To the great joy of Richard Wood, the way seemed to lead across the
wide, flat, marshy country straight in the direction of Yarmouth. "If
the young lord and his serving-man be as weary of the marsh as I and my
companions be," he said, "they have gone directly out of it to
Yarmouth, and there shall we catch them."
But though the way seemed not to deviate in direction, that of the day
before was easy in comparison with it.
"Were I but journeying through this vile stretch of country I could
pick a better course," grumbled Richard Wood as he went forward. "But
being on chase of these two, I must even be content to follow. Behold
me now when the day is but half gone, slopped with water and besplashed
with mud till no man may know the color of my garments. It must be that
the young lord hath small wit to take such a course. Or mayhap he
looketh more behind him than before as he rideth, fearing pursuit."
And now they were come to the Yare; and it seemed that they would be
obliged to swim across it. "Never swam I in my life," declared Richard
Wood, "and I will not now begin."
"Canst thou not swim on thy horse's back?" demanded one of the
men-at-arms, impatiently.
"Ay; but how if the beast goeth down in the stream?" said Richard Wood.
"I tell thee, I fear water."
Then came one of the Saxons to the rescue. "Near here dwelleth a fen-man,"
he said, "and he hath a boat. I will e'en call him to take thee
over, and thou canst let thy horse swim."
Upon hearing this all three of the weary men-at-arms clamored for
places in the boat which Herebald, after a conference with Bernulf,
promised them.
"Hearest thou not, Herebald," said Bernulf, "that the king's man
feareth the water? We must put him and his men across softly and
bolster up their valor, else shall we fail to entice them aboard the
fishing-vessel, and so fail to ship them off to France; and thus
England is so much the worse off by having still here the vile knaves."
"Yea, Bernulf, thou art right," was the answer. "And surely we have led
them through toils enough, for they be weary to fainting. This it is
for a vile spy to go round the country with some lumbering men-at-arms,
seeking to entrap a poor young lad to his destruction."
"Yea," replied Bernulf; "but thou hast left out one thing. Thou
shouldst have said, 'This it is when two Saxons get him and them in the
toils.' They had not been one-half so weary without us. Do but remember
that."
"Ay," agreed Herebald. "I do think we have some blame for their aching
bones; but they can rest when they be tossing on that good old North
Sea, for I promise them it will take more than a load of herring to
hold the ship steady."
All this time Richard Wood and his men were impatiently waiting. "Why
tarry ye so long?" called the spy in a loud voice, as he looked in
their direction.
"We did but talk of what 'twere best to do and a few other matters,"
replied Herebald, advancing. "And we think we may promise places to ye
all in the boat. Run, Bernulf; make speed and bring the man and his
boat."
Away went Bernulf, leaping lightly across a pool here, picking his way
skilfully over long grass and among reeds there, to the amazement of
Richard Wood, who watched. "I would my horse had but the nimbleness and
speed of the knave's legs," he said. "But our toils be almost over, and
so I complain not. I make no doubt we lay hold of the young lord and
the serving-man in Yarmouth."
At this Herebald looked sceptical.
"What meanest thou by that look?" asked Richard Wood.
"Why, nothing," returned Herebald. "Only I did call to mind that there
be many fishing-vessels in the harbor."
"And what hath that to do with it?" asked Richard Wood.
"And through the North Sea one may go to France."
"Why, thou didst say that long ago when we were toiling through the
marsh. Thinkest thou I shall forget to search the ships when I have
searched the town? I forget not so easily, I promise thee."
The fen-man seemed not to be readily persuaded to bring his boat, for
an hour elapsed before he was seen rowing toward them with Bernulf
lolling lazily in the stern.
At last he reached the little party, and Richard Wood and his men were
safely embarked. Then the two Saxons, mounting their ponies, directed
them into the stream, and they were off, the fen-man glancing curiously
every now and then at his passengers. He made no remarks, however, but
managed his boat so skilfully that Richard Wood hardly realized that he
was on the water, and, in due time, found himself set ashore with his
men on the other side.
"And yonder be Yarmouth," said Herebald, cheerfully. "We come to it
surely by set of sun."
There was no more marks of passage before them, and Richard Wood,
picking his own path, travelled more easily than he had before, and had
also to help him an enlarged appreciation of his own powers, to which
he speedily added a large increase of hope that now the end of his
troubles had come. He therefore went forward with renewed animation,
and when, at set of sun, he stopped before a little Yarmouth inn, he
was well satisfied with himself.
"Do ye also lodge here?" he asked the Saxons.
Herebald affected to be uncertain.
"Surely it were better that ye do so," urged Richard Wood, "that we may
search the town and the ships together on the morrow."
"Nay," put in Bernulf. "We lodge not here. I do know a cheaper place;
and we be not Normans that we have money to waste."
Richard Wood frowned. "Speak not against the Normans," he said. "The
king is a Norman."
"Oh, ay," answered Bernulf, indifferently. And then he added with
determination in his tone, "We lodge not here."
Herebald now drew Richard Wood aside.
"Heed him not," he said, "lest he turn surly on our hands and get us
into trouble. I will go with him elsewhere to lodge, and to-morrow morn
will I bring him back to help thee on thy search."
"Thou art not so sad a knave as he," returned Richard Wood, "and I
thank thee. See that ye both come, and that right early."
Herebald reiterated his promise to do so, and then went away with
Bernulf, while Richard Wood followed his men into the bar, where they
were already drinking.
"What meanest thou, Bernulf? Why wouldst thou not lodge here?" asked
Herebald as they rode along.
"Why, this, Herebald," was the answer. "We have much to do ere we go to
rest. We must find the ship that is loaded and ready to weigh anchor
to-morrow toward noon when the wind and tide will serve. And we must
bespeak the help of the captain to get these knaves aboard."
"True, Bernulf," responded Herebald. "Thou hast a wit that would match
with the canon's."
"Yea, I be not so dull as some Normans, though I be counted but a
slow-witted Saxon," returned Bernulf, with complacency. "And now let us
first to our supper and the putting away of the ponies, and then do we
take boat and visit the ships."
They found an inn suited to their tastes in one of the Rows, and before
the dark had really come down over the harbor they were out on a tour
of the ships. The tour, however, was destined to be a short one, since
the second ship they visited proved to have among her sailors two men
that they knew. And, moreover, they discovered the captain to be one
Eric, whose mother was cousin to Bernulf's father.
"Here have we luck," said Bernulf. "To Eric may I speak freely."
"Yea, verily," answered Herebald. "And she is loaded with herring also
and saileth on the morrow toward noon. Go, then, and speak freely, as
thou sayest."
Bernulf did so; and the Captain Eric entered heartily into his plans as
Bernulf laid them before him. "The loons!" he exclaimed with a hearty
laugh, as he heard of the journey through the fens. "The witless geese!
And thou hast not once told them that the young lord and his serving-man
came in this direction?"
"Nay, not once. We did but break branches, and make tracks on the edges
of the pools, and ruffle the long grass, and they did read for
themselves that those they sought were just ahead of them. We have hope
that the young lord be, by this time, well and safely sped on his
journey."
"Ay, and by to-morrow at this time will his pursuers be upon their
journey," said Eric. "I am to refuse to let them come aboard, sayest
thou, until they demand permission in the king's name? And then the
moment they be down the companionway I am to hoist the anchor and be
off?"
"Yea," answered Bernulf, "that is it."
"So be it," returned Eric. "And it is a small thing to do for a kinsman
also moreover."
"And now go we ashore," said Bernulf. "To-morrow morn we aid the king's
spy to search the town. He will have a merry run up and down the Rows,
he and his men." And, with a hearty farewell to the skipper, Herebald
and Bernulf climbed down the side of the vessel to their little boat
gently rocking alongside.
"The business in hand hath an early end when luck goeth with a man,"
observed Bernulf, with satisfaction.
"Yea," responded Herebald. "And luck most often goeth with the man that
hath good wit of his own."
Their strong arms made light of the short distance they had to row, and
they were soon back at the little inn and at rest.
As for Richard Wood, weary as he was, he was long in finding sleep. For
ever he would be wondering in which part of the little town it were
best to begin the search. And how it were best to conduct it so that no
outsider could manage to claim part of the reward when the runaways
were captured. At last, undecided, he fell asleep, and Herebald and
Bernulf were awaiting him when he awoke rather late in the morning. In
haste he and his men ate their breakfast, and in still greater haste
they set off on the search, only to be brought to a standstill before
it was well begun; for there fronting the sea were one hundred and
forty-five little narrow streets called the Rows, and their combined
length made a distance of seven miles.
"This be a foolish way to build a town," grumbled Richard Wood, "and
none but Saxons would have done it. Why, here be a street only two feet
wide at one end of it. And up and down one hundred and forty-five
streets we must chase, to say nothing of looking in the better parts of
the town."
"Thou hast well said," observed Herebald, gravely. "It is not an easy
thing, this search. But where dost thou begin? And how wilt thou go
about it?"
"Why, why," stammered Richard Wood, "I did never search a town before,
and that is but the truth."
"Were it not best to proceed boldly?" asked Herebald, slyly.
"Boldly, sayest thou? And what meanest thou by boldly?"
"Why, by boldly, I mean boldly. Surely thou knowest what boldly is?
Walk into the house with a 'by your leave,' which is, after all, no
leave, since it is done without leave; there look through all, and then
out and away again into the next house, or the next but one, as it
pleaseth thee."
Richard Wood looked at him in displeasure. "It is easy to see thou art
but a Saxon churl," he said. "And moreover, where is thy sense of time?
This day were gone; ay, and the next before we had entered every house
in one hundred and forty-five little streets."
"Ay, thou art right. Perchance it were better not to take so much time,
for there be the ships, and some of them do sail to-day."
"To-day!" exclaimed Richard Wood, in alarm. "And when?"
"Toward noon," was the reply; "for then wind and tide will serve."
A look of resolution came over the face of Richard Wood. He turned to
his men-at-arms.
"Take each of thee a street," he said, "and I will take another. Search
as well and thoroughly as ye can for one hour, and then come to this
point to go with me to the ships. We have had many toils to catch them.
They must not escape us now."
"And what do we?" asked Herebald.
Now Richard Wood was quite determined that the Saxons should not share
in the reward, so he answered: "Stand ye here, and watch all who pass.
Let none escape ye."
"That were an easy task," growled Bernulf. "But why may we not also
take each man his street, and knock and 'by-your-leave' with the rest
of ye? It is because we be Saxons that ye put this slight upon us." And
he affected to be greatly displeased.
"Peace, man!" said Richard Wood, more pacifically. "It is true ye be
Saxons, but that is by the will of heaven. And ye be in nowise to blame
therefor. So should ye bear with patience the lot of Saxons."
"Which is to wait on Normans, as ye would say," retorted Bernulf,
scornfully. "But we bide here, as thou hast said."
"The hinds be jealous," said Richard Wood, as he hastened up the little
street he had chosen, looking narrowly about him for the house, in his
judgment, most likely to be the hiding-place of the runaways. About
half-way up the street he espied it, but when, in the king's name, he
entered, he found nothing to reward him for his pains. Wherever he
stopped he fared no better, and he was fain to believe, at last, the
asseverations of the inhabitants that there were not only no runaways
in that street, but that none were to be found in all Yarmouth,--a town
which, according to them, was a most proper place, where those who
could not give a good account of themselves never ventured. Unless,
indeed, it might be a few Frenchmen now and then, and, as they told him
with much garrulity, every Englishman knew what to expect from the
French. And then they asked him if those he sought were French. And
when he said that they were not, they began at the beginning and went
all over the subject again, telling him what a discreet and proper
place Yarmouth was, and how none such as he was seeking ever ventured
there, until he was like to go distracted, and had not completed the
search of even that one little Row when the hour was up, and he
hastened to the place appointed to meet his men-at-arms. He found that
his experience had been theirs, and, in his disappointment and disgust,
he said some harsh things about Yarmouth tongues, which he estimated as
entirely too nimble.
The two Saxons heard his comments with covert smiles, and followed
along toward the ships.
That morning the ship of Eric had slightly changed her position, and
Bernulf so managed that, when the small row-boat he was bidden to hire
was about to put off from land, Eric's ship would naturally be the
first one boarded.
"Do we go with thee?" asked Herebald.
"Nay," answered Richard Wood. "Here be two men who will row for us. Do
ye stay where ye be and watch."
Then they all climbed into the small row-boat and were pulled away
toward Eric's ship.
"Ay, we will watch," said Herebald to Bernulf.
A little later the boat went alongside, and the spy and his men-at-arms
climbed heavily and clumsily aboard, after a brief parley with skipper
Eric, in which he had at first refused them permission to do so.
"They be here!" exulted Richard Wood in his thought, "else why should
we be forbidden to come aboard?"
"What seek ye?" demanded the skipper, in a gruff tone when they were
safely on deck.
"Two runaways," answered Richard Wood, loudly, for already the anchor
was being lifted.
"There be no runaways here," returned the skipper, positively.
"We will see, we will see," returned Richard Wood. And laying firm hold
of the rail he lunged down the steep companionway, followed by his
men-at-arms and one of the seamen, whom the captain by a nod of his head
bade to follow them. Once down, they gazed about them and knew not
which way to turn.
"Where is the captain?" said Richard Wood, sternly. "Bid him come down
and show us all parts of the ship at once."
"Skipper may not come. He is busy," answered the seaman. "But I can
show thee. Thou wilt see all?"
"Yea, all."
Then the seaman very obligingly began to do as he was bid. There was
very little to see in the close quarters; but he, being loquacious, was
a long time in showing it, and more than half an hour had elapsed
before Richard Wood was thoroughly persuaded that there was nobody
secreted on board. And all this time, in his eagerness, he had not
noticed that the ship was moving. He now turned to the companionway.
"What motion is this?" he asked, turning pale. "Hath the ship gone
adrift from her moorings?"
"Nay," answered the seaman; "the ship is not gone adrift."
Laying fast hold on the rail, the spy managed to climb up to the deck.
He looked about him, but no row-boat was alongside. He then turned to
the skipper.
"Surely we be gone adrift from our moorings," he said.
"Nay," answered the skipper, calmly. "I did forbid thee to come aboard,
but thou wouldst come. Now are we under sail."