IN THE TOILS.
That afternoon the house of Captain Dawe was filled with visitors more
or less illustrious. The dignitaries of the forest and the river were
assembled in solemn conclave. The scare caused by the first rumours of
the Spanish plot was revived in tenfold magnitude. Morgan's wounded
arm was a mute witness to the daring and activity of the foe. The
knight and the forester could describe every lineament of the would-be
assassin. The yellow, parchment face, the spare, sinewy body clad in
black doublet and hosen, had been seen for a moment by many a forester.
And the woodland men, brimful of superstition, had already invested him
with supernatural powers.
A belated swineherd had gone in terror to his master with a story that
he had come upon the "men in black" dancing beneath an oak, enveloped
in blue flames, and that the smell of the "brimstone" had laid him on
the ground in a stupor from sunset to moonrise, more than an hour
after! The following day, in the early forenoon, he had led a
trembling party to the spot, and, sure enough, there was a blackened
circle in the bracken and the charred bark and singed leaves of the
tree to testify to the truth of his tale. Neither swineherd nor
shepherd nor forester had dared to pass the tree from that hour. The
woodsman's story was not all exaggeration. He had actually stumbled
upon the two villains, Basil and John, trying the kindling properties
of the bracken, and he had promptly fallen in a swoon from sheer
terror. By the common folk his account was believed _ad literam_, and
not all the better sort saw the true inwardness of the occurrence. So
the assembly had serious matter for thought and discussion.
The leaders saw the gravity of the situation, and their apprehensions
grew when they found that those who best knew the forest were becoming
rapidly infected with superstitious fears. As a race the Dean men were
brave and tenacious--centuries of border warfare had made them so--but
their very life amidst the gloom of the trees and the roaring of the
streams, their brains teeming with mythic tales of the dark, deep pools
and echoing caves, made them ready believers in the "uncanny." The
forest could only be guarded by those who knew its devious ways; the
number of such warders was limited. Now it would be impossible to get
any man to keep a lonely watch; sentinels must be posted in groups for
mutual comfort and assistance, seeing that the tangible danger of
Basil's dagger was to be feared as much as the intangible perils that
sprang from the imagination. To group the watchers was to narrow the
guarded area, and it was plain to the council that, at night
especially, little of the rolling tract of hill and valley could be
patrolled; the foe would have fairly free range.
One precaution could be taken, and that was promptly done. Orders were
issued that no bracken was to be cut except with the direct sanction of
the admiral. When cut it was to be carried green, and dried away from
the trees. Large rewards were also offered to any man who could bring
any "man in black," alive or dead, to the admiral. Visions of high
preferment were opened out to those of gentle blood. Suspected persons
in the forest area were to be closely watched, and most houses
professing the Romish faith were under suspicion.
Johnnie Morgan spent but little time in the society of the volatile
Dorothy. His heart was full of love, but his head was overloaded with
affairs of state, and the pain in his arm filled the air with
"phantoms" in black that blotted out the sweeter picture of a teasing
"fairy" in white. The admiral, never so happy as when on the water,
went back to Gatcombe on the tide. Sir Walter tramped through the
woods with Morgan, and, now that the council was over, he came back to
the lighter topics of poetry and love-making.
"Well, Master Morgan," he cried merrily, "and how didst thou fare in
the pretty arbour in the garden?"
Johnnie's face dropped to a gloomy length. "But indifferently, sir
knight. The maid will not be wooed. She is as fickle as April."
"Then catch her just when she melts into tears; 'tis the more
propitious time. Surely there was one little shower over thy wounded
arm. What advantage didst thou reap from it?"
"Why, none," mourned Johnnie. "'Twas like this. I had wit enough to
see that my unfortunate condition gave me a chance, and, I give thee my
word, I manoeuvred to make the best on't. The wench seemed melting
with pity, and her eyes were moist with kindness, so I made the plunge.
But, gramercy! I found myself in a very thorn bush, and hardly escaped
without a scratching. She'll ha' none of me!"
Johnnie's brown face was a study. Raleigh glanced at it, and laughed
heartily.
"Keep heart, friend," he said. "Thou wilt find that 'tis as hard a
matter to embrace a wayward fairy as to lay a sooty goblin by the
heels. But thou'lt do both; a knowing imp hath just whispered the news
in mine ears."
The forester's face beamed. "Now Heaven bless thee for a cheerful
companion!" he cried. "By St. George! I'll _do_ both."
And so the twain wandered on.
At Dean Tower, Andrew Windybank passed an uncomfortable afternoon. His
meeting with the dangerous Basil had affected him more than his
rejection by Dorothy. As the day advanced his agitation increased. He
knew of the meeting at Captain Dawe's. No invitation had been extended
to him, and he was aware from this that his loyalty was suspected.
Tidings of the attack upon Raleigh went the round of the household.
Later, towards evening, a fisherman came up from Newnham with salmon,
and he was full of gossip concerning the deliberations of the admiral's
council. The fellow dropped some broad hints that stung the ears of
the Windybank domestics. At supper Master Andrew felt that his
attendants were uneasy and suspicious, and this increased his
agitation. Night and its solitude brought him no relief. The
household betook itself to rest. The master alone remained up and
awake.
The night was gloriously clear, and the moonlit forest was like
fairyland. The windows of the chamber in which Windybank awaited the
stroke of midnight faced towards the river, and the sheen of its broad
waters was plainly visible. He sat without a light, and the silvery
beams from without cast fantastic shadows on the oaken floor and the
dark panelling of the low walls. The carved furniture stood distorted
and grotesque. The woodwork creaked as it cooled from the heat of the
day, and a mouse that scuttled sharply across the floor brought the
watcher to his feet with an exclamation of alarm. His nerves were
strung to respond to every sight and sound. Again and again he
resolved that he would not sit up or have further dealings with the
plotters. Loyalty and manliness and the fear of evil report pulled him
one way; greed, ambition, desire for revenge, terror of Father Jerome
and the thunders of the Church pulled him another. His mind was so
torn with dissension and struggle that at last he gave up all endeavour
to fix a path for himself. He sat blank and apathetic, conscious only
that he was carrying out the order so menacingly given to him by Basil.
Midnight came, and he roused himself and stood up. He listened for
signs of wakefulness in his household, but, within and without, the
hour was soundless. He stole across the room to the window, then
hesitated. Pressing his burning temples with his hands, he tried to
come to some decision as to his conduct. Should he quietly summon a
few of his men, bring in the plotters and arrest them? If he did this,
surely it would atone for the dealings he had had with them? Honour
whispered, "Get thee to thy slumbers, and go to-morrow to the admiral
and make thy confession." He turned away from the lattice. A slight
rattle attracted his attention. The blood rushed from his face,
leaving him as cold as death. The dark form of Basil, silhouetted by
the moonlight, was confronting him. One glare of angry reproach from
the sinister eyes was enough. He opened the casement; Basil stepped
in, and Father Jerome followed.
The two stood and eyed him severely. The priest laid his hand on his
shoulder, and the ghost of a smile flickered across his pale
countenance. Many a poor wretch had found that smile a herald of
tragedy. Such it now appeared to the hapless owner of Dean Tower.
"'Tis past midnight, my son," said Jerome.
Windybank made no reply. The grip on his shoulder tightened with a
startling suddenness. "'Tis past midnight, my son."
"Yes?--is it? I was coming, good father," faltered the victim.
"When thou art doing the work of a king--of the Holy Father--of God,"
whispered the priest, "thou shouldst put wings upon thy feet. Take
heed, my son! We love thee" (the smile deepened); "we look to thee to
do great things and earn great rewards. Let not our dearest hopes be
disappointed."
Windybank glanced at Basil. There was death in the fanatic's eyes.
"Forgive me," he murmured, and sank upon his knees.
Jerome raised him, and imprinted a cold kiss upon his forehead. "Sit,"
he said.
"The admiral hath held a council at Newnham to-day, and thou hast lost
heart because a few dull wits have been pondering together," pursued
the priest. "Dost thou know their plans?"
"Partly, father."
"A child might laugh at them! Our brave Basil here will reduce their
watchmen to a jelly of terror before this moon wanes. When flies catch
spiders, then these fools will catch us. Now hearken. If thou dost
show the white feather again, thou diest; Basil hath sworn it. That is
all that I have to say to thee by way of threat or reproof. Now this,
by way of encouragement. We _cannot_ fail. 'Tis the Church against
heretics, the Holy Father against apostates, the mightiest king in
Christendom against a vain and foolish woman. My plans are perfected.
A vessel manned by stout hearts will be here, in the river, a month
from to-day. Men who laugh at danger and have never known defeat will
be aboard of her. They will land at my signal, and must find all
things ready for the last blow. These miles of woodland will be
ablaze; no guard, such as the admiral can set, will prevent us. I want
thine aid. 'Tis an honour for thee to be linked with our holy cause;
beware how thou dost carry the dignity. This house of thine must be
hiding-place and headquarters for me. I shall come and go when I
please, and, be assured, I shall time my movements so that none shall
know of them. A safe asylum in the forest is necessary. I have chosen
this. I command; thou dost obey. Have I made it plain to thee?"
Windybank's dry lips murmured "Yes."
"Thou hast an enemy?"
"I have."
"Basil hath set his mark upon him."
"I know it."
"If thou art faithful, thy rival dies. Now lead us to the chamber of
which thou hast told us. Basil and I are weary, and would sleep.
Come, thou shall wait upon us and make us secure."
The men in black slept at the Tower that night.