Chapter XXXIII. Of my Perilous Adventure at the Mill
At the base of the mill there stood a shed which was evidently used tostall the horses which brought the farmers' grain. Some grass was heapedup inside it, so I loosened Covenant's girths and left him to have ahearty meal. The mill itself appeared to be silent and empty. I climbedthe steep wood ladder, and pushing the door open, walked into a roundstone-flagged room, from which a second ladder led to the loft above. Onone side of this chamber was a long wooden box, and all round the wallswere ranged rows of sacks full of flour. In the fireplace stood a pileof faggots ready for lighting, so with the aid of my tinder-box I soonhad a cheerful blaze. Taking a large handful of flour from the nearestbag I moistened it with water from a pitcher, and having rolled it outinto a flat cake, proceeded to bake it, smiling the while to think ofwhat my mother would say to such rough cookery. Very sure I am thatPatrick Lamb himself, whose book, the 'Complete Court Cook,' was ever inthe dear soul's left hand while she stirred and basted with her right,could not have turned out a dish which was more to my taste at themoment, for I had not even patience to wait for the browning of it, butsnapped it up and devoured it half hot. I then rolled a second one, andhaving placed it before the fire, and drawn my pipe from my pocket,I set myself to smoke, waiting with all the philosophy which I couldmuster until it should be ready.
I was lost in thought, brooding sadly over the blow which the news wouldbe to my father, when I was startled by a loud sneeze, which sounded asthough it were delivered in my very ear. I started to my feet and gazedall round me, but there was nothing save the solid wall behind and theempty chamber before. I had almost come to persuade myself that I hadbeen the creature of some delusion, when again a crashing sneeze, louderand more prolonged than the last, broke upon the silence. Could some onebe hid in one of the bags? Drawing my sword I walked round pricking thegreat flour sacks, but without being able to find cause for the sound. Iwas still marvelling over the matter when a most extraordinary chorus ofgasps, snorts, and whistles broke out, with cries of 'Oh, holy mother!''Blessed Redeemer!' and other such exclamations. This time there couldbe no doubt as to whence the uproar came. Rushing up to the great chestupon which I had been seated, I threw back the heavy lid and gazed in.
It was more than half full of flour, in the midst of which wasfloundering some creature, which was so coated and caked with the whitepowder, that it would have been hard to say that it was human wereit not for the pitiable cries which it was uttering. Stooping down Idragged the man from his hiding-place, when he dropped upon his kneesupon the floor and yelled for mercy, raising such a cloud of dust fromevery wriggle of his body that I began to cough and to sneeze. As theskin of powder began to scale off from him, I saw to my surprise that hewas no miller or peasant, but was a man-at-arms, with a huge sword girtto his side, looking at present not unlike a frosted icicle, and agreat steel-faced breastplate. His steel cap had remained behind in theflour-bin, and his bright red hair, the only touch of colour about him,stood straight up in the air with terror, as he implored me to spare hislife. Thinking that there was something familiar about his voice, I drewmy hand across his face, which set him yelling as though I had slainhim. There was no mistaking the heavy cheeks and the little greedyeyes. It was none other than Master Tetheridge, the noisy town-clerk ofTaunton.
But how much changed from the town-clerk whom we had seen strutting, inall the pomp and bravery of his office, before the good Mayor on the dayof our coming to Somersetshire! Where now was the ruddy colour like apippin in September? Where was the assured manner and the manly port? Ashe knelt his great jack-boots clicked together with apprehension, and hepoured forth in a piping voice, like that of a Lincoln's Inn mumper, astring of pleadings, excuses, and entreaties, as though I were Fevershamin person, and was about to order him to instant execution.
'I am but a poor scrivener man, your serene Highness,' he bawled.'Indeed, I am a most unhappy clerk, your Honour, who has been driveninto these courses by the tyranny of those above him. A more loyal man,your Grace, never wore neat's leather, but when the mayor says "Yes,"can the clerk say "No"? Spare me, your lordship; spare a most penitentwretch, whose only prayer is that he may be allowed to serve King Jamesto the last drop of his blood!'
'Do you renounce the Duke of Monmouth?' I asked, in a stern voice.
'I do--from my heart!' said he fervently.
'Then prepare to die!' I roared, whipping out my sword, 'for I am one ofhis officers.'
At the sight of the steel the wretched clerk gave a perfect bellow ofterror, and falling upon his face he wriggled and twisted, until lookingup he perceived that I was laughing. On that he crawled up on to hisknees once more, and from that to his feet, glancing at me askance, asthough by no means assured of my intentions.
'You must remember me, Master Tetheridge,' I said. 'I am Captain Clarke,of Saxon's regiment of Wiltshire foot. I am surprised, indeed, that youshould have fallen away from that allegiance to which you did not onlyswear yourself, but did administer the oath to so many others.'
'Not a whit, Captain, not a whit!' he answered, resuming his oldbantam-cock manner as soon as he saw that there was no danger. 'I amupon oath as true and as leal a man as ever I was.'
'That I can fully believe,' I answered.
'I did but dissimulate,' he continued, brushing the flour from hisperson. 'I did but practise that cunning of the serpent which shouldin every warrior accompany the courage of the lion. You have read yourHomer, doubtless. Eh? I too have had a touch of the humanities. I am nomere rough soldier, however stoutly I can hold mine own at sword-play.Master Ulysses is my type, even as thine, I take it, is Master Ajax.'
'Methinks that Master Jack-in-the-box would fit you better,' said I.'Wilt have a half of this cake? How came you in the flour-bin?'
'Why, marry, in this wise,' he answered, with his mouth full of dough.'It was a wile or ruse, after the fashion of the greatest commanders,who have always been famous for concealing their movements, and lurkingwhere they were least expected. For when the fight was lost, and I hadcut and hacked until my arm was weary and my edge blunted, I found thatI was left alone alive of all the Taunton men. Were we on the field youcould see where I had stood by the ring of slain which would be foundwithin the sweep of my sword-arm. Finding that all was lost and that ourrogues were fled, I mounted our worthy Mayor's charger, seeing that thegallant gentleman had no further need for it, and rode slowly from thefield. I promise you that there was that in my eye and bearing whichprevented their horse from making too close a pursuit of me. One trooperdid indeed throw himself across my path, but mine old back-handed cutwas too much for him. Alas, I have much upon my conscience? I have madeboth widows and orphans. Why will they brave me when--God of mercy, whatis that?'
''Tis but my horse in the stall below,' I answered.
'I thought it was the dragoons,' quoth the clerk, wiping away the dropswhich had started out upon his brow. 'You and I would have gone forthand smitten them.'
'Or climbed into the flour-bin,' said I.
'I have not yet made clear to you how I came there,' he continued.'Having ridden, then, some leagues from the field, and noting thiswindmill, it did occur to me that a stout man might single-handed makeit good against a troop of horse. We have no great love of flight, weTetheridges. It may be mere empty pride, and yet the feeling runs strongin the family. We have a fighting strain in us ever since my kinsmanfollowed Ireton's army as a sutler. I pulled up, therefore, and haddismounted to take my observations, when my brute of a charger gavethe bridle a twitch, jerked itself free, and was off in an instant overhedges and ditches. I had, therefore, only my good sword left to trustto. I climbed up the ladder, and was engaged in planning how the defencecould best be conducted, when I heard the clank of hoofs, and on thetop of it you did ascend from below. I retired at once into ambush, fromwhich I should assuredly have made a sudden outfall or sally, had theflour not so choked my breathing that I felt as though I had a two-poundloaf stuck in my gizzard. For m
yself, I am glad that it has so comeabout, for in my blind wrath I might unwittingly have done you aninjury. Hearing the clank of your sword as you did come up the ladder,I did opine that you were one of King James's minions, the captain,perchance, of some troop in the fields below.'
'All very clear and explicit, Master Tetheridge,' said I, re-lightingmy pipe. 'No doubt your demeanour when I did draw you from yourhiding-place was also a mere cloak for your valour. But enough of that.It is to the future that we have to look. What are your intentions?'
'To remain with you, Captain,' said he.
'Nay, that you shall not,' I answered; 'I have no great fancy for yourcompanionship. Your overflowing valour may bring me into ruffles which Ihad otherwise avoided.'
'Nay, nay! I shall moderate my spirit,' he cried. 'In such troubloustimes you will find yourself none the worse for the company of a triedfighting man.'
'Tried and found wanting,' said I, weary of the man's braggart talk. 'Itell you I will go alone.'
'Nay, you need not be so hot about it,' he exclaimed, shrinking awayfrom me. 'In any case, we had best stay here until nightfall, when wemay make our way to the coast.'
'That is the first mark of sense that you have shown,' said I. 'TheKing's horse will find enough to do with the Zoyland cider and theBridgewater ale. If we can pass through, I have friends on the northcoast who would give us a lift in their lugger as far as Holland.This help I will not refuse to give you, since you are my fellow inmisfortune. I would that Saxon had stayed with me! I fear he will betaken!'
'If you mean Colonel Saxon,' said the clerk, 'I think that he also isone who hath much guile as well as valour. A stern, fierce soldierhe was, as I know well, having fought back to back with him for fortyminutes by the clock, against a troop of Sarsfield's horse. Plain ofspeech he was, and perhaps a trifle inconsiderate of the honour of acavalier, but in the field it would have been well for the army had theyhad more such commanders.'
'You say truly,' I answered; 'but now that we have refreshed ourselvesit is time that we bethought us of taking some rest, since we may havefar to travel this night. I would that I could lay my hand upon a flagonof ale.'
'I would gladly drink to our further acquaintanceship in the same,'said my companion, 'but as to the matter of slumber that may be readilyarranged. If you ascend that ladder you will find in the loft a litterof empty sacks, upon which you can repose. For myself, I will stay downhere for a while and cook myself another cake.'
'Do you remain on watch for two hours and then arouse me,' I replied.'I shall then keep guard whilst you sleep.' He touched the hilt of hissword as a sign that he would be true to his post, so not without somemisgivings I climbed up into the loft, and throwing myself upon therude couch was soon in a deep and dreamless slumber, lulled by the low,mournful groaning and creaking of the sails.
I was awoken by steps beside me, and found that the little clerk hadcome up the ladder and was bending over me. I asked him if the time hadcome for me to rouse, on which he answered in a strange quavering voicethat I had yet an hour, and that he had come up to see if there was anyservice which he could render me. I was too weary to take much noteof his slinking manner and pallid cheeks, so thanking him for hisattention, I turned over and was soon asleep once more.
My next waking was a rougher and a sterner one. There came a suddenrush of heavy feet up the ladder, and a dozen red-coats swarmed into theroom. Springing on to my feet I put out my hand for the sword which Ihad laid all ready by my side, but the trusty weapon had gone. It hadbeen stolen whilst I slumbered. Unarmed and taken at a vantage, I wasstruck down and pinioned in a moment. One held a pistol to my head, andswore that he would blow my brains out if I stirred, while the otherswound a coil of rope round my body and arms, until Samson himself couldscarce have got free. Feeling that my struggles were of no possibleavail, I lay silent and waited for whatever was to come. Neither now norat any time, dear children, have I laid great store upon my life, butfar less then than now, for each of you are tiny tendrils which bind meto this world. Yet, when I think of the other dear ones who are waitingfor me on the further shore, I do not think that even now death wouldseem an evil thing in my eyes. What a hopeless and empty thing wouldlife be without it!
Having lashed my arms, the soldiers dragged me down the ladder, asthough I had been a truss of hay, into the room beneath, which wasalso crowded with troopers. In one corner was the wretched scrivener,a picture of abject terror, with chattering teeth and trembling knees,only prevented from falling upon the floor by the grasp of a stalwartcorporal. In front of him stood two officers, one a little hard brownman with dark twinkling eyes and an alert manner, the other tall andslender, with a long golden moustache, which drooped down half-way tohis shoulders. The former had my sword in his hand, and they were bothexamining the blade curiously.
'It is a good bit of steel, Dick,' said one, putting the point againstthe stone floor, and pressing down until he touched it with the handle.'See, with what a snap it rebounds! No maker's name, but the date 1638is stamped upon the pommel. Where did you get it, fellow?' he asked,fixing his keen gaze upon my face.
'It was my father's before me,' I answered.
'Then I trust that he drew it in a better quarrel than his son hathdone,' said the taller officer, with a sneer.
'In as good, though not in a better,' I returned. 'That sword hathalways been drawn for the rights and liberties of Englishmen, andagainst the tyranny of kings and the bigotry of priests.'
'What a tag for a playhouse, Dick,' cried the officer. 'How doth itrun? "The bigotry of kings and the tyranny of priests." Why, if welldelivered by Betterton close up to the footlights, with one hand uponhis heart and the other pointing to the sky, I warrant the pit wouldrise at it.'
'Very like,' said the other, twirling his moustache. 'But we have notime for fine speeches now. What are we to do with the little one?'
'Hang him,' the other answered carelessly.
'No, no, your most gracious honours,' howled Master Tetheridge, suddenlywrithing out of the corporal's grip and flinging himself upon thefloor at their feet. 'Did I not tell ye where ye could find one of thestoutest soldiers of the rebel army? Did not I guide ye to him? Did notI even creep up and remove his sword lest any of the King's subjectsbe slain in the taking of him? Surely, surely, ye would not use me soscurvily when I have done ye these services? Have I not made good mywords? Is he not as I described him, a giant in stature and of wondrousstrength? The whole army will bear me out in it, that he was worth anytwo in single fight. I have given him over to ye. Surely ye will let mego!'
'Very well delivered--plaguily so!' quoth the little officer, clappingthe palm of one hand softly against the back of the other. 'The emphasiswas just, and the enunciation clear. A little further back towards thewings, corporal, if you please. Thank you! Now, Dick, it is your cue.'
'Nay, John, you are too absurd!' cried the other impatiently. 'The maskand the buskins are well enough in their place, but you look upon theplay as a reality and upon the reality as but a play. What this reptilehath said is true. We must keep faith with him if we wish that others ofthe country folk should give up the fugitives. There is no help for it!'
'For myself I believe in Jeddart law,' his companion answered. 'Iwould hang the man first and then discuss the question of our promise.However, pink me if I will obtrude my opinion on any man!'
'Nay, it cannot be,' the taller said. 'Corporal, do you take him down.Henderson will go with you. Take from him that plate and sword, whichhis mother would wear with as good a grace. And hark ye, corporal, a fewtouches of thy stirrup leathers across his fat shoulders might not beamiss, as helping him to remember the King's dragoons.'
My treacherous companion was dragged off, struggling and yelping, andpresently a series of piercing howls, growing fainter and fainter as hefled before his tormentors, announced that the hint had been taken. Thetwo officers rushed to the little window of the mill and roared withlaughter, while the troopers, peeping furtively over their shoul
ders,could not restrain themselves from joining in their mirth, from which Igathered that Master Tetheridge, as, spurred on by fear, he hurled hisfat body through hedges and into ditches, was a somewhat comical sight.
'And now for the other,' said the little officer, turning away from thewindow and wiping the tears of laughter from his face. 'That beam overyonder would serve our purpose. Where is Hangman Broderick, the JackKetch of the Royals?'
'Here I am, sir,' responded a sullen, heavy-faced trooper, shufflingforward; 'I have a rope here with a noose.'
'Throw it over the beam, then. What is amiss with your hand, you clumsyrogue, that you should wear linen round it?'
'May it please you, sir,' the man answered, 'it was all through anungrateful, prick-eared Presbyterian knave whom I hung at Gommatch. Ihad done all that could be done for him. Had he been at Tyburn he couldscarce have met with more attention. Yet when I did put my hand to hisneck to see that all was as it should be, he did fix me with his teeth,and hath gnawed a great piece from my thumb.'
'I am sorry for you,' said the officer. 'You know, no doubt, that thehuman bite under such circumstances is as deadly as that of the mad dog,so that you may find yourself snapping and barking one of these finemornings. Nay, turn not pale! I have heard you preach patience andcourage to your victims. You are not afraid of death?'
'Not of any Christian death, your Honour. Yet, ten shillings a week isscarce enough to pay a man for an end like that!'
'Nay, it is all a lottery,' remarked the Captain cheerily. 'I have heardthat in these cases a man is so drawn up that his heels do beat a tattooagainst the back of his head. But, mayhap, it is not as painful as itwould appear. Meanwhile, do you proceed to do your office.'
Three or four troopers caught me by the arms, but I shook them off asbest I might, and walked with, as I trust, a steady step and a cheerfulface under the beam, which was a great smoke-blackened rafter passingfrom one side of the chamber to the other. The rope was thrown overthis, and the noose placed round my neck with trembling fingers by thehangman, who took particular care to keep beyond the range of my teeth.Half-a-dozen dragoons seized the further end of the coil, and stoodready to swing me into eternity. Through all my adventurous life I havenever been so close upon the threshold of death as at that moment, andyet I declare to you that, terrible as my position was, I could thinkof nothing but the tattoo marks upon old Solomon Sprent's arm, and thecunning fashion in which he had interwoven the red and the blue. Yet Iwas keenly alive to all that was going on around me. The scene of thebleak stone-floored room, the single narrow window, the two loungingelegant officers, the pile of arms in the corner, and even the textureof the coarse red serge and the patterns of the great brass buttons uponthe sleeve of the man who held me, are all stamped clearly upon my mind.
'We must do our work with order,' remarked the taller Captain, taking anote-book from his pocket. 'Colonel Sarsfield may desire some details.Let me see! This is the seventeenth, is it not?'
'Four at the farm and five at the cross-roads,' the other answered,counting upon his fingers. 'Then there was the one whom we shot in thehedge, and the wounded one who nearly saved himself by dying, and thetwo in the grove under the hill. I can remember no more, save those whowere strung up in 'Bridgewater immediately after the action.'
'It is well to do it in an orderly fashion,' quoth the other, scribblingin his book. 'It is very well for Kirke and his men, who are half Moorsthemselves, to hang and to slaughter without discrimination or ceremony,but we should set them a better example. What is your name, sirrah?'
'My name is Captain Micah Clarke,' I answered.
The two officers looked at each other, and the smaller one gave a longwhistle. 'It is the very man!' said he. 'This comes of asking questions!Rat me, if I had not misgivings that it might prove to be so. They saidthat he was large of limb.'
'Tell me, sirrah, have you ever known one Major Ogilvy of the HorseGuards Blue?' asked the Captain.
'Seeing that I had the honour of taking him prisoner,' I replied, 'andseeing also that he hath shared soldier's fare and quarters with me eversince, I think I may fairly say that I do know him.'
'Cast loose the cord!' said the officer, and the hangman reluctantlyslipped the cord over my head once more. 'Young man, you are surelyreserved for something great, for you will never be nearer your graveuntil you do actually step into it. This Major Ogilvy hath made greatinterest both for you and for a wounded comrade of yours who lies atBridgewater. Your name hath been given to the commanders of horse, withorders to bring you in unscathed should you be taken. Yet it is but fairto tell you that though the Major's good word may save you from martiallaw, it will stand you in small stead before a civil judge, before whomye must in the end take your trial.'
'I desire to share the same lot and fortune as has befallen mycompanions-in-arms,' I answered.
'Nay, that is but a sullen way to take your deliverance,' cried thesmaller officer. 'The situation is as flat as sutler's beer. Otway wouldhave made a bettor thing of it. Can you not rise to the occasion? Whereis she?'
'She! Who?' I asked.
'She. The she. The woman. Your wife, sweetheart, betrothed, what youwill.'
'There is none such,' I answered.
'There now! What can be done in a case like that?' cried hedespairingly. 'She should have rushed in from the wings and thrownherself upon your bosom. I have seen such a situation earn three roundsfrom the pit. There is good material spoiling here for want of some oneto work it up.'
'We have something else to work up, Jack,' exclaimed his companionimpatiently. 'Sergeant Gredder, do you with two troopers conduct theprisoner to Gommatch Church. It is time that we were once more upon ourway, for in a few hours the darkness will hinder the pursuit.'
At the word of command the troopers descended into the field where theirhorses were picketed, and were speedily on the march once more, the tallCaptain leading them, and the stage-struck cornet bringing up therear. The sergeant to whose care I had been committed--a greatsquare-shouldered, dark-browed man--ordered my own horse to be broughtout, and helped me to mount it. He removed the pistols from theholsters, however, and hung them with my sword at his own saddle-bow.
'Shall I tie his feet under the horse's belly?' asked one of thedragoons.
'Nay, the lad hath an honest face,' the sergeant answered. 'If hepromises to be quiet we shall cast free his arms.'
'I have no desire to escape,' said I.
'Then untie the rope. A brave man in misfortune hath ever my goodwill,strike me dumb else! Sergeant Gredder is my name, formerly of Mackay'sand now of the Royals--as hard-worked and badly-paid a man as any inhis Majesty's service. Right wheel, and down the pathway! Do ye rideon either side, and I behind! Our carbines are primed, friend, so standtrue to your promise!'
'Nay, you can rely upon it,' I answered.
'Your little comrade did play you a scurvy trick,' said the sergeant,'for seeing us ride down the road he did make across to us, andbargained with the Captain that his life should be spared, on conditionthat he should deliver into our hands what he described as one of thestoutest soldiers in the rebel army. Truly you have thews and sinewsenough, though you are surely too young to have seen much service.'
'This hath been my first campaign,' I answered.
'And is like to be your last,' he remarked, with soldierly frankness. 'Ihear that the Privy Council intend to make such an example as will takethe heart out of the Whigs for twenty years to come. They have a lawyercoming from London whose wig is more to be feared than our helmets. Hewill slay more men in a day than a troop of horse in a ten-mile chase.Faith! I would sooner they took this butcher-work into their own hands.See those bodies on yonder tree. It is an evil season when such acornsgrow upon English oaks.'
'It is an evil season,' said I, 'when men who call themselves Christiansinflict such vengeance upon poor simple peasants, who have done no morethan their conscience urged them. That the leaders and officers shouldsuffer is but fair. They stood to win
in case of success, and should payforfeit now that they have lost. But it goes to my heart to see thosepoor godly country folk so treated.'
'Aye, there is truth in that,' said the sergeant. 'Now if it were someof these snuffle-nosed preachers, the old lank-haired bell-wethers whohave led their flocks to the devil, it would be another thing. Whycan they not conform to the Church, and be plagued to them? It is goodenough for the King, so surely it is good enough for them; or are theirsouls so delicate that they cannot satisfy themselves with that on whichevery honest Englishman thrives? The main road to Heaven is too commonfor them. They must needs have each a by-path of their own, and cry outagainst all who will not follow it.'
'Why,' said I, 'there are pious men of all creeds. If a man lead a lifeof virtue, what matter what he believes?
'Let a man keep his virtue in his heart,' quoth Sergeant Gredder. 'Lethim pack it deep in the knapsack of his soul. I suspect godlinesswhich shows upon the surface, the snuffling talk, the rolling eyes, thegroaning and the hawking. It is like the forged money, which can be toldby its being more bright and more showy than the real.'
'An apt comparison!' said I. 'But how comes it, sergeant, that you havegiven attention to these matters? Unless they are much belied, the RoyalDragoons find other things to think of.'
'I was one of Mackay's foot,' he answered shortly. 'I have heard ofhim,' said I. 'A man, I believe, both of parts and of piety.'
'That, indeed, he is,' cried Sergeant Gredder warmly. 'He is a man sternand soldierly to the outer eye, but with the heart of a saint withinhim. I promise you there was little need of the strapado in hisregiment, for there was not a man who did not fear the look of sorrow inhis Colonel's eyes far more than he did the provost-marshal.'
During the whole of our long ride I found the worthy sergeant a truefollower of the excellent Colonel Mackay, for he proved to be a man ofmore than ordinary intelligence, and of serious and thoughtful habit.As to the two troopers, they rode on either side of me as silent asstatues; for the common dragoons of those days could but talk of wineand women, and were helpless and speechless when aught else was to thefore. When we at last rode into the little village of Gommatch, whichoverlooks the plain of Sedgemoor, it was with regret on each side that Ibade my guardian adieu. As a parting favour I begged him to take chargeof Covenant for me, promising to pay a certain sum by the month for hiskeep, and commissioning him to retain the horse for his own use should Ifail to claim him within the year. It was a load off my mind when I sawmy trusty companion led away, staring back at me with questioning eyes,as though unable to understand the separation. Come what might, I knewnow that, he was in the keeping of a good man who would see that no harmbefell him.