"There be no runaways here," returned the skipper, positively.
"We will see, we will see," returned Richard Wood. And laying firm hold of the rail he lunged down the steep companionway, followed by his men-at-arms and one of the seamen, whom the captain by a nod of his head bade to follow them. Once down, they gazed about them and knew not which way to turn.
"Where is the captain?" said Richard Wood, sternly. "Bid him come down and show us all parts of the ship at once."
"Skipper may not come. He is busy," answered the seaman. "But I can show thee. Thou wilt see all?"
"Yea, all."
Then the seaman very obligingly began to do as he was bid. There was very little to see in the close quarters; but he, being loquacious, was a long time in showing it, and more than half an hour had elapsed before Richard Wood was thoroughly persuaded that there was n.o.body secreted on board. And all this time, in his eagerness, he had not noticed that the ship was moving. He now turned to the companionway.
"What motion is this?" he asked, turning pale. "Hath the ship gone adrift from her moorings?"
"Nay," answered the seaman; "the ship is not gone adrift."
Laying fast hold on the rail, the spy managed to climb up to the deck.
He looked about him, but no row-boat was alongside. He then turned to the skipper.
"Surely we be gone adrift from our moorings," he said.
"Nay," answered the skipper, calmly. "I did forbid thee to come aboard, but thou wouldst come. Now are we under sail."
CHAPTER XX
The priest of the parish at Oundle had Hugo and Humphrey up and off betimes the next morning, as he had said. "It must be he liketh not our company over well," observed Humphrey, as they jogged on after a very brief and hasty leave-taking.
"Perhaps he taketh thee for a wolf in sheep"s clothing," said Hugo, with a meaning glance at the priest"s habit in which the stalwart Humphrey was engulfed.
"And thee for the cub, dear lad," retorted Humphrey. "But it may be after all that he looketh but to his own safety, and desireth not to fall into disgrace with the king by harboring us. But hark! Let us withdraw ourselves into the wood. Here come travellers this way. And I cannot feel safe in the priest"s garb. The wood, methinks, were a better protection."
With the celerity of practice the two concealed themselves in the wood in such a position that they could see the path. And presently there came into view a small party of knights on their way northward.
"They look not so dangerous," commented Hugo.
"Nay," agreed Humphrey. "I would liefer see them than king"s spies. But bide we here a bit and see if more will come."
It was very still in the wood that morning and a little sound seemed a great one. So the two, while they waited, talked together in low tones.
"The merry-hearted canon is in most things wise, I do suppose,"
observed Humphrey. "But I feel not like a priest though I wear his garb. And I fear to do something which will betray me to be but the Saxon serving-man which I am. Still, I must wear it?" And he looked inquiringly at Hugo.
"Yea," replied the boy. "The land is so full of priests that few scan them closely. And, moreover, there be Saxons among them. He was born but a Saxon serf who was the great pope Adrian IV."
"Sayest thou so?" said Humphrey. "I will e"en take courage and wear the priest"s garb as well as I can. I suppose thou knowest all this from thine uncle, the prior?"
[Ill.u.s.tration: Humphrey in Priest"s Garb]
"Yea," answered Hugo, with a smile.
A while there was silence, while both listened. Then Humphrey said, "But I like not the canon"s plan that we go to St. Albans."
"And wherefore?" asked Hugo.
"That I cannot tell. I do but know that I like it not. It were better to go straight to London. So think I, and so do I say."
Hugo reflected. He knew that the way was not particularly safe for them anywhere. "If it should be discovered that we have been at Peterborough," he said at length.
"Yea, lad," broke in Humphrey. "I had not thought of that. But would they not straight seek for us at St. Albans, where the merry-hearted canon hath sent us? And neither did I like the parish priest at Oundle.
He did speed us too gladly. And he knoweth that we go to St. Albans."
"Thou mayest be right, Humphrey," said Hugo. "It will doubtless cost the monks at St. Albans small grief if they do not see us. We will go to London as thou sayest."
Humphrey regarded him approvingly. "It is easy to see that thou art far from being a fool," he said. "Hiding and skulking through wood and fen are making thee wary."
The two now resumed their journey, and Humphrey asked, "Hast ever been on this Watling Street?"
"Nay," replied Hugo. "I was bred up, as thou knowest, by mine uncle, the prior, and all my travels have been by ear. What I did hear him speak of I know, but not much else."
"And he did never speak of the Watling Street?"
"Yea, he hath oft spoken of it. But it is a long road, and here in England since the time of the Romans. I know that it goeth to London."
"Then we go to St. Albans after all?"
"Why, St. Albans lieth on the Watling Street. So said the Canon Thurstan. But we need not stop long there."
"Unless we be stopped," said Humphrey. "I would we need not go nigh the place." He now halted and looked about him carefully. "Said the priest at Oundle where we should first come to the Watling Street?" he asked.
"Nay," replied Hugo. "He did say only, "Go till thou come to it," even as the Canon Thurstan said."
"I hope we be on the right way," observed Humphrey. "I would fain find not only the Watling Street, but a town and an inn also. For the breakfast of the priest at Oundle was more of a fast than a feast."
They were now traversing an undulating country and going in a southerly direction.
"We may not ask our way," said Humphrey, decidedly. "It is as much as I can do to wear the priest"s garb and speak when I be spoken to. Were I to speak of myself, it would speedily be known that I was no priest, for I have not the mind of a priest."
Hugo smiled. He had already learned that, although one might turn the mind of Humphrey for a little from its accustomed track, yet it speedily turned back. He had taken a little courage at the mention of the Saxon pope, Adrian IV, but now he was as fearful as ever.
"I wear this garb only till we be through London," resumed Humphrey.
"The Canon Thurstan bid me wear it only so far. He said naught of what should be done later. And once we leave London I will be again Humphrey the serving-man, and no make-believe priest. I like not make-believes."
Hugo smiled again. "How likest thou my being a make-believe Josceline, and no Hugo?" he asked.
"That be a different matter," was the decided answer. "Thou hast saved our young lord"s life, and thou art a brave lad. But I would rather skulk and hide in the fen than in the priest"s garb. How likest thou to be a novice?"
"Why, very well," replied Hugo, "so that it serve my turn and help me on my way in safety. I should have been a true novice had I heeded my uncle. But, as thou knowest, I will be a knight."