Crown and Sceptre Part 100

"Now, then, come out into the daylight, and--Oh, what a fool I am! Scar Markham, we've come to help you. I say, where's Sir G.o.dfrey? Is he safe?"

Scarlett tried to answer, but his feelings were too much for him.

Hunger, misery, confinement in that dark, depressing place, and the mental agony he had been called upon to bear, rendered him speechless, and he half turned away.

Fred sprang at once to his side, and his quick movement excited Scarlett's suspicion for the moment; but he thrust his sword back into its sheath, and stood there motionless.

"Look here," said Fred, excitedly, "of course, we're enemies, Scar; but we want to help you all the same."

"I suppose we must surrender now," said Scarlett, sadly. "I can do no more. Have you your men outside?"

"No; I haven't got my men outside," cried Fred, in a boyish, petulant way. "Can't you believe me? What am I to say?"

"Nothing, Fred Forrester," replied Scarlett, mournfully. "I believe you, though we can't shake hands now."

"Can't we?" said Fred, in a disappointed tone.

Scarlett shook his head.

"I have held out as long as I could. I thought we might escape; but it was impossible with two wounded men, and I could not get through the lines in search of food."

Fred raised the light above his head, and then bent down over where he could see some one lying on the stone floor.

"Yes; he is asleep," said Scarlett, sadly.

"Is he much hurt?" whispered Fred.

"Terribly; but he is better now, and--"

"Here he is, Master Fred," whispered Samson, as he knelt beside the grim-looking figure of his brother, who seemed to be smiling mockingly in his face. "Nice object, isn't he? Brother to be proud on!"

"Silence!" said Fred, sternly; and at that moment there was an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, a hasty movement, and Sir G.o.dfrey made an effort to raise himself upon his arm, the light, feeble as it was, dazzling him so that he could not see.

"Scarlett! My boy! Are we prisoners, then?"

"No, Sir G.o.dfrey," cried Fred, hastily; "right or wrong, I'd sooner go and jump off Rill Head into the sea than give you up."

"Ah, my lad," said Sir G.o.dfrey, faintly, "these are sad times; but, for pity's sake, tell me--my wife and child?"

"Quite, quite safe, Sir G.o.dfrey."

"Ah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the wounded man; and then, as he stretched out his hand to Fred, "G.o.d bless you for that news!"

Fred eagerly grasped the extended hand, and wrung it, to turn directly after in a shamefaced way toward Scarlett, as if apologising to him for letting his father grasp hands with so bitter a foe.

Scarlett stood gazing sadly at him for a few moments, and then slowly raised his own cold, thin hand, which was literally s.n.a.t.c.hed by Fred, and the lads stood together in silence, neither daring to trust himself to speak.

Fred was the first to break the silence.

"What would it be best for me to do, Sir G.o.dfrey?" he said at last.

"Send for some of your men, my boy, and I will surrender."

"Father!" cried Scarlett, in anguished tones.

"It is not fair to you to keep you shut up in this dreadful place. Let us give up, and--No, you can leave me safely in Fred Forrester's hands.

He will not hinder your escape."

"No, father," said Scarlett, sadly, "he will not."

"What do you mean, my boy?"

"You know, father."

"Yes," said Sir G.o.dfrey, after a pause; and his voice sounded sadly weak and broken. "I have prayed to him to escape, Fred; but he would never leave me, and he will not go now."

"No, father! I will not go now," said Scarlett, turning away.

There was silence for a few minutes, and then Fred said slowly, and in a discontented way--

"I'm very sorry, Sir G.o.dfrey, but I'm too stupid to think of anything better. This is a terrible place; but I suppose you must be here till you grow strong enough to walk or ride. We shall have to bring you food and things as well as we can."

"No, my boy," said Sir G.o.dfrey, sadly; "you must not compromise yourself by helping the enemy."

"But, then, I don't feel as if you are an enemy, Sir G.o.dfrey. There, it's of no use; come what may, I will help you."

"Don't want to speak without leave, Master Fred, sir," said Samson, in his gruff tones; "but I've been thinking about my brother here."

"Yes, Samson; quite right," said Fred.

"No, sir, it ain't quite right. He'll be no end of time getting well in a place like this."

"I'm afraid so, Samson."

"Well, sir, why not you and me and Master Scarlett there set to work first dark night, and get 'em away, one at a time, on old Dodder?"

"The pony?"

"Yes, sir."

"But where to, man--where to?"

"Well, sir, I've been thinking about that, and I thought of the Manor, where they'd be comfortable; but that place wouldn't be safe, nor the barns nor stables, nor none of the cottages round."

"No; it would be madness to attempt it."

"But it wouldn't be, if we got 'em to the Rill caves."

"Samson!" cried Fred; "the very place."