CHAPTER I.
OF THE VENGEANCE TAKEN BY CARELESS ON THE TROOPERS.
Not without great difficulty did Charles succeed in reaching AbbotsLeigh after his perilous adventure in the gorge of the Avon. More thanonce he got lost in the wood, and had just resolved to lie down atthe foot of a tree and wait for dawn, when he caught a glimpse of themansion. Before they parted Pope had advised him to take refuge fora few hours in the stable, explaining how he could obtain admittanceto that building even if the door should be locked; and acting uponthis counsel the king proceeded thither at once, and having got insideas directed, threw himself upon a heap of clean straw, and presentlyfell fast asleep. About five o'clock in the morning he was roused fromhis slumbers by some one who shook him gently, and when he opened hiseyes he beheld Pope and Careless standing near him. The latter lookedhaggard and worn in the grey light of morning.
Half stupefied by the profound slumber in which his faculties had beenwrapped, Charles could not for a few moments recal the events of thepreceding night, but as soon as he did so he started up, and fixing aninquiring look on Careless, asked what had happened since he left him.
"She is avenged, and your majesty is freed from two unrelentingenemies," replied Careless, in a sombre tone.
"I understand," said Charles. "I will ask no further questions now.When you have had some repose, of which you must be greatly in need,you shall give me the details."
"There is no time for converse now, my liege," interposed Pope."I must take you to your chamber at once. Half an hour hence thehousehold will be astir, and then your absence will be discovered. Yourhonour must be good enough to remain here till I return," he added toCareless, "unless you choose to mount to the loft, where you will beperfectly safe and undisturbed."
"The loft will suit me as well as the richest chamber," rejoinedCareless. "I am so desperately fatigued that I can sleep anywhere."
And as Pope and the king quitted the stable, Careless climbed thewooden steps that led to the loft.
Proceeding to the rear of the mansion, Pope opened a small door thathad been purposely left unbolted, and entering with the king, theymounted a back staircase with the utmost caution, and gained Charles'sbedchamber, which was in the upper part of the house.
"Your majesty may take your full rest," said Pope; "all the servantsbelieve you have had a relapse of ague."
He then departed, and Charles threw himself on his couch, and soonforgot his dangers and disappointment.
The day had made a considerable advance before the butler reappeared.
The king was awake and thoroughly rested. While assisting his majestyto dress Pope told him that he had seen Mistress Jane Lane, andinformed her of the failure of the enterprise.
"She did not appear surprised," continued the butler, "because she hadbeen full of misgivings, but she was rejoiced that your majesty hadbeen preserved from the treacherous skipper's plots. I did not acquainther with the sad catastrophe that occurred, as I felt sure it wouldgreatly distress her. No doubt strict inquiries will be made into theaffair, but they will lead to nothing, since a clue cannot be obtainedto your majesty's retreat."
"I thought you were known to David Price, the tavern-keeper?" observedthe king.
"The rascal only knows my name, and has no idea that I am Mr. Norton'sservant. On the contrary, he believes that I dwell in Bristol. CaptainRooker, who planned your majesty's capture with the perfidioustavern-keeper, is gone, and the two troopers who aided them in theirscheme are likewise disposed of, as Major Careless will explain to youanon. I only wish David Price had shared their fate. But your majestyneed have no fear of him. You are quite safe at Abbots Leigh."
"I cannot remain here longer," said Charles. "I must seek assistancefrom other trusty friends. You are an old soldier, Pope, and haveserved in the late wars. Do you know Colonel Francis Wyndham, the lateknight marshal's brother, and somewhile governor of Dunster Castle?"
"I know him very well, sire," replied the butler, "and I do not know abetter or a braver man, nor a more loyal subject of your majesty. Abouttwo years ago Colonel Wyndham married Mistress Anne Gerard, daughterand heiress of Squire Thomas Gerard, of Trent, in Somersetshire. Sincethen he has gone with his wife to live at Trent. His mother, LadyWyndham, widow of Sir Thomas Wyndham, likewise resides with him. Asyour majesty may not be acquainted with Trent, I will describe itsposition. 'Tis a small secluded village, charmingly situated, aboutmidway between Sherborne and Yeovil, and consists of a few scatteredhabitations--cottages, I ought perhaps to call them--in the midst ofwhich, surrounded by fine old elm-trees, stands the ancient mansion.Close to the yard gate--within a bow-shot of the house--is the church,a fine old pile. I know the manor-house well, for I have often beenthere, and, unless I am greatly mistaken, it contains hiding-places,in which your majesty could be securely concealed should any searchbe made. The position of Trent is extremely favourable to your plans.Not only is it out of the main road, and extremely retired, but it iswithin a few hours' ride of the coast, and I have no doubt whateverthat Colonel Wyndham will be able to procure you a vessel at Lyme Registo transport you to France."
"Was not the colonel taken prisoner when he surrendered Dunster Castle?"
"He was taken to Weymouth, my liege, but released on his parole, sothat he can move about without fear of arrest. Formerly he resided atSherborne, and was there jealously watched by the Parliamentarians,but since his removal to Trent he has not been subjected to so muchannoyance. Your majesty may wonder that I know so much about him, but Iam well acquainted with the colonel's man, Harry Peters."
"You have decided me," cried Charles. "I will go to Trent. MajorCareless shall serve as my avant courier to apprise Colonel Wyndhamthat I am coming to him."
Shortly afterwards Charles repaired to the butler's pantry, where hebreakfasted, taking care when any of the servants came in to feigngreat debility.
After breakfast he proceeded to the stables, and watching hisopportunity, mounted to the loft in which he had learnt from Pope thatCareless was concealed.
A slight signal brought out his faithful follower, whose altered looksand manner could not fail to grieve the king. Careless's natural gaietyseemed to have entirely deserted him, and had given place to a gloomy,almost stern, expression.
"I am at your majesty's orders," he said, saluting the kingrespectfully. "Is there aught I can do?"
"You look so ill," rejoined Charles, in accents of deep concern, "thatI hesitate to put your devotion to further test. You need repose. Takeit, and we will talk further."
"Action will cure me sooner than rest," rejoined Careless, with aghastly smile. "Sleep seems to shun me, or if I close my weary eyelidsfor a moment, I start up again in horror."
"Ease your breast, and tell me what has happened," said the king, intones that bespoke his profound sympathy.
After a powerful struggle, Careless conquered his emotion sufficientlyto enable him to speak coherently, and said:
"You know what anguish I endured when she whom I loved so dearlyexpired in my arms. I swore to avenge her, and I have kept my oath. Nosooner was your majesty gone than I prepared to execute my purpose,and I found Pope, whose blood was up, well disposed to second me. Fromthe sounds we heard, we felt sure that the two murderous caitiffs werestill on the opposite bank of the Avon. While I laid down the bodytenderly, Pope pushed the boat to the other side of the river, andenabled me to leap ashore. The villains were hurrying towards the spot,and as soon as they descried me through the gloom, they both dischargedtheir pistols at me, but the bullets whistled past me harmlessly. Ireturned the fire with better effect, for I brought down one of them.Sword in hand, I then rushed upon the other, and a sharp conflict tookplace between us. Infuriated as I was, he was no match for me, and Idrove him to the edge of the precipitous bank. He made a desperateeffort to avoid his fate, but I still pressed fiercely on, smote him,and with a wild cry he fell backwards, and was instantly swept away bythe rapid current. Having thus executed my vengeful task, I returned tothe
boat, and was quickly transported to the opposite bank by Pope.
"But now arose the painful question--how were her loved remains to bedisposed of? I was almost distracted by the thought of leaving her.Yet what else could be done? At last, however, the difficulty wasunexpectedly solved. Pope had fastened the boat to a tree, and had comeashore to confer with me. We were anxiously deliberating together,when the boat, containing her loved remains, suddenly disappeared! Itwas swept away in an instant--gone beyond the possibility of recovery.Doubtless, as Pope suggested, the rope with which he endeavoured tosecure the bark, had become loose, and so the disaster occurred. ButI looked upon it then--as I regard it now--as a cruel stroke of fate,by which I was deprived of the sad consolation of seeing her decentlyinterred."
There was a pause, during which Charles showed by his looks howprofoundly he sympathised with his attendant.
"Fear not, she will find a grave," he said, at length.
"It may be so," rejoined Careless. "But I shall never know where shelies."
"Banish the painful thought from your mind," said Charles. "You cannotdo more than you have done. My firm conviction is that she will find aresting-place in some quiet churchyard, and not at the bottom of thedeep as you seem to dread."
"I will strive to think so," rejoined Careless.
Again forcibly repressing his emotion, he added in a firm voice, "Yourmajesty has some commands for me?"
"You know Colonel Francis Wyndham, I think? He now resides at Trent,in Somersetshire, and I intend to seek an asylum in his house. Do youapprove of the plan?"
"Perfectly, my liege. Frank Wyndham is a staunch Royalist. You will bequite secure with him."
"I am glad to hear you say so, though I did not doubt his loyalty. Youmust ride on to Trent, and advise him of my coming."
"Give me till to-morrow, my liege, and I shall be ready to set out.Were I to start to-day, I might break down on the road."
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651 Page 82
