John Burnet of Barns: A Romance

by John Buchan

  CHAPTER IV

  OUR ADVENTURE ON THE ALPHEN ROAD

  We rode in silence for maybe half a mile, while I turned over the eventsof the evening in my mind and tried to find some way out of thedifficulties in which, by my own folly, I found myself placed. Nicollooked steadfastly before him and said never a word. By and by I foundthe desire for some one to speak with so overpowering that I up andasked him if he had heard aught of the events of the evening.

  "Ay, sir," said he, "I heard ye had some kind o' stramash, but that wasa'. I trust ye're weel oot o't."

  "Have you heard of my cousin Gilbert?" I asked.

  "The wastland lad wha used to come aboot the Barns? Oh, aye! I'veheard o' him."

  "I flung a glass at his face to-night," said I.

  "I hope, sir, that he flung anither at yoursel'?" he asked anxiously.

  "No. He swallowed the insult and left soon after. He is not the man tolet me off so easily."

  "Whew," said Nicol, "but that's bad. Wad ye mind, Laird, if I rode onafore ye?"

  "Why?" I asked.

  "Cousins and sodger-folk are kittle cattle," said he. "I wadna wondernoo but that Maister Gilbert were ahint a dyke. I've heard tell o' someo' his pliskies in his ain land, and he's no the lad to let a midgestick in his throat."

  I drew up my horse angrily.

  "Nicol," I cried, "you are intolerable. My cousin is a gentleman ofbirth, and do you think he is the man to kill from a dyke-side? Fie onyou, you have the notions of a common roost-robber."

  "Weel, away then, my lord," cries he. "So be it; but I've little faithin your Gilberts for a' their gentrice. I ken their breed ower weel.But I maun ride afore ye, for there are some gey rough bits on the road,and I'm a wee bit mair sure in the saddle than yoursel, wi' a' respectto your lairdship."

  So the wilful fellow must needs ride before me, looking sharply to theright and left as though we were in far Muscovy instead of peacefulHolland.

  As for me, I felt in no humour to listen to my servant's tales or doaught than think dolefully on my own matters. The sight of my cousinand of Mistress Kate had made me sore sick for home, and I could havefound it in my heart once and again to take ship at the next sailing forLeith. But these thoughts I choked down, for I felt that they wereunbecoming to any man. Yet I longed for Marjory as never lover longedfor his mistress. Her bright hair was ever before my sight, and herlast words on that February evening rang always in my head. I prayed toGod to watch over her as I rode through the stiff poplars on the way toLeyden.

  As for my quarrel, I cared not a straw for Gilbert and his ill-will, ithaving never been my nature to be timorous toward men. Nay, I lookedforward to meeting him with no little pleasure, for it had long been anopen question which of the twain was best at the sword-play.

  "Maister John," said Nicol, suddenly turning round, "I saw twae mencreeping roond thae scrunts o' trees. I wis they maunna be after onyill." We were by this time nearing a black, inhospitable part of theland, where the road ran across a moor all covered with ferns and rushesand old trunks of trees.

  "Ride on," said I; "if we turned for every man that crosses the path, weshould never leave our own threshold."

  He did as he was ordered, and our horses being put to the canter,covered the ground gallantly, and our stirrup-chains clinked in thesilent night.

  Suddenly, to my amazement, I saw Nicol fling himself back in the saddlewhile his horse stumbled violently forward. It was one of the mostingenious feats of horsemanship that I have ever witnessed. The beaststood quivering, his ears erect with fright, while I rode alongside.

  "For God's sake, sir, take care," Nicol cried. "There's some damnedthing ower the road, and if I hadna been on the watch it wad hae been a'ower wif yae guid man. Watch, for ye may get a shot in your belly anymeenute."

  Now, as it chanced, it was that lively canter which saved us, for therogues who had set the trap had retired a good way, not expecting us soearly. At the sound of the stumble they came rushing up from among thefern, and, ere I knew, a pistol shot cracked past my ears, and anotherand another.

  Two went wide; one hit my horse on the ear and made him unmanageable, sothat I sat there with my beast plunging and kicking, at the mercy ofwhosoever had a fourth pistol.

  Nicol spoke not a word, but turning his horse, dashed forward in thedirection whence the shots had come. As it fell out, it was the bestthing that anyone could have done, for the robbers, not expecting anysuch assault, were preparing to fire again. As it was, the forefeet ofthe horse took one villain on the chest, knocking him senseless andwell-nigh trampling the life out of him. A second gripped Nicol by thesleeve, and attempted to drag him from the saddle; which plan woulddoubtless have succeeded had not my servant, pulling the pistol (whichwas not loaded) from his holsters, presented it at the man's head withsuch effect that the fellow in fear of his life let go and fled acrossthe moor.

  By this time I had reduced my own animal to something like submission.I rode after Nicol and came up just in time to see the third man of theband (there were but three; for doubtless they trusted to their trap forunhorsing if not stunning us) engaged in a desperate struggle. Nicolhad him by the throat with one hand and was endeavouring to squeeze thebreath out of him, while he in turn had his opponent by the other arm,which he was twisting cruelly. Had my servant been on foot the matterwould soon have ended, for the throat fared badly which those long wiryhands once encircled; but being on horseback he dared not lean forwardlest he should lose his seat. My appearance settled it; for the robber,freeing himself at one desperate leap, made off at the top of his speed,leaving his pistols behind him. There remained but the one whom Nicol'shorse had deprived of his senses.

  Unfortunately the blow had not been a very severe one, for he was notlong in coming to himself. There was some water in a little stagnantpool near at hand which Nicol dashed in his face, and in a little theman opened his eyes and looked up.

  At the sight of us he started, and the events of the past half hour cameback to his memory. Then a look of sullen, obstinate anger came intohis face, and he lay still, waiting for events to take their course.

  "Who are you?" I asked.

  He made no answer.

  I repeated the question several times, and still the man kept hissilence.

  "Ye donnert scoondrel," cried Nicol, "tell us whae ye are, or ye'll hangthe morn on the gallows-hill at Leyden."

  Still the fellow would not speak.

  "Let's tie him up," said Nicol, "and I'll ride wi' him on the horseafore me. He'll get justice when we win to the toun."

  But this was not my policy. I had other things to think of thanbringing marauders to trial. A sudden thought struck me.

  "I will try him another way," said I to Nicol. "Do you stand aside."

  The man lay on the ground where my servant's horse had thrown him, witha belt round his legs, and his arms knotted together. I went up to him,and stood over.

  "Do you know who I am?" I asked sternly, in as tragic a voice as I couldassume.

  The man stared sulkily, but did not speak.

  "You fool," I cried, "do you think that thus you will circumvent me?Know that I am the great doctor, Joannes Burnetus of Lugdunum, skilledin all arts of earth and heaven, able to tell divinations andprophecies, learned in all magic and witchery. I know all that thouhast done since thy birth, and thy father and grandsire before thee, allthe wickedness which shall entitle thee to eternal damnation in thatplace which the Devil is even now preparing for thee. Yea, I can tellthee the very death which thou shalt die----"

  "Stop, stop," cried the fellow, "O most learned sir, spare me. I knowthou knowest all things. I confess my sins, and oh, I promise you Ishall mend my ways. Stop, I pray."

  "There is still one ray of hope for thee," said I, "but I cannot give myword that thou shalt ever gain it, for thou hast advanced too far in sinalready. But yet thou mayest escape, and there is but one way to setabout it--na
mely, to tell me of all thy wickedness. I adjure thee, bythe sacred sign _Tekel_, which the Chaldaeans used of old; by _Men_,which was the sign of the Egyptians; by the _Eikon_ of the Greeks; bythe _Lar_ of the Romans. I summon thee by the holy names of God,_Tetragrammaton, Adonay, Algramay, Saday, Sabaoth, Planaboth, Pantbon,Craton, Neupmaton, Deus, Homo, Omnipotens_; by _Asmath_, the name of theEvil One, who is lord over thee and my slave--I summon thee to tell meall thy deeds."

  The man was frightened past all telling. He tried to crawl to my knees,and began a recital of all manner of crimes and peccadilloes, from hisboyhood till the present hour. I listened without interest.

  "Had any Scot a part with thee in this night's work?" I asked.

  "No, there was none. There were but Bol and Delvaux beside myself, bothDutch born and bred."

  My mind was lightened. I never really believed my cousin to have hadany part in such a matter, but I was glad to know it for truth.

  "You may go now," I said, "go and repent, and may God blast thee withall his fire if thou turnest thy hand to evil again. By the bye, thyname? I must have it from thy own lips."

  "Jan Hamman, your lordship," said he.

  "Well, God pity thee, Jan Hamman, if ever I lay my hand on thee again.Be off now."

  He was off in a twinkling, running for his very life. Nicol and Iremounted, and rode onward, coming to Leyden at the hour of one on theSabbath morning--a thing which I much regretted.