Crown and Sceptre: A West Country Story

indignantly--

  "Well, I do like that, Master Fred. I mayn't be a scholar, and I neverlarnt Latin, and that sort of stuff, but I'll grow vegetables and makecider with any man in Coombeland."

  "What has making cider to do with tinder, you great oaf!" cried Fred,angrily, so as to hide his emotion.

  "Nothing at all, sir; only you seem to think I'm such a bog-walker thatI haven't sense to know how to strike a light."

  "Well, where is the light? and how can you expect to get one withouttinder?"

  "I don't. Here's the tinder in a box, but all the sparks are blown overit by the draught."

  "Then strike lower man."

  "There, then," cried Samson, viciously, as he nicked harder, with theresult that one of the tiny sparks, instead of fading out, seemed toremain motionless on the floor. This spark Samson blew till itincreased and glowed more brightly, showing his face close to the light,and the point of something yellow being applied to the red glow.

  That something yellow, being a pointed match dipped in brimstone, beganto melt, and then boil and burst into a blue fluttering flame, whichignited the match; and the next minute Samson held up the lighted candleclose to the arched roof of the passage, exclaiming, "There!" in atriumphant tone; and then, "Why, this is only a big drain, Master Fred!"

  "Hist! Give me the light," said Fred, as he listened intently.

  "Going along here, sir?"

  "Yes, of course."

  "All right, sir; I'm candlestick," said Samson, making a rattling noiseas he replaced the light-engendering apparatus in his pouch.

  "No, no; I'll go first," said Fred, impatiently.

  "Yes, sir; you shall go first after the light."

  "Samson!"

  "Yes, sir. What would your mother say, if I let you go straight intodanger like this, with me here?"

  "Will you recollect that you are a soldier, sir?"

  "Of course I will, Master Fred. How is a man to help it, with an ironpot on his head rubbing him bald? Ready, sir?"

  "Ready? Yes."

  "Then here goes!" said Samson. "Can't expect a man to obey orders whenhe's underground."

  Samson strode on with the candle in his left hand and his sword now inhis right, leading the way, with his young master close behind, andtheir shadows following and seeming to dance on the floor and walls,which glistened here and there with moisture.

  They proceeded slowly, Samson twice over hazarding a remark on thedampness, but only to be sternly told to proceed, till at last thelittle flight of steps appeared leading into the vault, where they cameto a sudden halt, for something suddenly flashed in the light of thecandle, and a harsh voice cried--

  "Stand!"

  CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.

  AT THE POINT OF THE SWORD.

  Fred Forrester had been expecting the challenge from the moment theybegan to move, but so suddenly and unexpectedly did it come at last,that he remained for the moment speechless, gazing at the dimly seenfigure framed in the arched way, with the light playing upon the swordextended toward his breast.

  Samson was the first to speak.

  "Take hold of the candle now," he whispered, "and I'll rush him. Thereisn't room to strike, sir; and I can put aside his point."

  "No, no," said Fred, forcing himself to the front, and addressing himwho barred the way. "Put up your sword; we are friends."

  "Friends!" came back mockingly. "Then put up your own weapon."

  "Of coarse," said Fred, quickly sheathing his sword. "I didn't know whomight be here. Scar Markham, we're come to help you."

  "To help?" said the guardian of the vault, in a voice which soundedstrangely hollow in the narrow place. "Is this some fresh treachery?"

  "What!" shouted Fred, angrily, as he stepped forward and pressed rightup to the point of the sword. Military life and training both wereforgotten, and in an instant the lad felt back in the old boyish dayssit home, when some sharp contention had taken place between him and hiscompanion.

  "Stand back, sir!" said Scarlett, sternly, "or--"

  "No, you wouldn't," cried Fred. "Put down your sword. You wouldn't besuch a coward. How dare you accuse me of treachery?"

  Without a moment's hesitation, the sword-point was dropped, and Fredcried eagerly--

  "Now, then, come out into the daylight, and--Oh, what a fool I am! ScarMarkham, we've come to help you. I say, where's Sir Godfrey? Is hesafe?"

  Scarlett tried to answer, but his feelings were too much for him.Hunger, misery, confinement in that dark, depressing place, and themental agony he had been called upon to bear, rendered him speechless,and he half turned away.

  Fred sprang at once to his side, and his quick movement excitedScarlett's suspicion for the moment; but he thrust his sword back intoits sheath, and stood there motionless.

  "Look here," said Fred, excitedly, "of course, we're enemies, Scar; butwe want to help you all the same."

  "I suppose we must surrender now," said Scarlett, sadly. "I can do nomore. Have you your men outside?"

  "No; I haven't got my men outside," cried Fred, in a boyish, petulantway. "Can't you believe me? What am I to say?"

  "Nothing, Fred Forrester," replied Scarlett, mournfully. "I believeyou, though we can't shake hands now."

  "Can't we?" said Fred, in a disappointed tone.

  Scarlett shook his head.

  "I have held out as long as I could. I thought we might escape; but itwas impossible with two wounded men, and I could not get through thelines in search of food."

  Fred raised the light above his head, and then bent down over where hecould see some one lying on the stone floor.

  "Yes; he is asleep," said Scarlett, sadly.

  "Is he much hurt?" whispered Fred.

  "Terribly; but he is better now, and--"

  "Here he is, Master Fred," whispered Samson, as he knelt beside thegrim-looking figure of his brother, who seemed to be smiling mockinglyin his face. "Nice object, isn't he? Brother to be proud on!"

  "Silence!" said Fred, sternly; and at that moment there was anejaculation, a hasty movement, and Sir Godfrey made an effort to raisehimself upon his arm, the light, feeble as it was, dazzling him so thathe could not see.

  "Scarlett! My boy! Are we prisoners, then?"

  "No, Sir Godfrey," cried Fred, hastily; "right or wrong, I'd sooner goand jump off Rill Head into the sea than give you up."

  "Ah, my lad," said Sir Godfrey, faintly, "these are sad times; but, forpity's sake, tell me--my wife and child?"

  "Quite, quite safe, Sir Godfrey."

  "Ah!" ejaculated the wounded man; and then, as he stretched out his handto Fred, "God bless you for that news!"

  Fred eagerly grasped the extended hand, and wrung it, to turn directlyafter in a shamefaced way toward Scarlett, as if apologising to him forletting his father grasp hands with so bitter a foe.

  Scarlett stood gazing sadly at him for a few moments, and then slowlyraised his own cold, thin hand, which was literally snatched by Fred,and the lads stood together in silence, neither daring to trust himselfto speak.

  Fred was the first to break the silence.

  "What would it be best for me to do, Sir Godfrey?" he said at last.

  "Send for some of your men, my boy, and I will surrender."

  "Father!" cried Scarlett, in anguished tones.

  "It is not fair to you to keep you shut up in this dreadful place. Letus give up, and--No, you can leave me safely in Fred Forrester's hands.He will not hinder your escape."

  "No, father," said Scarlett, sadly, "he will not."

  "What do you mean, my boy?"

  "You know, father."

  "Yes," said Sir Godfrey, after a pause; and his voice sounded sadly weakand broken. "I have prayed to him to escape, Fred; but he would neverleave me, and he will not go now."

  "No, father! I will not go now," said Scarlett, turning away.

  There was silence for a few minutes, and then Fred said slowly, and in adiscontented way--

  "I'm very sorry, S
ir Godfrey, but I'm too stupid to think of anythingbetter. This is a terrible place; but I suppose you must be here tillyou grow strong enough to walk or ride. We shall have to bring you foodand things as well as we can."

  "No, my boy," said Sir Godfrey, sadly; "you must not compromise yourselfby helping the enemy."

  "But, then, I don't feel as if you are an enemy, Sir Godfrey. There,it's of no use; come what may, I will help you."

  "Don't want to speak without leave, Master Fred, sir," said Samson, inhis gruff tones; "but I've been thinking about my brother here."

  "Yes, Samson; quite right," said Fred.

  "No, sir, it ain't quite right. He'll be no end of time getting well ina place like this."

  "I'm afraid so, Samson."

  "Well, sir, why not you and me and Master Scarlett there set to workfirst dark night, and get 'em away, one at a time, on old Dodder?"

  "The pony?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "But where to, man--where to?"

  "Well, sir, I've been thinking about that, and I thought of the Manor,where they'd be comfortable; but that place wouldn't be safe, nor thebarns nor stables, nor none of the cottages round."

  "No; it would be madness to attempt it."

  "But it wouldn't be, if we got 'em to the Rill caves."

  "Samson!" cried Fred; "the very place."

  "Hah!" ejaculated Samson, drawing along breath, as if perfectlysatisfied with himself.

  "What do you say, Scarlett, to that?"

  "Yes," replied Scarlett, thoughtfully, "if you think it could be done."

  "If it could be done," said Sir Godfrey, faintly. "I might live if youcould get me there, Scar, my boy. For their sake--for their sake," headded sadly to himself.

  "Oh, I know it could be done," said Samson. "If Master Fred makes uphis mind to do it, and asks me to help him, it's as good as done. Hearthat, you ugly Coombeland ruffian?" he added in a whisper, as he pressedhis doubled fist in the semi-darkness against his brother's nose.

  "Just you wait till I get well," whispered back Nat, doubling his ownfist and holding it against Samson's nose in return.

  "Yes, and just you wait till I get you well," whispered Samson. "I'dgive it to you now, only it would be like hitting at a bit o' clay.Why, you're as soft as boiled bacon! I'd be ashamed to call myself aman!"

  "Just you say all that again when I get well," whispered Nat.

  "Yes, that I will a hundred times over.--Yes, sir?"

  "We must be going now, Samson. Leave what food you have."

  "I stood it in the corner there, sir."

  "And the flint, steel, tinder, and matches. I wish I had thought tobring more candles. This one will not last very long."

  "So you did, Master Fred. Leastwise, I did. There's five there, andone before makes six."

  "Hah! that's right," cried Fred, joyfully. "Then, now you can have alight sometimes: and look here, Scar Markham--to-morrow I'll go and lookat the Rill caves, and see what can be done, so be ready to escape at amoment's notice. We may come any time now. Good-bye, Sir Godfrey.Lady Markham shall know that you and Scarlett are safe."

  "It is compromising yourself, my boy," said Sir Godfrey; "but I cannotsay to you forbear."

  "Good-bye!"

  "God bless you, my lad! and may this war soon cease," added the knightto himself, as his son followed their two visitors to the opening.

  "Till we meet again, Scar Markham," whispered Fred, as Samson climbedout first to reconnoitre.

  "Till we meet again, Fred," said Scarlett, once more holding out hishand.

  "As friends?"

  "As enemies in name. Thank you, for my father's sake."

  "It's all clear, Master Fred," was whispered down the hole; and, afteranother word or two of warning to be prepared for a sudden move, Fredseized Samson's extended hand, leaped up out of the hole, and they madetheir way back to camp unquestioned, while Scarlett Markham crept backto his father's side, to sit there, listening to his breathing, and tothink of the possibility of escape to the cavern beneath Rill Head,where perhaps they might end by obtaining a boat to go right away.

  CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.

  HOW SAMSON TRIED TO PASS THE SENTINELS.

  "Samson!" cried Fred, the next morning, in a fit of excitement, "oh, ifwe had properly looked over that cave in the old days, and seen what itwas like!"

  "Well, sir, I s'pose it would have been better, sir. All the nicer,too, for Sir Godfrey, if we'd reg'larly furnished it, and set up acouple of four-post bedsteads, and had down carpets and such."

  "Do you mean this for banter, sir?"

  "No, sir; I was only thinking it was stoopid of you to talk in thatway."

  "Samson!"

  "Master Fred! How are we to know what's going to happen so as to beprepared? Human folks aren't seeds, as you know what they'll do. If Iputs in a bean, it comes up beans; but you never know what we're goingto come up."

  "Don't ramble on like that. Now, listen to me. We must get them to thecave at once."

  "Right, sir."

  "Then what shall we do first?"

  "First thing's wittling the place, and putting in some stores."

  "Now, that sounds sensible. Quite right. We must get some blankets."

  "From the Manor, sir?"

  "Right again, Samson. And all the food we can. Why, Samson--"

  "Yes, sir; I know what you are going to say. We've got to tell theladies at the old home to hold their tongues, and say nothing to nobody,but go up to the Rill Head with a basket o' wittles, and enjoythemselves, looking at the ships sailing by on the sea, and not eatnothing themselves, but tumble everything down that hole, with blanketsand pillows, too, if they like, and do it every day."

  "Samson," said Fred, joyously, "I did not think of half that, and I'llnever call you a stupid again. The very thing."

  "Ah, I am a clever one, I am, sir, when you come to know me. But howare you going to get to the Manor?"

  "You will have to go with a message from me to my mother. Yes, thisvery day; but don't tell them whom the provisions are for, and bid thembe very cautious."

  "You leave that to me, sir," said Samson. "And now, how are you goingto get them to the cave?"

  "We shall want a rope."

  "I'll have it ready, sir. When?"

  "This very night."

  "Yes, sir."

  "And we'll take them some of our men's caps and cloaks."

  "Good, sir, and a pair of shears."

  "What for?"

  "No use to dress 'em up as our men when they've got long hair. Did yousee our Nat, sir?"

  "Yes, of course; but what do you mean?"

  "Hair sprouted all over his head like a badly cut hedge, sir. He's beentrying to grow like a Cav'lier, and he looks more like a half-fledgedcuckoo."

  "Don't waste time in folly. Can you get over to the Manor thisafternoon?"

  "Yes, sir, if you get me leave."

  "And I will get the caps and cloaks."

  "Don't want a donkey, I suppose, sir?"

  "No, Samson; we must risk getting our horses there behind the Hall."

  "Risky's the name for it, sir."

  "Yes; but the poor wounded men cannot walk. We can do it no other way,and at any cost it must be done."

  "Will they shoot us if we're caught, sir?"

  "Don't talk about it. Leave the consequences, and act."

  "Right, Master Fred; but I hope they won't catch and shoot us for beingtraitors."

  "Don't call our act by that ugly name."

  "Right, sir; but if we are caught and I am shot, you see if my brotherNat don't laugh."

  "Why, man, why?"

  "Because he'll say I was such a fool."

  "So shall I, Samson, if you talk like that. Now, I cannot ask my fatherfor leave to go across to the Manor without his questioning me as to whyI wish you to go. You must get leave to go, so do what is necessary andget off at once."

  "Don't you fear about that, Master Fred. And about poor
Sir Godfrey,Master Scar, and that brother of mine? They must be terribly hungry."

  "They must wait. We cannot go near them to-day. What we left must do,and they will be watching the more eagerly for us, all ready?"

  "Then you mean it to-night, sir, without fail?"

  "Without fail, Samson. Sir Godfrey must be got away to-night."

  "Rope, wittles, blankets, and anything they like," said Samson, as heparted from his master; and after hesitating a little about asking leaveto quit the camp, he came to the conclusion that it would be wiser toget permission from his officer to fish, and then, after selecting aspot where the trees overhung the water, steal off through the wood.

  This he