Redgauntlet [161]
Fairford answered in the affirmative.
'Aye--I never saw them make a wiser choice--I must call some one to direct you what to do--Stay, we must go to him, I believe. You are well recommended to me, friend, and doubtless trusty; otherwise you may see more than I would like to show, or am in the use of showing in the common line of business.'
Saying this, he placed his lantern on the ground, beside the post of one of the empty stalls, drew up a small spring bolt which secured it to the floor, and then forcing the post to one side, discovered a small trap-door. 'Follow me,' he said, and dived into the subterranean descent to which this secret aperture gave access.
Fairford plunged after him, not without apprehensions of more kinds than one, but still resolved to prosecute the adventure.
The descent, which was not above six feet, led to a very narrow passage, which seemed to have been constructed for the precise purpose of excluding every one who chanced to be an inch more in girth than was his conductor. A small vaulted room, of about eight feet square, received them at the end of this lane. Here Mr. Trumbull left Fairford alone, and returned for an instant, as he said, to shut his concealed trap-door.
Fairford liked not his departure, as it left him in utter darkness; besides that his breathing was much affected by a strong and stifling smell of spirits, and other articles of a savour more powerful than agreeable to the lungs. He was very glad, therefore, when he heard the returning steps of Mr. Trumbull, who, when once more by his side, opened a strong though narrow door in the wall, and conveyed Fairford into an immense magazine of spirit-casks, and other articles of contraband trade.
There was a small, light at the end of this range of well-stocked subterranean vaults, which, upon a low whistle, began to flicker and move towards them. An undefined figure, holding a dark lantern, with the light averted, approached them, whom Mr. Trumbull thus addressed:--'Why were you not at worship, Job; and this Saturday at e'en?'
'Swanston was loading the JENNY, sir; and I stayed to serve out the article.'
'True--a work of necessity, and in the way of business. Does the JUMPING JENNY sail this tide?'
'Aye, aye, sir; she sails for'--
'I did not ask you WHERE she sailed for, Job,' said the old gentleman, interrupting him. 'I thank my Maker, I know nothing of their incomings or outgoings. I sell my article fairly and in the ordinary way of business; and I wash my hands of everything else. But what I wished to know is, whether the gentleman called the Laird of the Solway Lakes is on the other side of the Border even now?'
'Aye, aye,' said Job, 'the laird is something in my own line, you know--a little contraband or so, There is a statute for him--But no matter; he took the sands after the splore at the Quaker's fish-traps yonder; for he has a leal heart, the laird, and is always true to the country-side. But avast--is all snug here?'
So saying, he suddenly turned on Alan Fairford the light side of the lantern he carried, who, by the transient gleam which it threw in passing on the man who bore it, saw a huge figure, upwards of six feet high, with a rough hairy cap on his head, and a set of features corresponding to his bulky frame. He thought also he observed pistols at his belt.
'I will answer for this gentleman,' said Mr. Trumbull; 'he must be brought to speech of the laird.'
'That will be kittle steering,' said the subordinate personage; 'for I understood that the laird and his folk were no sooner on the other side than the land-sharks were on them, and some mounted lobsters from Carlisle; and so they were obliged to split and squander. There are new brooms out to sweep the country of them, they say; for the brush was a hard one; and they say there was a lad drowned;--he was not one of the laird's gang, so there was the less matter.'
'Peace! prithee, peace, Job Rutledge,' said honest, pacific Mr. Trumbull. 'I wish thou couldst remember, man, that I desire to know nothing of your