PRESERVE” AND A “PRETTY PICKLE.”
After a strict injunction from Millar to preserve silence, the party
in search of Hardy and his associates again moved forward, Lord
Belle-field, Millar, and Lewis in front, and the others following two
abreast. As soon as they had entered the wood the remaining men joined
them, making altogether a company of eleven. As they advanced farther
into the plantation, the boughs of the trees, becoming thicker and more
closely interlaced, intercepted the moonlight and rendered their onward
progress a matter of some difficulty. The gamekeepers however, knew
every intricacy of the path, and could have found his way in the darkest
night as easily as at noonday. After winding among the trees for some
minutes they came upon a little glade where the underwood had been
partially cleared away and a small quantity of barley stacked for the
purpose of feeding the pheasants. At the entrance to the space thus
cleared the party halted, and Millar, creeping forward on his hands and
knees, reached the stack. Sheltering himself behind it, he made his way
to the opposite side, where he was lost to sight; reappearing almost
immediately, he cautiously rejoined the others, saying in a low whisper:
“I expected how it would be; there is from twenty or thirty pheasands
roosting on the trees beyond the stack there, and Hardy and his mates
being aware on it, is a-making of their way through the bushes right
ahead. I could hear ’em plain enough when I was at the stack yonder.
Now, two on yer must come along o’ me, creep to the stack and hide
behind it as yer see me do, then vait till them blackguards has let
fly at the pheasands, and afore they can load again ve three must jump
forrard and try and captiwate Hardy. In the meantime, you others must
make yer way round through the bushes and take ’em in the rear, and
help us if we wants helping.”
“Which you will do most certainly,” returned Lord Bellefield. “I’ll lead
the party that remains.”
“And I’ll go with you, Millar,” observed Lewis.
“And you, Sam,” continued Millar, addressing the under-keeper before
alluded to. The man came forward, and placing himself by Lewis’s side,
the three crept along till they had reached the stack, sheltered by
which they again stood upright. Scarcely had they taken their places
when two guns, followed by four others, were discharged in rapid
succession, and so close to them, that the shot pattering amongst the
underwood was distinctly audible, and one of the wounded pheasants
dropped at Lewis’s feet; while almost immediately afterwards a couple of
men ran forward to collect the fallen game. The foremost of these was a
fellow of Herculean proportions: as he stooped to pick up a pheasant a
ray of moonlight revealed his features, and Lewis immediately recognised
his former antagonist, the tall Chartist. At the same moment Millar
whispered, “That’s our man; go ahead!”
[Illustration: 0224]
“Leave him to me,” returned Lewis eagerly; and bending forward, with a
bound like that of a tiger he sprang upon him.
The poacher was taken so completely by surprise (his back being turned
towards his assailant) that Lewis, encircling him with a grasp of iron,
was enabled to pinion his arms to his sides. Like a wild bull caught in
the toils, his struggles to free himself were tremendous; but Lewis, now
in the full vigour of his strength, was an adversary not easily to be
shaken off, and despite his unrivalled powers, the poacher failed
to extricate his arms. Shouting, therefore, to his companion for
assistance, he desired him, with an oath, to shoot the ------ keeper;
but that individual was unable to comply with his comrade’s benevolent
suggestion by reason of certain well-directed blows wherewith Sam Jones,
the under-keeper, was producing a marked alteration in the general
outline of his features. In the meantime, Millar, drawing forth a piece
of cord, began coolly to tie Hardy’s wrists together, disregarding a
series of ferocious kicks with which he assailed him. At this moment the
other poachers, to the number of some half-dozen, attracted by the
sound of blows, reached the scene of action, but the party led by Lord
Bellefield were equally on the alert, and the fight became general. And
now the capture of the poacher Hardy appeared certain: exhausted by his
unavailing struggles to free himself from Lewis’s encircling arms,
he could offer no effectual resistance to Millar, who continued most
methodically to bind his wrists, in no way diverted from his purpose
by the storm of blows which raged around him, many of which fell on his
unprotected person, when suddenly the report of a pistol rung sharply
above the other sounds of the combat, and an acute, stinging pain darted
through Lewis’s left shoulder, causing him such agony for the moment
that he involuntarily relaxed his grasp. Hardy was not slow to avail
himself of the opportunity thus offered. Flinging off the young tutor
with so much violence that he would have fallen had not one of the
gamekeeper’s assistants caught him and prevented it, he wrenched his
hands from Millar’s grasp, and raising them, still bound together as
they were, struck the keeper such a severe blow on the side of the head
that he reeled and fell; then seeing that his companions, overpowered by
numbers and disheartened by his supposed capture, were giving way on
all sides, he turned, and dashing into the bushes, disappeared, not
so quickly, however, but that Lewis, who, despite his wound, had never
taken his eyes off him for a moment, perceived the movement.
Grasping his stick, which he had contrived to retain during the
struggle, firmly with his right hand, he lost no time in following the
fugitive, and guided by the crashing of the bushes, kept close on his
traces till they reached the boundary hedge; breaking his way through
this obstacle with the strength and fury of some wild animal, the
poacher sprang across the ditch into the open park beyond. Seeing that
he had a desperate man to deal with, and fearing that although the first
severe pain had abated, and little more than a sensation of numbness
remained, his left arm might prove in some degree incapacitated by
the wound he had received, Lewis paused a moment to reconnoitre ere
he followed him. To his great delight, he perceived he had reached the
hedge along the side of which the watchers were stationed, near the spot
where General Grant had taken up his position. Hardy, unconscious how
closely he was followed, stopped also a moment while he endeavoured
to set free his wrists; but so securely had Millar bound them, that
although by a violent exertion of strength he contrived to render the
cord slacker, he was unable wholly to succeed in his object. Fearing,
however, that the cord would not hold out much longer, and unwilling
to lose the only advantage gained by his previous struggle, Lewis
determined once more to endeavour to seize him. Shouting, therefore,
to give notice to the watchers where their assistance was likely to
be required, he sprang across the ditch and advanced towards his
antagonist. At first the poacher appeared inclined to stand his ground;
but seeing his opponent was armed with a stout stick, and recollecting
his own defenceless condition, he resolved to trust rather to
his unrivalled fleetness, and turning away with an exclamation of
disappointed rage, again betook himself to flight. This portion of the
park was clear of trees or any other cover for a space of more than
half a mile square, beyond which lay another larger wood; if Hardy could
contrive to reach this, his escape would become a matter of certainty.
The ground, which had once formed part of an ancient Roman camp, lay in
terraces, and this circumstance gave Hardy, who knew every inch of the
country by heart, a slight advantage. In speed they were very equally
matched; for although Lewis, from his youth and light, active make, was
perhaps really the fleetest, Hardy was in better training. When they
first started the poacher was about ten yards ahead, and they had
reached nearly half the centre of the space between the two woods ere
Lewis had diminished that distance materially. Hitherto they had been
running uphill, and the poacher’s superior condition (as a jockey would
term it) enabled him to continue his rapid course without the pace
telling as much as it did on his pursuer; but now the ground began to
descend, and Lewis, having saved himself for a short distance to recover
breath, put forth his whole powers, and despite the utmost exertions
the poacher was capable of making, gained upon him so fast that it was
evident that in a few more strides he must overtake him. But Hardy’s
usual good luck appeared not even yet to have deserted him, for at the
very moment when it seemed certain Lewis must come up with him, a cloud
obscured the moon, and the poacher, taking advantage of this accident to
double on his pursuer, contrived to make such good use of his knowledge
of the ground, that when the bright moonlight again enabled Lewis to
discern his retreating figure, he perceived, to his extreme chagrin and
disappointment, that the fugitive would gain the wood, and doubtless
effect his escape, before he could again overtake him. It was then with
no small satisfaction that, just as he was about to give up the chase as
hopeless, he caught sight of a man on horseback galloping in a direction
which must effectually cut off the poacher’s retreat. Another moment
sufficed to show him that the rider, in whom he immediately recognised
General Grant, had perceived the fugitive, and intended to prevent his
escape. Lewis accordingly strained every nerve to reach the spot in time
to render assistance, more particularly as he remarked that Hardy had by
some means contrived to set his hands at liberty. In spite of his utmost
exertions, however, it was evident that the encounter would take place
before he could arrive; and remembering his promise to Annie, it
was with mingled feelings of anxiety for her father’s safety, and
self-reproach for having quitted him, that he prepared to witness the
struggle. As soon as the General perceived the state of affairs, he
waved his hand as a sign to Lewis; then drawing his sabre, stood up in
his stirrups and rode gallantly at the poacher, shouting to him at the
same time to stop and yield himself prisoner. Hardy paid no attention
to the summons, continuing to run on till he felt the horse’s breath
hot upon his neck; then, as General Grant, after again calling on him to
“surrender, or he would cut him down,” prepared to put his threat into
execution, he dodged aside to avoid the blow, and springing suddenly
upon the rider, dashed the sword from his hand, and seizing him by the
throat, endeavoured to drag him off his horse. The old man, though taken
by surprise, clung firmly to his saddle, and spurring his horse, tried
to shake off his assailant; but his strength unfortunately was not equal
to his courage, and the poacher, snatching at the rein, backed the horse
till it reared almost erect and flung its rider forcibly to the ground.
Apparently bent on revenge, Hardy, still retaining his grasp on the
bridle, led the horse over the fallen body of the man, with the brutal
intention of trampling him to death. But the generous instinct of the
animal served to frustrate his evil purpose; as, though he led it twice
directly across its prostrate master, the horse raised its feet and
carefully avoided treading on him. Striking the animal ferociously on
the head with his clenched fist, he next attempted to back it in the
same direction, but the frightened animal sprang aside and plunged so
violently that he was unable to effect his design. He was still striving
to do so when Lewis, breathless with the speed at which he had run,
reached the spot. Instantly leaping over the fallen man, stick in hand,
he struck Hardy so severe a blow on the wrist that he was forced to quit
his hold on the bridle, and the scared horse broke away and galloped
off, snorting with terror. The poacher, infuriated by the pain of the
blow, forgot all prudential considerations; and heedless of the approach
of three of the watchers, who, attracted by the noise of the struggle,
were rapidly hastening towards the spot, he rushed upon Lewis, and
disregarding a heavy blow with which the young tutor greeted him,
flung his arms round him and endeavoured to dash him to the ground.
Fortunately for Lewis, he was not ignorant of the manly exercise of
wrestling, and his proficiency in the art stood him in good stead at
this moment; for, despite his gigantic strength, Hardy could not succeed
in throwing him. In vain did he lift him from the ground; with whatever
violence he flung him down, he still fell upon his legs; in vain did he
compress him in his powerful arms, till Lewis felt as if every rib were
giving way--the only effect of his exertions was to exhaust his own
strength; till, at length taking advantage of an incautious movement of
his adversary, the young tutor contrived to pass his leg behind that
of the poacher and thus trip him up. His victory was, however, nearly
proving fatal to him, for in falling the ruffian clutched him by
the throat and dragged him down with him. Nor, although Lewis being
uppermost was enabled to raise himself on one knee and return the
compliment by inserting his hand within the folds of his adversary’s
neck-cloth, could he force him to relinquish his grasp. Fortunately,
help was at hand; and just as Lewis began to feel that it was becoming
serious, and that if the pressure on his throat continued much longer he
should be strangled outright, the three assistants came up; two of them
immediately flung themselves upon the poacher, while the third dragged
Lewis, who was rapidly growing exhausted, from the deadly embrace of his
prostrate foe. Having with some difficulty succeeded in so doing, the
man laid him at full length on the grass, and leaving him to recover as
best he might, turned to assist his companions to secure Hardy. This
was now a comparatively easy task, for his final struggle with Lewis
had exhausted even the poacher’s strength, and after a futile attempt
to rise and shake off his captors, he ceased to resist, and submitted
in sullen silence, while his arms were secured with the General’s
sword-belt. This operation concluded, the man who had rescued Lewis
returned to him and found him sufficiently recovered to sit up.
“Have you looked to the General? is he uninjured?” was his first
question.
“I’m afear’d he’s terrible hurt, if he ain’t killed outright; leastways
he’s onsensibul, and one of his arms seems crushed like,” was the
consolatory reply.
“Oh that I had come up a minute sooner!” exclaimed Lewis in a tone of
bitter self-reproach.
“You’d have been a dead man if yer had, sir,” was the reply. “If that
willian there had had hold of your throat half a minute longer, you’d
have been as stiff as a leg of mutton by this time.”
“Better that I had perished than that this should have occurred,”
murmured Lewis; then turning to the man, he continued, “Lend me your
arm; I can walk now,” and rising with difficulty, he advanced towards
the spot where General Grant lay. He was perfectly insensible; his hat
had fallen off, and his grey hair, exposed to the night dews, imparted,
as the moonlight streamed on it, a ghastly expression to his features,
while his right arm was bent under him in an unnatural position, which
left no doubt that it must be broken, probably in more places than one.
Lewis knelt down beside him, and raising his uninjured hand, placed his
finger on the wrist.
“I can feel his pulse beat distinctly,” he observed, after a moment’s
pause. “He is not dead, nor dying; indeed, except the injury to his arm,
I hope he may not be seriously hurt. No time must be lost in carrying
him to the house and procuring a surgeon.”
“Somebody ought to go to Broadhurst to let’m know what’s happened and
get us some help. We’ve more than we can manage here, you see,” urged
the assistant. “It will take two on us to purwent that blackguard Hardy
from getting away; he won’t lose no chance, you may depend.”
“I’ll stay with General Grant if you’ll run to the house,” returned
Lewis feebly.
“Your arm’s a bleeding, sir. Did that willian stab you?” inquired the
assistant.
“No; I was hurt in the wood,” was the reply.
“Do you think you could ride, sir?” continued the man; “ ’cos if
you could, I’d try and catch the horse--he’s a grazin’ very quiet
yonder--and then you could go to the house, start off one of the grooms
to fetch a doctor, send some of the people down here to help us, get yer
own wound dressed, and break the news to the family better than such a
chap as me.”
This observation was a true one, and Lewis felt that it was so;
therefore, although he dreaded the task, and would rather have again
encountered the dangers he had just escaped than witnessed Annie Grant’s
dismay and sorrow when she should find her dark anticipations realised,
he agreed to the arrangement; and as the man succeeded in catching the
horse almost immediately, he mounted with some difficulty and rode off
at speed, though the rapid motion increased the pain of his wound till
it became almost insupportable. He reached Broadhurst in less than ten
minutes, never drawing bridle till he entered the stable-yard, although
he turned so faint and dizzy on the way that more than once he was
nearly falling from the saddle. His first act was to despatch a mounted
groom to procure a surgeon; he next sent off four of the men-servants
with a hurdle converted into an extemporary litter, giving them exact
directions where to find their master, and waiting to see that they
started without loss of time; he then attempted to dismount, but was
unable to do so without assistance. Having paused a few moments till
the faintness had again gone off, he entered the house by the servants’
entrance, and calling the butler aside, desired him to summon Mr.
Leicester as quietly as possible; then, sinking into a chair and resting
his head on his hands, he awaited his arrival with ill-con sealed
anxiety, dreading lest some incautious person should abruptly inform
Annie of her father’s accident.