Within, the chambermaid was on her knees by the settle, her face and ap.r.o.n of the same hue. I saw she was incapable of helping, and hasten"d across the stone floor, and out toward the back entrance.
A stream of icy wind blew in our faces as we stepp"d over the threshold. The girl and I bent our heads to it, and stumbling, tripping, and panting, pull"d Sir Deakin with us out into the cold air.
The yard was no longer dark. In the room above someone had push"d the cas.e.m.e.nt open, letting in the wind: and by this "twas very evident the room was on fire. Indeed, the curtains had caught, and as we ran, a pennon of flame shot out over our heads, licking the thatch. In the glare of it the outbuildings and the yard gate stood clearly out from the night. I heard the trampling of feet, the sound of Settle"s voice shouting an order, and then a dismal yell and clash of steel as we flung open the gate.
"Jacques!" scream"d the old gentleman: "my poor Jacques! Those dogs will mangle him with their cut and thrust--"
"Twas very singular and sad, but as if in answer to Sir Deakin"s cry, we heard the brave fellow"s voice; and a famous shout it must have been to reach us over the roaring of the flames--
"Mon maitre-mon maitre!" he call"d twice, and then "Sauve toi!" in a fainter voice, yet clear. And after that only a racket of shouts and outcries reach"d us. Without doubt the villains had overpower"d and slain this brave servant. In spite of our peril (for they would be after us at once),"twas all we could do to drag the old man from the gate and up the road: and as he went he wept like a child.
After about fifty yards, we turn"d in at a gate, and began to cut across a field: for I hop"d thus not only to baffle pursuit for a while, but also to gain the wood that we saw dimly ahead. It reach"d to the top of the hill, and I knew not how far beyond: and as I was reflecting that there lay our chance of safety, I heard the inn door below burst open with loud cries, and the sound of footsteps running up the road after us.
Moreover, to complete our fix, the clouds that had been scurrying across the moon"s face, now for a minute left a clear interval of sky about her: so that right in our course there lay a great patch brilliantly lit, whereon our figures could be spied at once by anyone glancing into the field. Also, it grew evident that Sir Deakin"s late agility was but a short and sudden triumph of will over body: for his poor crooked legs began to trail and lag sadly.
So turning sharp about, we struck for the hedge"s shadow, and there pull"d him down in a dry ditch, and lay with a hand on his mouth to stifle his e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns, while we ourselves held our breathing.
The runners came up the road, pausing for a moment by the gate. I heard it creak, and saw two or three dark forms enter the field--the remainder tearing on up the road with a great clatter of boots.
"Alas, my poor Jacques!" moan"d Sir Deakin: "and to be butcher"d so, that never in his days kill"d a man but as if he lov"d him!"
"Sir," I whisper"d harshly, "if you keep this noise I must gag you."
And with that he was silent for awhile.
There was a thick tangle of brambles in the ditch where we lay: and to this we owe our lives. For one of the men, coming our way, pa.s.s"d within two yards of us, with the flat of his sword beating the growth over our heads.
"Reu-ben! Reuben Gedges!" call"d a voice by the gate.
The fellow turn"d; and peeping between the bramble twigs, I saw the moonlight glittering on his blade. A narrow, light-hair"d man he was, with a weak chin: and since then I have paid him out for the fright he gave us.
"What"s the coil?" he shouted back.
"The stable roofs ablaze--for the Lord"s sake come and save the hosses!"
He strode back, and in a minute the field was clear. Creeping out with caution, I grew aware of two mournful facts: first, that the stable was indeed afire, as I perceiv"d by standing on tiptoe and looking over the hedge; and second, that my knee was hurt by Black d.i.c.k"s bullet. The muscles had stiffened while we were crouching, and now pain"d me badly. Yet I kept it to myself as we started off again to run.
But at the stile that, at the top of the field, led into the woods, I pull"d up--
"Sorry I am to say it, but you must go on without me."
"O--oh!" cried the girl.
""Tis for your safety. See, I leave a trail of blood behind me, so that when day rises they will track us easily."
And sure enough, even by the moon, "twas easy to trace the dark spots on the gra.s.s and earth beside the stile. My left boot, too, was full of blood.
She was silent for awhile. Down in the valley we could hear the screams of the poor horses. The light of the flames lit up the pine trunks about us to a bright scarlet.
"Sir, you hold our grat.i.tude cheaply."
She unwound the kerchief from her neck, and making me sit on the stile, bound up my knee skillfully, twisting a short stick in the bandage to stop the bleeding.
I thank"d her, and we hurried on into the depths of the wood, treading silently on the deep carpet of pine needles. The ground rose steeply all the way: and all the way, tho" the light grew feebler, the roar and outcries in the valley follow"d us.
Toward the hill"s summit the trees were spa.r.s.er. Looking upward, I saw that the sky had grown thickly overcast. We cross"d the ridge, and after a minute or so were in thick cover again.
"Twas here that Sir Deakin"s strength gave out. Almost without warning, he sank down between our hands, and in a second was taken with that hateful cough, that once already this night had frightened me for his life.
"Ah, ah!" he groaned, between the spasms, "I"m not fit--I"m not fit for it!" and was taken again, and roll"d about barking, so that I fear"d the sound would bring all Settle"s gang on our heels. "I"m not fit for it!" he repeated, as the cough left him, and he lay back helpless, among the pine needles.
Now, I understood his words to bear on his unfitness for death, and judg"d them very decent and properly spoken: and took occasion to hint this in my attempts to console him.
"Why, bless the boy!" he cried, sitting up and staring, "for what d"ye think I"m unsuited?"
"Why, to die, sir--to be sure!"
"Holy Mother!" he regarded me with surprise, contempt and pity, all together: "was ever such a dunderhead! If ever man were fit to die, I am he--and that"s just my reasonable complaint. Heart alive! "tis unfit to _live_ I am, tied to this absurd body!"
I suppose my att.i.tude express"d my lack of comprehension, for he lifted a finger and went on--
"Tell me--can you eat beef, and drink beer, and enjoy them?"
"Why, yes."
"And fight--hey? and kiss a pretty girl, and be glad you"ve done it?
Dear, dear, how I do hate a fool and a fool"s pity! Lift me up and carry me a step. This night"s work has kill"d me: I feel it in my lungs. "Tis a pity, too; for I was just beginning to enjoy it."
I lifted him as I would a babe, and off we set again, my teeth shutting tight on the pain of my hurt. And presently, coming to a little dingle, about half a mile down the hillside, well hid with dead bracken and blackberry bushes, I consulted with the girl. The place was well shelter"d from the wind that rock"d the treetops, and I fear"d to go much further, for we might come on open country at any moment and so double our peril. It seem"d best, therefore, to lay the old gentleman snugly in the bottom of this dingle and wait for day. And with my buff-coat, and a heap of dried leaves, I made him fairly easy, reserving my cloak to wrap about Mistress Delia"s fair neck and shoulders. But against this at first she protested.
"For how are you to manage?" she ask"d.
"I shall tramp up and down, and keep watch," answer"d I, strewing a couch for her beside her father: "and "tis but fair exchange for the kerchief you gave me from your own throat."
At last I persuaded her, and she crept close to her father, and under the edge of the buff-coat for warmth. There was abundance of dry bracken in the dingle, and with this and some handfuls of pine needles, I cover"d them over, and left them to find what sleep they might.
For two hours and more after this, I hobbled to and fro near them, as well as my wound would allow, looking up at the sky through the pine tops, and listening to the sobbing of the wind. Now and then I would swing my arms for warmth, and breathe on my fingers, that were sorely benumb"d; and all the while kept my ears on the alert, but heard nothing.
"Twas, as I said, something over two hours after, that I felt a soft cold touch, and then another, like kisses on my forehead. I put up my hand, and looked up again at the sky. As I did so, the girl gave a long sigh, and awoke from her doze---
"Sure, I must have dropp"d asleep," she said, opening her eyes, and spying my shadow above her: "has aught happened?"
"Aye," replied I, "something is happening that will wipe out our traces and my b.l.o.o.d.y track."
"And what is that?"
"Snow: see, "tis falling fast."
She bent over, and listen"d to her father"s breathing.
""Twill kill him," she said simply.