The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane Read online

  CHAPTER II.

  I AM TAKEN AGAIN BY JACK GEDDES AND OTHERS, AND RESCUED BY RODRIGUES.

  Sir Bartlemy's house was built upon a hill not far from St. Maw's andlooked over Falmouth Haven to Penny-come-quick. His estate was mostlywoodlands, and skirting the river Fal extended north beyond Philligh andeast as far as Tregony. In the midst of these woods had I lived for manymonths unmolested, the worthy old knight, with good intent, bidding hisforesters let me kill what game I would for my use; and here had I builtme a hut as a shelter against the inclemency of the weather, thatchingit with broom and sods of turf. But twas a mistaken kindness on hispart, for this sufferance only tended to complete that state of savageryinto which I was sinking.

  From childhood I have loved the woods, and found delight in studying thesecrets of nature--the growth of herbs, the places where they may befound; the ways of birds and beasts, and the like; and when my hopeswere all cast over, I had fled thither, saying, "Here is a mistresswhose smile is not to be wooed in vain!" And, indeed, for a troubledspirit I know no comfort so soothing as the woods after a spring shower,when all is fresh and sweet, and every little blade of grass seems tosmile. For the most part my state was that of utter solitude. Many a dayI heard no sound but my own footfall, and saw nothing but the stilltrees. For weeks and weeks I met no human creature; yet I had noinclination to seek a companion. But at times my nature would revoltagainst this unnatural condition of solitude, and a mad thirst fordebauchery would seize me. Then with my bow would I kill a buck, and,selling it to those who were ever ready to buy venison of me at a fourthof its value, I would go into Truro and spend my money in some grossfrolic like that which had brought me to the pillory (as I have shown).

  And now, having dwelt long enough on my originals, yet not too long, forI would show truly to what degradation may a man bring himself byself-abandonment, I will continue this history without any furtherdigression.

  To my hut, then, in the wood did I betake myself after my escape fromTruro, refreshing myself on the way with a plunge in the cool river; andbeing arrived at my home, as I may call it, I went to a hollow oak hardby, which served me as a storehouse, to see if aught was there tosatisfy the cravings of my stomach; but finding nothing save a harewhich I had hung there before leaving, and which now stank, for I hadbeen absent best part of three days, so that I could not eat it,hungered though I was, I picked up my bow, which also I kept in thisplace, and, taking a turn in the wood, I had presently the chance tokill a wood-pigeon. Then I built a fire with dry sticks, of which therewas no lack at this season, laid my pigeon in the embers, and when ithad lain there as long as my patience would endure, I stripped off theskin and feathers, and devoured it, using my fingers for fork and myteeth for knife; and thus having partly quieted my stomach, though Icould have eaten half a dozen such small game, but was too tired to seekmore, I threw myself on the earth within my hut, and fell asleep atonce, nor did any pricking of conscience trouble me in the least.

  And here I slept on till about eight o'clock in the evening, as I judge,when an unwonted sound awoke me; for I had contracted the habit ofsleeping, as it were, with my ears open. But being mighty heavy withsleep I did no more than sit up and glance stupidly through the openingof my hut. I saw naught but a tranquil glow over the west through thestill leaves of the trees; and a nightingale then bursting out into songat no great distance, I concluded there was nothing to fear; andthrowing myself on the ground, in a minute I was again sound asleep.

  Nothing disturbed me after that through the night, but soon afterdaybreak, as I take it, my ears were assailed by a confusion of sounds,and ere I could spring to my feet, a fellow threw himself upon my chest,another knelt upon my legs, and a third laid strong hands upon myshoulders, and in a trice I felt cords cutting into my arms and bindingthem to my sides.

  "You escape not this time, Master Benet," growled a voice, and in truthmy captors were as good as this fellow's words, for enough cord wasbestowed about me as would have trussed up an elephant. My captors weresix; all stout fellows and well armed, amongst whom I recognized one ofthe men that had served me the day before, and I cursed my folly that Ihad lain myself open to be taken in this way; for I might have foreseenthe pursuit had I given it a thought. However, cursing was no good;there was I clapped up and in a fair way to get my punishment doubled,and more than that. And, as there was no likelihood of escape, the onlything left me was to bear my ill-luck with the fortitude of despair. Yetmy heart sank as I saw them take up my bow which I had laid beside me ongoing to sleep, for I knew I should have it no more, and how could I getfood or aught else without that when I got my liberty again? Better totake my life, or rob me for ever of my liberty, than take that by whichI lived, thought I.

  They haled me out into the open, and there for the first time this day Ispied the gipsy Rodrigues. He was seated on a fallen tree, with hiselbows on his knees, and his jaws in his hands, smoking tobacco in theend of a clay pipe; and now he had his keen eyes fixed on me, watchinghow I took this new buffet of fortune with the same look he had worn theday before, when I stood in the pillory.

  I guessed it was his step that had aroused me the fore-going evening,and that he led on the sheriff's men to catch me, which was pretty nearthe truth of the matter, as I shall presently show.

  To make sure that I should not escape, the men tied me up to a tree;then they proceeded to regale themselves from a store of meat, withwhich their wallets were well filled, making very merry with me thetime; after which they consulted together in a low voice; and, one ofthem having parleyed for a few minutes with Rodrigues, they allstretched themselves out on the soft sward, and in a short time wereasleep and snoring like so many swine, which surprised me somewhat,seeing that now the sun was getting pretty high.

  For some while Rodrigues sat as still as any carved image, smoking hispipe and looking at me; then up he gets, and passing the sleepers assilently as might be, he comes to my side; and putting first his fingeron his lips, and jerking his thumb over his shoulders with a sly leer tobid me be silent, he pulls a letter from his breast and showed me myname written upon it. This he thrusts back in his breast, and, after aglance over his shoulder to make sure all were still sleeping, he cutthe cords that bound me to the tree with his dagger, and leads me a goodstonecast distant, where we might converse in a low tone without beingheard.

  Here he again lugged out the letter, and, spreading it out (the sealbeing already broke), he held it before my eyes to read; for he had beencareful not to sever the cords that tethered my arms to my side.

  It was my uncle's hand and signature.

  "You have read this?" says I.

  Rodrigues shrugged his shoulders, as much as to say, "I had been a foolelse," and then says he, with the utmost assurance:

  "I was to have given it to you last night, but you were sleeping sosweetly I had no heart to wake you. Besides, I thought you would morereadily listen to his advice if you were in bonds than if you werefree."

  "So you betrayed me?"

  "Not at once. I led the fellows up and down in the moonlight best partof the night, that they might be overcome with fatigue this morning, andso give me the opportunity of some serious conversation with you. Nowread what Sir Bartlemy has to say."

  I was in no position to resent this insolence; so I did what was nextbest--swallowed it, and followed his advice; and this is what I read:

  "NEPHEW BENET,--You are no longer safe in my woods, for I have no power to shield you from the law. Even now the officers are out to apprehend you, and God knows what may befall if you are taken. If you have any feeling for me, any love for your father's memory, or any respect for yourself, you will escape this new shame. My ships lie in the haven ready to depart, and Sir Harry is still willing to accept you as his companion and friend in the noble enterprise now toward. I do beg and implore you be not a fool and a villain as well, but quickly accept this offer. Rodrigues, who bears this, does undertake to carry you safe to Flushing,
where a boat lies in readiness to take you on board the _Sure Hawk_, where you shall find all comfort and good cheer, to say naught of the loving gratitude of thine old uncle,

  "BARTLEMY PENGILLY."

  This gentle letter did somewhat move my heart; and surely itssensibility had been gone beyond all recovery had it not responded to sowarm an appeal; and my first feeling was that I would do his bidding.Then I bethought me what a mean and sneaking thing it was, afterrefusing this offer when I was free to accept it when I was not free;and what a hang-dog cur I should appear to all the crew when my storybecame known, and how (under the mask of pity and patronage) Sir HarrySmidmore must scorn me for a paltry fellow. And with that came theremembrance of Lady Biddy's contempt; and, coupling these two together,I was wrought again with fierce jealousy and hatred; and I did resolvethat I would die ten thousand deaths rather than give them this food fortheir scorn.

  Rodrigues, subtly watching me, must have seen the madness in my eye, forhe whispered at this point--

  "Sir Harry is wondrous eager to get you."

  "Curse Sir Harry!" I muttered.

  "Not I," says he, with a quiet laugh. "He'll give me a score of goldpieces if I take you to him; and no wonder, for he will be well repaidwith caresses when he takes the news to Lady Biddy."

  "You'll get no pieces from him, nor he kisses from her, through me, Ipromise you."

  "Your ears will be cropped for a certainty if you are taken back toTruro." And then, as I made no reply, he adds, "You are minded to breakyour uncle's heart rather than your own pride."

  "Nay," says I, "there's a way by which I may spare him shame, and myselfas well."

  "Are you man enough to thrust a knife in your own heart?" says he.

  "Ay!" says I joyfully; "do but try me. Give but my forearm fair play andlend me your dagger. You shall be rewarded, I warrant, when you tellLady Biddy I am no more. Or do you thrust it into me if you doubt theuse I should make of the knife. I promise you I will not awake a singlesleeper with my groans."

  He nodded approvingly, but made no attempt to take me at my word.

  "Life isn't worth much," says he, "to a fool. And 'tis only a fool whothinks there's never another loaf to be got when he's eaten the lastcrust. Look at me," spreading his arms and surveying his rags--"a princelast month, a beggar today. What of that? I'll be a king next year. Andso may you be," he adds, after a pause. But that did not tempt me; sopresently he goes on:

  "If you had seen what I have seen, and if you were as hideous as I am,and as old, yet you would not talk of ending your life. If you had seenas I have seen"--speaking slowly, yet with passion, as, through hishalf-closed eyes, he seemed to be looking at what he described--"a landwhere the forests are flower-gardens, more fair than hand of man canmake; where trees--not like these stunted things, which are but bushesby comparison--where trees I say, seem hung with precious gems, andwaters run on beds of gold and silver, and every rock is dazzlingcrystal; where rich fruits tempt the appetite they never cloy; whereflying birds are like the flash of gems, and their song more sweet thanyour musician ever heard in dreams; where the sun never parches nor coldwinds bite; where the gentle air is brisk as wine and charged with thescent of leagues of flowers: if you had seen that land, I say, you wouldwant to see it again before you died."

  These hints of southern glories I had heard before from my uncle; thoughbetween his speech and this poetic gipsy's there was all the differencebetwixt north and south.

  "To see this land might tempt you to oblige Sir Bartlemy," says he.Then, after a bit, he continues, "But it does not, I perceive. You knowthe intent of this enterprise--first, to gratify your uncle's whim; and,next, to enrich Sir Harry, that he may wed Lady Biddy. You have norelish to help him that way--to come home with a gruesome face to pullthe joy-bells at their wedding?"

  "No, by the Lord! that will I never do!" says I.

  "Then your answer to that letter is 'No'?"

  "A thousand times 'No'!"

  "You refuse the offer?"

  "I do."

  "I see you mean what you say," says he, looking me keenly in the eye,"and I am right glad it is so. I am not mistaken in you, Pengilly. I sawthere was mettle in you from the first, else I had not taken all thistrouble on myself to win you. Had you said 'Yes' to that letter youwould have had me for your enemy, and it would have gone ill with you, Ipromise. As it is, I am your friend, as I will quickly prove. For,first, I will give you freedom, and after that a voyage to the south;whence you shall speedily return, your ship laden with gold: then shallyou have possession of your mistress. All this I promise; ay, and more,for you shall, if you will, revenge yourself of the insults this proudmaid has heaped upon you, and humble the man who would have taken herfrom you, so that he shall not dare to show his face before her. Whatsay you to this?"

  I could say nothing on the moment, being greatly perplexed by thisunexpected turn; and ere I could command my senses to inquire ofRodrigues how he purposed compassing that which he proposed, we wereboth mightily startled by hearing, at no great distance behind us, thesound of men's voices; and presently one above the rest set to hallooing"Jack Geddes! Jack Geddes!" which was the name of that sheriff's man whohad bound me as aforesaid. Then on the other side we heard the men wholay asleep rousing each other with a great confusion of sound thatshowed they had discovered my escape. Thus we stood between the partywhich had taken me and a second party sent after to help them. And thechance of getting freedom, to say nothing of riches and my sweetheart,looked more unlikely than ever. Yet did we contrive to escape, as Ishall set forth in the next chapter.