Part 23 (1/2)
”'Tis the plain truth,” returned his lordshi+p ”And considering, moreover, that I am your prisoner, upon no better composition than my bare life, and over and above that, that the maiden is unhappily in other hands, I will so far consent Aid ood fellows”--
”My lord,” cried dick, ”they are these sa with”
”Let theht,” returned Lord Foxhaain the htly honour, she shall marry you!”
dick bent his knee before his prisoner; but he, leaping up lightly froht the lad up and embraced him like a son
”Come,” he said, ”an y' are to marry Joan, we must be early friends”
CHAPTER IV--THE GOOD HOPE
An hour thereafter, dick was back at the Goat and Bagpipes, breaking his fast, and receiving the report of his ers and sentries Duckworth was still absent from Shoreby; and this was frequently the case, for he played many parts in the world, shared many different interests, and conducted many various affairs He had founded that fellowshi+p of the Black Arrow, as a ruinedthose who knew hireat King-land, Richard, Earl of Warwick
In his absence, at any rate, it fell upon Richard Shelton to command affairs in Shoreby; and, as he sat at meat, his mind was full of care, and his face heavy with consideration It had been determined, between hi, and, by brute force, to set Joanna free The obstacles, however, were many; and as one after another of his scouts arrived, each brought him more discomfortable news
Sir Daniel was alarht before He had increased the garrison of the house in the garden; but not content with that, he had stationed horseht have instant word of any movement Meanwhile, in the court of his mansion, steeds stood saddled, and the riders, arnal to ride
The adventure of the night appeared more and more difficult of execution, till suddenly dick's countenance lightened
”Lawless!” he cried, ”you that were a shi+pman, can ye steal me a shi+p?”
”Master dick,” replied Lawless, ”if ye would back ree to steal York Minster”
Presently after, these two set forth and descended to the harbour It was a considerable basin, lying a sand hills, and surrounded with patches of down, ancient ruinous lumber, and tumble-down slums of the town Many decked shi+ps and many open boats either lay there at anchor, or had been drawn up on the beach A long duration of bad weather had driven thereat trooping of black clouds, and the cold squalls that followed one another, noith a sprinkling of dry sno in a mere swoop of wind, promised no improvement but rather threatened a more serious storm in the immediate future
The seamen, in view of the cold and the wind, had for thein the shoreside taverns Many of the shi+ps already rode unguarded at their anchors; and as the day wore on, and the weather offered no appearance of imented It was to these deserted shi+ps, and, above all, to those of them that lay far out, that Lawless directed his attention; while dick, seated upon an anchor that was half e ear, now to the rude, potent, and boding voices of the gale, and now to the hoarse singing of the shi+pot his ireeable recollection of Lord Foxham's promise
He was disturbed by a touch upon his shoulder It was Lawless, pointing to a small shi+p that lay somewhat by itself, and within but a little of the harbourswell A pale gleam of winter sunshi+ne fell, at that ainst a bank of scowling cloud; and in thisthe skiff alongside
”There, sir,” said Lawless, ”ht”
Presently the skiff put out fro her head well to the wind, pulled lustily for shore Lawless turned to a loiterer
”How call ye her?” he asked, pointing to the little vessel
”They call her the Good Hope, of Dartmouth,” replied the loiterer ”Her captain, Arblaster by name He pulleth the bow oar in yon skiff”
This was all that Lawless wanted Hurriedly thanking the man, he moved round the shore to a certain sandy creek, for which the skiff was heading There he took up his position, and as soon as they ithin earshot, opened fire on the sailors of the Good Hope
”What! Gossip Arblaster!” he cried ”Why, ye be well ht well met, upon the rood! And is that the Good Hope? Ay, I would know her a ten thousand!--a sweet shear, a sweet boat! But ossip, will ye drink? I have come into mine estate which doubtless ye remember to have heard on I am now rich; I have left to sail upon the sea; I do sail now, for the most part, upon spiced ale
Come, fellow; thy hand upon 't! Come, drink with an old shi+pfellow!”
Skipper Arblaster, a long-faced, elderly, weather-beatenabout his neck by a plaited cord, and for all the world like anyback in obvious amazement and distrust But the name of an estate, and a certain air of tipsified siood-fellowshi+p which Lawless very well affected, combined to conquer his suspicious jealousy; his countenance relaxed, and he at once extended his open hand and squeezed that of the outlaw in a forrasp
”Nay,” he said, ”I cannot ossip, and so wouldhis follower, ”here is ood seao drink with him and his shore friend”