by Knox Magee
CHAPTER XXV
MICHAEL AND I
The key rattled in the lock, and I heard my jailer's voice:--
"This is the place. Best let me go in first; for he's as ugly as thedevil, and may guzzle thee, a stranger, unless I tell him you'recoming. Though methinks he'd soon drop thee, when he found the kind ofgame he had caught."
Then the door opened cautiously, and the straw-like head peepedfearfully around the corner. He had learned this lesson by my almostbreaking his head one day when he happened to enter at a moment when myrage knew no bounds, as I thought of my wrongs, and imagined all kindsof fates for Hazel.
"Come in, and fear not, thou fool!" I said, for I liked not to beholdsuch cowardice.
"Ha! thou hadst best keep quiet now; for here's one can master thee,big and all as thou art." And he shook his ring of enormous keys inmockery at me; however, from a safe distance.
I heard a rattle of armour, and, to my great surprise and delight, inwalked Michael. I sprang to my feet and started to rush toward him;but he put his finger to his lip in warning.
The keeper who was busy with the locking of the door, turned in hasteas he heard me start to my feet. Then, seeing me halt suddenly, heburst into a loud laugh.
"Ha, ha, ha!" bubbled from his frog-like throat. "Methinks that thouhast done well to stop and consider ere thou dost spring against a wallof stone. Well, upon my soul, sir, this is now my turn to laugh! Ha,ha, ha! Why dost thou stop? Why dost thou not break his head, as thoudidst mine? Ha, ha, ha! Well, upon my--"
The place of the missing word was taken up in a gurgle, differenthowever from his disgusting, coarse laugh. Michael had changed fromhis statue-like stolidity and, in the twinkling of an eye, theastounded keeper was dangling in the air, held at arm's length by themighty Irishman, to whom it was no more exertion than it is to a femaleservant to shake, and then hurl from the door, a mischief-making cat.
"Kape still, ye varmint," growled Michael, as the struggling keeperkicked in every direction, some of his blows striking Michael on thelegs.
Out flew the dagger from the keeper's belt, and with it he struckwildly at my squire's arm.
"Ha! thou scratchin' divil; why dost thou not be quoite? 'Twill dothee no good to stroike: mine arm is armoured. Uh! thou baste," hegrowled, as the dagger struck his bare hand. "Oi must thin finishthee." And releasing the hand that he had held at the back of theswine-like neck, and still holding the struggling keeper from the floorwith the other, he struck him a blow upon the head with his clenchedfist. There was a sound like that made by an egg when it is let fallupon a stone. A trembling from head to foot. The knees drew partlyup, and then the legs stretched out full length, and stiff, and thekeeper which had flung at me his taunts had died by the hand of myHerculean squire.
"Oh! my poor Michael, what hast thou done?" I cried. "Now thy honestlife must pay for this."
"Beg pardon, sor, but playze don't spake so loud; some wan may hearus," said he, as he carried the dead jailer by the neck and laid himtenderly upon the bed.
"Oi had not mint to kill thee, thou poor fool; but Sor Fridrick touldme to make thee quoite, and, as thou wouldst scratch, I saw no otherway." This to the body.
"But what means all this, Michael?" I asked, when I had done embracinghim, (I could have kissed him; so glad was I to again see his honestface) at which he blushed like a maiden.
"Sure, sor, this same mysterious litter 'll till ye all, sor. SerFridrick found it on his table whin he returned to-noight." And thenhe told me, shortly, all that had happened since mine arrest.
"And hath Richmond yet landed?" I asked eagerly.
"Yis sor, Sor Fridrick tould me that he was now on his way to London.The King laves the city to-morrow, with an army, to take up his placeat Leicester, as Oi think."
"Why Leicester?"
"Sor Fridrick said 'twas that he moight be near the cintre o' thecountry, so that his min can rache him without havin' to march far."
"That is like the tyrant, ever on the alert to take any advantage. Aclever man is Richard. Such a King as he might have made, had he notbeen born a blood-supper."
Then I remembered the letter, and hastily I read it.
"What! is it to assist me to escape from this accursed place that thouhast come?"
"Sure, sor, fer divil a thing ilse."
The idea of such a chance had not even dawned upon my dazed brain.Remember, my dears, I had been for many long days and nights confinedwithin a narrow room within the Tower. Ye cannot understand what thatmeans, unless ye do go yourselves through it, the which pray God yenever may.
"But how?" I asked, as I drew the back of my hand across my brow in aneffort to assist my comprehension. "It surely cannot be possible!"
"Possible or not, sor, we can do no worse than fail. But if what thatstrange litter sez be true we shan't fail, sor."
Then he told me where Harleston had gone to make all ready, in case weshould succeed.
"What thinks Sir Frederick of this same letter?"
"Sure, sor, he knows not what to make out o' it. But sure, yer honour,so far the order hath bin all that we could wish, and if the rist o'what the writer sez be as good as has been the furst, uh! sure we'llhave a good swim, and lave this damned place that gives wan the shiversto be on the insoide o'."
"It shall be difficult to swim in our armour."
"Sure it's not far, yer honour."
"Then assist me to make haste, that no time may be lost. But first tieup that scratch upon thy hand."
"Uh! sure, yer honour 'tis nothin'."
However, I bound my scarf about the hand of him I now loved so dearly,and then he assisted me to arm.
We were soon ready to start on this perilous attempt for freedom, thatmeant so much to me, if I should succeed, and such a calamity untomyself and another which I loved better a thousand times than I did mylife, if I should fail.
I then went to the poor corpse upon the bed and detached the chain bywhich the ring that held his keys was suspended from his belt. I thencrossed to the smoky lamp and re-read the letter with great care andattention, that its contents might be fully engraven upon my memory. Ithen carefully placed it within my gauntlet, and, warning Michael toleave his hands bare, that he might use them freely in quieting thesoldier at the breach--in case we ever reached it--I cautiouslyunlocked the door. Then I opened it for a sufficient space to allow myhead an exit, and fearfully I looked both ways along the corridor tomake sure that no one was about. The hall was clear. I opened thedoor wider, and motioning Michael to follow, I stepped, as quietly asmine armour would permit, into the hall. With the quietness of a thiefI re-locked the door and started on tip-toe down the passage. I hadtaken but a few steps, however, when Michael's hand was laid upon minearm. I started, turned in fear, and then remembering Michael, Iblushed in the darkness at my foolish, girl-like action.
"Beg pardon, sor, but dount ye think 'twould be bitter if we was towalk along as though we had the roight and didn't give a damn fer asoul o' thim?" whispered my companion.
"Well thought on, Michael," I returned, and we strode along with theapparent confidence of two keepers. Then Michael started whistling agay Irish tune. This was more than my o'er-strained and assumedconfidence could bear; so I placed my hand over his mouth and hiswhistling came to an abrupt end.
Then down the stairs we went until we reached the heavy door openinginto the great archway through this tower. Here we paused for a momentwhilst I asked Michael concerning the portcullis.
"It was up, sor, whin Oi intered."
"Then all is well. Now be careful, Michael, and watch me for anysignal I may give thee; for on thee now depend our chances of success."
Then, with hands trembling with excitement, I at last found the properkey and inserted it in the lock. Then, with apparent carelessness, Iflung the door wide open and strode forth, Michael following. At thisvery moment a soldier, as though on guard, marched with measured stepalong the arch-topped way. As he hear
d the door swing open he haltedand, turning, watched us in the dim light cast by the flickering torchoverhead. To hesitate for but an instant meant failure and certaindeath. Adopting Michael's plan I whistled softly an air that came byinspiration to my mind, and at the same time closed the door again andlocked it with a great show of care. Then taking Michael by the arm Iwalked leisurely along, swinging the great ring of keys and whistlingas I went.
Ah! my children, ye know not how trying was that indifferent walk. Howsore was I tempted to break into a run, in a mad effort to leave thatawful place behind me. But then, had I done so, I had not lived to seethe setting of another sun. As we passed beneath the great portcullisI glanced back to where we had left the sentry. He was still standingbeneath the light and gazing after us. No doubt he wondered who wewere; but my apparent confidence and ease of manner re-assured him; foras we turned to our left to pass the round tower which adjoins the onein which I had been confined, he shouldered his pole-axe and resumedhis lonely tramp.
"Two difficulties safely past," I whispered. "Now, Michael, have agreat care and let not the soldier at the breach make the faintestsound."
"Oi'll do moy bist, sor," and I felt sure he would. Then we came tothe short inner wall that runneth from the tower of St. Thomas backunto the square tower that we had just left.
As is ever the case, when one is in great haste, I tried every key butone depending from the ring, and still the great gate remained closed,none of them mating the lock. When I came to this last key a suddenhorror came over me as I thought of the possibility of the whole affairbeing a trap to raise my hopes in the belief that I was about toescape, and then to have them hurled to the ground with shatteringforce. My life depended on this key. Would it turn back the bars andgive me freedom and life, or would it, like the others, mock with itssilent contempt my anxiety? How I longed to know my fate, and yetdreaded the test, lest I should fail. My hand shook as with palsy, andmade it well nigh impossible for me to insert the key. Then 'twas inthe lock; and still I did not turn it.
Verily, I have faced the deadly cannon, oft, and yet have felt noanxiety nor fear. But now, as I stood before that heavy gate, with thekey already in the lock, requiring but a turn--that is if it didwork--to set me at least nearer unto liberty, my courage did forsakeme, and I really feared to turn the key.
Some there are, I know, who will say it was unmanly in me to thushesitate. Mine answer, in advance, is:--Let them but place themselvesin the same position and see then how they will act. It requires butlittle courage to tell what one would do; but it is different when onedoth face the reality and not the argument.
At length, with a mighty effort, such as a man doth make when heavingwith his shoulder in an attempt to move a mighty boulder, I summoned upall my strength of spirit, and exerted pressure on the key. ThankHeaven, it turned! I would have cheered with delight had not the plainwarning of the letter remained fresh in my mind. Softly we swung thegate open and passed beneath the arch. I was about to push on andleave the gate open behind, but Michael, who seemed less disturbed thanwas I--but then he had not been confined within the Tower for longweeks--whispered:--
"Beg pardon, sor, but dount ye think 'twould be safer to lock the gateagin? They moight follow loike."
With great care I closed and locked the gate. Then, stealing slowly,as doth the fox, along the wall, we in time reached the shadow of St.Thomas tower. It was so dark here that I could scarce see Michael; fornow 'twas past the hour of midnight, and the young moon had grown wearyand was sinking her head upon the lap of earth, casting long, blackshadows as she sank into her sleep.
How I cursed my creaking, yet necessary, armour as I stole along.
Then my heart beat so loudly that I thought the sentry near which wewere now drawing must hear it and break forth with his loud, disturbingchallenge. Back and forth he paced with weary, clanking steps,unconscious of the two dark forms working their way slowly, and wellnigh breathlessly, towards him. Now we were pressing against the wall,as he halted almost within arm's length before us. Verily, his eyesmust have been closed in partial sleep, or he had seen us. Then hetramped round, as though he had been fastened to a cord which permittedhim to go but to its length and then warned him to return.
At that moment I attempted to draw back still further. My spur struckthe wall with a sharp click, and this did cause me to lose my balance,and mine armoured shoulders clanked against the stones.
The soldier turned like a flash of light, and brought his axe fromshoulder unto thigh. He was about to challenge when Michael, forcingthe axe's point above his head, clapped his mighty hand over thesurprised sentry's mouth, permitting no sound to escape.
I seized the axe, lest it should fall and rouse the guard.
"Be quoiet, thou fool, and no harm 'll come unto thee," whisperedMichael in the fellow's ear, as he held him firmly to the ground.
With haste I searched me for my scarf.
"It's here, sor, about moy hand; jist untoie it, playze sor. Sure alittle blood 'll do thee no harm. Thou shouldst thank the Lord that itisn't thoine own." This to the sentry.
When he had been made fast at both hands and feet, the which we boundwith his belt, after cutting the leather into two strings, and when hehad been securely gagged with the scarf, we carried him and placed himclose to the wall, and then I warned him.
"Now, sirrah, if thou dost lie still and make no attempt to freethyself, or to attract attention, thou shalt not be mistreated. But,by all the fiends, if thou dost make a movement thou shalt be rippedfrom ear to ear, and then thrown into the moat. We shall be near athand, and any sound from thee must reach us."
Then we proceeded to the breach with less care than we had hithertoused. Here the wall was torn away until but a foot in height remained.The artisan's tools were laid upon this low wall, and were well nighthe cause of our ruin; for just as I made a move to cross the breach myfoot struck upon the pile of tools and almost caused them all to fallinto the moat. Carefully we removed them from our way, and then wedescended into the water.
I had never before attempted to swim while dressed in a complete suitof heavy armour; and much therefore did I doubt mine ability to do sonow.
"Didst thou ever swim across water, whilst dressed in thine armour?" Iasked of Michael.
"Divil a toime, yer honour."
"It will be difficult, Michael, and I may be compelled to ask thee tolend me a hand."
"All roight, yer honour." And we set out.
I had not overestimated the difficulty of our task, and ere we reachedthe outer wall I was glad to place my hand upon Michael's greatshoulder to keep from sinking.
At length we reached the other side and, still struggling to keep ourheads above the surface, we commenced to feel along the wall for theladder mentioned in the letter.
"What if it should not be here?" I asked myself. Truly it should be agrand device for luring me unto my death; for it had been impossiblefor me to again cross the moat, so exhausted was I by the greatexertion. Even the mighty giant by my side was breathing in greatgasps, as though his Herculean strength were ebbing fast. Mine armshad now become so weak that I could scarce lift them above the surfacefor an instant that I might feel for the ladder.
"Here--sor," gasped my faithful squire, as he grasped me by the arm anddrew me to him. "Oi--have it--at last--yer honour. The saints--bepraised."
Yes, there it was, and how welcome did it feel to my trembling hand.
We remained thus, with our heads only above the water, for somemoments, until we regained a part of our breaths.
I mounted the ladder first and climbed wearily to the top. Verily,never in all my life have I felt my body to be of such prodigiousweight. Ah! I was on the top; and there I sat whilst Michael'senormous form came dripping out of the water below and wearily climbedthe ladder.
"I climbed wearily to the top."]
"Mither-o'-Gawd! Oi fale loike a damned drowned rat." And indeed Ifelt as though the simile applied
unto me most thoroughly.
Then we drew up the ropes and, unfastening the hooks, we reversed themand let down the ladder on the other side. Down this we went, and,thank Heaven, we were free from that great, black, menacingcongregation of cold, cruel towers and walls.
I felt like a soul but new granted its release from the torturous firesof purgatory must feel as he looks back, with hunted, awe-struck eyes,at the place of his late confinement, and sighs with thankfulness forhis freedom; yet shudders in fear that this liberty is but a dream fromwhich he shall soon awaken to find himself again within the gates ofagony.
Then we hastened on with soggy steps, making as wide an arch as theriver would permit, that we might pass as far as possible from theTower of St. Thomas.
We at length reached the place where Michael had left the horses. Theywere tethered in a shed attached to a vacant house not far from thewalls of the Tower, and on the western side.
The sword that Michael had brought for my use was hanging from thelance-rest of the saddle. Hastily buckling it on I felt once more aman and knight. Then, mounting our horses, we rode forth into thenight, and, at no slow pace, started by the nearest way on our journeyto the Sanctuary.