CHAPTER V
HOW I CAME TO CONISBY SHENE
It being yet full early for my purpose I took to the woods, andpresently chancing upon a little stream that bubbled pleasantly 'midshady willows, I sat myself down within this greeny bower and fell towatching the hurrying waters of this brook and hearkening to its drowsymurmur. And lying thus, with the good green world around me, the sunnyair blithe with the mellow piping of birds and the soft wind rustlingthe leaves about me--what must I have in mind but bloodshed and thedestruction of my enemy, insomuch that reaching a stone from the brookI drew the knife from my girdle and set about straightening the bladethereof.
I was thus employed when all at once the leaves on the opposite side ofthe brook were parted and a girl-child appeared. For a long moment weeyed each other across the brook, then all at once her pretty lipscurved to a smile.
"Little maid," says I, furtively thrusting the knife into my belt, "artnot afraid of me then?"
"Nay!" she answered, smiling yet and shaking her golden head.
"And why?"
"I do like your eyes, big man, kind eyes they be!"
"Are they?" says I, glancing from her smiling innocence into the brook.
"Aye, and your voice--I do like that too--'tis low and soft--likefather's."
"And who's your father?"
"He be th' blacksmith."
"How old are you?"
"Seven, an' a big maid I be. Will 'ee aid me 'cross t'brook, now?"
So I lifted her over and there we sat, side by side, she laughing andtalking and I hearkening to her childish prattle with marvellous greatpleasure. Presently I ventured to touch her soft cheek, to stroke hercurls, and finding she took this not amiss, summoned courage to stoopand kiss her.
How long we had sat thus I know not, when I was aroused by a shrill,harsh voice and turning, beheld a bony woman who peered at us throughthe leaves.
"Susan Ann!" she cried. "O you Susan, come away! Come quick or I'llrun for your mother."
"The child is safe enough!" says I, frowning, but clasping the smalldamsel closer within my arm.
"Safe?" cries the woman, turning on me in fury. "Safe--aye, for sooth,wi' a great, ill rogue the like o' you! Loose her--loose her or I'llscream and rouse the village on ye for a wild gipsy wastrel that yeare!" And here the old harridan railed at me until the child whimperedfor fear and even I blenched before the woman's fierce aspect andshrewish tongue. Then, while she loaded me with abuse, a ceaselesstorrent (and no lack of breath), I kissed the little maid's tear-wettedcheek and, setting her back across the brook, stood to watch until thechild and woman were lost to my sight. Then I sat down, scowling atthe hurrying water, chin on fist, for my black humour, banished awhileby the child's innocent faith in me, was returned and therewith anadded bitterness. Scowling yet, I plucked forth my knife and seizingmy staff, set to trim and shape it to a formidable weapon; and as Iworked I cursed this woman deep and oft, yet (even so) knew she had theright on't, for truly I was a rogue, an outcast of unlovely look andunlovely ways, a desperate fellow unfit for the company of decent folk,much less an innocent child; and yet, remembering those fearlesschild-eyes, the kiss of those pure child-lips I sighed amain betwixt mymuttered cursings.
At last, having trimmed my bludgeon to a nicety, I laid it by, and satbrooding, the knife betwixt my knees; now a beam of sun falling athwartthe leaves lit upon the broad blade of the knife and made of it aglory. And beholding this and the hand that grasped it, I tookpleasure to heed how strong and sinewy were my fingers and how themuscles bulged beneath the brown skin of my forearm; and turning theglittering steel this way and that I fell to joyous thought of my enemyand of my vengeance, now so near.
"To-night!" says I to myself, "Death ever cometh with more terrors inthe dark! To-night!" But now, little by little, my joy gave place toanger that the night must be so long a-coming; and, glancing up, Icursed the sun that it must needs shine and the gladsome day that itwas not grim night. And presently to anger was added a growing fearlest mine enemy might (by some hap) elude me at the eleventhhour--might, even now, be slipping from my reach. Now at this a sweatbrake out on me, and leaping to my feet I was minded to seek him outand end the matter there and then. "Why wait for to-night?" I askedmyself. "Surely in the gladsome light of day Death findeth an addedbitterness. Why wait for night, then?"
So I stood awhile debating within myself, then, catching up my knottedbludgeon, I set off along the stream incontinent, following a path Ihad trodden many a time when but a lad; a path that led on through mazythickets, shady dells and green coppices dappled with sunlight and gladwith the trilling melody of birds; but ever as I went, before my eyeswas a man who twisted in my grasp and died, over and over again, and inmy ears the sounds of his agony. And ever as I went trees reached outarms as if to stay me and bushes stretched forth little, thorny fingersthat caught my garments as if to hinder me from my purpose. But Ibrushed them aside with my scarred arms or beat them down with my heavystaff, o'er-leaping hedge and ditch and fallen tree until I reached thehighway, and even as I came there a distant clock chimed the hour often. I quickened my pace, twirling my staff as I went, so that the twoor three wayfarers I chanced to meet drew from my neighbourhood andeyed me mightily askance. Having gone thus some mile or so, I came toa wall that bordered the road, a high and mossy wall, and followingthis, to a pair of gates set well back from the highway, with pillarsof stone each surmounted by a couchant leopard carved in the stone.Now these gates were of iron, very lofty and strong and fast shut, butbesides these was a smaller gate or postern of wood hard by thegatehouse where stood a lusty fellow in fair livery, picking his teethwith a straw and staring at the square toes of his shoes. Hearing meapproach he glanced up and, frowning, shook his head and waved me away.
"Here's no road for the likes o' you!" said he while I was yet at somedistance. "Off wi' you!" Howbeit, seeing I still advanced he clappedto the gate, and letting fall the bar, cursed me roundly through thegrille.
"I would see Sir Richard Brandon!" says I.
"Then ye can't--nowise. So be off and be danged!"
"Open the gate!" says I.
"Be hanged for a murderous-looking rogue, a lousy thief, a wastrel anda hangdog knave!" says he all in a breath.
"All true enough!" says I. "And now, open the gate!"
"Be danged for a prigging gipsy--'A Gad! I'll have ye clapped i' thepillory for a black-visaged clapper-claw!"
"Unbar!" says I, "Or it shall go plaguy ill wi' you when I come in."
At this he spat upon me through the grille and chuckled. Now, glancingabout, I espied a stone hard by about the bigness of a man's head and,laying by my staff, I wrenched the stone from where it lay and, raisingit aloft, hove it with all my strength; whereon the gate crashed openso suddenly as to catch the fellow a buffet that laid him sprawling onhis back, and as he strove to rise I pinned him down with my staff andkicked him heartily.
"And now," says I, "up with you and bring me to your master."
But or ever he could do aught but groan and rub his hurts, I heard thesound of approaching hoof-strokes and, turning, beheld a lady bravelymounted who galloped furiously towards us down the avenue. When almostupon us she swung her powerful beast aside and, checking him withstrong wrist, sat looking down at me from the shade of her plumed hat.
"What is this?" she demanded, and her eyes swept over me grey and wideand fearless. "Who--who are you?"
Now at the sound of her voice so rich and wonder-sweet, I feltstrangely abashed and, finding no word, turned from her to scowl downat the man I had pinned beneath my broken shoe.
"Who are you?" she questioned again. "Speak!"
"A rogue!" says I, keeping my head averted. "A creeper o' hedges!"
"Ah--is't you?" said she in softer tone. "I saw you for a moment bylightning-flash near the gibbet. You are my man o' the woods, and,sir, I owe you much--very much--indeed, sir, if--"
"I am no 'sir'!" quoth I shortly.
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sp; "Gregory," says she, looking down on the fellow 'neath my foot."Gregory, get up!"
"Gregory," says I, "stir not!"
"Sir, would you hurt my servant?" says she, knitting her slender blackbrows.
"I' faith!" I nodded. "The uncivil rogue forced me to burst open thegate."
"And why are you here? Who are you? What is your name?" cried she alittle breathlessly, and I wondered at the fixed intensity of her gaze.
"Gregory," says I, taking my foot from his middle but threatening himwith my staff, "I am come for no traffic with maids, so rise up andbring me to your master."
"Nay," groans the fellow, turning up his eyes, "'tis thing impossible,here's only my lady--"
"And I seek your master--is he within?"
"Nay," says Gregory, flinching beneath my staff, "as my lady shall tell'ee--he is not here."
"Ha!" quoth I. "That will I see for myself." But as I turned tostride up the avenue, my lady wheeled her horse, barring my way.
"Whither go you?" she demanded, her eyes holding mine.
"To the house for Sir Richard. I have been at some small pains to gainspeech with him."
"To what end?"
"Why truly," I answered, leaning upon my staff and viewing her eye toeye, "'tis a matter of vital moment, aye--in a manner of speaking--'tisa matter of life and death betwixt us." Now as I stood thus I couldnot but be conscious of her glowing, vigorous beauty, her body's nobleshape and the easy grace of her as she sat her fretting horse, swayingto his every movement. And to me, in my rags, she seemed no woman buta goddess rather, proud, immaculate and very far removed; and yet theseproud lips could (mayhap) grow soft and tender, these clear eyes thatmet mine so fearlessly--
The staff was wrenched from my loosened grasp and Gregory, leaping tohis feet, fetched me therewith staggering blow on blow, shouting withhis every stroke:
"Ho--Peter! Roger! Will! Ho--hither, lads all! Loose thedogs--hither to me, 'a God's name!" But, though mused with blows, Irushed in blindly and, closing with the fellow, got him fairly by thethroat and shook him to and fro. And now was I minded to choke himoutright, but, even then, spied a cavalier who spurred his horseagainst me. Hereupon I dashed the breathless Gregory aside and turnedto meet my new assailant, a spruce young gallant he, from curlinglovelock to Spanish boots. I remember cursing savagely as his whipcaught me, then, or ever he could reach me again, I sprang in beneaththe head of his rearing horse and seizing the rein close by the bridlebegan to drag and wrench at the bit. I heard shouts and a woman's cryof fear, but I strove only the fiercer, while up and up reared thegreat roan horse, snorting in terror, his forelegs lashing wildly;above tossing mane the eyes of his rider glared down at me as, laughingexultant, I wrenched savagely at the bridle until, whinnying with painand terror, the great beast, losing his balance, crashed over backwardsinto the dust. Leaping clear of those desperate, wild-thrashinghooves, I found myself beset by divers fellows armed with staves, whoclosed upon me, shouting; and above these, her eyes wide, her full, redlips close-set, my lady looked down on me and I (meeting that look)laughed, even as her fellows rushed at me:
"Go cosset your pretty springald, wench!" But even then, dazed andhalf-blinded by a hail of blows, I staggered, sank to my knees,struggled up again, smiting with bare fists. A flame seemed to flashbefore my eyes, a taste of blood was on my tongue, and all sounds grewfaint and far away as, stumbling blindly, I threw up my arms, trippedand plunged down and down into an engulfing darkness, and knew no more.
Black Bartlemy's Treasure Page 6