Nay, what matters it? said Matcham. An yare to marry, ye can but marry. What matters foul or fair? These be but toys. Yare no milksop, Master Richard; ye will wed with dry eyes, anyhow.
It is well said, replied Shelton. Little I reck.
Your lady wife is like to have a pleasant lord, said Matcham.
She shall have the lord Heaven made her for, returned Dick. I trow there be worse as well as better.
Ah, the poor wench! cried the other.
And why so poor? asked Dick.
To wed a man of wood, replied his companion. O me, for a wooden husband!
I think I be a man of wood, indeed, said Dick, to trudge afoot the while you ride my horse; but it is good wood, I trow.
Good Dick, forgive me, cried the other. Nay, yare the best heart in England; I but laughed. Forgive me now, sweet Dick.
Nay, no fool words, returned Dick, a little embarrassed by his companions warmth. No harm is done. I am not touchy, praise the saints.
And at that moment the wind, which was blowing straight behind them as they went, brought them the rough flourish of Sir Daniels trumpeter.
Hark! said Dick, the tucket soundeth.
Ay, said Matcham, they have found my flight, and now I am unhorsed! and he became pale as death.
Nay, what cheer! returned Dick. Yhave a long start, and we are near the ferry. And it is I, methinks, that am unhorsed.
Alack, I shall be taken! cried the fugitive. Dick, kind Dick, beseech ye help me but a little!
Why, now, what aileth thee? said Dick. Methinks I help you very patently. But my heart is sorry for so spiritless a fellow! And see ye here, John Matcham sith John Matcham is your name I, Richard Shelton, tide what betideth, come what may[20], will see you safe in Holywood. The saints so do to me again if I default you. Come, pick me up a good heart, Sir White-face. The way betters here; spur me the horse. Go faster! faster! Nay, mind not for me; I can run like a deer.
So, with the horse trotting hard, and Dick running easily alongside, they crossed the remainder of the fen, and came out upon the banks of the river by the ferrymans hut.
Chapter III
The Fen Ferry
The river Till was a wide, sluggish, clayey water, oozing out of fens, and in this part of its course it strained among some score of willow-covered, marshy islets.
It was a dingy stream; but upon this bright, spirited morning everything was become beautiful. The wind and the martens broke it up into innumerable dimples; and the reflection of the sky was scattered over all the surface in crumbs of smiling blue.
A creek ran up to meet the path, and close under the bank the ferrymans hut lay snugly. It was of wattle and clay, and the grass grew green upon the roof.
Dick went to the door and opened it. Within, upon a foul old russet cloak, the ferryman lay stretched and shivering; a great hulk of a man, but lean and shaken by the country fever.
Hey, Master Shelton, he said, be ye for the ferry? Ill times, ill times! Look to yourself. There is a fellowship abroad. Ye were better turn round on your two heels and try the bridge.
Nay, times in the saddle, answered Dick. Time will ride, Hugh Ferryman. I am hot in haste.
A wilful man! returned the ferryman, rising. An ye win safe to the Moat House, yhave done lucky; but I say no more. And then catching sight of Matcham, Who be this? he asked, as he paused, blinking, on the threshold of his cabin.
It is my kinsman, Master Matcham, answered Dick.
Give ye good day, good ferryman, said Matcham, who had dismounted, and now came forward, leading the horse. Launch me your boat, I prithee; we are sore in haste.
The gaunt ferryman continued staring.
By the mass! he cried at length, and laughed with open throat.
Matcham coloured to his neck and winced; and Dick, with an angry countenance, put his hand on the louts shoulder.
How now, churl! he cried. Fall to thy business, and leave mocking thy betters.
Hugh Ferryman grumblingly undid his boat, and shoved it a little forth into the deep water. Then Dick led in the horse, and Matcham followed.
Ye be mortal small made, master, said Hugh, with a wide grin; something o the wrong model, belike. Nay, Master Shelton, I am for you, he added, getting to his oars. A cat may look at a king.[21] I did but take a shot of the eye at Master Matcham.
Sirrah, no more words, said Dick. Bend me your back.
They were by that time at the mouth of the creek, and the view opened up and down the river. Everywhere it was enclosed with islands. Clay banks were falling in, willows nodding, reeds waving, martens dipping and piping. There was no sign of man in the labyrinth of waters.
My master, said the ferryman, keeping the boat steady with one oar, I have a shrewd guess that John-a-Fenne is on the island. He bears me a black grudge to all Sir Daniels. How if I turned me up stream and landed you an arrow-flight above the path? Ye were best not meddle with John Fenne.
How, then? is he of this company? asked Dick.
Nay, mum is the word, said Hugh. But I would go up water, Dick. How if Master Matcham came by an arrow? and he laughed again.
Be it so, Hugh, answered Dick.
Look ye, then, pursued Hugh. Sith it shall so be, unsling me your crossbow so: now make it ready good; place me a quarrel. Ay, keep it so, and look upon me grimly.
What meaneth this? asked Dick.
Why, my master, if I steal you across, it must be under force or fear, replied the ferryman; for else, if John Fenne got wind of it[22], he were like to prove my most distressful neighbour.
Do these churls ride so roughly? Dick inquired. Do they command Sir Daniels own ferry?
Nay, whispered the ferryman, winking. Mark me! Sir Daniel shall down. His time is out. He shall down. Mum! And he bent over his oars.
They pulled a long way up the river, turned the tail of an island, and came softly down a narrow channel next the opposite bank. Then Hugh held water in midstream.
I must land you here among the willows, he said.
Here is no path but willow swamps and quagmires, answered Dick.
Master Shelton, replied Hugh, I dare not take ye nearer down, for your own sake now. He watcheth me the ferry, lying on his bow. All that go by and owe Sir Daniel goodwill, he shooteth down like rabbits. I heard him swear it by the rood. An, I had not known you of old days ay, and from so high upward I would a let you go on; but for old days remembrance, and because ye had this toy with you thats not fit for wounds or warfare, I did risk my two poor ears to have you over whole. Content you; I can no more, on my salvation!
Hugh was still speaking, lying on his oars, when there came a great shout from among the willows on the island, and sounds followed as of a strong man breasting roughly through the wood.
A murrain! cried Hugh. He was on the upper island all the while! He pulled straight for shore. Threat me with your bow, good Dick; threat me with it plain, he added. I have tried to save your skins, save you mine!
The boat ran into a tough thicket of willows with a crash. Matcham, pale, but steady and alert, at a sign from Dick, ran along the thwarts and leaped ashore; Dick, taking the horse by the bridle, sought to follow, but what with the animals bulk, and what with the closeness of the thicket, both stuck fast. The horse neighed and trampled; and the boat, which was swinging in an eddy, came on and off and pitched with violence.