The MS. in a Red Box

  CHAPTER IV

  I could not now set down all that passed between my father and me onthe marriage, which he designed for me; nor would I, if I could, for Isaid much that even to-day makes my ears burn to remember, and he somethings which are better forgotten. I believe he was the hotter with methat he did not in his heart like the alliance which he proposed, andwas obliged to do violence to his own feelings in urging it upon me.We ended in anger, and were estranged the one from the other. For sometime we did not feel the full painfulness of this, by reason of myfather's occupation with the affairs of the Isle, which took him muchabroad, and brought many visitors and messengers to Temple Belwood whenhe was at home.

  While he was busied with these matters, I haunted the neighbourhood ofCastle Mulgrave in hope of chance encounter with Mistress Goel. Thedistance between the two houses was not much more than three miles.Sometimes I rowed my boat down the Nolffdyke, and so into Trent, when Ihoisted sail, and beat up and down the river on the look-out for theearl's pleasure barge. At other times I rode by the causey whichcrossed the marsh extending from Beltoft to the Butterwick ferry, andscoured the roads and lanes on the other side of the river. My questbrought me but one glimpse of my lady. Once, as I gained a slighteminence on the eastern bank, I saw her with a party entering thecourtyard of the castle--on horseback! She had learned to ride since Ihad last spoken with her, and I ground my teeth thinking of who hadtaught her, and of the mounting and dismounting, and all the occasionswhich the tutor had to touch hand and foot, even it might be to takeher in his arms. How I hated Sheffield! And, for the time, I almosthated Mistress Goel, too.

  The day after this maddening sight, Dick Portington came to Temple withnews which at another time would have mightily stirred me. HatfieldChace was to be disparked. The deer were to be driven and caught, tobe taken away and distributed in other of the royal forests. When theChace had been cleared, Vermuijden might fell timber, drain off thewaters, and allot the land.

  "No more winding of the horn, no more following of the deer, my boy,"said Dick. "We ought to see the last stag hunt in Hatfield. And theremay be other sport besides the driving of the deer. So come along."

  "What manner of sport?" I asked.

  "You know how many of our fellows in Thorne and Crowle reckon the Chaceas much their domain as the King's. They are not over well-pleased tolose their venison, or their pastime. Moonlight nights will be dullwhen there's no more stalking of the King's game, or chance to warmone's blood in a fight with his keepers."

  "You speak feelingly, Dick," said I, laughing.

  "Ay, that do I," he answered. "But the fowlers and fishers take itworse than I do. A fat buck once in a while is worth much to a poorman. There will be sullen faces looking on to-day."

  "But the foresters will be too strong for assault," I replied.

  "May be so. But hark you, boy, Vermuijden and some of his people areto meet a party from old Mulligrubs' to-day at the Crown, the morefools they."

  This news set my pulse going. What so likely as that Doctor Goel andhis daughter would be present at a meeting between the earl (whom itwas Dick's whim to misname Mulligrubs) and the Dutch leader? And ifthere should be trouble brewing, the more reason that a friend shouldbe at hand. So I answered--

  "Have with you, then!"

  But there was not a horse in the stable at the time, except the oldwhite mare. Luke had ridden Trueboy to Haxey, and the rest weregalloping on my father's errands. When I said so to Dick, he answered--

  "Why wait for a horse? Get stilts for us both, and we'll cross themarsh to Messic Mere, and take one of Holmes's boats. With this windwe can fly up Idle as fast we could ride round."

  So we did. Walking to Belshaw, we mounted our stilts there, and werequickly across the fen. The long, dry weather had made it passable forthose who knew the shallows and the lie of the ridges, if they hadskill with the stilts, and few Islonians had more than Portington andI. We took boat at Holmes's, and then sped up the river merrily, Dickwith the sheet in his hand, I steering. It was right pleasant going,with the wind rustling and whistling among the reeds on either bank,the water hissing and rippling from the prow, as we wound along narrowlanes of water, and out into wide spaces where the fowls, startled byour coming, made off, flapping and screaming, or scuttled in among thesedges and bulrushes. One never has the feeling of being away andapart from the rest of the world, I think, quite so much anywhere elseas in lonely water-ways, and we two sat silently enjoying the quiet ofthe scene for a while. At length Dick spoke--

  "D'ye know, Frank, that it is part of Vermuijden's scheme to stop theIdle?"

  "I don't take," I answered.

  "He plans to cut off the river at the Nottingham border--has beguncutting the drain which is to turn the water into Trent."

  "Is he empowered to pull down churches that he may use the stones toembank his drains?" I asked; for to me it appeared sacrilege to dry upour rivers and streams.

  "Doubtless he might do that, if he would pay money enough into theempty exchequer," replied Dick; "and for a trifle more he might haveroyal authority to dig up our ancestors' bones, and burn them for thelime he could get out of 'em."

  Before we reached Tudworth, Squire Portington's place, a noise in thedistance told us that the driving of the deer had begun; and, as soonas might be, we were in the saddle and on our way into the forest,guided by the sound of shouting men and barking dogs. For some time werode on, neither meeting nor seeing any one. The course of the driversseemed to be winding away from us. Suddenly, as we emerged from theshadow of a thickish grove, we saw in the open before us a doe and herfawn standing in a stream, drinking. Behind them were some of thefinest oaks in the Chace, magnificent in the splendour of mid-Junefoliage. My friend drew rein, and cursed all Dutchmen with a vehemencethat might have provoked laughter from a cooler companion.

  "Think of it, Frank," he said. "Not a buck to be left! These trees tobe cut down! No more music of hound and horn!"

  How long Dick might have cursed and lamented, I know not, but for thecoming of a verderer, who told us that the beaters had orders to drivetoward Thorne Mere, and that we had best ride in that direction, if wedesired to see the taking of the deer. So we hastened northwardinstead of following the army of keepers, and made for the risingground above the mere, where we found a great crowd of gentle andsimple already gathered.

  In a short time an immense herd burst from the covert of the wood,followed by a multitude of men and dogs. Nearly all the deer took tothe water, and then were pursued by a hundred or more boats. A fewtook refuge on islets here and there, and some swam right across themere, but far the greatest number huddled together, terrified andexhausted, in water up to their necks. The fellows in the boatssurrounded the little forest of horns, and some ventured amongst them,and tying a strong, long rope to their heads, dragged them to land, andbundled them into carts, or tethered them for ease of driving whitherthey were to be handed over to the keepers of other forests. To me itwas a sorry sight, and one of which I soon tired. So, leaving Dickwith some of his cronies, and a promise to meet at the Crown in acouple of hours' time, I made my way at once to the inn, in hope toglean some knowledge from the people there of the company expected.

  Turning a sharp corner of the lane pretty quickly, I almost ran over alady coming along the causey in the opposite direction. As I drew up,I perceived that it was Mistress Goel. There was a little difficultyin forcing my steed into the wide ditch; but that done, I dismounted,and made my salutation, saying something of my pleasure in meeting her.

  "My pleasure was somewhat dashed by fear of being knocked down," saidshe. "Is it customary in this country for horsemen to keep the path,and drive foot passengers into the ditch?"

  "Your riding-master must have taught you so much," I answered.

  "And how come you to know I have had lessons?"

  "By seeing how well you ride."

  The lady made me a little bow. I thought I read a question in herey
es, but it did not pass her lips.

  "May I accompany you to--wherever you are going?" I inquired.

  "I shall be glad of your guidance. I came out to breathe the air only.There is an hour to be passed before we leave, and the inn is crowdedand noisy."

  During that hour I learned several things, which I will set downbriefly. It had been reported at Castle Mulgrave that my father hadvowed to expel the Dutch by force, that a quantity of new firearms hadbeen bought and stored at Temple for the purpose, and that an attack onthe settlement was to take place immediately. The earl had informedthe King of this (supposed) state of affairs, and had received promiseof indemnity for any action he might see fit to take in defence of theforeigners, and been empowered to arrest, imprison, or to questionsuspected persons. Doctor Goel had been warned of the danger ofremoval to Sandtoft, but had preferred, for some reason not given tome, to run the risk rather than prolong his stay at the castle. As thedoctor proved unmovable on this point, the earl had ordered an armedescort to attend him and his daughter to Thorne, and had advisedVermuijden to bring a strong company to meet them.

  Here was much food for reflection, but the pressing business was toprevent mischief now and here. Was it purely by forgetfulness, Iwondered, that the earl had appointed to-day, when hundreds of theIslonians were present for the driving of the deer, and might beprovoked to riot by seeing a body of foreigners bearing arms.

  On our way back to the Crown, Mistress Goel asked--

  "Could you persuade your father to meet Mynherr Vermuijden? Surelythey two, desiring only what is just and right, might come to a goodunderstanding. There are those who seek to inflame the trouble, Iknow, and I tremble to think of what may come. Could you persuade Mr.Vavasour?"

  I laughed, rather bitterly. "Unluckily, my father would not listen tome."

  "I gathered from what you told me that you were as happy as father andson can be."

  "So we were, but there is division between us now."

  "Not on our account, I hope!"

  "Nay, it is but a family quarrel of an ancient pattern."

  No more passed, for we were at the inn; a long, low house, with a greenin front, where some scores of men sat or sprawled, drinking ale andloud in talk, but keeping a watchful eye on the doings at the tavern.Two dozen men, or thereabout, in the Mulgrave colours, armed withmuskets and cutlasses, stood near the porch; an equal number ofDutchmen, pistols in belt and gun in hand, sat on empty barrels, pailsturned bottom upward, hen-coops, anything. The Islonians on the greenwere for the most part unarmed, except for the staff and big knife,without which our men never stir from home, but here and there across-bow was to be seen. Within the house, at one of the openwindows, sat several young fellows of my acquaintance, Dick Portingtonamong them, merry over their wine. No likelihood of disturbance,thought I, the crowd being in good humour, and the Mulgrave retinue andthe Dutch having such advantage in the matter of weapons. But asMistress Goel disappeared within the doorway, and I turned to lead myhorse to the stable, two of the earl's men happened to put down theirguns, leaning them against the wall. In a twinkling, Dick reached outof the window, and seized them. "Ale or wine, gentlemen?" he asked, asif he were a tapster. And full in sight of the crowd he emptied atankard into the muzzles, and handed the weapons out again. "Any othergentleman want a barrelful?" he inquired. A roar of laughter came fromthe green. One of the two men drew pistol from belt, and made as if tofire at Dick, but I, being just behind him, knocked up his elbow, andthe pistol flew out of his hand without hurt. Another roar from thespectators filled the air. Some of the Mulgrave men threw themselveson me, gripping me by the arms, and one struck me in the face. Then I,who had been so intent on prudence and peace-making, lost my wits,swung myself free from my captors, and knocked down the man who hadstruck me. A pretty scuffle ensued. Dick and others sprang out of thewindow, and came to my help with no weapons, but clenched fists and ariding whip or two. For a minute or so the struggle went on at closequarters, so that the earl's men could not use their weapons witheffect, and their comrades, outside the mellay, could not strike orfire without risk of killing or maiming their own men; but at thewords, "Shoot, you dolts, shoot," spoken by some one I did not see,several pieces were discharged. Will Staniforth, who was close to me,fell, blood pouring from his neck. I knelt to support him, but he waspast help. The bullet had ploughed a horrible gash upward, and enteredthe brain. There was a gurgle in his throat, a shudder went throughhis whole body, and he was dead. When I rose from my knees, three ofmy friends had muskets in their hands, Dick Portington being one. Theearl's retainers had formed a half circle in front of us, their pieceslevelled.

  "Yield yourselves, prisoners," said their chief, "or we fire." Dickanswered by a shot which brought the speaker to the ground, and a sortof madness came over me. I saw everything through a red haze, andcared for nothing but to avenge our dead companion. I sprang on thenearest of the enemy, tore his musket out of his grasp, and clubbed it,smiting with all my strength. As he fell, I shouted "One," and madefor the next, who gave back a little, and fired wild. "Two," I yelled,as my butt crashed on his head. The third man toward whom I rushed,threw his musket down and ran. I glanced round, and saw that every oneof our party had possessed himself of a musket, and was using it in thesame fashion. The enemy had no time to reload; six of their fellowswere disabled, including their leader; they had no stomach for morefighting hand to hand, and so, though they were more than two to one,they turned tail and ran for their lives. But being clumsy rascals,they had small chance of escape from us by that means, and were glad toobey the order which Dick bellowed as we chased them, to throw downtheir weapons. Guns, pistols, cutlasses, all were discarded. Eventhen, I still pursued until Portington laid hold of me.

  "Poor devils are unarmed, Frank. Let 'em go," he said.

  At that, I came to my senses, and turned back with the rest. We met anumber of the men who had come from the green to pick up the spoils ofwar.

  "Fine fellows you are," said Dick to some of them, "to stand and lookon while your neighbours are maltreated."

  "As far as I can see, squire," answered a fat fellow (the samementioned in the first chapter), "you were able to take care ofyourselves, and you must excuse poor men, who don't want to go to thegallows or the Virginia plantations. For the like of us 'tis a hangingmatter. For all that, some of the jassups would have run their necksinto a halter, if I hadn't insensed 'em."

  "Much thanks to you," replied Dick, laughing at the man's coolimpudence.

  "Besides, your honour," said the fellow in a lower tone, "it behovedsome one to keep an eye on the Dutchmen."

  "Ah! the Dutchmen. I' faith, I had forgotten them. And what came ofyour watch, my man?"

  "Almost as soon as the fray began, the pretty Dutchwoman came to thewindow behind 'em, and talked with the big fellow, who seems to be incommand. I crept near, but they jabbered in their own tongue. All Icould make out was that she repeated 'Fermoyden' three or four timesand seemed to be laying down the law to the big chap. Then off sheflew, like a bird, and my Lord Sheffield came out of the house in ahurry (it was when young Squire Vavasour was cracking skulls likewalnuts) and he ordered the Dutchmen to go to the help of his men, butthe big captain shook his head, and either did not understand orpretended that he didn't. My lord stamped with rage, and made hismeaning plain by signs; but the other wouldn't budge, and repeated'Fermoyden.' Fermoyden hasn't come yet, and they are waiting for him."

  "What do you make of this, Frank? You came to the tavern with thelady."

  "That the lady had the wit to charge the Dutch captain not to aid theMulgrave men, but to refuse under the plea that he must haveVermuijden's authority for interfering in a quarrel which was none ofhis."

  "By Jove, it looks uncommonly like that; and if so, some of us have tothank the lady that we are alive."

  Of that I had no manner of doubt. While Dick's ill-timed jest and myhot-headed fury at a blow had brought about a broil which had
costStaniforth's life, and some others, Mistress Goel had preventedconflict between the Dutch and our Islonian crowd. As we turned thecorner of the tavern (the pursuit had led us along a heathery track tothe rear of it) we met Sheffield and his blackamoor, mounted, and boundapparently for Castle Mulgrave. He drew rein, and snarled--

  "Treason and murder are merry sport, doubtless, but it ends in hanging,drawing, and quartering."

  Now I knew whose was the voice which said "Shoot, dolts, shoot;" andthe feeling which the knowledge stirred in me must have been plain inmy face, for Dick linked his arm in mine, and drew me on, saying, loudenough for Sheffield to hear--

  "Let the beaten dog yelp."

  We bade the tavern-keeper, who met us at his door, provide food anddrink, for some of us had not eaten since early morning; and I went insearch of water to cleanse myself from blood and dust, not wishingMistress Goel to see me in my filthy plight. In truth, I shrank frommeeting her, for now that my fury and strength were spent, I wasashamed of my blustering rage. But it so chanced as I went to the pumpthat Mistress Goel overtook me, going to the barn with a basket. Atthe sound of her light, gliding step, I turned, and she paled at sightof me.

  "You are sorely wounded, I fear," she said. "Come to my father, who isin the barn."

  "I have nothing worse than a few bruises and scratches," I answered."For that I have to thank you; your quick wit and kindness have savedseveral lives to-day."

  "I did no more than keep my own people from meddling in strife, whichdid not concern them; but how you know of it passes my comprehension."

  I explained, and then asked what her father did in the barn.

  "He is busy repairing heads you have damaged," she replied.

  "Two at least are beyond repair, even by his skill," said I.

  "Not so," she laughed. "Either your arm is not so terribly strong asit seemed, or Lincolnshire skulls are thicker than ordinary, for myfather has good hope of both the men you struck down."

  "Thank God!" I said devoutly. "My brutish rage has not killed therascals."

  "Oh! but it was not brutish," cried Mistress Goel, with sparkling eyes;"you sought to avert violence. And that you were roused to great anddreadful wrath by seeing your friend shamefully and traitorously shotdown is not brutish. Oh no, another word must be used for that."

  How little I knew of woman's ways! I had feared that I had loweredmyself in the lady's esteem for ever, and here she stood, looking up atme with dewy eyes, and speaking as if I had done some noble deed.

  It would have pleased me well, if our talk might have been continued,but Mistress Goel had to hasten to her father's help, and I returned tomy comrades, after having removed the stains of battle, so far aswashing might do it. We were not merry over our eating and drinking,for in a room near lay the body of our friend. It was agreed that fourof us should accompany the men who bore the remains to Staniforth Hall,and that the other four should ride with the Dutch to Newflete, wherethey had left their barge. It fell to my lot to be one of the lattercompany, but small good came of it to me. Doctor Goel walked on oneside of the horse which his daughter rode, and the big Dutchman on theother, so I had little converse with her. At parting, her hand lay inmine for a second, and I took some comfort from the kindness in hereyes as she said good night.

  When I came to Durkness Crooke, intending to cross the river there, noboat was to be found, and I must needs ride on the river bank to theCrowle Ferry. I went slowly, for my nag was a sorry steed, hired atthe Crown, Portington's horse having scampered off to his own stableduring the tumult. By the time I passed Beggar's Tree, the evening hadgrown dusk, and I was startled by a moan from some one half hiddenunder a champ of birch. It was Bess Boswell, who had sprained herankle, and begged me to send some of her tribe, whose encampment lay onmy road to Temple Belwood, to convey her home. I dismounted, andhelped her to my saddle, which she sat man-fashion.

  For some time we went on in silence, which the gipsy girl broke bysaying--

  "My warning came true on your birthday."

  "Save your fortune-telling mystery for the bumpkins at the next fair,Bess."

  "Anyhow, I knew what you did not--the mortgages and the contractbetween the squire and Ryther."

  "True."

  "And I can tell you much more that you do not know. You go in peril ofyour life. Lord Sheffield will stick at nothing to remove you. Falseswearing, or poison, or a stab in the back, or a shot out of the reeds,all's one to him and his creatures. The slug which killed your friendto-day was meant for you."

  "Are you in Lord Sheffield's counsels, Bess?" I asked.

  "I know as much as if I was, and more," she replied. "Would that youcould be persuaded for your good."

  "How then?"

  "To go away for two or three months, anywhere out of the Isle."

  "And how would that advantage me?"

  "If you stay, you will lose your inheritance, your freedom, and may beyour life. If you go, you will save them all."

  "You talk in riddles, Bess."

  "I say all I dare. Most likely, I shall be beaten to-night for talkingwith you."

  "Beaten?"

  "Yes; for I have had the luck to keep you from harm. A man was hiddenin the reeds to shoot you, and he couldn't be sure of getting awayunseen, because I was with you. Besides, the horse has been betweenyou and him."

  "Bess!"

  She leaped lightly to the ground. "There's nothing amiss with myankle," she said. "But I knew I could get a hearing, if I cheated youinto putting me on your horse. Now ride on as fast as you can, and dolisten to advice. Go away soon, and until you leave the Isle, havepistol in holster, and sword at your side, and a trusty man behind you."

  She slipped through an opening in the hedge, and sped across the fieldsin the direction of the encampment of her folk.