Sir Ludar Part 50

Here he left me to guess what I had been.

Be that as it may, I was pleased enough with the change for so far, and spared my fee to the barber. And as for my old comrades, I had other signs to make myself known to them, as they soon discovered by the aching of their heads and the soreness of their ribs. For I soon shook off my sickness and was as ready for knocks as ever.

Yet you may guess if, with it all, I was merry!

The printing-house without Temple Bar was as black and desolate as a tomb, with a great lock belonging to the Stationers' Company hanging on the door. When I asked the neighbours concerning my master, they pulled long faces and told me he was given over to desperate ventures, and with his family had fled the country; and 'twas well for him, said they, no one knew where he hid.

I knew not which way to turn. My sweet Jeannette was far away amid perils I little dreamed of. Ludar was, perhaps, even now a prisoner in Spain. My occupation was gone, and my pocket and my stomach were both empty.

Could I have lived on naught, I think I should even have tried to make my way to Spain (as if it were no bigger a place than Temple Gardens!) and so find Ludar. Then I changed my mind and thought to set out for Ireland to seek Jeannette. Then, when I saw a fellow enlisting troopers for the Dutch wars, I well-nigh sold myself to him.

I might have done so straight out, had not there come a loud thump on my back as I stood in the crowd, and a voice in my ear that made me start.

"Are you so weary of life, comrade, that you want a leaden pill or two to cure it?"

"Verily, I am," said I, wheeling round and facing Tom Price, Captain Merriman's man.

At first he knew me not, nor when I told him my name would he believe he spake to Humphrey Dexter. But when at last he knew me, he clapped me again on the back and said--

"Thou'rt well met, my little Lord Mayor. By my soul, I might have walked a league and never met thee."

"You might have walked farther than that," said I. "What villainy are you and your master now upon? for I take it you still serve the Captain?"

He laughed. "As for my master, let him be. He's snug enough. I left him-- Look you here, comrade," said he, taking my arm and looking hard at me, "where saw I thee last?"

"Once when you lay as drunk as a dog in Finsbury Fields. And a good turn you did me, comrade, and more than me, by what you blabbed then."

He gaped rather foolishly at this, and asked did I want my ears slit for a noisy malapert?

Then I told him just what pa.s.sed, and how I had been able thereby to save the maiden from the Captain's clutches. When he heard that he laughed, and swore and thwacked me on the back till I nearly dropped.

"By my life, you gallows dog you, if my master only knew what he owed you! Why, my pretty lad, I never saw a man so put about as he was when he came back from Canterbury that time without his prey."

"Where is he now?" I asked.

"Where else, do you suppose, but smacking his lips near the dove's nest?

He hath comforted himself for all he hath suffered, ere now, I warrant thee!"

"What!" I shouted. "Has he followed the maiden to Ireland?"

He laughed.

"So, then, you know where the pretty one has flown? I warrant thee, if thou couldst see her at this moment, thou wouldst see my master not a bow-shot away. Ha! ha! I do not say nearer; for when I left, the fair vixen still held him at arm's length. But he is getting on; and now, since the maid's lover is dead--"

"He is not dead," said I; "I parted from him scarce a month ago!" And I told him where and how.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"A fig for his life if that be his case," said he. "At any rate he is believed to be dead; and the Captain, as I say, is getting on, having made himself monstrous civil to Turlogh Luinech O'Neill, who, I think, favours him somewhat for a son-in-law."

"The foul dog!" I exclaimed. "Would I had him standing here, for my friend's sake. Tell me, Tom, what of a little maid who went from London as waiting gentlewoman to the lady. How fares she?"

"Sadly, I hope, since she and I are parted," said he. "For, to tell you the truth, Master Dexter, she is the sweetest wench and hath looked kindly on me. Indeed, 'twas for this reason I think my master sent me off here on this business to get him more men. For he is apt to amuse himself, while he waits for the mistress, with the maid; and I doubt when I return I shall find the little witch hath clean forgotten how to smile on me."

I hope I may be forgiven the words I uttered when I heard this. I flew at honest Tom Price like a wolf and cried: "Why, what mean you, hound?

What does he dare to do?"

Tom shook me off roughly, and pulled out his sword.

"Look 'ee here, Master Humphrey, if that be the way you ask your questions, your ribs shall know the way I answer them."

"I ask your pardon," said I, panting hard. "But for G.o.d's mercy say what all this means?"

"It means," said he, "that you are mightily concerned with this same little waiting la.s.s."

"She is my sweetheart," said I, "and is to be my wife."

It was his turn to look blank now, and catch his breath. He whistled, and stared at me from head to foot, and whistled again. Then he found words, and held out his hand.

"If she be thy sweetheart, she is none of mine. I go halves with no man."

"And this Merriman?" I asked, scarce heeding what he said.

"This Merriman!" said he; "why, take a shame on yourself that you stand skulking here, and leave the defence of those two fair maids to a crack- brained poet and a swashbuckling soldier. I tell you, Humphrey Dexter, those two fellows, little as I love them, are your friends and your master's; and, if the maids be still safe, they owe it to them, and not to your idle whimpering here."

"Heaven bless them!" said I. "But, Tom Price, how can I, who have scarce shoes to stand in, or food for one day, go to them?"

"This way," said he; "I am here to engage men for my master's troop-- join us."

"What!" I exclaimed; "serve that villain? I had as soon serve the devil himself."

"May be you can serve both at one time," said he, with a laugh; "but join us you must."

"He would hang me at the nearest tree, so soon as he saw me."

"He would never know you. I scarce did."

We stood eyeing one another a minute. Then I held out my hand.

"When do you start?"

"In two days, if I can find the men by then. Meanwhile, come with me and put your big carcase in a soldier's trappings, and drink health to her Majesty and Captain Merriman."

A week pa.s.sed before Tom Price got his company together. I chafed and grumbled at every hour that pa.s.sed. On the day before we set out, I went to show myself in my soldier's bravery to Will Peake, on London Bridge.

"Every man to his taste," said the latter. "I think thee not as fine as thou thinkest thyself. By the way, thou art like to have knocks enough where thou goest, I hear, for news is come that the Spaniards mean to land on Irish sh.o.r.e, and strike at us from that quarter."

This was great news to me; and on every hand I heard it repeated, till, at nightfall, there was something near a panic in London, and orders were given for all troops possible to set out forthwith. Therefore, Tom Price, though his company still wanted a few of its number, bade us be within call and ready spurred at daybreak.