Three Round Towers (12 page)

I hurried back to South Farm calling in again on Miss Wardle to give her the news. Lewes to South Farm is a good way and I was all but exhausted when I got back for all it was still only mid morning. I went straight to the kitchen and told them the gloomy news before seeking Cecilia. After I told her my discoveries and recovered my breath we sat and tried to decide what to do for the best.

‘I think I must go to Newhaven and see if I can discover him,' I said.

‘He'll be out of port by now, they won't keep the men on land for any longer than necessary,' she replied pensively.

‘We don't know that, they might be holding them somewhere downriver.'

‘Let me see if John's factor is still here, he looks after several properties at Southease and I think he was going down to Piddinghoe today to bring back some tools.'

Cecilia disappeared for a few minutes while I sat thinking how I could best help Billy. When she returned she was followed by a young man who she introduced as Wilf. He was dressed in working clothes and had a friendly smile. He held out his hand to me and I took it in mine.

‘Wilf will take you to Piddinghoe, Esther. I have asked him to help you find Billy and providing he gets his work done his time is yours. I will tell John and I am sure there will be no problem. Now, make haste!'

Our journey began with little talk between us. I was preoccupied with worry for Billy and my companion was equally reticent. However as we jogged along in a farm cart pulled by a dappled grey of huge proportions we were much thrown together by the awkward terrain. Thankfully there had not been much rain recently so the ruts were dry and dusty but it was very uneven. Eventually, I asked Wilf why he was not making the journey by river.

‘Engineers 'ave been working on t'river, straightening and deepening it in places as well as creating some drainage. It has been planned for some time so I knew it were not worth queuing on t'river.'

‘So boats as left Lewes this morning would have been held up?'

‘Aye, reckon so. You thinking about t'young lad?'

‘Yes, I am so worried, he has been a good friend to me in the past. It be wrong to take him like that – he is just a boy and so thin.'

‘You sound like you're his ma.'

I laughed and relaxed and at that moment a rut in the track threw us together so we both ended up giggling.

Wilf must have only been in his mid-twenties and despite being similar in years I felt myself to be more mature. I felt comfortable with him though and relaxed as we travelled.

We rode on for some distance, chatting about the journey, the weather and nothing of reality but as we drew nearer to Piddinghoe I felt myself returning to a state of anxiety.

‘What will you do? We are nearly there,' he said.

I looked at his open friendly face, his blue eyes crinkling in the corners as he looked quizzically at me.

‘I don't know but I think first I must first find out whether the boat has got down t'river.'

‘Let me get the tools sorted at Piddinghoe and I will ask around if they know anything.'

‘Can I come with you?'

‘Aye, but leave the talking to me.'

Piddinghoe was a small hamlet sitting right on the edge of the river. You could see where the river crept round the church when in full flow and, I was amazed to see another round tower like the one at St Michael's in Lewes. Wilf directed the horse to a small hard where some boats were moored. He jumped off the cart and came round to my side and lifted me off the seat down to firm ground. I gasped with surprise and felt the colour rising in my cheeks.

‘Hey John, how be you this fine spring day?' he called to a wiry looking fellow.

‘Not so brave boy, reckon this messing with the river be all wrong – there's been no trade today.' We all stood staring down into the water that was lapping fitfully at the banks.

‘It'll be better when Mr Cater Rand has finished. He have rare vision and trade will only increase, don't you think?'

‘I 'ope you're right lad. Anyways, I 'ave your tools 'ere and will help you load. Will your young lady take a sup yonder at the Crown? They have a parlour for t'ladies.

‘No, no, I would like to help, if I may,' I said, anxious not to be left out.

Wilf laughed and told me to sit down on the grass while he and John went about their work.

I couldn't hear what they said to each other despite trying to creep nearer but there was much head scratching and lowered voices. I moved away into the churchyard and wandered among the gravestones. As I poked around I came across the same plant that was in St Michael's that I still hadn't managed to identify. I picked a few small leaves to take home. Finally, they finished and called out to me.

I met Wilf's gaze, and he indicated with a small shake of his head that I should not speak, so other than saying goodbye I was lifted back onto the cart and we were off towards Newhaven.

The sun was high in the sky and he pulled into a field and dropped the reins so Ida was able to graze. ‘Here, 'ave a bite of me pasty,' he offered.

I refused, not wanting to take his meal from him but I accepted a drink from a leather bottle.

‘Did he know anything?' I gasped as a draught of strong cider hit the back of my throat.

‘Aye, he said that the press men came through not half an hour gone and were meeting up with others at Newhaven this night. They were mighty put out at having been held up.'

‘When will they load onto their boat, did he know that?'

‘There be a man o'war off Seaford Head and the men said they were to put about into Newhaven on tonight's tide.'

‘Had he seen any men from Lewes who might have been giving chase?'

‘He said there be a group of men riding down the smuggler's way and they is armed to the teeth and growing in number as they go along. They be mad as one of their number was spirited out of prison by the press gang before they could ‘persuade' the justice to let him go.'

I felt a squirm of excitement that must have shown because Wilf suddenly turned serious.

‘It is a dangerous business to mess with these men Esther. They don't leave anyone to talk and if there be fighting it will be dirty and men will get hurt, maybe even killed.'

‘Oh, poor Billy, what should I do Wilf?'

‘John did say that there be an unconscious lad in the boat and they were in two minds to put him off.'

‘Oh, that must be Billy, the woman at the wharf said they cracked him over the head.'

‘He must be in a bad way for them to talk about offloading him. He might be badly injured and you'd better prepare for the worst.'

We had been stopped for a while and I was impatient to get going. Wilf made Ida ready to move on.

Newhaven was a bustling port with lots of small fishing vessels as well as much bigger craft, bigger than could make it up the river, so there was unloading of provisions onto smaller boats which Wilf said were headed upriver for the Weald. I saw great piles of corn, barley and coal. The foodstuff all seemed to be under armed guard. ‘Why are there so many soldiers around in a naval port?'

‘Unrest. The poorer folk can't afford the prices for wheat and stuff to feed their families. There has been arguing with the merchants who want top prices paid and refuse to reduce their profits. Recently crowds have got physical and forced some to mark down the price. The soldiers have been brought in to restore order and see that men can go about their business, 'cept they are not all here yet. There is a whole battalion due to camp nearby. Didst thou not know that there was a bad harvest with many people starving?'

‘No,' I whispered. ‘But I did see such scenes of anguish and poverty at Lewes when they were unloading corn at the wharf.'

‘Well, Lewes be just one place amongst many but there has been a collection and a fund to offer those with least to receive food from the parish. I 'eard they were doling out soup daily to women and children who had naught to eat. It be a difficult time and many are the families who are reduced to begging help from the poor fund. Some men try to profit but the mob will only be pushed so far before it all blows up into fighting. You mun stay near me Esther, this is not a place for a young lady on her own.'

I knew that I was one of those poorest of the poor but for my good-hearted friends who had rescued Beth and me from such troubles. Wilf didn't seem to see me like that and I was pleased that he saw me as a young lady to be looked after. I immediately felt guilty for thinking of myself when so many people were suffering the harshness of poverty and possibly starvation. I knew well from my father's writings that the youngest and eldest were vulnerable to lack of decent food, allowing terrible diseases to take hold.

We stabled the horse and cart at a public house nearest the port. Wilf tossed a penny to a young lad to look after his cargo even though it was securely stabled. ‘You can never be too careful,' he muttered to me.

We walked around for some time before we saw a boat that could be the one we were seeking. It was drawn up at the far end of a wharf in a quiet area of the port. As we approached, another boat came in to berth, it was full of shackled, despondent men; there were naval men with guns at either end of the craft, which probably held twenty or more. We were still some distance from the dock when Wilf pushed me into the shade of a fishing smack that had been pulled up onto the hard. ‘Wait, we'll see where they take them, they'll probably be put together, tho' I would consider it a bit risky if I had the charge of it.'

‘Why?' I whispered.

‘Desperate men all in together can be a formidable force if even one was to get free. Have 'ee never 'eard the saying: divide and rule? It looks like those men were all taken against their will and they'll do anything to escape.

I looked at Wilf in admiration, before noticing the glint of excitement in his eager face.

I tapped his arm. ‘You must not get involved Wilf. I wouldn't wish you any hurt an' it not be for your own.'

He just grunted and pulled me down next to him. I couldn't help wincing as my lipsy leg pinched.

‘What ails thee?'

‘Nothing,' I replied. ‘But I would tell you that I can't run.'

He looked round at me, his eyes troubled. ‘If anything happens Esther just stay put and wait for it to pass you by, no one will hurt a woman. If we get split up make your way to the stable where Ida will kiss you welcome.'

I nodded, feeling that worm turning again in my stomach, not from excitement but outright fear.

We stayed put for what seemed hours with my leg becoming more and more painful with each passing minute. At last Wilf rose, turned and pulled me up – he pushed back the way we had come and away from the military boats.

‘Esther, quick, the boys are coming, I can hear the horses, they'll be on us in a minute. Hurry!'

We trotted as fast as I was able but before a few steps were under our feet I heard the crack of a pistol. Men bore down on us, some on horses and some on foot, bellowing and swearing terrible oaths. I caught the glint of weapons and slowed as the noise and anger engulfed us. My pace was a hindrance anyway but as the tumult surrounded us I became paralysed by fear so Wilf picked me up bodily and carried me away from the conflict into a shed where men were jostling at the door to see what was ado. The crowd parted for me and I was gently deposited on a chair before I lost sight of Wilf who had returned to the melee at the door.

‘'Ere lass, take thee a sup of this, thou looks all done in.' The kindly eyes that looked down on me were bright with interest. ‘What be going on lass, were you in trouble like?'

‘No, not me but a young lad, a friend, as was taken up by the press gang in Lewes and brought here.'

‘Well, there be a right battle 'appening out there with the gentlemen engaging the navy men and the soldiers from the army not knowing who to fire on. There be no love lost 'tween soldiers and seamen and they all be outnumbered anyways.'

I began to weep at the thought of Wilf caught up in the fighting.

‘Esther?' Suddenly he was at my side again, laughing at my fright.

‘I thought you were gone and in the middle of it all,' I mumbled, feeling both feeble and foolish.

‘No, not me, that's how my father got killed – getting in the middle of a smugglers' battle. We're safe here for now and when it dies down we'll go and look for your young friend. You might find him liberated along wi' the other Lewes men.'

‘The smugglers have come for the Lewes men?'

‘Aye, and they are in big numbers, a hundred or more – too many for the naval guards and the soldiers. It'll all be over soon and they'll disappear the way they came, ways not known to outsiders. The soldiers haven't got a hope of catching them.'

I hugged my knees praying that Billy would be spared any injury.

When we found our way out of the shed a half hour later it was all over, just as Wilf had predicted. A soldier was shouting at his men to return to guard the port business. There were a number of injured men being carted away – I saw at least three were bloodied – they were all navy men.

‘What about the prisoners, the pressed men,' I cried in anguish.'

‘They be spirited away,' he said. ‘But I didna see a lad amongst them. Come, we'll go inside and take a look – see if he be hiding, wounded or both.'