"Walter, beware! beware!" cried Hazel.
But it was too late. I had stepped too far forward, and thus permitted one of the pack to get behind me. A crushing, ringing blow upon my helm,--a shrill and piercing shriek from Hazel, that lived in mine ears, and died out at last as though by distance,--and I clattered to the floor, unconscious.
Mine oblivion could not have lasted for more time than whilst one might tell a score; for when I regained consciousness Michael still crashed against the separating oak, and there was Hazel standing behind her feeble barricade and holding in her small white hand the dagger that I had placed there.
"Stand back, thou traitorous, deceiving hypocrite! Advance towards me but one short step more and this dagger"s bright blade shall be dyed red with mine own heart"s blood!"
Ah! my children, had ye but seen her then, as she stood there, as pale as a marble statue; yet with flashing eyes and heaving breast, her dainty tapering fingers of the right hand grasping, with all her little flower-like strength, brittle yet easily snapped, the little weapon, ye would have cheered in unrestrained admiration of the dear, brave, little maid.
Catesby stood back in awe of this goodly sight, which even his villainous heart could not help but admire.
"Well, and right n.o.bly done!" he cried. "Thy courage in thus resisting doth but arouse within my love-sick heart a new and fiercer, and e"en more consuming pa.s.sion for thee. Like a boy, I ever love the apple that doth hang from the limb most difficult to reach. The more the rich, ripe fruit doth avoid my grasping hand the more determined am I to have it."
"Cease thine insulting speech, false knight, cowardly a.s.sa.s.sin, "tis I that commandeth thee! I, thine ancient foe, that even now defies thee!" and I struggled, tottering to my knees, and shook my clenched fist in defiance at him.
"Come on, Michael! break down the door, and we yet can drive this murdering pack before us, as doth the wind dry leaves!"
"Oi"m comin", yer honour; do but hould out a little," and the fury of his attack upon the door was redoubled.
Catesby made a sign with his hand, and instantly four men left the room in haste.
"Beware, Michael! they may attack thee from the rear!" I cried, as I staggered to my feet and tried to rush upon mine enemy. I was securely held back, however, by two of the pack, who forced me to my knees and held me there.
Catesby merely smiled his h.e.l.lish smile, and said:--"Bind him hard and fast to yon pillar, and strip him of his helm. We shall now try another plan to capture yon same tempting apple," and he nodded in Hazel"s direction.
With cords they bound me until I could not move a muscle. Helmless and helpless I then stood before my fiendish foe, which drew his dagger and advanced upon me.
"Stop! stop, thou wretch!" shrieked Hazel. "For the welfare of your soul slay not a helpless man. Nay, nay, do but wait, I pray thee! I will do that which thou dost ask! I will go with thee! anything thou wilt, if thou wilt but spare him!"
"Hazel, in G.o.d"s name hold thy peace! If thou dost love me do as I have said! I fear him not; let him do his worst; but use thy dagger ere thou dost permit this villain to lay on thee a hand!"
"Oh, yes, yes, Walter; but I cannot bear to see thee die before my very eyes! Oh, merciful Mary, it is too awful!" she cried, as Catesby seized mine ear and with his dagger clipped off a small part of the lobe.
The tough oaken door did still resist the efforts of the giant; but it was plain that it could not long endure.
"Be brave, mine own true little love, Michael shall soon be here!" I called out above the din.
"So, madam, will I cut him into small pieces here before thee, unless thou dost surrender. Thou canst save him by coming from behind that table. Bethink thee of his fate in case thou art obdurate," said the accursed knave, as he seized mine other car and raised the dagger.
The door was now cracked almost from top to bottom, and Michael still stormed his blows upon it.
"Uh! ye cursed cowards! Oi"ll crack yer d.a.m.ned skulls fer ye in a minute! Uh! ye blood-suckin" divils, Oi"ll rip ye all to paces and cram ye down yer own b.l.o.o.d.y throats!"
Louder cracked the door.
"Come, lady, your answer; make haste e"er the door giveth way."
"Hold out, my brave girl! we yet shall conquer!" I cried in encouragement.
Hazel leaned forward, with her left hand leaning upon the table, her body stretched forward, her lips compressed until no colour did remain in them. With her right hand she struck, quickly, the dagger into the table"s top, then drew it out and struck again. Still was she silent,--and a small piece came off mine other ear.
"Oh, G.o.d! G.o.d! G.o.d! it is too much! too much!" shrieked the poor maiden; and, throwing her hands above her head, she fell forward upon the table as though she were dead.
Catesby and one of his men then rushed to where she lay, and seized her in their arms and started for the door.
"Touch her not with your contaminating hands! Oh! false knight, I will have the last drop in thy heart for this! Oh, thou accursed slave of h.e.l.l! unbind me, and I will tear out thy throat with my bare fingers!
"Michael! for G.o.d"s sake come! they are carrying her off with them!"
and I cursed, and shrieked, and struggled with my bonds until they cut deep into my wrists.
"All Hill take this accursed door! It"ll go now, or Oi"ll brake moy d.a.m.ned back!"
There was a tremendous crash; the whole house did seem to shake; and Michael burst through the door with parts of it still clinging to his armour, which was battered from head to foot; and his great hands were red with blood.
"At last Oi"m here, yer honour; but, Oi fear, too late," gasped he, as he tried the outer door, and found it locked.
He then cut with his dagger the cords that bound me. Too late, too late we were indeed. Another door had to be battered down ere we were able to gain the outside. This occupied some time, and when at last we did rush tottering forth we found no sight of our enemies, or our dear, brave, little maiden.
Our horses" reins had been cut, and the beasts themselves were wandering far from the house.
How Michael did swear, as tenderly he bound up mine ears with pieces of the cloth that had served to cover the basket we had brought.
"Oh, sure sor, Oi did moy viry bist; but Oi couldn"t git through in toime, yer honour. Forgive me, Sor Walter; but Oi"ll nivir rist till Oi have the varmint, and the dear swate Lady Hazel is safe returned to thee, sor," sobbed the poor fellow, like a child, as he knelt at my feet, praying pardon for not having accomplished more, in but a few short moments, than three ordinary men might do in one whole day, and then feel proud of their work.
"Rise, my brave Michael, and never again ask of me pardon; for thy mighty work this day hath saved my life, and, had it been within the power of man, it would have saved the Lady Hazel."
Michael brought out my helm and put it on me. The wounds in mine ears were mere trifles; so I suffered no inconvenience from my headpiece.
We caught our horses and, after mending their harness, we mounted and set out for Leicester, by roads not travelled by the army.
Now was I determined to join Lord Stanley"s force in time to take part in the great battle. There would I meet Catesby, and kill him; and somewhere near would I find Hazel.
I did neither storm nor gnash my teeth, as is my wont when my temper doth control my reason; but with quiet bearing, and lips drawn tightly in, I rode straight forward under the bright sun that glistened so on Michael"s battered armour. Thus steadily could I have ridden unto the end of the earth, and never would I rest in peace until I found the man which so had wronged me.
Michael did seem to share my mood; for no word did he speak; but sat his steed with his head thrust slightly forward and a fearful look of unrelenting vengeance stamped on his firm-cut features.
There could be no escape for Catesby. He might cross the world; but still his grim fate would follow and o"er take him.
"He can never escape me," I kept repeating in my mind. h.e.l.l"s fire seemed burning in my heart; but outward I was cold, deliberate and as unchangeable of feature as is the London-stone.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE FIELD OF BOSWORTH
On the fourth day following, and late in the afternoon, we at last found the camp of Lord Stanley.