"Petronella! thou here!"
"Brother--brother mine--art thou hurt?"
"Never a whit, though I looked to be a dead man ere this. Sister,
take my knife and cut my bonds; yon man may rise again, and I must
be free to defend myself and thee."
Petronella cast a scared and fearful glance at the long dark figure
lying face downwards upon the sward, showing signs of life only by
a spasmodic twitching of the limbs; and then drawing Cuthbert's
long hunting knife from his belt, she cut the cords that bound his
hands and feet, and in another moment he sprang up and shook
himself, keeping a wary eye all the while upon the prostrate foe.
But he did not go to his side at once; he was too keenly aroused
and interested by this sudden appearance of his sister.
"Petronella! I can scarce credit my senses. How comest thou here,
and at such an hour?"
"I am doing as thou biddest me," she answered in a low voice: "I am
flying from our home, even as thou wast forced to fly. I verily
believe that thou art right, and that our father is well-nigh mad.
I dared not remain. Even old Martha feared to linger longer under
that roof. She has found safe refuge, I trust, at Trevlyn Chase.
Thou didst go there, my brother, after parting from me?"
"Ay, verily I did, and stayed there a matter of some two weeks,
ever hoping to see thy face again, and to hear how it fared with
thee. But thou camest not."
"I could not," answered the girl, in the same low tone; "I was in
my bed, unable to move hand or foot, unable to know night from day.
Cuthbert, the night I went forth to thee in the chantry our father
missed me from the house. He thought I had gone to meet Philip in
the wood at night. He reviled me cruelly, and I feared to tell him
it was thou I had gone to see. Then, I know not how, but I fear he
struck me. A great blackness came before mine eyes; and when I
opened them again a week or more had passed, and I knew, as I began
to understand what had chanced, that I could no longer remain
beneath the roof of the Gate House."
Cuthbert ground his teeth in sudden fury.
"Struck thee, my gentle sister! Nay, I can scarce credit it; and
were he any other than my father--"
"But he is our father," answered the girl gently. "And truly
methinks, Cuthbert, that his lonely brooding has something unhinged
his mind. Let us think of him only with pity."
Cuthbert put his arm about her tenderly.
"Tell me the rest of thy story, sister. How camest thou here so
opportunely, to play the part of Amazon and save thy brother's
life?"
She shivered a little, as if afraid even to think what she had
done, but her words were quietly and clearly spoken.
"That is soon told. Old Martha nursed me back to health again, and
our stern father hindered her not in her tendance of me. And this
very night we made our plans, and she put a concoction of herbs
into his nightly potion, which caused him to sleep too sound to
awake for any sound within or without the house. Then we softly
stole away without let or hindrance--she to go to the Chase, I to
walk across the moorland and forest as thou hadst bidden me, to
find thee here."
"And thou didst arm thyself ere thou wentest forth?"
She looked up with strange earnestness into his face.
"I know not if the thought were sin, Cuthbert," she said, "but as I
slipped through the dark house ere our flight, my eyes fell upon
that pair of heavy pistols always loaded that our father keeps ever
on the mantle shelf of the hall. I thought of the lessons thou
hadst given me in old days, and knew I could pull the trigger were
I so minded, and send the bullet whizzing through the air. I had no
thought of harming any man as I put forth my hand and took one of
the weapons. I was thinking rather of myself. I had heard men speak
of perils worse than death that may beset weak and helpless women
alone in the world. I knew not if I might find thee as I hoped. I
could not but fear that some mischance might keep us sundered. I
thought of my father's cruel wrath should he discover my flight,
and pursue and overtake. It seemed to me, standing in the darkness
of the old Gate House, that it would be better to perish than to be
dragged thither again to die of misery and harsh captivity. I said
within myself, 'Sure, if it be sin, it is one that God would
pardon. It is not well for me to go forth without some weapon which
might end all, were it to be the less peril to die than to live.'
And so I took the pistol and carried it in my girdle."
"And then?"
"Then we went forth together, and Martha walked with me awhile. But
as I felt the clear fresh air of the night fanning my cheek, and
the dewy sweetness of the grass beneath my feet, I grew strong and
full of courage. I felt certain by what thou hadst told me that I
was on the right track. The moon and the stars shone in the sky and
guided my steps. I sent Martha away, and journeyed on alone. It was
sweet to find myself free, to see the heavens above my head, and to
hear the soft night breezes. In the clear brightness of the night I
could see far about me, and I knew that I was alone and had naught
to fear. Thanks to Martha's good nursing and the food she had
contrived for me, I was stronger than I had been for many long days
and weeks. It was happiness to use my limbs, and I was not wearied
by my journey. I entered the forest track at last, and quickly
found the path that thou hadst spoken to me of. I knew then that I
was near my journey's end, and my heart was light within me."
"Didst thou not fear the dark wood and the many strange sounds of
the night?"
"I feared somewhat, but chided myself for that fear. But it was
well I felt it, else might I not have crept along as I did with
such mouse-like stillness; and but for that, yon man"--with a
shuddering glance at Long Robin on the ground--"would surely have
found me."
Cuthbert started and asked her how that was.
"I will tell thee, brother. I was drawing very nigh this dell, and
I felt as by some instinct that it was close at hand, when I heard
the sound of footsteps coming thence, and I well-nigh ran forth
calling thee by name, for I felt assured it must be thou. But then
some impulse of fear possessed me, and I trembled in every limb,
and instead of running forth to meet him who was coming, I hid
myself within the shadows of a deep hollow tree, scarce daring to
breathe lest I should be discovered. And scarce had I done this
before a tall figure crept out along the path, and halted so close
beside me that I well-nigh screamed aloud in my terror, for I
thought for sure I was discovered. But no: he had not paused for
that, and as he stood scarce three ells from my hiding place I
heard him mutter to himself; and I knew by what thou hadst told me,
and by his tall form and long white beard, that it was Long Robin
who was so near.
"And couldst thou hear what he said?"
"I could hear many words, and fierce ones, too--words that made my
flesh creep, and turned me sick with fear for thee, my brother. He
muttered that he was watched and spied upon. He spoke of other
footfalls than his own in the dell, and cursed Joanna for striving
to outwit him, vowing he would slay her if once he found that she
had dared to set others to watch him. He spoke the name of Trevlyn
once or twice. It was as if he had heard somewhat of thee and of
thine errand to the Gipsy Queen--something he must surely have
heard, else could he not have spoken of the 'Trevlyn spawn,' and
what he would do if one of that 'brood' dared to come betwixt him
and his design. And then he leaned against a tree and waited,
listening with an intentness that showed a deep suspicion; and he
must have heard sounds that I could not--for my heart beat so
wildly I feared he would hear it where he stood--and he smote his
hands softly together and laughed a low laugh like that of a
demon."
"I have heard that laugh; I know it well," whispered Cuthbert. "It
is indeed what thou callest it. Doubtless he heard my cautious
descent from the tree. What did he then?"
"I heard his next words plainly, and they sent a thrill of cold
horror through me, for too well I divined their import.
"'He is there!' he hissed between his teeth--'he is there! I shall
catch him red handed in the act. Good! He shall not leave the dell
alive; he shall join the seven who strove before to know too much.
Long Robin's hand has not lost its cunning, and it will strike the
more heartily when aimed against one of the false, hateful brood.'
"And then, Cuthbert, I saw it all in a moment. I knew that thou
wert in the glen, and that he was going forward to kill thee. And
for a moment my head swam, and I well-nigh swooned with terror, and
could not even lift my voice to shout to thee and warn thee to fly
for thy life."
"It was well thou didst not," answered Cuthbert; "for I should
scarce have heard or understood, and he would but have turned his
destroying hand against thee ere he went forward to slay me. Thou
didst do better than cry aloud, my sister."
She shivered slightly and pressed close up to him.
"When the mist passed from my eyes and I could see, Long Robin was
no more there, and in awful fear what might even then be happening,
I stole down as fast as my trembling limbs would carry me towards
the centre of the dell. Ere I could see aught I heard thy voice
raised in a sharp cry, Cuthbert, and then I heard fierce, cruel
words spoken, mingled with that laugh that makes the blood run
chill in the veins. I crept as fast as I could through the tangled
underwood, and then I saw before me a terrible sight. Yon man was
binding thee hand and foot with bonds that thou couldst not break,
and I knew that he would kill thee without mercy, even as he had
threatened. It was then that I remembered for the first time the
weapon I carried at my side, and as I took it in my hands I felt a
strange coldness come upon me. I trembled no longer. I felt calm
and resolute and fearless. I crept cautiously out of the brushwood,
though I kept still in the shadow of the trees, and I drew nearer
and nearer, expecting every instant to be seen. I dared not fire
till I was very close. It was long since I had discharged such a
weapon, and I knew well that thy life and mine both hung upon that
one charge. Robin rose suddenly to his feet after binding thee, and
I thought for certain I was seen. But no; he turned and leaned over
the well, and drew forth from it yon huge round slab of stone,
which he flung there on the grass as thou seest it. When his back
was thus turned I crept nearer yet. I would have fired then, but
still feared to miss. Then he bent over thee and lifted thee in his
arms. He could not see me then, he was too much engrossed in his
task. I saw well what he meant to do--to fling thee bound and
helpless into the well, where the lost treasure, methinks from his
words, must lie.
"The rest thou knowest. Coming up close behind, I fired my pistol.
He dropped thee and fell himself, and I feared that he was dead.
Brother, it is something fearful to have killed a man, though it
was to save life. Wilt thou not go to him and see if he yet lives?
We ought to show charity even to our foes."
Cuthbert was willing enough to do this since he had heard his
sister's story, which had not taken many minutes in the telling. He
went across to the spot where Long Robin lay, and turned him gently
over.
Although the sight of death was by no means familiar to Cuthbert,
it took only one glance to show him that this man was dying or
dead. His face was ghastly and drawn, and his limbs were already
growing rigid and motionless. The heavy charge of the pistol had
done its work surely and fully: the bullet had passed through the
spine, and had entered the vital organs. There was little effusion
of blood, but death was delayed only a few minutes. Even as
Cuthbert looked at him, the man gave a deep groan. His eyelids
flickered a few moments, and then his jaw dropped, a quiver passed
through his frame, which then became absolutely still.
Cuthbert shook his head.
"He is dead!" cried Petronella, in a voice of compunction and
awe--"he is dead; and I have killed him!"
She put her hands before her eyes and shivered. It was something of
a terror to her that she should have done this thing. She shook in
every limb.
"I did not mean to kill him--I never thought of killing him; I only
thought of how to save thee, Cuthbert. O brother, brother, what
shall I do? Will they hang me for it?"
"Never," cried Cuthbert, throwing his strong arm about her and
smiling at her words. "Sweet Petronella, thou hast naught to fear.
This man has long been an outlaw and a robber. He has many lives to
answer for himself, as well as innumerable acts of violence with
robbery. Even were it not so, thou couldest not be held in any wise
guilty by law either of God or man. May Heaven forgive me if I sin,
but I am right glad thy bullet did its work so well. Our enemy thus
removed from our path, the secret of the lost treasure lies with
thee and me. Petronella, I doubt it not for a moment now, that
treasure lies at the bottom of the pixies' well. My only wonder is
that none have thought of this before."
Petronella pointed to the circular slab lying wet and sparkling in
the moonlight upon the sward beside the well.
"Look there!" she said: "it is that that has helped to hide the
secret so long. Robin is cunning. He is deep, he is full of
artifice. He has given to the well a false bottom, of which
perchance none knows but himself. He knows how to raise it from the
well, as I saw him do; but all the world beside would hold it in
truth to be the well's bottom. Beneath yon slab the treasure lies.
Cuthbert, thou hast found the secret. Thou wilt be the one to
restore the fortunes of our house."
"Methinks it will be more thou than I, sweet sister," answered
Cuthbert, gladly and proudly, as he leaned over the low stone wall
and gazed eagerly into the deep, dark water. "And right glad am I
that we should be together when we find the treasure trove. Canst
see aught in yon deep hole, Petronella?"
She shook her head.
"Nor I neither. We must wait for daylight for that, and then
perchance it will not reveal itself to our eyes. Yet it is there. I
am certain sure of it; and although it may be something difficult
to rescue even now, I doubt not that with patience and time we may
succeed. Petronella, I will tomorrow to the village nighest at
hand, whilst thou dost rest up in yon tree out of the way of all
harm, where I have prepared a place of comfort. I will purchase
there a suit of boy's clothes for thee to wear whilst thou dost
share my forest life; it will be safer for thee, and more
commodious likewise. I will also buy us victuals and a coil of
rope. Then we twain can set to work over our task, and it will be
strange indeed if we be balked in it, seeing that the hardest part
is already accomplished. The secret is ours!"
Petronella's eyes sparkled beneath their heavy fringes. There was a
spice of adventure and romance about this that could not but be
delightful to any young spirit.
"Thou wilt not then tell our kinsfolk at the Chase, and ask their
aid in this?"
Cuthbert shook his head.
"I will tell no man aught. I will ask for nothing till the treasure
is in mine own hands!" he cried, with a gesture of triumph and
pride. "They would believe naught when I spoke of the treasure
before. They might even yet laugh us to scorn were we to tell our
tale and point to the well as the place. No: we have done all alone
thus far; let us do all alone even to the end. Time presses not. We
have the summer before us. We have possession of this dell, where
no foot but that of yon dead man ever dared to tread. He thus
removed from our path, none else will spy upon us nor hinder us. We
are safer here than in any other spot in the forest.
"Say, sister, wilt thou be my helper in this labour, be it small or
great?"
She laid her hand trustingly in his; her dark eyes glowed.
"Gladly, gladly will I share the labour and the toil, my brother. O
Cuthbert, it seems a happy and a fitting thing that the luck of the
house should return to the Trevlyns of the Chase through the two
poor cousins whom they befriended in their hour of need. They were
kind to us when our life was darkest; it will be sweet to think
that they will win happiness through us."
"Ay, and Philip's bride will be no longer a portionless damsel, but
will have gold enough and to spare. Sweet sister, Philip hath
spoken to me openly of his love. He hath been ere this to ask thee
at thy father's hand."
"Ay, and was driven forth with blows and curses."
"Thou hast heard it? But thinkest thou he will take that for an
answer? Nay, Petronella, thou wilt one day be his bride; and I will
give thee to him with a joyful heart, for he loved thee in the days
of our poverty and distress; so that one knows his love is for thee
and thee alone, not for the fair dowry thou wilt presently bring."
Petronella hid her happy, blushing face on her brother's shoulder,
and thus they stood awhile, till the girl drew back with a light
shiver and said:
"Cuthbert, can it be right for us thus to stand thinking of our own
happiness, whilst he lies there so still and cold?"
"I was just about to bid thee give me leave to bury him, whilst
thou dost rest thyself awhile. We will not grudge him that last
service; and it will be safer and better to do it here than to give
notice of his death to the gipsies and outlaws, and so bring them
down upon us in this place, provoking perchance their vengeance
upon ourselves. I have here a spade, brought to dig after the
treasure. I little thought it would first be used to dig Long
Robin's grave. But the task had better be done, and that quickly.
The man is dead as a stone. We will bury him away out of our sight
ere we do aught beside."
Petronella assented with a slight shudder. She could not regret the
death of the giant gipsy, who himself made so light of human life,
and would have slain her brother before her eyes without a qualm.
But she shivered each time she looked at the motionless form, and
was glad when, after some hours of hard work beneath the trees,
Cuthbert succeeded in dragging the corpse away and in covering it
up from sight. Kneeling beside the rude grave, the girl breathed a
prayer for the soul of the departed man, and repeated many an ave
and paternoster, in the hope of smoothing for him his passage into
eternity (being still considerably imbued with the teachings of her
early life, which the newer and clearer faith had by no means
eradicated), and then she rose comforted and relieved, feeling as
though a dark weight had passed from her spirit.
Daylight had now come, and the girl was very weary. She looked so
wan and white that Cuthbert was alarmed, and fed her tenderly with
the best his wallet could supply; after which he took her up to his
nest in the sycamore, first bringing the rug that was lying in the
hollow tree to wrap around her. There he succeeded in making her so
comfortable and secure that she fell asleep almost at once, and he
was hopeful she would sleep the whole time of his absence, for she
was worn out with fatigue, and only just recovering from an
illness. How she had borne the fatigues of that night he scarce
knew; but she possessed her share of the Trevlyn tenacity of
purpose, and her strong will had conquered the feebleness of her
frame.
It was a satisfaction to see her sink into a tranquil sleep, and
secure in the certainty that she could not be seen by any person
entering the dell. Certain that none but a chance traveller ever
did come nigh this haunted spot, he was not afraid to leave her;
and after studying the simple contrivance by which the round slab
was raised and lowered in the well, he dropped it to its former
position, and went on his way to the village with a light heart.
The secret of the lost treasure, he was fully certain, was now his;
and though the work of rescue might require time and patience and
labour, he was convinced it could be accomplished, and that he,
with the help of his sister, should find himself competent for the
task.
It was evening before he returned, but he found Petronella where he
had left her. She had slept almost unbrokenly throughout the day,
and was now greatly refreshed and invigorated. The air of the
forest and the sweet breath of the pines were enough, as she said,
to give her new life; and she descended eagerly to meet and greet
her brother, and to examine the purchases he had made.
The first excitement was the ass who bore the heavy load. Cuthbert
had had some trouble in making a way for the creature to pass down
into the dell; but once here, he would never stray away of his own
accord. Indeed, he appeared to have no disposition that way, for he
began at once to crop the emerald sward around the well with an air
of great contentment, whilst Cuthbert unloaded him and displayed
his purchases to his sister.
"There is thy suit, young Peter," he said with a smile. "I trow
thou wilt make a pretty boy, and wilt find thyself more fitted for
our new life thus habited, and canst rove in the forest thus clad,
an thou hast a mind that way, more safely than thou couldest in a
maid's dress. And here is wine to put some colour into thy pale
cheeks, and food to last us many a day, and blankets to wrap about
us by night when the wind blows chill, and this heavy cloak to keep
the rain from thee when the skies weep. And see, here is a rope
which I trow will let me to the very bottom of the well, an we can
once turn the water some other way; and the ass can drag me forth
again--and the treasure likewise--when once this matter has been
accomplished. The hot, dry weather is coming apace. Men say already
that the springs be something low. All this favours our plans; and
if I can find the spring that feeds this well, as like enough I
may, then will I make shift to turn its waters another way, and the
pixies' well shall be dry!"
Petronella gazed at him in surprise.
"Brother, whence comes all this knowledge to thee? I should never
have dreamed such a thing might be!"
"But I have read of such things being done ere now," answered
Cuthbert eagerly. "I have spent many an hour at Master Cole's shop
upon the bridge reading of such matters--how men mine and
counter-mine, and dig and delve, and sink wells and drain them, and
do many strange things of which we never dreamed in past days. In
times of war it is wondrous how many shifts of that or like kind
they think of and perform. I little thought how soon I myself
should want some such thing accomplished; but I read all eagerly,
and Master Anthony Cole explained much that perplexed me; and I
trow I might e'en do some such thing myself, with thee and this
patient beast to help me in my toil!"
It was with undisguised admiration that Petronella regarded her
brother, and very happy and merry was the meal taken together
beside the well under the green-wood trees. It was hard to realize
that this smiling girl, with the faint pink bloom in her cheek, and
the bright eager eyes, was the cowed and sorrowful Petronella of a
few days back. Cuthbert looked at her with glad pride as she talked
to him and petted the docile ass, who came and stood beside them
and got a full share of such things as were pleasant to his palate.
Petronella had never had the care of a live thing before, and was
delighted with the affection shown towards her at once by the
gentle creature.
Her sleep that night in the tree was sound and refreshing; and when
she joined Cuthbert, dressed in her suit of boys' garments;
laughing, blushing, and delighted with the freedom of motion that
they gave her; he found it hard to believe it was really
Petronella, and vowed it would not be hard to call her Peter, for
that there was little enough of the Petronella of old days to be
found in her.
And from that day forward a happy life began for the brother and
sister thus strangely located in the pixies' dell. Each day saw the
girl growing stronger, brighter, and happier, till she could
scarcely believe it was so short a time since she had fled from her
father's house; whilst Cuthbert, intent upon his plans and his
engineering operations, grew brown and muscular and self reliant,
watching carefully and tenderly over his sister, but spending his
time in healthful toil, and in working out self-imposed problems,
confident that these would in the end succeed in enabling him to
carry out the purpose of his heart.
The pixies' well proved very deep. Soundings taken by the rope
showed that only too clearly. The water flowed three feet over the
false bottom Robin had contrived the better to conceal his hiding
place, whilst below that there was fully ten feet of water; and
Petronella's face grew long as she saw the result of the sounding,
for she could not imagine how any treasure could be got at that lay
thirteen feet below the surface of the water.
"Never mind that, sister mine," said Cuthbert. "Belike it is to
that very fact that it owes its long safety. Even Robin must have
known that to bring it forth again must be a matter of time and
patience. He could not visit it in a moment of haste or fright, and
filch a piece away as he would. Doubtless the place was chosen by
the old Long Robin of past days for the very difficulty there must
be in bringing forth the prize. I have often thought that no buried
treasure could so long have escaped prying hands and covetous
spirits. Bit by bit some would have gone. It is the water that has
been the best protection."
Petronella saw the force of that argument; but as she leaned over
the wall, trying to peer into the dark depths whilst Cuthbert
talked of his scheme for draining it dry, she heaved a little sigh,
and said:
"And what if, after all that long labour, there be no treasure
there in spite of all we believe?"
He looked a little taken aback, but was struck by the practical
nature of the suggestion. He pondered awhile, and then he spoke.
"That is a thought worthy of consideration," he said. "It were a
foolish thing to waste the whole summer only to be deceived in the
end.
"Peter," he added suddenly, as if struck by a new idea, "I am no
fearer of water. I can dive and swim, and I have long wind, and can
hold my breath a great while. Thinkest thou that if I were to leap
into the well and dive to the bottom, thou couldst give me the rope
when I reappeared, and with the aid of the ass pull me forth again?
I can dive through the water, I trow, albeit the well is none too
wide. But I could not climb the steep stone sides; thou and the ass
must help me there."
Petronella was a little timid of the experiment lest harm should
befall her brother, and persuaded him at last to tie the rope about
him ere he dived, so that in the event of his striking his head, or
in any other way hurting himself, she would have power to pull him
up and out, even if he should have lost consciousness. After making
her promise not to use this power unless she were fully persuaded
he was in some difficulty and unable to help himself, Cuthbert
consented to this amendment; and when all preparations were
complete he balanced himself for a moment on the edge of the well,
and then launched himself downwards in a line as straight as an
arrow.
Eagerly and breathlessly Petronella watched for his reappearance,
holding her own breath the while, as though in some way that would
help the diver. He was long gone, as it seemed to her. She had been
forced to take one deep respiration, and was almost tempted to pull
at the rope in her hand, when the water suddenly became again
disturbed and full of bubbles, and a head appeared above it again.
"Cuthbert!" she exclaimed, in a tone of glad relief, "O Cuthbert,
what hast thou found?"
He was clinging to the rope with one hand; the other was beneath
the water out of sight. He raised his eyes, and said between his
gasping breaths:
"Draw me up; the water is chill as ice!"
From the sound of his voice she could not tell whether success had
crowned the attempt or not. She turned without another word, and
led the donkey onwards, gently drawing Cuthbert from the depths of
the well. As she did so he gave a sudden shout of triumph, and
springing over the side of the wall, flung at her feet a solid
golden flagon richly chased, with the arms of the Trevlyns engraved
upon it.
"I scarce dared to look at what I had got as I came up!" he cried,
as he sprang high into the air in the exuberance of his spirit;
"but that will lay all doubt at rest. The lost treasure of Trevlyn
is lost no longer, and Cuthbert and Petronella have found it!"