Digby Heathcote Part 19

"What do you advise, then?" asked the clergyman.

"Keep her here, and work upon her fears. Then show her that it is her interest to tell us what we want to know," answered cousin Giles; "force will not do. I doubt if even the judges of the Inquisition would get much out of her."

The whole day pa.s.sed by and no clue as to what had become of Digby was obtained. Even John Pratt was knocked up, and was obliged to go to bed to recover strength, that he might continue the search.

When it was known that Dame Marlow was had up to the Hall, two men came in and stated that they had heard her threaten both the Squire and his heir with her vengeance, though they supposed that she intended to carry it out by means of her incantations. Their evidence, however, was sufficient to enable the Squire to detain her at the Hall. A bed was made up for her in a little room where people, who came to speak to him on magisterial business, were put till their turn arrived to see him.

She much wanted to be left alone.

"No, no, old lady," answered the constable, laughing; "you'd be flying up the chimney, or burning the house down, or playing some prank or other. That would never do."

Arthur Haviland felt very sorry. He was very anxious to be doing something, but did not know what to do. Kate very naturally took him into her confidence.

"Oh, I wish that I was a boy," she exclaimed. "I would roam the country round till I found Digby, or cross the seas, and search for him through every land, if I thought he had been carried there. But they will not let me go. Mamma says I must not, and Miss Apsley made me promise to obey, and so I must submit; but it is very cruel."

"Fortunately I am a boy, and I will go," cried Arthur, enthusiastically.

"He saved my life, and I am sure that my father would not disapprove of my going."

"Thank you, Arthur, thank you," she answered. "I am sure that he is alive. I should have felt very differently had he been dead. I could not have borne that thought. You will find him; I feel that you must find him, remember that. Poor mamma and my sisters think that he has been killed by those dreadful men who attacked papa."

This sad event made Arthur at once feel himself at home, and one of the family. He was prompt in all he did. He went at once to Mr Woodc.o.c.k, and asked him to obtain a man to accompany him, saying that he would set off the next morning at daybreak, and prosecute his inquiries through the neighbouring districts.

"Perhaps I may find out something which has escaped the notice of the people here," he remarked.

"I like your zeal and spirit, and will gladly aid your plan," answered cousin Giles.

Arthur was ready at the hour he had arranged; and he found a lad of about eighteen prepared to be his companion. Adam Hodder seemed a very intelligent fellow; and Arthur felt that he would rather have him than an older person.

Both Arthur and his companion were warmly clad and well prepared to brave the cold. Arthur had put on his roughest clothing, but still he looked the gentleman. They carried some provisions in a bag that they might not have to go out of their way to obtain them: but they had taken a good breakfast in the dark, that no time might be lost of the short day of that season. The air smelt pure and fresh as they stepped out in the grey light of the early dawn; and as they walked on briskly Arthur found his spirits rising, and he felt sure that he should again see his friend.

"Well, Adam Hodder, what do you think can have become of Master Heathcote?" he asked.

"That's more than I can say, sir," answered Adam. "But I don't think with some of the people about here, that old Dame Marlow has spirited him away. It's more than likely that some of her people may have got hold of him, and will either carry him away out of the country, or make the Squire pay pretty largely before they give him back."

This was a new idea to Arthur, and it served to help him in his inquiries. He told Adam also to make his own observations, and to gain certain information at every cottage they visited. He learned that some men in the dress of seamen had been seen in the parish. They had not spoken to any one, and no one knew where they were going. Then, again, these were the men probably who had attacked the Squire, and they might possibly have had nothing to do with Digby's disappearance. Still, from their being dressed as seamen, Arthur resolved to prosecute his inquiries towards the coast. He accordingly sent a messenger back to the Hall to say what he had heard, and what he proposed doing. He hoped to get as far as...o...b..rton that night. He had gone some way when he heard some horses' hoofs clattering along the hard road. He looked round, and, as the riders approached, he saw that it was John Pratt and another man.

"I've come after you, sir, to tell you that we've got hold of some information that may lead us on the right scent," said John, jumping from his horse. "I am to go along with you, sir. If you like to ride there's a horse, if not, I'll send him back."

"I infinitely prefer walking such weather as this," answered Arthur.

"Send the horse back, and now tell me the news."

"Why, sir, first, Mr Woodc.o.c.k sent off to London for what they call a detective, a sort of ferrety-like fellow, who pokes his head in everywhere, and finds out everything. When Dame Marlow heard of it she was in a great taking, and asked what reward she would have if she tried to find out where the young Squire is?

"'I'll tell ye what, Dame,' says Mr Woodc.o.c.k to her, 'if he isn't soon found, you'll have very much the contrary to a reward, let me tell you.

When the detective comes down, you'll find that tricks like these can't be played, and you go unpunished. However, I'll tell you what, Dame, we don't want to be hard upon you, and if you help in any way to find the young master, depend on it the Squire will be liberal to you, and you'll be a richer woman than you have been for many a day.'

"She made no answer, but sat smoking a pipe they had given her over the fire, for a long time; she smoked and smoked away. At last, says she, 'I want to speak to that strange gentleman. He can see better with half an eye than all you people can with two; and I have a respect for him.'

"When Mr Woodc.o.c.k went to her, says she--

"'I may put you in the way of finding the young Squire, but send at once; there's no time to be lost. Look out an honest man, if you can find such. It won't do to be sending a beak, remember that. Send a lad with him; he may want somebody to help him.'

"Mr Woodc.o.c.k at once thought of me, as he knows that no one loves the young Squire better; and so he sent for me, and told the old dame that I was the man he would send, and that he was sure you, Master Haviland, would wish to go also. She seemed well satisfied at this, and then went on to tell me what to do.

"'A mile to the west of Osberton, in Luccombe Cove, there's a fisherman's cottage, close down to the beach,' said she; 'there's no other near. You'll find an old man there. Ask for Jem the Spotsman.

Say that I sent you to him. Tell him that if he shows you where the young Squire is you'll give him five golden guineas. He'll not do it for less. If he says he knows nothing about the matter, tell him that the beaks will be on him, and that he'd better do as I bid him. If you can get another fearless man to go with you it may be better. Jem will lead you to a strange place, where you'll meet strange people. Speak them fair; you'll not do much by force. Tell them that you've plenty of friends at your back, who know where you are, and will come and look for you if you don't soon return to them. I tell you this because I don't want any more mischief to come out of the matter. Again I say, you mustn't lose time. It's just possible that, even now, you may be too late, and that the lad is on his way to far distant lands. That's no fault of mine, remember. Those who have got him may be thinking of taking him, or they may not. It is not very likely that they will be wishing to send him back after they have shown him their hiding-place, and let him into other of their secrets.'

"I didn't stop to hear more, but I just got a couple of brace of pistols, and came away at once to overtake you. We might have ridden all the way into Osberton, but Mr Woodc.o.c.k cautioned me to go in quietly, lest the smugglers or the people, whoever they are, who have got Master Digby, should hear of our coming, and suspecting treachery, should carry him off elsewhere."

"I am rejoiced to hear what you tell me," exclaimed Arthur, when John Pratt had finished his account. It is impossible, by the by, to do justice to the quaint and thoroughly provincial way in which he expressed himself; so that Arthur at times could scarcely understand him. "There can be but little doubt, from what you tell me, that he is alive, and that we are in a fair way of recovering him. We must proceed, I see, with caution and courage; and as we may employ another man, I know one who will gladly aid us. He is a friend, too, of Digby's--Toby Tubb is his name. If we want help, he can help us better than anybody."

"He may be a friend of Master Digby's, and I hope he has many friends, but he can't be a greater, nor one who would give every day he has to live for him," exclaimed John, with a very natural burst of feeling.

They were walking on all this time rapidly towards...o...b..rton. On arriving there, they first went to Mr Nugent's house. He had been made aware of what had occurred, and had already consulted with Toby Tubb on the subject. While Arthur took some tea, and rested, he sent off for Toby.

When Toby, who had been thinking the matter over, as he said, arrived, and was told Arthur's errand, he slapped his thigh, and exclaimed, "I thought it was so. I know the gang; a set of daring ruffians as ever lived. Poor Master Digby; it was hard for him to fall into their power.

But we will get him out again as soon as we can, if they haven't spirited him away." Toby had come prepared for an expedition. He begged Mr Nugent to lend him a brace of pistols. Arthur and John Pratt were already armed. Adam Hodder had gone back with the horses. Arthur, with his two attendants, therefore, John and Toby, immediately set forth on their undertaking. As Toby Tubb knew every inch of the way, they soon reached the high ground above Luccombe Cove.

"There's the cottage," he observed, pointing to a hut low down on the beach. "I know Jem the Spotsman well--a terrible old ruffian he is. Do you, Master Haviland and John Pratt, go in and give him your message.

If he refuses to help you, call me, and I'll see what I can do."

Arthur, followed by John Pratt, stepped boldly in. The expedition, independent of the object, had peculiar charms for him; there was so much romance and excitement in it. He did not stop to knock, but flung open the door of the hut, and unhesitatingly entered. An old man, in a blue Guernsey frock, sat bending over a drift-wood fire, which spluttered and smoked as he kept piling on the yet damp chips. He looked round at the noise, and, seeing strangers, rose with considerable activity to his feet. He scowled at them beneath his white s.h.a.ggy eyebrows.

Arthur had begged that he might be the spokesman; he felt fully up to the emergency. At an early age, indeed, he had learned much to rely on himself. "Jem the Spotsman, I have a message for you," he began.

"Who told you that was my name?" asked the old man, with a growl.

"Never mind, if it is your name," said Arthur. "We've come to do you good, and show you how to gain five golden guineas."

"Time was when I could gain fifty without much trouble," interrupted the old man.

"You cannot now, though; and five guineas is a good sum," observed Arthur. "You'll get that, but not more. Dame Marlow bids me tell you that the beaks will be on you; that you know where the young Squire of Bloxholme is hid away, and that if you would keep your neck out of a noose, you will show us where he is to be found."

The old man sat down and began to rake the ashes of the fire with a stick. He did not ask his visitors to take seats, though, but he kept watching them warily out of the corners of his eyes. "Five golden guineas, five golden guineas," he kept muttering. "Who are you who make the promise?"

"A friend of Mr Heathcote's," answered Arthur. "It will be faithfully kept with you, depend on that."

"Who's that man with you?"

Arthur told him.

"Ay, he looks as if he had the hay-seed in his hair," observed old Jem.

"I'd rather trust a seaman."

"If I bring a seaman, one, perhaps, whom you know, will you trust him?"

asked Arthur.

"Yes," answered the old man, after a little thought.