Crown and Sceptre Part 96

"Yes, sir. Them Roundhead vagabonds cut it all off before, but now it's all scorched and singed away."

"Eh? Yes. I suppose so," said Scarlett, sadly. "I did not know, Nat.

I suppose it was in the fire."

"And your face all scorched too."

"Is it, Nat? I did feel that it smarted and was sore."

"Why, my poor dear lad, what have you been a-doing of? And me not with you, but lying here like a pig in a sunny hole, pretending I was bad!"

"Hus.h.!.+ not so loud. Never mind the singeing, Nat. There, keep quiet till I come back with some food. Do you want a drink of water?"

"Food? What did you say about some food?"

"I'm going to try and get some, Nat. I am starving."

"Think of that now!" cried Nat, feebly. "Why, I've got some here.

Master Scar! Now, let me think. I'm all in a muddle like in the head, and can't tell what's been dreaming and what isn't; but I've got a sort o' notion that some one come in the dark, and talked to me or talked about me, and then said they'd leave me something to eat."

"Dreaming, Nat, my poor fellow! Your loss of blood has made you a little off your head."

"Well, then, if I was dreaming, there aren't nothing to eat, Master Scar. But if I warn't dreaming, there's something close by me here, and--There, Master Scar, it warn't a dream!"

"Nat!" cried Scarlett, joyfully, as the poor fellow feebly brought forth the food Fred and Samson had left. "May--may I take some?" he faltered.

"Take it all, my dear lad, take it all, and yeat it. I couldn't yeat anything now. Shouldn't mind a big mug o' water. That's about my tune."

In spite of himself, Scarlett broke off a piece of the bread cake, and began to eat ravenously.

But he recollected himself directly, and placed some to the wounded man's lips.

"Thank ye, lad, no," said Nat, sadly; "but if you could get me a drop o'

water, I'd be 'bliged, for I feel just like a flower a-drying up in the sun."

Poor Nat did not look it, whatever he might feel; but almost before he had ceased speaking, Scarlett had slipped through the hole as the safest way, gone to the opening by the lake, dipped his hat three-parts full of water, and borne it back, placing it safely between two boughs at the side of the top, while he climbed out; and the next minute he was holding the dripping felt to Nat's lips.

"Hah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the poor fellow, feebly; "it's worth being chopped a bit and lying here for the sake of the appet.i.te it gives you."

"Appet.i.te, Nat?" said Scarlett, taking up the bread.

"'t.i.te for water, lad. That's the sweetest drop I ever did taste, I will say."

"Drink again?"

"Ay, that I will, hearty," whispered Nat; and he partook of another long draught. "There," he said, "now you give me one bit o' that cake to nibble, and you may go. To get food, didn't you say, sir, just now?"

"I want some--for my father, Nat, but--if--I can have some of this?"

"Take it all, my dear lad, take it all. Where is the master, sir?"

Scarlett told him in as few words as possible, and Nat stared at him.

"No, it's of not a bit o' good, Master Scar," he said sadly. "I know you're telling me something, but I bled all the sense out of me, and I can't understand what you mean. Never mind me. I dare say it's all right."

"But, Nat," cried Scarlett, eagerly, as a thought struck him, and he realised that it was useless to try and impress upon the poor fellow about the secret pa.s.sage, "you are lying out here."

"Yes, sir; not a nice place, but cool and fresh."

"Could you, if I helped you, get down that hole, where my father lies?"

"Sir G.o.dfrey?"

"Yes."

"But you said you were going away somewhere, sir."

"Only to get some food, and you have enough for the day. To-night I'll go out and get more. Do you think you could crawl down?"

"I think I could try, sir, if it comes to that."

"And trying is half the battle, Nat."

"Right, sir; I'll try. That drop o' water seemed to put life in me."

"But--"

Scarlett stopped short, thinking. Some one had been and brought Nat food, for there it was in solid reality, tempting him to eat; and if he took the poor fellow down into the secret pa.s.sage, it would no longer prove to be a secure hiding-place, for those who missed the wounded man would search perhaps and find.

That did not follow, though. They might think that he had crept away; and besides, the case was desperate, and he must risk it.

"You said, 'But,' Master Scar," said Nat, feebly, after waiting for his young master to go on.

"Nothing, nothing," said Scarlett, hastily, for his mind was made up.

"Now then, pa.s.s your arms round my neck, clasp your hands together, and hold tightly. I'll draw you out of that place."

"Take the food first, Master Scar. There, stuff it in your wallet, lad."

Scarlett did not hesitate, but placed the precious treasure in the receptacle, and then bent down. Nat obeyed his instructions, and by a strong effort he was drawn out.

"Have I hurt you much, Nat?" said Scarlett, as he gazed through the dim light at the pallid face so close to his.

"Well, sir, not to make much bones about it, tidy, pretty tidy. What next, sir?"

"I want to lower you down through the branches into that hole."

"Eh?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Nat, forgetting his weakness and the aching pain he suffered, as he gave quite a start. "No, no, Master Scar, don't do that."

"But you will be safe there for the present, Nat."