Despairingly as one who dreams, for now I guessed all and grew mad with fear, I looked this way and that, till at length I found more footsteps, those of the Spaniard.  These were deep marked, as of a man who carried some heavy burden.  I followed them; first they went down the hill towards the river, then turned aside to a spot where the brushwood was thick.  In the deepest of the clump the boughs, now bursting into leaf, were bent downwards as though to hide something beneath.  I wrenched them aside, and there, gleaming whitely in the gathering twilight was the dead face of my mother.

CHAPTER V

THOMAS SWEARS AN OATH

For a while I stood amazed with horror, staring down at the dead face of my beloved mother.  Then I stooped to lift her and saw that she had been stabbed, and through the breast, stabbed with the sword which I carried in my hand.

Now I understood.  This was the work of that Spanish stranger whom I had met as he hurried from the place of murder, who, because of the wickedness of his heart or for some secret reason, had striven to slay me also when he learned that I was my mother’s son.  And I had held this devil in my power, and that I might meet my May, I had suffered him to escape my vengeance, who, had I known the truth, would have dealt with him as the priests of Anahuac deal with the victims of their gods.  I understood and shed tears of pity, rage, and shame.  Then I turned and fled homewards like one mad.

At the doorway I met my father and my brother Geoffrey riding up from Bungay market, and there was that written on my face which caused them to ask as with one voice: 

‘What evil thing has happened?’

Thrice I looked at my father before I could speak, for I feared lest the blow should kill him.  But speak I must at last, though I chose that it should be to Geoffrey my brother.  ’Our mother lies murdered yonder on the Vineyard Hill.  A Spanish man has done the deed, Juan de Garcia by name.’  When my father heard these words his face became livid as though with pain of the heart, his jaw fell and a low moan issued from his open mouth.  Presently he rested his hand upon the pommel of the saddle, and lifting his ghastly face he said: 

‘Where is this Spaniard?  Have you killed him?’

’No, father.  He chanced upon me in Grubswell, and when he learned my name he would have murdered me.  But I played quarter staff with him and beat him to a pulp, taking his sword.’

‘Ay, and then?’

’And then I let him go, knowing nothing of the deed he had already wrought upon our mother.  Afterwards I will tell you all.’

’You let him go, son!  You let Juan de Garcia go!  Then, Thomas, may the curse of God rest upon you till you find him and finish that which you began to-day.’

’Spare to curse me, father, who am accursed by my own conscience.  Turn your horses rather and ride for Yarmouth, for there his ship lies and thither he has gone with two hours’ start.  Perhaps you may still trap him before he sets sail.’