Reprisals
After learning the story of the Lyngates estate, Avelyn's interest in
Pamela Reynolds was doubled, and she cultivated her acquaintance. The
two girls travelled together from Harlingden on Friday afternoons, and
arranged to meet on Monday mornings to walk in company to the station.
Though Pamela was not yet fourteen she was old for her age; her
adventurous life in Canada had given her a mental outlook different from
that of most English girls. She proved a lively and very pleasant
companion. Mrs. Watson, to whom Avelyn confided her friend's story, paid
a call upon Mrs. Reynolds, and found her a timid, refined lady, of
gentle birth and breeding, greatly saddened with her troubles, and
evidently without much initiative. The cottage, which had been lent to
her by Mr. Hockheimer, was in a very out-of-the-way situation. It was
small, inconvenient, and possessed many drawbacks, but she had made the
sitting-room pretty with books and flowers, and the little home had a
cultured air about it. Mrs. Reynolds did not seem to wish to seek any
society, and gently intimated that she feared she was not strong enough
to walk as far as the village and return calls.
"The poor woman has simply sat down under her troubles," said Mrs.
Watson, describing her experiences at the family supper-table. "It's
easy to see that she has no spirit. If she would take life more pluckily
it would be better for herself and everybody. I'm sorry for that child.
To live in that quiet spot with such a depressed companion, especially
when by all rights they ought to have owned The Hall. It makes my blood
boil! Mr. Hockheimer ought to have done more for them than this."
"Catch Mr. Hockheimer doing much for anybody!" commented Daphne. "People
say he's the stingiest landlord. They grumble dreadfully. I think he
ought to have had Mrs. Reynolds and Pamela to live with him at The
Hall."
"Oh, Pamela would have just hated that!" put in Avelyn. "She simply
can't bear her uncle."
"I don't blame her," sniffed Daphne.
"Oh, Muvvie, couldn't we ask Pamela to tea?" said Avelyn. "It must be so
lonely for her up there, without any brothers and sisters. I believe
she'd love to come."
"Well, we'll give her the chance at any rate," agreed Mrs. Watson. "I
hope her mother won't be stupid and refuse to let her come. I think I'd
better send a formal invitation."
The note was duly written and dispatched. Mrs. Reynolds appeared to need
some days to think the matter over, but finally sent a formal
acceptance.
"Hooray!" triumphed Daphne. "I quite expected she was going to decline
with thanks. Muvvie, how glad I am that you're a nice, sensible person,
and not morbid! You'd have been such a trial to us if you'd always gone
about with an air of depressed resignation."
"I've had my troubles as well as other people," said Mrs. Watson. "It
certainly doesn't make them any better to mourn over them. We've got to
sit up and make the best of things as they are. 'Never say die!' is a
good old motto. I'd try to be chirpy and cheery if I were reduced to a
wooden leg and a glass eye!"
"So you would, Muvvie darling! I believe you'd dance a jig with a
crutch. But about Pamela----"
"We'll give her a good time when she comes, poor child!"
The warm-hearted Watsons were determined to make Pamela thoroughly
welcome, and they succeeded royally. She was painfully shy for the first
ten minutes, and answered all questions in embarrassed monosyllables,
but after a walk round the garden she began to thaw, by the end of tea
she had waxed expansive, and later on she proved downright amusing. By
the time the family, in a body, escorted her home, they felt that they
had sealed a friendship. They talked her over on the way back.
"She's sporty," decided David.
"Decent as far as girls go," qualified Anthony, who at twelve did not
yield readily to feminine attractions.
"I call her charming," said Daphne. "You can see she's plenty in
her--not one of those lackadaisical people like Ella Simpson, who just
put on side. It seems to me a most monstrous thing that her uncle should
have been able to take all the property."
"Collared the lot!" grunted David. "The old Hun!"
"Mrs. Garside told me that everybody said Squire Reynolds must have made
a later will--the butler and coachman remembered signing something. But
it couldn't be found."
"Likely enough old Hockheimer suppressed it. He'd be equal to any dirty
German trick!" suggested Anthony.
"If he has he deserves penal servitude."
"I'd prefer shooting for him," said Anthony grimly.
The Watsons liked Pamela for herself, but it certainly gave her an added
interest to consider her the victim of her uncle's greed and injustice.
They thoroughly detested Mr. Hockheimer. Since the morning when he had
turned them out of the wood they had owed him a grudge, and other
matters had accumulated to swell the account. His land, unfortunately,
adjoined theirs. I have mentioned before that the little property of
Walden was shaped like a triangle, the apex of which jutted into Mr.
Hockheimer's estate. This apex consisted of a piece of rather marshy
rushy ground. The brook divided at its head, and flowing round it in two
separate streams reunited, making the patch of meadow into an island,
connected with the main land by a rough plank bridge. It was of little
service from a farmer's point of view, but it was a most picturesque
spot, and Mrs. Watson intended to turn it into a water garden. She and
Daphne spent hours poring over Barr's catalogues, and deciding what
iris, forget-me-nots, ranunculi, and other marsh-loving plants they
should send for, and whether it would be possible to dam a piece of the
brook to make a pool for water-lilies.
Imagine their annoyance when one day they found their cherished island
in the occupation of Mr. Hockheimer's cows, which had walked down the
stream from their own field. With great difficulty the Watsons drove
them back, and replaced the rather broken tree-trunk, which acted as
barrier, across the brook. When the same incident happened again Mrs.
Watson complained, and requested Mr. Hockheimer to see that his cows
kept to their own field. He replied by stating that they had always been
accustomed to graze on the island, which was really a no-man's
territory, not strictly included in either property, though, if the
matter were to be investigated, it would probably be found to be
included in the Lyngates estate.
Much surprised, and angry at such an assertion, Mrs. Watson looked up
the plans of Walden which went with her title-deeds, and found the
island most certainly represented as her property. She called in the
assistance of the village joiner, and caused a strong barrier to be
fixed across the stream at the head of the island, sufficient to keep
out cows and make a landmark for the boundary of her territory from
that of her acquisitive neighbour. This being done she considered the
matter settled, and proceeded to plant her iris and forget-me-nots. She
anticipated a beautiful show from them in the spring.
Towards the end of October, Daphne, whose health had picked up with
country air, nevertheless had to report herself to the specialist who
had previously examined her, and she and her mother made an expedition
to London. They started on a Thursday, and were to spend Sunday with
friends in town, returning home on the following Monday or Tuesday.
Avelyn, David, and Anthony, together with Ethel, the maid, had the
establishment to themselves for the week-end. With her mother's
permission, Avelyn asked Pamela to spend the Saturday afternoon at
Walden.
The young folks were determined to have a thoroughly happy harum-scarum
time together, and, instead of taking a conventional tea in the
dining-room, they carried their meal into the barn, and held a picnic
feast, sitting on blocks of wood, with the wheelbarrow for a table, and
with Billy, the dog, Meg, the cat, and Tiny, the bantam cock, as
self-invited guests.
"It's rather a stunt being all on our own for once!" opined Anthony,
feeding Billy with crust, regardless of the rationing order.
"Top-hole!" murmured Avelyn, pouring out milk for Meg into her saucer.
"I wish something would happen!" said David, rocking himself airily to
and fro on his billet of wood.
"Something _will_ happen if you're not careful, old sport! You'll topple
over next minute!" warned Avelyn.
"What do you want to happen?" asked Pamela.
"Something exciting--an air raid, or a fire, or a burglary. Something
really to give one spasms!"
Pamela did not reply for a moment. She rested her head on her hand and
thought. When she spoke there was an undercurrent of doubt in her voice.
"I don't know whether I ought to tell you," she hesitated. "I'm not
supposed to know, only I happened to overhear. I don't care, I _shall_
tell! He's only my uncle by marriage, and I detest him!"
"Do you mean Mr. Hockheimer?" asked Avelyn, in a sudden flutter.
"Yes; I wish I didn't!"
"What about him?"
Pamela hesitated again, then whispered:
"He's coming here, just at dusk, with an axe and a saw."
"What for?"
The Watsons had clustered round, with faces full of horrified
expectancy.
"To take down that barrier across the stream. He says the island's his."
If the enemy had landed, the Watsons could not have been more astonished
and indignant. Their opinion of Mr. Hockheimer had been bad before, but
that he should take advantage of their mother's absence to perform such
an abominable and utterly illegal act made their blood boil.
"There are two opinions about the island," declared David grimly. "Mr.
Hockheimer will find he's not going to get things all his own way. What
time did he say he was coming?"
"Just at dusk."
"All right! We'll be ready for him! Thanks ever so much for letting us
know. I say, Tony, come into the yard with me; I want to speak to you.
I've got a brain wave!"
"What's it about, Davie?" asked Avelyn excitedly.
"I'll tell you afterwards, Ave."
Out in the yard the two boys held a hasty confabulation. They felt that
they must act quickly. It was their duty to protect their mother's
property from this Hun robber. The situation appealed to their boyish
instincts. David's eyes gleamed with a wrathful twinkle. Anthony's young
fists were tightly clenched. They laid a careful plan of campaign, then
started off to secure recruits. In ten minutes they returned from the
village with three Boy Scouts, to whom they unfolded their designs. They
hurried off at once to the island, to survey the scene of action. The
barrier which Mrs. Watson had caused to be erected across the brook, was
constructed of two stout poles with withies intertwined; the ends were
secured in the banks, and there was room for the water, even in flood,
to flow underneath. On the Walden side of the stream were some large
stepping-stones, which the joiners had placed for their convenience
when fixing the posts into the overhanging bank. David and Anthony, with
their scout friends, took off boots and stockings, and after a
considerable amount of shoving and splashing, managed to move away the
small stones that supported these boulders, leaving them apparently
safe, but in reality only lightly balanced in the brook. They had barely
finished when twilight began to fall.
"We'll clear out now!" commanded David. "He may come any minute, and I
want him to be hard at work before we appear on the scenes. We'll catch
him red-handed."
"And give him more than he expects!" chuckled Anthony.
Going back to the house, the boys took Avelyn into their confidence.
They felt that it would be mean to leave her out of such a thrilling
adventure.
"If you're game to come, you can," they allowed graciously. "It ought to
be a sporty job!"
"Blossomy!" agreed Avelyn. "I wouldn't miss it for worlds. But what
about Pamela? She'd enjoy it, of course, but her uncle would know she'd
given the show away."
"She must hide behind the bushes, and not let him see her. It'll be
top-hole for Pamela!"
The alders and clumps of furze were thick down by the stream, quite
sufficient to give shelter to the little party of seven that presently
took cover there. They preserved strict military discipline. Not a word
was spoken. All crouched silently watching and waiting. The sun had set,
and the red glow faded from the sky, but there was a young moon, and
objects were clear. David held Billy by the collar. He was a sporting
dog, and trained not to bark; though he panted and his eyes bulged, he
did not betray the whereabouts of his owner by even the suspicion of a
yelp. Early experience with a former master, addicted to poaching, had
taught him his lesson.
Just when the owls had wakened, and were beginning to hoot round the
barns, Mr. Hockheimer came striding down his field. He was annoyed with
Mrs. Watson for having put the barrier across the stream. There had
indeed been one in the days of the former tenant, but it had
conveniently tumbled into the water, leaving a pathway for his cows to
graze on the island. He believed that by a little bluff and persistence
he could persuade Mrs. Watson that the island was part of his own
property. German-like, he had small opinion of women, and considered
that a widow's substance would be an easy prey. He had decided to see to
the matter himself, instead of bringing his bailiff or his keeper with
him. Since the war began, his men had been apt to make themselves very
disagreeable over trifles, and it was not worth having a fuss about so
small a business.
He stood on the top of the crag and surveyed the barrier. How to get to
it was the first question. It was fixed just where the stream ran in a
narrow gully between two high banks. He mentally strafed the village
joiner for having placed it in such an inaccessible spot. From his own
land it was practically impossible to reach it. The only thing to be
done was to go into Mrs. Watson's field. He had no scruples about
trespassing, and taking his axe he hacked down some branches, and
cleared himself a way through the hedge. It was comparatively easy now
to reach the barrier. There were stepping-stones obligingly left by the
workmen, which would be of great assistance to him. Saw and axe in hand
he advanced upon them, quite unwitting that seven pairs of eyes (eight
with Billy's) were watching his movements from the shadow of the bushes.
The first two stones were secure enough, and gave him confidence; the
third tottered a little, and he stepped hastily from it on to the
fourth, only to find that it capsized altogether and landed him suddenly
on his back in the water. The stream was not deep enough to drown, but
was quite sufficient to immerse him. He splashed and floundered about,
and rose wrathful and spluttering, to find five boy figures standing in
the field and grinning at his discomfiture.
"Dear me, Mr. Hockheimer," said David, with feigned commiseration, "I'm
afraid you're wet!"
Mr. Hockheimer's remarks, being in German, were probably better not
translated. He waded ashore and began to wring the water from his
clothes.
"May I ask what you were doing?" continued David blandly.
"A job that I mean to finish, you young rascal!" girned Mr. Hockheimer
gruffly.
"Excuse me, but that fence is my mother's property, and if anybody
interferes with it we're out here to protect it."
"And I'm here to remove it!" roared the German. "Take yourselves off,
you young chimpanzees!"
"You forget it's our own field," continued David with icy politeness.
"It's we who must ask you to take yourself off. Oh, very well!" as the
German made a threatening movement towards him, "Billy, will you give
Mr. Hockheimer a hint to go?"
Billy had been straining at his collar to suffocation point. Now,
released and encouraged by his master, he flew, barking furiously, at
the intruder, and seized him by the leg of his wet trouser.
Mr. Hockheimer yelled, freed himself by a kick, and, turning to see the
angry dog ready to spring at him again, saved himself by suddenly
climbing up an old willow stump that overhung the brook. He swarmed up
with an agility surprising in a man of his stout build. Wet and draggled
from his dip in the stream, he cut a sorry figure clinging among the
branches, while Billy, mad with rage, jumped and yelped down below.
"Call off that brute!" shouted the German hoarsely.
"There's no hurry," answered David. "I want to talk to you a little, Mr.
Hockheimer. It's a good opportunity while you're resting."
"Call him off and let me go, you little villain!"
"If you _will_ trespass in our field you must expect the dog to get
excited. It says in the Commination Service, 'Cursed is he that
removeth his neighbour's landmark'. (Perhaps you don't go to Church on
Ash Wednesdays?) Now, you were distinctly trying to remove my mother's
landmark, and if I let you go I may be compounding a felony. I've got
some witnesses here, at any rate. What a gap you made in the fence! We
shall have to make that up. Tony, old chap, keep guard for a while."
"Right you are!" answered Anthony sturdily.
Percy Houghton had brought his father's hedging-gloves and a billhook,
so, leaving Anthony as sentry by the tree, David, with the aid of the
boys, repaired the hedge. He whistled cheerily the while.
Mr. Hockheimer was feeling far from cheerful. He was wet, cold, and in a
most undignified position. Every time he ventured to let his leg down so
much as an inch the dog showed all his teeth in an ugly snarl. The
prospect of spending a much longer time perched in the tree was not
pleasing. He judged it wiser to arrange terms.
"Come, come, you've had your little joke," he expostulated in a milder
tone. "Call your dog away, and I will go home."
"Will you give me your solemn undertaking not to trespass on our
property again, or attempt to remove our landmarks?" demanded David
grandly.
His victim grunted something which might be interpreted as assent.
"Then we'll let you off this time. Tony, hold Billy! Shall I help you
down, Mr. Hockheimer? You're rather stiff, I expect."
"I can manage myself," growled the German sulkily, as he descended with
a thud.
"We've made up the fence, so we shall have to let you out through our
yard," observed David. "By the by, you dropped a saw and an axe into the
brook. I'll fish them out to-morrow by daylight and throw them over into
your field. I call that Christian charity. I might have commandeered
them or let them stop in the stream and rust away. Dear me, you're
_very_ wet! I hope you won't catch cold!"
Mr. Hockheimer made no reply, but stumped after the boys up the field
and through the stable-yard. David held the gate open for him most
courteously, and he passed through into the road. Then he turned and
shook his fist.
"You shall pay for this some day!" he muttered. "I don't forget!"
"Neither do I," returned David. "Good-night, Mr. Hockheimer!"
As the boys came back round the side of the barn they met Avelyn and
Pamela, who had run up from the field. The two girls had kept hidden
among the bushes, but had seen and heard most of what was going on.
"You don't think he saw me?" asked Pamela. "I believe he'd kill me if he
knew I'd told."
"I don't believe he could possibly see you, not even from up in the
tree. It was getting so dark," David assured her.
"He has an awful temper!" shivered Pamela.
"Oh, Dave, you did bait him!" said Avelyn with a chuckle. "I didn't know
you could be so sarcastic. I nearly died trying not to laugh out loud.
How did you think of it all?"
"It came on the spur of the moment," admitted David modestly. "I've
rather an idea I'd like to be a barrister when I grow up, if the war's
over."
"I'd like to be a detective and snap the handcuffs on criminals,"
declared Tony, giving Billy his last honey-drop as a reward of virtue.