The Red Tavern

by C. R. Macauley

  CHAPTER X

  OF A NIGHT IN A SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND A SURPRISE IN THE MORNING

  So far as qualities of speed and endurance were concerned, SirRichard would have willingly matched his powerful stallion againstany in Scotland. Having no fear, therefore, of the possibility ofhis recapture, he settled himself with some comfort in his saddle,enjoying a great measure of satisfaction in the belief that he wouldsoon outdistance his pursuers. That he was indeed being followed he wasleft in no manner of doubt, as not for a single instant did the ring ofhoof-beats pause at the spot where his late adversary had sprawled soignominiously into the brambles.

  Being wholly unaware as to the number of miles that might stretch awaybetween himself and Castle Yewe, he deemed it unwise to urge his mountto top speed. Besides, the road along which he was forced to travelwas not over-free from scattered boulders and rather steep of descent.He accordingly contented himself with making haste slowly, as thesaying goes, maintaining a long, easy, sweeping stride, and observingevery possible precaution against the accidental stumbling or laming ofhis horse. Moreover, in the thin, clear air of the uplands the rattlingof steel hoofs against the flinty earth would assuredly carry for thegreater part of a league. For this reason he entertained but slighthope of throwing his pursuers off his trail till the character of thesoil became changed.

  Twice within the distance of the flight of an arrow the road swervedsharply to the left, which rendered it quite impossible, on account ofthe tangle of bushes that shot high above his crest on either hand, toascertain how closely they were following at his heels, or how manywere engaged in the chase. At times he could have sworn that there wasbut one. Then, when he would be just upon the point of drawing rein,purposing to try conclusions with that which he supposed to be hissingle foeman, the surrounding foothills would carry to his ears theechoes of a battalion of flying horsemen, whereupon he would touchspurs to his stallion's side and scurry hot-footed up and down daleuntil the sounds had dwindled again to a mere faint pattering in thetwilight distance.

  Two full hours of hard riding did not suffice materially to alter thepositions of pursuer and pursued. By then the moon had shot clear ofthe hills, adding her pallid luster to the clear, star-powdered vault,and still Sir Richard could catch the faint pounding of persistenthoofs at his back. Arriving presently at a point where a wider roadwayforked to the left, he decided to take his way along that. He wasgratified to find that it yielded soft to the hoof, muffling to aconsiderable extent the hitherto loud noise of his flight.

  Sprinting madly for the distance of something near an eighth of aleague, he dismounted and led his tired horse within the shadows of athick wood, fringing the highway to the northward. Tethering him to atree at a safe distance from the road, he then retraced his way rapidlybut cautiously toward the juncture of the two highroads. Purposingthrough this simple stratagem, should chance favor him, to have a lookat his pursuing enemies.

  The young knight enjoyed a quiet laugh at his own expense when hediscovered that his flying battalion of horsemen had narrowed downto one, and that one, de Claverlok. His rugged profile was set fairagainst the enormous face of the moon, as he drew to a stand not abovea dozen feet from where Sir Richard lay concealed. Distinctly the youngknight could see his grizzled head, a silhouette of black against ayellow circle, showing as clear and clean cut as a finely chiseledstatue.

  It was easy to gather that de Claverlok was in two minds whether to gostraight ahead, or to turn to his left into the forking roadway. Nowhe was inclining his head in a listening attitude. From away in thedistance, and ever so faintly, came the clatter of the galloping hoofsof a single horseman. This sound set an instant period to the grizzledknight's perplexity. Forthwith he turned his charger's head straight tothe northward, and in a flash was spurring furiously from the vicinityof the bushes where Sir Richard lay hidden.

  Keeping well in the brush, the young knight waited till the noise ofde Claverlok's flight had merged within the solemn quiet of the night;then, returning to where he had tethered his horse, he led him to thehighway, mounted, and, after somewhat of a less impetuous fashion thanbefore again resumed his lonely journey.

  He had ample leisure thereafter to indulge himself in meditation.Indeed the young knight was enjoying his first quiet interval sincehis entrance into the Red Tavern and his meeting with Tyrrell, whom hestill regarded as nothing more than a most extraordinary inn-keeper.Again his mind reverted to the maiden; he recalled with a thrill ofpleasure her soft whisper, and the kiss through the wall. He thoughtof the bit of cloth and the note, and immediately grew less lonelythan before. They yielded him a sweet companionship that he was quitewilling to accept without attempting to define. Through his ardentmaze of speculation, however, Nature obtruded with her realities, andhe became conscious of the keen, frost-laden air, and of his fatigueand hunger. He was ready to admit that the twinkling lights of an innwould have afforded him a most welcome and agreeable sight.

  Sir Richard was destined to be denied this pleasing spectacle, as hehad now ridden as far as discretion allowed without glimpsing a sign ofa habitable shelter. But as he drew clear of the forest he caught sightof a hut that stood not far from the road within an open meadow. Herode up to it, discovering it to be an abandoned shepherd's dwelling,bleak, uninviting, and dreary. Between this and the cosy corner of aninn abounding in appetizing odors was something of a far cry to besure. But it was the best that seemed likely to offer for the night;and, desolate, lonely, and utterly cheerless as it was, he neverthelessgave thanks for the mere rude thatch that would at least protect himfrom the tingling air. A rough lean-to had been constructed against theside of the hut beneath which he secured his horse, a great armful ofhalf-dried grass serving for the animal's feed. Once inside the hovel,by tearing out a plank or two from the rotting floor and disposing themwithin the rude fireplace he soon contrived to kindle a blaze thatwarmed him pleasantly to sleep.

  So fatigued was he that, in despite of his hunger and thirst, hisslumber was of the soundest. Perhaps the assurance that he would likelyawaken in the same spot where he had closed his eyes contributedits mite to his comfort of mind and body. At all events he remainedundisturbed till well along in the morning. When he aroused himself andopened his eyes the slanting rays of the sun were falling fair uponthem through the sashless window that opened upon a fairylike view ofhill and forest. He was stretching and yawning himself more fully awakewhen he was startled suddenly into that condition by a huge shadowmoving across the devastated floor. He looked once; then, rubbing histhoroughly surprised eyes, looked again.

  Upon the sagged doorsill sat the ubiquitous de Claverlok. He seemedquite unaware of the young knight's awakening, being busily intent uponthe burnishing of his helmet, and cocking his grizzled head drollyfrom one shoulder to the other the while he held his gleaming bonnetat arm's length the better to view and admire the result of his lustyrubbing. The glittering top-piece, catching a ray of the sun, shuntedit straight into Sir Richard's dazzled eyes. For a second or twothereafter he could see nothing above a brilliant splotch of red, withthe massive outline of de Claverlok looming gigantic in its center.

  When he was recovered of his transitory blindness, he made a hastyexamination of the wall against which he had constructed his bed ofleaves and boughs. Saving for a narrow vent-hole set high above thefloor, and in the corner of the room farthest from where he was lying,it was unpierced by door or window. Sir Richard could not restrain asmile of quiet amusement as he thought of the famous prank he mighthave played upon the unconquerable old warrior had there been asufficient opening near at hand to give exit to his body.

  As it was, ... "_Well!_" he shouted at de Claverlok upon a sudden, andat the very limit of his lungs.

  Deliberately, and with the most impassive unconcern, the grizzledknight set his helmet upon his head.

  "Give thee a right good-morrow, Sir Richard," said he, smiling broadand friendlywise over his shoulder. "Judging from the quality ofthy slumber, I should say that thy cons
cience is mightily clear andbabelike, ... eh?"

  "Clearer it should be than thine, ... leech!" Sir Richard retorted."Much am I perplexed over thy presence within this hut this morning.Methought that yester eve I had bade thee adieu for all."

  "Aye, ... and good quittance, well riddance, thou didst think, ...eh? But thou wert remiss, my son, in not bethinking thee to yield mea parting handclasp. I am come to remind thee of thy discourteousoversight, and, what's better, to offer thee wherewith to break thyfast."

  "Thou dost but mock mine hunger, de Claverlok, which is most illbeseeming from an unbidden guest within my door."

  "Pooh, pooh! guest within thy door, indeed. 'Tis thou who art jestingnow, ... eh! But, i' truth, I am not mocking thee, sir knight,"protested de Claverlok. "Why, thinkest thou that these bonnie plainsand downs are barren of grain and fowl, ... eh? Or that my hand andtongue have lost their cunning? But, tell me, my good Sir Richard, artindeed bereft of thy nostrils?"

  When the young knight raised himself upon his elbow he became aware ofthe appetizing odor of a roasting fowl, which had not quite dropped tothe level of his reclining head. In the fireplace behind him he sawthat it had all along been sizzling upon an improvised spit, and thatbeside it there was an iron pot that was sending its cloud of steammerrily up the deep black throat of the chimney.

  "I observe," said Sir Richard, rising and going to the door, "that thouart ever thoughtful of the inner man. But, withal, de Claverlok, I likethee right well, and were it not that thou hast designed to constitutethyself my guardian and captor, full gladly would I call thee friend."

  "Your hand, Sir Dick, and let us say 'tis so. Your good friend andtrue have I been since first I clapt my eyes upon your fresh and opencountenance, ... eh! By Saint Dunstan, but I wish that I dared tellyou a thing or twain as to the reason for my guardianship," he addedfervently. "That I am such is the fault of an untoward circumstance ofwhich for the present you must perforce remain ignorant. That I amyour captor, ... well," he laughed, "and whose fault is 't, ... eh? Youwere a free man but yester night, my boy."

  "Aye," returned Sir Richard; "and ill did I conduct the businessof eluding you. But, marry, man! Here's my hand of friendship, foras friend I insist upon regarding you--and not captor--my good deClaverlok."

  Smiling broadly, the grizzled knight grasped and heartily shook theyoung knight's proffered hand.

  "From this old tongue," said he, "you shall hear no denial of yourclaim. But a truce to soft sayings, ... eh? The fowl doth cry aloudfrom yon spit. The ale is mulled to that degree of perfection where itwould tickle the palate of Epicurus himself. The air is growing heavywith the fragrance of toasting cheese. Let us, I pray you, break ourfasts and be off. Our journey doth stretch long before us, and the daygrows apace."

  They thereupon sat down together upon the doorsill, the hollow ofde Claverlok's broad and scrupulously burnished shield serving assalver for the meat, bread and cheese. They took turns at the ale outof the mouth of the earthen jug beside them. When they had finishedbreakfasting, they went to the lean-to and made ready their horses.

  "Do our ways diverge at yonder road?" carelessly asked Sir Richard, ashe swung himself into his saddle. "Or shall I be so fortunate as tohave you for my companion during a part of my journey?"

  "Well, ... by the sun that warms us! Marry, but you are a refreshingyouth!" exclaimed de Claverlok, adjusting his breast-plate andgathering his buckler over his left arm. "An I wot my name, SirRichard, you are to journey wherever I lead, ... eh!"

  "Be in a hurry then, my friend," suggested the young knight pleasantly,but firmly, "to become again acquainted with yourself. I go my own way,sir, e'en an my sword or lance must reckon with the hindrance."

  By this time the grizzled warrior was seated in his saddle, and hadgathered his reins in his hand for the start.

  "Which direction is it your wish to travel, my son, ... eh?" heinquired, making as if to submit to Sir Richard's desire.

  Withdrawing a chart out of the wallet dangling from his baldric, andmaking note of the position of the sun and the length of the shadows,the young knight indicated, without speaking, a point midway betweennorth and northwest upon the glowing line of the sky and hill.

  "By 'r Lady!" exclaimed de Claverlok, causing his armor to jingle withthe heartiness of his laughter, "but I am fair sorry that you are notignorant of every trick of travel-lore and wood-craft, else might Ihave conducted you to a place not so imminently dangerous to yourhandsome----" He ended the sentence by touching his head and sweepinghis hand in a circular motion around the base of his corded neck.

  "Methinks 'tis an easy hazard," returned Sir Richard lightly; "and Ihave made choice of accepting it. The choice was made for me before Istarted, I should have said. An our ways lie together, though, friendde Claverlok, mayhap you would spare the time to show me how to pickup a trail by moonlight. 'Tis a right pretty trick--and after flyingafter a false scent, too. A right pretty trick."

  "Yea--and the very devil's own time had I to compass it. What withthe going astray, and the getting down on my knees in the dust, I hadscarce an hour's rest between the welcome sight of you asleep withinthe hut and sunrise, ... eh! I wot you were watching me beside theroad near the fork, for I saw your marks along the thornhedge. A rightnice prank that was to play on an old campaigner, ... eh? And am I anight-capped grand-dam, think you, to lose that which has cost me somuch to gain? I'll be damned, Sir Dick, an you are not this moment mycaptive, ... eh!"

  "Right glad am I to claim you friend, de Claverlok," maintained SirRichard, guiding his horse toward the highway; "but I must deny you theright to call yourself my captor. My first escape was an honorable one,effected through force of arms. An I must escape again, let it be inthe same manner. Though much do I regret that our friendship should endthus. I leave to thee, sir knight, the choice of weapons."

  "Fiends and furies fly away with every kind of weapon!" roared deClaverlok; "an they are to be wielded between you and me. Would I bekeeping my knightly vow by spitting you upon my lance's head, ... eh?By the Rood! You would tempt me to set myself in a class with thatfoul toad, the Renegade Duke, ... eh? Ah! but how I did laugh to seehim kicking and cursing amidst the thorns. I would you had put an endto him, Sir Dick. Yesterday, an I wot myself, began a tale of blacktreachery, my young friend, to which the false head of that court dandyshall furnish an appropriate and bloody period."

  By this time they had come to the road where, as though by commonconsent, they reined to a halt for further parley.

  "An you refuse to give me battle, de Claverlok," said Sir Richard atrifle impatiently, "you must permit me to take my own way, as I amdetermined not to go yours, unless indeed it be in a helpless anddisabled condition, and trussed fast to the back of your barb. How sayyou, sir knight?"

  "How say I, ... eh?" muttered the grizzled warrior within his curlybeard. "What can I say, would be more to the point, it would appear.The hungry vultures, I'll swear, would be the only gainers from a tiltat arms between us. And beshrew me, Sir Dick, an I am of a mind tostrew the sward with your precious body. As for mine--well--I am not sopartial to vultures as to wish to feast them upon my carcase. But tellme," he added, looking keenly into the young knight's eyes, "why areyou so stubbornly determined upon making your way into Castle Yewe; canit be that Douglas is your friend, ... eh? You know full well that youhave not the King's paper."

  "And a right sorry moment it was for me when I permitted it to bestolen," returned Sir Richard with an angry frown. "Aye--it is truethat I cannot now deliver the original, but I have a copy, my shrewdfriend--a copy, hear you? And I mean to place it within Lord Douglas'shand as swiftly as my steed can bear me within the sallyport of Yewe.Was your hand, de Claverlok, concerned in the purloining of theoriginal?" he finished sharply.

  "Nay--not mine. A copy say you, ... eh? God! what a mess of pottage isthis! You could not be prevailed upon to rip this parchment open andread its contents, ...?"

  "Well, by my soul! What says the man!" exclaimed Sir Richar
dindignantly. "Friend or no friend, de Claverlok, another word from youupon that score and there'll be an end of peace between us"; whereupon,urging his horse into a swinging canter, he set off in the generaldirection of Castle Yewe.

  "So, ... lead on, Sir Dick!" shouted the grizzled warrior, settingspurs to his mount's side and quickly galloping beside Sir Richard. "Iam at once your captor and your slave. Your follower and your guide.Saint Dunstan grant me the strength to keep your foolish head fromharm. And when you're done with thrusting yourself into hornet's nests,... eh! then shall I be waiting to lead you to a place of temporarypeace and safety."

  "Temporary safety?" queried Sir Richard. "What mean you by that, deClaverlok?"

  "'Twill be but temporary," the young knight's companion assertedwarningly. "There are many things that this moment must seem fullstrange to you, ... eh? Yea--but, an I can keep your head upon yourshoulders through this wild adventure, it will be but to yield you intoanother hornet's nest awaiting you in the end," he finished somberly.