His news spread like wildfire; for the ringing of the alarm-bell of the
castle had drawn all to their doors and prepared them for something
strange. Some of the men had already taken their arms and were making
their way up to the castle when they met Ralph. There were but five men
in the village who had altogether escaped the pestilence; others had
survived its attacks, but were still weak. Horses there were in plenty.
The five men mounted at once, with three others who, though still weak,
were still able to ride.
So great was the excitement that seven women, who had escaped the
disease, armed themselves with their husbands' swords and leaped on
horseback, declaring that, women though they were, they would strike a
blow for their beloved lord, who had been as an angel in the village
during the plague.
Thus it was scarcely more than ten minutes after the marauders had left
the castle before a motley band, fifteen strong, headed by Ralph, rode
off in pursuit, while some of the women of the village hurried up to the
castle to comfort Edith with the tidings that the pursuit had already
commenced. Fortunately a lad in the fields had noticed the five men
ride away from the castle, and was able to point out the direction they
had taken.
At a furious gallop Ralph and his companions tore across the country.
Mile after mile was passed. Once or twice they gained news from
labourers in the field of the passage of those before them, and knew
that they were on the right track.
They had now entered a wild and sparsely inhabited country. It was
broken and rolling, so that although they knew that the men they were
pursuing were but a short distance ahead they had not yet caught sight
of them. They hoped that, having no reason to dread any immediate
pursuit, these would soon slacken their pace. This expectation was
realized, for on coming over a brow they saw the party halted at a
turf-burner's cottage in the hollow below.
Three of the men had dismounted; two of them were examining the hoof of
one of the horses, which had apparently cast a shoe or trodden upon a
stone. Ralph had warned his party to make no sound when they came upon
the fugitives. The sound of the horses' hoofs was deadened by the turf,
and they were within a hundred yards of the marauders before they were
perceived; then Ralph uttered a shout, and brandishing their swords the
party rode down at a headlong gallop.
The dismounted men leaped to their saddles and galloped off at full
speed, but their pursuers were now close upon them. Ralph and two of
his companions, who were mounted upon Walter's best horses, gained upon
them at every stride. Two of them were overtaken and run through.
The man who bore Walter before him, finding himself being rapidly
overtaken, threw his burden on to the ground just as the leader of the
party had checked his horse and was about to deliver a sweeping blow at
the insensible body.
With a curse at his follower for ridding himself of it, he again
galloped on. The man's act was unavailing to save himself, for he was
overtaken and cut down before he had ridden many strides; then Ralph and
his party instantly reined up to examine the state of Walter, who was
found to be still breathing, and the two survivors of the band of
murderers continued their flight unmolested.
*THE WHITE SHIP.*
*FROM "THE REIGN OF TERROR"*
[Harry Sandwith was acting as companion to the sons of a great French
noble when the Revolution broke out. The marquis and his wife were
massacred by the mob. Their sons, in trying to make their escape from
the country, were seized and put to death. Harry Sandwith found himself
left in charge of the two daughters, who, accompanied by an old nurse,
travelled with him in disguise to Nantes. Here they lived in seclusion
for a time, Harry trying to obtain a passage for them in a smuggling
craft.
Nantes is in the hands of the Revolutionists, who, under the direction
of the infamous Carrier, the Commissioner from Paris, are massacring
wholesale all suspected of hostility. There is much illness and distress
in the town, and the ladies by their kindness to the sick win the hearts
of some of the sailors, so that, finally, arrangements for escape are
made.
Before they can be carried out, however, the girls are seized and thrown
into prison. The ordinary modes of execution being found too slow to
clear the prisons of the numbers of those brought in daily under the
charge of being aristocrats, Carrier organized what are known in history
as the Noyades. He procured a number of boats, and had them moored in
the middle of the stream. The prisoners--men, women, and children--were
placed on board. Holes were cut in the bottom to cause the craft to
sink, while troops lined the river and fired with artillery and musketry
at those who endeavoured to swim to shore.
Harry, hearing of this infamous design, and learning which craft the
girls were to be placed on, determines to effect their rescue. He is
taken on board the boat at night, and with the assistance of the sailors
prepares the hatchway of the cabin as a means of escape. The sailors
then row off, and leave him to himself.]
When left alone Harry blew out the other candles, but left that in the
lantern burning, and threw himself down on the locker and thought over
every detail of the work for the next day. As he had said, the great
danger was of Virginie struggling and being too frightened to follow his
instructions. Certainly he could fasten a rope round her, but even then
it might be difficult to manage her. The next danger was, that other
persons might cling to the hatchway. Harry felt the long knife which
was concealed in his breast.
"God grant I may not have to use it!" he said; "but, if it must be, I
shall not hesitate. They would simply destroy us without saving
themselves, that is certain. Therefore I am justified in defending the
girls, as I would against any other enemy."
He knelt down and prayed for some time. Then he replaced the piece they
had cut out from the hatch, fixed the beams beneath it, and lay down
again. He was worn out by the excitement of the day, and in spite of
his anxiety about the morrow he presently fell off to sleep.
It was long before he woke. When he did so, he looked through one of
the auger-holes into the hold and saw the light streaming down the open
hatchway, and could tell that the sun was already up.
He ate the food which Marthe had put into his pocket just as he was
starting; saw that the bundles of corks were ready at hand, and the
ropes attached to them so placed that they could be fastened on in an
instant. Then there was nothing to do but to wait.
The time passed slowly. Presently he heard the sound of drums and
bugles, and knew that the troops were taking up their positions on the
quays. At last--it seemed many hours to him--he heard the splash of
oars, and presently felt a slight shock as a boat ran alongside the
lugger. Then there were voices, and the sound of feet above as persons
mounted on to the deck. There was a scraping noise by the lugger's
side, and immediately afterwards another bump as the second boat took
the place of the first.
This, as far as Harry could hear, did not leave the lugger. There was a
great hum of talking on deck, principally in women's voices, and persons
so often stepped on the hatch, that Harry was glad the beams gave a
solid support to it.