I kept to the road, often glancing backward for any sign of pursuit,
but reached Crowle without adventure, and made straight for the
vicarage. The front door stood open, and I strode in, right glad to be
in security, shouting, "Aunt, where are you?" forgetting, for the
moment, the shock I was like to give her. A maid whom I did not know
came from the kitchen, but stopped short at sight of me, and screamed.
That brought me to recollection.
"Don't be alarmed, my wench," said I, "but go quick to Mistress Graves,
and tell her there is one here who has news for her."
But the maid continued to scream "Master! Thieves! Murder!" And her
cries brought a strange clergyman into the hall, who appeared not to
like the look of me.
"What is this? Who are you? What is your business?" he asked, all in
a breath.
"I would see Mistress Graves," I answered.
"Mistress Graves is with her husband in Lincoln, as every one in the
parish knows," said the parson, eyeing me more mistrustfully.
"In Lincoln!" I echoed in amazement. Then I remembered that the vicar
held some appointment at the minster--a praelectorship, or
sub-praelectorship, I believe it was called--which took him to the city
at stated times.
"In Lincoln," repeated the parson. "Therefore you can have no further
business here."
"And have they taken their servants?" I asked. "They would not need
the gardener: is he not here?"
"There are men on the premises," he answered, "but you will find the
vicar's gardener at his cottage, I dare say."
And he motioned with his hand toward the door.
"Oh, I am not to be so dismissed," I blurted out. "I am Mistress
Graves' nephew, Vavasour."
"What effrontery!" cried the parson. "The young gentleman is dead and
buried."
"But I am he, I tell you. I have been immured in Melwood Priory, and
only escaped this morning."
"If that be so," answered the parson, who evidently did not believe a
word of it, "you should appeal to the magistrates."
"Such is my intention. But all my belongings are here. I sent them to
my aunt's care seventeen days ago. I beg you to let me have the means
of cleanliness, and a change of clothing."
"You must be as much fool as knave, to imagine I shall give my friend's
property to the first beggar who chooses to ask for it."
"But I will describe my baggage and its contents," I pleaded.
"Doubtless, doubtless. Perhaps you have an inventory in your pocket,"
he replied, with contempt for the tricks of beggars in his tone.
His own words seemed to set him thinking, for he drew out a paper from
his pocket, and read it, looking up at me two or three times in the
course of reading.
"I have here your description, point by point," said he, when he had
finished the perusal, "and your name is given as Jim Ulceby, for whose
apprehension a reward is offered. The description tallies precisely,
so far as I can see. It makes mention of certain marks on the breast,
which may or may not be on yours."
"I bear the marks," I said.
"Oh! You confess it?"
I recounted briefly what had been done to me, ending by a claim that he
should aid me as befitted his sacred office. In this I made a great
mistake, for the parson waxed hot, declaring my story utterly
incredible, and bade me begone. I felt quite sure he would have
detained me, if he had had force at command. So I made my way to Daft
Jack's cottage by every turn and cross-cut I knew, in hope to elude
observation. It stood near one end of a small orchard, thickly
planted, a narrow path leading from the orchard gate to the cottage
door. I rapped on the door with my knuckles, and heard Jack's high
voice tremble as he called "Come in." The room, lighted only by a
small window, which a tree overshadowed, was dim to eyes fresh from the
sunshine, but I saw Jack seated on a stool, shoulders bent, hands on
knees, face directed toward the door.
"Who are you? Speak," he cried, in a tone of fear.
"An old acquaintance, Jack; not dead, as you may have believed, but
sorely in need of friendly help."
Jack sprang out of his posture of fright, and seized my hands.
"I knew it was your step," he almost shrieked. "Oh yes; and it is your
voice. You're warm and wick. Oh, Mester Frank, where have you been?
And what's come to your face?" The poor fellow trembled, and fell to
blubbering, squeezing my hands and gazing up at me.
"I will tell you all about myself shortly, Jack, but I am as hungry as
a moudiwarp; how dirty I am, there's no telling. Can you find me soap
and water and a scrubbing-brush? And I want some other clothing than
these foul rags. Whether my money will go so far, though, is doubtful."
Pulling out the purse which Bess had given me, put me in mind of the
warning with which she had charged me.
"But you are to lie, snug, Jack, so you cannot do marketing for me.
Bess Boswell sent you word that soldiers are prowling about."
Jack chuckled, and taking out of a box a gown and a bonnet, such as our
labouring women wear in the fields, he informed me that, indued in
these, he became Judy Hoggat, well known to his neighbours; and as his
hairless face was womanish enough, when framed and partly concealed in
the hood, I judged he might safely do my errands.
An hour later we sat down to meat, I clean and tolerably comfortable in
shepherd's garb. When we had eaten and drunk our fill, and I had
satisfied Jack's curiosity, I asked for cleat-boards and staff,
intending to cross to Sandtoft without delay; but while Jack was
getting ready for my journey, I fell asleep in my chair, and slept till
four o'clock--too late to go and return to meet Bess, who might have
something of urgent importance to tell me. I felt heartily ashamed of
my drowsiness, and inclined to be angry with Jack for not rousing me;
but he answered my rating with--
"Wouldn't ha' waked you for a hatful of gold. Why, you looked as tired
as a dog in a pedlar's cart."
With the dusk came Bess, who had met a troop of carabineers soon after
we parted at Belton, and being questioned by the officer, had sent them
eastward to Butterwick ferry. Of her father's whereabouts and present
business she knew little, beyond the fact that he had gone away in a
hurry on receipt of a message from Sheffield. She was disposed to
think the message related to Vliet, for Boswell had growled a curse on
"all Dutchmen." Bess had ascertained that my friend Portington was at
home, and she urged my going to Tudworth under cover of the darkness.
My first duty, she held, was to obtain the help and countenance of
friends; and in spite of my longing for sight of Anna, I acknowledged
the good sense of the advice, and agreed to set out shortly. I had no
sooner said so than we heard the clatter of horses at the trot.
"Soldiers!" exclaimed Bess.
"Judy Hoggat, be ready to slip out," said I.
Jack nodded, and put on his simple disguise. The horsemen drew up with
a jangling noise, which certified them soldiers. Heavy footsteps
approached the door, and some one knocked as with the butt of a pistol,
and called out--
"Open, in the King's name!"
Jack threw it wide. "And what does his Majesty want of poor Judy
Hoggat?" he asked, in a quavering, frightened voice. There was no
chance for him to escape, for the little orchard was thronged with
carabineers.
A grizzled old sergeant strode into the room, followed by three of his
men, and answered--
"A better light for one thing. Stir up your fire, my good woman, and
bring me a candle."
This done, the sergeant poked the candle in my face.
"Uncover your chest," he ordered. The old fellow examined the marks
attentively. "As described," he muttered; but I thought he had the
look of being mystified about something.
"Jim Ulceby, you are my prisoner," said he.
"I am not Jim Ulceby, but I yield--under protest."
The sergeant shook his head, as if to imply that my protest was no
affair of his, and gave order for my removal. I had time only to ask
Bess to let Portington and Drury know of my state, which she promised
to do without delay. I begged her also to send the news of me to
Mistress Goel, but the soldiers had me out of the cottage before I
heard her answer. There is no need to dwell on the particulars of the
next few days. The first night I was lodged in a stable-loft at the
Bull in Epworth, where we remained until evening, when the sergeant and
four carabineers took me to Keadby, which place we left by sloop for
Hull on the following day.