The Buccaneer - A Tale

When Robin arrived at this point in his comments, the man whose life had

most probably been saved by the young Cavalier's interposition, called

to him to come forward,--a summons the manikin obeyed at first but

slowly: a second call, however, urged his alacrity; and he stood before

one of whom he was evidently in much dread, with a bent head and a

tremulous frame.

"Canst tell aught of that vile clay, whom the Lord hath delivered into

my hand?" he said, pointing to the lifeless corpse, while his chest

still heaved from the violence of the exertion he had undergone,

although in other respects he appeared as composed as if he had gone

forth only to enjoy the sweet breath of evening, and a ruder breeze than

he anticipated had passed across his brow. Robin stooped to examine the

distorted features of the dead, smeared as they were by the warm blood

that issued from more than one mortal wound.

"He was one of thy party but three hours past," continued the stranger,

speaking with energy and rapidity, "and thou knew'st him; heard I not

his words beneath the oak? Ay, and if it had been left unto thee, verily

I might have been given over to the destroyer, even as Hoshea was given

unto Shalmaneser. Speak, thou deformity, lest, finding thy mind as base

as its casket, I let it forth from its vile dwelling, even as a thing of

nought."

"'Tis poor Grimstone," exclaimed Robin, rising from his scrutiny, and

evidently affected by the loss of his boon companion on more occasions

than one; "he was ever after some devilry--but his attack upon such as

you----"

"Silence, sir. Did I not before intimate my wishes?"

"Well, then," muttered Robin, "his attack must have been purely a matter

of plunder. Grim. was never ambitious--never looked beyond a purse of

broad pieces;" adding in a lower tone, "he was always a fool."

"The carrion hath fallen in a pleasant place--so let the next comer look

to it, and do thou fetch hither my horse. Had it not been that my

saddle-girth gave way, I could have mastered twenty such footpads."

This was said in the tone of one who, however grateful for assistance,

would have been much better pleased to have found it needless, and to

have worked out the victory by his own hands.

Robin hurried to secure the animal, a well-trained war-horse, which had

stood quietly in the centre of the road, calmly awaiting the issue of

the combat: he observed that the saddle was turned completely round, and

hung under the belly. The horseman adjusted his cloak, wiped his sword

with the square cape, and had just replaced it in the scabbard, when the

Cavalier returned from his fruitless chase. As he advanced towards the

person to whom he had rendered such signal service, he noted that he was

a hale, stout man, probably past the meridian of life, of a stern and

awe-striking presence; and an involuntary feeling of respect made him

lift his hat from his head, and even remain uncovered while expressing

hopes "that he had received no injury from the cowards who had thus

beset his path." The other gave no reply to the inquiry, but fixed a

shrewd and penetrating gaze upon the young man's countenance. Apparently

the scrutiny pleased him, for he extended his hand, and seizing that of

his preserver, held it firmly within his palm for about the space of a

minute, then pressed it within his mailed grasp so strenuously, that the

youth felt the blood tingle to his finger-ends.