Crown and Sceptre Part 94

Scarlett could contain himself no longer, but, rising from his knees, he hurried down the few steps and along the lower pa.s.sage, pausing for a moment before stealing carefully beneath the broken portion of the arched tunnel. For there could be no doubt about the matter: there was a rustling sound somewhere above that did not seem such as would be made by any wild animals likely to haunt the forest, and a certainty was given to his ideas by a low-muttering arising, followed by a hasty e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n as of impatience or pain.

So near did this sound, that Scarlett remained motionless in the obscurity of the tunnel arch, afraid to stir for quite an hour, during which he listened, feeling a.s.sured that this opening had been discovered by the enemy, and that they had placed a sentry there to trap any one who attempted to escape.

"Oh!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Scarlett at last, softly, as what he believed to be enlightenment flashed across his brain. "Why did I not think of that before? Fred Forrester, of course! He remembered our discovery, and he has explained all to his father, with the result that there are sentinels all about, waiting to take every poor wounded wretch who seeks to escape."

It was a painful thought, for it troubled him to think that Fred had been so unprincipled as to betray their old boyish secret.

"He might have been content to fight with his party against ours, and not make use of his knowledge to do his old friends an evil turn."

The feeling of bitter anger mingled with scorn increased as he stood there in weary inactivity, longing to rejoin Sir G.o.dfrey, but dreading to stir, for fear he should bring danger upon his father's head.

And all this time he might be awake, and in grievous suffering; perhaps dying, and feebly stretching out his hands for help, even believing that his son had left him there to die.

Scarlett could bear the agony of his thoughts no longer; at any cost he must pa.s.s beneath that opening, and rejoin his father, and to this end he stepped forward softly, to find that he had planted his foot upon a rotten stick fallen from above, and lightly as he trod, the dry, decayed piece of wood parted with a loud noise.

Scarlett turned cold, and the chilly moisture gathered upon his brow and within the palms of his hands.

"It is all over!" he muttered, as his hand went involuntarily to the hilt of his sword; and then he dragged it from its sheath, and raised the point, thinking of how strong his position was, and how few men would dare to descend with that sharp point awaiting the first enemy who came.

Then, half stifled by holding his breath, he began to breathe freely once more, for there came a low sigh from above, then a faint rustling, and then the regular, low breathing of some man asleep.

Scarlett stayed no longer, but stepped quickly across the wood-strewn patch of the floor, and then hastened along the pa.s.sage, and up the few steps in the total darkness; and after a very little groping about, found himself beside his father, who was sleeping peacefully, while his head was cool, telling how the fever of his wounds had gone down.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

COMPANIONS IN MISFORTUNE.

Scarlett Markham pa.s.sed some hours by his father's side, listening to his breathing in the darkness, and from time to time taking his hand as a low moan was uttered, accompanied by a restless movement; but as the time pa.s.sed on, in spite of anxiety and his own weariness and pain, an intense desire for food of some kind kept on attacking him, and each time with more force.

What was he to do?

Had he been alone the task would have been simple. He would have gone at once to the broken archway, waited his opportunity, and crept out.

Then he would have done his best to escape, and the worst that could have happened to him would have been seizure by the enemy, who, in spite of party hatred, would have given their prisoner food.

But he felt that he could not take this course, and risk capture, which would mean imprisonment to his father as well.

The difficulty was solved at last by an uneasy movement on Sir G.o.dfrey's part. He seemed to start suddenly from sleep, and, after listening for a few moments, Scarlett said gently--

"Are you in pain, father?"

"Ah, my boy, you there?" said Sir G.o.dfrey, feebly. "I was puzzled and confused. I recollect now. Have I been asleep long?"

"Yes, father, I think so. I cannot tell, for I have been asleep too."

"Where are we?"

Scarlett explained, and from time to time Sir G.o.dfrey uttered a few words of surprise and wonder, till his son had finished.

"I could hardly have thought it possible," he said, as Scarlett ceased.

"Then we are so far safe?"

"Yes; but your wounds, father? What am I to do about getting help?"

Sir G.o.dfrey remained silent for a few minutes, and then said quietly--

"I am terribly weak, boy, and in a good deal of pain; but from what I know of such things, I do not think my wounds are either deep or dangerous, and if this is so, nature is the best chirurgeon. But you say there is a way out?"

"Yes, father; and I am afraid that Fred Forrester has given notice, and that it is watched."

"The young villain!" muttered Sir G.o.dfrey, and somehow those words seemed to send a sting through Scarlett's brain.

After a silence, Sir G.o.dfrey went on.

"Well, my boy," he said, "I shall not be able to escape for days to come. You must go and try and make your way to our friends."

"And leave you?"

"Only for a time, my boy, of course. You must find some of our men, and come and get me away."

"I cannot leave you, father;" said Scarlett, firmly; and Sir G.o.dfrey remained silent for a time.

"Thank you, Scar," he said at last; "and of course I do not want to be left. Can you propose any better way, for my thinking powers are very weak?"

Scarlett was silent in turn, and then he said quietly--

"Yes, father; I will wait my chance, steal out, and then contrive to make my way to some cottage where I can get food. I can bring it back, and we can continue to remain here in hiding till you are strong enough to go."

"Not a very pleasant prospect, Scar," said Sir G.o.dfrey, "but I can propose no better."

"I might be able to make my way to the Manor."

"No, no; you must not get help from there, my boy," said Sir G.o.dfrey, hastily.

"Why not, father? My mother and Lilian are there."

"True, Scarlett, but--"

"Mrs Forrester would be only too eager to help us."

"Her husband's enemies?"

"She is affording protection to my mother. Yes," added the lad, after a pause, "I must go there."

Sir G.o.dfrey remained silent.

"Father."

"Yes."