CHAPTER V.
HOW THEY BREAKFASTED IN THE OAK.
Thankful for their escape, the king and Careless remained perfectlyquiet for some time, conversing only in whispers, lest an enemy mightbe lurking near.
More than an hour elapsed without anything occurring to cause themfresh alarm, when a low whistle was heard.
"A signal!" exclaimed Charles.
"It may be a device to induce us to discover ourselves," whisperedCareless.
After a pause the whistle was repeated, and somewhat more loudly.
"I will go a little lower down and endeavour to make out who it is,"said Careless.
While he was cautiously descending, a voice, which both recognised,called out:
"'Tis I, William Penderel!"
"Heaven grant he has brought us something to eat!" exclaimed the king."Go down to him quickly, Will."
On emerging from the foliage, Careless beheld William Penderel at thefoot of the tree, having a basket in his hand and a cushion under hisarm.
"Never wert thou more welcome, friend William," cried Careless,enchanted at the sight. "His majesty is well-nigh famished, and Ishould have been forced to come to thee for food hadst thou not madethy appearance."
"You must not quit the tree on any consideration," returned William."Boscobel is surrounded by the enemy. I have been obliged to stealhither by a path known only to myself, and even then I ran the greatestrisk. Do not come down, I pray your honour," he added, seeing thatCareless, who was standing on the lowest bough, was about to descend."I will hand the basket up to you."
The feat would have been difficult to any man of less gigantic staturethan William Penderel, but was easily accomplished by him.
Just as Careless obtained possession of the basket, the king appearedabove his head.
"Here is your majesty's breakfast," cried Careless, gleefully.
"And here is a cushion for your majesty to sit upon whilebreakfasting," said William, handing it up.
"Truly, thou art most thoughtful, William," said the king. "I cannotthank thee sufficiently."
"I must not remain here longer now," said the forester. "I will returnwhen I can do so with safety. Meantime, I counsel your majesty to keepclose hidden."
"Answer me one question before you go, William," said Charles. "Has thehouse been searched?"
"No, sire," he replied. "But it is strictly watched by the rebelsoldiers. Apparently, they are waiting for their leader. I must getback before he arrives!"
With this he departed.
The king and Careless then took the basket to the upper part of thetree, and arranged the cushion between the forked branches, so that itformed a very comfortable seat.
Evidently replenished by Dame Joan, the basket contained all thatcould be desired for a substantial meal--cold meat, a cold pie, bread,butter, and cheese, with wooden platters, wooden spoons, horn cups, andevery other requisite, including a couple of white napkins. Nor was aflask of canary omitted.
"Heaven bless that thoughtful Dame Joan! How much we owe her!" criedCharles, as he spread a napkin on his knee. "Give me some of that pie,Will, and take good care you let none fall while cutting it."
"Fear me not, sire," said Careless, performing the office of carververy dexterously, all things considered, and handing a large piece ofpigeon-pie to the king.
He then set to work himself, and with such goodwill that in amarvellously short space of time the dish was completely emptied. Thehorn cups were then filled, and a fresh attack was made on the coldmeat, and continued stoutly for some time, till both parties wereobliged to give in. Careless, however, held out longer than his royalmaster.
Everything being replaced in the basket, it was hung upon a branch, tobe again applied to in case of need. The pangs of hunger, from whichhe had been suffering rather sharply for the last few hours, being nowappeased, Charles began to feel extremely drowsy, and at length, beingquite unable to resist the strong inclination to slumber, he reclinedhis head on Careless's lap, and almost instantly dropped asleep.
The chief anxiety of the faithful attendant was to prevent his royalmaster from falling, but there was little chance of such an accident,for the king never moved. The real risk was lest Careless himselfshould follow his majesty's example, for he was oppressed by drowsinessin an equal degree, but by a great effort he conquered the feeling.
Thus things continued for some time, during which Careless neveraltered his position for fear of disturbing the slumbering monarch. ButCharles was not easily awakened, as will presently appear.
On a sudden, Careless was roused from the dreamy state of mind in whichhe was lost by a cry for help, and as he happened to be thinking ofJasper at the moment, he naturally concluded that the cry must proceedfrom the page.
In another moment he became convinced that his supposition was correct.This was not the first time he had heard that voice in distress,though under far different circumstances from the present. He couldnot look out from his place of concealment to ascertain the cause ofthe outcries, but it seemed to him that the luckless page was flyingfrom a patrol, and in imminent danger of being captured. Had it beenpossible he would have flown to the youth's assistance, but he couldnot quit his position. His anxiety almost amounted to torture, but hewas obliged to bear it.
Charles slept on soundly as ever.
Listening intently, Careless heard the shouts of the troopers as theygalloped among the trees, and he again heard Jasper's voice, but faintand far off. Then it ceased altogether. Was the fugitive captured? AsCareless could still hear the fierce shouts of the pursuers he hopednot. But he was left in a state of agonising suspense, for very soonthe shouts of the troopers ceased also.
Still the king moved not, but continued buried in sleep for some timelonger. At last he roused himself, but it took him some minutes tocompletely shake off his lethargy.
"I have had a strange dream, Will--a kind of nightmare," he said."Methought that pretty page, Jasper, was calling out for help, andneither of us could stir."
"'Twas no dream, sire," replied Careless. "The circumstance actuallyoccurred. I was awake, and heard the cries. They pierced my heart."
"Why did you not answer them?"
"My duty to your majesty forbade me. I would not even waken you--for Iwell knew what your chivalrous impulse would have suggested."
"And you allowed him to be captured?--ha!"
"I trust he escaped--but I cannot say. I am now right glad that I didnot wake your majesty. 'Twas a hard matter to keep quiet I will franklyconfess, but I could not desert my post. Duty before everything."
The king smiled, and patted his shoulder. "Thou art ever faithful," hesaid.
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651 Page 48
