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The King's Esquires: The Jewel of France, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 5. A King At Sea |
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_ CHAPTER FIVE. A KING AT SEA "Well, boys, we are fairly started," said the King, "but this vessel moves about a great deal. I hope we are not going to have rough weather." "Well, I'm sorry to say, Sire--" began Saint Simon. "Ah!" cried the King, in a low angry voice. "Four days since we started, and I have been giving you lesson after lesson, and you begin at once addressing me like that. Once more, both of you, I am the Comte de la Seine, on my travels, and you, Saint Simon, are my friend, and you, Denis, my esquire. Now look here, Denis, do I look at all like a king now?" "Not in the least, Comte." "And now you, Saint Simon; what have you got to say about the weather?" "That I have been talking to the shipmaster, and he says the weather is going to be very fine--" "That's good," cried the King. "--but very windy." "That's bad," said the King--"for the poor horses," he added hastily. "I wish we had had them fastened up below." As he spoke he glanced forward at where, a good distance apart, three very beautiful chargers were doubly haltered to the rail, and whinnying uneasily and pawing at the deck, and then made an uneasy gesture, for a puff of wind filled out the two big sails of the clumsy vessel and made it careen, so that the royal passenger made a snatch at a rope which was hanging loose and gave to his touch, when he made another snatch and caught at Saint Simon to save himself from falling. "A bad, a clumsy vessel!" he cried angrily. "Here, I'm tired with our long two days' ride. I think I'll go into the cabin and lie down. Give me your arm, Denis." And, steadying himself by the lad, he went below, lay down at once, and dismissed his attendant, who returned on deck, to be met by Saint Simon. The two young men, gazed silently at each other, and with mirth in their eyes. "The sea doesn't respect kings," said Saint Simon merrily. "Nor anybody else," replied Denis; "so don't let us holloa till we are out of the wood." "You mean across the water." "Yes," said Denis. "It may be our turn next. I wish we were over in England now." "What, are you afraid?" cried Saint Simon. "Yes--for my poor horse. I'm afraid of his breaking away. Look how he is straining at his halter, and how rough his coat is. It looked like satin yesterday. If he broke loose what should we do?" "Try to tie him up again," said Saint Simon bluntly. "But if one gets loose the others will follow, and then--" He stopped short and spread his legs as wide as he could, for the vessel was beginning to dance in the chopping sea. "Well, and what then?" cried Denis. "Our wild-goose journey would be at end, for those horses would go overboard as sure as we stand here." "What!" cried Denis excitedly. "What I have said. My charger is safe to make a dash for the side, and rise at it; and he'd go over like a skimming bird, and the others would follow at once." He had hardly spoken when the skipper of the vessel, a heavy, sun-tanned-looking man in scarlet cap, high boots and petticoat, came up to them. "Look here, young masters," he cried, "I don't often take cattle in my boat, and when I do I have them slung down into the hold. My deck isn't a safe place for beasts, and if those three don't break loose before long I'm no shipman." "Then what is to be done?" cried Denis hurriedly. "If the--" He stopped short, for Saint Simon gave him a sharp jerk with his elbow and continued his speech. "--Comte's horse were to be lost overboard he'd never forgive us." "No," said Denis, recovering himself. "Look here, you have plenty of ropes. Call some of your men to help; we must put slip-knots round above their hoofs and tie them in different places, so that they couldn't get away." "Yes, that's right," said the skipper. "But won't they kick?" "No," replied Denis; "we can manage that if your men will help." No time was lost, for the need for doing something grew more and more evident; and with the young men standing by to calm and caress each beautiful steed in turn, running nooses were placed round their fetlocks, and the ropes' ends slipped through ring-bolt and round belaying pin, to be made fast, so that before half an hour had passed the horses were thoroughly secured, and stood staring-eyed and shivering, ready to burst out into a piteous whinnying if the young men attempted to move away. It was a rough passage, growing worse hour after hour till nightfall, and the cares that had come upon them were so onerous that the two young men were too busy and excited to feel any qualms themselves. Not only were there the horses, but their companion below made no little call upon their attention, and in turn they descended into the rough cabin to see what they could do. But the second time that Saint Simon approached the spot where his suffering sovereign lay he was ordered back. "Send Denis," he said. "You go on deck again and mind that nothing happens to my horse." "He's very ill," said Saint Simon, who did not look at all sorry, but more disposed to laugh, as he joined Denis, who was dividing his attention among the three horses, and patting each in turn. "Then why did you leave him?" "Because he wants you. He's ashamed to let me see how bad he is." "Is he so very ill then?" said Denis. "He thinks he is; but you had better make haste down." Denis hurriedly went below, to find that the sea entertained not the slightest respect for the stricken monarch, who uttered a low groan from time to time, and grew less king-like in his sufferings. "This is very bad, Denis," he said, "and it doesn't seem fair. Why am I ill, and you going about as if we were on dry land?" "I wish I could suffer for you, my master," said the lad earnestly. "Thank you. That's very good," said the King; "but unfortunately you can't. Denis, my lad, it takes all the bravery out of a man when he is like this. Do you think the shipmaster would call it cowardly if I were to send word for him to turn the vessel round and make sail back for Havre de Grace?" "I don't think he would notice it, my--Comte," said Denis earnestly; "but I don't think he could do it now." "Why?" cried the King. "Because the wind is growing stronger, and blowing hard from behind, driving us fast for the other coast; and even if he could turn we should not get back." "No," said the King. "But this is very horrible, Denis, my lad.--Are the horses safe?" "Yes, sir, quite." "Ah! that's right," moaned the King. "Say sir, not Sire, on your life." _Boomp_! _Rush_! "What's that?" cried the King, in a startled voice, sitting up, but falling back with a groan. "Oh, how my head swims! Can you swim, Denis, boy?" he moaned. "Yes, sir; but no one could swim in a sea like this." _Boomp_! _Crash_! _Rush_! "What's that, boy?" groaned the King again. "Why don't you tell me? Didn't I ask before?" "It was a big wave, sir, leaping at the vessel's bows, and curling over and rushing along the deck." "How dreadful!" said the King. "Why is it so dark? Is it the sea flooding the ship?" "No, sir; it is nearly night." "Oh yes, I forgot. I think I have been asleep. Are we almost there?" "No, sir. It is a long way yet." "If I could only go to sleep! Why didn't I let that doctor come? Denis, my boy, if I die, or if we are drowned, or--go up and ask the shipmaster how long it will be before we get across." In no wise troubled by the pitching and tossing of the clumsy vessel, Denis climbed on deck; but it was some moments before he could make out where the captain stood, and then only by the help of one of the men, who pointed out the dim figure in the semi-darkness lightened by the foam, standing beside the man at the rudder beam; and then it needed no little care to pass along, holding on by the bulwarks, to ask the question the lad was sent to bear. "How long, my lad?" said the skipper. "Oh, very soon. We are flying across to-night. This is the fastest run I can remember to have made." "But are we nearly there?" "Nearly there! No, not halfway; but if the wind holds on like this we shall be across in time for dinner at noon to-morrow, and perhaps before." "So long as that?" cried Denis. "So soon as that," said the skipper, laughing. "There, I see how it is. You are afraid--" "I'm not!" cried Denis sharply. "Don't be in such a hurry, my lad. You don't give a man time to speak-- about your horses, I was going to say. But they're all right. I have another rope passed from neck to neck, and as soon as the poor beasts felt it it seemed to give them comfort, like being more in company. Don't you be afraid. They're noble animals, but not fit for work like this. Go and see." Denis hurried to where Saint Simon was standing with the horses, drenched with spray, and growing impatient at his task. "Oh, there you are!" he cried. "Why didn't you come before?" "I couldn't leave him. He sent me up to ask how soon we shall be across." "Well?" "The skipper says at noon to-morrow." "Not till then?" said Saint Simon. "No." "Well, I'm glad of it. Serve him right. It will finish this wild-goose chase and send him back quite satisfied, ready to settle down again." "I hope so," said Denis. "How wet you are!" "Yes, I don't mind now," said Saint Simon. "It was very horrible at first, but I can't get any wetter, and that's some comfort after all." "I'd stop and keep guard myself so that you could go into shelter," said Denis; "but I must go down again to tell him what I have learned. But why couldn't you go?" "Because he sent you, and he'd be furious perhaps. There, go and tell him." "Yes, I had better go," said the lad thoughtfully; "but--I am sorry to leave you, all the same." "Hah! That makes me feel warm," cried Saint Simon--"that and the knowledge that the horses can't get loose. There, go on down. After all, he's worse off than we." Denis crept along by the bulwarks till he could reach the cabin hatch, lowered himself down to where a vile-odoured lamp was swinging from the cabin ceil, and then, moving slowly, having hard work to keep his feet, he reached the spot where the suffering monarch lay, to find to his great relief that Francis had sunk into a deep sleep, and was breathing heavily, leaving him nothing to do but sit down and watch. _ |
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