The New Forest Spy Part 17

Here, completely hidden, Waller crept along three or four yards.

"Only me," he said merrily, "Don't shoot! How are you getting on?"

A head and shoulders were slowly raised from among the thick glossy leaves, and he was confronted by G.o.dfrey's sombre countenance.

"Miserably," he said. "I had hoped that this despicable hiding was at an end. Pray help me to-night to get away."

"Oh, I know what's the matter with you," cried Waller. "You are hungry and tired out. But come along back into my room. But I say, you found it easy enough to get here, didn't you? I was in a fright at first; then I thought that you would be sure to creep out."

"Oh, yes, easy enough," said the lad. "Is the enemy quite gone?"

"Yes, right away, and well satisfied. They won't come again."

"Why do you speak like that?" said G.o.dfrey, sharply. "It sounded as if you were afraid that somebody else would come."

"Well," said Waller slowly, "I am not quite satisfied about our fat-headed constable. He's very suspicious, and wanted to search the roof. But I managed to put a stop to that, for if they had got up here you must have been found."

"Yes," said G.o.dfrey, as, after following his companion back through the ivy, he seated himself, away from the window, in the den, where Waller related to him the history of the raising of the ladder.

"That man believes I am here, and will come again. It is quite time you got me away. It was he who came prowling round the house last night, and not your gardener--a big, heavy man, not like Hanson at all."

"Yes, you are right," said Waller; "and he must have seen you in the lane and gone and sought out the soldiers at once."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

PLANS OF ESCAPE.

The days glided on and there was no news of the Squire's coming back, and no fresh alarm or suggestion of the possibility of the soldiers returning to make another search, so Waller grew more and more satisfied in the belief that, however much Gusset might suspect, it was merely suspicion, and there was no more to fear.

"I think at any time now we might begin to think of making a start,"

said Waller one morning.

"Yes, yes," cried G.o.dfrey eagerly. "Well, you needn't look so pleased because you are going," cried Waller, half angrily, but dropping his voice directly lest it should be heard and let the servants know he had somebody up there to whom he was talking.

"Oh, don't speak to me like that," cried G.o.dfrey earnestly. "I don't want to go but I am afraid it would be bad for both of us, and lead to trouble if I stayed."

"Well, I suppose so," said Waller. "As I say, I don't want you to go, but it will be better for both of us when you are on your way back to France."

The boy stopped speaking and stood looking earnestly in his companion's eyes, while G.o.dfrey shook his head and then held out his hand.

Waller was about to take it, feeling very miserable the while, for he was growing very much attached to his nervous, excitable companion, when both started violently, for some one had come up in perfect silence and given a sharp tap or two at the door.

In the full conviction that whoever it was must have heard the talking, Waller caught up the hammer near at hand, then threw it down noisily upon his work-bench, and walked quickly to the door.

"What is it?" he cried.

The answer came in Bella's voice:

"You are wanted, Master Waller."

"Who wants me?" said Waller, changing colour and seeing all sorts of imaginary dangers below.

"Don't know, sir. Martha told me to come and tell you somebody's there.

I think it's the soldiers come again."

Waller compressed his lips, and could not have spoken for a few moments if it had been to save his life, while he gazed despairingly at his companion.

"Say I will come down directly," he almost gasped, and to divert the maid's attention, he hammered sharply on his work-bench, gazing dejectedly at his companion the while, as they both listened to the girl's descending footsteps.

"Don't be downhearted," he whispered. "It may mean nothing. I'll lock you in and go down. If anything does go wrong and you hear people coming up, make for the hiding-place in the ivy again. And look here, I don't believe they will find where you are hidden, but take the coil with you, and if anyone is coming to search the roof, make the rope fast to one of the chimney-stacks, watch for your chance, slide down, and then make for the forest to find a hiding-place somewhere down by the river."

"And what then? You'll never find me."

"Oh, yes, I will, and if you hear three little twits like a blackbird's, only louder, you can answer, for it will be I."

There was no time for more, so Waller slipped out and went down, expecting to see the redcoats in the hall; but there was no one there, and he went on into the kitchen.

"Who wants me, cook?" he said.

"It's that Bunny Wrigg, Master Waller, come begging, I suppose, because he knows master's out."

With a sigh of relief and the wish at his heart that he could send G.o.dfrey the news at once that there was nothing to fear, the boy went out into the yard, where the big, brown, gipsy-like ne'er-do-well of the place was holding a fine freshly washed turnip in one hand, his knife in the other, busily munching a slice.

"Oh, it's you, Bunny, is it?"

"Yes, Master Waller; me it is."

"Where did you get that turnip?"

"Joe Hanson giv' it me, sir. It's one of yours, and it's prime."

"Joe has no business to give things away when father's out--not to anybody."

"Oh, I aren't anybody, Master Waller," said the man, with a grin. "I'm n.o.body, and don't count."

"Well, look here; I don't want to know anything about any strange birds or polecats or owls or hawks or anything. I am busy now. There's a shilling for you. Be off."

"You're busy, are you?"

"Yes, very."

"Hah! Shilling, eh? I don't want it."

"First time I ever knew you refuse money."

"Ah, but that's only a shilling. I want a lot."