Windsor Castle by William Harrison Ainsworth
BOOK V — MABEL LYNDWOOD
CHAPTER 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. "I would
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.
"Why, this is the powder-magazine," said Fenwolf. "I can now guess how you
mean to destroy Herne. I like the scheme well enough; but it cannot be
executed without certain destruction to ourselves."
"I will take all the risk upon myself," said Tristram, "I only require
your aid in the preparations. What I propose to do is this. There is powder
enough in the magazine, not only to blow up the cave, but to set fire to all
the wood surrounding it. It must be scattered among the dry brush- wood in a
great circle round the cave, and connected by a train with this magazine.
When Herne comes hack, I will fire the train."
"There is much hazard in the scheme, and I fear it will fail," replied
Fenwolf, after a pause, "nevertheless, I will assist you."
"Then, let us go to work at once," said Tristram, " for we have no time to
lose. Herne will be here before midnight, and I should like to have all ready
for him."
Accordingly, they each shouldered a couple of the bags, and returning to
the cavern, threaded a narrow passage, and emerged from the secret entrance
in the grove.
While Fenwolf descended for a fresh supply of powder, Tristram commenced
operations. Though autumn was now far advanced, there had been remarkably
fine weather of late; the ground was thickly strewn with yellow leaves, the
fern was brown and dry, and the brushwood crackled and broke as a passage was
forced through it. The very trees were parched by the long-continued drought.
Thus favoured in his design, Tristram scattered the contents of one of the
bags in a thick line among the fern and brushwood, depositing here and there
among the roots of a tree, several pounds of powder, and covering the heaps
over with dried sticks and leaves.
While he was thus employed, Fenwolf appeared with two more bags of powder,
and descended again for a fresh supply. When he returned, laden as before,
the old forester had already described a large portion of the circle he
intended to take.
Judging that there was now powder sufficient, Tristram explained to his
companion how to proceed; and the other commenced laying a train on the left
of the secret entrance, carefully observing the instructions given him. In
less than an hour, they met together at a particular tree, and the formidable
circle was complete.
"So far, well I" said Tristram, emptying the contents of his bag beneath
the tree, and covering it with leaves and sticks, as before; "and now to
connect this with the cavern."
With this, he opened another bag, and drew a wide train towards the centre
of the space. At length, he paused at the foot of a large hollow tree.
"I have ascertained," he said, "that this tree stands immediately over the
magazine; and by following this rabbit's burrow, I have contrived to make a
small entrance into it. A hollow reed introduced through the hole, and filled
with powder, will be sure to reach the store below."
"An excellent ideal" replied Fenwolf. " I will fetch one instantly."
And starting off to the side of the lake, he presently returned with
several long reeds, one of which was selected by Tristram and thrust into the
burrow. It proved of the precise length required; and as soon as it touched
the bottom, it was carefully filled with powder from a horn. Having connected
this tube with the side train, and scattered powder for several yards around,
so as to secure instantaneous ignition, Tristram pronounced that the train
was complete.
"We have now laid a trap from which Herne will scarcely escape," he
observed, with a moody laugh, to Fenwolf.
They then prepared to return to the cave, but had not proceeded many
yards, when Herne, mounted on his sable steed, burst through the trees.
"Ah! what make you here? " he cried, instantly checking his career. "I
bade you keep a strict watch over MabeL Where is she?
"She has escaped with Sir Thomas Wyat," replied Fenwolf, "and we have been
in search of them. "
Escaped!" exclaimed Herne, springing from his steed, and rushing up to
him; "dogs! you have played me false. But your lives shall pay the penalty of
your perfidy."
"We had no hand in it whatever," replied Fenwolf doggedly. "She contrived
to get out of a chamber in which I placed her, and to liberate Sir Thomas
Wyat. They then procured a steed from the stable, and plunged through the
pool into the lake."
"Hell's malison upon them, and upon you both!" cried Herne. "But you shall
pay dearly for your heedlessness,—if, indeed, it has not been something
worse. How long have they been gone?"
"It may be two hours," replied Fenwolf.
"Go to the cave," cried Herne, "and await my return there; and if I
recover not the prize, woe betide you both!"
And with these words, he vaunted upon his steed and disappeared.
"And woe betide you too, false fiend!" cried Fenwolf. "When you come back
you shall meet with a welcome you little expect. Would we had fired the
train, Tristram, even though we had perished with him!"
It will be time enough to fire it on his return," replied the old
forester; "it is but postponing our vengeance for a short time. And now to
fix our positions. I will take my station in yon brake."
"And I in that hollow tree," said Fenwolf. "Whoever first beholds him
shall fire the train."
"Agreed!" replied Tristram. "Let us now descend to the cave and see that
all is right in the magazine, and then we will return and hold ourselves in
readiness for action."