CHAPTER IX
Flight
I had no sooner made up my mind than I immediately began to takesteps to put my plan into execution, for the _Golden Hope_ was tosail at early morn on the following day, and twenty good miles hadto be covered betwixt sunset and sunrise, were I to be in time.
My great regret was that I was unable to let Constance know of mydeparture; but beyond that I cared little.
I managed to secrete the best part of a loaf, some cheese, and asmall flask of milk; and unobserved I secured a lengthy rope, whichI hid under my bed.
Longer and more tedious than ever seemed the evening prayers, but atlast my uncle bade me retire for the night. I lay abed till I heardhim fastening my door on the outside, as was his wont, and go to hisroom. Then, when all was quiet, I hurriedly dressed, packed my foodin a wallet, and prepared to escape by the window. As 'twas a calmmoonlight night, the tree that served my father's murderer so timelydid not sway sufficiently for me to descend by it, and for thatreason I had provided myself with the rope.
This I passed round a leg of the massive bedstead, throwing the twoends out of the casement on to the ground. Noiselessly I slippedout, and grasping both parts of the rope, I descended hand overhand. Then it was an easy matter to pull the rope down after me, soas to remove all traces of my escape, which, I hoped, would preventmy flight being discovered for some hours later than otherwise.
Having hidden the rope, I set out with a rapid stride and beatingheart on my long walk to Poole Town.
For the first few miles my route lay over well-known ground, butsoon I plunged into the thickest portion of the forest, where thetall branches, meeting overhead, shut out the moonlight. 'Twas aweird journey in the dead of night, with not a sound save my ownfootsteps and the occasional hooting of an owl in the tree tops.
At length I left the confines of the New Forest, the road continuinghilly yet fair-going; and having gotten well into the swing, Ifooted it strongly.
Just as I reached the meeting of two fork roads I heard the distantthud of a horse's hoofs, which came rapidly nearer and nearer.
Could my flight have been discovered already?
Plunging through a gap in the bushes I stood, my heart throbbingviolently, expecting every moment to see my uncle's manservant on mytrack; but in a cloud of dust that rose slowly in the brightmoonlight a horseman galloped madly past, his hair flying out behindhim by reason of his speed through the still night air.
Hardly had he gone past when I again heard the thud of horses'hoofs, and riding apparently in close pursuit came four men, withset faces and loose rein. They, too, disappeared, but I could notsummon up courage to resume my way until the last sounds of thepursuers had died away in the dim distance.
Then I came in sight of a town of considerable size, dominated by alofty square tower. This I guessed rightly to be Christchurch.
On reaching a long stone bridge I halted at one of the recesses torest awhile, making a meal of the food I had brought, for the walkhad made me ravenous.
'Twas a glorious view. Standing out clearly in the moonlight was thelong, regular outline of the priory church, the graceful tower ofwhich I had seen a long way down the road. The moonbeams danced onthe placid waters of an inland sea, while from farther still, beyonda lofty, flat-topped hill, came the sound of the swell of theEnglish Channel roaring on the sandy shore.
Beneath the bridge flowed the river, swiftly and silently, thoughoft the stillness was broken by the splash of a lordly salmon. "Thestream and I have both the same purpose," thought I. "Each wouldgain the sea, though by different means."
My reverie was broken by the clatter of horsemen, and fearing to bestopped and questioned, I ran down the approach to the bridge and,vaulting over the low parapet, stood ankle deep in the dewy grass,scarce daring to raise my eyes above the coping.
'Twas the same troop of horsemen I had seen a short while ago, andin their midst, his legs bound beneath his horse's belly, rode theman they had pursued, entreating and reviling his captors almost inthe same breath.
Once again I proceeded on my way, keeping close to the side of themain street, where the moon threw deep shadows athwart the cobbles;and once again I was brought to a standstill.
Hobbling down the street was a decrepit old man, muffled in a longcloak. In his left hand he carried a lantern, while his rightgrasped a halberd--though why thus armed I am at pains to suggest,for so tottering were his footsteps that I could have knocked himdown with ease. Neither could he have had good sight, for he passedme, as I stood flattened against a door, within three paces, and,halting in the middle of the road, croaked:
"One o' the clock, and a fine morning, and all's well."
Three hours more and day would be breaking. If I were to be on PooleQuay by sunrise no time must be lost, so directly the way was clearI set off at a steady trot, never stopping till I had gained asecond bridge and had reached the foot of a steep hill, from thesummit of which I saw I had completely shaken off the dust ofChristchurch.
For the next five or six miles 'twas up and down, with occasionalglimpses of the sea away on my left; and just as the pale dawn beganto glimmer in the east, I saw from the brow of a lofty hill thewhole extent of Poole Harbour spread out like a map, the undulatingdowns that I knew afterwards to be Purbeck Heights being barelyvisible against the dark grey sky.
Half an hour later I was threading my way down the narrow HighStreet, guided by the tall masts of the shipping in the harbour.
At length I reached the quay, and stood bewildered by the maze ofvessels of all sorts, sizes, and rigs. Although 'twas yet early,there was much bustling about--fishermen returning from theirnight's work, and men, heavy-eyed as the result of their previousnight's carouse, stumbling back to their ships; while already thecreaking of tackle and the hoarse shouts of seamen proclaimed thatmore than one vessel was getting under way.
I had two immediate objects in view. I must avoid Captain Jeremy,for I was very doubtful whether he would take me aboard the GoldenHope. I must also find the ship, and manage to stow myself away tillshe set sail.
Once more luck was in my favour, for as I made my way along theslippery wharf I espied a large, wall-sided brig, with tall masts,from which the sails hung loosely, awaiting but to be sheeted home.Beneath her small, square stern ports were the words _Golden Hope_.
Even as I looked at her from a safe distance a heavy footstep causedme to turn round, and to my surprise I saw no other than 'Enery.
He recognized me in an instant, and gripping me by the shoulder heexclaimed:
"Avast there, Master Hammond, what brings you here?"
"I've run away from home. Don't betray me, Henry," I replied; "Iwant to go with Captain Miles, and I'm afraid he'll not take me."
"Say 'Enery an' I'll answer to my name," said the seamanreprovingly. "Why, if so be you wants to go to sea, why shouldn'tyou? Why shouldn't you, I wants to know?"
"Perchance Captain Jeremy will not see eye to eye with me in thatmatter; though, once we are fairly out at sea----"
"'Nough said, young maaester. Sink me if I don't do my best, for youwere as true as steel to us when we were shut up in that hole inBrockenhurst Heath. Come on, and look sharp about it."
So saying, he led the way to a dirty, disreputable inn situated in anarrow street leading off the quay. Here he spoke a few words to aferrety, blear-eyed man, handing tankards of spirits to the crowd ofseafaring men who thronged there in spite of the time of day.
"Up aloft," said the man, jerking his thumb in the direction of arough ladder that led to a room above.
I DESCENDED HAND OVER HAND]
Here 'Enery provided me with a pair of heavy sea boots which, when Ihad slipped my legs into them, reached almost to my thighs. Next Idonned a long oilskin coat, cracked all over by the heat of the sunand smelling most vilely; while on my head 'Enery clapped atarpaulin, the back of which rested betwixt my shoulder-blades.
Stepping back, he examined me critically; then, not satisfied withhis handiwor
k, he crossed over to the hearth, and covering his handwith soot, he smothered my face till I was as dusky as a blackamoor.
"It's all plain sailing now," he remarked approvingly; and sallyingout into the street, we regained the quay.
"'Ere, clap hold o' that," exclaimed 'Enery, pointing to a heavysack, and, hoisting it on to my shoulders, he also seized a similararticle, and told me to follow him.
There was a constant stream of men engaged in the same task, some ofthem seamen belonging to the ship, others longshoremen hired toassist in the loading.
As I crossed the quay I saw Captain Jeremy, looking very smart in amaroon-coloured coat, dark blue breeches, and long boots, while onhis head he sported a full-bottomed peruke, surmounted by athree-cornered hat.
Bending low with my burden, I passed him in great dread lest heshould penetrate my disguise, but, to my great relief, he went byunsuspectingly, and the next moment I staggered up the narrow,creaking gangway and gained the deck of the _Golden Hope_.
Large as she appeared when viewed from the quay, the size of thebrig astonished me. She was about 200 tons burthen, and carried nineseven-pounder pieces abroadside, with two small swivelled guns onher poop.
Betwixt the masts a yawning hatchway and a stout longboat occupiednearly all the space amidships; and down the hatch descended thestream of laden men, jostling against those who, having got rid oftheir burdens, were returning to the shore for more.
Passing out of the dazzling light, for the sun was now well up inthe heavens, the sudden change to the gloom of the hold made it hardfor me to distinguish my surroundings until my eyes grew accustomedto the semi-darkness.
The floor of the hold was composed of rough planks, with a narrowhatch to gain access to the ballast. On either side I could discernthe stout curved frames, while overhead, save where the hatch gapedto the light of day, huge timbers crossed athwart ship barely fivefeet from the floor. The whole place smelt strongly of tar; mingledwith a dozen different odours, all more or less obnoxious to mynostrils.
Having relieved myself of the sack, I followed 'Enery towards thefore end of the hold, where a low bulkhead, barely three feet inheight, separated the cargo and stores from the cable tier. Theretwo neatly coiled ropes, thicker than my leg above the knee,occupied the greater part of the limited space, their ends vanishingthrough two small apertures in the deck above.
This I saw by the feeble glimmer of a horn lantern.
"Here's your mess for awhile, till I gives you the word," said'Enery. "I'll pass you down a pannikin of water and some hard tackas soon as I can. No one will see you here, but take care of yoncable, for if we've got to let go in a hurry you'll find yourselfcapsized in a brace of shakes."
"Let go what?" I asked, bewildered by his warning.
"The anchor, Maaester Hammond. We never know when we've got to letgo, 'specially if she misses stays as we beat down the harbour."
Fearing to betray my ignorance, I refrained from asking him whatmissing stays meant; and, promising to look me up as soon as hisduties would permit, the old seaman hastened away, and I was left insolitude, though the men were still at work stowing the stores inthe after part of the hold.
At length the stream of hold trimmers gradually slackened and diedaway; the hatches were replaced, and the hold was in darkness, savefor the dull yellow glimmer of the lantern that 'Enery hadthoughtfully left for my benefit.
It seemed several hours before the old seaman reappeared, bringingthe promised biscuit and water.
"Cap'n's come aboard," he announced. "We're just going to warp out,for the wind's dead in our teeth. 'Twill be a long job, I'll allow,afore we clear the bar. Never mind, Maaester Hammond; keep your heartup, and watch the cable."
With this repeated warning he again left me, and soon afterwards Iheard the tramp of many feet on deck, mingled with hoarse ordersthat were faintly borne to my ears.
The _Golden Hope_ was under way.
The Quest of the 'Golden Hope': A Seventeenth Century Story of Adventure Page 10
