The Secret Chamber at Chad | Page 4

glance round him, as though afraid that even the
silence might be the silence of treachery, the gaunt figure advanced
with covert eagerness across the floor, leaving the door wide open
behind him, as if to be ready for him should he desire to fly; and
precipitating himself upon a ewer of cold water standing upon the floor,
he drank and drank and drank as though he would never cease.
Plainly he was consumed by the most raging thirst. Bertram had never
seen anything but an exhausted horse after a burning summer's chase in
the forest drink in such a fashion. And as he watched, all fear left him
in a moment, for certainly no phantom could drink dry this great ewer
of spring water; and if he had only a creature of flesh and blood to deal
with, why, then there was certainly no cause for fear.
In place of dread and terror, a great pity welled up in the generous heart
of the boy. He had all the hatred for oppression and the chivalrous
desire to help the oppressed that seem born in the hearts of the sons of
British birth. Who and what manner of man this was he did not know;
but he was evidently some poor hunted creature, going in very fear of
his life, and as such the boy pitied him from the very ground of his
heart, and would gladly have helped him had he known how.
He lay for a few moments wondering and pondering. Certainly his
father was no foe to any man. He could not be hiding from his
displeasure. The fugitive had rather taken refuge in his house; and if so,
who better could be found to help him than the son of the owner?
"Our father and our mother alike have always taught us to befriend the
stranger and the oppressed," said the boy to himself. "I will ask this
stranger of himself, and see if I may befriend him. I would gladly learn
the trick of yon door. It would be a goodly secret to have for our very
own."
It was plain that the fugitive, though aware that the room was tenanted,
had satisfied himself that the occupants were all asleep. He had ceased
his frightened, furtive looks around him, and was quaffing the last of
the water with an air of relish and relief that was good to see, pausing

from time to time to stretch his limbs and to draw in great gulps of
fresh air through the open window by which he stood, as a prisoner
might do who had just been released from harsh captivity.
The moonlight shining upon his face showed it haggard, unkempt, and
unshorn. Plainly he had been several days in hiding; and by the
gauntness of his figure, and the wolfish gleam in his eye as it roved
quickly round the apartment, as if in search of food, it was plain that he
was suffering keenly from hunger, too.
Bertram's decision was quickly taken. Whilst the man's face was turned
the other way, he quickly rose from his bed, and crossing the room with
noiseless steps, laid a hand upon his arm.
"Hist, friend!" he whispered whilst the start given by the other, and the
hoarse exclamation that broke from his lips, might have wakened
sleepers who were not healthy, tired boys. "Fear not; I am no foe to
betray thee. Tell me who and what thou art, and I will help thee all I
may."
The frightened eyes bent upon him bespoke a great terror. The man's
voice died away as he tried to speak. The only word Bertram could
catch seemed to be a prayer that he would not betray him.
"Betray thee! Never! Why, good fellow, dost not know that the
Chadgroves never betray those who trust in them? Hence sometimes
has trouble come upon them. But before we talk, let me get thee food.
Methinks thou art well-nigh starved."
"Food! food! Ah, if thou wouldst give me that, young master, I would
bless thee forever! I have well-nigh perished with hunger and thirst.
Heaven be thanked that I have tasted water once again!"
"Come hither," said Bertram cautiously. "First close this narrow
doorway, the secret of which thou must teach me in return for what I
will do for thee, and then I will take thee to another chamber, where our
voices will not disturb my brothers, and we can talk, and thou canst eat
at ease. I must know thy story, and I pledge myself to help thee. Show
me now the trick of this door. I swear I will make no treacherous use of
the secret."
"I will trust thee, young sir. I must needs do so, for without human help
I must