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7 


JOHN  MARMADUKE 

A  ROMANCE  OF  THE  ENGLISH   INVASION  OF 

IRELAND   IN    1649 


BV 

SAMUEL  HARDEN  CHURCH 

Author  of  "  Oliver  Cromwell :  A  History  " 


ILLUSTRATED   BY   ALBERT    GRANTLEY  REINHART 


TORONTO 

THE  COPP,  CLARK  CO.,  Limited 


^m. 


Entered  acooiding  to  Act  of  the  Parltunent  of  OMiada,  in  the  jreiur  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  ninety-eight,  by  Thb  Oopp,  Olark  Oohpamt,  LiunKD, 
Toronto,  in  the  Office  of  the  Minister  of  Agriculture. 


luand 


To 
MY  MOTHER 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 


Stay,  Saxon,*  she  cried.     *  My  brother  has 
DONE  YOU  NO  HARM '"      .         .         .    Frontispiece. 

"  I  GAVE  THE  WORD  TO  FIRE  "  ....  40 

'*  I    WONDER    THAT    I    HAVE    NOT    PLACED    YOU    IN 

CLOSE    CONFINEMENT    ERE    THIS "       ...         58 

My  ORDER  TO  YOU,  CaPTAIN  MaRMADUKE,'  SAID 
HE,    *  COMMANDED    YOU,    I    THINK,    TO    REMAIN 

AT  Carberry  Hall '" 288 


« < 


PREFACE 


40 


58 


THE  most  misunderstood  incident  in  the  Common- 
wealth period  of  English  history  is  the  invasion  of 
Ireland  by  the  Parliamentary  army  in  1649. 

After  the  publication  of  the  book,  Oliver  Cromwell : 
A  History,  some  three  years  ago,  it  occurred  to  me  that 
a  further  elucidation  of  that  matter  might  be  effected  by 
means  of  an  historical  romance.  I  therefore  went  to 
Ireland  and  traced  again  the  line  of  the  Crom  veil  inva- 
sion ;  and  gave  some  studious  attention  to  the  ancient 
language  and  literature  of  that  country. 

Then  came  this  story. 

The  feelings  which  controlled  John  Marmiiduke's 
Scoutmaster  were  largely  the  feelings  of  the  entiie  Eng- 
lish army  and  nation.  May's  History,  giving  r.n  exag- 
gerated description  of  the  Irish  massacres  of  English 
settlers  in  the  plantation  of  Ulster,  had  been  in  print  for 
two  years.  The  Parliamentarians  had  all  read  it  with 
horror  and  had  resolved  to  avenge  the  atrocities  it  nar- 
rated,— yea,  an  eye  for  an  eye  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth. 

Yet,  save  for  the  mighty  figure  that  dominates  the  last 
chapters,  this  novel  is  wholly  a  romance. 

If  my  story  throb  with  big  ambitions  and  bounding 
passions,  if  it  have  the  rude  alarum  of  war,  the  fierce 


VI 


Preface 


shout  of  revenge,  and  the  plaintive  note  of  doubting 
love, — while  all  that  is  fiction,  and  figment,  and  vain 
imagining,  still  is  it  always  the  story  of  human  life — 
History,  one  might  say,  in  the  embellished  garb  of 
Fiction. 

S>  rl.  C. 

September  3,  i8gf. 


CONTENTS. 

CMAPTKR 

PAOB 

I.- 

-The  Scoutmaster's  Story  . 

I 

II.- 

—The  Black  Mare. 

7 

III.- 

—An  Odd  Duel       .... 

i6 

IV.- 

—Foes  Outright     .... 

27 

V.- 

-Roderick's  Pool   .... 

•      35 

VI.- 

—The  Passing  of  3ir  Patrick 

.      41 

VII.- 

-The  Attack  on  Carberry  Hall 

51 

VIII.- 

-The  Fight  on  the  Plain    . 

6S 

IX.- 

-The  Intercepted  Letter    . 

74 

X.- 

-A  Rejected  Suitor 

86 

XI.- 

-Sunday  Morning  with  the  Ironsides 

»      92 

XII.- 

-"Glas  Gainach" 

104 

XIII.- 

-A  Midnight  Departure 

112 

XIV.- 

-In  the  Dragon's  Den 

120 

XV.- 

-Off  to  the  Rescue      .        .        .        . 

133 

XVI.- 

-Before  Ballyrae  Castle    . 

139 

XVII.- 

-Storming  the  Castle  .        .        .        . 

148 

XVIII.- 

-The  Scoutmaster  Meets  his  Man 

159 

XIX.- 

—Love  and  Prejudice    .        .        .        . 

168 

XX- 

-The  Man  in  the  White  Mask  . 

172 

vu 


•  •• 

Vlll 


Contents. 


CHAPTBR 

XXI.- 
XXII.- 

xxni.- 

XXIV.- 

XXV.- 

XXVI.- 

XXVII.- 

XXVIII.- 

XXIX.- 

XXX.- 

XXXI.- 

XXXII.- 

XXXIIL- 

XXXIV.- 

XXXV.- 

XXXVI.- 

XXXVII.- 

XXXVIII.- 

XXXIX.- 

XL.- 

XLI.- 

XLII.- 


PAGB 

-After  the  Battle          .        .  i8o 

-Lord  Alfred i88 

-The  Hermit  of  the  Lake     .  197 

-The  Mishap  of  Lady  Betty         .  206 

-A  Rescue 217 

-Telling  a  Secret  to  One's  Mother  222 
-At  Loggerheads  ....  231 
-Love  Overcometh  ....  239 
-The  Wooing  O't  ....  243 
-Telling  the  Secret  to  the  Iron- 
sides          247 

-Whom  God  has  Joined  Together  252 

-The  Dragon  Comes  Back      .        .  258 

-The  Evil  Days  Come      .        .        .  264 
-After  the  Ironsides       .        .        .271 

-Bearding  the  Lion         .        .        .  283 

-Drogheda 296 

-Overcome  by  the  Dragon     .        .  302 

-A  Prisoner 306 

-"The  Curse  of  Cromwell".        .  311 

-The  Scoutmaster's  Summons         .  315 
-The  Mystery  of  It        .        .        .321 

-Conclusion 325 


PAGS 

1 80 

.    188 

.    197 
206 

9.      222 
.   231 

.   243 

.   247 

:r  252 
.  258 
264 
271 
283 
,  296 
.  302 
.  306 


315 
321 

325 


JOHN  MARMADUKE 


CHAPTER  I 


THE  SCOUTMASTER  S  STORY 


IT  was  high  noon  on  a  dry,  hot  day  in  August,  in  the 
year  1649.  General  Henry  Ireton  had  halted  a  sec- 
tion of  the  Parliament's  army  near  Arklow,  in  the  county 
of  Wicklow,  and  lay  waiting  for  the  Lord  General  Crom- 
well, Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  to  come  hither  from 
Dublin  to  direct  our  reconnaissance  in  the  enemy's  coun- 
try. The  officers  and  men  of  my  troop  of  horse,  being 
a  hundred  all  told,  had  finished  the  midday  meal,  and 
most  of  them  were  looking  after  the  comfort  of  the 
beasts. 

Some  six  of  us  had  tarried  under  a  great  shade  tree, 
for  digestion's  sake  ;  and  I  had  spoken  of  my  hope  that 
the  conquest  of  Ireland  might  go  forward  without  the 
unnecessary  sacrifice  of  human  life. 

"  Your  sentiments  are  very  humane.  Captain  Marma- 
duke,"  said  David  Potton,  my  Scoutmaster,  "  and  they 
would  do  honour  to  your  mind,  but  the  people  against 
whom  you  desire  to  conduct  a  merciful  war  a^re  not  only 


John  Marmaduke 


ii  1 


;    i     !. 
'    1    !' 


!    i 


the  public  enemies  of  England  ;  they  are  the  unpunished 
murderers  of  the  flower  of  England's  population." 

When  I  spoke  of  mercy  to  the  defenders  the  Scout- 
master's deep-set  eyes  kindled  with  a  glowing  and  bale- 
ful fire.  He  rose  from  the  grass  and  stood  full  three 
inches  above  six  feet  before  ;he  table  at  which  I  sat. 
He  was  gaunt  and  lean,  and  his  cheekbones  were  made 
boldly  prominent  by  the  sunken  holes  under  them.  Be- 
sides bone  and  muscle,  there  was  not  much  under  his 
tight  skin,  and  his  strength  was  that  which  is  ascribed  to 
giants.  He  had  joined  the  Ironsides  just  before  Marston 
Moor  battle,  when  I  was  a  Cornet  under  my  Lord  Essex. 
Then,  after  I  had  won  my  Captain's  commission  at 
Preston  fight,  where  we  destroyed  Duke  Hamilton's 
army,  and  I  was  given  command  of  an  unattached  troop 
of  horse,  David  Potton  became  my  Scoutmaster.  He 
was  a  zealous  Puritan  and  a  man  who  feared  no  danger 
even  when  death  seemed  to  be  the  inevitable  end  of  the 
risk.  I  had  never  seen  him  smile  but  once,  and  that 
was  when  we  began  oar  march  for  Ireland.  When  the 
bugle  set  our  long,  winding  column  in  motion,  he  ejacu- 
lated the  words,  "  At  last !  "  and  smiled  in  a  strange, 
Satanic  way. 

"  Nay,  David,"  I  said,  after  hearing  his  speech  ;  "  the 
Irishry  have  inflicted  many  cruelties  upon  our  former 
English  settlers, — they  have  brought  us  hither  by  an 
atrocious  massacre,  for  which  they  will  be  required  to 
render  a  sufficient  account,  ere  we  are  done,  fear  not. 
But  they,  on  their  side,  have  had  great  provocation. 
We  have  despoiled  them  of  their  lands  and  goods,  we 
have  oppressed  them  in  their  religion.  And  so  I  say, 
conquer  them  we  must,  but  let  us  do  it  like  Christian 
soldiers,  when  they  force  us  not  to  extremities," 


.1 
C 


4 


The  Scoutmaster's  Story  3 

"Extremities,  Captain,"  repeated  the  Scoutmaster, 
with  an  unwonted  disdain.  "  The  Lord  do  so  unto  me 
if  ever  David  Potton  spare  the  life  of  an  Irish  foe  under 
arms." 

"  But  why  this  bitter  and  savage  hatred  of  the  Irish  ? " 
I  asked.  "  You  have  been  in  Ireland  before,  I  know " 

"  Oh,  God ! "  he  answered,  with  an  accent  of  agony 
which  thrilled  us  all  into  close  attention.  *'  Would  you 
know  why  ?  You  t^ink  me  a  savage  now  ;  you  will  re- 
gard me  as  a  fiend,  perhaps,  later  on.  So  be  it,  then,  if 
you  will  have  it,  that  you  shall  hear  my  story." 

He  drank  deep  from  a  pitcher  of  water  on  my  camp- 
table,  and  then  sat  upon  the  trunk  of  a  tree  which  our 
men  had  felled  for  firewood  the  day  before. 

"  I  came  here  with  a  thousand  settlers  to  till  the  land 
that  I  had  bought  and  paid  for  of  the  London  corpora- 
tion. With  me  were  my  wife  and  our  •;  a  boy  of 
eight,  with  blue  eyes  and  golden  hair,  ch  a  boy  as 
our  Cavalier  painters  would  use  in  the  L^aoi:ground  to 
throw  light  and  beauty  into  the  canvas  on  which  they 
picture  their  warriors.  When  we  arrived  here  they  told 
us  we  were  invaders,  but  I  know  nothing  of  that ;  we 
had  paid  the  money  and  ere  long  we  were  put  in  legal 
possession.  The  war  in  England  soon  absorbed  the 
Irish  garrison.  There  was  no  longer  military  protection, 
and  the  native  inhabitants,  going  from  one  aggression  to 
another,  began  to  commit  those  depredations  on  the 
English  settlers  which  soon  became  a  universal  outrage 
and  butchery.  Thousands  of  Englishmen  were  cut  down 
in  their  flight,  and  their  wives  and  children  were  slain 
with  them.  Indignities  were  put  upon  them  which  even 
now  my  tongue  refuses  to  describe  ;  not  the  worst  of 
these  were  that  some  men  were  hanged  and  stabbed  ; 


John  Marmaduke 


'i! 


! !  . 


lii 


Others  had  their  noses  and  ears  cut  off.  Women  had 
their  legs  cut  off  at  the  knees.  Many  persons  were 
thrown  from  bridges  into  the  rivers  and  drowned  ;  others 
were  driven  naked,  aye,  stark  naked,  Captain,  through 
the  chilling  blasts  of  the  November  nights." 

The  Scoutmaster's  face  assumed  a  stony  stare  and  he 
looked  hard  at  the  ground,  seemingly  oblivious  of  the 
army  around  him  as  well  as  of  the  listening  group  under 
the  tree.  We  exchanged  glances,  but  no  man  spoke. 
Out  on  the  surging  waters  of  the  ocean  our  troop-ships 
floated  lazily  at  anchor. 

"  I  and  my  wife  and  our  sweet  boy,"  said  David 
Potton,  soon  continuing  his  narrative,  "  were  in  that 
company  of  unhappy  creatures  who  were  bound  fast  and 
then  stripped  of  the  last  vestige  of  clothing,  and  made  to 
tramp  through  the  snow  and  over  the  frozen  ground  all 
night  long  until  we  reached  the  sea-coast  the  next  morn- 
ing, scarcely  more  than  alive,  and  everyone  wishing  for 
a  speedy  death.  Black  Muriagh  was  the  leader  of  our 
captors, — he  was  called  *  Black '  because  of  the  raven 
beard  which  covered  his  infernal  face  clear  to  his  eyes. 
A  small  vessel  stood  anchored  near  the  shore  and  we 
were  told  that  in  it  we  were  to  be  sent  back  to  England. 
The  hope  of  this  restoration  to  our  native  land  some- 
what mitigated  the  fearful  cruelty  of  our  condition, — for 
mind  you,  there  were  more  than  two  hundred  of  us,  of 
both  sexes  and  of  all  ages,  in  that  wretched  group.  A 
boat  was  loaded  with  our  people  and  sent  out  to  the  ship, 
and  then  returned  for  more.  In  the  course  of  an  hour 
all  but  a  score  had  been  thus  conveyed  and  in  the  next 
boat-load  my  wife  and  son  were  despatched.  They  bade 
me  no  adieu  ;  our  common  shame  was  such  that  there 
was   no  possibility  ot  that,  with  those  gloating  devils 


m 


1 


'if 


I 


The  Scoutmaster's  Story  $ 

reviling  our  condition.  But  my  wife  gave  me  one  swift 
glance  of  love  and  hope  ;  my  boy  smiled,  too,  as  the 
boat  receded  ;  and  I  saw  them  soon  on  the  deck  of  the 
ship  where  my  wife  quickly  arrayed  them  both  under 
the  rude  shelter  of  a  piece  of  sail-cloth." 

"  It  soon  came  your  turn,  David,"  I  said.  "  You  said 
there  were  but  a  few  remaining." 

Again  came  the  stony  glare  into  the  Scoutmaster's  face, 
and  again  the  sad  silence  which  neither  I  nor  my  officers 
would  violate. 

"  There  were  ten  of  us  left,"  said  the  Scoutmaster,  at 
length,  "  ten  men,  all  bound  fast,  mind  you,  and  Black 
Murtagh  told  us  the  ship  was  full  and  no  more  would  be 
sent  on  board.  This  information  was  the  most  bitter  in- 
cident of  our  suffering,  thus  far  ;  but  even  now  we  were 
glad  that  our  dear  ones  were  assured  of  a  safe  return  to 
England,  and  we  hoped  soon  to  be  restored  to  them 
through  the  providence  of  God.  The  little  boat  that 
had  served  as  tender  to  the  vessel  returned  and  all  of 
our  tormentors  returned  in  her,  leaving  none  but  the 
refugees  to  go  to  sea.  This  seemed  passing  strange,  for 
the  anchor  had  been  hauled  in,  the  tiller  had  been  tied 
down,  the  mainsail  had  been  set,  and  the  ship  was 
started  straight  out  to  sea,  so  far  as  we  knew,  without 
course,  compass,  or  chart.  The  little  boat  had  reached 
the  shore  and  the  foul  fiends  who  were  in  her  had  re- 
joined the  group  that  surrounded  us,  when  the  blood  in 
my  veins  seemed  suddenly  to  freeze  with  horror,  for  I 
thought  I  detected  the  vessel  settling.  She  had  not 
gone  too  far  for  me  to  plainly  distinguish  the  sweet  faces 
of  my  wife  and  boy,  and  I  could  see  the  vague  look  of 
terror  which  possessed  them  both.  I  stole  one  quick 
look  at  the  hairy  face  of  that  head  devil,  Black  Murtagh, 


If'" 


John  Marmaduke 


Ml 


1! 


and  then, — Oh,  God  help  me  ! — I  knew  all.  When  my 
eyes  again  caught  the  slowly  receding  ship  I  saw  my 
wife  and  son  waving  their  arms  to  me  in  helpless  despair, 
— the  pretty  lad  even  threw  me  a  kiss, — there  was  one 
prolonged  shriek  of  agony  from  those  on  board, — if  1 
live  a  thousand  years  I  shall  never  cease  to  hear  it, — and 
then  the  vessel  went  to  the  bottom  of  the  ocean  like  a 
■  stone,  and  every  soul  on  board  went  with  her." 

The  officers  who  had  thus  far  listened  to  the  Scout- 
master's story  in  a  sympathy  which  was  too  deep  for 
words,  now  broke  out  into  execrations  on  this  atrocity. 
David  Potton  was  insensible  to  every  sound  ;  but  soon 
he  continued  : 

"  Well,  Captain,  the  rest  is  brief.  I  cursed  those  men 
as  surely  man  never  cursed  before,  hoping  that  they 
would  send  us,  also,  to  instant  death.  They  merely 
laughed  at  our  impotent  agony,  and  very  soon  Black 
Murtagh  set  us  free  to  go  whither  we  would,  our  hands, 
however,  still  being  bound.  After  a  while  we  obtained 
clothing  and  made  our  way  to  Dublin,  and  thence  to 
England  where  we  enlisted  for  the  wars.  All  of  my 
companions  have  since  been  killed  or  have  died  from 
their  exposure  in  Ireland.  I  alone  am  left,  and  for 
what  purpose  am  I  spared.  Captain,  if  not  for  vengeance  ? 
I  have  never  seen  Black  Murtagh  again,  but  he  and  I 
will  meet  each  other, — yea,  I  have  come  to  Ireland  to 
meet  him." 

Again  came  that  smile  on  the  Scoutmaster's  face, — 
that  strange,  satanic  smile  so  terrible  in  its  meaning  that 
no  one  of  us  cared  to  speak,  and  we  therefore  went  out 
to  groom  our  horses,  as  we  had  been  taught  to  do  by  the 
Lord  General  Cromwell,  leaving  David  Potton  on  the 
trunk  of  the  tree,  silent  and  alone. 


■ 

*" 

'v^ 

K 

CHAPTER  II 


THE   BLACK   MARE 


AT  the  time  of  coming  into  Ireland  I  was  just  thirty 
years  old.  My  family,  for  several  hundred  years, 
had  lived  in  Yorkshire,  where  we  had  somewhat  large 
landed  possessions.  My  father,  Sir  William  Marmaduke, 
was  related  to  Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale,  the  King's 
General.  No  one  regretted  more  deeply  than  my  father 
the  unhappy  controversies  between  King  Charles  the 
First  and  his  Parliament ;  but  when  the  dispute  was 
pushed  to  civil  war  both  my  father  and  myself  took 
sides  with  the  people  because  we  sincerely  believed  it 
was  time  to  put  an  end  to  absolute  monarchy  in  Eng- 
land. My  father  was  slain  at  the  first  battle,  Edgehill, 
after  which,  with  my  mother's  consent,  I  enlisted  in  the 
Parliamentary  army  as  Cornet,  and  rose  to  a  captaincy 
as  the  reader  has  already  been  told. 

My  stature  is  a  good  six  feet  and  my  build  is  big  in 
proportion.  I  have  beer  well  trained  in  the  accomplish- 
ments of  a  gentleman,  but  my  delight  has  always  been  in 
riding  and  fencing,  and  these  arts  have  served  me  well 
in  my  career  as  a  soldier.  At  the  time  of  which  I  am 
writing  I  had  never  been  in  love,  not  because  my  heart 
was  not  impressionable,  but  because  ray  employment  in 

7 


ir" 


lii' 


ii 


8 


John  Marmaduke 


the  affairs  of  my  country  had  kept  me  almost  wholly 
away  from  the  society  of  ladies.  This  pleased  my 
mother  well,  for  she  always  told  me  that  marriage  was 
the  most  serious  business  of  a  man's  life,  and  that  he 
should  think  upon  it  only  when  he  was  free  from  all 
other  occupation,  so  that  when  he  chose  his  wife  it 
would  be  done  soberly  and  advisedly.  I  believe  my 
mother  was  right  in  this. 

That  good  lady  had,  however,  already  endeavoured  to 
select  a  wife  for  me  herself  ;  and  on  my  last  visit  to 
Yorkshire,  shortly  before  the  King's  execution,  she  had 
brought  the  Lady  Betty  Forrester  to  visit  at  our  house. 
Lady  Betty  was  the  fifth  daughter  of  an  Earl.  Now, 
Lady  Betty  had  been  the  playmate  of  my  youth,  and 
oftentimes  she  had  climbed  upon  my  knee  and  then  to 
my  broad  shoulders,  whence  she  would  jump  into  a  tree, 
or  down  on  the  soft  grass,  in  most  innocent  merriment. 
She  would  peer  at  me  with  laughing  eyes  through  her 
golden  hair,  and  her  pink  cheeks  soon  deepened  their 
colour  when  we  romped  through  our  games.  Young 
Lord  Alfred  Paddleford  played  with  us  in  those  days, 
and  when  he  would  carry  Betty  off  to  be  his  slave  I  would 
ride  forth  on  an  imaginary  steed  and  rescue  her,  fre- 
quently killing  Lord  Alfred  for  his  villainy. 

But  when  we  met  again  Lady  Betty  had  become  a 
woman  and  I  a  soldier.  A  very  pretty  woman  she  was, 
too,  but  somewhat  shy.  No  amount  of  coaxing  on  my 
part  could  induce  her  to  call  me  Jack  ;  "  Captain  John  " 
was  as  near  as  she  would  come  to  a  familiar  style.  I 
spoke  of  the  old  play-days — ah,  how  hungrily  my  heart 
went  back  to  our  happy  gambols  ! — but  she  would  only 
say,  with  some  disdain,  that  she  must  have  been  a  ver}' 
froward  child. 


The  Black  Mare 


My  mother  made  it  her  ^special  duty,  on  every  suit- 
able occasion,  to  call  my  attention  to  Lady  Betty's 
beauty.  I  granted  this  and  extolled  it  suitably  myself  ; 
but  Lady  Betty  and  I  never  seemed  to  come  again  into 
the  enchanted  confidence  of  the  olden  times.  It  hap- 
pened somewhat  suddenly  that  1  was  sent  for  to  go  on 
the  Irish  business.  My  mother  said,  as  I  departed,  that 
if  occasion  granted  she  would  bring  Lady  Betty  to  Ire- 
land ;  Lady  Betty  smiled  and  pressed  my  hand  ;  and  I 
sped  away. 

On  the  day  when  David  Potton  told  the  story  of  his 
treatment  in  the  Irish  massacre,  I  had  given  my  good 
horse,  Dick,  his  di.iner,  and  rubbed  down  his  glossy 
brown  coat  and  his  four  white  stockings  until  he  was  a 
thing  of  rare  beauty.  Caring  for  my  horse  was  one  of 
the  chief  pleasures  of  my  life  and  a  duty  which  was 
never  committed  to  a  subordinate  all  through  my  service 
in  the  army.  Our  General  had  exacted  this  attention  to 
the  horses  from  every  man  who  served  under  him, 
whether  officer  or  private,  and  if  there  was  any  who 
thought  it  at  first  a  degrading  employment,  he  soon 
grew  to  love  it,  and  with  it  to  love  his  horse  ;  aiid  be- 
came a  better  soldier  thereby. 

"  There,  Dick,"  said  I,  "  you  are  as  fine  a  gentleman 
as  ever  enlisted  in  his  country's  service,  and  now  I  have 
saved  you  a  sweet-cake  from  my  own  dinner,  and  here 
it  is.  Oh,  you  rascal,  you  knew  I  had  it.  Look  at  him, 
Thornton  Willoughby, — is  he  not  the  paragon  of  beasts  ?  " 

Lieutenant  Thornton  Willoughby,  of  my  troop,  was 
sauntering  towards  me,  having  got  his  own  horse  in 
shape.  A  handsome  fellow  he  was,  with  soft  white 
hands  and  a  mouth  like  a  girl's.  I  loved  Willoughby, 
for  he  was  a  brave  soldier,  but  there  was  an  element  of 


to 


John  Marmaduke 


1  I 
■  i 


!  i 


1|- 
i 


ill!: 

m 


weakness  in  him  that  sometimes  filled  my  mind  with  fear 
lest  his  integrity  might  not  endure  against  the  snares  of 
life. 

"  Aye,  Captain,"  he  answered,  slapping  Dick  on  the 
neck,  "  he  is  a  very  Bucephalus,  and  carrieth  a  worthy 
rider  to  the  battle.  Nay,  protest  not.  Captain  Marma- 
duke !  But  when,  think  you,  shall  we  come  at  these 
Irish  ?  I  ache  to  pay  the  churls  back  in  their  own 
coin." 

"  The  Scoutmaster  has  infected  you  with  his  own 
revengeful  spirit,"  I  said.  "  Think  you  that  all  our  men 
have  this  bloodthirsty  feeling,  Willoughby  ?  " 

"  Near  all  of  them,  I  verily  believe,"  he  answered, 
"  and  with  due  cause,  if  ever  war  be  just." 

"  Nay,"  I  said,  "  remember  their  provocations." 

"  But  what  is  this  ?  "  cried  Willoughby. 

His  exclamation  was  caused  by  a  shout  from  some  of 
the  soldiers,  and  upon  looking  round  I  saw  a  prisoner 
brought  in  under  a  strong  guard  in  charge  of  Corporal 
Reuben  Wilton,  of  my  troop,  and  conducted  in  the 
direction  of  my  tent. 

"  What  a  splendid  horse  he  rides  !  "  said  Willoughby. 

The  prisoner  was  mounted  on  a  black  mare,  the 
beauty,  symmetry,  and  strength  of  which  were  so  sur- 
passing tiiat  I  was  seized  with  an  instant  jealousy  be- 
cause she  was  superior  to  my  Dick.  Her  rider  was 
about  two-and-twenty  years  of  age,  and  of  slight  build 
for  a  man.  His  face  was  full  of  the  happy  flush  of 
youth  and  without  the  slighest  sign  of  beard.  His 
brown  locks  fell  in  curls  on  his  neck  and  his  brown  eyes 
were  filled  with  anger  over  his  arrest.  His  costume  was 
elegant,  befitting  a  gentleman  of  wealth. 

"  My  service  to  you,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  said  Cor- 


The  Black  Mare 


tl 


poral  Wilton,  saluting  me.  "  While  out  for  forage  under 
your  instructions,  we  met  this  young  gentleman,  who 
refused  to  give  an  account  of  himself,  and  we  have 
brought  him  here  for  further  examination." 

The  prisoner  flamed  with  scorn.  "  The  ruffians  had 
never  brought  me  here,"  he  cried,  "  had  they  not  seized 
me  unawares  while  I  was  giving  my  horse  a  drink." 

"  Good  sir,  wny  do  you  not  keep  an  eye  to  danger- 
ward  when  you  slake  your  horse's  thirst?"  demanded 
Thornton  Willoughby,  with  ironical  gravity. 

"  If  you  are  in  command,"  he  said,  addressing  me 
and  ignoring  Willoughby,  "why  am  I  here?" 

He  was  very  angry,  and  I  could  see  that  he  was  a  wil- 
ful, headstrong  boy  who  had  thus  far  had  things  his  own 
way. 

"  You  are  here,  pretty  sir,"  said  Willoughby,  "  because 
our  rude  soldiers  brought  you  here." 

"  Young  sir,"  I  said,  "  I  am  sorry  if  our  men  have  put 
you  to  any  inconvenience.  But  it  will  be  necessary  for 
me  to  know  your  name,  after  which  I  shall  have  the 
honour  of  presenting  you  to  General  Ireton." 

"  My  name,  then,"  said  he,  "  is  Terence  Dillon,  son 
of  Sir  Patrick  Dillon,  Knight  of  Carberry  Hall,  ten 
miles  north  of  this  camp.  I  am  taking  the  air,  and  by 
your  favour,  sir,  I  will  forego  the  honour  of  the  meeting 
which  you  propose." 

It  was  well  spoken,  and  there  was  an  air  of  breeding 
and  purpose  in  the  youth  that  won  me  to  him. 

"  Mr.  Dillon,"  said  I,  "  you  have  made  a  frank  an- 
swer. But  since  you  are  here  I  cannot  escort  you  out  of 
the  camp  without  first  presenting  you  to  General  Ireton." 

"  Who  is  now  here,"  said  Willoughby  to  me. 

A  soldier  approached.     He  was  in  middle  age,  of  or- 


r' 


W 


12 


John  MarrrK.duke 


i|i 


Ill  1 1 


ii'i 


in. 


f: 


:!i; 


dinary  height.  His  face  was  right  well  covered  by  a 
brown  beard  and  mustache,  and  stamped  with  intellect- 
ual brightness  and  rugged,  open  honesty.  His  expression 
was  genial  and  humane,  yet  there  was  a  craft  in  it, 
which  meant  that  the  world  should  be  taken  with  due 
suspicion  of  its  sincerity.  He  wore  the  camp-dress  of  a 
Parliamentary  General, — buff  fatigue-coat,  soft  hat  of 
light  colour  and  large  fashion,  breeches  to  the  knee,  and 
military  boots.  A  sword  hung  by  his  side.  In  spite  of 
the  carelessness  of  his  attire,  his  manner  carried  the  full 
dignity  of  authority,  and  there  was  but  one  officer  whom 
we  Ironsides  loved  above  him, — even  he  whose  daughter 
Bridget  was  General  Ireton's  wife. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  he  said,  "  who  have  we 
here?" 

"  A  prisoner,  sir,"  I  answered,  saluting  him,  "  brought 
in  by  Corporal  Wilton,  of  my  troop.  Even  now  I  was 
about  to  escort  him  to  your  tent.  His  name  is  Mr. 
Terence  Dillon,  son  of  Sir  Patrick  Dillon,  of  Carberry 
Hall,  ten  miles  north  of  here,  and  he  says  that  he  was 
merely  taking  the  air  when  our  men  arrested  him." 

"  A  rank  Papis<-  by  his  name,"  said  Scoutmaster  Potton, 
who  had  been  attracted  to  the  scene. 

"  Taking  the  air  may  mean  a  great  many  things  in 
these  troublous  times,"  said  General  Ireton,  scanning 
the  prisoner  searchingly.  "  Methinks,  young  man,  that 
your  ride  after  the  air  has  been  somewhat  prolonged 
to-day, — eh,  ten  miles  you  say  ?  " 

"  Bess  can  do  twice  that  and  still  be  fresh,"  said  Dil- 
lon. "  I  have  given  all  the  explanation  I  can  offer,  sir," 
he  continued,  pouting  his  lips.  "Since  might  makes 
right  here  I  wait  your  further  pleasure." 

"  Since  making  our  camp  here,"  said  General  Ireton, 


The  Black  Mare 


13 


"  I  have  learned  something  of  your  family  in  connec- 
tion with  the  operations  of  our  enemies.  I  regret  to 
put  your  person  to  the  inconvenience  of  a  search.  This 
will  be  made  with  due  apologies." 

When  the  General  said  this  the  prisoner  turned  pale 
and  trembled  on  his  horse.  The  General  noted  his  dis- 
tress and  paced  beside  Bess  toward  the  outskirts  of  the 
camp.  He  beckoned  me  to  follow,  which  I  did,  taking 
Lieutenant  Willoughby  and  the  Scoutmaster  with  me. 

When  we  had  passed  out  of  the  hearing  of  the  curious 
crowd,  the  General  spoke  again. 

"  Now,  sir,  your  papers,  Mr.  Dillon,  if  you  please. 
Nay,  young  man,"  he  cried,  angrily,  while  Willoughby 
seized  Bess's  bridle,  "  do  not  attempt  to  pu<-  spurs  to 
your  horse  !     Scoutmaster,  is  your  piece  loaded  ?  " 

"  Yes,  General,  to  kill  an  Irishman  on  sight,"  replied 
the  Roundhead. 

"  Then,  once  more,  Mr.  Dillon,  your  papers." 

Dillon  gave  a  last  look  at  his  surroundings.  Believ- 
ing escape  to  be  impossible,  he  drew  a  letter  from  the 
breast  of  his  doublet  and  handed  it  reluctantly  to  Gen- 
eral Ireton. 

The  General  read  the  superscription  aloud.  "  To  Lord 
Castlehaven."  Then,  breaking  the  seal,  he  said  :  "  From 
the  Marquis  of  Ormond.  Indeed,  Captain  Marmaduke, 
your  capture  is  an  important  one,  and  I  will  be  glad 
to  meet  all  other  Irish  gentlemen  hereafter  who  ride  to 
take  the  air." 

He  read  the  fetter  aloud.     It  was  as  follows  : 

"  My  dear  Lord  :  His  Majesty,  King  Charles  the 
Second,  has  been  proclaimed  by  the  Scots,  but  would 
come  to  Ireland  rather  than  to  Scotland.  His  Majesty 
is  now  near  the  Island  of  Jersey  with  a  fleet,  and  he 


r' 


H 


John  Marmaduke 


longs  to  give  Cromwell  a  beating.  Prince  Rupert,  with 
three  good  ships  of  war,  is  near  us.  We  think  Crom- 
well aims  at  Drogheda,  and  would  advise  that  the  place 
be  efficiently  guarded.  The  Prince  will  send  you  infor- 
mation from  his  flag-ship  ashore  near  Carberry  Hall 
to-night.     All  looks  well.     I  rest,  my  Lord,  &c. 

"Ormond." 

General  Ireton  folded  the  letter,  smiling  from  a  sense 
of  satisfaction.  ''  His  Majesty  longs  to  give  Cromwell 
a  beating,"  he  said.  "  His  Majesty  !  Young  man,  the 
only  Majesty  of  England  is  its  Law  !  This  letter  is 
worth  much,  and  you  shall  remain  our  guest  for  bring- 
ing it  hither.  The  packet  that  is  to  come  ashore  to 
your  house  to-night  will  be  still  more  precious  ;  we  must 
secure  that." 

He  was  about  to  place  the  document  in  his  pocket 
when  the  prisoner  suddenly  seized  it,  and  digging  his 
spurs  into  his  horse's  flanks,  "  By  your  leave,  sir,"  said 
he,  and  sped  away  like  the  wind,  fairly  riding  over 
Willoughby,  who  sprang  at  his  bridle. 

**  Quick,  fire  ! "  cried  the  General.  There  was  no 
need  for  the  order,  for  the  Scoutmaster  had  already 
raised  his  gun  and  fired.  But  the  schnaphance  lock  on 
his  piece  worked  slowly,  and  as  the  bullet  sped  harm- 
lessly away,  the  flying  horseman  turned  saucily  in  his 
saddle  and  laughed  lefiantly. 

"  Curse  him  !  "  cried  Potton.  "  But  I  promise  it  to 
him  another  time." 

General  Ireton  was  discomfited,  but  he  took  the 
escape  with  a  nonchalant  air.  "  To  be  forewarned  is 
to  be  forearmed,"  said  he.  "We  have  seen  his  letter 
and  it  can  do  us  no  harm  now.  But  you.  Captain  Mar- 
maduke^ do  you  assemble  your  troop  and  go  with  all 


The  Black  Mare 


15 


expediency  to  Carberry  Hall  after  this  young  man.  You 
may  be  able  to  intercept  Prince  Rupert's  letter  to  Castle- 
haven  to-night.  At  any  rate,  the  Dillons  are  a  nest  of 
malignants,  and  I  would  have  that  black  mare  as  a  gift 
for  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland.  Do  you  go  and 
fetch  her.     I  have  seen  no  finer  steed  in  Ireland." 


: 


k 


7^ 


I  ( 


CHAPTER  III 


AN    ODD   DUEL 


ACCOUTRED  and  mounted,  with  a  commissary  good 
for  forty- eight  hours,  my  troop  of  horse  was  ready 
for  service  in  less  than  half  an  hour  after  I  received  the 
General's  command  to  follow  young  Dillon. 

With  Scoutmaster  David  Potton  and  Lieutenants 
Thornton  Willoughby  and  Elijah  Haddon  at  their  front, 
the  troop  waited  for  me  to  lead  them.  I  rode  to  the 
head  of  my  company,  and  turned  my  horse  to  inspect 
them.  There  was  nothing  in  the  appearance  of  the  men, 
their  arms,  jr  their  horses  that  would  fail  to  delight 
the  eye  of  the  most  careful  commander.  I  gave  the 
word,  "  Forward  !  " — and  we  were  off  at  full  trot. 

We  had  proceeded  two  miles  northward  along  the 
level  sea-coast  when  the  road  shot  suddenly  inland,  and 
we  found  ourselves  going  up  a  somewhat  steep  path 
through  a  wood.  It  was  not  long  before  we  reached  a 
tableland,  when  we  rode  straight  ahead  for  three  miles 
and  came  again  in  view  of  the  sea,  this  time  from  a  pro- 
montory which  showed  us  a  bend  in  the  tc*ast  line 
whereby  oui  fleet  and  camp  were  lost  to  sight. 

As  we  pursued  our  way  I  called  the  Scoutmaster  to 
my  side. 


An  Odd  Duel 


"  David,"  I  said,  **  you  have  been  in  Ireland  before. 
Is  the  face  of  nature  here  so  beautiful  always  ? " 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  reluctantly. 

"  England  has  had  much  trouble  in  keeping  her  con- 
quest here." 

"  Yes,"  he  replied,  "  this  country  was  invaded  by  the 
English  in  Henry  II. '5  time,  by  Strongbow,  and  it  has 
been  the  curse  of  England  ever  since." 

"  That  is  certainly  a  new  way  to  put  it,  David." 

"  With  all  its  cost  of  blood  and  treasure  how  can  you 
view  it  otherwise  ?  What  has  its  possession  yielded  to  Eng- 
land but  reproach  ?  Ireland  has  never  had  a  national  or- 
ganisation, she  has  never  had  a  flag,  nor  a  dynasty,  nor  a 
capital  city,  nor  a  national  judicial  system.  She  never 
made  these  institutions  for  herself,  and  England  never 
supplied  them  to  her.  Yet,  strangely  enough,  when  she 
has  been  loyal  to  England  at  all,  her  allegiance  has  been 
held  by  Irish  soldiers,  not  by  invading  English  armies." 

**  Who  are  the  tories  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Wild  men  who  inhabit  the  bogs  and  mountains. 
There  are  many  such  here  in  Wicklow.  They  are  wilder 
than  the  wolves,  and  more  ferocious.  Once,  when  I  was 
riding  alone  near  this  road,  a  score  of  tory  women 
sprang  out  at  me,  and  e'er  I  could  draw  a  weapon  they 
slew  my  horse  by  thrusting  their  long  knives  into  his 
belly.  I  sprang  to  one  side,  and  in  amasement  beheld 
the  famished  hags  cut  the  flesh  from  the  beast  and  eat 
it  raw.  So  intent  were  they  on  this  bloody  repast  that 
they  forgot  me,  and  I  stole  away  to  my  friends.  The 
great  aim  of  the  tories  is  to  get  the  cattle  and  horses  of 
the  English  settlers." 

"  And  what  consideration  have  these  tories  from  their 
own  countrymen  ?  "  I  asked. 


?" 


i8 


John  Marmaduke 


. 


;       ): 


I  ; 


"The  consideration  they  give  to  wolves,"  he  saicj, 
"  A  shot  or  a  stab, — it  is  great  sport  for  some  of  them." 

"  Do  the  tories  enlist  in  the  Irish  garrisons  ?  " 

"  No  ;  the  tories  stay  to  themselves.  But  many  of  the 
English  settlers,  or  their  descendants,  have  joined  the 
Irish  military  parties,  although  there  are  so  many  fac- 
tions that  you  could  not  get  them  under  one  banner,  nor 
five,  either,  I  doubt." 

By  this  time  my  troop  had  ridden  nearly  the  ten  miles 
of  our  journey,  and  I  noted  that  the  sea  was  growing 
angry  from  an  approaching  storm,  and  lashing  the  rocks 
below  us  with  boisterous  fury.  Emerging  from  a  wood, 
we  came  suddenly  in  sight  of  Carberry  Hall. 

We  rode  straight  up  to  the  iron  gate,  in  front  of  which 
I  halted  my  brave  troop,  and  peered  through  the  mas- 
sive bars.  Within  I  saw  a  two-story  house  of  white 
stone  having  gable  roofs  and  dormer  windows,  with 
cre(  ing  vines  and  clinging  roses  on  every  wall.  I 
could  see  from  the  long  front  of  the  house  and  its  twr> 
retreating  wings,  that  the  hospitable  builder  of  a  hun- 
dred years  back  had  designed  the  edifice  to  shelter  his 
friends  as  well  as  his  family.  A  stone  walk  lay  before 
the  front  door,  and  from  the  edge  of  this  stone,  some 
three  hundred  feet  from  where  I  stood,  a  lawn  sloped 
down  to  the  gate  which  barred  our  entrance.  A  score 
of  huge  oak-trees  gave  their  shade  to  the  lawn,  while 
here  and  there  a  short-cropped  evergreen  dotted  the 
fresh  sward.  A  broad  path  to  the  right  and  left  of  the 
gate  circled  the  lawn  in  its  generous  width,  and  led  to 
the  door  of  the  house  in  either  direction.  A  strong 
wall  of  stone  eight  feet  high,  and  pierced  only  by  this 
gate,  was  built  round  the  house,  leaving  pleasure  grounds 
of  good  dimensions  on  every  hand. 


I 


ti 


An  Odd  Duel 


19 


It  was  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  I  saw  gath- 
ered on  the  lawn  directly  in  front  of  the  house  a  com- 
pany of  some  thirty  persons  composed  of  men-at-arms 
and  servants,  about  half-and-half.  At  their  head  was  an 
elderly  man  whom  I  took  to  be  Sir  Patrick  Dillon.  He 
looked  to  be  fifty,  and  his  face  helu  an  expression  of 
fierce  and  bitter  hatred.  He  wore  the  iron  hat  and 
steel  back-  and  breast  of  our  time,  which,  with  the 
sword  at  his  side,  made  him  look  fully  ready  for  war.  My 
eye  detected  that  he  had  hastily  gathered  his  men  to- 
gether and  armed  them,  the  serving-men  as  well  as  the 
others,  and  that  he  would  now  attempt  the  defence  of 
his  home  if  he  found  any  chance  to  hold  it.  At  his  side 
was  his  piper,  m-ost  picturesquely  dressed,  and  holding 
his  curious  instrument  ready  to  play. 

"  William  Cozens,"  I  cried,  turning  to  my  trumpeter, 
"  do  you  wind  him  a  summons." 

The  merry  note  of  the  horn  was  quickly  answered  by 
the  appearance  on  the  wall  of  two  men  on  either  side 
of  the  gate.  They  had  stood  concealed  until  my  chal- 
lenge brought  them  directly  above  me.  At  the  same 
^nstant  the  leader  walked  straight  across  the  lawn 
toward  us,  followed  by  his  guard,  with  piper  playing. 
When  he  drew  near  the  gate,  I  said  : 

"  My  service  to  you,  sir.    Are  you  Sir  Patrick  Dillon  ? " 

"  The  same,"  he  answered,  brusquely,  eyeing  our  Eng- 
lish uniforms  with  a  disgust  which  he  did  not  attempt  to 
conceal. 

"  Then,  I  am  Captain  John  Marmaduke,  of  the  Eng- 
lish Parliament's  army,  and  I  must  pray  you  to  open  this 
gate,  or  if  you  do  not,  myself  and  my  men  will  go  over 
your  wall,  and  we  would  much  prefer  to  go  in  on  our 
horses." 


r 


m   - 


i'!l 


W  i 


!    i 


i 


if 


20 


John  Marmaduke 


"  To  the  walls  !  "  he  cried.  "  Fifteen  of  you  on  each 
side,  quick !  " 

The  order  was  executed  with  bungling  skill,  and  I  saw 
thirty  men  stand  above  us,  preparing  with  sv/ords  and 
guns  to  oppose  our  assault.  Sir  Patrick  seemed  ready  to 
burst  with  rage,  but  he  had  evidently  counted  our  num- 
bers, and,  having  made  an  effective  demonstration,  he 
now  glanced  at  the  remaining  men  round  him,  and  an- 
swered me,  in  a  wish  to  waste  time. 

"  For  what  purpose,"  he  inquired,  "  is  the  honour  of 
this  visit  paid  me,  may  I  ask  ?  " 

"  That  I  shall  impart  to  you  presently,"  I  answered  ; 
"  but  •first  oblige  me  by  opening  your  gate.  Nay,  sir  !  " 
I  cried,  as  he  stood  stock  still,  '*  we  are  an  armed  host 
bent  on  hostile  work,  and  I  mean  not  to  dally  with  you." 

There  was  a  shot  from  the  wall  and  a  bullet  pinged 
past  my  ear.  Sir  Patrick  looked  furiously  at  the  marks- 
man, who  had  apparently  not  waited  for  his  order.  But 
my  command  was  instantly  given  : 

"  Forward  ! — to  the  right  and  left  !  Let  every  other 
man  in  each  rank  mount  the  wall  !  "  And  with  the 
Scoutmaster  and  Haddon  leading  the  charge  on  one 
side,  and  Lieutenant  Willoughby  on  the  other,  it  was 
merry  work  for  the  Ironsides.  On  receiving  my  order 
the  whole  troop  rode  straight  at  the  wall,  one  half  on 
either  side  of  the  gate.  Every  alternate  man  threw  his 
bridle  to  his  comrade,  and,  springing  to  his  feet  in  the 
saddle,  with  sword  in  hand,  endeavored  to  gain  the  wall. 
The  other  men,  while  guarding  the  horses,  prepared  to 
pick  off  the  defenders  with  their  carbines.  From  my 
mounted  position  in  front  of  the  gate  I  could  watch  the 
assault  on  both  sides,  and  I  carefully  directed  the  move- 
ments of  my  men  until  I  saw  that  they  had  secured  the 


;i 


An  Odd  Duel 


21 


I 


wall  and  driven  the  others  over  it  with  many  broken 
heads  and  some  graver  injuries  by  which  to  remember 
our  English  blows. 

"  Now,  Sir  Patrick  Dillon,"  I  cried,  when  there  was  a 
moment's  pause  in  the  fight,  "  if  you  open  not  your 
gates  at  once  I  will  renew  the  assault  and  will  grant  you 
no  quarter." 

As  the  Irish  knight  looked  upon  the  stout  troopers 
who  already  stood  on  the  wall,  five-and-twenty  on  each 
side  of  the  gate,  he  divined  that  at  my  next  command 
they  would  alight  within  ;  and  his  stomach  came  down. 
Without  uttering  a  further  word  he  opened  the  gate  and 
then  retraced  his  steps  across  the  lawn,  followed  by  his 
men,  among  them  being  his  son,  young  Terence,  who,  I 
somehow  think,  had  fired  at  me  from  the  wall. 

I  rode  through  the  gateway,  all  my  men  who  were  still 
•  mounted  following  me  with  the  led  horses.  When  we 
had  all  entered  I  gave  the  word  to  the  men  on  the  walls, 
who  straightway  came  down  and  got  upon  their  steeds. 
I  again  divided  my  troop  to  the  right  and  left  and  we 
rode  around  the  lawn  five  abreast  each  way,  I  to  the 
right  with  twenty-five  men,  and  Lieutenant  Willoughby 
to  the  left  with  the  Scoutmaster  and  an  equal  number, 
leaving  one  half  of  my  troop  at  the  gate  with  Lieutenant 
Haddon.  We  thus  came  together,  Willoughby,  the 
Scoutmaster,  and  I,  in  front  of  the  door,  and,  after  tell- 
ing off  ten  men  to  go  with  Willoughby  to  the  rear  of 
the  house  in  each  direction  and  stop  any  who  should 
come  or  go,  I  dismounted  and  stood  before  Sir  Patrick, 
who  had  already  gained  the  door  with  his  men.  His 
son  had  disappeared  ;  but  I  saw  that  there  were  now 
present  two  priests,  a  short,  fat  one,  and  a  tall,  lean  one, 
at  which  my  men  instantly  murmured. 


22 


John  Marmaduke 


\  i\ 


;  ; 


"  Now,  Sir  Patrick,"  said  I,  in  the  sternest  voice  I 
could  assume,  "  I  demand  the  surrender  of  your  son, 
Mr.  Terence  Dillon,  who  is  the  bearer  of  letters  threat- 
ening the  peace  and  safety  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
England.  Furthermore,  the  black  horse  ridden  by  him 
to-day  I  shall  take  for  the  service  of  the  Parliament's 
army.  Again,  I  shall  hold  possession  of  this  your  manor 
of  Carberry  Hall  until  I  receive  command  from  General 
Ireton  to  relinquish  it." 

He  would  have  consigned  us  to  perdition  if  he  could 
have  done  it, — the  expression  of  his  face  conveyed  as 
much.  But  he  was  too  completely  overmastered.  With 
the  hate  still  in  his  eyes,  he  replied  : 

"  My  son  is  not  present,  nor  is  his  horse." 

"  Let  search  be  made  through  the  house  at  once, 
Reuben  Wilton,"  I  said,  "  for  Mr.  Terence  Dillon." 

"  I  am  here,"  said  young  Dillon,  emerging  from  the 
house,  "  at  your  service." 

"  Mr.  Dillon,"  I  said,  "  you  will  oblige  me  by  giving 
into  my  keeping  that  letter  which  was  in  your  bosom 
this  day  ;  also,  you  will  render  yourself  my  prisoner  ; 
and,  furthermore,  you  will  deliver  into  my  charge  your 
black  horue,  Bess." 

"  The  letter  you  demand,"  he  replied,  assuming  his 
old  air  of  defiance,  "  is  sped  out  of  my  hands  these  two 
hours  ;  the  black  horse  is  the  pet  of  my  sister  Catherine, 
and  is  not  to  be  disturbed  from  its  stall  ;  and  for  myself, 
I  would  fain  cross  swords  with  you,  sir,  before  parting 
with  a  thing  I  value  so  much  as  my  liberty.  Therefore, 
draw  you.  Captain  Marmaduke,  if  you  are  a  true  man." 

He  drew  his  sword,  and  Scoutmaster  Potton  advanced 
with  a  file  of  troopers,  now  dismounted,  and  would  have 
seized  him  had  I  not  forbidden  them. 


An  Odd  Duel 


^3 


"  It  is  a  fair  challenge,"  I  said,  drawing  my  sword. 
"  Let  all  stand  back." 

"  Are  you  mad.  Captain  ?  "  asked  the  Scoutmaster, 
angrily.  "  He  is  already  your  prisoner  and  has  no  right 
to  this  combat." 

"  Nay,"  I  said,  carelessly.  "  I  will  but  give  him  a 
lesson  in  fencing.     So  stand  back,  I  pray  you." 

I  was  about  to  step  before  my  fretting  challenger  when 
a  young  lady  came  out  of  the  house,  who  instantly  caused 
my  heart  to  beat  furiously  upon  my  ribs.  I  divined  at 
once  that  she  was  the  sister  of  my  antagonist,  and  about 
two  years  younger  than  he,  for  never  were  two  flowers 
on  a  stalk  more  like  each  other  than  were  Terence  and 
Catherine  Dillon.  The  red  and  full  face,  the  pouting 
mouth,  the  arched  brows,  the  teeth  of  pearl,  the  brilliant, 
furious  eyes  of  deep  brown,  the  curling  hair  on  her  neck, 
and  the  angry  contraction  on  her  noble  forehead,  made 
the  counterpart  in  ideal  resemblance  of  the  youth  whose 
sword  was  drawn  to  fight  against  mini. 

"  Stay,  Saxon  !  "  she  cried,  in  a  ^'oice  so  rich  and 
deep  that  there  was  the  charm  of  music  even  in  its  rage. 
"  Why  do  you  invade  our  home  ?  My  brother  has  done 
you  no  harm.  As  for  the  black  horse,  it  is  my  pet  and 
property.  I  warn  you,  sir,  that  there  are  those  who  will 
puiiish  this  wicked  invasion  !  " 

She  stood  before  me  with  clinched  hands  and  swel- 
ling bosom,  more  beautiful  than  any  woman  I  had  ever 
seen.  My  heart  was  still  doing  double  work  in  its  seat 
of  life.  I  would  gladly  have  refrained  from  the  duty 
I  stood  charged  to  perform  ;  but  my  men  wer„  watch- 
ing me  eagerly,  and  my  prestige  as  a  soldier  was  at  stake. 

"  Fair  lady,"  I  said,  "these  are  the  unpleasant  tasks 
of  war.     I  must  do  what  I  have  said." 


7 


i 


11 


24 


John  Marmaduke 


"  Stand  aside,  Catherine,"  cried  her  brother,  beside 
himself  with  passion.  "  Here  you  go,  sir,"  and  with  the 
words  he  came  upon  me  with  all  his  fury.  The  youth 
was  but  as  a  child  in  my  hands.  It  was  thrust  and  parry 
as  I  willed  it  to  be  ;  and  when  he  found  that  he  could 
not  beat  down  my  guard,  and  that  I  was  making  no  effort 
to  wound  him,  the  anger  in  his  face  gave  way  to  a 
humiliation  beyond  disguise.  When  I  felt  his  wrist 
weakening  I  gave  his  blade  a  twist  which  sent  it  flying 
into  the  air,  and  it  struck  hilt  up  in  the  ground  at  his 
sister's  feet. 

I  felt  sincere  regret  at  his  discomfiture,  and  was  in 
the  act  of  sheathing  my  weapon  when  Catherine  seized 
his  sword  and  attacked  me  with  an  impetuosity  which 
required  me  to  instantly  defend  myself.  "  Nay,"  I  said, 
taking  her  thrust  on  my  blade  and  stepping  backward 
as  she  pressed  on,  "  I  cannot  fight  a  woman  !  "  I  was 
half-indignant  and  half-amused  at  the  position  in  which 
her  hatred  had  placed  me  ;  but  I  was  also  amazed  at 
her  skill.  With  her  whole  body  erect, — and  she  was 
tall  as  women  go,  although  her  head  was  not  above  my 
shoulder, — she  gave  a  thrust  which  would  have  pierced 
my  steel  cuirass  had  I  not  parried  it.  When  she  gave 
me  carte  and  tierce  I  observed  her  right  foot  advance 
and  the  left  arm  ascend  so  that  the  equipoise  of  her 
body  was  perfectly  preserved.  She  had  learned  the 
art  of  fencing  from  no  mean  master,  for  while  her  fury 
increased  as  she  found  my  resistance  impassable,  she  was 
ever  alert,  steady,  and  full  of  a  grace  that  bewitched  me 
even  while  I  saw  her  trying  to  kill  me.  Her  body  moved 
to  the  rhythm  of  our  encounter  and  her  wrist  seemed 
never  to  tire.  It  was  carte  guard,  thrust,  low  carte ; 
then  quinte  thrust  and  parade  ;  and  prime  parade  and 


1 


And  Odd  Duel 


25 


thrust ;  and  even  with  my  superior  strength  and  skill  I 
own  that  it  required  all  my  quickness  of  foot  and  wrist 
and  eye  to  oppose  without  endangering  my  fair  antag- 
onist. I  think  I  would  have  laid  down  my  ambition 
in  this  war  if  I  could  but  have  induced  her  to  cease 
her  unmaidenly  attack.  I  began  to  feel  a  deep  sense 
of  mortification  over  the  unmanly  pastime  which  she 
forced  me  to  maintain,  when  I  heard  David  Potton, 
whose  rage  had  been  swelling  all  through  our  combat, 
cry  out  : 

"  Give  the  devil's  cat  your  point,  Captain.  Shall  I 
do  it  for  you  ?  " 

"  Not  on  your  life  I  "  I  shouted. 

But  I  was  too  late.  The  Scoutmaster  stepped  to  my 
side  and  I  saw  his  sword  descending  on  the  beautiful 
brown  head  of  the  enraged  woman.  It  called  for  all 
my  quickness  to  catch  his  blade  on  my  own  point  with 
a  parry  that  disarmed  him  ;  and,  as  I  turned  aside  to 
make  this  manoeuvre,  the  young  girl  thrust  at  me  with 
triumphant  fury  and  passed  her  sword  through  my  left 
arm. 

My  men  gave  a  cry  of  wrath  and  her  father  and 
brother  stepped  to  her  side  to  protect  her.  It  would 
have  gone  ill  with  the  men-at-arms  and  the  household 
of  Sir  Patrick  Dillon  had  I  for  one  moment  lost  my 
self-command.  As  it  was  it  required  all  my  authority 
to  control  the  revengeful  spirit  of  my  troopers,  who 
were  following  David  Potton  in  an  attempt  to  put  to 
the  sword  those  who  stood  against  us  ;  and  they  had 
even  brought  halters  to  hang  the  two  priests.  When 
I  had  succeeded  in  restoring  the  discipline  v/hich  my 
own  mishap  had  dissipated,  I  turned  again  to  face  Sir 
Patrick,  and  I  saw  that  at  that  instant,  and  not  until 


r. 


26 


John  Marmaduke 


i  1: 


then,  Catherine  had  discovered  that  she  had  wounded 
me  while  I  was  in  the  act  of  saving  her  life.  All  the 
rage  which  had  kindled  her  face  into  such  a  flame 
of  passion  died  away,  and  there  was  now  a  look  of 
deep  sorrow  and  contrition  in  her  brown  eyes.  She 
looked  at  me  for  a  moment  with  an  uncertain  glance, 
then  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  and  saying,  "  I  hate 
you,"  she  fled  into  the  house. 

I  was  holding  my  right  hand  tightly  over  my  wounded 
arm,  endeavouring  to  stay  the  blood  which  was  flowing 
all  too  fast.  Scoutmaster  Potton  attempted  to  bind  up 
my  arm,  but  I  felt  an  unaccountable  sense  of  shame  in 
displaying  my  injury  to  my  men,  and  so  I  sternly  told 
him  it  was  a  trifle,  and  bade  him  secure  the  house  and 
Us  occupants.  Lieutenant  Willoughby  now  appeared, 
and,  in  a  short  time,  he  invested  our  troopers  in  the 
house  and  made  prisoners  of  all  its  people.  When  the 
attention  of  the  men  was  diverted  from  myself  I  passed 
into  a  large  room  to  the  right  of  the  entrance  to  l^ok  for 
a  lint  and  bandage  for  my  bleeding  arm.  As  I  entered 
this  apartment  and  laid  my  iron  hat  on  a  table,  I  felt  a 
faint  and  dizzy  sensation  come  suddenly  over  me  ;  and 
then,  through  what  seemed  to  be  an  ever-increasing 
haze,  I  beheld  Catherine  weeping. 

"  Madam,"  I  said,  holding  tightly  to  a  chair,  "  will 
you — a  bandage — bind  up — my  arm — I  am — very  ill, 
I  think." 

I  never  before  wanted  to  cry  so  like  a  hurt  child.  I 
saw  Catherine  advance  to  my  side.  But  just  as  I  was 
wondering  what  made  both  the  beautiful  girl  and  the 
room  itself  fly  round  with  a  terrible  velocity,  I  felt  her 
two  hands  grasp  me  by  the  shoulders.  Then  I  fell  to 
the  floor  dead  to  all  sensation. 


mm  MiilMMri^iiiii 


CHAPTER  IV 


FOES     OUTRIGHT 


WHEN  I  recovered  my  senses  it  was  past  nine 
o'clock,  candles  were  lit  in  the  room,  and  both 
Scoutmaster  Potton  and  Lieutenant  Willoughby  were  be- 
side the  bed  on  which  I  lay.  They  had  stripped  off  my 
sword,  cuirass,  and  boots,  and  when  I  gave  a  quick 
glance  at  my  wounded  arm  I  saw  that  it  was  neatly  and 
tightly  bandaged  in  a  way  that  only  a  woman  could  ac- 
complish. My  faithful  officers  had  ministered  to  me 
with  great  devotion,  and  a  look  of  extreme  satisfaction 
filled  their  faces  when  I  smiled  and  asked  them  the  hour. 

The  Lieutenant  went  to  the  door  and  I  heard  a  wo- 
man's voice  ask, — I  was  sure  it  was  Catherine's  : 

"  Is  your  Captain  awake  ? " 

His  response  I  did  not  hear,  but  soon  he  passed  out 
his  hand  and  received  a  bowl  of  smoking  broth  which  he 
brought  me  to  eat.  When  I  had  consumed  it  I  felt  my 
strength  restored,  and,  rising  from  the  couch,  sat  myself 
down  in  a  great  chair. 

The  storm  which  we  had  seen  gathering  during  our 
march  had  broken  out  of  the  heavens  with  unexampled 
violence,  and  the  rain  descended  upon  the  house  in  a 
great  flood.    The  lightning  split  upon  the  rolling  waves 

27 


28 


John  Marmaduke 


mil 


far  out  to  sea,  and  the  crashing  thunder  seemed  to  shake 
the  earth  with  its  eternal  booming. 

In  the  midst  of  all  the  noise  of  the  storm  I  heard  the 
voice  of  the  Scoutmaster,  saying  : 

"  The  Lord  reigneth.  Clouds  and  darkness  are  round 
about  Him.  Righteousness  and  judgment  are  the  habi- 
tation of  His  throne.  A  fire  goeth  before  Him,  and 
burneth  up  His  enemies  round  about.  His  lightnings 
enlightened  the  world  :  the  earth  saw  and  trembled. 
The  heavens  declare  His  righteousness,  and  all  the 
people  see  His  glory.  Confounded  be  all  they  that 
serve  graven  images,  that  boast  themselves  of  idols. 
For  thou,  Lord,  art  high  above  all  the  earth  :  Thou  art 
exalted  far  above  all  gods.  He  preserveth  the  souls  of 
His  saints  ;  He  delivereth  them  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
wicked.  Give  thanks  at  the  remembrance  of  His  holi- 
ness." 

"  What  disposition  have  you  made  of  our  men  ? "  I 
asked. 

"They  are  well  disposed,"  answered  Lieutenant 
Willoughby,  "  except  the  sentries,  who  will  have  an  ill 
time  of  it  in  this  fearful  night.  Lieutenant  Haddon  is 
on  watch.  Our  men  are  quartered  in  the  two  wings  of 
this  ho  ;3e, — some  ninety  of  them.  They  have  had 
supper  and  are  enjoying  their  pipes.  The  horses  are  all 
under  shelter  in  the  stables  and  the  sheds  thereabouts. 
Ten  men  do  guard  duty  on  the  wall  and  at  the  gate." 

"  And  Sir  Patrick's  household  ? "     I  asked. 

"  All  prisoners,"  answered  Willoughby.  "  Sir  Patrick 
and  his  son  are  in  separate  rooms  under  guard.  The 
servants  are  all  in  strict  watch.  Only  the  young  lady  is 
free,  and  the  Scoutmaster  has  told  her  that  she  is  under 
surveillance.    For  myself,  I  have  not  yet  seen  her  except 


Foes  Outright 


29 


now  in  the  darkness  of  the  hall.  I  knew  nothing  of  the 
Devil's  dance  she  gave  you  this  afternoon  until  an  hour 
after  you  came  in  the  house.  Too  tender  hearted  are 
you,  my  Captain,  to  brook  the  evil  affronts  of  these 
people  with  so  much  forbearance." 

"  They  have  much  on  their  side  to  resent,  Willoughby. 
Have  Sir  Patrick  and  his  family  had  necessary  food  ? " 

"  Everything,  Captain.  Their  own  servants  attend 
them  without  restriction." 

"  It  is  well  ;  I  would  not  use  them  ill  so  long  as  it  be 
not  necessary." 

"  There  would  have  been  no  Sir  Patrick  nor  any 
Papist  here  to-night,"  said  the  Scoutmaster,  **  if  I  had 
had  my  way." 

"  Then  it  is  well  for  them  that  you  had  it  not,"  I 
answered,  laughing.  "  Do  you  think  the  Prince's  ship 
will  venture  out  of  harbour  in  this  tempest  to  send  his 
message  ashore  ? " 

"  That  depends  on  the  Prince,"  answered  the  Scout- 
master. "  If  his  ship  was  already  at  sea  when  the  storm 
broke  he  will  come  here  to-night.  If  he  was  in  safe 
harbour  farther  north,  as  I  believe  he  was,  he  will  stay 
there  for  another  twenty-four  hours,  or  he  is  not  the 
good  sailor  we  have  heard  him  to  be." 

"  I  will  take  a  turn  through  the  house  and  grounds." 
said  I,  rising  a  little  unsteadily,  "  and  presently  rejoin 
you." 

"  Nay,  good  Captain  !  "  protested  the  Lieutenant  and 
the  Scoutmaster  in  a  breath. 

"  Oh,  I  am  all  right,"  I  replied.  "  I  will  see  the  men 
ere  they  all  sleep  or  they  may  worry  about  my  condition. 
What  is  the  word  ?  " 

"  Naseby." 


fi 


I 


I 


I  : 


1;^ 


II 


30 


John  Marmaduke 


As  he  spoke  the  word  I  thought  I  heard  the  rustling 
of  a  woman's  dress.     Could  anyone  be  listening  ? 

I  passed  out  into  the  hall  and  saw  Lieutenant  Haddon 
near  the  door.  ^ 

"  God  bless  you,  Captain,"  said  he,  rejoiced  to  see  me 


out. 


God  bless  you,  Lieutenant,"  I  returned.  "  It  is  a 
bad  night.     Where  is  Sir  Patrick  ?  " 

"  In  the  room  to  the  rear  of  yours,  with  a  sentry  under 
the  sheltered  window  without,  and  Willis  Fenton  at  his 
door." 

"  And  his  son  ?  " 

"  Across  the  hall  from  yours,  in  the  front  room,  with 
sentries  at  window  and  door  in  like  manner." 

"  His  room  looks  out  on  the  sea  like  mine  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Captain." 

"  Let  them  both  be  well  guarded." 

"  Yes,  Captain." 

I  passed  down  the  hall  looking  into  each  room,  the 
doors  of  all  being  wide  open.  The  house  was  furnished 
with  elegance  and  taste,  and,  as  I  am  not  fond  of  wan- 
ton rudeness,  even  to  an  enemy,  I  was  glad  that  its 
principal  chambers  and  the  spacious  apartments  that 
had  been  intended  for  the  use  of  the  family  had  not 
been  billeted  by  my  men.  As  I  proceeded  I  came  into 
the  right  wing  of  the  house  and  there  found  some  fifty 
of  my  troopers,  already  much  at  home  and  mostly  asleep. 
I  received  a  hearty  greeting  there,  and  Richard  Trevor 
asked  me  if  I  was  much  hurt. 

"  A  bare  scratch,"  I  said  ;  "  an  accidental  touch. 
Good-night,  boys." 

I  opened  a  door  and  passed  out  into  the  howling  tem- 
pest.    Tom  Bufter  instantly  halted  me,  and  by  a  flash  of 


Foes  Outright 


31 


lightning  I  saw  his  gun  levelled  at  my  breast.  "  Naseby," 
I  said  ;  and  crossed  the  open  court  as  quickly  as  I  could 
to  the  stables.  Three  men  were  there  to  guard  the 
horses,  to  whom  I  made  myself  known.  My  own  horse 
Dick  neighed  when  he  heard  my  voice,  and  I  stroked 
his  nose  as  I  passed  on.  Inside  a  large  stall  stood  Bess, 
and,  as  I  thought  of  her  fair  owner,  I  told  my  men  to 
see  that  the  beast  had  good  feed  and  good  measure. 
Going  into  the  left  wing  of  the  house  I  found  the  ser- 
vants of  Carberry  Hall  in  the  various  rooms,  all  under 
guard.  Upstairs  I  came  on  Corporal  Wilton  standing 
before  a  locked  door,  very  angry. 

"  What  is  within,  Reuben  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  The  two  priests  are  within,  I  think,"  he  answered 
"but  they  will  give  no  respoy>se  to  my  knock." 

"  You  show  them  too  much  courtesy,"  I  said.  "  There 
shall  be  no  locked  doors  here  save  those  that  we  our- 
selves lock.  Within  !  "  I  cried,  pounding  on  the  door 
with  my  sword  until  the  house  rang  with  it.     "  Open  the 

door  quickly,  or "  but  my  noisy  summons  had  brought 

the  two  priests  to  the  door,  who  humbly  inquired  if  they 
could  be  of  sf^rvice. 

"  Shall  I  knock  them  on  the  head.  Captain  ?  "  asked 
the  Corporal.  "  Just  look  at  what  is  behind  them  ! " 
But  innocently  enough,  there  was  nothing  back  01  them 
but  an  altar  with  liglited  candles. 

The  short  priest  fell  on  his  knees  in  abject  terror  at 
these  words  and  murmured  a  prayer  over  his  beads. 
The  other  stood  with  a  certain  pride  of  courage  which 
always  commands  respect. 

"  Do  them  no  harm,"  I  said  to  Wilton  ;  and  then, 
looking  sternly  at  the  i>riests,  I  demanded  :  "  What  do 
you  here  with  locked  doors  ?  " 


p 


32 


John  Marmaduke 


;■  :ii 


"We  do  but  pray  before  the  altar,  good  Captain," 
cried  the  short  priest,  still  on  his  knees. 

"  Then  pray  with  the  door  open  henceforth,"  I  replied. 
"  No  harm  to  them,  Wilton,"  I  said  again  to  the  Corporal, 
who  was  itching  to  give  them  the  butt  of  his  gun. 
"  Quarrel  not  with  any  man  because  he  square  not  with 
you  in  matters  of  religion.  We  are  here  to  secure  peace 
within  the  Commonwealth  of  England  ; — not  to  do 
wanton  murder." 

When  I  returned  to  the  front  hall  I  passed  Lieutenant 
Haddon  and  went  out  into  the  night  again  and  down  the 
soaking  lawn  to  the  gate.  Again  I  gu^'e  the  word  and 
discovered  myself  to  the  two  sentries  ;  and  as  I  turned 
to  retrace  my  steps  in  some  haste  to  the  house,  I  heard 
one  of  them  foolishly  say  :  "  There  is  no  better  Captain 
in  the  army  ;  " — to  which  the  other  replied,  "  He  will  go 
the  full  length  of  every  hardship  with  us  always." 

When  I  came  again  into  the  house,  dripping  wet,  I  took 
a  turn  up  and  down  the  hall,  and  looking  into  a  room  two 
doors  below  mine,  on  the  opposite  side,  I  beheld  Cather- 
ine on  her  knees  saying  her  beads  before  a  candle,  with 
her  maid,  Nora,  asleep  beside  her  on  a  chair.  I  com- 
manded Lieutenant  Haddon  to  see  that  no  siiv,:,i  was 
put  upon  the  lady,  and  was  about  to  rejoin  ay  two 
officers,  when  1  heard  Catherine's  deep,  rich  voice  : 

"  Captain  Marmaduke." 

She  stood  framed  in  the  doorway, — as  beauteous  a 
picture  as  any  that  Mr.  Van  Dyke  has  ever  painted  on 
his  canvas.  She  was  dressed  in  a  gown  of  gay  taffeta, 
which,  while  it  was  not  red,  had  yet  a  slashing  of  red 
that  bravely  set  off  her  brown  face  and  head.  A  white 
lace  scarf  was  wrapped  round  her  neck,  its  two  ends 
being  held  in  her  hands  as  she  spoke  to  me. 


I" 


Foes  Outright 


I  was  at  her  side  in  an  instant. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  she  said,  looking  straight  into 
my  eyes  with  those  glowing  brown  ones  of  hers,  "  I  am 
very  jorry  that  I  wounded  you  this  afternoon  while  you 
were  in  the  act  of  saving  my  life." 

"  It  was  a  perfectly  proper  combat,"  I  answered, 
knowing  well  in  my  heart  that  it  was  not. 

"  I  did  not  know  that  a  Puritan  could  be  polite  at  the 
expense  of  his  conscience,"  she  said,  showing  her  teeth 
in  a  distant  smile.  "  I  would  cheerfully  have  passed  my 
sword  through  your  heart  if  I  could  have  done  so  in  a 
fair  fight.  Nay,  Captain  Marmaduke,  look  not  so  horri- 
fied nor  think  me  a  brazen  woman.  I  was  intended  to 
be  a  man,  but  God  has  encased  my  soul  in  a  woman's 
frame.  Yet  no  woman  ever  overcame  the  disadvantage 
of  her  sex  more  than  I  have  done.  My  father  has  taught 
me  to  ride,  fence,  and  swim  against  the  best  gentlemen 
in  Ireland,  and  no  man  has  ever  yet  made  my  swordsman- 
ship so  contemptible  a  thing  as  you  did  this  afternoon. 
But  I  did  not  observe  the  attack  which  your  cowardly 
officer  made  upon  me.  I  simply  saw  that  your  nt^ention 
had  been  diverted  from  me  ;  and  I  thrust,  thinking  it  a 
fair  advantage.  I  perceived  soon  afterwards  that  it  was 
the  most  ungrateful  act  of  my  life,  and  I  ask  your  for- 
giveness." 

She  had  actually  extended  her  hand.  I  reached  mine 
to  her,  but  so  embarrassed  was  I  that  I  barely  touched 
her  palm.  She,  however,  clasped  her  fingers  round  mine 
in  a  hearty  fashion,  and  then,  dropping  my  hand,  which 
fell  to  my  side  as  if  I  had  been  a  very  lout,  she  asked  : 

"  Am  I  forgiven  ?  " 

"  Oh,  madam,"  said  I,  recovering  my  speech,  "  I  have 
not  given  it  a  second  thought.     I  deeply  regret  that  way 


■A^. 


■•I . 


34 


John  Marmaduke 


!l 


11; 


III! 


has  placed  me  in  apparent  hostility  to  you,  and  that  our 
swords  have  crossed  each  other  in  combat.  My  duty 
here  is  against  the  peace  of  your  family,  of  course,  but 
if  I  can  serve  you  personally,  at  any  moment,  you  have 
but  to  command  me  in  order  to  make  me  most  happy." 

When  I  spoke  of  my  errand  against  her  family  her 
face  clouded,  and  she  said  : 

"  I  have  no  woman's  disposition  to  smile  at  so  tair  a 
speech.  Enemies  we  are.  Captain  Marmaduke,  and  I 
warn  you  that  you  shall  find  your  plans  in  greater  risk 
from  me  than  from  any  Irish  man  in  Carberry  Hall. 
But  first  let  me  renew  the  dressing  on  your  arm,  and 
then  we  will  be  foes." 

I  protested  that  my  arm  was  doing  well  and  that  it 
required  no  attention  before  morning,  when  my  men 
would  look  after  it.  But  she  was  insistent,  and  I  en- 
tered her  chamber  after  she  had  first  called  Nora  awake, 
and  at  her  bidding  seated  myself  at  hei  reading  table. 
I  observed  that  her  dormer  window  gave  her  a  plain 
view  of  the  sea. 

"  Nora,  hand  me  the  lint,"  said  Catherine.  She  un- 
wrapped the  bandage  from  my  arm  with  deft  fingers  and 
I  plainly  saw  her  lip  tremble  when  she  again  behtld  the 
cut  that  she  had  made.  But  she  applied  a  healing  sper- 
maceti, and  then  bound  the  wound  tight  until  I  winced 
with  pain.  The  strength  of  her  wrists  and  fingers,  as  I 
had  already  observed  during  the  afternoon,  was  marvel- 
lous in  a  woman  ;  yet  her  touch  was  tender  and  soft. 

I  thanked  her  for  her  skilful  attention,  and  reached 
the  door.     Turning,  I  said  : 

"  Not  foes  outright,  I  hope  ?  " 

"Outright  and  downright,"  she  answered,  with  the 
distant  smile  again  on  her  mouth. 


CHAPTER  V 


RODERICK  S   POOL 


WHEN  I  entered  my  own  room  again,  Thornton 
VVilloughby  made  me  partake  of  a  repast  which 
he  and  the  Scoutmaster  had  prepared  during  my  ab- 
sence. 

"  It  is  now  past  midnight, "  said  the  Scoutmaster. 
"  There  is  no  change  in  the  storm." 

"  A  ship  !  "  cried  Willoughby,  who  was  at  the  window. 
"  I  saw  her  riding  the  crest  of  a  wave  by  that  last  flash." 

"  Think  you  it  is  Prince  Rupert's  ship  ? "  I  asked, 
looking  out. 

"  It  is  of  his  fleet,  beyond  doubt,"  said  the  Scout- 
master, "  though  scarcely  his  flag-ship.  But  it  bears  his 
message  to  these  Papists,  I  warrant." 

"  Aye,"  said  I,  "  but  surely  they  will  not  attempt  to 
land  in  such  a  sea." 

"That  they  will.  Captain,"  replied  the  Scoutmaster. 
"  They  are  even  now  protected  from  the  worst  of  the 
tempest  by  the  promontory  which  breaks  the  coast  be- 
low ;  and  as  we  do  not  know  what  signals  have  been 
agreed  to  be  given  them  from  this  place,  and  none  will 
therefore  be  given,  they  will  venture  to  land  in  the  dark- 
ness in  order  to  find  us  out." 

3$ 


John  Marmaduke 


'j  "I 


1 . 


11! 


"  Then  we  must  to  the  coast."  said  I,  "  and  receive 
them  with  welcoming  swordw  and  loud-speaking  car- 
bines. They  are  pirates  under  the  laws  of  England, 
and  they  shall  be  treated  as  such." 

A  flash  of  lightning  showed  us  the  ship  with  all  sail  in 
but  the  mainsail.  The  waves  were  not  so  high  nor  the 
wind  so  fierce  as  they  had  been  when  I  woke  from  my 
sleep  two  hours  back. 

"  Lieutenant  Willoughby,"  said  I,  "'  you  will  gather 
thirty  of  our  men  from  the  right  wing  of  this  house  and 
bring  them  into  the  hall." 

He  was  gone  instantly.     I  turned  to  the  Scoutmaster. 

"We  must  prevent  the  Prince  from  communicating 
with  the  Irish  commanders  in  the  interior,  if  possible," 
I  said.  *'  If  this  message  is  intended  for  Lord  Castle- 
haven  or  for  Owen  Roe  G'Neil,  it  will  give  them  the 
intentions  of  young  Charles  Stuart  himself  in  this  rebel- 
lion. If  my  surmise  is  correct,  David,  we  can  do  no 
greater  service  to  the  English  Parliament  than  to  inter- 
cept this  message." 

"  It  is  a  good  game,"  answered  the  Scoutmaster. 
"  There, — they  have  anchored, — they  lower  a  boat  !  " 

"We  must  away,"  I  cried,  feeling  the  thrill  in  my 
blood  which  always  came  with  an  adventure,  and,  I  will 
own,  for  the  first  time  that  night  forgetting  the  pain  of 
my  wound. 

We  passed  into  the  hall,  and  I  threw  open  the  door  of 
Sir  Patrick  Dillon's  chamber.  He  was  asleep  in  bed, 
and  my  sentry  was  visible  outside  his  window.  In  the 
same  manner  I  looked  in  upon  his  son,  Terence,  who 
was  likewise  on  his  couch  in  seeming  sleep.  When  I 
came  to  Catherine's  door,  it  was  open,  and  Nora  stood 
with  her  face  to  the  window,  looking  out. 


Roderick's  Pool 


37 


"  Where  is  your  mistress  ?  "  I  demanded. 

"Where  it  pleases  her  to  be,  and  that  is  where  you 
may  not  follow  her,"  she  answered,  saucily. 

"  Shut  up,  you  popish  brat,"  cried  the  Scoutmaster, 

"  Will  the  men  never  come  ?  "  I  asked. 

**  Coming  now,  sir,"  answered  Potton  ;  and  th'i  Lieu- 
tenant marched  before  me  with  my  thirty  troopers. 

I  placed  Lieutenant  Haddon  in  charge  of  Carberry 
Hal!,  and  set  off  with  my  party  across  the  lawn.  When 
we  reached  the  gate,  I  asked  the  guard  what  he  had 
seen. 

"  Yonder  ship,"  he  replied,  "  with  the  boat  which  is 
even  now  touching  the  shore,  and  your  messenger  who 
passed  out  two  minutes  ago." 

"  My  messenger  ?  "  I  cried. 

"Yes,  Captain,  a  young  fellow  not  of  our  troop, 
smartly  dressed  in  boots,  doublet,  hat,  and  sword,  who 
gave  me  the  word,  '  Naseby,'  and  this,  your  ring." 

He  handed  me  the  ring  which  I  had  worn  on  my  finger 
up  to  the  moment  when  my  arm  had  been  dressed  the 
second  time.  Had  she  slipped  it  off  while  she  dressed 
my  wound  ?  If  so,  it  must  have  been  done  at  the  very 
momen*^  when  she  was  wrapping  my  arm  tight,  and  when 
the  pain  hurt. 

"  A  trick,"  I  cried.  "  But  come  : — quick  step,  double 
time,  march  ! " 

We  heard  the  grating  of  a  boat  on  the  stony  beach 
below,  a  shout  of  challenge  from  a  man  in  charge  of  the 
crew, — a  mighty  man  with  a  black  beard, — an  answer 
from  a  solitary  figure  on  shore,  and  then  there  was  silence 
except  for  the  clatter  of  our  feet  as  we  hurried  down  the 
incline  to  the  sea.  The  vivid  lightning  showed  us  the 
group  in  consultation.    We  could  see  the  figure  of  the 


38 


John  Marmaduke 


man  on  shore  explaining  his  wishes  by  gestures.  As  we 
drew  nearer  six  men  sprang  out  of  the  boat,  while  a 
seventh  pushed  it  out  from  the  shore  and  put  back  for 
the  ship. 

I  threw  out  my  men  in  a  single  line  to  the  water's  edge. 
A  somewhat  steep  bluff  on  their  other  side  seemed  to 
cut  off  the  pirates'  escape. 

"  Surrender  !  "  I  cried. 

"  Quick,"  said  the  man  who  was  acting  as  their  guide  ; 
"  follow  me — to  Roderick's  Pool." 

I  was  now  within  six  paces  of  him.  A  flash, — and  I 
could  swear  that  he  was  Terence  Dillon.  He  sprang  up 
the  side  of  the  bluff  like  a  deer,  and  the  six  pirates 
pressed  after  him. 

"  Follow  them,  men  !  "  I  cried.  "  Take  them  alive  if 
you  can,  for  the  halter's  sake." 

My  men  were  at  my  side  and  we  soon  reached  the 
level.  Here  we  beheld  a  large  pool  of  water  completely 
walled  off  from  the  sea  and  apparently  very  deep.  We 
surrounded  the  sailors  on  three  sides.  The  pool  was  in 
front  of  them.  They  turned  upon  us  defiantly.  With 
my  sword  drawn  and  with  Willoughly  and  the  Scoutmaster 
beside  me,  I  advanced.  A  flash  showed  us  the  leader 
with  the  black  beard. 

"  Oh,  God  !  "  yelled  the  Scoutmaster,  *'  it  is  Black 
Murtagh  !  " 

He  sprang  forward  and  in  another  moment  would  have 
had  the  giant  by  the  throat.  But  in  that  same  instant 
Black  Murtagh  recognised  Potton. 

"You  have  found  your  clothes,  have  you,  Saxon 
devil  ? "  roared  Black  Murtagh,  and,  turning  quickly 
around,  with  a  mocking  laugh,  he  sprang  far  out  into  the 
pool)  every  man  of  his  party  following   his  strange  leap 


Roderick's  Pool 


39 


except  the  one  I  took  for  Terence  Dillon.  A  crash  of 
thunder  seemed  to  tear  the  earth's  vitals  ;  the  land,  and 
sea,  and  sky  were  illuminated  by  the  flashing  light.  The 
six  pirates  swam  in  a  broken,  turbulent  line  across  the 
surface  of  the  pool,  looking  like  a  shoal  of  dolphins. 
When  they  reached  the  other  side  they  sank  with  one 
accord.  I  gave  the  word  to  fire,  but  after  long  waiting 
they  came  not  to  the  surface.  Scoutmaster  Potton,  his 
face  filled  with  the  deadly  insanity  of  an  unsatisfied 
revenge,  stood  with  his  eyes  on  the  water,  transfixed. 

Lieutenant  Willoughby  saluted  me.  He  was  standing 
beside  the  young  man  who  had  led  Black  Murtagh's 
band  up  the  hillside. 

"  A  rope  for  this  gay  bird,  sir  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,"  1  answered,  "  but  not  to-night.  In  the  morn- 
ing we  will  start  him  after  these  fellows  by  another 
route." 

''*  But,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  said  the  prisoner,  with  a 
jaunty  air,  and  throwing  aside  his  sword  and  belt ; 
"  since  your  amiable  designs  on  my  life  are  not  to  be 
executed  until  morning,  let  me  now  wish  you  a  good- 
night." 

So  saying  he  sprang  into  the  pool  ten  feet  below  him, 
feet  first,  and  when  he  came  to  the  top,  he,  too,  swam 
lustily  across  its  surface,  and  sank  at  the  farther  edge. 
We  looked  on  in  wonder  and  awe  ;  but  he  rose  no  more. 

At  my  command  the  men  formed  ranks  and  we 
marched  back  to  the  Hall ; — all  but  the  baffled  Scout- 
master, who  still  stood  looking  into  the  pool  whence  his 
enemy  had  disappeared. 

I  walked  straight  to  the  door  of  Terence  Dillon's 
chamber.  A  trooper  stood  on  guard  who  told  me  that  no 
one  had  passed  in  or  out.  I  pushed  the  door  open  and  saw 


r^ 


40 


John  Marmaduke 


a  sentinel  at  the  window,  alert  as  when  I  had  left  him 
On  the  bed  was  Terence  Dillon,  sound  asleep. 

The  guide  who  had  plunged  into  Roderick's  Pool 
after  the  six  pirates,  doubtless  choosing  a  wet  death  to 
the  hanging  I  had  unwittingly  promised  her,  was  Cather- 
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CHAPTER  VI 


THE  PASSING  OF  SIR  PATRICK 


AFTER  snatching  three  hours  of  sleep  from  the  fag- 
end  of  the  night,  I  arose  to  see  the  golden  sun 
climbing  out  of  t'le  eastern  sea.  The  storm  had  ceased, 
and  as  soon  as  the  growing  dawn  permitted  it  I  looked 
for  the  Prince's  ship,  but  it  was  gone. 

I  took  a  turn  about  Carberry  Hall,  and,  finding  every- 
thing as  it  should  be,  returned  to  the  apartment  I  had 
chosen  for  my  own,  and  wrote  a  brief  account  of  our 
adventures  to  General  Ireton.  In  my  despatch  I  ex- 
pressed regret  at  the  failure  to  intercept  the  Prince's 
messenger,  but,  knowing  the  General  to  be  a  fair  man,  I 
described  the  unexpected  plunge  of  the  entire  party  into 
the  waters  of  Roderick's  Pool,  after  my  men  had  prac- 
tically captured  them,  in  such  detail  as  would,  I  felt 
sure,  relieve  me  from  censure.  I  promised  that  my 
courier  would  deliver  the  black  horse,  Bess,  to  the 
General,  for  the  use  of  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland, 
simultaneously  with  this  report  (when  I  wrote  this  I  felt 
a  potent  sorrow  for  Bess's  lost  mistress)  ;  and  I  asked  the 
General  to  inform  me  of  his  wishes  in  regard  to  my 
further  tenure  of  Carberry  Hall. 

I  had  just  closed  my  letter  when  I  heard  a  great  out- 

41 


PI 


f       ! 


42 


John  Marmaduke 


!  Ill  } 


it  I  ^ 


cry  in  the  yard,  and  running  out  came  upon  Scoutmaster 
Potton  and  Sir  Patrick  Dillon,  hard  at  it  with  their 
swords.  I  asked  Willis  Fenton  the  cause  of  the  quarrel, 
and  he  told  me  Sir  Patrick  had  stolen  from  his  chamber 
and  attempted  to  mount  Bess  and  ride  away.  When  the 
Scoutmaster  intercepted  him  the  Irish  knight,  losing  all 
control  of  himself,  began  the  attack  without  fair  warn- 
ing. 

"  But  look  !  "  cried  Willis,  even  as  I  advanced  to  beat 
down  their  blades  ;  "  the  Scoutmaster  hath  repaid  him." 

And  so  it  was.  The  two  men  were  of  the  same  age, 
but  the  Scoutmaster  was  the  better  swordsman,  and  he 
had  parried  a  vicious  thrust  from  Sir  Patrick  and  given 
the  Irishman  his  point  through  the  lungs. 

Sir  Patrick  fell  to  the  ground  with  screaming  curses 
on  his  lips. 

"  English  cur  !  "  he  yelled.  "  A  priest, — quick,  a 
priest.  Curse  you  all — a  priest,  I  say — fiend,  may  the 
eternal  fires  of  perdition  consume  you  by  inches.  A 
priest,  a  priest  !  " 

No  Roundhead  in  that  troop  would  have  obeyed  any 
Papist's  bidding  to  go  for  a  priest,  no  matter  how  dire 
his  extremity.  And  so  I  went  myself,  and  bade  the  two 
priests  come  at  once  to  their  master.  They  ran  as  fast 
as  they  could,  and  even  then  they  nearly  came  too  late. 
The  cur«5ing  was  growing  fainter,  and  it  stopped  alto- 
gether at  a  mournful  word  of  authority  from  the  tall 
priest.  I  made  my  men  fall  back,  although  I  could  not 
prevent  their  curious  gazes  at  a  scene  which  was  nearly 
unknown  in  England.  The  priests  strangely  enough  re- 
stored the  wounded  man  to  a  peaceful  mind,  which  is  a 
blissful  state  for  any  man  to  die  in.  Sir  Patrick  then 
asked  for  his  son,  who  was  quickly  sent  to  him  by  my 


The  Passing  of  Sir  Patrick        43 


order.  To  Terence  he  gave  secret  directions  which  no 
Englishman  tried  to  hear.  The  short  priest  had  bound 
up  his  wound,  but  he  was  failing  fast.  He  looked 
around,  and  I  thought  for  a  moment  he  would  have 
given  us  a  parting  curse  ;  but  the  tall  priest  kept  the 
crucifix  straight  before  his  eyes  and  never  ceased  his 
pious  exhortations ;  while  the  short  priest  muttered 
Latin  prayers.  And  so  the  soul  of  Sir  Patrick  passed 
away,  and  I  sincerely  hope  it  went  to  Heaven. 

Young  Terence, — the  master,  now,  of  Carberry  Hall, 
— tried  to  hide  his  grief,  which,  indeed,  was  well  nigh 
smothered  in  his  rage.  But  when  I  saw  him  look  fiercely 
around  among  my  men  and  play  with  the  handle  of  his 
sword,  I  beckoned  the  tall  priest  to  come  to  me. 

"  Priest,"  said  I  ;  "  I  am  sorry  for  what  has  occurred, 
but  it  was  an  act  of  war,  in  fair  fight,  and  the  provoca- 
tion came  from  Sir  Patrick  himself.  Counsel  ibis  young 
man,  therefore,  to  hold  his  peace,  for  all  is  against  him 
here,  and  any  attempt  on  his  part  to  secure  revenge  will 
force  me  to  take  measures  with  him  which  I  would 
gladly  avoid." 

"  I  will  obey  you,  sir,"  he  said,  making  me  a  low  bow  ; 
and  he  returned  to  Terence  whom  he  soon  soothed  into 
quietude  with  the  manner  mixed  of  authority  and  kind- 
ness that  had  just  been  so  efficacious  with  the  lad's 
father.  They  led  Terence  into  the  house,  and  the  dead 
knight's  body  was  gathered  up  by  his  retainers  and  taken 
within. 

"I  am  sorry  for  this,  Potton,"  I  said.  "You  well 
know  my  aversion  to  wanton  bloodshed," 

"  His  death  is  on  his  own  head,"  answered  the  Scout- 
master, sternly.  "  Besides,  what  matters  onr  Papist  the 
less  in  Ireland  ? " 


sfc 


>  1 1 II 


I' 

r  I 


jl 


44 


John  Marmaduke 


After  I  had  added  a  postscript  to  my  despatch  con- 
cerning the  death  of  Sir  Patrick  Dillon,  I  instructed  the 
Scoutmaster  if  he  was  not  hurt  to  take  two  men  and  ride 
at  once  to  the  camp  below  with  my  letter  and  the  horse 
for  General  Ireton.  With  the  loyal  obedience  which 
marked  his  service  always,  he  expressed  his  ready  will- 
ingness to  do  so.  As  breakfast  had  been  already  served 
to  all  but  myself,  he  called  his  men  together,  and  giving 
Bess's  rein  to  Private  Edward  Maxwell,  he  set  off  with 
the  little  band  for  the  English  camp,  ten  miles  away. 

As  they  disappeared  in  the  wood  beyond  the  open 
plain  which  surroirnded  Carberry  Hall,  I  entered  the 
house  and,  joining  Willoughby  and  Haddon  at  table, 
began  my  breakfast  with  a  hearty  appetite.  Rob  Cum- 
ber, our  troop  cook,  had  prepared  some  eggs  and  smok- 
ing-hot  bacon,  some  bread  and  toasted  cheese,  and  a 
stone  pot  of  beer,  all  of  which  we  put  away  with  the 
soldier's  zest.  Our  conversation  was  all  upon  the 
strange  adventure  of  Terence  Dillon's  sister  at  the  pool, 
which  held  us  in  amasement.  When  we  had  finished,  I 
inquired  after  the  two  priests,  and  Willoughby  told  me 
that  they  were  in  the  chapel  on  the  second  floor  at  the 
head  of  the  great  staircase.  Going  thither  I  found  that 
they  had  already  prepared  the  body  of  Sir  Patrick  Dillon 
for  burial,  and  it  was  now  resting  on  a  couch,  all  but  the 
face  being  covered  by  a  military  cloak.  Young  Terence 
knelt  beside  it,  saying  many  prayers  with  a  grief-stricken 
face.  There  were  four  huge  silver  candlesticks  with 
burning  candles  at  the  head  and  feet  of  the  corpse  ;  and 
at  the  two  extremities  of  the  body  stood  the  priests, 
reading  their  prayers  in  Latin.  A  glance  round  the  room 
showed  me  an  altar  on  which  were  many  lighted  candles, 
while  in  front  of  a  small  box  in  the  centre  of  the  altar 


The  Passing  of  Sir  Patrick        45 


:h 
d 


where  they  kept  their  sacrament  a  lamp  burned  perpetu- 
ally. At  either  side  of  the  altar  were  two  marble  statues, 
beautifully  carved,  one  being  the  figure  of  our  Saviour 
and  the  other  that  of  Mary  His  blessed  mother.  The 
windows  were  of  rich  stained  glass  ;  the  ceiling  was  pan- 
elled, and  the  walls  were  wainscotted  with  ancient  oak. 

V/hen  I  could  catch  the  eye  of  the  tall  priest, — who 
called  himself  Father  Terhune, — I  beckoned  him  to  my 
side. 

"  What  are  your  plans  for  the  burial  of  Sir  Patrick's 
body  ? "  I  asked. 

"  We  will  bury  him  in  the  vault  near  the  wall  at  the 
rear  of  the  house,"  he  answered,  in  his  deep,  impressive 
voice.  "  His  servants  are  even  now  making  the  coffin, 
and  he  will  be  laid  to  rest  with  his  fatheis  to-morrow 
morning.  It  would  not  be  done  with  so  much  precipi- 
tancy if  we  were  free  men  here  ; — but  then,  if  we  were 
free  men,  it  would  not  have  to  be  done  at  all."  At  these 
words  there  was  no  abatement  of  his  habitual  manner  of 
respect. 

I  started  to  walk  down-stairs,  and  the  priest  followed 
me.  We  walked  in  silence  until  we  entered  the  ban- 
queting hall  on  the  first  floor,  which  corresponded  in 
size  to  the  chapel  immediately  above  us.  He  seemed 
desirous  of  continuing  the  conversation,  and  I  sat 
down  at  the  main  table  and  motioned  him  to  a  seat  be- 
side me. 

"  Has  your  arm  been  dressed  this  morning  ? "  he 
asked. 

I  felt  a  blush  in  my  cheeks.     I  had  been  wounded 
before,  but  never  was  I  so  conscious  of  a  scar. 
No." 
I  have  some  skill.    I  would  like  to  dress  it  for  you, 


« 


<t 


»» 


4< 


John  Marmaduke 


( 


"  You  are  very  kind." 

He  walked  away,  but  soon  returned  with  laver  and 
towel,  lint  and  bandage,  and  an  emollient  ointment. 
Seating  himself  beside  me,  he  removed  the  bandage  and 
looked  carefully  at  the  wound. 

''  A  clean,  straight  thrust,"  he  said.  "  It  went  clear 
to  the  bone.  But  it  is  doing  well.  You  feel  a  sore- 
ness ? " 

"  Yes,  and  the  arm  is  somewhat  stiff." 

"  It  will  heal  in  two  days.  But  your  arm  must  be 
dressed  twice  each  day,  or  there  might  be  ugly  results." 
He  was  washing  my  wound.  "  You  are  a  Puritan,  Cap- 
tain Marmaduke  ? " 

"  Not  as  you  would  understand  the  word,"  I  answered. 
"  I  and  my  family  are  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and,  in 
a  large  sense,  we  are  Puritans,  loo." 

"  I  did  not  know  that  the  Episcopalians  had  taken 
sides  against  your  King." 

"  Many  of  them  did,  who  feared  that  Archbishop  Laud 
was  taking  us  over  bodily  to  Rome.  Of  such  were  my 
family." 

"  And  why  not  to  Rome  ? "  he  asked,  rubbing  the 
soothing  ointment  into  the  lips  of  the  cut. 

"  That  is  a  question,  priest,"  I  answered,  laughing,  "that 
is  as  big  as  this  war  which  we  have  entered  upon.  But 
briefly,  and  speaking  wholly  for  myself,  I  would  not  sur- 
render myself  to  Rome,  when  there  is  a  much  straighter 
and  shorter  way  between  my  mouth  and  the  divine  ear 
of  God  Almighty." 

"  But  what  becomes  of  the  ignorant  under  such  doc- 
trines ? "  he  asked.  "  How  are  they  to  learn  this  straight 
and  short  way  of  yours  ?  How  are  the  sheep  to  go  with- 
out the  shepherd  ? " 


The  Passing  of  Sir  Patrick        47 


"  In  England,"  I  said,  "  every  good  Englishman  is  for 
Christ,  and  Christ  for  us  all." 

"  You  have  abolished  churches  there  ? " 

"  No.  On  the  contrary,  churches  have  multiplied 
there.  But  our  churches  have  no  divine  power  in  and 
for  themselves.  A  church  is  but  the  aggregate  expres- 
sion of  its  individual  membership." 

This  was  blasphemy  in  the  priest's  ear.  He  gave  the 
bandage  a  tight  pull. 

"  And  that  is  the  religion  you  would  introduce  into 
Ireland?"  he  asked,  suppressing  a  scorn  which  I  knew 
he  felt." 

"  We  meddle  not  with  Ireland's  religion  if  we  can  but 
restore  peace,"  I  answered. 

"  Then  let  our  prayers  unite  for  peace,"  he  said. 
"  Your  arm  is  dressed.  Captain  Marmaduke." 

"  I  am  beholden  to  you  for  your  kindness,"  I  said. 
"  I  shall  not  forget  it." 

He  bowed,  and  was  gone. 

The  rain  of  the  preceding  night  had  cooled  the  air, 
and  I  walked  out  through  the  gate  to  enjoy  the  delight- 
ful countryside.  Almost  without  design  I  found  my 
footsteps  wending  down  the  road  to  Roderick's  Pool. 
Reaching  the  green  bank  whence  that  fearful  plunge 
had  been  taken  the  night  before,  I  threw  myself  down 
on  the  turf  and  gazed  into  the  water. 

"  So  young,  so  beautiful,  so  full  of  courage,"  I  said, 
my  mind  filled  with  the  image  of  the  maiden  who  had 
charmed  my  soul  with  the  fire  and  flash  of  her  life. 
"  How  impetuous  her  career,  how  melancholy  her 
death  !  " 

The  summer  leaves  had  fallen  upon  the  surface  of 
the  pool.     I  had  selected  a  spot  under  which  my  imag- 


1 ' 


ni 


48 


John  Marmaduke 


ination  pictured  the  dark  secret  of  Catherine's  plunge, 
when  my  attention  was  arrested  by  the  sound  of  a  horse 
galloping  down  the  road  from  the  English  camp.  I 
sprang  to  my  feet,  and  stood  rooted  with  astonishment 
to  behold  Bess  approaching  me  covered  with  foam, 
while  on  her  back  was  a  rider  who  might  have  been 
Terence  Dillon  had  I  not  known  that  Terence  was  at 
that  moment  in  prayer  beside  his  father's  corpse  in  the 
chapel,  and  my  prisoner. 

The  bold  rider  sprang  to  the  ground,  and  I  saw  a  face 
full  of  wrathful  agony. 

"  It  is  impossible  !  "  I  exclaimed. 

"  Nay,  I  am  Catherine  Dillon,  and  this  is  my  horse 
Bess.  Captain  Marmaduke,  is  it  true  that  you  have 
slain  my  father  ?  " 

I  could  not  speak  for  a  moment,  so  overcome  was  I 
by  the  paralysis  of  surprise. 

"  If  you  have  lost  your  tongue  and  will  not  answer  my 
demand,  I  shall  take  quick  judgment  on  you."  Her 
sword  was  out  in  an  instant,  and  I  must  own  that  it  had 
the  effect  to  restore  my  speech.  I  was  going  to  address 
her  as  Madame,  but  her  warlike  dress  and  attitude  for- 
bade the  effeminate  title. 

"  Your  father  is  slain,"  I  said,  "  but  not  by  me." 

There  was  a  burst  of  sorrow  that  overwhelmed  her. 
She  dropped  her  sword  upon  the  ground  and  sank  her 
head  in  the  black  mane  of  her  horse,  giving  her  soul 
away  to  grief.  I  picked  up  the  blade  and  pushed  it 
home  into  its  scabbard,  and  as  I  came  into  involuntary 
contact  with  her,  I  longed  to  soothe  her  troubled  spirit. 
But  I  stood  off  a  pace  or  two  with  folded  arms,  and 
waited. 

"  Oh,  how  could  you  kill  him  ? "  sh$  cried,    "  An4 


The  Passing  of  Sir  Patrick        1i# 


he  your  prisoner,  too.  Cruel  Saxon  !  How  could  you 
do  it  ? " 

Again  she  hid  the  passion  of  her  face  in  the  horse's 
mane.     I  made  no  answer. 

"  To  kill  him  when  he  was  your  prisoner  !  In  his  own 
house,  too ! "  she  said.  "  I  wonder  wl.at  my  brother 
has  been  about  !  Had  I  been  here — oh,  how  could  you 
do  it !  "  And  the  poor  girl  gave  way  once  more  to  her 
grief. 

After  an  interval,  when  she  seemed  to  be  regaining  a 
partial  composure,  she  suddenly  demanded  : 

"  Why  don't  you  answer  me  ?  " 

"  Madam," — her  tears  had  brought  back  her  woman- 
hood to  me, — "  Madam,"  I  said,  "  he  was  slain  in  fair 
fight  by  one  of  my  officers." 

"  By  whom  ?  "  she  asked,  fiercely. 

"  By  my  Scoutmaster,  David  Potton." 

"  Then  hear  my  oath,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  she  cried, 
flashing  her  eyes  full  upon  me.  "  I  swear,  by  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  that  I  will  take  that  man's  life  with  my 
own  hand  if  God  spares  him  until  we  meet  face  to 
face!" 

She  was  beautiful  in  her  wrath,  but  terrible.  I  shud- 
dered to  behold  the  spirit  of  revenge  in  this  young  girl. 
I  felt  that  I  would  pluck  her  from  the  fire. 

"  It  was  an  act  of  war,"  I  said.  "  The  attack  came 
from  your  father.  Let  it  be  revenged  if  you  will,  but 
leave  killing  to  men.  Such  deeds  are  not  for  the  par- 
ticipation of  women." 

There  was  a  mingling  of  reproof  and  authority  in  my 
voice  that  caused  her  to  look  at  me  in  surprise.  I  saw 
her  make  a  motion  to  mount  her  horse,  and  I  placed  my 
hand  before  her  that  she  might  step  upon  it  to  reach 


M 


so 


John  Marmaduke 


! ; 


her  seat.  But  without  heeding  me  she  sprang  lightly 
into  her  man's  saddle  in  a  man's  way,  and  paced  her 
steed  slowly  towards  the  house.  I  followed  her  on  foot 
through  the  gate,  and  when  we  reached  the  door  of  the 
mansion  she  dropped  gracefully  to  the  ground  and 
walked  towards  the  chapel.  I  ascended  the  stairs  be- 
hind her,  and,  when  she  had  gone  nearly  to  the  top,  she 
turned  and  said  : 

"  A  word  of  warning.  Captain  Marmaduke.  Your 
messenger  was  intercepted  this  morning  by  Lord  Kilmac, 
.-  renegade  Irish  chieftain,  and  three  hundred  mounted 
men,  and  one  of  your  followers  was  killed.  I  recovered 
my  horse  and  rode  ahead  to  learn  if  what  one  of  the 
prisoners  told  me  was  true  concerning  my  father's 
death.  You  will  be  attacked  by  Lord  Kilmac  inside  of 
one  hour.  Take  heed  to  yourself,  for  he  is  a  nr>erciless 
and  cruel  foe  beyond  any  you  have  ever  met.  He  pro- 
fesses friendship  for  my  family,  but  he  is  a  traitor  to  Ire- 
land, and  I  will  accept  his  aid  only  in  so  far  as  it  will 
release  me  from  your  custody." 

She  sped  into  the  chapel,  and  I  heard  a  burst  of  agony 
as  she  threw  herself  on  her  father's  dead  body. 

But  there  was  serious  business  before  me,  and  in 
two  minutes  I  had  found  my  trumpeter,  William  Cozens, 
who  straightway  called  my  troop  to  arms  in  the  manor- 
yard. 


CHAPTER  VII 


THE  ATTACK  ON  CARBERRY  HALL 


MY  men  quickly  fell  in  line  on  the  greensward  in 
front  of  the  house,  and  I  put  them  through  the 
evolutions  of  the  foot  drill.  I  saw  that  each  man  was 
properly  arrayed,  inspected  their  pieces  with  great  care, 
and  ordered  some  pikes  brought  from  the  house,  which 
were  placed  near  the  wall  for  use  at  close  quarters.  I 
then  despatched  the  men  to  prepare  their  horses  for 
action,  putting  the  saddle  myself  on  Dick,  who  seemed 
glad  with  the  prospect  of  work.  I  would  have  sent  a 
courier  to  General  Iretcn  and  asked  for  a  few  more  men, 
but  it  would  consume  six  hours  before  help  could  reach 
me  under  such  a  call,  and  I  assumed  that  the  end  of 
this  venture  would  come  in  half  that  time.  Moreover, 
as  the  odds  were  only  about  three  to  one,  and  my  troop 
was  thus  far  unbeaten,  I  felt  a  soldier's  pride  in  standing 
the  attuck  alone.  My  defensive  position  behind  the 
walls  of  Carberry  Hall  gave  me  an  advantage  that  was 
equal  to  an  additional  troop  if  the  fight  were  to  have 
been  on  open  ground  ;  and  if  Catherine  had  correctly 
reported  the  enemy  in  her  statement  that  he  numbered 
three  hundred,  I  felt  that  I  could  meet  him  with  my 
ninety-seven  men  without  undue  risk  of  disaster. 

51 


m 


52 


John  Marmaduke 


1 

111 


The  turf  had  been  sloped  against  the  wall  on  the  in- 
side so  that  it  stood  but  five  feet  high  to  us,  as  against 
eight  feet  on  the  outside.  This  was  an  excellent  arrange- 
ment, as  my  men,  by  standing  upright  on  this  artificial 
rise,  could  easily  fire  their  pieces  over  the  wall,  and  retire 
behind  it  for  reloading.  The  Irishry,  on  the  contrary, 
could  only  mount  it  from  ladders,  or  from  their  horses' 
backs,  as  we  had  done  the  day  before,  while  they  would 
be  exposed  to  our  fire  throughout  their  attack. 

Leaving  a  guard  over  the  horses,  I  placed  forty  men 
at  the  wall  under  Lieutenant  Willoughby,  while  Haddon 
drew  up  four  squads  of  ten  men  each,  and  stood  at  arms 
on  the  centre  of  the  lawn.  I  then  assembled  the  entire 
body  of  the  inhabitants  of  Carberry  Hall,  including  the 
Irish  men-at-arms  and  servants,  and  locked  them  securely 
in  the  banqueting  hall,  with  two  sentinels  at  the  window 
outside  under  instructions  to  slay  the  first  man  who  at- 
tempted to  leave  the  apartment  by  door  or  window. 
Ascending  the  great  stairway,  I  entered  the  chapel, 
where  Terence  Dillon  and  his  sister  Catherine,  together 
with  the  two  priests,  were  still  at  their  office  of  devotion 
over  the  corpse  of  Sir  Patrick. 

"  Pardon  me,"  I  said,  "  for  this  intrusion,  but  I  am  ex- 
pecting an  attack  from  Lord  Kilmac  and  the  Irish  soldiers 
under  him,  and  I  have  placed  the  natives  of  this  place 
in  close  confinement  under  guard  in  the  banqueting  hall 
beneath.  You  who  are  here — you,  Mr.  Dillon,  these 
priests,  and  the  lady,  must  give  me  your  parole  not  to 
leave  the  chapel,  nor  to  take  action  with  our  enemies,  or 
my  duty  will  compel  me  to  confine  you  with  the  rest  be- 
low.    Quick,  what  do  you  say  ?" 

"  On  parole,"  answered  Terence. 

"  And  you,  priests  ? "  I  said. 


The  Attack  on  Carberry  Hall       53 

"  On  parole,"  they  replied. 

I  hesitated  a  moment.     And  then  : 

"  And  you,  madam  ?  " 

But  never  a  word  would  she  speak.  She  was  telling 
her  rosary,  and  would  not  look  up.  I  professed  to  ignore 
her,  and  said  : 

"  The  violation  of  this  parole  will  be  met  with  death 
under  the  usage  of  war." 

Hearing  a  shot  from  the  wall,  which  was  the  signal  I 
had  ordered  to  be  given  at  the  first  appearance  of  dan- 
ger, I  ran  down  the  stairs  and  sprang  upon  my  horse. 
Spurring  him  across  the  lawn  I  peered  through  the  gate 
and  saw  a  body  of  fierce  and  uncouth  horsemen  in  the 
wood  across  the  open  space,  three  hundred  yards  away. 
Willoughby  was  in  high  spirits  at  the  prospect  of  a  fight, 
and  he  pressed  eagerly  to  my  side. 

"  Of  what  party  ars  they  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  have  made  inquiries  among  the  Irishry  here,"  he 
replied,  "  and  they  tell  me  Lord  Kilmac  is  a  rebel  against 
both  O'Neill  and  Ormond.  He  lives  not  far  from  here, 
and  goes  out  from  his  castle  against  all  foes,  whether 
English  or  Irish.  A  very  devil,  they  say,  for  cruelty  and 
blood,  who  but  recently  hath  slain  his  own  wife." 

*  It  were  a  good  thing,  then,  to  rid  the  earth  of  such  a 
miscreant." 

An  Irish  trumpeter  rode  forward,  and,  when  he  came 
within  fifty  paces  of  the  gate,  we  commanded  him  to 
halt.     He  did  so,  and,  after  sounding  a  note,  he  cried  : 

"  Who  commands  here  ? " 

Throwing  my  bridle  to  Richard  Trevor  I  mounted  the 
wall. 

"  I,  Captain  John  Marmaduke,  hold  this  place  for  the 
English  Parliament." 


54 


John  Marmaduke 


t\ 


V' 


I 

i    , 


"  And  I,"  shouted  the  trumpeter,  "  on  behalf  of  Lord 
Kilmac,  of  Ballyrae,  do  hereby  summon  you  to  instantly 
surrender,  failing  which  you  will  receive  no  quarter." 

"  I  know  but  one  who  commands  in  Ireland  for  the  Par- 
liament of  England,"  I  answered.  "  Even  the  Lord  Gen- 
eral Cromwell.  Besides,  I  am  told  that  Lord  Kilmac  is  a 
renegade  against  his  own  people.  This  you  will  say  to  him, 
and  tell  him,  furthermore,  that  I  refuse  to  surrender." 

He  rode  swiftly  back  to  the  wood,  and  I  saw  him  tell- 
ing his  message  to  an  officer  who  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Irishry. 

After  a  short  parley  among  themselves  the  Irish  blew 
a  blast  on  their  bugle,  and,  with  ferocious  shoutings, 
moved  forward  out  of  the  wood.  As  they  came  into  sight 
I  estimated  that  there  were  a  full  three  hundred  but  not 
more.  Calling  to  Haddon  to  look  well  after  the  west 
wall,  and  giving  a  like  warning  to  Willoughby  on  the 
east  wall,  I  stood  where  the  Irish  trumpeter  had  left  me, 
watching  their  advance. 

When  thi  'had  come  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the 
gate,  riding  twenty  abreast,  they  split  down  the  centre 
and  set  out  at  a  full  gallop,  one  half  going  to  the  side  of 
the  east  wall,  and  the  other  to  the  west,  but  taking  a  wide 
circle,  so  that  they  still  kept  one  hundred  yards  beyond 
our  carbines.  Reaching  the  centre  of  the  wall  on  each 
side,  they  halted,  and,  ceasing  their  noise  for  a  time, 
brought  their  carbines  into  position.  As  I  would  nat- 
urally be  the  first  target  for  their  marksmen,  I  now  re- 
tired from  the  wall,  having  observed  them  long  enough 
to  note  that  they  lacked  continuity  in  their  military 
movements,  and  that  there  was  no  such  perfect  response 
to  orders  among  them  as  that  for  which  our  English 
soldiers  were  famous. 


The  Attack  on  Carberry  Hall       55 


I  heard  the  word,"  Fire  !  "  given,  but,  while  a  few  pieces 
were  discharged,  there  was  no  fusillade,  for  the  simple 
reason  that,  as  my  men  had  sunk  behind  the  wall,  there 
were  no  heads  to  shoot  at.  They  saw  that  an  assault 
would  be  necessary,  and,  on  a  signal  from  the  bugler, 
they  rode  towards  us  on  both  sides  with  renewed  clamour. 
When  they  had  decreased  the  distance  one  half,  my  men 
atood  up  and  fired  at  the  advancing  columns,  making 
fourteen  or  fifteen  empty  saddles.  The  enemy  fired 
back,  but  the  motion  of  their  horses  spoilt  their  aim, 
and  no  harm  was  done.  My  men  reloaded  and  let  them 
have  it  again  right  under  the  walls,  doing  a  worse  exe- 
cution than  before,  although,  as  I  was  now  with  Haddon 
on  the  west  side,  I  could  not  see  what  Willoughby  was 
doing  on  the  other  side.  We  gave  them  a  third  round, 
and  a  fourth,  and  a  fifth,  and  all  the  time  they  were  try- 
ing to  get  Oil  the  wall,  neglecting  to  keep  a  rearguard 
to  do  their  firing,  which  oversight  I  seized  to  our  full 
advantage.  As  fast  as  their  front  men  attempted  to 
mount  the  wall  from  the  unsteady  foothold  of  their 
saddles,  we  gave  them  a  barking  which  laid  them  low 
for  all  time.  With  sword  in  hand  I  stood  on  the  wall, 
cheering  my  men  to  stand  fast  and  keep  up  their  firing  ; 
and  Elijah  Haddon  did  all  that  a  brave  officer  could  do 
to  win  the  day.  More  than  once  I  saw  him  strike  his 
sword  on  the  head  of  a  daring  besieger  who  fell  back 
with  a  cracked  skull.  The  only  assailant  who  got  upon 
the  rampart  and  stood  upright  was  a  man  of  gigantic 
stature,  with  a  black  beard,  whose  repulsive  face  seemed 
strangely  familiar  to  me. 

"  Over  the  wall !  "  he  cried,  waving  his  carbine  aloft. 
"  They  are  but  a  handful  of  curs.  Buddagh  Sassenach  I 
Over  and  at  them  !  " 


hi 


■A 


n 


John  Marmaduke 


li 


MJt 


But  two  of  my  men  struck  full  at  his  breast  piece  with 
their  pikes  and  pushed  him  back  upon  his  horse,  whence 
he  nearly  fell  to  the  ground,  cursing  us  in  the  impotency 
of  his  rage. 

The  assault  was  ill-planned  and  it  failed  miserably. 
A  retreat  was  sounded,  and  the  assailants,  making  much 
less  noise,  rode  back  to  the  wood,  a  hundred  men  short. 
My  whole  troop  sprang  upon  the  wall  and  with  a  wild 
cheer  gave  them  a  parting  volley.  I  ran  over  to  the 
east  side  and  found  that  Lieutenant  Willoughby's  ex- 
perience there  had  been  very  similar  to  my  own.  He 
told  me  that  Lord  Kilmac  had  led  the  attack  there  in 
person,  as  he  had  heard  one  of  the  soldiers  pronounce 
his  name,  but  that  they  had  failed  because  of  the  height 
of  the  wall  and  through  their  neglect  to  keep  a  firing 
platoon  in  the  rear  of  the  charging  column.  My  men 
pressed  round  me  and  many  of  them  shook  my  hands 
in  the  glad  effervescence  of  victory.  We  hugged  our- 
selves for  joy,  for  while  a  hundred  men  had  bit  the  dust 
beyond  the  wall,  not  one  of  ours  h^d  suffered  serious 
hurt.  But  a  bugle  blast  from  the  wood  told  us  that  it 
was  not  yet  all  over,  and  as  I  got  my  men  back  into 
their  places,  I  lear.ied  to  my  dismay  that  our  powder 
was  near  spent,  and  that,  after  a  round  or  two  more, 
we  would  have  to  depend  upon  our  swords. 

While  I  stood  chafing  for  a  moment  in  this  disquiet- 
ing predicament,  but  endeavouring  to  comfort  myself  in 
the  reflection  that  the  order  under  which  we  had  left 
the  English  camp  had  not  contemplated  the  siege 
whereby  the  ammunition  of  our  light  marching  order  had 
been  expended,  my  attention  was  suddenly  attracted  to 
the  actions  of  our  enemy  at  the  edge  of  the  wood.  The 
black-bearded  giant  had  ridden  to  the  front  of  the  Irish 


The  Attack  on  Carberry  Hall      57 


column  and  was  waving  a  white  signal  on  the  point  of 
his  pike  in  the  direction  of  the  manor-house.  Turning 
round  I  beheld  Catherine  waving  a  like  signal  from  the 
window  of  the  chapel.  Three  times  up  and  down  it 
went,  and,  after  a  brief  intermission,  the  signal  was 
given  twice  again  ;  and  then  a  shot  from  one  of  my 
watchful  troopers  struck  the  staff  close  to  her  hand  and 
splintered  it,  at  which  she  withdrew  into  the  embrasure. 

I  flung  myself  off  my  horse,  and,  entering  the  house, 
leaped  up  the  stairs  in  a  high  state  of  anger.  Ere  I 
reached  the  jp,  Catherine  came  out  upon  the  land- 
ing with  a  contemptuous  smile  on  her  face,  and  stood 
silent  before  me. 

"  What  have  you  to  say,  madam,  to  this  treachery  ?  " 
I  cried.  "  Do  you  not  know  that  your  life  was  duly 
forfeited  to  yonder  trooper,  and  that  his  bullet  was 
aimed  at  your  heart  ? " 

"  I  am  sorry  that  your  execution  of  military  justice 
rests  upon  such  poor  marksmen,  Captain  Marmaduke," 
she  answered.  "  As  it  is,  he  has  sent  a  splinter  into  my 
hand  which  I  hope  to  pay  him  for,  ere  this  adventure  be 
over."  Her  pouting  lip  trembled  as  she  looked  at  her  hand, 
which  had  a  speck  of  blood  on  it.  "  As  to  your  charge  of 
treachery,  tell  me,  sir,  whether  it  is  treachery  for  a  woman 
to  seek  the  rescue  of  her  home  from  the  invader  ? " 

"  It  is  treachery  for  anyone  to  violate  a  parole  of 
honour,"  I  said. 

"  I  gave  you  no  parole,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  she 
replied.  She  was  looking  at  her  hand,  and,  stepping 
forward,  I  seized  it  not  ungently,  and  withdrew  the 
splinter  from  its  ruddy  flesh.  She  made  no  resistance 
to  the  action,  but  wiped  away  with  her  handkerchief 
the  drop  of  blood  which  followed  my  operation. 


58 


John  Marmaduke 


"  You  are  too  careless  of  your  life,"  I  said.  "  These 
matters  are  not  for  women.  Will  you  tell  me  why  you 
passed  the  signal  to  the  Irish  soldiers  }  " 

"  You  doubtless  do  not  expect  me  to  answer  your 
question,"  she  said,  smiling,  "  but  I  will  do  so.  My 
signal  told  them  that  your  powder  is  spent,  and  coun- 
selled a  renewal  of  the  attack." 

My  blood  boiled  at  this  confession. 

"  I  wonder  that  I  have  not  placed  you  in  close  con- 
finement ere  this,"  I  said. 

"  I  wonder  at  it  somewhat  myself,"  i;he  replied,  "  for  I 
have  already  given  you  fair  warning  that  I  will  circumvent 
you  if  I  can.  Let  me  tell  you  this.  Captain  Marmaduke. 
The  message  from  Prince  Rupert  to  Lord  Castlehaven  is 
still  in  my  possession,  and,  being  now  your  prisoner,  I 
expect  to  give  it  to  Black  Murtagh  this  afternoon." 

"  Black  Murtagh  !  "  I  cried.  "  He  who  plunged  last 
night  into  Roderick's  Pool  ?  " 

"  The  same,"  she  answered,  with  her  mocking  smile. 
"  He  it  was  who  mounted  the  wall  to-day." 

"  And  was  it  he  who  just  now  answered  your  signal  ?  " 

"  Black  Murtagh  it  was,"  she  said. 

"  This  surpasses  all  claims  of  womanhood,"  I  cried. 
"  Madam,  I  must  confine  you  under  strict  military  guard. 
Your  persistence  is  insufferable." 

"  I  am  at  your  mercy,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  she  an- 
swered. "  But  liark  !  Do  you  not  hear  those  shots 
without  ?  The  attack  has  been  resumed.  Look  to 
yourself,  for  your  way  to  victory  will  not  be  so  short 
this  time,  I  promise  you." 

"  Give  me  one  chance  for  a  fair  fight,"  I  said.  "  Tell 
me  where  the  powder  is  stored  in  this  hall.  My  men 
have  searched  everywhere  for  it,  but  without  avail." 


u 

n 


*'  1  wonder  that  I  have  not  placed  you  in  close  confinement  ere  this,' 


The  Attack  on  Carberry  Hall       59 

"  I  cannot  arm  you  against  my  countrymen,"  she 
replied.  "  If  there  be  powder  here  you  must  find  it." 
She  took  a  gold  chain  from  round  her  neck,  and,  dis- 
playing a  crucifix  upon  it,  put  it  over  my  head.  "  If 
they  overcome  you,"  shr  saM, "  show  them  this,  and 
they  will  spare  your  life." 

"  No,"  I  said,  restoring  it  to  her  kindly,  "  I  cannot 
enter  this  conflict  wearing  such  a  badge.  I  will  win  or 
fall  with  my  brave  troopers.     Adieu  !  " 

There  was  a  loud  shout  followed  by  a  volley  of  mus- 
ketry. I  sprang  down  the  stairs,  sword  in  hand,  and  out 
into  the  yard.  The  Irish,  shrieking  their  outlandish 
war-cries,  were  advancing  on  the  east  and  west  sides  in 
two  lines  at  each  point ;  and  this  time  I  observed  that  the 
rearguards  were  reserving  their  fire  to  support  the  front 
ranks  when  they  should  reach  the  wall.  I  ordered  my 
men  to  hold  their  shots  until  it  came  to  close  quarters. 
In  a  moment  the  Irish  soldiers  were  at  the  wall,  and  we 
gave  them  a  hot  round,  emptying  twenty  saddles.  Their 
return  fire  dropped  three  of  my  brave  fellows,  and  then 
we  mounted  the  wall,  and  went  at  them  with  our  swords. 

It  was  as  stiff  a  fight  for  ten  minutes  as  I  had  ever 
seen.  Theii  front  ranks  made  such  a  ])rave  effort  to 
gain  a  footing  on  the  wall  that  the  rear  firing  lines  could 
make  no  effective  use  of  their  carbines  for  fear  of  killing 
their  own  men.  Being  on  the  wall  we  had  the  best  of 
it,  and  we  beat  them  off  so  nicely  on  the  west  side  that, 
after  sticking  my  sword  through  one  fellow's  throat,  I 
found  time  to  breathe,  and  turned  to  see  how  it  fared 
with  Willoughby  across  the  lawn.  He  was  doing  well  in 
the  main,  but  his  line  was  suddenly  broken  near  the 
gate,  and  I  saw  Black  Murtagh  and  two  others  leap  over 
into  the  yard  and  run  for  the  house.    Willoughby  closed 


, 


^ 


60 


John  Marmaduke 


up  the  gap  with  admirable  courage,  throwing  himself 
into  the  line,  but  he  could  give  no  time  to  the  three 
interlopers.  Glancing  toward  the  house,  I  beheld  Cath- 
erine waving  a  sealed  paper  to  Black  Murtagh , 

"  Hold  your  men  stiffly  to  it,  Haddon,"  1  cried.  "  I 
will  return  soon." 

I  was  fifty  yards  nearer  the  house  than  the  three  Irish- 
men, and  I  started  for  the  door  with  a  fleet  foot.  Cath- 
erine saw  me  coming,  and  ran  up  the  stairs  towards  the 
chapel.  But  I  was  close  upon  her,  and  ere  she  knew 
how  near  I  was  I  had  seized  the  paper  from  her  hand 
and  thrust  it  into  my  boot.  She  turned  upon  me  in 
a  fury. 

"  Coward!  "  she  cried.     "  Coward,  to  rob  a  woman  !  " 

But  as  I  turned  to  go  back  down  the  stairs.  Black 
Murtagh  and  his  two  companions  entered  the  door  and 
began  to  ascend. 

"  Hah  !  "  he  cried.  "  So,  you  have  put  yourself  in  a 
trap.  Return  that  paper.  Englishman,  or  we  will  make 
dog's  food  of  your  carcass." 

I  stood  on  the  landing  with  one  foot  on  the  first  step, 
my  sword  advanced,  my  eye  alert,  and  filled  with  a 
knowledge  of  my  strength  and  skill  which  sustained  me 
in  this  moment  of  peril.  Catherine  was  behind  me,  a 
little  to  one  side.  If  she  stood  neutral  I  feared  not  the 
combat  in  front. 

Black  Murtagh  eyed  me  narrowly  and  paused. 

"  Give  me  that  paper,"  he  said, "  and  we  will  all  return 
and  fight  it  out  on  the  walls." 

"  The  paper  which  I  have  secured,"  I  answered, 
"  leaves  my  hand  only  to  go  into  that  of  the  English 
General." 

Curse  you,  then,"  said  he,  "  for  an  obstinate  villain." 


(*   ; 


The  Attack  on  Carberry  Hall       6i 


The  three  Irishmen  came  up  the  stairs  not  too  fast,  and 
Black  Murtagh  thrust  his  sword  at  me.  I  parried  it,  and 
then  I  had  their  three  blades  in  play. 

"  At  him,  Peter !  "  cried  Black  Murtagh.  "  Get  arou..d 
behind  him,  Rory  !  Here  we  go  !  At  him,  all  three  ! 
Down  with  the  Saxon  dog  !  " 

But  I  had  no  mind  to  let  them  in  behind  me.  The 
stairway  was  eight  feet  wide,  and,  by  shifting  my  posi- 
tion now  a  step  to  the  right  and  now  a  step  to  the  left, 
my  good  right  arm  made  the  lateral  approaches  much 
too  hot  for  the  sneaking  comrades  of  my  foe. 

They  pressed  me  hard,  in  spite  of  my  vantage-point  at 
the  top  of  the  stairs.  Black  Murtagh  was  no  novice  with 
the  sword,  and  he  tried  a  trick  or  two  which  kept  me  on 
my  mettle.  His  two  partners  lacked  skill,  but  they  cut 
and  thrust  at  me  with  an  ugly  vim  which  showed  me  the 
murder  in  their  hearts.  Seizing  a  moment  when  Black 
Murtagh  had  fallen  back  a  step  to  avoid  my  thrust,  I 
sprang  suddenly  to  one  side,  and  sent  Peter's  sword  fly- 
ing down  the  stairs.  At  the  same  time  I  planted  my  foot 
in  Peter's  breast  and  gave  him  a  push  that  sent  him  head 
over  heels  to  the  bottom,  with  all  sense  crushed  out  of 
him.  The  ruse  like  to  have  cost  me  dear,  for  Rory's 
sword  came  down  on  my  steel  cap  with  a  crash  that 
made  me  reel  in  my  tracks.  But  I  recovered  instantly, 
and  passed  my  blade  under  his  arm  and  through  his 
heart  to  the  hilt,  and  he  rolled  downward  against  Black 
Murtagh. 

I  thought  I  heard  a  voice  behind  me  say,  '*  Well  done  \  " 
But  I  pressed  in  on  Black  Murtagh  with  my  spirit  up,  and 
had  him  where  he  would  have  fallen  before  my  steel, 
when  my  foot  slipped  on  the  wet  stair  in  Rory's  blood, 
and  I  fell  beside  the  corpse,  my  sword  gone  I  know  not 


I! 


■n 


M 


63 


John  Marmaduke 


where.  I  heard  a  woman's  scream,  I  felt  Black  Mur- 
tagh's  hand  upon  my  throat,  I  saw  his  knife  flashed  out 
and  raised  above  me,  I  thought  once  of  my  mother  in 
Yorkshire  and  once  of  General  Ireton  in  camp  at  Ark- 
low,  I  nerved  myself  for  a  last  resistance  to  death,  when 
a  tall,  black-robed  form  advanced  from  the  chapel  door 
and  stepping  quickly  downward  seized  the  uplifted  arm. 

"  Spare  him,"  cried  Father  Terhune,  "  spare  him  for  the 
Church  !  " 

I  found  my  sword. 

"  Shall  we  have  it  out  ?  "  I  asked. 

But  Black  Murtagh,  with  a  curse  on  the  priest's  inter- 
ference, sheathed  his  dagger,  and  sped  out  into  the  yard. 


^5r>-^  "  ^~i^ 

^CV^Iv^^^    -^^^^^^^^^^^^^H^^^^^^^^^l 

MpUr'^iA  Ti£#^ 

^S^L.*  M  '  A^  '^^^'^^I^^^^^BPV 

l^fe^ 

^-^s^ 

CHAPTER  VIII 


THE   FIGHT   ON   THE   PLAIN 


It 


YOU  spared  my  life  yesterday  morning,"  said  the 
priest,  "  and  I  have  now  saved  yours." 


i'f' 


•  n 


u 


I  am  very  grateful  to  you,"  I  answered,  and,  as  the 
clash  of  arms  still  resounded  on  the  wall,  I  passed  out- 
side and  found  my  men  at  swords'  points  with  the  enemy. 
Black  Murtarrh,  followed  by  Peter  Dingle,  who  had  re- 
covered from  my  assault,  was  speeding  across  the  lawn, 
and  succeeded  in  passing  over  the  wall  near  the  gate  to 
his  friends  without  attracting  the  attention  of  my  troopers. 
Willoughby  seemed  to  have  well  resisted  the  attack  on 
the  east  side  of  the  enclosure,  but  there  were  signs  of 
distress  on  the  west  side  where  Haddon  had  charge. 
Two  of  my  men  on  that  side  had  been  kiPed,  and  some 
three  or  four  others  were  disabled  by  wounds.  On  the 
other  hand,  I  observed,  on  mounting  the  wall  with  a 
cry  of  encouragement  which  instantly  revived  the  spirit 
of  my  soldiers,  that  they  had  wrought  great  execution  on 
the  Irishry.  We  went  at  them  now  with  so  much  reso- 
lution that  the  last  man  of  them  was  driven  over  the 
wall ;  and  as  we  dropped  back  under  cover  to  avoid  their 
fire,  a  retreat  was  sounded  for  the  second  time,  and  the 
enemy  withdrew  from  both  sides. 

63 


m 


m 


T 


64 


John  Marmaduke 


■ 


Lord  Kilmac  had  no  fear  this  time  of  our  carbines,  as 
almost  our  last  charge  had  been  fired.  So  he  formed  his 
broken  ranks  on  the  open  ground  two  hundred  yards  in 
front  of  the  gate  with  great  deliberation. 

"  Why  do  you  fear  the  Saxon  curs  ?  "  I  heard  him  say. 
"  They  are  without  powder  and  are  but  a  handful  alto- 
gether. One  more  charge  and  we  will  cut  their  throats 
so  that  not  a  man  among  them  will  live  to  tell  how  we 
won  our  victory." 

But  half  his  command  was  either  killed  or  wounded, 
and  while  one  or  two  of  his  officers  shouted  for  another 
charge,  the  private  soldiers  seemed  to  have  little  heart 
for  the  business. 

On  our  sl^ae,  however,  the  prospect  was  not  a  bright 
one.  I'ive  of  my  men  had  been  killed  in  the  two  engage- 
ments and  as  many  more  were  suffering  from  wounds. 
It  was  two  hours  after  noon  and  we  had  had  no  food 
since  breakfast ;  and,  under  the  hard  fighting,  we  began 
to  fag.  As  many  of  the  Irish  had  not  been  on  the  wall, 
they  were  not  so  far  spent  as  we  ;  and  it  seemed  clear 
that  if  Lord  Kilmac  could  stir  his  men  to  another  as- 
sault we  must  surely  be  overtaken  by  the  sanguinary 
fate  which  he  had  promised  us.  With  our  situation  thus 
forming  itself  in  my  mind,  I  resolved  to  sally  out  and  try 
the  last  chance  of  war  in  open  fight. 

Our  horses  were  perfectly  fresh,  having  had  no  work 
since  our  arrival  at  Carberry  Hall  on  the  previous  day. 
I  called  William  Cozens,  and  his  trumpet  quickly  sounded 
to  horse.  My  men,  who  saw  the  desperate  chance  which 
I  had  chosen,  and  inwardly  approved  it,  were  in  their 
saddles  with  alacrity,  having  first  refreshed  themselves 
with  water  and  a  biscuit. 

Leaving  only  the  two  sentinels  in  charge  of  the  pris- 


The  Fight  on  the  Plain 


6S 


oners,  and  allowing  for  five  killed  and  two  sent  with  the 
ill-fated  despatch  under  the  Scoutmaster,  and  one  man 
too  badly  wounded  to  take  further  part,  I  still  had  ninety 
men,  all  a  little  blown,  it  is  true,  and  some  hurt  ;  but 
every  man  there  knew  that  it  was  soon  to  be  a  fight  for 
life  ;  and  I  trusted  to  our  valour,  our  better  discipline, 
and  our  good,  fresh  horses  to  beat  the  enemy  away. 

1  had  never  learned  the  trick  of  talking  ♦(>  my  men  in 
company  beyond  the  shout  of  command  when  we  were 
in  action  ;  but  they  knew  me  so  well  that  it  never 
seemed  necessary  to  explain  any  situation  to  them,  as 
they  trusted  my  judgment  implicitly.  I  own  that  as  I 
now  looked  into  their  resolute  though  weary  faces  I 
would  have  been  glad  to  make  them  an  elocjuent  speech. 
But  as  Willis  Fenton  and  Richard  Trevor,  on  my  order, 
suddenly  threw  the  great  gates  wide  open,  there  was 
one  there  who  spoke  more  tellingly  than  any  orator  of 
silver  tongue,  even  Williams  Cozens,  whose  trumpet 
thrilled  every  heart  to  the  core  with  its  martial  blast, 
"  Forward  !  " 

We  rode  through  the  gate  and  got  clear  of  the  wall 
before  the  Irish  chieftain  knew  that  we  had  any  manoeu- 
vre in  hand.  When  we  came  to  a  halt  with  a  good  hun- 
dred yards  between  him  and  us,  he  scarcely  knew  whether 
we  meant  fight  or  flight.  But  our  waving  banners  and 
the  battle-form  of  our  ranks  soon  old  him  that  no 
craven  purpose  swayed  us  ;  and  he  hastened  his  own 
preparation  with  an  agitation  which  was  far  from  restor- 
ing the  courage  of  his  men. 

The  tactics  of  war  required  the  English  troop,  one 
hundred  strong  (though  now  ten  short),  for  the  action 
which  I  had  in  mind,  to  be  drawn  up  in  five  ranks,  giving 
a  frontage  of  twenty  men,  with  six   foot  space  between 


1:^ 


■I 


I 


John  Marmaduke 


man  and  man,  and  six  foot  distance  from  rank  to  ranl(. 
That  is  to  say,  every  soldier  was  six  feet  from  his  com- 
rade to  front,  flanks,  and  rear :  six  feet  being  the 
assumed  length  of  one  horse.  This  was  the  formation 
which  I  now  arranged. 

Each  of  the  five  ranks  bore  its  own  name :  first, 
leaders  ;  second,  followers-to-the-front ;  third,  middle- 
men ;  fourth,  followers-to-the-rear ;  fifth,  bringers-up. 
The  object  of  the  six  foot  space  between  man  and  man 
was  to  enable  the  whole  troop  to  turn  round  to  flanks  or 
rear  by  the  simple  words,  "  Right  about  turn  !  "  or, 
"  Left  about  turn  ! "  as  the  case  might  be.  Thus  the 
open  formation  was  indespensable  for  the  simplest 
manoeuvre. 

But  the  Irish  commander,  instead  of  forming  his  men 
in  this  method  for  their  easy  handling,  ranged  them  in 
two  long  ranks  of  seventy-five  men  each,  the  men  being 
placed  knee  to  knee,  and  the  horses  in  the  front  and 
rear  ranks  standing  nose  to  croup.  I  saw  with  delight 
that  we  were  once  more  to  profit  by  his  ignorance  of  the 
art  of  war. 

I  gave  him  barely  time  to  form  his  lines  in  this  crude 
fashion,  and  then,  turning  to  my  men  with  honest  pride 
and  affection,  I  cried,  "  Charge  ! " 

We  swept  across  the  open  ground  at  full  gallop,  shout- 
ing our  cry,  "  The  Parliament,  the  Parliament !  "  Our 
banners  waved  and  our  swords  flashed.  The  Irishman 
never  attempted  to  give  us  his  guns,  but,  shouting  his 
Celtic  cry,  moved  forward  on  a  half-spirited  trot  to  meet 
us.  "  Buailio  !  "  (Strike  ye  !)  ,  he  cried.  "  Li-om  !  Or- 
ra  !  "  (Follow  me  !  Upon  them  !  )  "  Buailio  !  Buailio  !  " 
And  meet  us  he  did,  but  it  was  a  sorry  day  for  him. 
Our  open  formation  covered  his  whole  line  and  we  gave 


The  Fight  on  the  Plain 


67 


him  our  sabres,  cut  and  slash,  until  his  front  rank  be* 
came  inextricably  mixed  with  his  rear,  and  his  whole 
command  massed  in  such  a  huddled  confusion  that  we 
had  only  to  pick  our  game  to  send  what  men  of  his  we 
would  to  their  last  accounting.  We  sent  them  with  a 
will,  for  our  spirits  were  high  and  this  was  the  foe  who 
had  shortly  before  promised  to  cut  our  throats. 

I  was  in  the  heat  of  the  action,  my  wounded  arm 
giving  me  much  pain  from  holding  the  bridle,  when 
Black  Murtagh  rode  full  against  me  and  struck  at  me  with 
his  sword.  Rob  Cumber  caught  the  blow  while  Dick 
Trevor  dealt  the  giant  a  rap  on  the  head  that  knocked 
him  off  his  horse.  When  my  men  had  broken  down  all 
resistance  and  gone  far  enough  in  among  the  Irish 
soldiers,  I  called  them  back  and  formed  them  for 
another  charge. 

As  we  brought  our  horses  into  position  we  saw  that 
the  Irish  chieftain  was  in  a  deplorable  situation  ;  and  my 
men  gave  a  cheer  as  with  one  voice  when  they  beheld 
his  sorry  plight.  Twenty  of  his  men  lay  dead  from  the 
late  encounter,  fifty  stood  dismounted  and  hurt,  and 
the  rest  sat  their  horses  in  the  last  picture  of  despair. 
Lord  Kilmac  was  wounded  but  still  full  of  fight.  Black 
Murtagh,  assisted  by  Peter  Dingle,  was  mounting  his 
horse  in  a  dazed  way.  Some  of  the  minor  officers  were 
riding  up  and  down  the  broken  line,  hardly  knowing 
how  to  avert  further  ruin. 

Another  charge  meant  annihilation  to  our  enemy,  and 
I  was  unwilling  now  to  do  wanton  execution  on  him.  I 
called  to  him  to  surrender  ;  a  cruel  summons  to  one  who 
had  expected  ten  minutes  ago  to  be  the  victor.  He  de- 
fied me  with  an  execration. 

"  There  is  no  hope  for  you,"  I  cried. 


"Ift 


68 


John  Marmaduke 


it  >i 


Try  me,  and  find  what  an  Irishman  can  do  when  he 
is  pressed,"  he  answered. 

But  I  held  my  men  still,  giving  him  full  time  to  form 
his  defence  ;  when  suddenly  I  heard  the  blast  of  a  bugle 
in  the  wood  behind  the  Irishry,  and  half  a  regiment  of 
horse,  five  hundred  men,  rode  out  into  the  open  ground, 
and  coming  to  a  halt,  planted  a  banner  bearing  an  open 
Bible,  buff,  on  a  black  field  ;  while  a  mighty  shout, 
"  The  Parliament,  the  Parliament !  "  told  that  they  were 
from  the  English  camp  at  Arklow. 

Lord  Kilmac,  caught  in  front  and  rear,  stood  stock 
still. 

The  leader  of  the  English  reinforcements  spoke  a 
word  to  an  officer,  who  put  spurs  to  his  hursc,  and, 
making  a  detour,  rode  far  to  the  right  of  the  Irish  line 
alone,  and  came  toward  me  at  full  gallop.  He  was  a 
Colonel,  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  with  a  handsome, 
intellectual  face  full  of  dignity  and  courage  ;  and  it  re- 
quired no  second  look  for  me  to  recognise  Henry  Crom- 
well, the  Lord  Lieutenant's  youngest  son. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  said  he,  bringing  his  horse  to 
a  sudden  stop. 

My  men  gave  him  a  cheer,  which  he  acknowledged 
with  a  pleasant  smile. 

"  General  Ireton  commands  yonder  in  person,  and  he 
has  sent  me  to  inquire  into  your  situation.  I  see  that 
you  have  had  rough  work  and  plenty  of  it."  His  eye 
swept  over  the  field  and  along  the  wall  where  the  corpses 
of  the  Irish  soldiers  lay  thick  upon  the  ground.  "  What 
loss  have  you  sustained  ?  Upon  my  life  you  seem  nearly 
intact." 

"  I  have  had  five  men  killed.  Colonel  Cromwell,"  I 
answered.    "  Two  are  on  guaid  duty  in  yonder  house,  one 


The  Fight  on  the  Plain 


69 


is  there  wounded,  two  others,  with  my  Scoutmaster,  left 
me  this  morning  with  a  despatch  for  our  General.  All 
the  rest  of  my  troop  are  here." 

"Truly  a  good  accounting,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  he 
said.  "  The  Lord  has  strengthened  your  arm  and  been 
wondrously  good  to  you  in  the  midst  of  great  dangers." 
His  gaze  turned  to  the  Irishry.  "  Is  not  this  fellow 
sufficiently  whipped  ?  Upon  my  life,  you  have  well- 
nigh  cut  him  to  pieces." 

I  told  him  briefly  the  story  of  the  two  assaults  on  the 
wall  and  of  my  charge  through  the  gate.  "  I  did  but  now 
demand  his  surrender,"  I  said,  "  being  averse  to  the 
needless  suffusion  of  his  blood." 

"  He  is  a  brave  fellow,  doubtless,"  said  Colonel  Crom- 
well, "  though  he  ought  to  be  whipped  for  his  ignorance 
of  his  profession.  This  field  tells  the  story  of  his 
blunders,  as  of  your  prowess.  I  think  he  will  no  longer 
hold  out ;  if  he  do,  it  will  be  a  short  story  with  him.  I 
will  summon  him.  But  no,  he  is  your  prize.  Captain 
Marmaduke.  I  beg  your  pardon.  Do  you  speak  to  him 
once  more." 

I  thanked  him  for  his  consideration.  He  was  ever 
one  of  the  most  courteous  of  men.  Riding  forward  a 
few  paces,  I  hailed  the  Irish  commander. 

"  Lord  Kilmac,  the  troops  that  have  just  arrived  in 
your  rear  are  from  our  English  camp  and  are  com- 
manded by  General  Henry  Ireton.  We  will  act  together 
in  any  further  operations  against  you.  Will  you  now 
surrender  ? " 

"  What  terms  will  you  grant  me  ? "  he  asked. 

I  turned  to  Colonel  Cromwell. 

"  At  mercy  ? "  I  suggested ;  and  he  nodded  his  ap- 
proval. 


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John  Marmaduke 


"  I  demand  your  surrender  at  mercy,"  I  said.  This 
meant  that  he  was  to  place  himself  in  my  hands  without 
promise  from  me. 

The  Irishman  exchanged  a  word  with  his  officers  ;  and 
then,  "  I  do  yield  to  force  at  mercy,"  he  said. 

I  rode  back  tc  Colonel  Cromwell's  side  and  held  a 
brief  conference  with  him.     Then  riding  forward,  I  said : 

"  My  Lore!  Kilmac,  you  will  rause  your  men  to  lay  down 
their  arms,  both  their  swords  and  carbines,  and  to  give 
up  their  horses.  You  will  provide  burial  at  once  for  the 
slain  ;  you  will  then  march  on  foot  whither  you  will  be- 
fore nightfall." 

"  Agreed,"  he  said,  **  since  I  can  do  no  better.  I  can 
retain  my  own  sword  ? " 

"  Surely,"  I  answered.  "  You  are  a  brave  man, 
thou^^h  you  came  against  the  life  of  my  troop." 

Hi5  men  at  once  laid  down  their  arms  and  gave  up 
iheir  horses  to  my  troopers.  They  then  set  about  dig- 
ging a  great  pit  a  furlong  to  the  rear  of  the  back  wall,  and 
the  gruesome  work  of  burying  their  dead  comrades  began. 

In  the  meantime.  Colonel  Cromwell  had  spurred  his 
horse  back  to  the  English  reinforcements  and  reported 
the  affair  to  General  Ireton.  As  soon  as  the  Irishry  had 
left  the  field  I  rode  across  it  and  saluted  my  General. 
He  received  me  with  an  expression  of  high  regard,  and 
asked  a  question  or  two  about  the  fight,  which  I  briefly 
answered.  He  then  ordered  his  troops  to  hold  them- 
selves at  rest  on  the  plain,  while  he  and  Colonel  Crom- 
well rode  with  me  to  my  troop.  As  he  came  before 
them,  my  men,  who  loved  him  as  did  all  our  arm}',  gave 
him  a  hearty  cheer,  which  pleased  him  greatly. 

**  The  Lord  hath  blessed  you  with  a  notable  victory," 
he  cried.      "  You  have  dealt  the  Irish  a  blow  this  day 


The  Fight  on  the  Plain 


which  will  much  advance  our  cause.  You  have  over- 
come their  attack  like  good  English  hearts.  The  Parlia- 
ment forever ! " 

We  all  responded,  "  The  Parliament  forever  !  "  And 
the  English  on  the  other  side  took  up  the  cry  and 
echoed  it  into  the  wood  and  over  the  sea :  "  The  Par- 
liament forever ! " 

We  rode  on  through  the  gate  and  into  the  close,  my 
troop  following  us.  Once  inside,  I  ordered  my  men  to 
seek  refreshment  and  rest,  and  told  Lieutenants  Wil- 
loughby  and  Haddon  to  have  our  wounded  looked  well 
after.  With  General  Ireton  and  Colonel  Cromwell  I 
then  led  the  way  to  the  house  ;  but  when  we  came  nigh 
to  it  a  sight  met  my  eyes  which  filled  me  with  rage  and 
shame. 

The  two  troopers  whom  I  had  left  on  guard  at  the 
window  in  charge  of  the  prisoners  in  the  banqueting 
hall  were  bound  fast  to  each  other,  back  to  back,  and 
gagged.  In  front  of  the  nouse  were  the  thirty  men-at- 
arms  and  men-servants  of  Carberry  Hall  who  had  been 
their  captives.  They  were  armed  with  pikes,  and  were 
drawn  up  in  six  rows  of  five  men  each.  I  instantly 
divined  that  th^  y  had  overpowered  the  sentries  by  some 
sharp  trick  of  another  mind,  and  had  formed  for  an  at- 
tack on  my  rear  during  my  fight  with  Lord  Kilmac. 
They  had  learned  of  the  unexpected  arrival  of  General 
Ii.'ton  too  late  to  disperse  ;  and  now,  being  unable  to 
cover  up  their  design,  they  scood  before  us  wilh  the 
discomfiture  of  detection  on  their  faces. 

Generr.1  Ireton  halted  his  horse  in  surprise,  and  turned 
upon  me  with  a  look  of  inquiry. 

I  briefly  gave  him  an  account  of  the  prisoners,  to- 
gether with  my  surmise  as  to  their  present  situation. 


72 


John  Marmaduke 


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51 


"  But  who  is  the  strippling  at  their  head  with  his 
sword  drawn  ?  "  he  asked. 

I  felt  the  hot  blood  reddening  my  temples. 

'*  Do  you  not  recognise  the  owner  of  the  black  horse  ? " 
I  answered,  evasively. 

"  To  be  sure,"  he  said.  "  The  young  man  who  got 
away  from  us  yesterday." 

But  it  was  not  that  young  man  at  all.  There  was  a 
trick  about  the  pouting  mouth  of  the  ofticer  referred  to 
which  I  had  well  learned  by  this  time.  Besides,  there 
was  a  curving  fulness  at  the  hii)s,  and  a  swell  at  the 
chest,  which  escaped  all  eyes  but  mine.  1  doubt  if  the 
prisoners  themselves  knew  that  their  leader  was  not 
Terence.  But  I  knew  beyond  peradventure  that  it  was 
Catherine. 

"  See  that  they  are  all  instantly  secured  and  well 
guarded,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  cried  General  Ireton, 
"and  we  will  pick  out  six  of  them  to  represent  each  row 
as  they  now  stand  and  have  them  shot  with  their  scape- 
grace leader  on  Monday  morning  at  eight  o'clock." 

The  faces  of  the  Irish  soldiers  exhibited  distress  in 
varying  degrees  as  they  heard  this  sentence,  but  their 
young  leader  never  altered  by  a  shade  the  frowning  de- 
fiance of  her  face. 

It  made  me  sick  at  heart  to  see  the  importunity  with 
which  she  courted  misfortune.  But  she  had  broupht  it 
on  herself  against  the  rules  of  war  which  I  had  carefully 
explained  to  her.  I  called  to  Corporal  Wilton,  who 
gathered  his  men,  and,  after  disarming  the  prisoners, 
marched  *hem  to  a  guard-room  with  thick  walls  and 
barred  windows,  beside  the  horse-sheds. 

"  As  for  their  leader,"  I  said,  -.tvereiy,  "  you  will  con- 
vey— him — to  the  room  near    ht^iTC-it  stairway  inside  the 


The  Fight  on  the  Plain 


7$ 


house,  which  was  1  ist  night  occupied  by  his  sister.  You 
will  place  two  men  at  the  window  and  two  at  the  door. 
Let  no  insolence  be  offered  him,  for  he  is  to  meet  his 
death  soon." 

With  a  choking  feeling  in  my  throat  I  passed  into  the 
house  with  my  superior  officers,  and  ordered  Rob  Cum- 
ber to  bring  us  the  best  meal  he  could  prepare  with  such 
speed  as  his  skill  in  cookery  would  permit. 


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S 
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CHAPTER   IX 


THE    INTERCEPTED    LETTER 


I 


WHILE  we  were  enjoying  our  evening  meal  in  the 
banqueting  hall,  I  gave  my  superior  officers  a 
relation  of  the  leading  incidents  that  had  befallen  us 
since  we  left  t'.ie  camp  on  the  previous  day  :  without, 
however,  referring  to  the  part  played  therein  by  Miss 
Dillon.  When  I  had  finished  my  narration,  I  asked 
General  Ireton  in  what  manner  he  had  been  led  to  un- 
dertake our  relief. 

"  It  was  high  noon  to-day,"  answered  the  General, 
"  when  your  Scoutmaster,  David  Potton,  rode  furiously 
into  camp  alone,  and  nearly  fainting  from  a  wound,  a 
pistol-shot  in  the  chest." 

"  Was  Pr>«^ton  badly  wounded  ? "  I  cried,  in  pained 
surprise. 

*'  No,  not  badly,  when  the  flow  of  blood  was  stopped," 
answered  the  General.  "  He  insists  that  he  will  soon  re- 
turn to  you.  He  informed  me  that  you  had  sent  him  to 
me  with  a  message  ;  that  he  had  been  stopped  by  the 
Irish  force  at  a  turn  of  the  road,  and  one  of  his  men 
killed  and  the  other  taken,  but  that  he  had  put  spurs  to 
his  horse  and  dashed  through  the  ranks  of  the  enemy, 
receiving  a  wound  as  he  sped  away.     He  told  me  the 

74 


The  Intercepted  Letter 


75 


^ 


story  of  Black  Murtagh's  plunge  into  Roderick's  Pool 
together  with  his  followers  ;  but  he  vowed  that  he  recog- 
nised him  among  Lord  Kilmac's  men.  The  inference 
seemed  clear  that  Black  Murtagh  was  leading  a  force 
against  you  at  Carberry  Hall.  As  General  Cromwell  is 
now  in  command  of  our  camp,  I  came  hither  with  some 
of  our  brave  fellows  as  quickly  as  our  horses  would 
bring  us  ;  but  not  quick  enough  to  assist  you  in  the 
valorous  whipping  you  gave  this  fierce  Lord  Kilmac." 

The  General  smiled  as  he  uttered  this  compliment,  and 
I  said  that  his  arrival  had  been  most  opportune. 

"  Of  course,"  said  Colonel  Cromwell,  "  Potton  was  un- 
able to  bring  the  black  mare,  Bess,  to  our  camp.  The 
poor  fellow  who  had  her  halter,  young  Edward  Maxwell, 
was  killed,  and  Potton  had  no  time  to  give  her  a  further 
thought.     Do  you  know  what  became  of  the  horse  ?  " 

Again  I  felt  myself  blushing  :  a  trick  I  had  never 
learned  until  I  came  to  Carberry  Hall.  I  commenced  an 
evasive  reply,  when  the  tall  priest,  Father  Terhune,  sud- 
denly entered  the  room.  After  bowing  respectfully  to  my 
associates,  he  said  to  me  in  a  tone  of  marked  deference 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,  if  you  will  be  good  enough  to 
follow  me,  I  shall  take  pleasure  in  dressing  the  wound  in 
your  arm." 

"  I  hardly  think  it  requires  further  attention,"  I  an- 
swered.    "  It  gives  me  no  pain." 

"  Nay,  Captain,"  said  General  Ireton,  "  the  thing 
should  not  be  neglected.  If  this  priest  has  skill  go  you 
with  him.  Henry  and  I  will  see  to  the  men  we  brought 
hither." 

"  It  is  well  that  the  night  is  warm,"  said  Colonel  Crom- 
well, rising  from  the  table,  "  for  our  men  have  no  tents 
and  they  must  sleep  on  the  sward." 


76 


John  Marmaduke 


II 


I 


"  Will  you  bring  them  within  the  close  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  No,"  replied  the  General,  "  they  will  sleep  at  the 
edge  of  the  wood,  but  you  may  assign  rooms  to  Henry 
and  me." 

They  walked  ou;  into  the  fading  day  and  I  followed 
the  gaunt  priest.  He  led  me  up  the  hall  to  Catherine's 
door,  which  opened  to  his  knock,  and  we  passed  in  and 
closed  it  in  the  faces  of  the  two  sentries. 

Catherine,  still  arrayed  in  her  martial  habit,  which  I 
had  come  to  detesjt,  was  lighting  her  candles,  and  was 
alone  in  the  apartment,  saving  our  intrusion. 

The  priest  motioned  me  to  a  seat,  and  without  a  word 
he  removed  the  bandage  from  my  arm  and  surveyed  the 
wound  critically.  Catherine  came  behind  me  and  looked 
on  with  attention. 

"  It  is  doing  well,"  said  the  priest.  "  By  Monday  it 
will  be  healed  completely.     The  salve,  Catherine." 

She  handed  him  the  jar  of  ointment,  which  he  applied 
to  the  wound.  When  he  had  wrapped  a  fresh  cloth 
about  my  arm,  he  rose  and  proceeded  to  wash  his  hands 
from  a  silver  laver  on  her  table.  Catherine  paced  up 
and  down  the  room  with  a  nervous  step,  while  the  priest 
faced  me  and  spoke. 

'*  Captain  Marmaduke,  you  cannot  but  suspect  that  I 
am  gravely  concerned  at  the  position  in  which  the  daugh- 
ter of  this  house  is  placed  through  the  events  of  this 
afternoon." 

I  said  something  half-angrily  about  those  who  fly  in 
the  face  of  Providence,  which  brought  the  peripatetic 
maiden  to  a  full  stop,  and  she  would  have  replied  to  my 
remark  had  not  the  priest  restrained  her  by  a  curt  wave 
of  his  hand. 

There  is  no  room  for  argument  on  that  score."  he 


«(    rr 


The  Intercepted  Letter 


n 


said.  "  But  I  am  constrained  to  believe  that  you  will 
interpose  your  influence  with  yonder  General  to  obtain 
pardon,  both  for  her  and  the  men-at-arms  who  were 
arrested  with  her." 

"  How  did  it  come  that  you  overpowered  my  sentries  ? " 
I  demanded,  with  severity. 

A  smile  played  on  her  lips  as  she  again  paused  before 
me. 

"  It  w.is  an  easy  thing  to  do,  she  said.  **  When  one 
of  your  guards  went  with  a  cup  of  water  to  the  wounded 
soldii'i  whom  you  left  behind,  I  called  Father  O'Brien 
to  help  me,  and  together  we  dropped  a  noosed  rope  from 
the  upper  window  over  the  arms  of  him  who  remained 
at  his  post,  and  drew  it  taut  over  the  oaken  rafter." 

Father  Terhune  stamped  angrily  with  his  foot,  but  she 
went  on  without  heeding  him. 

"  Your  man  cried  for  help,  but  our  men  in  the  ban- 
queting hall  saw  what  was  designed,  and  they  were 
quickly  out  of  the  window  and  upon  him.  When  the 
other  man  returned  they  were  both  bound  and  gagged 
as  when  you  found  them.  I  then  drew  up  all  my  men 
and  intended  to  make  a  charge  upon  your  rear.  The 
unexpected  arrival  of  your  reinforcements  stopped  the 
fight  outside,  and  ere  I  could  dispose  of  my  guard,  you 
returned  with  your  brother  officers." 

"  A  pretty  story  enough,"  I  said,  "  with  yet  another 
offender  for  the  executioner  on  Monday  morning." 

She  turned  pale  and  bit  her  lip,  while  Father  Terhune 
demanded  : 

"  Will  you  never  learn  discretion  ?  " 

"  I  will  see  to  it,"  said  I,  "  that  your  rascally  priest, 
O'Brien,  is  shot  with  the  others." 

She  was  pacing  the  room  furiously. 


P 


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78 


John  Marmaduke 


"  Your  parole  ? "  I  said.  "  You  surely  will  not  say 
that  the  priest  and  your  men  were  not  on  parole  ? " 

''  J  say  nothing,"  she  replied. 

I  looked  towards  the  tall  priest,  whose  mental  disquiet 
was  plainly  visible. 

"  You  have  heard  the  story,"  I  said  to  the  priest. 
"  What  can  I  do  but  see  the  sentence  executed  ?  " 

At  this  fnoment  the  curtain  at  Catherine's  boudoir  was 
thrust  aside  and  Terence,  her  brother,  entered  the  room. 

"  So  be  it,  sir,"  he  said,  folding  his  arms  before  me. 
"  But  you  surely  will  not  kill  a  woman.  It  is  I  who  am 
under  sentence.  No  one  but  yourself  knows  that  it  was 
not  I  who  led  the  Carberry  Hall  men  this  afternoon." 

Now,  it  had  never  entered  my  head  to  permit  the  ex- 
ecution of  Miss  Dillon,  but  neither  had  it  occurred 
to  me  that  it  was  really  her  brother  who,  though  innocent, 
was  under  a  legal  sentence  of  death  for  her  offence. 

"A  nice  position  for  you,  truly,"  I  said,  rising  and 
facing  Terence.  "  You  wish  me  to  explain  to  the 
English  officers,  I  assume,  that  you,  keeping  yourself  out 
of  danger,  instigated  your  sister  to  masquerade  in  your 
attire  and  draw  this  peril  upon  her  ;  and  that,  therefore, 
you  must  both  be  excused." 

At  these  scornful  words  both  brother  and  sister  ad- 
vanced on  me  with  hot  denunciation.  It  required  all  the 
priest's  severe  authority  to  restrain  them  in  their  wrath. 

When  the  young  man  had  partly  regained  his  control, 
he  said,  his  eyes  still  ablaze  with  passion  : 

"  I  knew  nothing  of  her  rash  purpose  until  told  that 
she  was  a  prisoner.  Your  insinuation  of  cowardice  is 
not  supported  by  my  conduct  since  you  forced  your 
hateful  troop  into  our  happy  home.  But  if  you  have 
doubt  on  that  score,  sir " 


The  Intercepted  Letter 


79 


His  sword  was  half  out,  but  the  tall  priest  drove  it 
back  into  its  scabbard  with  a  reprimand  which  restored 
an  appearance  of  decorum. 

"  The  situation  is  a  plain  one,  Mr.  Dillon,"  I  said. 
"  The  six  private  soldiers  must  be  shot  at  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  on  the  day  after  to-morrow,  and  wiih 
them,  a  leader.  Now,  it  is  my  General's  opinion,  sup- 
ported by  ocular  demonstration,  that  you  are  that  leader. 
If  it  be  true  that  you  had  no  knowledge  of  your  sister's 
action,  then  I  will  explain  the  occurrence  to  General 
Ireton  and  ask  him  to  mitigate  her  punishment." 

"Insufferable  !  "  cried  Catherine. 

"  He  would  never  believe  it,"  said  Terence.  "  Better 
death  than  the  humiliation  of  my  family  !  No,  it  is  I  who 
am  constructively  under  sentence,  and  it  is  I  who  will 
face  your  marksmen  Monday  morning." 

"  But,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  said  the  priest,  who 
had  followed  the  argument  attentively  ;  "  you  surely 
would  not  consent  to  the  murder  of  a  man  without 
guilt?" 

It  was  my  turn  to  walk  the  floor.  After  pacing  its 
length  with  my  hands  behind  me,  I  said  : 

"  No,  I  would  not  do  that,  but  the  only  alternative  is 
an  explanation  of  this  young  lady's  secret." 

"  That  must  not  be,"  cried  Catherine.  "  Captain 
Marmaduke,  spare  me  that,  I  implore  you  !  " 

She  had  never  spoken  to  me  in  these  pleading  tones 
before. 

"  There  is  nothing  else  for  me  to  do,  my  lady,"  I 
answered.  "  Either  the  sentence  must  be  executed  on 
the  supposed  leader  of  your  band,  or  I  must  tell  my 
General  that  the  real  leader  was  a  woman.  Settle  it  for 
yourselves,  and  send  me  an  answer  later." 


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John  Marmaduke 


I  walked  back  to  my  own  apartment,  where  1  found 
General  Ireton,  iiis  brother-in-law,  Colonel  Henry  Crom- 
well, and  Lieutenant  Thornton  Willoughby  waiting  my 
return. 

"  Ah,  Marmaduke,"  cried  Willoughby,  in  the  hearty 
good  fellowship  that  levels  all  rank  ;  "  be  seated,  pray. 
You  need  a  rest.  There  has  been  no  such  fighting  since 
I  enlisted." 

"  You  yourself  performed  wonders  on  the  east  wall, 
Willoughby,"  I  answered.  "  I  never  saw  men  held 
more  steadily  to  a  hard  fight." 

"  The  whole  battle  shows  the  valour  of  godly  men," 
said  the  General.  "  But  how  about  the  despatch  that 
young  Dillon  carried  away  from  our  camp  yesterday, 
Marmaduke  ?  " 

"  They  sent  it  beyond  here  to  Lord  Castlehaven  be- 
fore our  arrival,"  I  answered.  Then,  for  the  first  time, 
I  thought  of  the  paper  which  I  had  seized  out  of  Cathe- 
rine's hand  that  afternoon.  "  Here,"  I  said,  taking  it 
from  my  boot,  "  is  another  paper  ;  the  one  that  was 
sent  ashore  from  the  Prince's  ship  last  night." 

Without  a  word  the  General  took  it  eagerly  from  my 
hand  and  tore  open  its  seal. 

"  It  is  from  Prince  Rupert,"  he  said,  his  face  flushing 
with  excitement.  "  He  urges  Ormond  to  increase  the 
garrison  at  Drogheda. — Beat  Cromwell  and  the  English 
army  there. — Young  Charles  Stuart  will  then  come  upon 
Irish  soil. — And  assume  the  crown  of  Great  Britain. — 
He  himself  will  touch  the  coast  with  his  fleet  below  the 
English  ships. — But  beat  the  English  at  Drogheda  and 
the  Parliament  is  done  for.  Ah,  Captain  Marmaduke, 
you  have  given  me  what  is  vital  to  the  interests  of  the 
people  of  England.     This  despatch  will  shape  the  policy 


The  Intercepted  Letter 


8i 


lish 
)on 


Ithe 
ind 
ike, 
[the 
licy 


of  our  army  henceforth.  I  must  instantly  with  it  to  the 
English  camp." 

"  Will  you  not  wait  for  morning  ? "  I  asked  ;  for  it 
was  now  quite  dark. 

"  Not  one  minute,"  he  said,  "  I  know  the  way  well.  I 
will  take  twenty  men  with  me.  You,  John  Marmaduke, 
will  hold  this  post  of  Carberry  Hall  until  you  receive 
further  orders.  This  is  a  good  point  for  a  garrison.  I 
will  leave  sixty  of  my  men  here  to  reinforce  your  troop  ; 
transfer  ten  of  them  to  fill  your  vacancies.  That  will 
give  you  one  hundred  and  fifty  stout  fellows  against 
attack,  and  if  you  carry  yourself  as  bravely  as  heretofore 
I  have  no  fear  for  your  welfare.  Henry  Cromwell,  you 
will  follow  back  to  our  camp  with  the  remainder  of  the 
men  at  the  first  break  of  day.  And  forget  not  to  ask  the 
Lord's  blessing  ere  you  start,  for  it  will  be  His  day,  and 
we  are  on  His  work.  Marmaduke,  be  watchful  of  the 
Irish  prisoners  ;  guard  against  their  trickery.  Thy 
father  will  act  qu'ckly  on  this  despatch,  Henry.  Good 
night,  and  the  Lord  be  with  you  ! " 

He  had  stepped  forward  to  leave  the  room,  when 
Catherine  suddenly  appeared  in  the  doorway,  dressed  in 
a  summer  gown  of  pure  white,  her  hair  down  her  back, 
her  cheeks  supplying  a  rich  colouring  to  the  picture  :  a 
vision  of  loveliness  that  arrested  us  all. 

"  Which  is  General  Ireton  ? "  she  asked,  her  manner 
so  shy  and  modest  that  we  all  rose  up  and  bowed  before 
her.  And  then,  recognising  him  by  his  age  and  the  air 
of  authority  on  his  face,  she  proceeded  : 

"  General  Ireton,  I  am  Catherine  Dillon,  daughter  of 
Sir  Patrick  Dillon,  until  this  morning  the  owner  of  this 
mansion." 

Her  proud  lip  trembled  ;  the  General  was  touched. 

6 


1 


il 


M 


Ill  1  - 


82 


John  Marmaduke 


!    I 


fl   11 


I 


"  Madam,"  said  he,  "  I  have  learned  of  your  bereave- 
ment, which,  on  your  account,  I  deeply  regret." 

"  My  father  was  slain,"  she  said,  mastering  her  emo- 
tion with  an  effort,  "  in  the  defence  of  his  home.  My 
brother  is  now  confined  in  yonder  chamber  under  sen- 
tence to  be  shot  on  Monday  morning  for  a  similar 
offence.  Is  it  so  grave  a  crime  to  defend  one's  home, 
General  Ireton  ?  Surely  it  does  not  deserve  death  to  do 
that  ? " 

"  Madam,  your  brother  violated  his  parole  and  led  his 
men  to  do  likewise.  This  is  his  offence,  and  the  laws 
of  war  provide  for  it  the  punishment  you  have  named." 

"  But  surely.  General  Ireton,  my  father, — is  not  one 
enough  ?  My  brother  and  I  are  his  only  children.  My 
mother  is  dead.     You  will  not  extirpate  our  race  }  " 

There  was  a  sort  of  terror  in  her  pleading,  an  agita- 
tion in  form  and  voice  which  compelled  the  pity  even  of 
General  Ireton,  who  had  not  quailed  to  force  on  the 
execution  of  King  Charles, 

"  Madam,"  he  said,  "  your  situation  is  a  melancholy 
one  indeed.  Truly  it  is.  But  this  campaign  of  our 
army  in  Ireland  has  just  commenced.  We  mean  to  be 
tender  with  the  innocent.  But  clemency  shown  to  the 
guilty  would  shed  abroad  a  spirit  of  contempt  that  would 
cause  us  much  difficulty  in  doing  our  work  here." 

"  In  doing  your  work  here,"  she  repeated,  with  a  faint 
disdain.     "  But  my  brother  is  not  guilty." 

"  Nay,  madam,"  answered  the  General,  "  I  saw  him 
myself  with  sword  drawn,  at  the  head  of  his  men." 

"  It  was  not  he,"  she  said  ;  and  I  wondered  whether 
she  meant  to  confess  her  own  part. 

"  But  I  saw  him,"  said  General  Ireton,  "  yea,  with 
these  eyes  I  saw  him  this  afternoon  in  the  position  I 


The  Intercepted  Letter 


8: 


liint 

lim 

Iher 

nth 
In  I 


have  described  ;  and  before  that  I  saw  him  yesterday 
at  our  camp.  If  thou  art  his  sister,  then  it  was  thy 
brother  who  hath  offended." 

"  But  will  not  my  father's  death  answer  for  all  ?  "  she 
asked.     "  My  father  was  slain  only  to-day." 

There  was  the  sign  of  sorrow  on  her  mouth  again.  I 
could  keep  quiet  no  longer. 

"  I  believe  the  real  offender  is  a  priest  named  O'Brien, 
General,"  I  said. 

"  Oh,  a  priest ! "  said  he,  enraged  in  a  moment, 
"  Misleaders  of  the  people  always  !  We  will  spare  your 
brother,  madam.  With  your  father's  death  so  recent  I 
would  be  averse  to  a  further  harsh  judgment  against 
your  house.  But  the  priest, — Captain  Marmaduke,  let 
him  be  hanged  on  Monday  morning,  not  shot,  but 
hanged.  The  others  you  will  treat  in  your  discretion. 
Come,  Henry,  and  see  me  start." 

"  But  this  priest,"  said  Catherine,  in  a  tone  of  alarm  ; 
"  Father  C'Brien  is  not " 

"  Enough  !  "  cried  the  General,  pushing  past  her.  "  I 
have  tarried  too  long." 

He  walked  away  with  Colonel  Cromwell  beside  him. 
I  followed  him  to  the  front  door  to  see  whether  he 
would  think  of  any  last  command.  When  I  returned 
Catherine  had  disappeared,  and  only  Lieutenant  Wil- 
loughby  was  in  the  apartment. 

"  Oh,  Marmaduke,"  said  this  ruddy-faced,  enthusias- 
tic youth  of  five-and-twenty  ;  "  who  is  she  ?  Is  it  the 
Irish  knight's  daughter  ?  " 

I  nodded. 

"  I  have  been  so  fighting  mad  since  we  came  here," 
he  cried,  "  that  I  have  taken  no  account  of  her.  Bur  my 
heart  ! — she  has  wounded  your  arm  only,  Captain,  but 


■  % 


r-'^ 


■■Is 


III' 


Bi'i,  I 


84 


John  Marmaduke 


me, — ah,  me  she  has  wounded  here  !  "  And  he  struck 
his  breast. 

Now,  I  felt  a  hot  wave  of  anger  swell  within  me  at 
these  words.  What  was  it  that  engulfed  my  spirit  in 
rage  against  this  comrade  of  mine  ?  I  had  known  him 
long  and  liked  him  much,  and  he  had  confessed  his  pas- 
sion as  one  would  to  a  true  friend. 

"  Can  you  not  see,  man  ?  "  he  cried.  "  She  has  en- 
chanted me.  I  would  die  for  her  !  She  is  the  queen  of 
women.     Gad,  Marmaduke " 

"  Pish  ! "  I  said,  in  high  dudgeon.  "  Only  boys  at 
school  talk  so." 

At  this  moment  Colonel  Cromwell  returned. 

"  My  brother  is  gone,"  said  he.  "  You  were  fortunate 
to  intercept  that  letter  ;  your  service  will  not  be  forgot- 
ten, Marmaduke.  Besides,  you  have  captured  nearly 
three  hundred  horses,  which  will  be  a  valuable  acquisi- 
tion to  the  Parliament  force.  By  the  way,  that  was  as 
handsome  a  lady  as  any  I  have  seen  ;  a  rarely  beautiful 
woman.  Captain." 

I  asked  myself  what  business  it  was  of  his  whether  she 
were  beautiful  or  plain  ;  and  then,  when  I  thought  how 
unreasonable  I  was  to  resent  his  civil  opinion,  inwardly 
called  myself  a  fool.  So,  making  him  an  acquiescent 
answer,  I  passed  out  to  post  the  guards  for  the  night. 

Willoughby  followed  me,  and  there  was  an  air  of  in- 
jury in  his  face  caused  by  my  cold  treatment  of  his 
confidence.  I  felt  ashamed,  and  wishing  to  make  some 
amends,  said : 

"Willoughby,  I  will  put  you  in  command  of  the  fifty 
men  whom  General  Ireton  hath  added  to  my  charge. 
With  his  consent  I  will  advance  Wilton  to  Lieutenant's 
rank  in  our  company.     How  like  you  that  change  ? " 


The  Intercepted  Letter  85 

"It  is  a  very  noble  action  on  your  part,  Marmaduke," 
he  replied.        I  shall  try  to  maintain  your  confidence  in 


me  ever. 


^^  Say  no  more.     Here  is  my  hand.     Good  night  " 
Good  night,  Captain." 


I      .: 


.!    ^ 


CHAPTER  X 


A  REJECTED   SUITOR 


AFl  ER  posting  the  sentries  at  Carberry  Hall  and 
giving  out  the  word  for  the  night,  I  walked  across 
the  open  space  in  front  of  the  gate  and  inquired  whether 
the  troops  encamped  there  had  everything  to  their  com- 
fort. Receiving  an  affirmative  reply,  I  returned  with  the 
intention  of  going  early  to  bed,  for  I  was  in  great  need 
of  sleep.  But  as  I  reached  the  gate  my  way  was  stopped 
by  the  huge  figure  of  Lord  Kilmac,  the  leader  of  the 
beaten  Irish  force,  who  asked  speech  with  me. 

The  Avigust  moon  was  shining  at  the  full,  and  the 
scene  w?vS  illuminated  by  a  soft,  silvery  light.  Our  sen- 
tries were  pacing  back  and  forth  on  the  walls,  and  a 
soldier  on  the  ground  held  the  gates  open  for  my  en- 
trance. Behind  me  were  the  English  reinforcements, 
already  in  sleep  on  the  warm  earth  except  for  those  who 
held  watch.  On  one  side  were  the  bruised  and  broken 
followers  of  the  Irish  chieftain.  In  front  of  me,  beyond 
the  gates,  lay  the  stately  manor  house,  a  thing  of  beauty 
in  the  moonlight.  The  rage  of  battle  and  the  fierce 
slaughter  of  the  afternoon  seemed  but  the  remembrance 
of  a  horrid  dream,  and  the  spirit  of  peace  pervaded  the 
night. 


A  Rejected  Suitor 


87 


I  asked  Lord  Kilmac  if  he  had  interred  the  bodies  of 
his  dead  soldiers,  and  he  answered  that  it  was  done. 
When  I  inquired  whether  his  surviving  followers  had 
eaten  '".upper,  he  replied  that  they  had  not  and  he  could 
give  them  no  rations  until  he  should  reach  his  house  at 
Ballyrae,  and  that  was  twelve  miles  north,  or  a  march  of 
six  hours  in  their  fatigued  and  wounded  condition.  I 
called  out  to  have  Rob  Cumber  serve  the  Irish  with 
biscuits  and  beer  ere  they  started,  and  asked  the  Irish 
leader  if  he  had  further  business  with  me. 

"  Yes,  Captain,"  he  answered,  "  I  would  have  an  in- 
terview with  Catherine  Dillon,  by  your  favour,  before  I 

go. 

There  was  an  evil  light  in  this  man's  eye,  and  under 

the  suavity  of  his  speech  I  could  detect  a  brutal  and 
revengeful  nature.  A  request  from  him,  my  beaten  foe, 
for  an  interview  with  her,  my  prisoner  of  war,  on  matters 
which  could  not  be  otherwise  than  hostile  to  my  occupa- 
tion of  this  place,  was  not  reasonable.  I  told  him  I 
would  not  consent  to  such  a  conference  ; — a  reply  which 
caused  his  face  to  darken  with  a  baleful  rage,  and  his 
hand  sought  the  dagger  in  his  belt.  Instantly  mastering 
his  passion,  however,  he  said  : 

"  But,  Captain  Marmaduke,  the  matter  L  would  discuss 
with  yonder  lady  is  one  which  gravely  concerns  her  wel- 
fare ;  and  I  tell  you  on  the  honour  of  a  soldier,  it  has  no 
connection  with  the  war  in  the  miseries  of  which  she  is 
now  engulfed." 

The  man's  speech  was  persuasive  although  his  man- 
ner was  repulsive.  I  had  no  desire  to  interfere  in  what 
might  be  a  potent  incident  in  her  life,  i  asked  him 
how  long  he  would  detain  her. 

"  But  a  few  minutes,"  he  said,  catching  eagerly  at  my 


88 


John  Marmaduke 


change  of  front.  "  By  the  time  my  men  shall  have  fin- 
ished the  repast  you  are  even  now  generously  giving 
them,  I  will  lead  them  away." 

"  Enter,  then,"  I  said  ;  and  he  passed  through  the  gate 
before  me. 

Arrived  at  the  door  of  the  house,  I  sent  a  guard  to 
say  to  Miss  Dillon  that  Lord  Kilmac  would  have  speech 
with  her  ;  and  telling  Willis  Fenton  to  keep  a  sharp  eye 
on  the  Irish  leader,  I  passed  into  a  vacant  room  where 
the  candles  were  lighted,  and  turned  the  pages  of  a 
romance  of  King  Arthur.  The  table  at  which  I  seated 
myself  to  read  was  in  front  of  a  window  and  behind  a 
large  screen.  My  men  were  passing  up  and  down  the 
hall,  and  it  was  not  long  before  I  lost  myself  so  far  in 
the  tale  that  I  was  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  others 
in  the  room  until  I  heard  Catherine  on  the  other  side  rf 
the  screen,  say  : 

"  No,  Lord  Kilmac,  what  I  have  said  before,  I  now 
repeat.  I  w'U  not  marry  you  ;  of  that  I  am  firmly 
resolved." 

My  first  impulse  was  to  shift  my  position  so  as  to  warn 
them  of  my  presence.  But  the  surprising  subject  of  the 
Irishman's  interview  filled  me  with  astonishment,  so  that 
I  was  rooted  to  my  chair.     Lord  Kilmac  replied  : 

"  But  consider  your  situation  here.  Your  father,  alas, 
is  slain" — here  I  heard  a  sound  of  suppressed  anguish  ; 
— "  you  and  your  brother  are  prisoners  to  a  murdering 
band  of  Englishmen  ;  why,  they  slaughtered  the  half  of 
my  command  this  afternoon  !  " 

"  Why  did  you  not  slaughter  them  ? "  she  asked. 
"You  had  the  larger  number." 

"  He  had  the  protection  of  the  wall,"  answered  the 
Irishman,  doggedly. 


A  Rejected  Suitor 


H 


"  But  you  had  him  face  to  face  on  the  open  plain," 
she  said  ;  and  I  could  easily  detect  her  tone  of  contempt. 
"  I  tell  you,  Lord  Kilmac,  if  I,  a  woman,  had  been  there 
on  my  black  horse,  I  would  have  emptied  a  saddle  or 
two  before  giving  the  Englishman  his  victory  !  " 

He  made  an  angry  exclamation,  but,  controlling  him- 
self, continued  to  press  his  suit. 

"You  are  practically  alone  here,"  he  said.  "The 
English  Captain  will  no  doubt  hold  his  garrison  on  this 
estate  all  winter  if  his  General  be  not  driven  into  the  sea. 
You  have  no  kinsman  in  tiiis  part  of  Ireland  save  your 
brother,  who  cannot  long  remain  here  inactive  ;  your 
Aunt  Milucra  is  far  south,  and  you  have  no  refuge  in 
this  war.  Be  my  wife,  then,  Catherine.  Come  to  Bally- 
rae,  and  be  the  mistress  of  that  castle  that  seems  vacant 
until  you  shall  come  into  it." 

"  It  would  not  be  vacant,"  she  replied,  haughtily,  "  if 
that  right  hand  of  yours  had  not  dashed  itself  against 
the  brow  of  its  former  mistress." 

"  By  God  !  "  he  roared.     "  Do  you  say  this  ?  " 

I  sprang  to  my  feet  and  would  have  overturned  the 
screen.  I  heard  her  step  back  a  pace  before  him,  and 
waited  to  hear  her  answer. 

"  Lord  Kilmac,"  she  said,  with  great  composure  ;  "  I 
wish  you  well  in  your  military  operations,  although  you 
have  made  but  an  indifferent  beginning  to-day." 

"  Your  sympathies  are  with  this  tall  Englishman,"  he 
cried.  "  I  see  it.  You  are  already  false  to  your  coun- 
try and  your  religion  !  " 

I  listened  intently  for  her  reply. 

"  The  tall  Englishman  is  a  brave  and  true  soldier,  I 
verily  believe,"  she  answered.  "  I  have  fought  him  at 
every  turn.     But  he  would  do  injury  to  no  woman  ;  and 


■    fen  ■ 


w 


90 


John  Marmadukc 


l! 


m 


1 


I 


I  would  rather  be  his  prisoner,  orphaned  though  I  am 
through  the  act  of  his  men,  than  the  wife  of  one  to 
whom  womanhood  can  make  no  appeal  even  for  its  own 
life  !  " 

Thfre  was  a  cry  ;  he  had  seized  her  wrist.  I  flung 
the  screen  aside  and  saw  him  raise  his  fingers  to  her 
throat.  I  smote  him  even  as  she  said  he  had  struck  his 
wife,  and  he  rolled  insensible  on  the  floor.  So  hard  was 
the  blow  that  my  knuckles  ached  after  it.  As  I  turned 
my  gaze  from  the  fallen  brute,  she  clutched  my  arm  in 
both  of  her  hands  and  I  saw  for  once  a  look  of  terror  in 
her  eyes. 

"  Madam,"  I  said,  "  I  did  not  mean  to  overhear  your 
interview,  although  I  am  very  glad  I  chanced  to  be 
present." 

She  looked  at  me,  utterly  tired  out  and  forsaken. 
Almost  unconsciously,  she  still  held  tight  to  my  wounded 
arm.  The  Irish  chieftain's  allusion  to  her  lonely  condi- 
tion had  lodged  itself  in  her  heart. 

What  was  I  to  do  with  this  woman,  whom  the  chance 
of  war  had  thrown  under  my  protection  ?  For  the  first 
time,  I  felt  a  sense  of  personal  responsibility  for  her 
safety.  Her  brother  was  young  and  without  experience 
in  the  world ;  and  he  could  be  but  an  infirm  bulwark 
to  her  in  the  perils  of  this  war.  She  could  not  leave 
Carberry  Hall,  for  Lord  Kilmac  had  said  she  had  no 
kin  in  this  part  of  Ireland.  Her  home  was  invaded  by 
my  troop,  and  we  would  be  its  possessors  indefinitely. 
As  she  held  her  frightened  grasp  on  my  arm  these 
thoughts  passed  quickly  through  my  mind.  What  was 
to  become  of  this  girl  ? 

A  shadow  was  thrown  by  the  candle  flame  upon  the 
floor,  and  the  tall  priest  stood  before  us. 


A  Rejected  Suitor 


91 


"  Madam,"  I  said,  "  you  are  tired  and  ill.  The  ad- 
ventures of  this  day  have  been  tpo  much  for  your 
strength.  I  pray  you,  retire  to  your  room,  and  sleep 
as  soundly  as  you  may,  for  no  harm  shall  befall  you." 

I  now  held  her  arm,  and  we  walked  past  the  priest  to 
the  door. 

"  Good  night,"  I  said. 

"  Good  night,"  she  answered,  so  soft  and  low  I  scarcely 
heard  it. 

The  priest's  eyes  were  on  the  body  of  the  Irish  leader. 
I  called  Willis  Fenton  in. 

"  Throw  a  bucket  of  water  over  this  fellow's  head,"  I 
said,  "  and  when  he  recovers  his  evil  mind,  lead  him 
beyond  the  gate  to  his  followers." 

Passing  into  my  own  apartment,  I  found  Colonel 
Cromwell  reading. 

"  What  is  your  book  ? "  I  asked. 

"Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  History  of  the  World,''  he 
replied.  "  My  father  commendeth  it  heartily  and  has 
urged  its  perusal  upon  me.  My  brother  Dick  will  none 
of  it,  though." 

He  laughed  at  the  thought  of  Richard's  indolence, 
then  yawned. 

"  You  are  ready  for  sleep,"  I  said.  "  For  .  ly  part,  I 
am  fagged  out.     Let  us  to  bed." 

Leading  him  into  a  spacious  room  next  to  mine,  where 
candles  had  been  lit  and  everything  prepared,  I  bade 
him  good  night,  and,  returning,  got  into  bed  as  quickly 
as  I  could,  and  was  soon  in  a  profound  sleep. 


^m 


V        : 


'i 


I 


I      1 


!• 


CHAPTER  XI 

SUNDAY     MORNING    WITH    THE    IRONSIDES 

THE  tolling  of  a  bell — slow,  soiemn,  deep-toned — 
aroused  me  from  my  sleep.  It  was  five  o'clock 
on  a  Sunday  morning,  and  I  surmised  at  once  that  the 
funeral  services  of  Sir  Patrick  Dillon  had  commenced. 

As  soon  as  I  had  donned  my  apparel,  I  stepped  into 
the  hallway  and  met  Colonel  Henry  Cromwell,  who  at 
that  moment  appeared  from  his  chamber.  We  ex- 
changed greetings. 

"  Marmaduke,"  said  he,  "  if  you  will  have  Rob  Cum- 
ber prepare  a  breakfast,  when  thou  and  I  have  eaten  it 
I  will  put  my  men  in  motion  for  the  camp." 

"  I  think  we  shall  find  i^  ready,"  I  replied,  as  we 
wended  our  way  to  the  banqueting  hall.  Our  troop 
cook  had  indeed  laid  down  a  fine  breakfast  for  fighting 
stomachs,  and  we  attacked  it  with  the  ardour  of  good 
health  and  true  manhood. 

The  tolling  bell  kept  our  thoughts  in  a  depressed 
situation,  yet  neither  of  us  made  reference  to  the  funeral 
that  was  then  in  progress. 

When  the  meal  was  finished  we  mounted  and  rode 
across  the  lawn  and  through  the  gates,  and  found  the 
English  soldiers  getting  ready  for  the  march  back  to  the 

92 


Sunday  Morning  with  the  Ironsides      93 


camp  at  Arklow.  There  were  looks  of  pleasant  recog- 
nition on  the  faces  of  the  men  as  Colonel  Cromwell  drew 
near. 

"  The  Lord  bless  you  all,"  he  cried. 

"The  Lord  bless  you,"  answered  twenty  of  them  in  a 
breath,  and  then  twenty  more,  and  yet  others,  until  all 
had  returned  his  greeting.  His  trumpeter  soon  sounded 
to  horse,  and,  after  a  pleasant  \vord  to  me,  the  young 
officer  rode  off  with  his  men.  My  dainty  Dick  stood 
motionless  while  I  watched  them  until  they  disappeared 
in  the  wood.  I  then  rode  back,  dismounted,  and  made 
for  the  chapel. 

As  I  entered  the  door  at  the  head  of  the  great  stair- 
way an  unfamiliar  sight  met  my  gaze.  The  marble 
altar  was  ablaze  with  candles.  Before  it  were  the  two 
priests,  the  tall  one  chanting  the  Latin  mass  in  a  weird 
intonation  of  misery,  while  the  short  one  swung  a  censer 
from  a  golden  chain,  sending  for' I  '^e  rich  but  stifling 
fumes  of  burning  frankincense.  h   iit  of  them,  out- 

side the  altar-rail,  was  the  opeu  ^^^tin  and  its  silent 
guest.  Candles  were  burning  at  its  head  and  foot.  On 
the  floor,  kneeling  beside  the  corpse  in  mournful  devo- 
tion, were  the  dead  man's  children,  Terence  and  Cath- 
erine, both  dressed  in  deep  black.  Back  of  them  were 
some  seven  or  eight  of  the  household  who  had  escaped 
incarceration  by  avoiding  offence,  and  were  now  giving 
vent  to  their  grief  by  emitting  suppressed  cries  in  their 
outlandish  tongue.  To  one  side,  at  the  chapel's  front, 
in  view  of  all  the  rest,  I  beheld  with  amasement  the 
figure  of  an  English  officer  on  his  knees,  rocking  him- 
self to  and  fro,  seemingly  in  the  deepest  emotion,  and 
reading  the  Latin  responses  from  the  Catholic  prayer- 
book  with  an  unctious  tone  of  agony.    This  was  Lieu- 


is; 


94 


John  Marmaduke 


I ; 


|i 


tenant  Thornton  Willoughby,  who  interrupted  himself 
frequently  to  look  toward  Catherine,  in  the  hope,  as  I 
basely  divined,  that  she  would  behold  the  tender  sym- 
pathy of  his  sorrow.  None  of  them  perceived  my 
entrance,  and  I  stood  beside  the  door  with  folded  arms. 
I  did  not  understand  a  word  of  the  ceremony  of  the 
mass,  because  of  the  dead  tongue  in  which  they  always 
chant  it,  nor  did  any  other  person  there  except  Sir 
Patrick's  children  and  the  priests.  But  I  knew  that  it 
signified  the  last  expression  of  humanity  in  behalf  of  a 
departed  member,  and  so  I  felt  a  great  respect  for  it. 

Some  of  my  troopers  had  learned  what  was  going  on 
in  the  chapel,  and  they  would  have  come  up  the  stairs 
and  doubtless  been  greatly  scandalised  to  behold  it  all 
had  not  my  presence  in  the  doorway  forbidden  any 
liberty  of  that  kind.  As  it  was,  they  gathered  together 
on  the  lawn  and  began  to  hold  their  Sunday  meeting  in 
the  Puritan  fashion. 

When  the  mass  was  ended  the  tall  priest  left  the  altar 
and  came  beside  me, 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  said  he,  "  I  thank  you  for  the 
protection  which  your  presence  has  afforded  us  in  say- 
ing the  mass  for  Sir  Patrick's  soul." 

Willoughby's  eyes  had  followed  the  priest  and  when 
they  caught  sight  of  me  the  rosy  red  of  his  boy's  face 
was  heightened  until  it  seemed  like  a  fire  that  would 
consume  him  with  embarrassment.  He  rose  from  his 
position  of  devotion  and  seated  himself  on  a  chair,  gazing 
at  the  altar  with  a  studied  look  of  disdain.  A  swift 
glance  from  the  kneeling  maiden  took  in  the  priest's 
approach  to  me  and  also  the  chinge  in  the  demeanour  of 
my  youthful  subordinate  ;  and  the  anguish  in  her  face 
gave  way  for  a  noment  to  contempt. 


Sunday  Morning  with  the  Ironsides      95 


in 


I  answered  Father  Terhune  that  there  was  no  disposi- 
tion on  my  part  to  permit  interference  with  the  freedom 
of  religion  at  Carberry  Hall.  He  said  the  body  of  Sir 
Patrick  was  now  ready  for  sepulture,  and  I  offered  him 
my  men  to  carry  it  to  the  grave.  He  stepped  to  Ter- 
ence's side  and  repeated  my  offer  in  a  low  tone.  The 
young  man  said,  with  anger  in  his  voice,  that  he  would 
not  let  the  men  who  had  killed  his  father  bear  his  coffin. 
Then  Catherine  whispered  a  suggestion  to  the  priest, 
who  repeated  it  to  me. 

"  Can  you  consent,"  he  asked,  "  to  releasing  six  men 
from  the  guard-house  to  perform  this  duty  ? " 

The  big  brown  eyes  were  fastened  upon  me.  My  an- 
swer was  for  her. 

"  I  will  cheerfully  concede  so  much,"  I  replied.  Then, 
being  willing  to  release  Willoughby  from  his  anomalous 
situation,  I  beckoned  him  to  approach. 

"  Lieutenant  Willoughby,"  said  I,  "  you  will  bring 
hither  from  the  guard-house  six  of  the  men  who  are  now 
confined  there,  and  permit  them  to  act  in  this  funeral. 
You  will  be  responsible  for  them,  and  likewise  for  yon- 
der short  priest,  and  for  Mr.  Terence  Dillon.  I  com- 
mit their  custody  to  you  for  to-day." 

He  bowed,  and  as  the  tall  priest  walked  back  to  the 
altar,  whispered  in  my  ear  : 

"  Thank  you.  Captain,  and  forgive  me  for  joining  in 
this  mummery  ;  but  I  am  crazy  over  yonder  beautiful 

girl." 

He  was  off,  but  soon  returned  with  a  file  of  Irish  men- 
at-arms,  who  looked  the  worse  for  having  come  out  of 
gaol  without  washing  or  combing. 

A  crucifix  was  placed  on  the  dead  man*s  breast,  and 
another  in  his  hand.    The  coffin  was  then  closed,  and 


in 


^wr 


•i ; 


96 


John  Marmaduke 


the  Irish  soldiers  lifted  it  to  their  shoulders  and  started 
toward  the  stairway.  In  front  of  them  was  Scolog  the 
piper,  playing  a  weird  tune  on  his  curious  instrument. 

A  renewed  burst  of  grief  that  arose  almost  into  a 
shriek  accompanied  this  action.  Catherine  sobbed  vio- 
lently as  she  walked  past  me  supported  on  her  brother's 
arm.  Terence  gave  me  a  fierce  and  threatening  look. 
Then  Father  O'Brien,  the  short  priest,  came  with  his 
censer,  his  prayers  growing  louder  as  a  sort  of  lay  to  the 
piper's  tune,  and  his  chain  swinging  more  violently  as 
he  reached  my  side.  The  serving-men  and  women 
passed  me  with  ululations  of  woe  and  gave  me  black 
looks  ;  and  one  cried  "  J^t'nn  Searbhan  !  "  which  in  their 
Celtic  tongue  means  a  fair-haired  but  very  reprehensible 
person  ;  while  another,  a  fat  woman  named  Grania,  who 
held  the  post  of  housekeeper,  said  "  Clochan  chinn- 
chait!"  which  conveyed  her  opinion  that  my  body  was 
esteemed  fit  to  be  the  stepping-ground  of  a  cat.  The 
procession  passed  on  through  the  lower  hall  with  ever- 
iacreasing  agitation,  and  so  out  to  the  burial-vault  at  the 
rear  wall. 

When  all  had  disappeared  I  v/alked  out  upon  the  lawn, 
and  found  the  full  force  of  my  troop,  augmented  by 
fifty  men  whom  General  Ireton  had  left  .with  me,  en- 
gaged in  religious  services,  save  only  the  men  on  guard 
duty.  I  sat  down  on  the  grass  at  the  edge  of  the  crowd, 
but  no  attention  was  paid  to  my  presence  ;  for  when  it 
came  to  the  worship  of  God  the  whole  membership  of 
the  English  army  stood  on  an  equality,  and  the  private 
soldiers  had  nearly  the  whole  of  the  preaching  and  pub- 
lic praying  to  themselves.  A  Sunday  was  the  trooper's 
opportunity  for  unburdening  his  mind ;  and  if  he  did 
but  skilfully  girt  his  discourse  with  a  Scripture  text  he 


Sunday  Morning  with  the  Ironsides      97 

could  scorch  both  officers  and  comrades  with  a  tongue 
of  flame,  and  never  fear  upbraiding. 

Tom  Bufter  stood  up  and  gave  out  the  sixty-eighth 
Psalm.  There  was  no  need  for  giving  it  line  upon  line, 
for  the  English  soldier  knew  his  Psalms  by  heart.  Soon 
there  was  a  burst  of  pious  song  which  came  from  every 
throat : 

"  Let  God  arise,  and  scattered  far 
Let  all  his  en'mies  be  ; 
And  let  all  those  who  do  him  hate 
Before  his  presence  flee." 

I  thought  with  some  apprehension  of  the  feelings  of 
the  Dillons,  brother  and  sister,  when  they  would  hear 
this  song  of  triumph.  The  voices  of  the  Puritan  soldiers 
rose  high  with  the  next  verses  : 

"  As  smoke  is  driven,  so  thou  them  ; 
As  fire  melts  wax  away, 
Before  God's  face  let  wicked  men 
So  perish  and  decay. 


it 
of 
Lte 
b- 


"  But  let  the  righteous  all  be  glad  ; 
Rejoice  before  God's  sight : 
Let  them  exult  exceedingly, 
And  joy  with  all  their  might. 

"  Oh  all  ye  kingdoms  of  the  earth. 
Sing  praises  to  this  King  ; 
To  him  '/ho  is  the  Lord  of  all, 
Oh  dj  ye  praises  sing." 

Then  Joe  Muzzycroft  arose.  Muzzycroft  was  a  griz- 
zled warrior  who  had  followed  the  standard  of  the  Parlia- 
ment ever  snice  the  first  battle  was  fought  at  Edgehill. 
I  had  a  great  respect  for  him,  having  found  him  always 


11 

i 


98 


John  Marmaduke 


II: 


i 


; 


; 


a  valiant  man  in  action.  But  he  was  now  near  fifty, 
was  growing  somewhat  fat  and  short  of  breath,  and 
he  had  a  way  of  saying  personal  things  which  were  not 
so  well  disguised  in  his  biblical  phrases  but  they  stung 
the  men  on  occasion. 

Private  Muzzycroft  turned  his  eyes  slowly  across  the 
faces  of  the  assembly. 

"  Bless  God,"  he  cried,  in  a  loud,  harsh  voice.  "  This 
is  His  holy  day.  He  hath  given  us  strength  to  smite 
Beelzebub  in  his  own  citadel,  on  the  hip " 

"  Aye,"  cried  Loftus  Pearson,  "  and  on  the  sconce,  too, 
Joseph." 

"  He  hath  given  us  the  victory  over  the  Scarlet 
Woman,"  continued  Muzzycroft.  "  Let  His  name  be 
praised  !  Can  we  forget  the  blood  of  innocent  Protest- 
ants that  has  been  shed  in  Ireland  ?  " 

*'  Never,  never  !  "  cried  a  dozen  voices. 

"  The  Lord  do  so  unto  us  when  we  forget  it,"  said 
Muzzycroft.  "  Surely  He  will  deliver  us  from  the  snare 
of  the  fowler.     But  will  He  ?  " 

The  speaker's  eyes  were  now  fixed  full  upon  me.  He 
was  receiving  the  closest  attention. 

"The  spell  of  the  witch  is  a  subtle  thing,"  he  said. 
"  It  hath  been  known  to  turn  a  man  alike  from  God  and 
from  his  country." 

I  heard  a  rustling  of  the  curtain  at  the  window  of 
Catherine's  room.  I  thought  I  saw  a  hand  holding  the 
drapery  aside  so  that  an  inmate  of  the  room  might  see 
and  hear,  and  yet  be  unseen. 

"  The  Lord  thy  God  is  a  jealous  God,"  continued 
Muzzycroft,  speaking  slowly  across  the  heads  of  his 
audience  to  me.  "  Why  have  we  left  our  firesides  in 
England  ?    Is  it  for  dalliance  ?    Is  the  sword  to  be 


Sunday  Morning  with  the  Ironsides      99 


sheathed  and  the  Lord's  vengeance  to  be  put  aside  ? 
Why  are  we  here  ? " 

"  For  Zion's  cause, '  cried  Loftus  Pearson. 

"  For  England's  glory,"  said  Hugh  Brewer. 

"  For  true  religion,"  said  Luke  Marvin. 

Muzzycroft  had  looked  from  one  speaker  to  another 
as  these  responses  were  given.  The  last  was  the  one  he 
was  waiting  for. 

"  You  are  right,  Luke  Marvin  "  ;  and  then  his  eyes 
reverted  to  me.  "  For  true  religion  have  we  come.  Is 
it  not  our  aim  to  plant  the  true  Church  ?  But  the  spell 
of  witchcraft  will  stay  the  arm  of  David.  Delilah  will 
rob  Samson  of  his  strength.  Let,  therefore,  every  eye 
be  alert  and  every  heart  strong.  Praise  the  Lord,  and 
forget  not  all  His  benefits  !  " 

Muzzycroft  sat  down  amidst  a  chorus  of  "Amens." 
My  face  was  burning  hot, — whether  from  indignation  or 
other  cause  I  could  not  say. 

Loftus  Pearson  rose  up,  a  browned  and  weather-beaten 
man,  of  a  kind  but  narrow  mind. 

"  The  true  Church,"  he  cried,  speaking  in  energetic 
fashion.  "  We  are  commanded  to  carry  the  Gospel  into 
heathen  lands.  Can  there  be  a  better  place  for  it  than 
Ireland  ?  Is  the  true  God  known  here  ?  Do  you  know 
what  mummery  they  did  enact  here  this  very  morning  ? 
Do  you  know  how  they  have  profaned  the  Lord's  day 
with  theif  mass  ?  Is  it  not  time  to  prepare  the  soil  for 
Christ's  coming  and  plant  the  true  seed  ?  Is  it  not  time 
to  crush  out  the  weeds  which  have  been  sown  in  Zion's 
vineyard  ? " 

"Yea,"  cried  Luke  Marvin,  rising  as  the  other  sat 
down.  "  But  heresy  hath  spread  over  the  earth,  and 
God's  face  seems  hidden  on  His  own  footstool.    At 


ll^ji 


•u 


i 


ft 


lOO 


John  Marmaduke 


ill 


:'  I 


home  we  have  the  Episcopate  in  secret  but  flourishing 
strength.  There,  likewise,  we  have  the  Anabaptists  and 
the  Presbytery ." 

"  There  is  no  Presbytery  in  this  army  ! "  interrupted 
Muzzycroft ;  and  a  hundred  voices  shouted,  "  Praise  the 
Lord  for  that  !  " 

"  No,"  said  Marvin,  with  a  broad  smile  on  his  face. 
"  Old  Noll  did  turn  out  Jack  Presbyter  from  the  army, 
boots  and  breeches,  and  new-model  it  with  the  Inde- 
pendents, who  are  the  Saints.  And  shall  not  the  Saints 
possess  the  earth  ?  " 

"Yea,  while  Old  Noll  is  their  leader,"  shouted  Hugh 
Brewer  ;  and  again  the  assembly  expressed  its  approval 
with,  "  Praise  the  Lord  !  " 

"  But,"  continued  Luke  Marvin,  resuming  the  thread 
of  his  discourse,  "  there  is  dissension  at  home  and 
heresy  abroad.  Can  wo  establish  true  religion  out  of  so 
much  disorder  ?  With  God's  help  we  will  do  it,  my 
brethren,  even  by  the  power  of  the  sword.  What  better 
Captain  could  a  poor  company  of  troopers  have  on  such 
a  business  than  our  own  comrade,  John  Marmaduke?" 

This  appeal  brought  forth  a  shout  more  unanimous 
and  enthusiastic  than  anything  that  had  gone  before. 
His  would  be  no  soldier's  heart  that  would  not  be  stirred 
by  so  much  devotion. 

I  arose  and  stepped  to  the  front  of  the  company,  and 
when  I  faced  them,  although  my  countenance  reflected 
a  spirit  of  gratitude,  I  knew  not  how  to  address  them, 
for  I  have  already  said  that  public  speaking  was  not 
among  my  accomplishments.  But  I  hold  that  true 
eloquence  consists  in  saying  a  convincing  thing  in  a 
convincing  manner,  and  there  was  something  within  me 
that  must  be  said. 


m 


Sunday  Morning  with  the  Ironsides    loi 

"  The  Lord  bless  you,"  cried  one,  who  saw  my  em- 
barrassment. 

"  The  Lord  be  with  His  servant,"  said  another  ;  and 
every  face  seemed  softened  with  sympathy. 

"  Men," — I  said,  and  stopped. 

"  Aye,"  said  Loftus  Pearson,  "  we  are  men,  of  course, 
and  all.  brothers."  They  all  nodded  their  endorsement 
to  this  Sv,ntiment. 

"  Good  men  and  true,  Captain,"  said  Hugh  Brewer, 
endeavouring  to  help  me  over  my  diffidence. 

"  I  could  speak  to  you  better  if  I  were  on  the  back  of 
my  horse,"  I  said. 

"  Fetch  the  Captain's  horse,"  called  out  Richard 
Trevor. 

"  Nay,"  said  Muzzycroft, "  an'  you  do  that  he  will  lead 
us  into  a  fight ! " — at  which  there  was  a  hearty  laugh. 

"  Right  art  thou,  Joe  Muzzycroft,"  said  I,  "  to  claim 
thy  rest  on  the  Lord's  day.  I  have  heard  many  of  you 
say  that  the  spirit  doth  move  men  to  speech.  Sure  I 
think  the  spirit  is  with  me  at  this  moment." 

"  Praise  the  Lord  !  "  shouted  my  auditors. 

"  I  have  listened  to  your  remarks  with  attention,"  I 
continued.  "  But  are  you  sure  that  you  alone  are  right  ? 
Has  God  revealed  Himself  to  the  new-model  army  of 
the  Parliament  and  hidden  His  face  from  others  in  Eng- 
land and  Ireland  who  are  not  joined  to  us  in  the  narrow 
line  of  our  faith  ?  " 

There  was  wonder  on  the  faces  of  many  of  my  hearers. 
All  were  listening  intently. 

"  May  not  the  divine  spirit  speak  in  divers  tongues  ? " 
I  asked.  "  Why  may  not  some  follow  the  guidance  of 
earthly  leaders,  rather  than,  as  you  claim,  to  treat  with 
God,  face  to  face  ?    Why  may  not  these  same  Presby- 


P 


102 


John  Marmaduke 


I 


i 


terians  obtain  spiritual  inspiration  from  the  Assembly  ; — 
why  may  not  the  Episcopalians  hear  God  as  interpreted 
to  them  by  the  Bishops  ; — nay,  why  may  not  these  poor 
Catholics  enter  into  His  glory  even  through  the  door  of 
the  priesthood  ? " 

There  was  intense  silence.  Some  of  my  hearers  were 
reflecting,  others  distinctly  disapproved. 

"  We  are  in  Ireland  as  the  servants  ot  the  Parliament," 
I  said.  "  We  are  here  on  the  business  of  the  State.  We 
must  exact  a  strict  accounting  for  England's  wrongs  in 
the  plantation  matter.*  But  not  in  the  spirit  of  revenge. 
Not  to  interfere  with  the  freedom  of  religion.  That 
blessing  of  a  free  conscience  which  we  fought  for  at 
home  we  must  concede  abroad.  Let  us  do  the  State's 
business  with  zeal  and  fidelity,  but  let  us  not  forget  the 
common  fatherhood  of  God  and  the  universal  brother- 
hood of  man.  Let  us  quarrel  with  no  man  in  Ireland, 
or  elsewhere  under  the  broad  dome  of  Heaven,  because 
he  squares  not  with  us  in  matters  of  faith." 

The  troopers  looked  from  one  to  another. 

**  It  is  new  doctrine,"  said  Hugh  Brewer  to  his  neigh- 
bour. 

"  I  sue  no  error  in  his  speech,"  said  Loftus  Pearson. 

"  The  spirit  did  indeed  move  him,"  said  Joe  Muzzy- 
croft. 

Then,  as  I  made  a  move  to  sit  down,  the  spirits  of 
my  men  broke  loose.  "  Praise  the  Lord  ! "  shouted 
some.  "  Well  spoken.  Captain,"  cried  others.  "  A  new 
doctrine,  a  new  doctrine,"  exclaimed  several,  with  en- 
thusiastic approval ;  while  Lieutenant  Elijah  Haddon 
said,  gravely  : 

*  /.  ^.,  the  plantation  of  Ulster  by  the  English  settlers,  who  were 
driven  out  by  the  Irish  with  great  cruelty  and  bloodshed. 


ii 


Sunday  Morning  with  the  Ironsides     103 

"  A  new  doctrine,  yea,  and  a  good  one." 

Joe  Muzzycroft  arose  and  gave  out  the  forty-fourth 
Psalm,  and  it  was  sung  with  a  burst  of  martial  spirit  and 
praise  which  carried  my  soul  in  fancy  back  to  David's 
time  : 

"  O  God,  we  have  heard,  and  our  fathers  have  taught 
The  works  which  of  old,  in  their  day,  thou  hadst  wrought. 
The  nations  were  crushed,  and  expelled  by  thy  hand, 
Cast  out  that  thy  people  might  dwell  in  their  land. 

"  They  gained  not  the  land  by  the  edge  of  the  sword, 
Their  own  arm  to  them  could  no  safety  afford  ; 
But  by  thy  right  hand,  and  the  light  of  thy  face. 
The  strength  of  thy  arm,  and  because  of  thy  grace. 

' '  To  Jacob,  O  God,  thou  my  Saviour  and  King, 
Command,  and  thy  word  shall  deliverance  bring. 
We  through  thy  assistance  will  push  down  our  foes  ; 
In  thy  name  we'll  trample  on  all  that  oppose. 

"  No  trust  will  I  place  in  my  bow  to  defend. 
Nor  yet  on  my  sword  for  my  safety  depeid. 
In  God  who  has  saved  us,  and  put  them  to  shame. 
We  boast  all  the  day,  ever  praising  his  name." 

When  we  had  finished  our  song  the  sun  was  at  meri- 
dian. Hugh  Brewer  thereupon  made  a  prolonged  prayer, 
beseeching  tender  mercy  for  ourselves  and  the  besom  of 
destruction  for  our  foes ;  after  which  dinner  was  made 
ready,  and  we  all  did  eat  cheerfully  thereof  under  the 
shade  trees. 


■  iiiiMK 


te. 


! 


w^ 


CHAPTER  XII 


"glas    gainach" 


II  i 


W  ' 


III 


i'il 


i 


WE  had  finished  our  Sunday  dinner  on  Carberry 
lawn,  and  the  troopers  were  beguiling  the  hot 
afternoon  by  discussing  their  adventures  in  camp  and 
field,  when  a  carbine  shot  broke  the  stillness  of  the  air. 
I  sprang  to  my  feet,  and  saw  over  the  wall  a  horseman 
in  the  garb  of  an  Irish  soldier  riding  furiously  away. 
At  the  same  moment  two  of  my  men  dragged  before  me 
the  resisting  figure  of  Nora,  Miss  Dillon's  maid. 

"  Out  upon  you  !  "  cried  the  Irish  girl.  "  Trennchosach 
beagalltach  !  Garbha  borb  bran  !  Moralltach  !  "  (which 
meant.  Strong  and  furious  men  !  Rough  and  proud 
are  you  and  black  !  What  a  great  fury  !)  "  Buddagh 
Sassenach  !  "  (Saxon  clowns  !)  "  Why  am  I  dragged  like 
this  ?  Saint  Patrick  bring  a  murrain  on  ye  all !  "  And 
she  spat  in  the  face  of  Tom  Bufter,  who  held  tightly  to 
one  of  her  wrist? 

"  You  foul-mouthed  vixen  ! "  cried  Bufter,  giving  her 
arm  a  wrench  which  made  her  shriek  with  pain.  I 
sternly  bade  them  unhand  her,  and  she  stood  trembling 
before  me. 

"Yonder  horseman  hath  stolen  one  of  our  steeds," 
said  Bufter.    "  He  is  one  of  the  Irish  prisoners.    The 

104 


il 


"Glas  Gainach  " 


105 


horse  was  beyond  the  wall  copping  grass,  while  his 
owner,  Dick  Ewer,  paced  guard.  The  Irishman  passed 
over  unseen  by  Dick  and  hid  on  the  other  side.  This 
wench  came  up,  and,  while  pretending  to  say  soft  things 
to  Dick,  passed  a  letter  over  the  vv'all  to  the  Irishman, 
who  mounted  the  horse,  and  is  now  off,  doubtless,  with 
a  message  to  the  enemy." 

I  turned  to  Ewer,  who  was  one  of  Nora's  captors. 

"  What  have  you  to  say  to  this  negligence  ? "  I  de- 
manded, "  I  thought  you  the  most  discreet  among  our 
troop." 

"  I  fired  at  the  man.  Captain,"  said  Ewer,  sheepishly, 
"  but  he  was  off  too  fast.  He  would  not  have  got  the 
letter  past  my  eyes,  I  swear  to  you,  had  not  Lieutenant 
Willoughby  engaged  me  in  conversation  so  that  my  back 
was  to  the  girl." 

"  Who  gave  you  the  letter  ?  "  I  asked  of  Nora. 

"  Who  gave  your  grandmother  her  knitting-sticks," 
she  answered,  saucily. 

"  Was  it  your  mistress  ? " 

'*  My  sweet  mistress  did  not  see  the  letter,"  she  replied. 

A  sigh  of  relief  escaped  me  involuntarily. 

"I  shall  put  you  in  irons,"  I  said,  "if  you  give  further 
offence.     Back  to  the  house  !  " 

She  was  off  quickly,  and  I  was  glad  lo  be  rid  of  her. 
I  know  how  to  deal  swift  punishment  upon  men,  but  I 
could  invent  no  manner  of  protection  against  the  women 
of  this  household  short  of  what  would  seem  cruel  or  im- 
modest, and  I  preferred  to  run  the  risks  of  their  con- 
spiracies. 

"  Who  was  the  horseman  ?  "  1  asked. 

"  One  Brian  MacDoughal,"  answered  Ewer ;  "  he  is 
the  best  of  their  men-at-arms." 


i'f 


il 


i 


i^  > 


■■'  i 


II 


1 06 


John  Marmaduke 


"  Back  to  the  wall,  then,  and  see  that  you  keep  a 
stricter  watch." 

I  walked  to  the  rear  of  the  house  and  came  upon 
Thornton  Willoughby.     He  looked  pale  and  haggard. 

"  Willoughby,"  I  asked,  "  who  is  yonder  fugitive  ? " 

"Brian  MacDoughal,"  he  answered,  without  facing 
me. 

"  On  what  business  is  he  bent  ? " 

"  I  know  not."     He  still  did  not  look  at  me. 

"  Willoughby,"  I  said,  close  in  his  ear,  "on  what  busi- 
ness is  he  bent  ? " 

There  was  no  answer,  and  I  passed  into  the  house. 
Walking  through  the  hall  I  came  to  Catherine's  door, 
which  was  open.  The  fair  mistress  was  seated,  and 
there  were  signs  of  recent  weeping  on  her  face.  Nora 
was  relating  her  adventure  with  much  gesture,  but  there 
was  silence  when  I  appeared. 

"  Pardon  me,  madam,"  I  said,  "  but  I  would  have 
speech  with  you." 

"You  are  welcome,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  she  said, 
with  a  smile.     "  Pray  enter  and  be  seated." 

I  removed  the  broad-brimmed  hat  which  I  had  worn 
all  day,  and  sat  down  on  a  chair  facing  her. 

"  I  pray  you,  madam,  tell  me,"  said  I,  "  whether  you 
are  a  party  to  this  latest  breach  of  war  on  the  part  of 
this  escaped  man-at-arms  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  devise  his  errand,"  she  replied,  looking  at 
me  frankly. 

"  Will  you  tell  me  who  wrote  the  letter  he  carries  ? " 

"  Father  O'Brien  wrote  it." 

"  To  whom  is  it  addressed  ? "  ' 

**  To  Lord  Castlehaven." 

"  What  is  its  purport  ?  " 


**Glas  Gainach'* 


107 


at 


M 


"  It  tells  him  that  Cromwell  makes  for  Drogheda." 

"  It  is  well  that  this  meddlesome  priest  is  to  meet  his 
death  to-morrow,"  I  said.  "  But  it  mystifies  me.  He 
was  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Willoughby,  a  faithful  and 
discreet  officer." 

She  merely  smiled  and  looked  bewitchlngly  beautiful. 

"  Have  you  seen  the  Lieutenant  to-day  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Yes." 

"  Since  the — since  the  close  of  the  services  this  morn- 
ing?" 

Her  eyes  filled  with  tears. 

"  Yes."     This  was  said  without  looking  up. 

"  Surely,  madam,"  said  I,  "  you  would  not  connive  to 
put  a  stain  on  this  young  man's  honour  ?  " 

"  I  made  no  request  upon  him,"  she  replied.  "  But  I 
would  speak  to  you  of  another  matter,  Captain  Marma- 
duke.  My  brother  is  chafing  under  the  confinement  of 
his  life  here.  He  did  but  now  seek  his  room  with  a 
headache.  He  would  fain  enlist  with  Lord  Castlehaven 
for  the  war.     Will  you  consent  to  that  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  that  would  be  impossiole,"  I  said,  startled 
at  her  request.  "  That  would  be  for  me  to  furnish  a 
good  soldier  to  the  enemy.  It  could  only  be  dene  under 
an  opportunity  for  exchange,  and  none  such  seems  avail- 
able at  present." 

"  But  he  must  go,"  she  said,  with  an  air  of  determina- 
tion. 

"  And  you  ?  "  I  asked.  "  If  he  should  go,  what  of 
you?" 

She  was  sobbing  now,  and  some  moments  passed  be- 
fore she  could  answer. 

"  I — I  cannot  stay  here.  You  have  slain  my  father  ; 
you  have  broken  the  spirit  of  my  brother ;  you  have 


)  I 


I    t- 


!08 


John  Marmaduke 


li 


invaded  and  destroyed  the  peace  of  my  home.  And  yet, 
— God  help  me  ! — there  is  no  other  place." 

Truly  her  situation  smote  me  to  the  heart.  There 
was  not  even  a  woman  here  of  her  own  rank,  for  the 
sake  of  friendship  and  sympathy.  I  inwardly  wished 
that  I  might  summon  my  mother  to  her  side. 

"  But  this  place  is  hateful  to  me,"  she  continued,  with 
a  flash  of  her  old  spirit.  "  The  presence  of  your  men, 
and  the  desolation  they  have  wrought,  make  it  unendur- 
able. In  the  south  of  Ireland  there  are  friends  of  my 
family  ;  Lady  Milucra  O'Fergus  is  my  mother's  sister, 
and  to  her  will  I  go,  although  the  danger  of  the  trip  past 
hostile  soldiers  is  grave." 

"  At  what  place  does  she  live  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Near  Cork  ;  my  aunt  has  a  castle  in  that  country. 
With  my  brother's  garb  and  my  own  horse  I  fear  not  to 
attempt  the  journey." 

I  paced  up  and  down  the  room  in  some  perplexity. 
Her  proposition  filled  me  with  sorrow.  My  presence 
was  turning  her  out  of  her  home  amidst  unknown  perils  ; 
yet  I  could  neither  bid  her  stay  nor  offer  her  escort  to 
go. 

"  If  you  could  but  stay  here,  Miss  Dillon,"  said  I, 
"  until  this  war  doses."  As  I  came  before  her  again  I 
observed  that  she  had  whispered  a  hurried  command  to 
Nora,  who  hastened  out  of  the  room. 

"  But  it  is  only  begun,"  she  answered.  "  It  may  last 
through  the  winter, — surely  so,  if  your  General  be  not 
overcome  at  Drogheda.  I,  and  my  maid,  and  the  serv- 
ing women  are  here  amidst  a  foreign  soldiery  ;  many  of 
our  own  men  are  slain  or  fled.     What  a  prospect  is  that  ?  "^ 

"  Do  you  fear  to  remain  ?  Even  if  they  were  indeed 
gone  would  you  fear  to  remain  ? " 


*'Glas  Gainach" 


109 


»»• 


"  No,  Captain  Marmaduke,  I  will  do  you  the  justice 
to  say  that  I  have  no  fear  while  you  are  in  command." 
There  was  gratitude  in  her  face  as  her  eyes  met  mine. 
"  But  you  may  not  always  be  in  command.  The  dangers 
of  your  position  are  considerable  ;  and  I  would  not  trust 
your  fanatic  followers  without  your  restraint." 

I  bowed  low  and  felt  a  flush  in  my  cheek. 

"  I  overheard  your  discourse  this  morning,"  she  con- 
tinued, "  and  I  respect  your  liberal  sentiments  most 
highly.  But  they  are  not  the  sentiments  of  your  coun- 
trymen." 

"  Well,  madam,"  said  I,  rising,  "  I  beg  that  you  will 
not  put  your  resolution  too  hastily  into  execution. 
What  a  massive  sword  is  that  on  your  wall,"  I  cried, 
taking  down  a  mighty  blade  that  I  had  not  before 
observed.  "  Surely  no  Irishman  of  our  day  hath  carried 
this  weapon  ? " 

"  No,"  she  answered,  rising  and  advancing  to  my  side 
with  a  new  interest  in  her  face  ;  "  that  is  the  fabled 
sword  of  Prince  Cian,  and  it  hath  been  in  my  family  for 
generations.  It  was  wrought  by  Elin  Gow,  who,  a  thou- 
sand years  ago,  was  the  King's  armourer.  Bend  its  blade, 
please." 

I  pressed  the  point  on  the  oaken  floor  and  bent  the 
blade.     It  was  very  supple  and  bent  near  double. 

"  Prince  Cian,  of  Munster,"  said  she,  beginning  a  tale 
with  her  finger  raised  in  the  pretty  way  that  one  might 
use  to  hold  a  child's  fancy,  "  resolved  to  go  into  Spain 
and  bring  home  the  cow,  Glas  Gainach,  that  yielded 
milk  and  butter  for  all  the  people  of  that  country.  Be- 
fore departing  he  told  Elin  Gow  to  make  him  a  sword 
worthy  of  an  Irish  champion.  No  sword  would  please 
him,  he  declared,  unless,  while  grasping  the  hilt,  he 


no 


John  Marmaduke 


^i  i 


i 


could  bend  the  blade  until  the  point  touched  his  hand. 
Such  a  sword  the  armourer  fashioned,  as  you  have  but 
now  beheld," 

I  examined  its  workmanship  with  close  attention,  and 
she  pointed  out  a  curious  design  on  the  hilt,  her  fingers 
sweeping  over  my  hand  as  she  did  so. 

"  Did  he  get  the  cow  ? "  I.  asked. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  "  but  he  had  to  slay  a  thousand 
men  with  this  sword  before  he  succeeded.  Then  he 
brought  her  home  to  Ireland.  But  he  found  he  must 
always  have  a  man  go  with  her  when  she  grazed,  and 
this  was  a  hard  task  for  her  attendant  because  of  her 
great  swiftness  and  strength.  The  day  she  moved  least 
she  would  travel  thirty  miles  going  and  thirty  miles  com- 
ing, and  the  attendant  might  rest  only  while  she  was 
feeding,  which  would  be  but  for  a  few  minutes  at  a  time. 
He  might  not  disturb  her,  nor  go  before  her,  nor  drive 
her,  for  if  he  did  she  w^ould  have  gone  back  through  the 
seas  to  Spain." 

"  That  was  employment  for  winged  Mercury  himself," 
I  said  ;  and  we  both  smiled.  "  Did  the  Prince  find  a 
capable  servant  ? " 

"  Yes,"  answered  my  fair  entertainer.  "  He  employed 
this  same  armourer,  Elin  Gow,  to  attend  Glas  Gainach. 
All  went  well  for  a  time,  and  Ireland  pever  had  such 
milk  and  butter  before.  But  one  evening  on  her  way 
home  she  went  down  to  drink  from  a  sweet  stream  near 
the  sea.  Elin  Gow  forgot  his  instructions  and  took  hold 
of  her  tail  to  hold  her  back.  She  gave  him  one  look 
over  her  shoulder,  then  swept  him  along  and  went 
through  the  ocean  with  so  much  speed  that  the  armourer, 
still  holding  on,  was  lying  flat  on  the  sea  behind  her. 
And  she  never  stopped  until  she  took  him  to  Spain, 


(( 


Glas  Gainach" 


III 


where  the  King  and  all  the  people  received  her  joyfully  ; 
and  Elin  Gow  was  made  King's  armourer,  and  lived  there 
ever  afterwards." 

"  And  do  they  still  have  good  butter  in  Spain  ?  "  I 
asked.  But  she  caught  the  mischief  in  my  smile,  and 
tossed  her  head  prettily  to  one  side,  and  laughed.  I 
thanked  her  for  her  story,  and  put  the  sword  back  on 
the  wall.  It  was  growing  dark,  and  I  passed  out  to 
change  the  guard. 


I .  I- 


'!*i 
I   i»>i 


-I 


CHAPTER  XIII 


A    MIDNIGHT    DEPARTURE 


RETURNING  to  the  lawn  I  came  face  to  face  with 
Elijah  Haddon. 

"  Lieutenant,"  said  I,  "  there  is  a  sad  duty  laid  upon 
us.  There  has  been  treason  in  the  very  seat  of  honour. 
You  will  go  at  once  and  place  Lieutenant  Thornton  Wil- 
loughby  under  arrest.  Let  him  be  secured,  and  I  will 
presently  interrogate  him." 

Haddon  seemed  stricken  dumb  with  astonishment. 
After  a  moment  he  said  : 

"  Willoughby  ? — impossible  !  " 

"  Impossible  it  seems,"  I  replied,  with  a  choking  in  the 
throat  ;  "  and  yet  it  is  even  so." 

"  But  he  did  just  now  ride  through  the  gate,  well 
mounted,  and  in  charge,  as  he  assured  me,  by  your  com- 
mand, of  Terence  Dillon,  who  rode  beside  him." 

"  And  you  permitted  them  to  pass  ? "  I  cried. 

"  Verily,"  answered  Haddon.  "  He  is  the  officer  of 
the  day — I  thought  it  was  but  for  exercise  beyond  the 
close." 

"  How  long  ago  was  this  ?  " 

"  Not  more  than  ten  minutes  ;  but  they  are  gone  three 
miles  ere  this,  so  fleet  was  their  pace  at  starting." 

11? 


A  Midnight  Departure  113 


"  Could  you  and  I  overtake  them  ?  " 

"  You  might  do  it  with  Dick.  There  is  no  other  horse 
that  could  match  Willoughby's  for  speed  but  yonder 
black  one  of  the  lady's." 

"  We  will  take  that — anything — ^but  these  men  must  be 
brought  back." 

"  They  are  gone  too  far,  Captain.  Besides,  young 
Dillon  knows  this  country  well,  and  even  if  we  could 
find  his  direction  he  would  but  lead  us  into  the  hands 
of  our  foes.     Know  you  where  he  has  gone  ?  " 

"  To  join  Lord  Castlehaven,  I  think,"  I  answered,  re- 
membering his  sister's  words.  I  walked  up  and  down 
the  lawn  in  an  agony  of  rage.  "  Thou  hast  seen  me  in 
battle,  Elijah  Haddon,"  I  cried,  "  and  know  that  I  have 
a  soldier's  heart  toward  a  fair  foe.  But  treachery  in  our 
English  army, — among  the  Ironsides, — betrayal  by  a 
brother, — by  one  of  Oliver's  men  ! — oh,  would  to  God 
that  I  had  him  before  my  sword's  point  !  " 

"  But  the  cause  of  this  ? "  dttmanded  Haddon.  "  It  is 
beyond  my  understanding." 

"  And  mine,  too,"  I  answ^j^ed.  "  An  insanity  of  the 
heart,  I  believe.  But  enough  of  this.  Too  lenient  have 
I  been  with  this  pack.  I  will  take  the  watch  to-night 
until  two  o'clock  ;  after  that  you  shall  hold  guard.  No 
more  courtesies  to  our  foes,  and  a  strict  accounting  with 
them  on  the  morrow." 

I  did  not  know  what  schemes  the  fugitives  might  have 
for  bringing  a  force  against  us  ;  therefore  I  doubled  the 
guards  and  had  the  walls  so  well  posted  with  sentries 
that  ingress  or  egress  would  be  impossible  without  our 
observation. 

The  night  was  dark  and  overcast  with  clouds  until  ten 
o'clock.    Then  the  moon  came  out  with  a  silver  radiance. 


ill 


\-'  , 


h.  '• 


:;i| 


I 


I' 


' 


ll 


1 


114 


John  Marmaduke 


and  the  stars  made  golden  spangles  on  the  dome  of 
heaven. 

Returning  to  the  great  gate  at  eleven  o'clock,  after  a 
slow  round  of  the  sentries,  I  saw  Willis  Fenton  on  the 
wall  to  the  right  of  the  gate  peering  steadfastly  into  the 
dim  vista  of  the  night. 

"  What  see  you,  Fenton  ?  "     I  asked. 

He  made  no  reply  and  I  mounted  the  wall  and  stood 
beside  him. 

"  What  is  it  ?  " 

"  A  horseman,  I  think,"  he  answered,  **  Let  us  shrink 
ourselves  within  the  shadow  of  this  gatepost  and  watch 
him.  I  have  seen  the  moon  glinting  off  his  iron  hat  for 
some  minutes." 

We  withdrew  to  the  shadow  of  the  gate  and  watched 
intently.  Soon  there  was  an  object  that  came  out  of  the 
dark  wood  across  the  open  space  ahead.  It  had  the 
bulk  of  a  horse  and  rider  and  moved  slowly  toward  us. 
I  called  softly  to  the  sentinel  on  the  other  side  of  the 
gate  to  make  no  challenge. 

The  strange  horseman  still  advanced,  stopping  ever 
and  anon  to  listen.  When  his  horse  moved  it  was  at  a 
slow  walk.  He  diminished  the  distance  very  cediously, 
and  we  stood  in  an  attitude  of  suspense  until  he  was 
within  twenty-five  yards  of  our  post.  I  could  then  make 
out  the  arms  and  habit  of  an  Irish  soldier. 

"Train  your  piece  on  him, "  I  whispered  to  Fenton. 

"I  have  him  sure  when  you  give  the  word,"  he 
answered,  sighting  along  the  barrel  of  his  carbine. 

The  horseman  stopped  again.  His  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  us. 

"  Lieutenant  Willoughby, — hist !  "  he  said,  in  a  sub- 
dued tone. 


A  Midnight  Departure  115 


"  Here,"  I  answered,  muffling  my  voice  so  that  he 
might  think  it  Willoughby's.     He  came  nearer. 

"  Lord  Castlehaven's  rearguard  is  ten  miles  east.  The 
officer  in  command  will  furnish  protection  for  yourself 
and  Master  Terence's  party,  including  the  women. 
They  move  in  the  morning  and  1  am  to  lead  you  there 
to-night." 

"  It  is  Brian  MacDoughal,"  whispered  Fenton  ;  "  he 
who  fled  this  afternoon." 

"  It  is  well,"  I  replied,  in  a  louder  voice.  "  Will  you 
enter  the  gate  until  we  do  make  ready  ? " 

It  was  plain  from  the  start  he  gave  that  he  recognised 
me.  But  he  evidently  had  expected  to  find  Willoughby 
on  the  gate  and  even  believed  that  it  might  be  Willoughby 
who  was  crouching  beside  me.  Looking  beyond  him  I 
saw  a  line  of  pikes  at  the  edge  of  the  wood,  indicating  a 
band  of  horsemen  just  arrived. 

"  Lieutenant  Willoughby  is  not  here,"  I  said,  stepping 
out  into  the  moonlight ;  "  and  if  you  do  move  your  horse 
otherwise  than  to  surrender,  you  are  a  dead  man." 

Ere  I  had  got  the  words  out  of  my  mouth  he  turned 
his  steed  to  fly,  and  I  cried,  "  Fire  !  " 

The  carbine  rang  out  on  the  still  air.  There  was  a 
sharp  cry  of  agony,  and  MacDoughal,  throwing  his  arms 
aloft,  fell  to  the  ground,  and  his  horse  galloped  riderless 
across  the  plain. 

Fenton  sprang  down  outside  the  wall  and  ran  to  his 
side.  In  a  moment  he  returned  and  I  helped  him  to  re- 
mount the  wall. 

"  He  is  stone  dead,"  he  said. 

"Go  you  at  once  to  Lieutenant  Haddon,"  I  cried, 
"  and  bid  him  summon  every  man  to  the  walls.  There  is 
an  Irish  force  in  yonder  wood.     Quick  !  " 


W^i 


' 


Ii6 


John  Marmaduke 


'M 


■ 


Fenton  was  off  instantly. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke  !  " 

A  white-robed  figure  stood  beneath  me.  It  was  Cath- 
erine. 

"  Why  are  you  here,  madam  ?  "  I  demanded.  "  There 
is  danger  ahead  and  your  house  would  be  the  safest 
place  for  you." 

"  Who  was  it  that  fell  but  now,  Captain  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Brian  MacDoughal,"  I  answered. 

"  Alas,  alas  !  "  she  cried.  "  Will  nothing  but  the  an- 
nihilation of  my  household  surfeit  you  ?  " 

"  He  broke  his  parole  and  is  a  traitor,"  I  replied. 

"  Did  he  come  for  me  ? "  she  asked,  with  a  naivete 
that  quite  amazed  me. 

"  Yes,"  I  answered,  for  I  had  learned  to  be  entirely 
ingenuous  with  this  young  woman.  "  He  came  to  lead 
your  brother  and  his  party,  including  yourself  and  your 
women,  and  also  Lieutenant  Willoughby,  to  the  protec- 
tion of  Lord  Castlehaven's  rearguard,  now  encamped  ten 
miles  east  of  here." 

"  Then  he  had  not  seen  my  brother  and  the  Lieuten- 
ant?" 

"  It  would  seem  not." 

"  Why  have  you  summoned  your  men  ?  "  she  asked,  as 
my  troopers  began  to  arrive  at  the  wall. 

"  Because  of  a  force  in  yonder  wood,  though  whether 
it  be  large  or  small  I  know  not.     And  now,  I  pray  you 
go  back  to  the  house." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  Father  O'Brien  to- 
morrow morning  ? "  she  persisted. 

"You  heard  the  order  from  General  Ireton,"  I 
answered.  "If  the  General  had  not  pronounced  sen- 
tence for  his  fault  of  yesterday,  I  would  do  it  for  his 


A  Midnight  Departure  1 1 7 


as 


to- 


offence  to-day.  He  must  hang  to-morrow  at  eight 
o'clock." 

This  I  said  with  great  severity.  The  young  girl  stood 
silent  and  pensive  for  a  moment,  in  great  distress  of 
mind.    Then  she  suddenly  inquired  : 

"  May  I  mount  the  wall  beside  you  ? " 

It  was  exceedingly  difficult  to  deny  her  requests,  so  I 
gave  her  my  hands  and  lifte*^.  her  lightly  to  my  side. 

She  peered  cautiously  across  the  plain  at  the  immov- 
able line  of  pikes.  Then  she  suddenly  placed  her  hands 
before  her  mouth,  trumpet-like,  and  cried  out  in  a  clear, 
ringing  voice : 

"  Holloa — in  the  wood,  holloa  !  " 

"  Nay,  madam,"  I  protested.  "  this  is  most  unsoldier- 
like!" 

But  again  she  cried : 

"  Holloa— in  the  wood,  holloa  ! " 

There  was  a  stir  beyond.  A  solitary  horseman  rode 
out  into  the  moonlight. 

"  What,  ho  !  "  he  cried,  with  the  lungs  of  Stentor. 

"  Are  you  friends  to  Terence  Dillon  ? "  rang  out  the 
lady's  voice. 

"  Aye,"  answered  the  Irishman,  "  to  Terence  Dillon, 
to  his  sister,  and  all  his  loyal  house." 

She  turned  to  me  in  some  agitation. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  she  said,  with  trembling  voice ; 
"  my  hour  is  come.  I  must  away  from  here.  I  beseech 
you,  give  me  leave  to  go.  I  would  take  my  black  horse 
Bess,  and  two  other  horses  for  Nora,  my  maid,  and 
Grania,  my  housekeeper.     Have  I  your  consent  ?  " 

"  Madam,"  I  replied,  swayed  by  an  emotion  that  I 
strove  to  conceal ;  "  you  would  not  depart  thus,  at  the 
dead  of  night,  with  these  unknown  men  ? " 


IF 


I  5    ? 


ii8 


John  Marmaduke 


"  Yes,"  she  said,  now  in  a  flood  of  tears.  "  Anywhere 
— with  anybody  ;  but  I  must  away  at  once." 

Forcing  herself  into  a  calmer  state,  she  again  leaned 
forward,  and  shouted  : 

"  Holloa  !  Whence  come  you,  and  what  force  have 
you?" 

The  horseman  withdrew  to  his  fellows  before  he  would 
answer  this, — a  thing  I  did  not  like.  Then  coming  for- 
ward again,  he  cried  : 

"  We  come  from  I^ord  ^^astlehaven  and  we  are  ten 
men  all  told." 

"  I  like  it  not,"  I  said. 

"  But  MacDoughal  would  not  bring  them  hither  if 
they  were  not  trustworthy,"  she  replied.  Then,  hailing 
them  again,  she  called  out : 

"  Terence  Dillon  will  join  you  presently."  To  me  she 
said,  looking  me  straight  in  the  eyes  :  "  Captain  Marma- 
duke, you  will  not  oppose  my  going?" 

"  Only  by  a  firm  protest,"  I  answered.  "  If  you  are 
determined  to  go,  the  very  helplessness  of  your  situation 
would  restrain  me  from  forcibly  detaining  you.  But  I 
like  it  not.  Here,  take  my  ring,"  I  continued,  pressing 
it  over  the  finger  which  I  held  in  my  hand.  "  Should 
danger  beset  you,  find  means  to  return  it  to  me,  and  I 
will  go  to  your  aid  wherever  you  may  be." 

"  I  will  remember  it.  Captain  Marmaduke,"  she  said, 
pressing  my  hand  in  both  of  hers  "  And  now,  lift  me 
down,  please."  She  gave  herself  into  my  charge  with 
the  trustfulness  of  a  child,  and  I,  springing  down  inside, 
made  her  step  from  the  wall  upon  my  shoulder  and 
thence  I  caught  her  in  my  arms  and  sat  her  feet  upon 
the  ground  with  never  a  jar.  She  ran  swiftly  to  the 
house,  and  I  sent  Willis  Fenton  to  saddle  the  horses  she 
had  pleaded  for.    In  twenty  minutes  three  horses  paced 


A  Midnight  Departure  119 


down  to  the  gate.  The  first  one  was  Bess  with  a  pretty 
rider  astride  who  looked  like  Terence,  but  was,  of 
course,  Terence's  sister.  On  the  second  was  a  fat 
woman,  veiled,  who  rode  her  horse  more  awkwardly 
than  I  had  ever  seen  it  done  before.  Then  came  Nora 
on  the  third  horse,  to  which  a  large  bundle  of  clothes 
was  strapped.  I  ordered  the  gates  to  be  opent<l.  .i  id 
the  three  women  passed  out  and  rode  across  the  plain, 
doubtless  too  much  occupied  with  the  seriousness  of  the 
step  they  were  taking  to  say  farewell.  I  watched  their 
receding  figures  cross  the  plain,  feeling  ill  at  ease  and 
forsaken.  I  saw  them  stop  in  front  of  the  solitary  horse- 
man, and  counted  nine  other  horsemen  riding  out  of  the 
wood,  who  surrounded  them.  I  saw  the  big  woman  on 
the  second  horse  take  a  man's  position  astraddle.  I  saw 
two  men  on  each  side  of  the  three  who  had  ridden 
through  our  gate,  whose  bridles  they  seized.  I  saw 
Catherine  raise  her  whip  and  bring  it  down  with  force 
in  the  face  of  one  of  the  men.  I  heard  her  scream  out 
across  the  plain  : 

"  Help  me.  Captain  Marmaduke !  Lord  Kilmac  and 
Black  Murtagh  are  here  !  " 

There  was  a  shout  of  savage  laughter  from  her  cap- 
tors, and  they  all  rode  fiercely  away  through  the  wood. 

As  I  turned  to  spring  from  the  wall,  I  saw  a  large 
woman  peering  through  the  gate  at  the  retreating  band. 
It  was  Grania,  the  housekeeper.  I  seized  her  by  the 
wrist. 

"  Woe  is  me  ! "  she  cried,  "  to  see  what  I  have  seen  !  " 

"  Who  was  on  the  second  horse  with  your  mistress  ?  " 
I  demanded. 

"  Sure  it  was  Father  O'Brien,"  she  answered.  "  Woe 
is  me,  woe  is  me  !  "  and  she  rocked  herself  back  and 
forth  in  the  sharp  grief  of  a  great  bereavement. 


y-:  ' 


mm 


CHAPTER  XIV 


^11  f 


ml 


i.t 


M 


?^  I 


IN    THE   DRAGON  S   DEN 

IT  was  plain  to  me  that  Brian  MacDoughal  had  re- 
turned from  his  errand  v*rith  an  engagement  to  meet 
Thornton  Willoughby  on  guard,  and  then  effect  the 
escape  of  the  Irish  inhabitants  of  Carberry  Hall  through 
Willoughby's  connivance.  At  the  very  moment  when 
he  was  communicating  the  finding  of  his  mission  to  me 
in  the  belief  that  I  was  Willoughby,  Lord  Kilmac  and 
Black  Murtagh,  with  a  handful  of  cutthroats,  had 
ridden  cautiously  up  on  a  gambler's  chance  of  obtaining 
revenge  on  me.  I  had  naturally  assumed,  as  poor  Cath- 
erine had  also  done,  that  these  were  a  friendly  escort 
with  MacDoughal ;  and  it  was  that  impression,  together 
with  the  hope  that  her  brother  was  in  some  manner  near 
her  supposed  rescuers,  that  had  led  her  to  invent  a  ruse 
to  save  the  priest  from  the  execution  to  which  he  had 
been  condemned. 

When  I  heard  her  voice  crying  out  in  the  night  that 
she  was  a  prisoner  to  her  cruel  suitor,  Lord  Kilmac, 
and  his  unprincipled  follower.  Black  Murtagh,  the  reve- 
lation filled  me  with  alarm  and  dismay.  I  believed  that 
Catherine's  brother,  Terence,  and  the  traitor,  Willoughbv, 
would,  ere  many  hours  had  fled,  come  against  us  with  a. 

xao 


In  the  Dragon's  Den 


121 


force  from  Lord  Castlehaven's  rearguard  ;  and  the 
possibility  of  such  a  step  would  keep  me  at  Carberry 
Hall  to  direct  a  defence  and  hold  the  important  post 
which  we  had  taken. 

In  great  perplexity  of  mind  I  paced  back  and  forth 
between  our  sentries  until  two  o'clock,  when  Lieutenant 
Elijah  Haddon  relieved  me  of  the  watch,  and  I  retired 
to  my  room,  leaving  ".n  order  that  I  was  to  be  called  on 
the  slightest  appearance  of  danger. 

Once  in  my  chamber,  I  laid  aside  my  iron  hat,  back- 
and  breast,  sword,  and  pistols,  and  threw  myself  on  the 
couch.  But  I,  who  have  ever  found  sleep  come  so 
readily  to  my  eyes,  now  tossed  in  utter  wakefulness 
through  the  rest  of  the  night.  My  mind  was  filled  with 
imagined  perils  which  the  fair  girl  might  even  now  be 
encountering  ;  and  i  chafed  under  the  stern  duty  which 
held  me  here  inactive  when  every  impulse  bade  me  fly 
to  her  rescue. 

Whither  would  they  take  her  ?  How  far  would  they 
dare  to  use  force  against  a  high-born  countrywoman  ? 
Could  Lord  Kilmac  be  prompted  by  a  sudden  and  un- 
holy passion  to  press  his  daring  suit  ?  or  was  there  some 
mercenary  consideration  which  had  led  him  to  seize  a 
bride  in  this  bold  fashion  ?  Would  he  be  sustained  in 
this  abduction  by  the  military  factions  vhich  were  now 
rising  for  the  country's  defence  ?  or,  was  there  chivalry 
enough  in  Ireland  to  punish  his  crime  against  one  of  her 
first  families  ?  Would  he  carry  her  to  his  castle  anrt 
defy  all  champions  behind  stone  walls  ?  or  would  he  seek 
a  safe  and  secluded  retreat  where  he  could  remain  un- 
discovered until  the  agitations  of  a  state  of  war  would 
cause  her  fate  to  be  forgotten  ? 

Several  times,  as    these  reflections    passed    rapidly 


I  life  i 


!  y  »■ . 


Ml 


122 


John  Marmaduke 


through  my  mind,  I  sprang  from  the  couch  and  began  to 
arm  myself,  half-resolved  to  mount  my  horse  and  speed 
away  alone  to  her  assistance.  Then  the  duties  of  my 
position  as  an  English  officer  in  command  of  a  post 
threatened  with  attack  would  recall  me  from  the  rash 
design,  and  I  would  resume  my  supine  and  helpless 
chafings. 

Then  I  asked  myself  what  affair  of  mine  it  was  that  I 
should  so  distress  myself  about  this  girl.  At  every  step 
of  our  acquaintance  she  had  treated  me,  and  justly,  too, 
as  an  enemy  of  her  country.  She  had  multiplied  the 
natural  perils  of  my  situation.  She  had  attempted  to 
thwart  every  plan  of  mine  for  the  secure  investment  of 
Carberry  Hall.  She  had  held  open  and  forbidden  com- 
munication with  the  hostile  forces  that  came  against  me. 
She  had  incited  the  priest  O'Brien  to  violate  his  parole  ; 
and,  had  it  not  been  for  the  timely  arrival  of  the  English 
reinforcements,  she  would  have  made  an  actual  assault 
on  my  rear  with  a  body  of  men  who  were  my  prisoners 
of  war.  Finally,  I  told  myself  that  she  had  fled  from  my 
safe  protection  under  a  deception  that  robbed  me  of 
the  custody  of  a  condemned  foe,  and  if  she  had  fallen 
into  evil  hands,  I  could  not  help  it,  and  si  e  must  abide 
the  consequences  of  her  own  conduct. 

This  seemed  like  a  logical  determinatioi.  oi  the  whole 
matter,  and  one  might  think  that  I  had  reasoned  myself 
into  a  condition  for  sleep.  Not  so,  however,  for  my 
mind  worked  in  a  circle  ;  and  as  soon  as  I  came  to  the 
point  where  I  cast  her  off  to  her  fate,  my  thoughts 
crashed  past  that  to  the  first  question  :  Whither  were 
they  taking  her  ?  And  so  it  was  all  to  go  over  again  in 
precisely  the  same  detail. 

I  thought  of  her  fresh  youth,  of  her  superb  beauty,  of 


In  the  Dragon's  Den 


123 


her  quick  intellect,  of  her  courage  and  accomplishments, 
of  her  soft  and  gentle  woman's  way  when  she  was  not 
ablaze  with  wrath.  I  thought  of  her  trust  in  my  honour, 
and  of  the  child's  faith  with  which  she  had  handed  her- 
self into  my  arms  when  I  lifted  her  from  the  wall.  And 
then  I  thought  of  her  in  the  possession  of  a  ferocious  and 
lascivious  villain,  which  caused  my  heart  to  beat  so 
violently  that  the  blood  coursed  through  its  arteries  with 
a  quickened  speed,  and  I  saw  the  morning  light  break- 
ing through  the  window  with  my  soul  in  a  rage  of  jealousy 
and  apprehension. 

I  now  rose  up  and  put  on  my  accoutrements,  firmly 
resolved  that  come  what  might  I  would  seek  out  the  un- 
happy maiden  and  relieve  her  from  her  peril  if  Heaven 
would  countenance  my  undertaking.  As  I  passed  out 
among  my  men  the  haggard  fashion  of  my  face  attracted 
their  attention,  and,  in  order  to  thoroughly  refresh 
myself  after  the  mental  anguish  of  the  night,  I  went 
down  toward  the  sea  to  take  a  bath,  and  beheld  a  ship 
riding  at  anchor  in  the  offing,  which  they  told  me  had 
arrived  an  hour  before  dawn.  I  scanned  her  narrowly, 
but  there  was  no  flag  to  tell  her  countrj ,  and  if  there 
were  men  on  her  deck  I  could  not  see  them  across  the 
mile  of  water  which  lay  between  her  and  the  shore. 
My  men  told  me  they  had  not  seen  a  bopt  put  off  from 
the  ship,  although  the  late  night  had  been  quite  dark, 
with  no  moon.  I  pursued  my  way  alone,  and,  when  I 
came  to  Roderick's  Pool,  determined  to  take  my  plunge 
there  where  I  would  be  unseen  from  the  ship.  There 
was  a  sort  of  natural  sea-wall  that  sheltered  this  pool, 
and  it  was  a  deep,  cool,  and  inviting  place  to  a  man 
whose  veins  were  hot  as  mine  were  then.  Being  en- 
tirely sequestered  from  my  men.  I  took  off  m"  arms  and 


i:  (1 


■-  1, 

..  1: 


'B 


r   n  1 


I 


i  ;^!: 


124 


John  Marmaduke 


attire  and  plunged  into  the  pool.  The  water  was  de- 
lightfully cold  and  as  I  rose  to  the  surface  and  swam 
across  its  face  my  mind  at  once  took  on  a  healthy  cast 
and  the  morbid  sensations  of  the  night  were  forgotten. 
My  swift  strokes  soon  brought  me  to  the  farther  edge  of 
the  pool,  and  it  instantly  occurred  to  me  that  there  was 
a  secret  here  which  I  must  discover.  Black  Murtagh 
and  his  band  of  men  had  escaped  me  by  plur  ^^ing  into 
this  pool  on  the  first  night  of  my  coming  to  Carberry 
Hall  ;  and  so,  too,  had  Catherine.  What  I  had  taken 
that  night  for  a  watery  grave  had  proved  to  be  a  sub- 
terranean refuge  for  my  enemies.  It  might  be  useful 
to  learn  the  secret  of  this  place.  At  any  rate  there  was 
diversion  in  makii.g  the  attempt. 

When  I  came  to  the  foot  of  the  high  rock  which 
bounded  the  pool  toward  the  sea,  I  sank  beneath  the 
water  and  sought  for  a  cavern.  I  went  down  twenty  feet, 
feeling  the  rock  all  the  way  with  my  hands  and  feet  ; 
but  nothing  could  I  find.  Coming  to  the  top  for  breath, 
I  carefully  inspected  the  face  of  the  rock  and  at  its 
centre  found  the  rough  image  of  an  arrow  pointing 
downward.  This  might  be  a  sign.  I  swam  under  this 
arrow  and  then  sank  again.  Down  ten  feet  under  the 
water  I  found  a  natural  fissure,  or  opening,  which  seemed 
abundantly  large  enough  to  admit  my  body.  I  came  to 
the  top  again  for  breath,  and,  after  filling  my  lungs  with 
all  the  air  they  would  hold,  sank  for  the  third  time  and 
pushed  my  way  into  the  wide  hole. 

An  apprehension  seized  me  that  my  lack  of  knowledge 
of  the  place  might  lead  me  into  some  submerged  retreat 
from  which  I  could  not  extricate  myself  in  time  for  fur- 
ther air.  Feeling  nearly  ready  to  burst,  I  pushed  my 
way  through  the  hole  in  the  rock  and  then  found  myself 


In  the  Dragon's  Den 


25 


shooting  up  through  the  water  on  the  other  side.  I 
would  have  lost  my  self-control  in  another  moment  and 
would  have  opened  my  piouth  for  the  water  to  rush  in 
and  overwhelm  my  life,  for  with  my  spent  breath  I  could 
never  have  got  back  through  the  opening  beneath  me  ; 
but  just  when  I  felt  that  all  was  over  with  me,  I  came  to 
the  surface  and  found  myself  in  a  cavern  the  size  of  a 
large  room,  girt  with  rock  at  the  roof  and  on  all  sides, 
but  having  an  opening  into  the  sea  large  enough  for  the 
entrance  of  a  boat. 

I  took  a  deep  breath  and  inwardly  said  a  prayer  of 
thanks  for  my  preservation.  Then  I  heard  a  man's  voice 
cry,  "  Hist ! "" 

I  sank  for  a  moment,  and  then  brought  my  face  to  the 
top  so  as  to  see  and  breathe. 

The  spot  at  which  I  i  ame  to  the  surface  was  under  a 
ledge  of  rock,  and  the  level  of  the  water  was  below  the 
floor  of  the  cavern  by  a  foot.  It  was  not  therefore  easy 
for  its  occupant  to  see  me  without  peering  under  this 
ledge  :  nor  could  I  see  him.  I  listened  for  voices,  but 
heard  none,  and  concluded  that  there  was  but  one  man 
there  besides  myself.  I  was  in  no  condition  to  introduce 
myself  to  this  unknown  cave-dweller,  so  I  sank  again 
and  returned  to  the  top  of  the  pool  at  the  other  side  of 
the  hole.  The  spirit  of  adventure  was  upon  me,  and, 
dressing  and  arming  myself  as  quickly  as  possible,  I 
passed  up  to  the  top  of  the  sea-wall  and  peered  over. 
My  first  view  showed  me  ca  unbroken  wall  to  the  water, 
but  when  I  stepped  on  a  narrow  ledge  I  again  looked 
and  plainly  saw  the  opening  into  the  cavern.  A  false 
step  would  precipitate  me  into  the  sea.  Taking  firm 
hold  with  both  hands  of  the  slight  projection  on  which  I 
stood,  I  suddenly  swung  myself  down  and  rested  on  the 


I 


126 


John  Marmaduke 


e  ' 


ft 


[n- 


'i 


bottom  of  the  cavern.  It  required  all  my  skill  to  recover 
my  equilibrium,  and  when  I  had  gained  a  steady  footing 
I  found  myself  seized  by  the  throat  by  one  who  held  me 
in  a  grip  the  like  of  which  I  had  never  known  before. 

My  assailant  was  a  man  of  near  my  own  age  and 
height.  Despite  his  rage,  I  instantly  noted  the  great 
beauty  and  dignity  of  his  face.  He  was  dressed,  though 
with  a  seeming  carelessness,  yet  with  elegance.  His 
iron  hat  lay  on  the  floor,  allowing  his  brown  curls 
to  fall  gracefully  on  his  shoulders.  A  cloak  of  scarlet 
velvet  hung  from  his  aeck  over  a  steel  corselet.  A  sword 
was  in  his  belt,  and  boots  which  came  to  the  hips  when 
riding  were  creased  down  below  his  knees,  showing  a  pair 
of  black-velvet  breeches  and  red-silk  stockings.  He 
had  the  unfailing  air  of  authority,  and  a  physical  strength 
that  I  was  now  feeling  to  my  great  discomfort.  In  a 
moment  he  released  his  grip  upon  my  throat  and  drew 
his  sword. 

"  I  perceive  you  are  a  gentleman,"  he  said,  "  and  you 
seem  to  come  alone." 

I  was  sputtering  somewhat. 

"  Sir,"  said  I,  "  your  inhospitable  greeting  has  well- 
nigh  started  my  tongue  out  of  my  mouth." 

"  Whom  do  you  serve  ? "  he  asked. 

"  The  Parliament  of  England,"  I  answered.  "  And 
you,  sir  ?" 

"  I  am  for  King  Charles  the  Second,"  said  the  stranger, 
with  a  breeding  and  courtesy  beyond  any  I  had  ever 
seen  ;  *'  so,  if  you  will  draw  your  sword,  we  will  have  an 
argument  worthy  of  two  Englishmen  on  opposite  sides 
of  the  war." 

"  I  am  with  you  in  that,"  said  I  ;  "  but  may  I  not  first 
know  with  whom  I  am  to  discuss  this  point  ?    For  my 


In  the  Dragon's  Den 


127 


I 


part,  I  am  Captain  John  Marmaduke,  commanding  a 
troop  in  the  Parliament's  army,  and  now  in  charge  of 
Carberry  Hall,  taken  by  me  a  few  days  since." 

"  I  regret  to  learn  that  Carberry  Hall  has  fallen,"  said 
my  opponent.  "Can  you  tell  me  of  the  fate  of  Sir 
Patrick  Dillon  ? " 

"  He  was  killed  by  one  of  my  men,"  I  replied. 

"  Then  I  am  willing  to  avenge  him.  I  may  not  tell 
you  my  name,  sir,  other  than  to  say  that  I  command 
yonder  ship  and  that  my  rank  is  not  beneath  your  own. 
For  the  present  I  cannot  be  other  to  you  than  the  Un- 
known. Now,  sir,  will  you  kindly  draw  ?"  He  laid  off 
his  scarlet  cloak. 

"  I  am  your  servant,  sir,"  said  I,  bowing  low  and  draw- 
ing my  sword. 

As  I  took  up  my  position  for  the  combat,  the  Unknown 
eyed  me  narrowly  and  I  him.  I  have  already  said  that 
he  was  about  my  age  and  height,  but  he  looked  now  a 
trifle  older  than  I,  and  his  frame  was  so  compactly  knit 
that  I  wondered  whether  it  concealed  a  strength  superior 
to  mine  which  might  lead  to  my  undoing.  He  gave 
me  full  time  to  prepare  myself,  and  when  I  planted  my 
right  foot  and  lowered  my  blade  for  his  attack,  he  said, 
"  Now,  sir, — on  guard  !  "  and  advanced. 

Our  swords  crossed  and  were  instantly  in  play.  I  had 
my  back  to  the  cavern's  door  with  the  subdued  light  of 
that  orifice  full  on  my  foe,  so  that  the  advantage  of 
position  was  with  me.  And  right  glad  I  was  to  have  it 
so,  for  I  soon  found  that  I  had  met  my  match.  We 
fought  cautiously  for  the  space  of  a  few  moments,  each 
testing  the  other's  skill ;  and  then  he  seemed  to  have 
sounded  my  art,  for  he  pressed  me  with  every  resource 
that  I  had  ever  learned.     I  found,  too,  that  his  wrist  had 


h:ril] 


i^ 


i> . 


128 


John  Marmaduke 


the  strength  of  iron,  and  when  I  attempted  to  beat  down 
his  guard  he  parried  me  with  a  deft  hand  that  knew 
nothing  of  fatigue.  Our  swords  crashed  for  five  minutes 
until  the  darkened  cavern  seemed  alight  with  their  sparks, 
and  our  quickened  breathing  began  to  tell  of  energy  con- 
sumed on  each  side.  Then,  when  he  had  let  me  press 
him  back  a  step  or  two,  I  felt  a  spell  of  overconfidence, 
and  lunged  my  sword  at  his  breast.  He  parried  the  well- 
aimed  thrust,  and  then,  wrapping  his  blade  under  my 
hilt,  he  gave  a  sudden  twisC  that  was  meant  to  disarm 
me.  It  would  have  done  so,  too,  had  I  not  lightened 
my  hold  on  the  weapon  so  that  it  had  flexible  play  in  my 
hand.  As  it  was,  my  sword  and  my  arm  went  high  in 
the  air,  and  the  blade  of  the  Unknown  passed  between  my 
arm  and  side,  cutting  the  fastenings  of  my  corselet, 
which  flapped  open,  impeding  my  free  action.  He  had 
come  so  close  in  upon  me  that  I  seized  his  wrist  with 
my  left  arm,  and  in  the  grasp  in  which  I  strove  to  hold 
him  my  right  hand  fell  over  his  back  with  my  sword  still 
tightly  clenched.  His  left  arm  fell  around  my  neck,  and 
we  stood  glaring  fiercely  at  each  other,  knowing  that 
death  would  be  the  portion  of  him  who  should  first  fall 
back  from  that  imperative  embrace.  For  a  full  minute 
we  breathed  hot  hate  into  each  other's  face,  and  I  felt 
that  the  breaking-away  which  would  soon  be  inevitable 
would  leave  me  under  the  fatal  disadvantage  of  a  dis- 
ordered breast-piece.  His  own  countenance  was  not 
without  apprehension,  for  he  had  found  my  sword  skil- 
ful beyond  his  calculation.  In  this  situation  of  mutual 
peril,  his  face  lost  its  fierce  zeal  and  was  lighted  by  a 
smile  that  came  from  a  knightly  heart. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  he  said,  "  you  are  the  first 
man  who  ever  saved  his  life  from  that  Portuguese  thrust 
that  I  but  now  did  give  you." 


In  the  Dragon's  Den 


129 


Irst 
ist 


"  It  is  a  new  device  to  me,"  I  answered,  as  we  still 
held  each  other  fast  bound.  "  I  have  never  seen  it  used 
in  England.     I  will  watch  for  it  again." 

"  Nay,"  said  he,  "  its  potency  doth  lie  in  its  surprise. 
I  would  hardly  try  it  twice  on  a  master  of  fence  ; — for 
such  I  have  found  you  to  be.     Shall  we  have  a  truce  ? " 

"  As  you  will,"  I  said,  right  glad  to  have  a  chance  to 
adjust  myself ;  and  we  parted  from  our  embrace  with 
mutual  respect.  "  I  will  take  off  my  back-  and  breast, 
and  then " 

"  Nay,  Captain,"  said  he,  laughing  ;  "  thou  art  no 
more  anxious  to  finish  this  combat  than  I  am.  M>  only 
trick  of  fence  that  thou  wert  ignorant  of  has  failed. 
You  on  your  part  have  none  that  is  new  to  me.  Let  us 
put  off  further  warfare  until  we  meet  again." 

"I  thank  you  for  your  nobleness,"  I  said,  " for  I  do 
acknowledge  that  the  cutting  of  my  buckle  would  have 
made  it  awkward  to  resume  our  fight.  And  now,  have 
you  had  breakfast,  Sir  Unknown  ? " 

"  Not  a  bite,"  he  answered,  in  hearty  good-humour,  and 
resuming  his  cloak.  "  I  had  my  fellows  row  me  ashore 
in  the  last  hour  of  darkness,  and  expected  to  sit  at  table 
with  Sir  Patrick  Dillon  and  his  family  this  morning. 
But  when  the  sun  rose  I  beheld  your  Parliament's  knaves 
on  che  wail,  and  I  was  pondering  how  I  could  get  back 
to  my  ship,  when  you  invaded  my  retreat." 

"  I  shall  bring  you  to  a  good  breakfast  at  Sir  Patrick's 
table,"  I  said,  "  and  afterwards  will  send  a  signal  for 
your  men  to  come  for  you.  To  this  I  will  engage  my 
honour." 

"  I  am  much  beholden  to  you.  Captain  Marmaduke," 
he  said,  pleasantly  ;  "  but  I  would  not  embarrass  your 
duty  so  far.  If  you  will  have  your  men  fire  a  gun  twice 
from  yonder  wall  it  will  bring  my  pinnace  ashore." 


i 


I 
I 


I  h 


I  i 


130 


John  Marmaduke 


"  What  is  the  legend  of  this  cavern  ? "  I  asked,  looking 
round  the  place. 

"  They  told  me  that  this  is  the  Dragon's  Den,"  replied 
the  Unknown.  "  Some  fabled  monster  lived  here  in 
past  ages, — a  green  thing  with  fiery  eyes  and  many  legs, 
doubtless,  who  preyed  upon  the  Irish  maidens,  perchance. 
Let  us  hope  he  will  not  appear  while  we  are  here." 

"  There  is  such  a  dragon  abroad  even  now,"  I  said, 
"  who  preys  upon  the  fairest  daughters  of  this  unhappy 
land.     Even  now  I  must  away  in  his  pursuit." 

"  You  speak  in  riddles,  Captain." 

"  Sir  Patrick  Dillon's  daughter  was  carried  away  from 
here  by  a  licentious  knave  last  night, — one  Lord  Kilmac." 

"  And  where  was  the  English  Parliament's  protec- 
tion ? "  demanded  the  Unknown,  with  a  curl  of  his 
proud  lip. 

"  She  left  by  her  own  wish,"  I  answered,  feeling  the 
stab  of  his  tone.  "  She  thought  to  join  her  brother,  but 
fell  unwittingly  into  the  hands  of  Kilmac." 

"  And  whither  has  he  taken  her  ? — I  know  him  well 
by  reputation  ;  the  cruellest  villain  in  Ireland." 

"  I  know  not  for  a  surety.  But  I  do  think  he  has 
taken  her  to  his  castle  of  Ballyrae.  Thither  will  I  march 
with  my  troop  to-day  to  her  rescue  provided  yonder  ship 
make  no  demonstration  against  this  post." 

"  If  that  be  your  only  apprehension,"  replied  the  Un- 
known, "  my  ship  will  lift  her  anchor  and  away  in  an 
hour.  Furthermore,  since  my  plans  as  to  Sir  Patrick 
Dillon  must  be  abandoned,  I  find  some  leisure  on  my 
hands,  and  would  as  soon  strike  a  blow  against  this 
ruffian  and  aid  a  lady  in  distress.  What  say  you.  Cap- 
tain,— shall  I  come  to  Ballyrae  and  fight  the  Kilmac 
under  your  lead  ?  " 


In  the  Dragon's  Den 


131 


ill 


ac 


I  looked  into  his  face  for  a  sign  of  treachery,  but 
there  was  no  craft  there.  I  seized  his  hand  in  a  grasp 
of  honour. 

"  It  would  be  an  adventure  worthy  of  you,"  I  said. 

"  I  owe  this  fellow  Kilmac  a  grudge  myself  for  broken 
faith  ;  he  has  betrayed  our  dearest  secrets.  I  will  be 
there  at  noon  to-morrow,"  he  said,  wringing  my  hand 
heartily.  "  Leave  what  guard  you  will  at  Carberry  Hall 
for  form's  sake,  but  here  is  my  signet," — he  ottered  me  a 
ring  from  his  finger, — "  if  Castlehaven  do  send  against 
you,  have  your  man  in  charge  show  him  this  for  a  sign 
of  truce  until  you  return." 

"  My  thanks  are  thine,"  I  said,  "  but  Lord  Castlehaven 
will  hardly  send  his  men  hither,  for  they  are  all  on  the 
march  to  meet  our  army  at  Drogheda.  Keep,  I  pray 
you,  your  ring.  The  guard  I  will  leave  can  hold  the 
place  against  all  stragglers  until  we  do  summon  Ballyrae." 

"  Then  fire  your  gun  and  let  me  away  up  coast  with 
my  ship.  I  will  strike  Ballyrae  on  the  north  side  at 
high  noon  to-morrow." 

Bidding  him  adieu  I  clambered  up  the  edge  of  the 
rock  and  returned  to  Carberry  Hall.  A  gun  soon  thun- 
dered twice  from  the  wall.  Straightway  a  boat  cast  off 
from  the  ship  and  made  for  the  shore.  "  Shall  we  take 
her,  Captain  ?  "  asked  Joe  Muzzycroft. 

"  No,"  I  replied,  "  she  shows  no  colours,  and  I  have 
made  a  truce  with  her  commander,  though  he  is  un- 
known to  me." 

The  little  boat  was  soon  lost  under  the  cliff  and  when 
it  appeared  again  it  was  pulling  away  lustily  with  a  large 
man  in  the  stern  who  wore  i  plumed  helmet  and  was 
wrapped  in  a  bright  cloak  of  scarlet. 

"I  have  seen  that   man  before.  Captain,"  said  Joe 


'  iH 


'it 


132 


John  Marmaduke 


Muzrycroft.  "  He  whipped  our  right  wing  and  centre 
at  Marston  Moor  before  Old  Noll  charged  and  saved  the 
day." 

"  Impossible  !  "  I  cried,  in  astonishment. 

"  But  it  is  true,"  said  the  man-at-arms,  "  And  he 
took  our  General  Ireton  prisoner  at  Naseby." 

Was  it,  indeed,  the  King's  nephew.  Prince  Rupert  ? 


CHAPTER    XV 


OFF   TO    THE    RESCUE 


WHEN  I  had  watched  the  knightly  figure  of  the 
Unknown  return  to  his  ship  I  turned  my  gaze 
insh(*re  and  beheld  a  horseman  riding  from  the  north  at 
full  speed.  Arriving  at  the  gate  he  threw  himself  from 
his  horse  and  ran  toward  me  in  the  appearance  of  ex- 
treme distress.  My  surprise  was  great  to  recognise 
Terence  Dillon. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  he  cried,  speaking  with  much 
emotion,  "  I  have  come  hither  to  implore  you  to  rescue 
my  sister  from  yonder  foul  villain.  How  much  it  p  "ias 
me  to  seek  the  aid  of  one  who  is  the  foe  both  of  my 
family  and  my  country  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe. 
But  the  Irish  troops  have  all  marched  south  except  his 
garrison,  and  he  is  a  traitor  to  Lord  Ormond  and  Lord 
Castlehaven.  But  they  will  give  me  no  help,  and  I  come 
to  you  in  the  last  extremity  of  woe.  Save  my  sister. 
Captain  Marmaduke,  from  a  fate  worse  than  death.  See, 
— she  herself  has  sent  you  this  ring,  and  with  it  she  has 
charged  me  to  invoke  your  chivalrous  aid." 

"  How  came  you  by  this  ring  ?  "  I  demanded,  restoring 
it  to  my  finger,  for  it  was  the  one  that  I  had  given  to 
Catherine  on  the  wall  the  night  before. 

133 


134 


John  Marmaduke 


ir^' 


•I  'f 


"  When  the  villain,  Lord  Kilmac,  and  his  devil's  mate, 
Black  Murtagh,  fled  away  from  here  last  night  with  my 
sister  and  her  two  attendants  in  captivity,  I  and  Lieuten- 
ant Willoughby  met  them  half-way  between  here  and 
Ballyrae.  Hearing  Catherine's  cry  we  both  charged  in 
on  her  captors.  We  were  of  course  helpless  against  a 
superior  force.  I  saw  that  my  sister's  horse  was  held  by 
two  men,  but  on  her  first  recognition  of  me  she  passed 
your  ring  to  me  with  the  message  I  have  just  given  you. 
I  thrust  my  sword  into  one  of  Kilmac's  men,  with  what 
effect  I  know  not.  Willoughby  was  struck  down,  and,  I 
think,  carried  oft  a  prisoner.  Perceiving  that  a  rescue 
was  hopeless,  and  being  beaten  away  from  my  sister,  I 
drove  my  horse  through  their  ranks  and  returned  hither 
by  a  circuitous  road  across  the  hills." 

"  And  whither  has  Lord  Kilmac  carried  your  sister  ?  " 

"  To  his  castle  at  Ballyrae,  I  think,"  replied  Terence. 
"  Do  me  this  service,  sir,  I  beseech  you,"  he  continued, 
in  an  imploring  tone,  while  the  tears  coursed  down  his 
haggard  cheeks.  "  Do  with  me  thereafter  as  you  will ;  I 
have  no  claim  upon  your  clemency  ;  gladly  will  I  tmbmit 
to  your  judgment  upon  my  offences.  But  save  my  sister, 
Captain  Marmaduke, — you  will  save  her,  sir,  you  will 
save  her,  will  you  not  ?  " 

As  he  talked  on  in  his  rapid,  almost  incoherent  plead- 
ing, I  felt  my  own  heart  wrung  with  anguish  at  the  fate 
which  threatened  the  beautiful  girl.  It  was  not  mere 
sympathy  for  him  that  stirred  my  emotions  so  deeply. 
A  great  sense  of  personal  bereavement  had  come  over 
my  spirit  since  Catherine's  rash  mishap  of  the  night  be- 
fore. It  needed  not  this  youth's  agitation  to  stir  me  to 
undertake  her  rescue.  But  I  was  willing  enough  to  put 
it  on  that  ground,  and  so  I  said : 


Off  to  the  Rescue 


135 


"  Mr.  Dillon,  I  did  give  my  ring  to  your  sister,  and  she 
hath  returned  it  invoking  my  aid.  So  be  it.  I  will  to 
her  rescue  as  soon  as  my  men  can  be  got  ready." 

"  God  and  our  Lady  will  bless  you,"  he  cried,  crossing 
himself  fervently. 

I  was  about  to  descend  from  the  wall  when  I  beheld  a 
troop  of  English  horse,  one  hundred  men,  riding  out  of 
the  wood  from  the  direction  of  Arklow.  They  were  fol- 
lowed by  a  train  of  ten  waggons.  Fifty  paces  in  front  of 
the  gate  they  came  to  a  halt.  I  sprang  down,  mounted 
my  horse,  and  rode  out  to  greet  them  and  learn  their 
errand. 

Captain  Rodney  Ballantine  was  in  command,  and  we 
exchanged  cordial  greetings.  Our  men  on  the  wall  gave 
a  shout  of  welcome,  likewise,  which  the  others  returned. 

"  A  letter  for  you,  Marmaduke,"  said  Ballantine,  "  and 
a  merry  expedition  for  you,  I  think,  will  be  revealed  by 
its  perusal.  This  waggon  train  would  be  enough  in  itself 
to  prove  as  much." 

I  tore  open  the  letter.  It  was  from  General  Crom- 
well, and  read  as  follows  : 

"  Near  Arklow,  in  Camp. 
"Captain  John  Marmaduke: 

"  We  have  information  this  morning  that  it  is  to  the  Par- 
liament's interest  to  possess  Lord  Kilmac's  castle  of 
Bally rae  with  such  speed  as  God  may  grant.  We  have 
sent  you  another  troop  and  ten  men  over  from  those 
soldiers  which  our  son,  Henry  Cromwell,  took  away  from 
you  this  morning.  Also,  waggons  with  stores  and  ammu- 
nition. This  will  give  you  two-hundred-and-fifty  effect- 
ive. If  there  be  no  hostile  ship  off  ihore  it  is  not  likely 
that  your  post  at  Carberry  Hall  will  soon  be  come 
against,  the  enemy  marching,  as  he  doth,  with  all  avail- 


136 


John  Marmaduke 


able  towards  Drogheda.  Go  you  therefore  presently 
against  Ballyrae.  If  the  garrison  there  be  too  strong, 
take  no  undue  risks,  but  return  to  Carberry  Hall  and 
make  report  to  us.  Otherwise,  use  your  own  discretion 
as  God  may  direct,  and  do  what  will  be  for  His  and 
England's  glory.  This  to  you  by  the  hand  of  Captain 
Ballantine  ;  use  him  well.     Thine, 

"Oliver  Cromwell." 


i 


A  thrill  of  pride  swept  over  me  as  I  read  this  letter. 
It  was  the  first  direct  order  I  had  ever  received  from  the 
Lord  Generr,':,  and  the  responsibility  which  he  had  put 
upon  me  stirred  a  grateful  emotion  within  me.  Then, 
too,  it  seemed  so  opportune  to  come  thus  quickly  upon 
the  business  of  Catherine's  rescue,  that  I  saw  the  hand 
of  Providence  in  it. 

"  Upon  my  life,  Ballantine,"  I  cried,  grasping  his 
hand,  "  this  is,  indeed,  an  expediiion  worthy  of  good 
English  hearts.  Right  glad  am  I  to  have  you  with  me, 
Rodney.  How  far  had  you  gone  on  your  return  to  the 
camp  ere  you  were  sent  back  ?  " 

"  Not  more  than  three  miles,"  he  said.  **  So  we  are 
still  fresh  and  ready  to  follow  you  at  once." 

I  set  my  two  lieutenants,  Haddon  and  Wilton — for 
Wilton  had  been  promoted  to  Willoughby's  place  upon 
Willoughby's  appointment  to  command  the  half-troop, — 
to  get  our  men,  horses,  and  rations  together.  Then,  as  I 
looked  into  the  eager  face  of  Tuence  Dillon,  who  fol- 
lowed me  round  with  a  wistful  curiosity  as  if  he  feared  I 
might  recede  from  my  promised  undertaking,  a  sudden 
thought  possessed  me. 

"  Mr.  Dillon,"  said  I,  "  there  are  some  thirty  men  of 
your  household  here  capable  of  fighting." 


Off  to  the  Rescue 


137 


He  caught  my  notion  in  an  instant. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered.  "  Give  them  to  me,  I  pray  you, 
Captain  Marmaduke,  and  they  and  I  shall  follow  you  in 
this  expedition  as  loyally  and  devotedly  as  the  best  Eng- 
lishmen in  your  army." 

"  Do  you  engage  your  honour  that  you  will  fight  strictly 
under  my  orders,  and  that  you  will  return  here  when  I 
so  command  ? " 

"  In  all  things  we  will  be  your  men,  Captain  Marma- 
duke, until  this  business  shall  be  ended.  I  so  engage 
my  honour." 

"  So  be  it,"  I  said.  "  I  believe  you  can  do  good  ser- 
vice with  them.  Get  them  ready,  then,  and  quickly,  I 
pray  you." 

The  pleasure  of  the  unexpected  insk  which  I  had  set 
him  drove  the  sorrow  out  of  his  face.  I  have  observed 
that  men  can  ever  forget  their  adversities  when  they  put 
themselves  to  the  accomplishment  of  fruitful  work. 

Looking  out  to  sea,  I  now  saw  the  ship  of  the  Un- 
known making  north  under  a  good  sail.  I  detailed  thirty 
men  from  Willoughby's  half-troop  to  remain  at  Carberry 
Hall  in  charge  of  Sergeant  Alexander  Peters,  and  they 
received  their  assignment  to  this  inactive  service  with 
anything  but  grateful  looks.  I  commanded  that  no  dis- 
respect should  be  offered  to  the  priest.  Father  Terhune, 
or  to  the  Irish  omen  of  the  household.  Then,  when 
all  was  in  readiness,  I  rode  to  the  head  of  my  little  army 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,— the  largest  command  I 
had  ever  essayed, — and,  turning  my  horse,  surveyed 
them  with  a  critical  eye.  At  the  front  were  Lieutenants 
Haddon  and  Wilton,  and  then  came  my  troop,  now  full 
to  the  hundredth  man.  After  them  rode  Terence  Dillon 
in  a  bright  cuirass  and  steel  cap  ;  and  his  Irish  company 


-     ■: 


*i- 


!i 


EH' 


i  I 


I 


138 


John  Marmaduke 


of  thirty  stout  fellows,  done  up  in  green  doublets,  high 
boots,  and  iron  hats,  and  armed  with  pikes.  A  stout 
Irishman,  one  Balor  MacLuga,  was  his  Lieutenant ;  and 
Scolog  the  piper  rode  with  them  playing  a  tune  on  his 
bag.  Following  them  were  Captain  Rodney  Ballantine 
and  his  full  troop,  mounted,  dressed,  and  armed  like 
ourselves.  Next  came  the  twenty  men  left  over  from 
Willoughby's  half-troop  and  led  by  Lieutenant  Percy 
Waters.  In  their  charge  were  two  twelve-pounder  can- 
non which  we  had  taken  from  the  wall  and  mounted  on 
gun  carriages,  each  drawn  by  four  horses.  In  the  rear 
was  the  waggon  train,  comprising  the  ten  vehicles  sent  me 
by  the  Lord  General,  and  four  others  from  Carberry 
Hall.  In  these  were  provender  for  our  beasts,  food  for 
ourselves,  and  much  shot  for  our  enemies  ;  likewise,  two 
score  of  scaling  ladders,  many  plank  timbers,  and  some 
oaken  beams,  besides  tents. 

The  faces  of  the  men  showed  them  to  be  in  the  best  of 
spirits,  and  I  would  have  defi(;d  the  world  to  produce  a 
more  soldier-like  lot.  A  nod  to  William  Cozens  brought 
forth  a  martial  blast  from  his  trumpet ;  and  we  were  off 
at  a  brisk  trot  for  Ballyrae. 


CHAPTER    XVI 


1   ■:  r 


BEFORE     BALLYRAE     CASTLE 

OUR  rapid  march  brought  us  in  sight  of  the  noble 
castle  of  Ballyrae  about  two  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon of  Monday.  This  stately  architectural  pile  had 
stood  for  four  centuries,  and  it  had  once  been  the  home 
of  Irish  Kings.  Its  present  owner,  the  brutal  and  profli- 
gate Lord  Kilmac,  had  made  himself  an  object  of  hatred 
to  the  half-savage  peasants  a\  .  ose  rude  hovels  surrounded 
its  ancient  walls.  Nevertheless,  as  we  drew  near,  we  dis- 
covered that  the  inhabitants  of  the  demesne  were  !  astily 
withdrawing  themselves  within  the  shelter  of  the  castle 
as  much  for  their  own  protection  as  for  their  lord's 
defence. 

One  of  their  churls,  a  lad  of  sixteen,  was  caught  by 
my  men  as  he  raced  for  the  castle,  and  brought  before 
me.  Refusing  to  be  coaxed  into  communication,  a  threat 
of  instant  hanging  loosened  his  tongue  ;  and,  after  much 
questioning,  I  learned  that  Lord  Kilmac  had  returned  to 
his  castle  early  on  the  morning  of  the  previous  day  with 
but  seventy-five  of  the  retainers  who  had  fought  with  us 
on  Saturday.  He  had  since  called  in  all  the  available 
men  from  his  outlying  acres,  giving  him  a  force  of  four 
hundred  fighting  followers,  with  two  hundred  women  and 

139 


■ 


i\  '■  ■ 


m 


1 


140 


John  Marmaduke 


children  besides.  It  was  a  fair  surmise  that  at  least  half 
of  his  effective  force  was  composed  of  a  horde  wholly 
untrained  to  war,  while  so  much  of  the  remainder  as  had 
seen  service  under  his  banner  were  not  to  be  feared  for 
superior  discipline,  as  we  had  already  had  abundant  op- 
portunity for  knowing. 

Besides,  Lord  Kilmac  had  made  himself  an  outlaw  in 
the  view  of  his  own  military  party,  by  betraying  Owen 
Roe  O'Neil's  plans  for  English  money,  and  both  Lord 
Ormond  and  Lord  Castlehaven  had  set  a  price  on  his 
head  ;  and  it  was  the  knowledge,  doubtless,  of  the  trea- 
son which  this  implied  that  had  led  the  Unknown  to 
offer  me  his  services  after  our  unfinished  encounter  in 
the  Dragon's  Den  on  this  morning. 

After  learning  all  that  the  trembling  and  gaping  bar- 
barian would  stammer  forth,  I  dismissed  him,  and  he 
sped  away  n.nd  entered  the  castle.  We  had  halted  two 
furlongs  from  the  great  house,  at  the  edge  of  a  wood, 
and  while  my  men  were  taking  refreshment  and  looking 
after  their  horses,  I  rode  forward  a  few  paces  and  care- 
fully s'Tveyed  the  object  of  our  attack.  As  my  story  is 
so  soon  to  take  on  again  the  active  pace  of  war,  I  shall 
set  down  at  this  point  a  brief  description  of  the  castle, 
in  order  that  my  narrative  may  not  be  interrupted  by 
details  which  the  reader  may  as  well  receive  now. 

The  castle  of  Ballyrae  was  one  of  the  noblest  houses  in 
Ireland.  It  stood  against  a  background  of  wooded  hills. 
The  length  of  its  walls  was  five  hundred  feet  and  their 
width  half  of  that.  They  were  twice  as  high  as  the  tallest 
man  in  our  army.  Behind  them,  in  the  centre,  the  lord's 
dwelling  place,  called  variously  the  keep,  donjon,  or 
citadel,  reared  an  imposing  facade,  at  one  end  of  which 
a  turret  broke  the  angle,  while  at  the  other  a  massive 


Before  Ballyrae  Castle 


141 


tower  nearly  touched  the  lowest  clouds.  At  the  rear 
corners  of  the  keep  two  smaller  towers,  or  turrets,  were 
seen,  while  at  its  '"ront  and  rear  entrance  and  exit  were 
given  by  the  posterns,  or  doors  of  oak.  The  keep  was 
so  strongly  built  that  if  the  walls  were  carried  and  the 
invaders  possessed  the  baileys,  or  yards  around  the  keep, 
the  besieged  might  still  retreat  within  it,  and  harass 
their  foes  by  a  fire  from  windows,  turrets  and  tower,  and 
be  safe  from  a  fight  at  the  sword's  point  until  the  post- 
erns were  forced  or  the  windows  scaled. 

Behind  the  keep,  in  the  rear  bailey,  to  the  left,  were  the 
soldiers  quarters,  and  to  the  right,  the  stables  At  either 
side  were  wells  giving  sweet  drinking  water.  In  the  front 
bailey,  to  the  right,  was  the  chapel,  with  a  pretty  spire 
surmounted  with  a  golden  cross.  Near  the  chapel  was  the 
priests'  house,  occupied  by  a  company  of  twelve  of 
their  Catholic  fathers. 

Outside  the  walls  a  deep  moat  circled  at  a  width  of 
eighteen  feet,  and  was  fed  by  the  water  from  an  estuary 
which  passed  thence  toward  the  sea.  On  the  front  wall, 
at  either  end,  were  short  towers  which  were  used  for 
rallying  the  defenders.  In  the  middle  the  wall  rose  to 
twice  its  general  height,  and  at  this  point  it  was  pierced 
by  a  broad  gate,  and  was  ornamented  on  either  side  by 
a  barbican,  or  sheltered  fortification,  for  defence  of  the 
entrance.  The  barbicans  were  supported  to  the  wall  by 
corbels,  or  brackets,  of  hewn  stone,  between  which  were 
the  machicolations,  or  openings  for  firing.  Set  in  grooves 
in  the  masonry  at  this  opening  was  the  portcullis,  made 
of  crossed  bars  of  iron,  counterpoised  by  weights  hung 
over  pulleys  at  the  top,  and  raised  or  lowered  at  will  by  a 
chain  through  the  wall  which  was  controlled  from  within. 
Standing  upright  in  front  of  the  portcullis  was  the  draw- 


142 


John  Marmaduke 


I'm! 

m 


III 

I!  i 


,. 


i 


bridge  made  to  span  the  moat  in  time  of  safety.  On  that 
side  of  the  moat  next  t  le  castle  wall  was  the  counter- 
scarp, or  bank  of  the  ditch,  furnishing  a  seat  for  the 
drawbridge  and  running  off  to  a  semicircle  beneath  the 
barbicans.  On  the  glacis,  or  outer  edge  of  the  moat, 
beyond  the  point  at  which  the  drawbridge  would  touch 
the  bank,  was  a  redoubt,  or  small  defence  work,  at  pres- 
ent not  occupied.  At  the  left  end  of  the  wall  was  a 
small  postern,  or  sally-port,  now  shut  with  a  heavy 
barred  gate. 

Around  on  the  right  and  left  sides  of  the  wall  were 
posterns  and  counterscarps.  Opposite  to  them,  across 
the  moat,  were  bastions,  or  fortifications,  resembling 
somewhat  in  plan  the  head  of  a  spear  laid  flat.  The 
bastion,  as  an  enemy  would  approach  it,  presented  a 
sharp  point  or  salient  angle,  the  two  low  walls  of  which 
retreated  from  each  other  in  the  shape  of  a  V,  then  drew 
together  so  that  they  nearly  met,  like  a  diamond,  but  at 
this  point,  called  the  gorge,  retreating  from  each  other 
again  to  the  edge  of  the  moat.  There  were  no  draw- 
bridges at  the  side  posterns,  and  if  the  bastions  were 
manned  for  defence,  a  retreat  into  the  castle  could  be 
effected  only  by  the  use  of  timbers  thrown  across  the 
moat  for  that  purpose. 

At  the  rear  of  the  castle  wall  was  an  escarpment,  the 
ground  beyond  the  moat  being  cut  away  nearly  vertically 
to  prevent  hostile  approach  on  that  side. 

The  entire  wall,  where  it  was  not  set  with  towers  or 
turrets,  was  battlemented  in  a  most  picturesque  way,  the 
alternate  merlons  and  crenels,  or  closed  and  open  spaces, 
being  designed  with  great  beauty.  The  whole  effect  of 
this  feudal  tc>rtress,  as  I  surveyed  it  on  an  August  after- 
noon, was  to  impress    the  beholder  with    its  majestic 


Before  Ballyrae  Castle  143 


solidity  and  strength.  But  with  an  incapable  garrison 
the  strongest  castle  will  be  but  as  an  egg-shell  to  an 
indomitable  attack. 

When  I  had  finished  my  inspection  of  Ballyrae,  I 
joined  my  men  at  their  refreshment,  and  afterwards  gave 
my  horse  a  good  rubb'ng.  In  the  meantime,  we  could 
see  that  the  portcullis  had  been  lowered,  the  drawbridge 
raised,  and  an  active  preparation  for  defence  begun. 

Choosing  William  Cozens  and  four  of  my  officers,  we 
rode  forward  at  a  gallop  past  the  redoubt  in  front  of  the 
gate  and  halted.  The  trumpeter  wound  a  summons,  and 
Lord  Kilmac  appeared  on  the  wall,  and  simultaneously 
a  hundred  of  his  men-at-arms  stepped  into  the  crenels 
on  the  parapet.  There  was  intense  stillness  for  a 
moment,  and  then  I  called  out : 

"  I  do  summon  you.  Lord  Kilmac,  to  yield  this  castle 
of  Ballyrae  to  my  army  for  the  use  of  tae  Parliament 
of  England." 

A  shout  of  derisive  laughter  greeted  this  demand. 

"  Do  you  call  yonder  squad  of  cutthroats  an  army  ?  " 
he  cried.  "  Or  is  that  but  a  forlorn  hope  in  advance  of 
the  army  ? " 

Another  burst  of  laughtei  rewarded  his  cheap  wit. 

"  Furthermore,"  I  shouted,  "  you  will  instantly  deliver 
into  my  custody,  in  behalf  of  her  brother,  who  is  with 
me  here.  Miss  Catherine  Dillon." 

His  I  ace  took  on  a  savage  hatred. 

"  What  if  I  scorn  your  impudent  demands,  my  boast- 
ing youth  ?"  he  said,  contemptuously. 

"  Then,"  I  returned,  "  you  and  your  people  are  to  ex- 
pect the  last  extremity  of  war." 

"  I  do  defy  you,"  he  cried,  "  and  do  say  you  nay  both 
as  to  my  house  and  the  lady."    Then,  in  disregard  of  my 


I 


144 


John  Marmaduke 


herald's  privilege,  he  ordered  the  men  nearest  him  to  fire 
on  us  ;  but  ere  they  could  bring  their  pieces  into  line  we 
set  spurs  to  our  horses  and  rode  back  to  our  friends. 

It  was  now  three  o'clock,  and  I  ordered  the  siege  to 
begin  at  once.  While  I  had  been  delivering  the  sum- 
mons our  men  had  unloaded  the  waggons  of  all  their 
camp  materials  and  set  up  the  tents.  The  waggons,  with 
the  timbers  and  ladders,  were  now  filled  with  troopers, 
and  driven  forward  to  a  hundred  yards  from  the  moat. 
The  men  on  the  wall  fired  their  guns,  but  beyond  crip- 
pling some  of  our  horses  they  did  no  damage.  With  the 
waggons  in  front  of  us  we  soon  constructed  a  line  of  re- 
doubts that  gave  us  a  rude  shelter  from  Lord  Kilmac's 
steady  fire.  This  line  reached  across  the  whole  face  of 
the  front  wall,  and  beyond  it  so  that  we  could  command 
the  posterns  at  each  side.  The  waggons  themselves  werc- 
kept  at  the  front  to  protect  our  operations  further.  We 
had  thus,  in  a  very  short  time,  established  ourselves  in  a 
position  so  far  advanced  that  we  could  act  against  the 
enemy  at  short  range.  Sending  all  the  waggon  horses 
back  to  the  camp,  I  had  the  rest  of  my  men  come  up  on 
foot,  and  with  them  the  two  siege  guns,  the  horses  of 
which  were  likewise  returned  to  the  rear,  except  one 
that  was  shot  dead. 

By  four  o'clock  we  were  in  a  good  situation,  and,  when 
I  had  selected  a  point  in  the  wall  to  the  left  of  the  gate, 
I  gave  the  order  to  fire,  and  our  cannon  belched  forth 
flame  and  shot,  and  we  gave  a  great  cheer  as  the  first 
ball  crashed  true  against  its  target.  Boom  !  went  the 
cannons,  and  the  hills  behind  the  castle  echoed  their 
thunders  a  hundred  times.  Boom,  boom  !  as  fast  as  our 
men  could  work  them,  one  shot  every  three  minutes,  and 
with  every  discharge  a  breaking  in  the  solid  masonry  of 


Before  Ballyrae  Castle 


145 


of 


the  castle.  Nor  did  the  gunners  have  all  the  work  to  do, 
for  our  men  between  their  cheering  were  firing  their  Ci.r- 
bines  until  all  the  defenders  had  left  their  exposed  posi- 
tions on  the  battlements  and  sought  shelter  in  the  towers, 
turrets,  and  barbicans,  from  which  they  fired  at  us  with 
ineffectual  aim. 

While  this  work  was  going  on  with  but  indifferent  suc- 
cess,— for  the  mighty  wall  yielded  most  slowly  to  our 
cannonade, — I  had  some  of  our  men  build  pontoons  out 
of  the  planking,  that  we  might  have  them  ready  for  cross- 
ing the  moat  as  soon  as  a  breach  was  made. 

Terence  Dillon  was  in  a  fever  of  excitement  through- 
out the  afternoon.  He  recklessly  exposed  himself  to 
fire  a  dozen  times,  and  he  was  continually  making  the 
most  impracticable  suggestions  to  me  ;  his  sister's  un- 
happy predicament  leading  him  to  propose  the  reduc- 
tion of  this  stronghold  by  means  the  absurdity  of  which 
would  have  been  apparent  to  himself  had  he  been  in  a 
less  disordered  state  of  mind.  "  Can  you  not  break  in 
the  gate  with  a  battering  ram  ?  "  he  cried.  "  Can  you 
not  take  it  by  assault  ?  Is  the  moat  so  deep  that  we 
cannot  wade  across  it  ?  Give  me  leave  to  force  the  side 
posterns,  and  by  our  Lady  I  will  do  it,  or  die  attempt- 
mg  It. 

"But  I  would  not  have  you  die  attempting  it,  Mr. 
Dillon,"  I  answered,  patiently.  "  We  are  on  the  right 
method,  I  think,  but  it  may  take  several  days  to  effect 
our  purpose." 

"  Several  days  !  "  he  cried,  '  And  what  will  then 
become  of  my  sister  ? " 

I  could  scarce  contain  a  groan  myself  at  this  appre- 
hension ;  but  I  only  replied  : 

"  We  must  await  the  due  course  of  the  siege.* 


ti 


10 


!l 


1 


h'l> 


L 


i  I 


146 


John  Marmaduke 


"  Look  yonder  !  "  cried  Terence,  pointing  to  the  top 
of  the  great  tower.  I  raised  my  eyes  aloft,  and  beheld 
a  procession  of  twelve  brown-robed  and  bearded  monks 
on  the  extreme  height  of  the  tower,  passing  round  and 
round  in  slow  step,  and  evidently  chanting  their  prayers, 
although  we  could  not  hear  a  sound  from  them,  so  high 
above  us  were  they. 

But  from  the  aperture  in  the  tower  just  below  them 
we  beheld  a  sight  which  much  more  strongly  chained 
our  gaze.  A  woman  in  white  appeared  at  this  window, 
and  seemed  to  look  down  upon  us  with  intense  interest. 
Suddenly  another  figure,  garbed  and  hooded  as  a  monk, 
but  young  and  without  a  beard,  came  beside  her.  She 
started  in  surprise,  and  he  addressed  her  with  passionate 
gesticulation.  She  raised  her  hand  as  if  to  spurn  him, 
and  he  caught  her  wrist  and  half-dragged  her  out  upon 
the  stone  ledge. 

"  God  confound  him  ! "  cried  Terence.  "  It  is  my 
sister  !  What  is  yonder  base  monk  attempting  to  do  ? 
By  J  leaven,  he  is  trying  to  throw  her  from  the  tower  !  '* 

"  No,"  I  cried,  "  he  is  trying  to  fall  thence  himself, — 
or  else,  as  I  do  live,  he  is  urging  her  to  leap  to  death 
with  him  !  See, — she  struggles  in  his  grasp  !  She 
breaks  his  hold  !  She  is  appealing  to  him, — is  promis- 
ing something  at  our  hands, — threatens  him,  I  think  ! 
His  courage  fails, — he  is  cowed, — he  disappears  inside 
the  tower !  See  her  wave  her  hands  to  us  !  See  her 
pleading  attitude,  Mr.  Dillon  !  She,  too,  disappears. 
The  cannon,  men, — keep  up  your  booming !  There, 
that  was  a  good  one !  Thank  God,  the  breach  is 
made ! " 

A  wild  cheer  rang  out  from  our  men  as  the  last  shot 
went  clear  through  the  wall,  carrying  stone  and  mortar 


Before  Ballyrac  Castle 


147 


with  it.  The  monks  on  the  tower  stopped  their  march 
and  threw  up  their  hands  in  abject  terror,  crossing  them- 
selves ever  and  anon  in  their  broken  prayers.  Lord 
Kilmac  threw  a  larger  force  into  the  left  barbican  so  as 
to  sweep  the  wall  with  his  carbines  if  we  attempted  to 
storm  the  breach.  It  was  now  eight  o'clock.  The  day 
was  fast  declining.  Darkness  was  coming  swiftly  on. 
We  could  take  no  advantage  of  our  work  to-night.  An- 
other shot  widened  the  opening.  Then  a  brown- robed 
figure  suddenly  filled  the  breach,  and  the  young  monk 
whom  we  had  seen  on  the  tower  with  Catherine  came 
swiftly  out  carrying  a  plank  on  his  shoulder.  The  de- 
fenders were  nonplussed  and  hesitated  to  fire  at  the 
sacred  apparition.  Throwing  his  plank  across  the  moat, 
he  sped  across  it  with  a  light  foot.  His  hood  was  drawn 
over  his  face  and  fastened  at  his  mouth  so  that  we  could 
not  see  his  features.  As  he  reached  the  bank  on  our 
side  he  drew  up  the  brown  robe,  displaying  a  pair  of 
officer's  boots,  and  gathering  his  skirt  in  his  arm,  fled 
down  the  moat  away  from  the  castle  and  from  us. 

I  left  one  troop  under  Captain  Ballantine  to  bivouac 
in  our  redoubt,  and  brought  the  rest  of  my  men  back  to 
camp.  There  we  had  a  cheerful  supper, — all  but  Ter- 
ence Dillon,  who  was  fretful  and  perturbed.  After  plac- 
ing a  careful  guard  around  the  line  of  our  tents,  I  sought 
my  couch,  feeling  much  spent  after  the  fatigues  of  the 
day,  and  soon  sank  into  a  dreamless  slumber. 


is 
it 

Ir 


CHAPTER  XVII 


STORMING    THE   CASTLE 


ill  ^ 
I'll ' 


I 


'•    ' 

U 


'f.i  I 


'■I 
I 


WHEN  the  minute  arrived  at  which  I  had  set  my 
mind  for  awakening,  I  sprang  from  my  couch, 
threw  a  robe  over  my  shoulders,  and  stepped  outside. 
Willis  Fenton  was  pacing  back  and  forth  in  front  of  my 
tent,  and  the  first  red  tints  in  the  eastern  horizon  showed 
me  that  the  day  was  about  to  break  on  our  sleeping 
camp. 

"  What  o'clock  is  it,  Willis  ?  "  I  asked. 

"About  three,  Captain,'    he  answered,  slackening  his 
measured  tread.  * 

"  Has  anything  occurred  ?  " 

"Our   Scoutmaster,  Lieutenant   David   Potton,  hath 
returned  to  camp  two  hours  since." 

"  Praise  God  for  that !  "  I  cried.     "  Where  is  he  now  ?  " 

"  In  my  tent,  asleep." 

"  Let  him  not  be  disturbed.     Was  he  in  health  ?  " 

"  In  excellent  health, — so  he  told  me,  Captain." 

"  I  am  exceedingly  rejoiced  to  hear  this.     All  else  is 
well  ? " 

"  All  is  well.  Captain." 

"  You  have  been  on  guard  four  hours  ?  " 

"Yes,  Captain." 

X48 


Storming  the  Castle 


149 


IS 


"  Has  there  been  any  stir  at  the  castle  ?  " 

"  None  in  my  watch." 

"  Nor  in  our  redoubt  ?  "  . 

"  None,  Captain." 

I  returned  to  my  tent  and  was  soon  full-dressed. 
When  I  again  came  out  the  sun  had  pushed  his  rim 
above  the  ground,  and  the  grey  dawn  was  limned  with 
misty  figures.  The  sentries  on  the  farther  edges  p  ed 
back  and  forth  like  creatures  of  the  fog.  A  minute's 
time  gave  them  a  bolder  outline.  Then  the  line  of  our 
redoi  its  appeared,  at  first  indistinct,  but  soon  in  clear 
relief.  Then  came  the  faint  outline  of  the  castle,  the 
piercing  light  cutting  out  its  features  from  the  mist  as  if 
chiselled  from  a  marble  Olympus.  Beyond  were  the 
everlasting  hills  clad  in  summer  verdure.  On  tree  and 
bush  the  throstle  sang,  while  high  above  the  lark  gave 
his  jocund  note. 

Some  of  our  men  were  stirring.  Rob  Cumber  and  his 
helpers  were  already  cooking  bacon  and  potatoes.  Will 
Cozens  wound  his  reveille,  which  was  answered  from  the 
redoubt,  and  sounded  again  from  the  castle's  tower. 
The  sentries  gladly  abandoned  their  posts  ;  and  the  day, 
with  all  its  tasks  of  danger  and  blood,  was  full  upon  us. 

I  pushed  in  at  Willis  Fenton's  tent  and  found  tlie 
Scoutmaster  just  awake.  I  grasped  his  bronzed  hand 
in  both  of  mine,  even  as  I  would  receive  a  brother. 

"  The  Lord  bless  thee,  David,"  I  said. 

"  The  Lord  bless  thee,  gallant  Captain,"  he  returned, 
in  his  fervent  but  suppressed  enthusiasm. 

"  We  have  needed  thee,  David,  but  to-day  more  than 


ever. 
« 


Then  I  praise  God  that  he  hath  sent  me  to  your  side, 
Captain." 


I50 


John  Marmaduke 


li 


'I  I 


J:   i  ' 

! 


1 


i    1 
PI'    ' 

i 
s 


"  How  is  your  wound  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Gone,"  he  said.  "  It  was  nothing.  I  did  bleed, 
some,  but  I  am  myself  now." 

"  How  came  you  hither  ?  " 

"  When  I  heard  of  your  proposed  assault  on  Ballyrae 
castle,  I  begged  that  I  might  rejoin  you.  It  was  granted. 
I  have  ridden  hard  for  eight  hours  ;  and  here  I  am." 

"  But  you  have  not  had  sleep  enough  ?  " 

"  Abundance,  Captain.  Thou  knowest  my  habit  well. 
Two  hours  sleep  are  two  hours  too  much  when  the  Irish 
miscreants  are  in  our  front." 

"  You  have  forgotten  nothing  of  your  vengeance, 
then  ?"  I  asked,  smiling  at  his  weakness. 

His  face  grew  black  with  the  old  hate. 

"  When  I  forget  it  let  God  forget  me  !  "  he  cried.  "  If 
I  guess  aright,  the  foul  fiend  who  murdered  my  wife 
and  child  is  in  yonder  castle — Black  Murtagh.  Let  him 
beware,  then,  for  the  Lord  will  bring  us  face  to  face  and 
I  shall  send  him  to  hell,  fear  not." 

I  pitied  him,  but  there  was  nothing  for  it,  so  we  walked 
out  to  breakfast.  Right  glad  were  our  men  to  see  the 
brave  Scoutmaster  back,  and  they  greeted  him  with  many 
expressions  of  joy. 

While  WQ  were  feeding  our  warriors'  stomachs  with 
fighting  appetites  we  observed  that  which  indicated  a 
lack  of  discipline  and  order  at  the  castle.  The  whole 
of  Lord  Kilmac's  peojile,  men,  women,  and  children, 
including  the  twelve  hooded  monks,  seemed  to  have 
come  on  the  walls  to  view  us  with  mingled  curiosity  and 
apprehension  ere  we  should  renew  our  attack.  Captain 
Ballantine's  troop  in  the  redoubts,  being  at  breakfast  like 
ourselves,  engaged  the  Irish  defenders  in  a  spirit  of 
banter,  and  there  was  soon  an  exchange  of  complimeati 


Storming  the  Castle 


151 


between  the  battlements  and  the  redoubts  which  com- 
prised threats  from  our  side  and  defiance  and  execration 
from  theirs.  But  there  was  no  sign  of  fighting  on  their 
part,  and  Lord  Kilmac  was  evidently  waiting  for  me  to 
resume  the  attack. 

At  seven  o'clock  I  had  my  men  all  back  in  the  redoubt. 
I  discovered  that  the  Irish  had  filled  our  breach  during 
the  night  with  broken  stone  and  timbers.  But  our  first 
guns  cleared  away  the  obstruction,  and  our  men  yelled 
with  delight  when  the  hole  was  once  more  opened  and 
enlarged.  I  played  the  cannons  upon  the  jagged  breach 
until  we  had  it  wide  enough  to  enter  four  abreast. 
This  was  accomplished  by  nine  o'clock.  The  line  of 
defenders  had  disappeared,  but  I  could  easily  imagine 
them  lurking  behind  the  merlons  on  the  parapet,  and  at 
either  side  of  the  breach,  ready  to  give  us  a  blood/  wel- 
come should  we  approach  the  moat. 

Our  siege  guns  ceased  booming  and  there  was  a  mo- 
ment of  intense  quiet.  My  men  knew  the  order  that 
was  coming,  and  every  Englishman  was  alert  and  impa- 
tient to  hear  it.  I  stepped  forward  from  the  close 
shelter  of  the  redoubt  into  full  view  of  our  whole  line, 
and  sang  out  : 

"  Prepare  to  storm  !  " 

I  was  answered  with  a  shout  of  delight.  Pontoons 
and  scaling  ladders  had  long  since  been  got  ready. 
Captain  Ballantine  had  begged  me  to  give  him  the 
charging  column  through  the  breach,  and  I  had  ap- 
pointed half  of  his  troop,  with  Lieutenant  Hopkins,  to 
follow  him.  The  other  half,  with  Lieutenant  Parker, 
was  given  to  the  Scoutmaster,  who  was  to  take  the  wall 
on  the  right  of  the  drawbridge.  My  whole  troop,  with 
Lieutenants  Haddon  and  Wilton,  was  to  storm  the  wall 


:  I- 


152 


John  Marmaduke 


at  the  left  of  the  drawbridge  on  either  side  of  the 
breach.  I  directed  Lieutenant  Percy  Waters,  with 
Willoughby's  twenty  men,  to  make  a  diversion  on  the 
bnstion  far  around  on  the  right  side  of  the  wall,  feeling 
sure  that  this  move  would  draw  off  at  least  a  hundred  of 
the  defenders  from  our  main  assault  ;  and,  for  a  like 
purpose,  Terence  Dillon  was  commanded  to  lead  his 
thirty  men-at-arms  against  the  left  bastion.  Twenty 
pontoons,  each  carried  by  four  men,  and  forty  ladders 
tall  enough  to  reach  the  crenels  of  the  battlements,  each 
carried  by  two  men,  were  lifted  from  the  ground.  Our 
charging  line  was  quickly  formed,  with  Waters  and  Dil- 
lon on  the  two  ends.  Ballantine,  with  his  column 
behind  him  in  rows  of  four,  held  the  centre.  1  came 
next,  on  the  left,  in  front  of  all. 

I  took  in  the  view  of  my  little  army  with  a  deliberate 
eye.  Every  detail  seemed  perfect.  With  sword  in  hand 
I  cried  out  : 

"  Forward, — double  time, — charge  !  " 

There  was  a  loud  yell.  They  chose  their  own  word 
with  tumultuous  enthusiasm.  It  v/as  "  Marmaduke,  Mar- 
maduke !  "  We  swept  out  from  behind  the  waggons  and 
redoubts  and  dashed  forward  at  the  moat.  The  guns  of 
the  enemy  opened  on  us  from  parapet  and  barbicans. 
The  defenders  planted  their  gonfalons  on  the  wall,  and 
with  a  shout  of  defiance  stood  ready  to  receive  us.  But 
on  we  went,  and  when  we  reached  the  moat,  the  bridges 
were  deftly  thrown  across,  our  men  sped  over  them,  and 
soon  a  hundred  of  them  were  on  the  ladders.  I  planted 
myself  on  the  middle  pontoon  where  the  whole  action 
was  open  to  me,  and  watched  the  battle  with  the 
keenest  interest.  The  first  man  to  reach  the  pLrapet 
was  Willis  Fenton,  who  was  shot  by  Black  Muftagh  as 


Storming  the  Castle 


153 


he  stepped  on  the  wall,  and  fell  back  into  the  moat 
dead.  The  first  men  on  six  of  the  ladders  met  the  same 
fate  ;  or,  if  they  were  not  killed  by  the  bullets,  they 
were  drowned  when  they  struck  the  water.  With  all  my 
lungs  I  urged  them  on, — it  were  death  to  falter, — and 
soon  they  had  gained  a  footing  on  the  wall,  and  were 
locked  in  the  eml)race  of  war  at  the  top,  sliouting, 
"  Marmaduke,  Marmaduke  !  "  with  the  rage  of  wounded 
lions.  Haddon  and  Wilton  were  there  now,  also,  and 
were  giving  their  swords  to  the  defenders  in  yeoman 
fashion.  And  how  the  private  soldiers  fought !  When 
I  saw  my  gallant  fellows  facing  tremendous  odds  with 
so  much  spirit  I  longed  to  be  with  them  on  the  parapet. 
Dick  Trevor  and  Tom  Bufter  were  there  ;  so  were  Joe 
Muzzycroft,  Hugh  Brewer,  Loftus  Pearson,  and  Luke 
Marvin.  Rob  Cumber,  our  cook,  was  sending  many  a 
foe  to  his  last  account.  Will  Cozens  carried  a  standard 
which  inspired  every  English  heart.  Never  had  I  seen 
the  Ironsides  fight  so  well  to  the  credit  of  the  great 
General  who  had  trained  them.  When  I  had  seen  my 
brave  troop  overcome  disaster  and  carry  the  main  wall 
in  this  indomitable  way,  I  looked  down  the  line  to  see 
how  the  fight  fared  at  other  points. 

Rodney  Ballantine  had  made  a  brave  push  at  the 
breach,  but  Lord  Kilmac  stood  there  in  person  and  twice 
drove  back  the  young  leader.  Some  of  Ballantine's 
men  were  wounded  and  swept  into  the  moat  to  drown  or 
make  their  perilous  way  to  the  ravelin  where  they  could 
nurse  their  wounds.  But  the  third  time  the  column 
charged  it  forced  its  way  past  the  raw  soldiers  on  the 
inside,  until  a  good  stand  was  made  in  the  front  bailey, 
where  a  hand-to-hand  fight  ensued. 

David  Potton  had  met  with  but  slight  resistance  in  his 


wt 


V    ■ 

i 


154 


John  Marmaduke 


i 


part  of  the  assault.  Three  or  four  of  his  men  were  shot ; 
but  his  leadership  was  so  fierce  that  his  individuality 
seemed  to  overawe  the  Irish  and  he  soon  made  his  way 
to  the  battlements,  whence  he  came  forward  and  carried 
the  barbicans  with  a  great  slaughter  of  the  enemy.  He 
shot  and  stabbed  with  savage  delight,  and  a  score  of 
the  defenders  who  opposed  his  men  were  half-killed  on 
the  wall  and  then  thrown  headlong  into  the  moat  to 
drown.  When  he  had  beaten  down  all  opposition,  I 
called  to  him  to  lower  the  drawbridge  and  raise  the 
portcullis,  which  he  at  once  set  about  to  do. 

When  I  first  turned  my  eyes  towards  the  Scoutmaster, 
after  seeing  my  own  troop  carry  the  main  wall,  I  ob- 
served the  figure  of  a  new  troopor  mount  a  ladder  and 
join  in  the  assault.  His  upper  face  was  covered  with  a 
mask  of  white  silk,  but  there  was  a  familiar  air  about 
him  which  I  strove  in  vain  to  identify.  He  took  every 
chance  with  the  best  Englishman  there,  and  many  an 
Irishman  fell  into  the  moat  from  the  sword-thrusts  which 
he  dealt  with  an  almost  insane  fury.  His  boots  and  buff 
coat  were  like  those  of  the  Ironsides,  yet  I  could  not  ac- 
count for  the  white  mask.  But  when  he  followed  the 
Scoutmaster  to  the  drawbridge  I  could  tarry  no  longer 
to  pierce  his  mystery. 

I  now  ran  down  the  moat  and  looked  after  Waters, 
who  was  meeting  with  poor  fortune  on  the  right  bastion. 
Some  threescore  of  the  Irish  soldiers  had  been  put 
there,  and  with  them  were  many  of  the  women  and 
children  and  the  twelve  monks,  the  noncombatants 
harassing  him  with  various  missiles,  while  the  soldiers 
were  distressing  his  little  band  by  their  ill-aimed  fire. 
The  monks  were  themselves  throwing  stones  with  ex- 
treme malignancy.     But  the  diversion  itself  had  sue- 


Storming  the  Castle 


155 


ceeded  as  I  had  wished,  for  it  relieved  our  main  attack 
of  all  that  rabble.  Returning  quickly  to  the  gate,  I 
found  the  drawbridge  now  down,  and  passing  over,  I 
directed  the  Scoutmaster  to  go  at  once  to  VVaters's  relief. 
He  set  off  with  his  men  with  alacrity,  the  man  in  the 
white  mask  still  at  his  side,  and  as  soon  as  he  thrust 
himself  into  the  enemy's  ranks  there  was  more  bloody 
work,  in  which  Waters  now  joined  him  as  quickly  as  he 
could  get  his  men  upon  the  wall. 

The  defenders  in  front  had  left  the  battlements  and 
were  all  making  a  last  stand  in  the  great  bailey,  with 
Lord  Kilmac  and  Black  Murtagh  directing  them.  These 
two  leaders  were  fighting  with  the  courage  of  despair, 
but  as  I  looked  upon  the  heaps  of  slain  I  rejoiced  to 
note  so  few  of  the  Ironsides  among  them.  My  troopers 
never  relaxed  their  savage  energy  a  jot,  and  they  were 
doing  a  fearful  execution  on  the  Irishry,  whose  imper- 
fect training  gave  them  no  chance  against  men  who  had 
never  been  beaten.  I  now  joined  in  the  fight  and  strove 
to  cut  my  way  to  Lord  Kilmac,  doing  some  bloody  work 
in  the  attempt,  when  my  attention  was  attracted  to  the 
left  postern,  which  I  had  given  to  Terence  Dillon  to  as- 
sault, and  I  paused  to  observe  what  was  going  on  there. 

I  saw  a  white-dressed,  graceful  figure,  which  I  recog- 
nised as  Catherine  Dillon's,  run  forward  and  throw  open 
the  gate.  Terence  and  his  men  entered,  and  the  brother 
and  sister  tenderly  embraced  each  other.  She  then  led 
him  to  the  rear  bailey,  his  men  following,  and  they  were 
lost  to  my  sight  at  the  angle  of  the  keep.  When  I  turned 
to  press  in  on  Lord  Kilmac,  I  found  him  too  far  back 
for  me  to  hope  to  reach  him  at  present.  But  the  shrieks 
of  the  people  who  were  undergoing  the  attack  of  the 
Scoutmaster  led  me  to  go  thither.     I  found  it  high  time 


156 


John  Marmaduke 


IV  I 

m 

m 


\r 


to  interfere.  He  had  killed  all  the  soldiers  at  the  right 
bastion,  and  I  was  startled  to  see  a  row  of  three  bodies 
hanging  on  ropes  from  a  beam  which  he  had  thrown 
from  the  wall  to  a  ledge  on  the  keep.  These  were  two 
of  the  twelve  brown-frocked  monks,  besides  another  in  a 
different  habit  whose  slow  revolving  face  showed  me  the 
distorted  features  of  Father  O'Brien,  the  short  priest  of 
Carberry  Hall.  He  would  meddle  no  more  in  martial 
affairs,  for  he  was  one  dead,  as  were  the  two  others. 
The  insatiate  Scoutmaster  and  his  inseparable  compan- 
ion in  the  white  mask  were  turning  their  swords  upon 
some  of  the  peasant  youths  who  had  not  borne  arms  in 
the  battle,  when  I  sternly  bade  Potton  to  strike  only  at 
the  soldiers,  and  asked  him  to  follow  me  to  the  main  en- 
gagement. This  gave  the  rabble  an  opportunity  to  fly 
out  into  the  open  country,  and  some  fifty  of  the  Irish 
soldiers  ran  with  them. 

When  I  again  reached  the  middle  of  the  bailey  and 
joined  in  the  clash  of  arms,  I  saw  a  body  of  thirty  horse 
come  out  from  the  left  side  of  the  keep,  with  Catherine, 
in  her  white  frock,  and  Terence  Dillon  riding  in  front. 
I  at  once  surmised  that  Catherine  had  held  her  brother 
and  his  followers  on  the  outside,  in  the  left  bastion,  un- 
til the  battle  in  front  had  left  her  free  to  act.  She  had 
then  admitted  them  through  the  postern  and  taken  them 
back  to  the  stables,  where  all  had  chosen  horses.  They 
now  intended,  f  assumed,  to  sweep  out  through  the  main 
gate  and  escape  from  Lord  Kilmac,  whose  certain  defeat 
was  not  yet  apparent  to  them. 

I  pushed  in  close  to  the  facade  and  they  rode  up  to  me. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  said  Terence,  "  I  have  en- 
tered the  left  postern  as  you  directed  me  to  do.  I  would 
ask  your  further  pleasure." 


Storming  the  Castle 


157 


"  Do  as  you  please,"  I  replied,  feeling  a  jealous  pang 
as  I  thought  that  Catherine  was  willing  to  leave  me  with- 
out ceremony  and  perhaps  forever.  "  This  castle  will  be 
ours  very  soon.      Go  or  stay  according  to  your  desire." 

"  By  your  leave,  then,  we  will  go,"  said  Terence,  whose 
sulky  disposition  was  again  overmastering  him.  Indeed, 
I  felt  that  he  was  anxious  to  get  his  beautiful  sister  away 
from  me  as  well  as  from  Lord  Kilmac. 

While  we  were  talking  I  had  failed  to  watch  the  fight 
in  the  bailey.  My  men  had  pressed  the  Irishry  so  hard 
that  Lord  Kilmac  had  ordered  a  retreat  into  the  keep  ; 
and  now,  with  the  total  remnant  of  his  command  num- 
bering only  a  hundred  men,  he  swept  back  suddenly  and 
pressed  us  against  the  front  of  the  keep.  The  soldiers 
and  servants  from  Carberry  Hall  had  had  no  part  in  the 
fight,  and  were  too  dull  and  stiff-necked  now  to  suspect 
the'r  danger.  The  half-mad  defenders  of  the  castle  took 
no  time  to  distinguish  between  their  countrymen  and  the 
English  who  were  driving  them  backwards.  They  sud- 
denly thrust  their  swords  through  the  bodies  of  some 
eight  or  ten  of  the  Carberry  Hall  men,  who  died  like 
cowards,  without  striking  a  blow.  The  rest,  led  by  Balor 
MacLuga  and  Scolog  the  piper,  spurred  their  horses 
away  with  shrieks  of  fear.  Lord  Kilmac,  seeing  that  an 
escape  had  been  planned,  suddenly  struck  a  fearful  blow 
at  Terence,  cutting  through  his  steel  cap  and  cleaving 
him  to  the  chin.  The  young  man  fell  to  the  earth,  dead  ; 
and  his  sister,  springing  from  her  horse  with  a  prolonged 
shriek  of  agony,  rushed  into  my  embrace  and  fainted  on 
my  breast. 

"  Make  them  both  prisoners  ! "  cried  Lord  Kilmac 
"  I  have  an  account  to  settle  with  this  commander  be- 
fore he  dies." 


i  ■  • 


158 


John  Marmaduke 


I 


'i 


The  sun  was  now  at  meridian.  My  men  had  not 
missed  me  and  it  was  doubtful  if  I  could  acquaint  them 
with  the  perilous  situation  of  the  young  lady  and  my- 
self. I  raised  my  sword,  but  Catherine  hung  so  heavily 
upon  me  that  I  could  not  use  it  with  effect. 

"  Marmaduke,  Marmaduke  ! "  I  cried,  as  loudly  as  I 
could. 

Lord  Kilmac's  men  were  pressing  me  towards  the 
portal  in  the  centre  of  the  keep,  and  I  was  holding  tight 
to  my  precious  burden.  My  men  were  harassing  the 
outer  ranks  of  the  Irish  but  had  not  yet  discovered  me. 
Suddenly  I  heard  a  shout  from  a  single  throat. 

*'  Marmaduke,  Marmaduke  !  " 

A.  hc.seman  dashed  across  the  drawbridge,  his  scarlet 
cioak  and  white  plume  waving  in  the  wind. 

"  Marmaduke,  Marmaduke  !  "  he  cried,  riding  straight 
at  the  Irish. 

"  I  am  here !  "  I  shouted,  above  all  the  din  of  the 
battle.     "  Marmaduke  is  here  !  " 

My  men  heard  me  ;  so  did  the  Unknown.  There 
was  a  great  shout,  '*  A  rescue,  a  rescue  ! "  from  the 
Ironsides  ;  and  "  Marmaduke,  Marmaduke  !  "  from  the 
stranger. 

But  at  that  moment  the  portal  was  opened,  and  I  was 
thrust  through  it,  holding  Catherine  in  both  arms,  for 
my  sword  was  struck  away.  My  fierce  captors  followed 
me  inside ;  the  door  was  shut,  and  I  was  a  prisoner  to 
those  who  owed  me  no  mercy. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 


THE   SCOUTMASTER    MEETS    HIS   MAN 


NO  sooner  were  we  pushed  inside  the  great  citadel, 
or  keep,  with  a  further  killing  of  a  score  of  Lord 
Kilmac's  men  in  the  rear  of  the  routed  column,  than 
the  Ironsides  began  to  beat  a  mighty  assault  on  the 
oaken  door  of  the  portal.  The  Irish  leader  and  his 
lieutenant,  Black  Murtagh,  were  deeply  concerned  lest 
it  would  be  immediately  battered  down,  and  they  began 
to  devise  means  for  reinforcing  its  strength  from  the 
inside. 

While  their  attention  was  thus  engaged,  and  their 
wounded  and  thoroughly  demoralised  followers  were 
listlessly  attempting  to  carry  out  the  orders  which  they 
issued,  I  seized  the  moment  of  panic  to  inspect  my 
surroundings.  I  found  that  we  were  in  a  great  hall  of  a 
two-storied  building,  with  arc  hed  roof,  which  stretched 
across  the  bailey  nearly  to  the  castle  wall  on  either 
side.  There  were  no  windows  in  the  lower  section  ;  no 
entrance  or  exit,  in  fact,  save  through  the  front  portal 
which  we  had  used,  and  a  similar  one  at  the  rear  of  the 
citadel.  In  the  centre  of  the  building  were  walls,  and 
within  them  a  court  giving  light  and  air  to  the  interior 
apartments.    Everywhere,   in   floor,   wall,   and  ceiling, 

»59 


I 


i6o 


John  Marmadukc 


was  polished  oak.  At  one  end  of  the  hall  was  a  stair- 
way leading  to  the  upper  story  where  the  living  apart- 
ments were  situated. 

It  took  mc  but  an  instant  to  make  this  survey.  If  I 
could  but  mount  yonder  stairway  with  my  fair  burden 
unseen,  it  would  then  be  an  easy  matter  to  communicate 
with  my  friends  from  a  window,  and  their  scaling  lad- 
ders would  soon  solve  my  perilous  perplexity. 

The  longer  I  held  the  warm  but  insensible  body  of  the 
unhappy  maiden  on  my  heart,  the  more  firmly  did  my 
resolution  grow  to  save  her  from  the  death  which  was 
designed  for  us  both.  Her  head  was  close  to  mine,  the 
eyes  were  shut  and  the  full,  red  lips  half-opened.  I 
gazed  into  her  pallid  face  with  a  tender  wonderment 
that  its  freshness  and  innocence  had  so  enthralled  my 
soul.  Her  breath  met  mine.  I  had  never  seen  a  lady 
in  this  situation  before  ;  and  it  gave  me  a  sudden  pang 
to  think  that  possibly  the  terrors  through  which  she  had 
just  passed  might  snap  the  fragile  thread  of  her  life  and 
rob  me  of  her  sweet  spirit  even  while  I  held  her  in  my 
arms.        ' 

The  noise  upon  the  door  increased  in  fury.  I  sur- 
mised that  the  besiegers  had  mounted  a  heavy  piece  of 
timber  on  one  of  the  gun  carriages,  which  they  were 
using  as  a  battering-ram. 

"  Fire  the  castle  ! "  cried  Lord  Kilmac,  suddenly,  to 
one  who  was  evidently  familiar  in  his  household ; 
"  explode  the  secret  mines  !  We  will  retreat  through 
the  rear  portal  and  escape  by  the  hidden  passage  under 
the  moat  at  the  rear  wall.  That  is  our  last  chance,  and 
I  would  not  give  these  fellows  my  house  intact.  Quick, 
Cormac,  Con,  and  Dermat, — do  you  hear  ?  " 

The  three  men  were  off  at  once  to  do  his  bidding. 


The  Scoutmaster  Meets  his  Man     i6i 


sur- 

of 

rere 


to 


der 


ick, 


While  my  foes  were  thus  occupied,  I  suddenly  gath- 
ered Catherine's  feet  from  the  floor  and  sped  up  the 
stairway,  her  weight  oppressing  me  no  more  than  would 
an  infant's.  To  my  surprise  I  was  followed  only  by  a 
mocking  laugh. 

"  Ha,  ha  !  my  gallant  Captain,"  shouted  Lord  Kil- 
mac,  "  I  mean  to  obtain  a  partial  revenge  on  you  for 
the  blow  you  struck  me  the  other  night,  and  for  the  hell 
of  death  and  destruction  which  you  have  brought  hither. 
This  castle  is  now  on  fire,  Captain,  ha,  ha  !  Make  free 
with  its  apartments,  I  pray  you." 

His  words  were  true,  for  the  smoke  was  already  filling 
the  hall.     I  stood  still  at  the  first  landing. 

"  Aye,  Captain,"  he  continued,  "  cling  to  yonder  Irish 
maiden  who  hath  turned  her  back  on  her  own  country 
and  people  for  your  big,  stupid,  English  hulk.  But  you 
will  both  be  in  the  air  in  three  minutes,  along  with 
every  stone  of  this  ancient  castle.  And  may  you  have 
abundant  joy  together  ere  you  strike  the  earth  again  ! 
Curse  you  both  !  " 

Again  there  was  a  laugh  full  of  rage  and  jealousy  ; — 
the  gloating  of  a  man  beaten  down  in  the  adversity  of  life. 

But  there  was  a  sudden  shout  from  the  windows  in 
the  second  story.  Lord  Kilmac  heard  it  and  he  knew 
too  well  that  my  men  had  forced  an  entrance  into  the 
keep  by  using  their  scaling  ladders.  "Marmaduke, 
Marmaduke  !  "  was  the  cry  that  resounded  from  a  ii  in- 
dred  English  throats.  I  made  a  movement  to  ascend 
the  stairs  still  higher,  my  object  being  to  get  Catherine 
to  the  windows  where  we  both  might  escape  from  the 
threatened  explosion.  Lord  Kilmac  divined  my  pur- 
pose, and,  calling  half  a  dozen  of  his  followers  about 
him,  he  sprang  up  the  stairs  in  a  passion  of  hate. 


1^ 


II 


l62 


John  Marmaduke 


(t 


!    ' 


li: 


il 


You  shall  not  balk  me  !  "  he  shouted,  coming  at  me 
with  his  sword.  "  If  I  am  not  to  send  you  against  the 
sky  by  my  explosion  I  will  spit  you  both  on  my  blade. 
There,  villain  !  "  He  lunged  straight  at  Catherine  and 
the  thrust  would  have  pierced  us  both  had  I  not  quickly 
sprung  aside,  and,  seizing  one  of  his  men  by  the  throat 
with  my  left  hand,  drawn  him  forcibly  between  us  and 
my  antagonist.  The  man  I  held  drew  his  dagger  and 
struggled  to  use  it  against  me,  while  Lord  Kilmac 
fiercely  endeavoured  to  get  another  thrust  with  his  sword. 
With  only  my  left  arm  free  i  was  in  no  condition  for  a 
fight ;  already  the  Irishmen  were  pressing  me  at  such 
close  quarters  that  I  feared  they  had  injured  Catherine. 

But  as  I  stood  there  hopelessly  fighting  them  off  and 
tightening  my  grip  on  the  throat  of  the  human  shield 
until  he  hung  limp  between  me  and  the  others,  I  again 
heard  the  familiar  war-cry,  '*  Marmaduke,  Marmaduke  !  " 
It  came  from  a  single  voice,  and  I  beheld  a  knightly 
figure  leaping  down  the  stairway  to  niv  side. 

"  There  is  for  you  !  "  he  cried,  thrusting  his  sword 
through  the  fellow  I  was  holding  by  the  throat.  "  Down 
you  go !  "  he  shouted,  pressing  upon  Lord  Kilmac  until 
the  latter  lost  his  balance  and  fell  tumbling  down  the 
stairs.  The  .  v'ler  five  Irishmen  engaged  him  on  the 
stairs,  but  their  swords  were  useless  against  his  skill,  and 
he  quickly  despatched  two  of  them  while  the  rest  fled 
after  Lord  Kilmac,  who  had  now  disappeared  through 
the  secret  passage  with  some  of  his  men. 

Then  the  Unknown  turned  to  me. 

"  I  am  glad  to  find  you  alive,"  he  said.  "  Is  this  the 
lady  whom  we  engaged  to  rescue  ?  I  pray  God  she  is 
safe  and  sound  !  " 

"  It  is  the  same,  sir,"  I  answered,  "  and  she  is  both 


t 


The  Scoutmaster  Meets  his  Man     163 


d 


safe  and  sound,  I  believe.  But  I  beseech  you  take 
heed  ; — yonder  villain  lord  has  but  now  threatened  that 
he  will  blow  up  the  castle." 

"  The  idle  threat  of  a  knave  ! "  cried  the  Unknown. 
"  But,  upon  my  life,  the  castle  is  on  fire  !  Hey  you, 
there,  Lord  Kilniac  !  "  he  shouted,  "  I  would  have  it 
out  with  you  before  departing  from  this  adventure  !  " 

But  Lord  Kilmac  was  not  in  sight.  The  Unknown 
passed  down  the  stairs  and  pressed  in  among  the  Irish 
men-at-arms,  dealing  death  right  and  left  in  his  search 
for  their  leader. 

"  Marmaduke,  Marmaduke  !  "  came  the  cry  from  a 
hundred  throats  as  my  followers  came  pouring  through 
the  upper  windows  and  swept  past  me  down  the  stairs. 

The  smoke  was  rolling  through  the  great  hall  in  thick 
clouds  so  that  I  could  but  dimly  ^,erceive  the  fighting 
liost  below.  But  the  crash  of  sword  upon  sword,  the 
shout  of  battle-cries,  the  yells  of  wounded  and  maddened 
combatants,  and  the  last  moans  or  curses  of  expiring 
men,  told  me  too  plainly  the  scene  that  was  being  en- 
acted beneath  me. 

"  Marmaduke,  Marmaduke  !  "  It  was  the  Scout- 
master who  swept  past  me  now,  and  beside  iiim  the 
trooper  in  the  white  mask. 

The  Ironsides  were  hotly  engaged.  The  Irish  were 
falling  around  them  like  stul)l)le.  I  had  no  sword  ;  I 
could  only  stand  and  look,  and  wait  for  a  safe  opportu- 
nity to  lay  down  my  precious  burden.  But  I  was  not 
needed  in  that  last  carnage. 

I  heard  a  man's  scream.  It  was  a  weird  and  wild  yell 
of  hate,  of  revenge,  of  murder.  [  knew  the  voice  well. 
It  was  the  Scoutmaster's. 

Through  the  thick  atmosphere  I  saw  that  the  last 


m 


\H 


I 


I 


164 


John  Marmaduke 


l! 


Irishman  had  fallen  or  fled  save  only  Black  Murtagh. 
The  Scoutmaster  stood  in  front  of  all  the  English,  and 
for  the  f.rat  tiro^^  "r^.iie  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  face 
to  face  with  his  foe. 

"  At  last  !  "  he  siirieked,  leaning  upon  his  sword  in 
the  physical  weakness  of  his  great  agitation.  I  could 
see  his  gigantic  frame  shaking  as  from  the  palsy. 

"  At  last !  "  The  words  came  from  him  on  the  very 
top  note  of  his  voice  and  with  all  the  breath  that  he 
could  give  them. 

Not  an  Englishman  moved.  Every  trooi)er  there  knew 
that  this  was  the  supreme  moment  in  the  Scoutmaster's 
life,  and  they  all  stood  back  to  give  him  his  revenge. 
Black  Murtagh's  face  was  hidden  by  his  beard  up  to  his 
eyes,  but  he  had  a  hunted  look,  and  stood  with  his  sword 
ready  for  the  attack  which  he  expected.  And  all  the 
time  the  smoke  was  increasing  in  its  volume. 

The  Scoutmaster  was  regaining  his  self-control. 
"  Ha,"  he  cried,  in  a  more  subdued  tone,  *'  at  last  !  " 

He  raised  his  sword  and  advanced  his  foot  ;  when 
suddenly  the  very  earth  seemed  to  burst  asunder.  There 
was  a  terrific  report  as  of  a  thousand  thunderbolts  rollti 
into  one.  The  great  walls  and  turrets  of  the  castle 
swayed  and  quaked,  and  then  parted  almost  stone  from 
stone.  The  air  was  full  of  missiles  hurled  by  an  unseen 
force.  But  the  hall  in  which  we  stood  and  the  mighty 
tower  beside  it  escaped  the  deadly  explosion  of  the 
mine,  except  for  that  part  of  it  where  stood  the  Scout- 
master and  his  foe.  One  branch  of  the  mine  seemed  tu 
run  under  the  wall  near  which  they  stood.  The  great 
stones  were  blown  outward,  making  a  ragged  opening 
into  the  bailey,  and  the  postern  was  forced  off  its  hinges. 
I  carried  Catherine  to  a  window  and  looked  out.  The 
Scoutmaster,  who  had  been  stunned  for  a  moment,  novr 


The  Scoutmaster  Meets  his  Man     165 


saw  Black  Murtagh  walk  away  through  the  postern  in 
the  hope  that  there  was  an  opportunity  for  escape.  But 
in  an  instant  Potton  recovered  his  faculties,  and,  spring- 
ing through  the  doorway,  pursued  his  ancient  enemy 
across  the  bailey.  The  Irishman,  who  had  started  for 
the  drawbridge,  now  changed  his  course  and  made  for 
the  priests'  house  adjoining  the  chapel.  This  house  was 
close  to  Jie  keep  and  had  a  flat  roof.  The  priests'  house 
was  on  fire,  and  as  Potton  entered  it  below  Black 
Murtagh  came  out  upon  ihe  roof  and  looked  around  in 
vain  for  a  way  of  escape. 

In  the  meantime,  as  the  explosion  was  now  over,  and 
neither  that  nor  the  fire  had  done  injury  to  the  great 
tower,  I  carried  the  unconscious  figure  of  Catherine 
through  the  upper  hall  to  that  quarter  and  into  a  chamber 
where  there  was  a  couch.  Once  there  I  deposited  her 
upon  the  bed.  There  was  neither  medical  man  nor  any 
woman  about  the  place  to  minister  to  the  poor  girl's 
condition  ;  for  all  the  women  and  children,  and  the 
sur  iving  monks  had  fled  out  into  the  country  as  soon  as 
the  defenders  had  made  their  final  retreat  into  the  cita- 
del. The  position  was  a  most  embarrassing  one  for  me. 
All  Liiat  I  could  think  to  do  was  to  wipe  her  face  with  a 
wet  cloth,  and  vary  that  by  chafing  her  wrists.  If  I 
could  have  found  some  strong  waters  I  would  have  given 
her  a  draught  to  set  her  heart  in  motion  again.  But  I 
knew  not  where  to  find  any  ;  and  the  failure  of  my 
simi)lc  methods  to  relieve  her  prolonged  swoon  began  to 
cause  me  grave  alarm. 

An  unusual  commotion  outside  brought  me  to  the 
window,  where  I  saw  a  strange  sight.  The  Ironsides 
were  on  the  walls,  and  at  the  windows,  and  on  the  roof 
of  the  chapel,  all  looking  toward  the  priests'  house.  On 
the  roof  of  that  building  were  Scoutmaster  Potton  and 


1 66 


John  Marmaduke 


n*  a 


Black  Murtagh.  The  Scoutmaster  held  a  sword  in  his 
hand  ;  the  Irishman  had  lost  his  in  his  flight.  They 
were  eying  each  other  fiercely,  while  flames  came  out 
of  the  building  on  which  they  stood  and  threatened  soon 
to  consume  them  both. 

"  At  last  !  "  cried  the  Scoutmaster  again,  and  so  saying 
he  flung  his  sword  far  away.  "  Now,  villain,  you  shall 
answer  for  the  lives  of  my  wife  and  son." 

With  the  shriek  of  a  wounded  panther  he  sprang  upon 
the  Irishman.  The  action  aroused  Black  Murtagh  from 
his  paralysis  of  fear,  and  he  exerted  all  his  strength  to 
resist  the  attack.  The  men  were  nearly  a  match  for  size 
and  strength  ;  and  it  was  a  combat  of  giants.  They 
were  both  wearied  from  the  arduous  and  prolonged 
battle  that  had  kept  them  engaged  without  rest  or  re- 
freshment for  so  many  hours.  But  the  chances  were 
scarcely  equal.  The  Scoutmaster  was  surrounded  by  a 
friendly  army,  while  the  Irish  leader  was  the  sole  survivor 
of  a  conquered  host,  and  even  if  he  prevailed  in  this  duel 
he  was  sure  to  be  put  to  death  afterwards.  But  he  grap- 
pled the  Scoutmaster  with  the  energy  of  despair. 

They  clenched  in  a  close  embrace,  then  one  tripped 
the  other,  and  they  rolled  upon  the  roof,  over  and  over, 
tearing,  cursing,  and  each  striving  for  the  mastery. 
Then  there  was  a  pause,  and  Black  Murtagh  was  on  top. 
He  tried  to  clutch  the  Scoutmaster  by  the  throat,  but 
the  Englishman  held  his  wrists  in  a  grip  of  steel,  i^'or 
several  moments  they  were  pictured  thus  on  the  burning 
roof.  Then  the  Scoutmaster  made  a  superhuman  ex- 
eition  and  threw  his  antagonist  off.  With  both  on  their 
knees  they  grappled  again  ;  and  now  the  Scoutmaster 
struck  the  other  a  blow  ll  ihc  ^ice,  hard  and  full  on  the 
cheek. 


The  Scoutmaster  Meets  his  Man     167 


Black  Murtagh  was  staggered,  and  well  he  might  be  by 
such  a  blow.  It.  would  have  killed  a  slighter  man.  The 
Scoutmaster  broke  away  from  his  grasp  and  sprang  to  his 
feet.  The  Irishman  was  likewise  quickly  erect.  For  a  mo- 
ment they  glared  on  each  -ither  with  baleful  hate.  Then 
the  Scoutmaster  sprang  upon  his  foe,  and,  throwing  one 
arm  round  his  neck,  caught  the  black  beard  with  the  other 
hand,  and  broke  his  jaw,  until  the  chin  hung  upon  his 
breast,  ''"ric  Irishman  made  a  last  attempt  at  his  de- 
fence. He  had  his  hand  on  the  Scoutmaster's  throat ; 
but  his  stn^ngth  was  gone. 

The  flames  now  burst  through  the  roof.  The  roof 
must  soon  fall. 

The  Scoutmaster  once  more  closed  his  grip  upon  his 
enemy's  throat.  Black  Murtagh's  eyes  bulged  from  their 
sockets.  The  breath  of  both  men  was  coming  in  gasps. 
The  Scoutmaster  gave  a  final  wrench  at  the  broken  jaw 
and  struck  another  blow  upon  the  hairy  face  ;  then, 
raising  his  antagonist  in  his  arms,  he  carried  him  with  a 
great  effort  to  that  side  of  the  roof  where  the  c(>nflagra- 
tion  was  hottest,  and  threw  him  upon  the  fire.  There 
was  a  shriek  from  Black  Murtagh  as  he  endeavored  to 
drag  his  broken  body  out  of  the  flames.  The  Scout- 
master thrust  him  back. 

"  Ha  !  "  yelled  the  Scoutmaster,  "  My  wife  and  child 
are  avenged  !  In  you  go  again,  you  black  devil  !  You 
will  be  well  baked  by  the  time  you  reach  hell !  " 

The  roof  fell  in.  There  was  a  mighty  roar  as  the 
flames  shot  upward.  The  Scoutmaster  seized  the  wall  and 
threw  himself  over  the  outside.  A  ladder  was  thrown  Up 
near  him,  and  he  came  down,  crying  like  an  infant,  and 
fainted  the  moment  his  feet  touched  the  ground. 

He  had  settled  his  account  with  Black  Murtagh. 


I 


-IT 


CHAPTER  XIX 


!•<; 


i 

I 


ill*" 


LOVE    AND    PREJUDICE 

HEARING  a  deep-drawn  sigh  from  the  couch,  I 
turned  and  saw  Catherine  attempting  to  rise. 
Being  much  weakened  l>y  the  terrible  ordeal  through 
which  she  had  passed,  she  was  unable  to  regain  her  feet 
without  assistance.  I  flew  to  her  side  and  supported 
her  as  she  arose.  Her  glance  swei)t  round  the  room  in 
a  terrified  way  and  then  sought  my  face  with  a  melan- 
choly that  touched  me  to  the  soul. 

"  You  are  ill,"  I  said. 

"  Is  he  dead  ?  "  she  asked,  tremulously. 

"  Alas,  yes,"  I  answered. 

Tl'cre  was  no  outcry,  but  her  face  wore  an  anguish 
which  was  more  pitiable  than  anything  1  had  ever  seen  in 
my  acquaintance  with  human  woe. 

*■  Brother,  father,  mother,  friends,  and  servants, — they 
are  all  dead  ?  "  she  demanded,  as  if  she  would  fain  be 
contradicted. 

"  Some  of  your  servants  escaped  ;  the  others — "  I 
could  not  finish. 

"What  was  done  with — with  his  murderer?"  The 
question  came  in  a  hard,  dry  tone  that  was  (juite  unlike 
her. 

til 


Love  and  Prejudice 


169 


"  He  was  attacked  by  Prince  Rupert,"  I  told  her,  "  but 
escaped,  I  think." 

"  And  the  other  one  ?  " 

"  Black  Murtagh  ? — he  was  slain  by  my  Scoutmaster." 

"  What  of  the  garrison  ?  " 

"  Some  hundred  escaped,  the  rest  were  killed." 

"Were  the  women  and  children  slain, — and  the 
monks?" 

**  Two  of  the  monks,  and  O'Brien, — in  the  heat  of  the 
action, — yes.     All  the  rest  were  spared." 

"  Do  you  know  aught  of  my  maid,  Nora  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  though  I  assume  that  she  fled  with  the 
other  women." 

"  And  I  alone  am  here,"  she  cried.  "  O  Heaven  ! 
What  is  to  become  of  me  ?  Mother  of  God,  why  hast 
thou  permitted  this  desolation  to  fall  on  a  hapless  maid  ?  " 

She  covered  her  face  with  her  hands  and  burst  into  a 
fit  of  sobbing  that  seemed  to  rack  her  frame. 

Her  grief  was  of  a  kind  that  I  had  never  seen  before. 
I  have  already  said  that  she  was  unable  to  stand  without 
support.  Now,  when  she  was  crying  so  passionately  in 
her  forsaken  situation,  my  heart  went  out  to  her  even  as 
to  a  stricken  child.  I  gathered  my  arms  round  her 
and  drew  her  head  to  a  refuge  on  my  breast.  The  great 
sobs  followed  each  other  so  swiftly  that  she  was  in  a 
torrent  of  passion  for  some  moments.  When  the  fount- 
ains of  her  sorrow  had  spent  themselves,  she  sighed 
like  a  broken  thing. 

"Catherine,"  I  said,  "your  situation  is  indeed  melan- 
choly. But  you  are  not  quite  alone.  It  is  Heaven  that 
has  thrown  us  together  thus.  God  has  willed  that  it 
shall  be  so,  or  He  would  not  have  placed  you  in  my 
keeping, — I,  the  only  man  in  all  Ireland  who  can  give 
you  a  shelter  now." 


I70 


John  Marmaduke 


The  sobbing  came  again.  Again  I  waited  for  the 
calm. 

"  I  cannot  but  believe,"  I  said,  "  but  that  our  destinies 
have  brought  us  face  to  face  in  a  woe  so  deep  that  your 
own  life  is  wellnigh  engulfed.  I  love  you  more  than 
ambition,  or  the  joy  of  victory,  or  the  world,  or  life  it- 
self, or  anything  save  honour." 

"  What  are  you  saying  ?  "  she  cried.  "  Your  speech  i» 
madness !  Your  hands  are  red  with  the  blood  of  my 
countrymen.  Your  followers  have  slain  my  father  and 
those  of  my  household.  Your  coming  hither  made  it 
possible  for  my  brother  to  meet  a  violent  death.  Are 
you  not  the  destroyer  of  both  my  home  and  my  family  ?  " 

"  I  think  not,"  I  said.  "  But  even  if  I  am,  I  am  but 
the  instrument  of  war,  an  impersonal  quantity,  and  no 
more  to  be  held  responsible  for  any  act  of  war  than 
every  other  English  soldier, — nay, — than  every  othe?r 
Englishman,  than  the  Parliament  of  England  itself.  As 
a  soldier  I  do  but  obey  the  will  of  a  superior  authority. 
As  a  man  I  speak  to  you  from  my  own  heart." 

"  It  is  impossible,"  she  said.  "  Race,  country,  and 
religion  are  against  it." 

"What  is  race,  or  country,  or  religion  ?"  I  demanded. 
"  In  the  light  of  love  are  they  not  merely  verbal  dis- 
tinctions ?  " 

"  It  is  impossible,"  she  said  again.  "  I  know  not  by 
what  dispensation  of  Providence  you  have  first  wounded 
me  and  then  seemed  to  heal  me  ; — first  struck  at  my 
home  and  then  come  as  the  only  friend  on  the  wide 
earth  to  offer  me  another.  This  is  beyond  my  under- 
standing. But  it  is  impossible  ; — what  you  propose  can 
never  be.     You  and  I  do  not  worship  the  same  God." 

"  Nay,  Catherine,  all  things  change  before  love.   What 


Love  and  Prejudice 


i7t 


are  forms  and  ceremonies  compared  to  the  divine  spirit 
itself,  which  knows  neither  form  nor  ceremony,  but  only 
truth  ?  •• 

"  You  are  a  specious  reasoner,"  she  said,  looking  up 
into  my  eyes. 

"  But  what  have  reasons  to  do  with  us  ?  "  I  asked.  "  If 
there  W  fallacy  in  my  argument  there  can  be  none  in 
my  love.     And   still  ^nd  I'ver  and  always,  I  love  thee  !  " 

"  I  will  nv>t  hear  mor;-, — I  will  not  listen  !  "  she  said, 
and  never  moved  from  my  heart. 

But  Nora,  her  maid,  entered  the  apartment  at  that 
mcnent,  looking  frightened  and  dishevelled.  I  helped 
Catherine  to  a  chair. 

"Nora,"  said  I,  "your  mistress  is  ill.  Look  well 
after  her  comfort.     I  will  return  anon." 

Then,  with  a  lingering  look  at  Catherine,  whose  eyes 
were  not  upon  me,  I  hurried  from  the  room. 


« 


I    ! 


i  i 


11 

lj 

CHAPTER   XX 

THE  MAN  IN  THK  WHITK  MASK 

I  PASSED  through  the  smoke-filled  corridors  of  the 
old  castle  and  out  into  the  bailey  ;  and  there  I 
stood  transfixed  by  the  scene  that  met  my  eyes. 

The  great  keep,  or  citadel,  was  a  prey  to  devouring 
flames.  The  massive  structure  was  already  nearly  con- 
sumed excepting  the  tower  which  rose  high  in  an  invul- 
nerable majesty  that  resisted  the  destroying  element. 
Out  of  every  window  of  the  main  building  the  curling 
fire  spit  its  red  tongues.  Dense  volumes  of  smoking 
clouds  rolled  up  against  the  clear  sky.  The  roof  gave 
way  and  the  rafters  of  Irish  oak  fell  crashing  within 
the  walls  until  they  shook  the  ground.  The  pent  flames 
leapt  high  out  of  their  confines,  and,  with  a  sullen  roar, 
hurled  ruin  upon  the  noblest  monument  of  a  former 
age.  The  very  stones  seemed  to  melt  before  the  energy 
of  the  heat.  Coping,  and  lintel,  and  pilaster  split  and 
crumbled  ;  and  then  the  great  facade  was  rent  from 
top  to  bottom,  and,  after  first  pulling  apart  down  the 
middle,  it  fell  back  upon  the  conflagation  in  final  doom. 

The  surrounding  buildings  were  attacked  by  the  same 
grim  fate.  The  chapel  and  priests'  house  were  alrrady 
destroyed.   The  stable  and  soldiers'  quarters  were  aflame. 

173 


The  Man  in  the  White  Mask      173 


Of  all  that  stately  pile  that  had  tliis  morning  reared 
itself  against  the  hillside  to  mark  the  pride  and  power 
of  man,  nothing  would  stand  when  the  sun  went  down 
save  only  one  tower  and  the  outer  walls.  The  castle 
which  it  had  taken  a  hundred  years  to  build  as  the 
expression  of  man's  taste  and  wealth  and  security,  had 
fallen  before  l\uman  vengeance  in  one  hour. 

The  Ironsides  had  led  the  horses  from  the  stables 
beyond  the  outer  walls,  and  they  themselves  were  nearly 
all  on  the  far  side  of  the  moat  at  dinner.  Some  were 
still  on  guard  within  the  bailey,  and  there  were  sentries 
at  certain  outposts  even  when  victory  seemed  to  have 
overcome  the  last  foe.  For  our  discipline  was  such 
that  it  might  be  said  of  us  that  we  never  slept. 

The  heat  soon  became  so  intense  that  I  sent  Lieu- 
tenant Haddon  to  the  tower  to  escort  Catherine  and 
her  maid  to  a  more  comfortable  quarter.  This  oflicer 
was  a  discreet  and  respectful  man,  who  had  daughters 
of  his  own,  and  I  thought  it  well  not  to  go  too  far  just 
yet  in  the  expression  of  personal  devotion  toward  the 
bereaved  maiden. 

Accordingly,  Haddon  soon  appeared,  and,  greatly  to 
my  surprise,  Catherine  was  leaning  on  his  arm.  She 
looked  refreshed  from  the  attention  that  her  maid  had 
given  her,  and  as  they  passed  me  I  bowed  and  asked  my 
subordinate  to  place  them  for  the  present  in  the  bari)i- 
can  overlooking  the  drawbridge,  and  to  send  them  food. 
To  Catherine  I  said  that  other  arrangements  for  her 
comfort  would  be  made  presently  ;  at  which  she  bowed 
and  passed  on.  Again  was  I  impressed  with  the  utter 
desolation  of  her  position. 

After  taking  food  myself,  of  which  I  felt  sore  need, 
for  it  was  now  two  o'clock,  and  I  had  eaten  nothing 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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23  WEST  MAIN  STREiT 

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(716)872-4S03 


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174 


John  Marmadiike 


f'i  ' 


It : 


since  early  morning,  I  passed  among  my  men  to  learn 
how  they  had  fared  in  the  battle.  They  were  in  cheer- 
ful spirits,  and,  having  now  full  stomachs,  were  ready 
for  further  contention  in  the  cause  of  Zion.  There 
being  no  foe,  however,  in  the  flesh,  they  fell  to  in  the 
spirit,  and  were  soon  wrapped  in  argument,  or  hanging 
upon  exhortation,  in  varied  and  picturesque  groups. 

A  few  tents  had  been  brought  up  from  the  camp,  and 
into  one  of  these  the  Scoutmaster  had  been  laid  in  great 
exhaustion  after  his  contest  with  Black  Murtagh. 
Others  of  our  wounded  were  in  other  tents,  and  every- 
thing that  the  skill  of  our  chirurgeons  could  devise  was 
being  done  to  ease  their  pain.  Kind  hands  had  carried 
food  to  all  who  could  not  get  it  for  themselves.  Some 
of  the  non-combatants  of  Ballyrae, — the  old  men,  women 
and  children,  and  the  monks, — who  had  fled  affrighted 
when  the  Scoutmaster  carried  the  wall,  were  slowly 
returning  to  the  vicinity  to  gaze  with  curious  horror  on 
the  destruction  of  the  castle.  But  our  pickets  kept 
them  from  any  familiar  mingling  with  our  party,  the 
temper  on  both  sides  being  such  that  I  deemed  it 
prudent  for  their  own  welfare  to  keep  them  at  a  distance. 

I  found  that  the  most  fatal  period  of  the  battle  for 
our  side  was  at  the  beginning  of  the  assault  when  we 
had  met  such  stout  resistance  in  carrying  the  walls. 
But  I  could  not  find  that  more  than  ten  of  my  men  had 
been  slain,  all  told.  These  had  long  since  been  gathered 
from  the  moat  and  ranged  side  by  side  under  the  shade 
of  a  tree  and  covered  with  tent-cloth.  Six  or  eight 
troopers  had  been  shot  or  run  through  so  that  they 
would  be  in  the  hospital  for  a  greater  or  less  time  to 
come.  Many  more  had  been  slashed  or  had  their  heads 
broken  from  gun-buts,  but  most  of  these  had  tied  up 


The  Man  in  the  White  Mask      175 


their  wounds  and  refused  to  be  accounted  sick.  Wher- 
ever I  went  there  was  good  cheer  and  the  hearty  spirit 
of  a  notable  victory. 

I  made  inquiry  for  the  Unknown,  but  no  one  had 
seen  him  after  his  encounter  with  the  defenders  in  the 
search  for  Lord  Kihuac.  He  had  come  upon  the  scene 
with  the  meteor-like  heroism  which  was  characteristic 
of  him,  and  had  disappeared  just  as  suddenly,  leaving 
in  every  eye  his  picture  in  flowing  scarlet  cloak,  white 
plume,  and  flashing  sword. 

I  also  asked  after  the  trooper-in-the-white-mask  who 
had  fought  so  gallantly  all  day  beside  the  Scoutmaster. 
Richard  Trevor  thought  he  had  seen  him  stricken 
down  when  the  Irish  made  their  last  stand  inside  the 
castle,  after  Lord  Kilmac's  flight.  If  this  were  true,  his 
corpse  was  doubtless  undergoing  incineration  with  the 
others. 

AnJ  what  a  horror  was  this  fate  that  had  fallen  on  the 
defend -rs  !  Nearly  three  fourths  of  them  were  dead, 
and  the  bailey  was  not  only  strewn,  but  piled  thick 
with  their  bodies.  Behind  the  walls  and  across  the 
yard  they  lay,  just  as  our  men  had  slain  them.  Before 
the  postern  in  the  keep  was  a  great  heap  of  them,  to- 
gether with  the  Carberry  Hall  men  whom  they  them- 
selves had  killed.  Inside  the  chapel,  in  the  priests' 
house,  and  especially  in  the  ruined  castle,  were  company 
upon  company  of  men  whose  mortal  remains  were  fast 
consuming  in  the  flaming  pyres.  The  heat  from  the  fire 
was  so  intense  that  the  corpses  outside  the  burning  build- 
ings were  twisting  and  writhing  as  if  in  a  second  death. 
The  air  was  laden  with  the  heavy  odour  that  was  insepar- 
able from  such  an  episode.  Here  were  the  cruelties  of 
war  as  I  had  never  seen  them  before ;  and  I  cDuld  not 


176 


U  i, 


John  Marmadukc 


shut  my  ears  to  the  voice  of  conscience  asking  whether 
even  the  Parliament's  commission  gave  me  the  right  to 
inflict  this  ruthless  death  upon  my  fellow-creatures. 

Almost  overcome  with  physical  sickness,  I  turned  to 
pass  over  the  drawbridge  and  get  away  from  the  horrid 
scene.  I  had  nearly  reached  the  gate  when  I  saw  the 
figure  of  an  English  trooper  tottering,  indeed  half-crawl- 
inp'.  toward  the  same  exit.  I  hastened  to  his  assistance, 
and  discovered  to  my  amasement  that  he  wore  a  white 
mask.  He  was  sorely  wounded,  and  when  I  had  got  him 
to  the  counterscarp  he  sank  down  beside  the  drawbridge, 
unable  to  walk  across  it.  In  the  barbican  just  above  us 
were  Catherine  and  her  maid,  and  they  were  looking 
upon  us  from  the  aperture. 

Observing  that  the  trooper  had  fainted,  I  tore  off  his 
white  mask,  and  was  astounded  to  recognise  in  the 
pinched  and  shrunken  face  my  dishonoured  associate, 
Lieutenant  Thornton  Willoughby.  The  wall  protected 
us  alike  from  the  fire  and  the  sun  ;  and,  placing  his 
head  on  a  tuft  of  grass,  I  dipped  my  hand  into  the  moat 
and  cooled  the  fever  on  his  brow.  My  ministrations 
soon  restored  him  to  consciousness,  whereupon,  seeing 
that  he  was  dying,  I  took  his  head  in  my  arms,  for  I 
loved  the  youth. 

"  Marmaduke,"  he  said  faintly,  "  I  was  mad, — I  was 
mad." 

His  eyes  closed  again  from  sheer  weakness  ;  then  he 
looked  up  at  me,  and  continued  : 

"  It  was  so  hard  to  get  here.  I  was  stricken  down 
beside  the  Scoutmaster — and  a  part  of  the  building  fell 
across  me  in  the  explosion.  I  crept  out  to  die  among 
my  old  comrades.  You  would — would  not  have  me 
roasted  there  alive, — even  me,  Marmaduke  ? " 


The  Man  in  the  White  Mask      177 


her 
t  to 

d  to 
)rrid 
the 
rawl- 
ance, 
white 
t  him 
ridge, 
)ve  us 
loking 

off  his 

in   the 

ociate, 

)tected 

ng  his 

e  moat 

Irations 
seeing 
.for  I 

-I  was 

then  he 

In  down 
|ing  fell 
among 
lave  me 


"  God  bless  you,  Willoughby  ! "  I  cried,  with  brim- 
ming eyes. 

"  Oh,  Marmaduke,"  he  said,  "  you  don't  know  the 
insanity  of  hopeless  love  !  I  loved — her — the  moment 
I  saw  her.  She  scorned  me — and  I  thought  to  win  her 
favour  by  aiding  her  brother  and  the  priest  to  escape  from 
Carberry  Hall,  As  God  is  my  judge,  I  meant  no  harm 
to  the  Parliament's  cause.  When  I  saw  my  treachery 
condemned  in  the  lightning  of  your  eyes,  I  fled — not 
knowing  whither — but  only  to  get  away  from  the  wither- 
ing reproach  of  your  glance.  I  was  captured  by  the 
Irish  and  brought  here.  Last  night  I  put  on  a  monk's 
garb  and  sought  death  from  yonder  tower.  She — dis- 
suaded me,  and  I  then  told — her — I  would  fight  in  your 
army  as  a  private  soldier,  and  die — helping  the  cause  I 
had  dishonoured.  I  did  fight, — Marmaduke,  did  you 
see  me  fighting  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  the  whole  army  saw  you  at  the  Scoutmaster's 
side  all  day." 

"Thank  God  for  those  words,  Marmaduke.  Oh,  I 
tried  so  hard  to  redeem  myself.  No  use, — no  use, — it  is 
dishonour — dishonour  !  " 

"Courage  and  repentance  are  not  dishonour,  Wil- 
loughby." 

"  I  know  the  laws  of  honour,  Marmaduke,"  he  an- 
swered. "One  moment  of  insane  treason  cannot  be 
expunged  by  a  century  of  valour.  But  it  is  hard, — oh, 
it  is  hard!" 

In  the  anguish  of  the  soul  the  poor  youth  had  forgot- 
ten his  bodily  pain.  The  hot  tears  were  in  his  eyes.  I 
held  him  closer  in  my  arms,  and  racked  my  brain  for 
casuistries  that  might  comfort  his  dying  moments. 

"  What  you  did,  Willoughby,"  I  said,  "  has  turned  out 


la 


178 


John  Marmaduke 


for  the  Parliament's  good.  Your  bravery  in  the  battle 
bore  down  all  opposition.  Even  the  Scoutmaster  would 
have  had  a  much  severer  task  had  you  not  been  beside 
him  in  the  thickest  fighting." 

"  Heaven  bless  you  for  those  words,  Marmaduke,"  he 
cried,  fervently.  "You  are  a  true  Englishman, — your 
soul  is  of  that  chivalry  which  was  ever  my  own  ideal  of 
manly  honour.  But  Cromwell — he  has  given  me  his 
hand  many  a  time — what  will  Cromwell  say  ?  " 

"  He  is  ever  tender  with  the  frailties  of  men,"  I  said. 
"  None  hath  a  softer  heart  for  those  erring  or  afflicted. 
I  swear  to  tell  him  your  story,  and  the  world  shall  know 
of  the  knightly  valour  of  your  death." 

"  And  dost  thou  think,  Marmaduke,  that  dying  thus 
after  some  measure  of  atonement — that  England  will 
forgive  my  fault  ?  " 

"  Yea,  Willoughby,  even  as  I  believe  that  England 
loves  all  her  soldiers,  and  forgets  their  errors  when  they 
fight  her  battles  and  destroy  her  foes  as  thou  hast  done 
this  day." 

"  Oh,  Marmaduke,  I  would  rather  burn  forever  in 
yonder  flame,  or  in  the  fire  of  hell  of  which  it  is  typi- 
cal, than  have  my  countrymen  remember  me  in  in- 
famy." 

"  A  fault  should  never  be  measured  but  by  its  inten- 
tion, Willoughby,  and  thy  intention  was  but  to  aid  a 
helpless  girl.  This  is  nothing  more  than  an  indiscre- 
tion of  youth,  against  which  England  will  cherish  no 
evil  memory  in  contemplating  thy  good  record  of  a  sol- 
dier's life." 

"  I  bless  God,"  said  he,  as  the  film  of  death  gathered 
in  his  eyes,  "  that  He  hath  given  me  into  thy  arms  to 
die."    The  poor  youth's  life  was  ebbing  fast,  and  I  felt 


The  Man  in  the  White  Mask      1 79 

the  tears  ploughing  down  my  dirt-stained  face  as  his 

,nt  mT  "'"1  '""""^  ^"'Pi'^ions-  "  Tell  my  story 
o  Old  Noll  as  thou  hast  promised,-tell  them  in  Enl 
land  that  our  whole  army  saw  me  f.ghting-beside  the 
Scoutmaster-you  told  me  they  didlgive  my  love  o 
my  mother-0 !  this  pain  .'-Marmaduke.  thou  hast 
really  forgiven  me  ? " 

;;  Yes,  Willoughby,  and  Christ  loves  such  as  thou  art '  " 

ti.hl  ?  ~!r  u'^'"'  well-good  Captain-hold  me 
tighter  to  thy  heart,  Marmaduke '-Closer !  All  is 
dark  .'—Closer,  Marmaduke  !  " 

And  so  the  poor  youth  died,  and  England  never  had 
a  braver  heaI^ 


9 


h 


Irii 


* 


!  ! 


IS 


^If 

I^^^I^if^ 

^ip53Q 

^^m^ 

CHAPTER     XXI 


AFTER  THE  BATTLE 


[ORDERED  the  bodies  of  our  ten  troopers  buried 
beside  the  scene  of  their  fatal  victory,  and  with 
them  we  interred  the  corpse  of  poor  Thornton  Wil- 
loughby. 

I  sent  my  men  to  recover  the  •body  of  Terence 
Dillon,  which  they  brought  away  much  disfigured  by 
the  extreme  heat.  It  was  then  wrapped  in  tent-cloth 
and  laid  in  one  of  the  waggons. 

While  these  orders  were  receiving  the  attention  of 
my  men,  I  withdrew  to  my  tent,  which  had  been  set  up 
close  by,  and  penned  a  letter  to  General  Cromwell,  giv- 
ing him  a  full  report  of  our  adventures  in  connection 
with  the  siege  and  capture  of  the  castle.  I  told  him 
that,  after  we  had  overcome  the  garrison,  the  ancient 
stronghold  had  been  fired  by  the  act  of  the  owner  in 
exploding  a  secret  mine  which  had  destroyed  it  beyond 
rehabilitation.  It  could  not  again,  I  said,  be  used  as  a 
hostile  seat,  and  I  recommended  its  abandonment  as  a 
permanent  ruin.  With  the  victory  just  won  I  held  that 
we  had  stricken  down  the  last  considerable  native  force, 
save  the  regular  troops  of  the  main  Irish  army.  I 
advised  the  General  tliut  I  would  send  this  despatch  to 

iSo 


After  the  Battle 


i8i 


him  by  the  hand  of  Captain  Rodney  Ballantine,  with 
his  full  troop  of  one  hundred  horse,  who  would  doubt- 
less be  needed  in  the  active  operations  which  were 
contemplated  at  the  front.  This  would  leave  me,  I 
reminded  him,  the  thirty  English  troopers  whom  I  had 
left  at  Carberry  Hall,  besides  my  own  brave  troop,  whose 
effective  force  of  one  hundred,  after  allowances  for 
killed  and  wounded,  would  be  a  little  more  than  normal 
by  adding  the  twenty  men  still  with  me  under  Lieuten- 
ant Percy  Waters.  I  said  that  I  would  hold  my  troop 
at  Ballyrae  until  I  could  receive  an  expression  of  his 
wishes,  and  would,  in  the  meantime,  keep  the  line  of 
communication  open  between  Ballyrae  and  Carberry 
Hall. 

When  in  the  act  of  sealing  my  letter  I  looked  up  and 
saw  the  tall  form  of  the  Sco'.tmaster  enter  the  door. 
He  seemed  spent,  and  his  ace  wore  a  look  of  deep 
melancholy.  Drawing  a  heavy  sigh  he  threw  himself 
wearily  upon  a  camp  chest. 

"  How  do  you  feel  by  this  time,  David  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Somewhat  restored  physically,"  he  answered,  "  but 
sick  nigh  unto  death  in  mind  and  heart. ' 

I  instantly  read  his  secret.  His  long-sought  venge- 
ance had  not  brought  him  the  exhilaration  that  he  had 
expected,  while  the  death  of  his  foe  left  him  now  with- 
out  the  motive  which  had  moved  him  to  action  for  so 
many  years.  Perhaps,  too,  the  fact  that  he  had  really 
fought  for  private  revenge  instead  of  for  his  country's 
welfare  was  doing  its  work  in  his  conscience. 

"Be  of  good  cheer,  David,"  I  said.  "We  have  all 
won  a  notable  victory  to-day,  which  I  have  just  reported 
here  to  our  General,  not  forgetting  to  mention  your 
valour. 


m 


f 

111 
fll: 


wr 


i.r»  1 


n 


John  Marmaduke 

"You  are  ever  too  considerate  of  us,  Captain,"  he 
replied.  "We  would  have  done  ill  in  this  enterprise 
without  your  leadership.  But  to  tell  you  the  truth. 
Captain,  I  am  tired  of  the  game  ;  it  seems  no  longer 
worth  the  candle.  Indeed,  I  have  felt  a  great  change 
in  my  feelings  since — since  I  killed  him.  The  desola- 
tion of  my  life  is  too  great  to  bear  now.  I  never  wept 
for  my  wife  and  boy  until  after  yonder  ruffian  had  gone 
to  hell, — never  shed  a  tear  in  all  these  years,  Captain, 
until  to-day.  What  have  you  got  for  me  to  do  after 
this  ?  •• 

"  We  have  had  action  enough  the  past  few  days,"  I 
said  ;  "  surely  a  season  of  quiet  and  rest  would  not  go 
amiss  ?  " 

"  I  would  rot  at  that.  Captain,"  he  return-  d.  "  Give 
me  a  mission  where  odds  are  to  be  met  ; —  et  me  have 
a  last  brush  with  them  three  to  one,  where  I  may  bid 
the  Papists  a  farewell  worthy  of  an  English  trooper,  and 
then  die  fighting  them.  Give  me  something  of  this 
kind  to  do,  Captain,  but  keep  me  not  here  in  idleness, 
I  beseech  you." 

The  thought  of  Catherine  and  of  her  oath  to  kill  this 
man  for  her  father's  death  came  into  my  mind  at  this 
moment,  and  it  seemed  to  be  the  part  of  discretion  to 
send  the  Scoutmaster  away,  at  least  for  the  present. 

"  David,"  I  said,  "  I  think  I  can  give  you  active  work 
which  will  delight  you,  although  I  hope  you  will  come 
to  no  extremity  such  as  you  have  just  suggested.  This 
message  to  our  General  I  had  intended  to  send  by  the 
hand  of  Captain  Ballantine  ;  but  you  are  of  my  own 
troop  and  entitled  to  precedence  in  such  an  errand. 
You  may  carry  it  to  General  Cromwell,  going  to  him 
with  Captain  Ballantine  and  his  troop.     Once  with  the 


After  the  Battle 


>83 


army  you  may  remain  there  or  return  here  as  the  General 
may  order  it.  If  you  remain  there  you  will  doubtless 
have  war  to  your  heart's  content.     Do  you  wish  to  go  ?  " 

His  face  beamed  with  gratification. 

'*  Of  course  I  accept  your  offer,"  he  said.  "  Once 
with  Old  Noll,  and  face  to  face  with  an  army  of  the 
Papists,  it  will  be  an  easy  matter  to  find  the  death  I  now 
yearn  for.     When  shall  we  start,  Captain  ?  " 

"  At  once,"  I  answered.  "  I  told  Captain  Ballantine 
an  hour  ago  that  he  was  to  march  after  our  main  army 
as  soon  as  he  and  his  men  could  obtain  rest  and  refresh- 
ment. He  told  me  he  would  be  ready  at  three  o'clock. 
It  is  that  hour  now.     Are  you  prepared  ?" 

"  As  soon  as  I  can  mount  my  horse,"  replied  the  Scout- 
master, vanishing  with  the  words. 

I  took  my  letter  outside  and  found  Ballantine's  troop 
in  the  saddle,  ready  to  move.  Their  Captain  was  at  the 
front.  The  Scoutmaster  dashed  up  on  his  horse,  and  I 
gave  him  the  letter  to  General  Cromwell.  Ballantine 
saluted  me,  then  made  a  sign,  and  the  trumpeter  sounded 
a  note.  In  an  instant  the  troopers  were  off,  a  farewell 
cheer  following  them  from  those  left  behind. 

As  soon  as  they  had  disappeared  down  the  road  lead- 
ing off  through  the  southern  hills,  I  directed  my  steps 
toward  the  barbican  over  the  gateway,  and  came  face  to 
face  with  Catherine.  She  had  been  weeping,  and  after 
raising  her  eyes  to  mine  as  I  entered  the  small  apart- 
ment where  she  sat  with  Nora,  she  looked  again  out  of 
the  aperture. 

"  Madam,"  I  said,  "  I  have  come  to  propose  your  re- 
turn to  your  own  home." 

"  My  own  home, — alas  !  "  she  sighed. 
There  is  no  chance  for  your  comfort  here,"  I  con- 


<t 


1 84 


John  Marmaduke 


i^  1  ij 


tinued, "  this  place  being  wholly  in  ruins.  At  Carberry 
Hall  there  are ." 

"  Who?"  she  asked,  with  trembling  voice. 

"  Your  servants  and  Father  Terhune,"  I  replied. 
"  Some  twenty  survivors  of  your  brother's  guard  will 
go  with  you  from  here,  besides  a  sufficient  escort  of 
English  soldiers.  There  are  also  thirty  Englishmen  now 
at  Carberry  Hall.  Lieutenant  Waters  will  go  there  in 
charge,  and  your  safety  will  be  amply  guarded." 

For  the  first  time  she  looked  up. 

"  And  you  ? "  she  asked.     "  What  will  you  do  ? " 

"  I  shall  remain  here  for  the  present,"  I  replied. 

Again  she  looked  away.    Then,  with  an  effort,  she  asked: 

"  What  of  my — my  brother  ?  " 

"  I  have  had  his  remains  placed  in  a  camp  waggon 
which  will  follow  you  to  Carberry  Hall,"  I  said. 

Her  weeping  burst  out  afresh,  but  in  a  moment  she 
had  calmed  herself,  and  asked  : 

"  When  do  you  wish  me  to  go  ?  " 

"  I  think  you  had  better  start  at  once,"  I  replied,  "  so 
that  you  will  reach  your — home — before  dark." 

"  I  am  ready,"  she  said,  wearily  ;  and  she  and  Nora 
followed  me  down  the  stone  stairs  on  the  inside  of  the 
wall  and  across  the  drawbridge,  the  lady  refusing  my 
offer  of  assistance. 

Catherine's  grief  was  now  impenetrable,  even  to  sym- 
pathy like  mine.  I  therefore  gathered  together  as  her 
escort  the  twenty  surviving  men-at-arms  from  Car- 
berry Hall,  choosing  Balor  MacLuga  for  their  chief,  and 
twenty  others  from  the  English  soldiers,  placing  them 
all  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Percy  Waters.  I  gave  that 
officer  specific  instructions  for  the  care  of  Carberry  Hall, 
telling  him  to  keep  a  lookout  to  sea  for  hostile  ships,  and 


After  the  Battle 


1 8s 


to  send  report  to  me  each  day  of  his  state  until  he  saw 
me  again.  The  cavalcade  then  started  off  for  Carberry 
Hall,  Catherine  mounted  on  her  black  horse  and  riding 
away  without  giving  me  even  a  glance  of  farewell.  In 
the  rear  were  a  part  of  our  camp  waggons,  the  last  one 
containing  the  body  of  Catherine's  brother. 

As  they  faded  from  sight  1  felt  a  chilling  sense  of 
chagrin  at  the  indifference  that  the  lady  had  shown  me. 
Then  came  a  process  of  introspection  in  which  all  the 
incidents  of  my  acquaintance  with  Catherine  passed 
rapidly  through  my  mind.  I  thought  of  the  declaration 
of  love  that  I  had  made  her,  and  then  I  wondered  what 
my  mother  would  think, — what  she  would  say,  if  she 
could  learn  the  secret  of  my  heart.  In  what  manner 
would  she  look  upon  this  Catholic  Irish  lady  who  had 
so  deeply  impressed  me  ?  Would  she  give  her  consent 
to  the  participation  of  her  son,  an  English  Puritan,  in 
such  an  alliance  ?  How  much  disappointment  it  would 
cause  her,  I  thought,  to  finally  abandon  her  cherished 
hope  for  my  marriage  with  Lady  Betty  Forrester,  the 
English  girl  with  golden  hair.  What,  too,  would  be  the 
thought  of  my  military  associates  if  I  should  press  a  suit 
with  one  against  whose  race  and  i  ligion  there  was  so 
much  prejudice  ?  Would  they  not  condemn  me  as 
yielding  principle  to  sentiment  and  conscience  to  pas- 
sion ?  What  would  that  great  soldier  say, — he  on  whose 
good  opinion  my  whole  welfare  rested, — should  I  link  my 
life  with  one  who,  though  pure  and  above  reproach,  was 
an  innocent  part  of  a  system  for  which  he  cherished  the 
deepest  hostility?  Then  I  thought  of  the  sensation 
which  had  made  my  heart  throb  fast  and  faster  when  I 
held  her  in  my  arms  that  day.  I  thought  of  the  tender 
pity  with  which  her  sorrows  filled  my  soul.     I  thought 


I 


1 86 


John  Marmaduke 


of  her  youth  in  its  beauty  and  bloom  ;  and  I  vowed  to 
myself  that  I  could  gi^'e  up  ambition  and  the  world  if 
she  would  give  me  het  love  instead. 

I  took  another  view  of  the  burning  keep.  The  fire 
was  still  full  of  energy,  but  it  had  nearly  done  its  work. 
The  walls  of  the  citadel  had  fallen  in  a  mass  of  ruins, 
only  a  broken  portion  of  the  architecture  here  and  there 
still  marking  the  recent  grandeur  of  the  design.  The 
pestilent  vapours  of  the  place  were  fast  increasing  their 
noxious  influences.  The  feudal  fortress  which  had  stood 
for  power  and  strength  that  morning  was  now  a  smoking 
charnel  for  its  dead  defenders  and  a  poisoned  menace 
against  its  living  captors.  I  therefore  drew  back  all  my 
men  to  the  camp  where  we  had  passed  the  previous 
night ;  and  there  we  tarried  for  one  week  waiting  for  an 
answer  to  my  letter  to  the  General.  Word  came  to  me 
every  day  from  Lieutenant  Waters  at  Carberry  Hall, 
reporting  everything  in  good  ccmdition.  I  was  informed 
that  Terence  Dillon  had  been  buried,  but  not  a  word  was 
said  to  me  of  Catherine. 

When  the  days  had  sped  into  September  and  no  in- 
structions reached  m^  from  the  General,  I  determined 
to  abandon  our  post  at  Ballyrae  and  return  to  Carberry 
Hall.  First,  however,  I  laid  a  mine  under  the  great 
front  wall  for  half  its  distance  on  either  side  of  the 
portcullis,  using  up  much  of  my  powder  to  secure  the 
necessary  force.  When  all  was  in  readiness  the  fuse  was 
lit,  all  retired  in  haste,  and  soon  there  was  the  noise  of 
earthquakes  and  thunderbolts.  The  wall  was  dismem- 
bered and  shot  upwards  in  fragments.  Its  barbicans 
and  turrets,  its  sally-ports  and  drawbridge,  its  portcullis 
and  parapets,  its  merlons  and  crenels  were  reduced  to 
their  original  condition  of  mortar  and  stone.     The  disin- 


il!t 


After  the  Battle 


187 


was 


tegrated  battlements  filled  the  air  for  a  mile  around  ;  and 
by  this  act  I  made  the  rehabilitation  of  Ballyrae  Castle 
against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  English  Parliament 
forever  impossible. 

We  had  titken  the  castle  on  a  Tuesday.  On  Wednes- 
day of  the  following  week  I  set  out  for  Carberry  Hall  at 
the  head  of  my  troop.  My  men  were  glad  enough  at  the 
prospect  of  the  comfortable  quarters  of  the  Dillon  man- 
sion in  exchange  for  the  tents  in  which  we  had  been 
sleeping. 

We  pressed  on  over  the  hills  and  past  a  beautiful  lake 
of  water,  and  at  noon  came  in  sight  of  Carberry  Hall. 
Beyond  lay  the  sea  and  a  ship  at  anchor  in  the  harbour. 
The  Parliament  ensign  was  floating  from  her  mast  and  I 
judged  that  she  had  arrived  in  the  last  hour,  or  a  courier 
would  have  been  sent  to  me.  I  wondered  what  her 
mission  could  be  in  this  r<.  »  ^^m  spot,  our  chief  opera- 
tions being  now  in  prog  .  i  rther  north.  I  pushed 
Dick  into  a  quicker  pace  ana  lode  ahead.  As  I  reached 
the  gate  in  front  of  the  house  Lieutenant  Waters  and  the 
garrison  gave  me  a  cheer  from  the  walls.  Catherine 
stood  on  the  step  dressed  in  black  and  looking  toward 
me  with  keen  interest.  Beside  her  were  two  ladies 
whose  features  I  did  not  immediately  discern.  Spurring 
my  horse  round  the  road  I  drew  his  bridle  at  the  door 
and  sprang  out  of  my  saddle.  The  eldest  of  the  two 
strangers  advanced  and  caught  me  in  her  arms.  It  was 
my  mother.  I  tenderly  embraced  and  kissed  her,  and 
then,  raising  my  eyes,  I  beheld  Lady  Betty  Forrester 
smiling  at  me  in  golden  beauty.  I  took  both  her  hands 
in  mine  and  expressed  my  joy  at  meeting  her  so  unex- 
pectedly. I  then  bowed  to  Catherine,  who  barely 
lowered  her  eyes  in  acknowledgment  of  my  salute. 


^^mJif^'^Mmi 


CHAPTER  XXII 


LORD    ALFRED 


MY  troop  of  horse  shortly  rode  into  the  yard  aud 
soon  had  their  horses  stabled  and  themselves  at 
dinner. 

In  the  meantime,  my  situation  was  not  free  from  em- 
barrassment. I  was  the  master  of  this  house  by  the  right 
of  conquest,  but  there  was  a  finer  distinction  that  was  not 
lost  to  my  mind.  Catherine  Dillon  was  the  sole  owner 
of  Carberry  Hall  and  its  thousand  acres  outlying.  Here 
were  two  members  of  my  family  come  suddenly  to  claim 
the  hospitality  of  the  place.  Under  the  usages  of  war  I 
would  have  given  no  thought  to  the  rights  of  the  owner. 
But  the  circumstances  of  my  intercourse  with  Catherine 
made  it  impossible  for  me  to  avoid  a  sense  of  humilia- 
tion at  thus  quartering  by  force  upon  her  bounty  not 
only  my  soldiers,  for  whose  presence  I  had  no  apologies 
to  make,  but  my  mother  and  her  friend,  whose  unex- 
pected arrival  was  scarcely  a  usual  incident  of  war. 

While  I  stood  at  the  door  exchanging  the  ordinary 
greetings  of  such  a  rieeting,  Catherine  divined  the 
thought  that  was  in  my  mind. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  she  said,  with  a  stately  dignity 
which  gave  her  at  once  the  indisputable  authority  of 

i88 


Lord  Alfred 


189 


inary 
the 

gnity 
y  oi 


mistress,  "  I  pray  you,  make  these  ladies  welcome  to 
my  house  and  all  it  contains.  Will  you  not  lead  them 
within  ?  My  servants  will  look  after  their  comfort  as 
well  as  may  be  in  view  of  the  natural  inconveniences  of 
these  times." 

It  was  spoken  with  the  air  of  a  queen,  and  there  was 
no  gainsaying  it.  We  all  bowed  and  passed  inside  to 
the  great  living  room. 

I  quickly  observed  with  much  surprise  that  Catherine 
had  in  fact  resumed  her  position  of  mistress  of  the  house. 
The  Irish  servants  were  at  their  accustomed  places 
within.  Nora  took  the  ladies'  wraps.  Grania,  the  house- 
keeper, mo/ed  about  the  rooms  with  a  slow  and  cum- 
brous importance.  Scolog  was  near  with  his  bagpipes. 
Balor  MacLuga,  light  and  active,  and  the  best  trained  of 
the  Irish  men-at-arms,  seemed  to  have  been  made  butler  ; 
and  he  was  followed  about  by  Finn  and  Oscar,  two 
youths,  who  gave  prompt  obedience  to  his  commands. 
In  short,  Catherine  had  employed  the  interval  since  her 
return  home  to  restore  a  semblance  of  discipline  and 
order  to  her  establishment,  which  had  been  made  pos- 
sible by  Lieutenant  Waters's  respectful  consideration  of 
her  position. 

When  I  was  alone  with  my  mother  and  Lady  Betty  we 
renewed  our  greetings,  and  tlien  I  asked  them  for  an  ex- 
planation of  the  causes  that  had  given  me  the  happiness 
of  their  visit. 

"  You  must  know,  then,  my  dear  son,"  said  my  mother, 
as  I  seated  myself  beside  her  and  stroked  her  hand, 
**  that  General  Cromwell  recently  sent  to  England  for  re- 
inforcements. When  these  troops  marched  through 
Yorkshire  there  were  several  ladies  of  the  first  families 
coming  with  them  to  Dublin  in  the  hope  of  seeing  long- 


190 


f' 


1^  i 


;; 


John  Marmaduke 


absent  officers.  The  time  seemed  auspicious  for  me  to 
join  them  and  come  to  you,  if  the  Lord  would  permit. 
Arrived  at  Dublin  I  learned  that  you  had  been  severely 
wounded ." 

"  A  mere  scratch,  dear  mother,"  I  interrupted,  with  a 
guilty  blush. 

**The  young  lady  outside,  to  whom  I  made  this  my 
first  question,"  replied  my  mother,  "  told  me  the  wound 
had  entirely  healed,  for  which  I  bless  God.  But  the  re- 
port at  Dublin  was  that  you  were  in  a  serious  condition. 
I  therefore  prevailed  upon  the  English  Council  at  Dublin, 
after  our  troops  had  debarked,  to  send  the  ship  hither 
that  I  might  give  you  a  mother's  loving  care  in  your  ex- 
tremity. How  happy  I  am,  my  dear  son,  to  find  you  in 
health  and  victory  !  " 

My  mother  kissed  me  with  glad  affection,  and  I  told 
her  that  God  had  been  very  gracious  to  spare  my  life 
through  many  perils. 

"  Lady  Betty,  you  were  very  good  to  accompany  my 
mother,"  I  said. 

"  I  have  come  into  a  strange  and  romantic  country," 
she  replied.    "  I  find  it  full  of  interest." 

"  But  it  is  a  land  hostile  to  England,"  I  said.  "  Are 
you  not  afraid  of  its  dangers  ? " 

"  I  have  been  too  well  surrounded  by  brave  soldiers 
to  feel  a  sense  of  fear.  Who  could  be  afraid  with  the 
Ironsides  near  ? "  she  asked,  with  a  smiling  favour  that 
charmed  me. 

I  had  many  questions  to  ask  of  my  mother  and  Lady 
Betty  concerning  our  home  in  Yorkshire,  and  they  had 
much  to  tell  me.  They  told  me  cf  our  neighbours  and 
friends, — many,  alas,  of  the  friends  were  now  turned 
enemies.    They  also  described  the  growing  settlement 


Lord  Alfred 


191 


throughout  England  of  the  Parliament's  authority,  and 
of  the  great  weight  among  all  the  people  of  General 
Cromwell's  name.  Better  times  soon  to  come  were 
looked  for  under  the  sway  of  the  Commonwealth. 

"  Above  all,  my  dear  son,"  said  my  mother,  with  tears 
in  her  eyes,  "  I  hope,  in  the  Lord's  providence,  that  you 
will  ere  long  be  freed  from  your  soldier's  calling,  so  that 
you  may  be  restored  to  your  own  fireside  and  to  the 
peace  that  awaits  you  there  !  " 

Her  eyes  involuntarily  fell  upon  Lady  Betty,  who  was 
toying  with  her  fan. 

Dick  Trevor  entered  the  room  and  informed  me  that 
Lord  Alfred  Paddleford  was  without  and  desired  to  pay 
his  compliments. 

"  Oh,"  cried  my  mother,  "  I  had  forgotten  to  tell  you. 
He  is  the  commander  of  the  Parliament's  ship.  Have 
you  met  him  recently  ? " 

"  No,  mother,  not  since  our  romping  games  in  the  old 
Yorkshire  days.  But  I  shall  be  glad  to  renew  the  ac- 
quaintance.    Bid  him  enter,  Trevor." 

I  rose  to  meet  him  and  we  grasped  hands  heartily. 
He  was  tall  and  fair,  with  a  soldier's  air, — or  perhaps  I 
should  say,  a  sailor's — and  younger  by  a  year  or  two 
than  I.  He  bowed  to  the  ladies,  and  seized  my  hand 
with  a  hearty,  laughing  air  that  made  me  love  him.  We 
talked  of  our  former  youthful  sports,  and  he  dwelt  on 
the  part  that  Lady  Betty  had  played  in  them,  bringing 
many  a  smile,  and  sometimes  a  blush,  into  her  face. 
She  met  his  banter  with  playful  retort,  and  then,  after  he 
had  given  me  some  commonplace  details  of  the  navy 
work,  he  walked  aside  with  Lady  Betty,  and  they  were 
soon  conversing  in  a  happy  intimacy. 

Balor  MacLuga  appeared  in  the  room  at  this  moment 


I 


I 


i' ' 
i, 


192 


John  Marmaduke 


and  said  that  his  mistress  begged  us  to  come  to  dinner 
in  the  banqueting  hall.  Being  all  hungry,  we  passed  out 
with  alacrity,  Scolog  leading  the  procession  with  the 
music  of  his  pipes. 

As  we  entered  the  great  dining  room  I  saw  Catherine 
Dillon  standing  at  the  head  of  the  table.  Beside  her,  at 
the  next  chair,  stofd  Father  Terhune.  She  bowed  to 
each  of  us  v^rith  decorous  politeness  and  indicated  the 
place  where  each  was  to  sit,  my  chair  being  the  one 
next  to  Father  Terhune.  Next  to  me  she  placed  iny 
mother,  and  next  to  my  mother  Lord  Alfred  Paddle- 
ford,  and  then  Lady  Betty.  As  we  seated  ourselves  I 
was  quick  to  observe  a  look  of  her  eyes  toward  the 
priest  which  restrained  him  from  speaking  his  grace 
before  meat.  He  did  make  the  sign  of  the  cross  on  his 
breast,  but  without  attracting  the  attention  of  either  of 
those  of  my  party. 

The  two  girls  formed  a  striking  contrast  as  we  began 
our  meal.  They  were  of  the  same  age,  just  over  twenty. 
Lady  Betty  was  fair  and  f'ender  and  of  medium  height. 
Catherine  was  dark,  with  more  plumpness  of  form,  and 
taller.  One  had  hair  of  shining  gold  ;  the  other  had 
tumbling  locks  of  brown.  Lady  Betty  *s  eyes  were  blue 
and  soft ;  Catherine's  were  brown  and  full  of  life.  The 
English  girl  had  cheeks  of  mingled  peach  and  cream  ; 
the  Irish  girl  had  the  richer  red  of  her  western  type. 
Lady  Betty  wore  a  dimpled  smile  of  amiability  which 
knew  nothing  of  fretfulness ;  Catherine's  lips  could 
smile  or  frown  according  to  her  mood.  Each  had  youth, 
beauty,  and  health ;  but  in  one  was  the  dove,  while  in 
the  othet  was  the  eagle. 

Finn  and  Oscar  brought  in  many  covered  dishes  which 
they  delivered  to  Balor  MacLuga  at  a  ^ide  table,  and 


Lord  Alfred 


193 


then  a  roast  of  lamb  on  a  huge  platter.  Balor  filled  our 
plates  with  the  smoking  and  succulent  viands.  There 
was  a  cut  of  lamb,  and  afterwards  a  joint  of  roasted  ptar- 
migan on  each  plate.  There  were  artichokes,  cauli- 
flower, and  potatoes  ;  some  sweet  marmalade  ;  and  a 
pudding.  And  ail  of  these  we  ate  with  travellers*  appe- 
tites. There  was  rare  old  wine  for  those  who  loved  it, 
besides  much  sweet  milch.  It  was  a  feast  for  hungry 
men  and  women,  and  we  discussed  it  with  unflagging 
zeal  for  one  hour. 

With  an  abundance  of  good  things  to  eat  and  drink, 
the  restraint  with  which  we  had  begun  the  meal  soon 
yielded  to  cordial  fellowship.  Catherine  relaxed  her 
reserve  of  manner  and  led  the  conversation  with  intelli- 
gence and  affability.  The  subject  of  the  war,  with 
its  battles  and  sieges,  was  carefully  avoided  ;  and  she 
asked  many  questions  concerning  England,  its  climate 
and  its  social  customs,  which  my  mother  and  Lady 
Betty  answered  with  vivacious  information.  Lord 
Alfred,  too,  took  part  with  much  good  humour.  Now 
and  then  the  priest  addressed  a  learned  observation  to 
me,  to  which  I  replied  as  wisely  as  I  could.  If  our 
table-talk  was  not  merry,  neither  were  we  companions 
to  owls. 

My  mother  spoke  of  returning  in  the  ship  to  Dublin, 
and  thence  home.  Catherine  politely  expressed  a  hope 
that  she  and  Lady  Betty  would  not  hasten  their  depart- 
ure until  they  had  discharged  their  visit  to  me.  Through 
the  whole  conversation  Catherine  had  never  addressed  a 
word  to  me,  nor  had  she  given  me  a  look.  My  mother 
thanked  her,  but  said  that  as  she  had  found  me  in  good 
health  she  would  not  prolong  her  stay  beyond  a  few 

days  lest  she  might  interfere  with  my  duties,  1  answered 
<3 


194 


John  Marmaduke 


i' 


that  my  post  was  at  Carberry  Hall  for  some  little  time 
yet,  so  far  as  I  knew  to  the  contrary,  and  I  would  be  re- 
joiced to  have  her  remain  as  long  as  her  own  convenience 
and  the  hospitality  of  our  gracious  hostess  would  make 
her  visit  agreeable.  Lord  Alfred  said  that  a  day  or  two 
made  no  difference  in  so  far  as  his  ship  was  concerned. 
The  moment  of  her  departure  was  thus  left  indefinite 
and  Catherine  proposed  to  take  them  for  a  ride  after 
dinner  and  show  them  the  country  beyond  her  house. 

Accordingly,  when  a  sufficient  repose  had  satisfied  di- 
gestion, horses  were  brought  and  we  all  mounted.  Lord 
Alfred  of  course  accompanied  us,  and  I  bade  a  half-score 
of  my  tall  fellows  ride  a  hundred  yards  behind  in  case 
emergency  might  require  their  aid. 

Catherine  and  my  mother  rode  beside  Lord  Alfred  in 
front,  while  I  followed  with  Lady  Betty.  We  were  both  in 
high  spirits  and  the  pretty  girl  was  soon  recounting  in- 
nocent experiences  with  a  merry  humour  that  kept  us  in 
laughter.  This  did  not  please  Catherine,  who  looked 
backward  at  every  turn  of  the  road  and  seemed  to  won- 
der at  my  fast  friendship  for  my  companion.  But  she 
made  an  effort  to  entertain  my  mother  and  Lord  Alfred, 
and  doubtless  succeeded,  for  they  appeared  to  be  much 
interested  in  her  conversation, 

A  ride  of  three  miles  brought  us  to  the  broad  lake  of 
which  I  have  already  spoken.  It  spread  out  before  us 
in  a  blue  expanse  and  was  jutted  by  a  rocky  wall  on  its 
far  shore.  On  the  farther  side  was  a  tiny  boat  with  a 
single  sail,  moored  to  the  bank,  and  bobbing  lazily  on 
the  lapping  waves.  We  halted  our  horses  at  the  water's 
edge,  and  Lady  Betty  burst  into  enthusiastic  praise  of 
the  beauty  of  the  scene. 

"  Surely,  Miss  Dillon,"  she  cried,  "  there  is  a  legend 


Lord  Alfred 


195 


wrapped  up  in  this  surpassing  spot, — an  ancient  romance 
that  will  ravish  the  mind, — is  there  not  ?  " 

"  It  has,  indeed,  a  story,"  replied  Catherine,  smiling 
at  the  insistent  ardour  of  the  English  girl,  "  but  it  will 
not  delight  you,  for  it  is  a  tale  of  deep  melancholy,  and 
I  would  fain  not  blight  your  spirits  by  relating  it." 

My  mother  said  that  a  legend  of  Ireland  would  have 
a  special  charm  when  told  at  the  place  of  its  origin. 
Lord  Alfred  and  I  insisted  on  hearing  it,  and  Lady  Betty 
pleaded  so  prettily  for  it  that  Catherine  consented  to 
narrate  the  story  ;  and  she  told  it  with  charm  and  spirit. 

We  dismounted  from  our  horses,  which  were  taken  in 
charge  by  the  troopers,  and  sat  down  on  the  green  bor- 
der of  the  lake. 

"  My  legend,"  said  Catherine,  "  is  called,  *  The  Fate  of 
the  Children  of  Lir.'  " 

"  A  long,  long  time  ago,"  she  began,  "  when  Bove 
Derg  was  King  of  Erin,  Lir  of  Shee  Finnaha  had  four 
beautiful  children,  who  were  named  Finola,  Aed,  Ficra, 
and  Conn. 

"  But,  alas  !  The  children  had  a  stepmother,  who 
soon  became  jealous  of  them  and  grew  to  hate  them. 
So  one  day  she  brought  them  to  this  lake  of  Darvra, 
and,  by  touching  them  with  a  magic  wand,  she  changed 
them  into  four  beautiful  white  swans,  who,  however,  re- 
tained their  reason  and  their  human  voices,  by  which 
they  were  enabled  to  sing  sweet  songs. 

"When  Lir  heard  of  this  treachery,  he  struck  the 
wicked  stepmother  with  a  magic  wand,  and  she  became 
a  demon  of  the  air  forever. 

"  When  a  long  period  of  years  had  gone  by,  the  four 
swans  felt  persuaded  that  their  deliverance  was  near. 
So  they  lifted  themselves  out  of  this  lake,  and  went  to 


!^^: 


196 


John  Marmaduke 


Saint  Patrick,  and  told  him  they  were  the  children  of 
Lir.  The  good  father  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  upon 
them,  when  suddenly  their  white,  feathery  robes  faded 
and  disappeared,  and  they  regained  their  human  shape, 
Finola  being  transformed  into  a  decrepit  old  woman, 
and  the  three  sons  into  wasted  old  men,  all  being  white 
haired,  bony,  and  wrinkles!. 

"  Finola  called  upon  the  prophet  to  baptise  them 
quickly  for  they  were  about  to  die.  Saint  Patrick  did 
this,  and  then  Finola  asked  that  they  should  be  buried 
in  one  grave.  Then  they  fell  to  the  earth  and  expired. 
The  prophet,  looking  up,  beheld  a  vision  of  four  beauti- 
ful little  children  with  happy  faces  going  up  to  Heaven  ; 
and  he  buried  the  old,  weary  bodies  in  one  grave,  as 
Finola  had  requested,  weeping  as  he  did  so  for  the  mani- 
fold sufferings  through  which  the  children  of  Lir  had 
passed  to  their  final  happiness." 


CHAPTER  XXIII 


THE    HERMIT    OF    THE    LAKE 


WHILE  we  sat  looking  with  varied  emotions  upon 
the  scene  of  this  sorrowful  legend  I  caught 
sight  of  an  object  that  caused  me  to  spring  to  my  feet 
with  apprehension.  The  others  beheld  my  look  of  anx- 
iety, and  they,  too,  were  quickly  upright. 

Winding  its  way  around  the  edge  of  the  lake  from  the 
rocks  on  the  far  side  which  had  until  now  concealed  its 
approach  was  a  group  of  riders  about  twenty  in  number. 
They  were  coming  toward  us,  but  at  a  slow  gait  which 
gave  them  opportunity  to  study  our  numbers  and  condi- 
tion. I  called  my  men  to  horse,  and  directed  the  women 
to  retire  behind  a  great  rock  where  they  would  be  safe 
from  any  sudden  shot  from  an  enemy.  I  then  caused 
my  troopers  to  ride  in  and  out  behind  this  rock  so  that 
their  numbers  might  not  easily  be  guessed  by  the  inter- 
lopers. This  ruse  was  successful,  for  when  the  others 
had  come  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  our  position  they 
halted,  except  their  leader,  who  came  nearer  with  much 
caution  until  he  was  but  a  furlong  away. 

He  suddenly  seemed  to  recognise  me,  and  at  the  same 
instant  I  made  out  the  well-known  features  of  Lord  Kil- 
mac.     The  Irish  renegade  was  in  no  haste  to  try  con- 

197 


198 


John  Marmaduke 


I 


\i 


-,f     >\ 


l\ 


elusions  with  me  again,  for  he  turned  his  horse  and 
galloped  back  to  his  men  at  full  speed.  Once  there  he 
appeared  to  speak  a  few  words  to  them,  looking  back  in 
our  direction  ;  and  then  they  all  made  haste  to  return  to 
the  shelter  of  the  rocks  across  the  lake,  and  soon  we 
could  see  them  no  more. 

I  rode  behind  the  shelter  on  our  side  to  speak  a  word 
of  assurance  to  our  women,  but  paused  when  I  beheld 
Catherine  trembling  and  very  pale. 

"Was  it  not  Lord  Kihnac?"  she  demanded,  half- 
articulately. 

"  Yes,"  I  answered. 

"  My  brother's  murderer !  Still  alive,  still  unpun- 
ished ! " 

"  He  would  not  have  ridden  back  so  easily,"  I  replied, 
"  if  you  and  these  two  ladies  had  been  in  a  safe  place." 

"  What  matters  that  ? "  she  said,  petulantly.  "  Why 
did  I  not  come  dressed  for  war  ?  These  garments  are 
ever  out  of  place  in  such  times  !  " 

My  mother  and  Lady  Betty  addressed  some  soothing 
words  to  the  chafing  girl,  which  encouraged  her  to  tell 
them  in  a  few  broken  sentences  the  crime  that  Lord  Kil- 
mac  had  perpetrated  against  her  brother's  life. 

We  paused  for  the  distressed  girl  to  regain  her  com- 
posure. This  was  effected  in  a  short  time,  whereupon 
LoiJ  Alfred  and  I  assisted  the  women  to  mount  their 
horses,  and  we  were  ready  to  start  home. 

But  at  that  moment  Lady  Betty  called  our  attention 
to  the  little  boat  on  the  farther  shore  which  was  moving 
toward  us  across  the  lake,  pushed  by  the  wind  in  its  sin- 
gle sail.  The  boat  held  a  solitary  occupant,  and  as  his 
shallop  shot  over  the  water  we  soon  perceived  that  he 
was  a  hermit,  dressed  in  a  coarse  garb  of  brown  woollen 


The  Hermit  o^  the  Lake 


199 


stuff,  with  a  hood  over  his  head  of  the  same  material. 
Around  his  waist  was  a  girdle  from  which  hung  a  string 
of  large  beads  and  a  crucifix.  His  hair  was  fiery  red, 
and  his  face,  all  but  the  eyes,  was  covered  by  an  unkempt 
and  flowing  beard  of  the  same  colour.  He  held  the  sail 
and  tiller  with  skill,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  fresh 
breeze  pushed  his  boat  against  the  shore. 

Climbing  out  of  the  little  vessel  with  apparent  diffi- 
culty, as  if  retarded  by  rheumatism  or  advancing  age,  I 
knew  not  which,  he  drew  it  partly  upon  the  shore,  and 
then  came  toward  us  with  a  slow  and  heavy  stride. 

"  Pax  vobiscum  !  "  he  said,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross. 

We  all  looked  on  without  stirring,  except  Catherine, 
who  crossed  herself  and  repeated  : 

"  Pax  vobiscum  !  "  She  then  asked  him  in  the  Irish 
tongue  :  *'''  Ereud  ata  uaitV     (What  dost  thou  want  ?) 

He  answered  in  the  same  tongue  :  "  Gpading  Dia  op 
eionn  gac  uile  md"  which  meant,  Love  God  above  all 
things ! 

"  Father,"  she  said,  clouding  her  face  with  an  imperi- 
ous frown,  "  we  are  about  to  return  to  my  home  at  Car- 
berry  Hall.  If  there  is  aught  that  I  can  do  for  thee, 
speak." 

"  Daughter,"  he  answered,  with  his  eyes  on  the  ground 
in  meekness,  "  I  am  a  poor  hermit  whose  bare  abode  in 
yonder  rock  has  even  now  been  invaded  by  hostile  men. 
Neither  my  garb  nor  my  sacred  office  would  stay  them 
in  their  wanton  insult.  They  have  ejected  me  from  the 
cavern  which  has  sheltered  my  worship  of  God  for  thirty 
years,  and  bidden  me  out  into  the  world  or  they  would 
slay  me." 

His  head  shook  with  emotion  as  he  told  of  this  hard- 
ship, and  Catherine's  impatient  spirit  relented. 


ioo 


John  Marmaduke 


>. '  i 


'i  I 


"  Who  are  the  men  who  have  so  little  respect  ffor  holi- 
ness ? "  she  asked. 

**  Even  Lord  Kilmac  and  the  remnant  of  his  slaugh- 
tered following,"  he  replied,  in  an  angry  tone.  "  They 
said  that  they  had  a  work  of  revenge  to  perform  and 
they  would  be  free  from  my  presence  while  they  laid 
their  plans  in  my  hermitage." 

"  Alas,  father,"  she  cried,  "  I  do  commiserate  the  evil 
fortune  of  any  one  who.  falls  into  the  power  of  that 
wicked  man.  I  would  I  had  been  in  thy  place  to  strike 
him  dead  ! " 

"  Nay,  daughter,"  he  said,  "  let  us  not  think  evil 
against  the  wicked.  Are  we  not  commanded  to  love 
our  enemies  ?" 

"  I  pray  you,  good  father,  keep  such  counsel  for  thy 
hermitage,  or  the  confessional,"  she  cried,  with  bitter- 
ness in  her  voice.  "  I  will  know  no  theology  but  the 
old  law  of  a  life  for  a  life  until  I  revenge  my  brother's 
death  on  that  base  lord  !  " 

He  kept  his  face  on  the  ground  for  a  moment,  and 
then  said,  **  I  hope  that  Heaven  will  bring  a  more  peace- 
ful spirit  into  thy  heart,  daughter.  But  enough  of  Lord 
Kilmac  and  his  iniquities  for  the  present.  The  gentle 
wind  of  Heaven  hath  wafted  my  little  boat  to  thy  feet, 
as  by  a  providential  purpose.  Daughter,  canst  thou 
point  out  the  way  of  peace  to  a  servant  of  God  who  is 
now,  alas,  homeless  ?  " 

"  If  thou  canst  make  thy  way  to  Carberry  Hall  thou 
shalt  have  at  least  a  temporary  abiding  place.  But  stop  ! 
Captain  Marmaduke,  I  had  for^jOtten  that  you  are  the 
master  there.  Will  you  permit  this  hermit  to  come  as  I 
have  said  ? " 

Lady    Betty,  who  was  close  beside  me,   whispered, 


The  Hermit  of  the  Lake         201 


"  Yes,  pray  let  him  come,  for  her  sake.  Captain  Marma- 
duke." 

I  liked  not  the  appearance  of  the  hermit  and  had 
eyed  him  with  suspicion  from  the  first.  He  would  not 
look  into  our  eyes,  and  there  seemed  to  be  no  ring  of 
sincerity  in  his  voice.  But  I  was  incapable  of  denying 
a  reqiiest  from  Catherine  in  such  a  matter,  and  so  I 
answered  : 

"  Surely,  in  a  thing  like  this,,  you  must  have  your  own 
way  in  your  own  house,  Miss  Dillon." 

"  Then  come  to  Carberry  Hall,"  she  said  to  the 
hermit,  "  and  you  shall  have  shelter  for  the  present. 
What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  I  am  Father  Triscadal,"  he  replied,  "  the  Hermit  of 
the  Lake." 

Catherine  started.  "  I  have  heard  the  name  from 
childhood,"  she  cried,  "  but  never  saw  I  thee  before  !  " 

"  No,"  he  said.  "  I  love  not  this  world.  I  thank 
you  most  deeply  from  my  heart  for  your  generous  offer 
of  shelter.  I  hold  a  debt  to  the  English  Captain  also. 
May  our  Lady  keep  you  all  in  happiness  !  I  will  follow 
you  to  Carberry  Hall  presently." 

"  Farewell,  then.  Father  Triscadal,"  she  said.  "  A 
good  supper  shall  reward  your  walk." 

We  turned  our  horses  homeward,  leaving  the  monk 
standing  on  the  shore  gazing  after  us  with  a  look  which 
impressed  me  as  an  expression  of  everything  but  holiness 
and  piety.  But  we  had  not  gone  far  when,  turning  my 
head,  I  saw  him  trudging  on  after  us  with  a  laboured 
step. 

On  the  way  back  the  taste  of  danger  had  served  to 
keep  the  three  women  huddled  together,  with  Lord 
Alfred  and  me  beside  them,  and  my  troopers  close 


i 


i 


^Oi 


John  Marmaduke 


behind.  Lady  Betty's  spirits  were  heightened  by  the 
excitement  of  the  afternoon,  and  she  talked  vivaciously 
of  the  dangers  of  our  ride,  soon  having  us  all  a-laugh- 
ing,  including  Catherine,  by  the  drollery  of  her  dis- 
course. 

"  There  was  one  moment,"  she  said,  "  when  I  wished 
ourselves  transformed  into  swans,  like  those  unhappy 
children,  so  that  we  might  have  flown  away  from  peril. 
We  three  women,  and  your  son,  Lady  Marmaduke,  for 
the  fourth  swan,  which  would  have  left  you.  Lord 
Alfred,  to  die  with  the  gallant  troopers." 

"  I  like  not  the  honour  you  give  me,"  answered  Lord 
Alfred.  "  Rather  than  die  away  from  my  ship,  with 
the  ladies  and  your  Captain  having  it  so  merrily  above, 
I  should  choose  to  be  a  demon  of  the  air,  like  the 
wicked  stepmother,  and  go  after  you." 

"  Never  go  after  a  lady  in  a  shape  like  that,"  said 
Catherine.  "  If  you  had  chosen  to  await  the  foe  with 
your  sword  drawn,  we  swans  might  have  harnessed  our- 
selves to  yonder  little  boat  and  cr^'Vii  you  across  the 
water  when  you  wearied  of  the  fight." 

"  Like  the  Knight  of  the  Holy  Grail,"  said  my 
mother. 

"  And,  by  the  way,  Miss  Dillon,"  said  Lady  Betty, 
"  I  heard  you  repining  because  you  had  not  come  hither 
dressed  for  war.  Now,  may  I  ask,  what  war-dress  is 
fashionable  in  this  country  for  a  young  woman  ? " 

I   glanced  at    Lord   Alfred    and    regretted   that    he 

was  listening  for  her  reply.     But  Catherine  answered 

serenely  : 

"  I  wear  my  brother's  clothes  when  outside  my  own 

roof  as  often  as  I  wear  my  own.     Indeed,  I  will  not  call 

them  my  brother's,  for  they  were  made  for  me." 


■ 


The  Hermit  of  the  Lake 


203 


My  mother  looked  a  little  shocked,  but  Lady  Betty 
was  delighted. 

"  How  I  wish  that  I  might  do  that !  "  she  cried  ;  and 
then  she  blushed  to  the  roots  of  her  golden  hair.  "  In 
times  of  war  it  makes  a  difference,  of  course,"  she  said. 
"  And  do  you  ride  your  horse  when  dressed  so  ? "  she 
asked,  with  great  interest. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Catherine, — "  this  horse,  the  best  in 
Ireland.  Do  you  not  think  him  such,  Captain  Marma- 
duke?" 

"  The  best  I  have  seen,  surely,"  I  answered. 

"  And  do  you  ride  like — like  these  gentlemen  ?  "  asked 
Lady  Betty,  again  blushing. 

"  Just  like  them,"  replied  Catherine. 

"  And  you  wear  a  sword  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  And  can  use  it  as  well  as  any  Englishman  I  know," 
I  said. 

"  How  I  should  love  to  see  you  so  accoutred  !  "  ex- 
claimed Lady  Betty.  "Pray,  put  on  your  —  your 
brother's  clothes  as  soon  as  we  reach  home,  I  beseech 
you." 

"  With  pleasure,"  answered  Catherine.  "  I  can  ride, 
fight,  and  swim  just  like  a  man.  My  father  taught  me 
how  to  fence,  and  I  have  ne\  er  yet  been  disarmed, 
though  I  once  met  a  better  swordsman." 

"  I  love  to  hear  you  say  so,"  said  the  English  girl, 
"  but  I  could  never  do  those  things.  Not  that  I  would 
not,"  she  hastened  to  explain,  as  if  fearful  of  implying  a 
rebuke,  "  but  my  heart  has  not  the  courage  of  yours.  I 
am  frightened  at  the  first  appearance  of  danger.  Once 
there  this  afternoon  I  feared  I  was  going  to  swoon  from 
fright." 


204 


John  Marmaduke 


ui 


f  :i 


1         1 


I  observed  Lord  Alfred  draw  nearer  to  Lady  Betty  at 
these  words,  with  an  air  to  protect  her  from  every  peril. 
Hers  was  the  womanhood  that  he  preferred. 

"  Such  courage  in  a  woman  is  rare,"  said  my  mother, 
"  but  it  is  not  wholly  unknown  in  England.  Charlotte 
de  la  Tremouille,  Countess  of  Derby,  held  her  home  for 
seventeen  weeks  against  the  Parliament's  siege  in  the 
late  war  in  England.  She  fought  the  Roundheads  with 
her  own  sword  and  helmet  and  cuirass,  sallied  out  and 
took  their  guns  away,  and  drove  them  off  at  last.  Prince 
Rupert  helping  her  in  the  end  to  give  them  a  good 
beating." 

"  Now,  I  would  give  much  to  fight  beside  a  woman 
like  that !  "  cried  Catherine.  "  I  hate  the  spirit  which 
drives  women  to  tears  when  their  safety  is  threatened." 
Then,  seeing  a  look  of  mortification  on  Lady  Betty's 
face,  she  leaned  over,  caught  her  hand,  and  kissed  it. 
"  Not  you,  my  dear,"  she  said  gently,  "  there  is  a  type 
of  womanhood  which  is  too  fragile  for  war  ;  perhaps  it 
is  the  more  beautiful  for  being  fragile.  Do  you  not 
think  so,  Lord  Alfred  ?  " 

It  was  a  hard  question  for  the  young  nobleman  to 
answer,  with  the  two  types  before  him.  He  did  say  that 
men  looked  at  th€  matter  from  different  views.  For 
himself  he  thought  he  would  admire  the  more  rugged 
type  but  would  love  the  fragile  kind.  Then  he  blushed 
scarlet  and  said  that  that  was  not  exactly  what  he  meant. 
But  my  mother  and  Catherine  laughed,  and  just  then  we 
arrived  at  Carberry  Hall.  ' 

I  gave  the  men  on  guard  a  word  of  explanation 
concerning  the  hermit  who  was  to  arrive,  and  we  passed 
inside  the  house  to  refresh  ourselves  for  supper. 

The  evening  meal  was  eaten  with    hearty  appetites, 


i!K 


'fm 


The  Hermit  of  the  Lake         205 

our  ride  and  the  incidents  in  connection  with  it  having 
given  us  a  zest  for  its  enjoyment.  After  supper  the  candles 
were  lit,  and  Lord  Alfred  related  the  story  of  Beowulf 
and  the  Dragon,  telling  the  tale  with  much  spirit. 
When  we  had  discussed  the  meaning  and  purpose  of 
the  ancient  epic  to  our  hearts'  content,  all  said  good 
night,  and  we  sought  our  rooms  for  sleep. 


r 


i 


'  4 


CHAPTER   XXIV 


THE   MISHAP    OF    LADY    BETTY 


VI  - 


"I^k 


3 


THE  next  morning,  as  soon  as  we  had  f"  lished  break- 
fast, Catherine  announced  that  she  would  dress  as 
an  Irish  gentleman  and  go  for  a  ride  ;  and,  perceiving 
Lord  Alfred  and  myself  exchange  looks  of  regret,  she 
assumed  a  teasing  air  and  asked  Lady  Betty  if  she 
would  not  accompany  her.  The  English  girl  clapped 
her  hands  and  said  she  would  be  delighted  to  go  forth 
with  so  doughty  an  escort.  My  mother,  while  appearing 
to  be  interested,  made  a  mild  protest  on  the  score  of 
danger,  which  was  echoed  by  Lord  Alfred  and  myself ; 
but  our  opposition  served  only  to  increase  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  young  women,  who  defied  us  to  frighten 
them  from  their  design. 

There  being  no  help  for  it,  I  ordered  Bess  and  another 
safe  steed  saddled  for  their  excursion,  and  the  two  horses 
were  soon  brought  forward.  While  the  ladies  were  dress- 
ing for  the  ride,  I  inquired  whether  Father  Triscadal,  the 
Hermit  of  the  Lake,  had  arrived  the  night  before  ;  and 
was  informed  that  he  had,  and  that  he  was  still  some- 
where about  the  place.  Lieutenant  Haddon  told  me 
that  he  liked  not  the  hermit ;  and  when  I  answered  that 


The  Mishap  of  Lady  Betty       20/ 


no  Catholic  priest  would  find  favour  in  his  prejudiced 
eyes,  he  said  that  perhaps  I  spoke  aright. 

"  But,"  he  continued,  "  this  hermit  has  a  most  repulsive 
appearance.  He  will  look  no  man  in  the  eye,  which  is 
ever  a  bad  sign.  Then  he  keeps  his  own  face  hidden  as 
well  as  his  wild  hair  and  great  hood  will  do  it.  Besides, 
he  has  shown  a  most  pernicious  curiosity  about  the 
place  here,  looking  into  our  numbers  and  condition  with 
a  zeal  which  belojigs  not  to  the  holy  office  he  affects. 
I  like  him  not.  Captain." 

"You  are  not  bound  to  like  him,  then,  Elijah,"  I 
replied,  "  nor  do  1  hold  any  love  for  him.  Keep  a  close 
eye  on  him,  but  let  no  injury  be  done  to  him  while  he 
preserves  his  own  decorum." 

At  that  moment  Father  Triscadal  came  shambling  up 
with  his  slow,  heavy  tread.  I  would  have  turned  from 
him  without  a  salutation  had  he  not  made  bold  to 
address  me. 

"  Good  morning.  Captain  Marmaduke,"  he  said,  in  his 
whining,  exasperating  voice.  "  The  peace  of  Heaven 
be  with  you  !  " 

"  1  wish  you  gocd  day,"  I  said,  shortly. 

"  You  command  a  stout  troop,  Captain  Marmaduke," 
he  continued,  "  a  watchful,  alert  garrison.  You  could 
not  easily  be  surprised  or  tricked  by  any  foe,  »-ould  you, 
Captain  Marmaduke  ? " 

'*  We  aim  to  guard  against  such  designs,"  I  answered, 
wishing  the  fellow  would  go  away. 

"  It  is  fortunate  that  yonder  ladies  have  so  discreet 
a  champion,  Captain  Marmaduke.  'I'here  are  bad  men 
in  these  parts." 

"  Yes,"  I  returned,  *'  I  know  of  some  bad  men  in 
these  parts,"   and   I  looked  straight  at  him,    But  his 


2o8 


John  Marmaduke 


;i 


i     ' 


eyes  were  on  the  ground.  His  manner  was  meekness 
itself,  although  his  voice  had  a  rasping  insolence  that 
aroused  my  resentment. 

"  You  will  not  permit  the  young  women  to  ride  forth 
alone  ? "  he  asked,  with  a  curious  air,  as  he  saw  them 
coming.  I  made  no  answer,  for  I  was  glad  that  their 
approach  gave  me  a  pretext  to  break  off  the  conver- 
sation. 

The  two  girls  came  down  the  lawn  with  happy  faces. 
Catherine  wore  her  man's  dress, — boots,  spurs,  breeches, 
doublet,  belted  sword,  lace  collar,  and  plumed  hat.  The 
love  of  adventurous  opposition  beamed  out  of  her  eyes, 
and  as  she  came  before  me  she  struck  the  air  with  her 
whip  and  defied  me  to  produce  man  or  monster  potent 
enough  to  take  Lady  Betty  away  from  her.  Betty,  in 
her  riding  habit,  fresh  and  pretty  as  a  daisy,  laughed 
outright,  vowed  that  she  had  never  felt  so  safe  with  any 
cavalier,  and  declared  that  her  heart  henceforth  be- 
longed to  her  gallant  escort.  Lord  Alfred  and  my 
mother  came  up,  and,  as  the  two  girls  infected  us  with 
their  gay  spirits,  our  talk  ran  from  quip  to  quibble,  as 
light  as  air. 

But  Lord  Alfred  soon  whispered  to  me  that  with  my 
permission  he  meant  to  ride  after  them,  and  I  told  him  I 
would  have  a  score  of  the  troopers  saunter  half  a  mile 
behind  them  in  case  of  need.  We  kept  this  to  ourselves, 
however,  not  wishing  to  rob  the  young  women  of  their 
pleasure. 

Lord  Alfred's  horse,  which  I  had  given  him,  was  led 
down  the  path  by  an  Irish  groom,  who,  being  com- 
manded to  return  to  the  house  for  Lord  Alfred's  cloak, 
dropped  the  bridle  and  walked  away  on  his  errand. 
The  horse  began  to  crop  the  grass  on  the  lawn,  when 


The  Mishap  of  Lady  Betty       209 


Father  Triscadal  took  the  bridle  over  his  arm  and  stood 
still. 

"  He  might  catch  his  foot  in  the  bridle,"  said  the  her- 
mit, apologetically. 

Catherine  sprang  into  her  saddle  with  an  agile  grace 
that  made  Lady  Betty  shout  with  delight.  "  I  shall 
learn  to  do  that,"  she  exclaimed,  "  when  I  get  back  to 
England  !  "     And  Lord  Alfred  lifted  her  into  her  seat. 

But  Catherine's  face  suddenly  clouded.  She  was 
looking  her  horse  over  with  the  practised  eye  of  a  rider, 
and,  as  Bess  set  her  foot  forward,  she  declared  that  the 
horse  had  a  loose  shoe.  There  was  a  general  expression 
of  regret.  Lady  Betty,  who  had  reached  the  open  gate, 
halted  her  horse  and  asked  if  they  must  give  up  the  ride. 

"  Never  !  "  cried  Catherine.  **  Our  farrier  is  at  the 
stable.  One  nail  and  two  minutes  will  make  the  shoe 
perfect.  I  will  return  quickly  ! "  And  she  galloped 
back  round  the  path. 

Lord  Alfred  walked  back  a  few  paces  and  met  the 
groom,  who  assisted  him  to  don  his  cloak.  Haddon  had 
walked  off  to  prepare  the  troopers  who  were  to  follow 
the  women.  My  mother  and  I  had  our  backs  to  the 
gate,  having  followed  Catherine  with  our  eyes  until  she 
disappeared  behind  the  house. 

There  was  a  scream  from  Lady  Betty. 

I  turned  round  and  saw  a  sight  that  riveted  me  to  the 
spot  with  astonishment.  Father  Triscadal  had  imper- 
ceptibly advanced  with  Lord  Alfred's  horse  until  he  was 
beside  Lady  Betty.  A  movement  on  his  part  had  caused 
her  to  scream  with  fright.  The  hermit  had  thrown  off 
his  coarse  brown  frock  and  hood,  and  leaped  into  Lord 
Alfred's  saddle.  At  his  belt,  instead  of  rosary  and  cru- 
cifix, were  now  a  sword  and  dagger.     The  red  hair  and 


2IO 


John  Marmaduke 


W: 


ij 


M 


|i 


(11 


'^ 
*' 


I:     * 


Ml 


.■■' 


beard  were  thrown  to  the  ground,  and  the  villainous 
features  of  Lord  Kilmac  stood  revealed.  Quicker  than 
I  can  relate  it  he  gave  me  a  shout  of  defiance  ;  and  then, 
seizing  the  bridle  of  Lady  Betty's  horse,  and  lashing  it 
with  the  whip  snatched  from  her  hand,  he  pressed  his 
own  spurred  heels  into  his  steed,  and  was  off  with  his 
terrified  captive  with  the  speed  of  the  wind. 

So  suddenly,  so  unexpectedly,  was  the  abduction 
performed,  that  its  effect  upon  Lord  Alfred,  my  mother, 
and  myself  was  like  unto  an  attack  of  paralysis.  Lord 
Kilmac  and  his  prey  were  rapidly  increasing  the  dis- 
tance between  themselves  and  us,  and  we  could  see  that 
Lady  Betty,  more  dead  than  alive,  was  holding  tightly  to 
her  horse's  mane  to  keep  from  falling  off.  The  impo- 
tence of  our  own  situation  was  emphasised  by  the  fact 
that  there  was  not  an  available  horse  in  sight  for  pursu- 
ing them. 

But  our  inaction  lasted  for  only  an  instant. 

"  The  damnable  villain  !  "  cried  Lord  Alfred,  "  the 
perfidious,  hypocritical,  thievish  knave  !  If  I  take  not 
his  life  for  this  outrage — "  but  he  was  running  back  to 
the  stables  at  full  speed  and  I  could  not  hear  the  con- 
clusion of  his  speech. 

My  mother  was  now  wringing  her  hands  in  agony  and 
crying  out  to  me  to  go  at  once  after  her  dear  Betty.  But 
I  needed  no  urging  in  such  a  circumstance. 

"  Quick  !  "  I  shouted  to  Tom  Bufter,  who  had  beheld 
the  abduction,  "  my  horse  !  Bring  Dick  to  me, — quick  !  " 
and  Bufter  was  following  after  Lord  Alfred  in  a  trice. 
"  Tell  Lieutenant  H  addon  to  make  all  haste  with  his 
men  !  "  I  cried  to  Luke  Marvin. 

At  that  instant  Catherine  came  galloping  down  the 
path.    She  had  passed  Lord  Alfred  and  the  trooper,  and 


The  Mishap  of  Lady  Betty       211 


divined  by  the  agitation  of  their  manner  that  something 
was  amiss.  But  not  until  she  reached  my  side  and  saw 
that  Lady  Betty  was  gone  did  she  suspect  what  had  hap- 
pened. Then  the  sight  of  the  pseudo  hermit's  garb 
lying  in  the  gate  told  her  that  there  had  been  perfidy  at 
the  hands  of  Father  Triscadal. 

"  Where  ? "  was  the  only  word  she  spoke. 

I  pointed  across  the  plain  at  the  receding  figures  of 
the  riders. 

"  Who  is  yonder  hermit  ? "  she  demanded. 

"  Lord  Kilmac  !  "  I  said. 

She  gave  almost  a  cry  of  rage.  Then,  throwing  her 
jaunty  whip  aside  and  setting  her  spurs  into  her  horse's 
flan'KS,  she  was  off  without  a  word,  before  I  could  stay 
her  rash  purpose.  In  a  moment  the  fleet  mare  had  car- 
ried her  beyond  the  sound  of  my  voice. 

Lord  Alfred  came  thundering  down  the  path  and 
would  have  ridden  out  alone  had  I  not  halted  him  with 
a  request  that  we  all  make  the  pursuit  together  with  due 
order  and  discipline. 

He  chafed  in  his  saddle,  but  stood  still.  Tom  Bufter 
now  rode  up  on  his  own  horse,  leading  Dick  for  me. 
Haddon  came,  also,  with  twenty  troopers.  I  told  the 
Lieutenant  to  remain  at  Carberry  Hall.  I  then  looked 
my  men  over  carefully,  saw  that  they  were  well  armed 
and  mounted,  and,  giving  the  order,  "  Forward  ! "  we 
were  off  at  a  steady  gallop,  Lord  Alfred  riding  beside  me. 

As  we  sped  over  the  ground  in  pursuit  of  Lady  Betty's 
abductor  I  could  see  that  Catherine  was  rapidly  gaining 
on  Lord  Kilmac.  I  have  said  that  Lake  Darvra  was 
but  three  miles  away  ;  and,  after  making  the  bend  in 
the  road,  we  came  in  sight  of  it  in  a  very  few  minutes. 
As  we  approached  nearer  and  nearer  to  its  shore  we 


212 


John  Marmaduke 


1:1:   \ 


I- 


could  distinguish  the  actions  of  those  in  fron*^  of  us  very 
plainly.  We  saw  Lord  Kilmac  stop  the  two  horses 
which  carried  himself  and  Lady  Betty,  and,  springing  to 
the  ground,  pull  the  struggling  girl  off  her  saddle.  Cathe- 
rine was  but  a  hundred  yards  behind  him,  and  Bess  was 
carrying  her  with  the  fleetness  of  a  bird.  The  brazen 
lord  saw  her  coming,  and,  what  gave  him  much  more 
concern,  he  saw  us  close  behind  her.  The  little  boat 
which  had  carried  him  across  the  lake  on  the  previous 
afternoon  was  still  resting  on  the  pebbled  beach.  Fling- 
ing his  fair  burden  roughly  into  the  boat,  he  pushed  it 
out  into  the  water,  made  a  step  or  two  beyond  the  shore 
in  order  to  give  it  momentum,  and  then  sprang  into  it 
himself.  As  he  did  so,  Catherine,  with  her  sword  in 
hand  rode  straight  to  the  water's  edge,  and  halted  there 
in  baffled  tage. 

The  ruffian  had  pushed  his  boat  some  thirty  feet  from 
the  chore  where  it  seemed  to  stop,  and  he  was  adjusting 
the  little  sail  with  great  coolness  as  we  arrived  on  the 
scene. 

Lady  Betty  was  crouching  in  the  stern  in  a  silent 
agony  of  fear.  Lord  Alfred  seized  a  trooper's  carbine 
and  raised  it  to  his  shoulder,  but  forebore  to  fire  lest  he 
might  hurt  the  lady. 

"Oh,  ho,  my  gay  Englishman  !  "  cried  Lord  Kilmac, 
shaking  his  fist  at  me  as  I  fumed  upon  my  horse.  "  I  know 
not  whether  your  heart  be  most  with  this  pretty  doll,  or 
with  yonder  imperious  beauty.  But  my  purpose  to  marry 
this  one  to  my  whole  troop  will  pinch  you  enough  until 
I  get  a  better  chance  to  settle  scores  with  you !  Why 
don't  you  ride  after  me.  Captain  ?  " 

He  had  now  got  his  sail  set  and  the  shallop  was  gaining 
headway  before  the  breeze.    We  all  stood  helpless  on 


The  Mishap  of  Lady  Betty       213 


the  shore,  and  not  a  word  was  spoken  until  the  boat  was 
half-way  across  the  water.  Lady  Betty's  terrified  face 
was  enough  to  melt  a  heart  of  stone.  When  the  boat 
was  drawing  near  to  the  farther  shore,  I  turned  to  Lord 
Alfred.     He  was  white  to  the  lips. 

"  Lord  Alfred,"  I  said,  '*  what,  think  you,  is  this  fel- 
low's design  ? " 

"  There  must  be  a  secret  cave,"  he  ansv  ercd,  "  where 
his  men  are  waiting  him.  Doubtless  it  is  difficult  of 
access  or  he  would  not  wear  so  much  assurance  in  going 
thither.  God  help  the  poor  girl  !  Why  is  there  no 
other  boat  on  this  lake  ? " 

Lord  Kilmac  had  now  reached  the  rugged  shore  be- 
yond, and  he  quickly  moored  his  boat.  Taking  the 
English  girl  in  his  arms  he  stepped  upon  a  projecting 
rock  and  disappeared. 

"  Forward  !  "  I  said.  "  Where  his  men  rode  yester- 
day we  will  endeavour  to  ride  to-day." 

Again  we  were  off  at  a  gallop  and  had  soon  passed 
beyond  the  stone  hills  where  the  Irishmen  had  ridden 
on  the  day  before.  When  we  came  to  the  spot  where  it 
seemed  that  the  entrance  to  the  cave  should  be,  we 
slackened  our  pace  and  scanned  the  way  narrowly. 

The  rocky  road  had  left  no  track  of  a  horse's  hoof, 
and  when  we  had  ridden  for  ten  minutes  we  began  to 
feel  that  our  search  was  hopeless,  when  Catherine  gave  a 
shout  and  stopped  her  horse.  We  all  halted  likewise,  and 
then  there  appeared  from  among  the  rocks,  as  if  placed 
there  by  nature,  the  head  and  shoulders  of  an  old  and 
wrinkled  man.  His  hair  was  white  and  thin  ;  his  beard 
was  long  and  venerable  ;  and  age  had  reduced  him  to  the 
last  appearance  of  decrepitude.  He  was  more  than 
half-naked,  his  only  raiment  being  a  thin  shirt,  which 


214 


John  Marmaduke 


i  m'^ 


¥\\ 


'   Mil- 
i     ill: 


covered  his  loins,  and  a  scapular  round  his  neck.  He 
came  slowly  from  the  hole  out  of  which  he  seemed  to 
emerge,  and  beckoned  to  us  to  approach  him.  I,  with 
Lord  Alfred  and  Catherine,  obeyed  his  signal. 

"  I  am  the  Hermit  of  the  Lake,"  he  said,  in  a  thin 
whisper.  "  I  am  Father  Triscadal  and  have  lived  under 
these  rocks  for  thirty  years.  No  human  beinp;  has  looked 
into  my  face  nor  I  in  his  during  all  that  time  until 
yesterday.  Then  this  ruffian,  whose  men  call  him  Lord 
Kilmac,  came  here  ;  and  he  and  they  scourged  me  with 
their  swords  ;  yea,  and  they  stripped  me  of  my  raiment 
and  of  the  holy  similitudes  of  my  religion  !  " 

The  old  man's  voice  rose  into  a  shriek  as  he  pro- 
ceeded with  the  story  of  his  wrongs.  We  waited  im- 
patiently for  the  conclusion. 

"  The — the  wicked  lord  then  arrayed  himself  in  my 
garments,  put  on  a  wig  and  beard,  and  went  out  upon 
the  lake  in  the  boat  that  I  use  for  gathering  the  fish 
which  sustain  my  thread  of  life.  For  God  and  our 
Lady  provide  for  my  humble  appetite  in  summer  and  in 
winter,  and ." 

"  Yes,  yes,  good  father ! "  I  cried,  interrupting  the 
old  man's  tedious  garrulity,  "but  what  of  this  vile 
lord?" 

"  True,  true  ! "  he  answered,  and  then  his  mind 
seemed  to  wander  for  a  moment,  and  I  feared  that  all 
would  be  lost  ere  he  would  come  to  the  point. 

"  This  Lord  Kilmac  has  now  returned,"  I  said,  by 
way  of  jogging  his  memory. 

The  deep  sockets  of  his  eyes  burned  with  the  slow- 
kindling  wrath  of  outraged  dignity. 

"  Yes  !  "  he  said,  "  he  is  back — ar-r*  a  young  girl  in 
his  power.     Come  you  in  search  of  hei  ? " 


I    1 1. 


The  Mishap  of  Lady  Betty        215 


He 

i  to 
vith 

thin 
nder 
3ked 
until 
Lord 
with 
ment 

pro- 
d  im- 

in  my 
upon 
le  fish 
id  our 
and  in 

ng  the 
is  vile 

,    mind 
that  all 

jaid,  by 

he  slow 

g  girl  in 


"  Yes,"  answered  Lord  Alfred  and  Catherine  in  a 
breath. 

"  Quick  !     What  of  her  ? "  I  demanded. 

"  They  thought  they  had  put  me  into  a  dungeon," 
said  the  hermit,  with  a  sort  of  chuckle.  "  They  pushed 
me  into  a  dark  hole,  and  they  themselves  kept  the  front 
of  the  cavern  where  is  my  altar.  But  there  is  a  secret 
exit  which  they  knew  not  of, — even  here  !  " 

"  Good  !  '  I  cried.  "  Now,  how  many  of  them  are 
there,  good  hermit,  and  in  what  posture  are  they  ?  " 

"  Twenty  men  in  all,"  he  replied.  "  The  woman 
lies  senseless  on  a  pallet.  The  men  are  drinking  usque- 
baugh from  their  flasks.  The  vile  lord  is  cursing 
Heaven  and  earth,  and  swearing  a  dark  revenge  on  one 
Marmaduke  !  " 

"  Show  us  the  way  thither  at  once  !  "  I  said. 

"  Nay,  but  there  must  be  no  bloodshed  before  the 
altar  of  our  Lady  !  "  cried  the  hermit.  *'  I  forgot  that 
thou  wouldst  do  violence  in  the  sanctuary  or  I  would 
never  have  told  thee  a  jot !  My  altar  is  but  a  shelf,  and 
it  hath  known  not  one  candle  in  many  years,  but  such 
as  it  is  it  is  consecrated  by  my  solitary  life  to  our  Lady's 
devotion  !  No  violence,"  he  continued,  in  a  whisper. 
"  No  violence  !  " 

"  Good  hermit,"  I  pleaded,  "  yonder  fair  girl  is  in 
dire  peril  from  which  we  would  rescue  her  quickly. 
You  shall  have  candles  and  candlesticks, — many  of 
them, — if  you  will  but  show  us  the  way  to  this  nest  of 
thieves  ! " 

Now,  there  is  no  man  but  can  be  successfully  tempted 
if  the  right  appeal  be  made  to  him.  One  who  will  resist 
a  venal  offering  will  yield  to  worldly  honour  ;  and  one 
who  will  spurn  every  bribe  unto  himself  will  succumb  if 


2l6 


li  ' 


fl 


»'| 

fill' 

il 


;fl 


John  Marmaduke 


either  his  vanity  or  his  superstition  be  touched  on  the 
quick.  Father  Triscadal's  simplicity  of  life  was  beyond 
corrupting,  but  an  offering  to  his  spiritual  apprehension 
at  once  overcame  his  scruples. 

"  If  there  is  violence  I  must  reconsecrate  my  altar," 
he  explained.  "  You  say  I  shall  have  candles  and 
candlesticks  ? " 

"  Yes,"  I  answered,  eagerly,  "  six  dozen  waxen  candles 
and  two  candlesticks  of  pure  silver. " 

His  eyes  danced  with  delight. 

"  Come,"  he  said,  "  on  foot,  all.  The  way  is  nar- 
row." 

I  stepped  back  and  ordered  the  horses  put  in  charge 
of  four  troopers,  while  sixteen  were  to  follow  me  into 
the  hermitage.  I  asked  Catherine  as  a  favour  to  me  to 
remain  behind,  but  she  imperatively  refused  to  do  so. 

"  This  adventure  is  full  of  peril,"  I  said.  "  I  would 
not  have  you  engage  further  in  its  dangers." 

"  My  brother's  murderer  is  yonder,"  she  replied,  with 
stubborn  resolution. 

"  But  leave  him  to  me,"  I  pleaded. 

"  You  do  but  waste  your  words." 

"  Promise  me,  then,  that  vou  will  shed  no  blood.  I 
would  not  have  you  crimson  ycur  hand." 

"  I  will  promise  you  nothint, /' 

It  was  hopeless.  Telling  the  hermit  to  lead  the  way, 
I  followed  him  into  the  narrow  entrance,  my  sword  in 
hand.  Close  behind  me  came  Catherine,  and  after  her 
Lord  Alfred.  Then,  one  by  one,  were  sixteen  of  the 
Ironsides,  every  one  with  his  carbine  ready  for  firing. 


*  i 


CHAPTER  XXV 


A    RESCUE 


THE  bent,  tottering,  and  half-clad  figure  of  the  an- 
cient hermit  pressed  ahead  slowly  and  with  great 
difficulty  through  the  dark  cavern.  There  vas  barely 
space  enough  for  us  to  follow  him  in  single  file  and 
stooping  posture  for  the  distance  of  a  hundred  feet. 
Then  the  area  widened,  and  presently  we  came  into  a 
passage  where  four  or  five  might  walk  abreast.  No  ray 
of  light  pierced  the  pitch  darkness,  and  it  suddenly 
came  into  my  mind  that  if  this  hermit  meant  to  do 
treachery  upon  us  as  the  other  had  done  we  were  now 
in  his  power.  Prompted  by  this  thought  I  seized  his 
thin  shirt  with  a  grasp  that  nearly  tore  it  from  his  back, 
and  the  sword  held  in  the  same  hand  lay  lengthwise  of 
his  spine.  At  the  same  moment,  Catherine,  whose 
sturdy  courage  seemed  likewire  affected  in  the  awful 
darkness,  caught  me  timidly  by  the  wrist  and  then  by 
the  hand,  and  I  straightway  closed  my  great  fingers, 
making  her  hand  a  willing  prisoner. 

"  Hermit,  whither  are  you  leading  us  ?  "  I  demanded, 
in  a  fierce  whisper. 

"  By  our  Lady,  I  will  lead  you  back  to  your  horses  if 
you  do  not  unhand  me  !  "  he  cried,  in  his  wheezy  voice. 

317 


2l8 


John  Marmaduke 


fii 


"  Hist,  theii  !  "  I  cautioned  him,  "  and  bring  us  into 
daylight.     Are  there  holes  or  stumbling  places  here  ?  " 

"  There  is  a  bottomless  pit  just  on  your  left,"  he  said. 
"  A  false  step  there  and  you  will  fail  into  eternity." 

Now,  Catherine  was  on  my  left,  and  at  this  warning 
she  pressed  up  so  closely  to  me  in  a  shivering  horror 
that  I  in  turn  crowded  the  hermit  against  the  wall  on 
the  right.  I  turned  and  whispered  Lord  Alfred  to  hug 
the  wall,  and  he  passed  the  word  back  to  the  last 
trooper.  I  was  still  keeping  tight  hold  of  Catherine's 
hand. 

We  picked  our  steps  noiselessly  for  five  minutes,  at 
the  end  of  which  we  came  upon  a  faint  ray  of  sunlight 
from  a  natural  chamber  in  the  rock  beyond.  Catherine 
withdrew  her  hand  from  mine,  and  we  all  stood  still. 

"  But  two  can  enter  abreast,"  whispered  the  hermit. 
"  They  are  all  in  there.     It  is  a  large  chamber." 

I  turned  to  my  men. 

"  I  and  Lord  Alfred  will  enter  first,"  I  began. 

"  And  I,  too,"  interrupted  Catherine. 

"  We  will  step  quickly  to  either  side.  Do  you  also 
step  to  one  side  or  the  other  so  that  all  may  get  within. 
Once  inside,  fire  your  pieces  at  the  enemy  if  the  quar- 
ters be  not  too  close,  but  bewaie  of  hurting  Lady  Betty." 

This  was  all  said  in  a  whisper.  Then  softly  I  said, 
"  Charge  !  " 

We  sprang  through  the  entrance  to  a  large  room  in  the 
manner  that  I  had  ordered,  Catherine  keeping  close  to 
my  side.  Before  the  startled  Irishmen  knew  what  had 
happened  we  were  upon  them,  and  I  cried,  "Fire!" 
They  were  on  their  feet  as  the  sharp  report  of  our  car- 
bines rang  out,  and  six  or  eight  of  them  fell,  dead  or 
wounded.     Then  a  general  fight  ensued.     Lord  Kilmac, 


IPP 


A  Rescue 


219 


who  was  sitting  moodily  on  the  ground,  saw  that  he  was 
trapped,  and  drawing  his  sword  he  made  at  me.  Before 
I  could  receive  him,  Catherine  stepped  in  front  of  me 
and  their  swords  v;ere  instantly  in  fierce  play.  Lord 
Alfred  passed  his  blade  through  a  tall  man-at-arms,  and 
then,  as  the  fighting  grew  thick  in  the  corner  where 
Lady  Betty  lay,  still  unconscious,  on  the  pallet,  he  gath- 
ered her  up  on  his  breast  and  continued  to  fight  with 
one  free  arm. 

I  kept  a  narrow  scrutiny  on  Catherine's  combat  with 
the  Irish  leader.  At  the  first  sign  of  weakness  on  her 
part  I  was  ready  to  take  her  place.  But  to  interfere 
with  her  at  present  was  not  my  design.  She  displayed  a 
wonderful  skill  in  handling  her  weapon,  but  as  this  was 
probably  the  first  time  she  had  ever  fought  a  foe  who 
aimed  at  her  life,  it  was  not  long  before  the  new  sensa- 
tion of  a  really  fatal  due!  had  its  natural  effect  on  her 
woman's  heart.  I  saw  it  come  into  her  eyes  that  she 
might  not  be  able  to  conquer  this  brutal  enemy,  and 
there  was  a  momentary  look  of  distress  on  her  face. 
But  it  soon  passed  away,  and  she  pressed  Lord  Kilmac 
so  hard  that,  in  stepping  backward  before  her  impetuous 
charge,  his  foot  struck  an  obstruction  and  he  fell  to  the 
floor.  She  thrust  her  foot  on  his  neck  and  raised  her 
sword  to  despatch  him,  when  I  seized  her  arm  and  drew 
her  away,  struggling  violently. 

"  No,"  I  said,  soothingly,  "  not  you.  This  is  no  deed 
for  you  to  perform." 

Lord  Kilmac  was  quickly  on  his  feet.  Half  of  his 
men  were  slain  ;  the  rest  had  fled. 

"  Villain,  you  owe  your  life  to  me  !  "  cried  Lord 
Alfred,  endeavouring  to  disengage  himself  from  the  clasp 
of  Lady  Betty. 


220 


John  Marmaduke 


¥ 


Catherine  continued  her  protests,  uttered  one  or  two 
bitter  reproaches  on  my  interference,  and  then,  being 
spent  in  strength  and  feeling  a  woman's  reaction,  she 
began  to  weep,  and,  as  I  still  kept  hold  of  her  arm,  she 
was  soon  sobbing  on  my  heart,  where  I  was  most  con- 
tent to  hold  her. 

As  Lord  Alfred  approached  the  Irish  chieftain.  Lord 
Kilmac  darted  past  him  and  sprang  through  the  opening 
into  the  darkness  of  the  inner  cave.  Lord  Alfred  fol- 
lowed him  a  few  paces,  but  soon  returned  with  a  crest- 
fallen air  and  announced  that  the  gloomy  labyrinth  was 
impenetrable. 

Catherine  quickly  recovered  her  composure  and  drew 
away.  She  and  Lord  Alfred  gave  their  whole  attention 
to  Lady  Betty,  whom  they  carried  outside,  away  from 
the  gruesome  scene  of  our  fight.  She  soon  regained  her 
senses,  and,  after  having  a  fit  of  hysteria,  was  laughing 
in  the  happiness  of  her  rescue. 

The  entrance  to  the  hermit's  cave  was  wide,  but  it  was 
hidden  from  view  by  the  peculiar  formation  of  the  rocks 
in  front  of  it.  One  had  to  pass  round  these  sentinels  of 
nature  to  see,  on  one  side,  the  lake,  and  on  the  other  the 
country  beyond  it. 

Father  Triscadal  now  came  in  through  the  secret  way 
which  we  had  used  in  effecting  our  entrance,  and  looked 
upon  the  scene  of  blood  with  undisguised  horror.  He 
crossed  himself  many  times  and  uttered  his  prayers  un- 
ceasingly. I  gave  him  a  purse  of  silver  of  sufficient 
worth  to  purchase  the  candles  and  their  holders,  as  I  had 
promised.  I  reminded  him  that  he  must  at  once  get 
help  from  the  countryfolk  to  bury  the  dead  Irishmen,  or 
his  place  would  be  uninhabitable.  It  likewise  occurred 
to  me  to  say,  that  since  his  holy  retreat  had  been  dese- 


mm 


A  Rescue 


221 


crated  by  the  sanguinary  effects  of  war  he  would  per- 
haps not  care  to  inhabit  it  longer,  but  should  betake 
himself  to  a  monastery  near  by,  and  end  his  days  with 
creatures  of  human  kind.  He  received  my  suggestion 
with  resentful  horror.  Bidding  the  anchoret  farewell, 
therefore,  I  drew  my  men  away  from  the  place,  and,  re- 
joining our  friends  outside,  we  returned  to  our  horses. 

On  our  way  thither  we  came  upon  some  ten  horses 
which  were  tethered  in  a  green  plot  leading  off  from  one 
of  the  great,  rocky  fissures ;  the  other  beasts  that  had 
belonged  to  our  foes  had  been  ridden  off  by  the  soldiers 
who  had  escaped  from  the  cave.  When  all  our  party 
were  mounted  on  our  steeds,  my  troopers  took  the  hal- 
ters of  the  native  horses,  and  with  this  useful  spoil  of 
victory  we  set  out  for  Carberry  Hall. 

We  arrived  there  in  less  than  three  hours  from  the 
time  of  our  departure.  My  mother  was  overjoyed  to  see 
us,  and  the  happy  end  of  our  adventure  was  celebrated 
by  a  great  feast  shortly  after  the  noon  hour. 


!  M 


" 


I! 


H  f 


II  i 


]  I 


I  I 


t; '' 


I 


CHAPTER   XXVI 

TELLING    A   SECRET    TO   ONE'S   MOTHER 

AFTER  dinner  my  mother  announced  that  she  and 
Lady  Betty  would  certainly  depart  for  Dublin  the 
next  day,  and  would  go  thence  to  England  in  the  first 
ship. 

"  The  perils  of  this  country  are  such,"  she  said,  "  as 
no  woman  should  encounter  unnecessarily.  I  will  not 
have  my  Betty  exposed  to  further  dangers." 

I  glanced  swiftly  at  Catherine.  The  speech  had  em- 
phasised her  own  desolate  situation  once  more.  At  that 
instant  a  resolution  came  into  my  mind  with  a  force 
which,  for  the  time  being,  overwhelmed  every  other  pur- 
pose. My  love  for  Catherine  had  increased  with  every 
incident  that  had  occurred  ;  and  her  treatment  of  me 
during  the  experiences  of  the  morning  had  made  me  feel 
that  there  might  now  be  some  hope  for  a  more  favourable 
consideration  on  her  part  of  *he  proposal  I  had  made  to 
her. 

Accordingly  I  sought  an  early  opportunity  to  take  my 
mother  into  an  unoccupied  apartment,  whereupon  I  shut 
the  door  and  informed  her  that  I  desired  to  consult  with 
her  about  a  mdtter  of  the  gravest  importance.  Her  face 
at  once  took  on  an  air  of  loving  solicitude. 


Telling  a  Secret 


223 


It 


"  It  is  a  great  privilege,  my  dear  son,"  said  she,  "  to 
be  permitted  to  counsel  with  you.  We  have  not  been 
together  so  for  a  long  time." 

As  we  seated  ourselves  I  had  a  speech  all  pre^/ared 
and  at  my  tongue's  end  by  which  she  was  to  know  all 
my  secret  in  a  short  sentence.  But  when  I  looked  into 
her  earnest  eyes  my  courage  departed,  and  I  stammered 
some  inarticulate  things  that  meant  nothing. 

"  This  war,  dear  mother,  is  going  to  be  a  most  cruel 
and  sanguinary  affair, — at  least  so  I  think.  There  has 
been  great  provocation  given  to  our  English  army. — 
Those  who  are  native  here " 

Then  I  gulped  down  a  lump  in  my  throat  and  stopped. 

"  The  natives  here  will  suffer  for  their  outrages,  my 
son,  of  course.     This  is  what  you  would  say  ?  " 

"  Yes, — that  is — not  quite,  mother.  Some,  you  know, 
are  deserving  persons.  Indeed,  many  of  them  are  those 
against  whom  there  is  no  reproach." 

"  Quite  likely,  my  son.  A  whole  race  could  scarcely 
be  so  malignant  as  those  members  of  it  who  have  in- 
flicted these  massacres  on  our  settlers." 

"  Then,  you  know,  mother — some  of  the  women  of 
this  country. — What  consideration  is  to  be  shown  to 
them?" 

"  The  consideration  which  true  English  soldiers 
always  give  to  womanhood,  I  hope,  my  son." 

"  Yes, — but — "  and  I  stopped  short. 

I  do  not  know  whether  my  mother  had  a  sudden  ink- 
ling of  the  truth.  My  confused  manner  was  enough  to 
suggest  a  secret  of  the  kind  I  was  vainly  endeavouring  to 
disclose.     But  she  merely  said,  "  Go  on,  my  son." 

"  This  young  Irish  lady,  for  instance, — Catherine 
Dillon  ! " 


224 


John  Marmaduke 


i'. 


;    III! 


i'\:> 


<     , 


1 


A  very  beautiful  woman,  my  son."  There  was  the 
slightest  shade  of  reserve,  possibly  of  suspicion,  in  my 
mother's  face  as  she  said  this. 

"  Mother,  I  love  this  young  woman  !  " 

It  was  out.  The  blood  rushed  to  my  head  until  my 
face  burned. 

My  mother  rose  quickly  to  her  feet.  She  wore  an 
angry  and  disdainful  countenance  that  I  had  never  seen 
before. 

"  I  trusted  that  your  father  and  I  had  brought  you  up 
as  a  man  of  sense,"  she  said. 

I  made  no  reply. 

"  How  long  have  you  known  this  woman  ?  " 

"  Less  than  two  weeks." 

"She  is  a  Catholic?" 

"Yes." 

She  walked  up  and  down  the  floor  deliberately,  and 
I  saw  that  she  was  striving  to  master  her  resentment. 
When  she  stopped  in  front  of  me,  she  exclaimed  : 

"  Surely,  you  do  not  mean  to  convince  yourself  that 
you  are  in  earnest  !  " 

"  Mother,  I  never  held  to  a  purpose  more  earnestly  in 
my  life.     You  know  that  I  am  not  a  frivolous  man." 

"  That  is  why  your  speech  does  so  much  amaze  me. 
Rashness  is  unlike  you." 

"  Is  it  rash  to  love  where  one's  soul  is  engaged  ?  " 

"  You  know  my  heart's  wish  in  that  respect,  my  son." 

"  Truly  I  do,  mother  ;  but  affection  cannot  come  at 
one's  bidding.  Besides,  Lord  Alfred,  I  think,  has  begun 
a  siege  there.     Another  suitor  would  be  hopeless." 

"  I  know  not  that.  But  surely  an  acquaintance  of 
two  weeks  cannot  lead  a  serious  man  into  so  deplorable 
a  tangle." 


Telling  a  Secret 


225 


my 


that 

tly  in 

:e  me. 


"  I  would  not  call  it  in  that  way,"  I  said  ;  "  but  two 
weeks  hath  made  me  love  her." 

**  A  rash,  hasty,  and  unreasonable  passion,"  said  my 
mother.  "  Against  your  religion,  your  country,  and 
your  family.  You  cannot  tell  me  that  your  conscience 
approves  it,  my  son  ? " 

My  mother  was  growing  calmer,  and  she  again  seated 
herself  beside  me. 

"  I  cannot  defend  it  against  the  grou  ds  you  have  ad- 
vanced, mother.  I  simply  tell  you  what  condition  I  am 
in.     If  it  be  a  thing  to  censure,  still  do  I  love  her." 

"  But  you  have  been  raised  to  look  upon  Catho- 
lics  " 

"  As  Pagans,  mother, — as  heathens, — as  creatures  be- 
yond the  pale  of  human  sympathy  and  respect.  I  have 
been  taught  that  Catholics  are  a  band  of  creatures  be- 
neath the  quality  of  men,  whose  aim  it  is  to  hand  down 
to  perdition  all  souls  outside  the  Pale  whose  destruction 
they  can  compass  in  time  or  eternity.  This  is  the  aspect 
in  which  they  are  considered  in  England.  But  that  is 
false  ! — yes,  as  false  as  any  other  soul-consuming  fallacy 
that  has  its  birth  in  bigoted  and  wicked  self-righteous- 
ness !  I  came  to  Ireland  with  even  such  a  notion  as  that 
in  my  mind  against  these  persecuted  people.  I  met  this 
young  girl, — and  all  is  changed  !  What  are  the  Catholics  ? 
Earnest  people,  like  unto  ourselves  !  Bigoted,  preju- 
diced, like  unto  ourselves.  Proclaiming  themselves 
right  and  all  others  wrong,  as  we  do.  Declaring  that 
eternal  truth  is  theirs  alone,  even  as  we  do  !  Ready  to 
fight, — nay,  actually  fighting,  as  we  ourselves  are  fight- 
ing, for  Christianity  !  Claiming  Christ  as  their  Captain, 
as  we  ourselves  claim  Him,  and  filHng  the  land  with 

horror  for  religion's  sake,  as  we  are  doing,  and  all  be- 
»5 


yi^ 


226 


John  Marmaduke 


cause  we  agree  not  in  the  forms  of  our  worship  of 
God!"  . 

I  had  risen  to  my  feet. 

"  You  will  not  declaim  against  your  religion,  my  son  ?  " 

"  Not  until  it  attacks  another  religion,  mother.  We 
in  England  have  fought  for  liberty  of  conscience,  and 
we  pressed  on  to  the  overturning  of  the  monarchy  until 
we  secured  it.  But  what  is  liberty  of  conscience  if  it 
denies  to  our  neighbour  what  it  claims  for  ourselves  ?  Is 
not  every  theological  dispute  a  mark  of  bigotry,  or  self- 
righteousness  ? " 

"  But  has  this  Irish  lady  grown  into  the  same  liberal 
frame  on  this  subject  ?  " 

"  Alas,  no  !  She  is  like  all  the  rest,  Catholic  and 
Protestant.     She  '     l  not  yield  an  inch." 

"  That  should  a  further  affection  between  you, 

then." 

"  Is  love  a  thing  of  logic,  mother,  that  you  speak  of  it 
in  this  matter-of-fact  way  ?  Do  you  not  know  that  it  is 
a  passion  of  the  soul,  which  neither  reason,  nor  logic, 
nor  expediency,  nor  all  the  height  and  depth  of  Heaven 
can  alter  or  efface  ?  When  I  held  this  maiden  in  my 
arms—"  (My  mother  interrupted  me  with  a  gesture  of 
impatience.  "  You  have  got  along  rapidly  for  so  short 
an  acquaintance  !  "  she  said.  I  paid  no  heed  to  her  re- 
mark.) "  — love  came  all  over  me  even  as  I  have  said.  I 
find  her  to  be  a  woman,  a  child  of  divine  creation,  as  my 
own  mother  is.  I  find  her  to  be  one  fit  for  a  man  to 
love  through  all  his  life.  I  find  her  to  be  loving,  gentle, 
and  kind  ;  and  then  again  cold,  severe,  and  full  of 
passion  Wayward,  she  is, — contradictory, — in  twenty 
moods  each  day — in  short,  dear  mother,  a  woman  ;  the 
loveliest,  I  think,  in  the  world  !  " 


Telling  a  Secret 


227 


of 


n? 

We 
,  and 
until 
:  if  it 
5?  Is 
r  self- 
liberal 
ic  and 
n  you, 

kof  it 
lat  it  is 
logic, 
leaven 
in  my 
ture  of 
)  short 
her  re- 
said.  I 
1,  as  my 
man  to 
gentle, 
full   of 
twenty 


kan 


the 


"  She  has  unsettled  your  tongue  as  well  as  your 
brain  !  "  said  my  mother. 

There  was  silence  for  a  moment,  when  she  asked  sud- 
denly : 

"  What  will  the  army  say  to  this  ?  What  will  General 
Cromwell  say  ?  You  will  surely  lose  their  respect.  Will 
it  not  stop  your  progress  ? " 

"  Such  results  may  even  follow.  It  is  not  at  all  un- 
likely." 

"  Oh,  my  son,  my  son  !  "  she  cried,  yielding  to  bitter 
tears  for  the  first  time.  "  You  have  ever  been  mv 
heart's  joy  and  pride.  Your  career  in  the  army  has  ful- 
filled a  mother's  hope  of  honour.  I  have  ever  thought 
that  your  life  has  been  precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord. 
I  have  always  believed  that  He  has  chosen  you  for  great 
ends.  We  both  know  that  you  are  beloved  by  England's 
illustrious  soldier,  even  as  if  you  were  his  own  son. 
And  now,  to  think  that  you  would  throw  away  all  hope, 
all  trust,  all  discretion  ! — it  is  too  much  !  "  And  my 
poor  mother  broke  down  under  the  weight  of  her  keen 
anguish. 

1  paused  for  a  moment.  This  was  the  most  '/tter  cup 
that  I  had  ever  tasted. 

"  Mother,"  I  said,  "  I  can  make  neither  denial  nor  de- 
fence. All  that  I  can  say  in  answer  to  your  reproaches 
is,  that  I  love  this  maiden  even  as  I  have  said.  Perhaps 
I  might  summon  up  resolution  to  march  away  from  this 
place  to-day  and  never  look  upon  her  face  again  ;  but  it 
would  be  a  march  to  misery." 

"  My  dear  son,"  she  said,  speaking  more  calmly, 
though  she  was  still  weeping  ;  "  I  would  not  command 
you  to  make  such  a  sacrifice,  if,  indeed,  the  result  would 
be  what  you  have  described.     But  it  is  so  sudden  !     If 


r 


If 


228 


m 


i  I 


1^1 


f|p 


,«|, 


;  i 


1 1 


III 

1 


i: 


John  Marmaduke 


your  heart  had  grown  into  its  fevered  condition  after  a 
long  acquaintance, — if  you  had  been  attracted  to  each 
other  through  congenial  qualities  of  intellect  and  affec- 
tion which  would  justify  your  union, — 1  would  raise  no 
objection,  no  matter  how  weighty  the  obstacles  might 
seem  to  be.  But  as  it  is,  a  spell  has  been  cast  over  you, 
— you  are  the  victim  of  an  enchantment !  You,  the  vic- 
torious soldier,  have  succumbed  to  the  fascinations  of  an 
hereditary  enemy, — you  are  a  prisoner  to  your  conquered 
foe!" 

"  I  have  hardly  so  far  forsaken  my  reason,  mother." 

"  Oh,  this  project  of  yours  is  against  reason,  faith,  and 
conscience  ! " 

"  Against  reason  and  faith  it  may  be,  mother,  but  not 
against  conscience.  I  feel  no  qualm  of  conscience  in 
loving  this  girl, — not  one  !  " 

**  But,  my  son,  have  you  reflected, — you  surely  have 
not, — on  the  nature  and  quality  of  marriage  ?  Marriage 
— true  marriage— is  not  a  temporal  partnership  between 
two  persons  drawn  together  by  a  frivolous  attachment. 
It  is  not  a  condition  to  be  entered  upon  lightly  or  un- 
worthily. It  cannot  be  laid  aside  wh<,'n  one  or  the  other 
grows  weary  of  it.  You  take  its  obligations  upon  you  in 
sickness  and  in  health.  That  means  not  only  sickness 
of  the  body,  but  sickness  of  the  soul  as  well.  There  is 
nothing  so  high  or  co  low  in  human  life  that  in  marriage 
can  justly  turn  one  mate  against  the  other.  It  can  take 
account  of  no  offence.  Founded  on  the  highest  type  of 
love  that  is  known  to  humanity,  it  has  only  two  qualities, 
to  love  and  to  forgive.  Think,  then,  oh,  my  son,  of  the 
responsibility  which  should  sway  the  mind  of  one  who 
yearns  to  enter  into  such  a  holy  union.  Your  soul  and 
heri  are  as  far  apart  in  your  conceptions  of  life  and  of 


Telling  a  Secret 


229 


religion  as  the  two  shores  of  the  ocean.  Can  you,  then, 
persist  in  your  rash  and  ill-considered  passion  ? " 

"  Mother,  I  have  listened  intently  to  all  that  you  have 
said.  The  nobility  of  your  own  soul  is  reflected  in  your 
exposition  of  this  subject.  You  have,  I  think,  over- 
praised me  as  a  man  ;  a  mother  is  apt  to  do  so.  You 
have,  I  know,  underrated  the  woman  who  is  my  heart's 
choice.  The  time  of  our  acquaintance  has  indeed  been 
short,  and  there  would  seem  to  be  grounds  in  that  respect 
for  your  objections.  But  believe  me,  dear  mother,  I 
know  this  woman  as  well  to-day  as  if  we  had  been  to- 
gether for  a  year.  I  have  seen  her  in  early  every  cir- 
cumstance of  life.  She  has  taken  a  sword  in  her  hand 
and  defended  her  home  against  our  invasion  with  a  man's 
courage.  She  has  faced  the  perils  of  war  in  the  night 
and  in  the  day,  showing  a  mind  resplendent  of  that  honour 
which  we  love  in  England.  She  has  beheld  death  come 
to  her  father  and  her  brother  until  her  own  spirit  has 
bent  and  quivered  under  the  shock  of  an  awful  bereave- 
ment, but  she  has  regained  her  poise  of  mind  through 
the  calm  philosophy  of  a  transcendent  womanhood. 
She  is  a  woman  among  ten  thousand,  mother  !  " 

"  But  you  say  she  is  bigoted  !  " 

"  That  is  true.  Her  ideas  are  narrow  and  she  holds 
firmly  to  inherited  superstitions  which  she  never  will  let 
loose.  But  what  matters  that  ?  I  am  an  Episcopalian. 
Were  you  to  choose  me  a  wife  from  the  Presbyterians 
our  differences  would  be  as  irreconcilable,  as  opinions 
now  stand  in  England,  as  those  between  Catherine  and 
me.  If  we  have  the  manhood  and  the  womanhood  to 
build  a  marriage  on,  v/hat  matters  a  difference  of  opin- 
ion so  that  true  love  be  there  ?  " 

"  If  I  believed  true  love  to  be  there,  my  son,  I  could 


II I 


iSS 


i: 


U 


230 


John  Marmaduke 


look  on  it  with  more  fortitude.  Your  life  has  been  a 
happy  one  up  to  this  time  ;  it  has  been  ornamented  with 
virtue  and  honour.  Your  deeds  have  added  to  the  glory 
of  the  name  you  bear.  Now,  however,  the  time  of  your 
adversity  begins, — I  feel  it, — I  know  it  to  be  true.  If 
you  are  resolved  to  enter  upon  a  marriage  which  will 
distress  the  heart  of  every  friend  who  loves  you, — which 
will  turn  against  you  every  one  who  seeks  a  pretext  for 
your  disparagement ; — if  a  mother's  pleading  and  your 
own  conscience  will  not  break  your  resolution " 

"  Mother,  I  am  still  resolved.  It  is  my  destiny.  I 
cannot  do  otherwise." 

"  Then,  my  son,  I  give  you  my  blessing." 

She  kissed  me  tenderly  and  our  tears  mingled. 

"  I  will  love  you  always,  my  son.  Your  wife  shall  be 
as  a  daughter  to  me.  And  if  affliction  must  come  to  you 
who  are  more  than  the  '  ople  of  my  eye,  I  will  help  you 
to  bear  it,  as  God  will  gr.-e  r-»e  strength  in  my  great  love 
for  you,  and  in  His  love  unto  us  both.  Kiss  me,  my 
dear  son." 


«  ! 


I 

^   5 


CHAPTER  XXVII 


AT    LOGGERHEADS 


MY  mother  retired  to  her  own  chamber  to  indulge 
her  emotions  of  grief  and  disappomtment  with  a 
degree  of  agony  which  I  could  easily  imagine  her  to  suf- 
fer. For  my  part,  my  heart  was  torn  with  pangs  of  re- 
moise  at  the  sorrow  which  I  had  so  suddenly  brought 
upon  her  life.  I  walked  out  into  the  air,  but  as  the 
companions  of  my  profession  were  about  me  on  every 
side,  and  I  found  their  friendly  attentions  for  the  first 
time  unwelcome,  I  hastened  down  the  lawn  and  ou«:  of 
the  gate. 

My  cheeks  were  hot  and  I  felt  a  guilty  thumping  at 
my  seat  of  life.  I  asked  myself  a  hundred  times  whether 
I  had  the  right  to  involve  mysolf  in  the  difficulties  that 
my  mother  had  pointed  out  but  too  plainly.  The  ques- 
tion that  recurred  most  frequently  to  my  mind  was  the 
one  s'  J  had  suggested  as  to  the  effect  of  my  marriage 
on  my  prestige  in  the  army.  My  honour  as  an  English 
soldier  was  the  fire  which  kept  my  ambitioii  aglow.  If 
that  were  dimmed  existence  would  be  misery.  Would 
not  love,  then,  lose  its  power  and  its  solace  ?  Would 
Catherine  cherish  me  in  that  sickness  of  the  soul  which 
my  mother  had  described  ?    Would  she  love  me,  in  these 

8|i 


H 


H 


I 


^32 


John  Marmaduke 


uncertain  adversities  that  threatened  to  overwhelm  me, 
with  the  same  fidelity  as  now  in  the  glory  of  my  military 
conquests  ?  Suppose  that  the  whirlwind  power  of  my 
victories  had  carried  the  affections  of  her  heart, — would 
they  still  be  mine  if  General  Cromwell  should  set  the 
mark  of  his  disfavour  upon  me  after  I  should  violate  all 
the  traditions  of  Puritanism  by  marrying  a  Papist  ? 

These  were  the  doubts  which  passed  through  my  mind 
as  I  moodily  took  my  way  in  a  listless  manner  toward 
the  sea.  When  I  drew  near  to  Roderick's  Pool  I  was 
the  most  wretched  man  in  Ireland,  and  as  the  desire  to 
be  entirely  alone  was  strong  within  me,  I  mounted  the 
elevation  beyond  the  pool  and  climbed  down  over  the 
projecting  rocks  into  the  Dragon's  Den.  When  I  had 
gained  the  floor  in  that  desolate  spot,  I  felt  the  savage 
humour  of  my  mind  increase  to  find  myself  face  to  face 
with  Father  Terhune. 

The  tall  priest  was  seated  on  a  jutting  rock,  looking 
out  to  sea  in  an  abstracted  way.  As  my  form  swung 
into  the  den  he  rose  to  his  feet  with  a  startled  air. 

"  I  did  not  think  to  find  you  here,"  I  said,  in  a  scarcely 
cordial  tone. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  he  replied,  in  the  quiet  and 
respectful  voice  which  invariably  marked  his  conversa- 
tion with  me.  "  The  Dragon's  Den  is  the  only  place 
about  Carberry  Hall  now  wheie  I  can  pursue  those 
reflections  that  are  so  essential  in  the  office  of  the  priest- 
hood." 

"  And  I  have  come  hither,  too,  for  the  purpose  of 
reflection,"  I  answered.  "  I  am  as  much  harassed  to- 
day by  the  presence  of  my  bustling  soldiers  as  you  are." 

He  saw  that  I  was  in  an  ill  humour,  and  I  think  he 
meant,  in  his  polite  disposition,  to  lift  me  out  of  myself 


mm 


At  Loggerheads 


233 


and  drive  away  the  cares  which  were  visibly  disturbing 
me. 

"  Solitude  is  necessary  now  and  then  to  a  thinking 
man,"  he  observed.  "  You  yourself  are  fond  of  solitude, 
I  imagine  ? " 

"  Yes,"  I  replied,  "  when  there  is  business  to  be  done 
I  must  be  alone  to  plan  it  out,  if  there  is  time." 

"  But  the  nature  of  your  business,"  he  said,  smiling  as 
he  pronounced  the  last  word,  "  cannot  always  wait  upon 
reflection." 

"  That  is  very  true,"  I  replied.  "  The  business  of 
war  too  often  consists  in  seeing  your  foe  and  fighting 
him  to  the  death  on  the  instant." 

"  While  with  us,"  said  the  priest,  "  business  means 
the  unceasing  reflection  upon  the  love  of  God,  and  the 
exposition  of  His  true  religion  to  His  people." 

At  any  other  time,  this  speech  would  have  excited  me 
to  no  comment,  for  1  am,  I  think,  a  man  of  gentle  feel- 
ings, and  not  give  to  unnecessary  controversy.  But  in 
my  present  mood  it  was  a  barbed  arrow  in  my  wound, 
and  I  seized  upon  the  idea  of  his  remar\  as  a  target  for 
my  pent-up  misery, 

"  His  true  religion  indeed  !  "  I  said.  "  Is  that  to  be 
found  in  Ireland  ?  " 

Now,  Father  Terhune  had  entertained  a  much  better 
opinion  of  me  than  this  intemperate  speech  would  justify; 
and  he  looked  pained  and  surprised,  but  said  nothing. 

"  Yes,"  I  continued,  speaking  with  the  greater  spirit 
because  of  a  sense  of  shame  at  my  lack  of  politeness, 
"  I  wonder  that  the  people  of  this  country  have  held 
fast  to  their  traditions  for  so  many  centuries." 

The  blood  in  the  priest's  thin  face  mounted  to  his 
temples. 


^^' 


234 


John  Marmaduke 


"  These  are  strange  words,  Captain  Marmaduke,"  he 
said,  with  a  stately  air  of  indignation.  "  Especially  are 
they  unlocked  foi  from  one  whom  I  have  esteemed  as 
the  model  of  a  gentleman." 

In  no  very  good  humour,  we  looked  at  each  other  for 
a  moment  in  silence. 

"The  Church  of  Christ  is  builded  upon  a  rock,"  cried 
the  priest,  with  an  earnest  but  suppressed  enthusiasm. 
"  The  keys  thereof  were  given  to  the  first  Pope,  they  are 
held  to-day  in  the  hand  of  our  Holy  Father  at  Rome  ; 
and  the  gates  of  Hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it  !  " 

"  The  gates  of  Hell, — no  ! "  I  replied,  with  equal 
fervour.  "  But  the  sword  of  truth  hath  already  cut  Rome 
in  half,  and  the  blade  of  steel  in  the  arm  of  flesh  is  now 
doing,  in  Ireland,  and  throughout  Europe,  what  work 
remains  in  order  that  the  true  Church  may  prevail." 

We  were  both  angry, — a  condition  as  unusual  with 
him,  I  think,  as  with  me.  We  paced  the  narrow 
apartment  until  we  had  passed  each  other  two  or  three 
times,  after  which  the  first  burst  of  temper  ha^  cooled 
away. 

"  Captain  Marmaduke,"  said  the  priest,  facing  me  with 
his  habitual  good  humour  restored.  "  You  are  a  man  of 
good  parts, — a  thinking  man,— one  whose  heart  seems 
to  be  filled  with  a  natural  kindness.  With  such  a  dis- 
position, I  have  fondly  hoped,  from  the  moment  of  my 
first  contact  with  you,  that  you  would  be  a  man  to  whose 
understanding  the  beauty  and  truth  of  the  Catholic 
religion  would  not  appeal  in  vain.  Now,  I  think  it 
likely  that  your  education  in  England  has  built  up  a 
wall  of  prejudice  in  your  mind  which  sound  argument 
and  proper  instruction  would  remove.  Happy  indeed 
would  I  account  myself  if  I  could  be  the  humble  instru- 


At  Loggerheads 


235 


ment  whereby  a  soul  like  yours  might  be  added  to  the 
Church." 

"  If  that  wish  is  in  your  heart,  good  father,"  I  said, 
smiling,  "  I  must  tell  you  that  neither  argument  nor 
instruction  could  carry  me  to  Rome." 

He  laughed  pleasantly. 

"  That  seems  a  hopeless  confession,"  he  said.  "  The 
man  who  will  heed  neither  argument  nor  instruction  is 
like  the  snail  who  shuts  himself  in  his  shell  and  thinks 
his  house  invulnerable  ;  or,  like  the  ostrich  who  buries 
his  head  in  the  sand  and  fancies  that  no  pursuer  can 
wound  him.  But  let  us  have  it  out !  We  are  both  in 
the  mood  for  controversy.  Come  against  me.  Captain 
Marmaduke,  with  the  weapons  of  thy  prejudice,  and  see 
if  I  do  not  make  stouter  resistance  than,  unhappily, 
many  of  my  countrymen  have  made  against  thy  carnal 
arms." 

There  was  a  beaming  smile  on  his  face  and  an  air  of 
sincere  candour  which  always  won  me  to  him. 

"  I  am  a  poor  churchman,"  I  said,  embarrassed  by 
his  odd  challenge,  "  and  a  worse  logician.  But  the 
objections  which  I  cherish  against  your  faith  I  will  give 
you." 

"  Good,"  he  said. 

"  Now, — I  have  been  taught  that  the  primitive  Church, 
which  I  am  willing  to  call  the  Holy  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  has  transformed  itself  into  something  that  is 
quite  different  from  the  original  model." 

"You  have  hurled  your  javelin  with  force,  Captain 
Marmaduke.  When  it  strikes  the  shield  of  truth  it  will 
burst  harmless  into  a  thousand  fragments.     Proceed." 

"  In  the  course  of  this  transformation  superstitions 
were  brought  in  to  appeal  to  the  eye,  the  ear,  and  the 


i^ 


236 


John  Marmaduke 


f 


.  J 


li  'i 


I    I  11    K 


hand,  in  the  place  of  that  faith  which  had  been  suffi- 
cient unto  all  the  needs  of  the  heart." 

"  You  are  not  through  ?  **  he  asked,  with  an  affected 
surprise. 

**  My  argument  and  breath  are  both  out,"  I  said  ;  and 
we  laughed  again. 

"  Your  logic  is  like  your  fighting,  Captain  Marma- 
duke," said  the  priest.  "  You  cut  and  thrust  brilliantly 
and  drive  your  enemy  away  by  your  very  vehemence. 
But  brilliance  and  vehemence  are  not  argument.  Now, 
I  shall  try  to  press  you  into  a  corner  until  you  cry 
mercy.  Your  first  point  was,  I  believe,  that  the  true 
Church  has  transformed  itself  into  something  that  is 
foreign  to  the  original  model  ?    Am  I  right  ? " 

"  Perfectly  right." 

"  Then  let  me  take  up  that  thought  with  some  care, 
for,  as  you  have  made  that  the  foundation  of  your  argu- 
ment, if  I  can  shatter  the  foundation  the  argument  itself 
must  fall.  You  have  evidently  failed  to  perceive  that 
the  essential  difference  which  separates  the  true  Church 
from  you  lies  primarily,  not  in  any  special  dogma,  but 
in  the  authority  on  which  all  her  dogmas  rest.  You, 
basing  your  religion  on  the  Bible  solely,  have  conceived 
that  Catholics  of  course  profess  to  do  likewise,  and  you 
would  doubtless  feel  like  denouncing  us  for  being  trai- 
tors to  our  supposed  profession.  But  the  true  Church's 
primary  doctrine  is  her  own  perpetual  infallibility.  She 
is  inspired,  she  declares,  by  the  same  spirit  that  inspired 
the  Bible,  and  her  voice  is,  equally  with  the  Bible,  Ine 
voice  of  God.  You  assume,  perchance,  that  the  Bible 
is  the  sole  rule  of  faith, — a  view,  strangely  enough,  which 
is  nowhere  found  in  the  Scriptures, — and  you  then 
proceed  to  show  that  such  and  such  Catholic  doctrines 


At  Loggerheads 


237 


and  practices  are  unscriptural ; — that  is  to  say,  opposed 
to  your  peculiar  views  of  Scripture,  and  therefore  to  be 
condemned." 

"  Pray  go  on,"  I  said. 

"  But  the  true  Church  teaches  now,  as  she  has  ever 
taught,  that  she  was  fully  established  long  before  a  word 
of  the  Nev^  Testament  was  written,  that  she  is  not  the 
creation  of  the  Bible,  and  that  it  belongs  to  her,  as  the 
original  guardian  entrusted  with  its  keeping,  to  expound 
and  declare  its  meaning.  Hence,  if  you  would  obtain  a 
true  view  of  the  general  character  of  Catholicism,  you 
must  begin  by  sweeping  aside  all  those  views  which,  as 
an  unreconciled  son,  you  have  been  taught  to  entertain 
about  the  Church." 

"  Then  you  claim  that  your  Church  is  older  than  the 
New  Testament  ? " 

"Exactly." 

"  On  what  do  you  base  this  jlaim  ?  " 

"  On  the  traditions  that  have  come  down  to  us  from 
the  Fathers." 

"  Then,''  I  said,  "  it  seems  to  me  that  the  doctrines  of 
your  Church  are  wholly  the  result  of  logical  and  philo- 
sophical deduction  based  on  tradition,  but  not,  as  you  ad- 
mit, on  revelation.  My  conclusion,  therefore,  is,  that 
the  institution  of  the  Papacy  is  a  superstructure  of  that 
kind,  builded  upon  a  large  foundation  of  divine  truth." 

He  smiled  at  this  characterisation,  and  said  : 

"  I  thank  you  for  the  slight  concession  that  it  is 
founded,  at  least,  upon  divine  truth.  I  would  like,  at 
other  times,  to  expound  these  and  other  topics  of  the 
true  Church,  Captain  Marmaduke,  for  I  believe  that  bet- 
ter acquaintance  on  your  part  with  the  beauty  and  mys- 
tery of  the  spouse  of  Christ  will  present  her  to  your 


r 


i     \l 


b 


238 


John  Marmaduke 


mind  and  heart  in  all  the  freshness  and  loveliness  which 
she  wears  in  the  sight  of  faithful  Catholics." 

"  I  have  in  my  mind  a  spouse,  Father  Terhune,"  I 
said,  "  whose  freshness  and  loveliness  are  much  more 
easily  perceived  by  an  eye  like  mine, — even  Catherine 
Dillon.     I  mean  to  ask  her  this  day  to  become  my  wife." 

He  looked  grave  and  deeply  concerned. 

"  This  doth  not  astonish  me,"  he  said.  "  But  it  is  a 
serious  business.  I  know  something  of  her  mind  on  this 
subject.  I  could  not  advise  her  to  consent  to  it  unless 
I  thought  there  were  canonical  grounds  for  it." 

"  And  what  do  you  call  canonical  grounds  ?  " 

"  Canonical  grounds  would  be  the  justification  of  a 
hope  in  my  mind  that  the  beauty  and  purity  of  this 
young  girl's  life  would  lead  you  to  embrace  the  true 
faith." 

"  Surely  she  would  be  an  acceptable  teache:--,"  I  said. 

"  Even  so,"  he  replied.  "  You  have  declared  that 
neither  argument  nor  instruction  can  win  your  soul  away 
from  the  errors  in  which  it  is  steeped.  There  is,  then, 
a  yet  more  potent  power  to  turn  a  chivalrous  heart  like 
thine  to  the  truth, — even  the  power  of  love." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 


LOVE   OVERCOMETH 


THE  priest  and  I  walked  back  to  the  house  in  silence, 
and  while  he  passed  up-stairs  into  the  chapel,  I 
sought  out  Catherine  whom  I  found  in  the  company  of 
Lady  Betty  and  Lord  Alfred.  All  three  greeted  me  with 
a  merry  salutation.  It  was  but  a  moment,  however,  be- 
fore they  two  walked  away,  leaving  me  alone  with  her.  • 
I  began  to  unfold  my  business  without  loss  of  time. 
I  deem  it  not  right  to  set  down  here  all  the  words  that 
passed  between  us.  There  was  pain  on  both  sides,  but  it 
was  a  mutual  sweet  sorrow  which  knit  our  hearts  more 
firmly  as  it  seemed  to  raise  barrier  upon  barrier  against 
the  agreement  of  our  minds.  No  sooner  had  I  told  her 
again  of  n:y  fervent  love  than  she  renewed  all  the  theo- 
logical difficulties  with  which  my  mother  and  the  priest 
had  overwhelmed  me.  I  reminded  her  that  these  were 
matters  of  opinion  which  bore  no  relation  to  the  ques- 
tion of  love.  She  answered  that  her  religion  was  so  in- 
separably a  part  of  her  life  that  she  could  never  be  happy 
if  united  to  one  who  held  it  in  antagonism.  I  declared 
that  while  in  the  depths  of  my  own  soul  I  could  not  be- 
lieve it  true,  yet  it  would  be  a  thing  of  beauty  to  me  al- 
ways if  it  served  to  illuminate  her  life  and  conduct  as  I 

239 


L'tf*^ 


240 


John  Marmaduke 


ii      'f 


f 


! 


felt  that  it  would  do.  Her  reply  was  that  if  I  believed  it 
false  it  could  never  wear  the  aspect  of  beauty  to  me.  I 
told  her  that  love  created  a  sympathy  in  the  heart  that 
was  more  powerful  to  hold  man  and  wife  together  than 
prejudice  could  be  to  separate  them.  She  rejoined  that 
marriage  was  too  holy  and  close  a  state  to  have  the 
parties  to  it  asunder  on  the  one  principle  which  gave  it 
its  eternal  bond. 

"  No  union  would  be  a  true  marriage,"  she  declared, 
while  I  held  both  her  hands  in  mine,  "  which  was  not  ce- 
mented by  a  common  faith  in  the  souls  of  its  members." 

I  renewed  all  the  arguments  I  had  hitherto  used  to 
convince  her  that  opinion,  religious  or  other,  was  a  mere 
matter  of  the  mind,  depending  largely  upon  family  en- 
vironment and  education  ;  and  I  persisted  in  asserting 
again  and  again  that  love  was  a  divine  passion  which 
Would  not  be  controlled  by  expediency,  nor  by  the  limita- 
tions of  human  wisdom.  I  tried,  in  every  manner  of 
statement  that  I  could  master,  to  convince  her  that  the 
fatherhood  of  God  was  the  common  heritage  of  hu- 
manity, and  I  appealed  to  her  to  remember  that  we  were 
both  equally  His  creatures,  and  that  both  should  be 
equally  precious  in  His  sight. 

She  then  said  that  I  was  here  in  arms  against  her 
country  and  her  religion,  and  dwelt  with  much  feeling 
upon  the  miseries  of  the  period.  Her  eyes  were  now 
streaming  with  tears,  and  she  announced  that  whatever 
her  affection  for  me  might  be,  the  matter  which  I  pro- 
posed would  be  unwise  and  unpardonable,  that  it  would 
revolt  the  friends  of  both,  and  that,  as  it  could  bring 
no  real  happiness  to  either  of  us,  she  would  decline  to 
give  it  further  consideration. 

She  passed  from  the  room^  and  as  I  followed  her  Xq 


Love  Overcometh 


241 


the  door  with  wistful  eyes  I  saw  her  ascend  the  stairs 
and  enter  the  chapel. 

Lady  Betty  now  returned  to  the  room  and  told  me 
that  Lord  Alfred  had  gone  to  his  ship  to  see  that  all  was 
in  order  there,  and  that  he  would  return  in  time  for  the 
evening  meal.  She  sat  down  beside  me  and  talked  to 
me  with  charming  frankness  of  Lord  Alfred  and  herself. 
She  even  hinted  at  some  tender  word  which  Lord  Alfred 
had  ventured  to  address  to  her,  and  blushed  and  laughed 
when  I  bantered  her  on  her  friendship  for  him.  For 
ten  minutes  we  chatted  on  in  this  fashion,  when  Lady 
Betty  seized  one  of  my  great  hands  in  both  of  hers,  and 
said  : 

"  Captain  John," — for  this  was  the  familiar  form  of  her 
address, — "  your  mother  has  told  me  your  secret.  Nay, 
do  not  frighten  me  with  your  big  frown, — she  could  not 
help  it.  I  found  her  in  tears,  and  it  was  not  so  difficult 
for  me  to  guess  the  cause  as  dull  people  might  think. 
But  let  not  prejudice  keep  you  apart.  This  maiden  is 
one  of  the  loveliest  of  the  creatures  of  this  earth, — as 
sweet  and  pure  in  heart  and  mind  as  in  her  wondrous 
face.  Be  not  too  set  in  your  own  opinions,  Captain 
John  ;  and  let  me  who  have  been  your  playmate  and 
climbed  upon  your  mighty  shoulders  in  years  gone  by, 
give  you  a  sister's  love  always  and  wish  you  a  victory  in 
this  new  siege  which  you  are  pursuing." 

"  Betty,"  I  said,  "  my  mother  weeps  because  thou  and 
I  have  not  passed  that  same  sister's  love  for  the  higher 
flame.  But  it  is  fate  and  not  ourselves  that  controls 
these  things.  I  do  indeed  love  this  lady,  but  her  preju- 
dice is  invulnerable,  and  she  has  said  me  a  distinct  No." 

"  Take  not  her  No  for  final,"  laughed  Betty,  still  hold- 
ing my  hand.  "  I  did  but  now  say  No  to  Lord  Alfred  ; 
16 


242 


John  Marmaduke 


■*  'i ' 


If    *' 


■ 


I 


but  if  he  do  not  renew  his  suit  with  greater  ardour 
this  very  night  I  shall  die  of  grief." 

At  that  moment  Catherine  came  into  the  room  and 
Lady  Betty  dropped  my  hand,  or,  rather,  threw  it  away 
with  an  ostentatious  confusion,  and  ran  off  to  my  moth- 
er's room. 

"  You  are  quick  to  find  solace  !  "  said  Catherine. 

I  could  not  help  laughing  ;  appearances  were  certainly 
against  me,  but  I  made  no  effort  to  explain.  She  patted 
her  foot  on  the  floor  and  looked  anything  but  pleased. 
I  came  up  behind  her. 

"  Catherine, — dear  Catherine,"  I  pleaded,  "  Lady 
Betty  was  telling  me  of  our  play-days  of  long  ago, 
and  took  my  hand  to  wish  me  success  in  winning  you. 
She  herself  loves  Lord  Alfred  Padd'.eford.  And  nobody 
loves  me,  Catherine, — nobody  ! "  And  I  tried  to  look 
clear  through  ht/  brown  eyes. 

She  looked  up  at  me  in  a  frightened  way,  then  wavered 
and  turned  her  eyes  downward.  I  whispered  a  word  in 
her  ear.  She  turned  round  with  her  heart  beating 
against  mine,  thr  \v  her  arms  round  my  neck,  and  gave 
me  her  kiss.     I  held  her  head  in  the  hollow  of  my  hand. 

"  You  do  love  me  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Better  than  anybody  in  the  world  !  " 


CHAPTER  XXIX 


THE   WOOING    OT 


MY  betrothal  to  Catherine  was  a  bitter-sweet  experi- 
ence from  the  start.  No  sooner  had  I  received 
her  slow  consent  than  I  became  aware  of  the  fact  that 
even  in  the  disposal  of  her  heart  she  was  not  a  free 
agent.  So  I  was  soon  passing  b;  ck  and  forth  between 
the  room  where  she  sat  in  tremulous  happiness,  and  the 
chapel  above  where  Father  Terhune  stood  holding  back 
his  ecclesiastical  permission  to  our  union  until  he  could 
assure  himself  of  the  sufficiency  of  his  "  canonical 
grounds." 

While  this  important  detail  of  the  affair  was  still  in  an 
unsettled  condition,  supper  was  announced,  and  we  all 
met  in  the  banqueting  hall.  I  came  in  with  Catherine, 
whose  soft  hand  lay  somewhat  resistingly  in  mine.  There 
was  a  maidenly  shyness  about  the  usually  self-possessed 
girl  which  instantly  made  her  an  object  of  sympathetic 
attention.  My  mother,  who  had  now  recovered  the  mas- 
tery of  her  emotions,  stepped  toward  us  with  a  loving 
air,  and,  taking  the  brown  head  in  her  hands,  kissed  my 
sweetheart  on  the  forehead,  murmuring  the  words,  "  My 
dear  daughter."  She  then  saluted  me  in  the  same  affec- 
tionate manner.     This  was  the  signal  for  general  con- 


244 


John  Marmaduke 


lii 


gratulations.  Lady  Betty  followed  my  mother's  action 
with  regard  to  Catherine,  and  wrung  my  hand  in  both  of 
hers  with  the  unaffected  devotion  of  true  friendship. 
Lord  Alfred  shook  hands  with  both  of  us,  and  said,  with 
a  glance  at  Betty,  that  he  envied  me  my  art  in  winning 
the  woman  of  my  choice.  The  priest  looked  on  with  a 
decorous  interest. 

As  for  Catherine,  I  think  she  was  deeply  touched  by 
the  loyal  greeting  which  my  friends  had  just  given  her  as 
my  promised  bride  ;  and  she  began  to  recover  he.  jld 
spirit  of  happy  and  ingenuous  hospitality. 

As  we  took  our  poLitions  each  at  the  accustomed  chair 
Betty  laughingly  forbade  me  to  occupy  my  old  seat,  and, 
taking  me  by  the  arm,  she  led  me  to  her  chair  next  to 
Catherine  and  forcibly  sat  me  down  in  it  ;  and  then  took 
my  place  herself.  This  pleased  me  mightily  and  gave 
no  offence  to  Catherine,  either.  The  new  arrangement, 
however,  left  my  mother  between  Lady  Betty  and  Lord 
Alfred,  and  as  Betty  sat  down  she  looked  disappointed 
for  an  instant  at  the  separation.  My  mother,  perceiving 
the  situation,  rose,  and,  with  a  sweet  and  thoughtful 
humour,  exchanged  chairs  with  Lord  Alfred.  Catherine's 
quick  wit  seized  the  incident  as  a  happy  one  for  turning 
attention  from  ourselvei,  and  she  clapped  her  hands  to- 
gether merrily,  I  and  my  mother  joining  in  the  demon- 
stration, until  Lord  Alfred  bowed  with  mock-gravity  and 
Betty  blushed  and  laughed.  Our  little  comedy  caught 
the  fancy  of  the  priest,  who  smiled  with  a  cordial  ap- 
preciation. 

With  such  an  auspicious  beginning  our  meal  was  en- 
joyed by  all  to  the  end.  There  was  no  lack  of  pointed 
banter,  Lady  Betty  rather  taking  the  lead  in  this  respect, 
though  Catherine  met  her  attacks  with  merry  rejoindert. 


The  Wooing  O't 


245 


Once  when  Betty  spoke  of  my  contented  countenance, 
Lord  Alfred  said  :  "  Why  should  it  not  be  contented  ? 
— a  sweetheart  wooed  and  won  !  But  look  at  the  face  of 
a  fellow  who  has  been  spurned  !  "  Whereat  he  wore  such 
a  sad  dog's  melancholy  that  we  all  laughed  heartily, 
including  Betty. 

When  supper  was  over  Lord  Alfred  took  Lady  Betty 
out  upon  the  lawn  in  the  soft  gloaming,  and  I  renewed 
my  battle  with  Father  Terhune.  He  persisted  in  b.'ing- 
ing  up  all  the  arguments  on  religion  that  I  had  ever 
heard,  and  endeavoured  to  force  particles  of  his  eternal 
truth  to  a  lodgment  in  my  mind.  But  he  at  last  yielded, 
as  I  think  he  meant  to  do  all  along ;  and  he  declared, 
with  many  compliments  on  my  understanding,  that  he  felt 
sure  of  his  canonical  grounds,  and  that  he  would  marry 
us  whenever  we  both  desired  him  to  do  so. 

This  disposition  on  his  part  sent  me  flying  to  Cathe- 
rine's side  where  I  spent  the  sweetest  hour  of  my  life  in 
wooing  her  to  an  immediate  marriage.  She  made  many 
pretty  objections,  put  me  off  again  and  again  with  a 
yielding  caress,  said  that  she  wanted  to  try  me  as  a  lover 
before  taking  me  as  a  husband,  protested  that  a  maid 
must  have  two  months  for  preparation,  declared  that  she 
would  be  an  unappreciated  wife  if  she  held  not  off  for  a 
season,  vowed  that  my  friends  would  think  she  was  to  be 
had  for  the  asking  if  she  kept  me  not  waiting,  warned 
me  that  1  would  repent  my  rash  insistence  ;  and  finally, 
when  I  had  swept  aside  every  difficulty  with  my  fond 
pleading  and  urged  her  for  the  love  she  bore  me  to 
become  my  wife  while  the  slight  pause  in  the  war  gave 
a  period  for  honeymooning,  she  hid  her  face  on  my  heart 
and  told  me  she  would  wed  me  on  the  morrow. 

When  she  looked  up,  she  said  : 


^il 


246 


John  Marmaduke 


"  If  you  would  only  wait  for  a  season  I  would  summon 
my  aunt,  the  Lady  Milucra,  to  come  here  and  direct  my 
wedding.  I  cannot  help  feeling  forlorn  without  her. 
Still,  my  aunt  hath  a  terrible  temper  and  if  she  should 
oppose  our  marriage  it  would  be  better  not  to  have  her 
here. 

"  If  she  come  at  all,  then,"  I  replied,  "  it  were  better 
for  her  to  come  afterward." 

I  kept  her  beside  me  until  her  hour  for  retiring  arrived. 
In  the  meantime,  Lord  Alfred  and  Lady  Betty  came  in 
out  of  the  chill  night  air  and  looked  on  our  hasty  and 
confused  aloofness  with  an  appearance  of  superior 
decorum,  going  straightway  to  an  apartment  across  the 
hall  where  I  know  not  whether  they  acted  differently 
from  us.  My  mother  likewise  came  and  kissed  us  each 
good  night,  and  went  to  bed.  And  when  my  sweetheart, 
after  many  efforts  to  tear  herself  from  me,  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  door,  she  came  back  of  her  own  sweet 
will  to  tell  me  that  I  was  the  finest  man  in  the  world. 


N! 


mon 
my 

her. 

ould 
her 


letter 

ived. 

le  in 

'  and 

erior 

s  the 

ently 

each 

leart, 

eded 

iweet 

i. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

TELLING  THE  SECRET  TO  THE  IRONSIDES 

PERHAPS  there  is  no  man  who  has  slept  in  his  habit- 
ual soundness  on  the  night  preceding  his  marriage. 
Certainly  I  did  not,  for  I  tossed  through  some  of  the 
long  hours  in  a  conflict  of  emotions  in  which  the  fear  of 
criticism,  ani  an  apprehension  of  the  penalties  of  persist- 
ence in  a  headstrong  passion  first  mastered  my  mind  and 
then  gave  way  to  hope,  and  tenderness,  and  the  very  afflu- 
ence of  true  love.  Sleep  came  at  last,  however,  and  I  was 
held  fast  in  a  refreshing  slumber  until  a  note  from  Will 
Cozen 's  horn  gave  a  jocund  welcome  to  the  breaking  day, 
and  I  sprang  from  my  couch  to  see  the  first  rim  of  the 
sun  form  a  golden  arch  on  the  placid  sea. 

Going  at  once  to  Roderick's  Pool,  I  plunged  in  its 
cool  waters  and  felt  myself  restored  by  an  ample  bath. 
I  then  put  on  my  soldier's  things,  and,  returning  to  the 
close,  bade  my  trumpeter  call  the  Ironsides  together. 
No  man  had  yet  broken  his  fast,  and  they  wondered 
much  at  their  assembling  at  such  an  unwonted  hour. 
But  the  last  trooper  fell  in  line  without  a  word.  I 
then  had  both  the  gates  thrown  open  and  ordered  the 
gallant  fellows  to  forward  march 

I  led  them  in  silence  the  distance  of  two  furlongs  from 

247 


i 


24^ 


John  Marmaduke 


the  house,  and  then  halted  them  with  an  order  to  break 
ranks.  They  gathered  round  me  with  much  wonder- 
ment in  their  faces,  but  no  man  spoke.  I  asked  them 
to  seat  themselves  on  the  green  sward,  which  they  did  : 
and  then  I  addressed  them. 

"  Troopers,"  1  said,  "  you  have  followed  me  into 
danger  so  many  times  that  I  cannot  go  into  the  most 
supreme  happiness  that  God  permits  a  man  to  undertake 
without  craving  you  to  be  the  sharers  of  my  joy." 

I  could  see  that  there  was  much  bewilderment  in  this 
speech,  although  some  must  have  understood  the  dis- 
closure that  was  coming.  But  the  sentiment  won  them, 
and  I  read  sympathy  and  trust  in  every  countenance. 

"  Troopers,  I  am  going  to  be  married  to-day  provided 
I  can  gain  the  approval  of  my  comrades-in-arms.  Need 
I  tell  you  to  whom  ?  English  soldiers  have  vigilant 
eyes.  You  must  all  know  without  my  telling  you  that 
it  is  Miss  Catherine  Dillon." 

Now,  when  I  spoke  of  marrying,  every  man  looked 
happy,  for  it  is  an  oft-repeated  maxim  that  "  All  the 
world  loves  a  lover."  But  when  I  mentioned  Catherine's 
name  there  was  a  distinct  air  of  disappointment  which 
suddenly  led  me  to  think  they  had  expected  my  bride's 
name  would  be  Lady  Betty  Forrester.  This  gave  me  a 
set-back,  and  for  a  moment  I  was  at  a  loss  what  to  say. 

*'  Troopers,"  I  said,  at  last,  "  I  know  that  there  is  a 
prejudice  amongst  some  of  you  against  mixed  marriages. 
Doubtless  a  general  opinion  of  that  kind  is  sound  and 
wise.  But  every  rule  hath  its  exception.  Where  there 
is  true  love  there  can  be  no  dissension.  You  have  all 
seen  what  a  noble  lady  this  is, — how  patient  and  noble 
in  the  adversities  of  life.  She  has  won  my  heart  en- 
tirely.     Now,  the   results  of  our  invasion   here  have 


Telling  the  Secret  to  the  Ironsides     249 


deprived  her  of  the  protection  and  companionship  of 
both  father  and  brother.  Her  situation  is  most  lonely 
and  desolate.  That  is  not  why  I  love  her,  but  that  is 
why  I  think  it  expedient  to  have  our  marriage  take  place 
at  once.     What  say  you,  gallant  comiades  ?  " 

I  then  sat  down. 

Joe  Muzzycroft  slowly  arose  and  looked  over  the  as- 
sembly. He  began  to  speak  in  his  heavy,  deliberate 
manner,  thus  : 

"  It  needs  me  not  to  say,  nor  any  man,  that  our  Cap- 
tain is  beloved  by  us,  even  as  a  father.  He  hath  acted 
most  handsomely  in  asking  our  counsel  in  this  affair. 
Perhaps  we  don't  like  her  being  a  Papist, — but  perhaps 
that  doesn't  count  in  this  case,  as  the  Captain  has  per- 
haps truly  said.  In  anything  affecting  our  Captain  we 
stand  as  one  man."     And  honest  Joe  sat  down. 

Loftus  Pearson  stood  up.  "  As  one  man  truly,"  he 
said.  "  But  we  must  give  good  counsel  to  a  brother. 
Now  is  it  right  ? — that  is  the  question.     Yea,  is  it  right  ? " 

"What  will  Old  Noll  say  to  it?"  asked  Luke  Marvin. 

Now,  that  was  the  question  that  had  been  run»>ing 
through  my  brain  ever  since  this  love  had  become  a 
potent  force  in  my  life.  But  Hugh  Brewer  answered 
the  question  promptly. 

"Old  Noll,  indeed!"  said  Hugh.  "Old  Noll  loves 
no  officer  in  his  army  a])ove  Captain  Marmaduke.  And 
why  ?  Because  he  knows  him  to  be  brave,  and  loyal, 
and  wise.  Yea,  our  Captain  is  wise  and  would  do  no 
rash  thing ;  and  Old  Noll  will  frown  and  then  say  the 
Captain  knows  his  own  welfare  best.  Old  Noll  will  be 
the  first  man  after  ourselves  to  pray  for  God's  blessing 
upon  our  Captain's  marriage.     Won't  he,  boys?  " 

There  was  a  unanimous  shout  of  affirmation  to  this 


250 


John  Marmaduke 


appeal.  The  cause  was  nearly  won.  But  Joe  Muzzy- 
croft  again  stood  up,  and  said  : 

"  There  is  just  one  thing  we  would  all  like  to  know, 
perhaps.  Our  counsel  to  the  Captain  will  then  be  of 
the  soundest  texture,  perhaps.  What  does  Lady  Mar- 
maduke, thy  mother,  think  of  this  ?  " 

This  was  a  bold  question,  but  not  beyond  the  bounds 
which  our  soldiers  allowed  themselves,  and  it  struck 
the  cur:   '>ity  of  every  man  of  them. 

"  That  might  carry  us  for  or  against  it,"  said  Loftus 
Pearson. 

"  My  mother,"  I  said,  standing  up,  "  discussed  the 
matter  with  me  most  thoroughly  yesterday.  She  had 
some  doubts  even  as  you  yourselves  have  had.  But 
when  she  found  that  it  was  the  profound  desire  of  my 
heart  to  wed  this  lady,  she  gave  her  free  consent  and 
blessed  us  both." 

"  Do  you  hear  that,  boys  ?  "  asked  Muzzycroft.  "  His 
mother  gave  him  her  free  consent  and  her  blessing. 
Are  we  to  be  more  arbitrary  than  his  mother  ?  " 

"  Assuredly,  not  I  !  "  said  Loftus  Pearson. 

"  Nor  I,"  said  Luke  Marvin. 

"  His  mother  is  a  good  lady,  firm  in  the  faith,"  said 
Hugh  Brewer.     "  I  take  my  stand  with  his  mother." 

"  Boys,"  said  Joe  Muzzycroft,  *'  shall  we  give  the  Cap- 
tain our  consent  and  our  blessing  even  as  his  mother  has 
dene?" 

Then  one  and  all  shouted  Aye.  The  reluctant  man- 
ner which  had  marked  the  discussion  gave  way  to  sincere 
enthusiasm.  As  many  of  them  as  could  reach  me 
grasped  my  hand  and  uttered  cordial  congratulations. 
Then  they  gave  me  a  hearty  cheer,  and  then, — what 
pleased  me  most  of  all, — some  one  cried  out : 


Telling  the  Secret  to  the  Ironsides     251 

"  A  cheer  for  the  Captain's  sweetheart !  "  And  it  was 
given  with  the  full  power  of  stout  English  lungs. 

"  Fall  in  !  "  I  oried,  laughing  in  the  happiness  of  their 
good-will.  **  Fall  in,  every  trooper  of  you,  and  we  will 
back  to  breakfast.  And  if  Rob  Cumber  have  not  the 
best  meal  in  Ireland  set  ready  for  us  we  will  no  longer 
praise  his  skill  as  nonesuch  in  this  army  !  I  mean  to 
take  breakfast  with  you  this  day.     Forward,  March  !  " 

Our  march  back  to  Carberry  Hall  was  a  joyous  walk 
in  good-fellowship.  Arrived  there  I  sent  word  within 
that  I  would  breakfast  with  my  men  but  would  rejoin  the 
household  as  soon  as  it  was  over.  Rob  Cumber  was 
ready  for  us.  It  was  only  a  moment  before  he  heard  the 
secret.  And  we  all  plunged  into  our  meal  with  the  I'.est 
that  comes  from  the  infectious  happiness  of  an  approach- 
ing wedding. 


\i 


11^ 


CHAPTER   XXXI 

WHOM    GOD    HAS   JOINED    TOGETHER 

AS  soon  as  I  had  finished  the  morning  meal  with  my 
devoted  comrades  I  went  inside  and  met  the  mem- 
bers of  the  household  just  coming  from  their  rooms  Tor 
their  own  breakfast.  My  mother,  wearing  a  happy  face, 
kissed  me  tenderly,  and  Lady  Betty  whispered  in  my  ear 
that  all  was  fixed  between  Lord  Alfred  and  herself. 
Lord  Alfred  now  came  ashore  from  his  ship,  and  he  and 
Lady  Betty  received  congratulations  from  us  all  upon 
their  betrothal. 

Catherine  greeted  me  with  a  radiant  blush.  Nothing 
would  do  but  I  must  go  in  to  breakfast  with  them,  and 
so  we  renewed  in  the  noble  banqueting  hall  the  merry 
fellowship  of  the  night  before. 

Breakfast  over,  Catherine  and  I  retired  to  our  respect- 
ive apartments  to  prepare  for  the  great  event.  Lady 
Betty  v/ent  with  Catherine,  declaring  that  she  alone 
would  be  the  bride's  maid.  Lord  Alfred  followed  me 
and  was  as  attentive  as  a  French  valet  could  have  been 
in  assisting  me  to  look  my  best. 

Indeed  it  required  all  Lord  Alfred's  art  to  make  me 
even  a  respectable  bridegroom.  Before  I  came  to  the 
wars  my  wardrobe  had  all  the  things  which  a  young  gen- 

asa 


Whom  God  has  Joined  Together       253 


tleman  of  my  station  could  wish.  But  the  art  of  dress  is 
soon  forgotten  by  an  earnest  soldier.  The  one  suit  of 
clothes  which  I  had  worn  up  to  thi-  time  was  no  better 
than  it  should  be,  as  the  reader  who  has  followed  my 
turbulent  adventures  will  readily  imagine.  Fortunately, 
my  camp-chest  contained  a  suit  of  black  velvet,  besides 
a  sufficient  store  of  linen  of  very  good  quality,  and  I  was 
soon  arrayed  in  a  ruffled  shirt,  a  broad  white  collar  with 
a  piece  of  lace  over  it,  and  wristbands  of  lace.  Instead 
of  my  buff-leather  coat  .  nd  breeches  I  donned  my  vel- 
vet suit,  with  a  pair  of  grey-silk  stockings,  while  my 
trooper's  boots  gave  place  to  a  pair  of  shoes  with  silver 
buckles.  My  hair  was  not  so  short  as  most  of  our  party 
wore  it,  whereby  they  had  earned  from  the  Cavaliers  the 
contemptuous  name  of  Roundheads.  It  fell  to  my  col- 
lar-Land and  turned  upward,  and,  as  there  was  a  healthy 
growth  of  it,  I  brushed  and  combed  it  with  mu<  h  care. 
A  close  use  of  the  razor  left  my  face  smooth  and  ruddy, 
and  when  I  had  finished  my  toilet  Lord  Alfred  told  me 
I  would  pass  for  a  King's  courtier  only  there  were  now 
no  King  nor  courtiers  left.  But  his  praise  was  overdrawn, 
for  I  was  simply  a  gentleman  and  looked  nothing  more. 
We  went  into  the  drawing-room  where  my  mother  in 
her  best  dress  was  waiting  for  me.  Lord  Alfred  left  me 
alone  with  her  and  she  talked  very  solicitously  about  my 
approaching  change  of  state.  By  no  word  did  she  renew 
the  doubting  of  her  talk  of  the  previous  day,  but  all  her 
thoughts  were  now  c  i  my  happiness,  and  all  her  sugges- 
tions bore  upon  the  best  means  of  attaining  it.  She 
charged  ine  to  love  my  wife  above  every  object  on  earth, 
but  not  her  religion.  She  implored  me  to  preserve  the 
dignity  and  purity  of  my  mind,  and  to  be  gentle  and  pa- 
tient with  my  wife  in  every  circumstance  of  our  union. 


254 


John  Marmaduke 


:i 


I  must  set  an  example,  she  said,  of  good  character,  and 
should  aim  to  have  a  mind  above  prejudice  in  little 
things,  that  thereby  a  wife  might  add  exalted  respect  to 
love's  devotion.  She  told  me  that  my  wife  would  never 
give  up  her  religion  and  I  must  not  influence  her  to  do 
so,  but  that  a  proper  and  modest  fidelity  to  principle  in 
both  of  us  would  do  much  to  breuk  down  prejudices 
which  might  otherwise  bring  infelicity  into  our  home. 
And  then  Lady  Betty,  herself  dressed  out  in  gay  attire, 
ran  into  the  room  clapping  her  hands,  and  announced 
that  the  bride  was  here. 

In  the  doorway  stood  Catherine.  Never  before  saw 
I  womanhood  in  brilliant  beauty  to  equal  hers.  She 
wore  a  flowing  gown  of  white  velvet  which  had  been 
made  for  some  recent  festal  occasion  but  never  worn 
until  now.  Its  front  was  embossed  with  silver  and  the 
sides  and  neck  were  garnished  with  fine  lace.  Its  ample 
sleeves  were  slashed  with  taffeta,  and  a  diamond  brooch 
held  it  together  at  her  throat.  Her  brown  hair  was 
parted  in  the  middle  and  fell  in  curls  behind  her  ears. 
Her  slippers  were  of  white  silk,  and  she  wore  a  veil  of 
lace  which  had  been  her  mother's.  All  her  physical 
loveliness  seemed  to  be  increased  by  a  mental  and 
spiritual  charm  that  made  her  a  vision  of  perfect  beauty. 
I  took  her  hands,  and  while  my  mother  and  Lady  Betty 
passed  compliments  upon  her  from  the  other  side  of  the 
room,  I  whispered  some  words  into  her  willing  ears  and 
was  repaid  by  a  happy  smile. 

Lord  Alfred  came  in  and  told  us  the  priest  was  in  the 
banqueting  hall. 

It  had  been  my  request  to  Father  Terhune  and  to 
Catherine  that  out  of  respect  to  the  prejudices  of  my 
associates  the  ceremony  should  be  performed  in  the 


Whom  God  has  Joined  Together      255 


banqueting  hall  instead  of  the  chapel,  and  tu  this  they 
had  yielded  a  ready  compliance. 

I  sent  a  servant  to  summon  all  my  officers,  whom  I 
had  previously  bidden  to  the  wedding.  Presently  they 
came,  looking  their  best.  I  had  also  caused  it  to  be 
made  known  to  the  troopers  that  I  would  be  glad  to 
have  them  attend,  in  so  far  as  the  room  would  hold 
them,  and  Lord  Alfred  announced  that  the  last  man 
of  them  was  in  the  banqueting  hall  or  at  its  windows 
outside. 

Catherine  had  likewise  ordered  her  entire  household 
to  attend  upon  the  services,  and  the  amiable  Lord  Alfred 
informed  her  that  they,  too,  were  there. 

All,  therefore,  being  in  readiness,  I  handed  my  mother 
and  Lady  Betty  to  Lord  Alfred,  my  officers  formed  in 
line  behind  them,  and  I  took  Catherine  on  my  arm  and 
led  the  procession  into  the  banqueting  hall.  The  Iron- 
sides were  there  in  expectancy  and  childish  interest, 
and  likewise  the  Irish  household  ;  but  they  had  left  an 
aisle  open  between  them,  and  through  this  we  stepped 
to  the  farther  end  of  the  room  where  stood  the  priest. 
We  stopped  before  him,  I  and  my  bride,  while  behind 
us  my  friends  grouped  themselves  in  a  half-circle. 

Catherine  bowed  her  head  and  the  priest  began  to 
utter  the  solemn  service.  When  he  came  to  the  words, 
"Who  giveth  this  woman  away  ?  "  I  felt  that  the  beauti- 
ful girl  was  suppressing  an  outburst  of  woe,  for  there 
was  no  kinsman  of  hers  in  life  to  perform  this  sacred 
office.  Lord  Alfred,  as  had  been  previously  arranged, 
stepped  forward  and  took  the  part  here  desi^.  ated,  plac- 
ing her  hand  in  mine  ;  and  when,  in  a  few  moments 
afterward,  the  priest  declared  us  man  and  wife,  I  whisp- 
ered in  her  car  the  word,  "  Forever  !  " 


»r" 


2«;6 


John  Marmaduke 


I 


It  would  have  afforded  me  gratification  to  take  each 
friend  and  follower  by  the  hand  ;  but  this  would  have 
been  an  indelicate  ordeal  to  put  upon  my  wife,  so  we 
turned  and  walked  back  to  the  drawing-room  in  the 
same  order  in  which  we  had  left  it.  Then  my  officers 
congratulated  me  and  were  acknowledged  by  my  wife 
by  an  inclination  of  the  head  ;  they  then  withdrew. 
With  their  disappearance  the  spirits  of  the  rest  of  us 
were  relaxed.  The  priest  was  now  with  us.  He  shook 
our  hands.  My  mother  kissed  us  both,  and  so  did  Lady 
Betty,  being  permitted  so  to  favour  me  by  the  smiling 
assent  of  my  w'fe.  Betty  looked  at  me  archly  and  sang 
the  old  rhyme  : 

"  Needles  and  pins,  needles  and  pins, 
When  a  man's  married  his  trouble  begins." 

Lord  Alfred  uttered  some  well-chosen  words,  and  again 
said,  with  a  look  at  Betty,  that  he  envied  me  my  success. 

The  Irish  men-at-arms  and  all  the  servants  of  the 
place  came  into  the  room  and  were  greeted  kindly  by 
both  Catherine  and  myself.  They  then  withdrew,  and 
after  a  period  of  conversation,  Balor  MacLuga  an- 
nounced that  the  wedding  feast  was  set,  and  we  again 
passed  into  the  banqueting  hall.  We  partook  of  the 
n.ost  sumptuous  feast  that  I  had  eaten  in  Ireland, 
and  with  sufficient  merriment  for  the  occasion,  too. 
Catherine  had  ordered  that  the  meal  be  made  ample 
enough  to  feed  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  place,  so  that 
the  Ironsides  were  the  guests  of  the  occasion  together 
with  her  own  household. 

The  dinner  finished,  we  retired  to  our  apartments  as 
before  and  put  off  the  wedding  finery.  My  mother  was 
firm  in  her  intention  to  return  to  Dublin  in  the  ship  that 


Whom  God  has  Joined  Together      257 

day,  although  there  would  be  no  opportunity  for  them 
to  go  to  England  for  a  week.  Accordingly,  at  six 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  she  and  Lady  Betty  prepared 
to  depart  from  Carberry  Hall.  When  all  was  made  ready, 
Catherine  and  I  accompanied  them  down  to  the  shore 
and  bade  them  farewell.  I  handed  them  into  the  boat 
to  Lord  Alfred,  and  the  hardy  sailors  rowed  them  out 
to  the  ship.  Their  anchor  was  soon  hoist,  all  sail  was 
spread,  and  under  a  favouring  breeze  the  frigate  glided 
northward.  The  sun  was  sinking  in  autumn  splendour 
as  the  gallant  ship  increased  her  way.  My  mother  and 
Lady  Betty  stood  at  the  rail  throwing  kisses  and  wav- 
ing a  tearful  adieu,  which  we  returned.  Soon  the  ship 
was  a  mere  outline,  and  then  a  speck  in  the  gathering 
darkness.  We  stood  there,  hand  in  hand,  looking  out 
to  sea  until  it  had  passed  beyond  the  line  of  vision. 
Day  had  departed  and  night  marked  her  presence  on 
the  sparkling  sky. 

The  air  was  growing  chill.  We  were  alone,  and  I 
folded  my  beautiful  wife  in  my  arms  and  kissed  her. 

"  Forever  !  "  I  said,  looking  deep  down  into  her  eyes. 

"  Yes,  forever  !  "  she  answered. 

»7 


]l 


f 


I 

^1 


'  E 


CHAPTKR  XXXII 


THE    DRAGON    CUMES    BACK 


THK  two  weeks  that  followed  my  marriage  to  Cath- 
erine were  the  happiest  of  my  life.  Every 
hour  developed  some  new  beauty  in  her  character  which 
held* me  in  a  fresh  fascination.  Most  unreservedly  she 
gave  me  her  whole  heart  and  all  the  confidence  of  her 
mind,  and  each  moment  brought  its  variety  in  a  woman's 
charm  of  dalliance,  of  laughter,  or  of  love. 

Daily  we  sought  out  all  the  solitudes  of  the  place. 
Under  the  green  trees,  or  beside  the  Lake  of  Darvra,  or 
down  by  the  surging  sea,  or  in  the  Dragon's  Den,  we 
wended  our  frequent  way.  I  saw  her  in  a  hundred 
moods  a  day,  and  every  mood  I  liked  more  than  that 
which  jvreceded  it.  Wlien  1  jirotested  that  those  who 
were  rich  in  love  should  abound  in  favours  to  humble 
suitors,  she  raised  her  finger  with  an  assumption  of 
severity  and  reminded  me  that  I  was  all  :oo  bold  to  be 
a  deserving  object  of  charity.  When  I  threw  myself  at 
her  feet  she  would  stroke  my  hair  and  tell  me  she  was 
proud  of  her  captive  lion.  Then  she  would  sit  down 
beside  me,  place  her  hand  in  mine,  and  tell  me  one  of 
her  Irish  legends  with  a  most  captivating  manner  and 
intelligence. 

t58 


Cath- 
Every 
which 
ily  she 
of  her 
Oman's 

place, 
vra,  or 
en,  we 
Undred 
m  that 
te  who 
humble 
ion   of 
to  be 
self  at 
ihe  was 
down 
one  of 
ler  and 


The  Dragon  Comes  Baek         259 

And  so  we  played  our  comedy  day  by  day  in  all  its 
delightful  and  tender  variation.  So  we  lived  in  the  sun- 
shine of  our  joy.  So  our  souls  drew  nearer  into  perfect 
accord.  So  we  journeyed  the  short,  sweet  days  of  our 
honeymoon  ;  thinking  ourselves,  in  the  perfection  of 
love,  apart  from  the  world,  and  forgetting  the  warning 
of  Job  that  man  is  born  unto  trouble  as  the  sparks  fly 
upward. 

I  have  spoken  hitherto  of  Catherine's  aunt,  the  Lady 
Milucra  O'Fergus,  who  dwelt  in  the  south  of  Ireland. 
She  wa^  the  only  near  relative  of  my  wife's  now  living; 
and  the  api)rehension  of  the  invasion  of  our  army  into 
Munster  had  causea  her  to  forsake  her  home  near 
Youghal,  in  the  county  of  Cork,  and  come  to  Car- 
berry  Hall,  with  a  retinue  of  some  twenty  followers  and 
servants. 

Arrived  there,  she  was  mu<;h  astounded  and  dismayed 
to  learn  the  eventful  incidents  of  the  past  month.  She 
ioudly  bewailed  the  death  of  her  brother  and  her 
nephew  ;  she  was  deeply  resentful  of  the  occupation  of 
this  estate  by  the  force  under  my  command  ;  and  she 
burst  into  uncontrollable  fury  wlien  informed  of  the 
amazing  marriage  between  Catherine  and  myself. 

**  What !  "  she  cried,  in  high  rage,  sweeping  up  and 
down  the  room  whither  Catherine  had  taken  her  to  tell 
her  ot  these  things,  and  in  my  full  hearing  where  I  sat 
outside  under  the  open  window.  "  What  !  Married, 
you  say,  to  the  Captain  of  the^e  Puritan  cutthroats? 
Married  to  the  slayer  of  your  father  and  your  brother? 
Married  to  the  despoiler  of  your  home?  Married  to  a 
Protestant  ?  I  will  not  believe  it  !  A  Dillon  would  not 
do  it  !  "  And  the  fat  lady  stood  in  front  of  my  wife 
with  flaming  eyes. 


i 


iii 


260 


John  Marmaduke 


"  Nevertheless,  Aunt  Milucra,"    saic*   Catherine,  "  it 


IS  true. 
•'  Th^' 
other. 

vou  ? 


father  would  have  cast  thee  out ! "  cried  the 
*'  Has  this  tall  Englishman  thrown  a  spell  over 
Know  you  not  that  he  murdered  your  race  and 
then  coerced  you  into  marriage  to  possess  himself  of 
your  great  house  and  broad  lands  ?  " 

"  That  cannot  be,  aunt,"  answered  my  wife.  "  He 
had  no  part  in  the  killing  of  my  father  and  he  would 
have  protected  him  had  he  been  present.  As  for  my 
brother,  he  was  slain  cruelly  by  our  countryman,  Lord 
Kilmac,  while  attempting  under  my  husband's  leader- 
ship, to  rescue  me  from  that  villain." 

**  Your  husband,  indeed  !  "  shouted  Lady  Milucra. 
"  A  bigoted  adventurer,  a  penniless  wanderer,  a  trait'^r 
to  his  King  and  country  at  home,  a  foe  to  your  family 
and  religion  in  Ireland,  a  very  pauper  come  here  for  a 
crust,  I  '11  warrant  you,  and  laughing  in  his  sleeve  to 
have  tricked  a  silly  heiress  into  marriage.  Shame  upon 
you,  Kate  !     I  did  not  think  you  capable  of  it  !  " 

"  Your  rage  beseems  not  the  occasion,  aunt,"  cried 
Catherine,  indignantly.  "The  case  is  far  different  from 
what  you  have  described.  My  husband  comes  from  one 
of  the  oldest  families  in  England.  He  is  nephew  to  the 
King's  bravest  general.  Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale.  He 
has  mherited  from  his  father  an  estate  in  Yorkshire 
vastly  larger  than  mine.  He  has  houses  in  many  where 
I  have  but  this  and  the  few  outlying.  H3  is  a  brave 
soldier,  one  who  overconieth  every  enemy.  Above  all, 
he  is  the  kindest  nnd  gentlest  man  alive,  and  I  ask  the 
Blessed  Virgin  every  day  to  have  him  spared  to  me 
through  her  intercession  !  " 

Now,  tho'c  yy^z  much  in  this  loyal  speech  of  my  wife's 


The  Dragon  Comes  Back         261 


tt 


it 


;d  the 
I  oveir 
:e  and 
self  of 

"He 

would 
for  my 
I,  Lord 
leader- 

[ilucra. 
trait'^r 
family 
e  for  a 
;eve  to 
le  upon 

cried 
It  from 
om  one 

to  the 
e.  He 
rkshire 

where 

brave 
ove  all, 
ask  the 

to  me 

y  wife's 


that  caused  me  vvonder.  I  had  never  said  a  word  to  her 
of  my  family  connections,  nor  of  my  uncle,  Sir  Marma- 
duke,  nor  of  my  houses  and  lands.  Who  could  have 
given  her  the  information  ?  Certainly  not  my  mother, 
who  was  as  much  averse  to  speaking  of  personal  matters 
as  myself.  It  could  have  been  no  other  then,  than  Lady 
Betty. 

"  The  Blessed  Virgin  will  have  better  wisdom  than 
that,"  said  the  aunt,  with  a  harsh  laugh.  **  I  doubt 
if  she  will  lend  a  willing  ear  to  one  who  has  been  so 
neglectful  of  the  interests  of  the  true  religion.  Where, 
let  me  ask  you,  were  the  priests  of  this  household  when 
this  vicious  marriage  was  pressed  on  ?  Where  was 
Father  O'Brien  ?  " 

"  Father  O'Brien  was  hanged,"  said  Catherine,  in  an 
embarrassed  tone. 

"  Hanged  !  and  by  whom  ?  " 

"By  an  English  soldier, — the  Scoutmaster — the 
fanatical  wretch  who  slew  my  father." 

"  Mother  of  God  !  "  yelled  the  aunt,  throwing  herself 
on  the  floor  and  tearing  at  her  hair  in  the  very  insanity 
of  rage.  "  Did  I  ever  think  to  hear  words  like  these 
spoken  by  an  Irish  woman  !  A  holy  priest  hanged,  and 
you  married  to  his  murderer  !  Blessed  Virgin,  sweep  this 
man  from  the  earth, — drive  him  from  the  habitation  of 
men, — take  away  his  wife  from  his  side. — give  him  no 
child  to  caress  with  his  love, — curse  him  with  eternal 
solitude, — give  him  reproach  in  his  days  and  anguish  in 
his  nights, — cut  him  off  from  the  field  of  his  delight, — 
and  curse  him,  curse  him,  curse  him  !  " 

I  sprang  from  my  chair  and  peered  into  the  room. 
The  Irish  woman  was  rolling  back  and  forth  over  the 
floor,  spitting  out  her  fearful  words  with  venomous  hate, 


262 


John  Marmaduke 


, 


tearing  at  her  hair,  and  rolling  her  eyes  with  the  uncon* 
trolled  fury  of  madness.  Catherine  was  tugging  at  her 
shoulders  in  a  vain  effort  to  restore  her  to  a  decorous 
behaviour.  Suddenly  the  tall  priest  entered  the  room,  in 
horror  at  the  woman's  ravings. 

"Silence!"  he  cried,  with  tiiat  air  of  stern  authority 
which  I  had  seen  him  assume  on  other  occasions  with 
successful  res»ilts.  "Silence,  my  lady  !  What  ljhisi»heniy  is 
this  you  are  using  !  Words  like  these  are  not  for  a  Christ- 
ian's utterance  or  hearing.  Know  you,  then,"  he  con- 
tinued, as  he  raised  the  panting  and  hysterical  creature  to  a 
chair,  "  that  this  marriage  was  performed  by  me,  justified, 
as  I  verily  believe,  by  canonical  grounds,  and  likely  to  do 
good  not  only  to  those  who  are  joined  by  it,  but  likewise 
to  our  country  itself  through  the  influence  of  this  brave 
Captain  Marmaduke.  I  pray  you.  Lady  Milucra,"  he 
said,  as  matters  began  to  shape  themselves  into  better 
order,  "  do  not  use  such  harsh  terms  in  the  presence  of  a 
newly  wedded  wife.  They  bring  only  pain  to  a  loving 
heart  like  Catherine's.  This  husband  of  hers  is  an  ex- 
ceptional man, — believe  me,  he  is.  Catherine  will  in  due 
time  strive  for  his  conversion.  I  have  already,  at  her 
earnest  supplication,  said  three  masses  for  his  reconcilia- 
tion to  the  true  faith.  I  pray  you,  my  lady,  walk  aside 
with  me, — the  air  will  revive  you." 

The  tall  priest  led  the  gasping  Lady  Milucra  out  of 
the  room  and  into  the  front-yard.  Catherine  ran  out  by 
another  door,  and,  seeking  my  side,  threw  herself  upon 
my  breast.  Her  nerves  were  completely  unstrung  and 
she  burst  into  a  torrent  of  tears.  When  I  had  soothed 
her  into  a  partial  quietude,  and  the  soV)s  came  as  from  a 
tired  child  wiiose  grief  is  spent,  she  said  : 

"  Oh,  it  was   such  a  terrible  scene,  John.     I  hope  I 


The  Dragon  Comes  Back        263 

may  never  see  another  like  it !  But  I  bless  God  that 
you  were  not  there  to  hear  her  words  ? " 

"  Never  mind,  my  darling,"  I  said,  resolved  not  to 
inform  her  that  I  had  heard  them  all.  "  I)u  not  think  of 
them  again.  Let  us  off  to  the  Dragon's  Den  and  I  will 
tell  you  the  tale  of  the  Patient  Griselda.     There  !  " 

We  were  soon  in  our  retreat,  and  I  told  her  the  story. 
But  her  aunt's  words  would  somehow  not  out  of  my  mind. 
When  I  had  finished  my  narrative,  Catherine  thanked 
me,  and,  looking  round  the  cave,  expressed  a  wonder 
whether  the  dragon  which  used  to  inhabit  this  den  would 
ever  come  back  to  Carberry  Hall. 

"  It  was  a  terrible  creature,"  she  said.  "  It  carried  off 
many  for  its  prey,  and,  of  course,  it  thereby  caused  the 
separation  of  many  lovers." 

Then  she  asked  : 

"  Do  you  think  the  dragon  will  ever  come  back  to 
Carberry  Hall?" 

I  made  no  answer.  The  cruel  words  of  Lady  Milucra 
OTergus  were  still  ringing  in  my  ears,  and  I  asked  my- 
self whether  the  dragon  was  not  already  back  in  a  new 
shape. 


1 


»ii 


•'  i 


\ 


u 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 


THE  EVIL  DAYS  COME 


WHEN  my  wife  had  entirely  recovered  from  the 
agitation  into  which  her  aunt's  vii  ious  conduct 
had  thrown  her,  I  brought  her  out  of  the  Dragon's  Don, 
and  we  walked  back  to  the  Hall.  Arrived  al  the  gate  1 
was  informed  by  Lieutenant  Waters  that  Scoutmaster 
David  Potton  had  just  arrived  with  a  letter  for  me  from 
the  camp.  Not  wishing  my  wife  to  see  Potton,  I  took 
her  within  the  house  and  quickly  came  out  and  sent  for 
the  Scoutmaster  to  attend  me  on  the  lawn. 

I  must  own  that  my  mind  was  in  anything  but  a  quiet 
state  at  this  moment.  On  the  day  following  my  marriage 
I  had  despatched  a  letter  to  General  Cromwell  telling 
him  of  that  important  occurrence.  I  had  framed  my 
communication  with  great  care,  hoping  that  a  frank  and 
full  relation  of  the  matter  would  disarm  his  prejudice  ; 
and  had  concluded  with  an  avowal  of  my  desire  to  be 
useful  in  the  development  of  his  military  policy  so  soon 
as  there  might  be  further  need  for  my  services,  A  fort- 
night had  passed  away  without  a  word  of  reply,  and  I 
began  to  fear  that  my  punishment  (or  marrying  a  Catho- 
lic wife  against  the  narrow  opinion  of  the  times  was  to 
consist  of  silence  and  oblivion  while  the  great  war  swept 

264 


The  Evil  Days  Come 


265 


on  without  me.  The  Scoutmaster's  arrival  with  a  letter 
marked,  therefore,  an  epoch  of  good  or  evil  influence  on 
this  incident  of  my  career,  and  I  was  in  a  fever  of  im- 
patience until  he  stood  before  me. 

"  Welcome,  David,"  I  said,  grasping  his  hand.  "  Is 
thy  message  good  or  ill  ? " 

**  111,  I  fear,"  he  answered.  "Your  marriage  threw 
the  (leneral  into  a  rage  the  like  of  which  no  member  of 
his  staff  hath  ever  seen  him  in  before." 

My  heart  sank  within  me  like  lead  at  this  announce- 
ment from  luy  blunt  subordinate.  The  worst,  then,  was 
to  be  feared.  " 

'*  Give  me  the  letter,"  I  said. 

I  tore  it  open  and  read  it  with  a  sickening  sensation. 
It  was  brief  and  terrible.  "  You  will  at  once,"  it  said, 
"send  every  man  now  under  your  charge  to  me  at 
Drogheda.  They  are  much  needed.  Thyself  will  be 
sent  for  when  occasion  calls."  And  then  came  the 
signature  of  the  great  Puritan. 

My  hand  trembled  and  I  felt  myself  white  at  the  lips. 
The  emotion  that  stirred  me  was  quite  unlike  anything 
I  had  ever  experienced  before. 

'*  David,"  I  said,  making  a  great  effort  to  speak  with- 
out breaking  down,  '*  Lieutenant  Elijah  Haddon  is  the 
ranking  officer  after  me.  Bid  him  gather  the  men  for  a 
murch  to  the  camp." 

"  All  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  The  last  man,"  I  said,  and  passed  into  the  house. 

Catherine  caught  me  in  her  arms  and  gave  me  wine. 

"  What  is  it,  my  beloved  ?  "  she  cried. 

"  Read,"  I  said,  and  threw  myself  into  a  chair. 

My  wife  read  the  letter,  and  read  it  again.  Then,  com- 
ing to  me,  she  said,  "  How  unjust  ;  how  very  unjust  !  '* 


266 


(    I 


I 


it; 


u'..'  ■ 


H',' 


fill 


•1  '} 


John  Marmaduke 


Now,  the  loving  dignity  of  Catherine's  demeanour  in 
this  hour  of  my  total  ruin  somewhat  amazed  me.  I  had 
looked  for  a  burst  of  fury,  a  storm  of  invective,  against 
the  action  of  my  General.  But  here  was  only  a  woman's 
sigh,  which  meant  the  more  because  it  was  a  sigh.  This 
conduct  was  so  unlike  her  that  it  roused  me  from  the 
lethargy  of  despair  into  which  I  had  fallen.  I  drew  her 
to  her  knees  before  me  and  stroked  her  brown  hair. 

"  Oh,  Catherine,"  I  said,  "  this  action  of  the  General's 
hath  cut  my  life  in  two." 

She  clasped  one  of  my  great  hands  in  both  of  hers 
and  looked  up  at  me. 

"  Nay,"  she  said,  "  this  is  but  to  try  your  spirit.  If 
this  General  be  the  man  of  tender  heart  and  lofty  mind 
that  you  have  so  often  pictured  to  me,  he  cannot  main- 
tain his  unjust  stand  against  you." 

A  trumpet  sounded  in  the  yard. 

"  Listen  !  "  I  cried,  rising  and  lifting  her  to  her  feet. 
"  That  bugle  hath  called  me  to  the  battle  a  hundred 
times.  And  now  they  go  without  me.  Oh,  rank  in- 
justice !  Intolerable  bigotry  !  The  man  to  whom  I 
have  given  a  soldier's  devotion  deserts  me  now,  and 
leaves  me  alone  !  " 

"  Alone,  Captain  Marmaduke  ? "  demanded  my  wife. 

"  Yea,  alone,"  I  answered,  passionately,  "  and  de- 
fenceless in  an  enemy's  country  !  " 

Lieutenant  Haddon  entered  and  saluted  me. 

"  The  men  are  assembled.  Captain,"  said  he. 

"  Are  all  there  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  The  last  one,"  he  replied. 

"  Then  you  will  march  them  for  Drogheda  immediately 
and  report  to  General  Cromwell.  The  Scoutmaster  will 
guide  you." 


The  Evil  Days  Come 


267 


nour  m 
I  had 
against 
Oman's 
.  This 
om  the 
rew  her 
lir. 
eneral's 

of  hers 

irit.  If 
iy  mind 
t  main- 


er  feet, 
undred 
ink  in- 
nom   I 


•w. 


and 


ly  wife, 
nd  de- 


idiately 
ter  will 


'  My  men  were  not  used  to  questioning  my  commands. 
But  Huddon  stood  stock  still. 

"  And  you,  Captain  ? "  he  inquired. 

"  I  shall  remain  here.     I  pray  you,  go  at  once." 

A  look  of  ill-concealed  contem]}t  gathered  in  his  face. 
My  sensitive  mind  instantly  read  his  thought. 

"  Elijah  Haddon,"  I  cried,  "  I  am  not  staying  here  in 
love's  dalliance.  I  am  displaced  in  my  office  by  Gen- 
eral Cromwell's  order.  My  marriage  hath  mortally 
offended  him.     Will  that  suffice  thy  curiosity  ?" 

"  Impossible,"  said  Haddon.  "  Old  Noll  hath  been 
led  to  it  by  some  enemy  of  yours." 

"  Whether  or  no,"  I  answered,  "  the  thing  is  done. 
You  are  in  command,  and  I  beg  you  to  go  at  once." 

"  The  men  will  never  go  without  you,"  he  said,  and 
left  the  room. 

I  paced  up  and  down  the  floor  with  a  hundred  pas- 
sions in  my  heart,  but  never  looked  at  the  woman  who 
stood  like  a  statue  with  her  eyes  fixed  upon  me.  I 
heard  some  words  among  the  men  outside.  Then  Had- 
don again  came  in. 

**  The  men  refuse  to  march  by  any  order  but  yours," 
he  said. 

"  Did  you  tell  them  I  am  displaced  ? " 

"  Yes,  Captain." 

"  Then  return  to  them." 

He  passed  out  and  I  raised  the  window.  The  men 
were  in  ranks,  mounted,  and  facing  me.  When  they 
caught  sight  of  me  they  gave  me  a  great  cheer. 

"  To  your  place  Captain,"  cried  Joe  Muzzycroft. 
"  We  will  follow  no  leader  but  you." 

"  Lead  us  to  Drogheda,  Captain,"  said  Hugh  Brewer, 
''  and  Noll  will  tell  you  he  did  but  jest." 


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268 


John  Marmaduke 


"  Lieutenant  Haddon,"  I  said,  "  you  will  ride  to  the 
rear." 

He  did  so,  and  the  men,  misapprehending  my  purpose, 
cheered  again. 

"  Lieutenant  Waters  and  Lieutenant-Scoutmaster 
Potton,"  I  cried,  "  to  the  rear  !  " 

They  promptly  obeyed  the  order,  and  the  men  gave 
another  shout  of  approval. 

"  No  man  in  this  troop  has  ever  yet  refused  to  obey  an 
order  from  me,"  I  said. 

"  And  none  ever  will  ! "  said  Loftus  Pearson. 

"  Then  hear  me,  men,"  I  continued.  "  The  General 
is  displeased  and  hath  removed  me " 

"  Only  for  a  time,  we  pray  God  !  "  came  from  Hugh 
Brewer. 

"  I  know  not  as  to  that,"  I  shouted.  "  But  he  himself 
needs  you  at  Drogheda.  I  bid  you  farewell,  and  hope 
some  day  to  lead  you  again  in  battle.  Forward,  right 
about  face, — away  !  "  And,  as  they  turned,  they  found 
Lieutenants  Haddon  and  Waters  at  their  front,  and  the 
Scoutmaster,  too,  in  which  posture  they  set  forward  with 
dejected  faces,  and  rode  through  the  gates  of  Carberry 
Hall.  When  the  last  of  the  Ironsides  had  disappeared, 
Balor  MacLuga  shut  the  gates  and  locked  them,  and  he 
and  half  a  dozen  of  the  Irish  servants  cut  a  caper  in  the 
yard  for  very  joy  at  their  deliverance.  The  tall  priest 
walked  across  the  grass  and  mounted  the  wall  to  watch 
the  departing  cavalcade  ;  and  I  heard  a  coarse  shout  of 
triumph  from  Lady  Milucra  O'Fergus  at  an  upper  win- 
dow.   Again  I  paced  the  floor  in  agony. 

"  They  are  gone  !  "  I  cried.  "  The  brave  hearts  who 
have  fought  beside  me  through  all  these  wars  are  gone. 
The  comrades  of  many  years  have  deserted  me.     My 


The  Evil  Days  Come 


269 


win- 

who 
gone. 
My 


ambition  is  stricken  down,  my  life  is  ruined.  And  all 
for  what?" 

"  Captain  Marmaduke, — stop  !  " 

Catherine  was  a  raging  fury  in  my  path.  We  stood 
facing  each  other. 

"  You  are  speaking  as  if  life  held  no  duty  but  to  slay 
the  Irish  people  !  "  she  cried.  "  Do  you  regret  the  step 
you  have  taken  ?  Are  you  so  soon  tired  of  the  marriage 
to  which  your  vows  of  eternal  love  led  me  rashly  to  con- 
sent ?  Would  you  have  your  freedom  and  your  toy  sol- 
diers  back  again  ?  Yonder  is  your  horse.  Mount  him, 
then,  and  away  after  youi  Ironsides  ; — you  can  soon 
overtake  them,  and  your  fine  General  will  parcon  you 
when  you  do  acknowledge  that  you  have  forsaken  your 
Catholic  wife." 

I  looked  at  her  ashamed,  but  not  knowing  what  I  had 
said. 

"  Pray  tell  me,  sir,"  rhe  cried,  "  if  there  be  no  solace 
for  you  in  cherishing  a  wte  ?  Is  all  this  fond  love  which 
you  have  given  me  to  die  away  and  be  but  the  memory 
of  a  dream  ?  Is  the  boundary  of  your  mind  so  circum- 
scribed that  when  your  sword  is  taken  from  your  hand 
life  holds  no  further  charm  ?  Is  this  the  high  manhood 
which  won  my  girl's  fancy,  and  do  I  find  you  unmasked 
and  without  resource  when  you  are  no  longer  free  to 
fight  my  countrymen  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Catherine,"  I  cried,  and  would  have  taken  her 
to  my  heart,  but  she  held  away.  "  I  know  not  what  I 
have  said.  Have  I  hurt  thy  love  or  wounded  thee  ? 
Reproach  me  no  further,  dear  wife,  but  think  of  my 
honour  gone." 

"  You  said  you  were  alone  and  defenceless  in  an 
enemy's  country.     I  would  kill  with  my  own  hand  that 


270 


John  Marmaduke 


M  1 


countryman  of  mine  who  would  harm  a  hair  of  your 
head.  But  no  true  Irishman  would  offer  violence  to  the 
husband  of  Catherine  Dillon.  I  am  here  ;  therefore  you 
are  not  alone,  and  my  country  cannot  be  the  country  of 
my  husband's  enemy.  Say  you  did  rot  mean  those 
words,  John." 

I  said  I  did  not  mean  them,  and  she  kissed  me. 
Then,  in  spite  of  all  my  years  and  of  all  my  strength,  I 
sank  at  her  feet  in  such  a  burst  of  grief  as  would  have 
shamed  «,  silly  girl.  She  took  my  head  in  her  lap,  giant 
that  I  was,  and  said  things  that  a  woman  might  say  to  a 
baby.  After  a  while,  I  forgot  my  sorrow,  and,  with  my 
head  on  her  heart,  drank  in  her  little  speeches  gratefully  ; 
for  there  is  no  adversity  so  sharp  but  a  true  woman's 
love  can  take  away  its  sting. 


I    5t 


CHAPTER   XXXIV 


AFTER   THE    IRONSIDES 


THE  real  tragedy  of  life  is  not  death,  which  is  merely 
a  final  sleep,  but  the  searing  of  the  living  heart  by 
the  hot  iron  of  adversity. 

My  displacement  in  the  arm.y  was  a  crushing  blow  to 
my  ambition,  and  it  gave  me  a  great  deal  of  mental  dis- 
tress. But  the  misfortune,  overpowering  though  it  was, 
nevertheless  taught  me  how  insecure  are  worldly  place 
and  honour,  and  hew  vain  the  fever  that  leads  men  to 
seek  for  them.  Then,  too,  1  observed  that  my  reverses 
brought  Catherine  and  myself  into  a  closer  sympathy, 
and  the  patient  and  comforting  power  of  her  affection 
made  me  value  her  love  more  highly  than  ever. 

But  two  or  three  days  of  the  aimless  life  which  fol- 
lowed after  the  departure  of  the  Ironsides  from  Carberry 
Hall  forced  upon  my  attention  a  great  change  in  my 
treatment  at  the  hands  of  all  save  Catherine.  Lady 
Milucra  O'Fergus  assailed  my  ears  with  violent  sarcasm 
whenever  we  met  at  meals  or  elsewhere.  Balor  Mac- 
Luga  addressed  me  only  when  necessary,  and  then  with 
but  scant  courtesy.  Finn  and  Oscar,  his  fellow-servants, 
dared  to  laugh  behind  my  back,  as  I  discovered  on  at 
least  one  occasion  when  Catherine  turned  suddenly  and 

871 


'TassiS^. 


ml  i 


ii 


?  «T  ' 


II 


272 


John  Marmaduke 


struck  one  of  them  a  blow  on  the  cheek.  And  even 
Father  Terhune  seemed  to  regard  me  as  a  dependent  on 
Catherine's  hospitality,  and  he,  too,  though  ever  polite, 
had  but  little  to  say  to  me. 

It  was  simply  impossible  that  I  could  long  endure 
such  a  position.  My  wife  did  all  she  could  to  hide  from 
me  these  signs  of  vanished  respect,  and  I  divined  that 
she  had  high  words  with  more  than  one  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  house  in  my  behalf.  But  one  week  after  my 
troop  had  gone  away  I  took  her  to  our  room  and  told 
her  that,  despite  of  General  Cromwell's  order,  I  meant 
to  go  at  once  to  the  English  camp  at  Drogheda  and  seek 
service  there.  She  used  all  her  art  to  dissuade  me  from 
my  resolution  ;  but  finding  me  firm  she  confessed  that 
she  herself  was  unhappy  in  the  great  change  that  had 
come  over  my  spirit,  and  since  I  was  set  on  going  she 
would  consent,  but  would  herself  accompany  me. 

Now,  this  was  the  last  thing  in  life  that  I  desired  her 
to  do.  The  dangers  of  the  journey  to  the  camp  would 
be  considerable,  and  my  arrival  there  would  doubtless 
be  attended  by  humiliation  and  insult.  I  told  her  these 
things  with  grave  concern  and  urged  upon  her  that  un- 
der the  circumstances  she  could  please  me  no  better  than 
by  staying  at  home  and  trusting  to  the  near  future  to 
bring  us  together  in  a  better  fortune. 

"  I  pray  you,  my  dear  husband,  save  your  breath,"  she 
cried,  drawing  my  face  so  close  to  her  own  that  my 
visaged  care  seemed  to  vanish  before  the  light  of  her 
love,  "  ssve  your  breath,  for  you  will  die  for  lack  of  it, 
some  day.  You  stir  not  from  my  house  unless  I  be  with 
you.  I  shall  ride  in  my  boy's  dress,  and  if  there  be  ad- 
ventures on  the  way,  you  will  be  right  glad  to  have  my 
sword  beside  your  own," 


\m 


After  the  Ironsides 


273 


"she 

t  my 

f  her 

of  it, 

e  with 

be  ad- 

ve  my 


"  But,  Catherine,"  I  said,  "  you  are  safe  here,  while  on 
the  road  you  will  not  be  safe.  Then,  Captain  Marma- 
duke  and  his  wife  will  scarcely  receive  that  distinguished 
treatment  which  once  I  fondly  hoped  for  your  sake 
would  be  accorded  to  us  when  I  would  take  you  before 
our  General." 

"  As  to  my  safety,"  she  answered,  "  I  value  it  not  a 
penny  without  you, — nay,  nor  my  life  either.  As  for 
honours,  I  court  them  not  from  this  invading  army.  And 
so,  reserve  your  further  objections,  dear  John,  and  let 
us  both  prepare  to  depart." 

Seeing  that  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  take  her 
with  me,  I  bade  her  prepare  for  the  journey  ;  and  while 
she  was  gone  into  an  adjoining  room,  I  put  on  my  back- 
and  breast,  my  helmet,  boots,  and  sword,  and  felt  a  man 
again.  When  I  had  completed  my  accoutrement,  the 
door  opened  and  my  wife  entered,  rigged  out  in  the 
smartest  man's  suit  I  had  yet  beheld  upon  her.  Buff 
boots  came  above  her  knee  and  were  met  by  a  pair  of 
scarlet  velvet  breeches.  A  belt  strapped  around  her 
lace  shirt  carried  her  sword.  She  wore  a  doublet  of 
scarlet  velvet  to  match  the  breeches^  and  a  flowing  black 
cloak  over  her  shoulders.  On  her  head  was  a  white  hat 
and  feather,  while  white  leathern  gauntlets  covered  her 
hands. 

As  she  came  before  me  she  threw  back  her  head  with 
a  saucy  air,  drew  her  sword,  and  gave  me  a  military  sa- 
lute. Then,  returning  the  blade  to  its  scabbard,  she  ran 
forward  and  kissed  me.  Our  design  to  go  abroad  had 
put  her  in  a  merry  humour,  and  she  laughed  and  teased 
until  we  should  start  awav. 

Catherine  had  put  some  necessary  things  of  comfort 

into  a  parcel,  and,  as  the  weather  was  becoming  cold, 
18 


-■^1       •!■   t,^m 


274 


.•i 


\ 


m 


1:1 


John  Marmaduke 


she  gave  me  a  great  cloak  that  had  belonged  to  her 
father.  She  then  sent  an  order  out  to  saddle  Dick  and 
Bess.  When  all  was  ready  we  started  to  go  to  the  door, 
and,  as  we  came  upon  the  step,  in  front  of  which  stood 
the  two  horses.  Father  Terhune  and  Lady  Milucra 
blocked  our  farther  progress. 

"  What  means  that  immodest  dress,  Kate  ?  "  demanded 
my  wife's  aunt.  "  Where  are  you  going  on  a  man's 
saddle?" 

*'  I  am  going  with  my  husband  for  a  ride,"  returned 
Catherine,  h'^r  cheek  colouring  because  of  the  opposition 
implied  in  these  questions. 

"  Where  ?  "  demanded  her  aunt.  Then,  as  no  answer 
came  from  Catherine,  she  turned  to  me,  and,  lashing 
herself  into  an  instant  fury,  cried  out : 

"  English  pauper  !     Whither  would  you  take  her  ?  " 

"  I  know  of  no  reason  why  I  should  answer  you,"  I 
said,  eying  her  sternly,  "  neither  do  I  know  of  any  rea- 
son why  I  should  not  answer  you.  I  am  taking  my  wife 
for  a  ride,  mainly  because  she  will  not  stay  here  without 
me.  As  to  our  destination,  if  she  tell  it  not,  neither  will 
I,  but  we  will  likely  be  away  for  some  days." 

"  Mother  of  God,"  yelled  the  Irish  woman,  "  must  I 
hear  such  insolence  from  a  slave  ?  Kate  !  Will  you 
suffer  it  to  your  own  flesh  and  blood  ?  Send  him  away 
with  a  good  riddance,  and  return  you  to  the  confidence 
and  affection  of  your  family.  It  is  high  time  he  were 
begging  his  way  at  the  next  house  !  " 

Catherine  would  have  spoken  a  fierce  reply,  but  I 
raised  my  hand  to  bid  her  silence.  She  sprang  indig- 
nantly upon  her  horse,  and  I  mounted  Dick.  Then  the 
priest  spoke. 

"  Catherine,"  said  he,  "  I  think  it  not  well  that  you  ride 


After  the  Ironsides 


275 


her 

and 
loor, 
tood 
lucra 

nded 
nan's 

Limed 
sition 

nswer 
iishing 

r?" 
ou,"  I 
ly  rea- 
y  wife 
ithout 
er  will 

Irnust  I 
111  you 
away 
dence 
,e  were 

but  I 

indig- 

len  the 


lou 


ride 


abroad  in  such  troublous  times  lacking  a  sufficient 
escort." 

"  But  I  have  a  sufficient  escort,  father,"  she  replied. 
"  John,"  she  continued  to  me  in  a  low  voice,  "  let  us 
away." 

Our  horses  set  out  at  a  brisk  walk.  Then  we  heard 
the  shrill  voice  of  Lady  Milucra  O'Fergus. 

"  Balor  MacLuga,"  she  cried,  "  to  the  gate,  quick, 
and  close  it !  I  and  Father  Terhune  will  control  here 
until  my  young  lady  recovers  her  duty." 

Balor  MacLuga  and  half  a  dozen  Irish  men-at-arms 
started  on  a  run  for  the  gate.  Lady  Milucra  had  de- 
clared war,  and  I  knew  that  her  hatred  of  me  would  be 
no  longer  restrained  if  she  carried  her  point  now. 

"  Quick,  John  !  "  cried  Catherine,  setting  spurs  to  her 
horse.     "  Quick,  or  we  are  lost !  " 

I  dashed  after  her  and  we  reached  the  gate  just  as 
Balor  MacLuga  was  in  the  act  of  swinging  it  shut. 
Perceiving  that  he  could  not  close  it  in  time  to  intv?rcept 
us,  and  being  urged  on  by  the  angry  and  excited  -com- 
mands of  Lady  Milucra,  he  threw  himself  and  his  men 
across  the  roadway,  and  they  sought  to  grasp  our  bridles. 
At  a  word  from  me  Dick  rose  in  the  air  and  threw  lim- 
self  against  two  of  our  assailants,  passing  over  them  as 
they  rolled  into  the  road.  Turning  my  horse,  I  saw 
Balor  MacLuga  seize  Catherine's  bridle  while  Lady 
Milucra  hastened  down  the  green  lawn  as  fast  as  her 
weight  of  flesh  would  permit  her,  the  tall  priest  coming 
behind. 

"Would  you  betray  your  mistress?"  cried  Catherine 
to  Balor  MacLuga.  "  Then  take  a  beating  for  your 
treachery  ! " 

She  attempted  to  bring  the  flat  of  her  sword  down 


276 


I  i| 


(  1 


!;;!■,; 


John  Marmaduke 


across  his  shoulder  ;  but  in  her  trepidation  her  aim  was 
not  good  and  the  sharp  edge  of  the  blade  passed  close 
to  the  Irishman's  head  and  cut  off  his  left  ear.  He  re- 
leased his  hold  upon  her  horse  and  howled  with  pain, 
and  Catherine  spurred  Bess  to  my  side. 

"  On  ! "  she  cried,  her  face  now  white  as  death. 
"  Away  from  so  much  ingratitude.  They  will  kill  you 
if  they  stop  us  again.     On,  on  !  " 

As  we  spurred  away  we  heard  the  hot  maledictions  of 
Lady  Milucra  and  the  serving-men,  and,  as  I  looked 
over  my  shoulder,  I  saw  the  tall  priest  gazing  after  us 
with  an  immobile  face,  while  all  the  others  made  gest- 
ures of  impotent  rage. 

There  were  no  indications  that  a  pursuit  was  intended, 
yet  I  deemed  it  well  that  we  ride  on  at  a  good  pace  until 
we  had  gone  north  ten  miles.  Then  we  drew  our  horses 
to  a  walk  and  began  to  talk  of  the  matter  that  was  upper- 
most in  our  hearts. 

"  John,"  said  Catherine,  giving  me  her  hand  to  hold 
as  we  jogged  along  the  green  hillside,  "  if  you  had  gone 
away  from  Carberry  Hall  without  me,  as  you  proposed 
to  do,  we  never  should  have  met  again  on  earth." 

"  Nonsense,"  I  said. 

"  Nay,  but  it  is  true.  They  were  already  attempting 
to  undermine  my  loyalty  to  you.  Your  fall  from  power 
carried  down  their  fear  of  you,  which  was  all  that  held 
them  in  any  semblance  of  respect.  When  they  found 
my  heart  true  in  its  love  they  contemplated  putting  a 
restraint  upoL  my  liberty,  and  were  concocting  I  know 
not  what  evil  for  yourself.  Had  you  come  away  alone 
they  never  would  have  permitted  us  to  meet  again." 

"  My  sweet  girl  !  "  I  cried,  pressing  her  hand  to  my 
lips.    "  You  are  indeed  a  loyal  and  true  wife  to  follow 


After  the  Ironsides 


^n 


n  was 

close 
Sere- 

pain, 

death, 
ill  you 

ions  of 
looked 
iter  us 
le  gest- 

tended, 
ce  until 
r  horses 
3  upper- 

o  hold 
id  gone 
roposed 


empting 
n  power 
hat  held 
ly  found 
jutting  a 
I  know 
ay  alone 
iin. 

d  to  my 
to  follow 


me  out  into  the  world  when  I  am  hunted  and  friendless. 
But  never  fear  ;  I  shall  conquer  the  world  for  you  yet, 
Catherine.  Our  love  shall  yet  see  peace  and  prosperity, 
let  us  hope,  in  God's  favour." 

My  wife  crossed  herself  and  murmured  a  prayer. 

"  Know  you  the  road  to  Drogheda? "  I  asked. 

"  In  a  general  way,  yes,"  she  answered,  "  though  I 
have  never  been  farther  north  than  Dublin.  We  shall 
follow  the  coast  road  for  twenty  miles  and  then  strike 
inland,  passing  Dublin  in  a  wide  circumference.  Then 
straight  north  some  five-and-twenty  miles  and  we  shall 
come  upon  your  army.  There  are  both  tories  and  wolves 
in  these  parts." 

"  I  like  not  that.     What  garrisons  shall  we  pass  ?  " 

"  No  English,  certainly,"  she  said,  **  and  as  for  the 
Irish,  they  are  farther  inland,  I  think.  The  road  we 
take  should  be  free  from  any  but  the  natives,  or,  per- 
haps, a  straying  band  from  your  side  or  mine." 

"  And  be  they  English  or  Irish,"  I  said,  "  it  were  bet- 
ter we  do  not  meet  them  until  you  and  I  shall  have  tried 
our  fortunes  at  the  camp." 

"  When  shall  we  reach  Drogheda  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  To-morrow  in  the  early  afternoon,  if  no  mishap  be- 
fall," I  replied.  **  Our  horses  are  rested  and  here  is  a 
fine  stretch  of  road.     Shall  we  speed  on  ? " 

"  I  am  ready." 

"  Do  you  love  me  ?" 

"With  all  my  heart." 

I  released  her  hand  and  we  set  off  again  at  our  best 
speed.  When  we  had  covered  another  five  miles  Cathe- 
rine drew  her  rein  and  called  to  me  to  halt. 

"  I  am  tired,  John,"  she  said,  "  and  very  hungry.  Is 
it  not  time  for  supper  ?  " 


278 


John  Marmaduke 


"  The  sun  and  our  stomachs  both  say  Yes,"  I  replied. 
"  The  country  thus  far  has  seemed  almost  without  in- 
habitants. It  grows  more  wild  and  desolate  as  we  press 
on.  Let  us  ride  slowly  and  look  sharp  for  shelter  and  a 
good  suppci." 

**  Where  shall  we  stay  all  night  ?  " 

"  Under  the  first  roof, — of  friend  if  we  can  win  him  ; 
of  foe  if  we  can  conquer  him." 

My  wife  heaved  a  sigh  of  fatigue.  She  was  not  usu- 
ally so  soon  wearied,  and  I  attributed  her  impaired 
endurance  to  the  worry  which  had  weighed  upon  her  mind. 

A  turn  in  the  road  brought  us  in  sight  of  a  small  and 
rude  hovel  built  of  boughs  and  earth  against  a  hillside. 

"  It  is  a  tory's  house,"  cried  Catherine.  "  Let  us 
avoid  it." 

"  We  will  accost  it,"  I  answered.  "  You  must  have  a 
place  for  repose." 

We  rode  straight  up  to  it,  and  I  called  out  to  know  if 
there  was  anyone  within. 

The  door  was  soon  opened,  and  a  gaunt  and  horrid 
hag  looked  out  at  us  with  forbidding  suspicion. 

"  Who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  want  ? "  she  de- 
manded, in  a  shrill  voice. 

"  We  are  wayfarers,"  I  said,  "  T  and  my  page,  and  we 
are  famished.  Get  us  some  supper,  my  good  woman, 
and  silver  and  our  thanks  sha'l  reward  you." 

"  I  want  not  your  silver,  nor  your  thanks,  either,"  she 
said,  angrily,  "  and  no  supper  may  an  English  soldier 
have  here  !  Buddagh  Sassanach  !  "  And  with  that  she 
disappeared,  banging  the  door  in  our  faces. 

The  tears  sprang  to  Catherine's  eyes. 

"  What  are  we  to  do  ?  "  she  asked. 

My  only  answer  was  to  dismount  and  kick  the  door 


After  the  Ironsides 


279 


plied. 
It  in- 
press 
and  a 


him  ; 

t  usu- 
paired 
•  mind, 
ill  and 
Iside. 
Let   us 

have  a 

now  if 

horrid 

he  de- 

md  we 
voman, 

ir,"  she 
soldier 
hat  she 


door 


off  its  leather  hinges  with  one  thrust  of  my  foot.  The 
woman  came  forward  screaming  Celtic  oaths,  and  be- 
side her  was  a  fierce  cur  which  aimed  his  fangs  at  me 
until  I  gave  him  my  boot  and  sent  him  into  a  corner  of 
the  room  with  the  breath  all  out  of  him. 

"  Hear  me,  woman,"  I  cried.  *'  I  have  used  fair  words 
without  avail,  and  now  I  will  bring  you  to  book  with  au- 
thority. Get  a  supper  for  this  youth  and  myself  instantly, 
or  I  will  burn  this  nest  about  your  ears.  Quick  !  What 
say  you  ? " 

"  If  I  must,  I  must,"  she  said,  shrinking  before  my 
fierce  gaze.  "  But  I  will  make  it  so  hot  't  will  burn  your 
tongue."  This  was  said  as  she  drew  away  from  me 
toward  the  peat  fire  in  the  corner. 

"  As  hot  as  you  will,"  I  said,  laughing  as  I  ^eheld 
Catherine's  pleasure  in  our  seeming  success.  Then,  as 
a  savoury  smell  of  bacon  came  from  the  pan,  I  forgot  my 
wrath  entirely. 

"  Bake  it  crisp,"  I  said,  in  a  tone  to  appease  her. 
"  Fry  some  of  your  eggs,  too,  for  I  warrant  that  your 
tory  mate  has  carried  home  good  store  from  his  last 
raid.  You  can  cook  a  supper  for  a  king's  taste,  I  will 
warrant." 

"  What  knows  an  English  soldier  of  a  king's  taste  ?  * 
she  demanded,  breaking  the  eggs  into  the  pan. 

"  Little,  in  recent  years,  I  grant  you,"  I  answered. 
"  But  on  with  the  supper,  and  make  haste." 

Perceiving  that  everything  was  now  going  on  well,  I 
passed  out  and  lifted  my  tired  wife  from  her  horse, 
holding  her  a  moment  on  my  heart  as  she  slid  down 
from  her  saddle. 

By  the  side  of  the  hut  was  a  spring,  where  I  gave  her 
a  drink  and  poured  the  water  for  her  to  lave  her  hands 


i^l 


\i 


: 


i^ 


280 


John  Marmaduke 


and  face,  and  she  did  the  like  for  me.  With  a  towel 
from  the  parcel  at  my  saddle  we  dried  ourselves,  and 
then,  feeling  much  refreshed,  I  sat  her  down  beside  the 
door.  As  our  steeds  were  wearied  likewise,  I  took  the 
trappings  from  tnem,  and  tethered  them  where  there  was 
grass  and  water. 

When  I  returned  to  the  hovel  the  old  woman  gave  us 
the  supper  in  the  pan,  and  Catherine  and  I  quickly  fell 
to  with  famished  appetites.  There  were  bacon,  and  eggs, 
and  cold  water,  and  plenty  of  it  all,  and,  as  w^e  smiled 
at  each  other  across  the  smoking  pan,  we  agreed  that  we 
had  never  eaten  a  meal  with  more  enjoyment.  We  took 
our  time  to  it,  and  ate  heartily  and  drank  the  water  un- 
til we  felt  tired  nature  fully  restored.  And  then  we  had 
a  hearty  laugh  in  our  fulness. 

"  Will  she  let  us  stay  here  all  night,  John  ?"  my  wife 
whispered. 

"  There  is  but  the  one  room,"  I  answered,  looking 
round,  "  and  it  is  squalid  and  evil." 

But  the  sharp  ears  of  the  old  woman  had  heard  both 
question  and  answer. 

*'  My  man  and  my  son  will  be  home  soon,"  she  said, 
savagely,  "  and  they  love  an  Englishman  no  better  than 
I  do.  It  would  be  well  they  find  you  not  here,  or  the 
broken  door  and  this  supper  will  cost  more  than  your 
purse." 

I  felt  alarmed  at  this  speech.  If  I  had  been  alone  I 
would  have  thought  little  of  the  two  men  she  had 
spoken  of.  But  I  wished  to  evade  all  unnecessary  danger 
on  my  wife's  account  ;  and  so,  giving  her  a  piece  of  sil- 
ver for  the  supper,  I  said  : 

'*  Then  we  will  away.  Is  there  another  house  near 
here  where  we  could  likely  stay  over  night?" 


I.  El 


After  the  Ironsides 


281 


**  None  nearer  than  Dublin,"  replied  the  old  woman. 
Then,  going  to  the  door,  she  cried  : 

"  The  men  are  coming  now,  and  there  is  a  stranger 
with  them  !     Now  shall  I  see  my  revenge  upon  you  !  " 

*'  Quick,  Catherine  !  "  I  said.  *'  Throw  your  saddle 
on  Bess  ! " 

My  wife  followed  me  into  the  field,  and  our  docile 
horses  came  at  once  to  our  call.  Catherine  was  as  ex- 
pert as  myself  at  the  business,  and,  in  a  short  minute, 
we  had  put  on  saddles  and  bridles  and  were  firm  astride. 

The  three  men,  not  seeing  us  in  the  gathering  dark- 
ness, had  passed  inside  the  house.  In  a  moment  I 
heard  them  cursing,  and  two  of  them  quickly  emerged 
with  long  knives  in  their  hands  and  made  toward  us. 
The  third  man  came  quickly  after  them,  carrying  a 
sword,  and  as  he  drew  nearer  I  recognised  the  Irish 
renegade.  Lord  Kilmac. 

"  Are  you  ready,  sweetheart  ? "  I  asked. 

"Yes." 

"  Then  away." 

We  leaped  our  horses  into  the  road,  but  not  quickly 
enough  to  evade  our  pursuers.  The  three  men  threw 
themselves  across  our  path  and  seized  our  bridles.  I 
struck  my  sword  upon  tlie  fellow  in  front  of  me,  and  he 
fell  clear  under  my  steed  and  rolled  against  my  wife's 
black  mare.  Though  wounded  by  my  stroke,  he  raised 
himself  and  plunged  his  k)iife  deep  into  the  vitals  of 
the  poor  beast.  Bess,  in  the  agony  of  her  pain,  made 
a  mighty  plunge,  unseating  Catherine,  and  then  fell  to 
the  ground  across  the  wounded  tory. 

Throwing  myself  off  my  horse  I  sprang  in  front  of 
my  wife. 

"  Quick,  Catherine,"  I  cried.    "  Mount  Dick." 


2^2 


John  Marmaduke 


r>':\ 


Lord  Kilmac  by  this  time  had  my  sword  in  play. 
While  we  fought,  the  Irish  woman  came  out  from  her 
hut,  and,  with  shrill  curses  upon  us,  endeavoured  to 
extricate  her  husband  from  the  weight  of  the  black 
mare's  body,  while  her  son  was  harassing  Catherine 
with  his  knife.  I  pressed  hard  upon  Lord  Kilmac,  and 
as  he  receded  from  me  he  came  upon  Bess.  The  mare 
was  kicking  her  heels  in  the  last  spasm  of  life,  and  as 
Lord  Kilmac  backed  against  her,  her  hoofs  shot  out 
upon  his  legs  and  struck  him  to  the  ground.  Without 
waiting  to  dispatch  him,  I  turned  towards  Catherine. 
She  was  striking  bravely  at  the  fellow  in  front  of  her, 
and  holding  him  off.  I  gave  him  a  thrust  which  made 
him  howl,  and  then  sprang  up  behind  my  wife  on  Dick. 

"  Away  !  "  I  cried. 

Dick  stepped  off  briskly  with  his  double  burden. 
They  had  no  steeds  with  which  to  give  chase,  and  we  were 
soon  beyond  the  hearing  of  their  fierce  maledictions. 

For  an  hour  we  rode  on,  and  then  the  full  moon  came 
out  to  light  our  way,  and  we  passed  into  a  wood. 

Stopping  our  horse,  I  lifted  her  down  and  said  : 

"  There  is  nothing  for  it  but  to  sleep  here  under  the 
trees.     Can  you  enduer  it,  Catherine  ?  " 

"Yes,  John." 

I  unharnessed  and  tethered  the  horse.  Then,  choos- 
ing a  mossy  bank  where  the  thick  arching  foliage  would 
shelter  us  from  the  dew,  I  spread  my  great  cloak  on 
the  ground  and  told  my  wife  to  lie  upon  it,  after  first 
wrapping  her  up  in  her  own.  Throwing  aside  my 
cuirass  and  iron  hat,  I  lay  down  beside  her,  and,  after 
she  had  indulged  her  tears  over  the  death  of  her  beauti- 
ful horse,  she  placed  her  head  upon  my  arm,  and  went 
to  sleep  like  a  tired  child. 


|i 


CHAPTER    XXXV 


BEARDING  THE  LION 


THE  night  in  the  woods  was  cold.  I  had  used  all  our 
wraps  to  keep  my  wife  warm,  and  it  was  my  own 
fortune  to  lie  awake  most  of  the  time,  benumbed  and 
chilled.  The  moonlight  fell  upon  the  trees  in  a  flood 
of  weird  beauty,  and  the  stillness  was  broken  now  by 
the  distant  bark  of  the  wolf  and  now  by  an  owl  hooting 
to  his  solemn  mate.  My  wakeful  fancy  soon  pictured 
the  woods  with  hostile  shapes  ;  tories  and  wolves  seemed 
to  surround  me  ;  and  my  position  as  a  discredited  Eng- 
lish soldier  wandering  alone  amidst  hereditary  foes 
brought  new  perils  to  my  mind's  eye.  The  extreme 
hazard  of  my  wife's  situation  was  paramount  to  every 
other  thought.  Was  not  this  a  mad  quest  of  mine  after 
my  forfeited  position  in  the  army  ?  Was  the  game  worth 
the  candle  ?  What  right  had  I  to  lead  my  wife  into 
the  presence  of  the  foes  of  her  country,  or  to  stir  the 
earnest  depths  of  her  vehement  nature  by  bringing  her 
face  to  face  with  them  ?  Why  had  I  not  returned  with 
her  to  England  and  sought  for  a  blissful  domestic  life 
in  my  ancestral  hall  at  Yorkshire,  far  removed  from  the 
loud  alarums  of  war  ?  Why  ?  And  then  I  answered  all 
my  own  questions  at  once.     Because  of  that  desire  in 

383 


1  • 


;<]  •:  ■   :  > 


if! 


I        *-: 
it        t 


284 


John  Marmaduke 


the  hearts  of  men  after  honour,  which  drives  them  away 
from  true  happiness  to  pull  planets  out  of  the  sky. 

I  had  not  failed,  during  the  past  few  days,  to  note  a 
new  disposition  in  my  wife.  The  energy  and  fire  of  her 
character  had  become  subdued  under  an  influence  which 
was  thus  far  unknown  to  me,  and  she  exhibited  a  dove- 
like fondness  for  me  and  a  dependence  on  me  in  matters 
of  the  smallest  import,  which  charmed  and  delighted, 
whil?  it  mystified  me. 

With  the  first  break  of  dawn  1  rose  from  the  mossy 
bank  where  she  still  slept,  and  paced  up  and  down 
beneath  the  sylvan  shade,  endeavouring  to  stir  my 
blood  into  that  benign  circulation  which  King  Charles's 
physician,  Mr.  Harvey,  had  but  recently  discovered  and 
explained  to  the  astonished  world.  It  was  not  long 
before  my  rugged  strength  overcame  the  night's  lethargy, 
and  I  soon  felt  myself  in  a  glow  of  health.  I  found 
Dick  cropping  the  grass  near  by  and  led  him  for  a  drink. 

Returning  to  Catherine,  I  pushed  the  cloak  from  her 
face  and  kissed  her  ruddy  lips.  She  woke  with  a  smile, 
threw  out  her  arms  with  laughing  indolence,  and  then, 
remembering  from  our  verdant  environment  the  journey 
that  lay  before  us,  she  rose  up  and  stepped  backward 
and  forward  as  I  had  done,  for  the  blood's  sake. 

When  I  had  put  on  my  armour  and  helped  Catherine 
to  adjust  her  cloak,  we  mounted  Dick  and  sped  onward 
to  the  north.  We  had  had  nothing  bi^t  a  draught  of 
water  to  refresh  our  bodies,  but  we  were  in  good  spirits 
and  discoursed  right  merrily  as  we  rode  on. 

When  we  had  ridden  two  hours,  and  it  was  seven 
o'clock,  we  came  to  a  hut  where  an  ancient  couple  gave 
us  hot  porridge  and  sweet  milch,  and  after  that  a  loaf  of 
bread  to  munch  on  the  way.    They  also  directed  us  into 


Bearding  the  Lion 


285 


an  unfrequented  road  along  which  we  might  ride  to 
our  destination  without  great  fear  of  molestation.  Re- 
quiting their  courtesy  with  silver,  we  resumed  our  pro- 
gress. 

The  sun  had  gone  one  hour  past  the  meridian  when 
we  came  to  the  river  Boyne,  and  soon  after  that  we 
sighted  Drogheda  on  the  hill.  The  English  army  had 
completely  invested  Hie  town  on  the  three  sides,  while 
the  sea  cut  off  the  garrison  on  the  fourth  side. 

Before  coming  to  the  camp  I  held  an  earnest  conver- 
sation with  Catherine  in  regard  to  the  method  which 
should  be  pursued  in  my  suit  to  the  General.  I  desired 
Catherine,  who  of  course  was  to  pass  for  my  page,  to 
keep  herself  in  strict  seclusion  until  I  should  have  an 
opportunity  to  learn  my  fate ;  but  she  declared  she 
would  not  leave  my  iide,  and  vowed,  much  to  my  trepid- 
ation, that  if  occasion  arose,  she  would  herself  beard 
the  lion  in  his  den.  No  entreaties  of  mine  could  shake 
her  determination  ;  and  so  we  pressed  on  until  we  came 
upon  the  English  sentries.  I  then  dismounted  and 
walked  on,  while  Catherine  rode  behind  me. 

I  was  immediately  recognised,  and  the  guard  permitted 
us  to  pass  within  the  lines  without  demanding  the  word. 
As  we  proceeded  through  the  avenues  of  tents  I  answered 
all  salutations  with  the  gravest  acknowledgment,  and 
kept  my  eyes  fastened,  so  far  as  could  be,  upon  the 
standard  bearing  the  buff  Bible  on  a  black  ground,  which 
floated  over  the  General's  cent.  The  siege  was  in  active 
progress  and  the  heavy  booming  of  the  guns  from  both 
armies  sounded  the  dreadful  note  of  war.  It  was  under- 
stood on  both  sides  that  the  siege  of  Drogheda  was  to 
be  the  test  of  General  Cromwell's  prowess.  If  he  failed 
here,  Ireland  would  continue  in  her  course  of  mad  an- 


M  'i 


I 


ii 


286 


John  Marmaduke 


archy.  If  he  succeeded,  he  would  be  a  conqueror 
indeed,  and  no  other  stronghold  could  withstand  him. 

The  operation  of  the  siege  was  thus  far  in  the  hands 
of  the  artillery.  The  foot  and  horse  had  therefore  but 
little  work  to  do,  and  they  were  this  afternoon  passing 
the  time  in  the  usual  pursuits  of  camp  life.  Most  sud- 
denly and  unexpectedly  we  came  into  the  midst  of  my 
own  troop,  and  a  yell  of  delight  greeted  my  ears  like 
welcome  music.  The  soldiers  pressed  about  us  and 
asked  a  thousand  questions  ;  but  I  commanded  them  to 
delay  me  not  until  I  should  meet  the  General.  They 
obediently  opened  before  us  to  the  right  and  left,  and 
many  words  of  God-speed  followed  us  as  we  passed  be- 
yond them.  In  a  moment  we  were  in  front  of  General 
Cromwell's  tent,  and  as  I  turned  to  look  at  Catherine  I 
saw  that  the  red  flush  of  excitement  was  in  her  cheek 
even  as  I  felt  it  burning  in  my  own. 

Lifting  her  from  the  horse,  I  threw  the  bridle  to  the 
General's  orderly. 

"  Is  the  Lord  General  Cromwell  within  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  He  is,"  replied  the  orderly. 

"And  alone?" 

"  Alone,"  he  answered. 

Summoning  up  all  the  resolution  my  character  pos- 
sessed, I  stepped  within  the  tent,  followed  closely  by  my 
seeming  page. 

Oliver  Cromwell  sat  at  a  table  immersed  in  the  study 
of  a  map  of  Drogheda,  and  so  deeply  was  his  attention 
engaged  that  he  paid  no  heed  to  our  entrance.  He  was 
at  this  time  just  fifty  years  of  age,  and  his  thick  brown 
hair,  falling  to  his  shoulders,  was  slightly  tinged  with 
grey.  His  head  was  of  massive  mould,  and  his  face, 
now  red  and  swollen  with  the  wear  of  many  campaigns, 


Bearding  the  Lion 


287 


and  disfigured  in  its  natural  beauty  by  three  warts,  yet 
wore  all  the  grand  and  noble  dignity  of  a  mighty  soul. 
The  steel  blue  of  his  eyes  could  gleam  with  a  woman's 
tenderness  or  flash  with  the  fury  of  incarnate  death. 
His  nose  was  large, — so  large  that  his  enemies  ridiculed 
it  in  their  lampoons.  His  brow  was  broad  and  furrowed, 
his  lips  were  red  and  full ;  his  jaw  was  thick  and  square. 
A  slight  mustache  grew  upon  his  upper  lip,  and  a  very 
small  growth  of  beard  was  on  his  chin  growing  not  more 
than  an  inch  below  his  mouth.  His  frame  was  large  ; 
lacking  two  inches  of  six  feet  in  height,  and  his  shoulders 
were  broad  and  strongly  made.  No  man  could  approach 
him  without  an  inward  feeling  of  hero-worship  ;  and,  as 
I  turned  my  gaze  for  an  instant  on  Catherine,  I  beheld 
that  she,  too,  was  wonderfully  impressed  by  the  great- 
ness which  dwelt  about  the  man's  personality. 

"A  strong  position,"  muttered  the  Lord  General 
Cromwell  to  himself,  still  absorbed  in  the  map.  "  This 
ravine  makes  it  almost  impassable  to  an  assault,  and  we 
cannot  starve  them  out  in  three  months.  Eh  !  "  he  cried, 
beholding  us  for  the  first  time.  "  What  now  ? — what  is 
wanted  ? — who  is  this  ?  What,  not  John  Marmaduke  ?  " 
he  said,  with  a  suppressed  fierceness  in  his  tone. 

"  I  beseech  you  to  grant  me  an  interview.  General 
Cromwell,"  I  said. 

I  could  perceive  that  he  was  making  a  great  effort  to 
master  his  resentment. 

"  My  order  to  you.  Captain  Marmaduke,"  said  he, 
"commanded  you,  I  think,  to  remain  at  Carberry  Hall." 

"  Your  order  displaced  me  from  my  command.  Gen- 
eral," I  replied.  "  It  equalled  a  dismissal  from  the  army, 
as  I  understood  it.  I  came  hither,  therefore,  to  ask 
for  a  personal  hearing." 


iiji 


'•;;  '•', 


I'  r:  ; 


mi 


IV: 


m 


\\  ;■' 


''  < ' 

: 

! :  '^^' 

ilk 

288 


John  Marmaduke 


There  was  an  angry  look  on  his  brow,  but  he  seemed 
to  welcome  the  opportunity  of  expressing  his  mind  to 
me. 

"  You  yielded  to  the  first  fair  face  you  met  in  Ireland. 
I  thought  you  a  man  of  stronger  character,  Marma- 
duke." 

"  One  cannot  shut  the  heart  against  love,  General." 

"  But  to  love  a  Papist, — that  were  bad  enough,^ — to 
/ove  a  Papist.  But  when  an  English  Puritan  falls  so  far 
from  the  obligation  of  life  as  to  wed  a  Papist, — to  link 
his  life  in  marriage  with  an  enemy  of  his  God  and  his 
country  both  !  Faugh  !  In  one  who  hath  done  thy 
work  in  this  army,  Marmaduke,  the  thing  is  beyond 
comprehension." 

"  I  can  only  say,  General,  that  one  looks  not  at  faith 
or  country  when  love  lays  hold  of  the  heart.  I  found  a 
woman  beautiful  above  ten  thou'^and " 

"  The  worse  for  you,"  he  interrupted,  "  that  you 
turned  not  your  eyes  from  her." 

"  Beautiful,"  I  continued,  "  not  only  in  a  woman's 
charm  of  face  and  form,  but  likewise  in  the  purity  of 
her  soul." 

He  laughed  harshly. 

"  You  did  ever  seem  reticent  and  not  given  to  words 
beyond  the  vocabulary  of  the  drill.  Now  I  find  pretty 
phrases  and  lovers*  distinctions  coming  from  you 
in  plenty.  And  in  what  doth  this  paragon  of  Irish 
wenches  surpass  our  English  womanhood?" 

The  thing  was  cruelly  said,  and  an  involuntary  start 
on  the  part  of  Catherine  attracted  his  attention  for  the 
first  time  to  my  pseudo  page.  He  eyed  her  narrowly, 
and  then  turned  his  great  eyes  once  more  upon  me. 

"  There  are  English  women  as  good,"   I  answered- 


;med 
id  to 

land, 
irma- 

\r 

1,-tO 

so  far 
3  link 
id  his 
le  thy 
eyond 

,t  faith 
3und  a 

Lt   you 

Dman's 
rity  of 


words 
pretty 
n    you 
Irish 

start 
[or  the 
rrowly, 
le. 
Iwered 


~TWT''^^- 


"  '  My  order  to  you.  Captain  Marmaduke,'  said  he,  '  commanded  you, 
I  think,  to  remain  at  Carberry  Hall,'  " 


Bearding  the  Lion 


289 


quietly,  "  and  there  may  be  those  who  are  as  beautiful. 
But  love  comes  not  by  comparison.  This  maiden  was 
to  me  the  superlative  of  maidens.  Going  there  with  my 
company,  in  the  course  of  our  affairs  she  was  bereft  of 
father  and  brother.  I  loved  her,  and  as  she  was  alone, 
I  married  her  with  but  brief  courtship." 

**  And  now,"  said  he,  "  you  have  tired  of  her,  and 
have  come  away  from  her  for  a  soldier's  business  once 
more.  What  becomes  of  this  very  lonely  woman  in  the 
meantime  ? " 

I  could  not,  of  course,  answer  his  question,  and  the 
anger  in  his  eyes  deepened  as  he  noted  my  hesitation. 

"  Not  quite  so  perfect  a  man,  after  all,  Marmaduke," 
said  he,  scornfully,  "  as  I  have  hitherto  thought  you. 
You  have  deserted  this  woman,  eh  ? " 

"  No,  General,"  I  answered. 

"  Come,  come  !  "  he  cried.  "  We  have  had  enough  of 
this  !  That  mad  passion  of  yours  has  run  its  course, 
and  now  you  come  back  like  the  prodigal  son,  leaving 
in  that  forsaken  woman's  heart  an  impression  oi  Eng- 
lish manhood  which  might  be  representative  of  the  Cav- 
aliers, but  which  should  have  no  countenance  among  the 
hosts  of  Zion."  He  rose  to  his  feet  and  his  eyes  blazed 
with  wrath.  "  Back  to  your  Papist  bride,  Captain  Mar- 
maduke," he  cried,  "  or  go  whither  you  will  so  you 
stay  not  here,  for  you  have  unfitted  yourself  to  do  the 
Lord's  work  in  Ireland.  Men  who  fall  so  easily  before 
the  firsc  temptation  are  not  for  great  affairs.  And 
yet," —  he  paused,  and  looked  straight  at  me, — "thou 
couldst  have  done  great  work  by  my  side  here  at  Drog- 
heda,  John  Marmaduke." 

"  May  he  not  still  do  great  work,"  said  a  voice  behind 

me,  "  by  urging  you  to  temper  your  war  with  mercy  ?  " 
»9 


290 


John  Marmaduke 


I  was  amazed  at  Catherine's  audacity  in  venturing 
such  a  speech  at  such  a  moment,  and  so,  too,  was  Gen- 
eral Cromwell. 

"  Who  is  this  saucy  stripling  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  My  page,  General,"  I  answered,  blushing  at  the 
guilt  of  a  lie. 

"  Let  me  tell  you,  then,  my  Irish  lad,"  said  General 
Cromwell, "  that  the  spirit  of  mercy  broods  not  over  this 
conflict.  Know  you  what  these  countrymen  of  yours 
have  done  to  our  English  settlers  before  we  came 
hither  ?  Know  you  what  brought  this  army  here  to  the 
great  cost  of  England  for  its  support  ?  Your  people 
hung  and  stabbed  our  English  Protestants  with  ferocious 
delight.  Noses  and  ears  were  cut  off ;  women  were 
abused,  and  had  their  legs  cut  off  at  the  knees.  Many 
persons  were  flung  from  the  bridges  to  drown  in  the 
streams  beneath.  Thousands  of  men,  women,  and  child- 
ren,— yea,  some  of  them  helpless,  prattling  babes — 
were  driven  naked,  through  the  cold  November  nights, 
and  forced  to  the  seashore,  to  starve  or  drown  if  they 
found  no  embarkation.  It  is  all  in  Mr.  May's  history, — 
a  matter  of  unquestioned  record, — that  more  than  one 
hundred  thousand  of  the  people  of  England  were  killed 
by  these  atrocious  cruelties.  Therefore  have  we  come 
into  Ireland  with  this  army.  And  are  we  to  show 
mercy  to  the  murderers  of  our  race  who  cower  behind 
yonder  walls  with  Fnglish  renegades?  The  garrison 
in  Drogheda  are  not  Irish  ;  I  shame  to  say  that  more 
than  four-fifths  of  them  are  English  Royalists,  so  that 
Ireland  cannot  quarrel  with  us  for  whatever  measures 
we  meet  out  to  those  malignants  of  English  blood. 
We  offered  them  all  full  quarter  to-day,  if  they  would 
surrender,  but  they  refused.     The  Lord  do  so  unto  me 


Bearding  the  Lion 


291 


if  I  call  them  not  to  a  just  accounting — Irish  snd  Eng- 
lish alike,  for  they  are  all  equally  guilty  !  " 

**  My  Lord  General,"  said  Catherine,  with  a  firm 
voice,  while  I  trembled  for  her  temerity,  "  I  have  heard 
my  father  say  that  the  stories  of  these  massacres  have 
been  much  exaggerated  in  England.  But  whether  or 
no,  your  people  took  the  land  from  ours,  and  it  was  a 
strife  against  oppression." 

General  Cromwell  was  eying  my  pseudo  page  with  an 
odd  look  of  curiosity  far  from  the  rage  which  I  feared 
her  speech  would  rouse  in  him.  Suddenly  he  turned 
upon  me  with  an  expression  of  withering  contempt,  and 
said  : 

"  Marmaduke,  after  the  second  battle  of  Newbury 
there  came  on  my  side  of  the  river  a  gay  Cavalier  lord, 
whom  I  took  prisoner,  with  his  page.  I  knew  him  well, 
and  he  told  me  his  page  had  followed  him  all  through 
the  war,  and  he  besought  me  not  to  separate  them  in 
their  captivity.  The  profligacy  of  that  courtier,  when  I 
found  his  page  a  woman,  did  not  astound  me.  But 
deep  indeed  are  the  depths  of  thy  fall  when  you  come 
here  into  the  presence  of  a  Godly  host  and  demand  the 
restitution  of  your  command  among  honest  men  with  a 
brazen  wench  beside  you  !  " 

This  insult  brought  a  hot  flush  of  anger  to  my  cheek, 
and  I  felt  Catherine's  blazing  eyes  upon  me. 

"  Where,  now,  let  me  ask,"  cried  the  Lord  General, 
"  is  this  superlative  wife  of  yours  ?  Hypocrite  and  prof- 
ligate," he  thundered,  "  out  of  my  sight.  You  love  a 
wife  ! " 

I  felt  a  pair  of  soft  arms  thrown  around  my  neck  and 
a  brown  head  thrust  upon  my  heart.  Involuntarily  I 
gathered  my  arms  about  the  seeming  boy,  and  my  wife 


292 


John  Marmaduke 


ii'   ii 


■;    I 


i  ■^" 


turned  her  head  from  its  retreat  on  my  bosom  and 
looked  full  at  the  great  soldier. 

"  I  am  his  wife  !  "  she  cried. 

General  Cromwell  resumed  his  seat  and  fixed  his  eyes 
upon  us  in  wonderment. 

"  What  pretty  play  is  this  ?  "  he  demanded,  still  with 
deep  scorn  in  his  voice. 

"  It  is  true,  General  Cromwell,"  I  answered.  "  Unable 
to  endure  the  humiliation  of  my  displacement,  I  pre- 
pared to  come  here  and  plead  for  the  restitution  of  my 
command.  This  lady,  the  daughter  of  an  Irish  knight, 
and  my  beloved  wife,  would  not  listen  to  my  proposal  to 
go  alone.  She  has  therefore  shared  the  perils  of  the 
journey  hither,  clad  for  better  safety  in  the  garb  which 
was  her  brother's." 

"  And  I  join  my  entreaties  to  those  of  my  husband," 
said  Catherine,  with  a  tender  emphasis  on  the  last  word, 
"  and  appeal  to  that  great  compassion  which  he  never 
tires  of  ascribing  to  you,  sir,  to  restore  him  to  the  army. 
He  has  not  mnrricd  beneath  his  station.  General  Crom- 
well," she  said,  proudly,  "  and  as  for  opinions,  what 
concern  should  that  be,  save  to  ourselves  ? " 

Now,  true  womanhood  was  a  thing  which  Oliver 
Cromwell  ever  venerated.  His  devotion  to  his  mother, 
his  wife,  and  his  daughters  was  known  to  the  whole 
world.  When,  therefore,  he  beheld  in  this  page's  guise 
1  lady  of  rank  whose  wifely  love  had  brought  her  through 
danger  into  his  presence,  his  wrath  sensibly  cooled. 
Catherine  had,  however,  though  unwittingly,  challenged 
him  to  argument,  and  argument,  especially  when  there 
was  theology  in  it,  was  a  thing  precious  to  his  soul.  For 
a  moment  he  i>tudied  my  wife's  face  with  a  penetrating 
and  curious  gaze  ;  and  then  he  said  : 


Bearding  the  Lion 


293 


som  and 

his  eyes 

still  with 

"  Unable 
»t,  I  pre- 
•n  of  my 
h  knight, 
oposal  to 
Is  of  the 
rb  which 

usband," 
ast  word, 
he  never 
he  army, 
al  Crom- 
ns,  what 

Oliver 
mother, 
whole 
e's  guise 
through 
cooled, 
alien  ged 
en  there 
)ul.  For 
letrating 


le 


"What  concern  indeed  should  opinions  be,  save  to 
yourselves  ?  Everything,  where  there  is  so  great  a  gulf 
in  opinion  as  between  Protestant  and  Catholic.  The 
State,  in  choosing  men  to  serve  it,  takes  no  notice  of 
their  opinions.  In  England  the  lines  of  toleration  are 
constantly  widening,  and  Jew  and  Catholic  are  as  safe 
there,  praise  God,  as  a  narrow  public  opinion  will  per- 
mit. As  time  grows  upace  we  would  enlarge  all  this 
until  free  conscience  may  cling  to  whatever  opinion  it 
will,  wherever  it  will,  the  world  over.  Yea,"  he  cried, 
with  rising  inspiration,  '*  we  mean  to  extend  protection 
to  Papists  in  England,  and  by  God's  help,  we  shall  de- 
mand the  safeguard  of  Protestants  even  in  Madrid, — in 
Rome  itself  !  It  is  for  the  welfare  of  nations  that  uni- 
versal toleration  must  come,  at  the  cannon's  mouth  if 
need  be.  But  as  between  husband  and  wife — "  (Cathe- 
rine had  withdrawn  herself  from  my  arms  and  stood 
beside  me  with  her  hand  clasped  in  mine.  The  General's 
eye  beamed  kindly  as  he  contemplated  our  situation.) 
— "  it  is  a  clean  different  thing,"  he  continued.  "  Mar- 
riage is  like  the  union  of  Christ  with  His  Church.  How 
can  that  union  be  emblemed  in  the  marriage  of  a  Puritan 
and  a  Papist  ?  " 

Catherine's  reply  was  spoken  softly,  yet  with  dignity 
and  force. 

"  Love  overcometh,"  she  said  ;  and  that  was  all. 

It  was  a  text  which  struck  his  fancy.  He  smiled 
grimly. 

"  Perhaps  it  may,"  he  said  ;  "  but  I  doubt  it,  oh,  I 
doubt  it !  They  tell  me  you  are  a  woman  of  spirit  and 
courage " 

"  But  it  is  not  a  man*s  spirit  and  courage,"  I  hastily 
said. 


!  I 


294 


John  Marmaduke 


"  Thou  art  a  watchful  lover,  Marmaduke,"  he  said. 
"  'T  ib  a  rash  marriage,  hastily  made.  Whether  God 
will  bless  it,  I  doubt.  Opinions  so  far  apart  are  held 
too  tenaciously  even  for  love  to  bridge." 

Perceiving  how  his  words  had  drawn  our  faces  long, 
he  said  : 

"  But  perhaps  God  will  look  with  favour  on  the  excep- 
tional grace  of  husband  and  wife  in  this  marriage. 
Beseech  him  that  it  may  be  so." 

Again  there  was  a  moment  of  silence.  I  had  not  yet 
heard  the  answer  to  my  petition.  He  rose  up  and  paced 
the  room,  darting  now  and  then  a  hasty  glance  at  us. 
Suddenly  he  stopped  before  us,  and  said  : 

"  It  hath  given  scandal  to  the  army,  Marmaduke. 
They  know  not  the  reasons  as  you  have  given  them  to 
me  ;  they  know  not  the  exceptional  features  of  this  case. 
There  must  be  some  mark  of  disfavour, — at  least,  of 
disapproval.  Find  a  tent  near  thy  troop,  but  take  no 
par^  in  their  command  at  present.  And  come  not  again 
to  me.     Now  go  !  " 

We  turned  to  depart  with  rueful  faces.  Our  hearts 
were  much  cast  down  by  the  strictures  he  had  seen  fit 
to  pass  upon  our  new-wedded  love,  and  my  suit  to  him 
could  hardly  be  called  a  victory. 

"  Stop  !  "  he  cried,  and  seized  a  hand  of  both.  "  Love 
overcometh,  you  say  ? "  he  continued,  looking  into  Cath- 
erine's wistful  face.  "  So  indeed  it  does.  That  thou 
art  deeply  in  love  with  thy  husband  I  can  plainly  see. 
That  he  loves  thee  needeth  no  witness.  His  place  shall 
be  given  again  to  him,  though  not  to-night.  Retire  now, 
both  of  you,  until  I  send  for  him,  and  may  God  bless 
your  love  most  bountifully." 

His  smile  went  gratefully  to  our  hearts,  and  we  passed 


Bearding  the  Lion 


295 


out  of  his  presence  with  lighter  steps.  So  much  does  the 
conduct  of  a  superior  affect  the  happiness  of  those  be- 
neath him,  that  men  in  authority  should  ever  study  to 
brighten  the  path  of  others  by  the  incidental  kindness 
which  costs  nothing  and  yet  is  more  precious  than 
gold. 

Night  was  drawing  on,  and  with  Catherine  beside  me 
I  led  Dick  back  to  the  edge  of  the  ground  occupied  by 
my  troop.  A  knot  of  my  men  were  waiting  our  return 
with  eager  curiosity.  Taking  Lieutenant  Elijah  Haddon 
aside,  I  told  him  that  the  morrow  would  perhaps  bring  a 
better  understanding.  He  pressed  my  hand,  and  said  he 
hoped  it  might  be  so.  He  then  led  us  to  my  own  tent, 
where,  when  he  had  seen  us  comfortably  bestowed,  he 
sent  Rob  Cumber  with  a  bountiful  supper,  after  partak- 
ing of  which,  being  greatly  fatigued  by  the  occurrences 
of  the  day,  we  sought  sleep, — I  and  my  pseudo  page. 


passed 


U  ■ 


if 


H!  I 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 


DROGHEDA 


THE  enemy  having  refused  to  surrender  on  an  offer 
of  full  quarter,  our  army  set  about  to  reduce  their 
stronghold.  By  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  following 
my  arrival  in  the  camp  I  noted  that  our  guns  had  made 
a  great  breach  in  their  wall,  and  had  shot  down  the 
tower  of  Saint  Mary's  church  beyond. 

The  whole  of  our  horse  and  foot  were  drawn  up  in 
order  to  an  assault  which  must  soon  ensue.  But  be- 
tween us  and  the  breach  was  a  deep  ravine  with  very 
steep  sides,  two  hundred  feet  to  the  bottom.  Our  foot 
might  pass  down  and  up  the  sides  of  this  ravine,  but  the 
horse  must  wait  for  the  foot  to  carry  the  place,  and  then 
ride  around. 

Being  impatient  of  the  restraint  of  my  tent  while  such 
great  business  was  ensuing,  I  called  Catherine,  still 
garbed  as  my  page,  to  follow  me  ;  and  together  we 
made  our  way  through  the  deserted  streets  of  the  camp 
to  the  batteries,  where  the  Lord  General  Cromwell  was 
directing  the  operations  in  person. 

He  professed  not  to  see  us  as  we  walked  near  and 

then  passed  him,  but  I  felt  assured  that  he  was  aware  of 

our  presence  and  resented  it  not.     When  five  o'clock 

296 


Drogheda 


297 


m 


arrived  the  breach  was  much  enlarged,  and  General 
Cromwell  ordered  the  storming  column  to  form. 

A  thousand  men  fell  quickly  into  line  in  ranks  of 
twenty,  with  Colonel  Castle  leading.  I  observed  that 
by  chance  my  own  troop  took  the  extreme  rear,  with 
Lieutenant  Elijah  Haddon  and  Scoutmaster  David  Pot- 
ton  commanding.  As  the  Lord  General  saw  them  take 
their  place  he  turned  his  eyes  once  upon  me,  and  I 
thought  he  would  then  and  there  have  given  me  back 
my  command.     But  it  was  not  so. 

"  Prepare  to  storm  !  " 

The  words  came  from  the  greatest  soldier  in  Europe. 
Muskets  and  pikes  were  gripped  savagely. 

"  Are  you  ready  ?  " 

The  answering  shout  could  be  heard  by  the  enemy 
beyond. 

"  Then  God  be  with  you  !     Forward  ! " 

With  a  wild  yell  the  storming  column  sprang  down  the 
steep  defile,  and  ten  thousand  of  us  cheered  them  on 
from  our  trenches.  On  the  opposite  wall  the  enemy  ap- 
peared in  force,  and,  with  a  great  shout  of  defiance, 
opened  a  deadly  fire  of  musketry  upon  our  men.  Gen- 
eral Cromwell  bit  his  lip  and  watched  the  assault  with 
keen,  blazing  eyes. 

Down  went  our  men  after  Colonel  Castle,  descending 
the  rocky  valley  with  unfaltering  resolution.  Here  and 
there  a  man  fell  shot  to  death  by  the  fire  from  the  wall. 
But  the  column  never  paused.  It  reached  the  bottom. 
It  was  now  on  the  slope  beyond.  The  hail  of  shot  had 
given  the  battle-cry  of  the  Ironsides  a  fiercer  tone ; 
there  was  a  note  of  wounded  rage  in  it.  Higher  and 
still  higher  climbed  the  English  column.  And  now  the 
breach  is  gained.     They  strike  the  enemy  face  to  face. 


298 


John  Marmaduke 


Colonel  Castle  waves  his  sword  and  urges  on  his  men. 
The  resistance  is  fearful  and  a  bullet  cuts  through  his 
heart.  The  Ironsides  waver  as  he  falls  in  death.  The 
besieged  behold  the  havoc  they  have  wrought.  They 
press  out  upon  the  Puritans,  who  are  swept  down  the 
glade  and  beaten  back  to  the  starting  point. 

I  heard  a  cry  as  from  a  wounded  lion. 

"  John  Marmaduke,"  said  General  Cromwell,  "  take 
thy  men  to  the  front  and  lead  the  storm  again  to  the 
breach  !  " 

I  sprang  down  amongst  my  men,  who  received  me 
with  cheers.  Once  more  that  beloved  General  formed 
the  coh'mn  and  ordered  it  forward.  My  troop  was  this 
time  at  the  front  and  there  were  some  fresh  companies 
behind  us. 

Down  we  went  and  struck  the  bottom,  and  then  up,  as 
before.  The  defenders,  encouraged  by  their  repulse  of 
our  first  charge,  encountered  us  more  fiercely  than  ever. 
The  green  slope  of  the  ravine  was  reddened  with  Eng- 
lish blood.  But  still  we  pressed  on.  And  now  we  were 
at  the  breach. 

A  mighty  shout  from  across  the  ravine  nerved  us  to 
the  strife.  But  we  had  a  stout  foe  to  face,  and  in  front 
were  twt»  English  Cavaliers,  Sir  Arthur  Ashton,  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  town,  and  Sir  Edmund  Verney,  son  to  the 
King's  standard-bearer  at  Edgehill. 

I  crossed  swords  with  Sir  Edmund  Verney,  and  our 
blades  were  in  fierce  play  for  a  few  moments.  But  the 
fire  from  the  walls  was  making  fearful  havoc  among  our 
men.  We  could  not  force  the  breach  against  such  odds. 
We  fell  back  with  all  the  disadvantage  of  the  steep  hill 
against  us.  I  could  not  hold  my  men  to  the  unequal 
contest ;  and  we  were  all  soon  back  on  the  other  side — 


Drogheda 


299 


all,  that  is,  but  a  hundred  brave  souls  who  would  never 
again  respond  to  war's  alarums. 

But  what  grim  figure  was  this  that  came  amongst  us  ? 
Some  fresh  troops  fell  in  line  ;  there  was  to  be  a  third 
assault.  Would  the  Lord  General  risk  his  person  and 
the  welfare  of  England  by  leading  this  charge  ?  No 
man  believed  that  his  discretion  would  permit  it.  But 
it  is  even  so.  He  passes  quickly  to  the  head  of  the  col- 
umn. He  turns  and  seems  to  look  every  man  through 
to  the  heart.  A  moment  is  given  to  adjust  his  helmet 
and  breastpiece.  His  sword  flashes  out.  And  then,  be- 
fore he  has  uttered  a  word,  the  column  shouts  its  mad 
enthusiasm  and  devotion,  and  the  whole  army  back  of  us 
echoes  the  inspiring  yell.  Then  came  this  from  the 
Lord  General  : 

"  For  God  and  our  country  !  Forward  !  " 

Down  we  went  for  the  third  time,  feeling  now  that  the 
conqueror  was  with  us.  Not  a  man  in  that  column  would 
have  turned  back  now,  no  matter  what  the  odds  in  front. 
To  fight  round  the  person  of  Cromw(.ll  was  a  privilege 
for  which  even  death  were  a  welcome  cost. 

Down  we  went,  and  then  up,  pressmg  close  after  the 
leader  and  uttering  our  high  shout  of  battle.  Our  spirits 
rose  as  we  neared  the  top,  and  we  would  make  the  enemy 
pay  dear  for  his  valour.  Here  was  the  pretty  game  of 
war  fn  all  its  blood-red  cruelty  !  And  now  we  are  at  the 
breach. ' 

Oh,  how  their  bullets  struck  home  amongst  us  !  Would 
we  never  get  at  them  with  our  swords  and  pikes  ?  Here 
and  there  a  man  fell  in  our  ranks.  Rut  we  heeded  it 
not.  Noll  was  with  us  ;  his  face  was  aflame  with  ^  rath  ; 
his  eyes  blazed  with  the  spirit  of  incarnate  war. 

On  we  went.     Now  we  are  face  to  face  with  them. 


I  ;'■ 


i 


30c^ 


John  Marmaduke 


The  fight  is  hand  to  hand.  And  there  goes  Cromwell 
into  the  very  breach  himself — and  through  it.  We  are 
close  behind  him,  and  above  the  din  of  battle  we  hear 
the  triumphant  shout  of  the  army  across  the  ravine. 
Our  main  body  has  plunged  down  the  steep  and  will 
soon  be  with  us.  The  horse  are  making  their  detour 
and  will  enter  when  we  throw  open  the  gate.  Our  men 
have  gained  Saint  Margaret's  church  and  driven  out  the 
foe.  It  seems  only  a  moment  until  our  whole  army  is  in 
the  streets  of  Drogheda.  Over  the  walls  and  through 
the  gates  they  pour.  The  defenders  divide  and  the 
larger  part  retreats  down  Duleek  Street  to  the  Boyne 
Water  and  over  the  bridge  toward  Saint  Peter's. 

But  a  large  body  of  them  with  nearly  all  of  their  offi- 
cers are  forced  back  into  a  tower  called  the  Mill  Mount, 
fighting  at  every  step.  Our  men  surround  them,  and 
there  is  killing  on  both  sides.  An  officer  of  ours  de- 
mands their  surrender  on  quarter,  and  for  one  instant 
there  is  a  lull  in  the  storm.  Then  we  heard  a  voice 
which  came  as  from  the  trumpet  of  an  avenging  angel. 
There  was  the  memory  of  massacres  in  it,  a  contempt 
for  religious  delusions,  a  purpose  to  punish  for  past 
offences,  to  paralyse  for  future  harm.  It  was  from 
Oliver  Cromwell,  standing  there  with  his  flaming  sword 
as  the  Genius  of  England,  and  speaking  strictly  in  ac- 
cord with  the  Law  of  War. 

"  Put  all  to  the  sword  !  "  he  cried.  "  Spare  not  any 
that  are  in  arms  in  the  town  !  " 

Let  not  morality  weep  at  the  howl  of  approbation 
which  then  arose.  Civilisation  is  but  skin-deep,  and  war 
tears  off  the  mask  and  lays  bare  the  latent  ferocity  of 
men.  Our  troopers  went  at  it  as  they  had  been  told. 
Sir  Arthur  Ashton  and  Sir  Edmund  Verney  fell,  and  all 


Drogheda 


301 


the  English  commanders,  and  every  English  and  native 
soldier.  Then  down  the  streets  and  over  the  bridge 
swept  the  spirit  of  Death,  and  up  to  Saint  Peter's  church. 
Here  were  a  thousand  of  the  garrison,  and  all  fell, — all. 
Then  in  the  roof  and  steeple  of  the  church  where  some 
had  flown,  a  fire  was  set,  and  what  the  sword  could  not 
reach  the  flames  consumed.  At  Laurence's  Gate  and  at 
Pigeon  Tower  the  ftory  was  the  same.  Priests  claimed 
protection  for  their  garb,  but  none  was  saved.  Women, 
and  children,  and  old  men,  stood  palsied  with  fear,  and 
were  unharmed.  But  no  soldier  in  arms  was  spared. 
When  night  came  on,  three  thousand  of  the  garrison  had 
been  put  to  death.  This  was  Cromwell's  first  fight  in 
Ireland.  Had  he  lost  the  battle  his  enemy  would  have 
inflicted  a  precisely  similar  penalty  upon  him. 

From  the  moment  the  hard  resistance  ceased  I  had 
stood  inactive  at  the  Mill  Mount  and  taken  no  part  in 
what  ensued.  But  Scoutmaster  Potton  had  my  men 
round  him  and  he  gave  the  Irish  a  terrible  requital  that 
night  for  his  wife  and  son. 

While  I  stood  there,  and  after  it  was  all  over,  the 
Lord  General  came  before  me  face  to  face.  Turning 
the  light  of  his  searching  eyes  into  mine,  he  said  : 

"  I  am  persuaded  that  this  is  a  righteous  judgment  of 
God  upon  these  barbarous  wretches,  who  have  imbrued 
their  hands  in  so  much  innocent  blood  ;  and  that  it  will 
tend  to  ■  prevent  the  effusion  of  blood  for  the  future. 
These  are  the  satisfactory  grounds  to  such  actions, 
which  otherwise  cannot  but  work  remorse  and  regret. 
The  officers  and  soldiers  of  this  garrison  were  the  flower 
of  their  army.     It  is  a  great  mercy  vouchsafed  to  us." 


k 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 


OVERCOME  BY  THE   DRAGON 


WHEN  the  cries  of  the  last  expiring  foe  had  died 
away,  and  night  had  set  her  lamp  high  in  the 
twinkling  dome,  I  received  permission  to  return  across 
the  ravine  to  seek  for  my  pseudo  page.  My  last  sight  of 
Catherine  was  when  I  had  sprung  from  her  side  to  lead 
the  assault  on  the  breach,  and  after  that  the  fury  of  the 
action  had  made  it  impossible  for  me  to  give  a  thought 
to  her  welfare. 

I  now  made  my  way  down  the  steep  declivitj  and  up 
again  on  the  other  side,  and  came  to  the  batteries  where 
Catherine  had  last  stood.  She  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 
I  wandered  through  the  deserted  avenues  of  tents,  and 
looked  within  the  tent  which  she  had  occupied  with  me 
the  night  before,  but  found  her  not. 

In  sore  distress  of  spirit  I  picked  my  steps  back  to  the 
batteries,  knowing  not  whither  to  look  for  my  vanished 
wife,  when  suddenly  my  attention  was  arrested  by  a 
group  of  twenty  horsemen  under  the  trees.  Drawing 
near  with  stealthy  step  I  listened  intently  to  what  they 
were  saying,  perceiving  from  the  light  of  the  moon  that 
they  were  of  the  Irish. 

"  You  say  that  the  whole  garrison  was  slaughtered  ?  '* 

302 


Overcome  by  the  Dragon        303 


asked  the  leader  of  the  band  of  one  who  was  trembling 
on  foot. 

"  All,  except  a  handful,  who,  like  myself,  escaped 
through  Laurence's  Gate  before  the  English  reached  it." 

"  Were  the  women  and  children  killed  ? " 

"  No,  the  order  applied  to  those  in  arms." 

"  Know  you  one  Captain  Marmaduke  of  the  English 
army  ? " 

"  I  know  him  not,  but  a  troop  that  used  his  name  for 
their  war-cry  surpassed  all  the  others  in  the  zeal  which 
they  used  in  the  killing." 

"  There,  Catherine  ! "  exclaimed  a  woman  on  horse- 
back, whose  presence  I  now  detected  for  the  first  time. 
"  Thy  husband  has  been  the  most  guilty  in  this  bloody 
massacre.  You  will  not  make  further  resistance  to  going 
with  me  and  these  trusted  followers  to  my  house  in  Cork, 
leaving  this  wretch  to  the  judgment  of  Heaven  ? " 

"  But  indeed  I  shall  resist,  Aunt  Milucra,"  returned 
Catherine,  who  was  astride  a  horse  in  the  midst  of  the 
band.  "  I  shall  never  believe  guilt  in  my  husband's 
conduct  in  any  respect  until  I  have  first  put  the  charge 
before  hmi  and  heard  his  answer.  As  for  this  massacre, 
the  fearful  sounds  of  which  have  horrified  my  ears  these 
past  three  hours,  I  will  not  believe  any  part  of  it  can  be 
laid  to  my  husband  after  the  garrison  ceased  fighting. 
And  whether  he  be  guilty  of  wanton  cruelty  or  not, 
he  is  still  my  wedded  husband,  and  I  refuse  to  leave 
him!" 

It  was  bravely  spoken.  THe  aunt  answered  her  speech 
with  hysterical  mocking. 

"  Balor  MacLuga,"  cried  the  aunt  to  him  who  had 
first  interrogated  the  fugitive,  "  lead  your  men  again 
southward.    We  have  captured  the  runaway,  and  she 


r 


304 


John  Marmaduke 


must  have  tender  custody  until  her  mind  recovers  its 
unthroned  strength.  Keep  a  hold  of  her  horse  there, 
and  see  that  she  give  you  not  the  slip.  We  may  not 
have  our  way  at  Carberry  Hall,  but  a  smart  ride  of  four 
days  will  bring  us  to  my  house  in  Cork,  and  there,  Cath- 
erine, you  may  find  repose  until  you  recover  your  duty 
to  Church  and  country." 

"  Aunt,"  cried  Catherine,  "  I  defy  you  to  persist  in 
this  abduction.  Know  you  not  that  the  English  soldiers 
infest  every  road  ?  And  after  what  has  occurred  to-night 
you  will  only  bring  a  bloody  revenge  upon  yourself  and 
followers  by  injuring  Captain  Marmaduke  ?  I  do  not 
sympathise  with  any  part  of  the  English  policy  ;  on  the 
contrary,  I  detest  both  them  and  their  acts.  But  my 
husband  has  no  country  and  no  faith,  in  my  eyes,  to 
separate  him  from  me.     I  will  not  go  a  step  with  you  ! " 

"  Forward  !  "  cried  Balor  MacLuga. 

The  cavalcade  started  to  move,  and  Catherine 
screamed. 

"  Marmaduke,  Marmaduke  !  "  she  cried,  at  her  top 
note. 

Now,  I  felt  that  if  I  had  but  a  half-hour  to  cross  yonder 
glen  and  bring  my  troop  here  I  would  punish  these  people 
even  rs  Catherine  had  intimated  to  them.  But  there 
was  no  half-hour  to  be  spared,  for  they  were  already 
carrying  my  wife  away.  Prudence  was  not  for  such  an 
emergency. 

"  Here  !  "  I  cried,  "  I  am  Marmaduke  !  Draw  thy 
sword,  Catherine,  and  come  to  my  side.  Unhand  my 
wife,  knaves,  or  the  fate  of  yonder  garrison  shall  be 
yours !  " 

I  was  already  in  amongst  them  on  foot,  slashing  at 
them  right  and  left,  and,  in  the  moment  of  panic  which 


Overcome  by  the  Dragon        305 


followed  my  v^ords,  Catherine  contrived  to  slide  down, 
from  the  horse  on  which  they  had  mounted  her  and 
reach  my  side, 

"  He  is  alone  ! "  cried  Balor  MacLuga,  after  I  had 
slain  three  of  his  men.  "  Ride  him  down  !  "  And  he 
suited  the  action  to  the  word  by  riding  his  horse  full 
at  me. 

"  Kill  him,  kill  him  !  "  cried  the  aunt. 

Catherine  stood  beside  me,  and  kept  her  sword  bravely 
in  play.  Balor  MacLuga  came  at  me  in  front,  while  the 
others  pressed  in  on  all  sides,  and  still  I  heard  the  aunt 
crying  loudly  : 

"  Kill  him,  kill  him  !  " 

I  struck  a  blow  at  Balor  MacLuga  which  would  have 
cut  through  to  his  saddle  had  not  my  blade  been  caught 
by  one  of  his  men.  Then  there  came  a  half-dozen 
blows  on  my  iron  hat  which  crushed  it  against  my 
skull,  and  I  fell  to  the  earth  with  all  my  senses  fast 
leaving  me. 

Catherine  screamed,  and  threw  herself  headlong  on 
my  body  to  protect  me  from  their  rage. 

"  Kill  him,  kill  him  !  "  still  came  the  words  of  doom 
from  the  Lady  Milucra. 

A  soldier  attempted  to  drag  my  wife  from  my  breast 
in  order  to  give  me  my  quietus,  when  the  tall  form  of 
Father  Terhune  pushed  its  way  into  the  mel^e,  and  the 
priest  cried  : 

"  Hold  !     Do  him  no  harm.     I  command  it !  " 

And  then  I  felt  that  I  was  dying,  and  no  conscious- 
ness of  earth  remained  with  me.  My  spirit  seemed  to 
leave  my  body  and  go  out  into  the  blue  universe,  and 
then  to  soar  among  the  stars  in  silence  and  alone. 


.J L.U"^^i^ 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 


A    PRISONER 


111    1 


TOSSING  in  the  delirium  of  brain  fever  for  many 
days,  it  was  nearly  a  month  before  my  conscious 
soul  returned  to  its  human  habitation.  I  remember  that 
when  I  first  opened  my  eyes  with  reason  behind  them 
they  fell  upon  the  barred  windows  and  stone  walls  of  a 
castle  chamber,  which  soon  suggested  even  to  my  weak- 
ened mind  that  I  was  a  prisoner. 

I  seemed  to  be  alone,  but  was  too  weak  to  turn  my 
head  for  a  full  inspection  of  the  room.  So  I  said, — and 
the  faintness  of  my  voice  startled  me  : 

"  I  would  have  a  drink." 

Then  a  woman,  whom  I  had  not  seen,  threw  herself 
beside  me  and  clasped  me  in  her  arms,  and  nearly 
smothered  me  with  warm  kisses,  and  shed  tears  of  joy 
upon  my  face,  and  said  a  hundred  endearing  things  that 
I  cannot  now  remember  and  only  a  woman  can  devise. 

"  Oh,  my  darling,"  she  said,  in  part,  "  my  dear  love ! 
I  praise  God  and  our  blessed  Lady  that  you  have  re- 
gained consciousness."  Then  she  kissed  me  with  such 
tender  murmurings  and  gentle  fondling  as  would  repay 
any  man  a  long  sickness.     "  I  feared  never  to  hear  your 

voice  in  reason  again.    Indeed,  you  have  been  very  near 

306 


A  Prisoner 


307 


to  death.  But  now  you  will  grow  stronger  from  day  to 
day,  and  we  must  both  bless  God  for  it,  for  I  have  had 
a  mass  said  for  your  recovery  every  morning  since  our 
arrival  here." 

She  gave  me  water  and  some  medicine.  Then  I 
asked  her  with  great  effort  where  we  were. 

"  In  Wexford,"  she  replied.  "  You  are  a  prisoner  to 
the  Irish  here,  in  charge  of  Captain  James  Stafford,  com- 
manding this  castle.  Outside  is  the  town  of  Wexford, 
strongly  fortified,  and  held  by  the  Irish  army  and  a 
thousand  native  pirates.  Beyond  the  walls,  besieging 
Wexford,  is  Cromwell  and  his  army. 

I  attempted  to  ask  further  questions,  but  she  prettily 
forbade  me  to  waste  my  strength  in  that  way,  and  said 
she  would  tell  me  all. 

"  Your  life  was  saved,  my  beloved,"  said  Catherine, 
"  by  the  interposition  of  Father  Terhune,  and  you  were 
strapped  to  a  horse  and  started  with  my  aunt's  party  for 
Cork.  Your  sickness  became  so  severe,  however,  that, 
on  my  earnest  pleading,  Balor  MacLuga  made  for  this 
town,  and  he  and  all  my  aunt's  party  are  now  of  this 
castle.  It  hi  thought  that  this  garrison  will  be  able  to 
overcome  the  English, — nay,"  she  cried,  seizing  my  arm, 
"  do  not  think  you  can  assist  your  party.  You  lack  the 
strength  of  a  babe.  If  David  Sinnott,  who  is  th.„  Gov- 
ernor of  the  town,  can  beat  Cromwell,  then  my  aunt's 
plan  is  to  continue  her  journey  to  her  house  in  Cork, 
taking  you  and  me  with  her." 

"  How  long  has  this  siege  lasted  ? "  I  asked. 

"For  more  than  a  week.  The  Governor  has  been 
treating  ostensibly  for  surrender  during  all  of  that  time, 
but  really  he  has  used  the  opportunity  to  bring  in  rein- 
forcements, and  now  thinks  his  post  impregnable." 


f 


308 


John  Marmaduke 


"  Hij  treachery  will  cost  him  dear,  I  think.  Have 
you  been  with  me  through  all  my  sickness,  Catherine  ?  " 

"  Yea,  my  beloved,"  she  answered.  "  It  has  been  my 
blessed  privilege  to  nurse  you  in  your  direst  extremity. 
I  have  fed  you  like  a  babe  and  cared  for  you  day  and 
night,  and  now  my  reward  is  great  indeed  to  have  your 
conscious  spirit  back  in  its  frame." 

"  My  poor  girl,"  I  said,  stroking  her  brown  hair  with 
a  hand  so  thin  it  seemed  scarcely  mine.  **  You  are 
greatly  reduced  by  the  loving  task,  and  your  cheek  has 
a  pallor  I  never  saw  in  it  before." 

"  That  will  all  come  right  in  God's  own  time,"  she 
said,  cheerily.  "  And  now  I  will  run^  out  and  make  you 
some  broth.  You  are  hungry,  and  it  will  nourish  your 
wasted  frame." 

Bidding  me  rest  in  patience  for  a  few  minutes  my  wife 
left  me.  I  endeavoured  to  sit  up,  but  found  it  impossi- 
ble to  comiuand  my  limbs.  So  I  gazed  idly  at  the  door 
through  which  my  wife  had  departed  until  it  was  sud- 
denly opened,  and  an  Irish  ofificer  of  high  degree  stood 
in  the  aperture. 

"  Good  day  to  you,  sir,"  I  said. 

"  My  respects  to  you.  Captain  Marmaduke,"  he  replied. 
*'  I  offer  my  congratulations  on  your  seeming  Te<  ov  ^ry." 

I  thanked  him  and  asked  his  name. 

"  Captain  James  Stafford,  Commandant  of  this  castle," 
he  said.     "  At  your  service,  sir." 

"  How  goes  the  siege.  Captain  Stafford  ? "  I  asked. 

"  But  for  the  treachery  of  our  Governor  it  would  go 
well,"  he  replied.  "  He  hath  been  tricking  Cromwell 
from  the  start,  and  the  reputation  of  your  leader  belies 
him  if  he  do  not  get  even, — at  the  expense  of  the  whole 
garrison." 


A  Prisoner 


309 


^to  »» 


A  thought  came  suddenly  into  my  mind.  I  could  see 
that  the  officer  before  me  was  of  a  weak  and  vacillating 
character,  and  the  prestige  of  the  Lord  General  Crom- 
well's reputation  had  weighed  heavily  on  his  imagina- 
tion. Evidently  he  had  the  fate  of  Drogheda  in  his 
eyes.  Perhaps  I  could  play  upon  his  pliable  nature, 
and  sick  and  imprisoned  though  I  was,  still  do  some 
good  service  to  the  Parliament's  cause. 

"  If  there  be  treachery  in  one  quarter,  why  not  in 
another?"  I  inquired. 

"  I  fail  to  catch  your  meaning,"  he  answered. 

"  Briefly  this,"  I  said, "  for  I  have  scant  breath.  Crom- 
well will  soon  storm  your  walls,  and  no  military  force  in 
the  world  can  resist  his  assault.  You  can  win  his  favour 
—with  gain,  too,"  I  added,  "  for  his  chests  are  full  of 
gold.  You  and  your  men  in  this  castle  will  then  be 
secure  of  life,  no  matter  what  betide  the  Governor  and 
the  garrison  of  the  town." 

He  was  instantly  caught  by  the  bait. 

"  But  how  can  Cromwell  be  approached  ?  "  he  asked. 
"  How  may  he  be  made  to  trust  my  sincerity  ?  " 

"  Draw  this  ring  from  my  finger,"  I  said,  "  and  send 
it  to  the  Lord  General  Cromwell  with  a  statement  of  my 
condition  here  and  of  the  proposition  I  have  made  to 
thee.     Hush, — not  a  word  to  my  wife  !  " 

He  stepped  aside  to  permit  Catherine  to  entei  v/ith 
the  broth,  and  she  at  once  began  to  feed  it  to  mc  to  my 
great  delight,  for  I  was  nearly  famished,  having  yet  had 
nothing  but  milch. 

"  I  find  your  husband  much  better,  madam,"  he  said. 

"  Much  better,  indeed,"  she  answered.  "  But  he  must 
not  talk.  His  face  is  flushed  and  his  fever  is  higher 
than  when  I  left  him.     John,  dear,  you  have  made  an 


warn 


310 


John  Marmaduke 


effort  to  entertain  the  Commandant  and  have  thrown 
yourself  into  mental  excitement.  I  must  forbid  that  in 
the  future  until  you  are  stronger."  This  was  said  with 
a  loving  smile,  and  I  felt  a  sense  of  disloyalty  to  my  wife 
for  having  treated  with  Stafford  of  such  a  matter  without 
her  knowledge.  Still  I  would  not  tax  her  high  soul  of 
honour  with  the  treason  I  had  planted  in  his  heart ;  it 
were  better  I  should  not.  So  Stafford  made  me  many 
mysterious  signs  over  my  wife's  shoulder,  and  went  away 
carrying  my  ring  with  him. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 


"  THE   CURSE   OF   CROMWELL  " 


BY  the  next  day,  my  wife's  care  and  the  nourishing 
food  she  had  given  me  had  so  far  restored  my 
strength  that  I  was  able  to  sit  up,  and,  indeed,  I  walked 
once  across  the  room,  leaning  h'  ivily  upon  her  arm. 

She  beguiled  the  time  by  telling  me  much  that  related 
to  our  incarceration  here.  Her  aunt  had  endeavoured 
to  draw  her  away  from  my  bedside,  expressing  the  hope 
that  I  might  die  alone.  Failing  in  this.  Lady  Milucra 
refused  to  speak  to  her  or  to  have  any  intercourse  with 
her,  and  had  even  withdrawn  from  the  castle  and  taken 
quarters  with  an  officer's  wife  in  the  town.  Balor  Mac- 
Luga  and  his  band  had  also  left  the  castle  and  joined 
the  governor's  garrison  ;  so  that  my  wife  was  completely 
ostracised  by  her  own  family  and  retainers.  She  ex- 
pressed no  regret  for  this,  saying  that  it  was  her  aunt's 
purpose  to  break  our  marriage  ^y  fair  means  or  foul, 
wherefore  she  thought  it  well  for  us  both  that  she  was 
not  near  us.  As  for  Balor  MacLuga  and  the  rest  of 
her  servants,  she  declared  that  she  would  never  again 
recognise  them  as  such  in  view  of  their  treachery. 
Father  Terhune,  she  said,  was  loyal  and  trustworthy, 

311 


312 


John  Marmaduke 


1^ 


n 


«" 


and  as  he  was  still  here  in  the  castle  she  hoped  no  harm 
would  befall  him. 

We  both  longed  for  the  war  to  end  in  order  that  all 
its  miseries  might  be  abated  and  that  we  might  enjoy 
the  sunshine  of  our  love  free  from  its  adversities. 

And  while  we  talked  at  the  barred  window  a  strange 
thing  happened.  We  saw  a  section  of  the  English  army 
approach  the  wall  near  the  castle  and  throw  up  a  scaling 
ladder.  Two  troopers  mounted  the  wall  without  opposi- 
tion, and  then,  drawing  the  ladder  after  them,  they  de- 
scended on  the  other  side.  They  then  took  a  key  which 
they  had  brought  with  them  and  opened  the  great  gate 
in  the  castle  wall.  Instantly  there  was  a  shout  and  the 
alarm  was  given  through  the  town.  But  not  a  soldier 
of  the  castle,  though  many  were  on  guard,  stirred  a  hand 
in  its  defence.  The  English  soldiers  poured  in  by  the 
thousand,  and,  paying  no  heed  to  those  in  the  castle, 
pressed  into  the  heart  of  the  town.  Other  thousands  of 
the  Ironsides,  led  by  the  Lord  General,  assaulted  the 
walls  all  along  the  fortifications,  and,  after  meeting  with 
but  feeble  resistance,  passed  over  within  the  city.  Here 
David  Sinnott  had  drawn  up  his  men  and  gave  stout 
battle  to  the  invaders.  But  they  seemed  not  to  know 
the  art  of  war  and  they  fell  like  stubble  before  the  Eng- 
lish. The  thousand  pirates  who  had  long  preyed  upon 
English  trade  were  among  them  and  it  was  at  these  that 
the  English  directed  their  fury.  They  were  slain,  and 
the  garrison  with  them,  by  the  hundred.  Some  three 
hundred  of  them  ran  down  to  the  river  and  sprang 
into  the  boats  along  the  shore  and  pushed  out  into  the 
stream  there  being  some  women  with  them  ;  and  as  the 
boats  were  all  overladen  they  sank,  and  all  of  their  occu- 
pants were  drowned.     Among  these  women  was  the 


'  *  The  Curse  of  Cromwell "       3^3 


Lady  Milucra  O'Fergus,  and  I  shed  no  tears  when  I 
heard  it. 

The  fighting  was  kept  up  until  the  whole  garrison  in 
arms  was  slain,  numbering  in  all  two  thousand. 

There  was  a  loud  knock  at  the  door,  and  the  Lord 
General  entered  the  room.  He  took  my  hand  in  both 
of  his  with  great  cordiality,  and  bowed  to  my  wife. 

"  John  Marmaduke,"  said  Cromwell,  "  thou  hast 
richly  deserved  our  thanks  and  the  Parliament's.  This 
day's  work  has  conquered  Ireland.  We  have  repaid  her 
for  her  massacres  and  her  piracies,  and  have  requited 
yonder  Sinnott  for  his  double-dealing.  Henceforth  the 
progress  of  our  army  will  be  free  from  great  difficulty. 
Men  are  already  calling  this  campaign  the  Curse  of 
Cromwell.  We  shall  have  much  abuse  on  that  score. 
The  day  may  come  when  academic  statesmen  in  Eng- 
land will  refer  to  this  policy  as  a  blunder  and  a  crime. 
But  the  Lord  commanded  His  captains  of  old  to  smite 
His  enemies  and  to  slay  whole  nations  ;  and  verily  now, 
even  now,  Jehovah  hath  directed  our  progress  to  the 
castigation  of  this  people  that  they  may  be  reclaimed 
from  their  errors  and  their  fair  land  rescued  from  its 
disorders.  Yea  ! "  he  continued,  speaking  in  his  in- 
spired way.  "  Let  it  be  the  Curse  of  Cromwell  !  But  it 
is  the  cur^e  which  acts  against  anarchy,  and  superstition, 
and  murder !  And  out  of  all  this  bloodshed  will  come 
peace,  and  prosperity,  social  order,  and  commercial  suc- 
cess, and  the  growth  of  a  nation  precious  in  God's  sight 
in  the  time  to  come.  If  the  besom  of  destruction  de- 
velope  thus  the  loving  hand  and  wise  purpose  of  God, 
let  it  be  called  the  Curse  of  Cromwell  !  " 

He  paced  up  and  down  the  room  in  great  excitement, 
talking  on  in  this  strain,  developing  his  thought  further, 


314 


John  Marmaduke 


and  explaining  and  defending  his  policy.  Catherine 
feared  to  have  me  grow  too  far  excited  by  his  discourse 
and  led  me  to  a  seat,  which  he  never  observed.  For 
twenty  minutes  he  talked  on  rapidly,  quoting  many 
strong  texts  of  Scripture  and  applying  them  pictur- 
esquely. "  They  have  brought  this  thing  upon  them- 
selves in  many  ways,"  he  cried.  "  At  Clonmel,  where 
we  stopped  to  receive  their  surrender,  they  invited  our 
front  guard  into  the  town  and  then  shut  the  gate  and 
killed  five  hundred  of  Zion's  host  Oh,  in  many  ways 
have  they  deserved  harshly  of  us  !  " 

Suddenly  he  ceased,  and  came  before  the  chair  in 
which  I  sat. 

"  But  where  is  Captain  James  Stafford  ? "  he  de- 
manded. 

"  Here  !  "  answered  the  commandant,  entering  the 
room  with  a  terror-stricken  visage. 

"  Thou  Shalt  have  thy  gold,"  said  Cromwell.  "  It  will 
be  paid  to  thee  below.  Then  go  hence  with  thy  men 
quickly." 

The  thing  was  said  with  contempt,  and  the  traitor 
made  haste  to  shrink  out  of  the  glare  of  that  thunder- 
laden  face. 


CHAPTER    XL 


THE   SCOUTMASTER  S  SUMMONS 


AT  the  end  of  ten  days  I  began  to  regain  my  normal 
strength,  and  the  Lord  General,  wishing  to  do  a 
gracious  thing,  ordered  me  to  lead  my  company  of  horse 
back  to  Carberry  Hall  and  hold  that  place  in  the  Parlia- 
ment's name  until  further  notice. 

Some  few  of  my  men  had  fallen  in  battle,  and  Scout- 
master David  Potton  was  grievously  wounded  and  un- 
able to  march  with  us.  In  truth,  I  was  glad  he  was  not 
with  us,  for  my  wife  had  sworn  to  kill  him  to  requite 
the  death  of  her  father  at  his  hands.  But  the  chief  part 
of  the  command  was  in  fine  condition,  and  Lieutenant 
Elijah  Haddon  promised  to  have  them  at  the  city  gate 
ready  for  the  march  in  one  hour. 

Catherine  refused  to  permit  me  to  make  any  great  ex- 
ertion, insisting,  in  spite  of  my  protests  to  the  contrary, 
that  I  was  still  a  sick  man  who  should  conserve  his 
energy.  She  prepared  me  for  the  ride  to  Carberry  Hall, 
something  like  five-and-twenty  miles  north  of  Wexford. 
I  found  my  iron  back-  and  breast  and  steel  cap  much  too 
heavy  for  my  present  condition,  so  they  were  given  in 
charge  to  one  of  my  men,  while  I  donned  a  leather 
doublet  and  a  soft  hat  of  large  shape.     When  I  had 

315 


3i6 


John  Marmaduke 


i 


i 


; 


laboriously  drawn  on  boots,  spurs,  and  gloves,  Catherine 
surveyed  me  with  a  pleased  expression,  and  then  de- 
clared that  she  must  get  herself  in  readiness. 

I  asked  her  if  she  meant  to  wear  her  boy's  dress,  which 
caused  her  to  blush  furiously  and  to  tell  '.ne,  with  much 
pretty  hesitation  that  it  was  no  longer  suitable.  Now, 
this  was  a  mystery  to  me,  and  the  hanging  folds  of  the 
graceful  gown  which  she  had  worn  while  ministering  to 
my  sickness  gave  me  no  explanation.  It  may  be  that  I 
was  somewhat  dull  of  comprehension,  or  else  lacked  ob- 
servation, or  mayhap  was  too  ill  to  take  note  of  her 
appearance.  So  I  merely  gazed  at  my'  wife  with  a  look 
of  curiosity.  Then,  as  I  watched  her  preparation  for  the 
journey,  and  she  was  drawing  a  girdle  about  her  waist, 
she  looked  suddenly  upon  me,  and  her  conscious  face 
revealed  her  secret,  which  came  over  me  like  a  great 
flood  and  engulfed  me  in  its  happiness.  Springing  to 
my  feet  I  caught  her  in  my  arms  and  vowed  to  her  a 
hundred  times  that  I  adored  her  now  above  all  the  earth, 
and  that  she  was  more  than  ever  precious  in  my  sight. 
She  laughed  and  blushed,  then  wept,  then  laughed  again, 
and  made  me  tell  her  over  and  over  that  I  loved  her 
and  was  pleased  by  my  discovery. 

And  so  we  joined  my  troop  and  rode  off  toward  Car- 
berryHall.  The  journey  passed  without  incident,  and  we 
reached  the  Hall  by  six  o'clock  and  ate  a  supper  of  Rob 
Cumber's  cooking.  Father  Terhune  accompanied  us, 
and  some  faithful  servants  of  the  Dillon  family  offered 
themselves,  and  Catherine  at  once  began  the  reorganis- 
ation of  her  domestic  establishment,  appointing  cooks, 
butlers,  and  others  who  were  to  make  our  home  com- 
fortable. 

My  men  enjoyed  the  garrison  life  of  the  place,  andj  as 


\m 


The  Scoutmaster's  Summons       317 


their  presence  there  was  a  military  necessity,  my  wife 
made  the  best  of  it  without  complaint. 

When  two  weeks  had  passed  I  felt  my  health  fully  re- 
stored, and  one  day  when  the  cool  autumn  air  invited 
me  to  exercise  I  mounted  my  horse,  and,  thinking  to  go 
only  a  few  paces  beyond  the  wall,  rode  out  without 
escort,  not  stopping  to  speak  to  Catherine  who  was  occu- 
pied within  the  house.  The  day  was  so  delightfully  in- 
vigorating, however,  that  I  pressed  on  in  high  spirit 
until  I  came  to  the  Lake  of  Darvra.  The  tiny  boat  was 
moored  at  the  water's  edge,  with  its  white  sail  lashed 
to  the  mast.  I  rode  past  this  boat  and  around  the  road 
where  we  had  pursued  Lord  Kilmac's  band,  until  I  came 
to  the  secret  entrance  to  the  hermit's  cave,  and  still  on 
to  the  open  mouth  of  the  cave  itself.  And  when  I  had 
come  there  I  drew  my  prancing  horse  suddenly  on  his 
haunches,  for  right  in  front  of  me,  peering  over  the 
rocky  threshold  and  into  the  cave,  was  my  Scoutmaster, 
David  Potton.  He  was  pale  and  emaciated,  and  his 
gaunt  form  was  more  wasted  than  ever ;  besides,  he 
seemed  to  be  weak,  and  suffering  from  unhealed  wounds. 
But  there  was  an  expression  of  fear  in  his  face  now 
which  was  a  stranger  there,  and  it  was  his  unexpected 
appearance  in  this  startled  attitude  that  caused  me  to 
rein  up  my  horse  in  amazement.  Right  before  his  eyes 
were  the  decayed  bodies  of  Lord  Kilmac's  Irish  troop- 
ers, whom  we  had  slain  for  their  abduction  of  Lady 
Betty  ;  but  the  Scoutmaster  was  gazing  over  these  grue- 
some objects  at  something  real  or  fancied  beyond. 

"David!"  I  cried. 

He  laid  his  hand  upon  his  sword  and  lurned  quickly 
upon  me.  Then,  recognising  me,  he  beckoned  me  to 
come  to  him. 


3i8 


John  Marmaduke 


I  sprang  down  from  Dick  and  walked  to  his  side. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  I  asked. 

His  bony  finger  pointed  into  the  dark  recesses  of  the 
cave,  and  his  giant  frame  shook  as  with  the  fear  of  some- 
thing supernatural. 

I  peered  long  and  earnestly  within,  but  nothing  could 
I  see. 

"I  heard  it,  I  saw  it  !  "  he  said,  with  chattering  teeth. 

"  What  ? "  I  demanded  :  but  no  answer  made  he. 

For  a  minute  we  stood  motionless,  straining  our  eyes. 

"  What  is  it,  David  ?"  I  asked.  "  And  how  came  you 
here  ?  " 

"  I  know  not  what  it  is,"  he  answered.  And  then,  turn- 
ing his  eyes  upon  me,  he  added  :  "  A  wild,  weird  thing, 
with  the  shriek  of  a  fiend  ;  an  evi'  lirit,  calling  me  to 
death  and  judgment,  I  think." 

"  Courage,  man  !  "  I  cried.  "  Your  wounds, — your 
journey  hither,  have  filled  your  brain  with  idle  fancies. 
Believe  me,  there  is  nothing.     How  came  you  here  ? " 

His  eyes  roved  with  a  pitiful  apprehension  from  me  to 
the  dark  vista  of  the  cave,  and  from  that  to  me  again. 
Then  he  sat  himself  on  a  projecting  rock  and  began  to 
speak. 

"I  left  Wexford  yesterday  morning,"  he  said,  "and 
rode  hither,  desiring  to  join  my  comrades  in  your  troop, 
for  it  will  soon  be  all  day  and  good  night  with  David 
Potton." 

"  Tut,  tut,  David,"  I  said,  cheeringly.  "You  will 
live  to  strike  many  a  blow  for  England  yet." 

"  Never  again,"  he  said,  mournfully.  "  The  wounds  I 
got  have  done  the  business.  I  think  I  slew  one  hundred 
of  the  Irish  in  Drogheda  and  Wexford  with  my  single 
sword.     Lord  Kilmac  fell  before  me  at  Wexford. 


The  Scoutmaster's  Summons       319 

*'  Did  he  lead  a  troop  there  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  No,  they  would  not  trust  him  with  a  command.  He 
fought  as  an  adventurer." 

He  told  me  this  without  any  air  of  boasting,--his  tone 
was  filled  with  the  deepest  melancholy. 

"One  hundred  of  them,"  he  continued,  in  a  voice 
that  I  could  scarcely  hear,  "  a  flying  victim  at  every 
stroke.  The  last  one  struck  at  me  with  a  dagger, — close 
to  my  heart  it  went.  I  had  ridden  thus  far  when  a 
ghastly  figure  at  the  secret  entrance  fascinated  my  eye 
and  then  disappeared.  I  rode  around  to  this  entrance 
and  once  more  I  saw  it  and  heard  its  cry,  just  before 
you  came.  It  beckoned  me  within — to  the  darkness — 
to  death." 

"Comfort  you,  David,"  I  said,  soothingly.  "  T  is 
but  thy  fancy." 

And  then  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  at  the  same  in- 
stant I  clutched  his  wrist,  and  we  both  quaked  as  with 
the  palsy,  while  our  ears  cracked  with  the  wild  shriek 
that  came  from  within  the  cave. 

"  Look  !  "  cried  the  Scoutmaster. 

There  was  no  need  to  bid  me  look,  for  I  was  trans- 
fixed with  attention.  Two  eyes  gleamed  at  us  through 
the  darkness  like  coals  of  fire,  while  a  half-shrouded 
figure  limned  itself  in  faint  outline  on  the  black  gloom 
of  the  cave.     And  then  it  vanished. 

"  In  God's  name,  what  is  it  ? "  I  demanded,  feeling 
that  my  blood  was  near  congealed  with  horror. 

But  before  he  could  answer  there  was  borne  out  to  us 
a  prolonged  peal  of  satanic  laughter  which  anon  grew 
fainter  as  if  the  mirthful  fiend  were  retreating  into  the 
dark  recesses  of  the  cave.  But  still  we  heard  it  like  a 
mockery  from  infernal  dungeons.     And  then,  while  we 


320 


John  Marmaduke 


quaked  in  the  presence  of  this  weird  mystery,  the  laugh 
rose  again  in  a  volume  of  evil  sound  and  was  mingled 
with  a  woman's  cry  of  deadly  terror. 

"  It  is  a  summons  to  me  !  "  cried  the  Scoutmaster,  his 
eyes  starting  outward  and  a  sweat  as  of  death  bursting 
from  his  face.  "  I  saw  my  wife  and  son  in  a  dream  last 
night.     I  will  follow  this  thing.     Farewell,  my  Captain  !  " 

"  No,  David  !  "  I  cried.    "  You  shall  not  stir  !  " 

But  he  had  already  leaped  over  the  bodies  of  the  dead 
warriors,  and,  with  sword  in  hand,  vanished  into  the 
darkness  beyond. 

In  a  moment  I  heard  the  laugh  again,  and  then  the 
scream.  Then  there  was  a  period  of  silence  that  seemed 
an  eternity.  Then  an  agonised  cry  from  the  Scout- 
master, a  fiend's  laugh,  and  yet  again  a  woman's  scream. 
And  then  the  stillness  of  the  grave. 

I  stood  there  not  knowing  whether  honour  bade  me  go 
within  and  face  a  score  of  devils  at  my  friend's  side,  or 
whether  a  man's  duty  absolved  him  from  contact  with 
evil  spirits.  For  a  long  moment  I  paused  on  the  thresh- 
old like  a  haunted  man,  staring  within  at  the  blackness. 
Then  1  saw  two  eyes  starting  out  at  me,  a  woman's  arm 
raised  holdin,7  a  bloody  sword,  a  woman's  form  in  white 
apparel.  More  bold  the  outline  of  the  figure  grew  until 
it  had  stepped,  fainting,  over  the  dead  bodies,  and  then, 
throwing  away  the  dripping  sword,  it  gave  me  one  ap- 
pealing, horror-laden,  soul-stricken  look,  and  fell  uncon- 
scious at  my  feet. 

It  was  my  wife. 


le  laugh 
mingled 

,ster,  his 
bursting 
earn  last 
ptain  ! " 

he  dead 
into  the 


CHAPTER  XLI 


THE  MYSTERY   OF   IT 


then  the 
t  seemed 
;  Scout- 
scream. 

e  me  go 

side,  or 

act  with 

thresh- 

ackness. 

m's  arm 

in  white 

ew  until 

id  then, 

one  ap- 

uncon- 


WITK  great  difficulty  I  had  brought  my  wife  home 
and  deposited  her  unconscious  form  upon  the 
bed.  And  then,  while  her  maid  was  doing  all  that  could 
be  done  for  her,  I  paced  the  floor  in  an  agony  of  spirit 
that  I  had  never  suffered  before. 

Had  it,  indeed,  come  to  this,  then,  that  this  adorable 
being  had  stained  her  pure  soul  with  murder  in  order  to 
gratify  an  ignoble  and  useless  revenge  upon  a  dying 
man  ?  Had  she  adopted  the  black  art  itself  in  order  to 
decoy  her  victim  into  a  dark  chamber  and  there  de- 
spatch him  with  his  own  sword  ?  Did  she  not  know 
that  to  conceive  and  execute  so  much  infamy  she  must 
destroy  my  love  for  her  and  fill  my  mind  with  loathing 
for  her  crime  ?  Could  she  have  expected  that  after  the 
consummation  of  such  a  heinous  design  I  would  con- 
strain myself  to  tolerate  her  as  a  wife,  or  even  to  Ifve  in 
the  same  house  in  daily  contact  with  i^er  ?  No  !  The 
more  I  passed  the  awful  affair  through  my  mind  the 
more  firmly  grew  my  resolution  to  break  with  her  for- 
ever.    But  then — oh,  God  ! — our  child  ! 

A  deep  sigh  from  the  bed  drew  me  involuntauly  to 
her  side.     Dismissing  the  maid,  I  seized  her  hands  in 

•I  321 


322 


John  Marmaduke 


mine  and  chafed  them  vigorously  until  she  opened  her 
eyes  and  gazed  vacantly  upon  me.  A  shiver  ran  through 
her  frame,  a  frightened  glance  swept  round  the  room, 
and  then,  bursting  into  a  pitiful  sobbing,  she  threw  her 
arms  round  my  neck,  and,  in  spite  of  my  somewhat 
feeble  resistance,  drew  my  face  down  against  her  own. 

For  a  long  time  she  gave  way  to  her  tumultuous  emo- 
tion, but  so  deep  was  the  resentment  in  my  soul,  that  I 
made  no  effort  to  calm  her  troubled  spirit.  After  a 
time  she  ceased  her  weeping  and  released  her  hold  upon 
me,  and  then  rose  from  the  bed  and  tottered  to  a  chair, 
wondering  doubtless  at  my  failure  to  lend  her  my 
support. 

"  Oh,  was  n't  it  terrible  ?  "  she  cried. 

I  made  no  answer. 

She  kept  her  head  in  her  hands  for  a  moment.  Her 
beautiful  brown  hair  was  dishevelled  and  she  was  a 
picture  of  woe. 

"  When  I  learned  that  you  had  gone  for  a  ride,"  she 
said,  without  raising  her  head,  "  I  longed  to  be  with 
you.  They  told  me  you  had  ridden  toward  the  lake  ; 
so  I  mounted  a  horse  and  rode  after  you.  The  way  it 
came  about  was  thus " 

She  was  going  to  confess  it  all !  I  would  hear  it  from 
her  own  lips,  and  then  would  fly  from  her  presence  for- 
ever. And  yet  how  beautiful  she  was, — how  innocent 
she  looked  ! 

"  When  I  came  to  the  secret  entrance  to  Triscadal's 
cave,"  she  continued,  "  I  caught  sight  of  your  horse 
standing  beyond  at  the  main  entrance.  Thinking  that 
you  had  dismounted  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the 
cave,  I  planned  to  go  in  by  the  secret  way  and  surprise 
you   by  meeting  you  in   the  durkness  within.     I   had 


The  Mystery  of  it 


323 


picked  my  steps  cautiously  until  I  came  to  the  narrow 
ledge  by  the  bottomless  pit.  Here  the  darkness  was  so 
intense  that  I  almost  repented  of  my  temerity.  But  I 
groped  slowly  along  until  I  caught  sight  of  the  opening 
into  the  large  room,  and  by  the  light  which  came  in 
I  saw  not  only  you  and  the  Scoutmaster,  but  much 
nearer  to  me,  and  doubtless  invisible  to  you,  was  the 
insane  hermit.  Father  Triscadal  himself,  alternately 
shrieking  and  laughing  in  horrible  levity." 

My  heart  began  to  beat  again.  What  v/as  this  revela- 
tion that  was  coming  ? 

"  Fearing  to  attempt  to  pass  him  through  the  narrow 
aperture,"  my  wife  proceeded,  "  I  drew  back  to  the 
narrow  ledge.  Then,  as  he  suddenly  turned  and  came 
toward  me,  I  shrieked  wildly,  hoping  to  attract  your 
attention.  The  Scoutmaster  came  through  the  opening, 
and  Triscadal  stopped  when  he  found  himself  pursued. 
He  waited  for  the  Scoutmaster  to  draw  near  him  and 
then  sprang  upon  him,  and  a  deadly  battle  ensued.  I 
heard  them  both  cry  out,  and  the  Scoutmaster  seemed 
to  run  his  sword  through  Triscadal.  Then  the  hermit 
drew  it  out  and  threw  it  on  the  ledge  near  where  I 
crouched  in  terror.  I  seized  it  intending  to  defend 
myself  with  it  if  necessary.  But  just  then  the  twc  men 
grappled  each  other  in  a  desperate  embrace,  and,  doubt- 
less by  force  of  the  superior  strength  of  the  wounded 
madman,  they  were  plun^.d  headlong  down  the  fright- 
ful chasm  together,  the  poor  Scoutmaster  joining  his 
cry  of  agony  to  the  triumphant  laugh  of  the  maniac.  I 
made  my  way  to  the  opening  more  dead  than  alive,  still 
holding  the  sword  ;  and  I  know  not  now  whether  I  am 
awake  or  dreaming,  so  horrible  are  the  impressions 
which  fill  my  mind."' 


324 


John  Marmaduke 


I  threw  myself  down  at  her  feet  and  seized  her  in  my 
arms  and  called  her  by  a  thousand  endearing  names.  1 
asked  her  in  every  way  in  which  I  could  form  the  words 
to  pardon  me  for  my  cruel  suspicions.  I  uttered 
reproaches  against  myself  in  deep  scorn,  and  implored 
her  not  to  believe  that  I  could  ever  be  worthy  of  so 
perfect  a  wife,  but  to  love  me  notwithstanding.  And 
she  received  all  my  caresses  lovingly  and  said  I  was 
speaking  in  riddles,  for  I  was  the  finest  man  in  the 
world. 


. 


;r  in  my 
imes.  I 
le  words 
uttered 
mplored 
ly  of  so 
g.  And 
i  I  was 
I  in  the 


CHAPTER  XLII 


CONCLUSION 


BY  favour  of  the  Lord  General  Cromwell,  I  remained 
at  Carberry  Hall  with  my  troop  all  through  the 
winter  and  spring  which  followed  the  events  described 
in  the  preceding  pages.  There  was  some  serious  fight- 
ing done  at  the  front,  but  our  army  was  invincible,  and 
every  day  it  captured  a  town,  a  castle,  or  a  garrison. 
When  early  summer  came  Ireland  was  conquered  and 
pacified. 

From  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  nay,  from  the 
time  of  Strongbow,  the  English  policy  in  Ireland  had 
been  to  seize  the  lands  and  plant  the  English  settlers  on 
them.  Our  English  Parliament  now  ordered  this  prac- 
tice to  be  followed,  and  a  great  many  of  the  Irish  were 
transplanted  beyond  the  river  Shannon  into  Connaught. 
But  while  there  was  much  hardship  and  much  anguish 
inflicted  on  the  native  inhabitants  through  the  enforce- 
ment of  this  ordinance,  it  was  but  the  eternal  result  of 
invasion  and  war.  Besides,  while  many  hundreds  were 
transplanted,  many  thousands  were  excepted  from  the 
operation  of  the  law. 

Despair  and  indolence  drove  many  Irishmen  to  join 

325 


1 


326 


John  Marmaduke 


the  tories,  and  the  wild  hordes  of  human  beings  in  the 
mountain  fastnesses  increased  until  they  menaced  the 
public  order  and  safety  as  perilously  as  the  very  wolves. 

Several  thousand  Irishmen  sought  service  in  the  wars 
on  the  continent,  where  they  made  good  soldiers.  Some 
of  these  men  marched  away  behind  their  native  pipers, 
who  played  the  mournful  air,  "  Ha  til,  Ha  til,  Ha  til,  mi 
tulidh  !  " — (We  return,  we  return,  we  return  no  more.) 
But  most  of  them,  having  a  fortitude  which  always 
begets  lightness  of  heart,  chose  to  leave  their  native 
shores  to  the  very  lively  tune  of  "  Garryowen." 

Our  soldiers,  settling  upon  the  vacated  lands  which 
were  given  to  them  for  arrears  of  pay,  married  the 
native  Irish  women,  until  the  Parliament  took  alarm  and 
devised  severe  penalties  to  restrict  this  habit. 

But  in  my  household  at  Carberry  Hall  it  was  ever 
love  without  war.  As  time  sped  on  it  came  about  that 
God  brought  into  our  keeping  a  little  maid  with  hair 
and  eyes  like  her  mother's.  And  really  I  knew  not  then 
which  I  loved  the  most ;  for  the  wee  one  had  a  way  of 
closing  her  chubby  hand  over  my  great  finger  at  night, 
when,  fearing  tO  waken  her  unseasonably,  I  would  lie  a 
prisoner  for  an  hour,  gazing  at  her  through  the  candle- 
light with  constant  admiration  and  pride.  It  was  won- 
derful how  so  small  a  body  could  fasten  herself  upon 
our  heartstrings,  for  we  had  scarcely  a  thought  beside 
her. 

In  the  autumn  which  ensued,  my  mother  sent  us  some 
rich  gifts,  with  loving  greeting  to  our  child  ;  and  told 
us  how  Lady  Betty  and  Lord  Alfred  Paddleford  had 
but  recently  been  married,  with  much  felicitous  com- 
ment upon  their  true  love. 

The  Lord  General  Cromwell  was  recalled  to  England 


Conclusion 


327 


to  become  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  Parliament's 
armies.  Soon  thereafter  he  led  an  army  into  Scotland, 
and,  doing  what  the  English  kings  had  tried  in  vain  to 
do  for  eight  hundred  years,  he  subjugated  that  country 
to  the  dominion  of  England  as  thoroughly  as  he  had 
subjugated  Ireland.  England  and  Ireland  are  filled 
with  his  growing  fame  and  people  say  thsi^  he  will  soon 
rise  to  higher  station. 

General  Ireton,  his  son-in-law,  who  was  left  in  Ire- 
land as  his  Lord  Deputy  Lieutenant,  showed  me  much 
consideration  until  his  death  a  few  months  later.  Then 
General  Fleetwood  and  Colonel  Henry  Cromwell  were 
in  supreme  direction,  and  both  of  them  treated  me  v/ell. 
I  made  my  post  at  Carberry  Hall  and  held  charge  of  all 
Irish  affairs  within  the  county  of  Wicklow,  having  there- 
by much  and  important  business  on  my  hands  at  all 
times. 

But  I  find  all  the  happiness  of  life  in  my  association 
with  my  wife  and  our  little  maid.  The  latter  is  now 
near  three  years  old,  and  she  talks  to  me  incessantly 
from  her  perch  on  my  knee  as  if  no  one  else  had  ever  a 
thought  to  speak.  When  I  stand  her  on  a  chair  and  say, 
"  Look  what  a  big  girl ! "  she  swells  until  her  mother 
vows  she  will  burst  with  baby  pride. 

I  love  my  wife  above  all  the  world  ;  yet  I  would  not 
change  my  religion  for  a  wife.  Nevertheless,  I  do  be- 
lieve that  true  religion  is  a  thing  of  the  heart  and  not  of 
the  brain.  The  wear  of  conflicting  opinions  in  Ireland, 
though  impelled  by  bigotry  on  each  side,  is  perceptibly 
producing  a  broader  field  of  religious  thought.  I  behold 
it  in  my  wife  ;  I  have  long  felt  it  in  my  own  heart. 
Father  Terhune  is  dead  this  past  year.  I  protected  him 
while  he  lived,  but  now,  under  the  English  law,  no  one 


328 


John  Marmaduke 


may  succeed  him.  I  bless  God  that  I  and  Catherine 
and  our  little  maid  are  fast  g -owing  into  one  spirit  of 
divine  peace ;  for  the  light  which  is  sufficient  unto  the 
saving  of  their  souls  shall  guide  mine  along  the  same 
pathway  to  eternal  felicity. 

THE    END 


atherine 
spirit  of 
into  the 
he  same