Tom Tufton's Travels Read online

  CHAPTER XIII. ON THE KING'S HIGHWAY.

  A handsome and remarkably elegant vehicle stood at the door of LordClaud's lodgings, with two fine horses harnessed to it.

  Tom had never seen any conveyance at once so light and handsome,the cumbrous coaches of the times being little to his liking. Hehad always travelled afoot or on horseback hitherto, and he hadexpected to do the same now, when he received his summons from LordClaud.

  That gentleman stood at the door, leisurely drawing on a pair ofstrong gloves. He nodded to Tom as he came up.

  "It begins to get hot for saddle work," he remarked in hisnegligent tones; "besides, I want to make trial of thisnew-fashioned carriage. I won it from my lord of Gratton three dayssince; and he boasts that it has been copied from one in thepossession of the King of France, who is said to be a monarch of avery excellent taste. At least it will carry us to St. Albans, andbring us safely back three days hence;" and turning to the valetwho was holding his snuff box and cane, he added:

  "If any call and ask for me, tell them I have driven into thecountry, but look to be home in three days' time.

  "Now, Tom, get up, and we will see if we can reach St. Albans erethe dusk fall upon us."

  Lord Claud was dressed in one of his finest suits; all white andsilver, with here and there a dash of azure blue. His hat was setjauntily upon his golden curls, innocent today of any touch ofpowder. His blue eyes were dreamy and soft in expression. He lookedlike one who goes forth a-wooing, in all the gay frippery supposedto be pleasing in a maiden's eyes. He had even discarded his sword,and only wore a short jewelled rapier, such as he sometimes put onrather for ornament than use.

  He saluted passers by with an air of negligent grace, replying witha smile to those friends who paused and bandied jests with him,asking him where the fair lady was with whom he was going to visit.

  Tom was also dressed in his best, and looked a fitting comrade forthe young exquisite now leisurely mounting to the seat beside him.There was no place for a servant upon the carriage, and Tom hadlearned by this time that Lord Claud was no more really dependentthan he was himself upon the attentions of a valet. He was ratherin a fog as to what all this was about, whither they were bound,and what they were to accomplish; but he was willing to be led bythe strong will of his companion, and to follow him wherever hewent.

  Tom's irritation and perplexity had not decreased during the pastdays. He was at his wits' end for money; and it seemed to him thatif he could not obtain the payment due, he must either trust to hisluck at gambling for funds, or else go home and settle down atGablehurst once again.

  For the latter course he was not yet ready. His soul revolted fromthe thought of the life of the country squire. He had tasted of thecup of excitement and pleasure, and was not in the least preparedto relinquish it. He would rather face almost any alternative thango back to the life of the Essex village, and sink down into theold routine.

  So he had been gaming somewhat recklessly these past days, and withvarying success. There had been moments when he was plunged intodespair; and then again the luck would shift, and he would feelthat fortune was almost at his feet.

  Yet at the end of the time matters were with him very much as theyhad been at the beginning; save that Tom himself had grown morereckless an defiant, most lustful of gold, and less scrupulous howhe obtained it, as is always the way with the true gambler, whetherhe is aware of it at the outset or not.

  Now they were rolling along together through the gay streets ofLondon, the hot summer sunshine making everything bright andjoyous, filling Tom with a great longing after the good things ofthis life, and a sense of bitter indignation at being defrauded ofhis due.

  Lord Claud handled the reins and drove his pair of fine horses witha skill which awoke the youth's admiration, and which attracted thenotice also of the passers by. Lord Claud appeared rather to courtobservation than to shun it, and often paused to exchange a wordwith friends upon the footpath; always telling the same story ofbeing on his way to St. Albans; always smiling and evading a replywhen asked to what particular house he was bound.

  Nobody who saw the light and remarkable-looking carriage speedingon its way would be likely to forget it, and Tom could not helprather wondering at the public fashion in which they took theirjourney forth.

  He had one encounter which he thought little of at the time, andcertainly made no effort to evade. Lord Claud had pulled up thecarriage to exchange a few words with a knot of dandies who hadhailed him from the footway, and Tom was sitting and looking abouthim at the passing throng. Presently he was aware of the fixedstare of several pairs of eyes at an adjacent tavern window; andlooking fixedly through the rather dull glass, he made out forcertain that his friends, the four swaggering bullies, were theowners of these eyes. A minute or two later Bully Bullen steppedforth from the door, and accosted him with swaggering insolence ofdemeanour.

  "So, Master Tom, you make fine friends! And whither away so fast inthat fine carriage? Egad, there be truth in the old adage, 'Set abeggar on horseback, and he will ride to the devil.' Fine company,fine company for a country bumpkin to keep! But you'll find itfiner than you think for one of these days! Ho! ho! ho!"

  Lord Claud did not appear to hear or heed this newcomer's talk; buthe showed that he had taken all in by just quietly shifting thelong whip into Tom's hands, whilst himself drawing tighter thereins.

  Tom understood him in a moment. He took the whip, and the nextmoment it had whistled through the air, and caught the bully astinging lash right across the face. At the sound of the crack ofthe lash the horses started forward, and in a moment the carriagewas spinning away over the dusty road, followed by roars oflaughter from Lord Claud's friends, and by roars of a differentcharacter from the indignant and outraged bully.

  "You will have to shoot those fellows one of these days," remarkedLord Claud coolly. "They are becoming a nuisance. Men who are anuisance ought to be put out of the way. London would be well ridof them."

  "They have been mine enemies from the very outset," said Tom, "fromthe day when first we met, and you came to my rescue when they werebaiting me. They have owed me a grudge ever since; but hitherto Ihave had the best of our encounters."

  "Drunken sots have no chance against sober fellows with thews andsinews like yours, good Tom; yet they can give trouble in otherways, and are better under ground than above it. I marvel they haveall escaped so long; for they are well known for a set of ruffianlyvagabonds, and well deserve the hangman's noose."

  The carriage spun fast over the ground, and the westering sun threwlong shadows over their path as they rolled farther and fartherthrough the country lanes, leaving the racket of the streets farbehind. The country was familiar to Tom, who had ridden over thesame ground early in the year; but how different it all looked inthe vivid green of early summer, instead of draped in a mantle offrost and snow!

  He felt a little elation of spirit as they drove through the oldtown, the observed of all observers. Some friends of his own hailedhim with eager nods of recognition, looking with a great admirationand respect at himself and his companion. Tom felt his heart swellwith pride, knowing that in time it would reach Gablethorpe how hehad been seen sitting in such state. He returned the salutations ofold friends with easy good nature, but felt as though he belongednow to a quite different world; and his heart swelled with thatsort of pride which is apt to be the forerunner of a disastrousfall.

  They did not stop at St. Albans itself, but at a hostelry a littleto the north of it, standing by itself in a pleasant leafy lane.Lord Claud appeared known to mine host, who made them welcome tothe best his house had at disposal; and promised all care for thehorses, which, as Lord Claud explained, had to make the returnjourney upon the third day.

  It was now somewhat late, so the travellers took their supper, andthen went to bed; Tom still in a state of subdued excitement andexpectation, scenting coming adventure, but as yet only veryimperfectly acquainted with the nature of it. He had suspicions ofhis own, which caused
him alternations of dread and excitement; buthe knew he should be told all in Lord Claud's time, and in themeanwhile silence was the best policy.

  The following day they spent in amusement in the town of St.Albans. Never were two men more active in the pursuit of pleasurethan they. Lord Claud presented himself at the door of many a finehouse, never failing to obtain an eager welcome both for himselfand his friend. They spent the whole day in a round of amusement,making themselves mightily popular with their companions. Theyremained until hard upon ten o'clock in one house, and from thencereturned straight to their inn, which was already shut up and dark,although the door had been left open for their return.

  Up to their room they went, and there Lord Claud's manner suddenlychanged. He seemed to throw off his careless gaiety as if it hadbeen a garment, and at once the lines of his face began to changeand harden. His eyes gleamed with a steady fire, and his voice lostall its soft indolence of tone.

  He went to a cupboard, which he unlocked, and there Tom saw twobundles which appeared to contain clothes, and two saddles andbridles, which he knew had come from Lord Claud's stables.

  He looked from them to Lord Claud in questioning wonder.

  "How got they there?"

  "We brought them with us--secreted in the carriage. Now, Tom, wemust no longer delay. We have stern and quick work to do thisnight; and then back to London with the reward that is ours byright, though they force us to take it by violence. The people herewill swear that we slept this night within doors. You saw thelandlord look out of his window as we entered to make sure who wewere. He will be in bed now, sleeping the sleep of the just. Youmay be sure he will wake no more till five of the clock; and longere that we shall be back--our work accomplished.

  "Off with those fine trappings, and put on these clothes. Then tosaddle the nags, and so steal forth. I know all the tricks of thelocks; we shall have nought to stay us."

  Whilst he was speaking Lord Claud was unrolling one of the bundles,and quickly transforming himself into such a creature as Tom hadnever seen before, though he had heard such described many times.His fine clothes were exchanged for a strong shabby riding suit ofcommon cut and texture, that presented no distinct features, andwould be most difficult either to describe or identify. He had agreat pair of horse pistols stuck in his belt, and also wore adangerous-looking weapon--something between a sword and a cutlass.His golden hair was tucked away beneath the collar of his coat, andhis head was covered by a frowzy dark wig, that looked likeuntrimmed natural hair. He quickly blackened his face with sootfrom the chimney, and put on a black crape mask.

  A more villainous-looking creature, and one more utterly unlikeLord Claud, the exquisite, it would be hard to imagine. It appearedto Tom as though even his figure had shrunk and become smaller. Ifhe had not seen the metamorphosis with his own eyes, he would nothave believed that it was his comrade who now stood before him.

  But the voice was the same, as Lord Claud quickly assisted him tochange his garments, to assume wig and mask, and soot his foreheadover.

  Tom had not been unprepared for this denouement, and yet when hesaw himself in the habiliments of a highway robber, his heartthrobbed with a painful sense of wonderment at how it had all comeabout. Yet the fascination exercised over him by his companion, andhis own love of adventure and excitement, were so strong, that hedid not know whether he dreaded or desired the coming struggle.

  "What are we going to do?" he asked in a low voice.

  "To take our due that they will not give us," was the stern reply."They had their choice, and must abide by their blindness andobstinacy. I am not going to be treated with contempt; no one whohas ever tried to do so has done it with impunity. Every man has aright to his own--is it not so, honest Tom?"

  "Yes, truly," answered Tom, with a note of indignation in hisvoice. "Those who withhold our due must suffer for it."

  "They shall suffer in pocket; and if what we shall obtain thisnight be more than our due, the fault is theirs, not ours. Tom, youare to taste a new experience this night--one which is full of joyto those who have drunk often of the cup. There be times when I saythat I am happiest dressed as tonight, a good horse beneath me, abright moon above, and a booty worth having well in view. It is sofull of rare surprises and delight; and, if a man but have his witsabout him, it is so monstrous easy, too!"

  Tom seemed to catch the spirit of his comrade. Those were days whencrime was lightly thought of, though so heavily punished. A strainof recklessness in Tom's blood made the notion of even robbery onthe king's highway fascinating rather than terrible--at least whenhe could say to himself that he was but "taking his own."

  It was plain enough now that this was the secret of Lord Claud'slife--hinted at more or less plainly by many before, but neveraltogether understood by Tom. Yet Lord Claud was received, feted,made much of in the society of the gay city, even by those who morethan suspected where his influx of wealth came from. He had evenreceived instructions, and been intrusted with an importantcommission, by one so high in office as the great Duke ofMarlborough. Surely there could be no great stigma resting upon onewho was thus employed in the service of his country. It seemed toTom (as it has seemed to others before and since) that if onlysuccess crowned these efforts, there was no disgrace attached tothem.

  But it was a significant if--and he knew it!

  "And suppose we are taken?" he said tentatively.

  "We should be hanged," answered Lord Claud coolly. "But we shallnot be taken. Make your mind quite clear on that point. Do just asI tell you, and have no fears. The rest will follow of itself."

  Tom had come to have that sort of implicit trust in his companionwhich some men have the power to inspire. It makes them dangerousto foes, because they appear to bear charmed lives; and theircompanions trust implicitly in their luck, and know no fear. Tomfelt that if Lord Claud told him to ride through fire or water, hewould do it without hesitation, knowing that the thing waspossible, and believing he would accomplish it.

  "Come," said Lord Claud, "take your saddle and bridle and walksoftly. It is time we were off now."

  They stole through the silent house, and round to the stable, wherethe horses were lying on beds of clean straw. They got up at thesound of their master's voice, but were so quiet in all theirmovements that it seemed as though they knew what was in the air.In five minutes they were free from the buildings, and thetravellers mounted. The road lay before them in dappled lights andshadows from the brilliant moon overhead. It was as easy to see theway as though the sun had been up.

  Once clear of the inn, and Lord Claud sprang forward at a steady,swinging hand gallop, a pace to which the horses settled down asthough well habituated to it.

  Then he began to speak to Tom of the project on which they werebent.

  "There is gold on its way from the bank to the coast. It is guardedby four soldiers. They have been instructed to travel fast to catcha certain sloop. Today they will have met with many hindrances uponthe way. All that has been arranged for. So they will profit bythis clear moonlight night to prosecute their journey, which willnot lie through what is thought to be dangerous country. Forestland and wild heath make men very careful, but quiet country roadswhere villages are frequent give them confidence. And yet it isjust as easy to fall upon the prey in the latter as in the formerlocality. In sooth, I think it is easier. The men in charge rushback for help, thinking the more easily to track and follow us;"and then Lord Claud broke into a soft laugh, and began to whistlecheerily as they galloped forward.

  These horses were wonderfully strong and fleet. Tom could not butremark it as they galloped mile after mile with unwearied energy.Lord Claud smiled in the moonlight as he replied:

  "Oh yes, that is necessary. It is well to prove an alibi, if youknow what that is, good Tom. The honest folks where we come fromwill swear that we and our steeds were abed all night over yonder;but even if that should not be enough, there will be many who willdeclare that if we did not leave St. Albans till past ten, we couldnever be at the
spot I am aiming for and back again before break ofday; and I shall take care to call mine host up betimes, so thatthere will be plenty of evidence that I have not been abroad thisnight."

  Tom had heard often enough of the good understanding existingbetween innkeepers and the highway robbers who infested the roads,and now he began to see the workings of it, and to understand howeasy it made some of these excursions, and how difficult it mustafterwards be to obtain evidence against the freebooters. LordClaud's handsome person, his freedom of speech, and hislavishly-spent gold, made him a favourite everywhere; and now heseemed about to employ his fascinations of mind and body for otherpurposes. Tom was to see how they served him in a different sort oflife.

  The rapid pace at which they were travelling hindered conversation.Tom would not easily have believed it possible to travel so fast bynight, but he trusted himself implicitly to the guidance of hiscomrade; and the strong, mettlesome, sure-footed horse he rodeseemed to make nothing either of his solid weight, or of thedistance they had to go.

  Presently Lord Claud drew rein. They were passing through a littlecopse, where the light was but misty and indistinct, and where theroad made a sudden sharp turn almost at right angles, affordingcomplete shelter to any person or persons lying in ambush.

  "Now, Tom," said Lord Claud, "this is the spot I have chosen. Thereis a village not half a mile distant. The road is not a dangerousor lonely one--this is the only little bit of wood for somedistance, and it is very small. No special precautions willprobably be observed. There are two horses laden with gold, underthe escort of two soldiers each. They had a larger guard to passthrough the wilder forest country, but some of the men were to turnback when the perilous transit was made. Most likely one horse andthe two troopers will be a little in advance of the other. Themoment the leading horse rounds this corner we shoot down the men.You need not kill your trooper, Tom--indeed, I never kill unlessthere is need--it is enough to disable him. In a moment I shallhave possession of the horse and shall gallop off. But I shall onlypossess myself of the treasure, and let the beast go. I have nowish to be tracked by him. Now, if I am right in what I expect, thesecond troopers, hearing the shots and their comrades' cries, willbelieve themselves in peril of attack from a much larger gang, andwill instantly fly to save their skins. This is what happens infive cases out of seven. It is seldom that a couple of men willstay to face what they believe to be a desperate gang ofhighwaymen. If this is so, dash you out upon the second horse.Seize him, and follow me. I know every inch of the country, andthose fellows know nothing but the roads. They will never catch us,even if they pursue. If, however, the second pair should provefellows of a stouter kidney, and instead of fleeing should showfight, then leave the second prize and follow hard after me. Wewill not risk too much, and one load will suffice for presentnecessities, albeit I should like well enough to obtain the two. Iwould make our ministers smart for their scurvy treatment of me!"

  Tom grasped the situation in a moment, and set his teeth hard,whilst the light of battle leaped into his eyes. The adventuresuited the reckless self-confidence which his recent life hadquickened. Why should he not in time become a second Lord Claud, aman half feared, half admired by all London town, petted, made muchof, observed and copied wherever he went? That his calling wassuspected, if not actually known, Tom had abundant reason to know.But it seemed rather to give a lustre to his reputation than tocover him with shame. Why should he not attain in time to a likepinnacle of fame and fortune?

  Thus he mused, standing there in the softened moonlight, the fierceand lawless strain in his nature for the moment in the ascendant,the influence of his strange comrade dominant in his heart.

  There was a sound at last. The horses heard it first and prickedtheir ears. Next minute the riders heard it, too. It was the tramp,tramp of horses' feet upon the road, coming on at a leisurely pace,together with the jingling of arms and the sound of voices.

  Tom's heart beat thick and fast, but his hand did not tremble as hefollowed Lord Claud's example and got ready his pistol. Like twofigures carved in stone sat the two liers-in-wait, theirwell-trained horses as motionless as themselves.

  Crack! crack!

  The silence of the night was broken by the ominous sound. A yell ofpain and fury arose. Two horses turned back rearing, and dashedaway, but the third was gripped by a strong hand; and before theparty behind could see a vestige of what was happening, tworiderless horses had galloped past them, throwing them into a panicof confusion and terror.

  Lord Claud had judged right in part. Thrown into confusion, the menturned as if to flee, thinking themselves fallen amongst a largeband of robbers. Tom made a quick rush round the corner, seized thesecond pack horse by the bridle, and dashed off in pursuit of LordClaud; but even as he did so he became aware that there were morethan the two troopers in the party, and in a moment the sound ofyells and cries behind him told him that he was pursued.

  But he had proved the pace of the horse beneath him, and if hecould but possess himself of the bags upon the pack horse, and letthe slower-paced beast go free, he knew he could distance pursuit.With a mighty effort he lifted the heavy bags and swung them overhis shoulders; but even at that moment he heard the crack offirearms in the rear, and his good horse reared up perfectly erect,and Tom had but time to slip off his back before the creature fellover backwards, and lay still and dead.

  Tom had another pistol, and even as he reached the ground he turnedround and fired full at the foremost pursuer. A cry of pain toldhim his shot had found a billet in horse or man. But he could stayfor no more. Already his mask and wig had fallen off. The moonlightstruck full upon his face and the fine proportions of his figure.He saw that there were half a dozen men spurring onwards inpursuit; but he was full of that fury which gives to men an almostsuperhuman strength.

  Leaping upon the back of the pack horse, he spurred the maddenedand terrified animal to the wildest gallop, a gallop which he couldnever keep up, but which for the time being distanced all pursuit.Then when he had winded his own beast, and knew that the pursuinghorses must themselves be pretty well blown, he slipped from itsback and began running like a hare across country in the directiontaken by Lord Claud, knowing that however cleverly he might concealhimself, he would not be far away, and that he would keep an eyeupon Tom's line of flight, and come up with him as soon as it wassafe to do so.

  The sounds of pursuit died away. Tom looked back, and found himselfalone in the fields and copses. His quick turnings and doublings,and the choice of ground difficult for horses, had served hispurpose well. He was safe, and he had his prize with him. His heartswelled with pride at the success of his achievement.

  In a short while up rode Lord Claud, cool and smiling.

  "Well done, Tom; that was gallantly done. But we have lost one ofour good steeds, and you have lost your mask. I trust that none sawyour face?"

  "It came off when the horse plunged and reared, and I was cumberedwith the moneybags," answered Tom. "Yet I doubt if any who saw mewould know my face again; the soot upon my forehead at least wouldmake it hard to be sure of the face. And none were very nigh athand."

  "Give me the bags, and take you my stirrup, and we will wend ourway back as fast as may be. You can run like a hare, Tom, as I haveseen well. Can you run step for step with a trotting horse for somefew miles?"

  "Try me and see," answered Tom, who was not a little proud of hispowers in this respect; and side by side through the misty summer'snight stepped man and horse, both unwearied and full of courage.Once Lord Claud insisted upon dismounting and letting Tom ride fora few miles; but for the most part it was Tom who trotted alongstep for step with the horse, thinking over the events of thenight, and exulting in the triumph they had achieved.

  They reached the inn outside St. Albans just as the dawn wasbreaking in the east. Not a creature was stirring as they stabledthe horse and made their way into the house. Nor did they do thisuntil saddle and bridle and moneybags had been safely locked awayin the body of the carriage, which
contained a cavity with a secretdoor, the trick of which seemed known only to Lord Claud. Then theywent to their room, removed all traces of travel from theirfaces--as Tom had removed them from the horse in the stable justbefore--tied up their clothes in small compass, and got into bedjust as the first sound of life began to be heard in the house.

  Almost immediately then Lord Claud called loudly for the host, andbade him bring him instantly a hot posset, as he had had a touch ofague in the night. There was a good deal of bustling to and frothen, and servants passed in and out of the room, seeing bothtravellers lying peacefully in their beds, as though they had sleptthere all night.

  Lord Claud wrote a short note at once, and handed it to the hostwith a few whispered directions, to which the man replied with anod and a wink; and then he took his posset, turned round and slepta while, and rose at the usual hour as though he had no reason fordesiring longer rest.

  This day was spent as the previous one had been, in paying visitsand joining in fashionable amusements. The news that there had beena robbery on the highway of some gold about to be shipped toHolland for the troops excited a little commotion in the place, andonce or twice Tom fancied that he saw curious glances levelled athimself and his companion. Lord Claud talked upon the subject withhis usual airy negligence, but without the faintest hint ofpersonal interest in the matter. Nor did he even "turn a hair" whenrumour reported that there was a very decided clue as to theidentity of one of the band, who had been recognized by sometravellers on the road, who were going in the same direction as thetroopers, and had assisted them in pursuing one of the robbers. Theman had escaped; but it was asserted that he was known and could besworn to at any time.

  This was not pleasant hearing for Tom, but he showed a cool enoughfront at the time. It was only when alone with Lord Claud that heasked rather anxiously if he thought it could be true.

  "I doubt it," was the reply; "it is a common thing for men to makethe boast, but it seldom proves correct. Was it true that therewere others besides the troopers on the road? I thought I saw morefigures than I looked for, but knew not whether all were soldiersor not."

  "There were others," answered Tom; "but I had no time to see whatmanner of men they were. There was much shouting and cursing, and Iheard one man give an exultant laugh when I turned and fired; butmore than that I know not."

  Lord Claud looked thoughtful.

  "Well, Tom, it boots little to meet danger half way. 'Tis alwaysbest to put on a bold front and set it at defiance. But thisremember, that Nell Gwynne shall be kept in readiness for you bynight and day. And if ever you have reason to seek to save yourselfby flight, the horse is yours; there will be money and a fewnecessaries strapped to the saddle. Make your way incontinently toCaptain Jack, who may always be heard of at The Three Ravens; and Iwill visit you there, and we will talk over the state of affairs."

  Tom nodded, and looked a little relieved in mind; but he felt asthough a cloud hung over his spirit despite his attempts at defyingfate.

  Next morning they started off in the carriage once more, and, toTom's astonishment, with (apparently) the same two horses. Helooked at his comrade for a moment in mingled surprise andadmiration. Lord Claud gave an odd little smile as he replied:

  "It is always well to be provided against accident, good Tom. Halfthe clever deeds of this world are rendered null and void becausemen forget to look ahead. We shall see the same persons drivingback as we saw driving out. We must have the same steeds too, elsewould that dead horse lying in the fields tell a tale we wouldrather keep to ourselves."