Micah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซMicah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
โPerhaps it would be best so,โ Saxon answered, full of thought, โand yet no doubt the fellow would have some tale prepared which would outweigh our mere suspicions. Could we not take him in the very act?โ
A thought slipped into my head. I had observed from the tower that there was a single lonely cottage about a third of the way to the enemyโs camp, standing by the road at a place where there were marshes on either side. Any one journeying that way must pass it. If Derrick tried to carry our plans to Feversham he might be cut off at this point by a party placed to lie in wait for him.
โMost excellent!โ Saxon exclaimed, when I had explained the project. โMy learned Fleming himself could not have devised a better rusus belli. Do ye convey as many files as ye may think fit to this point, and I shall see that Master Derrick is primed up with some fresh news for my Lord Feversham.โ
โNay, a body of troops marching out would set tongues wagging,โ said Reuben. โWhy should not Micah and I go ourselves?โ
โThat would indeed be better.โ Saxon answered. โBut ye must pledge your words, come what may, to be back at sundown, for your companies must stand to arms an hour before the advance.โ
We both gladly gave the desired promise; and having learned for certain that Derrick had indeed returned to the camp, Saxon undertook to let drop in his presence some words as to the plans for the night, while we set off at once for our post. Our horses we left behind, and slipping out through the eastern gate we made our way over bog and moor, concealing ourselves as best we could, until we came out upon the lonely roadway, and found ourselves in front of the house.
It was a plain, whitewashed, thatch-roofed cottage, with a small board above the door, whereon was written a notice that the occupier sold milk and butter. No smoke reeked up from the chimney, and the shutters of the window were closed, from which we gathered that the folk who owned it had fled away from their perilous position. On either side the marsh extended, reedy and shallow at the edge, but deeper at a distance, with a bright green scum which covered its treacherous surface. We knocked at the weather-blotched door, but receiving, as we expected, no reply, I presently put my shoulder against it and forced the staple from its fastenings.
There was but a single chamber within, with a straight ladder in the corner, leading through a square hole in the ceiling to the sleeping chamber under the roof. Three or four chairs and stools were scattered over the earthen floor, and at the side a deal table with the broad brown milk basins upon it. Green blotches upon the wall and a sinking in of one side of the cottage showed the effect of its damp, marsh-girt position.
To our surprise it had still one inmate within its walls. In the centre of the room, facing the door as we entered, stood a little bright, golden-haired maid, five or six years of age. She was clad in a clean white smock, with trim leather belt and shining buckle about her waist. Two plump little legs with socks and leathern boots peeped out from under the dress, stoutly planted with right foot in advance as one who was bent upon holding her ground. Her tiny head was thrown back, and her large blue eyes were full of mingled wonder and defiance. As we entered the little witch flapped her kerchief at us, and shooed as though we were two of the intrusive fowl whom she was wont to chevy out of the house. Reuben and I stood on the threshold, uncertain, and awkward, like a pair of overgrown school lads, looking down at this fairy queen whose realms we had invaded, in two minds whether to beat a retreat or to appease her wrath by soft and coaxing words.
โGo โway!โ she cried, still waving her hands and shaking her kerchief. โGo โway! Granny told me to tell any one that came to go โway!โ
โBut if they would not go away, little mistress,โ asked Reuben, โwhat were you to do then?โ
โI was to drive them โway,โ she answered, advancing boldly against us with many flaps. โYou bad man!โ she continued, flashing out at me, โyou have broken grannyโs bolt.โ
โNay, Iโll mend it again,โ I answered penitently, and catching up a stone I soon fastened the injured staple. โThere, mistress, your granddam will never tell the difference.โ
โYe must go โway all the same,โ she persisted; โthis is grannyโs house, not yours.โ
What were we to do with this resolute little dame of the marshes? That we should stay in the house was a crying need, for there was no other cover or shelter among the dreary bogs where we could hide ourselves. Yet she was bent upon driving us out with a decision and fearlessness which might have put Monmouth to shame.
โYou sell milk,โ said Reuben. โWe are tired and thirsty, so we have come to have a horn of it.โ
โNay,โ she cried, breaking into smiles, โwill ye pay me just as the folk pay granny? Oh, heart alive! but that will be fine!โ She skipped up on to a stool and filled a pair of deep mugs from the basins upon the table. โA penny, please!โ said she.
It was strange to see the little wife hide the coin away in her smock, with pride and joy in her innocent face at this rare stroke of business which she had done for her absent granny. We bore our milk away to the window, and having loosed the shutters we seated ourselves so as to have an outlook down the road.
โFor the Lordโs sake, drink slow!โ whispered Reuben, under his breath. โWe must keep on swilling milk or she will want to turn us out.โ
โWe have paid toll now,โ I answered; โsurely she will let us bide.โ
โIf you have done you must go โway,โ she said firmly.
โWere ever two men-at-arms so tyrannised over by a little dolly such as this!โ said I, laughing. โNay, little one, we shall compound with you by paying you this shilling, which will buy all your milk. We can stay here and drink it at our ease.โ
โJinny, the cow, is just across the marsh,โ quoth she. โIt is nigh milking time, and I shall fetch her round if ye wish more.โ
โNow, God forbid!โ cried Reuben. โIt will end in our having to buy the cow. Where is your granny, little maid?โ
โShe hath gone into the town,โ the child answered. โThere are bad men with red coats and guns coming to steal and to fight, but granny will soon make them go โway. Granny has gone to set it all right.โ
โWe are fighting against the men with the red coats, my chuck,โ said I; โwe shall take care of your house with you, and let no one steal anything.โ
โNay, then ye may stay,โ quoth she, climbing up upon my knee as grave as a sparrow
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