The Black Tor Part 33

"Nothing now; only I don't quite like the look of the men behind."

"Not robbers, are they?"

"Oh no, I think not; only we hear so much about Captain Purlrose's men, it sets one thinking that every man one sees is a marauder. But it would not matter if they were; we could soon leave them behind."

They rode on, entering the straits, as the place was called from the river contracting, as it did in several other places, and running between two upright walls of rock. The men were some distance behind, and they had ceased to trouble about them, when, to Mark's consternation, on pa.s.sing round one of the curves in the track, he found that there in front the narrowest part was blocked by the horses with their loads; and a something in the aspect of the party of men in charge of the laden beasts slightly startled him, for he thought them suspiciously like some of Purlrose's followers.

The next minute he was awake to the fact that they were in danger, for from behind a block of stone a slight figure, whose hands were bound with cords, and who made Mark stare, suddenly started to his side, shouting:

"Ride for it! ride! You are in a trap."

There was no time for hesitation. Two men dashed after the prisoner they had made, and in another instant they would have had him, but for Mark's quick movement. He caught his sister's rein, touched his horse's side with the spurs, and the two active animals sprang between the men and their quarry as they were sharply turned.

"Lay hold of my nag's mane, Darley," he shouted to the prisoner, who held up his bound hands, and caught at the dense ma.s.s of hair, succeeding in holding on, while Mark now drew his sword.

"Oh Mark!" cried his sister, "is there any danger?"

"Not if you sit fast," he cried.--"Can you keep up if we canter?"

"Try," said the prisoner excitedly. "If not, go on, and save yourselves."

The horses broke into a sharp canter, keeping well together, as the men they had seen following them with drawn swords, and joined up across the narrow way, shouted to them to stop.

Mark's reply to this was a yell of defiance.

"Sit fast, Mary," he cried. "They must go down before your horse."

The girl made no answer, but crouched lower in her saddle, as they rode on, Mark in his excitement pressing home his spurs, and causing his horse to make a frantic leap. But there was no collision; the men leaped off to right and left to avoid the charge, and the next moment they were behind.

"Well done!" cried Mark excitedly. "Well done, six! Ah!--Here, canter on, Mary. I'll soon overtake you."

He checked and turned his own steed, to dash back, for he had suddenly found that the bound given when he used his spurs was too much for Ralph Darley's hold on the mane, and he had turned, to see the lad lying in the track with the men about to seize him and drag him away.

Without a moment's hesitation, Mark charged at the enemy again, and as they fled he chased them, sword in hand, for some little distance before once more turning to rejoin Ralph, who had struggled to his feet, ready to cling once more to the horse's mane, a task made more easy by Mark cutting through the bonds with his sword.

Mary was waiting a little farther back, and the trio had to go back some distance to reach a fresh track across country, the enemy making no sign of pursuit, but getting on with their plunder.

"They completely deceived me," Ralph told his companions. "I took them for carriers."

"Ah! as I did," said Mark grimly.

"And when it was too late, I saw my mistake, for they seized and bound me, and," added the lad bitterly, "they have got my sword and belt."

Ralph walked by his companions almost in silence the rest of the time that they were together, both Mark and his sister appearing troubled by his presence, and it seemed a great relief to all when a path was reached which would enable Ralph to reach Cliff Castle, the others having some distance farther to go to reach an open part pa.s.sable by their steeds.

"I thank you, Master Mark Eden," he said quietly; and then, raising his cap to Mary Eden, he leapt over the stones which led to the top of a slope, and soon disappeared from their sight.

"What were you thinking, Mark?" said Mary, breaking the silence at last.

"That this would not be a bad place if we had no enemies. What were you thinking?"

"Plenty of things," said the girl sadly.

"Well, tell me some."

"I'm tired, and hungry, and thirsty. It will soon be dark. Father will be angry because we have been so long; and I am getting frightened."

"What of?" said Mark sharply.

"Of meeting with the robbers again."

"I should almost like to," cried Mark fiercely.

"Oh Mark!" cried the girl in dismay.

"Well, if you were not here," he said, with a laugh.

"It's getting too bad. Once upon a time there was only the Darleys to mind. Now these people--this Captain Purlrose and his men--seem to belong to the land, and father will not fight them. Oh, if I only were master, what I would do! There, canter, and let's get home. I want to think."

Home was reached, and Sir Edward made acquainted with the encounter, at which he frowned, but said very little that night, except once, when he suddenly broke out petulantly:

"It seems, Mark, as if you were always running against this boy of Darley's. Have the goodness in future to go some other way."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

A COUNCIL OF WAR.

"How can I help it?" said Mark one morning, as he was sauntering down by the river. "I did not mean to meet him, and here he is again. Hallo!

he has got a fresh sword."

The lad instinctively clapped his hand to his side, to feel if he had his own buckled on, though of late, consequent upon the troubled state of the country round, he had never thought of stirring without it.

"Mark Eden!" said Ralph to himself, as he caught sight of his enemy.

"Then I suppose now it is going to be our fight. Very well: it is none of my seeking, and I don't think we shall have Captain Purlrose to stop it."

They came to a stand about a yard apart, and delivered themselves each of a short nod, but for some moments neither spoke.

"Well," said Mark at last, "are you ready?"

"Yes," replied Ralph; "here or somewhere among the trees."

"Of course. We don't want to be seen."

They walked off side by side till they reached a patch of gra.s.s, fairly level and free from stones, where they flung their caps on the ground, and drew their swords; a dove high up in view of the cliff breaking out, as if ironically, with a soft, gentle coo. But their minds were too much occupied with war to think of the bird of peace. Then all at once Mark rested his point upon the toe of his high boot.

"Look here," he said; "if I stop to say something now, will you promise me that you will not think it an excuse to keep from fighting?"