Crown and Sceptre Part 101

"Hah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Samson, drawing along breath, as if perfectly satisfied with himself.

"What do you say, Scarlett, to that?"

"Yes," replied Scarlett, thoughtfully, "if you think it could be done."

"If it could be done," said Sir G.o.dfrey, faintly. "I might live if you could get me there, Scar, my boy. For their sake--for their sake," he added sadly to himself.

"Oh, I know it could be done," said Samson. "If Master Fred makes up his mind to do it, and asks me to help him, it's as good as done. Hear that, you ugly Coombeland ruffian?" he added in a whisper, as he pressed his doubled fist in the semi-darkness against his brother's nose.

"Just you wait till I get well," whispered back Nat, doubling his own fist and holding it against Samson's nose in return.

"Yes, and just you wait till I get you well," whispered Samson. "I'd give it to you now, only it would be like hitting at a bit o' clay.

Why, you're as soft as boiled bacon! I'd be ashamed to call myself a man!"

"Just you say all that again when I get well," whispered Nat.

"Yes, that I will a hundred times over.--Yes, sir?"

"We must be going now, Samson. Leave what food you have."

"I stood it in the corner there, sir."

"And the flint, steel, tinder, and matches. I wish I had thought to bring more candles. This one will not last very long."

"So you did, Master Fred. Leastwise, I did. There's five there, and one before makes six."

"Hah! that's right," cried Fred, joyfully. "Then, now you can have a light sometimes: and look here, Scar Markham--to-morrow I'll go and look at the Rill caves, and see what can be done, so be ready to escape at a moment's notice. We may come any time now. Good-bye, Sir G.o.dfrey.

Lady Markham shall know that you and Scarlett are safe."

"It is compromising yourself, my boy," said Sir G.o.dfrey; "but I cannot say to you forbear."

"Good-bye!"

"G.o.d bless you, my lad! and may this war soon cease," added the knight to himself, as his son followed their two visitors to the opening.

"Till we meet again, Scar Markham," whispered Fred, as Samson climbed out first to reconnoitre.

"Till we meet again, Fred," said Scarlett, once more holding out his hand.

"As friends?"

"As enemies in name. Thank you, for my father's sake."

"It's all clear, Master Fred," was whispered down the hole; and, after another word or two of warning to be prepared for a sudden move, Fred seized Samson's extended hand, leaped up out of the hole, and they made their way back to camp unquestioned, while Scarlett Markham crept back to his father's side, to sit there, listening to his breathing, and to think of the possibility of escape to the cavern beneath Rill Head, where perhaps they might end by obtaining a boat to go right away.

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.

HOW SAMSON TRIED TO Pa.s.s THE SENTINELS.

"Samson!" cried Fred, the next morning, in a fit of excitement, "oh, if we had properly looked over that cave in the old days, and seen what it was like!"

"Well, sir, I s'pose it would have been better, sir. All the nicer, too, for Sir G.o.dfrey, if we'd reg'larly furnished it, and set up a couple of four-post bedsteads, and had down carpets and such."

"Do you mean this for banter, sir?"

"No, sir; I was only thinking it was stoopid of you to talk in that way."

"Samson!"

"Master Fred! How are we to know what's going to happen so as to be prepared? Human folks aren't seeds, as you know what they'll do. If I puts in a bean, it comes up beans; but you never know what we're going to come up."

"Don't ramble on like that. Now, listen to me. We must get them to the cave at once."

"Right, sir."

"Then what shall we do first?"

"First thing's wittling the place, and putting in some stores."

"Now, that sounds sensible. Quite right. We must get some blankets."

"From the Manor, sir?"

"Right again, Samson. And all the food we can. Why, Samson--"

"Yes, sir; I know what you are going to say. We've got to tell the ladies at the old home to hold their tongues, and say nothing to n.o.body, but go up to the Rill Head with a basket o' wittles, and enjoy themselves, looking at the ships sailing by on the sea, and not eat nothing themselves, but tumble everything down that hole, with blankets and pillows, too, if they like, and do it every day."

"Samson," said Fred, joyously, "I did not think of half that, and I'll never call you a stupid again. The very thing."

"Ah, I am a clever one, I am, sir, when you come to know me. But how are you going to get to the Manor?"

"You will have to go with a message from me to my mother. Yes, this very day; but don't tell them whom the provisions are for, and bid them be very cautious."

"You leave that to me, sir," said Samson. "And now, how are you going to get them to the cave?"

"We shall want a rope."

"I'll have it ready, sir. When?"

"This very night."

"Yes, sir."

"And we'll take them some of our men's caps and cloaks."

"Good, sir, and a pair of shears."

"What for?"