there was no help for it. i had to wait till the man came up.
"all is well!" i said, in a low voice.
"but who are you?—why——!"
before he could speak again or raise his musket. i struck him heavily. he fell like a log of wood, senseless, inert. i lifted my hand to strike again; but it is hard striking an unconscious man, and i refrained. besides i felt sure it would be some time before he would regain his wits again, meanwhile i should be perhaps a mile on my way.
i therefore left him lying there, while i sped through the woods like a deer. who he was i knew not, but i suspected that he was some follower of the killigrews, who watched while his masters discussed their plans within the house.
i had but a vague idea of the right direction, for the trees were dark and high, and i was not much acquainted with this part of the country. nevertheless, being country-bred, and having often to travel by night, i did not fear going far wrong. in half an hour i reached a lane, and then i took my bearings.
listening, i heard the splash of the waves on the sea-coast near. this i knew lay southwest, so i was able to choose my direction without difficulty. tregothnan lay a good many miles southward; i heeded not the distances, however,[pg 331] my one purpose was to reach hugh boscawen's house without mishap. once out in the open country the night was not dark, and i felt no weariness. my fear was that otho killigrew should overtake me. i was sure that the man i had struck down would relate his adventure, and that otho killigrew, in spite of what uncle anthony had said, was as clever as the devil himself. moreover, as i rushed on, i could not help believing that the man had recognized me. possibly he had come from endellion, and had seen me there. this lent wings to my feet, for should otho and his satellites follow me on horseback, i should be in a sore predicament. presently my fear became a terror. if the man had recognized me, and had revealed the fact to the killigrews and uncle anthony, would they not connect my presence with mistress nancy? for a moment my heart ceased to beat, but presently comfort came. my love, in spite of her youth, was no simpering, helpless chit of a maid. she would know how to hold her own; with old adam as her friend she could outwit all the killigrews. then another thought came to me which assured me much. i was confident that uncle anthony was the maid's friend. i called to mind a dozen things which had happened during the time i was with him on roche rock. i remembered the way he spoke when he was left wounded and helpless in the old chapel in the parish of st. mawgan. their purposes might be one with regard to the catholic faith and the coming of charles stuart, but i felt sure that the mysterious[pg 332] old man loved mistress nancy, and that he loved not otho killigrew.
this made me feel kindly towards him, and although i had it from his own lips that he had been spending his life in preparation for the coming of the pretender, i thought of many plans whereby i might be able to help him, if i reached hugh boscawen.
while these thoughts passed through my mind, i rushed on with unabated speed. the morning had only just begun to dawn, and no one had molested me. i therefore began to have hopes that i should fulfil my mission without mishap. just as i caught the first glimpse of the rising sun, however, they were rudely dispelled.
i had at this moment just reached the brow of a hill, and saw the entrance gates to one of the roads which led to hugh boscawen's house. they were not much more than a mile distant, and i fancied that, once inside them, my dangers would be over. by this time, as may be imagined, i was sore spent, for i had run a great part of the way. i therefore contented myself with walking down the hill towards the gates, but had not gone far when i heard the sound of galloping horses. turning, i saw two men riding towards me. they were otho killigrew and another man.
i started to run, holding my sheathed sword in my left hand, but i saw that such a course would be useless. they were evidently well mounted, and i was spent and weary. each side of me great hedges towered up, covered with hazel[pg 333] bushes. if i tried to escape into the fields by climbing over one of them, they would shoot me like a dog.
"stop!" cried otho.
for answer i cocked one of the pistols mistress nancy had given me. at least i would fight to the very last. otho saw my action, and a second later two pistol-bullets whizzed by me, one tearing the sleeve of my coat. evidently both of them had fired. perhaps the movements of the horses had caused them to miss their aim. my hands trembled because of my long journey, otherwise i was fairly calm. i fired at otho. seeing my action, he spurred his horse furiously, and my bullet just escaped him—instead it struck the horse of the man who accompanied him. this made the animal rear and plunge mightily, and a second later the fellow lay sprawling on the ground. the horse, however, after some capering, galloped madly away.
"come," i thought, "this is good work," and lifting my other pistol i shot at otho's steed, rather than at its rider. i thought the bullet struck the animal, but otho was a better horseman than his companion. he kept his seat firmly.
i had now no weapon save my sword, for there was no time to re-load, so i started running again, taking as many turns as a hare in the road, so as to give otho as little chance as possible to take aim. another bullet whizzed by, and still i was unharmed. i wondered how much ammunition he had, and in spite of my danger i hoped that i should come well out of the business. for if it[pg 334] became a question of swords, i had no fear. otho was no swordsman, while his companion, as far as i could judge, was only a common serving-man, who would have but little knowledge of fencing.
i heard another pistol shot, and at that very moment i felt something strike my side and burn me, as though a red-hot knife had been placed on my flesh.
in spite of my struggles to stand upright, i stumbled and fell. in falling i struck my head against a stone which stunned me somewhat.
"ah!" i heard otho say, "that is well. come, juliff, we shall soon settle this business."
in spite of my fall i kept my eyes open, and saw otho dismount. he seemed in great good humour, for he laughed aloud, while his companion limped slowly after him. he drew his sword as he came near me, and never did i see such a look of devilish gloating as rested on his face at that moment. the man seemed utterly changed. he was no longer the slow-speaking, almost religious-looking man i had known. his eyes burned red, and he laughed in such a way that for the moment i forgot the burning pain at my side.
"it is my turn now, roger trevanion," he said, and his voice fairly trembled with passion. "and he who laughs last laughs best. you have beaten me many times. oh yes, i'll give you your due. you've beaten me many times. you are a man with brains, that i will admit, but so is otho killigrew. you got away from endellion and took nancy with you, that's once; you mastered[pg 335] me at the inn up by st. mawgan, that's twice; you got away from launceston castle after you knew i should gain your freedom, and that's three times. and now my turn hath come!"
these last words came slowly, and seemed to pass through his set teeth; this i noticed, although i was still somewhat dazed by my fall.
"you are in my power, master roger trevanion," and he held his sword close to me, "and now before i make you swallow six inches of steel, i will tell you something else: mistress nancy molesworth is in my power too. and this i will add: otho killigrew's intentions are no longer honourable, for reasons that you can guess as well as i."
there was such a fiendish tone in his voice, and his words gave me such a shock, that my strength came back to me as if by a miracle. before he could hinder me i had at one bound leapt to my feet and drawn my sword. the pistol shot no longer hurt me one whit; my right arm felt no weakness.
"they do laugh best who laugh last," i cried; whereupon i attacked him violently, and as he was no swordsman he fell back from me.
"juliff, juliff," he cried, but juliff was so crippled by his fall that he was no longer able to help his master. then a strange light came into his eyes, and his guard became weaker and weaker, until i wondered what it meant, for all the killigrews were fighters in one way or another.
i do not say that otho killigrew was not a brave man. in the ordinary meaning of the word, he[pg 336] knew no fear, and could meet death as bravely as another. but directly he knew that my wound was not mortal, and that i had retained my mastery of the sword, he became a schemer and a plotter again. in short, the otho killigrew who thought i was powerless and the otho killigrew whose sword clashed against mine were two different men. keeping one eye on me, he gave a glance at juliff who had dragged himself to the hedge side. evidently the man had broken some limb in his fall from the horse, for one arm hung limp, and he groaned loudly.
for my own part i had no mercy in my heart, and i had made up my mind to kill him. that i was able to do this i had no manner of doubt. as i have said he was no swordsman, and although my side ached sorely, the sinews of my right arm seemed like steel bands. but for those words he had spoken about nancy, i should have contented myself with disabling him by a flesh wound, but remembering what he had said, i felt i could be satisfied with nothing less than his death. i think he saw this as he looked into my eyes; for his face became pale and ashen; and he gasped like a man whose throat is nearly choked.
"he who laughs last laughs best," i repeated grimly, and then he was certain that he would get no mercy from me.
he was not like his brother benet. that giant would never dream of yielding, his one thought would be to fight to the very last—but otho, as i said, had again become cool and calculating. doubtless he remembered how much depended[pg 337] on him, and thought how the cause he loved needed him. anyhow he took to his heels, and ran rapidly in the direction of restormel.
"coward!" i shouted, as he left me standing in the road. "coward! otho killigrew," i repeated again, as soon as i had gained my breath, but he took no heed of my taunt, and indeed i was sorry afterward that i uttered it.
i was master of the situation, however, and taking no thought of juliff who lay groaning by the hedge side, i caught otho killigrew's horse, which had not been hurt by my pistol-shot, and jumped into the saddle. my side pained me sorely as i did this, and now that my danger was over i felt somewhat faint and dizzy. indeed, i doubt much if i should have been able to have walked to tregothnan, for the house was several miles beyond the lodge gates.
no difficulty presented itself with the gate-keeper. he had just risen as i came up, and when i told him that i had important business with his lord, he made no ado in allowing me to enter. when i neared tregothnan my heart beat fast, for i remembered the circumstances under which i was last there. the old man at the door gave a start, too, as he saw me, and i felt sure i was recognized; but seeing the eager look on my face, he bade me enter, and told me he would inform his lordship of my presence.
evidently hugh boscawen was an early riser, for in a few seconds he entered the room where i stood.
"i have heard strange news concerning you, master roger trevanion," he said as he entered.
[pg 338]
"but not so strange as i have to tell you, my lord," was my reply.
he gave a start at my words. "what ails you, man?" he asked, "you are wounded, your clothes are bloody."
"of that presently, my lord," i said hastily. "know you that the pretender lands at veryan bay to-night, and that the lovers of the stuarts have a thousand men armed to receive him?"
he started back like a man who had received a prick with a sword. "what mean you?" he cried.
i repeated my words, and gave him further particulars.
"you are sure of this?"
i assured him that i was.
"i would that sir john grenville were here," he said to himself, "this is sore sudden."
"there is need of immediate action, my lord," was my reply, "and the country looks up to you."
my words seemed to arouse his mind to activity.
"ah," he cried, "now they will know that i was right. men laughed at me for saying the pretender would ever think of landing in cornwall, and jeered at me for gathering together our brave cornishmen. but how came you to know this, trevanion?"
he seemed to have forgotten that i had lately been brought before him as a traitor, forgot that otho killigrew had been my accuser.
"i will tell you all i can, my lord," i replied. "i escaped from the witch's tower, at launceston castle. i knew i was innocent, and i felt that there were those outside who needed me."
[pg 339]
"yes, killigrew came to me. he proved your innocence. i signed a warrant for your liberty. but you escaped—that i know. but it is no matter; go on."
"i was led to restormel."
"what, the old castle up by lostwithiel?"
"no, to the seat of the late master molesworth."
"ah, yes, i remember. well?"
"colman killigrew of endellion is the guardian of master molesworth's daughter; hence he is practically master there."
"yes, i have heard as much."
"while i was in the house, colman killigrew and his son otho, with others, came. it is regarded as a good centre for dealing with the pretender's cause. i overheard their conversation."
"which you have told me?"
"partly. what i did not tell you is that they fear you greatly. they know you have gathered an army from various parts of the country. their idea is, that after the pretender lands to-night they will come here and take you prisoner. they believe that, when this is done, the very men you have armed to fight for the king will fight for charles."
"ah!" he cried; "but king george will know of my wisdom now! and you, trevanion, you escaped, and came here to tell me. hath no one any suspicions?"
"they have more than suspicions, my lord. on leaving restormel a few hours ago, a man stopped me. i silenced him for the time, but he[pg 340] must have given information; anyhow, i was followed. doubtless messengers were sent out to scour the country-side, but two only overtook me."
"two?"
"aye, otho killigrew and a serving-man. they were on horseback and i on foot."
"were you armed?"
"i had a couple of pistols and a sword." then i told him of all that had happened.
"then you have a bullet in your body?"
"i think not, but i have a slight wound. i think i should like a doctor," and, indeed, at that minute my head seemed to whirl most amazingly, and there was a noise in my ears like the sound of many waters.
after that i remember little that took place, at least for a long time; but presently when hours later my senses came back to me, i felt vastly better.
"it was lucky we had a doctor staying in the house," said hugh boscawen. "trevanion, you will have to lie quiet for many days."
"no, my lord," i replied, "that is impossible. i must away. there is much to be done."
"i must ask your forgiveness, trevanion," said hugh boscawen, mistaking my meaning. "i trusted in killigrew, such is the power of a smooth tongue. i see now that the king hath none more faithful than you. but you have done your part; in fact, methinks you have saved the country. now you can rest. i have made all arrangements, and my trusty henchmen are [pg 341]scouring the country. when charles arrives at veryan to-night we will give him a warm welcome. in a week from now he will be in safe custody. heard you whether the french will be sending troops with him?"
"i judge not. i gathered that he would come practically alone."
"that is well. now you may safely rest."
"no, my lord, i cannot"; and thereupon i told him in a few words of my relations with mistress nancy molesworth. of my love i said not a word, but beyond that i told him everything.
"this shall be looked into when this affair is blown over, trevanion," he said. "such a maid as she should not be robbed of her rights through some foolish flaw in our laws. but what would you?"
"i must find out what hath become of her, my lord," i said, for i remembered otho killigrew; "moreover, there is a matter which may have escaped your attention."
"what matter?"
"the friends of the pretender will now know that i have informed you of their plans, and i am sure that otho killigrew would not have run away as he did had not some cunning plan entered his fertile brain. believing that you are aware of what will happen, they will act accordingly."
"but they did not know that you heard their conversation?"
"perhaps not; but they will suspect, and be prepared."
"well, what then?"
[pg 342]
"i think, my lord," i said, "that they will doubtless have signals whereby they will be able to communicate with the pretender. if he is to cease being a danger to the country, he must be allowed to land, and then taken prisoner."
"i see; you have a good brain, trevanion. but that shall be attended to. i will give orders at once."
"still i cannot rest here, my lord. i must be up and doing. and i feel quite strong. i can go to restormel; i must go!"
he saw i was determined.
"you shall hear what the doctor saith," was his answer. "ah! but it was rare good luck that the fellow was staying here."
a minute later the doctor came into the room. he had come from truro to bleed one of the serving-maids, and had been obliged to stay all night.
"master trevanion had better lie still for a week," was his reply to hugh boscawen's query. "true, the wound is not deep, and i have bandaged it well, but severe movement will cause it to start bleeding, and then there may be trouble."
"but it will not be dangerous for me to move?" i said. "i feel quite strong."
"i do not use the word dangerous," replied the surgeon, "and you feel strong because by giving you a most potent medicine of my own invention you have had several hours of refreshing sleep. moreover, my remedy hath had the effect of keeping your blood cool and of energizing your vital powers. it is really a most remarkable cordial,[pg 343] and did i live in london, i should soon become the most famous of living physicians."
"then if the cordial be so potent," was my reply, "and if the wound is not deep, it will surely be safe for me to travel. for, in truth, it will do me more harm to be imprisoned here than to do what i feel must be done. had you been an ordinary doctor, and knew not of this cordial, it might have been dangerous, but surely not after i have been under your treatment."
after a long harangue i managed by flattering the doctor's vanity to get away; all the same it was not far from dark when i, with many doubts and many misgivings, rode in the direction of restormel.
i had barely reached the lodge gates when i saw two men riding towards the house from which i had just come. one was dressed as a squire of the old school, and the other as an ordinary serving-man. i looked steadily into his face as i passed, and, although it was in many respects strange, i thought i recognized it. when he was out of sight, i asked the gate-keeper if he knew who it was.
"he gave his name as master john polperro," was the reply.
