CHAPTER XV
Richard Wood and his men had searched the forest of Sherwood thoroughly enough to lead them to conclude that those they sought had taken another route. And on this, the tenth day of his chase, Richard Wood said decidedly: "We try the fen now to the east. They be not spirits to vanish in the air. Here in this wood they are not, nor do I think they would bide in any town. Therefore in the fen they must be." Thereupon, leaving the forest, they rode southeast by the way of Grantham, and so on into the fen country, striking it a few miles from where Hugo and Humphrey were making their camp for the night, almost within sight of Peterborough. The two were quite cheerful, and entirely unsuspicious that danger might be nearer to them than usual.
"Thinkest thou to stop at Peterborough?" asked Humphrey.
"Nay," replied Hugo; "there is no need."
"And yet," urged Humphrey, "a good lodging, were it but for one night, were a happy change from the fens. Who is the canon that is thine uncle"s friend at Peterborough?"
"Canon Thurstan," replied Hugo.
"In the Canon Thurstan"s house--" began Humphrey.
"But the canon hath no house," interrupted Hugo, with a smile.
"And how is that?" demanded Humphrey, with a puzzled air.
"It happeneth because this cathedral is on another foundation, and the canons here be regular and not secular, as they be in Lincoln."
Humphrey reflected. "I understand not," he said at length.
"At Peterborough the canons live all together in one house," explained Hugo. "Were we to go there we should be taken to the hospitium, where we should be lodged."
"And there see the Canon Thurstan?"
"Yea."
Again Humphrey reflected. Then he said: "The ways of priests be many.
Mayhap I had known more of them, but in my forty years I have had to do with other matters, like serving my lord and lady in troublous times.
The priest at the castle I did know, but not much of the ways of priests in priests" houses. And now cometh the evening mist right early. I will but make up the fire and then lead away the horses."
The fire made, although it was not dark, Humphrey departed, leaving Hugo to feed it. This the boy did generously, for he felt chilled. The smoke did not rise high and the odor of it penetrated to some distance.
In a little while Humphrey returned laden with a new supply of fuel partly green and partly dry. He then spread out their evening meal, and gave Fleetfoot his supper. And, all these things accomplished and the supper eaten, he announced his intention to go again for fuel.
"Have we not here enough?" asked Hugo. "Thou knowest we journey on in the morning."
"Mayhap," answered Humphrey. "I like not the look of this mist. My grandsire hath told me of a mist that lay like a winding-sheet on everything for two days, and this seemeth to me to be of that kind. It were not wise to stir, mayhap, to-morrow morn."
"Lest we encounter the other spy?" laughed Hugo.
"Jest not, dear lad," replied Humphrey, soberly. "We may not know how or whence danger cometh."
"And dost thou fear, then?" asked Hugo.
"Nay, I fear not. I cannot say I fear. But this moment a feeling hath come to me which I had not before. I will away for more fuel."
"I go with thee," said Hugo.
"Ay, lad, come," was the reply.
Two trips they made, each time returning heavily laden, and then Hugo laughingly said, "Surely we have enough, even if the mist last two days, for we had good store before thou didst look upon the mist with suspicion."
Humphrey smiled. "Yea, lad," he answered, "the fuel now seemeth enough."
While he spoke a wind sprang up and the mist grew lighter. It blew harder, and the mist was gone. One might see the stars. Two hours this lasted, during which Richard Wood and his men, as if guided, rode straight for the small camp, picking their way with great good fortune and making few missteps. Then the wind died down, the mist came back enfolding everything, and the pursuers encamped where they were. But of that Hugo and Humphrey knew nothing.
It might have been two o"clock when the serving-man awoke with a shiver and rose to renew the fire. He found it quite extinguished. As he felt about in the darkness for his flint and steel he glanced anxiously toward Hugo, though he could not see him. "I know not," he muttered, "I know not. But I did dream of eagles and they did scream above our heads. Some danger draweth near, or some heavy trouble."
The fire now blazed, and the faithful serving-man saw that Hugo was still asleep, resting as easily on his couch of reeds as he could have done on the canon"s bed. "It is a good lad," said Humphrey. "Were he a De Aldithely he could not be better."
Humphrey lay down no more that night. Restlessly he moved about, now replenishing the fire, and now listening for some hostile sound. But he heard nothing.
It was late in the morning when Hugo awoke. "Surely this must be thy grandsire"s mist, Humphrey," he said. "It is heavy enough."
"Yea," answered Humphrey, looking up from the breakfast he was preparing. "It were best not to stir abroad to-day."
And at that moment Richard Wood was saying: "I smell smoke within half a mile of me. Ride we to see what that meaneth." Again, as if to aid him, the wind sprang up so that through the lifting mist one might easily pick his way, and Humphrey had just departed to look after the horses when Richard Wood and his men-at-arms arrived at the camp.
"Yield thee, Josceline De Aldithely!" commanded Richard Wood. "Yield thee in the king"s name!" and, dismounting, he laid his hand on the astonished lad"s arm.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "Yield Thee in the King"s Name"]
A little later Humphrey, returning to the camp, paused in amazement, for he heard voices. He crept around a fringe of reeds and peered, but could not see clearly. He advanced further, still under cover, and then he saw.
"I did dream of eagles," he muttered, "and they did scream above our heads."
He listened, and from what he heard he learned that Hugo had not revealed himself as Hugo, but that he allowed the spy to think him to be Josceline. "Well did my lady trust in him!" exulted Humphrey. "And my lord shall know of this when we be come to France, as we shall come, though all the eagles in the fens do scream above our heads. And now I will away to the Canon Thurstan, and see of what avail is the fish on the circlet of gold."
Creeping back as silently as he could, he mounted his horse and set out for Peterborough. "May the spy and his men-at-arms be too weary to stir till I come back," he said. "And if they be not weary, may the mist come lower down and hold them. And now, horse, do thy best. Splash into pools, wade, swim, do all but stick fast till we come to Peterborough town."
The horse, thus urged, did his sagacious best, and very shortly the serving-man was knocking at the gate of the porter"s lodge. Now Humphrey knew nothing of how he ought to proceed. He only knew that he was in haste and that his need was urgent. He therefore determined to employ boldness and a.s.surance, and push his way into the canon"s presence.
"Canon Thurstan!" he cried boldly, attempting to push past the porter.
"Canon Thurstan, and at once! My lord demandeth it."
"Thou mayest not push in past me thus," said the porter, stopping him.
"Hast thou no token to show?"
"Yea, verily," answered Humphrey, hastily taking out his pouch and producing the prior"s ring. "Take this, and bid the canon see me instantly."
The porter, calling an attendant, sent the ring by him. And presently an order came bidding Humphrey come into the presence of the canon.
"Where is the prior"s nephew?" asked the canon, with the ring in his hand.
"In the custody of knaves who did surprise our camp."