westward ho-第32章

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〃I'll　try；　though；　and　do　you　lumber　after　as　you　can；　old　heavysides；〃　and　Cary　pushed　forward。

Amyas　lost　sight　of　him　for　ten　minutes；　and　then　came　up　with　him　dismounted；　and　feeling　disconsolately　at　his　horse's　knees。

〃Look　for　my　head。　　It　lies　somewhere　about　among　the　furze　there；　and　oh！　I　am　as　full　of　needles　as　ever　was　a　pin…cushion。〃

〃Are　his　knees　broken？〃

〃I　daren't　look。　　No；　I　believe　not。　　Come　along；　and　make　the　best　of　a　bad　matter。　　The　fellow　is　a　mile　ahead；　and　to　the　right；　too。〃

〃He　is　going　for　Moorwinstow；　then；　but　where　is　my　cousin？〃

〃Behind　us；　I　dare　say。　　We　shall　nab　him　at　least。〃

〃Cary；　promise　me　that　if　we　do；　you　will　keep　out　of　sight；　and　let　me　manage　him。〃

〃My　boy；　I　only　want　Evan　Morgans　and　Morgan　Evans。　　He　is　but　the　cat's　paw；　and　we　are　after　the　cats　themselves。〃

And　so　they　went　on　another　dreary　six　miles；　till　the　land　trended　downwards；　showing　dark　glens　and　masses　of　woodland　far　below。

〃Now；　then；　straight　to　Chapel；　and　stop　the　foxes'　earth？　　Or　through　the　King's　Park　to　Stow；　and　get　out　Sir　Richard's　hounds；　hue　and　cry；　and　queen's　warrant　in　proper　form？〃

〃Let　us　see　Sir　Richard　first；　and　whatsoever　he　decides　about　my　uncle；　I　will　endure　as　a　loyal　subject　must。〃

So　they　rode　through　the　King's　Park；　while　Sir　Richard's　colts　came　whinnying　and　staring　round　the　intruders；　and　down　through　a　rich　woodland　lane　five　hundred　feet　into　the　valley；　till　they　could　hear　the　brawling　of　the　little　trout…stream；　and　beyond；　the　everlasting　thunder　of　the　ocean　surf。

Down　through　warm　woods；　all　fragrant　with　dying　autumn　flowers；　leaving　far　above　the　keen　Atlantic　breeze；　into　one　of　those　delicious　Western　combes；　and　so　past　the　mill；　and　the　little　knot　of　flower…clad　cottages。　　In　the　window　of　one　of　them　a　light　was　still　burning。　　The　two　young　men　knew　well　whose　window　that　was；　and　both　hearts　beat　fast；　for　Rose　Salterne　slept；　or　rather　seemed　to　wake；　in　that　chamber。

〃Folks　are　late　in　Combe　to…night；〃　said　Amyas；　as　carelessly　as　he　could。

Cary　looked　earnestly　at　the　window；　and　then　sharply　enough　at　Amyas；　but　Amyas　was　busy　settling　his　stirrup；　and　Cary　rode　on；　unconscious　that　every　fibre　in　his　companion's　huge　frame　was　trembling　like　his　own。

〃Muggy　and　close　down　here；〃　said　Amyas；　who；　in　reality；　was　quite　faint　with　his　own　inward　struggles。

〃We　shall　be　at　Stow　gate　in　five　minutes；〃　said　Cary；　looking　back　and　down　longingly　as　his　horse　climbed　the　opposite　hill；　but　a　turn　of　the　zigzag　road　hid　the　cottage；　and　the　next　thought　was；　how　to　effect　an　entrance　into　Stow　at　three　in　the　morning　without　being　eaten　by　the　ban…dogs；　who　were　already　howling　and　growling　at　the　sound　of　the　horse…hoofs。

However；　they　got　safely　in；　after　much　knocking　and　calling；　through　the　postern　gate　in　the　high　west　wall；　into　a　mansion；　the　description　whereof　I　must　defer　to　the　next　chapter；　seeing　that　the　moon　has　already　sunk　into　the　Atlantic；　and　there　is　darkness　over　land　and　sea。

Sir　Richard；　in　his　long　gown；　was　soon　downstairs　in　the　hall；　the　letter　read；　and　the　story　told；　but　ere　it　was　half　finished

〃Anthony；　call　up　a　groom；　and　let　him　bring　me　a　horse　round。　Gentlemen；　if　you　will　excuse　me　five　minutes；　I　shall　be　at　your　service。〃

〃You　will　not　go　alone；　Richard？〃　asked　Lady　Grenville；　putting　her　beautiful　face　in　its　nightcoif　out　of　an　adjoining　door。

〃Surely；　sweet　chuck；　we　three　are　enough　to　take　two　poor　polecats　of　Jesuits。　　Go　in；　and　help　me　to　boot　and　gird。〃

In　half　an　hour　they　were　down　and　up　across　the　valley　again；　under　the　few　low　ashes　clipt　flat　by　the　sea…breeze　which　stood　round　the　lonely　gate　of　Chapel。

〃Mr。　Cary；　there　is　a　back　path　across　the　downs　to　Marsland；　go　and　guard　that。〃　　Cary　rode　off；　and　Sir　Richard；　as　he　knocked　loudly　at　the　gate

〃Mr。　Leigh；　you　see　that　I　have　consulted　your　honor；　and　that　of　your　poor　uncle；　by　adventuring　thus　alone。　　What　will　you　have　me　do　now；　which　may　not　be　unfit　for　me　and　you？〃

〃Oh；　sir！〃　said　Amyas；　with　tears　in　his　honest　eyes；　〃you　have　shown　yourself　once　more　what　you　always　have　beenmy　dear　and　beloved　master　on　earth；　not　second　even　to　my　admiral　Sir　Francis　Drake。〃

〃Or　the　queen；　I　hope；〃　said　Grenville；　smiling；　〃but　pocas　palabras。　　What　will　you　do？〃

〃My　wretched　cousin；　sir；　may　not　have　returnedand　if　I　might　watch　for　him　on　the　main　roadunless　you　want　me　with　you。〃

〃Richard　Grenville　can　walk　alone；　lad。　　But　what　will　you　do　with　your　cousin？〃

〃Send　him　out　of　the　country；　never　to　return；　or　if　he　refuses；　run　him　through　on　the　spot。〃

〃Go；　lad。〃　　And　as　he　spoke；　a　sleepy　voice　asked　inside　the　gate；　〃Who　was　there？〃

〃Sir　Richard　Grenville。　　Open；　in　the　queen's　name？〃

〃Sir　Richard？　　He　is　in　bed；　and　be　hanged　to　you。　　No　honest　folk　come　at　this　hour　of　night。〃

〃Amyas！〃　shouted　Sir　Richard。　　Amyas　rode　back。

〃Burst　that　gate　for　me；　while　I　hold　your　horse。〃

Amyas　leaped　down；　took　up　a　rock　from　the　roadside；　such　as　Homer's　heroes　used　to　send　at　each　other's　heads；　and　in　an　instant　the　door　was　flat　on　the　ground；　and　the　serving…man　on　his　back　inside；　while　Sir　Richard　quietly　entering　over　it；　like　Una　into　the　hut；　told　the　fellow　to　get　up　and　hold　his　horse　for　him　（which　the　clod；　who　knew　well　enough　that　terrible　voice；　did　without　further　murmurs）；　and　then　strode　straight　to　the　front　door。　　It　was　already　opened。　　The　household　had　been　up　and　about　all　along；　or　the　noise　at　the　entry　had　aroused　them。

Sir　Richard　knocked；　however；　at　the　open　door；　and；　to　his　astonishment；　his　knock　was　answered　by　Mr。　Leigh　himself；　fully　dressed；　and　candle　in　hand。

〃Sir　Richard　Grenville！　　What；　sir！　is　this　neighborly；　not　to　say　gentle；　to　break　into　my　house　in　the　dead　of　night？〃

〃I　broke　your　outer　door；　sir；　because　I　was　refused　entrance　when　I　asked　in　the　queen's　name。　　I　knocked　at　your　inner　one；　as　I　should　have　knocked　at　the　poorest　cottager's　in　the　parish；　because　I　found　it　open。　　You　have　two　Jesuits　here；　sir！　and　here　is　the　queen's　warrant　for　apprehending　them。　　I　have　signed　it　with　my　own　hand；　and；　moreover；　serve　it　now；　with　my　own　hand；　in　order　to　save　you　scandaland　it　may　be；　worse。　　I　must　have　these　men；　Mr。　Leigh。〃

〃My　dear　Sir　Richard！〃

〃I　must　have　them；　or　I　must　search　the　house；　and　you　would　not　put　either　yourself　or　me　to　so　shameful　a　necessity？〃

〃My　dear　Sir　Richard！〃

〃Must　I；　then；　ask　you　to　stand　back　from　your　own　doorway；　my　dear　sir？〃　said　Grenville。　　And　then　changing　his　voice　to　that　fearful　lion's　roar；　for　which　he　was　famous；　and　which　it　seemed　impossible　that　lips　so　delicate　could　utter；　he　thundered；　〃Knaves；　behind　there！　　Back！〃

This　was　spoken　to　half…a…dozen　grooms　and　serving…men；　who；　well　armed；　were　clustered　in　the　passage。

〃What？　swords　out；　you　sons　of　cliff　rabbits？〃　　And　in　a　moment；　Sir　Richard's　long　blade　flashed　out　also；　and　putting　Mr。　Leigh　gently　aside；　as　if　he　had　been　a　child；　he　walked　up　to　the　party；　who　vanished　right　and　left；　having　expected　a　cur　dog；　in　the　shape　of　a　parish　constable；　and　come　upon　a　lion　instead。　　They　were　stout　fellows　enough；　no　doubt；　in　a　fair　fight：　but　they　had　no　stomach　to　be　hanged　in　a　row　at　Launceston　Castle；　after　a　preliminary　running　through　the　body　by　that　redoubted　admiral　and　most　unpeaceful　justice　of　the　peace。

〃And　now；　my　dear　Mr。　Leigh；〃　said　Sir　Richard；　as　blandly　as　ever；　〃where　are　my　men？　　The　night　is　cold；　and　you；　as　well　as　I；　need　to　be　in　our　beds。〃

〃The　men；　Sir　Richardthe　Jesuitsthey　are　not　here；　indeed。〃

〃Not　here；　sir？〃

〃On　the　word　of　a　gentleman；　they　left　my　house　an　hour　ago。　Believe　me；　sir；　they　did。　　I　will　swear　to　you　if　you　need。〃

〃I　believe　Mr。　Leigh　of　Chapel's　word　without　oaths。　　Whither　are　they　gone？〃

〃Nay；　sirhow　can　I　tell？　　They　arethey　are；　as　I　may　say；　fled；　sir；　escaped。〃

〃With　your　connivance；　at　least　with　your　son's。　　Where　are　they　gone？〃

〃As　I　live；　I　do　not　know。〃

Mr。　Leighis　this　possible？　　Can　you　add　untruth　to　that　treason　from　the　punishment　of　which　I　am　trying　to　shield　you？〃

Poo