The Children of the New Forest - Chapter 20

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twenty of the Children of the New Forest by
Captain Frederick Marriott. This LibriVox recording is in the public
domain recording by Nick Whitley Purly, United Kingdom, Chapter twenty.
The summer had now advanced when Oswald one day said
to Edward, have you heard the news? Sir? Nothing very particular,

(00:26):
replied Edward. I know that General Cromwell is over in Ireland,
and they say very successful. But I have cared little
for particulars. They say a great deal more, sir, replied Oswald.
They say that the King is in Scotland and that
the scotch have raised an army for him. Indeed, replied Edward,

(00:51):
that is news. Indeed, the Intendant has never mentioned it
to me. I dare say not, sir, for he ose
your feelings and would be sorry to part with you.
I will certainly speak to him on the subject, said Edward,
at the risk of his displeasure, and join the army.

(01:11):
I will, if I find what you say is true.
I should hold myself a craven to remain here while
the king is fighting for his own and not to
be at his side. Well, Sir, I think it is true,
for I heard that the Parliament had sent over for
General Cromwell to leave Ireland and lead the troops against

(01:34):
the Scotch Army. You drive me, mad, Oswald, I will
go to the Intendant. Immediately, Edward, much excited by the intelligence,
went into the room where he usually sat with the Intendant.
The latter, who was at his desk, looked up and
saw how flushed Edward was, and said, very quietly, Edward,

(01:59):
you are excited, did I presume from hearing the news
which has arrived. Yes, sir, I am very much so,
and I regret very much that I should be the
last to whom such important news is made known. It is,
as you say, important news, replied the Intendant. But if

(02:20):
you will sit down, we will talk a little upon
the subject. Edward took a chair, and the Intendant said,
I have no doubt that your present feeling is to
go to Scotland and join the army without delay. Such
is my intention. I candidly confess, sir. It is my duty.

(02:41):
Perhaps you may be persuaded to the contrary before we part,
replied the Intendant. The first duty you owe is to
your family. In their present position. They depend upon you,
and a false step on your part would be their ruin.
How can you leave them and leave my employ without

(03:04):
it being known for what purpose you are gone. It
is impossible. I must myself make it known, and even
then it would be very injurious to me. Very circumstance
of my having one of your party in my service.
I am suspected by many already in consequence of the

(03:26):
part I have taken against the murder of the late King,
and also of the lords who have since suffered. But Edward,
I did not communicate this intelligence to you for many reasons.
I knew that it would soon come to your ears,
and I thought it better that I should be more

(03:47):
prepared to show you that you may do yourself and
me harm and can do no good to the King.
I will now show you that I do put confidence
in you, and if you will read these letters, they
will prove to you that I am correct in what
I assert. The Intendant added three letters to Edward, by

(04:11):
which it was evident that all the King's friends in
England were of opinion that the time was not ripe
for the attempt, and that it would be only a
sacrifice to stir in the matter. That the Scotch army
raised was composed of those who were the greatest enemies
to the king, and that the best thing that could

(04:31):
happen for the King's interest would be that they were
destroyed by Cromwell, that it was impossible for the English
adherents of Charles to join them, and that the Scotch
did not wish them so to do. You are no politician, Edward,
said the Intendant, smiling. As Edward laid the letters down

(04:53):
on the table. You must admit that in showing you
these letters, I have put the utmost confidence in you.
You have, indeed, sir, and thanking you for having so done,
I need hardly add that your confidence will never be betrayed.
That I am sure of, and I trust you will

(05:14):
now agree with me and my friends that the best
thing is to remain quiet, certainly, sir, and in future
I will be guided by you. That is all I
require of you. And after that promise you shall hear
all the news as soon as it arrives. There are

(05:35):
thousands who are just as anxious to see the king
on the throne again as you are, Edward, and you
now know that I am one of them. But the
hour is not yet come, and we must bide our
time depend upon it. General Cromwell will scatter that army
like chaff. He is on his march. Now, after what

(05:59):
has pass between us this day, Edward, I shall talk
unreserved to you on what is going on. I thank you, sir,
and I promise you faithfully, as I said before, not
only to be guided by your advice, but to be
most secret in all that you may trust me with.
I have confidence in you, Edward Armitage. And now we

(06:23):
will drop the subject for the present. Patience and Clara
want you to walk with them. So good bye for
the present. Edward left the Intendant much pleased with the interview.
The Intendant kept his word and concealed nothing from Edward.
All turned out as the Intendant had foretold. The Scotch

(06:46):
army was cut to pieces by Cromwell, and the king
retreated to the highlands, and Edward now felt satisfied that
he could do no better than be guided by the
Intendant in all his future undertakings. You must now pass
over some time. In a few words, Edward continued at
the Intendants and gave great satisfaction to mister Heatherstone. He

(07:10):
passed his time very agreeably, sometimes going out to shoot
deer with Oswald, and often supplying venison to his brother
and sisters at the cottage. During the autumn, patients very
often went to the cottage, and occasionally mister Heatherstone paid
them a visit. But after the winter set in, Edward

(07:31):
came over by himself, shooting as he went, and when
he and Smoker came to the cottage, Billy always had
a journey to go for the venison left in the forest.
Patients sent Alice many little things for the use of
her and Edith, and some very good books for them
to read, and Humphrey, during the evenings read with his

(07:54):
sisters that they might learn what he could teach them.
Pablo also learnt to read and write. Humphrey and Pablo
had worked at the saw pit and had sawed out
a large quantity of boards and timber for building, but
the building was put off till the spring. The reader

(08:15):
may recollect that Edward had proposed to Humphrey that he
should ascertain whether what the robber had stated before his
death relative to his having concealed his ill gotten wealth
under the tree which was struck by lightning, was true.
About ten days afterward, Humphrey set off on this expedition.

(08:37):
He did not take Pablo with him, as although he
had a very good opinion of him, he agreed with
Oswald that temptation should not be put in his way.
Humphrey considered that it would be the best plan to
go at once to Clara's cottage, and from that proceeded
to find the oak tree mentioned by the robber. When

(08:58):
he arrived at the thicket which surrounded the cottage, it
occurred to him that he would just go through it
and see if it was in the state which they
had left it in, for after the intendant had been there,
he had given directions to his men to remain and
bury the bodies, and then to lock up the doors

(09:19):
of the cottage and bring the keys to him, which
had been done. Humphrey tied Billy and the cart to
a tree and walked through the thicket. As he approached
the cottage, he heard voices. This induced him to advance
very carefully, for he had not brought his gun with him.

(09:39):
He crouched down as he came to the opening before
the cottage. The doors and windows were open, and there
were two men sitting outside cleaning their guns, and in
one of them Humphrey recognized the man Corbold, who had
been discharged by the Intendant as soon as he wound

(10:00):
had been cured, and who was supposed to have gone
to London. Humphrey was too far off to hear what
they said. He remained there some time, and three more
men came out of the cottage. Satisfied with what he
had seen, Humphrey cautiously retreated, and, gaining the outside of

(10:22):
the thicket, led away Billy and the cart over the
turf that the noise of the wheels might not be heard.
This bodes no good, thought Humphrey, as he went along
every now and then, looking back to ascertain if the
men had come out and seen him. That Corbold we know,
has vowed vengeance against Edward and all of us, and

(10:46):
has no doubt joined those robbers for robbers they must be,
that he may fulfill his vow. It is fortunate that
I have made the discovery, and I will send over
immediately to the Intendant. As soon as a clump of
trees had shut out the thicket, and he had no
longer any fear of being seen by these people, Humphrey

(11:09):
went in the direction which the robber had mentioned, and
soon afterward he perceived the oak, scathed with lightning, which
stood by itself on a green spot of about twenty acres.
It had been a noble tree before it had been destroyed.
Now it spread its long naked arms, covering a large

(11:31):
space of ground, but without the least sign of vegetation
or life remaining. The trunk was many feet in diameter
and was apparently quite sound, although the tree was dead.
Humphrey left Billy to feed on the hervage close by,
and then, from the position of the sun in the heavens,

(11:53):
ascertained the point at which he was to dig. First,
looking around him to see that he was not overlooked,
he took his spade and pick axe out of the
cart and begun his task. There was a spot not
quite so green as the rest, which Humphrey thought likely

(12:13):
to be the very place that he should dig at,
as probably it was not green from the soil having
been removed. He commenced at this spot, and, after a
few moments labor his pick axe struck upon something hard, which,
on clearing away the earth, he discovered to be a
wooden lid of a box. Satisfied that he was right,

(12:37):
Humphrey now worked hard, and in a few minutes he
had cleared away sufficiently to be able to lift out
the box and place it on the turf. He was
about to examine it when he perceived, at about five
hundred yards distance, three men coming toward him. They have

(12:57):
discovered me, thought Humphrey, be off as soon as I can.
He ran to Billy, who was close to him, and
bringing the cart to where the box lay, he lifted
it in. As he was getting in himself with the
reins in his hands, he perceived that the three men
were running toward him as fast as they could, and

(13:19):
that they all had guns in their hands. They were
not more than a hundred and fifty yards from him
when Humphrey set off, putting Billy to a full trot.
The three men observing this called out to Humphrey to
stop or they would fire, but Humphrey's only reply was
giving a lash to Billy, which set him off at

(13:42):
a gallop. The men immediately fired, and the bullets whistled
past Humphrey without doing any harm. Humphrey looked round, and,
finding that he had increased his distance, pulled up the
pony and went at a more moderate pace catch me
thought Humphrey, and your guns are not loaded, so I'll

(14:06):
tantalize you a little. He made billy walk and turned
round to see what the men were about. They had
arrived at where he had dug out the box and
were standing round the hole, evidently aware that it was
no use following him. Now, thought Humphrey, as he went

(14:27):
along at a faster pace. Those fellows will wonder what
I have been digging up. The villains little think that
I know where to find them, and they have proved
what they are by firing at me. Now what must
I do? They may follow me to the cottage, for
I have no doubt that they know where we live,

(14:48):
and that Edward is at the intendants. They may come
and attack us, and I dare not leave the cottage
to night, or send Pablo away in case they should.
But I will to morrow morning. Humphrey considered as he
went along all the circumstances and probabilities, and decided that

(15:09):
he would act as he at first proposed to himself.
In an hour he was at the cottage, and as
soon as Alice had given him his dinner, for he
was later than the usual dinner hour, he told her
what had taken place. Where is Pablo. He has been
working in the garden with Edith all the day, replied Alice. Well, dear,

(15:31):
I hope they will not come to night. To morrow
I will have them all in custody, but if they
do come, we must do our best to beat them off.
It is fortunate that Edward left the guns and pistols
which he found in Clara's cottage, as we shall have
no want of fire arms, and we can barricade the
doors and windows so that they cannot get in in

(15:54):
a hurry. But I must have Bablo to help me,
for there is no time to be lost. But can
I not help you, Humphrey said Alice. Surely I can
do something. We will see, Alice, But I think I
can do without you. We have still plenty of daylight.
I will take the box into your room. Humphrey, who

(16:17):
had only taken the box out of the cart and
carried it within the threshold of the door, now took
it into his sister's bedroom, and then went out and
called Pablo, who came running to him. Pablo said, Humphrey,
we must bring to the cottage some of the large
pieces we sawed out for rafters. For I should not

(16:38):
be surprised if the cottage were attacked this night. He
then told Pablo what had taken place. You see, Pablo,
I dare not send to the intendant to night in
case the robbers should come here. No, not send to night,
said Pablo. Stay here and fight them first, make door fast,

(17:00):
then cut hole to fire through. Yes, that was my idea.
You don't mind fighting them, Pablo, No, fight hard for
Missy Alice and Missy Edith, said Pablo. Fight for you too,
Massa Humphrey, and fight for myself, added Pablo, laughing. They

(17:20):
then went for the pieces of squared timber, brought them
from the saw pit to the cottage, and very soon
fitted them to the doors and windows so as to
prevent several men, with using all their strength, from forcing
them open. That will do, said Humphrey. And now get

(17:40):
me the small saw Pablo, and I will cut a
hole or two to fire through. It was dark before
they had finished, and then they made all fast and
went to Pablo's room for the arms, which they got
ready for service and loaded. Now we are all ready, Alice,
so let us have our supper, said Humphrey. We will

(18:02):
make a fight for it, and they shall not get
in so easily as they think. After they had had
their supper, Humphrey said the prayers and told his sisters
to go to bed. Yes, Humphrey, we will go to bed,
but we will not undress, for if they come, I
must be up to help you. I can load a gun,

(18:23):
you know, and Edith can take them to you as
fast as I load them, won't you, Edith, Yes, I
will bring you the gun's Humphrey and you she'll shoot them,
replied Edith. Humphrey kissed his sisters and they went to
their room. He then put a light in the chimney
that he might not have to get one in case

(18:43):
the robbers came, and then desired Pablo to go and
lie down on his bed, as he intended to do
the same. Humphrey remained awake till past three o'clock in
the morning, but no robbers came. Bableau was snoring loud,
and at last Humphrey fell asleep himself and did not

(19:04):
wake till broad daylight. He got up and found Alice
and Edith were already in the sitting room lighting the fire.
I would not wake you, Humphrey, as you had been
sitting up so long the robbers have not made their appearance.
That is clear. Shall we unbar the door and window shutters? Now? Yes,
I think we may here Pablo. Yes, replied Pablo, coming

(19:28):
out half asleep. What the matter? Thief come, no, replied Edith.
Thief not come, but sunshine and lazy Pablo not get
up up now, Missy Edith, Yes, but not awake yet? Yes,
missy Edith's quite awake. Well, then help me to undo

(19:50):
the door, Pablo. They took down the barricades, and Humphrey
opened the door cautiously and looked out. They won't come
now at all events, I should think, observed Humphrey. But
there is no saying. They may be prowling about and
may think it easier to get in during daytime than
at night. Go out, Pablo, and look about everywhere. Take

(20:13):
a pistol with you and fire it off if there
is any danger, and then come back as fast as
you can. Pablo took the pistol, and then Humphrey went
out of the door and looked well round in front
of the cottage. But he would not leave the door
till he was assured that no one was there. Pablo

(20:33):
returned soon after saying that he had looked round everywhere
and into the cow house and yard, and there was
nobody to be seen. This satisfied Humphrey, and they returned
to the cottage. Now, Pablo, get your breakfast while I
write the letter to the intendant, said Humphrey. And then

(20:54):
you must saddle Billy and go over to him as
fast as you can. With the letter, you can tell
him all I have not said in it. I shall
expect you back at night, and some people with you
I see, said Pablo, who immediately busied himself with some
cold meat, which Alice put before him. Pablo had finished

(21:14):
his breakfast and brought Billy to the door before Humphrey
had finished his letter. As soon as it was written
and folded, Pablo set off as fast as Billy could
go to the other side of the forest. Humphrey continued
on the look out during the whole day, with his
gun on his arm and his two dogs by his side,

(21:35):
for he knew the dogs would give notice of the
approach of any one long before he might see them.
But nothing occurred during the whole day, and when the
evening closed in he barricaded the doors and windows and
remained on the watch with the dogs, waiting for the
coming of the robbers, or for the arrival of the

(21:56):
party which he expected would be sent by the Intendant
to take the robbers. Just as it was dark, Pablo
returned with a note from Edward saying that he would
be over and at the cottage by ten o'clock with
a large party. Humphrey had said in his letter that
it would be better that any force sent by the

(22:16):
Intendant should not arrive till after dark, as the robbers
might be near and perceive them, and then they might escape.
He did not therefore expect them to come till some
time after dark. Humphrey was reading a book. Pablo was
dozing in the chimney corner. The two girls had retired

(22:36):
into their room and had lain down on the bed
in their clothes, when the dogs both gave a low growl.
Somebody come, said Pablo, starting up again. The dog scrowled,
and Humphrey made a sign to Pablo to hold his tongue.
A short time of anxious silence succeeded, but it was

(22:58):
impossible to ascertain was that the parties were friends or enemies.
The dogs now sprung up and barked, furiously at the door,
and as soon as Humphrey had silenced them, a voice
was heard outside begging for admission to a poor benighted traveler.
This was sufficient. It could not be the party from
the intendants, but the robbers who wished to induce them

(23:21):
to open the door. Pablo put a gun into Humphrey's
hand and took another for himself. He then removed the
light into the chimney, and, on the application from outside
being repeated, Humphrey answered that he never opened the door
at that hour of the night, and that it was
useless their remaining, No answer or repetition of the request

(23:44):
was made, but as Humphrey retreated with Pablo into the fireplace,
a gun was fired into the lock of the door,
which was blown off into the room, and had it
not been for the barricades, the doors must have flown open.
The robbers appeared surprised at such not being the case,
and one of them inserted his arm into the hole

(24:06):
made in the door to ascertain what might be the
further obstacle to open it. When Pablo slipped past Humphrey
and gaining the door, discharged his gun under the arm
which had been thrust into the hole in the door.
The party, whoever it might have been, gave a loud
cry and fell at the threshold outside. I think that

(24:28):
will do, said Humphrey. We must not take more life
than is necessary. I had rather that you had fired
through his arm. It would have disabled him, and that
would have sufficed Hill much better, said Pablo. Corbold shot
through leg. Come again to rob Suppose shot dead, Never
rob more. The dogs now flew to the back of

(24:51):
the cottage, evidently pointing out that the robbers were attempting
that side. Humphrey put his gun through the hole in
the door and discharged it. Might you do that, massa Humphrey.
Nobody there, I know that, Pablo. But if the people
are coming from the intendants, they will see the flash
and perhaps hear the report, and it will let them

(25:13):
know what is going on. There is another gun loaded, Humphrey,
said Alice, who with Edith had joined them without Humphrey
observing it. Thanks Love, but you and Edith must not
remain here. Sit down on the hearth, and then you
will be sheltered from any bullet which they may fire
into the house. I have no fear of their getting in,

(25:36):
and we shall have help directly. I have no doubt, Pablo,
I shall fire through the back door. They must be there,
for the dogs have their noses under it and are
so violent. Do you fire another gun as a signal
through the hole in the front door. Humphrey stood within
four feet of the back door and fired just above

(25:58):
where the dogs held their noses and barked. Bableou discharged
his gun as directed, and then returned to reload the guns.
The dogs were now more quiet, and it appeared as
if the robbers had retreated from the back door. Pableau
blew out the light which had been put more in
the center of the room when Alice and Edith took

(26:20):
possession of the fireplace. No fear, Missy Edith, I know
where find everything, said Pablo, who now went and peered
through the hole in the front door to see if
the robbers were coming to it again. But he could
see and hear nothing for some time. At last, the
attack was renewed. The dogs flew backward and forward, sometimes

(26:43):
to one door and then to another, as if both
were to be assailed, and at the same time a
crash in Alice's bedchamber told them that the robbers had
burst in the small window in that room, which Humphrey
had not paid any attention to, as it was so
small that a man could hardly introduce his body through it.

(27:03):
Humphrey immediately called Holdfast and opened the door of the room,
for he thought that a man forcing his way in
would be driven back or held by the dog, and
he and Pablo dared not leave the two doors watch
the other dog followed Holdfast into the bedroom, and oaths
and curses mingled with the savage yells of the dogs,

(27:25):
told them that a conflict was going on. Both doors
were now battered with heavy pieces of timber at the
same time, and Pablo said, great, many robbers here. A
moment or more had passed during which Pablo and Humphrey
had both again fired their guns through the door, when
of a sudden other sounds were heard. Shots were fired outside,

(27:50):
loud cries and angry oaths and exclamations. The intendants people
are come, said Humphrey, I am sure of it. Shortly afterward,
Humphrey heard his name called by Edward, and he replied
and went to the door and undid the barricades. Get
a light, Alice, dear, said Humphrey, we are all safe. Now,

(28:12):
I will open the door directly Edward, but in the
dark I cannot see the fastenings. Are you all safe, Humphrey, yes, all,
save Edward, wait till Alice brings a light. Alice soon
brought one, and then the door was unfastened. Edward stepped
over the body of a man which lay at the threshold, saying,

(28:33):
you have settled somebody there at all events, and then
caught Edith and Alice in his arms. He was followed
by Oswald and some other men, leading in the prisoners.
Find that fellow fast, Oswald said, Edward, get another light, Pablo,
let us see who it is that lies outside the door. First,

(28:54):
see who is in my bedroom, Edward said Alice, For
the dogs are still there in your bedroom, dearest, Well,
then let us go there. First. Edward went in with
Humphrey and found a man half in the window and
half out, held by the throat and apparently suffocated by
the two dogs. He took the dogs off, and, desiring

(29:16):
the men to secure the robber and ascertain whether he
was alive or not, he returned to the sitting room
and then went to examine the body outside the door.
Corbald as I leve, cried Oswald. Yes, replied Edward. He
has gone to his account, God forgive him. On inquiry

(29:37):
they found that of all the robbers, to the number
of ten, not one had escaped. Eight they had made prisoners.
Corbald and the man whom the dogs had seized and
who was found to be quite dead, made up the number.
The robbers were all bound and guarded, And then leaving
them under the charge of Oswald and five of him men,

(30:00):
Edward and Humphrey set off with seven more to Clara's
cottage to ascertain if there were any more to be
found there. They arrived by two o'clock in the morning,
and on knocking several times, the door was opened and
they seized another man, the only one who was found
in it. They then went back to the cottage with

(30:21):
their prisoner, and by the time that they had arrived
it was daylight. As soon as the party sent by
the intendant had been supplied with a breakfast, Edward bade
farewell to Humphrey and his sisters, that he might return
and deliver up his prisoners. Pablo went with him to
bring back the cart which carried the two dead bodies.

(30:45):
This capture cleared the forest of the robbers which had
so long infested it, for they never had any more
attempts made from that time. Before Edward left Humphrey, and
he examined the box which Humphrey had dug up from
under the oak, and which it occasioned such danger to
the inmates of the cottage. For one of the men

(31:06):
stated to Edward that they suspected that the box which
they had seen Humphrey dig out contained treasure, and that
without they had seen him in possession of it, they
never should have attacked the cottage, although Corbald had often
persuaded them so to do, but as they knew that
he was only seeking revenge and they required money to

(31:28):
stimulate them, they had refused as they considered that there
was nothing to be obtained in the cottage worth the risk,
as they knew that the inmates had fire arms and
would defend themselves. On examination of its contents, they found
in the box a sum of forty pounds in gold,
a bag of silver, and some other valuables in silver, spoons, candlesticks,

(31:53):
and ornaments for women. Edward took a list of the contents,
and when he returned he stated to the intendant all
that had occurred, and requested to know what should be
done with the money and other articles which Humphrey had found.
I wish you had said nothing to me about it,
said the Intendant, Although I am pleased with your open

(32:16):
and fair dealing, I cannot say any thing except that
you had better let Humphrey keep it till it is claimed,
which of course it never will be. But Edward Humphrey
must come over here and make his deposition. As I
must report the capture of these robbers and send them

(32:36):
to trial. You had better go with the clerk and
take the depositions of Pablo and your sisters. While Humphrey
comes here. You can stay till his return. Their depositions
are not of so much consequence as Humphrey's, as they
can only speak as to the attack. But Humphreys I

(32:57):
must take down myself. When Patience and Clara heard that
Edward was going over, they obtained leave to go with
him to see Alice and Edith, and were to be
escorted back by Humphrey. This the Intendant consented to, and
they had a very merry party. Humphrey remained two days

(33:18):
at the Intendant's house and then returned to the cottage
where Edward had taken his place during his absence. End
of Chapter twenty. Recording by Nick Whitley Pearley, United Kingdom,