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The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour Atre reproduites en un seul ciichA sont filmAes A partir de Tangle supArieure gauche, de gauche A droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mAthode : 1 2 3 It 4 6 T\A THJ 'V^ / TWO KNAPSACKS: ^ £iot)d of QLnmhim ^nmmtv ^iU. ^^ By J. CAWDOR BELL. TORONTO : THE WILLIAMSON BOOK CO., Ltd. Entered, according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-two, by The Williamson Book Company, Limited, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture. :::'''i/. PUBLISHERS' NOTE. -, M . : ■ ' % ■' ' ' '■■■',. ■■-..■-' ■■.'■-.'.*-'. . ' -■ The Publishers have extreme pleasure in placing this novel, by a new and promising native author, before the reading public of Canada. They will be greatly disappointed if it does not at once take its place among the best products of Canadian writers. While the work has peculiar interest for Torontonians and dwellers in the districts so graphically described, its admirable character drawings of many *• sorts and conditions " of our people — its extremely clever dialect, representing Irish, Scotch, English, Canadian, French, Southern and Negro speech, and the working out of its story, which is done in such a way as would credit an experienced romancer — should insure the book a welcome in very man)' homes. The literary flavour is all that can be desired ; the author evidencing a quite remarkable acquaintance with English Literature, especially with Wordsworth, the Poet of the Lake Country. " 4 ■U1 ':'^M ^ \'^~H ■ Ij t- I! 1 ' ■^■i.' . { • \ i\ Vvl TW( ^ B ■..■^'':-f^-:" The Frien.ls— ' Railway—! — Musical i penfeldt Bi EUGENE youngis toria and All evenings, wh their way to meet with a literary hour debated the < wide range c popular antli and in verse kinson, the o tightly-buttoi schoolmaster, Ooristine wae not appear oi services. H« dressed, and ' the schoolma profound resp together by a: by scientific f TWO KNAPSACKS: ^ £io\iti ot d^anabian .Rummer $ife. BY J. CA^A^DOI^ BELL. ,.I, : CHAPTER I. The Friemls— The KnapsaokB— The Queen's Wharf— The Northern Rail Wiiy— Belle Ewart — The Huuin Thomas, Captain and (Jrew —Musical Performance — The Sly Dog — Misunderstanding— Kem- penfeldt Bay. EUGENE CORISTINE and Farquhar Wilkinaon were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Vic- toria and Albert Literary Society. Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church -members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two. In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day ; they read esi , ,; A-lylng on the ground, i ; . " Ancl you flhallhave my daiiKhter, ', And twenty thousand pound." ' Don't let him uii, dear nweetheavt, The portion is too small. " 'O stay your hand," the old man said, " And you shall nave it all.'' r- The lawyer waH loud in his admiration of this clasoical piece, and what he afterwards found was The Crew^s ori- ginal and only tune. " That was the kind of wife for a poor man," remarked Sylvanus, meditatively ; " but she was mighty hard on her old dad." *' They re a poor lot, the whole pack of them," said the lawyer, savagely, thinking of the quandary in which he and his friend were placed. " Who is t" asked The Crew. " Why, the women, to be sure." " Look here. Mister, my name may bo Sylvanns, but I know I'm pretty rough, for all that. But, rough as I am, I don't sit quiet and let any man, no, not as good friends as you and m has been, say a word agin the wim- meu. When I think o' these yere gals as was in thid blessed schooner last summer, I feel it my juty, bein' I'm one o' them as helped to sail her then, to stand up fer all wimmen kind, and, no offence meant. I guess your own mother's one o' the good sort, now wasn't she 1 " " I should say she is," replied Coristine ; " there are splendid women in the world, but they're all married." "That don't stand to reason, nohow," said The Crew, with gravity, "'cos there was a time wonst when they wasn't married, and if they was good arter they was good afore. And, moreover, what was, is, and ever shall be, Amenl" " All right, Sylvanus, we won't quarrel over them, and to show I bear no malice, I'll sing a song about the sex," whereupon he trolled out : " Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen," Wilkinson came running aft when he } n ■if* m m- \ 22 TWO RNAPflAOKB. IlllHiii heard the Birain, and cried : " Good heavens 1 Ooristine, whatever has got into yon, are you mad or intoxicated 1 " " I'll bet you your bootH and your bottom dollar that he ain't that, Mister," interposed The Grew, "fer you couldn't scare up liquor enough on this yere Suaan Thomas to turn the head of a canary. " Wp are exchanging musical treats," said Goristine in defence. "Sylvanus here favoured me with an old ballad, not in the Percy collection, and I have been giving him one of the songs from the dramatists." " But about women ! " protested the dominie. " There ain't no songs that ain't got somethin' about women in 'em that's wuth a cent," indignantly replied The Grew, and Wilkinson sullenly retired to the bow. When the captain emerged from the hold he was hardly recognizable. Instead of his common sleeved waist- coat and overalls, he was attired in a dark blue suit of broadcloth, the vest and frock coat of which were resplen- dent with gilt buttons. These clothes, with a befitting peaked cap and a pair of polished boots, had evidently come out of the large bundle he had brought from Belle Ewart, where the garments had probably done Sunday duty, for a smaller bundle, which he now threw upon the deck, contained his discarded working dress. Wilkinson was confirmed, by the spectacle presented, in his dire sus- picion that the captain's niece would appear at Barrie, and, then and there, begin an acquaintance with him that might have the most disastrous consequences. But hope springs eternal in the human breast, as the poet says, so the schoolmaster tackled the commander, congratulated him on his fine appearance, and began to pump him as to the whereabouts of Miss Garmichael. The old gentleman, for such he looked now, was somewhat vain in an off-hand sort of way, and felt that he was quite the dominie's equal. He was cheerful, even jovial, in spite of the contrary asser tions of The Grew, as he replied to Wilkinson's interroga- tions. " Ah, you sly yoo.ng dog," he said, " I see what you're at now. You'd like to hear that the pair of them are waiting for us at Barrie; but they're not. They've gone to stay with my brother-in-law, Garruthers, in the Gounty of Grey, where I'll go and see their pretty faces myself in a few days." IBl liiii TWO KNAPHAOKS. S8 Wilkinaon swallowed the "uly young dog" for the Baku of the consolation, and, hurriedly making his way aft, communicated the joyful news to Ooristine. That gentle* man much amused The Crew by throwing an arm round the sohuol master's waist and waltzing his unwilling partner over the deck. All went merry as a marriage bell till the waltzers struck a rope coil, whan, owing to the dominie's struggles, they went down together. Recoyering them^ selves, they sat on deck glaring at each other. « You're a perfect idiot, Ooristine." ' " You're a regular old muff, Wilkinson." The Grew, thinking this was a special pantomime got up impromptu for his benefit, roared with laughter, and applauded on the tiller. He was about to execute a hoe- down within tiller limits to testify his sympathy with the fun, when the captain appeared in all his Sunday finery. " Let her away, you laughing hyena," he yelled to the unlucky Sylvanus, who regained his mental balance and laid his back to the tiller the other way. ** Sorry I've no chairs for you gentlemen," he remarked to the seated travellers ; *' but I guess the deck's as soft as the wooden kind." " Don't mention it, my dear captain," said Ooristine, as he sprang to his feet ; " we were only taking the latitude and longitude, but it's hard work on the bones." *' You allow yourself too much latitude, sir, both in your actions and in your unjuHtifiable remarks," muttered the pedagogue, more slowly assuming the perpendicular. ** Now, captain," cried the lawyer, " I leave it you, sir, as a judge of language, good and bad. What is the worst thing to call a man, a muff or an idiot I " The captain toyed with the lanyar-l of his tortoise-shell rimmed glasses, then put them deliberately across his nose, coughed judiciously, and gave his opinion :— " An ijit is a man that's born without sense and oan't keep himself, d'ye see ? But a muff is that stupid, like Sylvanus here, that he can't use the sense he's got. That being the case, a muff is worse than an ijit." " Mr. Wilkinson, I bow, as in duty bound, to the verdict of the court, and humbly apologize for having called you something worse than an idiot. In my poor opinion, sir, you are not worse than the unfortunate creature thus described." 1 • ''4 -''■'1 ^M 24 TWO KNAPSACKS. Wilkinson was about to retort, when The Crew called out that the schooner was in the Bay, and that the lights of Barrie could be seen in the distance. " Keep to your helm, Sylvanus," growled the captain ; " there's three pair of eyes here as good as yourn| and I hope with more sense abaft 'em.'' Sylvanus relapsed into silence of a modified kind, merely whistling in a soft way his original copyright tune. As the travellers had never seen Kempenfeldt Bay before, they admired it very much, and forgot their little mis- understanding, while arm in arm they leaned over the bulwarks, and quoted little snatches of poetry in one another's ears. The twinkling lights of the town up on the cliffs suggested many a pleasing passage, so that Wilkin- son told his dear Oorry he was more than repaid for the trouble incident on their expedition by the sweet satisfac- tion of gazing on such a scene in company with a kindred spirit of poesy. To this his comrade replied, " Wilks, my dear boy, next to my mother you're the best friend I ever hope to have." "Let us cherish these sentiments for one another, kind friend, and the cloud on the horizon of our tour will never rise to darken its happy future," after which the learned dominie recited the words of Ducis: — " Noble et tendre amitie, je te chants en mes vers." " Murder 1 " cried Goristine, " Do you know that that Miss Jewplesshy, or Do Please, or whatever her name is, is French 1" *' O, Gorry, Gorry, how could you break in upon a scene of purest friendship and nature worship like this with your wretched misses 1 0, Gorry, be a man ! " ** The anchor's agoin' out," remarked The Grew, as he paused by ; so the travellers rushed to the capstan and got hold of the spikes. Out went the cable, as Goristine sang : — Do i my Johnny Boker, I'm a poo-er sailor, Do 1 my Johnny Boker, Dolll The ship made fast, the captain said, " Sylvanus will take you gentlemen ashore in the dingy. It only holds three, so I'll wait till he comes back." The pedestrians protested, but in vain. Sylvanus should take them ashore TWO KNAPS AlOKB. 25 first. So they bade the captain good-bye with many thanks and good wishes, and tumbled down into the dingy, which The Orew brought round. The captain shouted from the bulwarks in an insinuating way, " I'll keep mv eye on you, Mr. Wilkinson, trying to steal an old man 8 niece away from him," at which the victim shuddered. Away went the dingy some fifty yards or more, when Coristine called out, " Have you got the knapsacks, Farqu- har, my dear ? " " Why, bless me, no," he answered. " I thought you had them." "Bow back for your life, Sylvanns, to get the blessed knapsacks ; " and Sylvanus, patient creature, did as he was told. The captain threw them over the side with another farewell speech, and then the dingy made for the bank, while Coristine sang in a rich voice : — Fall for the shore, sailor, Pull for the shore. They landed, and, much against The Crew's will, he was compelled to receive a dollar from each of hie passengers. " I'll see you again," he said, as he rowed back for the captain. " I'll see you again up in Grey, along of the old man and the gals, mark my word if I don't." '* Glad to see you, Sylvy, old fresh (he was going to say ' old salt,' but corrected himself in time), glad to see you anywhere," bawled the lawyer, " but we've m»»He a vow to dispense with female society in our travels. Ta, ta ! " I' I i ^lJi 1 iii^':« rii r ii! i 26 TWO KNAPSACKS. CHAPTER II. Barrie—Next of Kin - Nightmare — On the Road— Strawberries and Botany — Poetry and Sentiment— The Virago — Luncheon and Wordsworth — Waterplants, Leeches and Verse — Cutting Sticks — Rain, Muggins and Itawdon. THE trayellers carried their knapsacks in their hands by the straps, to the nearest hutel, where, after brief delay, a special sapper was set for them. Having dis- cassed the frugal meal, they repaired to the combined reading and smoking room, separate from the roughish crowd at the bar. Wilkinson glanced over a Toronto paper, while his companion, professing an interest in local news, picked up an organ of the town and read it through, advertisements and all, in which painstaking efiort he was helped by his pipe. Suddenly he grasped the paper, and, holding it away from his face, exclaimed, *' Is it possible that they are the same 9 " " Who, who 1 " cjaculaced Wilkinson ; ** do not tell me that the captain was mistaken, that they are really here." " Do you know old Oarmichael's initials, the doctor's, that was member for Yaughan f " his friend asked, paying no attention to the schoolmaster's question. <• James D.," replied that authority ; " I remember, because I once made the boys get up the members' names along with their constituencies, so as to give the latter a living interest." " Now, listen to this : * Next of kin ; information wanted concerning the whereabouts of James Douglas Oarmichael, or his heirs at law. He left the University of Edinburgh, where he was in attendance on the Faculty of Medicine, in the spring of 1848, being at the time twenty-one years of age. The only trace of his farther life is a fragment of a letter written by him to a friend two years later, when he was serving as a soldier in the military station of 6«rrief, Upper Canada. Reward offered for the same by P. R MacSmaill, W.S., 19 Clavers Row, EJdinbor^h.' If Ji^mes Doufl;la8 Qarmighael^ eii- medical mm m TWO KNAPSAOKb. 27 student, wasn't the member and the father of that girl of yours, I'm a Dutchman." "Mr. Coristine, I insist, sir, before another word passes between us, that you withdraw and apologize for the deeply offensive expression, which must surely have escaped your lips unperceived, * that girl of yours.' " " Oh, there, now, I'm always putting my foot in it. I meant the gir^ you are interested in — no, it isn't that other — the girl that's interested in you — oh, wirra wisha ! it's not that at all — it's the girl the captain was joking you about." " A joke from a comparatively illiterate man like ';he captain of the schooner, to whom we were under travel- ling obligations, and a joke from my equal, a scholar and a gentleman, are two distinct things. I wish the expression, < that girl of yours,' absolutely and forever withdrawn." '* Well, well, I consent to withdraw it absolutely and apologise for saying it, but that ' forever ' clause goes against my legal judgment. If the late Dr. Carmiuhael's heiress comes in for a fortune, we might repent that ' for- ever.' " " What has that to do with me, sir, fortune or no for- tune ) Your insinuations are even more insulting than your open charges of infidelity to our solemn compact." It was Ooristine's turn to be angry. He rose from the table at which he had been sitting, with the paper still in his hand, and said : ** You make mountains oat of molehills, Wilkinson. I've made you a fair and full apology, and shall do no more, if you sulk your head off." So saying, he stalked out of the room, and Wilkinson was too much angered to try to stop him. The lawyer asked the landlord if he would spare him the newspaper for an hour and supply him with pen and ink and a few sheets of paper. Then he took his lamp and retired to his room. " Poor old Farquhar," he solilo- quized, as he arranged his writing materials ; " he'll feel mighty bad at being left all alone, but it's good for hii health, and business is business. Let me see, now. Bar- rie was never a military station, besides the letter had Barrief on it, a name that doesn't exist. But the letter was torn there, or the corner worn away in a man's pocket. By the powers, it's Barriefieldat Kingston, and thei-e's the •fl ■ii.jl 28 TWO KNAP8AGKS. iiili "1 . ill I' h m\m\ military station for yon. I'll write our correspondent there, and I'll set one of the juniors to work up Dr. Car- michael's record in Vaughan County, and I'll notify Mao- Smaill, W.S., that I am on the track, and — shall I write the girl, there's the rub 1 " The three letters were writ- ten with great care and circumspection, but not the fourth. When carefully sealed, directed and stamped, he carried them to the post-o£Bce and personally deposited them in the slit for drop-letters. Returning to the hotel, he restored the newspaper to the table of the reading-room, minus the clipped advertzaemant to the next of kin, which he stowed away in his pocketbook. This late work filled the lawyer with a satisfaction that crowned the pleasures of the day, and be longed to communicate some of it to his friend, but that gentleman, the landlord said, had retired for the night, looking a bit put out — he hoped supper had been to his liking. Coristine said the supper was good. " What was the number of Mr. Wilkinson's room?" Mine host replied that it was No. 32, the next to his own. Before retiring, Coristine looked at the fanlight over the door of No. 32 ; it was dark. Nevertheless he knocked, but failed to evoke a response. " Farquhar, my dear," he whispered in an audible tone, but still there was no answer. So he heaved a sigh, and, returning to his apartment, read a few words out of his pocket prayer- book, and went to bed. There he had an awful dream, of the old. captain leading Wilkinson by the collar and tail of his coat up to the altar, where Miss Carmichael stood, resplendent in pearls and diamonds, betokening untold wealth ; of an attempt at rescue by himself and The Crew, which was nipped in the bud by the advent of the veteran, his daughter and Miss Jewplesshy. The daugh- ter laid violent hands upon The Crew and waltzed him out of the church door, while the veteran took Ooristine's palsied arm and placed that of his young mistress upon it, ordering them, with military words of com- mand, to accompany the victims, as bridesmaid and groomsman. When the dreamer recovered sufficiently to look the officiating clergyman full in the face, he saw that this personage was no other than Frank, the news-agent, whereupon he laughed immediately and awoke. TWO KNAPSAOKS. 29 " Corry, Oorry, my dear fellow, are you able to get ap, or shall I break the door in 1 " were the words that greeted his ear on awaking. " The omadhaun 1 " he said to himself under the bed- clothes ; " it would be a good thing to serve him with the sauce of silence, as he did me last night." But better counsels prevailed in his warm Irish heart, and he arose to unlock the door, when suddenly it flew open, and Wil- kinson, with nothing but a pair of trousers added to his night attire, fell backwards into his arms. It was broad daylight as each looked into the other's face for explana- tions. " But you're strong, Wilks I " said the lawyer with admiration. way, was « Corry, when I heard yon groan that sure you were in a fit." " Oh, it was nothing," replied his friend, who found it hard to keep from laughing, ** only a bad nightmare." " What were you dreaming about to bring it on 1 " Now, this was just what Coristine dared not tell, for the truth would bring up all last night's misunderstanding. So he made up a story of Wilkinson's teaching The Crew navigation and the use of the globes, when the captain inter- fered and threatened to kick- master and pupil overboard. Then he, Coristine, interposed, and the captain fell upon him. " And you know, Wilks. he's a heavy man." " Well, I am heartily glad it is no worse. Qet a wash and get your clothes on, and come down to breakfast, like a good boy, for I hear the bell ringing." Over their coffee and toast, eggs and sausages, the two were as kind and attentive to one another's wants, as if ao dispute had ever marred their friendship. The dominie got out his sketch map of a route and opened it between them. " We shall start straight for the bush road into the north, if that suits you," he said, " and travel by easy stages towards Cbllingwood, where we shall aji/iin behold one of oar inland seas. But, as it may he sometime before we reach a house of entertainment, it may be as well to fill the odd corners of our knapsacks with provi- sion for the way." " I say amen to that idea," replied the lawyer, and the travellers arose, paid their bill, including the price of f ■J yy-i i . ' 1 I H^ 4 ]; . I 4 1- ■ • in«ii: 30 TWO KNAPSACKS. the door-lock, seized their knapsacks by the straps and sallied forth. They laid in a small stocK of captain's bis cuits, a piece of good cheese, and some j;ingersnaps for Wilkinson's sweet tooth ; they also had their flasks refilled, and Ooristine invested in some pipe-lights. Then they sallied forth, not into the north as Wilkinson had said, it being a phrase he was fond of, but, at first, in a westerly, and, on the whole, in a north-westerly direction. When the last hoase on the outskirts was left behind them, they helped each other on with their knapsacks, and felt like real pedestrians. The bush enclosed them on either side of the sandy road, so that they had shade whenever they wanted it. Occasionally a wayfarer would pass them with a curt " good morning," or a team would ratde by, its driver bestowing a similar salutation. The surface of the country was flat, but this did not hinder Wilkinson reciting : — Mount bIowI^, eun I and may our journey lie Awhile within the shadow ot this bill, This friendly hill, a shelter from thy beams 1 " That reminds me," said Coristine, '* of a fellow we nad in the office once, whose name was Hill, He wab a black-faced, solemn>looking genius, and the look of him would sink the spirits of a skylark down to zero. ' What's come over you t ' said Woodruff to me one fine afternoon, when I was feeling a bit bilious. ' Oh,' said I, < I've been within the shadow of this Hill,' and he laughed till he was black in the face." " Corry, if I were not ashamed of making a pun, or, as we say in academic circles, being guilty of antanaolasis, I would say that you are in-corri-gible." Ooristine laughed, and then remarked seriously, ** Here am I, with a strap-press full of printing paper in my knapsack, and paying no attention to science at all. We must begin to take life in airnest now, Wifks, my boy, and keep our eyes skinned for specimens. Sorry I am I didn't call and pay my respects to my botanical friend at the Barrie High School. He could have given us a pointer or two about the flowers that grow round here." '* Flowers are scarce in July," said the schoolmaster ; " they suem to take a rest in the hot weather. The spring VVrO ICNAPBAUKli. 61 is thnir best time. Of course you know that song about the flowers in spriug t " " Never heard it in my life ; sing it to us, Farquhar, like a darlin'." Now, the dominie was not given to singing, but thus adjured, and the road being clear, he sang in a very fair voice ; — We are the flowers, The fair young flowers ' That eome with the voice of Spring ; Tra la la, la la la, la la, Tra la, tra la a a a. Coristine revelled in the chorus, which, at the *< a a a," wrnt up to the extreme higher compass of the human voice and beyond it. He made his friend repeat the per* formance, called him a daisy, and tra la la'd to his heart's content. Then he sat down on a grassy bank by the way- side and laughed loud and long. "Oh, it's a nice pair of fair young flowers we are, coming with the voice of spring; bat we're not hayseeds, anyway." When the lawyer turned himself round to rise, Wilkinson asked seriously, " Did you hurt yourself then, Corry 1 " " Never a bit, -except that I'm weak with the laugh- ing ; and for why 1 " "Because there is some red on your trousern, and I thought it might be blood — that you had sat down on some sharp thing.'' "It'll be strawberry blite, I'll wager, Blitum eapi-' latum, and a fine thing it is. Mrs. Marsh, that keeps our boarding house, has a garden where it grows wild in among the peas. She wanted some colouring foi^ the icing of a cake, and hadn't a bit of cochineal or anything of the kind in the house. ' She was telling me her trouble, for it was a holiday and the shops were shut, and she's always that friendly with me ; when, says I, ' There is no trouble about that.' So I went to the garden and got two lovely Btalks of Blitum capitatum. *Ib it poison T said she. ' Poison i ' said I ; ' and it belonging to the Chenopodiaeeas, the order that owns beets and Bpinach, and all the rest of them. Trust a botanist, ma'am,' I said. It made the sweetest pink icing yon ever saw, and Mrs. Marsh is for- ever deeply grateful, and rears that Blitum with fond and Auxious care." lit * ^ J h »» 1 '1 '.1 4 i i !! *> \ 39 TWO KNAPSACKS. "I would like to see that plant," said Wilkinson. So they retraced their steps to the bank, over which Coristine leaned tenderly, picking something which he put into his month. *' Come on, Wilks," he cried ; " it isn't blite, bat something better. It's wild strawberries themselves, and lashings of them. Sure any fool might have known them by the leaves, even if he was a herald, the worst fool of all, and only knew them from a duke's coronet." For « time there was silence, for the berries were numerous, and, although small, sweet and of delicate flavour. " Corry, they are luscious ; this is Arcadia and Ely- M Slum. " Foine, Wilks, foine," mumbled the lawyer, with his isouth full of berries. " This folly of mine, sitting down ou the blessings of Providence — turning my back upon them, so to speak," he remarked, after the first hunger was over, " reminds me of a man who took the gold medal in natural science. He had got his botany off by rote, so, when he was travel- ling between Toronto and Hamilton, a friend that was sitting beside him said, ' Johnson, what's in that field out there t ' Johnson looked a bit put out, but said boldly, ' It's turnips.' There was an 'old farmer in the seat behind him, and he spoke up and said, *TurmutsI' said he, ' them's boats — ha, ha, ha I ' " As they tramped along, the botanist found some speci- mens : two lilies, the orange and the Turk's cap ; the wil- low herb, the showy ladies' slipper, and three kinds of milkweed. He opened his knapsack, took out the strap- press, and carefully bestowed his floral treasures between sheets of unglazed printers' paper. Wilkinson took a friendly interest in these proceedings, and insisted on being furnished with the botanical names of aU the speci- mens. '*That willow-herb, noWf Epilobium angusti/olium, 18 called fire- weed," said the botanist, "and is an awful nuisance on burnt ground. There was a Scotchman oat here once, about this time of the year, and he thought it was such a pretty pink flower that he would take some home with him. So, when the downy-winged seeds came, he gathered a lot, and, when he got back to Scotland, TWO KNAPSACKS. 33 olanted them. Lord 1 the whole country about Perth got full of the stuff, till the farmers cursed him for intro- ducing the American Saugh." "The American whati" demanded Wilkinson. " Saugh ; it's an old Scotch word for willow, and comes from the French aaule, 1 suppose." *' I am not sorry for them," said Wilkinson; "they say that pest, the Canada thistle, came from the Old Country." " Yes, that's true ; and so did Pusley, which Warner compares with original sin ; and a host of other plants. Why, on part of the Hamilton mountain you won't find gi single native plant. It is perfectly covered, from top to bottom, with dusty, unwholesome- looking weeds from Europe and the Southern States. But we paid them back." "How was that?" " You know, a good many years ago, failing vessels began to go from the Toronto harbour across the Atlantic to British ports. There's a little water-plant that grows in Ashbridge's Bay, called the Anacharis, and this little weed got on to the bottom of the ocean vessels. Salt water didn't kill it, but it lived till the ships got to the Severn, and there it fell off and took root, and blocked up the can- als with a solid mass of subaqueous vegetation that made the English canal men dredge night and day to get rid of it. I tell yon we've got some pretty hardy things out here in Canada.'' " Do you not think," asked Wilkinson, " that our talk is getting too like that of Charles and his learned father in Gosse's ' Canadian Naturalist ' 9 " " All right, my boy, I'll oppress you no longer with a tender father's scientific lore, but, with your favourite poet, say: — To me the meanest flower that blows can ^ive Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears." " That is because of their associations, a merely rela- tive reason," said the dominie. *' It isn't though, at least not altogether. Listen, now, to what Tennyson says, or to something like what he mys : — \ ■A':- 34 TWO KWAPSACKR. 11 ill Little flower in the crannied wall, Peeping out of the orannieH, I hold you, root and all, in my hand ; Little Aower, if I could underHtand What vou are, root and all, and all in all, I should know what God and man ia. There's no aBsociation nor relation in that; ; the flower brings you at once face to face with infinite life. Do you know what these strawberries brought to me 1 " " A pleasant feast I should say." " No, they made me think how mush better it would have been if I had had somebody to gather them for ; I don't say a woman, because that's tabooed between us, but I say a child, a little boy or girl. There's no aasociation or relation there at all ; the strawberries called up love, | which is better than a pleasant feust." " According to Wordsworth, the flower in the crannied I wall and the strawberry teach the same lesson, for does | he not say : — That life is love and immortality. — • • • * • • . Life, I repeat, i» energy of love, * Divine or human, exercised in pain, , In strife and tribulation, and ordained, If so approved and sanctified, to pass Through shades and silent rest, to endless joy ? At any rate, that is what he puts into his Parson's lipK' "Farquhar, my boy, I think we'd better stop, for I'm I weakening fast. It's sentimental the flowers and the I fruit are making me. I mind, when I was a little fellow I in the old sod, my mother gathering wild flowers from I the hedges and putting them all round the ribbon of my I straw hat. I can't pay her the debt of that mark of love I the same way, but I feel I should pay it to somebody, | Yon never told me about your mother." " No, because she is dead and gone Ipng ago, and my I father married again, and brought a vixen, with two trol [ lops of girls, to take the place of an angel. These three! women turned my stomach at all the sex. Look, there's a] pretty woman for you ! " They had reached a clearing in the bush, consisting of] a corn patch and a potato field, in which a woman, with a] man's hat on her head and a pair of top-boots upon her] nether extremities, looking a veritable guy, was sprink*] TWO KNAPHACK8. 36 ling the potato plants with well-diluted Paris green. The Hhanty pertaining to the clearing was some little distance from tlio road, and, hoping to get a drink of water there, CoriHiiiie prepared to jump the rail fence and make hia way towards it. The woman, seeing what he was about, call< (1 : ' Hi, Jack, Jack ! ' and immediately a hi<; mon- grel I ull-dog came tearing towards the travellers, barking aa h<- ran. " Come back, Gorry, for heaven's sake, or he'll bite you ! " cried Wilkinson. '- Never a fear," answered the lately sentimental botan- list ; " barking dogs don't bite as a rule." So he jumped the fence in earnest, and said soothingly, as if he were an I old friend : *' Hullo, Jack, good dog I " whereupon tho I perfidious Jack grovelled at his feet and then jumped np for a caress. But the woman came striding along, picking up a grubbing hoe by the way to take the place of the I treacherous defender of the house. '* Hi, git out o' that, quick as yer legs'll take yer ; git lout now ! we doi>'t i^nt no seeds, ner fruit trees, ner Isewin' machines, z^or fambly Bibles. My man's jist down jin the next patch, an if yer don't git, I'll set him on yer." " Madam," said CJoristine, lifting his hat, " permit me I to explain " " Gk) 'long, I tell yer ; that's the way they all begin, I with yer madam an' explainin'; I'll explain this hoe on yer |if yer take another step." " We are not agents, nor tramps, nor tract distribu- tors, nor collectors for missions," cried Coristine, as soon fts he had a chance to speak. " My friend, here, is a gen- tleman engaged in education, and I am a lawyer, and all ire want is a glass of water." "A liyer, ehf" said the Amazon, in a very much [reduced tone ; " Why didn't yer say so at wonst, an' not lave me settin' that good for nuthin' brute on yerl I lever see liyers with a pack on their backs afore. Ef yer rants a drink, why don't yer both come on to the house 1 " Wilkinson, at this not too cordial invitation, vaulted [iver the fence beside his companion, and they walked jiouaewards, the woman striding on ahead, and the dog piffing at Wilkinson's heels in the rear. A rather pretty •haired girl of about fifteen was washing dishes, evi- 86 TWO KNAP9ACKS. dnntly in preparation for the mid-day meal. Her the woman addresaed as Anna Maria, and ordered lier to go and get a pail of fresh water for the gentlemen. But Wilkinflon, who felt he must do something to restore hiH credit, offered to get the water if Anna Maria would show him the well or pump that contained it. The girl gave him a tin pail, and he accompanied her to the back of the house, where the well and a bucket with a rope were. In vain he tried to sink that bucket ; it would not sink. At last the girl took it out of his hands, turned the bucket upside down, and, letting it fall with a Ticious splash, brought it up full of delioiously cool water, which she transferred to the pail. •* You are very clever to do that the first time," remarked the schoolmaster, wishing to be polite to the girl, who looked quite pleasant and comely, in spite of her bare feet and arms. ••Thf>re ain't no cleverness about it," she replied, with a harsh nasal accent ; "any fool most could do as much." Wilkinson carried the tin pail to the^shanty disillusioned, took his drink out of a cup that seemed clean enough, joined his friend in thanking mother and daughter for their hospitality, and retired to the road. •' Do you find your respect for the fair sex rising ? " he asked Coristinc, cynically. " The mother's an awful old harridan — " " Yes, and when the daughter is her age she will be a harridan, too ; the gentle rustic beauties have gonf out of date, like the old poets. The schoolmaster is much needed here to teach young women not to compare gentlemen, even if they are oedt strianizing, to ' any fool most.* " " Oh, Wilks, is that where you're hit 1 I thought you and she were long enough over that water business for a case of Jacob and Rachel at the well, ha, ha 1 " "Gome, cease this folly, Coristine, and let us g aljng." . Sentiment had received a rude shock. It met with a second when Coristine remarked " I'm hungry." Still, hel kept on for another mile or so, when the travellers sighted j a little brook of clear water rippling over stones. A short distance to the left of the road it was shaded by trees and tall bushes, not too clote together, but presenting, here and TWO KNAPSACKS. 37 (hero, Httlfl patches of ^rass and the leaves of woodland llowjTH. Selecting one of these patches, they unstrapped their knapsacks, and extracted from them a sufBoienoy of biscuits and cheese for luncheon. Then one of the packs, us they had irreverently been oalh'd, was turned over to make a table. Tho biscuits and cheese were moistened with small portions from the contents of the flasks, diluted with the cool water of the brook. The meal ended, Wil- kinson took to nibbling ginger snaps and reading Words- worth. The day was hot, so that a pausing cloud which came over the face of tho sun was grateful, but it was grateful to beast as well as to man, for immediately a Bwarm of mosquitoes and other flies came forth to do bat- tlH with the reposing pedestrians. Coristine's pipe kept them from attacking him in force, but Wilkinson got all tho more in conHequence, He struck savagHly at them with VVordswortli, anathematized them in choice but not profane language, and, at last, rose to his feet, switching his pocket handkerchief fiercely about his head. Coristine picked up the dofierted Wordsworth, and laughed till the smoke of his pipe choked him and the tears came into his eyes. •• I see no cause for levity in the suff'rings of a fellow creature," said the schoolmaster, curtly. •' Wilks, my darling boy, it's not you I'm laughing at ; its (hat old omadhaun of a Wordsworth. Hark to this, now : — He said, "TIh now the hour of deepest noon. ^ , At this still season of repose and peace, This hour, when all things which are not at rest Are cheerful ; while this multitude of flies Is filling all the air with melody ; Why should a tear be in an old man's eye ? ' Wilks, but this beats cock-fighting ; * Why should a tear be in an old man's eye 1 ' Sorra a bit do I know, barring it's the multitude of flies. Wordy, Wordy, bard of Rydal Mount, it's sick with laughing you'll be making me. All things not at rest are cheerful. Dad, if he means the flies, they're cheerful enough, but if it's my dear friend, Farqubar Wilkinson, it's a mistake the old gentleman is niakinjr. See, this is more like it, at the very beginning of •The Excursion * : — Nor could my weak arm disperse The host of insects gathering round my face, And ever with me as I paced along. i r Lk Pi'''' 38 TWO KNAPSACKS. That's you, Wilks^ yoa to a dot. What a grand thing poetic instinct is, that looks away seventy yeare into the future and acrot's the Atlantic Ocean, to find a humble admirer in the wilds of Canada, and tell how he looked among the flies. ' Why should a tear be in an old man's eye 1 ' O, holy Moses, that's the finest line I've sighted in a dog's age. . Cheer up, old man, and wipe that tear away, for I see the clouds have rolled by, Jenny." " Man, clod, profaner of the shrine of poesy, cease your ignorant cackle," cried the irate dominie. Silently they bathed faces and hands in the brook, donned their knapsacks, and took to the road once more. The clouds had not all passed by as the pedestrians found to their cost, for, where there are clouds over the bush in July, there also are mosquitoes. Physically as well as psychically, Wflkinson was thin-skinned, and afforded a ready and appetizing feast to the blood-suckers. His companion still smokt 1 his pipe in defence, but for a long time in silence. " The multitude of flies " made him gurgle occasionally, as he gazed upon the schoolmaster, whose blue and yellow silk handkerchief was spread over the back of his head and tied under his chic. To quote Wordsworth then v/ould have been like putting a match to a powder magazine. The flies were worst on the mar- gin of a pond formed by the extension of a sluggish black stream. "Qo on, Wilks, my boy, out of the pests, while I add some water plants to my collov^tion ; " but this, Wilkinson's chit'alrou., notions of friendship would not allow him to do. He broke off a leafy branch from a young maple, and slashed it about him, while tho botanist can along the edge of the pond looking for flowers within reach. As usual, they were just out of reach and no more. So he had to take off shoes and socks, turn up the legs of his trousers, and wade in after them. " Look at that now ! " he said with pride as he returned with his booty, " Nymphsea odorata, Nuphar advena, and Brasenia peltata ; aren't they beauties 1 " " What is that black object on your leg t" the dominie managed to gasp. " I'm thankful to you for saying that, my kind friend, for it's a murdering leech." "Salt is the only thing to take them off with," TWO KNAPSACKS. 39 remarked Wilkinson really interested ; " and that is just what we are deficient in." «' I say, Wilks, try a drop of the crater on him ; don't waste the blessings of Providence, but just let the least particle fall on his nose, while I scrape him off." The surgical operation succeeded, and the schoolmaster half forgot his own troubles in doing good to his friend. While the latter was reclothing his feet, and pressing his specimens, the maple branch ceased working, and its owner finely apostrophized the field of white and yellow blossoms. There aits the water lily like a sovereign, Her little empire is a fairy world, The purple dragon-fly above it hovering. As when her fragile ivory uncurled, A thousand years ago. «♦ Bravo, Wilks, if you are poaching on my preserves ; but I wish that samo purple dragon-fly would hover round here in thousandr. for a minute. It's a pleasure to see them sail along and gobble up the mosquitoes." The dominie continued : — To-day I saw the dragon-fly Come from the wells where he did lie. An inner impulse rent the veil Of his old husk ; from head to tail y ; V Came out clear plates of sapphire mail. He dried his wings : like gauze they grew ; Thro' crofts and pastures wet with dew A living flash of light he flew. t " Hurroo ! " cried Coristine, as with knapsack read- justed, he took his companion by the arm and resumed the journey j « Hurroo again, I say, it's into tfce very hear». of nature we're getting now. Bless the mosquito and tne leech for opening the well of English undefiled." Wilkinson was wound up to go, and repeated with fino conversational effect : — But now, perplexed by what th' old man had said. , My question eagerly did I renew How is it that you live, and what is it you do ? He, with a amile, did then his words repeat ; And said, that, gathering leeches far and wide, He traveJl'd ; stirring thus about his feet The waters of the ponds where they abide. " Once I could meet with them on every side ; But they have dwindled long by slow decay ; ' Yet still I persevere, and find them where T may." 'h' k iu^ 40 TWO KNAPSACKS. |i rt *' Dad, if the old man had been here, he might have made his fortune by this time. * Stirring thus about his feet the waters of the ponds where they abide' may be fine employment, but the law's giod enough for me, seeing they're bound to dwindle long by slow decay. You don't happen to have a scrap on a botanist, do you 1 " *' Yes," replied the schoolmaster, '^ and on a blind one, too: — And he knows all shapes of flowers : the heath, the fox-glove with its bells, The palmy fern's prreen elegance, fanned in soft woodland smells ; The milkwort on the mossy turf his nice touch fingers trace, And the eye-bright, though he sees it not, he finds it in its place." " A blind botanist, and in the Old Country, too ; well that's strange ! True, a blind man could know the lovely wallflowers and hyacinths and violets and all these sweet- scented things by their smell. But to know the little blue milkwort and the Euphrasia by touch, bangs me. If it was our fine, big pitcher plant, or the ladies' slipper, or the giant-fringed orchis, or the May apple, I could under stand it ; but perhaps he kn'jw the flowers before he got to be blind. I think I could find my way blindfolded to some spots about Toronto where special plants grow. I believe, Wilks, that a man couldn't name a subject you wouldn't have a quotation for ; you're wonderful 1 " Wilkinson was delighted, This flattery was meat and drink to him. Holding the arm of his admiring friend, he poured out his soul in verse, allowing his companion, from time to time, the opportunity of contributing a little to the poetic feast. The two virtually forgot to notice the level, sandy road and tame scenery, the clouded sun, the troublesome flies. For the time being, they were every- thing, the one to the other. By their own spirits were they deified, or thought they were, at the moment. Though the schoolmaster was revelling in the appreci- ation of his friend, he could not fail to perceive that he limped a little. " You have hurt your foot, Corry, my dear fellow, and never told me." ♦• Oh, it's nothing," replied the light-hearted lawyer ; " I trod on a stick in that pond where I got the Braseni* and things, and my big toe's a bit sore, that's all." « Oorry, we have forgotten the blackthoroa Now, in TWO KNAPSACKS. 41 this calm hour, sacred to friendship, let us present each other with nature's staflF, a walking-stick cut from the bush, humble tokens of our mutual esteem." Coristine agreed, and the result was a separation and careful scrutiny of the underbrush on both sides of the road, which ended in the finding of a dogwood by the law- yer, and of a striped maple by the dominie— both straight above and curled at the root. These, having removed from the bush^ they brought into shape with their pocket- knives. Then Coristine carved «« F. W." on the handle of his, while Wilkinson engraved •*£. C." on the one he carried. This being done, each presented his fellow with " this utterly inadequate expression of sincere friendship," which was accepted "not for its intrinsic worth, but because of the generous spirit whioh prompted the gift." " Whenever my eye rests on these letters by friendship traced," said the dominie, " my pleasant companion of this happy day will be held in remembrance." "And when my fingers feel *E. Con the handle," retorted the lawyer, " I'll be wishing that my-dear friend's lot, that gave it me, may be easy too. Faith but that's a hard pun on an Irishman." " Seriously, now, Corry, does it give you any satisfac- tion to be guilty of these— ah — rhetorical figures 1 " "All the delight in the world, Wilks, my boy." •' But it lowers the tone of your conversation ; it pats you on a level with common men ; it grieves me." "If that last is the case, Farquhar, I'll do my best to fight against my besetting sin. You'll admit I've been very tender of your feelings with them." " How's your foot now I " " Oh, splendid ! This stick of yours is a powerful help to it. Jog on, jog on, the footpath way, And merrily hent the stile-a : A merry heart goes all the day, Your sad tires in a mile-a. Shakespeare's songs remind me of young Witherspoon. There was a party at old Tyler's, and a lady was singing 'Tell me where is fancy bredl' when young Witherspoon comes up to the piano in a hurry, and says : • Why, don't you know 1— at Nasmith's and Webb's.' f 1 . 3| I ^ In ilLi 43 TWO KNAPSACKS. m ■ ni ** Lord 1 how savage old Tylor was ! I thought he ivould have kicked the young ass out." " That is just what we lovers of literature have to endure from the Philistines. But, Oorry, my dear fellow, here is the rain ! " Th" rain fell, at first drop by drop, but afterwards more smartly, forcing the pedestrians to take refuge under some leafy pines. There they sat quietly for a time, till their interest was excited by a deep growl, which seemed to come round a jog in the road just ahead. " Is that a bear or a wolf, Corry 1 " the dominie asked in a whisper. « More like a wild oat or a lynx," cheerfully responded his friend. The growl was repeated, and then a human like voice was heard which quieted the ferocious animal. " Whatever it is, it's got a keeper," whispered Ooris- tine, "so we needn't be afraid." Then the sun shone forth brightly and a rainbow spanned the sky. " The rainbow comes and goes," said the lawyer, which gave the schoolmaster occasion to recite : — My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky. So was it when my life began ; So is it now I am a man ; So be it when I shall grow old Or let me die ! The child is father of the man ; And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety. " Bray vo, well done, ancore ! " cried a cheery and cheeky voice coming round the jog j " oo'd a thought of meetin' a play hactor 'ere in the bush 1 Djwn, Muggins, down," the latter to a largish and wiry-looking terrier, the author of the ominous growls. " I beg your pardon, sir," said Wilkinson with dignity, " I have nothing to do with the stage, beyond admiring the ancient ornaments of the English drama." *' Hall right, no hoffence meant and none taken, I' ope. But you did it well, sir, devilish well, I tell you. My name is Rawdon, and I'm a workin' geologist and miner- ologist hon the tramp." HI' ni TWO KNAPSACKS. 43 The stranger, who had thus introduced himself, was short, about five feet five, fairly stout, with a large head covered with curly reddish hair, his whiskers and goatee of the same hue, his eyes pale grayish, his nose retrouss^, and his mouth like a half- moon lying on its back. He was dressed in a tweed suit of a very broad check ; his head was crowned with a pith hat, almost too large even for it ; and he wore gaiters. But, what endeared him to the pedestrians was his knapsack made of some kind of ribbed brown waterproof cloth. " Either of you gents take any hinterest in science 1 " he asked affably, whereupon the schoolmaster took it upon himself to reply. "I, as an educationist, dabble a little in geology, mineralogy, and palaeontology. My friend is a botanist. You are Mr. Rawdon. Allow me, Mr. Rawdon, to intro- duce ray friend Mr. Eugene Coristine, of Osgood ■ Hall, Barrister, and my humble self, Farquhar Wilkinaou, of the Toronto Schools." Mr. Rawdon bowed and shook hands, then threw him- self into a stage attitude, and said : " His it possible that I am face to face with Farquhar Wilkinson, the describer of a hentirely new species of Favosites t Sir, this is a perroud day for a workin' geologist. Your servant. Dr. Coristine ! " " I'm no doctor, Mr. Rawdon," replied the lawyer, a bit angrily ; " I passed all my examinations in the regular way." •' Hif it's a fair question, gents, ware are you a goin' " 1 asked the working geologist. " We intend, if nothing intervenes, to spend the night at the village of Peskiwanchow," answered Wilkinson, whose heart warmed to the knapsack man that knew his great discovery. " Beastly 'ole 1 " remarked Mr. Rawdon ; " but, as I'm a long way hoff Barrie, I'll go there with you, if Mr. Cur- rystone is hagreeable. I don't want to miss the hoppor- tonity of making your better hacquaintance. Dr. Wilkin- son." *• I am sure that my friend and I Vill be charmed with vour excellent society, as a man, a fellow pedestrian and a lover of science," the dominie effusively replied. jr ^^i to 445 44 TWO KNAPSACKS. " Well, Muggins, we're a-goin' back, hold dog, along o' two gents as haint above keepin' company wi' you and me," whereat Maggins barked and sought to make friends with his new companions. Ooristine liked Muggins, but he did not love Muggins' master. Sotto voce, he said : " A cheeky little cad ! " Mr, Rawdon and Wilkinson forged on ahead. Ooris tine and Muggins brought up the rear. *' What are you working at now, Mr. Rawdon 1 "asked the schoolmaster. " I'm workin' hup the Trenton and Utica, the Udson River and Medina formations. They hall crop hup between 'ere and Oollin'wood. It's the limestone I'm kaf ter, you know," he said, sinking his voice to a whisper ; " the limestone grits, dolomites, and all that sort of thing. Wen I can get a good grinstun quarry, I'll be a made n man. " Grinstun t" queried Wilkinson, helplessly. " Yes, you know, g, r, i, n, d, s, t, o, n, e, grinstun, for 3nin' topis on ; turn 'em with a handle and pour water on top. Now, sir, hevery farm 'ouse 'as got to 'ave a grinstun, and there's 'ow many farm 'ouses in Canidy 1 wy, 'undreds of thousands. You see, there's money in it. Let me find a grinstun quarry and I'm a made man. And wot's more, I've found the grinstun quarry." " You have ? Where ? " asked the dominie. The working geologist drew off, and playfully planted the fotefinger of his right hand on the side of his upturned nose, saying " Walker ! " Then he relented, and, reap proaching his companion, said : " Honour bright, now, you're no workin' geologist, lookin' out for the blantt You're a collector of Favosites Wilkinsonia, Stenopora fibrosa, Asaphus Canadensis, Ambonychia radiata, Hello pora f ragilis, and all that rot, ain't yon now 1 " " I certainly seek io make no money out of science, and am a lover of the fossil records of ancient life in our planet, but, above all, I assure you that I would no more think of betraying your confidence than of picking your pocket. If you have any doubts, do not make me your confidant." " Hall right, hold cock, I mean, my dear sir. You'ro safe has a church. There's a 'undred hacre lot hup in the TWO KNAPSACKS. 45 township of Flanders, has full of grinstuns as a h^gg's full of meat. It belongs to a Miss Do-Pleaae-us, but who th^ dooce she is, I dunno. That's just wot I'm a-goin' to find bout. If she hain't paid her taxes, bein' hon the non- resident roll, I may be hable to pick hup the land for less than ten dollars, and it'll bring me hin tens of thousands. Then I'll skip back to hold Hingland and cut it fal." Ooristine was not so £aken up with Muggins that he failed to overhear the conversation. He did not catch it all, but he learned that a lady, a maiden lady, whose namH mediated between Jewph ashy and Do Plense, owned valu- able mineral lands, of which the working geologiBt intended to deprive her by unfair means. Miss Du-Please-us was nothing to him, but justice was something,', and the man Rawdou waa an unutterable cad. How Wilkinson could take any pleasure in his society he could not understand. He had a good mind to chuck the dominie's stick into the next creek and let it float to Jericho. He did throw it away along the road, but Muggins brought it back. Dei ^»l'l ' «■ ■ ■■ TWO KNAPHA0K8. 47 '•Wy, yees, ways down the The landlord stared, and then stammered that he would have the well cleaned out in the morning, not knowing what sort of a health officer was before him. But the crowd at the bar said it was good enough for them, as long as the critters were well l.:'!?d off with a good drop of rye or malt. Wilkinson asked for a glass of beer, which came out sour and flat. " See me put a head on that," said the landlord, dropping a pinch of soda into the ghss and stirring it in with a spoon. The schoolmaster tried to drink the mixture, but in vain ; it did not quench the thirst, but produced a sickening effect. He felt like a man in a strange land, like a wanderer in the desert, a shipwrecked mariner. Oh, to be on the Susan Thomas, with miles of pure water all round ! Or even at home, where the turning of a tap brought all Lake Ontario to one's necessities. *' Is there no other water than this about t " he asked in despair. answered Matt ; " thay's the crick a track, but it's that black and masshy I guess you wouldn't like it no better." *' Well, get us some from there, like a good man, to vash with if we cannot drink it, and have it taken up to our room," for it had appeared that the two pedestrians were to inhabit a double-bedded apartment. " 'Ere, you Timotheus, look spry and go down to the crick and fetch a pail of water for No. 6." A shambling man, almost a hobbledehoy, of about twenty-five, ran out to obey the commanti, and, when he returned from No. 6, informed Wilkinson civilly that the water was in his room. Something in his homely but pleasant face, in his shock head and in his voice, seemed familiar to the dominie, yet he could not place his man ; when Coristine came along and said, "Tou've got a brother on the Susan Thomas, haven't you, and his name is Syi- vanus t " The young man shuffled with his feet, ( pencd a mouth the very counterpart of "The Crew's," and answered : " Yes, mister, he's my oldest brother, is Syl- vanus ; do you happen to know Sylvanus 1 " " Know him 1 " said the unblushing lawyer, " like a brother ; sailed all over Lake Simcoe with him." The lad was proadi and went to his menial tasks with 1^- ♦,',(:'-' m \-':'r:m fvi ■ f<:, 48 TWO RNAPSAORS. iliii'j'i' Mm"' Ik new sense of the dignity of his family. He was called for on all sides, and appeared to be the only member of the household in perpetual request ', but, though many liberties were taken with him personally, none were taken with bis name, which was always given in full, " Ti-mo- th6-UB i " Wilkinson was too tired, thirsty and generally disguRted to do anything but sit, as he never would have sat elsewhere, on a chair tilted against the wall. Ooris tine would fain have had a talk with "The Crew's" brother, but that worthy was ever flitting about from bar- room to kitchen, and from well to stable ; always busy and always cheerful. The Grinstun man came swaggering up after treating all hands at the bar to whisky, in which treat the pedes- trians were included by invitation, declined with thanks, and suggested a game of cards — any game they liked — stakes to be drinks ; or, if the gents preferred it, cigars. Coristine somewhat haughtily refused, and Wilkinson, true to his principles, but in a more conciliatory tone, said that he did not play them. He was obliged, therefore, to get the landlord. Matt, and a couple of bar-room loafers to take hands with him. " Wilks, my dear boy, get out your draft-board and I'll play you a game," said Ooristine. The board was produced, the flit, cardboard chessmen turned upside down, and the corner of a table, on which a few well-thumbed newspapers lay, utilized for ' the game. The players were so interested in making moves and get- ting kings that, at first, they did not notice the talk of the card players which was directed against them ; for Matt, being called away to his bar, was replaced by a third loafer. Gradually there came to their ears the words, « conc(>ited, offish, up-settin', pedlars, tramps, pious scum," with condemnatory and other adjectives prefixed, and then they knew that their characters and occupations were undergoing unfavourable review. Mr. Rawdon was too " hail fellow well met " with the loafers to offer any pro- test. He joined in the laugh that greeted each new sally of vulgar abuse, and occasionally helped his neighbours on by such remarks as, "We musn't be too 'ard on 'em, they hain't used to such company as hus," which was followed by a loud guffaw. Wilkinson was playing badly, for he once provic ■l'i!:;i:' TWO KNAl'8(V0KH. 49 felt uncomfortable. Ooristine ohevired hia moastaohe and became red in the face. The landlord looked calmly on. At last the card players, having had their third drink since tho game began, came over to the little table. One of the roughest and worst- tongued of the three picked up a pile of dirty newspapers, looked at one of them for a moment, pshawed as if there was nothing in them, and threw the pile down with a twist of his hand fair on to the draft-board, sweepini; it half off the table and all the cardboard men to the fl )or. In a moment Ooristine was up, and laid hold of the fellow by the shoulder. Pale but resolute, the schoolmaster, who had done physical duty by unruly boys, stood beside him. The working geologist and the landlord. Matt, looked on to see the fun of a fight between two city men and three country bullies. " Get down there," said Ooristine to his man, trembling with indignation, " get down there, and pick up all these chessmen, or I'll wring your neck for you." The fellow made a blow at him with his free hand, a blow that Ooris- tine parried, and then the Irishman, letting go of bis antagonii)t's arm, gave him a sounding whack with all the might of his right fist, that sent him sprawling to the ground. " Pile in on 'im, boys 1 " cried the prostrate ruffian, who had lost a tooth and bled freely at the nose. The other two prepared to pile, when the schoolmaster faced one of them, and kept him oft. It is hard to say how matters would have gone, had not a tornado entered the barroom in the shape of Timotheus. How he did it, no one could tell, but, in less than two minutes, the two stand- ing bullies and the prostrate one were all outside the tavern door, which was locked behind them. Peace once more reigned in the hotel, and it was in order for Matt and the Orinstun man to congratulate Ooristine on his knock down blow. He showed no desire for their com- mendation, but, with his friend, whom Timotheus helped to pick up the chessmen, retired to his room. The Orew's brother had disappeared before he had had a chance to thank .him. Before retiring for the night, the lawyer was deter- mined to be upsides with Mr. Rawdon. He asked his roomfoUow if he had any writing materials, and was at ouce provided with paper, envelopes, and a fountain pen. ■:Vi-': ft; 1' '.'.-.!' i*'*""l -If • m m I + 50 TWO KNAPHAC^KS. i-! " I hope I'm not dnprivinK you of these, Wilks, my dear," he Haid, when the party thus addressed almost thre is at your absolute dis- posal, ' supreme of heroes — bravest, noblest, beat 1 ' " for he could not forget his Wordsworth. Goristine wrote to the clerk of the munici|mlity of Flanders, to know where Miss jHwplesshy or Do Pleas-us had a lot, and whether the taxHH on it had boun paid. He dirocted him to answer to his office in Toronto, and also wrote to his junior, instructing him how to act upon this reply. These letters being written and prepared for the po^t, he and the dominie read together out of the little prayer book, left the window open and the lamp burning, and went to bed. Before they fell asleep, they heard the barking of a dog. " It's that poor brute, Muggins," said Coristine ; "I'll go, and let him in, if that brute of a master of his won't." So, in spite of Wilkinson's remonstrances, he arose and descended the stairs to the bar-room. Nobody was there but Timotheus sleeping in a back- tilted chair. He slipped quietly along in his bare feet, but Timotheus, though sleeping, was on guard. The Crew's brother awoke, soon as he tried the door, and in a moment, was on his back. " It's I, my good Timotheus," said the lawyer, and at once the grip relaxed. " I want to let that poor dog. Muggins, iu." Then Tim6theus unlocked the door, and Ooristine whistled, and called " Hi Muggins, Muggins, ^u<2gy, Mug, Mug, Mug, Mug ! " when the mongrel cauie bounding in, with every expression of delight. Coristine warmly thanked The Crew's brother, pressed a dollar on his acceptance, and then retired to No. 6. Mug- gins followed him, and lay* down upon the rag carpet out- side that apartment, to keep watch and w<»rd for the rest of the night, entirely ignoring his owner, the Grinstun man. There was a pail of swamp water in the middle of the room, at the bottom of which lay some little black things. As this water became warm, these little fellows began to rise and become frolicksome. Like minute porpoises or dolphins, they joined in the mazy dance, and rose higher and higher. All night long, by the light of the kerosene lamp, they indulged in silent but unceasing hilarity. The TWO KNAP8A0K8. 61 rinoroB of the sleepers, the watohf al droam-yaps of Muggins, (lid not aif'Ot them. They were bound to have a good time, and they were having it. Morning oame, and the aun stole in through the winc*ow. Then, the wiggler grew tired, and came, liice many tired beings, to the top. For a time he was quiescent, but soon the sun's rays gave force to the inner impulse which '* rent the veil of his old husk," and transformed it into a canoe or raft, containing a draggle-tailed-looking creature with a big head and six staggery legs. Poising itself upon the raft, the outcome of the wiggler sunned its crumplnty wings, till " like gauze they grew," and then all of it, a whole pailful of it, made for the sleepers, to help its more mature relations, which had come in through the open window to the light, to practice amateur phlebotomy upon them. The pedes- trians awoke to feel uncomfortable, and rub and scratch their facee, heads, necks, and hands. " It's clean devoured [ am, Wilks," cried Coristine. "The plagues of Eg^pt iiave visited us," replied the dominie. So, they arose and dressed themselves, and descended to the noisome bar-room, i here they found Timotheus, awake and busy, while, at their heels, frisking about and looking for recognition, was their night guard Muggins. Timotheus informed them that he had already been out probing the well with a pike pole, and had brought up the long defunct bodies of a oat and a hen, with an old shoe and part of a cabbage, to say nothing of other things as savoury. They decided to tako no more meals cooked with such water in that house, paid their bill to Timotheus, buckled on their knapsacks, and, with staff in hand, sallied forth into the pure outside air of the morning. Coristine ran over to the store in which the post oflSce was kept, and posted his tWo letters. There was no sign of Matt, the landlord, of Mr. Rawdon, or of their assailants of the night before. Muggins, however, followed them, and no entreaties, threats, or stones availed to drive the faithful creature back to his master and the hotel where he slept. The pedestrians passed the black, sluggish creek, out of which the wigglers had come, and struck into a country, flat but more interesting than that they had left behind them. After they had gone a couple of miles they came to a clear running stream, in which they had a splendid ; %^i m 52 TWO KNAPSACKS. mm t- m , 'Hi wash, that tonded to allay the irritation of tho mostjuito bites. Then they brought forth the remains of their bis- cuits and cheese, and partook of a clean meai, which Cor- istine called a good foundation for a smoke, Muggins Ritting upon his hind legs and catching fraigments of cap- tain's biscuits and whole gingersnapa in his mouth, as if he had never done anything else. It was very pleasant to Hit by the brook on that bright July morning, after the horrors of the Peskiwanchow tavern, to have clean food and abundance of pure water. As the dominie revelled in it, he expressed the opinion that Pindar was right when he said " ariston men hudor," whish, said the lawyer, means that water is the best of all the elements, but how would Mr. Pindar have got along without earth to walk on, air to breathe, and fire to cook his dinner 1 " I'm no philosopher, Wilks, like you, but it eeems to me that perfection is found in no one thing. If it was, the interdependense of the universe would be destroyed ; harmony would be gone, and love, which is just the high est harmony, be lost. That's just why I couldn't be a uni- tarian of any kind. As Tennyson says, * one good cus- tom would corrupt the world.' " " Pardon me, Gorry, he does not say that, but makes Arthur say : — God fulfils himself in many ways, Lest one good custom nhould corrupt thd world." " Better and better ! but that's what the churches don't see, nor the politicians, nor the socialists, nor the prohibi- tionists, nor the scientists, nor anybody else hardly, it seems to me. When a man's got two eyes to see with, why should he shut one and keep out half the view 1 This 'ariston men hudor ' idea — I'm not arguing against tem- perance, for it's temperate enough we are both — but this one thing is best notion would bring the beautiful har- monious world into dull, dead uniformity. There's a friend of mine that studies his Bible without any reference to the old systems of theology, and finds these old systems have made some big mistakes in interpreting its sayings, when a newspaper blockhead comes along and says if he won't onform let him go out of the church. There's a one-eyed man for you, an ecclesiastical Polyphemus ! Our politi- cians are just the same, without a broad, liberal idea to TWO KNAPSACKS. 53 clothe their naked, thieving policies with. And 'the scientists ! some of them stargazing, like Thales, so that they fall inco the ditch of disrepute by failing to observe what's nearer home, and others, like Bunyan's man in Interpreter's house, so busy with the niuckrake that they are ignorant of the crown held over their heads. Now, you and I are liberal and broad, we can love nature and love God too, we can admire poetry and put our hands to any kind of honest work ; you can teach boys with your wonderful patience, and, with your pluck, knock a door in, and stand up, like a man, to fight for your friend. But, Wilks, my boy, I'm afraid it's narrow we are, too, about the women." ■ v *• Come, come, Corry, that subject, you know — " *' All right, not another word," interposed the lawyer, laughing and springing to his feet ; " let us jog along. A village schoolmaster was he. With hair of glittering grey ; , * ' , , .' • ' - As blithe a man as you could see ' • ^ "* • On a spring holiday. And on that morning, through the grass, And by the streaming rills, , . We travelled merrily, to pass ■ ■ • * A day among the hills." , , ' " When did you take to Wordsworth, Corry f " *• Oh, many a time, but I refreshed my memory with that yesterday, when I came across the tear in the old man's eye." ^'- " It is most appropriate, for there, on the right, are actual hills." As the travellers approached the rising ground, which the dominie had perceived, the lawyer remarked that the hillocks had an artificial look. •• And they are undoubtedly artificial," replied Wil- kinson. *< This is the township of Nottawasaga, once inhabited by the Tobacco tribe of the Hurons, who had many vil- lages, and grew tobacco and corn, besides making beads, pipes, and other articles, for sale or barter. They made their pipes out of the Trenton sandstone. A great many vil- lage sites and ossuaries have been found in the township, the latter containing thousands of skeletons. They have ail i '.( '!■ i > • ,V ?J 'i v| m ^■0 54 IVfO KNAPSACKS. III! liiF:'::' been opened up by the settlers for the sake of the copper kettles and other objects buried in them. These long, narrow hillocks are earthworks, the foundation of a rude fortification or palisade round a village. The Archaeologi- cal Reports of the Canadian Institute contain very full and interesting accounts of the explorations made in this very region. We are on historic ground, Corry " " Poor old Lo ! " ejaculated the lawyer ; *' whatever is that dog after 1 Hi, Muggins, Muggins ! " But Muggins would not leave the earthwork into which he was digging with rapidly moving forepaws. As Coristine remarked, it was a regular Forepaugh's circus. When the pedestrians came up to him, he had a large hole made in apparently fresh dug earth, and had uncovered a tin box, japanned above. This the pair disinterred with their walking-sticks, amid great demonstrations from the terrier. The lawyer opened it judicially, and found it to contain a lot of fragments of hard limestone, individually labelled. Looking over these, his eye rested on one ma 'ked P. 6. Miss Du Pleasis, lot 3, concession 2, town- ship of Flanders. Others were labelled T. Mulcahy, S. Storch, R. Mclver, O. Fish, with their lots, concessions and townships, and the initials F. M. and P. " What is the import of this?" asked the school- master. " Import or export, it's the Grinstun man, the owner of this sagacious dog, that buried this box till he had time to bring a waggon for it. These are samples of grindstone rock, and, if 1 am not a Dutchman, F means fair, M, mid- dling, P, poor, and P. B., prime boss, and that is Miss Du Plessis. Gad ! we've got her now, Jewplesshy, Do Please, Do Please-us, are just Du Plessis. It's a pleasant sort of name, Wilks, my boy 1 " " What are you going to do with this treasure ^rove, might I ask 1" inquired the dominie. ." Bury it," replied the lawyer. "I trust you will make no unfair use of the informa- tion it contains, part of which was confided to me pri- vately, anil under seal of secrecy, by Mr. Rawdon 1 " " Now, Wilks, howld your tongue about that. I ask you no questions, you tell me no lies nor anything else. If you think I'm going to see a girl cheated, just because TWO KNAPSACKS. 55 she is a girl, you don't know yoar friend. But you do, you honest old Wilka, don't you now ? " *< Very well, only remember I breathed no hint of this in your ear." " All right, old man,'' answered Miss Da Plessis' self- constituted advocate, as he shovelled the earth in over the tin box. " Muggins, you rascal, if you dig that up again, I'll starve you to death." The pedestrians deserted the archaeological find, and trudged away into the north-west. *' Wilks, my dear, I feel like the black crow," said Coristine, as they journeyed along the pleasant highway. '* Like what 1 " asl'ed the dominie, adjusting his eye- glass. V > " Like the crow, don't you know! . ; Said one black crow unto his mate, What shall we do for grub to ate ? / i Faith, it'll be an awful thing if we're going to die of star- vation in the wilderness." " I thought you were a botanist, Corry ? " ; .? ; > "So I am, in a small way." " Then, what bushes are those in that beaver mea- dow 1" In another minute, the lawyer, closely followed by Muggins, was in the meadow, exclaiming " Yaccinium Cauadense ! Oome on, Wilks, and have a feast." Mug- gins was eating the berries with great satisfaction, and Coristine kept him company. The dominie also partook of them, remarking : " This is the whortleberry, or berry of the hart, vulgarly called the huckleberry, although huckle means a hump, which is most inappropriate." " That reminds me of a man with a hump, though there wasn't much .heart to him," said Coristine, his mouth full of fruit. " He undertook to write on Canada after spending a month here. He said the Canadians have no fruit but a very inferior raspberry, and that they actually sell bilberries in the shops. As a further proof of their destitution, he was told that haws and acorns are exposed for sale in the Montreal markets. Such a coun- try, he said, is no place for a refined Englishman. I don't wonder my countrymen rise up against the English." 56 TWO KNAP3ACKS. ¥■■'•' '■■;-;■■;■■ ■' '1 jli:'"'. ;, ill Iv jlii'' .Mii liiiiilli III! 'illll " You forget, Corry, that I atn English, and proud of my descent from the Saxon Count Witikind." '• Beg your pardon, Wilks, but you're a good English- man, and I never dreamt your progenitor was that awful heathen: — ■■ ;,„^--,: . -..^.„.... ...,.,,.. ^ ,, . .■.,-: Save us, St. Mary, from flood and from fire, : '' From famine and pest, and Count Witikind'a ire. As the Englishmen said, there is no need to hask 'ow the hell got into your name." '• Corry, this is most unseemly. I wonder you are not ashamed to speak thus, with that innocent dog beside you." " O, dad, he's heard worse things than that ; haven't you now, Muggins f Trust him to live with a cad of a Grinstun man, and not to pick up bad language." ** Ullo, there, you dog-stealers ! " fell upon the ears of the berry-pickers like a thunderclap. They looked up, and saw a neat waggonette, drawn by a team of well-kept bay horses, in which, on a back seat, sat Mr. Rawdon and a little girl with long fair hair. On the front seat were two well-dressed women, one of whom was driving ; the other wore a widow's cap, and had a gentle, attractive face. The waggon stopped for them to come on to thp road, which, leaving their berries, they did, taking off their hats to the ladies as they approached. •• We did all we could, Mr. Rawdon, to make your dog go back to the hotel, but he insisted on following us," said Wilkinson, apologetically. " All very fine, my beauty, you 'ooked 'im and got *im to shew you ware this 'ero box was. I'm hup to your larks, and you such a hinnocent too ! " Wilkinson was indignant, and denied having anything to do with the box. " Be careful what you say, Mr. Rawdon," said Coris- tine, " I'm a lawyer, and may make a case, if you are not judicious in your language." '* Oh come hoff, I don't mean no 'arm ; it's just my fun. 'Ave you any hobjection to give these 'ere gents a lift, Mrs. Thomas ? " " None, whatever," replied the lady who was driving. " Then, if you don't mind, I'll get hin halongside hof your sister hin front, hand leave them to kee^ company TWO KNAPS A.CKS. 67 with little Marjorie 'ere," said the working geologist ; and climbed over into the front seat outside of the attractive widow. Still, the pedestrians hesitated, till Mrs. Thomas, a by no means uncomely woman, said : " Get in, gentle- men, we shall be pleased to have your company." This decided them. They sprang into the waggon, one on each side of the little girl called Marjorie. The horses trotted along, and Muggins hovered about them, with an occasional ecstatic bark. « I like you and your little dog," said Marjorie to Coristine, who replied : " God bless you for a little dar- ling." After this interchange of confidence, they became great friends. Wilkinson found himself somewhat left out, but the Grinstun man threw him an odd bone, now and then, in the shape of a geological remark, keepinsf clear, however, of grindstones. •• What's your name, Marjorie 1 " asked the lawyer. '• My name is Marjorie," she replied. " Yes, but what's your other name 1 " •* Marjorie Carmichael," " Is that your father's name 1 " " No, my papa's name is Captain Thomas." *< And has he got a ship on Lake Simcoe 1 " '• Yes, how did you know ? He's got a ship, and i^ lumber yard, and a saw mill, and a farm, and a lot of things. Saul is on the farm, and Mr^ Pratt works the mill, and Gudgeon looks after the yard, and Sylvanus is on the boat." .. ., , . "Who is Saul?" vv' v^ " He's the father of Sylvanus and Timotheus. Only^ Timotheus doesn't work for us. He wouldn't say his catechism on Sundays, so Saul said he had to go. I don't wonder he wouldn't say his catechism, do you ? It speaks about God's getting awful angry and cursing. God doesn't get angry with little boys and girls and curse them, does he, Mr. What's your name 1 " " My name is Coristine, but the name my little sister would have called me, if I had had a little sister like you, would be Eugene. No, I never read that God cursed any little girls and boys, nor anybody, not even the devil." "And he's very very bad, isn't hel My cousin Marjorie Carruthers, that I'm called after, says Timotheus '•I :* r- A'- 68 TWO KNAPSACKS. [?->■■ ■■ ;;« !H should have learned hid catechism ; bat she doesn't think Ood curses children. Then I said he oughtn't to learn what isn't true." *< O my darlint, but it's right you are. I wish I had you up on the dais at the Synod, to teach the bishops and all the clergy. Is she a nice little girl, your cousin Mar- joriel" '* She's nice, but she isn't little, not a single bit. She lives away away in Toronto, and teaches school. Now, put your head down and I'll whisper something in your ear." Coristine put his head down beside the long, fair curb, and Marjorie whispered, pointing a finger at the same time towards the widow : " That's my Aunt Marjorie, and «he'8 Marjorie's mother." •• Where is cousin Marjorie now ! " " She's up at Uncle Carruthers', along with Miss Da Flessis. Do yon know Miss Du Plessisi Oh, she's lovely, and, do you know? — put down your head again — that ugly little man sitting by Auntie says he's going to marry her. Isn't it too bad 1 " " Infernal little beast ! O, my dear Marjorie, I beg your pardon. I was thinking of that rascal of a mosquito on your hand — there, he's dead ! Yes, it would be too bad, but she'll never marry such a man as that." *' Perhaps she'll have to, because she's very poor, and he says he's going to make heaps and heaps of money. People shouldn't marry for money, should they ? " " No, dear, they should marry for love, if they marry at all. Will you marry me when you grow to be a young ladyl" " No, you'll be too old then. Put your head down. You go and take away Miss Du Plessis from that naughty, bad little man, and I'll love you, O, ever so much." " But perhaps she won't have me." " Oh, yes she will, because you would look very nice if you would take that black stuff that scratched me off your face." " I will, I'll get a clean shave at CoUingwood this very night." *' Then I'll get Auntie to write to Marjorie and tell her that my own Prince Charming, with a clean shave, is com- jorie, or y( TWO KNAPSACKS. 69 ing to take Gecile away from the ugly little rich man that Hays : ' An' 'ow is my young friend 1 ' Won't that be ^ice 1 " " Oh, please don't tell your aunt to write that." «' But I will, 80 there I " The waggonette was now in the midst of a rather pretty village situated on a branch of the Nottawasaga River, and came to a stand still opposite the post office. '* If you gentlemen have business in the village, you can get out here," said Mrs. Thomas, '* but, if not, we shall be pleased to have you dine with us." The pedestrians thought of their last tavern experience, and felt disposed to accept the hospitable invitation, but Marjorie clinched their resolution by saying : " Eugene is coming to dinner with me, and his friend may come too," at which everybody laughed. The waggon moved on for another half mile, and then stopped in front of a pre by and commodious frame house, painted white, with red- brown doors and window frames and green shutters. Porch and verandah were covered with Virginia creeper, climbing roses and trumpet honeysuckle. Mr. Rawdon looked after himself, but Wilkinson and Coristine helped the ladies and the little girl to dismount, while an old man with a shock head, evidently Saul, took the horses round. Muggins greeted the whole party with a series of wiggles and barks, whereupon the Grinstun man gave him a savage kick that sent the dog away yelping. " I said you were a naughty, bad, cruel man to my own self and to people I like," said Marjorie with indignation, " but now I say it right out to you, and for everybody to hear that wants to — a nasty, ugly, cruel little man 1 " The working geologist was very angry and got very red in the face. Had he dared, he would probably have kicked the girl too. Policy compelled him to keep his temper outwardly, so he turned it .off with a laugh, and said : " You don't know that little beast has I do, Mar- jorie, or you wouldn't go hand take 'is part. Of all the buDgrateful, treacherous, sneakin', bad-'earted curs that ever gnawed a boue, 'e's the top-sawyer," •• I don't believe it," answered Marjorie stoutly, and with all the license allowed to a late and only child. When the ladies took off their bonnets and rejoined their guests in the parlour, the pedestrians were much '^ "i I %!j m > 'S 60 TWO KNAPSACKS. • m 1 ' ■ l!i;!i;:ii. i:l::\'i Btruck with thf^ir appearance and demeanour, especially in the case of Mrs. Garmichael, than whom no lady could have been more gentle mannered and gracious. She had evidently had enough of Mr. Rawdon, for she turned in the most natural way to Wilkinson and engaged him in conversation on a variety of topics. The schoolmaster found her a charming talker and an interested listener. Marjorie and Coristine sat on a sofa with Muggins between them, while the working geologist banged about some photographs on a centre table. At dinner, to which Mrs. Thomas soon summoned tiiem, Coristine had the post of honour with Marjorie to his right. Mrs. Carmichael sat at the foot of the table with Wilkinson by her side, and Rawdon was at Mrs. Thomas' left. While doing justice to an excellent repast, the lawyer informed his hostess that he was not an entire stranger to her family, and gave an account of his passage in the Sitaan Thomas from Belle Ewart to Barrio. He also referred to Sylvanus and Timo- theus, and dwelt upon the excellent service rendered by the latter. The Grinstun man disliked the turn things were taking, as he felt himself out in the cold, for the widow absorbed the dominie, and Marjorie would not look at him. When dessert came on the ta'ole, he turned to the schoolmaster and rudely interrupted his conversation, say- ing : '* Look 'ere, Mr. Favosites Wilkinsonia, I don't see as you've hany call to keep hall the widder's talk to yourself. I move we change places," and he rose to eflEect the change. '• Really," said Wilkinson, with oflfended dignity, ••! am not accustomed to anything of that description at a dinner party where there are ladies ; but, if it's Mrs. Car- michael's desire that we should interchange seats, I am ready to comply." Mrs. Garmichael evidently did not relish being called " the widder," nor the society of Mr. Rawdon, for she answered, " Certainly not, Mr. Wilkinson," and resumed her conversation with him. The baffled geologist turned to the hostess, while Marjorie engaged Ooristino's atten- tion, and in a petulant way stated his case. " You know the kind of man I ham, Mrs. Thomas, I'm a man of hac- tion. I strike wen the hiron's 'ot._ By good luck, rWelltr back to Pebkiwanchow last night, though it is a beastly TWO KNAPSACKS. 61 'ole, and got letters hat the post hoffice this mornin'. My hagent at Toronto says, Mrs. Do Please-us is pretty badly hout for want of chink, hand that the girl's ready to jump hat hany rexsonable hoffer. Now, hall I say his, give a man a chance. If she's the stunner they say she his, I'll marry her hinside of a week and make a lady of 'er, and hallow the hold 'ooman a pound a week, yes, I'll go has 'igh has thirty shillin', that's seven dollars and a'arf. You get me a hinvite or give me a hintroduction to your brother's 'ouse in Flanders, and get the widder to back it hup witn a good word to 'er daughter that's Miss Do F lease-us's bosom friend, and I'll give the capting the contrack to carry hall the grinstuns shipped to Lake Simcoe ports." Then, sinking his voice to a whisper, he continued, "I'll do one better j I'll show you ware there's has fine a quarry of buildin' stun hon your farm 'ere has can be got hany ware in Canidy. Then, wot's to 'inder your 'avin the best 'ouse twixt 'ere and Collin- wood?" This last stroke of policy carried his point, and secured him the promise of an introduction, but Mrs. Thomas could not promise for her sister. All the time, Coristine, who could not help overheating, twisted his moustache fiercely, and, under his breath, called the geolo- gist a contemptible and unspeakable little cad. Shortly afterwards, much to Marjorie's grief, the pedes trians put on their knapsacks and grasped their sticks for the road. They warmly thanked their hostess and her accomplished sister for their kind hospitality, and for the exceedingly pleasant hours they had spent in thrir com- pany. "They were cordially invited to call any time when they were near the village, and especially when the cap- tain was at home, as he would never forgive himself for missing this treat. Marjorie kissed her Eugene, telling him to be a good boy, and remember what he had promised her about •' you know who." *' Ullo young 'ooman," said the Grinstun man, *' you had ort to save one of them for yours haffectionately," at which the small lady was so indignant that she threatened to box his ugly big ears. " Marjorie, how rude ! whatever will these gentlemen from Toronto think ! " Coristine could not bear to leave his little friend in disgrace, without a word of comfort, so he said : " Pardon me, Mrs. Thomas, for saying that the 63 TWO KNAPSACKS. ■:. ' i . ■ V 1 '. ■:*f^: 'ii'|''i ' mk- m; !!fi"i|H ('■ '^:--* ■■4 ;|iii rudenosa did not originate with Marjorie," for which the child gave him a grateful glance. " You h id better keep your dog in, Mr. Rawdon," called out Wilkinson, " or he will bo after us again." The little man ran down the gar- den walk to get a farewell kick at his property, but Mug- gins, foreseeing danger, ran out of the gate, which old Saul hr>]d open for him. " You can keep the beastly cur, I don't want 'im, hungrateful, treacherous, long legged, 'airy brute," the last two adjectives being put in for Goristine's benefit, as alluoicns to his height and his moustache. " Gome back, Mr. Wilkinson," called Mrs. Garmichael. The dominie returned, and had a large fragrant rose pinned by fair hands to his button hole, blushing violently all the time. " Yon come back too, Eugene, but don't let Muggy in or he'll be kicked," cried Marjorie, who, on her favour- ite's return, gave him another parting silute and pinned two roses on his coat. Muggins waited fur them till they closed the gate finally behind them, lifted their hats three times, and began their afternoon's journey. '* That Mrs. Garmichael," remarked Wilkinson, is one of the most intelligent and lady-like women I ever met, and she is wonderfully well read in the poets, Gorry." "I thought that subject was tabooed between ns, Wilksl" « Oh no, my dear fellow, 1 have no objection to the sex in a Platonic way." " Dad, but it wasn't very platonic you looked when the prtit\v widow was fastening that button hole for you. Was she talking about her daughter at the schools t " " Not a word ; she did not even hint that she had a daughter. She must have been very young when the doc- tor married her." " Well, that's one thing we have to thank that howling cad of a Grinstun man for. I'm real sorry I missed hav- ing a chat with Saul about the catechism." '* What is that ! " So the lawyer related his conversa- tion with Marjorie, and Wilkinson said, '* Really, Gorrie, as an educationist, I must say you do wrong to encourage such pertness in so young a child." " Pertness is it 1 It's nature's own cleverness in the sweet little lass. Wilks, I'd give a g)od deal to have that little sunbeam or one like her with me all the time." " Adopt one," suggested the schoolmaster. ftSi!!/.';: TWO KNAP8A0K8. 68 " Adopt one," replied the lawyer with a bitter laugh, " adopt one for Mrs. Marflh to look after ) No, when I've a house of my own and a good housekeeper, and more time to spend on a child, I'll think over the hint." The pair tramped steadily on, though the sun was hot, for there was a pleasant breeze, and the scenery became bolder and more picturesque. They came to rising ground, at the foot of which lay a fertile valley, and beyond it the Blue Mountains. Gazing across at them, the dominie exclainrad : — ( Yon azure ridsre, , . ; Is it a t eruthable cloud — or there ^^ Do we behold the frame of Erin's coast ? " No, Wilks, no ! Erin's away on the confines of Wel- lington and Peel, and we are on those of Simcoe and Grey." " Slight man, did you not perceive that I quoted poetry, and that the allusion is to your native isle 1 " '* Faith, I wish the real Erin was over there ; it's the old Indy would be in my arms as fast as I could run across. But this place deserves a song, so here goes : — Though down in yonder valley The mist ia like a sea, >/ Though the sun be scarcely risen, ' -*■• V There's light enough for me. , ., • " ;;' z* For, be it early morning, ;^v Or be it late at night. , . ' * '1 -f Cheerily ring our footsteps, -•■ . . / Right, left, righb. ' " " We wander by the woodland ','k , ■> That hangs upon the hill ; . .*" Hark! the cock is tuning ; . '■■". Qis morning clarion shrill ; \v < ' .^ , ' A.nd hurriedly awaking .', ' , V ' From his nest amid the spray, ■•"'. Cheerily now, the blackbird, .':.• S » Whistling, greets the day. '- • " . ' • For be it early morning, eta i ;. ■ We gaze upon the streamlet, • As o'er the bridge we lean ; . ■ ! We watch its hurried ripples * > . We mark its golden green. Oh, the men of the north are stalwart, And the norland lasses fair ; A.nd cheerily breathes around us The bracing norland air. We smoke our black old meerschaums. We smoke from morn till night. While cheerily ring our footsteps, Jlight, left, right." m nm 5^f .■&. 64 TWO KNAP8A0KB. 1 f l''''^ ■' 1 iii%" ,■ ill iii'iiiii *' Well done, Gorry 1 I thought at firat it wm your own coinpoRition, but 1 uee it is an Engliuh song." " Yes, it camp out long ago an ' The Tramp'H Song ' in Sharpg'a Magazine, when^ I found it, and changed moor and moorland to north and norland, aa better suited to our purpose. It's a good song." " What kind of vehicle iH that just in front of usi" " It's a pole on four wheelu drawn by a team of oxen, and I'm going to make a triumphant entry into Oolling- wood on it. The driver is a negro, as black as my boots — were." Ooristino soon overtook the remarkable vehicle, and accosted the driver, telling him that he had ridden on horses, donkeys, mules, and once each on a 30w, a camel and an elephant ; in all sorts of carriages, carts and waggons, even to a gun-carriage, but never on a pole behind an ox team. Had he any objections to letting him and his friend get aboard 1 The coloured gentleman showed a fine set of ivory^ and said he had no dejections in the leaH*, and guessed the oxen didn't bab none. " The po-ul," h«! remarked, " is thar, not fob ridin' on, but ter keep the axles apaht, so's ter load on bodes and squtih timbah. If yoh's that way inclined, the po-ul aint a gwine ter break frew, not with yob dib^renshuns. Quess the oxen doan hab ter stop fer yoh bof ter git aboahd 1 " " Not a bit," said Coristine, as he jumped on the pole behind the driver. " Come on, Wilks, it's a cross between the tight rope and the tiller of the Siosan Thomaa." But the dominie refused to be charmed or inveigled into a position of peril or ridicule. •* Yoh best take this yeah feed -bag ter save yoh pants and fezzletate the keepin' of yoh ekilibroom," said the courteous darkey, as he handed the lawyer one of the bags that formed his own cushion. *' Wilks, with a feed-bag under yoa, riding on a rail is just heavenly." " If it was a rai-ul, you'd know it mighty soon, boss, fer rai-uls is anguliah and shahp and hahd on the pants, but a po-ul is rounded and smoove. How are yoh comin' along 1" •' In great shape, Mr. " " Maguffin, sah, is my applenashun. Tobias Mor- timah Magrudah Maguffin. The low down folks around, TWO KNAI'H\CK8. 66 tliHy teenameB me Tobo and Toby, that'a the shanty mt^n and mill hans. But when I goeH whar they's a meetin' of the bruddren, it'H MiHtah Maguffin, ebery time." The pole oart, as Ooriatine called it, waa going dowa bill, now, and the oxon began to run. " Hole on tight, Miutah, them cattle'H too lazy to stop runnin' befoh they gitH to the determination ob this dercliverty," called the driver ; and the lawyer held on in spite of frantic cries from his companion. •• Oome off, Coristine, como off, and do not make an object of yourself before the whole town." Coristine held on till the bottom of the hill was reached. Then he shook hands with his coloured brother, returned him the feed bag, and waited for Wilkinson. In friendly converse they entered the town of Oollingwood, and put up at a clean and comfort- able, almost fashionable, hotel. There, for the night, they may be left in safety, with thin remark, that Coristine ful- filled his promise to the little girl, and got a olean shave before retiring. « . . y ,•■ CHAPTER IV.. Oollingwood— Colonel Morton— Maguffin Engajfed— Stepping West- ward-Wild Thyme and a Bath— The Shale-works— Mugxina and the Clergymen— Durham Mustard, and Marjorie— The Squire— TheGrinstun Man— Lunch, Wordsworth and Original Poetry- Two Old People on the Blue Mountains. AT supper they had, for their vis-a-vis, a tall, aristooratic- looking man, attired airily in a mixture of jean and silk. His nose was aquiline, his eyes grey and piercing withal, his hair grey, but abundant, and his clean shaved mouth and chin mingled delicacy with strength of character. •'The weathah has been wahm," gentlemen," he re- marked; to which statement they assented. •* I obsehved you entah the hotel, and pehceived that you are travelling for pleasuhe by yo-ah knapsacks. I also am travelling, partly foh pleasuhe, partly foh mattahs of family business. My ideahs, gentlemen, are old fash- ioned, too much so foh railyoads. The Mississippi is ouah natuhal highway from the South, but, unfohtunately, the to ue unpleasant railyoad had to connect its head watahs .Hi "'■•:!*'P 6S TWO KNAPSACKS. with Lake Michigan, by which route ! find myself heah, on my way to a city called To-hon-to. You know it, I pehaudie f " Wilkinson's geographical lore was now unfolded. He discussed the Mississippi, although he had not been on that river, exhibited an intimate acquaintance with cities and routes which had never seen him in the flesh, and, by hiH quiet, gentlemanly, and, to the much older man, deferen- tial tone, was admitted to the confidence of Colonel Mor ton, of Louisiana, South American trader, ship-owner and the po88t'8sor of a fine estate, which, although it had suf fered greatly during the war, in whioh the colonel com- manded a cavalry regiment, was yet productive and remunerative. " I am a widowah, suh, and a childless old man," con tinued the colonel ; " my only boy fell in the wah-ah, and it broke his mother's heabt. Pahdon me," he said, as his: voice shook a little, and the least glimmer of a tear stood in his eye, " I rahely talk of these mattahs of a puhely pehsonal kind, but, as you are kind enough to be intehested in my affaiahs, I say this much by way of explanation." " I am sure, Colonel Morton, we deeply sympathizf with you in so great a double bereavement," interposed the dominie. ; " Indeed we do, sir, most sincerely," added the lawyer. " I thank you, gentlemen," answered the courteouti Southerner. " I was going to remahk that the only pehson in whom I feel a family intehest is my lamented wife's sistah, a Madame Du Plessis, who has resided foh many yeahs in yoah cit -^f To-hon-to. May I enquiah, ge.ntle- cnen, if you have, either of you, heahd the name befoah 1 " Coristine replied that, incidentally, he had heard the names of both Madame Du Plessis and her daughter. " I am awaah, suh, that my wife's sister has a daugh- tab. Can you tell me of my sister-in-law's suhcumstancea, and what her daughtah, my niece, is like in appeabance 1 " " Only from hearsay, Colonel. Madame Du Plessis is said to be in straightened circumstances, and I learn, from several quarters, that Mins Du Plessis is an attractive and amiable young lady ; < iiligant ' is what a countryman of mine, who served und«r her father, termed his young raia tress," li!;::'^::;liillill:i' lllllflii TWO KNAPSACKS. 67 " And her baptismal name, suh I" ' " Is Cecile, I think." " Ah, to be suah, my deah wife's name, Cecilia, galli- cized. She and Madame Du Plessis were Oastilians of Lima. Du Plesais was theah in the ahmy, I in commehcial puhnuilR, and we mabbied the sistabs, the belles of the Rimao. • Que' es la vjda ? Un frenesi 8ue' 68 la vida ? Una ilusion, na Bombra, una ficcion. ^ Calderon in these You read Spanish, Mr. Wilkinson?" •* A little, sir ; I think I reoognize lines." " Right, Mr. Wilkinson ; I thank you, sub, fob yoah pleasing companionship. Good evening, gentlemen ! " vVith a courtly bow, the colonel retired from the table. At the coloured barber's the pedestrians met Mr. Maguffin, who greeted Coristine, saying : — " Fopes yob doan feel none the wuhse oh yob ride on the po-ul," adding : " Mistah Foley, what runs this yeah Htabliflbment, he's my nuncle's oldes' boy, and he abstracks a cohnab ob the same ter my dispoabul fob obfice pupposes, Bupposin' I'm wabnted by folks as cabn't find me." •* That's very convenient," replied the lawyer, as he settled down in the barber's chair. " It am, sah. I doan' tote ox teams no moab, poul nor no po-ul, when I kin drive and ride the f asses and sassies hawfip" that is made ; no, sab, not much ! " *• You are tired of teaming, then 1 " " I am wobn out, sab, wif bein' called Toby and a po ul-cat. I doan find no Scripcber reffunce fob "Tobias, and yob know what a po-ul-cat is ; it's nuffin moah no less nor a akink." The victims of the barber and liis assistant kept the soap out of their mouths with difficulty. As his tormentor deserted him for a moment, the schoolmaster remarked that the Iroquois about the Liike of the Two Mountains called the Trappist monks there by the same savoury name, on account of some fancied resemblance between their dress and the coat of the Mephitis Americana. Mr. Maguffin was listening intently, thinking the con- versation was meant for his edification, and politely inter- pwed : — m-' r '^1 i ■A . ■! 6$ TWO KNAP8ACK8. It 4 "■jiii •♦No, sah, I ain't no MefFerdis. 1 was bawn and raised a Baktis. Foley, now, he's a Mefferdis, and I aint II gwine ter speak no harm of no Crishtchun bruddern what's tryin' ter do ri^ht accordin' ter they lights. But ter be called Toby and Po-ul-cat by low down white tresh, that trial ob the flesh and speerut is a fohgone conclusion, sah." The shaving operation completed, the travellers returned to the hotel, and found Colonel Morton on what he called the piazza, smoking a good Havana cigar. He opened his case for his companions of the supper table, and Ooristine accepted, while Wilkinson courteously declined. " I tell you what I want to do, Mr Cohistine. 1 want to puhchase two saddle hawses, a good one foh myself, and not a bad one foh my sehvant. XJnfohtunately, my boy took sick on the way, and I had to send him home on the Mississippi steamah. That means, I must get me a new aehvant, able to ride well and handle hawses. I pehsume, it will be hahd to dnd a cullahed boy, a niggro, in these pahts, so 1 must take whateveh can be got that will suit." •• Not at all. Colonel," replied Coristine, with effuaiou ; " I think I can get you a negro who is out of place, is a good rider, and, I imagine, a good judge of horses If you like, I'll go after him at once and tell him to report to you tomorrow morning." " My deah suh, you are altogethah too kind." " Not a bit of it ; when will I tell him to call upou youl" '• Would seven o'clock be too eahly ? Plantation and ahmy life have made lue a light sleepah, so that f am up befoh the genehality of hotel guests." *' The very time. Excuse me for running away, I want to bag my man." So Coristine left the colonel to parade the piazza witb Wilkinson, and resought the barber shop. The shop was closed, but a light stiH burned within. Ooristine knocked, and Tobias opened the door. " You're the very man I want," cried the lawyer. "Anything done gwine wrong, bossl" asked Mr. Maguffiu. The lawyer explained the circumstances to hiro at length, eulogized Colonel Morton, and told the negro to TWO KNAPSACKS. 69 ,^,: .-^ make his best appearance at the hotel, sharp at seven next morning. « Do yoh say the gemman '11 gib me thirty dollars a manf and cloves ter boot, and me ridin' behine him all ober the roads on hawseback ! " asked Tobias. " Yes, I think I can promise those terms," replied the legal go-between. "Then, yoh say foh me, if he's please foh ter hab me Maguffin, not Tobias, but Maguffin is his man, and I kin pick him out t\/o lubby hawses, cheap as a poul-caht, and I cahn't say no cheapah. My respecs and humble expreshun ob gracious spprecherashun ter yoh, Mistah Kerosene." The lawyer rushed back to the veranda, and found the colonel and Wilks still in conversation, and, wonder of won '.er, Wilkinson was actually smoking a cigar, which he occasionally inserted between his lips, and then held away at arm's length, while he puffed out the smoke in a thin blue cloud. Wisely, he did not express astonish- ment at this unheard of feat of his friend, but informed the colonel that he had seen the coloured man, whose name was Tobias, but preferred to be called Maguffin, that he was willing to engage for thirty dollars a month and his clothes, and that he could put his new master in the way of getting two suitable horses. " I think, Colonel, you can reckon on his being here punctually at seven to-morrow." " I shall nevah cease, Mr. Oohistine, to be sensible of yoah great kindness to an entiah styangah, suh. Oblige me by smoking anothah cigah, if they are to yoah liking." So Corry lit a fresh cigar, and the three paraded tho verandah till it was very late, engaging in all manner of pleasant conversation. When the stumps were thrown away, the colonel invited the comrades to visit his rooms for a moment before retiring. Entering his private sit- ting-ruom, he produced a quaintly-shaped but large glass bottle, which he flanked with three tumblers and a carafe of water. " Help yohselves, gentlemen," he said, cour- teously ; " this old Bourbon is good foh countehacting the effects of the night aiah. Some prefer Monongahela, but good old Bourbon in modehation cahn't be suhpahssed." The pedestrians filled up, and bowed to their host as they m 70 TWO KNAPSACKS. I V drank, and the colonel, doing the same, said, *' Mj thanks to yoh, gentlemen, foh yoah kindness to a atyangah- to yoah good health and ouah futhah pleasant acquaiii tance ! " Then they severally retired, and the hotel closed for the night. The next morning Coristine, whose room was just over the main entrance, was awakened by a loud discussion in the hall of the hotel. " Clare out now," cried the porter, "the bar's not opind yit, an' we don't want naygurs round whin the guests do be comin' down the stairs ; dare, now, I tell yeez." . ^ «' I'se heah, Mike, on bisness wif Cunnel Morting, said a well-known voice_, and continued, " yoh go and tell the cunnel that Miatah Maguffin is waitin' foh to pay his respecs." "Go along wid yeez, Oi say, ye black scum av the airth, wid yer Cornel Mortins, the loikea av you I Faix, Oi'll tache yeez who's yer betthera wid this broom-bandl'^ " " Gently, my good man, gently ! " said the colonel, soothingly, as he laid his hand on Mike's shoulder. ''Thi: boy haa business with me. Come in heah, M^guiBn." * Tobias went in, with a triumphant glance at Mike, and, arrangements being completed, was soon at work, blacking his master's boots. Then he had a second break fast at the servant's table, after which the colonel sallied forth with him, to provide him with a befitting suit of clothes, and to inspect the horses he had deemed suitable for the use of his new employer and himself. While they were gone, Wilkinson and his friend descended to a late breakfast, during which the hotel clerk handed the lawyer a telegram, signed Tylor, Woodruflf, and White, and con taining the words, " Look up Colonel Morton, Madame Du Plessis, 315 Bluebird Avenue, Parkdale." So the colonel had been corresponding with his firm, and he must either wait till that worthy returned, or leave a note for him. " Bawderashin, anyway, when a man's out for a holiday, can't he be left alone a bit ! " Then, turning to his friend, he aaked, "And, are they troubling you with letters and telegrams, too, Wilks, my darling?" The dominie teplied, "I have only one letter about a poor lady teacher, who is in consumption, I fear. They want an extension of holidays for her, which is rather hard to get.' ■ii! i TWO KNAPSACKS. n " But you'll get it for her, Wilks, my dear I ** " Of course I will, if I have to do her work as well as my own." " I knew it, Wilks, 1 knew it. You're as soft hearted as a girl, for all your aiamant exterior. God bless yon, my dear boy ! " "Corry, Corry, what allowances must be made for your exaggerated Irish language ! What is there like adamant about me, I should like to know ) " " Good mawnin, gentlemen," said the soft voice of the colonel, "I am delighted to see you looking so well. I envy you Canadian gentlemen yoah fine fyesh complexions and yoah musical voices. We have sawft voices in the south, but it is a soht of niggro sawftness, gained by contact 1 pehsume. My sehvant and I byeakfasted some time ago." " I trust he is to your liking, Colonel 9 " enquired Ooris- tine. " Suh, you have found me a jewel in Maguffin, and he has found me two splendid roadsters that are now being fitted with saddles. We staht for To-hon-to in an houah, gentlemen." " By the bye, Oolonel, I have a telegram from my firm that concerns you. It says 'Look up Colonel Morton, Madame Du Plessis, 315 Bluebird Avenue, Parkdale." " But wheah is Pahkdale 1 " •• It is a suburb of Toronto. You had better keep the telegram." " So, Mr. Cohistine, you are a lawyehl " — ^ -\ " Yes j of the firm of Tylor, Woodruff, and White, but ' / I'm not that now, I'm a gentleman out on a grand stra a I vague." / ; '! ' '' .' ^ '• You may be a lawyeh, suh, but you are a gentleman | 88 well, and I hope to meet you befoah many days are / past. Good mawniL, my kind friends!" The knapsacks were put on boldly, in the very parlour of the hotel, and their bearers strode along the lake road into the west, as coolly as if they were doing Snowden or Windermere. It was a glorious morning, and they exulted in it, rejoicing in the joy of living. The dominie had written his letter to the vulgar school-trusteeb, and felt good, with the approbation of a generous conscience. He recited with feeling : — f; - .a ' f fci-H if M ! !J ?4t ?a TWO KNAPSACKS. "Tea**— '• What, you art stepping westward t "Twouldbeft wildish destiny, „ , If we, who thus together roam ' In a strange land, and far from home, Were in this place the guests of chance ; Yet who would stop, or fear t' advance, Though home or shelter he had none, With such a sky to lead him on. ^ The dewy ground was dark and cold ; ' " Faith, 'tis nothing of the kind, Wilks," interrupted Ooristine ; but the dominie went on unheeding. Behind, all gloomy to behold. And stepping westward seemed to be ( A kind of heavenly destiny : I liked the greeting ; 'twas a sound Of something without place or bound And seemed to give me spiritual right To travel through that region bright. The voice was soft, and she who spaka Was walking by her native lake ; The salutation had to me • , The very sound of courtesy ; Its power was felt ; and while my eye Was fix'd upon the glorious sky, The echo of the voice enwrought • A human sweetness with the thought Of travelling through the world that lay Before me in my endless way. " O Wilks, but you're the daisy. So you're going to travel through the world with the human sweetness of the soft voice of courtesy 1 You're a fraud, Wilks, you're as soft-hearted as a fozy turnip." " Corry, a little while ago you called me adamant. You are inconsequential, sir." . . ., . . " All right, Wilks, my darling. But isn't it a joy to have the colonel taking the bad taste of the Grinstun man out of your mouth 1 " - . , tj «' The colonel, no doubt, is infinitely preferable. Ue is a i?entleman, Corry, and that is saying a good deal." •« Hurroo for a specimen 1 look at that bank on yoor left, beyond that wet patch, it's thyme, it is. Thyrm aerpyllum, and Gray says it's not native, but adventitious from Europe. Maccoun says the same ; I wonder what my dear friend, Spotton, saysl But here it is, and no trace of a house or clearing near. It's thyme, my boy, and smells sweet as honey : — TWO KNAPSACKS. * 73 .''''■■ ■' -' .1 Old father Time, as Ovid sings, ' • Is a great eater up of things, And, without salt or mustard, Will gulp you down a castle walL As easily as, at Guildhall, An alderman eats custard." " Drop your stupid Percy anecdote poems, Oorry, and listen to this," cried the dominie, aa he sang :— I know a bank whereon the wild thyme grows. I know a bank whereon the wild thyme grows Where oxhps and the nodding violets blow. Where oxhps linger, nodding violets blow, I know a bank whereon the wild thyme grow-ow-ow-ow-ows 1 1 ! The lawyer joined in the chorus, encored the song, and trolled " ow ow ow ow ows " until the blood vessels over his brain pan demanded a rest. •• Wilks," he said, " you're a thing of beauty and a joy forever." Soon the road trended within a short distance of the lake ahore. The blue waves were tumbling in gloriously and swished up upon the shelving limestone rocks. " What 18 the time, Oorry ? " asked Wilkinson. " It's eleven by my repeater," he answered. •• Then it is quite safe to bathe ; what do you say to a dip 1 " The lawyer unstrapped his knapsack, and hastened off the road towards the beach "Come on, Wilks," he cried, " we'll make believe that it's gram pusses we are." " What is a grampus 1 " enquired the dominie. " Dad, if I know," replied his friend. '« A grampus, sir, etymologically is ' un grand poiaaon.' but, biologically, it is no fish at all, being a mammal, mid- way between a dolphin and a porpoise." " So yougot off that conundrum a porpoise to make a fool of me, Wilks ?" « ui»« » "0, Oorry, you make me shudder with your villainous puns. "That's nothing to what I heard once. There were some fellows camping, and they had two tents and some dogs for deerhunting. As it waa raining, they let the hounds sleep in one of the tents, when one of the fel- ows goes round and says : • Shut down your curtains.' Were you telling them that to keep the rain Qutf asked one, when the rascal answered : « To all in tents and purp houses.' Wasn't that awful, now 1" ^ M m M'' 7i TWO KNAPSACKS. Thn water was cold but pleasant on a hot day, and thti Bwimmers enjoyed striking out some distance from shore and then being washed in by the homeward-bound waves. They sat, with their palms pressed down beside them, on smooth ledges of rock, and let the breakers lap over them. The lawyer was thinking it time to get out, when he saw Wilkinson back into the waves with a scared face. •• Are you going for another swim, Wilks, my boy ? " he asked. •'Look behind you," whispered the schoolmaster. Coris- tine looked, and was aware of three girls, truly rural, sit- ting on the bank and apparently absorbed in contemplat- ing the swimmers. '* This is awful ! " he ejaculated, as he slid down into deep water ; " Wilks, it's scare the life out of them I must, or we'll never get back to our clothes. Now, listen to me." Dipping his head once more under water till it dripped, he let out a fearful sound, like " Gur- rahow skrrr spat, you young gurruls, an' if yeez don't travel home as fast as yer futs'U taake yeez, it's I'll be afther yeez straight, och, garrahow skrr spat whishtubbleubble- ubble 1 " The rural maidens took to their heels and ran, as Coristine swam into shore. In a minute the swimmers were into their clothes and packs, and resumed their march, much refreshed by the cool waters of the Georgian Bay. " And where is it we're bound for now, Wilks ?" " For the abandoned shale-works at the foot of the Blue Mountains." ■■\-^J^' \:\:'w •-'"■'"' " Fwhat's that, as Jimmie Butler said about the owl 1 " *' The Utica formation, which crops out here, consists largely of bituminous shales, that yield mineral oil to the extent of twenty gallons to the ton. But, since the oil springs of the West have been in operation, the usefulness of these shales is gone. The Indians seem to have made large use of the shale, for a friend of mine found a hoe of that material on an island in the Muskoka lakes. Being easily split and worked, it was doubtless very acceptable to the metal wanting aborigines." " But, if the works are closed up, what will we see 1 " " We shall meet with fossils in the shale, with trilo- bites, such as the Aaaphus Canadensis, a crustacean, closely allied to the wood-louse, and occasionally found rolled up, like it, into a defensive ball, together with other specimem of ancient life." TWO KNAP8ACK9. 75 1: '1 " Wilks, my son, who's doing Qosse's Canadian Natur aliat, now, I'd like to know t Pity we hadn't the working geologist along for a lesson." '« I am sorry if I have bored you with my talk, but 1/ thought you were interested in science. Does this suit you better ? Many a little hand Glanced like a touch of aunshine on the rocka, Many a light foot Rhone like a jewel set In the dark crag ; and then we tuin'd, we wound About the cliffs, tlie copses, out and in, Hammering and clinking, chattering stony names Of shale and hornblende, rag and trap and tuff, Amygdaloid and trachyte, till the sun Grew broader towards his death and fell, and all The rosy heights came out above the lawns." " That's better, avic. Tennyson's got the shale there, I see. But rag and trap and tuff is the word, and tough ibe whole business is. Just look at that living blue bell, there, it's worth all the stony names of rock and fossil. Let the proud Indian boast of his jessamine bowers, His garlands of roses and moss-oovered dells, , While humbly I sing of those sweet little flowera, The blue bells of Scotland, the Scottish blue bells. , We'll shout in the chorus forever and ever, The blue bells of Scotland, the Scottish blue bells." " You are a nice botanist, Mr. Ooristine, to confound that campanula with the Scottish blue-bell, which is a scilla, or wild hyacinth." " Poetic license, my dear friend, poetic license ! Hear this now : — Let the Blue Mountains boast of their shale that's bituminous. Full of trilobites, graptolites and all the rest. It may not be so learn«$d, or ancient, or luminous, But the little campanula's what I love best. So we'll shout in the chorus forever and ever, -' The little campanula's worth all the rest. Whew ! What do you think of that for an impromntu 8ong, Wilks 1" ^ " T think that you are turning your back upon your / own piiuciple that there is no best, or no one best, and'that ^/ everything is best in its place." "Barring old Nick and the mosquitoes, Wilks, come now?" *' Well, an exception may be made in their favour, but what says the poet : — n 76 TWO KNAPSACKS. O yet we truHt that soinehnw good Will be the final Koal of ill. Oome, along, though, for we have much to see before son set." '* You don't think that good is going to oome out of the devil and mosquitoes f " "Yes I do ; not to themselves, perhaps, but to human- ity." •• I saw a book once with the title " Why Doesn't God Kill the Devilt" and sympathized with it. Why doesn't KeV " Because man wants the devil. As soon as the world ceases to want him, so soon is his occupation gone." ** Wilks, my dear, that's an awful responsibility lying on us men, and I fear what you say is too true. So here's for the shale works." The pedestrians ceased their theological discussion and went towards the deserted buildings, where, in former days, a bad smelling oil had been distilled from the slaty- looking black stones, which lay about in large numbers. Wilkinson picked up fossils enough, species of trilobites chiefly, with a few graptolites, lingulas and strophomenas, to start a museum. These, as Goristine had suggested in Toronto, he actually tied up in his silk handkerchief, which he slung on the crook of his stick and carried over his shoulder. The lawyer also gathered a few, and bestowed them in the side pocket of his coat not devoted to smoking materials. The pair were leaving the works for the ascent of the mountain, when barks were heard, then a pattering of feet, and soon the breathless Muggins jumped upon them with joyous demonstrations. " Where has he been) How came we not to miss himt" asked the dominie, and Goristine answered rather obliquely : — " I don't remember seeing him since we entered Gol- lingwood. Surely he didn't go back to the Grinstun man." " It is hard to be poetical on a dog called Muggins," remarked Wilkinson ; "Tray seems to be the favourite name. Gowper's dogs are different, and Wordsworth has Dart and Swallow, Prince and Music, something like Aotaeon's dogs in ' Ovid.' Nevertheless, I like Muggins." " Oh, Tray is good.. Wilks :— ^•11*1^ TWO KNAPSACKS. n To my dear loving Shelah, ao far, far awAy, I oau never return with my old doR Tray ; He'n lazy and he'a blind, You'll never, never find A bigger thief than old dog Tray," ** C/orry, this is bathoB of the worst description. You are liko a 'caterpillar ; yoa desecrate the living leaf you touch." *' Wilks, that's hard on the six feet of me, for your caterpillar has a great many more. But that dog's gone back Hgain." Ah they looked after his departing figure, the reason was obvious. Two lightly, yet clerically, attired figures were coming up the road, and on the taller and thinner of the twain the dog was leaping with every sign of genuine affection. ^ <* I'm afraid, Wilks, that Muggins is a beastly cur, a treacherous 'ound, a hungrateful pup ; look at his antics with that cadaverous curate, keeping company with his sleek, respectable vicar. O Muggy, Mug, Mug I " The pedestrians waited for the clergy, who soon oame up to them, and exchanged salutations. " My dawg appears to know you," said the tall cas- socked clerio in a somewhat lofty, professional tone. "He ought to," replied Wilkinson, "seeing that he was given to me by a Mr. Rawdon, a working geologist, as he calls himself." " Ow, really now, it seems to me rather an immoral transaction for your ah friend, Mr. Rawdon, to give away another man's property." " Mr. Rawdon is no friend of mine, but his dog took a fancy to us, and followed us from Dromore to Collingwood." " Allow me to assure you that Muggins is not this ah Mr. Rawdon's dawg at all. I trained him from a puppy at Tosscrontio. The Bishop ordered ine from there to Flan- ders, and, in the hurry of moving, the dawg was lost ; but now, I should rather say stowlen. My friend, the Rev- erend Mr. Errol and myself, my name is Basil Perrowne, Clerk, had business in Collingwood last night, when Mug- gins, moat opportunely, met us, and went howme with me." '• Well, Mr. Perrowne, I am very glad you have recovered your dog, which I was only too glad to rescue from a somewhat inhuman master. My name is Wilkin- Kl U '" - A 78 TWO KNAP8A0RB. 8on, of the Toronto sohoola, my friend in Mr. Ooristino, of Oegoodo Hall, barriHter." The gHntlotuon (>xchanged formal salutatioua, and pro oeeded on their way, VVilkinHon with Perrowne, and Cor istino with ErroU. Muggins waa in the seventh heaven of delight. "You belong to ToBRorontio, Mr. Perrowne t" asked Wilkinson, by wiiy of starting the conversation. " Ow, now 1 I said I had trained Muggins from u pup there, but that ownly extends owver a few years. Durham is my university, which you may have heard of." *'Iam familiar by name with the university and th(t cathedral, although the juvenile geography books say that Durham is famous for its mustard." " Ow, now, really, they down't, do they 1 Ow d( ar, mustard I We Durham men can serve it out pretty hot, you know. You belong to the Church, of course, Mr. Wilkinson 1" *' I was brought up in the Church of England, and educated in what are called Church principles ; I am fond of the Prayer Book and the Service, but, to my way of thinking, the Church is far more extensive than our mere Anglican communion." *• Ow, yes, there are Christian people, who, I howp*', will get to heaven some way through the uncovenanted mer- cies, in spite of their horrid schism from the True Body. There is Errol, now, whom, out of mere courtesy, I call reverend,' but he is no more reverend than Muggins. His orders are ridiculous, not worth a farthing candle." "Come, come, Mr. Perrowne, his orders are as good as those of St. Timothy, which were laid on him by the hands of the Presbytery." " That is precisely what the cheeky dissenter says him- self. We have dropped that line of controversy now, for one ever so much more practical." " I hope you don't take off your coats and 6ght it out? You have the advantage in height and youth, but Mr. Errol seems a strong and active man." *♦ Now, we down't tight. I have set a cricket club a- gowing, and he has turned a neglected field into a golf links. My club makes Churchmen, and his makes 8ootcb dissenters." TWO KNAPSACKS. 70 1 <•■ 1 '" <' I thought the Presbyt^jrian (Jhurch wbh eiit%bli8bed in Scotland 1 " " Ow, down't yon see, we are not in Scotland." "Then, in Canada, there is no established church, unless it be the Roman Catholic in the Province of Quebec." " Owr, well, drop that, you know ; we are the Church, and hII the outside people are dissenters. I down't antagon- ize him. He helped me to mnlce my crease, and joined my club, and I play golf with him every fine Monday morning. But the young fellows have now true English upirit here. Errol has twenty golfers to my six cricket- era. When he and I are added, that makes eight, not near enough, you know. As a mission agency, my club liaH not succeeded yet, but every time I make a cricketer, I make a Churchman." *' I have known some very good cricketers that were not Anglicans." •• Now you haven't, my dear sir ; you thought you have, but you haven't ; that's the trouble with those who reject Church authority. The Methodist plays rounder, what you call base-ball ; the Independents and Baptists played croquet and lawn tennis after other people stopped playing them ; the Presbyter:' in plays golf ; and the Church- man plays cricket." '* To argue with one who sweeps all experience aside with a wave of his hand," said the schoolmaster, indig- nantly, " is not to argue at all. It is a case of Roma locuta." •'Ow, yes, just sow, you know, we down't argue, we simply assert the truth." " How d'ye like the Durham mustard, v7ilks, my boy t " put in Coristine from the rear, where he and Mr. Errol were laughing amusedly ; " it's hot, isn't it, not much solid JEood, but lots of flavour ] It reminds me of The Crew, when he said what was, is, and ever shall be, Amen. Mr, Perrowne is the owner of a splendid dog, and he is a splendid dogmatist. What he doesn't know isn't worth knowing." *' Ow, thanks awfully, Mr. Coristine, yon are really too flattering 1 " gravely and gratefully replied the parson. Wilkinson was afraid that his friend's banter might become too apparent, as the simple egotism of the graduate of i TWO KNAr'HArtCH. i-ifi^ Durham led him on, ho, he changod the HubJHct, nnd soob Vhad the cloric quoting Virgil and Mrs. Hemans. Meanwhile CoriHtine and Mr. Errol were taking one another'H monsure. The lawyer recited to his companion the converHation V)etwflen Marjorie and himnelf rela- tive to TimotheuB. He found that Errol knew Marjorie, who had often been in his church and Sunday school in Flanders. *' She's a comical little piece," he said ; " her Sunday school teacher asked her who killed Qoliath t and what do you think was her reply ! " "Give it up." " It was ' Jack,' no less than Jack the Giant- Killer." " The darlin' ! " cried the lawyer, with admiration, and Htraightway won the minister's heart. " Marjorie has a cousin stopping at the house of Mr. OttrrutherH, one of my elders, since last Tuesday night, an blithe and bonnie a young leddy as man could wish to see. While she's here, she's just the light of the whole country side." Mr. Coriatine did not oare for this turn in the conver- sation. " Tell me some more about little Marjorie," ho said. " Ah," replied the minister, '• then you know that her oouaiu is called Mnrjorie, too ! Little Marjorie went to church once with Miss Du Plessis, whom Perrowne had got to sing in the ch'*", that was last summer, if I mind right, and, when the two rideeclus candles on the altar were lighted, and the priest, as he calls himself, came in with his surplice on, she put her face down in Miss Oecile's lap. ' What's the trouble, Marjorie 1 ' asked Miss Du Plessis, bending over her. ' He's going to kiss us all good-night,' sobbed the wee thing. ' No he is not, Marjorie ; he's on his knees, praying,' replied the young leddy, soothingly. 'That's what papa always does, when he's dressed like that, before he kisses me good-night, but he takes oQ his boots and things first,' and she sobbed again, for fear Perrowne was coming to kiss them all, put out the candles, and go to bed. If Miss Du Plessis had not been a sober-minded lass, she would have laughed out in the middle of the ohoir. As it was, she had to hand Marjorie over to a neighbour in a back seat, before th« bit* lassie would be comforted." ...il .rial TWO KNAMHAOKH. •1 " Ah I did you ever now 1 thn little innocent 1 " *' It'b not that improbable that there'll be a marriage ia the church before long. Perrowne's juHt clean daft and it fatuated with his occaHioual soprano. He'H sent her the ' llirror of Devotion ' and the • Soul's Quentioner,' and a lo» of nicely bound trash, and walkH home with her whenever he has the chance, to the scandal and rage of all his farmers' datghters. It's very injudeecious o' Perrowne, and haH dffeven two of his best families to the Kirk. Not that she'i no a braw looking lass, stately and deeguified, but she has na the winHomeness of Miss Marjorie." "Ih that your quarter, Mr. Errol 1 " "Hech, sirs, I'm an old bachelor that'll never see five and forty again ; but, as we say in Scotch or the vernacular Doric, * an auld oarle micht dae waur.' There's not a more Honuible, modest, blithesome, bonnie lassie in all the land. It's a thousand peeties some young, handsome, well-to-do, Htcady, God-fearing man has na asked at her to be * th<- light o' his ain fireside.' Gin I were as young as you, Mr. Coristine, I would na think twice about it." •' Avaui tempter I " cried the lawyer, " such a sub ject as mati .uony is strictly tabooed between me and my friend." " I'll be your friend, I hope, but I cannot afford to taboo marriages. Not to speak of the fees, they're the life of a well-ordered, healthy congregation." A neat turn-out, similar to that of Mrs. Thomas, came^ rattling along the road. "That's John Oarruthers'team," remarked the minister, and such it turned out to be. " Maister Errol," said its only occupant, a strong and honest-faced man with a full brown beard, " yon's a fine hanky panky trick to play wi' your ain elder an' session clerk." " Deed John," returned the minister, relapsing into the vernacular ; " I didna ken ye were i' the toon ava, hut 'oor bit dander has gien us the opportunity o' beoomin' acquent wi' twa rale dacent lads." Then, turning to the lawyer, " excuse our familiar talk, Mr. Coristine, and let mo introduce Squire Oarruthers, of Flanders." The two men exchanged salutations, and Perrowne, having turned back with Wilkinson, the same ceremony was gone through with the latter. They were then all courteoosLji IB 'i| ' l¥T,"T 85 TWO KNAPSACKS. 'I invited to get into the waggon. Errol and Perrowue flprang in with an air of old proprietorship bat the tvo pedestrians respectfully declined, as they were especially anxious to explore the mountain beauties of this part of the country on foot and at their leisure. •* Aweel, gentlemen," cried the squire, •• gin ye'll no come the noo, we'll just expect to see ye before the Sawbith. The Church and the Kirk'll be looking for the wayfarerH, and my house, thank Providence, is big eneuch to gie y<- a kindly welcome." The parsons ably seconded Mr. Carruthers' peculiar mixture of English and Lowland Scotch, on the latter of which he prided himself, but only when in the company of someone who could appreciate it. Wilkinson looked at Coristine, and the lawyer looked at the dominie, for here they were invited to go straight into the jaw^s of the lion. Just then, they descried, climbing painfully up the hill, but some distance behind them, the Grinstun man ; there was no mistaking hira. " Hurry, and drive away," cried Ooristine, in an under tone ; '• that cad there, the same that stole Muggins, is going to your house, Squire. For any sake, don't facilitate his journey." " I'll no stir a hoof till ye promise to come to as, Mr. Ooristine, and you, Mr. Wilkins, tae." "All right, mrmy thanks, we promise," they cried together, and th^) v* aggon rattled away. " Now, Wilks, over this ditch, sharp, and into the brash, till this thief of the world goes by. We've deprived him of a ride, and that's one good thing done." Together they jumped the ditch, and squatted among the bushes, waiting for the Grinstun man. They heard him puffing up the rising ground, saw his red, perspiring face in full view, and heard him, as he mopped himself with a bandanna, exclaim : " Blowed if I haiut bin and lost the chance of a lift. Teetotally blawst that hold hass of a driver, and them two soft-'eaded Tomfools of hamateur scientists ridin' beside 'im. I knew it was Muggins, the car I stole, and guv a present of to that there guy of a Favosites Wilkinsonia. I don't trust 'im, the scaly beg- gar, for hall 'is fine 'eroic speeches. 'E'll be goiu' and splittib' on me to that gal, sure as heggs. And that Cur ryaione, six feet of 'ipocrisy and hinsolence, drat the long- TV/0 RNTAPSAGRB. 88 legged, 'airy brute. O crikfiy, but it's 'ot ; 'owever, I must 'my on, tor grinstuns ia giinstune, and a gal, with a rid hold huncle, ridin' a fine 'orae, with a nigger behind 'im carryin' his portmantle, haint to be sneezed hat. Streich your pegs, Mr. Rawdon, workin* geologist hand minerologist ! " " By Jove I " cried Ooristine, when the Grinstun man was out of sight ; *' that cad has met the colonel, and has been talking to him." " A fine nephew-in-law he will get in him I " growled Wilkinson ; " I have half a mind— excuse me Oorry." " I thought you were very much taken with the old Southerner." " Yes, that is it," and the dominie relapsed into silence. " It's about lunch time, Wilks, and, as there's sure to be no water on the top of the hill, I'll fill my rubber bag at the spring down there, and carry it up, so that we can enjoy the view while taking our prandial." Wilkinson vouchsafed no reply. He wan in deep and earnest thought about something. Taking silence for con- sent, Ooristine tripped down the hill a few yards, with a square india rubber article in bis hand. It had a brass mouthpiece that partly screwed oflF, when it was desir- able to inflate it with air, as a cushion, pillow, or life-pre- server, or to fill it with hot water to take the place of a warming-pan. Now, at the spring by the roadside, he rinsed it well out, and then filled it with clear cold wfiter, which he brought back to the place where the school- master was leaning on his stick and pondering. Replac- iog the knapsack, out of which the india rubber bag had come, the lawyer prepared to continue the ascent. In order to rouse his reflective friend, he said, " Wilks, my Ijoy, you've dropped your fossils." '• I fear, Oorry, that I have lost all interest in fossils." " Sure, that Grinstun man's enough to give a man a scunner at fossils for the rest of his life." " It is not exactly that, Oorry," replied the truthful dominie ; "but I need my staff and my handkerchief, and I think I will leave the specimens on the road, all except these two Asaphoi, the perplexing, bewildering relics of antiquity. This world is full of perplexities still, Oorry." 84 TWO KNAPSACKS. So saying, the dominie sighed, emptied his bandanna of all but the two fossils, which he transferred to his pocket, and, with staff in hand, recommenced the upward journey. In ten minutes thev were on the summit, and behold che far-off figure of the working geologist on the further slope. In both directions the view was magnificent. They sat by the roadside on a leafy bank overshaded with cool branches, and, producing the reduplication of the Barrie stores procured the night before at Collingwood, proceeded to lunch al fresco. The contents of the india rubber bag, qualified with the spirit in their flasks, cheered the hearts of the pedestrians and made them more inclined to look ^ on the bright side of life. Justice having been done to the biscuits and cheese, Coristine lit his pipe, while the dominie took a turn at Wordsworth. With musical intonation, Wilkinson read aloud : — Some thtught he was a lover, and did woo : Some thought far worse of him, and judged him wronst : But verse was what he had been wedded to ; And his own mind did like a tempest strong Come to him thus, and drove the weary wight along. , With him there often walked in friendly guise, Or lay upon the moss by brook or tree, A noticeable man with large grey eyes. And a pale face that seemed undoubtedly As if a blooming face it oxiyfht to be ; Heavy his low-hnng lip did oft appear, Depress'd by weight of musing phantasy ; Profound his forehead was, though not severe ; Yet some did think that he had little business here. i]^ I He would entice that other man to hear His music, and to view his imagery : ''i . And, sooth, these two did love each other dear, As far as love in such a place could be ; There did they dwell— from earthly labour free, ■ As happy spirits as were ever seen : ■ . If but a bird, to p them company, ; Or butterfly sate down, they were, I ween. As pleased as if the same had been a maiden queen. "That's the true stuff, Wilks, and has the right ring in it, for we love e ach other dear, and are as happy npirits as ' ere ever seen , but not a large grey eye, pale face, or low uung Hp between us. Just hear my music now, and view my imagery with your mind's eye :— TWO KNAPSACKS. . 85 Far down the ridge, I see the Grinstun man, Full short in stature and rotund is he, Pale grey his watery orbs, that dare not scan His interlocutor, and his goatee. With hair and whiskers like a furnace be : Concave the mouth from which his nose-tip flies In vain attempt to shun vulgarity. O haste, ye gods, to snatch from him the prize, And send him hence to weep — and to geologize 1 " " The rythm is all right, Corry, and the rhyme, but I hope you do not call that poetry t " " If that isn't superior to a good many of Words- worth's verses, Wilks, I'll eat my hat, and that would be a pity this hot weather. Confess now, you hay then, you," cried the lawyer, making a lunge at his companion with his stick, which the latter warded off with his book. " There are some pretty poor ones," the schoolmaster granted grudgingly, '* but the work of a great poet should not be judged by fragments." '* Wilks, apply the rule ; I have only given you one stanza of the unfinished epic, which unborn generations will peruse with admiration and awe, ' The Grinstun Quarry Restored ' : — I have striven hard for my high reward Through many a changing year : Now, the goal I reach ; it is mine to teach. Stand still, O man, and hear ! I shall wreathe my name, with the brightness of fame, To shine upon history s pages ; It shall be a gem in the diadem Of the past to future ages 1 Oh, Wilks for immortality ! " cried the light-hearted lawyer, rising with a laugh. Looking back towards the ascent, he perceived two bowed figures struggling up the -hill under largish, and, apparently, not very light burdens. '• Wilks, my dear, we're young and vigorous, and down there are two poor old grannies laden like pack mules in this broiling sun. Let us leave our knapsacks here, and give them a hoist." The schoolmaster willingly assented, and followed his friend, who flew down the hill at breakneck speed, in a rapid but more sober manner. The old couple looked up with some astonishment at a well-dressed city man tearing tl A I 'l 11 !.:;■ 86 TWO KNAPSACKS. down the hill towards them like a Hchoolboy, but their astonishment turned to warmest gratitude, that found vent in many thankful expresHions, as the lawyer shouldered the old lady's big bundle, and, as, a minute later, the dominie relieved her partner of hie. They naturally fell into pairs, the husband and Wilkinson loading, Coristine and the wife following after. In diil'erent w»yH the elderly pair told their twin burden-bearers the same story of their farm some distance below the western slopo of the moun- tain, of their son at home and their two daughters out at Hervice, and mentioned the fact that they had both been schoolteachers, but, as they said with apologetic humility, only on third-class county certificates. Old Mr. Hill insisted on getting his load back when the top of the mountain was reached, and the pedestrians resumed their knapsacks and staves, but the lawyer utterly refused to surrender his bundle to the old lady's entreaties, The sometime schoolteachers were intelligent, very well read in Oowper, Pollock, and Sir Walter Scott, as well as in the Bible, and withal possessed of a fair sense of humour. The old lady and Coristine were a perpetual feast to one another. " Sure I " said he, " it's bagmen the ignorant creatures have taken us for more than once, and it's a genuine one I am now, Mrs. Hill," at which the good woman laughed, and recited the Scotch ballad of the " Wee Wifukie coming frae the fair," who fell asleep, when " by came a packman wi' a little pack," and relieved her of her purse and placks, and " olippit a' her gowden locks sae bonnie and sae lang." This she did in excellent taste, leaving out any objectionable expressions in the original. When she repeated the words of the Wifukie at the end of each verse, " This is nae me," consequent on her discovery that curls and money were gone, the lawyer laughed heartily, causing the pair in front, who were dis- cussing educational matters, to look round for the cause of the merriment. " I'm the man," shouted Coristine to them, " the packman wi' a little pack." Then Mr. Hill knew what it was. • - --.•■vv---.^..,-,;;??:- TWO KNAI-MACKS. 87 CHAPTER V. Oonverfiatfon with the Hilln -Tobacco— Knral Hospitality — Tne Deip- iiottophist and GaHtroiioinic Dileintnu — Mr. Hill's CourtHhip — William Ilufus ronsnn tho Doininie'H Ire— Sloep - The Keal JlufuB — ActH as Guide — liawdon DiHcuHHed — The Shi^rt^ard Farmer — The TeamsterH — The Wasps— A Dillerence of Opinion. Ir was very pleaHant for all four, tho walk down the mountain road ; and the pedeHtrianB enjoyod the Hcenery all the more with intelligent guides to point out places of interest. The old schoolteacher, having questioned Wil- kinson as to his avocation, looked upon him as a superior Ixiing, and gratified the little corner of good natured vanity that lies in most teachers' hearts. Ooristine told the wife that he trusted her daughters had good places, where they would receive the respect due to young women of such upbringing ; and she replied : — " O yes, sir, they are both in one family, the family of Squire Carruthers in Flanders. Tryphena is the eldest ; Hbo's twenty-five, and is cook and milker and helps with the washing. Tryphosa is only twenty, and attends to the other duties of. the house. Mrs. Carruthers is not above holping in all the work herself, ho that she knows how to treat her maids properly. Still, I am anxious about them." " Nothing wrong with their health, I hope ) " asked the lawyer. '• No, air ; in a bodily way they enjoy excellent health." '* Pardon me, Mrs. Hill," interrupted Ooristine, " for Haying that your perfectly correct expression calls up that of a friend of mine. Meeting an old college professor, very stiff and precise in manner and language, he had occasion to tell him that, as a student, he had enjoyed very poor health. • I do not know about the enjoying of it, air,' he answered, ' but I know your health was very poor.' Ha, ha 1 but I interrupted you." " I was going to say, sir, that I have never been ambi- tious, save to keep a good name and live a humbly useful life, with food convenient for me, as Agur, the son of li-.'l^i^l 88 TWO R.VArSAOKS. fSi Jakeb, says in the Book of Proverbs, in which, I suppose, he included clothing and shelter, but I did hope my girls would look higher than the Pilgrims." '* You don't mean John Bunyan's Christian and Chris- tiana, and Great Heart, and the rest of them 1 " '* Oh, no I " replied the old lady, laughing, " mine are living characterB, quite unknown to the readers of books, Sylvanus and Timotheus, the sons of old Saul Pilgrim." *' Oh, that's their name, is it t The Crew never told me his surname, nor did Captain Thomas." " You know Sylvanus' captain, then 1 But, has he many sailors besides Pilgrim t " " No ; that's why I call him The Crew. It's like a Scotch song, * The Kitty of Looh Goil,' that goes : — For a' oor haill ship's companie, Was twa laddy and a poy, prave poys. Sylvanus is The Crew, who goes on a cruise, like Crusoe. O, do forgive me, Mrs. Hill, for so forgetting myself ; -we have been so long away from ladies' society," which, con sidering the circumstances of the preceding day, was hardly an ingenuous statement. " I am not so troubled about the elder Pilgrim and Tryphena," continued the old lady, " because Tryphena is getting up a little in years for the country ; I believe they marry later in the city, Mr. Coristine 1 " " O yes, always, very much, I'm sure," answered the lawyer, confusedly. "Tryphena is getting up, and— well, she takes after her father in looks, but will make any man a good wife. Then the elder Pilgrim has good morals, and is afiectionate, soft I should be disposed to call him ; and he has regular employment all the year round, though often away from home. Ho has money saved and in the bank, and has a hundred-acre farm in the back country somewhere. He says, if Tryphena refuses him, he will continue to risk his life among the perils of the deep, by which the silly fellow means Lake Simcoe." H re the quondam schoolmistress broke into a pleasant laugh that had once been musical. <* And Miss Tryphosa, did I understand you to say you apprehend anything in her quarter from the Pilgrims ) " enquired Coristine. iSt:-.: "i;*: -■;? TWO KNAPS A.CR8. 89 " Please say Tryphosa, sir ; I do not think that young girls in service should be miss'd." •* But they are very much missed when they go away and get married ; don't grudge me my little joke, Mrs. Hill." " I would not grudge you anything so poor," she replied, shaking a forefinger at the blushing lawyer. " You aie right in supposing I apprehend danger to Tryphosa from the younger Pilgrim. She is — well, something like what I was when I was young, and she is only a child yet, though well grown. Then, this younger Pilgrim has neither money nor farm ; besides, I am told, that he has imbibed in6del notions, and has lately become the inmate of a dis- reputable country tavern. If you had a daughter, sir, would you not tremble to think of her linking her lot with so worthless a character ) " Before the lawyer could reply, the old man called back : " Mother, I think you had better give the gentleman a rest ; he must be tired of hearing your tongue go like a cow-bell in fly time." Ooristine protested, but his companion declined to continue the con- versation. " The mistress is as proud of wagging that old tongue of hers," remarked the dominie's companion, " as if she had half the larnin' of the country, u id she no more nor a third-class county certificut." '* Many excellent teachers have began on them," remarked Wilkinson. " But she begun and ended there ; the next sertificut she got was a marriage one, and, in a few years, she had a class in her own house to tache and slipper." " Your wife seems to be a very superior woman, Mr. Hill." " That's where the shoe pinches me. Shuparior ! it's that she thinks herself, and looks down on my book larnin' that's as good as her own. But, I'll tell ye, sir, I've read Shakespeare and she hasn't, not a word." "How is that 1" " Her folks were a sort of Lutherian Dutch they call Brethren, They're powerful strict, and think it a mortal sin to touch a card or read a play. My own folks were what they called black -mouthed Prosbytarians, from the north of Ireland, but aijewcation made me liberal-minded. It never had that efiect on the mistress, although her 00 TWO KNAPSACKS. own tayoher was an old Scotch wife that Hpent her tinu* tayohinf{ the ohilder Scott, and Pollok'8 ' Courue of Time,' and old Scotch ballada like that Packman one Hhe wan reciting to your friend. Now, I larnt my boyH and gyurlu, when I waH school tayching, some pieces of Shakespeare, and got them to declaim at the school exhibitions before the holidayH. T minded some of them after I was married, and, one day when it was raining hard, I declaimea a lovely pieoH before Persis, that's the uiiHtross' name, when tho woman began to cry, and fell on her knees by the old Hcttle, and prayed like a born praychi^r. She thought i had gone oat of my mind ; ho, after that, I had to keep iShakespeare to myself. Sometimes I've seen TryphoHa take up the book and read a bit, but Rufus, that's the baby, iH just like his mother — he'll neither play a card, nor read a play, nor smoke, nor tell lies. I dunno what to do with the boy at all, at all." *' But it is rather a good thing, or a series of good thingH, not to play cards, nor smoke, nor tell lies," remarked Wilkinson. " PttrhapH the baby is too young to smoke or read Shakespeare." " He's eighteen and a strapping big fellow at that, our baby Rufus. H<^ can do two men's work in a day all the week through, and go to meetin' and Sunday school on Sundays j but he's far behind in general larnin' and in spirit, noc a bit like his father. Do I understand you object to smoking, sir?" " Not a bit," n^plied his companion, " but my friend Coristine smokes a pipe, and, as smokers love congenial company, I had better get him to join you, and relievo him of his load." So saying, Wilkinson retired to the silent pair in the rear, took the old lady's bundle from the lawyer and sent him forward to smoke with the ancient schoolmaster. The latter waxed eloquent on the subject of tobackka, after the pipes were filled and fairly set agoing. *' There was a fanatic of a praycher came to our meet in' one Sunday morning last winter, and discoorsed on that which goeth out of a man. He threeped down our throats that it was tobackka, and that it was the root of bitterness, and the tares among the wheat, which was not rightly translated in our English Bible. He said usini^ tobackka was the foundation of all sin, and that, if you TWO KNAP8AOK8. 91 'An- MuHt SayH hoUHR counted up the lottorH in tht; Gruek tobakko, booauHo (Jrctfk haH no o, tho number would bo 483, and, if vou add 1 83 to that, it would nmko 6GG, tho n)ark of tho BiaHt ; ind, HavB ho, any man that uhos tobackka in a beaat ! It waH u powerful Harmon, and everybody was looking at ' v«!rybody else. Whon the meetin' was over, I met Andrew Hislop, a Si'sayder, and I Haid to him, nerewl ' says I, ' what do you think of that blast? wo give up the pipe or be ChristianK no more t ' Andrew, • Come along wi' me,' and 1 went to his iind he took down a book off a shelf in his nettin' room 'Look at this, Mr. Hill,' says he, 'you that have the liook larnin ', 'tis written by these godly SoHayders, Ralph iiid Ebenczer Erhkine, and is poistry.' I took tho book md read the piece, and what do you think it was ) " " Obarles Lamb's farewell to tobacco," said Ooristine wildly: — Brother of Bacchus, later born, The Old World wore sure forlorn, Wanting thee. ' No, rir ; it was a * Gospel Sonnet on Tobackka and Pipes ' ; pipes, mind you, as well — all about this Indian weed, and the ipipe which is so lily white. Oh, sir, it waH most improvin'. And that fanatic of a praycher, not fit to blacken the Erskines' shoes, even if they were Sesay Jers 1 I went home and I says, ' Ruf us, my son,' and he nays, ' Yes, fayther I ' Says I, • RufuH, am I a Christian man, though frail and human, am I a Christian man or am I not?' Rufus says, 'You are a Christian, fayther.' Then says I, * What is the praycher, Rufus, my boy 1 ' and Rufus, that uses tobackka in no Hhape nor form, says, ' He's a consayted, ignorant, bigitted bladderskite of a Pharisee !' Sir, I was proud of that boy 1 ' " That was very fine of your nnn to stand up for his father like that. You can't say that your foes were those nf your own hous(^hold. In such cases, young people must do one of two thingn, despise their parents or despise the preacher : and, when the parents go to church, the children, unless they are young hypocrites, uniformly despise such preachers." " Yes, and to think I had never told Rufus a word about the 'Gospel Sonnets of the Sesayders !' It's a great hi fi't' n J 93 TWO ENAPSAOKS. pleasare, sir, to an old man likn me to smoke a pipe with a gentleman like yourself." Ooristine replied that it afforded him equal satisfaction, and they puffed away with occasional remarks on the sur- rounding scenery. Meani^h'l^, Wilkinson was striving to draw ont the somewhat offended mistress. " Your husband tells me, Mrs. Hill, that you are of German parentage," he remarked blandly. " Yes," she replied ; " my people were what they call Pennsylvania Dutch. Do you know German, sir I " " I have a book acquaintance with it," remarked the dominie. " Do you recognize this 1 Yo een fayter in der ayvigeye, Yo een fayter in der ayvig-eye, Meen fayter rue mee, £e moos gay Tfloo lowwen in der ayvig-eye." " No ; I distinctly do not, although it has a Swabian sound." " That is the Pennsylvania Dutch for ' I have a Father in the Promised Land,' a Sunday School hymn." " Were you brought up on hymns like that ? " " Oh, no ; I can still remember some good German ones sung at our assemblies, like : — Ohristi Blut und Gerechtigkeit, das ist mein Schmuck und Ehrenkleid, damit will ich vor Gott beateh'n, wenn ich in Himmel word 'eingeh'n. Do you know that f " asked the old lady, proad of her correct recitation. ** Yea ; that is Oount Zinzendorff's hymn, which Wesley translated : — Jesus, thy blood and righteousness M^ beauty are, my glorious dress ; Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, With joy shall I lift up my head. Till, translation is wonderfully free, and takes unpardon- able liberties with the original." •' Grp * Zinzendorff revived our Brethren when persecu- tion had .Almost destroyed them. He was in America, too, and had his life saved by a rattlesnake. The Indians were Mi't rWO KNAPSACKS. 93 ^oing to kill him, when they saw him sleeping with the snake by his side, and thought it was his Manitoa." << I hope that is not a snake-story, Mrn. Hill. I had a boy once in my school who came from Illinois, and who yaid that his mother had seen a snake, which had stiffened itself into a hoop, and taken its thorny tail in its mouth, trundling along over the prairie after a man. The man got behind a tree just in the nick of time, for the hoop uabent, and sent the thorny tail into the tree instead of into the man. Then the man came out and killed it. That was a snake story." " I give the story as I heard it from our people ; you know, I suppose, that there is a Moravian Indian Mission OD the borders of the counties of Kent and Middlesex. I onco thought of going there as a missionary, before I fell in with Mr. Hill." '* I knew a lady who married a clergyman, with th<> express understanding that he was to become a foreign raiBRionary. His church missionary societies refused to accept him, because of some physical defect, so he had to settle down to a home charge. But his wife never went to hear him conduct service. She said she could not listen to a fraud who had married her under false pretences." " It is a great pity he married such a woman. If a wife has not the missionary spirit in her own house, how can she expect to acquire it by going abroad 1 Besides, there is so much mission work to be done in a new coun- try like this. A few years ago, this place was almost as bad as Feskiwanchow, but now it has greatly improved." " There was a young man we met there, Mrs. Hill, in whom my friend and I were much interested," said the dominie, and proceeded to give an account of the exploit of Timotheus. He also narrated what Ooristine had told him of his hero's attitude towards the catechism, as accounting for his pressnt position. The old lady relented in her judgment of the younger Pilgrim, thought that Saul, perhaps, -was too severe, and that the catechism could stand revision. Wilkinson agreed, and, the ice being completely broken between them, they also proceeded to view the scenery in a poetic light, or rather in two, the dame's a Cowperish, and the dominie's a Wordsworthian reflection. Suddenly, the latter saw the father of Try- 94 IWO KNAPSACKS. pbena and Tryphosa open a gate, and turn into a side road, along which the lawyer seemed not quite disposed to accompany him. The elder snooker, therefore, came back to the gate, and waited for Wilkinson and the old lady to come forward. " Mother 1 " said the old man, as the pair came up to the halting place, "you've got a soft blarneying Lutherian tongue in yoir head — " " Henry Cooke," she replied sharply, '• how often must I tell you that Lutherian is wrong, and that I am not a Lutheran, and have ceased even to be a United Brother since I cast in my lot with you ; moreover, it is not pleas- ant for an old woman like me to be accused of blarneying, as if I were a rough Irishman with a grin on his broad face." " Well, well, mother, I don't care a snuff if you were a Sesayder or even a Tommykite — " " A Tommykite 1 " cried Coristine, anxious to extend bis knowledge and increase his vocabulary. " It's a man called Thomas," answered the interruptfd husband, " that made a new sect out our way, and they call his following Tommykites ; I dunno if he's a relation of the captain or not. Give a dog a bad name, they s»y, and you might as well hang him ; but the Tommykites are living, in spite of their name." " Henry Cooke, your remarks are very unnecessary and irrevelant," said his wife, falling into bad English over a long adjective. " I was just going to say, mother, that I wanted you to try and keep these gentlemen from going beyond our house to-night, because you can put it so much better than I can." The old lady, thereupon, so judiciously blended coaxing with the apology of disparagement, that the only alter- native left the pedestrians was that of remaining ; for tr go on would have been to treat the disparagement as real, and a sufficient cause for their seeking other shelter. The house they entered was small but neat. It consisted almost altogether of one room, called a living room, which answered all the purposes of eating, sleeping and sitting. Outside werb a summer kitchen and a dairy or milk-housn, and, a short distance off, were the barn and the stable, the TWO KNAPSA0E8. 96 sole Gooapant of the latter at the time being a oow that spent mo8t of its leisure out of doors. Supper did not take long preparing, and the travellers did ample justice to a very enjoyable meal. The dominie entjaged the hostess in conversation about German cookery, Sauer Kraut, Nudeln and various kinds of Eierkuchen, which she described with evident satisfaction. " Mrs. Hill and Wilkinson are regular Deipnosop- hiats," remarked Corist'.ne to the host. " That's too deep for me," he whispered back. ♦* But tell it to the mistress qow ; she's that fond of jawbreakers she'll never forget it." «« We were remarking, Mrs. Hill, that you and Wil- kinson are a pair of Deipnosophists." The old man looked quizically at his wife, and *she glanced in a questioning way at the dominie. '• My friend is trying to show off his learning at our expense," the latter remarked. " One Athenaeus, who lived in the second century, wrote a book with that name, containing conversations, like those in ' Wilson's Noctes AmbrosiansB,' but upon gastronomy." " I was not aware," said the hostess, «• that they had gas so far back as that." Wilkinson bit his lip, but dared not explain, and the lawyer looked sheepish at the turn affairs were taking. •' It's aisy remembered, mother," put in the quonc Bohoolmaster. "Think of astronomy, and that'll give you gastronomy ; and a gastronomer is a deipnosophist. That's two new words in one day and both meaning the same thing," The hostess turned to the dominie, with a little shrug of impatience at her husband, and remarked : " The life of a deipnosophist in gastromical works must be a very trying one, from the impure air and the soft coal dust; do you not think so, Mr. Wilkinson 1 " That gentleman thought it must, and the lawyer first chewed his moustache, and then blew his nose severely and long. Fortunately, the meal was over, the host returned thanks, and the party left the table. The old man took a pail and went to w&ter the stock, which seemed to consist of the WW, while the wife put away the supper things, ftnd prepared for the evening's milking. quondam I r ''•^-kii M.-^ y\i' ] M TWO KNAPSAOmi. il!r=' fil« 1^' The pedestriAns, being told there was nothing they could do, strolled out into the neighbouring pasture, and pretended to look among the weeds and stones, at the end of the fence farthest away from the stock- waterer for botani- cal and geological specimens ; but, in reality, they were having a battle royal. •* Corry, you ass, whatever put it into your stupid head to make a fool of that kind little woman ] " " Sauer Kraut and Speck Noodle, what did yon begin with your abominable Dutch dishes for ? " " I had a perfect right to talk German and of German things with Mrs. Hill. I did not insult her, like an ungrateful cur, I know." "I never insulted her, you blackguard, wouldn't do such a thing for my life. I bad a perfect right, too, to talk Greek to the old man, and it was you put your ugly foot in it with your diabolical gastronomy. I wonder you don't pray the ground to open up and swallow you." " I consider, sir, an apology from yon to our host and hostess absolutely necessary, and to be made without any delay." " I'll apologize, Wilks, for the deipnosophist part of it, but I'll be jiggered if I'll be responsible for your nasty gastronomy. " " That means that you are going to put all the onus of this hideous and cruel misunderstanding on my shoulders, when I explained your expression in charity to all parties, and to help you out." " Help me out, is it 1 I think it was helping me into the ditch and yourself, too." '* Will you or will you not accept the responsibility of this whole unfortunate business ? Here is my ultimatum : Decline to accept it, and I return to CoUingwood this very night." '* Wilks, my boy, that would never do. It's dead tired you'd be, and I'd hear of you laid up with fever and chills from the night air, or perhaps murdered by tramps for the sake of your watch and purse." " It matters nothing. Right must be done. FiatjiM- titia, ruat coelum. Every law of gratitude for hospitality cries aloud : ' Make restitution ere the sun goes down,' I understand, sir, that you refuse." So saying, the offended* TWO KNAPSACKS. 97 dominie moved rapidly towards the hous.. to resume his knapaack and staff. " Wilks, if you don't stop I'll stone you to death with fossils," cried the repentant lawyer, throwing a series of trilobites from his tobacco-less pocket at his retreating friend. The friend stopped and said curtly : " What is it to be 1 " " Wilks, you remind me of an old darkey woman that had a mistress who was troubled with sneezing fits. The mistreHS said : • Chloe, whenever I sneeze in public, you as a faithful servant, should take out your handkerchief,' and pretend chat it was ycu ; you should take it upon yourEolf, Chloe.' So, one day in church, the old lady made a big tis liaw, when Chloe jumped up and cried out : 'I'll take dat sneeze my ole missus snoze on mysef,' waving her handkerchief all around." "I did not delay my journey to listen to negro stories, Mr. Coristine.' " It has a moral," answered the lawyer ; «• it means that 1 am going to take all this trouble on myself, and hinder you making a bigger aes of yours. I'll apologize to the pair of them for me and you." "That being the case, in spite of the objectionable words, ' bigger ass,' which you will live to repent, I shall stay," Mrs. Hill was proceeding to milk the cow, and her hus- band was busy at the woodpile. Coristine sauntered up to the old lady, and carried the milking pail t*nd stool for her, the latter being of the Swiss description, with one leg sharp enough to stick into the ground. The lawyer adroitly remarked : — • "Turning to the subject of language, Mrs. Hill, one who has had your experience in education must have observed fashion in words as in other things, how liable speech IS to change at different times and in different places." Yes ; Mrs. Hill had noticed that. " You will, I trust, not think me guilty of too great a liberty, if I say, in reference to my friend's remark at the supper table, that gastronomy, instead of meaning the art of extracting gas from coal, has now come to denote the wience of cookery or good living, and that the old mean- »8 TWO KNAPSACKS. 3' .1 mi' mi: ing is now quite oat of date. I thought you would like to know of the change, which, 1 imagine, has hardly found its wav into the country yet." " Certainly, sir, I am much obliged to you for setting me right so kindly. Doubtless the change has come about through the use of gas stoves for cooking, which I have seen advertised in our Toronto religious paper." •• I never thought of that," said the perfidious lawyer. ••The very uncommon word deipnosophist, hardly an English word at all, when employed at the present day, always means a supper philosopher, one who talks learn- edly at supper, either about cookery or about other things." " I see it very clearly now. In town, of course, sup- per is taken by gas li^ht, so that the talker at supper is a talker by gas-light 1 " '• Yes, but the word gas, even the idea of it, has gone out of fashion, through its figurative use to designate empty, vapouring talk ; therefore, when deipnosophist and gastronomer are spoken, the former is employed to denote learned talkers at supper, such as we were half an hour ago, and the latter, to signify one who enjoys the culinary pleasures of the table." " I am sure I am very much indebted to you, sir, for taking the trouble to correct an old woman far behind the age, and to save her the mortification of making mistakes in conversation with those who might know better." •' Do not mention it, I beg. Should I, do you think, say anything of this to Mr. Hil^ ? " « Oh, no," replied the old lady, laughingly ; " he has forgotten all about these new words already ; and, even if he had not, he would never dare to make use of them, unless they were in Shakespeare or the Bible or the School Reader&" By this time the milking was over, and the lawyer, relieved in part, yet with not unclouded conscience, car- ried pail and stool to the milkhouse. The old man and Coristine sat down on a bench out- side the house and smoked their pipes. Mrs. Hill occu- pied a rocking-chair just inside the doorway, and the dominie sat on the doorsill at her feet. •• Mother," called Mr. Hill has become of Jlufus ? " to his spouse, *• whatever TWO KNAPSACKS. 99 •; You know very well, Henry Cooke, that Rufas is he ping Andrew H.slop with his bee, and ;iil not be back airthrbeTfnd ILlZI Zt aT I'^T ^^^^ wt"'w-r^ *", '^PP'^"^"^ «^« 8'*"«« at Th^ lawye When Wilkinson looked up, his friend perceived at once that his offence was forgiven. The husband, wTthout re moving the pipe from between his teeth, mumbred "".Just 80, to be sure." "luujuieu, just "Is your son's name William Rufus, Mrs Hill?" enquired the dominie. ' "'" ' "No ; it is simply Rufus. William, yon know is not a Scripture name We thought of baptiz'inghS Narcissus which conies just before Tryphena, but my husbaTS' as he was the youngest, he should come lower dowfin the chapter, and after Persis. which is my name " u u 7? taycl^ing school, and a bachelor," put in the said usband, "when there was a county me^tiSg-they can hem conventions now^that Persis was at. Th v ca«ed sb FroJ:r\l''^^''\: '"' '' ™ «P«"«d like tt l^l2^ t ^' ""^^ ^^^^ ^'''^y *»d nice-spoken the! I couldn t k^e my eyes off her. She's gone off her niop looks and ways a dale since that time Then I w«^f back to the childer and the Scripture readins with Thf dictionary at my elbow for the loSg nam ^ " Ve beWed Persis was forever coming up. till the gyurls would JS and make my face as red as a turkey cock 871 had ths ferrum and some money saved, and I sent to ask tt of r te^re.^ ^" "^ °"^ ^' -y -^-y -<^ contsli: " Indeed he did." said t;h« aU i«^- -^l '' Motif/Jf*"'"'' 5*": ?»"'"«"«d Coristine. Mother, If you do," interposed the old man 'Til put my foot down on your convention of retired taicher tZr ^'"'' But mother paid no attention rth^ " He asked if I knew the story of Mahompf ««,i *i, mountain and how Mahomet saidTif trmoTntaTn^^?,? not come to the prophet, the prophet must go to "he mo^n '.I !■, 100 TWO KNAPRAOKB. tain. So. said he. you are the prophet and inoBt ootne to mv hou«e under the mountain, and be \«j^ y°"7^;- i^j was 80 funny and clever that 1 came ; boBides 1 ^»8 8'*« waH HO luuiy a .^^u^¥ Pponlo were never tired to change the name Prophet, f eopie '^^'^f J' j^ making the most ridiculouH playn upon it. Th«o^d Scotch schoolmiHlreHS, who taught n,e partly, ^^s n^^^^^ LawHon, so they called us Profit and Lobb; and they prt nouna^ my Chrintian name aa if it was Puraes, and nick ^^ .«« Prrm-rtv and took terrible libertiea with m> ^rncrauK^'hlHThewholecompanylaughedhear^^^^^^ aft" which the dominie said: -I see your pip«' « "« Oorry ; you might favour our kind friends with a song Th lawyer Td not know what to sing, but took his insp aS finaUy.from Wilkinson's last question, and sang tl. ballad of William Fvufua, aa far aa:— Then the correct eur .nd literary, sense of the domun. were ott.nded, and be opened out ™ ^.» tr«M,d "I think. Corrj, that you ujinht at least have saven „u, g.n.roas hosts the infliction of your wretched traves ties. The third line, Mrs. HiH, is really :- But .n .rtow from . crow-bow, .Ir., ths fi.rcert pride can qnell. There is nothing so vulgar as hitting in the verse, and iour ear for poetry must tell you that mWrffe cannc Jhle with A eJen if it were not a piece of the mo. Gothk barbarity'. Thus a fine English song, such as I '"™..'m> :5i„"iorS *e host, " n.y opinion is that yo. «,„ld'nt^q«'ell a'u.an's pride ,<'''''»^ *«° ^"""7 ,t « . • 4.iw; ™;,4rilo Tt, miffht be, against the laws ol war, 'Z « wouW dotble LT and ttke all the consayt out „f hmZidden I mind when Bufos was out seeing hi. It^™ here was a parson got him to play cricket, .«d LggTavated the boy "? bowling him out, and ^Ubingh u«ii ^r.A Hneerins at him for a good misser and a butter S' " «oTh"n'he went to the bat again, he looked oar. FuTa the ball and got it on the tip of bis tet, and «» ;«t thing he knowed, the parson was doubled up like. TWO KNAPSAOKS. 101 juck knife. He had been hit fair in the middle, whom the had boy meant to do it. There waa no sarvice next Sun- day, no, nor for two weeks." "That wau very wrong of Rufur," said the old lady wiih a Hij{h, *' however, he did offnr to renumerate Mr. Perrowno for bin medical expenueH, but the gentleman refubed to accept any equivalent, and said it was the for- tune of war, which made Rufusfeel humiliated and aorry." Night had fallen, and the coal oil lamp was lit. The old lady d;>po8ited a large Bible on the table, to which her husband drew in a chair, after asking each of his guests unsuccesHfutly to conduct family worship. He read with emphasis and feeling the 9lBt P^alra, hi d thereafter, fall- ing on his knees, offered a short but oomprehensive prayer, in which the absent children were included, and the two wayfarers were not forgotten. While the good wife went out to the dairy to see that the milk was covered up from an invisible cat, the men undressed, and the pedestrians turned into a double bed, the property of the missing RufuH. The head of the household also turned in upon his couch, and coughed, the latter being a signal to his wife. She came in, blew out the lamp, and retired in the darkness. Then four voices said "good-night" ; and rest Hucoeeded the labours of the day. " No nightmares or fits to night, Corry, an' you love me," whispered the dominie ; but the lawyer was asleep soon after his head touched the pillow. They knew nothing till morning, when they were awakened by the old man's suppressed laughter. When they opened their eyes, the wife was already up and away to her outdoor tasks ; and a well-built, goof I -looking young fellow of the farmer type .was staring in astonishment at the two strangers in his bed. The more he stared, the more the father laughed. " There's not a home nor a place for you, Rufus, with you kapin' such onsaynonable hours. It's a sesayder you'll be becoming yourself, run- ning after Annerew Hislop'a pretty daughter, and dancing the toes out of your stockiugs till broad daylight. So, if you're goin[u< st") as not worth takirg home, but among them was a thoroughly French paper -bound copy of Alphonse Karr's Voyage anteur de mon Jardin. Falling into an easy chair, the schoolmister surrendered himself to the charming style and subvle humour of this new found treasure. The lawyer went straight to Mr. Bigglethorpe's store, and found himself, at the time, its sole customer. The proprietor was an Englishman of some five and thirty years, tall and thin, wearing a long full beard and over- hanging moustache. He sold fishing tackle and was him- self a fii'n m 110 TWO KNAP8A0KB. I the bnsh for ordinary still fishing, he offered to lend him one of his own fly rods, and opened his fly book for bia inspection. Soon the pair were deep in all kinds of arti- ficial flies and their mannfactnre, Black and Red and White Hackles, Peacock Fly, Mackerel, Qreen Grass- hopper, Black Ant, Qoveinor, Partridge, and a host more. The lawyer declined the rod, as the storekeeper informed him that, so late in the season and in the day, it was utterly useless to look for trout. He had better get old Batiste at the Inn to dig him up some earthworms, and go fishing with them like the boya He would find a canoe moored near the bridge which he could use. Who it belonged to Mr. Bigglethorpe didn't know, but it was of no consequence, for everybody took it that wanted it for a morning or afternoon. If Mr. Ooristine heard of any new kind of fly, perhaps he'd be good enough to remember him and let him know, something killing for autumn use, or, as people say here, for fall fishing. Mr. Ooristine promised to remember him, and departed with his pur- chases, just as a voice, feminine but decided, called to Mr. Bigglethorpe by name to come and hold the baby, while its owner dished the dinner. *'Talk about Hackles," said the lawyer to himself on the way Inn-wards, " I imagine he has somebody in there that can hackle him, long beard and all." The dinner bell at the Maple was ringing vigorously. Monsieur Lajeunesse had taken off his coat to ring it, and stood in the doorway in a flaming red waistcoat, the companion of his tuque, over a spotlessly white shirt, to let all who dwelt on the Beaver River know that the hour of noon had arrived. The dinner, over which Madame presided, was excellent. With the soup and the fish there was white wine, and good sound beer with the entr6es and solids. The schoolmaster spoke French to the hostess, chiefly about the book he had been reading, and the law- yer discussed fishing with Pierre, who constantly referred to his great authority, Meestare Bulky. Madame, charmed that her guest could converse with her in her mother tongue, generously filled his glasses, and provided his plates with the most seductive morsels. Monsieur Yeel- keenson was the white-haired boy at that table, and he felt it, yielded to the fall satisfaction of it. He had dined son was a TWO KNAPSACKS. Ill royally, and was fit for anything. When hia friend asked him if he would go fishing, he replied jauntily, and in a vray quite unlike himself : " Why, auttenly, which would you rather do or go fishin' t " " Wilks," cried the lawyer, " you're a patent pressed brick I I feel like old Isaac Walton's Coridon, that said, d'ye mind, ' Oome, hostess, give us more ale, and let's (irink to him,' which is natural, seeing I'm called Oorry." The companions had a glass of ale after dinner, which was quite indefensible, for they had had a sufficiency at that bounteous repast. Evidently, the dominie was in for a good time. A wizened old fellow, named Batiste, with a permanent crick in his back, dug the worms, and pre- sented them to the lawyer in an empty lobster tin, the outside of which was covered with texts of Scripture. " It seems almost profane," remarked the recipient, " to carry worms inside so much Bible language." But the merry schoolmaster remarked that it was turn about, for he had heard a Scotch preacher, who seemed to know the whole Bible by heart, say in prayer, on behalf of himself and his people, "we are all poor warrums of the airth." *' Probably, however," he continued, " he would have objected to be treated as a worm." " They say even a worm will turn, which, if your par- son was a large man, might be serious enough," replied the lawyer. " I remember, when I was a small boy, thinking that the Kings of Israel kept large men for crushing their enemies, because they used to say, ' Go and fall upon him, and he fell upon him and he died.' That might be the way with the human wurrum. It's not always safe to trust these humble men." " Gorry, you're a profane man ; your treatment of sacred things is scandalously irreverent," said the dominie. " Who began it 1 " retorted the victim. " Yon did, sir, with your textual lobster can," replied the reprover. '* The ancient Hebrews, in the height of their pride and glory, knew not the luxury of lobster salad," Ooris- tine remarked, gravely, as if reciting a piece. " How do you know that 1 " " Because, if I offer a prize of a Trip to the Dark Con- tinent to the first person buying a copy of oar published ^ •v r > ,■'■ I 1 J :4 i J « 1 t 1 - 5 i.i>' ^ ) i t f* I ' 1 t *• 1 / 112 TWO KNAP8A0K8. I' ii h H lit travels, who finds the word lobster in the Bible. I shall never have occasion to purchaHo the ticket." As they moved in the direction of the river, Pierre came after them and asked : — "You make your feeshing oflF ze bord or in «e vatare 1 " " I prefer the board," replied Ooristine, " if it's aa good of its kind as that you gave us at dinner." *' Keep quiet, you do not understand him," interposed the schoolmaster ; " he mtans the shore, the bank of the river by the bord. N'est ce pas, Monsieur 1 " " Oui, oui, M'syae, le bord, le rivauge de la riviSre." " Non, Monsieur Pierre, nous aliens prendre le bateau," answered Wilkinson, with a dignity that his companion envied. The red-nightcapped host called Baptiste. "Vau-t-en done, Bawtiste, d6p^che twa, trouve deux petits bouts de plaunche pour le canot. '* Batiste soon returned with two boards. *' Canot 'ave no seat, you placea zem over two ends for seet down," said Pierre, relapsing into English. Wilkinson assumed the responsibility of the boards and the fishermen proceeded to the river bank near the bridge to find the canoe. It was long, and, for a dug- out, fairly wide, but ancient and black, and moist at the bottom, owing to an insufficiently caulked crack. Its pad- dles had seen much service, and presented but little breadth of blade. " I should like place these boards," said Wilkinson, as he surveyed first ihem and then the dug-out ; " I should like to place these boards, one across the bow and the other across the stern, but I really cannot decide which is the bow and which is the stern." "She's a sort of a fore and after, Wilks, like the slip- ferry steamboats. I think, if you could find a bit of chalk or charcoal, and write bow on one plank and stern on the other, it would make her ship-shape and settle the business." " I have no sympathy, Oorry, with makeshifts and factitious devices. I wish to arrive at the true inwardness of this boat At what end of a boat is the anchor let down 1 " " In the Susan Thomas it was pretty near the bow, and I think I've seen yachts riding at anchor that way in Tor- onto harbour." TWO KNAPHAUItS. lis " In the time of St. Paul, howevt^r, there were four anchorH, if I reineaiber aright, cast out of thn stern." " I don't soe how the anchor is going to help us. Thii long Tom Coffin ha^* nothing of the kind." " You are sadly deficient in observation, Corry, or you would have observed a rope, very much abraded indeed, but still a rope, by which the vessel may bo said, even though figuratively, to be anchored to this Htakn." " It's you're the clever man, Wilks ; education has done wonders for you. Now, I remember that ropu is the painter ; that's what The Chhw called it on the dingy, and of course it was fastened to the bow." " But to the stern of the larger vessel." " Yes, but here there is no larger vessel. If you want one, for argument sake, you'll have to imagine the post to be it. The coffin is bow on to the shore." " Oorry, I insist, if I am to trust myself to this oraft, that you call it by some other name." " Were yon ever in anything of the kind before, Wilks t " "Never." " Nor I." These simple words had in them a depth of meaning. A young man came on to the bridge and leaned over the rail, looking at the fishermen. He was respectably clad in a farmer's holiday suit, was tall, strongly built, and with good features that bore unmistakable marks of dissipation. " I'll bet you that's Ben Toner," whispered the lawyer, who was examining the new-found bow prior to depositing his boards. " Ooin' fishin' 1 " asked the new comer, in a not unpleas- ant voice. " Yes," replied Ooristine ; " we're going in this — what do you call it 1" " Dug-out, and mighty poor at that. Fisl^in's no good here now. River was a pardise for Trontah folks wunst, but it's clean fished out. I seen fellers go to a ho-ul np thayer," said the supposed Bhu, pointing in the opposite direction, " and take out a hull barl-ful afore sundown. 'Taint to be did, not now, wuss luck ! Wait to I come down, and I'll haylp you off with that kinew." The speaker descended, untied the frayed painter, and ■i ^Jt^-'ii '^a ., *i 114 TWO KNAPSAOKH. hauled the dug-oat to a point where, the bank being higher, embarkation was more eaiiy. He dissuaded the navigators from sitting on the boards placed orer the gun- wales, as likely to be, what he called, parlous, and recom- mended that the boards be pUood on the floor of the craft to keep the water uff their '* paants." The fiihermen con- sented, and sat down Hafely at each end facing one another, with his assistance to hold the dug-out steady, the dominie in the bow and the lawyer in the stern. They thanked their ally, bade him good afternoon, and proceeded to pad- dle. Ben Toner laughed, and cried to Coristine : " I'll lay two to one on you, Mister, for you've got the curnt to haylp you." The dug-out, in spite of the schoolmaster's fierce paddling, was moving corkscrew-like in the opposite direction, owing largely to the current, but partly to the superior height of the lawyer, which gave his paddle a longer sweep. Still, he found progress slow, till a happy thought struck him. " Wilks, my boy, it's paddling our own canoe we are, but too much that way. We're a house divided against itself, Wilks. Either you must turn round or I must, and, if I do, then you'll be the stern and I the bow." " I thought there was something wrong, Oorry, but the excitement incident oa a new sensation absorbed my attention. Of course, I shall move, as it would be very confusing, not to say ridiculous, to invert the relative positions of the boat." "Then, Wilks dear, wait till I paddle her near the bank, for fear of accidents." When the bank was reached, the dominie landed, picked up his board and placed it farther back, then sat down gingerly, with his legs spread oat before him, and began paddling on the same side as his companion, which zigzagged the frail craft more than ever, and finally brought it tp the shore. Ben Toner, who had been laugh- ing at the city innocents, ran down to a point opposite the dng-out, and told them to paddle on opposite sides, giv- ing directions how to steer with one of the emaciated pro- pellers. After that, the course of the vessel was a source of continual self-commendatory remark by the voyagears. After a while, they eame to a wooden bridge, bnilt upon piles resting in the stream. *' This," said the school- m TWO KNAPSAOKS. 110 iiiaRt»r, " 18 the Pom auhliciut, like that which Ancus Marti«8 built over the Tiber. Shall we ahuui it, (Jerry, or Bhall we call a halt and proceed to tinh ) " The dag-out bumped on the piles, and the navigators trembled, but WilkinHon, bravely gathering hia IfgH under him and rising to bis knees on the board, threw his arms round a pile, when, in spite of Ooristine's efforts, the craft slewed round and the stern got under the bridge ahead of the bow. *' Hold on, Wilks," the lawyer cried ; " another bump like that and the old thing'U split in two. Now, then, we'll drop the paddles and slip her along the bridge to the bank. There's a hole under that birch tree there, and some fine young birches that will do for rods back of it. Doesn't the birch make you feel like England, home and duty, Wilksl" " The quotation, sir, is incorrect, as usual ; it is Eng- land, home and beauty." " Well, that's a beauoy of a birch, anyway." They got ashore, and fastened the painter to a sapling on the bank, because it was not long enough to go round a pile. Then they produced their knives, and, proceeding to the place where the young birches grew, cut down two famous rods, to which they attached lines with white and <^reen floats and small hooks with gut attachments. The lobster can was produced, and wriggling worms fixed on the hooks. " A worm at one end and a fool at the other," said the lawyer. " Speak for yourself, sir," replied the dominie. The next thing was to get into the canoe, which was safely effected. Then, the question arose, how was she to be moored in the current 1 Wilkinson suggested a stake driven into the bottom for the deep-sea mooring, and an attachment to the exposed root of the lovely over- hanging birch for that to landward. So Ooristine sprang ashore, cut a heavier birch, and trimmed one end to a point. Bringing this on board, he handed it to his com- panion, and, paddling up stream, brought him opposite the overarching tree. The dominie drove the stake deep into the river mud and pressed it down. The stake was all that could be desired for a deep-sea mooring, and to it the painter was attached. " What are you going to do about your end of tlie vessel, Corry 1 " he asked. '• X f 116 TWO KNAPHAOKB. "That's ftll right," replied the lawyer, who, forthwitli, took off coat and waiHtcoat. '* You are not going to uiidngs, I hopo," remarked hiH friend ; *' thero is a bare poHHibiliiy that pcopln, even lad ies, might be walking thiH way, sir, and I do not wish to be diHgraced." "Nevor fear, Wilks, my boy, it's my braces T am after," With t\m, Coristine took ofi these articles, and, fastening a button hole over a rusty nail in thM Htnrn, tied the other end about h root of the birch. The dug-out wau securely faHtoned, so that the current only rooked it a little, causing the lawyer to sing " Rocked in the Oradlt' of the Deep." Then they sat down on their boards au'l ho^an fishing. They had a very pleasant hour hooking shiners and chub, and an occasional peruh that looked at a distance like a trout. The dominie, apropos of his friend's braces, told Alphonsc Kurr's story of the bretellier in the Jardin des Planfi'H, -lid the credulous sceptic who did not believe that a suspender tree existed. He knew that cotton grew on a shrub, and that caoutchouc exuded from a tree, and ..uuiittud the possibility of their natural combination, but thoufifht his deceivers had reference to braces vrith metal attachments. " Th^ku reminds me," said the lawyer, " of a man from Lanark that came into our office asking where he'd find a mining geologist. He had some grey-looking cork and leather wrapped up in a newspaper, and said he had dug them out of the ground where there was lots more of both of them. I told him he had likely come on the remainn of an old picnic, and that the leather was the skin of the ham they had taken out to make sandwiches of ; but the . impudent oreatnro laughed in my face, as if any child doesn't know that leather is the skin of beasts, and cork, of a tree I " '* Nevertheless, Oorry, he was no doubt right, and you were wrong in your scepticism. What are called moan- tain cork and mountain leather are foroas of asbestos. They arc of no use, unless it be for the lining of safes. The fibrous asbestos can be made into fire-proof clothes." " So, old Leather Oorka had the laugh on me there I Dad, I'll apologize for sending him to the marines next TWO KJ»AP«AOM. 117 tiiim hfl oomefl in. What a thing it is to have thn larnin' like you, Wilke! " " A meru minuralogical trifl's my Hear Oorry, nothing mom." " WillcM, do you mind the ' FiHher's Sona;,' oomposed hy the lute Mr. William Bhbh , that's in th)^ * (Complete Angler'? I don't uuppoHo it would Hoare the tinh much. It, goes to the tune of 'The Pope, he leudu a happy life,' like this : — Of reorffntion there im none So frev an KHhinK ih alont* ; All othfr puntitnHH do no Iohh TImii mind and Ixidy both pohhohh : My ttaml alone my wirk can | ■-i Be, ''. fish were so poor and eRpecially that he had been deceive d in the *' suceurs." Madame did not comprehend, and said " Plait- il 1 " whereupon he called his friend near and pointfd oat the offending fish. " Aw oui, M'syae, ce sent des mulets de I'eau donee, un petit pen trop tawrd dons la saison, autrement un morceau friaund." Then she pro ceeded to say that the smaller fish could be cooked for supper, "comme les ^perlans de law baw," pointing with her finger eastward, to designate, by the latter words, the Gulf of St. Lawrence. She would boil the mullets, if Monsieur did not object, and give them to the fowls ; did Monsieur take an interest in fowls) Generously the dominie handed over all the fish, through Coristine, for Madame to do what she liked with, and expressed an interest in various descriptions of poultry, the names of which he was entirely ignorant of. The interview over, he returned to his book, and the lawyer went to look for his civil acquaintance, Mr. Toner. Him he found on the bridge, and in a somewhat sulky humour, apparently by no means pleased at being sought out. Not wishing to intrude, Coristine made an excuse for his appearance in the bits of 'board, which he professed to have forgoUen to take out of the dug-out "That sort of lumber don't count for much in these parts," remarked Ben, suspiciously, . and his intending companion retired, feeling that, though a limb of 'the law, he was a miserable sham. While in the chamber which witnessed the dominie's transformation, the lawyer had perceived that its window commanded the bridge and the adjoining parts of the river. Leaving his friend in the enjoyment of his book, he ascended to the room, and watched like a detective. Soon he saw a waggon roll up to the bridge, and, almost simul- taneously, a large punt in which was Ben Toner, come from nowhere. Three bundles of apparent grindstones were laboriously conveyed from the waggon to the punt, after which the waggon went back and the punt went for- ward, both becoming lost to sight in the foliage of road and river. Once more the bell of the Maple Inn sounded loudly, to inform the general public that the hour of six had arrived, and to summon guests to the early supper. Descending to the sitting-room, the amateur detective found his friend there, and escorted him, with much unnecessary TWO KNAPSA0K8. 125 formality, to the tea table. The fish were there, betrayed, even afar off, by their not unpleasant odonr, and there also was an attractive looking ham, flanked by plates of hot cakes and other evidences of culinary skill on Madame's part. She poured out a good cup of tea for the table quar- tette, while Pierre aided in distributing the solids. The conversation turned on fish, and, as before, the dominie spoke French to the hostess, while M. Lajeunesse made the lawyer acquainted with some piscatorial exploits of Mr. Bulky. Mr. Bulky had once been upset from the canoe, but, unlike Mr. Wilkinson, he could not swim. The case might have been a very serious one, destructive to the reputation of L'Erable (" zatta ees maybole in ze Fraynsh langwitoh," the host explained) and of city visits to the Beaver River. " How was he saved 1 " enquired the lawyer. "He vas save by potting 'is foot to ze bottom," replied the host. ' " I've heard of a man putting a stone on his head and walking through a river under water, but haven't believed it yet," continued Ooristine. " He had not necessity of a stone ; 'is head was op ; ze rivare vas not so 'igh zan ze jouldares of Meestare Bulky," answered Pierre quite seriously. " Then he saved himself 1" " No, Bare, 'is foot save 'im ; Meestare Bulky 'ave a veiay 'eavy foot. Eef 'is foot badda been also leetle as ze foot of ^'syae, M» estare Bulky vould *ave drown." Madame's sharp ears overheard this conveisation while carrying on that with Wilkinson, and broke in upon her erring spouse : — •• Teh twa, Pierre ! o'n'est paw trop poli d'se moquer des pieds d'un boh pawtron." k " Mez, Ang^Iique, mwa, me moquer, mwa f et de M'syae Bulky t Aw, ma bonne Angelique, fi done I " and M. Lajeunesse withdrew from the table, overwhelmed with the mere suspicion of such foul treachery and base ingrati- tude. Batiste had put oat three wooden arm chairs, ai6d a rocker for Madame, on the verandah, whither the party of the tea table retired. Goristine asked her permission to 8(Doke, when it appeared that Pierre had been waiting for ^h.M 126 TWO RNAP8AOK8. ml ill EiVil'Lii?! a sign that either of his guesta indulged in the weed. As he also filled hia pipe, he remarked to his fellow smoker that " Meestare Balky vare good shentleman, and rest 'ere longatimes, hot ze perfume of ze ' honne pipe,' same of ze oigawr makea 'im seek." " Does that interfere with your liberty to smoke 9 " Wilkinson asked. " Aw, preciselly ; zen most I go to ze stebble and tekka ze younga guestes zat smoke not in chombres bottchees, vat you call zatf" "Literally, it means corked," replied the dominie; " but I presume yon mean, with door and window closed, as it were, hermetically sealed." *' Preciselly ; ve 'ave ze vord in ze Fraynsh lang witch, ^hnitiqtie, zat ees as a religious oo leeves all alone, vis person zere bot 'imselluf . I tekka ze guestes zat lofe not ze eremitique life to ze stebble, vare ve smale ze stingy tawbawo of Bawtiste. M'syae parle Francea, meh peutehtre ne conneh le tawbawo puant, en Anglah stingy, de Baw- tiste. O'n'est paws awgr6able, M'syae. Aw, non, paw de tout, je vous asbhere ! " "That is very considerate of yon," remarked the schoolmaster, approvingly. " I wish all users of the nar- cotic were as mindful of the comfort and health of their neighbours. B^gard for the feelings of others is perhaps the chief distinguishing mark of a gentleman." " Meestare Bulky ees a shentleman, bot he 'ave no sharitay for smokinga men," replied Pierre, ruefully. " That's where the shoe pinches, not your feet, Wilks," said the lawyer, with a laugh. " Ton could touch bottom, like Mr. Bulky, with these gunboats, but on all your privileged classes. Why should Bulky bulk so large in any place of entertainment as to send everybody else to a stable t Catch me smoking with that old garlic-perfumed Batiste ! How about the garlic, and peppermint, and musk, and saner^krant, and all the other smells. Any smells about Mr. Bulky, Pierre t " "Aw yehs; 'ees feeshing goat smale, aw, eet smale an' smiile of som stoff he call ass-afeetiter, le feesh Hike ce smale, bot I am not a feesh." *' See that now, Wilks. This selfish pig of a Bulky, as Monsieur says, has no charity. Ue drives clean, whole- TWO KNAP8A0K8. 137 ■one sMoke vut •! the hotel, ftnd stinks the place np with as nriity a ohemioal mixture aa disguating Hcienoe ever invented. He reminds me of a Toronto professor of ana- tomy who wouldn't allow the poor squeamish modirals to srooke in the dissecting room, because, he said, ooe bad smell was better than two. If I had my way with Bulky I'd smoke him blue ia the face, if for nothing but to drown his abominable assafoetida, the pig 1 " " Aw, Bon, M'syae," interrupted Pierre, to protect the idol of the Maple Inn ; " Meestare Bulky ees not a peeg, but assafeetiter is vorse zan a peeg-stye. N'est ce paw, Angdlique?" *' I 'ave no vord to say of M'syae Bulky," replied Madame, taking up her mending and entering the house. She was at once recalled to the verandah by a juvenile voice that called " Mrs. Latchness 1 " The speaker soon appeared in the person of a small boy, about twelve years old, who, hatless, coatless, and shoeless, ran np from the river bank. " Yat you vant vis me, Tommee 1 " anked Madame. "I pome from Widder Toner's — Ben's dyin', she pays, and can't move a stir. She wants to know if they's anybody here as knows anything about doctorin', and, she says, hurry awful quick 1 " cried the breathless youngster. '* I 'ear you spick of medical, M'syae Coristine ; do you know it t Oan you 'elp ze pauvre vidow 1 " asked Madam. " It's mighty little I know, Madame, but I'll go. Wait till I get my flask," said the lawyer, going after his knap- sack in the sitting room. Eeturning, he handed it to the hostess with the request that she would fill it with the best, and add any remedy she had in the house. Soon she came out cf the railed-off bar with a filled flask and a bottle of St. Jacob's Oil. Pocketing them both, the law- yer said, " Gome on. Tommy," and, with his guide, set out for Widow Toner'a 12« TWU kMAPUAOKS. CUAPTER VII. w, ■ &'.^: " •.*.•! Ben'n Riidden Sickness — The Bpurinus Priest— Corlstlne m Doctor- Saved by the Detective— Anxiety at the Maple— A Pleasant Evening— Sunday Morning and Ben— The Lawyer Hides— Nash and the Dominie Talk Theology on the Hoad— At the Talfourds— Miss Du Plessis the Heal — The False Meets Mr. Rawdon— Mr. Terry and Wilkinson at the Kirk. " 1T7HAT is the matter with Ben 1" asked Coristine, as f f they single-filed along the narrow path by tho river. *' He's tumbled down over some grindstones, and hart himself, and fainted right away," replied the youthful Tommy, pulling up handfuls of tall grass and breaking an occasional twig from a bush as he stumbled along. " What are you to the Toners ? " " I ain't nuthun' to the Toners." " How did yott come to be their messenger, then t " "I was runnin' to the farm to tell the widder that the priest was oomin', when she come out cryia' and sent me off. Guess the priest's there by now." '* V^ hat priest is it yon saw 1 " " I didn't see no priest. Old Mum Sullivan, she saw him, and sent and told mother to tell widder Toner, 'cos she's a Roman, too. She said it was a new priest, hot Father MoNaughton, the old one, and she guessed he was all right, but she didn't like his looks as well as t'other's." " Then you are not a Roman." " Naw, what are you givin' us 1 I play a fife on the Twelfth." " Oh, yon are an Orangeman? " ** Yum, Young Briton, same thing." " So, you Orangemen run to help the Roman Catholics when they are sick or want to know if the priest is com- ing, and then, on the Twelfth, yon feel like cutting each other's throats." " I don't want to oat nobody's throat, but we've got to sass 'em on the Twelfth to keep up the glorious, pious and immortal memory, and to whistle 'em down ' The TWO KNAPB/iCKB. 129 Protestant Boys.' We're got three fifea and three drums in our lodge." After more of this edifying conversation, the pair arrived at a clearing on the river, containing a house and Bomn out buildings, not far from its bank. These com- tnuDicated by a private road with the public one, which cro^aed the stream about an eighth of a mile farther on. Turning the comer of the barn, Ooristine saw a gray- haired woman, and a clean shaven man in clerical garb, leaning over the prostrate figure of Ben. " Are yon a doctor, sir t" asked the tearful woman, rising and coming towards him. " Not exactly, Ma'am," replied the lawyei ; " but per- I may be of use." Ho then leaned over the sick man, and saw that he not only breathed, but had his eyes open upon the world in quite a sensible way. " What is the matter t " he asked the reverend gentleman, who was also contemplating the recumbent Toner. " He says his back is t^ore, paralyzed, and that he can't move a limb," replied the priest in an unprofessional tone. '• How did it happen, Mr. Toner 1 " enquired the law- yer ; and Ben, in a feeble and husky voice, replied : — *' I was rollin' quite a loaud on the slaant, when I got ketched with a back sprain, and the loaud slipped and knocked me down, and rolled over my stummick. I'hat's all." *' Quite enough for one time," said Ooristine ; " is there auch a thing as a loos(< door, or some boards we can make into a stretcher, anywhere about ? Ben called to his mother to show the doctor where the door was that he was going to put on the hen-yard. This was soon found, and, a blanket or two being laid upon it, the clergyman and the improvised doctor transferred the groaning patient to it, and so carried him into the house, where they undressed him and put him to bed on his face. *' Say, doctor, I'll choke like this," came from the bed in the sick man's muffled voice, to the lawyer, who was ordering the widow to get some hot water and provide herself with towels or cotton cloths. " No you won't, Toner j turn your head to one side," he called. " That's better," remarked the patient, as he took advantage of the per- r^; t J Tl / 'M 130 TWO RNAPHACKS. miRRion, and thon continued : " I'd like ef yon'd o*11 nio Ken, doctor, not Toner ; seeniH m ef I'd git better sooner that way." OoriRtlne answered, " All right, Ben," and withdrew to a corner with the priest for conHultation. " What's the matter ? " asked the priest, in a businessliko, nnsympathetio tone. '* So, vou give me back my question. Well, as thn water will be some time getting ready, and it will do our man no harm to feel serious for a few minuteB more, 1')! go into it with your reverence homeopathically. The root of his trouble is a whiskey back. That accidentally led to H muscular strain, involving something a little more para- lyzing than lumbago. He has no boneR broken in that strong frame of his, but the grindstones have bruised him abdominally. I hope my treatment for the root of the disease will be more successful than that of the orien- tal physican, who prescribed for a man that had a pain in his stomach, caused by eating burnt bread. The phy- sician anointed him with eye salve, because he said the root of the disease lay in his eyes ; haJ they been all right, he would not have eaten the burnt bread, and conse- quently would not have had the pains." The priest chuckled beneath his breath over the Htory i then, with earnestness, anked, or rather whispered : " Will he get well soon 1 " " Well enough, I think, to sit up in balf-an-hour," replied thH doctor of the moment. " My dear sir, may I ask you to delay your treatment until I perform a religious office with your patient 1 This is a favourable time for making an impression," said the hitherto callous priest. " Certainly, Father, only be short, for he is suffering physically, and worse from apprehension." " I shall r( quire all persons, but the one to whom I give the comforis of religion, to leave the room," called the prioHt aloud. '* It isn't the unction, Father t " cried Ben, piteously. " Ob, doctor, the boy's not going to diet" besought the mother, at the boiler on the stove. " I can answer for his reverence and myself," replied the lawyer j '* he will not administer the last rites of the Church to the living, nor will I let my patient die." TWO KKAPHArKS. 181 Then he and the widow retired, as the priest took out n book, knelt by the bedside, and opened it. Tlio reverend gentleman, however, was in too ^wAt a hurry to bt>gin, and too little hcnHible how far IiIh penetrating voice would carry, for, at the firHt words of the prayer, Corintine made an indignant start and frowned terribly. Thf words h(i Ixard were : " Oratio pro sickibus, in articulo mortiH, repentant shouldure omnos trausgressores et ooufessioneiu miikere ." He felt inclined to rush in and turn the impudent inipofltor and profaner of the sacred otiioe out of the i.-wUhb neck and crop, especially as the poor mother took him by ihe arm, and, with broken voice through her tearH, said : " 0, doctor, doctor, it's the last words he's taking I " But his legal training acted as a check on his impetuosity, Hnd, standing where he was, he answered the grief-stricken woman : ** Never fear, Mrs. Toner, you ani 1 will pull him through," which greatly conifort<^d the widow'u heart. Five minutes passed by OoriHtinti's watch, and then he determined to stand the nonsense no longer. He coughed, stamped his feet, and finally walked in at the door, fol- lowed by the widow. The pseudo priest was sitting on a chair now, listening to the penitent's confident h. "Time is up," said the lawyer fiercely, and the impostor arose, resumed his tiiree-cornered black wideawake, pocketed his book, which really was a large pocket book full of notes in pencil, and expressed his regret at leaving, as he had another family, a very sad case, to visit that night. Ah he passed Ooristine, the latter refuhed his proffered hand and hissed in his ear : " You are the most daranabh scoun- drel I ever met, and I'll serve you out for this with the penitentiary. " The masquerader grinned unclerically, his back being to the other occupants of the house, and whis- pered back, *' Not much you won't, no nor the halfpenny- tentiary either ; bye-bye 1 " *' How are you feeling, Ben t " the lawyer asked the sick man, as he approached his bedside. " Powerful weak and so-er," replied the patient. Coristine called the mother, poured some St. Jacob's Oil into the palm of her band, and bade her rub down her son's back at the small. " Rub hard 1 " he said ; and she rubbed it in. Three or four more doses followed, till the back was a fine healthy colour. V /il |fcjJ^(MLtJi4w| ^M.i^ 132 TWO KNAPSACKS. ;*' m. '« How does that work, Ben V ^ ^^ •* It smarts some, but I can wriggle my back a bit Then the doctor poured some whiskey out of his fl wk in the same way and it was applied. " Do you think you can turn round now f " he asked ; and, at once, the patient revolved, lying in a more con venient and seemly position. " Bring the hot clothes, Mrs. Toner, and lay them on the bruised part, as hot as he can stand it. The patient growled a little when the clothes were abdominally applied, one after the other, but they warmed him up, and even, as he said, * haylped his back." ••Now, Ben, when did you take whiskey last?" •* T ain't had nary a drop the hull of this blessed day." "Is that true 1" «'GawBpel truth, doctor, so haylp me." " If you don't promise me to quit drinking, I can do nothing for you." ••But he will promise, doctor; won't you now, Benny dear 1 " eagerly asked th« mother. •• Yaas ! " groaned the suflfHrer, with a new hot cloth on him ; " yaas ; I guess I'll have to." Then, the perfidious doctor emptied his flask into a glass, and poured in enough oil to disguise its taste. Add- ing a little water, he gave the dose as medicine to the unconscious victim, who took it off manfully, and natur- ally felt almost himself again. ^^ " Have you plenty coal-oil in the house, Mrs. Toner 1 enquired the family physician ; and the widow replied that she had. " Rub the affiicted parts with it, till they will absorb no more ; then let him sleep tiU morning, when he can get up and go about light work. But, mind, there's to be no lifting of heavy weights for three days, and no whiskey at all." , With these words, Ooristine received the woman s warm expressions of gratitude, and departed. Tommy had gone, so the lawyer had to go back to the Inn alone, and in the dark. He turned the barn, before which one bundle of grindstones still lay, the one, appar- ently, that had floored Ben. Then he made his way along a path bordered with dewy grass, that did not seem quite familiar, so that he rejoiced when he arrived at the road TWO KNAP8A0KB. 133 and the bridge. But, both road and bridge were new to bim, and there was no Maple Inn. He now saw that be had taken the wrong turning at the barn, and was pre- paring to retrace his steps, when a sound of approaching wheels and loud voices arrested him. On came the wag- gons, three in number, the horses urged to their utmost by d^-unken drivers, in whom he recognized the men that he and Wilkinson had met before they took the road to the Inn. Ooristine was standing on the road close by the bridge as they drove up, but, as the man with the first team aimed a blow at him with his whip, he drew back towards the fence. " Shoot the d — d spy, boys," the ruffian cried to the fellows behind him, and, as they slacked their speed, the lawyer jumped the fence to put some solid obstacle between himself and their revolvers, which, he knew, they were oixly too ready to use. At that moment a horseman rode towards the party from the other side of the bridge, and, while aiming a blow with a stout stick at the first scoundrel, a blow that was effectual, called to the others, in a voice of authority, to put up their pistols. " Lord, boys, it's Nash ; drive on," called one, and they whipped up their patient animals amd rattled away in a desperate hurry. " You can come out now, Mr. Coris- tine," said the horseman ; " the coast is clear." " You have the advantage of me, sir/' remarked the lawyer, as he vaulted back again into the road. *' No I have not," replied the other ; " you called me a damnable scoundrel, and threatened me with the peni- tentiary, a little while ago. How's Toner 1" " I am obliged for your interference just now on my behalf, but must decline any intercourse with one who has been gnilty of what I regard as most dishonourable conduct, profaning the sacred name of religion in order to compass some imfamous private end." " My ends, Mr. Coristine, are public, not private, nor are they infamous, but for the good of the community and the individuals composing it. I know your firm, Tylor, Woodruff and White, and your firm knows me, Internal Revenue Detective Nash." " What I are you the celebrated Mr. Nash of the Penetang Bush Haid t " asked the lawyer, curiosity, and admiration of the man's skill and courage, overcoming his aversion to the latest detective trick. '"I 1* s m 1 w) ;i^ 134 TWO KNAPSACKS. ¥^W mm mi '' The same at yoar service, and, as the best thing I can do for you is to take you to your Inn, a dry way out of the dew, you can get on my beast, and I'll walk for a rest," replied the detective, alighting. Ooristine was tired, so, after a little pressing, he accepted the mount, and, of course, found it impossible to refuse his confidence to the man whose horse he was riding. " What did you do with your clerical garb Y " be asked. " Have it on," replied Nash ; " it's a great make up. This coat of black cord has a lot of turned up and turned down tag ends, the same with the vest, nnd the soft hat can be knocked into any shape with a dift of the fist, With these, and three collars, and moustache, beard, and whiskers, that I carry in my pocket, I can assume half-a- dozen characters and more." " How do you justify your assumption of the priestly character 1 " " I want information, and assume any character to get it, in every case being guilty of deception. You think my last r61e unjustifiable because of the confessional. Had I simulated a Methodist parson, or a Presbyterian minister, or a Church of England divine, you would have thought much less of it ; and yet, if there is any bad in the thing, the one is as bad as the other. Personally, I regard the confessional as a piece of superstitious ecclesiastical machinery, and am ready to utilize it, like any other super- stition, for the purpose of obtaining information. Talk about personating the clergy ; I have even been bold enough to appear as a lawyer, a quaker, a college professor, a sailor, and an actresa" " You have certainly led me to modify my opinion of your last performance." " Which nearly gave me away. So you won't send me to the penitentiary ; thanks 1 And now, as I said at first, how's Toner 1" " Oh, Toner's all right, with the fieriest skin on him t lat ever lay between two sheets. He has promised to give up drinking." " It's very likely he'll have to.'* "Why sol" TWO KNAPBA0K8. 135 " They don't allow refreahments so strong in gaol." « Be as easy as you can with the poor fellow, Mr. Nash." '* All depends on his futnre behavioar, and, in some other capacity, I shall let him know his danger." As the two figures came down the road toward the Inn, a voice hailed them, the voice of the dominie. " Is Mr. Coristine there 1" it shouted. " Yes ; here am I," came from the back of the horse. '* What bones are broken or woands received t *' was the pitiful but correct question. " Not a bone nor a wound. Mr. Nash has treated me to a ride." *' Aw 9a I " ejaculated Pierre, '* M'syae Nasha homme treh subti), treh rus^, conneh tout le monde, fait pear auz mauvch sujah." '* What is he 1 " asked the schoolmaster, speaking English, in his eagerness ; and the landlord replied in the same. "Ee is vat you call detectenr, police offisare vis no close on 'im. Anysing vas to go in ze custom house and goes not, he find it out. O, a veray clevaire mann ! " Coristine dismounted for the purpose of introducing his companion. Personally, he would as readily have per- formed this office on horseback, but he knew that the Hchool master was a stickler for ceremony. While the introduction was going on, Pierre took Mr. Nash's horse by the bridge, and led the procession home. There, Madame stood in the porch eagerly waiting for news of "cejeune homme si courageux, si benveillont," and was delighted to hear that he was safe, and that Mr. Nash, an old acquaintance, was with him. When the party entered the house, Wilkinson looked at the detective, and then, with a start, said : " Why, you are Dowling, the Dowling who came to the Sacheverell Street Sjhool, with a peremp- tory letter from the trustees, to take the lower division boys, and disappeared in ten days." " The same, Mr. Wilkinson ; I knew yon as soon as I heard your voice." " You disarranged our work pretty well for us, Mr. Dow — Nash. What were you after there, if it is a fair question ? " 'Pi mil 136 TWO KNAPSACKS. (^n -cm y^^iM «« I was after the confidence of some innocent young- sters, who could give me pointers on grindstones and their relation to the family income. As I know you both and our friends of the hotel are not listening, I may say that I am so interested in this problem as to have made up my mind to go into grindstones myself." These remarks led to an animated triangular conversa- tion over the Grinstun man, in which the two pedestrians gave the detective all the information they possessed regarding that personage. They urged that an immediate effort should be made to hinder his acquiring the hand and property of Miss Du Plessis, and, thereafter, that united aci should be taken to break up his injurious com- merce. Mr. Nash prepared to accompany them on their walk to church in Flanders, and asked the lawyer if he had any objection to ride his horse part of the way, with a bundle behind him, if he, the detective, would carry hw knapsack. Coristine consented, on condition that his new friend would also lend him his riding gaiters Madame produced the wherewithal to spend asocial half-hour before retiring, and, in answer to the detective, said : " Ze sack ees in % commode in ze chombre of M;8yae.' Mr Nash laughed, and, over his glass and clay pipe, confided to his ff^llSw-conspirators that he had a few little properties in that bag, and was much afraid that some of them wou d compel him to desecrate the Sabbath. " You are used to my religious performances, Mr. Coristine; I hope your friend, and my old principal, Mr. Wilkinson, will not be as hard on me as you were." , . ,, . . . ,. Then the dominie was informed of the events of the evening, and the parties separated for the night. Sunday morning dawned clear and cloudless, giving r romise of a glorious day. Everybody in the inn was up before six o'clock ; for at seven it was the intention of the three guests to take the road for a place of worship in Flanders. Ben Toner was waiting on the verandah for the appearance of Coristine ; and, when that gentleman came out to taste the morning air, greeted him with clumsy effusion, endeavouring, at the same time, to press a two-dollar bill upon his acceptance. The la^ye^ declined the money, saying that he had no license to p«^ tise. and would, consequently, be liable U> a heavy fine TWO KNAPSACKS. 137 shonld he receive remuneration for his services. He enqaired after Ben's health, and was pleased to learn that, Thile his heroic remedies had left the patient " as rayd as a biled lobister," externally, he was otherwise all right, except for a little stiffness. Mr. Nash came down-stairs, dressed in a well-fitting suit of tweed, and sporting a moustache and full beard that had grown up as rapidly as Jonah's gourd. Going up to the man whom he had con- fessed the night before, he asked him : " Do you know me again. Toner 1 " to which Ben replied : " You bet your life I do ; you're the ourous coon as come smellin' round my place with a sayrch warnt two weeks ago Friday." Satis- tied that his identity in Ben's eye was safe, the detective led him away on to the bridge, and engaged in earnest conversation with him, which made Mr. Toner start, and wriggle, and back down, and impart information oonfirma tory of that extorted the night before, and give large pro- mises for the future. The two returned to the verandah, and, before the lawyer went in to breakfast, his patient bade him an affectionate farewell^ adding, " s'haylp me, Mr. Corstine, ef 1 don't be true to my word to you and the old woman about that blamefl liquor. What I had I turned out o' doors this mornin', fust thing, and I shaant take in no more. That there bailiff's done me a good turn, and I won't ferget him, nor you nuther, Doctor, ef so be it's in my power to haylp you any." Coristine took his leave of the simple-hearted fellow, and went to join the company at the breakfast table. Mr. Nash was there, but, for convenience of eating and not to astonish the host and hostess, he had placed his beard and moustache in his pocket. It was handy, however, and could be replaced at a moment's warning. Batiste brought round the detective's horse, and the lawyer, in borrowed liding gaiters, bestrode him, hooking on to the back of the saddle a bundle somewhat larger than a cavalry man's rolled -up cloak. The bundle contained Mr. Nash'a selected properties. That gentleman allowed Madame to fasten the straps of Ooristine's knapsack on his shoulders, while Pierre did the same for Wilkinson. The dominie had paid the bill the night before, as he objected to commercial transactions on Sunday, so there was nothing to do but to say good-bye, bestow a trifle on ' ^ s-'tfH 138 TWO KNAPBACKB. i' • ¥ Batiste and take to the road. The detective, after they had done Haifa mile's pleasant walking, took command of the expedition, and ordered The Oavalry, as Goristine called himoelf, to trot forward and make a reconnoisance. His inst motions were to get to the Garruthera' house in advance of the pedestrians, to find out exactly who were there, and to return with speed and report at headquar- ters, which would be somewhere on the road. Saluting his friend and his superior officer, the lawyer trotted off, his steed as well pleased as himself to travel more speedily through the balmy atmosphere of the morning. The dom- inie and his quondam assistant were thus left to pursue their journey in company. " Do you enjoy Wordsworth, Mr. Nash 1 " asked Wil- kinson. " Oh yes," replied the detective, " the poet, you mean, We are seven, and the primrose by the river's brim. Queer old file in the stamp business he must have been. Wish I could make $2,500 a year like him, doing next to nothing." " There is a passage that seems to my mind appro- priate. It is : — Ua humbler ceremonies now await ; But in the bosom with devout respect, The banner of our joy we will erect, And streuf^th of love our souls shall elevate ; For, to a few collected in His name, The heavenly Father will incline His ear, Hallowing; Himself the service which they frame. Awake ! the majesty of God revere ! Go — and with foreheads meekly bow'd, Present your prayer : go— and rejoice aloud— The Holy One will hear 1 " " Tott should have been a parson, Mr. Wilkinson ', yoo do that well. I'd like to take lessons from you ; it would help me tremendously in my profession. But I find it mighty hard to do the solemn. That time in your school was almost too much for me, and your friend twigged my make-up last night." " I find it hard," said the schoolmaster, " not to be solemn in such scenery as this on such a morning. All nature seems to worship, giving forth in scent and song its tribute of adoration to the Greator, to whose habitation made with bands we are on our way as worshippers." TWO KNAPSACKS. 139 *< ' Fraid I shan't do much worshipping, church or no charch. You see, Mr. Wilkinson, my business is a very absorbing one. I'll be looking for noteR, and spotting my men, and working up my dues all the time the parson'p bumming away." " Ah, you have read Tennyson's • Northern Farmer ' 1 " '* Never heard tell of it ; but I've got my eyes on some northern farmers, and they'll have my attention soon." " Your expression, ' bumming away,' occurs in it, so I thought yon had found it there. It is rather a severe way in which to characterize the modern preacher, who, take him on the whole, deserves credit for what I regard as a difficult task, the presentation of some fresh subject of religious thought every Sunday all the year round." " My mind works too fast for most of them. I can see where the conclusion is before ^hey have half got started. There's no fun in that, you kuow." "Do you not sometimes meet with clergymen that interest youl" " Now and then. The learned bloke who cuts his text into three, and expounds them in detail, I can't stand ; nor the wooden logical machine that makes a proposition and proceeds to prove it; nor the unctuous fellow that rambles about, and says, 'dear friends,' and makes you wish he had studied his sermon. But, now and then, I fall in with a man who won't let me do any private think- ing till he's done. You hear his text and his introduction, and wonder, ho w the dickens he is going to reconcile the two. He carries you on and on and on, till he does it in a grand whirl at the end, that lifts you up and away with it, like the culminating arguments of the counsel for the prosecution, or the peeler's joyful run in of a long-sought gaol-bird. I like that sort of a parson ; the rest are jack- daws." " Perhaps they suit the average mind 1 " "If they did, we ought to have graded churches as well as graded schools. But they don't, except, in this way, that people have got accustomed to the bumming. Tb« preachers I like would keep up the interest of a child. There was one I heard on the text, ' I form the light and create darkness.' His introduction was, ' God is light and in Qim is no darkness at all.' He jerked us i cfT^ !(,.' ,!, ■'I •,: uo TWO KNAPSACKS. up into the light and banged us down into the darkness, almost laughing one minute and crying the next. Then he went to hunt up his man, and found him in the devil and the devil's own, all fallen creations of God. Any schoolboy could follow that sermon and take its lessons home with him. There was a logical bloke, at least he thought himself logical, who took for his text Joseph's coat of many colours, a sort of plaid kilt I should think ; and said, ' I shall now proceed to prove that this was a sacer- dotal or priestly garment. First, it occupies a prominent position in the narrative ; second, it excited the enmity of Joseph's brethren; and third, they dipped it in blood when they sold their younger brother.' I could have proved it as J^gically to be Stuart tartan, and, at the same time, the original of the song ' Not for Joe,' because he lost it before he became steward to Pharaoh. Bah ! that's what makes people sick of going to church. I've pretty nigh quit it." The pedestrians trudged on for a time silently, the' detective, doubtless, revolving schemes in his brain, the dominie inwardly sighing over his companion's captious criticism, to which he could not well reply, and over the absence of his legal friend, whose warm Irish heart would have responded sympathetically to the inspiration of the Sabbath morning walk. At last, Mr. Nash resumed the conversation, saying : — "I'm afraid, Mr. Wilkinson, that you think me a pretty hard-hoar tc J, worldly man, and, perhaps, that my calling makes me so. ■•I have no right to judge you, Mr. Nash," answered the schoolmaster ; " but I should think that the work of hunting down law breakers would have the effect of dead- ening one's sensibilities." •* It shouldn't, any more than the work of a clergy- man, a doctor, a teacher, or a lawyer. We all, if we are honest, want to benefit society by correcting evils. I see a lot of the dark side of human nature, but a little of the bright too, for, thank Heaven, there is no man so bad as not to have some little good in him. There's that Toner, once a fine young fellow j I hate to see him going to the dogs, wasting his property, breaking his old mother's heart. I'd rather save that man any day than gaol him." TWO KNAPS \CK8. 141 " Oive me yonr hand, sir," said the dominie, heartily, tranHf erring his staff to his left, and offering the right ; " I honour you tor the saying, and wish there were more officers of the law like you." "Oh, as for that matter," replied the detective, " I and my colleagues have tried to save many a young fellow, but then—" <* What is the obstacle f " " The obstacle is that there are men who simply won't be saved." " Oh, I suppose that is true theologically as well as legally." "Of course; if the law don't want to have a lot of criminals to hunt out and shut up and puninh, it stands to reason that the Source of all law doesn't. But, for the good of society and the world, these criminals have to be separated from them, and their bad work stopped. To say that the law hates them, and takes vengeance on them like a Corsican, is utterly to misunderstand the nature of law. Yet, that is what nine tenths of the parsons teach." '* That is very unfortunate." '* Unfortunate 1 it's diabolical. If I were to go into a good man's house, and present his children with a hideous caricature of their father, so as to terrify some and drive others clean away from him, wouldn't I deserve to he. kicked out f I should think so 1 Now, I say every good thing in man must be found a million times better in man's Maker. If the foundation principle of human law is benevolence to society, the foundation principle of divine law must be something higher and better, not revenge. But you know these things better than I do." " Not at all ; I could not express myself better. What you have found out is stated by Dr. Whewell, the famous Master of Trinity, in the Platonic form, that every good thing in man and in the world has its archetype in the Divine Mind. Every bad thing, such as revenge and anger, has no such archetype, but is a falling away, a deflection, from the good." " How do you explain the imputation of bad things to God, 8uch as hate, revenge, terrorism, disease, death, beasts of prey, and all the rest ? " " In two ways , first, as a heathen survival in Chris -M • '■'"^l ■■^^^1 'fil '.'-••31 .1 ': t. ',. i . #% ' if] ■'■''« ^ 1 i' P: l--i-l? V.;; fe:!-\ ( - i liU : ;■: . .% E'r,::':^ ^ ' 1 ^ \ 4. 149 TWO KNAPSACKS. danily, borrowed partly from pagan national religinnH, partly from the misanderstood phraBeology of the Old Testament ; and, second, as thn nncesHary reHult of a well- meant attempt to escape from Persian and Manichaean dualiHm." " But there is a daalism in law, in morals, in nature, and in human nature, everywhere in this world ; there's no getting over it." "Of course there is, but the difference between the dualism of fact and that of the Persian system is, that the evil i8 not equal, but inferior and subordinate, to the good." " It gets the upper hand pretty often, as far as this world is concerned." " And why 1 Just for the same reason that bad gov- ernments and corrupt parties often get the upper hand, namely, by the vote of the majority, through which the minority has to Huffer. Talk about vicarious suffering I Every good man suffers vicariously." " Tliese are deep things, Mr. Wilkinson, too deep for the average parson, who doesn't trouble himself much with facts unless he find them confirmed by his antiquated arti- cles." " Yet my attention has been drawn to them by thought ful clergymen of different denominations." " Well, I don't think I'll trouble the clergymen to-day, thoughtful or not thoughtful. I've had my sermon in the open air, a sort of walking camp-meeting. What did they call these fellows who studied on the movef "Peripatetics." " That's it ; we're a peripatetic church." *' But, without praise or prayer or scripture lessons, which are more important than the sermon." " Ob, you can do the praise and prayer part in a quiet way, as a piece of poetry says that I learnt when I was a boy. It ends something like this : — So we lift our trusting eyes To the bills our fathers trod, To the quiet of the skies, And the Sabbath of our God. That's pretty, now ! Hallo ! here's the doctor I " Coristine came up at the gallop, and reported that all the people he expected to find at the Oarruthers' were TWO KNAPBA0K8. 143 there, Orinstun man, Mrs. Oarmicbael, and MHriorie, inoladed, all except MIhr Du Pleasia, who was Htaying at a house three miles this side of the farm, helping to narse a sick neighbour. " Has Rawdon seen her 1 " asked the detective. The lawyer did not know, bat saggested that they could find oat by calling at the honse of Mrs. Talfourd, the Rick woman, on the way." " How far are we from iti " enquired Mr. Nash. " About a mile or a mile and a-half," replied Coristine. *' Then, Mr. Wilkinson, let us stir our stumps a bit. Oan you sing or whistle 1 There's nothing like a good tune to help a quick march." *' Yes ; aing up, Wilks," cried The Cavalry ; and the dominie started " Onward, Christian Soldiers," in which the others joined, the detective in a soft falsetto, indis- tinguishable from a half-cultivated woman's voice. He was combining business with pleasure, dissimulation with outward praise. '* Pretty good that for a blooming young lady of five foot ten," remarked Mr. Nash, at the end of the hymn. *' Blooming young ladies with a tonsure," replied Oor- istine, gazing on the detective's momentarily uncovered head, "are open to suspicion." *' Wait till you see my hair," chuckled the ex-priest. The mile and a-half was ooon covered, and the trio Htood before a roomy farm-bouke. A boy, not unlike Tommy, but better dressed, was swinging on the gate, and him the detective asked if he could see Miss Du Plessis OQ important business. The boy ran into the house to enquire, and came back to the gate, accompanied by the lady in question. She changed colour as her eye took in The Cavalry, immovable as a life guardsman on sentry. The detective handed her his professional card, and explained that he and hie two friends had been entrusted with the duty of protecting her property and herself. " You need have no doubts, Miss Du Pleasis, for the Squire, as a J. P., knows me perfectly," he continued. " I have no fear, Mr. Nash," answered the lady, in a pleasant voice, with just a suspicion of a foreign accent ; " your name is known to me, and you are in good com- pany." ■J., '.hi 144 TWO KVAPHAHKH. :t j ! - Wilkinson, standing by hia friend's stirrap, heard thit iMt statement, and blushed, while Tho Oavalry thought he had heard a voice like that before. " Has Mr. Rawdon seen you, or have you seen himf " asked the detective. " Neither ; but the two IM arjories have been here, and have told me about him They do not seem to admire Mr. Bawdon." " The darlins I " ejaoulat»)d the lawyer ; whereupon Wilkinson pinched his leg, and made him cry "OwchI" The rest of the conversation between the plotterH at the gate was inaudible At its ooncluHion, the lady'H face was beaming with amusenu'nt. " Give me that bundle for Mihh Du Plessis," said Naah to Ooristine, who lifted his hat f.o her, and handed the parcel over. ** Now, for instructions," continued the commander-in- chief. " The Oavalry will go to Bridesdale, that's Squire Carruthers' place, and keep Mr. Rawdon from going to church, or bring him back if he has started, which isn't likely. This branch of the Service will also make sure that all children are nut of the way somewhere, and inform older people, who may be about, that Miss Du Plessis is coming to the houBe during church time, and is very much altered by night-watching and sick-nursing, so that they need not express astonishment before Mr. Rawdon. Fasten these knapsacks about you somehow, Horse-Doctor ; put the beast up where he'll get a drink and a feed ; and go to church like a good Christian. The Infantry will halt for the present, and afterwards act as Miss Du Plcsflis' escort. Infantry, attention ! Cavalry, form threes, trot ! " Ooristine took the knapsacks, made another bow, and trotted away, while the dominie walked up to the gate, and was introduced to the fair conspirator. After showing the detective and his bundle into an unoccupied apartment, Miss Du Plessis returned to the sitting-room where she left the dominie. In the few min- utes at their disposal, he informed his new acquaintance of his chance-meeting with her uncle, of whose arrival in Canada she was in complete ignorance. The imparting and receiving this news established such a bond between the two as the schoolmaster had hitherto thought impos- m \ TWO KNAPflAOKS. 145 Bible Rhnnld nxiflt bfltwnen himnnlf and one of the weaker Hex. Yet, in her brief absence, he had talcnn pains to dust himself, and shakn up his hair and whiskers. His oom- panion was preparing to tell how she had heard of him from Miss Oaimichaei, when another young lady, almost her counterpart in general appearance, entered the room. " Now," said the newcomer, in a deep but feminine voice, " now the false Miss Du Plessis will go on with her nuFRing, while the real one taken Mr. Wilkinson's arm and keeps her appointment at the Squire's. "^ Miss Du Plessia clapped her hands together and laughed heartily. Wilkinson, thinking, all the time, what a pretty, musical lauKh it was, could not help joining in the amusement, for NuHh was complete from his wig down to his boots. The colonel's niece threw a light, woolly shawl over the detective's shoulders, and accompanied the pair to the gate, where, before dismissing thorn, she warned her double not to compromise her to Mr Rawdon. " I hope soon to have the pleasure of meeting you, Mr. Wilkinson, under more favourable circumstances," she called after that gentleman, as they moved off, and then ran into the house to hide her laughter. The dominie felt his face getting red, with a pretty young lady hoping to meet him again, on the one hand, and a not by any means ill-looking personation of one hanging on to his arm, on the other. After a minute, the detective withdrew his hand from his companion's arm, but continued to practise his assumed voice upon him, in every imaginable enquiry as to what he knew of Miss Du Plessis, of her friend Miss Carmichael, and of the working geologist's intentions. He was thus pretty well primed, and all promised well, till, within a quarter of a mile of the house, a vision appeared that filled him and the disguised Nash, to whom he communicated his fears, with grave apprehensions as to the success of the plot. It was no less a person than the yeteran, Mr. Michael Terry, oat for a' Sunday walk with the Grinstun man. Their dread increased as the old man came running for- ward, crying : *' An' it's oomin' back yez are, my darlin' Mish Ceshile. It's a throifle pale yer lookin', an' no wonder." Saying this, Michael shook hands with Nash, and whispered : <* Niver fare, sorr, Mishter Oorlatine towld me all about iL** \ ^i:'i>'\ 146 TWO KNAPSACKS, i- , N The made-np lady introduced her father's old servant to Wilkinson, whose apprehensions were dispelled in a similar way, so that all were prepared to give Mr. Rawdon the reception intended. " UUo, hold Favosites Wilkinsonia," cried the working geologist, swaggering up with a cigar in his mouth, * 'ow's yer bloomin' 'ealth t That hold bloke of a Hirish haint in a 'urry to do the hamiable between 'is hold guvncr's gal an' yours truly. My name, Miss, is Rawdon, Haltamont Rawdon, workin' geologist and minerologist, and, between you and me and the bedpost, a pretty .^arm man." " Yes ; Mr. Rawdon," replied the pseudo iliss Du Plessis, " you look — well, not pretty— but warm." *' O, dash it hall, that haint wot I meant, Miss Do Please-us; I mean hi'm a man that's got the dibs, the rhino, the blunt, you know, wot makes the mare go. I don't go geologizin' round for nothin'." " You pick up stones, I suppose 1 " " Yes ; grinatuns, limestun grit, that's the stuff to make you jolly." "I have heard of drawing blood out of a stone, Mr. Rawdon, but never of extracting merriment' or exhilaration from a grindstone." " Then you don't know my grinstuns. Miss ; they're full o' fun." " Are they indeed ) How amusing I In what way does the fun display itself 1 " " A bundle of my grinstuns, distributed at a loggin' bee, a raisin' bee, or a campaign caucus, ware there's a lot of haxes to grind, can make more fun than the Scott Act'll spile in a month. But silence is silence 'twixt partners, which I opes you and me is to be." The fictitious Miss Du Plessis, with rauf'.h simpering and affectation, quite unworthy of the original, drew the working geologist out, and inspired him with hopes of securing her hand and property. Mr. Rawdon spoke very freely of the wealth he had in the hand and in the bush, of his readinei's to make allowance for Madame Du Plessis, if that "haffable hold gent," her biother in law, was not prepared ^r> provide for her. When they reached the house, the^ ; ^und that no one was at home but Tryphena, who was coii'~ned to the kitchen by culinary duties. They, TWO KNAPSACKS. 147 herefore, occupied the parlour, the Grinstuu man ueeing DO impropriety in being there alone with a young lady tvhoiii he had met for the first time. Indeed, he was much gratified to find that the lady was not at all stiff and otiish, as be had feared, but as " haffable as her huncle and more." The lady laughed, and blushed at loud compli- ments, as loud as the check of Mr. Rawdon's clothes, and asked flattering questions, which he answered with a jolliky and recklessness that almost astonished himself. Was there no romance, no spice of daring in his occupa- tion t she had asked, and he, remembering that he was talking to a soldier's daughter, who would, doubtless, appreciate courage, replied enigmatically that the grinstun business was about the riskiest business on earth, and required 'eroism of no hordinary kind. While this conversation was going on, the dominie and the veteran were walking churchward, for, as the former had signified his intention of going to a place of worship, the old man insisted on accompanying him. " Oi was born a Catholic, sorr, and a Catholic Oi'll doie, though my darter is a Fratestant, and what's more, a Prosbytarian. She rades her B?'ble an' Oi rade moine, an* there's sorra a bit av differance betwane thim. If the church is good enough for her, it's good enough for the loikes av me." '* Tbat is what I call being a Catholic in the truest sense of the term. We will not deprive people of the kingdom of Heaven because they refuse to go our way." " Till me now, sorr, what's that that's pertindin' to be my dear young misthress. Miss Ceshile ? " " An old soldier knows how to keep a secret, I am sure. It is the famous detective, Mr. Nash." " Sure I hope, by my sowl, that he'll make the craihur gnash his tayth. It was all I could do to kape my hands aff him, as we were walkin' along to mate yez. Him to make up to the cornel's darter, the misherable, insigni tikint, bad shpokin, thavin' scrap fsv impidenne 1 " The church boll had ceased ringing, the horses and waggons were in the driving shed without any attendant, and, as the pair approached, they could hear the sound of hearty singing coming through the open windows. T^hey entered together, the old man crossing himself as he did . •;•?! •t ,- 148 TWO KNAP8A0K8. SO, and sat down in a pew near the door. The eohool- master saw that the church was that of Mr. Errol, who occupied the pulpit. He looked round, but could not see hia friend Ooristine ; nor was little Marjorie anywl ere visible. Th«y masc have strolled on farther to Mr. Per- rowne's consecrated edifice for the sake of the walk. Th( n, with reverent mind, the dominie joined in the simple wcr Hhip of the Kirk. in' I' ' ' CHAPTER VIII. The Services — Nash Routs Rawdon— The Dinner Talk — The Pedes- trians with the Ladies — Singing out of One Hymn-book— Grins- tuns Again— The Female vagrant and the Idiot Bf>y- Little Marjorie — Nash's Thoughts — The Captain and the Plot — Arrival of Rufas and Ben— To Arms 1 MR. ERROL'S sermon was on the text, " Lord, I knew thf e, that thou art an hard man." He elaborated the unfaithful servant's harsh opinion of God, and, before he sat down, completely exonerated the Father in Heaven from the blasphemous judgment of those who call them- selves His children. There is a thief in the world who comes to steal and kill and destroy ; he is not God, but the enemy of God's children. The dominie's heart warmed to the man who, though of a different communion, fulfilled St. Paul's ideal of a clergyman, in that he arrogated no dominion over the people's faith, but was a helper of their joy. The sermon lifted the schoolmaster up, and brought God very near j and the hearty hymns and reverent pray ers helped him greatly. When the service was over, he waited, and soon CarrutherH presented his comely, mat- ronly wife, while Mrs. Oarmichael recalled herself to his remembrance ; and, finally, the minister, having divested himself of gown and bands in the vestry, came down the aisle with cheery step and voice to bid him welcome to Flanders. Wilkinson was happy — happier than he had been for many a long year. He seemed to have so many friends, and they were all so cordial, so glad to see him — not a hard man or woman among them ; and, therefore, God could not be hard. He walked with the minister, TWO KNAPSACKS. 149 who was going to dine at Bridesdale and then ride five miles to preach at another station. He thanked him for his sermon, and talked over it with him, and, of course, quoted " The Excursion " : — If the heart Could be inspected to its inmost folds. By sight Tindazzled with the glare uf praise, Who shall be named— in the resplendent line Of sages, martyrs, confessors— the man Whom the best mij^ht i 'til li . 'f 150 TWO KNAl'SACKS. u ■■■■;< ]'"i ■ y ' man — dressed in Mr. Nash's clothes, but with the beard and moustache recognized by Ben Toner as those of the bailiff— was ushered in and greeted by the Squire as Mr. Chisholm. The rest of the company seemed to know tbo transformed detective, including the Grinstun man, whom he rallied on his attentions to a young lady. " You're a nice man, Rawdon, when every decent per- son has gone to church, gallivanting with young ladies. I saw you at the Talfonrds." " Don't care a 'ang if you did," replied Rawdon ; •• if Miss Do Fleas-US takes a shine to a warm man, and gives you 'and-to-mouth beggars the go-by, that honiy shows 'er common sense." " What has Miss Du Plessis got to do with it 1 " " She's got this to do with it, that she's promised to be my missus before the week's bout." " When 1 " " Wy, this mornin' ; 'ere in this blessed room." '• Oh, come, Rawdon, you are joking. Mips Du Plessis hasn't been out of Mrs. Talfourd's to-day." " Don't you try none of your larks hon me, Mr. Chis- holm. You can't take a rise bout of this kid, hinnercent has he looks." " But, I tell you she has not. Who do you think that girl was you brought home to Talfourd's plac^ 1 " " Wy, Miss Do Pleaae-us, of course ; *oo else could it be?" Mr. Chisholm laughed loud and long, and at last ejacu« lated : " Miss Du Plessis ! Oh, but you're a green hand, Rawdon, to take Martha Baggs for her ; the daughter of old Baggs, in the revenue service. Hope you didn't give your friends away, Rawdon 1 " " You think you're pretty clever, Mr. Chisholm, comin' hover me with your Marther Baggses. Hold Hirish knows Miss Do Please-us, I should say, and wouldn't go takiu' no Marther Baggs for 'er." *' Mr. Rawdon," interposed the Squire, " I'll thank you to speak more respectfully of ray father-in-law ; as good a man, I judge, as yourself." " No hoffence, Squire ; but I wish you'd hask the hold gent to come 'ere and shut up this 'ere bailiff's mouth with 'is Marther Bagga" TWO KNAFSACK8. 151 Mr. Terry, who preferred the society of the kitchen to that of the parlour, was produced, and, on being asked if the lady with Mr. Rawdon was Mis!) Du Plessis, answered that his " sight was gettin' bad, an' the sinse av hairin' too, an' if it wor Miss Jowplesshy^ she had changed her vice intoirely, an' got to be cruel rough an' common in her ways. Av coorse, it moight have been the young mis- thress ; but Talfer's was nigh to han', an' it was aisy axin. A horrible suspicion came over the Grinstun man, and paled his rubicund visage. He darted up to his room, and speedily reappeared with knapsack on back and staff in hand, ready for the road. Mr. Oarruthers pressed him to stay at least for dinner, but he was resolved to solve the mystery by a visit to the Talfourds, and said that, if Mr. Chisholm was right, he would not be back for a while. His retreating figure was watched with positive pleasure by most of the company, and with still greater satisfaction by the small party returning, from the Anglican service. " What garred ye fricht Rawdon awa, Mr. Chisholm 1" asked the Squire. " I wanted to eat my dinner comfortably," replied the detnctive, putting beard and moustache in his pocket, when all the company, except the dominie who knew, cried out, '* it's Mr. Nash," " To think of you deceiving me," exclaimed Mr. Oar- ruthers, ** and me a justice of the peace. I've a thocht to bring you up for conspiracy." " There can be no conspiracy without at least two per- sons," answered the detective. ** But, man, you are two persons, that I've known oflf and on as Chisholm and Nash." " When he was one of my masters," put in the dominie, " his name was Dowling." " And this morning," remarked the man of aliases, with a smile, " I was Miss Du Plessis or Martha Baggs, so Rawdon will have hard work to tind the lady of his aflfecdons." At this juncture Ooristine and his fair companions entered, and, while the young Maijorie renewed her acquaintance, Wilkinson was gravely introduced to one of his own teachers, to the no little amusement of the lady 152 TWO KNAPSACKS. 1 til f >1 1 ■■si ' ''ft £;':.■ ■■■■ 'il 1. my ^'i iM EaJki .. ■ t?>j heraelf, of the lawyer, and of the company generally whn were in the secret. Miss Carmichael explained that Mr. Perrowne had declined to come to dinner, but would look in later in the day when Cecile came home ; whereat mit: many smiled, and the dominie frowned heavily. Mrs. Oarru there now announced dinner, when the Squire took in his sister, Wilkinson, her daughter, Ooristine, Marjorie, and Mr. Errol, the hostess. All the pairs agreed in con- gratulating themselves on the absence of the Orinstun man, and looked with approbation on Mr. Nash, who, all alone but cheerful, brought up the rear. There was no room at the table for the five youthful Carruthers, who rejoiced in the fact and held high carnival in the kitchen with TryphenaandTryphosaand their maternal grandfather. Mr. Errol had said grace, and dinner was in progress, when the hall door was heard to open, and, immediately, on went the 'detective's facial disguise. Bub the light- ness of the step that followed it reassured him, so that hia smooth features once more appeared. Shortly afterwards Miss Du Plessis entered, apologizing for her lateness, and taking the vacant chair between the host and the dominie. "I was really frightened," she said to the former, "by a dreadful little man, with an Indian hat and a knapsack, who stopped and asked me if T was Miss Do Please-us. When I told him that my name was Du Plessis, he became much agitated, and cried ' Then I'm done, sold again and the money paid,' after which he used such very bad lan- guage that I actually ran away from him. I looked round, however, and saw him hurrying away towards the Tal- fouris.' " Wilkinson looked very fierce and warlike, and attacked his food as if it were the obnoxious Rawdon. ** Cecile," said Miss Carmichael across the indignant dominie, " I told a fib about yon this morning, but quite innocently. I said you would not be home to dinner." " Neither I would, were it not that IV^rs. Talfourd's sister came in after church, and offered to stay with her the rest of the day. Whom did you tell f " " Your devoted friend, Mr. Perrowne." Miss Du Plessis blushed a little, and the schoolmaster cut the clergyman up several times and stuck his fork into him savagely. Then he commenced a conversation with the Squire, into which the lady between them was almost TWO KNAPS 40KS. 153 necessarily drawn. Mr. Nash edified Mrs. Carmiohael ; her daughter conversed with the minister, to the latter'a delight ; while Coristine divided his attentions between the hostess and IS^nrjorie. " What was Mr. Perrowne preaching on, Maijorie 1 " aski d Mrs. Garruthers. " Pillows on the ground," replied that young person. Her cousin laughed, and came to the rescue, saying : " It was the Church, the pillar and ground of the truth ; Marjorie seems to associate all English Church services with bedtime." " There wasn't much bedtime about the service this morning," interposed the lawyer ; *' the parson rattled along in grand style, and gave Miss Carmichael, and all other broken reeds of dissenters, some piping hot Durham mustard. Did it sting, Miss Carmichael 1 " *' Is that the effect mustard has on broken reeds, Mr Coristine t " "It is rath (I a mixing of metaphors, but you must make allowance for an Irishman." Mrs. Carruthera at once' conversed with her country- man, or rather her father's countryman, on Ireland, its woes and prospects, during which Marjorie informed Mr. Errol that she had not known what made her cousin's cheeks so red when looking on Eugene's prayer-book. Now she knew ; it was Durham mustard that stings. There must have been some in the book. The victim of these remarks looked severely at the culprit, but all in vain ; she was not to be suppressed with a frown. She remarked that Saul had a hymn-book that made you sneeze, and she asked him whj:, and he said it was the snuff. "What did E gene put mustard in his prayer-book fori" " Mr. Coristine didna say he put mustard in his bookie, Marjorie," said the minister ; '* he said that Mr. Perrowne put mustard in his sermon, because it was so fiery.** " I don't like mustard sermons ; I like stories." ** Aye, we all like them, when they're good stories and well told, bat it's no easy work getting good stories. That was the way our Saviour taught the people, and you couldna get a higher example." " Why have we hardly any of that kind of teaching now ) " asked Miss Carmiohael §^-«" m |i I: Its,, : . :'IJ IRi TWO KNAPSAOKB. " Because the preachers are afraid for one thing, and lazy, for another. They're afraid of the most ignorant folk in their congregation, who will be sure to charge them with childishness and a contempt for the intellect of their people. Then, it takes very wide and varied reading to discover suitable stories that will point a Scripture moral." " You seem to be on gnde solid releegious groond doon there, meenister," interrupted the master of the house ; " but MisH Du Pleasis and Mrs. Carmichael here are just corruptin' the minds o' Maister Wilkinson and Maister Nash wi' the maist un-Sawbath like havers I ever hard at an elder's table. We had better rise, gudewife ! " Shortly after the company returned to the parlour, Mr. Errol signified that he must take his departure for the Lake Settlement, where his second congiegation was. At this Mr. Nauh pricked up his ears, and said he would sad- dle his horse and ride over with him. " Na, na I " cried the Squire, '* he'll no ride the day ; I'll just get the wag* gon oot, and drive ye baith there and back." Orders were given through Tryphosa, a comely, red-cheeked damsel, who appeared in a few minutes to say that Timotheus was at the gate. All went out to see the trio off, and there, sure enough, was Timotheus of Peskiwanchow holding the restive horses. It transpired that Carruthers, having lost his house servant through the latter's misconduct, had commissioned his sister to find him a substitute, and Mar- jorie's interest in Timotheus had resulted in his being chosen to fill the vacant situation. He grinned his pleased recognition of the two pedestrians, who bravely withstood all the temptations to get into the waggon and visit the Lake Settlement. When the waggon departed, Mrs. Car- ruthers went to her children, taking Marjorie with her, and Mrs. Oarmichael went upstairs for a read of a reli- gious paper and a nap. The young ladies and the tourists were the sole occupants of the sitting-room. The lawyer went over to Miss Du Flessis, and left his friend perforce to talk to Miss Carmichael. " I hear, Miss Du Flessis, that you own a farm and valuable mineral land," said Coristine. "Did Messrs. Tylor, Woodruff and White give you that information 1 " she asked in return. *♦ No, indeed ; do you know my firm 1 " TWO KNAPSACKS. 165 "Very well, aeping I have been two years in Mr. Tylor'8 office." " Two years in Tylor's office, and me not know it t " " You do not seem to take much interest in feminine stenogrupht'rs and typewriters." " No, I don't, that's a fact ; but if 1 had known that it was you who were one, it woald havn been a diflTeront tbin^." " Now, Mr. Coristine, pleas(i make no compliments uf doubtful sincerity." " 1 never was more sincere in my life. But you haven't answered me about the land." *• Well, I will answer you ; I have no farm or valuable minerals, but my father left me two hundred acres of water and wild land near what's called the Lake Settle- ment, which he bought when Honoria married Mr. Oar- ruthers and took up her residence here." " Do you know if the taxoH aro paid on your land 1 " " No ; I was not aware that wild land and water could be taxfid." "Taxed is it? Tou don't know these municipalities. If you had a little island in your name, no bigger than this room, they'd tax you for it, and make you pay school rate, and do statute labour beside, though there wasn't a school or a road within ten miles of it. For downright jewing and most unjustifiable extortion on non-residents, commend me to a township council. You'l' be sold out by the sheriff of the county, sure as eggs, and the Grinstnn man '11 buy your property for the arrears of taxes." " Whatever shall I do, Mr. Ooristine 1 " asked the alarmed young lady ; " I do not wish to lose my father's gift through negligence." " You should have taken advice from the junior mem- ber of Tylor, Woodruff and White," replied the lawyer, with a peculiar smile ; " but the Grinstun man has bagged your estate." " Ob, do not say that, Mr. Ooristine. Tell me, what shall I do f And -who is the man yon mean t " " The man I mean is the one that met you when you came here to dinner. He is going to qunrry in your farm for grindstones, and make his fortune. But, as he wants yourself into the bargain, I imagine he can't get the land without you, so that somebody must have paid the taxes." 166 TWO KNArSAOKS. If...,. m *' Then it is the little wretch Marjorie told me of, the crnel creature who kicked a poor dog t " *' The very Hniuo ; he is the Qrinstun man. I've got a poem on him I'll read yon some day." " That will be delightful ; I am very fond of good poetry." " Wilks says it isn't good poetry ; but any man that grovels over Wordsworth, with a tear in the old man's eye, is a poor judge." " I admire Wordsworth, Mr. Ooristine, and am afraid that you are not in earnest about poetry. To me it is like life, a very serious thing. But, tell me, do you think the land is safe 1 " " Ob yes ; I wrote to one of the salaried juniors, giving him instructions to look after it, just as soon as 1 heard what Qrinstuns had his eye on." " Mr. Coristine ! How shall I ever thank yon for your kindness, you, of all men, who profess to treat us workers for our living as positive nonentities)" *' By forgt tting the past, Miss Du Flessis, and allowing me the honour of your acquatntance in future. By the- bye, as you admire Wordsworth, and good poetry, and airnest, serious men, I'll just go and send Wilks to you. I have a word for Miss Carmichael. Is she constructed on the same poetic principles as yourself ? " " Go away then, farceur I No ; Marjorie is inclined to frivoJity." With a wave of her fan, she dismissed the lawyer, who began to think lady stenographers and typewriters a class worthy of platoiiic attention. " Short hand I " he mut- tered to himr.elf ; " hers is rather a long one and pretty, and she is a favourable type of her kiud, but I'm afraid a pun w( uld make her faint, when Wilks would certainly call me out and shoot me dead with his revolver." ** Wilks, my boy," said Ooristine aloud, when he reached the stiff chair in which the dominie sat erect, facing Miss Oarmichael on a lounge at safe distance ; " Miss Du Flessis would like to hear you discuss Words- worth and other Sunday poets. She doesn't seem to care about hearing my composition on the Grinstun man." The dominie eagerly but properly arose, answering : " Miss Du Flessis does too much honour co my humble TWO KNAPSACKS. 167 1 poetic jadgment, and, in regard to your doggrel, shows her rare good sense." He then walked across the room to the object of his laudation, and, taking Ooristine's vacated chair, remarked that few poets preach a seirmon so simply and beautifully as the author of " The Excursion." Would Miss Du Plessis allow him to bring down hiu pocket volume of the Kydal bard t MIhr Du Plessis would bo charmed ; so the schoolmaster withdrew, and soon reap- peared with the book all unconsciously open at " She was a phantom of delight." With guilty eyeu, he closed it, and, turning over the pages, stopped at thH fifth book of *' The Excursion," announcing its subject, "The Pastor." It was now the lady's turn to be uncomfortable, with the suggestion of Mr. Perrowne. The lawyer, whose back bad been turned to the poetic pair, look'^l unutterablp things at Miss Carmichael, who, not knowing to what extreme of the ludicrous her companion might lead her, suggested a visit to the garden, if Mr. CoriHtine did not think it too warm. " It's the very thing for me," answered the lawyer, as ihey arose together and proceeded to the French windows opening upon the verandah ; " it's like * Come into the garden, Maud.*" They were outside by this time, and Miss Carmichael, lifting u warning finger, said : " Mr. Coristine, I am a school teacher, and am going to take you in hand as a naughty boy ; you know that is not for Sunday, don't you now 1 " " If it was only another name that begins with the same letter," replied the incorrigible Irishman, " I'd say the line would be good for any day of the week in fine weather ; but I'm more than willing to go to school again." " Sometimes," said the schoolteacher quietly, " some- times the word ' garden ' makes me sad. Papa had a great deal of trouble. He lost all his children but me, and almost all his property, and he had quarrelled with his relatione in Scotland, or they had quarrelled with him ; so that he was, in spite of his public life, a lonely, afflicted man. When he was dying, he repeated part of a hymn, and the refrain was 'The Garden of Gethsemane.' " "Ah, Miss Carmichael, dear, forgive me, the stupid, blundering idiot that I am, to go and vex your tender heart with my silly nonsense. I'm ashamed, and could cry to think of it." 158 TWO KNAPSACKS. N :■»■ t " I will forgive you, Mr. CoriHtino," she replied, rocov- erin^ from her HoriouH Ht, and looking at the violitn in a way that blended amuHt^mont with imperiouHnnaii : *■ 1 will forgive you b .{h once, if you promise future good behaviour." An inipulHe came over the lawyer to shake Miss Car- mchael's hand, but she made him no shadow of an excuse for HO iioing. It was plain that the mutual confidenceH of the girls, which embraced, using the word in a mere logi- cal sense, their yeur long distant acquaintance with the transformed pedestrians, bad given maturity to the closer and more pi asant acquaintance of the day. Little Mar- jorie's apprr^priation of the lawyer as her Eugene add«'d anothf-r ripening element to its growth ; so that the two garden explorvirs felt none of the stiflness and uncertainty of a tirst introduction. What Miss Carmichael's thoughtn were she only could tell, but she knew that the impetuous and affectionate Coristine required the merest trifle of encouragement to change the steady decorous tide of advancing knowledge and respect into an abruptly awk- ward cataract, threatening the rupture of pleasant rela- tions or the loss of self respect. She would have preferred talking with Wilkinson, as a check upon the fervour of his friend , but, although she laughed at the dominie's culpable ignorance of her city existence, in her secret soul it piqued her not a little. No ; she would rather take refuge with the clergy, Mr. Errol or Mr. Perrowne. Many roses were still in bloom, but, spite of many hints, Ooristine's button hole remained empty. He admired the pinks, the carnations, the large-eyed pansies, " like Shakespeare's winking Mary-buds," he said, but ail in vain, save a civil answer. The Day-lilies and the sweet- scen'ed pure white and Japan lilies, the early Phloxes, the Honeysuckles against the arbours, and many other floral beauties he stopped to inspect, and wondered if Mrs. Car- ruthers would mind his gathering a few, although the house was full of flowers. His companion did not satisfy his wonder, only answering that she thought flowers looked so much better growing. Then he pulled himself together, and answered naturally, joking on the tall Scarlet Lychnis, now almost a garden flower of the past, which boys call scarlet likeness and scarlet lightning, and ran on TWO KNAi'HAOKH. 169 into acooanU of botanical rambloH, descriptiona of curious plantM, with hor« a little bit of revenuit natural theology, and there an appropriate Hcrap from Homn flower loving poet, or a qui ry uh to where the worrthipperH of Words- worth had got, if they had left "The Kxcuraion " for the smaller pieces on the Daisy, and the Celandine, the Broom, the Thorn and the Yew. In thus talking he gained his end without knowinu; it, for, instead of a mere routine lawyer and impulsive Irishman, Miss Cirmichael found in her companion an intelligent, thoughtful, and cul- tured ai quaintance, whose society she thoroughly enjoyed. Occasionally an unconscious and half-timid lifting of her long eye-lashes towards his animate!, handsome face thrilled the botanist with a new, if fleeting, sensation of delight. As they passed through a gate into a hill-side meadow, at the foot of which ran a silvery brook, they were made awAre of voices in song. The voices were two, one a uweet but somewhat drawly female soprano, the other, a raucous, loud, overmastering shout, that almost drowned the utterance of its companion. The masculin one fur- nished the words to the promenaders, and these were : — Shayll we gaythurr at thee rivyerr Whayerr bright angel feet have t»aw-odd? ''Do you know who these are)" asked Miss Car- michael. •* If I thought he knew as much tune," replied Ooris- tine, '• f should say he was The Crew." '• Oh, tell me, please, who is The Crew 1 " Thereupon the lawyer launched out into a description of his travels, so comical a one thai his fair companion laughed until the tears stood in her eyes, and she accused him of making her break the Sabbath. "No," she said at last; " that is not Sylvanus, but it is his brother Timothous with Tryphoea. They are sitting in a ferny hollow under these birches down the hill, with a hymn book between them, and as grave as if they were in church. Do you not think, Mr. Coristine, that that is a very nice and proper way for young people to improve their acquaintance t " "Very much so, Miss Carmichael. May I go in and get a hymn book 1 I can run like a deer, and won't take a minute over it. One will be enough, won't it I " 'a(.:v«f; 160 TWO KNAPSACKS. FS i The lady laughed a little pleasant laugh, and replied : " I think not, sir. We are not servants, at least in the same sense, and the piano and organ are at our disposal when we wish to exercise our musical powers." " Snubbed again," mutv;ered Coristine to himself ; then aloud : " I wish I were Timotheus." " If you prefer Tryphosa's company to mine, sir, you are at liberty to go ; but I think your champion of Peoki- wanchow would object to such rivalry." " Oh, I didn't mean with Tryphosa." " You do not know what you mean, nor anybody else. Let us return to the house." As they sauntered back, the lawyer suddenly cried out : " What a forgetful blockhead I am I have had ever so niany business questions to put to you, and have f( r- gotten ail about them." •' Had you not better leave business till to-morrow, Mr. Coristine?" asked the lady, gravely, almost severely. " Your father's name was James Douglas Carmichael, was it not?" asked Coristine, ignoring this quietus. " Yes,'' she answered. " He came to Canada in 1848, and was, for a time, in military service at Kingston, before he completed hia medi- cal BtudifH. Am I right?" •* How do you happen to know these things ? My father was singularly reticent about his past life ; but you are right." Tbe lawyer opened his pocket-book and took out a newspaper cutting, which he handed to his companion. "I found that at Barrie," he said, "and trust I have not taken too great a liberty in constituting myself your soli- citor, and opening correspondence with Mr. MacSmaill, W.S., regarding your intereMts." •• It was very kind of you," she answered ; *• do you think it will bring us any money, Mr. Coristine?" " Yes ; it must bring some, as it is directed to heirs. How much, depends upon the wealth of your father's family." " They were very wealthy. Papa told mamma to write home to them, but she would not. She is too independent for that." " Will you sanction my action, and allow me to work TWO KNAPSACKS. 161 ag«» this case upt Yoar mother cannot be an heir, you know, save in a roundabout way ; so thai; you, being of age, are sole authority in the matter." " How do you know I am of age t " *< I don't j but thought that, perhaps, yon might be, seeing you are so mature and circumspect in your ways." ** Thank you for the doubtful compliment. I am of however." *' Then will you authorize me to proceed f " " With all my heart!" " Do you know it makes me very sorry to become your solicitor 1 " "Why?" " Because henceforth ours are mere business relations, and I, a struggling junior partner, must be circumspect too, and stand in proper awe and distant respect for a prospec* tive heiress." " Do no j allow your reverence to carry you too far to an opposite extreme. You have been very good during most of our walk, and I have enjoyed it very much." As she tripped in At the French window, Coristine could not reply. It is probable that he ejaculated inwardly, " the darlin' I " but, outwardly, he took out his pipe and sought consolation in the bowl of the Turk's head. While patrolling the long path down towards the meadow, he heard a low whistle, and, proceeding to the point in the fence whence it came, found Mr. Kawdon, as pale as he well oould be, and much agitated. " Look 'ere, Mr. Ourrvstone," he said, " I've bin down to Talfourds and a good Mt further, and I find a fellow called Na«h 'as bin ttoout. pbttin' to 'urt my business along of that brute of a Chisbolm. They can't 'urt it much, but I can 'urt them, and, wot's more, I will. 'Ow I found out wot they're aboat is my haffair. I hain't got no time to lose, so you tell the genniwin Simon Pure Miss Do Please-us as I'll hoffer 'er a thousan' dollars cash for that there farm of 'ers till to-morrow mornin'. 'Er hacceptance must be hat the Post-hoffice hup the road hany time before ten o'clock, and the deed can be drawn hup between you and me and the Squire just has soon therehafter as she pleases. Ha, ha ! pretty good, eh 1 Miss Do Flease-us, she pleases ! Bye, bye I Mr, Currvstone. don't vn« fortret, for it's business," M- 162 TWO KNAPSACKS. pi , ii ■ ■ I*. The Qrinstun man stole along the meadow fence and travelled over the fields, back way, towards the Lake Set- tlement. Emptying his pipe, the lawyer found Misn Du Plessis and at once announced Mr. Rawdon's proposal, which he urged her not to accept. She said the land was certainly not worth any more, if it were worth that amount, and that a thousand dollars would be of much immediate use to her mother. But Ooristine reminded her that Colonel Morton was, in all probability, with her mother now, and begged her at least to wait until their joint opinion could be procured. To this she agreed, and further conversation was checked by the arrival of Mar- jorie, the five young Carruthers and Mr. Michael Terry. The whole party sallied out of the windows on to the vera.dah, the lawn, and thence out of the front gate, where they found the dominie in a state of radiant abstrac- tion, strutting up and down the road, and quoting pages of his favourite poet. He had just completed the lines :— And yet a spirit still, and bright With E^cunething of an angel light. The lawyer went up to him before be came near and hissed at his friend, " What about our compact)" to which the dominie, with a fierce cheerfulness, replied, " It is broken, sir ; shivered to atoms ; buried in oblivion. When a so-called honourable man takes a young lady walking in garden and meado\ alone, and breathes soft trifles in her ear, the letter, the spirit, thr> whole periphery of the com- pact is gone. Your conduct, sir, leaves me free to act as I please towards the world's chief soul and radiancy. I shall do as I please, air ; I shall read Louisa and Ruth and Laodamia and the Female Vagrant, none daring to make me afraid. A single tress of ebon hair, a single beam of a dove-like eye, shall be enough to fortify my heart against all your legal lore, your scorn, your innuen- dos, your coward threats." ♦' Wilks, you're intoxicated." " Such intoxication as mine is that of the soul — a thing to glory in." " Well, go and glory, and read what you please ; only add the Idiot Boy to the Female Vagrant and you'll be a lovely pair. I'm going to do as I please, too, so we're both happy at lant," TWO KNAPSACKS. 169 ■ f "^ % 1 .'O'IfiV 1 ':■,,$::■ ■-A i 'y ;' 'i- B and 3 Sel- 3H Da posal, d was that much linded th her [ their id, and f Mar- srry. I to the t gate, ibatrac- g pages ines :— ear and to which » It is When Iking in )B in her ihe oom- io act as .ncy. I id Ruth ,ng to a single ■tify my innuen- -a thing te; only [u'll be a \o we're Thus saying, Ihe lawyer returned to Marjorie, while the dominie stood stock still in the road, like a roan thun- derstruck, repeating : ♦• The Idiot Boy, the Fenmlo Vag- rant, a pair 1 — and he was once, my friend ! A pair, a pair — the Female Vagrant, the Idiot Boy t — and that slimy, crawling, sickening caterpillar of a garden ilug was once known to me ! Truly, a strange awaking ! " It was now six o'clock, the time under ordinary oircum stances for tea ; but the circumstances were extraordinary, as the Squire, Mr. Nanh and the minister had to be waited for. The party was in the road waiting for them. " Look, Eugene ! '' cried Marjorie ; " there's Muggins. Here Muggy, Muggy, good doggie ! " Muggins came on at full speed, and, striding at a very respectable pace, his master followed. •' Ow, Mr. Coristine, sow glad to see you again, I'm shore. I was delighted to see. you bringing two straye sheep into the true fowld this morning. I howpe Miss Marjorie will turn out a good church \votnan ; wuun't you DOW, Marjorie 1 " *' I'm not a woman, and I won't be one. A woman wears dirty clothes and a check apron and a i^unbonnet. We've had a charwoman like that in our house, and a washerwoman ; and in Collingwood there's a 6sh-woman and an apple-woman. I've seen them with mj very own eyes. I don't think it a bit nice of you, Mr. Brown, to oall me a charwoman." " I said churchwoman, my dear, not charwoman." " It's the same thing ; they scrub out churc nes. I've seen them do it. And they're as old and ugly — w )r8e than Tryphena 1 " •• Hush, hush, Marjorie ! " interposed Miss Du Plessis ; "you must not speak like that of good Tryphena. Besides, Mr. Perrowne means by a churchwoman one who is like me, and goes to the Church of England." " If it's to be like you, and you will marry Eugene and go to the Church of England, I, will be a churchwoman and go with you." Mr. Perrowne glowered at the lawyer, whom, a moment before, he had greeted in so friendly a way. Coristine laughed, as he could afiord to, and said : " I'm sorry, Marjorie, that it cannot be as you wish. I am not serious '■• J. ^I'V*;! im ' ^:li:i IV' ;- 1 164 TWO KNAP8A0K8. enough for Miss Du Plesaia, nor a sufficient judge of good poetry. Your friend wouldn't have me at any price; would you now, Miss Du Plessis t " "Certainly not with that mode of asking. How unpleasantly personal children make things." Muggins and the young Carruthers were having lota of fun. He sat up and begged for bread, he ran after sticks and stones thrown by feeble hands, he shook paws with the children, had his ears stroked aud his tail pulled /ith the greatest good-nature. Right under the eyes of the still dumbfoundered dominie, his owner accompanied Miss Du Plessis into the house, while Coriatine prevailed on Mar jorie to sing a hymn with a pretty plaintive tune, com- menoing : — Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her infant In a manger for bin bed ; _ Mary was that mother mild, Je3U8 Christ her little child. The old soldier left his grandchildren with Muggins and came to hear the hymn. '^The Howly Vargin bliss the little pet," he ejaculated, and then crooned a few notes at the end of e^ch verse. " Fwat is it the Howly Scripchers says, sorr, about little childher an' the good place 1 " he asked Coristine. The lav^yer took off his hat, and reverently replied : " Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." The veteran crossed himself, and said : " There niver was a thruer word shpoke or in wroitin', an' fwat does the childher, the innicents, know about Pratishtants an' Cath- lica, till me that now V* . . j As Coristme could not, the pair refilled their pipes and smoked in company, an ideal Evangelical Alliance. Soon the waggonette came rattling along the road, and Marjorie ran to meet her Uncle John aud the minister, with both of whom she was a great favourite. Mr. Nash also had a word to say to her : " You remember scolding me for not going to church when I was Mr. Chiaholna 1 Well, I've been there this afternoon, and Mr. Errol told us we are all getting ready here for what we are to do m Heaven. Now, yau're a wise little girl, and I want you to tell me what I will be able to do when I get there. It TWO KNAPS \CK8. 160 can't be to hunt up bad people, because there are no bad people in Heaven. What do you think about it 1 " " I know," answered Marjorie, gravely ; " play chess with dead uncles and .ministers, and teach tricks to the lit- tle children that never growed up." " Out of the mouths of babes ! " ejaculated Mr. Errol, who overheard the conversation ; then contir>ued : •• Could anything be truer t The training in observation and rapid mental combinations, which has made you successful in your profession, is the foundation of your prowess on the chess board. Your skill in every sort of make-up enables you to manipulate handkerchiefs and oranges for children's amusement. The same training and skill our Father can turn to good account in the upper sanctuary." " Thank you, Mr. Errol, thank you, Marjorie, my dear. Perhaps the good God will be kinder than we think, and find some use for a poor, lonely, careless detective." Mr. Nash was unusually thoughtful, yet still had an eye to business. He made diligent enquiries about Rawdon, and, at last, getting on the scent through Miss Du Plessis, found out all that Coristine and Timotheus had to tell of him. The latter had watched the working geologist slink- ing off in the Lake Settlement direction across the fields and by bush tracks. Mr. Ter;y and the children, having partaken of tea, remained out in the front with Muggins, »nd sang some more hymns, Marjorie leading their choir. The rest of the household, reinforced by Mr. Perrowne, who, much to Wilkinson's disgust, monopolized Miss Du Plessis, sat round the ample tea-table. In a shamefaced way, as if engaged in an illegal ecclesiastical transaction, the English clergyman mumbled : " For what we are about to receive," a|id the evening meal proceeded. The Squire had ceded his end of the table to his sister, and had taken his post at her left, where he talked to the dominie, his next neighbour, and across the table to Mr. Errol. Per- rowne flanked the hostess on the right, and Nash on the left. Miss Du Plessis sat between Perrowne and Wilkin- son, a stately and elegant bone of contention ; while the lawyer had the detective on one side and Miss Carmichael on the other. As that young lady had something to do with the arrangement of the table by Tryphosa, in the matter of napkin rings, it was, if Coristine only knew it, a ;■ ■ ♦. 166 TWO KNAPSACKS. mark of her confidence in him that she P/rinitted his pres- ence on her richt. Nevertheless he profited httle by it m she gave all her conversation to the minister, save when the attention of that elderly admirer was taken up by her uncle As Perrowne was compelled to be civil to Mrs. Carruthers, while Mr. Nash entertained the lawyer, an opportunity was afforded the schoolmaster of improving his acquaintance with Miss Du Plessis of which he took ioyful advantage, feeling that in so doing with all bril- liancy he was planting thorns in the breasts of two inno- centreings, whom he inwardly characterized as a clerical puppy and an ungrateful, perfidious, slanderous worm. Neither the puppy nor the worm were happy, as he joy ^"^Thrmell 'was over, and they were preparing to have early evening prayers for the sake of the children, when a vehicle drove V and a burly f?rm. clad in navy blue broadcloth with a plentiful trimming of gilt buttons, des- cending from it, came along the path towards the house, accompanied by Marjorie. * „i,„ « It's papa ! " she cried to Carruthers and his wife who had gone to the door to see who their visitor was and call the children in. It was the Captain, and m the buggy, holding the reins, sat The, Crew. "Don't sit grinning there, you blockhead 1 " shouted the ancient mariner to SylvanSs ; " hev ye been so long aboard ship ye can t tell a Btable when you see it « Drive on, you slabsided swab ! The Captain's combination of lumbering with nautical pursuits gave a peculiar and not always congruous flavour to his pe! phrases ; but Sylvanus did not mind ; he drove round the lane and met Timothetis. «• We have just finished tea. Captain," said Mrs. Car- ruthers with her pretty touch of a cultivated I"8h ^ccen ; « but Marjorie will tell Tryphosa to set yours on the table ** °« All right, Honoria I » growled Mr. Thomas ; "I'm in port here for the night, and I'm a goin' to make fas ; so be I her to belay on to the lee side of « jtack of shin^^ bolts. Now, Marjorie, my pet, give daddy another kiss, and run away for a bit. John, I want you right away. With the latter words, the Captain took the Squire ofi to the far end of the verandah, and sat down with his legs (^angling over among the flowers, causing his brother- TWO KNAPSACKS. 167 in Iaw to do the same. " Johif," said he, taking ofi his naval cap, and mopping his forehead, " you're all goin' to be murdered to-night in your bunks, else I wouldn't ha' quit dock o' Sunday." " Whatever do you mean, Thomas t " <* I moan what I say, and well to you and yonrn. Sylvanus was down at Peskiwanchow, gettin' some things hia brother left there, when he shipped for you. There's a bad crew in that whiskey mill, and, fool as he is, he was sharp enough to hear them unbeknown. 3aysone of 'em, ' Better get out the fire-engines from town,' and he laughed. Says another, ' Guess the boys '11 hev a nice bonefire waitin' for U8, time we get to Flanders.' Then the low-down slab- pilera got their mutinous heads together, and says, ' The J. P. and the bailiff's got to be roasted anyway, wisht we could heave Nash in atop.' I've left the cursing and swearin' out, because it's useless ballast, and don't count in the deal any more'n sawdust. Now, John, what do yon think of that 1 " '' It looks serious, Thomas, if your man is to be depen- ded on." '< My man depended on ? Sylvanus Pilgrim to be depended onl There's no more dependable able-bodied seaman and master mill-hand afloat nor ashore. He's true as the needle to the pole and the gang-saw to the plank. Don't you go saying wrong of Sylvanus." " I must take Nash into confidence with us, and call up your informant," said the Squire, leading the Captain iato the house and setting him carefully down at the tea table, where Mrs. Carruthers waited upon him. Then he looked up Sylvanus in the kitchen, and told him to report as soon as he liad taken his supper. " We have no time to lose, Pilgrim," he added, " so let Tryphena alone till our talk is over. She'll keep." " I ain't agoin' ter persume ter tech Trypheeny, Square, an' I'll be along in a half ♦»ck," replied The Grew. Next, Nash was found smoking a cigar, and talking very earnestly with Mr. Errol about presentiments, and sudden remembrances of childhood's days. He dropped the conversation at once when business was mentioned, and, ia a few minutes, the Squire's official room contained five tuen, with very serious faces, seeking to come to a fall of what seemed a diabolical plot on the 168 TWO KNAPSACKS. aiiiii I ism Jl what he knew of the oon»piracy to clean ont a he lbvnFlanae«.ndh.vet^er» examined his old P*"*"'- """ ;' La,d and moOBtache, N..h, who was »<>'',.C'"»l'0lm in b™r« ■». ^^^. : ?I«rei fn a waggon driving Fla„a«, way aonng ohnroh time, while he was fi/hmg m the '"er ..I heera 'em say as they'd be a big »'»y»^ ""^ , mo™in>,and as S,»ie' Oruthers and ^^^^^^^^^'^t and a ra.venue gaal had got ^ go to K g ^.^ ^^.^^ °He-ra 'gL> riTy'^^^'Mm sti^ht and .0, them two ''* WhSryriook «p Rufusi" asked the lawyer. .. f thort ^e^aivenue S»»l ■"!«" a been one of h,. frdt^rgrto^:t:et''myn;r^"4':5 L the baili/too, e! I have to shoot aivery mothers m "' 'rZ clySn and SyWanus, with Rufu, and Ben, ^1 testi^'ed I'l^ moving of sev«a, Jea"a.J.tl. - ^ l-^a Sr Z r^kt" SlfmenTtn pa.tioa.„. ThTsquire and Mr. Nash had noticed '"e »m^^ „ , "Ben," said the latter, '»>="« °*. ''"VW*' .I.- w T J.„ t™.t TOH I am the detective Nash. """!^.nrsSedrhnt qnickly '-yered himself »d, rising, gave his hand to the man of aliases, saying. TWO KNAl'SAOM. 169 kin, Mr. Nash, s'haylp me. Old man Newcome swearti he's a goin' to hev your life, but he won't ef I'm any good." The detective shook handH warmly, and, taking Ben aside, found that, he had no pernonal knowledge of Rawdon, the Newcome of whom he spoke being apparently the go- between. The intimacy between them, which was near ruining the young man, had come about through Toner's attention to Newcome'a daughter, Sarah Eliza. "But," continued the unhappy lover, " the old man's been and had Serlizer off for more'n a year, and puts me off and off and better off, till I just up and wouldn't stand it no more. I ain't a goin' to sell his stuff, nor drink his stuff, Dor hev nawthun more to do along of his gang, but I'd like to know where Serlizer's put to, and I'm here and my gun, with a lot of powder and shot and slugs, for the atummik of any gallihoot as lays a finger on yoa, Mr. Nash, or the doctor or the gals." Returning to the group, the detective urged immediate defensive action, leaving the offensive till the morrow. The Squire at once looked up his armoury, consisting of a rifle, a fowling piece (double-barrelled) and a pair of heavy horse-pistols, with abundant ammunition. The Cap. tain reported thatSylvanus had a shotgun (wingle-barrell' d), and that he had brought the blunderbuss with which he fired salutes off the Susan Thomas. Coristine answered for the revolvers carried by himself and the dominie. The clergy were called in and ''he situation explained, when both volunteered for ser^ iov. Mr. Ferrowne had a very good gun at his lodgings ; and hib landlady, whose father bad been in the army, possessed a relic of him in the shape of an ancient carbine, which he was sure she would lend to Mr. Errol, with bayonet complete. He went for them, under escort of Rufus and Ben. When Mr. Terry was told, he begged for his son-in-law's " swate- lukin' roifle," and was as cheerful as if a wedding was in progress. Finally, .Timotheus got the fowling piece and the Squire looked to the priming of his pistols. Mr. Nash, of course, had both revolver and dirk knife concealed somewhere about his person. Then Mr. Errol conducted family prayers, the children were sent to bed, the ladies briefly informed of the situation, and the garrison bidden a more than usually afieotionate good-night. n: J J TWO KNAP&ACKH. CHAPTER IX. The Squire Posts Sentrien — SylvanuH ArrestH Trynhosa — Change of Watchword — Nash Leads an Advance -The Cheek of Giinstnns — Tlie Hound— Gward-rooin Coiiveraation— Incipient Fires Extin- guished — The Idiot Boy — Griiistun's AwfuJ Cheek — The Lawyer and the Parson Theologize — Coristino's Hands— Doetor and MigM Halbert. THE full strength of the garrison was twelve able- bodied men, of whom five carried fowling pieces, one a blunderbuss, another a carbine, another a rifle, and four were armed with pistols. The Squire was in supreme command, and Mr. Nash was adjutant. They decided that the garrison as a whole should go on guard for the night, that is, from ten o'clock till six in the morning, a period of eight hours, making, as the Captain put it, four watches of two hours each. Thus the remaining ten were divided into two guards of five, and, as the morning guard, from four to six, would probably not be required, it was determined to put those who had most need of rest on the companion one from twelve to two. These were Captain Thomas, the veteran Terry, the two parsons, with Wilkin- son, who was thrown in simply as a pistol man, the only other of the kind being the lawyer. With ammunition in their pockets, or slung round their shoulders, the first guard sallied forth under the Squire's guidance. Coristine was left to watch the front of the house behind the shrub- bery bordering the fercp, and keep up communication with Nash, who patrolled the road on horseback. Ben Toner's station was the path running parallel v/ith the palings on the left of the garden, beyond which was an open field, not altogether destitute of stumps. Sylvanus was posted on the edge of the meadow, at the back of the garden and out-houses ; and Timotheus, on the right of the stables and connected buildings. Just where the beats of the brothers met, there was a little clump of timber, the only point affording cover to an advaacing enemy, and to that post of honour and danger Rufus was appointed. TWO KNAPSAf'KS. 171 Having placed hin men, the Squire returned to the gaard- rooiu, his offioo, and ordored Tryphoaa to bring refresh- monts for the guard, to which he added a box of cigars. The guard discussed the cold ham, the cheese and biscuits, and, in addition, Mr. Errol indulged in some diluted sherry, Perrowne and Wilkinson in a glass of beer, and the Captain and the veteran in a drop of whiskey and watiir. The Squire took a cigar with those who smoked, but maintained his wakefulness on cold tea. Every half hour he was out inspecting the sentries. Coristine had suggested that the friendly answer to a challcng ) should be Bridesdale, but, lest the enemy should hear this and take advantage of it, all suspicious persons should be required also to give tho countersign, Grinstuns. The doiniaie sneered at him for the latter ; but, when he saw his friend sally forth with loaded pistol to the post of danger, his enmity died, and, rising, he silently shook hands with him at the door. Returning to the guard-room, be breathed a silent prayer for his friend'e safety, and then fortitied his inner man with the fare provided. Con- versation accompanied the impromptu supper, and the subsequent cigar or pipe, at first led by the divines, but afterwards taken clean out of th^ir mouths by the Captain and the veteran, who furnished exciting accounts of their experience in critical situations. The Squire had gone out for the second time to inspect the sentries. It was eleven o'clock. Coristine, who was first visited, reported a sound of voices at the back of the house, and Toner confirmed the report. The cominander- in chief hastened to the gate leading into the hill meadow, and perceived a figure struggling in the strong grasp of Sylvanus. The sentinel's left arm was round the prisoner, and the gun was in his right hand. As they came towards the gate, the Squire heard piteous entreaties in a feminine voice to be let go, and the answer : " 'Tain't no kind o' use, IVyphosy, even ef ye was arter Timotheus an' not me ; that ain't it, at all. It's this : yer didn't say Bridesdale when I oharlinged yer, nor yer couldn't bar-sign GrinstunH. All suspicious carriters has got to be took up, and, ef that ain't bein' a auspicious carriter, this mate on the starn watch don't know what is. I'm rale sorry for yer, and I'm sorry for Timotheus, but juty is juty and orders ia 172 TWO KNAP8A0KB. \yi m strict. Oomo on, now, and let us hope the Sqaare'll be marciful." " What is the meaninja; of this nonseDse, Pilgrim ? " asked the commander, angrily. " It'H a suspioiouH carriter an can't give no account o! itself, Square. She might ha' b^en shot as like as not, ef I hadn't gone and took her pris'ner." " Let the girl alone, and don't make a laughing stock of yourself. You've already said the i)aH8wordH loud enough for any lurker to hear, so that we'll hao to change them aa because o' your stupeedity. Be serious and keep your eyes and gun for strange folk, men or women." Tryphosa fled into the house, whither Tryphena — who, falling into the same error, had crossed the beat of Tiino theus — had already betaken herself, being driven off the field by the more sensible and merciful younger Pilgrim. When the Squire had completed his rounds, he returned to the guard-room, and, telling the story of Sylvanus' folly, which roused the Captain's ire, showed the necessity for new watchwords and better instruction of sentries. " It maun be something the lads and all the rest o' us ken weel, Squire. What think ye o' Cricket and Golf 1 " asked Mr. Errol. " I am afraid that Ben Toner might not know these words," put in the dominie. " What 1 " cried Mr. Perrowne, " do you really mes", to say that this — ah — Towner needs to be towld what cricket ist" " I fear so," Wilkinson answered ; with the effect that no heathen could have fallen lower in the parson's estima- tion than did Ben. •• I say good, ship-shape words are Starbud and Port," growled the Captain. " In Sout Ameriky it was Con8!:ituthion and Liber- tad," suggested Mr, Terry. ** Pork and Beans '11 no* do j nor Burdock and Blood Bitters j nor Powder and Shot," said the Squire, rumiuat- ing ; " for the one ca's up the tither ower nayteral like. What say ye, Maister Wilkinson 1 " Wilkinson was taken aback by the suddenness of the question, and blurted out what had been only too much in bis thoughts : <* Idiot and Boy." TWO KNAPSACKS. 178 " Capital I " " Well said I " •• The very thing I " " Jest m'xU Sylvanus I" the various voices reaponded ; and the Squire went out to tho Hontries to make the deHired change. Tho lawyer chuckled when hf received the new words, and all the other sentinels repeated to themselves the poetic terms " Eejut and Boy." It was just on the stroke of midnight, time to relieve the guards, when the diHtant sound of pistol shots in rapid Bucceflsion fell simultaneouuly on the ears of Coris- tine, Ben and Sylvanus. The lawyer, stepping hantily to the house, calli d out the armed inmaten, and in nnother minute or ho Nash came galloping up. " Stay where you are, Squire, with your sentries ; and, you other men, look to your loading and come on with me. I've been fired at by a waggon load of them." The five unposted men hast- ened out into the road and away after the detective to the left. After going a short distance, the adjutuut called a halt, and told the veteran to advance in military order. " Now, min," said Mr. Terry quii tly, •* extind about tin paces from aich another to the lift, an' Oi'll be the lifthand man. Thin kape wan eye on me an' che other before yeez, and advance whin Oi advance undher cover av the stumps and finces and things. Riddy now — extind 1 " The movement was well f^xecuted, and, as the veteran was eager for the fray, he led them more rapidly than it could be thought the old man had the power to run, until they reached the spot where the waggon had halted. It was gone, without a sign ; so the gallant skirmishers re-formed in the road and marched back fo quarters. When they arrived at the gate, Oaristine could not resist the tempta- tion of a challenge, unnecessary as it was. The dominie was leading, and him he hailed : " Who goes there ? " With momentary hesitation, Wilkinson answered in th(r aame undertone : — ♦•Friends." "The word, friends 1" "Idiot." "The CO intersign, Idiot t" " Boy." " Pass, Idiot Boy, and all's well ! " The schoolmaster could have boxed that sentry's ears, have slapped his face, have caned him within an inch of I ■< " i 174 TWO KNAPSACKS. h\B life ; for thoro was a light in an upper window, and he know that bright oyeH wore looking (lown through the BlatB of th»! cloHed green HhuttorH, and that Hharp earH had oaagbt the Hound of the ohnoxiou>t wordM. Ho could detect the accents of a voice, which he knew ho well, piead- ing the cauHe of Hi'ence with another that trembled with HuppresBod laughtei au it made ineffectual protuiHeH to ho quiet. The two clergymen aido heard the friendly alter- cation at the window, ho Htill waa everything else, and chuckled aH they fihid past the legal uentry, now on tho broad grin. The Captain and Mr. Terry were above tak- ing notice of Huch trifloM, for they were eagerly perHuading each other to take juHt the leant drop before going out into the heavy night dews. No sooner had the five entered the guard-room than tho Squire re-formed them and marched them off to relieve the old sentries. The lawyer's place was taken by the dominie, Toner's by the Oaptain, that of SylvanuH by Perrowne, that of Timotheus by Errol, and Ilufus' poHt of honour by the veteran, who would uccept no other. There was a sixth guard in the person of MugginH, who kept hiH muster company and behaved with the groat(!Ht propriety and silence. SyJvanuH and Timothcms, RufiiH and Bon had a soparate guard-bouse of their own in the kitchon, where Mrw. Cf"^'nichael, who could not sleep becauHo of her apprchoni ins of evil to some unknown defender, furnished them with bread and cheese and innocuous hot elderberry wine and cold cider. After partaking plentiful^ of the refreshments, Sylvanus and Ben lit their pipoH, and the latter communicated to the company the story of his woes in the case of Serlizer. Bylvanus related his adventure in capturing Tryphona, which caused Timotheus to move into a corner with KufuH and declare^ solemnly and in a low tone, that " Ef Byl- vanus warn't my brother and older'n me, and tho next thing t' engaged to Trypheeny, I'd be shaved an' sham- pooed ef I wouldn't bust his old coooanut open." RufuH, however, replied that girJH had no buHiness to be about in war times, unless it was to nurse the sick and wounded, which was only done in hospitals, thuH Justifying Sylvanus' action as a pure matter of military duty, and reconciling Timotheus to the slight put upon his lady love. The Bqiiire and Coristine were alone in the guard- room. Have whet Mrs. Oarmichael nut her head in to ask ' ..'H' TWO KNAPUA0R8. 175 After the welfare of the party, especially of the older mnrn- borH. "Grandfather knowH campaigning and can take care of himHelf," the Squire anawered ; " and the Captain'H uned to out-door life ; but thero'e the rninintor now, pair man 1 Wool, weel, Marjorie, when I gang the roondu, I'll tiee if ho needs ony thing." Then the pair chatted away, ohiofly about the GrinHtun man, whom Oarruthnru camo to rogurd in the light of a Hpy. Thoagh Hurrounded on nvery aide by HUBjaciouH cir- cumHtancoH, there waa nothing definite againe'. him, the nearest evidence to a conviction being the geological or mineralogical expreHsionH which the unguarded diapidated farmer on the way to the Boavor liiver had coupled with bin name, and hia own admiaaiona to the apurioua Mias Du Ploaaia. " Maiater OoriHtine," aaid the Squire, "gin I thocht yon deevil, a^iein' it'a Monday mornin' the noo, wi.^: at the foondation o' thia ploy, I'd think naething o' spend in' five ihoouand to pit an end til'a tricks." " All right, Squire ; I think I'll go into criminal law, and work it up for you." " What's yon 1 I maun gang out, for I hear Mr. Wilkinson calling me." The lawyer accompanied him to the door. Naah wav at the gate to report that he had seen small parties and Hingle individuals, aome diatance ofi the road on both sides of the house, whose actions were more than suspicious. Had they carried firearms larger than pistols he would have been anre to detect the gleam of steel. Ho waa aorry now he had drawn the fire of the waggon on himaelf, and thus given the misoreanta to understand that their plot was known. Still, they were at it, and meant miachief. As he could do no further good patrolling the road, he would put np his horse, and help the Squire to guard the liouHo and outbuildings. Hardly was bis horse in the stable, and himaelf in the guard-room, than Mr. Errol'a voice, and then the dominie/a, wore heard challenging loudly. The Squire flew to the minister, and Naah to Wil- kinson. A atout but elastic figure, so far as the step went, was coming along the road from the right, whiatling "The Girl I left behind Me." Ak it came near, the 4-;, 176 TWO KNAI'HArKB. 1 lit ^'A ' whiHtlin^ Htopped, and UawJon, with knapHaok on back and staff in hand, appeared before the autoniahed ojes o( the aentinelH. He utartod at the bight of the minlHter'H carbine. " Wy, Mr. Herl," he Haid, " wot the doooe aro you a doiu' of at this time o' night 1 Are you lookin' for night 'awkH or howlu hafter the chickinn, or did you think I waH a wiatlin' bear. And you too, Hquire I I thought the HinjinH was all killed hout. Blowed if there haint hold FavoHitoB Wilkintionia, and a man aH looks like OhiH- holm ! Are you carapin' out, 'avin' Huramer midnight manoovers for the fun o* the thing ? " NaHh went bauk to the houue. *' If it's a f»ir question, Mr. Rawdon," said the Squire, "where are you going at this time of night t" "Fair enough, Squire; I'm ketch the mornin' train. Bye, Off trudged the Orinstun man, bound for Collinwood to bye ! no time to loHe." once more whistlinB;, but this time his tune was " It's no use a knookin* .\t the door." The Squire, the detective, and the lawyer held a coun- cil of war. " Pity we hadn't arrested that chap," remarked Mr. Nash. " Couldn't do it," said Ooristine ; there is no warrant for his arrest, no definite charge against him. A iustico of the pence can't issue one on mere suspicion, nor can ho institute martial law, which would of course cover the caHi>." " If what Maister Nash has seen be as he thinks," added the Squire, " it's as weel we laid nae han' on him, for it would just hae preceepitated metters, and hae brocht the haill o' thae Lake Settl(>ment deevils doon upon us. D'ye think Rawdon's gaun to (Jolling*vood, Nash 9 " " Not a bit of it. I believe he came past here, openly and dressed as he was, for three reasons. First, he wants to prove an alibi for himself, whatever happens. Second, he wanted to see how we are guarded, and by that loud whistling has informed his confederates not far off that it is useless to try the house from the front. Thirdly, ho has circled round to take command of the villains that fired on me out of the waggon we couldn't find." '* What's to be done then ) " asked the Squire and the lawyer in a breath. TWO KNAI'HA(JK8. 177 "We muRt watch tho moanH of accosn from the left to the right. You H«e, there are buHhoH, yo'^n^ willows and alders, all along the bank of the creek, behind which they can Hteal towards that ferny hollow under the birches, »nd, from thence, either make for the bit of bush Mr. Terry is guarding, or creep behind the scattered boulders towards the fence. Your shrubberies about the house and live hedges and little meadow copses are very pretty and pictureHquo, Squire, but a barn house on the top of a treeless hill would bo infinitely better to stand a siege." " Aye, aye, Nash ; but I'm no gaun tae cut doon my bonnie trees an' busses for a wheen murderin' vagabones." "Well, I'll get a gun from one of the men in the kitchen, and explore the hillside below the Captain." Having secured Ben Toner's gun, the best of the lot, the detective walked down the garden to the gate, where he found Perrowne vainly endeavouring to comfort Mug- gins. The poor dog did not even whine, but shivered as he stood, otherwise paralyzed with abject terror. *' Oronoh down by the fence," whispered the detective in the parson's ear, and at once crouched down beside him. '* Do you see that moving object coming up the hill from the birches 1 By Jove I there's another crawling behind it. What is it 1" " It's an animal of some sawrt," answered Perrowne. " That accounts for your dog's fear. It isn't a bear, is it t There may be some about after early berries." *' Now, it's not a bear, though I've been towld dawgs are very much afraid of bears.'' Just then the animal keeled over, and immediately there followed the report of a riile. The crawler behind the beast slid back into the hollow and disappeared. Then, from the left of the house came a volley that woke the echoes all round ; it was the explosion of the Captain's blunderbuss. The detective ran along the fence to Mr. Terry's beat, and found the veteran reloading his rilie from the muzzle. " Keep your post, Mr. Terry," he cried, " while I run and see what it is you have bagged. ! ima- Kine your son-in-law will look after the Captain." Mr. NiiHh ran down the hill, closely followed by the lawyer, who had come out to see the fun. All the bedroom win- dows were lit np, and eager eyes strained to learn the 178 TWO KNAPKACKII. cauHO of tbi) tiring, while the remaining Montinels prepared for action. Tho animal Hhot waH a largn bloodhound, in life a dangfr-like krife, and drove it into the croature'n heart. Then, while Goristine lifted it by the two hind legs, he took a graHp of itH collar, and they carried the trophy of the veterao'H rifle on to the lawn in front of the houHe. There they learned that the Oaptain, being half aBleep with no chatire of an enemy in nighl, dreauil Iwh ship had been Haluted coming into port on a holiday, and, as in duty bound, returned the salute. The blunderbuHH had not exploded ; it alwayH made that grand, boohiing, rattling, diffuHivo Hort of a report. The dead hound'H collar WHH examined, and wan diHcovered to bear the ini- tials A. R. "Who in A. R.I" asked the Squire; and Mr. Nanh replied : " He in no doubt my affianced bride- groom, Haltamont Kawdon." It wuH two o'clock in the morning ; ho the guard w&n relieved, and the former HentrieH returned to their postH ; but the Squire noticed, with a frown, that, junt as tlio relief arrived at Mr. Errol's beat, a female form clothed in black darted round the Htableu towards the kitchen door. Also, he saw that the minister had a most unmilitary niQffler, in the shape of a lady's cloud, round his neck, which he certainly had not when he went on duty. IIIh high respect for the reverend gentleman hindered any out- ward r>xpression of his combined auiusement and annoy- ance. Muggins came back with Mr. Perrowne, but obHti- nately refused to go near the dead hound. " Do you think he has ever seen it before 1 " asked the detective. " I shouldn't be at all surprised," replied the clergy- roan. *'I lawst Moggins, you know, at Tossorontio, and there was a man there at the time, a short man in a pos- jacket or cowt, down't you know, who had a nig daw^. When Muggins disappeared, I thought the big dawg mi^ht have killed him. But now I think the man with the pea- oowt saved him from the big dawg, and that's how Mug- gins came to gow after him. What do you imagine that beast was after, coming up the hill towards Muggins t " TWO KNAI'HAOKB. 179 " I think be wau ooininti; to overpower you, Mr. For- rownn, and bring all our forces to your aid, while the fellow behind him ulipped in and firod the hoaue or did ton\i' Himilar miHohinf." " I tell you, Mr. NaHh, he'd have had my two barrels lirBt, and I'm a pretty fair Hhot, down't you know f But, look here, it'H dry work mounting guard, how I'll have iinothor pull at the tankard." The Hquire came in from guard mounting, somewhat fati<;u(!d. He had b(M^n on the stretch mentally and phy- Hically ever since the Captain's arrival. " You had letter ;{0 to bed, grandfather, and take Thomas with you," he >*aid to the veteran. "Not a wink this blissid noight, Hquoire," replied Mr. I'orry ; "thesmill av the powthcr has put new loife into my uwld oarcash. The Captin can go iv he pluzes." " Avast, there I I say, mesHmate," growled Captain TbomaH, " 1 dcm't run this mill, Viut my youngster's here iindnr hatches, and I'm a gein' to keep watch on, watch off. along of any other man. 1 don't think that o' yours is halt up to the mark, Mr, Terry." "Oi was tbinkin' 'I was a V)it wake niysilf," replied th« old soldier, filling up his glass, and handing the decanter to his neighbour, who likewise improved the occaHJnn. "Oi'rp suppawsin now, sorr," continued the veteran, addroHHing the tloniinie, " that this is yer first apparanue on shinlry." " You are right, Mr. Terry, in your supposition." ' An', sorr, it's a cridit to yee% to be shtandin' an' facin' the inimy wid divel a thing in yer hand but a pish til. Oi uioind a big stlirappin' liftinant av ours waH called Breasel, an' sid he was discinded from the great BroaHel Breok av Oirinh hishtry. Wan noight he was Hiapin', whin four nagurs uv Injuns kirn into his tint, an' picked the Hword an' pishtils and the unifarm aff the bid hi: T/uu on. Thiti he woko up, an' him havin' sorraa thing to ditind himself wid but a good Oirish tongue in his hid. But it's Tipperary the liftinant foired at the haythens, an' it moit;ht ha' been grape an' canister, for they dhropped the plundher and run for loife, all but wan that got howlt AV an anhevis drawin' plashter the liftinant had for a bile 180 TWO KNAPBA0K8. an the back av his neck, an' wasn't usin' at the toine. SomewayB the plashter got, on to his nakiH chipt an' gripped him, an' he was that wake wid froi«ln. the oth«ir nagura had to carry him away. Afther that tht; InjunH called Breasel by the name of Shupay, a worrud that m their Hpache manes the divil— navin' yer priHence, Minh- ter Wilkineon," „ „ ,;, " One time the Siiaan Thomas was at Belle Jiiwart loadin' on lumber," growled the Captain. " SylvanoH heerd as how the MunhratH, that'a the folks acrost on t'oth.r sidi^ of the bay, was a comin' over to fasten him and me down in the hold and paint the schooner. They was a goin' to paint her The Spotted Dog, than which there's no meaner kind o' fish. So, I bid Sylvanus pile a great hf ap of use- less, gre«'n, heavy, barky slabs on top o' the good lumber; then we took the occasion of a little wind, and stood h«r out to anchor a little ways from the dock. Sure enough, when night come, the MushratH came a hollerin' aand yellin'. Unfortnitly I'd left the salutin* blunderbusH here at home, and hadn't but one pike-pole aboard. ' How many boat loads of 'em is there, Sylvanus 1' I saya. •Two,' Hays he. 'All right,' sajs I, 'that's one apiece. Take off your coat, and roll up your shirt sleeves, Syl- vanuH,' says I, ' for you're a goin' to have heavy work slab heavin' 1 ' On they come to board us, one on each Hide. • Fire out them or'nary useless slabs, Sylvanus,' says I. • But there's a boat with a lot of men in it,' says he, a- chucklin' like an ijut. Hope I haven't given the pass word away. Johnt Well, I said: 'Fire out the Hlab«, and let the men get out o' the way.' And he began fir- ing, and 1 kept my side a-goin', and the slabs fell flat and heavy and fast, knockin' six at a shot, till they oussed and swore, and hollered and yelled murder, and that was the last we two saw of the Mushrats and the paintin' of the Sutan Thomas." Subdued buV hearty laughter followed these storiei, and, when the Captain ended, the veteran pushed the decanter towards him, remarking : " A good shtory is 8 foine thing, Captin, dear, but it makes ye just a throifle dhroy." The Captain responded, and told Mr. Terry that he was neglecting himself, an omiHsion which that gentle- man proceeded to rectify. Mr. Errol, with his muffling TWO KNAPBACKB. 181 cloud Btill roand h'w neck, was asleep in an easy chair. In his sleep he dreanii, the dream ending in an audible Hmack of his lips, and the exclamation : '* Very nmny thankn, ma'am ; the toddy's warm and comforting." When his own voice aroused hiu.; ;ie was astonished tn witness the (extreme mirth of all parties, and was hardly convinced when it was attributed to the stories of the veteran and the Captain. The Squire, though amused, was resolved to have a word with his widowrd sister. The lawyer pnced up and down in the cool night, trying to combine two things which do not necessarily go together, warmth and wakefulness. Everything was so quiet, that he seemed to hear Timotheus and Sylvanus pacing about rapidly like himself, when suddenly a little Hpark of fire appeared at the far end of the verandah towards the stables. Cautiously, under cover of bushes, he approached the spot, but saw nothing, although he smelt fire. Then he knelt down and peered under the flower laden structure. The light was th^re, growing. In a moment it became a flnmo, and, as he runhed to the spot, a lad fell into his arms. Clutching his collar with hit. left band in spite of kicks and scratches, he hauled his prisoner back to the verandah, and, thrusting in his right arm beneath the floor, drew out the blazing rags and threw them on the gravel walk or on the grass until ho was sure that not one remained. Some watcher at. the front window had alarmed the guard-room, for out tumbled its occupants, and the lad was secured by Nash, and handed over to the Captain and Mr. Enrol. Oallin{< to Toner to keep an eye on the whole front, the detective, taking in the situation, hastened to the stables along vliki the lawyer, while the Squire and Mr. Perrowne went round the back way on the Hame errand. No guard was visible, and there was 6re in twc places, both happily outside shads, one abutting en the s;arden fence, the other farther to the right. The Squire went for water-pails, while Nash and the veteran followed the oourso of the incendiaries towards the bush guarded by Rufus. But the lawyer and the parson, seizing stout poles, which were apparently Tryphena's clothes props, knocked the blazing sheds to pieces with them, and scat- tered the burning boards over the ground. Before the water oame, the report of a rifle, a fowling piece, and of 182 TWO KNAPHAOKH. f m I: w i Hevcral piatol shots, rang through the air. No tnorn Hi'gnB of firo were diauovered, so the water wan pournd upon thw still burning boards, and th« (irnrnnn waittid for th< ruport of the purHuers. While thuH waiting, thoy h'-ard u groan, and, going to the placf) whence it proceeded, disooverc'd Tiraotheus, with a gag planter on his mouth and an ugly wound on the buck of hiH head, lying clone to the garden fence below the fired Hhed. Home water on hJH face revived him, and at the Hame time moiHtened th(; planter, but as it would not come utf, OoriHtine cut it open with his penknife between the lipn of the Hufftirer. Even then he oould hardly articulate, yet managed to ank if all waH Hftfe and to thank his deliverers. Ke was helper! into the house, and delivered over to the awakened and dreHHed Tryphena and Tryphosa, the latter behaving very badly and laughing in a most unfeeling way at the comical appear- ance cut by her humble swain. When Tryphena ren)oved the plantor, and Tryphosa, returning to duty with an effort, bathed his head, the wounded sentry felt almost himnelf again, and guaised he must ha' looked a purty queer pictur. Soon after, Rufus staggered into the kitchen in a similar condition, and his affectionate sisters had to turn their attention to the fiaby Those were all the casual tien on the part of the garris<^n, and, overpowered though the two sentries had been, their arms had nut been taken by the enemy. The Squire went forward to see after the welfare of his father-in-law, and found Mr, Terry carrying his own riflM and the gun of Sylvanus, while the said Pilgrim helped the detective to carry a groaning mass of humanity towards the kitchen hospital. " Oi tuk my man this toime, Squire," said Mr. Terry, gleefully ; Oi wuz marciful wid the crathur and aimed for the legs av' im. It's a foine nate little howl this swate roifle has dhrilled in his shkin, an' niver a bone shplit nor a big blood vissol tapped, glory be, say Oi ! " It appeared, on examination of the parties, that Bon Toner and Sylvanus bad indulged in a prolonged talk at the point where their beats met, during which a party of six, including the two prisoners, creeping up silently through the bush, prostrated Rufus with the blow of a bludgeon on the back of the head. Then, they advanced TWO KNAI'HACJKS. 183 and rnpeated the oppration on TitiiotheuH, after which three of thotn, with cotton olotliH Hoakod in oil, Hrcd the Hlieda and the verandah. But for the lawyer's discovery of the Hparic under the latter, the fire might have been hoyond control in a few minutes, and the end of the mur- derous gang accomplished. Tht^ whole household was roused ; indeed, save in the case of the children, it can hardly be said to have been asleep. Mrs. Oarruthers descended, and, sending Tryphosa to look after her young family, helped her father to bind up the wound of thn grizzled inctmdiary, who refused to give any account of himself. *• I know him," said the detective to the Squiie ; "his name is Nowoome and he's a bad lot." Soon the (Japtain and Mr. Errol brought their prisoner in. The lioHpital and guardroom was the winter kitchen of the house, a spiiciouH apartment almost unused during the Hummer months. When the lad was brought into it, he H(!emed to recof;nize the place with his dull big grey eyes, and spoke the first words he had uttered since his capture. " Bread and meat for Monty." " Why," said Tryphena, " it's the ijut boy." *' So it is," ejaculated Mrs. Oarruthers, '* What is your name, Monty t " With an idiotic smile ) his face, but no light in those poor eyes, he answered : " IVTonty Rawn, and mother's in the water place." Mrs. Oarruthers explained that the lad had been often in the ktichun in winter, and that she had told Tryphena to feed him well and be kind to him, so that it is no wonder he reco|B;nized the scene of his former enjoyment. "Puir laddie," said the Squire, " he's no' responsible, but the born deovil that set him on should be hanged, drawn, and quar- tered." •' Squire," answered Mr. Errol, " I'm aye on the side o' rnaircy, but to yon 1 say Amen." '* Oome, oome 1 " Oarruthers cried hastily, regaining his natural speech ; " we must take off these haverals, Syl- vanus and Toner, and bring them in to c;uard the prisoners. They are not fit for sentry duty." Leaving the Oaptain and the veteran as temporary guards, he sallied forth, followed bj the lawyer and the two parsons. To the Squire's great delight, he found the dominie walking up and down the front of *ho house, humming " A charge to keep I have." " Mr. Wilkinson," he said, 184 TWO KNAPSA0K8. t^ Binr— TIT "you're a pairfec' treaHuro," aiul that ho loud that the school maHter waH Huro it waH heard by the ocoupantH of the window over the porch. He marched along with redoubled pride and devotion. Mr. Perrowne took Toner'H place, and the lawyer that of SylvanuH. Oarrutbern marched the two haveral« to the kitchen, and placed the priHoners in their charge, after roundly abusing them for talking on guard. This set free the Oaptain and Mr. Terry, who were posted together by the •utbuildingu, although the veteran was very anxiouH to go down to thn bush for the purpose of potting the Lake Settlement hay- thens. There being no post for the miniHter, he wan appointed hospital chaplain and commander of the prisoners' guard. Mr. Nash, carrying Ben's gun, waa investigating the strip of buHh and the clump of birches down the hill for traces of the enemy. While so doing, two pistol bullets flew past his head and compelled him to HPek the cover of a tree trunk. Finding he could do noth- ing in the imperfect light, he retired gradually towardn the sentries, and aided them in their weary watch. At length, as daylight was coming in, and affording a pretext for the fair occupants of the front room, whose windows hailed the beams of the rising sun, to leave their seclusion and mingle with the wakeful ones below, the sound of wheels was heard coming along the road to the left. Hur- riedly, the detective became Mr. Chisholm, and joined the dominie at the gate. There were three men in the wag- gon, and one of them was the Orinstun man, as cheerful as ever. What was in the waggon could not be seen, sh it was covered over with buffalo robes and tarpaulin, but the detective could have sworn he saw it move, and give forth a sound not unlike a groan. Mr. Rawdon jumped down, telling a certain Jones of truculent countenance to drive on, as he guessed he'd walk the rest of the way this fine morning. The waggon drove off accordingly and at a rapid rate, while the working geologist aocosted the sentinels. " Wy, wot'a hup 'ere, gents 1 'Ere you liare on guard yet, and Jones there tells me 'ee 'eard shots fired baH 'ee was 3omin' along slowly. I 'ope there hain't no gang o' city burglars bin tryin' hany o' their larks on tht- Squire. We don't want none o' that sort bout in rural parts." TWO KNAPSAOKS. 186 The dominio and the detective deolined to /^atiflfy him, but the former Raid : — " I thought you had presHing bnsinenn at Collingwood, Mr. Rawdon 1 " " So r 'ad, and stand to lone two or three 'unttred dol- larn by niiHHin' the mornin' tmin. But, wen I got quite a Ht(!p on the road, all of a nudding I reniemberH my hoflfer to Miss Do Please UH, and 'er hanswer as was to be bat the Post Hoffice before ten. So I turned back, hand, lucky for me, fell in with Jones and 'is man takin' 'ome Home things from town. But, come I tell a man can't you 1 'Ah there bin any burglary or hanythink, any haccident, anybody 'art 1 I've got an hour and more to Hpaie, if I can be of any 'el p." ** I don't think we need trouble you, Rawdon," said the false Chisholm. " Your suspicions are correct so far, that an attempt has been niude to fire the Squire's house, ))ut by whom \h a mystery, for there is no man more n.speoted in the neighbourhood." •• Respected 1 I shou'd say 'ee is. Fire 'is 'ouse I O Lor' 1 wot a bloomin' shame I Really, I must go hin, if it's honly for a hinHtant to hoxpress my feelinn of hindig- iiation to the Carrutherses." The Orinstun man entered the gate, which was just what the detective did not want. However, he held it open for him, saying : ** You'll find the Squire in his office talking to Nash, but I don't suppose he'll mind being interrupted for a minute. Mrs. Carruthers is in the kit- chen, and you'll likely meet an old acquaintance of yourf there, Mr. Perrowne of Tossorontio." Rawdon drew back. Nash he knew : Mr. Perrowne, of Tossorontio, he did not ; but the unknown to men of his stamp is often more dreaded than the known. He wouldn't intrude upon his friends just now, while every- thing must be upset Playfully, he asked Favosites Wil- kinsonia to remind Misb Do Please-us of that hoffer and the hanswer before ten, and straightway resumed his jour- ney in the direction of the Lake St ttlement. '' Of all the impudent blackguards that I have met in ^•he course of my experience, that fellow takes the cake," Haid the detective, renioving his disguise. " What about Jones and the waggon t " asked the dominie. 186 TWO KNAPSACKS. " The waggon is the one 1 saw when patrolling. Jones and his man are two of the ruffian h who were in it. Old Newcorue, here, is a third. The boy — by-the-bye, what a wonderful inspiration that was of ^'ours to give us Idiot and Boy for passwords — well, the boy must have come from somt) other quarter. But there's either one or two wounded men under these bufialoes and bits of can- vas, for I hit one in the waggon and sent the contents of Ben's gun after another down the hill. They both squealed. Men of that kind almost always squeal when they're hit. The impudence of that fellow Rawdon I Pon't forget Miss Du Plessis' letter ; that's our card now. Never in all my life have I met with such colossal cheek!" The Squire came out and dismissed the guard. The parson and the lawyer strolled in together after Wilkin- son and Nash. Coristine remarked ' ''The sunshine is a glorious birth, as my friend Wilkinson would say." " Yes," answered Perrowne ; '* it brings to memory one verse of Holy Writ : ' Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.' The words are very simple, but beautiful in their simplicity. People are apt to say there's no dogma in them, and that's why they are so acceptable to all. But that's a mistake. They contain a double dogma ; for they make a dogmatic statement about light, and another about the relation of the son to the human eye. In the Church we down't get mach training in dogma, outside of the dogma of the Church, and a little in the Articles and the Catechism. Sow Mr. Errol often flores me with his texts. But I down't bear him any malice, you know, nor any malice to dogma, so long as it's the dogma of the Holy Scriptures ; because that is just like the verse I quoted, it says what is true of a thing in itself, or- in its relation to man. To reject that sort of dogma is to reject the truth." " Still," replied the lawyer, " a man in a burning desert, or who had been snnstruck, might curse the sun." " Very true ; but you know how wrong is the motto ex uno disce omnea. Believe that, and we are all scound- rels, because your Grinstun man was once under this roof." "There are, however, many e. tsiastical dogmas pro- two KNAPSACKS 187 fessedly taken from the Bible, against which good men, and earnest seekers after truth, rebel," •' Of course I Mr. Errol says — T do wish he were a Churchman, he is such a thoughtful, clever fellow — he says prejudice, imperfect induction, a wrong application of deductive logic, and onesided interpretation, down't you know, litf^ral, Bgurative, and all that sort of thing, are causes of false dogmatic assertions." " My friend Wilkinson, who is a long way past me in these matters, thinks the dogmatists forget that Revela- tion was a gradual thing, that the ages it came to were like classes in a graded school, and each class got only as much as it could understand, both mentally and morally ; and as, of course, it was able to express." '* Yes ; Errol says the same, but with exceptions ; because the prophets said a whowle lot of things they didn't understand. But, my dear fellow, whatever is the matter with your hands and face 1 You're burnt, yon pore sowl, and never said a word about it. Come on herr, I saye ; come on ! ** Mr. Perrowne laid hold on the lawyer's arm, and draggi d him into the hall. " Miss Marjorie !" he called ; " hi 1 Miss Carmichael, come along here, quick, I beg of you, please." The lady invoked came running oat of the breakfast room, looking very pretty in her fright. " Look here, Miss Marjorie, at our pore friend's hands and face, all got by saving you ladies from being burnt alive." Miss Carmiw'Lael exhibited great concern, and took the patient, who insisted his wounds were nothing to make a fuss over, inoo the work room, setting him down, with the pressure of iier two hands on his broad shoulders, in a comfortable chair between a sewing machine and a small table. Then she brought warm water, and sponged the bands, anointed the wounds with some home-made prepar- ation, and clothed them in a pair of her uncle's kid gloves, which were so large and baggy that she had to sit down and laugh at h^r victim, who felt very happy and very foolish. Finally she found that Mr. Errol, whose hands were more shapely, had an old pair of gloves in his pocket. So the Squire's were taken off, and the discovery made that the hands needed more washing, soaping, and anoint- ing. Coriutine said his ring, a very handsome one, hart i: 1 US' r- ?' fl 188 TWO KNAPSA0R8. him ; would Miss Carmichael pleaae take it off and keep it for him 1 Miss Carmichael removed the obnoxious ring, and did not know where to put it, but, in the meantime, to prevent its being lost, slipped it on to one of her own fingers, which almost paralyzed the lawyer with joy. He could have sat there forever ; but the gong sounded for prayers, and he accompanied his nurse into the dining room. There the whole household was assembled, even to the idiot Monty, with the exception of Tryphena, engaged in culinary duties, and Sylvanus, who mounted guard over (he woanded Newcome. Ben Toner also whh absent, having ridden off to summon Dr. Halbert. Mr. Perrowne, at the Squire's request, read the chapter for the day, and the minister offered a prayer, brief but forvent, returning thanks for the deliverance of the past night, and imploring help in every time of need, after which the entire company, Mr. Terry included, joined in the Lord's Prayer. Adjourning to the breakfast room, the events of the night were discussed over the porridge, the hot rolln and eoffee and the other good things provided. Mr. Terry had been induced to desert the kitchen for once, and he and Coristine were the heroes of the hoar. The lawyer put in a good word for the parson, and the Squire for Wilkinson, so that Mies Du Plessis and the other ladie8 were compelled to smile on both gentlemen. While the dominie blushed, the Captain settled his eye on him, " 1 told him when he was aboard the Susan Thomas that, with all his innercent sort of looks, he was a sly dog, with his questions about an old man's pretty niece. I knowed I'd see him in Flanders makin' up to the gals, the sly dog ! Got set down right beam on to their weather ports every time, even when he wasn't told to go on watch at all, the sly dog. Wilkison is his name ; it'll be Will-kiss- em some day, ha 1 ha 1 ha t the sly dog ! " The schoolmaster was dreadfully uncomfortable, and his lady teacher hardly less so. It was a blessed relief when a buggy drove up to the gate, and Mrs. Carruthers, having left her sister-in-law in charge while she went out to meet its occupants, returned shortly with the doctor and his blooming daughter, who, as a friend of the family, insisted on accompanying him to offer her services if she could be of TWO KNAPHAOKS. 189 " Gome, Doctor ! " said the Squire, rising with the rest of the party to greet him and his companion ; " the patients are in no immediate danger, so you and Miss Fannj must sit down and help us with breakfast." Miss Fanny was nothing loath to do so, after an invig- orating drive, and in the company of such a number of eligible bachelors as was rarely seen in Flanders. She had a word for Mr. Errol, for the detective, for the lawyer and the dominie, but to Wilkinson'd great relief she finally pitched upon Mr. Perrowne and held him captive. Then Wilkinson improved the time with Miss Du Plesais, using as his excuse the letter or note she was to send to Haw- don declining his otfer for the present, which the sohool- niaster expressed his desire personally to take to the office. Breakfast over, the doctor inspected his patients. New- come, Rufns, and Timotheus. The two latter he dismissed as all the better of a little blood letting, recommending lots of cold water applied externally. The case of the incendiary was more serious, but not likely to be fatal. '■■•»v*^ CHAPTER X. Doctor Summoned to the Select Encampment — Newcome Inter- viewed — Nash's Discovery— His Venture— Drop the Handker- chief—The Dominie's Indignation — The Pedestrians Detained — The Doctor Stays — A Trip to the Lakee— Conversation on the Way— The Richards— Fishing — Songs— The Barrier in the Chan- nel— Nash's Dead Body Found— His Crazed Sister Comes to Bridesdale. IT was only eight o'clock when the elders finished their breakfast, and the children prepared to succeed them. All the party, except Mrs. Carrutbers and Mrs. Car- michael, who had domestic duties before them, and Miss Du Plessis, who had her note to write, strolled out into the garden in groups. Shortly, a buckboard drove up to the gate, and its occMpant, a washed out looking youth, enquired if the doctoi- was there, Dr. Halbert. The sub- ject of the enquiry went forward, and found that he was wanted at the Select Encampment, for a man who had phot himself. 190 TWO KNAPSACKS. P; '( " I tell you frankly, my tuan," said the doctor, " I don't care to go to your Select Encampment ; there is too much mystery about it." *' I guess the pay's all O.K.," answered the youth. " Why do you not get Dr. Smallpiece to look after your raant" " Cos we don't know nuthun about him, and he's too small a piece for our boss. You best hurry up yer cakea and come on, doctor." Rff-entering the house for his instruments, the doctor confided to Carruthers his distaste for the work before him, on account of the mystery surrounding it, but said he supposed it was his duty to relieve human suffering. *• Where is it 1 " asked the Squire. " All I can tell you is that it is out on the lakes beyond the Lake Settlement." " I thocht as muckle," remarked the Squire to the detective, after the doctor was carried away on the buck- board. " Let us go and see Newcome," said the detective \ and the pair went round to the kitchen, where the wounded man lay on an improvised couch, and was waited upon by big Ben Toner, anxious for news of Serlizer. Mr. Nash b gan : — "The doctor says that talking won't hurt you. New- come." " Dawn't spanse 'twull," answered the surly fellow. " Setting fire to buildings with intent to take life is a hanging matter, Newcome." "Oosaid fwarntl" " You seem prepared for your fate." ^ Ma vate was aw raight to I got t'bahl i'my laig." " I mean, you don't seem to care if you are going to be hanged." " Oo's a gaun to hahng us an' vor wat ) " " You'll be hanged for arson with intent to kill. There are witnesses to prove you threatened to kill me at least." Newcome started, and so did Ben. " Yaw cahn't prove nowt." ♦• Yes I can. I've got your pocket book and the odd papers out of your coat pocket." TWO KNAP8A0KB. 191 " Aw'll hae yaw oop vor staluu as well m shootun, eee iv 1 dawn't, yaw bloody thafe ! " " Keep a civil tongne in your head, man, or I'll send you to the lockup at once," interposed the Squire. '* Leave him to me Squire ; I'll manage him," whis- pered Nash. Then^ turning to the irjurious Newcome, he continued : " Your daughter, Sarah Eliza, is at Rawdon's Select Encampment, where the stuff you sell is turned out. She can give some fine evidence. The Peskiwancbow crowd, the man that pretends to be called Jones, and the rest of them, were picked up by you in a waggon, I know, last night. The coal oil and fire marks are on your hands still, and this pretty rag came out of your side pocket. What is more, 1 don't need to ask the Squire here to commit you. I've got a warrant already, on the evidetce of Henry and ^tokes and Steadman. I'll serve that watiaut on you now, and have you off to the county gaol, where Dr. Stapfer is bound to cut off your leg, if you don't own up quick, for I have no time to lose." " Daw yaw thenk as Stapper nil ambitate ma laig t " " I'm sure of it. He always does ; he has a perfect mania for amputatibn. You know Driver t " " Yaas." ** Who cut off his leg for a little bruise t " "T'wer Stapper." " And who cut of Sear's arm at the shoulder for a trifle of a ruety nail 1 " "Stapper taw. O, aw zay, Mezder Nahsh, dawn't zend us ta naw Stappers." " But I will, I must, if you don't confess immediately all that the Squire and I want to know. Turn Queen's evidence, and make a clean breast of it. Yon oan't save Rawdon and his gang ; we have them tight. But confess, and I'll get you out on bail, and send yon home to your wife to be nursed; and, when the trials come, I'll get you off your liquor charge with a fine. Refuse to, and you go straight to Scapfer's to lose your leg, and then to the gal- lows." " Aw dawn't moind chancin' t'gallas, but ma laig ! Wat daw yaw wahn't ta knaw f " At once all the people, Ben included, were ordered out of the hospital, and Ooristine, much to his disgust, sent §^Wmi • *i ' 1, '4 • 192 TWO KNAPBACRB. i i' .r-i ii i'^ 1,1., ^•' . i iitflfi-ii for. His hands were aseless for writing, bnt, m he had a good memory, he could help in the examination. So Mr, Errol was called in to act as clerk, Mr. Perrowne refasin^ to do 80, on the ground that all confessions made in tho presence of a clergyman are sacred. Little by little the hardened old sinaer revealed Rawdon's business, its centre and methods, his accomplices and victims. Then the whole story of the plot which culminated in the night attack wan drawn from him, appearing blacker and more diabolical at every new revelation of villainy. It appeared that the Qrinstun man had with him in the attack, which he con- ducted personally, his own six men from the so-called Encampment, togethor with the idiot boy, and two lots of teamsters or distributors, the five from Peskiwanchow brought by Newcombe, and four from another quarter. He had thus sixteen ruffians in his force, besides himself and the boy. " Whose boy is that 1 " asked the detective, eagerly. He had been looking dosely at the lad more than once and listening to his voice. "Ah beeslong ta Rowdon." " Who is his mother t " asked Nash, with a strange light in his eye. • " Her's oawd Tilder." " Is she Rawdon's wife t Speak, man I " " Naw, nawt az aw niver heerd." " What was her name before he — brought her there 1 " "Aw dunno, but t'lahd's cawd Mawnta Nehgull." " O my Qod 1 ** cried the detective, as he fell back in his chair, and seemed to lose all power of speech. " Gome away, Nash," said the Squire, taking one arm of the stricken man, while Mr. Errol, handing his notes to the lawyer, took the other. They led him tenderly to the office, where Oarruthers forced a glass of wine upon him. Nash revived, and begged that the door might be closed and locked. " I may never have a chance to tell this again, so I want to tell it to yon two, and to yon alone. My real name is Nagle, not Nash. I was born in Hamilton, where my fatber was a wheelwright. I got a good schooling, and went into a lawyer's office, for father wanted me to becomi! a lawyer. But I got reading detective books, and did a TWO KNAPCAOKB. 198 fflw flharp things for the firm that got me into notice and brought me private detective buBiness. So I got on till I roun to be what I am, such as it is. When my parentH died they left my sister Matilda in my care. I was only twenty then, and she, eighteen, a bright, pretty girl. She kept my rooms for me, but I was away most of the time, 80 ahe became tired of it, as we had no relations and hardly any friends we oared to associate with. She insisted on leaving me and learning the millinery in Toronto ; so I had to let her go. I saw her often, and frequently sent her money. She got good wages at last and dressed well, and seemed to have respectable people about her. Suddenly her letters stopped. I went to her place of business, and heard that she had left to be married to a rich man in the coantry ; bat nobody, not even her closest acquaintances among the girls, knew where, or who the man was. I advertised, neglected business to hunt up every clue, tra- velled all over the country looking for my lost sister, promised my dead parents never to marry till I found her. And at last, at last, Qod I I have found Matilda, and you know where, a woman without name or character, the victim of the greatest scoundrel unhbng, the associate of brutal criminals, the unlawful mother of an idiot boy ! No ! no more wine, Squire, not a drop. I want a steady head and a strong hand this morning more than any day of my life. Open the door and the windows now, please; and give me a little air." Nash, for so he may still be called, sent Ooristine away to Talf curd's for his bundle, and Miss Du Plessis, having handed the note for Rawdon to the dominie, accompanied the hero of the gloves in the Squire's buggy, so as to lose no time. Wilkinson was warned not to post the letter before his comrade's return. While watting in the office, Mr. Errol, whose heart was deeply touched, locked the door again, saying : '* John, let us kneel down and pray our Heavenly Father to comfort our friend in his great sorrow, and bless hiii^ in his present work." The Squire knelt with the minister, and the detective fell on his knees beside him, their hearts joining in the quiet but earnest supplications of the good man of religion. When they rose from their knees, Nash, almost tearfully, pressed their bands and bade Qod bless them. A;:." *■-■■. i± 1*8 ''^'' '.-* 194 TWO RNAP8A0KS. ■iit'i CoriHtino enjoyod the society of Miss Da PlesBiB ; >ever- thelesH he drovo faHt, for the baainem demanded hrifite. The bugf^y returned in little over half an hoar, and the bandle waH handed to the detective, who took it up Btairs, and, Hoon after, descended as a countryman, in flannel Hhirt, light soiled coat, and overalls. The rim of his wideawake was drawn down all round, half hiding his face disguiHed with A ragged beard. It coald not conceal his refined, almost aristocratic, features, but such a country type is not uncommon in many parts of Canada, even accompanied with perfect boorishness. Hia boots were small, which alHO was quite Canadian, but he had rubbed the blacking off, and trusted to the dust still further to disguise them. Smiling and courteous, he bade everybody whom he could traat good-bye, and slipped a large pocket-book full of money and memoranda into the hands of the 8(juire. "You can keep it till I come back," he said ; "if I don't, get Mr. Errol and tuis lawyer chap, who seems a good fellow, to help you to make it out." Then, the dominie expressed hia readiness to take tho note to the post office, and Mm Da Plessis, a little piqued at Coristine's apparent want of attention to her, said that, if Mr. Wilkinson had no objections, she should, above all things, like a short walk after a cramping drive. The schoolmaster was only too delighted, in spite of Mr. Perrowne's glance of jealousy, Vhich MiMH Halbert saw and noted with a tap of her dainty tojt on the verandah. So, Wilkinson and hisinam orata tripped along the road, and, some distance behind them, shambled Simon Larkin, the hawbuck from away back, alias Mr. Nash. The children came out to play, led by Marjoria Perrowne was still talking to Miss Halbert, Mr. Errol was closeted with the Squire, and the Captain and the veteran, on a garden bench, were telling yarns. " Cousin Marjorie," said her juvenile namesake, " we are going to play drop the handkerohief, because we've got such a lot of nice people to play it." Miss Carmichael answered: " Oh no, Marjorie, try some other game." But Marjorie insisted. So, a ring was formed, with Marjorie as handkerchief holder, outside. The ring consisted of the Captain and little Susan Carruthers, Mr. Perrowne and Marjorie of the same family, Coristine and Miss Halbert, Mr. Terry, pipe and all, and Honoria junior, John Carro- TWO KNAPHACKH. 195 ma ; >evor- thnrs janior and Minn Carmichaol, and baby Michael, but with v'hom 1 IVfarjori(> 8Ugp;f>8ted the two aanties and TryphoBa, but finally conoluded that there had to be an 0(l(i one any way, ho baby Michael took the Captain's hand aad Miss Carniichaerri, and the qatne began. Of cours') Mitrjorie dropped the handkerchief on her Eugene, and tlu^cne caught her and kissed her with great gusto. Then h» had to drop it, and lionoriu saluted him with effusion. Mr. Perrowne was her choice, and the parson, tell it not in Gatb, the perfidious parson gave himself away on Miss llan)ert, who captured him, blushed, and submitted. The Captain and Mr. Terry were becoming indignant and Hhocked. Miss Halbert had mercy on John Oarruthers jiininr, who went wild with delight, and brought out Mia^ Carmichael. She, pitying the Captain, gave him the handkerchief and a ions: chaie, but Mr. Thomas finally triumphed, and chose Susim CarrutherH as his victim. SuHan took grandpa, who pocketed his pipe, and, after a Hounding smack, passed the handkerchief on to his grand- child Marjorie. She, true to her name, chose the lawyer, and that gentleman, emboldened by the parson's precedent, dropped the terrible symbol on the shoulder of the girl who was all the world to him. She pursued him, and hn ran as he well could do, but at last he got weak and tired, and she overtook him against her will and his, and Cor- istine was in the seventh heaven of delight. They could take him and trample on him, and flaunt bis recreancy before Wilkinson even ; he didn't want to kiss any more, even the fresh young lips of the children. He wanted that one impression to stay forever. MisH Du Plessia and the dominie were not in a hurry to get back to Bridesdale. She had received a letter from her mother, saying that Uncle Morton was coming to see her, and that she would try to induce him to accompany her to the country, as she did not wish to shorten her daughter's brief holi iay by calling her home. Imparting the news to Wilkinson, a long and interesting conversation began which branched off into a vainety of topics, treated seriously, at times poetically, by the kindred minds. Miss Da Plessis was quite unreserved, yet dignified, and with- out a trace of coquetry ; nevertheless, the dominie assured himielf that Mr. Perrowne bad not a ghost of a chance in w^m^^^ It ' r* 198 TWO KNAPBAOKB. that quarter. She was pleased with the generous way in which he referred to his companion pedcBtnan, in spite of the provocation which she knew the lawyer had given hiH friend The adventures of the past night, the fresh air of the morning, the rural scenery and his delightful compan- ionship, made the schoolmaster eloquent ; yet his sense of propriety and natural politeness kept him from monopol- ieing the conversation, so that his silent attention wsh even more flattering than his appeals to the lady « mtelh- itence and culture. Outside of the English claHHics and Current literature, her reading lay chiefly amonK French and Spanish authors, most of which were not unknown to the studious dominift A few ripples of well-bred amuse- ment were raised by his recital of his experience at the Beaver River, where he found the Voyage autour de men Jardin, especially by his specimens of Lajeunesse French and the story of the dug-out. Of course, he did not offend a lady's ear with a wor J so vulgar j it was always the canoe. Too soon the pleaBant morning walk was oyer, and they stood before the garden gate at Bridesdale, just at the moment when Coristine accidentally stumbled and was captured by the fair possessor of the handkerchief. " How «ood of your friend to please the children by tak- ing part in their games," remarked Miss Du Plessis in all sincerity. " I cannot express the depth of my humilia- tion," replied the dominie ; "it is scandalous— a violation of the rights of hospitality." . «• But, see 1 Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Perrowne is there ; aad Fanny also." ^ «. . . , • xu « I have nothing to do. Miss Du Plessis, judging them that are without ; Mr. Coristine pertains to my inner circle, and shall know my opinion of his shameful con- duct before the sun rises much higher in the heavens. " Hi » there, shipmate," bawled the Captain, •• come on and add a link to this here endless chain. I told you your real name, you sly dog 1 Ha, ha I WiU-kiss-em, eh Marjorie? Not you, you little pues; but your cousin there, eolourin' up like a piney rose." ^^ « I relinquished such sports with my pinafores, an- swered the dominie, grandly. , ,, _ u * f-n It was very unjustifiable of Mr. Perrowne, but two things annoyed him ; one being tlje fact that he was TWO KNAPHAOKa. 197 nqually gnilty with the lawyer, the other that Ming Da Pli>H8i8 had deserted him for thiH prig of a school master. Louii enoagh to be beard by all, he remarked : •• A very learned and diHtinguished man was once play- ing with 8on»e children, when ho suddenly cried, ' Ohildren, we mast stop, for I see a fool coming.' What do you think of that. Captain f " " Nevar said a truer word in your life," growled Mr. Thomas, and continued, " anything as calls itself a man and can't romp with the youngsters, nor give a joke and toko it, bad ought to be set in a high chair with a bib, let alone petticats." " He said pinnies, papa," Marjorie corrected. *' Pinnies or petticats, it's all the same thing. Me and Terry here, old enough to be his fathers I " " An' it 'ud be a grate 'anner for me, anyway, to be father to a foine, praper, illigant gintleman loike Mishter Wilkerson," put in the veteran, anxious to keep the peace. The embers, however, were smoking on both sides when little Marjorie ran up to the dominie and, taking his hand, said beseechingly : " Please don't scold the poor boys and girlH, Wilks, because it was my fault — all my fault. I made them play. Now, put down your head and kiss me, and say, ' I forgive you this once, but don't you go to do it a^ain 'j just like papa says." There was no help for it, though everybody laughed to hear the terror of the Sacheverell Street school called Wilks, and the grown-up people, girls and boys. The dominie had to repeat the formula and seal it with a kiss, when the perfidious shild turned upon him very gravely, sayiag : " Now, sir, you can't speak, for you've done it your very own self." Thus it was that a storm was averted, and " drop the handkerchief " broke up in good nature. " Corry," said his friend, «' I'm going upstairs for my knapsack. You had better get yours, and prepare to follow onr route. Colonel Morton and Miss Du Plessis are coming here, so that we, as entire strangers, ought no longer to intrude upon the hospitality of Mrs. Carruthers." •• All right, Wilks, my boy ! ^ replied the tender-hearted lawyer, who felt as if his heart was breaking. In a few minutes the pedestrians descended ready for the road, when 198 TWO KNAPSACKS. < -i the Squire opeDed his office door and ihrew ap his « -tns in amazement. '* What in aa oonsoience is the meanin' o' this 1 Wilkinson explained, and expressed a desire to find Mrs. Carruthers, that he might thank her for her kind hos- pitality. " Here, gudewife, and aa ye four Marjories, and Mias Oecile," cried Carruthers, lustily, " come ye aa here, and i;arr thae twa wanderin' Jews bide." Then there was a commotion, as the ladies flocked with the children into the hall, with many exclamations of astonishment and reproach, surrounding the recreant young men. Mr. Errol, the Captain, the veteran, and even Mr. Perrowne, came to learn what was the matter. When they heard the intentions of the pair, Mr. Thomas and the parson were prepared to make the most abject apologies to the dominie, who insisted that there was no necessity ; on the contrary, he alone was to blame, but all that was past. Mrs. Carruthers would not hear of their going just as they were becoming so pleasantly acquainted, assured them that Bridesdale had ample accommodation, and com- manded the veteran to form a company of his grandchildren and arrest the would-be deserters. Marjorie clung to her Eugene's right leg. Mr. Errol accused him of stealing away with his gloves, and finally the lawyer confided to Mrs. and Miss Carmichael that he didn't want to go a bit, was never happier in his life. Miss Du Flessis put a band on the dominie's arm, a hand that tingled away in to his very heart, and said her uncle would be so disappointed when he arrived to find that his friends of Collingwood had not deemed him worth waiting for. Finally, the ! quire took them both aside, and, speaking seriously, said he bad no right selfishly to detain them, but the time was critical, poor Nash was away on a dangerous errand, and their ser- vices, already great and highly appreciated, might yet be of the greatest importance. Besides, after the fatigue and excitement of the past night, they were not fit to travel. The dominie confessed that, with all the excitement and possible danger, he had enjoyed himself amazingly, that his only motive for leaving was the fear of trespassing upon the kindness of Mrs. Carruthers, and that, if his humble services were of any value, he trustod the Squire woald TWO KNAPSAOKb. 199 draw upra them to the atmost. The lawyer, hearing his companion's decision, wanted to give a wild Irish hnrroo, bat, checking himself, ground the Squire's right hand with bis own kid-gloved afflicted member, as if he had been a long lost brother. When they next reached the hall, Miss Halbert was there taking in the situation with the other young ladies. She had already seen enough to know that neither of her fair companions was capable of properly addres-jing the culprits, so she made up lor their deficiency, saying : '• Go upstairs at once, you naughty boys, and take off these pads." The naughty boys ascended, with a strangely combined feeling of joy and smallness, and, when the knapsacks were removed, Coristine sank into a chair laughing. "O Lord, Wilks," he said, "she called them pads ! " The doctor arrived in time for dinner, and reported three wounded men instead of one. Two had pistol wounds that had evidently been attended to from the first, the other had a gunshot in the back, and must have dragged himself a long way after it, for he was almost gone with loss of blood. " That'll be the chiel' puir Nash fired at wi' Ben's gun," said Oarruthers. " Oan your wife put me and Fanny up for the night, John ) " asked the doctor, looking serious. "Just delighted to do so," replied the Squire; "we have more space than we know how to fill." " I must tell you why. These rough fellows at the Encampment are furious. «»nd one of them, in his grati- tude, warned me, on no account, to be in or near your house to-night." " Doctor, that's another thing. I have no right to let you risk yourself and Miss Fanny in time ot danger in ray house." " But we will, John. Come here, Fanny ! " Telling his daughter the circumstances, the doctor asked her deci- sion, and she at once answered : " Of course, Mr. Oar- ruthers, we shall stay. Papa has two pistols in his gig, and, if necessary, will lend me one. I am a good shot, am I not, papa t " " Yes, John, she has a fine eye and nerve for a mark." At the dinner table Doctor Halbert conversed with the pedestrians about the scenery they had passed through, ><.S '■ 200 TWO KNAPSACKS. f pi 1^ .'f i: Si 4 1 ht . .. 'I 1 « -s and recommended them, by all means, not to fail in visit- ing the Flanders' lakes. He informed them that they con- stitued a long and perplexing chain, being more like a long continuous sheet of water, narrowing every here and there into straits, affording little more than room enough for two boats to pass through, than an actual succession of lakes. To penetrate far in would be dangerous, but his guide had informed him that no visitors to the first three ran any risk of interference. "By the bye, Miss Oecile," interrupted the Squire, " some of these lakes are your property, are they not 1 " " Yes, Mr. Carruthers," the lady replied ; " but they would be so no longer if a very kind friend had not paid the taxes for them." " Hoot toot, lassie, what's the taxes on a bittock o* wild land and useless water ) " " I should like above all things to see these lakes, " remarked the dominie. " Do you know," said Mr. Perrowne, '• for sow long a time as I have been in Flanders, I have never seen the lakes. One down't like to gow alowne, you know." '* I say we go this afternoon," proposed the lawyer. '• I'm with you, sir," responded the minister. " We'll drop cricket and golf, the day, Perrowne." Then in a whisper to Carruthers, " I'm anxious about poor Nash." " Then, meenister, see that ye aa tak' your revolvers and cartridges. I can supply you and Perrowne." Ooristine proposed to botanize, but did not caro to detain the expedition by continually opening his knapsMk, nor to incommode himself with the burden of the strap presft He regretted that he had not brought his vascu- lum, when Miss Carmichael spoke up, and said that she would furnish him with one when the party was ready to start. After dinner the company lounged for half an hour on the verandah and in the garden. There the Captain made up his mind to go with the exploring party, and take charge of Kichards' scow on the first lake, that being the only craft available. Ben Toner came round from the kitchen and asked the Squire if he had anything for him to do, as Sylvanus wanted to stay with old man Newcome and read the Bible to him. •• Do you know the lakes, Toner 1 " asked Mr. Carru- thers. TWO KNAPSACKS. 201 rr< ii' " If yon don't mind Squier, I'd sooner you'd call me Ben." "Well, Ben, thenl" " Yaas, leastways I've ben at the laink as is nighes ta han.' " " Do yon mind taking your gun, and looking out for sport with these gentlemen ? " « They isn't nawthin I'd laike bettr'en that." So, Ben got his gun and ammunition, and the Captain was furnished with a stout walking -cane loaded in the head. The two parsons, the dominie, and the lawyer had pistols in their pockets. When ready to start, Miss Oar- michael came up to Coristine carrying some mysterious object behind her back. Rapidly bringing it forward, she threw a thick green cord over the lawyer's shoulders, from which depended a browny black japanned tin candle-box. Of course, it was an accident that the cord was short, and that Coristine bent his head just as the fair damsel stood on tiptoe to adjust the improvised vasculum. " I hope I didn't hurt you with my awkwardness, Miss Carmichael," pleaded the penitent knight of the order of the candle-box. ** Not at all, Mr. Coristine, it was my fault. I am afraid your nose suffered." " Ha ! ha ! " chuckled the Captain, " young fellows can stand a lot o' that sort o' punishment. Reefs o' that kind don't do human vessels no harm." Wilkinson was getting sick of the Captain and his aggressive vulgarity. Coristine didn't mind him j anybody belunging to Miss Carmichael was, for the present, delight- fal. Nevertheless, for marching purposes, he fell in with Toner, while the Captain accompanied Mr. Errol, and Wilkinson, Mr. Perrowne. They had six miles to tramp, which took them a good hour and a-half. The Captain discussed navigation in Scripture times with the minister, and decided that the Jews might have been good at punt- ing round, but were a poor seafaring lot. The dominie and the parson were deep in the philosophy of the affec- tions, in the course of which excursus the former quoted the words : — Like Dian's kiss, unasked, unsought, Love gives itself, it is nut bought- Nor voice nor sound betrays Its deep, impasBionated gaze. J;: '..'• ■if V ' w V I , ' .y.t M ' * I '•? 202 TWO KNAPSACKS. It) comes, the beautiful, the free, The crown of all humanity. Id eilence and alone. To seek the elected one. Mr. Perrowne was strack with these veraes, and, taking out his note book, begged that his companion wonld repeat them, as he recorded their sublime sentiment for future use. They then proceeded to eulogize Miss Da Flessis, of whom the parson formed a very high estimate, which he qualified by the statement that, were he not in holy orders, he would say Miss Fanny Halbert was more fun r.nd ever so much jollier. Mr. Wilkinson really could not say, speaking conscientiously and without reserve, that he regarded jollity as an essential element in true womanhood. In his estimation it sank the peculiar grace and sacred dignity of the sex too nearly to a level with ordinary prosaic humanity. Mr. Perrowne concurred in a measure, but thought il was awfully nice for men of serious occupations, like the dominie and himself, to have somebody to liven them up a little ; not too much, down't you know, but just enough to dispel the blues. The lawyer interrogated Toner. " Well, Ben, have yon got any news of your young lady 9 " " Yaas, Doctor." " Never mind calling me doctor, Ben, because I'm not one yet. My name is Coristine." " Then, Mr. Oorsten, I heem from old man Newcome as Serlizer's out in that there Slec Gamp in the lainks. She's cookin' for twainty dollars a month, and that's tarble good wages for gals, ef so be she gets her money all right." "Not a very nice place for a good girl to be, Ben." " No, it ain't ; log roll and timber slide the hull consarn." '* These are queer expressions you've got." " Yaas, Mr. Oorsten, I waynt and promised that there priest as looked like Mr. Nash, guaiss it must ha' bin his brother, as I wouldn't sweanr no moer. And now, it keeps my mind workin' mornin' and night, so'st to know what to spit out when I'm raiul mad and hoppen." " It must be quite an anxiety to you, Ben." " Anxiety t It's wearin' my life away. I've got a bit of a rest jest now on loggin' and lumberin', but them words '11 soon be used up." TWO KNAPSACKS. 203 oonsarn. " What's to hinder yon repeating them, or leaving them out altogether 1 I hardly ever feel the need of them." " It's the way you're broughten up, like your food. What 'nd do you for dinner, wouldn't be nigh enough for me. Same ways in speakin', they must be something to fill your talk out." " Swearing is a poor business, Ben. Our Saviour, when He was on earth, said, Swear not at all." *' Is that in the Bible, Mr. Corsten 1 " "Yes." " Wall, it may be in some, but faint in the one Syl- vanuB was read in' to old man Newoome, fer that says in black and white as Jesus cussed the barm fig tree, and I'd laike to know what's odds between cussin' and swearin*. It stands to reason and natur that He wouldn't go and tell folks not to do things He did Himself ; don't it ? " " If you had read the chapters, there are two of them, that tell the story of the fig tree, you would have found that the disciples called it cursing when it was only a quiet saying: 'Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth.' You wouldn't call that cursing, would you 1 " *' my, no, that ain't wuth callin' a cuss ; they ain't no cuss about it. Now, fer whole souled, brimstun heeled CQ88 words, they's " " Never mind telling me any. They wouldn't do me any good, and the clergyman forward there might hear them." " Do these clergy belong to the Ohui jh 9 " "They both think they do in different ^^ays, but, strange to say, neither of them belongs to your Church." " Wall, I ain't got no quarrl at 'em. I gua'lss all the good folks '11 get to Heaven somehow." " Amen I " answered the lawyer, and the conversation ended. There was no visible cart track to the lake& If Baw- don's whiskey mill, as Ben called it, was really some- where among them, there must of necessity have been a road tapping their shores at some point, for an extensive business employing so many men could hardly exist with- out a means of easy transportation. To the neighbour- hood of the Lakes Settlement, however, this road was a mystery. The party halted at a log house by the side of '^<.^' . *■ . t* ; !^ 204 TWO KNAPSACKS. the road proper, and Mr. Perrowne, who claimed RichnrdH as a parishioner, asked his wife if he and his friends could have the use of her boat. Mrs. Richards gave the required permission very graciously, and the excursionists struck into the bush path which led to Lake No. 1, or Richards' Lake. The bush had once been underbrushed, perhaps a long time back by the Indians who generally made for water ; but the underbrush was now replaced by a dense growth of Canadian yew, commonly called Ground Hem- lock, the crimson berry of which is one of the prettiest objects in the vegetable world. It, and other shrubs and small saplings, encroached on the narrow path, and, in places, almost obliterated it. The land rose into a rid^e a short distance from the water, so that it was invisible until the crest was reached. Then, a dark circular lake, seemingly altogether shut in by the elsewhere dense forest, made its appearance. There were rei??ains of a log shelter near the shore on the left, and, between it and the some- what muddy beach, Toner lit a fire of drift wood to drive away the flies which followed the party out of the bush. The punt was soon discovered moored to a stake, a punt with three seats flush with the gunwales, one each fore and aft, and one in the centre. " O, I saye," cried Mr. Perrowne, " look at that lovely little island out there ! See, you can hardly see it because of the black shadows. What a place to fish I and here we are without a single rod." " Ain't no need to trouble about rods," remarked Ben ; *'I kin cut you half-a-dozen in two shakes of a dead lamb's taiul." " And I've got three hooked lines," added the lawyer, producing part of his Beaver River purchase from bis breast pocket. The dominie did not wish to trust himself in a doubtful craft with Coristine again, and he dis- trusted the Captain, save on the Sttsan Thomas. His for- mer success in fishing, and his present pleasant relations with Perrowne, prompted him to join that gentleman in practising the gentle art. But what about bait! The question having been put to Toner, who returned with three springy saplings, and worms having been suggested, that veteran fisherman told Mr. Perrowne that he might as well look for a gold mine as for worms in new land. TWO KNAPBAOKB. 205 When, however, some envelopes were produced from various pockets, he proceeded to fill them with grasshop- pers and locusts. He also excavated a little pond near the shore, and gathered a collection of caddico worms from the shallow border of the lake, after which he found an old bait tin in the log shelter, that he filled with water, into which he transferred the pond's inhabitants for transpor- tation. " Ef them baiuts don't suit, they's a heap o' little frawgs in the grass of that there island," he finally remarked, before unmooring the scow. Then the dominie and Mr. Perrowne got on board with their rods, lines, and bait, and were poled and paddled by Ben over to their isle of beauty. Their lines were in the water, and a bass was on each hook, before the scow returned to the shore. Now the Captain took command of the craft, occupying the entire stern thwart ; while Ben, with his gun resting on the floor and pointing its muzzles out over the bow, held that end of the vessel. The commander would not allow the passengers who sat amidships to do any work, bat said they might talk or sing if they had a mind to- Then the lawyer sang : — The floatin' scow ob ole Virginny I've toiled for many a day, Workin' among de oyster beds, To me it was but play. When he ended, Mr. Errol gave the company •• Flow gently, Sweet Afton, amang thy green braes," and Coristine wondered much if " My Mary " that occurs in the song had any reference to a Marjorie, one who, as he said inwardly. Shall never be thine, But mine, but mine, so I fondly swear, For ever and ever mine I After Mr. Errol's effort, which won applause from the Cap- tain, the lawyer waved his handkerchief as a farewell sign to the busy fishermen, for, just at that moment, the appar- ently land-locked' shore opened, and a narrow channel between cliffd came into view. The second lake, into which they soon glided, was more beautiful than the first. A few jays and woodpeckers were flying about, and Toner was anxious to have a shot at a golden woodpecker, which he called a Highholder, and which sat unooncArnedly on a >-*. 206 TWO KNAPBAOKB. 1 11 ' Iti , It J 4 ' limb within splendid range. Mr. Errol dissuadnd him, paying ho had heard that the report of a t^un wan carried through all the channels to the very end by the echoes, and reverberated there like the noise of thunder ; after last night, they had b )tter be as quiet as possible. To take his mind off the disappointment, Ooristiue asked Ben if he could sing and paddle too. He guessed he could, as pad- dling wasn't taking his breath away any. So Ben wau pressed to sing, and at once assumed a lugubrious air, that reminded the lawyer of The Crew. The song was about a dying youth, who is asked what he will give in legacy to his mother, his sister, and various other relatives. He is liberal to all, till his lady-love's name is mentioned, and, for some unknown reason, excites his indignation. The tune was not the same as The Crew's copyright. " What will you give your sweetheart, my comfort and my joy T What will you give your sweetheart, my darling boy ? " Oh ! a gallows to hang on 1 Mother, make my bed soft ; I've a pain in my chest ; I want to lay down. " The last line was sung in a very solemn and affecting monotone. Coristine had to pretend to be deeply moved, to turn round facing the Captain, and chew first his mous- tache and then half of his pocket handkerchief. " Eh, Ben," said the graver minister, " I'm afraid that was no' a very Christian spirit to die in." *' No, your raiverence," replied the singer, " but ef I hadn't a knowed it was old man Newcome as took Serlizer away, I'd be cant-hooked and pike-poled ef I wouldn't b> sung jest them words, that's ef I had a paiun in my chaist and wanted to lay down." When they reached the third lake, through a channel similar to the last, the Captain said sternly : '* I'm in command of this vessel, and expect orders to be obeyed. No more singin' nor laughin' out nor loud talkin'. Doctor says it's as much as life's worth to go beyond it. You've heerd orders ; now mind 'em." Everything was silent, save the soft dip of the paddles in the water ; the quiet was painfully oppressive. Ugly thoughts of bad men mingled with a sense of the natural beauty of the scene. Toner in the bow silently pointed to a square artificial-looking white object at the entrance to the next cfaiannel, which was the limit of thn voyage. At ,J.»a!i;C-Vai;Jfcr- TWO KNAP8A0K8. 207 last the punt came up to it, and its oooupants found the channel barred by a heavy grating, that passed down into the water. Above it was a notice in the usual form, indi- cating the prosecution of trespasBers, and signed by order of the proprietor, Misa Du Plessis, with the name of John Carruthers, J.P. '• The villain ! " ejaculated Mr. Errol. <* John has neither been here nor sent here. It's a forgery, an impudent forgery." '* Let us take it down and carry it back with us,'' said the lawyer. '* Na, na, my lad ; we maun just wait till we come in force.'" "Time to 'bout ship," growled the Oaptain. *' Hush 1 " whispered the minister, " I hear a voice, a woman'p voice." • *' Oome on ! " said the lawyer, jumping ashore ; *' will you come, Ben 1 " " Don't ask me that, Doctor, I dassent," replied Toner, shivering with superstitious fear. " Let me go with him," said the minister to the Oap- taiu ; " we'll not be a minute away." " Look sharp, then ! " growled Mr. Thomas. " Are you loaded 1" The two explorers looked to their revolvers, and then climbed the bank, which was no easy task, as it was a mass of felled timber and dead brush ; but the notes of a woman's voice led them on, and, at last, they found them- selves on the shore of the fourth lake. They saw nothing, BO they crouched down listening for the voice. *' Steve, Stevy dear, wake up and let us go away. Oh, why are you sleeping when every moment is precious) He will come, Stevy, I know he will, and kill you, dear ! " The voice was very near. Simultaneously the intruders looked up the bank, and, at the foot of a standing hem- lock, saw a woman, with gray hair hanging loose over her ahoulders, who knelt by a recumbent figure. " Steve, dear brother," she continued, " do wake up I You used to be 80 good and sensible." Ooristine crept nearer behind some bashes till he was within a very short distance of the pair. With a white, sad face, trembling in every limb, he came back as silently to the minister, and whispered : "It's poor Nash, and she calls him brother ; Mr. Errol, he's » , ■■-if ^08 TWO KNAP8AORB. murdered, he's dead." The warm-hearted Errol, who had come oat to look after the det'^otive'u safety, at onoe became a hero. *' Bide yoa there, Ooristira," he said, " bide there till I call you." Then he arose and went to the spot, but the woman, though he was in full view, took no notice of him. He stooped and touohec! her. For a moment she shrank, then looked up and saw it was not the person she dreaded. " Matilda Nagle," whispered the minister, " we must get poor Steevie away from here." Then he saw that her intellect was gone ; no wonder that she was the mother of an idiot boy. "Oh, I am so ijlad you have come, Mr. Inglis," she cried, softly ; " won't you try and wake Stevy, perhaps he will mind you better than me." The minister brushed the tears from his eyesf and strove to keep the sobs out of his voice. " I have a friend here and will call him," he said, *' and we will carry Steevie away to the boat, and all go home together." So he called Ooristine, and they picked the dead man up, the dead man from whose smooth, girl-like face the disguise had been torn away, and bore him painfully but tenderly over the rough fallen timber safely to the other side, the woman following. Ben shivered, as he saw the strange procession come down the hill, but, like the Captain, he uttered neither word nor cry. The bearers propped the dead man up against the middle thwart with the face towards the bow, and then set the woman down beside the Captain, who said : " Come along, my dear, and we'll see you both safely home." The old man's honest face won the poor sister's confidence, as she took her seat beside him and left her Stevy to the care of the minister and Coristine. With all their might and main paddled the Captain and Ben. Joyfully, all the company saw stretch after stretch of the lake behind them, until, at last, they passed the fishermen and landed on the shore. The minister and the lawyer laid their coats upon the boards of the log shelter, and placed their burden upon them. " Let him sleep a bit," said Mr. Errol to the mad woman ; " let him sleep, and you help my friend to get a few flowers to take home with him." So Coristine took his candle-box from the floor of the punt, and, with his strange companion, gathered the skullcaps and loose-strifes and sundews that grew by the shore. She knew the flow- TWO KNAI'HACKS. 209 era and where to find them, and tilled the lawyer's impro- vised vasouluro alraoal to overtlowinjo; with many a now specimen. He only took them to humour her, for what cared he for all the flowera that bloom when death, and such a death, was but a few yards away. Ben Toner brought the tishers back with two good strings of fish ; but, when they heard the story, they threw them into the lake. Ben was a handy man. H*' cut down two stout poles, and with leather wood bark constructed a litter, light but strong. On this the sleeping detective was laid, and while Mr. Errol and the Captain stumbled through the ground hemlock on either side of the now cheerful mad woman, the other four carried their ghastly load, with scalding tears streaming from every eye. " S'haylp me," said Ben to the lawyer, *' ef I don't hunt the man as killed him till he dies or me." After a painful journey they reached the Richards' house, and Richards was at home. Mr. Perrowne told him all about it, and the brave fellow answered : — " Bring it in here, passon ; we've a place to put it in where it'll be safe till they send for it. J ain't scared, not I. You know my four boys in your club ; they've all got guns and can use 'em, and I've got mino to boot." So, they left the body there, and persuaded the sister to come with them on their six mile walk home. It was seven o'clock before they had accomplished half the journey, and had been met by the representatives of an anxious household, the Squire and his father-iu-law, the latter with rifie in hand, prepared for action. The first joy at beholding them safe and sound wor damped by the news they brought. As soon as Carruthers could recover himself he spoke to the weird woman and invited her to come and rest at Brides- dale. Then he hastened on ahead to warn his wife and sister, and make arrangements for the reception of the strange visitor. When the party arrived at the house they found a large company, young and old, assembled t^ meet them, for, in addition to the doctor and his daughter, there was Mrs. Du Plessis with her daughter on one side, and, in all its soldierly dignity, the tall form of Colonel Morton on the other. The lawyer also noticed the ebon counten- ance of Mr. Maguffin peering over the palings in the direc- tion of the stables. Matilda Nagle was hurried away to ^'\ _ h H t" .:.'.^«' ■'''-■ 4~; ,-, ', ■':■,:£ HHM S:,-Hv-i^' 210 TWO KNAPHACKS. Wf h\ I ' ,' the back of the houso by Mn. GarrutherB and her siiter- in-law, there to 6nd hor idiot boy, to partake of neceHsary food provided by the compasHionato Tryphena, and, for a time, altogether to forget the Had tragedy of thnday. Try- phona prepared tea for the truantH in the breakfast room, and, after the formalitips of introduction and reacquain- tance had been gone through, MiHNGarmiohael poured out tea for the five, while TryphoHa did the Bame for Ben in the kitchen. The Captain told how Mr. Errol and the lawyer braved the terrors of the harred-in lakes, which appalled the stent heart of big Ben Toner. The two heroes hastened to put all the credit on one another's shouldern, in w^ioh, so far as one person's estimation was concerned, the minister triumphed, for, through the tears that shimmered in her eyes, Ooriutine could see that the pre- siding goddess was proud of him, and, with all his simple- heartedness, he knew that such pride has it^ origin in possession. CHAPTER XI. Old Man Newoome's Escape, Arrest and Coii'veyanoe Home — The Colonel's Plan of Cnmpaign — He Takes Command — Maguffin's Capture by MessrH. Hill and Hislop — The KichardH' Aid EnliHted — Squire as Colonel, and Mr, Torry, Sergeant-Major— The Skirmish — Harding Murdered — Wilkinson and Errol Improvint? the Time— The Young Incendiary— Mr. Hill Crushes Maguffin. EVERYBODY grieved for the offtaking of the detective. In the front of the hoase, the Squire and the minister, who knew his history, were most affected ; in the back, Ben Toner was the corypheus of grief. An old man on a oouch in an adjoining room heard the news, and, little thinking that his deposition and confession were safe in the Squire's possession along with many other docnments, rejoiced thereat, and conceived a heroic project At first, he thought of enlisting the idiot boy, bat had to give up the idea ; for the boy was happy with those whom he knew, and obstinately refused to go near the old roprobate. Sylvanas no longer watched him ; he was basking in the smiles of Tryphena, and, at the same time, amusing Monty. There was a passage from the room he was in to the back of the main hallway, which led into the open air, TWO KNAPHAOIU. 211 independently of the nummnr kitchen. Hid ooat wan gone and iuH hat, both his hoots wer» n moved, and his wounded Ih^ wai bandaged, but he wns a tough old criminal, and a hare back rider from m boy. He slipped off the couch, uud helped hiniaelf along by the wall, thankful that his boots were off' and he could move quietly. Still, simple Bylvanus, taken in by the good old man who loved to have the Bible read to him, neglectf d his duty. Newcome gained th" hall, th« perch, the open air, and, at last, could hardly b'lieve his good luck ti tind himself in the stable unperceived. What a lot of horses were there with nobody to loc:i after them I He saw one thHt suited him, a handsome beast he had seen in Collingwood, the travel- ling powers of which be knew. To that stall he went, and braced himself against the pnrtition for a spring, after he had loosed the halter, and slipped on a bit and bridle, lie backed his steed out, turned in the passage way and made for the door. Another moment and he would be tree. No horse in the stable, even if saddled and bridled, would be able to overtake him^ once he was on the road. But, at the door he met an obstacle in the shape of a mountain of straw, that caused the horse to back. The desperate man dug his knees into the flanks of the beast, and urged it on. Down went the btraw mountain, and the luckless Timotheus beneath it, and Newcome rained a few exultant curses on him, as he forced his steed ; when a well-dressed negro sprang up from nowhere, and, seizing the rein nearest him, spoke to the intelligent animal, and backed it to one side. In a moment Timotheus wriggled himself unhurt out of the litter, and, by main force, pulled the escaped prisoner down ; while Mr. Maguffiin remarked that " boss thieves ain't pumculiah ter no paht of the habitatable yeth.'' Newcome squirmed and fought as well as he was able, but to no avail. Timotheus was simple and he was clumsy, but be was no weakling. Maguffin led the horse back into the stable, spread his Utter, and replaced the bridle on the wail. Then he oame out quite unruffled, and asked Timotheus it be would like him to use his new boots on the prisoner, to which that worthy replied with a grin : " I guess I've pooty nigh parlyzed his laigs to stop h>% wrastlin' tricks aready." Syivanus, in a lucid moment, : i i i. 212 TWO KNAPSACKS. remembered his charge, and found the bird bad flown. He came out to look for his Bible-loving friend, dreading the Captain'? wrath, and great was his relief when he found biro a viccim in the strong arms of bis brother, *' Here, Sylvanus, you hold him, so'n the Square'll think t'was you as cotched him," said the unselfiuii Timothens. So Sylvanus, nothing loath, seized the hypocrite, and Timotbeus went for the Squire, while Maguffin looked calmly on, occasionally glancing at his heavy -soled new boots, as if regretting that there was no immediate call for their services. The Squire was angry, for he had been kind to the old sinner ; but be saw thar the prisoner was an element of weakness in the house. What wan to hinder him escaping again, committing murder, setting the place on fire ? He called up Toner. " Ben," he said, *' how long would it take you to convey Newcomo to his home in a farm waggon with a good team ? " " Ef the teeum's smart, 1 guaiss an houer 'ud do," answered the prospective son-in-law of the victim. Accordingly a springlM^s waggon was produced, some straw thrown in, and Newcome securely bound with ropes, lying flat on his back, with his own coat and a sack or two put under bis head for a pil- low. "Timotbeus," continued Mr. Oarruthers, "you had better go with Ben. Take your guns, both of you, and bring them back as quick as you can." 09* started the ambulance, at first gently and humanely. When out of sight of the honse. Toner grinned at Timotbeua, and Timotbeus grinned back at Ben. " It can't be haylped, Timotbeus," remarked the latter in a low tone, " we're bound to git back airly, ef they's moer guyard mountin' to be did. So here goes, Serlizer or no Seriizer." The homes were pretty fresh, and they tore along, enjoying the fun, and answering with their heels to every playful flick of the whip. The road was rough and hilly ; the jolting almost threw the occupants of the box seat off the waggon that had no springs. Old man Newcome groaned, and implored Ben, for the sake of Serlizer, to go easy or leave him on the roadside to die. *'Ef you don't laike my teamin'," said Toner, in a simulated huff, " I'll quit. HerO; Timotbeus, you had ought to know them hosses better'n me." Timotbeus took the reins, and cried : " Ger- lang, we ain't no time ter lose ; rattle the brimstun an' TWO KNAPS A0K8. 213 merlasst'8 old malufacture over the stones, he's ony a firo'- bug as nobody owns." The delight of The Crew's brother in getting off this new and improved version of an aacicnt couplet made him reckless. He and Ben jumped into the air tike shnttlecocks, and seemed to liku it. " I heern say," remarked Toner, while moving momentarily sky- wards, " I heern tayll as this here joltin' beats all the piulls and pads as ever was made for the livyer." *' Yaas," cheerfully responded Timotheus, coming down with a sounding bump ; " myuns is like what the doctor out our way said to fayther wunst. Says be, 'Saul, your livyer's tawpidd.' So's myun, Ben ; it's most tarble taw- pidd. Gerlang, yer lazy, good fer nawthun brutes ; poor old man Newcome won't get home this blessed night, the way yer agoin'." The waggon reached the Newcome shanty. The old man was unbound and lifted out into his own bed. Strong as be was, he had fainted, which his charioteers were not sorry to see. " He's had an accident, Miss Newcome," Haid Ben to the man's wife ; "but he'll soon be all right." Fortunately, the doctor had done his duty well, and the shaking had failed to loosen the bandages over the wound. The drivers got into the waggon again and drove home more gently, exchanging a few words with each other ; one being : " Guaiss old man Newcome's out o' mischief fer one night." While Bridesdale was being delivered from tlie pre- sence of one unwelcome guest, the we come ones of the front were discussing with the Squire the programme for the night He had made out a warrant for the arrest of Rawdon, should he again have the hardihood to turn up, and otherwise proposed to repeat the guards of the night before. While the excursionists were at tea, the colonel and Mr. Terry had been walking about with an object in view that Colonel Morton was requested to favour the company with it, and proceeded to do so. " From what infohmation I have had fuhnished me by my fellow-soldieh, Mr. Tehhy, I pehsume you have pehmitted the attacking fohce to select its own basis of opehations, and have yohselves stood almost entihely on the defensive. With a small , and the latter gentleman informed his son-in-law "the cornel has a shplindid oiday in his moind." <, ;r": 214 TWO KNAPSACKS. fohoe, this is vehy often the only oouhse to puhsue. Bat, as I now undehstand from reeliable infohmation brought in, the enemy's fohce of seventeen is reduced by four, while that of the gahhison is augmented by three — the doctor, myself and my sehvant. Ah, no ; I fobgot yon have had one sad casualty, as my niece infohms me, in the fall of Hdr. Nash ; which leaves the strength of the gah- hison fohteen, as against thihteen of the assailants. My friend, Mr. Wilkinson, infohms me that a small detach- ment of five men, well ahmed, holds a foht some six miles in the dihection ot the enemy. Now, gentlemen of the council of wah, can we not obtain that this friendly out- post make a divahsion in conceht with the offensive paht of our ahmy ) Send a scout with instyuctions fob them to occupy the wood neah their foht, and, eitheh with blank or ball cahtyidge — as you, Qenehal Cahhuthers, may dihect — meet the enemy as ouah troops dyive them back, and thus pehvent them seeking the coveh of the trees agaxist u& This being done, send a scout, mounted if pobtiible, to gnahd against attack from the left ; post pistol sen- tinels round the buildings, and fohra the rest of the avail- able fohce into an attacking pahty occupying the strategic point examined by Mr. Tehhy and me : I allude to the plantation to the reah of the right wing. Just as soon as the enemy comes up to occupy that position, chahge them like bulldogs and drive them as fah as possible towabds the road, and at last bring them undeh the guns of our friendly foht. That, I think, is bettah than losing heaht by watching all night long and endangehing the safety of the ladies. Such, gentlemen, is my humble counsel.'' " Hark till him, now, jantlemen ; pay attintion till him, all av yeez,'' exclaimed Mr. Terry j " fer 'tis the wurrud av a sowldjer and an offisher." " Assume command. Colonel, if you please. We are all ready to obey orders," said the Squire. " Is that not the case, friends 1 " To this the whole company answered " Yes," and Col- onel Morton at once gave his commands. The garrison was paraded on the lawn, its armament strengthened by two rifles borrowed in the neighbourhood, of which the Squire carried one and the lawyer tb« other. The post office had been cleared out of its complete Btocb TWO KNAP8A0KS. 216 of powder a£ who mounted and patrolled poor Nash's beat, with a revolver handy ; while the veteran ran at a regular double to the far end of the strip of bush. " The Squiah had bettah take the field, as he knows the ground and I do not," said the colonel ; '* I will command the gabhison. I shall want the captain, the doctah, Mr. Wil- kinson and Mr. Ehhol — four. My deah sistah-in-law can shoot ; and so, I believe, can Miss Halbeht, so we are seven. " There's Wordsworth for you, Wilks, my boy," Ooris- tine remarked, nudging his right hand man. '* Oorry, my dear fellow, whatever induced you to take that gun 1 " answered the dominie, apprehensive for his friend's safety in the field. " It's no gun, Wilks ; it's a rifle. If I only get a sight at Qrinstuns, I'll commit justifiable homicide. Then I wish the Squire would punish me by sending me down here for thirty days." " The . gahhison will take three paces to the fyont ; quick, mahch ! " commanded the colonel." The four came out in pretty straggling order, and the two ladles named fell in beside them. " Now, Squiah, I leave yoah command of five men, which Mr. Pehhowne will soon augment to six, and Mr. Tehhy to seven, in yoah hands. If I have no fuhtheh need of a mounted patyol, my sehvant will join the gahhison." The colonel then left to post his sentries, which he did 80 judiciously that three were enough, namely, the doctor, the minister and the dominie. The ladies kept watch hy turns on the front of the house. Soon « voice was heard ^'-tt i^' m 216 TWO KNAPSACKS. at the gate calling for Colonel Morton. The colonel answered the summons in person. It was Maguffin dis- mounted, and behind him came two men, honest farmers apparently, one of whom led the coloured man's horse, while the other held his fowling piece at the port, ready for action in Maguffin's rear. " Maguffin," said the colonel, sternly, " oonsideh youh- self undeh ahhest, suh." " I doan need ter hab ter, sah ; that's jess wot I is this bressid minit." ** Good evening ! " said the two farmers, amiably, and the colonel returned the salutation. <* Good evening, g n- tlemen 1 but I feah you have m.tde a mistake in ahheating my sehvant." *' When a naygur on a fine beast gallops down on two quiet folk, and orders them to go back, disperse, and sur- rinder, and them coming to see after the safety of their children and friends, the only one thing to do, if you have your guus along, is to arrest the naygur." " Do I undehstand, Maguffin, that you ordehed these wohthy people to go back, dispehse, and suhhendah with- out any wahhantt" " And presinted his pistil, too," continued the tall man, who had already spoken, and who was the coloured man's guard. " Have you no answah, Maguffin f " I fought, Onnnell, I was ter patterole this heah road and repawt all the folkses I see on or ofifn it." " Yes, repoht to me, as youh officeh, suh." " Oh, I fought yoh meant to repawt em wif a revol- vah, sab." " I suppose, gentlemen, you will let my sehvant go, when I say I deplohe his foolish mistake, and apologize foh his insolence ) " " To be shure, sir," replied the guard ; ** give the man his horse, Annerew." Maguffin remounted, and, receiving more minute instructions from his master, returned to his patrol duty. " We're just coming in to help the Squire, and me to look after my childer, Tryphena and Tryphosa and Baby Rufus. When the Baby didn't come back this mornin', I said to his mother, * Persis ' says I, ' I must go and see tb« TWO KNAP8A0KS. 217 ) heah road ve the man bo// So here I am. My name is Hill, sir, Henry Cooke Hill, and this is my neighbour, and some day, perhaps, Rufus's father-in-law, Annerew Hislop " — then in an undertone — " a very dacent man, air, though a Seaayder." "^ Is that the case 1 " asked the colonel with eagerness, advancing towards Andrew. " Were yon on ouah side, sub, in the wabah 1 " " Naw, naw, snrr, I'm no sodjer, bat a humble maimber o' the pure gospel Secession kirk. As the fufty-fufth parryphrase says :— With heevenly wappons I have fooht The baittles o' the Lord.' (I Ah yes, pahdon me my mistake. Come in, gentle- men ; the Squiah will be happy to see you." Maguffin's captors entered^ were warmly greeted by their friends in hall and kitchen, partook of a hasty sup- per, and were ready for the engagement of the night. Perrowne, who i*as a good rider, soon made his appear- ance, reporting that the Richards were only too glad to make the desired repulse of the evil crew from their neighbourhood, and, as members formerly of a volunteer company, understood something of military tactics. The parson also reported that he had nearly fallen in with the advancing attacking force of, he should say, twf nty men j but, sighting them ahead, he advanced slowly until he saw them move solidly to his left into the fields, with the evi- dent intention of coming at the house through the strip of bush. The villains could not be far off. "Now, Squiah," said the colonel, " hasten, sub, to join Mr. Tehhy ; a few minutes make all the diffehence in case of an attack.'' The Squire had now nine men under his command, including his father-in-law, for Ben and Timotheus were safely back, having passed the formidable Maguffin. The toher six were Sylvanus and Rufus, Messrs. Hill, Hislop, Perrowne, and Coristine. All were armed with loaded guns and rifles ; the carbine and the blunderbuss remained to guard the house. Rapidly they reached the bush which hid them from view, and rejoiced the veteran's heart with their array. '- Now, grandfather," said Carrathers, "you most get us all into shape." ' f •S ' 1 218 TWO KNAPSA0K8. " Well now, we'll make belave this i« a bittillion, an' you're cornel, an' Oi'm Bargint-tnajor. It's ten ahtrong we are, an' there's three roifles an' two double barrels anyhow. You git in the rare, Oornel an' Mishter Coristine an' Mj^hter Farrowne an' Ben Toner ; the rist av yeez shtay where yees are, till I say ' Extind ! ' thin, tin paces apart for the front rank, an' tin for the rare rank ; but the rare alter- natin' wid the front. Whin Oi say, * Front rank I' that rank'll diliver it's foire, an' go on wid its loadin' behind a three, moind 1 an' so on wid the rare. By the powers, here the varmints come. Shtiddy min, lishteik till me an' be quoiet — Extind I " There were some loudly beating hearts at that moment, for the enemy was in force, and partly armed with guns of some sort. Instead of advancing across the fields, as the defenders had hoped, they descended to the creek, in order to find cover from the bushes on its bank, until they reached the piece of wood. The . eteran, telling his com- mand to preserve its formation, wheeled it to the right, and ordered perfect silence. Leaving his rifle at his post, he slipped from tree to tree like a cat, having thrown off his shoes for the purpose. When he returned, the enemy, moving almost as silently, had entered the bush, but, anticipating no sentry at that point, had sought no cover. " Shtiddy, now min," whispered the sarjint-major ; '* take good aim. Front Bank, Biddy ! " Five guns rolled out a challenge to the invaders, and, before they had time to seek cover, came, " Bare Bank, Biddy," and his own rifle led the other four weapons of the second line. '* Are yeez loaded, front an' rare t " asked the ancient warrior ; and, satisfied that all were, he put himself in the front and ordered a charge to outflank the enemy and binder them getting away among the bushes. All perceived his inten- tions, except, perhaps, the two Pilgrims and Toner, who, however, were borne along by the rest. Dashing through the creek, part of the force volleyed the miscreants from there, and drove them into the open, while the remaining part kept them from seeking refuge in the bush. The Squire's men had the shelter of the brook alders and wil- lows, now, and, led by Mr. Terry, in single file, at a rate almost as rapid as that of Bawdon's retreat, faced now and again to the left to fire, and loaded as they ran. At last TWO KNAPSAOKB. 319 the shelter ceased, and all were in the open, both pursued and pursuers. " Kape it up/' cried the indomitable veteran ; " don't give the mnrtherin' blagyards a minit's rr^aht ! " Up, up the hill, they chased the said black- guards, until they reached the road. Within the skirting rail fences the Squire kept his men, faint but pursuing, »ind firing an occasional shot to lend the speed of terror to the miscreants' heels. In an hour from the beginning of the pursuit, the hunted Rawdonites were at the wild lands on the lakes, and prepared to enter the forest and make a stand or hide ; when Oarruthers cried : " Down flat on your faces every man," and five reports from in front rang through the air. The Richards were on guard, but either Perrowne had forgotten to tell them about blank cartridge, or they did not think proper to obey the order. " Gome on a bit farther, lads, till we find where these villains uum in," cried the Squire. In another minute the victors com- bined with the Richards' party, and chased the thoroughly demoralized Rawdonites, whose guns and pouches strewed the ground, to a desolate rocky spot beside a swamp, where felled trees lay ir indescribable confusion, over which the fugitives scrambled in desperate haste for home. The lawyer caught sight o! a figure that he knew, far up the rocky slope, preparing to leap down from a prostrate trunk resting on three or four others, and aimed his rifle at it. The Squire threw up the weapon just in the nick of time. " It's ower gude a death for the likes o' him, Ooris- tine. Gie him time to repent, an' let the law tak' its course. The cunning scoundrel ! Even at the risk o' 's life he wadna let us ken whaur his waggon road is, but I've a thocht, man, that it's yonner whaur the rook rises cot o' the swamp." Then the good Squire took off his hat, and thanked God for the defeat of the evil doers. Light though the night was, to continue the pursuit would have been the height of folly. The force was mus- tered and inspected by the so-called Colonel Oarruthers, and the Sergeant- Major Terry. Including themselves, it was found to consist of no fewer than seventeen persons, one of whom was a woman, and the other a lad of about fifteen years of age, Matilda Nagle and her boy Monty. " I will show you where the road is," she said to the Squire ; " it is hard to find« but I know it. When Stevy tried to 220 TWO KNAPSACKS. find it, Harding and he put him to sleep, so that I oooldn t wake him up. Harding is asleep now too ; I put him, ami Monty helped, didn't you, Monty t " Oarruthers looked, and saw that the woman's rigln hand and that of the idiot boy were alike stained witli blood. All his own men were safe and sound, not a scratch on any one of them. The veteran's rapid tacticn had given the enemy hardly an opportunity to return the fire, and had destroyed their aim from the very beginning. All honour to the sergeant-major 1 All had behaved well. Father Hill and his friend Hislop felt like boys ; and while the Sesayder took a fatherly interest in Rufus, the parent of Tryphena and Tryphosa was pleased with the bearing of the Pilgrims. Ben Toner's conscience was a littlo troubled about his treatment of old man Newcome, but he also had a feeling that he was getting nearer to Serlizer. The veteran and Mr. Perrowne were filled with mutual admiration ; and Coristine felt that that night's work had brought to his suit, as an ordinary year's acquaintance could not have done, the vote and influence of the Squire. The victors gathered up the spoils of the vanquished, and, by a unanimous vote, handed them over to the grateful Richards, whom Oarruthers and Perrowne warmly thanked for their timely aid. " It's about time, Squire, we crushed them fellows out," said father Richards, to which the Squire replied : " If you and your sons are ready, we'll do it to-morrow as soon as the inquest is over." " Boys," asked Richards, " are you fit for a man hunt to-morrer t " " Fitter'n a fiddle," answered the boys ; " then we can go fishin' where we durn please." They bade their allies good bye, carrying their spoil with them, and twelve persons set out for a six-mile tramp homa " Yeez can march at aise, march aisy, boys," ordered the veteran ; and the party broke up in«o groups. The woman clung to the Squire, and the boy to Sylvanns, who had made whittled trifles to amuse him. Mr. Hill culti- vated Timotheus, and formed a high opinion of him. Rufus, of course, addicted himself to his future father-in- law, the Sesayder. , Mr. Terry thought it his duty to hold oat high hopes to Ben in regard to the rescue of Serlicer ; TWO KNAPSACKS. 921 len we can and Perrowne and the lawyer jonrneyed along like bro thera. There waa a light in the post office, and he post- miatress at the door asked if the doctor bad gone home yet, foi two wounded men had sought shelter ^'ith her, and told her that one named Harding was lying do ^n the bill near by. The Squire promised to bring the doctor to the wounded, and asked his fatber-in-law and Goristine, as if they were bis nearest friends, to go down and see if they could find the wounded Harding. They went down and found him, but he was dead, with two of the Bridesdale kitchen-knives planted in his heart. In part, at least, the murder of Nash was avenged. They picked the slain ftHsassin up and carried him to the road, where the post office stood, tend deposited the body in an outbuilding to await the verdict of the morning. Meanwhile, the dominie was happy; his rival, the parson, his tormentor, the lawyer, were away, and even that well-moaning Ooth, the tired Captain, was asleep in the guard-room, opposite a half-empty glass of the bever- age in which he indulged so rarely, but which he must have good. The doctor's lively daughter had left Mrs. Du Plessis to guard the front of the house, and was talk- ing to her father on his beat, and he had a suspicion that Mrs. Carmichael was wrapping that cloud again round the miniHter's neck. When the battle commenced below, the colonel was everywhere, directing Maguffin, inspecting the posts, guarding on all sides against the possibility of the enemy's attack being a mere feint. All unknown to the rest of the company, Miss Carmichael was up in the glass- enclosed observatory at the top of the house, without a light, watching the movtments of the hostile ranks beyond the bush, and inwardly praying for the Buccess of the righteous cause and for the safety of those she loved. Of course her uncle John was among them, and the simple- hearted old grandfather of her young cousins, and even, in a way, Mr. Perrowne, who had behaved bravely, but there was a tall, unolerical form, which Mr. Terry and the Squire had difficulty in keeping np with, that her eye fol- lowed more closely. Every report of the lawyer's rifle fieemed to press a warm spot on her maiden cheek, and then make the qaicir blood suflfase her face, as she thought of the morning and Mr. Wilkinson. That gentleman waa pi ' 222 TWO KNAPSACKS. happy on gaard at the top of the hill meadow, for a tall female 6gure, mufflHd ap slightly aa a preventive to chill from the night dewa, came down the path towards his post, eager for news from the Hcat of war. " Be oarefal, MIhh Du Fit ssia, I beg of yoo ! " implored the dominie ; " heavy firing is going on not far oflf, and a stray bullet might eaaily find its way hither. Permit me to conduct you to a place of safety." So he led her with grave courtesy within the gate, and placed her on a gar- den seat in front of two trees large of bole, and intercep- tiye of possible missiles. Of course, his own safety was a matter of no moment ; he went out of the gate and to the utmost limit cf his watch to gain, by eye and ear, tidings of the progress of the skirmish, which he returned every minute or two to report to the anxious young lady. Thus it was that, wlien che colonel came to inspect the posts, he found two sentinels at each, pertaining to different sexes. Beturning to his sister-in-law on the verandah, he explained to that lady the peculiar difficulty of his position. " Yon see, my deah sistah, that this is altogetheh contyahy to mililahy discipline, and I ought to ordeh all andeh ahhest, but, were I to do so, madam, where would my sentinels come from ? " Miss Du Plessis per- ceived the difficulty, as she handled the colonel's silver- mounted revolver, with an air of old practice ; and pro- ceeded to ask what her brother-in-law knew of the young gentleman who was furnishing Cecile with information of the fight Thereupon the colonel launched out into a panegyric of the dominie's noble qualities, imputing to him all that Coristine had done on his behalf, and a chivalrous Southern exaggeration of the school-master's learning and expressions of sympathy. " Marjorie appears to think more highly of the other pedestrian," remarked Mrs. Du Plessis, to which Col- onel Morton replied that Mr. Ooristine was indeed a handsome and excellent young man, bat lacked the cor- rect bearing and dignified courtesy of his friend, and, he should judge, was much his inferior in point of educa- tion. When the tide of battle rolled away to the right, altogether out of sight and almost out of hearing, the doable sentries were still at their posts, no doubt con- TWO KNAPSACKS. ns versing with all propriety, but of what, they only indi- vidually knew. Even MisH Halbert did not confide to others the subHtanoe of a favourable oriticiam on Mr. Ferrowne to which she treated her worthy father. It was between one and t'vo in the morning when the viotorions array returned, and was received with open arms, literally in the case of the Squire and the veteran, and of Mr. Hill and Rufus in tho kitchen, metaphorically in that of the remainini; combatants. Mr. Oarruthers released the doctor, and took him to visit the wounded at the post office. The miniHter and the dominie were also relieved, and Mr. Hill and the Sesayder, at their own request, put in their vacant places ; while Maguffin dis- mounted, and, being armed with a gun and set in the doctor's post, constituted a guardian trio with his late captors. Of course, the warriors and past sentries had to eat and drink in guardroom and kitchen, thn latter apartment being more hilarious than it would have been had the seniors on duty formed part of itH company. There was no old Bourbon for the colonel, but he managed to find a fair substitute for it, and informed Ooristine, in answer to that gentleman's enquiry, how he happened to arrive so speedily at Bridesdale. " It was Satnhday, suh, when my sehvant and I ahhived in Tohonto, and I mwt my doah aisteh in-law. At once, I sent Maguffi'i back by rail with the hohaes to Oollingwood, giving them Sunday to reooveh from the effects of the jouhney, tyavel by rail being vehy hahd on hohses. This inohning, or, ratheh I should say yestehday mohning, Madame Du Plessia and I went to Collingwood by rail, where my sehvant had secuhed her two places in the mail caht, and I had the honouh of escohting her to this pleasant place, and of beholding my chahming niece for the fihst time. I was indeed vehy fohtanate in ahhiving when I did, to be able to contribute a little to the secuhity of Bridesdale.*' " Yon are doubtless aware, Colonel, that our enemies of to-night are in unlawful possession of Miss Du Plessia' property f " " Suh, you astonish me. As her natnhal gnahdian, I cannot, though in a foheign land, allow that foh a day, Buh." 2U TWO K.UPBACKS. € "Wo think, at least Squire Oarrutheni thinks, of attacking them in force, after the double inquest to-mor- row." '* Then, Mr. Oohiatine, I shall claim the privilege of joining yoah fohce as a voluntneh. I wish the ground were fit foh cavalhy manoeuvebs, sub." " We may need a few mounted men, as we hope to discover a masked road." " That is vehy intebesting, sub. Will yon kindly explain to me the ohabacteh of the ground t " The lawyer told all that he knew of the region, from hearsay and from personal experience. The supposed masked road, the actual rocky ascent covered with felled timber, an abatis, as the colonel called it, the access by water, and the portcullis at the narrows, were objects of great interest to the old soldier. He enquired as to the extent of the means of transportation, the probable num- bers of the available force, and other particulars ; and, when the weary Squire returned and bade all good people go to rest, if they could not sleep, in view of past wake- fulness and the morrow's work, he begged, as a perfectly fresh man, to be excused and left in command of the gnard, adding : " I shall study out a thyeefold convehging attack on the enemy's position, by wateh and by land, with cavalhy, infantry and mahines." The guard-room company joined in a laugh at the military joke, after which they dispersed, with the exception of the Oaptain, whom it was a pity to disturb, and Oarruthers, who lay down upon a sofa, while the colonel went out to inspect his posts. The pedestrians occupied a laree, double-bedded room at the right corner of the house, above the verandah. The dominie was sleeping peacefully, but the lawyer had not pven removed his clothes, with the exception of his boots, if they may be so called, as he lay down upon hie bed to rest, with a window half open in front of him. Precisely at the moment when, the night before, he had discovered the incipient conflagration, there came to his nostrils the smell of nnotuous fire. Pocketing his loaded revolver, he stepped out of the window on to the sloping verandah roof, off which, in spite of his efforts, he slid heavily to the ground. At once he was seized with no gentle hands by TWO KNAP8ACK8. 225 ftt leMt three porBona, who turned oat to be Mr. Hill, the colonel, and Maguffin. " Catoh that hoy," hn cried, as goon as they perceived their mistake, referring to a juven- 11(4 figure that he had seen slipping hack towards the meadow. Sentry Hislop would probably have caught him, bat there waH no necessity. The idiot V)oy was in the arniR of his wakeful mother, who, thinking he was going to ilawdon'H quarters, as he probably was, intercepted him, Haying : '* Not back there, Monty, no, no, never again 1 " So deeply had his unnatural father, with brutal threats, impressed the lesson of incendiarism upon the lai! that, all mechanically, he had repeated the attempt of the previous night. Fortunately for Coristine's hands, there was a garden rake at hand to draw out from under the verandah two kitchen towels, well steeped in coal oil, the fiercs flame from which had already charred three or four planks of the floor. Two pails of water relieved all apprehen- sions ; but the Squire awoke Sylvanus and ordered him to take Monty into his room, and, with his companions, be renponsible for bis safe keeping. Then, turning to the lawyer, and laying a friendly hand on his shoulder, he said : " If ye canna sleep, ye had better come in and tak' the Captain's chair ; he's awa til 's bed, pnir man." So Coristine entered the porch, and, as he did so, h^ard a voice above say : " No, Cecile, it is not your hero ; it is mine again." " What are thae lassies gabbin' aboot at this time o' nichi t " said the Squire, harder of bearing. *' Gang awa to the land o' Nod, and dinna spoil your beauty sleep, young leddies." The apostrophized damsels laughed lightly, whispered a few more conOdencen, and then relapsed into silence. John Carruthera had a high opinion of bis niece, and said some very nice things about her, but, 80 far short did they fall of the lawyer's standard of appre- ciation, that he regarded them almost as desecrations. Still, it was very pleasant to be on such friendly terms with the Squire of the neighbourhood, the master of hos- pitable Bridesdale; and Miss Oarmichael's ancle. "A splendid honest fellow," he said to himself, "as good every bit as Wilks' foreign aristocracy ! " From time to time the colonel looked in upon the pair, and remarked that the contents of the Squire's decanter pleased him as well as Bourbon or Monongahela. *'.'■ !il« 226 TWO RNAP8A0K8. When daylight came, the weary sentries were dig. missed to the kitchen, where, under Tryphena's direction, the insane woman took much pleasure in providing for their creature comforts. The restraints upon Mr. Maguf- fin's eloquence being removed, it flowed in a grandiloquent stream. " Lave the cratur to me, Annerew," whispered Mr. Hill ; "lave the nagur to me, and if I don't flummix and flabbergast his oonsayted voccabuelary, I was never a tayoher." Then, turning to the coloured gentleman, he remarked in an incidental sort of way : " Were you ever in the company of deipnosophists before, Mr. Magoffin, deipnosophists mind 1 enjoyin' a gastromioal repast ) " Mr. Maguffin's eyes expanded, and his jaw dropped. " Yoh'u got the devantidge ob yoh 'umble sarvant, Mistah Hill." '* It's not possible that a gentleman of your larnin' in ignorant of such simple, aisy polysyllables as them t" 'Tse afeard yoh's got me this time, sah." " lb stands to raison that there's limits to everybody's voccabuelary, onless it's a great scholard like Mr. Wilkin- son J but I thought, perhaps, it was for a school taycher you would be settin' up 1 " " Oh my I no, Mistah Hill, my edurecation was pas- simoniously insurficient. Most all my bettah class lan- guage I'se acquied fom olugynien ob de Baktis pussuasion." " And they never tayohed ye deipnosophist nor gas- tromioal 1 " " No, sah, they didn't, I'se humblerated ter confess." The old iachoolmaater looked at Mr. Hisiop with a serious expression of mingled incredulity and commiser- ation, saying: *'Suoh ignerance, Annerew, such igner- ance ! " ; and somehow Mr. Maguf6n did not see his way to gathering up the broken threads of conversation. Jiuiotheus was despatched by the Squire to summon a brother J. P., and the township constable, in order that immediate action against known criminal parties might be taken, as well as to notify the farmers adjacent that they were expected to sit in a coroner's jury. Having made all necessary legal arrangements, the Squire returned to the colonel, who, from a memorandum before him, sketched the pli»n of campaign. He proposed to put the five Richards as marines under the command of the Captain TWO KNAP8A0K8. 227 to break down the grating between the third and fourth lakes, and panh on to attack the enemy from that side. He wanted four mounttd men armed with revolvers, and with stout Htioks in lieu of swords, fearless horsemen whom he could lead through swamp or over obstacles to hold the masked road. Thf' remaining body under the Squire, he thought, might follow the track of the fugitives of the night, and constitute the main b«8ieging force. As to those who should perform the respective duties, apart from the persons named, the Squire suggested waiting till the mqnests— which would bring some additions to the ocal population—were over. He hoped much from his fellow justice of the peace, Mr. Walker. Tom Rigby, an old pensioner, and the township constable, would probably have his hands full looking after the prisoners. Fortun- ately, the post office store of ammunition was not yet exhausted, to say nothing of that contained in various flasks and shot belts, and in the shape of car fridges. The colonel, apropos of warlike weapons, bemoaned the absence of bayonets, and warmly advocated a proposition of the lawyer s, that each combatant should carry, slung over the Hhoulder or in such way as not to interfere with the hand- ling of his gun, a strong stick like those proposed by the commander-in-chief for his cavalry. Toner and Ruf us were immediately roused from their slumbers, and sent to cut the requisite bludgeons, and drill them with holes to pa^s a cord through. Shortly after they had departed on their errand, the household awoke to life and activity, and, through casually opened doors, there came the gratifying odours of breakfast in preparation. '■..$■ r. . ., .-M-c 228 TWO KNAPbACKS. CHAPTER XII. Mr Bangs Accredits Himself— Silences Squire Walker— Oonatable ■ Ricby in the Kitchen— The Inquests -Arrests, and Mr. Newberry —The Beaver River Contingent— Mr. Bangs and the Squire Con- sult— The Army Prepares— Wilkinson's Heroics- Mr. Biggie- thorpe on fishing. WHEN Timotheus returned, he was not alone; a slightly built man of medium stature, and rather flashily attired, rode beside him. The Squire strode to the gate, to learn that the younger Pilgrim had accomplished his various missions successfully, and to be presented by him, in his usual clumsy way, to Mr. Bengs, a friend of Mr. Nash as was. " Yore men is right. Squire j my neme is Bengs, Hickey Bengs, end pore Nesh sent for me to kem end help ferret out a geng of dem excise slopers, end here I find my pore friend merdered. I tell you, Squire, it's too dem bed, O, too dem bed ! " The Squire felt he must be cautious these times, but that did not hinder him being hospitable. " Come in, Mr. Bengs, and breakfast with us. My man will put your horse up. I have Nash's papers in my possession from his own hand, and, if I find they confirm your story, we will all be glad to take you into our confidence. You, of all men, understand the necessity for caution, and will, I hope, not take my precaution amiss." " Lud, no. Squire ; yo're pretty shore to find let- ters frem me ameng pore Nesh's papers, or some uiemor- enr i about me. H. B., you know, Hickey Bengs." Timotheus led the new detective's horse away, and the gentleman himself entered the house and oflBce with the Squire. " Coristine." said the latter, familiarly addressing the lawyer, " would you mind looking up Errol quietly and sending him here 1" . , .,, ,, Of course he didn't mind, and soon returned with the minister. Both noticed that the Squire had two loaded pistols on the table bef«r« him, the stranger being on the other side. "You can remain, Coristine. I must mtro- duce vou, and the Reverend Mr. Errol, my fellow trustee TWO KNAPSAOKS. 22d in the matter of these papers, to Mr. Bengs. Mr. Ooristine is in the law, Mr. Bengs." The dapper gentleman with the red tie and large scarf pin bowed amiably to the two witneHses of the interview, and Mr. Oarruthers, with the minister by his side, pro- ceeded to examine the papers. " Here it is," he said, after a few minutes of painful silence, " but what in aa the warld's the raeanin' o't? B. R— B. T.— R. C. P. The date is Saturday night." " I think I know," interrupted the lawyer. " How will this do : Beaver River, Ben Toner, Roman Cathol >- Priest t" " The very thing 1 Well, here's Sabbath. Prom, cum 8. W. L. 0. sup. eq." Ooristine had written the words > down to study them. At last he said : " It's a mixture of French, Latin, and English abbreviations ; Promenade or walk with School- master Wilkinson, Lawyer Ooristine on the horse." " Eh, man I " ejaculated the pleased 8qa Toner had seen the deceased in company with one N^wcome, and had heard him addressed as Harding. The coroner testified to having examined the body, which exhibited no shot wound of any kind, but the forehead was badly bruised, evidently by a stone, as gritty particles were to be seen adhering to it, and two table knives were still resting in the neighbourhood of the heart. The jury examined the corpse, and, led by the foreman under guard of the constable, went out across the road and over the fence into the field where Mr. Terry and Coristine found the dead Harding lying. The place was well marked by the beaten down grass, blood stains on a large boulder and on the ground, and by the finding of a loaded revolver. Carefully examining the spot, the detective pointed out, at last, the very root, not more than three quarters of an inch thick, which formed a loop on the surface of the ground, in which the unfortunate man's foot had caught, precipitating him upon the stone. Every member of the jury having examined it, Mr. Bangs took out his knife and cut it away in order to prevent similar accidents in future. The coroner did not think the blow sufficient to kill the man, though it must have rendered him insen- sible. The killing was done by means of the knives. These were identified by the Squire and Timotheus as belonging to the Bridesdale kitchen. There was neither time nor necessity for prolonging the examination. Matilda Nagle and her son Monty, wiih much satisfac- tion, confessed that they had followed the Bridesdale force and bad seen the man fall, that she had turned him over on his back and struck him to the heart with the knife she carried, which she left there, because she had no fur- ther need for it. H^r son had followed her example. The jury retired, or rather the court retired from the I i ^w^\ : 238 TWO RNAPSACKB. ' 11 't - U 'l jury, and, when Squire Walker called the coroner in again, he read the second verdict, to the effect that the dece«H«d Harding, while in a state of insenBibility owing to a fall, had been raurdored by one Matilda Nagle with a table knife, and that her son, coumonly known as Monty, wan accessory to the deed. The double inquest was over, and the bodies were transferred to coarse wooden shells, that of Nagle being claimed by his fellow detectire, and Hard- ing's being left for a time unburied in case some claimant should appear. The magistrates, and ^r. Bangs as clerk, now sat in close session for a little over half an hour, inasmuch as they had already come to certain conclusions in the office at Bridesdale. One result of their conference was the arrest of the madwoman and her son, much to the regret of the Squire, Mr. Errol, and many more. Rigby was ordered to treat them kindly, and convey them, with a written order signed by the three justices, to the nearest town, there to hand them over to the police authorities to be forwarded to their appropriate lunatic asylum. Old Mr. Newberry, whom the case had very much affected, volunteered to accompany the criminals, as he had to go to town at any rate, and offered to drive them and the constable there, and take his wife as company for the insane Matilda. Accordingly, he brought round the wag- gon in which he had driven up, and took the constable and his prisoners away towards his own house, which was on the road to their destination. The Squire and hia battalion were much relieved to find that they were not responsible for Harding's death, although the fact reflected on their aim ai sharpshooters. The f.wo wounded men were informed that a magistrates' - rt was sitting, but evinced no anxiety to lodge a co:i^pitklut against any person or persons in connection with their injuries. The coroner paid Messrs. Johnson and Pawkins their fee as jurymen, and, with the Squire's permission, invited them to dine at Bridesdale ; but they declined the invitation with thanks, and returned, in company, to the bosom of their families. The lawyer, filled with military zeal as a recruiting officer, seeing that the new Beaver River contingent was armed, asked Carruthers if he had room for them. " The mair the merrier," answered the Squire, and bade TWO KNAFMACKH. 239 bini invite them. So Coristine invited the three to dinner, and to hf'lp in the support of the justices in the afternoon. Barney Sullivan said he wasn't going to leave Ben. Mr. Bigglethorpe, as a fisherman, had always wanted to see thoHe lakes, and, if it would help the cause of good fishing, he was ready to lend a hand to drive out poachers and pot- hunters. Pierre doubted how Madame would take his absence ; of course there was Bawtiste, but, well yes, for the sake of the poor dead M'syao Nash and Meestare Veel< keenson, he would stay. Que dommage, Meestare Bulky was not there, a man so intelligent, so clever, so subtle of mind 1 Mr. Bigglethorpe was introduced to the drawing- room, but Pierre, though invited, would not enter its sacred precincts. He accompanied Barney to the kitchen, lind was introduced by Ben to the assembled company. His politeness carried the servants' quarters by storm, and wreathed the faces of Tryphena and Tryphosa in perpetual smiles. Mr. Hill and the Sesayder succumbed to his genial influence, and even the disheartened Maguffin, though deploring his poor £n{{li}ating, undoubtedly, the way to the abode of Serlizer and I he Select Encampment generally. In the memoranda of Nash's note-book the detective found a late entry F. a). H. inf. sub pot. prom, monst. via R, and drew the Squire's attention to it. " Look here. Squire, et our dog Letin again ; F. perheps Foster alias H, Herding, informer, under my power (that's through some crime entered in this book), premises to show the way to Rawdon's. This premise was made last Tuesday, at Derham, a whole week ago." •* Why is Harding called an informer t" " Because he belengs to an infamous cless raised up by our iniquitons kestoms administration. These informers get no selery, bet are reworded witu a share of the spoil they bring to the deportment. Sem times they accuse honest men, and ectually hev been known to get them con- victed falsely. Semtimes they take bribes from the great- est scoundrels, and protect them in their villainy. Nesh thought he hed this fellew safe by the law of fear ; bet fear and envy and the dread of losing Rawdon's bribes, combined in his treacherous heart to make a merderer of him." •* But Nash couldn't have written that; letter last week. He knew £)othing of his sister's whereabouts till yester Jay morning." TWO RNAPSAOKB. 241 " Exectly ; see here is the nowte, a sheet ont of this very book fowlded ap. End it says : ' Meet me at wence, not later than noon, outside the barred chennel. You say he followed Ruwdon from the powst office ; then, at sem point behind Rawdon, this Herding must hev terned ep, end, O dem the brate if he is dead ! hev cheated the cleverest fellow in the service." " But why should he have killed him 1 Why not leave that to Rawdon t " " Rawdo: 's kenning and deep. When he knew it wes Nesh, he got a fright himaelf end then frightened Herding into doing it. Til bet you whet you like, thet revolver found with his body is the kelibre of the bellet wound in pore Nash's head. I'll look when I go ep this efteruoon. His trick was to lay it all on Herding ; I shouldn't wender if he towld thet med woman to kill him. It's jest like him, dem the brute ! " In order that due preparations, in the shape of accoutrements, might be made, and after dinner delay avoided, the Squire and the colonel assembled the forces. Including the absent Richards family, the upholders and vindicators of the law numbered twenty-six. The Captain had already signified to Richards senior his willingness to take cpmmand of the scow and its complement of five men, armed with guns, and with axes for cutting away the bar- rier at the narrows. There was much romance about this side of the campaign, so that volunteers could have been got for marine service to any extent ; but the means of transportation were limited, and even that able-bodied sea- man Sylvanus had to be enrolled among the landsmen. Happily Tom Rigby was not there to see him descend once more to the level of military life. The colonel, rejoicing in Newcome's chart of the marked road, called for cavalry volunteers. Squire Walker, Mr. Bangs and Maguffin, hav- ing their horses with them, naturally responded. It then came to a toss-up between Mr. Ferrowne and Coristine ; the parson won, and the disappointed lawyer was relegated to the flat feet. As the doctor had been major in a volunteer regiment, the Squire ceded the command of the infantry to him. It was proposed to have at least one man behind as a home guard, but nobody was prepared to volunteer for this service, Messrs. Errol, Wilkinson, 242 TWO KNAP8A0K8. J i and Lajeunesse, who were severally proposed, expressing their sense of the honour, their high regard for the ladies, and anxiety for their well-being, but emphatically declin- ing to be absent from the common post of duty and danger. Miss Halbert voiced the opinion of the fair sex that, being eight in number, including the maids, they were quite able to defend themselves. Nevertheless, the Squire inwardly determined to send old Styles, fje post office factotum, back with Miss Du Flessis. The main attacking force of infantry consisted of Doctor Halbert, in command, sergeants Carruthers and Terry and their two squads, the first comprising privates Errol, Wilkinson, Ooristine, Bigglethorpe, Lajeunease, and Hill ; the second, privates Hislop, Toner, Sullivan, Hill junior, and the two Pilgrims. Then, arms were inspected, and the twenty bludgeons dealt out, five for the cavalry, and fifteen for the infantry. Most of these had attachments of stout common string, but those of the three command- ers, the Squire, the two clergymen, and the two pedes- trians, were secured with red window cord, a mark of preference which rejoiced the hearts of three of them, namely, the younger men. With doubtful hands the dominie received his gun, and the minister more boldly grasped a similar weapon. At the request of the colonel the cavalry were served with a hasty luncheon, and thereafter set forward, with the exception of the detec- tive. Miss Du Plessis' escort, to patrol the road and open communication with the Kichards for the purpose of intercepting the enemy's possible scouts. Two waggons were ordered to take the infantry to the lake settlement, so that they might be fresh for the work before them. In his martial accoutrements, the dominie's soul was stirred within him. He repeated to his bosom friend pieces from Korner's Leyer und Schwert, but as the law- yer's acquaintance with the Teutonic tongues was limited, including saiter kraut, lager bier, nix kum arau8, donner- wetter, and similar choice expressions, he failed to make an impression. Nobody in the house knew German, unless it were Tryphena and Tryphosa, who had picked up a little from their mother, and, of course, he could hardly lie in wait to get off his warlike quotations on them. Ha 1 he remembered Wordsworth, and roiled forth : — TWO ENAP8A0K8. 243 ''Vanguard of liberty, ye men of Kent I They from their fields can see the countenance Of your fierce war, may ken the glittering lance, And hear you shouting forth your brave intent." Still failing to awake a responsive echo in the heart that once beat in poetic unison with his own, he turned to Mrs. Da Plessis, and, alluding to the departed colonel, recited in her native tongue : — '* IJonor al Gaudillo, Honor al primero, Que el patriota acero .'1'.' Oso fulrainar. , > La Patria afligida Oyo' SU9 acentos, X vio' sua tormentos, / •- ' En gozo tomar." "That is very pretty, Mr. Wilkinson, and I thank you much for recalling the pleasant memoriei> of my early speech. Is there not an English translation of these words 1" is, Mrs. Du Plessis, by Sir John Bowring. "There It is : — Hail, hail to the Chieftain, < • All honour to him Who first in the gleam Of that light bared the sword I The drooping land heard him, Forgetting her fears : And smiled through tier tears, As she hung on his word." The dominie had thought only to give expression to the poetic fervour called forth by the circumstances, but accomplished a good deal more, the establishment of a common ground between himself and the nearest relative of a v('ry charming and cultivated young lady.' The said yoang lady came up to join in the conversation, and request Mr. Wilkinson to repeat all that he knew of the battle hymn. The lawyer was secretly of the opinion that bib friend was making an ass of himself, and that, if he were to try that poetry quoting business on Miss Car- Q)ichael, he would soon discover that such was the case. Yet, if the Du Plessis liked that sort of thing, he had no right to interfere. He remembered that he had once been )U8t such an ass himself, and wondered how he could have 80 far strayed from the path of common scrse. It was 244 TWO KNAPSACKS. worse than Tryphosa and Timotheus sitting down to sing with a hymn-book between them. " What are you doing out in the garden all by yourself, Eugene)" asked a small voice. He looked down and saw Marjorie fingering the barrel of his rifle. *• Don't you know," she continued, " that all the people have gone in to dinner?" " Did the gong sound, Marjoris ? " " To be sure it did. Tell me, what were you thinking about not to hear iti" " I was thinking about a dear little girl called Mar- jorie," answered the prevaricating lawyer, picking the child up and bestowing a hearty salute upon her lips. " You're a very good boy now, Eugene ; you get a clean shave every day. Do you go to Collingwood for it in the night time, when I am in bed 1 " " No, Marjorie ; I get the cat to lick my face," the untruthful man replied. " What 1 our pussy Felina that spits at Muggy f " " The very same." " Then I'll ask Tryphosa's father if he would like to have the loan of Felina. Don't you think she would do him good." Coristine laughed, as he thought of Mr. Hill's stubbly countenance, and carried " the darlin' " into the house. At the dinner table he found himself punished for his day dreaming. Bangs was on one side of Miss Oarmi- chael, and Bigglethorpe on the other, and he was out in the cold, between the latter gentleman and the minister. Mr. Bigglethorpe resumed tbe subject of fishing, and interrogated his righ<- hand neighbour as to his success at the River. He laughed over the so-called mullets, and expressed a fisherman's contempt for them as devourers of valuable spawn, relating also the fact that, in the spring, when they swarm up into shallow parts of the stream, the farmers shovel them out with large wooden scoops, and feed them to the pigs or fertilize the land with them. Finding he had more than one auditor, the fishing store- keeper questioned the Squire about the contents of his brook, and, learning that dace, chubs, and crayfish were its only occupants, promised to send Mrs. Garruthers a basket of trout when the season came round. In order to TWO KNAPS /kOKS. 240 give a classical turn to the conversation, the dominie ineD- tioned the name of Isaac Walton and referred to bia poor opinion of the chub in the river Lea. " I know the Loa like a book," said Mr. Bigglethorpe, " and a dirty, muddy ditch it has got to be since old Isaac's time. When I was a schoolboy I went there fishing one afternoon with some companions, and caught not a single fish, hardly got a nibble. We were going home disappointed, when we saw a man at the reservoir above the river, near the Lea bridge, with some eels in a basket. They were queer-looking eels, but we bought them for sixpence, and one of our fellows, called Wickens, put them in his fishing can ; then we maide for home. Before we could get there we had to cross a pretty rough part of the Kingsland road. It was pretty dark, but, of course, the shops were all lit up and we sawr a lot of boys, comn)ion cads, coming our wy. Just in front of a public house they called out ' Boots, Boots ! fish, fish ! ' and out caime a stout lad of about eighteen to lead the gang. Three of us clubbed our rods over them, briking the top joints, of coursp, but Wickens wouldn't fall in with us. So Boots ran after him, followed by a crowd. When Wickens sawr he couldn't escype, he opened his can, took out an eel and slapp( d it over Boots' fyce. The beggar just yelled, * O, Lawr, water say kes ! ' and he ran, and Wickens after the crowd like mad, slash- ing 'em with the water snykes. O dear, O dear, I shall never forget those snykes to ray dying dy." *' Are there any water-snakea in our rivers in Canada? " enquired Mrs. Du Plessis. " Oh yes, ma'am," answered the fisherman, " I imagine those lykes we are going to visit this afternoon are pretty full of snykes. Mr. Bulky, whose nyme is known to Mr. Coristine, I'm sure, wears long waterproof boots for wyd ing in the Beaver River — " '' But, Mr. Bigglethorpe," asked the fair questioner, "how can one ride in a river?" " Excuse me, ma'am, I did not say riding, I said wyd- Ing, walking in the water. Mr. Bulky was wyding, one morning, with rod in hand, when, all of a sudden, he felt something on his leg. Looking down, he sawr a big black water-snyke coiled round hi^ boot, and jabbing awy at his leg. It hung on to him like a boa-constrictor, and It- 246 TWO KNAPSAOKB. gqaeezed his leg so tight that it gyve him a bad attack of gout. He had to get on shore and sawr it in two with his knife before the snyke would leave go. Fortunately, the brutes are not venomous, but that beggar's teeth scratched Mr. Bulky's boots up pretty badly, I must ay." When they rose from the table, Miss Carmichael went up to the lawyer and said : " Please forgive me for punish- ing myself between Mr. Bangs and Mr. Bigglothorpe. I sigh for good English." The lawyer answered, all unwit- tingly, of course, in his worst hr ogxxe : " Miss Carrmoikle, it's my frind Wilks I'll be aafther gitten' to shtarrt a noight school to tayche me to shpake Inglish in aal its pur- ity." To this there could be but one response : " Go away, yon shameful, shameless, bad man I " It pleased the law- yer better than a more elegant and complimentary remark CHAPTER XIII. Walk to the P. O. — Harding's Portrait — The Encampment Besieged— Wilkinson Wounded— Serlizer and Other Prisoners— No Under- ground Passage Found— Bangs and Guard Kemain — The Con- stable's New Prisoners — Wilkinson a Hero — The Constable and Maguffin— Cards. THERE was no room for twenty persons in two waggons, ^^ yet twenty proposed to go, seventeen to the seat of war, and three to the post-office. As those three were the young ladies of the house, all the warriors offered to sur- render their neats to them. They refused to accept any surrender, preferring to walk, whereupon Messrs. Errol, Wilkinson and Coristine thought an after-dinner walk the height of luxury. Mr. Bangs saw he was not wanted as a fellow pedestrian, and mounted his horse instead of having him trot behind a waggon. The vehicles, or at least one of them, received instructions to wait at the post-office for the three members of squad No. 1. The walk was strictly proper, Mr. Errol taking Miss Carmichael, the dominie Miss Halbert, and the lawyer Miss Du Plessis. ** What a goose you are, Mr. Wilkinson, " said his fair companion. " What a goose you are to leave Oecile, whose footsteps you fairly worship, and to come and walk with a girl for whose society you don't care a penny." TWO KNAPSACKS. 247 " I should care more for Mius Halbert's society if she did not say such unjustiBable things." " Cecile, " called the young lady, " I want to change escorts with you ; I like pleasant society." The dominie felt as if a big school-girl had declined to receive a reprimand from the principal, and coloured with vexation, but Miss Du Flessis calmly turned and said : " If Mr. Wilkinson is tired of you already, Fanny, I suppose I must send Mr. Coristine to comfort yon," whereat Mr. Errol and his companion exchanged a smile. " Did the villain shoot Wordsworth at you, Miss Hal- bert, or was it Hans Breitmann in the original, or a Spanish cantinella, or some such rubbish t If I was Miss Du PleRsis I'd wear a signboard over my ears, ' No poeti- cal rubbish shot here ; ' perhaps that might fix him. " " Cecile is sentimental : she dotes on poetry." "Pardon me for saying I don't, believe it. I offered to recite my original poem on the Qrinstun man to her, and she didn't seem to want to hear it." " How ungrateful and unsympathetic I Tou will favour me with it, will you not ? " " With the greatest pleasure in the world. You know it's awful balderdash, but here goes." The original poem was recited with appropriate ges- tures, intended to imitate the walk of the hero of the piece and his various features. The people in front turned their heads to look at the performance and take in the words. Not to laugh was almost an impossibility, bat the dominie succeeded in doing the impossible, and frowned heavily. He felt that his unworthy friend was bringing disgrace upon the causes of poetry and pedestri- anism. When her laughter subsided. Miss Halbert said : " There is one thing I want to ask you seriously, Mr. Coristine. " "Name it, " he answeVed, " even to the half of my fortune. " *' It is to look after papa, and see that he does not expose himself too much to danger. I asked Mr. Ferrowne too, but he is with the horsemen, you know." This last was said with a peculiarly arch smile, which con- vinced the lawyer that Ferrowne was in deeper than was generally suspected. The first thought that followed in Coristine's mind was what awful cheek he had been guilty of in following Perrowne's precedent in drop 248 TWO KNAPSACKS. the handkerchief. He managed, however, to asKure the lady that he would do his best , to watch over I he safely of her father and Sqaire Carruthers, the latter words being spoken loud enough for Miss Car- michael to bear. When the post-office was reached Mr. Bangs dismounted, was ready to receive the ladies; and the three escorts, shaking hands warmly with each of their fair companions, entered the remaining waggon and drove away, the buts of their firearms rattling on the floor, and the suspended bludgeons playfully flogging their shoulders. It was ghastly work propping up the dead murderer's shoulders in the shell, and placing a rest for his head. The jaw had been tied up, but the eyes would not close ; yet, staring though the face was, it was not a repulsive one. The ordinary observer could not read what Bangs saw there, greed and hypocrisy, envy, treachery, murder. While Miss Du Plessis went on calmly sketching, the other girls turned their heads away. No one oared to break the stillness by a word. The detective went oat and secured the services of Styles to accompany the ladies home, and remain at Bridesdale till the armed band returned. Then he went over to the shell in which the body of his brother detective lay, and, nobody looking at him, allowed himself the luxury of a fe^ tears, a silent tribute to the man he honoured. When the sketch was completed, he warmly thanked the artist, and told her that he never would have dreamt of proposing such a task, but for his desire to do justice to his dead friend, whom an informer named Flower had greatly injured in the depart- ment. The department had faith in his cleverness all along, but suspicions had been cast upon his honesty, which embittered his days, along with troubles that were then only known to hiflaself. Bangs was not a detective, but a man of warm, brotherly heart, as he told the tale of the outwardly always cheerful, but inwardly sore-hearted, Nash, cut ofi in the midst of his years and usefulness. Then old Styles appeared, and, with a salute, the detective mounted and rode away to join the forces in front, while the ladies journeyed homeward. Mr. Bangs soliloquized as he rode rapidly on. " Boys read detective stories, and think our life an enviable one. They TWO KNAPHA0K8. 249 dowte on the schemes, the plots and counterplots, the riuku, the triumphs, and look beyond to fame and rewerd, but they know nothing of the miserabln envies and jeal- ousies, the sespicions, the checks and counterchecks, and the demnable policy of the depertment, encouraging these irresponsible informers, dem 'em, to break up all legitimate business and mcrder honest men. Noah, my pore dead friend, yo're avenged in a wey, bet who's going to avenge yore pore sister, and even this devil of a Flower or Herd- ing, whose death lies at the door of that greater devil of a Rawdon 1 *' The expedition was waiting for him at Richards', the colonel in command. The scow had departed in charge of the captain, wLo bad orders to do nothing to the barrier till he heard a signal shot ; then he was to respond with the unmistakable blunderbuss, and batter down the obstruction. Squire Walker, Mr. Perrowne, and Magnffin had patrolled, without meeting even a passing team or wayfarer ; but the colonel judged it best to get off the road without delay. Accordingly the waggons were left in Richards' shed, and the infantry doubled forward after the colonel and Bangs. When the rocky ascent was reached, over which the fugitives of the night before had clambered, a halt was called, and the colonel gave Dr. Halbert instructions. Just where the rock rose out of the swamp. Sergeant Terry's squad entered, and easily wheeled round large trunks of trees resting on stone pivots, revealing a good waggon-track, the ma^iked road. This the cavalry occupied, looking to the priming of their pistols, and bring- ing their clubs into handy positions. The Squire's squad i;aled the height near the road, and Mr. Terry's took ground farther to the right. The doctor led the way in front of and between the two sections. The cavalry moved slowly, keeping pace with the climbers. Soon the crest was reached, and the main body began to descend gradu- ally, when the duminie slipped and his piece went off, the trigger having caught iu his red window cord, startling the echoes. Then came the diffusive boom and crackle of the blunderbuss, and the doctor, inwardly anathematizing Wilkinson, hurried his men on. They heard axes at work, M if trees were being felUd ; it was the Captain and the Kichards at the barrier. No enemy appeared on the rocks, ♦• .) 250 TWO KNAPSACKS. ■ ^H ■■ i 1 - ^^i^^^H i I bat pistol sbota warned them that there was collision on the road, and the doctor called the second squad to wb(!(>l towards it. The dominie, on the left of the first, saw what was going on below. Revolvers were emptied and cluba brought into requisition. He could not load his old muzzle-loading piece to save his life, but he knew 8infi;le stick. Two men were tackling the brave old colonel, while a third lay wounded at his horue's feet. The dominie sped down to the road like a chamois, and threw himself upon the man on the colonel's right, the dissipated farmer. Ho heird a shot, felt a sharp pain in his left arm, but with his right hit the holder of the pistol a skull cracker over the hf^ad, then fainted and fell to the ground. His luckless muzzle-loader was never found. The colonel bad floored his antagonist on the loft, and turned to behold the dooi* inie's pale face. Leaving the command to the doctor, he dismounted and put a little old Bourbon out of a pocket flask into his lips, and then proceeded to bandage the wound. Wilkinson had saved his life ; he was a hero, a grand, cultivated, sympathetic, chivalrous man, whom the colonel loved as his own son. When he came to, were not the very first words he uttered enquiries for Colonel Mor- ton's own safety 1 Maguffin, having felled his man, held his master's horse. Squire Walker, Mr Perrowne, and Bangs galloped on, the latter eager to seize Bawdon. They and the infantry squads came almost simultaneously upon the select encamp- ment, which was simply a large stone-mason's yard, full of grindstones in every state of preparation, and bordered by half-a-dozen frame buildings, one of which, more preten- tions than the others, was evidently the dwelling-place of the head of the concern. Two simple-looking men in mason's aprons stood in the doorway of another, having retired thither when they heard the sound of firing. This was evidently the boarding-house of the workmen, and an object of interest to Ben Toner, who, with his friends Sul- livan and Timotheus, pushed past the two stonecutters, immediately thereafter arrested by Sergeant Terry, and invaded the structure. Soon Ben reappeared upon the scene, accompanied by a young woman whose proportions were little, if at all, short of his own, and calling aloud to all the company, as if he had accomplished the main object two RNAPSAOKB. 251 of the expedition, " It's all raight, boys, I've got Serlizer ! " Behind the happy pair came an old woman, gray, wrinkled, and with features that bore unmiatakable traces of sorrow and Buifering. " Hev they ben good to you, Serlizer 1 " asked Mr. Toner, after he had in the most public and unblushing manner saluted his long lost sweetheart. The large woman raised her bared arms from the elbow signi- ficantly, and replied, with a trace of her father's grnffness, " I didn't arst 'em ; 'siden I allers had old Marm Flowers to keep 'em off." The expedition was demoralised. The colonel and his servant were with the dominie on the road. Ben, with Timotheus and Sullivan, was rejoicing in Serlizer ; while Mr. Hislop and Rufus were guarding the captured stone-cutters. Sylvanus, not to be outdone by his companions of the 8e«,ond «quad, attached himself, partly as a protector, partly as a prisoner's guard, to Mrs. Flower, the keeper of the boarding-honse. Sergeant Terry, without a command, followed what remained of the first squad in its search for Rawdon. The first person he came upon, in his way down to the water, was Monsieur Lajeu- nesse, who could run no farther, and, perspiring at every pore, sat upon a log, mopping his face with a handkerchief. "A such coorse 'ave I not med, Meestare Terray, sinsa zat I vas a too ptee garsong." Mr. Terry understood, owing to large experience of foreigners, and could not per- mit the opportunity of making a philological remark to pass, " D'ye know, Mishter Lashness, that Friuch an' the rale ould Oirish is as loike as two pays 1 Now, there's garsan is as Oirish a worrud for a young bhoy as ye'll find in Connaught. But jnty is juty, moy dare sorr, so, as they say in the arrmy, ' Fag a bealach,' lave the way." The sergeant's next discovery was the doctor, borne in the arms of the lawyer and the dismounted parson. He had tjprained his ancle in the rapid descent to which his zeal had impelled him, and had thus been compelled to leave the Squire in command. Mr. Hill had been left behind on the left of the encampment with the horses of the three dis- mounted cavaliers, Squire Walker, Mr. Perrowne, and the detective, so that Sergeant C^/raihers, now acting colonel, had with him a mere corporal's guard, consisting of MesHrs. Errol and Bigglechorpn. The junction of the land forces with those operating If'Tl 292 TWO KNAE'HAOEB. ilr f l» . -' .f a I '"i ri ■-! N' I on the water was effected in fi[ood order, the latter btnng intact under command of the captain, but the former exhibiting, by their terribly reduced numberH, the dreadful fatality of war. Squire Walker and Mr. Bangs alono repreHented the cavalry; Carruthers and his corporal'H guard, the 6rHt squad, and the veteran all alone, the second squad of the infantry. Even thin remnant had its desertor, for, during the conversation between the Squire and tbo Captain, private Bigglethorpe stole away, and when next seen was standing far out upon a dead hemlock that had fallen into the lake, fishing with great contentment, and a mf^KHure of success, for bass. The numbers of the force w I e soon augmented by the appearance of the doctor and his bearers. The disabled physician was accommodated with a seat on the bottom of the scow, two of the Richards boys being displaced in his favour. The Cap- tain reported a prize in the shape of a handsome varnished skitif, which he found drawn up on some skids or rollers at the foot of a great mass of rock, that seemed aa if cut all about in regular form, in readiness for quarrying. The finding of the boat just opposite it, the worn appearance of the ground, thn al^sence of moss or any other growth on the severed edges of the square mass of limestone, led the detective to ask if there was any report of a subterraneous passage in connection with this mysterious region. The doctor, whom his former guide had taken by water, and insisted on blindfolding at a certain point, was sure that he had walked some distance on rock, and, although the lamp-lit room, in which he had seen his patients, was lined with wood, and had blinds on apparent windows, he doubted much that it was built in the open air. Then, Coristine remembered how the dissipated farmer had coupled Rawdon's geology with trap rock, as well as with galena, quartz and beryl. Knives were produced and thrust into the seams at the top and on the two sides, as far as the blades would go, but along the bottom there was no horizontal incision answering to that above ; it was perpendicular towards the earth, and of no great depth. It was decided, in the meanwhile, to leave the Captain with Richards senior, his youngest son, and Mr. Biggle- thorpe, who declined to leave hin s[>ort, as t guard on the TWO RKAPRAOKB. 203 ukiff and the udjoining mysterioua Htone. The rest of th(« party returned to the encampment, to Gonnult with the colonel and learn the reason of hia abHonoe. Pierre Lajeu- neflse was foand where Mr. Terry had \vh him, and gladly accepted an arm up the hill. Arrived at the stone-yard, the Squire and OoriHtine learnt with concHrn of the domi- nie's wound, but were rejoiced to find it was nothing more Berioua, and that hiH was the only casualty, besides the doctor's. Squire Walker and Mr. Bangs accompanied the colonel, whom Coristine relieved in attendance upon the dominie, and MagufBn, to look for the felled accomplices of Rawdon, but, of the four who certainly were knocked insensible by the clubs, not one was to be found, nor was there any sign that the pistols of the cavalry had taken effect on the other three. The whole seven had escaped. Meanwhile Rawdon's house and all the other buildings had been searched by Carruthers, without a single incrimi- nating thing, save a half empty keg of peculiar white spirits, being brought to light. The stables contained many horses ; and strong waggons, such as those seen by the pedestrians at the Beaver River, were in the sheds. The stone-cutters and the women professed to know noth- ing, and, save in the case of the woman called Flower, Bangs was of opinion that they spoke the tru'h. All the men could tell was that Rawdon paid thorn good wages, so that they were able to live without work all winter ; that Hix other men worked for him elsewhere and came to the boarding-houso for their meals, but did not sleep there ; that one of them had got hurt in the back, and was away in the hospital, and that two teamsters had left shortly before the intruders arrived, along with the remaining five. They had also seen Rawdon ride in that morning, bat did not know where he had gone. Did they know of any underground vaults or trap doors, or any buildings apart from those in the encampment) No, they had seen none ; but, three years ago, before they returned to work in the spring, there must have been quarry men about, for enormous quantities of atone were lying ready for them, which they had not taken out. Mrs. Flower declined to answer any questions, but did not scruple to abk if the Squire and others had seen anything of a man called Harding. When she learned the man's fate, as she sat in ■ -i- — ... m ■m Ri, * ' 51 SL 2B4 TWO KNAPSACKS. a low chair, she rocked it to and fro and groaned, bat shed no tear nor uttered an articulate syllable. Bangs would not give up the search, nor would he leave the place. There was food enough in the boarding- house, and he would remain, even if he had to stay alone. Squire Walker had to be home for an engagement early in the morning ; the two clergymen had to prepare for Wed- nesday evening's duty, and had pastoral work before them ; the colonel could not leave the man who had saved his life. The doctor and the dominie were incapacitated; Ben Toner was worse than useless over Serlizer ; Pierre dreaded his b(>loved Aug^lique's ire if he remained away over night ; and Sullivan's folks might be kinder anxious about him. Messrs. Hill and Hislop also thought they had better be going. Thus the army melted away. Every- body insisted on the Squire going home, and getting a good night's rest. When, with difficulty, persuaded to do so, he offered to leave Timotheus as his substitute, if that worthy were willing. Timotheus consented, whereupon Sylvanus and Rufus volunteered, it being understood that Ben Toner and Maguffin would do their work about the kitchen and stables, while Serlizer helped the Bridesdale maids. Two other volunteers were Mr. Terry and the lawyer ; and two of the Richards ofiered to watch with Mr. Bigglethorpe on the lake shore. Thereupon, the three members of that gallant family withdrew to the lake, and, while one boarded the scow and helped his father and younger brother, under the Captain's directions, to paddle home, the others hailed the fisherman and asked if he was going to remain. " I'm here for the night, boys," replit'd the man of the rod. " I'll turn up that skiff against the wind and dew, light a £ re by the water, and, early in the morning, have the loveliest .ass fishing I've bad for many a day. Oh yes, I'm here. Dye see my gun lying about anywhere ? " Mr. Bigglethorpe's gun was found, and deposited in the skiff. While this was going on below, Ben' Toner harnessed up a team, hitched them to a wag- gon, for which he found seats by depriving other waggons of their boxes, and prepared to take the wounded dominie, his affectionate friend, the colonel, with Serlizer and the woman Flower, to Bridesdale. The last named person insisted upon going at once to see the dead body of Hard- TWO KNAPSACKS. 355 ing. The two stone-cutters also asked to be allowed to accompany the two props of the encampment hoarding house. Mr. Hill rode the colonel's horse, and the Squire, that of the detective. Along the once masked, but now unmasked, road, the procession of waggon, horsemen, and footmen, passed, waving a farewell to the allies of Mr. Bangs who held the fort. It should be added that Syl- vanus accompanied them as far as the Richards' place, to obtain the Captain's permission for his volunteering, and to bring the borrowed waggon back. At Richards' the waggons were brought out. One was devoted to the two injured men, the dominie and the doc- tor, with their attendants, the colonel and the Captain, and Barney Sullivan as driver. T.ie other was driven by Ben, with Serlizer beside him. It also contained the woman Flower, Mr. Errol, Mr. Lajeunesse, and Mr. Hislop. The cavalry, consisting of Squire Walker in command, Mr. Perrowne, Carruthers, Hill, and Maguffin, trotted forward, and the infantry and prisoners, comprising Tom Rigby, who turned up at the Lake Settlement, and the two masons, followed in the rear. The constable was angry ; he had lost hib prisoners of the morning. Having arrived at Mr. Newberry's hospitable house, and being asked to take some refreshments, which, esteeming the objects of his care to be simple souls, he had no hesitation in doing, he was amazed, on his return to the waggon, to find his oiptives gone. At once he started in pursuit, but, up to the time of his arrival at the Lake Settlement, he had seen no trace of the fugitives. Accordingly, the corporal made the present life of the two stone cutters a burden. He searched them for concealed weapons, and confiscated the innocent pocket knives with which they shred their plug tobacco ; he forbade them to smoke ; and, finally, tied the left hand of the one to the right of the other to prevent their run- ning away, of which they disclaimed any intention. The cavalry came first to the gate of Bridesdale, and reported the casualties, Perrowne proudly relating that be and Goristine, who was " now end of a good fellow," had car- ried the doctor to the scow, which he called " the bovTO." Ben Toner's waggon came next, having dropped Mrs. Flower at the post office, where, a little later, the constable landed his prisoners. Her companion Serlizer sought the •256 trffO KNAPSACKS. I kitchen with Ben, while Mr. Errol joined his brother divine; but Messrs. Hislop and Lajeunesse, with Mr. Hill, waited only for Sylvanua* appearance to take their homeward journey. At last the ambulance waggon drove slowly up, and tender hands lifted out the disabled and the wounded. Miss Halbert and Miss Carmichael relieved the Captain of his patient, who managed to hop cheerfully into the house, with an arm on each of their shoulders. The Squire and the colonel helped the dominie along, and up to a special single room which was to be his hospital, and which Mrs. and Miss Du Pleasis and Mrs. Carruthers were prepared to enter as nurses, so soon as his bearers had put him to bed. Then the doctor came up with his instru- ments, cut off the colonel's improvised bandage and the shirt sleeve, bathed the wound, found and extracted the bullet, and tied all up tight. The meek dominie bore it all with patience, and apologized to his surgeon for giving him so much trouble while he himself was suffering. The three ladies brought the wounded hero all manner of good things that sick people are supposed to like or to b^^ allowed to eat and drink, and Wilkinson was in a dolce far niente elysium. Little Marjorie, having knocked timidly at the door, came in with some square gaudily- covered books under her arm, and asked if Mr. Wilkn would like her to read to him. She offered the victim hib choice of " Puss in Boots," " Mother Goose," and " Nur sery Rhymes " ; but Miss Du Plessis, who, at the sufferer's request, was looking up in Wordsworth that cherrful theme. The Churchyard in "The Excursion," interposed, saying, some other day, when Mr. Wilkinson had grown stronger, he might perhaps be able to make a selection from her juvenile library. Marjorie told her cousin that she was sure, if it had been her Eugene who wa^ sick, h<> would have liked her to stay and read to him. She had told Eugene to marry Cecile, but she would never do so any more ; she would give him all to cousin Marjorie. The three squires sat in council, and agreed to diar/iiss the nominal captives on condition of their promising to appear when wanted as witnesses. This Serlizer at once agreed to. Mr. Walker rode to the i308t office and exacted the promise from Mrs. Flower and the masons, thus depriving the constable of his prey. He was compelled t(; TWO KNAPSACKS. 257 untie their hands, and restore the sonOscated pocket knives. The masons were invited to supper at Bridesdale, as was the woman ; bat the men proposed to go on to the River, as they had money to pay their way j and Mrs. Flower, who would not leave Harding's body, was given in charge to the post mistrpss. The supper tables in hall and kitchen were very different from those of the previous night. In the latter, Ben Toner, the constable, and Maguf- fin had each a lady to talk ta Their superiors missed the company of the lawyer, the detective, and Mr. Biggle- thorpe, to say nothing of Mr. Terry. The doctor was fltretched out upon a sofa in the office, where his daughter waited on him, assisted by Perrowne, who had to carry the other articles of food while she preceded him with the tea. Miss Du Plessis, similarly helped by the colonel, attended to the wants of the dominie. Consequently, the steady members of the supper circle were the three matrons and Mias Carmichael, with Squires Walker and Carruthers, Mr. Errol, and the Captain. All agreed that Wilkinson had done a very fine thing, and Mrs. Du Plessis was warm in his praise. «* The only men that stuck to me," said the Squire, " were Mr. Errol and Bigglethorpe, and even Big- glethorpe went off fishing as soon as he carae to the water, so that I may say Mr. Errol was my only faithful adher- ent." The ladies all looked with much approbation on the blushing minister, and Mrs. Carmichael showed her approval by immediately refilling his cup. Squire Walker whispered in his ear: ♦• Fine woman, Mr. Errol, fine ^'oman, that Mrs. Carmichael ! Is she a widow, sir 1 " Mr. Errol did not like this whispering at table, especially on such a subject, but he replied affirmatively in as brief a way as possible, and went on with his repast. The Cap- tain said that his mill was clean run out of gear with all these starboard and port watches and tacks to every point of the compass ; and, when conversation lagged, Carruthers fairly nodded over his plate. Nevertheless, after snpper, the occupants of the kitchen were called in and prayers were held, in which Mr. Errol offered petitions for the bereaved, the suffering, and the criminal, and committed the watchers at the post of danger and duty to the care of their Heavenly Father, to all of which Mr. Perrowne responded with a hearty Amen. Then, the parsons insisted 258 TWO KNAPSACKS. P on going home to their boarding houses, and Squire Walker mounted his horse for home. Anxiously, Mrs. Carruthers asked her husband if he anticipated danger where her father was, and Miss Carmichael asked the Captain the same question, without mentioning anyone, but having Coristine in view. Both endeavoured to retMSure the minds of the half tearful vomen, after which they carried the doctor upstairs, and all went to bed. Fearing that the idiot boy might repeat his double attempt to fire the ver- andah, Mr. Perrowne had told Muggins to lie there and watch it, and there the faithful dog lay the whole night througb, to the satisfaction of the inmates of Bridesdale, although happily nothing happened to test his quality as a watch dog. In the kitchen, M?. Magut&a considered himself, next to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the representative of the family, as the deputy of Timotheus and the servant of the colonial. Ben Toner was his ally in war, but had no local standing, and the pensioner was e'mply an intruder. Yet, with cool effrontery, the corporal sat in the place of honour beside Tryphena, and regale d her with narratives of warfare, to which she had listened many times already. Ben and Sur lizer were still full of one another's society. He bad com- forted her heart, if it needed any comforting, over the con- dition of her father, whom he and Timotheus had treated so cavalierly, and urged her not to go home any more, but to come and help the old woman. With a bad example before her at home, and very far from improving ones at the Select Encampment, Serlizer was yet, though not too cultivated, an honest steady girl, and was pleased to learn that Ben had really turned over a new leaf. She gave her sweetheart to understand that she had kept her own money, not being such a fool as to let the old man get his hands on it, and that it was safe in the bundle she had brought from the boarding-house, whereupon Bon said she had better put that bundle away in a safe place, for you couldn't tell what kind of characters might be about. Mr. Maguffin beard these words, and, taking them to himself, waxed indignant. " £f yoh'se diloodin' ter this pressum comperny, Mistah Tonah, I wants ter say I takes the sponsability ob these young ladies on my »houldahs, sah, the shouldahs ob TWO KNAPSACKS. 259 Mortimah Mngrudah Maguffin, sah, Foh what remainsober ob the inascline paht ob it, I ain't no call foh ter spress mysef. It kin speak foh itsef." The corporal glowered, and smote the table with his fist. " Pardon my indignation, Miss Hill ! This creature, with no military or other standing that J know of, calls m ', a retiffid non-commissioned officf^r of the British army, it. In India, where I served, I called hucu things chakar and banda, the very dust ben. *th my feefc, Miss Tryphena ; and it was as much as their life was worth to call me less than sahib. And, now that I have retired on a pension, with ray medaJH and clasps, and am an oflacer of the law, a black man, a kali, presumes to it me. I have known a kali chakar killed, yes killed, for less. • Corporal,' said the couimauding officer to me, * Curporal Rigby,' said he, many a time, ' order one of your men to call up that black dog of mine ! ' I assure you he did. Miss Hill." " I doan' take no erbuse ner niggertalk in this yere house, where I'm takin' Timothis' place, an' where my bawas is mighty high ercount, no, not fom consteibles nor no nuther white tresh. I didn't go foh ter call Mistah Riyby it, Miss Tryphosy, I swan ter grashus I didn't. I spressed the pinion as all the comperny as isn't ladies is it, and so it is it." "Ef you go aittin' of me Maguffin," struck in Ben, " I'm buzz-sawed and shingled ef I don't hit you back fer what you're maguvin us." Then he opened up his mouth aad laughed, and Serlizer laughed, and the Hill girls. Even Maguffia displayed his ivories, and remarked : " Mistah Tonah, foh a gennelman what ain't trabbled none, yoh'se mighty smaht." •' Oh, Serlizer," said Ben, « we don't go traavellin' mucli ; we ain't like the rollin' stones as don't gaythyer no mawss." " When the cunnel and me was ridin' ter Tronter, laaat Sat'day," continued Mr. Maguffin, " the cunnel he begun egspashuatin' on the things he see. ' That there mawss,' says he, ' at Hogg's Holler, minds me ob two coloured men was habin' a counterbessy on they bawsses. SayH one of the gennelmen, « My bawss," (the cunnel says mafesa, but that's a name I doan' take to) " my bawss says he ain't like yoh bawss, trabellin' around all the time and iW^' Wh u '■ j! ' h '*■ i 260 TWO KNAPSACKS. Satherin* no mawss." " No," naid the other coloured gen- nelman, " but my bawas gathers what yoh bawsa want mighty bad, and that's a heap ob polish." '" " For polish," remarked Constable Rigby, turning to Tryphena, " for polish, Miss Hill, commend me to an English army officer." " My bawss," said Maguffin, «• is an officer and agen- nelman, and yoh cay n't beat him fob polish nohow." •There are no officers and no soldiers in America," replied the pensioner. "Oh, Mr. Rigby," interrupted Tryphosa, " I remember reading ia my history that the American soldiers beat the British army many times in the Revolutionary War." " Flim-flam, Mins Tryphosa Hill, garbled reports ! The British army never has been beaten, never can be beaten. I belonged to the .British army, Miss Hill, I beg pardon. Miss Tryphosa, and know what I assert from experience." '« Le'ss stop this jaw and have a game o' keerds," sug- gested Serlizer. Ben seconded his lady love's proposal, and thought a game of euchre would pasa away the time. The coustaoie ^aid euchre was no game. There was only one game at cards, and that was whist. The man or woman who could not play whist was uneducated. Sarah Eliza professed a preference for High, Low, Jack, and the Game ; any sap- head could play that. She wasn't a saphead herself, but there might be some about, Maguffin regretted that in the Baktis pussuasion cards were not allowed ; and the Hill girls had distinctly promised their mother to play no games of chance As, however, none of the parties owned a pack of cardn, nor knew where to find one, further con- troversy on the subject was useless. Tryphosa, looking intelligent, left the room, and speedily returned with a little cardboard box in her hand, labelled Countries, Cities, Mountains, and Rivers, with which Timothcus had once presented her. She said it was an improving game, and that all could play it. The shuffling and dealing, of course, pre«3onted an almost unavoidable chance element, but, apart from that, the game was a matter of science, of geographical knowledge. Now the Hill girls were edu- cated, as Mr. Rigby said ; and he, having travelled far as a soldier, was not deficient in geographical lore ; but what about the other three 1 TWO KNAPSACKS. 261 "Oh I ejaculated Miss Newcome, "at them there keerds, I guess we jiat are sapheads. Ain't that so, Ben » " Ben said "I guaisa " ; and Mr. Maguffin added: j< ggnfy, entermoligy, swinetax, and paucity was teached me, but I done clar forgit how they run, it's ao long sence." It was, therefore, agreed to play a triangular gami-, the pair having the moat books to be winners, and have the right to shufflH and deal for the following trial of skill. The contending pairs were the pensioner and Serlizer, Ben and Tryphoaa, Maguffin and Tryphena ; partners were allowed to help each other. While the Britiah Islands, lurkey. Russia, and India were being played, Rigby and Miaa Newcome were triumphant, but when it came to any other part of the world, especially to America, with the exception of Canada, where Serlizer scored her one victory, that pair was helpless. Maguffin acquired a book by his own unaided wisdom, that of the Southern United States • otherwise Tryphena inspired him. Ben had an unavailing contest with Miss Newcome over Canada, and saw her make up the book and slam it on the table with mingled feelings of pride in her, and mortification for his owp want of success. But, as he said, Tryphosa was "a daisy and parlyzpd the hull gang." Laurel after laurel she took from the brow of the travelled pensioner: she, swooped down upon Tryphena and Maguffin, and robbed them of books wholesale, till Mr. Toner remarked that she had "quayte a libery " ; in her hands the strapping Ser hzer was helpless as a child. Magnanimously, she allowed lien to shufflH and Serlizer to cut, then Ben again to deal. ihe second game was more exciting. Mr. Maguffin naturally quick and possessing a memory cultivated by closely following the prelections of his coloured Baptist religious instructors, rapidly seized the hitherto unknown combinations, and astonished Tryphena with his bold inde- pendence of action. The constable's mind worked more conservatively, as became his rank and profession, and Serlizer was worse than useless to him, but, by chance, they had magnificent hands. He piled up India in quick man;hing time, as he hummed «' TJie British Grenadiers," and accompanied it with a drum beat of his right foot on he floor. Calcutta, Bombay, and Medras. Indus, Ganges, aad Godavery, Himalayas, Ghauts, and Vindhyas, lay cap- t.l ii-J , !i\ M: \\ 262 TWO KNAPSACKS. I i'lili iJr'lIB tared at his right hand. Bun won Ireland from him, but he annexed England, Scotland, and Turkey. Once more S»rliz«r took Canada, and, owing to Mr. Toner's imperfect shufiSing, laid complete books of Ei^ypt, Australia, and Brazil upon the table. The stars fought against Tryphena and Tryphosa, and, in spite of Mr. Maguffin's gallant struggle against fate, the pensioner took the honours. Then Miss Newcome favoured him with a friendly kick under the table, accompanied by the elegant expression : "Bully for you, old man ! " Next, the victorious damsel shuffled, allowed Tryphena to cut, and dealt out the cards for the third game. This time the deal was fair, and Mr. Kigby, glancing over his partner's capacious hand, beheld there no prospect of continued good fortune. Tryphena was on her mettle as a geographer, and Maguffin had stowed away in his all-embracing memory the names of half the globe'ti prominent features in city, river, and mountain. He wrested half India and all Russia from the pensioner, cap tured the whole of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and various states of South America. Almost the entire con- tinent of Europe succumbed to Tryphena. Tryphosa fought doggedly, and encouraged Ben to continue the unequal contest, but the constable and Serlizer yielded up card after card with the muteness of despair. Mr. Maguffin was transported with joy, when his partner counted up their united books, amounting to more than those of both the other pairs put together. " I'se lamed moah joggrify this heah bressid night nor I'd git in six mumfs er schoolin'. Hit makes me feel kind er smaht all ober, but not smaht enough foh ter ekal you, Miss Trypheeny, ner yoh pah. Ain't he jest a smaht man, foolin' me on Typernosties and Gasternickle, words I nevab knowed afoah, yah ! yah ! yah ! " A new game was in progress, when a tap came to the inside door, and, immediately thereafter, a figure in a dress ing gown appeared, partly thrust into the half-opened entrance. •* Do you know Tryphena,'' said a pretty voice, " that it is very late, long past midnight, and you two girls have to be up by six o'clock at the latest f Take Sarah with you, and go to bed. Toner, you know Timotheus' room, and had better get some rest, which I am sure you need." As the four parties addressed somewhat sheepishly TWO KNAPSACKS. 263 departed, Mrs. Caroiichael turned to the remaining card playera, who were standing, corporal Rigby at military att ntion, and aaid, with a somewhat tremulons accent : "There's a large fire out in the Lake Settlement direction, but I cannot bear to awaken Mr. Carruthers or the other two gentlemen, for he is very tired, and they are much older and require rest also. Perhaps, Maguffin, yon will be kind enough to saddle a horse quietly, and find out where it is and see that my father and Mr. Coristine are safe." " I'se ony too pleased ter obey yoh commandemens, marm, wif percision an' dispatches," answered the coloured gentleman, hasting stablewards. '• As constable, ma'am, if I may be allowed to speak," aaid Corporal Rigby, saluting for the second time, "as constable, it is my duty to be present at all township tires, for the purpose of keeping order and directing opera- tionH. I shall, therefore, with your permission, ma'am, respectfully take my leave." " It is a long way, constable, and you and I are not 80 young as we once werp — " •' Pardon an old soldi' r's interruption, ma'am, but you are as young as ever you were, the youngest married lady I know." '• Thank you, corporal ! What I meant to say was that you had better get Maguffin to saddle a horse for you, as the distance is great." " You are very good, ma'am, but I never served in the cavalry. I belonged to Her Maj st/s Foot Guards, ma'am, and could not possibly insult the memory of my old comrades lying in Crimean graves, by putting the legs, that a merciful Providence furnished me to march with, across the back of a horse. Had I even served in the Artillery or in the Engineers, I might have been able to comply with your kind request. Being what I have been, I must proceed without delay to the seat of the confl igra- tioD. I have the honour, ma'am, of saluting you. Good night !" ' So Maguffin quietly escaped from the stables, and rode rapidly towards the fire, which shed its lurid light far over the clouded sky ; and the pensioner trudged after him on foot, with his official baton under his arm, to make that conflagration acquainted with the law. ■'■m 264 TWO KNAi'tiAOKS. ; CHAPTER XTV. Picnic Sut.per-Sentries-Sylvanus' Silence-CorlHtine »nd Bi^'-le- thorpo Hear SouncU-Invaders Repelled- Fire and Kxpl .hm.h — Vfctiins Walled In- Water Retreat in the Rain-The (.on- stable SecureH Mark Davis- Walk Home in the Ram-HanKH and Matilda-Iuto Dry Clothes-MiHs Carmichad's Mistake A Reef in Mr. BaiiRS— Ben has no Clothes—Three Youpk Gentlemen in a Bad Way. MR. BANGS had no fewer than eight men und^r his command, Bigglothorpe and the two Richards at the water, and Coristine and the veteran, the two Pilgrims and RufuB, up above. The latter tired themBelves out, under the detective's direction, looking for an opening in the ground, but found none, nor anything that in the least reaembled one. Some of the searcherH wondered why the chimney in Rawdon's house was so unnecessarily large and strong, but no examination about its base revealed any connection between it and an underground passage. The detective, in conference with Mr. Terry and the lawyer, decided on four sentries, namely one each at the house and the lake, as already set, one at the road looking towards the entrance, and the other half way between the lake and the house, to keep up the connection. Some bread and meat and a pot of tea, with dishes, were sent down to ilie three men on the shore by the hands of Timotheus, but they rejected the cold meat, having already made a fire, and broiled the bass caught by Mr. Bigglethorpe. They had a very jolly time, telling fish stories, till about eight o'clock, and the fisherman of Beaver River was in wonder- ful spirits over the discovery of a new fishing ground. If those lakes had only contained brook trout he would move his store to the Lakes Settlement ; as it was, he thought of setting up a branch establishment, and getting a part- ner to occupy the two places of business alternately with him. The Richards boys were pleased to think that their new acquaintance was likely to be a permanent one, and made Mr. Bigglethorpe many sincere offers of asaistance TWO KNAI'S/VOKS. 265 in his fishing, and subordinate commercial, ventures. At eight Mr. Bang« cam« down thn hill, and posted one of the Kichards as sontry, while the fisherman indulged in hi8 evening smoke, preparatory to turning in under the Hkifir wi h his friend Bill. '• I went that fire put out. gen- tlemen, said the detective, •• net now, but say efter ten ociock.asit might help the entmy to spy us out," to which Bi 1 Richards r plied : "All right, cap'n ; she'll be dead black afore ten." Rufus was placed on the hill side to communicate between the distant posts ; Tiraotheus overlooked the encampment ; and Sylvanus was given the station on the road. Mr. Bangs walked about nervously and the lawyer and Mr. Terry, bringing some clean cover- lets out of the boarding-house, spread them on the chip- covered ground, and lay down to smoke their pipes and talk of many things. " Oi tuk ^o yeea, sorr," said the veteran with warmth, "soon as Oi mil ye in the smokin' carr, and to think what a dale av loife we've seen since an' heres you an* me, savin' yer prisince, as thick as thaves." Nothing of any moment occurred till within a quarter often, when Sylvanus saw two figures suddenly start up close by him on the right. At first, he thought of chal- lenging them, but seeing one was a woman, and remember- ing the going over the Squire gave him about capturing Iryphosa, he resolved to await their arrival. Both figures greeted him joyfully by his name, for it was his two pro- teges, the crazy woman and her son, who had escaped the constable and lain concealed until darkness veiled their movements. " Has Steevy woke up yet 1 " she asked the sentinel, quietly. " Not as I know on, " responded the elder Pilgrim. " Then we will slip quietly into the house, and get some supper for Monty, and go to bed. It's tiresome walking about all day," she continued. "Don't you two go fer to make no noise, 'cos they's sentries out as might charlinge yer with their guns," remarked the compassionate guard. " No," she whispered back ; " we will be still as little mice, won't we, Monty ? Good night, Sylvanus I " The t)oy 9dded, " Good night, Sylvy I " and the sentinel returned thesalu'ation, and muttered to himself: "Pore souls, the Mght on 'em breaks me all up." 266 TWU KNAFHA0K8. , :if !• >-i ' l3 i p -y ; 'a S3 -"^S ifJi . SylvanasHhouId have reported these arrivals, when thn detectivn oame to relieve him, and put Mr. Terry in hiH place, hut he did not. He had forgotten all about them, and was wondering if that " kicked out-of nervice old ram- rod, th() oorpular, was foolin' round about Trypheeny." Ooristine relieved Tiniotheus ; Bill Richards, Kufus ; and Mr. Bigglethorpe, Harry Richards. The relieved men went to sleep on the quilts and under the skiff. Mr. Bangs came up every quarter of an hour to the lawyer, and asked if he had heard a noise about the house, to whicli the sentinel replied in the affirmative every time ; where- upon the detective would taku a lamp and search the build- ing from top to bottom without any result. Once, after such a noise, that soundtid liki; some heavy article being dragged along, Ooristine thouG;ht 4ih heard the words: "Keep quiet, Tilly," and, "Take it hoff," but he was not sure. The night was cloudy and dark, and the mosquitoes' buzzing sometimes had a human sound, while the snoring of the Pilgrims, and the restless moving of the horses, brought confusion to the ear, which sought to verify sus- pected articulations. Had he known that Matilda Nagle was about the house, he would not have let Bangs rest until the mystery was solved. He did not know ; and, being very tired and sleepy, was inclined to distrust the evi- evidence of his senses and lay it to the charge of imagination. Down by the water's edge Mr. Bigglethorpe sat on a stone in front of the carved out block, thinking of the best fly for bass, and of a great fishing party to the lakes that should include Mr. Bulky Standing up to stretch his legs and facing the block of limestone, he thought he saw a narrow line of light along the left perpendicular incision. Moving over, he saw the same perpendicular line on the right. Just then the clouds drifted off the moon, and he convinced himself that the light lines were reflections from the sheen that glimmered over the lake. He also thought he heard a whining noise, such as a sick person or a child might make, and then a rough voice saying : " Stow that now i " but Richards, like the two Pilgrims above, was snoring, and Harry had a slight cold in his head. " What a stoopid, superstitious being I should become," said the fisherman to himself, " if I were out here long all alone." But, hark I the sound of paddles softly dipping came from TWO KNAI'hACKS. 267 fhc left, and at oncn tho aeutry lay down behind the upturned skitf, and, gun in hand, listened. Ho poked Richards with hin foot, and, aH ho awoko, onjoined 8il«nce. Kichards crawled out, and quietly replaced tho boat in its original position. There wore now two on guard instead of ona The boat entered the lake. It was the scow, Richards' scow, and Harry was indignant. There were tive men in it, and thoy were talking in a low tone. " Quite sure them blarsted Squire folks has all cone honi.-, Pete 1 " " Sartin, I seen 'em, the hull gang's scattered and skee- daddlfd, parsons an' all." " Where's tho blarsted light, theni" •' S-ems to me I kin see long, thin streaks. O Lawr, boys, Redden must ha' been hard put, when he drapped the block into the hole. It's she^ up tight. Hev ye got the chisel and mallet f" " They're all right." " Then less git .ishore and drap tho block out, though it's an orfnl pity to lose it in the drink " " Carn't we git the blarsted thing back to its place agin 1" s r " Onpossible ; wild horses couldn't do it." Uarry whispered to Bigglothorpo ; «« What'll we do ? " iitid the fisherman anewered : "Our duty is to fire, but we weren't told to kill anybody. Don't you fire till I reload." Then Bigglethorpe called out : '** Surrender in the Queen's lame," and fired above the scow. Two or three pistol shots rattled over the sentries' heads, and dattened themselves on the rock behind. " All ready 1 " said the storekeeper, and Harry let fly his duck shot into the middle of the crowd, who paddled vigorously from the shore. Bill Richards, having alarmed the upper sentries '»y the discharge of his gun, came running down, with the Pilgrims and Rufus, led by the detective, not far behind liim. "Shove out the skiff," called Bigglethorpe. The Richards shoved it off", and Bill rowed, when tho two sen- tries got on board. " Go it, Bill, after the old tub," :ried Harry; "we'll soon catch up." Tho Rawdon gang worked hard to get to the narrows, but found it hopeless. 'Give it to them," shouted Bangs from the shore; and in •esponse, the guns rang out again, while Bill strained f" 1 w iillll 1 M 268 TWO KNAI'HACKS. every muHcle to the utmoHt. The punt ^rounrled on thn Hhore above the narrowH, and four of the men jumped out into thj. water and fled up the V)ank, firing their piHtolH uh they retired. The punt waH captured, and l)rought baolc to th«5 guarded beach, with a woundctiv() oarno back to thit front of thn houmt, and Hfiw the fire that had brokon forth in a momcint, and wan (Idininjj in every roonj of baHomont and iipp ahe nlipped softly ap to the back of the chair, took the brown head between her handH, awd adminiMterc'd a salute on the forehead, with the words: "Why, Uncle John! — ," then suddenly tamed and fled, amid the laughter of the veteran and his daughter, and the amused bluHhes and smiles of her mother. The other young ladies came forward and joined in the con- versation, but Miss Carmichael did not show her face until the family was summoned for prayers. The colonel came down in his usual urbane smiling way, saying that he had taken the libt5rty of looking in upon his dear friend and prisoner, and was rejoicd to tind that he had spent a good night. The captain could be heard descending the stair- case, and telling somebody that he was becalmed again with a spell of fonl weather. The somebody was the Squire, who insisted that thieves had been through his wardrobe, and then eagerly asked for news from the encampment. All were shocked beyond measure when they heard of the terrible tragedy. *' I wished the man no good," said th» Squire, with a regretful expression on his manly face, " but, if he had been ten times the deep dyed villain he was, I couldn't have dreamt of such an awful fate for him." The captain remarked that in the midst of life we are in death, that the ways of Providence are mysterious, and that where a man makes his bed he tiiUHt lie down, all of which he considered to be good Scripture and appropriate to the occasion. " Yoah fohce met with no moah casualties, T hope, Captain Bangs) I do not see our fishing friend, Mr. Biggletborpe ; is he Bafe, 8uh)" These questions led to an account of the fisherman's heroic attempt to release the self-impriHoned occupants of the underground passage, of his wounds, and of the subsequent exploits of the lawyer and the detective. Ooristine escaped upstairs to put himself in shape for breakfast, and to visit his wounded friend. Ue found that gentleman progressing very favourably, and perfectly satisfied with his accommodation. After morning prayers, conducted by the Squire with unusual solemnity, the lawyer asked Miss Carmichael if she alone woald not shake hands with him, making no \K 1, . .■ 1 -' 279 TWO KNAPSACKS. allusion to any previouH nnoountor. Hh() complied, with a bluHh, and Hooinod pIcuHcd to infor that. th« Captain, above all, had not hoard of her miotako. The two had no timn for explanatioDH, howovor, aH, at tho moment, MftHHrH. Errol and Perrowne, who had been told th«r« waH a firo out towardu the Lako Hettleniont, came in to learn about it, and were oonipelled to Hit down tind add Hornethin(f HubHtan- tial to thfiir early cup of cliHtered aud scratched appearance of them. " Wiiere are Mr. Errol's gloves I put on you 1 " *' In the pocket of my w(>t coat in the kitchen." •• Why did you dare to take them off when I put them on 1" " Because I wau like the cat in tht; proverb, not that I waH after mice you know, but I couldn't fire in gloveu." " Well, your tiring is done now, and I shall expect you to come to me in the workroom, immediately after breakfast, to have these gloves put on again. Do you hear me, eir 1 " "Yes." ■■ ^;>-.. fc .:■■■".; ■■ -■;.-■-,;'■. / '. " And what else 1 Do you mean to obey 1 " ** Oh, yen, Miss Oarmichael, of course, always, with the greatest joy in the world." •' Nobody asked you, sir, to obey always." " I beg your pardon. Miss Oarmichael, f'm afraid I'm a little confused." " Then I hope you will not put me to confusion, as you did this morning." '' I'm awfully sorry," said the mendacious lawyer, •' but it was the coat and collar, you know." Then most TWO KNAI'HA<'KM. 27fl illogically, ho added, " I'd liko to woar thiH coat And thii uollHr all tho tiriio." " No, you would not ; thny aro not at all bflooming to you. Oh, do look at poor Mr. Bangn 1 " 1'h«i dfftoctivtt'H HleevoH woro turned back, thanks to Mrs. Oartiiichrtol, but, an ho Hat at breakfaut, the volum- inouH coat Haggod over hin nhouldor, and down camo the nclip^ing hIoovo over biH cofFeo cup. When he rightod inatterH with hiH loft hand, tho ouat Hlowed round to th(t other sidfi, knocked his fork out of hiH hand, and fell with violence on his omelet. The Captain looked at him, and bawled : •' I aay, mate, you've got to have a reef t mk in your buck topHol. You don't mind a bit of reef taokin in the back of your coat, do you, John?" The Hquiro did not objeot ; ho Miua Oarmichaol was deBpatchbd to the sew* mg room for two large pina, and she and the Captain between them pinched up the back of the ooat longitudin* ally to the proiier distance, and pinned the detective up a little more than was necessary. •• Whey," asked he of his nautical ally, " em I consis- tent es a cherecter in bowth phiises of my borrowed cowt 1" '* I know," chuckled the Captain ; '* 'cause then you had too much slack on your pinH, and now you've got too much pins in your slack, haw ! haw I " ••Try egain." Coristiue ventured, *' Becausi3 then your hands were in your catties, but now your coITiio'h in your hand." This was hooted down as perfectly inadmissible. Miss Oarmi- chael asking him how he dared to make such an exhibition of himself. Mr. Errol was wrestling with something like . Toulouse and Toulon, but could not conquer it. Then the detective said : *• If the ledies will be kind enough not to listen, I should enswer, Before I wes loose in my hebits, end now I em tight." Of course the Captain applauded, but the lawyer's reprover remarked to him that Hhe did not think that last at all a nice word. He agreed with her that it was abom inable, that no language was strong enough to reprobate it, and then they left the table. There was trouble in the kitchen. Timotheus and Mli^uffin had each a Sunday suit of clothes, which they bad doaned. Sylvanns and Rufus having special claims 280 TWO KNAPSACxB. on Tryphena, she had put their wet garmentn in a favour able place, and, being quite dry, handed them in to her bef rilled brother, early in the morning, through a half open doorway. Ihe constable, attired in the garb pre- sented to him by Sylvanus, having fastened his prisoner securely with a second stall chain, entered the house, and politely but stiffly wished the cook and housemaid " Good morning." Breakfast, was ready, and then the trouble began. Ben had no clothes, and the boys enjoyed the joke. The company was again a large one, for Serlizer t*nd Matilda Nagle were added to the feminine part of it, and the constable and the boy brought its male members up to six, exclusive of the prostrate Ben. Mr. Terry had temporarily deserted the kitchen. Mr. Toner's voice could be heard three doors off calling for Sylvanus, Time- theus, Rufus, Mr. Bigby and Mr. Maguffin. These people were all smilingly deaf, enjoying their hot breakfast, Then, in despair, he called Serlizer. " What's the racket, Ben ?" " My close is sto-ul, Serlizer. " " They's some duds hangin' up here and in the back kitchen to dry. Praps yourn's there." " No, Serlizer, myuns never got wayt. You don't think I was sech a blame foonl as to go out in that there raiun do you?" " Didn't know but what yer might." " Whey's them close, anyway 1" " I don't know nuthun 'bout yer clothes. Most men as ain't marrd looks after they own clothes." . "Is that you Ben t" asked the more refined voice of T yphima, in a tone of surprise. ** Yaas, Trypheeny, that's jest who it is. Saay, ken vou tayi me what's come o' my close 1 " " They are here, Ben, close to the table ; " whereupon all the company glanced at Mr. Bigby, and choked. " Oayn't you take 'e-. off what they're on, and saynd one of the boys in with 'em, Trypheeny 1 " The cook coloured up, and laughter could no longer be restrained. The constable 1 ^hed, and the contagion spread to Matilda and her boy. " Dod rot it 1 " cried Mr Toner, indignantly ; " what are you fools ai;.d eejuts a screeohin' and yellin' att rWO KNAPSACKS. 281 Oimrao my close, or, s'haylp me, I'll come right oat and bust some low down loafer's thinkin' mill." " Now, be quiet, Ben,*' answered Trjphena, •' and I will send Rufus in with your breakfast. Tou shall have your clothes when they are ready. " So, Rufus took in a plentiful breakfast to his friend Toner, who sat up in the big bed to enjoy it. " I'm powerful sorry for you, Ben," remarked the Baby. " You don't think Serlizer could ha' come in and taken your clothes out into the rain, do you 1 " " Hev they been out in the rain, Rufus 1" " Why yes, didn't you know that mucht If it hadn't been for the constable, they might ha' been out ther* yet I'd say thank ye to him if I was you, Ben." " Consterble Rigby ! " shouted Toner. " At your service, sir," replied the pensioner. *' I'm awful obligated to you, consterble, for bringin' in my wayt close." " Do not speak of it, sir," replied Mr. Rigby, with a large piece of toast apparently in his mouth ; " I am proud to do yon a service, sir." Ben was a big man, and somewhat erratic in his ways, 80 the constable retired, and came back in his own garb, which he had carried out with him. " I think. Miss Uill," he said, " that Mr. Toner's clothes are now dry enough for him to wear them with safety. What do you think, Miss Newcome i " " Guess we kin take them ofi now," answered Serlizer. "Serlizer," growled Ben, "you're an old cat, a desprit spiteful ohessacat, to go skylarkio' on yer own feller as never did yer no harm. Gerlong with yer ! " Rufus came in for the breakfast things, and deposited Ben's clothes on the bed. "It wasn't Serlizer, Ben, cure ; Tf I was yon I'd try the nigger. Them darkies are alwaya ap to tricks." Mr. Toner.got into his clothes, resolved to have it out with somebody, even if Rufus himself should prove to be the traitor. When, a few minutes later, Mr. Terry, smok- ing his morning pipe, foregathered with Ben in the stable yard, and asked him what he was after now, the answer he gave was : " Lookin' araoun i fer somebody to whayul ! '* to which the veteran replied : " Bin, my lad, it's aisy t«ikin*." i^l '11 I 1 ^ J. 282 TWO KNAPSACKS. When the men were oat of the kitchen, Mrs. Carru- thers and her sister-in-law came in to see the mad woman and her boy. The boy they knew already, and had always been kind to, giving h in toys and other little presents, as well as occasional food and shelter. They were much taken with the mother's quiet manners, and, having heard that she had been a milliner, invited her to join them in the workroom. But, when they unitedly arrived at the door of that apartment, they speedily retired to the par- lour, and there engaged in conversation. Mrs. Du Plessis was upstairs, with the colonel to play propriety, sponging the dominie's face and hands, and brushing his hair, as if he were her own son. Every now and again Oolonel Morton came up to the bedside, saying : " Be kind to him, my deah Teheaa, and remembeh that he saved the life of yoah poah sistah Oecilia's widowah." So the stately Span- ish lady shook up the wounded man's pillows, while the colonel put his arm around him and held him up ; and then, as he sank back igain, she asked ; "Are you strong enough to have Cecile come up and read to you 1 " Wil- kinson, sly dog, as the Captain called him, said it was too much trouble to put Miss Du PlesBis to ; but his objections were overruled. Soon a beatific vision came once more on the scene, and Wordsworth was enthroned as the king of poets. Miss Halbert and Mr. Perrowne were in the garden, and the clergyman had a rose in his button hole which he had not plucked himself. If he had not been in holy orders, he would have thouglit Miss Fanny was awfully jolly. Then he said to himself, that holy orders don't hinder a man being a man, and Miss Fanny was, really was, awfully jolly, and boarding in the houses of uncultivated farmers was an awful bore. Bat this was nothing to what was going on in the studiously avoided work room. The lawyer's hands were being washed, because a voice from an arch-looking face said that he was a big baby, and didn't know how to wash himself. It was quite a big baby in size and aspect that was soaped and glyceriued, and had some other stuff rubbed into his hands by other pretty hands, one of which wore the victim's ring. Oorry felt that he could stand it, even to the putting on of the minister's gloves. When she had finished her work, the hospital nurse said, " that silly little Marjorie, angry . — .t .._■_ TWO KNAP8A0K8. 283 because Cecile wonld not allow her to read fairy storiea to Mr. Wilkinson, surrendered you to me." " Marjorie, my darlin', and would yon throw your lovely self avray on a poor, slupid, worthless thing like moV CHAPTER XV Mias Carmiohael Snubs and Thinks- The OnnstaWe and the Prisoner —Matilda and the Doctor — The Children Cotanizd — Presuing Specimens — Nomenclature— The Colonel Makes a Discovery — Miss Carmichael Does Not Fancy Wilks— Mr. Newberry Takes Matilda— Mr. Pawkins Makes Mischief and is Punished— Kounda on Sylvanus— Preparations for Inquest. *• "If R. C0RI8TINE, I never gave you permission to call iU. me by my Christian name, much less to think that I accepted Marjorio's foolish little charge. I am sorry if I have led you to believe that I acted so bold, so shameless a part." ** Oh, Miss Carmichael, forgive me. I'm stupid, as I said, but, as the Bible hns it, I'll try and keep a watch on the door of my lips in future. And you such an angel of mercy, too I Please, Miss Carmichael, pardon a blander ing Irishman." " Nonsense," she answered. " I have nothing to par- don ; only, I did not want you to misunderstand me." The gloves were on, and she shook hands with him, and laughed a comical little insincere laugh in his face, and ran away to her own room to have a foolish little cry. She heard her friend Cecile reading poetry to the wounded Wilkinson, and, looking out of her window, saw Mr. Per- rowne helping her uncle to lift the doctor's chair out into the garden, and her mother, freed from conversation with the madwoman, plucking a flower for Mr. Enrol 's coat. There, too, was a young man, his hands encased in black kid glove sitting down on a bench with Mr. Terry, and with difi^culty filling a meerschaum pipe. She thought he had a quiet, disappointed look, like a man's whose warm, generous impulses have been checked, and she felt guilty. It was true they had not known one another long, but what was she, a teacher in a common school, that was fee ■.;. 284 TWO KNAPSACKS. what people called them, to put on airs before each a man as that ) If it had been Mr. Wilkinson, now ; but, no ; she was afraid of Mr. Wilkinson, the distant, the irre- proachable, the autocratic great Mogul. She looked down again, through the blinds of course. Marjorie Thomas was on the lawyer's knee, and Marjorie Oarruthers on the veteran's. The Captain's daughter was combing Coris- tine's brown hair with her fingers, and pointing the ends of his moustache, much to the other Marjorie's amusement and the lawyer's evident satisfaction. Miss Oarmichael inwardly called her cousin a saucy little minx, resenting her familiarities with a man who was, of course, nothing to her, in a way that startled herself. Why had he not saved somebody's life and been wounded, instead of that poetic fossil of a Wilkinson t But, no; it was better not, for, had he saved the colonel's life, Oecile would have been with him, and that she could not bear to think of. Then, she remembered what Corry had told her of the advertisement to the next of kin. Per- haps she would be wealthy yet, and more than his equal socially, and then she could condescend, as a great lady, and put a treasure in those poor gloved hands. Where would they all have been without these hands, all scarred and blistered to save them from death ? Everybody was very unkind to little Marjorie's Eugene, and failed to recognize his claims upon their gratitude. Oh, that saucy little minx, with her grand assumptions of proprietorship, as if she owned him, forsooth ! Mr. Bangs called the justices to businesn. There was a prisoner to examine, and two charred masses of humanity for the coroner to sit upon. So a messenger was sent off to summon the long-suffering Johnson, Newberry, and Pawkins, for the coroner's inquest, and the doctor was car- ried back into the ofSce for the examination of the pri- soner, Mark Davis. The two Squires sat in appropriate chairs behind an official table, at one side of which Mr. Bangs took his seat as clerk. Constable Higby produced his prisoner, loaded with fetters. " Has this man had his breakfast, Bigby?" asked the Squire. "Certainly not, Squin^" replied the constable. " Then take him at once to the kitchen, take off these chains aud handcuffs, and let bim have all that he can eat," replied the J. P., sternly. TWO KNAPS AORB. 285 The corporal's sense of rectitude was offended. The idea of feeding criminals and releasing them from irons ! The next thing would bo to present them with a medal and a clasp for each new offence against society. But, ordern were orders, and, however iniquitous, had to be obeyed ; 80 Da\ is was allowed to stretch his limbs, and partake of a bouniiful, if somewhat late, morning meal. " To tres- pass upon your kindness. Miss Hill, with such as this," said the apologetic constable, pointing to his prisoner, " in no act of mine ; Squire Carruthers, who, no doubt, thinks he knows best, has given orders that it has to be, and my duty is to carry out his orders to the letter." Breakfast seemed to infuse courage into the dissipated farmer. When it wa^ over, he arose, and, without a note of warn- ing, doubled up the stiff gaardian of the peace, and made for the door, where he fell into the arms of the incoming Serlizer. She evidently thought that M«irk Davis, smitten with her charms, was about to salute her, for, with the words *' Sense me 1 " and a double turn of her powerful wrists, she deposited the assailant upon the floor. Sadly, but officially, the constable crawled over and sat upon the prostrate form of the would-be fugitive from justice. The prisoner squirmed, and even struck the doubled-up cor- poral, but the entrance of Ben Toner put an end to that nonsense, so that, handcuffed and chained once more, the desperate villain was hauled into the presence of the magistrates. In dignified, but subordinate, language, Mr. Rigby related the prisoner's escapade, and, by implication, more than by actual statement, gave the J. P.s to under- stand that they knew nothing about the management of offenders against the law. They were, therefore, compelled to allow the handcuffs to remain, but summoned sufficient courage to insist on the removal of the stable chains. " What is your name, prisoner t '* asked Squire Carruthers. " Samuel Wilson," answered the man. " Oh 1 kem now," interposed Mr. Bangs, '* thet'a a lie, you know; yore name is Merk Dcvis, end yore a brether of Metthew Devis of the Peskiwenchow tovern, end you were Rawdon's right hend men. We know you, my led, so dowa't you try any alias games on us." " Ef you know my name so mighty well, what do you want askin' for't 1 " 286 TWO KNAPSACKS. Hey the "To see if yoa can speak the truth," replied Garrutliers. " What other prisoners hev you got asides me 1 " *' That is none of your business, " said the Squire. " If I might be ellowed to seggest, Squire," whispered the deoective, " T. think I'd tell him. Whet do you sey 1 " •• Go on, Mr. Bangs." " Well, my tine fellow, the Squire ellows me to thet the ethers are Newcome, the stowne ketters, and women." The name of Newoome disconcerted Mark, but he asked, '* Whar's Rawdon and old Flower ) " " Didn't yon see 1 " asked Mr. Bangs. " I seen the fire all right, but they wasn't svch blame fools as to stay there when there was a way out up atop." •' The epper wey wes dowsed," said Lh»i detective. " Was they burned alive then i " " Yps, they were berned to esht.H." ** O Lord 1 " ejaculated the prisoner, and then, wildly : " What do you want along of me anyway 1 " The magistrates and Mr. Bangs consulted, after which the doctor answered : " We want information from you on three points : first, as to the attempt of Rawdon's gang to burn this house ; second, as to the murder of Detective Nash ; and, third, as to the whole secret of Rawdon's busi nebi at the Select Encampment. You are not bound to inci iminate yourself, as every word of this preliminary examination may be used against you, but, on the other hand, if you make a clean breast of what you know on these questions, your confession will go a long way in your favour with judge and jury." " Suppose'n I uon't confess not a syllabub t " *'Then, we shall commit you, all the same, to the County Oaol, to stand your trial at the assizes," " That's all right, I'll stand my dnrned trile. You don't get nawthin out'n me, you misable, intorferin', ornary, bnshwhackin' jedges ! " << Don't strike him, Rigby I " commanded Oarrathers ; fur the consta'ble, shocked and outraged by such indecorous language in a court of justice, was about to olub his man. Then he added : *' The colonel's servant, Maguffin, is going to town on busioKss, and will drive you so far, atid help TWO KNAPSACKS. 287 to guard your prisoner. Von can tie him up as tight a8 yoa like, without being cruel ur doing him au injury. We shall have to do without you at the inquest." Accordingly, while Mr. Maguffin brought round a siitable vehicle, and received his commisHions from the colonel, the commitment papers were made out, and Conntiible Rigby securely fasten< d the worst criminal that bad ever come into his hands. The said criminal did a little hard swearing, which called the long unused baton into active service. Davis was quiet and sullen when the buggy, under the pensioner's command, wheeled away in search of connections for the County Qaol. The two bodies were still lying in their shells, with ice about them, in the unfinished annex of the post offiju. It was, therefore, decided to hold the new inquest in the Bridesdalo coach house, as also more convenient for the doctor, whose sprain might have been aggravated by driving. While Ben Toner was sent with a waggon to the Richards, to bring the ghastly remains snatched from the flames out of the punt, and to convey three member^; of that family to the coroner's jury, Mr. {j<*i;^8 explained to Doctor Halbert his and the lawyer's thought regarding Matilda Nagle. The doctor consented, and the detective went to find the patient, who was busy and cheerful in the sewing- room with Mrs. 0:>rruthprs. He told her that she was not looking well, and had better come with him to see the doctor ; but, with all the cunning of insanity, she refused to go. He hp.d to go after Coristine in the garden, and take him away from Marjorie. With the lawyer she went at onoo, identifying him, as she did not the detective, with her brother Stevy. Mechanically, she eat down by the kind doctor's chair, and seemed to recog- nize him, although he did not remember her. After a few enquiries as to her health, he took one of her hands in his, and, with the oth<'T, made passes over her face, until she fell into the mesmeric sleep. *' Your husband, Mr. Rawdon, is dead," he said ; " yuu remember that he died by his own hand, and left you free." The woman gave a start, and seemed to listen more intently. '* You will kill nobody, hurt nobody, not even a fly," he continued. '' Do you remember 1 " Another start of comprehension was made, bat nothin/t more ; so he went on : "You will read 288 TWO KNAPSACKS. your Bible and go to church on Sundays, and take care of your boy, and be just thn same to everybody as you were in the old days." Then, with a few counter passes, he released her hand, and the poor woman told him all that he had enjoined upon her, as if they were the resolutions of her own will. She was not sane, but she was free from the vile slavery in which her inhuman keeper had held her. Moreover, she understood perfectly that Rawdon was dead, yet without manifesting either joy or grief in the knowledge. The lawyer led her back to the work-room, where she confided her new state of mind to Mrs. Carruthers, greatly to that tender-hearted lady's delight. The doctor did not think it necessary to practise his art upod the lad Monty, in whom the power of Rawdon's will was already broken, and upon whom his changed mother would, doubtUiRB, exert a Kalutary infiuence. Ooristine had nothing to do, and almost dreaded meet ing MiHs CArmicbael, which he probably would do if he remained about the house and grounds. Therefore he goi out the improvised vasculum, and invited MarJDrie and the older Carruthers children to come with him down to the brook to look for wild flowers. This met with the full approval of the young people, and they prepared at once for the botanizing party. The Oaptain saw Marjorie putting on her broad-brimmed straw hat, and enquired where she was going. She answered that she was going buttonizing with Eugene, and he said that he guessed he would button too, whatever that was. A very merry little group frisked about the steps of the two seniors, one of whom was explaining to the older, nautical party that he was on the hunt for wild flowers. " Is it yarbs you're after 1 " asked the Captain. " Well, not exactly, although 1 want to get a specimen of every kind of plant.** " You don't want to make medicine of 'em, Mandrake, Snakeroot, Wild Sassyperilly, Ginning, Bearberry, Qentian, Cohosh and all that sort o' stuft', eh ? " " No ; I want to find out their names, dry and mount them, and classify them according to their kinds." " What good are they agoia' to do you 1 " " They will help me to know Nature better and to admire God's works and His plan." TWO KNAPSACKS. 289 " Keep on them, mate ; fair aailin' and a good wind to yon. No pay in it, though 1 " " Not a cent in money, but lota of pleasure and health." ' Like colleotin' post stampa and old pennies, and but- ter6iflB, and bugs." " Something, but you see scenery and get healthy exercise, which you don't in stamp and coin collecting, and you inflict no suffering, as you do in entomolugizing." " I can tell trees when they're a growin' and timber when its cut, but I don't know the name of one flower from another, except it's garden ones and common at that. Hullo, little puss, what have yon got there T' Marjorie, who had run on in advance and was not by any means ignorant of the flora of the neighbourhood, had secured three specimens, a late Valerian, an early Hpotted Touch-me-not, and t> little bunch of Blue-eyed- grasa. Coristine took them from her with thanks, told her their names and stowed them away in his candle box. The zeal to discover and add to the collection grew upon all the party, the Captain included. Near the water, where the Valerian and the Touch-me-not grew, Marjorie Carruthers found the Snake-head, with its large white flowers on a spike. Anoth* r littlH Carruthers brought to the botanist the purple Monkey flower, but the Captain excelled his youthful nephew by adding to the collection the rarer and smaller yellow one. Then the lawyer him- self discovered another yellow flower, the Qratiola or Hedge Hyssop, at the moment when Marjorie rejoiced in the modest little Speedwell. Once more, the Captain did tinguished himself by finding in the grass the yellow Wood, Sorrel, with its Shamrock leaves, which, when Marjorie saw, she seemed to recognize in part. Then, crossing the stepping stones of the brook, she ran, far up the hill OQ the other side, to a patch of shady bush, from which she soon returned victorious, with a bunch of the larger Wood>Sorrel in hur hand, to exhibit the identity of its leaves, and its delicate white blossoms with their pinky- purple veins. By the time the other juveniles brought in the blue Vervain, pink Fireweed and tall yellow Mullein, the botanist thought it about time to go home and press his opeoimens. Miss Carmiohaol met the scientists at the door, looking. 290 TWO RNAP8A0K8. of coarse, for the children and Uncle ThomM, who waa never called by his Ohristian name, EzHkiel. Learning the nature of the work in hand, she volunteered the use of the breakfast-room table. The lawyer brought down his strap press, and, carefully placing oiled paper between the dried Bpecimens and the semi-porous sheets that were to receive the new ones, proceeded to lay thnra out. The now speci- mens had all to be examined by the addition to the botan- ical party, their botanical and vulgar names to be recited to her, and, then, the arranging began. This was too monotonous work for the Captain, who carried the child reD off for a romp on the verandah. Marjorie stayed for a minute or so after they were gone, and then remembered that she had not given papa his morning button-hole. Ooriitine was clumsy with the flowers, owin^ to the gloves he said, so Miss Carmichael had to spread thera out on the paper under his direction, and hold them in their place, while he carefully and gradually preose*' another sheet over them. Of course his fingers conld not help coming into contact with hers. "Confound those gloves I" he thought aloud. '* Mr. Coristine, if you are going to use such langnagP| and to speak so ungratefully of Mr. Errol's gloves, which I put on your hands, I shall have to leave yon to put np your specimens the best way you can." ** O Miss Carmichael, now, please let me off this once, and I'll never do it again. You know it's so hard working in gloves. Understand me as saying that botanically, in a Pickwickian sense as it were, and not really atalL" "Yon must not say that, either botanically or any other way." " To hear the faintest whisper of your slightest com- mand is to obey." It was delicate work arranging these little Speedwells, and Oratiolas, the Wood-Sorrels, and the smaller Monkey- flower. Hands had lo follow very close on one another, and heads to be bent to examine, and sometimes there was just a little brush of brown and golden hair that, strange to say, sent responsive tingles along the nerves, and warm flushes to cheek and brow. What a hopeless idiot he was not to have foreseen the possibility of this, and to have brought home twice the numbrr of npeoimens! Alasl TWO KNAPBACRn. 291 8, who wa« learning the le use of the ten his Rtrap m the dri«d ■e to receive s now Bpeci- o the botan- io be recited his was too the childreD stayed for a remembered button-hole, to the glovea )ra out on the n their place, mother uheet I, help coming gloveal" he uoh language, loves, which 1 ^on to put up off this once, hard working botanically, in yatalL" lioally or any slightest com- ile Speedwells, jailer Monkey- n one another, iimea there wa« X that, strange •ves, and warm )88 idiot he was lis, and to have jimena! Alaal they were all in the press. But, a happy thought struck him : would Miss Carmiohael oar^ to look at the dried ones, some of which had kept their colour very well 1 Yes, Hhe had a tew minutes to spare. So, ho brought chairs up to the table, and they sat down, fide by Hide, and he told her all about the flowers and how he got them, and the poetry Wilks and he quoted over them. Thon the speci- mens had to be oritically examined, so as to let Miss Oar- michael learn the di.ttinctivo characteristics of the various orders, and this brought the heads close together a^ain, when suddenly their owners were started by the unexpected cUng of the dinner gong. " Thank you so much, Mr. Coristine," said the lady, frankly ; " you have given me a vt>ry pleasant half hour." The lawy(>r bowed bin acknow- ledgment, but said, beneath bis moustache : '* Half an hour is it t I thought it was a lifetime rolled up in two minutes, no, one." What did those drcoitful men, Errol and P« rrowne, iman, by saying they hnd to go Hway to get up their Wednesday evening talk, and to visit th^'ii- parishioners) Till TH they were, in tb< ir old pliiceH at (h*- table, Mr. Errol at Mrs. Carmiohael'u ri(;ht, and apparently on the best of terms with her, and Mr. Perrowne dancing attendance apon Miss Halbert and her invalid father. Mrs. Du Plessis thought she would take up Mr. Wilkinson's din- ner with the colonel's help, as Oecile had been reading to him BO long. Accordingly, the Captain talked to that young lady, while Mr. Bangs monopolized Mrs. Oarru- thers. There was a little commotion, when Mr. Biggie- tborpe walked in, and received the sympathetic expres- sions of the company over his singed face and scorched hands. In spite of these, the sufferer had been up early fishing, just after the rain. Fortunately, he continued, there was no cleared land about the lakes, hence there were very few grasshoppers washed in by the heavy downpour. Had there been, he wouldn't have got a fish. But he had got fish, a big string of them, in splendid con- dition. He had left some with his kind entertainers, the Richards, bat had plenty remaining, which he had left in the kitchen in care of the young woman with the unpro- nounceable Scripture nama. " Now, " said the fisherman, " a nime is a very important thing to a man or a woman. 292 TWO KNAPHAOKB. Why do people give their children Hooh awfol nlmeHl S^ggVhorp«i«DiniHh. they «ay. but Fel^lHidoro u aH Latin aK can be. They called me ♦ lib ' at Hohool. "tL the hoighth Iv impartance to have a good namo, «ay Jr aat'^ Mr. Terr/ •• Moy '^rj-.^f-y/^,^: hiBHOwLputaHhaint's namn an me. an' I put her own mX'iname. the Howly Vargin rist her. on Honor a here. 'An', navin' all yer priH nce«. there h no foinor Scripcher ulm than John ; how'H that, rtquo.n. 1 •« It saitH me well enough, grandfather, r«pli. ( Oarruthern. The Uaptain was feeling uneajy Hn d dn want Ezekiel to come out, ho be anlccd Mihh Du PI^bh.h how her young man waa Such a qu.Htion would have Ser ro/n^d MiHH O-rnichael to indiKnadon or have ov.,^ whelmed her with confu-ion, but M.hh Du PJj;'"^ f * " and unruffl..!, replied : " I Huppose you mean Mr. Wilki r *on. Captain ThomaH. He han been very much nhaken by bis wound, but i8 doing remarkably well. «• Pwhit'H MiHhU'r WilkiHon'H nume. Mi»« Oenhile. Iv ,it'B a fair quiHhtyon to ax at yeez 1 " ,, / " It i« Parquhar, ia it not, Mr. Oonstioel Mr. Ooristlne Haid it wa«. and that .t wa« H.h mothe h maiden name. She was a Scotchwoman, he had heard Tnd a veybiely character. The colonel had just returnj.l ?rom hrminiatrationa. " Did I h;ah you c-hhectly ^l. Oohistine, wh.n 1 thnngh., you said tha ouah servant who applied for a situation, saying : < Me name is Murphy, sorr, but me family came from France.' Ooristine, I think, is good Irish." The name erase spread over the whole table. Miss Halbert thought Basil a lovely name. It was Oreek, wasn't it, and meant a king f Mr. Perrnwne thought that the sweetest name in the world was Frances or Fanny. Mr. Errol affected Marjorie, and Mrs. Oarmichael knew nothing superior to Hugh. " What made you so savage with the Oaptain for coupling your name with Wilksf " asked the lawyer in an undertone. ;i 294 TWO KNAPSAOKB. i'^'&'f' " Becaase he is the last man in the world I should want my name to be coupled with." " Oh, but that's hard on Wilks ; he's a glorious fellow when you get to know his little ways." " I don't want to know Mr. Wilkinson's little waya I am sorry for his wound, but otherwise I have not the remotest sympathy with him. He strikes me as a sellibb, conceited man." •< Not a kinder soul breathing, Miss Carmichael." ••Yes, there is." " Who, then V . - " Yourself." ** Misfl Carmichael, you make me the proudest man in the world, but I'm not fit to black Wilks' boots." »« Well, I will not be so rude as to say I think you are. But, never talk that way to me again, if you want ff.e to like you. I will not have you demeaning yourself, even in speech, before Oecile's friend. Now, remember, not a word ! " The test was a severe one between loyalty to his old friend and devoted obedience to the girl he loved. As all the memories of past friendship came before him, he was inclined to be obdurate. Then, he looked at the golden hair which had brushed his awhile ago, and, as the head straightened up, at the pretty petulant lips and the blue eyes, lustrous with just a moist suspicion of vexation and feeling, and he wavered. He was lost, and was glad to be lost, as he whispered : " May I say it t" *' Yes ; speak out, like a man, what you have to say." " It's a bargain, Marjorie ; never again I " Somehow his right hand met her left, and she did not snatch it away too quickly. Then he said : •' You won't hate poor Wilks, my old friend, Marjorie 1" She answered " No," and turned her face away to ask some trivial question of the Squire, who knew a good deal more than he saw any necessity for telling. The kitchen partly stiU kept up its number* True, the absence of the constable and Maguffin left two serious blanks in the diversified talk of the table, but the place of these gentlemen was taken by no fewer that six persons, the three Richanis and the three jurors, so that the dinner party numbered fifteen, of whom four were women. Old TWO KNAPSACKS. 295 whitehaired Mr. Newberry, with the large rosy face, smooth, save for two little white patches of side-whiekers took possession of Matilda Nagjp, and rejoiced in her kindly ways and simple talk. He was a Methodist, and a class-leader and local preacher, but a man against whom no tongue of scandal wagged, and whose genuine piety and kindness of heart were so manifest that nobody dreamt of holding up to ridicule his oft homely utterances in the pulpit. If he could do good to the poor demented woman and her aflaicted boy, he would, and he knew that his little quaker-bonneted wife would second him in such an effort. So he tried to gain her confidence and the boy's, and, after a while, found that Matilda would like to help Mrs. Newberry in her household duties, and have Monty learn useful work on the farm. When informed by the fatherly juror, in answer to her own questions, that she would not be expected to hurt a fly, and would be allowed to go to church, read her Bible and take care of her boy, she expressed her readiness to go away with him at once. Mr. Newberry felt a few qualms ai conscience in connection with fly killing, but, having nuide an express stipulation that mosquitos and black flies should not be included in the bond, he became easier in mind, and said that, with Mrs. Oarruthers and the Squire's permission, he would drive her hoaae in the afternoon. Mr. Johnson and the elder Richards discussed local politics, and the tragedy calling for the inquest ; but Mr. Pawkina attached himself to the boys, and consequently to the girls. This gentle- man had brought his six feet of bone and muscle, topped with a humorous face, from which depended a Lincoln beard, from the States, and was now, for many years, as he said, "a nettrelized citizen of Kennidy." This dis- appointment at the absence of the constable was something pitiful, he did so want "to yank and rile the old Britisher." Still, that was not going to deprive him of his innocent amusement. He looked around the company and sized it up, deciding that he would leave the old folks alone, and mercifully add to them the crazy people; this still left him a constituency of nine, with large possibili- ties for fun. •' Rufus," remarked Mr. Pawkins, " I seen your gal, Christy Hislop, along o' that spry sot up coon, Barney ¥V- ^ /^ 296 TWO KNAPSACKS. Sullivan, daown at the mill. He's a outtin* you aout for Butten, yeg sirree, you aee if be ain't. * ,- t, i • • "What's the use of your nonsense, Mr. Pawkinsl Barney went home along o' fayther and old man Hislop, and I gueas he turned in to say we was all right. «« If Andrew knowed you'd called him old man Hwlop, he'd fire you aout o' the back door mighty suddent. When 1 see a spry, set up, young feller and a likely heifer of a gal a saunterin' through the bush, sort o poetical like, daown to the mill, it don't take me two shakes to know that suthin's up. You're a poor, rejected, cast off, cut aout strip o' factory cotton." " What do you mean, Mr. Pawkinsl « , „ "I mean overalls, and it's all over with you, Rufus. Having planted this well-meant thorn in the breast of the younger Hill, and excited the commiseration of his sisters, the lover of innocent amusement turned to Ben, and asked that gentleman, whose attentions to Serhzer were most open and above board, "aence when he got another gal 1 " , • j i. i -m- Mr. Toner turned angrily, and asked what Mr. Pawkins was "agivm'hira." ., j »a never see Bridget naow but she's a cryin and rubbin' her eyes most aout with her cuffs,'' said the cheer- ful Pawkins : " she allaowed to me you'd the nighest thmg to said the priest was ony woitin' for the word to splice ; and here you air, you biggermus delooder, settin along o Newcome's gal as if you'd got a mortgage on her. Arter that, the sight ain't to be sawed that'll make me ashamed o' my feller-creeters, no sirree, boss, hull team to boot and a big dog under the waggin ! " Mr. Pawkins sniffed vehemently, and Ben and his affianced bride blushed and drewapar^^^ bo, Benf" asked Sarah Elisa in a half ''^'"'siaylp me, Serlizer," replied the injured Toner in a similar voice, "that there Pawkins is the cussidest, ?JS old puke of a trouble-makin' Yankee us aiver con.e *** "Are you engaged to Biddy Sullivan, BehV* ^ " No, I tell you, naiver said a word to Barney's sister I wouldn't say to any gal.* TWO KNAPSiUKS. 297 I aont for pftwkinal an Hislop, it. aan Hifllop, ent. When heifer of a aetical like, 38 to know oast off, cut ^ou, Kufus." the breaat of ration of his irned to Ben, 18 to Serlizer when he got d what Mr. a cryin' and aaid the cheer- Bnighest thing ord to splice; ettin* along o* ,n her. Arter :e me team to boot, >awkinB sniffed ie blushed and Sliwfc in • half ared Toner in a the cnsBidest, ee B8 aiver come BenV* . ^ ) Barney's sister "Then, what did Barney oome here lookin'for yoa fori" " So did the tavern keeper and the store keeper, 'cause mother axed 'em, I suppose ; you don't think they want me to marry their wiveH, do you t " " Wives an' darters is different things, Ben. Ef I'd thought you had been havin' goins on with Biddy, I'd flog the pair of you." " S'haylp me, Serlizer, it ain't so. Ef it was, you could whayull me till I was stripy as a chipmunk." "Talkin' abaout whalins," remarked the mischief- maker, who kept one ear open, " Miss Newcome's paa is jest a waitia' to git up and git araound, to give somebody, as ain't fer off'n this table, the blamedest, kerfoundedest lammin' as ever he knowed. He wants his gal home right straight for to nuss him, so's he kin git araound smart with that rawhide that's singein' its ends off in the oven." " What's dad got agin you, Ben ] " enquired Miss Newcome. " Oh nawthin' ; it's only that Pawkins' double-treed, snaffl'^ bitted, collar-bladed jaw." Mr. Pawkins smiled, but Ben and Serlizer were more uncomfortable than Rufui and his sisters. The naturalized Canadian turned his attention else- where. "I'm kinder amazed," he remarked, eyeing first Sylvanus and then Timotheus, " to see you two a settin' here, as cam as if you never done nothin' to be sorry for. I s'pose you know, if you don't you had orter, that there's a war'nt aout agin the two Pilgrims for stealin' aout 0* the Peskiwanchow tav( rn, or ho-tel, as Davis calls bis haouse. I calclate the constable '11 be back with that war'nt afore night. I'd make myself skeeroe if I was in your shoes." " O Sylvanus ! " ejaculated Tryphosa. "O Timotheus ! " added Tryphosa. " It's a lie 1 " cried Rufus ; " it's a mill dam, boom-jam, coffer-dam lie, and I won't believe a word of it." "Fact all the same," said Mr. Pawkins, calmly, " they air guilty, the two on 'em, of stealin' aout o' the Peski- wanchow ho-tel." ** What did they steal out 1 " asked the Richards boys. " Clothes, I guess, boots, some money, books, I don't know all what, and it don't consarn me any ; but them I s-:;l 298 TWO RNAP8A0K8. boys had best look spry and git aout o' thia" With these words, the gentleman of American extraction 6nished his last piece of pie. Sylvanus rose cheerfally. He was so radiant over it that Tryphtma thoaght him really handsome. He whis- pered to Rufus and to Ben ; then remarked to Timotheus that he had perhaps better remain, in case the Squire should Hend for him. Next, he turned to Mr. Pawkins, and said : " A man mought as well be hung fer a sheep as fer a lamb, Mr. Pawkins, and senoe they's a warn't out to 'raist me and Timotheus, we ain't a goin' to put the law to no more trouble 'boat a new one. Ef you'll come outside, I'll show you some o' them things we stoled out'n the Pes- kiwanchow tav." So Sylvanus took the accuser of the brethren by one arm, and Rufus linked his lovingly in the other, while Ben, with a glance of intelligence at Serlizer, and another at his top boots, followed. Mr. Pawkins, con- fident in his smartness and in the ignorance of the simple- minded Canucks, went quietly with the courteous criminal and his cut-out friend, till, passing the stables, they led him through a broad gate into the meadow. Then he hesitated. " The stoled things, leastways some on 'em, '11 be at the foot o' this yere slope soon's we will ; so hurry, old man ! " said Sylvanus. Mr. Pawkins demurred. " Look here, boys," he said, " a joke's a joke, ain't it 1 D'ye see, you did, the pair on you, steal aout of the hotel. I didn't go to say you took anythin' as didn't belong to you. I reck- on your brother had clothes, and money, and books thar, and BO, yon and him took 'em aout. Lem me go, boya ! " Sylvanus and Rufus were obdurate. " Boost him, Ben," cried the former ; " we ain't no time ter spend foolin' with the likes o' him." Mr. Toner raised his boot and said, "One fer Ser- lizer 1 " which made the joker proceed. He had several other ones, before he was run down to the creek — for Timotheus and Tryphena, and Tryphosa, and Christie Hislop, and Barney and Biddy Sullivan, and old man Newcome. Ben's boot did capital service. With difficulty the executioners found a hole in the creek about two and a-half feet deep, in which, at full length and with great gravity, they deposited the exile Trom the States. Then, tm.i m TWO KNAP8A0ES. 309 they guessed the Squire, or the Captain, or somebody, would be wanting thrm, and skipped lightly back to the house. They knew Mr. Pawkins would follow, since he was the last man in the settlement to miss bis juror's fee of one dollar. After their return, there was a good deal of merriment in the kitchen, and the two Richarda boys roundly upbraided the elder Pilgrim for depriving them of a share in the fun. " He baygged an' prayed for massy," said Mr. Toner, with a grim smile, " but we was the most onmasaifullest craowd you ever see." Timotheus, still in Sunday garb, took his workaday suit, now quite dry, and went to meet Mr. Pawkins. Introducing him to the stable, he soon had that gentleman relieved of his wet toggery, when voices were heard with- out. It was the colonel, bringing his sister-in-law to see his horse, as a sort of relief to the strain on his feelingH, consequent upon his interview with Wilkinson. Mr. Pawkins had only got Timotheus' flannel shirt on, when the stable door opened. " Shin up that ladder into the loft, Mr. Pawkins," cried the ^nevolent Pilgrim, and the spectacle of a pair of disappearing shanks greeted the visitors on their entrance. Timotheus had escaped into the coach-house, but all the clothes, wet and dry, save the shirt, lay over the sides of an empty stall. Immediately the colonel perceived the vanishing heels of the Yankee, he interposed his person between them and Mrs. Da Pies- sis. " My deah Tehesa," he said, hastily, " I think we bad buttah retiah foh the pehsent, and visit the stables lateh in the day." Mrs. Du Plessis, however, once no mean judge of horseflesh, was scanning the good points of her brother-in-law's purchase, and seemed indisposed to withdraw. Soon a head and a pair of flannel-shirted arms appeared, hanging over the Ibft trap, and a voice hailed the colonel. " Say, mister, you ain't a goin' to bring no wimmen folks up this het-e ladder, be you ? '* " Cehtainly not, snh ! "answered the colonel, with emphasis. " If it won't hurt you, I wisht you'd sling up them dry pasnts and things daown there. " The colonel looked at the articles, with impatience. Then man, and then at the he got a pitchfork, on ■1*^^ 300 TWO KNAPSACKS. the prongs of which he collected the garments, one bj one, and so handed them ap to Mr. Pawkins, who was Htill minas necktie, socks and boots. Befcre, however, he wan ready for these, the visitors had retired, leaving him to complete bis toilet in private. Hearing steps again, he hurriedly picked up his wet clothes and re-asoended the ladder. The colonel had evidently asked Sylvanus to take the place of Mnguffin about the two horses, for he was the newcomer. • Now, Mr. Pawkins bore no malice, bat, when jokes were going, he did not like to be left the chief victim. He had had some fun out of the boys ; now he would have some more. The Yankee could mew to per- fection. He began, and Sylvanus called the strange cat. It would not come, so he climbed the ladder after it, and had almost reached the top, when, with vicious cries, the animal flew at him, seized him by the back of the neck, and drew blood that he could feel trickling down his back. Tugging ineffectually at th' beast, he ran out to the kit* chen, calling upon everybody to take off that mad oat that was killing him. The oat was taken off, amid shrieks of laughter, and proved to be Mr. Pawkins' rolled up wet trousers and vest, the water from which was the blood imagined by Sylvanus. The owner of the garments entered immediately behind his victim, and from his ban- ter the elder Pilgrim gladly escaped to resume his stable duties, feeling that he had been demeaned in the eyes of the laughing Tryphena. Timotheus and Ben were busy cleaning out the coach house, putting tables and seats into it, and generally pre- paring for the inquest. Mr. Bangs, at the coroner's request, empanelled the jury, consisting of the Squire, the captain, and the two clergymen, the three Richards, the three cited jurors, with old Styles from the post office, and Ben Toner. The charred masses of humanity, pervaded by a sickening smell of spirits, were taken from the waggon, and placed in rough board shells, decently covered over with white cloths. The woman called Flower was brought from the post office, and kept in custody, till she gave her evidence ; and Bangs himself, with Messrs. Terry, Coris- tine, and Bigglethorpe, Sylvanus, Rufus, and Timotheus were cited as witnesses. Some evidence was also expected from Matilda and her son. When the coach house doors TWO KNAPSACKS. 301 were thrown open, all hilarity oeaied- 6' en the children fleeroed to realize that aomething very solemn was going on. A weight of trouble and danger was lifted ofi many hearts by the terrible tragedy, yet in no soul was there the least feeling of exultation. The fate of the victims was too awful, too sudden for anyone to feel aught but horror at the thought of it, and deep sorrow for one at least who had perished in his sins. The light-heart( d lawyer took one look at the remains of him, whom, within the past few days, he had seen so often in the full enjoy- ment of life and health, and resolved that never again, in prose or verse, would he speak of the person, whose crimes and cunning had returned ho avengingly upon his own head, as the Orinstnn man. Mr. Pawkins joked no more, for, with all his playful untruthfulness, he had a feeling heart. The most unconcerned man outwardly was Mr. Bangs, and even he said that he would willingly have given a hundred dollars to see his prisoner safely in gaol with the chaplain, and afterwards decently hanged. The doctor was carefully carried out, and set in the presiding chair as coroner over the third inquest within two days. CHAPTER XVI. Inquest and Oonaeqnencea— Orther Lom—CoolnesB— Evening Service —Mr. Pawkins and the Constable— Two Songs -Marjorie, Mr. Biggies and the Crawfish— Coristine Falls Foul of Mr. Lamb- Mr- Lamb Falls Foul of the Whole Company— The Captain's Couplet— Miss Carmiohael Feels it Her Duty to Comfort Mr. Lamb. IT is unnecessary to relate the details of the inquest. By various marks, as well as by the testimony of the woman Flower and of Mr. Bangs and his partj, the remains were identified as those of Rawdon and his wounded henchman Flower. Some of the jurymen wished to bring in a verdict of *' Died from the visitation of Qod," but this the Squire, wbo was foreman, would not allow. He called it flat blasphemy ; so it was altered to : " Died by the explosion of illicit spirits, through a fire kindled by the wife of the principal .victim, Altamont Rawdon." Nobody demanded the arrest of Matilda ; hence the Squire 302 TWO KNAI'BAOU. •nd tbe doctor did not feol called apon to iHsue « warrant for that purpoHn. The widowed and childlusn Mfh. Flowitr for the 80-called Harding 7.1 as her son, claimrd hifl body, and what remained of her hiinbiind'a; and aaked Mr. Per- rownfl to read the baritil lervioe over them in the little graveyard behind hi« bumble church. Mr. Bangs, h'm work over, got the use of a waggon and the services of Ben Toner, to take his dead comrade's coffin to Oolling- wood. Nobody claimed the remains of Rawdon, till old Mr. Newberry came forward, and said he would take the shell in bin waggon, with thn woman and the boy, and give it Ohristian burial in the plot back of the Wesleyan ohuroh. " We can't tell," he said, *' what passed between him and his Maker when he was struggling for life. Gio un the bainifit o' the doot." So, Ben and Serlizer rolled away with Bangs, and Nash's coffin ; and MatiIJa and her son accompanied Rawdon's remains, in Mr. Newberry's waggon. At the same time, with the sad, grey-haired woman as chief mourner, and Mrs. Oarmiohael beside her, a funeral procession passed from Bridesdale to the post office, and thence to the English churchyard, where old St;les and Sylvanus dug the double grave, around which, in deep solemnity, stood the Oaptain and Mr. Terry, the minister and the lawyer, while Mr. Perrowne read the service, and two victims of Rawdon 's crime and treachery were committed, earth to earth, dust to dust, and ashes to ashes. Immediately the grave was covered in, the doubly- bereaved woman slipped away, and was never again heard of. There appeared no evidence, far or near, that she had done away with herself ; it was, therefore, concluded that she had a child or children elsewhere, and had gone to hide the rest of her wasted life with them. The two clergymen went their ways to their lodgings, and the Bridesdale party walked silently and sorrowfully home. Mr. Bigglethorpe wanted to go back with the Rich- ards, so that he might have another morning's fishing ; but Mrs. Oarruthers thought he had better tak>* Mr. Bangs' room, and nurse his eyes and other burned parts before going home. Maijorie and her young cousins dragged him off, after his green shade was put on, to the creek, and made him rig up rods and lines for them in the shape of lisht-trimmed willow boughs, to which pieces of thread TWO RNAPnAOKH. 303 were fttUched with bent pina at the other enda. Fishing with tbeae, baited with brradorumba, they seoored quite a number of chub and dace, and mado the valley mnaioal with their laughter at each Buoceaa or niiabap, by the time the Brideadale people returned from the impromptu funeral. The Squire waa buay in his office, looking over Nash's legacy, preparatory to sending it to Banga, who had begged him to forward the documontH without delay. The only thing of note he found was, that Rawdon did not bank hia money ; he had no bank account any- where. Whore did he stow away the fortune he must have madel There waa a note of the casual con versation of an assumed miser with Rawdon, in which Rawdon waa represented as saying : " Dry aandv Hoil, well drained with two slopes, under a rain-shed, will keep millions in a cigar box." That the Squire noted ; then he sealed up the rest of the papers, and addressed them to Hickey Bangs, Ehq., D. I. R., ready for the post in the morning. The colonel, Mrs. and Miss Da Plessia were all in Wilkinson's room. The colonel was commenting upon the four poor souls that had gone before Ood's judg- ment seat, three of them, probably, with murder on their hands ; and thanked God that his boy bad died in the war, brave and pure *nd good, with no stain on hia young life. " When my boy was killed, my deah Fahquhah, I felt like the Eleotoh Palatine of the Rhine, when young Duke Ohris- topheh, his son, fell at Mookerheyde, accohding to Motley : he said "Twas bettah thus than to have passed his time in idleness, which iu the devil's pillow.' Suh, I honouh the Electoh Palatine fob that. What melancholy ghaves these pooah creatuhcs fill." Then Mrs. Du Plessis wept, mildly, and Miss Du Plessis, and they all had to wipe a few tears out of Wilkinson's eyes. Had Ooristine been there, he would have been scandalized. The lawyer's lady-love was engaged in very prosaic work in the sewing- room, with her aunt, running a sewing-machine to make much-needed clothes for the unhappy woman, whom the coroner's jury, by a euphemism, called Rawdon's wife. The two had seen her off in charge of good old Mr. New- berry, and had promised to send her the work, which she herself had begun ; and, now, they were toiling with all their might to redeem the promijse, as early as possible, in •% 1 m ;;atiiki all 804 TWO RKAPHAOU. ■pit« of thfl t(*Ara that woaid ooiiia alao into their fooliNh rjrei, blurring thnir viiion and damping thoir material. Ooriitinn, who lonf^cd for a flight of freah young lifd to bn angry. He was overwrought, poor follow, aleepluHH and tired, and emotionally excited, and, therefore, ready for any folly und(«r thf) Hun. Mrf. Oarmiohael had entered the house, with the Captain and Mr. Terry. The lawyer remained alone in the garden, waiting for something to turn up. Something did turn op in the shape of the stago on its way to the post office, which dropped its only passenger at the Bridesdale gate. The passenger was a young fellow of about twenty-five, rather over than uuder middle height, of good figure, and becomingly dressed. His features were good enough, but lacked individuality, aa did his combined moustache and side whiskers, that formed a sort of imperfect W acrosH his face. He held bis nose well up in the air, Mpoke what, in hia ignorance, he fondly imagined to be ariHtocratic English, and carried, with an apologetic and depressed air, a small Gladstone bag. The newcomer dusted his trou- ler legs with a cane utterly aseless for walking purposes ; then, adjusting his eye-glass, he elevated it, towards the solitary occupant of the garden, as he entered the gate. *' Haw, you sir, " he called out to him ; " is this, haw, Mr. OorrotherH* plaice f Ooritint^ wan nettle'l at the style of address, hue commanded himHolf to r ply as bri' fly as possible that it waH. *' Miss Morjorie Oormiohael stoying herel" continued the stagn passenger. " ^ias Oarmichael is here, " responded the lawyer. " Haw, I thort so. Just you run in now, will yon, ond tell Miss Morjorie thot on old friend wonts to speak to her. " The lawyer was getting furious, in spite of himself. Taking his pipe oat of biu pocket, and proceeding to fill it with all apparent deliberation and calmness, he replied : " So far as I have the honour of Miss Oarmichael's acquaintance, she is not in the habit of receiving visitors orit of doors. There are both bell and knocker on the door before yon, which ser- vants will probably answer ; but, if that door doesn't suit you, you will probably find others at the back. " With fchia angrociona speech, he toimed on his heel, lit his pipe, TWO KNAPMAUM. 300 *nd puffed vigoroQHly along th tru« old friond, the gtMiuine Oodlin, while the other man waa Short. " Marjorie," he aaid, aa that tiahing young lady clung to him, " there'a a duffer of a dude, with an eyo-glaaa, up at the houae, who Haya he'a an old friend of your oouain Marjorie ; do you know any old friend of herat" Marjorie atopped to think, and, after a littlo pauan, aaid : " It can't be Huggina. " " Who ia Huggina, Marjorie 1 " aHked the lawyer. " He'i the caretaker of Marjoi'ie'a aohool. " *< Oh no, thia dudn ia too young and gorgeoaa for a caretaker." '•Then, I think I know ; ita Orther Lorn." "WhoiaOrther Louit" " I don't know ; only Auntie Marjorie aaid, aha wouldn't be aatoniahed if Orther Lorn waa to come and 6nd oouain Marjorie out, even away up here. It muat be Orther Lorn." Thia waa all the information the lawyer could obtain ; 80 he and Marjorie joined Mr. Bigglethorpe and the other anglers, and talked about making domestic sardines and smelts of the chub and dace they had caught. The aammona to tea greeted the wanderers before they had had time to cleanse their hands of fiahy odours ; con- sequently Mr. BIgglethorpe and the lawyer were a minnte or two late. They found the man of the eye-glass seated on one side of Miss Oarmiohael, and, aa she beckoned the fisherman to the other, she introduced her protei(6 to him as Mr. Arthur Lamb, a very old friend. M^iss Halbert made way for Ooristine beside her, and he congratulated her on the doctor's reappearance at the table. " Mr. CoriBtine,''8aid Mias Oarmichael, and the lawyer, with a somewhat worn society face, looked across. " Mr. Lamb, who is an old friend of ours, tells me he met you in the garden, but you did not introduce yourself. Let me introduce yon, Mr. Lamb, Mr. Ooristine." Ooristine gave the merest nod of recognition, and went on talking to Miss Halbert. He thought Perrowne wai m :f|i ■f 1 306 TWO KNAPSACKS. right ; there was some satiafaotion conversing with a girl like that, a girl with no nonbense about her. The minis- ter's gloves had got fishy, handling Marjorie's catch, so he had taken them off when preparing himself for tea, and had left them in his room. Miss Carmichael looked at the burnt hands, and felt disposed to scold him, but did not dare. Perhaps, he had taken the gloves off intentionally. She wished that ring cf his were not on her finger. Between Mr. Lamb and Misn Halbert, she felt very uncomfortable, and knew that Eugene, no, Mr. Ooristine, was behaving abominably. The colonel and his belongiogs had been so much about the wounded dominie all after- noon, that Mrs. Carruthers insisted on her right, as a hos- tess, to minister to him, while her sister-in law presided in her stead. Ooristine at once rose to help the hostess, and regained his spirits, while rallying his old friend over the many attentions he was receiving at the hands of the fair pex. He could hardly believe his eyes and ears when he beheld the meek and helpless creature who had once been the redoubtable Wilkinson. How had the mighty fallen I " We'll put you in a glass case, Wilks, like the old gray horse that was jined to the Methodis, and kicked so high they put him in the museum." ••Oorry," interrupted the still correct dominie, "I have no sympathy with that rude song ; but if you will quote it, please adhere to the original. It was < my old aunt Sal that was joined to the Methodists,' not the old gray horse." " ThankSj Wilks, thanks, I'll try and remember. Any more toast or jaub, old boy t " " No, I have a superabundance of good things." " Well, see you again, sometime when I have a chance. You're pretty well guarded you know. An revoir." Ooristine followed Mrs. Oarruthers down stairs ; while the dominie sighed, and said : '' It seems as if nothing will give that boy stability of character and staidness of demeanour." •< Who is going to service to-night 1 " asked the Squire. Mrs. Oarruthers could not, because of the children ; the doctor was unfit to walk ; and the colonel and Mrs. Da Plessis had so much to say to each other over their dear boy that they desired to be excused. Mr. Bigglethorpe TWO KNAPSACKS. 307 Raid he was a church -going man, bat hardly oared to air bis green shade in public ; whereupon Mr. Terry volun- teered to remain and smoke a pipe with him. Mrs. Carmiohael and her daughter signified their intention of accompanying the Squire, and Mr. Lamb at once asked permission to join them. Miss Halbert stated that she would like to go to week service, if anybody else was going. Of course, the lawyer offered his escort, and Miss Du Plessis and the Captain begged to be included. Thus, four of the party set out for Mr. Perrowne's mid-week service, and four to Mr. Errol's prayer meeting. Mr. Lamb did not get much out of Miss Oarmichael on the way, and Miss Halbert thought her escort unusually absent-minded. Ooming home, Mr. Perrowne deprived Coristine of his fair charge, and Mr. Errol relieved the Squire of his sister. Accordingly, the freed cavaliers drew together and conversed upon the events of the day. Qood Mr. Carruthers was startled, when the lawytr expressed his intention of leaving in the morning, as he could be of no further use, and felt he had already trespassed too long upon his generous hospitality. " Noo, Coristine," he said, falling into his doric, " what ails ye, man, at the lassie 1 " " My dear Squire, I have none but the kindest and most grateful thoughts towards all the ladies." *' Weel, weel, it's no for me to be spierin', but ye maun na gang awa frae 's on accoont o' yon daft haveral o' a Lamb." " Who is this Mr. Lamb ? " " I ken naelhiug aboot him, foreby that he's a moothin' cratur frau the Croon Lans Depairtment, wi' no owre muckle brains." Dropping the subject, the Squire proceeded to tell what he had found in Nash's papers, and proposed an expedition, ostensibly for fishing, in which the two of them, providing themselves with tools, should prospect for the hidden treasure of the former master of the Select Encampment. As it was unlikely that any claimant for Rawdon's property would appear, all that they found would belong to Matilda and her boy, unless it were judged right to indemnify Miss Du PleHuis for any Injury doue to her land. There was no reason for the lawyer's 308 TWO KNAP8A0M. departure. He had another week of leave, which he did not know how to put in. True, he could not remain until Wilkinson was perfectly well, but it would seem heartless to desert him so soon after he had received his wound. He had thought of writing the Squire about Miss Oarmiohael's position as her deceased father's next of kin, but it would save trouble to talk it over. All things considered, Mr. Carruthers did not find it a difficult task to make his pleasant new acquaintance reconsider his decision and commit himself to an indefinite prolongation of Bridesdale hospitality. Yet, as he entered the gate, he almost repented his weakness, on hearing the eye-glassed Lamb say : " What ohfully jawlly times we hod, Morjorie, when- you and I were sweethorts." He wished that he could recall some frightfully injurious and profane expression in a foreign tongue, with which to anathematize the wretched, familiar, conceited Grown Lands Depart- ment cad. While the Squire joined the doctor and the Oaptain in the office, he went over to a corner in which the pipes of the veteran and Mr. Bigglethorpe were still j^lowing, and, lighting his own, listened to their military and piscatorial yarns. Rufus had remained at Bridesdale, at the urgent en- treaty of his sisters and the Pilgrims; but the sight of the people going to prayer meeting smote his conscience. He knew his father and mother would be at meetin' in their own church, and that there would be a good deal of work to do. Besides he hadn't brought home the team from Mr. Hislop's since the bee. Nothing would stop him, therefore ; he shouldered his gun, and, bidding all goodbye, started for home. Nobody was left in the kitchen but the two maids and the two Pilgrims. Yes, there was one more, namely Mr. Paivkins, who was afeard his duds warn't dry. The nettrelized citizen of Kennidy was telling stories, that kept the company in peals and roars of laughter, about an applicant for a place in a paper mill, who was set to chewing a blue blanket into pulp, who was given a bottle of vinegar to sharpen his teeth with, and who was ignominiously expelled from the prem- ises Wause he didn't " chaw it dry " ; about a bunting billy goat ; and a powerful team of oxen, that got beyond the control of their barn-moving driver, and planted the TWO KNAPSACKS. 809 bam on the top of an almost inaccessible hill. Mr. Paw kins complimented the young women, and drew wonderful depths of knowledge out of Sylvanus and Timotheus. But, wben a vehicle rolled int(% the stable yard that brought the constable and Maguffin to join the party, the quondam American citizen waxed jubilant, and beheld eudless pos- sibilities of amusement. "Good evenin', consterble,** said Mr. Fawkins, blandly. *' Oood evening, sir, at your service," replied the pen- sioner. " Pawkins is my naum, cousterble, kyind er Scotch, I reckin. They flay pawky means sorter cute an' cunnin', like in Scotch. Never was thar myself, to speak on, but hev seed 'em." " The Scotch make good soldiers," said Mr. Rigby. "Yaas; I reckin the oatmeal sorter stiffens 'em up." " There are military authorities who assert that the Scotch are the only troops that can reform under fire ; but that is a mistake. In that respect, sir, the Guards are equal to any othtr Household Troops.** " Fer haousehold ^rooeps and reformin' under fire, you had orter ha seen aour fellers at Bull B,un. When the shooten' begun, all the Bowery plug uglies, bred to cnssin' and diinkin' and wuss, dropped ther guns and fell on ther knees a reformin' ; then, when they faonnd they couldn't reform so suddent, they up on ther two feet and started fer the haousbold. Eurrup ain't got nuthin' ter ekal aour haousehold trooeps." " Yon mistake me, Mr. Pawkins ; the Household Troops in infantry are the Guards and Highlanders, whose special duty it is to guard the royal household." " Is it big t" "Is what* big, sir t" " Why, the household 1 How many storeys is ther to it besides the attic and basement 1 Hev it got a maneiard )" " The Household, sir, dwells in royal palaces of great dimensions. It is the royal family and their attendants over whom the Guards watch." '• That's the Black Guards, ain't itf " "No, sir; yon are thinking of the Black Watch, a name of the Forty-second Highlanders." " D'ye hear that, you Sambo ) You orter go and git T I'-- 310 TWO KNAPSACKS. draafted inter that corpse, and go araoand breakin' the wimmin's hyearts in a oullud flannel petticut." "There are no negroes, sir, in the Black Watch," interposed the corporal. "See heah, yoh Yankee tianajinn," answered Mr. Maguflin with feeling, '* fo' de law ob this yeah kintry I'se jess es gdod a man as yoh is. So yob jess keep yoh Samboo in yoh mouf atter this. Specks yoh'se got a mighty low down name yohsef if t'was ony knowed by respeokable pnssona. " " My name, Mr. Julias Sneezer Disgustus Quaoken- boss, my name is Fawkins, great grandson of Hercules Leonidas Pawkins, as was briggidier ginral and aijicamp to George Washington, when he drummed the haousehold trooeps, and the hull o' the derned British army, out'n Noo Yohk to the toon o' ' Yankee Doodle. ' " The constable turned pale, shivered all over, and swayed about in his chair, almost frightening the menda- cious Yankee by the sight of tho mischief his words had wrought. Tryphena, however, quickly filled the shocked corporal a hot cup of tea, and mutely pressed him to drink it. He took off the tea at a gulp, set down the cup with a steady hand, and, looking Mr. Fawkins in the face, said : " I regret, sir, to have to say the word ; but, sir, you are a liar. " *' That's true as death, consterble, " remarked Timo- theus, who did not share the hostile feelings of Sylvanus towards Corporal Bigby ; " true as death, and the boys, they ducked him in the crick for't, but they's no washin' the lies out'n his jaws. " Mr. Fawkins looked as fierce as it was possible for a man with a merry twinkle in his eyes to look, and roared, "Oousterble, did you mean that, or did you only say it fer fun like?" Mr. Bigby, glaring defiance, answered, " I meant it. " *< Oh waall, " responded the Yankee Canadian, mildly, " that's all right ; because I want you to know that I don't allaow folks to joke with me that way. If you meant it, that's a different thing. " " What your general character may be, I do not know. As for your remarks on the British army, they are lies. " " I guess, consterble, you ain't up in the histry of the United States of Ameriky, or you'd know as your Qinral TWO KNAP8A0K8. 311 Clinton was drummed aout o' Noo Yohk to the toon o' • Yankee Doodle.' " *' I know, sir, that a moh of Hanoverians and Hes- sians, whom the Americans oould not drive out, evacuated New York, in conat^quence of a treaty of peace. If your general, as you call him, Washington, had the bad taste to play his ugly tune after them, it was just what might he expected from such a quarter." " My history," said Tryphosa, " says that the American army was driven out of Canada by a few regulars and some French -Canadians at the same time." " Brayvo, Phosy ! " cried Timotheus. *' I assert now, as I have asserted before," continued Corporal Rigby, " that the British army never has been defeated, and never can be defeated. I belong to the Brit- ish army, and know whereof T speak." " Were you in the American war, Mr. Pawkins 1 " asked Tryphena. " Yaas, I was thar, like the consterble, in the haouse* hold trooeps. When they come araound a draaftin', I skit aout to Kennidy. I've only got one thing agin the war, and that is makin' every common nigger so sassy he thinks he's the ekal of a white man. Soon's I think of that, the war makes me sick." " Itisthe boastof our Empire," remarked the pensioner, grandly, " that wherever its flag; floats, the slave is free." " It's a derned pity," said Mr. Pawkins ; " that there boy, Julius Sneezer Disgustus Quackenboss, nd be wuth heaps more'n he is, if his boss jest had the right to lick him straight along." <• Who," shrieked Maguffin ', " who'se yar Squacken- bawsin' an' gibbin' nigger lip ter 1 My name's Mortimah Magrudah Maguffin, an' what's yourn t Pawkins I Oh massy ! Pawkins, nex' thing tcr punkins. I cud get er punkin, an' cut a hole er two in it an' make a bettah face nor yourn,' Mistah Pawkins, candaberus, Ian tun iaw, down east, Yankee white tresh. What yon doin' ronn' this house, anyway 1 " " Arrah, hush now, childher ! " said Mr. Terry, enter- ing from the hall. " The aivenin's the time to make up aall dishputes, an' quoiet aal yer angry faylins afore yeez say yer worruds an' go to shlape, wid the howly angelu j/yarfiiu* yee*. Good aivenin'. Corporal." ft : ''i' SIS TWO KNAPSACKS. " Good evening, Sergeant-Major." " Mr. Terry," asked Tryphosa, timidly, " will yoa play a game at Gities, Rivers and Mountains 1 We were waiting for even numbers to begin." The veteran, who knew the game, agreed. Gallantly, the gentlemen asked the two ladies to ohoose sides, whereupon Tryphena selected Mr. Pawkins, Maguffin and Sylvanus ; Mr. Terry, the con- stable, and Timotheas fell to Tryphosa. Peace once more reigned, save when the great-grandson of the brigadier general was detected in looking over his opponent's cards and otherwise acting illegally. Biggluthorpe and the lawyer entered the house, not far from bed time. The company was in the drawing- room, and a lady was at the piano singing, and playing her own accompaniment, while Mr. Lamb was standing beside her, pretending to turn over the music, of which he had as little knowledge as the animal whose name he bore. The song was that beatif ul one of Burns, O wert tkou in the oauld blast On yonder lea, on yonder lea, and, though a gentleman's song, it was rendered with exquisite taste and feeling. The singer looked up appeal- ingly at Mr. Lamb twice, solely to invoke his aid in turning the music leaf. But, to Ooristine's jealous soul, it was a glance of tenderness and mutual understanding. Four long days he had known her, and she had never sung for him ; and now, just as soon as the Grown Ijand idiot comes along, she must favour him with her very best. He would not be rude, and talk while the singin;; was going on, but he would let Lamb do all the thanking ; he wasn't going shares with that affected dude. The music ceased, and he turned to see whom he could talk to. Mrs. Garmichael and Miss Halbert were busy with their clerical adorers. The colonel and Mrs. Du Plessis bad evidently bid their dear boy good night, for they were engaged in earnest conversation, in which he called her Terdaa, and she called him Paul as often as colonel. Miss Dn Plessis was turning over the leaves of an album. He went up to her, and asked if she would not favour the company with some music. " Instrumental or vocal, Mr. Goristine f " she asked. " Oh, vocal, if you please. Miss Du Plessis ; TWO KNAP8AUKS. 313 do yoQ fling, ' Shall I wasting in despair,' or anything of that kindl " Miss Da Plessis did not, but would like to bear Mr. Ooristine sin;; it. He objected that he had no music, and was a poor accompanyist. Before the unhappy man knew where he was. Miss Du Plessis was by Miss Oarraichael's side, begging her dear friend Marjorie to accompany Mr. Ooristine. She agreed, for she knew the soug, and the music was in the stand. Like a condemned criminal, Ooristine was conducted to the piano ; but the first few bars put vigour into him, and he sang the piece through with credit. He was compelled, of coarse, to return thanks for the excellent accompaniment, but this he did in a stiff formal way, as if the musician was an entire stranger. Then they had prayers, for the gentlemen had come in out of the office, and, afterwards, the clergymen went home. As the inmaies of Bridesdale separated for the night. Miss Carmichael handed the lawyer his ring, saying that since bis hands were fit to dispense with gloves, they must also be strong enough to bear its weight. He accepted the ring with a sigh, and silently retired to his chamber. Before turning in for the night, he looked in upon Wilkinson, whom he ioand awake. After enquiries as to his arm and general health, he said : " Wilks, my boy, congratulate me on being an ass ; I've lost the finest woman in all the world by my own stupidity." His friend smiled at him, and answered : '• Do not be down-hearted, Oorry ; I will speak to Oeci — Miss Du Plessis I mean, and she will arrange matters for you." The lawyer fervently exclaimed : " God bless yoa, Wilks!" and withdrew, not a little comforted. We cannot intrude into the apartment of the young ladies, but there was large comfort in their conversation for a person whose Ohristian name was Eugene. If he only had known it 1 By the constable, Ben Toner, and other messengers, Mr. Bigglethorpe had acquainted his somewhat tyrannical spouse that he was staying for a while at the Flanders lakes to enjoy the fishing. Mr. Bigby had brought from the store his best rods and lines and his fly-book. He was, therefore, np early on Thursday morning, lamenting that he was not at Richards, whence he could have visited the first lake and secured a meus of fish before breakfast. '} 314 TWO KNAPSACKS. It i'i'iJ He WM aorting oat hift tackle in the offioo, when Marjorie, an early riser, oame in to see if UDole John was there. When she found oat the oooapant, she said : " Gome along, Mr. Biggies, and let as go fishing, it's so long before breakfast. " Fishing children could do anything with Bigglethorpe ; he would even help them to catch cat-fish and suckers. But he had an eye to businHss. " Marjorie," he asked, " do you think you could find me a pickle bottio, an empty one, yon know f " She thought she could, and at once engaged 'Phosa and'Phena in the search for one. A Orosse and Blackwell wide-mouthed bottle, b'^aring the label " mixed pickles, " which really means gherkins, was borne triumphantly into the office. Mr. Bigglethorpe han- dled it affectionately, and said : "Put on your hat, Marjorie, and we'll go crawfish hunting. " Without rod or line, the fisherman, holding the pickle bottle in his left hand, and taking Marjorie by the right, walked down to the creek. On its bank he sat down, and took off his shoes and socks, an example quickly and joyfully followed by his young companion. Then he splashed a little water on his head, and she did the same ; after which they waded in the shallow brook, and turned up flat stones in its bed. Sometimes the crawfish lay quite still, when Mr. Biggle- thorpe, getting his right hand, with extended thumb and forefinger, slily behind it, grasped the unsuspecting crusta- cean at the back of his great nippers, and landed him in the bottle filled with sparkling water. Sometimes a " craw, " as Marjorie called them, darted away backward in a great hurry, and had to be looked for under another stone, and these were generally young active fellows, which, the fisherman said, made the best bait for bass. It was wild, exciting work, with a spice of danger in it from the chance of a nip from those terrible claws. Marjorie enjoyed it to the full. She laughed and shrieked, and clapped her hands over every new addition to the pickle bottle, and Mr. Biggies was every bit as enthusiastic as she was. Soon they were aware of a third figure on the scene. It was the sleepless lawyer. " Gome in, Eugene, " cried Marjorie ; " take off your shoes and stockings, and help us to catch these lovely craws. " He had to obey, and was soon as excited as the others over this novel kind of sport. TWO RNAPSAORn. 815 Ooristine lookpd up afler seoaring hin twelfth victim, and HAW four figures sauntering down the hill. Three were young ladies in print morning gowns ; the fourth was the ineffable dude, Lamb. At once he went back, and put himself into socks and boots, turning down his trouser legs, as if innocent of the childish amusement. " Haw, " brayed Mr. Lamb, " is thot you, Gawrstine 1 Been poddling in the wotter, to remind yoursolf of the doys when you used to run round in your bare feet t " Outwardly calm, the lawyer advanced to meet the imva- ders. Bowing somewhat too ceremoniously to the three ladies, who looked delightfully fresh and cool in their morning toilets, he answered his interlocutor. "I am sure, Mr. Lamb, that it would afford Mr. Bigglethorpe and Marjorie additional satisfaction, to know that their wading after crawfish brought up memories of your barefooted youth. Unfortunately, I have no such blissful period to recall. " Mr. Lamb blushed, and stammered some inco- herencies, and Miss Carniichael, running past the lawyer towards Marjorie, whispered as she flitted before him, '* you rude, unkind man !' * This did not tend to make him more amiable. He snubbed the Crown Land gentle- man at every turn, and, more than usually brilliant in talk, effectually kept his adversary out of conversation with the remaining ladies. " Look, Oecile ! " said Miss Halbert ; " Marjorie is actually joining the waders. " Mr. Lamb stroked his whisker- moustache and remarked : " Haw, you know, thot's nothing new for Morjorie ; when w J were childron together, we awften went poddling about in creeks for orowfish and minnows. " Then he had the impertinence to stroll down to the brook, and rally the new addition to the crawfishing party. To Ooristine the «rhole thing was gall and wormwood. The only satisfac- tion he had was, that Mr. Lamb could not summon cour- age enough to divest himself of shoes and stockings and take part in the, sport personally. But what an insuffer- able ass he, Ooristine, had been not to keep on wading, in view of such glorious company I What was the use of complaining : had he been there she would never have gone In, trust her for that ! Wilkinson and he were right in their old compact : the female sex is a delusion and a snare. Thank heaven I there's the prayer gong, but will i 316 TWO KNAPHAOKB. \ \ i^ that staring, flat-footed, hawhawing, Oivil Service idiot be looking on while abe rMattirea liertinlff He had half a mind to descend and brain him on tliie spot, if he had any brains, so as to render irnpossible the woefal calamity. But the fates were merciful, sending Mr. Lamb up with Mar- jorieand Mr. Bigglethorpe. Now was the angry man'u chance, and a rare one, but, like an angry man, he did not seize it. The other two ladies remarked to each other that it was not very polite of three gentlemen to allow a lady, the last of the party, to come up the hill alone. What did he care t At breakfast. Miss Carmichael sat between Messrs. Bigglethorpe and Lamb, and the lawyer between MisH Haibert and the veteran. " Who are going fishing to the lakes, " asked the Squire, to which question the doc- tor replied, regretting his inability ; and the colonel declined the invitation on account of his dear boy. Mr. Lamb intimated that he had business with Miss Du Plessis on Grown Land matters, as the department wished to get back into its possession the land owned by her. This was a bombshell in the camp. Miss Du Plessis declined to have any conference on the subject, referring the civil servant to her uncle, to Squire Oarruthers, and to her solici- tor, Mr. Coristine. The lawyer was disposed to be liberal in politics, although his friend Wilkinson was a strong Conservative ; but the contemptible meanness of a gov- ernment department attempting to retire property det'ded and paid for in order to gain a few hundred dol- lars or a new constituent, aroused his vehement indigna- tion, and his determination to fight Lamb and his masters to the bitter end of the Privy Council. " Mr. Lamb, " said the colonel, " is yoar business with my niece complicated, or is it capable of being stated bhieflyl" " I can put it in a very few words. Colonel," replied the civil service official ; " the deportment hos received on awfifer for Miss Da Plessis' lond whioh it would be fawlly to refuse." " But," interposed the Squire, " the department has naething to dae wi' Miss Cecile'a land j it's her ain, every fit o't." " You don't know the deportment, Squire. It con TWO KNAPfl40KI. 817 take book lond of its own deed, fliipeoi»lly wild lond, by the awffer of a reasonable cquivohmt or indemnity. It propoHCB to retarn the piirohase money, with five per cent, interest to date, and the amount of municipal toxes attested by fHceiptH. Thot ia regorded on a fair odjustment, nnd on MiHH Du Plessis surrendering her deed to nie, the de- portment will settle the claim within twelve months, if press of business oUows." " Such abominable, thieving iniquity, on the pairt o' a Government ca'ain' itself leeberal, I never hard o' in aa my life," said the indignant Squire. " Do you mean to say, Arthur," asked Mrs. Oarmi- chael, '* that your department can take away Cecile's pro perty in that cavalier fashion, and without any regard to the rise in values f" '* I'm ofraid so, Mrs. Oormichael." " What have you to say to that, Mr. Ooristine, from a legal standpoint t " enquired Mrs. Carroihers. " A deed of land made by the Government, or by a private individual, conveys, when, as in this case, all provisions have been complied with, an inalienable title." " There is such a thing as expropriation," suggested Mr. Lamb, rather annoyed to find a lawyer there. " Expropriation is a municipal affair in cities and towns, or it may be national and provincial in the case of chartered railways or national parks, in all which cases remuneration is by arbitration, not by the will of any expropriating body." "The deportment may regord this as a provincial offair. Ot any rate, it hos octed in this way before with success." " I know that the department has induced people to surrendf r their rights for the sake of its popularity, but by wheedling, not by law or justice, and, generally, there has been some condition of payment, or something else, not complied with." "Thot's simple enough. A few lines in the book- keeping awffice con involidate the deed." " One or two words, Mr. Lamb, and I have done ; the quicker you answer, the sooner Miss Du Plessis' decision is reached. Do you represent the commissioner, the minister t" I I J 318 TWO KNAPNACR8. 4^ - •' I ' I ^1 tJMl " Well, not exoctly." " Were yon mint by his deputy, the head of the department t " " Not the hpad «xoctly/* " Is the name of Ihe man, for whom your friend wanta ^0 expropriate MiRs Du PlesitiH' land, called Rawdon, Altamout Rawdon 1 " " How did yon know thot t Ore you one of the deportment outriggers 7 " *' No ; I have nothing to do with any kind of dirty work. Ton go back, and tell your man, first, that Bawdon is dead, and that in life he was a notorious criminal ; second, that Miss Du Pleasis' land has been devastated by the fire in which he perished ; and, third, that if he, or you, or any other contemptible swindler, moves a finger in this direction, either above board or below, I'll have you up for foul conspiracy, and make the department only too happy to send you about your busi- ness to save its reputation before the country." As Ben Toner and his friends in the kitchen would have said, Mr. Lamb was paralyzed. While the lawyer had spoken with animation, there was something quite judicial in his manner. Miss Oarmichael looked up at him from under her long lashes with an admiration it would have done him good to see, and a hum of approving remarks went all round the table. Then, in an evil moment, the young lady felt it her duty to comfort the heart of poor Orther Lom, whom everybody else regarded with some- thing akin to conteioapt. She talked to him of old times, until the man's inflated English was forgotten, as well as his by no means reputable errand. The young o^an was quite incapable of any deep-laid scheme of wrongodoing, as he was of any high or generous impulse. He was a mere machine, educated up to a certain point, able to write a good hand, and express himself grammatically, but think- ing more of bis dress and his spurious English than of any learning or accomplishment, and .the unreasoning tool of his official superiors. He had been checkmated by Coris- tine, and felt terribly disappointed at the failure of his mission ; but the thought that he had been engaged in a tnost dishonest attempt did not trouble him in the least. Yet, had he been offered a large bribe to commit robbery TWO KNAP8A0R8. sig in the xuntA ways, he wonld have rejected the proposition with soorn. Mihb Oarmiobael, knowing his character, waa sorry for him, little thinking that bis returning vivacity nnder her genial influence smote Ooristine's heart, as the evidence of double disloyalty on the lady's part, to her friend, Miss Da Plessis, and to him. Tiring of her single- handed work, she turned to Mr. Bigglethorpe, saying : " Yoo know Mr. Lamb, do you not I " The fisherman answered : " You were kind enough to introduce us last night, Miss Oarmichael, but you will, I hope, pardon me for saying that I do not approve of Mr. Lamb." Then he turned away, and conversed with the Captain. When the company rose, the only person who approached the civil servant was the colonel, who said : *' I pebsume, sub, aftah what my kind friend, Mr. Oohistine, bas spoken so well, you will not annoy my niece with any moah remahka about her propehty. It wonld please that lady and me, as her guahdian, if you will fobget Miss Du Plessis' exist- ence, sub, so fab as you are concebned." This was chill- ing, but chill did not hurt Mr. Lamb. The little Car- rnthers, headed by Marjorie, were in front of the verttn- dah when Miss Carmichael and he went out. Marjorie had evidently been schooling them, for, at her word of command, they began to sing, to the tune of " Little Bo Peep," the original words : — Poor Orther Loin, He looks so glom. Miss Carmicbael seized her namesake and shook her. "Yon naughty, wicked little girl, how dare yout Who taught you these shameful words 1 " she abked, boiling with indignation. Marjorie cried a little for vexation, but would not reveal the name o£ the author. Some said it was the doctor, and others, that it was his daughter Fanny ; but Miss Carmicbael was sure that the lawyer, Marjorie's great friend, Eugene, was the guilty party, that he ought to be ashamed of himself, and that the sooner he left Bridesdale the better. Coristine was completely innocent of the awful crime, which lay in the skirts of Marjorie's father, the Captain, as might have been suspected from the beauty of the couplet. The consequence of the poetic sur- prise waa the exclusive attachment of Miss Carmicbael to i 320 TWO KNAPSACKS. the Orown Lands man, in a long walk in the garden, a confidential talk, and the preaent of a perfectly beantifal batton-hole pinned in by her own hands. CHAPTER XVII. The Picnic — Treasure Trove — A Substantial Ghost Captured — Coris- tine'H Farewell— Ride to Collingwood— Hnngn Secures llawdon— Off to Toronto— Coristine Meets the Captain -Grief at Brides- dale— Marjorie and Mr. Biggies— Miss Du Plessis Frightens Mr. Lamb— The Minister's Smoke — Fishing Pionio. AFTER his Parthian shot, the Captain ordered Sylvanus to get but the gig, as he was ,^v\ng home. Leaving Marjorie in the hands of her annt Carmichael, he saluted hin daughter, his niece, and his two sinters inlaw, and took their messages for Susan. Ther j whs grief in the kitchen at the departure of Sylvanus, who expected to be on the rolling deep before the end of the week. Mr. Pawkins and Constable Rigby had already taken leave, travelling homeward in an amicable way. Then, Doctor Salbert insisted on his vehicle being brought round, as there must be work waiting for him at home ; so a box with a cushion was placed for his sprained leg, and he and Miss Fanny were just on the eve of starting, when Mr. Perrownecame running up in great haste, and begged to be allowed to drive the doctor over. With a little squeezing he got in, and, amid much waving of handkerchiefs, the doctor's buggy drove away. Mr. Lamb exhibited no desire to leave, and Miss Carmichael was compelled to devote herself to ^im, a somewhat monotonous task, in spite of his gar- rulous egotism. Timotheus, by the Squire's orders, har- nessed the horses to the waggonette, and deposited therein a pickaxe and a spade. Mr. Bigglethorpe brought out his fishing tackle, joyous over the prospect of a day's fishing, and Mr. Terry lugged along a huge basket, prepared by his daughter in the kitchen, with all manner of eatables and drinkables for the picnic. The lawyer made the fourth of the party, exclusive of Timotheus, who gave instructions to Maguffin how to behave in his absence. The colonel was with Wilkinson, but the ladies and Mr. Lamb came TWO KNAP8A0KS. 321 to see the expedition under way. It was arranged tl)at Timothens Bhoald drive the Squire and the lawyer to the masked road and leave them there, after which he was to take the others to Richards place, put up the horses, and help them to propel the soow through the lakes and chan- nels. Accordingly, the treasure seekers got out the pick and shovel, and trudged along to the scene of the late fire. Ah they neared the Encampment, their road became a difficult and painful one, over fallen trees blackened with fire, and through beds of sodden ashes. At the Encamp- ment, the ground, save where the buildings had stood, was comparatively bare. The lofty and enormously strong brick chimney was still standing in spite of the many explosions, and, here and there, a horse appeared, lookint; wiptfuUy at the ruins of its former home. There, the intend- i°R i;g3>'s stood, gazing mutely for a while on the scene of iln-iolation. " ' Sandy soil, draining both ways, and undercover,* is what we want, Ooristine," said the Squire. The two walked back and forward along the ridge, rejecting rock and depression and timbered land. They searched the foundations of houses and sheds, found the trap under Rawdon'a own house that led to the now utterly caved-in tunnel, and tried likely spots where once the stables stood, only to find accumulations of rubbish. A steel square such as carpenters use, was found among the chips in the stone-yard, and of this Coiistine made a primitive sur- veyor's implement by which he sought to take the level of the ground. "Bring your eye down here, Mr. Oarruthers," ho said. "I see," answered the Squire ; " but, man, yon's just a conglomeration o' muckle stanes." The lawyer replied, "That's true, Squire, but it's the height of land, and that top stone lies almost too squarely to be natural. Let us try them at least It will do no harm, and the day is young yet." They went forward to a spot beyond the stone yard, on the opposite side from the burnt stables, which they saw had once been railed oflf, for the blackened stamps of the posts were still in the ground. It was a picturesque mass of confusion, apparently an outcrop of che limestone, not uncommon in that region. But the Uwyer probed the ground all about it. It was light dry aoil, with no trace of a rocky bottom. Without a lever, 322 TWO KNAPSACKS. their work was hard, but they suoceeded in throwing off the large flat protecting slab, and in scattering its rocky supports. "Man, Ooristine, I believe you're richt," ejaculated the perspiring Carruthers. Then he took the pick and loosened the ground, while the lawyer removed the earth with his spade. " There's no' a root nor a muckle stane in the haill o't, Ooristine; this groond'a been wrocht afore, my lad." So they kept on, till at last the pick rebounded with a metallic clang. " Let me clear it. Squire," asked the lawyer, and, at once, his spade sent the sand flying, and revealed a box of japanned tin, the counterpart of that discovered by Muggins, which had only contained samples of grindstones. A little more picking, and a little more spading, and the box came easily oat. It was heavy, wonderfully heavy, and it was padlocked. The flharp edge of the spade loosened the lid sufficiently to admit the point of the pick, and, while Ooristine hung on to the box, the Squire wrenched it open. The tin box was full of notes and gold. "There's thoosands an' thoosands here, Ooristine, eneuch to keep yon puir body o' a Matilda in comfort aa' her days. Man, it's a graun' discovery, an' you're the chiel that's fund it, " cried the Squire, with exultation. the lawyer peered in too, when, suddenly, he heard a shot, a bullet whizzed past his ear, and, the next moment, with a sickening thud, Oarruthers fell to the ground. Ooristine rose to his feet like lightning, and faced an apparition ; the Grinstun man, with pistol in one hand and life preserver in the other, was before him. With- out a moment's hesitation he regained his grasp of his spade, and stretched the ghost at his feet, mercifully with the flat of it, and then relieved his victim of pistol and loaded skull-cracker. He heard voices hailing, and recog- nized them as those of the veteran and the fisherman. He replied with a loud cry of "Hurry, hurry, help!" which roused the prostrate spectre. It arose and made a dash for the tin box, but Ooristine threw himself upon the substantial ghost, and a struggle for life began. They clasped, they wrestled, they fell over the poor unconscious Squire, and upset the tin box. They clasped each other by the throat, the hair ; they kicked with their feet, and pounded with their knees. It was Grinstun's last ditch, TWO KNAPSACKS. 393 and he was game to hold it ; but the lawyer was ame too. Sometimes he was up and had hia hand on his opponent's throat, and again, he could not tell howr, he was turned over, and the heavy squat form of Rawdon fell like an awful nightmare on his chest. But he would not give in. He saw his antagonist reach for a weapon, pistol, skull- cracker, he knew not what it was, but that reach released one hand from his throat. With a tremendous effort, he turned, and lay side to side with his enemy, when Timo- theus dashed in, and, bodily picking up the Grinstun man in his arms, hammered his head on the big flat stone, till the breathless lawyer begged him to Btop. Up came Mr. Bigglethorpe and Mr. Terry in great consterna tion, and gazed with wonder upon the lately active ghost " Make him fast, " cried Coristine with difficulty, " while I look after the poor Squire. " So, Timotheus and the Bsher took off Rawdon's coat and braces, and bound him hand and foot with his own belongings. But the veteran had already looked to his son-in-law, and, from the picnic stores, had poured some spirits into his lips. " Rouse up John, avic," he cried piteously, "rouse up, my darlint, or Honoria 'ull be breakin' her poor heart. It's good min is scarce thim toimes, an' the good God'll niver be takin' away the bist son iver an ould man had. " The Squire came to, although the dark blood oozed out of an ugly wound in the back of his head, and the amount of liquor his affectionate father-in law had poured into him made him light-headed. " Glory be to God ! " said the old man and all the others gratefully anawered •• Amen. " ' The lawyer explained the circumstances, the excava- tion, the money, the assault, to his deliverers ; but the resurrection of the Grinstun man was a mystery which he could not explain. Without being told, Timotheus, whose arnval had been so opportune, ran all the way to Richards, and brought from thence the waggon, along with Harry Richards, who volunteered to accompany him, and Mr. Errol, who was visiting in tie neighbourhood. Young Richards brought an axe with him, and cleared some of the obstroctions of the once masked road, so that the vehicle vas able to get up within reasonable distance of the Bncarapment. It was desirable to get the Squire home lest his injuries should be greater than they supposed, and l i. ' 324 TWO KNAPSACKS. the prisoner ought to be in Mr. Bangs' hands «t once. Accordingly, Mr. Errol and Harry Richards offered to stay with Mr. Bigglethorpe and carry out the original picnic, it being understood that Timotheus would either call or send for them about four o'clock. " Gin I'm gaun to be oot on the splore, I maun hae a bit smokie. Wha's gotten a bit pipe he's no usib'l" asked the usually sedate minister. Ooristine handed over to him his smoking materials, penknife included ; and Mr. Errol, taking off his coat, sat down on a stone to fill the pipe, saying, " Nae mair pastoral veesitation for me the day. Gin any body spiers whaur I am, just tell them I'm renewin' my youth." Timotheus and Harry carried the prisoner to the waggon, while the veteran and the lawyer followed, leading the Squire, and carrying the box of treasure. The fishermen came to see them off, and, then, they descended to the lake shore and began the sport of the day. Timotheus drove, and the Squire sat up between him and his affectionate father-in-law. The lawyer was in the rear seat with the prisoner, who, for greater security, was lashed to the back of it. Rawdon's'revolver was in his aaptor's hand, and his skull-cracker in a handy place. Several times, shamming insensibility, the prince of tricksters endeavoured to throw his solitary warder off his guard, but the party reached Bridesdale without his succeeding in loosening a single thong. There was great consternation when Timotheus drove up to the gate. The children had been at their old game of the handkerchief, and Miss Carmichael was actually chasing Orther Lom, to their gre^t glee, and to Coristine's intense disgust. Of course, they stopped when they saw the waggon and the Squire's pale face. The colonel, who had been smoking his morning cigar on the verandah, came forward rapidly, and, with Mr. Terry, helped the master ot Bridesdale to alight. Then, his wife and sister took the wounded man in charge, and led him into the house, for he was thor- oughly dazed and incapable of attending to any business. " If you will allow me, colonel," said the lawyer, " I will take charge of legal matters in this case," to which Colonel Morton answered, " Most cehtainly, my deah suh, no one moah competent." Magnffin had come round to see if his servi-^s would TWO KNAPSAOKB. 325 is servi-x^B be required, and waa appointed to mount guard over the prisoner in company with Timothens. To Mr. Terry the lawyer gave the heavy cash box, with orders to put it in a safe place in the Squire's office. Then, Coristine went up stairs, washed and brushed away the traces of conflict, an not going back, Mr. Terry. I said good-bye to them all at Bndesdale, and must hurry away to business. Ferhaps Timotheus will ride the horse, while you drive" Thet pore enimel isn't fit fer eny more werk to-night. Mr Coristine. I'll tell you, Mr. Terry, whet I'll do I Bhell be beck here to-morrow evening, end will ride the horse to Bridesdele. I've got a weggon and team of the 8»kfoiit. PIi-uho rfiiipmlwr ma (o Morjorli', will jou CtM-ilo, if 1 thoot hov tim« to mm attr brforn T gow." Mr. lAmb took Itlw inoroooo iiHppfrM Umvk to thnbouw*, •ntl Hoon r»'tipp«.«r«Hl •( fh« jjatf, (JUdNt.inr Umn and c«nM in hand, looking at th'- approaching ataga. It waa tiil«^J m)A III 334 TWO KNAP8A0K8. '■■. t up with a rougbisb crowd, all except one seat in the back, into which he jumped. The driver flicked hia horses, and Bridesdale was relieved of the presence of Orther Lorn. " Marjorie," said Miss Du Plessis, " I have bad news for you." " What is it, Cecile 1" ' " Your young man has called me by my Christian name, without even putting Miss before it." " Have you killed him and dug his grave with those eyes of yours?" '* No, I simply told him that Mr. Ooristine had returned to Toronto, pi rhaps on Crown Land business." "Well?" -c >.; " It ten; tied him so, that he packed his valise forth- with and is gone." ^ . "But how i" ^^ ' " By the stage. Did you not hear the horn just now 1 " " No, I was too bufiy with that delightful Mr. Biggle- chorpe. But do you mean to tell me that Arthur has left without a farewell word to anybody 1 " " He said, * Please remember me to Marjorie, will you, Cecile V What do you think of that ? " " What odious impertinence ! I am glad the silly crea- ture has gone, and, were it not for the !jafety of your land, I wish he had never come." " It was not he who saved my land, Marjorie." " Ob, don't I know i Don't talk to me any more ! You are hateful, Cecile I " " If you can forget fifty acts of disinterested kindness, Marjorie, it does not follow that I am to do the same." By which it will appear that Miss Du Plessis bad her orders to rub it in pretty hot to her friend, and was ruii- bing it in accordingly, even though it did smart. Mihh Carmichael broke away from ber, and ran to the housp, leaving her once dear Cecile to follow with Marjorie anniiH. When I'm in Hinoking company, I can take a good many, eh Mr. Biggluthorpu 1 " 336 TWO KNAPSACKS. i "Yesterday was a very special occaision, Mr. Errol. You called it renewing your youth, you know, and nimed the picnic a splore." '* I felt like a laddie again at the fishing, Mrs. Car- michael, just as light-hearted and happy as if I were a callant on ihe hilla" '* And what do yon generally feel like) Not an old man, I hope 1 " "I'll never be a young one again, Mrs. Carmichael." " Perfect nonsense, Mr. Errol ! Don't let me hear you talk like that again." "Hearin's obeyin*," meekl/ replied the minister, showing that he was making some progress in his mature wooing. After breakfast, the company sat out on the veran- dah. The colonel had to smoke his morning cigar, and courteously offered his cigar case to all the gentlemen, who declined with thanks. "If it were not that I might trouble the ladies," said the minister, " I might take a draw out of poor Coristine's meerschaum." Mrs. Car- michael at once said: "Please do so, Mr. Errol; the doctor smoked, so that I am quite used to it. I like to 830 a good man enjoying his pipe." " You are quite sure, Mrs. Carmichael, that it will not be offensive 1 I would cut off my right hand rather tbau be a smoking nuisance to any lady." " Quite sure, Mr. Errol ; go on and fill your pipe, unless yon want me to fill it for you. I know how to do it." So, Mr. Errol continued the splore, and smoked the Turk's head. Mr. Terry lit his dudheen, and Mr. Bigglo thorpe, his briar. The Squire's head was too Hore for Hiiiok ing, but he said he likod thn smell o' the reek. While thuH engaged, a buggy drove up, and Miss lialbert and Mr. Perrowne alighted from it, while Magutfin, always watch fnl, took the horse round to the stable yard. The doctor had heard of Rawdun's capture, and had sent these two innocents to 8et> that all was ri((|it at Hridesdalo. Mim Halbert sat down by MisH l)u Plf'ssis, and the parson aocopt ing one of the oolQnel'H cigars, joinod the iinokerN. He hIho regretted the ahsenu*^ of Uoristine, a Mplendid fellow, hr mUU, a perfvol trump, the girl will Ixi luokj who g«t« • "9 two KNAPS /ICKS. 337 man like that, expriBssions that were not cabnlated to make Miss Carmichael happy. Mr.Perrowne had proposed and had been accepted. He waa in wild spirits, when Mr. Bigglethorpe startled the company by saying, " I've got an idear i " "Howid on to it, Bigglethorpe, howld on ; yoa may nevf 1 get another," cried the parson. *' What is it 1 " asked Mrs. Oarruthers, who was shoo- ing the children away to TryphoRa. " It's a united picnic to the likes. Who's got to sty at home t " " I have for one," answered the Squire ; " yon deevil o' a Rawdon has gien me a scanner at picnics." " I cannot go," said his wife, ** for I have him and the children to keep me." '* Paul, you must go, and Oecile also," interposed Mrs. Du Plessis ; " I will attend to the wants of our patient." " Then," spoke up the fisherman, " we shall have Mro. Carmichael and Mr. Errol, MIbs Halbert and Mr. Per- rowne, the colonel and Miss Oarruthers, Mr. Terry and Miss Du Plessis, and, please Mrs. Carmichael, Marjorie and me. Can ten get into one waggon f " " aye," replied the Squire, " the waggon'll hand nine, and Marjorie can sit on Mr. Bigglethorpe's knees. Hi, Timotheus, get oot the biggest waggon wi' three seats, quick, man I" Once more, the mighty ham was carved into mndwiches, and others were made of sardines and marmalade. Chickens were hastily roasted, and pios and cake «, meant for dinner and tea, stowed away in baskets, with bottles of ale and cidnr and milk, and inatnrials for tea making, and a huge chunk of ice out nf the ice-housn, and a black bottle that Mr. Terry eyed ittf ctionately. •' This is for you old men, grandpapa," said Mrs. Oarmiohael to the veteran ; " now, nMiiHuiber, none for these boyi, firrol and Perrowne." Mr. Tnrry n>plipd : "To be sur(% ma'am," but thought in bis heart, would it be him that would dt'prive thn l>oyH of a bit of innocent recreation at such a tfuie. 8aoh a look ing out th« in pcrnon. Mr. Torry wan to be ohiof of the oomniiMiarial under Mm Oar niiobael. Mr. Bigglethorpe wm to dimol flahiag opi^r* I', . .■ :^ ■i.' i*.; 338 TWO KNAPSACKS. I ations, and bring, with the assistance of Mr. Terry, the scow and Rawdon's boat to the Encampment lake. Mar- jorie was wild with delight, and insisted on going with the grandfather and dear Mr. Biggies. It was ten o'clock when all the preparations were concluded, and Timotheus brought round the capacious waggon. All the household assembled to see the picnic party off, and the young Car- ruthers lifted up their voices and wept. The whole ten got in, but there was no free rollicking Irish voice to sing : — Wait for the waggon. And we'll all take a ride. CHAPTER XVIII. ' At the Encampment — Botany — Fishing— Matilda — The New Lake- Tillycot — Luncheon— After Recreation — New Visitors to Tilly- cot— Edifying Talk— Songs on the Way Home— Mr. Higgle- thorpe's Departure — Uncle and Niece— fttr. Bangs and Kiif us — Ladies Catch a Burglar — The Constable Secures Him — Muggins' Death -Burglam llepulsed— Rebecca Toner— The Clergy Hilar- ious—A Young Lady Fhids a Poem. MR. BIGGLETHORPE, Mr. Terry and Marjorie, with part of the picnic material, got oft the waggon at the Richardn' place, and proceoded to the lakn. Tbf^ found thn punt thttro, but saw no sign of tho skiflf. Marjorie inherited her father's love of the water, and greatly cnjoyiHl even the ■low progress made by the paddles of her boatmen in the unwieldy craft. MeanwhlN*, the WHggon arrived as near the nnoampuient %n it wan possible to get ; the company d<«onndeut wherti they plejuMNl, aft«>r which the thrf^i gentlemen carried tbn wrapN and pionio liaaketn and p«IIn to where the lading stood, inapfwling the ravafMi of the fire. MugginN had eonie with Mr Perrownr, and miiilKl aliout, rodiiicovnHng the trt^wittre hob whi^h had m> niMirly proved fatal to the H(|uir«. ft wan agr^wsii ui go down to lk« WAltv'l iwife, and r-m-amp upuu Boum grf*ru <*pot, ti»»r good (Uhing, over whirh the buah fir*' had ikii mn. Hvoii TWO KNAP8A0K8. 339 a place was found to the right of the caved-in tunnel, a broad patch of fine- leaved native grass, shaded by oaks and maples of second growth. There the provisions were deposited, and, the rugs being spread over the grass, the ladies sat down to await the arrival of the boat party. A good three-quarters of an hour passed before they heard the splash of the paddles, and Muggins ran barking to meet the intruders upon the sabbath stillness of the scene. While waiting, Mrs. Oarmichael and Mr. Errol took a atroU in the dark woods adjoining, and brought back some floral specimens in the shape of Prince'n Pines, Pyrolas, and Indian Pipes, which were deposited in the lap of th(i tinder's daughter, with a suggest! veness that young lady felt disposed to resent. However, Marjorie's voice was heard just then, and thoughts and conversation were turned into other channels. "Where is the skiff?" asked the fisherman, but nobody could enlighten him ; they simply answered that it was not there. The colonel remarked that its absence looked suspicious, and bade them be on their guard. He, accordingly, inspected the arms of the expedition, and finding them to consist of two fowling pieces, those of Messrs. Porrowne and Bigglethorpe, and two pistols borne by Mr. Terry and hiniHolf, was com forted. As the tiMherman had inaugurated the picnic, it was obviously his duty to act as master of ceremonies. He proposed making two fishing parties, one off the scow, and another off a pier, which \w and the gentlemen were i»l>out to build out from the shore Im»Iow th( picnic ground. A large pine had U^m felled many years In^forf, pro- Imbly by lumbermen, and two lengths of it, eaoh about •'ight fe«!t, had lan^n reiected as unitound. ThoiM^ the gentlemen, colonel included, got iMhin.l, and rolled down into the wat^r. Mr. Porrowne and the flnherman doff.Hl ilieir rIioub. n*uu«i |«^f LU*t w*mW iHtv** IwHt tin* »*44«if »4 • |f.w ■:'m i 340 TWO KNAPSACKS. hi spikes to steady the boards. Mr. Bigglethorpe provided rods and lines, and baited the hooks for the ladies, with grasshoppers, frogs, crawfish and minnows. The last were provided by Marjorie. At the fisherman's sugges- tion, she had got from Tryphena a useless wire dish-cover that bad lost its handle, a parcel of oatmeal, and a two- quart tin pail. Mr. Bigglethorpe had fastened a handle cut ont of the bush to the dish cover, thus converting it into a scoop-net. Barefooted, Marjorie stood in the shal- low water, scattering a little oatmeal, when up came a shoal of minnows eager for the food thus provided. At one fell swoop, the young fisherwoman netted a dozen of the shiny little creatures, and transferred them all alivn to the tin pail. Mr. Errol bad a great mind to join her in this exciting sport, but was not sure what Mrs. Car- michael would think of it. The possibility that he might have become Mr. Coristine's father-in-law also tend(>d to sober the ronewer of his youth. As Marjnrio had practi- cally deserted her friend for the minnowH, Mr. Biggle- thorpe invited her cousin to accompany him, with MiNs Halbert and Mr. Perrowne, in the scow, which paddhd off to try how tht^ (i»hing waM at the narrowN. The colonel did not care to fish ; it waa too dirty work for him. Nei- ther did the remaining ladien nhow any appetite for it ; but Mr. Rrrol and the veteran manned the lately cnn- htructed pier, and Imguiled nonie baaa that came iMMtking vheiter from the Nun b<»e(or«> thrm, liarkinK ■HomIj. Mm. i"'aritiieh»ei (Tlati h«><-l h^r companion's arm aiul atood ailll. 'It ma? Im> a wild Itrant, (^einlo, or MNit" of th %mrfih\r> men. i«*>t i» go hmck at amm," B«t MiM hu rirMiU mlmiv anawtriid, •• It May U om\f * Mrd or a «|>iirr«>l ; dri*n malio a great fmm orrmf vt^ry ^Ukf^ ' 80 UMiy aUioU aod wattrd. Uw§fl(H^ lif fctt apa«e4 TM fmmom waa a|>|Mr4«l la lip •emwk 90 • g«>ft«}* »«*«« UN>y \miik ktt9w. aaytag, •• Fa»» Mi^gtna, tm4 ^mk ag^ia i<« litaoM it' If «M tte Ml** ti MaUMii Ht ^ md m» TWO KNAPSACKS. 341 seemed to be alone. Taking heart, the two ladies went in its direction, and, gaided by Muggins, who caxne back to lead them, they descended to a little bay with a sandy beach, where, in the skiff, sat the woman they sought. She was neatly dressed, and wore a largo straw hat. When they greeted her, she showed no astonishment, but invited them to enter the skiff and see the pretty place she had back there. Miss Du Plessis hardly cared to accept the invita- tion, but the curiosity of the older lady was aroused and she pressed her companion to comply. Bringing the bow of the skiff into the shore, Matilda told them to enter the boat and walk back to the stern. When they had taken their seats, the stern was depressed, and the bow floated clear of the sand. Then, with every motion of an accom- plished oarswoman, she rowed the skiff along the shore, altogether out of sight of the other picnickers in scow and on pier. After a few strokos, she told her compnnions to lower their heads, and, daoking her own, shot the boat through what had Heemed a solid bank of foliage, but which WAS a naturally conc««aled ohannol, out into one of the loveliest littl»« lak«R ««ye ever rested upon. No 6re had touched its Hhnr«>N, which were woom, in th«- muUt of n UHU> nnf Irw^ltsi gAr«|(«ti, aUMMl tbr lumliil of • Kwiw etiairt •* t>o not {w •frail) t " aald Ikt woman. ci%^bing ■iglil of Mra (*artnieha«>r«afipr*>h«maivt> IimiIi . " iKof* la aohmly In il or an)rwlk*r«> t%mmr Vfm ar» all al«w» | vfm U«m^ 9nm\4 a«»( Unv«> h*» ^mk Ut iMna vltll BiL* ^1 342 TWO KNAP8ACK8. I » books were there, chiefly on chemistry, geology and miner- alogy, and there was a large cabinet full of geological specimens, betokening much research and abundant labour in their preparation and classification. The whole thing was so unezpectnd, so surprising, that the picnic ladies had to rub their eyes to be sure that it was not a dream ; but their astonishment was incroasod when the woman turned to the younger one and said, " I know you are Miss Du Plessis, for I heard you callwl so at BridoHdalo." Miss Du PlnnsiH answered that she was right. Then M>tiMa said, "This is all vour land, and of course, tho land carries the buildings with it. I have for- gotten a great many things, but I rnmemlx^r that, yon see. 80 Tillycot is yours too ; b<>Hid«>H I do not w^nt to Htay hare any morr. Good bye, 1 am going hom)* to Munty. At 6 rat, the two ladies were afraid sh*' was going to take the skiff away and have them in the booan, but she did not. In Npite of thip«iarp|n will \m KtarvinK," answrnMl thn more practiral Mrit. Carmloh***!. On tbnlr r«>lurii to i\w skiir. thn pr*wil(-kiMl up ki MM* of lb*" r«M»tiia. fix* iMMllMkl wa« iiuil*" vUiMn from, what may nnw \m «>«II«k|, • li«> Tlllynot •lid. tiui wh«a ili* paMmfKM du< k«^i ih^ir H » d » and rm>^r|«^i, \kmf m« Um* wmtM !•*• d'ti-'uliv to Aadliig II fiOM lit tlliar aM«v AoMWtllagly. Mra^ f4$tA» paHf ttvm illa4f vfr-v ^4al, Ik* !•«< lf«r*JUi#» -ftr» TWO KNAl'SACKS. 343 did fft foind the Bkiflfti" Brief explanatioDS followed to the vuteraa and Mr. Errol, who were at once put under orderH, the one to light a fire and produce the tea-kettle, the other to fill two pails with clean water, and pat a piece of ice in one of them. Soon the colonel and Marjorie came to help, the cloth was laid, the sandwiches, chickens, picH and cakes, placed upon it, and everything got in readi- noHH for the home-coming of the punt. •* O Aunty," said Mai J trie, " this would be so lovely, if only poor Eugene wpr<- here too." "So it would, dear," answered the lym pathetic aoat and mother, '* bat we must try to make thn bf>Ni of it with- out him." The kettle boiUnl under Mr. T* rry's ' upg two grand airtngs u( fish, only th" NirinKN that wnnt through thn gilU of the !««• wnre has"| twiga. I'hen th**rr> wmm WMhing of handn with* out MM»p, Mr. iliggU'lbnrpn nhowing hia eoinpaniona 1m>W to liiiproviMi m sulMiiituto for rnam' by pultlt>g up lh*> \tmHf Uuh »a(«*r loU lia and uaing iIm> anvlU'ua i>lay abovl lis M»r«*«(lin4( r<»g a o«p jual %k$% ' Mi4 M »!• boHk^ Mr ) W« Ilk* JiliirB mm Ml WUitM» •• Mr Ti^fy » lia> y » Mi4 tr^iaiwi iW nl— M lf«S -pm^ Mwl •i.alljr M* I b«l iw r is< III* !•« «««4 i|is«r kw«, ■!■! nhmk !• * li ^tkm wMMf HmK •^«*<. •• ifciiiifclf M»> »•! H>*Min piga, he would have haen here, too." Mra. Oariiiioha«'l called her nleoe to order, »od told tlM* g«*nttenien tht^y might go away to th«Mr pipe* and <-ig*r«, while nh" und tlir< youitK l»4iin« put away th*" thing*. I'tic KUok bottle trio adj(>urt)r a ahady nook by the ekofv, and oarrie«l three tamblnr* and a )M»li ol ieed water with Uiem, Thr' U>ttle revnelnd ita neok from Mr. Trrry'e atd - Mtliai, Tb«* .^>l..nel hai*4t% iM l— »■ ia bi* l iraili*r »<«»fy mm% tMir^iy. U tlM «W Tark'a Uft< and mM lia Mt lw««iy y««r* r<*oag«« AM autla ti k— 1*» mmI f^mmm* lolk W04II Ml l»4««Mi «lNi waiiktag fwallMaaak tU iW •mkimm lo4*w> Mr U*Hti 4t*^eiiJl*4 lkl«a*ll aW»« If l#t«i«lai af *•••• lN«e Hi* l*k« m4 by IMl a« 4^ »«!•* Mr •M tMlnl Ota* |o 4 H*( •»«. OiMt lb* •4*a* M« fafff «»•«# K W 4^4. bM Ma#^te «*^^ W» IS «fet«i» TWO KNAI>HA(iKn. S4A oh«t with ^fliul (.^armiuhftfO, invited her anole and the vutoren to go for a row in thnikitf At Hnit, ih*<»t^ gontif* ninn wnr<« diiipoM«d to dnoline, but, when thf*y lo«rnKi that there WM Nomnthing to h»- neen, they ihangtKl their minds, and AcoonipiknitHi her and Minn 0»riiiicha« l>reail*h «if a road to tlM> ni«iii highway. Then thoy fall to diM>««dng Rawdoa, a a>«ii p:*inly ol '■iiriiaivn rva ihto w««M he a •k^mk vtMa e«|l mi tW hMM p«f< i4 mtf^ aamfa* Ihii tike !• «l^ wahah. Mtai (^aiWlMel. | bt«a • 99m awafc •«• wMiilfc^ w.ifanf a*4 «aaM IHia ||«»*4 *.«•»< •M*he« Hf r.Mf "" faia M ai— a «eaa iBMif^ IM *< •• m|al» la llie « «•' iiMi • m iiif Hi* taa «i*« ila««« h*i i 1 TWO KM Am Am. « 1 144 •yu>(ipo4ni. I ItAvn «Mm U la iimm of ««li*h aoti of !»<««•, W4 mnn. ihn hfiiii of wh*mm Hw «•■ d««lyttoli<», mlllti| •vrlivthlng (n aavfi aaMin Mil* IWinhiiU nf • <|n«| no<|»i<| or Af • avMtilif^ht, *imI gM4 BMI. lik* rvfwiM «mW of ••lb«ilM« of vaimUIUm " ** TlMVft llV fm, Mni< lv«V7 Ml. TWr* -m • ii«l« •« Urn 9m M«* *i*«Mib* Ml RffAr«Aria U1 VCHlId H •4rtng« I t4m Ui • t*ri«»iil^ »f, •• til* •tifllilaii ul M«il)4* !• lU iiifk^* v^e i»f«>l)p w^lff^. ill* h«ih««« mmI .1 ft«|l iitovt^J avAj. awl lU ClitoMl i^|M« u. iw tiw mmI ^mMM Imm, 'i 'ni M .148 TWO KNArwAnu. mralionoU with ritUlty Marforift fairly WMi orwr thr Ihivh iakliig of Mr lliMgiiM. hut (-oiuiitaiidrd k^rarlf nuf floUntljr lo b*g I bat n* would not ohrta(f«o that ^Uy WfMillma. (*Atl4>iM or PiacofialMn Ifn MiM iKa|>h«tl««iily that km would noi, ainl ih«>h drfwriwil, l*llti»i komtt a Btring •if \mm !• protttiiAi*' Mr«. it«galHll>rpi>i TW Im |>*'ty, a^l» ul Him (*m l*tMat«' NMirvvilmia aKiry W TlU|Ntl, «M vary al«*w TW •*•!/ a^fifHl at uy la v«f» f«li t4 aMli •1^. Mia tl« rUak W4MtlM««Mi4«Ua«tMia4lMl WllkiMM •• 1^ ht%km. Ufa (W** rUtiM^ %•! I Mi mV '4 sao tVti IMAHkAUW. T9t» Uha m \m !• rHk^ !• IW i » Bl*i» !•• £V I f^ mn f9n ■• 9«*r«» 44 *Uki^. i**^ I n» 9 4 ■4 iXI^ f X ►• ♦••••♦» I* • >Er£ [^ *«i: • • »* • t I I u II ir'ib «» «i*« 'jn A 4 ' •«»♦ •• ? 3tL « f «T .^«4M»4^ 9 if rify^'f Jli i I m^- t« miW » • -rm- I *«* "5*1 t ;i t Ite' I i mB^^^Bmssi^m ■^ M.* I^Mm t it -^- — — "■•^■^ 1 ^ • i t "^m m «>. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) & // // ^ .5^*^ ?*>.^ /^A' i - ^v :1? iV „„, <8^\^\ r^ '■'^■i- 374 TWO KNAP8A0KB. fair client, and with hev nominal guardian on the box. Finally, the colonel, standing by his horse'H head, bowed with genial dignity to the new arrivals, and warmly pressed the hand of his dear boy's friend. The Squire's little scheme was frustrated. His niece, without asking advice or permission from anybody, placed Miss Graves beside the driver, and established herself on the same seat, leaving Marjorie between the two gentlemen on the one behin^l, after they had bestowed their valises and MisH Graves' portmanteau in their rear. Beyond a ceremoniouB handshake. Miss Oarmichael gave Ooristine no recognition, although she could not have failed to perceive his delight at once more meeting her. To Miss Graves, however, she was all that could be desired, cheerful, even animated, and full of pleasant conversation. Marjorie kept her Eugene and the new gentleman busy. She reported on the creek, and presented her faded bouquet of wild flowers, which Eugene received with all the semblance of lively satisfac- tion. She made many enquiries regarding the big girl in front, and insisted especially on knowing if she was nice. Then she turned to Mr. Douglas and asked his name. " My name is Douglas," he answered. "Oh, I know that, even Timotheus himself knows that. I mean what's your real name, your very own, the name your mamma calls you?" " She used to call me James." "Oh; have you got a brother called Johnf" " Yes ; how did you know that 1 " " Ob, I know. Then your papa's name is Zebedee, and your mamma's is Salome." " No, we are not those two James and Johns ; they are dead." " They are the only James and John I know." " I don't think so. Your uncle. Dr. Carmichael, was called James Douglas, like me." " Marjorio's dead papa 1 " "Yes; your cousin is a sort of far-away cousin of mine ; so you must be one of my cousins, too. What do you think of that 1 " "I think it's nice to have a growed-np man cousin. I'll call you Jim." "Marjorie!" said a reproving voice from the front TWO KNAPSA0K8. 375 ohns; they are seiat ; "you must not talk to Mr. Douglas in that pert way." " If my cousin lets me call him J im, it's none of yonr business, cousin Marjorie. Tou will let me, won't you, cousin Jim ) " "To be sure, if Miss Carmichael will allow me." " I don't think it's fair to let her boss the whole show." Mr. Douglas laughed loud and long over this expres- sion, so novel to his British ears. "Where did you learn that, Marjorie 1 " asked Ooris- tine. " Oh, from Guff ; there's heaps of fun in Guff'." Her companions occasionally took advantage of silent intervals to discuss the scenery, and the Canadian lawyer pointed out spots, memorable in the great pedestrian tour, to his Scottish compeer. Miss Carmichael never turned, nor did she give Miss Graves a chcnce to do so ; but the Squire managed to sit sideways, without at all incommod- ing the ladies, and, keeping one eye on his horses, at the same time engaged in conversation with Marjorie's cap- tives. The colonel also kept close to the vehicle, atid furnished Coristine with new information concerning his wounded friend. Miss Graves was informed that she was not to be allowed to go to the post office, and her protests were imperiously silenced by Marjorie's "boss of the whole show." The horses, haying come out quietly, went home at a rattling pace, and, a good hour before dinner time, the party arrived at Bridesdale, there to be greeted by Miss llalbert and the parsons, in addition to the occu- pants of the house. Wilkinson and Mr. Terry received Coristine with enthusiasm, but all the ladies bore down upon the latest arrival of their sex and carried her away, leaving the man, in whom they had expressed so much interest, to feel as if there were a plot on foot to ignore him. " It must be very pleasant for you, Corry, to find all the ladies so attentive to your lady friend," remark€d the Dominie. " Very pleasant for Miss Graves, no doubt ; I can't say the same about myself." " I should have thought you would have regarded a com- pliment to her as more gratifying than one to yoanself." < ' ,t Pi!!*' ml mm 376 TWO KNAP8A0K8. '* Haven't reaohpd that heavenly stage of Ohristian self-abneG^ation yet, Wilks." '* Perhaps I am mistaken in supposing yon take a great interest in the lady 1 " " Interest, yes; great, more than doabtful. She's the third girl I've had i,o send away for the pood of her health. The other two knew where to go, and went. She didn't ; BO I thought of establishing her at the post office. I never dreamt the Squire would come for us till I got his message. I meant to accompany her in the stage, and land her in the arms of Mrs. Tibbs ; but here we are, like a bridal party, with Marjorie for bridesmaid and Douglas for best man." " Thank yon, Oorry ; you have relieved me from a great anxiety. Miss Du Plessis thinks very highly of your travelling companion." " Douglas, do you mean ) " " No, the lady." " Oh, bother the lady ! Wilkf, it's a doubly grave situation. If it wasn't for Mr. Terry and Marjorie, I'd cut my stick. As it is, I'll run and engage that pobt-office room for myself, and be back in time for dinner or what- ever else is up. Au revoir." With a bound he was ofi the verandah, valise in hand, and away on to the road. When Ooristine returned, he was just in time for dinner. He had not been missed ; the entire interest of the feminine part of the community was centred in Miss Graves. The Squire took her in, as the latest lady arrival, while Mr. Douglas escorted the hostessi. To his infinite annoyance, Coristine, who had brought in Mrs. Du Plessis, was ostentatiously set down by the side of his invalided type-writer, to whom he was the next thing to uncivil. Miss Oarmichael, between Mr. Douglas and Mr. Errol, was more than usually animated and conversational, to the worthy minister's great delight. The amusing man of the table was Mr. Ferrowne. His people were buildirg him a house, which Miss Halbert and he had inspected in the morning, with a view to the addition of many cupboards, which the lady deemed indispensable to proper house- keeping. Mr. Perrowne thought he would call the place Cubbyholes ; but Miss Du Plei«sis asked what it would really be, the rectory, the vicarage or the parsonage 1 TWO KNAPSACKS. 377 ;e of Ohristian ron take a great tful. She's the td of her health. it. She didn't ; post office. I 18 till I got his the stage, and ere we are, like id and Douglas ed me from a very highly of k donbly grave d Marjorie, I'd that pobt-office inner or what- d he was ofi the he road. }t in time for itire interest of entred in Miss 38t lady arrival, To his infinite rs. Du Piessis, his invalided ing to uncivil. nd Mr. Errol, sational, to the using man of re buildirg him aspected in the my cupooards, proper house- l call the place what it would e parsonage 1 Miss Halbert suggested the basilica, to which hd replied that, T»hile a good Catholic, he was neither Fanny tic nor a Franciscan. He derided his intended bride's taste in architecture, and maintained that the income of a bishop would be insufficient to stock half the storerooms and wardrobes, leaving all the rest of the house unfurnished. As it was, he feared that the charming Fanny would be in the predicament of old Mother Hubbard, while he, unfor- tunately, would be in that of the dog. " In that case, Basil," said Miss Halbert, " you would be like an inclined plane." " How so 1 " enquired Mr. Perrowne. ** An inclined plane is a slope up, yon know," answered the mischievous bride elect. " Talking about dawgs," remarked the victim of the terrible conundrum, " I asked a little girl belonging to one of my parishoners what kind her dawg was. She said it had been given to her as a spanuel, but she thought it wii'^ '>"!'- a currior." *' When I was at the sohool," said the Edinburgh gentleman, " a boy, whom I nad offended some way, offered to make thu like oi me with a street cur and an old gun. He said he could make ' one dowg less ' in the time it took to fire the gun." "What did you do to that boy, Mr. Douglas 1" asked Miss Oarmichael. " I left him alone, for he was a good deal bigger than me." " Y ou were not a Boanerges then 1 " *' No, I was James the Less." " What are you dreaming abdlit, Mr. Goristine," called the Squire, "to let all this wild talk go on without a word?" "I am sorry to say I did not hear it, Squire," replied the moody lawyer, whose little conversation had been wholly d<' voted to Mrs. Du Piessis. After dinner, the lawyer repaired to the Squire's office, and briefly informed him, that the fortune in funds and property to which his niece had fallen heir was valued at 80,000 pounds sterling, and that, fortunately, there was no sign of any contest or opposition in the matter. He alao explained that, under the circumstances, he felt constrained m 378 TWO KNAPSACKS. to take a brief lodging at the post office, and begged Mr. Carruthers to apologize to hia wife for the desertion of Bridesdale. Then, he sought out Mr Terry in the garden and smoked a pipe with him, while his new friend, Mr. Douglas, was chatting on the yerandah between Miss Oar- michael and Miss Oraves. Nobody else seemed to want him or care for him ; he had even lost his old friend vVilks, who was absorbed in his beloved Oooile. The colonel was as bad with Ceoile's mother, and Mr. Errol with Mrs. Oarmichael. The Squire was busy, so the veteran and he were left alone. For a time, they smoked and talked, listening all the while, as they could not fail, to the merry badinage of the party on the verandah. At last he could stand it no longer. He rose, bade his com- panion good-night, and strolled away on to the road. Once out of observation from the house, he walked rapidly to his new quarters. " Ic that you, Styles 1 " asked Mr». Tibbs, as he entered. He assured the postmistress that he was not Styles, and asked if there was anything he oould do for her. "There is a letter here for Squire Oarruthers, marked 'immediate,' and they have not been for their mail," she answered. So, sorely against the grain, the lawyer had to take the letter and return with it to Brides- dale. Mr. Carruthers was still in his office. He opened the envelope and read : — CoLUNQWOOD, Saturday, 12 m. My Dear Squire^— Rawdon and his nephew have broken gaol and escaped. Be on yoor guard. Will go to yuu as soon as possible. Yours truly, • J. HioKBT Bangs. " This is bad news, Ooristine. It seems as if we're never to hear the last o' yon villain." " I'm at your service. Squire." ** I canna thole to ask the colonel, puir man, to lose his nicht's rest, an' I'm no ower sure o' his man. Sae, the granther an' I'll watch till it's twal', if you wi' Timotheus '11 relieve t!a till two i' the mornin'. What say ye to thon 1 " " All right, I'll be here at midnight. Oould you get me the cartridges out of my knapsack upstairs % " The Squire produced the cartridges, and the lawyer went back to his post-office quarters. and begged Mr. the desertion of ry in the garden new friend, Mr. tween Miss Car- I seemed to want t hi8 old friend ^ed Oocile. The r, and Mr. Errol AS busy, so the me, they smoked By could not fail, ,e verandah. At se, bade his com- the road. Once v^alked rapidly to Bs9" asked Mrs. stmistress that he my thing he could quire Oarrothers, 3t been for their st the grain, the [with it to Brides- eace. He opened Saturday. 12 no. ind escaped. Be on y , HioKBT Bangs. seems as if we're ir man, to lose his is man. Sae, the ^ou wi' Timotheua • say ye to thon 1 " t, Ooald you get >stairs t " and the lawyer TWO KNAPSACKS. 379 Pauctually at midnight he returned, and relieved Mr. Oarruthers in front of the house, while Timotheus took Mr. Terry's place behind. It was after one when he saw a figure, which he did not recognizv. as belonging to any one in the house, steal out of the front door with a heavy burden. He ran towards the figure, and it stole, as rapidly as possible, down the garden to the hill meadow. He knew it now, outlined against the heavens, and fired his revolver. He knew that he had hit his man, and that Rawdon was wounded in the body or in the upper part of a leg. Hurriedly he pursued, entering the strip oi vrood- land towards the brook, when something fell upon him, and two keen qualms of pain shot through his breant. Then he lay insensible. Meanwhile, a lithe active form, leaving a horse tethered at the gate, had sprung to meet a second intruder, issuing from the front door of Bridesdale. The opposing forces met, and Mr. Bangs had his hands upon the younger gaol breaker. A loud shout brought Timotheus on the scene, and the prisoner was secured. The household was aroused. The Squire found his olfioe a 3cene of confusion, his safe broken open, the bidden treasure and many of his papers gone. Inwardly he muttered maledictions on the sentry of the watch, little knowing that the burglars had entered the house while he was himself on guard. In his vexation, and the general excitement, with the presence of Miss Graves and Messrs. Douglas and Bangs, the unhappy lawyer's absence was overlooked. His shot apparently had not been heard. The vicinity of the house was scoured for Rawdon, but without effect. He had got away with his own money and many incriminating papers, to be a continued source of annoyance and danger. Those who gave any thought to Ooristine magined him asleep at the post office, and wondered at his indifference. Chief among them were the dominie and Miss Oarmichael. There was little more rest that night in Bridesdale. One villain at large was sufficient to keep the whole company in a state of uncomfortable disquiet and F.pprehsnsion. It was still dark, when old Styles came to the gate and asked for Mr. Ooristiiie, as he said the crazy woman was at the post office, and Mr& Tibba wF.nted to know if she could have the vjq of the spare room for the rest of the night. Then the Squire was •III 380 TWO KNAPSA0K8. alarmed, and a greal: revulsion of feeling took place. The man almost entirely ignored was now in every l)ody'8 mind, his name on all lips but those which bad been more to him than all the rest. Stable lanterns were got oat, and an active search began. Mr. Terry's practiced ear caught the sound of voiceu down the hillside, and he descended rapidly towards them. Soon, he came running back, tearing at his long iron grey hair, and the tears streaming from his eyes, to the placo where his son-in law was standing. " Qot a shate or a quilt or something, John, till we take it out av that. Och, sorra, sorra, the foine, brave boy ! " At once, Mr. Douglas and Timotheus accompanied the Squire to the little wood, and beheld the owners of the voices, Mr. Newcome and his intending son-in-law, Ben Toner. " Aw niver tetched un, Ben. Aw wor jest goan troo t' bush, when aw stoombled laike over's oarkidge and fall, anrl got t' blood on ma claws," said the former to his captor. '* S'haylp me," replied Ben, " ef I thunk it was you as killed the doctor, I'd put the barl o' this here gun to your hayd and blow out your braiuns." " Don't let that man go," said the Squire to Toner. '* Ain't that what I come all this way fer 1 " answered the lover of Serlizer. The Squire and the veteran, with terrible mental upbraiding^, raised the body from its bed of leaves and wood- mouldfiAnd placed it reverently upon the sheet, which it Htained with blood at once. Then, while the colonel held one lantern and Wilkinson the other, Mr. Douglas and Timotheus tcok the other corners of the simple ambulance, and bore their burden to the houae. In his own room they laid Rawdon's victim, removed the clothing from his wounds, washed away the clotted blood, only to despair over the flow that still continued, and rejoiced in the fact that life was not altogether extinct, when they handed him over to the care of the three matrons. While the colonel was sending Maguffin in search of the doctor, the voice of Squire Halb«'rt was heard in the hall, saying he thought it must have been Mitis Carmichael who had summoned him, at any rate it was a young lady from Bridesdale. He stanched the bleeding, administered stimulants, and TWO KNAl'8A0K8. S81 ordered constant watohinf?. " The body has suffered terribly," he said, *' and has hardly any hold upon the sonl, which may slip away from us at any moment." The good doctor professed his willingness to stay until the immediate crisis from loss of blood was overpast. To all enquiries he answered that he had very little hope, but he sent the kind ladies away from th" dHath-like chamber, and established himself thf re with Wilkinson, who would not leave his friend. The light of a beautiful Sunday morning found Miss Du Plessis, Miss Halbert, and Miss Graves in bitter sorrow, and little Marjorie beside herself with grief. The very Kitchen was full of lamentation ; but one young woman went about, silent and serious indeed, yet tearless. This was Miss Carmichael. The doctor had come down to breakfast, leaving the dominie alone with the patient, when she took a tray from Tryphena, and carried up the morning repast of the watcher. Then, for the first time, she got a sight of the wounded man, whose eyes the doctor had closed, and whose jaw by gentle pressure he had brought back, till the lips were only half parted. Bho could hardly speak, as she, laid a timid hand on her late principal's shoulder, directing his attention to thr break- fast tray. " Look away, please, for Cecil's rake if not for mine," she managed to stammer, and, as he turned his head aside, she flung herself upon her knees beside the bed, and took the apparently dead man's hand in her own, covered it with tears and kisses, and transferred th^ ring she had onoe worn back to her own hand, replacing it with one of her own that would hardly slip down overth blood less emaciated finger. Quietly she arose, and nois^lestily left the room, when the dominie returned to his wa''ching and administration of stimulants. When she came down stairs, outwardly calm but looking as if she had seen a ghost, everybody, who was in the secret of past days, knew, and respected her silence. Evcm Mr. Douglas, who had thought to improve his distant cousinship, read there the vanity of all his hopes, and bestowed a double share of attention upon Miss Graves, charming in her genuine sorrow over her considerate employer. Nobody cared to go to church, but the good Squire pointed out that few eould be of any service at home, and that, if ever they had h. ■ 382 TWO KNAPMAOKi. nepcl of the comforts of rnligion, it was at inoh a time. So Mr. Perrowne and Mr. Errol each received a quota of grief-HtrickHn worshippcrH from BrideHdale, and, at the oloHe of their reHpoctivo serviceR, mingled heartfelt expresHionH of sorrow with theirn. The clergymen declined to intrude upon the aaddencd household, until they could be uf uome Hervice, ho the worshippers returned as they went. Mr. Bangs and the doctor were the lights of the din- ner table, their professional acquaintance with all sorts of trouble hindering them from being overi^anie by any- thing of the kind. The former had sent for Mr. Rigby, and had placed the two prisoners in his charge, j thus releasing Timotheuu and Ben Toner. The latter reported that his patient was restored to animation, but this res- toration was accompanied with fear and delirium, the effects of which on a rapidly enfeebled body he greatly dreaded. If he could keep down the cerebral excitement, all might be well, and fur this he depended much on the presence with the sufferer of his friend, Mr. Wilkinson. Just as he said this, the dominie's voice was heard calling for assistance, and tho doctor and the Squire sprang upstairs. The patient had broken his bandages, and was sitting up ti^liting with his attendant, whom iu his delir- ium he identified with Rawdon. It was almost ludicrous to hear him cry, as he clutched at Wilkinson's throat : •'Ah, Grinstuns, you double-dyed villain, I've got you now. No more free circus for you, QrinstuusT" With difficulty the three men got him down, and bandaged him again ; but his struggles were so violent that they feared for his life. He recognized none of them. Little Mar- jorie heard his loud shouts, and ran to save her friend from his murderers, as she thought them to be. The Squire would have repelled her intrusion angrily, but Doctor Halbert said : *' Come, little girl, and tell your poor friend he must be quiet, if he wants to live for you aud the rest of us. " It is hard to say what prompted her, but she took out a little tear-soaked handkerchief and laid it on Coristine's shoulder, calling, " Eugene, you silly boy. " The silly boy closed his staring eyes, and then opened them again upon the child. " Is that you, pet Mar jorie 1 " he asked feebly ; and she sobbed out : " Yes, Eugene dear, it's me ; I've come to help yon to get well." TWO RNArsACRS. 3BS A time. So a quota of ind, at the d heartfelt nen declined hoy could be i they went. I of the din- ith all sorts >me by any- • Mr. Rigby, 3harge,'j thua tter reported but this res- leliriam, the iy he greatly 1 excitement, much on the '. Wilkinson, heard calling Iquire sprang iges, and was 1 in his delir- aost ludicrous ason's throat : ['ve got you tuusJ" With jandaged him at they feared Little Mar- re her friend to be. The angrily, but and tell your live for you lat prompted handkerchief • Eugene, you Ing eyes, and •Is that you, sobbed out: )lp you to get " Thank you, Marjorie ; have I been sick long t " " No, just a little while ; but the doctor says you must be very very still, and do just what you're told. Will yon, Eugene t " " Tea ; where's your cousin, Marjorie 1 " "Clan you turn your headt If you can, put it down, and I'll whisper something in your very own oar. Now listen I don't say a word till I come back. I'm going to bring cousin Marjorie to you. " Then she slipped away out of the room. " Doctor, " said the Squire in a shaky voice, " we had aa better gang awa ooto' the room till the mnetin's owre. " So the three men withdrew to the hall as the two Mar- jories entered. " Eugene, " whispered little Marjorie, " have you been good while I was away, and not. upoken 1 " " Not a word, Marjorie, " breathed rather than spoke the enfeebled lawyer. " I have brought cousin Marjorie to you. You must be very good, and do all she sayH. Give me your hanJ. " She took the limp hand, with the ring on thn little finger, and placed it in her cousin's ; then, with a touching little sigh, departed, leaving the two alone. Their hands lay clasped in one another, but they could not speak. His eyes were upon her, all the fierce light of delirium out of them, in spite of the fever that was burning in every limb, resting upon her face in a silly wistful way, as if he feared the vision was deceptive, or his prize might vanish at any moment. At last she asked : " Do you know me, Mr. Coristinel" and he murmured : "How could I help knowing you 1" But, in a minute, he com- manded himself, and said : " It is very kind of you to leave your friends and come to a stupid sick man. It is too much trouble, it is not right, please go away. " " Look me straight in the face, Eui;ene," said Miss Carmichael, with an effort. " Now, tell me, yes or no, nothing more, mind ! Am I to go away 1 " As she asked the question, her face bent towards that of the sufiVrer, over which there passed a feeble flush, poor insufficient index of the great joy within, and then, as they met, his half-breathed answer was " No." She commanded silence, shook up his pillows, bathed bis forehead, and in many 'ill p, ii*' 'i 1 ii'i Rhi 884 TWf) KNAPRAOU. Itii ways diiipUjfld thn iitolen ring. Af mw i .->nd, for the fint time, pnrceivnd thn ch«ngn on hiii own «nd. Thnn, she ordered him to go to Hienp, an if be v?ere a child, imoothing hiu hair and chanting in a low tone a baby'H lallaby, until tired natare, with a heart at peace, became unconHciouH of the oater world and Hlunibnred nt, in his right mind and resting. *' Thank God I" said the good man, '* he is saved. We must come and relieve yon now. Miss Carmichael." But she answered : " No^ my place is here. If I want assist- ance I will caII my uncle or Mr. Wilkinson." Doctor Halbert told the joyful news to the Squire and the assem bled compnuy. The clergymen would not arrive till tea time, so Mr. Carruthers, as the priest of the family, gath- ered the household together, and, in simple language but full of heart, thanked Ood for thn young life preserved. The doctor went away home, but without Miss Fanny, and, as he drove off, remarked to the Squire, significantly : ** There is no medicine in the world like love," a sentiment with which the Squire thoroughly agreed. The evening was a very pleasant one. Messrs. Errol and Perrowne rejoiced to hear the good n»)ws from the sick room, and Mrs. Carmichael gave the former to understand, in a vague, yet to his intelligence perfectly comprehtmsible, way, that the assurance of her daughter's future happiness would remove a large obstacle in the way of her l>ecoming the mistress of the manse. Mr. Perrowne appreciated Dr. Halbert's consideration in leaving his daughter at Brides- dale. The Du Plessis quartette were even farther advanced than the Carmichael four ; and consequently Miss Graves was left to the entertainment of Mr. Douglas. The patient upstairs awoke, feeling very stiff and sore, but quite rati.mal, and almost too happy to speak, which was a good thing, as his strength was that of a baby. He had to be lifted and turned, and propped up and let down, which the Squire generally did for him, under the head nurse's instructions, received from the doctor. Then he had to be fed, and begged to have his moustache curtailed, so as to facilitate the task. Two little hands, a comb, and a pair of scissors went to work, and, without annihilating TWO KNAPnAOKn. 88R .>nd, for the •nd. Then, #erp A child, tone a baby'H poacH, becam*' bnred sweatly. many waiting the doctor in ,d and resting. 18 saved. We nichael." But ( I want assist- ison." Doctor and the assem arrive till tea le family, gath- B language but life preserved, t Miss Fanny, B, signifioiinlly : re," a sentiment Messrs. Errol vs from the sick to understand, Bomprehtjnsible, utiire happiness )f her f>ecoming appreciated Dr. jhter at Brides- even farther consequently of Mr. Douglas, iff and sore, but sak, which was baby. He had and let down, under the head ctor. Then he taohe curtailed, ds, a comb, and ut annihilating the hirsute adornment, so trimmed it an to reveal a well- curved upper lip, hitherto almost inviaihin. It is aston- ishing what a sense of proprietorship this "barberoua operation," as she term" J it, developed in the heiress, who thought more of it than of her pro^pecive thousands. It was past ten o'clock before she oonHeritei. to yield her post to the devoted WilkinHon, who already began to look upon her as a sister, and to whom she gave directions, with all the gravity and superior dignity of an experienced nurse. The colonel would willingly have taken his turn in the sick room, but Mr. Terry, Mr. DouglaH, and the Squire insisted on relieving him. Mr. Bangs was away with Ben Toner and two guns hunting for the flrinstnn nmn. T> « watchers got along very well through the night, with the exception of the veteran, who was a little too liberal in the application of stimulants, which led to a reappearanoe of fever, and neceesitated his calling in the aid of the ever- willing and kindly Honoria. Both the clergymen had volunteered to sit up with him, whom they were proud to call their friend, but it was not considered fair to impose upon them after the labours of tbeir hardest day. The morning saw Miss Carmichael in the sick room again, putting things to rights, purifying und if autify- ing it, as only a woman can, with the romantic and tear- ful, Shakespeare loving Tryphosa in her train. Poor little neglected Marjorie, who had performed for her young self an art of heroic sacrifice in handing over her own Eugene to her unworthy cousin, was allowed, a great an(i hitherto unheard of reward, to bring the patient an armful of flowers from the garden, gathering any blossoms she chose, to fill vases and slender button-hole glasses iil every corner. She was even permitted to kiss Eugene, although she pro- tested against the removal of that lovely moustache. She offered to bring Felina to lick off the stubble on her friend's chin, but that friend, in a wheezy whistling voice, begged that Maguffin might be substituted for the cat, in case pussy might- scratch him. Maguffin came with the colonel's razors, and Marjorie looked on, while he gave the author of his present fortunes a clean shave, and made ironical remarks about moustache trimming. " Guess the man what trimmed yoh mustash fought he wds a bahbah, Hah?" The patient smiled seraphicaily, and whistled in liril,.;!: 386 TWO KNAPSACKS. his throat. " Never want to have a better, Maguffin." '< It's awful, Guff, isn't it 1 " asked Miss Thomas, and continued, " it quite gives me the horrows ! " " Day's bahbahb and dey's babbabn," replied the coloured gentlemen, "and Idoan want ter blame a gennelum as cay n't help hisself." The barbering completed, Marjorie junior was dis- missed with her ally Guff, and the senior lady of that name reigned supreme. The < yen of the feeble invalid, whose heart had been hungering and thirsting for love during a month that had seemed u liteiime, followed her all over t\e room, and almost stopped beating when she went near the door. But she came back, and held that hot fevered hand on which her modest ring glistened, and cooled his brow, and made him take bin sloppy food, and answered back in soft but cheery tones his deprecating whispers. She had him now safe, and would tyrannize over him, she said ; till, spite of the weakness and the sharp pains, his eye began to twinkle with something of the old happy light that seemed to be of so long ago, and, smilingly, he murmured : *' We are not ready for our graves yet." Mis. Carmichael looked severe, and held up a vrarning fingers " R'peat that, Etigf^ne, and I will send her to take care of you at once," ,:;he said ; "that is, if she will leave her deer Mr. Douglas for a poor bed -ridden creature like you." As an affectionate salute followed these words, it may be pre- sumed they wore not so harsh as they sounded. The doc- tor came in time for breakfast, but, before partaking of that meal, he visited bis patient, eased his bandages, looked to the wounds, and praised the nurse. <' He could not be doin^ better," he said, as he cheerfully descended to the breakfast table. Tho constable had respected the sanctity of the Sab bath, and was still in the kitchen, while his prisoners lan- guished in the stables. Tryphena presided over the morn- ing meal, at which Timothens a^.d Ben sat ; and Tryphosa, who had just descended from her labours in the sick room, was giving them so touching and poetical an account o'( the invalid and his nurses that Timotheus began seriously to consider the propriety of having some frightful injury I inflicted upon his own person. Mr. Toner related for the tenth time how the spurious doctor had cared him, and TWO KNAPSACKS. 387 ter, Magufl&n.'l J Thomas, and I" I," replied ame a gennelum the unior was dis- dy of that nanae ) invalid, whose ar love during a red her all over in she went near that hot fevered , and cooled his d, and answered icating whispers, ize over him, she ) sharp pains, his )f the old happy and, smilingly, he raves yet." Mis. a, vrarning fingers ler to take care of leave her deer Mr. ike you." As an Is, it may be pre- aunded. The doc- lore partaking of id his bandages, arse. " He could •fully descended to ictity of the Sab hia prisoners Ian- Jed over the morn- [at ; and Tryphosa, Is in the sick room, lical an account 01 SU8 began seriously ine frightful injury [net related for the lad cured him, and then proceeded to tell of Serliz^r's wonderful skill in pull- ing through her shoe-riddled old reprobate of a father, till "he was eenamost as good an new and a mighty sight heavier 'n he was, along o' the leaud in his old oarkidge." Constable Rigby laughed at the wounds of the day, and characterized them as mere scratches, unworthy of mention in casualty despatches. *' There was a man of ours, an acting corporal, called Brattles, in the melee at Inkerman, who broke the tip of his bagginet off in one Rooshian, and the butt of it in another. Then be had nothing to do but to club with what the French call the crosse. He forgot that he had not emptied his gun of the last charge, so, just as he had floored hia fourth Rooshian, the pie(e went off into his left breast, and the bullet ran clear uown him and came out of his boot under the hollow of the left foot. Captain Clark son thought he was done for ; but Brattles asked him for two champagne corks, plugged up the incoming and the outgoing wounds with them, and stuck to it till the Rooshian bugles sounded the retreat. That I call a wound to speak of." Tryphena, who had listened to this story of her elderly admirer with becoming gravity, ventured to ttbk : " Do oflSicers carry champagne corks about with them on the battle-field, Corporal Rigby r* '* Not all officers, Miss Hill. I never heard that Lord Raglan or Sir Colin did. But the young fellows, of course. How else could they blacken each other's faces 1 " "Do they do that!" " Regular. There was a subaltern thef called Baby Appleby, he was so white-skinued and light-haired. Well, one night we had to turn out for an alarm in the dark, and charged two miles up to the rifle pits of the first line. When we came back, the colonel halted as for inspection before dismiss. When he came to Mr. Appleby, he turns to his captain and says : ' Where did you get this nigger in uniform. Ford f ' The captain looked at him and roared, for poor Mr. Appleby was as black as Magufiin. The gentlemen had amused themselves corking him when be was asleep." " Yoh finds it mighty easy, cohsterble, ter say disre- speckshus remahks on callud folks," said the temporary barber, entering at that moment. " Ef the Lawd made : !"■ 1 388 TWO RNAPSA0BC8. as dahk complected, I specks the Lawd knowed what He was a doin', and didn't go fob ter set white folks a-sneezin' at 'em. I'se flissertaten myself ebery day yoh cayn't cohk me inter a white folks." "They'a whitewaush, Maguffin," interpolated Ben. " A good heavy coaut o' whitewaush 'ud make a gashfy Oork- aahnn of you." '* Yah ! yah t yah ! I'se got a brudder as perfesses whitewashin' an' colourin*. When he's done got a job, he looks mob like the consterble's brudder nor myuns, yah ! yah ! yah ! " The corporal frowned, and went on with bis breakfast, while Mr. Maguffiti gave an account of his shaving adven- ture, and of the sight of that poor man whose moustache bad been trimmed by a non-professional. Ben was soon after called by the detective to re-engage in the hunt for Rawdon, who was now known to be wounded, and, therefore, to be lurking somewhere in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Carmichael accompanied Mr. Errol on a visit to Matilda Nagle at the post office. The absence of the minister made the morning game of golf impossible, so that Mr, Perrowne had to surrender himself to the care of Miss Halbert, which he did with a fine grace of cheerful resignation. Mr. Douglas expressed a desire to take a walk in the surrounding country, and the dominie echoed it, with the oonditiou that the ladies should share in the pxoursion. The Squire and Mrs. Carruthers were busy ; the doctor had his patient to look after, and expected to be sunuuoncd to the other at the post office; and Mr. Terry occupied himself with the children. But Mrs. Du Flessis and her daughter. Miss Oraves, MibS Halbert, and, of cou so, the colonel and Mr. Perrowne, were willidg to be ped s i ians, if the proposers of the tramp promised not to walk too fast. There was a pretty hillside, beyond Tal- fcards on the road towards the Beaver River, from which the till! bif had once been removed, and which was now covered, but not too thickly, with young second growth j and thither the party determined to wend their way. Marjorie had intended to stay at home, in the hope of being allowed to see Eugene again, but the doctor had begged her to leave him alone for a day or two, and now the prospect of blackberry and thimbleberry picking on wed what He jlks a-sneezia' h cayn't cohk itedBen. "A I gaahly Oork- r as perfesaes e got a job, he r myuns, yah ! I his breakfast, Bhaving adven- 1080 mouatache ye to re-engage known to be Mfi where in the anied Mr. Errol e. The absence t)l£ impossible, 80 )lf to the care of race of cheerful desire to take a dominie echoed lid share in the lers were busy ; and expected to office ; and Mr. But Mrs. Du ihS Halbert, and, , were willidg to mp promised not side, beyond Tal- Liver, from which which was now second growth ; rend their way. in the hope of the doctor had or two, and now ►erry picking on TWO KNAPSACKS. 389 the hillside was too much for her to r«)8ist. Gaining per* mission from her aunt, she loaded Jim with baskets and little tin pails, and led him away to the load between her- self and Miss Graves. The other gentlem 3n relieved the burdened Edinburghian of portions of his load, and fell into natural pairs with the ladies, Miss Du Flessis and Wilkinson bringing up the rear. There was a pleasant lake breeze to temper the heat of the fine August morning, which gave the dominie lioense to quote his favourite poet : — And now I call the pathway by thy namft, And love the fir-nprove with a perfect love. Thither do I withdraw when cloudless suns Shine hot, or wiua blows troublesome and strong. Aatioipating the thimbleberriea, he recited :— Thy luscious fruit the boy well knows, Wild bramble of the brake. Miss Du Flessis liked that sort of thing. It was a blessed relief from type-written legal business letters. So she responded in the lines of Lamartine :•— Mon coeur k co r^veil du jour que Dieu renvoie, Vers un ciel qui Hourit s'^leve sar sa joie, Et de ces dons nouveaux rendjint grace au Seigneur, * Murmure en s'^veillant sou hymae int^rieur, Demande un jour de paiz, de bonheur, d'innocenoe, Un jour qui p^se entier dans la sainte balance, Quand la main qui les p^se ik eaa poids infinis Uetranchera du temps ceux qu' il n'a pas b^nis I By this it will appear that the two were admirably suited to each other, finding in their companion peculiar excellences they might have vainly sought among a thou- sand on Canadian soil. " This is a morning of unalloyed happiness, Farquhar, " remarked Miss Du Flessis in prose, and, in the same humble style of composition, he answered : " Thank God, Oeoile 1 Think what it might have been had the worst happened to poor Oorry t " " As it is, " replied that lady, archly, '* the worst has turned out for the best. " " As it was with me, " the dominie humbly responded, and relapsed into silence. Meanwhile, Marjorie trotted on ahead, and, her eyes, made observant by former botanical expeditions on a small scale, found the purplish blue five-flowered Gentian .,, "'t'l m %■■ 1 ';rf S'..f, Miiijii .1 ( 390 TWO KNAPSACKS. by the open roadside, the tall oran^» Asolepias or Butterfly Weed, and the purple and yellou oac loaved Gerardias or False Foxgloves in grassy strr ojes among the second growth. These she bestowed on Jim, who begged to bu allowed to present the most perfect specimens to Miss Graves. The walkers were now on the top of the hill, auJ strayed ofi into the overgrown clearing. A shout from Marjoiie declared that the berries had been reached, and within five minutes the whole party was engaged in gathering, what Mr. Douglas hailed with delight as " brammles. " Marjorie accused the colonel of picking for his own mouth, but this was a libel. He picked for Mrs. Du Plessis, whom he established under the Hhade of a straggling striped maple of tender growth. That lady received the tribute of brother Paul very gracefully, and darkened her lips with the ripe berries, much to the colonel's amusement and their mutual gratification. Miss Halbert stood over Basil, and so punished him with a sun- shade, whenever he abstracted fruit for personal consump- tion, that the man became infatuated and persisted in his career of wrong doing, till he was deprived of his basket, which he only received back after an abject apology delivered on his knees, and a soleoin pro lise to have regard to the general weal. Miss Du Plessis and the dominie would have done well, had not the worship of nature and human nature, in prose and in verse, withheld their hands from labour, and fortunately, as Mr. Perrowne remarked, from picking and stealing. Mr, Douglas was absorbed in admiration for Miss Graves, who, thinking nothing of the handsome picture she made, attended strictly to business, and roused him to emulation ia basket filling. Marjorie, with her oft- replenished tin can, aided them time about impartially, as the only honest workers worthy of recognition. Steadily, they toiled away, until the rising sun and shortening shadows, to say nothing of stooped backs and flushed faces, warned them to cease their labours, and prepare to take their treasures home. Then they compared baskets, to the exultation of some and the confusion of others. Miss Graves and Mr. Douglas were bracketed first with a good six quarts a piece. Miss Halbert came next, with Mr. Perrowne a little behind. Miss Du Plessis and Mr. Wilkinson had not six If •• ' I I I I . TWO KNAPSACKS. 391 las or Butterfly )d Oerardiaa or ing the second a begged *'° ^^' imena to Miss op of the hill, ring. A shout ,d been reached, uras engaged in urith delight as anel of picking He picked for er the shade of i^th. That lady very gracefully, •ies, much to the titication. Miss him with a sun- >rHonal consump- 1 persisted in his )d of his basket, abject apology pro lise to have Plessis and the ,t the worship of 1 verse, withheld as Mr. Perrowne Mr. Douglas was )s, who, thinking made, attended inlation in basket led tin can, aided y honest workers oiled away, until to say nothing of id them to cease r treasures home. ultation of some i^raves and Mr. ;ood six quarts a .Perrowne a little inson had not six quarts between them ; and, when Marjorie saw the colonel's little pail only half full, she exclaimed : " O borrows! " and said it was a lasting disgrace. But Mrs. Du Plessis smiled sweetly with her empurpled lips, and the colonel did not mind the disgrace a particle. They all went home very merry and full of innocent joouUrity. " Cecile," said the dominie, " I trust you will excuse the adjective, but I should dearly love to hear Gorry's joUy laugh just now. Poor fellow, I think I oonld almost bear a pan." The audacious Mr. Perrowne overheard the last words, and, with great exuberance of feeling, propounded a conundrum. " Mr. Wilkinson, why is a pun of our friend Gorig^ tine's like your sling 1 D'ye give it up 1 Because there's now arm in it now. Ha ! ha 1 " They had only been a few hours away, but, when they returned to Bridf sdale, it did not require clever eyes to see that a great change had taken place. The people were in the house, even the children, but they were all very quiet. Neither the doctor nor the Squire was visible, and instinctively the berry-pickers feared the worst. Mrs. Garruthers told them that excitement had been too much for the enfeebled patient. Happily, he was not strong enough to be delirious, but he seemed sinking, and had fallen into unconsciousness, only muttering little inco- herences in his attenuated voice. Doctor Halbert hoped much from a strong constitution, but work and worry had reduced its vitality before the dreadful drain came on the life blood. Soon, he came down stairs with the Squire, both looking very solemn. •• Let me go to my friend. Doctor," pleaded Wilkinson, and many other offers of ser- vice were made, but the doctor shook his head. " Miss Marjorie i« there and will not leave him," he answered ; " and, if she cannot pull him through, nobody else can. When she wants help, she will summon you." Then, turning to Mr. Errol, he said : " I will go with you now, and see to that poor woman at the post ofSce." The minister took the good doctor's arm, and they went away dinnerless to attend to the wants of Matilda Nagle, sud- denly smitten down wi^h fever while on the way to obey dM iibperioas infelt sunimons of the unseen Rawdon. Mr. Ilia ill 11,;,;.:, lii'iHI m 392 TWO KNAPSAOU. Newberry was with her, having been driven over by that strange mixture of humanity, Yankee Pawkins, and Mrs. Tibbs was acting as the soul of kindnesa. The woman's case was a remarkable combination of natural and mes- meric causes, but presented no reason for serious appre- hension. The doctor prescribed, and Pawkins drove off at breakneck speed to get the prescription filled by the medical student at his dispensary. Then, he and the minister returned to the sobeivd and melancholy company at Bridesdale. " Resting, but hardly breathing," was the bulletin that greeted them, when they enquired after the solitary battler for life in the upper chamber. Yet he was not alone ; one sad stricken woman's heart was bound to that poor shadow of former vital wealth forever. CHAPTER XXI. Matilda Free— The Coustable Captured — The Thunderstorm— Raw- don Found — The Lawyer Revives — Inquest — Mr. Pawkins Again — Expeditions — Greek — Committee of the Whole — Miss Graves and Mr. Douglas— Weddings — The C(»lonel, Wilkinson and Perrowne OfiE — Arrival of Saul — Errol, Douglas and Coristine Wedded— Festivities in Hall and Kitchen- Europe-Home — ^Two Knapsaoks — Envoi. THAT was a dreary Monday afternoon inside Bridesdale, in spite of the beautiful weather without, for the shadow of death fell heavy and black on every heart. Those who bad shared in the morning's merriment felt as if they had been guilty of sacrilege. Even Mr. Rigby exhibited his share in the general concern by being more than usually harsh towards his prisoners. About four o'clock there was an incident that made a little break in the monotony of waiting for the death warrant. Old Styles arrived, to say that the crazy woman was no longer crazy. Half an hour before she sat up in bed and cried " Free at last!" and since then, though the fever was still on her, her mind was quite clear. Doctor Halbert took a note of the time, and wondered what the sudden and beneficial change meant. Mrs. Oarmichael and Mr. Errol sympathized with TWO KNAP8ACRH. 893 i over by that ina, and Mrs. The wotnaii b iural and mes- aerious appre- irkins drove oft ,n filled by the I, he and the choly company thing," was the mired after the Jmber. Yet he leart was bound I forever. ^of tiTe Whole-MiBS OoloSel, Wilkmson )ouKla3 and Ooristme SSe-Home-Two inside Bridesdale, without, for the ,very heart. Tbose ,ent felt as ji they • Rigby exhibited more than usually Eour o'clock there in the monotony Sty lea arrived, to crazy. Half an H " Free at lasti b on her, her mind note of the time, beneficial change sympathized with him, rejoicing for the poor woman's sake. The detective and Ben Toner came home, very tired and disgusted with their want of success. When night came, the dominie again offered to stay with his friend, and, in his anxiety, even forced himself into the sick room. Miss Carmichael was very pale, but very quiet and resolute. " He is your dear friend, I know," she said, calmly, " but he belongs to me as he does not to anybody else in the world. I may not have him long, so please don't grudge me the comfort of watching." Wilkinson had to go away, more pained at heart for the sad eyed watcher awaiting the impending blow than for the unconscious friend on whom it was to fall more mercifully. Mr. Bangs took charge of the ont- side guard that night, in which the clergymen had volun- teered to serve. Mr. Rigby took a grey blanket out to the stables, and lay down near his prisoners, with baton and pistol cIosp at hand. About eleven o'clock Ben Toner, on guard before the house, saw a female figure approach- ing, and challenged. "Squit yer Bojer foolins, Ben, and leave me pass," came from the well known voice of Ser- lizer. " Is the gals up in the kitchen ? " " They is," replied Mr. Toner, humbly and laconically ; and his ladylove proceeded thitherward. Miss Newcome looked in upon Tryphena, Tryphoi>a, and Timotheus, Mr. Maguffin being asleep, and, after a tittle conversation, guessed she'd go and see Ben. She had found out that the constable had two prisoners in charge, quite inciden- tally, and listened to the news as something that did not concern her. Instead of going to see Ben, however, she visited the stables. The corporal was evidently tired of lying in front of his captives, and probably proposed to himself an improving game of geography over a mug of cider in the kitchen, for he had risen and unlocked the door. Serlizer stood by it with a stout handkerchief in her hand, in the middle of which was knotted a somewhat soft and unsavoury potato. As Mr. Bigby slipped out, after a glance at his shackled charges, that potato went across his month, and was fastened in its place by the handkerchief, firmly, though quickly, knotted at the back of his neck. The terror of Russians and Sepoys struggled for liberty, but he was a child in the arms of the encamp- ment cook. Halters, ropes, and chains of many kinds were «! 1 Li 334 TWU KNAFHAUKH. hanging up, and 'with some of these the Amazon secured her priHoner in a stall. Then she searched him, retaliating upon the constuble the indignities he had practised on hid former victims. Handcuff and padlosk keys were found in his pockets, and with these she silently freed her vener able father, who, in his turn, delivered young Rawdon from his bonds. " Now, you two," said the rescuer, quietly, " go round the end of the stables, cross the road into the bush beyont, and leg out fast as ye can. I'm a-goiu' ter foller, and, ef I see ye take a step 'campment way; I'll have ye both hung, sure pop." Mr. Newcome gave the prostrate constable two parting kicks in the ribs, and obeyed orders, while his affectionate daughter followed, until she saw the fugitives safely on the homeward road. Then she strayed back to the kitchen, and guessed, seeing Ben was all safe, she'd go home, as the night was fine. She put in half an hour's irrelevant talk with Mr. Toner after this, and, thereafter, left him, suggesting, as she departed, that, when his watch was over, he might look into the stables, where the horses seemed to be restless. Simple-hearted Ben informed Mr. Bangs that he had heard noises in the stables, which was not true. Pro- ceeding thither with a lantern he found only one prisoner, who, on examination, proved to be the constable. He had attacked the unsavoury potato with his teeth as far as the tightness of his gag allowed, and was now able to make an audible groan, which sounded slushy through the moist vegetaMe medium. When released, he was upeechless with inc ^nation, disappointment, and shame. Ben flashed the lantern on the handkerchief, and recog- nized it as the property of a young woman of his acquaint- ance, whereupon he registered an inward vow to throw off a Newcome and take on a Sullivan. Bridget was better looking than Serlizer anyway, and wasn't so powerful headstrong like. Mr. Bangs came to see the disconsolate corporal, and Mr Terry sought in vain to comfort him. The detective was not sorry, save for the possibility of the fugitives effecting a junction with Rawdon, wh* would thus be at the head of a gang again. Otherwise, New- come was not at all likely to leave the country, and couid be had any time, if wanted. As for the unhappy lad, he had suffered enough, and if there were any chance of hii TWO EWAPSACKB. 395 inazon secured liim, retaliating )ractiBed on bin jys were found reed her vener roung Rawdon i the reacuer, cross the road 8 ye can. I'm gtep 'campment Mr. Newcome ioks in the ribs, ughter followed, [lomeward road. 1 guessed, seeing ht was fine. She Mr. Toner after as she departed, it look into the tlesB. ngs that he had not true. Pro- nly one prisoner, constable. He his teeth as far v^as now able to sluaby through eleased, he was ent, and shame, jhief, and recog- Q of his acquaint- vow to throw off cidget was better sn't so powerful the disconsolate to comfort him. the possibility of Rawdon, wh" Otherwise, New- ountry, and could unhappy lad, he any chance of hii amending his company, Mr. Bangs was nob the man to put stumbling blocks in his way. But the demented con- stable, having recovrr'^d his baton, began searching. He explored the stables, the lofts, the coach-house, the sheds, examined evpry manger, and thrust a pitchfork into every truss of hay and heap of straw. He came outside and scrutinized the angle of every fence, poked every bu»U, peered under verandahs, and, according to the untruthful and unsympathetic Timothens, rammed twigs down wood* chucks' holes for fear the jail breakers had taken refuse in the bowels of the earth. Ben and Maguffin brougat him in by force, lest in his despair he should do himself an injury, and sat him down in an easy chair with the wished-for cider mag before him. He had sense enough left to attach himself to the mug, and draw comfort from its depths. Then he ruurniured : *' Thomas Rigby, eighteen years in service, promoted corporal for valour before the enemy, Crimean and Indian medals and clasps, captured by a ft male young woman, bound and impris- oned by the »ame. Attention 1 no, as you were ! " Addressing Mr. Terry he continued : " Sergeant Major, that woman, unless I find her, will bring my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. " " Gome, come, now, corporal dear 1 shure it isn't the firsht toime a foine lukia' owld sowljer has been capti- vated boy the ladies. Honor ia's blissed mother, rist her Bowl in heaven, tuk me prishner wid a luk av her broight black eyes, an', iv she wor livin', she cud do it agin. " With the morning came a thunderstorm, altogether unexpected, for Monday's north-western breeie had prom- ised fine and cooler weather. But the south wind had conquered for a time, and now the two blasts were con> tending in the clouds above and on the watera of the distant great lake below. The rain fell in torrents, like hail upon the shingled roof ; the blur-forked lightning flashed v\;Iou8ly, followed instantaneously by peals of thunder that rattled every casement, and made the dishes dance on the breakfast table. The doctor had been with his patient ; and as the clergymen were about to conduct family worship, he whispered to them that the soul might slip away during the terrors of the storm, as he had often seen before. It was a very solemn and awful m. m II -rrtTtrllJt 1 11 396 TW.O KNAP8A0K8. HI' time. In Tain Mrs. Carmichael, aided by the other ladies, sought to make her daughter rest or even partake of food. How could she f The storm outside was noth ing to that which raged in her own breast, calm as was her outward demeanour. Marjorie crouched on the mat outside the bed-room door, and quietly sobbed herself to sleep amid the crash of the elements. But, wben another Sttd dinner was over, the colonel and Mr. Terry bethought them of asking the detective if he knew of the inner lake on the shore of which Tillycot stood. He did not, but saw the importance of searching there. As the last of the rain had ceased, he proposed to explore it, but told the Squire, with whom he communicated, that the skiff his informants had mentioned was not at the place where first found, or anywhere on that lake. Therefore Mr. Perrowne and Mr. Douglas proposed to go with Ben Toner to get the Richards' scow, and meet Mr. Bangs with the colonel and Mr. Terry at the encampment. The two parties armed and drove away. One of the Rich- ards boys, namely Bill, joined the throe watermen, and together they propelled the punt to the extent of a punt's travelling capacity ; but it was between four and five when the explorers of Tillycot, leaving Ben, Timo- theuB and Richards on the shore, entered with difficulty through the veiled channel, into the beautiful hidden lake* They saw the skiff on the shore near the house, and soon perceived the numerous blood stains in it. They ran up the bank, entered the chalet, and, at last, in the library, beheld him whom they sought, extended upon thH floor. He had died by his own hand, his fin gers being still upon the pistol whose bullet had pierced his brain. Mr. Bangs seized a scrap of writing lying on the table, which ran thas : — " Curse you, Tilly, for leaving me to die like a rat in a Siole. I have stood the pMns of hell for thiity-eight hours, and can't stand them any longer. They shan't take me alive. Box and that hound Carruthers' papers are covered with brush and leaves under the last birch iu the bush, where I finished ttiat meddlesome fool of a lawyer. You know why you ought to give a lot to Regy's boy. It's all over. Curse the lot of you. Here goes, but mind you kill that damnable Squire, or I'll come when I'm dead and torture the life out of you." TWO KNAP8A0RR. 897 1 by the other or even partake itside was noth ,gt, calm as was bed on the mat obbed herself to It, when another md Mr. Terry be knew of the stood. He did ; there. As the ;o explore it, but licated, that the not at the place lake. Therefore d to go with Ben neet Mr. Bangs icampment. The »ne of the Bich- e watermen, and the extent of a between four and aving Ben, Time- ed with difl&colty beautiful bidden B near the house, ood stains in it. alet, and, at last, sought, extended iwn hand, his fin bullet had pierced • writing lying on ) die like a rat in a thiity-eight hours, ley shan't take me papers are covered birch in the bush, f a lawyer. You Regy's boy. It's ;oes, but mimd you when I'm dead and No compassion could follow the reading of this docu- ment. There was nothing of legal importancH in the chnlet, HO Mr. Baiigf, aided by Mr. Terry and Mr. Douglas, carried the dead mau to the punt, and the party in it and in the skiS returned to the Encampment lake. Richards, Ben Toner, and Timotheus carrit d the b( d up the hill to the waggon on the masked road. Then ihcy returned to the scow, while Mr. Bangs drove to the post office annex, with the colonel and Mr. Terry, Mr. Perrowne and Mr. Douglas. Ben Toner and Timotheus arrived in the other waggon, soon after the ghastly burden had been deposited ID the anfinished hall, and were left in charge, while the others went home to inform the Squire and the doctor. Having done this, the detective took the former to the liitio wood, and, after a little searching, found the con- cealed box, which held the incriminating papers as well as the original treasure. But for Coristine's fatal shot, these would have been cirried away. On their return. Doctor Halbert said, after conNulting Mr. Bang's paper : " He took his life the very hour Matilda exclaimed ' Free at last.' The neighbourhood and the wholt country may breathe more freely now that he is gone. Your poor friend upstairs, John, has not died in vain." " But he's not dead, Halbert I " almost sobbed the Squire. " Not yet," replied the doctor, gravely. Coristine had survived the thunderstorm and the find- ing of Rawdon's remains ; and, now that all sympathy in the latter was forfeited, many a one would gladly huve gone to the sinking man who fired the shot to toll him, in his own vernacular, that Grinstuns had ceased from troub ling. But few dared intrude upon the stillness of his chamber, from the door of which Marjorie had to be car- ried bodily away. The villain dead, the treasure and papers recove*ed, Matilda Nagle in her right mind, con- fidence was restored in Bridesdaie, and only one absorbing thought filled all minds. Yet, while the colonel shared bis cigar cab with Mr. Douglas, and Mr. Terry smoked his dudeon, Mr. Bangs wrote to Toronto an account of the escaped prisoner's death, Miss Da Plessis resigned her type writership to Messrs. Tylor, Woodruff, and White, Mr. Wilkinson sent in to the Board of School Trustees his ;i:!|3i!| 398 TWO KNAPHAOKS. resignation of the Sacbeverell Street School, and the Squire, on behalf of his niece, signiBed that her position in the saniH was vacant, and informed the legal tinu of the serioQH illness of their junior partner. The clHr<4ymen returued to their lodgings and thrir duties, and the con- stable, having no living criminal to watch over, relieved TimotheuH and Ben Toner of (heir care of the dead. Maguffin had summoned Messrs. Nfwbe.'ry, PawkinH, and Johnson for the coroner's jury in the morning, aad no excitement was left at Bridesdale. When night came, all retired to rest, except the one watcher by the bedside of despair. Early in the morning, when the sun began to shine upon the night dews and peep through the case- ments, a tap came to the dominie's door. He was awake, he had not even undresHed, and, therefore, answered it at once. He knew the pale figure in the dre8<cted to the bloud marks on the sleeves. Then he took up hid knapsack, and went hastily to the sick room. His friend was lying on his side, and looking very deathly, hut he was speaking, and a wan smile Hitted over his lipc. "Two knapsackR," he murmured, and, '* Dear old VVilks," and, " rum Btart." Miss Oarmichael said : " Put yours here on the table above bis, where be can see them," and he obeyed. *' Now, stand beside them, and say ' Corry,' gently." The dominie could hardly do it for a queer choking in his throat, but at last he succeeded in pro nouncing the abbreviation in an interrogative tone. '* Wilks," wheezed the sick man, " Wilks, she called them pads ! " and his eyes rested on the knapsacks. " Stay with him," the nurse whispered, '• while I call Fanny." Soon Miss Halbert came, and, walking boldly but quietly up to the bedside, asked : " Who are you calling she, you naughty boy that want to leave us all t" With an effort, be answered : " I beg your pardon, Miss Halbert, bui you know you did call them pads." " Well, so they are, you poor dear/' she replied, bending over and kissing the white forehead, for which it is to be hoped Mr. Perrowne absolved her ; " but you must stay here, for see, I have brought lool, and the her poRitioQ in gal (iriu of thn The clrtriiymen 8, and the con- over, relieved of the dead. PawkitiH, and orning, and no night came, all the beduide of e son began to ough the case- He waH awake, answered it at dressing i;own. with eagerness, quickly as pog- coat and shirt and he obj»'cted he took up hin m. His friend deathly, but he over his lipc. 'ear old VVilks," i : " Put yours see them," and nd say • Oorry,' it for a queer tcceeded in pro rrogative tone, ^ilks, she called lipBacks. " Stay I call Fanny." idly but quietly calling she, you With an effort, albert, but you 10 they are, you isaing the white TO wne absolved I have brought TWO KNAJ'HAOKS. .199 Marjorie to nurse you till you are iit to carry a knapMack again." Then Miss (yarinichael came forward, and the patient became ceremoniously polite in a whteesing way, and was ashamed of himself to be ill and give so much trouble ; but he allowed himself to be shaken up and receive his strengthening mixtures, and behaved like a very feeble rational man with a little, but real, hold on life. That wan the turning point in the lawyer's career ; and, when thi) doctor deHoended from neeing him later in the morning, he announced that the crisis was past, and that, with proper care, the Squire's prospoctive nephew would live. Joy reigned ence more in Bridesdale, from Mr. Terry to Marjorie, and from the stately Mrs. Du Plussis to Maguffia in the kitchen. The only thing to luar the pleasure of tfaat day was the inquest, and even that brought an agreeable surprise. When Matilda Nagle wah called, she refused to acknow- ledgH the name, insisting that she was Matilda Riiwdon, and producing from her pocket a much crumpled marriage oertiticate, boaring the signature of a well-known clergy- man who had exercised his sacred office in a town within thirty miles of Toronto. This she had taken from the library on the eocasion ef her last visit to Tillycot Old Mr. Nowborry's face beamed with delight, and that of Mr. Bangs wan a curious study, revealing a mind which had joyfully come to a decision it had been struggling after in the face of serious difficulties. When the verdict of suicide wiis given, the jury dismisr^d, and he prepared, along with thu constable, to deliver over the body of the escaped priHoner into the gaoler's hands, he bade Mrs. Rawdon an almost affectionate goodbye, and made touch- ing enquiries after the welfare of her son Monty. As an honourable woman, she was received, in spite of her late husband's character, and her own unconscious crimes, into the Bridesdale circle, which, however, she soon left in the company of her benevolent host. The Squire informed her that he had a lar^e sum of money in keeping for her and her son, and that Miss Du Plessis would either send her all the furniture of Tillycot, when she was prepared to receive it, or take it from her at an equitable valuation, to either alternative of which she strongly objects: !. Be- fore Mr. fligby finished his midday meal, without which 400 TWO KNAPSACKS. it was impossible that ke, at his af;e, could travel, Mr. Pawkins twisted the British lion's tail several times, to which the corporal replied sadly : " Had I still been in the British armj, sir, I should have been degraded for losing prisoners committed to my guard, but any man who allows himself to speak as you do, sir, of what yon are too ignorant to judge of, is degraded already." The cautious Yankee was equally unsuccessful with Ben, who met him with : " Don't give me no more lip about Serlizer and old man Newcome, but jist you tell 'em I've waushed the bilin' of 'em clear oflTn my hands fer a gayul as Serlizf^r ain't a patch on." Then Mr. Pawkins amused himself asking Tryphosa if it was Maguffin or Timotheus was her young man, giving as his pri eate opinion that the nigger was the smarter man of the two. When Tryphena playfully ordered him out of the house, he expressed intense sorrow for Sylvanus' future, but was glad to hear he was getting a present rest, paddling his mud barge round the Simcoe pond. Mr. Pawkins was offtfnsively personal, but kept the table lively, and parted with them, regretting that, having left his catechism at home, he was unable to favour his dear children with a little much-nreded reli- gions instruction. The door was slammed behind him, and Mr. Rigby remarked with animation : " Very properly done. Miss Hill, a very timely rebuke of unpardonable American insolence ! *' When evening came, the Squire and Mrn. Carmiohael mustered courage, and took Coristine's pale-faced nurse away from him with gentle force, the mother taking thu daughter's place for a time. After this, Miss Carmiuhael was allowed no night duty, Wilkinson and the Squire, the clergymen, Mr. Terry, and Mr. Douglas attendinp; to it in turns, while all the ladies, in the same way, relieved her during part of each day. Very slowly, but silently and patiently, the invalid regained his lost strength. He was gratefal, tometimes with a few words of thanks, but of tener mutely, with a deprecating look, to all who ministered to his com- fort. One day Marjorie was allowed in, and, among other ir'se remarks, informed her Eugene that " cousin Marjorie wasn't you know what any more." " My little love," he knswered, "she's an angel, and always was"; Marjorie nras not at all sure of this, but did not like to cross a siok TWO KNAPSACKS. 401 1 travel, Mr. aral times, to ill been in the ied for losing \n who allows ; yon are too The cautious who met him srlizer and old shed the bilin' erlizer ain't a imaelf asking was her young ligger was the kena playfully intense sorrow he was getting id the SiMCoe )nal, but kept gretting that, waM unable to ch-nfeded reli- behind him, Very properly unpardonable r». Carmichael le-faced nurse ler taking thu 88 Carmiuhael he Squire, the jndinp; to it in ved her during and patiently, was grateful, f tener mutely, ed to his oom- , among other )usin Mar)orie ittle love," he ks"; Marjorie to cross a stok *nJ man. During his progress towards health, there were walks and drives, picnics to Tillycot and the Beaver River, expeditions to town, fishing expeditions with Mr. Bigglethorpe, for whom the lawyer had brought a bundle of new flies, which in his anxious state of mind he had for- gotten to deliver, and a four days' trip on the Susan Thomas, which pleased Miss Graves and Mr. Douglas im- mensely. Only two days were actually spent on the water, but, as Tryphena was there in the capacity of cook, and a coloured lady of Magoffin's acqnaintance was temporarily engaged for Mrs. Du Plessis, the crew and the manser- vant were in the seventh heaven of delight. Marjorie, of course, was present, and shared the command of the schooner with her father. She also attached herself a good deal to Jim, and, although resenting the attentions he bestowed upon the big girj, carefully abstained from porcine epithets, a result of Eugene's epistolary instruc- tions. The great Mr. Tylor came up to Bridesdale in person to see his junior, and was duly informed of the engagement between him and the heiress, Mi^s Carmichael. " Ah, Coristine, my dear fellow, we shall be losing you for the law, now, and, the first thing we know, you will be in Par- liament. If not, I may say White is going out of the fit-m, and Woodruff and I had re; olved on Tylor, Woodruff and Coristine for the new style. Your servant. Miss Carmichael 1 I congratulate my friend and partner on a friend and prospective partner, in life as well as law, so infinitely superior, and I trust you will allow an oldish man to con- gratulate you on being won by as fine a young fellow as ever lived." When the good Q. C. left the room, the pa- tient remarked : " Everybody shows me so much kindness, now, Marjorie, when I have all I want in yours." "Is it kindness, Eugene, only kindness t" " No, no, it is love, Marjorie, isn't it, undying love 1 Would you think me very foolish if I were to go back for once to Wilks' and my habit of reciting all sorts of poetry?" " I could not stand all sorts, Eugene. There are some that Marjorie quotes which are simply awful. She says she gets them from Guff." "Oh, this isn't that kind. It is Greek, Modem Greek : — flS:; i'ii prisoners, i sow hif^h a t he et wence Ir. Perrowne a it net bow, ,id ; but that by the Bak- g 80 unhal- evehy man's jhe verandah )n, and were heard of the sd off one of crawdsh and tuition, Mr. nadian slang, extracts from ntributed ori- )allad8, taken rs, Marjorie k in. While py, the twain r. Terry, but )uting all the really inter- m, while her to meet the ihat creek, an rare soon out remarked, in of the whole, ) indeed, and like himself will both be lid have been ly lengthened ) this place. " fcrder to leave the people. I haven't known you very long Miss Graves. " " No, only a few weeks, but very pleasant weeks. " "They have been so to me, and the more I see of you, the more I dislike going away. " " Yes, the people gathered here are delightful, almost a unique party. " " I did not mean the people in general. I meant Miss Qraves. I hope that blunt speech doesn't offend you. " "Not at all. It is blunt, as you say, but compli- mentary. " "I don't want to make compliments, Miss Graves, until I have the right. I want you to come home with me to Edinburgh as my wife. " "This is very sudden and very kind, Mr. Douglas. What do you know of me, a poor girl working for my living?" " I know more than you think, and honour you for your work and independent spirit. I am not going to say I want to take you away from drudgery, and put you in a better position, because I want you to take me for myself, if I am worth taking, as a man. " Miss Graves looked upon his manly honest face with eyes as honest, yet with the merest shade of coquetry in them, and said : " You are worth taking as a man. " "Then, take me, Marion, and all I havo. *' "You are not a bit like my picture of a Scotch woor>r. You give a poor girl no chance to hold you back " " But I don't want to be held back. Shall we report ourselves to the malrinronial congress 1" " Oh no, not yet, Mr. Douglas ; yon take wonderful liberties with a new acquaintance. " Some distance off, Mr. Terry was trying to still the voice of Marjorie. " T saw him, granpa, I saw Jim with my very own eyes. Oh, these men will break my heart ! " The first parties to perpetrate matrimony were Ben Toner and Biddy Sullivan. Mr. Toner, to use his own expressive language, was afraid Serlizer might round on him if he delayed. Therefore, Father McNaughton was called in, and, with the aid of Rufus Hill and Barney Sul- livan, groomsmen, Norah Sullivan and Christie Hislop, 406 TWO KNAPBA0K8. bridesmaids, and the Bigglethorpes and Lajeunesses, speo* tators, the knot was tied. A. honeymoon trip of two days to Toronto, where, in their new clothes and white cotton gloves, they were the admired of all beholders, rounded oflf ihe Fiffair, and delivered Ben from all fear of the redoubt- able Serlizer. Next Sunday morning there was a great commotion in the Church of St. Cuthbert's in the Fields. Miss Newcome, gorgeous of attire, Hupported by Tryphena in her very best, first marched proudly up the aisle, and then came the corporal, in fall uniform, even to his stock, and adorned with medals and clasps which told of his war like achievements, backed by Mr. Terry in an unostenta- tious suit of black broadcloth. Shortly before the close of the service, Mr. Perrowne, in his most ecclesiastical man- ner, called the parties up, and put them through their catechism. The corporal answered with military precision and dignity, and Serlizer, glancing at his martial magnifi- cence, was 80 proud of the bridegroom that she felt equal to answering a bench of bishops. Mra Newcome, who had given her daughter away, remarked, as all the bridal party retired from the vestry to receive their friends' congratulations, that the constable, for a widower, was a very proper man, and Serlizer might have done much worse. To his best man, Mr. Terry, the corporal said : "Sergeant-major, I have got my guard. A prisoner may slip from me, Sergeant-major, but when that strapping woman puts her arms round him, he'll be as helpless as a child. I shall apply to the Council for an increase of pay." Soon afterwards, Maguffin got a holiday, went to Dromore, where Miss Tolliver was sojourning with Mrs. Thomas, took that lady to Collingwood, the coloured Bap- tist preacher of which united them, and came home tri- umphantly in the stage with his bride. They received a great ovation in the kitchen, and, Mr. Terry having joined the party, played the geographical game till midnight, as a sober, improving, and semi-religious way of celebrating the event. Mr. Maguffin remarked that the Baktis preacher had promised, out of the two-dollar fee, to insert a notice of the marriage in a leading paper, adding the words, " No Cards," but, said Tobias, "he warn't nebber moah leff in all hees life, 'kase here's the keerds and heaps on 'em. Yah 1 yah ! yah ! " TWO KNAPHAOKH. 407 unesses, spec* p of two days white cotton a, rounded off the redoubt- was a great n the Fields. by Tryphena the aisle, and I to bis stock, id of his war %n unostenta- '6 the close of }iastical man- hrongh their )ary precision Ttial magnifi- she felt equal Bwcome, who &11 the bridal their friends' idower, was a ! done much orporal said: prisoner may lat strapping as helpless as a increase of iday, went to ig with Mrs. coloured Bap- me home tri- sy received a tiaving joined lidnight, as a )lebrating the ^ktis preacher isert a notice 5 words, " No moah leff in leaps on 'em. The colonel was getting anxious to start for the Mis- sissippi, and begged his deceased wife's sister to confer with her daughter, and name the day. The dominie was also consulted, and, seeing it waa vain to hope for his friend'H restoration to the extent of performing groomsman's duty, he acquiesced in whatever decision should be reached. Mr. Douglas took Coristine's place, and Miss Graves that of Miss Carmichael, and, for both of them, the Edinburgh lawyer ordered from the city handsome wedding presentb to bestow cpon the two couples, a little proof of generosity gratifying to the lady whom he now regularly called Marion. The said Marion had definitely resigned her situation with Messrs. Tylor, Woodruff, and White. On Thursday morning, St. Outhbert's in the Fields was a scene of wonder to the assembled rustics, with flowers and favours and lighted candles. Miss Du Plessis, stately and lace bedight, was led in by her uncle, and followed by Miss Qraves and Marjorie, while Wilkinson, in elegant morning dress, preceded Mr. Douglas and Mr. Bangs. The colonel, with much emotion, gave his niece away, and Mr. Perrowne made them one. Then came Mrs. Du Plessis, arm in arm with her former husband's faithful servant, Mr. Terry, and behind her followed Miss Halbert, training tor her own approaching celebration. Mr. Errol was the colonel's right hand man. The second couple was united, and, amid the strains of the wedding march on the parlour organ, there went on salutes, congratula- tions, and hysterical little weepings, until the serious busi- ness of affixing signatures in the vestry called the contract- ing and witnessing parties to order. Then they retired to Bridesdale, where there was a wedding breakfast, at which Mr. Perrowne, elated with liberal fees, was the soul of jocularity, and Mr. Douglas let the cat out of the bag as to his relations with Miss Graves. Mr. Bangs sang •* He's a jolly good fellow " to every toast indiscriminately. The Squire was felicitous in his presidential remarks ; but Mr. Terry broke down at the thought of parting with Madame and with Miss Ceshile that was. Mr. Errol made a good common-sen38 speech, and alluded roguishly to the colonel's setting a good example that even ministers were not too good to follow. Marjorie, in the dignity of a bridesmaid, slipped away to bring Ooasin Marjorie down, 408 TWO KNAPSACKS. and was accompanied by thn uhw brides, who hugged MiHH Carmichael, and implanted motherly and sisterly kiuses on the cheek of the only man who was left oat of the festivi- ties. Lastly, Wilkinson appeared on tbo scene with the colonel, and took a most aff«'ctionate leave of his friend. " Yoa will not forget mo, Corry f " said the late dominie. " Never, Wilks, never, nor you me I hope. I'll tell you, let us each carry away our knapsacks, and, when we look at them, think of each other, and the happy chance that brought us here together." The Squire's voice rung out: " Come, come, good people, pack up quick, for the carriage is at the door." The valises were gen down by Timotheun, who received large tips. The two ladies and Wilkinson got in with the Squire, and the new Mrs. Maguffin occu- pied the hind seat, while the colonel and his servant rode <\yvny amid much throwing of old shoes and rice, and wav- ing of handkerchiefs, to make steamboat connections at Uolliiigwood. The departure of so large a company left quite a blank at Bridesdale. The Bishop, a gentlemanly cleric in orthodox hat and gaiters, arrived en Saturday with his examining chaplain. Mr. Perrowne conducted them to Dr. Halbert's, where the Squire, Mr. Douglas and Mr. Errol, with the ladies, were invited to meet them. The Bishop turned out to be much more liberal and evangelical in his views than the clergy- man under visitation. On Sunday, there was a confirma- tion service, and, on the following Monday, St. Cnthbert's put on its festal robes once more. Mr. Douglas and Mr. Errol stood by Mr. Perrowne, and Miss Graves and Miss Carmichael by Miss Fanny, whom the doctor gave away in person. The Bishop did his duty well, and afterwardn honoured the wedding breakfast with his presence. The sight of his diocesan kept Mr. Perrowne in order, and (U - volved the jocularity on the Squire and the doctor. Mr. Terry was at home with Coristine, describing the cere- mony ; and somebody at the Halbert's hospitable table was longing for a chance to replace him. This, however, she could not effect without its being noticed. The examin- ing chaplain fell foul of Mr. Errol by remarking that, when Scotch Presbyterians came into the church, they generally did well, both in England and in Canada, several of them having risen to the episcopate. " That minds me," TWO KNAPSACKS. 409 anawered the ministdr, intentionally putting on hia broftd Scotch, " that mindn mn o' Jockey Stracban, that waH Bishop o' Toronto. He met a Kirk manaince, frae Mark- ham, I'm thmkia', that had a threadbare coat. ' Man,' said he till's auld freend, * yon's a shockin' worn-out ooat. Can yer freens i' the Kirk no dae better than that by yet' 'Toot, toot. Jockey,' said the Kirk man, * what ails ye at the coat) It's no turned yet.'" The sensible Bishop saw that the chaplain, who was preparing to reply, would probably put his foot farther in, and turned the conversation into other channels. Then the wedding presents were re-examined, the bride donned her travelling costume, and, amid affectionate leave takings, the doctor drove off his daughter and son-in-law, with the clerics, toward the distant railway station, en route for Ottawa, Montreal and Lake Qeorge. The Bridesdale par y went home, and, while Mrs. Carmichael and Miss vx raves were attended by their respective cavaliers, Miss Carmichael flew to the bedside where Mr. Terry kept cheer- ful guard. Everything hinged now upon the sick man's health. ** He muHi be got away, John, before the win e comes," the doctor had said to the Squire, and all wrought with this end in view. Some time before Magatfin left, he had determined, with his Marjorie's permission, to give up being shaved and let ^is beard grow, and now the beard was there, long, brown and silky, a very respectable beard. But the face above it was very pale yet, an^l the cruel knife wounds were still sore, and the whole m in en- feebled in limb by long bed-keeping. One pleasant day, far on in September, the doctor allowed him to rise, and, between the Squire and Mr. Terry, he was raised up and dressed. Then they carried the wasted form out into the autumn sun, and laid him on a couch on the verandah. Marjorie and all the little Carruthers came to see him, with bouquets of garden flowers. Timothous ventured to pay his respects, and even Tryphena came round to con- gratulate hiin on his recovery. "Shall I read Words- worth to you, dearl" asked Miss Carmichael, ironically.