DOG ROBS DOG.
"I am but a gatherer and disposer of other men's stuff."
Sir Henry Wotton.
Badger, with his valuable plunder, had four good hours start ere
daybreak, which was as early as the Normans would be likely to discover
their loss. It was slow and tedious work driving cattle through the
passes, and the wooded country, and the most that he could hope for in
the way of start would be eight or ten miles. But there was considerable
probability that the enemy would plan a night attack upon the Saxons,
and in that case, if the loss was discovered by those remaining in camp,
they would be quite unprepared for pursuit; and if no start could be
made by them before the return of the expedition, then he would have his
prize safely aboard the schooner.
In the meantime, Wulfhere, summarily dismissed by his comrade, returned
to the Saxon camp, ruminating upon the strange vagaries of Badger's wit.
He nothing doubted but that some sufficient purpose, if not some daring
exploit, dictated his erratic movements. When he reached the encampment,
he lost no time in rousing his chieftain, Oswald. After a brief
consultation, they decided at once to rouse the whole camp. Then a
council of war was held by the leaders. Hereward and Sigurd were for
forming an ambush, and trying a brush with the foe; but the more prudent
were very doubtful about the success of such a movement, seeing the
Normans were far more numerous than they. Ultimately, it was decided not
to risk an engagement. So hasty preparations were made, and in less than
an hour's time the camp was broken up, and each party chose its own
route for retreat.
"Wulfhere," said Oswald, when we had collected our little party, and had
started home. "I miss Badger. Is he on before?"
"Well, I almost think he will be, my lord, though I left him lurking
within a bowshot of a Norman sentinel, and within sight of their camp
fires. What he had in his head I know not. Some crank, I warrant, by
means of which he will get the best of the enemy."
"He will be venturing too far, I doubt, some day, and he will find he
has got his head in a noose which all his ingenuity will not enable him
to slip."
"No fear, my lord. It will take all the wit in the Norman camp to put
him in a corner where there is not room enough for him to wriggle out.
There is something in that old pate of his which will make him a match
for them all, and something to spare. I have an opinion he will
circumvent grim Death with some dodge or other."
"Well, he will know that we shall be bound homewards, I suppose, and he
will follow when it suits his humour to do so."
"Nay, I fancy he will be ahead of us even now. He gave me instructions
that he would be rounding the Great Nab's head at daybreak, so we may
hope to meet with him ere long."
Thus we kept steadily pressing on through the darkness, and ere long the
beams of the morning sun shot up athwart the eastern sky, and our march
became much more easy and pleasant. By-and-by we rounded the bluff
promontory indicated by Badger, and known as the "Great Nab's head;" and
shortly we espied Badger, and his comrade Grizzly, seated most
contentedly on a mossy bank, Badger regaling himself with a hunch of
bread, and salt beef, whilst Grizzly, foraging for himself, was putting
the finishing touches to a rabbit he had killed.
"Well, Badger," said the Earl, "alive and well, I see. What exploit have
you been perpetrating? Reconnoitring the Norman camp, eh?"
"Reconnoitring, my lord? Mercy on us, no!--if that means sitting on a
boulder like a moulting fowl, and gazing at nothing in particular. I
never reconnoitre; that means _can_ anything be done. I always _know_
something can be done if one sets about it."
"Very good philosophy, Badger--well to the point. What have you been
_doing_, then? What is the trick this time? and have you been found out
for once in a way?"
"Just come with me, my lord, and we'll see."
So saying, he led us over the shoulder of the hill, revealing to us a
lovely little dell where there was a stream of fresh water and an
abundance of fresh green herbage. Here, also, were about twenty head of
cattle browsing lustily.
"There, my lord. I thought we should have a bootless errand, for the
wagging of tongues and the cackling of geese I never could understand;
they are both pointless, and equally profitable. I never was a great
hand at crooning since I was a baby, so I give that business up. But I
owe a grudge to the Normans, and I borrowed these few cattle from them.
They will be of service, I trow, on the top of the hill. And if you find
you don't need them, why, there's no harm done--send them back again."
"Well, every man wields his own staff best, Badger. You do credit to
yours. But I think we had better be moving, or the Normans may fetch
them before they get to their journey's end."
"Quite ready, my lord. We can now reach the boat without another halt,
if the Normans do not dock our tails in the meantime. Come, Grizzly, the
drover's trade is a thriving trade in these times. The thieving Scot and
the robber Dane have turned over their business to honester men. I never
dreamed it was so respectable and well-spoken a trade as I find it to be
now."
So saying, Badger and his hound set about collecting the beasts, and
soon we were able to resume our march with as much celerity as we could
command. Everybody seemed anxious to hear Badger's recital of his
exploit, which he told us with much grim humour, and evidently much
inward relish.
We were able to reach our destination without molestation from the
enemy, their energies being fully occupied by other matters until we had
got clear away. It was thought desirable not to embark until nightfall,
unless we were compelled to do so; for it was more than probable, had we
put out to sea, the movements of the vessel would have been observed by
the enemy. A gangway, however, was laid ready for emergencies, whilst
scouts were posted at points of observation, thus making it impossible
for us to be surprised. During the day, the cattle were permitted to
graze in the wood near, and when the shades of night gathered about us,
they were driven aboard, and we weighed anchor and stood across the bay.
Ultimately we reached our destination without mishap, though we had, in
consequence of our cattle, to travel with the utmost circumspection.