Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651
Page 79
CHAPTER VII.
THE TAVERN-KEEPER AND THE SKIPPER.
In the good old times supper was generally served at an hour whichwould not now be deemed particularly late for dinner, and after he hadfinished his attendance at the evening meal, Pope, who had obtainedleave from his master to go to Bristol, set out with the king.
Charles had no opportunity of bidding Jane farewell, but she sent him amessage by the butler, expressing her heartfelt wishes for his success.Though it was nearly dark at the time that he and Pope started on theirexpedition, and the gloom was greatly increased by the thickness of thewoods into which they had plunged, the butler was well acquainted withthe road, so that they were in no danger of taking a wrong course.
However, it was a relief when they emerged from the thicket, and gainedthe open ground, known as Stokeleigh Camp. As they reached the vergeof the steep upland, the valley, deeply ploughed by the Avon, laybefore them, while the lights of the city were distinguishable in thedistance. Descending from this eminence, they pursued their coursealong the bank of the river, and met with no interruption.
"The tide is flowing," observed Pope. "Two hours hence the channel willbe full. The moon will have risen by that time, and then there will belight enough for your majesty's business."
"It is quite light enough now, methinks," said Charles.
"It is pitch dark at this moment in the gorge of the Avon," rejoinedPope.
Presently, they drew near St. Mary Redcliffe's pile, the outline ofwhich noble fabric could only be discerned through the gloom.
They then entered a narrow street skirted on either side by old timberhouses, and leading towards one of the city gates, which took its namefrom the church they had just passed. Pope readily satisfied the guardat Redcliffe-gate, and entering the city they proceeded towards thebridge.
At that hour there were few people in the streets, which were almostdark owing to the overhanging stories of the old houses. Just afterthey had crossed the bridge and entered High-street, they encounteredthe city watch, which had begun to make its rounds, and were challengedby the captain, but allowed to pass on.
Shortly after this encounter, Pope turned into a narrow street on theleft, and descending it, they had nearly reached the quay, when Popestopped, and pointed to a tavern on the right, above the open door ofwhich hung a lamp that cast a feeble glimmer on the footway.
"That is the Dolphin, my liege," he said.
Charles looked at the house for a few moments, as if debating withinhimself what he should do, and then said:
"Go in first. I will follow."
Pope obeyed, and went into the tavern, Charles keeping close behindhim. On crossing the threshold they found themselves in a large,low-roofed, old fashioned room, in which a number of seafaring men wereseated at small tables drinking and smoking. The room was so dimlylighted, besides being filled with tobacco-smoke, that the whole of theguests could not be clearly distinguished, but amongst them were threeor four individuals, whose puritanical garb and tall steeple-crownedhats showed that they were sectaries.
Besides these there were a couple of troopers.
On making this discovery, Charles felt inclined to beat a hastyretreat, and would have done so, if the tavern-keeper, David Price,who had been watching them, had not come forward, and beckoning themto follow him, ushered them into a small inner room, where they foundCareless and a stout-built personage, whose appearance answered to thedescription Charles had received of Captain Rooker.
Tall glasses and a big bowl of sack and sugar, or "Bristol Milk" as itwas termed, were set on the table, and light was afforded by a lamp.Careless saluted the new-comers on their entrance, and begged them tobe seated, but nothing passed till David Price had quitted the room.
"This is Captain Rooker," said Careless. "He has engaged to give us apassage to Swansea."
"Ay, it's all right," cried the captain, in rough but cheery accents."My lugger has already gone down the river, and we shall follow heras soon as the tide suits, and that will be in about two hours. Thecurrent will then be running down quickly. If so be you don't like toembark on the quay, I can take you up somewhere lower down--say at theGorge of the Avon."
"That's a long way off," observed Charles. "What's your reason forwishing us to embark at that place, captain?"
"Because it's the safest spot I know of," returned Rooker. "You needhave no fear of anyone lying in wait for you there."
"No, we'll make sure of that," observed the king, glancingsignificantly at Careless.
"Hark ye, captain," said the latter, "you and I must not part companytill we reach Swansea."
"Why, you don't doubt me?" cried the skipper, gruffly.
"No, I don't doubt you, but I won't let you out of my sight. We willarrange it in this way. You and I will start from the quay, and we willtake up the others as proposed."
"Well, I'm agreeable," said the skipper. "But I understood that a younglady was going with you. Is she to be left behind?"
"No," replied Careless. "My friend will bring her with him. You willfind her near the high cross on St. Augustine's Green," he added toCharles. "I would go there myself, but----"
"You don't want to leave me," supplied the skipper, with a laugh.
"Ay, that's just it," said Careless. "It won't make much difference toyou," he continued, again addressing the king. "You need not come back.You can embark on the right bank of the river."
"Just as easily as on the left," remarked Captain Rooker, "if you canonly get down the cliffs without breaking your neck."
"I will guide him," said Pope. "I know the path down the rocks."
"Well, the place will suit me," said Charles. "So you may look outfor us at the entrance of the gorge, captain." Then, bending towardsCareless, he added, in a low tone, "Don't lose sight of this man."
"Depend on me," replied Careless, in the same tone.
No one but Captain Rooker was aware that all that had passed had beenoverheard by David Price, who, on going forth, had left the doorslightly ajar. The cunning rascal had now heard quite enough, and,fearful of being detected, crept cautiously away.
He was only just in time, for almost immediately afterwards Charles andPope quitted the room. David Price attended them to the door, and afterwatching them for a moment or two, as they proceeded towards the quay,he beckoned to the troopers, whom we have mentioned as being among theguests. They were expecting the summons, and instantly joined him.
Meanwhile, the king and Pope had crossed the quay, and calling for aboat, were taken to the other side of the Frome.
As soon as the boat returned from this job, the two troopers, each ofwhom was armed with a carabine, and had a brace of pistols in his belt,jumped into it, and ordered the waterman to take them across.
The man prepared to obey, but by some accident got foul of anotherboat, causing a slight delay, which exasperated the troopers. Theyrated him soundly, but their anger did not mend matters, for he movedwith the greatest deliberation.