The Splendid Spur

ttle and tell you what

e dangerous to them, and might lead Settle and his crew straight to the dingle. Here was a fix. I stood for some minutes nonpluss'd, wh

ross, that gush'd down the slope with a quite considerable chatter and impatience. The bed of it was mainly earth, with here and there a large stone or root t

aces, my progress was easy enough. I must have waded in this manner for half a mile, keeping the least possible noise, when at an angle ahea

odcutters. But what surpris'd me was to hear a dull, moaning noise, very regular and disquieting, that s

of a dozen looms. "He must be an astonishing fellow," thought I, "that can snore in this fashion. I'll have a peep before I wake him." I waded down till I stood un

n into the upturn'd faces of

cold to hot, and back again, I cannot tell you. But 'twas until, hearing no pause in th

p-turn'd faces as they made I defy you to picture. For they were pack'd close as herrings; and the hut was fill'd up with their horses, ready sa

that now were heap'd with what I conjectured to be the spoils of the larder of the "Three Cups." Holding my breath and thrusting my head and shoulders into the room, I ran my hand along

retch himself in his sleep. So, determining to risk no more, I quietly pack'd the basket, slung i

erein. I set down the ham as a thing to be asham'd of, and bar'd my head

er is de

ad still to hear about her brother, Anthony. Turning, as by a sudden thought, I took her hand. She look'd into my eyes, and her own fi

abated, "I have still some news that is ill hearing. Your enemies are encam

done their

N

me with a ques

eve me yet a short whi

know not so much as your name. Then we must stay close in hiding?" she added very

ttle distance and prevail'd on her to nibble a crust of the loaf. Now, all this while, it must be remembere

d, and running, drew my buff-coat from

on to warm my blood." And promising to be back in half an

was back, running and we

o her, "come and

beyond the hut, of a horse and rider disappearing down the woods. He was the last of the party, as I guess'd from the sound of voices and jingling of bits further down the slope. Advancing on the hut with more boldness

-Jerry

oice hail'

e's R

aptain-clo

ough, as 'tis," called back the Captain. "How in thund

t miss it," shouted another

ttle. I did not wait for the end of

Yet to make sure that the rascals had really departed, we follow'd their tracks for

in the pines, and through this a slice of the country that lay below. 'Twas a level plain, well watered, and dotted here and there with houses. A range of wooded hills clos'd the view, and toward them a broad road wound gently, till the

us, with many bright glances of light and color, as their steel caps and sashes took

ham. On my return, I found her examining a heap of rusty tools that, it seem'd, she had found on a shelf of the building. 'Twas no light help to the good fellow

answer'd

plain, where no doubt we shall find a cle

awhile and shook her head. "I am

our fa

was none to discover: but he was no bad father" she steadied her voi

pain in my wound that was like to have mastered me before the task was ended. But I managed to lower the body softly into the hole and to cover it re

remember, till I open'd my eyes, and was amazed to

has ha

said a voice: "can you lea

, I think so. Why

in a swoon first, and then talk'd-oh, such non

he hut I cannot tell you. It took more than one weary hour, as

after asking at many cottages for a physician, she was forced to be content with an old woman reputed to be amazingly well skill'd in herbs and medicines; whom, after a day's trial, she turn'd out of doors. On the fourth day

weariness, in a corner of the hut, I stagger'd up from my bed of dried bracken, and out into the pure air. Rare it w

she: "a day or two will see

d, you must hear my reasons before setting me down for an ingrate;" and told her of the King's letter that I carried. "I

for pity's sake, turn not your face away! I have guess'd-the

left her to wrestle with this final sorrow. She was so tender a thing to be stricken thus, that I who h

to see her eyes red and swol'n with weeping. Throughout our supper she k

o ask, and must risk b

in, "all talk of favor

sir! to-day the sun seem'd fallen out of heaven, and I a blind creature left groping in the void. Indeed, sir, 'tis no wo

poken, but she

ing wept, could fortify my heart. Here is the upshot, sir-tho' 'tis held immodest for a maid to ask even far less of a man. We are both bound for Cornwall-you on an honorable mission, I for my father's estate of Gleys, wherefrom (as your tale proves) some unseen hands are thrusting me. Alike we carry our lives in our hands. You must go forward: I may not go back. For from a King who cannot right h

breaking off, she put both hands to cover her face, that

id I. - She drew back a pace with a frighten'

ust me. Proud was I to listen to you; and merrily will the miles pass with

I dropp'd her hands, her eyes

l prospect ahead if we

ut

of a piece than 'Mistress Killigrew.'" She dropp'd me a mock curtsey. "And now, Jack, be a goo

nable; and so, having fix'd her screen, we shook hand