In the King's Name Part 27

"Must have done so," said Allstone; "there isn't a place anywhere big enough to hide a knife."

"Then some one's been by this morning and picked it up," said one of the men, "for it don't seem to be anywhere here."

"Turn over that long gra.s.s," said Allstone, "and kick those weeds aside."

Hilary heard the rustling sounds made by the men as they obeyed their leader; but of course there was no result.

"Somebody come by and picked it up," said the man again; and, apparently satisfied, the party went away, Hilary raising his eyes, saw the smugglers go round the corner of the house below the ivied gable, leaving him wondering whether they would come back.

"They may," he thought; "and if they do, they will see that I've got this thing tucked in here."

Quickly taking out the worsted he secured it to the cutla.s.s, and lowering it once more out of the window, tied the thread to the bar.

"It's safest there, I'll be bound," he muttered; and he had hardly made his arrangements for concealment when he heard the steps coming, and began walking up and down as the door was opened, and, staring at him doubtfully, Allstone came in with two men bearing some breakfast for the prisoner, while their leader went round Hilary again, searchingly noting every fold of his garments before once more withdrawing.

"He must have seen it if I had it on," said Hilary, as he once more found himself alone, when he eagerly attacked the provisions that had been left.

After satisfying his hunger, he was a good deal divided in his mind as to what to do about the weapon, which might prove to be so valuable an implement in his attempt to escape. If left outside and searched for again, the smugglers must find it; but the chances were that they would not go and look again, so he decided to leave it where it was.

The morning wore on without a single incident to take his attention, and he spent the time in examining the floor of his prison, giving a tap here and a tap there, and noting where it sounded most hollow.

It was a long task, but he had plenty of time upon his hands, and he at last decided that he would make his attack upon a small stone in the corner by the wall which contained the window, that was not only the darkest place, the light seeming to pa.s.s over it, but there was a hollower echo when he struck the stone, from which he hoped that the slab was thinner than the rest.

He drove the knife in all round and found that it pa.s.sed in without difficulty; and as he examined the place, he found to his great delight that some time or other there had evidently been a staple let into the slab, probably to hold a great ring for raising the stone, and undoubtedly this was a way down to the vaults below.

What he wanted now was a good supply of straw to lay over that part of the floor to conceal any efforts he might make for raising the stone, and meanwhile dusting some of the ashes and half-burned straw-chaff over the spot, he awaited Allstone's next appearance with no little anxiety.

Towards afternoon he heard steps, and evidently his jailer was coming; but to his surprise, instead of Allstone being accompanied by two or three men, his companion was Sir Henry Norland, who had evidently just returned from a journey.

"Ah, my dear Hilary," he exclaimed, "I have just been hearing of your narrow escape. My dear boy, I cannot tell you how sorry I am. You are not in the least hurt, I hope?"

"No, Sir Henry, not in body," said the young man distantly; "but you see all my prison furniture has been destroyed. Will you give orders that I am to be supplied with a little more straw?"

"I gave orders that a mattress and blankets, with a table and chairs, should be brought here before I went out," said Sir Henry, "with a few other things. Good gracious! I had no idea the fire had been so bad.

Did it burn everything?"

"My furniture was what I asked to be replaced--a little straw," said Hilary bitterly. "I had nothing else."

Sir Henry turned frowning to the man, and said a few words in a low but commanding tone to him which made him scowl; but he went off growling something to himself in a sulky manner.

"My dear Hilary," said Sir Henry, "I did not know you had been so badly treated. I am so much engaged upon His Majesty's business that I am afraid I have neglected you sadly."

"Indeed, Sir Henry? And now you have come to say that I am at liberty to go free and attend to His Majesty's business?" said Hilary with a sarcastic ring in his words.

"Will you?" said Sir Henry eagerly.

"Yes, of course," said Hilary. "I serve the king, and I am ready to do anything in the king's name."

Sir Henry smiled pityingly.

"We misunderstand each other, Hilary. But come, my boy, let us waste no words. Listen. I come to you armed with powers to make you a great and honoured man. Join us, Hilary. We know that you are a skilful officer, a clever sailor. You are the merest subordinate now; but throw yourself heart and soul into the Stuart cause, help to restore the king to his rights, and you shall rise with him. Young as you are, I have a splendid offer to make you. As you are, you serve under a miserable officer, and in time you may rise to a captaincy. Join us, and, as I say, young as you are His Majesty gives you through me the rank of captain, and knighthood shall follow if you serve him well."

"Have you nearly done, Sir Henry?" said Hilary coldly.

"Done, my dear boy, I want to introduce you to a band of truly chivalrous n.o.blemen and gentlemen who will receive you with open arms.

I want you to be my friend and fellow patriot--to aid me with your advice and energy. I want you to leave this wretched prison, and to soar above the contemptible task of putting down a few miserable smugglers. I want you to come out of this place with me at once, to become once more the companion of my little Adela, who sends her message by me that she is waiting to take you by the hand. Come: leave the wretched usurper's chains, and be free if you would be a man. Adela says--Hark! There she is."

As he spoke there came in through the window, bearing with it the memories of bright and happy times, the tones of the girl's sweet young voice, and as Hilary listened he closed his eyes and thought of the bright sunny country, the joys of freedom, the high hopes of ambition, and a warm flush came into his cheeks, while Sir Henry smiled in the satisfaction of his heart as he whispered to himself the one word--"_Won_!"

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

A SURPRISE FOR SIR HENRY.

It was very tempting. The country looked so bright and beautiful from his prison window; the voice of his old companion brought up such a host of pleasant recollections, and it would have been delightful to renew the old intimacy. Then, upon the other hand, what would he give up? A dull monotonous life under a tyrannical superior, with but little chance of promotion, to receive honour, advancement, and no doubt to enjoy no little adventure.

It was very tempting, and enough to make one with a stronger mind than Hilary Leigh waver in his allegiance.

As he stood there thinking the song went on, and Hilary felt that did he but say yes, and swear fealty to one who believed himself to be the rightful king of England, he would be at liberty to join Adela at once.

There would be an end to his imprisonment, and no more wretched anxiety.

He had done his duty so far, he argued, and he was doing his duty when fortune went against him, and he was made a prisoner, so to a certain extent his changing sides might be considered excusable. He had had little else but rough usage and discomfort since he went to sea, and the offers now made to him by Sir Henry were full of promise, which he knew the baronet was too true to hold out without perfect honesty.

Taken altogether--that is in connection with his position, and the probability that he might be kept here a prisoner for any length of time, and that most likely he had already been reported by Mr Lips...o...b.. as a deserter--there was such a bright prospect held out that Hilary felt for the time extremely weak and ready to give up.

Meanwhile the song went on outside, for all these thoughts ran very quickly through the young man's brain. Then Adela's voice died away, and Hilary opened his eyes to see Sir Henry standing there, with a smile upon his handsome face, and his hand extended.

"Well, Captain Leigh," he said, laughing, "I am to clasp hands with my young brother in the good cause?"

"You will shake hands with me, Sir Henry," said Hilary, "for we are very old friends, and I shall never forget my happy days at the old hall,"

and he laid his hand in that of the baronet.

"Forget them! No, my dear boy," cried Sir Henry enthusiastically. "But there will be brighter days yet. Come along and join Adela; she will be delighted to have you with her again. Come along! Why do you hang back? Why, Hil, my boy, you have not grown bashful?"

"You love the young Pre--I mean Charles Stuart," said Hilary quietly, as he still held his old friend's hand.

"Love, my boy? Yes, Heaven bless him! And so will you when you meet him. He will take to you with your frank young sailor face, Hilary."

"No, Sir Henry," Hilary replied sadly. "I have heard that he is generally frank, and an honourable gentleman."

"All that, Hilary," cried Sir Henry enthusiastically. "He is royal in his ways, and I am sure he will like you."

"If he is what you say, Sir Henry," replied the young man, "he would look with coldness and contempt upon a scoundrel and a traitor."

"To be sure he would," said Sir Henry, who in his elation and belief that he had won Hilary over to the Pretender's cause was thrown off his guard.

"Then why do you talk of his liking me, if, after signing my adhesion to him whom I look upon as my rightful king, I deserted him at the first touch of difficulty? No, Sir Henry, I could not accept your offer without looking upon myself afterwards as a traitor and a villain, and I am sure that you would be one of the first men to think of me with contempt."