The Star-Gazers Part 41

Sir John had begun to mutter at the end of the first hour, to grumble at the end of the second, and he was growling fiercely at the end of the third, when the keeper suddenly started up.

"What is it?" said Sir John, as the dog uttered a low whine.

"They've circ.u.mvented us, Sir John," replied the keeper, angrily.

"They've trapped me into the belief that they were coming here to-night, and they've been netting Barrows, I'll be bound."

"Confound the scoundrels!" cried Sir John. "What an idiot you must have been!"

"Yes, Sir John, I was," said the keeper, calmly; "but they won't have more than finished, and they've got to get home. I may be too many for them yet."

Hastily summoning the party on his left, the keeper led them to the weary, cramped party on his right.

"This way; quick!" he said; and the sluggish blood began to flow once more with the excitement, as he led them rapidly along the meadow, right up the fir slope through the trees, and out into the lane on the other side.

Here he paused and listened for a few moments, and then started off once more to where another clump of firs made the aspect of the night more dark.

Beneath the trees it was blacker, but the keeper well knew his way, and at the end of a few minutes he had spread out his forces some fifteen yards apart, with a whispered word to be on the alert.

"They're sure to come through here," he whispered, "Down on the first man you see. We shall hear you, and will come and help."

General like, the keeper had selected the middle of the line for himself, and placed the trustiest men near where he believed that the poachers would come, Rolph being on his right, the major and Sir John upon his left.

"They won't come--it's all a hoax," said Sir John, who was tired of waiting, and the words were hardly out of his lips before the mastiff uttered a muttered growl, and directly after there was the tramp of feet over the pine needles which, as it came nearer, told plainly of there being a strongish gang at work.

Sir John's party kept perfectly quiet, save that a couple of the men began to close up so as to be ready when the signal was given, while apparently quite free from apprehension, the poachers came on talking in a low voice, till they were close upon Sir John, when the keeper gave a shrill whistle, sprang up, and shouted to his men.

"Stand back all of you," cried a stern voice.

"Give up, you scoundrels, the game's over," cried Sir John. "Close in, my lads."

He dashed forward at once, and the major and keeper well seconded his efforts, but the latter received a heavy blow on the forehead, and went down, felled like an ox, the major was tripped up, and the man whom Sir John attacked proved too much for him, getting him down and kneeling upon his chest.

"Shoot them if they come, and then step forrard," cried a shrill harsh voice, and four reports followed, the poachers sending the shot rattling in amongst the branches over the watchers' heads, the pine needles and twigs pattering down, and the result was that Thompson, Captain Rolph's man, began to retire very rapidly in one direction, closely followed by two more, and while others from the right flank also beat a retreat.

The scuffle that took place to right and left was soon over, the keeper's followers not caring to risk their lives in an encounter with armed and desperate men. There was the sound of blows and another shot or two from the poachers, who were eight or nine in number, under the guidance of the man who had felled the keeper, and got Sir John down.

"It's all right, my lads," growled a voice. "Tie 'em well and let's be off."

"Here, rope!" said a fresh voice; and then there was another scuffle, as Sir John and the major were forced over on their faces, and their wrists tied behind them.

"Here, help! Rolph, Rolph!" cried Sir John.

"Hold your row, or--"

There was a dull sound like the blow of the b.u.t.t of a gun on a man's head, and Sir John uttered a furious oath.

"I'll have you before me, yet, you dog!" he cried.

"And commit me for trial then," said the man with a laugh. "Not this time. Now, my lads, ready?"

"Ay."

"Off!"

"Halt!"

There was a fierce murmur at this last command, uttered in a good ringing military voice, and Sir John's heart leaped, and the major thought better of the speaker than he had ever thought before, as they both recognised the voice.

"Down with him, lads, he's only one," growled another.

"Halt, or by Gad I'll fire," cried Rolph again.

It all happened in an instant. There was the sound of a blow, which the captain received on his left arm; of another which came full upon his head, and then there was a flash, cutting the darkness and lighting up the faces of a group of men, a ringing report, and a moan, as Rolph fell back heavily to the ground.

What followed was a hurried muttering of voices amid painful, hoa.r.s.e breathing, and, in the darkness, the major could just make out that men were lifting a burden.

"Who's hurt?" cried Sir John. "Do you hear?--who's hurt?"

There was no answer, only the trampling of feet rapidly receding; and it was the major who now spoke.

"Jack," he cried, "I can't move; I'm tied, I'm afraid it's Rolph."

"G.o.d forbid!" groaned Sir John.

"Curse the brutes! Here, my arm's smashed," muttered someone, struggling to his feet. "Hi, Sir John!--Major!"

"You, Rolph? Thank heaven!" cried Sir John. "I was afraid you were killed. Where's Morton?"

"Here, Sir John," said a faint voice.

"Don't say you're shot, man."

"No, Sir John. Crack on the head."

"Then who is hurt?" said the major. "Here, someone, untie or cut this line."

"I'm a bit hurt," said Rolph; "arm bruised, and a touch on the head, too."

"But someone must have been shot. Did you fire?" said Sir John.

"I think I did. Yes," said Rolph, "I got a crack on the arm, and I had a finger on the trigger."

"Then someone is down," cried Sir John. "Where are our men?"

"Gone for help, I think," said the major drily, as Rolph succeeded in loosening Sir John's hands.

"The cowardly scoundrels!" roared Sir John. "Here, let's pursue the poachers."