The Splendid Spur Part 36

did never a mite o' work--never set hand to a tool: an' by sunset I gave in an' went, cursing mysel', over the moor to Warleggan, to Alsie Pascoe, the wise woman--an' she taught me a charm--an' bless her, bless her, Jack, for't hath brought thee!"

"Joan," said I, hot with shame, taking her arms gently from my neck: "listen: I come because I am chased. Once more the dragooners are after me--not five minutes away. You must lend me a horse, and at once."

"Nay," said a voice in the doorway, "the horse, if lent, is for _me!_"

Joan turn'd, and the two women stood looking at each other;--the one with dark wonder, the other with cold disdainfulness--and I between them scarce lifting my eyes. Each was beautiful after her kind, as day and night: and though their looks cross'd for a full minute like drawn blades, neither had the mastery. Joan was the first to speak.

"Jack, is thy mare in the yard?"

I nodded.

"Give me thy pistols and thy cloak." She stepp'd to the window hole at the end of the kitchen, and look'd out. "Plenty o' time," she said; and pointed to the ladder leading to the loft above--"Climb up there, the both, and pull the ladder after. Is't _thou_, they want--or _she?_" pointing to Delia.

"Me chiefly they would catch, no doubt--being a man," I answer'd.

"Aye--bein' a man: the world's full o' folly. Then Jack do thou look after _her_, an' I'll look after _thee_. If the rebels leave thee in peace, make for the Jews' Kitchen and there abide me."

She flung my cloak about her, took my pistols and went out at the door. As she did so, the sun sank and a dull shadow swept over the moor. "Joan!" I cried, for now I guess'd her purpose and was following to hinder her: but she had caught Molly's bridle and was already astride of her. "Get back!" she call'd softly; and then, "I make a better lad than wench, Jack,"--leap'd the mare through a gap in the wall, and in a moment was breasting the hill and galloping for the high road.

In less than a minute, as it seem'd, I heard a pounding of hoofs, and had barely time to follow Delia up the ladder and pull it after me, when two of the dragoons rode skurrying by the house, and pa.s.s'd on yelling. Their cries were hardly faint in the distance before there came another three.

"'A's a lost man, now, for sure," said one: "Be dang'd if 'a's not took the road back to Lan'son!"

"How 'bout the gal?" ask'd another voice. "Here's her horse i' the yard."

"Drat the gal! Sam, go thou an' tackle her: reckon thou'rt warriors enow for one 'ooman."

The two hasten'd on: and presently I heard the one they call'd "Sam"

dismounting in the yard. Now there was a window hole in the loft, facing, not on the yard, but toward the country behind; and running to it I saw that no more were following--the other three having, as I suppose, early given up the chase. Softly pulling out a loose stone or two, I widen'd this hole till I could thrust the ladder out of it. To my joy it just reach'd the ground. I bade Delia squeeze herself through and climb down.

But before she was halfway down I heard a wild screech in the kitchen below, and the voice of Sam shrieking---

"Help--help! Lord ha' mercy 'pon me--'tis a black cat--'tis a witch!

The gal's no gal, but a witch!"

Laughing softly, I was descending the ladder when the fellow came round the corner screaming--with Jan Tergagle clawing at his back and spitting murderously. Delia had just time to slip aside, before he ran into the ladder and brought me flying on top of him. And there he lay and bellow'd till I tied him, and gagg'd his noise with a big stone in his mouth and his own scarf tied round it.

"Come!" I whisper'd: for Joan and her pursuers were out of sight.

Catching up her long skirt, Delia follow'd me, and up the tor we panted together, nor rested till we were safe in the Jews' Kitchen.

"What think you of this for a hiding place?" ask'd I, with a laugh.

But Delia did not laugh. Instead, she faced me with blazing eyes, check'd herself and answer'd, cold as ice---

"Sir, you have done me a many favors. How I have trusted you in return it were best for you to remember, and for me to forget."

The dark drew on; the western star grew distinct and hung flas.h.i.+ng over against our hiding; and still we sat there, hour after hour, silent, angry, waiting for Joan's return, Delia at the entrance of the den, chin on hand, scanning the heavens and never once turning toward me; I further inside, with my arms cross'd, raging against myself and all the world, yet with a sick'ning dread that Joan would never come back.

As the time lagg'd by, this terror grew and grew. But, as I think, about ten o'clock, I heard steps coming over the turf. I ran out.

'Twas Joan herself and leading Molly by the bridle. She walk'd as if tir'd, and leaving the mare at the entrance, follow'd me into the cave. Glancing round, I noted that Delia had slipp'd away.

"Am glad she's gone," said Joan shortly: "How many rebels pa.s.s'd this way, Jack?"

"Five, counting one that lies gagg'd and bound, down at the cottage."

"That leaves four:"--she stretch'd herself on the ground with a sigh--"four that'll never trouble thee more, lad."

"Why? how--"

"Listen, lad: sit down an' let me rest my head 'pon thy knee. Oh, Jack, I did it bravely! Eight good miles an' more I took the mare-- by the Four--hol'd Cross, an' across the moor past Tober an'

Catshole, an' over Brown w.i.l.l.y, an' round Roughtor to the nor'-west: an' there lies the bravest quag--oh, a black, bottomless hole!--an'

into it I led them; an' there they lie, every horse, an' every mother's son, till Judgment Day."

"Dead?"

"Aye--an' the last twain wi' a bullet apiece in their skulls. Oh, rare! Dear heart--hold my head--so, atween thy hands. 'Put on his cast off duds,' said Alsie, 'an' stand afore the gla.s.s, sayin' "Come, true man!" nine-an'-ninety time.' I was mortal 'feard o' losin'

count; but afore I got to fifty, I heard thy step an'--hold me closer, Jack."

"But Joan, are these men dead, say you?"

"Surely, yes. Why, lad, what be four rebels, up or down, to make this coil over? Hast never axed after _me!"_

"Joan--you are not hurt?"

In the darkness I sought her eyes, and, peering into them, drew back.

"Joan!"

"Hush, lad--bend down thy head, and let me whisper. I went too near --an' one, that was over his knees, let fly wi' his musket--an' Jack, I have but a minute or two. Hush lad, hush--there's no call! Wert never the man could ha' tam'd me--art the weaker, in a way: forgie the word, for I lov'd thee so, boy Jack!"

Her arms were drawing down my face to her: her eyes dull with pain.

"Feel, Jack--there--over my right breast. I plugg'd the wound wi' a peat turf. Pull it out, for 'tis bleeding inwards, and hurts cruelly--pull it out!"

As I hesitated, she thrust her own hand in and drew it forth, leaving the hot blood to gush.

"An' now, Jack, tighter--hold me tighter. Kiss me--oh, what brave times! Tighter, lad, an' call wi' me--'Church an' King!' Call, lad-- 'Church an'--'"

The warm arms loosen'd: the head sank back upon my lap.

I look'd up. There was a shadow across the entrance, blotting out the star of night. 'Twas Delia, leaning there and listening.

CHAPTER XIX.