A creek ran up to meet the path, and close under the bank the ferryman"s hut lay snugly. It was of wattle and clay, and the gra.s.s grew green upon the roof.
d.i.c.k went to the door and opened it. Within, upon a foul old russet cloak, the ferryman lay stretched and shivering; a great hulk of a man, but lean and shaken by the country fever.
"Hey, Master Shelton," he said, "be ye for the ferry? Ill times, ill times! Look to yourself. There is a fellowship abroad. Ye were better turn round on your two heels and try the bridge."
"Nay; time"s in the saddle," answered d.i.c.k. "Time will ride, Hugh Ferryman. I am hot in haste."
"A wilful man!" returned the ferryman, rising. "An ye win safe to the Moat House, y" have done lucky; but I say no more." And then catching sight of Matcham, "Who be this?" he asked, as he paused, blinking, on the threshold of his cabin.
"It is my kinsman, Master Matcham," answered d.i.c.k.
"Give ye good day, good ferryman," said Matcham, who had dismounted, and now came forward, leading the horse. "Launch me your boat, I prithee; we are sore in haste."
The gaunt ferryman continued staring.
"By the ma.s.s!" he cried at length, and laughed with open throat.
Matcham coloured to his neck and winced; and d.i.c.k, with an angry countenance, put his hand on the lout"s shoulder.
"How now, churl!" he cried. "Fall to thy business, and leave mocking thy betters."
Hugh Ferryman grumblingly undid his boat, and shoved it a little forth into the deep water. Then d.i.c.k led in the horse, and Matcham followed.
"Ye be mortal small made, master," said Hugh, with a wide grin; "something o" the wrong model, belike. Nay, Master Shelton, I am for you," he added, getting to his oars. "A cat may look at a king. I did but take a shot of the eye at Master Matcham."
"Sirrah, no more words," said d.i.c.k. "Bend me your back."
They were by that time at the mouth of the creek, and the view opened up and down the river. Everywhere it was enclosed with islands. Clay banks were falling in, willows nodding, reeds waving, martens dipping and piping. There was no sign of man in the labyrinth of waters.
"My master," said the ferryman, keeping the boat steady with one oar, "I have a shrew guess that John-a-Fenne is on the island. He bears me a black grudge to all Sir Daniel"s. How if I turned me up stream and landed you an arrow-flight above the path? Ye were best not meddle with John Fenne."
"How, then? is he of this company?" asked d.i.c.k.
"Nay, mum is the word," said Hugh. "But I would go up water, d.i.c.k. How if Master Matcham came by an arrow?" and he laughed again.
"Be it so, Hugh," answered d.i.c.k.
"Look ye, then," pursued Hugh. "Sith it shall so be, unsling me your cross-bow--so: now make it ready--good; place me a quarrel. Ay, keep it so, and look upon me grimly."
"What meaneth this?" asked d.i.c.k.
"Why, my master, if I steal you across, it must be under force or fear,"
replied the ferryman; "for else, if John Fenne got wind of it, he were like to prove my most distressful neighbour."
"Do these churls ride so roughly?" d.i.c.k inquired. "Do they command Sir Daniel"s own ferry?"
"Nay," whispered the ferryman, winking. "Mark me! Sir Daniel shall down. His time is out. He shall down. Mum!" And he bent over his oars.
They pulled a long way up the river, turned the tail of an island, and came softly down a narrow channel next the opposite bank. Then Hugh held water in midstream.
"I must land you here among the willows," he said.
"Here is no path but willow swamps and quagmires," answered d.i.c.k.
"Master Shelton," replied Hugh, "I dare not take ye nearer down, for your own sake now. He watcheth me the ferry, lying on his bow. All that go by and owe Sir Daniel goodwill, he shooteth down like rabbits. I heard him swear it by the rood. An I had not known you of old days--ay, and from so high upward--I would "a" let you go on; but for old days"
remembrance, and because ye had this toy with you that"s not fit for wounds or warfare, I did risk my two poor ears to have you over whole.
Content you; I can no more, on my salvation!"
Hugh was still speaking, lying on his oars, when there came a great shout from among the willows on the island, and sounds followed as of a strong man breasting roughly through the wood.
"A murrain!" cried Hugh. "He was on the upper island all the while!" He pulled straight for sh.o.r.e. "Threat me with your bow, good d.i.c.k; threat me with it plain," he added. "I have tried to save your skins, save you mine!"
The boat ran into a tough thicket of willows with a crash. Matcham, pale, but steady and alert, at a sign from d.i.c.k, ran along the thwarts and leaped ash.o.r.e; d.i.c.k, taking the horse by the bridle, sought to follow, but what with the animal"s bulk, and what with the closeness of the thicket, both stuck fast. The horse neighed and trampled; and the boat, which was swinging in an eddy, came on and off and pitched with violence.
"It may not be, Hugh; here is no landing," cried d.i.c.k; but he still struggled valiantly with the obstinate thicket and the startled animal.
A tall man appeared upon the sh.o.r.e of the island, a long-bow in his hand.
d.i.c.k saw him for an instant, with the corner of his eye, bending the bow with a great effort, his face crimson with hurry.
"Who goes?" he shouted. "Hugh, who goes?"
""Tis Master Shelton, John," replied the ferryman.
"Stand, d.i.c.k Shelton!" bawled the man upon the island. "Ye shall have no hurt, upon the rood! Stand! Back out, Hugh Ferryman."
d.i.c.k cried a taunting answer.
"Nay, then, ye shall go afoot," returned the man; and he let drive an arrow.
The horse, struck by the shaft, lashed out in agony and terror; the boat capsized, and the next moment all were struggling in the eddies of the river.
When d.i.c.k came up, he was within a yard of the bank; and before his eyes were clear, his hand had closed on something firm and strong that instantly began to drag him forward. It was the riding-rod, that Matcham, crawling forth upon an overhanging willow, had opportunely thrust into his grasp.
"By the ma.s.s!" cried d.i.c.k, as he was helped ash.o.r.e, "that makes a life I owe you. I swim like a cannon-ball." And he turned instantly towards the island.
Midway over, Hugh Ferryman was swimming with his upturned boat, while John-a-Fenne, furious at the ill-fortune of his shot, bawled to him to hurry.
"Come, Jack," said Shelton, "run for it! Ere Hugh can hale his barge across, or the pair of "em can get it righted, we may be out of cry."
And adding example to his words, he began to run, dodging among the willows, and in marshy places leaping from tussock to tussock. He had no time to look for his direction; all he could do was to turn his back upon the river, and put all his heart to running.
Presently, however, the ground began to rise, which showed him he was still in the right way, and soon after they came forth upon a slope of solid turf, where elms began to mingle with the willows.
But here Matcham, who had been dragging far into the rear, threw himself fairly down.
"Leave me, d.i.c.k!" he cried, pantingly; "I can no more."
d.i.c.k turned, and came back to where his companion lay.