CHAPTER XIV.
Towards evening Dr. Masham arrived at Cadurcis. He could give nointelligence of Plantagenet, who had not called at Marringhurst; buthe offered, and was prepared, to undertake his pursuit. The goodDoctor had his saddle-bags well stocked, and was now on his way toSouthport, that being the nearest town, and where he doubted notto gain some tidings of the fugitive. Mrs. Cadurcis he found soindisposed, that he anticipated the charitable intentions of LadyAnnabel not to quit her; and after having bid them place theirconfidence in Providence and his humble exertions, he at once departedon his researches.
In the meantime let us return to the little lord himself. Havingsecured the advantage of a long start, by the device of turning thekey of his chamber, he repaired to the stables, and finding no oneto observe him, saddled his pony and galloped away without plan orpurpose. An instinctive love of novelty and adventure induced him todirect his course by a road which he had never before pursued; and,after two or three miles progress through a wild open country ofbrushwood, he found that he had entered that considerable forest whichformed the boundary of many of the views from Cadurcis. The afternoonwas clear and still, the sun shining in the light blue sky, and thewind altogether hushed. On each side of the winding road spread thebright green turf, occasionally shaded by picturesque groups ofdoddered oaks. The calm beauty of the sylvan scene wonderfully touchedthe fancy of the youthful fugitive; it soothed and gratified him. Hepulled up his pony; patted its lively neck, as if in gratitude forits good service, and, confident that he could not be successfullypursued, indulged in a thousand dreams of Robin Hood and his merrymen. As for his own position and prospects, he gave himself no anxietyabout them: satisfied with his escape from a revolting thraldom, hismind seemed to take a bound from the difficulty of his situation andthe wildness of the scene, and he felt himself a man, and one, too,whom nothing could daunt or appal.
Soon the road itself quite disappeared and vanished in a completeturfy track; but the continuing marks of cartwheels assured him thatit was a thoroughfare, although he was now indeed journeying in theheart of a forest of oaks and he doubted not it would lead to sometown or village, or at any rate to some farmhouse. Towards sunset, hedetermined to make use of the remaining light, and pushed on apace;but it soon grew so dark, that he found it necessary to resume hiswalking pace, from fear of the overhanging branches and the trunks offelled trees which occasionally crossed his way.
Notwithstanding the probable prospect of passing his night in theforest, our little adventurer did not lose heart. Cadurcis was anintrepid child, and when in the company of those with whom he was notfamiliar, and free from those puerile associations to which those whohad known and lived with him long were necessarily subject, he wouldassume a staid and firm demeanour unusual with one of such tenderyears. A light in the distance was now not only a signal thatthe shelter he desired was at hand, but reminded him that it wasnecessary, by his assured port, to prove that he was not unused totravel alone, and that he was perfectly competent and qualified to behis own master.
As he drew nearer, the lights multiplied, and the moon, which now roseover the forest, showed to him that the trees, retiring on both sidesto some little distance, left a circular plot of ground, on which werenot only the lights which had at first attracted his attention, butthe red flames of a watch-fire, round which some dark figures hadhitherto been clustered. The sound of horses' feet had disturbed them,and the fire was now more and more visible. As Cadurcis approached, heobserved some low tents, and in a few minutes he was in the centre ofan encampment of gipsies. He was for a moment somewhat dismayed, forhe had been brought up with the usual terror of these wild people;nevertheless, he was not unequal to the occasion. He was surrounded inan instant, but only with women and children; for the gipsy-men neverimmediately appear. They smiled with their bright eyes, and the flamesof the watch-fire threw a lurid glow over their dark and flashingcountenances; they held out their practised hands; they utteredunintelligible, but not unfriendly sounds. The heart of Cadurcisfaltered, but his voice did not betray him.
'I am cold, good people,' said the undaunted boy; 'will you let mewarm myself by your fire?'
A beautiful girl, with significant gestures, pressed her hand to herheart, then pointed in the direction of the tents, and then rushedaway, soon reappearing with a short thin man, inclining to middle age,but of a compact and apparently powerful frame, lithe, supple, andsinewy. His complexion was dark, but clear; his eye large, liquid, andblack; but his other features small, though precisely moulded. He worea green jacket and a pair of black velvet breeches, his legs and feetbeing bare, with the exception of slippers. Round his head was twisteda red handkerchief, which, perhaps, might not have looked like aturban on a countenance less oriental.
'What would the young master?' inquired the gipsy-man, in a voice farfrom disagreeable, and with a gesture of courtesy; but, at the sametime, he shot a scrutinising glance first at Plantagenet, and then athis pony.
'I would remain with you,' said Cadurcis; 'that is, if you will letme.'
The gipsy-man made a sign to the women, and Plantagenet was liftedby them off his pony, before he could be aware of their purpose; thechildren led the pony away, and the gipsy-man conducted Plantagenet tothe fire, where an old woman sat, presiding over the mysteries of anenormous flesh-pot. Immediately his fellows, who had originally beenclustered around it, re-appeared; fresh blocks and branches werethrown on, the flames crackled and rose, the men seated themselvesaround, and Plantagenet, excited by the adventure, rubbed his handsbefore the fire, and determined to fear nothing.
A savoury steam exuded from the flesh-pot.
'That smells well,' said Plantagenet.
'Tis a dimber cove,'[A] whispered one of the younger men to acompanion.
[Footnote A: 'Tis a lively lad.]
'Our supper has but rough seasoning for such as you,' said the man whohad first saluted him, and who was apparently the leader; 'but thewelcome is hearty.'
The woman and girls now came with wooden bowls and platters, and,after serving the men, seated themselves in an exterior circle, thechildren playing round them.
'Come, old mort,' said the leader, in a very different tone to the onein which he addressed his young guest, 'tout the cobble-colter; are weto have darkmans upon us? And, Beruna, flick the panam.'[A]
[Footnote A: Come, old woman, took after the turkey. Are we to waittill night! And, Beruna, cut the bread.]
Upon this, that beautiful girl, who had at first attracted the noticeof Cadurcis, called out in a sweet lively voice, 'Ay! ay! Morgana!'and in a moment handed over the heads of the women a pannier of bread,which the leader took, and offered its contents to our fugitive.Cadurcis helped himself, with a bold but gracious air. The pannier wasthen passed round, and the old woman, opening the pot, drew out, witha huge iron fork, a fine turkey, which she tossed into a large woodenplatter, and cut up with great quickness. First she helped Morgana,but only gained a reproof for her pains, who immediately yielded hisportion to Plantagenet. Each man was provided with his knife, but theguest had none. Morgana immediately gave up his own.
'Beruna!' he shouted, 'gibel a chiv for the gentry cove.'[A]
[Footnote A: Bring a knife for the gentleman.]
'Ay! ay! Morgana!' said the girl; and she brought the knife toPlantagenet himself, saying at the same time, with sparkling eyes,'Yam, yam, gentry cove.'[A]
[Footnote A: Eat, eat, gentleman.]
Cadurcis really thought it was the most delightful meal he had evermade in his life. The flesh-pot held something besides turkeys. Roughas was the fare, it was good and plentiful. As for beverage, theydrank humpty-dumpty, which is ale boiled with brandy, and which isnot one of the slightest charms of a gipsy's life. When the men weresatisfied, their platters were filled, and given to the women andchildren; and Beruna, with her portion, came and seated herself byPlantagenet, looking at him with a blended glance of delight andastonishment, like a beautiful young savage, and then turning to herfemale comp
anions to stifle a laugh. The flesh-pot was carried away,the men lit their pipes, the fire was replenished, its red shadowmingled with the silver beams of the moon; around were the glitteringtents and the silent woods; on all sides flashing eyes and picturesqueforms. Cadurcis glanced at his companions, and gazed upon the scenewith feelings of ravishing excitement; and then, almost unconscious ofwhat he was saying, exclaimed, 'At length I have found the life thatsuits me!'
'Indeed, squire!' said Morgana. 'Would you be one of us?'
'From this moment,' said Cadurcis, 'if you will admit me to your band.But what can I do? And I have nothing to give you. You must teach meto earn my right to our supper.'
'We'll make a Turkey merchant[A] of you yet,' said an old gipsy,'never fear that.'
[Footnote A: _i.e._ We will teach you to steal a turkey]
'Bah, Peter!' said Morgana, with an angry look, 'your red rag willnever be still. And what was the purpose of your present travel?' hecontinued to Plantagenet.
'None; I was sick of silly home.'
'The gentry cove will be romboyled by his dam,' said a third gipsy.'Queer Cuffin will be the word yet, if we don't tout.'[A]
[Footnote A: His mother will make a hue and cry after the gentlemanyet; justice of the peace will be the word, if we don't look sharp.]
'Well, you shall see a little more of us before you decide,' saidMorgana, thoughtfully, and turning the conversation. 'Beruna.'
'Ay! ay! Morgana!'
'Tip me the clank, like a dimber mort as you are; trim a ken for thegentry cove; he is no lanspresado, or I am a kinchin.'[A]
[Footnote A: Give me the tankard, like a pretty girl. Get a bed readyfor the gentleman. He is no informer, or I am an infant.]
'Ay! ay! Morgana' gaily exclaimed the girl, and she ran off to preparea bed for the Lord of Cadurcis.