"Heerd you anythin' 'bout me, Win?"
"Yes, Rob."
"What?"
"They have been wonderin' how ye managed to get out o't gaol, an' blame
Will Morgan for lendin' ye a hand. Day afore yesterday a party came
over from Lydney wi' that young officer as be wi' Sir John Winter--
Trevor I think they call him."
"Yes; that's the name. I know him well enough--too well. 'Twas he as
took me in the High Meadows."
"Oh! it was. Well; he hev taked Will, too, an' carried him away to
Lydney, where Sir John ha' now got a gaol o' his own. There wor some
trouble 'bout it; the Lord Herbert, who's governor at Monnerth, claimin'
him as his prisoner. But the other sayed as yours wor a case o'
deer-stealin' in the Forest, an' Will had helped, ye ought both be taken
before Sir John an' tried by him, he bein' head man o' it. Then Lord
Herbert gave in, an' let them take him off. Will did help ye a bit,
didn't he?"
"More'n a bit. But for him, liker than not, I'd now be in theer lock-up
at Lydney. Well, if he be goed there he mayn't ha' so long to stay as
they think for--won't, if what I've heerd be true."
"What's ye heerd, Rob?"
"Some news as ha' just come down from Lunnun. It's sayed the King's
been chased out o't, an' the Parlyment be now havin' it all theer own
way. Supposin' that's the case, Sir John Winter won't hae it all his
own way much longer. We Foresters'll deal wi' him diff'rent from what
we've been a doin'. An' 'bout that I ha' got word o' somethin' else."
"What somethin'?"
"A man, they say's comin' down here--from Lunnun too. One o' the right
sort--friend o' the people. Besides, a soldier as ha' seen foreign
service, an' is reckoned 'mong the best and kindest of men."
"I think I know who ye mean, Rob. Ain't it Sir Richard Walwyn?"
"That's the man."
"He wor at Hollymead fore he went away to the wars. I've seed him
many's the time. He used to often ride past our place, an' always
stopped to ha' a word an' a joke wi' Jack. That makes me remember him;
an' if I beant mistook somebody else ha' remembrance o' him in a
different way, an' ain't like ever to forget him."
"Who?"
"One o' the young ladies o' Hollymead--the older 'un, Miss Sabrina. I
ha' heerd as much from the house sarvints theer."
Just the shadow of a cloud had shown itself on Rob's brow as Win
commenced giving her reminiscences of the knight who had been visitor at
Hollymead and used to crack jokes with Jerky. It passed off, however,
ere her relation came to an end.
"Well, dear Win," he said, speaking more tenderly from consciousness of
having harboured an unjust suspicion; "they say Sir Richard be comin'
down to raise soldiers for the Parlyment. If that be so, one o' the
first to join him'll be Rob Wilde; an' maybe the biggest, if not best,
in the fightin' line."
"You'll be the best, Rob; I know you will. Who could equal you?"
At which she threw open her arms, then closed them around his neck,
covering him with kisses.
In all probability, many soft words and much tender concourse would have
succeeded this outburst of admiration. But the opportunity was not
allowed them. Just then they heard a clattering of hoofs, horsemen
coming down the road from Ruardean, at a gallop.
Rob, setting his ears to listen, could tell there were two of them, but
nothing more--nothing to admonish him whether they were friends or
enemies. But with the consciousness of having stolen deer and broken
jail, twenty to one on their being the latter, reflected he. In any
case prudence counselled him hiding himself, and letting the horsemen
pass on.
His first impulse was to spring back up the bank, leaving the woman in
the road. They could have nothing against her, whoever they were. But
they were near now, still riding rapidly, and before he could scramble
to the summit of the slope would be sure to see him. Just then, a
hiding-place handier, and more easily accessible, came under his eye; a
break in the bank just opposite, which he knew to be the entrance to an
old limestone quarry, long abandoned. He would be safe enough in there,
at least from observation by any one passing down the road. Whether or
no, it was now Hobson's choice with him; the trampling was louder and
clearer; and but for an abrupt bend of the road above he could have seen
the horsemen, as they him. No alternative, therefore, but to cut into
the quarry; which he did--the woman with him.
Scarce were they well inside it, when the hoof-strokes ceased to be
heard. The horses had been suddenly pulled up; a colloquy ensuing.
"Hullo, Jerky!" it begun. "On your way from Monmouth market, I
suppose?"
"Yes, yer honour; jist that."
"But where's your big sister? I've met you scores of times along the
roads, though never without her. I hope there's nothing amiss?"
"Oh! nothin', sir. She be wi' me now, close by, coming up the pitch,
only ha' legged a bit behint."
"Well, Jack, I won't detain you; as I must not be lagging myself. I
want to reach Ross before the night's on. Good-bye, old cadge!"
At which the dialogue came to an end, and the hoof-strokes were again
heard, now coming close.
Only for a minute or so, when a second colloquy was entered upon, this
time one of the voices being different.
Rob Wilde knew them both; had long ago recognised the one that held
speech with the cadger, and had reason to feel keenly apprehensive as he
listened. Far more now, as the words of the later dialogue dropped upon
his ears.
"Old Timber-toes said his sister was just behind. I don't see anything
of her; and certainly she's not one there should be any difficulty in
making out--even at a league's distance. Hey! what the deuce is that?"
And Reginald Trevor again reined up. For it was he, with his servant.
"A basket, it appears to be, Captain," answered the man, "with a bottle
in it. Yes," he added, after drawing closer, lifting it from the ledge,
and peering into it. "Something besides the bottle--bread, cheese, and
bacon."
"Where there's so much smoke there should be some fire," reflected his
master, who had halted in the middle of the road. Then, thinking it odd
he saw nothing of the cadger's sister, and noticing the gap leading into
the quarry, it occurred to him she might be there. Partly out of
curiosity, and partly from an intuition, which the basket of provisions
had done something to inspire, he headed his horse at the opening and
rode in.
Soon as inside, an exclamation rose to his lips, in tone which told of
more than surprise. There was triumph, exultation, in it. For there
saw he, not only the woman missing from the road, but a man, the same
who had been for some time missing from Monmouth Gaol. The bushes in
the old quarry were not thick enough, nor tall enough, to give either of
them concealment; and they were standing erect, without further attempt
at seeking it.
"Ho--ho! my giant," cried the officer. "It's here you are; making love
to Jerky's sister. And a pretty pair of love-birds too! Ha! ha! That
explains the basket of eatables and drinkables. What a pity to
interrupt your billing and cooing! But I must. So master Rob,
deer-stealer and jail-breaker," he added drawing his sword. "Come along
with me! You needn't trouble about bringing the basket. In the Lydney
lock-up I'll see to your being fed free of expense."
"When you get me there," rejoined Rob, in defiant tone, as he spoke
pulling from under the breast of his doublet a long-bladed knife, and
setting himself firm for defence.
This was unexpected by the King's officer, who had not thought or dreamt
of resistance. It was there, however, in sure, stern shape, and he felt
himself committed to overcoming it. With a prick of his spur he sprang
his horse forward, and straight at Rob, as though he would ride over
him, his sword held ready for either cut or thrust.
But neither gave he, nor could. As the horse's head came close to him,
the Colossus lunged out with long arm, and sent the point of his knife
into the animal's nostrils, which caused it to rear up and round,
squealing with pain. This brought its rider's back towards the man who
had pricked it; and before he could wheel again, Reginald Trevor was in
the embrace of him he had jokingly called giant--realising that he had
the strength of one, as he was himself dragged out of his saddle.
But they were not the only combatants in the quarry. For, following his
master, the servant had made to assist him in his assault against the
big man, taking no note of the big woman, or fancying she would not
interfere. In which fancy he was sadly mistaken. For in scrimmage his
back becoming turned upon her, as if taking pattern by Rob, she sprang
up, caught hold of the lightweight groom, and jerked him to the ground,
easily as she would have pulled a bantam cock from out one of the
Jinkum's panniers.
In less than threescore seconds after the affair began, Reginald Trevor
and his attendant were unhorsed, disarmed, and held as in the hug of a
couple of bears.
"I'll let ye go," said Rob to his prisoner, after some rough handling,
"when ye say you won't take advantage o' my gen'rosity by renewin' the
attack. Bah!" he added, without waiting for response, "I'll put that
out o' yer power."
Saying which, he caught up the officer's sword, and broke it across his
knee, at the same time releasing him. The blade of the attendant was
treated likewise, and both master and man were permitted to rise to
their feet, feeling vanquished as weaponless.
"You can take yourselves off," sneeringly said the deer-stealer; "an' as
ye talked 'bout bein' in Ross 'fore nightfall, you'll do well to make
quick time."
Not a word spoke Reginald Trevor in reply, nor thanks for the mercy
shown him. Too angry was he for that; his anger holding him speechless
because of its very impotence. In sullen silence he regained the bridle
of his horse--like himself having lost spirit by copious bleeding of the
nose--climbed back into the saddle, and continued on down Cat's Hill,
his varlet behind him, both swordless, and yet more crestfallen than
when they rode out through the gate of Hollymead Park.
"We're in for it now, Win," said Rob, to the cadger's sister, after
seeing them depart. "An' we've got to look out for danger. I'm sorry
'bout you havin' to share it; but maybe 'twon't be so much, after all.
Once Sir Richard gets here, an' the fightin' begins, as it surely must
soon, trust me for takin' care o' ye."
"I will--I do, Rob!"
And again the great arms were thrown around his neck, while upon his
lips were showered a very avalanche of kisses.