Book 2 — Chapter XIII

Wherein I set down in due Course the Resolution to which I came, which boded ill to the King, as I rode southward

My poor wife did not look at me as the boat rapidly drew away from the shore; she sat helpless in the stern sheets, her face buried in her hands. I shuddered to think of the light in which she and the rest must have regarded me then. I had personal and unequivocal evidence of it immediately, for I found myself tapped on the shoulder. The old Earl of Clanranald had advanced threateningly toward me.

"You English coward!" he cried. "Was it for this you married my daughter, who risked her life and honour for you and me? We should have known better than to have trusted any one who had ever been for a moment associated with James Stewart."

"And do you believe this monstrous lie, Lord Clanranald?"

"Believe it? Can I not see and hear? Draw, sir, if you have a spark of courage left, or I shall run you through where you stand!"

"I cannot fight with you," I said; "you are her father."

"The more reason."

Indeed, I felt the prick of his sword at my throat. I found I had to do something or be cut down.

"Draw quickly or I will shoot you from your saddle, you villain!" cried Master Dunner, at that time interposing and presenting a huge old horse-pistol.

There was nothing left for me. In a twinkling, my blade was in my hand. It had been restored to me by one of Stenwold's men ere they departed. As it gritted against my lord's steel, something of my self-control came back to me. He had been no mean fencer in his younger days, he could have matched any man in the three kingdoms doubtless, but now he was old, he had been some time in prison and was certainly out of practice. His force and fire were soon spent, I was his master, yet he never blenched, although he knew it as soon and as well as I.

"I tremble," he said grimly, "from physical weakness, not from fear."

"That I know," I answered.

"Finish then; you have sold the daughter; spare not the father!"

"My lord," said I, as by a sudden trick of fence I twisted his sword from his hands and flung it to the ground, "you wrong me. I neither connived at the abduction of my wife, nor will I requite your quite natural suspicion with what it merits."

"Now is it in my mind," cried Master Dunner, seeing his patron's discomfiture and peril, "to pull the trigger of my pistol."

"Do it and kill me if you will, but know that to do so is to destroy the only possible hope of rescue for the woman we all love," I returned quietly, determined to have this all over without more delay and put our affairs on a proper basis immediately.

"What do you mean?" asked Master Dunner, pistol-muzzle wavering downward.

"Think for a moment. I love your daughter, Lord Clanranald; I perilled my life and honour for her. I was attainted of treason and death had been my portion for her. I have had no communication with King James, save through your daughter. Could I, could any one, have foreseen the course of events that brought me to the Tolbooth and what hath happened since? It is absurd, sir, on its face. I wonder that you do not see it."

"But Lord Stenwold?" asked Master Dunner, somewhat shaken by my reasoning.

"Stenwold is a devil," I persisted. "Did not you see that he tried to convince me that Lady Katharine had made an agreement with the King?"

"My life on her truth and honour!" cried the Earl.

"Mine, too," said I quickly. "I would believe her innocent in the face of twenty kings, backed by as many Stenwolds."

"But why did you sit so calmly by?" faltered the bewildered old man.

"What could I have done? The four of us together might have cut down or disposed of a dozen men out of the thirty; the rest would have worked their will; there would have been no one left to save her." I gritted my teeth as I spoke: "I will rescue her, or avenge her. We alone in the three kingdoms are able to help her. Do you think that I intend to sit calmly by and let her fall into the arms of the King? It was a part of the plan to discredit me in the mind of my wife, to make it easier for him to overcome her resistance."

"But you took the money."

"Certainly; why not? We shall have need of all of it and more mayhap. We'll fight the King with his own coin."

"What mean you to do?"

"When my wife is brought before the King, I mean to be there."

"But how?"

"I don't know; I shall accomplish it in some way; I saved my own life but to lay it down again for her. God help the King when he comes under my hand!"

"My lad," said the Earl, at last convinced, "I did, indeed, misjudge you. Forgive me. My hand."

"And mine too, sir," said Master Dunner, "if in truth you will honour me."

I grasped them both eagerly, saying:

"We waste time, gentlemen; we must be doing."

"What plans have you?"

"I ride south to-night; the King was at Durham; its nearest port is Sunderland. That ship will take her there; at least, I think so. If I could only have some assurance..."

At that juncture I caught sight of a figure moving in the trees; instantly my pistol was out of its holster and levelled in that direction.

"Hands up," I cried, "or you shall be shot down!"

"I have no fear of your weapon, sir soldier," came from the coppice, "but, because I can render you service, I..."

"Come forth," said I, as a sturdy Scotsman stepped out upon the road and saluted me.

"Those men raided my little farm, yonder, before you came; they rudely kissed my wife by force; they killed my chickens, milked my cows, and destroyed my garden. Afterwards they talked freely enough. I know the whole plan, and would have got to you and warned you of it had they not kept me in close ward. They are to take the lady to King James at Sunderland, or Monkwearmouth."

"You hear, my lord!" I cried to the Earl triumphantly.

I opened the King's purse, got out some of the King's guineas, and passed them over to the faithful man.

"Here's for you," said I.

"That will pay for the chickens and the milk and the other things, except the kiss and the insults to my wife."

"And who took them?" I asked.

"The man in the lead."

"I shall add your score to mine, my friend, and, rest assured, he shall pay high for both. Tell your woman so."

"I'd rather assist in the paying myself, your honour," said the Scotsman. "You see, sir, I am an old soldier and have been to the wars; I can wield a heavy claymore still; my ancestors have fought alongside Lord Clanranald's; if you wish me, I will go with you."

I looked at the man thoughtfully. He was a stoutly-built knave, of medium age, with a dependable honest look out of his eyes that promised well.

"Have you a weapon?"

"I have at the farm."

"Get it, then."

"But my wife?"

"Have you any children?" I asked.

"None; we were married a few weeks since," he answered, smiling.

"Bring her along if she will come," I answered, "and make haste."

He saluted, turned, and ran back through the trees.

"Surely you are not going to encumber yourself with a woman in this desperate venture?" protested Lord Clanranald.

"First hear my plan. With some of this money you, sir, are to get a ship; buy it, charter it, steal it if necessary. You will find what you want in Leith, doubtless. You can also enlist a half-dozen sturdy Scotsmen who can be depended upon, and you will make the best speed you can to Sunderland Harbour and wait there for me. If I do not bring Lady Katharine off to you, it will be because I am a dead man."

"We shall do as you say without fail," said the Earl. "Ours is the easier part, but how will you recognise us?"

"We must arrange upon some signal," I answered, reflecting.

"I have it," said the Earl. "We'll paint upon the mainsail my device,—a bleeding heart pierced by a long sword."

"Excellent; but if it should be night?" I queried.

"Three lanterns set as a triangle—a red one at the top, the others white."

"Admirably devised."

"But the woman, gentlemen?" said Master Dunner.

"Lady Katharine might need the assistance and companionship of a female in a ship full of men; she shall go with you, and the man I will take with me.

"Would that I could go with you instead," said Lord Clanranald.

"Nay, my lord, you have not the physical strength to ride as fast or as far as I."

"My wife, your honour!" cried the man who had given us such valuable information, now coming back to the road, while following close behind him tramped a young and pretty country wench, tearful and excited.

"I am Sir Hugh Richmond," I began, inclining my head politely toward her as I spoke. I have ever believed in treating women with courtesy, whatever their rank. "My wife hath been abducted by King James; the man who insulted you has taken her to him, and I ride forward to take her from his hands and to avenge the insult that hath been put upon us. The Earl of Clanranald here is to take ship at Leith and meet us at Sunderland, where King James awaits my wife. You, dame, will go with him. What is your name, friend?"

"Macleod, sir," he answered, "and this is Alison, my wife."

"Lady Katharine's horse is yonder; he is something light for you, but he will carry you well, I have no doubt. Now let us be about our business quickly."

"I shall be off Sunderland before you come," said the Earl. "I'll follow hard on the heels of yonder vessel."

"And I shall board you with your daughter and my wife, or you will know that I am a dead man and she is past saving."

"In that event, King James shall still reckon with me," said the Earl resolutely. "Good-bye, lad, and God bless you. Mistress Alison, Master Dunner will take you up behind him. I will gallop on ahead."

"Good-bye, good friends all," I answered, saluting them.

"May God give us success!" responded the gallant old nobleman, lifting his plaided bonnet in return.

He turned away, followed presently by Master Dunner, with Mrs. Alison riding on the croup. I sat my horse a moment and stared out to sea at the little boat bearing my wife away; then I turned, clapped my hat more firmly on my head, gathered the reins more tightly, and looked at my new friend with his long sword.

"Come," said I.

"And God help that man if he falls in my hands," he said.

"And God help the King if he falls in mine," I replied, cantering off to the south.