Part 13 (1/2)
There was good argument, too, in our deeds at St. Jerome's for a world of dreaming.”
”Ah, the night has made a man of you, my gallant vintner. You should bless your stars that you fell into such worthy company. You knew not heretofore--even with your experience at Worcester--what elements of valour it pleased Heaven to mix up in the mould whereof thou wert made.
A man never sufficiently values himself until he has had some such pa.s.sage as this.”
”Ay, and look you, Captain Dauntrees,” said Garret, his eye flas.h.i.+ng with self-gratulation, ”you will reflect that I had the brunt of it _alone_, whilst you three were banded together for common defence and support. There I was, by my single self, in the very centre of them. A man needs more comfort and companions.h.i.+p in a matter with witches and devils, than he does against your sword and buckler fellows. Tut! I wouldn't have cared a fig for a foe that could be struck at; but these pestilent things of the dark--hags on besoms, and flying bats as big as a man, great sword-fishes walking on legs, with their screechings, and mopings, and mewings--Lord, Lord, how it tries the reins of a solitary man! But you had flas.h.i.+ng and firing, and charging, Captain, which is more in the way of what one expects in a fight, and one is prepared for: it has life in it.”
”That is most true, doughty Garret. A culverin is but the whiff of an oaten pipe, compared with a hag upon her broomstick. Thou wert ever the man to encounter these women. It needs thy mettle to face them. Now there is thy wife, Master Weasel--oh, but that is a perilous venture in store for thee! You shall go to her and have it over, whilst I make my report to his Lords.h.i.+p; when that is done I will straight for the Crow and Archer, to help you in the battle, which by that time will doubtless find you sore at need.”
”I must go to his Lords.h.i.+p with you,” replied Garret, in a lowered key; ”I must have my hand in the report; after that we will set out together for the inn.”
”Why, man!” exclaimed Dauntrees, with affected astonishment, ”would you tarry to do your duty to Mistress Dorothy? Do you not know that she hath suffered agony of mind the live-long night in your behalf, and that she is now in the very tempest of her affection waiting for you?”
”I know it, I know it, worthy Captain; but it doth not become my respect for Lord Charles's service to defer his business for mine own.”
”Thou shalt not budge an inch,” said Dauntrees, ”on any other path than that which takes thee quickly to thy loving wife.”
”Truly, Captain,” replied Weasel, in a dolorous tone, ”I would have thee to go with me; I beseech you heartily, allow me to bear you company to his Lords.h.i.+p. His Lords.h.i.+p will think it strange I did not come: and it will take more than me to pacify the dame.”
”Well, friend Weasel, in consideration that you contended single handed last night with a whole score of devils, and bore thee gallantly; and, moreover, as it is such heavy odds against thee in this matter of Dame Dorothy--for, of a verity, I know she is in a devil of a pa.s.sion at thy contumacy, and not less at mine, I'll be sworn--why we will make a muster of it and breathe our defence in solid column. Arnold will go with us. And mark me, Vintner, at the fitting time, we shall regale.”
”On the best in cellar or larder at the Crow and Archer,” replied Garret. ”You have the word of a man and a soldier for it.”
”I wot of a woman and no soldier, whose word would go further to that bargain, Garret, than yours. Make ready, friends, we must move.”
Dauntrees now set his beaver jauntily over his brow, and throwing his short cloak across his arm, marched through the postern of the fort, followed by his trusty allies, to the mansion of the Lord Proprietor.
Lord Baltimore received them in his library, and there heard from the Captain a circ.u.mstantial narrative of the events of the preceding night.
”It is a strange tale,” he said, ”and may well perplex the faith of the simple rustics of the province. That evil spirits preside over that blood-stained house, from your testimony, Captain Dauntrees, may no longer be denied. Friends, you all saw these things?”
”All,” said Garret Weasel, with emphatic solemnity as he straitened his body even beyond the perpendicular line. ”Pamesack and Arnold stood by the Captain and can vouch for him. I maintained a post of danger, an please your Lords.h.i.+p, alone; what I saw neither the Captain, Arnold, nor Pamesack, saw--it was a fearful sight.”
”What was it?” inquired the Proprietary, with some earnestness.
”A woman,” replied Garret, ”_seemingly_ a woman, an your Lords.h.i.+p comprehends: but in truth a witch, as we all do know:--Kate of Warrington, of whom your Lords.h.i.+p has heard. She it was who came suddenly down upon the wold. How she came,” here Garret shook his head, ”and what came with her,--it was a sight to look upon!”
”The vintner affirms to sundry fantastic shapes of imps and spectres in company with the woman of Warrington,” said Dauntrees. ”We saw nothing of the hag, having left Master Weasel, some distance in our rear when we visited the Chapel. He was cold, and required comfort. What he recounts, my Lord, you have his own avouch for.”
”And what say you, Arnold?” inquired his Lords.h.i.+p, smiling.
”These ghosts and goblins keep a hot house, and the less we have to do with them the better,” replied the forester, gravely.
”They fired upon you, Captain?” said the Proprietary; ”with what weapons?”
”They had the sharp crack of the musket and pistol,” replied Dauntrees, ”or what seemed to be such: yet I would not swear I saw carnal weapons in the strife, though in the flash I thought I noted fire arms. This may tell better than guess of mine, my Lord,” he added, as he held up his cloak and pointed to a rent in one of its folds; ”this hole was made by some missive from the house: whether it be a bullet mark or an elf-shot, I will not say.”
”Body o' me!” exclaimed Garret Weasel, as the Captain pointed to the damage he had sustained, ”I knew not this before. There was hot work, I warrant.”
”There is knavery in alliance with this sorcery,” said the Proprietary, as he examined the cloak. ”These wicked spirits ever find kindred amongst men. They have profligate companions of flesh to profit by their devilish arts. I thank you, friends, kindly, for this venture, and will turn it to wholesome account hereafter. Fare you well.”
The party left the room, and now shaping their course towards the Crow and Archer, soon descended below the bank and took the road along the beach.