CHAPTER VII.
DONE BENEATH THE STARS.
The delight of Nadia and her brother at the appearance of Dick and hiscompanions was great. Buckhart's face was crimson as he pressed thegirl's hand, and she seemed somewhat confused. Dick she met with perfectfrankness.
When the greetings were over and they had warmed themselves at the fire,the old professor went out and gazed long at Lochleven, over thewind-ruffled bosom of which the night was creeping.
"To-morrow," he said, "I will feast my eyes on Queen Mary's prison. Whata grand thing to be here on this romantic spot! Ah, those old days whenmen fought and bled and died for their country!"
In spite of the appearance of Miguel Bunol, it was a jolly party thatgathered about Widow Myles' table that night at supper time. Nadia hadrecovered her high spirits and was gay and vivacious, while her brotherforgot for the time being the struggle against appetite that he had beenmaking for the last few days and was the smiling, courtly, jolly younggentleman nature intended him to be.
Widow Myles herself sat at the head of the table, beaming on her guests.She had a face like a withered russet apple, and one knew at a glancethat a generous, kindly old heart beat in her bosom. Naturally affable,the presence of so many guests at that season made her doubly so.
Brad had been placed in a chair opposite Nadia, much to hissatisfaction, as it gave him an opportunity to watch her mobile,changing features. It seemed that each passing minute revealed for himsome new and fresh attractiveness in the charming Chicago girl. He hadbeen badly smitten before, but during that supper at the Ben Cleuch hefell head-over-heels in love with her. Boy love it was, perhaps, butnone the less sincere. It might not last, but even though time brought achange, it would ever be a pleasant memory.
Aaron waited on the table. At this he was very deft, seeming to knowprecisely what was wanted at the lifting of the widow's finger.
"A peculiar servant you have, Mrs. Myles," observed Dick, at a time whenAaron was absent from the room.
"Ay," nodded the widow, her cap ruffles dancing. "Aaron is alwa'faithful."
"Has he been with you long?"
"Five year this snowfall, poor lad. He came trudgin' to my door,barefoot, near dead wi' cauld, near perisht wi' hunger. I took him i'th' house an' gied him bread an' clauthes. I warmed his bones, an' sin'that day he has been wi' me."
"Is he trustworthy?"
"I wad trust him wi' my life," was her answer. "Th' poor lad is not overbright, an' yet he's na fool. Have na fear he will molest yourvaluables. He is th' watchdog o' Ben Cleuch."
Aaron returning at this minute, the conversation turned into anotherchannel.
The old professor could not get over his enthusiasm at being there inthat quaint little Scottish country inn.
"To-morrow, boys!" he cried--"to-morrow shall be a great day. We'll visitQueen Mary's prison."
"Let's all go," proposed Dick.
"That's the thing!" exclaimed Brad eagerly. "We'll make a grandexcursion to the old castle. Will you do it, Nad--er--ah--Miss Budthorne?"
"I think it would be fine," she answered. "What do you say, Dunbar?"
"I'm agreeable," said Budthorne, sipping at his tea. "I've been keepingtoo close in the house. Perhaps if I get out I'll feel much better."
Out of the corner of one small eye Aaron watched Budthorne drink thetea.
"Then it's settled," said Dick. "I suppose we can get a boat near here.I don't fancy there are any of the old-time Scottish outlaws around herenow, Mrs. Myles?"
"Na, unless ye ma' ca' Rob MacLane one," was her answer.
"Who is Rob MacLane?"
"He i' th' Auld Nick's own!" was the answer. "A bad egg, if e'er therewere one. I' these law-abidin' times he minds na law, an' he fearsnane--man nor de'il. It's a' things he has done but murder, an' I thinksoon to hear he has done that."
"Well, well! this is interesting, indeed!" cried the professor. "Whydon't they arrest him and put him in jail?"
"Arrist Rob MacLane!" cried the widow. "It's richt plain ye ha' na heardo' him! He i' strang as twenty men, an' na officer daurs to go take him.Twa o' them tried it once, an' wi' his bare hands he near beat them bothto death. One didna get over that beatin' till the day he died."
"He would have made a fine outlaw in the old days," laughed Dick. "Wheredoes this ruffian live?"
"Na man kens. Mayhap to-day he be here, to-morrow he is i' th' mountainsfar awa'."
"How does he live?"
"He takes a' he wants, an' no man says him nay. Were he to come here thenicht, I'd gi' him a' he asked an' be thankit for my life when he left."
"Well, I'm getting some interested in Mr. MacLane!" exclaimed Buckhart."I don't suppose he is around here now?"
"I canna tell. He comes an' goes like the wind. He may be outside th'door this minute, or he may be i' Sutherland."
Dunbar Budthorne was doing his best to repress a peculiar sensation thatwas creeping over him. He wanted something, but for the time he couldnot imagine what it was. Of a sudden he knew, and he turned pale as thetruth dawned upon him. He was ready to give anything or do anything fora drink of liquor.
While the others chatted on this restlessness and craving grew onBudthorne. Finally, politely asking to be excused and saying he wasgoing to his room, he rose from the table.
His sister gave him a glance of questioning apprehension, but he smiledon her reassuringly.
"You're not ill, Dunbar?" she asked.
"Never felt better in my life," he answered, and her mind was relieved.
Outside the dining-room door he encountered Aaron, who had left the roomahead of him.
"I' there a'thing I could gi' ye, sir?" inquired Aaron, with the utmostdeference and solicitude.
"No, nothing," answered Budthorne, and started to pass on.
Suddenly he paused and looked over his shoulder at Aaron, dimly seen bythe faint light in the hall.
"Wait," he said in a low tone. "Come here a moment, Aaron."
The serving man stepped noiselessly toward him.
"Aaron, I'm not feeling quite right."
"Ay, sir; I thought ye lookt a wee disturbed. I hope ye are na ill?"
"I'm afraid I shall be unless I can get something to ward off theattack. Do you know if there is whisky or liquor of any sort in theplace?"
Aaron seemed alarmed.
"I no hae anything to do wi' it," he hastily declared. "The widow alwa'keeps a wee bit i' a bottle, but I hae na richt to touch it, sir."
Eagerly, almost fiercely, Budthorne grasped the little man by his bonywrist.
"I must have something of the sort!" he breathed, huskily. "Aaron, youmust get me some of the contents of that bottle!"
"I canna do it," declared the serving man, as if in great alarm. "Were Ito touch it th' widow wud be sair mad wi' me."
"You need not let her know it. She'll never miss a little--enough for onegood drink."
Still Aaron seemed alarmed.
"I ha' been wi' her five year an' no' once ha' I failed to mind herbiddin'," he said weakly.
"I'll pay you--I'll pay you well," said Budthorne. "See, Aaron, here ismoney. Take it. Bring me enough for a drink from that bottle."
He pressed the money into the hand of the little man, who seemed on thepoint of refusing it.
"She wi' find it out, sir."
"How? I'll never tell her."
"Ye sw'ar it?"
"Yes."
"Na matter wh' may hap, ye sw'ar ye willna tell Aaron gi' ye one dropfrom that bottle?"
"I swear it! Hurry up, man, or I'll explode for the want of a drink."
"I canna gi' it to ye here."
"In my room, then?"
"Na! na!"
"Then where?"
"Ye maun meet me back o' th' house."
"Anywhere, so that I get the drink. How can I do it? Hurry up!"
"Ye maun go out by th' front dure; I'll go out by th' back. Step roundthe corner an' find me at th' back."
"All right. But don't lose time abou
t it."
"Have na fear."
"Bring a big drink--a stiff drink. The longer I am without it the more Iwant."
A few moments later Budthorne left the cottage by the front door. Therewas no moon, but millions of bright stars gleamed in the dome of heaven.The wind had fallen with the coming of night, but although it did notfeel as cold, the temperature was much lower. To the east, close athand, slumbered Lochleven; to the north, farther removed, rose therugged Ochill Hills.
It was a night of peace and repose, with no suggestion of danger lurkingnear.
Within the cottage the merry party chatted and laughed about the suppertable. Not until Budthorne had been absent some time did Nadia think ofhim again; but at last she began to worry why he did not return.
Finally she rose from the table, saying she would see what was detaininghim.
"He has not been quite well of late," she explained. "Of course I'mfoolish to worry about him, but I can't help it. He must be in his room.I'll return in a few moments."
She did return in a few moments, a frightened look on her pale face.
"He's gone!" she said. "I can't find him!"
At this moment the door leading to the kitchen was flung open by a heavybody striking against it, and into the dining room staggered Aaron, hisclothes torn, his face pale, and a streak of blood across one temple.
At sight of him the others sprang up.
"What has happened?" cried Dick.
"I canna tell!" moaned Aaron. "Th' guid young man asked me to meet himat th' back o' th' house. When I did so an' we were speakin' together aband o' men wi' masks ower their faces sprang out upon us. One o' themgrappled wi' me. I tried to tear fra him, an' thin I saw all th' starso' heaven fa' on my haid. Next I found mysel' strecht on th' ground an'th' stars back i' their places; but th' young man were gone an' th' menha vanished."
Having made this explanation, Aaron fell heavily to the floor.
Nadia promptly fainted in Brad Buckhart's arms. The old professor threwup his thin hands and looked quite helpless. The widow assisted Buckhartto take the senseless girl into the sitting room and place her on thecouch near the crackling, open fire.
Dick Merriwell lost not a moment in kneeling beside Aaron and examininghis injury. He found a very slight cut in the hair near the temple.
"Stop that groaning!" he sternly commanded. "You're not even badly hurt;you're scarcely scratched."
"Na! na!" gasped the little man. "I think I maun dee!"
"You won't die from anything that has happened to you to-night. Get up!Stop this foolishness! Why, I can't even find a bump on your head, andthere should be a swelling there if you were hit so frightfully hard.Sit up!"
Dick's manner was commanding, and, although he continued to take on,Aaron sat up.
"Now, see here," said young Merriwell, "I want you to tell me that storyagain, and tell it straight. Just what did happen outside the inn?"
Aaron repeated his tale, without much variation. Practically it was thesame.
"Do you mean to tell me that little scratch rendered you unconscious,man?" demanded Dick. "Why, it wouldn't hurt a sick kitten!"
"I were struck on th' heid wi' somethin'."
"Where is the abrasion or the swelling?"
"I ken naething about abreesions, sir. A' I know, the sky seemed to fa'on me."
There was insincerity in Aaron's tones, and Dick doubted him.
"Get a lantern," he ordered. "I suppose you have one about the place?"
"Ay."
"Get up! Bring me that lantern, and lose not a second."
He assisted the little man to his feet. Aaron professed to be weak andconfused, but Dick placed a heavy hand on him, saying sternly:
"If you cause me delay, I shall suspect that you do it purposely.Budthorne is rich, and those concerned in any harm to him cannot fail tobe punished severely. If masked men carried him off, a hundred armedhunters will be engaged to search for them and kill them like dogs whenfound. Those who are not killed will be arrested and imprisoned. Workhard and fast, Aaron, that you are not suspected of having part in thisbad business."
"Na one who knows poor Aaron will suspect him o' any wrong," was thefellow's protest.
"You don't know the manner of Americans. They suspect every oneconcerned in an affair until he is found guiltless. Is this the lantern,Aaron? Light it instantly and lead me to the spot where this struggletook place."
Somewhat awed by Dick and feeling the power of the boy's will, theserving man tremblingly lighted the lantern, after which he conductedMerriwell from the house to the spot where the encounter had takenplace.
"Stand still," ordered Merriwell, taking the lantern from the man'shand. "Let me read the signs here."
There were tracks in the snow and some indications of a struggle. At onepoint was an imprint that seemed to indicate a man had fallen there.Dick picked up something, glanced at it by the light of the lantern andslipped it into a pocket.
Anxiously Aaron watched the boy, about whose manner there was methodthat alarmed the servant. Somehow Aaron began to believe Dick wasreading those imprints and footmarks like the printed words of a book.
He was not far from right.
"What have you found, pard?" It was the voice of Buckhart, who hadissued from the back door of the inn.
"Budthorne was struck down by men who had been concealed behind thislittle building," said Dick. "They stepped out upon him as he stood hereat the corner of the building, with his back turned in their direction.Aaron stood in front of him. They struck him with a sandbag, or somemuffled weapon that did not cut his head."
"How many of them were there?"
"Four. Three of them lifted and carried him toward the road, two holdinghis arms, while the third had his legs. The fourth chap, who was theleader, walked in advance. Three of them do not belong hereabouts, butthe fourth, a heavy man with very big feet, belongs in the country."
"Guid Lord!" whispered Aaron to himself, "how do he ken a' that?"
Dick's early training by the old Indian, Joe Crowfoot, was standing himin good stead now.
Holding the lantern low, Merriwell followed the tracks toward the road.
"It's likely they carried him off in a carriage, partner," said theTexan.
But when the highway was reached, where it seemed that the boy with thelantern could find nothing to guide him to any conclusions, Dickcontinued his search, seeming to pick out the trail amid the manyimprints there.
"There was no carriage here," said the lad with the lantern. "They stillcarried him in the original manner."
"But they could not contemplate carrying him far in that way."
"Surely not."
"Pard, are you armed?"
"No; are you?"
"I'm a-heap sorry to say I'm not."
Aaron had followed tremblingly at the heels of the boys. Now ProfessorGunn came hastening from the house and joined them.
"It's awful--perfectly awful!" he fluttered. "I fear the shock will killhis sister. She's in a dreadful condition. Boys, we must send to townright off for the officers. We are in danger of our lives. At thismoment we are in deadly peril. I'm afraid out here where the ruffiansmay spring upon us, and I'm afraid in there with no one but a woman anda girl."
"Go back to the inn, professor," directed Dick. "Stay with the widow andNadia."
"What if the ruffians come?"
"You'll be there to protect the ladies. It will give you an opportunityto display your heroism and fighting blood."
"But this isn't the right kind of an opportunity," said Zenas. "Boys,you are recklessly exposing your lives! Come back into the inn at once.I can't permit you to be so careless."
"You'll have to permit it now," retorted Merriwell.
"What, do you dare disobey my orders?"
"On an occasion like this, yes. It is necessary, professor."
Zenas gasped and hesitated.
"Do come in!" he urged. "What can I tell your brother if anythingserious happens to you?"
> "Tell him the truth, and he will be satisfied. I am doing what mybrother would wish me to do."
"Dear! dear!" muttered Gunn. "I regret that we ever came here. I fearwe'll all be murdered before we get away."
Mumbling to himself, he hastened tremblingly back to the inn.
"His courage has all oozed out," said Dick.
"Waugh! I should say it had!" growled Brad, in disgust.
Aaron now attempted to frighten the boys by telling them how fierce themasked men were and how thoroughly armed.
"Singular you saw so much of them," observed Dick. "Never mind if theyare armed thus and ready to commit murder at the drop of a hat; we'll doour best to trail them, just the same."
"Right, partner!" cried Buckhart. "It's up to us to do everything we canfor the sake of Nadia. It hurt me a heap to see her heartbroken over herbrother, and I couldn't stay with her any longer. I told her we'd findhim."
Down the road went Dick and Brad, with Aaron following them like a dog.
They entered the woods, where the bare trees stood silent and grim,coming at length to the path that turned off toward the lake. This Dicktook.
Reaching the shore, Merriwell quickly announced that Budthorne had beenplaced in a boat and taken away.
"That lad ha' th' power o' a witch!" whispered Aaron to himself. Then heshook as he beheld Dick's eyes fastened on him.
"Come," said the boy grimly, "we can't follow them on water, for thatleaves no trail. We'll return to the inn."
As they entered the inn Nadia rushed at them, asking if they had learnedwhere her brother was and what had happened to him.
"Not yet," answered Merriwell; "but we'll know all about it in aminute."
"How--how will you learn the truth?"
"From Aaron," was the quiet answer that made the little man gasp.
"Aaron? He----"
"He knows much more than he has seen fit to tell."
"Guidness kens I ha' told ye everything!" protested the alarmed man.
Dick's dark eyes were fastened on Aaron, and to the latter they seemedto bore into his very soul.
"Sit there," commanded the boy, pointing toward a chair.
Aaron felt that he was compelled to do so.
Dick drew another chair before the man, sitting where he could look himstraight in the eyes.
"Aaron," he said, "who is your best friend?"
"Mrs. Myles, sir."
"Do you wish to ruin her?"
"Na, na; not for th' world!"
"Do you know that what has happened here to-night will ruin her unlessyou tell the whole truth and thus enable us to follow Budthorne'scaptors and rescue him?"
"Na, na!"
"But it will. The story will travel far and wide. Every one will hearhow a young American, a guest at this inn, was captured by ruffians andcarried off. Travelers will shun the place. Mrs. Myles will find herbusiness gone. With no income, she'll soon come to want and suffering.Without money she'll be unable to buy flour, and meat, and fuel. Therewill be no warm fire on her hearth in the bleak winter, and she'llsuffer from hunger. You will be responsible--you, the one she took inwhen you were in wretchedness, the one she has fed, and housed, andtrusted."
Aaron held up his hands.
"I canna be to blame for it!" he cried.
"You will be. You met Budthorne out there by understanding. You knewthose men were hidden behind the little building. You knew they meant tocarry him away. You were not injured or struck down. You even cut thattiny gash on your own head with a common knife. Here it is. I picked itup where in your excitement you dropped it in the snow."
Dick produced and held up the knife.
Aaron's face was ghastly, and a terrible fear was in his eyes. This boywith the searching eyes knew just what had happened, and it was uselessto lie.
"I canna tell!" moaned the little man. "Do na look a' me wi' them eyes!I canna tell! I canna tell!"
"My poor lad!" exclaimed the widow. "Do na fear, but speak out th'truth."
"He wi' kill me if I do!" whispered Aaron.
"No one shall harm you," promised Dick.
"You canna tell that, for you do na ken him."
"Whom do you mean, Aaron?" asked the widow.
"Rob MacLane," he breathed, shuddering with fear.
"Rob MacLane?" cried the landlady, in consternation: "Do na tell me hehad hand i' this black work!"
The shivering little man nodded.
"Then," said the widow, "th' poor young man is lost forever an' there isna hope for him."
"You may as well confess everything now," said Dick, once more fixingAaron with his piercing eyes. "It can do no further harm to you. Make aclean breast of it--for the widow's sake, for the one who has warmed, andfed, and trusted you."
"I will!" said the little man; and in shaking tones he hurried throughthe confession.
When Dick heard that Budthorne was to be taken to the old castle on theisland and held a captive there he sprang up, turning to Nadia.
"We will find a way to save him, Miss Budthorne," he promised. "Trustus."
"How can you--how can you against Miguel Bunol and this terrible ruffian,MacLane?" she cried. "Then Aaron says there were more than two of themwho attacked Dunbar at the door and struck him down."
"The other two were Marsh and Durbin. Marsh is a pitiful coward, atbest, so that practically reduces their fighting force to three. Thereare two of us, Brad and myself."
"And I sure allow we'll make it a whole lot hot for those three finegents," said the Texan, whose fighting blood was beginning to coursehotly in his veins. "We know Bunol and Durbin. MacLane may not be halfas dangerous as he is pictured. Nadia, we propose to bring your brothersafe back to you before morning. You hear me chirp!"
Dick Merriwell Abroad; Or, The Ban of the Terrible Ten Page 7