that nothing would havecaused him more acute sorrow than to see those he loved so well removedto make way for him.
I observed that Cousin Peter met Mr Strafford in the most frank andcordial manner, and at once entered with him into a discussion as to thesteps which should next be taken for the recovery of the child. I didnot hear all that was to be done. I knew, however, that a number of themost intelligent and trustworthy men in the neighbourhood were engaged.Some were sent off to all the places on the coast whence boats could getoff, to ascertain if any had gone across the channel, and to examine anywhich might be going, while other parties were, as soon as it wasdaylight, to scour the forest in every direction. We boys, under SamBarnby, were, much to our satisfaction, to engage in this latterservice. Sir Hugh and the rest of the family, overcome with fatigue,were compelled to go to bed; but all night long people were coming andgoing with messages, showing that a very vigilant and active search wasbeing carried on. Neither Cousin Peter nor Mr Strafford, however, wentto bed, as they had taken upon themselves the direction of the search.Indeed, unless Everard Worsley had succeeded at once in getting awayfrom the neighbourhood, it seemed scarcely possible that he should nowbe able to make his escape.
STORY ONE, CHAPTER FIVE.
Long before daybreak we boys were up, called by Sam Barnby, and, havingbreakfasted, and by his advice, filled our pockets with bread and hamand tongue and brawn, set off while the first streaks of dawn were stillin the sky, to commence our search through the forest. The sky wascloudless, the stars shining brightly at first, but one by one theydisappeared as the light streaming through the leafless trees on the onehand, seemed to be rolling back the gloom of night on the other. Theair was pure, but keen as razor-blades, as Sam observed, and would havesaved us shaving, if we had had beards to shave. The crisply frozengrass crackled under our feet as we trod rapidly over it, withdifficulty restraining our inclination to sing and shout out, so highwere our spirits raised by the exhilarating atmosphere.
We walked on rapidly, covering, by Sam Barnby's directions, as muchground as possible, while, however, keeping each other in sight, whichcould be more easily done at that time of the year than in the summer.Every now and then we came on a herd of forest ponies, which wentscampering away, shaking the hoar frost from the bushes as their shaggycoats brushed them in passing. Less frequently we encountered herds ofthe fallow deer, once so numerous. They would stand for an instantgazing at us, as if wondering why we had invaded their domains, andthen, fleet as the wind, they would fly, following one after the other,till they reached some knoll or thicker wood, where they would stop andscrutinise us as we passed. We were all soon in a thorough glow fromthe exercise we were taking, for the ground was far from level. Now wehad to ascend a height, now descend into a valley, circuit a marsh, orleap across a stream--a feat not always easily accomplished.
We passed many spots of historic fame which I cannot here stop todescribe. Many were highly picturesque and beautiful, and hadattracted, I doubt not, the pencil of Gilpin, who was minister ofBoldre, not far off. On we went, hour after hour, unflaggingly, tillSam called a halt, and each of us produced the provender we had brought.Sam had strapped a large fishing-basket to his back, and to ourinfinite satisfaction, when we found that our own supplies were totallyinadequate to satisfy the cravings of our keen appetites, he broughtforth an abundance of eatables and a bottle or two of the stoutest ofstout ales, that, as he remarked, a little might go a long way. Theremust have been real stuff in it, for, though he gave us each but a fewthimblefuls, it set us up amazingly, and away we went as full of spiritand strength as when we first started.
I cannot describe all the adventures we met with. Jack was on the rightof the line, I was next to him. Suddenly I heard him cry out. I ran upto him, calling to the others to halt. Jack pointed to an object undera bush. It was the body of a man.
"Is he asleep?" I asked.
"He is very quiet," said Jack.
Indeed he was quiet. All our shouting did not arouse him. He wasdressed in a smock frock and long brown gaiters; but his hands werewhite, and his face fair. "He is dead, young gentlemen!" said SamBarnby, gravely, when he came up. "Who can he be?"
We all stood aloof. None of us had ever seen a dead mail. It was a sadobject. Sam, stooping down, examined the body.
"To my mind, this is no other than the unfortunate gentleman we arelooking for. He is no carter, and under his smock his dress is that ofa gentleman."
This was indeed valuable information to carry home. Sam wanted as tohelp him remove the body, but we had no fancy to do that. What,however, had become of little Hugh? If the miserable man had reallycarried him off, where had he bestowed him? Could he have murdered thechild first, and then destroyed himself? The thought was too dreadfulto be entertained. How had he met with his death? That was anotherquestion. Again Sam examined the body.
"This tells a tale, at all events," he exclaimed, holding up a littleshoe.
It was evidently Hugh's. This man had carried him off--of that therewas no longer a shadow of doubt. What had become of him though? Wesearched round and round the spot, under every bush, and in the hollowof every tree. Not a further sign of the child could we discover.There would be still daylight sufficient for us to go to the Hall withthe information, and to return. The question was who should go and whoshould stay by the dead body, which we considered that we ought not toleave. Without Sam we could not find our way, so it was necessary thathe should go, at all events. At last my brother Jack asked me if Iwould remain with him. I own that I did not like it. There wassomething terrible at the thought of being out alone with the dead bodyof our wicked kinsman, as we supposed the man to be. Yet I did not wishto exhibit any fear, and put as bold a face on the matter as I could.
"Yes, of course, if you wish it, Jack, I'll stay with you," I answeredat once. "Somebody must stay, and I suppose that we are the rightpeople to do so. We can run about to keep ourselves warm. I shan't, ofcourse, mind it a bit, if you don't. You'll not be long gone, will you,Sam?"
"Oh, no fear, Master William," answered Sam Barnby; "we'll be at theHall and back in no time. We've come a long round to get here."
This answer encouraged me a little, and I managed, I flatter myself, tolook thoroughly unconcerned. We had each of us thick sticks: not thatthere was anything to fight with; for even wild hogs don't attack peoplewho let them alone; but I know that I clutched mine very tightly as therest of the party disappeared among the trees of the forest, and Jackand I were left on guard. As to looking on the dead man, that was morethan I dared do; so I walked about, flourishing my stick and talking toJack, as far as I could get from the spot where the dead man lay,consistently with my undertaking to keep guard over it. Jack did notseem to care very much about the matter. Now he walked close up to thespot; then he joined me and talked on indifferent subjects, though Idon't think that even he cared to look directly at the dead man. Webegan at last to become very tired of our guard, and to wish that ourfriends would return and relieve us. I had no watch. Jack hadforgotten to wind up his, so we could not tell how time sped.
Not far off was a dark clump of hollies, to which I had extended mywalk. As I was turning round, I heard a slight rustling of the leaves,and, to my inexpressible horror, I caught a glimpse of a pair of eyesgleaming out at me through an opening in the boughs. I instantlyconnected them somehow with the man supposed to be dead, and, when Ihurried back to Jack, I half expected to find that the body had got up,and, by some means or other, gone round into the holly-bush. No; thereit lay, quiet enough, never more to move of its own accord. But to whatcould those eyes belong?
"Jack! Jack!" I stammered out, feeling that I must look very pale andfrightened, "I have seen a pair of eyes!"
"Whereabouts?" asked Jack. "I suppose that they are in somebody's head,then?"
"That's the question," said I; "I am not quite so sure of it."
"Oh, nonsense!" cried Jack; "let's have a look at the place. Wher
e didyou see them?"
I pointed to the spot, and plucking up courage as he walked up to it,followed him, clutching my stick tightly. The holly-bushes formed atolerably large screen, so that we should have to make a wide circuit toget to the rear. Nothing was to be seen in front. No eyes were visiblewhere I had caught the glimpse of them. Jack said it was fancy, butstill he had an inclination to examine further. I would rather havewaited till the arrival of our friends, but he, telling me to go roundone end, ran round the other, that we might catch anybody who might bethere. I didn't like it, but still I went, feeling that I wasperforming a deed of mighty heroism. I was resolved not to allow Jackto call me a coward; indeed, he very seldom did so, because anythingthat he dared do, I did; the only difference was that he liked it, and Ididn't. I got
Foxholme Hall, and Other Tales Page 5