Part 11 (1/2)
”We are all agreed to hang them,” replied the foreman; ”but our doctor, who saw the body, has some doubts of what the woman sayeth.”
”You,” said the mayor, in an angry voice, ”you, with your crotchets, fears, and doubts, are always causing inconvenient delay. Yet be quick and we will hear what you have to say.”
”The old man has been strangled many hours,” said the doctor, ”for the body is stiff and cold, and I want to know how the woman did not make an alarm before.”
”Woman, what hast thou to say to that?” demanded his wors.h.i.+p.
Without hesitation she replied, ”After these three black West Country rascals, robbers, and ravishers had misused me I fainted, and remained in a fit. I don't know how long before I awoke to my trouble and ran to seek your wors.h.i.+p's aid.”
”Now, doth that clear your doubts?” said the mayor: ”and you villains,”
speaking to the merchants, ”what can ye say for yourselves that ye should not be hanged and your heads fixed on spikes over the prison-gate, as a warning to such as you not to murder, rob, and ravish the virtuous people of Market-jew?”
”We are innocent,” said they, ”and we never saw the old man but once, in the kitchen, where he was turning the spit. A tinner, who came with us from St. Hillar downs, knoweth us to be men of good repute, but we know not where to find him, and can only declare our innocence each for the others.”
”That's a kind of evidence that won't stand here,” replied the mayor, ”and, not to waste more time, I sentence you to be hanged all three.
Officers,” he continued, ”see it done immediately, and seize their horses and merchandise to pay costs.”
Whilst the mayor of Market-jew was p.r.o.nouncing sentence, Tom, in haste, entered the court. ”Hold,” cried he, ”and don't ye murder three innocent men. That woman caused the death of her husband, and a long-legged-red-haired fellow, with a pimply face, who weareth a coat of this colour,” said he, holding aloft a piece of grey cloth, ”did the foul deed.”
”What can you know of this matter?” demanded the mayor.
”Give time to draw breath, and I will tell 'e,” said Tom. ”I was fellow traveller with these three merchants of Treen. They asked me to lodge in the same house with them, but having bought a piece of wit that teacheth me to avoid the house where a young woman is wedded to an old man, I went next door. There was no room to spare but in the garret, where I found a pile of straw against a screen of boards between that house and the one in which the merchants lodged. On the straw I made my bed.
Though tired, I didn't sleep, because music, singing, and dancing, below, kept me awake. About midnight, when all was quiet, I saw, through a hole in the screen, a light in the next house, and that woman (I know her by her purple nose and splatty face) talking to a tall red-haired man. Both stood near the screen. Then she said to him, 'I am heartily sick and tired of my old fool. All he's good for is to turn the spit, and a small dog would do that better. To-night would be a capital time to stop his wheezing. Here's what you might do it with,' said she, giving him a nackan (handkerchief). 'Draw it tight around his scraggy throat; give it a good twist, just so (said she showing him how), and we shall be no more troubled with his jealousy. Don't fear the consequences; leave them to me; I know how to get these three jeering West Country fellows into the sc.r.a.pe. If they are hanged for it, it will be good fun for us.' The man seemed unwilling till, putting her arms round his waist, she said, 'With all the love I have for thee, cans't thou stick at such a trifle, my dearest Honney (Hannibal), that will make the way clear for thee to be master here, with me and all the old fool's money. And there it is, in the bags by the screen--all the best of it,' said she, pointing to them; 'what's left in the chest is only copper coins and old tokens, and his claws are too stiff and crum (crooked) to untie the bags and see what's in them. And here, faint heart,' said she, taking up a bottle and pouring out a cup of liquor, 'drink this brandy; go down; be quick; and do it quietly, that Treen men, in the next room, may'nt hear thee.' The man went down with the nackan in his hand, and in two minutes or less returned. 'Well! is all right?' she asked. 'That it is,' he replied, 'I quickly wound the nackan round his neck; he moved a little and murmurred in his sleep, 'Don't 'e hug me so close, my dear.' I then drew it tight, and gave it a wrench; he made but one squeak and all was over. And now I'll take the money and go.' 'Don't be in such a hurry,' said she, 'one or two bags are enough for 'e now.' 'No,' said he, getting from her and approaching the screen, 'all isn't enough for the deed I've done to please thee.' Then he handled the bags, took two, and went away. I know it was about midnight”
(said Tom in reply to the doctor's query) ”because, while the man was below I heard the bell that shaven crowns on the Mount toll at the dead of night.”
”Well, and what next?” demanded the mayor; ”if thou hast anything more to say, be quick, and out with it.”
”I have only to state,” resumed Tom, ”that when he stooped to pease (weigh) the bags of money, his skirt came against the hole in the screen. With my left hand I caught hold of the cloth; with my other unsheathed my knife, and cut off this piece. I tried to keep awake, knowing these men were in danger from that false woman, but I fell asleep, I don't know how, and only waked just in time to learn they were brought here to be tried for their lives.”
”It's provoking,” said the mayor, ”yet this man's story may be as true as the woman's; or truer, my men,” continued he speaking to the officers; ”You know the long-legged scamp, that haunts this woman's house and all the others in the town, where liquor and victuals can be got for his bladder-dash. Hunt him up and bring him hither; he is likely to be at the St. Michael's or some other public house. Get the money he took away, and all you can find in this woman's house; bring it all here to pay the cost.”
In a short time the officers returned, dragging in the man Tom had spoken of. They turned him round, held up his skirt, and there saw a hole that the piece Tom held fitted exactly, and in his pockets were found two bags of gold.
”It's a clear case now then,” said the mayor, ”so string them up at once--the man and woman, I mean, ye fools. You Treen men go about your business, and thank your luck that this tinner is as wise as a St. Levan witch to get 'e out of the hobble.”
Tom and the merchants took a hasty breakfast, loaded their pack-horses, and started homewards, about sunrise. In pa.s.sing the jail they saw the woman and her long-legged Honney strung up. They went quickly on to avoid the ugly sight, and the merchants made much of Tom, you may be sure.
Two hours or so before noon, they arrived at a public house, tied their horses to a hedge, gave them their nose-bags of corn, and eased their backs by propping up their loads with sticks, such as were then kept at road-side inns for that purpose. ”You will dine with us, Tom, and we will treat you to the best the house affords,” said the merchants; ”we shall at least get good malt liquor and wholesome fare. We may as well rest a few hours, now that we are just as good as home and in a part where honest folks dwell.”
The merchants being cheered with good ale said to Tom, ”Comrade, we will one and all give thee something to show how we value the good turn thou hast done us in Market-jew. But for thee, my son, we should never more have seen our wives and children dear, or the castle and good old town of Treen.”
”Hold your clack, my masters,” Tom replied, ”I am vexed with myself to think that I should have slept and left 'e in such danger; it's only by a mere cat's jump that you arn't hanged. But who would ever think the mayor of Market-jew is the man to try a case so quick? Come, let us be going. I am thinking, too, about my wife and cheeld; it was here we parted, and I wonder how they have got on, poor dears, since I've been far away.”
”Well then, as you are so hastes we will pay the shot,” replied they, ”and jog along again, and be home before sunset, if all be well.”
Driving their horses at a quick pace, they went on with great glee and arrived at the foot of Trelew Hill.
Here, since Tom went eastward, a new road had been made, that took another direction to reach the hill-top, where it re-entered the old one. The merchants were for going by the new road, because it was easier for their horses.
”Friend Tom, you had better come along with us,” said they, ”than scramble up the steep hill through that rocky lane.”