CHAPTER XXVI
OF HOW A FLEDGLING DROPPED FROM THE CONSPIRATOR'S NEST
The happy travelers found shelter for that night in the kind herdsman'scottage where Sir Richard had tarried whilst journeying with Isabel.The simple folk displayed a quite lively surprise upon observing thatthe maid with whom the young knight was now traveling was not the same.Sir Richard thought that mayhap they imagined that he was engaged uponthe business of depopulating Scotland of her famous beauties. "There isjust cause for such a supposition, i' truth," he added to himself.
"I ken weel," the good man said, a glint of Scot's humor in his eyes,"that 'e braw English laddies be unco daft. The muckle Auld Hornie bein 'e all! But 'e hae yin bonnie lassie with 'e, now, sir knight ...yin muckle cantie jo!" and with that he winked at Sir Richard in aknowing fashion.
His goodwife, a white-capped dame, busied herself in setting beforethem a "gigot" and a "bit kebbuck"; which translated and assimilatedinto English leg-o'-mutton and cheese. Bearing well in mind the companyin which it was eaten, it would be a profanation to tell how thoroughlythe young knight enjoyed that meal withal. But it must be confessed aswell that the mulled ale was like a goblet of nectar to his palate.
They passed a long and happy evening, Rocelia and Sir Richard, sittingby the fire's side beneath the smoke-browned beams of the low-ceilingedkitchen. Intently she listened, with her soft eyes bent lovingly uponthe young knight, the while he recounted the adventures through whichhe had passed. She laughed right heartily when he came to that partof his tale where he had rescued her cousin Isabel out of the RedTavern; and told him how bitterly her uncle Zenas had misliked hercousin, though all the while standing in somewhat of fear of her sharptongue. Rocelia had known of but three, she said, who had ever heldthe slightest place within Zenas' morbid affections. Of the three, shenamed first the hound, to whose life Sir Richard had put a quietus onthat first night; then her father; and, last, herself. "Revenge andjealousy, I make no doubt, hath armed the crookback's hand againstthee, dear," she said.
"Richard ... dear Dick," she whispered afterward, when it came toparting for the night, "since learning of all these base intrigues,these petty jealousies, these crafty plottings and counter-plottings,I am no whit sorry to see you leaving them all behind you. I wouldrather that my king should sit ever upon a three-legged stool thanupon a velvet-tufted and silken-canopied throne won after these wickedfashions."
They were out betimes the next morning, albeit the day was none of thepleasantest; a thick fog having set in from the sea during the night.As they moved slowly over the downs Sir Richard remarked that themembers of their little party seemed like gray and misty shadows movingagainst a pearly cloud.
Before the middle of the day they drew near the little hut where deClaverlok and Isabel would doubtless be waiting. It was fair blottedout in the mist, but Sir Richard could make out a vague and shadowyform sitting desolate upon a huge boulder by the roadside. Upon anearer approach he recognized it to be the foot-boy Thomas. When hecaught sight of the approaching company of three he came sliding downoff the boulder, running to the young knight's side and embracing hisgreaved leg for very joy.
"Oh, sire!" he hoarsely whispered, "the very devil's to pay backthere," jerking his thumb above his shoulder.
"And now, prithee, what is 't?" asked Sir Richard.
"Came yester morn, sir," he answered, "a great, tall, beardedknight,--with the two points of his mustachios turned skyward ...so,--vowing that he'd bear Mistress de Claverlok away with him or killeveryone in the place. My worshipful master was for having his swordat him upon the instant (and he, sire, but just able to be out of hisbed). But Mistress de Claverlok bars the door and holds the murderousknight without. Even I may not be admitted. Hark ye!... I can hear himcursing even now. Thus does he carry on all the day. Why, sire, hestuck the good doctor from Bannockburn right in the middle ... here,sire ... like he were cutting him a cheese. By Saint Peter! but 'tis aparlous business!"
"Said you his name, Thomas?"
"He called himself the Renegade Duke ... and vowed that he ate sickknights for breakfast. Mistress Isabel doth mightily strive to keep theworshipful master indoors. An he could, he would get out, sire, andhave him pinned like the fat doctor from Bannockburn."
"Vowed him he ate sick knights for breakfast, did he?" said Sir Richardgrimly. "Mayhap, then, he'll relish a well one for dessert." Whereupon,in despite of Rocelia's admonishing cry, the young knight spurred intothe mist toward the hut.
He saw the fellow clambering upon his saddle when he heard Sir Richarddrawing near. The moment that he saw who was riding down upon him, thecraven coward set spurs against his steed and made off at the top ofhis bent up the steep hill and quickly was swallowed up in the fog.
But what a boisterously glad reunion was there when, upon Sir Richardhalloaing out his name, the hut door was unbarred and set open!
"By the mass, Sir Richard, but it doth mightily comfort me to clap eyesagain upon thee ... eh! Weak as I am, boy, I'd have given yon miscreantsomewhat of a battle ... eh. But Isabel would e'en padlock the door andthrust key in her bosom ... didst thou not, Dame de Claverlok? But tellme, Sir Richard, where hast thou been the while?"
By way of an answer Sir Richard went back and fetched Rocelia out ofthe fog cloud; whereupon the two maids fell into a rapturous embrace,shedding some happy tears whilst Sir Richard made haste to explain tode Claverlok the case in which they stood.
"Certes, boy, and I can procure thee a priest," shouted de Claverlok,responding to a whispered question in his ear.
Then; "Thomas! Thomas!" he bellowed; "post you hot-foot to the goodmanwho tied us a fine knot the week gone. Speed! Avaunt, boy! Have himhere within the hour's quarter on your horse's back.... Begone!"
"They'll be after thee ... God! but they'll not let thee get free oftheir king-making clutches, an they can help. We'll be ready to journeycoast-ward, Sir Richard, when the ceremony is over."
Happily, the foot-boy returned soon with the monk, whom de Claverlokand the rest succeeded in persuading to do office at Rocelia's and SirRichard's wedding, placating him with a promise of another ceremonymore in keeping with the dignity of the Church when they should havearrived at Bretagne. Besides requiting him quite handsomely for thatday's services, they paid him to have masses said for the dead doctoroutside; providing as well for a fitting burial of his body.
It set in to rain before the company of six was ready to start forGlasgow. As there had been even now too much precious time consumed,they decided to brave the weather and be at once upon their way. Totheir journey's end it was but something above five leagues, but theheavy roads made the going a slow and difficult task. By stretchinga tent-cloth over a rude frame, upheld by four poles, the foot-boyscontrived for Isabel and Rocelia a passing shelter from the rain,which was by now pelting hard and steadily against the helmets of SirRichard and de Claverlok.
They had ridden after this cumbrous fashion near half the distance whenSir Richard thought he heard the dull rumbling of a carriage to theirrear. Adventuring the hazard of a hidden bog, the party turned asideand rode upon the moor till they had set an impenetrable curtain ofmist between themselves and the highway. Leaving his horse in Harold'skeeping the young knight crept back, stationing himself behind a thickclump of gorse growing by the roadside.
Accompanied by a score or more of outriders streaming water, sheddingloud curses, and flogging their tired mounts for everything that wasin them, came a great lumbering coach and six, looming gigantic as acastle in the weird fog. As it passed where Sir Richard was lying, henoted that its wheels were three quarters sunken in the deep mud, whichrolled off them as they turned after the manner of a miniature cataract.
"How far, sayst thou, it will be from Glasgow?" He heard a voice,which he knew well for that of Douglas, roaring from within its depths.
"Said I not that they would be after thee, Sir Richard ... eh?" deClaverlok observed when the young knight went back and told them whathe had seen.
They were perforce obliged to give the coach a good start, for, bynow, the mist was rapidly thinning; and they durst not put themselveswithin sight of Douglas' men. Before reaching the gates of Glasgow theydivided their little party in twain. Three entering from the north,three from the south, with an arrangement to foregather at King's Dock,upon the River Clyde. It was decided upon that Sir Richard, havingnothing to do within the town, should make his way at once to theharbor and seek berths on shipboard for France. Whilst de Claverlok andIsabel, having to attend to the business of Isabel's inheritance, wouldjoin them later at the river's side.
They were in no trouble to enter the town, and made shift to take thenarrower and less frequented streets leading to the water-front. Asthey were riding through, Rocelia pointed to a fellow, garbed in theDouglas livery, who was nailing a proclamation, writ in great, glaringletters, against a plank fence.
It was an offer of a reward of two hundred and fifty pounds for SirRichard's arrest and detention; the which was followed by a neat andaccurate description of his person and apparel. Before they got to thenext corner there were a dozen idlers, with mouths agape, standingbefore it and taking it in.
Knowing well that Sir Richard's chances of getting safely away werediminishing in proportion with the number of placards that were beingthen posted over the town, they made all haste to reach the river andget safely aboard ship.
Without mishap our travelers came anon to King's Dock. Sir Richard wasmost gratified to discover that there was a great ship, above whichrose three towering masts, riding at anchor in the midst of the harbor.He gazed longingly across at her, wishing that they were all safebestowed upon her lofty and much ornamented poop.
Dismounting, and bidding Harold to do the same the while the youngknight lifted Rocelia to the rough paving stones, he sent them bothposting into a tavern. "The sooner we draw free of the streets thebetter," he thought. Beckoning a sailor then, who was watching themfrom the quay, Sir Richard handed him a shilling and told him totie him the three horses in a dark and narrow alleyway near hand."I' faith, 'twill be the last I shall ever see of them," he said tohimself; and not without a feeling of regret that he would never againbestride the strong back of his faithful stallion.
"Where can I find me the captain of yonder ship?" Sir Richard asked ofthe sailor, as he came slouching out of the dark alleyway.
"Thou'll find him in there--where the sack flows thickest," the sailoranswered, pointing to the tavern wherein Rocelia and Harold had takenshelter. "The ship's ready and all laden for the sea now, sir knight,with the tide flowing strong. I swear to you the master's boat'sa-riding at the dock-side now ... but he be right bravely liquored up,quoth 'a, and no one dare go a-nigh 'im to tell it. 'Tis a damned badthing ... the sack ... but, begging your pardon, sir knight, an thisshilling be good siller, I bethink me I'll buy me a swig or two."
"Of what name may your ship be?" queried Sir Richard.
"She'll be the 'Trinity,' sir knight," said he, "and the bonniest hulkthat ever cut water down the Firth."
"See you here, my man," said the young knight, as he was starting for atap-room upon the opposite side of the street. "Are you wanting to lineyour pocket with a rose noble or two?"
"With nothing but this bit shilling ... and the town fair flooded withrum? God wot, and I am not!" said he.
"Then do you keep stand here," said Sir Richard; and, hurrying to thetavern door, he bade Harold and Rocelia to join him outside.
"Now, hark ye well," resumed Sir Richard, to the waiting sailor. "Leadthis lady and my squire to the dock there, bestow them safely withinthe captain's boat, and wait you there till I come ... here," he added,handing him the promised coin. "There'll be another, an you do thisthing to my taste."
"I'm a-thinking as what you don't know my master, sir knight,"observed the sailor, gazing hard at the tavern door.
"No. But I will in another moment," said the young knight, going forthe door.
"Captain of the 'Trinity,'" he shouted when he had swung it wide.
"The very devil and all! and what's this, prithee?" the drunken captainshouted, rolling heavily down upon Sir Richard and quite filling theopen space.
In a very few words the young knight told him just what he wanted,making offer of all his remaining nobles, saving one, if he wouldconsent to bear them all safely into France.
"Six, sayst thou? Any women?" the seaman asked.
"Two," Sir Richard replied.
"Then ... damn thy nobles!" he bellowed, slamming the door in the youngknight's very face.
"But I tell you that you must do this thing," Sir Richard persisted,again setting open the door.
"What! hell, man!" he shouted, turning purple in the face.
"I say you must."
"I'll pitch thee headfirst out, an thou sayst that again!" the captainbawled.
"I repeat, sir captain, that we must take thy ship," said Sir Richard."Moreover, I tell thee to thy teeth thou canst not pitch me out."
"I'll wager a noble," he returned, peeling him off his cloak andgreat-jacket.
"An I put thee out," said Sir Richard, "wilt thou take six on ship andfifty nobles in hand?"
"An thou goest out ... what then?" said he.
"Ten golden discs for thy trouble," the young knight made laughingrejoinder.
"Done," said the captain.
Sir Richard did not much like the curious crowd gathering closelyaround them, but he knew well that he must accept the hazard. It wasthe only way to win to the ship.
Well, they went at it then, and how the chairs and tables standing neardid tumble, roll and clatter about their flying heels! The captain wasof a similar size and build with Bull Bengoff, and it was somewhat liketugging at an enormous animated hogshead to get him moving withal. ButSir Richard got him started rolling toward the door presently, andthen, with one mighty heave, he sent him tumbling over and over downthe stone steps.
"What saidst thou was thy name, sir knight?" the captain asked, sittingprone upon the paving stones and rubbing the top of his pate. Therewent a loud laugh around at his earnest manner of asking the question.
Walking down the steps, Sir Richard stooped, whispering it close to hisear.
"God's mercy upon me!" he shouted, getting as quickly as might be tohis feet and winding his great arms about the young knight's neck. SirRichard at once set again to tugging, bethinking him that they wereagain to have at it.
"No, no!" shouted the captain, laughing, "I've had my belly full ofthat---- God! dost thou not know, man? That ship in the offing yonderdoth belong to him whose wealth and titles were left all to thee ...are even now thine. Right glad will old Duke Francis be to have mefetch thee back. Thou art of age now, and can claim thy inheritance."
"My benefactor ... who is he?" asked the young knight in an amazedwhisper.
"Who _is_ he? Why, he's dead, Sir Richard, these nineteen years ...'twas the man after whom thou wert named--Richard Neville, Earl ofWarwick ... often styled 'king-maker.' But come! come inside," hecried, taking the young knight's arm; "we'll have a bowl or two of sackand a right juicy pasty together, Sir Richard. Let the damned shipwait!"
"But, listen," Sir Richard whispered, "I'm in the direst peril. 'Twouldbe well an thou couldst get me on board thy ship at once."
Just at that moment they saw de Claverlok, Isabel, and Thomas ride uponthe King's Dock out of a side street. Looking away from the river, SirRichard saw a band of horses, with Douglas at their head, coming abovethe hill at a breakneck speed.
"Come!" the young knight shouted, clutching the good captain's arm; "donot tarry for thy cap--there's not one tick of the clock to spare."
Which indeed there was not, for they had but just tumbled into the boatand drew clear of the quay when Douglas and his horsemen rode furiouslyupon it.
"Come hither, Sir Richard ... sire!" Lord Douglas called. "Prithee, doreturn. I have here the messages to show thee. The messages thou didstbring me from Henry. All signed, thou dost remember, by thy good selfand my councilme
n. Come back! but a moment's speech would I have ofthee ... sire."
"I wish thee well of thy enterprises, Lord Douglas," the young knightshouted back. "Make kings an thou wilt, I'll have none of it. Thoucanst give me nothing.... I have beside me here, my lord, the best thatScotland has to give."
Then, he remembered afterward, Rocelia took his hand, standing besidehim in the captain's boat, and together they waved the great Douglas alast farewell.
When they had climbed to the topmost deck of the great ship they sawanother cavalcade of armed men riding down to the river front fromout another street. Sir Richard noted above their plumed helmets abedraggled banner, bearing a device sable upon a field gules.
"They are your father's men, Rocelia," Sir Richard said, gathering herclose to his side.
"Yes, Dick," said she. "God keep him from all harm and bring him safeto us some future day."
Soon, then, with great brown sails bellying in the wind, they droppeddown the Firth of Clyde, with the twinkling lights of Glasgow fadingdim in the distance.
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominantpreference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.
Simple typographical errors were corrected. Occasional unmatchedquotation marks were corrected when there was no ambiguity.
Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.
Page 142: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: he wanted toknow?
Page 173: Missing opening quotation mark added at start of: "Butwhere's the....
Page 189: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: What quarrel,... eh?
Page 333: "with her eyes to follow" was misprinted as "eves".
Page 340: Double-quote mark changed to apostrophe at start of: 'tispassing----
The Red Tavern Page 28