Sir Ludar

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

  HOW THE MISERICORDE SAILED FOR ROCHELLE.

  My master was very surly with me when I refused to go his errand abroad;yet he had too much need of my service in the business he was engaged onto fall out with me as he would have liked. And seeing me resolved toabide where I was, he bade me stay and look to the place while hehimself saw after the removing of the stuff from Mistress Crane's houseto Moulsey.

  "As to the type," said he, "we will speak of that again. But mark me,Humphrey, a 'prentice who is not good enough to do an errand like thisis not good enough to be my son-in-law."

  And he went off in dudgeon, leaving me very lonely and miserable. And,to tell the truth, at any other season I should have hailed this voyage;and when next day I saw lying near London Bridge the _Misericorde_herself, and hailing the captain (who was that same shipmate who hadsteered us into Leith Roads), heard from him that in a week he shouldsail for France, I wished I could divide myself in two and go half withhim and half remain at my post in London.

  A day or two later, being evening, I had locked up the printing houseand was wandering to take the air towards Smithfield. I had passedunder Temple Bar and was making my way down Fleet Street, when thereknocked up against me a great carter fellow, whom, by his gait, I tookto be more than half drunk. Being a 'prentice, and not in the humourfor knocks of that kind, I swung round on the fellow to kick him for hisclumsiness, when he looked me suddenly in the face and uttered my name.

  It was Ludar.

  It was my turn now to reel like a drunken man; and so mighty a knock didmy heart give against my ribs that I believe I should have fallen had henot roughly caught my arm and muttered--

  "Not a word, but lead on." And he staggered away, smacking his whip andcalling to his horse to go forward.

  I walked on in a dream, knowing by the crack of the whip behind that hefollowed at a distance, yet never daring to turn my head. At last, aswe came near Smithfield, I looked back. He lay on the top of a load ofhay in his cart, singing aloud noisily and cracking his whip, andseeming no more concerned in me or any one else than the patient horsehe drove.

  The market place was full of carts, amidst which he was presently ableto leave his own and come near where I stood with a crowd looking atsome bulls just brought in. He had left his whip behind, by which Iguessed he had done with his cart and was free to follow me on foot. Sopresently I edged out and wandered slowly back citywards. It wasalready dusk, and by the time I got back to my master's door andunlocked it, night had fallen. I durst not look back as I entered, andindeed made a great noise as of fastening bolts and bars within. Then Istood and waited in a fever.

  Had I been wrong after all? An hour passed and never a footfall on thepavement. Then the watch marched by, and as their slow tramp died awayin the distance the door quietly opened and there stood Ludar, verypale, but as cool and unconcerned as the day I first met him nearOxford.

  "Are you alone?" said he.

  "Yes."

  "Is there any food in the house?"

  I flew to get him some, while he slowly took off his faded carter'scloak, and flung himself wearily on a chair.

  He kept me waiting while he ate, nor had I the words to question him.But when his hunger was appeased, he said:

  "Six days I have waited and thought you lost. Yet I knew I should findyou at last, and I did."

  "You escaped?" I asked, the words coming slowly and charily.

  "Yes, Humphrey, my friend. After six months, with great labour, and bythe help of a nail, I filed my wrist chain and freed my hands. Thenwhen my warder came one evening later than usual, I flew on him andfelled him. He was but stunned, and lay still scarce long enough for meto strip him and put him in my clothes. Then I left him and walked out,jingling the keys. In the dark, no one looked twice at me, even when atthe porter's lodge I went to hang up my keys. 'You be late in yourrounds to-night,' said the porter, who dozed at the fire. I grunted inreply, and sat beside him till he was well asleep. Then I slipped thegreat key from his belt, and bade him good-night, to which he mutteredsomething. At the great gate stood a young sentry, who, seeing me to bea warder, asked me where I went at that hour. I told him a stateprisoner was very sick and I was bidden by the leech go to the druggistfor a plaster. 'A pretty errand to send an honest fellow,' said I, 'whohas work enough of his own without being waiting gentleman to everyknave in the place who has a fit of the colic.' The soldier laughed andsaid, 'twas a pity they did not keep a supply of plasters in the place.To which I agreed, and unlocking the gate, bade him guard the key whileI was out, as 'twas a risk to carry it beyond the precincts. 'But Ipray you, comrade,' said I, 'be at hand to admit me when I return.''Ay, ay,' said he, with a grin. 'There be some in here who would nottap hard to get in again.' So we parted good friends, and out I got.After that I went down to the river, where all was dark, and beinganxious to part with my warder's clothes which might tell tales, Istripped, and filling the pockets with stones, dropped them into thetide. Then I set out to swim to the other shore, and you may guess ifit was not brave to feel free once more. 'Twas a long swim, and thetide carried me far down to Rotherhithe, where, as luck would have it,as I neared shore I struck against something floating on the stream. Atfirst I thought it a log, but as I laid my arms upon it, I found it, tomy horror, to be a corpse of a man drowned. I was going to cast offagain, when I bethought me, here was a man whose clothes were no use tohim or any one else, while I went naked. So I dragged him to a desolatepart of the shore. He seemed to be a carrier, and having no wound orsign of violence on him, I concluded him to have fallen in the watereither by accident or of his own accord. These garments I wear arehis."

  I shuddered as I looked at them. They seemed scarce dry yet.

  "That was a month ago," said he, "since then--"

  "A month," cried I, "and I only find you now?"

  "I have hidden here and there, and worked for my livelihood across thewater; not daring to show myself this side; till two weeks ago, I wassent to Smithfield with hay, and after that came daily. But tillyesterday I never saw you; nor expected it then. But you have news forme, Humphrey," said he, "tell it, for I can hear it."

  Then I told him all that had happened since I saw him last, and much thestory moved him. And when I came to speak of the maiden, this great,strong man's hand trembled like a leaf as he stretched it across thetable, and put out the light which burned there.

  "We can talk as well in the dark," said he, hoarsely.

  So, in the dark, never seeing his face, yet guessing every look upon it,I told him how the maiden had gone often by boat and gazed up at thegreat Tower; and how, when she left, she had said to me, "Stay nearhim"; and how hardly she had torn herself away to return to her father.

  He heard me, and said not a word, nor moved a muscle; and, when therewas no more to be told, he sat on in the dark, breathing hard, until Isupposed he had fallen asleep.

  But when, after a while, the early dawn struggled through the casement,it found him still awake, with a look on his face half hope, halfbewilderment, and a light in his eyes such as I had seen there only oncebefore--on that day we crossed from Cantire to the Bann with the maiden.

  But the sight of day roused him.

  "Humphrey, I dare not be seen here," said he, "there is a hue and cryafter me. Where shall I hide?"

  That was a question had been troubling me all night. For stay where hewas he could not. And, if he fled, was I to lose him thus, the moment Ifound him?

  Almost as he spoke there came a step without, and a loud tap on theouter door, at sound of which Ludar started to his feet, and his handwent by instinct to his belt.

  "Hush," whispered I, "'tis only my master, the printer. Here, followme," said I, leading him up the narrow stairs, "here is a room where youshould be safe," and I put him into the chamber that was once themaiden's. "Presently I will return. Meanwhile give yourself toguessing who once called this little room hers."

  T
hen I went down drowsily, and admitted my master.

  "Humphrey," said he, "the stuff is safely removed to Moulsey; butwithout type we can do nothing. As it is, I must take what we have heretill I can get more. I have no one I can send but you. Once again, areyou willing to go? or must I lose a 'prentice and Jeannette a husband?"

  While he spoke, a thought had flashed on me, and, presently I replied,humbly enough:

  "Master, I am bound to obey you. When you asked me a week since, Ianswered you like a fool. I have thought better of it, and if you willyet trust me, I am ready to start to-night."

  At that he gripped my hand, and said he knew I was a good lad all along,and was content to forgive me. And he told me what grief mydisobedience had caused him and my mistress, and read me a long sermonon the sinfulness of my course.

  "As to thy voyage," said he, "I hear there sails a ship from the poolfor Rochelle to-morrow at dawn. Make ready to start, therefore, andmeanwhile I will write you your letters for my kinsfolk there."

  It seemed he would stay all day; and presently he sent me a message to astationer on Ludgate Hill, which I must needs take, and so leave him andLudar alone in the house.

  While out, I got a great fright. For the watch were abroad in search ofthe notable villain who had late escaped from her Majesty's Tower, andwho was reported to have been seen lurking in the disguise of a carter,not many days since, near Newgate. And it was said, I heard, that hehad been seen even later than that--to wit, yesterday--at Smithfield,where he had suddenly left his cart and disappeared. And some said itwas known he had a confederate in the city, who was giving him shelter,and of whose name the watch had a pretty shrewd guess. Whereupon, illat ease, I said, "Pray Heaven they may find both the rogues," and sohastened back as fast as my legs would carry me to Temple Bar.

  There I found my master ready to leave.

  "Here are the letters," said he, "and money. While you are gone I musthire a man to see to the printing here, since my duties will take meelsewhere. Should aught befall me, Humphrey, you must keep the workgoing for the sake of your mistress and the children. For it is likeenough my head is none too safe on my shoulders, or if it is, it maychance I must hold it up a while across the seas. My lad, God hathchosen you to assist in a mighty work, which, whether it succeed orfail, will be a thing to pride in some day hence. Farewell, my son, seeyou get good type for the money, and bring it quickly. So, Heaven speedyou."

  When he was gone I went up and found Ludar mad with hunger andimpatience.

  "What news?" said he, "and speak not to me unless it be to say, dinneris served."

  He looked pale and harassed, and I think, although the little room had abed and a chair, he had stood upright in it all day, touching nothing.

  But when I had him down to dinner, he touched a good deal, and told me,in explanation, that the meal I gave him last night had been the firstfor three days, and that, then, he was too eager for news to take all hemight.

  When I told him of the hue and cry, and how near the watch was on thescent, he turned to me and said:

  "Where shall we go, Humphrey?"

  Which meant, that wherever he went, he counted on me to follow. So Itold him of my errand to Rochelle, and of the _Misericorde_, which laybelow the Bridge. Then his face brightened.

  "That is well," said he. "It matters not whether we go to France or thePole, so I breathe some freer air than this of England. Let us startnow. We must not go together. I will take the wherry while you go byland."

  "First," said I, "put on this cast-off suit of mine, which I thought togive away to a beggar man, once; but thank Heaven I did not."

  "You give it to a beggar now," said he, "and I thank you, Humphrey, fora gift I never expected to take from you."

  Then we hid the dead carter's clothes in the river; and, not long after,a skiff put out from shore with a big 'prentice lad in it, who rowedlazily Bridgewards.

  I stood watching him, when, suddenly, the outer door opened, and acompany of the watch trooped in.

  "Good e'en to you, Master Dexter," said the leader of them, whose head Ihad once chanced to break, and who had been monstrous civil to me eversince. "We must search this house, by your leave."

  "What for?" I asked.

  "For villains and lurchers," said he, "and if you keep any such inhiding, you had best speak and save trouble."

  "Wert thou not on a good service," said I, blustering, "I would knocksome of your heads together for supposing I harboured villains. Theonly villains in this place are some of you, sirs. What do you take mefor?"

  "Nevertheless," said the leader, "we must look round. And, if there benaught to find, there is naught for thee to fear, Master Humphrey."

  "You must bring twice your number before I shake in my shoes at you,"said I. "Come, look where you will, and, when you have found them, Ipray you let me have a sight of the rogues." And I went on with myprinting.

  Of course they found naught. But I, as I stood at the press, could seefrom the window far down the river a boat lolling on the stream, andthanked Heaven all this had not fallen an hour earlier.

  They searched upstairs and downstairs, in the wet cellar, and in themaiden's chamber. They peeped in the cupboards, and up the chimneys,and put their heads out on the roof. Then, when they were satisfied, Iasked would they like to spy in my pockets, whereat they departedsomewhat ruffled, and left me to breathe again.

  Late that night I stood on board the _Misericorde_. The captain was onthe look-out for me.

  "By your leave," said he, "you be none too early, comrade. Your fellow'prentice,"--here he gave me a knowing look--"hath been here this hour,and is in his berth."

  So I went below, and there lay Ludar sound asleep in a hammock, in thevery cabin where he and I had lain once before.

  About midnight I could hear the grinding of the anchor chain at thebows, which was music to my ears, as was the heavy trampling on deck,and the shouting, and the dabbling of the water at the ports. Amidst itall, I too fell asleep; and when I woke and stood next day on deck, Icould see on our right the sullen forts on the Medway, and, behind, thelong, low, green line of the Essex mud banks.

  Ludar was there before me, pacing restlessly with troubled brow. Thejoy of his freedom had vanished before the sad memories which crowdedthe ship.

  "Humphrey," said he, presently, "when and where is all this to end? Howdoes it bring us nearer to our heart's desires?"

  "Indeed," said I, with a sigh, "'tis a long way round. Yet, patience;the farther East the nearer West."

  He looked at me, as much as to say he knew I was not such a fool as mywords showed me.

  "And after Rochelle," said he, "what then?"

  "Time enough when we are there," said I.

  Time enough, indeed!