CHAPTER XIX
A SHELTER FROM THE STORM
The morning of the second day found Francis once more on her way withouthaving seen any of the queen's men. The day was unusually warm, and boththe girl and her horse, wearied by the hard riding, showed the effects ofthe journey. But fatigued though she was she pushed resolutely on,pausing only to care for the tired animal. At length the road entered adeep wood and she gave a sigh of relief as the grateful shade of thetrees enveloped her. The horse too seemed to revive somewhat and wentforward with more briskness.
So dense was the shade that Francis was not aware that the sky had becomeovercast with clouds until a distant peal of thunder broke upon her ear.
"A storm is coming," she cried. "I must seek shelter; but where?"
It was a problem that would have puzzled a head older and wiser thanthat of Francis Stafford. She was in the midst of a dense forest. Shelooked about her in dismay.
"Beshrew me!" she uttered, "these woods are impenetrable enough tofurnish hiding-place for Robin Hood and all his men. Surely there must bean inn or house somewhere near. Patience! I will find shelter. On, goodhorse!"
The mutterings of the thunder became louder and deeper as the stormapproached. The clouds scudded across the heavens swiftly, borne on thewings of a heavy wind. Suddenly a blinding flash of lightning zigzaggedacross the sky followed by a deafening crash of thunder, and the stormbroke in all its force. The rain came down in torrents. The trees bentand swayed in the wind, tossing their proud heads as if in defiance tothe storm king. The horse snorted in terror as flash after flash oflightning blazed across the road. Francis was drenched to the skin, butshe struggled on, soothing the frightened animal as best she could.
Presently she thought she saw an opening in the trees. Drawing closer shewas overjoyed to find that there really was a path through the wood.Turning into it she followed it for some distance, finally coming to anopen glade where stood what looked to be an ancient inn.
One wing had fallen into decay. The rose covered trellis of the porch layrotting on the ground. All about the building hung an air of dilapidationand decay that forbade the thought of cheer. One part of the tumbled downstructure looked as though it might serve as a shelter, and the girlhastened to the door of this portion and knocked.
There was no response, and Francis rapped again; this time more loudlythan before, resolving to force the door should there be no answer. Shewaited a few moments, and then there came a high shrill voice from behindthe closed door.
"Who's there?"
"One who desires shelter from the storm. Open, i' God's name!"
"And who be ye that seek shelter of Dame Margery? Know you not that mencall me the white witch?"
"I care not," exclaimed Francis impatiently. "Open, woman, else I willforce the door."
There was a muttering of protest, then the bolts were drawn, and the dooropened. A woman stood in the aperture. A woman, old and bent, and lookingnot unlike the witch she called herself. A hood of brown sat on her whitehair; a brown lappet was thrown about her, and she supported herself bymeans of a staff. Her black eyes regarded the girl with keenness fromunder her shaggy brows.
"Now thou art brave, forsooth, who dares take shelter here," she said."There are those, and they are many, who would brave the fiercest stormrather than risk Dame Margery's evil eye."
"But not I," said Francis boldly. Nevertheless she made the sign of thecross, for the age was a superstitious one and the belief in witches andwitchcraft well nigh universal. "Good dame, tell me, I pray, where I mayput my horse. Give us both shelter, and thou shall have this angel forthy guerdon."
She held the gold piece out as she spoke. The woman's fingers closed overit eagerly.
"Back of the house are the stables," she said a trifle more civilly."There will ye find food for the beast as well as cover. But thou wilthave to be thine own groom, young sir. These old bones be racked withrheums."
"I thank you," answered Francis briefly. Following the directionindicated by the beldame she led her horse round the house where shefound the stables in somewhat better condition than she had expected.After looking after the welfare of the animal she muttered a shortprayer, and entered the dwelling with a bold front.
The door gave entrance into a large, low ceiled room whose rafters weregrimed with smoke and dirt. A low bed stood in one corner of the room; asmall deal table and three chairs completed the simple furnishings, butthe girl's eyes were caught by the strings of herbs that depended fromthe walls, and the cabalistic signs that were everywhere in evidence. Afire burned on the hearth and over it, depending from a crane, hung alarge kettle in which something savory was brewing.
A black cat which had been stretched near the fire rose at her entrance,and spat as if he resented the intrusion as well as his mistress.Francis glanced at the mysterious signs, the black cat, the old woman,and a half wish came into her mind that she had braved the fury of thestorm rather than enter such an abode. As if in answer to her thought thedame spoke:
"Draw nigh the fire, boy, and dry thy wet garments. Marry! hearest thouthe rain? Even the dwelling of a witch, I trow, is better than to be outin't. Hark!"
The storm had redoubled its fury. The wind shrieked and howled as thougha thousand demons were loosed from durance and were exulting in theirfreedom. The rain came down in sheets, while peal on peal of thundercrashed and rolled. Francis shuddered and drew nearer the fire. The steamarose from her saturated garments, and rendered her uncomfortable. Theold woman noticed her discomfort and said not unkindly:
"Boy, no garments have I of thy sex, but if thou wilt play the woman forthe nonce thou canst have of mine apparel until thine own be dried."
For the first time since she had left the court Francis laughed. Sheflushed rosy red under the old woman's glance, and then grew bewilderedand confused at her continued scrutiny, and answered with an effort atself-command.
"I thank you, my good dame, but I will stay as I am an it please you."
"Content yourself,--master," answered the dame with the slightesthesitation before the word. "'Twas but to soften thy distress."
She spoke no more, but busied herself about the brew over the fire.Presently she placed some of the stew before the girl, saying,
"Eat, sir. Thou wilt find it to thy liking, I trow."
"It is in sooth," replied Francis falling to heartily. Under theinfluence of warmth and comfort her fear of the woman had vanished."Think you, good mother, that the storm will soon pass?"
"Nay;" answered she her face softening at the appellation. "Not tillmidnight comes; for
"When storm comes at end of day The midnight hour takes the rain away.'"
The girl's face clouded.
"Then I must forth at midnight," she declared.
"Thy need must be urgent that impels thee onward through the darkness,"observed the woman keenly. "Boy, what is thy business? Would have me readthe stars for its issue?"
"Nay, mother," answered Francis in agitated tones. "Were it favorable allwould be well, but if it were evil I would not know of it. But it willnot be ill. It must not, shall not be!"
She arose and paced the floor, chafing that she must be inactive whentime was so precious. The dame regarded her curiously. Presently shespoke.
"Mistress, I may not call thee because of thy garb. Master, I cannotbecause of thy sex; but whatsoe'er thou art, tell old Margery why thouart so dressed, and why you wander forth alone?"
"Woman, are you in very truth a witch?" cried the girl in astonishment.
"So men call me," returned Margery dryly.
"But save for the few who were told, not one at the court penetrated mymasquerade," said Francis. "Then how is it, that thou, at our firstmeeting, know that my dress covers a maiden?"
"Old Margery hath lived long, and her eyes are sharp," answered the dame."But tell me. What brings you hither, if you are of the court?"
Francis paused in front of the woman and looked long and earnest
ly intoher eyes. Something she saw there made her say impulsively:
"Good mother, thou must be in truth the witch men call thee, becausethine eyes impel me to tell thee all. Listen! and I will unfold the talefrom the beginning." And she recounted the affair of Elizabeth's coming,the reason for donning the page's dress, her going to court, and now thecause of her desire to reach her father. The woman listened attentively.
"Child, thou hast done well. And thou sayst that none of the queen's menhave passed thee?"
"None, mother. I have outstripped them all," exulted Francis. "Let me butcontinue in the lead for a few hours longer so that my father may haveopportunity to get to a place of safety, and I care not how soon theycome."
At this moment there came the sound of hoarse shouting of men, followedby the clatter of horses' hoofs, and then above the storm came a loudknocking at the door.
"Open in the name of the queen," came the stern command.
In Doublet and Hose: A Story for Girls Page 19