OUT OF DORCHESTER
Watson went back into Dorchester humming the chorus of a tavern song. It
mattered not to him that twenty-nine rebels swung on their gibbets, but
it was an intense relief to him that Mistress Barbara Lanison was safely
out of the town. He doubted whether he could have seen her condemned in
silence, and to speak might have meant that he would speedily swing by
the roadside, so he was glad for himself as well as for her. Watson was
totally unconscious that he had helped to deliver his prisoner into the
hands of Lord Rosmore. He had received definite instructions to see that
she safely reached the coach in which Gilbert Crosby was awaiting her;
he was not to attend her to the door of the coach lest the post-boy and
groom should become suspicious, but to wait and see that she drove away
in safety. These instructions he had fulfilled to the letter, and glad
to have been concerned in such a happy escape, he went back singing.
From first to last Lord Rosmore had carefully matured his scheme. He had
entrusted Watson with one part of it, Sayers with another, and drew a
veil over the whole by openly showing and avowing his love for Harriet
Payne. He might have enemies in the town, but what power had they? Fear
closed Judge Marriott's mouth; the fiddler, Martin Fairley, had vanished
into some hole to hide himself; Crosby was waiting patiently for the
fulfilment of his promise; and Sydney Fellowes, who, to his surprise, he
learnt was also in Dorchester, could do little against him. Still, it is
ever the little weaknesses which are the danger-points in great
enterprises, and Rosmore realised that Fellowes' presence in Dorchester
might bring all his plans to the ground. Great was his satisfaction,
therefore, when Barbara entered the coach and the horses started on
their journey.
At that moment Fellowes was listening to Martin Fairley's account of his
visit to Aylingford. Martin had entered the town half an hour before,
and had gone straight to Fellowes' lodging. During his absence the
meeting-place at "The Anchor" in West Street might have been discovered,
and Martin could not afford to run any risk to-night. To both men it
seemed evident that Crosby's reliance in Rosmore's promise was futile.
It was possible, even probable, that Sir John Lanison might not know all
Rosmore's plans, or might not have told everything he knew, but all
faith in Rosmore must fall like a building of cards.
"That road to the river must be watched, Fellowes," said Martin.
"I'll go at once."
"And I will get to 'The Anchor' and see Crosby."
They were leaving the house when a woman met them, inquiring for Mr.
Gilbert Crosby.
"What do you want with him?" Martin asked.
"Ah, you are the fiddler, but you are a coward." And Harriet Payne's
cloak fell apart as she turned to Fellowes. "Are you Mr. Crosby's
friend?"
Martin gave him a quick sign.
"Yes. Is he in danger? Come in and tell me."
"Did you know that he was to have escaped from Dorchester with Mistress
Lanison to-morrow night?" said Harriet as Fellowes closed the door.
"Yes."
"He's fooled--fooled from first to last. She has gone to-night. She left
Dorchester, not an hour ago, with Lord Rosmore. He has lied to her and
to me," and the girl's eyes blazed with fury as she spoke.
"Gone! Willingly, do you mean?"
"Willingly!" exclaimed the girl. "She hates him; she was wiser than I
was. I loved him. She is in his power to-night."
"Which road did they take?" asked Fellowes.
"That which goes towards the river, afterwards I do not know. If you are
men follow him. Avenge Mistress Lanison and me."
"You have lied before this," said Martin quietly. "With a lie you
brought Mistress Lanison to the West. You played Lord Rosmore's game for
him. How do we know that you are speaking the truth now?"
"I hate him! Love turned to hate--do you know what that means?" said the
girl, turning upon him like some wild animal. "To-night I waited for him
and he did not come. Servants saw me and laughed; then one man, jeering
at me, told me the truth. He has gone with her, and every moment you
waste he is speeding from you. More, to make himself doubly secure, men
will come here at midnight asking for Mr. Crosby. They will pretend to
come from Mistress Lanison, and then capture him. A hasty trial, and
then the gibbet."
"We'll follow," said Martin.
"And kill him--kill him!" said the girl. "And if you have any thought
for a deceived woman, let him know that I sent you."
A few moments later Martin and Fellowes were in the street, talking
eagerly as they went. Martin's head was not barren of schemes to-night.
"You understand, Fellowes. To Crosby first. Tell him everything. Bid him
not spare his horse, nor pass a coach without knowing who rides in it.
Then let him hasten to 'The Jolly Farmers,' Tell him to wait there for
me as he did once before. On no account must he leave it. Then start on
your road, and leave Dorchester behind you as fast as horse can gallop.
One of us shall find Rosmore before the dawn."
* * * * *
Heavy clouds sailed majestically across the face of the moon. Now the
long road lay dimly discernible in the pale misty light, now for a time
it was dark, so that a coach might have driven unawares on to the
greensward, or a stranger stumbled into the ditch by the roadside.
Lonely trees shivered at intervals with a sound like sudden rain, and
from the depths of distant woods came notes of low wailing, as though
sad ghosts mourned in a hushed chorus. Hamlets were asleep, and not a
light shone from wayside dwellings. Yet into a tired man's dreams there
came the rhythmic beat of a horse's hoofs, far distant, then nearer,
nearer, and dying again into silence. A late rider, and with this
half-conscious thought, and an uneasy turning on the pillow perhaps,
sleep again. On another road, beating hoofs suddenly came to the ears of
a wakeful woman; someone escaping in the night, perhaps, and she
murmured a prayer; she had a son who had fought at Sedgemoor. The
grinding of coach wheels on one road, followed by the barking of dogs;
and a woodcutter asleep in his hut, which lay at the edge of a forest
track, was startled by the thud of hoofs, and, springing quickly from
his hard couch, peeped from the door. Nothing to be seen, but certainly
the sound of a horse going quickly away. There was naught in his hut to
bring him a visit from a highwayman.
A man, riding in haste towards Dorchester, with papers and money in his
pocket which might save his son from Judge Jeffreys, halted suddenly.
Meeting him came another galloping horseman, and suddenly the moonlight
showed him.
"Have you passed a coach upon the road?"
The galloping horseman drew rein, and the anxious father trembled. Horse
and rider might have been of one piece; every movement of man and animal
was perfect, and the man wore the dreaded brown mask.
"No, I have not seen a coach." And the father, remembering vaguely that
this notorious highwayman was said to have helped many to escape from
the West, burst out in pleading. "Oh, sir, have mercy. My son lies a
prisoner in Dorchester, and the money I have may be his salvation."
"Pass on, friend. Good luck go with you." And with a clatter of hoofs the
brown mask rode on.
Galloping Hermit was on the road to-night, but a score of travellers,
carrying all the wealth they possessed, might have passed him in safety.
He was out to stop one coach wherein sat a villain, and a fair woman
whom he loved. Surely she must be shrinking back in her corner, so that
even the hem of her gown might not be soiled by the touch of the man
beside her.
Lord Rosmore had not attempted to justify himself as the coach started
upon its journey; he had only told her that escape was impossible, that
the post-boy was in his pay and had his instructions. Barbara had called
him a villain through her closed teeth, and then had shrunk into her
corner, drawing the hood of the cloak closely over her head. She
realised that for the moment she was helpless, that her captor was on
his guard, but an opportunity might come presently. The more she
appeared to accept the situation, the less watch was he likely to keep
on her. It was a natural argument, perhaps, but far removed from fact.
Never for an instant did Lord Rosmore cease to watch her. This time he
meant to bend her to his will, if not one way, then another; fair means
had failed, therefore he would use foul. For a long while he was silent,
and then he began to explain why he had acted as he had done. Again he
showed her how impossible a lover was Gilbert Crosby, and he painted the
many crimes of a highwayman in lurid colours. He knew she must have
thought of these things, and he declared that the day would come when
she would thank him for what he had done to-night.
Barbara did not answer him, and there was a long silence as the coach
rolled steadily on.
Then Lord Rosmore ventured to excuse himself. He spoke passionately of
his love for her. His way with women was notorious; seldom had he loved
in vain, and women whose ears had refused to listen to all other lovers
had fallen before his temptations; yet never had woman heard such
burning words as he spoke in the darkness of the coach to Barbara
Lanison. He was commanding and humble by turns, his voice was tremulous
with passion, yet not a word did Barbara speak in answer.
Rosmore lapsed into silence again, and he trembled a little with the
passion that was in him. Love her he certainly did in his own way, and
he bit his lip and clenched his hands, furious at his failure. It took
him some time to control himself.
"There are many reasons why you should marry me," he said presently.
"Some of them I have given, but there are others why you must marry me."
He gave her time to answer, but she neither spoke nor moved. Her
indifference maddened him.
"Your uncle is wholly in my power, you must have guessed that. A word
from me, and this fellow Crosby hangs. Sir John is afraid, and you
cannot suppose that I have left Crosby in Dorchester to go or come as
he likes. He cannot move without my help. I wonder if you realise what
your persistent refusal of me will mean. You may drive me to harsh
measures, and make a devil of me. Thwart me, and I stand at nothing. I
will bring your uncle to the hangman, and Crosby shall rot in chains at
four cross-roads."
Barbara moved slightly, but she tightly shut her lips that she might not
be tempted to speak. He thought her movement was one of contempt, and
turned upon her savagely.
"And there is yet another way," he hissed, bending towards her. "I swear
to God I will use it rather than let you go. A careless word or two
shall easily suffice to smirch your fair fame. Ah! that has power to
rouse you, has it? I will do it, and for very shame you shall have to
listen to me."
Still she did not answer him. Silence had served her well. He had shown
himself to her in all the blackness of his soul. He might kill her, but
there were worse things than death. She would remain silent. And the
coach rolled on, now in darkness, now in the misty light of the moon.
There was a dip in the road that every coach-driver knew, a sudden stiff
descent into a thick wood, the trees arching and mingling their
branches, almost like a lofty green tunnel, and then a sharp ascent.
Drivers usually let their horses go, so that the impetus of the descent
would help to carry them up the opposite incline, for the road was
loose, and, with a full load of passengers, the climb tested the
strength of the best teams. Lonely Bottom it was called, and well named,
for there was no more deserted spot along the road.
The highwayman checked his horse to a walking pace when he came to this
dip, and went slowly down, and slowly climbed the opposite ascent. He
patted the mare's neck, and spoke to her in whispers.
"Well done, my beauty! Unless all the fates are against us we have got
in front of the coach. The glory is yours. I know no other that could
have carried me as you have done to-night. We shall win, lass, and then
you shall take life easier."
The mare seemed to understand as she climbed out of the hollow and
appeared ready to gallop on again; but her rider drew her on the
greensward beside the road, just beyond the wood, and dismounted. He had
no doubt that the coach was behind him. He had come by short cuts across
country, along bridle-paths which shortened the journey. He had not
struck the road long before he met the traveller going towards
Dorchester who said that no coach had passed him. He leaned against the
trunk of a tree, which years ago had been struck and killed by
lightning, and his thoughts were busy as he looked to the priming of his
pistols and made sure that certain papers he carried were secure in a
leathern case, which he slipped back into the pocket of his ample, caped
coat. His plans were mature. His presence there would be a complete
surprise. He could not fail so long as the coach came, and it would
come. Yet, in spite of this conviction, he began to grow anxious and
restless as the time passed slowly and no sound broke the stillness of
the night. It was not the first time he had waited by the roadside
listening for his victim. Excitement he had experienced before to-night,
but never such anxiety, nor such restlessness. To-night's adventure was
a thing apart. A woman's happiness depended on his success, a woman with
a crown of golden hair like an aureole about her, who must even now be
shrinking from the villain in whose company she travelled.
Presently he started. Most men would have discovered no new sound upon
the night air, but his ears were experienced and keen. For a moment he
stood beside the mare, his hand upon her neck, then he sprang lightly to
the saddle.
"The time has come, my hearty. Here is our place, in the shadow."
Out of the silence grew the sound of distant wheels grinding the road,
and the beating of horses' hoofs. A coach travelling rapidly. Each
moment the sounds became more distinct, and then loud as the horses
plunged down the incline into Lonely Bottom. At a gallop they breasted
the climb out, but the clatter of hoofs quickly grew uneven as the
weight told. The post-boy was using the whip vigorously as they drew to
the top, and then the coach suddenly came to a standstill. The window
rattled down, and a head was thrust out.
"Move, and you're a dead man!"
The coach had drawn out of the shadows into the moonlight, and Lord
Rosmore started back, so close was the pistol to his head. He looked
along it, and along the man's extended arm, and into his face, and a
half-smothered cry broke from his lips. He had been caught unawares.
Physically he was no coward, but the sight of the brown mask seemed to
paralyse him.
"You!"
"Open the door and get out. Quickly, or, by heaven, you shall fall out
with a bullet through your brain."
From this man Lord Rosmore knew he could expect no mercy, knew that he
was likely to be as good as his word, and he got out.
"Down with you," said the highwayman to the post-boy. "Take this rope,
and see that you fasten this gentleman securely to that tree yonder. One
loose knot that may give him a chance of escape, and I'll see to it that
you never throw your leg across the back of a horse again."
Covering them with his pistol, he watched this operation performed.
"See that he has no firearms," and the lad hastened to do as he was
told.
The highwayman carefully examined the cord, and made sure that the
captive could not get free without help. Then he went to the door of the
coach.
"You are safe, Mistress Lanison."
"Gilbert!" she whispered.
"Pitch anything that belongs to this fellow into the road."
A coat was thrown out.
"Curse you both!" said Rosmore. "By God! if I live you shall pay for
your work to-night!"
"Is he to pay the price, mistress?" said the highwayman. "You know what
you have suffered at his hands. What things have his vile lips
threatened you with to-night? His life is in your hands. Speak, and the
world shall be well rid of him."
"Oh, no, Gilbert, no!"
"I almost wish you had said 'Yes.' Mount!" he called to the post-boy.
A string of oaths came from Lord Rosmore.
"Silence!" the highwayman shouted, but the oaths did not cease. Then a
sharp report rang out upon the night, and a cry came from the captive.
"Oh, Gilbert, you have killed him!"
"That was a cry of fear, mistress. The bullet is in the tree a good four
feet above his head," said the highwayman as he closed the coach door.
"You must travel for the rest of the journey alone, but have no fear. I
ride by the coach to see you into safety. Forward, post-boy! Good-night,
Lord Rosmore. A woman betrayed you, even as you have betrayed many
women. Thank fate that your life lay in the hands of Mistress Lanison,
and not in hers. She would have bid me shoot straight. Good-night."
For a moment the highwayman let his horse paw the ground in front of the
man bound helplessly to the tree. Then he laughed, as a man will who
plays a winning game, and rode after the coach.