As Mr Blakeford ran down to the garden gate, I reached the top of the
wall, from whence I should have dropped down, but that he was already
outside, and would, I felt sure, have heard me. If I had then run away,
it seemed to me that it would be the easiest of tasks for him to pursue
me, and hunt me down.
If I stayed where I was, I felt that he would see me against the sky,
and I knew he would pass close by me directly to reach the yard doors,
when, half in despair, I threw myself flat down, and lay as close as I
could, embracing the wall, and holding my bundle in my teeth.
I heard him pass beneath the wall directly, and enter the yard by the
gate, which he closed after him, before running up to the office door
and unlocking it, allowing a stream of light to issue forth just across
where the dog was peaceably eating my provender.
"Curse him, he has gone!" I heard Mr Blakeford mutter, and my blood
ran cold, as he made a hasty tour of the place. "I'll have him back if
it costs me five hundred pounds," he snarled. "Antony, Antony! Come
here, my boy, and I'll forgive you."
He stopped, listening, but of course I did not move; and then, in an
access of rage, he turned upon the dog.
"You beast, what are you eating there?" he roared. "Why didn't you
seize him? Take that!"
There was a dull thud as of a heavy kick, a yelp, a whine, a snarl, and
then a dull worrying noise, as if the dog had flown at his master, who
uttered a loud cry of pain, followed by one for help; but I waited to
hear no more, for, trembling in every limb, I had grasped my bundle and
dropped from the wall, when with the noise growing faint behind me I ran
with all my might in the direction of the London Road.
Hearing steps, though, coming towards me directly after, I stopped
short, and ran into a garden, cowering down amongst the shrubs, for I
felt certain that whoever it was in front would be in Mr Blakeford's
pay, and I waited some time after he had passed before continuing my
flight.
I ran on that night till there was a hot feeling of blood in my throat,
and then I staggered up to, and leaned panting upon, a hedge by the
roadside, listening for the sounds of pursuit. A dog barking in the
distance sounded to me like Leo, and I felt sure that Mr Blakeford was
in hot chase; then I stumbled slowly on, but not for any great distance,
my pace soon degenerating into a walk, till I regained my breath, when I
ran on again for a time, but at a steady trot now, for I had not since
heard the barking of the dog. Still I did not feel safe, knowing that
at any moment Mr Blakeford might overtake me in his pony-chaise, when,
unless I could escape by running off across country, I should be
ignominiously dragged back.
At last, after several attempts to keep up my running, I was compelled
to be content with a steady fast walk, and thus I trudged on hour after
hour, till Rowford town, where I had spent so many wretched hours, was a
long way behind.
I had passed through two villages, but so far I had not met another soul
since leaving Rowford, nor heard the sound of wheels.
It was a very solitary road, leading through a pretty woodland tract of
the country, and often, as I toiled on, I came to dark overshadowed
parts, passing through woods, and I paused, not caring to go on. But
there was a real tangible danger in the rear which drove me onwards,
and, daring the imaginary dangers, I pushed on with beating heart,
thinking of robbers, poachers, and highway men, as I tried to rejoice
that there were no dangerous wild beasts in England.
At last, I could go no farther, but sank down perfectly exhausted upon a
heap of stones that had been placed there for mending the road; and, in
spite of my fears of pursuit, nature would have her way, and I fell fast
asleep.
The sun was shining full upon me when I awoke, stiff and sore, wondering
for a moment where I was; and when at last I recalled all the past, I
sprang up in dread, and started off at once, feeling that I had been
slothfully wasting my opportunity, and that now I might at any moment be
overtaken.
As I hurried on, I looked down at my feet, to find that my boots and
trousers were thickly covered with dust; but there was no one to see me,
and I kept on, awaking fully to the fact that I was faint and hungry.
These sensations reminded me of the contents of the little handkerchief,
and I wistfully thought of the bread and butter that I might have saved.
Then I stopped short, for the recollection of one bundle reminded me of
the other, and it was gone. Where was it? I had it when I sank down
upon that stone-heap, and I must have come away and left it behind.
In my faint, hungry state, this discovery was terribly depressing, for
the bundle contained my good suit of mourning, besides my linen and a
few trifles, my only valuables in this world.
"I must have them back," I thought; and I started off to retrace my
steps at a run, knowing that I had come at least a couple of miles.
It was dreadfully disheartening, but I persevered, gazing straight
before me, lest I should run into danger.
It seemed as if that stone-heap would never come into sight, but at last
I saw it lying grey in the distant sunshine, and forgetting my hunger, I
ran on till I reached the spot, and began to look round.
I had expected to see the bundle lying beside the stone-heap, as soon as
I came in sight, but there were no traces of it; and though I searched
round, and in the long grass at the side, there was no bundle.
Yes; I was certain that I had it when I sank down, and therefore
somebody must have taken it while I slept, for no one had passed me on
the road.
I could have sat down and cried with vexation, but I had pretty well
outgrown that weakness; and after a final glance round I was about to go
on again, when something a hundred yards nearer the town took my
attention, and, running up to it, I saw a pair of worn-out boots lying
on the grass by the roadside.
They seemed to be nothing to me, and, sick at heart, I turned back and
continued my journey, longing now for the sight of some village, where I
could buy a little milk and a few slices of bread.
The sun was growing hot, and licking up the dew beside the dusty road,
but it was a glorious morning, and in spite of my loss there was a
feeling of hopefulness in my heart at being free from the slavery I had
endured at Mr Blakeford's. I thought of it all, and wondered what Mary
would say, what Hetty would think, and whether Mr Blakeford would try
to fetch me back.
As I thought on, I recovered the ground I had lost, and reached a pretty
part of the road, where it dipped down in a hollow as it passed through
a wood. It was very delicious and shady, and the birds were singing as
they used to sing from the woods around my old home; and so sweet and
full of pleasant memories were these sounds, that for the moment I
forgot my hunger, and stood by a gate leading into the woods and
listened.
My reverie was broken by the sound of wheels coming up behind me, and
taking alarm on the instant, I climbed over the gate and hid myself,
crouching down amongst the thick bracken that showed its silvery green
fronds around.
I made sure it was Mr Blakeford in pursuit, and, once secure of my
hiding-place, I rose up gently, so that I could peer in between the
trees and over the high bank to the sloping road, down which, just as I
had pictured, the four-wheeled chaise was coming at a smart trot, with
Mr Blakeford driving, and somebody beside him.
My first impulse was to turn round and dash wildly through the wood; but
I partly restrained myself, partly felt too much in dread, and crouched
there, watching through the bracken till, as the chaise came nearer, I
saw that a common, dusty, tramp-looking boy was seated beside Mr
Blakeford, and the next moment I saw that he had my bundle upon his
knee.
For a moment I thought I might be deceived; but no, there was no doubt
about it. There was my bundle, sure enough, and that boy must have
taken it from me as I lay asleep, and then met and told Mr Blakeford
where he had seen me.
I was pretty nearly right, but not quite, as it afterwards proved. But
meanwhile the chaise had passed on, Mr Blakeford urging the pony to a
pretty good speed, and gazing sharply to right and left as he went
along.
I had hardly dared to breathe as he passed, but crouched lower and
lower, fancying that a robin hopping about on the twigs near seemed
ready to betray me: and not until the chaise had gone by some ten
minutes or so did I dare to sit up and think about my future movements.
The recollection of the dusty, wretched look of the lad who held my
bundle set me brushing my boots and trousers with some fronds of fern,
and feeling then somewhat less disreputable-looking, I ventured at last
to creep back into the road and look to right and left.
I was terribly undecided as to what I ought to do. Go back I would not,
and to go forward seemed like rushing straight into danger. To right or
left was nothing but tangled wood, wherein I should soon lose myself,
and therefore nothing was left for me to do but go straight on, and this
I did in fear and trembling, keeping a sharp look-out in front, and
meaning to take to the woods and fields should Mr Blakeford's chaise
again appear in sight.
For quite an hour I journeyed on, and then the roofs of cottages and a
church tower appeared, making me at one moment press eagerly forward,
the next shrink back for fear Mr Blakeford should be there. But at
last hunger prevailed, and making a bold rush, I walked right on, and
seeing no sign of danger, I went into the village shop and bought a
little loaf and some wonderfully strong-smelling cheese.
"Did you see a gentleman go by here in a chaise?" I ventured to say.
"What, with a boy in it?" said the woman who served me.