CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
HOW I ENLISTED ON A NEW SERVICE.
London was merry-making, with bonfires and pealing of bells, when WillPeake and I entered it. Every day that passed, men took in more of thegreat victory which had been gained against the King of Spain, andrejoiced louder and louder at the deliverance God had vouchsafed theland.
So, when it became known (as it soon did among our old friends), thatWill and I had fought in that glorious fight, we lacked neither food norshelter for our poor bodies. At first Will fared better than I; for hewas monstrous little altered from the swaggering lad who tried a boutwith me years before at Finsbury Fields. But as for me, men lookedonce, twice, and thrice at me before they would believe it was HumphreyDexter. And when one day in a tavern I came upon a mirror I learned thecause. My beard, unkempt now for many weeks, had grown till it made myface look very fierce and manly; and my hair, once close-cropped, nowfell heavily below my ears. And the scar I got on the _Rata_ gave me soferocious a look that I had a mind well-nigh to doubt myself, when firstI saw it.
"'Tis little wonder if they know thee not," said Will, "for thou artpassably handsome now, whereas once--"
Here he left me to guess what I had been.
Be that as it may, I was pleased enough with the change for so far, andspared my fee to the barber. And as for my old comrades, I had othersigns to make myself known to them, as they soon discovered by theaching of their heads and the soreness of their ribs. For I soon shookoff my sickness and was as ready for knocks as ever.
Yet you may guess if, with it all, I was merry!
The printing-house without Temple Bar was as black and desolate as atomb, with a great lock belonging to the Stationers' Company hanging onthe door. When I asked the neighbours concerning my master, they pulledlong faces and told me he was given over to desperate ventures, and withhis family had fled the country; and 'twas well for him, said they, noone knew where he hid.
I knew not which way to turn. My sweet Jeannette was far away amidperils I little dreamed of. Ludar was, perhaps, even now a prisoner inSpain. My occupation was gone, and my pocket and my stomach were bothempty.
Could I have lived on naught, I think I should even have tried to makemy way to Spain (as if it were no bigger a place than Temple Gardens!)and so find Ludar. Then I changed my mind and thought to set out forIreland to seek Jeannette. Then, when I saw a fellow enlisting troopersfor the Dutch wars, I well-nigh sold myself to him.
I might have done so straight out, had not there come a loud thump on myback as I stood in the crowd, and a voice in my ear that made me start.
"Are you so weary of life, comrade, that you want a leaden pill or twoto cure it?"
"Verily, I am," said I, wheeling round and facing Tom Price, CaptainMerriman's man.
At first he knew me not, nor when I told him my name would he believe hespake to Humphrey Dexter. But when at last he knew me, he clapped meagain on the back and said--
"Thou'rt well met, my little Lord Mayor. By my soul, I might havewalked a league and never met thee."
"You might have walked farther than that," said I. "What villainy areyou and your master now upon? for I take it you still serve theCaptain?"
He laughed. "As for my master, let him be. He's snug enough. I lefthim-- Look you here, comrade," said he, taking my arm and looking hardat me, "where saw I thee last?"
"Once when you lay as drunk as a dog in Finsbury Fields. And a goodturn you did me, comrade, and more than me, by what you blabbed then."
He gaped rather foolishly at this, and asked did I want my ears slit fora noisy malapert?
Then I told him just what passed, and how I had been able thereby tosave the maiden from the Captain's clutches. When he heard that helaughed, and swore and thwacked me on the back till I nearly dropped.
"By my life, you gallows dog you, if my master only knew what he owedyou! Why, my pretty lad, I never saw a man so put about as he was whenhe came back from Canterbury that time without his prey."
"Where is he now?" I asked.
"Where else, do you suppose, but smacking his lips near the dove's nest?He hath comforted himself for all he hath suffered, ere now, I warrantthee!"
"What!" I shouted. "Has he followed the maiden to Ireland?"
He laughed.
"So, then, you know where the pretty one has flown? I warrant thee, ifthou couldst see her at this moment, thou wouldst see my master not abow-shot away. Ha! ha! I do not say nearer; for when I left, the fairvixen still held him at arm's length. But he is getting on; and now,since the maid's lover is dead--"
"He is not dead," said I; "I parted from him scarce a month ago!" And Itold him where and how.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"A fig for his life if that be his case," said he. "At any rate he isbelieved to be dead; and the Captain, as I say, is getting on, havingmade himself monstrous civil to Turlogh Luinech O'Neill, who, I think,favours him somewhat for a son-in-law."
"The foul dog!" I exclaimed. "Would I had him standing here, for myfriend's sake. Tell me, Tom, what of a little maid who went from Londonas waiting gentlewoman to the lady. How fares she?"
"Sadly, I hope, since she and I are parted," said he. "For, to tell youthe truth, Master Dexter, she is the sweetest wench and hath lookedkindly on me. Indeed, 'twas for this reason I think my master sent meoff here on this business to get him more men. For he is apt to amusehimself, while he waits for the mistress, with the maid; and I doubtwhen I return I shall find the little witch hath clean forgotten how tosmile on me."
I hope I may be forgiven the words I uttered when I heard this. I flewat honest Tom Price like a wolf and cried: "Why, what mean you, hound?What does he dare to do?"
Tom shook me off roughly, and pulled out his sword.
"Look 'ee here, Master Humphrey, if that be the way you ask yourquestions, your ribs shall know the way I answer them."
"I ask your pardon," said I, panting hard. "But for God's mercy saywhat all this means?"
"It means," said he, "that you are mightily concerned with this samelittle waiting lass."
"She is my sweetheart," said I, "and is to be my wife."
It was his turn to look blank now, and catch his breath. He whistled,and stared at me from head to foot, and whistled again. Then he foundwords, and held out his hand.
"If she be thy sweetheart, she is none of mine. I go halves with noman."
"And this Merriman?" I asked, scarce heeding what he said.
"This Merriman!" said he; "why, take a shame on yourself that you standskulking here, and leave the defence of those two fair maids to a crack-brained poet and a swashbuckling soldier. I tell you, Humphrey Dexter,those two fellows, little as I love them, are your friends and yourmaster's; and, if the maids be still safe, they owe it to them, and notto your idle whimpering here."
"Heaven bless them!" said I. "But, Tom Price, how can I, who havescarce shoes to stand in, or food for one day, go to them?"
"This way," said he; "I am here to engage men for my master's troop--join us."
"What!" I exclaimed; "serve that villain? I had as soon serve thedevil himself."
"May be you can serve both at one time," said he, with a laugh; "butjoin us you must."
"He would hang me at the nearest tree, so soon as he saw me."
"He would never know you. I scarce did."
We stood eyeing one another a minute. Then I held out my hand.
"When do you start?"
"In two days, if I can find the men by then. Meanwhile, come with meand put your big carcase in a soldier's trappings, and drink health toher Majesty and Captain Merriman."
A week passed before Tom Price got his company together. I chafed andgrumbled at every hour that passed. On the day before we set out, Iwent to show myself in my soldier's bravery to Will Peake, on LondonBridge.
"Every man to his taste," said the latter. "I think thee not as fine asthou thinkest thyself. By the way, tho
u art like to have knocks enoughwhere thou goest, I hear, for news is come that the Spaniards mean toland on Irish shore, and strike at us from that quarter."
This was great news to me; and on every hand I heard it repeated, till,at nightfall, there was something near a panic in London, and orderswere given for all troops possible to set out forthwith. Therefore, TomPrice, though his company still wanted a few of its number, bade us bewithin call and ready spurred at daybreak.
The road from London to Chester was full of straggling companies ofsoldiers, hastened forward like us by the alarm of the Spanish attack onIreland. We, being mounted, distanced most of them. And so eager werethe country folk along the march to see our backs, that, had we beenminded to tarry long in any place, we should have soon outworn ourwelcome.
I saw little of Tom Price during the early part of our march. But when,presently, he had leisure to gossip, he told me one piece of news whichmoved me not a little.
It was that Sorley Boy, being now an old man and broken down in spirit,longed for his lost son, Sir Ludar, as eagerly as he had hated him notlong since. He lived a restless life at Dunluce, often and againstalking abroad as of old, and seeming to expect him who was lost. Hehad even made friends with Turlogh; and the only time that CaptainMerriman had hung his head and slunk out of Castleroe, said Tom, waswhen the Lord of Dunluce came thither to visit his new ally. So long ashe stayed, the Captain found business elsewhere.
Sorley Boy, when at Castleroe, saw the maiden, who, after what hadpassed, scarcely durst meet him. But by degrees her sweet, brave waystook the old man captive, and, ere he left, he knew her whole story, andloved her as if she were indeed already his daughter.
He well-nigh broke his truce with the O'Neill, because he would notpermit the maid to visit Dunluce; for Turlogh (dreading, perhaps, theill graces of the Captain), would not part with her from Castleroe. SoSorley Boy departed discontented, like a man robbed.
All this I heard, and more than ever chafed at the slackness of ourlaggard steeds. How I wished that, looking round, I might but see Ludarspurring at my side!
Alas! I saw him not. But one day, as we neared Chester, I did see aface in a troop that had joined ours on the road, that made me rub myeyes, and wonder if ghosts truly walked on earth.
If it was not Peter Stoupe, my old fellow 'prentice, it was as like himas one pea is to another. Nay, once, when, to satisfy myself, I made apretext to ride near him, I could have sworn I heard the humming of apsalm-tune amid the clatter of the hoofs.
Our troops parted company a day after, and I was left marvelling if allthis world and the next were marching towards Ireland.
Early next day I had no leisure left me to cogitate more on that; forTom Price reined his horse in beside mine, and said:
"Humphrey, here is a message come from the Captain in hot haste, toprevent our going north, and ordering us to Dublin."
I let my reins fall with a groan on my steed's neck. Tom heeded it not,but continued:
"The Spaniard, it is said, has been gathering in the northern seas, andis coming down on the western Irish coast, where he counts on thepapists of the country to further him. We are ordered to stay in Dublinfor orders from my Lord Deputy. Why, how black you look, comrade!"
"Who would not? You know, Tom Price, why I came on this venture. Iwere better in London, unless our journey lead us to Castleroe."
Tom laughed, and I could have knocked him from his horse, had he notquickly added:
"Gently, my fire-eating jack printer. I came not to tell thee onlythis. The Captain addeth these words: 'Send me six trusty men here, formy affairs require such before I am free to join you. Send them forwardwith all speed. Do you cross leisurely to Dublin, and there await me.I am in hopes it may not be needful for me to return again thither.Send trusty men, and speedily.' What say you, Humphrey? Art thou atrusty lad? Could I trust thee to pick out five honest fellows likethyself and show them the way to a certain pair of black eyes and rosylips on the banks of the Bann?"
I loved Tom Price like a brother then, and told him as much. In anhour's time I had chosen five stout fellows, all of whom I could trustwith my last farthing, and whom I could count on for any service. I hadthem armed to the teeth, well mounted and provisioned; and then, withouta moment lost, called them to horse.
"Farewell, comrade," said Tom, as he saw me go. "I could even envythee, though it is like to cost thee somewhat. For the Captain hathtwenty men already, and hath eyes and ears in his head. Commend me tothy lass, and let her know she hath had a narrow escape of a sweetheartin Tom Price."
"She shall thank you for your honesty, comrade, with her own sweetlips," said I, and hallooed my men forward.
Next day we were at the sea, and embarked--horses and all--on a barquethat was even then weighing anchor with other troops on board forKnockfergus.
To my surprise, among the men that crowded the deck was the fellow I hadseen two days ago, who had reminded me of Peter Stoupe. When I saw himnow, I knew for certain it was he.
I stood full in front of him, to see if he would know me again, for Icared not if he did. He looked at me meekly without a sign ofrecognition, and humming ever, passed his eyes to some other place.
"So, so, Peter," thought I, "as you know not your old shopmate, whyshould I disturb your humming?"
And I carelessly asked a man who stood next him whither his company wasbound and on what service.--
"Westward," he said, "to look for Spaniards. And you?"
"To join one Captain Merriman in the north."
It tickled me much to see Peter start and change colour at that.
"Ah, 'tis a brave gallant, I'm told," said the man. "'Twas he slewSorley Boy's son, was it not?"
"Ay, a brave deed that was," said I. "I saw it."
The fellow laughed.
"You know him, then? Ha! ha! You can satisfy Peter here better than Ican. He desireth to know the Captain's whereabouts; and when I tell himhe is no further off than the nearest pretty face, he turneth up hiseyes as if he expected to see him at his own side. He! he! What sayyou, Peter?"
"I say, alack that such men should wear her Majesty's colours," said he,with a snivel.
"Amen to that," said I, giving him a thwack on the back that made himjump. "'Tis a pity her Majesty hath not more like you, Peter. How doyou call your name?"
"Stoupe," said he, looking up at me meekly and rubbing his shoulder.
After that we went to look to our horses, and I saw little more of himthat voyage; for from the moment we put out to sea he fell as sick as adog, and lay on the floor of the ship praying Heaven to put an end tohis sorrows, till we reached Knockfergus.
There I suddenly missed him, and heard he had had so sorry a timeserving her Majesty thus far, that he had skulked so soon as ever theship came to land, and made for the hills, where no doubt he meant tolie till he could go back the way he had come.
Whereat I laughed, and ordered my men to horse.
At the town gate, much to my vexation, we were met by a guard, whoordered us to report ourselves to the English governor. I had looked toget a fair start of the other troops going west. But now, so far fromthat, two days passed idle on my hands before I even got audience of thegovernor, and by that time many companies had started westward. For thepanic of the Spanish invasion was very great among the English soldieryat Knockfergus; and every man that could be had was being hurried acrossthe country.
When I saw the governor and told him my orders, he said, shortly:"Captain Merriman has already had orders to go forward to Tyrone's land,and will have left Castleroe before now. You will join him sooner bysea than by land. Be ready to sail three days hence. Till then, leavenot the town, but abide at the hostel for further orders."
This was a thunderbolt to me. I knew the Captain well enough to be surethat, if he had indeed left Castleroe, he had either not left it aloneor had left worse than desolation behind him. He was too well-known tohis comrades in these parts to leave mu
ch doubt of that; and when thatsame night I heard by chance that Turlogh for a month past had been awayin Dublin, leaving the protection of his castle to this English championof his, I made sure, what I had feared all along, that I was come toolate.
One thing I was resolved on. Come what would, I would make forCastleroe and learn the worst for myself. 'Twould be better even to behanged for a deserter than live a day longer in this misery andsuspense.
So I bade my men, if they were minded still to serve me, be ready andstand by for the first chance of escape.
It came soon enough. Bands of soldiers were coming in and going out ofKnockfergus all the night long; and while we sat in the hostelry andwatched them depart with longing eyes, like prisoners through a dungeoncage, I suddenly found myself calling myself a fool and starting to myfeet.
"Follow me," I cried to my men, and led them to where our horses stood,still saddled, in the stable.
"Mount," I said, "and stay under the shadow of this wall, till you seeme ride out. Then fall in quietly at my heels."
Presently, as we stood there, came a noise of trumpets and a clatter ofhoofs down the steep street. As they passed, we could see by thetorches of those that marched beside them that this was a great companyof foot and horse, dragging a gun or two with them. 'Twas more of arabble than a troop; for the horses, frightened by the glare of thetorches and the shouts of the footmen, reared and plunged, and scatteredthe townsfolk who had turned out to see them pass, right and left.
As they passed the corner where we lurked, some of the horses plunged inamong us, and in the darkness all was confusion for a moment.
Then I quietly rode in among them with my five men at my heels, and so,unseen and unheeded, we joined the troop and passed the gate in safetyinto the black country beyond.
Once outside, 'twas easy enough to get clear. I bade my men lag behindall they could; till at last we must have dropped fifty yards or so,where, in the darkness, we were quite lost to view. Then I gave theorder to gallop; and overtaking the company, as in hot haste, I rode upto the officer and saluted.
"A good journey to you, Captain," said I. "'Twill be slower than ours,for the troop we are to join is already beyond the Bann, and we ridepost-haste to overtake it."
"You are of Merriman's troop then?" said the officer.
"That are we. Good-night to you, Captain. Lay to, my men, and spursall!" And so we rode forward.