Cedric, the Forester Part 12

"And hast thou forgotten, Sir d.i.c.kon, the oak tree from which we spied them but now? Old Marvin and I together shall care for the sentries."

I drew a deep breath as I caught the full working of his plan. "Cedric,"

I said, "thou wilt never remain a simple squire. Thou hast a head as well as an arm. The King hath need for such in many places of trust."

"Let us first make this plan succeed," replied Cedric evenly, though I could see that my words had warmed him to the heart. "Now shall we tell Lord Mountjoy?"

"Aye," said I, "let us have him from the camp at once. I warrant you he'll kindle at our news. And he knows which of our swordsmen will carry themselves best in such a venture."

"And I have twenty men of Carleton here that can be trusted," put in Geoffrey.

"Right," said Cedric, "'twill make us amply strong. We must have no blunderers, though, for look you, some of these greenwood men have ears that can hear a twig break at two hundred paces. We must urge Lord Mountjoy to hold all at a safe distance till the signal."

Two hours after the midnight we set out through the forest for the storming of the robber fastness. Cedric, as pathfinder, was in the lead, followed close by Lord Mountjoy, Sir Geoffrey and me. After us, and treading most cautiously, 'mongst the leaves and brush, came old Marvin, the archer, and thirty chosen swordsmen of Mountjoy with a score or more of Geoffrey's men.

There was no moon; and the faint stars gave but little light in the forest deeps. Our way lay, as often as not, over steep and rocky slopes where our faces were torn with thorns and our legs bruised against the unseen rocks.

We had made little more than half of our way to the outlaw stronghold when Lord Mountjoy, in coming down a streamlet bank in the darkness, stepped heavily on a stone that rolled beneath his weight, and went to the ground with his right foot twisted under him. He gave a groan of pain, yet in an instant was up again to resume his march. But then 'twas found this could not be. His ankle had been most sorely wrenched, and would not at all endure his weight. He sank down again on a leafy bank, and called us to him. Amidst half stifled groans and grumblings at his ill fortune he declared he could not move from thence without a.s.sistance. There was no help for it; he must await our return.

Therefore he gave o'er to me the leaders.h.i.+p of the venture. We left with him two stout men-at-arms, and went quickly on, for now it seemed the sunrise could not be long in coming.

At the fourth hour of the morning we lay by the streamlet bed, two hundred paces from the robbers' sentry post in the rocky pa.s.sage. Cedric and old Marvin had left us to climb the hillside by another route and gain the branches of the great oak tree. Already there was a grayness in the dark that told of the coming dawn. Half an hour pa.s.sed, and by little and little the trunks of the trees grew more clearly to be seen and we could well make out each other's faces. Roosting wild fowl roused themselves, and flew away with a clatter of wings. We knew that Cedric and Marvin awaited the daylight to make sure their aim. At last, on the top of a tall tree above me, I spied a beam of sunlight.

Immediately, as it seemed, there came from the oak tree the call of an owl, twice repeated. This was the signal for which we waited; and we sprang up together and ran, as silently as might be, toward the pathway entrance. We gained it unmolested, and with Geoffrey and me in the lead, quickly came upon the bodies of the sentries. Cedric and Marvin, from their post in the tree, had well done their work. The sentinels had perished silently, each with a bolt through his skull.

We rushed forward; and now some of our arms rang against the stones; and there was a cry from above us. This was no time for stealth and creeping. On we went with a rush and with a clatter of heels on the rocks of the path and of steel against steel as we jostled one another in the race.

In a moment we were at the cavern's mouth; and found a score of the robbers on their feet to meet us. Arrows whizzed among us and one or two men fell, mortally hurt. Geoffrey let fly his bolt at a tall villain that stood in his path, and shot him fair between the eyes. Then I saw no more for I was face to face with the outlaw chief, and our swords flashed fire.

He still wore his steel breastplate, which I believe he had not laid aside that night; and this well matched the s.h.i.+rt of woven mail that had stayed two or three arrows which had otherwise laid me low. I felt taller and stronger at that moment than e'er before in my life; and my sword seemed a very plaything in my hands, like that of the Frenchman, De Latiere, who had so nearly done to death my father at the court at Shrewsbury. The outlaw was no novice with the sword, as I who had once before crossed weapons with him, could well testify. But almost at the outset I brought to bear the play that, with my father's help, I had all that summer been perfecting. A swinging feint at the forearm turned itself in mid-air to a flas.h.i.+ng thrust straight at his unguarded throat.

I pierced him through and through, and he fell and died at my feet.

Looking about me, I saw most of the outlaws dead or dying and the remainder being fast bound as prisoners. Young Sir Geoffrey of Carleton had dropped his cross-bow on the ground and stood with his mother's arms firmly clasped about his neck the while he whispered somewhat in her ear. At her side her two handmaids stood unharmed and loudly weeping for joy.

As I stood looking, well content, at this spectacle, the Lady of Carleton suddenly loosed her son and ran toward me. In an instant I too was clasped in a warm embrace.

"Richard of Mountjoy," she cried, "thou and thine were my son's friends and rescuers, and now mine also. This day's deeds bespeak thee far better than any words. Heaven is my witness, I believe thou art a true man and hast spoken the truth as to thy dealings. All that we can do to serve thee shall be done. From this day forth and forever there shall be peace and love betwixt our house and thine."

CHAPTER IX-CHURL AND OVERLORD

'Twas a year and more after the overthrow of the Monkslayer in Blackpool Forest and the killing or scattering of most of his band that my father, the Lord of Mountjoy, with my lady mother and myself and Cedric the Forester, now my accredited squire, sat one day in the hall of Mountjoy talking of the news that had that day come in. There had been, it seemed, a most desperate and b.l.o.o.d.y revolt of the churls on the lands of Sir Hugh DeLancey, some ten leagues to the south of us. A hundred or more of the peasantry with some apprentices and hangers-on at the village, armed with axes, clubs and scythes, had taken the manor by surprise in the night, killed Sir Hugh and half a dozen of his men in the hall, driven out the lady, then sacked the place and burnt it to the ground.

We were fair horror-struck at such lawless and brutal doings; and for a time we vied with one another in calling vengeance down on the leaders of that guilty crew and in plans for a.s.sisting in their punishment. But in the midst of this an archer came from the courtyard with the word that one of Sir Hugh's men-at-arms, who had been wounded in the onslaught, had managed to get him to horse and away after the death of his master, and was even now at the gate asking the hospitality of Mountjoy. My father at once gave orders for his welcome; and soon the man, who, after all, had escaped with wounds of no great moment, was sitting at our board with meat and drink before him. When his hunger and thirst were abated, he told us the tale of the churls' revolt in a somewhat different seeming.

Sir Hugh DeLancey, though a loyal follower of the King, a resolute punisher of outlawry, and oft a comrade of my father's at the jousts and in the battle line, had been a hard master to all his men in kitchen and hall and a heavy-handed overlord to the peasantry about him. Many a one had muttered curses after him when his back was turned; but he was ever quick with riding whip, or oaken cudgel at need, so that almost none dared gainsay him. Now it seemed that but the day before he had sent his steward to the cottage of Oswald, a farmer of his demesne, to say that Oswald was to make ready to receive for the night two of the grooms of Lord Westerby who were to accompany their master on a two-days' deer hunt in Sir Hugh's forests. By ill hap it chanced that Dame Margery, Oswald's wife, was ill-a-bed at the time, and appeared to be nigh unto her death; and Oswald sent back the word to his master that on this account he could not receive the two men that were to be quartered on him. The steward, however, held an old grudge against Oswald; and so, returning to his master, spoke but the half of Oswald's answer, saying only that the farmer refused to have the grooms in his cottage.

When Sir Hugh heard this, he flew into a rage, called for his horse and rode to Oswald's door, followed at a little distance by this retainer who now told us the tale. Arrived before the cottage door, he drew his sword, and, taking it by the blade, pounded with might and main with the b.u.t.t on the panel. Oswald came forth, and, angered by this unseemly noise at the door of what would soon be a house of mourning, spoke roughly to his liege lord, requesting him to withdraw and leave the dying in peace.

Sir Hugh's own choler was so high that 'tis doubtful if he sensed the meaning of Oswald's words, for he answered with a command to throw the door wide, as he would take the cot forthwith to stable his horse within, and it should be seen who was master on the lands of DeLancey.

Oswald stood immovable, and as the knight advanced on him laid hold of a firewood stick to dispute his way. At this Sir Hugh struck right madly with the weapon which he still held by the blade. By a most unhappy chance the broadsword hilt came down, full force, upon the farmer's temple, and in an instant he was stretched dead at the feet of his master. Then Sir Hugh took horse again and rode back to the manor.

Poor Dame Margery set up a piteous outcry, and soon there came two or three of the neighbor folk who heard her broken tale of the encounter.

Ere night the bitter news was on every tongue within miles of DeLancey Manor; and when at dark the word went round that Margery had died also, a vengeful band soon formed itself, and those b.l.o.o.d.y deeds were done of which the earlier news had come to us.

Scarce had the DeLancey man finished his tale and been taken to his lodging where the leech should tend his hurts when a messenger rode up to our court-yard gate and demanded admittance in the name of the Lord High Constable. He brought us the news that the Constable was already in the saddle and with half a hundred lances at his back was riding to DeLancey Manor for the quelling of the mutiny and the punishment of Sir Hugh's murderers. It seemed, however, that the Lord Constable had no archers with him and feared they might be sorely needed in the fighting to come. Therefore he asked of Lord Mountjoy that he send with the messenger half a dozen mounted cross-bow men,-men who could strike a fair target at two hundred paces; and he promised to reward bountifully any such who should do the Crown good service.

At this Lord Mountjoy turned to Cedric, saying:

"Now here's the chance, Cedric, my lad, for thee to earn both gold and honor. Wilt thou pick five more Mountjoy cross-bow men and ride with them 'neath the Constable's banner?"

But with a countenance of a sudden grown something pale, Cedric made reply:

"Good my lord, I pray you lay not your commands upon me to that effect.

This expedition likes me not."

"How now!" exclaimed my father, "this is a new temper for thee, Cedric.

Thou'rt ever ready to be where shafts and quarrels fly. Surely thou'rt not frighted of peasants' clubs and scythes."

"Nay, my lord. But for this fighting I have indeed no stomach, and 'tis like I should make but a poor soldier in the Constable's train. I pray you, if Mountjoy must furnish archers for this work, let some other lead them."

My father's face grew very red. He leaned far over the table toward Cedric, and seemed about to speak full loud and angrily. Then bethinking himself, he turned again to the Constable's messenger, and said:

"Return thou to the Lord Constable with Mountjoy's compliments; and say that within the half hour six good cross-bow men will set forth from here, and will o'ertake him on the road long before he reaches DeLancey Manor."

The messenger bowed and withdrew. Soon we heard his horse's hoofs on the drawbridge. Then Lord Mountjoy sent for one of the older of the Mountjoy archers from the court-yard below, and gave to him the commission just refused by my obstinate squire. This accomplished he turned again to Cedric, with a heavy frown on his brow, and said:

"Now tell us, if thou wilt, sirrah, why this sudden showing of the white feather. 'Tis not like thee, I'll be bound, to shrink from any fray, whether with knight or clown, or to shame me as thou hast before the Constable's messenger. What terrifies thee now in the thought of this rabble?"

"I have no fright of them, my lord. Rather I wist not to have any hand in their punishment for a deed which, lawless though it be, still had the sorest provoking."

Lord Mountjoy gazed at the youth in amazement. My mother and I caught our breaths and one or the other of us would have interposed a word to blunt the edge of such wild-flung talk; but my father burst out again, and in a voice that echoed through the house:

"And would'st thou then let the murderers of my friend go free of punishment for that he had struck down a churl that refused him entrance to a house on his own domain?"

"The man did but defend his right," returned the Forester, steadily.

"The house was his, against all comers, e'en his liege lord, till he had been duly dispossessed."

Such rebel doctrine had ne'er before been heard in Mountjoy Hall. 'Twas little wonder that my father's face grew purple with wrath as he shouted:

"And where gettest thou such Jack Clown law as that? Is it from the books of chronicles thou hast learned to pore over by the hour, or from the monks at Kirkwald that lend them to thee?"

"Nay, my lord, 'tis from the ancient Saxon law that ne'er hath been abrogated in England, though many a time o'erridden. 'A freeman's house is his sole domain though it be no more than a forester's cot.'"

Lord Mountjoy had risen and now stamped back and forth.

"Ne'er abrogated, forsooth! But it well should be. This is no law or custom for the descendants of the n.o.bles that landed with William the Conqueror. 'Tis of a piece with the insolence of the churls on Grimsby's lands, who would have a magistrate of their own choosing forsooth, to try their causes withal-reaching up to s.n.a.t.c.h the reins of governing from their lawful masters. What do such clowns know of law or governing?