"Ah traitor!" he exclaimed; "what are you about to do?""I am no traitor," replied the old man."I heard a noise in the passage leading to Wyat's cell, and was about to rouse you, when you awakened of your own accord, probably disturbed by the noise.""It may be," replied Fenwolf, satisfied with the excuse, and relinquishing his grasp."I fancied I heard something in my dreams.But come with me to Wyat's cell.I will not leave you here."And snatching up the lamp, he hurried with Tristram into the passage.
They were scarcely gone, when the door of the cell was opened by Mabel, who.had overheard what had passed; and so hurriedly did she issue forth that she over-turned the bench, which fell to the ground with a considerable clatter.She had only just time to replace it, and to conceal herself in an a!1joining passage, when Fenwolf rushed back into the cavern.
It was a false alarm," he cried."I saw Sir Thomas Wyat in his cell through the loop-hole, and I have brought the key away with me.But Iam sure I heard a noise here."
"It must have been mere fancy," said Tristram."All is as we left it.""It seems so, certes," replied Fenwolf doubtfully."But I will make sure."; While he placed his ear to the door, Mabel gave a signal to Tristram that she was safe.Persuaded that he heard some sound in the chamber, Fenwolf nodded to Tristram that all was right, and resumed his seat.
In less than ten minutes he was again asleep.Mabel then emerged from her concealment, and cautiously approached Tristram, who feigned, also, to slumber.As she approached him, he rose noiselessly to his feet.
"The plan has succeeded," he said in a low tone."It was I who spoiled the lock.But come with me.I will lead you out of the cavern."Not without Sir Thomas Wyat," she replied; " I will not leave him here.""You will only expose yourself to risk, and fail to deliver him," rejoined Tristram."Fenwolf has the key of his cell.Nay, if you are determined upon it, I will not hinder you.But you must find your own way out, for Ishall not assist Sir Thomas Wyat."
Motioning him to silence, Mabel crept slowly, and on the points of her feet, towards Fenwolf.
The key was in his girdle.Leaning over him, she suddenly and dexterously plucked it forth.
At the very moment she possessed herself of it, Fenwolf stirred, and she dived down, and concealed herself beneath the table.Fenwolf, who had been only slightly disturbed, looked up, and seeing Tristram in his former position, which he had resumed when Mabel commenced her task, again disposed himself to slumber.
Waiting till she was assured of the soundness of his repose, Mabel crept from under the table, signed to Tristram to remain where he was, and glided with swift and noiseless footsteps down the passage leading to the cell.
In a moment, she was at the door--the key was in the lock--and she stood before Sir Thomas Wyat.
A few words sufficed to explain to the astonished knight how she came there, and comprehending that not a moment was to be lost, he followed her forth.
In the passage, they held a brief consultation together in a low tone, as to the best means of escape, for they deemed it useless to apply to Tristram.The outlet with which Sir Thomas Wyat was acquainted lay on the other side of the cavern; nor did he know how to discover the particular passage leading to it.
As to Mabel, she could offer no information, but she knew that the stable lay in an adjoining passage.
Recollecting, from former experience, how well the steeds were trained, Sir Thomas Wyat eagerly caught at the suggestion, and Mabel led him farther down the passage, and striking off through an opening on the left, brought him, after a few turns, to a large chamber, in which two or three black horses were kept.
Loosening one of them, Wyat placed a bridle on his neck, sprang upon his back, and took up Mabel beside him.He then struck his heels against the sides of the animal, who needed no further incitement to dash along the passage, and in a few seconds brought them into the cavern.
The trampling of the horse wakened Fenwolf, who started to his feet, and ran after them, shouting furiously.But he was too late.Goaded by Wyat's dagger, the steed dashed furiously on, and plunging with its double burden into the pool at the bottom of the cavern, disappeared.
VI.Of the Desperate Resolution formed by Tristram and Fenwolf, and how the Train was laid.
Transported with rage at the escape of the fugitives, Fenwolf turned to old Tristram, and drawing his knife, threatened to make an end of him.
But the old man, who was armed with a short hunting-sword, stood upon his defence, and they remained brandishing their weapons at each other for some minutes, but without striking a blow.
"Well, I leave you to Herne's vengeance," said Fenwolf, returning his knife to his belt."You will pay dearly for allowing them to escape.""I will take my chance," replied Tristram moodily: "my mind is made up to the worst.I will no longer serve this fiend.""What! dare you break your oath?" cried Fenwolf."Remember the terrible consequences.""I care not for them," replied Tristram."Harkee, Fenwolf: I know you will not betray me, for you hate him as much as I do, and have as great a desire for revenge.I will rid the forest of this fell being.""Would you could make good your words, old man!" cried Fenwolf."Iwould give my life for vengeance upon him.""I take the offer," said Tristram; "you shall have vengeance.""But how?" cried the other."I have proved that he is invulnerable and the prints of his hands are written in black characters upon my throat.
If we could capture him, and deliver him to the king, we might purchase our own pardon."No, that can never be," said Tristram." My plan is to destroy him.""Well, let me hear it," said Fenwolf.
"Come with me, then," rejoined Tristram.
And taking up the lamp, he led the way down a narrow lateral passage.
When about half-way down it, he stopped before a low door, cased with iron, which he opened, and showed that the recess was filled with large canvas bags.
