IN WHICH ERNEST MAKES GOOD HIS RETREAT FROM THE COTTAGE.
WITHOUT remorse, I glanced behind me at the wreck I had made of the
window. I did not regard myself as responsible for any damage I had
caused in breaking away from my persecutors. Not only Tom, but my uncle,
was engaged in a conspiracy against me, in which they had been concerned
from my early childhood. Indeed, I had already come to the conclusion
that the cottage and grounds had been purchased with money which
rightfully belonged to me.
Judging from the conversations to which I had listened, detached and
indefinite as they were, I was satisfied that my uncle and his son
intended to cheat me out of my birthright, and out of the inheritance my
father had left for me. But this was nothing compared with the
statement of my uncle that my mother was insane, and the fact that I was
not permitted to know even where she was. I began to doubt whether she
was insane, or had ever been. It was possible that my uncle, to obtain
his brother's property, had confined her in a lunatic asylum on a mere
pretence. My blood boiled with indignation as I thought of these things,
and I did not wonder that my uncle could not sleep nights, that he was a
misanthrope, and hated the sound of his own and of other people's
voices.
With such provocation I could have justified myself in smashing all the
windows in the cottage, or even in burning the house to the ground. I
thanked God that I had escaped, when I stood upon the roof; and without
the loss of a moment, I made my way to the ground. I caught one glance
of Tom's face as he came to the window before my descent. But he was
active and resolute, and almost as soon as I reached the ground, he had
descended the stairs, and passed out upon the lawn in front of the
house.
There was nothing more at the cottage for me, and now all I wanted was
to get on board of the Splash. My skiff was destroyed, and my pursuer
would not permit me to build a raft. I could have swum off to her; but
the water might injure, if not ruin, the priceless document in my
pocket. Tom was at my heels, and all I could do was to run.
"Stop!" shouted Tom.
I ran all the faster when the sound of his voice assured me how near he
was.
"Stop! If you don't stop, I'll shoot you!" cried he.
I glanced over my shoulder, and saw that he had my fowling-piece in his
hand; at least there was no other gun about the place. But I was not
much alarmed by the threat, for the gun had not been used for months,
and I did not believe it was in condition to go off. The wretch expected
to frighten me by this demonstration; but if he had had a twenty-four
pounder, loaded with grape, it would not have stopped me till the shot
struck me.
Tom slackened his pace and raised the gun to his shoulder, threatening
again to shoot me if I did not stop. The trick only gave me the
advantage, for I gained several rods while he was making the feint with
the gun. I reached the foot-bridge over the brook, and, profiting by my
former experience, I adopted the same course again. I had just time to
drag the plank over the stream when my pursuer reached the opposite
bank. I felt that I was safe now; and, out of breath with my exertions,
I did not hurry myself.
"Will you stop, or shall I send a bullet after you?" shouted Tom; and I
could easily imagine the chagrin with which he again found his progress
checked.
I made no reply, but continued on my way down the path. I did not lose
any time, for it was possible that he might, in his desperation, wade
across the stream, and follow up the pursuit. Some distance behind him,
I saw my uncle hastening to the spot with what speed he could command. I
was satisfied with myself. I had fought a hard battle with my enemy, but
I had won the victory.
A little way beyond the brook I came to the fence that divided my
uncle's estate from that of his nearest neighbor. I leaped over, and
continued my walk till I came to the house of Mr. Van Wort. He was a
farmer, and had two grown-up sons, one of whom kept a small flat-boat
for fishing and gunning purposes. I saw the owner of the boat hoeing in
the garden. Though I was hardly acquainted with him, I went to him and
asked if he would lend me his boat for half an hour. I found he was a
crabbed fellow, and was not disposed to oblige me. I told him that I was
in a great hurry, that my own skiff was broken, and if he would lend me
his I would give him a dollar for the use of her. The dollar opened his
eyes and his heart, if he had any. He consented to the bargain, and I
paid him in advance, telling him I would push the skiff ashore when I
was done with her, for I could not land in the Splash. He promised to be
on the lookout for her, brought the oars from the barn, and I pushed
off.
I had pulled but a short distance when I discovered Tom and my uncle
walking along the path by the side of the lake. They had crossed the
brook, Tom having probably waded over, and restored the plank for his
father to go over upon. I paid no attention to them, though Tom
repeatedly shouted to me. They retraced their steps as I rowed along the
shore; but they were powerless to injure me while the deep waters of the
lake lay between us. I reached the Splash, and went on board of her.
"Good morning, Miss Loraine. How do you do?" I said, going to the cuddy.
"Nicely, I thank you," replied Kate.
"Have you been comfortable in your cabin?"
"Very; as nice as a bug in a rug. But I was afraid something had
happened, as you did not come off as soon as I expected."
"Something has happened; but you are safe, at any rate," I added. "We
will talk about that by and by. Will you hand me the tiller, if you
please?"
"I don't know what it is," said she, laughing; and everything appeared
to be sunshine with her. "Here is the key; you can open the door."
She handed it to me through one of the ventilators, and I unlocked the
door.
"Don't show yourself, Kate; for we are closely watched," I added, as I
took the tiller from the cuddy. "Tom Thornton is on the shore with my
uncle. Don't let him see you."
"Mercy!" exclaimed she, crouching down in the berth, as if afraid he
would look through the side of the boat.
"Don't be alarmed. There is no danger. The wind is fresh, and he could
not catch us, even if he had a boat. Here is some breakfast for you," I
continued, handing her a napkin in which I had enclosed the provision
sent up for my dinner in my chamber.
I hoisted the fore and main sails of the boat, and slipping the mooring,
ran up the jib. I stood over to the Van Wort place, and after going as
near the shore as the depth of water would permit, I headed the skiff to
the bank, and gave it a smart push, which drove it far enough upon the
beach to hold it, just as the owner of it came to receive it. Trimming
the sails, I went down the lake close-hauled.
Kate was eating her breakfast, and I was glad to be alone with my own
thoughts for a time. My uncle and Tom still stood on the shore in front
of the cottage, watching me. I wanted to mature my plans. I intended to
go to New York with Kate, and help her find her uncle. There was a
railroad station at Cannondale, and another at the head of Adieno Creek.
It would be safer for us to take the train at the latter station. Tom
Thornton would do something. He would not stay another hour at the
cottage. He had money enough and energy enough to cause me a great deal
of trouble. I had no doubt that he would procure a whole fleet of boats
to pursue me. He would even charter the Champion steamer, if he could
get her.
I had already studied the railroad time tables, and as it was now after
ten in the forenoon, there would be no train along the south shore till
between three and four in the afternoon; and Tom would have abundance of
time to carry out any plan he might devise. I did not wish to leave
Parkville without seeing Bob Hale. He had been my friend and confidant,
and I might not see him again for weeks, or even months. I might meet
him at recess at the Institute, and I concluded to do so.
Just then it occurred to me that if I went off with Kate, I should leave
Bob a legacy of trouble and confusion. When I disappeared, Tom would go
to my friend, and harass him, perhaps cause his arrest. I was not
willing to allow this if it could possibly be avoided. It would be
better and fairer for me to settle all this business with Tom before I
left. He still stood on the shore with his father, and I supposed he was
watching to see where I went, hoping that my movements would give him a
clew to the hiding-place of Kate. I put the Splash about, and headed her
towards the cottage.
"Kate," I called to her, "you may come out now, if you like."
"Is it safe to do so? If it isn't, I had just as lief stay in here," she
replied.
"Perhaps you will think I am crazy, Kate; but I wish to have Tom
Thornton see you;" and I proceeded to explain the difficulty under which
poor Bob would labor after our departure.
"I shall do just what you tell me, Ernest Thornton, if it is to jump
overboard" replied she, coming out of the cabin, and taking a seat on
the weather side of the boat.
With the wind nearly aft, the Splash dashed forward on her course. I ran
her up within twenty yards of the shore, where Tom and my uncle stood,
and then threw her up into the wind.
"Mr. Tom Thornton," I shouted, "I want you to understand that Miss
Loraine has been on board of my boat all night."
It must have been a great satisfaction to him to know that he had been
within a stone's throw of her ever since his arrival at the cottage.
"Bring her ashore, you villain!" cried he, stamping his feet with rage
and vexation.
"You smashed my skiff so that I can't land here," I replied.
"Ernest, will you hear me?" called uncle Amos, as the Splash filled away
again.
"I came up here to let you know that Bob Hale hasn't anything to do with
this business," I shouted.
The boat was receding from the shore, and nothing more could be said. I
saw that both Tom's and my uncle's horses were harnessed, and standing
at the front door of the house. I watched them closely, and presently
they got into their respective vehicles, and drove off.