CHAPTER II. OUT INTO THE WORLD.
"You had better let me go, mother. I shall do no good here."
Tom stood before his mother with a flush upon his handsome face--aflush that was one partly of shame, partly of anger, with a dash ofexcitement and eagerness thrown in.
His mother was in tears. She had been uttering words of reproachand sorrow; for after a period of wonderful steadiness immediatelysucceeding his father's death, young Tom had broken out into hiswild ways again, and her fond hopes of seeing him grow into hercomfort and stay were dashed ruthlessly to the ground again. Theimpression made upon him by the death of the Squire was growing dimnow. His old companions were tempting him back to their ranks, andhe had neither strength of purpose nor the resolute desire toresist their overtures.
"You had better let me go. You know my father said it. I have neverdone any good here, and I never shall. I want to see the world, andI see nothing here. Gablehurst and Gablethorpe are too narrow forme. I will go to foreign lands, and come back to you with a betterrecord to show. I think I could make a fine soldier, but in thismiserable little place a man has no scope."
"A man has scope to become a good landlord, a kind master, aGod-fearing head of his household," said the mother, with a sigh inher voice.
But Tom interrupted impatiently:
"That is all very well when one is the master. Perhaps when I comeback I can be all that myself; but now I am a dummy--a nobody, andthey all make game of me for being a mock squire! My father himselfknew that no man of spirit would stand such a humiliatingarrangement. If he could not trust me to succeed him, he did wellto arrange for me to go elsewhere. He said you would tell me whatprovision he had made for me to do so."
The moment had come that the mother had so long dreaded. She had toface the separation from her son, and to send him forth into theworld alone. But the experiences of the past weeks had taught herthat perhaps this was the best thing that could happen to youngTom. In Gablethorpe he had no chance of getting away from evilassociates. In a different place he might find friends of adifferent stamp.
She rose and silently unlocked a great oaken press, clamped withiron, a place where the Squire kept all his valuable papers, andsome of the heirlooms which had come down to him from hisforefathers. Tom looked on with curious eyes. He had alwaysexperienced, from childhood upwards, a certain sense of awe whenthat press was unlocked and thrown open. He now observed hismother's actions with great curiosity.
"Come, Tom, and lift down that box, for it is heavy," she said; andTom came forward and carefully lifted down a small iron-boundchest, which, for its size, was in truth remarkably heavy. This boxwas placed upon the table, whilst the mother locked up the safeonce more.
Then she selected a small key from a number in a bag at her girdle,and offered it to her son.
"There, Tom, the box and its contents are yours. You will findwithin five hundred golden pieces--guineas every one of them,bright and new from the mint. Your father saved them up for you formany long years, in case it should ever become needful that youshould leave home to see the world. Always it was his hope that youwould remain at home to be his comfort and stay; but if that couldnot be, then would he wish to send forth his only son in such amanner as beseemed his condition in life."
Tom's eyes sparkled. A flush mounted to his cheek, and his handshook a little as he put the key into the lock.
It was all true. There lay, in neat rolls, more money than he hadever seen in all his life--a fortune for a prince, as it seemed tohim in his youthful inexperience. The admonitions and counsel ofhis mother fell on deaf ears. Tom's busy brain was planning athousand ways in which his wealth might be expended. He would goforth. He would see the world. He would win fame and fortune. Hewould never return to Gablehurst until he brought with him a namewhich should cause the ears of those who knew him to tingle byreason of the fame he had won!
"Nay, but boast not of the future, my son," pleaded the mother,with a note of anxiety in her voice; "and be not over confident.The times are perilous, and you are but an untried youth. Boastingis not well."
But Tom could not listen. He laughingly repeated his boast, and wasoff to the stables forthwith, to pick for himself the best horsesfor his ride to London. For, of course, he must first go there, tofit himself out for his journey beyond seas, and find out where thearmy of the Duke was at present to be found.
Vague rumours of the great victory had penetrated to the wilds ofEssex; but where Blenheim was, and what the victory was all about,the rustics knew as little as "Old Kaspar" of the immortal balladof later days. The squires were little less vague in their ideas asto the scope and purpose of the war. It was to abase the power ofFrance--so much they knew, and was unpopular with the Tories ofJacobite leanings, for the reason that the French king wassheltering the dethroned monarch of the Stuart line. But then thegreat Duke who was winning all these victories was said to be astanch Tory himself; so that it was all rather confusing, and Tomwas just as ignorant and ill-informed on all these topics as thehinds who tilled his fields. He had never cared to inform himselfof what was passing in the world, and the newspapers had alwaysseemed to him very dull reading.
Now, however, he wished he knew a little more; but he told himselfthat he should quickly pick up everything in London. His heart beatat the thought of seeing that wonderful city; and although hecarelessly promised his mother not to linger there long, he was byno means sure that he would not make a good stay, and learn thefashions of the gay world before he crossed the sea.
He was quite of the opinion that, clad in a new suit of fashionablemake, he could ruffle it with the best of the young bloods abouttown. He was now all in a fever to be off. He selected for hisattendant a young groom, with whom he had long been more intimatethan his father approved. His mother in vain besought him to takefaithful old John, or at least Peter, whom they had known fromboyhood; but Tom would have nobody but young Robin, and declaredthat he and Robin, mounted upon Wildfire and Wildgoose--two of thebest and fleetest horses ever reared in the meadows roundGablehurst--could distance any highwaymen who might try to stopthem, or shoot them down if they could not shake them off.
For these were days when travelling was none too safe, and thetransit of the heavy bag of golden guineas made an additionalsource of danger. For there were highway robbers and footpads, whoseemed to have a seventh sense for the scenting of gold. It wasprobable that they had spies and confederates in all sorts ofplaces, and that they were warned beforehand when travellers rodewith money and valuables upon their persons.
It was, therefore, small wonder that mother and sister looked withsomewhat sinking hearts at the handsome young fellow, in hisworkman-like, if rustic, riding dress, as he sat upon his horse atthe hall door, giving a last look round him at the little crowdgathered to see him ride away.
"You will write and tell us of your safe arrival in London; and bevery careful how you cross Epping Forest," said the mother.
And young Tom answered gaily,--"Oh, never fear for me. Wildfire andI can ride through and ride down anything! I will send a letterfrom London, but after that you must not look for anything butsilence. When men cross the seas, and live amid battles andmarches, letters can scarce be written, still less safely carried."
He stooped from his saddle, and once more kissed both mother andsister. Then the servants and tenants crowded round, full of goodwishes for a prosperous journey and a happy return; and Tomanswered them with gay words of promise. He would come back again,covered with fame and glory. They would hear of his doings beforethey saw him again, and when he came back he would "take toll againof all his old playmates;" and so saying, he looked laughinglyround upon the blushing girls, who had paid Tom Tufton's toll manya time, between jest and earnest, by the lych gate.
They all admired and liked the handsome lad, even though his wayswere more wild and reckless than the elders could approve. But alldeclared that it would do him all the good in the world to go outand see life in other places. It would cool his hot
blood, andteach him wisdom; and, after all, lads always would be lads tillmanhood's cares and lessons had tamed them.
So Tom rode away in high spirits, Robin following on Wildgoose,with the saddlebags strapped in front of him. They did not takemuch with them, as Tom meant to equip himself in town, and waswearing his finest home-made suit upon the journey. He had hisprecious guineas carefully secured about his person. They wereheavy, it is true, but he liked to feel the weight of them, and toknow that they were safe.
For many miles he was constantly receiving hails from friends andcomrades; sometimes a band of young men would ride with him for afew miles, and then, wishing him good luck, return home again. Atsome houses which he passed, bright eyes would look out from thewindows, and kerchiefs would be waved in greeting and farewell.
Tom may perhaps be forgiven for regarding himself somewhat in thelight of a young prince riding forth to see the world. Everythingin his past life had combined to give him a good opinion ofhimself, and make him fancy himself irresistible alike with men andwomen. For he was undoubtedly the strongest and handsomest youth inhis own small world.
He sang and whistled as he rode along in the crisp morning air.October had dashed the trees with vivid tints of red and gold. Acrisp touch of frost was in the air, and though the noonday sun wasbright and hot, there were indications of approaching winter plainto be seen.
They baited their horses for an hour at a little inn where Tom wasslightly known; but when he spoke of pressing on, and asked wherethe next halting place was, mine host advised his remaining wherehe was till morning, as he was now close to the forest boundaries,and not only were the paths somewhat intricate, but there werealways footpads, if not worse, lurking in the recesses of the wood,ready to pounce upon unwary travellers, especially after sundown.
"And the light goes quickly beneath the trees. For my part, I wouldrather travel by the waxing light of early morn than by the fadingglow of an autumn evening."
Tom had meant to arrive at this inn full two hours before he did;for he had allowed his friends to hinder him on his way, and hadstopped all too often to exchange a word with some maiden watchingfrom a window or by a gate. He had intended reaching a littlevillage known to Robin, situated in the forest itself, before nightfell; and even as it was, he was by no means prepared to abandonthe hope of getting there.
Robin was not afraid of darkness or of footpads. He had a very goodknowledge of the forest, and was eager to press on. It was stillquite light, and Tom was in all the fervour of his firstimpetuosity. So, as soon as the horses were baited and themselvesrefreshed, they mounted once more, and pushed gaily along, feelingthemselves quite equal to repel any wretched footpads who might tryto assault them.
As for the regular highway robbers, well armed and well mounted,they favoured better-frequented routes than this. Open heaths weretheir favourite hunting grounds, though they liked well enough tolie in hiding in the forests when they had brought too muchnotoriety upon themselves. These unfrequented forest paths did notoffer them sufficient hope of booty to attract them in largenumbers, and Tom had no fear of meeting an enemy too strong forhim.
But security is not always safety, as Tom was destined to find tohis cost. In spite of their best efforts, and the gallant responsemade by their good horses, dusk fell whilst they were stillthreading the tortuous forest paths, and Robin was fain to admitthat he would be puzzled to find the way in the dark; indeed, hewas not certain that he was on the right track now.
It was impossible to ride fast in the gathering darkness, and uponso rough a way; and Tom had more than once suggested that theyshould make their bed in some hollow tree, and wait for daylightbefore pursuing their journey.
They had halted in an open place, and were just discussing thematter, when--whiz!--a bullet grazed the flank of Wildgoose, andthe mettlesome creature reared straight into the air, threateningto fall backwards over his rider.
"Mark ho!" cried a loud voice, and there was a crackling of theunderwood all round.
"It is the footpads!" cried Robin. "I have beard that call before;"and in a moment the travellers had their pistols out, and werewarily awaiting the first sign of attack.
It was not long in coming. Three men with blackened faces sprangout from different places, and the crackling of the underwoodshowed that more were lurking out of sight.
Tom took steady aim, and brought down the foremost villain at thefirst shot; but Robin was not so lucky. He winged his man, but didnot drop him, and the next moment four stalwart figures had sprungout to the aid of their comrades, and the travellers weresurrounded.
Tom set his teeth hard, a great fury in his heart. He took aimagain, and another of his assailants dropped as he pulled thetrigger; then, setting spurs to Wildfire, who was well-nighdistracted with terror at the noise and the flash in the darkness,he rode clean over the man who had sprung at his bridle rein, andcalling to Robin to follow him, he sped away in the darkness at apace which was risk to life and limb.
The footpads seemed taken aback by this move, for they had reckonedthat a headlong flight into the recesses of the forest would be toogreat a peril to be risked; and indeed it was a headstrong courseto take. But Tom was in a headstrong mood, and his horse was besidehimself with fear. Both man and beast were well used to recklessriding, and Tom had eyes like a cat, whilst Wildfire had both thewonderful sight and wonderful instinct of his race. Tom lay alongthe horse's back, now on this side, now on that, dodging, swaying,manoeuvring, in a fashion which showed marvellous horsemanship, andall the while listening eagerly for the sound of Wildgoose'sfollowing steps.
But he heard nothing. The silence of the forest was unbroken savefor the noise he made himself. It became plain at last that he wasalone. Robin and Wildgoose had either lost his track, or had notfollowed him.
And a sudden doubt surged into Tom's brain as to whether or notRobin had betrayed him to the footpads. Was it not Robin who hadconnived at all the halts upon the way in the morning, Robin whohad advised pushing on, and had undertaken to find the way by dayor night? Robin was a son of the forest himself. Might he not havefriends amongst these very outlaws? Had not his father warned himbefore this that he did not trust Robin, and did not like his son'sintimacy with the young man?
All these thoughts came surging into Tom's brain as he rode onthrough the dark forest. He was loath to harbour doubts of hisservant and friend; but he could not lay them to rest, do what hewould.
But for these doubts he would have ridden back in search of hiscomrade. As it was, he set his teeth somewhat grimly, and rodeonwards. Robin had no money about him. He would escape with theloss of his horse, and could follow his master on foot to London ifhe chose. It was not worth while to risk life and fortune inattempting the rescue of a fellow who might be a villain and atraitor.
It seemed a heartless thing to do to leave Robin to his fate, butfor all that Tom could not make up his mind to turn back and searchfor him; for he felt it was quite probable he would only fall intoa cunningly-devised ambush. But he could not ride all night throughthe forest. He might fetch a circuit all unknowingly, and findhimself in the midst of the footpads again. The moon had now risen,and was giving a faint light. By its aid Tom was able to examinethe nature of the ground about him, and presently saw at a shortdistance a dark, arched cavity in the face of a mass of gravellyrock which rose up on his left hand. It had the appearance of acave, and Tom got off and carefully examined the loose shale roundthe mouth of it for the trace of recent footsteps. He did not wantto fall into the hands of a band of marauders.
But he could not see any trace of footmarks, either of man orbeast; and the cave was tempting to one who had ridden since earlymorning. There was a pool of water close at hand, where his horseeagerly stooped to quench his thirst; and Tom loosed the girths,and left the creature to browse at will; for Wildfire was as tameas a dog, and knew his master's voice well. He could be trusted notto wander far away, and to come back at the sound of whistle orcall. Indeed, it was probable that he would presently
find his wayinto the cave, and lie by his master's side.
Tom found that he could make himself comfortable enough in thelittle cavern. It was not very deep, but it afforded protectionfrom the cold night wind; and a great heap of leaves at the endbespoke the fact that other travellers had utilized the placebefore. Tom had a little food in his wallet, which he munched insilence, feeling his spirits somewhat damped by the events of thelast hour, and yet he was as fully resolved as ever to see life andtaste of adventure before he returned home again.
His adventures had begun rather before he had bargained; but, afterall, that was the way of life. He would learn in future to trustnobody and to believe in nobody. All men were liars--did not theScriptures say as much? It was as well to learn that lesson soon aslate. He would not waste a regret upon Robin. His horse was the onefriend in whom he would trust. He at least would never betray ordesert him.
Presently Wildfire, having eaten his fill of herbage, came andsnuffed at the cave's mouth with a whinny of inquiry. On hearingTom's voice, he stepped lightly in, and after standing for a whilebeside his master, lay down between him and the opening to thecave, so that Tom was well shielded from the keen night air, andcould sleep as snugly as in his bed at home.
Sleep he did, and soundly too; for the day's ride had wearied him,and he was of the age and temperament when slumber is seldom wooedin vain. How long he slept he knew not; but he was aroused atlength by a movement of Wildfire. The horse had lifted his head,and was snorting slightly as if in anxiety or fear.
Tom looked out. The gray of dawn was in the sky, and between himand the light stood a tall, motionless figure, outlined clearly inthe cave's mouth by the coming glow in the east. It was the figureof a man. He held in his hand a great horse pistol, and wasevidently studying with some curiosity the sleeping figures whoseslumbers he had disturbed.
Tom would have sprung to his feet, but the man called out in aclear, sharp voice:
"Keep where you are, or I fire!"
The hot blood surged into Tom's cheeks; but for once prudence tookthe upper hand of valour, and he remained sitting upright behindthe still recumbent figure of Wildfire. He had restrained the horsefrom rising by the pressure of his hand. He knew by hearsay thatrobbers seldom fired upon a good horse if there were a chance ofmaking a capture of so valuable an acquisition. He might findshelter behind the body of the good steed yet.
"What do you want with me?" he asked, speaking as calmly as hecould, but bitterly regretting the carelessness which had omittedto load again his pistol after the brush with the footpads of theprevious night. He had meant to do it before falling asleep, butdrowsiness had come quickly upon him, and he was now practically atthe mercy of the man who stood in the cave's mouth, for there wasno way of escape save past him.
"I only want your money, my young friend," answered the man, whoseface was becoming more visible every moment in the growing light."I doubt not you have a bag of gold pieces somewhere upon yourperson. Give them up to me, and you shall go your way in peace."
The veins on Tom's forehead swelled with rage and impotent fury. Heset his teeth, and his voice sounded hoarse and choked.
"You will have to take my life first," he said.
"Nay, but that is folly," remonstrated the elder man, who had arather fine face, and much of the air and manner of a gentleman, asTom was quick to perceive. "I desire no man's death; I only ask forhis gold, which is, after all, but the dross of the earth; and lifefor a fine young fellow like yourself is full of joyous promise,even though he carry no purse with him."
"I tell you," answered Tom, in the same stubborn way, "that if youtake my money, you will have first to take my life. Here have Ibeen leading the life of a dog or of a boor all these years--squire'sson though men call me. I have seen nothing, I have learned nothing;I have consorted with low hinds; I have been no better than the swinein the fields. Now at last I have my liberty and a bag of gold givento me. I am sent out to see the world, and to enjoy life. Take mygold from me, and I must perforce go back to the old life. I wouldchoose death sooner. Therefore, sir, let us fight like men for thissame bag of gold; for I will defend it with every drop of my blood!"
And in spite of the peril of so doing, Tom sprang to his feet andstood facing his antagonist with the air of a man whose blood isup, and who will prove no mean adversary.
"Come now, I like that spirit," said the other. "In these days ofdandies and ruffled courtiers, stuffed with fine-sounding words butpuling cowards at heart, it refreshes the spirit to meet ayoungster of your sort. Tell me your name, young master, and let ustalk this matter over together. I have ever sought to mingle mercyand discretion with the need for making a livelihood out of myfellowmen."
Tom was surprised into a short laugh at this unexpected address.
"I am Tom Tufton of Gablehurst," he began, but was quicklyinterrupted.
"What! the son of the good Squire of Gablehurst! Lad, is this thetruth?"
"Ay, verily," answered Tom, somewhat taken aback. "Did you know myfather? Alas! he is dead."
"Dead! What! Is that so? Then the world is the poorer by one goodman. And you are his son, and called by his name! What are youdoing away from home? Are you not master there?"
"No," answered Tom, with a flush on his cheek. "I am to see theworld first. My mother will rule for me till I be five and twenty.I have money given me, and I am to seek fame and fortune afar. Thatis what I said to you. Take my money from me, and I must needsreturn to the life I have left--and I would sooner die!"
"Tut, tut, boy. Speak not so wildly; nor think that I will touch apenny of your good father's gold. I am not sunk so low as that. Didhe ever speak to you of Captain Jack, whom he once saved from thegallows?"
Tom shook his head. His father had not been a talking man.
"It was years ago now," said the man thoughtfully, "and I did tryfor long after that to lead a different life; but in the end I cameback to the one I love the best--the free life of the road. Butbelieve me, Tom Tufton, your father's act of clemency has neverbeen forgotten. I too have shown mercy many a time and oft. I havemy own code of honour and chivalry. I want money badly enough; butI will touch none of yours. I want a good horse; but I will lay nofinger on yours. Go your way in peace, and drink your fill of theworld's pleasures; but remember that if the time should come whenyou want a friend and a place of refuge, ask at The Three Ravenstavern on the skirts of this forest for news of Captain Jack, andwhensoever you may come to me, I will share my last penny and mylast crust with you, for love of the good man your father, whosaved my unworthy life."
The man spoke with visible emotion and Tom was moved also, hescarce knew why. A sudden sense of liking--almost of love--sprangup in his heart towards this freebooter. He laid a hand upon hisarm.
"Take me clear of this forest," he said, "and I will leave Wildfirein your hands as a token of gratitude. I have bethought me oftenthat in London town he would pine his heart away. He loves thegreen glades of the woodland, and the free air of the fields andforests. Methinks you would be a kind master; and he is a lovingand faithful creature. I might even lose him in London, where, theytell me, rogues abound. I would sooner leave him in your hands; andif I want him back some day, I will ask him of Captain Jack."
The bargain was struck. Captain Jack accompanied Tom to thefarthest limits of the forest, giving him meantime much informationabout life in London, and astonishing him by the intimate knowledgehe possessed of life in every grade of society.
Tom listened in wonder and amaze; but Captain Jack answered hisquestions in such a way as to leave him little the wiser. Hemanaged, however, to make friends with Wildfire almost as quicklyas with his master; for the two men rode by turns, and CaptainJack's horsemanship was of that finished kind which every horseunderstands and responds to.
"You are right not to take such a creature into London," saidCaptain Jack, after trying the paces of Wildfire over a stretch ofspringy turf. "Some sharper would soon make away with him; but itwill be a clever man who filches him
from me! I will guard him asmy greatest treasure, and he will be worth more to me than theguineas you carry in your bag."
"And his brother is somewhere in the forest," said Tom; and he toldthe story of Robin and Wildgoose, to which Captain Jack listenedwith a look of amusement.
"Clever fellow! clever fellow!" he muttered, "he will make one ofthe brotherhood one of these days!"
Tom began to realize, with a grim sense of humour, that he wasaiding and abetting the mischievous schemes of some notorioushighwayman, and that his father's two favourite young horses, bywhich he set such store, were destined to become the property ofthe gentlemen of the road!
At the limits of the forest Tom and his companion parted. He hadbeen put upon the highroad, and given careful instructions as tothe way he must take. Moreover, Captain Jack had given him apassword, which, he said, would protect him from molestation;although a traveller on foot was not in the same danger as one whorode a fine horse.
It cost Tom a pang to turn his back on Wildfire; but he felt socertain that the horse would pine in London, or be stolen away,that he preferred to leave him in the hands of a kind master whowould treat him well.
"Take your fill of life. Keep open eyes, and believe every man tobe a rogue till he prove himself an honest fellow," was the partingadvice of his companion, for whom he had already taken rather astrong liking; "and if ever town becomes too hot, come and joinCaptain Jack; and if ever you should chance to knock up againstLord Claud, tell him that his old master sends him greeting andfelicitations, and is watching his career with admiration anddelight."
With that the captain turned and galloped away; and Tom was leftlooking after him, wondering what the meaning of this last chargecould be.
Tom Tufton's Travels Page 2