to the touch, and sometimes I have known a pebble get inside oneand rattle like a pea in a drum; and this little bag that I pulled outwas dry too, and crackling, and had something of the size of a smallpebble that rattled in the inside of it. Only I knew well that this wasno pebble, and set to work to get it out. But though the little bag wasparched and dry, 'twas not so easily torn, and at last I struck off thecorner of it with the sharp edge of my hammer against the bucket. Then Ishook it carefully, and out into my hand there dropped a pure crystal asbig as a walnut. I had never in my life seen a diamond, either large orsmall--yet even if I had not known that Blackbeard had buried a diamond,and if we had not come hither of set purpose to find it, I should nothave doubted that what I had in my hand was a diamond, and this ofmatchless size and brilliance. It was cut into many facets, and thoughthere was little or no light in the well save my candle, there seemed tobe in this stone the light of a thousand fires that flashed out,sparkling red and blue and green, as I turned it between my fingers. Atfirst I could think of nothing else, neither how it got there, nor how Ihad come to find it, but only of it, the diamond, and that with such aprize Elzevir and I could live happil
y ever afterwards, and that I shouldbe a rich man and able to go back to Moonfleet. So I crouched down in thebottom of the bucket, being filled entirely with such thoughts, andturned it over and over again, wondering continually more and more to seethe fiery light fly out of it. I was, as it were, dazed by itsbrilliance, and by the possibilities of wealth that it contained, andhad, perhaps, a desire to keep it to myself as long as might be; so thatI thought nothing of the two who were waiting for me at the well-mouth,till I was suddenly called back by the harsh voice of the turnkey, cryingas before--

  'What are you doing? have you found nothing?'

  'Yes,' I shouted back, 'I have found the treasure; you can pull me up.'The words were scarcely out of my mouth before the bucket began to move,and I went up a great deal faster than I had gone down. Yet in that shortjourney other thoughts came to my mind, and I heard Grace's voice again,sweet and grave, 'Have a care, have a care how you touch the treasure; itwas evilly come by, and will bring a curse with it.' At the same time Iremembered how I had been led to the discovery of this jewel--first, byMr. Glennie's stories, second, by my finding the locket, and third, byRatsey giving me the hint that the writing was a cipher, and so had cometo the hiding-place without a swerve or stumble; and it seemed to me thatI could not have reached it so straight without a leading hand, butwhether good or evil, who should say?

  As I neared the top I heard the turnkey urging the donkey to trot fasterin the wheel, so that the bucket might rise the quicker, but just beforemy head was level with the ground he set the break on and fixed me whereI was. I was glad to see the light again, and Elzevir's face lookingkindly on me, but vexed to be brought up thus suddenly just when I wasexpecting to set foot on _terra firma_.

  The turnkey had stopped me through his covetous eagerness, so that hemight get sooner at the jewel, and now he craned over the low parapet andreached out his hand to me, crying--'Where is the treasure? where is thetreasure? give me the treasure!'

  I held the diamond between finger and thumb of my right hand, and wavedit for Elzevir to see. By stretching out my arm I could have placed it inthe turnkey's hand, and was just going to do so, when I caught his eyesfor the second time that day, and something in them made me stop. Therewas a look in his face that brought back to me the memory of an autumnevening, when I sat in my aunt's parlour reading the book called the_Arabian Nights_; and how, in the story of the _Wonderful Lamp_,Aladdin's wicked uncle stands at the top of the stairs when the boy iscoming up out of the underground cavern, and will not let him out, unlesshe first gives up the treasure. But Aladdin refused to give up his lampuntil he should stand safe on the ground again, because he guessed thatif he did, his uncle would shut him up in the cavern and leave him to diethere; and the look in the turnkey's eyes made me refuse to hand him thejewel till I was safe out of the well, for a horrible fear seized methat, as soon as he had taken it from me, he meant to let me fall downand drown below.

  So when he reached down his hand and said, 'Give me the treasure,' Ianswered, 'Pull me up then; I cannot show it you in the bucket.'

  'Nay, lad,' he said, cozening me, 'tis safer to give it me now, and haveboth hands free to help you getting out; these stones are wet and greasy,and you may chance to slip, and having no hand to save you, fall back inthe well.'

  But I was not to be cheated, and said again sturdily, 'No, you must pullme up first.'

  Then he took to scowling, and cried in an angry tone, 'Give me thetreasure, I say, or it will be the worse for you'; but Elzevir wouldnot let him speak to me that way, and broke in roughly, 'Let the boy up,he is sure-footed and will not slip. 'Tis his treasure, and he shall dowith it as he likes: only that thou shalt have a third of it when wehave sold it.'

  Then he: ''Tis not his treasure--no, nor yours either, but mine, for itis in my well, and I have let you get it. Yet I will give you ahalf-share in it; but as for this boy, what has he to do with it? We willgive him a golden guinea, and he will be richly paid for his pains.'

  'Tush,' cries Elzevir, 'let us have no more fooling; this boy shall havehis share, or I will know the reason why.'

  'Ay, you shall know the reason, fair enough,' answers the turnkey, 'and'tis because your name is Block, and there is a price of 50 upon yourhead, and 20 upon this boy's. You thought to outwit me, and are yourselfoutwitted; and here I have you in a trap, and neither leaves this room,except with hands tied, and bound for the gallows, unless I first havethe jewel safe in my purse.'

  On that I whipped the diamond back quick into the little parchment bag,and thrust both down snug into my breeches-pocket, meaning to have afight for it, anyway, before I let it go. And looking up again, I saw theturnkey's hand on the butt of his pistol, and cried, 'Beware, beware! hedraws on you.' But before the words were out of my mouth, the turn-keyhad his weapon up and levelled full at Elzevir. 'Surrender,' he cries,'or I shoot you dead, and the 50 is mine,' and never giving time foranswer, fires. Elzevir stood on the other side of the well-mouth, and itseemed the other could not miss him at such a distance; but as I blinkedmy eyes at the flash, I felt the bullet strike the iron chain to which Iwas holding, and saw that Elzevir was safe.

  The turnkey saw it too, and flinging away his pistol, sprang round thewell and was at Elzevir's throat before he knew whether he was hit ornot. I have said that the turnkey was a tall, strong man, and twentyyears the younger of the two; so doubtless when he made for Elzevir, hethought he would easily have him broken down and handcuffed, and thenturn to me. But he reckoned without his host, for though Elzevir was theshorter and older man, he was wonderfully strong, and seasoned as asalted thong. Then they hugged one another and began a terrible struggle:for Elzevir knew that he was wrestling for life, and I daresay theturnkey guessed that the stakes were much the same for him too.

  As soon as I saw what they were at, and that the bucket was safe fixed,I laid hold of the well-chain, and climbing up by it swung myself on tothe top of the parapet, being eager to help Elzevir, and get the turnkeygagged and bound while we made our escape. But before I was well on thefirm ground again, I saw that little help of mine was needed, for theturnkey was flagging, and there was a look of anguish and desperatesurprise upon his face, to find that the man he had thought to master solightly was strong as a giant. They were swaying to and fro, and thejailer's grip was slackening, for his muscles were overwrought andtired; but Elzevir held him firm as a vice, and I saw from his eyes andthe bearing of his body that he was gathering himself up to give hisenemy a fall.

  Now I guessed that the fall he would use would be the Compton Toss, forthough I had never seen him give it, yet he was well known for a wrestlerin his younger days, and the Compton Toss for his most certain fall. Ishall not explain the method of it, but those who have seen it used willknow that 'tis a deadly fall, and he who lets himself get thrown that wayeven upon grass, is seldom fit to wrestle another bout the same day.Still 'tis a difficult fall to use, and perhaps Elzevir would never havebeen able to give it, had not the other at that moment taken one hand offthe waist, and tried to make a clutch with it at the throat. But theonly way of avoiding that fall, and indeed most others, is to keep bothhands firm between hip and shoulder-blade, and the moment Elzevir feltone hand off his back, he had the jailer off his feet and gave himCompton's Toss. I do not know whether Elzevir had been so taxed by thefierce struggle that he could not put his fullest force into the throw,or whether the other, being a very strong and heavy man, needed more tofling him; but so it was, that instead of the turnkey going down straightas he should, with the back of his head on the floor (for that is thereal damage of the toss), he must needs stagger backwards a pace or two,trying to regain his footing before he went over.

  It was those few staggering paces that ruined him, for with the last hecame upon the stones close to the well-mouth, that had been made wet andslippery by continual spilling there of water. Then up flew his heels,and he fell backwards with all his weight.

  As soon as I saw how near the well-mouth he was got, I shouted out andran to save him;
but Elzevir saw it quicker than I, and springing forwardseized him by the belt just when he turned over. The parapet wall wasvery low, and caught the turnkey behind the knee as he staggered,tripping him over into the well-mouth. He gave a bitter cry, and therewas a wrench on his face when he knew where he was come, and 'twas thenElzevir caught him by the belt. For a moment I thought he was saved,seeing Elzevir setting his body low back with heels pressed firm againstthe parapet wall to stand the strain. Then the belt gave way at thefastening, and Elzevir fell sprawling on the floor. But the other wentbackwards down the well.

  I got to the parapet just as he fell head first into that black abyss.There was a second of silence, then a dreadful noise like a coconutbeing broken on a pavement--for we once had coconuts in plenty atMoonfleet, when the _Bataviaman_ came on the beach, then a deep echoingblow, where he rebounded and struck the wall again, and last of all, thethud and thundering splash, when he reached the water at the bottom. Iheld my breath for sheer horror, and listened to see if he would cry,though I knew at heart he would never cry again, after that firstsickening smash; but there was no sound or voice, except the moaningvoices of the water eddies that I had heard before.

  Elzevir slung himself into the bucket. 'You can handle the break,' hesaid to me; 'let me down quick into the well.' I took the break-lever,lowering him as quickly as I durst, till I heard the bucket touch waterat the bottom, and then stood by and listened. All was still, and yet Istarted once, and could not help looking round over my shoulder, for itseemed as if I was not alone in the well-house; and though I could see noone, yet I had a fancy of a tall black-bearded man, with coppery face,chasing another round and round the well-mouth. Both vanished from myfancy just as the pursuer had his hand on the pursued; but Mr. Glennie'sstory came back again to my mind, how that Colonel Mohune's consciencewas always unquiet because of a servant he had put away, and I guessednow that the turnkey was not the first man these walls had seen goheadlong down the well.

  Elzevir had been in the well so long that I began to fear something hadhappened to him, when he shouted to me to bring him up. So I fixed theclutch, and set the donkey going in the tread-wheel; and the patientdrudge started on his round, recking nothing whether it was a bucket ofwater he brought up, or a live man, or a dead man, while I looked overthe parapet, and waited with a cramping suspense to see whether Elzevirwould be alone, or have something with him. But when the bucket came insight there was only Elzevir in it, so I knew the turnkey had never cometo the top of the water again, and, indeed, there was but little chancehe should after that first knock. Elzevir said nothing to me, till Ispoke: 'Let us fling the jewel down the well after him, Master Block; itwas evilly come by, and will bring a curse with it.'

  He hesitated for a moment while I half-hoped yet half-feared he was goingto do as I asked, but then said:

  'No, no; thou art not fit to keep so precious a thing. Give it me. It isthy treasure, and I will never touch penny of it; but fling it down thewell thou shalt not; for this man has lost his life for it, and we haverisked ours for it--ay, and may lose them for it too, perhaps.'

  So I gave him the jewel.