Part 61 (2/2)
”Say it, mate,” said Nick, and he painfully lifted a wounded arm, to place his bandaged hand in that of the old miner who had hated him all his life.
A man had been started off as soon as the news was known to fetch more help from the Black Tor; and, as tidings fly swiftly, a.s.sistance soon came from every farm and cottage for miles, the women flocking up to Ergles, and eagerly helping to bear the sufferers to their homes.
Sir Edward and Sir Morton went last, each borne upon a litter, Minnie being provided with a pony, led by one of her father's men, who kept on shaking his head and saying that he couldn't understand it, for it seemed so strange that his master and young mistress and their leaders should be going up to the Black Tor.
He said this to Nick Garth, who was lying with closed eyes upon a roughly-made litter of poles.
”Well,” said Nick roughly, ”who can? It's 'cause they say the world turns round, and sometimes we're standing on our heads and sometimes on our feet; we're on our heads now, and it's o' no use to kick when your legs are in the air.”
There was one more task to see to, though, before Mark left the place, with its plunder in charge of Dan Rugg and a guard, so that the robbers'
stores could be restored to their rightful owners.
Over this matter Mark had a whispered consultation with the two wounded knights, and then went off to Rugg.
”Well, yes, Master Mark,” said that worthy; ”I was thinking o' something o' that sort. Right in that little chamber place. A good thick wall, and well made, with plenty o' lime. It wouldn't seem Christian-like to throw 'em out on the hill among the stones; and you see there's so many ravens and crows.”
Dummy Rugg kept as close to Mark as he could in these busy times, and tried several times to speak to him, but without success. At last, though, the opportunity came.
”Oh, Master Mark,” he said, in a tone full of reproach; ”you ought to have spoke out.”
”When? What about?”
”When I was sent back to take care of those nasty old lanterns. But it serves you right. If I'd been there at the fight you wouldn't have been hurt like that.”
”And perhaps you'd have been killed. Get out, you ungrateful dog!”
”Dog, am I? Well, it's enough to make me bite.”
”Bite away, then, Dummy. I can't lift my arm to hit you now.”
”Then I'll wait till you get well again. But it was mean. I never seem to get a chance.”
”Well, you are a grumbler, Dummy. Here, you've done what none of us could do--shown us how to end all this trouble, and pleased everybody, and yet you're not happy.”
”Happy?” said the boy; ”who's to be happy after what I've done? Why, I shan't never dare to come past Ergles now in the dark.”
”Why?”
”'Cause old Purlrose and his men'll come popping out to haunt me for getting 'em killed. I shall never like to come by there again.”
”They won't come out this way, Dum,” said Mark, trying to look very serious; ”they'll come the other way, and get into the mine to lie in wait for you in the dark parts, and heave blocks of stones at you.”
”Think they will, Master Mark?” gasped the boy, and his eyes and mouth opened wide.
”Sure to.”
”Get out: you're laughing at me.”
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