"That was a month ago," said he, "since then--"
"A month," cried I, "and I only find you now?"
"I have hidden here and there, and worked for my livelihood across the
water; not daring to show myself this side; till two weeks ago, I was
sent to Smithfield with hay, and after that came daily. But till
yesterday I never saw you; nor expected it then. But you have news for
me, Humphrey," said he, "tell it, for I can hear it."
Then I told him all that had happened since I saw him last, and much the
story moved him. And when I came to speak of the maiden, this great,
strong man's hand trembled like a leaf as he stretched it across the
table, and put out the light which burned there.
"We can talk as well in the dark," said he, hoarsely.
So, in the dark, never seeing his face, yet guessing every look upon it,
I told him how the maiden had gone often by boat and gazed up at the
great Tower; and how, when she left, she had said to me, "Stay near
him"; and how hardly she had torn herself away to return to her father.
He heard me, and said not a word, nor moved a muscle; and, when there
was no more to be told, he sat on in the dark, breathing hard, until I
supposed he had fallen asleep.
But when, after a while, the early dawn struggled through the casement,
it found him still awake, with a look on his face half hope, half
bewilderment, and a light in his eyes such as I had seen there only once
before--on that day we crossed from Cantire to the Bann with the maiden.
But the sight of day roused him.
"Humphrey, I dare not be seen here," said he, "there is a hue and cry
after me. Where shall I hide?"
That was a question had been troubling me all night. For stay where he
was he could not. And, if he fled, was I to lose him thus, the moment I
found him?
Almost as he spoke there came a step without, and a loud tap on the
outer door, at sound of which Ludar started to his feet, and his hand
went by instinct to his belt.
"Hush," whispered I, "'tis only my master, the printer. Here, follow
me," said I, leading him up the narrow stairs, "here is a room where you
should be safe," and I put him into the chamber that was once the
maiden's. "Presently I will return. Meanwhile give yourself to
guessing who once called this little room hers."
Then I went down drowsily, and admitted my master.
"Humphrey," said he, "the stuff is safely removed to Moulsey; but
without type we can do nothing. As it is, I must take what we have here
till I can get more. I have no one I can send but you. Once again, are
you willing to go? or must I lose a 'prentice and Jeannette a husband?"
While he spoke, a thought had flashed on me, and, presently I replied,
humbly enough:
"Master, I am bound to obey you. When you asked me a week since, I
answered you like a fool. I have thought better of it, and if you will
yet trust me, I am ready to start to-night."
At that he gripped my hand, and said he knew I was a good lad all along,
and was content to forgive me. And he told me what grief my
disobedience had caused him and my mistress, and read me a long sermon
on the sinfulness of my course.
"As to thy voyage," said he, "I hear there sails a ship from the pool
for Rochelle to-morrow at dawn. Make ready to start, therefore, and
meanwhile I will write you your letters for my kinsfolk there."
It seemed he would stay all day; and presently he sent me a message to a
stationer on Ludgate Hill, which I must needs take, and so leave him and
Ludar alone in the house.
While out, I got a great fright. For the watch were abroad in search of
the notable villain who had late escaped from her Majesty's Tower, and
who was reported to have been seen lurking in the disguise of a carter,
not many days since, near Newgate. And it was said, I heard, that he
had been seen even later than that--to wit, yesterday--at Smithfield,
where he had suddenly left his cart and disappeared. And some said it
was known he had a confederate in the city, who was giving him shelter,
and of whose name the watch had a pretty shrewd guess. Whereupon, ill
at ease, I said, "Pray Heaven they may find both the rogues," and so
hastened back as fast as my legs would carry me to Temple Bar.
There I found my master ready to leave.
"Here are the letters," said he, "and money. While you are gone I must
hire a man to see to the printing here, since my duties will take me
elsewhere. Should aught befall me, Humphrey, you must keep the work
going for the sake of your mistress and the children. For it is like
enough my head is none too safe on my shoulders, or if it is, it may
chance I must hold it up a while across the seas. My lad, God hath
chosen you to assist in a mighty work, which, whether it succeed or
fail, will be a thing to pride in some day hence. Farewell, my son, see
you get good type for the money, and bring it quickly. So, Heaven speed
you."
When he was gone I went up and found Ludar mad with hunger and
impatience.
"What news?" said he, "and speak not to me unless it be to say, dinner
is served."
He looked pale and harassed, and I think, although the little room had a
bed and a chair, he had stood upright in it all day, touching nothing.
But when I had him down to dinner, he touched a good deal, and told me,
in explanation, that the meal I gave him last night had been the first
for three days, and that, then, he was too eager for news to take all he
might.
When I told him of the hue and cry, and how near the watch was on the
scent, he turned to me and said:
"Where shall we go, Humphrey?"
Which meant, that wherever he went, he counted on me to follow. So I
told him of my errand to Rochelle, and of the _Misericorde_, which lay
below the Bridge. Then his face brightened.
"That is well," said he. "It matters not whether we go to France or the
Pole, so I breathe some freer air than this of England. Let us start
now. We must not go together. I will take the wherry while you go by
land."
"First," said I, "put on this cast-off suit of mine, which I thought to
give away to a beggar man, once; but thank Heaven I did not."
"You give it to a beggar now," said he, "and I thank you, Humphrey, for
a gift I never expected to take from you."
Then we hid the dead carter's clothes in the river; and, not long after,
a skiff put out from shore with a big 'prentice lad in it, who rowed
lazily Bridgewards.
I stood watching him, when, suddenly, the outer door opened, and a
company of the watch trooped in.
"Good e'en to you, Master Dexter," said the leader of them, whose head I
had once chanced to break, and who had been monstrous civil to me ever
since. "We must search this house, by your leave."
"What for?" I asked.
"For villains and lurchers," said he, "and if you keep any such in
hiding, you had best speak and save trouble."
"Wert thou not on a good service," said I, blustering, "I would knock
some of your heads together for supposing I harboured villains. The
only villains in this place are some of you, sirs. What do you take me
for?"
"Nevertheless," said the leader, "we must look round. And, if there be
naught to find, there is naught for thee to fear, Master Humphrey."
"You must bring twice your number before I shake in my shoes at you,"
said I. "Come, look where you will, and, when you have found them, I
pray you let me have a sight of the rogues." And I went on with my
printing.
Of course they found naught. But I, as I stood at the press, could see
from the window far down the river a boat lolling on the stream, and
thanked Heaven all this had not fallen an hour earlier.
They searched upstairs and downstairs, in the wet cellar, and in the
maiden's chamber. They peeped in the cupboards, and up the chimneys,
and put their heads out on the roof. Then, when they were satisfied, I
asked would they like to spy in my pockets, whereat they departed
somewhat ruffled, and left me to breathe again.
Late that night I stood on board the _Misericorde_. The captain was on
the look-out for me.
"By your leave," said he, "you be none too early, comrade. Your fellow
'prentice,"--here he gave me a knowing look--"hath been here this hour,
and is in his berth."
So I went below, and there lay Ludar sound asleep in a hammock, in the
very cabin where he and I had lain once before.
About midnight I could hear the grinding of the anchor chain at the
bows, which was music to my ears, as was the heavy trampling on deck,
and the shouting, and the dabbling of the water at the ports. Amidst it
all, I too fell asleep; and when I woke and stood next day on deck, I
could see on our right the sullen forts on the Medway, and, behind, the
long, low, green line of the Essex mud banks.
Ludar was there before me, pacing restlessly with troubled brow. The
joy of his freedom had vanished before the sad memories which crowded
the ship.
"Humphrey," said he, presently, "when and where is all this to end? How
does it bring us nearer to our heart's desires?"
"Indeed," said I, with a sigh, "'tis a long way round. Yet, patience;
the farther East the nearer West."
He looked at me, as much as to say he knew I was not such a fool as my
words showed me.
"And after Rochelle," said he, "what then?"
"Time enough when we are there," said I.
Time enough, indeed!