I r 1r 11LTHE SALT LAKE HERALD SUNDAY JUNE S 1890SIXTEEN PAGES ii Jn1 THE SPLENDID SPURt i IBeing Memoirs of the Adventures of John Marvel a Servant ofHis Late Majesty King Charles 1 in the Years16423 Written by Himself Ij ENGLISHJ 1EDITED IN MODERN ENGLISHIr BeforE I liuu the sand vrell ont of my oyes jtar ore was up and had his pike loose I j Izurl in a twinkling the rebel was spittedthrough tba iuddle and writhing Twss 1culg bat before I ccrald puil cut my pisSol anl Cd bis psiii cara oir front rank atop of us again anddot rufj werc die ijko sheep my coinIi3j icstchngip rho dead mans musketl down thecad ammunition bagaad Ifollowiup ownfcl I > > e with three stout rebels at my heelsWhat wll b the Tbs cud was that after forty yards or sCadanjr the foremost close upon me I turnednlot and lot dv with my pistol at him HpFpuu round twice aad dropped which I waswondering ntthe pistol being but a poornvoapoa for aim vi Deal was caught by theunn cad pulled behind a dump of bushesJLiaady by Twos the man with the wendyjbv his smoking musket I knew that twos hoTiTiri firm the shot that killed inv purerr Good turn for good turn says he quickVl + h t her pistolThe ether two bad stopped doubtfully buttt the next discharge of my pistol theytnrr 1 tail and went up the hill again andSc c c alone And suddenly I grewjaw 3 iMt my bead was aching fit t split Iiao the turf sick and ilLv aLt 1 I todiois t toll the whole of thisi1ag 11 which b ri ning soon after sucrisa4 > I t tin 4 I the aft BKIjts nc indeed of the whole my recolIts n hut of continual advauco and rpt s tat same slopeh 1 t ct U cclock w having been for thesix ii beitcn back were panting under0 i > r r a h islgP and Sir John BerkeleyU1 h v s writing or a drumhead some1S i e if the camp when there comes aj i i3imi horseback his face smearedHIT utl lust and rides up to him andS inI Twa I have since learned tfi i the powder was all spent but all o or two but this only the captains Ika w at he MmeV ry well then cries Sir Bevill leaping i Iup gavly Come along b yswe must dot tins time And tho troop forming once imoro the trumpets sounded the charge and jup we went Away along the slope we heard tJ L thEy other trumpeters sounding in answer and1 believe twos n sursum corda to all of us IBilly Pottery was ranged on my right inthe first rank and next t me on the other i itide a giant near seven foot high who said Ihis name was Anthony Payne and his business tn act a body servant to Sir Bevillfend he it was that struck up a mighty curious song in the Cornish tongue which therest took up with a will Twas incrediblehow it pa fire into them all and Sir Bevill itossed his hat into the air and after him likeschoolboys wo pelted straight for the massesaheadFor now orer the rampart came a company of rod musketeers and two of russetclad pikemen charging down on u A moment and we were crashed back anotherand tho chant rose again We were grappling hand to hnd in the midst of theirlesBrtBrt good lack What use is swordsmanship n a charge like this The first red coatthat encountered I had hcnluutore me ha spitted throughthe luug cud carried on by the rush hetwirled ins round like a windmill In an inbcaut I was passed the giant stepping beforeand about him hiaia Iud clearing a space usingpkeasif twere a lil With a wench ITugged my sword out and followed I sawSir Bevill u little t the left beaten to hisknee and carried towards nle Stretchingout a baud I pulled him on his feet againcatching 3 I did so a crack on tho skullthat would have ended me had not Billy Pottery put up his pike and broke the force ofit Next I remember gripping another redcoatcat by the beard and thrusting at bun withjortened blade Then tho giant ahead liftedlis pike highland we fought t rally roundit and with that I seemed caught off my fetand swept forward and we wero on thecrestTaking breath I saw the eisemy rneltinp offthe summit like a mans breath off a paneAnd Sir Bevill caught my hand and pointedacross t where on the north side a whitestandard embroidered with gold griffins wasmountingTis dear Nick Slanningt hecried Gta praised the day is i ours for certainCHAPTER SVHi MEET WTTII A HAPPY AnvurrnuEThe rest of this signal victory in whichseventeen hundred prisoners were taken bsides the Maj Gen Chudleigh and all therebels camp cannon and ictali leavehistorians t telL For very soon after thorout was are the plain below full of menscreamiag and runaiag and Gel John Digbysdragoons after them chasing cutting andkilling a wet muzzle was thrust into myhand and turning I found Molly behind mewith the groom to whom I had given her intho morning The rogue had counted on acrown for his readiness and sore the marec wa ready for anything ho having mixedJsalf a pint of strong ale with her mash nothalf an hour beforeSo I determined t see the end of it andpaying the fellow climbed into the saddleOn the summit the Cornish captains werenow met and cordially embracing Tis verysad in the latter times t call back theirsot and boyish laughter 5 soon t boquenched on Lansdowno slopes or by BristolgraE Yet 0 favored ones to chase Victory to grasp her fluttering kt and swith warm panting cheeks kissing her tfall escaping evil daysHow could they la gr For me the latepassionate struggle left me sake with sbIt und for the starting tears I sw neither moorsaround nor atm nor twinkling seA Brushlag them away I was aware of Billy Potterystriding at my stirrup and munching at a4 biscuit ho had found in tho rebels campWe tbs dent being gentle broke ito aran i b pes tl catch up with CaL Joha Digby T5drs o3n that already were fa acrossthe next vals The s ope around us was piedwith deal and dying breof foal out ofevery five were rebels and cruelly theycurvl us a we passed them by Night wascoaling o apace and her already we werein aefj shadow but could see tie yellow sunon the hills beyond We crossed a stream atties foot and weN climbing ag Behindu thuchecriag yetoontiaued though faiaterand fAinter grew the cries and shouting infront nn Sons we turned into a lane over nKteep hedge under tho which two or threeHot rebels were cowering A wo cametumbling almost atop of thee ttiey ran yellia and we cct tboui go in peaceThe lane gradually le us to westward outof the santa lIne l of the rout and past 1 hami M lit where every door was shut and all silentLc And ct lat a slice of the sei fronted us betweentween two steeply shelving hills On thecrest of 1he road before it plunge down towards the coast was n wagon lying againstthe hedge t tho horses iroae and bidit stretched across the road an old womanStopping we found her dead with a swordthrust through the left brent and insidth wagon I young man lying with his jawbonad agl up deud also And how this sactpelpet cc happened hero s far from the battie flela was more than we could oI was laoviag away when Billy that warlaicsliujiin the rood chanced to crest his Ci up totrvxtr thr EM Mid drooping the deacu I vroiaaa1 liui I urramblod on Ms feet antJonlajJE3iJtli ajuzie iiFollnTnng his gaze 1 saw a small sloop Imoving utder shortened canvas about two imiles from the land She made a pleasantsight wit the last rays of sunlight flamingOB her sails but for Billys perturbation I Icould not account s turned a inquiringglance to himSuthin1 i tho wind out yonder was hisanswer Whats a sloop doing on thatratchEO close in by the point Be dangedl butthere she goes again as tho little vessel Iro agonsswung off a point or two farther from the j Ibreeze that was breathing softly up channelTime to sup lad for tho both of u hebroke Ioff shortly jIndeed I was faint wit hunger by this itime yet had no stomach t cat thus close tothe dead S turning into a gate on our leftI hand we crossed two or threo fields and satdown to sup off Billys biscuits the mareI standing quietly beside us and cropping theshort crassThe fleld bee we now found ourselvesran out along the top of a small promontory Iandended without fence of any sort at the Ie1s edge As I sat looking sonthwardfIcould only observe tho sloop by turning myhead but Billy who squatted over againsttook his off her and betweenme hardly tok eyes of beteenthis and his meal was to busy t speak award For me I had enough to do thinkingover the late fight end being near worn outhad half n mind to spend the night there ontko hard fnrf for tbnnjm tho nn was nordow ad the landscape gray yet the air wasexceeding warm and albeit as I have saidthere breathed a light breeze now and thentwos hardly cool enough t dry the sweatoffmo So I stretched myself out and found itvery ju > vsant t lie still nor when Billystood up and sauntered o2 towards the farend of tho headland did I stir more than toturn my head and lazily watch himHe was gone half an hour at the least andthe sky by this time was so dark that I hadlost sight of him when rising on my elbowto look around I noted a curious red glowat a point where the turf broke off not threehundred yards behind me and a thin smokecurling up in it 3 it seemed from the veryface of the cliff below In a minute or sthe smoke ceased almost but the shinecea amost butagainst the sky continued steadyS aough notvery strong Billy has lit a fire I guessedund was preparing t go and look when Ispied a black form crawling towards me andpresently saw twas Billy himselfComing close he halted put a finger t hislip and beckoned then began to lead thewdy back a he had comeThought I the are queer doings butleft Molly t browse and crept after him onhands and knees He turned his head once tmake euro I was following and then scrambledbled on quicker but softly towards the pointwhere the red glow was shiningOnce moro he pulled upas I judged abouttwelve distance from tho andpaces distanc edgeandafter considering a second began t moveagain only now ho worked a little t thoAnd I of thisright soon saw theintention tbifor just hero the cliffs lip wn cleft by a fissuresure very like that in Scawfell which wewere used t call the Lords Rake only narrower that ran back into the field andshelved out gently at the top s that I manscramble down itmight easily snmble some way dowthough how far I could not then tell Andtwos from this fissure that the glow cameAlong the right lip of this Billy led moskirting it by a couple of yards and wrigglingon his belly like a blindVorm Crawlingcloser for twos hard to himcor now ta t see againstthe black tr I stopped beside him andstrove t quiet the violence of my breathingThen after a minutes pause together wepulled ourselves t the edge and peered overThe descent of the gully was broken someeight feet below u by a small ledge slopingoutwards about six feet a I guess andscreened by branches of th wild tamariskAt the back in an angle of the solid rockwas now set a pan pierced with holes andfull jf burning charcoal and over this a mania tho rebels uniform was stoopingHe had a small paper parcel in his lefthand and w blowing at the charcoal withal h might Holding my breath I heardhim but could of his faceclearly culd see nothing o hi fnfor his back was towards u all sable againstthe glow The charcoal fumes a they rosechoked me s that I was very near a fit ofcoughing when Billy laid one hand on myshoulder and with the other pointed out tseawardswarLooking that way I saw 3 small light shinthe close in Twos alaning on sea pretty cose in Tw3 atern hung out from the sloop a I concludedon the instant and now 1 began t have aninkling of what was towardBut looking down again at the man witithe charcoal pan I saw a black head of hairlifted and then a pair of red puffed cheeksand a pimpled nose with a scar across thebridge of itall shining in the glare of thepanPowersPowers of heaven I gasped tis thatbloody villain Luke Settle 1And springing to my feet I took a jumpover the edge and came sprawling on top ofhim The scoundrel 3 stooping with hisnose close t the pan and had not tie t Iturn before I lit with a thud on his shoulders flattening him on tho lego and nearlysending his face on top of the live coalsTwas s sudden that before he could smuch n think my fingers were about hiswindpipe and the both of us struggling flatthe brink of the For he hadon hrn precipice abulls strength and heaved and kicked sI that I fully looked next moment to be flyj ing over the edge into the sea nor could II loose my grip t get out a pistol but only iheld on and worked my fingers in and j jhow he had bl the mastiffthought stracglod t1 mail jI that night on the bowling groan and vowedt servo him this same if only strength held jioutButnow jButnow just as he had almost twisted hisneck free I heard a stone or two break away j II above u and down came Billy Pottery flyingatop of us and pinned us t the ledgeI Twos short work BOW Within a minuteI Capt Luke Settle was turned on his back his= with clutch hiseye fairly starting Billys cnth on hihis mouth wido and tillthroattbat hi open nd gaspingi i I slipped the nozzle of my pi tol between hisi teeth and with that he had no aioro chanceJ but gave in and like a lamb submitted tI have his arms trussed behind him withI Billys leathern bolt and his legs with his own iI Xow said I standing over him aud patling tho pistol against his temple you andj 1 blaster Turncoat Settle have seine acI counts that twould 11 1 well to square SI first tell ni what do you here and where isj Mistress Delia Killigrowf1j I think that till this moment the bully hadidea hisafulauts than chancei no ea h 1 couple of Corrish troopers But noW seeingj the glow of the burning charcoal on my faceI ho ripped cut a horrid blasphemous curseI and straightway fell to speaking calmlyj Good sirs the game is yours with caret Slid I but you hold a pretty hand if onlyj you know low 1 play itI j i you shall help me captain but letI u b clear about the stakes For you tislife death formetis to MistressmoI le or dOth li t regain lsrI1 I Delia failing which I shoot you here throughthe head and topple you into tho sa Youare the knave of trumps s and I play thatcard a matters now stand only the queencan save youBJght but where b king and acofTie king is i the Cornish army yonder theis here which I holdace i my pistol hor holtj And thats a very pretty comprehensionthtygflmp s Jplay the queen>Wliero is shoPFor answer he pointed seaward where the lsloops lantern lay like a floating star on theblack watersWhat I cried L Mistress Delia in thatsloop 1 And who i with her pray fWhy Black Dick t beg with andRub Godges and Jeremy ToyAll the knaves left in the pack God helpher I muttered as I looked out towards thelight and my heart beat heavily God helpher I said again and turning spied a grinon the captains faceUnder Providence answered hePridence aner yourunworthy servant may suffice But what imy reward to bYYour neck said I i I can save it whenyou are led before the Cornish captainsThats fair enough so lsten Tee few Imonths the lady has been shut in Bristol Keep Iwhither by the advice of our employer wconveyed back safe and sound This sameemployerA dirty rogue whom you may a wellcall by his name Hannibal TingcombRight young sir a very dirty rogue andI niggardly I hate a men rascal Wellfearing her second escape from that prisonand being hand in glove with tho parliamentmen ho gets her on board a sloop bound forthe Virginias just at the tune when knowsthe Earl of Stamford is i to march and crushthe Coraishmen For escort she has the threecomrades of mine that I named and the Cathin of the sloop a fellow that asks no questloas has orders t cruise along the coasthereabouts till he gets news of the battleWhich you were just now about t givehim cried I suddenly enlightenedTwos scheme forRight again Tw3 a pretty shemedye sealif fill went well with the Earl ofStamford tho itings law would ba wiped outin Cornwall and Master Tingcomb with hisclaims and meritorious services might snaphis thumb thereat So in that case Mistress IDelia was t be broughtashore hero and takento him to serve 3 ha fancied But if the dayshould g against usas it has she was tosail t the Virginias with 0110 slop and thereb sold as a slave Or worse might happenbut I swear that is the worst was ever toldmeG tis vile enough said 1 scarceable t refrain from blowing his brains outSo you were t follow the earls army andwork the signals Which are they For nIquick resolve had come into my head and Iwas casting about t put it into executionA green light if we won if not a redlight t warn the loop awayI picked up the packet that had droppedfrom his hand when first I sprang upon himIt burst abroad and brownwas bur a powdertrickled from it about the ledgeThis was the red light to b sprinkled onthe burning charcoal I supposeThe fellow nodded At tho same momentBilly who as yet had not spoko 1 word andof course understood nothing thrust into myhand another packet that he had found stuckin a corner against the rockNow tell incin case the rebels won wherewas the landing t bo madeIn tho coo below here whero the roadleads downAy the road where the wagon stoodCapt Luke Settle blinked his eyes at thisbnt nodded after I momentAnd how many would escort herHo caught my drift and laughed softlyBe damned sir but I to lovedamue sr begin t youfor you play the game very proper andsoundly Reuben Jeremy and Black Dickalone aro in the plot 5 why should more escort her For the stripper and crow havetheir own business t look afteratrThen Master Settle though it be a soretrial t you those three knaves you mustgivo me or I play my ace and I pressed thering oi soy pistol sharply against his ear as areminderWith all my heart young sir you shallhave them says he brisklyAnd this is honoramong thievesthought I you would sell your comrade asyou sold your king but onlysaid I youcry out or speak one word t warn themBefore I could get my sentence out BillyPottery broke in with a voice like a trumpetAs folks g Jack I bee humorous manBut sittin hero an ponderin this way anYthat I says in my deaf an afflicted styleWhy not shoot tho ugly rogue if mirth indeed be your object For t wait till anuglier comes t this untraveled spot i superfluityHow to explain matters t Billy was morethan I could tell but in a moment he himselfsupplied the means For the rocks here wereof some kind of slate very hard but scalyand finding two pieces a largo and a smallhe handed them to me bawling that I was twrite therewith So giving him my pistolI made shift t scribble a fewwords Seeinghis eyes twinkle a he read I stood upThe charcoal by this time was a glowingmass of red and threw so clear a light on usthat I feared tho crow on board tho sloopmight see our forms and suspect their misadventure But the lantern still hung steadilys signing t Billy t drag our prisoner behind a tamarisk bush I opened the secondpacket and poured some of the powder intomy handI was composed of tiny crystals yellowand flaky and holding it for a moment Iwas possessed with a horrid fear that thismight be tho signal t warn the sloop awayI flung a look at the captain who read mythoughts on tho instantlever fear young sir am no such heroa to sell my life for that tagrag Only makehaste for your deaf friend has a cursed uglyway of fumbling his pistolSo taking heart I tore the packet wideand shook out the powder on the coalsInstantly there came a dense chokingvapor and a vivid green flare that turnedthe rocks the sky and our faces t a ghastlybrilliance For two minutes at least thisunnatural light lasted As soon 3 it diedaway and the fumes cleared I looked seawardwardThe lantern on the sloop was moving inanswer t the signal Three times it waslifted and lowered and then in the stillnessI ber voices calling and soon after the regular splash of oarsThere was no time to b lost Pulling thocaptain t his feet wo scrambled up the gullyand out at the top and across the fields na lfast 3 our legs would take Uf Molly camoto my call and trotted beside mothe cptin following some paces behind nail Billylast t keep a safe watch on his movementsAt tho gate however whore wo turnedinto the road I tethered the snare lest thosound of her hoofs should betray us anddown towards the sea we pelted till almost atthe foot of the hill I pulled up and listenedthe others following my exampleWo could hear tho sound of oars plainabove tho wash of waves on the beach Ilooked about me On either side the roadwas now banked by tall hills with clusters ofbracken and fur bushes lying darkly ontheir slopes Behind one of these clusters Istationed Billy with the captains long swordand a pistol that I by signs forbade him tofire unless in extremity Then retiring someI forty paces up the road I hid the captain andI myself on tho other bidei Hardly score we thus disposed befor Ii heard tho sound of a boat grounding on theI beach below and tho murmur of voices andthen the noise of feet trampling tho shingleUpon which 1 ordered my prisoner togive ahail which ho did readilyAhoy Dick Ahoy Reuben GodgcslIn I moment or two came the answerAhoy there captain hero we 01Fetch along the cargo shouted CaptSettle on my promptingWhere be you IUp the road here waiting1One minute then wait minutethenwlit one minut captainI heard tho boat pushed off some goodcalled and then with tendernights cled tender anguishtho voice of my Delia lifted in entreaty As II I guessed she was beseeching tho sailors ttake her back to the sloop nor leave her tcthese villains There followed an oath 0two growled out a short scrimmage and atlast above the splash of the retreating Jjoatcame the tramp of heavy feet on the roadbelowSo fired was I at the sound of Delias voicewt kept miietbehindthe bush Yet I nnawtt enougmorc TOIOOKt the priming of my pistol and also bid the Icaptain shout again As he did 5 a lightshone out down the road and round the corner came a man bearing a lanternCant 0 quicker captain he calledthe jade struggles so that Dick and Jeremyha their hands fulSure enough after bun there came in viewtwo stooping forms that bore my dear maidbetween them one by the feet tho other bythe shoulders 1 ground my teeth to see itfor she writhed sorely On they came however until not more than ten paces o2 andthen that traitor LuXe Settle rose up behindbushour buhSet her here boys said ho and tie herpretty anklesWell met captain said the fellow withthe lantern Reuben Gedges stepping forward give us your handHe was holding out his own when I sprangup set tho pistol close to his chest and firedHis scream mingled with tho roar of it anddropping the lantern he threw up his handsand tumbled in a heap At the same moment out went the light and the other rascals dropping Delia turned to run cryingSold I soldBut behind them came now a shout fromBilly and a crashing blow that almost soyj ered Black Dicks arm at the shoulder andI at the same instant I was on Master ToysI collar and had him down in the dust KneeingI big on his chest with my sword point at histhroat I had leisure t glance at Billy whoa the dark seemed to be sittingon tho headof his disabled victim And then I felt atouch on my shoulder and a dear face peeredinto mineI it Jack my sweet JackTo bo sure said I and if you butreach Iout your hand I will kiss it for all that Imbusy with this rogueNay Jack Ill kiss thee on the cheek solDear lad I am so frightened and yet couldlaugh for joyBut now I caught the sound of gallopingon the road above and shouts and thenmore galloping and down came I troop ofhorsemen that wero like to have ridden gverus had I not shouted lustilyWho in the fiends namo i herof shoutedthe foremost pulling in his horse with ascrambleHonest len and rebels together I an Iswered but light the lantern that you willInd and shall know fromfud handy by nd you sbal one ItotherBy tho time twas found and lit there wasdozen of Col John abouta Col Digbys dragoons abutus and before tho two villians wero boundcomes a half dozen men leading in CaptSettle that had taken to his heels at the firstblow and climbed the hill nil tied a ho wasabout tho hands and hiswas caught in cadevor to clamber on Mollys back So ho andBlack Dick and Jeremy Toy wero strappedup but Reuben Gedges we left on tho roadfor a corpse Yot ho did not die thoughshot through the lung but recovered heavenicnows how and I myself had the pleasure > tosee him hanged at Tyburn in the second yearof his majestys most blessed restoration forstopping the Bishop of Salisburys coachinMaidenhead Thicket and robbing the bishophimself with much added contumelyBut as wo wero ready t start and I washolding Delia steady on Mollys back upcomes Billy and bawls in my carTheres a second horse if wanted that 1spied tethered under a hedge yonder andho pointed t the field where wo had firstfound Capt Settlein color a sad black anharnessed like a if he came from a cartI looked at tho captain who in the light ofthe lantern blinked again Thou bloodyvillain muttered I for now I read thotragedy of tho wagon besido the road andknew how Master Settle had provided a horsefor his own escapeBut hereupon tho word was given and wostarted up the hill I walking by Delias stirrup and listening to her talk a if we hadnever been parted yet with a tender joyhaving by loss Of it learned to appraise myhappiness arightCHAPTER SVHLJOAN DOES ME HER LAST SERVICEWo came a little before midnight to SirBevills famous great house of Stow nearKilkhampton that tonight was brightly litand full of captains and troopers feasting awell they needed to after the great victoryAnd here though loath t do so I left Deliat the care of Lady Grace Grenvillo SirBevills fond beautiful wife and of nil gentlewomen I have ever seen tho pink andparagon 3 well for her loyal heart as thegraces of her mind who before the half ofou tale was out kissed Delia on both cheeksand le her away To yon too sir I wouldcounsel bed said she after you have eatenand drunk and especially given G thanksfor this days workSir Bevill I did not see but striding downinto tho hall picked my way among thedrinking and drunken tho servants hurrywith dishes of roast and baked anding dishe r03t gettankards of beer the swords and pikes flungdown under the forms and settles and sticking out to trip a man up and at length founda groom who led me to a loft over ono of thebarns and hero above a mattress of hay Islept tho first time for many months betweenfresh linen that smelt of lavender and inthinking how pleasant twas dropped soundasleepSure thero is no better sweeter couch thanf this of linen spread over bay Early in thoI morning I woke with wits clear as waterand not an ache or ounce of weariness in mybones and after washing at tho pump beI low went in search of breakfast and SirBevill Tho one I found ready laid in thobal the other seated in his writing room Ij studying in a map and with apology for my jhaste handed him MasterI Mastr Tingcombs confession and told my storyWhen bras over Sir Bovill sat ponderingand after a while said very franklyAs a magistrate I can give this warrant iand twould bo a pleasure for well as a boydo I remember Deakin Killigrow Young I isirlse race up and taking a turn acrossI i tho room came and laid a hand on my shoutI derr have seen his daughter Is it too ii lat to warn you against loving her Ij Whvves I answered blushing I thinkit isi isSho seems both sweet and quaint Godforbid I should say 1 word against one thathas so taken mel But in those times n manshould stand alone to make a friend is t runa chance of a soft heart to mrtrry a wife 1f makes the chance sureHo broke off and went on again with a II change of toneFo many reasons I would blithely issuei this warrant But how am 1 to spare men tocarry it out At any moment wo may be ns IsailedI j I that bo your concern sir answered I II give mo tho warrant I have a good friendhere a seafaring man whose vessel lies atthis moment in Looe Haven with a crew onboard that will lay Master Tingcomb by theheels in a trice Within three days wellhave him clapped in Launceston jail andI there at tho next assize you shall sit on thegrand jury and hear his case by which timeI hope tho kings law shall run on easierwheels in Cornwall The prisoners we havei already I leave you to del1 withal onlyagainst my will I must claim some mercyfor that rogue SettleI To this Sir Bevill consented and t boshort the three knaves wero next morningI packed off to Launceston but in time noevidence being brought against them regained their freedom which they used toI come t the gallows each in his own wayTheir doings no longer concern this historyI and s I gladly leave themTo return then to my proper tale twasI not ten minutes before I had the warrant inmy pocket And by 11 oclock word havingbeen carried t Delia and our plans laid heI fore Billy Pottery who on the spot engagedI himself t help us our horses were broughtround to tho gate and my mistress appearedi all ready for tho Journey For though aj surort that tile work needed not tier preteir =i and thatsho had best wait at Stow till MasterTingcomb was smoked out of hIs net shewould have none of it but was set on ridingwith mo to seo justice done on this fellow ofiwhose villainy I tad told her much the nightbefore And glad I was of her choice a Isaw tier standing on the entrance steps freshas a rose and hi a fit habjt once more forLady Grace had lent not only her own bayhorse butalso 1 riding dressraad hat of grayvelvet to equip her and stood in the porch twish us godspeed while Sir Bevill helpedDelia to the saddleSo with Billy tramping behind u awaywe rode up the combe where Kilkhamptoutower stood against the sky and turning towave ha d at the top found our host andhostess still by the gate watching us withhands raised to shield their ayes from thesunAtAt Launcestou Billy Pottery took leaveof us and now wont due south towardsLooo with alight purse and lighter heartundertaking that his ship should lie off Gleyswith her crew ready for action within eightandforty hours Delia and I rode fastertowards the southwest and having by thistime recovered my temper I was recountingmy flight along this very road when I heard1 sound that brought my heart into mymouthTwos the blast of I bugle and came frombehind the hill in front of us And at thesame moment I understood It must bo SirGeorge Chudleighs cavalry returning onnews of their comrades defeat and we wereriding straight towards them 3 into a trapNow what could have made me forgetfulof this danger I cannot explain unless it bethat our thorough victory over tho rebels hadgiven mo the notion that tho country behindus was clear of To And Sir Bevill musthave had a notion wo were going straight toLpoo with Billy At any rate there was notime t bo lost for my presence was 1 dangerto Delia as well least a glance about me IfThere was no placo to hideQuick I cried follow me and rido fordear life I IAnd striking spur into Molly I turned Isharp off the road and galloped across themoor to the left with Delia closo after ma IDown the hollow wo raced with three dragoons at our heels the rest going round the IhilL But they did little good by so doingfor after the hollow came a bjoad dismalsheet of water by name Dozmare pool 11havo sinco heard about a mile round andbanked with black peat Galloping along Ithe left shore of this we cut them oft by jnear half a mile But the threo behind fol j Ilowed doggedly 1 though dropping back withevery strideBeyond tho pool camo I green valley anda stream flowing down it which wo jumped Ieasily Glancing at Delia u she landed onthe farther side I noted that her cheeks wereglowing and her eye brimful of mirthSay Jack she cried is not this betterthan love of women f IIn heavens name I called out take IcareBut it was too late Tho green valley heremelted into a treacherous bog in tho which Iher bay was already plunging over his fetlocks and every moment sinking deeperThrow mo the rein I Ishouted and catching the bridle close by tho bit leaned over andtried to drag the horse forward By thisMolly also was over hoofs in liquid mud Fora iniuute and moro we heaved and splashedand all the while the dragoons seeing our fixwero shouting and drawing nearer andnearer But just as a brace of bullets splashedinto the slough at our feet wo staggered tothe harder slope and were gaining on themagain So for twenty minutes along thespurs of the hills we held on the enemy falling back and hidden every now and againin the hollows but always following at theend of which time Delia called from just behind meJackheros a too the bay Is goinglame I > d huts to the left of us on the roof of Joansjottage on the scar of the high road and thoides of tho tall tor above it 11 IIn ten minutes said I wo maybe safe jSo down into the plain wo hurried and Ithought for the first time of the loyal girl l 1waiting in the cottage yonder of my former Iride into Temple and with angry shame of jthe light heart with which I left it To what Ihad the summoning drums and trumpets led Ime Where was the new lute then so carelessly prevented But two days hod gonoand here was I running to Joan for help asa childto his motherPest the peat ricks wo struggled tho sheepcot the straggling fences all so familiarcrossed the stream and rode into the yndJump dow I whispered we have timeand no more Glancing back I saw a couple of dragoons already coming over theheights They had spied usDismounting I ran to the cottage doorand flung it open A stream of light flungback against the sun blazed into my eyeI rubbed them and halted for a momentstock stillFor Joan stood in front of me dressed iatho very clothes I had worn on tho day wefirst met buff coat breeches heavy boots 1and nIl Her back was towards mo and atthe shoulder where tho coat had been cutaway from my wound I saw the rents alldarned and patched with pack thread Inher hand was tho mirror I had given her IAt the sound of my step on the thresholdthe turned with a short crya cry the like of iwhich I have never heard so full was it of Ichoking joy The glass dropped to the floorand was shattered In a second her armswero about me and so sho hung on my neck Isobbing and laughing togetherIITw3 true twas true Dear dear Jackdear Jack to como to me bold me tightertighter for my very heart i bursting I1 IAnd behind mo a shadow fell on tho door Iway and thero stood Delia regarding u IGood ladall yesterday I swore to bej Istrong and wait for years if i need be Fie I Ion womankind t be so weak I All day I satan i Ian sat an did never a mite o work neverset hand to a tool an by sunset I gave in anwent cursing mysel over the mocr to Warleggan to Aisle Pascoe the wise womanan she taught me a charm an bless herbless her Jack for t bath brought thcel IJoan said I hot with shame taking herarms gently from my neck listen I comobecause I am chased Onco more the dra igoouers aro after menot five minutes awayYou must lend me 1 horse and at onceNay said a voice in tho doorway thehorse if lent is for moJoan turned and tho two women stoodlooking at each other tho on with darkwonder the other with cold disdainfulnessand I between them scarce lifting my eyesEach was beautiful after her kind a dayand night and though their looks crossedfor a full minute like drawn blade neitherhad tho mastery Joan was tho first t speakJack is thy mae in the yardI noddedGive me thy pistols and thy cloak Shostepped to the window hole at the cad of thekitchen and looked out Plenty o1 timoshe said ana pomtea t tne ladder is 2irnthe loft above Climb up there tho bothteed pull the ladder after Ist thou theywant or she pointing t DelaMo chiefly they would catch no doubtbring a man I answeredAy bein a man the worlds full 0 follyThen Jack do thou look after her an Illlook after thee I tho rebels leave thee inpeace make for the Jews Kitchen and thereabide incSho flung my cloak about her took mypistols and went out at the door As sho didso the sun sank and a dull shadow swept overthe moor Joan I I cried for now guessedher purpose and was allowing t hinder herbut she had caught Mollys bridle and wasalready astride of her IIGot back1 shocalled softly and then I make a better ladthan wench Jack leaped the marc througha gapin the wall and in 1 moment was breastI ing the hill and galloping for the high roadIn lesthana minute n it seemed J beardJa pounding of hoofs rdr ha3 barelyBraetofollow Delia up the ladder and pull it afterme when two of the dragoons rode skurryingby the houso and passed on yelling Their Icries were hardly fat in the distance beforethere came another three IAs a lost man now for sure said one0 daaged i as not took tho rod back toLansoal IHow bout the glT asked another voice fHeres her horse i the yard n IDrat tho gall Sam go thou a tackleher reckon thonrt warriors cow for oneoomanI The two hastened on and presently heardthe ono they called Sam dismounting in theyard Now there was a window holo in the II loft facing not on the yard but towards thecountry behind and running to it I saw If that no moro were following tho other threehaving a I suppose early given up theI chase Softly pulling out a gven stone or I bojind down at the cottage jThat leaves fourshe stretched herself ion tho ground with a slghfoufr thatllnever trouble the more ladllduYllJyl howListen lad sit dow let me rest myhead pon thy knee OhJack I did it bravely Eight good miles an moro I took themare by the Four Holed Cross an acrossthe moor past Tober an Catsholo an overBrown Willyan ronndRoughtor to the norwest aa there lies the bravest quag oh ablack bottomless hole aninto it I led theman there they lie every horse an everymothers son till Judgment DayDeadAyn the last twain wi a bullet apiecein their skulls Oh rare I Dear heart holdmy head so atween thy hands Put on hiscast off duds said Ailsie aa stand afore aglass sayla Come true man I ninean Ininety time I was mcrtal feard o losincount but of oro I got to fifty I heard thystop nnhold me closer Jackstp coserBut Joan are these men dead say youSurely ye Why lad what be fourrebels up or down to make this coil overHeat never axed after me IJoan you are not hurtiIu the darkness I sought her eyes and peering Joan into I them drew bkHush lad bead down thy head and let Ime whisper I went too near aa ono thatwas over his knees let fly wi his musketanJack I have but a minute or two Hushlad hush theres no el Wert never theman could ha tamed me art the weaker ina way forgio the word for I loved the soboy JacJ IHer arms were drawing down my face toher her eyes dull with painFeel Jackthereover my right breastI plugged the wound f a pat turf Pull itout for tis bleeding iawards and hurts icruelly pull it outAs I hesitated she thrust her own hand inand drew it forth leaving the hot blood togushAnAn now Jack tighterhold me tighterKiss mch what brave times Tighterlad an cal wi1 me Church and King Calllad ChurchldChurch anThe warm lrm loosened tho head sankback upon my lapI looked up There was a shadow across Ithe entrance blotting out the star of nightTwos Delia leaning thero and listeningCHAPTER XTiE ADVEXTURE OF THE HEARSETho day spring camo at last and in thesick light of it I went down to the cottage for Isade and pickax In the tumult of my Isenses I hardly noted that our prisoner thedragoon had contrived to slip his bonds andsteal off in the nightAnd then Delia seeing mo return with thosad tune tools on my shoulder spoke for the firsttuneFirstFirst if there be a well near fetch motwo buckets of water and leave us for ahhourHerHer voice was weary and chill so that Idared not thank her but did the errand insilence Then bat a dozen pafces from thespot whero Joans father lay I dug I graveand strewed it with bracken and heather jand gorse petals that in the morning air jsmelt rarely And son after my task wasdone Delia called moIn her mans dress Joan lay her arms Icrossed her black tresses braided and her Ifaco gentler than over twas in life Overher wounded breast wasa bunchof some tiny Ipink flower that grew about the torSo I lifted her softly as onco in this sameplace she bad lifted me and bro her dOmthe slope to the grave and there I buriedher while Delia knelt nmLprayed and MollyI t browsedlif Hag nowand the her head ttooktookWhenWhen all was done we turned away dryeyed and walked together t the cottageThe bay horse was feeding on tho moor below and finding him still to lame to carryDelia I shifted tho saddles and mending thei broken rein set her on Molly The cottageI door stood open bat we did not enter onlylooked iu and seeing JanTerssso curled esido the cold hearth leftTilm soI Mile after milo wo passed in silence Deliariding and I pacing beside her with the bayAt last tortured post bearing I spokeI Delia have you nothing t sayFor a while she seemed to consider thenwith her eye fixed on the hills ahead anI swered rI Much if I could speak but all this hasI I changed mo somehow tis perhaps thatIj I have grown a woman having been girl1 and need to got used t it aad think grI I She spoke not angrily a I looked for busI with a painful slowness that was less hopefulI I But said I over and over you haveshown that I am nought t you SurelySurely I am jealous Tispossible yesJack I am but n woman and so tis certainWhy to bo jealous you must love molShe looked at mo straight and answeredvery deliberateNow that is what I am far from sure ofBut dear Delia when your anger hascooled My anger was brief I am disappointedrather With her last breath almost Joansaid you were weaker than she she loved youhotter than I and read yon clearer You areweak Jackshe drew in Molly und let herhand fall on my shoulder very kindlywehave been comrades for many a Ions ajKea Ae tand 1 hope are honest good friends wherefore I loathe to say a harsh or ungrateful jseeming word But you could act understand that bravo girl and you cannot understand mo for as yet you do net oven knowyourself The knowledge comes slowly to aman I think toe woman at one rush But Iwhen it comes I believe you may be strongNow leave mo to think for my head is all ofa tangleOur pace was so slow by reason of thelame horse that a great part of the afternoon was spent before wo camo in sight ofthe House of Gleys And truly the yellowsunshine had fluag some warmth about thenaked walls and turrets so that Delias homecoming seemed not altogether cheerless Butwhat gave us moro happiness was to spy onthe bluo water beyond the bright canvas ofthe Godsend and to hear the cries and stirof Billy Potterys marines as they hauleddown the sailsAnd Billy himself was on the lookout withhis spyglass For hardly were wo como tothe beach when our signal tho waving of awhite kerchief was answered by another onboard and within half an hour a boat putsoff wherein as she drew nearer I countedeight fellowsThey were besides Billy Matt Soames themaster Gabriel Hutchius Ned Masters theblack man Sampson Ben Haliiday and twowhose jmll names I havo forgot but onowas called Nicholas And after many warmgreeting the boat wos made fast and woclimbed up along the peninsula together iaclose order like a little armyAll this tune there was no sign or soundabout the House of Gleys to show that anyone marked us or noted our movements Thegate was closed the windows stood shutteredas on my former visit even the chimneyswere smokeless Such effect had this theselation on our spirits that drawing near wofell to speaking in whispers and said NedMastersNow a man would think us come to burysomebody IHo might make a worse guess I answeredMarching up to the gate I rang a loud pealon the bell and to my astonishment beforethe echoes had time to die away the gratingwas pushed back and the key turned in i thelockStep ye uistep yo in good folks A sorry daya day of solvent tears an afflictedMowings of the nose when grasshopperis a burden anj the mourners go about seekingfvhom they may devour the funeral meatsY arc welcome gentlemenTwos the voice of my one eyed friend asho undid the bolts and now ho stood ia thegateway with a prodigious black sash acrosshis canary livery so long that the ends of itswept the flagstonesIs Master Tingcomb withinf I helpedDelia to dismount and gave our two horsesto a stable boy that stood shuffling somo pacesoffAlasthoAlastho old man heaved a deep sighand with that began to hobble across the yardWo trooped after wondering At the housedoor ho turnedSirs there is cold roasted capons an aham an radishes ia choice profusion for suchas bo not troubled wi the wind an cordialwines alack the dayHo squeezed a frosty tear from his one eyeand led us to a largo bans hall hung roundwith portraits where wasa table spread witha plenty of victuals and born handled knivesand forks beside plates of pewter and at thotable a man ia black eating He had straighthair and a sallow face and looked up as woentered but groaning in a moment fell toagainEat sirs the old servitor exhorted usalas that man may take nothing out o theworldI know not who of us was most takenaback But noting Delias sad wonderingface as her ayes wandered round the neglected room and rested on tho tattered portraits I lost patienceOur business is with Master HannibalTingcomb said I sharplyThe straight haired man looked up againhis mouth full of hamHushlie held his fork up and shookhis head sorrowfully and I wondered whereI had seen him before Hast thou angelawings he askedWhy no sir but the devils own bootsis you shall find if I bo not answeredYoung man young man broke in theme eyed butler our minister is a good minister an speaks roundabout as such hut theshort is that my master is dead an ia hisnHflThoTho mortal part corrected the ministercutting another sliceAy the immortal is atrippin it i theN sv Jeroosalem but the mortal was verylamentably took wi a fit three days backthe ammo day young man as1 thou earnestwi1 thy > bloody threatsA fitAy sir an verily such a fit as thou thyset witnessed Twos the third attack aaho cried Ohl ho did aa A1mjnt likethat Ohlaad then Ah Such were hislast dyia speech Dear master says Itheres no call to dio so hard but might sowell ha whistled for he was dead as nailsA beautiful corpse sirs dang my buttonsShow him to usAVilllugly young man Ho led the wayto the very room where Master Tmgcoraband I had held our interview As beforesix candles were burning there but the tablewas pushed into a comer and now theirlight fell on a long black coffin resting ontrestles in the center of the room The coffinwan closed and studded with silver nails onthe lid was a silver plato bearing these wordswritten Hannibal Tingcomb HDCSLHIwith a text of Scripture belowWhy have you nailed him downI askedNew where bo thy bowels young man totalk so unfeehla An where bo thy experience not to know tho ways o the blesseddead in summer timo When do you buryfnmirTomorrow foreuoon The spot is twomile from here He blinked at me and hesitated for a minute Is it your purposesirs to attend fBo sure of that I said grimly Sohave beds ready tonight for all ourcomponyAll thy Dear sir consider where arebeds to bo found Surothy mariners canpass the night aboard their own shipSo then thought I yon have been onthe lookout but Delia replied for meI am Delia Kitligraw and mistress of thishouse You will prepare the beds as you aretold Whereupon what does that decrepitold sinner but drop upon his kneesMistress Delia Oh goodly feast for thisono poor aye Oh that Master Tingcombhad seen this dayI declare the tears were running down hisnose but Delia marched out cutting shi rthishypocrisy1 In the passage she whisperedVillainy Jack TVHush I answered and lihton MasterTingcomb is no moro in that coffin than LThen whero is he1 >That is just what wo are to discover AsI said this a light broke on me By theLord I cried tis the very sameDelia opened her eyes wideWait I said I begin to touch groundWe returned to the great hall The straighthaired man was still eating and opposite satBilly that had not budged but now beckoning to me very mysterious1 whispered in avoice that made the plates rattleThats a damned rogueTwos discomposing but the truth Iufact I had just solved a puzzle This holyspeaking miaister was no other than theI groom I had seen at Bodmin fair holdingI Master Ting ombs horsesI By this time the suit was down and DeliaI soon made aa excuse to withdraw to her ownI 1 room Nor was it long before the rest folj lowed her example I found our chambersI prepared near together in a wing of thehouse ut some distance from the hall Deliaswas next to mine as I made sure by knocking at her door and on the other side of mesleet Billy with two of his crow My ownbed was In a great room sparely fnrnfefaand the linen indifferent white There was tplenty of clean straw tHough on the floorhad I Intended to sleep which f did netInstead having blown out ray light I HIon the beds edge listening to the big clockover the hall as it chimed the quarters andwaiting till the fellows below should be > altheir ease That Master Tiagcomb rested ruader tho coffin lid I did not believe in sptfarof the terrifying that I could vouch for =But this if driven to it wo could discover atthe grave The main business was to latchhim and to this end I meant to petrol Lisabuildings and especially watch tho entranceon tho likely chance of his creeping bade tothe house if not already inside tee conferwith his fellow rascalsAs 11 oclock sounded therefore I tappedoa Billys wall andflndlng that Matt Soanwn awas keeping watch as wo had agreed uponslipped oft my boots Our rooms were ontho first floor over a straw yard and the distance to the ground an easy drop fore man rBat wishing to be silent possible Tknottfdtwo blankets together and strapping the endround the window mullion swung myselfdown by ono hand holding my boots in theotherI dropped very lightly and looked about arThere was a faint moon up and glimmeringon the straw but under tho houso was deepshadow and along this 1 crept The strawyard led into the court before tho stable aad aso Into the main court All this way I heardno sound nor spied so much as a speck of plight ia any window The house doorwaa oclosed and the bar fastened on the grea Si gate across tho yard I turned the corner toI explore the third sido of tho houseHero was a group ot outbuildings juttingout and between them and the high outerwall a narrow alloy Twas with difficulty I agroped my way hero for the passage wasdark as pitch and rendered the straighterI by a line of ragged laurels planted under the isI house so that at every other step T wouldstumble and run my head into a bushI had done this for the eighth tneyOndwas cursing under my breath when oa asudden I heard a stealthy footfall coming > dovni by sthe sounds that followed wo guessed they pwere hoisting their burden intoa cart Proseatly they recrossed the path and Centeredthe house shutting the door after themNow for iii I said I in Mates ear Glidingforward I peeped out at the posterngateFbut drew back like a shotI had almost run my head into a greatblack hearse that stood there irithitho door eopen backed against the gate the heavyplumes nodding above it in the Bight windWho held the horses I had not time to sea fbut whispering Matt to give memo a leg upclambered inside Quick I pulled blatafter and crept forward I wondered thatman did not hear us but by good luck shors wM jaiitivo and by his maudlinto them I lmesvhowntlsxa1urfas5rthe funeral winesTuShotlessI crept along and found the tool cheststowed against the farther end so pullinggently outs wo got behind it Though Mattwas the littlest man of my acquaintance 3twas the work of the world to stow onrselveiin such compass as to bo hidden Bycoillog up ow limbs wo managed it but only1just before I caught the glimmer of alighfand heard tho pair of rascals returning tThey came very slow grumbling allvthoway and of coarse I knew they carriedthtf sjcotlln All right Simf asked the ministerAy piped a squeaky voice by the horsesheads twas the shuffling stable boyay t abut look sharp Lord what sounds 1vaheard I Tie devils i the hearse for sageNow Simmy the onefeyed gaffer expostolated thou doesnt think the smoky longis atook m same as theypoor iWEsipstairs1Teeheol Lord what a trickJ to com forMaster Tinzcomb an flnd aw dear awbless my Aid ribs what a thing is humor rcShut ipl 1 grunted the minister Th J8o of the cqffln was tilted up into tfasJMarsfcrPush olfl varmintlrAy pushl push Where bo my yeuniriactive siaews What a shriveled garment iajall my contelhKssl The devil dsayISimmy haw Law ln nBurn th thing twoafrgoinforpb t li rbox Push thou cackling old worm l a r 3Now so L bo but my natural straogifeftabated Xoheava hoi like the salted 9lrfardiagers tip stairs Push pushOh my iawards I groans poor 3fatunder his breath into whom the cheefcwsqueezing sorely iRight at last I says the minister towSimmy my lad baud thereinsanpupTheres room an j oull bo wanted a aThe door was clapped to the thra WPOgneclimbed upon the seat in front iLswsstarted zzI hope marcy never bo called topwssacaanother half hour as that which foUmwdLAs sooa i as the wheels left turf for thnTatijitroad twas jolt jolt nil the way aad skislying mainly down hill the chest and codacame grinding into our ribs and pressiMC tfwe could scarcely breathe And I daresclimb out over them for fear tho fellowshouIdT hear us their chuckling voicescoatlog quite plain to as from the otfaee ste qf 1tho panel held out and comforted Matt mwell as I could feeling sure we shoaldaaMaster Tingcomb at our journeys end Boonwe climbed a hill which eased us a little batshortly after were bumping down ag ln andsuffering worse than everSave us moaned Matt where wiIthrendrendThe words were scarce outivbi wetessharp to the right with a jolt that shook catteeth together rolled for a little white ovsmooth grass and drew upI heard the fellows climbing down cthyptstblsout i SI Stmniy growled the minister wause lanternvi There was a minute or so or silenethen the snapping of flint and steel nadz 1sound of puffingLit SimmyAy here tisFetch italong then pThe handle of tho door was turnedana3 tt vj light flashed into the hearse fI Here hold the lantern steady Connwjhither old Squeaks and help wi the end1 i Surely will Well was I called Youngi Lookalive when a gay fleeting boy Simmymy son thonrt sadly drunken O youthyouth Thou wino bibber hold the lightI steady onlll tell thy mammy 1Ob sir I do mortally dread the dovilaafall his works 1Now if i overt The devil1says beaa
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