LITREATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6314, 11 August 1888, Page 1

LITREATURE.

THE OUTLAWS OF TUNSTALL FOREST. [By Robert Louis Stevenson.T Author of "Treasure Island," "Kidnapped," "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde," &c. BOOK IV.— THE'DISGUISE. Chapter 111. THB DEAD BPT. Throughout this furioua and rapid passage, Lawless had looked on helplessly, and «yen when all was over, and Dick, already re-arisen to his feet, was listening with the most passionate attention to the distant bustle* in the lower stories of the house, the old outlaw was still wavering on his legs like fl. shrub in a breeze of wind, and still stupidly staring on the face of the dead man. "Ib ia well." said Dick, ab length; " they have not heard us, praise the saints I Bub, now, what Bliall Ido with this poor spy ? At least, I will take my tassel from his wallet." So Baying, Dick opened the wallet; within he found a few pieces of money, the tassel, and a letter addressed to Lord WeDsleydale, and sealed with my Lord Shoreby's seal. The name awoke Dick's recollection ; and he instantly broke the wax and tead the contents of the letter. It was short, but, to Dick's delight.it gave evident proof that Lord Shoreby was treacherously corresponding with the House of York. The young fellow usually carried his ink-horn and implements about him, and so now, bending a krlee beside the body of the dead spy, he was able to write these words upon a tag of. paper : — My Lord of cSboreby, je that writt the letter, wot ye why your man i 3 ded ? But let ma reda you, marry not. JOHW iJTIKD-ALI,

He laid this paper on the brsaat of the corpse ) and theii Lawless, who had been looking ott upon these last manoeuvres with some nickering returns of intelligence, suddenly drew a black arrow from below his robe, and therewith pinned the paper in its place. The sight of this disrespect, or, as it almost seemed, cruelty to the dead, drew a cry of horror from young Shelton ; but the old outlaw only laughed. " Nay, I will have the credit for mine order," he hiccupped. "My jolly boys must have the credit on't — the credit, brother ; " and then, shutting his eyeß tight and opening his mouth like a precentor, he began to thunder, in a formidable voice : " If ye Bhoald drink the clary -trims "— "Peace, sot!" cried Dick, and thrust him hard against the wall. "Ia two wordo — if so be that Buch a man can understand me who bath more wine than wit in him— in two words, and, a-Mary'fl name, begone out of this house, where, if ye continue to abide, ye will nob only hang yourself, but me also ! Faith, then, up foot ! be yare, or, by the mass, I may forget that I am in some sort your captain, and in Borne your debtor! Go !" The sham monk waa now, in some degree, recovering the use of his intelligence ; and the ring in Dick's voice, and the glitter in Diok's eye, Btamped home the meaning of his words. "By tbe niasß," cried Lawless, "anlbe not wanted, I can go \ and he turned tipsily along the corridor, and proceeded to flounder down stairs, lurching against tbe wall. So soon ai he was out of sight, Dick returned to his biding place, resolutely fixed to see the matter out. Wisdom, indeed, moved him to be gone ; but love and curiosity were stronger. Time passed elowly for the young man bolt upright behind the arras. The firs in the room began to die down, and the lamp to burn low and to omoke. And still there was no word of the retard of anyone to these upper quarters of the house ; still tho faint hum and clatter of the supper party Bounded from far below ; and Btill, under the thick fall of the snow, Shoreby town lay Bilenfc upon every side. At length, however, feet and voices began to draw near upon the Btair; and presently aftor several of Sir Daniel's gutsta arrived upon the landing, and, turning down the corridor, beheld the torn arraa and the body of the spy. Some ran forward and some back, and altogether began to cry aloud. At the sound of their cries, guests, men-at-arms, ladies, servants, and, in a word, all the inhabitants of that great house, came flying from every direction, and began to join their voices to tbe tumult. Soon a way wn,3 cleared, and Sir Daniel came forth in person, followed by the bridegroom of the morrow, my Lord Shoreby.

" My lord,' 1 said Sir Daniel, "have I not told you of this knave Black Arrow ? To the proof, behold it! There ib standß, and, by the rood, my gossip, in a man of yours, or one that stole your colours ! " *" In good aooth, it was a man of mine," replied Lord Shoreby .hanging back. "I would I had more such. He was keen as a beagle and secret as a molo." "Ay, gO3sip, truly ?" asked Sir Daniel, keenly. " And what came he smelling up bo many stairs in my poor mansion ? But he will smell no more.

"An'c pieaae you, Sir Daniel/ eaid one, " hsro is a paper written upon with some matter, pinned upon his breast."

" Givo it me, arrow and all," said the knight. And whon he had taken into his hand the ahaffc, he continued for some time to gaze up^n it in a snllon musing. " Ay," he said, addressing Lord Shoreby, " here ia ahatothatfollowethhard anduloso j upon my heels. Thta black stick, or its just likeness, shall yet bring me down. And, goaaip, suffer a plain knight to counsel you ; and if these hounda begin to wind you, flee 1 J Tia like a sioknesa — ib still hangoth, naageth upon the limbs. Bat let us boo what they have written. It ia as I thought, my lord ; y' are marked, like an old onk, by the woodman; tomorrow oi 1 nexfc day by will come the axe. But •■ lv>fc wrote ye in a letter ? " Lord >>);..; • -y (matched the paper from the arrow, read it, crumpled it between his hands, and overcoming the reluctance which, tad hitherto withheld him from approaching, threw himself on hia knees beaide the body, and eagerly groped In the wallet. He rose to hia feet with a somewhat unsettled countenance. " GoE3ip," he said, " Ihave indeed lost a letter here that much imported 5 and could I lny my hand upon the knave that took it, he should incontinently grace a halter. But lot up, first of all, Bee are tha issues of tho house. Here is enough harm already, by Sfc George I" Sentinels were posted closs around the house and (jacdenj a sentinel on every landii-g of the atair, a whole troop in the main entrati co-hall; and yet another about the bonfire iv the shed, Sir Daniel's followers were supplemented by Lord Shoreby's ; there* was thus no lack of men or weapons to make the house eeonre, or to enhvp a lurking enemy, should one be there.

Meaawhilo, the body of the spy was carried ob t through tho falling enow, and deposited in the abbey clinrob. It -was not until these diopoaitiona had been taken, and all had returned to a decorous • ilence, that the two girls drew Richard She! ton from hia place of concealment, an i in ado a full roporb to him of what had pasßed. He, upon hia Bide, re- 1 counted the visit of the Bpy, his dangerous ! discovery, and speedy end. Joanna leaned back very faint against the curtained wall. i

"It will avail but little," she said. " I shall be wed to-morrow, in the morning, after all!" " What !" cried her friend. "An here is our paladin that drivetb. lions like mice ? Ye have little faith, of a 6urety. But come, friend lion-driver, give us some comfort j speak and let us hear bold counsels." Dick was confounded to be thus outfaced ■with, hig own exaggerated -words ; but though he coloured, he still Bpoke stoutly. " Truly," said he, " we are in straits. Yet, could I but win out of this house for half an hour, I do honestly tell myself fchafc all nrighb still go well ; and for* the marriage, it should be prevented." '• And for the lions," mimicked the girl, " they shall bo driven." " I crave your excuse," said Dick. " I speak not now in any boasting humour, but rather as one inquiring after help or counsel ; for if I get not forth of this house and through these sentinels, I can do less than naught. Take me I pray you, rightly. " Why said ye he was rustic Joan ? " the girl inquired. " I warrant he hath a tongue in his head ; ready, soft, and bold is his speech at pleasure. What would ye more ?" "Nay," sighed Joanna, with a smile, " they have changed me tny friend Dick, 'tis sure enough. When I beheld him, he was rough indeed. But it matters little j there is no help for my hard case, and I must still be Lady Shoreby \" ' " Nay, then," said Dick, " I will even make the adventure. A friar is not much regarded ; and if I found a good fairy to lead me up, I may find another belike to carry me down. How call they the name of this spy ?" " Butter," eaid tha young lady ; " and an excellent good name ta call him by. But how mean ye, lion-driver ? What is in your mind to do ? "

" To offer boldly to go forth," retnrned Dick; "and if any stop me, to keep an unchanged countenance, and say 1 go to pray for Ruttsr. They will be praying over his poor clay oven now." " The device is somewhat simple, " replied the girl, "yet it may hold." "Nay," said young Shelton, "ifc iano device, but mere boldness, which Beiveth often better in great straits." "Ye say true," she said. " Well, go, aMary's name, and may Heaven speed you ! j Ye leave here a poor maid that lovea you entirely, and another that is most heartily your friend. Be wary, for their sakea, and make not shipwrock of your safety." "Ay," added Joanna, "go, Dick. Ye run no more peril, whether ye go or stay. Go; ye take my heart with you; the Baints defend you!" (To be continued.)