The Black Box 24

The Black Box 24

"The sea!" he gasped. "I pray you drag me nearer to the cliffs lest I

be drowned."

 

"Nay, have no fear," said I, "’tis now high water; a little spray will

serve to cool your blood. So now, good morrow to you, friend, and when

you see your master tell him that his plans have failed for once."

 

With that I picked my pistols up and turned to leave him; but as I

looked along the shore towards Lyme, I saw, to my dismay, three men come

running in the moonlight; and by the way the foremost of them waved a

hand to those behind I knew that they had seen me also.

 

What now? I wondered. Well, friends or foes, I judged it best to meet

them ere they came upon my handiwork, and so I strode straight on

towards them. Soon I made out that they were armed, for when some twenty

yards away they stopped, drew swords, and thus stood waiting for me.

 

Moving boldly on as though they were not there, I had come within a

dozen paces, when one of them stepped forward, right across my path.

 

"Halt!" cried he. "Who art thou?"

 

"Zion!" said I, stopping.

 

"Ah! and thy business?"

 

"Such as brooks no delay," I answered firmly, moving on again.

 

"Stay!" said he, while those behind pressed forward in a threatening

fashion. "We heard pistol shots a little while ago; what was it?"

 

"Some fellows brawling on the shore up yonder," I replied; "but, look

you, as I said before, my business brooks not dalliance. Go and make

search yourselves."

 

With that I made to leave them, and by the look of things they were for

letting me depart in peace; but at that very moment a ringing cry broke

out behind us. I started round, and saw a sight which seemed to spell

disaster. The wretch whom I had left for helpless on the shore had

managed to break free, and now came running on with waving sword.

 

"Stop him! Hold him fast! Make sure of him!" he shouted.

 

 

 

 

*CHAPTER XVI*

 

*Concerning one Dan Foe--A Friend in Need*

 

 

My state was now more desperate than ever, for, in the twinkling of an

eye, three swords were pointed at me, to which a fourth would soon be

added. Drawing my own I went back slowly to the cliffs, they following.

 

This time the odds were overwhelming, and there seemed little chance

enough of winning through; but still I was resolved to fight it out

until I either did so or was killed. Take me alive they should

not--that I swore.

 

At first I was for making one big dash for it; cutting my way right

through the knaves, that is, and so escaping: but a moment’s thought

convinced me that ’twere madness to attempt it, for who could safely

hope to turn aside three ready swords at once? One would be sure to

find a place inside my body. No, there was nothing for it save to wait

and play the ugly game out to a finish--whether life or death. And even

as I told myself this was so, up came number four.

 

What with the struggle he had had to free himself, and then the run, his

breath was wellnigh sped, and so he stood there, pumping out his very

heart, the while he pointed at me with his sword.

 

"Well, and what now?" enquired the leader sternly. "Why gape you thus?

Know you this fellow?"

 

"Know him!" gasped the bond-breaker. "Know him! Aye, verily!"

 

"Who is he, then?"

 

"One--Michael--Fane ... Spy ... malcontent ... murderer! I, Dick

Harland, tell you so."

 

"Ah! whom hath he murdered?"

 

"My goodly comrade Adam Blunt. He lies up yonder stricken through the

heart by this same fellow’s sword."

 

"Is this thing true?" enquired the leader, turning to me.

 

"’Tis true enough that I have killed the rascal," I replied; "but ’twas

a fair straight fight--not murder."

 

"This hath an ugly look," quoth he, stroking his beard the while he

frowned upon me. "Why killed you him?"

 

"’Twas either that, or being killed myself," I answered; "and most of us

choose life in place of death."

 

He paused a moment with a puzzled look, then turned to Harland, saying:

 

"You would have killed this man, then, eh?"

 

"Nay, not so. We had him down and were about to bind him, when he

escaped us by a trick. Then we called on him to yield, but he withstood

us."

 

"And why would ye have bound him?"

 

"Because our orders were to take him, dead or living."

 

"Ah! whose orders?"

 

"Our godly chaplain’s."

 

"What! Dr. Ferguson’s?’"

 

"The same. He bade us take this fellow at all costs. Two pounds was

the reward for him if dead, and five if----"

 

He stopped and glanced around him foolishly. In his excitement he had

let out a secret which he had not meant to. I started at his words: so

did the leader.

 

"Two pounds if dead," he murmured to himself, "and five if living.

Verily, the fellow hath some value, then. But, come," he added quickly,

"you say that he escaped you by a trick. What trick was that?"

 

"Why, as we held him safely on the ground he gave the password of the

night, and when, in our amazement, we drew back, he freed himself and

laid about him handsomely."

 

"Ah, a dangerous fellow, by my life," rejoined the other, in whom, no

doubt, the thought of promised gold was working. "He also gave it unto

us just now. How came you by that word, young man?"

 

"I got it from a friend," I answered.

 

"Liar! liar!" broke in Harland fiercely. "He is a spy--a malcontent!

He hath no friends among us."

 

"Stop!" said the leader, holding up a hand. "Such ranting will not help

us. Young man," he added, frowning on me, "’tis clear that you are up

to no good purpose; and now I come to think of it, you did deceive me

when I spoke about the pistol shots we heard. Yea, verily, methinks the

statement of our comrade here is true. But say, now, are you for us or

against us?"

 

"Neither."

 

"Ah, there you stand condemned. A man who fights and kills as you have

done this night, and then claims that he takes no side, is little to my

liking. I trust him not. Therefore, lay down your sword and pistols and

come with us peaceably. So shall your words be proven, whether they be

true or false. Down with your arms, I say!"

 

I did not move, but gripped my sword a little tighter, and stood ready

for the worst.

 

"You will not yield, then?" he went on, after watching me intently for a

moment.

 

"Try me and see," I answered curtly.

 

"Which means a threat of further violence," quoth he.

 

"Nay, a simple invitation," I replied.

 

"Ah, so you mock me, eh?"

 

He took a threatening step towards me.

 

"Have a care! I pray you have a care!" sang Harland from behind. "That

sword of his is over-ready, as my poor comrade Adam Blunt proved to his

cost."

 

"Perchance your comrade lacked my skill," returned the leader

sneeringly. "Again I ask, young man, wilt yield?"

 

"And again I answer--try me and prove the matter," I replied.

 

"I pray you let us fall upon him in a heap," cried Harland. "His

pistols count for naught, for one of them hath been discharged and the

other hath been soaked with water. Let us fall to, I say, and smite him

hip and thigh."

 

"What now!" rejoined the other, turning on him angrily. "Dost take me

for a craven coward? Do I, who fought in Cromwell’s Ironsides, and who

with this same blade have slain a good score of lusty fellows; do I, I

say, need help from such as you against this stripling? Nay, verily, I

trow not. I give you one more chance, young man," he added turning to

me. "Wilt yield?"

 

"Not while I have a sword and life," I answered firmly.

 

"Your blood be on your head, then, not on mine," said he. "Friends,

bear witness that I would have spared this fellow; also mark well my

strokes, from which ye may learn something. Now, back with you and give

us room."

 

They fell back hurriedly, and next moment we were at it tooth and nail.

 

That was a fight indeed, and one which even now, with over forty years

between, still sets my blood a-tingling when I think of it.

 

This time my foe was no half-hearted fellow, but a battle-seasoned

soldier, who by his own account--and as I doubted not--had fought in

Cromwell’s Ironsides, and smitten many a skilful swordsman to the death.

As I write these words I see again the stern, set face, the gleaming