第101章 MABEL LYNDWOOD(10)
"Welcome again to my cave, Sir Thomas Wyat I" cried the demon, with a mocking laugh."I told you, on the night of the attempt upon the king, that though you escaped him, you would not escape me.And so it has come to pass.You are now wholly in my power, body and soul--ha! ha!""I defy you, false fiend," replied Wyat."I was mad enough to proffer you my soul on certain conditions; but they have never been fulfilled.""They may yet be so," rejoined Herne.
"No," replied Wyat, " I have purged my heart from the fierce and unhallowed passion that swayed it.I desire no assistance from you."If you have changed your mind, that is nought to me, " rejoined the demon derisively--" I shall hold you to your compact.""Again I say I renounce you, infernal spirit!" cried Wyat; "you may destroy my body--but you can work no mischief to my soul.""You alarm yourself without reason, good Sir Thomas," replied Herne, in a slightly sneering tone."I am not the malignant being you suppose me; neither am I bent upon fighting the battles of the enemy of mankind against Heaven.I may be leagued with the powers of darkness, but Ihave no wish to aid them; and I therefore leave you to take care of your soul in your own way.What I desire from you is your service while living.
Now listen to the conditions I have to propose.You must bind yourself by a terrible oath, the slightest infraction of which shall involve the perdition of the soul you are so solicitous to preserve, not to disclose aught you may see, or that may be imparted to you here.You must also swear implicit obedience to me in all things--to execute any secret commissions, of whatever nature, I may give you--to bring associates to my band--and to join me in any enterprise I may propose.This oath taken, you are free.Refuse it, and I leave you to perish.""I do refuse it," replied Wyat boldly."I would die a thousand deaths rather than so bind myself.Neither do I fear being left to perish here.
You shall not quit this cell without me.""You are a stout soldier, Sir Thomas Wyat," rejoined the demon, with a scornful laugh; "but you are scarcely a match for Herne the Hunter, as you will find, if you are rash enough to make the experiment.Beware!
"he exclaimed, in a voice of thunder, observing the knight lay his hand upon his sword," I am invulnerable, and you will, therefore, vainly strike at me.Do not compel me to use the dread means, which I could instantly employ, to subject you to my will.I mean you well, and would rather serve than injure you.But I will not let you go, unless you league yourself with me.Swear, therefore, obedience to me, and depart hence to your friends, Surrey and Richmond, and tell them you have failed to find me.""You know, then, of our meeting?" exclaimed Wyat.
"Perfectly well," laughed Herne."It is now eventide, and at midnight the meeting will take place in the forester's hut.If you attend it not, Iwill.They will be my prisoners as well as you.To preserve yourself and save them, you must join me.""Before I return an answer," said Wyat, "I must know what has become of Mabel Lyndwood."Mabel Lyndwood is nought to you, Sir Thomas," rejoined Herne coldly.
"She is so much to me that I will run a risk for her which I would not run for myself," replied Wyat."If I promise obedience to you, will you liberate her? will you let her depart with me?""No," said Herne peremptorily."Banish all thoughts of her from your breast.You will never behold her again.I will give you time for reflection on my proposal.An hour before midnight I shall return, and if I find you in the same mind, I abandon you to your fate."And with these words he stepped back towards the lower end of the cell.Wyat instantly sprang after him, but before he could reach him a flash of fire caused him to recoil, and to his horror and amazement, he beheld the rock open, and yield a passage to the retreating figure.
When the sulphureous smoke, with which the little cell was filled, had in some degree cleared off, Wyat examined the sides of the rock, but could not find the slightest trace of a secret outlet, and therefore concluded that the disappearance of the demon had been effected by magic.
V.How Mabel escaped from the Cave with Sir Thomas Wyat.
The next day Mabel was set at liberty by her gaoler, and the hours flew by without the opportunity of escape, for which she sighed, occurring to her.As night drew on, she became more anxious, and at last expressed a wish to retire to her cell.When about to fasten the door, Fenwolf found that the lock had got strained, and the bolts would not move, and he was therefore obliged to content himself with placing a bench against it, on which he took a seat.
About an hour after Mabel's retirement, old Tristram offered to relieve guard with Fenwolf, but this the other positively declined, and leaning against the door, disposed himself to slumber.Tristram then threw himself on the floor, and in a short time all seemed buried in repose.
By-and-by, however, when Fenwolf's heavy breathing gave token of the soundness of his sleep, Tristram raised himself upon his elbow, and gazed round.The lamp placed upon the table imperfectly illumined the cavern, for the fire which had been lighted to cook the evening meal had gone out completely.Getting up cautiously, and drawing his hunting-knife, the old man crept towards Fenwolf, apparently with the intent of stabbing him, but he suddenly changed his resolution, and dropped his arm.
At that moment, as if preternaturally warned, Fenwolf opened his eyes, and seeing the old forester standing by, sprang upon him, and seized him by the throat.