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 <'<->VFRSStONs OF CnN f-Rp,.... ,.. . 
 

PEEFACE. 
 
 An eminent apothecary of my acquaintance once told 
 me that at each increase to his famil le added ten per 
 cent to the price of his drugs, and as his quiver was 
 full of daughters, Blackdraught, when I knew him, was 
 a more costly cordial than Cura^oa. 
 
 To apply this to my own case, I may mention that I 
 had a daughter born to me about the time this story 
 dates from, and not having at my command the same 
 resource as my friend the chemist, I adopted the 
 alternative of writing another story, to be published 
 contemporaneously with that now appearing, — "The 
 Daltons ; " and not to incur the reproach so natural in 
 criticism — of over-writing myself — I took care that 
 the work should come out without a name. 
 
 I am not sure that I made any attempt to disguise 
 my style; I was conscious of scores of blemishes — I 
 decline to call them mannerisms — that would betray 
 me : but I believe I trusted most of all to the fact that 
 I was making my monthly appearance to the world in 
 another story, and with another publisher, and I had 
 my hope that my small duplicity would thus escape 
 undetected. 
 
 I was aware that there was a certain amount of peril 
 in runnmg an opposition coach on the line I had made 
 in some degree my own ; not to say that it might be 
 questionable policy to glut the public with a kind of 
 writing more remarkable for peculiarity than perfection. 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 I remember that excellent Irishman Bianconi, not the 
 less Irish that he was born at Lucca, — which was sim- 
 ply a "bull," — once telling me that to popularize a 
 road on which few people were then travelling, and on 
 which his daily two-horse car was accustomed to go its 
 journey, with two or at most three passengers, the idea 
 occurred to him that he would start an opposition con- 
 veyance, of course in perfect secrecy, and with every 
 outward show of its being a genuine rival. He effected 
 his object with such success that his own agents were 
 completely taken in, and never wearied of reporting, 
 for his gratification, all the shortcomings and disasters 
 of the rival company. 
 
 At length, and when the struggle between the com- 
 petitors was at its height, one of his drivers rushed 
 frantically into his office one day, crying out, " Give a 
 crown-piece to drink your honor's health for what I 
 done to-day." 
 
 "What was it, Larry?" 
 
 " I killed the yallow mare of the opposition car ; I 
 passed her on the long hill, when she was blown, and 
 I bruk her heart before she reached the top." 
 
 "After this I gave up the opposition," said my friend ; 
 " ' mocking was catching,' as the old proverb says ; and 
 I thought that one might carry a joke a little too 
 far." 
 
 I had this experience before rce, and I will not 
 say it did not impress me. My puzzle was, however, 
 in this wise ; I imagined I did not care on which horse 
 I stood to win ; in other words, I persuaded myself that 
 it was a matter of perfect indifference to me which 
 book took best with the public, and whether the reader 
 thought better of " The Daltons " or " Con Cregan," 
 that it could in no way concern me. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 VIX 
 
 That I totally misunderstood myself, or misconceived 
 the case before me, I am now quite ready to own For 
 one notice of " The Daltons " by the Press, there were 
 at least three or four of - Con Cregan," and while the 
 former was dismissed with a few polite and measured 
 phrases, the latter was largely praised and freely 
 quoted. Nor was this all. The critics discovered in 
 "Con Cregan" a freshness and a vigor which were 
 so sadly deficient in "The Daltons." It was, they 
 averred, the work of a less practised writer, but of one 
 whose humor was more subtle, and whose portraits 
 roughly sketched as they were, indicated a far higher 
 power than the well-known author of " Harry Lorre- 
 quer." 
 
 The unknown ~ for there was no attempt to guess 
 him — was pronounced not to be an imitator of Mr. 
 Lever, though there were certain small points of resem- 
 blance ; for he was clearly original in his conception of 
 character, in his conduct of his story, and in his dia- 
 logues, and there were traits of knowledge of life in 
 scenes and under conditions to which Mr. Lever could 
 lay no claim. One critic, who had found out more fea- 
 tures of resemblance between the two writers than his 
 colleagues, uttered a friendly caution to Mr. Lever to 
 look to his laurels, for there was a rival in the field 
 possessing many of the characteristics by which he 
 first won public favor, but a racy drollery in de- 
 scription and a quaintness in his humor all his OAvn. 
 It was the amusement of one of my childi-en at the 
 time to collect these sage comments and torment me 
 with their judgments, and I remember a droll little 
 note-book, in which they were pasted, and read aloud 
 from time to time with no small amusement and 
 laughter. 
 
VIU 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 One or two of these I have even now before me : — 
 
 ' ' Our new novelist has great stuff in him." — Bath Gazette. 
 
 " ' Con Cregan ' — author unknown — begins promisingly ; 
 his first number is a decided hit." — Camhridge Chronicle, 
 
 " The writer of ' Con Cregan ' is a new hand, but we pre- 
 dict he will be a success." — Cambridye Advertiser. 
 
 " A new tale, in a style with which Lever and his follow- 
 ers have made us acquainted." — //aHtjus/it^'e Advertiser. 
 
 " This tale is from the pen of an able Irish writer. The 
 dialogue is very smartly written, so much so — and we can- 
 not pay the writer a more genuine compliment — that it 
 bespeaks the author to be an Irishman, &c." — Somerset 
 Gazette. 
 
 " ' Con Cregan ' - by an unnamed author — is a new can- 
 didate for popularity," &c. — Northern Whig, Belfast. 
 
 " The writer must be an Irishman." — Mttingham Gazette. 
 
 "A new bark, launched by an unknown builder." — 
 Cheltenham Chronicle. 
 
 "That the author's name is not disclosed will not affect 
 the popularity of this work, — one of the most attractive," 
 &c. — Oxford Journal. 
 
 " This is a new tale by the pen of some able Irish writer, 
 the first part of which is only published."— Ten Town 
 Messenger. 
 
 "Another new candidate for popular fame, and 'Harry 
 Lorrequer' had better look to his laurels. There is a 
 poacher in the manor in the person of the writer of ' Con 
 Cregan.'" — Yorkshireman. 
 
 "'Con Cregan' promises to become as great a fact as 
 ' Harry Lorrequer.' " — People's Journal. 
 
 " The author of ' Con Cregan,' whoever he be, is no ordi- 
 nary man." 
 
 " Another daring author has entered the lists, and with 
 every promise of success." — ^a;e<erPos«. 
 
 It may sound very absurd to confess it, but I was 
 excessively provoked at the superior success of the 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ix 
 
 unacknowledged book, and felt the rivalry to the full 
 as painfully as though I had never written a line of 
 It. Was It that 1 thought well of one story and verv 
 meanly of the qther, and in consequence was angry at 
 the want of concurrence of my critics? I suspect not. 
 I rather imagine I felt hurt at discovering how little 
 hold 1 had, in my acknowledged name, on a public 
 with whom I fancied myself on such good terms; and 
 It pained me to see with what little dilhculty a new and 
 a nameless man could push for the place I had believed 
 to be my own. 
 
 » The Daltons " I always wrote, after my habit, in 
 the morning; I never turned to "Con Cregan" until 
 nigh midnight ; and I can still remember the widely 
 different feelings with which I addressed myself to the 
 task I hked, and to a story which, in the absurd fashion 
 1 have mentioned, was associated with wounded self- 
 love. 
 
 It is scarcely necessary for me to say that there was 
 no plan whatever in this book. My notion was, that 
 
 Con Cregan, once created, would not fail to find 
 adventures. The vicissitudes of daily poverty would 
 beget shifts and contrivances ; with these successes 
 would come ambition and daring. Meanwhile a grow- 
 ing knowledge of life would develop his character, 
 and 1 should soon see whether he would win the 
 silver spoon or spoil the horn. I ask pardon in the 
 most humble manner for presuming for a moment to 
 associate my hero with the great original of Le Sage 
 
 But I used the word "Irish" adjectively, and with 
 the same amount of qualification that one employs to a 
 diamond, and indeed, as I have read it in a London 
 paper, to a "Lord." 
 
 An American officer, of whom I saw much at the 
 
* PREFACE. 
 
 time, was my guide to the interior of Mexico ; he had 
 been originally in the Santa F6 expedition, was a man 
 of most adventurous disposition, and a love of stirring 
 incident and peril, that even broken-down health and a 
 failing constitution could UDt subdue. 
 
 It was often very difficult for me to tear myself away 
 from his Texan and Mexican experiences, his wild 
 scenes of prairie life, or his sojourn amongst Indian 
 tribes, and keep to the more commonplace events of my 
 own story ; nor could all my entreaties confine him to 
 those descriptions of places and scenes which I needed 
 for my own characters. 
 
 The saunter after tea-time, with this companion, 
 generally along that little river that tumbles through 
 the valley of the Bagno di Lucca, was the usual prepa- 
 ration for my night's work; and I came to it as 
 intensely possessed by Mexico — dress, manner, and 
 landscape - as though I had been di-awing on the 
 recollection of a former journey. 
 
 So completely separated in my mind were the two 
 tales by the different parts of the day in which I wrote 
 them, that no character of " The Daltons " ever crossed 
 my mind after nightfall, nor was there a trace of " Con 
 Cregan " in my head at my breakfast next morning. 
 
 None of the characters of this story have been taken 
 from life. The one bit of reality in the whole is in the 
 sketch of "Anticosti," where I myself suffered once a 
 very small shipwreck, but of which I retain a very 
 vivid recollection to this hour. 
 
 I have already owned that I bore a grudge to the 
 story as I wrote it; nor have I outlived the memory of 
 the chagrin it cost me, though it is many a year since I 
 acknowledged that " Con Cregan " was by the author 
 of " Harry Lorrequer." 
 

 A PEEP AT MY FATHER. 
 
 HEN we shall have become better ac- 
 quainted, my worthy reader, there will 
 be little necessity for my insisting upon 
 a fact which, at this early stage of 
 our intimacy, I deem it requisite to 
 mention ; namely, that my native modesty and bashfulness 
 are only second to my veracity, and that while the latter 
 quality in a manner compels me to lay an occasional stress 
 upon my own goodness of heart, generosity, candor, and so 
 forth, I have, notwithstanding, never introduced the subject 
 without a pang, — such a pang as only a sensitive and diffi- 
 dent nature can suffer or comprehend. There now, not another 
 word of preface or apology ! 
 
 I was born in a little cabin on the borders of Meath and 
 King's County. It stood on a small triangular bit of ground, 
 beside a cross-road; and although the place was surveyed 
 every ten years or so, they were never able to say to which 
 county we belonged ; there being just the same number bf 
 arguments for one side as for the other, — a circumstance, 
 
 VOL. I. — 1 
 
CONFESSIONS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 many believed, that decidpfl m^r fn+i, • , • 
 
 question," „e ,.-, „„ .-ate '^-t ,, y c ^ T':;' """'"""y 
 a point of voting at both county o "lions ' Thii™^' """'" 
 to indicate that my nareut ,v,«„f „ . ./"'^ ""y seem 
 and indeed the way heiecHn "?"'/""^ ''™"= l'»Wt; 
 
 Will eonm-m that in^essS" '"''""" ""^ "' »' ^'■->'"'<i 
 
 eve^'r.X^nl-'fhr'itru-'"' 'T' '" "•» "»*''• - 
 low, one Heni-y k'ttbe tMt ,™"f " ™"' " """= °''' '='■ 
 
 %Wi„g betwee'n theinsltt 'Zr h'a"'"/"?,"'""^" 
 money, — Peter tl opi,i^,. .1 • ^'^ "^^^ ^he old man's 
 
 Mat n^;vei. ba:L td't ' 1° , ! ZT'T "'^''"' ^'"' ""<• 
 Mat, tired ont in the slS. "'"obligation. At last 
 
 more. He took eave of hf t'n "" ■'"' ™"'-' l-™^ « 
 set „« for D„bli„,ri °Lt :";he°?B;S"'' Th ™^' ""/ 
 after, he sailed for India • and tl,p -.1,1 ^''''^ ^''""^^^ 
 
 for'': r fo'::'"!!";.™ r '™f ^"*'^- '" ^""-^-d on 
 
 and be leveng" d on " tt d^?f f "*"?."" """"''«'"« ""'- 
 family, bnt Sid Harry as oX""" """ ""«■'«"''' '"^ 
 J- Whatever he own^ :h:r bV^^ S t S 
 
 neStlS-'re^tr ernti,r T" ''""™ '" '"^ 
 at night but had ovo,°,c. d T^u "^ ? ' """""S *« '""«<' 
 and Peters deep, loat'^tin 'S ^ir'^'^ ?j- 
 — It was on a Sunday niohf "i, ?,"• ^''«" at last 
 
 house, -not a wor L?!, ~!" ""'' """ ""O iniet in the 
 than i! it wcil urihabS t ! "' n'"" ^ ''^'"•"' "^ ■"»«> 
 
 at each other, and woSe7 f the^'fld "man wa '' '"""'"^'^ 
 he was dead ' °^^" ^^^ worse — if 
 
 doot^u^eS^l^^^l^^^it^f? Vn --' *« *^« 
 little snug basket near the fire -but TV 1 T^ '" '^''^ ^" ^ 
 frightened. It was repeated Itni '?'"''' ^^^' ^ ^^« 
 
 ™ed to be fast -^l.^ ^^^^^^^J^ 
 
A TEEP AT MY FATHER. 3 
 
 father unbolted tlie door, aud I heard him say, "Oh Mr 
 Peter, what's the matter? Is the ould man worse?" 
 ' t aix that 's what he is, for he 's dead ! " 
 " Glory be his bed ! when did it happen"'" 
 -About an hour ago," said Peter, in a voice that even I 
 from my corner could perceive was greatly agitated. " He 
 died like an ould haythe.i. Con, and never made a will ! " 
 Ihat s bad, says my father; for he was always a 
 
 ^"^ ! u"r'/' 1'" ''•? 'u''''''''' ''''' ^'^'''''''S to the company. 
 
 t s bad,' sa.d Peter; "but it would be worse if we 
 
 could n't help it. Listen to me now. Corny, I want ye to heTp 
 
 lo uhat I bid ye. \ on know that ye were alwa;s reckoned 
 the miage of my father, and before he took ill ye weil mis- 
 . taken for each other every day of the week." 
 
 " Anan ! " said my father ; for he was getting frio-htened at 
 the notion, without well knowing why. "i^^tened at 
 
 '' Well, what I want is, for ye to come over to the house, 
 and get into the bed." u^^use, 
 
 " Not beside the corpse? " said my father, trembling. 
 By no means but by yourself ; and you 're to pretend to 
 be my father, and that ye want to make yer will before ye 
 die; and then I '11 send for the neighbors, and Billy Scanlan 
 the schoolmaster, and ye '11 tell him what to write, laving all 
 he farm and everything to me, -ye understand. And 
 as the neighbors will see ye, and hear yer voice, it will never 
 be believed but that it was himself that did it " 
 "The room must be very dark," says my father. 
 To be sure it will, but have no fear ! Nobody will dare 
 to come nigh the bed ; and ye '11 only have to make a cross 
 with yer pen under the name." 
 
 " And the priest? " said my father. 
 
 "My father quarrelled with him last week about the Easter 
 dues, and Father Tom said he'd not give him the 'rites ' 
 and that's lucky now! Come along no^, qui'k, fL w "; 
 breaW' ' ""'' ^' "" finished before the day 
 
 My father did not lose much time us toilet, for b" just 
 wrapped his big coat 'round him, and supping on 'his brogues 
 left the house. I sat up in the basket and listened till they 
 
4 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 were goue some minutes ; and then, in a costume as li-ht as 
 my parents, set out after them, to watch the course of the 
 adventure I th(;ught to take a short cut, and be before 
 them; but by bad hick I fell into a bog-hole, and only 
 escaped bemg drowned by a chance. As it was, when I 
 reached the house, the performance had already begun 
 
 I thmk I see the whole scene this instant before my eves 
 as I sat on a little window with one pane, and that a broken 
 one, and surveyo(l the proceeding. It was a large room, at 
 one end o which was a bed, and beside it a table, ^ith 
 physic-bottles, and spoons, and teacups; a little farther off 
 was another table, at which sat Billy Scanlan, with all 
 manner of writing materials before him. The country 
 people sat two, sometimes three, deep round the walls all 
 intently eager and anxious for the coming event. Peter him- 
 self went from place to place, trying to smother his <rrief 
 and occasionally helping the company to whiskey, ^hich 
 was supplied with more than accustomed liberality 
 All my consciousness of the deceit and trickery could not 
 
 t^llT^^U v7^ f ' ''''"i° ^^'^'""^ty. The misty distance 
 of the half-lighted room; the highly wrought expression of 
 the country people's faces, never more intensely excited than 
 at some moment of this kind; the low, deep-drawn breath" 
 ings unbroken save by a sigh or a sob, -the tribute of 
 affectionate sorrow to some lost friend, whose memory was 
 thus forcibly brought back; these, I repeat it, were all so real 
 that as I looked, a thrilling sense of awe stole over me, Td 
 I actually shook with fear. 
 
 A low, faint cough, from the dark corner where the bed 
 stood, seemed to cause even a deeper stillness ; and then, in a 
 silence where the buzzing of a fly would haU been heard 
 my Mher said, '' Where 's Billy Scanlan? I want to make 
 
 '' He '8 here, father ! " said Peter, taking Billy by the hand 
 and leading him to the bedside. ^ 3^ "J ^^^ ^and 
 
 "Write what I bid ye, Billy, and be quick; for I hav'n't 
 
 J^atHer ORafferty won't give me the 'rites''" ^ 
 
 A general chorus of muttered " Oh ! musha,' musha ' " wis 
 now heard through the room ; but whether in grief over the 
 
A PEEP AT MY FATHER. 5 
 
 sad fate of the dying man, or the unflinching severity of the 
 priest, is hard to say. 
 
 " I die in peace with all my neighbors and all mankind ! " 
 Another chorus of the company seemed to approve these 
 charitable expressions. 
 
 " I beciueath unto my son Peter, —and never was there a 
 better son, or a decenter boy !— have you that down? I 
 bequeath unto my son Peter the whole of my two farms 
 of Killimundoonery and Knocksheboora, with the fallow 
 meadows behind Lynch's house ; the forge, and the right of 
 turf on the Doorau bog. I give him, and nmch good may it 
 do him, Lauty Cassarn's acre, and the Luary field, with the 
 limekiln ; and that reminds me that my mouth is just as 
 dry ; let me taste what ye have iu the jug." Here the dying 
 man took a very hearty pull, and seemed considerably 
 refreshed by it. " Where was I, Billy Scanlan? " says he ; 
 "oh, I remember, at the limekiln; I leave him — that's 
 Peter, I mean — the two potato-gardens at Noonan's Well; 
 and it is the elegant fine crops grows there." 
 
 " An't you gcttin' wake, father, darlin'?" says Peter, who 
 began to be afraid of my father's loquaciousness ; for, to say 
 the truth, the punch got into his head, and he was greatly 
 disposed to talk. 
 
 "I am, Peter, my son," says he; "I am getting wake; 
 just touch my Jips again with the jug. Ah, Peter, Peter, vou 
 watered the drink ! " "^ 
 
 "No, indeed, father; but it's the taste is leavin' you," 
 says Peter ; and again a low chonis of compassionate pity 
 murmured through the cabin. 
 
 " Well, I 'm nearly done now," says my father ; -<■ there 'a 
 only one little plot of ground remaining ; and I put it on 
 you, Peter, — as ye wish to live a good man, and die with 
 the same easy heart I do now, — that ye mind my last words 
 to ye here. Are ye listening? Are the neighbors listening? 
 Is Billy Scanlan listening? " 
 
 "Yes, sir. Yes, father. We're all miuding," chorused 
 the audience. 
 
 "Well, then, it's my last will and testament, and may — 
 Give me over the jug." Hi le he took a long drink. " And 
 may that blessed liquor be poison to me if I 'm not as eager 
 
• CONFFSSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 »hnm this ns (.very otlur part -^f my will. T sav fhon T 
 ^^^.mtU. little plot at the cn,s....^ads to po7con C^' 
 ga , for ho has a heavy charge, and i« as honest and as 
 ha d-workn.j, a n.M„ as ever I knew. He a friend i," 
 Pete,., dear; never let hi.n want while ye have it yo l .' 
 nnkof njeon n.y death-bed whenever he usks ye^^an; 
 tntte Is .t down Hilly Seanlan? the two acres a^ the or 'I 
 to Con ( rejran and Ins hcnrs in .serla .eclornm. Ah, bUsI 
 bothesan.tH bnt I feel my heart lighter after 7l^^t"8avs 
 
 refute '" ' ""'"»^'^"^« ^'^'°^1 ^«^Ith, and many happy 
 
 What he was jroin- to add, there 's no saying; bnt Peter 
 who was now terribly frightened at the livdy ^ ne the ti ek 
 man was assunn-ng, hnrried all the people away into a ote 
 room, to let hiH father die in peace. ho anotntr 
 
 When tlu^' were all gone Peter slipped back to my father 
 who was pnttmg on his brogues in . corner. - Con » sav^ 
 he, -ye did it all well ; bnt snre that was a joke ^ut the 
 two acres at the cross." ® 
 
 "Of course it was, Peter," says he; «' eure it was .dl a 
 joke for the matter of that. Won't I'make the neighbors 
 laugh hearty to-morrow when I tell them all about it ' " 
 
 lou wouldn't be mean enough to betray me?" savs 
 Peter, trembling with fright. ^ 
 
 " Sure ye would n't be mean enough to go against ver 
 
 " Very well, Con !" says Peter, holding out his hancT . , ■ 
 baiganisabargam; yer a deep fellow, that 's all ! " Ana so 
 It ended; and my father slipped quietly home over the bo' 
 mighty well satisfied with the legacy he left himself. ^' 
 
 And t^Ms we became the owners of the little spot known 
 to thi. , ai Con's Acre ; of which, more hereafter. 
 
,- ^1^;i!!^'-~ . -^.j^^M^,' ' /^ 
 
 
 ANOTHER PEEP AT MY FATHER. 
 
 Y father's prosperity had the usual 
 effect it has in similar cases. It 
 lifted him into a different sphere 
 of companionship, and suggested 
 now habits of life. No longer 
 necessitated to labor daily for his bread, by a very slight ex- 
 ercise of industry he could cultivate his "potato-garden;" 
 and every one who knows anything of Ireland well knows 
 that the potato und its corollary, the pig, supply every 
 want of an Irish cottier household. 
 
 Being thus at liberty to dispose of himself and his time, 
 my parent was enabled to practise a long-desired and much- 
 coveted mode of life ; which was to frequent " sheebeens " and 
 alehouses, and all similar places of resort, — not, indeed, for 
 the gratification of any passion for drink, for my father 
 only indulged when he was "treated," and never could 
 bring himself to spend a farthing in liquor himself, but his 
 great fondness for these places took its origin in his passion 
 for talk. Never, indeed, lived theie a man — from Lord 
 Brougham himself downwards — who had a gn r taste 
 for gossip and loquaciousness than my father. It attered 
 little what the subject, he was always ready ; and whether it 
 
8 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 marriage in lii'h life or" "'^^P^P«^-«' ^ «eiz„re for rent, a 
 explai^ing^away %ffl,:,r=;^;^^, pound, - there he was? 
 and many a di/flcultv tha To 'T 2 ^ f ^ ^""^P^^dence 
 attempted in r^in'toZ^Z^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 is men of precisely httii . ^'''''^^ '"-y s"'">nse. It 
 very similar to Sft^S i.".' "^^\^'^'-ts of an order 
 the earth. It is you aikinon? •'"''. '" '^' ^''''' ^^^^^^ of 
 always confident"^ in wha fh v t"'''' ""'' "'"' ^^^"""^ 
 an error nor confessinla d! f7. ^Z ''"'''' ^^knowledo-inj 
 With average abX 4^ .' ,f ' ''^', ''^' *^^ ^^''^^ "^ ^'^e^ 
 they reach The goaUha bashf, ?' ^^'"^"^^^ ^^^^^'^^^e, 
 
 as gets within s^ of '"'"' '^^^^^' ^^'^° «« much 
 
 His chief resort, however waq +i,« r^ . . 
 sions, where he sa Jm the first o. " ""^ Quarter Sea- 
 judgment, watching with an inff^ ! • F'"'°^ ^^'" *^ «^e last 
 changes of tJ>e law^^irta !tv J'?'"'* ''^" '^^ ^^^^^^^ing 
 not in any way diminished bT'th! ""^"^^^ionably wert 
 presided in that se^of ^^„^^ the smgular individual who 
 better known at thfbar Snow Ball "" ''^'"' "^' '' ^' -- 
 his white head and eyebrowT hi 1 ~ ""/P^'^^* ^' ^^^^ to 
 Bench by improvinc, unn„ T] ' ~ '^ ?'''^'^^'^ ^™«^lf for the 
 
 He was lot only bli^d'but fe.r Po "^ '^""'"^^ ^^ ^"^^-• 
 five years he had walked fL,n . ?' ^^"^^thing like forty- 
 e-pty bag, ancfa head sc^^^X^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^-^'ts with a'n 
 
 morning - no one could "„esf whv '"f^^u'n ^^' ^^^" «"« ' 
 nounced that the Torrl j .^,^^^ why -the "Gazette" an- 
 
 vacant cJrZ^^'ZlZlT '''°'"''' ""> ^ *« 
 l^a.l the effect of confoum inl , l l-J ", P'°"°''™ ''Wch 
 
 Win" Vn 'zi ™r:.Sb;:\t=" "™^ ^-^^ '" '°- «»<' 
 
 verted into good ma„u e wl *"' 'P"""' ''»>' '^ ""n- 
 often drops down in"™;- "'' '"' "7f;y '»M"li"K lawyer 
 
 gods b„t''aeknow>ed,ed 117 "^C^Mif""*'"'- """ "■« 
 earuer, doubtless be bad been ^n "^ee;^^ Ti^ 
 
ANOTHER PEEP AT MY FATHER. 
 
 for rent, a 
 ire he was, 
 ^prudence ; 
 [laster, had 
 "writ of 
 latioii and 
 
 neighbor- 
 )nse. It 
 an order 
 t cities of 
 , seeming 
 'wledging 
 d in life, 
 ssurance, 
 so much 
 
 rter Sca- 
 the last 
 cillating 
 Jly were 
 ual who 
 he was 
 3wed to 
 for the 
 justice. 
 i forty- 
 vith an 
 len one 
 i" an- 
 to the 
 which 
 by its 
 
 Bad 
 s con- 
 awyer 
 id the 
 years 
 leory. 
 
 9 
 
 They waited, however, so long that both sight and hearing 
 were in abeyance when the promotion came. It seemed to 
 rally him, however, this act of recognition, although late. 
 It was a kind of corroboration of the self-estimate of a 
 long life, and he prepared to show the world thrt he was 
 very different from what they took him for. No men have 
 the bump of self-esteem like lawyers ; tliey live, and grow 
 old, and die, always fancying that Holts, and Hales, and 
 Mansfields are hid within the unostentatious exterior of 
 .^Ar dusty garments ; and that the wit that dazzles, and 
 the pathos that thrills, are all rusting inside, just for want 
 of a little of that cheering encouragement by which theii- 
 contemporaries are clad in silk and walk in high places. 
 Snow Ball was determined to show the world its "error, and 
 with a smart frock and green spectacles he took the field 
 like a " fine old Irish barrister," with many a drv joke or sly 
 sarcasm curled up in the wrinkles beside his mouth. How- 
 ever cheap a man may be held by his fellows in the " Hall," 
 he is always sure of a compensation in the provinces. There 
 the country gentlemen looked upon their chairman as a 
 Blackstone, — not alone a storehouse of law, but a great ap- 
 peal upon questions of general knowledge and information. 
 I should scarcely ha- ventured upon what some of my 
 readers may regard a* a mere digression, if it were not that 
 the gentleman and the peculiar nature of his infirmities had 
 led to an intimate relation with my father. My parent's 
 fondness for law, and all appertaining to it, had attached 
 hmi to the little inn where JMr. Ball usually put up at 
 each season of his visit ; and gradually, by tendering little 
 services, as fetching an umbrella when it rained, hastening 
 for a book of reference if called for, searching out an im- 
 portant witness, and probably by a most frequent and 
 respectful use of the title "my lord," instead of the humble 
 "your worship," he succeeded in so ingratiating himself 
 mih the judge that, without exactly occupying anv precise 
 station, or having any regular employment, he be"'came in 
 some sort a recognized appendage, a kind of "unpaid 
 attache to the court " of Kilbeggan. 
 
 My father was one of those persons who usually ask only 
 a " lift" from Fortune, and do not require to be continually 
 
10 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON OREGAN. 
 
 'i 
 
 hunch-ed little see.-et detaH^s o tb ZeiXrh "'j "'' '''''''' ' 
 failings, which usually gave Mr B. '.^ '* ''"' '^' ^""^^^ 
 
 an air approaching insr^iinl" , 'sv. /^'"^'^^"^ «»^ the bench 
 edge of individual life As eo 1 '""'' ''^^ ^^ " ^"^^^'l' 
 was employed in readit oti totulT^ ''T'''^ ^"^ ^^^^^'• 
 various depositions of witn sses tl'" f '^ "•' '^'''""- *^^« 
 the a/lidavits sworn - o nnS '. "^^^^^tions laid, a.id 
 
 neglect to derive the fid'at":;':: '^T" "^'^' '^ ''' ^^ 
 accompanied the written doc menf with o" " '' '' "^"^"^ 
 tary of his own to Mr Bal hi !,'""'""- '^'^•"^'i- 
 Buitor feel how great was hk I ^^^,^^«"tnved to let the 
 whatapowerfurLfll:r,'^ Jr;';::^f»^ i '^^ --' and 
 the fortunes of the cause; inso ud';i '"f^ '^ "^^^^^^^^ -- 
 known that he who had CnnO ^ became soon well 
 
 matter, he knew by a species of inT. ^r^"''"'^^^ «^ ^^^ 
 wreck of most men, anc'hat to wieh J"' '^f ^"^^ ^^^ ^he 
 It is often necessar^ to assump n i T^' «"bstantial power, 
 and incapacity. To thTs ™d .f '^ °^ "^^P*^^'^"* inefflcienc; 
 
 possessed, the humbleidTdirffcufr^^ "'"^"^« ^^ 
 
 thing like power, he got cn^dit fo- ' ^^!«^»^^""ing every- 
 
 share than he ev^- really e^y.t ''"'''''^"^ " '"^' ^'''^''^' 
 
 many rocks, and shoal a„d 2^t'' ^ '"'''"■^^'- ^^^^ ^ow , 
 channel! and certainly m^T.J.w ''"'''!.' ""''' *^^^'^ "^ ^he 
 the wheel. Litigation 7mulf "" ^'-^nserous hand at 
 
 vacillation. The usu. 'n Lf .' ""'"''"^^ ^^'^^ '""^^^ of its 
 ^^oesConsayP ^^^Z:^ T' 'T ^^^ " ^^'^at 
 was decisive ; none scenf inn J f ^ "^ ^'^ " ^'» • " That 
 
 At the feet of his r ™ i ?T^^ *^ "^^^' f^'' "^^^e •' 
 more tenderly ha \st" mo I "" '"""'^' "^^ ^^hingthe 
 department.""^ As I wt^ stoui T^'f ""''' *^^ " ^^-^ 
 fourteen at this ppriod of mv f ^ '7'^ ^^ '^'"' ^^^''t^^" or 
 
ANOTHER PEEP AT MY FATHER. 
 
 11 
 
 copies of various papers used at tlie Sessions. Were I 
 psychologically inclined, I might pause here to inquire how 
 far these peculiar studies had their influence in biassing the 
 whole tenor of my very eventful life ; what latent stores of 
 artifice did I lay up from all these curious subtleties ; how 
 did I habituate my mind to weigh and balance probabilities, 
 as evidence inclined to this side or that; above all, how 
 gratified was I with the discovery that there existed a leo-al 
 right and wrong, pe-fectly distinct from the moral ones, — a 
 fact which served at once to open the path of life far wider 
 and more amply before me. 
 
 I must, however, leave this investigation to the reader's 
 acuteness, if he think it worth following out ; nor would I 
 now allude to it save as it affords me the opportunity, once 
 for all, of explaining modes of thinking and acting which 
 might seem, without some such clue, as unfitting and 
 unseemly in one reared and brought up as I was. ° 
 
 Whether the new dignity of his station had disposed him 
 to it or not, I cannot say ; but my father became far more 
 stnrn m his manner and exacting in his requirements as he 
 rose m life. The practice of the law seemed to impart some 
 feature of its own peremptory character to himself, as he 
 issued his orders in our humble household with all the impres- 
 sive solemnity of a writ, — indeed, aiding the effect by 
 phrases taken from the awful vocabulary of justice. 
 
 If my stepmother objected to anything the answer was, 
 usually, she might " traverse in prox" at the next Sessions; 
 while to myself every order was in the style of a " manda- 
 mus." Not satisfied with the mere terrors of the Bench, he 
 became so enamoured of the pursuit as to borrow some feat- 
 ures of prison discipline for the conduct of our household ; 
 thus, for the slightest infractions of his severe code I 
 was "put" upon No. 3 Penitentiary diet, — only reading 
 potatoes vice bread. 
 
 There would seem to be something uncongenial to obedi- 
 ence in any form in the life of an Irish peasant; something 
 doubtless in the smell of the turf. He seems to imbibe a 
 taste for freedom by the very architecture of his dwelling, 
 and the easy, unbuttoned liberty of his corduroys. Young as 
 1 was, I suppose the Celt was strong within me; and the 
 
12 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 iL^X:;.S'. t'tl'e r ™' f"?" ^^'-^-ndes. I felt 
 cases do not come uncwT; • r'^ ' ^^'' °^^ *^^* '^V^t^^ 
 
 resolution™™ Ced it waZTt "f ?^ "'=" '^^^ 
 January. Mv fathTrhirflil '" ""■* '*''«''«^» ™« »' 
 
 copy, and a long a,tide ^ or thT n?'"' """ °' ""'^'^'^ *» 
 which the " r„,l"." r„ . I newspapers to write out, 
 
 openly, and " hIpiH » .^''^rf.®' ^.-^ »^o"ld avow my rebellion 
 My ;Tder S . '"^'^S^*^^^ ^^^^^^^ "^y father came in.* 
 
 Revenge must be a very " linmnn " r^occv 
 it came quite naturillv T i i Passion; my taste for 
 
 ever, i enjoyed the privilege of paying it at once, and in 
 
 i 
 
ANOTHER PEEP AT MY FATHER. 
 
 13 
 
 full ; which I did thus : I had often remarked that my father 
 arose at night and left the cabin, crossing a little garden 
 behind the house to a little shed, where our pig and an ass 
 lived in harmony together ; and here, by dint of patient ob- 
 servation, I discovered that his occupation lay in the thatch 
 of the aforesaid shed, in which he seemed to conceal some 
 object of value. 
 
 Thither I now repaired, some secret prompting suggesting 
 that it might afford me the wished-for means of vengeance. 
 My disappointment was indeed great that no compacr roll of 
 bank-notes, no thick woollen stocking close packed with 
 guineas, or even crown-pieces, met my hand. A heavy bundle 
 of papers and parchment was all I could find ; and these 
 bore such an unhappy family resemblance to the cause of all 
 my misfortunes that I was ready to tear them to pieces in 
 very spite. A mere second's reflection suggested a better 
 course. There was a certain attorney in Kilbeggan, one 
 Morissy, my father's bitterest enemy ; indeed, my parent's 
 influence in the Session court had almost ruined and left him 
 without a client. The man of law and precedents in vain 
 struggled against decisions which a secret and in-esponsible 
 adviser contrived beforehand, and Morissy's knowledge and 
 experience were soon discovered to be valueless. It^'was a 
 game in which skill went for nothing. 
 
 This gentleman-'s character at once pointed him out as the 
 fitting agent of vengeance on my father, and by an hour 
 after daybreak did I present myself, before him in all the 
 consciousness of my injui'ed state. 
 Mr. Morissy's reception of me was not over gracious. 
 "Well, ye spawn of the devil," s-xid he, as he turned 
 about from a small fragment of looking-glass, before which 
 he was shaving, '^what brings ye here? Bad luck to ye; 
 the sight of ye 's made me cut myself." 
 
 "I'm come, sh-, for a bit of advice, sir," said I, putting 
 my hand to my hat in salutation. 
 
 "Assault and battery ! " said he, with a grin on the side 
 of his mouth where the soap had been shstved away. 
 
 " Yes, su-; an aggravated case," said I, using the phrase 
 of the Sessions. 
 
 " Why don't ye apply to yer father? He 's Crown lawyer 
 
14 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 and Attorney-General; faith, he's more besides, — he 'a 
 judge and jury too." 
 
 " And more than that in the present suit, sir," says I 
 following up his illustration ; " he 's the defendant here." 
 
 " What ! is that his doing? " 
 
 "Yes, sir; his own hand and mark," said I, laughino-. 
 
 " That 's an ugly cut, and mighty near the eye ! But°sure, 
 after all, you're his child." 
 
 " Very true, sir; it 's only paternal correction ; but I have 
 somethmg else ! " 
 
 " What 's that, Con my boy ? » said he ; for we were now 
 grown very familiar. 
 
 "It is this, sir," said I ; " this roll of papers that I found 
 hid in the thatch, -a safe place my father used to make his 
 strong-box. 
 
 "Let us see!" said Morissy, sitting down and opening 
 the package. Many were old summonses discharged, notices 
 to quit withdrawn, and so on; but at last he came to two 
 papers pinned together, at sight of which he almost jumped 
 from his chair " Con," says he, "describe the place you 
 found them m." -^ 
 
 I went over all the discovery again. 
 
 " Did ye yourself see your father put in papers there?" 
 " I did, sir." 
 
 " On more than one occasion? " 
 " At least a dozen times, sir." 
 
 " Did ye ever remark any one else putting papers there? " 
 Never, sir ! none of the neighbors ever come through the 
 garden." *= 
 
 "And it was always at night, and in secret, he used to 
 repair there ? 
 
 " Always at night." 
 
 "That '11 do. Con ; that '11 do, my son. You '11 soon turn 
 the tables on the old boy. You may go down to the kitchen 
 and get your breakfast ; be sure, however, that you don't 
 leave the house to-day. Your father mustn't know where 
 ye are till we're /eady for him." 
 
 " Is it a strong case, sir? " said I. 
 
 " A very strong case — never a flaw in it." 
 
 " Is it more than a larceny, sir? " said I. 
 
ANOTHER PEEP AT MY FATHER. 
 
 16 
 
 jsides, — he 's 
 
 " It is better than that.* 
 "I'd rather it didn't 
 
 w^e were now 
 
 oers there ? " 
 
 b, he used to 
 
 go 
 
 too far," said I, for I was 
 beginning to feel afraid of what I had done. 
 
 "Leave that to me, Con," said Mr. Morissy, "and go 
 down to yer breakfast." 
 
 I did as I was bid, and never stirred out of the house the 
 whole day, nor for eight days after; when one morning 
 Morissy bid me clean myself, and brush my hair, to come 
 with him to the Court-house. 
 
 I guessed at onco what was going to happen ; and now, as 
 my head was healed, and all my bruises cured, I'd very 
 gladly have forgiven all the affair, and gone home again with 
 my father ; but it was too late. As Mr. Morissy said, with 
 a grin, " The law is an elegant contrivance; a child's finger 
 can set it in motion, but a steam engine could not hold it 
 back afterwards ! " 
 
 The Court was very full that morning; there were five 
 magistrates on the bench, and Mr. Ball in the middle of 
 them. There were a great many farmers, too, for it was 
 market-day ; and numbers of the townspeople, who all knew 
 my father, and were not sorry to see him "up." Cregan 
 versus Cregan stood third on the list of cases ; and very 
 little interest attached to the two that preceded it. At last 
 it was called ; and there I stood before the Bench, with five 
 hundred pair of eyes all bent upon me ; and two of them 
 actually looking .through my very brain, — for they were my 
 father's, as he stood at the opposite side of the table below 
 the Bench. 
 
 The case Avas called an assault, and very soon terminated ; 
 for, by my own admission, it was clear that I deserved pun^ 
 ishment; though probably not so severely as it had been 
 inflicted. The judge delivered a very impressive lesson to 
 my father and myself, about our respective duties, and dis- 
 missed the case with a reproof, the greater share of which 
 fell to me. " You may go now, sir," said he, winding up a 
 fine peroration; "fear God and honor the king; respect 
 your parents, and make your capitals smaller." 
 
 " Before your worship dismisses the witness," said Morissy, 
 "I wish ' -> put a few questions to him." 
 
 "The case is disposed of; call the next," said the judge, 
 angrily. 
 
16 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON CliEGAN. 
 
 f 
 
 Bench." ° '*"• "'"' " '■»l"'"«'l' '<> "^e learned 
 
 Mr'.' Mori*;.""* °"^' "™''" ^«' "'^ J-08- " Sit down, 
 
 '"T;^StLVZ rtto"!:..'™' ' ''"' "^ ^-o-" 
 
 " When you hear of a mandaiims from the Kin.,', R»„„. 
 when yon know that a case of compounding a ewl°?- 
 
 von^^' ^'- ^-'^^^^ --«"'-. »'''"-id the 
 
 ge^XTt^L^aTSf^l.^rr-^^''^-'^''^^^-'^^^ 
 
 round ™'tS7""'' "'■•" '"''' ^""'^y' '"-'"g fiercely 
 fuLrt 'f„ ,, f possessed of information which you re! 
 
 fuSce^ a^::;',:" .^trt^wTt '"""■^^ *" "■'™^ 
 
 truth." ^' "'"'='' """^ <J™ie8 its ear to 
 
 s:rn?f^-StSi~?-q 
 
 actually to hanir nnon it ti • ""'"'^ "' ^'"^ case seemed 
 bed coLssioi'-o ToLn t,r; "? ''^^ f"? '"" "™">- 
 
 vidual who wrote the case was Con Cre^^an Ynnr^ t 
 may bear in mind that this man whoa cali;d t fh ''^'^ 
 box, denied all knowledge of thi;d;;:g ^n^^^^S 
 
ANOTHER PEEP AT MY FATHER, 
 
 IT 
 
 that what he took down in writing were simply some brief 
 and unsatisfactory notes of the affray, all to the advantage 
 of the M'Quades, and swore that Mr. Styles, who often 
 alluded to the document as a confession, was entirely in 
 error, the whole substanco of it being unimportant and vague ; 
 some very illegible and ill-written notes corroborating which 
 were produced in court as the papers in question. 
 
 " Noonan being dead, and Mr. Styles also, the whole case 
 rested on the evidence of Cregan ; and although, your wor- 
 ship, the man's character foi' veracity was not of that nature 
 among the persons of his own neighborhood to — " 
 
 " Confine yourself to the case, sir," said the judge, " with- 
 out introducing matter of mere common report." 
 
 "I am in a position to prove my assertion," said Morissy, 
 triumphantly. " I hold here in my hand the abstracted docu- 
 ments, signed and soaletl by Mr. Styles, and engrossed with 
 every item of regularity. I have more: a memorandum 
 purporting to be a copy of a receipt for cigliteen pounds ten 
 shillings, received by Cregan from Jos. M'Quade, the wages 
 of this crime; and, if more were necessary, a promissory 
 note from M'Quade for an additional sum of seven pounds, 
 at six months' date. These are the papers which I am pre- 
 pared to prove in court; this the evidence which a few 
 minutes back I tendered in vain bcfoi-e you ; and there," said 
 he, turning with a vindictive solemnity to where my father 
 was standing, pale, but collected, "there's the man who, 
 distinguished by your worship's confidence, I now arraign for 
 the suppression of this evidence, and the composition of a 
 felony ! " 
 
 If Mr. Morissy was not perfectly correct in his law, there 
 was still quite enough to establish a charge of misdemeanor 
 against my father; and he was accordingly committed for 
 trial at the approaching assizes, while 1 was delivered over 
 to the charge of a police-sergeant, to be in readmess when 
 my testimony should be required. 
 
 The downfall of a dynasty is sure to evoke severe recrimi- 
 nation against the late ruler ; and now my parent, who but 
 a few days past could have tilted the beam of justice at his 
 mere pleasure, was overwhelmed with not merely abuse and 
 attack, but several weighty accusations of crime were alleged 
 
 VOL. I, — 2 
 
i 
 
 i : 
 
 18 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 agamat him. Not only was it discovered that he interfered 
 with the clue curse of justice, but that he was a prime actor 
 in, and contriver of, many of tlie scenes of insun-ectioiv rv 
 disturbance which for years back had lilled the Joun t w th 
 alarm and the jails with criminals. ^ 
 
 For one of these cases, a night attack for arms, the evi- 
 dencc was so complete and unquestionable that the Crown 
 prosecu or, disliking the exhibition of a ^„n givin-^ evklenT-e 
 against his parent, dispensed with my attendance altog^her 
 and^^prosecuting the graver .charge obtained a verdict "' 
 
 tion o'f Til n"'" ?' *^-^f P"''t^««» for life, with a confisca- 
 tion of all property to the Crown. Thus my first step in 
 life was to exile my father, and leave myself a beggar i- a 
 promising beginning, it must be owned 1 ^^ ' 
 
A FIRST STEP OX LIFE'S LADDER. 
 
 T is among the strange and singular 
 anomalica of our nature that how- 
 ever pleased men may be at the con- 
 viction of a noted offender, few of 
 tljose instrumental to his punish- 
 ment are held in honor and esteem. If all Kilbeggan rejoiced 
 as they did, at my father's downfall, a very considerable share 
 of obloquy rested on me, — a species of judgment, I honestly 
 confess, that I was not the least prepared for 
 
 "There goes the little informer," said they, as I passed; 
 "wha did ye get for hanging-" a very admirable piece 
 of Irish exaggeration — ' ' for hanging yer father, Con ? " said 
 one. 
 
 "Couldn't ye help yer stepmother to a say vovaffe?" 
 shouted another. J- s • 
 
 " And then we 'd be rid of yez all," chimed in a third. 
 He s rich now," whined out an old beggar-man that often 
 had eaten his potatoes at our fireside. " He 's rich now, the 
 chap IS ; he '11 marry a lady ! " 
 
 This was the hardest to bear of all the slights, for not 
 alone had I lost all pretension to my father's property, but 
 the raggedness of my clothes and the general miser- of mv 
 appearance might have saved me from' the reproach 'of what 
 18 SO forcibly termed " blood-money." 
 
 § 
 
 
20 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "Come over to me thin evonino- " aoi^i v ..u « 
 Ihcy ,vt.,o tlie only m,r<i, „7c'm-tt . w"' ''"'*" "''<' 
 
 "Co,„e over ,o 1 abou »S "o'tk "c™ ^'".""^ ^''"'- 
 speak to you." « Clock, Con, for I want to 
 
 had some sneer or scoff ...i.?' r "^ ^^^^^'T one I met 
 t'.king my course towards 1 . ^^'^ ''P^'' country, 
 
 groin,!! n«c8Bitated °' ""'^ " """'"8 ""■" "' ">« 
 
 hopeloB8„e,s, bnt, somZl oj^otrr '"' '''^''"''^ ''' 
 between the seen; ,vithour and tM"^ .""","'""» 
 w.th,n, e,taUi.hes a kind of com, anbnsW^ 7!°'""°° 
 speaking like a true philosopher when l,eT»! "^^ .^ """ 
 "I like thi» roekin/of the K'e'^L •• ""' '"^ '""■<'^' 
 
 1 had wandered some hours " herp nnri fi, » 
 common; and it was now the echt of dtv ^ ?''' '^' 
 a little distance from me theXn onf ^ ^^en I saw at 
 dress and npnearanoe hLl^^ " v "" ^"""° "^'^» ^ho^e 
 a brisk paTbut ev a' X^^^^^^ ""'"' '^"^° ^^ 
 
 The i^fsta t hesa;t;tttra:reT;errt^^^^^^^^^ 
 rny^b^oy, . that Kilbeggan yonder, vv^here I s:e'theUe A'^' 
 
 ;; And where is the high-road to Athlone ? » 
 bonder, sn-, where the two trees are standing " 
 Haveyouseen the coach pass, -the mail fo^Athlone^ " 
 ^^^ }es, sn-, she went through the town about half an Tour 
 
 "Are ye certain, boy? are ye quite sure of thi«v » « • ^ 
 he, m a voice of great agitation. ^''' ''"^^ 
 
 -ore than'hJ;? a, LrXe''"' ''^" ''^'^" ^P' *^- 
 
A FIRST STKi' ON LIFE'S LADDKK, 21 
 
 " Is there no otlior coach passes thiH road for Dublin v " 
 -The night mail, nir, but she does not go to-night; this is 
 o&turday. 
 
 an.1 he seated h.n.self on a stone as he spoke, and hid his 
 face between his hands. 
 
 As he sat thus I had time to mark him well, aud scan 
 every detail of his appearance. 
 
 Although tall and stoutly knil, he could not have been 
 above sixteen, or at most sevei.teen, years of age ; hi. dress, 
 a kind of shoo ing-jacket, was made in a cut that affected 
 fashion; and observed on one finger of his very white 
 hand a ring which, even to my uneducated eyes, bespoke 
 considerable value. ^ 
 
 He looked uj, at last, and his eyes were very red, and a 
 certain trembling of the lips showed that he was much 
 affected. " I suppose, my lad, I can find a chaise or a 
 carriage of some kind in Kilbeggan? " said he; " for I have 
 lost the mail. 1 had got out for a walk, and by the advice 
 of a countryman taken this path over the bog, expecting, as 
 he told me, it would cut off several miles of way. 1 suppose 
 I must have mistaken him, for I have been runnincr for 
 above an hour, and am too late after all ; but still, if I can 
 find acliaise, I shall be in time yet." 
 
 -They're all g«,ne, sir," said I; " and sorry am I to have 
 such tidings to tell. The Sessions broke up to-day, and 
 they re away with the lawyers to Kinnegad." 
 
 "And how far is that from us?" 
 
 "Sixteen miles or more, by the road." 
 
 " And how am T to get there? " 
 
 " Unless ye walk it — " 
 
 "Walk! impossible. I am dead beat already; besides, 
 tlie tune it would take would lose me all chance of reaehin- 
 Dublin as I want." " 
 
 "Andy Smith has a horse, if he'd lend it; and there's a 
 short road by Hogan's boreen." 
 
 tijj'J?"' * '"'" ""'•= ''°'° ^''"^ yo" O"" see 'lie house from 
 
 
 n 
 
22 
 
 COATESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 m 
 
 :t i 
 
 movements. ^ "^"^ *^ ^^"^ ^la^nty to his 
 
 accompany the rider ajr,,i, . „ f """'°' ^ ''"'■'W 
 
 town. P'oLtuiecl ou liw jouruoy to 
 
 The negotiation ivas teclions eiioiiob ■ for ^t li,.., a j 
 wouldn't appear at all: he tho,i..l,t if „, '' ^"'^^ 
 
 was after him, _a sus„ e m, n , , , " " P^^'^s-server 
 
 sence, as it wL g»e y rii^e Uh^t a"=r 'f ^^ "'^' P- 
 .>a„tle had desce1,ded Jme I ll, onlv St! "^ '"""'^ 
 tious and carefnl scrutii.v of ih! T.f { " " ''"^ «""" 
 small glass eye-,t „ 1,°, "'« .you"g traveller through a 
 
 tMt he wouui^on 1; ": e m'e™ "\7;'" !^« ,T' "" 
 
 .rrtf/a'sTf'r r: i'lr-^- - --- - 
 
 or .e head i„„.. L---^ fh™' ast K^'- 
 
 doned^ the-schern'r-rol'l-UrrS"; ""■"'' "^'^ ^^^ 
 such characters as Anrl J it ' ^"'''' acquainted with 
 were only items t^^^'^^^ ^"^'"g '^''' ^"« difficulties 
 
 gained, LaZZ^^St^T!'''''''^ ^"^^ ^^^■ 
 
 somefiveandfortyninutesoX-^ •/•"'• '"'^' ""'^' 
 each other, it was at last aoreedl^^t^^^^ ^"^^ ^^using 
 
 be ceded for the sun. of flf te^^ s iU nit u ""'"'^ . ^^' ^o 
 more if his honor was pleased wiTl\7 ^"'^ '^"^'^'"^^ 
 
 him;" the turnpike and Vfepd n v''^^ '^" ^^''^''^^^ 
 
 charge of the rider, as weU fsall .''•' ^''"^" "^^'^ ^' '^' 
 by loss or otherwise Then H ^'"'' ^^ '^^^^^ '"^""•^d 
 clauseastothepeculiarcareofthl"'" ""T^ "" si'Pplemental 
 to be let drink too mnohtf T'""^- ^""'^ " «he was n't 
 
 and if she needed loeinoT''"'^^^ colic;" 
 
 on her nose, or she'd S th'. 7" '" ^'^'^ ^ "'^^^^«»^" 
 The same pr;caution to be ttk n if S'' to '. smithereens." 
 
 o--a.eside;^^;-i^----^-^^ 
 
A FIRST STEP ON LIFE'S LADDER. 
 
 28 
 
 guard at the cross-roads at Toomes-bridge, or she'd run 
 away towards Croghan, where she once Avas turned out in 
 foal. "Barring" these peculiarities, and certain smaller 
 difficulties about mounting, "she was a lamb, and the 
 sweetest-tempered crayture ever was haltered." 
 
 In the very midst of this panegyric upon the animal's 
 good and noble qualities he flung open the door of a little 
 shed, and exhibited her to our view. I verily believe, what- 
 ever the urgency of the youth's reason for proceeding, that 
 his heart failed him at the sight of the steed; a second's 
 reconsideration seemed to rally his courage, and he said, 
 "No matter, it can't be helped; saddle her at once, and 
 let us be off." 
 
 "That's easier said nor done," muttered Andy to him- 
 self, as he stood at the door, without venturing a step 
 farther. " Con," said he, at last, in a species of coaxing 
 tone I well knew boded peril, " Con, a cushla! get a hould 
 of her by the head, that 's a fine chap ; make a spring at the 
 forelock." 
 
 "Maybe she'd kick—" 
 
 "Sorra kick! get up there, now, and I'll be talking to 
 you all the while." 
 
 This proposition, though doubtless meant as most encour- 
 aging, by no means reassured me. 
 
 "Come, come! I'll bridle the infernal beast," said the 
 youth, losing all patience with both of us, and he sprung 
 forward into the stable; but barely had he time to jump 
 back, as the animal let fly with both hind legs together. 
 Andy, well aware of what was coming, pulled us both back 
 and shut to the door, against which the hoofs kept up one 
 rattling din of kicks that shook the crazy edifice from roof 
 to ground. 
 
 " Ye see what comes of startlin' her ; the crayture 's timid 
 as a kid," said Andy, whose blanched cheek badly corrobo- 
 rated his assumed composure. " Ye may do what ye plaze, 
 barrin' putting a bridle on her; she never took kindly to 
 that ! " '' 
 
 " But do ye intend me to ride her without one? " said the 
 youth. 
 
 " By no manner of means, su-," said Andy, with a plan- 
 
24 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Bible slowness on each word H 
 
 an expedient. - j ^,„j^, betirof^l'^ 'j^' '° *^^""^ «^ 
 
 knows me would ever sav it to nre 7'^ ' ^''^''' "°»« ^iiat 
 
 " You 're a devilish fi.-pL "'"^ ' -^ ™ ^ Poor man - » 
 -cklenly; " here w ha^^ 1": aT''" ^'^ "^ *^« ^-th, 
 -g at the door, and none the ne^ ""'' 7 ^""'' ^^-^' 
 when we arrived." ^^'''''' ^"^' departure than 
 
 "Christy Moore could bridle her if . 
 Andy; u i3,t ,^^,^ Moate ^n 1 "^"^ ^'''^" '^^'^ 
 
 T'vfr ™^^ ^^t^^^t would do ?5f' "^ ^°"* ^^ ^'-^ck till 
 
 «ignedTi-SytoTnClLrfIt7 TlT?^''^''^on con- 
 anyhow, sir," said Andy libit ^ ' ^^e"' don't be angry, 
 «>gbt think of, if they;;,n' 11T'\''^ *'^"^ ^ body 
 a «s minute ; an'ele^C L"' J^ ' --' ^ ^av^ 
 
 " There, now, vo„ '^^ a "rl^°'"'°:«-»»>"«l speeches ! " 
 
 -neie It IS, then ; let tha t 
 ;ge. .p on the .-oof a.'.d tie „« fotTh' " T"""'' "■^• 
 the sods of grass, till he can It «, l"" "' ""^ >«"««. 
 down on the mare's back- when i """*''• ""*' "'"" «'«»! 
 
 ;r *..'-^ - '-'■ -^ ^rca'^siip-s ^^j;:i^2 
 
 hint than little Con," hroie h A ^ 'J'"'''' '" ""= M'^""" 
 ■■-ciy flatter, he thought wo IdVce./e'm:"""°" ™ ''"'' " 
 
 -^?^™;:i;;ix'f:3?"-^:^^h: 
 
 ".ons exhorted to "go i„ and ll " '•'"""'■-S'ng expres- 
 Ihere! there, a eushli ' " . ' ^' * 
 
 performing the first act of the Se wl^'/' •'' ^^^ '"^ 
 
 piece with a vigor he had 
 
 iiL 
 
ime to think of 
 like ; none that 
 01' man — " 
 
 in the youth, 
 "1 iiour stand- 
 departure than 
 
 as here," said 
 t be back till 
 
 lamation con- 
 on't be angry, 
 tiling a body 
 ' now, I have 
 
 d speeches ! " 
 's enough to 
 ve them time 
 
 nan, his lips 
 
 leaning me, 
 ' the scraws, 
 J then steal 
 iier, she'll 
 die over hei- 
 fer that— " 
 hard, after 
 
 the Meath 
 me with a 
 
 •nsented to 
 so, with a 
 ited on the 
 'g expres- 
 
 3 saw me 
 ^r he had 
 
 A FIRST STEP ON LIFE'S LADDER. 
 
 25 
 
 ^1 
 
 never calculated on; " 'tis n't a coach and six ye want to 
 drive through. Tear and ages ! ye '11 take the whole roof 
 off." The trinh was, I worked away with a malicious pleas- 
 ure m the destruction of the old miser's roof ; nor is it quite 
 certain how far my zeal might have carried me, when sud- 
 denly one of the rafters — mere light poles of ash — <rave 
 way, and down I went, at first slowly, and then quiclier 
 into a kind of funnel formed by the smashed timbers and 
 the earthen sods. The crash, the din, and the dust ap. 
 peared to have terrified the wicked beast below, for she 
 stood trembling in one corner of the stable, and never 
 moved a limb as I walked boldly up and passed the bridle 
 over her head. This done, I had barely time to spring on 
 her back, when the door was forced open by the youno- 
 gentleman, whose fears for my fate had absorbed ever? 
 other thought. 
 
 "Are you safe, my boy, quite safe?" he cried, makin^ 
 his way over the fallen rubbish. 
 
 " Oh ! the devil fear him," cried Andy, in a perfect rage of 
 passion; " I wish it was his bones was smashed, instead of 
 the roof-sticks — see ! — Och, murther, only look at this." 
 And Andy stood amid the ruins, a most comical picture of 
 afl[liction, in part real and in part assumed. Meanwhile the 
 youth had advanced to my side, and, with many a kind and 
 encouraging word, more than repaid me for all my danger. 
 
 '"T is n't five pound will pay the damage," cried Andy, 
 running up on his fingers a sum of imaginary arithmetic 
 
 " Where 's the saddle, you old - " What the young man 
 was about to add, I know not; but at a look from me he 
 stopped short. 
 
 "Is it abusin' me you're for now, afther wreckin*^ my 
 house and destroying my premises?" cried Andy, whose 
 temper was far from sweetened by the late catastrophe, 
 feure what marcy my poor beast would get from the likes 
 of ye ! sorry step she '11 go in yer company ; pay the dam- 
 ages ye done, and be off." 
 
 Here was a new turn of affairs, and, judging from the 
 irascibility of both parties, a most disastrous one ; it de- 
 manded, mdeed, all my skill, -all the practised dexterity of 
 a mind ti-amed, as mine had been been by many a subtlety, 
 
 m 
 
26 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 to effect a compromise, which I did thus : my patron bein- 
 cas HI the costs of all the damages to the amount of twent; 
 fnteoTif ' ''""'''''^ """"^''''^ ^"^ ^' maintained in all its 
 
 The young man paid the money without speaking; but I 
 hari tnne to mark that the purse from which he drc^v^ it was 
 far from weighty. - Are we free to go at last? " cried he 
 in a voice of suppressed wrath. ' 
 
 "Yes, yer honor; all's right," answered Andy, whose 
 heart was mollified at the sight of money. " A pleasant 
 journey, and safe to ye ; take good care of the beast, don't 
 ride her over the stones, and — " 
 
 The remainder of the exhortation was lost to us, as we 
 set for h ui a short jog-trot, I running alongside. 
 
 When we are once below the hill, yonder," said I to my 
 compaiuou, "give her the whip, and make up for lose time." 
 And how are you to keep up, my lad?" asked he, in 
 some surprise. ' 
 
 I could scarcely avoid a laugh at the simplicity of the 
 question; as If an Irish gossoon, with his foot on his native 
 bog would n t be an overmatch in a day's journey for the 
 bes hack that ever ambled! Away we Jent, sometimes 
 joking over, sometimes abusing, the old miser Andy of 
 whom for my fellow-traveller's amusement, I told various 
 little traits and stories, at which he laughed with a zest quite 
 new to me to witness. My desire to be entertaining then 
 fir Z 7'f °^ '""^ father and his many curious ^dven- 
 tures, -the .kill with which he could foment litigation, and 
 the wily stratagems by which he sustained it afterwards. 
 All the cunning devices of the process-server I narrated with 
 a gusto that smacked of my early training : how, sometimes, 
 my .-afty parent would append a summons to the collar of a 
 dog, and lie in wait till he saw the owner take it off and read 
 It, and then, emerging from his concealment, cry out " sarved " 
 and take to his heels; and again how he once succeeded 
 m "serving' old Andy himself, by appearing n, a be<.c.ar 
 
 Terniiy^T. ''■"'' f ? '° ""'^^ ' ^'^ ^^ i'^P^'- to kindle 
 ner pipe. The moment, however, he took the bit of twisted 
 
 paper, the assumed beggar-woman screamed out, "Andv' 
 
 yer sarved : that 's a process, my man ! " The shock almost 
 
AN. 
 
 my patron being 
 :iiouiit of twenty 
 ntaineil in all its 
 
 speaking; but I 
 I he drew it was 
 ast?" cried lie, 
 
 d Andy, wiiose 
 
 "A pleasant 
 
 tlie beast, don't 
 
 it to us, as we 
 iigside. 
 
 ," said I to my 
 
 for lose time." 
 
 " asked lie, in 
 
 iplicity of the 
 )t on his native 
 ourney for the 
 snt, sometimes 
 liser Andy, of 
 I told various 
 th a zest quite 
 ertaining then 
 curious adven- 
 litigation, and 
 t afterwards, 
 narrated with 
 w, sometimes, 
 the collar of a 
 t off and read 
 3ut"sarved," 
 ice succeeded 
 *"3 a beggar 
 5er to kindle 
 )it of twisted 
 >ut, "Andy, 
 shock almost 
 
 A FIRST STEP ON LIFE'S LADDEK. 
 
 27 
 
 took Andy's life ; and there 's not a beggar in the barony 
 (lares to come near him since. 
 
 " Your father must be well off, then, I suppose," said my 
 companion. 
 
 "He was a few weeks ago, su*; but misfortune has come 
 01) us since that." I was ashamed to go on, and yet T felt 
 that strange impulse so strong in the Irish peasant to narrate 
 anything of a character which can interest by harrowing and 
 exciting the feelings. 
 
 Very little pressing was needed to make me recount the 
 whole story, down to the departure of my father with the 
 other prisoners sentenced to transportation. 
 
 "And whither were you going when I met you this morn- 
 ing on the common ? " said iny fellow-traveller, in a voice of 
 some interest. 
 
 "To seek my fortune, sir," was my brief answer; and 
 either the words or the way they were uttered seemed to 
 strike my companion, for he drew up short, and stared at 
 me, repeating the phrase, "Seek your fortune!" "Just 
 so," said I, warmed by an enthusiasm which then was 
 beginning to kindle within me, and which for many a long 
 year since, and in many a trying emergency, has cheered 
 and sustained me. " Just so ; the world is wide, and there 's 
 a path for every one, if they 'd only look for it." 
 
 "Bi't you saw what came of my taking a short cut, this 
 morning," said my companion, laughing. 
 
 " And you'd have been time enough too, if you had been 
 always thinking of what you were about, sir ; but as you 
 told me, you began a thinking and a dreamiUj/ of twenty 
 things far away. Besides, who knows what goou .'irn luck 
 may take, just at the very moment when we seem to have 
 least of it?" 
 
 "You 're quite a philosopher, Con," said he, smiling. 
 
 " So Father Mahon used to say, sir," said I, proudly, 
 and in reality highly flattered at the reiteration of tne 
 epithet. 
 
 Thus chatting, we journeyed along, lightening the way 
 with talk, and making the hours seem to me the very plea- 
 santest I had ever passed. At last we came in sight of tho 
 Steeple of Kinnegad, which lay in the plain before us, about 
 n milfl distant. 
 
 
28 
 
 CONFKSSIO-S OF CON CUEGAN. 
 
 The little town of Kinnegad was all astir as we entered it 
 
 sending all its passengers flying in various directions 
 through shop-windows; into cow-liouses and pi<'^Kes " o.Z 
 being prondly perched on the roof of a cabin aTd others 
 
 figure of all being an elderly gentleman, who, havinc. cut ^ 
 
 ummerset tln-ough an apothecary's win.low, came fourth cut 
 
 by a hundred sn.all vials, and bearing on hi; person unmif 
 
 akabie evidence of every odor, fronftar-wat^ to LX." 
 
 K^a The conveyance itself lay, like the Ark after the 
 
 temale, after then- kn.d," issued from within. Limpinji 
 an disconsolate figures were being assisted into the an 
 
 cl^-y fair''" '"' """'"^ ''''' "^^'^ ^ "^^ - - a 
 
 nnLr' "u c'^^""^ .'" ^PP'-«P»'i=^ting the calamity to a good 
 puijose. ' See, sir," I whispered to my companion - vou 
 said, a .vhile ago, that nobody had such bad luck 1; y^^r' 
 self; think what might have happened you, now, ifTou 
 had n't missed the coach." .v ", "ovv, ii you 
 
 "True enough. Con," said he, "there is such a thino- as 
 being too late for bad as well as for good fortune and I 
 experience it now. But the next question is, hovv to get ft 
 
 prek^fli'rtt?'"''^'' '-'' ' ^-'- -^- i^e -^' -- 
 
 propr^ors,- the man that iJde, ::^^^::'^:^^ 
 he that drove, and he that greased the wheels of all 
 
 V hicle of thl own'";'"?.^ ""'""^ '''^'^'^ ^^^ ^^her 
 \enicies ot the town; I at the same time makintr use of mv 
 
 legal knowledge to suggest that while doin-. so' thev aot^d 
 under protest; that it was "without preiuH^e' ^'1 
 future proceedings they might deem fit to'adop for compen"^ 
 satory damages. If some lau^rhed heartilv nf /h! ^ 
 from which the hint came, others sair/ts a f"de\Th 
 shrewd .hap," and insinuated something about a ioiire « l^^t 
 subscription of sixpences for my benefit • but I'nloS. ts 
 
A FIHST STEP ON LIFE'S LADDER. 
 
 29 
 
 i we entered it. 
 le main street, 
 
 directions, — 
 iggeries; some 
 in, and others 
 3St lamentable 
 ', having cut a 
 came forth cut 
 person unmis- 
 ir to assafcet- 
 ^rk after the 
 aals male and 
 lin. Limping 
 into the inn; 
 
 rife as in a 
 
 ity to a good 
 janion, " yoa 
 luck as your- 
 uow, if you 
 
 ih a thing as 
 
 •tune; and I 
 
 w to get for- 
 
 mail cannot 
 
 alt and the 
 ist all coach- 
 that horsed, 
 jeels of all 
 orwarded to 
 
 and other 
 ? use of my 
 , they acted 
 -e" to any 
 for compen- 
 
 the source 
 t "devilish 
 
 joint-stock 
 motion was 
 
 apparently unseconded, and so, like many benefactors of 
 my species, I had to apply to my conscience for my reward ; 
 or, safer still, had to wait till I could pay myself. 
 
 My young companion, who now, in a few woi'ds, told me 
 that he was a student at Trinity College and a "reader 
 for honors," pulled out his purse to pay me. " Remember 
 my boy, the name of Henry Lyndsay ; I 'm easily found, if 
 you chance to come to Dublin, —not that 1 can be of much 
 service to any one, but I shall not forget the service you 
 rendered me this day. Here, take this, pay for the mare's 
 feeding, and when she has rested — " 
 I would not suffer him to proceed further, but broke in : 
 " I'm not going back, sir ! 1 '11 uever tui-n my footsteps 
 that way again ! Leave the mare in the inn ; Andy comes 
 every Saturday here for the market, and will find her safe. 
 As for me, I must ' seek my fortune ; ' and when one has to 
 search for anything, there 's nothing like beginning early." 
 
 " You 're a strange fellow. Con," said he, looking at me ; 
 and I was shrewd enough to see that his features exhibited 
 no small astonishment at my words. '' And where do yoa 
 intend to look for this same fortune you speak of ? " 
 
 " No one place in particular, sir ! I read in an old book 
 once, that good luck is like sunshine, and is not found in all 
 climaces at the same time ; so I intend to ramble about ; and 
 when I breakfast on. the sunny side of the apple, never stay 
 to dine off the green one." 
 
 " And you are the kind of fellow to succeed ! " said he, 
 half to himself, and rather as though reflecting on my words 
 than addressing me. 
 
 " So I intend, sir," replied I, confidently. 
 " Have you ever read ' Gil Bias,' Con? " 
 " I have it almost by heart, sir." 
 
 " That 's it ! " said he, laughing ; " I see whence you 've 
 
 got your taste for adventui-e. But remember. Con, Gil Bias 
 
 ived m different times from ours, and in a very different 
 
 land. He was, besides, a well-educated fellow, with no 
 
 small share of good looks and good manners." 
 
 "As for age and country, sir," said 1, boldly, "men and 
 women are pretty much alike at all times, and in all places ; 
 m the old book I told you of a while ago, I read that human 
 
30 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 passions, like the features of the face, are only infinite 
 varieties of the same few iugredients. Then, as to educa- 
 tion and the rest, - what one man can pick up, so can 
 another. The will is the great thing, and 1 feel it very 
 strong in me. And now, to give a proof of it, I am deter- 
 mined to go up to Dublin, and with your honor too, and 
 you '11 see If I won't have my way." 
 
 " So you shall. Con! " replied he, laughing; "I'll take 
 you on the top of the chaise; and although I cannot afford 
 to keep a servant, you shall stay with me iu Collecre until 
 
 tZVC "^ r"" ^^"^'^ '''''' '"'l^l'^''^ f^ith, shall provide 
 better for you. Come, now, lead the mare into the stable, 
 lor I see my companions are packing up to be ^one " 
 I was^ not slow in obeying the orders, and soon returned 
 
 efZ 7^ ""Z '""''"' ^''^ ^"^ ^"'^g'-^Se. All was quickly 
 settled ; and a few minutes after saw me seated on a port- 
 manteau on the roof on my way to Dublin 
 
only infinite 
 as to educa- 
 : up, so can 
 feel it very 
 I am deter- 
 lor too, and 
 
 " I '11 take 
 an not afford 
 'ollege until 
 hall provide 
 
 the stable, 
 me." 
 
 'on returned 
 was quickly 
 I on a port- 
 
 •^•IHiaiPER.Ii 
 
 "HOW I ENTERED COLLEGE, AND HOW I LEFT IT." 
 
 ^^^Q'i^V ^ "^^^ still dark, on a driz- 
 zling morning in January, 
 as we reached the Capital ; 
 the lamps shone faintly 
 through the foggy, wet 
 atmosphere ; and the 
 gloom was deepened as 
 we entered the narrow 
 streets at the west of the 
 city. A few glimmering 
 lights from flve-stories 
 high, showed where some 
 early riser was awaking 
 to his daily toil; while 
 here and there, some 
 
 stnofi nf fv,« « ^ rough-coated policeman 
 
 stood at the corner of a street to be rained on; except 
 these, no sign of living thing appeared; and I own the 
 whole aspect was a sad damper to the ardor of that 
 enthusiasm which had often pictured the great metropoll 
 as some gorgeous fairy-land. menopoiis 
 
 The carriage stopped twice, to set down two of the travel- 
 lers, m obscure dingy streets, and then I heard Mi- ^1 
 
 long labyrinth of narrow lanes ...d thoroughfares, which 
 gi^dually widened out into more spacious streets, and at 
 length arrived at a great building, whose massive gates 
 
 '1 
 
 i' "li 
 
 'II 
 
32 
 
 CONFKSSIONS OF CON OREGAN. 
 
 »o«e,cs. .. a ^h^^t^at ,,?iZ;:,: '"'°*'"''"«' »"»' and 
 
 furnMcd room, bTyo^j «S w ",'"!V '"'■«" "<'»'"■'>' 
 »cc„n,raod.atio„. .-S h mv 1 1 "''"'?,''"'"'""•. "t like 
 melancholy at.™,,.. ,!': .r.'u'r^l.t;; ."'•••, ^^ "''^ '* 
 "here is youis." A bed nt ,1 ? "", 'I"-' opposite side, 
 strccher. placed a. .i„st one n "i""'' ''""' »»"' " 
 holding coils a'aiS; t ote ™"j,:^, i' '"? "'"'" '"'■ 
 
 shoe..,.h .i.h ™, sea.,.yt4L^,t:r.e:;i; si: 
 fore r i^-dsiirootsr;:' ,*ro'"="r t,-™"-" ^^- 
 
 poor n,e„ in a lilc prediS n , , e ' , d't I™ ' "'" ".' 
 .-Ciison and remo„s.,,,.c, snb.nitin , . ,,' , '""«"'". ""'1 
 tion, and cndnriu" mmv n .„,. " '"'"> " moitiHca- 
 
 which knows nothi,"r7„ eo, : SS;' '"- '"'''r^ ■*■""■> 
 after various reflections on .1 !' '"'™'''y ' "' '"»'• 
 
 *avel and cannot Xr't:„';w'''"'; °' '"°'"^ "'» 
 and so forth, the fello,v de, arted ^^::'^' ^«"-'-i'. 
 me was no conteuin.ible sl,'„.„!f ^ •="" ™"™1 
 
 I was fitting aK ,„'",:,: dSnH' "'■'''■■■' '"™«- 
 mg by my presence to add a, .S '''?■'""""'• "<" "i''" 
 and, now all was still and Isefe s f w^i."? "™'^<=»«°» ^ 
 expecting to be called In 1,7. i, ,^"^" f"'' "ome time 
 to execute, orl at lea's7 to t ,"' "'"'"' "'"'"S «=™ee 
 -nd, no.' a innnirwaftXe^Tetr" '"' """ "°' » 
 
 .esfC".hi'r:fei:ra;i;;sML*'m£'""':'T' ^ *« -- 
 
 out all prospect of what wS ' h«,t . o col", ; "f "'"" 
 — r and .he dea.h-like JZ^J^^.^! :!;::^^ 
 
 were'if.ed":b;'"e 2 Itriri.r ''' 17"' '""' »" "^^ 
 nor sorrow, .ha. real win !' f ' ''■''™ "'^'"'" "are 
 
 and that al affli' i„lTf ttac "'""'"""' ,«avo in their class: 
 Character too ^^^^ ^^ ^ZZ! ^J:^ Z: ::i 
 
" HOW 1 KNTEUEl) COLMXiK, AND llOVV I LEFT IT." 88 
 
 imber, of like 
 
 (leiily there cjune to uie the thoiii-iit, What if every one had 
 his bhure of grief? I vow, the very suHpieion thrilled 
 tnrough nic, and I sat still, dwelling on tlie sad theme with 
 deep intensity. 
 
 As I sat thus, a sigh, low, but distinet, came from the 
 adjoining cluiuiber. I suddeidy remembered my young 
 master, ami crept noiselessly to the door; it stood aiar, and 
 1 could see in, and mark everything well, lie was sittiiig at 
 a table covered with books and writing materials; a single 
 candle threw its yellow glare over the whole, and lit up with 
 a sickly tint the travel-worn and tired features of the youth. 
 As 1 looked, ue leaned his forehead down upon his arm, 
 and seemed either overcome by sorrow or fatigue; when 
 suddenly a deep-b. oming bell sent fortli a solennr peal, and 
 made the very cliamber vibrate with its din. Lyndsay 
 started at the s )und ; a kind of siiudder, like a convulsive 
 throe, shook his limbs ; and sitting up on his seat, lie pushed 
 back the falling hair from his eyes, and again addressed 
 himself to his book. The heavy tolling sounds seemed now 
 no longer to distract, but rather to nerve him to greater 
 elTorts, for he read on with an intense persistence ; t'urning 
 from volume to volume, and repeatedly noting down on the 
 paper as he read. 
 
 Of a sudden the bell ceased, and Lyndsay arose from the 
 table and passed into the bedroom, from which he almost 
 instantaneously reappeared, dressed in his cap and gown, — 
 a new and curious costume in my eyes, but which at the time 
 was invested with a deep, mysterious interest to me. 
 
 I retired silently now to my room, and saw him pass out 
 into the wide court. I hastened to look out. Ah-eady some 
 lumdred others in similar costume were assembled there, and 
 the buzz of voices and the sound of many feet were a 
 pleasant relief to the desert-like silence of the court as I had 
 seen it before. The change was, however, of a very brief 
 duration ; in less than a minute the whole assemblage moved 
 off and entered a great building, whose heavy door closed 
 on them with a deep bang, and all was still once more. 
 
 I now set myself to think hy „.hj,f gj^j^jj services I could 
 render myself acceptable to my young master. I arranged 
 the scanty furniture into a resemblance, faint enough, cer- 
 
 VDl.. 1,-3 
 
 1 "'1 
 
 if ''«: 
 
 M 
 If r- 
 
 m 
 
84 
 
 COM-ESSIOXS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 clothes in „r,k.,-, ,„„l ■,.■! , k ' P™"""'^''' '" Put hia 
 
 osity to knon- what wis <.oin/ ^^^']^^^' A" "iteiiHe euri- 
 
 tlii» step. -I'lie „„|,. ri,,,„„" , • ■"" ' I'™'"«1 little by 
 
 the,, s„',„e olUed/Jlr: ::';;:;,'-;' ™:V eye nere „„wa„J 
 
 great .lo^/onr^'H^-,™'" "'"' "'"""■""^ ^ "^.l the 
 diately u..,v,. the «« "f „, ! "HL^f," -;;:■ "".I "■.-- 
 
 ■"g a,„l la„ghi„. i„ ,,„', multifaWmn ,li, ,t,t , *''"''7' '""'• 
 the very air. Cautiously with.h-uW ' J \ f '""'" '" "" 
 retired ; l,„t scareeiy h^l I " ' f ' ' '""'°^' """ ''°»r, and 
 
 Lyndsay passed tl,rcx,,h „ h , ' '"^' <""'"-^ "'"" ^™"« 
 flushed, and his eyes snarlde „ I """"'."'■^ 1-" cheek was 
 
 air and .estufe lL,i„rd'^lV' Sr.lr' """ '" ""* 
 
 eoi!?Ta;?aree''ir;rt d""" "rf '■'» -■"- "•"- 
 
 was soon so in.n,erse"ta% dyt";,' , thea'' ""i*^' """ 
 as I entered. ^ ^ ^^ "^^r my footsteps 
 
 I stood uncertain, and did nnf .i„ * • 
 some minutes; the very nt itvL m'' I"'"'''"^* '"'"^ ^^r 
 Indeed, I believe I si, Zh^^vo T"^f ''"'''" ^""'^^^^ '"«• 
 had ho not accidentally ookLl u, n 'fhf ,7^^'^°"* ^ ^^'"'•^^' 
 what!-how is thisv^' Sk'dhr ?'^''''^ '"^- "El.!- 
 --d from the themes before hn l^ThT? '' T*^" '^^^ 
 
 him than myself^ ' ^' "' '''""^^' '"^^'^ interested for 
 
 givi.?t f i^^r^; :;;?e:^^r r^^"^ '-^ --^^ -^ 
 
 sor..ethingtoeat: to-morrow, oTux l'""' '" "f^^^-'^elf 
 these things better; for at ht T ^ ^' ^^ shall arrange 
 load of other cares." '""'"'"^ '"^ head has its 
 
 "But will ^o« not eat something?" ^-^^ r. „ 
 i.ol tasted food sfncp wo mot." " »•— - ^ ; "'^oi^ have 
 
 
'^m 
 
 - now I ENTERED C(JLLE(ii:. AM) ir( )W I LEFT IT." 35 
 
 "We are expected to brenkfnst with our tutor on the 
 cxaimnation mornin^^s Con," nuid he; u„d then, not see.n' 
 ing to feel the nicouBistency of his acts with his words, he 
 agam bent h.s head over the table, an.l lost all reu.en.brance 
 of either n.e or our conversation. I Htole noiselessly awuy, 
 and sallied forth to seek n.y breakfast where J could: ^ 
 
 Ihere were few loiterers in the court; a stray student 
 iHU-rying past, or an old slipshod hag of Judeous aspect and 
 squalid misery, were all I beheld; but both classes bestowed 
 most une(iuivocal signs of «„vprise at my country air and 
 appearance, and to n.y question, where J coul.l buy some 
 
 et lined. ^^ hUe I was yet endeavoring to obtain from one 
 of the ancient maidens alluded to some information on the 
 point, two yonng men, with velvet caps and velvet capes on 
 their gowns, stopped to listen. ^ 
 
 "I say, friend," cried one, seemingly the younger of the 
 two, "when did //o/i enter?" 
 
 '' This morning," sai.I I, tak, he question literally. 
 
 "Do you hear that, Ward?" continued he to his com- 
 panion. ' ' What place did you take ? » 
 
 " I was on the roof," roi)iied I, supposing the quaere bore 
 allusion to the mode of my com in 'r 
 
 voiit?'"!? '^'''^'^^" ^'-'i^l the elder, a tall, good-looking 
 youth; "you came as did Cicsar into Gaul, ^summd ,Ull 
 OeiHid,' on the to}) of the Dili<rence." 
 
 ^ They both laugluHl heartily^xt a very threadbare colleor- 
 joke, and were about to move away, when the younae^-, 
 turning round, said, "Have you matriculated?" ° 
 
 " No, sir, — what 's that? " 
 
 "It's a little ceremony," interposed the elder, " neces'^irv 
 and indeed indispensable, to every one coming to 'Lie 
 w^hin these walls. You've heard of NapoleSn, I dTre 
 
 '' Bony, is it? " asked I. giving the more familiar title by 
 which he was better known to my circle of acquaintance. 
 
 fir^M^'^f.f {.: f «^^ 1'^' " I^^^ny- Now Bony used to call a 
 first battle the baptinm of Glory; so may we style, in a lik^ 
 way. Matriculation to be the baptism of Knowledo-e. You 
 understand me, eh ? " '^ 
 
 n ,j 
 
 1 1 >| 
 
 */ )i»t 
 
 t 
 
 p 'i 
 
36 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I I Hi 
 
 ■ i 
 
 d: 
 
 " Not all out," said I, " but partly." 
 
 1^' We '11 illustrate by a diagram, then." 
 
 "I say, Bob," whispered the youno-er, "let na fin^ ^. * 
 
 " Yonder," said I, " where that lamp is." 
 ' ' Mr. Lyndsay's chambers ? " 
 "Yes, .,n\" 
 
 Jlf"f"=^^" ?'"'^ ^^' ^^""S^^' "^e'U show you the 
 secret of matriculation." ^ 
 
 "Come along, my young friend," said the elder, in the 
 
 I believe it was the fluent use of the unknown ton-ue 
 which at once allayed any mistrust I might have felt of my 
 new acquaintances; however that maybe, there was ^ol"^ 
 thing so imposing in the high-sounding syllables thaTl 
 
 ^:j;::^' ""--^ --^ ^-^ --- -^"- 
 
 Here they stopped under a window, while one jrave a Innd 
 whistle with his fingers to his lips ; the sash wTs i'mmediatly 
 ''FhT "P'-f-^-fome, merry-looking face protr'S 
 
 orild^r'' '^''''''' ^"'^''''' ^''^ '' "" y^"*^ ^«^' matriculation," 
 cried the younger. ' 
 
 "All i-ight" cried the other. -There are eight of us 
 here at breakfast ;" and disappearing from the window ' 
 he speedily descended to the court, followed by a nu inbl 
 of others, who gravely saluted me with a deep bow, a^id ' 
 sdemnly welcomed me within the classic precincts of old 
 
 claZZr''^''' ''' "^"^- " '''' ''^ >'^-^ ^-*»-an 
 "Cregan, sir " replied I, already flattered by the atten- 
 tions I was receiving, - " Con Cregan, sir." 
 
 nMf')!>h'-^''™'.'''-^''^''"' ^°"'' ^'^^^"S '^'^^' "^' a»d never 
 put faith in a junior .ophister. You know what a junior 
 sophister is, I trust?" •' 
 
« HOW I ExNTERED COLLEGE, AND HOW I LEFT IT." 37 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 " Tell him, Ward." 
 
 "A junior sophister, Mr. Cregan, is one who, being in 
 Locke all day, is very often locked out all night, and who 
 observes the two rubrics of the statute ' de vigilaMihus et 
 lucentibus,' by extinguishing both lamps and watchmen." 
 
 "Confound your pedantry ! » broke in Burton ; " a junior 
 soph. IS a man in his ninth examination." 
 
 " The terror of the porters," cried one. 
 
 " The Dean's milch cow," added another. 
 
 "A credit to his parents, but a debtor to his tailor," broke 
 m a third. 
 
 "Seldom at Greek lecture, but no fellow commoner at 
 the Currah," lisped out Taylor; and by this time we had 
 reached a narrow lane, flanked on one side by a tall buildin^^ 
 of gloomy exterior, and on the other by an an^rle of the 
 square. ./ o c 
 
 " Here we are, ]\Ir. Cregan ; as the poet says, ' this is the 
 place, the centre of the wood.' " 
 
 " Gentlemen sponsors, to your functions!" Scarce were 
 the words out, when I was seized by above half a dozen 
 pair of strong hands ; my legs were suddenly jerked upwards 
 and, notwithstanding my attempts to resist, I was borne 
 along for some yards at a brisk pace. I was already about 
 to forbear my struggles, and suffer them to play their — as I 
 deemed It -harmless joke in quiet, when straight in front 
 of me I saw an enormous pump, at which, aiui by a double 
 handle. Burton and another were working away like sailors 
 on a wreck ; throwing forth, above a yard off, a jet of water 
 almost enough to turn a mill. 
 
 The whole plot now revealed itself to me at once and I 
 commenced a series of kickings and plungings that 'almost 
 left me ree. My enemies, however, were too man v and too 
 powerful ; on they bore me, and in a perfect storm of blows 
 unges, wnthings, and boundings, they held me fast unde^ 
 the stream, which played away in a frothy current over my 
 head, face, chest, and legs, _ for, with a most laudable im- 
 par lahty, they moved mo. from side to side till not a dry 
 spot remained on my whole body. 
 
 I shouted, I yelled, I swore, and screamed for aid, but all 
 
 
 mi 
 
 I 
 
 ,♦1 '% 
 
38 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 m vain; and my diabolical tormentors seemed to feel no 
 touch of weariness in their iuhuinan pastime; while 1 
 exhausted by my struggles and the continual rush of the 
 tailing water, almost ceased to resist; when suddenly a crv 
 of - The Dean ! the Dean ! " was heard ; my bearers let go 
 their hold, -down 1 tumbled upon the flags, with barely 
 consciousness enough to see the scampering crew flyiuo- in 
 all directions, while a host of porters followed them iu°hot 
 pursuit. 
 
 ''Who are you, sir? What brought you here?" said a 
 tall old gentleman I at once surmised to be the Dean 
 
 ''The devil himself, I believe!" replied I, nsing with 
 difficulty under the weiglit of njy soaked garments 
 
 "Turn him outside the gatej, Hawkins!" said the Dean 
 to a porter behind him. "Take care, too, he never re- 
 enters them." 
 
 " I'll take good care of it, sir," said the fellow, as with one 
 strong hand on my collar, and the closed fingers of the other 
 administering gentle admonitions to the back of my head 
 he proceeded to march me before him through the square' 
 revolving as I went thoughts which, certes, evinced not 
 one sentiment of gratitude to the learned university 
 
 My college career was, therefore, more brief than bril- 
 lant, for I was " expelled " on the very same day that I 
 " entered. 
 
 With the "world before me where to choose," I stepped 
 out into the classic precincts of College Green, fully assured 
 of one fact, tliat "Town" could scarcely treat me more 
 harshly than "Gown." I felt, too, that I had passed 
 thiough a kmd of ordeal ; that my ducking, like the ceremo- 
 nies on crossing the line, was a kind of masonic ordinance 
 indispensable to my opening career; and that thus I had -oj 
 successfully through one at least of my " trials." 
 
 A species of filial instinct suggested to me the pronrietv 
 of seeing Newgate, whore my father lay, awaitin'- the 
 arrival of the convict ship that was to convey him to Van 
 DiemensLand; and thither I accordingly repaired, not to 
 enter, but simply to gaze, with a very awestruck ima-ma- 
 tion, upon that double-barred cage of human ferocity^'and 
 
said a 
 
 •• HOW I ENTERED COLLEGE, AND HOW I LEFT IT." 39 
 
 In itself the circumstancft lias nothing worthy of record, 
 nor should I mention it, save that to the deep impression of 
 that morning do I owe a certain shrinking horror of all 
 great crime ; that impression has been of incalculable benefit 
 to me through life. 
 
 I strained my eyes to mark if, amid the faces closely 
 pressed against the strong bars, T could recognize that of 
 my parent, but in vain ; there was a terrible sameness in 
 their features, as if the individual had sunk in the ci-iminal, 
 that left all discrimination difficult ; and so I turned away, 
 satisfied that I had done a son's part most completely. 
 
 ^1 
 
 k 
 
 fi 
 
 m 
 
> A' . 
 
 
 PHIT 
 
 A PEEP AT -HIGH AND LOW COMPANY" 
 
 ^l^m.l ""'T- ^"""'f!^ ^^''^'''"^ ^^^^ '^"^ ^^^ ^s little to 
 do y^ith the choice of his mode of life as with the name hp 
 
 ZTi:: tf"- ' -^^--."-i^- to thi'fpLr ht 
 
 tms IS t ue. My own very varied and somewhat dissimilar 
 occupations were certainly far less the result of Ly ^^ 
 
 .n? IT r^'^' ''''°^''"'» ^ '1'^^^^^ «f f^t^"«™ m this wise 
 and calm y assurmg myself that I was not boiT ZZ 
 
 staved, that I strolled along Merrion Square on he same " 
 
 hn^J'ri'T ^'""^''* equipages, cavaliers, and ladies on 
 horseback; handsome houses, with balconies often ttonZ 
 by attractive-looking occupants; and vast crowc s 0^.^^^^^^ 
 dressed persons promenaded witl-in the souivp itiif ''k 
 a inilit.-y band performed; in fact hcT wL f ;e t^ 
 
 bT^airof T"' ^"'/'^""^^ ^"^ '' l^igher^mr^Ls n 
 int bcaie of pleasure than myself. 
 
A PEEP AT " HIGH ANI) LOW COMPANV." 41 
 
 oZ^:l,:VT.f:X ^ bn,.i.ant pan„ra,„a of the 
 
 t a hese mangy l„,Ui„g atte,ul„,„s to ti.e guL ooaSi 
 
 resented tl,. at,e„„>t of il" tlo „ 1 ^T .^^SS 
 who Bbowo,! a »i8h to join the fraternity. '°'"""""=* 
 
 eJ.'s;irrn:r.ht^ ei^rsi "'V"-' 
 
 eonventionanties. A .-egular eo: pTof Le, Itt ' ifS 
 
 from whicTa yoZ officer ta f ^3 """»"=''''"'' """y- 
 to dismount ' ™™'''y "'«''''»"'> ™» "bout 
 
 -;^;^i7Z;S^SS-'— '"-edone. 
 
 " Off ^^th you ! - stand off ! " said the younff d-a-oon in 
 a threateniiiff tone • " Ipf fhnf f«ii 4. t ■'^ *"^ " agoon, m 
 pointed ,0 me afl sat a mtilntZ, "^ ■™™-"<«'<i he 
 of the Bcene tU.Tl' ' j ^ "'"'onccrned spectator 
 
 set asL on ihe ev of TSt^r™'"","™ *"='" ^""-1^ 
 " knife •- committed to ^i'Z^S^Sf^ "" ,*"' 
 
 Deen greater. The gang stared at me with most 
 
 -ii-i 
 
 i!. 
 
42 
 
 OONFESSIONS OF CON CHEGAN. 
 
 'i' 
 
 ; 
 
 II 
 
 belieVe this C H -s ';' TT'^ ^^eq"i^-eme„t; but i 
 sequtn^one. llie cntioirfuis on my dress inv w.,li 
 
 frieze a,ul blue worsted .toekhur" „ I ° .nLT"". ^'"^ 
 
 X wci8 TO walk his mare, and where- nnri tu^^ 
 
 de<n-ee of infiiff«,.n.,« J >vutre, and then, assummg a 
 
 ut^iee 01 niUillerence to sarcasm I was far frnm f««r 
 
 and when he .-etamXee^e Lt elT ptatd "Lh"" ' 
 ^■,ct obedience to hi. orde« that he gave™ a Sin? 
 and desned mc to be punetnally at The same hoS and 
 the same place on tho day followin.. 
 
 It was now dark , the Iamplighter°had begnn his round, 
 and I was just congratulating myself that f shouM escat 
 n.y perse^ntors, when I saw them approaching in a S 
 
 bought me there, and. '^Z^, l^'^^Zr'Z.:^ 
 than all besides, -what did " the captain" give me ° T« ? 
 answered this query first, the others lere no!"^-e sed • an] 
 t being voted that I should expend the money oi the 
 fraternity, by way of entrance-fee, or, as they termed it 
 ''paying my footing," away we set in a body to a dfsta J 
 part of the town, remote from all its better and more sm 
 
 excessive and nnlim^Ued 1^:^:^^:^^^^ 1^^! 
 tants, It was no misnomer. On my very entrance inintr 
 pei.eived the perfect free and easy'^.vhich ^retailed 
 A dense tide of population thronged the close, ' confined 
 
A PEEP AT ■' HIGH AND LOW COMPANY." 43 
 
 passages, mostly of hodmen, bricklayers' laborers anrl 
 
 scavengers, with old-clothesmen, be-^ais nnrl Ifh u 
 
 rollicking air and daring look bespoke mnvpTn J^ ""^^'^ 
 of life. * iJespoKe more hazardous modes 
 
 My companions wended their way throno-h th. ^ 
 
 expiated by., volley of cullfmnft '''' f S'=°8'-''P''y 
 
 llie uniform good temper thev exhihitPrl • fv,„ ^ 
 
 11 ine passeis-by, — the usual salute being a smart slan on 
 
 fu ^ . ' ^""lu 1101 out exalt them m mvp^tPPiTi na 
 
 the most patient set of varlefq T hori . - esteem as 
 
 To mv Question n<, m ^v. ^'^^'" sojourned with, 
 
 our Tour; tendeVT^. 7 """"' ^""'^ ''' ''''^ ^"^ ^'^ither 
 " We r^ ^rt : ourBX'B -^^ '"' ^" ^'^^^ ^^^^^' - 
 
 -ash-ng cost ittle, and they were certainly "Z'^fo/tl 
 
 "f life and manners were imbi"ed from tL f " "''*'"°' 
 of Mrs. Elizabeth Cobbe "''"''"'« ■""■'"" 
 
 andStvTherTe'o'" ■ T" ^T" '^""■<' ^ '«'<' '"^ honor 
 
 The Colonial Spcretir\' hirl -/--.-.m 
 she had been pushing ^^^grrL^tNlfSl^^'ZL ^ 
 w.der scale than ever a cabinet dreamed ^,'tfthrhM 
 
 .1 
 
44 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON (JliEGAN. 
 
 ':'l\ 
 
 il^i 
 
 lausuaoe of Fn«f in-i;.,. i .- "^i"'^) lo wliat, iii the 
 
 »pMtJy:L^Zn"Z tuT'T' •■"" ^'"'«' " ■- '-' 
 who, in van™,l ,H ''•"'Mil'" ilown to lliat s.iiall fry 
 
 .lefilio!™ 'r''™ ''"= "'" '■"™«' ■-"" v™--=«'«l; their 
 «o s r elt'^ «>f o«",|,on..at,„„ for ,ho .orW's ncsh.'t, and 
 
 j^..ffi.':;t;;.;s:-r;;;;:-^iri::i^: 
 
 saici that h. f , "" """ •■' ""'"' '""'" tal>™o„od, -so™ 
 
 £:o:r;tiS-r":-i:r £^ 
 
 ascendency for many a year long. ^ ^^ote&tant 
 
 Like Homer, she sung J,er own verses • or if thmr w 
 made for her, the secret of f]J Zi^ I- ^^^^ ^«^e 
 diviilo-ed For LU.T • ^"^^^^^'^^^P ^'as never 
 
 eZlk nf !^ . , 1 ^'^'''^ W^^^'iom to the time I now 
 
 sat ™'''. ''™"^/'''"<=l' a Ii'ige l»t of potatoes was boifina 
 sat Be ty, ,n a straw chair. She was evidently very old ,^ 
 her snow-wlnte hair and lustreless eye besnol"^ 1 /the V-e 
 of a trueuleut, unyielding spirit still warmed h r bood, at 
 
A PKEP AT "RTPH AXT,^ » 
 
 HIGH AND LOW COMPANY." 45 
 
 the sharp, riuo;i„„ y^i . , , , 
 
 f^iirly conquered. ' "'^ ''^"^^^ "^^^^ -give in" until 
 
 ';ent poHture, or sat, like S^ '/f '-''^^ ^ ^" "^' ^^^«""'- 
 A long deal table, s,.a;^JTl:^^''T' eross-legged. 
 ''"^1 - few spoons, occupi: J tl u ', .J^'i r*^^*^^ P^^^tea 
 round the waJls were several s.nnll ^^^ '^^'"' ^^d 
 
 «oon learned were the p -opertv o n ' . ' "^ '^'■^^^' ^^^^^^ ^ 
 " Come alone, till I slZV^, ^ T'^^" i"(lividuals. 
 
 '•00m; for already severa ot^ov ? 'T^'' *^« ^^'^^^ed 
 "''4£ti,f "" 4ogaiUo„f ''^ ^''^^^ ^^-^^^ -"-^^^ and 
 
 othe.; as w^pLsT^''SMf ''',""'"'" ^^^^P^^'^^^ ^n- 
 took up . Danny AVhite ' and /h ? ^''' '^ ^^"^ ^^o, and 
 whole establishment'' threatened to break u^ the 
 
 ang Freeman' writteu'-Jold 1 s h t ?"'; ' "'' ''^ ''^^'«- 
 of that journal. ^"^^ ^^^ ^e was an attache 
 
 place, where the old lady sat ^' '^^^" ^^ ^^^ ^^6- 
 
 " Mother ! mother, I sav t " "n, ; 1 
 elbow gently; then stoonL , "'^' ■^"^^^' touching her 
 
 Betty r' ^ ' '*''^^'"^" t'^ ^^^'^ ^ar, he added, " Mother 
 
 "Eh! Who's callin' me>" said th. u 
 ^^^oft. - i.„, i,e,e, „ j^'^.^j '^^^^ hag, with her hand 
 to say my name." ^ ' ''''^^'' ^^^^^ed nor afeard 
 
 ^;;^e's wanderin'," cried another,- ^^ .,, ,,,,,, ^,^,^ ^^ 
 
 "Betty Cobbe! I say. It's me i » « -^ 
 ouce more. ^ ^ ™® ' said my introducer 
 
 «are „p ,„to au a„g,.y sl,a„ a. X ,"h f.^'™- .^^'""«'' t" 
 J» " you ttat 's turni,,' infome,. a»in ^1 "" ^"'^^ *>«' ! 
 
46 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 at the cutting down of yer father? Your father," added 
 she, "that murderod okl Meredith!" 
 
 The boy, a liardened and bold-featured fellow, became 
 lividly pale, but never spoke. 
 
 ''Yes, my Lord," continued sjie, still following the theme 
 of her own wild fancies, - it 's Junir , lUitterley's boy ! But- 
 terley that was hanged ! " and sh. shook and rocked with a 
 liendish exultation at the exposure. 
 
 _'' Many of us does n't know what bekem of our fathers ' " 
 said a sly-looking, old-fashioned creature, whose hei-ht 
 scarce y exceeded two feet, although evidently near man- 
 hood in point of age. 
 
 " Who was yours, .Mickey? " cried another. 
 
 '' Father Glynn, of Luke Street," growled out the imp, 
 with a leer. ^' 
 
 "And yours?" said another, dragging me forward 
 directly in front of Betty. =o = le lorwaul, 
 
 " Con Cregau, of Kilbeggan," said I, boldly. 
 
 " Success to ye, m. bouchal ! " said the old hag ; "audso 
 you re a son of Con the informer." She looked sternly at 
 me for a few seconds, and then, in a slower and more delib- 
 erate tone, added, " I 'm forty years, last Lady Day, living 
 this way, anc keepin' company with all sorts of thieves, and 
 bu? miv' T '^'^="'^^'^^!:;^-^ --«' - -y^ f- worse besides ; 
 
 The steadfast decision of look and voice as she spoke 
 seemed to impress the bystanders, who fell back and 'azed 
 at me with that kind of shrinking terror which honest pCle 
 sometimes exhibit at the contact of a criminal ^ ^ 
 
 During the pause of some seconds, while this endured mv 
 sense of abject debasement was at the very lowest. T;^e 
 t^e^Panah of such a society was indeed almost distinctive 
 
 " Are ye ashamed of yer father? Tell me that ! " cried the 
 hag, shaking me roughly by one shoulder. 
 
 -It IS not here, and before the like of these," said I, 
 looking round at the ragged, unwashed assembla4, " tha 
 I^sh^ould feel shame 1 or if 1 did, it is to find my,lu amltg 
 
A PEEP AT " HIGH AXI) LOW COMPAXY." 47 
 
 the"oT,l'2 '"^^"^- '•'"''" '"^ ^^'» «P''itecl boy!" cried 
 tie old woniiin, dra-j-ing me towardn her " Faiv T . 
 
 the time we M have made Homethin' o.,t o von M ' n " 
 
 Wearm' of theGreeu 'or 'Trn I..1 In *i 1. f V fe^' The 
 ^ les, and write," answered I, proudly. 
 
 starve it up ! " shouted the haa, with a voiVp r.f 
 
 zf; rr;r '^-"^ ^"-^ -'"- ™- ™ r 
 
 adled out on the trenchers, and speedily disposed around 
 the table which at once was surrounded by the guests 1 a 
 place being made for myself by an admcLtoi-; st^llof 
 Bettys crutch on the red head of a very hungry iuveni^e 
 who had jostled me in his anxiety to get near ike t^ab 
 
 Oiu meal had scarcely drawn to its close when the plates 
 we e removed, and preparations made for a new partv „or 
 had I time to ask the reason, when a noisy buzz of'v'oic « 
 thout announced the coming of a numerous thron.. In 
 an instant thoy entered; a number of girls, of ever^ a^ 
 from mere child to womanhood, - a ragged tatteTedfrect 
 less-lookmg set of creatures, whose wilS, high spiiits not 
 even direst poverty could subdue. While some IZhL'el 
 
 fotr: "^'\^" '"""'^ ^' '''' ^*^-- --' others acvS 
 to talk to Betty, or stood to warm themselves around the 
 fire, until their supper, a !=,imilar one to nrr nwn 
 TpqHv Tir,r „. • -i. '""-iiJ^i -^rie to our own, was got 
 
 eadj. My curiosity as to whence they came in such a 
 body was satisfied by learning that they were employed at 
 
 1)1 
 
 'p 
 
 !j iii 
 
 i-m 
 
 W^^% 
 
48 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 the 'Mendicity Tnstituti.Mi " (h,ri„n; tlio day, and set free 
 at a-l.tfi.'l to follow the Lent of their own, not over well- 
 regulated, lustes. Thene creatureH were the ballad-Hin-^M-a 
 of the city; and, sometimes alone, Hoim'timen in companv 
 with one of the boys, they were wont to take their stand in 
 some i)nl)lic thorou<rhfaie, not only the character of the 
 smger, hut the poetiy itself, taking the tone of the street • 
 rfo that while some daring bit of town seandal caught the 
 ears of College (ireen, a -bloody murder" or a "'dviu.^ 
 speech " formed the attraction of Thomas Street anil il.e 
 " I'oddle. 
 
 Many years afterwards, in the checkered pa.rc of my 
 existence, when 1 have sat at loi'dly tables and listened 
 to the sharpened wit and polished raillery of the hi-rji-born 
 and the gifted, my mind has often reverted to that^beo-rr-ir 
 horde, and thought how readily the cutting jest was answeml, 
 how soon repartee followed attack -what quaint fancies, 
 what droll conceits, passed through those brains, where one 
 would have deemed there was no room for auoht save 
 brooding guilt and sad repining. 
 
 As night closed in, the assembly broke up ; some issued 
 forth to their stations as ballad-singers ; some, in pure vao-a- 
 bond spirit, to stroll about the streets ; while others, of whom 
 I was one, lay down upon the straw to sleep, without a 
 dream, till daylight. 
 
(g(M!A[?'ir[lK VL 
 
 "VIEWS OF LIFE." 
 
 HEN I woko the next morning, 
 it was a few minutes before I 
 could thoroughly remember whore 
 I wii.s and how I came there; my 
 next thouDjhl was the grateful 
 one, that if the calling was not a 
 very exalted one, I had at least 
 secured a mode of living, and that my natural acute- 
 ness, and, better still, my fixed resolve witiiin me " to 
 get forward in tlie world," would not peiinit me to pass 
 my days in the ignoble craft of a " horse-l)oy." 
 
 I found that the "walk," like every other career, had 
 certain guiding rules and principles l)y which it was regu- 
 lated. Not only Avere certain parts of the town interdicted 
 to certain gangs, but it was a recognized rule that when a 
 particular boy was singled out habitually by any gentle- 
 man that no other should endeavor to supplant him. This 
 was the less difficult as a perfect community of property 
 
 VOT,. I.— 1 
 
 ij 
 
^0 CONFESSIONS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 class of horsemen wL of Tl h f- °' ■'"' ""y- '^1'^" '"e 
 fees proportionabi; lower Thent h"'"""''' °'*'-' "«» *« 
 Fom- Courts; from wS ,f h ^ "' P'O'-oted to the 
 
 "t Merrion Square^aldt', e irtlT' ^M"' ""■'''" 
 were either the youuK ofltcers of th '" *" "'"""^ 
 
 officials, or a wealthy das? of L, ^"''"™' '"^ Castle 
 "torn gave sixpenn s^ w^e in TV, «<'""'^»on, all of 
 em Dublin, penny-pie^r were ,1 ?" ''""""' "' »»'■«'- 
 publie differe'd ia\LrtCrp,a:es°t ZT'' , " '^' 
 the aspirant: a orave nnipf „i ! ' ^^^ ^'^^ ^^'aims of 
 gmnd quaIificatij;r;ro^; wX' -mb.e look being the 
 tery was the best reeomL,2t7on Z^""' ^^ ^^""« ^ff^'^"' 
 the n^aster in chancerroT he 'iv ., f »'''"" ^^^ ^^"« 
 Q^it his bobtailed pony to 7rH« f ^f ^ ™W only com- 
 exterior, the iashin^ akle-d ea^^ 
 singled out the wild fmn with v^ ^k ^'' thoroughbred 
 that kept up with hirLTthe C T- '°^' '°"^"» ^^"'' 
 and actually dived under n^ ™'''' '" ^ «^^»'P ranter, 
 
 stall to be^' up » n tie fT"^';^''^' '"^ "P««* ^» ^PP^e- 
 breathless and Wown IZ /^'^ ^" ^'"^' ^"^ ^^le yet 
 h™ the curr^rn "; o/r ^ "V' ""^"^^^ *«"g"« ^o gf4 
 the Square, or ouriing;' ^1,^^'? ^^'^"-^^ -« - 
 were absent. To do thit f„ 7 ^ ' ^""^^'^d, or why thev 
 
 tl^e crowning fea^t onL*:l":„V-'^'"^ ^"^ ^^^ -' 
 ^sm some attained a high pSncv ^" '"'^^''*^ ^'^^^'^^l- 
 dal with sly bits of drollery or rahit;i1.''"'"^ *^'"" ^^^'^- 
 topics of the day. To sucoppT ^ !. ''°"' *^ ^'^^ c^^'ent 
 know the leading 0^1^^ of h T' '' ^'^ "^^«««-^7 to 
 stances of their private iLtoiv \% '"^ *^' ^"•^""^- 
 
 learn with the assi.^n ty of ^^tn ^T ^ ''' "^-^^^^f to 
 Master of the CeremonL devo "hLsef "' '^' ^ ^^^^ 
 the nn-estigation of the fauir«n/f , f "^^'^ ''^'^^^t'^ to 
 never did youn^^ ladv hpfni '''''^^' ^^ ^^« company; 
 
 pore over Dcbrett tha'a^^^^^^ «"*' --« P-tinti; 
 
 did I pu,sue my researches into 
 
"VIEWS OF LIFE." ^j 
 
 the blinds of No. TZ^J^^l''^'^'''''f ""^ ^ ^^^^<i^y ; ho; 
 o'clock; and what .^cant be S' '™ '''''' ^^ ^bree 
 bridge every Tbursda/Xnfoon F^'T' ^* "^« ^^^'-^ 
 always wore a geranium leaf t* . ^^' gentleman that 
 
 dropped her glove in th Sq^.' itn^ '^ ''" '^^^'^ ^^"J- 
 It merely that I possessed ui' f 7 ^^'^^ ^"- ^^^ "'as 
 be felt. I did no\ ZZi^^ZSt'^^ '"^ ' "^^^ ^^ '^ 
 forth like a great capitalist tlTt^. f "" ""''''' ^"* ^ «^"^« 
 courage credit. Had Sn a „ a in ' '"''^:^™ ^"^^ ^- 
 saying what amount of misebi!f 7^'"';;"'^, «P"-^t, there is no 
 discoveries anticipate^ wht 'wk^^',' have worked, what 
 I was, however, what the P^on^^ n '"''*'"^^' ^^ected. 
 most generousi; took the side ftl' ' " ^'" '^^^^'«'" ^^^^ 
 strong spirit of right How m i .' ''""'' '""''" '=""^^^ *^« 
 put in arrest for wearinf" m" f '.\Tr'f !"" "'^^^ '^««" 
 apprise him the town-malor S """* ^^^" ^^^'^ to 
 
 have I saved a pJo^-^Tele m ! T" '""T^' ''^'^ «ft«» 
 with his name on the s'cklT a-^"? ^ '^'^^'^ «"«' ^ho, 
 How have I hastened, Tt hel^^^^^ ^ ^ " '^"^-•" 
 
 ^"g carriages and prancino L, !p<,1 "'^ "''^^'' ^^^^^^n crash- 
 lounging in her ISl'' thl V T^^^^^ 
 band, was unexpectedly returning fro ^^""^«"-'" ber bus- 
 than his wont. I have rescnp^ ^ T '''"'* ^" ^^^"^ earlier 
 from mothers; the p^ i "om . s'"' T ''''"■^' ^^"^^^ers 
 his creditor, -1 in a iL L f -''1^'^"' *^" ^^btor from 
 angel, who wat bed Ter' thl ' "rn"' ^^^^^^ S^^^^-n 
 My "amour promt' r f ,,L^''^'"''' "^ ''^^ ^^P^t^l- 
 quality may be'cCeded t'o Te'like" m7"w "" f ^"^^ ^ 
 tie cause of all whn dM „,.„ t ■"« — ""s interested in 
 deceivers. "^ "'""S- ' "« *« Quixote of all 
 
 noise Holder ; mdeed, I rarely touched 
 
52 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 a bridle, or, if I did so, it was only to account for my presence 
 m such localities as I might need an excuse to loiter in. I 
 was at the head of my profession ; and the ordinary saluta- 
 tion of the cavaliers, " Con, get me a fellow to hold this 
 mare," showed that none presumed to expect the ignoble 
 service at my own hands. 
 
 To some two or three of my early patrons, men who had 
 noticed me in my obscurity, I would still condescend to yield 
 this attention, — a degree of grateful acknowledgment on my 
 part which thoy always rewarded most handsomely. Among 
 these was the young olHcer whose pony 1 had held on the 
 first night of my arrival. lie was an Honorable Captain De 
 Courcy, very well-looking, well-mannered, and very poor, — 
 member of the Commander-in-Chief's staff, who eked out his 
 life by the aid of his noble birth and his wits together. 
 
 At the time I speak of, his visits to Merrion Square were 
 (^-voted to tlie cause of a certain Mrs. Mansergh, the young 
 xid beautiful wife of an old red-faced, foul-mouthed Queen's 
 Cuunsel, at least forty years iier senior. The scandal was, 
 that her origin had been of the very humblest, and that, seen 
 by accident on circuit, she had caught the fancy of the old 
 lawyer, a well-known connoisseur in female beauty. How- 
 ever that might be, she was now .obout two years married, 
 and already recognized as the reigning beauty of the vice- 
 regal court and the capital. 
 
 The circumstances of her history, _ her low origin, her 
 beauty, and the bold game she played, -all invested her 
 with a great interest in my eyes. I used to flatter myself 
 that there was a kind of similarity in at least our early 
 fortunes; and I enlisted myself in her cause with an ardor 
 that I could not explain to myself. How often, as she 
 passed in her splendid barouche, _ the best-appointed and 
 handsomest equipage of the capital, _ have I watched her 
 as, wrapped in her Cashmere, she reclined in all the volup- 
 tuous indolence of her queenly state ; glorying to think that 
 sAe,— she, whose proud glance scarce noticed the obse- 
 quious throng that bowed with uncovered heads around her 
 -that she was perhaps not better nurtured than myself 
 *ar from envious jealousy at her better fort.ino. I exulted in 
 It; she was a kind of beacon set on a hill to guide and cheer 
 me. I remember well, it was an actual triumph to me one 
 
"VIEWS OF LIFE." 
 
 68 
 
 n\ 
 
 fairest siniles ,,f tlie capital." * 
 
 "In truth, my Lord, he ivoiiM not aive me a new tl-f,, 
 am , rofused to wear the oU one," saiS .he, iLghi " ' 
 
 roy, wr::sj;:;;tf:'r;,7»" -^ -■-•• saa ts vice. 
 
 told w,:\S rd'cTkllt °f " '-'T' '"" ■•"'"' -» 
 
 said he!" > :;:':;srf s "f ■ "^ 't- p-™*^'^'™." 
 
 featnres. u Yo^rfatrte" ^ r i;™""' '" "" "'» '"'^^»^'' 
 » ill ".'r'*" '*' '" """'' y°'"' Lordship's," said she with 
 
 bl nded t^r;' ""'*". -1-"^ ">i«Wen;y, so iiral^y 
 
 Wended were trust and timid baslifuluess. ■* 
 
 What he replied I could not catch. There was a fl«tt.rin„ 
 
 and excliange soft loolcs with tlie once hmnbl"Cautv 
 
 cX t 'eT ::;',' ;y """' '"t-^^'^ "^^ and^'rw" f; 
 
 ti -u. ,' '' ' '"'™ I'"""*! bours lon.r, fnncviiv, „ll 
 
 he possibe fortunes for which destiny might S1,e 
 
 ■ r-' Hfrifd ^bTf '"' ""^ ""'""^ <"" "■» -™ 
 
 own Af,„l T ,"','""' "'""'™'' ™« 'be earnest of my 
 h!, I, r ' T '"" " ''•■'" "'' " S'-«-" '""'Ption was .-iven bv 
 
 use wLiH;:- h'-tf";?""?- """ ''"'^' "Pl-"™'^^ 
 
 .bey iar'^d :!,: ■■?„;:;•:,!,', ",',',,1'; .rrv? 
 
 are here to do honor to't.C lo",;Ztlrrd"X: 
 
 i 
 
54 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 !i^ 
 
 bo^.'hf ^1""^ '"'!" ^""^^ ^ sanguine, hopeful temperament will 
 •bo able to understand how the poor housele!^., SdlT 
 
 coTl7. "T^ ""'""'* ^^ '^' ^'^'•^^^' the convict's S - 
 
 g eatness. Lut 1 had set the goal before my eves- the 
 intermediate steps to it I left to fortune. The noble belt 
 
 ^^Jt''^'^^''' of the high andweam;:wMeh to 
 my humble associates seemed the actual birthi^oht of tho 
 great I perceived could all be acquired. There was none 
 
 and' r t' u" "^^^ ''''' '^ the manners ^IZ^t^:: 
 and why should not I, if fortune favored, be .. ^oo^l a Len' 
 tleman as the besf^v in ^fi. ^- ,' •*'* &"wi a gen- 
 
 observed «hnw T ^'' particulars, all that I had 
 
 feplin. ? TT^ "?' "^ wondrous dissimilarity of true 
 
 not s"|eai uVT ''""" '^^^ ^•^^^^^'-"' '^ he'^Bure, d d 
 notsweai like the common fellow; but on the racecourse or 
 the betting-ground I had seen, to the full, as much dec t as 
 ever 1 witnessed in my - own order." liere was falthlesT 
 
 better circles. "'""^ P^'^ime m 
 
 What, then, should debar me from that class v Not the 
 
 re!r"T;Iete r"^' ^^^^■"' r ''' ^^^-' -hiehfcoS 
 te.i. 10 be like them, was only to be of them, — such al 
 
 least, was then my conviction and my theory ' 
 
 thtZlTJ^'^y.-l'' '"t ^'^ P""' '" ^-^^^^t on and analyze 
 necessaii y it tends rather to depress those above than to 
 elevate those beneath. I did not purpose to myself an? 
 education m high and noble sentiments, but simply the pe"^ 
 
 izr:: ^ ^^ ^"^ ^'^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^-^ *- --- The 
 
 S dT 'hT'^ *^ *^"- I ^^^t ^ ^^^gree of contemptuou 
 
 such 1^ ;,-i. ,?• ""^T ^""''"'^^ "I' *^ the "gentleman" as 
 eelhiXvS T' ^' by accident; and I fostered the 
 
 omelt 'ill 7h r^'ir' ^T^' -^^'-1 --P-Per I could 
 :T .,^^:. . ^^^ *he levelling doctrines of socioli«m all the 
 
 atdTwd' '' 'r^'V'' '^^"^^^ '^^ great "truths' to me 
 and I found a most ready aptitude in my mind to square th^ 
 
< ' 'la 
 
 "VIEWS OF LIFE." 
 
 55 
 
 fruit8 of my personal observation to these pleasant theories. 
 Ihe one question recurred every morning as I arose and 
 remained unanswered each night as I lay do^wn, " Why sLouli 
 I hold a horse, and why sliould another man ride one^' T 
 suppose tiie dilHeulty has puzzled wiser heads ; indeed,' since 
 I mooted It to myself, it has caused some ^roubL in the 
 world; nor, writing now as I do in the year of -race '48 do 
 I suppose the question is yet answered 
 
 I have dwelt peihaps too long on this exposition of my 
 feehngs ; but as my subsequent life was one of far mo"e 
 action than reflection, the indulgent reader will pardon the 
 prosiness, not simply as explaining the history wh ch foUows 
 but also as affording a small breathing-space in a cari; 
 where there were few "halts." 
 
 I have said that I began to conceive a great grudo-e acrainst 
 
 a who were well off in life, and againsLioue^idl i!rdTe 
 
 his aversion more strongly than "the captain," my firft 
 
 Ploved'i;;; ''/"^ '"'^ ""• ''""'''^^ ^- ^-^ Ws em 
 hP Li °^«' -^-^^^ '^«"e ever approached him save myself, - 
 
 bL ' iT'f ^^"^^^««^»^^«d to the slightest act of reco^nit on 
 beyond the tap on my head with his gold-mounted whfp and 
 a significant nod where to lead his iTony. No stn of' his 
 no look, no gesture, ever confessed to the fact tliat T w.: 
 a creature of his own species, that I had had a shar n the 
 great firm which, under the name of Adam mTca hZ 
 traded so long and industriously. ^''•' ^^' 
 
 If I were sick, or cold, or hunc^rv it m-xH^.^A ^ 
 cheek might be sunk wi h want oT'cLi "^*'.";^ 
 
 drip with rain, or freeze with Ilee h ' ™^ '^"' "^'-^^ 
 yet if the wind played too o.S ~t,' hTTrS"'' *'^" '' 
 the silky tasselled tail, he saw It at out r/l ' T'"'' °' 
 with the chill breeze, he rudmt'nd ^^ ^''^ ^^^^ ^^^'^^^ 
 evident enough which hadTe t^^ exisC!^'' '' '''' 
 
 to rise in life must feel the sha p spJr ofa Un. T'"'" 
 Chapter of my life deserves a new c;:;te;:f my ^£^y °^^ 
 
 Si 
 
 ' if; 
 
 
 
 

 A BOLD S'JT.OKE FOR AN OPEN- 
 ING IN THE WORLD. 
 
 S regular as the day itself did I 
 wait at the corner of Merrion 
 Square, at three o'clock, the ar- 
 rival of Captain De Courcy, who 
 came punctual to the instant; 
 
 , „ -— -i indeed, the clatter of the pony's 
 
 hoofs as lie cantered along always announced the strik- 
 ng of he Post-office clock. To dismount, and fling me 
 the bridle, with a short nod of the head in the direction he 
 wished me to walk the animal, was the extent of recoo-„: 
 tion ever vouchsafed me; and as I never ventured upr 
 even a word Avith him, our hitercourse was of the r-'nipl. 
 possible kind. There wa. m. impassive quietude abo -; Hs 
 pale cold features that av ..-: me. I never saw hin, ^ .ile 
 but once; it was when the mare seized me by the ;^ml^ 
 
 der, and tore with her 
 
 teeth 
 
 great piece of my ra 
 
 Sx^Cl 
 
 'oto 
 
A BOLD STROKE FOR AN OPENING IN THE WORLD. 57 
 
 i^oat away. I'hen, indeed, he did vouchsafe to give a faint, 
 iistless smile, as he said to his pampered uag, "Fie, fle! 
 What a dirty feeder you are ! " 
 
 Vei-y little notice on his part, the merest act of recoo-ni- 
 tiun, a look, a monosyllable, would have been enouo-h° to 
 satisfy me, — anything, in short, which might acknow!ed<re 
 that we were part of the same great chaiu, no matter how 
 many links might lie between us. 
 
 I do not wish it to be inferred that I had any distinct 
 right to such an acknowledgment, nor that any rekl advan- 
 tage would have accrued to me from obtaining it, —far from 
 that ; very little consideration might have induced me to be 
 contented with my station; and, if so, instead of writin^r 
 these notes in a boudoir with silk hangings, and — but this 
 is anticipating witli a vengeance ! And now to go back. 
 
 After three hours of a cold wait, on a rainy \and dreary 
 afternoon, the only solace to my hunger being the imagina- 
 tive one of reflecting on the pleasure of those happy mo'rtals 
 who were sitting down to diimer in the various houses along 
 the Square, and fancying to myself the blessed state of tran- 
 quillity it must impart to a man's nature to see a meal of 
 appetizing excellence, fi-om which no call of business, no 
 demand of any kind could withdraw him. And what specu- 
 lations did I indulge in as to the genial pleasantry that must 
 abound, — the happy wit, the joyous ease of such gatherings 
 when three or four carriages at a door would bespeak the 
 company at such a dinner-party! 
 
 At last, out came my captain, with a haste and flurry of 
 manner quite unusual. He did not, as was his constant 
 custom, pass his hand along the mare's neck to feel her 
 coat, nor did he mutter a single word of coaxing to her as 
 he mounted. He flung himself with a jerk into the saddle, 
 and, rapping my knuckles sharply with the gold knob of his 
 whip, pettishly cried, "Let her go, sirrah! " and cantered 
 away. I stood for some moments motionless, my mind in 
 that strange state when the first thought of rebellion has en- 
 tered, .nnd the idea of reprisal has occurred. I was about 
 to go away, when the drawing-room window, straight above 
 me, was opened, and a lady stepped out upon the balcony. 
 It was too dark to discern either her features or her dress • 
 
 ff 
 '"I '< 
 
58 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 but a certain instinct told me it was I^Irs. Manser-h. 
 
 u 
 
 you Cuptani De Cou.cy's boy?" said she, in a^'sweet and 
 subc ued voice. replied in the atlinnative, and she went 
 on . 1 ou know his quarters at the Royal Hospital v Well 
 go there at once as speedily us you can, and give hi.n this 
 note. She hesita ed tor a second, as if uncertain what to 
 sa^ and then added, "It is a note he dropped from his 
 pocket by accident." 
 
 h.l'f n.'" '^"^ it 'na'ain," said I, catching the letter and the 
 half-crown which she had half inserted in the envelope to 
 give It weight. " You may trust me perfectlv." BeLe 
 the words were well uttered, she had retired, \he window 
 was closed, the curtain drawn, and, except the letter and 
 the com m my fingers, nothing remained to show that the 
 whole had not been a trick of my foolish brain. 
 
 My immediate impulse Avas to fulfil my mission- I even 
 s arted off at full speed todo so. But as I turned the cmne? 
 oi the Square, the- glare of a bright gas-lamp su-crested the 
 temptation of at least a look at niy^despatc'hesrand wha 
 was my aston^hment to find that on thi^ note, which had 
 been dropped by "accident" from the captain's pocket, the 
 
 mine, but At evinced deception,- and deception at certain 
 moments becomes a dangerous injury. There are tirn^^ 
 when the mind feels deceit to be ai. outrage ThTst™ 
 passions of the fury-driven mob, reckless Ind headstro\7 
 show this; and the most terrible moment in all poS 
 convulsions is when the people feel, or even suspect ha 
 they have been tricked. My frame of mind was exac ly in 
 that critical stage. A minute before, I was ready to lid 
 any obedience, tender any service; and now, of a sudden 
 ^without the slightest real cause, or from anything which 
 
 rebel. Let the reader forgive the somewhat tedious analysis 
 of a motive, since it comes from one who has long stSed 
 the science o moral chemistry, and made most of hfs expert 
 ments-as the rule directs -in " ignoblo bodies " ^ 
 
 My whole resolve was changed: I would not deliver the 
 note. xXot that 1 had any precise idea wherefore, or that I 
 
A BOLD STROKE FOB AN OPF.SING IN THE WOULD. 59 
 
 had the IcMt conception what other course I should adoot- 
 I ™ a true d.seiple of revolt: I rebelled for veryrebeton's 
 
 ociiuig. A race, which was to comp nfF of i^- 
 the next day, l,„d attracted a 1, ™™,s eo™„,^"Tr 
 v™„s walks of h„r.e-b„ys, bill-carrie"" a^So ket 
 all of whon, hoped to lind a ready harvest on themorrow 
 riie conversation was, therefore cntirelv „f „ """'?"'• 
 e araeter. Anecdotes ^f the turf' and "hfri„°i ;,„P;;J,^/ 
 
 De read the prevadnig taste of that select cojnpauv Com 
 bMa ,o„s were also formed to raise the rate of p^mej 
 
 cattleToose'Xr"' ™f°'"°"' *"™ <"■' -bouTlZ^ 
 cattle oose, slacknig guths, stealing curb-chaina, and so on 
 
 learned, was the adtniraUoTa , ereh. U^iZ^T"""^' 
 
 =:tih:t£:!-fi^^^^^^^ 
 
 dhoZ''7..T^^''T/ '^'''^^''^ ^^'«^- Atones of -rotten 
 
 it seemed t,°V- "' "■»»<>• '^h" made a "mistake" ovc 
 IheToIe atm™' "™'' ""^ '"^ ™«'^^- °' 
 
 ntallptariLe^ht ft' '" """ "' ■■^'" ^'»" -" ^-- 
 nn,.f ». \ '' ^'^^^® narratives were for the moat 
 
 Se''"; °d t ■ •k\".' ^S"c:' '■'' ' "«■" '»'--' ^ "" 
 
 -I tiii^tt, Uj, wmen cunning can overreach inH ^.,f 
 nianoeuvre simnliVit^T ^M j • ». ">t;iiecicn ana out- 
 
 -«rststep„:&. -— :;-^ 
 
 i -m 
 
 A] 
 
l!^ 
 
 60 
 
 CONFF<^SIOXS or .ON CREGAN. 
 
 i III 
 
 belf for the sa.n. road. For ,ny own part, neither wcto 
 ".y pr.nc,ples so i.xod, nor n.y education so ^are ullll 
 did not conceive a very high respeof r. ; „ .'^7 3 ^ 
 very contemptuous disdain for his victim 
 
 Morning came, and a bright sunny one it was, with a 
 keen frost and that kind o. sharp air\hat inviZtLT Id 
 
 tiee and bin dmg seen agamst the deep bhie sky; the snark- 
 ac'esT'"' "^? ''' ''^"" ^^^ ^' bright gravel ; 'nd the rS^ 
 Cheerful thoughts Kven we- v,s, with our frail fragments 
 and chapped hands -felt it, and there was an alacrity o 
 movement and a bounding step, a gay laugh and a merrv 
 
 borhood of which the race was to come off. T alone ^-e- 
 
 o'Toin them ' T^^'^ T^y -^^-^y <>f '"7 eomplnions 
 to join them, — J cannot vet sav whv f .liri «« ff 
 
 C;4f" VZ "''"■',',""• '-"^ ■V-enaa.lee^on"^,: 
 ,,''' 1" ," '^"^y (""■'■ly' l^'I'^P". (Iiat 8omova»„o notion 
 
 and the Square was dese ,d of -ill ^o,- > , ? ' 
 
 ,. T ^ ; *'' ^^^^ ^'*^ nursery nopula- 
 
 tion. I never felt a more tedious morning. I had full time 
 as I loitered along all alon, , to contrast my soUtud wTth 
 pursnSg-:"" "' --I--ons were at that same moment 
 True to the instant, Captain Do Courcv uitered un his 
 
 t">:fl^"f ' rT' ^"^^ ^'^^-^ ''''•■ •-" ' haVeve7;een 
 It befoie. As he dismounted, my h^ w ^oldina his stir 
 rup, soiled the brilliant polish of his ^ quo I 3- h oer" 
 ceived it and rewarded my awkwarcbuls with Tlmah 'cut 
 
 ^ ve hhf/r , ""'""*' ^'^"'■' ^ ^'''^ ^"^'^^ "P "^y n^i»d to 
 
 from me. " ' ' "''''' *°'^"'' '"''^^ ^'^"^^^ ""^^ ^^^^« ^''^^ ''* 
 
 I followed him with my eyes till he entered the house, - 
 
 otover ;1'e,tmctly it is true, for they were somewhat blinied 
 
 by tears that would, in spite of me, come forth. The sensa. 
 
A BOLD STROKK FOR AN OPEN.No TN T.,15 VVO„L„. 61 
 
 ■I0..0? Tun, 11,; ,f r I ™ " f ?™ """ ^ "■'"" »•»' to be 
 f«to? Ei ,0 e, ' T; '"" 1" ^' "'■ ''"">'"">■ ""it ray 
 
 »s the Iamb,- ■' "' """ '"'"S"! loi- the slieep 
 
 n^yllfTharxr:',^^^^^^^^^^^ -^ to ..atisf, 
 
 atel, .vocoedec; to t" ..^ 27" .Tftf "^' ' '""'^"^'^■ 
 along , the angle of the S, m-u "' ' , *^'' "'''"" ^"'^^'>' 
 
 ^^^ eei, shoitened the stirrups, mounted, and rode 
 
 alL%V. cSL'en'f '^^-''^^^^ '''' P-^-b' -cl 
 
 away, at first, at a t.oTtd thJn ' ^f:"' ^.'"^^^""- ^ ^'"^^^ 
 ter, I took the road to K 1 . ' .^"'- '"^'^ ^' ^'"'^^ c^"" 
 iiorsemen were hustenL^ "^''''''"' "'"''^"■' ^^'^" y^^' «ome 
 
 horse^non-eithersteifeU^H'Tr '^'r'"'' ^^^'^ *'- 
 ferently does one view life fn.; If I'f'^' ""^ ^•^- 
 ,i,M-ound! The road Wo.! ? '""'^'"^ ''^"^ ^''^"^ the 
 
 tlUeker crowds "t'i eT4rf" ' ^^^-"-'^1, 
 
 nages obstructed th way 1^. i 7'^' ^"^ """^^^^"^ ^^^'- 
 should have attract d.'uentto„w\"""'"*' P^^'^^P^' ' 
 passing at every ins a t nnT ' '*'"''°^'^" ''=^^^^ ^ere 
 
 about the -raJed u chh; n.^ll "'""^^"^ '^''^ '^'^^s 
 The Prowl .Tu . r ^" ^^^ thoroughbred." 
 
 j.ue crov'l at last became so dcnso thof hr. 
 fam to .esert the hio-h mn.i . a . . ^ horsemen were 
 an nn.n ffofp o7. ^ - ' """"^ ^''^''^ ^^"^''^ cuts wl— ^er 
 
 Foiw,:/a c^of ^:^ r"r\ '^"^^ ^^p-^^^ *>- -" 
 
 #1 
 
 '1.1 
 
62 
 
 CONl'liSSIONS OF CON CIIEGAN, 
 
 and boyoml this by leaping an ea«y ditch, into another of 
 
 ynsh the Jlnttciing flajry tlmt umrkt.l the course, and the 
 large lloatnig atancUird of the winnin-r-poHt 
 
 VV hat a grand Hight was that ! For what is so imnosinir 
 
 a spectacle as vast myriads of people stirred byoTe Xe7 
 
 and anunated by one absorbing passion? Kve y u ha^ 
 
 iiowadays seen something of the kind, therefore I shaU 
 
 ot Imger to tell of the in.pression it made upon my yoX 
 
 second, and the great event of the day, was yet to take 
 
 Beviriin!; ''r P'''^,"«« ^y " g«"tlemen riders " over a very 
 Bcve.e hne of country; several fences of most break-neck 
 
 XT ""^" '^"^ "''^^^ '' ''' "^^-^^ dillicultiL of the 
 Mounted on my splendid barb, 1 rode boldly forward till 
 I reached the field through which the first dL .an - a 
 deep and wide trench, backed by a low rail, -a verC for! 
 mKlable leap, and requiring both stride and stren^^ to 
 
 "Some of 'em will tail off, when they sees that! " said an 
 Engbsh groom, with a knowing wink f and the words wJ^^e 
 only out when, at a -slapping canter," the riders wereleen 
 
 hfdfscrLinr ' \'^"^"^' horseman; and, after him, an 
 
 Xzzifzii::''''' '"'''' -'' ^-^^-^-^ ^-^- 
 
 I watched them with a breathless interest ; as they came 
 
 aSSr'^ ^ ''''' '^*"^^" them, and each c": 
 a rapid but stealthy glance at his neighbor. One - he rode 
 
 iea'n"! ''' ^-«e- took the lead, and, dashing at the 
 leap, his horse rose too soon, and fell, chested ao-ainst the 
 opposite bank, the rider under him; the next sw^rv ec^ sud 
 de.y round and balked; the third did the same; so that 
 the icadmg horseman was now he who rode alone at first. 
 Quckenmghis speed as he came on, he seemed actually to 
 fly, and when he did take the fence, it was like I -^ bound 
 '^' a cannon-shot, -up, and over at once! Of the rest 
 
another of 
 owds (liat 
 tld (liHtin- 
 , unci the 
 
 imposing 
 'i interest, 
 ' one has 
 3 I shall 
 iiy youth- 
 ; but the 
 ; to take 
 
 er a very 
 eak-neck 
 es of the 
 
 ward till 
 ran, — a 
 k'ery for- 
 sngth to 
 
 said an 
 •ds were 
 ere seen 
 
 nearly 
 him, an 
 jackets 
 
 'y came 
 Lch cast 
 he rode 
 f at the 
 nst the 
 3cf sud- 
 }o that 
 i first, 
 ally to 
 bound 
 i rest, 
 
 A BOU, STUOK,.; POU A. OrM.NO IN THE VVORU,. 63 
 los" and hacks. *' "'" ""^ ''""«'■'• of l.roken 
 
 whV"„r,;tv„"n:r,'' .:;;""'; ■"•' •■""'-' »» ■•■> tho™ 
 
 W- »ki-M„c j.cl.. , .'•„„d^™'« .''™''' »>■ favorite was 
 ami Uim did I foiiuw ,,1,1'";' .""- "ay over tUe dyke; 
 hea,... n„y wo o , t n , I" T" """ Palpitaling 
 
 wall, -a „i„4 and « o ' "o, "'r.;",";^^-""r;«. '""■* " 
 ened pace and nioro -•,3,,!,^ ,,■,'"'"'"' ""^ "lai*. 
 
 caution a .nuleult i:a„1.n",ti '' '' ' ' °''""' ™" '^« 
 
 ltAnd":fti"f,t.^«n,:,;:';*''yr ™ «'- "-"oCar^e 
 torso, and .l,o nl , wl ^ ™,t''' .'" "T" "'" ""• ''^'^ 
 but tl,o animal wont 7Zl. ,'" ,"'«'"''°''' ''« 8"' over, 
 
 1«1 Imn off ,1,0 ""1,1 '"'"' ""'' "■" '■'••'"■. <Ii»mo„„ti„.; 
 
 bait,t::;:i:;i'r,;:;c,'r:/:e':''.r'r' "■' ^'■■■•^- ■- "» ™»- 
 
 of tl,o wall. A no,- .'ot ,?,r o ' ''''","™-^' "'"""' "'"''te 
 from tl,o n,„ltit„.L ,'.' ,7 "' """'J '''"!'I>l""'"tmont a,«o 
 
 peoplo, wl,o we,-o l->uc ,1 • i ,1 i" L, 'it tr';'''' ',"' '"" '"'""y 
 " The ,,aco is sold ! " o,io<"",n '"^I'anoo. 
 
 " I -y yo„ -re bou, wr":f ": d I'll M " f™" ' " 
 manner showed ho was no i.Ci.-ff. . ' "'""«' excited 
 
 "Sbe never will .Z h™ 2'^r, r";"'°%"' "» ^"'°«- 
 goes like a bi,-d ! ■• ™" '^''''yi after that she 
 
 ieadlrr'ov:,.rZce1 tZ^ 1*"", ""'" "° "^ ""' 
 ">e;™y? "said he, lookinJ'atnd ' '""' " ""' "'" "^^ 
 
 "1 here's the only fellow r oo« u 
 <t!" said another, ,ioint "g" to .^ ^T »<=*,»„ afford 
 
 else. '"' "'" "■°''"'"'' •■« i»- 'oo. " remarked some one 
 "Hallo, my ™„t boy. " said he who before alluded to 
 
 «l! 
 
64 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 H 
 
 the mare as a bolter, - try your nag over that wall yonder 
 -go boldly Let her have her head, and give hevlsharn 
 cut as she rises. Make way there, gentlcMuen ! Le Z 
 boy have fan- i^ay, and I '11 wager a five-pound note he does 
 t ! 1 ou shall have half the stakes too, if you win ! " added 
 he. These were the last words I heard ^or th crowd 
 clearing ni front, opened for n.e to advance, and without a 
 ^'nent's hesitation of any kind, I dashed my heels to tbe 
 mai-e s flanks, and galloped forward. A loud'^shout, and a 
 
 peifect shower of whips on the mare's quarter from the bv- 
 
 rtssSv' ; '"•'"" '' P"""^" "^^ ^^■>'-^ the reach ;f 
 poss b hty. In a mmute more I was at the wall, and, ere 
 
 I well knew, over it. A few seconds after, the blue-jacket 
 was beside me. -Well done, my lad! You 've earned 
 twenty guineas if I win the race ! Lead the way a b t! and 
 let your mare choose her ground when she leaps." TWs 
 orm;"et wLe"^ '^'' -"'''' ^^ encouragement^.ever feU 
 Before us r-ere the others, now reduced to three in 
 number, and .vidently hoWi,:, their stride and watching 
 
A BOLD STROKE FOR AN OPENING IN THE WORLD. 65 
 
 each other, never for a moment suspecting that the most 
 feared competitor was fast creepuig up behind them. One 
 fence separated us, and over this 1 led again, sitting my 
 mare with all the composure of an old steeplechaser 
 Out of the way, now ! " cried my companion, -and let 
 me at them ! " and he tore past me at a tremendous pace, 
 
 tTTWrl' ""'Z^' '''"' ^^ '^' '■^'^*' "Come along, m^ 
 lads! I'll show the way!" ^ 
 
 And so he did ! With all their efforts, and they were bold 
 ones, they never overtook him afterwards. His mare took 
 each fence Hymg, and as lier speed was much greater than 
 the others , she came in full half a minute in advance. The 
 
 hers arrived all together, crest fallen and disappointed, and, 
 Ike a beaten men, receiving the most insulting comments 
 
 trom the mob, who are somewhat keen critics on misfortune 
 
 1 came last, for I had dropped behind when I was ordered • 
 but, unable to extricate my mare from the crowd, was com- 
 pelled to ride the whole distance with the rest. If the losino- 
 horsernen were hooted and laughed at, m;, approach was I 
 kind o rumiphal entry. - There 's the chap that led over 
 the wall! rh.t little fellow rode the best of them all'" 
 
 SeeJJiat ragged boy on the small mare; he could beat the 
 I. eld this minute ! " 
 
 ;^ 'T is fifty guineas in goold ye ought to have, my chap ' " 
 said nother, - a sentiment the unwashed on all sides seemed 
 most heartily to subscribe to. 
 
 " Be my soul, 1 'd rather be lookin' at him than the gentle- 
 men ! said a very tattered individual, with a coat like a 
 ransr^rency These, and a hundred similar comments, 
 fell like ha.l-drops around; and I believe that in mv 
 momentary triumph I actually forgot all the dangers and 
 perils of my offence. ^ 
 
 It is a great occasion for rejoicing among the men of ra-s 
 and wretchedness when a member of their own order has 
 achieved anything like fame. The assertion of their ability 
 to enter the lists with " their betters " is the very pleasant- 
 est of all flatteries. It is, so to say, a kind o^ fkirmist 
 before that gi-eat battle which, one day or other, remains to 
 ne .ought uetwecn the two classes which divide mankinr^ — 
 those who have, and those who have not. '' 
 
 VOL. I. — 5 
 
 .,* 
 
 ['I 
 
66 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 the dU C lu li' oTt'"; h?,:"^ *1 "7 "-' '^<' l™ over 
 mfflan, a; be shoved ttj°,' "',''°-^''°"M"e<l, red-faced 
 
 Say ten guineas ! " muttered another. 
 ^^ ^o ; but twenty ! " g.owled out a third. 
 
 high '"*''''*'^ ^ big-headed cripple about two feet 
 ''Are you the lad that took the fence before itipV» . • . 
 
 Who aie you, ray boy, and where do you come from^^ " 
 "He 8 one of Betty Cobbe'. chickens!" shouted J^/.n 
 od savage-faced beggar-man, who was terrib y htii"'"' 
 at the great misdirection of public svmnathv L T^ 
 clutch they are ! " sympathy ; and a nice 
 
 hrp'ndT"''* •'•'^*'' ^'''"' ^''"' ^'^^^'^ the crayture gets his 
 bread? rejomed an old newsvender, who in all HkoM . 1 
 hadonce been a parlor boarder in the's:!;:' semta y ''^"'' 
 
 .gentleman. If you are willing to take .e, and cVn 
 
 find any one to recommend you-" """ 
 
A BOLD STKOKE FOE AN OPENING IN THE WORLD. 67 
 
 wordH he l,„«hed the crowd ,o „„e Bide w1h h» 'w, fj 
 
 "And he 's Laving the crayture without givin' him a far 
 rtu fabX ;;" '' ''^ ^"^'' ^^^ -^^^^enl/saw aU ^ gl" 
 ; mLge ' ''"^"' "^' *^ ^^'•""^^^" ^-* ^^--PP-^- like 
 
 dic^na^iiv ^^'?'"f 'T!""^' ' " '^""*^^ ^"°tb^r, more in- 
 dignantly; "to desart the child that a- way, _ and he that 
 won the race for liim ! " ^ 
 
 who mfpeareV h ' r ""^^^'^'^^"''^ ™ged ? " said another, 
 wiao appealed by his pretentious manner to be a nractisec 
 street orator. " AVill vp? Li^ro ti, v i "'^ ''Pr^icused 
 
 be meant " desolate "i't "be banedtf „?!""" T " 
 money? Are yez men a, all? „, a« ;i dirt" 1^! J^ 
 bloody ;8tokessy ..hat-H n,,,.*™' o'uld SntV" *" 
 
 We 11 take charge of the ornhnt> .mw r.f 
 ™a,.t fellow, i, y„n "don't bn.Jh "cl^'pr; Tile ;" '7Jl 
 pohceman, as, followed b- two othni i , i 
 
 orders? " ^^aptain De Courcy's 
 
 " No sir. I was told to hold her for him, and ~ and - " 
 , "And so you rode off with her, - out with H ff 
 t^e, my lad. Now, let me ask' you a ^tL q esIT 
 irave you any notion of the <M-ime yo'u have just omm t ed " 
 
 ^'IT- "'"/'"* '' ^^""""^^^ ''' i^orse-stoilin.? Tnd do 
 
 J..U kuuv. uaat tiie penalty is tor that offence'v " '" 
 
 iNo, 8U-; I know neither one nor the other," said I, res- 
 
 f 
 
 ji J 
 
 Hid 
 
 ml 
 
 i; 
 
 ill 
 
IJ 
 
 68 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 eiuDiyo telon, from being clieered by the nonulaop tn 1,„ 
 u>g collared by a p„liee,„an ! As wf we,, aTong to™,* 
 DuMm on n jauntiug-car, I was regaled by iuterestimr n,/ 
 ratlves of others -vho had begun life lUte mvseTf , T , " 
 an a n,pt leave of it in a n-aifner b/nlteZ "o d oro":* 
 Ibe peculiarity of anecdote which pertains to cal „?.T 
 sioi, was strongly marked in these offl S " of the aw an'.!" 
 »iin eyts the keenest and most scrutinizin.'. 
 
 of hTlMaa't"'"'' 'r'rr"^ '°'«°''"" <"<=ary hours 
 ll T,il f !, 1 """"'''' "" ' '"y- "'"> «°™ fifty others in 
 
 t 's Lot trlh'r'"'™"- ™" "°"'P»"^ waf assmedy 
 noi select, iioi tlieir manners at all improved bv the ne,; 
 
 approach- of punishment. It seemed as if all the . i tuise 
 ot vice were thrown off at once, and that iniqi, t stoo' Hort, 
 
 ie't.r .aire::' *'"™"' "^■■^- ' "»"»"'*-' 
 
 leiioAv ai)oier, to be received as one of the brethren into 
 
 he guild of vice, is really an awful blow to oL's sei . steem 
 
 and respect; to feel yourself inoculated with a d sea^se wt " 
 
 atal marks are to stamp you like this one or that lends 
 
 a shuddermg terror thi-ough the heart, whose coW thril 1 
 
 mere should be a quarantine for suspected ouilt as fnr 
 uspected disease; and the mere doubt 'of rectftu ' shouM 
 no expose any unfortunate creature to the chances of a ter 
 
 ^uiuier^Toi-' Tr ^^^^* ''''''' '^ 4 tha/i ::: 
 
 h! ni ' ■". ? "' ^^"^ ^'^'^'^ ^»* '»y crime should scarcely 
 
 'Z:^''l:i "j!:'^^^ \^^ ---^^- ^y whom r wTS 
 
 n. .,^, ^^, ^ ^,g^^ ^^ ^^^^j^ company the wisest 
 
A BOLD STROKE FOR AN OPENING IN THE WORLD. 69 
 
 mode of restoring to the path of duty one who mi^^ht nos- 
 sibly have only slightly deviated from the straight iLe^ 
 
 When mornnig came I was marched off, with a strong 
 phalanx of other misdoers, to the College Str;et ofHce, wherf 
 a magistrate presided whose bitterest calumniators Luld 
 never accuse of any undue leanings towards mercy. By him 
 I had the satisfaction of hearing a great variety of snuaU 
 offences decided with a railroad rapidity, only interru e 
 now and then by a whining lamentation over tL " tnty o 
 
 penalty and bewailing his own inability to do more for the 
 criminal than send him to prison for two months with hard 
 labor, and harder diet to sweeten it. 
 
 At last came my name ; and as I heard it shouted aloud, it 
 a most choked me with a nervous fulness in the throat I 
 
 and that the whole vast assemblage had no other object or 
 aim there than to see me arraigned for my offence 
 
 I was scarcely ordered to . Ivance before I was desired to 
 stand back again, the prosecutor. Captain De Courc-v, not 
 being in court While a policeman was, therefore, despatched 
 by the magistrate to request that he would have the kind- 
 ness to appear -for the captain was an honorable and an 
 aide-de-camp, titles which the sitting justice knew well how 
 to respect, -other cases were called and disposed of. It 
 was nigh three o'clock when a groat bustle in tlie outer court 
 and a tremendous falling back of the dense crowd, accom- 
 panied by an ostentatious display of police zeal, heralded 
 a gioup of ofhcers, who, with jingling spurs and bangin.. 
 sabretaches, made their way to the bench, and took their 
 seats beside the justice. Many were the courtesies inter- 
 changed between the magistrate and the captain: one 
 averring that the delay was not in the slightest degree incon- 
 venient; the other professing the greatest deference for the 
 rules of court; neither bestowing a thought upon him uK>8t 
 deeply concerned of all. 
 
 A very brief narrative, delivered by the captain with a 
 most military abruptness, detailed my offence : and. nhhnncri, 
 uoL exaggerated in the slightest degree, the occasionaHniS- 
 ruptions of the magistrate served very considerably to mag- 
 
 f.' y 
 
 M 
 
 ->l 
 
 ' I ■ 
 
 !-'fi' 
 
 m 
 
70 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 •I * 
 
 nifj its guilt, — such as "Dear mp r n f„ •* 
 
 young SCO 2^ '^::aTl .^^^r!"^^'^; -f ; ^^^-Hloned 
 
 peroration of re^nvt nt ' ',,. "'^' ''''^ *'"^ accustouaed 
 
 with, he fearecntlf h!' ?"" •^' '"''' "^^^ ^'''"^ ^^^^y 
 
 fr. . :• *"^ recorder cou d oulv award m^ « 
 
 tr:.' .Importation for life ' "^ •J-wam me a 
 
 -no.t to the ,„in„,.o.,o oH-l^i ^f tUf l""'^" ""-"''• ^' 
 
 nothin, beyond .k^fjTt^^l "^ J^^T"" 
 breach of trust." pit,aa guut^\ to, ■— a 
 
 "Listen to the Attornev-Genpnl i n,, *i u i 
 hi^elf they've „, ,„e Jj'-Zmo.^' "" ''°'"'^' ■»'» 
 
 cried a:;othe. °''"' °"' ^"" "'^'" «''"P'- •"><• varse!" 
 kno^. =nxa., said he. nddressiug u^, u ,^^, ^^^^ ^y^^ 
 
it's 
 
 A BOLD STROKE FOR AN OPENING IN THE WORLD. 71 
 
 giiig shrewdness is anything but favorable to you in the 
 unfortunate position in which you stand. I shfdl co,ninit 
 you for trial, and would advise you -it is the only piece of 
 advice I'll rotable you with -- to charge son.e mori skilfu 
 advocate witli your defence, and not intrust it to the knavish 
 flippancy of conceit and chicanery." ^"^visu 
 
 -I mean to have counsel, your worship," said I, reso- 
 utely; for iny blood was up, and I would have arguod w th 
 the welve judges. "I mean to have one of the firs I 
 most eminent at the bar for my defence. Mr. Mansergh, of 
 Merrion hcpiare will not refuse my brief when he sees the 
 fee I can offer him." 
 
 oftv1"*V''i''^^'"f^'' filled the court; the impudence 
 of my speech, and my thus introducing the name of one of 
 the very hrst men at the bar, as likely to concern himself 
 for such a miserable case and object, was too much for any 
 gravity; and when the magistrate turned to comment upon 
 my unparalleled assurance and impertinence to Captain De 
 hirpkce "''^^'^'^ *^^* ^^^ honorable captain had left 
 
 th^^^'lr.'^'/'r' ^^^' '^''^''''^ aide-de-camp was at 
 that moment standing m earnest converse with myself 
 beside the dock. ^ 
 
 . ." f!fy ^T""^' ^'^th this boy in another room, your wor- 
 ship? " said he, addressing the court. 
 
 "Certainly Captain- De Courcy ! Sergeant Biles, show 
 i^aptam De Courcy into my robing-room." 
 _ The honorable captain did not regain his composure 
 immediately on finding himself alone with me; on the con- 
 trary, his agitation was such that he made two or tliree 
 efforts before he could utter the few words with which he 
 nrst addressed me. 
 
 '' What did you mean by saying that Mr. Mansergh would 
 defend you? and what was the fee you alluded to?" were 
 the words. 
 
 "Jnst what I said, sir," .aid T. with the steadv assurance 
 a confidence of victory gives. " I thought it was better to 
 have able counsel ; and as I know I have the means of recom- 
 pensing him, the opportunity was lucky." 
 
 "You don't pretend that>ou could afford to engage one . 
 
 I f 
 
72 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Ill 
 
 ill 
 
 "A note, sir- mirl „,,• ,.'■>'"' S'™ ''''"?" 
 Banlc,„„»„;t ;,;,!? 4;;,t°'',?^ " "»™'- i-od from the 
 
 "aw, "I'll l.ave;,^;A,"u:;r ™'7 °' "'-'■«»''-ai"«l iJ.ger 
 
 «ee Iglil; ,■;;■' "'• "' '"='• "'^'^at are your terms? Yo„ 
 
 " And so best." s.iiVl T. u ,-* 
 from your ho„o -TotW,,,, ,1 T™ '""!• ' '"'' ^''^ "ttk 
 charge dismissed. I do, "^ '",„', "' "■"" '» ''"'' tWs 
 and consort witU va..,boml, T . *" ,"■""■ "«« all my life, 
 I'eroaft,.. that I ™ ev" IrT "° ,' "'"'""^ '° ''"<= 't «aiJ 
 offence like tWs. You ™,t .11^ Z ""'"'""'«' ""■ au 
 blunder or mistake ot yo7r Sder "/'""'"' *"' " ~« »""» 
 circumstance or other, - I ,3! , ' ™""' accidental 
 nor will he, if the exnL,,- '"'"' '''"■'' ''''at, or how 
 
 I-n place the ^S^Z^^Z^Z/"'". ™^ '^°- 
 need never see much Ue^'^^J^f "» ■><-. and we 
 
 " rt tr t'rlrrme"" s'aH 7™ ''■^'' ^'"^ P™™^- ? " 
 bail to give." "' ™'' '• carelessly , >• j Ua^.^ „„ 
 
 be;;rVs™lkTr ■:;:!?..'"' -'-"-' "-■ tbe note, 
 -f. on, save tLTold Ss^t^rllirhef^^ 
 
A BOLD STROKE FOB AN OWNING ,N THE WORLD. 73 
 
 between ns, a »K 1^^,^ ' '"' '"'' "'° '''■^' «""« 
 he deomed it "cit/. '*""' »'""""«" t^oke fjom ,ne, 
 
 tier,i::i';;;Sit' fi::^"" ""'"■ ''" ^p^^^ '» *ej„s. 
 
 for 3,„„, ,i,a/e of the b"rgai,f" ^ ™ "'■« '"^'"'''■■ged I Now 
 
 . ': 
 
 
 ;; z^z nif, T'' '"'""■ ■"= '" "■"' »" "our? " 
 
 •It tue Club, Foster Place " 
 •'■i'hen I'll be there with the note," said I 
 
 ^«ft::^'^t z,:t:iz- ' ™'^'''«' «- - he went, 
 
 ■■onnd to see wiri. "arl' f" LT"' ?"' "'" "<= "™ -' head 
 this that actually awed 1!' TwaJ ""rs;';''"^;' '"= '" 
 ""ng I had ever seen i„ others tha? T !t "''''"* ""5" 
 
 -- " the gentleman V spin,: L'abllg ^r^'S'^i' 
 
 , ^f J 
 
 *i 
 
74 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CUEGAN. 
 
 luice even in a poor ruoged street wanderer as I ^ .« tj 
 lesson Mas not lost on nie JMv lif.. i. . ^^"^ 
 
 imitative one and T Iw ^^y /'^'' ^^^^ been n.ainly an 
 
 mable value of "/',', l:;:^/"^^^-^ ^^-'^ -^^e seen the inesti- 
 
 a Vou • . ■ '* ' '^'=' ^'^' '='=^"' "It", '* lon<.' here? » 
 
 a, /;re.'' "'""" "" """'■="-"" ' "■*"''«' ^i- .io note 
 
 the world yet.'' "^ "^ "'^'^'^ ^°'"" '^oise iu 
 
 "I mean it, sir," said T wJfi. „ <> -i- 
 
<£ MAP'S' E(^ VilW. 
 
 "A QUIET CHOP" AT 
 " KILLEEx\'S," Ax\D A 
 GLANCE AT A NEW 
 CHARACTER. 
 
 LOOKED very wistfully 
 at my broad crown 
 piece a8 it lay with its 
 the palm of my hand nnd f u i ,/''"^^t' P'^^ter face in 
 excited withi,rinon , , ' ^^^ *^' stirring sensations it 
 
 esteemed my" If ^hTLy\"\ "'"'='' °^ """'«• "^ I 
 once perceived Lt T T """""'^.''••«'k. "P»ssi„g rich," I at 
 
 important cbln'f „ Tv Tlv" "T """'= '° ^"f^"' "y 
 0. t. ec..ee: .r t^i-lr^i.— 1 - — - 
 
 j; 
 

 o^.\^ 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 1.25 
 
 us 
 
 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 U 11.6 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 ^' 
 
 // 
 
 <^.^ 
 
 '*■ ,^ ^ 
 
 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (71«>) 872-4503 
 
 
? 
 
 J^<^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
76 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 and answedn"' them with LT""" ""^r"'""' ''«»"'^' ''• 
 Judicial i,„pa,tial[tr " '" '"^"^" " ""»* 
 
 intiZt^ttnlVri^^y^y -te-'ain," »aid I, -but bis 
 
 bim, or Uose aoa„I ? ' "''"'"'•'"ity is pleasing to 
 
 and inflneTcr NoT "•?;"', " ?'","'"'' '""' ">"'■ ««ion 
 
 and eordiarintetrettr A ^rr"" "™"-''™<' 
 weaned, wliose comn,ni„„.r ■ , """^ '^''^'^ ""er 
 
 own! ind who of °l T '' "'™^' '"""■"«"=<' ">«? % 
 conceived a staoe'rel/h tt^rr' ' J'"" *™' ™<^' "i"'- 
 ferring it ,„ allTthe^ ? " Co ' CrZ '°!: ""^ "'"'-''- P- 
 enthusiasticaliy. " i„ „o„ mv .tff"' " !' y™' "^^ I' 
 
 believe yon i„cIpableo,JZfof.e«: IT r' "'".f '" ' 
 let ns pledge onr friendship „\;:"r|™;,„^;™; «-• »"<' 
 
 Where, too, was the next don ht? wnlV 
 I was not gainer to descend fn T ^ ^ ''''^'^" *" ^P^nd, 
 
 And it was preciselv o ^Pn / ''' ^""'^'^ ^"^ «P°«°«? 
 
 good taven! eo^M^^V^^tt^f:^^^^^^^^ ^--'^ '^-ale as a 
 
 own feelings under a ne^ stimulant i'n,/ \'\*'' *''' "^^ 
 since seen grave oeonlc nvnT I~^ '^ ^' ^ ^^''« <^ften 
 
 lauffhino- ~4 .^ ^ '^ expenment upon themselves with 
 iaugbing-j,.3 aad magueli«in and the fumes of ether 
 
ing, by the 
 ive puzzled 
 
 lent to my 
 lown little 
 med rather 
 '."1. This, 
 3cided me 
 
 giving my- 
 
 ape; and, 
 
 the most 
 
 fairness I 
 gainst it, 
 If a most 
 
 "but his 
 easing to 
 ii" station 
 estrained 
 ty never 
 tie? My 
 let with, 
 are, pre- 
 ' said I, 
 )lete. I 
 hen, and 
 
 > spend, 
 1 among 
 ^ut how 
 hat was 
 lis rags, 
 spoons ? 
 ale as a 
 test my 
 e often 
 ia with 
 r. 
 
 "AQUIETCHOI." AT-KILLEEN-S." 77 
 
 "It may be too much for you. Con " «nM r 
 
 aloug; "there's no kuowin. what »ffL ,1 ' "' ' "''■" 
 your nerves. '"«»"u» what effect jt may have on 
 
 vaHatr^You^'tlS ZT '^ '"" """-" '» -^-^ 
 
 ^.o sudden e.e™i:s;isrur„:r;rv^"'' r ^ 
 
 m«>t." Against these doubts I irfe" led h ^ "' ^'"'«" 
 
 beino; ungrateful to myself 1 . ' f ,^ "'" '""'^''"'y «' -o' 
 k..owledgment of my ^fs,:^.:^ZZ:Z'S': ^ 
 
 t;ri:'d:tf:rsea;' t^^t"""", r ""^'=' ^- ^^ 
 
 beneath the shadl::'; s^e^': S 1^™!,!:™'° '''? 
 
 i:uri;:h'z:t;,irt4r:^,r^F 
 
 .ucccs^bright and clear .trmf. --;; S ty^^sS 
 Closely togett'er:"e1eS S ";^„ Ctj;;:' IT '"■"•' 
 
 rwa„raVd^;'efn;,i;^r 7 ^ '^"^ -"'.o buyX: 
 
 as tho ,gh my ra'sZul ir °™ *? '"°'' *""' ""^'■"M. 
 
 and a pint of stnnf ..n. i-i • "*^'^^:^ • ^^^^^'^ potatoes, 
 
 with a bo d thought' T , r^ T^ fourpence." Armed 
 
 Doid thought, I turned and approached the house. 
 
 ■]' 
 
78 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 ^JWell," cried one, "who a.-e you? Nobody aent for 
 
 yourX"' "" ™"' ""°'''" ""' *' °"'^'' "«"« «"'' 
 "Isn't thta Killeen's?" said I, stoutly. 
 
 " wTXeT't *' ""'' " "^ ^"■■P*^" "' "-.V ooolness. 
 m. ,„,,■' ^"""S gentleman from tbe ciUeoe sent 
 
 " What will be have?" 
 
 " Soup, and a steak, with a pint of nort » fln,vi t • . .u 
 
 What hour did he say v» 
 
 .:^a^=,hf^r^^^^ 
 
 I gave him my crown piece; and as he fumbled for thP 
 8ixpei.ce I insinuated myself quietly into the h^l 
 
 needn'Tto;.'^'" ^'^"^^' ^°^'" ^^^ ^^« ^^^er; .you 
 " Will you be so good, sir," said I, " to write ' paid " on 
 a slip ot paper for me, just to show the gentleman? » 
 
 civiii?vor,!^'"'i/'''' '''..'"''" p°^"'^^ 'y *^^ fl^«--g 
 
 reappeaied with a small scrap of paper, with these words- 
 Dinner and a pint of port, 4*-. 6.^. _ paid " ' 
 
 quiouJ^. **" ""^^ ^'' ^^" ^'"'^ ^^^'" '^^ I' «^o«t obse- 
 coZroL""' " "'" ""'" "P"^^ " P-^-^ - to t^e 
 
 the^?t^'vf *^'°"f^ '?' ^^^'^ ^^"°^' ^°^ «^^ that in one of 
 
 ustsml.H ''%'"'" "^^'^ ''^^ ^^^^^^ ^'^^ ^^^'^^«d, a table wL 
 
 - Thk ' th' ''^"^,^««Tt"'•^^» '-^nd a decanter pla.ed on it. 
 
 ImS, thOUffht r. " sa fny- ,v,«. » « ,, ,, ^ .. 
 
 me ; " for all the other boxes 
 
ing at the 
 )r me as I 
 
 ' sent for 
 
 ' this an't 
 
 coolness, 
 lege sent 
 it at the 
 
 just the 
 i^ officers 
 
 starts by 
 when he 
 
 iing out 
 
 for the 
 
 ; "you 
 
 •aid " on 
 
 itterina: 
 ad soon 
 words ; 
 
 t obse- 
 
 to the 
 
 one of 
 t>le was 
 
 on it. 
 
 boxes 
 
 'A QUIET CHOP" AT "KILLEEN'SJ 
 
 79 
 
 adroit flank movement, dived into fh V ^'^' ^' ^*"^ ^" 
 some of the companv so ^1^ T ^''°''' ^"^' imitating 
 across me. By a^gSt n ece J /'T'^"^ ^^^e a breastplate 
 ^^-•kest in the^-oom'! Ih fw /Ird in V^^" "^^ ''^ 
 an open newspaper before me I onnU 7 '''''"^'■' ^'^^ 
 
 hope to escape detectioJ! ' "^^' ^°' ^ '^"^« ^^ ^^ast, 
 
 ^^^v!^!^.£;L:^:r'^ - ^e uncovered 
 
 "Nothing," respomll T t '""^^'"^^ beef-steak, 
 sternness, a'nd ^S^l^l^ :J;^:' ^-^ imposing 
 us. -^ "oiamg up the newspaper between 
 
 Jtfj^o?^L:^;:--f:;^i-wi^^ 
 
 choked me. A glass of nor o ', "^ ^-pulsion almost 
 and a third embofdTned me x. f f'^' ' 'T"'^ "'^^ ^^eered, 
 a spirit of true ease and ;j:;lir"Th' '^ T ^^^^^ ^ 
 insidious; place it wherever Twf; ^ P*"""* ^'''^^ most 
 riably stole over besrde me "ndTn . T '^' '''''' '' '^-- 
 the decanter would stand at' m^ elbow' ? l' "^' '' '' --' 
 in reality a very gentlemanliL + ,' "PP""^^ '* '""^t be 
 self-reliance, the'vfgot":f o'f^ S :;;the''" '^^^*"^'^^ 
 lutism It inspires, smack of Toryism S r '" ^^ ^^^'^■ 
 myself rising above the low m^^^^L r ^ ''^P'^' ^ ^^^t 
 against rank and wealth nnVT'' , f ^ ^"^^ '"^^«Jged in 
 beauty of that sys tm wh'icT diS'^^^^^ comprehending the 
 The very air of the place tL i T'^ '^''''^'^^ ™^»kind. 
 haughty summons to t e v^i 'r the i '''''''''''''^ ^^^k, the 
 this or that requisite of the tableau '''"""' ^'"'"^"^ '^^' 
 -e with the p/eas.„t sensatiof mp t^t? r' '' T^"^^ 
 scsses money Among the variouthh!feLdTor?' '"' 
 side, I remarked that mustard seemef i„ 1' '^? '"^"'y 
 
 request. Every one ate of U • „ """^'' "^ the very highest 
 
 f it. There w'as a' p^l't .', "" r.^/ ^'^^ IT ^"^"»^ 
 ter, bring me the mustard •" whiL /"'^''^^"^^ • ^ ^^J^wai- 
 
80 
 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 seemed bursting with laclignation as he said, - You don't 
 expect me to eat a steak without mustard, sir " -a rebuL 
 at which the waiter grew actually purple 
 
 Novv, this was the very thing I had myself been doin- _ 
 
 actually eating - a steak without mustard ! " What a ri^ 
 
 ake and for one who believed himself to be in every rL^ec; 
 
 conforming to the choicest usages of high life ! XatTa * 
 
 nettXJt r^^ ^^-l^-PP-ecf; no matJTi 1 L 
 nevei too late to learn, and so 1 cried out, "Waiter fhp 
 mustard here ! " in a voice that almost electHfiecUhe" 
 
 Ihe rimes, -when the mustard was set down before me 
 w h a humble apology for forgetfulness. I waited till hi 
 withdrew and then helping mysdf to the unknrn del cy 
 proceeded to eat it, as the phrase is, " neat." In m ea^er! 
 ness I swallowed two or three mouthfuls before /feftls 
 effects; and then a sensation of burning and chokiit 
 seized upon me. My tongue seemed to s^ell to thrice t! 
 size ; my eyes felt as if they would drop out of my head' 
 while a tingling sensation, like "frying," in my noS' 
 almost drove me mad; so that after three or four seconds of 
 silent agony during which I experienced about ten years o 
 torture, unable to endure more, I screamed out that^' I was 
 poisoned," and, with wide-open mouth and staring eyes, ran 
 down the coffee-room. ^ "^ ' 
 
 Never was seen such an uproar! Had an animal from a 
 wild-beast menagerie appeared among the company the 
 consternation could scarce be greater;" and in thf mho- ed 
 laughter and execrations might be traced the different 
 moods of those who resented ,my intrusion. " Who isthL 
 felow? How did he get in? What brought hini lie 
 What s the matter with him?" poured in on all sides - 
 difficulties the head-waiter thought it better to deal with 
 by a speedy expulsion than by any lengthened explanation. 
 
 "Get a policeman, Bob ! " said he to the next in com- 
 mand ; and the order was given loud enough to be heard by 
 
 "What the devil threw him amongst us?" said a testv- 
 looking man m green spectacles. " "^ 
 
it was 
 
 "A QUIET CHOP" AT • miEEN'S." gj 
 
 pint '""Sr.,:" i"l'oned" Int ' V •» ""' '"y ''^^ »« -y 
 
 ^ Well w! Ipaidformydmnei— " 
 waited. '"".' "™' «""'•"• -'" a 3brewd.l„oki„g „ao to the 
 
 t^e tiinriXtrf :''llr,;er^'^ l ""' "" »-- 
 •entertainment, tbe pmprie o« o^ wM ," ^'""'" "' P*"" 
 money for a Bpeciflc pZot an, ™,» "*; ""'"='"«' "^ 
 whether they can ref ,r!^i' ' "= """'" ""e qnestion 
 
 Term Hepo;,., and aZZglZl'SCtou' 'V''''"''' 
 Others, in the Apnendiv^ T nn„f ",.."' ^O'^ker, and 
 is founded upon contact' '' '''"' ™^ P^'^^«°«« ^ere 
 
 Another and still louder roar of mi..fh 
 and before I could resume tTn! '"""\^8''^^" stopped me, 
 me, in evident ddig Tt Iny ^^'i^k^ ^1 '"^'""' '''^^'^ 
 ticular, he of the spectac es^Uo'lrrweU f ' ""^ ^" ^'^" 
 of the Court of Conscience ' ""^ ""^^ ^ well-known attorney 
 
 eqlf to^nSm -^ £• ;if ''' ':«^"^- - ^^ ^e '« not 
 chap to have hractionT^a 1 IZ ""ll ^"" '^' ^^'« *^^ 
 
 wnie over to this Uh]o » ti • ♦vaitei, brmg my 
 
 1 J o - — --"V. uuc siij^atest notice 
 hundred oysters," exclaimed one of the 
 
 party a™o„i whom I nZ Z^7LX-"^t iT "' '"^ 
 him before ! Tell me mv I,^ VC, !' ' '"'™ '^^n 
 
 eo™ yesterday, a,r.;Y„t'S.^S'ofi;r,'-kttrh.^!-' 
 threeT thru- Z T '"^ "^"' '^ ^^^ "»*'''« - 
 
82 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 unincumbered fortune, which he lost by an unfortunnfp 
 speculation ; he accordingly went abroad -•' ""^^^^"^ate 
 
 " To Norfolk Island ! " suggested one. with a wink 
 • ^^^"'"^C'^'P^"^^^^'''^ Colonial a u,, 
 
 ing me, like Norval, not exactly on the GmmS Hill J t; 
 in a worse place, in the middle of the bo' of Xn mv^nf 
 dependence being in certain legal studied I had Tnceidf 
 and a natural taste for getting forward in life ; which ^th ' 
 most enthusiastic appreciation of good comoLnv '' T r 
 bowed politely all round -"are Tflnft! ^ '!; "~^®'^ ^ 
 characteristics." ' ' ^ ^^"'' "^^'^^^' «^3^ «h'ef 
 
 After a little, but most good-humored, quizzing about mv 
 present occupation and future prospects thev wffhf ^ 
 
 politeness than might be expected tmiliH: '"^'^ 
 
 .ipon other matter^ and ktn^ —d m TZTZ 
 from time to time my observations, - remarks whinh t nT i^ 
 see^from their novelty, at least/ seemerot^rslS 
 
 At length the hour of separating arrived, and I arose to 
 b^d the company good-night, which I performed with a verv 
 fair imitation of that quiet ease T hL ^t-f . ,• , ^ 
 young guardsmen about tow„ '"'" '^""''^^ '"^ *^« 
 
 " What do you bet that he has neither home to shelter 
 
 izz''' *^ '''-' ^"' ''^' -•^•^*^" -^^«p-^ -ett: 
 
 " What are you writino- therp Pov v » an,- 1 ^i 
 
 Je miaa Co' c7 1'""' T ^°^' " '^' ^'afford steet : 
 Jeremiau Lox Come to me about ten to-morrow " 
 
 decline with a pro,i„t, bnt eourt^™ tLt UaZTu^:", 
 80 identilied myself witli tlie mrt r„ , '"rteed, Iliad 
 
 flung down ™y^ni;.*pteC,he,:bl"^Te" '"•? ' 
 and, with a ia,t salutation' to the honoUt' „' at, ^l' S 
 
 from any semblance of concern or ca're a Vonl . '' 
 
 n bas often been a fancy of ,„!,„ through life to pass 
 
ifortunate 
 
 uk. 
 
 5ut; leav- 
 Hills, but 
 ; my sole 
 ice made, 
 'h, with a 
 — here I 
 my chief 
 
 ibout my 
 far more 
 versation 
 throw in 
 1 1 could 
 surprise 
 
 arose to 
 h a very 
 id in the 
 
 shelter 
 le to his 
 
 •, to the 
 
 ird. 
 
 Street: 
 
 o slip a 
 ning to 
 1,1 had 
 
 that I 
 waiter, 
 walked 
 
 of the 
 as free 
 irriage 
 le! 
 > pass 
 
 A GLANCE AT A NEW CHARACTER. SB 
 
 i" the still more s ltar^:Lts'"oV"'"""r^^^""*^^' '' 
 always felt on these occasions affh . ^''^* "*^- ^ ^^^« 
 a march " upon the ^ir^vo d iV"' ^"" " ^^^^""^ 
 liours of thought and re^Hn rf "'"^'^ many more 
 life renders «o often difficult ' "'"' ''^ '"^^ ^'^^^-^ -^ 
 
 The hours of the niyht seem to Urr^if, 
 existence, - only revm „' Tp V/^/ '° "'^"^ «t^8e« of 
 making the period oder-H-.''^ ''''^'' ^^ ^^'^ ^'^d 
 guine hope;^for ^ theTolet^;:.!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 dayligh'tsinkTg''t.irther^^^^^^^^^^^ '' ^"'"^' ^^ ''^^« 
 "the dawning of mora'arow? h "'""= ^^ ^'^^ ^^^''t' 
 
 bold endeavor! ^ °''' ^^'^ "^^^^'S^^i^ P^^'Pose and 
 
 To come back to mvself T iof+ ^u ^ 
 thought whither I shortn'n fst : T^'''"'*, ^ 
 night, with a starry sky and a mL J , • ^^^ ^ ^^^"^ 
 . pass the hours unJl mornht wS ut^heft "'"' '" ^'^^ ^" 
 privation. One only resolve I hid fn'' '''*' "^ ^''^^^ 
 back to Betty's. I felt that T ? ^« ™«d, _ never to go 
 such eompaniLship; ltt:ili^ ;;X-^^^^^^^^^^^ 'T'' ^" 
 upward, path should open before me ' ^'^'^ "^"^^ 
 
 l-oUowing the course- of the Tiffpv t 
 quay called the North Wall IL.,7\ '°°" '^^^'^^^ the 
 extremity which looks ou upon If '"•''"' '* *'^^ ^^"^ 
 into the Bay of Dublin \Z f ''"""» ^^ ^^^ "ver 
 
 shadow, but'so cSm ; sea tjSleT'"T.r '" ^^^ 
 rellected in long columns of Ho- .. !^ I'ghthouses were 
 
 only souncJ audible wis the h.w ' ''■'"^"" ^"*^'-- ^^e 
 
 sea against the wall, or the ^l^ ^^"«.*^-^-"s Plash of the 
 as the vessel it he d su 'ed . "", "''''' ^^ ^ ^'^">" ^'^^e, 
 sounds had somethbipSe^"'^ ^if t^« t^e. Th^ 
 a tone of sadness to l^^' Z^"!^'' ^7" "^P-^^d 
 unpleasing; and I sat^d^^uno^I 'l '^r^'"'*^^^^^ "^* 
 ''tf.SZ'' ''''''-' ''' ^^ -city ^:;te^^ "°"^' 
 
 th^i. d r;:?^:;;;n d""^ r ^^ ^ hai-;: detected 
 
 in.soundinthetrSerC:::r;^--^^ 
 
84 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 strong „,a,„„,.y. There it "y XTlifTv Tf "=' *" 
 umer ti.e unvarts, and its a'tautpX to alf f ™" ™" 
 »ud purposeless, lilie niysolfl So at iS F ff °' '"°'' 
 
 SOON began coneeivinj, a stran.re In „ M . "'"''' "• ""'• 
 
 .uip::r\rtr:;:iba;rsS-^^^^^^^^^ 
 p:trrtr;:ss;---J^:^f::rpr 
 
 if for the reply. lle\yJlZT!\Z'''^ '' ^"^^ ««^«nd8 as 
 in vain.-L^nsweTa^f 'if^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^"t still 
 
 ''the scoundrels will „ot show a S t » A .r T^^' '^' 
 he whistle; but thou-h the .nnli • V v ^ ^^""^ ^'"^^ ^^ 
 
 neither sigLt nor so^nd et 7,^0^^^^^^^^ '''''' ^ '""^ ^'^' 
 rascal, too, to have left tho hll^ "'""• " ^^^ that 
 
 as he utte ed Se wore s he « '"'^^ ' '"°"^^"* ^ " J»«t 
 and caught sigtt of ml a. T ,!^''"| '^^^^" ^^'^'^ ^^e wall, 
 beneath Tt. ' ""' ^ ^^^' ^^^^"ng sleep, coiled up 
 
 sa;i:^'^S^.';t^^frt^^^^^-e aroused .^^ 
 
 ^^>^Si^^trrr ^^"^" ^^"-^ 
 
 " A nnn. K ' J '^'''''^ "i^"-'^* ^^fore him. 
 I, pllSy'^^' ^"•' ''^' ^- - -^ to shelter him," said 
 
 cu^^^lal^et^:!^ ";,^-^ "-' withahorrible 
 you pull an oar, my lad?" ^''' ^^'^ ^^^^•' Can 
 
 " I can sir," answered I. ♦ 
 
 cut my hand, and cannot help ^^t " iC H \^'" ' ^ ^"^« 
 catch the ring; swino- youZu ' ri, ' ^^'^^ ^ '^' '"^^ lad ! 
 her gunwale yjuIt'^^eu'eXylV:^^^^^ T^i^ht ^'^ f^'^^' 
 done ! Be alive now ! give w!.y, g ve way "^^ ""T """ 
 couragmg me, he walked along the paranet alt ' '"" 
 
 m a few minutes stood fast, cfuing out but T ^ ""'' ""^^ 
 more cautious voice " Thpr^ i r • ' " ^ ^^^^^ ^nd 
 
 voice, ineie ! dose m, now a strong pull — 
 
who 
 
 said 
 
 A GLANCE AT A NEW CHAKACTER 86 
 
 Btern. " Hush ' hp still t » « • 1 1 ^^^^^^'^ t^imself in the 
 -ve,. see ust.t' I'i' Lr o"/;: t,""^.^"^' "■"^'" 
 
 peerino; into the distance. "' "' " ™'« 
 
 lo^'volor" ' '" ""' '»"' '"^ --y" "ied one, in a deep 
 
 hear it flth off U"' ''™^»■'"«'■ "1».> Us heels to 
 darlc as' ,^teh hel " •'°""'" '" " ^''"^ "' P^P-^ " « 
 
 While the meii above were preparing their li.ht T i,. j 
 slight stir in the stern of tlie ho. f '°? ,,""'«"'> I heard a 
 saw my companion coolty tin. fc, ''„"'"«' ^f -<!. and 
 doing it with difflfnltv L k„ , P. ' P'"' ' ■ lie "as 
 
 weapon, he lav back in th« K^of "a^mg cocked the 
 
 at the t™ dar^ flg*es°aW nT " " "^ ''"^^ » '"" ^'»- 
 
 for^a t''s::i:r iHLTaifd' "fd ?hZ^"'"^''•• " ™ "^'^ 
 
 The red and lurid »!., .rfl,«h:; ? ,, *'"'°" '"'" ">e air. 
 
 (aces, straight ltlt:l'a'n7foV"'°"?«"'«'^™^ 
 their figures with a„ the diSotn: s tflZdl"' t"* 
 them both, as if bv a oommnn irr,».„i , "*^°"^^y- I saw 
 and peer down into the dm^ 'Z^h'', '"" "'''" '^' P^^^P^* 
 almost sworn tha .1 wet dilcov?'^'"' '"^"^ ^ ^'^"^^^ ^^^e 
 -nti, thought so to^ri^—--^-^^ 
 
 1 1'- 
 
 f^ 
 
 ! i; 
 
 ' ^ ' ^^^^^1 
 
 I \ sBhI^^I 
 
86 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 took a lori'r and carofnl nim v\;i.„* 
 
 me ex.)... Mn.r „. • ^^'*^* ^ moment was that for 
 
 failed o'"':;"t„„" „ ' .itoirs .";':'• r,' •"", r "-" 
 
 1 lllOll-rllt tliUt by Its luut 1 ickoi-, also wo miol.f 1 1 
 
 Heeii Tint ..^ s . ■ "^'"'' '"'^"i >>o might Iiavo been 
 
 intu tlie other tlosceud from the wall, while I hpn.vi fh 
 
 the large figure who Inn? ?' ^ ''' ''''^ P^"^*'^""^ ^^'^^^ of 
 
 said^^ What vessel do you S,1: "Lt' " '' 
 
 I was never at sea, sir," repJie(i J. ^' 
 
 iNot a sailor! How comes it thpn ., 
 well?" ^^ *"^'^' you can row so 
 
 !! L^r''"^^ ^ ''''^ ^" ^^«»Ji water, sir." 
 What are voii? TTowpo'^n vnn ■^- r i, 
 
 - jw c.,,Tio J. oil Lu be here to-night?'* 
 
A GLANCE AT A NEW ClIAKACTEK. gj 
 
 bed I have neithtM- homo nor friends. I have lived bv 
 ho dinj, horses, and running errands, in the streets." ' ^ 
 
 rn„ni t'"^' P"''^'''' «««^«i«"aily, 1 suppose, too, when 
 regular busnicss was dull ! " * *' «» ^"". woeu 
 
 "Never! " said I, indignantly. 
 
 "Don't be shocked, my line fellow," said he, jeerinalv 
 
 'better men than ever you '11 be have done a little tha way' 
 
 of th'at "• """ '=''"■ ^'" ^^^'"""= '">-'^' ^- ^^^' "-tt^^- 
 
 This confession, if very frank, was nofvery reassuring- 
 
 and so I made no answer, but rowed away "^.vith all .«; 
 
 J' Well ! " said he, after a pause, " luck has befriended me 
 tw ce to^nght,- and sending you to sleep under that w^l w^ 
 not the worst turn of the two. Sl„-p yo.a- oars there, boy 
 
 salr TrH n^-^r" r*^""^^'-^ ^"'-^^^-^ asyou'are^; 
 sailor ! Try and bnul up these wounded fingers of mine for 
 they begm to smart with the cold ni..ht air " 
 
 "Wait an instant," cried he; "we are safe now so vou 
 may hght this lantern ; » and he took from his pockit a sma2 
 and most elegantly fashioned lantern, which in'mediaTely 
 
 hght to scan the features of my singular companion ; nor was 
 my satisfaction inconsiderable when, instead of the terrific- 
 looking fellow - half bravo, half pirate- I expected I per- 
 ceived before me a man of apparently thirty-onfortwo .v th 
 
 Hfhad^In "'""' u^'T' "^' ^-»^l--^ly appoa^re' 
 He had an immense beard and moustache, which united at 
 either side of the mouth; but this, ferocious enouc^h toone 
 unaccustomed to it, could not take off the quiet Regularity 
 and good-humor of his manly features. He wore ^ larc.2 
 brimmed slouched felt hat that shaded his brows, and "he 
 seemed to be dressed with some care, beneath the rough 
 wf '°7^f ''*"''"°" l^"«t-coat, - at least, he wore silk stock- 
 ings and shoes, as if in evening-dress. These particulars I 
 had time to note while he unwound from his cHppled hand 
 
 with hJ^T? ''^^; ^^"^'^^'•^^'^^ef ^^-bieh, stiffened Ind clotted 
 With, blood, bespoke a deep and severe wound. 
 
 M , 
 
 .m 
 
88 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 If the operation were often painful even to torture he 
 ZVZ ' Z P"'"^**^' ^^^ «"^h*««* -P--on of uffer' 
 
 and a feartu gash appeared, separating the four fin-ers 
 almost entire y from the hand Th^ i-^ t un^eis 
 
 Showed that L wea o: tst ha^e^t^T the tlW 
 
 do e T them fn .r''''^'' "'. '^' ''''''''' '^ ^^^ ^^"^^age had 
 
 dr S. of th. 1 l"Vr''' "^ "'''^'^^"^ '^ ^^i^^'-^ble 
 
 hind a? T hn '^' """'^ ^^ """''^^ "P t^^^ P^l™ «f the 
 
 hand as I had once seen done by a country sur-eon in a 
 
 sTpXttC^'a:- "''- -"- ""'■' ™ -"-^ »^ '^« «-'e 
 
 "Why, you are a most accomplished va<^rant' " said hp 
 
 wnat 8 your name? — I mean, what do you eo bv It 
 present? for of course a fellow like you hL a'slr^ of 
 
 Crrgan^"''" ^""'^ """^^ ''°' ""^'"^ "P *^ ^^'" '^ I' - " Con 
 
 said It uTh" • ff.^ ^"^ '^^'^^ ^"^"g'^ it ««"nc]8 too! " 
 tei Con V f ot "t ' 'T °' ^^'^ ^^ ^^" "^^^•^ ^° f «»o^' Mas- 
 
 up a little of most trades- hut J i.t ^'"'"^'^ P'^'' 
 
 friends." ' ^^""^ °^ ™°°®y' »or any 
 
 nesl?u?t7uTlfi:rh'' •' " ""^'"""^ ^^' "'^^ -^"-t of bitter, 
 ness qu te unlike his previous careless humor. " Well mv 
 
 good fellow, I had both one and the other ^11.;^^^ 
 n,l'?t "^ ''°^'' '"'"' """ ^^° ''"o™ sometliing of life _ 
 
Con 
 
 A GLANCE AT A NEW CHARACTER. 
 This was the first time I had ever heard any ont 
 
 89 
 
 ,, - - - ""V. ever 
 
 8UCMS8, and with a certain an- of confidence in all ■ said 
 tliat to me seemed quite oracular. " What i l„l\r.L t., 
 .ad he at last, .>to disco,.se in this J^\: It^Z^^J^^ 
 
 an'dTeS" :"^:t " '° °'"™"/'» '"^«'' '^'^^^ 
 Pnll o., r t^' , *° s'^Pence of some caiiterin<r cornet 
 
 and I ,wed away in silence, putting forth all my strenih 
 
 Ml 
 
 ihli 
 
 

 
 SIR DUDLEY BROUGHTOK 
 
 TEADILY, and with all the vigor I could 
 
 command, I pulled towards the light. My 
 
 companion sat quietly watching the stars, 
 
 and apparently following out some chain of 
 
 thought to himself ; at last lie said, " There, 
 
 )<jy, breathe a bit; there's no need to blow yourself; we 're 
 
 all safe long since ; the ' Firefly ' is right ahead of us, an ' not 
 
 lar oh: either. Have you never heard of the yacht'-"' 
 
 '•Never, sir." 
 
 "Nor of its owner, Sir Dudley Broughton?" 
 " No, sir, I never heard the name." 
 
 T'li^flT''"'™^ ^'' ^^"-^""«' '*hat is consolatory. 
 I m not half so great a reprobate as I thought myself » I 
 did not believe till now that there was an urchin of your 
 
 anecdotes for a memoir of me! Well, my lad, yonder, 
 
SIR DUDLEY BHOUGIITON. 
 
 91 
 
 i '-\ 
 
 wher 
 
 -e you see the blue light at the peak, is the ' Firefly ' and 
 g.og; or are you a follower of that new-fanWed no w! of 
 
 £-tiir;'L'riir^ "^' '-' -'- and rirrtt:,' 
 
 "I'll take nothing to drink, Sir Dudley," said T '^t 
 'ZJT' '-^ """" -" ^-^^y' »" l'" not v;nt„re' 
 
 hand into this vest pocket — vn., 'ii fin^ t In!- ' ^ ^ "^ 
 
 fnto fh„ 1 T ^"^'^^^''' yoii Jl nnd some shillino-g there • 
 
 St o?e°:^ ttriTr^nV^^rSiJrZ""^^ ""^^'' «^ 
 about them." ^''^' ^^^""^ ^^« ^o gossip 
 
 " I '11 never speak of it — I " 
 
 von'lX?:^^'''"' that's enough; no swearing, or I know 
 
 srrblrr:ar^!!;o'.T;rwe^^^' r^^-^ ^^^ p^""" 
 
 Sir r.„^i . . ' ^® ^''^ alongside." 
 
 vo- : rr'7,e^; ,reS,;':s r^^z?^- ^^"r 
 
 by a terrific volfey o( i^prStfons 1 ^ ZIZ of „*? 
 
 fellow Z: h'' "^'' ''' ^•^' '^"^^ ^^'^^ ^^-t boy. Tell the 
 fellow, too, he's not to fetch Waters aboard if h T 
 
 him: the scoundrel wont off «nd 1 ff . ' ^^ ""^^^^ 
 
 -i.'l! 
 
 r.; 
 
 i 
 
 
' — 
 
 it ^. 
 
 92 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "We have all Sam Waters' kit on board, Sir Dudley," 
 said Halkett ; ' ' shall Ave send it ashore ? " 
 
 "No. Tell him I'll leave it at Demerara for him; and 
 he may catch the yellow fever in looking after it," said 
 he, laughing. 
 
 While listening to this short dialogue I had contrived to 
 approach a light Avhich gleamed from the cabin window, and 
 then took the opportunity to count over my wealth, amount- 
 ing, as I supposed, to some seven or eight shillings. Guess 
 my surprise to see that the pieces were all bright yellow 
 gold, — eight shining sovereigns ! 
 
 I had but that instant made the discovery, when the sailor 
 who was to put me on shore jumped into the boat and seated 
 himself. 
 
 " Wait one instant," cried I. " Su- Dudley — Sir Dudley 
 Broughton ! " 
 
 "Well, what's the matter?" said he, leaning over the 
 side. 
 
 " This money you gave me — " 
 
 " Not enough, of course ! I ought to have known that," 
 said he, scornfully. "Give the whelp a couple of half- 
 crowns, Halkett, and send him adrift." 
 
 "You 're wrong, sir," cried I, with passionate eagerness; 
 "they are gold pieces, — sovereigns." 
 
 "The devil they are!" ciied he, laughing; "the better 
 luck yours. Why did n't you hold your tongue about it? " 
 
 " You bid me take some shillings, sir," answered I. 
 
 "How d — d honest you must be! Do you hear that, 
 Halkett? The fellow had scruples about taking his prize- 
 money! Never mind, boy, I must pay for my blunder, — 
 you may keep them now." 
 
 "I have pride, too," cried I; "and hang me if I touch 
 them." 
 
 He stared at me, without speaking, for a few minutes, 
 and then said, in a low, flat voice, " Come on deck, lad." I 
 obeyed; and he took a lighted lantern from the binnacle, 
 and held it up close to my face, and then moved it so that 
 he made a careful examination of my whole figure. 
 
 " I 'd give a crown to know who was youi' father," said 
 he, di'yly. 
 
SIR DUDLEY BKOUGHTON. 
 
 93 
 
 II Con Cregan, of Kilbeggan, sir." 
 Un, of course, I know all thif n^ 
 
 anchor with the ebb an?! L "' '''°'"y- "Nip the 
 
 With this he descLe H '' f""' """''"^ ''°™ "I'amel." 
 while I, at fsital from Halkm" . ^/l'" <«»appeared, 
 into the steera^ In ,h„''u. ''''""' <'°'"' ««> ^ddei- 
 digresdona,^ i? 1 d^ote n T" " f " ""' ""' '"' <'«'=™'' 
 r^ter into fvhose tdetv T ' '.!" ""' ''°8''''"- ^'«'- 
 
 first meandLSsr ^ * '°™ ""P"'^'' •"«* <"■««»" to it« 
 downrighrtdotntTnTu;! et? rSefh""'/"' ""* »' 
 
 ordi,„tion at school, and was e.pdled frS "oiTf Zt 
 faculties above rather than beneath mwlinTif j * 
 
 aptitnde tor acquiring the kZlX S^;"" '-"' 
 
 society, he had the re^pntation ofbein. one ZoT^T, '." 
 
 to interest himself in the pnrs'tiZl'a J^yTl^l^^Z 
 the sporting was the only thing he found attractv^'he flta:^ 
 a well-known light cavalry regiment <>eli.hr,to^ t ' !^ 
 tag a„,o„g i,. officers ,nor'e faltrn'tha fn^ot "er Ztl 
 he service. H s father, dying about the sa,n^ t ta" hHbil 
 in possession of a large fortune, which, with all liis ew -av, 
 
 Sh'i ™:ii-t'o:*r"' rr'-'-'f •^'^» '^ - ^o" 
 
 hrnthpi'.ffl reputation, nmde him popular with his 
 
 brother officers, most of whom, having run throucrfa nearlv 
 all they possessed, saw with pleasure! new CroesVs arrive 
 
 
 M 
 
 
94 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 in the regiment. Such a man as Broughton was just wanted. 
 One had a charger to get off ; another wanted a purchaser 
 for his four-in-hand drag. The senior captain was skilful 
 at billiards; and every one played "lansouenet" and 
 hazard. 
 
 Besides various schemes against his purse, the colonel 
 liad a still more serious one against his person. He had a 
 daughter, a handsome, fashionable-looking girl, with all the 
 manners of society, and a great deal of that tact only to be 
 acquired in the very best foreign society. That she was no 
 longer in the fresh bloom of youth, nor with a reputation 
 quite spotless, were matters well known in the regiment; 
 but as she was still eminently handsome, and " the Count 
 Radchoffsky " had been recalled by the emperor from the 
 embassy of which he was secretary, Lydia Delmar was 
 likely, in the opinions of keen-judging parties, to make a 
 good hit with " some young fellow who didn't know town." 
 Broughton was exactly the man Colonel Delmar wanted, — 
 good family, a fine fortune, and the very temper a clever 
 woman usually contrives to rule with absolute sway. 
 
 There would be, unfortunately, no novelty in recording 
 the steps by which such a man is ruined. He did everything 
 that men do who are bent upon testing Fortune to the 
 utmost. He lent large sums to his "friends;" he lost 
 larger ones to them. When he did win, none ever paid 
 him, except by a good-humored jest upon his credit at 
 Coutts's. "What the devil do you want with money, Sir 
 Dudley ? " was an appeal he could never reply to. He ran 
 horses at Ascot, and got "squeezed;" he played at 
 " Crocky's," and fared no better ; but he was the favorite of 
 the corps. " We could never get on without Dudley," was 
 a common remark; and it satisfied him that, with all his 
 extravagance, he had made an investment in the hearts at 
 least of his comrades. A few months longer of this " fast " 
 career would, in all likelihood, have ruined him. He broke 
 his leg by a fall in a steeplechase, and was thus driven, by 
 sheer necessity, to lay up, and keep quiet for a season. 
 Now came Colonel Delmar's opportunity; the moment the 
 news reached Coventry, he set off with his daughter to 
 Leamington. With the steeplechasing, hazard-playing, 
 
SIR DUDLKY BROUGHTON. 
 
 96 
 
 no 
 
 the .ofa, boTJtyZ otiSr', •"" :"" " ''»'' ■""■■ " 
 usual resources th„ „! """=«>vity, hipped for want of his 
 
 ^. ''ac,™era„"'a-.^oT;.r.ir;is;""' ^"'"-'^ ^^^t 
 
 was Colone DeC'r "^ „rol . ,"7' ''■''»''>'='*««». there 
 in mock rebuke, aZ^ ^„g". * 'tl:''""'? '"' ""^^ 
 down to give you a rarf scodin-'b^t WsTf ,'"'^' ' '"""' 
 
 Of men ove^Jtlar^::^^^^^;^'-"''' '«i "^^ -<" 
 themselves exposed to - Tv l! r/"'';? ""' ""^^ '""'"- 
 and easy sisterlike ki„d,,ess Itself t1, *^''!"f 8°°'"-™""e 
 phrase goes, " nurse him" ,,,11 ''^f ""* """• "^ 'he 
 where h? la;. She read ilo.u, T ."''"^'"" '«" *« ■•'"'>» 
 instinct theiery Tm of bolk'L f ° '°f ™'* " ""'™Uous 
 every-day life, thjn " , f "^ ! "™''' " "°™'«. «es of 
 ;ome^ig„e«:'":,^^ :,!;»: SSr auV°^'" "'™ 
 
 Pa-ing in the sWt? ud ^art 1^^ °"f "' *" P-P'« 
 of watering-place folks aKhlbitDTKlir""'' """" "''y 
 them! She was unsurpassed 1™h ,^^ °''™' "'''^ of ' 
 
 could dress up an aS" L „' " bit oT ' """ "'"^'' '"^ 
 verged upon the free h,-r Pr^LK , "'.gossip; and if it 
 nice perception of the n^r^l"^!' "'r*'"" *'"'«''« '"' «■« 
 tinage •■ from indelicacy "''"'"' ''"^ *>"" separates "liber- 
 
 taerefX'ZnS-n^ ■sr^iruitrsr™^"' '» » -'- 
 -d. 't r S'w:^: - ri- - p=" "t 
 
 wards to take e«rcisro„ l^r<. k ?''% ""'' """ ^°™ a"cr- 
 father occasioualtyTcrp'^'^tt; ''''''" ""'""'' »"» I"- 
 
 anrr:h~--i:f:fr^^-r'>'-p^^^^^ 
 
 reputed in the world -the "rich "sIn ^^ T ""' ^^ 
 
 "■a^ going to marry Miss Delmar "'""^' '^'^S'"™ 
 
 «oss,p is balf-brother to that all-powerful director called 
 
^M 
 
 MUH' jj 
 
 ■ 
 
 ^Bl '^ 
 
 96 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CRIOGAN. 
 
 "Public Opinion; " so that when Sir Dudley heard, some 
 half-dozen times every day, what it was reputed he would do, 
 he began to feel that he ouglit to do it. 
 
 Accordingly, they were married ; the world -- at least the 
 Leamington section of that large body — criticising the 
 match precisely as it struck the interests and prejudices of 
 the class they belonged to. 
 
 Fathers and mothers agreed in thinking that Colonel 
 Delmar was a shrewd old soldier, and had made an " excel- 
 lent hit." Young ladies proncnuK hI Liddy — for a girl who 
 had been out eight years ~ decidedly lucky. Lounging men 
 at club doors looked knowingly at each other as they "joked 
 together in half sentences, " No affair of mine ; but I did 
 not think Broughton would have been caught so easily." 
 " Yes, by Jove ! " cried another, with a jockey-like style of 
 dress, " he 'd not have made so great a mistake on the ' Oaks ' 
 as to run an aged nag for a two-year old ! " 
 
 " I wonder he never heard of that Russian fellow ! " said a 
 third. 
 
 "Oh, yes! " sighed out a dandy, with an affected drawl; 
 " poor dear Liddy did indeed catch a ' Tartar ' ! " 
 
 Remarks such as these were the pleasant sallies the event 
 provoked ; but so it is in higher and greater things in life ! 
 At the launch of a line-of -battle ship, the veriest vagrant in 
 rags fancies he can predict for her defeat and shipwi^ck 1 
 
 The Broughtons were now the great people of the London 
 season, at least to a certain "fast" set, v/ho loved dinners 
 at the Clarendon, high play, and other concomitant pleasures. 
 Her equipages were the most perfect; he?' diamonds tiie 
 most splendid ; while his dinners were as much reputed by 
 one class, as hei' toilet by another. 
 
 Loans at ruinous interest ; sales of property for a tithe 
 of its value; bills renewed at a rate that would have 
 swamped Rothschild ; purchases made at prices proportion- 
 ate to the risk of non-payment ; reckless waste everywhere ; 
 robbing Solicitors, cheating tradesmen, and dishonest ser- 
 vants ! But why swell the list, or take trouble to show 
 how the ruin came? If one bad leak will cause a ship- 
 wreck, how is the craft to mount the waves with every 
 plank riven asunder? 
 
SIR DUDLEY BKOUGHTON. 
 
 97 
 
 "" " the fair a,7.t Z^"'^"'' "'^''"' "" ""'^ " -"-" 
 
 
 
 eir^i 
 
 pmase, tne tlghtneas of the money market " Tl.l. \ 
 pletely satisfied Sir Dudley who f..- ^T i -, !" """ 
 his own almost exhansted SJ,,^, "'hS'";, ''"'^}*"'» - "> 
 some triekery o, foreign stafelf , ''lf\:S^:Z''Z 
 tmb ce m Ireland, something that the Foreign Secrete^ 
 
 -r-: *; 
 
98 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CIIEGAN. 
 
 II 
 
 had done, or would not do ; and tliat thus the 
 would not trust a guinea out of their fln<,'ers. In 
 
 quite clear that to political inti 
 
 money 
 u fa 
 igue and caliinot schenui 
 
 Sir Dudley's dillleulties might fairly be traced 
 
 folk 
 
 it was 
 
 sail 
 
 It 
 
 -was just at this time that the Count Hadchoffsky arrived 
 once more in London in charge of a special mission, no 
 longer the mere secretary of embussy, driving about in his 
 quiet cab, but an envoy extraordinary, with cordons and 
 crosses mnuuierable. He was exactly the kind of man for 
 Broughton s " set," so that he soon made his acquaintance 
 and was presented by him to Lady Broughton as a most 
 agreeable fellow, and something very distinguished in his 
 own country. 
 
 She received him admirably: remembered to have met 
 him, she thought, at Lord Edenbury's; but he corrected her 
 by saying it was at the Duke of Clifton's, -a difference of 
 testimony at which Broughton laughed heartily, savincr in 
 his usual rough way, -Well, it is pretty clear you dfd n't 
 make much impression on each other." 
 
 The Russian noble was a stranger to the turf. In the 
 details of arranging the approaching race, in apportioning 
 the weights and ages and distances, Broughton passed his 
 whole mornings for a month, sorely puzzled at times by the 
 apathy of his Northern friend, who actually never obtruded 
 an opinion, or expressed a wish for information on the 
 subject. 
 
 Sir Dudley's book was a very heavy one too. What 
 "he stood to win" was a profound secret; but knowinc^ 
 men said that if he lost, it would be such a " squeeze " as 
 had not been known at Newmarket since the Duke of York's 
 day. 
 
 Such an event, however, seemed not to enter into his own 
 calculations ; and so confident was he of success that he 
 could not help sharing his good fortune with his friend Rad- 
 choffsky, and giving him something in his own book. The 
 count professed himself everlastingly grateful, but confessed 
 that he knew nothing of racing matters, and that, above all, 
 his Majesty the Emperor would be excessively annoyed if a 
 representative of his in any way interfered with the race ; in 
 fact, the honor of the Czar would be tarnished by such a 
 
SIR DUDLEY BltOUGIITON. 99 
 
 proceeding Against such reasonings there could ho nn . 
 «ition; and B.oughton only took in .J''' ^f"^ ^'e "of^Ppo- 
 J.e had destined for his friend "''^ "" '^' ^''''''^'' 
 
 her appearance in nublie • l..,f .' '"'^ ''^.^^'^ still vani of 
 nothh g for hvster ci h7 H^nf / ,7"° *'^^* ^^ ^^^'^ do 
 
 with all speedt^i;:::tec^r;heT^^^^^^ ^^^'^^'"' -^^ ^»^- 
 cors:;::srtr:nr^^-'o^^ 
 
 admirable excuse of diplo natistf fro n t '^^ 
 to the humblest unpaid TttS^l . f'''^* ''"''^^^^"'^^ 
 arrived; and if he eouW 1 a; g"t 7e 'Zu ^^ • ''f ■^''' 
 early enough, - he'd certainlylnow " "='' ^'' ^"^'°^«« 
 
 Scarcely had Sir Dudley reached the c.,ound when n o 
 riage drove un tn tim of„., i 1 o'^'una Mnen a car- 
 
 serious was in the wind. *^^* something 
 
 "What's the matter, man? You look a^ if r ^- , 
 was dead lame." ^^ " Cardmal 
 
 "Sir Dudley, you must start from thi^ nf .^r,«„ tt ,, 
 worth has taken proceedings on the Tills Lo -d r. V. "^l^^" 
 foreclosed; the whole body of L "mlit m 1^ ''' ^'^ 
 you'll be arrested before ^ou lelve tieleM-''" "'' ^"' 
 
 fei^^«o^ls;:?^t^sr^ -r^^ ^^ 
 
 ::t^rr^:^;j-'--------^ 
 
 "'Ind'if'thf f ^°^.^^"' ""''' •'^^^^^ *^«»ty thousand, sir " 
 u Mv d , Q^ *;! ' ,f ^ y°" tell me that witJd my esSe " 
 M. d.ar Sir Dudley, how much of it is unencumbL^P 
 ^le portion, save the few hundreds aTaTo^Lady 
 
 I' t 
 
 What 
 
100 
 
 ^5»WPT:SSI0NS of con CKEQAl^. 
 
 m 
 
 if:.- 
 
 Broughton's jointure, if- not sunk under mortj^^acrc ? Rut this 
 18 no tune for (li.ei.sHion ; get into tl.e chaise wiU, me ; we '11 
 reach J.ondon m time for the mail ; to-morrow you can be 
 in Boulof-ne, and then we shall have time at least for an 
 arrangement." 
 
 "The race is just coming off! how can I leave v T 'm a 
 steward ; besides, I have a tremendous book. Do you know 
 how many thousands I stand to win here? " 
 
 " To lose, you mean," said the solicitor. You 're sold ' " 
 1 he words were whispered so low as to be almost inaudible- 
 but Broughton actually staggered as he heard them 
 
 ''Sold! how .^ what? Impossible, man ! Who could sell 
 
 "'^'nly one man, perhaps,but he has done it! Ts it true 
 you h.ive backed Calliope? " 
 " ^'es ! " said he, staring wildly. 
 
 then'^'l^T '"""?'' ''^""^!''""" '^^' "^^^•'"nj? in ihe stable, 
 then, said laperton; '• ,f you want to hear further pa.ti! 
 cu ars you must ask your friend the Count Radchoffskv ' " 
 
 /The scoundrel ! the black-hearted villain ! I see it all ' " 
 cried Broughton. -Come, Taperton, let us start! I'll .o 
 
 Tor Ih'eZ'adf" ' '"^ '"" '"'"^ "^ ""'' *« '"^^'^^ ^ -/-' 
 The lawyer read in the bloodshot eye and flushed face the 
 passion for veng.-.nce that was boiling within him, but he 
 never spoke as they moved on and entered the carri^.e 
 
 It was full three hours before the expected time^of his 
 return, when the chaise in which they travelled d..'v up a 
 the Clarendon, and Broughton, half wild with ra^e, dished 
 upstairs to the suite of splendid rooms he occupied 
 
 Oh, dear, Sir Dudley," cried the maid, as she saw him 
 
 hastening along the corridor, -oh, I'm sure, sir, how vou 'U 
 
 alarm my lady if she s . you so flurried ' " " }ou ii 
 
 "Stand out of the w.. v,. nan!" said he, rou<.hlv en- 
 
 he elf between him an-i rhe :<..,• of the d. .ving-mom 
 Dudley-'' '^'' "^'"''^ ""' '"''^' "^^' ''^''y' Surely, Sir 
 Despite her cries, for they had now become such, Broughton 
 pushed her rudely from the spot, and entered the roonf 
 
SIR DUDLEY BROUGHTON. 
 
 101 
 
 Great was bis aatonislmienf tn fliui r n i t> 
 ho had left HO ill /"""'^^ ''^ " "« f-'^'J.V Broushton, whom 
 
 'l^ri; HO HI, ,i(.t oul.v iij), bill, (livsHi-d -m if f... u 
 I"*"'"'"'i'l^'; lior face was ttmluHl .,,.11 ^''"^ 
 
 -;:;;l;e;:,;:2:r;:.^:r,r^;;|;;:;,lr-.--.., 
 -■.■o.:'"'i;';;r ;•,.;:;;:::?;; :. "-'"^-" •"- - » voice or 
 
 stall 1,0 „.,,p„o„ ,;" au':: ,;;f'i""' " " '"^ '""- - 
 
 some compromise or other- Imf r ' '''*' ''''" '"'^"^^ 
 
 be acquitted before nlav;.'' '" "^'' Uebt that must 
 
 Tliere was n terrible si.rnKieance in fl.« . 
 
 was sick to the heart as sh? a S - Wl.nf T '' "."^ "'^^ 
 
 " Radchoffskv ' '• cried I.n T ^' """'^ ^'^ ''''^'''" ? " 
 
 whomltrustecflikeatod^^^^^ ^^ '''' --"^-^ 
 
 less'nJn^S''" Si tt ' ^"' '"'• ^ "^'"^"* ^-- -tion. 
 
 And 
 
 .lml«nra-e,l!" ' ' ' "'" ""' "'"'j- """ed, but 
 
 (ear, to u„cle,.ta„<I Mi;:!! i,'" ^.^ '™''f"" °»""'-°" "f her 
 
 ^.•ande,, as a .lefaulter^arVe Si ^ 'Brr,:.'/,;;!"" 
 
 ™""','" ?'' ^ Port-aateau read; for m . °' "S' ,:^^,t s 
 CTcnmgi tlic interval is short enou<r|, for al? T l,„tlT 7 .! 
 A« ho spoke, he hastened to his bedr^," aLX'^idt: 
 
 I ! 
 
 y 
 
 I !J" 
 
I "f 
 
 102 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I mi 
 
 I 
 
 liimself with a case containing his duelling.pistols, he hurried 
 Embatv"' "^ ''' '"'""" '' '''''' '^ *^^ J^-«-" 
 
 The carriage was scarce driven from the door when Ladv 
 Brough ton aking a ].ey from her pocket, opened a smaU 
 door which led from the drawing-room into her dressSt 
 room, from which the count walked forth, -his calm Jea- 
 
 ac::^r ?:;^^:^^4;sr" ^^^^^ " ^^^^^-^^ ^^^' ^^^ - 
 
 " 0«^ imrbleu, every word of it! " replied he, lau-hing 
 gently. - 1 he people of the house might almost have heard 
 
 nJ^A!"^ '" '\ f""' " '"'^'''^ ''''' ^^"" ^ «^1^^ sickness crept 
 ovei her, and her mouth was shaken convulsively 
 
 " I believe so," said he, calmly. 
 
 ;' Oh, Alexis, do not say so! " cried she, in an agony of 
 giief; -or, least of all, in such a voice as that." 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders ; and then, after a moment's 
 pause, sa,d, "I confess myself quite unprepared for this 
 show of affection, madame — " 
 
 " Not so, Alexis. It is for you I am concerned ; for your 
 honor as a gentleman ; for your fair fame among men- " 
 
 'Pardon, madame, if I interrupt you; but the defence of 
 my honor must be left to myself — " 
 
 " If I had but thought this of you " 
 
 "It is nevei- too late for repentance, madame. I should 
 be sorry to think I could deceive you." 
 _ "Oh, it is too late, fav too late!" cried she, burstincr 
 mto tears. " Let us go! I must never see him again' I 
 would not live over that last half-hour again to save me from 
 a death of torture ! " 
 
 "Allow me, then," said he, taking her shawl and draping 
 It on her shoulders. "The carriage is ready;" and with 
 these words, spoken with perfect calm, he presented his arm 
 and led her from the room. 
 
 To return to Sir Dudley. On arriving at the Russian 
 Embassy, he could learn nothing of the whereabouts of him 
 he sought; a young secretary, however, with whom he had 
 
"'*->r»^ 
 
 SIR DUDLEY EKOUGIITOX. 
 
 103 
 
 some intimacy, drawing him to one side, wliispered, " Wait 
 here a moment ; I have a strange revelation to make you, - 
 but m confidence remember, for it must not get abroad." 
 The story was ths: Count Radchoffsky had bee^n, on his r;. 
 can from the Embassy, detecte.1 in some Polish intrigue, and 
 o dered to absent himself fron the capital and prLei've a 
 ite of strict retirement, under police "surveillance;" from 
 this, he had m"n.,,ged to escape and reach England, with 
 forged credentials of Envoy Extraordinary; the missi;n be- 
 ing an invention of his own, to gain currency in the world 
 
 n the "City.' ''As he knows," continued Broughton's 
 informant, " from his former experience, the day It our 
 couriers expected arrival, he has up to this lived fearlessly 
 and openly ; but the despatch having reached us through the 
 
 ?re 1?. ^"m "T'- *^"" ^'' '''^'''''''^^ ^^' Pl^t is revealed. 
 Ihe great difficulty is to avoid all publicity; for we must 
 
 have no magisterial interference, ni newspaper or polce 
 notoriety; all must be done quietly, and he.must be sh pped 
 off to Russia without a rumor of the affair gettino- abroad " 
 
 Broughton heard all this with the doo ed satisfact on of a 
 man who did not well know whether . be pleased oothr- 
 d"^lrh-r '' ^'~^ vengeance^ad been witl 
 
 matinterrsTnfr''^ '^•^'^'" '""""'^ any subject where the 
 ZZ 'f ''''*,^^, ^'' «^^" ^^»« of action was wanting, he drove 
 
 tuT On h ''' '? ''^'"^ '''' preparations forlis depar- 
 
 moveme^it in%T"r,'' !?' ^^"'""^""' ^ ^^^^-» bustle Ld 
 movement in the hall and on the stairs attracted his atten- 
 
 on and before he could inquire the cause, a half whlper 
 There he is; that's Sir Dudley! " made him turn on.' 
 
 auZlZT'l ' ''V ^^^"^l-- ^-^ «» ^- shoulder and 
 a man said, "I arrest you, Sir Dudley Broucrhton nt thp 
 
 suit of Messrs Won-it and Sneare, Lombl^dltl't."' '' 
 
 ton f: ^n'^':::!:^:^^'''^'' ^''^t' '^^p^^- 
 
 entPrpd th. a • "Pstans. They passed on, and 
 
 disorder '^^'f^^'l^-''^^^^ ^^^^^e everything appealed in 
 
 fled bv ;il i f'^';,^-^^"S^f "' '^« ^^^ bewildered and stupe- 
 
 vacanL t fh ^'"' '^''"'^'^' "'"^ '^' "^ ^^ ^^'^'^' staring 
 
 vacantly at the groups around him, evidently unable, through 
 
 ! HI 
 
 
 
 'ii; 
 
104 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 XS ™l;!"^ ™* ^""^ ^ '^^'^^^ ^l'— e ,hkt « Jtled 
 
 "l's«'L'Z.' ''ij '"""''^'" '""■•' •"" l-lf-cWii.g man- 
 choffsky " ™ "" '" " """'^^ ™' "»»■ -"^ CouSt Rad: 
 
 Brougbton lot go bk hold, and fell beavily upon Ws face 
 
 cd™i .irst „t T'-"'°" ™^ ^'"■«' "■• "-^o at" "00 ;^- 
 JS ™o™°'',;:™::;re' 'rr'-','--<i u., .«. „n 
 
 had Jnst ..eached onvlleso^nce rfC T''^' '*^ °'" "'" 
 
 eco\eiy, there were a couple of reporters ton fn,. n-^ 
 ;ng newspapers desirous of eoiniu/a paLra^;.. // ^'P' 
 the town: but no f.-ion/iu l ^ P-^iagiaph to amuse 
 
 and drank and ?],n '7T* ''' "'^^ "^ those who dined, 
 
 tZ wn 1 ''''' """"^ J'^''>''^^ with him. In fact his 
 
up 
 
 SIR DUDLEy BROUOHTON. 
 
 105 
 
 waf :,::reve'; ttSic?™™"";;" °' "= ^^^ »' '-bg 
 
 for three yea™ ^;it aa'nH ' '" "^'"'°"' ^ 'I'" 
 wa. only when they ™,v he l,L' f ■,.'° ""* "''"<": ""^ i' 
 or regret at his iZrirut.u ,, °? '"'"= "'^ '='"'" 'tame 
 1-t agreed t„, au7 f Z ^,1^"" "'"r'"™' ™s at 
 
 of his lawyers, ahnost a tho„S^, f '•™''"'"'' °° ""> P"' 
 
 to wh„,u report attriba ed bole? at ™ r f ' "'"1 """■'^ 
 ■"iquity. Wiiile it was a debated ,t".'' '"""^ '''"■'"g 'eats of 
 ionabies of the dubs how tff ' '""°"' ^'•'^'''' 'ash- 
 tbe„,, he sayed tt™ a Ub ,iife,r t," "" '■"°=°'^«' "^ 
 mtimate Meads without a bow or he'sb^hr?'"" "" '"°^' 
 ognition. A steni reniiki™ J '^''S'ltest s,g„ of rec- 
 
 and he whose f™ k 7"btZ."^l' '""'"' ''« '"' ^'tures; 
 verb, was graye a 1II1II " '""'^"ey ^1 bee,, a prol 
 
 an intimacy, and ayS';Tr^, """"""'" ""''"'"S 'i^e 
 friendship. "" '*'"""'«'■ """W be called a 
 
 a„,tit ™VsaM tLrhetcr;' "T "r »^™^'°™" ^-"■««. 
 
 hbnself by sea evcTustaLq^r .?'''' " ^'""" '"''' ""'"'ed 
 being in the CaWit :.;,„&:",'.?•""'"'' " ™™'' "' "» 
 a high command • and a „™ ,,'"'"• " *"""' «"« "ith 
 voltigeur regiment "TaZ'" pT ''Z 7 " ^--'' 
 
 -::r^e^;i~r;-S^^^^^^ 
 
 ]■ H 
 
 I )(i{ 
 •f*? 
 
106 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 won ; and he was actually the terror of hell-keepers, whose 
 superstitious fears of certain '' lucky ones " are a well-known 
 portion of their creed. 
 
 Ah for himself, he seemed to take a kind of fiendish sport 
 in following up this new turn of fortune. It was like a 
 JNeniesis on those who had worked his ruin. One man in 
 particular, a well-known Jew money-lender of gr^at wealth 
 lie pursued with all the vindictive perseverance" of reven-re' 
 He ti-acked him from London to Brighton, to Clieltenhain,''to 
 Jveainington, to Newmarket, to Ooodwood ; he followed him 
 to Pans, to Brussels ; wherever in any city the man opened 
 a table for play, there was Broughtou sure to be found. 
 
 At ast by way of eluding all pursuit, the Jew went over 
 to Ireland ~ a country where of all others fewest resources 
 for his tradic presented themselves ; and here again, despite 
 change of name and every precaution of secrecy, Broughton 
 traced him out; and, on the night when I first met him, he 
 rnr'\^'/'*r'" */«"^^ l^^ll on the Quays where he had 
 ounds ' '''''^'' "" '^""'''' ""^ ""^"'^^ ^^"^ thousand 
 
 The peculiar circumstances of that night's adventure are 
 easily told. He was followed from the plav table by two 
 men, witnesses of his good fortune, who saw' that he carried 
 the entire sum on his person ; and from his manner, -a feint 
 1 tound he often assumed, - tbey believed him to be drunk 
 A row was accordingly organized at the closing of the play, 
 the lights were extinguished, and a terrible scene of tumulJ 
 and outrage ensued, whose sole object was to rob Broughton 
 01 ills wmmuiis. ^ 
 
SIR DUDLEY BROUGHTON. iqj 
 
 the street, _„ feLt ^£^,1 ■I'''' "T " "''"'" ""» 
 The remainder fa ah-el,y k ^wS t,^"7,"»'' <» imitate, 
 to a»k my reader's indulgeut pa"d„u for,, f °°'^ ''^'''■' 
 without which, ho,v„ver I f<.lf , „ , , ""' '""S "Pi^-Je, 
 compamonship'on hoa'^L ^kLb;"',;' « '>"<' -"^d his 
 
 P-:i: 
 
Simi?'2ER. 2^:.(Wr 
 
 THE VOYAGE OUT." 
 
 TiiK crew of the "Firefly" consisted of 
 twelve persons, natives of almost as 
 many countries. Indeed, to see them all 
 muster on deck, it was like a little con- 
 gress of European rascality, — such a set 
 of hang-dog, sullen, reckless wretches 
 were they; Halkett, the Englishman, 
 being the only one whose features were 
 not a criminal indictment, and he, with his nose split by the 
 slash of a cutlass, was himself no beauty. The most atro- 
 cious of all, however, was a Moorish boy, about thirteen 
 years of age, called El Jarasch (^'le fiend), and whose dia- 
 bolical ugliness did not belie the family name. His functions 
 on board were to feed and take care of two young lion whelps 
 which Sir Dudley had brought with him from an excursion 
 m the interior of Africa. \VJiether from his blood or the 
 nature of his occupation, I know not, but I certainly could 
 
'"■"•'^f 
 
 "THE VOYAGE OUT." jqq 
 
 trended" "'t'^'^'T f '^' '^"'^^^^ '^'^^'^ ^^ the creatures he 
 
 fudZ a a ab..2"."?' '°°' '" "" "i' S»»"»-«». which were 
 
 gold, covered hi "L'r. o'ope'a 'l' tonTbv' rT",""" 
 This was his gfala eoafnmp • Knf v.j„ 
 
 Nothing could less resemble his splendor thnn fho • 
 board, proceeded to d iTtofthe krV^t °"™,'>^ °" 
 
 ^0 left behind i„ ^^nmn":j^7^:^x\l::zz 
 
 clothes bag,i„,;I,7 ,: iS .rttr^u!, "r^r' '"' 
 
 .na.i„g„e appear .ore iiice a .tu^itld^'^teeX rhu^ 
 
 
 I 
 
 -I' 
 
110 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 iij 
 
 being. Beside my splendidly costumed companion I made, 
 indeed, but a sorry figure, nor was it long dubious that he 
 himself thought so; the look of savage contempt he first 
 bestowed on me, and then the gaze of ineffable pleasure he 
 accorded to himself afterwards, having a wide interval 
 between them. Neither did it improve my condition, in his 
 eyes, that I could lay claim to no distinct duty on board. 
 While I was ruminating on this fact, the morning after I 
 joined the yacht, we were standing under easy sail, with a 
 bright sky and a calm sea, the southeastern coast of Ireland 
 on our lee ; the heaving swell of the blue water, the fluttering 
 bunting from gaff and peak, the joyous bounding motion, 
 were all new and inspiriting sensations, and I was congratu- 
 lating myself on the change a few hours had wrought in my 
 fortune, when Halkett came to tell me that Sir Dudley 
 wanted to speak with me in his cabin. He was lounging on 
 a little sofa when I entered, in a loose kind of dressing-gown, 
 and before him stood the materials of his yet untasted 
 breakfast. The first effect of my appearance was a burst of 
 laughter; and although .here is nothing I have ever loved 
 better to hear than a hearty laugh, his was not of a kind to 
 inspire any very pleasant or mirthful sensations. It was 
 a short, husky, barking noise, with derision and mockery in 
 every cadence of it. 
 
 "What the devil have we here? Why, boy, you'd 
 disgrace a stone lighter at Sheerness. Who rigged you in 
 that fashion ? " 
 
 " Mr. Halkett, sir." 
 
 "Halkett, if you please; I know no 
 my crew. Well, this must be looked 
 
 ' misters ' 
 
 to: but Halkett 
 
 among 
 
 might have known better than to send you here in such a 
 
 guise. 
 
 I made no answer ; and, apparently, for some minutes, he 
 forgot all about me, and busied himself in a large chart 
 which covered the table. At last he looked up ; and then, 
 after a second or two spent in recalling me to his recollection, 
 said, " Oh, you 're the lad I took up last night ; very true. I 
 wanted to speak with you. What can you do, besides what 
 T have seen ; for I trust surgery is an art we shuii seldom find 
 use for, — can you cook ? " 
 
"THE VOYAGE OUT." jjj 
 
 that .. i co„M n™' ^ '""'^ «'"'' ""<> »<> I "-epliedl 
 
 employment" "'""" '^"' '° ^"^ "-™. or any kiad of 
 
 "Never, sir." 
 
 " Always a vagabond ? " 
 "Always, sir." 
 
 boy, it does^ot seJ^ ^^"^^1:1^1':''^^ ' ^^-^ -y 
 you ; we have no time, nor ?ndepd T ! ""' '^^' ^"''^'^^ ^f 
 sailors of striplings Zl ' ^ P'^tience, for making 
 
 article; but y^ rm;sTn-.L^'''^' J^^'^'^^^' *^^ ready-mad: 
 watches when^on bo" d and T '''''' ^'"'' ^^"' ^««P 3^o"r 
 you Shall be my^seo^t Ve i Je l:.t fhro" '°" ^'"'''''''^ 
 rags, but be ready to resump flT ^ '''^^^ ^^'^'^ ^Id 
 hear?" ^ """^ *^^'" ^^len wanted,— you 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 -which is also a pleasure md mmZZnt ! ,T^^i'°^' 
 my people are liable, it detected to l,e, »« ■ 'lierefore, 
 term of iranrisoiimei^t ,, ff, . ?, ^" ^<"»'<""^'"i to a smart 
 
 any of theL" bTit"';- 'yo "^r t H'^T' *" 
 warn you." "^ ' ^^ it is only fair to 
 
 ;;i'll take my chance with the rest, sir." 
 
 need not refer to^hem."^ Now L ^tl- ^^^ 
 
 discipline. So long as you are^n bon -^ T '"^ P^'"*' - 
 
 in everything; that you a^e witHtr T^ 
 
 never tell a lie On <fhn..o ^ messmates, and 
 
 to your hearttco,°:„r"C Ihe? Z^LT'' *™'"^ 
 enough: if you quarrel with yo,^ o ™des I iT fl" '" '"'^ 
 ■( you ever deceive „,e by a„ uut™ h I'll hi ^ ^'"" 
 brains out!" The voi™ ,•„ t- i ""'"'"' '■ " Wow your 
 
 words grew haSer "d loudertn; ^h: ^^/I'f '- 
 abnost a shout of angry denu^iSn^' "^ ""' " •'^"^™ 
 
 -, I 
 
 .i'F 
 
112 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 "For your private governance, I may say, you'll iind it 
 wise to be good friends with Hidkctt, and, if you can, with 
 Jarasch. Go now; I 've nothing more to say." 
 1 was about to retire, when he called me back. 
 "Stay! you've said nothing to me, nor have I to you, 
 about your wages." 
 
 ' ' I want none, sir. It is enough for me if 1 am provided 
 in all money could buy for me." 
 
 "No deceit, sir! No trickery with me!" cried he, 
 fiercely, and he glared savagely at me. 
 
 " It is not deceit, nor trick either," said I, boldly ; " but I 
 see, sir, it is not likely you '11 ever trust one whom you saw 
 in the humble condition you found me. Land ine, then, at 
 the first port you put in to. Leave me to follow out my 
 fortune my own way." 
 
 " What if I take you at your word," said he, " and leave 
 you among tlie red Moors, on the coast of Barbary? " 
 I hung my head in shame and dismay. 
 "Ay, or dropped you with the Tongo chiefs, who'd grill 
 you for breakfast?" 
 
 " But we are nigh England now, sir." 
 " We shall not long be so," cried he, joyfully. " If this 
 breeze last, you '11 see Cape Clear by sunrise, and not look 
 on it again at sunset. There, away with you! Tell Halkett 
 I desire that you should be mustered with the rest of the 
 fellows, learn the use of a cutlass, and to load a pistol with- 
 out blowing your fingers off." 
 
 He motioned me now to leave, and I withdrew, if I must 
 own it, only partially pleased with my new servitude. One 
 word here to explain my conduct, which perhaps in the 
 eyes of some, may appear inconsistent or improbable. It 
 may be deemed strange and incomprehensible why I, poor, 
 friendless, and low-born, should have been indifferent, even 
 to the refusal of all wages. The fact is this : I had set out 
 upon my " life pilgrimage" with a most firm conviction that 
 one day or other, sooner or later, I should be a " gentleman ; " 
 that I should mix on terms of equality with the best and the 
 highest, not a trace or a clew to ray former condition being 
 in any respect discoverable. Now, with this one paramount 
 object before me, all my endeavors were gradually to con- 
 
 i: ■ 
 
 % : 
 
"THE VOYAGE OUT." 
 
 113 
 
 I 
 
 form, so far as might be, all my modes of thought and 
 action to that spliere wherein yet I should move: to learn 
 one by one the usa-os of gentle blood, so that, when my 
 hour came I should step into my position ready suited to all 
 Its requn-ements and equal to all its demands. If this 
 explanatK,n does not make clear the reasons of my gene, .s- 
 ity, and my other motives of honorable conduct, I am sorry 
 lor It, tor I have none other to offer. 
 
 I have said that I retired from my interview with Sir 
 
 Dudley not at all satisfied with the result. Indeed, as 1 
 
 pondered over it. 1 coitld not help feeling that gentlemen 
 
 must dishko any traits of high and honorable motives in 
 
 persons of my own station, as though they were assuming 
 
 he a,r of then- better^. What could rags have in common 
 
 with generous impulses; how could poverty and huncrer 
 
 ever consort with high sentiments or noble aspirations? 
 
 rhey forgive us, thought I, when we mimic their dress and 
 
 pantomime their demeanor, because we only make orcrselves 
 
 ridiculous by the imitation ; but when we would assume the 
 
 features that regulate their own social intercourse, they hate 
 
 us, as though we sullied with our impure touch the virtues 
 
 of a higher class of beings. 
 
 The more I thought over this subject, the more strongly 
 was I satisfied that I was correct in my iudo-ment- and 
 sooth to say the less did I i-espect thaf coi^dS^n InWe 
 which cou d deem any man too poor to be high-minded. 
 
 f)ir Dudley's anticipations were all correct. The follow- 
 ing evening at sunset the great headlands of the south of 
 Ireland were seen, at first clear, and at last like hazy 
 fogbanks; while our light vessel scudded along, her prow 
 pointing to where the sun had just set behind the horizon- 
 and then did I learn that we were bound for North America' 
 Our voyage for some weeks was undistinguished by any 
 feature of unusual character. The weather was uniformly 
 fine ; steady breezes from the northeast, with a clear sky and 
 a calm sea, followed us as we went, so that, in the pleasant 
 monotony of our lives, one day exactly resembled another. 
 It will, therefore, suffice if, in a few words, I tell how the 
 hours v"cre passed. Sir Dudley came on deck after break- 
 fast, when I spread out a large white bear's skin for him to 
 
 VOL. I. — 8 
 
 >» 
 
 TTpi 
 
 . 1^! 
 
 
 ' % 
 
 1 '1 
 
 ' if 
 
 i 1 
 
114 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 he upon; rechued on which, and with a huse meorschaiun of 
 grea beauty ni hi8 hand, he «uioked, and watched the lions 
 at play. Ihese gambols were always amusing, and never 
 failed to assemble all the crew to witness them. Jarasch 
 dressed Hi a light woollen tunic, with legs, ar.ns, and neck 
 bare, led them forth by a chain ; and, after presenting them 
 to Sir Dudley, from whose hands they usually receiv-ed a 
 small piece of sugar, they were then set at liberty, _ a ,)rivi- 
 lege they soon availed themselves of, setting off at full 
 speed around the deck, sometimes one in pursuit of the 
 other, sometimes by different ways, crossing and recrossina 
 each other; now with a bohl spring, now with cat-like 
 stealthiness, creeping slowly past. The exercise, far from 
 fatiguing, seemed only to excite them more and more, since 
 all this time they were in search of the food which Jarasch, 
 with a cunning all his own, knew how, each day, to concea 
 m some new fashion. Baffled and irritated by delay, the 
 eyes grew red and lustrous, the tails stiffened, and were 
 either carried high over the back or extended straight back- 
 wards ; they contracted their necks too, till the muscles were 
 gathered up in thick massive folds, and then their great 
 heads seemed actually fastened on the fore part of the trunk 
 When their rage had been sufficiently whetted by delay' 
 Jarasch would bring forth the mess in a large " groo- tub '' 
 covered with a massive lid, on which seating himself, and 
 armed with a short stout bludgeon, he used to keep the 
 beasts at bay. This, which was the most exciting part of 
 the spectacle, presented every possible variety of combat 
 Sometimes he could hold them in check for nigh half-an- 
 hour, sometimes the struggle would scarce last five minutes. 
 Now, he would, by a successful stroke, so intimidate one of 
 his assailants that he could devote all his energies against 
 the other. Now, by a simultaneous attack, the sava<re 
 creatures would spring upon and overthrow him, and then, 
 with all the semblance of ungovernable passion, they would 
 drag him some distance along the deck, mouthing him with 
 frothy lips, and striking him about the head with their hu^re 
 paws, from which they would not desist till some of the 
 sailors, uncovering the mess, would tempt them off by the 
 savor of the food. Although, in general, these games 
 
"THE VOYAGE OUT." nr 
 
 passed off with little other dftm^.m .1 
 
 »»■"'■-»' n.ore or lo«8 severe at f f T "" ^'"■" ^""'"^ "'' « 
 
 againl.«eenrorthoreu.-;:;;V ri:r^Zr 
 
 bat was not quite devoid of peril wis V 'n-' . Z"' '"'"' 
 
 Heve.al of the suilors were a wuvs ' „ ' '' ^'^ ^'"'^ ^''''^t 
 "tLers with <'Ulla.s.ses nc^ -ft o ' ^''T^'^'^ '"''^'^ 
 ''lood Howi,,., nc.thin.;h il, li r ''?" "^ '' '''^^'' •'^"'' 
 «Hve the boy from beh,, Lv v Thh , 'T'' "'' """'' 
 the exercises were always dZn' , '""'' "■^•"' '^"^' 
 
 est cut, or even a so 2 e v s^l '.r "'""""'" ^''" «""''^- 
 Each day seemed to ti |, .', ti ''•"^' '"^''^ "^ ^'^ l^^''"'^^'"- 
 
 bitio„s;for,as H s h ' ^-^^•'ton.ent of these exhi- 
 
 growth ad^ "tlL"edn,h "''";'; '"'^'^'^"^ ^^'^^' ^'^"^ 
 
 cned to n.ake the «„,''> 'r^'^''^^' ""^ ^"-' ^hreat- 
 cHsplay over, Sir I ^jtry^a^^''] mctloal,,. This 
 while I, seated behind hi,, read at . ''', 'T ^^'^'^^"' 
 one of vova.res -vnd f ' r " '''*'^'' ~~ "''"'^"^ 
 
 below, anci ^tndi ! w i s 'n si fV^"^^'"?" ^'^ -"' 
 which he appeared most ea J to ""? '""'"^^'^ ^^ 
 
 I was then ordered to copy f^ nto?;;;.?,'' ''""'"'^"' ^"^ 
 of different routes in all parts oth ^ ^ ''''''''"' "^^''^^t^ 
 "•ode of crossinc. a Svr h , d ?. . ''"""''^ •" «<""^"fi'nes, the 
 safest way thro^^^h the wiM e" ' "'^ *^ ■"^"'^^^t ^^^ 
 Adriatic. At one time tTi V ° "' 7' ^''' '^'''''' «f the 
 
 Tartary or the slwrpl i s oMhrn ' ''' ''' '"'^^'^ ^' 
 the dangerous passes f !. n ?■„ '""""^ ' ""^ ^"^'her, 
 
 grounds'oftheCd^n "ha^deS^^ ''' '^""*-^- 
 
 to me; how full of the verv M- " "' ^^"''' ^'^^'^ t^ese 
 
 adventures were hLtu^Uvtlf'^^^^ ''''' ^^"^^^^ 
 
 anci people, P-entin^hti:^ ^^^ -^^^1 ""^^^ 
 and most varied. How differ^nf fJ ^ ?, *^^ strangest 
 ^y father, with the Inerl-. nH /"^' "^^'^ "^^^'^^'^'^'P ^ith 
 
 broken W Latin! I b "e ^''f ,f ""'^ ^^ ^^-^'^t-^^ ^-^ 
 tunate as it has been ;? " """ ^"^ after-life, for- 
 
 ,) 
 
 II 
 
 }I1 
 
118 
 
 CONPESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 11 
 
 lounge about at will, — sometimes dropping into the steerage 
 to listen to some seaman's " yarn" of storm and shipwreck, 
 but far ofteuer, book in hand, taking a lesson in French 
 from the old cook, for which I paid him in being "aide-de- 
 cuisine ; " or, with more hardy industry, assisting our fat 
 German mate to polish up his Regensburg pistols, by which 
 I made some progress in that tongue of harsh and mysterious 
 gutturals. 
 
 Through all these occupations the thought never left me, 
 
 — what could be the object of Sir Dudley's continued voya- 
 ging ? No feature of pleasure was certainly associated with 
 it ; as little could it be attributed to the practice of smuggling, 
 
 — the very seas he had longest cruised in forbade that 
 notion. It must be, thought 1, that other reason to which 
 he so darkly alluded on the day he called me to his cabin ; 
 and what could that be ? Never was ingenuity more tortured 
 than mine by this ever-recurring question ; since it is need- 
 less to tell the reader I was not then, nor indeed for a very 
 long time afterwards, acquainted with those particulars of 
 his history I have already jotted down. This intense curi- 
 osity of mine would doubtless have worn itself out at last, 
 but for a slight circumstance occurring to keep it still alive 
 within me. The little state-room in which I used to write 
 lay at one side of the cabin, from which it was entered, — no 
 other means of getting to it existing ; a heavy silk curtain 
 supplied the place of a door between the two; and this, 
 when four o'clock came, and my day's work was finished, 
 was let down till the following morning, when it was drawn 
 aside, that Sir Dudley, from time to time, might see, and, if 
 needful, speak with me. Now, one day, when we had been 
 about three weeks at sea, the weather being intensely hot 
 and sultry. Sir Dudley liad fallen asleep in his cabin while I 
 sat writing away vigorously within. Suddenly, I heard a 
 shout on deck: " The whales ! a shoal of whales ahead!" 
 and immediately the sudden scuffling of feet, and the heavy 
 hum of voices, pi-oclaimed the animation and interest the 
 sight created. 1 strained myself to peep through the little 
 one-paned window beside me, but all I could see was the 
 great blue heaving ocean as, in majestic swell, it rolled 
 along. Still the noise continued ; and, by the number and 
 
"THE VOYAGE OUT,' 
 
 117 
 
 tone of the speakers, I could detect tbaf nil ih. ^ 
 
 <ieek -every „„e, in fact, sZ 11^' XT^^' ^^ '''' 
 
 pomtaent! full as ,„y „i„d wa. o?eve'v ralst,- „f 7';; 
 
 deck. ' *' "companion," and reaehed the 
 
 hen-ings. darted atTplr'trr',: ;:';„n- .' "' l^f.' <" 
 blowing, and tossing in all the wild^.f^nnf ' T ^ "*'""' 
 eye was bent on a calm st 1 spo h tlp' r''"" '. ^'''' '''''^ 
 had " sounded " thm L i ^ ''''*'^''' ^^^^^^ a whale 
 
 depths of the ;ea he ; T"l ''"" ^"^'^ ^'^'^^^^^ '^'^' ^^^ 
 sought out, flreamrioadPd f ^ •"' ^"^ *^^^^^^ 
 
 crea.ed L iuS,S:fo*ceS,;r Se,ne"nt°:; tf:" '- 
 wasintensc-BO mnchso that lactnaUyfo 'ot al uttZv 
 task, and, without a thought of conseon™™= „ ^ "^ 
 eagerly over the taffrail in fuUenToynS of tL ,h °*'''*'' 
 when the tinkle of the captain's MU™ted .^t^ h f™"' 
 horror, I remembered it L now ill/ ? Zr'^a'l^ 
 
 ^frpr-e:tsr2---£? 
 
 fract.ons of duty was all before me, and I aSn k de- ' i 
 
 with myself whether it would not be bette, Vnl^ 
 
 board at once than meet the anger'of'2 Dndi:; ^ W^thTy 
 
 m 
 
 ' ;i- 
 
118 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 one else, perhaps, I should have bethought me of some cun- 
 ning lie to account for my absence ; but he had warned me 
 about trymg to deceive him, and 1 well knew he could be as 
 good as his word. I had no courage to tell any of the sailors 
 my fault, and ask their advice ; indeed, I anticipated what 
 would be the result : some brutal jest over my misfortune 
 some coarse allusion to the fate they had often told me por- 
 tended me, since " no younker had ever gone from land to 
 land with Sir Dudley without tasting his hemp fritters." I 
 sat down, therefore, beside the bowsprit, where none should 
 see me, to commune alone with my grief, and, if I could, to 
 summon up courage to meet my fate. 
 
 Night had closed in some time, and all was tranquil on 
 board, when I saw Halkett, as was his custom, going aft to 
 the cabin, where he always remained for an houi- or more 
 each evening. It was just then, I know not how the notion 
 occurred, but it struck me that if I could lower myself over 
 the side, I might be able to creep through the little window 
 into the state-room, and carry away the paper to finish it 
 before morning. I lost little time in setting about my plot • 
 and having made fast a rope to one of the clews, I lowered 
 myselt fearlessly over the gunwale, and pushing open the 
 little sash, which was unfastened, I soon managed to insert 
 my head and shoulders, and, without any difficulty dra-<.in<. 
 my body slowly after, entered the state-room. So lon^ as 
 the danger of the enterprise and its difficulty lasted, so long 
 my courage was high and my heart fearless ; but when I 
 sat down in the little dark room, scarcely venturinr to 
 breathe, lest I should be overheard, ah.ost afraid to touch 
 the papers on the table, lest their rustling noise should betray 
 me, how was t^iis terror increased when I actually heard the 
 voices of Sn- Dudley and Halkett as plainly as though I were 
 in the cabin beside them! ^ weie 
 
 "And so, Halkett," said Sir Dudley, "you think this 
 expedition will be as fruitless as the others?" 
 
 ''I do, sir," said the other, in a low, dogged tone. 
 
 make iU '^'^ ^°" """'^ *^' ''''^ '"''" ""^^ encouraged me to 
 
 - And what of that? Of two things, I thought it more 
 
 likely that he should be the leader of a band to a regiment 
 
■"1^' 
 
 "THE VOYAGE OUT.' 
 
 119 
 
 Durtlpv "" '""■■' ''y """"^n. if I live'" said Si. 
 
 Dudley ,u ^ voice reu.lered guttural witb deep Lsio," 
 
 tonetf^ruf" '"" ""' ^"'^ "'"'• --" -i'i S:";, iu a 
 1 Jytai" 'luttit JZh'T'^'T "^ ' "™' "'-^ *- 
 
 be atttrx=ttt^r:^:.ri;7r '^; '^ "- 
 
 from some source or otlicr Y„f ' , ""' "' y"' 
 
 but had him atTorlosk and yerhe'TeZ , """' ™.'"' 
 
 in the disguise of a„ itiferan me c a' o "" ' ".f" 
 pedler fellows of which thi, l.„„l /.f n 7",° ° °' ""'*<' 
 dog along with mc " " " '""'-'"ki-S the Irish 
 
 Halkett."'""'' "™""'='' y™ '"«- -'""g. sir," interposed 
 
 tiom''°"L:fhim p'rC;?!'? '"'•,7»»*"t at the interrup- 
 
 means it, and my'recko™ „ ' wftl, r ""^ -n"!^ ™'P'^'" "■■" ^e 
 watched him closely of 1° . r "''" ""^ »'""'»• I bave 
 
 is excited ab»t ts °'h 1 •e;':!' ?r ''''.f^""r'' ™*^"y 
 
 something of our objecfin thl volaX but H, T f ''""' 
 the knowledge, Tom, will be h7rrst'to nt' ^ It^^: 
 cheap process if we are if ^po n i , ■ r^ " ^^ ^ 
 
 teen-pound shot! If o„ ^7" ':*,"«" ,and an eigh- 
 
 take the trouble olT my handl" ''"^ """' '""'' ™« '» 
 
 It mav be imofrinpfi tttUu ^.1-,^* 
 
 heard these words Mi^"thnt '?"?'"" "' ''"""■ ' 
 
 «t would ba^t^LnyTtrrdZ^^^dTa!^^ 
 
 M 
 
 #• , 
 
 ; J 
 
120 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 yet, with all this, I could not stli-, nor make an effort to 
 leave the spot ; a fascination to hear the remainder of the 
 conversation had thoroughly bound me as by a spell ; and 
 in breathless anxiety I listened, as Sir Dudley resumed': 
 
 "You, with Heckpnstein and the Greek, must follow, 
 ready to assist me when I need your aid ; for my plan is 
 this : I mean to entice the fellow, on pretence of a pleasure 
 excursion, a few miles from the town, into the bush, there 
 to bind him band and foot, and convey him, by the forest 
 tracks, to the second 'portage,' where the batteaux are 
 stationed, by one of which — these Canadian fellows are 
 easily bribed — we shall drop down to Montreal. There the 
 yacht shall be in waiting all ready for sea. Even without 
 a wind, three days will bring us off the Island of Orleans, 
 and as many more, if we be but fortunate, to the Gulf. 
 The very wo -st that can happen is discovery and detection ; 
 and if that e-sue, I '11 blow his brains out." 
 
 "And if -'e succeed in carrying him off, Sii- Dudley, what 
 theiA?" 
 
 "I have not made up my mind, Halkett, what I'll do. 
 I 've thought of a hundred schemes of vengeance ; but, con- 
 found it, I must be content with one only, though fifty deaths 
 would not satisfy my hate." 
 
 "I'd put a bullet through his skull, or swing him from 
 the yajrdarm, and make an end of it," said Halkett, 
 roughly. 
 
 " Not I, faith ! He shall live ; and, if I can have my will, 
 a long life too. His own government would take charge of 
 him at ' Irkutsk,' for that matter, at the quicksilver mines ; 
 and they say the diseased bones, from the absorption of 
 that poison, is a terr^'jle punishment. But I have a better 
 notion still. Do you remember that low island off the east 
 shore of the Niger, where the negro fellows live in log huts, 
 threshing the water all day to keep the caymans from the 
 rice-grounds? " 
 
 "The devil! " exclaimed Halkett; "you'll not put him 
 there?", 
 
 "I have thought of it very often," said Sir Dudley, 
 caltnly, " He 'd see his doom bofn?-e him every day, and 
 dream of it each night too. One cannot easily forget that 
 
'f* 
 
 " THE VOYAGE OUT." 12I 
 
 starting up in term nt fU.l 1 '^^'^ ""^ ""'^^^ ^^t'^""* 
 arose a^s he said thi anf LlSt '' 'k "•"• ^'' ^"^^^^ 
 steps; sometimes as he passechk'/" 1',^ ^"P^^^^"* 
 curtain and shake its folds Tndt, 1 ''^"^^ =''^^" ^^^ 
 
 of venoeanee as tPrrnl ^ "'^ """'* '^^^^ schemes 
 
 J^tto!eJ:i:il2nLZJZ'^^^^^^^ t-abricated, I had 
 I own the discovery ^nv! !"'^''^ '"'^ ^""""S^' ^^^^ 
 
 some awful ebt of i.^r '"' ' t^'^'nendous shocic. That 
 
 clear enough anLhat 72 ::: '" '" ^""^^'^ ^"^^^ -- 
 an aid to Vm i^a^ t . ^ ^^ ^ ff^Vr "^^ " 
 vinced of than pleased at. ^Ndthe, dic[ r fn '"'"l""'''' '""" 
 of summary justice n.-hn . ^ ^"^"^^ ^'^ "^tions 
 
 prejudiced ne in faTornf^' ""f "'^ ^^-^^^ ^^"^^^ion had 
 
 mdividual. nanas of one smgle 
 
 be'n JrrthTas' 71^^ *'^"»^^^^ ^^^* '^' ^ -* 
 Alas, bowever^L bJcs of V V""^'^ '^^^^ ^'^ ^«^" ^t' 
 all I had heard menHo ed o, ^^^^^""^"^-^-^^^ " which, after 
 grassy slopes ^^lit pH o .. 1 "' ''^^^""' ^ ''"^^^^"^^d to be 
 dilsiarXtsa rh^,r ''"'''''' "'^^ JeHow with daffo- 
 
 the small seolooiearsnpl! , ''''' ^'"^^« ^^ ^heu is 
 end of the- d e,' ea le d T ""^^' "^ "'^ *^^^ *«"^-«d 
 present out 0?^" o" Ljo-f Z' \-'""'"'^^^ "^^ ^^^ ^'^^ 
 tion to attempt it was sn itd T u""" ''"^^^ determina- 
 occurred about a wiek la ei ^ ^^ <^«'cumstance that 
 
 
 ' / 
 
122 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 After some clays of calm, common enough in these lati- 
 tudes, a slight but steady breeze set in from the northeast, 
 Avhich bore us up the Gulf with easy sail till we came in 
 sight of the long, low island of Anticosti, which, like some 
 gigantic monster, raises its dark, misshapen beach above 
 the water. Not the slightest trace of foliage or verdure to 
 give It a semblance to the aspect of land. Two dreary- 
 looking log-houses, about eighteen miles apart, remind one 
 that a refuge for the shipwrecked is deemed necessary in 
 this dangerous channel; but, except these, not a trace 
 exists to show that the foot of man had trod that drearv 
 spot. "^ 
 
 The cook's galley is sure to have its share of horrors 
 when a ship -lies to" near this gloomy shore; scarcely a 
 crew exists where some one belonging to it has not had a 
 messmate wrecked there; and then, the dreadful narratives 
 of starvation, and strife, and mmders, were too fearful to 
 dwell on. Among the horrors recorded on every hand all 
 agreed in speaking of a terrible character who had never 
 quitted the island for upwards of forty years. He was a 
 sailor who had committed u murder under cu-cumstances of 
 great atrocity, and dared not revisit the mainland, for fear 
 of the penalty of his guilt. Few had ever seen him ; for 
 years back, indeed, he had not been met with at all, and 
 rumor said that he was dead. Still, no trace of his body 
 could be found, and some inclined to the opinion that he 
 might at last have made his escape. 
 
 He was a negro, and was described as possessing the 
 strength of three or four men ; and although the proverbial 
 exaggeration of sailors might, and very probably did, color 
 these narratives, the sad fate of more than one party who 
 had set out to capture him, gave the stories a terrible air of 
 truth. The fear of him was such that although very liberal 
 terms had been offered to induce men to take up their abode 
 m the island to succor the crews of wrecked vessels, none 
 could be found to accept the post; and even at the period 
 when I visited these seas, and after a long lapse of years 
 since the Black Boatswain had been seen, no one would 
 venture. 
 
 The story went that his ghost still wandered there, and 
 
 
'THE VOYAGE OUT." 
 
 123 
 
 ean afford to scoff a, such perils, „",' '„ ^ .' ''"r"' ""■"• 
 corner of the Pallpv o-o*i V"*' "'^'^ ^^ did I, as I sat n a 
 
 that fell o , evSy ^idf trf ""' ^rf'' ""■' ""^ "'"■™- 
 cas. a glance :;it ' Sa J Tt ,1 ' T' 'T""^ °"' '" 
 sand, which seemed mo,,. iZ. , ^ '°"8 '"" ''a"'^ of 
 
 t^au a solid masr'f ::,: at shlLr"'"""" '™" '^^ "'" 
 
 tte scoffs ai^^ snee s a C S> ' "'" .''"""'"S" -■"'••■ed 
 garb and auomalous li ion ^nf." T'"^ "^ °"" '"'""'1» 
 more confidence in myself ISbf' ' '°'"' ""«'"' '» '<"" 
 becoming dress scp,™ .„ i. ' "P"™" °' assurance a 
 
 attircdlfke he ,'est of ^r '"" "''P''''=' '"' ' "» ao„ 
 
 yacht in gold" Lue^: on myrrTt^Ts "'%rT "' "■" 
 my waistcoat. ^ ^ ' ^^" ^^ °^ ^he breast of 
 
 The hatred of El Jarasch increased with . 
 mutual scoflfs and gibes were thp .1 I ^'^ '^""y^ ^°^ 
 us- More than once, H Jk tt InJr'T''''''''' ^^*^«^° 
 me, warned me of t^e W ! '1 1 f^ ^^^'^^' befriended 
 was sure to Jke I'rv l;rc S-tVf tr' ''°^^ 
 I^is caution, and avowed nTysTf read; to nn T^Vf "^^'^ "* 
 and however he pleased PpI ? ^^"f^'«nt ^im when 
 either side, so tLrvh^n on^Xn^a T ""^' "^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 Of mine, eoupir^t^rn ^ ;r:;^^^^^^^ 
 
 cabin. ' ^"^ ^' immediately sent for me to his 
 
 ;,' la 
 
 ■ I 
 
 I 9 
 
124 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CUEGA.N. 
 
 M 
 
 " Is it true, sirrah," said he, in a harsh, unpleasant voice, 
 "■ that you have been jesting about Jarasch, and saying that 
 you were ready to take charge of the whelps in his stead?" 
 "It is," said I, answering both questions together. 
 " You shall do so to-morrow, then," replied he, solemnly; 
 " take care that you can do something as well as boast! " 
 and with this he motioned me to leave the cabin. 
 
 T at once repaired to the steerage to report my interview 
 to the men, who were ail more friendly with me than with the 
 " Moor." Many were the counsels I received about how I 
 should conduct myself the next morning; some asserting 
 that, as it was my first time, I could not be too gentle with 
 the animals, avoiding the slightest risk of hurting them, and 
 even suffering their rough play without any effort to check 
 it. Others, on the contrary, advised me at once to seek the 
 mastery over the beasts, and by two or three severe lessons 
 to teach them caution, if not respect. This counsel, I own, 
 chimed in witii my own notions, and also better accorded 
 with what, after my late vauntings, I felt to be my duty. 
 
 It was altogether a very anxious night with me, not ex- 
 actly through fear, because I knew, as the men were always 
 ready with their arms loaded, life could not be perilled, and 
 I did not dread the infliction of a mere sprain or fracture ; 
 but I felt it was an ordeal wherein my fame was at stake. 
 Were I to acquit myself well, there would be an end forever 
 of those insulting airs of superiority the Moorish boy had 
 assumed towards me. Whereas if I failed, I must consent 
 to bear his taunts and sarcasms without a murmur. 
 
 In one point only the advice of all the crew agreed, which 
 was, that the female cub, much larger and more ferocious 
 than the male, should more particularly demand my watch- 
 fulness. " If she scratch you, boy, mind that you desist," 
 said an old Danish sailor, who had been long on the African 
 coast. This caution was re-echoed by all ; and, resolving to 
 follow its dictates, I " turned in " to my hammock, to dream 
 of combats and battles till morning. 
 
 I was early astir, — waking with a sudden start. I had 
 been dreaming of a lion-hunt, and fancied I heard the deep- 
 mouthed roaring of the beasts in a jungle ; and, true enough, 
 a low, monotonous howl came from the place where the 
 
"THE VOYAGE OUT." 
 
 ]25 
 
 '!ti 
 
 .1 bad just eun^ltd r; l.et:<""^/^ "'"^^• 
 simply a short pai of loose tmr-ir ''''*""^' ^^« 
 bare, and a small Fez Z on '' ', '"'^'' "™^' ^"^ ^^^^ 
 came down to me to sav thot h ? ,^f^^''-^vheu Halkett 
 
 Dudley about the 1^, ^^^ ^tt ^s iTa/^'^''^^^ *" ^'^^ 
 customed uiyself to fhp whli . ^^^ ''*^^*-''' Jet ac- 
 
 not begin .L^il.;;- Uao^^ ''r 'ti:; ^.^t '""f '=''-"' 
 m durance. "At the snmo r »^ , ^'^^'^ ^""^ ^^ys 
 
 a.o;e"^TutrM:oS'oi:,.r:t'':' ';'^ ^ '-- "^^ 
 
 ami have almost the same k L o,," 1"'™ «™''"-y""'». 
 Stealthy, treacherous, and Cue? Thev '"">"f ' - 'l-ey are 
 man or beast I " ^ '"'y ""^i' '™8t anything, 
 
 "No matter," said I "I'm „. . 
 courage is not less." ' ""'""S "« l"' «. and my 
 
 other, so now ce L 1|'™ ^"^ "" "'^'"oe one way or 
 deek," " ° ''"" f""" ■'•■•■•asch, and eome on 
 
 brSTelrir'and '"fo";""''™ "' "*• ""P^" -«■ 
 boy iu his eueonntrs " °"'^' "'"P™ ''™- ""^d by the 
 
 wi«:w^h;;:'i,ir£'» 'e?;e'::e^?'?r^' ^^'^^ ^"^ "-^ 
 
 fire, and his whiteleeth^„Tan!eT .if""' "P '*<^ '^»«l« «' 
 " Don't hurt my poo, pet cubs tT" ■'"' P"''P''' «P«- 
 
 " Where 's tife'stafff" sTid j' ^ot^'lTk T '"<""•" 
 he spoke, or well knowing ffhe 'affected"? ""^'o"" '""""h 
 
 "There it is," said he- " h„ff f"'" "'' ^'^^ 
 
 enough withou that Yon'U ,„r"' "?"! '"""'^ "'" ^e 
 coward used!" and I he s,l "a'kiX'^ ,?"?"" "^ 
 vulsiou shook his frame fromtad to foot """'"« """■ 
 
 not! I ask you iz^.zf'.t';:^',-"'^' ""' - 
 
 ■.M 
 
126 
 
 CONFESSIQNS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 
 He never spoke, but nestled lower down in the hammock, 
 so that 1 could not even see his face. 
 
 *' There, they 're calliug me already. 1 must be off ! Let 
 us shake hands and be friends this time at least. When 
 you're well and up, we can fight it out ubout something 
 else ! " 
 
 " Kiss me, then," said he ; and though I had no fancy for 
 the embrace, or the tone it was asked in, 1 leaned over ^he 
 hammock, and while he placed one arm round my neck, and 
 drew me towards him, I kissed his forehead, and lie mine, 
 in true Moorish fashion ; and not sorry to have made my 
 peace with my only enemy, I stepped up the ladder with a 
 light heart and a firm courage. 
 
 I little knew what need I had for both ! When Jarasch 
 had put his arm around my neck, I did not know that he 
 had inserted his hand beneath the collar of my shirt, and 
 drawn a long streak of blood from his own vein across my 
 back between my shoulders. When I arrived on deck, i^ 
 was to receive the congratulations of the crew, Avho were all 
 struck with my muscular arms and legs, and who unani- 
 mously pronounced that I was far fitter to exercise the 
 whelps than was the Moor. 
 
 Sir Dudley said nothing, A short nod greeted me as I 
 C£.me towards him, and then he waved me back with his 
 hand, — a motion which, having something contemptuous 
 in it, pained me acutely at the moment. I had not much 
 time, however, to indulge such feelings. The whelps were 
 already on deck, and springing madly at the wooden bars of 
 their cage for liberty. Eagor as themselves, I hastened to 
 unbolt the door and set them free. 
 
 No sooner were they at large than they set off down one 
 side of the deck and up the other, careering at full speed, 
 clearing with a bound whatever stood in their way; and 
 when by any chance meeting each other, stopping for an 
 instant io stare with glaring eyes and swelling nostrils ; and 
 then, either passing stealthily and warily past, or one would 
 crouch while the other cleared him at a spring, and so off 
 again. In all this I had no part to play. I could neither 
 call them back, like Jarasch, whose voice they knew, nor 
 had I his dexterity in catching them as they went, and 
 
"THE VOYAGF OUT." 
 
 expression of disdaiS pity AtTM'"" '^"^^' ^'t" -^ 
 contained tl.e creatureH' La was wt!!L^'/'''''' ^"^ ^"^"^1^ 
 sooner had the n,en retired I rtr!./"''^'"''^^ ' '-^"^^ "^> 
 ^'^re on the spot, - ho rlid ^"'^'^'-^eented aniu.als 
 
 t-e to seat .nyse'lf, el -^ t^;;!' /.^,^^ ^ '-^ barely 
 P;oaelicd, and with stately S, \ li, ' 'V'"' "'^^ ^P" 
 «/" -Hio: as it were in sm-p.-'se at tl.. i '""""'^ ^^^^ ^'^^'^el, 
 
 their meal with them. ^ *^'' ""^" ^^^'^ ^"o disputed 
 
 ot,:^: t;:p:;;^^;;er t^^ir ^^ ^^^ "^' ^-^ -^^h the 
 
 kind of gentle, p.tteS.:Vlo "^.Tw f ''"''"" "'"^ ^^^ 
 a mouse. It ,vas a sort")/ n M oT ««metimes use with 
 
 nothing of hostility .vint I ;"""''"" *" " ^'''''^' that," 
 ^ I replied by i.niiti f tl" .t l'""'?'"^- 
 fi«t would permit, and Itr ek h n o' V'''-''' ^ '^''^Jf-closed 
 He looked grave at th.^ eat,^ . ?' '"^" «*" ^'^^ head, 
 ft'om his plaee, he lay lotr'aTou; T'' f "^^^ ^^^^^-^^""^ 
 the female, who had been smellW ^f '^ ^'^^ Meanwhile 
 round the tub, made an "ffo" 1 1^; '? f "^ '"""^ ^^^ 
 and, failing, began to strilel in .. *^f ^"* ''''^'^''^' ^^^^d, 
 paw; the excitement o '^. Z t!?;,'^"^'' ^^^^« ^^'^^h he; 
 her hind legs, showincr t a he, V ' '*"''^^ P^^'*'"" of 
 
 delay. To increase her ral T TT ^'"^ '^'^^^^ at the 
 ^aek; and as the sX; Si^^'^t '"ll '"' '^ ^^^ ^^^-^ 
 n^ore eager, and at last attracted thT\i' '''"*'"•« ^^^^ 
 
 .It was quite clear that hu .e • 1 !, ^*^''' *° *'^« «Pot. 
 With them, and that they had not vTt " P'^^'^" "PP^™-^* 
 cause of their disappointment fJ^f"';'"*'^^ «^^ ^^^th the 
 devices to insert a paw "i to 1 k'^..^"^"^'^^ ^^ ^^^^tj 
 noticed me in the least. Wearied of ^' -Z^"^' ^'^^ "^^^^ 
 f ^n> to play, and angry 'ttt L^I ^"""^'^^ ^^ ^'^dnce 
 fested to me, I spranc^^from tht r. '^'''"'^ '^'y "^ani- 
 the tub, flung it back.^ In an instl ; T' "'""» '' '^'^^ 
 heads in the mess; the ema « n l '^7 ^"^^ ^^^^ ^^eir 
 the midst of the tib, and it p "^ ''^'" ^"^ ^'^^^^ Paw in 
 gurgling growl peculikr " o 1^ ^nd^le:^ ""''' ^'^^ ^^^' 
 
 
 . ;;i!fl 
 
 fcr I 
 
 i 
 
128 
 
 COx\Fi:SSIONS OF CON CRK(iA\. 
 
 Dashinjr norht botwoen tluMii, T atM;5i'(l one by the throat 
 with both liaiuls, juul limled hii„ hjick upon the (h-ck. A 
 shout of " Hravo! " burst from the ciew at the boldness of 
 the feat, and with a bound the fellow made at me. I 
 dropped 8U(hl(«nly on one knee as he eanie, and struck him 
 with the staff on the fore le<rs. Had he been shot, he could 
 not have fallen more rapidly; down he went, like a dead 
 mass, on the deck. To spring on his back and hukl him 
 fast down was the work of a second, while I belaboreil liim 
 about the head with my fists. 
 
 The stunning effect of his first fall gave me the victory for 
 a moment, but he soon rallied, and attacked me boldly."^ It 
 was now a fair fight; for if I sometimes succeeded in mak- 
 ing him shake his huge head or drop his paAv with pain, more 
 than once he staggered me with a blow which, had it been 
 only quickly followed, would soon have decided the struggle. 
 At last, after a scufile in Avhich he had nearly vanquished me, 
 he made a Unq) at my throat. 1 put in a blow of such power 
 with the staff on the foreliead that he gave a loud roar of 
 pain, and, with drooping tail, slunk to hide away himself 
 beneath a boat. 
 
 Up to this moment the female had never stirred from the 
 mess of food, but continued eating and snailing as though 
 every mouthful was a battle. Scarcely, however, had the 
 roar of the other cub been heard than she lifted her head, 
 and, slowly turning round, stared at me with an expression 
 which, even now, my dreams will recall. 
 
 I had not yet recovered from the exhaustion of my late 
 encounter, and was half sitting, half kneeling on the deck, as 
 the whelp stood glowering at me, with every vein in her vast 
 forehead swollen, and her large, red eyes seeming to dilate 
 as she looked. The attitude of the creature must have been 
 striking, for the crew cheered with a heartiness that showed 
 how much they admired her. 
 
 So long as I sat unmoved she never stirred ; but when I 
 prepared to arise, she gave one bound, and, striking me with 
 her head, hurled me back upon the deck : her own impulse 
 had carried her clean over me, and when she returned, I was 
 already up, on my knees, ;; nd bettor prepared to receive lier. 
 Again she tried the same manccuvTe ; but thin time I leaped 
 
"THE VOVAGK OUT." 
 
 129 
 
 ••ittuok, with tho same ivs, U f., ,, 'T ''' ""•'■'•^' ^hc same 
 
 ve.7 passion r^v. ^ '^ • t^ "'""f " "^'^••*"^" ^"^ ^er 
 
 less circunHpeot than a ' f ^ ''".["f '"'^ -?'- -il'U. and 
 
 "_^ainnKUa-n,Mlu.Hidelcap twhichn'"'' '''' '"^^ ' ^^^^« 
 «l'I'l>o.l, and I fell, j ^,/, Zxl'w i ''""'""'' '">' ^""t 
 
 "'^ "ot, as before, to st le ' ? ""'" "'' ''" ""^ "'"'" 
 
 bade .„c,„ go'Ca ';;:';■,;:":',„':' '17 ;™'""^ '-' ■ 
 
 iiiore, I 
 
 grasped Uk> ;i.i;rLn^r^^^^^ ""-'I 
 
 tremendous em^t threvv^X,^t, ' ''1^', '"' ''"" ^•^' '^ 
 most. She soon nhook he s Jfl-ee . ''^ "'^'''"' ""'^"'- 
 
 "Poume: IwasnowonmTkl ::.JT-h7.'' "'"' ^'""^''^ 
 her a fierce blow on the lefr I / -^ ' ^'''' '^^'''■^" ' ''^"••I't 
 
 she closed with me in f ,11 Furv s'" •" ^^'"'' ^""*^^^'^^^' «"'> 
 ^t away f.om my breast a n^^;,,;^^;^;"; '">' «'"•'•*' «he tore 
 ".e..t, ripped it in a hundred pie • 'j end! "'"'\'''' ''''^- 
 her by the throat once more l> f. ii: , "^'^^y^'^^l to catch 
 face, and in oii.c so .Wi J /. ^' ^"'' ''^'"ed over „n mv 
 
 my shoulders; she saw 'tdlt «t' ''"'••^' ^^'•^•^"^- ^^^--^ 
 me. I felt her teeth Is they Lt I T'" T'''' '^'''''^ «" 
 nhle cry, the most appalS ^IVZ""""^.' ""''' ''^'' ^«'- 
 my brain. ^' '^ "^'"'^ ^^^^ heard, rang through 
 
 -onncling n,e, Ind the t riSe Je":? tf' ""^ '"'' ^^•^•- «^ 
 all from approachinc. her T I e T ' """""'' ''^<^''''«<1 
 
 death one; and alti^-n^elv I r ^^ ^"? "^'''-^ "^^^ ^ ^^'-'-^nd- 
 T cannot ell how f of ft l'"^. '"u^ '■^"'"^' ^« ^^"ght- 
 from a wound iZy o e tl "d T'T. T '^^ '^ -- 
 pose in my heart.- u ujtu T r ' ^''* '^"^ ^'''"^ P«'- 
 
 Several of the sailors caL ''''" "°* ^"'•^''^'^ me." 
 
 ror,. ,. -.9 '"''^'^ "'^^^ »«^r enough to strike her with 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 S'tf 
 
 ;i.l 
 
180 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 their cutlasses ; but these wounds only increased her rao-e, 
 and I cried to them to desist. " 
 
 "Shoot her! put a bullet through her!" cried Halkett. 
 J' Let none dare to shoot her ! " cried Sir Dudley, loudly. I 
 just heard these words, as, after a fierce struggle, in whiclj 
 she had seized ine by the shoulder, I fell against the bulwark. 
 With a last effort I staggered to my knees, flung open the 
 gangway, and then, with an exertion that to myself seemed 
 my very last on earth, 1 seized her by the throat and hurled 
 her backwards into the sea. On hands and knees I leaned 
 forward to see her as the rapid Gulf-stream, hurrying on> 
 ward to the ocean, bore her away ; and then, as my sight 
 grew fainter, I fell back upon the deck, and believed I was 
 dying. 
 
r rage, 
 
 "MEANS AND MEDITATIONS/ 
 
 T was the second evening after 
 my lion adventure, and 1 was 
 low, half-torpid state not o yC '" ™^ hammock in a 
 fhat had not' itst^^' p u ia:^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 m my neck, and another stl 1^ V^"" "" ^^^'^ ^o»nd 
 
 -y shoulder, hadTust b^l h^r '"' '^ *'" '^^^'^^P^^'* ^^ 
 -one which, T am bounf^l ^* T""'' "^"^^ """>'<'"'" 
 result, is ofte'n very paT ul ^2' '""'"' ^^^^^''^^t-y Jn 
 
 o^ those stone ^a^^ ^ --:;- ^^^— ance 
 
132 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I([ 
 
 My faculties were clear and acute, so that, having abun- 
 dant leisure for the occupation, I bad nothing better to do 
 than take a brief retrospect of my late life. Such reviews 
 are rarely satisfactory, or rather, one rarely thinks of mak- 
 ing them when the " score of the past " is in our favor. Up 
 to this moment it was clear I had gained little but expe- 
 rience ; I had started light, and I had acquired nothing, save 
 a somewhat worse opinion of the world and a greater 
 degree of confidence in myself. I had but one way of 
 balancing my account with Fortune, which was by asking 
 myself, '^ Would I undo the past, if in my power? Would I 
 wish once more to be back in my ' father's mud edifice,' 
 now digging a drain, now drawing an indictment, — a kind 
 of pastoral pettifogger, with one foot in a potato furrow, 
 and the other in petty sessions?" I stoutly said, "No!" a 
 thousand times " no! " to this question. 
 
 I could not ask myself as to my preference for a university 
 career, for my college life had concluded abruptly, in spite of 
 me; but still, during my town experiences I saw enough 
 to leave me no regrets at having quitted the muses. The 
 life of a " skip," as the Trinity men have it, — vice gyp., for 
 the Greek word signifying a " vulture," — is only removed 
 by a thin sheet of silver paper from that of a cabin boy in a 
 collier; copious pummelling and short prog being the first 
 two articles of your warrant ; while in some respects the 
 marine has a natural advantage over him on shore. A 
 skip is invariably expected to invent lies "at discretion" 
 for his master's benefit, and is always thrashed when they 
 are either discovered or turn out adverse. On this point 
 his education is perfectly "Spartan;" but, unhappily 
 too, he is expected to be a perfect mirror of truth on all 
 other occasions. This is somewhat hard, inasmuch as it 
 is only in a man's graduate course that he learns to defend 
 a paradox, and support by good reasons what he knows to 
 be false. 
 
 Again, a " skip " never receives clothes, but is flogged 
 at least once a week for disorders in his dress, and for gen- 
 eral untidiness of appearance ; this, too, is hard, since he 
 has as little intercourse with soap as he has with conic 
 sections. 
 
"MEANS AND MEDITATIONS." 
 
 i! " 
 
 133 
 
 i^omtlil^V, a skip IS supposed to be born n vn]«; 
 are boru poets ~tn i.n.-n ov, • ^- ^Z'*^^" ^ ^alet, as some 
 
 details of\Mn ,s he Ins Ito/" '"'''"1 ''^^^"'"^^'^ ^^^^ -» the 
 that when he anolie W '''" ^'" ^^^''^"^ ^^^ before; so 
 
 boots, poHsts^l^r^l^^n^hC^ bl^J^rfi"^^^^^ 
 a quarto, and cuts candles with a razor h.e i ^'"^ ""'*'' 
 
 a vagabond, a.ul to paf,. - u,,™t f ,r „ ,. r ' '",'"=,''»0''n as 
 to bo p,-ai,cd as a liar , : ' eu tb.t he f;!'"! '"' ''"'"""y' 
 much .0 expeet at fifteen yearsof a" °' '""'' " '"»» 
 
 Lastly as to Betty's 1 had no rwets The „„ .• 
 of hoise-boy, like the i„nf„..i„ '"='™- 1 he occupation 
 The utmost he mo t as^S ' " ^™' ''"^ "° " ''^''""■■•" 
 
 hold more bors^trnZ' ShZ,''™!: ^° '7^^' '' " 
 is to order more "senna " 'llT ■ J, '''""°' » success 
 
 no higher path ope o him" 0,::,"^'"°" '"^""' '"^'^^ ' 
 " upward course " It is a Lm ° ! , ! "°™'*"'J' f™' »"> 
 No no; I ^3 right to "s:ntt . tTet ■ "'" """"" '" '" 
 
 J^ 'Stz:ft^. t rth:™'""'- -^ «-" '- ^ 
 
 weight, like a " contralto "^^oice i,L°T„'"' "",'' "'«'" 
 a year or two, and then fr„,n !bl 1 f ,™""''' ""*'• 
 you sink do,v„ into a b.^'JZ t\tCl , "."P"'""'^' 
 as .f, after reaching a silk <.om, i, .f" -. " '™°''' J"" 
 liegin life again a^ crie i,T 7 ^ ^ '""'' •'' """' l^ad to 
 all these variol wa k I ho L r'"!" "? ' ""''''"<' '" 
 all " trammels," a natron C ■, ™ '""' *'' ''<'"" "f 
 oughly fixed it elf in' , ; mind T\" V- ''™°'^''= '"«' *»" 
 patron, never to be bZdT!' ""'■• ™™'' '« '"e a 
 
 once set you on your iZ k ','? """" "'"'' '«"='">»« 'e had 
 to walk tlough aTn'lf'e "'to r^" "'* "'^ ""^ ^°» -- 
 without a parUcle of m nL J '""' ""= "''""'O be born 
 
 reTrdf:: ryr b^^ii- -" ™-^ -^-^' ".- 
 
 ii 
 
 :r 1 
 
134 
 
 CONFESIi'^DNS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Why do we hear such tirades about the ingratitude of 
 men, who, being once assisted by others, - their inferiors in 
 everything save gold, -soar above the low routine of toady- 
 ism, and rise into personal independence? Let us remember 
 that the contract was never a fair one, and that a whole 
 ife s degradation is a heavy sum to pay for a dinner with 
 his Grace, or a cup of tea vith her Highness. " My Lord " I 
 an. aware, thinks differently ; and it is one of the very pleas- 
 ant delusions of his high station to fancy that little folk are 
 dependent upon him,- what consequence they obtain among 
 their fellows by his recognition in public, or by his most 
 careless nod in the street. But " my Lord " does not know 
 that this is a paper currency that represents no capital, that 
 It is not convertible at will, and is never a legal tender; and 
 consequently, as a requital for actual bond fide services, is 
 about as honest a payment as a flash note. 
 
 It was no breach of my principle that I accepted Sir 
 Dudleys offer. Our acquaintance began by my rendering 
 him a service; and I was as free to leave him that hour 
 and I own, as ready to do so, if occasion permitted, as he 
 could be to get rid of me; and it was not long before the 
 occasion presented itself for exercising these views. 
 
 iis I lay thus, ruminating on my past fortunes, Halkett 
 descended the steerage-ladder, followed by Felborg the 
 Dane; and, approaching my hammock, held a light to my 
 face for a few seconds. "Still asleep?" said Halkett. 
 roor boy! he has never awoke since I dressed his 
 wound this morning. I'm sure it's better; so let us leave 
 him so. 
 
 "Ay, ay," said the Dane, "let him sleep; bad tidings 
 come soon enough, without one's being awoke to hear them 
 But do you think he'll do it?" added he, with lower and 
 more anxious tone. 
 
 "He has said so ; and I never knew him fail in his prom- 
 ise when it was a cruel one." 
 
 " Have you no influence over him, Halkett? Could you 
 not speak for the boy?" 
 
 " I have done all I could, — more than perhaps it was safe 
 to do. I told him I could n't answer for the men, if he wprp 
 lo shoot him on board ; and he replied to me short, ' I '11 
 
'MEANS AND MEDITATIONS." 
 
 and 
 
 'I'll 
 
 135 
 
 witness.'" ° question what you are not to 
 
 " Well, when I get back to Elsinore it', f^ 
 heavy n-ons I shall go for life thZ 'In . • ^ P"'°" ^""^ 
 it all rather than live the Tfe ll! T^'""' ^"* ^'^ face 
 months past." '^^ ^^ ^^^^^ now for twenty 
 
 " Hush ! speak low ! " said the oth^r u t 
 are weary of it as well as von mI ^ ^"^P^"^ others 
 
 bad life Just because Vr sCled tZ " "^^ ''' '^ "^ ^ 
 
 bol/an'dSelrftw'^''' ^^^^'^^ ^^^^^^'^ " ^e was a 
 
 ■'I am sorry for him tor, t<- 
 when he joined us. Well ;;„ ^'ZT '^'f ^"^ ^^^ ^'^^ 
 ^f he had lived a year or tro"; b^:::d7""^' '' ^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 BO Jhing" ;iJtti:e:r:;r '; ^^^^ *^^ ^^-' " ^^^^ . 
 
 it made me the reckless deSlTb?/ ""^^ '""^ ^'^'' ^'^ ; and 
 sixteen when the crew of th t,- T""' "T' '''"'■ ^ ^as n't 
 the party thatcutdow^^t^m^r^^r^^^^^^ 
 light night, just as it mi^ht bp nnw ."u ""^^ ^ "'^«'^- 
 and Lieutenant (Eldens^mrn w. J- "' **"" "^^^^'« ^^tch, 
 humming a tune I l^d Tft" f '1? ''*' "^"^ ^^^ "^^^^ 
 hand, and a pistol in thTother bt T J "^^/""^«« ^^ one 
 quarter-deck my foot slin trl ' ^ T^ ""' ^ '*'PP^^ "P t^e 
 clank on the deck ^ ^ ' ""* *^' ^'^^^^^^ f«" with a 
 
 ;;' What's that? 'cried the lieutenant. 
 i^eiDoig, sir, mate of the wnfnh » c -^ t 
 
 ".r ,j ,"""^'"'' '"tat a coast!' 
 
 full leiigtb on the nhnt ■., ■ T"' ''''™ "8"" "' his 
 never to° move f.ain'^l " ' """ " '"'"'=' "-ougl. hU brain, 
 
 »e"ei';^^,tit"r btjt'::: t^jz'i r " "> 
 
 P^J, But I've bit on a wa, t„ ^ te^^a^l S;r rei: 
 
 m 
 
 ki. 
 
136 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 " Ay, if my help does n't bring bad luck on him ; it always 
 has on every one I befriended since — since — " 
 
 " Never mind tuat. There 's no risk here, nox much room 
 for luck, good or bad." He paused a second or two, then 
 added, — 
 
 " I 'm thinking we can't do better than shove him ashore 
 on the island yonder." 
 
 " On Anticosti! " said Felborg, with a shudder. 
 
 "Ay, why not? There's always a store of bLcuit and 
 fresh water in the log-houses, and the cruisers touch there 
 every six or seven weeks to take people off. He has but to 
 hoist the flag to show he 's there," 
 
 " There 's no one there now," said the Dane. 
 
 " No. I saw the flag-staff bare yesterday ; but what does 
 that matter? A few days or a few weeks alone are better 
 than what's in store for him here." 
 
 " I don't think so. No ! Beym alia Deyvelm ! I 'd stand 
 the bullet at three paces, but I 'd not meet that negro chap 
 alone." 
 
 " Oh, he 's dead and gone this many a year," said Halkett. 
 " A¥hen the ' Rodney ' transport was wrecked there, two years 
 last fall, they searched the island from end to end, and 
 could n't find a trace of him. They were seven weeks there, 
 and it 's pretty clear if he were alive " 
 
 " Ay, just so, — if he were alive ! " 
 
 " Nonsense, man ! You don't believe those yarns they 
 get up to frighten the boys in the cook's galley? " 
 
 " It's scarce mercy, to my reckoning," said , Felborg, " to 
 take the lad from a quick and short fate, and leave him 
 yonder; but if you need my help, you shall have it." 
 
 "That's enough," said Halkett; "go on deck, and look 
 after the boat. None of our fellows will betray us ; and in 
 the morning we '11 tell Sir Dudley that he threw himself over- 
 board in the night, in a fit of frenzy. He'll care little 
 whether it's true or false." 
 
 " 1 say, Con — Con, my lad," said Halkett, as soon as the 
 other had mounted the ladder. " Wake up, my boy; I've 
 something to tell you." 
 
 " I know it," said I, wishing to spare time, which I thought 
 might be precious ; " 1 've been dreaming all about it." 
 
'MEANS ANU MEDITATIONS." 
 
 137 
 
 here •« your jacke"; "?„] t'i 7,r"f f"',"" ^'""' <='""'<'». - 
 
 - ad:™u!^^r;^:;,"f,«';;;7<; '. "ti,at Sh.DudIe,«ent 
 tiatyou ,„wed oSdJlll'tt' "^ '*" «^« «ivel b„. 
 
 lou iDut me asliore on Anticosfi Tr..iL i! " " 
 oM wive.- tales neve,- lakido w, t UuS:: '" '"" "^"« 
 
 about all thateou,tXVete™r"'-rf»"^ '" '"«'- 
 escape, concluding witli a w-?mi?, " ""'"^ "'"' ^P«dy 
 
 «.at any,l,i„g but; Ji ac ,de„ fnd 1™' "T '" ^''""g' 
 ■ny being ca.,t away. "Ss f' . '*'" "'" <«=<^''«i« »( 
 
 mine too, Con," said he- " for I/,""'' ""'" '"'"' »"" '<>■■ 
 pointed to the after-cabn -"h .d?'"' °"" ""•"-"« 
 wouM fa,.e badly „,«, s„„,"e of us " ""' "' """ «»"' " 
 
 VV^hy not come too, HalkeftV" o„-^ r 
 hateful to you as to myself' ''^ ^ ' " *^^« "^^ is as 
 
 "Hush, boy; no more of th-if » o„-^ i 
 emotion which I had never witnessed^? h ' 7f " ^^^''^^ «^ 
 yourself warm and snu^, for von , ?™ '''^°''"- "^^^^e 
 cothes, or you'd be suspected bvir'' "' '"'^^ ^^^^ ^P^^e 
 ^Bland ; here 's my brandy C^"^"T, '^^'^ ^^^ off the . 
 small bag of biscuit, -filt'l? 1 *!"^«^-box; that's a 
 reach the log-house, L and here ill \''^ ""' ''^^" '^^"^^ to 
 fnd ball. Come along now o. TTl' ^^*^ ^"'"^ P«^«er 
 ladder?" »' "''^' «' shall I carry you up the 
 
 "No, I'm able enoush now " ^o-^ t 
 seem free from pain while I ^..TJ^ :,t:i '" ^^"^ ^ 
 
 '-I 
 
 '■' I' 
 
138 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I was not prepared for the affectionate leave-taking which 
 met me here; each of the crew shook my hand twice or 
 thrice over, and there was not one did not press upon me 
 some little gift in token of remembrance. 
 
 At last the boat was lowered, and Halkett and three others, 
 descending noiselessly, motioned to me to follow. I stepped 
 boldly over the side, and, waving a last good-b^^e to those 
 above, sat down in the stern to steer, as 1 was directed. 
 
 It was a calm night, with nothing of a sea, save that roll- 
 ing heave ever present in the Gulf-stream; and now the 
 men stretched to their oars, and we darted swiftly on, not 
 a word breaking the deep stillness. 
 
 Although the island lay within six miles, we could see 
 nothing of it against the sky, for the highest point is little 
 more than twelve feet above the water-level. 
 
 I have said that nothing was spoken as we rowed along 
 over the dark and swelling water ; but this silence did no° 
 impress me till I saw ahead of us the long low outline of the 
 dreary island shutting out the horizon ; then a sensation of 
 sickening despair came over me. Was I to linger out a few 
 short hours of life on that melancholy spot, and die at last 
 exhausted and broken-hearted? "Was this to be the end 
 of the brilliant dream I had so often revelled in?" " Ah, 
 Con! " said I, " to play the game of life, a man must have 
 capital to stand its losses, — its runs of evil fortune ; but you 
 are ruined with one bad deal ! " 
 
 "Run her in here, in this creek! " cried Halkett to the 
 men ; and the boat glided into a little bay of still water under 
 the lee of the land, and then, after about twenty minutes' 
 stout rowing, her keel grated on the rugged, shingly shore of 
 Anticosti. 
 
 "We cannot land you dry-shod, Con," said Halkett; " it 
 shoals for some distance here." 
 
 "No matter," said I, trying to affect an easy, jocular air, 
 my choking throat and swelling heart made far from easy ; 
 "for me to think of wet feet would be like the felon at 
 the drop blowing the froth off the porter because it was 
 unwholesome ! " 
 
 "I've better hopes of you than that comes to, lad!" 
 said he; "but good-bye! good-bye!" He shook my hand 
 
"MEANS ANJ) MEDITATIONS." 
 
 over ,.y :^.^ J^"^^ Z'theS'lt"'^' """""" 
 more than over niid-le^ but th. „? ■!' """ '""''"''y 
 made it tiresome ,v,lltfc r h. 5 T'*"' 'P°'W bottom 
 yards, When a „"d tb t , ™* T ^ fT " '" """"«'• 
 boat, ere.. ,ivi.,g m^eTpa.^i ^^ '/ Tt'S t™ ''^ 
 It, but my voice failpd mo- fi, T ^^ **^ answer 
 
 tbe Poiatfandl «:„ th«: '„oT„r f '"''™»' "'^^^'"' '-™'' 
 
 reachTthfl^i^", SthetL" tfoi" "'°"' "^" » ^"^ 
 Strange instinct Of fiPoLr 1 u '^^^"oess, or some 
 but I threw mvL^^ '^^^^^ I know not, 
 
 and slept soundi; -^1^1 ZnTf ^^^^^^S'^ «tones 
 lands far away such ^^T h i ^""^ ' ^^'^^n^ed of fair 
 
 of travels, X^ibthtfln " ' '? ''^^ ^^ '" »^««k« 
 gi-owing, InTwLrb 1. r-""'^^"^'"^^ ^'-"'tB were 
 
 floated ^astwHh a sweet '"'"'*' ^^ ^""^^^««t ^^^ors 
 
 air tremble. ''* murmuring song that made the 
 
 imitd hb.:!irclZ''"".'; ^^"^^^' " -^ -^<> b- -t 
 
 his Fortune arip?cZtdI^"'^ ""' *^^ ^^"^'^"^ties of 
 
 have been un^T::^^,::^::^^ ^^^ -^-t might 
 
 rial" nature by a^good Jlin 1 !;"^ '"^"^^'^^ ^"^ " «^ate- 
 man by the - C^ty Si '' wT' T"^ '"'^'^^^ *^^ " "^o^al" 
 per CeL are ^t^l,:tcL:ZZTr' ?^^^ 
 ;n a very prosperous state. Then h'deed ff T"' ^^"^ 
 by any accident stray to the shi^ci i' ■?''' ^^^^^'^^^ 
 blended with a wholesome Dhflnnfh^ u '^ '^'^""'^ '^^^ ^'^ 
 
 tion and fair worldly^-^^^^^^^^^^^ born of good diges- 
 
 we should have mad^e precSv^hJ «'''"'' ""'^'^^'^^ '^^' 
 did, and comported ourselves in In .. ' '^''*'''"' *^^^ ^^ 
 
 irement was not tho w^vaf <'.„*..../'. ;';^"^"^'R«ge that 
 provoked by J( 
 
 the 
 if 
 
 Thomas, the footm 
 
 I' m 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 I m 
 
 an, we are r 
 
 •eady to 
 
 'pi t i«8Sa 
 
14*^ 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF COH CKEGAN. 
 
 f 
 
 Bwear that there was more gratitude i„ F.iday'H little black 
 finger than m the whole body corporate of llunkc.y^' from 
 Richmond to Blaclcwall. "^ ' ™ 
 
 While these very laudable sentiments are easy euou-h in 
 diL'Tfr'^^"'"' ^ '^"^■*' "'^'»ti<^»«^^ tl'^y are marvellously 
 ?f n^ h P'^'*'^^;^ t^« ^'^"^'' -f «tern reality. At least I 
 found them so, as X set out to seek the " Refuoe" o„ Anti- 
 costi. It was just daybreak as, somewhat stiffened with a 
 sleep on the cold beach, and sore from my recent bruises, I 
 began my march. - Nor'-west and by west " was Halkett's 
 vague direction to me ; but as I had no compass, I was left 
 to the guidance of the rising sun for the cardinal points. 
 Not a path nor track of any kind was to be seen ; indeed, 
 the surface could scarcely^have borne traces of footsteps, for 
 
 iLr^hT Vf ""^ '"'''' ^^ '^^^y ^'""^'1^' ^ith here and 
 there the backbone of a fish, and scattered fragments of sea- 
 weed, washed up by the storms, on this low bleak shore. I 
 cannot fancy desolation more perfect than this dreary spot, 
 slightly undulating, but never sufficient to lose si"-ht of the 
 sea; not a particle of shelter to be found; not a°ock, nor 
 even a stone large enough to sit upon when weary. Of 
 vegetation, no trace could be met with ; even a patch of 
 moss or a lichen would have been a blessing to see; but 
 there were neither. At last, as I journeyed on, I wandered 
 beyond the sound of the sea as it broke upon the low strand, 
 and then the snence became actually appalling. But a few 
 moments back, and the loud booming of the breakers stunned 
 the ear; and now, as I stopped to listen, I could hear mv 
 own heart as m full, thick beat it smote against my ribs I 
 could not dismiss the impression that such a stillness, 
 thus terrible, would prevail on the day of judgment, when, 
 after the graves had given up their millions of dead, and the 
 agonizing cry for mercy had died away, then, as in a moment 
 of dread suspense, the air would be motionless, not a leaf 
 to stir, not a wing to cleave it. Such possession of me 
 did this notion take that I fell upon my knees and sobbed 
 aloud, while, with trembling and uplifted hands, I prayed 
 that I too might be pardoned. 
 
 So powerful is the influence of a devotional fPf>li„cr, no 
 matter how associated with error, how alloyed by the dross 
 
 onl« 
 
"MEANS AND MEDITATIONS.' 
 
 •1 
 
 f 141 
 
 B^^Wen trustful an<l cou^^^^ y:iJ^ ^'^'^P-'-' ^^^ea.ne of a 
 worthless thing it did a fe^ minutes If ''"'"'^ "" *^"^'^'' ^''« 
 I was ready to dure anvthi f ""'■"' ^" the contmry, 
 
 At each little swell of the <nonv r 
 ^^^ t^oping. to Hee the lo<.-hut C in ^''"'' "'^^''^^ ^^out 
 f'^me wearisome iuonoton^ ', .', ! ''"" ' "^^'^'"8 ^"t the 
 Jjgi^, and I could easil^s'tim ''7' Fl^ -'" -- "ow 
 ciH-ection Halkett gave me and u .f ., t ^^^^^^''"" ""* t^^ 
 over and over to mysel aL I we 1 ''"*'""*^^^ ^^ '•'^P^-* 
 i^S my shadow-the onlv or H ?"?• '^''"''^ '-^'^1 watch- 
 ^vere my occupations I Lv" *^"\t«"«»^e^^ the earth- 
 "8i^t folly; but wh n fm. any cTan''""'''"'^"*'* ^^-"- 
 ">y course the shadow d d not fnP f '" ^^'' ^"'^^t^^" «f 
 couM mark it, my snii t^ ^1 ,"' ^'°"* °^ °^e, where I 
 
 heavier. ' ^ '^'"^*' ^^"' ^"^ my heavy heart grew 
 
 When, however it did 
 watching how it dived downThe li.rt!' ? "^ "'="'' "'""''^'J 
 on the opposite ba.A, bend,°„ ^wif I, !'"",', ""^ '''''^ "S"" 
 
 fn,r ^ ™s eo™p.io:::s;:^V3t-i- - /j-^^ 
 
 altt'„:rf:^Lr^;:|»\:;'* P-.;f .-ain-wate. a„d, 
 wh.te clouds so te,„pt „„| ' ttat 1 ™t ? '' """ "^^ "'"> 
 make my breakfast. As I sat L»R " '"'"''''' " '" 
 
 me, and I fancied how- „"„„.! ' T ™ *«'"° "'"> 
 favored by fortune, a ,d , osZed of ""'""' '"""' "»" 
 with rank, and riches, and ho„oT 1,^','! ™''''">' «'"' 
 hour when, a poor, fri;nd ss onte^/ /''"'f;^, -"« "-bo'' the 
 on Anticosti. I fancied »„„„,' . *'" '"•'^ '""«'>• meal 
 ■"most incrednlous V o ,|,rw'e ^Z '"'f """"" ''»"'» 
 pity or of praise tlfey wo^,, mL""'' "'.«' "•'"' traits o( 
 
 If.ltIwas„otdooL™odicir;,rdre" ■"{ '*r- 
 -courage would sustain n.eVirttraCed',' ftZ 
 
 on^aTfr/ ^t^ dS™"'^ ,'" '?' '•™""'^- " - 
 
 III 
 
 18 
 fit 
 
 ;sii 
 
 ^^- i 
 
 ill 
 
142 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 M 
 
 log-house. i coMid scarcely drug my leus alons a few 
 moments before; but now I broke into u run, and with many 
 a stumble, ui .1 more tlian one fall, - for I „ever turned my 
 eyes fr.>m the hut, — I at last reaeheil a little cleared spot of 
 ground, in the midst of which stood the '' Kefuge-houae." 
 
 What a moment of joy was that as, unable to move 
 fartiier, 1 sat down upon a little bench in front of the hut! 
 All sense of my loneliness, all memory of ]ny desolation' 
 was lost in an instant. There was my home ; how strange a 
 word for that sad-looking hut of pine-logs, in a lone island, 
 unmhabited ! No matter, it would be my shelter and my 
 refuge till better days came round; and with that stout 
 resolve [ entered the great roomy apartment, which in the 
 settling gloom of nigjit seemed immense. 
 
 Striking a light, I i)rocoeded to take a survey of my terri- 
 tory, which I rejoiced to see contained a great metal stove and 
 an abundant supply of bed-clothing, _ precautions required 
 by the frequency of ships being ice-bound in these latitudes. 
 Ihere were several casks of biscuits, some Hour, a large 
 chest of maize, besides three large tanks of water, supplied 
 by the rain. A few bags of salt and some scattered objects 
 of clothing completed the catalogue, which, if not very 
 luxurious, contained nearly everything of absolute necessity 
 I lighted a good fire in the stove, less because I felt cold 
 for It was still autumn, than for the companionship of the 
 bright blaze and the crackling wood. This done, [ proceeded 
 to make myself a bed on one of the platforms, arranged like 
 bed-places round the walls, and of which 1 saw the upper 
 ones seemed to have a preference in the opinion of my 
 predecessors, since, in these, the greater part of the bed- 
 clothiug was to be found, — a choice I could easily detect the 
 reason of, in the troops of rats which walked to and fro 
 with a most contemptuous indiflference to my presence ; some 
 of them standing near me while I made ray bed, and lookin-, 
 as doubtless they felt, considerably surprised at the nature 
 of my operations. Promising myself to open a spirited cam- 
 paign against them on the morrow, I trimmed and ILrhted a 
 large latop, which from its position had defied their attempt 
 on the oil it still contained ; and then, a biscuit in hand, 
 betook myself to bed, watching with an interest not, I own 
 
"MEAXS AND MKDITATIONS." 
 
 148 
 
 o'S'lif """'• '"" «"'■"""» °' "■- primitive .„Uiv.» 
 
 «/.r„ afl',"'"" ""■^ ";""■""' '■'"'" •■■"•" "tl,c a , 1 'X 
 Hexton, after m vuiii seek ikj- iuicl fillii..,- f-... k; 
 
 f- »evo,,u „„„™, c.,,n,a„ae/.,;:u:t; \ :„ ;» ,:;;;;.',:■;: 
 
 the upper air; and no iie returned •ikn irw.L-; ,"'"''' ^" 
 
 the heavy door, as was hh von i '" •'" ""'"'"^ 
 
 onieer's t^iends/ahu.^S ^^ h len f ,. ::^3 ;;r^ T 
 search for him throu-h the citv m.uI ?/ ^'/''^''^^''^'^l ^o make 
 
 sons ye living will .vo„ol,, r heanl wh^a ,„rcl, 1 
 
 £el,± -l:^ rr/i -;;s tz T;.- rr^ 
 
 personal ha„d..o-h..nd aetion, fne.,, sea c i^saytd :,! J 
 
 Me metliod I hit upon was to make a species of .rrenarle 1™ 
 ■nsertmg a quantity of powder with a sufHoiencfo bro'ke^ 
 
 f tse".";h"e:°t' '^"™" "" ^""'"'^ t'.'-olwX'eo ,-': 
 «! ruse, then, havini? smeared thp oufqir"" of fh- v '^i 
 
 P entifully with oil. o, whieh I diseove ed a suppW n b * 
 
 ders suspended from the eeiliug, I retued to my bertt, wl 
 
144 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 the other extremity of the fuse in my hand, ready to ignite 
 when the moment came. 
 
 I had not long to wait ; my enemies, bold from long impu- 
 nity, came fearlessly forward, and surrounded the bottle in 
 myriads ; ii became a scene like an election row, to witness 
 their tumbling and rolling over each other. Nor could I 
 bring myself to cut short tlie festivity, till I began to enter- 
 tain fears for the safety of the bottle, which already seemed 
 to be loosened from its bed of clay. Then at last I applied 
 a match to my cord, and almost before I could cover my 
 head with the blanket, the flask exploded, with a crash and 
 a cry that showed me its success. The battle-field Avas truly 
 a terrible sight, for the wounded were far more numerous 
 than the dead, and I, shame to say, had neither courage 
 nor humanity to finish their sufferings, but lay still, while 
 their companions dragged them away in various stages of 
 suffering. 
 
 I at first supposed that this was an exploit that could 
 only succeed but once, and that the well-known sagacity 
 of the creatures would have made them avoid so costly 
 a temptation. Noth-'..g of the kind; they were perfect 
 Scythians in their love of oil ; and as often as I repeated 
 my experiment, they wei-e ready to try their fortunes. 
 Or perhaps they had some of the gambler's element in 
 their nature, and each felt that he might win where others 
 lost. 
 
 I had made Halkett a promise that for a couple of days, at 
 least, I would not hoist the signal-flag, 1 st any accident 
 should induce Sir Dudley to suspect my place of refuge, so 
 that I was completely reduced to my cu.npaign against the 
 rats for occupation and amusement. So far as I could dis- 
 cover, the little island, traverse it how I would, never varied, 
 the same rise and swell of surface, clad with loose stone, lay 
 on every side ; and so depressing had this mournful unifor- 
 mity become to me that I rarely ventured out of the hut, 
 or, when I did, it was to •*■ upon the little bench outside 
 the door, from which a sea view extended over the vride 
 waters of the Gulf. 
 
 To sit here and try to decipher the names cut into the 
 wood was my constant occupation. What histories, too, did 
 
!ir 
 
 impu- 
 
 " MEANS AND MEDITATIONS." I45 
 
 I weave of those who carved these letters ; and how did thev 
 tity, till I felt as If I had known them intimately. Some 
 
 thTl r?"""""^ "'^^'^^^^' ^-"^ it was easy to s^e 
 that after the letters were cut, the sculptor had gone on 
 
 embellishing and ornamenting his work for very !ack of 
 
 t finisher' ^°""; ^"'-^ "^^^ '^^'^^^^ and 'oL was 'a 
 lialt-hnished name, leaving me to the pernetual dnnhf 
 
 whether he had been rescued from his captiv'^fo, died ere 
 It was completed. *^ uicu ere 
 
 Between my hours spent here and the little duties of my 
 hmisehold with usually three or four explosions aga ns my 
 rats, the day went over, -I will not say rapidly, but oassT 
 did; and each night brought me nearei- to tSe Te^ 
 should hoist my signal, and hope.- ay, that was the great 
 supporter through all- hope for rescue ^ 
 
 an?i?.t .r,T 'r' T'' "*^'' "' "^^ ^^^"^ ^" ^^e island, 
 
 dest/uciTo; n •' ^^'-"^ ^^ "^^'"* '°"^^ '^^^ «^«de for the 
 
 destiuction of my enemies, for my last charge of powder had 
 
 .^"nVSf'-Tt ''i ''""''r- ----"g,-ve\he tiding 
 extZ f :"''" *'"' ^^'^"' ^ ^"^^ succeeded to a great 
 
 extent, the creatures no longer appeared with their former 
 an of assurance, nor in large bodies, Their army was 
 bit at"^ ^^-7--ecl; thoy no longer took the field in 
 battalions, but in scattered guerilla parties, without dis" 
 cipnneor courage. - Even had my ammunition lasted it is 
 more than doubtful that my tactics would have conSed to 
 
 mra'tfTm^ed^T^^i ^ '^' '^^^^^ '<> dreVdThtlttl ? 
 ince a refoimed drunkard. Often have I seen them an 
 
 proach within a few feet of it, and wait pat ently ti 1 some" 
 
 andXV'ftrr firr"^' ^^"-^^^^-'^ ventu're neaZ 
 bed olothlf ^^^^!''^ '*" ' - *^^ ^«^«* ™«tling of m; 
 
 bed-clothes, -away they went in full career. It was evi^ 
 
 k nd ha'd tlTtr?' ''\T' '''''' ™^^*-- ^^^^--e 
 Kind, had hud Its day. This was consolatory, too, as I had 
 
 no longer the means of continuing my siege operations 
 
 while the caution and reserve of ''the iemy suSed ^ 
 
 Darts of tLVrr ''''^'° """^^'^ ^f bottles at differen 
 TO. !.lio " ' '^' ^''^ ''^^'"^ ^^ ""^^'^ i"«Pi^ed terror; 
 
146 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 •A ii 
 
 offiot?! . T "'^ ""^ "^^"P"ty assistant" to the paid 
 
 Man, we,.e toe nusadveotures of tl.at Tuck,: '0,1,^:' 
 and toe pabhc were loud in theii- denunciations of t S 
 
 Bciutiny detect the existence of a " wav-biU " fh^ «^ 
 I tanl. ^ ^' '" """^ '""'■■^' •"■ "- "»" '"e time, a^ 
 
 heduth -^^Z complaints gradually subsided ; in act 
 
 atdThS'orV'^r^"^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 and a ha f of wh.peord, they reduced me to a stunted bit o? 
 
 tck with a httle drooping la.U that would n't reach the 
 
 tail of my one leader. Mv receipts fpll r.ff f. J ! / "® 
 
 in n aiooK- " ""y prosperous days to "ao at" 
 
 in a slashing canter, amid a shower of encomium/? t 
 now obliged to stagger slowly iin ^vHh T ^\ ""^ 
 small farmers, and maybe a nriest in n 1 ^"^"-'!"^-t^««ty 
 ness, laziness, incivilit/, and ot^f ."od ^^^^^^ t^PJ^^'- 
 ay, and more, for lack of a bit of whfpco.^d ' ' 
 
 alhan... when hard pressed; even cabinet ministers; 1 
 
"MEANS AND MEDITATIONS." 
 
 147 
 
 L^tnTt' CrcTe:rt,r b?'^^^^^^^^^^ --^^"b-- allies. 
 1-lp of a little ^^^^J^^^^'^'i '' ^^ -"ed in th 
 
 caravan, sallied forth with a Ion., bmnch of . ?P^°^«^"^^g 
 belabored the team into some taint r.I n ° '^^'^'^'^ ^nd 
 Through this auxiliary I Zlv red n , ^^ '^ '' '"'''''''- 
 popularity, arnl was likely to blalir ^^''\ ""^ ^'^"^'^^^^ 
 favor, When my assistant au'ht ^^^"1 ''' '''''''''''' 
 once more reduced to my own efforts ' '"^ ' ^^« 
 
 and^:i r s^Ls:^^s^s ir ;^ ^-^ ^ --^- ^ 
 
 the horses, droppin<v thXTead. ^""^^ ^^ ^^' ^ill, and 
 
 i"to the little ^hufWil,. amb le 1:7''' ?''''"^"^ ^"^^^^""g 
 "Bed to scream out at the Too o t ^''""'^'' '" ^'^^^ ^^'alk, I 
 exhortations to the boy ?! a1 1,^7-'' '" '''^ accustomed 
 into him, boy,-unde';: the^ k ee 'mVf j?' ^^^^"'"^ 
 enough of it ! _ welt him well Zi !P ^^l! ' - -'''^ ^im 
 that, from oM associifinna „i" ^uere! exclamations 
 
 beasts into ,, oJ te 3' 1Z7" »"""'"'«' "« "'^«*d 
 salutary ten-or, JLato^I^Z'! "T™""" "' "« 
 a» M the old days of the penalcode " ■""'' '"' ^"'"""^ 
 
 nuclable than their sLeo; ttr^', '' '^'^ ""'' ^^' "^^re for- 
 and whether the; nibblt. rouf^r^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^o imply; 
 success is invariably the same. ^ ^ ^'eputation, their 
 
 Four days had now elapsed anri T « , . , 
 yacht must ere this have be n 'mHes J. ZT ''' *''' *^« 
 river. The next mornino- then T L , '"''^^S-^ "P ^^e 
 the signal, and thus a pris ^L ' t '^ 'T""''' '^ ^^^'^ 
 deserted and forlorn cieE a k^".- ^'' *^^* ^°^ 
 "Miserable island. ' ^* ^'^'^' ^^^" ^"^gered on the 
 
 I sat at my lire till a late hour I w,, ,^ 
 than usual. I had .vatched the Gulf from ' '"^ 'P^"*« 
 
 and without seeing one sail upon^t'l ^c ""rf- IT'"'^ 
 was biowmg from the northward" and on\i r^^ ^'""^^ 
 -ny of the outward vessels wou^d rbornVXrE 
 
 If! fi 
 
 !■ .H 
 
148 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHEGAN. 
 
 one appeared. From time to time a fleeting cloud, resting 
 
 ot ^ .Inp but at length J grew accustomed to these deceu- 
 tzons, and sultered little or no disappointment when a s cond 
 glance at the spot failed to df^tect them 
 
 Once or twice the thought crossed my mind that I mioht 
 never leave thCnd. that winter nngtt close in, and Ihe 
 ;ulf be rozen before I could n>ake my escape; and I actu- 
 ally shuddered at the very notion qf a fateso terrible I 
 cowered nearer to the fire as the flame subsided, and was 
 sit ing with n.y hands outstretched over the blaze - , he 
 sudden crash of one of the bottles behind startled rLe. ' Were 
 ttie rats already regaining courage in a. ticipation of the ime 
 when I could no longe- resist them ? A^'ith this idea, J ttn ed 
 ny head round. The flame threw a long ray of li^^ht u on 
 the floor as I moved, and in the midst of°this I behdd ail 
 distance of about three yards off, a large black head 'vith 
 wo „,,n.ense and bloodshot eyes glaring fixedly at m . I 
 seemed to nse out of the earth, above which it lose sea cely 
 more than a foot in haUjht. Hcaiceiy 
 
 Paralyzed by terror; I could not stir, I cou^ 1 • ar^^elv 
 b^^eathe, as w.th a slow and nodding motion the laroe black 
 
 a neg o, - who on hands and knees was slowly creenincr 
 
 leatuies s maiked by age and worn by want; thev resem- 
 b ed those o a wild beast rather than of a human c^-eaTe 
 More from the force of a mere mechanical impulse than w tli 
 
 ated me I had drawn my pistol from my bosom, and held it 
 onUed towards him. '' No fire ! - no fire ! " cr ed the cr a 
 ure, m a low, faint voice; and at the same time, wlHe rest- 
 ing on one i^nd he held up with the other a long Lrllht kn ft 
 in an attitude of menace. * 
 
 Btove''^' i^'l'tiV, f 'V " '"'"''"'^^ ^' ^' ^ ^^" ^'^'^ beside the 
 stove, and still kept my eyes fixed upon him whom now T 
 
 knew to be the Black Boatswain; and thus we remainld 
 tffiti^ro "^^ '^' ^t'"' ^''"'^ ''' «- flickered and tt 
 ^.eie thus, I saw, or I thought 1 saw, the negro steaTthily 
 
"MKANS AND MEDITATIONS." 149 
 
 kuife dr„„po<l Cora jl'i "'l ",''?'":■ "'"'" ^"""^ly 'te 
 
 •■outed all foars for myselt- a „I (i '' "'"'" ™'''»> 
 
 with water, I eu,nti« Ifll , » " ""'' '™«> *« tani; 
 
 fl-k into I't, :Xm iuits'rur '' "™"" -^ "■^ '-'^^'y- 
 
 
 II 
 
 He swallowed it greedilv • -infl fi.« 1 • 
 -iti> ins gaunt and^on^fin:' k^M ^^Tf J^' ^'''' 
 seconds while he recoverorl hH \ "" ^""^^ ^<^'' ^ ^^w 
 
 that see,„ed al.olt oo„; li ^ '^^ f ^^^^' -!" -^ ^^ort 
 ish which I could not undeMami T ?'r"^' "^ ^J^""" 
 «bow hin) my i-norance of L ? '^"''^' ^">' ^^^^^ to 
 
 eye ,„11 up„„^„'e, :erid:^'.'ire:;X:"roX"?"' ^^ 
 
 IN 
 
 
 'ft! 
 
 Hi 
 
 
150 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON (REGAN. 
 
 at once that I was alone, and had been deserted by mv 
 companions. -^ "*> 
 
 "Bad men, white men!" cried he, gnashing his ^eeth 
 
 Watei ! I endeavored to free myself from his gni-p to 
 
 by a sign tha. he wished me to assist him to reach the tank 
 aceordmg y stooped dov.u to helj, him, and now perce'ed 
 that he could do little n, ... th.n drag id. legs forward and 
 support himself on the knees ; being Slher .v^o%^l^,S 
 paralyzed from his hips dew .wards. ^ ^h, fo^co " eS 
 he^wice or thrice and the. cuanged to the ;ord '^ F^" 
 
 eaniestLs. ""'' ''' '''' "^^ '^'^ ^'^ ^ '^-id 
 
 11 T' "?* ""'^^'''"^ ^^^^' ^'^^ "^"^^ exertion that I sue- 
 eoeded in dragging him near the embers of the fire • but 
 having done so, I qui.kly replenished the dying flame 'and 
 f^ng It with my hat, soon succeeded in making a^LS 
 blaze once more. "Buono! goot! goot. ' said he, seve a 
 1jnie^^as^.e held his shrivelled and^ wasted finge^ ^:^:; 
 
 Bel'; heir" '"'^'^- " "^' '' '^"^^"^^ ^-^ '^ -^e my. 
 
 He nodded twice. 
 
 " Can you eat biscuit? I have nothing else " said T- f^.r 
 half f.a,.ed that the hard, dry fo«l .„„«"; iCraefcrble 
 for his almost toothless jaws. P^HtucaDie 
 
 He said something about "Guisado," once or twice- and 
 a ast made a sign that I understood to mean that L b s- 
 cuit might be softened in water for him. And with that 
 I placed a pot of water on the fire, and soon saw bythe 
 expression of his eye that I had divined his meaning. ^ 
 
 As I continued to blow the fire, and occasionally examined 
 he water to see if it boiled, I con', mark that t'^ie ^"0^ 
 
 w'."'"^'' T' ^"^"'^^ ^^'' ^"*' ''''' "' ^-e^tless activityf ol 
 lowed me wherever I went, or wh:it. ■ r I did • onH I 1 u 
 
 from his age, and the dreadful infirmityVe tC^l u ^'^ 
 felt I should prove his equal in any struggle. I owi ttt' I 
 cast many a sidelong look towards him, iest he should take 
 
"MEANS AND MEDITATIONS." 261 
 
 me by surprise. That he was the notorious Black Boat 
 
 eager; a„d a, l<n,g,b 1 removed it fr„,„ the tire a^ZS 
 
 to repleui»b the ,„e.3; and eaeh time d d ifvani * ^ K 
 the same despatch. . 'anisn ivith 
 
 sav'^nl^fh.Mf '''k T ^ ""^'^ ^^«- «^ tobacco at parting 
 saying that although I was no smoker, I should soon learn 
 to become one in mv solitude Tiii^ r „ . 
 
 offered him a handful. "''^ P^-oduced, and 
 
 The dark features were immediately li<rhted nn wifh o„ 
 
 almost frantic expression of pleasuref as he o IS th^ 
 
 precious weed; and tearing off a f raoment of thl [ 
 
 rolled it into the shape of% cigareUe ^'P''"' "^^ 
 
 - No smoke ? " asked he, as I sat watching his preparations 
 
 I shook my head. "Ah'"^enpd ,=,;"'. P^^P'^''^"ons. 
 
 tobacco before him. " Tehoka let '' ' « ^"k^ "^'^^^ '^' 
 to it. ienoKa, heie, said he, pointing 
 
 make nl;ro'fo— ^^^^ shaking both hands; ^ weed 
 
 so- 
 
 wide, and dropped bir.^^tlJu^^^ZTi^'" "°""' 
 sickness, or perhaps death. ^ "aclcwatds, to represem 
 
 saw „owih£:^atta-&' ':z:r^i^;^r ' 
 
 
 ■ill 
 
 '^f 
 
152 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CUEGAN. 
 
 He sat eying me all the while ; and when I proceeded to 
 till it with tobacco, he leaned ovei- to see that I did not 
 avi^nipt any sleight of hand to deceive him. 
 
 " Will that do? " said J, showing lam the little paper tube. 
 " Smoke," said he, gravely. 
 
 It was only after watching me for several minutes that be 
 took courage to venture himself; and even then lie scruti- 
 nized the t(jbacco as keenly as though it demanded all his 
 acuteness to prevent stratagem. At length he did begin ; 
 and certainly never did anytiiing seem to effect a more pow- 
 erful and more immediate intluenee. The fiery, restless eyes 
 grew heavy and dull; the wide-distended nostrils ceased 
 to dilate with their former convulsive motion. His cheek, 
 ■ieamed with privation and passion, lay flaccid and at rest, 
 and a look of lethargic ease stole over all the features one 
 by one, till at last the head fell forward on his chest, his 
 arm slipped softly fiom beneath him, and he rolled heavily 
 back, — sunk in the deepest sleep. 
 
 I soon abandoned my tobacco now, which had already 
 begun to produce a feeling of giddiness and confusion very 
 unfavorable to cool determination, — sensations which did 
 not subside so readily as I could have wished ; for as I sat 
 gazing on my swarthy companion, fancies the wildest and 
 most absurd associated themselves with the strange reality. 
 The terrible tales I once listened to about the " Bhick Boat- 
 swain " came to mingle with the present. The only remnant 
 of right reason left prompted me to keep up my fire; a cer- 
 tain terror of being alone and in the dark with the negro 
 predominating over every other thought. 
 
 By the bright blaze, which soon arose, I could now mark 
 the enormous figure, which, in all the abandonment of heavy 
 slumber, lay outstretched before me, Although it was evi- 
 dent he was very old, the gigantic limbs 'showed what 
 mimense strength he must have possessed; while in the 
 several white cicatrices that ma iked his flesh, I could reckon 
 a great number of wounds, some of them of fearful extent. 
 The only covering he wore was a piece of sailcloth wrapped 
 round his body; over this he had a blanket, through a round 
 hole in which his head issued, like as in a Mexican poncho, 
 leaving his sinewy limbs perfectly naked. A bit of ra<yoed, 
 
"MEANS AND MEDITATIONS." 
 
 168 
 
 seemed 
 
 uuiou- 
 
 worn bunting — part, ai 
 
 was bound round his he 
 
 "' ' T •" •>"^ cmji¥_y uuiurs, aei'VOU 
 
 to enhiuice the .stern expression of his harsh features 
 
 Ah my senses became clearer, I began to imagine how it 
 happened that he came to the hut, since in all the narratives 
 1 had heard of him, the greatest doubt existed that he was 
 St.! bvmg so effectually did he manage his concealment. 
 At ast, and by dnit of much thought, 1 hit upon what I sus- 
 pected to be the real solution of the dillioulty, which was, 
 that he was accustomed to venture hither whenever the 
 signal-flag was not hoisted ; and as 1 had not done so, that 
 
 thV'isfand ' *^' ^'^''*" ^'"'^ ^' ''^' *^' °"^^ "'''"= '"^" '''' 
 That he must have contrived his hiding-place with o-reat 
 success was clear enough ; for whether the allegations against 
 hnn were true or false, they were so universaily believed by 
 sailors that if he had been discovered they w^ukl unques- 
 tionably have carried him off to Quebec. It was now in my 
 lower 'to do the state this service; " and 1 began to can- 
 vass with myself all the reasons for and against it If 
 on the one hand, it reminded me of the old legends I used 
 to read about striplings that led captive huge giants or 
 fierce dragons, on the other, I felt it would be a species of 
 ti-eachery to one who had eaten bread from my hands 
 Besides, to what end -even supposing him guilty to any 
 extent -to what end bring him now to justice, when a few 
 days, or hours, perhaps, would close a life whose sufferincr 
 was manifest enough? And, lastly, was I so certain of 
 escape myself that I already plotted carrying away a pris- 
 oner with me? The last reflection saved me the tiouble of 
 thinking much more on the others; and so I fell a ponder- 
 ing over myself and my destitution. 
 
 Not long was I permitted to indulge in such reveries- for 
 the negro now began to dream, ^nd talk aloud with a rapidity 
 of .erance and vehemence v, .y different from the mono- 
 syllabic efforts he had favors d me with. As the lan^rua-e 
 was Spanish, 1 could catch nothing of his meaning; lut'l 
 could see that some fearful reminiscence was a-itating his 
 mind, by the working of hi. fingers and the violent contor-' 
 tions of his face. 
 
 ■ m 
 
154 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF ,•, 
 
 "Vj. 
 
 on stoopincr down I n. pp KoT- "^' "^ ^^^ngi^rs: but, 
 
 book whiei; on^'li beeT 'd ;rr ''''^^^^^- Vooket- 
 
 almost black. ' ^"' ^^ ^""^ ""^^ J»t was 
 
 More than once l>,i clutched this in his hinH wjf. 
 
 energy, as if it was hi<, li..n,.f'. . ""' ^'^^ ^ ^^'d 
 
 oj^ "° 11 It was nis neart s treasure- mui ti.^.. +1 
 
 gles he tore the boik f om tetm^.n ' o"' '' ''•''' '^'''"^- 
 to seek for something ^or^t!':^.;^';:'^ :h,^^^ 
 the movement, and the seeming collectednp^ oV '^ ^ 
 ture, made me believe that he vvas awlkP V ? r''^'''^ ^'''■ 
 that his great and staring eyeS Ze . o. I ^ T' "'^ 
 spot, but were fixed on ^acl.'cy! ' '"'"'^ '" '^« 
 
 His motions were now more and more Inirripd • „f 
 his fingers would turn nvo,. fK^ ""rned ; at one time 
 
 another he would Ce .^ 1 H ^T'^ 'f '^'' Poeket-book, at 
 
 thing in the earth, he ^onlJ;l2::^^J^;Zr^'i:r' 
 discovery; and at these momen,-, the CntsT I 
 gold, would escape him in n hnif I ' I ""^^ '''■''' 
 
 word ;'GuaJaq„„,L" ™.eVe o. ^'f J AImL":'" ,'"? 
 my mmd ,.,iai„e<l both for many a d fL ' """ 
 
 paper fell ,oX'„,5' ?",' ."'"°" "°' " ^'"Sl' ^■'.' "f 
 by'the light o Tt I TirZn ""•" ""'"'" '' ^ """ 
 newspaper: j ^"^ iiom ine ,iui of a 
 
 ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD. 
 
 Crick, a negro slave a^ed fo^v^ i . ^' '^^^^^^^^n of Menelaus 
 broad chesf an:! 2S!'«rS : '-^^ands six feet two 
 
 and sliouldPrs, the Hg},t higher tL 
 
 high; 
 an the left; has 
 
♦'. 
 
 "MEANS AND MKDITATIONS." IRC 
 
 Tliere were a few words h, Spanish scrawled on the Imck 
 
 must tba ach isement have appeared? He waJ forty-eiaht 
 a tha tune, a.d now hi. age might be nigh ei-^htv Mv 
 cunosity became . ^ense to see the content! of the pock^t^ 
 book from whu. 1 couM fancy ahundan,^, materia sTo eke 
 
 t ro of";^' ' '"''"'■^^' ' "•" "f'-^'^l tJ^-t nothing but the 
 tenor of discovery preve. d my stealing it. I even planned 
 IZut ^ '^-•one without awaking'him but th ng 
 bight knife which gl.stened in the strap of his blanket 
 ad.o.„shed me to prudence, and I abstai^ned. 
 My fire waxed fainter as the dawn drew niah and «« T 
 
 on the very verge of the horizon what seemed to be a vessel 
 Ihe moment of suiri^P Uta +i,of ^e ^ "c a vessel. 
 
 favoriblP to Lr 1 •'• ^ "^ ''""^*'^' '» Peculiarly 
 
 lavoiable to istiuct vision; and as th» pi„k line of dawn 
 
 sheeted over the sea, the dark object Mood out e-"'r ™ 
 
 ^7i^T ;" r' "^""'"^ '''' g^^''^ «f b"ghter dav Tv- 
 er d sky and water together, and I could no fon^-er ^^eTe 
 
 h 
 
 Hi. 
 
 if'. 
 
 I i 
 
 m 
 
 Bl^Qi'u^^^l 
 
 l^^x^^^H 
 
156 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CliEGAN. 
 
 In my anxiety to try and catrl sight of it from nnofhor 
 apot, I buBtencd do.n to the Hho.e ; "but alrl Tr^; tin 
 was spread over tlie wide sea, and nothing was disce.Uu 
 except the heaving waves an<l the streaked sjly Ibove 
 
 and t iTst" th^^ f'''"""^ '"^^y^'^' ^"^ ''' no purpose: 
 and at hist the cold raw air pierced through me, and I 
 
 emembered that I had left my jaoket in the"hut But fo 
 
 tias nideed, I would not have returnod to it, -for, witu 
 
 absolute fear of the negro, his ropulsiv.. feat arcH d " ow 
 
 HIS suspicion of mo, t„o, might have l.d hi,„ to some act of 
 volence; and therefore I determined, if I were evCrto seci 
 «lK.l er m the Kefuge-hou.e at the other end of the is and I 
 would not go back to this one. ' 
 
 It was some time before I could summon courac^e to ven- 
 tm-e back again ; and even when I had .ea.hed tk^doo' it 
 
 Ibe daylight was now streaming i„, across the loi.cr and 
 
 reary chamber, and, encouraged by this, I stepped ac.oss 
 
 he tires .,d. My first glance was\owards the /ov , w " 
 
 I had left him lying asleep. The f.re had burned out and 
 
 the negro was gone! With cautious steps, . many a 
 
 ing with a fear I cannot explain, -since his very presence 
 had not caused such terror; but nowhere was he to^b fou d 
 - not a trace of him remained. Indeed, were it not foi £ 
 Bcrap of printed paper, which I had ca;efully presei- ^d I 
 should have believed the wliole events of the night o be the 
 mere fancies of a dream. 
 
 Twice was I obliged to take it from my pocket and read it 
 over, to assure myself that I was not pursuing some halluc 
 nation of sleep; and if I felt convinced that the events were 
 rea and had actually happened, I will frankly ovvmi hat the 
 reality inspire,! me with a sense of fear which-'no memoiVo? 
 a mere vision could have inspired. ^'^'noiy or 
 
 Daylight is a bold companion, however, and where ni^ht 
 would make the heart beat fast and the cheek pile the su 
 will give . strong pulse and a ruddy face. This I could no 
 Help feehng, as I acknowledged to myself that had it been 
 
"MEANS AND MKDITATIONS." 
 
 167 
 
 yet dark, I had ratlier hare Derislicl mifi. „„i i .u 
 
 for ,ny jacket willm, the hut. °°^'^ """ """Bht 
 
 could not l)f. for off no ,^ ^ **^ conccalmeut 
 
 x:t;::t:r'— -^'--^^^^ 
 
 7 .:r^J;:i!;;;;;;;ir°n"SJ''rrrrr "t 
 
 the pursuit aqsur,.,! fi.nf i i ^,' ^^ ^liat I abandoned 
 
 h.n.lkorchicf hack a,„, fort^f aW,™^™ ''£ T':"' ™T 
 describe the transport o( delight I felt ^f ■ • "°°' 
 
 flag was hoisted to the m"-mtj ! > I'ercoini.g that a 
 
 -a recognitio,, of the s^naffhich IS aT' "'""™''; 
 even cried aloud with joy; and tl™ i„ m " ™- ^ 
 
 eestasy, I set off aloni ih. . ' " """ ""S^'noss .if my 
 
 for a Lt to ,",„ ,„ * "" """■"• ^''^'""8 »'" ">« "os. place 
 
 herX'L-^TriTef't-L-ir''-' '» "^ ^^^^ 
 
 riggini?, my heart aeu.lt^"f *^' ^^"^'^ «^ «^«° i» the 
 
 out from beneath hpr tn i .• i ' . "'"'^ ^ ^^^ shootin<r 
 
 the water Saea'ifd t VT ^'""'^'' ^'^^ ^^^^^ 
 exactly towards wLrP t'^. i , ^ ^^"^ "'^' ^l^ey headed 
 
 bay JuL arm%:^i Si^^'^ ^ .^Il^orrlVf " ^ ^^"^^ 
 
 now jumped ashore, and aUvanced towa'rds me."^' ^°^^""" 
 
 Are there many of you?" said the coxswain, gruffly, 
 
 if 
 
 i. 
 
 
158 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 and as though nothing were a commoner occurrence in life 
 St:r;r ^ ^°^^ ^^^-^^^-^ fenowereature from an unin^ 
 " I am alone, sir," said I, almost bursting into tears, for 
 mn^gled joy and disappointment; for I was, I ownTt! dis 
 appojn ed a the want of sympathy for my loie conditL 
 
 " A yacht, sir, —the ' Firefly.' " 
 
 "Ah, that 's it ; so they shoved you ashore here. That 's 
 what comes of sailing with gentlemen, as they calls 'em '' 
 No, su- ; we landed - a few of us - during a calm - » 
 Ay, ay, he broke in, " I know all that, - the old story • 
 
 from the' t?' '''T, "''^?' ^"^ ^""^'^-^' ^^ »-* -I-S 
 from the others ; the wind sprung up meantime : the yacht 
 
 fired a gun to come off _ eh, is n't that it ! Come, my tad 
 no gammon with .... You're some infernal youn. s^camp 
 that was ' had up' for punishment, and they Jther^put you 
 ashore here for the rats, or you jumpe.l overboard you self 
 and floated hither on a spare hencoop. But never mi d, -- 
 we 11 give you a run to Quebec ; jump in " 
 I followed the order with alacrity, and soon found myself 
 
 the -th Regiment of Foot to Canada. ^ 
 
 shall Z\T 'v ^r ""'^^ "''" '''^ t^« ««^«^-n; 
 ..owd of officers in undress, sat smoking on the after-deck 
 
 wat ^osftr"* ^Ttr""'' '" ™P^y ^^^^ *^« ^'^««el'« 
 way was lost for very sliii,ht cause 
 
 the^co^Si." '^" '^ '^^^"^^' *^ ^ ^-^*' -'" ~d 
 ;; Whose yacht, boy? " asked one of the officers. 
 Su- Dudley Broughton's, sir; the ' Firefly,' " said I. 
 
 man^rff^-^^""^'*^"'"^^^^ -^ old, shrewd-looking 
 man, in a foraging-cap ; - don't you know all about him? 
 But to be sure, he was before your day ; " and then chan^ 
 mg h,s discourse to French, - with whi;h langua",' thanks" 
 to my kind old friend Father Rush, I was sufficiently ac 
 qnainted to understand what was siid, - he adde r '' Sii' 
 Dudley was m the Life Guards once ; his wife ebpcd wfth 
 
for 
 
 'MEANS AXD MEDITATIONS." 
 
 159 
 
 a Russian or a Polish Count, — I foro-et whi^h 
 became deranged in conseonpnna w ' ~ ^"*^ ^^ 
 
 Dudley, boy v» asl ed T n^M ^''' ^^'^ ^^"^ ^^^h Sir 
 
 " Not nJho f !: addressing me in English. 
 
 iNot quite two months, sir " 
 
 you happen to be left on Anticosti?" ^^^ ^'^ 
 
 ';No use in asking, Captain!" broke in thp „v 
 
 This was another lesson to mo i., i:p i 
 
 ^ ;i. 
 
^^.vj. "A GLIMPSE OF ANOTHER 
 OPEXIXG m LIFE." 
 
 LTHOUGH only a few h.indrcd 
 ,.,1 . -"- ^^^^^ fi'O'" Qi't-bec, our x-iov. 
 
 8 .11 continued for several days; the ^Aian'phoT 3^ 
 
 ansport-slnps, was only -groat in a calm," and the Guif 
 st.;ea.n xM„g powerful enough to retanl far better s.iezt 
 
 To those who, like myself, were not pressed for me or 
 
 had no very pleasing vista opening to them on shorV.^ 
 
 voyage .as far fron. disagreeable. As the channel nanw d 
 
 he ta mountains of Vermont eame into view, and "'Xaf; 
 
 the villages on the shore could be detected, -sn;;^ 
 
 ft:r' Hcf f.if' 1 ""'''' ^pp^^^-^^ iniermi:;:!!; ^ t 
 
 selves, m ,.ne «hape ui dismasted hulks, being the remains of 
 
"A GLIMPSE OF ANOTHER OPENING IN LIFE." 161 
 
 vessels which had got fastened in the ice of the early " fall " 
 and were deserted by the crews. ' 
 
 On the whole, it was novelty, and novelty alone, lent any 
 charm to the picture ; for the shores of the Gulf, until you 
 come withm two days' journey of Quebec, are sadly dis- 
 couragnig and dreary. The Log-house is itself a mournful 
 object; and when seen standing alone in some small clearino-, 
 with blackened stumps studding the space, through which 
 two or three llgures are seen to move, is inexpressibly sad- 
 looking and solitary. 
 
 Now and then we would pass some little town, with a 
 humble imitation of a harbor for shipping, and a quay ; and 
 in the midst a standard, with a flag, would denote that some 
 Government otilcial resided there, — the reward, doubtless. 
 of some gallant deed, some bold achievement afloat ; for I 
 heard that they were chiefly lieutenants in the navy, who 
 having more intimacy with French grape and canister than 
 with " First Lords," were fain to spend the remnant of their 
 days in these gloomiest of exiles. 
 
 The absence of all signs of life and movement in the 
 picture cannot fail to depress the spectator. No team of 
 oxen draws the loaded wagon along; not a plough is seen. 
 There are no gatherings of people in the open places of the 
 towns ; no cattle can be descried on the hills. The settle- 
 ments appear like the chance resting-places of men traveir.no- 
 through the dark forests, and not their homes for life. At 
 times a single figure would be seen on some high cliff above 
 the sea, standing motionless, and, to all seeming, watching 
 the ship. I cannot say how deeply such a sight always 
 affected me ; and I could not heli) fancying him some lone 
 emigrant, following with beating ^eart the track he was 
 never again to travel. 
 
 Apparently, these things made a deeper impression on me 
 than upon most others on board. As for the soldiers, they 
 were occupied with getting their arms and equipments in 
 order, to make a respectable appearance on landing. It was 
 6ne eternal scene of soap and pipeclay all day long; and 
 creatures barely able to crawl, from sea-sickness and debility, 
 were obliged to seour aad polinh away as if the glory of 
 England depended upon the show tiie gallant ~th would 
 
 VOL. I. — 11 ^ 'vuim 
 
 i il 
 
162 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHEGAN. 
 
 make, the day we should set foot ou shoro t. , • 
 too, was bent on makino- an eaulZ i ^^'^ '^'^^i'^'"' 
 
 landsn.en; his weather t^p a tTwL'T'";;^ ''"^' ^^ '^' 
 their place were hoisted som Tht a^^tZ' ""'^' ^^"^^ ^" 
 aetly in accordance with t^ , , '^^ ^I^^*^^^' 'lot ex- 
 
 and whitepai vve,^lte,f ^^"^'^^^^^^^ '"" '"'^^t^" ^''tch 
 saw some half-dozen of hf '"^^"^^^t'"" ^oo; and everyday 
 either scraping or pa LtL^ fo. T '"'^''?''^' """'' ^'^ -^^' 
 dangled frimlhe hoTJZtjt%r' ''''; '''''^ ' ^^''"^ 
 received a fresh coat of 1^^, o " ""f ^^^^'Crowned hat 
 
 on the approaching a'uin/^er,%:r''''' '" ™ "^^^"^ 
 officers on the poop ^Z h'.ri ) *^' ^'■°"P ^^ ^^""ging 
 
 and whiskers t^a^V ,t ' tuSn '' ^ "f ^^^^ '"^'^ 
 usually passed the mornin<r in " standard, and who 
 
 knots, shakos, gor^o? ami i n'" '^'"^'"^^ ^"^ «^«^-^- 
 
 wearing Li. Majosty's cloth the „mi7' '"""''"'' ">'■"• ""t 
 
 talk ,0 ,„e with a^reidom,;?„;,trbr''' "', '""-'^ '" 
 men. Thev werp nil ,„ "^ i "'^^^ "*^ed w th their 
 
 Dudley, 7X™ "ihot 1 " "'•'""" '" '"''■ '"»"' ^ 
 
 I wa, able to Sate "Ir'"'''''"' "''"'"'"'' '"'°"''"' 
 ^'-' iKiaie some annismo- nnrfi/.,iir,... a 
 
 ions o/ .».v.o,j:;;r:;'ii;h '::;,: r"e:r,:'* °'""- 
 
 presence. The senior officer was Tc-Jt I, "^ """ 
 kee„.eyed, pock-marked n,a„. wk, " « „ "' .^ '• "" °'"' 
 of parchment. He seemed to rea ,^ n , " "" " "'"-''■■' 
 so far as T ku^„ w'" ,■!'''"' '"« '*« " ''ook; at least, 
 character. ' °'""'°"'' "'■''■''>'^"y divined my true 
 
 .hr«^rvI*trl';t"i,'':,rf,V-^- -i^ »„ „„eommonIy 
 he sees that Le enterta 1,^ * '," '°"'° "' ""^ """'i 
 
 'i;^«ue. so io„, a:"?:;;;;^r:t,-;'ir:™'' "■"'"■- 
 
 "Now, what will become of sn^l, w i 
 ""Other. .. Heaven knows -L^r;,:'":,"' '""" " '''"^ 
 -...,e s.o„ndrcU, or r,„e to p„su,o„s of eminence. k::;Z 
 
 
ging 
 
 
 "A GLIMPSE OP ANOTHER OPENING IN LIFE." 163 
 
 UklMa^r '''"'^''' ^°"''^ '^'" *'" ''^' '^ ^ young rogue 
 
 an'ia,r"'V^"'^'"-^'^'^^''^ ^"^ ^ y°"»g subaltern, "how 
 an Ignorant cur, without education, nmuner«, and means 
 can ever rise to anything." means, 
 
 "Who can say wJiether he has not all theseV" said thp 
 eaptani quietly. ^^ Trust me, Carrington, you d'cut a much 
 poorer figure in his place than would he in.yo... '' 
 
 resumed'"'iT ^^7". '" ^'"^"^'^ '''^"^^'^' ^"^' ^I^e captain 
 
 my without possessing learning, have picked ip that kind 
 of rudnnentary knowledge that keenness and zeal h ' ,ove 
 on every day; and as for tact and address, such fe low^ 
 possess both as a birthright. I have a plan in my head 7o 
 
 seciecy, oi J 11 not venture upon it " 
 
 uiuKc roitu, atter the subsidence of which r-int-im Pit-, 
 continued, still, however, in French; and ho^Th L- S 
 
 tenor of his discourse, and divine its meanino-, narticularlv 
 as from time to time some of the listeners wo'ilcfp on2 
 a question or two in E.gHsh, by the aid of Xh l' a 
 nably contrived to keep up with the ''argume t '' 
 
 siKcial, she wel Icwws, wil be a^„ J f h r'"" ""* 
 
 :oour;z'"a;„rt:,:.^'"'-'-'''«'"'- ■'*■" '^"- <•»■' 
 
 «„ki L* "" "k^T. '" '^'""' • " ™""'""^ *« =»i"='in- " Who ever 
 »a,a l,.-a«8 button, and blue bead, were gold aud tur W 
 
 Hf 
 
 ,.4H 
 
 f'tf '.4 
 
 •Ml 
 

 164 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 But they pass for the same iu villages not fifty miles from 
 where we are sailing. Mother Davis was wife of a s doZ 
 in the timber trade who died harbor-n.astei here fi 
 not a very hkely person to be critical about a butler 'or t'oo 
 Jnan's m "oinplishments." ^^^^' 
 
 ''By Jove," cried another, " PjIcl is all li-ht ' Go on 
 with your plan." J'o"'- ^o on 
 
 " My plan is this: we'll dress up our friend Con hpra 
 g-e hun a few lessons about waiting at taWe deHveHnra' 
 n^ssage, and so forth, furnish him with a jolly le %f 
 chm^cters, and start him on the road of life ^ith' Moth:r 
 
 vatJTn -'"T °^. ^I^P'"«^'"^g '^"gl^ter broke forth from the 
 anl imleed it "T""-'^ "' ''^'•^'"" ^^^^'« "^^-^tions; 
 
 Sning hi it. "" " "''""' ^"""* ^'""^"^^^ I ™led 
 
 ean'/t'S.::^'''""^' ^^""°'" ''''' ^^^-"^^-^ "^^e 
 
 "Possibly not fourteen," said Pike; "but we'll shave 
 
 his head and give him a wig. I'll answer for the ' make 
 
 cais, leJy on t he'll pass muster." 
 
 " How will you dress him. Pike? " 
 
 " I» livery - a full suit of snuff-brown, lined with yellow • 
 T 11 devote a large cloak I have to the purpose, and we'll sei 
 the tailor at work to-day." '^ 
 
 " Is he to have shorts?" 
 
 him ?or'r""'T 'uT" ""^ ^'''' '""'^ ' ^^'^"^' ' '^^^ stockings for 
 him, for we shall have to turn him out with a go,.d kit '" 
 
 A very generous burst of promises here broke in" about 
 
 slnrts vests, cravats, gloves, and other wearables, which 
 
 own It. gave the whole contrivance a far brighter colo n .'i. 
 
 my e.ye8 than wlien it offered to be a mere h«-k. " 
 
 WM the rogue consent, think you?" asked Carrington. 
 
 Will he prefer a bed and a dinner to nothing to eal 
 
 a^ved Pike, contemptuously. " Look at the fellow! watch 
 his keen eyes and his humorous mouth when he's spe.kinl 
 oyou, and say if he wouldn't <!.> the thing for the' fun ^^ 
 V „., " .\ ••/■-"'^ «-.^\c-. tnap liiie nuu will see somethinff 
 besides a joke in the whole mutiivrtnoe." 
 
on 
 
 he 
 
 "A GLIMPSE OP ANOTHPP nxjir^xTTXT^ 
 
 ^viNUiHhR OPENING IN LIFE." 165 
 
 with the ve.^ huna;Ls;^^,r:^trSr'"' '"^^''^^-^ 
 
 ;-nh.g; ..Hi if L v^Se'c^^^^r ;:i m'^"^^^"^ 
 but smiply follows out the bent of uL ^ ^ education, 
 gence, he'll do well yet " '" "'"'^^'^ '"telli- 
 
 J. You rate him n.o.-e highly than I do," said Carnngton, 
 
 di^illJnlr'J^l^tlL ''tii ^ ^^'^ ""'■ -"-^-^« with very 
 
 character and life when tw. V-" ''''««''^'^^^tions about 
 
 if you were ien\^^^;^'^':'f^'^^--^^^on; but 
 nuany times in the "on oh M, ,1 '^"* "'"' "'^'^ ^ t^'^e as 
 
 The others eweZ^^^L ?. i ,^ ^'^'' ''^'''^ ^ '"^^''^ him." 
 view of the nX vot d ' ' r"'?-^"^^ ^» the captain's 
 
 bonds, and tS ither oh" r 'ca ^ ^f '' 1' ^"'"= ^'^=^- 
 -both beino- ,nv own nHvnt ^f.'"""*^'^ ^ downright ass, 
 A ^ "-^ ^^" P^^^^te sentiments to the IpftPr 
 
 And now for an honest avow., 1 1 if , " 
 
 niy natural aeuteness-tbe o.n r ' ""'' *^' ^^^^^^'^ ^^ 
 tude and smartness th f l- n^ ' Panegyric on my apti- 
 
 tbe scheme ;1ora7he:T nSthTliLl r^T^''^" 
 " service," nor the nrosDeot of thlw ^^ °''*'^o ""^ 
 
 so pointedly all^d to StH ^ ."^:*f "'^"^ ^i^ing he had 
 pression he\a IconcJ^i^ed o ' e T^^ '''' ''^"^'^^^^ ''"- 
 l^ope that I should see 'life'' 'tho ' """'^ '''''' ^^'^ 
 mind - under a newTiectI . ~ 1 ve 1 to ^i^^r nfo'"^ 
 
 -•e your ^lans ^l^^ 'v ' ;!«' Quebe:?"'^ •'"'' ""''' 
 look after your old master, Sir nillfy! tain? ''''^^ "'"^ ^^ 
 
 /^^' ''^'i''- / bave had enough of salt water for a time 
 I 11 keep my feet on dry land now " ' ^ 
 
 T ,f;l7A^^' ""%«f ^^'' ^^« y«» P'-opose to follow? " 
 . .^-^^.a.cu for ihe answer, and was silent. 
 
 I mean, resumed he, '' is it your intention to become a 
 
 i ' i J 
 
 J 
 
166 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON GREG AN. 
 
 3 
 
 01; 
 
 fam-servant With some of the emigrant families, or will you 
 seek for einploymeut iu the town > " ^ 
 
 ;;0r would you like to enlist, my lad?" broke in another, 
 and ^fj''^""^' >'^"' «"•; Pn^motion is slow from the ranks, 
 ^ort'in life." '*'" ^"' ''"^■^' ^" "^"^'^ '"^^'''^^ '^'y »»«ve 
 
 - Listen to the varlet now," said Pike, in French; - the 
 
 no mo.e. 11 tell you what it is, lads," added he, seriously, 
 
 when such rogues journey the road of life singly, they 
 
 raise /«,,,.,. to station and eminence; but when they 
 
 held together m masses, these are the fellows who pull 
 
 ttn? T' '"m, '''''' '''' '""^^ ^^'«^«trous social revolu- 
 tions So you 11 not be a soldier, Con?" added he, resum- 
 
 SSl^"-Z >'"'"■' ""'^^'' ^^^^* ''-' y°- ^d«- -« to the 
 
 " Anything to begin with, sir." 
 
 ;; Quite right, lad, - well said ; a fair start is all you ask v " 
 VVtiy, SU-, I carry no weight, either in the shape of ffoods 
 or character; and if a light equipment gives speed, I've a 
 chance to be placed well." ^ ' 
 
 saJ^' Wn'^'i" '''^''■' V.'^^'-"^""''^ ''' '^' «t^«^'« ^' though to 
 Bay, Was I correct in my opinion of this fellowV"and 
 
 Co". :r' "" v. '''''' ^^ ^'^-'"^>t ^'^ -y '-ad 7or you! 
 ™r l; ?'' '' -y -au-ntance at Quebec w2 
 a sen ant, now, if you could pick up some notion of the 
 duties, r ve „o doubt you'd learn the remainder rapidly " 
 
 entirLHgi^:::;:"'^" '" ^"'^^^' ^^^' ^^^ ^™ ^^^-^- -t 
 
 - Very true; and as these gentlemen and myself will nut 
 
 /'Much will depend on my mistress, sir," said I, deter- 
 rninmg to profit by what I had overheard, but yet not "e 
 the knowledge rashly or unadvisedly. ^^ Should she not be 
 very exacting and very particular, but have a little pa enc^ 
 with nie accepting zeal for skill, 1 Ve uo doubt, sir, nfn^ 
 discredit your recommendation." ", i " not 
 
 Dt^n'M*^' '''?• P'^°.^ ^'^" """^^"^ t^' Con," said the 
 
 Dtain. iDWPlMnnr Ilia v-^- — x- - , - - 
 
 !„ ^Oiuc lu a, most conliuential tone. 
 
 caotain. lowpiinfr 
 
 • -- — "& 
 
"A GLIMPSE OF ANOTHKIl OFKNINCi IN LIFE." IGT 
 
 •' The true state of the case is this : " _ and here he entered 
 upon an explanation which f need not trouble the reader bv 
 recap. tulatnig, since it merely wont the length 1 have already 
 related save that he added, in conclusion, this i.npoS 
 piece of information : — « impoitant 
 
 " Your golden rule, in every difllculty, will then be, to 
 aHHure Mrs. Davis that you always did so, whatever it may 
 
 oi the Bishop of Drone. You understand me, ch > " 
 
 iui^ Tf '''' '"■'•!; '"'^ ^' ^'''^'^'tening up, and at the same 
 time stealing an^ illustration from my old legal practices, 
 in iViKs. iJuviss court there are no precedents" 
 " ^^aetly, Con ; hit the nail on the very head, m'y boy ' " 
 
 like the^nlstl''-'^ ''''' ''"^"^^ ^^^'"^' ''' "' ''^ ^^^^^^ 
 "So th-^y are, for the most part; now and then you'll 
 have a military and naval oHicer at table, and you '11 be 
 Ob iged to look out sharp, and not let them detect you; but 
 with the skippers of merchantmen, dockyard people, store- 
 keepers male and female, I fancy you can hold your ;wn." 
 
 Why, sir, I hope they '11 be satisfied with the qualifica- 
 tion that contented my former titled masters," .said I, with 
 a knowing twinkle of the eye he seemed to relish pro- 
 digiously and an assumed tone of voice that suited well 
 the part I was to play. 
 
 for'vnr-' ^Z'' '^f ^T' T'^' '""'^ '''^ '" ''''^' y*^'"- Characters 
 for you ; and so he beckoned the others to accompany him 
 to the cabin, whither I followed them. 
 An animated debate ensued as to the number and nature 
 
 1 i' T'Tu' ^ ""''^^^ '^ ^^'''''^ «"'»« ^^'"g "f opinion 
 that I should have those of every kind and degree ; others 
 
 alleging that my age forbade the likelihood of my havino- 
 
 served m moro ^i,an two or three situations. 
 
 " What say y. , to this, lads?" said Pike, reading from a 
 
 rough and much-corrected draft before him : — 
 
 The bearer, Cornelius Cregan, has lived in my service Uni 
 
 miT' '^ ^'''?'; .^' !\««'-"P>'l'^"«ly honest, active, and i^.teili- 
 gent we 1 acquainted with the duties of his station, and c. n,. 
 tent to discharge them m the first families. I now dismiss hini 
 at hzs own request. Ckcilia Mendleshaw. 
 
 w. 
 
 li mi 
 
168 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 J' Gad ! I'd rather make him start as what they call in his 
 ♦1 ■■ ^ -^'^y-"t>y» said Ciirrm<'ton, — " onp of 
 
 Si,t"o?'„';r,*''' ="<"■'•'"- "■"' ^"^'- -„ a.r t.i 
 
 " Voiir honor is ri<»-lit uir " ar,i,i t „i i ^ 
 
 "Ihat'H the mark, f believe," said Pike. " Sunnos.. 
 then, we snv- tr\.,, /^. , '^ui'P"*^^, 
 
 .fy that Cornelms Cregan, who served in uw estab ish m , t 
 as un,UM-bntler, and occasionally assisting the co^l, n ? is 
 a most respectable servant, ...ii-.nannei^d an r sp c I'u 
 
 s^;;;s>s ■ ;:^:ti:^^^^^^^ ^''-'-- -^^ -- - >- 
 
 lannH'';nd't''.JV ll'"''' ^" ^'-rrington; -understands 
 
 ;' Confound it, man ! you 're making him a cook." 
 fellow is "'''' ''' ''"' • ^* '' "^ ^^"''^ '^^ rcnien)ber what the 
 
 "I think we may loave it to himself," said Pike- "he 
 s ems to have a very good notion of wha is neces a'; So 
 
 gne It all the needfu currency of handwriting and seal." 
 oonM h "" ^'^^ ^^"'■' "" ^'^'l^'^^'" ''^''^ '-^'^other, "or you 
 
 " Never mind," rejoined the captain ; " one si<rned ' P O 
 W"S; ":r.'' "' ''"'"•'''■ ""' "° "-■ •'-'" '"'t^e 
 "Exactly, sir; ami, as I used to servo mass once lean 
 
 meLI^f foT tC rerftll ';:",,"■'' 'f'" '» '^'^'^ ^°" 
 tahlP » WWh I- i' X ^ " " ^^'-'^'^ ^^ "s to-day at 
 table. With this order I was dismissed, to con over my 
 fictitious and soeculate on my true "chamcter." ^ 
 
QDEBEC. 
 
 S vtawed from Diamond Harbor, a more 
 
 The great rock riJ^^^^Z^^: '^ ^t""" ''""■ 
 
 tbe very realization o tap t'n „7 T' TZ," iT' '''' 
 »hip that lay tranqnilly in The watr I f" *"* 
 
 deel« were 'thron.^d ',vi.h W e 1 ta't' Z l'^ 
 
 Sbi;b%rt-ir/trieri~?- 
 
 
IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 
 
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 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 2.5 
 2.2 
 
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 ^ i;^ 12.0 
 
 IX 
 
 IL25 i 1.4 
 
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 1.6 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 v 
 
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 rv 
 
 
 '"«> 
 
 ^v:.^ ^^% 
 
 
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 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 ■^ 
 
170 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON C REGAN. 
 
 *U.J 
 
 The whole view is panoramic. The bending of the river 
 shuts out the channel by which 3'ou have made your approach, 
 giving the semblance of a lake, on whose surface vessels of 
 every nation lie at anchor, some with the sails bung out to 
 dry, gracefully drooping from the taper spars ; others refit- 
 ting again for sea, and loading the huge pine-trunks, moored 
 as vast rafts to the stern. There were people everywhere; 
 all was motion, life, and activity. JolLy-boats with twenty 
 oars, man-of-war gigs bounding rapidly past them witli 
 eight ; canoes skimming by without a i-ipple, and seemingly 
 without impulse, till you caught sight of the lounging figure 
 who lay at full length in the stern, and whose red features 
 were scarce distinguishable from the copper -colored bark 
 of his boat. Some moved upon the rafts, and even on single 
 ti-unks of trees, as, separated from the mass, they floated 
 down on the swift current, boat-hook in hand, to catch at the 
 first object chance might offer them. The quays, and the 
 streets leading down to them were all thronged; and a-^ 
 you cast your eye upwards, here and there above the tall 
 roofs might be seen the winding flight of stairs that lead to 
 the upper town, alike dark with the moving tide of men. On 
 every embrasure and gallery, on every terrace and platform, 
 it was the same. Never did I behold such a human tide ! 
 
 Now, there was something amazingly inspiriting in all this, 
 particularly when coming fiom the solitude and monotony of 
 a long voyage. The very voices that ye-hoed, the hoarse 
 challenge of the sentinels on the rock, the busy hum of the 
 town, made delicious music to my ear; and I could have 
 stood and leaned over the bulwark for hou'-s to gaze at the 
 scene. I own no higher interest invested the picture, for I 
 was ignorant of Wolfe; I had never heard of Montcalm; 
 the plains of " Abra'm " were to me but gi-assy slopes, and 
 "nothing more." It was the life and stir; the tide of that 
 human ocean on which I longed myself to be a swimmer, — 
 these were what charmed me. Nor was the deck of the old 
 " Hampden " inactive all the while, although seldom attracting 
 much of my notice. Soldiei's were mustering, knapsacks 
 packing, rolls calling, belts butling, and coats brushing on all 
 sides; men grumbling ; sergeants cursing; officers swearing ; 
 half -dressed invalids popping up their heads out of hatch- 
 
QUEBEC. 
 
 171 
 
 ways, answering to wrong names, and doctors ordering them 
 down agani with many an anathema ; soldiers in the way of 
 sailors, and sailors always hauling at something that inter- 
 fered with the inspection-drill : every one in the wron^^ place 
 and each cursing his neighbor for stupidity. ° ' 
 
 At last the shore-boats boarded us, as if our confusion 
 wanted anything to increase it. Red-faced harbor-masters 
 shook hands with the skipper and pilot, and disappeared 
 into the " round-house" to discuss grog and the late gales. 
 UHicei-s from the garrison came out to welcome their friends 
 for It was the second battalion we had on board of a reo-i- 
 ment whose first had been some years in Canada; and then 
 what a rush of inquiries were exchanged. "How's the 
 Duke? " " AH quiet in England? " "No signs of war in 
 Europe ? " " Are the 8th come home ? " " Where 's Forbes ? " 
 "Has Davern sold out?" — with a mass of such small in- 
 terests as engage nien who live in coteries. 
 ^ Then there were emissaries for newspapers, eagerly hunt- 
 ing for spicy rumors not found in the last journals ; waiters 
 of hotels, porters, boatmen, guides, Indians with moccasins 
 to sell, and a hundred other functionaries bespeaking custom 
 and patronage; and, although often driven over the side 
 most ignominiously at one moment, certain to reappear the 
 next at the opposite gangway. 
 
 How order could ever be established in this floating Rabel 
 1 knew not ; and yet at last all got into train somehow. ' 
 First one large boat crammed with men, who sat even on 
 the gunwales, moved slowly away ; then another and another 
 followed; a lubberly thing, half lighter, half jolly-boat, was 
 soon loaded with baggage, amid which some soldiers' wives 
 and a scattering population of babies were seen ; till by de- 
 grees the deck was cleared, and none remained of all that 
 vast multitude, save the "mate" and the "watch," who 
 proceeded to get things " ship-shape," — pretty much in the 
 same good-tempered spirit servants are accustomed to put 
 the drawing-rooms to i-ights, after an entertainment which 
 has kept them up till daylight, and allows of no time for 
 Bleep. Till then I had net the sHohtoBt conception of what 
 a voyage ended meant, and that when the anchor dropped 
 from the bow, a scene of bustle ensued, to which nothing at 
 
 *• I 'id 
 
 
 
w 
 
 11 
 
 fllm^ : 
 
 H 
 
 ■1 
 
 in 
 
 H 
 
 mi 
 
 172 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 sea bore any proportion. Now, T had no friends; no one 
 came to welcome me, — none asked for m// name. Tlie offl- 
 cers, even the captain, in tlie excitement of arriving, had 
 forgotten all about me ; so that when the mate put the ques- 
 tion to me, "why I didn't go ashore?" I had no other 
 answer to give him than the honeit one, "that I had 
 nothing to do when I got there." "I suppose you know 
 how to gain a livin' one way or t'other, my lad?" said 
 he, with a very disparaging glance out of the corner of 
 his eye. 
 
 " I am ashamed to say, sir, that 1 do not." 
 " Well, I never see'd Picaroons starve, —that 's a comfort 
 you have ; but as we don't mean to mess you here, you 'd 
 better get your kit on deck, and prepare to go ashore." 
 
 Now, the kit alluded to was the chest of clothes given to 
 me by the captain, which, being bestowed for a particular 
 purpose, and with an object now seemingly abandoned or 
 forgotten, I began to feel scruples as to my having any 
 claim to. Like an actor whose engagement liad been for 
 one part, I did not think myself warranted in carrying away 
 the wardrobe of my character ; besides, who should tell how 
 the captain might resent such conduct on my side? I mhr\ 
 be treated as a thief, — I, Con Cregan, who had registered 
 solemn vow in my own heart to be a " gentleman " ! Such 
 an indignity should not be entertained, even in thought. Yet 
 was it very hard for one in possession of such an admirable 
 wardrobe to want a dinner ; for one so luxuriously appar- 
 elled on the outside, to be so lamentably unprovided within. 
 From the solution of this knotty question I was most fortu- 
 nately preserved by the arrival of a corporal of the — th, 
 who came with an order from Captain Pike that I should 
 at once repair to his quarters in the Upper Town. 
 
 Not being perhaps in his captain's confidence, nor having 
 any very clear notion of my pv'^oise station in life, — for I 
 was dressed in an old cloak ar a foraging-cap, — the cor- 
 poral delivered his message to me with a" military salute, and 
 a certain air of deference very grateful to ray feelings. 
 
 "Have 3'ou a boat alongside. Corporal?" said^I, as I 
 lounged listlessly on the binnacle. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; a pair of oars, — will that do? " 
 
QUEBEC. 
 
 173 
 
 any 
 
 "Yes that will do," replied I, neoli<.entlv - Sn. 
 trails safe on board, and tell „.e when all'si;,,,''' "^ 
 Ihe corporal saluted ouce more and LL ,'■ . 
 
 a.d not be^toVi,,, eJfnt'^S ^';^^:r''''"^y' 
 
 »arrtt::;rLTX7r"^ r-v^'^^-^^ », .,» 
 
 lie l.ad to look o ve, t° e s I , ;, "f ^ >'"''"'"^ """ 
 
 i.im,eif that the wU'r;:]";,:;;^ "" ^'" "'^' •" --^ 
 
 luJ'ctp. ■■''"' "'•" ^"^ '"^ «"'«'■■'"• -"y-g Ms ta-d to 
 lowe;rthVX''',.!T "^ ""-"^^"' I-'*", -d '01. 
 
 To n^ h ■■? "" "" '""™*' '""i"!' "M in the Uppe,- 
 s ,o ; h ""•""v "" "' "'=''• •«" had left orders thafl 
 
 ?uir,L::;:rrr„i' r' "-^ -^"^ -' '"^ "— '■- ' 
 
 "d'^j'T-'ofTo ',?""' '"."^ satisfaction, on some of the 
 tif,,'. r„ , "'■ ""''• ""'l" "><= auspices of the cap- 
 
 tans servant, arrayed myself in ,ny new finery, wWch I 
 
 Vern^t tha V n Dyk ' "f.ad',rH '" ''l ^'^K"'' «"'"- 
 r>„r« T I 11 , ^^'^'- rtau the choice been aiven mp T 
 own I shoul.1 have preferred wooing Fortune in nwe sombre 
 
 m 
 
 ,1 i! 
 
 I Hi 
 
 'Ihj 
 
 m 
 
•y- 
 
 Wf' 
 
 174 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 babiliments ; but this was a mere minor consideration, and 
 so I felt as I found myself standing alone in the captain's 
 sitting-room, and endeavoring to accustom myself to my own 
 very showy identity, as reflected in a large cheval glass, 
 which exhibited me down to the very buckles of my shoes. 
 
 I will not allirm it positively, but only throw it out as a 
 hint, that the major part of a decanter of sherry, which I 
 discussed at dinner, aided in lifting me above the paltry con- 
 sideration of mere appearance, and made me feel what I 
 have often heard ragged vagabonds in the streets denomi- 
 nate "the dignity of a man." By degrees, too, I not only 
 grew reconciled to tiie gaudy costume, but began — strange 
 accommodation of feeling — actually to enjoy its distinctive 
 character. 
 
 "There are young gentlemen, Con," said I, in soliloquy, 
 " many are there who would look absurd merry-andrews if 
 dressed in this fashion. There are fellows to whom this kind 
 of thing would be a sore test! These bright tints would 
 play the very devil with their complexion, — not to mention 
 that every one's legs could n't afford such publicity ! But 
 Con, my friend, you have a natural aptitude for every shade 
 of color, and for every station and condition. Courage, my 
 boy ! although in the rear rank at present, you '11 march in 
 the van yet. Nature has been gracious with you, Mr. 
 Cregan ! " said I, warming with the subject, while, with my 
 hands deep down in my coat-pockets, I walked backward 
 and forward before the glass, stealing sidelong glances at 
 myself as I passed; "there are fellows who, born in your 
 station, would have died in it, witiiout a bit more influence 
 over their fate in this life than a Poldoody oyster ; they 'd 
 vegetate to the end of existence, and slip out of the world 
 as a fellow shirks out of a shebeen-house when he hasn't 
 tu' pence for another ' dandy ' of punch. Not so with you, 
 Con Cregan! You have hydrogen in you, — 3'ou have the 
 buoyant element that soars above the vulgar herd. These 
 are not the partial sentiments of a dear friend, Con, they 
 are the current opinions of the world about you. How soon 
 the ' Captain ' saw what stuff you were made of ! How long 
 was old Pike in detecting the latent powers of j'our 
 intellect? " What a shout of laughter followed these words ! 
 
 T 
 
 into 
 
 with 
 
 witli 
 
 mom 
 
 vaun 
 
 sudd 
 
 and 
 
 windi 
 
QUEBEC. 
 
 175 
 
 a screen uhiLT^o^e^;^^^^^^^ 
 
 •! lii 
 
 ;^--< 
 
 1 *.!a 
 
 4. 
 
 with the ela,nor, Z oZtll^^V .''''^ ^'^^y room rang 
 -ith all his heart. 4s fo 1 r^^' ■^""?- '" ^^^ -"^otio.1 
 moment back, r was humCd r;?^' '^ 
 vauntings by which I .?d been 1 V-"'^ '"'"' "^^''' ^^^ 
 suddenly tnn.ed into s offs n d C "". ^"^ ^'"'"*->' ^^^"'^ 
 ^"icl T actually looked to see i T 0",^ "7 «^lf-^'>"ceit, 
 window, and never be seen bv 1 T ? "•"' '''^P ^"^ ^^^ the 
 
 ' Been bj one of the party again. The 
 
 > Ir' 
 
 t , 
 
 M 
 
 1 mm , 
 
 iR. 
 
 - 1 
 
 
 '! ; 
 
•i 1 
 
 176 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CRFGAN. 
 
 window, however, was barred, the door was unapproach- 
 able, there was a fire in the grate ; and so, as escape was 
 denied nie, 1 at once abandoned a plan wliich I saw unfea- 
 sible, and, with a quickness to which I owe much in life, 
 immediately adopted an opposite tactic. Assuming a 
 deferential position, I drew back towards the wall, to be 
 laughed at as long as the honorable company should 
 fancy it. 
 
 " So, Mr. Cregan," cried one, drying his eyes with his 
 handkerchief, "modesty is one of those invaluable gifts 
 with which nature has favored you?" 
 
 " I sincerely trust it may be no bar to your advance- 
 ment," said another. ' 
 
 " Rather cruel," added a third, " to be balked for such a 
 mere trifle." 
 
 "I say. Pike," added another, "I rather envy you the 
 insinuated flattery of your discrimination. It would seem 
 that you detected the precious metal here at once." 
 
 "What country do you come from, boy?" said a hard- 
 featured old otlicer who had laughed less than the others. 
 
 " How can you ask, Chudleigh ? " said another. " There 's 
 only one land rears that plant." 
 
 "There's a weed very like it in Scotland, M'Aldine," 
 said the captain, with a grin which the last speaker did not 
 half relish. 
 
 "You're Hirish, ain't you?" said a very boyish-looking 
 ensign, with sore eyes. 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Very much so, I fancy," said he, laughing as though he 
 had been very droll. 
 
 " T always heard your countrymen had wings; what has 
 become of them?" 
 
 ''I believe we used to have, sir; but the English plucked 
 us," said I, with a look of assumed simplicity. 
 
 "And what is all that about the Blarney stone?" said 
 another; "isn't there some story or other about it?" 
 
 "It's a stone they kiss in my country, sir, to give us a 
 smooth tongue." 
 
 " I don't see the great use of that," rejoined he, with a 
 stupid look. 
 
QUEBEC. 
 
 177 
 
 
 "It's mighty useful at times, sir," said I, with a half 
 glance towards Captain Pike. 
 
 " You're too much, gentlemen, far too much for my poor 
 friend Con," said the captain ; " you forget that he 'sonly a 
 poor Irish lad. Come, now, lot us rather think of starting 
 him m tiie world, with sonietliing to keep the devil out of 
 his pocket." And, with this kind suggestion, he chucked a 
 dollar into his cap, and then commenced a beg<'in<r tour of 
 the room, which, I am ready to confess, showeii the company 
 to be far more generous than tliey were witty. 
 
 " Hei'o, Master Con," said he, as he poured the contents 
 into my Uvo hands, '' here is wiierewitlial to pay your footint- 
 at Mrs. Diivis's. As a traveller from the old country, you 'fl 
 be expected to entertain the servants' hall, —do it liberally • 
 there 's nothing like a bold push at the first go otf." ' 
 
 "I know it, sir ; my father used to say that the gentleman 
 always won his election who made most freeholders drunk 
 the first day of the poll." 
 
 " Your father was a man of keen observation. Con." 
 
 "And is, sir, still, with your leave, if kangaioo meat 
 hasn't disagreed with him, and left me to sustain the honors 
 of the house." 
 
 " Oh, that's it. Con, is it? " said Captain Pike, with a sly 
 
 glance 
 
 " Yes, sir, that 's it," said I, replying more to his look 
 than his words. 
 
 "Here's the letter for Mrs. Davis: you'll present it 
 early to-morrow; be discreet, keep your own counsel, and 
 I ve no doubt you '11 do well." 
 
 "I'd be an ungrateful vagabond if I made your honor 
 out a false prophet," said I; and, bowing respectfully to the 
 company, I withdrew. 
 
 "What a wonderful principle of equilibrium exists be- 
 tween one's heart and one's pocket ! " thought I as I went 
 downstairs. " I never felt the former so light as now that 
 the latter is heavy." 
 
 I wandered out into the town, somewhat puzzled how to 
 dispose of myself for the evening. Had I been performin<r 
 the part of a "walking gentleman," I fancied I could have 
 easily hit upon some appropriate and becoming pastime. A 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 12 
 
178 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 theatre, — there was one in the "Lower Town," — and a 
 tavern afterwards, would have filled the Interval before it 
 was tnne to go to Led. - Tinie to go to bed ! " - strange 
 phra.e, born of a thousand and one conventionalities. For 
 some, that time comes when the sun has set, and with its last 
 beams of rosy light reminds labor of the coming morrow 
 To some, it is the hour when wearied faculties can do no 
 more, when tired intellect falters " by the way," and can- 
 not keep the "line of march." To others, it comes with 
 dawning light, and when roses and rouge look ghastly; and 
 to others, again, whose -deeds are evil," it is the glare of 
 noonday. b'»^c ui 
 
 Now, as for me, I was neither wearied by toil nor plea- 
 sure ; no sense of past fatigue, no anticipation of coinin- 
 exertion, invited slumber, _ nay, I was actually mo ? 
 wakeful than I had been during the entire evening, and I 
 felt a most impulsive desire for a little social enjoyment, - 
 hat kind o intercou,,se with strangers which I always 
 remarked had the etfect of eliciting my own conversationl 
 qualities to a degree that astonished even myself 
 
 In search of some house of entertainment, some public 
 resort, I paced all the streets of the Upper To^ln, but 'o no 
 purpose Occasionally, lights in a drawing-rooi;, and the 
 sound of a piano, would tell where some small evenincr pa ty 
 was assembled ; or now and then, from a lower slorv a 
 joyous roar of laughter, or the merry chorus of a drinki^a! 
 song would bespeak some after-dinner convivialities; but °o 
 mmgle m scenes like these, I felt that I had yet a loi . Id 
 to travel, -ay, to pass muster in the very humblest of t\Zl 
 cu-cles, what a deal had I to learn! hL m ^^ hu n m;^ 
 ow much confidence; what deference, and what sel rel 
 1 la c^; what mingled gravity and levity; what shades and 
 gradations of color, so nicely balanced and proportioned 
 too tha, unresolved by the prism, they show Tpre: 
 
 can tact ! Ay, Con, that is your rarest gift of all — 
 only acquire that and you may dispense with ancestry, 
 and kmdred and even wealth itself; since he who has 
 
plea- 
 
 QUEBEC. 
 
 179 
 
 As I mused thus, I bad reached the - Lower Town " « i 
 found myself onnonite the door of n f ' ^"'^ 
 
 brilliant lan.p iUu.ninated t^^ .^'o ^T^\::JZ 1^'' ' 
 d.er,"-a spooios of canteen in hi h f.to. '> ^*' ^'■'""- 
 and quartermasters of the -an Ion I ' sergeants 
 
 -ith the intention of i^t: 1 jercill: '^'1'/' T' 
 scarcely had I passed the th.^.L 1 ' '^^ V^l' 1, '"' 
 vo^^utter ma half-Whisper, ^^D.„g J ^r^LS^^i; 
 
 muttering to myself - WJ ,. . . .' ^ ''^ """^ ''«^'»' 
 
 III 
 
 a 
 
 i^ II 
 
 
CHWfT^C^v^, ^IV. 
 
 HOW 
 
 ••FELL IN" AND '-OLT" Willi ••TlIK 
 WIDOW DAMS." 
 For the sake -.f t'oiieisoiioss in this vi'racioiis hislory, I 
 prefer making the reader acquainted at once with facts and 
 individuals, not by llu! slow process in which the knowledge 
 of them was acquired by myself, but in all the plenitude which 
 intimate acquaintance now supplies ; and although this may 
 not seem to accord with the bit-by-bit and day-by-day nar- 
 rative of a life, it saves a world of time, some patience, and 
 mayhap some skipping too. Tnder tiiis plea, I have already 
 introduced Sir Dudley Broughton to the reader; and now 
 with permission, mean to present Mrs. Davis. 
 
 Mrs. Davis, relict of Th. mas John Davis, was a character 
 so associated with Quebec that to speak of that city without 
 her would be like writing an account of Newfoundland and 
 never alluding to the article " cod-fish." For a great num- 
 
iroW r " FRLL IN " AND "OTTT " WIT 
 ber of ycaiH lior hoiiso luul b 
 
 II "wrnow DAVIS.' 181 
 
 ,, . ,- , ''''"«^' '"Kl boon tlu^ rondozvoMs or ovorv- 
 
 nn^ h.,UHoloHH, f,o.„ t,.e .uuvly ocu.o '' nuuTiod " oi.iccr fo 
 IH. tasi o(..n,.uMc.uil tmvoller fnm, the States; f.o.n the 
 H^HM.t of an nnknown kn,i oon.pnny to the - nk pper" of a 
 rank ,,ret<.„tiouH enough to .lino .t a boar,lin.-ho se. The 
 .HtahlKs unent a. she lovocl to style it -oomMno.l all I e 
 f ee-an.l.easy an- of don.estioity with the enjoyn.ont of so! 
 c.ety. I was nn " aetod newspaper," where ,.an.jr,aphs, mil- 
 tary and naval, social, seandalons, and <.on.nu"vial, wo'o 
 nibnoatod with a speed no - con.positor " co„ld hav.. kept „p 
 with. Here the newly arrived subaltern heard all the ,i„o- 
 clay goss.p, not of the garrison, but of the Province ; hero 
 he bagman made contracts and took ord.ers; here the 
 H-ench Deputy "picked up what he culled afterwards in 
 the Chamber " 1 opnuon publiquo;" and here the men of 
 Mne-IogH and wh.to ,loal in.bil.od what they fervently believed 
 o be the hab.ts and n.annors <,f the ^' English arisLracr' 
 itio Zf o tT ^"^^'";'r"'"';"^ -'" ^''- ^•"-•-tor," to make 
 
 f >, had been he passion of Mrs. D.'s existence. Never 
 d monarch labor for the safeguard that nnght fence and 
 
 «t. vo fo.. the guarantees that shouhl insure the continuance 
 of hKs system. It was the moving purpose of her life Mn i t 
 she had mvested all her activity, boti of mind and body 
 and as she looked back to the barbarism from which he 
 generous devotion had rescued hundreds, she might well be 
 paiTloned If a ray of self-gloritication lighted u,) iei ace 
 " AV hen I think of Quebec when T. J." -I her familia mod; 
 
 b hdd' U ^ wo'n 'h'""' ''""'^^ '^^^^" - " -^ -3-lfTis 
 be pioud. Ihe social habits were indeed at a low ebb 
 The skippers -and there were few other strangers - had a 
 manifest contempt for the use of the fork at dinner, and per^ 
 feSkInd n' -ord-exercise while eating, of 'the i 
 fea f ul kind. Napkins were always misconstrued, - the pre- 
 vailing impression being that they were pocket-handkerchiefs. 
 No man had any vested interest in his own wine-^lass • while 
 thirsty soids even dispensed with such luxuriesraud drank 
 from the bottle itself. 
 
 M) 
 
 ■}^ 
 
 11 
 
 
182 
 
 COxVFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Then sea-usages had carried themselves into shore life 
 1 he company were continually getting up to look out of 
 windoM-s watching the vessels that passed, remarking on the 
 sta e of the tide, and then, resuming their places with a 
 muttermg over the -half ebb," and that the wind was 
 ; nortlung-by-west," looked for change. All the conversa- 
 tion smacked of salt-water; every allusion had an odor of 
 tar and seaweed about it. 
 
 Poor Mrs Davis ! How was she to civilize these savages • 
 how inves their lives with any interest above timber ? Thev 
 would not listen to the polite news of - Government House • '' 
 they would not vouchsafe the least attention to the interest- 
 ing paragraphs she recited as table-talk, -how the Prince 
 o Hohenhumbughousen had arrived at AVindsor on a visit to 
 
 for^Hs )ictm' '' ^^''^''''^^ "''^''"'^ "' '' '^^^'"^ ^^''^^''" ^' '^* 
 
 Of the "Duke of x\orthumberland,'' they only knew a 
 
 roopship ot the name, and even that had been water- 
 
 Robert Pee was a barque belonging to xXewfoundland, 
 and employed m general trattic, and not believed very 
 seaworthy. ^ 
 
 Some may make the ungracious remark that she mi-ht 
 
 Zl Z7T^ 2f ''''' '''''' "' humanizing; that she could 
 have left these "ligneous Christians," these creatures of tar 
 and turpentine, where she found them. The same observa- 
 tion will apply equally to Cooke, to Franklin, to Brooke of 
 borneo, and a hundred other civilizers : so Mrs. D. felt it 
 and so she labored to make T. J. f.el it; but he wouldn't! 
 rhe ungrateful old bear saw the ordinary grow daily thin- 
 ner; he perceived that Banquo might have seated himself at 
 anv part of the table, and he actually upbraided his wife with 
 
 Ihl vV' P IV'"^' "^^^ ',*?'^' ^'' announced some new defection from 
 the list of heir old supporters. Now it was old Ben Cros- 
 seley, of the " Lively Biddy," that would n't stand being 
 
 nlnkin . f ""' '''■' '^''^"^•^^-that is, to spread hit 
 
 napkin- when he was taking in sea store; then it was Tom 
 Galket grew indignant at not being permitted to beat " to 
 quarters with his knuckles at every pause in the dinner. 
 Some were put out by being obliged ^o sit with their legs 
 
HOW I " FELL IN " AND " OUT " WITH " WIDOW DAVIS." 183 
 
 under the table, being long habituated to dine at a cask with 
 a plank on it, and of course keeping their limbs "stowed 
 away under the seat ; and one, an old and nnich-respected 
 river pilot, was carried away insensible from table, on hear- 
 ing that grog was not a recognized table beverage throuo-h- 
 out the British dominions. . 
 
 The banishment of lobscouse and sea-pie, pork, with its 
 concomitant cataplasm of peas, and other sinular delicacies 
 from the bill of fare, completed the defeef ; ivn<I at last 
 none remained of the "once goodlie compa..,," save an old 
 attenuated Guernsey skipper too much in debt to leave, but 
 who attributed his fealty to the preference he entertained 
 for _ les usages de la bonne socicte et la charmante Mde. 
 Davis. r. .J. could never hold up his head again ; he moped 
 about the docks and quays, like the r(>stless spirit of some 
 Ancient Mariner. F:very one pitied him; and he grew so 
 accustomed to condolence - so dependent, in fact, on com- 
 miseration- that he spent his days in rowing from one ship 
 to the other in the harbor, drinking grog with the skippers, 
 till, by dint of pure sympathy, he slipped quietly into his 
 grave, after something like a two years' attack of delirium 
 tremens. 
 
 The same w^eek that saw T. J. descend to the tomb saw 
 his widow ascend to the " Upper Town," -the more conge- 
 nial locality for aspirations like hers. If no eulogistic tn- 
 scription marked his resting-place, a very showy brass plate 
 adorncKi hers. From that lunir she was emancipated; it 
 seemed, indeed, as if she had turned a corner in life, and at 
 once emerged from gloom and darkness into sunshine It 
 chanced that the barracks were at that very moment under- 
 going repair, and several officers were glad to find, at a con- 
 venient distance, the comforts and accommodations which a 
 plausible advertisement in the "(Quebec Messenger" assured 
 them were to be obtained for one pound one shilUncr weekly 
 
 There are people who tell you that we live in alieartless, 
 selfish, grabbing, grasping age, where each prevs upon his 
 neighbor, and where gain is the spirit of eve.-y contract; 
 and yet, m what period of the world was m.aternfil tender- 
 ness, the comforts of a nome, Iho watchful anxieties of 
 parental love, to be had so cheaply? Who ever he?rd of 
 
 '\l.\ 
 
 
184 
 
 bacli 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 -s being admitted into families, where music and the 
 aits formed the evening's reereuti.m, in the Middle Ages? 
 Does IIcM-odotus inform us that "young and attractive 
 ladies won d take charge of :, widower's household, and 
 supernitend the care of ids family " ? Not a bit of it ! On 
 tins pomt, at least, the wisdo.n of our ancestors has no 
 chance with us. There is not a wish of the heart, there is 
 not a yearning of the affections, that a three-and-sixpennv 
 advertisement in the - Times " will not evoke a remedy fo,^ 
 lou can make love, or a book, or a speech, by deputy; for 
 every relative 30U lose, there are (Ifly kind-hearted crJatures 
 tosupply the place; and not only may you travel over half 
 the globe without more personal exertion than it costs you 
 to go to bed, but you can be measured either for a wife or a 
 suit of clothes without ever seeing the lady <,r the tailor. 
 
 Ihe Hotel Davis," so 8ai<l the newspaper, - was situated 
 m the most airy and healthful locality of the Upper Town." 
 No one ever rung the bell of the hall-door from the first of 
 October to May, but would acknowledge the truth of the 
 firs epithet. " The society, for admission to which the most 
 pa. t.cular re erences are required, embraces all that is intel- 
 o^tual, high-bred, and refined. The table, where preside the 
 feast of reason and the flow of soul,' combines the elegance 
 and delicacy of the French, with the less sophisticated suc- 
 culence of English cookery. Intellectual resources, _ the 
 humanizing influences of song and poetry, -the varied plea- 
 s 1 es of cul ivated and kindred spirits, which have won for 
 this establishment the epithet of the Davisian Acropolis 
 
 nected wi r "'T '^/'^^^^^-^ '-treat of gentlemen' con! 
 octed w th civil and military pursuits, who ar. lodged and 
 boaided tor one guinea weekly 
 
 on'tl^'^fW^M T^ T^'"'"'^^'"^'- ^^^'"^' ^^"'-"^g the winter, 
 on tlie hrst Monday of each month." 
 
 Such was one among many- I select it as the shortest - 
 announcements of this cheap Klysi,„„ ; ,na now, two words 
 about Mrs. D, herself. She was a poor, thin, slirivelied-up 
 
 ookedTik^^ '^'^^ -'-- P-«le 
 
 looked like a jagged saw. Next to elegance of manner, her 
 
 passion was personal appearance, -by which she meant the 
 
 adventitious aid of false hair, rouge, and cosmetics; and 
 
HOW I "FELL IN "AND "OUT" WITH " WIDOW DAVIS" 185 
 
 ,lZ „,"""'" Nation," m„i with tliia comfortable reflection 
 m not dofy' ' riti'ciJl ""'' """ """^"U'l-'l. if « 
 
 ;;S^f^:rLr';^'S-£*-:x:t:r 
 
 o.i b ,t ,™,;/'''''r',''' '"^•""''<'' "«=y '■«™'-*'l I'er 
 CO, • "'"' ""'-^ «onder«l bow the court-end 
 
 bote ItTtlUf'trn'"" "'"'" '■" "^ '"'=""'' ""'' ■■<^»''-. "W- 
 o'clock cachVav ,"'V™'"'""'l""«"t still survives; at live 
 
 .abiet"rtt^ t;?;, rj::Ci'^j;-^,,"7'7'^ ^ 
 
 'voHd, and thecbincesarlCi^rv:;;;:;;. ."Ltt tSer 
 
 'should visit thiif citv, that 
 
 vou 
 
 blunk days to the fare of Madam D 
 
 may be glad to give your 
 
 ^1 
 
 111 
 
 I !' 
 
 avis 
 
I i 
 
 186 
 
 CONFESSIOJJS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 It was ten o'clock in the forenoon as I arrived at her door, 
 and sent in Captain Pike's letter, announcing my arrival. I 
 found ]Mrs. I), in what she called her own room, — a little 
 den of about eleven feet square, shelved all round, and 
 showing an array of jars and preserve-pots that was most 
 imposing, — the offerings of skippers from the West India 
 Islands and Madeira, who paid a kind of black-mail in pre- 
 served ginger, guavas, yams, pepper-pots, chili, and potted 
 crabs that would have given liver complaints to half the 
 Province. 
 
 Mrs. D. was standing on a step-ladder, arranging her 
 treasures by the aid of a negro boy of about twelve years 
 old, as I entered ; and not feeling that I was of consequence 
 sufHcient to require a more formal audience, she took a 
 steady and patient observation of me, and then resumed her 
 labors. The little window, about six feet from the ground, 
 threw a fine Rembrandt light upon me as I stood in my 
 showy habiliments, endeavoring, by an imposing attitude, to 
 exhibit myself to the best advantage. 
 
 "Forty-seven; Guava jelly. Sambo! — where is forty- 
 seven ? " 
 
 "Me no see him," said Sambo; "missus eat him up, 
 perhaps." 
 
 "Monsonze! you filthy creature; look for it, sirrah!" 
 So saying, Mrs. Davis applied lier double eye-glass to her 
 eyes, and again surveyed me for some seconds. 
 
 " You are the " — she hesitated — " the young person my 
 friend Pike brought out, I believe?" 
 
 "Yes, my lady," said T, bowing profoundly. 
 
 "What's your name? The captain has not written it 
 clearly." 
 
 "Cregan, my lady, — Con Cregan." 
 
 " Con - Con," repeated she twice or thrice ; " what does 
 Con mean?" 
 
 "It's the short for Cornelius, my lady." 
 
 "Ah, the abbreviation for Cornelius! And where have 
 you lived; Cornelius?" 
 
 " My last place, my lady, was Sir Miles O'Ryan's, of 
 Roaring Water." 
 
 " What are you doing, you wretch? Take your filthy fin- 
 gers out of that ]i<)t this instant ! " screamed she, suddenly. 
 
HOW I « FELL IN " AND " OUT " WITH " WIDOW DAVIS.' 
 
 l87 
 
 "Me taste him, an' he be dam hot!" cried the nig<rer, 
 dancing from one foot to the other, as his mouth was oulare 
 from tasting capsicum pods. 
 
 I thought of my own mustard experience, and then, turn- 
 
 mg a glance of ineffable contempt upou my black friend, 
 
 said, "Those creatures, my lady, are so ignorant, they 
 
 really do not know the nature of the commonest condiments." 
 
 " Very true, Cornelius. I would wish, however, to observe 
 
 to you that although my family are all persons of rank, I 
 
 have no title myself, — that is to say," added she, with a 
 
 pleasing smile, "I do not assume it here; therefore, until 
 
 we return to England, you needn't address me as ladyship." 
 
 "No, my lady, — I beg your ladyship's pardon for forget- 
 
 tmg ; but as I have always lived in high families, I 've got 
 
 the habit, my lady, of saying, ' my lady.' " 
 
 "I am Madam, plain Madam Davis. There, I knew 
 you 'd^ do it, you nasty little beast, your odious black crea- 
 ture ! " This sudden apostrophe was evoked by the nigger 
 endeavoring to balance a jam-pot on his thumb, while he 
 spun it round with the other hand, — an exploit that ended 
 in a smash of the jar, and a squash of the jam all over my 
 silk stockings. 
 
 "It's of no consequence, my lady; I shall change them 
 when I dress for dinner," said I, with consummate ease. 
 
 "The jam is lost, however. Will you kindly beat him 
 about the head with that candlestick beside you?" 
 
 I seized the implement, as if in most choleric mood. But 
 my black was not to be caught so easily ; and with a dive 
 between my legs he bolted for the door, whilst I was 
 pitched forward against the step-ladder, head foremost. In 
 my terror, I threw out my hands to save myself, and caught 
 — not the ladder, but Madam Davis's legs ; and down we 
 went together, with a small avalanche of brown jars and 
 preserve-pots clattering over us. 
 
 As I had gone headforemost, my head through the ladder, 
 and as Mrs. Davis had fallen on the top of me, — her head 
 being reversed, — there we lay, like herrings in a barrel, till 
 her swoon had passed awny. At hist she did rally ; and, 
 gathering herself up, sat against the wall, a most rueful 
 picture of bruises and disorder, while I, emerging from 
 
 
 'f 
 
 S iil 
 
 id 
 
 m 
 
 ! 
 
I 
 
 188 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 between the steps of the ladder, began to examine whether 
 it were marmalade or my brains that I felt coming down mv 
 cheek. "^ 
 
 
 "You'll never mention this shocking event, Cornelius" 
 said she, trying to adjust her wig, which now faced over the 
 left shoulder. 
 
 " Never, my lady. Am I to consider myself engaged? " 
 
 " Yes, on the terms of Captain Pike's note, — ten" pounds ; 
 no wine nor tea-money, no passage-fare out, no livery, no — " 
 I wafe afraid she was going to add, " No prog; " but she 
 grew faint, and merely said, "Bring me a glass of water." 
 
 "I'll put you in charge of the lamps and plate to- 
 morrow," said she, recovering. 
 
 "Very well, madam," snid I, aloud; while to myself I 
 muttered, " They might easily be in better hands." 
 
 (( 
 
 in. 
 
1. " 
 
 HOW I " FELL IN » AND " OUT " WITH '■ WIDOW DAVIS." 189 
 
 *' You 'II wait at table to-day." 
 Iiyes, my huly — madam, I mean." 
 f50up always goes first to Mrs. Tnissfnivl ki i t 
 
 aware that it was a fan-in.- r.f ,/''"^"'^"^- ^^ the reader 
 
 Resolving, at all events, to make mv " Old WnvU " hn. ; 
 
 1 . ., . ^oieign, little know how great thpii- n...vj 
 
 meetm s >n ith theu' predecessors. At least, I conclude snoh 
 o be the case, and that my Lord Palme stc^r''epS 
 
 m;t"nor do ""' ""'''''''''' "^^"^ ^^''^ Aberd'een 'S" 
 out, noi does an angry altercation arise between him who 
 
 and tL { ^'"' ^' '"""''' •'^•^^ t^^t both the entrance 
 
 and the departure are conducted with due etiquet e and 
 propriety; m fact, that Lord A. has called Lscab and 
 sipped away before Lord P. has begun to -take un " 
 the "spoons,"_not u bad metaphor, by the way for 'L 
 entrance into the Foreign OtHce. ' -^ "*" ^^^^ ^o^ an 
 
 dn^ir"'' .^??^'^"« '''"^'''^ P'-^«><^lPs over the change of a 
 domestic mmistry. The whole warfare of opposition^fs coa! 
 
 ■m •' ^ 
 
 111 
 
 V' "f S 
 
 tm 
 
 . a? I .'I 
 * I I ,1 . 
 
190 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 densed into one angry moment, and the rival parties are 
 brought face to face in the most ungracious fashion. 
 
 Now, my system in life was that so well and popularly 
 known by the name of M. Gnizot, "la paix a tout prix;" 
 and I take pride to myself in tiiinking that I liave carried it 
 out with more success. With a fh-m^-esolve, therefore, that 
 no temptation should induce me to deviate from a pacific pol- 
 icy, I entered the kitchen, where the "lower house" was 
 then " in committee," —the " cook in the chair " ! 
 
 "Here he com, now!" said Bhickie; and the assembly 
 grew hushed as I entered. 
 
 "Ay, here he comes!" said I, re-echoing the speech; 
 *'and let us see if we shall not be merry comrades." 
 
 The address was a happy one ; and that evening closed 
 upon me in the very pinnacle of popularity. 
 
 I have hesitated for some time whether I should not ask of 
 my reader to enroll himself for a short space as a member of 
 "the establishment," or even to sojourn one day beneath a 
 roof where so many originals were congregated ; to witness 
 the very table itself, set out with its artificial fruits and 
 flowers, its pine-apples in wax, and its peaches of paper, — all 
 the appliances by which Mrs. D., in her ardent zeal, hoped 
 to propagate refinement and abstemiousness ; high-breeding 
 and low diet being, in her esteem, inseparably united. To 
 see the company, the poor old faded and crushed flowers of 
 mock gentility, — widows and unmarried daughters of tax- 
 collectors long "gathered;" polite storekeepers, and apoth- 
 ecaries to the "Forces," cultivating the Graces at the cost 
 of their appetites, and descending, in costumes of twenty 
 years back, in the pleasing delusion of being " dressed " for 
 dinner; while here and there some unhappy skipper, under- 
 going a course of refinement, looked like a bear in a "bal- 
 let," ashamed of his awkwardness, and even still more 
 ashamed of the company wherein he found himself ; and, 
 lastly, some old Seigneur of the Lower Province, —a poor, 
 wasted, wrinkled creature, covered with hair-powder and 
 snuff, but yet, strangely enough, preserving some "taste of 
 his once quality," and not altogether destitute of the graces 
 of the land he sprung from ; — curious and incongruous ele- 
 ments to make up society, and worthy of the presidency of 
 that ereater incongruity who ruled them. 
 
HOW , .. FELL IN ■■ AND "OUT" WJTII •• WIDOW DAVIS." 191 
 
 •Hot of the 1>U„ „f tin r:™,Tr''; ^i" ""= """^ 
 to her eye, and (ixii... on som,. rliui. P'aci "g 'icr glass 
 
 came f,.„m the Bi»l,„„ „f KMoffstt"'^^"""^"^' 
 ut P''"?"™'' "'i'li olives, I believe?" 
 
 appealed to me for tlie explanation. " wLat s'it rC! °"°? 
 
 or .oraeSl of the kind I ,T T '°° '""'^ """"n " 
 French cook-ery-boolc wl eh I , sed^o ' ^ h="'' 'u'" "" '"'' 
 
 littlesh.,tp\f K- •'^' . " ^"^^ occasions would ^ive a 
 
 Aaheldown or the Ear, of iStre t^lH^bV^'^S! 
 
 m 
 
 
 fi 'i 
 
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1 
 
 1 
 
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 i 
 
 vP 
 
 
 ! 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
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 1 
 
 |! 
 
 si 
 
 s 
 
 'Mk 
 
 !1 
 
 
 192 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON ClIKGAN. 
 
 could not without risk be despised by these "small boys" 
 
 of i-eflnement. It is true, they often nionrnetl in secret over 
 
 the altered taste of the old country, which preferred kicli- 
 
 shaws and trumpery to its hallowed ribs and sirh)ins ; but, 
 
 like the folk who sit at the Opera while tlioy long for the 
 
 Haymarket, and who listen to Jeiniy Lind wjiilo tiieir hearts 
 
 are with Mrs. Keeley, they " took out " in fasliion wliat they 
 
 lost in amusement, —a very English habit, by the way. To 
 
 be sure, and to their honor be it spoken, they wished the 
 
 Queen would be pleased to fancy legs of mutton and loins of 
 
 veal, just as some others are eager for royalty to enjoy the 
 
 national drama ; but they innocently forgot, the while, that 
 
 " they " might have tlie sirloin, and " tiie otiiers " Shakspeare, 
 
 even witliout majesty partaking of either, and that a roast 
 
 goose and Falstaff can be relished even without such august 
 
 precedent. Dear, good souls they were, never deviating 
 
 from that fine old sturdy spirit of independence wliich makes 
 
 us feel ourselves a match for the wiiole world in arms, as 
 
 we read the " Times " and hum " Rule Britannia." 
 
 All this devout homage of a class with whom they had 
 nothing in common, and with which they could never come 
 into contact, produced in me a very strange result ; and in 
 place of being ready to smile at the imitators, I began to 
 conceive a stupendous idea of the natural greatness of those 
 who could so impress the ranks beneath tliem. " Con," said 
 I to myself, " that is the class in life would suit you per- 
 fectly. There is no trade like that of a gentleman. He 
 who does nothing is always ready for everything ; the little 
 shifts and straits of a handicraft or a profession narrow and 
 confine the natural expansiveness of the intellect, which, 
 like a tide over a flat shore, should swell and spread itself 
 out, free and without effort. See to this, Master Con ; take 
 care that you don't sit down contented with a low round on 
 the ladder of life, but strive ever upwards; depend on it, 
 the view is best from the top, even if it only enable you to 
 look down on your competitors." 
 
 These imaginings, as might be easily imagined, led me 
 to form a very depreciating estimate of my lords and masters 
 of the "establishment." Not only their little foibles and 
 weaknesses, their small pretensions and their petty attempts 
 
now I " FELL IN " AND " OTTT " WITH " WIDOW DAVIS." 193 
 
 at fine life, were all palpable to my eyes, but their humble 
 fortunes and narrow means to support such assumption we e 
 equally so; and there is nothing which a vulgar mind -I 
 u^as vulgar at that period -so unhesitatmgly seizes on fo 
 
 reXra.:.''"" "^'^"'^ ^^ ^ p^^'- -- to^^do ct 
 
 If no man is a hero to his valet, he who has no valet is 
 never a hero at all, - is nobody. I conceived, then tile rno 
 insu tmg contempt for the company, on whom I pa Used a 
 hundred petty devices of annoyance. I would drop gravy on 
 a fine satin dress, m which the wearer only made hei appear^ 
 ance at festivals, or stain with sauce the -russia ducks" 
 destined to figure through half a week. Sometimes by an 
 adroit change of decanters during dinner, I would produce 
 a scene of almost, irremediable confusion, when the owner 
 of sherry would find himself taking toast-and-water, hlof 
 the last beverage having improved the time and finished 
 the racier liquid. Such reciprocities, although stric ly n 
 accordance with "free-trade," invariably led to very v arm 
 discussions, that lasted through the remainder of the evening 
 Then I removed plates ere the eater was satisfied, and that 
 with an air of such imposing resolve as to silence r mon 
 strance When a stingy guest passed up his decan r o 
 a friend, m a moment of enthusiastic munificence, I never 
 suffered at to return till it was emptied ; while to the elde^^'y 
 adies I measm-ed out the wine like laudanum. Every now 
 and hen, too, I would forget to hand the dish to some Z 
 or other of the company, and affect only to discover !nv 
 error as the last spoonful was disappeari^,<. ^^ 
 
 Nor did my liberties end here. I was constantly intro- 
 ducing innovations in the order of dinner, that pi^luced 
 most ludicrous scenesof discomfiture, - now insistiL on the 
 use o a fork, now of a spoon, under circumstances whei" no 
 adroitness could compensate for the implement ; and one day 
 I actually went so far as to introduce soap wi'th tie fln^e'^ 
 glasses, averrmg that -it was always done at DevoiXe 
 House on grand occasions." I t.iught I should have 
 et rayed myself a. I saw the elTorts of the party to perform 
 heir parts with suitable dignity; all I could^o wal to 
 restrain a burst of open laughter. "«• w 
 
 VOL. I. — 18 
 
 ■I : 
 
 
 
 \i 
 
 
 m 
 
 i; -1 
 
194 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON ^RKOAN. 
 
 So long as J proHociitod my roforms on fho iipfiijil staff of 
 
 the c'stublisluniM.t, all went wdl. Now and tlu.,,, it in tn.i> I 
 
 used to oveil.ear in Freneh, of which they lu'lievcul na- to I,e 
 
 ifjnoiant, ratiier yharp c.nun.Mits on the ''' free-and-easy tone 
 
 of my maimei-d; how careless I had hec.mie," und so on — 
 
 complumts, however, sure to be be met by some assu.a'nce 
 
 that 'Mny nmnners were (luite London;" tliat what I did 
 
 was the tyi.e of fashionable servitude, - apolo-ies made less 
 
 to screen me than to exalt those who invented them, as 
 
 thoronyhly conversant with hi<,'h life in Kn-rhmd. 
 
 At last, partly from beinji; careless of const'cpiences, for I 
 was gettni- very weary of this kind of life, - the great anmse- 
 ment of which us(.d to be rei)eatinj.- my performances for the 
 ear of Captam Pike, and he was now removed with his re<ri. 
 ment to Km-stown, - and partly wishing for some incidents, 
 Of what kmd f cared not, that might break the monotony of 
 my existence, 1 contrived one day to siifich my prero..ntive 
 too far, or, in the phrase of the Gulf, I - harpooned a bottle- 
 uose," — the periphrasis for making a gross mistake. 
 
 I had been some years lit Mrs. Davis's, — in fact, I felt 
 and thought myself a man, —when tl.-e last ball of the season 
 was announced, — an entertainment at whicii usually a more 
 crowded assemblage used to congregate than at any of the 
 previous ones. 
 
 It wiii} ■ he choice occasion for the habitues of the house to 
 invite their grand friends , for Mrs. D. was accustomed to 
 put forth all her strength, and the arrangements were made 
 on a scale of magnidcence that invariably (occasioned a pettv 
 tamine for the fortnight beforehand. Soup never appearet- 
 that there might be -bouillon" for the dancers; every one 
 was on a short allowance of milk, eggs, and sugar ; meat be- 
 came alinosi a tradition ; even candles waned and went out 
 Jn waiting foi ^bc auspicious night when they should l)laze 
 like noonday. ' m lid t'-e company failV, participate 
 in these prepr-.n,. v aclsoolings. Wliat frightful heads in 
 curl-papers ^^',n^=] ; pp.,ar at br.^^:fast and dinner! What 
 buttoned-up coaK an<i black cravats refuse all investiuation on 
 the score of linen ! What mysterious cookings of cosmetics 
 at midnight, with petty thefts of lard and thick cream' 
 What washings of kid gloves, that when washed would never 
 
HOW I -FELL IN" AND "OUT" WITH • WIDOW DAVIS." 195 
 
 go on ii;j;iiiii 
 
 M'lmt 
 
 liiVLMitioiia of Fronch-polish that refu 
 
 isod 
 
 nil persuMHu.n,-, te dry, but eonti.Mu..l to stiok to luul mint 
 t'veo'M.n,- it <■:„.;. in contuot with! tIh-u tliore vvero hiuli 
 dressc. cut down, liivc frigates raAH-d ; fr.,ck-,M.!its ivdiu-ed 
 to diy^is ono8; n.oek luco and false jevvvlry were at a Dre- 
 munn; and all the little patchwork devices of ribbons bows 
 :iad carnations, .ri.np, ^-luze, and -vraninm.s, were put into 
 }V<|msiti.n.,- petty acts of deception that each saw thro„.rb 
 'I. iu-r nei-hbor, but lirmly believed were undetectable In 
 lieiselr. 
 
 Then what caballin-s about the invited; what scrulinv 
 into rank and station, - - what set they were in," and whom 
 <lid they viHit; with little Star-ciian.ber inquisitions as to 
 character, all breaclu-s of whieh, it is but fair to state, were 
 most charitably deenu.! remediable if the party had any pre- 
 tension to social position; for not onlv the saint in ci'ipe 
 was twice a saint in lawn, but tlie sati.; sinner was pardon- 
 able wliere the - washin- silk" would have been found 
 guilty without a " reconinieiidation." 
 
 Then there was eternal tuning of tiie i.ianoforte, which 
 most perversely insisted on not suiting voices that mi-dit 
 have sung duets with a peacock. (Quadrilles were practised 
 in empty rooms; and Miss Timmock was actually seen try- 
 ing to teach Blotter to waltz, — a proceodin--, [ rejoie,> to sav 
 that the moral feeling of the househohl at once suppressed' 
 And then, what a scene of decoration went forward in all the 
 apa.-tme.,b, ! As in certain benevolent families, whatever 
 itj uneatable is always given to the poor, so here, all the 
 artificial llowers unavailable for the toilet were <'o'nerously 
 bestowed to festoon along the walls, to conceal tin sconces 
 and to wreathe round rickety chandeliers. Contrivance ~ 
 that most belauded phenomeimM in Nature's craft — was 
 everywhere. If necessity be the mother of invention, poor 
 gentility is the " stepmother." Never were made greater 
 etrorts, or greater sacrifices incurred, to make Mrs. I) 
 appear like a West-end leader of fashion, and to make tl * 
 establishment itself seem a llolderness House. 
 
 As for me, I was the type of a stage servant, —one of 
 those creatures who hand round colTec in the "School for 
 Scandal." My silk stockings were embroidered with silver. 
 
 11 
 
 mi 
 
 I 
 
 
 I, h 
 
 1 
 
 
Ill 
 
 
 *1 
 
 196 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 and my showy coat displayed a bouquet that might have 
 filled a vase. 
 
 In addition to these personal graces, I had long been 
 head of my department; all the other officials, from the 
 negro knife-cleaner upwards, besides all those be"-o-ed, 
 borrowed, and, I believe I might add, stolen domestics of 
 other families, being placed under my orders. 
 
 Among the many functions committed to me, the drillin^r 
 of these gentry stood first in difficulty, not only because they 
 were rebellious under control, but because I had actually to 
 invent "the discipline during parade." One golden rule, 
 however, I had adopted, and never suffered myself to deviate 
 from, viz., to do nothing as it had been done before, —a 
 maxim which relieved me from all the consequences of inex- 
 perience. Traditions are fatal things for a radical reformer ; 
 and I remembered having heard it remarked how Napoleon 
 himself first sacrificed his dignity by attempting an imitation 
 of the monarchy. By this one precept I ruled and squared 
 all my conduct. 
 
 The most refractory of my subordinates was a jackanapes 
 about my own age, who, having once waited on the " youno- 
 gentlemen " in the cock-pit of a man-of-war, fancied he had 
 acquired very extended views of life. Among other traits of 
 his fashionable experience, he remembered that at a dejeuner 
 given by the officers at Cadiz once, the company, who break- 
 fasted in the gun-room, had all left tlieir hats and cloaks in 
 the midshipman's berth, receiving each a small piece of card 
 with a number on it, and a similar one being attached to the 
 property, — a process so universal now in our theatrps and 
 assemblies that I ask pardon for particularly describing it • 
 but it was a novelty at the time I speak of, and had alf the 
 merits of a new discovery. 
 
 Smush — this was my deputy's name — had been so struck 
 with the admirable success of the arrangement that he had 
 actually preserved the pieces of card, and now produced 
 them, black and ragged, from the recesses of his trunk. 
 
 "Mr. Cregan" — such was the respectful title by which 
 I was now always addressed —" Mr. Cregan can tell us," 
 Ha id he, " if this is not the custom at great balls in 
 London." 
 
HOW I " FELL IN " AND " OUT " WITH " WIDOW DAVIS." 197 
 
 " It used to be so, formerly," said I, with an air of most 
 T::T"T '"''"'^^' ^^ ' ''' '^ an' arm-chair itaTZ 
 Ple^al 1 admit. Butour fashionable laM^s chauo-e • one dav 
 
 IS all n tra-refinemeat and Sybarite luxury, 1 he LxT 
 they affect a degree of mock simplicity in their manne.^ 
 
 ^fi^ers-"^^^^'^-' ^^-' '- ^— ' eati;Z":-;h 
 " Do they, indeed, go so far? " 
 " Do they ! ay, and fifty things worse. At a race-dinner 
 
 tlrTZ Tl '''' '''' ^^""' ''' ^^^^«' drunk out of by 
 every one. I have seen strange things in my time." ^ 
 
 I' That you must, Mr. Cregan." 
 
 "Latterly," said I, warming with mv subiert nnri a..- 
 my auditory .-eacly to believe" anytir., "' ^5 be.a„ h! 
 same system with tUe soup, and ahva™ passed the°fl 
 
 fast!" Sfu'teuham's, but I don't fancy it wu" 
 
 Mudjp s f ^hrr^h-rt :x:r r 
 .:i.4t:se'r„t i-aitiri,s;t -iT„ tts 
 o-n tteie:i,:r.Tba:i.'- !»"" "" -' -'■ "-«^ '"-' 
 
 tbfltAultZ'"''*^'' ™.1'"^"« ?'»"ty of my manuer, 
 tat I s3' '^ii ^-gS'^ofo" liad been at once apparent 
 
 tat I spoke hk-e an oracle, and I impressed my words witi 
 the snnple gravity of a commonplace truth 
 
 t.>o iLr-';'it':a'frc'sh s"Td' '^7;^7^' '--'^ 
 
 paities, and as you brush it off before they leave it i, 
 always another claim for the parting douceur! "' " 
 
 angry i'" ^'' ^"' '""^^' ^^^^'^y' " ^^^y cannot be 
 
 in l^S^ '' S 1 S:V' '7" ^'^' *^^' -'-y «-^ P-Ple 
 T^. r • ■ ' ^ff^ctmg horror at the bare thouo-hf 
 
 The tram was now laid ; I had only to wait for its exXfon; 
 
 ll 
 
 I! i 
 
 'm 
 
 it 
 u 
 
198 
 
 m 
 
 I'r ";.'■■ li. 
 
 y 'I 
 
 ii> 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 At fi Bt I did this with eager impatience for the result; then 
 as the time drew near, with somewhat of anxiety ' and' 
 at last with downright fear of the eonseqnenoes ^'et to 
 revoke the order, to confess that I was only hoaxin. on so 
 solemn a subject, would have been the downfall^o? mv 
 ascendency forever. What was to be doneV ^ 
 
 I could nnagine but one escape from the dilllculty, which 
 was to provide myself with a clothes-brush, and,^;! my 
 bSo" trr' ''' ^^''^^^'^"S--" ^^-r' to eras; the numeiS 
 the foifeiture of iny credit, and the risk of maintaining it. 
 
 I would willmgly recall some of the strange incidents of 
 hat great occasiou, but my mind can only d^ell upo one 
 
 dental dust, -a leave most graciously accorded, and ascribed 
 to my own-bred habits of attention. At last 1 it was 2 h 
 midnight and for above an hour the company had rece^^d 
 no accession to its ranks ; quadrilles had succeeded quadr les 
 and the business of the scene went swimmin^dy on?- al the 
 time-honored events of similar assemblages happnin'viih 
 hat rigid regularity which, if evening-parties wel-e managed 
 by s eam, and regulated by a fly-wheel, could not procfed 
 Mth uiore ordinary routine. " Heads of houses " w th ba d 
 scalps led out sunpering young boarding-school misses ^ 
 danced with a noble show of agility, to refute any ht^ 
 suspicion of coming age. There%vei'l' the us m.mbei o 
 
 ^valk, not the merry movement they had practised half a 
 century ago; and there were lack-a-daisicil youn-. g le- 
 men, with waistcoats variegated as a hearth-rug, alacf mal 
 m cent breast-pms like miniature pokers, who founged an^d 
 lolled about, as though youth we.^e the most embarrassing 
 and wearying infliction mortality was heir to 
 
 There were, besides, all the varieties of th^ class youn- 
 lady, as seen m every land where muslin is sold, and whit^ 
 shoes are manufactured. There was the slight young lady 
 who floated about with her gau.y dress dah.til/ pinched in 
 
 Who a..nc.:a with a duck m her gait; and there were a larae 
 proportion of the flouncing, flaunting kind, who took IL 
 
my 
 
 young 
 1 white 
 f lady, 
 hed in 
 
 lady, 
 I large 
 jk the 
 
 HOW I « FELL IN " AND " OUT " WITH " WIDOW DAVIS." 199 
 figuresof the quadrille by storm, and went at the "right and 
 
 Mr« T^ !V^'^,7''' "'"^'1'"^" ^^'^'" ^ fi^-«! ^"^^ there was 
 Mr8. Davis herself, m a spangled toque and red shoes, potter- 
 
 mg about from place to place, with a terrible eagernesJ to be 
 agreeable and fashionable at the same time. 
 
 It was, I have said, nigh midnight as I stood at the half- 
 open door, watching the animated and amusing scene within 
 ^aen Mrs. Davis, catching sight of me, and doubtless fo,' 
 .*•■• purpose of displaying my specious livery, ordered me to 
 open a wmdow, or close a shutter, or something of like im- 
 portance. 1 had scarcely performed the service,\vhen a kind 
 of half titter through the room made me look round, and, to 
 my unspeakable horror, I beheld, in the centre of the room, 
 lown-Major McCan, the most passionate little man in Que- 
 bec, making his obeisances to Mrs. Davis, while a circle 
 around were, with handkerchiefs to their mouths, stirtincr, as 
 they best could, a burst of laughter; since exactly between 
 his shoulders, m marks of about four inches long, stood the 
 numerals " 158 " a great flourish underneath proclaiming 
 that the rol had probably concluded, and that this was the 
 " last man. 
 
 Of the major, tradition had already consecrated one ex- 
 ploit; he had once kicked an impertinent tradesman down 
 the great flight of iron stairs which leads from the Upper 
 Town to Diamoiul Harbor, -a feat, to appreciate which i 
 IS necessary to bear in mind that the stair in question s 
 almost perpencbcular, and contains six hundred lid f o ty- 
 
 tWhro'f'it. ^'"''r'^"' ''^^'^•^ ^'^ anticipation as "^C 
 though of It; and as I retreated towards the door, it was 
 
 lied '''"''' '"""^^ "'^r^"^ ^^'^^ ^^-^ ^-" -" 
 
 "A large party, Mrs. D. ; a very brilliant and crowded 
 assemb y " said the major, pulling out his bushy wiiiskers 
 you het3 ""P«^-^-^^y — ^- " Now what number Ze 
 
 "I cannot even guess. Major ; but we have had very few 
 apologies Could you approximate to our numb^-s th^ 
 
 o d man who sat eymg the company through an opera? 
 
 m 
 
 It 
 
200 
 
 I 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "I have counted one hundred and thirty-four, madam- 
 but the major mjxkes them more numerous still ! " 
 " How do you mean, Cox? " said he, getting fiery red. 
 " If you '11 look in that glass yonder, which is opposite the 
 mn-ror, you '11 soon see ! " wheezed out the old man, mali- 
 eiously. I did not wait for more; with one sprino- I de- 
 scended the first flight; another brought me to the hall ; but 
 not before a terrible shout of laughter apprised me that all 
 was discovered. I had just time to open the clock-case and 
 step into It, as Major McCan came thuuderiug downstairs 
 with his coat on his arm. ' 
 
 A shrill yell from Sambo now told me that one culprit at 
 least was " up " for punishment. " Tell the truth, you d— d 
 piece of carved ebony ! who did this ? " 
 
 " Not me, Massa ! not me, Massa ! Smush did him ! " 
 Smush was at this instant emerging from the back parlor 
 with a tray of colored fluids for the dancers. With one 
 vigorous kick the major sent the whole flying ; and ere the 
 terrified servitor knew what the assault portended, a stron^r 
 grasp caugnt him by the throat, and ran him up bano-1 
 against the clock-case. Oh, what a terrible moment was 
 that for me ! I lieard the very gurgling rattle in his throat, 
 like choking, and felt as if when he ceased to breathe that I 
 should expire with him. 
 
 " You confess it ! you own it, then, you infernal rascal ! " 
 said the major, almost hoarse with rage. 
 
 "Oh, forgive me, sir! oh, forgive me! It was Mr. 
 Cregau, sir, the butler, who told me! Oh dear, I'm — " 
 What, he could n't finish ; for the major, in relinquishincr 
 his grasp, flung him backwards, and he fell against the 
 stairs. 
 
 "So it was Mr. — Cregan, — the - butler, — was it? " said 
 the major, with an emphasis on each word as though he had 
 bitten the syllables. " Well ! as sure as my name is Tony 
 McCan, Mr. Cregan shall pay for this ! Turn about is fair 
 play ; you have marked we, and may I be drummer to the 
 Cape Fencibles if I don't mark you!" and with this denun- 
 ciation, uttered in a tone, every accent of which vouched for 
 truth, he took a hat ~ the first next to him — and Issued 
 from the house. 
 
HOW 1 .. FELL IN .. AND « OUT -■ WITH - WIDOW DAVIS." 201 
 
 mt:::^^ ;r v™S ":r "^''"' tt - ' -"^^ 
 
 -Whogoe' «o,e°"of the™ ' "'",''»»"S '"e boarse 
 
 1 4 
 
IMilli,! 
 
 AN EMIGRANT'S FIRST STEP 
 "ON SHORE." 
 
 F 1 say that the Lower Town of Quebec 
 is the St. Giles's of the metropolis, I 
 convey but a very faint notion indeed of that terrible 
 locality. I have seen life in some of its least attractive 
 situations. I am not i-rnorant of the Liberties of Dublin 
 and the Claddagh of Galway; I have passed more time 
 than I care to mention in the Isle St. Louis of Paris- 
 while the Leopoldstadt of Vienna and the Ghetto of Rome 
 are tolerably familiar to me ; but still, for wickedness in its 
 most unwashed state, I give palm to the Lower Town of 
 Quebec. 
 
 The population, originally French, became gradually Inter- 
 mixed with emigrants, most of whom came from Ireland, 
 and who, having expended the little means they could scrape 
 together for the voyage, firmly believing that, once landed iu 
 America, gold was a "chimera" not worth troubling one's 
 head about, they were unable to go further, and'' either 
 became laborers in the city, or, as the market grew speedily 
 overstocked, sunk down into a state of pauperism, the very 
 counterpart of that they had left ou the other side of the 
 
AN EMIGRANT'S FIRST STEP "ON SHORE." 203 
 
 v7oi::;„ of':i;',S';'.;r; «?■ ;";""';™»-. «■« -kioss 
 
 the poor tinna Ca adto^ "'^'„'r' f ''°'^^''«' °"<' «-" '«"-ine<i 
 it wa« t„ mainmh, co naX ^''^ T"' ""'"=' '">" ""I'o^^iWe 
 
 j^e "eig,„„,,„„a; a:n;ar'tr HaT:'r; '""^ "=" 
 
 and a, tl.e French ingre<lie„r d c iL/ ,t ,,,7 '""''' '" 
 deratcHl, till at lei.jjtl, it bee-,m ?• ^„ ' , V","'"" P'''^''™" 
 Nothina assists bar!,,, i!L? Ml '^■" '""'* '"^l' 'l-'-"! French, 
 wants. Sla,,™7i,lr. '''''"'''"''"''''P««'t''itoown 
 
 tion „t vic;«r„;u"^ s,;rLr.i;i :: ';f '"■°''»«"- 
 
 rency"of hiiouitv and^.,„i;„ • ' "'"'"' " paper cur- 
 
 If I Luted areri;ie,"co^f t,r;' 'f "r,"' """"' "^ '"' '*'=«• 
 place Ian, speaW , ^ X',' , ^^^ ' f ""''I •'™" "P" the 
 
 eivili.atio« and igi^red t Ic^ u Jo if J." » ,°"- ff" 
 t,e,, e.ther regarding the task as too I opeless or tt T"""' 
 OU8, or too troublesome, seeu.ed to «lm^ * ^ " ''""«<"■■ 
 this infamous locality It 1 . f ' ""^ ''•''^tence of 
 
 with some satisf/ct^that 4 /: .leThTl t Tl !"• ^ ^" 
 
 tr^:oTtieTr?':i:r"^ 
 
 a spot Of tall SsmJ :t'rct' e'::s: Trrr '- '-- 
 
 .ng t .em scattering and sprea,liug „™ a ill, ^^^a'cr'"'" 
 
 :^.r:?riK^tJ:L-S?-^^- 
 
 could not withstand nffm- L i t^^^'^ ^be new-comers 
 like years of avel Wuf "' '^"^''='"S- that seemed 
 conn4 they ha qni L Tv T ^''"""'^^^ ^^'^"^ ^^ t^^e 
 
 human^hearii -oTttnd^ihTyi::;;!:^^:;::^^'? 1 ^'^ 
 
 ness, touched thrlr hearts, and moved them 7 ^''^"" 
 
 tenderest emotions. To trade on thi uscenTib Htv ' """'^ 
 
 a recognized livelihood- so fi.otf I '^"^ceptibility became 
 
 5 iveiinoort , so that the quays were crowded with 
 
 I ti 
 
 i r-if 
 
 1 1 
 
 '1 k 
 
 
 
204 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 1^1 f}' 
 
 i! 
 j 
 
 idle ^^gabonds who sought out the prey with a. nK.ch skill 
 Z- \ '''''^'' '^''^'^^^' ^" ^letectiug the rauk of a new 
 
 This (ilihy locality, too, contained all the lodging-houses 
 
 sorted to by the en.igrants, who were easily persuaded o 
 
 follow then- - countryn.an " wherever he nnght lead. Here 
 
 were spent the <]ays- sometimes, unhappily, the weeks- 
 
 before (hey could fix upon the part of the country to which 
 
 they should bend their steps; and here, but too often, were 
 
 pasted HI excess and debauchery the little hoards that had 
 
 cost years to accumulate, till farther progress became impos- 
 
 « be; and the stranger who landed but a few weeks back 
 
 tun of strong hope, sunk down into the degraded condition 
 
 bLl'e'b^'cUe^' ''''' ''' '''''-''' ^''-'-y^ ''^ ^"P« 
 It were well it' deceit and falsehood, if heartless treachery 
 ^d calculatmg baseness, were all that went forward here. 
 But not so; crimes of every character were rife also, and 
 not an mliabitant of the city, with money or character, would 
 tiave, for any consideration, put foot within this district 
 after n,gh fall. The very cries that broke upon the stillness 
 of the night were often heard in the Upper Town ; and when- 
 ever a shriek of agony arose, or the heartrending cry for 
 help, prudent citizens would close the window, and say, " It 
 18 some of the Irish in the Lower Town," -a comprehensive 
 statement that needed no commentary. 
 
 Towards this pleasant locality I now hastened, with a kind 
 of instinctive sense that I had some claims on the sanctuary. 
 Jt chanced that an emigrant ship which had arrived that 
 evening was just disembarking its passengers ; mingling with 
 the throng of which, I entered the filthy and narrow lanes of 
 this Alsataa. The new an-ivals were all Irish, and, as usual, 
 were heralded by parties of the resident population, eagerly 
 canvassing them for this or that lodging-house. Had not 
 my own troubles been enough for me, I should have felt in- 
 terested in the strange contrast between the simple peasant 
 hrst stepping on a foreign shore, and the slirewd roguery of 
 him who proposed guidance, and who doubtless had himself 
 once been as nnsup.pccting and artless as those he now 
 cajoled and endeavored to dupe. 
 
AN EMIGU ANT'S FIIIST STEP "ON SHORE." 205 
 I soon saw tl.at single individuals were aocounted of Hffln 
 
 we!,.™,","' „';.";:■ i" ™'''"'f'"'"« •■' f"Oti„g, »o fa,, a, talking 
 Ingi,,, w„e,.e .^ we,, going,":',,, 't^L,,,'- S e'v^^ 
 rh.l „ l"n lia"l<lyai,.l r,«.|y, ,|,„t a„ |,„|i„„ wouldn't 
 seeonti i i,es,tat,rf |>,o„„3ing to refer to "my tablets" 
 Tatilia!. t:'™.'" '"" "«"'' '"■ ' «-="'" «>» -" 
 
 "a;,far«orntr^:::Vir'^'e" '""; ""=■""' ™"' 
 
 J^-f^.'^—^^^^--"---- 
 
 "But he'll do better here, rely upon it » siiH r ,• •.• 
 some further disclosures: - I'm oor ni ' i » ^\'''^}^'^S 
 pointed with having conu. <,ut. " "" ^'' ' "^* ^^^^^P" 
 
 "No, indeed: aloi-y i)t. to rs^,] t i » i ■ 
 
 come here; and a wonderful long ^^ ■" ,' i"r. '""^ "'^ ""O 
 
 »e™ aT wr'"""" "^ '"' »'="°''"i"=» on' sea voyages in 
 Noah's "I ,:: '"'T''^ ?'"""'« "' ""»' a.'ehitecturer f,Z 
 
 "New Orleans! why that'<« in tu^ o* * 
 miles away!" *^® ^^^^^^^ ^ thousand 
 
 "Oh, murther, murther ' " pru>ri ti^^ ^i^ <• n 
 his hands; ..nd ain't'^; in^ J^S^^^'^"^^' ^""^^"^ 
 No, said I; " this is Canada." 
 
 If 
 
206 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 
 "Joe, Joe!" crit'd lie, ])ulliii,L; liiw son by the collar, 
 " lirttoii to thin, ni'ushhi. Oh, iiiurllu'r, iniiitlu'r ! we're kilt 
 iiiul lU'Hlroyod iiiUrely ! " 
 
 " WliJit is it, ftitlior?" Haid a tall, iiowerfiilly huill inuii, 
 who Hpoke ill a low but resolute voice; '' what ails you? ' 
 
 "Tell him, darliiit, tell him!" said the old man, not 
 able to utter his <:;riefs. 
 
 " Jt seems," said J, " that you believed yourselves in the 
 States ; now, this is not so. This is British America, — 
 Lower Canada." 
 
 " Isn't it ' C^uaybec'?" said he, standing full in front of 
 me. 
 
 " It is Quebec; but still, that is Canada." 
 
 "And it's ten thousand miles from Dan! " said the old 
 fellow, whose cries were almost sulTocatinj; him. 
 
 "Whisht, father, and let me talk," said the son: "do 
 you know New Orleans?" 
 
 " Perfectly. ~ every sti-eet of it," said I, with an effrontery 
 the darkness aided considerably. 
 
 " And how far is 't from here? " 
 
 "Something like thirteen or fourteen hundred miles, at a 
 rough guess." 
 
 " Oh, th' eternal villain ! if I had him by the neck ! " cried 
 Joe, as he struck the ground a blow witii his blackthorn 
 which certainly would not have improved the human face 
 divine ; " he towld me they were a few miles asunder, — an 
 easy day's walk ! " 
 
 "Who said so?" asked I. 
 
 " The chap on Eden Quay, in Dublin, where we took our • 
 passage." 
 
 "Don't be down-hearted, anyway," said I; "distance is 
 nothing here: we think no more of a hundred miles than 
 you do in Ireland of a walk before breakfast. If it 's any 
 comfort to you, I'm going the same way myself." This 
 very consolatory assurance, which I learno(i then for the first 
 time also, did not appear to give the full confidence I ex- 
 pected, for Joe made no answer, but, with head dropped 
 and clasped hands, continued to mutter some words in 
 Irish that, so far as sound went, had not the "clink" of 
 blessings. 
 
II 
 
 AN KMKiKANT-S FIRST HTKP ..(JN HIIORi:." 207 
 IviiovvH Diiu," Huid the old man to his 
 
 ptT wliicl,, low us it was, uiy quick ears d 
 
 Whut 
 
 HUVlljroly; for (1 
 
 docs li(! ki,„w jihoiit him? 
 
 "" "u-moiy of oiR. dwrption was too st 
 
 iipt»'» luni to m;ik(> liim liirhtly ei-edul 
 
 Know a vol 
 
 oils. 
 
 son, in h wiiis- 
 iolo(!tod. 
 
 t'xeiaimed tho son, 
 •ong 
 
 yOUIljr follow indood,— ill 
 
 •y smart young man, — a vory 
 
 naino 
 
 you spoak „f, _i)ji„ c„|i 
 
 Now Orloaiis, 
 
 Haul 
 
 What 
 
 part of Ireland did h 
 
 niaiio. 
 
 promising 
 " of the 
 
 Tho man I nioai 
 
 lioighhorhood of I 
 
 Kioomofrom?" askod Joe. 
 
 That 's it ! 
 
 mils. 
 
 was from Clare, somewhe 
 
 te in the 
 
 HJiid tiio old man. 
 
 sat^i'Id''^'!:'; '"''' "'' '""' ^''"«« ^'"^tion was not so c.sily 
 traicA ' ""'""'^' ''' ""'' "^'*'^^'' "^^^^t ^-« h« hy 
 
 T 'vl"' ''T I H/KK^'naker, and an excellent one, - indeed 
 
 " What was the street he lived in^" 
 
 Here was a puzzler ; for, as my reader knows, T was at the 
 end of njy n.formatioi, and had not the slighte t knll dt 
 of New Orleans or its localities. The little sorn,. ..f . " 
 paper I had picked up on Anticosti wa^ ^e on^ U n^'haX 
 any reference to that city J over possessed in my life B„t^ 
 
 Z^JlTT ''' •"'"'" ^^^ '^ '^''^ i'o.nen.berfd 
 t Isro't ; T '" T^ ^-'«''«"^'«' «aid, " I cannot recall 
 
 the Pin ' . '' •'"'' '"' ^'^"' *"'■" ^'"* ^^f the street where 
 the 'Picayune' newspapor-odice stands." 
 
 "Right ! - all right, hy the father of Moses ! " cried Joe 
 stretching out a Juawny hand, and shaking mine wh the 
 Z I'M. f'-'-'^^^'-'l- 'r'len, stepping forward to where 
 Uie rest of the party were walking, with Two most loqu.rcbus 
 guides he said - Molly ! here 's a boy knows Dan ! ^Biddy 
 come here, and hear about Dan'" ^' 
 
 Two young girls, in long cloth cloaks, turned hastily 
 round, and drew near, as they exclaimed in a breath ' Oh 
 tell us about Dan, sir ! " » «Jitdin, uh, 
 
 " 'Tis botther wait till we 're in a house," said the old man 
 who was, however greedy for news, not a' little desiits of a 
 me and something to eat. " Sure, you '11 come with us, and 
 
 m 
 
 ■r^i 
 
 I • 
 
 11 ' .1 
 
 %'i 
 
( 
 
 f I 
 
 208 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 take ye,; .sh.ire of what's goi..^," ,sni,l U. to me, -an invitu- 
 tmn^wlneh, ere I could .vply to, was reiterated 'b, the whot 
 
 "Do you know where we're ,<?oh,f; hero?" asked Joe of 
 mo as we coutinued our way throu^ud. n.a/.eH of gloou.v lanes 
 that srcw gra,lually less and le.s.s frequented. ^ 
 
 gu rd here: we are in a had neii-hhorhood." 
 
 Well, there's three hoys there," said he, pointin-r to his 
 sons, who walked in front, '' that will pay fol all they ' 
 
 aon'^rnLri:- '-'''- '-' '- - '- ^^ ^- y-^ ^o/they 
 "Are we near this same lodging-house? " said I, bluntly, 
 
 to the guides, and using French, to show that I wts no n 
 
 fledged arrival from beyond the seas. 
 
 " Ahi ! " cried one, - a gaillard from the battery." 
 
 said thrn.h "; ^1" f ""'" ''" •'•"•'' >-"^"'^' ."ounsier?" 
 coal. ' '"'^^ '''^''^'"^^' '"^ ^y ^^'« 1^4>el of my 
 
 " Because I am not afraid of his teeth," said I, with an 
 easy etTrontery my heart gave a flat lie to. 
 
 Vrai ^^ said he, with a laugh of horrible meaning. 
 
 bold voice. ''''"' '' ""^ ' ^•"^•"" ^->-»-' ^"t a very 
 
 "I wish we were in better company," whispered I to Top • 
 
 "what directions did you give th^se fc^llows?" '' 
 
 fhof M ""'^ "' *''' ^^'^ lodging-house for the night and 
 that we'd pay well for it." ^ ' 
 
 ;; Ah ! " thought T, - that explains somethincr." 
 
 io^'o^ Lf ar"^'' '" »""»' "-•" -« «'e other, boU,- 
 
 " It would be manners to wait and see if they '11 let n<, in » 
 
 Vite! — quick! — aharn ♦imp '" /v..: i 
 
 M -udrp .jme : cried one of me fellows, 
 
AN K^fIGRANT^S FIRST STEI> -ON SIFORE." 200 
 
 Who, as the Bound of voiooH was heanl from within spcn..,! 
 ..ni.ttu.nt to be o.r ; and so, snatd.in, nUh.-r t ak " he 
 H^niln.,' w lM..h still liM.ered in .I,...-h ....In.tant 11 n' 'h" |t 
 
 -im Na ! oned a sharp voice IVun. within, as I knocked 
 fo. (he second fnne on the door-pnnel will, a stone. 
 
 eat."" '"' ''"' ' '■ " ''' ^'""^ '" ''"'-*"" '""' ->"'Hl.inj.' to 
 
 The door was at once opened, and, by ,|,, Wj^Ut of a Ian- 
 torn we saw the lignre of an old won.an whoHe;yes, 1 Ic .u'cd 
 and l.h.o.lshot, o-laivd al ns fixclly. ^ ' ' 
 
 '"Tis alodgcn' yez want?" said she, in an accent that 
 showed her to be Irish. ^^ And who bron.h, ye. hlT" 
 
 I wo younj; fellows we met „n the .,nav " said Too- 
 "one called the other 'Tony.'" ^ "^ ' 
 
 "Ay indeed!" muttered the hag; - I was sure of it : his 
 own son! his own son ! " 
 
 These words she repeated in a tone of pr<.fonnd sorrow 
 and for a tnne seen,ed qnite unmindful of our presence 
 
 on:::ah:;i;;'z^m.?r;.e't;T;^^'^^^^^'^^^ 
 
 to me-'""f rif ,^'"7 '? «<>'"«^-'^^^'-<^ ^>l«e," whispered Joe 
 to me - I don t like the look of this place." Before I could 
 reply to tins, a loud yell burst fortl! from the e"d of he 
 8 reet accompanied by the tramp of many people who 
 seemed to move in a kind of regulated step. ' 
 
 Here they are ! Here they con.e ! " cried the old woman • 
 'step m quick, or ye '11 be too late ! " and she d ranged th^ 
 
 lor 1 ' ^r''^'"- '^'''"^' ^'^^'^^"^•"' '^' I'-^^tern on the 
 
 flooi, she drew a heavy chain across the door, and drop„ed 
 her cloak over the light, saying in a low, tremulou vo e 
 
 Them s the ' Tapageers ! ' " 
 
 The crowd now came closer, and we perceived that thev 
 were smgn.g m chorus a song, of which tie air, at ifaslwas 
 
 The barbarona rhvTYio nf nna n-ria tt-.. ii. . 
 
 «no»- ^-n ,• " ' °^ ^^"^ verse, as they sung it in 
 
 passing, stiUlmgers in my memory : _ " 
 
 vol.. I. — 14 
 
 ■''»| 
 
It 
 
 210 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "No bloody agint hero we seo, 
 
 Ready to rack, distrain, and saze us: 
 Whate er we ax, we liave it free, 
 And take at hand, whatever pl'aze us. 
 
 Tow, row, row, 
 -,. ,. '^^'H yez sliow me, now, 
 
 I he pohs that 'II dare to face us ! " 
 
 (t 
 
 said I, my curiosity being 
 
 The chaps that never spared 
 ^ 'T is bad enough, the place 
 
 There they go! 'tis well ye wor safe'" «a,Vl ih. ^u 
 
 "Who or what are they?" 
 stimulated by fear. 
 
 " Them 's the ' Tapageers ' ! 
 man or woman in their rounds, 
 is ; but they make it far worse ' " 
 
 in,;':::: r/cXuT *'''■"«"•" ^"^ "-• ^^^^ 
 
 1 IS a nice place ye kem for either ! " said she • and <,hp 
 leaned back against the wall and laughed with a fiend like 
 malice that made my blood chill. nend-like 
 
 '^ Then I suppose we must go somewhere else," said Joe 
 Come boys ; 't is no use losing our time here ' " 
 thn. ^^, «P^f^ >'«» ! " «aid she, preparing to undo the chain 
 that fastened he door. '« Ye have bould hearts, aivy way" 
 There they go! d'ye hear them?" This was sail h/nhZ' 
 whisper, as the wild yells of the '' Tapageers '' a^ e i hou/' 
 and soon after, the noise and tumult of a scuffle, "a lea J 
 
 f"L fl'";^''r r^^^^^^ '-^"^^ '^' shkiting o a 
 
 7.^T ' ^''' P'"''"'"^ ""^^ ^^'- J^^JP burst forth. 
 
 _ "What are ye doin'? Are ye mad? Are ye out o vour 
 ^nses?" cried the hag, as j;;e endeavored to wrest oZ 
 
 ''The:''.?' "'T-'' ""^'^^ ''' '''' -t understand. ' 
 Ihey re murdering some one without there!" said 
 
 Minute 1^' "" '''' "■ ''" '^^V'^"'^ y^^' «ld door this 
 
being 
 
 AN EMIGRANT'S FIRST STEP <.0N SHORE." 211 
 
 f.- Er.;;;?.;:,"' ■■•'.• —i— «....- . 
 
 1 IS a bloody place ; glorv be to Cinr] i » .„ • i t 
 last with a si,h, and claie^i bfs hands ^efo e hhn lit''' '' 
 unable to decide on what course to follow ' " ''°' 
 
 I saw now, that all were so paralyzed by fear that if 
 devolved upon me to act for th/ ..„.f "^ ^ ^* 
 
 bestcourao^ Isaid -Wii *^V ^'' '°' ™"^ouing my 
 nicrhf " ='^' ^ ^^'«' ^^ '11 you allow US to Stay here for thp 
 
 "We only want a shelter for the ni^ht-" 
 a bit of belly bacon ..nrl ^v ^V ' ~ ^^ ^^^ ^"^y 
 
 " Is he a friar? " said the hag to me, ea<rei-lv ■ " ^„ i 
 belong to an ' oidher ' - " ^^geny, does he 
 
 Sh!!'w" '"'1 ' ' ," ''" '" """y » *■">''<' Catholic." 
 
 «?„::rttt„';:;f •;:''• "> "-«-"»->«, a„d then, 
 sho„%^ where ;:";;;":;;".'.'"' ^"■"' "^°- »'°"8' ^■» 
 
 opened the door of a'l'i; ro^T^r;;^:^!,^^^^^^^^ 
 
 i! ?; 
 
 i!' 
 
 f f- '.I 
 
9"* 9 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 was a deal tab e and a few chairs ; a candle stuck in a bottl. 
 and some dnnking-vessels of tin, were on the table and ^I 
 piece of newspaper containing some tobacco ' """^ ' 
 
 There, said she, lighting the candle, " you may stav 
 
 ' ind';: L^"t^'^^ T. ^^ ^"'' ^^^' ^^ ^^ ^- y" Se "' 
 fully ^ ^"^ '"'• ^J^«»l'^^te^l the old man, sorrow- 
 
 u'?5t"? ^''^ "" ^^'^ potatoes?" said Joe. 
 1 did n t taste food since yesterday morning » sniri fi, 
 hag; "and that's what's to keep life'^in mnf-'mo^ow . » 
 and as she spoke, she held out a fragme^ of blacken d 
 sea-biscuit such as Russian sailors calf " ."'^k' ^'"^^^"^^ 
 well, by coorse, there's no use in talking » said W 
 who always seemed the flr.t to see his way c La ly ' 'T is 
 worse for the girls, for we can take a draw of ihe ll 
 Lucky for us we have it!" ^^^' 
 
 Meanwhile, the two girls had taken off their cloaks and 
 were busy gathering some loose sticks togethe , to make ' 
 fne,~a piece of practical wisdom I at ^once 'lent ^1 aid 
 
 .it^tSMTSt;:rt^-;rfsr^^^ 
 redTsTytT^^xTrir^^^^^^^ 
 
 to yez all !" ^ °' '" ^" ^ '^^ ^ive yez. Good night 
 
 ninT'll'/f^"''" '^^ •^°^' ^^ «««» a« be had lighted his 
 
 ' e 'shTp burr 'th"t '^ *'^. '"' " y^ ^-^ ^-^ -o gt o 
 the^ ship, but I think ye wish yerself back again Siere, 
 
 "Wilhl"""'' ''^' *^^*'" '"'^ ^^"^^^ '"^"' querulously; 
 Ireland?" '" '''" ''^ ^""^ ^'^^P' ^^^ «-- left ould 
 
AN EMIGRANT'S FIRST STEP "ON SHORE." 213 
 
 her head on the other'i Inr. f^ii « 
 
 sitting directly iu f out of L f '"^[j'"^^ '!■« old „an, 
 forward,, wa4g p ev" ry L rLo'" "'""''"""' ^"^ 
 pipe; Which do„; hfiSiatc.; eu"off''i:S a'^do'"" "' 
 more, leaving Joe and rrry.eif a Je, waktg l7wa"^ J" 
 
 
 r 
 
 M 
 
 r i . 
 
Q^^ 
 
 ^IK.WB 
 
 ' A NIGHT IN THE "LOWER TOWN." 
 
 OE'S eyes were bent upon me, as I sat 
 du.ey opposite ln.n, with a fixedness th^t 
 showy costume • hi« ^'^ ^ '^""^ "^^^ occasioned by my 
 
 -etiyst ; ^a^I Its' anctd ^JtH f ^ "' ^^ "^^^^' 
 the silver clocks on my silk stock nc^s- It ' , 7\ 'T^'''^ 
 undisguised astonishment - sud) f i;., '' ^ '"^'^'^ «^ "'««' 
 some new and sin-^ular "nimal of u f l!"' ^'''*^^^'^ "'^^^^ 
 
 we are lost in conjecture! ' '' ^"^'^^ ^"^^ "'«^^"«ts 
 
 Now, I was " York fm " ♦!.„* • x 
 well as himself- and T wJll T f. " '" "'^' ' ""'' '"^ill »« 
 condition of mn f "vWn i^ ''"' "'?'''^ ™' "" ''"^ "<" 
 the same 1„«- e^ m Lt , ' ! HC V" "*>'.'" '""^«'™» 
 is associated in his mind witi, I ' ■^"■™"'- The class 
 hoo<l, theft, ana a erlf mi rr'"?'' '""""^"•'"'' '""- 
 add that, heins occasiLa ,y T ' ^e^rfariir ''" \™' *" 
 
 ^ttz!"'- *-"''^ ■•""er^e''s^:Ser.^ 
 
 like to these hnman . ,"s™ ' "i h^' T-f '"•<'™''^'"' ""- 
 I have said I koew this wel ? h!d t "'"■ '"'"• ^'°"- 
 
 """ • ^ '""1 beea reared in the knowl- 
 
A NIGHT IN THE "LOWER TOWN.' 
 
 215 
 
 ^ 
 
 edge and 
 
 that I -It .n.rf"", ""^ *^^',^'"' '''^"y ^''""^"' '^"tipathies, so 
 escape hom the reproach of a mark so indelibly sta.nned 
 Srablv V"''"'^' '■'^'^^"'■"^ Culliuane''^.- r^^ 
 iny ea.e Iherefore, was that thev should reciprocate thp 
 want and be utterly helpless .vithout ... T uh r^flee 
 "g, I could not help saying to mysei:, how gladly would I 
 l^ave parted with all these gauds for a hon.ely: 4 o ey a 
 nxgged s„,t of natiye frieze. 1 remembered Vhet el on he 
 dunglnn who woulcl haye giyen his dian.ond for ^n Ig 
 
 £:;;:::^r" ' "^' ' '''' '''' " ^^^^^ " -« ^ ^-^^ poetical 
 
 From these and similar mental meanderings I was brouol,t 
 back by Joe who, after en.ptying the ashc^ from hi ^^p 
 said, and with a peculiarly dry yoice, " Ye 'r in a sery oe' 
 young man?" xl i in a sen ice, 
 
 piiiutcincc, ;yet the tone, the caut bus slowness of 
 
 lai In ' t^o' mv nf f"" .T^ ' "" "^^"^•^' '-^'"^ ^^"^^ ^he blood 
 lushmg to my cheeks with shame. It was like a sharp prick 
 of the spur ; and so it turned out. ^ ^ 
 
 -No'V'flnT'''-" ^f ^' "^^'^ '^ ^""'^ '^f «ff«"^^«^^ dignity. 
 ISO, I flatter myself not that low yet. What could hive 
 
 TZZrr'' T; ?'' ' ''' ■ ' - '--^ ' buSl -1 
 
 ha hi ^.^ ^;'^^"'"f ^ ^^"8f " That is excellent, to be sure ! 
 ha ha ha so it was these "-and 1 stretched forth mv 
 embroidered shins -''it was these deceiyed you And a 
 SSLrTmi^hf'"' '^" No,myworthyfrie.k-„^;:l;^ 
 T.^l,l\ ?, '"7 '"'"^ "' ^^'^^ ^^^^"« ^SnoUe position." 
 I said this with a sudden change of yoiee, as thoud oyercast 
 by some sad recollection. ° oyeicast 
 
 '' 'T was indeed your dress," said Joe, with a modest 
 deference in his manner, meant to be a full rpology f or h s 
 late blunder. -Maybe 'tis the fashion here/' ^ 
 
 onpn fhL ^""'"''"■''" ^""'^ I' U8i"g a freedom which should 
 open the way to our relatiye future standing; 'mio, not eyen 
 that. Here I hei'.yed a heayy sigh, and became silent. My 
 
 .1 Mi 
 
216 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 companion, abashed by bis mistake qiiVi n^ti,: 
 
 iu a .a,«„„,M battle ^ai^t^n/i^;, J 7 £7"' /ti.l'S 
 
 a«uori:;t;it'xrrt;oC^^^^^^^ 
 
 other time I may relate to vm, nil ,,/» r'*^"P^"y- At an- 
 to escape deteetfon. V^Z mf wte^Xeli T""^' 
 upprebension-why do 1 say ^vcre■^lZ Co ,1 ""^ 
 offered. I will not deceive vou Tt i« ;^' ^""'''^"«' ^^« 
 
 instant, by surrendering me to my famL J°"' T" ''^' 
 sand dollars ! " ^ "''^^' ^"^ ^^"^ ^^e thou- 
 
 " Do ye think I 'd be — " 
 
 .;sSy^ W^tavlr^:!^:^:- ^;? ^-^ ^ear 
 frequented routes till we reached the North when o'^ "" 
 courage, I ventured to take a high mncrof oh™ ' ^'^""'f 
 I will own it, with success At Lf " characters, and, 
 which conntr;, althouoh n,; retl h.? T." '" ^^'"^^^' "^ 
 -y father ha'd' acquarntetan^^'p't;;: ^r'"-^^^ 
 %ht, entreating them to do thei/ uS ^1",^ 2 
 from a career so far below my rank and fufn.-l 
 Among others, he wrote to an^old frie.^ and sehoTr'' 
 the Governor-General, requesting his ^d In this 1 '^; 
 was ^,y, ,ble, f:.m other sources, totrn ety'lt^i J 
 was taken wUh this object; so that I not only knew ths 
 but actually possessed a copy of my father's IpL. f r ,' 
 Poynder, wherein this passage occuired ? Ah^ , ?. ^'""''^ 
 
 ashamed when hp mJ r ■ ^ ' ""^ '^^ ^'"^ »«* be 
 
 -iciicu Wilton ne may n)eet you m siftpr.Hfo t# ^i m. 
 
 bo, ca„ be induced, h, a. „,4 sense^TdiX " l.^";! 
 
A NIGHT IN THE " LOWER TOWN." 217 
 
 this unworthy pursuit, so much the better- hnf n. • 
 would, I fear, <nve f-iinf l,r.,.o ..f T- . ' ""^ coercion 
 «-. T . f ^ "^P*^ ^^ eradieat n"- tlio pvil ' ivr^ 
 
 a3 I perceived that no actual force w..rt i ^^""^ 
 
 against me, I did not hS,.l ! ^"^ ^"^ employed 
 
 which U.o,mJZ^l,t T^' '' ^'^^ ^^^'•^'- 
 Shakespeare ?" °^°""«''^ ^^- ilave you ever read 
 
 u' Jt''ii'*"''" ^'^'"^ '^'^®' ^'^spectfully. 
 
 To bo brief. ,„ m:^'::z 7z r "'■'"; '^"'"■""''■ 
 
 Govcinor bimscif, lie came t ,1. l!i , .'■''"■''''■'='"™'' ""> 
 o..t a„y previous \nl:Z '^J"„:^X^<^ ''■",-'^- 
 entrance on the scene, -soarcclvliJll ., """'" "^ 
 
 cent soliloqnv, 'Sno; me tte tL , \ FT """ ""S""!- 
 
 when bis K.c;i,e„cy\:L™e ' isl :lf'to7 T'^ 
 Governor-General hisso^ nil fh 11? " ^^' ^^'^^'^ ^he 
 
 dentof tbeCoun!4CuilhLn ,1 '^ ^f'' '^^^" ^^^ ^^'^^i' 
 bishop and the tf^ ;",t;'"Xtln"-^ then come the 
 Attorney-General and ^o o.V ''^i' '''^V'^^ J»^ges and the 
 of the h'^use obed fn wiU Vhl " '" ''' ^"^'^^ ^^P"^^**^- 
 galleries that hated h; i i h .'"'"^^ '^" "' ^ ^^^ ^^ ^he 
 out, ' Three chees for CcM r ''''''TT' ""^ ^^« «™d 
 Canada!' I„ t^s ty'': S' X ^1: ^ 'f ^""'^"^^ «^ 
 yells and cat-calls Qvertoppitrr 1*^^'!^ ^^^ ' '^'^^^'^ ^'h1 
 for the manager to comeTt^isiiinr^' '" ^''^^' '^"^ «^^«^^"« 
 house. At last out he d^ come ' Tr /'""^ T' '' *^^ 
 matters worse: so manv dirPo7 ""' ^ "^'^"^^ '"^^de 
 
 asked, and demand, ml "^ilf^^/^ f-"' Q-stions 
 hear any one voice- and thpvl . T . ''''''''^' impossible to 
 
 his armLbout liTe-arLanTtet:; J'^"'^"^^'^^''- ^""^^^'"^ 
 stage-box at one side thon. ^-^ ' """^ '""'""^' *» the 
 maintain a little priva ; conver^r '"\""^^ *" ^^e other, to 
 of the house spoke ou bvn no i;""!; ^^ '^="^^' *'" the sense 
 me in the side-scenes. ^ ^'"^^^"^^"^ ^^tching a glimpse of 
 
 thrthUctrslio^Z";^2^'^^f ^^' ^"^ ^-"^'--' 
 dreds of voices' ''°-""-"o, were shouted from hun- 
 
 -'What am I to understand?' said he, bowing, with 
 
 'I it 
 
 I i'. 
 
 !k, 
 
 
 
 w 
 
218 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 ,''1 ■ 
 
 his arms crossed submissive] v before I.i.n « t u -. 
 self to your onlern If Ar, r , ^"^""'^ "^y 
 
 approbation -^'' '^^'- ^'""'"^ ^'"^'^ "^^ "^^et your 
 
 revenJ. / °. "" ^^l^^^'^^^'ity- It is tiiis they seek 
 revenge upon wherever they find us." 
 
 I own that in givinar this luvniinv +.,.,,, 4. 
 
 ings ; so I was driven to ti v wli-if .. litfi / • ^ "^^^'" 
 
 i" arousing his feeli i- an fv; .^'V"'''"' ""^'^^^^« 
 
 a "lo iLtiings , and I was right. Some of rniu 
 
 nane s connections had been Terrys, - o^Bbckfe t 01 Wht-' 
 
 feet or some one or other of these pleasant frateiities who 
 
 study ball-practice, with a landlord for the bull's-eye hI^^ 
 
 once caught up the spirit of my remarks, and eve 1 qfoted 
 
 some eloquent passages of Mr. O'Connell Ibout he wWth of 
 
 our shoulders and the calves of our legs, and other iTkener 
 
 sonal advantages, incontestably sho.-ing as they o that we 
 
 uever were made to be subject to the SaSon. ItVls he law 
 
 o the land, however, which had his heartiest abhm-r nee 
 
 This, like nme-tenths of his own class in Ireland, he rrJarded 
 
 as a systematic means of oppression, inventJ,^! by the r o 
 
 to gn. them the tyrannical dominion over the poo. Nor t 
 
 e"f e^^trrl.r ''; ^^"-'^-'^- ''ovvWniza^t h 
 e^asant often is of all the schemes and wiles by which a con- 
 
 i?eno" •' ^°!"P^^f^' --y> the very adroitness o a 1 'al 
 ^ems, -mstead ot suggesting admiration for those barriers 
 
A NIOIIT IN Tin.; "LOTOU TOWN." .>,,, 
 
 and lawyer, tia. t C, | ; L,' ^^S" ,""- '"',""« over ,ri,U ,„, 
 
 ^ WI,atha|,|,<.„o<ltol,i,„?"Bai<II. ■ 
 
 a sc^p of a prayer below ),i" Ceatl, ""'" """"'"'"8 
 
 hoar mlts!4^u*''h,'i,i:':;rr<:^'':"""^ ""' "« <"""■« 
 
 forced to repeat my q„„!,ti„r '"'°°"»"«' "" "■« I was 
 
 " Ye never heerd of on.- Ar.. ci • 
 said he, after a pause ' Of .L """"f' ^^ "^« Grove?" 
 years ago now /but he w.^wdlT "^^ ^^' "'*'-'*^« "^^"^ 
 a great part of Ennist^mo" Ind a iH '"''*' "^"^^ ^""«"' 
 no matter for that, Jl^slll Tj . T.''" ^' ^^^- ^^^^ 
 checks and stout built an ton. ?"' ^"" "^''^"' ^^'^h rosy 
 "ot ins life in it t -- a t'lZ in ^ '"'''' "^ "^^ ««""t'7 had 
 ' It '11 be the ruin of y I Yf ''' '''"' '"'' ^^^ "«^^^ ^o^^^^y, 
 n^V g'-andfather- res' his iwlf^ T '?'^^^ "^« '' ' ^eU 
 and used to n.ana,e et v Con t,f "''• ~^^^^ '^^ ^^"^^'^^ 
 oonsiderin' what ^^Lnl ?h l " ^'"''P''''^ '"'' ^"" ' ^«d 
 country round, -all I ut b^ol ' T ^'" ""^^^^ ^^ the 
 name. I „eve'r seed L ^^ f'^. ? ^^'aH 'f'^'T' "^'^^^^"^^ ^^ 
 the name is in my mind as f r i , '"" ^ '''''' '^^^^ ' ^ut 
 
 g.an];x;::;^^r: -n' iro^ri '^ ^^^-^^^ ' -^ -y 
 
 but Mr. Shinane was a erd of L ? ^'V '^''^^^ '^"^"^ ' 
 qniot. Mat,' says he- 'he's n f, ki ^^ '^'^^' ' ^"^^'^ ''"« 
 get rid of him in our'own 4od '.""^^T^™" '^^^^I'' ^"^^ ^«'» 
 extremities : I told him to IZ I ' 'i'"* '^""'* ^^^''^'^ ^™ to 
 
 ing: come w,th me fill ^^ v^^lMaltVoT^^'' ^'J^ "°^"- 
 cottage was a little phco Xn * ^ ^""- ^^^' the 
 
 where the master used to dh "• '^'' ^^' '"^ *^« ^^o'^s. 
 
 they were chippi^/SkT htLrd;tv:d^^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 
 ' 'ri 
 
220 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 f 
 
 It vyas remarked by many tha^ mornin-, as they went 
 alone, that my grandfather and Mr. Shinane were in hi.-h 
 words all the time, - at least, so the people wurkini^ in the 
 fields thought, and even the childcr that was piekin<r bark 
 
 each other!''^ "''' ''"""= "" '' ''^'^ ""'' '''''^ ^"»'^ '^'^'^ 
 -This was about eleven o'clock, and at the same time 
 Catferty, >jiK) was selling a pig in Ennistyn.ore, said to the 
 butcher, Be quick, and tell me what you '11 give, lor I must 
 go home and clean myself, as 1 'm to si)eak to the master to- 
 day about my lease.' Well, at a little Sefore twelve Caffertv 
 came through the wood, and asked the people had they seen 
 Mr Shmane pass by, for that he towld him to meet him 
 at the cottage; and the workmen said ^es, and more by 
 token that he was qnarrellin' with Mat CuUinane. 'I'm 
 sorry for that,' says Caffcrty, 'for I wanted him to be in a 
 good humor, and long life to him ! ' The words was n't well 
 out, but what would they see but my grandfather runnin<. 
 towards then, at the top of his npeed, screeching out lik°e 
 mad, 'Ihe master's murdered! the master's kUt dead" 
 
 t7.V7 f /'',"' '" '^' ^•^"''^^^'^' ^"'^ '^^^-^ "1-" the floor 
 was the dead body, with an axo buried deep in the skull, 1 
 so deep that only the thick part of the iJon was out de 
 That was the dreadful sight! and, sure enough, afte look: 
 ing at the corpse, every eye was turned on my irandfaZr 
 who was leanmg on the dresser, pale and trembling, and h s 
 hands and knees all covered with blood. ' Ho; d 
 happen, Mat .^' said three or four together; but CatJertv 
 
 ^'S:f;ij^t:;:;5.r"-^^^"-^--^^-^--^^ 
 
 _ '; The same nigut my grandfather was arrested on sus- 
 picion and brought to Ennis, where he was lodged in ]al 
 and although there was no witness agin' him, nor anvthh c; 
 more than I towld ye, -the high words betJe n th m hf 
 axe bemg my grandfather's, the blood on his clothed and 
 hands, and his dreadful confusion when the peoprcame up' 
 - all these went so hard against him, and particularly as the 
 judge said It was good to make an example^ that he was con! 
 
A NIGHT IN THE "LOWER TOWN." 221 
 
 of';".":,::';:,:,?:^:;;:;.^^" ''"'■'''■• "-■"-ountcid >.,^,. 
 
 and a ,eU t r L^ alS Xr" •:;; " lir,:,, ''r '"■"■•",!' "'T' 
 bark out tlicv • ihov'li n.V i -^ "' «toalin,ir the 
 
 ^'1 ^' We lioerd „oll,i„s,' says the men. 
 tl,B mim,!':?' "■""""" "'""''y" "'-'■^''Ita and sKoutiug 
 
 otlio,',tr™.y'!;,X,'!': •"»"• '.°*'"S »'™"g«'y at each 
 twee, a„! Jam '"^f T" "".""""'' ""'1 "'"'"Wi-g. be- 
 
 'Them was tenible^^'V,;™ '>'"'"* '"' """P"" """' ' 
 
 axe in his alcull TTo f,.,Vrl f i v. . "* ^'^^'''' ^^'"^ t^^e 
 
 on his back id ti 1 r ;^ ' ^'"" "J'' ^'" *"'•" '"■'" over 
 anclallti::';^^^^!^" ^^.'^ ''T^^^ '^ hands 
 and to swear bofo the stt /J''^^^''-^^ ^^" h« '-^ to say, 
 do it! =h* ^^ "^^ven that he didn't 
 
 "No matter! they hanood him for it! Av and T h. 
 
 an ould newspai)er in mv trnn]- tl,;. • •. ^ ^ ^^^^ 
 
 .-vat discoorse il.out tl^e w k ne of"^'c^^^^^^^^^ ''"" '^ ^ 
 
 of^the world wid a lie on ht Ir^Luh - '^'"" ^""° ^"* 
 
 ^' And you think he was innocent?" said I 
 
 'Sure, we know it ! sure, the priest said t^ my father 
 
 uttered ia a voice „. fen-e.^ 1eeU„,t tfe-'.ll^drprS'iS 
 
 ''' I 
 
 .,: 
 
 m 
 
222 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CUEGAN. 
 
 .lo^vn HH ppe; a,..l I oul.l s.o, by his nuUtering lips and 
 cluspn Kinds, th.t he was (,ftVring up a pntyer for tht soul's 
 rest of hiH ui.huppv kinsuiuu. ' » ^ "' lut soul s 
 
 hi^cti::!^'"""^^^^^^^^''^^-''"^^^^'^ 
 
 " -T was nevor ri.ijhtly known ; for, aftcM- he jrave evidence 
 on th. trutl, the people diu n't like hin.. and he left the 
 K^'^^lT'' '"^ '■' ^^"' ^" ^'« '"'^^''^''^ ''^'l-tions down in 
 
 nMhil*''"'rIr''" ^''."^^'''"-^^ "f ^l'^' «l«-^c^P^'-s around us; the 
 "'b.oken stillness of the niuht; the fast-expirin.r ea. hers 
 whK^^. only li.ekered at intervals, -oontrihntl-d th;.; lu; '^ 
 make tl story n.ore deeply affeeting; and I sat pondering 
 o u U and ennvassn,. w.lhin n.y n.ind all the prohahilitie: 
 
 i w re' all "",""' """ -"""^ "' '""•"^""^"' ' -'• ' '"-^ o-n 
 belief 1 ^^' eonvietions o.i the side of the narrator's 
 
 SKk.ably As lor Culhnane, his thoughts were evideutlv 
 los8 with the ineidents of the eharaeters as they lived thn 
 w.th that lo.rg pilgn^nage of expiation, in whieh 1.^ l.^t" 
 t on p.etured h.s poor relative still a wanderer beyond ;i:e 
 
 The fire now barely dickered, throwing from time to time 
 ;ttle jots of light upon the sleeping ,igur<.s around s,^ 
 tl>en leavn.g all n, dark indistinctness. My companion a so 
 erouelnng down, hid his face within his hands' and eut; 
 slept or was lost in deep tl„.„ght, and I alone of all the party 
 was eft awake, my mind dwelling on the tale I had just 
 hoard, with a degree of interest to which the place and he 
 hour strongly contributed. 
 
 I had been for some time thus, when the sound of feet 
 |novmg heavily overhead attracted my attention ; they weTe 
 like the sluggish footsteps of age, but passing to and fm 
 with what seemed haste and eagerness. I couldhear a voice 
 of^'lhron ''''" '" it« i>H'i«tinctness I recognized as tha; 
 of the o d woman ; and once or twice fancied 1 could de- 
 tec, another, vvhose accents sounded like pain and suffering. 
 The shuffling footsteps still continued, and I heard rhe old 
 crazy sash of the window open, and after an interval shut 
 again, while I distinctly could catch the old nag'ISce sa^ 
 
^^ ^'^«"TLN-niE«LOWKiiTOWN." 223 
 
 '■"K, "It's nil ,l.,rk withoiif. fh„ . 
 
 won,unHlo^viyclos,..nclin.t I's ' r,' ';"••'' ^''« "''' 
 
 t'"' -"11 and w.,,.i;;; ,;;t;'ii ''^'' ^ ^"^ ^-''^•'^ "-"'"^^ 
 
 '•<'«t upon n.y h..,,!. j I ,' ^^^ 'l^"?^*^ "•^^"' ^1^^ wall, to 
 
 laT Land was plaol-d s ,, ''/'^" ''''' "^^ know or. wIkU 
 ""^^ stooping ov(.., .stin'ed "7" "^^ ^*1^'«« be.i.le me, 
 
 -«1H'.. T.. h.-i.h / rr ''"'^ *!! «'•«' ••""■■•1 the dark 
 
 several nn-nute.; a^ul ZTfJ "\'^' ^^''' "P'^" ^^ for 
 hands, tried in 'ov ^ ^t, tin II h '"' ""'^^^^ "' ^er 
 
 With a patience tlnr ^ ^ "*" ^'''''"• 
 this for a long "L : .ri:;? r''*f '^' ^^« ^^-tinued at 
 new material t .v^H.k „. "^ V^" ^™"V^^ ^-^th s.>me 
 another; till, ,vhen 1 had alm^sT ,• ""'' abandoning it for 
 this monotonous process a ;,"?'', /'''^^'*'*>' ■" -etching 
 ^ --V that she hid Seel tie''" ''"'/ ^'"•""^' "P' -^ 
 
 ht"i<l in her hand. I '?, j k ' en ' ' T ""^ '""^"^ *'^^»t she 
 a.s, crouched down upo 1^,' ! ''''''' ^''' ^^^^^'^ ^e, 
 
 from the current ai/"? , '0:"' T f "1^"'"^^ '''' ^'""^ 
 searching, glance at the fi'u rer^hn' ^^^^ " '*'"'*^y' ^"* 
 weanness, were sleeping hlavif; l^.^;" ^^'^''^ ^"^^^^^^ of 
 
 i^er steps cautiously as t^:::!^::;^;:; ^^ ^1^^^ 
 
 list 
 
 her 
 
 till she passed out ; and then 
 
 "'ay as before. I 
 
 ^'atched her 
 
 
 n 
 
 I 
 
 as I heard her first heav 
 
224 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 footstep on the stair, I slipped off my shoes and followed 
 
 My mind throughout the whole of that uight Jiad been 
 kept ni a state of tension that invariably has the effect of 
 niagn, yiug the signiflcance of every, even the vJy com- 
 monest, occurrences. It resembles that peculiar condition 
 in ce..tam ma adies when the senses become preternaturallv 
 acute; m such moments the reason is never satisfied with 
 drawmg only//..m mferences for any fact before it; it seeks 
 for more and m the effort becomes lost in the maze^ of mere 
 rancy. 1 will own that as, with stealthy step and noiseless 
 gesture I followed that old hag, there L a kind o e stty 
 in my terror which no mere sense of pleasure could convey^ 
 he hght seemed to show ghastly shapes, as she passed, on 
 
 ot long and straggling gray hair, nodded in shadow like 
 some unearthly spectre. 
 
 As she came nigh the top, I heard a weak and whining 
 cry, something too deep for the voice of infancy, but seem? 
 
 thTihl ,1 ''''"'"°', ^ '" coming!" and as she said 
 this, she pushed open a door and entered a room, which, bv 
 the passing gleam of light as she went, I perceived lav neS 
 to the roof, for the rafters and the tiles' wire both vi " 
 there was no ceiling. ' 
 
 I held my breath as I slowly stole along, and then 
 reachnig the door as it lay half ajar, I crouchld down and 
 peeped m. 
 
 Bl 
 
followed 
 
 Jiad been 
 
 effect of 
 ^ery com- 
 
 coudition 
 [•naturally 
 sfied with 
 ; it seeks 
 s of mere 
 
 noiseless 
 'f ecstasy 
 1 convey, 
 issed, on 
 8 masses 
 dow like 
 
 whining 
 lit seem- 
 the hag, 
 3he said 
 hieh, by 
 lay next 
 sible, as 
 
 d then, 
 >wn and 
 
 -:r^-.- 
 
 ^1*5jW«^ 
 
 A "SCENE" AND "MY LUCUBRATIONS 
 ON THE ST. LAWRENCE." 
 
 sigljta, poverty H,<o ^^1 uZ^lJt:^^^' \T 
 stood upon tlie cold ZZu aK ^'' ^"'^"S ^"^^^^h, 
 
 now ...™, ..„ Lv-:: ant™;: r ta^rur:? 
 
 can ile ,,p,,gM ,„ a sanoor, nbe approached the W " There 
 .s, now, look at it, and make yer mind ai«v." said , he 
 
 1.5 
 
 
 N! 
 
226 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 lfp« tbere see^^i a 1 w' """"S o^^^""' "'"l ^e parted 
 ti.e^n,„,„e .a,, e.eUe„e„t' tap^S' .?S„;;;,: "'» "> "Mea 
 
 *-'"» the heavenly " H < j 
 
 >vouidnt he come, Mollv''-_ri,V] i.^ 
 come?" ' ^*^"'0 • — did he say he wouldn't 
 
 when he kern ! " louncts, and nothing to give him 
 
 ^^on?'l£^::^l^^^^~^otto take my eonfes- 
 list of sin. I ha^e to own to - » "'^- " ^'^' '''' '^^ ^ack 
 
 " ^^^«l^t' ^vhisht ! " cried the ha^r u n^ : 
 ago now ; maybe it 's all forgot »"' ^ '^ '""""^ ^ ^^''^i' 
 
 he ,lic. 'not .Lm toTa"':t,t':'|'r' IJ",,^ -'" e"-«y 
 
 '; Don't -3„'::;:t/l''i: :'™'-;;-V-^"^'l;- 
 
 aooffl^t,;"' "" ''' '" ^-^ «■"- "» '-".?" -id «he, i„ a 
 
 tb::wL:,;i;£rajr;,'rti:j'-^'^'' '^-^'^ *» *«■ 
 
 the very face ! " '^"^ ^''^ ^««P ^ut in it, d.,wn to 
 
 Baid the toir, "ra'ttfir '""'"" "'"'- «"« time," 
 palpable to tbe dying L„ ' "' ""'«''"y """ at last became 
 "Whore's Dan ivrniK. i-,, 
 
 ' ^^^°"-^ ' - '^''^ J>« "ever come back since ? " 
 
A "SCENE. 
 
 3 eyes met 
 wondrous 
 
 ;, the rigid 
 
 tlie parted 
 " Is tlmt 
 
 s to which 
 
 t himself, 
 
 a lower 
 e, Molly ! 
 
 the hag, 
 
 would u't 
 
 it night, 
 li'lve him 
 
 confes- 
 le blaek 
 
 ^ a year 
 
 enei'gy 
 ou wor 
 
 lay^I 
 in the 
 
 e, in a 
 
 ! elotii 
 ^wn to 
 
 time," 
 ecume 
 
 ice?" 
 
 227 
 
 " Sorra bit; he said he 'd ao out of fh. u 
 come back to it. You h-iXteuTif ^''"''' ^°^ '^^^'^r 
 tilings you say n. your ravhlol "^ '''' ^""^ ^^^^^ '^^ terrible 
 
 del^me;""''"-"""*^^^-' ^^^ «- ^esh and blood 
 
 dyiug siunc,-. '""'^ "''''«• ''■'^»'' tatures to the 
 
 "I wauted , U FatluT Ned all- i 
 massesforU-^iai's™,. ,,™ '"'• / ™"e(l to have 
 
 "f me ! Oh, dear I Oh JeTr ' """', ""*,' """™' "'»"'-'<l 
 me." "'"'='"--™'l"obody will come to 
 
 ;^,Ta,a,ee™ .o.d\,.™ the Zr.,:^^^--^ 
 I do-'t »ee it well!" " "'° ^'"''*'' <='"'Jfe "eare,- ; 
 
 .o«.dste'ii;;ra,;r; dT:^:z ^' ^•^^ir «"'-■■» 
 
 praying. '^Thev'r^^ r>nllin/ „^ ^''^ ^'f*^ ^hat he was 
 
 and his" voice of fa u f n ^-p" T'' '""^ ^" ' " Molly," _! 
 bear then. > There 1^2' T'^ '• "' '''"' ^ " ^^-"'^ Je 
 Cafferty, yer wantinV " "^'"^' ^ ^^^^^"^^ Cafferty, Mauri'ce 
 
 him "C^ZZm "' ^""'''" ^^"^ ^^«' -^«'y P-lHng 
 shdeSh'e!""' ^^"'^^' ^^-'^'^ t^« blessed candle v" 
 
 int: t^i^:;;:;:,^::!,^^ ts'r^ ^^ -'- -'^'''^ ^'^ -^ ^^n 
 
 A wild and fearful cry broke frnrr, f. • , 
 re-echoed Ihrouo-h the si Jnf ^''"^ ^'^^' '"^n and 
 
 - cept .ea,thVt,:t:„;'x; Lt::;'r,s 
 
 i 
 
 
ill 
 
 if 
 
 228 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 man drowuiu'." aieatUul scream, ~ like a 
 
 tao;,jLrwLt'r™i .i';;:;' 's: ^i" i-.^^-^donng at «» 
 
 teiTiblo an=.icty for u/;! ,.?",' '";"" ' ""="<=« "Uh 
 a.K;»o pa.«, L ,o„::'Ir';;!, :^^: «^ ^^^ -„o ca..,.; 
 Without revealino- t,. „.„ j >^i-">ii. 
 
 l-use wita a fearful „L'lv uf '™ ™'" '" "'" »""»= 
 k..e,v had greater terror for ',,7 ,,''''''°''"<^''"«'' ' «-'^" 
 He at o„oc°deoided o„ de,n ti? '';'" T' "*" '"="»'""• 
 barely „reak,„g, „e awok t ^S;:" .V.t'r'^''^^ ™ 
 conversation ensued, in which I fe , U "' '''''«»«'■"« 
 
 tbat I was an interested pir y A ts- loe"";""""' "' '"""' 
 me, said, " And you, sir wiMt.i;, ' ""'""8 towards 
 
 ''The very qui'stio , " UV ' ' "° '!" 7'-"' '" "" ' " 
 I were to follow ,ny nelhatio'n ''f /■='"''"" »"Wer. If 
 mu^t yield to necessity, r.r"^''„,,n,ln ''°'»«™'-<'! if I 
 
 "ic"r "" ' ^^^^^■^^::^'-''''-''' 
 
 fall u^nTe ,i S;,rXrlt? "^l""'""™ ^--O '» 
 old „,„u sayini, u w , ' L,t,, ,,''"' ™ '"•°'«" ^y the 
 'tis the hes.'thii;gyou eoufdl!'"' "' """ ^-""^ ""/""y- 
 
 '.^•:^;^;yr^r^~„nu;?-^^ 
 
 any use before we goi" ^ ' I"" 'f « could be of 
 
 New',5?Lvi';r.f;;Lfrgo''r'r"'''^-"''-^- '^'» 
 
 iNotniiiG: easier " ^niM r u 'r 7 
 treal, cross oveiho the Lt i'" "'° ''"='™'- '» Mon- 
 Whi,ehall,„ve totb*v and ,1 'T' '""'' '''"™P''"" '» 
 Hudson brings you w^ew "vork" '"'"''' '"""■' ""-' '"« 
 
 .■eader,^w„s all a^quSfr^n' iS'a c/'^s""' '^" '^^ 
 it I uf,:; ..""■* »'" -" '• " ^-^"=^ thltTL,ht travel 
 
said Joe to 
 '!> — like a 
 
 ing at the 
 ened with 
 >ne cauio; 
 
 It* scone I 
 
 the same 
 lit I well 
 
 peasant. 
 
 day was 
 hispering 
 
 at least, 
 : towards 
 
 wer. If 
 trd; if I 
 General, 
 
 emed to 
 a by the 
 uy way, 
 
 Ity con- 
 on was, 
 y said, 
 :i be of 
 
 A "SCENE." 
 
 229 
 
 'T 
 
 13 
 
 ) Mon- 
 
 lain to 
 wn the 
 
 guised 
 ill the 
 
 travel 
 
 Ihe saints piesarve im i ^Tr^,„ -n 
 " r nni' ,.nf f ^^^ ^'I'l we ever do it ? " 
 
 French fluently, f„,. tk. first part'*' J ' „ : '° """ ^l"'"'>- 
 
 Jvar\:^:^r;:;:d' - - -"- 'ot: £ 
 
 Mother; while Joe ,vi7h „„ ■ "' '"" "'""I'le?" said 
 
 question's, ani^ee'U o erportl:'? "«'' r"*-'"' both 
 " It nno-i.f f^ V, «^peet that answer from me 
 
 I. nellfefX ° "f.rj <;!-8;'J» -oh a e,y ,, Z,- said 
 Gudgeon? They art „yr„S"Tr' '''"!, *'•""- a-Hl 
 fiml out your man at Zee ' " "'"'''• ' ™ ^'-o. 
 
 "Ah, sir, we know nobodv nf nil t » ^ i • 
 accent of such humilitv that To n "'? ''^""^^^ J^e, in an 
 own duplicity. ^ ^ ^ ^''"'^"^ ^^^^ «i»o«ked at my 
 
 strLk'mt";Jr;i;ttle^^^^^^^^ "" ^"^^^^^ ^^-g^t had 
 
 A regular burst of tov f om h. V T' ^'^ ''^"^ >'^" "^^^^If." 
 
 -. " Yes, I .« 5/r :^e:;^'::^:^t !":r '"r^*^^ 
 
 henceforth. I have Xed ."'T"''^ *'^"'''<^"" '" » 
 
 position here, a" • t't .^ fTh ter T'"' " ""'"" " ^'^^ 
 once." '•" '""«' «o escape from it at 
 
 eoI"t.Xa^I.*:aSt'f "' "^' »» -'• 'f >-e co„,d 
 
 ^hXc:;;::-;:' -^ - -if i 
 
 only upon which I would consent to' i"" """''"'''" 
 
 ^i lii inis, then, said 1. "thot v^,. + 
 
 perfect equality, _ forget mv h^rf. ' 1 ""} ""' ^" *'^^^« «f 
 J'. loiget my bn-th and rank in life ; ^-egard 
 
 ^ 'll 
 
 %^ 
 
 ^ if > 
 
230 
 
 |) 
 
 
 4 
 
 ''i 1 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CIIEGAN. 
 
 me exactly ag one of yourselves T of m« k 
 
 thin<,^ but ' Con Creofin "' ^ ""^ ''^ "° ^o^g^r any- 
 
 " 'i'''«t's nii-lity Juuulsome, entirely' " smH fj,„ ,^ 
 -a seuliment concurrc<l in b^ the vv min f ? ""^^ '"^°' 
 
 i /-I . '"i^i? tutu, stiici 1, " nouiore ' ]\rr r^..,.,.. > » 
 * Con ' — nothing more!" ""'^^e JMi.Cregan.' Jam 
 
 Joe Iook(-(1 unutteiuble deli<rht it flm <.^v.^ 
 ^ ''«-ondly,Is,.onla„ot vis^t! tS^^^^ . 
 
 here, after what has occnrred ; so ^^ t ' ^ T' 'r'^'"^^ 
 have niv trunks forvvanh-rl in M Tf ^''''^ ''"'-''* to 
 
 -k ot .v.,„ u,p,.„c.:::tl' : ! :f;,;t .r'-f'' f- '■» 
 
 be.,. .0 be sec, i„ „„, „,„,„,, ,,, .^ "^ , ; ; .',- ^ —t 
 . ' lobe sure 1 wliatever vou ..leil.i" •; ■ 
 JOKcI at tbe projected urran^L'u ""'" '""' °^«- 
 
 After Bo.ne fuitlier diseuHsio,, „„ tlio si.I.inef r ■ ■ , 
 
 wbere ther lusi;a..e wis «f,. i , """J"'"' ' "iquiicd 
 
 tbo Montreal Stt^.^ , V,, 7 wl,! ':' i T'"'', """ '' '"^ "' 
 tbe |,.ocecli„gdav; ami y a bn t H ,'""'" ''"I'""'""! 
 
 produeed, I 'saw U at 1 w-s to all H T"'''"' "'''«'''''"= 
 eigtt o'elock. There w » t , t, ^. , . " ™''^ """■"'"«. »* 
 ...y eo,„pa„i„„3 t^mo™ " : rr T- »"' ""-»«! 
 I'ouse.aud to follow me W hi ""', .""'«-'-^'"3' '■'om tl,e 
 Oiicetioi, I uttere.l 1 le ■ ., V ""/'''I''"'" '""■"'oo on every 
 «»..od into tbe t : Lt w nob t,?::"'"-^' ";"",' ""-' ^""^ ^"^ 
 
 Allbon,.b in total feineo' f ," '""^'f '-\"«»-'«l- 
 eoulidently; and lirst'nra I 1? , t?' ' "''"""'"" 
 of departure,"! at last reaobecr,l"Ve ''';';;'%'',;' ''"'''' 
 Btation of tbe river steamers was e ed ^^^J"'"^' "' ""= 
 "lost consummate eftVontcrv f en, ' „ ' "" ""' "'' "«' 
 for o„rpassa..e- a,Id il ,n?'l I, "'" "'"^ '» """S'lin 
 
 tbe conversation wareSe 'or i'''r ""f '">■ -«""-ras 
 ».a,-cd in wonder at „y"| ,'et;"J , ':™'^"' '"^ -">l-".o„s 
 
 good f„ t e ,„, bad -ibrown {,•,::;„"; : r^Sa,!" ""^ 
 .. J «:: v: isri'iie^i™ ^isr- t'"^' ^-"^ «'eir 
 
longer any- 
 
 le old man, 
 » eliorus. 
 '''■^'' Jam 
 
 3ion. 
 
 y lodgings 
 w lines to 
 ^ time I '11 
 I' 1 cannot 
 
 oe, over- 
 inquired 
 it lily at 
 
 U'posited 
 
 fhivh Joe 
 
 juing, at 
 
 - advised 
 
 fi'om tiie 
 
 on every 
 
 airs and 
 
 •ted. 
 
 )ped out 
 " point 
 
 ' as the 
 
 «■ of the 
 
 bargain 
 
 iring of 
 
 ime, as 
 
 janiona 
 at the 
 
 ^ • 
 
 g their 
 fast, I 
 I now 
 
 gamst 
 vith a 
 
 "MY LUCUBKATIONS ON THE ST. LAWKENCE.- 231 
 
 a»t an .gnorn.ce of whe f h/ ''' "' '''''' ^'^ l^'^^- 
 
 Hke, ancfhovv far off t ^k n ?''T '"^•""' ^'^^^ ^' --« 
 i'ave wished for. A fej J h" '''^'"' ^'^^^^^''^^ ^^^"'^l 
 tions, remerubered the l^aeof 1^ T'^'"' ^'^^'^^vd excep- 
 l^ood they wore abo'.t "'^011 ' "^ '" ^''"^^' '"''^^'"-'- 
 say, negatively, that it wisp' t'l '"^ '"''"' '''''"•'' ^^">y 
 Kivi^res; soni^ were L ; J,,, ^:'7' Z;:^'" ^ was n't Troi^ 
 
 "beyant Montreal," or '^hi her nn .;''•'''" '''"' '^ ^^^^« 
 lastly, a "few bright spirits'' vv..' '" ^^'"-^t^^" ' " ^nd, 
 God, where Dan ^vas/'T'^J '-'"n''' " ^'" ^''^ ^^'P "' 
 hearted, nor anxious, nor fret ,d r<,r • 1"^''"! "^' ^''^^"" 
 It seemed as if the world be^n <l n" ' '^'' ^''^'" 't' 
 
 Of its novelty, euggest:^,'^ '^ ^ :;^.:;, t;'?^^;^^"?^ 
 of wretchedness tJiat no ol,..,.,/ \ " "" '''"'^^ «" f"» 
 
 they sat in pleasan it kn tfand '"" '^ "^^^^' ^ 
 "discoorsin'." Ay, 1, st so - ^ '^"'^'' "''^" ^^^ ^^^^ 
 tliat you are, I h;a vo^' ~,; 'l''^'^^^''^'"' " "' Sassenach 
 Well, I'll tell you" 'Disr.^^^^^^^^^^^^ '' ^'-^^" 
 
 chriHng, normere conversi^ P f. %"? '""^'"°' "'^^ 
 the French, nor the C^,. ; of Ttllv " ^^' •"•'' ^' 
 Oesprdch's Unterhahunq of plodd . oL r ^' ''" 'f '* *'^*^ 
 an admirable melanr,e'ot a 1 to 4 Lr tT'-"""^' ^'^' '' '' 
 podnda, where all thiucrs ,1 •?•",. ^* '*' "" ^''^'^n^ o/^a 
 and educational, t^-eS^dw^^^^^^ 'f^'T'^ agricultural, 
 such uniformity in^e tone of J ?''' "'''"'''"'^'^ '^'^^1''"^' 
 
 masses were dZ and 1?^ ' '^. ""^^ ""i^'^^"^^' ^^hen 
 snoh were thelS;; r ^ A^d f ^7' ^'^^""^ ^^' - 
 speaker " h.^d the flonr " " "^^^^ though generally one 
 
 ''Surecnough ''"Sfe; To- uV'"";"" ^^^'""^ '^^ 
 up, that made every hlarerl slL" " ''^^ not?" kept 
 nuencG r^^.ni -^ sleepmg partner in the elo- 
 
 I' >'* 
 
 ^ i-ii^ 
 
232 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 had its oL phase otZuZLTlt'' <^"U„ty cos.. Life 
 
 county .„„.„ „„ tL .s-;,:^:; :Jt:r,;tior-'^"'"™"' "' " 
 
 behind. Thcv had UuU o.. i "^^ ^^^^3^ '^^^^ left 
 
 trees alono" the Imnl-u fi • giant cedar- 
 
 , . ^ ''"'^ uanks, — the immense nffq uNo m *• 
 islands, hurrviiK^ ivmi- on ti,^ <• • ' ^^^^ ^oatnig 
 
 ' '""j"»'j, past on the foanin'o- tMinvnt wifi. ». • i 
 of figures niovino- on them f)J „ ^^"*' ^^^^ niynads 
 
 pine., t,.e,„ai„t1o :;,„1™; ™ t S'L Zl"! ''"\ 
 vuiim wake the echoes many a mile 'iwiv ,-f ^i 
 
 or the lonely glens of cZ'emara^ " ' ^'""^ '' ^^'^««^^' 
 
 One must have expenene^r l^Z to H '^^^;' 
 
 ebarm of this simple association. '?he ho'lv ^ 
 name that speaks so familiarly of home s^. "T^ 
 antidote to the spn^P nf j., ■ i ' ^"^ ^^ powerfu 
 
 tu Lue sense ot banisiinient. Well hp,.o t 
 
 P'-os.ng about emigrants, and their reoret and w.n/ I 
 hopes, and wishes, and fonrettin- the u hill'.. ?^'' '''"'' 
 
 group who, with a hot - e " ^ " / ^ %T'''^ ^^"'^ 
 fashion each mess is allowed tUc^lSf ::::/': V" *^^^ 
 savory cut of ham, awaited my pL nee in Lj ' "'^ 
 they were good and kin ,r c^ f ^^'^^"^^ "• tue steerage; 
 
 year .9« a„d .hole^ib.r d^J "? f ::" l'^ "''™' '".t 
 Joe was a stout-hearted, frank fellow ,1,!, 0'»"S«"e»-" 
 play in the world to n,;i e h s m h I Ir ^ ™"'°'' '"'■■ 
 sons were, in Irish parlance, Otot?. """r,?- "^'^ 
 iilie-tempered and good-natured T ■ . ' '" "'" «''''^ 
 hundred are in the land ?^y oo^f™ ™'^"""" """ <" *■"> 
 
ny e .son8 
 iess. Life 
 till in upon 
 ement ol' a 
 
 •wed them 
 y Imd left 
 ook at tile 
 nt cedar- 
 e floatinsr 
 J myriads 
 
 of dark 
 orth, and 
 
 now and 
 
 vord-fLsh, 
 
 'ikl cheer 
 
 if tliey 
 
 them but 
 
 spite of 
 i«y were 
 Donegal, 
 
 ive per- 
 
 Workl. 
 now the 
 icurring 
 •owerful 
 
 I am, 
 its, and 
 hy little 
 in this 
 
 a very 
 eerage ; 
 . The 
 )ut the 
 emen." 
 ed fair 
 . The 
 e girla 
 of the 
 
 y l^eart. Wshgrir^a.tfiru ';;,::; '''^V ^^^ ->^ ^^^y 
 been always '' stuck pieces' 'if'" "^^"^ ^"'» Senses, hud 
 bound to acknowledge that th e de "'' ' 'T'^'"' ^«^ ^ -'« 
 of perception, a shrewdness of <t • "''" ^'^'^ '' «^^Sacity 
 tycle of expression not to be A., ''r'""'"""'""' ^"'^ ^^'>^^PtN 
 tl^e Cullinanes after t^ t/s .' 7''^. ''^^^- '^^^-i"^' o 
 ;««"tmg in the servan s'Td '";'"- '^'' ^"t'^^'" e^m- 
 
 -tona^toin^^thellou^.'K,Ta ,"' '^'^^^ ''- ^^^ 
 tion that I felt con.in. over me m! . ''"^''' '^"^^''' «^^"«a. 
 ^ay ^>gether, and I can "v ..' J^ **"^f -' '^'-'^^ ^Uty by 
 ecstasy that escaped me on.^o '^''"^^'"ber the shriek of 
 
 true analysis of ny lli , T"^^ '''^"'' ^ ^'^^ ^''^ upon the 
 " Con, you c. prog.t f 'n?:!' ^""'^"'° "1^' ^ -^'^im d 
 yet; you have learned to K "/.'T'' f'^ ','^ '^' ^ «'^""-"^'^« 
 bour I cultivated '' my C ni„a; f" ." '"^^' " ^^^^'-^ ^hat 
 of a Spa, where, nauseous and If 'V??^^'' '''^'' ^ ^«'"-«e 
 fancies he is to store up Heaven tu"' "' '^*^ "'"^^ «"« 
 future health and vigor. """' ^^^^' '"^"J years of 
 
 in a foriiier chapter of these Tn. f • 
 reader the singular sensations i ^'7'"''^ \ ^^^^'« ^old tke 
 the mfluence of port wine • how^^ ?'f ^^'^^'^ ^''^^ "^^'er 
 were, of Conservative pr na'pler V;" ''. ^-^^"^f^-on, as it 
 of decorum, a sleepy i Klisn Jh ' T'^"'^ ^^'' ''''^^'^ a love 
 f"«/on going on abift m T" ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ -.^ything like con! 
 emmently gentleman-like We , ' ;'• ^'7^"^'^' ^ take it, are 
 of the Cullinanes was ev dei^y 'the 1' ''"'/°"'^ ^^^""^^^^ 
 ladder." u Jt i, ,, ,^,„,, tl h^ t it f^"'^ ^"^""^^ of the 
 -ny one ! " I do not mean S n tff' t ^^^^ ^«-" "I-^ 
 sense ; not for tlie siko Jv ^ invidious or unworthv 
 for the sake of o'e's tVlSr^'^^^^^*^^^'^' ^"^ pu dy 
 that the secret convicti^ of . "^ "i •; ' ^^"''^ ^"^ «--'ey 
 ^•'-^tnig. To " hold vour sticle » h s i^^ '" ""'''"»^^ ^^'^'l^- 
 can pass when vou Hke and v«. ? ""^ "'^^"^ct that you 
 
 ^3 called '' make a race » is 2f ^ ^ '^'""^"'^^ *« -^^t 
 every effort of whip and snn h \, ' "* ^""^ ^he other using 
 While you, well down n ; " ' .td^^' '^^^^-^^ and liftingf 
 
 your saddle, never put the rowel to 
 
 m 
 
 •I' 
 
 ,.1 
 
 i ii 
 
 
 
 I. 
 
284 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Ill i'l 
 
 tlie ilank of your fancy, _ this is indeed -lorious snorf f r 
 
 The iiiculents of oiu- Jouniev wem tViv .,„ i !' 
 At .M„„„.„al 1 reoeivodi v^r^ ^ Xt^."7^''f''^- 
 
 foiinauce of a servant's ,.|i. ,..,„f,.,. i , "" '"ypuf- 
 
 been „„.Io,-.aIce„ fl a v.™ which 1 1,"""'''^'""^"' '""' 
 begged of her, h, c„n.e,,„et /L t4te L' t J™'' ' """ ' 
 ...e to any charitable ollice »he 1, 1, t Ik li " T ,°"";'," '" 
 forward „,y effect, to M.nUreal jh " : T e n ^'° 
 under her hand that mv .-..oi ''='^""-' """ * certilicate, 
 been detected „'°\"^r'.;™'i 7'' »'"«°:' '»<! "ever 
 being necessary to eon it'nyV en "S,;, pf ™,'"'°' 
 bad fulmied the conditions of onr lie! ' " ^""^ "^'" ' 
 
 £?»in?s;t]erdtelt-n^^^^^^^^^ 
 been st:™k _ i, who ll , ,7 "",'"''• **'"= ''•■«' ""'eed 
 u.anner a.^d ad.tw" "it "e V VooI'Mrn " T'" °' "^ 
 ■naterial for ..ossii, sn.nre.f, I i "1^ '^•' '''"" "'"I' ""e 
 
 ::|tSe?f:T;r.;™Xer::re-^^ 
 
 a-urSy 'hTat Is™: ".rr':^ ^rfn^'f ''^''='' ''^■ 
 -nk and I ,v„s not the stuff t^r.ni,:'™™;: Sil "'"^^ 
 trea rkild T "'f'"' "" """' ""^ ^ »"°"M tat Men- 
 pa-ty The oi. T """'"' "'"'" '" "l'™ i'*" ™ong our 
 
 for aakino-. Pe.^ and ^.^ . ° h i ^ ^ "^ ''''^ *^ ''^ had 
 -ID,, t^eggy and Susan had picked up sweethearts, 
 
sport ! In 
 degree o( 
 re satisiied 
 ns. 
 
 ntoresting. 
 fi's. Davis, 
 ew lines I 
 at my per- 
 iinent liatl 
 >n ; tliat I 
 I owing to 
 kindly to 
 certificate, 
 lad never 
 document 
 ke that I 
 
 )r read of 
 1 of that 
 ^e herself 
 d indeed 
 ts of my 
 with the 
 lise, and 
 Duke in 
 said to 
 ght with 
 
 atent of 
 sued by 
 I to my 
 tials. 
 ^e Hon- 
 ing our 
 seeing 
 restive, 
 quaint- 
 ' about 
 be had 
 hearts, 
 
 " MY LUCUBIUTIONS ON Tirr «^n 
 ^ ^ "^ ^"^ ST. LAWRENCE." 235 
 
 tl-e^^S^diS ^T'^ ^"" '-'• '^oe, pulled in 
 
 IlUm of drinl- I . "**' »'^^^' '""IHO f („) to .1 l.-ffi • ' " 
 
 As for me, I saw that n.„ 
 ;n>o'Muy making mysc a ,2is?" '"'^"^'"^^ ^^^"'^1 ^lepend 
 
 'Hlenco m myself, and •. fi ' '^ '""^* imbounded con 
 
 - "-trunuuft I ;,;; , ; ;;',:'7-^-" that the Z^'Z 
 
 i'fe was no use in un 1 Jk^ '^'J^^^"' «"*-' ^^^^y or othe^^ 
 ^"^1 Htation. One of V T " "'"" "'^ ^^ ^"J re-d a^k- 
 ^-:'^l I^e, in all p.l Si^'X-'^f "?-'l-ts o/t^ i^ Ct 
 l-n;oushipwith a^gentle ;,. ^ .''.t",?"^' ^--'^^'^^ '» ^'>- 
 of the poor aldennan who ne-er L ^l ''f "^^^'''"g the story 
 Kobmson Crusoe " was aZtf ??" ''^''^"^' ^^^^''^ed that 
 .""'-^"oyed, and after an ost ^"v\ ^^" t^^»' this solace 
 ">fe' written down my SlVs adf ^^^^'^-^^^'"^^ -nd hav' 
 sliook hands with the men f? ""^ ^^ ^"^^^ Orleans T 
 -' stepped on hc^^-d L :Ki:::^ '1^' the gh,:^^o^ 
 other reason that I know ov ^"^^""^ton " steamer, -for no 
 leave the wharf that rr'n , " "^^^ '''' «^^ -« tLe t^i:; to 
 ^ uave said tlmf r "' 
 
 realized " me as niuci, mZ ', ''"^onstown as a waiter 
 "Pou ,„alci„„ a shor torn o r, ■■"';' ""'' ""'' «"" ' '"so led 
 '!> I"«k up a Ce,v noHoL 'f ""' """ "■" States, i„ o d'r 
 
 ■"S .'".. -n-s ^ntas* oCrr " "^ ^'"^ "'"'. "n hear- 
 
 r'^ s;:-;sXf Hf'f;--»i 
 
 -f-cs i,aif:::i^"di«'- ;r ■■; -"■ "MyS'- 
 forced .aemselves „po„ „e by obso vL .3^l\'-^fl«"°°» 
 
 fi'; 
 ''J 
 
 ¥ 
 
 I 1 
 
 'I 
 
 
 ^^1 
 
 by observing that 
 
 as I travelled 
 
236 
 
 CONFESSIOiNS (JF CON CUFGAN, 
 
 alon*?, iipparcntly in no want of moans, a hmuhod otTers 
 
 vvcr made mo by my ffliow-tiavollorH of situations and 
 
 pi ces: one would liavo enlisted me as his partner in a very 
 
 lucrative piere of peripatelieism, — viz., knife-Krindin" ; a 
 
 vocation for wliieli, aft(>r a few etTorts on board the steaTner, 
 
 Nature would seem to have destined me. f(.r I was assured 
 
 I even picked ui) the sharp-knowing cock of tlu' eye recjuired 
 
 to examitie the edge, and the style of my pedal-action drew 
 
 down rounds of applause : still, I did not likr it. The endless 
 
 tramp upon a step which slipped from beneath you seemed 
 
 to emblematize a career tiial led to nothing; while an un- 
 
 pleasant association with what I had heard of a treadmill 
 
 completeil my distaste for it. 
 
 Another opened to me the more ambitious prospect of a 
 shopman at his "store," near Rochester, and even showed 
 me, by way of temptation, some of the brilliant wares over 
 whose fortunes I should preside. There were'ginghams, and 
 taffetas, and cottons of every hue and pattern. liut no, I felt 
 this was not my walk either ; and so 1 muttered to myself : 
 "No, Con! if you meddle with muslin, wait till it's fash- 
 ioned into a petticoat." 
 
 My next proposition came from a barber; and really if I 
 did not take to tlie pole and basin, I own I was flattered at 
 his praises of my skill. He pronounced my brush-hand as 
 something bold and masterly as Rubens', —while my steel 
 manipulation was more brilliant than bloodless. 
 
 Then there was a Jew spectacle-maker, a hawker of pam- 
 phlets, an Indian moccasin merchant, and twenty other of 
 various Avalks, — all of whom seemed to opine that t/ieir craft, 
 whatever it might be, was exactly the very line adapted to 
 my faculties. Once only was T really ten'ipted : it was by 
 the editor of the Kingston newspaper, " The Ontario Herald," 
 who offered to take me into his ollice, and in time induct me 
 into the gentle pastime of paragraph-writing. 1 did, I own, 
 feel a strong inclination for tliat free and independent kind of 
 criticism, which, although issuing from a garret, and by the 
 light of a " dip," does not scruple to remind royalty how to 
 comport itself, and gives kings and kaisers smart lessons in 
 good-breeding. P^or a time, my mind dwelt on all these 
 delights with ardor ; but I soon felt that he who avts life 
 
"«V,..Cf,„u.„O.VBON.,,,K.s.r.tA>V«..VCK.. .ar 
 " ' II wait," tlioiKriif r ., . 
 
 ^^'-•K', HMtin. all day 1,,,..^ up i' ',',"?' ' ""'•'^""^^'y for a 
 «" I'y the (li„, the crash « ''-^'""^^'i* 'isnc'ss, brou-ht 
 
 tUat vibration'of thl "ir'. ' ^/^ '"^ ":':^?"" «-^' -'^ 
 to n.ako up a «en,saUou that eve a n •' ' " ''" """'P''"*' 
 ;;;ponhat.eue,au.leat:ra:^^^^^^ 
 
 ^^ticr;':.:!^liL:^t;:;;'tir;i;:T 't^v^ ^^^--^^^^^ 
 
 ■^•■t why recite^ ;„orr„anLT '" ^^r '^"•'^'' ^'-"^^ 
 '"""ths' travelling, cluri„. w h! , ^ ''^' ^^^^'^ «''""t three 
 "ot cli.ssi,nilar to^JE.op %''''', '"^i 7''^''-'^'>« ^'''^'ed a fate 
 at New Orleans. Conli^ e^f l:;;; ;t,;;'''^^ .' /'^-^ '"y-'if 
 panorama that so nuiny woeK nf • '■""■"'' ''"^^ ^tranjre 
 I was struck by the ap.^a.tee o 'n "nn"""'^'''^" ^''^'^ 
 a raul, worthy rea.ler 'vou ' e no ^ ..;''"'"'• ^'^^ "^^^ ^^^ 
 of localities. I ']] neither hmt ■ , "" ""'>' ^^^^^^^'iption 
 
 «ea view. I„ ,„y CO n a nv on 'li "' "*'''' '''"' ^-'"^^^ "'^»- « 
 the nieasurenient of ?catI,eZl ''"7' ^'"'' ''^ ^^'"'•^' '^'"'"^ 
 height of a steeple. Mv ^^ e ' 'l T" ?' ""'"^^•'' «^' ''^' '^ 
 and women, liy are to me tl "J? "■""''' ''•^' "'^^^ •"«" 
 checkered board of hLt^Zot ^ ^^"''' "^ '''''-'^- '^'^e 
 jove to stu<ly, and uTZ^^^^^'C!! "^"^^^^-^^-P'^y I 
 that flows from the heart tl 1 h 7. ''"' '''*'* *'^^ ^^ream 
 *'ver sought the sea Vh , '^ ' J''^ ^''^"^^^^^t river that 
 
 Orleans, it was then wiU, o '" ^ ^'"' '''"^'^' ^^'th Xew 
 ^'i'J I behold sueh " m s of' boh? /''• ^'^"''^^'"'- ^^^-- 
 a« swaggered on eve y id/ '^.^^ fi"'"','"''""'^ '^^"^^^ 
 determined-looking Yankee il.o ^ l , '^'' ^''■^^"^'""an. the 
 Camanche and thj JnTf .s'to tl ^^'^t'- "'^^^^^^^ ^^Paniard, the 
 Negro, the Cuban, an the C-eol "'""' ''" '^^^-"' «'« 
 
 --d picked specin::!:';:; thS ler^ ^" '^^^' ^-^ ^" 
 
 The least acute Of observers could n;t fail to see that it 
 
 y. 
 
 ■'" f^ 
 
 t" rii 
 
 I." 
 
238 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 M J 
 
 ,3 'i 
 
 J! 
 
 !! 
 
 li t 
 
 If 'f 
 
 
 was a laud where a quick eye, a steady foot, and a strong 
 hand were requisites of every-day life. Tlie peisonal 
 encounters that in other cities are left altogether to the 
 ve'-y lowest class of inhabitants, wore here in frequent use 
 among every grade and rank. Every one went armed ; the 
 scenes wliich so often occurred, showed the precaution a 
 needful one. 
 
 The wide-awake look of the Yankee was sleepy indiffer- 
 ence when contrasted with the intense keenness of aspect 
 that met you here at every step, and you felt at once that 
 you were in company where all your faculties would be few 
 enough for self-protection. This, my first impression of the 
 people, each day's experience served to confirm. Whatever 
 little veils of shame and delicacy men throw over their 
 sharp practices elsewhere, here, I am free to confess, they 
 despised such hypocrisy. It was a free trade in wicked- 
 ness. In tJu'lr goiine of life " cheating Avas fan-." Now, this 
 in nowise suited me nor my plans. I soon saw that all the 
 finer traits of mv own astuteness would be submerged in the 
 great ocean of coarse roguery around me, and I soon resolved 
 upon taking my departure. 
 
 The how and the whereto — two very important items 
 in the resolve — were yet to be solved, and I was trotting 
 along Cliff Street one day, when my eyes rested suddenly 
 upon the great boar-l, with large letters on it, " Office of the 
 'Picayune.'" I repeated the word over and over a couple 
 of timjs, and then remembered it was the journal in which 
 the rewai'd for the Black Boatswaii- had been offered. 
 
 There was little enough, Heaven knows, in this to give 
 me any interest in the paper ; but the total isolation in which 
 I found myself, without one to speak to or converse with, 
 made me feel that even the " Picayune " was an acquaintance ; 
 and so I drew near the window where a considerable number 
 of persons were reading the last number of the paper, which, 
 in a laudable spirit of generosity, was exposed within the 
 glass to public gi,'.;e. 
 
 Mingling with these, but not near enough to read for my- 
 self, I could hear the ' pics that were discussed, among 
 which a rov at the Congrpss, a duel with revolvers, 
 a steam explosion on the Mississippi, and a few smart 
 instances of Lynch-law figured. 
 
"MV LUCUBBATIONS ON THE ST TAwo,... 
 
 " U'ljat 's tliiit in tlie 'Ymm mint v •• ■ ■ 
 fclloiv, with a eigur lilce a 1 u ! .1 "' " g^^'^w-boned 
 of bis ,„oulb. ■'" ™'k'ng-cane in the corner 
 
 tha^'ti:,:"'""'"" '"■" ^^ """'"--i "sba'„,catebn,. a. 
 
 wiibr:";;;!:;:;^'^,*™^^ -.a .,^,.,^,,, „,„„^ 
 
 fauiiliurly to n.^ears. "''"'' '^'^^^^ ^^^ sounded so 
 
 I endeavored once mm-o f^ 
 crowd had alread, "c eafed ^^^^^^ the wj^,,^^ ^^^ 
 
 nothing for it but tJ>g<ArClbuv""'^^' ""^ ^ ^^^ 
 taken a strong hold u^on me ^ ^''^'''■' ^^'^^^^ "«^^'^^d 
 
 sacrifice that I has en 1 L'Tl^ , /' '''' *^^ ''^^^^ of my 
 had hired as my sleepin' -pKce ""'''"^^'^ ^«" ^^^^^^ I 
 
 . ^"^^ ^'ithin, 1 fastened the door .n^ 
 journal on my bed, proceeded A seichl'^^rt^ ""* *^« 
 graph. It was lieaded in canito^^.r , -^ ^^^ ^"^^^ P^^a- 
 tiius:- "^ '" capitals, and easily found. It ran 
 
 excnrsiou i.J^^c^tL On^Ita^'ClChc ''"tit'^K- '^'f' *^ J«'" ^» 
 ' ^^'^v down South, and op..„ a uew%;;< ^ ''T* ^'"^^ *° P»«h 
 Appl.cants to address the OHiee o7 1^ '"^ ^°' '^'"»« doings. 
 
 --r:^^b!;;s.r--.tj:'^;^l^^^^^ 
 
 t.on in Kuclic. to -ncnorv. - ; i £' v" V°'"""' " '"■"P^i- 
 
 "■ I wa» totally at a Iom ,v^, * T '""''' ""« «» wk 
 
 •be exp«litioa. ft ™ to I " , "!""" °' *'" '""'""■"g of 
 
 »as, to say the least, somewhat myste- 
 
 
 1 t f.[ 
 
 
 
 i 
 
240 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 rious; and the whole being addressed tc "go-ahead ones," 
 who were to come with rifles and bowie-knives, showed that 
 they were not likely to be missionaries. There was one 
 wonderful clause about it, — it smacked of adventure. There 
 was a roving wildness in the very thought which pleased me, 
 and I straightway opened a consultation with myself how I 
 could compass the object. 3Iy stock of money had dwindled 
 down to four dollars ; and although I still possessed some of 
 the best articles of my wardrobe, the greater portion had been 
 long since disposed of. 
 
 Alas ! the more I thought over it, the more hopeless did 
 ray hope of journey appear, ~ I made every imaginable good 
 bargam m my fancy ; 1 disposed of old waistcoats and gait- 
 ers as If they had been the honored vestments of heroes^and 
 sages ; I knocked down my shoes at prices that old Freder- 
 ick's boots would n't have fetched ; and yet, with all this, I 
 f-ll far short of a sum sutHcient to purchase my equipment, 
 -in fact, 1 saw that if I compassed the "bowie-knife," it 
 would be the full extent of my powers. T dwelt upon 'this 
 theme so long that I grew fevered and excited : I got to 
 believe that here was a great career opening before me, to 
 which one petty, miserable obstacle opposed itself. I was 
 like a man deterred from undertaking an immense journey, 
 by the trouble of crossing a rivulet. 
 
 In this frame of mind I went to bed, but only to rove over 
 my rude fancies, and, in a state between sleep and waking, 
 to imagine that some tiny hand held me back, and prevented 
 me ascending a path on which Fortune kept waving her hand 
 for me to follow. WIk- day broke, I found myself sitting 
 at my window, with the newspaper in my hands, — though 
 how I came there, or how long I had spent in that attituderi 
 cannot say ; I only kno^^■ that my limbs were excessively 
 cold, and my temples hot, and that while my hands were 
 benumbed and swollen, my heart beat faster and fuller than 
 I had ever felt it before. 
 
 "Now for the 'Picayune,'" said I, starting from my 
 chair; " though I never may make the journey, at least I'll 
 ask the road." 
 
 ii 
 
 i,. 
 
'1% 
 
 ^2 " THE ORDINARY OF ALL NATIONS." 
 
 tbe crowd which fUred th/haTofte .f"'"^^^ ^'^^^"^^ 
 consisted of purchasers, news encLrs .• ?' ""^ ^^^^^ 
 *'<'v,l,s, and others interes ed in th ?S- '^J^^''^^''^' Pinters' 
 ^^;--sin, the newsTf he ^1'%'' ^'7"-'" -" eagerly 
 
 office, where, having knookeH h ^, f ^'^'^ ^ ^'"^H back 
 enter. "^ ^'"^'^^^ ^""'dly twice, I was desired to 
 
 A man seated at a eoarsp r^ooi f„i i 
 graphs from various nev' pan'' frV'"' '""'""" ^"* P^'''^- 
 either side of him, we^S ,1' ^ ^^ I ^^'^ ^^ """^ them at 
 ragged urchins who were in wn t^': u^ ? ^'^ *^^ ""' three 
 up at me as I entered Indv^" ''""'^ ^™^- ^e looked 
 
 " I have seen an Id'^^-t s'felft '• '"' ''''''' ' ^'^''^'^' 
 ' Expedition to Texas '-!l!.' '" ^'^"^' ^^P^^, headed, 
 
 " Upstairs, — No '^ + 
 on with his labo, ' -'""^P""' tack," said he, and went 
 
 ZEP-^ t™£:;'r.^„=^j^.^:/- -in. 
 
 Irew. 
 
 Upstairs, then, —No. 3 
 
 likely to say, I slowly 
 
 ■nyaelf, and counted, .itk tt~.l7XZ^'"'Y ^'^ ' *" 
 vor,. I. — 16 "^ ^«i.y ^ague^t notions of what 
 
 *. i' 
 
i 
 
 242 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 business I had when I got there. Thore was no (lillleulty in 
 linding the i)lace ; many others were hastening towards it at 
 the same time ; and, in cnnpany witii some lialf-dozen very 
 ill-favored and meanly clad fellows, 1 entered a hu-e room 
 where about forty nvnx were asseinbled, who stood in knots 
 or groups, talking in low and confidential tones tooethcr 
 
 "Is there a committee to-day?" asked one of "those who 
 came in Avith jne. 
 
 " Business is over," said another. 
 " And is the lottery drawn? " 
 " Ay, every ticket, except one or two." 
 " Who 's won Butcher's mare? " 
 
 " Tell us that if you can," said a huge fellow, with a red 
 worsted comforter round his throat; -that's exactly what 
 we want to know." 
 
 "Well, I'm whipped if it ain't among those numbers " 
 said a pale man with one eyv , "and I '11 give fifty dollars 
 for one of 'em." 
 
 ' ' You would, would you ? " said another, jeerin<r. ' ' Lord 
 how soft you've grown! Why, she's wf" 'h five hundred 
 dollars, that 'ere beast ! " 
 
 "Butcher gave a nustang and two hundred and seventy 
 for her, cried another. "^ 
 
 " Well, she broke his neck, for all that," growled out he 
 of the red neckcloth; "you'll see that some chap will win 
 her that don't want a beast, and she '11 be sold for a trifle." 
 
 "And there's a free passage to Galveston, grub and 
 liquor, in the same ticket," said another, — " an almicrhtv si<>ht 
 of luck for one man ! " = ^ ^ 
 
 " It ain't me, anyhow," said red cravat; and then, with a 
 tremendous oath, added: "I've been a putter in at these 
 lexas lotteries for four years, and never won anything but 
 a blessed rosary." 
 
 " What became of it, Dick? " said another, laucrhino- 
 
 "The beads fitted my rifle-bore, and I fired "em^way 
 when lead was scarce." 
 
 Various discussions followed about luck and lotteries, with 
 anecdotes of all kinds respecting fortunate winners ; then 
 came stones of Texan expeditions in former times, which J 
 began to perceive were little else than speculations of a o-am- 
 
away 
 
 Winj? Iviiid, 
 •Now Ovlviu 
 
 "THE OKIMNARV OK ALL NATIONS." 
 ^•arely inteiuled to go farther tha. 
 
 243 
 
 '1 tlie quay of 
 Ou ihe present occasion, however it 
 e-^Poclition had been phuHud So ' i ?"^^^ '""'" ^ >-«al 
 others were to fallow the very hv.' . ;''" '''"^'^^^^ «^''«<^ 
 waited to hvirn who was tl J ^^J ?' "'■' '•''^^^'•^' '^"^> "'% 
 --, ^^t that th.,e .J^J^ Z:^ -•-• ^^ Hatcher^ 
 
 I waited a Jon- time in hon, f """ '''^"«''- 
 
 ••^n i"Hi^W.t into the HcCTtf ''?"'■■•"" ■^'^'"^'^^^ J'ke 
 "Hloed, itwaseasy to2?i.at ^.r^'^'^'^^ '-^t in vain; 
 one, in all likelihood, inten h^l to *''^,r'"^'""-^' "«* '-^ ^^"gle 
 J left the ^' Picaynn " t 4 " 'T" "'V'^'P-''tion. Wkin 
 wlien I entered if -xudZ 1 \ ''''" '"'^ ""'« ^^^^r than 
 t-i^on a fast i.old ,>, y^ ^^i ;: f'" ^^'?.?"'« ««h-ne had 
 "- ;'etails of what I was ' n^ :;^r"'i; ^^ "^'"^ ""^'^ "^ 
 in which I had ind.do-ed r.n !1 , o- ''""''^^ «^ ^'eatling 
 cloubtless the reason of Ls M? '"" .""""^^^^'^ 3^^^^^^* -a^ 
 texts for adventurouf fa ei^s^lL 'V;'' '''''' "'^ '"^ '"^-"y 
 I could call up any quant tv of l! "" '' '^'^^'^''^ P^-«text 
 
 A hutKlred times n^^^^^^ 'tT'' '""^' vicissitude. 
 Of these Texan ^Ltt^'ri a"::? ^^'^'^ *"^^ ^^ 
 wait upon then.. I was not i-.m^lnt o I,n "'^ ''''"'"' *^ 
 fan- groom, could cook a litt e T t ■'^*'' ^ ^^^erably 
 
 board the yacht ; bescles ' h' 7 ''^"* '"""'^ ^ ^^^^' '^^'•"ed on 
 i iiad a really wi ted "m tv I T'" '"^?'f ^^'^tions failed, 
 as well as the - rl;!tS» ^'^^^^^^^ ^he place al^^^^ 
 
 ti^is toilnt X ^;y t;r r ^^^ ^^"^ - P-^"g at 
 such a fellow as I am" eculm^^^^^^^ 'T "''' ^"'^^ *^ «»^ 
 »o object, and no obj;ctirtor; p ' "''r "' '^"*'."^"^^^ 
 "otion, I could not lu-lp fancvinrttV .-, ^^^^^«f ««' ^'th this 
 mine as I went, I could rS? ! e^ery look that met 
 -arching glanc; th^Jt m it^'a: "l5, ''^ "1 "^^""^' ^ 
 Con? As I live, there 's Ton r ^\ ?'*"'" "'^ " '^''^'t that 
 
 
p 
 
 -in 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 IH 
 
 Ifi 
 
 244 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON C REGAN. 
 
 iiiul such like, with here and there a sailors' ordinaiy,, 
 usually kept by a negro or half-breed. 
 
 I luul eaten nothing that day, stud it was now late in the 
 afternoon, so that it was with a xeiy strong iih rest I peeped 
 occasionally into the little dens, where, under a paper lantern 
 with the inscription, " All for Twelve Cents," &•,!,? a c oinpany, 
 usukUv of sailors and \vat;^rmen, whose fare harinoui>;ed most 
 unpl.'asantly with their fratures. 
 
 The combat '.etween a man's taste and his exchequei is 
 never less agrefiiblc (' an when it concerns a dimier. To 
 feel that you have i; sk'uI fur turtle and truffles, and yet must 
 descend to musliod po alocs and herrings; to know that a 
 palate capable of avipreciating a salmi des perdreaux must 
 be condemned to the indignity of stock fish, — whiu an 
 indignity is tliat ! The whole man revolts at it ! You f< el, 
 besides, that such a meal is unrelieved by those sugo-estive 
 excursions ot fancy which a well-served table abounds in. 
 In the one case you eat like the beast of the field, — it is a 
 question of supporting nature, a-xl no more; in the other, 
 there is a poeti-y interwoven that levates and exalts. With 
 what discursive freedom does the imagination range from the 
 little plate of oysters that preludes your soup, to pearl fish- 
 ery and the coral reefs, " with moonlight sleeping ou the 
 breaking surf ! " And then your soup, be it turtle or mulli- 
 gatawny, how associated is it with the West Indies or the 
 East, bearing on its aromatic vapor thousands of speculative 
 reflections about sugar and slavery, pepper-pots, straw hats, 
 pickaninnies, and the Bishop of Barbadoes; or the still 
 grander themes of elephants, emeralds, and the Indus, with 
 rajahs, tigers, punkahs, and the Punjaub! 
 
 And so you proceed, dreamily following out in fancy the 
 hints each course supplies, and roving with your cutlets to 
 the "cattle upon a thousand hills," or dallying with ;ho 
 dessert to the orange-groves of Zante or Sicily." 
 
 I do love all this. T'^^ bouquet of my Bordea"^ bi /^ 
 back the Rhone, as th- ■if-y muscat of my Joha -. g 
 pictures the vine-clad 3l.;i- of the Vaterland, wit lou^ 
 diminuendo train of thought about Metternich and t; ,.' r, )ly 
 Alliance- the unlucky treaty of '15 — Vienna — MadaiBC 
 Schrader — and Castelli. 
 
 Nil 
 
ordinary, 
 
 ate in the 
 ; I peeped 
 er lautei'n 
 L ijinpa ny, 
 ized most 
 
 licquei is 
 mer. To 
 yet must 
 )\v tii.it a 
 lux must 
 whuf ail 
 You f. el, 
 iiggestive 
 )unds in. 
 — it is a 
 ie other, 
 3. With 
 from the 
 earl fish- 
 ? on the 
 or muUi- 
 s or the 
 Bcnlative 
 aw hats, 
 the still 
 ius, with 
 
 ancy the 
 utlets to 
 with ;0 
 
 'THE OHDINAHY OF ALL NATIONS." 
 
 ..d 
 
 •^ bi 
 
 i '' long 
 
 1^0 ri 
 
 )Iy 
 
 246 
 
 pamted panorama of Torre. VedJ^, ,^ f ' .>"'"'' " '"'"''- 
 Black Horse Square andt L it: "1 t,,:''''?' T """ 
 and a„o„ flitth.g across the scene a„d ,„., i V '™'' 
 
 you carry to your lips a i^^^S Xn^tV'^'ifr 
 
 Alas andaas! such nnnrlini ^ r i. ^ him!" 
 
 must dine for twe ve cem ' , ° ^'' ''''' "^* ^^^^ ^"«5 I 
 
 entertainment announced vond;.- ^^' •''"l^'V"^^ '^'' '^^''"^^"^t 
 
 Lent the rest of the wee/ ' ^''''' ^^^^-^^lollar, keep 
 
 The temptation to which' I allude ran thus : - 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen's Grand Ordinary of aU Nations 
 At 5 o'clock precisely. 
 
 Thumbo-rig _ Mint julep _ and a BaU. 
 The "Half-dollar." 
 Monsieur Palamede de Ros^^u^e directs the Ceremonies 
 
 dance. Still conceS H " /' "'"^ P"*"^^'^'^ ^'' ^ new 
 quite suSirtt !-ema^^^^^ -« 
 
 prove a strong tenipta ^ L L se' -Ivert.ement to 
 tentious air about it Ihat promi 1 .^H 't'"' ^''^ " P^'^' 
 bow-window, displaying, a perfect Inn ' '.' '''"' ''' ^'''^' 
 
 a„d,;eservf:4:n;arr^^^^^ 
 
 female flgure crowed t e' it' tlditlTo","'''?'-'"^''''' 
 an inch or so hi.'her than evi ,, " ' '""' '^""^ '"" 
 
 jaunty air displayed a mlr T '"'"' r'""'''"'' »'"' '^i* a 
 
 well-turned le.S ^ I bellv' ,?''^ '"'* '"""""g« <>" very 
 pink stook,„,= eompletd ;ra the" p Sd be:/ b""* 
 entered. Having paid my „,„„„y J'^t'ta'^Z „p 
 
 l» 
 
 Lj»,.ki!;'i 
 
 'i 14 
 
 LIm 
 
246 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF COX CHKGAN. 
 
 my hat and greatcoat, I was ushered by a black waiter 
 dressed in a striped jacket and trousers, as if he had been 
 ruled with red ink, into a large room, whe/e a very numerous 
 company of both sexes were assembled, some seated, mxm. 
 standing, but all talking away with buzz and confusion that 
 showed perfect intimacy to be the order of tlie day. The 
 men, it was easy to see, were chiefly in the "shipping 
 interest." There was a strong majority of mates and small 
 skippers, whose varied tongues ranged from Spanish and 
 Portuguese to Dutch and Danish; French, English and 
 Russian were also heard in the melee, showing" that the 
 Grand Ordinary had a world-made repute. The Tadies were 
 mostly young, very condescending in their manners, some- 
 what overdressed, and for the most i)art French. 
 
 As I knew no one, I waited patiently to be directed where 
 I should sit, and was at last shown to a place between a 
 very fat lady of Creole tint — another dip would have made 
 her black — and a little brisk man, whom J soon heard was 
 Monsieur Palamede himself. 
 
 The dinner was good, the conversation easiest of the easy, 
 taking in al.', from matters commercial to social, — the whole 
 seasoned with the greatest good-humor and no small share 
 of smartness. Personal adventures by land and sea, — 
 many of the latter recounted by men who made no scruple 
 of confessing that they "dealt in ebony," — the slave-trade. 
 Little incidents of life, that told nmch'for the candor of the 
 recounter, were heard on all sides, until at length I really 
 felt ashamed of my own deficiency in not having even 
 contributed an anecdote for the benefit of the company. 
 This preyed upon me the more as I saw myself surrounded 
 by persons who really, if their own unimpeachable evidence 
 was to be credited, began the world in ways and shapes the 
 most singular and uncommon. Not a man or woman of 
 the party that had not slipped into existence in some droll, 
 quaint fashion of their own, so that positively, and for the 
 first time, I really grew ashamed to think that I belonged to 
 "decent people" who had not compromised me in the 
 slightest degree. "Voila un jeune homme qui ne dit pas 
 un mot!" said a pretty-looking woman, with fair brown 
 hair and a very liquid pair of blue eyes. The speech was 
 
ok waiter, 
 had beon 
 numerou? 
 ited, sornf, 
 'iision thof, 
 Itiy. The 
 ' shipping 
 and small 
 iiiish and 
 glish and 
 that the 
 idies were 
 irs, some- 
 ted where 
 )etween a 
 ave made 
 eard was 
 
 the easy, 
 he whole 
 all share 
 
 sea, — 
 ) scruple 
 ve-trade. 
 3r of the 
 I really 
 ng even 
 :»mpany. 
 rounded 
 evidence 
 apes the 
 )man of 
 le droll, 
 for the 
 •nged to 
 
 in the 
 dit pas 
 
 brown 
 }ch was 
 
 "THE OHDINAIfl- OF ALL NATIOXS." 247 
 
 l-il. CO, ::;,ri;'^"t;;f '""^ 'r "«»•>■ °" the oo„- 
 
 con»i.ur,, :,,'';' "''y "', »" .""''- "OW.., a„,l after 
 
 life, and ^:.: x^^t^::^::^ r:- t'"- -' -^ 
 
 overcame cereal,, seiu ^1 ,.l, I ,'"" '"^ """ " 
 
 orlgl,,. I ,va, ren 1 1 ff *""" '"""'"IS "ly litnnble 
 ^vl,e„ .«LZZTf/ "" l"'""'»''"'' l>'«iti"" in life 
 
 otJier hand T I.-ul , V f- ^ ^ ^ ^^icrifice ; while, on the 
 
 p.-o..d''b:!;tfu V ':,";;;". t' r""r "'"^^ ""^ » 
 
 no-v, -great, ti,le,I, welii; ''a.ul i^vrf^"' 1 f" ,7 ™° 
 
 a.d,bu„„p. „f :L:,:7eii";™'t,;:r:: f ,i" ,r''\i'' 
 
 "ess. IW arl the ,^e „™'! "^'*'" '='""^' '"«'' "> ^■'^■ 
 esteem. Nmv" I aVno!,, •'»•'"".'" ^''''^ °-''" =<^'f- 
 
 ri^lit a,Hl wro„» with ,? ■ '^ ™'"'"' """■'"8 «' 
 
 eiia, Picking''.^;::;',;,. r?;;;r«?,:.,tt .r «';""■?''- 
 
 stoues ,„a(le by other ,„e„', Im, I . i " ""> »'epp„,g. 
 
 bas it, a very iLe «* blaL:! "^7 , Isi'S/:. '1'*^ 
 
 Co,, C,eg.,s, a„d as these isolate.'. Assures i,; 
 
 ?4{i 
 
248 
 
 CONFr<i.-'f^\s 
 
 JON CKEGAN. 
 
 IfT" 
 
 b: 
 
 st.ong oluuaeter ur. nearly allied with strength, bo was it 
 
 >^ith .ue: hu.l I not had this frailty, I had neve cLrished 
 
 BO intensely the pa.sion to beco.ne a gentlenuan T i" is U 
 
 d.gressionary; but I'll not ask pard..., ' , .l. , t- .! 
 for nil fiv.f If 1 u 1. . ► "^'" iL'ader 
 
 cian, Mth c-vory applmnec of ease about him, he'll not 
 tlnw < own these ''Confessions" for a hit of p o i, tha 
 nv, es t.. sleep that is already hovering round Ihuk", ft 
 has taken ;ue up n. the few nunutes before dinner he'll Z 
 r^..ttl., t.. meditation widch does not involt;!^^^^^ 
 IZ^l- If .. ''?"'"- ""' ""* •" '' •nuil-train, he'll be 
 fo oi" ; ^^^^''^'^'ir^/'P'-e^ -Inch leaves hin/ti,ne 
 to look out and see the ingenious preparations th-it are 
 making by the '• down " or the '' up "'train to run no a^ d 
 smash the unhappy e<,nvoy of which 1,. forms ^ part 
 
 Come, my young lad, out wiiu it. Let ns hear a bit 
 f'trthe Jr'" '"^^'v"''^ ^"^' '''' ^"' ^' launeld g you 
 
 hlir thi'te ai '"^ ^*^' ' ^'""''^ looking old man, with 
 
 malch '' ''"'^ ""^ '"^""""' t^^^^- «^ «3^«^'-o«^« to 
 
 hdence , I should be but too proud if ai ythincr in a history 
 humble as mine is covM anu.s. this 1 .lorable com an/ 
 But the ti^th is, a life s. devoiu of interest would be o dv^a 
 
 ?ne htt e, indeed no, info-i^^tion. The earliest record of 
 
 th^e: w" ''''' ' ^^""^ '^ ^'-^"^ ^"^ ^^^' ^^ ^- ^^^^« -'' 
 
 " That will do, - do admirably ! " choru - . i the party, who 
 laughed heartily at the gravity wit' which I spoke Ind 
 
 wit'> 1 I'l "' ^^'^"*^^'"«"' t^'-^'^king >ou for the indulgence 
 a nS !"" ' '^' ^ ^'^^' mentioned, I was won in 
 
 thoUI""" "' ^'^*"'' ''°" ^" ^ ''^fi^e-' ' screamed one after 
 
 o be eci-' " f ""' ' i""'^ "' ^'^"-^"^^^ ^he phrase continued 
 to be echueu from end to end of the table. " That beats 
 
so was it 
 
 cbeiislied 
 This JH all 
 .'iir reiidor 
 ciisliioued 
 lie '11 not 
 'Hint? that 
 n. If he 
 
 he '11 not 
 ! him in a 
 
 he'll be 
 him time 
 that are 
 into and 
 part. 
 iin- a hit 
 hiug you 
 one time 
 lan, with 
 J rows to 
 
 est cou- 
 i history 
 )ini)any. 
 e only a 
 h, I can 
 jcord of 
 ays and 
 
 ■ty, who 
 ^e, and 
 iplieity. 
 »ain. 
 ul2;enc( 
 iracy, I 
 won in 
 
 e after 
 itinued 
 t beats 
 
 "TIIK OliimAHY UF ALL NATIONS." O49 
 
 you hollow, Gilos!" u|j„ T„..^ , 
 
 ^" the part you eon.e from ^P^ooT^T'' Y'''''' "'"«t !- 
 «uch weie some of ti. ' ' '"^ *^''^'^" tickets for em'" 
 
 the nnV.h. "' '''' comnumtaries that broke out Za^t 
 
 : '-''""^u:;^f;^sr Gut '"'"""'=^" ^^^^ ^^-^ ^-^ 
 
 iionorablede,)u(vm.h -. ""'^''' "' '""^^ that the 
 
 -^ the interi: ^^"^,^;:^:^;;;"-f ^'> ^'- ^'"-nber respec" 
 
 The motion w-is caVn > , , '"' ' ^'^ ''^^« ^H.uUhI." 
 "'^ly induced ^^^'ie'^Hr """""' ""^ ' ^^ — ^- 
 that was brought s " , u b t' th' ~' '^"' ^^' '''''^ l-'i"t 
 the side of the%resden •hcS. ''""'"' "'^•' ^^^tioned at 
 «o"al appearance, a<rc ur n ' 1' '.T"'^*'"-^ "" ".y per- 
 "-'e all ,he whii;. ewie'^iu 'th /'f '' "'"'' ^^'^'^•'--re 
 well imagine. ''"= ^^'^ "'^^^^ candid spirit one can 
 
 ain'tf ^'"^'^-'^^^" '^"^'^ -^" «'-evvd 'un, darn mo if he 
 remark. "^ ' ^*'n'""i» —this was a lady's 
 
 Mlo,v bolted ,;!' :','',; i'° ,'',;',."«"k "le* c a post-onice 
 
 leet e »o„eer, - „„„,„,, ,.,„'„:, '■•-,? ,.f,",','- ""> "« » 
 
 r^.'Klies and gentlemen " snid T „ 
 ^nost dignified importance' ^ 1 f ' '7'"- ^^ '^'^^^ <^f the 
 cumstance to whicH yo , 've " '""''''''^ "P"» the cir- 
 interest, let me assu x yo r notfri'^.'^^r^"'^^'^^^ ^ ^^"l- 
 to have any weiahtwith ~r , '^"''^^''* ^^^" «'" «"gtit 
 limy, no dainmlr! ^bis distmguished company - that 
 
 the pleas ^^'^2/^''^'^'^ ^T'-^^ ^ -^>^f 
 pocket, run-v.ay postnZ K , *^'^^ "''*'^^''' *'"^f' P'ek- 
 ^e, as y . are WeSr;J 'Tt- le^^^V^^'-' ^^ I 
 
 P-eofafairladyrih:t';7;tld:^-^^^^ 
 
 
 
 r? 
 
250 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHKOAN. 
 
 ait* 
 
 I'k . 
 
 IP 
 
 .lyHolt, then, witl. nMu-h (litlMonco before von f^^, 
 ,,, ' '~' "'" ■' Ki'iilU'iiiim!" ° 
 
 «.l all ,l„.\v,„„en «x ' ,1,' ! ,1"":^;," ""; '".-' 
 1....I S..i..e,l the <I„y. Ay, a . s^ T 1 1 , '""v""'-'"'y 
 
 £ „ ' "ul , , . , i'r '" ""l"-^""'"''.., i. a valuable worl.Uy 
 ra^'fail:. " ""='" """' '" ""«"' """ » »tu™i„g.„a,..; 
 
 •■ The .■iicumstanee to which I all,„le,i a few ,„i„ute» bank 
 - da,v „„. ,„.eH,„„e ,„ ..,,11 it a slo.y _ „oe„,.,. ' "1 , ^'^ 
 
 Air "P -^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 stter th ' "'"'• "'""■ *'■''' "" "'•' "'I'""-" "'"one of ,„ 
 
 -t: tt'a h,„eTtTor\t;T;"r ^'T'-"' •''" ''■■-^'''' "' 
 
 cepted a„y o the 11 lint , ''"T "^ '"™'- '"'"""""=- 
 
 »rat bloom of vo„tl, i , : '"""'r'' " '""o !»»' tl'" 
 
 time I speak of 01 l" ,""'"""' "' '""■ '"""'"' =" '"" 
 «..<I I a„;»,„.e ..,a„y„ the , ,;,~;Z,%"™ "' '"« quests, 
 now add,e»» myself will ,,,';'?''"''''''" "'^^ 
 8cri|,tion of the ,„ai, t Iv,, ir ^ "'"'" l>°'''*"l'"- de- 
 eveiiy Lo,,,lon se«o , wel It "^ T " •"""''■«' '™<-' 
 
 l""t, and his q„e„e; Ub eooe,,,,,-,.!, .,,:', ^ t^aUnnlT'' 
 g.eat avanoe a,, theme, all I.o„do„ i. .Cai^.i^l'titr "l 
 
 I rturd.°i"°'"°""''''°'""" »°" "^OS'"*" followed, and 
 ' ' Lord F - 
 
 amateur, he' ™ thfLiro^^™;,,™ o? tS' ^Tl 
 ... t.Hlton Te.race, .t >va» always to Lablache, and 
 
I prCHfMlt 
 
 «» for Uio 
 lat Htruugo 
 
 ■edotl to ft 
 ' nnitdTod 
 f" tlif men 
 t iiiidacity 
 line times 
 e stniteyie 
 le worUlly 
 iiug-purty 
 
 ntes back 
 thns : 
 !(1 to pass 
 ulerstand 
 »t persons 
 !at friend 
 lie of Jier 
 I'ength of 
 iving uc- 
 ade hor. 
 
 past the 
 iiH at the 
 
 guests ; 
 
 whom r 
 uhir de- 
 'd times 
 is, with 
 ! beavci- 
 and his 
 th." I 
 
 ed, and 
 
 musical 
 I about 
 pen his 
 e, and 
 
 -iHE OKDINAin- oi. .VM. xatioNS.' 
 
 au:^r,^r:;;;:c:::it.:ni:;i^'^^ vve,.,it..Z! 
 
 """■k, enpassanf, Lu.ly Bill'' 7 '''''• "''''"'^ ' '""3' '•«" 
 «f Kloom- that/in hk kh t 1: u 'rT'^"- ^^^^ ^ «hade 
 ti'ey discovered in a ..n.^^K. 1 ".:;"' 'V'"' "''"'--' 
 case, on openin-r whiel, «•...•<« ' ■ . ^'''^ "^^^ '^ mahogany 
 
 ;--ins ol- a vioh-; - A ,;:;;;:;' ^^ '"^'^" -^' — ^tZ 
 
 little scroll of brass, and u.i , '"'"'"^ '-'"^•"«^"^' '" " 
 
 tinus explained that I s v^' ^ ^ ''''^''^ ^'- nivages of 
 Giacomo Battesta Pi. JLe „ f ?" •"'"";'"'''" ^'"'^^'•'^^-> 
 ever lived, -the conn)ose, of 'r,v ^ '?'''' ^'^•^'""^* ^'^'^t 
 '^"'' f'"' "lialla di Paradiso ' an ''^'' ' ^'' ''''' ^^^'^^i^' 
 
 with which you are all ;;u;:nLr ' """^ "''"' ^''-^^ --^^^ 
 
 «Pint and animation of the seen \ '" *''' '-^^customed 
 
 Lady Wunehe's iUuess had so "e U re" in^H " '"^" ""'''^^'^ 
 every one seemed low and on nf . '' "» a»y case, 
 People talked of takin..' leave uh ,'"'?; ""^ *^^ P^^^^^^" 
 posed, by way of do m/ so u'th h' ^^^^'' «'=^»'««« P^'o- 
 nxffle for this^vonde;n;l fill "of' "/"V'^^ ^^^"^^ ^'--^ ^ 
 
 -recy^;^'™ e^^- -«^^"ed with ^thusiasm, the 
 The tickets were two gS fa h T.'T '^ " ^'°^ ^^^''^e. 
 
 to possess ' a real PizI^:^'?' to Tf ^^'^ ^^ ' ^^"'8 
 
 number was limited to a h u d d it 7'' °' '^''^- ^he 
 njanagement of those who i/eet^.^^ /"^'^ ^'t'^^ J"^^^«'«"« 
 shares were at a ' high ,)rem nr^ ^ Proceedings that the 
 Hoyal Highness act^alirbTZ Zf ''^ °' '^^"^"^^' ^- 
 apiece. The excitement too w",« • "'^ ^* *^^« ^""'^^'-^s 
 were ransacked for histoi-i sof th. 7"'' '" ^"«3^^J«P'«clias 
 
 Wrs and proficients "xLtcTnir".' ^'^ ^"''^^ 
 opened of itself at the letter P ^""^'l'^^^^^^^ Lexicon ' 
 turned up in every corne and T^ ^"'^ ^^^^^^hetoni's name 
 day. What a time Have heard thir^ f""' '"^ ^^^^ » 
 but bow-action, shifting bSl? T ■."^"""^ ^^^^ed of 
 like, from mornin. t' 7.1,, '^?""l J^"ble fingering, and the 
 quence of this run about o Vo.t"-f T~" ^^°ame, in conse- 
 
 -0 «,. »a../c:r-L-nrczi\a: 
 
 I* 
 
 (t* 
 
 ^ 
 
 '!;! 
 
 's 
 
 'k 1 
 
 'I 
 
 ILn 
 
252 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREOAN. 
 
 what he was commonly called at the clubs, the Great ' Boms 
 8US he was listened to with interest and attention ; and/i,; 
 fact, from the extent of his knowledge of the sub ect an 
 his acquamtance with every detail of its history, each fel 
 
 with h11'\'!' "' ^'''f' '""' ''''^' ^^''' "^"^'^ vacillation, 
 wi h the last two numbers remained the Ihial decision. One 
 
 belonged to the Royal Duke, the other to Lord E 
 
 You shall have a hundred guineas for your chance V ' 
 
 said the Duke ; ' what say you ?' » -^ , 
 
 "'Your Ruyal Ilighness's wish is a command,' said he 
 bowing and blushing; -but were it otherwise, ami to any 
 other than your Royal Highness, I should as certainly say 
 
 accept of such a sacrifice : and, after all, you are much more 
 worthy of such a treasure than I am, _ 1 really only meant 
 It for a present to Mori.' ^ 
 
 " 'A present, your Royal Highness! ' cried he, horrified- 
 1 would n t givt such a jewel to anytliing sliort of St. Cecilia' 
 —the violin, you are aware, was her instrument ' 
 
 " ' Now, then, for our fortunes! ' cried the Duke, as he 
 drew forth his ticket. ' I believe I 'm the lucky m^ : th 
 18 number 2000.' .y ""» • luis 
 
 " ' Two thousand and one ! ' exclaimed Lord E hold 
 
 Ing up his, and, in an ecstasy of triun,ph, sat down to 
 recover himseir. 
 
 '"Here is the key, my Lord,' said one of the party 
 advancing towards him. •^' 
 
 " He sprang up, and thrust it into the lock ; in his a^ita- 
 tion he shook the box, and a slight, soft cadence, like a fliint 
 cry, was heard. 
 
 Jl'J^l '°"^ ?^ T^'"" '"'''''"' ^'^'" ^* «t'"'' ^'c exclaimed 
 cheatrically, and, flmging back the lid, discovered - Me ' 
 Ye8, ladies and gentlemen, in a very smart white robe with 
 very tasty e .broidery, a.id -^ lace cap which I am assured 
 was pure Valenciennes, thee . lay ! f an- not aw;u-e whether 
 my infantine movements were peculiarly seductive or not- 
 but r hHve been told that I went through ray gamut at a key 
 n overtopped the launiUor nronnd mr-. 
 
 that 
 
eat ' Boros- 
 >ii ; and, i)i 
 ibject, and 
 , each felt 
 i fortunate 
 
 racillation, 
 'ion. One 
 
 d E . 
 
 e, E ,' 
 
 ,' said he, 
 lul to any 
 •tainly say 
 
 ; I cainiot 
 inch more 
 u!y meant 
 
 hoi-rified ; 
 t. Cecilia, 
 
 ke, as he 
 one: this 
 
 — , hold- 
 down to 
 
 le party, 
 
 lis agita- 
 e a I'aint 
 
 sclaimed 
 i — Me! 
 
 be, with 
 assured 
 whether 
 or not; 
 at a key 
 
 "THK ORDiXAin- OF 
 
 ALL :\ATIONS." 
 
 ' A verv' I)a<l ip^f 
 ^^•'''-t taste, f must i^y,'^^ erf' ^'^^'>^^'^>^^rf. of the 
 leaving the room. ^' ^ ^^^' "^ ^' — t«niing away, and 
 
 u 
 
 and at his charge, that I m -^m'",,, : T '""''"'^'P'^ flii'ections, 
 My expenses at Eton and (Hf ^t ''T,'"'' ''^"' ^^^"^'^^^ed. 
 -»'nnission, can.e from him ',] T" '\''''^ «'' -^ my 
 .''.go, on learning his death hat . ?' ""''^^ '" ^^"" '^^J^ 
 tK3n of my good fortun.: n 1 R ? ^'"'"^^ *^^^ ^'^^'"'"a- 
 
 «tjled my ^ f,a,ily mansion \,f,^nT''"''^'^' '"^ "'^^^-^t h^ 
 '''^' '>v this cruel list the ;r;cti;. ■',"""'"" ^ ^'"'^ '-^P^V- 
 so many years before." ^''*^^*''''' .l^^^^'^M^ssed upon himself 
 
 ;; Winit name did they give vo„. sir P" 
 
 --i.::ii:ri;:^-,t,-^ 
 
 Cr^Janus, or. as some ^■•). r" ' ''''' "'^'^"^'^ Oornelius 
 
 ? ,■ 
 
 '{ 
 
 ? >■. 
 
 , 'Si 
 
 m 
 
254 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 ♦' I have the honor to propose Con Cregan's health " said 
 the president; " and may he see many happy yea^^ 'ere he 
 next goes to sleep in a wooden box ' " 
 
 This very gratifying toast was drunk with the most flatter 
 
 H^-al Duke himself, others, who pu? CSh 1^ my L^J 
 t ve thought less of my parentage, and more of myself so 
 that what 1 lost on one hand, I gained on the otheTi^ ' 
 
 There was a discretion, a certain shadowy prudery about 
 certaui portions of my story, of which I ha/e not aUemp'ec 
 to convey any notion here, but which I saw had " told'^ • 
 Inv of .;"• ^' >"y. audience, who, possibly not over rigi 
 
 IZ \ ^ shrouded my direct allusion to my pareut- 
 
 nS;d t ""^''' r'-"'"'"-^^ ^'^^PP--' J"deed, seem d dt 
 posed to pour a broadside into this mystery, by askin^ - If 
 
 r n!7; s"j°of"X""'"' '''' ^^"^ "^''^^ '^ -' ^ " ">"^ th 
 reined taste of the company concurred in the dinlomatic 
 
 tendency to anti-Mathewism ; bright ev,. fh,t ! 
 churl, of their glance, ; me,-ry Connie It, u J "" 
 
 " magnetism of the board " wLcb we ea,i ;o„;i flTj;^:"''' 
 made the t™e pa,, rapidly. Toa,t, and senttae t," " ve™ 
 
 Aoai-i dii.. a .ubcr hstenei clean mad. Stories begun in 
 
alth," said 
 iars ere he 
 
 lost flatter- 
 ribime the 
 
 my story 
 me to the 
 my narra- 
 lyaelf; so 
 
 lery about 
 attempted 
 old " witli 
 ir rigid in 
 3 delicate 
 y pareut- 
 smed dis- 
 king "If 
 ' but the 
 ij)loinatic 
 entleuiau 
 
 vl of the 
 nbo-ng," 
 , spiced, 
 ts awful 
 w'ere no 
 ■'ondrous 
 'ship, — 
 of every 
 •bitrary, 
 ^y were 
 »rs there 
 ell more 
 rho ever 
 
 ish, bad 
 se, tbtLi. 
 Bgun io 
 
 "THE ORDINARY OF ALL NATIONS." 255 
 
 saloon, Where ^<^l^'^ IJ^S^^^^,:^ ^^^^ ^ the 
 rappmg smartly a couple of times vvith'ht bo^^' TS 
 
 " Places ! phiees ! Monsieur le Due de GnhhJn« f 
 
 went the couples, flyin. down Z 2 '' ^ ^'^'''^' 
 
 ~e ; Moniieu; de^Ro^^nrarrX^ V «4 e^s 72 
 mg the time, preserving order, and ros'JraLng i ?e"ular^«es 
 with the energy of one possessed. 't>,umiities, 
 
 "• All, Monsieur }e Canitainp Ha P^oN., 
 
 Mademoiselle de Spicer, ms ^ haut^ t ' ' '" ''' '^^P' 
 Ladies, no k..pvo.!..K!Lr'..'/''^"^' ^^ ^™« graceful! 
 --jupe--anro^ hn'toT 'ii"'^; ^^^^^ " ^hat ye call him 
 jupti api ou — ha ; lia ! Black man — nesro — nn Mh- 
 •o loud when you make puuch! " ^egro-no talk 
 
 ,'«i 
 
256 
 
 ii 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CRKGAN. 
 
 guuu.al fro. alS.v'Q!;^;;,;;;^:.^''""^'-' ^^-^^'^ ^ -iee 
 
 -d son. ae.:,:^^E:;?:r^x;; r't'^t::^!'^-^'''^' 
 
 cliaract(M- prevuilod throu<>l,out ~ 'Zu]o n ' ' "''"'*' 
 
 -the ,sailor..tyi . evorywh r bn^ ' "^^^''^^^^ f ^^'-'"""<"-, 
 
 abighev clas^\uKl on tiu^^ ^ i ;',,^;;i ^'^"^'f f™'- of 
 liad produced tiio most nT.Vl . ^'"'^ ^l«'buuchory 
 
 see, auHd the t ces o ,2 : / •'1'^'' ,'"^^ ^''^" ^•'"'*' «^'" 
 -".nuut of Zrll^ft^' ""' Hbandou,nent, the 
 
 before their ''fall" I ;,f '^V^^f^on thoy had worn 
 
 -any of the wo.^n, ^^i Z^w^l^T' UV":' '"1 'r'' ^' 
 carriage and an air of deportn Ur'th ,f ? ^'.'^^'''^^'I'n^ss of 
 of place us th.y were unsT ' 7 '""'" ^'' "'"^''^ '^»t 
 
 young fellow appea ed o t '" -' r^"'I'^^'''<>"«i'iP- One 
 
 ndication of the possossorVn ^leTf H ! r 1 ^'/"'l-^' ^ ^^^"^^^ 
 !" learning his nan.o, f,„. eve y on^^ ltd ! .^'^^ "'^/^'^"^"Ity 
 instant, and " F,od F-dkonpt - '"'" '•>' ^* '^^^ *'*^cli 
 
 was he who selected t'"u sic 7^ t"""f "' =^" ^"'^«- ^^ 
 for the time bein;., uas u be' o f .i ''"""'' '"^ l^^''^"^''' 
 about supreme. ^kT^^: ^^^ '—-;-! J^e lounged 
 great entertainer of tho wholo nv ■ one, —he was the 
 were almost entirely of h i. o ? •"'''^^'- ^^^'^ ^-^^f^-^^^hnu.nts 
 dollars miWit e hl,i , •''''^''"^"' '"^"^^ ^''^ ^^H"'^' of his 
 
 of the vioi^:' t;^ed h!;;:;i;r"' ^'"^ "■'^" ^^^^ ^^-^- 
 
 I could see that, i 1 e" / T' """''''' ^ *''^"^''^ 
 was a secret combat retwel\ Tu ^''^">1^''^"'""«'''P. tl^ere 
 passion for seein^/lif t, in '"^^-^"^^P^^t and a strange 
 
 ti^e flattery sS: Z Z'^jt^^H^'^ '''^ :''''' ^ 
 IS a dangerous and subtle JJm It o T. '^'" " i'^^''''""'^' 
 him, the stronger grew thi^:^Son -^t^^T J ''''V 
 express on of scorn nnr.n I,;, i \ •^' *^* *""^S' the 
 
 even to t„e , J°"„r ,": ' ," A"™, rTT.r '•«'"= 
 
"THE ORDINARY Or ALL NATIONS." 257 
 
 girl upon his arm, when ho turned round suddenly, and 
 
 iTttlZy ''''''''-'' '^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 "I am not aware of it," said I, doubtin-ly 
 ' \e8, yes. I never forget a face, least'of all when it re- 
 semWes your. 1 .aw you this morning at the ' Pieayu e.'" 
 Iruc, i was there. "^ 
 
 " What a precious set of rascals those fellows were ' You 
 supposed ti.t they were going to join the oxpeditir 'Jt a 
 bit of It. Some were gamblers; the greater number thieves 
 and pickpockets. I know them all ; mul, indee.l, l^asZ. 
 iDg to warn you about them, for I saw y^u were a st raLer 
 bu 1 lost sight of you in the crowd. B u't thei^'s he mS 
 Will you have a partner? " "lubic. 
 
 "With all my heart," said 1, glad to encourage our 
 further acquaintance. = 
 
 " You speak Spanish ? " 
 " Noc a word." 
 
 her'' But "'."?"''• '' ^"" ^^•^' ^^" «^^^"'<J have mine 
 here. But uhat say you to Mademoiselle H('loisp von- 
 
 lt5 a~:t^he';f ' "■ '"\ '^"^ ' ^•^--^-' h-- H-ond' ^Ba . 
 laiina at the Havana, only two years back." 
 
 1 made the suitable acknowledgment; and the next 
 moment saw me whirling away in a waltz, at least in such 
 s^:^s;:r wmr: "' '^l^^-^^ - -y Q-bec expTnen 
 
 the most approved fashion. t,ompany atter 
 
 The French have a proverb, " Bete comme une danseuge • " 
 and I must say that my fau- friend did not prove u^rexceD- 
 lon. Her whole idea of life was limited to what tatUp ace 
 in rehearsa of a morning, or on the night of represeldon 
 She reccnanted to me her history from the time fhe it^een 
 
 Pari?' fl~ f. '' '^' '''^''''"^ '^^•'" ^' th. Grand Opera o? 
 Pa. s,-.flymg through the air on a wire, or sittin.r perU 
 
 :;:!?;i!:t?,,"^^?" '^ i-^^"^--^ eloud. ' Thence 'XT'd 
 
 • • -t tc- tur state; or j'airy Uueen, or some winfrpd maa 
 
 .enger_of^taose celestials „L 'wea,- r^nsUaZ^ ^i^ 
 
258 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 gold stars, and al^^rays stand in the " fifth nosition '• p 
 ing through the grade of Swiss neasanf T^r? u , ^^''' 
 Neapolitan market-girl, she hTd at In.f n ^^ '''^'' ^"^ 
 imate drama of - le4 '' vdenf ' h ii ?T^ -^t the legit- 
 
 " Non contiugit cuiqiie adire Corinthum t » w« . „ 
 
 have our " loges " at the " Grand oS™ \ n "^'^^ ^" 
 it is so, or what would bec^e of tl e ,.1 ""^^ ^'^PP^ ^^'^ »« 
 from third, fourth and fiffi, . I pleasure we derive 
 
 be a vast amount of inr>^„, . ^^^^^^^'^ ^^^ "fe, there would 
 
 Mademoiselle Sise^w^'"'"- '"' "'''''""^- ^'^' 
 in Paris, nor sTngled ;ut ^oT nZ r 7 ""''' "^ ™"^" '"^"^^d 
 lamps in the row of TouJ ^T^'^ ^^'^'^ °»« <>f the 
 
 ^he^Havana! sTe^L'dtft;d"^f:;^rt: r^'"^" ^'^^ ^'^ 
 when the heels take precedence of the head 7 !" '? '^' 
 in the enthusiasm by which "eTt.t neonir' " f" '^^''^ 
 bring back the heathen mytrl^for the 1 "' r7 T''^ 
 corps de ballet. ^^^^^lo^y ten the benefit of the 
 
 fat'^^'V'' fl'T ; ^° *^' ''^^y ^""^^^ •^f J^er glory she .rew 
 
 or 4ameTo !T ' '""'^"^^ ^^ "^^^ ^^--^'ee to a sol3 LT 
 or shame to a lawyer, _ ,t is the irreconcilable qualitv Thl 
 gauzy natures who float to soft music must nof .,?! ^'r^ 
 outlet costs an "entrechat"! Hard and t rlr' ^''^ 
 
 "I've not a cent in my nurse " qmVl T fM^j • 
 
 Perhaps the greatest flattery an individual ca» receive is 
 to ».. some aeknowled^ment of confidence f,w; al J-^" 
 
 I 
 
"THE ORDINARY OF ALL NATIONS" 059 
 
 senseTf tl ^'^'^f^'S, revolving, doubtless, the pleasant 
 sense ot flattery aforesaid whpn T?nii.^ pieasani 
 
 with his partner^ u qX supner fr!^f"'' ''™' ^^"^^ P^«* 
 whizzed by. PP^' ^''' ^""'■' cried he, as he 
 
 " What does he say, men cher f'nmfoa » c • 1 
 
 I tanslatod his coU;„d Id Tunc! Ztlr'T' 
 pleased her vastly. ^^* ^'^^ '^oti^n 
 
 scalloped oysters oold lohlf T . ^^'''' ''"^^ ^^^seuss 
 
 like delicacfes ' ^'^''''' ^^^'^"^^^ ^^^^^^^k, and other 
 
 Falkoner soon joined us, and we sat down ,v. 
 knot in the room T mn«f i.n u . "' *^® merriest 
 
 this hour ; a S of warm .T ^'^" ^""^^"^ ' ^ feel it so, 
 think ove tha eveLr anfhn '^f"' '" ^^ ^^^^^'^^ ^^ I 
 ferent parts of thirom I ewt^adullfv^r '"" ^'' '''' 
 to listen to the converse at our" n 1 ^ .T' ^"'^ ""^^^^• 
 things that came pattc^ng down t^h4" W,^ I'' ^"^^^ 
 invitations came pouring l uZn me' Thl ^^ ^fj^'^'^^S 
 himself could not havp p.L? . ? ^"^ ^''^^^' Mastodon 
 which I was asked no, wn.:' '''''" ^^ ^^^« breakfasts to 
 contain airth L a Jw^^'^ ^^'^^"^"^^ -^ - seventy-four 
 lying "in dock.'' "'^"'^^*"^' ^ ^^« P^olTered by skippers 
 
 wa^t2m:Ti:si'::i?r "r^^ ^'^" ^'^^ -^- ^^-e 
 
 passing fancy- Tnd T I n '7,*^'^* '^'^^ "^* «^^'» I'^e a 
 corrupted and'ru to T !" . '' ''^'""^ ^'^'^^ ^«^'^^'«r 
 «tuff ibout ht H^ ^t :.^''/''"'^"*""' ^^^'-^ -- g«od 
 he had formedy m^de l^ofl T ' '^^' °" ^^^^^ «-re: 
 penetrated ...J u 11^- 1 ^J '' excursion that had 
 
 adventures amused Te hi^lflv tT' Tr ^V''^'' ^"*^ 
 
 me mghly. The ladies, I believe, at 
 
 i 
 
260 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 will' 
 
 last found us very ungallant cavaliers ; for tliey arose, and 
 left us ..iliaijg over prairie life and the wild Inibits of the 
 chase, il.l day began to shine through the windows. 
 
 "The ' Christobul' sails to-inorrow," said he, "for Gal- 
 veston ; but even she, smart sailer that she is, will scarce 
 arrive in time to catch these fellows. Here we are at th(3 
 fifth ()(• L' e month: the eighth was to be the start; then that,' 
 supposing you to reach Galveston by the seventh, gives you 
 uo time to get your kit ready, look after arms, and buy a 
 nag. What say you, then, if we make a party of our own, 
 — charter one of these small craft? — a hundred dollars or so 
 will do it. We can then take our time to pick up good 
 cattle, look out for a couple of mules for our baggage, and a 
 spare mustang or so, if a horse should kn(jck up." 
 
 I con(!Ui-red at once ; the plan was fascination itself. Ad- 
 venture, liberty, novelty, enterprise, and a dash of danger to 
 heighten all ! Falkoner talked of dollars as if they macada- 
 mized the road to St. Louis ; and I, glowing with punch and 
 pride together, spoke of the expense as a mere trifle. To 
 this hour, I cannot say whether I had really mystified myself 
 into the notion that I possessed ample means, or was merely 
 indulging the passing pleasure of a delightful vision. So 
 was it, however; I smiled at the cheapness of everythino-, 
 could scarcely fancy such a thing as i\ Mexican pony for 
 eighty dollars, and laughed — actually laughed at the price 
 of the rifle, when all my worldly substance, at the moment, 
 would not have purchased copper caps for it. 
 
 " Don't go too expensively to work, Cregan," cried he, 
 "and, above all, bring no European servant. A Mexican 
 fellow — or, better still, a half-breed — is the thing for the 
 prairies. You have to forget your Old World habits, and 
 rough it." 
 
 "So I can," saW I, laughing good-humoredly ; "I'm 
 in a capital mind for a bit of sharp work too. Just before I 
 left the 90th, we made a forc> 1 ui;irch from St. John's through 
 the forest country, and I feel up io anything." 
 
 " You'll not like the cattle at ;ast,"'rm afraid," said he. 
 "They have that racking action the Yankees are fond of. 
 There is a capital marc at Galveston, if wu could get her. 
 These fellows will snap her up, most likely." 
 

 "THE ORDINARY OF ALL NATIONS." 261 
 
 " Batcher's mare," said I, hazardinir a cruess. 
 
 "Ah you Ve been looking after her already," said he 
 Burprjsed. " Well, to tell you the truth, that was one of 2 
 objects n, eonuno. here to-night. 1 hear.l that son,e of these 
 skipper fellows had got the winning ticket: I paid twenty 
 do lars to the ofllee-clerk to see the nun.ber, and detennhied 
 o buy It up. Here it is. Can you read these figures v for 
 iKxng n,e if the punch, or the heat, or the danchig, has nil 
 made me quite dizzy." °' 
 
 of thtl oye^' '' """"'"' ''''" '"' '' ^"^P^^""- '' - -"Pl« 
 " Yes, that is it. If I could haye clianced on it, I Vl haye 
 nm down to-n.or.„w by the ' Christobal.' Siie lies abou't a 
 mile out, and will weigh with the ebb, at eight o'clock. 
 I hat mare -she killed Butcher by a down leap oyer a rock 
 dollars?''' '"'''^"''''^ ^^^'-self-is worth at least a thousand 
 
 ''I offered eight hundred for her on mere character," 
 said I, sitting back, and sipping „,y liquid with a most 
 profound quietude. 
 
 Falkoner was oyidently surprised with this announcement- 
 but more so from the rakish indifference it l,etrayed about 
 money, than as bespeaking me rich and aflluent. 
 
 And tlms we chatted away till the black waiter made his 
 appearance to open the windows and prepare for the work 
 or the da3\ 
 
 "Where are you stopping?" said Falkoner, as we arose 
 trom the table. 
 
 " At Condor House," said I, boldly giyi„g the name of a 
 very flash hotel. " l>,ut it 's too noisy ; I don't like it." 
 
 "iNor do 1. It's confoundedly expensiye, too. I wish 
 you wouh <.o,ne to Herrick's ; it is not quite so stylish, 
 perhaps, but I think the cookery is better, and you'd 
 
 Chlnp^nt!" ^"'^"'" ' '''"^' '"'" ''''^^^^^•"' ""'''' ''-''' f«^- 
 
 wu '*^l'"V"' "T"^'" ^""''^ ^' " '^'^^>' '^'^ ''"t l^t me have my 
 mil yet ; but I lancied they were costly folk." 
 
 "Well, come and dine with me at^Hcrrick'f to .orrow 
 and decide for yourself." ' 
 
 " Why not try the Condor with me? " said I. 
 
 ^•y? 
 
 - I' 
 
 1 'i 
 'I I 'J 
 
262 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 ml 
 
 -Another day, with all mj heart; but I hav. a friend 
 to-morrow, so oouie and meet liini at six o'clock " 
 
 I agreed ; and then we chatted on about London :.nd town 
 oiks n. a way that, even with all 1 had <Irunk, an.azed me 
 lor the cool nnpudence in which I indulged. 
 
 "You knew De Couicy, of course," said he, after a lont, 
 run of mutual friends had been disposed of "^ 
 
 "Jack?" cried I, -"Jack Ue Courcy, of the Cold- 
 streams yes, I think I did. Jack and I we.'e like b othe s. 
 The last steep echase I rode in Ireland was for poor Jack D^ 
 
 about' her/' ''''''""^ "'"'' '"''^ ^ °""^ ^^"^ "^ tbe Arab 
 
 " I remember lier well, - an active devil, but she could n't 
 go for more than half a mile." 
 
 " Well, I managed to screw a race out of her " 
 " You must tell me all about that to-morrow; for I find 
 jny "nfortumUe iiead I: like a bell with the vibratim of^e 
 last stroke of the hni., ,, ; on it. Don't forget, - to-a o^row 
 sharp s,x. You '11 . , .obody but Brougltou." ' 
 
 Dudley, — Sir Dtuihy Brougliton '' " 
 
 f.lil'^r", ''T .,y^" '^"^^^ '"'"' tl^^", already? Poor 
 riieml. Have you been much to-retiier'-"' 
 the'^Fi^efly.' ''"' ' ""'' ' "'"" "^^'^ '^"" '" '^^ y-«»»t, 
 " What a rare piece of fortune to have met you ! " cried 
 Falkoner as he shook my hand once more. And so w th 
 he most fervent assurances of meeting on the morro^'ve 
 paited,-he, to saunter slowly towards his hotel; and I 
 to stand m the middle of the street, and, as I w ped the 
 pe^i^spuvation from my brow, to ask myself, had I gone clean 
 
 fhnVTf' 7"7^^«''"«'^ ^y the shock of my: own impudence 
 that I stood where Falkoner left me, for full five minutes 
 motionless and spell-bound. To have boasted of my int! 
 macy with Captain De Courcy, although the Atlantic rolled 
 
 talled'of %"'n 'if ""?'^' " ''' ----ce; but to have 
 Sh ntm ^' I^"f y-the haughty, insolent, overbearing 
 Sii Dudley Broughton - as " my old friend," was something 
 that actually appalled me. How could my vain boastfulness 
 
"THE ORDINARY OK ALJ. .NATIONS." 
 
 268 
 
 Poor 
 an old 
 
 ha e so far got tho bettor of my natural keenness; how 
 
 could n.y H.lly Holf-.suttioi.ncy have carried n.e so far? 
 
 Ah, thought I, -it ^^a8 not tlie real Con Cre-an who 
 
 poke .uch n.HYable folly; these were the outpoiuings o^ 
 
 that diabolical ''riiuniho-rig.'" 
 
 While therefore, I enteml into a bond with nr to 
 
 eschew, that n.sidions eon.ponnd in '"uture, I nUo auopicd 
 
 he far more nnnunent and important resolve, to run away 
 
 nnnd Su- Dudley s own avowal of his passion as a hater, and 
 1 could not venture to confront such dun<rer 
 
 I accordingly hastened to n.y miserable lodging, and 
 packing up my few clothes, now reduced to the con.^^ss o 
 
 cal^uT iol" V'""!'"'''"''' ^ P"^^ '">' '•"•' '"'^^' -' a minute 
 cacuUion of various pieces of strange coinage, found my- 
 self the possessor of four dollars and a quarter, - a small 
 sum, and somethn.g less than a cent for every ten miles 
 was removed from my native land. What meant the term 
 countr-, after all, to such as me? He has a country who 
 possesses property in it, whose interests tie him to the soil, 
 where his name is known and his presence recognized; but 
 what country belongs to him where no resting-place is found 
 for his weary feet, whose home is an inn; whose friends 
 are the fellow-travellers with whom he has journeyed v The 
 ties of country, like those of kindred, are superstitions, _ 
 high and holy ones sometimes, but still superstitions. Be- 
 lieve in them if you can, and so mucli the better for you • 
 but in some hour the conviction will come that man is of 
 every land. 
 
 Thus pondering, I trudged along at a smart pace, my 
 bundle on a stick over my shoulder, never noticing the road 
 and only following the way because it seemed to lead out of 
 the city. It was a gorgeous morning; the sun glittered on 
 the bright rrofs, and lit up the gay terraces of the houses, 
 where creepers of every tint and foliage were tastefully 
 entwined and festooned, as these people knew so well to 
 dispose. Servants were opening windowf^, displaying hand- 
 somely-fu iished rooms, replete with every luxury, as I 
 inissed; busy housemaids were brushing, and sweeping, and 
 
 « ^f hI 
 
 .til 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 

 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
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264 
 
 CONFESSIO.NS OF COxV CREGAN. 
 
 Whose close-d,-a.v„ o„,.t„i„. p„4 Je^lX . " a;"!":,','; 
 
 vvliile I winder along, alone and friendless, niy woddlv «n}V 
 stance a few doll-n-q " tljo a- ■. . ^ "oimiy sub- 
 
 occurs to tTe „ vlnV '^''''•^''^ ^^ condition of course 
 
 occuKs to the mnid of every poor man ; but it only is a canker 
 to him who has had a glimpse, be it ever so fleetbrofTli 
 of luxury and ease. For this reason, the servant^^hs; wHl 
 alwuys be a great source of danger to our presen sockTc^^ 
 
 ^::e;ir^ii:':fT'T' ''- ^'^"^' '^-^ --^^ i^ 
 
 woise than tolly of those they serve, viewing, from a near 
 point, the niterior lives of those who, seen Tronr far are 
 
 St r . ^^'^<"i^'"^Ii»^S- qualities of station, and only 
 y^ela It to he outward symbols, _ the wealth aid r ches 
 ^laat Sociahsts are our butlers; what Democrats ou foo t 
 men; what Red Republicans are our cooks ; what a L vdle, 
 bans-culottes, every man of you 
 
 Now, I deem it a high testimony to my powers of judg- 
 ment that I never entertained these views, (n the contrarv 
 I a way. upheld the doctrine that society, lik T^^n 
 tlngh-bone, did best on an -inclined plane," and I repu 
 diated equahty with the scorn a n.an six feet high would feel 
 were he old that the human standard was to b^ four and a 
 half. 1 he only grudge I d,d feel towards the fortunate man 
 o wealth was that I should lo.e so many brilliant year o 
 life m acquiring -for acquire it I would i what I wotil.l fa 
 rather employ m dispensing. A guinea at twenty is w tl I 
 hundred at thirty, a thousand at forty, a million it sixty _ 
 that s the geometrical mean of life. Glorious youth that 
 only needs "debentures" to be div-:; ; ^ ' 
 
"THE ORDINARY OF ALL NATIONS." 265 
 
 T ^Z ^T] ^^^^'"^^^^^e^- a«d my brain more unclouded as 
 I Miked along in the free air of the moruino- and [ fel' ha 
 with a cigar I should both compose inv vior. nt fl, , , 
 
 ehe^ inyself out of the necessfl, o^":^ ^:;^^'''^;Z 
 weed ! that can make dnlness imaginative, and ima^ina io 
 plodding ; that renders stupid men con.pnnionable to clev 
 one^. and^gives a meek air of thought to the very ^Z 
 
 I searched my pocket for the little case that contained mv 
 ^Lxndlas but m vain ; I tried another, - like result Ho>^ 
 ru h T ''^f '"'""'^ ^* '" '''y g'-^^'^t-coat : had I been 
 
 o b'r J """'''•''' '^^P ''"=^"^= ''' t''« thought, it scum 
 so ineffably comic. I essayed again, alas! ^ith no bo oi' 
 success. Could I have placed it in the breast-pocket AVh t 
 there is no breast-pocket ! How is this, Con Has Th n boi 
 rig Its influence over you vet? I mssod .... l..,., "'""'^'^ 
 brow, and tried to rien^c^: i/^^^l^^^T^ 
 Wn a tradition of another coat, or what harbeln 0"^"^ 
 Pockets do not close from being empty, like county ba iks," 
 noi do they dry up, hke wells, from disuse. 
 
 " No no ; there certainly was once one here." As I said 
 this, what was my amazement to llnd that the pocLt for 
 which I had been searching J,ad changed sides an Lne 
 from left to right! -Oh, this is toe, bad J ' Jho hf 
 " with a little more punch, I could have i^ cied thaf haj 
 put my coat on wrong-si.led. Here is a mystery '''said I 
 and now, to solve it patiently;" and so I'sat f^; down by 
 the^waysKle, and, laying my bundle on the ground, began to 
 
 _ Reflection, I soon found, was of no use. Habit -the 
 
 Z:ttX;^~''-7'r ^^=^^ -^ pocket lildllwy 
 t)een to the left; my nght hand sought the spot with L 
 
 a most mechanical impulse, whereas my left wa^i^Ld about 
 h^.e a man in search of his newly-taken lodging 1 i came 
 to his puzzling fact, my fingers, deeplv inimersid in thP 
 pocke eaine in contact with a small leatherlsr r nt 
 It foith ; It was not mine, -I had never seen it before T 
 
 eara, with the words, '^ l^u I Sharp TioL-of " * , 
 
 underneath, the figures, -438." ' ^" *°P' ^^^' 
 
 ■ '1 
 ! f 
 
 I ■! 
 
 'I J 
 
266 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF COX CIIEGAN. 
 
 From the card, my eyes reverted to the coat itself ; and 
 now T saw, with a surpiise I cannot convey, that ii was not 
 my own coat, but another man's, I was wearing. The negro 
 at the ordinary had assisted me to put it on. It was the 
 only one, indeed, remaining, as J came away, and some 
 other had carried otf mine. So t'ai-, it was a fair exchange, 
 of which I was not in any way accountable, seeing that I 
 performed a mere passive part; taking — mul even that 
 unwillingly — what was left me. Certain ilu-eadbare symp- 
 toms about the cuffs, and a missing button or two, also 
 showed me that I was no gainer by the baiter. Was it 
 worth while to go back ? Were the chances of recovering my 
 own equal to the risk of being myself discovered? 1 
 thought not. It was decidedly a shabby investment, and, 
 now tiiat I examined it more closely, a very miserable 
 substitute for my own. I was vexed at the occurrence, and 
 could not help reflecting, in very severe terms, upon the 
 breach of honor such an act displayed. " Lie down with 
 dogs. Master Con," says the adage,' "and see if you don't 
 get up with fleas!" "Such company as you passed the 
 evening with were assuredly not above a piece of roguery 
 like this." Falkoner it could not be ; and I own that I was 
 glad to know that, since he was much taller than me ; nor 
 could I remember one who was near enough my own size to 
 make me suppose him the culprit ; and so I ended by attri- 
 buting the knavery to the negro, who probably had kept 
 this ancient vestment for a moment of substitution. 
 
 It may be inferred, from the difficulty of solution in the 
 case of this very simple occurrence, that my faculties were 
 not pre-eminently clear and lucid, and that the vapor of the 
 Thumbo-rig still hung heavily over me ; such, I am bound 
 to own, was the fact. Every event of the previous night 
 was as shadowy and imperfect as m" ht be. It was only 
 during the last half-hour of my conv alion with Falkoner 
 that I was completely conscious of all said and done around 
 me. Previous to this, my mind had established a kind of 
 Provisional Government over my rebellious ideas, and, like 
 most such bodies, its edicts had little force, for they were 
 based on but a weak prestige. 
 Now then came a question of this strange-looking piece 
 
self; and 
 I was not 
 riie negro 
 t was the 
 md some 
 ixchange, 
 iig that I 
 'ven that 
 ire sy nip- 
 two, also 
 Was it 
 'ering my 
 ?recl ? 1 
 ent, and, 
 niserable 
 snee, and 
 ipon the 
 •wn with 
 'Oil don't 
 ssed the 
 roguery 
 at I was 
 me; nor 
 n size to 
 by attri- 
 ad kept 
 
 1 in the 
 es were 
 ' of the 
 I bound 
 IS night 
 as only 
 alkoner 
 around 
 Icind of 
 id, like 
 y were 
 
 "THE OKDIXARY OF ALL NATIONS." 267 
 
 Of card, with the numbers on which, by some wonderfnl nm 
 cess, I seemed to myself perfectly fa'miLr- nay I fel U at" 
 
 fl^mered at the mast-head, and^^ pLs" J "yel' '"^^ 
 
 ZlZ ''¥he '"wrf ''' '-'-'r-'^'' - ^^^/^--d :t t'h 
 a.in.uur. ine wmd was a nor-wp^^tpr onri k„„* vi • 
 tipnt (Tiiafa fi, 1 wesiei, and beat with impa- 
 
 tient gusts the loose canvas that hunrr rendv fr. he c^ . 
 out, whil. the stream rushed rapidly Sg £ ^^^.^ ''''''' 
 
 tendel-'' L """"" '^'^^' ^" ^^"' ''^'''''^' yo^r voyage 
 tended ! was my exclamation ; and I sat down t>. /of^u 
 
 the preparations, which the loud comr ands of he «U^ 
 
 seeded to hasten and press forwarr if ocL ^1 tafl 
 
 >Mth he stir and bustle on board the craft, where everv h.nJ 
 
 men'^'^u i^ \f^''^^ *° ^^^^ ^^^^3% Ben! " said one of the 
 men. "He 11 not wait no lonc^er ' " 
 
 like tw"j " ■"" "^'■y ""y- ''''"'''' "" g«' " nor Wester 
 
 spllklr."' "'"' "'^^ '""'" *» ''^•" ='«'=''» '"e former 
 
 " Give him ten minutes more, Ben," cried anotlier " Let's 
 have a ehauco of a dollar apieee, anyhow ' " 
 
 " riiere goes a sliot!" said the man called Ben as he 
 
 JZ lads ! " " ''°' ""^ ""'^ '"■y '»'«■ = ^""ve her 
 
 « i i 
 
 2; piece 
 
ON BOARD OF THE 
 ' CHRISTOBAL.' 
 
 ITHOUT further delay, the men pre- 
 
 hnot'a «K • P^""®^ ^^ ^^^y ^^® summons. The 
 
 boat 8 Cham was cast off, and, as she swung out from the 
 
 a httle white flag, which, as the breeze wafted towards me 
 showed the enigmatical numbers 438 ' 
 
 Well, what IS It, master?" said Ben, looking up and 
 probaMy expecting to see me take a head;r into the Lddy 
 
 u TW^^'.V^' number! " cried I, not knowing what I said 
 That's the very number' " 
 
 "Why, clam me if that a'n't himself! " cried the men- 
 and ttjey s„„g out three hearty cheer, at the diseov r^. ' 
 Were you there lono;, old fellow ? " »aid Ben 
 About half an hour," said I. 
 
(( ' 
 
 "ON EOAKD OF TMK ' CIIRISTOBAL.' " Ogg 
 
 'Tarnation! and why di.l ye keep ns a-vvaitin'? didn't 
 you soo the tide was on the ebb, and that Chris tvwL 
 liiaknig signal, every five minutes or so?" ^ 
 
 " J was waiting— u-aiting— " 
 
 " Waiting for what? I 'd like to know " 
 
 brell"'"" '"" "^ '^^=='^°^'" «^'^^ ^' t-ki"g a long 
 "Au' it ain't come yet?" 
 I' No ; 1 'm afraid they missed the road." 
 "Be that as it may, master, 1 '11 not stay lono-er Comp 
 
 ^i::^ ''-' ''' ^'^ -'^^ ^^^-^^ ^^^^ iC^^ieS^: 
 
 ''Hang the traps! " said I, affecting a bold carelessness- 
 'I ve a tew thmgs there I left out loose, that wil Ido' 
 When shall we be there?" This was a lead n' ql tion' 
 
 //.t^f ^'^ ' '^"""' ^^-'"^l^^^- ^ve were bound. ° ^ ' 
 
 At Galveston? Well, to-morrow evening or by ni^ht- 
 
 fall, I guess, ,f the wind hold. Sit down there anVmakl 
 
 in er. And now, lads, pull away, - all together ! " 
 
 A second shot from the smack announced that her anchor 
 was^^tnpped, and we saw her now lurch over a; he" foresail 
 
 The ).ien pulled vigorously, and in about twenty minutes I 
 stood upon the d,ck of the " Christobal," makb^ "^frv 
 
 t^Tth of "' ^'T '"• '^^'"-^ '^'^^ --^ assurln^h^To^ 
 the faith of a gentleman, that I had utterly forgotten all 
 about my voyage till the last moment. ^ ^ ^ 
 
 ni^ht^' saiute""! T/n """'''' '^""^ ^^^ ^^'^ '^^^ ^^st 
 
 sven or eight hundred dollars, with funiitu.il. and a 1.7?^ 
 -lookil/aTef'""' T ' ^'^'^^ '' ^'^-" ^^-.^^ - - th 
 
 These scattered hints were all I wanted. The sea-broo^P 
 
 had restored me to my wonted clearness • nrl r 7. !f ! 
 
 "438" meant th^f t i V '' ^^''^"^"^^^' ^^^^ ^ now saw that 
 
 meant that I had won a free passage to Texas, a 
 
270 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 ll 
 
 M 
 
 l! , '- 
 
 m 
 
 hor«e and a ride when I got there; so far, the -exchan..e of 
 coats" was " with a differpnoo " u , •., '^'^^"'^"y^ "f 
 
 "Mo „„,i»fuc,!o„ that I kl ed I ,val Z^'f "" """'"""- 
 
 pod itio,. had ehhe,. aheady set out or aC li '.h -o J't" 
 uiu ivit luriel, the Bkippci', did not play the .nai d ii,n„i 
 
 or o„ „,e. „i, nf„ ,„, ,,„, f„,. ,,^'_j' ,„,;:"; ',7 ; 
 
 " ak,„g the voja«e to and fro,,, New 0,-le,„,s a „1 G ve, to" 
 where he had do„btle»s »ee„ a„incie„t of cha,actor , l' v' 
 sattslied a gh,ttou h, ecee„t,ieity. There wa " ot a ,- ,^„ 
 rogue or abandoned vagabond' that Tl Wt te c " Z 
 yea,, back, w,th wh„.e histo,y he was not fainiliar Tu had 
 hnt to pve 1„,„ a „a„,e, and out can,e the eatalo<.ne of hfa 
 misdeeds on the instant. i.',o„ut or uis 
 
 onl?T,i'"T'i°"'. """ " l"-««gio"» i"tere8t for me, Thev 
 ope, ed the book of l,un,au adve„tu,-e at the very chanter I 
 
 r'the '.taT r'""? ",'-'"" «'-" "l»" '"« -o. Tg i've 
 Wie the 'last fashions m knavery," — not to sne-ik nAi,! 
 
 onfwho^^d pralL^^h-hth^l." '--^ '''' --y 
 
 He enlightened me also as to these Texan exneditio.m 
 winch to use his own phrase, had never been an^Z^'Zel 
 han - almighty swindles," planted to catch youn. flats from 
 tlie north country, the Southerns being all too '' eStnk " to be 
 
 "And is there no expedition in reality? " said I with nil 
 he horror of a man who had been seduced from honTe an" 
 family, and friends, under false pretences ' 
 
 tiai ^^hcn buffaloes are plenty, or to bring down a stray 
 "o if'he";- ^^^^^^P'/-'.t^^y cut off an Jujia:; feHow S 
 Uo If le linger,, too late in the fall; and t!ien they come 
 back with wonderful stories of storming vilia^^es a^,d Te 
 
 sr- rst''?'^"'^ ^'"V'^ ''-' ^^'^^' bufr'it 
 
 Detter Most of em. 'ere chaps are more used to picklocks 
 ^^.u^nfles, and can handle a > jemmy ' better than a'' bo^fe! 
 
 1^^' 
 i**'*" 
 
"ON BOAIil, „|.- THE •CimiSTOBAr." 271 
 
 thoyf"" "' ""^ '"™'"" "'>''■•• ""'" kind Of fellows uro 
 
 of a ma„ an.onost tiie.n." ' "'''''' '"^" o^' ^^^^ard 
 
 green ':::s ^ti';;;' o^,;,;^ J"- ^t"'^ ""^* ^^ -"k 
 " Hut what are tlae^^J^" ^^''' '^'' ''"''^^ "^^^^ '« ^ f-ct." 
 
 A.::tr^:^^„rl:r:!;^^r;;!^^'^'-«' ;- aw 
 
 stealers! "and he laughea hL^^ J''^ ''''^". *^'" ^"^'•««- 
 of the remark. tnaitUy at the excessive drollery 
 
 "And where do they trade with their cattle >" 
 Tliey sells 'em here, or i,n i„ tl.P <<tnf 
 sometimes : but thev n.Vtl Iv ^^^^""^ ^"^'^J "orth 
 
 Line, o,. ,„;„.„ ;";%:;™:;; 'r.i:-s,f "f ,;,t\c''^^»i".'' 
 
 ' buffalo-moat in s|n,,.M,.",.° ™ P™™'* ""at 
 
 two eyes ! ' " ' = ' "'" *" " '""»'"'« merchant with 
 
 "What does that mean?" 
 
 " They gouge a. l)it down there, thevrln ti. , . , 
 I 've known two or three ioin ,1 R ? ' ~ *"' ' " '""'• 
 
 was better living with, Li "hem W '™"' ""' '"^ ^"J'''°' 
 
 ;'Iown your pieture is not llatteriug." 
 bnt/i::;tt::,':!',^"'fet;,,„Vou don't know thorn chap,, 
 
 tl.is 'ere passage, a^Jj l" ."te "■fm^'^ir- '■"-'■™'™ 
 Sam, I did ' " Fmm ti •'^ ^^"^^ Bowlin 
 
 liowlin Sam was : eb tv"'rbe ,"" "" '"'' ' »"" "'"' 
 confess onc-s self an 'mc,! favte *''°"'"' "' ""<"» ™ <» 
 
 him »mc°abSl wrtlle'^ " ""'r 1, "' ""^ «"«'' ""' ' ^aw 
 tbc Red Rivc^ ail TKel ^^ f'="°"' «"" >"' '"""wed up 
 
 you could see. Sam stood r;: "7' *^'''S.'-' 'allows 
 Black was si:, feet Tnr 1 but L h,/'"?'- ''■:'''"'" • ""^ 
 ae-s. «a-racked him fortt?;l:r::rmal';?t 
 
 f .|!l 
 
 .:;i 
 
.)70 
 
 CONFESSION'S OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 dodge tlu'y had botween 'em. But Sum took l.im at last, and 
 he brought him all the way from Guajaciualle hero, bound 
 with his hands l»chind him, and a :ioir of iron-wood in his 
 mouth ; fur he could tear like a jiiyuar. 
 
 "They were both on 'em uj^dy'men, — Sam very u<rly i 
 Sam could untwist the stroi.oest links of an iron boat-cliaini 
 and t'other fellow could bite a man-rope clean in two with 
 his teeth. ' Tiie Black ' eat nothinj^r from the time they took 
 him; and when tiiey put him into the shore-boat, in the 
 river, he was so weak they had to lift him like a child. 
 Well, out they rowed into ti»e middle <jf the stream, where 
 the water is roughest among the 'snags,' and many a whirl- 
 pool dashing around 'atween the bows of the ' sawyers.' 
 That's the spot you're sure to see one of these youn-r 
 sharks, — for the big chaps knows better than to look for 
 their wittals in dangerous places, — while the water is black 
 at times, with alligators. Well, as I was sayin', out they 
 rowed ; and just as they comes to this part of the stream, 
 the black fellow gives a spring, and drives both his heavy 
 ironed feet bang thi'ough the tluoring-plank of the boat. It 
 was past bailin'; they were half swamped before they could 
 ship their oars ; the minute after, they were all stru<rc.li„o. in 
 the river together. There were three besi<les the^'nicrae,.; 
 but he was the only one ever touched land again. He"' wag 
 an Antigua chap, that same nigger; and they knows sharks 
 and caymans as we does dog-fish: but, for all that, he was 
 all bloody, and had lost part of one foot, when he got 
 ashore. ' " 
 
 " Why had he been captured ? What had he done ? " 
 " What had n't he done ! That same black murdered more 
 men as any six in these parts; he it was burned down Che- 
 coats mill up at Brandy Cove, with all the people fastened 
 up within. Then he run away to the 'washings' at Guaia- 
 qualle, where he killed Colonel Rixon, as was over the 
 Placer. He cut him in two with a bowie-knife, and never 
 a one guessed how it happened, as the juguars had carried 
 off two or three people from the ' washins ' ; bnt the ni<rcrer 
 got drunk one night, and began a-cuttin' down the yo^im- 
 hemlock-trees, and sayin', ' That 's the way T mowpd down 
 Buckra' Georgy,' — his name was George Rixon. Then he 
 
"ON BOARD OF THE 'CIIRISTOBAL.' 
 
 273 
 
 bolted, and was nevi-r Heen more. Ali, he was a down- 
 hard 'iin, that fellow Crick ! " 
 
 " Crick, - Menelaus Crick ! " said I, almost springing up 
 with amazement as I spoke. 
 
 "Just so. You've heard enough of him 'fore now, I 
 
 guess. 
 
 The skipper went on to talk about the negro's early ex- 
 ploits, and the fearful life of crime wliich he had always 
 pursued; but I lieard little of what he said. The remem- 
 brance of the man himself, bowetl down with years and 
 suffering, was before me ; and T thought how terribly mur- 
 der is expiated, even in those cases where the guilty man is 
 believed to have escaped. So is it; the dock, the dungeon, 
 and the gallows can be mercies in comparison with the self- 
 torment of eternal fear, the terror of companionship, or the 
 awful hell of solitude ! Tiie scene at Anticosti and the ter- 
 rific night in the Lower Town of Quebec rose both together 
 to my mind, and so absorbed my thoughts that the old skip- 
 per, seeing my inattention, and believing that I was weary 
 and inclined for sleep, left me for the deck ; and I lay still, 
 pondering over these sad themes. 
 
 At last I roused myself and went on deck. The city had 
 long since disappeared from view, and even the low land 
 at the mouth of the river had faded in the distance ; while, 
 instead or the yellow, polluted flood of the Mississippi, the 
 blue waves, shining and sparkling, danc » merrily past, or 
 broke in foam-sheets at the bow. The white sails were bent 
 like boards, firm and immovable before the breeze, and the 
 swift vessel darted her way onward as proudly as though her 
 freight were something prouder and better than a poor ad- 
 venturer, without one in the wide world who cared whether 
 he won or lost the game with Fortune. 
 
 My spirits rose every mile we left New Orleans behind us ; 
 I felt, besides, that to bring my skill to such a market was 
 but to carry " coals to Newcastle ; " nor, from the skipper's 
 account, did Texas offer a much more favorable field. How- 
 ever, it smacked of adventure ; the very name had a charm 
 for me ; and I thought I should far rather confront actual 
 danger than live a life of petty schemes and am_all expedi- 
 ents. But what a strange crucible is the human heart I here 
 
 VOL. I. — 18 
 
 If- u 
 
 
 4 
 
 If I 
 
 tf^ 
 
 
 . 1 
 
274 
 
 CONFESSIONS OK CON CREGAN 
 
 l>or™.i(iiris- ,„y„,,|f too ll,.„ , •'^' ~ '""'y"<li, ay, and 
 a,l„,iral.l. »,,,,!,, e,t.,uJ; ," ,","""' ' I""'"™»«1 very 
 
 "eea.,iona, m,!;.'";:?,: ' I Tt ';;:;:':■';•'■■" ^ "-' "' 
 
 ■■•ai.y practical joke, |,layc.l , mchv ,,.""'','! ""'>' "" 
 
 fell ,m ,„y feet, ._ wl.ilc I fdt ccil-Tm tl i I , , "'"■"^'' 
 treated, a ,„„rc „„ri,,l,t, l.oao b ^ '^ .^r^ ':, '^^ '''''^ 
 gentlc„,aa never lived than I rtoni'd p,"? 1 '""'" ^'"""« 
 
 Gentle reader, ;;„' Jno'i'^'tn; i;,.'!,;:'';':';!"-';"""'!;: 
 
 clear_y» are ,, either a seretary^o, .ate 'lorl^^^^^^'aC 
 
 «4?:ndX\r^;!<:;:'™;;-;j:r.,:: "■r:- "- -- 
 
 houses and steeples iiTtlie w^t^f?' " feUectiou of tbo 
 
 was sutlieiently'st, -I !'° m!'c "S' ! "''"""' ""^. '^'"'^ 
 
 winner of the jireat di-izp whinK + S'luze — as the 
 
 -n. learned«s afH::;r„;t.':t-bT:r . 
 
 and that in mv liaste I hn.l Z , , , "' '^''"' Orleans, 
 with actnally n'oS: b,n tL c". ."„ .'""'r'," T" ™ ''™'-<' 
 "That'si™isfortl,n e. ;;,S"s^^^^^^^ 
 
 but all my papers are in my portmanteau." ' 
 
 Provoking, certainly," said he takina o i« 
 snufr, — " ain't it. Kit?" ^ ^ P'^^*^ <*^ 
 
young 
 
 "ON BOAHI) OP THE 'CmUHTOUAL.' " 
 
 But Kit only HomtclK'd his 
 
 27^ 
 
 
 
 Ai 
 
 Ao, .said I 
 
 i^ your bankers Vicars and l{uli 
 
 "OHc, an.l looked puzzled. 
 
 HIV( 
 
 Ixit 1 fancy uiy 
 
 of the Ci 
 
 C 
 
 ■tWllLS, I 
 
 ">' ^•'•^''''^'^ i^'-e all on a \„rthe 
 •J'ln.e IS tolerably well kuowi.. Y 
 
 suppose 
 
 ni house; 
 on 've heard 
 
 vegan — Crejrun 
 
 •opeated he a cou 
 
 i;;;;;'''"^ - ^n.,. ledger at the letter C 
 
 loiigcolunni. «'CVabtroo — ( 
 
 Creffet^— Crey more. J 
 " \r,v rt .^ . .. 
 
 I'OSS 
 
 'It'y — c 
 
 l>lt' of times; then. 
 Jill hi8 eye down 
 
 a 
 
 No, C 
 
 a 
 
 •■^'^'an is the 
 
 t is not Creguioi 
 
 ro 
 
 xiitn -Crebell- 
 
 ■f, SU' 
 
 name. 
 "•., well, there's no Cie(r.iii ti. 
 was ' lynched ' here I see 1 . v H V ""^ ''"^ ^ Cregmore 
 
 " That ain't the fellow as purtenderl f,. h • 
 wagon team that was lotterie 1 1 . , '^ '^'""^'" ''^ ^^^ 
 it? " said Kit. ^""'^ ^ twelvemonth since, is 
 
 all rS^ and't;:;i:hr^;,„t>r'^^"' '''^' ''^ ^-^^^ 
 
 Harper, and showed he renMr^ '^'"'' ""^ ^^^'""^'1 -Jabus 
 
 les, SU, that s a tact," quoth Kit. 
 What was the penalty:-"' asked r wjfi 
 indiffeience ^ ^' '"'^'^ ^ "^^^t imposing 
 
 -arts to-night at twelv<^. — «...* ^„i,:.. . 
 
 distasteful 
 
 u oi " "^■" ^'oes sue sail v"' *' 
 
 -e;u:;rL'::;o::iii',7^;:;;,,,":f .j»' -'ii .-o conde. 
 
 nor, by its mingled niide ZiT 7 l"imilrate au inte- 
 the street. ' ^'"^ courtesy; and I turned into 
 
 lou am t a-jjoino- to T-r«iii'^ r<^ j. 
 overtaking me. " "' ^""'"'^^ ^^« you?"said Kit, 
 
 "Of course not," responded I, indicrnantlv uc , ., 
 •e anythmg but pleasurable." '='''^"">^- Such sights 
 
 Kit 
 
 He ain't all rijrht, that 
 I'e-entered fhp r.fH«^ „.-.i 
 
 --t;eX,r5/^p--ri£-- 
 
 > jt 
 
276 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "Well I don't know," muttered the other ; - I 'm a-think- 
 S-^t^^^^"'-^^- He aa' n't got much Clink w;;:h;:^, 
 
 Jus: to xSe i-r a 1,;;:^^^' "^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^'^ ^-^ ^-^^^t, 
 
 '' Well, j-c miglit do it," yawned the otbei-; " bat Chi^n i, 
 such „„ „|,„i,,i„,, „,||„i„ ,^,^ ,^.„ ^^^^ tim out a rogte^^ 
 
 a swuuller, at all events." ^ 
 
 a grhK^'" " ""'''*' '''''' ^ '^^ '^"^'^^^'" «^^^^ the other, with 
 
 ch;:^ii't likiri^" """"^"^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^^^-^' *-^ 
 
 "He can look like anything he pleases, Chico can I've 
 seen hn„ pass for a Pawnee, and no one e'ver disci^it.'' 
 
 "anfhe can'nnr'"r^' '"'' '" "^''*'" ''^''^"^^d ^he skipper; 
 ana tie can put no disguise upon tliaf." 
 
 fron Ihe'snot' bur- ' '"""^ i^^ ^' ^^^^'"^^^' ^"^^^ -« ^-teu 
 the fate of; ' '"'"'^ ^"^' ^''"'^ comfortable. With 
 
 the fate of my mgenious predecessor in "Hall's Court" 
 befoi-e me, and the small possibility of escaping he sh^wd 
 
 o^c^'^^Tr "' " ?'''f ' ''''''^ ^^'-- -t what cour to 
 if \ ^^^T'^ I ^'^fl^cted, however, the less choice was 
 there at my disposal, the bold line, as generally hapneTr 
 
 Te ine^Lble r." '"^ ^"fl' '"*^ '^"^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ Houston 
 ^seovei- me "'"^' ''^'^ '^ ^^^ ™« <^^rtain to 
 
 My mind was made up; and, stepping into a shon I 
 
 true asloid ~ 1%^''''''''^^^^ ^ut an excellent weapon, and 
 true as gold. A few cents supplied me with some balls and 
 powder; and thus provided, I took my way towards the 
 
 fr^i;r:?m^rrth:tt-ii^^^ 
 
 elambered into a boat on deck, and, with m/ bundle L; a 
 pillow, fel into a pleasant doze. It was not^o much s'eon 
 
 t:o::zr^:^ ''^'^ ^^^-^^^^^ ^^"^^ ^^^"^^^ 
 
 .npxc«sious,-a irame of mind I have often found very 
 
m a-think- 
 with him, 
 
 t to-night, 
 
 it Chico is 
 . rogue ci- 
 ther, with 
 3nd, too; 
 
 ui. I 've 
 er it." 
 skipper ; 
 
 le hasten 
 i. With 
 i Court" 
 e shrewd 
 course to 
 oice was 
 lappeus, 
 h, since, 
 louston, 
 rtaiu to 
 
 shop, I 
 36 of a 
 on, and 
 alls and 
 rds the 
 dicative 
 
 here or 
 rting, I 
 !e for a 
 !h sleep 
 iimmed 
 d very 
 
 "ON BOARD OF THE 'CIIRISTOBAL.' " 07- 
 
 favorable to tbouo-ht Oup Jc r.n , , , 
 
 question in this wte n. fl ? '"'^^'^''^ *^ ^"^'^'""^e a 
 
 smoked oL. o \ '^' ^^^'^ ^* t^^^ «"» tli»-on-h a 
 
 bei:;gtii^l::n>;^ S^:;^ ^>^"-"^^, ^^j-t wiSo^ 
 
 in this manner was as npn^^' '''"'''" ^'" ^""^ ^ P^^«««d 
 
 am capable o flel n' for ^/'^^^'/''^f ''' '^" ^P^''^^^ ^^^^ I 
 
 I ^Jy as littieSa&'^r ^;?:t'' '^^"'-^^^^ ^^P---"' 
 
 I bethought me seriously of the "sornnp" in i- , x 
 found myself, and reflected witl consSL -''^ ^ 
 
 Falstafif's honor, it was " thrust unon me » T ^' ^'''' 
 of all plot or device " T p fn.! I '^''' innocent 
 
 I have no doubt, thou'^ht I but thnf u rr ^ . . 
 policy," prettv much , Tnn 7i " Honesty is the best 
 
 dead cal \Z T ? ''•"' P'""^^^P^« ^^^^ ^'^'«» ^ 
 desires ''progress "on t^Io ' '""rT^- ^"* *^ ^"" -^^ 
 written, TS'is^ tl :;'r J^^^^^^^^^^^ " ~ " - 
 propitious. I then M^A t„ . , '^'°™ ""^^ P^^e 
 
 a<lv'e„.,„.e could ot ™ o tT'tt'Tf T""*,r''° '^'^ 
 ingenuity devise how it ,lio Id t^.r h ■ ' """"'^ ''y "^ 
 that Fortune is as lid M ! i '',°.*f™''": but I I„ew 
 whole charge to l!er '" " '''"'^' """ »<> ' '«« 1^ 
 
 bo™, andlrtt' 'sTow^l' *"' ' T ""' *"' -« ->'- 
 
 suchVriviiegr „,ore T itr":,:t>Z'''r°™ "'^''^■'<' 
 noble, and lowly i„ condition, Thlve tits .T. """'r '"" 
 at war with my situation ? These oZl^?, ntV "f '"'""""^ 
 ants to exertion than caprices oFofuij H J" ^^ ,f ™"- 
 better, too; and i^ if Lf k /"^v'^^- -^ bke the theory 
 
 devices I a^reduccl to ell^''^ ^' ^^"^^^'""«^^ for the 
 
 If the prisoner seve,^ lis f u ^ ^ v?'"^'' '"'^ '"^^"^'^''1 ^^'i^^? 
 he does not ^ossl Vh h^.i;" Tl""^ ^'^^ "^f' ^^ ^ ^--use 
 
 As for me, the emplovm.nt o ^^n.ll a d h; ' r'' ''''''''" 
 is highly distasteful • instead of Tn '"«^g"^fieant means 
 
 path'on'foot, I'd drWe 'S' h Sh^^^^^^^^^^ T^""*^'""- 
 
 could. ^ ^°^*^ four-m-hand, if I 
 
 
 M 
 
278 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 J 
 
 turo, aroused me, asTl. n. '?,',""' '" "i'l""«'l'i"S .kpa.-: 
 
 Of icave-.a.i„g, 'i^rulis, I' ' ::.™;:s.': ^r'^: •"^^■f ■» 
 
 bad no share. A lintvm ..t i *-'"^»'iciug, m wLich 1 
 
 fat passed, and i s,,'!:- d ,, "'^vS'in," '."'' T" ^"^'' 
 one in wlioin 1 was interested U r '' "'" ""'y 
 
 ingenious CWco were vouut id t \ T' '"" "'"'""'-'• "'« 
 - whether brown or hhsn'.H ";'''' 1""' '"'• "'^ ='^-'oot, 
 observations were let^L I^^ ^ r "au. T""'' -"■^' 
 Pelled to let none escape ,ne ' "'" «"'■'- 
 
 aftt' a"'fe;';:^:;,,'r i'f:vri;i;Ti "> '■■ " ''™ = - -" "-. 
 
 were fellows w ose e,S , r i ,;; "'" "' "'^'"'=«"- ■''"<■>■« 
 loose-coated tlgures,':,,',"? aZ^^'o™'.'! "aS'™? "" T?^' 
 many of them with pistols at theh-^ i n '"'"'S-whips, 
 
 wearing swords, pariliug tr^o d ^on" v l'' "'," ""r"-" °'' '"o 
 not the aceomnai iinp„t Tp i '^ ""''-'• '* "eeded 
 
 ters, aud caver" .rliXtX; rt"™' .'""^'"'■^' ^^'■ 
 "ity whieh, in every land ol the O M r n"'"', '° " ''•■■'"''- 
 
 a prescriptive claim' to kLtry °lt W, a""! '^nf"''' '"'' 
 natives of the TJnifp,i Qfnf -»■ luouga all of them were 
 
 complexions, deep ™L,^'ol' "T"', " "'""■ "•■"k-Wwn 
 gestm-es, was there a, v litt Th 7 '"'""' "'"' «"ange 
 in deemi'ng so tely A rSa.on ?,"" "•'"■^'>. ^ P«-»i«' 
 hunting-ground, the life of h^, ,^'" P'a'"c and the 
 
 had im'parted i s cha, oter r f" ■";" ,"«^ "•■'"^" "f danger, 
 besides that air o s™ ': r and ll f ' ■ """ """" »•■■>'' 
 tte type of yonr tratlteEM.rho.tS'"" " "^"■"»"^ 
 
 -^c;^inSyZv:'l;;;di^r:',^;r":! •"■■""'*- -"j-'. > 
 of this pecuiiai CI.;:,' : 2 'u thrf ;"f "■'" *""-» 
 
 form one of "the brotherhoT;,! " . . " ■"'' '"= "^ 'ot to 
 f-ply interested i„ d^e ^ ; . ^j .'''r, ';;;;«'"^ were too 
 
 .he carelc. indoleut foo, o^rpa^r^-^',; ■:' 
 
"ON BOARD OF THE ' CHRISTOBAL.' " 279 
 
 leautiluly eal,„ and mild, a,i<l, altl.ouoh withou . nmo Z 
 sky sparkled with a thousand stars manv of I ^ ' 
 
 ;;f;i.^a„a „,„.,„, .„ ,,.„„, ,„„-,-■ o1 i^t aZ! 
 
 The throb of the great sea monster as she cleared her w.„. 
 .ough the water, was the only sound heard in toi „ s • 
 
 the deck e.ther snroked in silence, or talked in' low, i.^diSl^t 
 
 I lay gazing at the heavens, and wondering within mvself 
 
 Pi .! ! "^^ " * '"^"^^^^' ^^ '' ^'^'-^ thai little sly-look nc 
 fellow that winks at me from the ed^^e of yonder cloud and 
 seems to say^ Lie still, Con, -keep close my lad tt^'s 
 
 anger near."' As I half-muttered this to my' f', a ark 
 object mtervened between me and the sky, a lar^e bkck disk 
 
 brnnrM? "• A ^ ^°°^'''^ ''^^aiu, I saw it was the hu..e 
 broad-brimmed hat of a Padre, -one of those felted coal! 
 
 Lying down in the bottom of the boat, I was able to take a 
 deliberate survey of the priest's features, while he could 
 barely detect the dark outline of my figure. He was thick 
 and swarthy, with jet-black eyes and I long-po nTed n 
 rbere was something Spanish in the face, al^M^t n or of 
 
 iaun ho,V •'^\'r'^'"P^"J^^^^^"««^-^--^-^ 
 gaunt, hollow cheeks favored that suspicion. 
 
 perceive ^1;^'"' "' I'"' '^ '''^"^ ^''^'^^ ^' "^«' ^ ^^uld 
 Sv w ; ' "'i "'i',' ^'''''' •- ''"1'"'^^' ^'"t that his cu- 
 nosity was considerable. This impression was scarcely 
 conceived ere proved, as, taking a small lar.tern from the 
 bmnaclo, he approached the boat, and h, '.f it over me 
 
280 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 Affecting a heavy slumber, I snored loudlv on^ u 
 feetly .til,, ^ile he exa.nin;i ., f^:^, 2^ ^ 'nL Z 
 lay and .narking each detail of ,ny dress and appearlnee 
 
 As f turning m my sleep, 1 contrived to alter my position 
 
 in such a manner that, covering n.y face with nfv a^m I 
 
 could watch the Padre. ^ "' ^ 
 
 " Came on board alone, said you? " asked he of a little 
 
 dirty urchin of a cabin-boy, at his side. "'' 
 
 " 1 cs P ather ; about tw(. hours before we left the harbor." 
 
 No luggage of any kind ? " 
 
 ^^'^; A bundle, Father; that under his head, and nothing 
 
 II Did he speak to you, or ask any questions?" 
 
 ^W}^tX^\''^''^' ^''"' ''" '^'^"'^^ '•^'^^'^ Houston, and if the 
 White Hart was near the Quay? " > « " toe 
 
 II And then he lay down in the boat here? " 
 " Just so ; I saw no more of him after " 
 
 the'b^';:' ""' '"'" '"' *'^ ""'^'^'^ ^-d"^g the lantern to 
 
 That will do ! thought I also. Master Chico, if you know 
 me, I know >fou as well ! ^ ^ 
 
 The game was now begun between us, _ at least, so I felt 
 It. I lay watching my adversary, who slowly paced back- 
 wards and forwards, stopping now and the/ to pe pinto 
 
 X'Tiz^'^^''-' -^-'-^ -- ^« ^^« ownS^;;: 
 
 nt7r.r'V^ ^^"?, '^"^^ passengers and take in some wood 
 at a little place called Fork Island ; and here I was Zt deter 
 
 Chico had discovered me, was clear, the Padre could be 
 "0 other than him; and that he would inevitablv hunt mp 
 down at Austin was no less evident. Now dtov ry and 
 
 lynching" were but links of the same chain; and I had no 
 fancy to figure as " No. 2 " in Hall's Court ' 
 
 The silence on the deck soon showed that most of the 
 passengers had gone below, and, so far as I could see b the 
 uncertain ahf upi,;„^.. ,„•„. ,, , ^.^um aee in lue 
 
 uncertain light, '" Chico" with them. 
 
 arose, therefore, 
 
 from „y hard eoueb to ta,« a m; e^;™:; ^ ."^ 
 begun to fall, which made the deck slippery aad uucomfort- 
 
"ON BOARD OF THE ' CHRI8TOBAL ' " 281 
 
 »aw, to invite co„v" J;";;!. '"'' " "'"'= »k...,„,«M„g, as I 
 
 sec^'J'olf oTh,'™"'' '"""^ " '<""« "f <««eomfort at tl,e per- 
 secut.on of tins ,„a„'» ,,i-™ci,ci., ,na,l,. m» si.,|, heaviiv r 
 
 a,:;! srr'™' " "■^•■-'^' "■" •- -■»*«• rt iidt,/ 
 
 of hUluTalter.""'' *''"'^;' ""^''"'y "y "y '-P-™ 
 
 "litter of hk!;,L' '"',°'' """'"'" ' ^•'''^' a twi, kliug 
 
 sumed a more darino- tnr.^ .. t "^ ' —"ere I as- 
 
 that ! " ^ "~ ^ ™"'* "^^ clespoud, for all 
 
 -Z7l'y T'^^^ ?' ^ 'P^'^"' ^""^' '"^t^"'"^' ^''^t down near the 
 follow '"''^''"''- ^ J"^'=«l ^'^^^t the Padre wonlT oou 
 
 f:S :rh::;^\? ™sie/ ^- -^ "^-^ --^ 
 
 "I see," said he, in a mild voice, — '« I see from th« 
 respect of your manner, that you 'are one of our own 
 
 ■f 
 
282 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 people, — a good son of the rhnrnh wi * • 
 
 country?" t^Uuieli. What is your native 
 
 ;; I't r^^' r^'*'^'''" ^'^'^^ ^' ^^^h a sigh. 
 
 'A blessed land indeed ' " so;,i i..> > • ■ 
 
 its peaceful inin.bitan r-LinZ n^ind ?""'f^ ' /' ^^^PP^ '" 
 I assentp/ HI- , ^""l''^-'»'"^lt;d and industrious ' " 
 
 tbatr : ;;; : :cr^' 'rt!'!"'' '"" -'^™' -•^givings 
 
 of our good gilts ^ "'■>' '" """"'" ='='^"01, 
 
 credU?^,. ;;•■""'• """ "' ^'^"^ '»■ ■""-«•>■ givea them 
 "Ab, my son, tiiei-e you are in error. Tlie OM \v ,a 
 may be, and indeed ] liave heard tint if i= "''''' 
 
 its prejudiees cannot eross the ocean V°*'"°''""".' ''"' 
 -en, not hy „„■ prejudice., ta br "^V fitr !^T 
 recogu„e the Irishman as Nature has made hta doei7; 
 
 rots r'psr 'f "■■'" ^ ''"'^ '» -=- - - rs 
 
 does not kno„- a wile or a str."tagem ■'" ' "" ''™""''' """ 
 
 The pr.est seemed so captivated by mv natriotisn, ,nrl ™ 
 generous warmth that be sat down beside me aT^ ^ 
 .n,ued to make Ireland still our theme thvy^^g "th'the" 
 other who could say most in praise of that couury*^ ^^ 
 
 It was at the close of a somewhat lono disouisi'fion 
 
 the comparative merits of Ireland and the" oZaX X" 
 - m wbteh I am bound to say, the balance inc i ncd ^2 
 
 " You are the very Jrst of your nation I ever met in ., 
 frame ol m,nd disposed to melancholy! I ha -e i^s^ been 
 runnmg over to myself, all the Irishmen I ever knw and 
 
 "Nor had I, Father," said I, with emotion; "nor did I 
 htaited and happy, the world went well with me, and I ™ 
 
 ,„-e->r^nr- 
 
our native 
 
 " '^^PPy iu 
 istrious ! " 
 nisgivings 
 ■ selection 
 
 iumed he, 
 ^era. All 
 
 ves them 
 
 Id World 
 •ous; but 
 estimate 
 Here we 
 — docile, 
 'er ready 
 
 ithusias- 
 ure that 
 
 and my 
 we con- 
 ivith the 
 
 n upon 
 ' Eden, 
 '■ to the 
 lought, 
 
 3t in a 
 
 t been 
 
 and I 
 
 sorrow 
 
 did I 
 liglit- 
 I waa 
 
 "ON BOAKD OF THK 'CIIRISTOBAL.' " 283 
 
 content with the wm-iri r -n 
 
 story; enou -h vlu r ,. , "''^ ^'"''"^^^ ^^^ ^'^h my 
 
 taste for^v nt . ., ^ "'■ ' "^'"^ "^^''^^'^^^ ^o indulge a 
 
 little too freelv -.n ..J ^^Pemtions. If i spem money a 
 was t:.e a.-k 4 lo S ^^-m ' the governor ' 
 
 son, perhan „s H . '^"' .'"^' ''"'■'^'^"- ^» ^"'7 
 
 ever." i»«-se tnnigs.^ I ^^ave done with them for- 
 
 " Nay, nay, yon must not o-ive wav fhn« Tf • 
 
 dav> Whnf n ]•«/ "^ ^^**^ "^^ to-morrow or next 
 
 qnes«on then- " °""' "'""■" ^''°""' "^ve to give yo,^' 
 
 ..Ilpi,;: t '",;;»;rt:'i^- '-- .~o™ ™y hps.- .aw i, 
 
 have a heavy ertae here- t Je "1^1! T''""- " ^ 
 
 may be that a mere word Z ^1 ^ ^"""^ ^^^'^- ^^ 
 and calm." "^ ""^ '^'''^ «^" give you courage 
 
 "That cannot be," said I firmly, u 
 but yo„ know not wha you p"^^," ^°" T''' '"'""^'"■''• 
 Father, -I am under a vow " "■" "°''«' '> ™'^' 
 
 ar:vr;i';,7eS;:ir:/:?,s™Tft""'- ^■■"^ 
 
 " Mine is none of these "saWry.'h^ abstmence _ •' 
 
 ■'it» 
 
 ^R<%i >s.1 
 
 J'f* 
 
284 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "Not that, not that either!" cried T- fhn« a 
 my voice to a low whisper I said -il ' ' ^''^PP'^g 
 
 sL^rrL^rr' "■- --=--::"- 
 
 ueroie me, 1 see all the consequences, both here and hp.P 
 
 mine, of whoselS at 1„! f'^' ""'^'^ ''"'' " '"»<» »' 
 
 keeping with his costume. '"'^ "^' ^"'^^ ^" 
 
 ;; The same J you are, then, acquainted with him?" 
 
 "I cannot say I did." 
 !! ?^.f ""^ed a key-bugle in his hand." 
 1 did not perceive him." 
 
 "That was me; how different was I then' Well wpII 
 I 11 hasten on. We arrived it TC««. o i ' ' ^®"' 
 
 mined whither next we h^Id ben^ ^ 'T' "'* ^"^'^ ^''''■ 
 by mere accident of this T 4n tedlii ''' ^^^''^^ 
 our heads we would ioin it n ^""P^.^ *'^»' ^^« took it into 
 we found that a lottP, V • " '"'^""'"» ^^^"* ^he matter, 
 
» dropping 
 li a. Solemn 
 of wbaf is 
 
 and bere- 
 > oath with 
 
 — I'll go 
 
 re; "you 
 
 ledge, ere 
 
 I, wring- 
 ^u are the 
 vv Orleans 
 friend of 
 I'd, — Sir 
 
 y,' " said 
 quite iu 
 
 arf when 
 
 a forag- 
 
 11, well, 
 e detei-- 
 hearius: 
 : it into 
 matter, 
 f which 
 iggage, 
 Q — we 
 ler, the 
 ' to the 
 ber of 
 er and 
 iations 
 
 "ON BOARD OF THE .CUBISTOBAL.- OgS 
 
 ailmissk,,, into a kind of H„ ! t , , ™' "«-' obtained 
 
 «» town, and .m,i;:!.t't;L!^:^,;t ■':,;'';''''-''- Pa,t of 
 When too late for -.nw .» ='-"^'••'0 lepan-ed every evenin-r 
 
 - - lea. tu^-Lf^i;:;";: si-rL::;?,, .]:"^''--« »"' 
 
 tious; and the conversatir.n ,..,;, ^'^''^^» expedi- 
 
 wi.at concerned the'e Cs L if /]"^ '^'" ^"''"^ '^-^ 
 "otions were shoekc-d at tl d im' ff ''' '"■'' ^"'' ^^'^ "^^^vM 
 
 came by degrees to f.-ol H.. ! .. *'^'^^' «vniced,— we 
 
 permitted u.lu.y t int ,S we' """^ ^'"'^ '^^ ^^« ^^^'-^ 
 cultivated latitudes ""''' "'^'^'' ^^^"^'tioued in more 
 
 outrageous for Lis' noti '^ "' '« " ^"^^^'-^^ned, and too 
 
 made me a convert to ,i^ n '• *""" ^'^ ^'^^^ '*' ^e soon 
 was, 'Be as virtu, s s vou 1?"" ''!^ ^^'"^^"* «P«-^ 
 ladies and gentlenK.. b t p ' "^^4?;^ ^^'^ ^^^"-^'' --ng 
 and half-breeds with hei own* ^ <^'>octHws, Pawnees, 
 tHek or a tomahawk ' I nevli ??,"'' 7'''"'' "''^ ^^^^^'^ ^ 
 f'-om daily iteration narthftl the theory; but partly 
 
 position, and in ^".;t^n^l ? " ' ^/'' ^""= P''-"^"^ of dis- 
 gave way, and jol "l lln i !, T 7J ''"'""^ ^"^^ ''^ ^ 
 through with anythi J he x n d f f '^ ^ '^'' ^^' ^''^^^^' ^^^ &« 
 brief; that light^^oml^r t on Fo "r TT"^' ^ "^"^* ^e 
 to take in wood; and ere werpn \ t"'^' ^'^^^'^ ^^ «top 
 °^ind to one course or othlr ''' ' '"""^^ "^''^^'^ "P 4 
 
 ^l;«cussion; and we heard of nothinrb, ?' ^^ "^^■^">' 
 
 where grass was to be found for thl^ .?, ^"''^'' ^"*^ t'''-^^'^' 
 could be had, with significant lint. I''' ""^^ ''''''' ^'^^er 
 people who were kno;n or bel ev d toTe " •'"" ^''^^^^ "^^ 
 excursions. Thus, on the mZ^ f "™'''^' ^'' ^hese 
 
 which might be purundern'TT'"^'^''^"^''*^^»^-illages 
 
 houseswhlchshouk ben Idet '"'"."' "^' ^^^^^'^ »^^- 
 
 i-asaconventtob^;s:iri:::rs.^^:r^=^^i 
 
 I," 
 
 Jill 
 
 ; f. 
 
 k 
 
28G 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CRKGAN. 
 
 to be burued ! In fact, the expedition seemed to have as 
 many vengeances to t'ullil as hopes of gain to gratify ; for 
 each had a friend wlio was maltreated, or robbed, or mur- 
 dered, and whose fate or fortunes required an expiation. — 
 But I weary you. Padre, with all this?" 
 
 " Not at all, my son ; I recognize perfectly the accuracy 
 of your account. I have heard a good deal about these 
 people." 
 
 " There was one individual, however, so universally de- 
 tested that you would suppose he nuist have been a kind of 
 devil incarnate to have incurred such general hate. Every 
 one had a grudge against him, and, in fact, there was a kind 
 of struggle who should be allotted to wreak on him the com- 
 mon vengeance of the company. It was at last decided that 
 his fate should be lotteried, and that whoever won the first 
 prize — this mare of which you may have heard — should 
 also win the right to finish this wretched man. I gained 
 this infamous distinction; and here am I, on my way to 
 claim my prize and commit a murder ! Ay, I may as well 
 employ the true word, — it is nothing less than a murder ! I 
 have not even the poor excuse of revenge. I cannot pretend 
 that he ever injured me, — nay, I have not even seen him ; I 
 never heard of his name till two days ago ; nor, even now, 
 could I succeed in finding him out, if I were not provided with 
 certain clews at Houston, and certain guides by whose aid I 
 am to track him. My oath is pledged : I swore it solemnly 
 that, if the lot fell upon me, I 'd do the deed, and do it I 
 will; yet, I am equally resolved never to survive it." — 
 Here I produced my revolver. — "If this barrel be for the 
 unlucky Chico, this other is for myself ! " 
 
 "What name did you say?" cried he, with a faltering 
 voice, while his hand, as he laid it on my arm, shook like 
 
 ague. 
 
 " Chico, the wretch is called," I said, fixing a cap on my 
 pistol. 
 
 "And why call him a wretch, my son? Has he ever 
 injured you ? How do you know that he is not some poor, 
 kindly hearted creature, the father of five children, one of 
 them a baby, perhaps? How can you tell the difficulties by 
 which he gains his living, and the hazard to which he exposes 
 
"ON BOARD OV THE ' CIIRISTOBAL.' " 
 
 287 
 
 his life in doing so? And is it to injure such a man you will 
 
 go down to your own grave an assaH.sin? " 
 
 " I'll do it," said I, doggedly ; " I '11 keep my oath." 
 "Such an oath never bound any man; it is a snare of 
 
 Satan." 
 
 " So it may, — I '11 keep it," said I, beating the deck with 
 my foot, witli the dogged determination of one not to be 
 turned from his puri)o,se. 
 
 " Kill ill cold blo(jd a man you never saw before?" 
 
 " Just so; I am not going to think of fiit)i, when I set so 
 little store by myself; I only wish the fellow were here 
 now, and I'd show you whether I'd falter or not." 
 
 "Poor Chico, — I could weep for him!" said he, blub- 
 bering. 
 
 " Keep your pity for we," said I, — " /, that am bound by 
 this terrible oath, and must either stamp myself a coward or 
 a murderer. As for Chico, I believe a more worthless wretch 
 never existed, a poor, mean-spirited creature, Avhose trade 
 is to be a spy, and by whose cursed machinations many a 
 fine fellow has been ruined." 
 
 "You are all wrong, sir," said the Padre, warmly. "I 
 know the man myself ; he is an amiable, kind-hearted being, 
 that never harmed any one." 
 
 " He 's the fellow to die, then ! " said I, roughly. 
 
 "He has a small family, unprovided for." 
 
 "They have the inheritance of his virtues," said I, 
 scollingly. 
 
 "Can you have the heart for such cruelty?" cried he, 
 almost sobbing. 
 
 " Come with me when I land at Houston, and see, — that's 
 all ! " said I. "A few minutes back, I was hesitating whether 
 I would not land at this island and abandon my purpose. 
 The weakness is now over ; I feel a kind of fiendish spirit 
 growing up within me already ; I cannot think of the fellow 
 without a sense of loathing and hatred ! " 
 
 "Lie down, my son, and compose yourself for an hour or 
 two; sleep and rest will calm your agitated brain, and you 
 will then listen to my counsels with profit : your present 
 excitement overmasters your reason, and my words would 
 be of no effect." 
 
 " I know it — I feel it here, across my temples — that it 
 
 'I ur 
 
 uf 
 
288 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 tif 
 
 1:1 it 
 
 IS a kUu\ of pat xysm; but I u.ver closp my eyes that I 
 do not fnf.ey I see tlie fellow, now in one ^Iwipe, now in 
 another, for Jj rlln assuino a thousand disgw^^s; whilo in 
 my ears hi.s accursed imnio is always rin^nii<r." 
 
 "I pity you from ray heart!" said "tht" other ; and oer- 
 tanily a sadder expression I never saw in any human face 
 before. '' lint go down bolow ; go down, I bi'sccch you." 
 
 "I have only taken a deek-passa-^'o," snid I, d,„r,ro(lly • 
 
 " I determined that I would see no one, speak to no one." ' 
 
 "Nor need you, my son," said he, eoaxingly. '• Tliey 
 
 are all sound asleep in the after-eabhi; take w// berth, — I 
 
 do not want it; I am always better upon deck." 
 
 _ " If you will have it so," said 1, yielding; '' but, for your 
 
 life, not a woni of what I have said to you ! Do not deceive 
 
 youi-self by any fain- idea of humanity. Were you to shoot 
 
 me where I stand, you could not save /um, — /tis doom is 
 
 spoJ n. If /fail, thei-e is Bruughton, and, after him, a score 
 
 or Qi.ers, sworn to do the work." 
 
 " Lie down and calm yourself," said he, leadimr me to the 
 companion-ladder; " we must speak of this to-iu' rrow." 
 
 I squeezed his hand, and slowly descended to the cabin. 
 At first the thought occurred to me that he might give the 
 alarm and have me seized; but then this would" expose him 
 so palpal)ly to my recognition, should 1 chance to escape, it 
 was unlikely he would do so. The stillness on deck showed 
 me I was correct in this latter estimate, and so I turned into 
 his comfortable berth, and, while I drew the counterpane 
 over me, thouglit f had made a capital exchange for the hard 
 ribs of the " long-boat." 
 
 If my stratagem had succeeded in impressing my friend 
 Chico with a most lively fear, it did not leave my own mind 
 at perfect tranquillity. I knew that he nuist be a fellow of 
 infinite resources, and that the game between us, in all like- 
 lihood, had but commenced. In circumstances of dilllculty, 
 I have constantly i^ade a practice of changing places with 
 my antagonist, fanc^ -vr myself in his position, and askin<T 
 myself how I shou!<l '■■ This taking the "adversary's 
 hand" is admirable prat, o in the game of life; it suggests 
 an immense range of i;u;nU .f.nons, and iv.proves onc's^play 
 prodigiously. 
 
 I now began to myself a little exercise after this fashion; 
 
 L 
 
I 
 
 "ON BOAUD OF Till.; • CIIRISTORAT •" 289 
 
 l.Mt what botwoon previous futi;r„e, the warmth of the cabin, 
 ami tl.. luxury <,t a r.al be.l, Cl,i,.o and I ..huugecl pla.v. so 
 
 r ' 'u ' """'"' «'^'^'P'-«'' ^''U.Kl that 1 was only 
 
 I did as lie .ulvi...,l; and, as I rubbed the sle»>„ from mv 
 eyo^^a..!. ^^ Where 's the Padre, steward > - .ullZZ 
 
 -He was took ill last ni.ht, and stopped at Fork Island- 
 
 he 11 go Imek with us to-.norrow to (ialveston " ' 
 
 "\ou know him, I .suppose?" said I, K.oking at the 
 
 " Well," cried he, scatching his head, '• well, mavhan I 
 do guess a bit who he is." ' '"">^^^P ^ 
 
 .J-'^idY'v^ro''! ' r""r"'"^ "^' '""^ ^^'""' '-'" know 
 
 T; thP f n' "^ '"^■'' '"'l'"'^'"^' Htern.iess that I 
 
 saw the tellow was reeoid ng it '^ Voii „>.,v f ii i • 
 
 stew'inl I'll ,v..;f <• i- ' '"''> b'll him so, 
 
 siewaic. I 11 nait for hun here till I catch l.im • .,.,,1 if i.I 
 
 for." 'autipci man l give h.m credit 
 
 As I was about to leave the cabin, I cau'-ht si.rht of fh« 
 
 » 0, as ,,„e8te „.a,- a R<„„,„|, ,„i„^a, a string of brad, 
 Tiltt," • " "'""'""" '"■*'- "f <"■«-. and eigW d„lla,rto 
 
 "Which [3 the White Han?" said I, as I came on deek 
 now crowded with shore folk, peters, and waiS. '"*' 
 
 Ihis way, sir, — follow mp '' aaid n «ni-,- f" 
 waiters dre.; and I handed hi™ .nybuLrind t^^e^",,: 
 
 TOL. :. — 19 
 
 1^ 
 
 '1 
 
 1' 
 
 
 
 
 
 •1* 
 
 I'M M 
 
THE LOGi-ll'JT AT BRAZOS. 
 
 1 u , . ^^^ ^^^ impatience to see my prize • and 
 ficurcely had I entered flm im, +i>r,., i i i"'^^«, aim 
 
 «t..ii 1 «"ieieu tne inn tlian I passed out nto the 
 
 ^.table-yard, now crowded witli many of those equestrian 
 lookmg i^ouros I had seen on board^he steamer' 
 
 Butchers mare here still, Georgie?" said a hucrg fellow 
 with high boots of red-brown leather, and a sLepS 
 capote belted round him with a red sash. ^^^^P^'^"! 
 
 "Yes, Master Seth, there she stands. You'll be ^ettincr 
 a bargain of her, one of these days." ^ ° 
 
 " If I had her up at Austin next week for the fair she M 
 brmg a few hundred dollars." ' 
 
 Setl'J"'sa!d'Tr' f "',' "^ ''"^"" " ^'''''^'^' that at Austin, 
 oein.'' said a bystander. 
 
 and ^^. """*•, -^^^^^^ ^■'''"'^ ^ '•' '^'''"«- ^''' "^to the States, 
 and see her claimed in every town of the Union? Whv 
 
 man, she s been stolen once a month, that mare has, since 
 
 she was a two-year-old. I knew an old general up in the 
 
 Maine frontier had her last year; and he rid her awav from 
 
 a stump meeting ' m Vermont, i. change of his own mule, - 
 
 
THE LOG-IIUT AT BRAZOS. 291 
 
 SrT^-"'"'"' ^''""''''^ ^^^ '^'^'' till he was nigh home 
 btainecl hei off fore-leg white, and sold her back as n n«,^ 
 one, to the fellow who returned her for la nenes^ and sh 
 can pretend lameness, she can." ' ^^"^ 
 
 " Well, 1 '11 lay fifty dollars with any gentleman here that 
 bid S:;. '"'"' '^" ''^ ^'^''^ ''''' ^^^"^' --" -and, just Is I 
 
 Nobody seemed to fancy this wa^er- and Spti, a.,i « i 
 with having es-Mished hisVeracitvt'^vve.'.t on - ' "'' 
 
 ;' ^ou 've but to touch the coronet of the off-foot with thp 
 pon.t of your bowie, -a mere touch, not draf blood?- 2^ 
 see If she won't come out limping on the toe, all a one as 
 
 mfr hamf si:"' " 'n^ "f " ^"'"^' '"^' ^^^ ^ ^'^ ^'^^ -i h 
 3 our hand -she s all right again! It was Wreckslev of 
 
 Ohio taught her the trick ; he used to lame her thlt way 
 
 and buy her in, wherever he found her " ^' 
 
 " Wiio 's won her this time? " cried another. 
 
 cane anT^irr ''"'"'" ""''} ^' ''^^^^^""" "'^ ^^^^ ^'^'^ ^Y 
 cane, and affecting a very knowing air as I spoke The 
 
 d^^'Sice""""' """' "^' '''''''''' '"^ Bome^econds i^ 
 
 col^^t^otir^'"' '^ '''' '"'' ''"" '""• " '''''' ^"^' '^'' 
 
 another.' ^' '"''*' ""' ^'"*'' '''""^' *^ ''" ^^^'''" «^"^«^ '"^ 
 "He's goin' to ax me three hundred dollars," said a 
 
 hundi'ed.' ' " ' "=""' '^ ^'' ^"'" "^ '-- t^- t- 
 
 "You are all wrong, every man of you," said S^th 
 
 interest in my concern,^ I ,„ay mention that I shall want a 
 hack for „,y servaufs riding, _ a short-iegged, squar -jofnted 
 tbmg, clever to go, and a good fee.ior, not much above four- 
 
 i ■ 
 
 If'JK^i ' I 
 
 ' f', 
 
 rt'Si 
 
292 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 teen hands in height, or four hundred dnlin... • 
 you chance upon this - " ''"'''' '° P''^^^. If 
 
 " I know your mark." 
 
 ,j.;/">' '■'"'"' """' '"<' «ll.eye. Yo,, don't mM a wall- 
 
 lookl^.l','.;'' "^ ""^'^ "°">- --'« «"> 'Wng tie genf. a 
 "I say it's nothing life, it," |„,„|„ j,, j^ ,, 
 
 mark?" oupuunaei. An t I near the 
 
 " -IV?! ' ''"" ^ '" -'^"''*"' "<'■'" week." 
 
 iK-nv-t-ie;,":;:: . '"" '"'"" - •'-' «" >- -<= ™y wack 
 
 ■■ Nor the ma„ eol,," shouted another. 
 
 «H.'M:;t::^a;^::.:7i^,-s,«''•:;■^™M.en. 
 
 -k for Scth Chiscllor, anc, tlley •„',«*",„, „},?' ^'^ ""'^ '" 
 
 go? •- :.;i.":v;?t";e'os;,er " -^ ■""""«■••' ™- ="<>- « 
 
 fcedin- ti,ne in-n.el'f, to Z CZ, " "" ""'' "■" "°™- - 
 
 der:'»:„::t:rr^r'*r;„f':'™"""-"»'»- 
 
 wl.at I had heard, a,„I ,0 Je,' 1' till'™ "■"""" ''^"'''• 
 
 ;;...,..rdh„deda„ysnspie^T::Jtdi:rr:ir:[ 
 
 '■y.« in his he,ad ami In™ •' , '"?" '""" '""" '»'""•«" 
 «l.o>v3 'em a ho ; I I'-r^n '" ""^^ """ fr™' too, that 
 
 gi' '.". a blood spiv , ■ .r^; .,'";' ?•■'■* •' ," ""'^' """"' 
 your tieket, .yonni ,„asi:r, ' „ ' ' 1 1,„?C O, '"''^ ^°" 
 thafs her name." -^ " Charcoal,-^ 
 
THE LOG-HUT AT BRAZOS. 
 
 293 
 
 (( 
 
 ve h-u-rr^''" 'T''' '\' '° '^^"'' ' ""'y ^^'-'^"t to know that 
 SKle. 1 e 11 see her when she comes out " 
 
 leadtrf ;!n '^' ''''fT ^' '^'""'''^ "^^^ ^"^^ re-appeared, 
 taduio a t^all nuire, fully sixteen hands hioh, and b ack as 
 
 inT wi on 'l,V "° ,""/^' '"''^'•'^■^ ^'^ ^'^''■- «'>« ^^''^« ^"'-^t- 
 
294 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CUEGAN 
 
 gal with anlcle. like .e,„, a>KU„„k a t e • yl":!,: 
 
 a-made for sittin' onV" ' "^'^- ^^" * she 
 
 Ibe only fault she Las," said he, shakin-^ his head- 
 
 "Her late master was unhicky, I've heard" ^nui i 
 insinuatingly. J» -^ >t' neaui, said 1, 
 
 "He was so far unlucky that he couldn't sit hia i..„ . 
 over a tori.nt and a down iLp. He w";!;! Id her n'^d 
 she won bear it at a spring, and so she fl.ng him befo 'e s e 
 took tlie leap; and when sJ.e lit, 'totlier sid^ with her head 
 high and her hind legs under her, /.c was a si tin' with hi 'n 
 under his arm, and his neck bruck, - tluat was the way o' it 
 See now, master, if ever ye do want a groat streak out of 
 her, leave the head free a bit, press her wi' your calves ai^d 
 
 _ The ostler found me a willing listener, either when dwell 
 mg on the anhnal's perfections, or snggestino. h 's forh"; 
 future management; and when at last botir these heme! 
 were tolerably exhausted, he proceeded to show me tL 
 horse-gear o saddle, and bridle, and halter, and ho te 
 all handsomely finished in Mexican taste, and studded vih 
 brass nails m various gay devices. At last he oduc 
 he rifle, -a regular Kentucky one, of Colt's makin.r-- nd 
 what he considered a still greater prize, a bell-moutl^d th n^ 
 half horse-pistol, half blunderbuss, which he called ': 
 almighty fine ' Harper's Ferrv too] ' thit woni ti ., • 
 
 Kiiiio+a fK u , •' ' "^^ wouia throw thirty 
 
 bullets through an oak panel two inches thick." ^ 
 
THE LOG-HUT AT BRAZOS. 
 
 295 
 
 Lke?" said 
 er to inovo 
 !ii'!v round 
 5I10VV me a 
 Au't she 
 
 8 in every 
 ihe would 
 ► much of 
 
 Jis head ; 
 ernally a 
 a hold in' 
 it reg'lar 
 ler equal 
 
 said 1, 
 
 iis beast 
 V in, and 
 ifore she 
 her head 
 ith his 'u 
 ay o' it. 
 i out of 
 res, and 
 u chap ; 
 
 a dwell- 
 
 for her 
 
 themes 
 me the 
 olsters, 
 ed with 
 oduced 
 — and 
 1 thing 
 3d "a 
 
 thirty 
 
 It was evident that he looked upon the whole equipment 
 as wortliy of the most exalted possession, and he .razed on 
 me as one wiiose lot was indeed to be envied. 
 
 " Seth and the others leave this to-morrow a'ternoon," said 
 lie; " but il ye be a-goin' to Austin, where the ' Spedeshin' 
 puts ni), take my advice, and get away before 'em. You 've 
 a hne road,— no trouble to find the way; your beast will 
 carry you forty, fifty, if you want it, sixty, miles between 
 sunrise and ' down ; ' and you'll be snug over the journey 
 before they reach Killian's Mill, the half-way. An' if ye 
 want to know why 1 say so, it's just because that's too 
 good a beast to tempt a tramper svi', and them's all 
 trampers ! " 
 
 I gave the ostler a dollar for all his information and 
 civility, and re-entered the inn to have my supper. The 
 cap'n had already returned home, and after verifying my 
 ticket, took my receipt for the mare, which I gave in all 
 form, writing my name, " Con Cregan," as though it were to 
 a check for a thousand pounds. 
 
 I supped comfortably, and then walked out to the stable 
 to see Charcoal. " Get her corn ; you '11 see if she don't 
 eat It in less than winkin'," said the ostler ; '• and if she wor 
 my beast, she 'd never taste another feed till she had her 
 nose in the manger at Croft's Galley." 
 " And where is Croft's Gulley ? " 
 
 "It's the bottoms after you pass the larch wood; the 
 road dips a bit, and is heavy there, and it's a good baitin' 
 place, just eighteen miles from here." 
 " On the road to Austin? " 
 
 He^ nodded. "Ye see," he said, " the moon 's a risin' • 
 there s no one out this time. Ye know what I said afore." ' 
 "I'll take the advice, then. Get the traps ready; I'll 
 pack the saddle-bags and set out." 
 
 If any one had asked me why I was in such haste to 
 reach Austin, my answer would have been, "To join the 
 expedition ; " and if interrogated, " AVith what object then? " 
 I should have been utterly dumbfoundered. Little as I 
 knew of its intentions, they must all have been above the 
 range of my ability and means to participate in. True, I 
 had a horse and a rifle ; but there was the end of my worldly 
 
 'k 
 
 
296 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAxV. 
 
 or litigation. A kind ot vague notion possessed me tint 
 
 trused t7tI.J'7 ^r.'^ "'^^'"^^ ^ responsible situation. I 
 t usted to the "making n.yself genenilly useful" cate-^orv 
 for employment, and to a ready-wittedness never ov^nZa 
 nor restranied by the petty pivjudiees of a conscience. ' 
 Ihe love of enterprise and adventure is consnieuon. 
 
 Nelopmg a W ellesley or a Captain lioek. Peninsul'ir ..lorie. 
 and pi-edial outrage have just the same one o " 1^ ove 
 o distinction, and a craving desire for the e!.joyme^ o 
 that most fascinating of all excitements, - whateiei- peril 
 
 Without this element, pleasure soon palls- without fl.o 
 
 be mere galloping; a review might vie with a In.tlp jf 
 they fire blank cartridge in both! Who'J dimb tt Pet 
 
 not'th'r^' i'' "P'^"' ''''''''" ^' ^'--^ J^l--. it we 
 
 ot that a false step or a totter would send h ni dmvrn ' 
 thousand fathoms into the deep eoro-e below 'v T 
 ..ide-a„d.,eek with Dea.h .eeZ ^tn^l;J^^'Z 
 .s very possibly the attraction some folks feel rphri 
 
 I shrewdly suspect this luxury of tempting, peril distin 
 
 f:T f V^wL^T ''' "'"^^ '' ''' other'anhn.^rcreat:oi; 
 ana It . e were to examine it a little, we should see that it 
 opens the way to many of his highest aspirin-^s au mo 
 
 ''DoesMrT'""- -^7; ''' ""^ ''' gentle ^"'readrk 
 hefo c cH in's- "^ i^orse-stealing in the list of these 
 
 ^a dedte ?ct of ^'^''''' ."^'^ ^' ^^^^«« "^t; he rather re- 
 pa ata the act of appropriation in the present case in the 
 light so,n ,^,^,j^ ,^^.^,^ ^^. J ^^^^^^^^ J church Iperty 
 
 --a hard necessity, but preferable to being mulct on37'' 
 With many a thought like this, I rode out into the now s lent 
 town, and took my way towards Austin 
 
 Of isolatiou is almost ove,..heI,„i;g "Tl^;^ '^;^ 
 
THE LOG-HUT AT BRAZOS. 
 
 i i 
 
 297 
 
 lasts, the stir of the busv world .mri fi.^ i. • 
 
 wi,vi nff iu ^i . "^ '^"*^' ^^^ business of life 
 
 naici ort these thou<>-its. thp nn^r^.u,, e *i 
 
 combats the,,,; b„t 'vt,, „ ' t T^ d .ll t r:';" """ 
 
 above „. the «,a,. iLat ... ,^,ve I „i ,„;,,." 1' tl' 
 
 tl e„ ook a,„u„cl and ,„a,-k tl,e featu.c „f „ „;,, ,'„";;?'„ 
 objoets wh.cb toll of anothe,. be.nispl.e.e ; a l" , ulk 
 
 tUat ,ve a,e tbei-e alone, «-itl,oi,t tie , ,■ link to , 1. 
 Ibe sensation i» tlniUins in its i„te,^,Hy """ "'' 
 
 ciat'Tl?!"? "'' "" ^ "" '""'' ''"»Sb.alive. even _ will asso- 
 
 p:^S':^i:;:,:-tnrii:':i,z-:-{i 
 
 we people vacaney, as ,ve go, with i„,ages to si,"'" in 
 
 Mi^^esrs the lo%ers walk at sunset as surely as the .In.-l- 
 grove speaks of a woodman's hut or a ^y2 ea.nn Bu; 
 abroad, the scene evokes different dwellcMN tL c^ ^ "* 
 
 gests the b..iga,,,,, the thick j,.ngL;':h:';;;;;':,^-'-^ 
 
 to see, is highly exciting; it is Uk; taking ",0.-^^' 
 
 nenee or to move on among that vulo-a, herd who a L X 
 spectators of life, but never its conspicuous actois I "eallv 
 b lieve th.s Ignoble course was more distasteful to me f^m 
 ts flatness and insipidity than from its mere humiMtv ^ 
 
 ous r^ould have chosen peril and vicissitude any day in 
 p eferenco. Abont midni-rht I reached Croft's Pni^. 
 
 :l:,«r;;;f;',i-=;r,x;:73r??" 
 
 house ^v 
 refreshment, I could 
 
 ns shut up for the nijrht; and 
 
 not li;ive obtained it 
 
 he 
 even had I sought 
 
 '•m 
 
 ■" /l^ 
 
 ¥> -I 
 
 ^''Iki 
 
298 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 ; 
 
 After a brief halt, I again resumed the road, M'hich led 
 n-on.h a close pine forest, and, however ,n„ch praise "was 
 anythu.o. hu u good surfaee to travel or,. ChLvoal, r' 
 e er .„ade hght of s.,eh di.IleultioH, and picked her ntes 
 o^er holes and stnn.ps with the caution of a trapper, detect- 
 n.g wrU. a rare n.tinct the safe groun.l, and nevc^- v^m.ing 
 o.i spots where any dilJIculty or danger existed. I left her to 
 
 v.^i' o ; ""h V" ""■'.'^"' *" ''' ^^'''' "■''^'"^'^'^•'- -'^ «l'"'-t inter- 
 nlav^!' n r" r^^ '"tervened, she would, as if to - nnilce 
 play, as the lockeys call it, strike out in a long swingin.r 
 ca.^er '^j>ulhng up" to the walk the moment the uneven 
 suiface admonished her to caution. 
 
 As day l.roke the road improved so that I was able to 
 "sh along at a better pace, and by breakfast-time I found 
 i)>selt at a low, poor-looking log-house called "Brazos" 
 A picture representing Texas as a young child receiving 
 some admirable counsel from a very matronly lady with 
 thu-teen stars on her petticoat, tlaunte.l over the door-, with 
 the motto, " Filhd Affection, and Candy Flip at all ho-irl'' 
 
 A large, dull-eyed man, in a flannel pea-jacket and loose 
 trousers to match, was seated in a rockiLg-chair at the door' 
 smoking an enormous cigar, a little charmed circle of ex- 
 pectoration seeming to defend him from the assaults of the 
 vulgar. A huge can of cMer stood beside him, and a piece 
 of Indian corn bread. He eyed me with the coolest uncon- 
 welcome °"''^^^' ''°' '^''^ ^« ^^^w the slightest sign of 
 
 " This is an inn I believe, friend?" said I, saluting him. 
 I take It to be a hotel," said he, in a voice very like a 
 yawn. •' 
 
 " And the landlord, where is he?" 
 
 " Where he ought to be, - at his own door, a smokin' his 
 own rearm . 
 
 "Is there an ostler to be found? I want to refresh my 
 horse, and get some breakfast for myself too." 
 " There an't none." 
 "No help?" 
 *' Never was." 
 
 " That 's singular, I fancv." 
 " No, it an't." 
 
, Aviiieh led 
 raisod, was 
 I'coal, liow- 
 I liiT stops 
 )oi', detoet- 
 1" veiitiirinj]; 
 left her to 
 <liort inter- 
 to "■ iiuUve 
 !,' swiiiaiiig 
 he uneven 
 
 18 able to 
 le I found 
 'Brazos." 
 receiving- 
 lady with 
 loor, with 
 I liours." 
 and loose 
 tlie door, 
 ile of ex- 
 Its of the 
 id a piece 
 st uncon- 
 t sign of 
 
 ting him. 
 ■ry like a 
 
 okin' his 
 fresh my 
 
 TliK L()(;-Iu;t AT liKAXOS. 
 
 "Why, jvhat (lo travellers do with their cattle, then?" 
 
 Iherc hoan't none." 
 "No cattle?" 
 "No travellers." 
 
 290 
 
 m 
 
 .]Kr^^' 
 
 
 " It an't." 
 
 II Why, surely this is the road to Austin ? " 
 -It' «in t. 
 
 " Then this is not Brazos?" 
 "It be Upper Brazos." 
 
 "There are t.wo of them, then ; and the other, I suppose, 
 on the Austm road?" ffwboi 
 
 
 Mil: 
 
 m 
 
 ^ I m 
 
 ) '■: 
 
 IS 
 
 •tf'Jm 
 
300 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I ,1 
 
 i'l 
 
 He nodded. 
 
 "What a piece of business!" sighed I; "and how far 
 have I coine astray ? " 
 
 " A good bit." 
 
 " A mile or two?" 
 
 "Twenty." 
 
 " Will you be kind enough to be a little more communi- 
 cative, and just say where this road leads to ; if I oan join 
 the Austin road without turning back again ; and where?" 
 
 Had I propounded any one of these queries, it is just pos- 
 sible I might have had an answer; ))ut, in my zeal, I out- 
 witted myself. I drew my check for too large an amount, 
 and consequently was refused payment altogether. 
 
 " Well," said I, after a long and vain wait for an answer, 
 "what am I to do with my horse? There is a stable, I 
 hope ? " 
 
 "There an't," said he, with a grunt. 
 " So that I can't bait my beast? " 
 "No!" 
 
 " Bad enough ! Can I have something to eat myself, — a 
 cup of coffee — ? " 
 
 A rude burst of laughter stopped me, and the flannel man 
 actually shook with the drollery of his own thoughts. " It 
 bean't Astor House, I reckon ! " said he, wiping his eyes. 
 
 "Not very like it, certainly," said I, smiling. 
 
 " What o' that? Who says it ought to be like it? " said 
 he, and his fishy eyes flared up, and his yellow cheeks grew 
 orange with anger. " I an't very like old Hickory, I s'pose ! 
 and maybe I don't want to be ! I 'm a free Texan ! I an't 
 a nigger nor a blue-nose ! I an't one of your old country 
 slaves, that black King George's boots, and ask leave to 
 pay his taxes! I an't." 
 
 " And I," said I, assuming an imitation of his tone, for 
 experiment's sake, " I am no lazy, rocking-chair, whittling, 
 tobacco-chewing Texan ! but a traveller, able and willing to 
 pay for his accommodation, and who will have it, too ! " ° 
 
 " Will ye? Will ye, then?" cried he, springing up with 
 an agility I could not have believed possible ; while, rushing 
 into the hut, he reappeared with a long Kentucky rifle, and 
 
 a bayonet a-top of it 
 
 Ye han't long to seek yer man, if 
 
nd how far 
 
 y communi- 
 I can join 
 where?" 
 in just pos- 
 :eiil, I out- 
 m iunount, 
 er. 
 
 iin answer, 
 1 stable, I 
 
 lyself , — a 
 
 annel man 
 hts. " It 
 lis eyes. 
 
 it?" said 
 eeks grew 
 I s'pose ! 
 \ ! I an't 
 i country 
 ; leave to 
 
 tone, for 
 whittling, 
 ivilling to 
 3o!" 
 
 ? up with 
 !, rushing 
 ritie, and 
 r man, if 
 
 THE LOG-IIUT AT BRAZOS. 301 
 
 ^:JTZ'T:1^' ""'''' ^^- -^ -to the bush und 
 
 back the hanwner of his Wl ,' d -U ' InT' ""' '""^^ 
 "". ! You cau't give n,e a ea.) m v . v Ar- ' ^'^' ^^^'^^ 
 
 I usty ! " ' ' ^'^"^ • ^^''''^ a^-e '^^onsiderabi j 
 
 The request was rather singular, but --fs odrlifv 
 
 but so„,e looi r^t of- r foi't i;:,""'"'"^' ■" -«■ "<"' 
 
 out into the hL tl " ' o ;,.w ^"'V-"'"" """ '" """« 
 ought tohave forsucli a 'pTn'ose ""'"'"" " ""'"^"'"" 
 
 don't stand at four guns' lenoth - " ^ ^^ "^^ 
 
 and go my ways." " ^'' ^ " P^'^^ ^^'^ ^^ freely, 
 
 "What on airth is it, eh?" ^sniri i,« 1 .- 
 "Why, thafs „„e of Co t^n„es?vo, 4 °°- ';"',""'''• 
 <lo«'„ at two hundred vii-ch „ ,1?; -^^ .™ '""^"'^ '"" 
 
 " I know it " 1„; 1 T ,; "" "y '"""= '" Gahiiel." 
 
 the i";^: In < v™""^' • ': "?•! "^^ ■"'"■' "=» ''«"-°'' 
 
 the fellow's pasty countenance as thou.^h I could rend wt^ 
 passed m the muddy bottom of his mind. * 
 
 
 i; If 
 
( f 
 
 30i> 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "If it were not for sometl.ino of tl.is kin.l," iuMi-d I 
 ^n>''';;''''n'V"''^'""^''-'''^^'- v.... Know!.; 
 
 "The senator?" 
 
 "The same!" I made the pantomime of presentin.r a 
 p.Ht.,1 a„, thenof a man falling. u,,,,,„. \,.^ ,;.;;;;;;.; 
 
 mm t^ V^ ! 7 ';•"■":"' ""^ "" ^ ^""'^ ^'"^^" ^"t- >l^i« 
 quaiter till the smoke clearinl olV ! " 
 
 " He was a plumper at a Imnclred and twenty yards. 1 
 seen hnn double up (Jideon Millis, of Ohio." 
 M.ilif '; ' "'.""'^'./'^'^'"^'"t '"'^"y =' thin- of the kind to you," 
 
 tl' '"!'^ ^ ^^^"'^ "'^ eonfoundedly weary just now - ^ " 
 
 Ihat^ s eider," said he, pointing to the crock. 
 1 did n. t wait for a more formal invitation, but carried it 
 to my lips, and so held it for full a couple of mhn.tes 
 
 re 2ror drouthy, _ that 's a fact ! " said he, peerino- i„to 
 the low watermark of the vessel. 
 
 ing'h'irown!'"'' ^"' '"^ '""'' '''''''^'" ''''''' ^' Wopriat- 
 
 he! with fgH^' ^'''^ """' '''''' ^^* ''^'' ''^ '"^y' ^"^ • " '^^^ 
 " And now for my mare ; you see she 's a good one - " 
 Good as If she belonged to a richer master! " said he 
 with a peculiar leer of the eye. ' ^ I know her well ! k low ed 
 her a foal! Ah, Charry, Miss! do you forget the way o 
 take off your saddle with your teeth?" and he patted the 
 creature with a nearer approach to kindness than I boHeved 
 he was capable of. utiievea 
 
 I will not dwell upon the little arts I employed to con- 
 ciliate my friend Gabriel, nor stop to say ho; I managed to 
 
 irraT' t""T '"■"■"""^^ '''' '">' ^^^-^' -^<^ ^^^^^ 
 
 tion of a very tough piece of dried beef to my own mea-re 
 break ast. I conclude the reader will be as eager to esca'pe 
 from his society as I was myself; nor had fever thrown 
 him into such unprofitable acquaintanceship, w.^re there other 
 me^ans of explaining how first I wan. lered from the ri4 path 
 and by what persuasions I was influenced in not rVtuSTng 
 
TlIK L()(;.IIUT AT URAZOS. 
 
 808 
 
 If rJii|„.iol'.s history wns not vory ontertainin.r i, « 
 
 ;x":;7:;„:;/;;;:,;^/;:,,rrrr"' "• •"-:- : k-.;;.' 
 
 -'.- "in, a o,„f,„;;;;;;;„ :;;;;; 1:1 t;::,r,; ;';;:;";■■ '-!^ - 
 
 ^ "ik- lie liill,.,l l.iH „„l„.'.i„Ht l„„.7 I r • f '" •^'■"' 
 
 "' i-ii!i" n.«-i< I ,.„„v,.v,.,i I i ;■"■" ""■'■*"■'■'' 
 
 ;-■-; "... ..«.„M.;:,' ;:;:j'i;; ;" ;; ;; xriiv'"" ',"'='" 
 
 turcs from the A.kans-vs Rivo,- till 7- , ^^'^ "''^'^"- 
 
 i" Texas were evei , i, i , " '""" '"^ ^"""•' ''''"'^^'If 
 
 o-teiiin,,„o^r:;; ,f;.;:^^^^^^ 
 
 in the One-star Henublie 1 Mn, . .'^'"^V"' '''''*''*'*"> 
 
 i^^ul faile,l with hhn iV -^^ . " 7^'" ?'^'""^' ^''' ^" 
 
 J'y the CreaCful intern ■ll^lir^;,: :;':!:: ;:';: ^''^^I «^ 
 
 to cloze tlu'ongh the remiinrlo,. ,.f' ° '"'" ''''""« 
 
 consciousness of his f!n t /T f' ^''^'^^'" •''^' '-'f' 
 
 bauch. There wu but m. ?';' "'■sensibility of de- 
 
 of his nature nnd w en . T '■'"''' ''"" ^^'' ^'^^'"'^ ^'"''^''^ 
 life seeuKH t; ate ; ,0^ ' 'I-.tted //..^ the interest of 
 
 cirea.yincii.er::::K/::-^^^^^^ 
 
 wife had ,„a„a«o„ to .,oo„,:„ . ' He 1^ ^rto"; 'T' 
 k.n<l of »c,m-o„„soi„„»„es3 tl.nt if " bears S^"« f?,, l" 
 
 that " tHe M,,.o„ wo,,,/!:,' ^ r™," ^ ?\':'^; """ -^^ 
 
 :.'-^«r;:o r; ,: .rr.'^s,,:-,"' ^r " ■""- - ^ 
 
 ticulars of tbe roa 1 o W V !,."'! f "'■''• "'"' ""'"" l«»- 
 a far betto- cbnnerof ^ "• °P'"'°"' """ """"'"od '"e 
 
 by fonowi,;trs?;rro'"i,.i:-"'' '"^ "•^"""'"'" «■» 
 
 " voa'eo„w"l' """!'■ " '^ '■"•"■' <'"'■"'"■ «»-rtay,» said be 
 jou eoul.1 bave joined oon,|>».iv >vitb a Fria.' who i"l„^^' 
 
 w.tb a bttle wagon and a siek woman. They are n'aSg » 
 
i ^1 
 
 m 
 
 '■': 
 ''I ' 
 
 ii 
 
 ::i^ 
 
 fi 
 
 111 
 
 304 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 pilgr mage to the saints there for her health. They have 
 two azy mules and a half-breed driver that won't woJk 
 miracles on the roads, whatever the ^'iro,•„ may afteH 
 
 us^d toTe/'""' "' "'^' ""'"' '' ^^"'^'•'•^ '^ ^^'- -" 
 This intelligence was far from displeasing to me I 
 longed for some companionship; and that of a Friar, if' not 
 very promismg as to amnsen.ent, had at least the merit of 
 safety no small charm in such a land as I then sojo rnec 
 . I learned besides that he was an Irishman who hil come 
 as a missionary among the Choctaws, and that he was 
 >^1 versed m prairie life; that he spoke many of he 
 Indian dialects, and knew the various trails of these pathls 
 wilds like any trapper of them all. painitss 
 
 Such a fellow-traveller would be indeed a prize ; and as 
 
 S Wi"?/^ 'T' """' ' '^'' ^'•^■'^'- =^^ ^^"-t than 
 said I '"° P'-^"^'5<^"«- "And his name?" 
 
 up"at'Bexf "''"^""^ '^ ''''■ '"'^^ ^^" ^^^ ^^ ^'.-1 
 
 ''Now then for Fra Miguel! » cried I, sprinoi„o- into mv 
 
 ^acldle; and with a frank "Good-bye," t^klh^ ^ZZ 
 
 a fVrl' '"f^'Tn^l"' ', ^'^^' '•'"'■'' "^^ ^^y 'e^-^^^i^g through 
 a forest of tall beech and alder trees, whose stems we!-e 
 encircled by the twining tendrils of tie "Ii^,T»wh . 
 oftentimes spanned the space overhead Ind 1 mpered the 
 noonday sun by its delicious shade. Eirds of gay p umal 
 and strange note hopped from branch to branch wheW. 
 and rabbits sat boldly on the grassy road, and sca^e^ ca "d 
 to move at my approach The erimson-wincred bfistTrd 
 the swal ow-tailed woodpecker, with his snowy^brea f'^n i 
 that most beautiful of all, the lazuli finch, whose c olmwou d 
 shame the blue waters of the Adriatic, chimed an flutteed 
 on every side The wild squirrel, too, 'swung by h tTa. d 
 jerked himself from bough to bough, in all the coSen e 
 
 :^rsi:;^%Lr:;^::-^-r'd^s 
 
THE LOG-HUT AT BRAZOS. 
 
 305 
 
 ! ' 
 
 rhey have 
 
 on't woi'k 
 
 ay after! 
 
 what she 
 
 > me. I 
 ar, if not 
 i merit of 
 :^ojourned 
 had come 
 -t he was 
 y of the 
 ! patJiloss 
 
 ; and as 
 
 t'art than 
 
 name ? " 
 
 a Miguel 
 
 into my 
 road to 
 
 through 
 (18 were 
 which 
 ii'ed the 
 )himage 
 le hares 
 y eared 
 tustard, 
 st, and 
 ' would 
 uttered 
 ^il, and 
 fidence 
 vithout 
 )s con- 
 beasts 
 
 h 
 
 There was so much novelty to me in all around that the 
 monotonous character of the scene never wearied; for, 
 although as far as human companionship was concerned,' 
 nothing could be more utterly solitary and desolate, yet 
 the abundance of animal life, the bright tints of plumage, 
 and the strange concert of sound, afforded an unceasfna 
 interest. '^ 
 
 Occasionally I came upon the charred fragments of fire- 
 wood, with otJier signs indicative of a bivouac, showino- 
 where some hunting-party had halted ; but these, with a 
 chance wheel-track, were all the evidence that travellers had 
 ever passed that way. The instincts of the human heart are, 
 after all, linked to companionship, and although it was but 
 a few hours since I had parted with " mine host" of Brazos, 
 1 began to conceive a most anxious desire for the society of 
 a fellow-traveller. I had pushed Charcoal for some time, 
 in the hope of overtaking the Friar ; but not only without 
 success, but even without coming upon any recent tracks 
 that should show where the party passed. I could not have 
 mistaken the road, since there was but one through the 
 forest ; and at last 1 became uneasy lest I should not reach 
 some place of shelter for the night, and obtain refresh- 
 ment for myself and my horse. From the time that these 
 thoughts crossed my mind, all relish for the scene and its 
 strange associations departed. A scarlet jay might have 
 perched upon my saddle-bow unmolested; a "whip-poor- 
 will" might have chanted her note from my hat or my 
 holsters unmiuded ; the antlered stags did indeed graze me 
 as they went, without my once remembering that I was the 
 owner of one of "Colt's" "sharp bores," so intent I had 
 grown upon the topic of personal safety. What if I had 
 gone astray? What if I fell in with the Choctaws, who 
 often came within a few miles of Austin ? What if Charcoal 
 fell lame, or even tired ? What if- But why enumerate all 
 the suspicions that, when chased away on one side, invariably 
 came back on the other? There was not an incident, from a 
 sprained ankle to actual starvation, that I did not rehearse ; 
 and, like that respected authority who spent his days specu- 
 lating what he should do " if he met a white bear," I threw 
 myself into so many critical situations and embarrassing 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 -20 
 
306 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 it-n 
 
 
 generic ,„ali«e,, takes Tt^.::^ ^TZ^T'^^f 
 and as for me I hohi m ■ ^ "^^ mind; 
 
 i-.cl that scaled the sU ,oc"t .e " to til" FT" 
 
 Bopped heavily into the waw,, I ad L ™ ^'^11" » ' 
 Md thought they answered me, too =-11, -ay, 
 
 would seem to utter a c,y of suimi e'n 1 '^J""'"' 
 
 to?, "Ruffle my featheJit L:' ' : a u';.;!";'.."^ 1^ ^^ 
 
 Would one gradually sink down to the level of tlTtu \ 
 existence, such as it appears now, or wo 11 on evaT "the 
 infenor animal to some equality of intelligence? " 
 
 Phe solitude which a short time previous had sugo-ested- 
 I know not now many !_ bright imaginings, presented now 
 he one sad, unvarying reflection, - desoLati^n ; and had 
 almost become a doubtful point whether I should not at once 
 turn my horse's head and make for Upper Brazos a.crit. 
 f;:f "l?"' ?! 'l'^ ^^=-^--e, rather thaii^bra ^ a nio't ^ ! 
 fresco m the forest. It was just at the moment that tl 's 
 question became mooted in my mind that I perce vel t le 
 famt track of a wheel on the short grass of th-^ path wa T 
 dismounted and examined it closely: and soon dfstov S its 
 counterpart on the other si.le of the roa.l ; and wi^hTl t L 
 
 Siiru;:;:^;^"^^^ '-'-' ^^^ ^---^^ - -"^J-: 
 
 Inspired with fresh courage by these siffns, I sn„ned 
 Charry to a sharper stride, and for above two°ho ,rs rode on 
 
 with the F„ar, who evidently journeyed at a brisker paee 
 
THE LOG-HUT AT BKAZOS. 307 
 
 than I had anticipated. The sailor's adao-e savs th.f u . 
 stern chase is a loiur chase- " and «n ^f °^,^^7^ ^^^^t "A 
 lau,l or sea, - whelher he our 1, . ' '"^'''^'' '' ^' °" 
 Frenchman or Fortmae - ' " '" overtake a %ing 
 
 The sun had sunk beneath the toixs of H.p tnii , 
 only *oa„,ecl tbroug,,, i„ cbuuee C „f ,i '"STbe 
 -, ;vl,c,, .Kldcnly I found .ny^elt „,„„ .br^ToVau 
 ■'l>iuiJt descejit, at the bottoij, uf ivbid, rui ■, n,™, , ? 
 
 dot wbS.'evro^'loot""" ,tr'"' "■ ""^ ""■•■""'"^d 
 an bour before.'a .por:b„ le 1 , 'IS"' 'of " f ^"" 
 
 srw;^:fst::tStr:^~Hr 
 
 once more in sight of the strei.n nnTi .^f i ?^ bi ought me 
 
 +1.;. • V ^ -^ P " enormous naked let^s, issisfprl ;« 
 
 » up agamst the canvas covering. Tlie noise of tho 
 V ntdTT "■' ^Ir "''^^^^'^^- «<--' -^ the stTck^ pt 
 exerted all the while, and which, by accustoming myself 
 
 were used in exhorting the 
 
 the din, I at last perceived .,.-.. 
 horses to courage. The animals, how 
 
 evei-, gav 
 
 returnmg coulideuee, nor showed the slightest 
 
 e no token 
 inclination 
 
 of 
 to 
 
 'W 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 f 
 
 T 
 !i 
 
 * 
 
 
 'I 
 
 ml 
 ■ m 
 
 m 
 
 *:;•'■ 
 
303 
 
 CONFESSIONS OK CON OREGAN. 
 
 advance. On the contrary, whenever led forward a pace or 
 two, they invariably si)rniig btiok with a bound that threat- 
 eiied to sniasli their taeJde or upset tlie wa.^on ; nor was it 
 without much caressing and encoiu'ageinent Ihat they would 
 stand (luiet again. Meanwhile, the P>iar's exertions were 
 redoubled at every moment, and both his prayers and his 
 thrashings I)ecame more animated. Indeed, it was curious 
 to watch with wiiat iigili'.y his bulky figure alternated from 
 the work of beating the water to gesticulating before "the 
 Virgin." Now, as 1 looked, a small corner of the canvas 
 curiam was moved aside, and a hiuid appeared, which, even 
 without the lai'ge straw fan it carried, might have been pro- 
 nounced a female one. This, however, was speedily with- 
 drawn on some observation from the Friar, and the curtain 
 v/as closed I'igidly as before. 
 
 All i.iy conjectuies as to this singular proceeding bein^r in 
 vam, I resolved to join the party, towards whom f perceived 
 tho road led by a slightly circuitous descent. 
 
 Cautiously w-nding my way down this slope, which grew 
 steeper as J ad\anced, I had scarcely readied the river'side 
 when I was perceived by the party. Roth the Friar and his 
 follower ceased their performance on the instant, and cast 
 their eyes upwards to the road with a glance that showed 
 they were on > ' the look-out " for others. They even chan^red 
 their position, to have a better view of the path, and seemed 
 as if u.mble to persuade themselves that I could be alone. 
 To my salutation, which I made by courteously removincr my 
 hat and bowing low, they offered no return, and looked — as 
 I really believe they were — far too much surprised at my 
 sudden appearance to afford me any signs of welcome. As 
 I came nearer, I could see that the Friar made the circuit of 
 the wagon, and, as if casually, examined the curtains; and 
 then, satisfied " that all was I'ight," took his station by the 
 head of his beasts, and A.aitcd for my approach. 
 
 " Good day, Senhor Caballero," said the Friar, in Spanish, 
 while the Mexican looked at the lock of his long-barrelled 
 rifle, and retired a couple of paces, with a gesture Sf guarded 
 caution. 
 
 " Good evening, rather, Father," said I, in English. "T 
 have ridden hard to come up with you, for the last twenty 
 miles." "^ 
 
THE LOG-HUT AT BRAZOS. 
 
 309 
 
 (( 
 
 From the States?" said the Fi 
 
 "And how are yo.i travelling here?" said he still nrP 
 serving his previous air of caution and resor^' ^ 
 
 A mistake of the road ! " said I, confidently; for alreadv 
 I had invented n.y last biographical sketch. ^ I w- « on ^he 
 >vay to Austm, whither I had despatched my se .^, h .^a 
 baggage, when accidentally taking the turn to I'nno T.! 
 
 wLn V r ? ^ ^'"''" ^^ '*• ^ «''<^"1^1 ^^^^ve turned back 
 
 when I discovered my error, but tliat I heard that a FnTt 
 countryman, too, had just sot out towards Eexar Th ' in 
 elhgence at once determined me to continue my way which 
 I rejoice to find has been so far successful " ^' 
 
 To judge from the -Padre's" face, tiie pleasure did nof 
 appear reciprocal. He looked at me and tL wZn alt r 
 nately and then he cast his eyes towards the Me^£a who 
 
 hS^d^f^f'"^ ^' ^"='^^"' -^ -identirh;^!:^ 
 
 nimselt ready for any measures of a hostile character 
 
 " Going to Austin, " at last said the Friar ' You .'r. . 
 merchant, then '-' " ' ^ °" ^^^ * 
 
 ^;=;;t,.o^„r"« »' "■= Mexican e.i.,tf„;' 
 
 " Heaven guide and protect yon," said he, fen-entlv wilh 
 a wave of h,9 band like leave-talcing. " This , not ,' kn l 
 to wander in after nightfall. Von are weU m„ nted an a 
 
 "If that be your road. Father," said I, » as speed is 
 
 "Ahem!" said he, looking confused, "I am joiner fo 
 Bexar, it is true, Senhor ; but my journe; is ofte !lo l^ 
 
 cannot travel fast. Go, then, 'con Dios!' and we mav 
 meet agam at our journey's end." ^ 
 
 .1 - 
 
 ''ii 
 
 i 
 
 ,'. 
 
 
 •i 
 
 1' ;s 
 
 ' ■> I 'Ik 
 
 '11 
 
 ,:« 
 
 > I'? 
 
 
310 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "My mare Las got quite enough of it," said I, my desire 
 to -uuu with him being trebled by his exertion's to'^g d 
 of ma ' When I oyertoolc you, 1 was determining t dis- 
 mount and spare my beast ; so that your pace will not in the 
 least meonvenienee me." 
 
 The Padre instead of replying to me, addressed some 
 words to the Mexican in Spanish, which, whatever they we"! 
 
 stock of his riae, and a very significant glance at his girdle 
 ^here a large bowie-knife glittered in all the freedom of m 
 unsheathed splendor. As if not noticing this pantoi ime 1 
 diw forth my -Harper's Ferry pistol" from tiie liostei 
 and exammed the priming, -a little bit of display I late 
 satisfaction o perceive was not thrown away on either tie 
 J nar or the layman. At a word from the fonner, low ."^ 
 the latter began once again his operations with the po J' 
 he Priar i.suming his place beside the cattle as i triy 
 forgetful of my presence there. ^ 
 
 T \?^u^u ""^^ *^^ ''^J''''* ^^ ^^'^ proceeding. Father v» said 
 I, "which, unless it be a ' devotional exercise,' TLtelt 
 unaccountable to me." ptiiecu^ 
 
 The Padre looked at me without speakin-. but the «lv 
 drollery of his eye showed that he would have" ad i o obic! 
 tion to bandy a Jest with me, were the time and place more 
 fitting. "I perceive," said he, at length " thit von ho 
 not journeyed in this land, or'you would have' ku^ tZ 
 at this season the streams abound with caymans aTid .11 
 
 fher'thev h ' "'"^ ''' '''''' '""''^ ^^^" -- attacked ; 
 them, they have no courage to cross a river after. Tlieir 
 instinct, however, teaches them that beating the waters il 
 Bures sa ety and many a Mexican horse m^H not'o kn e 
 deep without this ceremony being performed " 
 
 case "SdT'C ''"I' "'', """"""^ '"'^^ ^*" ^« present 
 case, said I, ' for you have been nigh half an hour here to 
 my own knowledge." ' ^^ 
 
 ;' Look at that black mare's fore-leg, and you '11 see whv " 
 said he, pointmg to a deep gash, which laid bare the wh^Je 
 tendons for some inches in length, while a deep pool of blood 
 flowed around the animal's hoof. 
 
my desire 
 8 to get rid 
 ling to dis- 
 l not ill the 
 
 issed some 
 
 tlic}' wore, 
 
 ^lin on the 
 
 his girdle, 
 
 doiii of ita 
 
 itoiuiiiie, I 
 
 le holster, 
 
 I had the 
 
 either the 
 
 however, 
 
 the pole, 
 
 if totally 
 
 THE LOG-HUT AT BRAZOS, 31 ;l 
 
 A cry from the Mexican here broke in upon our colloquy 
 as, throwing down his pole, he seized his -ifle, and dronued 
 upon one knee in the attitude of defence "^^pped 
 
 "What is it, Sancho?" cried the Fri-ir 
 
 A few words of guttural followed, and the Padre siid it 
 was a large al Igator that had just carried otf a itui re - a 
 
 aiy of the Colloredo, along the banks of which these crea- 
 tures' eggs are found in thousands' 
 
 My blood ran cold at the horrid thought of bein- attacked 
 
 the singlc-stick exercise of my companion. 
 
 rhe Fnar accepted my oft'er without much i-raciousness 
 
 er 
 
 ?» 
 
 said 
 perfectly 
 
 t the sly 
 no objec- 
 ace more 
 you have 
 )wn tjiat 
 and alli- 
 icked by 
 . Their 
 aters in- 
 ?o knee- 
 present 
 here, to 
 
 e why," 
 »e white 
 •f blood 
 
 END OF VOL J, 
 
 i 
 
 !f 
 
 
C( 
 
 jo 
 
 te 
 ur 
 
 he 
 

 ^A XrOHT IX . KOKE.T C,F TEXAS." 
 
 ti'e Mexican to one sidV'wI.r'''^'"" ''^^^^■'^' '-^"^^ ^^"'"g 
 cautious mannc.^lCo;l.or '"" /""^^'^ ^" « l^^v^ 
 
 but, after a brief spac^ I^Z'T'"^ ':V^"'""' ^"^' ''^«^^-te 
 tbo poles besi.le t t' f /" ^^''f ' ' -''-Moplaoing 
 
 towards tiae road h^J^^lJ^^,^'^''' ^''^ ''-■«^«' i^ead^ 
 
 " We are about Vty\fL'f ''"' T'' 
 stream," said tlie Padre /' an ,«""' ""'^^ ^''^»'tJ^«r up the 
 Vi;^ and .isb ,on a^os ^^ i;;;:;'^-^ ^^u to the 
 'All roads are alike to me Jmlt vl\?' » 
 
 inen take the shortest, and von 'ii ].. 
 journey's end," said he on,ml '"'''""'* ^* y^"^ 
 
 Who can say that? " reioined T • u v » 
 ter to lose one's way in a de,?.' f '" '* ^ "'^ ^'i^^ult mat- 
 unknown." ^ "" '^'"'' ^°^'«^t, where the tracks are 
 
 CinZ tl;r Zr^"^ '''' '' ^--* ^^ -^taken,'^ said 
 " 'to " r r^' disadvantage, Father," said I. 
 
 tti, 
 
 I" -A 
 
 514: 
 
 
 1 Ui 
 
2 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 iffiij 
 
 ill 
 
 " What is that? " 
 
 "There is uo companionship on it; and, to say trntli, I 
 have too nuich of tlie Iri^^hnnin in me to leave good company 
 for the pleasure of travelling all alone." 
 
 '' Methinks you have very little of the Irishman about yon 
 ni another respect," said he, with a sneer of uo doubtful 
 
 meannig 
 
 " How so? " said I, eagerly. 
 
 " In volunteering your society when it is not sourrht fo", 
 young gentleman," said he, with a look of steadfast effront- 
 ery, — " at least, I can say, such were not the habits of the 
 land as I remember it some forty years ago." 
 
 "Ah, holy Father, it has grown out of many a barbarous 
 custom since your time : the people have given up urinkino- 
 and faction-lighting, and you may travel fifty miles a day for 
 a Aveek together and never meet with a friar." 
 
 "Peace be with you!" said he, waving his hand, but 
 with a gesture it was easy to see boded more passion than 
 patience. 
 
 1 hesitated for a second what to do ; and at last, feeling 
 that another word might perhaps endanger the victory I had 
 won, I dashed spurs into the mare's flanks, and, with the 
 shout the ostler had recommended, rushed her at the stream. 
 Oyer she went, " like a bird," lighting on the opposite bank 
 with jer hind-legs " well up," and the next moment plunoed 
 into the forest. 
 
 Scarcely, however, had I proceeded fifty paces than I 
 drew up. The dense wood effectually shut out the river 
 from my view, and even masked the sounds of the rushing 
 water. A suspicion dwelt on my mind that the Friar was 
 not going back, and that he liad merely concerted this plan 
 with the Mexican the easier to disembarrass himself of my 
 company. The seeming pertinacity of his purpose sugcrested 
 an equal obstinacy of resistance on m.y part. Some will 
 doubtless say that it argued very little pride and a very 
 weak self-esteem in Con Cregan to continue to impose his 
 society where it had been so peremptorily declined ; and so 
 had It been, doubtless, had the scene been a great city 
 ruled and regulated by its thousaud-and-oue conventionali- 
 ties. But the prairies are separated by something longer 
 
"A NKillT IN A FOKEST OF TEXAS." g 
 
 tliiin iiiere miles from the land of n,i „i , . 
 
 somewhat ,„„,. "f :""',■. :i;!rr 'i "^r ■•"■«''"""' 
 
 ino- c„;h{ ..• •„ ^""*''."^' '^"tl were slowlv Drocepd- 
 
 Si,;,;* ' " "" •""■ ■-' •■"■. li™ 
 
 all '?„'^vlf' ""!• T"f'"'' P-y«-. <">«es, menaces, were 
 ll.,f hi s'~'l '"I" '"'"""■ "'"y ™»M not bu<l..e All 
 
 Mexican might beFabor tl J,? 'if ' ^"=^ ^^'^^ "^ ^^^^ 
 
 ment of kicks but tnn ' ^*^' "" '"""'"» accompani- 
 
 ivicks, but to no purpose. They cared as little for 
 
 / 'h 
 
 
II 1 ■ 
 
 
 4 CONFESSIONS OF CON C REGAN. 
 
 the cow-hide as the "calendar; " neither eaiiits nor thrash- 
 ings could persuade them to move on. Saint Anthony 
 and Saint Ursula, Saint Forimund of Cordova, with various 
 others, were invoked, to no end. Saint Clement of Capua, to 
 whom all poisonous reptiles, from bous to wliip-snakes, owe 
 allegiance, was called upon to aid the travellers; hut tiie 
 quadrupeds took no heed of these entreaties, but showed a 
 most Protestant contempt for the whole litany. 
 
 Tliere was a pause ; wearied with flo,<ririn<,^ and tired out 
 with vain exhortations, both Friar and Mexican, ceased, and 
 as if in compensation to their long pent-up feelings, vented 
 their anger in a very guttural round of maledictTons upon 
 the whole fi.iiinal creation, and in particular on that part of 
 It who would not be eaten by alligators without signs of 
 resistance and opposition. Whether tiiis new turn of events 
 had any influence, or that the matter was more owing to 
 "natural causes," I cannot say; but, just then, the horse 
 which had been already bitten, i-eared straight up, and with 
 a loud snort plunged forward, carrying witli him the other. 
 By his plunge he had reached a deep part of the stream, 
 where the water came half way up his body. Anotlier spring 
 smashed one of the traces, and left him free to kick violently 
 behind him, — a privilege he certainly hastened to avail him- 
 self of. His fellow, whether from sympathy or not, imitated 
 the performance ; and there they were, lashing and plunging 
 with all their might, while the wagon, against which"the 
 strong current beat in all its force, ihreatoned at every 
 instant to capsize. The Friar struggled manfully, as did his 
 follower ; but, unfortunately, one of the reins gave way, and 
 by the violent tugging at the remaining one, the animals 
 were turned out of their course, and dragged round to the 
 very middle of the stream. About twenty yards lower 
 down, the river fell by a kind of cascade some ten or twelve 
 feet,^ and towards this spot now the infuriated horses seemed 
 rushing. Had it been practicable, a strong man might, by 
 throwing hims( :f into the water, have caught tlie horses' 
 heads and held them back; but the stream swarmed with 
 poisonous reptiles, which made such an effort almost inevi- 
 table death '. 
 
 It was now a scene of tui . )le and most exciting interest. 
 
"A NIOIir IN ^ FOUIiST OF TEXAS." J 
 
 spea. a h,.a,.rt;',:,:';|. ',„:"" ':' j'; ™"7- »"™«^ to 
 anddisniMc^Iu', Ih^ ^ 'T ^'''''^ ''"'•^'•"OHt clown 
 
 i>. ti.<> H,...: ^ : / :. 7:';;,;^ -'-'-^^ -. noatm, 
 
 "ess even added to the term, of Ji" '^' '"^''^tiuet- 
 
 water splaslu.l up on ev ry le . ndTV" ''^' ''''''' 
 actually to cover the wlmh^n '■ "* *"""" "^^'"^^ 
 
 TherHar,nowln no i '"^' '" ''' ^^^"^'''"g ^^^'n- 
 
 =5iSRH= ■"■■-=' ; 
 
 M-ater, without^the sli^h Lt tho h ' o^' } T^''^ '"'" ^^« 
 Half swinnnin.-, half boumli, , V'f^ "^^^ *° ^^"«^' 
 
 now, broadsid^ o the ' I '♦'^ehed the wagon, which 
 
 the fast rollin<^ rive f^'^!!'''^''^ ^^'t'' "very stroke of 
 pole, and end^a^^rh , t .M M^ T ^'''''''.T ''' 
 Friar, ripping the canvas wUh hh tif "? '' 7'"' •''' 
 to extricate the female figure, who /.k'/r 7^""^ 
 seemed utterly incapable of T^ eff"^ T ^f ^"^^«' 
 safety. ^ ^'^'^^t f»i" ber own 
 
 Whether maddened bv tho Kifa ^^^ 
 t^e water, or ^^^in^ ^^JZ^^T^ZT:!:^ ^T 
 horse .vent over the falls, while thT Mex c^ 'ainlv 
 deavor.ng to hold him, was carried dow^w kh h m fu' 
 wagon, reeling with the «i>oek '-P-'.ri " ™ '""^ ' the 
 was fast sinking, when T\^.i^^i^r7^ '^'" ''"^'^ ^"^^ 
 hand Of the woman and^ Stitwirj."";;; 
 
 
 t 
 
 FT; 
 
 r '-i 
 
6 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 f « 
 11, ', 
 
 spring towards him ! " cried the Friar ; and she obeyed the 
 words, and, with a bound, seated herself behind me. 
 
 Breasting the water bravely, Charry bounded on, and in 
 less than a minute reached the bank, which the Friar, by 
 the aid of a leaping-pole, had gained before us. 
 
 Having placed the half-lifeless girl on the sward, I has- 
 tened to see after he poor Mexican. Alas! of him and 
 the horse we never saw trace afterwards. We called aloud, 
 we shouted, and even continued along, the stream for a con- 
 siderable space; but to no purpose, the poor fellow had 
 evidently perished, — perhaps by a death too horrible to 
 think of. The Friar wrung his hands in agony, and mingled 
 his thanksgiving for his own safety with lamentations''for 
 his lost companion ; and so intent was he on these themes 
 that he never recognized me, nor, indeed, seemed conscious 
 of my presence. At last, as we turned our steps towards 
 where the girl lay, he said, "Is it possible that you are the 
 caballero we parted with before sunset? " 
 
 " Yes," said I, " the same. You were loth to accept of 
 my company, but you see there is a fate in it, after all ; you 
 cannot get rid of me so readily." 
 
 "Nor shall we try, Senhor," said the girl, passionately, 
 but with a foreign accent in her words, as she took my 
 hands and pressed them to her lips. 
 
 The Friar said something hastily in Spanish, whicli seemed 
 a rebuke, for she drew back at once, and buried her face in 
 her mantle. 
 
 "Donna Maria is my niece, Senhor, and has only just left 
 the convent of the ' Sacred Heart.' She knows nothing of 
 the world, nor what beseems her as a 3'oung maiden." 
 
 This the Friar spoke harshly, and with a manner that to 
 me sounded far more in need of an apology than did the 
 young girl's grateful emotion. 
 
 What was to be done became now the question. We were 
 at least thirty miles from Bexar, and not a village, nor even 
 a log-hut, between us and that city. To go back was impos- 
 sible ; so that, like practical people, we at once addressed 
 ourselves to the available alternative. 
 
 "Picket your beast, and let us light a lire," said Fra 
 Miguel, with the air of a man who would not waste life in 
 
!;. ■■ 
 
 NIGHT IN A FOREST OF TEXAS." 
 
 Red Kiv,.i. wV+i. • . "^"^"^ ^"'i'" to bivouac on the 
 
 lep t."' "■™ "'■" '" ""^ ="■-"• """ '■-■■'' flints to 
 
 foot of a stupendoJbe e" Tt ' J:;;.' L"'" ""j-"' "«' 
 a fire. TIip Frin,. i , , * ^""^ preparation of 
 
 with bot a„' ; oTS.^";"'""^,' -"-P""'-! ™e, and 
 construct a s eces of be rtl , "'°°''',''" "'"^"'f """'>' '» 
 ■iround in such a w'U .^^r '• "^ °',"' " '""' '="-<^'<= »' ^^ne, 
 " We Zst ft?/ ;'.**r '^ "'■""S'" to tbe blaze. 
 
 count toTLr^'afte;'"^' f^T" '"" "^^ " ""' " ""> 
 Boou blaze brtwy." '"'' ""' ''' """ y"'' l-"'. " will 
 
 " If it were not (or that young ladv," said T " „>, 
 sutfernigs are far greater than our/- » ' "'"''•' 
 
 wal^£\Tt!;om. M.nh!!"'/."™" ''""" "' '- Dolores 
 begin her app^uHeeXtg ief"'™Sh; ""',;'" "7 "' ''^" 
 my brother.^lbohad Z^Jlfbl eduo, d a.° w'of' °' 
 
 ca,tr.t:ShTir b'e7eb:r^ ^^T"- ", "■^-"- 
 
 ^l.usba„d,ourreso„rees-r^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 Sep'!;^a7i;.::p:*L;;----'o the blaze, 
 
 "Ihanks, sir, but perhaps — " 
 
 an;;rir;;;t'!.f:„x\"orrorru 
 
 beast: don. lead bi„ /o^h^--:, .^^7^^"' 
 
 4 1 
 
1 1 
 
 8 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 li 
 
 take my sombrero : it has often served a like purpose before 
 
 1 would ave dechned this offer, but I felt that submission 
 
 m everythmg would be my safest passport to hiTo^od 
 
 opuHon; and so, armed with the " Friar's leaver," I a.ade 
 
 my way to the stream. ' ^® 
 
 Whatever his eulogies upon the pitcher-like qualities of 
 
 his head-piece, to me they seemed most imdeseived • for 
 
 scarcely had I filled it, than the water ran through li'ke a 
 
 sieve, rhe oftener, too, was the process repeated the less 
 
 chance did there appear of success; fcr, instead of retainino 
 
 thL^ r 'f ' ''' ""'""^ '^^""^^ «" «^^^"-ted that i" 
 hiea ei ed to tear in pieces every time it was tilled, and ere 
 I could ift It was totally empty. Half angry with tL Fria 
 and still more annoyed at my own ineptitude, I gave m t e 
 
 f;i,n;"T "'"'";' '' "'"-^ ' ''^'' '''' bim,' confessing my 
 tailure as I came forward. * ^ 
 
 bealt^sTouT'' s'-'n"' '" *^^ «*••«--' then, and wash the 
 Deasts mouth said he, upon his knees, where, with a areat 
 stnng of beads, he was engaged with his devotions " 
 
 I irSted.'"'"^ '' "^ '"''"'^°"' '"^' ^'''''''^'^^ '^ ^^« -^ 
 " What if all these cares for my horse, and all these 
 devotional exercises, were but stratagems t. get rid of n v 
 company for a season?" thought T^ as I perceived tln^ 
 scarcely had I left the spot, than the Friar irose .^m ^l 
 knees, and seemed to busy himself about something h 1 1 e 
 tees. Fu 1 o this impression, I made a little circuk o le 
 place; and what was my surprise to observe that he h^ 
 converted his upper robe of coarse blanket-cloth into a ki 
 ot hammock for Donija Maria, in which, fastened at eithc^- 
 ncl to the bough of a tree, she was now swinging to and 
 fro, with apparently all the pleasure of a hapny child 
 
 •Don't you like it. Uncle, after all? " s,id she laughing. 
 ' It s exactly what one has read of in .Juan Cordova's 
 stories, to be bivouacking in a great forest, with a great fire, 
 to keep away the jaguars." * ' 
 
 " Hush ! and go to sleep, child. I neither like it for thee 
 nor myself. Ihere are more dangerous things than jaguars 
 in these woods. j o"**'" 
 
"A NIGHT IN A FOREST OF TEXAS." 
 
 9 
 
 *♦ Ah, you mean the bears, Uncle?" 
 " 1 do not," growled he, sulkily 
 
 into Z S, ;"tr-' "" ^"^ "''' '" '^™ ■' •'-'•^-. «>ey go 
 meditation, so thaf dian , T, """'" '""'' '» ''"'y 
 
 sr sr 5;i "•-" • •>• " " - 
 
 ness to do with <n-\p? nn,i , "^ "^ ^^^' Jojous- 
 
 convent anc^b co Je ,Tun "tL '"' "'^ ^'"'^^^ ^'^^ ^"'^^ ^ 
 no solvincr, ^1^1112^^ ff ^ .^^f '« ^"^^^^ions there was 
 denceof h r'lTe7sS'n; / '"^^bt Judge from the ca- 
 to me. The more Z int.' T ^'"''^"'" '^ ^''''^^ ^han 
 
 stronger grew^^Slktt^r St'"' '^^' ^ 
 old tyrant, I perfectly satisfied myself wl , ''I' ^ '"''^^ 
 could not rescue her from «1 ^ u ^^^^* "^ P'^^ ^^^^ ^ 
 i^er from the c^^ract f""^ '' ""^^^'^ ^^ ^^^"^ ^« ^ «-ved 
 Would that I could even see her ' Tho..^ 
 
 _ K^^, ,, °^* f;\"^^ strange objects of these wild ^ood- 
 
 
 ' f 'I' 
 
 r k it 
 
 I. ! r 
 
10 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 ■ 1 
 
 pretty; what a disappoin Tient if she were not; what a 
 total rout to all my imaginiugs if she were to have red hair 
 - how terrible if she should squint ! These thoughts at last 
 became too tantalizing for endurance, and so 1 tried to fall 
 asleep and forget them ; but in vain, they had got too firm a 
 hold of me, and I could not shake them off. 
 
 It was now about midnight, the fire waxed low, and ^' the 
 Iriar was sound asleep. What connection was there 
 between these considerations and her of whom I was think- 
 ing? Who knovvs? I arose and sat up, listening with eager 
 ear to the low long breathings of the Friar, who, with his 
 round bullet-head pillowed on a pine-log, slept soundly; the 
 gentle hum of the leaves, scarcely moved by the night wind, 
 and the distant sound of the falling water, were lullabies to 
 ills slumber. It was a gorgeous night of stars ; the sky 
 was studded with bi-ight orbs in all the brilliant lustre of 
 a southern latitude. The fireflies, too, danced and ^littered 
 on every side, leaving traces of the phosphoric light on the 
 leaves as they passed. The air was warm and balmy with 
 the rich odor of the cedar and the acacia, -just such a nioht 
 as one would like to pass in "converse sweet" with sonie 
 dear friend, mingling past memories with shadowy dreams 
 and su-aying along from bygones to futurity. 
 
 I crept over stealthily to where the Friar lay : a lively fear 
 prevailed with me that he might be feigning sleep, and so I 
 watched him long and narrowly. No, it was an honest 
 slumber; the deep guttural of his mellow throat was beyond 
 counterfeiting. I threw a log upon the fire carelessly and 
 with noise, to see if it would awake him ; but he only mut- 
 tered a word or two that sounded like Lathi, and slept on. 
 I now strained my eyes towards the hammock, of which 
 under the shadow of a great sycamore-tree, I could barely 
 detect the outline through the leaves. 
 
 Should I be able to discern her features, were I to creep 
 over;' What a didicult question, and how impossible to 
 decide by mere reasoning upon it ! What if I were to try'-' 
 It was a pure piece of curiosity, — curiosity of the most 
 harmless kind. I had been, doubtless, just as eager to scan 
 the I'iuu-'s lineaments, if he had taken the same pains to 
 conceal them from me. It was absurd, besides, to travel 
 
-A NIGHT IN A FOREST OP TEXAS." IJ 
 
 with a person and not see their faoo Tnf. 
 poor thin^ witlmnf iUm intercourse was a 
 
 I'llhaveapeer^^\,fl;;!:^^'"T^ -^'-'-^^ looks convey, 
 all my arg. e ;^^^ I, sun.ming up to n^yself 
 
 <ioub,s. At ^ri'i^Ld le'd;,:':;;/^' '".'^''^'^ ™^ 
 
 could see was .ho o„.li„e of a l" Vc > a.Sl "• "',' ^ 
 and a mass of inff =lll-„ I • ... "'^W™ '" a maiit e, 
 
 the p,ome of a yo.,.. Jnd'let i Jltce"^ .ii;;:'';,'':™'" 
 arm, the other hun- neoliopnflv nf ''^^^^^^•"o "pon one 
 
 drooped over the ec!<.e ^f Thf ^ ? '"'"' '""^^ '^" ^^"^ 
 
 thevlryperfecti:n"lf ;L'T,':rt.d 'c,^ ^"'"^V^'^^ 
 might have modolled. What a st li . *?' ^ '""^1^^"'' 
 
 dimpled loveliness the Z^i^ ^^?^ '^^ ^^'f ' -^o- 
 touching it with n,y lins^- he r,^ t " "^ ^''^ 
 
 lowed reverence a worshinno. m "'' ""''^^ ^" ^he hal- 
 
 relic; the second ;'^rr:?:ve:^f■^^'^ ^^ ^^'"^ '^'^ 
 I ventured to take the h.ZV '^"^'''^t^on ; the third, 
 
 Did I dream? Con the est vT"" '"^^ '^'"^'^^ ^''^^ ^'^ 
 I thought the pressull w:s":Sed' '" """ ^'^" ^^'^^^^-- 
 
 Hero?; Iwh\sper;dlo;^'2:.;^c:L:;"^''^''" ^^^^■ 
 
 ^ es, but what do your sisters call you ' » 
 
 'I have none, Senhora." " 
 
 "Your brothers, then?" 
 "I never had a brother " 
 
 -if of .heha^Ki",' "r;„ ,Ti,b r" ;" ■■="— ™y- 
 
 " And will y,.„ eail ,.,o W i , ■ ' ''■°'" '"*■ !*™'"- 
 
 'iTf.„ '^ i'"' i-it JIaiia.' said she, aavv 
 
 „f .J-„yo« pe™,t ,., Mada. Bnt how will F^a^l^arf ,.bi„k 
 
 ti 
 
 ii' 
 
 li 
 
12 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 but for you. Tell me how you chanced to be here, and 
 where you are going, and whence you come, and all about 
 you. bit down there, on that stone. Nay, you needn't 
 hold my hand while talking." 
 
 " Yes, but I 'm afraid to be alone here in the dark, 
 Maria," said I. 
 
 " What a silly creature it is ! Now begin." 
 
 " I 'd rather talk of the future, Maria, dearest. I 'd rather 
 we should speak of all the happy days we may spend 
 together." 
 
 " But how so? Once at Bexar, I 'm to wait at the monas- 
 tery till my father sends his mules and people to fetch me 
 home ; meanwhile, you will have wandered away Heaven 
 knows where." 
 
 " And where do ;you call home, Maria? " 
 
 "Far away, beyond the Rio Grande, in the gold country, 
 near Aguaverde." 
 
 "And why should I not go thither? I am free to turn 
 my steps whither I will. Perhaps your father would not 
 despise the services of one who has some smattering of 
 knowledge upon many a theme." 
 
 "But a Caballero — a real Sefihor — turn miner! They 
 are all miners there." 
 
 "No matter; Fortune might favor me, and make me 
 rich, and then, — and then, — who is to tell what changes 
 might follow? The Caballero might bid adieu to the 
 ' Placer,' and the fair 'Donna ^[aria ' wave a good-bye to 
 the nunnery — and, by tiie way, that is a very cruel destiny 
 they intend for you." 
 
 " Who knows? I was very happy in the ' Sacred Heart.' " 
 
 "Possibly, Maria; but you were a cliild, and would have 
 been happy anywhere. But think of the future; think of 
 the time when you will be loved, and will love in turn ; think 
 of tliat bright world of which the convent-window does not 
 admit one passing glance. Think of the glorious freedom 
 to enjoy whatever is beautiful in Nature, and to feel sym- 
 pathies with all that is great and good ; and reflect upon the 
 sad monotony of the cloister, — its cold and cheerless exist- 
 ence, uncarod for, almost nnfelt" 
 
 " And when the Superior is cross ! " cried she, holding up 
 her hands. 
 
«A NIGHT IN A FOREST OP TEXAS." 13 
 
 ^ vvtii, 1 ^Mii not," said she. 
 ^^ i^ou promise me this, Maria?" 
 
 •p.ae::'.:;:rte*;r4°"a;"::''airtr'' r"' "°- "> ««' 
 
 to spe!:,' " '" "" '■^^""•^ ™ ■' ^*''" ^'o-- father pe™it me so 
 
 which o„„ ,:„ ,„ o,:.t:':,!rt :,r::;'i '^ --^ '"'™ 
 
 that .a",e nJe halT:;.;:;' t tt' ^ ".'.f ^^l!:, ^l^ ■""'"=' 
 cence was assumed. ' "' ''^'' '""o- 
 
 From this we wandered ou to siient nf h. • 
 morrow, which I proposed she ,3 1 , '""'""^ '<"' "■« 
 while Fra Mi.niel an m Jif '™'"' ■'''°" "Charry," 
 
 was also ag^ee bTtte , i "^!»"">"'""1 "er on foot, ^t 
 
 .»st rigid -ervet'dT.:fce' Jnnel"- ;'L'r "■» '"» 
 
 Maria's ready wit suggested t e! d t TL"'7 
 laughinfj-, "Arpvnn .i..<^ 7- ^-^F^"-HLU[, as she said, 
 
 Of Our Lady LTs Doior:;''"^ " """''""«« '° "« ^'>"- 
 fo,';ot°en •;";;;,:::?■.. "'*''™^ »■' »« «-' I ^^om have 
 
 iot'enS i™'e,r^r'oS">^^"' ^"^' """^' '■'^»' ^"^ 
 
 wil'l'?T'^|-'''" '"■'' '-^"""'S «"' '"«-'-V hun,„r- "and ,„ 
 I. 0° tl'e very same day you talce the vo".'" ^ '° 
 
 " And now, ho vm.qn "ao.Vl „u„ _.... . 
 
 (( A ., 1 1 . -' J"" LiiKt; Lie veil. 
 
 Miguel will awake at daybreak, and 
 
 near 
 
 us say, ' n„od night 
 I see that is 
 
 ■epressin^ 
 
 F 
 
 ra 
 
 already 
 
 
 Hi 
 
14 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 " Good night, sweet sister," said I, once again press- 
 ing her fingers to my lips, and scarcely knowing when to 
 relinquish them. A heavy sigh from the Friar, however, 
 admonished me to hasten away ; and I crept to my place,' 
 and lay down beside the now almost extinguished embers of 
 our fire. 
 
 " What a good thought was that of the pilgrimage," said 
 I, as I drew my cloak around me ; and I remembered that 
 "Chico's" beads and his "book of oflices " were still 
 among my effects in the saddle-bags, and would greatly 
 favor my assumption of the pious character. I then tried to 
 recall some of my forgotten Latin. From this I reverted to 
 thoughts of Donna Maria herself, and half wondered at the 
 rapid strides we had accomplished in each other's confidence. 
 At last I fell asleep, to dream of every incongruity and 
 incoherency that ever haunted a diseased brain. Nunneries, 
 with a crocodile for the Abbess, gave way to scenes in the 
 Placers, where Nuns were gold-washing, and Friars riding 
 down cataracts on caymans. From such pleasant realities a 
 rough shake of Fra Miguel aroused me, as he cried, " When 
 a man laughs so heartily in his sleep, he may chance to keep 
 all the grave thoughts for his waking. Rise up, Senhor ; the 
 day is breaking. Let us profit by the cool hours to make 
 our journey." 
 
 As day was breaking we set out for Bexar, in the manner 
 I had suggested ; Donna Maria riding, the Friar and myself, 
 one either side of her, on foot. Resolved upon winning, so 
 far as might be, Fra Miguel's confidence, I addressed" my 
 conversation almost exclusively to him, rarely speaking a 
 word to my fair companion, and then only upon the com- 
 monest questions of the way. 
 
 As none of us had eaten since the day previous, nor was 
 there any baiting-place till we read d Bexar, it was neces- 
 sary to make the best of our way thither with all speed. 
 The Fra know the road perfectly, and by his skill in detect- 
 ing the marks on trees, the position of certain rocks, and the 
 course of the streams, gave me some insight into the acute 
 qualities necessary for a prairie traveller. These themes, 
 too, furnished the greater portion of our conversation, which,' 
 
 I am free to own, offered ma 
 
 ny a long interval of dreary 
 
^ 
 
 vinning, so 
 
 "A NIGHT IN A FOUEST OF TEXAS." 15 
 
 S:; JX^n' '"T"'.'' ^-^^ g^--'y on his late 
 
 ot^Z'rT ^\^^^'^'''^ questioned me on the subject 
 of my own history; but eie I had proceeded any lenathTn 
 detailmg my veracious narrative, an accidental wn^, 
 remark would show that he was i uXnt 'v^ to 1,7 wf 
 speakm. and only occupied by his own imm^dlV ^ L UoT 
 wlS'ai Tt'o "f ' "^"^' "'^'^ biographical inve bn^ 
 
 still, B a Miguel kept up close behind, and however ab 
 
 a ak?' '\r^'";'""^' ^^ "°^^ «^---^ bimse7f "wid 
 sTe of t^V'^ n '^''^ ?' '"'■ "^t^''^^^^-^^- Denied the plea! 
 Zees .Id fh- '''' """^!'r^ ^^"^^^ ^' 1--^ --change 
 ntTl . • T , ""■'' ^ ''''''^'^'S^ "^' surveillance, however 
 W ; '^"'^^^^^"3' "«• 'i'^^ese are small and inJi.niificIn 
 evt l^rt Tir;'. ^^"^^---nt at the time, and lecUo 
 even less f,i the future; but I record them as the first 
 
 mtent upon ts own cares to admit of others. And here let 
 
 me observe that the taste for stratagem ~ the little wile and 
 
 nares inspired by a first passion - are among the longest 
 
 ni'ht" the^littT'^'nr '!-''' ''' ^^^'•->' ^^' ^"'^^ 
 tip . •' ^i^^J'"^^ chlhculties of our intercourse by day 
 the peril of discovery as we spoke together, the dan. c^ of 
 detection as we exchanged glances, that, by givinc. us a com 
 man object, suggested a common feeling. ^ Soth en A^edTn 
 
 ^:Z^'t'^ 'r '''''' ^' '''^'' sy-Pathizi^lti h 
 about 1 IJV"'' ^"' ''^"' '^"^^ " ^^^^ «^ rom-nee " 
 tTZu! ' "''"=' «o auxiliary to the tender passion; 
 foitt wi ; n ; '"""" "f"^^^^-^"S, side by side, in .a silen 
 f 01 est, with only one other near us. Would we could hive 
 .sposed of him too! I, shame to say it, but,Tn hone« 
 
 We halted during the great heat of the day, and the Fra 
 
 I « 
 
 
1 1 
 
 illlB 
 
 '11 
 
 16 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 once more ' riggjng out his capote for a hammock, Donua 
 Mana ay down tor the siesta, while I cut grass for Charrv 
 and rubbed her down. Long fasting had made us all mo ^ 
 
 mssed" ^^n 7 '''■''''' '' '"^' '-"-^^'Hables wore all tha 
 passed. When the tune came to resume tlu road, I am 
 proud to say that the Fra bore his privation- with less e,,ua 
 nnu.ty than did we. His sighs grew heavy and freque t; 
 any accKlon tannterruption on the road evoked unn.istal.ab 
 s.gns of u-ntation; he even expostulated with certain saint 
 whose leaden usages decorated his son.brero, as to the prel 
 cse reasons for which his present sulTorings were incurred- 
 and altogether, as hunge. piuched, showed^a more rebellious 
 spu, hau his holy discourses of the preceding eveninc 
 could have led me to suspect. «venm„ 
 
 One time, he charged his calamities to the score of havin^r 
 eaten turtle, which was only half fish, on a Friday; a°t 
 
 beoun ll "'^ "^'"" ''^l ""^"^^^ '^-•'y '^'' J^>"'»^y h^-<l been 
 begun then he remembered that the Mexican was only 
 
 a half-breed, who possibly,; if baptized at all, was only an 
 iiregular kind of a Christian, admitted into the fold by some 
 stray missionary, more trapper than priest. Then he be- 
 thought him that his patron. Saint Michel of Pavia, was of 
 an uncertain humor, and often tormented his votaries, by 
 way of trying their fidelity. Those various doubts assumed 
 the form of open grumblings, which certainly inspired very 
 different sentiments in Donna Maria and myself than edi- 
 hcation As evening closed in, and darkness favored us, 
 these ghostly lamentations afforded us many a low, quiet 
 laugh. A soft pressure of the hand, which now, by mere 
 accident, of course, she had let fall near me, would some- 
 times show how we concurred in our sentiments, till at 
 length as the thicker gloom of night fell around, such was 
 our unanimity that her hand remained clasped in my own 
 without any further attempt to remove it. ' 
 
 _ If the Fra's gratitude burst forth eloquently as we came 
 in sight of some spangled lights glittering through the gloom, 
 our sensations were far more akin to disappointment, 
 u '' ^^^-^^';" ^t last, praised be Saint jNIichel ! " exclaimed he. 
 It has been a long and dreary journey." Here I pressed 
 Donna Maria's hand, and she returned the pressure. 
 
"A NIGHT IN A FOREST OF TEXAS. 
 
 Another 
 
 "Two days of disaster and sore sufferina ' " 
 squeeze of the Seuhora'H finc^ers '"^""^^ • 
 ;; A tame I shall never forget," muttered he 
 
 And now, my worthy yomur f.icn,! " «ni li 
 me, - as we are so soon to yyxrt . '' ^tcldrcssin^r 
 
 how shull we best show lu " Itmll^'/'^lf ''V",^ ^^"^^' - 
 ' "ove,.a' to ' Our Lady of Texr. ' i ?"^^' ^'"'^ ^''^'^ ^ 
 
 shall we vow a candle to Saint Vi" '"'r'/'^"'' '' ^^«''«'^ O'" 
 
 " Thanks, holy FatlZ '^"V ""'''' "^ '^''^P^^^ " 
 was asli,ht'ser4e, o/e h n ' "•;","! ''" ^'^^''^"•= '-- 
 travelling in yonr oo^u.y^na^T:^ ?' "• '""^^"''^ ^^^ 
 I have learned many i goilyl on v '.'' '''""' ""^''^^'"• 
 tl)ink over them as I wander on \lTfl ^ ',' '''"•''' ^'^"^' ^^''^ 
 
 ;;Andwhith..maythr;^:d,^g;rr;v^''^"'"^^^-'' 
 
 by ti^s; :? si?v::::;:^,^r>^ ^^ «--' ^^ Agnaverde, 
 
 clangerous journey, yonn^ man V» ' '^ '' ^ ^°»g ^"^ a 
 
 ''The greater the meriT. Father ! » 
 irackless wastes and de(MJ rivpr« i, .-i r ,. 
 even more cruel half4n-eeds v.!' ^''' ^"'^'''^"^ '-^"^ 
 eaid he, in a voice of wa !</ w '"'' """" ^^ ^^^« P^'-'l^'" 
 
 the Senhora's fin4^ wl^^''^'!'' "'"*'" P^"^^^'"'^ f '•'>'" 
 terrors. " ^^' '"^'^ ^han an answer to such 
 
 n^ade me accept th^ ^l^tZr^r^' "^^ ""^'''^ ^^ 
 
 Ihus chatting, we reached the^suburhq nf p 
 entered the main street of that to2 Tji^^Ti' '"' '"°" 
 a strange featnre of the life of t « f°'^®^f>t me record 
 onp *'-of T , ^t this land, which Tlfh-^^-r, 
 
 one .:,at.I aoon became accustompr] fr. iJ^ ' '•^ithougn 
 
 17 
 
 i 
 
 i.ni 
 
18 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHK(} AN. 
 
 sultry night of ,lune, tho air as dry and purplu'd nn of a 
 8111I1MUM- day .< our Ln-lish climate; and we found that the 
 whole population had thi-ir I.eds dispos,.,! aloii<r th,. streets, 
 and were nleepiiin; for tl,e benellt of tlie eoofniirht aii . — 
 al fresco. There was no moon, nor any lamplight, hut 
 by the j-lnnmerin,-' .stars we could see this strange encamp- 
 ment, whieli barely left a passage in the middle for the mule- 
 carts. 
 
 Some of the groups were irresistibly droll : here was an 
 old lady, with a yellow-and-red handkorohiof round her head, 
 snoring away, wliile a negro wench waved a plaintan-bough 
 to and fro to keep off the mosquitoes, which thronged the 
 spot from the inducement of a little glimmering lamp" to the 
 Virgin over the bed. There was a tliin, lantern-jawed old 
 fellow sipping his chocolate before he resigned himself to 
 sleep. Now and then there would be a faint scream and a 
 nuittered apology as some one, feeling his way to his nest, 
 had fallen over the couch of a sle(>per. Mothers were nurs- 
 ing babies, nurses were singing others to rest; social spirits 
 were recalling the last strains of recent convivialities ; while 
 others, less genially given, were uttering their "Carambas" 
 iu all the vindictive anger of broken slumber. Now and 
 
"A NIGHT IN A KOIMST OP TKXAS- I9 
 
 covered still n)„ro Hin^nihu- o,u..s ^^^''^' '^''■ 
 
 wind tho iMiur informed me wus tlio - Venta V^. , » 
 '''e c-huT inn of the town; und by dint of m ' 1 ^' • '' 
 
 and va,..,,ns in.erlooutionH between Fr. mL^^.,! Thh;:?' 
 our ,storu.H lugl., the j^ates wore at len.al." pe-? t' 
 
 J finy fancy to witness ao-ain. 
 
 o„<Ml„™ „ ,aver„-,.al,l,. to summon tl,; «aiL- ^ "' 
 
 e„e,iv'.'"' °"""' """"'" "■'"' "'' "«"'"• '"" "■"" '■'^<'«Wed 
 " Confound your jnrgon," said I, ansrilv • " o-„, „„ „„, „, 
 that, and lead the way to the stable'." ThilVeoh iCL 
 
 (it 
 ,1 
 
20 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 panied by another admonition from my foot, given, I am 
 hours'^asT' ""'^^ """ *^' """'^^'' in^patience of a thirty 
 The words had scarcely passed my lips, ere the fellow 
 sprung to his legs, and, with a cry like the scream of an 
 mfuriated beast, dashed at me. I threw out my arm as a 
 guard, but stooping beneath it, he plunged a knife into mv 
 side, and fled. I heard the neavy bang of the great door 
 resound as he rushed out, and then feU to the -round, wel- 
 termg in my blood ! o , vex 
 
 I made a great effort to cry out, but my voice failed me ; 
 the blood ran fast from my ^vound, and a chill, sickeninc^ 
 sensation crept over me, that I thought must be " death." 
 
 1 IS hard to die thus," was the thought that crossed me, 
 and It was the last effort of consciousness, ere I swooned 
 into insensibility. 
 
THE LAZARETTO OP BEXAR 
 I^'I)-HEARTEI, ,.e.a„e,-,-j.„„,,ho 
 
 tv ™bs tharirort,,,; 1, sirr. '^wf" r"" '" """'^ "' 
 
 «iti. a benevolent interest in „,." ' ^ ''•'l™ ""tol^Kl '» 
 destiny, „|,o I.ave Ztfl ,Z ^Z 7 ""^^ '"^"''"" 
 
 it.e.e.ts.it;r.sr,::^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ea,?:".S:;;.*';|:f^-t' ■!«' "--•• .-"■-, Ms ,„„e 
 flei"2 to Inmseif h kl ■'°^'""' '"<"■""<"". '"".self s„f. 
 
 no ,n„,.e. He ,1 ro,;f '•','"? ""'"" " '"SLer," was 
 ""'■ »i.-; an I i i.f" "• "r"'^'"-''' '"«=" 'li*''l'atot into 
 
 poor emaciated ct;,tr'^l 'T T* '" '■••■"'-•• " 
 lii"l.s, a very vvroekol,,". ■,'""'," ''™'' "'"' »l"'""l"'> 
 
 »l>^; as feve/an/;t::, e^lrS'nft ""'""'' ■^"'' ■»-'- 
 
 ^ na„„e,, „, „ ,„„„ ,n.o.:;;^-u,i;;,^r ,-;;;;;■;;« -•■' 
 
 - i„j/.4 r*;''r '.;in ;^-^,s:j: ;r 
 
 St-' *5 ' 
 
22 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 303," — an announcement which, for memory's sake, perliaps, 
 was stamped upon the front of my nightcap. 
 
 Few people are fortunate enough not to remember tlie 
 strange jumble of true and false, the incoherent tissue of 
 fact and fancy, which assails the tirst moments of recovery 
 from illness. It is a pitiable period, with its thronging 
 thoughts, all too weighty for the light brain that should 
 bear them. You follow your ideas like an ill-mounted 
 horseman in a hunt ; no sooner have you caught a glimpse 
 of the game than it is lost again ; on you go, wearied by 
 the pace, but never cheered l)y success ; often tumbling into 
 a slough, missing your wjiy, and misiaking the object of 
 pursuit : such are the casualties in either case, anil they are 
 not enviable ones. 
 
 Now, lest 1 should seem to be a character of all others I 
 detest, a grumbler without cause, let me ask the reader to 
 sit beside r for a few seconds on this bcjich, and look with 
 me at the ^ aspect around him. Yonder, that large white 
 building, with grated windows, jail-like and sad, is the 
 Leper Hospital of Bexar, an institution originally intended 
 for the sick of that one malady, but, under tlie impression 
 of its being contagious, generously extended to those labor- 
 ing under any other disease. The lepers are that host who 
 sit in groups upon the grass, at cards or dice, or walk in 
 little knots of two and three. Tiieir sliaml)ling gait and 
 crippled figures, — the terrible evidence of theii- malady, — 
 twisted limbs, contorted into every liorrible variety of 
 lameness, hands Avith deficient fingers, faces without noses, 
 are the ordiiuiiy symbols. The vo i-s, too. are either husky 
 and unnatural, or reduced to a thin, reedy treble, like the 
 wail of an infant. Worse than all, far more awful to con- 
 template, to him exposed to such companionship, their 
 minds would appear more diseased than even their bodies : 
 some evincing this aberration by traits of ungovernable 
 passion, some by the querulous irritability of peevish child- 
 hood, and some by the fatuous vacuity of idiocy; and here 
 am I gazing upon all this, and speculating, l)y the aid of a 
 little bit of broken looking-glass, how long it is probable 
 that T shall retain the "regulation" number of the human 
 features. 
 
™" ^^^ZAKETTO OF I3EXAR. .,, 
 
 Ail, you gonllemen of Kn<rl.uu7 wi.^ r 
 
 ever impertinent you n i , t' d , ■'"' '''" ^^^ ^^at h„vv.: 
 '^"-yonr nosoAhei^^ ^ ;j'"^ -'- told you ^^ to 
 i'«a;^'er infliction; and it vvr^tc^:^,"^^^ '' ^^ ^^'* 
 
 each n.orning as 1 .n-oke, I c suitoTi f '''"' "^^''■"^-'^ ^''^^^' 
 to be sure that I was n.aster o n ""^' ''^' '"3^ ^"'^^e. 
 
 ^Vi.ile all ulK> may b -euk •? I -^^-''^Pi'ic'ul feature, 
 
 ••eckoned /it sul.JeetsVexlt o'^th'.'' '"l' ^'^''-^'--^el are 
 f'e most guarded nu^a.su es uo Jo.l T^' "^ ''"'^ ^"^"^^^i^-' 
 7't 'out ti,o walls f,.o.„ : ..; ,,t ^^^^^^/^ i;-tect the world 
 <'^"ied access to his tVionds in df. f '7^^' ^'^ ^'^^''7 loper 
 
 f ^-e suporad<ied. A^-S.^:!;:;;^'" ^^^'^^ of a horrible 
 ^■ttmg the letter P repre's^„t ' . ^ '"^ '^'' '^'^^^^ thus : 
 N my nose, P+L-i^ , *' ^'"'^^"' ^^ the lejjrosy, and 
 
 of^-thsbytoi.!;, luZT^ '^ "'^ ^'-" '-•^- 
 
 -'^'•le of the past, by wh t cl I;? '''"' '"^'' '"^^ •^'^"^^tion ; 
 - P';-oner, I knew m,th I v Htl '""' ' '"'"^ ^'^ ^^ thu^ 
 ;ny bed set forth that I w.;; '• , , *'' T'""^"' '-^t the head of 
 be thorax," with sever-d no '. '^''""«tured wound in 
 
 Intelligible by my igno 1 le t "1^ «' vantages, not over 
 ti^^t if the doctor did n ' in f '''^'''V ^'''''''^ to in.pi. 
 every chance of „,, si pj!' ^ ITv f,-^' ""-' ^''-^ -« 
 «ome one of those - chest^XeH '^ » ?-'^''''- '"'-^^'^^'j, - 
 tunes of doctors, hut are sold "' *'^'*^^ "^^^^e the for- 
 
 ^ One fact was hon'^r't-: '^^ ''"''''''' ^^ ^'^ P^^^tient . 
 four months since the da 'of";^,";f "^^'/^ ^t was above 
 — '^ cneumsta.>ce that vouchee or f'''^''" '"^ *''^ ''"«l>''t-I, 
 '•^« well as showincr what n . ""''^^^^^^^ '^f ^Y illness 
 
 occurred in the in?er^l ' """'"• °^ ^'-^s might hav^ 
 
 ;fae^f;:r:e,!:::^,:!::.:- ^- ^ana now^ Had 
 orado; fo,.o.otten the stlrli't :"'/''"!. '^'^ ^'^^ ^^J" 
 'ett me, without any interest „ 1 f ^ '^'*- ^^^^^^ they 
 wounded, perhaps dying? , J f"^"^':' - deserted mc^ 
 bad rendered them ! Jhat F.!; I ? ^°' *^^ ^^''^^''ccs I 
 
 itat i^M Miguel should have done 
 
 
 I '4 
 
! 1 
 
 ft 
 
 24 
 
 CONFESSTdXS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 this, would luivo caused uio no stn-priso ; but tlic S(Mllior-i — 
 slio who spraii- |,y ;,. u.nuul h.lo inthuMcy with mv. nud 
 called n.e - bmtluu- " ! Alas! if this wo.; so, what luilh 
 coukl bo placed m woman? 
 
 In vaiu I sought inforn.ali.)!, on these points from those 
 around me My Spanisii was not the very pmvst Castilian, 
 It IS U-ue; but here, another and -reater ol)stacle lo kuowl' 
 edge existed: no one cared anytiiing for the past, and very 
 little for the tutui-e; the last event tiiat held a place in their 
 memory was the dav of their admission, the fell malady 
 
 was the centre round which all Ihou-hts revolved, an.i I 
 
 reo-anied as a Idnd of visionary, when asking u|,o„t circ am- 
 stances that occurred before I entered the hospital. There 
 were vague and shadowy rumors about nu, und my adven- 
 ture,— so nuu-h I could lind out; but whatever these w(>re 
 scarcely two agreed on, - not one cared. .Som(> said I 
 iKid killed a priest; oth(>rs averred it wa,; a neoro • -i few 
 op.ued thati had done both; and an old nmlatb. woman, 
 with a face like a, target, the bull's-eye being rei.resented by 
 where the nose ought to be, related a more connected m-- 
 rat.ve about my having stolen a liorse, and bein<.- ov; -ta' >n 
 by a negro slave of (he owner, who rescued thcrunimal and 
 stal)l)ed »i(>. 
 
 All the stories tallied in one particular, which was in 
 representing me as a fellow of the most desperate character 
 and determmn'ion, and who cared as little for sheddiuo- blood 
 as spilling water, - traits, [ am bound to acknowledats which 
 never appeared to lower me in general esteem. Of course 
 all inq.iiries as to my liorse, poor Charry, my precious 
 saddle-bags, my ritle, my bowie-knife, and my - iJarper's- 
 ferry, would have proved less than useless, - actuallv 
 absui-d. 1 he patients would have reckoned such questio.,; 
 as little vagaries of mental wandering, and the servants of 
 tlie house never replied to anything. 
 
 My next anxiety was, when I should be at liberty' The 
 doctor, when I asked him, gave a peculiar grin, and said,' 
 
 ^Ve cannot spare you, amigo; we shall want to look at 
 your pericaixlium oue of these days. / say it is perforated ; 
 Don Emanuel says not. Time will tell who 's ri"ht." 
 
 " lou mean when 1 ^m dead, Seuhor, of course? " cried I, 
 
THE LAZARKITO OF BEXAI{. 05 
 
 ^ISlvlr "" ^'^"^^ '' '-^^^^-^^ *»- ''^"-'ities by being 
 
 oaHir-uii^T':^.!,';:;;::::; ^'^; ; ^'^"■■■^ '^ ^^ -..y i„.t,.uctive 
 
 "May you live a thousand years'" H-ii,I r K^ • 
 
 C';;;i;;;:!"'" ■' •-' --' -- - «- . -Urris 
 
 wliich, were one to in.i.r.. J .r^^*^!^^' — '^ Precaution 
 
 "I. U.0 bank :„ ':,;':: ""'■" "/"^ -l""-''' of c.^Wg 
 
 ■""k down int„tl^,„„T I "":?'■' "', "r "'■""""«• "' 
 feet, but wliiob r„ in,, ! ; ~ "'"" "' *'""' '""iiity 
 
 dtptb'bi :; u: ' ;Lr';;,t::'; r' ''- "'-'"'^ '"•"*" 
 
 no better loss ,„ ,.:,"' !; 'I'»l'«'»'"g Hie.n, saw that 
 
 fears s.^eii; /u:,'' ,,■ ^ ^'ii^f -^tnT:,;:''^','^"'^. °™ 
 
 of their ton-n.-« t . -^ , "^ ^'"' adinonit ons 
 
 p.-o«t b;';r7f Jat'rrr /?; r',tt„r„r " 
 
 anywhere with more horrors than heiv ■ ,o ttV T" 
 
 r>y snoh obret^rir :; : :" z:tz -t^ 
 
 expected to be one of their n°umber. W ^; 2t leat°tfl'il 
 
 «o^:'"'x:r;a7/t:':rr; r;,r'""^ ^r." """ -«- 
 
 open to me, I felt I »Lrr/ ?,' ''■''" "'^ "^"'M """t 
 savin™ a,K doinls T ''"'"""f "'y fo™er zest in its 
 mW^tJl , ,'"Sf' -""y. I evci, fancied that the season of 
 privation Moulu give a hicrher n^t,... f . ^-'»»"" or 
 
 - I W that "the teX'. T^^S/Z^t:^^ 
 
 :« 
 
 w 
 
 f,!'-: 
 
 ll' I.! 
 
 iai 
 
26 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CRETAN. 
 
 useful accessories of him whose wits must point the road to 
 fortune. True is it, the emergencies of life evoke the facul- 
 ties and develop the resources, as the stonrj and the ship- 
 wreck display the hardy mariner. Who knows, Cos,, hsit 
 good luck may crvep in even through a punijiured wound in 
 the thorax! 
 
 As the day closed, the patients were always recalled by a 
 bell, and patrol parties of soldiers wont round to see if by 
 accident any yet lingered n iihuut the walls. The perform- 
 ance of duty was, however, ,<nost slovenly, since, as I have 
 already said, escape never occurred to those whose apathy of 
 mind and infirmity of body luid liuide ihem indifferent to 
 everything. I lingered, th.m, ii; a distanf alley as the even- 
 ing began to fall, and wlien the bell rung out its dismal 
 summons, I trembled to think — was it the last time I should 
 ever hear it ! It was a strange thrill of mijigled hope and 
 terror. Where should I be the next evening at that hour? 
 Free, aid at liberty, — a Avanderer wherever fancy might lead 
 me, or the occupant of some narrow bed beneath the earth, 
 sleeping the sleep that knows no waking? A .J, if so, who 
 could less easily be missed than he who had neither friend, 
 nor family, nor fortune. I felt that my departure, like that 
 of some insignificant guest, would meet notice from none • 
 not one to ask what became of him? when did he leave us? 
 to whom tiid he say farewell? 
 
 If there was something unspeakably sad in the solitude of 
 such a fate, there was that also wJiich nerved the heart by a 
 sense of Self-sufHciency, — the very brother of Independence • 
 and this thought gave me courage as I looked over the grassy 
 embankment, and peered into the gloomy fosse, which now 
 in the indistinct light, seemed far deeper' than ever. A low,' 
 marshy tract, undrained and uninhabitable, surrounded the 
 ''Lazaretto" for miles; and if this insalubrious neicrhbor- 
 hood assisted in keeping up the malaria of fever, it compen- 
 sated, on the other hand, by interpo, 'ng an unpopulated 
 district between the sick and the he 'iy. 
 
 These dreary wastes, pathless and i.uuodden, were a kind 
 of fabulous region among the patients for all kind of horrors 
 peopled, as the fancy of each dictated, by the spirits of de- 
 parted '' Leperos," by venomous serpents and cobras, or by 
 
THE LAZAUHTTd OF BEXAR. 
 
 27 
 
 -.■face, .!;;>;..:''' !.:''■;; "'r''^' "'""« ti-e 
 
 ;»'V'".-. ....„, ;„.f„ itu 'o ' e,.^,:Ht;r;:"?r' "■" 
 
 I'or.ition from the souses \. f.,,i ^j^wanaad corro- 
 
 --;ting ..e tales TC^.. otn isS l/tl^'T/^^ ''-^"^ 
 Its character of .-looii, „.,nn ,nv / ' ^^'"^ ^^'^'^"^ ^^^t 
 
 ^i^udder that I sut^n^'^ e;^ vel ^^ • 1 T ^^''' ^ ^'^^^^ 
 
 l<> derive vumUni tnnn every s<nirce h2 "\ . ^^^^''•"''"^d 
 •m«ty fog would assist n.y ^0^0^ ' ut .'"f -V"' '^'' ''^^ 
 
 the dark grave lett' rV o if"" 'TT'"' ""'y- "■" >™ 
 
 ":^x:rfSr.^:3B--— 
 
 fog gathering over ti,o o 'h ""l? : ^''t,?'' '' <''^»'''y 
 •ny project ,„,„t „„ abandoned fo L. fe ia. Zr"' T" 
 Keinig outside tlie walls ,vonld exnose ,n^ tf i * "^ ''"■ 
 
 for the futnro. ' ™ *" "^"^ snTOillance 
 
 eiitr:"rd.T«;ari-^j„:;d' jr;™' '- "■""■■■■v '^^^ -f «>« 
 
 -1 »een „,..,.:'/ ^Z!^'^'::^'^!'^''^^ Wow, 
 
 Alas! darkness was 
 
 Stood, all was black and 
 
 ou all; a foot beneath where 
 iindistinsruishable. 
 
 J "etsiospnng. Alas, thev would nnf ' ,nv =f,- *, 
 -liled uie at this last mnmn„f ", ^"iu imr . my strength 
 
 n.nb,re,a.ed,aad;Sj;:^tierir^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ? " 
 
 Iff 
 
 
 1 ■ "I w 
 3 II III 
 

 m 
 
 28 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CIlE(;ANf. 
 
 I):iUince, and fell over the elilT ! (Irtispinjjf llie frniasy Hurfaco 
 witii tiie en(>rij;y of desptiii-, I tore tufts of loii<r <yyam iiiid 
 fern an I fell down — down — down — till eonscioiisne.w left 
 me, to be rallied ap;ain into life by a teriible " h(|ii;i,sIi " into a 
 reedy swaini) at the bottom. Up to my waist in duck-weed 
 and muddy wafer, I soon fell, however, that I had sustained 
 no other injin-y than a shook, — nay, even fancied that the con- 
 cussion had braced my neives ; and as 1 looked u}) at the 
 dark mass of wall above me, 1 knew that my fall nnist have 
 been terrilic. 
 
 Neither my bodily energy nor my habiliments favored 
 me in escaping riom this ditch ; but I did rescue mvself at 
 last, and then, remembering that I nuist reach some place of 
 refi.ge l)efore day broke, I set out ovei- the moor, iny only 
 pilotage being the occasionally looking back at the lights of 
 the hospital, and, in sailor-fashion, using them as my point of 
 departure. When creeping along the walks of the Lazaretto, 
 I was bai-ely able to move ; anil now, such a good ally is a 
 strong "will," I stepped out boldly and manfully. 
 
 As I walked on, the night cleared, a light fresh breeze 
 dissipated the vapor, and refreshed me as I went, while 
 overhead, myriads of bright stars shone out, and served to 
 guide me on the trackless waste. If T often felt fatigue 
 stealing over me, a thought of the Lazaretto and its fearful 
 inmates nerved me to new etTorts. Sometimes so possessed 
 did I become with these fears that I actually increased my 
 speed to a run, and thus, exei'ting myself to the very utmost, 
 I made immense progress, and ere day began to break, found 
 myself at the margin of the moor, and the entrance to a 
 dense forest, which I remembered often to have seen of a 
 clear evening from the garden of the Lazaretu. With what 
 gratitude did I accept that leafy shade, which seemed to 
 promise me its refuge ! I threw my arms around a tree, in 
 the ecstasy of my delight, and felt that now indeed I had 
 .j^ained a haven of rest and safety. By good fortune, too, I 
 came upon a pathway : a small piece of board nailed to a 
 tree bore the name of a village ; but this I could rot read 
 in the half light ; still, it was enough that I was sure of a 
 beaten track, and could not be lost in the dense intricacies 
 of a pine- forest. 
 
TIIK LAZAHU'lTO <,K nr.XAn. 
 
 Tl, I ^' 
 
 »dn::';:;r;:;:x^^^:fr'""'"™"'■'^ -'■■■'' 
 
 rar^,r:7;:: '■"----:- ^^;:r;rs,.r 
 
 fi-oui boing injurious, as I i.-ui • , /^ ''''"■^' <'XtTci.se, fur 
 
 ^h^> Pniiri.>; ih, fe,ii„. ,-' , ''^Z ''"*^ '^'T'"'^ by the sen, or 
 tempered Hunlio.,.t Htenlinir n,,! 1,''^'!''^ '^"''^"^^^•- '^^^e 
 
 ••""« without. H,..,n,H:i; the itt't/ " ''"^ '••^'"'^•^ 
 
 or ending i„ non.e shn ly no J i Z''''"'''" ^i'^'^' "l'«y«, 
 
 fi 1 the mind with a n y i.// "V 'l"^^'"-'"^''^ '^"<l '-etired, -I 
 of wan<lering forth ov r he in, T"' ''^"'''^'«- ^^^^^^ad 
 conten.phUing the g,,. oc '^n T' T ^^' ''"^'^^' '^ '^^^n 
 f-n. back upon itsdf, and [ « is ' i -T'' ''''''''''' ^^^'^ 
 '^'•onnd it. '^ satisfied with the littie world 
 
 Such were my reveries as f in i 
 ^'-t to muse, nlid tiien to ,, ' " 'T 'T'''' ' *^^«' '^^ 
 .a weary foot-traveller knows w I '' ^ VT"' '" "'^^^^ '^« «»ly 
 of a spreading tree, lies T/tn '^ dtl ''''''''' ^'^^^ ^^ade 
 been late ere I awoke- tlie s r , . '''"'• ^^ ^"st bave 
 "-ugh the leaves, and ts ^S^^^ obli.uei; 
 
 At first my limbs were sti/and rii . T "' "^ '^^y- ^ ''o^e. 
 «f <^ebility ; but after a Httle i S ' " ."'^ ^'^^^-tious those 
 and I strode along free r "'• '"^ ''*^'«"«t'' ^'^^"^e baek, 
 after about three hours'^tt walk ""'"''' "''' ^'''''^^ ' <^-^^<^ 
 "^e wood, here the rema ns of f h''; " '^ '^'^"^ "^^^^ «P"t in 
 ^nents of firewood ind "a ed n '"""'^ '^' charred frao-- 
 
 blaek bread strewn . l^^^uT . d . 7 "'" ^""^^ "^^^^^^^Is of 
 argued that the party wtiL; e;f^;r^^^"^ ^™ 
 quitted the spot. Veryoratef ff "" ^^'^^^ ^ut rccentl^ 
 
 tbe reason, probably, of the .ifetfon :?th1 sVot tTtt ^ 
 
 li 
 
 
f 
 
 I .1 
 
 I ^ 
 
 '^■■| 
 
 30 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF .ON CfJti.GAN. 
 
 made a capital suppor, some clustnuts that had fallen from 
 the trees furu.slung a delicious dessort. Ni,.l,t was fist iL 
 
 ::f tui; uu eM::f •' ^? ^^^•^^'"" *^ ^^"^- ^-ru^:i. ^: 
 
 ot tUe little hut beuig l„„ tiunptiu^^ a ivfu'-e to i 
 oasdy. The next mornin,, 1 started earlyrmy ndnd" i;;;;:; 
 sat,shed that I was p,vc..ded by sou.e fo.I'paL i 
 not a,luHltn,g of any othu-, with who„., Uy ,,'erti.m I sh u 
 be perhaps able to eo.no up. I walked 'from ay to ', 
 mth scai-c.ely an interval of rest, but, althouuh h t k Vs 
 of n.any feet showed Uie my conjecture was ri^ht d d . 
 succeed m overtaki.:j, them. Towards evenin.^I a^-ai c-ime 
 
 p!^. ^"t^r'''^''i- '''''' ''''' '''-' -^- ^^^^^^ 
 
 pioMuea tlian the precedmir one 'I'h..v ..iw,-..,.. i . ■ 
 kill.><l .1 l>iw.i-. ., w. ' "'^ ""*-• J^"^} appeared to have 
 Kiltd a buck; and though having roasted an e.Uire side 
 bad contented themselves with son.e steaks off tl ' uarte ' 
 Upon this I feasted luxuriously, securing a sudlei t roi 
 vision to last me for the next two or tCree days ' 
 
 In this way I continued to travel foi^ eight entire d-iys 
 each successive one hoping to overtake the p!arty in advance 
 and If disappointed in this expectation, wel pleiscnl w th h^ 
 good luck that had supplied me so ,ar with ood, and t de 
 my journey safe and pleasant; for it was both A su'l 
 beast of prey I never met with, nor even a serpen la nt 
 than the common green snake, which neit!. . veno,, us no- 
 bold; and as for pleasure, I was free. W.. not t at IT 
 happiness for him who had been a prisonei amom: t ^ 
 "D^peros"oi Bexar? ° ^ 
 
 On the ninth day of my wandering, certain unmistakable 
 igns indicated that I was approaching the verge of -c 
 forest: the grass became deeper, the wood less d"nse; the 
 UKlergrow h, too, showed the influence of winds . .undent 
 of an. li.ese, only appreciable by him who h wo i.ed 
 withanxious eyes every IitUe change in the aspect ,. Xature 
 became at last evident to the least observant in the thickened 
 
 st'clims'of ^'"^''' v""^"'" ^' '''' *^-«' -' -'"^ he 
 stoims of winter were directed. Shall I own it^ Mv heart 
 
 grew heavy at these signs, boding, as they did, a^iother 
 
 change of s.ene. And to what? Perhaps the bleak pra He 
 
 stretching away in dreary desolation ! Perhaps some such 
 
 tract of swampy moor, where forests once had stood, but 
 
THE LAZAIil-rro OF BEXAit. SJ 
 
 "*..'in ":•''' '"';'■'= ""'" f '■""''""'« »"1 eo,.,.„,,|i„„. 
 
 tMimnly hiv to tin. wcHt. ^>Aoi,ntanis, tlu-y lay 
 
 Vhilo yet revolving these tliouirhts, f reaehe.l the vom 
 
 a bulfaloTt In mLJI • ?"' "" ■ •■'"«'»»''to learned, 
 
 Ciaier MOW of the scene, I eouKI pneeive ii,at eveivthin^ 
 
 u ran, T"' °'"'"' """' - P'-"^™'"" "'«' ""if-" io'^-n"^ 
 up apiH'arnnce. ^"j^ uumi 
 
 R.elr„hin':'"!!r f .»">-, '""'V™' '"'■" '" "'°ve over this 
 
 ,;.^e I eve.. co.K.eiveC. -s,-al^Zl t " • .lY "lltr; 
 ■art sank w.thn, ,e a., I sat an,l l„„|„d, .hinl<in"Tw^' 
 
 " : ::::• ;:r;;:;tr„iT-™ r™r -- - :!"^er"„"„t', .::r 
 
 :iys or hours of life, and di( 
 
 > I'tched, .uioared lor ! And to this sad .lostiny 
 
 O IlTl"'!" 
 
 un 
 
 n, u! 
 
 brought me! Were it not for 
 
 had arnbiti 
 
 :(^n 
 
 t!)e craving desire to become 
 
 
■1' 
 
 82 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHKOAN. 
 
 so..u.tlnii,cr above my Htali.m, <„ ,n,>s.. i„ a spheio to which 
 unlhiH- my hutU nor my ul.ililios -avo me imy title, and I 
 8I.O..KI be now the huinhje peasant, livin- by ,„y dally labor 
 in my native land, my thoi.-hls travelling in the w„n, t.aek 
 tlu)8e of my nei.yhbors journeyed, and I neither better nor 
 Avorse off than they. 
 
 And for tliis wish - insensate, foolish as it was — the 
 c'Vj.ial.on is indeed heavy. I hi.l my head wilhin n,v hands, 
 '•i"'l f'ed to pray, but I eould not. The nnnd harassed by 
 various eonllietin.o; thou-hts is no( in the bent mood for sud- 
 i;l";'f">". I 'Vlt Uke the eri.niual of who.u I had once read, 
 hat, when the confessor eame to visit him the in..i.t before 
 Jus execution, seemed eager and altenlive for a while but 
 at Inst acknowledged that his thoughts were centred upon 
 one only theme, -escape! -To look steadfastly at the next 
 world you must extinguish the light of this one ; " and how 
 chll.eult in that! -how hanl to close every ehink and tissure 
 through winch hope m.iy ,lart a ray, - hope of life, hope of 
 renewing the struggle in which we are so often defeated and 
 where even the victory is without valuta ' 
 
 " He it so •' sighed f, at last ; - the game is up ! " and I 
 lay down at the toot of a rock to die. My strength, lono^ 
 BUS ained by expectation, had given way at last, ami I feft 
 that the hour of release could not l)e distant. I drew mv 
 hand across my eyes, - I am ashame.l to own there were tears 
 there -and just then, as if my vision had l,een cleared by 
 the act, r saw or I thought I saw, in the plain beneath, th^ 
 gbttering sparkle ot tlame. Was it the rertection (,f a star, 
 of which thousands were now studding the sky, in some 
 pool ot ram-water? No! it was real fire, which now, from 
 one red spark burst forth into a great blaze, rolling out 
 olun.es of black smoke which rose like a column into 
 
 Were they Indians who made it, or trappers? or could it 
 be the party in -whose track I had so long been followin-.- 
 
 utuT'u^ V"t '"'^^^ ''"^^ ''''^' descended? Speculation 
 H halt-brother to Hope. No sooner had I begun to eanvass 
 this propos.*,on than it aroused my drooping energies, and 
 rallied my tailing courage. 
 
 I set about to seek for some clew to the desceut, and by 
 
THE LAZARKTTO (,F bkxaK. gS 
 
 the niooiilirrlif uriii,nu 
 
 :l'>wn tlu. fa,, ,f t,., ;^^ 1 - Hv, ..|n..|. «,,„.,„ „ ,,„, 
 
 '■'' »-'xt footino should Jt.' .-": ""■'' ^''^' '"l^-'-v-ul to 
 
 and ere I reaebe.l th. h,,tt< u n l ; ', T''^ '^ ^^'^'-^ '-'"'^e, 
 to a string of rag« which wou d , ' ' "'"^'^''"^ ^^'"^ ''^'''"'^'^^ 
 scarecrow. ^"^^' '^^^^'^ ^^one no cretlit to a 
 
 When lookiii.r f.-on, h.-, * 
 
 ';>be i».medi:u,:,vr , , 7",,;";; '*• "'« ''"'"'I'P™-') 
 "bo"t half „ „,„,, „|f „„. i'm ,' '""■'•'■■'™l '■' «t"od 
 
 ''"If ^-ariiW, half |,„,,i,„" , '■„, ' ""'^■'- "«>"""y 8te,,», 
 
 J»l"-"oy, that ev,,, i„ ,hk . ,"/ "' '" •'"' '""S 'l-.v's 
 
 '"halt and ,„,<„ res,. Ltt- ;;;"■'; ' """ "'"'" """°e<i 
 
 ^''"'^'•'' ^vas long, addin- to 1" ^' '''!''''^\t^ ^ ^^^^^tou. M^ 
 -"' '-^tern jaws, blue w tL tti r"'1 • "^^*" "^ "'^ ^^--t 
 ^^^^'•^' '» tatters, and gave In 5 ,'^^ ^''""»- % «J'<>eH 
 ^^''>»e n.y Lands wor to n f^^'^^^'"" ^^^ '"J '^hoding foot- 
 
 I came onward til] I fou^ ,n sv r "^'"'^^' '^^^^'^-tottering, 
 *^- l>a-^ of a n.oundla u'"A: ' *^^'^^,^ !;- ^he great fire, tl 
 Minch formed a shdcer a.' inst t^' ' ?"' f '' '' ^""^^ " 
 Around the immense bCesa a'n 7 
 
 voi,. n. -3 ""^ '^ P'^'^ty, some of whom in 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 I % 
 
 .■ , III 
 
 (I ■ m 
 
 
 IP 
 
 

 
 If** 
 
 34 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 shadow, others in strong light, presented ii group the stran- 
 gest ever my eyes beheld. Bronzed and bearded coinite- 
 nances, whose lierce expression glowed fiercer in tlie ruddy 
 glare of the fire, were set ofl^ by costumes the oddest 
 imaginable. 
 
 Many wore coats of undressed sheepskin, with tall caps 
 of the same material ; others had ragged uniforms of differ- 
 ent services. One or two were dressed in "ponchos" of 
 red-brown cloth, like Mexicans, and some, again, had a 
 knid ot buff coat studded with copper ornaments, — a cos- 
 tume often seen among the half-breeds. All aixreed in one 
 feature of eciuipment, which was a broad leather belt or 
 gu'dle, in which were fastened various shining implements, 
 of which a small pickaxe and a hammer were alone distin- 
 guishable where I stood. Several muskets were piled near 
 them, and on the scorched boughs of the cedars hung a little 
 armory of cutlasses, pistols, and ■• bowies," from which I 
 was able to estimate the company at some twenty-eight or 
 thirty in number. Packs and knapsacks, with some rude 
 cooking utensils, Avere strewn around ; but the great carcase 
 of a deer which I saw in the flames, supported by a chevaux- 
 de-frise of ramrods, was tU best evidence that the cares 
 of "cuisine" did not demand any unnecessary aid from 
 "casseroles." 
 
 A couple of great earthen pitchers passed rapidly from 
 hand to hand round tlie circle, and, by the assistance of 
 some blackhead, served to beguile the time while the 
 •roast" was being prepared. 
 Creeping noiselessly nearer, I gained a little clump of 
 brushwood scarcely more than lialf-a-dozen [)aces off, and 
 then lay myself down to listen what language they were 
 speaking. At first the whole buzz seemed one unmeaning 
 jargon, more like the tongue of an Indian tribe than any- 
 thing else ; but as 1 listened I could detect words of French, 
 Spanish, and German. Eager to make out some clew to 
 what class they might belong, I leaned forward on a bough 
 and listened attentively. A stray word, a chance phras^e, 
 could I but catch so i ;uch, would be ^ ough; and I bent 
 my ear with the most watchful intensity. The sp.>t I oc- 
 cupied was the crest of the little ridge, or "Prairie roll " 
 
ip the stran- 
 
 •ded coiinte- 
 
 in the ruddy 
 
 the oddest 
 
 th tall caps 
 "ns of differ- 
 loiichos " of 
 !,iuij, had a 
 ts, — a cos- 
 irecd in one 
 her belt or 
 inplements, 
 lone distin- 
 ! piled near 
 luug a little 
 )in which I 
 ity-eight or 
 some rude 
 eat carcase 
 a chevaux- 
 ; the cares 
 f aid from 
 
 pidly from 
 
 distance of 
 
 while the 
 
 clump of 
 !s off, and 
 they were 
 unmeaning 
 
 than an^'- 
 of French, 
 le clew to 
 >n a Ixjugh 
 20 phrase, 
 nd I bent 
 ipit I oc- 
 lirie roll," 
 
 THE LAZAUETTO OP BEXAR. 3.- 
 
 A8 I listened, I htrcf . Hp ^'"'!'''"^'^^ '"' ^^'^"^ ^^'^»^- 
 in English. It wa. o ly';foT,^"tV'f" '^'^^''''''^ 
 country, and set my heL aSl ''""''^"^ ^^ "^^ 
 
 out upon the branch to cTfch t ? 1= ^'"'''''^''^^y- I lay 
 went the frail timl'r and with f """''' ''^""^^' ^^«° «^"-«^ 
 behind them. In a Lcc^ H ''^ ^'^ ''^™^' ^«^^" ^ ^0"^^! 
 
 a cry of -rhe jSul" th\ I^LT'' ''" "^. f ^^=^' ^^^"^ 
 The sudden shock ove theS •/ V ^^^"^'"^^^^ «» ^H nicies, 
 the whole party had at on >p ll i ^ I"' '"'^'^^ P^^'^^^^* ' f^^' 
 -Kl stood \n c^hl^:Z^'^::::,'fr'''^' ^^ ^^^r arms. 
 Meanwhile, the snioke n 1 /h ? ,r *^ ^'^^^'^'^ any attack. 
 «Ju.t me out from^ew T th^. 'f "^^ ^'"^^^^^ effectually 
 -•gnt of me, and I u y netr v tV TiT' ''''' ""^»^^ 
 ketry directed upon a To^^e Juabt r^'t^'t '^' "*' '""^■ 
 their own conviction • for ,ft ^^'''*- ^"^^ ^^emed 
 
 steady contemplal 'of" e^^iroir"' "' l"^ ^^^^^^ ^" 
 a roar of savage laughtS ' What f^P.^^-^^^^ "^to 
 
 a 
 
 strange to„g„o:,ve.e mtered " "''' '" """•* ""^^ ""^ 
 
 in,plored their i-^c; »«', b ',,S e ™ ^^ I''" ""^ '>»<'^ 
 I conclude tbat I made a L,;'": ^°^". '''=f="<^<=lessness. 
 laughter burst forti „ io ,d J t™?" ^""1'""' ^"' ^S"'-' 'l'^ 
 taking a brand of t le bl ;„ „" tbau before, wJaen one, 
 
 examine me. He threw dm n> .I™"'^' '=''™ ""^'^ '» 
 ward With horror, sirramiTot: a"'" l^™ ".ff.f i"." ^-■'.; 
 
 and drTi'trrr ™ ^-" ™'- -^^ is; 
 
 "I'm not a lepero- never was!" cried I in Q.. • u 
 "I m a poor Enc/lishmin w^,^ i, i , . ' '" Spanish. 
 
 Lazaretti." I could To Zt """"^t ^'' "'^^^^ ^^'^^ the 
 the earth. ""^ ^"''" ™^^'^' ^"t fell powerless to 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^Z^^rf''' ^-^ ^ »-"ff voice. 
 - leeward of the fi" l 'T.lJr.L/jlJf',"^^ ^-^' ---1 over 
 
 of water over h 
 
 mj~% — 
 , x-croz 
 
 There, that will do. Dash 
 
 a bucket 
 
 m 
 
 i. <: 
 
 1 1 
 I ;! 
 
 7 •-- -^'V^^i. 
 
 Perez obeved with a vengeance, for 
 
 I was soaked to the 
 
. 
 
 
 ^•■:s 
 
 
 "i* .. ■ \. 
 
 V ; i' ' 
 
 ■ '^ 
 
 ^'' ■ "' y^ 
 
 
 i,#ii 
 
 HI 
 
 S: 4 
 
 
 ; 
 
 I 
 
 I" 
 
 
 36 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Skin and at the same time exposed to the scorching glare 
 
 sundtf ' "''" ' ''''^"'^ ""^^ ^"'^ ^ «^^^P -t 
 
 " A'u't you Cregan, I say?" cried the same English voice 
 
 which spoke before; ''a'n't you little Con, as we u^ed to call 
 
 " Yes," said I, overjoyed by the recognition, without 
 sprkoi'''" "^ '' "'^ "^'^' "^^"^ thf little Con you 
 
 saidl^' [.^^"^^^^^'^^ your voice the moment I heard it," 
 said he. " Don't you remember me ? " 
 
 Z^ M^V-^ '^"-^ 'o -e Off, or ru Lad TbZ 
 
 " And I '11 follow you." 
 
 "And I; and 1," cried two or three more, who, suiting 
 the aoon to the speech, threw back the pa^ of he S 
 muskets to examine the primincr 
 
 " I 'lUat tf / f J';r ^''^ '!" '°- " ^^^^'^ ^^^ Englishman. 
 firL"lfa?him.-^"^"' skuH open with this hanger that 
 
 "Will you so? " said a thin, athletic fellow, springing to 
 gLdt°'' "^ " ^""^' "— W-led knif'e fiL'his 
 
 withthrcn' there Rivas," said another ; '' would you quarrel 
 with the Capitan for a miserable lepero?" 
 
 uT^lIr* ^ ^TT' ""^ ™^ "^^''^'^-'" ^^^^^^ Kivas, snlkilv. 
 
 hi« hr L r' '.^V^'' '"^^''"'^'" '^''^ th^ Englishmn, in 
 his broken Spanish ; -I'm the leader of this exped, .. • 
 If any one deny it, let him stand out and say so. If half a 
 
 better than to show you who 'h the best man here " 
 
 A low muttering followed this speech, but whether it were 
 of admiration or anger, I could not determine. Meanwhile 
 my own resolve was formed, as. gathering my limbs together, 
 i rolled upon one knee and said, — ^ ^^^ 
 
 "Hear me for one instant, Senhors. It would be un- 
 worthy of you to quarrel about an object so poor and worth- 
 
 less BM T am A thoMffh -i-^f « 1-V t ■ , *>^Jitu 
 
 jMinoagt aot a kpuro, I nave made my escape 
 
 ?i 
 
THE LAZARETTO OF BEXAB. 
 
 87 
 
 ^^^^:^:^t f^" " '-'• ""^ "«'e 
 
 fatigue ami starvin^u^"" Tf ° "1°™ ""' "'"»'' "^at 
 lie kind enough to mrow ,„ ' , "'^7"'1'"«1'«>- If you will 
 'i.ne to „,„v: away 1™; '"7f "f "^'-'l. and give me 
 
 send a volley into ]„e. ° ™ '""='-'' ""arer and 
 
 "one'sIcondS 'bt i^^tion''""^"! ""'' ','""' ''*■•''"«<> '» say, 
 possibly by the very "eSss,!^ "T """ "'""'^ °™'- «'«•» 
 last one called out ••&„'„ '"^' """ l"»l>"Sal. A 
 
 burn tbose rags o you^i 'e 'M '' '°""' "">- y"'"" <"■ =», and 
 instead of tbe.n." " S>ve you something to wear 
 
 -ic, tb:En:s'bi,';.'" ."ir; r t r ^°«' -■"-"-■•• 
 
 to leeward there, and nnf . ' ^ ^^^'^^'' "^«^'« ^o^u 
 
 I could scarcek^ credit m/"' T' ^.'^' ^° ^'^"•" 
 better days insph-cj ^ w h f " 1""'-'^ '' *^^^ P^^^P^^' of 
 ^eet at once, a^d, i^m ^i ::thS^iSj/77-f "^ 
 resemble a trot, set out in tlm ri T • "itended should 
 
 already a small' bund of o th ^^^^^ T'^^'f ' "^^^ "^^^ 
 acceptance. ^^ ^^^ ^een placed for my 
 
 IKrformed with a most Ln^? f ""^ """"'S' ""'1 ''W»h I 
 
 «"ons rags into rl ^TeU tlilV™' "' ' '^"^ "■» 
 -l.e la. tie that bound In^ f'thXLS Stto^' I? 
 
 .kln'Mf t" ilt-^Char^'altS:^ ^B™"" ' " ''^^^ ^ 
 «oxar to the Kio def /orto," SU' """"■™*""=" '""■ 
 
 n=;e::'td't":e,"^''^ 
 
 melon 
 
 " Tl 
 
 n awa}', 
 
 • sore waB a comrtide of ourM it Pn»vf„ x- 
 
 f-. s,tti„g „ ,„e ,„.„„, ,,,,;•, ;'eif:"rrr i;;°^, ■' 
 
 I'^pom had bo. 
 
 vn rcsf 
 
 in? the day before." oried 
 
 a third. 
 
 lere a, 
 
 s H 
 
 Wi 
 
K 
 
 H 
 
 }- 
 
 Mi 
 
 38 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Let him sit yonder, then," said the Englishman, 
 lou re more afeard of that disease than the bite of a eav- 
 man ; though you need n't be squeamish, most of you, if ic 'a 
 your beauty you were thinking of." 
 
 .^•^f,/^"' T'*^ '^'''"^ ^ ^^^^ ^^ *^« insidious character of 
 this fell disorder, and many a rude jest on the score of pre- 
 caution against it, I was ordered to seat myself at about a 
 dozen or twenty paces distant, and receive my food as it was 
 thrown towards me by the others, - too happy at this humble 
 privilege to think of anything but the good fortune of such 
 a meeting. 
 
 " Don't you remember me yet?" cried the Englishman, 
 standing where the full glai-e of the fire lit up his marked 
 leatures. 
 
 " Yes," said T, " you 're Halkett." 
 
 " To be sure I am, lad. I 'm glad you don't forget me." 
 
 "How should 1? This i«not the fcrst time you saved 
 
 "I scarcely thought T had succeeded so .yell," said he 
 '' when we parted last ; but you must tell me all about that 
 to-morrow, when you are rested and refreshed. The crew 
 here IS not very unlike what you may remember aboard the 
 yacW : don t cross them, and you '11 do well with them." 
 " What are they?" said I, eagerly. 
 " Gambusinos," said he, in a low voice. 
 "Bandits?" whispered I, misconceiving the word 
 "Not quite," rejoined he, laughing; ^''though, I've no 
 doubt, i-eady to raise a dollar that way if any one could be 
 found m hese wild parts a little richer than themselves • " 
 with this, he commended me to a sound sleep, and the words 
 were scarcely spoken ere I obeyed tlie summons 
 
 Before day broke, I was aroused by the noise of approach- 
 ing departure ; the band were strapping on knapsacks, sling- 
 ing muskets, and making other preparations for the march • 
 Halkett, as their captain, carrying nothing beyond his 
 weajjons, and in his air and manner assuming all the impor- 
 tance of command. ' 
 
 The " L^pero," as I was called, was ordered to follow the 
 
 column at about a hundred paces to the rear; but as I was 
 
 i.« i. j..n.pn, Ml v,.-:npaasiun i.o my weajc state, J readily 
 
THE LAZATIETTO OF BEXAR. 
 
 89 
 
 entire days, we coutinnB, f, ^ "'""""^' "-I'lcll lasted seven 
 
 of mo„„t«,;ZC,aZ ' ,:it "'• °^"'' " "'■^"y '■■-' 
 ity of . :eh day's jZ2 save , *. '^'"-•"r """ ""'f"™- 
 I'^-id of l,„ffaloes, tte ahutloe fj"," ,"'''' "^ " <"""' 
 tbe blackened en.bers of a bh-Zo . n' "•■"-l""''". <"• 
 leaders by dwpllin<r „„ , """""p. — ' will not wearv my 
 
 enough, whe,ri sa^-Zvl ""■" 'f """""' "^ ' l"«Med on'! 
 
 liarasseJ my ic^bv ' 1 f ."'^ '"^ fdlow-tiavellers 
 
 clear tbey were lo ™.,x.ba^ ', 1,°'" "°'*'''--''- It was 
 still less a •' wa,° , 1 " ' ' "''"^Z °°"'" "'"y "'<' '"■"^•■«. 
 Which on the Sn^^',,,~.r °/ ""'^'; '"»'-'"« l-ands 
 upon tlie villa.,ers „ ' , ^"""' ^"''^ " Waek-mail " 
 alainst the i^K ia.'islj :, 1,? TT' "'■°''''«°» 
 weapons, their discipline „or sTu less";, '"'"" !"'" 
 argued in fav„r of this sus >lci„ w, f!^' """' ""'"I's™, 
 be, then was an insnrn.Zrb, 'pu I^ „' ^l' %"'" "°-f ^ 
 were called Gambnsinos, _ not], n- more % ""^ 
 
 some of my readers maj- not be wisrth'n ^T"""= '""' 
 me talce this onnortunitv wlni,.L • ? ^ "'^" ™'' '«« 
 in a few wordTwttt; were '"""'" '''^ '''■'''*• '" ^^ 
 
 a cTatX''';:'nrr tf ''""*^'-^ "' *" '^^ ^-M- - 
 tbe " Vaq,°;r"s'' tl,; " ll'rr'™":°' '""'^'' '""'''^ '^ith 
 sections. Too poo .olect" ''' """ ''™ "taost" equal 
 
 capital for cn^erprL on „T '"""'r"''' °^ "''"""■ "'"'out 
 wandering diseovereistr, ■" f "'"■' """^ f"™' '«">"« of 
 
 the so„oi^,tnT,;: , ir::r,« ? '^^t'"":" ■"''*« "f 
 
 of the Rocky Mounta r, a1 """ ""''"■'" '^'"^'■>< 
 
 from circunJtanc "X ;• at ,3"?, 'T'"";*^"™"' 
 
 the se,f.chosen "Xrlh^'Cri^rt-.S"' 
 Their skill is, as may be jn.lged, nude as then- habits 
 

 *; iiii 
 
 40 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 a ^.j 
 
 They rarely carry their researches to any depth beneath the 
 surface ; some general rules are all their guidance, and these 
 are easUy acqtnred They are all faauliar with the fact that 
 the streams which descend from the Rocky Mountains, either 
 to^^rds the Atlantic or Pacific, carry in their autumnal floods 
 vast masses of earth, which form deposits in the plains ; that 
 these deposits are often charged with , ecious ores and 
 sometimes contain great pieces, of pure gol.l. Thev know 
 besides, that the quartz rock is the usual bed where the 
 precious metals are found, and that these rocks form spurs 
 from the large mountains, easily known, because they are 
 never clothed by vegetation, and called in their phraseology 
 " Crestones. ^-^ 
 
 A shai-p short stroke of the " barreta," the iron-shod staff 
 of the Gambusino, soon shivers the rock where treasure is 
 suspected ; and, the fragments being submitted to the action 
 of a strong fire, the existence of gold is at once tested. 
 Often the mere stroke of the barreta will display the shinin- 
 lustre of the metal without more to do. Such is, for th? 
 most part, the extent of their skill. 
 
 There are, of course, gradations even here ; and some will 
 distinguish themselves above their fellows in the detection of 
 profitable sources and rich " crestones," while others rarelv 
 rise above the rank of mei-e " washers," - men employed to 
 Sift the sands and deposits of the rivers in which the chief 
 product is gold-dust. 
 
 Such, then, is the life of a " Gambusino." In this pursuit 
 he traverses the vast continent of South America from east 
 to west, crossing torrents, scaling cliffs, desccndino- preci- 
 pices, braving hunger, thirst, heat, and snow, encomiterincr 
 hostile Indians and the not less terrible bands of rival 
 adventurers, contesting for existence with the wild animals 
 of the desert, and generally at last payin<r with his lifo the 
 price of his daring intrepidity. Few, indeed, are ever seen 
 as old men among their native villages; nearlv all have 
 foimd their last rest beneath the scorching sand of the 
 prairie. 
 
 Upon every other subject than that of treasure-peeking 
 their minds were a perfect blank. For them, the varied 
 resourcefi of a I&sd abounding in the products of every clime 
 
THE LAZARETTO OF BEXAR. 
 
 41 
 
 nlT, taS" ::«„,?' tt? '°*-"^' "- »" -Weh grow the 
 
 .o« wa, eve,, fouud"''"^ w^ rurSimfo? St"" "° 
 of terraces which, on thp a., i "* \'-i"iit> ot that series 
 
 ton-ic, .o„o with t z,z ot ,rie;r,.t,';'i:i""^ "f '^° 
 
 the estimation of men who nni-., ,7 '7^"' ^'•'^^1 no value in 
 recognize,, ,.u. o,!" il .l "^ "^t^^": ^^r ."' 'i'T "^'l"' """ 
 nous vegetatio,, of t|,i„ Hcl, <ra d..Wn u '' "'™ ""= S'"' 
 
 torrents that fissure the Cordmlra h' '■^" ""'"'""' "< '"» 
 
 intersect the RocKy Mouull't' ' '"' ""=■'"'">' g^S- that 
 
 waf:,ii\°Lr';;;!t,rttrt:;:™'-; r./i- ".ey,e<, 
 
 To them, civilization ,..•>! , f^'^^^' ^'"^ trackless wastes. 
 
 «o„ auci'd^u'r -jr^t lt„z"' "' "■•"*^ '*^- 
 
 their successes there was th 4item™t''^7 ™r'°''''^ »' 
 to-day, they vowed a lautp o sS g" to ,,f "v "? ^ '"" 
 to-morrow, in be^arv t ,ev l„..„ i ?, Virgin," — 
 
 to steal fr^in theTc y^^ L7therhad M T "' '"''"''S" 
 What strange and wondioiL 'Sraiitf rt" "'■""''• 
 we wandered over that swelling ."'aiHe' "^''^ ""=""■■"'» 
 
 th™"jtr;is'„?:Lttrr'a"r'^^"^ ^^" "-' ^-^n 
 
 years a prisoner an o ,. th t'boct' ""^ "'r" """ ''""^ ""■ 
 heart still lingercl with the ti,™?? ^n^ssed that his 
 beside the war-lire and . la,,™! 7T '""' '"' "« '^ '^''^f 
 o( the rival Pawnees -^i":"';/™:?"" T'"'' "^ '"•» 
 perament, recklessness ha, T" ^ "'"' «""'getic tcm- 
 
 - often ;„ peri,,^:i;:;%ti^'rrr™i rt"?-, ^"^« 
 
 riangersit; and thus, through „u their storie,,"?'' '=°- 
 ever predominated, -a careless ,dff.' """>'« ''ding 
 coupled with a ™ost resol X o d "cUn ttaifo V™''^ ™'' 
 
 I soon managed to make n,v=l r r ''""««''• 
 
 assemhlage, my nitn:; 'tp df t/^rnrr"' '"'^ "■■"'"^ 
 by what I already knew of French and r ' '^"«"''g''- aMed 
 to a knowledge of Spanish andP, ™""' ''"""'"«' ■»« 
 " half-breed ••! acQuiivdns,,; '"""/""^^o^ ^'bilc from a 
 
 -e throughout treTo^rpSef'l "^"""^" """^«' *» 
 sirlea he:-- , I, . V-''"'™- I '^■as fleet of foot, he- 
 
 re uest'a^^n, '^pa:;: 3 ta""'' " ''""'■'"'' °' ^^ 
 u ii- '^ "^ »^"Jii{ •'Anions than mnnv <t ftc «^* _ 
 
 brilliant order; and, lastly, my ski,rh:\.fok«.;, ^^1" 
 
 J ■ill' 
 
42 
 
 COXFESSIOA-S OF CON CUEGAN. 
 
 4; 
 fit 
 
 7.s; 
 
 derived from my education on board the " Firefly," won mr 
 high esteem and un.eh honor. My life was the efo.^ "r 
 from unpleasant. The monotony of the tract over which ve 
 marched was niore than compensated for by the n.arvellous 
 tales that beguiled the way. One only dra/back exist 'on 
 my happmess; and yet that was sullicient to embilte n n " 
 a lonely hour of the night, and cast a shade over nmnv a 
 jc^youH hour of the day. I .n. .i,..o,t ashamed to ^ ,s 
 vhat tha source of sorrow was, the more as, perhaps mv 
 kind reader will already fancy he has anticipat ,1 my ' He/ 
 and say, '^ It was the remembrance of Donna Mar a t^ e 
 memory of ker 1 was never to see more." Alas, no! t 
 wasa leeling far more selfish than this alllicted me. 'The 
 plain fact IS, I was called -The i.^pero." By no oth r 
 name would my companions know or acknowledge me U 
 was thus they lirst addressed me, and so they would not take 
 t )e trouble to change my appellation. Nc/t that, indeed 
 dared to insinuate a wish upon the subject; sudi a hhi 
 would have been too bold a stroke to hazard in a commy 
 where one was called - Brise-ses-fers," another, ''cS 
 di-Sangue," a third, - Teufel's Blut," and so on ^ 
 
 It was to no purpose that I appeared in all the victor of 
 health and strength. I might outrun the wildest bull of the 
 buffalo herd; J might spring upon the half-trained " mus- 
 the"'wrb,r''"f^' the antelope in her flight; I might climb 
 the ^^all-l,ke surface of a cliiY, and rob the eagle of her 
 young: but when I came back, the cry of welcome that me 
 
 me he horrid badge of that dreary time when I dwelt with n 
 the Lazaretto of Bexar. 
 
 The very fact that the name was not used in terms of scoff 
 or reproac 1 increased the measure of its injury. It called 
 for no reply on my part ; it summoned no energy of resist- 
 ance ; It was, as it were, a simple recognition of certain 
 qualities that distinguished me and made up my identitv 
 and at last, to such an extent did it work upon my ima.Vi- 
 nation that I yielded myself up to the delusion that I m-^s 
 all that they styled me, -an outcast and a leper! When 
 this conviction settled down on my mind, I ceased to fret as 
 e, .lui a g.v.0xiiy depression gamed possession of me, 
 
b'/' won nic 
 lerofore far 
 tT which we 
 : marvellous 
 c existed on 
 bitter many 
 ver niany a 
 to confess 
 erhaps, my 
 1 my orief, 
 Muria; the 
 IS, no! ft 
 me. The 
 no other 
 P:g me. It 
 1(1 not take 
 , indeed, I 
 ch a hint 
 I company 
 I "Colpo- 
 
 e vigor of 
 nil of the 
 ed " niua- 
 ight climb 
 le of her 
 ' that met 
 bout with 
 elt within 
 
 s of scoff 
 
 It called 
 >f resist- 
 
 certain 
 identity ; 
 y imagi- 
 at I was 
 When 
 fret as 
 
 of me, 
 
 THE LAZARETTO OF BEXAR, 
 
 48 
 
 «houlclyetbeknownassomS V ;r'"''''' ""'^ *^^^ ^ 
 The p,.ai.,e over whicl ^t '^^^^^^^^^^ ^ Ti- Lepero." 
 
 peet save with the changi„,; ,,ou ^ o tl 1' h'' "'"''^' "' ^'^ 
 ^I'-eary swell, the same yrilo^i h ' ^^ ^' ^"^^ '^^^'' «^""« 
 scorched cedars, the hLu. h ^l'^^ ^^ rpT ''""^^ ""'^ 
 tun,s that we saw yesterdav vol \ ''^ '^•'^^^"* "^«""- 
 
 ;ve knew they wouL on ^^'^ : ^^'"'l-ir ^f'^ ^-^^^^ - 
 took the reflection of the siene .'.7 '^ '^'* ^"•' '"''"^l^ 
 --•y, silent, and folo'e 'it ';"' •^""'"^'^'^^^^ ^'^^""g' 
 niai-k how this depression ..vl.n •. V '"""*''" ^"'^"f?h to 
 "adonalities. The Cm W "'' ■/''^'^'^ "'^'^" ^^^^^^rent 
 -ith only a slight^,a^r f ^r;:'^^ ,"'^' ^'^'^"^"^^'"' 
 his features, the Italian gr^ o vi , ''^''f":^ ''''' "1>'^" 
 ^panutrdwas careless and ^^eo ect , '' , ''''^''''^^' '''' 
 
 became downright vici<,ns • , -r-^^"'' "'"'^' ^''e Frenchman 
 spiteful humor." Up t e la ^' '''T""'''^ '""'''''^ <^' ^^^ 
 onr guides, no cham'e was "^.*"'''' '''''.\ "^ ^'^-'" >vere 
 accustomed to the life" of tt . . ^^^''^^Ptible. Too long 
 peenliar, they plodded cuf t c wholoV" f'"^ ''' ^"'^"^'"«« -^ 
 fact, -the discovery o Le r,n - "'*''' ^^""^ "I'^'» «"« 
 new track was to di^ ^le^ ^ "^ZO^^ '""^ ''"" "'"^^ «"r 
 . Our march, „o ledger el 4 jt """^' '"'^ "^^*- 
 ? narratives, had l^con.e ^ L^^^'Z^^^-^ ^ --^ 
 
 ing narrative , id T^^w:? ''' """^^ ^^^''^^ - ^--.^- 
 l^eavy fogs of' the n ""; .d T""';" '•'" "^'''^'"^- The 
 sunset prevented aU-^^oXtj^ "'1"^'^'^ -««« -t 
 often required the greates sJ n to T\ '^ ^^'^ P'^th, which 
 obliged to travel duH." t, stlt ie^t 1 ''' T '^^* ^^ ^^^"^ 
 out a parti,.Ie of .ha.le! on- fl ' 71 f '^'' ^^">'' ^^'i^*^' 
 and our ho.ujs eonstan 1 ' i /^ 't/:' '{ ^'f ^^^ --^s- 
 Wakn>, t<H>, became each <ul ^ ^ '"'' ""^ sunstroke, 
 
 signs by which our guwt dlco^^ 1 f " •' • '^ ^^^^^'" ' ^he 
 to me, at least, little sC of n , '*' ''''""*^ ^^^'^^d, to 
 
 chance they .ade ^^^ .tak: 'r::^::':^;f ^^^ ^^ ^3' any 
 near to nmtiny that uothin-- sho of n n .* ^'"'^^ '^^^ «« 
 eonid restore order. Save .Ttf ''*' ' ^^'" '""^^^^'^t^' 
 
 ^l^icb rarely a dav pas'ed ive mt, '^^^^"'•^'^"«»«' without 
 
 trudged along either 'lost t ^^^^ ^ ' T''"" ' ^^^^ 
 thoughts. vacuity or buried in his own 
 
 ir.i 
 
 \' \W '■' 
 
 If!' 
 
 1,1 'i4j 
 
'■ 
 
 till 
 
 %'■ 
 
 t 
 
 
 s 
 
 in 
 
 "TJiE PLACER." 
 
 S for myself, ,ny dreamy temperament 
 . aided me greatly. I could build castles 
 torever; aud eertanily there was no lack of ground hei-e 
 for the foundation. Sometimes 1 fancied myself suddenly 
 become the possessor of immense riches, with which I should 
 found a new colony in the very remotest regions of the West 
 I pictured to myself tiie village of my workmen, surrounded 
 with Its patches of cultivation in the midst of universal 
 barrenness ; the smiling aspect of civilized life in the very 
 centre of barbarism; the smelling furnaces, the mills the 
 great refining factories, of which I had heard so much all 
 rose to my imagination, and my own princely abode look- 
 ing down upon these evidences of my wealth. 
 
 Then, I fancied the influences of education diffusino- them- 
 selves among the young, who grew up with tastes ancf habits 
 so different from those of their fathers. Ho^\^ pursuits of 
 refinement by degrees mingled themselves with daily require- 
 ments, till at last the silent forests would echo" with the 
 exciting strains of music, or the murmuring rivulet at 
 nightfall would be accompanied by the recited verses of 
 poetry. 
 
"THE PLACER.' 
 
 45 
 
 nperament 
 likl castles 
 oiind here 
 
 suddenly 
 li I should 
 the West, 
 irroiindo.d 
 
 universal 
 1 tlie vei'y 
 mills, the 
 nuich, all 
 ode look- 
 ing theni- 
 nd habits 
 irsuits of 
 ^ require- 
 with the 
 ivulet at 
 'erses of 
 
 The primitive simplicity of sucl. i lif« «„ r fK 
 
 wo,,,,, ,L.,..^;,,;^,!.rr:;;;L:;:!;i;,';;•' "'^"" "^ """•«"- 
 
 nolllliig b,lt ,,u|ia ciitii.r,.,! ,,,..,,,|;„.,|,„ " '• "f'^!'' "". 
 
 toof„r, .nakea ,„a„"l,o, , i ^~""'^'' "'""' 1>"«1"<1 
 
 lleart ugai.ist ,„a„y a a,„ i, ||i,.ii„„ ,., ', '"'<', "i'"e tl,o 
 
 a.u,a g,.ea.o,.o„e aco„„',„anW . TUo ^ :,';:;.:^:f ] ""»""■'• 
 however they niuv renn sonf m ,., . ^ '"-^■'-''-^^^^'<1 visions, 
 
 ness or power, a ll yfd; ,V to "v/'l';^ f- "'""^ °^ ^'-^'^t' 
 
 wbat he i,nagi;.esat]L u^ e-tir't ::' f'^T''^- 
 tion! No one I tm f .- ^' ^ ^"^"^■''* «f such a sta- 
 
 for the fal ;,' . I, 'foSio "',''■""' ■",'"'^* " "■°-«'' 
 
 "»pa.ri„g agah,»tFo°,,.„,'e auiel t;n"" '■"""^■■' ""'^ 
 practice, if it be ,i„tbii,.r cl^e " ' "iliuaaWe 
 
 J^'zzzrzT^ :i '7 """°™'«^ "-' the 
 
 "t,ai,;"a„,la,tbo„g^,t„„,„ ; es,,:;, """ ""' ^''"""•■"""' 
 p.-e.>ted itseif. H»„„sr .1 b t d ^'''7''"' " ^'l""'*" 
 ,>ri<le a„(l 8e,f.e«tec>„ As I ,nll . * ^ "'"nistaliablc 
 yar,i„g aspect „, ea.^ ^! L^:^,:Zf^, ™ "'^"■- 
 
 uig my disnppointmenf on n / '^^ i-emembei-- 
 
 Chibimhna t,-ail ,ni..bt bav<^ a m" ' ,""" ^""""■'^ "'"t tl,.- 
 the redo„,„ah,e "Ba,k,"' ^f™ "r'> "."''e™ existence as 
 .ar . cod„sb, a,.e s^ut vi:;:drc,StL^,°^"- '-'" 
 
 :«-ni.ht"rid^Lrser!:::rb:':!,f ' -r- "- '■™^» 
 
 ■aspired by this predictio,, increased a, we 7''"°"f''<^"«'' 
 occasional prickly pea tree „„„ ''"""' ""at an 
 
 and there, i dwJfC 'ranaCcr*;'"'- '!"",' "'■"-' "-" 
 found oinseives on the aldr -Tf , . *''" "'™"'' '"' ^^ 
 
 --red b, the oon*^:!™--; -«• --. ^,™^ 
 
 Braii^f 
 
 ■V' ■'! 
 
 ' .1' 
 
'iu 
 
 ^>. 
 
 *''^, 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 .^ 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 k 
 
 // 
 
 
 
 i< 
 
 I/. 
 
 s 
 
 K: 
 -% 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 III 128 i|2.5 
 
 £! us 12.0 
 
 IL25 i u 
 
 1.6 
 
 V 
 
 <^ 
 
 /. 
 
 ^^ ^^ 5 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^A 
 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4S03 
 
 \ 
 
 \\ 
 
 '%. 
 
 ^^\^ ^:% 
 
 
 ;\ 
 
 "C*^^ «>' 
 
^<,^, 
 
 K^^ 
 
 -/A 
 
 i/x 
 
 6 
 
46 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 H; 
 
 
 ft 
 
 i .M 
 
 "streak " of rocks and stones attested the force and extent 
 of that nyer when filled by the mountain streams, but which 
 now trickled along among the pebbles with scarcely strength 
 enough to force its way. Hermose proceeded for some Is- 
 tance down mto the bed of the torrent, and returned with a 
 handful of sand and clay, which he presented to Halkett 
 
 impression of his skill, who, in a few grains of sand taken 
 
 ret";!:;:! "'"'"^"'^^ ^^^ "^"-''^ »' °- ^-^ '■- 
 
 " How does it look, Halkett?" cried one. 
 " Is it heavy?" asked another. 
 
 him. -But we are on the right track, lads, for all that- 
 there 's always gold where the green snake frequents " 
 
 It was a mystery at the time to me how Halkett knew of 
 the serpent s vicinity ; for although I looked eagerly around 
 me, I saw no trace of one. ^ 'tiounu 
 
 "I vow he's a-sarchin' for the Coppernose," said a Yan- 
 kee, as he laughed heartily at my ignorance 
 
 "Do you see that bird there upon the bough of the cedar- 
 
 h": f rnd T1^'- " ''''''•' ''' ' ^^^>'^'-^ ' ' -^^1 wh^e^^- 
 he 8 found, the Coppernose is never far off." The mvsterv 
 
 was soon explained in this wise: the "Choyero" is in the 
 
 habit of enveloping himself in the leaves of a certain prickly 
 
 iTZlV ''^''^''" "'■''' '''''''' ''^'■'"-- ^« attacks the 
 aigest of these green serpents, and always successfully, - 
 
 the strong, thorny spines of the plant invariably inrtictin^v 
 death-M-ounds upon the snake. Some asserted that the bird 
 only attacked the snake during his season of torpor, but 
 others stoutly averred that the Choyero was a match for any 
 Coppernose in his perfect vigor. ^ 
 
 The approach of the long-sought-for "Placer" was cele- 
 brated by an extra allowance of rum, and the party con- 
 versed till a late hour of the niglit, with a degree of ^animation 
 hey had not exhibited for a long time preWous. Storie o 
 
 it "^f:"P; .^--"fd.t^-^ ^-y, -strange, wild narra- 
 tives, the chief interest in .-uich, however striking at the 
 
i and extent 
 s, but which 
 iely strength 
 ^1' some dis- 
 I'ned with n 
 to Halkett, 
 ; this is last 
 
 an immense 
 sand taken 
 ! year from 
 
 earth from 
 r all that; 
 ints." 
 
 'tt knew of 
 iriy around 
 
 aid a Yan- 
 
 the cedar- 
 1 whei'ever 
 le mystery 
 ' is in the 
 Lin prickly 
 stacks the 
 ssfully, — 
 inflicting 
 t the bird 
 >rpor, but 
 h for any 
 
 M'as cele- 
 irty con- 
 nimation 
 itories of 
 Id narra- 
 ? at the 
 
 'THE PLACER." 
 
 47 
 
 incident of gamSm ancf w "'T^^ '" '"^'^^^ "P^'^ '^me 
 completely the love of 'an Z '''""" illustrations of how 
 utterly wasteful a^dSs^VhTirb^r^^' ^ temperament 
 totally indifferent to every feeliroo f. ,'?" ''"^^' "^ «^^« 
 mention, by chance ofio.T-^^^^'''^'^'^- There was 
 tl^e eomrad^ of ^^/J, t^^ ^™^-, who had been 
 
 'He is dead," cried one. 
 
 Bacuachez, — such forf..,,. „ r , ^ <^i'estones of 
 
 -e again; none o /ourfiUhy wash ':^'/"^" "^ "^^ ^-" 
 splinterino- of a sfppl to . ^ """'^ ^'^'^'^ ^^^k, nor any 
 
 along ii.:::^::^t^:^^ I'^Tr'^ ^"^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^mi 
 
 fbining metal as voul 1 mn^fvol Z\T''' "' '^^ ^^^' 
 
 pipe ofl ;. t:;f !::7;' " "^''" ^^^'no^U a long 
 don't choke" us"."' now "' "" *° ""-^"^^ ^^^^* '« —in' 
 
 ^^^I^Z;:J^^'^^ ^:i ^\ the diggin. ? - said 
 nestin' you ought to be Sn.V' ^'^■^"ti"' ^"d a birds'- 
 goold, exception the brett . 5 '"^ "''.' ' '' ^^ ^^'^^^ ^^^ 
 Silenced ^is^advers:.;^, L^sumL:^-:'^^^'^'"^^-'' «-^"«^ 
 whatTLTL^alf OnrcaV'f^ - -ached Aranehe. But 
 fleepon't; and the fellows unThl-!'."? ^""' ^*' ''''' '^'^^ 
 M ourselves. EvervthW Z/ . """^ ^'^^ ''^^ "^"^'^ ^« ^e 
 dred and twenty U^e f valrf^~""' ^-^^ *-« 1^"^- 
 button off my cL e'ry In t' J ^f '" '"' ^ ^^^^^^ 
 ^ve had to nutke ourselver^ k nd of 1 t' .^'"^' '" "'^* 
 village, and try to vittul om-.ol, f ='^"* ^"^^^^^ ti^^ 
 
 war n't n.uch slvin' n It , ! T "1 ''f ''' ^""^d" There 
 all day long, and it co t ha^ ^^^"''' ^"'' ^^^ ^''^"^ ^^^^ndy 
 of t ! The^n we s ved Vpl 1 nil ^^ ?' T '' ^^^^^ ^^^^^ 
 was that finished Na™Jue Se '" ^"^'^ ^''^^' ^"^ ^^ 
 ciuasque. He was a-betting with Shem 
 
48 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Avery and Shem, who felt be was in for a run of luck 
 layed ,t on a bit heavy like; and the end o' it was, he won 
 
 ' out "Tf?"" T''!"'' ^^'S^"^'^' ^" *« ^ tweVeigh 
 ouneei tiiat he wouldn't bet for anybody, -no, nor let 
 any one see where he hid it. Shem had hi^ hear on tha 
 
 ^et \nd l! '".^ f '''^''' ^"^^ "'* '''^' '' '-^^ fir^t, but up he 
 
 S ows me '"'ti 'f • ' """^' '""^''' ^'-^^^ ^«' ' "- "-" 
 shorfrh-r' 7 ''" ^^''' ^'^'"' ^^^^^•'*^' ^'^d he went out a 
 
 short distance into the wood, where he had a sheep's heart 
 banpng near a rock, in the centre of which he had concealed 
 bis treasure. He was n't three yards from the spot when a 
 
 Ta r^:T' '"-^^ r^"»' ^^^ ^^"» g-s and mak- 
 ing a spi ing at the piece of meat, bolts it and away ! Nar- 
 
 theT: f 'r' 'T ^'^ '''''' J""^'^' "•^'— ^ -'he was ; 
 here a deadly combat must have ensued, for when his cries 
 aroused us, as .we sat within the hut, we found him bUten 
 on every part of the body, and so near death that he had 
 only ime to tell how it happened, when he expired '' 
 ^^ And the snake?" cried several, in a breath. 
 He got clear away ; we gave chase for four davs aft 
 - in vain But a fellow with as much spare cash about 
 lum must have come to bad ere now." 
 
 nn'f "^^-i"^'""!! ^""^ '^PP'"^ ^™ ^P«" -f°^« this, depend 
 on t, said another. " There 's scarce a snake of any size 
 Has n t an emerald or splice of gold in him " 
 
 "There 's more gold lies hidden by fellows that have never 
 lived or come back to claim it, than ye know of," said the 
 old trapper; "and that's the kind of ' Placer ' /'rt like to 
 chance upon, already washed and smelted." 
 
 - They talk of martyrs ! " said a tall, sallow Spaniard, who 
 had been educated for a priest : " let me tell you that hose 
 
 for the r gold as ever did zealot for iiis faith. There was a 
 fellow in my father's time up at Guajuaqualla, who it was 
 said, had concealed immense treasures, not only of gold but 
 gems, emeralds, diamonds, and rubies: well, lie L on"y 
 
 Ih To . fTl '•■"" '''' ^^ohernador of the mines to sha I 
 the booty, but he suffered his toes to be taken off by the 
 smelting nippers, rather than make a confession. Then 
 
I jl 
 
 "THE PLACER." 
 
 49 
 
 anothe'r' "' '^"' ^'^^ "^ ^ -^ge^ called Cnck," cried 
 
 whtcht;a"h;'uprn;rn.r;:f '^'^^?""^ ^^ ^^-^ "--^ 
 
 all its terrors, filled mv Ir/^.! T '' •'^' ^^ ^""costi and 
 of hope, vag;,e and Tlf-d^m i,' ^I't' ""''. ^ ^^-"^^ «-lling 
 opened a vision of future veVfh !."'' ^"' ^'^'^^' ««'"^'^o>v 
 The name, coupled "^h ^h L' p''"''"''' '^'"^'^ "^«- 
 <loubt upon my mind that t ^ ' ^"^^J^^-^Oualla, loft no 
 
 the Black BoaiS,t^^^^ 177 r^^'"" ^^ - ^^'-^- than 
 questions about him, a vvxid^nt fl I """'^ *"* ^''' ^ '^""^^''^d 
 knew that of all men 1 i^l , ^^''^^''^^"^"^^ ^^Id me back. I 
 Pieion and mistrus as hf ' Ga'l'^ "" ^^ ""^'^ ^'^^-^ to sus- 
 deceits eternally in practice llT'T'' '^^' ^''^"^'^ -»d 
 
 cealmentsof treLm-e t^eX'^^^^^ '''' ''"'*^'^"* ^^"- 
 
 in order to return to hem ,! ^ t, ^^f '" "' "^^ " ^^^««^«'" 
 like artifices suggest a u.Tivet , v ,foT;7i'r" '^"' ^"^'^^ 
 ever at work to trace motiv.« 7 !! confidence which is 
 
 ehancewordoracc^r rp^,lf "f,.if !"ti^^^ for every 
 
 therefore; but. from that hou foTwa.l tt" "'^''""^"^'^ 
 hidden gold were ever before me r^' . f^'° ^°^ ^'^ 
 was, in what companionshr TJ "'"""'"'^ "°^ ^'^^''^ I 
 occupied the foreground oT'pI "• '"='="^- ^"« %«'•« 
 thoughts represented him exactwlT ""i • " ^"^ ^'^^^^^ 
 'ny Bleeping fancies fil S nnf^\ f ,'•'''' ^™ ^^ Anticosti, 
 pictured him a slave t h e" p ' ''"'^ ^^ ^'' ^^^'' 
 
 heavily ironed and c ailed trT" ^' '"^ "^^'^ ^^-^ 
 with bent-down head a, d n • VTV^'"" ^" ^°^''^ the slaver 
 the decks. I fol : d 1"^^^^^^^^^^^ r"^^""S' '^^^--^ 
 
 plantation. I witnessed l^s If Hntr",^^ 
 his vengeance T t,.n«T a Z.- '^"'^^''"S^? his sorrows, and 
 
 the ''eeM,":,a,,e ' id ;;drhe';'-r,'°*^ "'"""' -"^ 
 
 I ! 
 
 ri[i 
 
i 
 
 50 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 'f 
 
 saw him next, it was as a gokl-washer in the dark stream of 
 the "Rio Nero," his distorted limbs and mangled flesh show- 
 ing through what sufferings he had passed. 
 
 Broken, incoherent incidents of crime and misery, of tor- 
 tured agonies and hellish vengeance, would cross my sleeping 
 imagmation, amidst whinh one picture ever recurred, —it was 
 of the negro as I saw him at Anticosti, crouching beast-like 
 on the earth, and while he patted the ground with his hand 
 throwing a stealthy, terrified glance on every side to see that 
 he was not observed. That he fancied himself in the act of 
 concealing the gold for which he had bartered his very blood 
 the gesture indicated plainly enough; and in the same atti- 
 tude my fancy would depict him so powerfully, so truthfully 
 too, that when I awoke, I had but to close my eyes a<^ain,' 
 and the vision would come back with every color and adhinct 
 of reality. ** 
 
 My preoccupation of mind could not have escaped the 
 shrewd observation of companions, had not the unexpected 
 discovery of gold in the sands of the river effectually turned 
 every thought into another and more interesting channel. 
 At first It was mere dust was detected; but, later on, small 
 misshapen pieces of dusky yellow were picked up, which 
 showed the gold in its most ^■aluablc form, in combination 
 with quartz rock. 
 
 _ Up to the moment of that discovery, all was lassitude and 
 indifference. A few only gave themselves the trouble to wet 
 their feet, the greater number sitting lazily down upon the 
 river s bank, and gazing on the " washers " with a eontemp- 
 uous negligence. The failures they experienced, even their 
 humble successes, were met with sneers and laughter; till at 
 ast Hermose held up aloft a little spicula of gold about the 
 thickness of a pencil. No sooner had the brilliant lustre 
 caught their eyes, than, like hounds at the sight of the staa 
 they sprung to their feet and dashed into the^stroam. 
 
 What a sudden change came over the scene ! Instead of 
 the silence of that dark river, through whose dull current 
 three or four figures waded noiselessly, while in lazy indo- 
 lence their companions lay smoking or sleeping near, now, 
 in an instant, the whole picture became animated. With 
 plashing water and wild shouts of various import, the deep 
 
"THE PLACER." .^ 
 
 61 
 
 glen resounded, as uowards nf fh,-.*. 
 
 river; and while some eTminVd h^ \"'? T''""^'^ ^"*« t^« 
 the "barretas," othe^-s dwTh^. If ""^ *^' ^*^«^'" ^^^h 
 with then- hands, and bdnf un "in '^ }" ''''"'' '^ '^^'^'^ '' 
 dust, over which thev blfit l^J^ '""''"' ^^ ^^^'^^ a°d 
 minutes together ^ ^'^^ "^^""^^^ ^^^^ for many 
 
 evI'/inrtrtelZr'r^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^* 
 
 l^ardened, time-worn gro^of men'^U T ■''''' ''''' 
 
 ness of childhood *L , ^ *"^ changing fickle- 
 
 spair, brioh SnTof ""T"""^ vacillations of hopelind de- 
 of ^i^tmeT-^ ;,r ^^^^^^^^ T't^r ''^^^^''^ 
 
 the bed of the stream sompthrl' f ' ^'''"-^* "P f^om 
 neighbor, then to a'otherlnd' 7'f '' -^'^"^^ '^ ^'^ 
 gathered clo.e around him al .^''■.! *"^ ^ ^"^^ ^^^ 
 
 "What is it?" saw I dtnn'n r/ ''^'''^ ^ ^°"°^ «>y«elf. 
 rnass of yellow gold ^'''^^'''''''^ ^' ^^t seeing some great 
 
 said H:'moC; ^^d wht^^t "d T ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^P^'" 
 enough to unbury that, there 'sliSn' ''tlT''''''''^ ^^^P 
 gold enough." ' ^'*"^ '^^"bt but we shall find 
 
 " Who sa\'s enouo-h? " ormri « nr^ • 
 suffoc ated from the water he heW ir„r°' ""' "^'"^•"^ ''»"- 
 -ear:;, the size of a .smal Upnk .. Of " "k ■■.' ^'""' °' '»^'"'' 
 "ever ea„ eat to ind^elS '^ '""' "■"" "^ '"'=' ™' 
 
 parl"'toal:SS;'rthrbZ''"^''' ^'"""»""^ «>^ -^o>e 
 
 sweied. In an nstant the ? ' T T "«' ™" "°°« ""«"- 
 seen emergfaranSnta. t"°.t """^ ^^'''y Agures were 
 
 tudes of'care.e.t^e'a^rtrSr""'""'^^^ '° ^'«- 
 
 had^tltr^a°v:r^Arv'^ '°"^'"^ '■""'■ '"■-" - 
 
 courses into Avhich moimtnin of ^ *^°^^ wayward 
 
 of unusual rai^ Ihe eoZnt'"'"' "'' ^^'"^^^^^ ^° ^^^^ons 
 «oon have become a^. an^rv nTT' '^"^"^' ^"^ ™gbt 
 
 ^:"-::ratfS;-f^ 
 
 ,ii 
 
 :f *i 
 
52 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 labo ThP T"'^ "^'^ '-^''"^•^" ^"^^^-^^"t PO'-tions of the 
 laboi. The section into which I fell was that of the scout" 
 
 The '^sierra" through which our path lay was sin^ularlv 
 wild and picturesque. The rocks thrown ni.-^ 
 fflnfoQf^« oK„ iocKs, luiown about m every 
 
 fantastic shape, were actually covered with the tendrils of 
 the liana, whose great blue flowers hung in luxuriant di Iters 
 from every cliff and crag. Wild fig anS almond tr os olded 
 with fruit, red guavas and limes, met us as we advanc d t H 
 at length we found ourselves in the very centre of .t'rac 
 rich m every production of our gardens,iKl a 1 growin^in 
 spontaneous freedom and wildness. The yellow-flowedn" 
 cactus and the golden lobelia, that wouk/have been ? 
 choicest treasures of a conservatory in other lands, we he 
 
 nippers The farther we went, the more fruitful and hixu- 
 nant did the tract seem. Oranges, peaches, and g ap . 
 all the profusion of their wildest abundance surrounded u 
 and even littered the very way beneath our fJet. To ee th^ 
 full enchantment of such a scene, one should have been a 
 prairie traveller for weeks, long-wearied and heart-so. e with 
 he dull monotony of a tiresome Journey, with fevered to^r^ue 
 and scorching feet, with eyeballs red from the glalHun 
 and temples throbbing from the unshaded lust e The ' 
 indeed, the change was like one of those wondrous ransfor- 
 mations of a fah-y tale, rather than mere actual 1 f e In the 
 transports of our delight we threw ourselves down amot 
 the flowering shrubs, and covered om-selves with blossom^ 
 
much as will 
 ty advice is, 
 5 the present 
 
 llo'hly." 
 
 euded Gani- 
 ind tbey are 
 
 and adopted 
 parties were 
 tions of the 
 
 the scouts, 
 ! stream up- 
 ) commence 
 
 party, and 
 
 ' singularly 
 lit in every 
 tendrils of 
 mt clusters 
 I'eos loaded 
 vanced, till 
 of a tract 
 growing in 
 v-flowering 
 ; been the 
 s, we here 
 1 the galli- 
 and luxu- 
 grapes, in 
 )unded us, 
 ro feel the 
 ^"e been a 
 -sore with 
 ed tongue 
 ii'ing sun, 
 i. Then, 
 transfor- 
 • In the 
 n among 
 blossoms 
 
 "THE PLACER." 
 
 us as scarfs. In all the w« .t "" orange-tree round 
 
 f.-"it in handfuls, L '\: 7;^^- ot oma..n, we tore the 
 P'-odigality of nature seenle 1 f ' '""' "'• '^'^« ^^^«teful 
 pi-oinpting us to a hundred follies^m',K!!/'^'''''' ^" ^"^^ l^^''*' 
 o.fl 1 up the measure of ou os t t rr"'"''" ^' '' 
 brightness of future hope, IlermoL t, 7 l>y /'^'parting the 
 spots of luxuriant verdu e ^^ rv of^ ''f ^"^^ ""^^ 
 ^■f'gwns richest with gold and fhnf ^ ,'" ^"""^' "^ ^'e 
 ain Of discovering^'^^ i^t:!'">f^t be almost cer- 
 
 vilinl.io PI . almost cer- 
 
 .;tf ^ J^?::!^ ^'^ -^ --diate 
 
 vicinity. There was InoilZ'^^lS'TiZ "" ^"' ^'"'"^^liate 
 advantage attending these "Oa e >' 'f ^ /"^^^^''^^^^^'^ble, 
 tbans never dared to intrud. m . ^^^''tibty. The In- 
 superstition being that the iv ^ " '^''^ Precincts; their 
 of the Mine," ah^s had his Vr"'' ^^^^'"'^^ *^« "Genius 
 ented summary ve .o. "1 unoT' n^ '"T '''^'^'^ ^"^^ -- 
 tl^-n. This pLe of rln^ar ai? 7'" ''^'"^ ^'^ "^^'^-^^e 
 corded, did not meet that f eo ft^' 'r^'' ^"'^^"'^''^^ '- 
 could have expected. On the co t, "^ ''''" '"^ con^rades I 
 of disasters and ealannti s wlS e^' ?^-?' '''''^ "^^^^"'^c^ 
 borations of the creed. In ded T '^ ^'^' ^""""« ^^^•^'o- 
 superstitious credences becom! \r''" ^^'"^ ^°'^ naturally 
 lives the wild life of the "i ji"*^""' ""' '^''^ *« ^^i- who 
 
 _ Then you think we shall have tn n. .. 
 enjoyment, Ilermose?" saW I nVi T-V'^' P"^" ^^ ^" this 
 a spreading banana. ' ^''^ luxuriously beneath 
 
 "Quiensabe? whoknnwa?" i • 
 clialect, and with a shr " oTthe sTo ^r^'.!"' "^ ^^'« '''-'^-- 
 ^, Although each event's l^ tut 7"' '''' '"P"^^' ^^"'^t. 
 the mcidents of each day inde b f v i '" "'^' "''^'""'■^'' ^'^^ 
 needless that I should dwe 1 u o f'^ "1^^" "^^ ^"i"^'' it is 
 at the time full of adventure an ' f "''' ^■'^''^'' ^^^^^^^er 
 fcular direction to the omul '""T''''''' ^''''' »« P^'- 
 Bucceeded in finding ' sZl "7,^'"'»^'i^ ^lestiny. We 
 
 Height be changed !.ndTterso' "''■"" ''''' ^^ '^^^ ''iver 
 accomplished The task "'' '^'^' "^ ^ard labor we 
 
 T.enrstweekortwoS;^2;r::.:::^^-:; 
 
 ^1 
 
 !; ; M 
 111 
 
 If 
 
54 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHEGAN, 
 
 or an occasional -Hpicula" of the metal, heavily alloyed 
 with copper; but as we followed up the course towards the 
 "lountam, a vein of richest ore was found, lying near the 
 surface too, and presenting masses of pure gold, many of 
 them exceeding twenty ounces in weight. 
 
 ^J^T^'' T''* ^"^ """ ''''"^* ^''*'^*'^'^' hmrchanced upon a most 
 
 valuable Placer; and now orders were given to erect huts, 
 
 and such rude furnaces for testing as our skill stood in need 
 
 ot. A strict scale of profits was also established, and a 
 
 solemn oath exacted from each, to be true and faithful to his 
 
 comrades ,n all things. Our little colony demanded various 
 
 kinds of service ; fur, while the gold-seeking was our grand 
 
 object. It was necessary, in order to subsist the party, that a 
 
 corps of trappers and hunters should be formed, who should 
 
 follow the buflfalo, the red-deer, and the wild hog over the 
 
 prairies. " 
 
 Many declined serving on this expedition, doubtless sus- 
 pecting that the share of treasure whicli might be allotted to 
 the absent man would undergo a heavy poundage. Her- 
 mose, however, whose adventurous spirit inclined more will- 
 ingly to the excitement of the chase than the monotonous 
 labor of a washer, volunteered to go, and I offered myself to 
 be his companion. Some half-dozen of the youngest agreed 
 to follow us, and we were at once named — The Hunters to 
 the Expedition. 
 
 The rivalry between the two careers, good-natured as it 
 was, served to amuse and interest us; and while onr blank 
 days were certain to obtain for us a share of scoffs and libes 
 their unsuccessful ones did not escape their share of sarcasm. 
 If one party affected to bewail the necessity of storing „n 
 treasure for a set of walking gentlemen who passed the'day 
 m pleasure-rambles about the country, the other took care to 
 express their discontent at returning loaded with spoils for a 
 parcel of lazy impostors that lounged away their time on the 
 bank of a river. Meanwhile, both pursuits llourislied admir- 
 ably. Practice had made us most expert with the rifle ; and 
 as we were fortunate enough to secure some of the "mus- 
 tangs, and train them to the saddle, our "chasse" became 
 both more profitable and pleasant. By degrees, too, little 
 evidences of superlluity began to display themselves in our 
 
k'ily alloyed 
 towards the 
 ig near the 
 d, many of 
 
 ipon a most 
 erect huts, 
 )od in need 
 led, and a 
 thful to his 
 led various 
 our grand 
 irty, that a 
 vho should 
 ? over the 
 
 btless sus- 
 allotted to 
 ge. Her- 
 more will- 
 onotonous 
 myself to 
 est agreed 
 lunters to 
 
 ared as it 
 onr blank 
 ind jibes, 
 sarcasm. 
 ;oring np 
 ! the day 
 >k care to 
 oils for a 
 ne on the 
 ?d admir- 
 ifle ; and 
 e " mus- 
 ' became 
 oo, little 
 !s in our 
 
 "THE PLACER." 
 
 55 
 
 toeeches, reach,,,. ,„ me k,,ee-oa , " he '«," l"'/;? ' "'"" 
 ch„,b,ng; .. i,„taa va(|„e,-as " veil I, . "" ■""'"' f" 
 a» holster, for „„r ,i't" ,' a, V 2: T' """ ""'"« 
 |i»ually designed by the wearer a,!l'„ , -.^ "' ""'""'' 
 ."tenuity, if ,.„t tLte: su^h'^L rl'et'""' ''™"^" "' 
 
 i.°rar:Xh:tv:::;~^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 And although I often in „?of " P'^^'ticular, admirably so. 
 strength and endurl of ^^ ' ctr" ""\-'^ '"^^ ^^^ "^ 
 steed, with his long foreloo oL ^ T^: ""^ ''^"^ "^"^t^ng 
 strange peeuliarit;of this b.^ d '"''^ 'moustaches,-: 
 pactness and agility b,eed,-was a picture of com- 
 
 We had also constructed a rude wacron «« ^ .u 
 even yet laugh as I think on it !- to ^ ~ '^ '"^" ^^^tlcm 
 were far too cumbrous for -i ,„p,.. L •^' '',"'" ''''''^'' ^'^'^^^ 
 on the prairies attracted s.Jhunbers of'"'' •''^' "'^^'^ ^^" 
 vultures as to be downrigh ,So' ^ '[^''^'^-^^-'-^^ and 
 was not exactly a type for 'lou" AcJe '' f ''"^^ "f^°" 
 strong and serviceable- anH nU- . . ' ^ ^^^ ^' least 
 nearer oval than drcu '; thtv / f"^ '' ^'^"'^^ ^^''^ f^'" 
 created in so doin' m Iht'have^W ^.' ''""^^ ' ^^^ "^'^^ ^hey 
 invalid, being somlw tl^^^^^^^ 
 
 train and theVell of a th1>usa„d pea okr^B^.'/ir ,"""^^ 
 ,'ather lilied it, - at le„t r i ''"'™'""'- «i" I bel,eve we 
 
 Syba.ite s„gge ted th ;:e otTvJ^I "'."" """'' ""'"ess 
 «==le, he was loolced „„ a' a lfi„d of h" k '"' '"■°"°'' *» 
 natare denied the least ear for music ""' '" '''"'"' 
 
 riot^nThfu\Ltd:^;^;'f' " "»' S'"*- 'POrt,-g.o. 
 
 successes, its dangers, and its toils J 
 
i ■ 
 
 ffd 
 
 There was, hosid 
 limiting iiffoids. \„\v,"it 
 azily iiluiij 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON OREO AN. 
 CH, that t'lidUvsa variety of mh 
 
 VMtiire prairie 
 
 ball 
 
 , aiitl tossing his liuo-i. hemi 
 
 was the heavy huffalo, I,,,,, I 
 
 jeiiiiii: 
 
 pioreed his douse hid 
 
 antl(;red sta 
 At 
 
 iNow, It w 
 
 '" anger as the ritle- 
 
 g, eaieering free over milos and „,il 
 
 *■>* tlie proudly 
 
 another time the grizzly bo 
 ly in the dense jungl 
 
 the h 
 
 issnig rattlesnake was d 
 
 whieh 
 
 noise 
 
 victim; while the wild tnrl- 
 
 es of waste. 
 
 II- was our prey, and our sport 
 
 ^' <"• among the dwarf scrub, throu-d, 
 
 In more peaceful m(,od, iho antel 
 
 u'ting, affrighted at tl 
 
 le 
 
 ope would be II 
 
 y or the great cock of th 
 
 would grace with his" b.i^lt' .'iu-y'f J^Z-fr "' "'' "'''^'' 
 whose aim was true at lo.ujc-lt Ihiir!^:;';'" "" ""'' ''' ^''" 
 
 And these were happy davs — tiw, ",.,>.. i 
 whole life; for i^ so,Snt' ;.re^ "vouM • S'^T' f T'^ 
 road of and,ition from which F Cl u n^ o^'"''"^"" '^'^' 
 the path of mere nlo'isure I 1, ' '^^"''^''" '" 
 
 the luckiest for unrcZl 'hav '''^' "'' "'^" "'* '''''''• 
 
 form clKl HKleecl flit ,»,t, it was to b.^athf^l'^J ^'^ 
 future raeet ns, somo ljri>rlif tin,. t„ ''" ""Pe "' some 
 
 an our -.par:;i,,,:'A ;;T.r:,,,°,r:i:i;t''r7''''™''' "^ 
 
 more wortliv of lior wouM r „ ."^ ''*' '"'"' """^l' 
 
 fearless follower o tb b'„ a kI b ufflir"'™""""""' -""= 
 life of tl,e wiM wood '_ ,!•,,, I.m' '";'=">"»™<"i to the 
 sole stock i„ rile ;;, tl e 111 f" ""''" f ''"''"<"' ''tose 
 
 practise on the unwa™ "° ° """=" "" '°""' 
 
 earlier years, ie ^^^TlT^'S^r^f "" 
 stranger still, but after-reflection has shown^r't, ,\ 
 true, I made far greater :>ro.>ress to v,rd Zt , Tl " '""' 
 When I ceased to ™ke ii tiTo obje'^:; '1*1;;^-'''^ «°^' 
 
iitiirc! prniric- 
 
 <>i lumlieiiiig 
 
 an tho ritle- 
 
 tlio proudly 
 
 t'M of WUHto. 
 
 ihI our sport 
 'III), throii<;li 
 1^1 1 ted at tho 
 oiild bo tlu^ 
 uf tlio wood 
 cap of him 
 
 ^iest of my 
 about that 
 • wander in 
 t no career 
 vould have 
 >f heat and 
 her purHuit 
 f toils and 
 face with 
 or a fear, 
 ve passed 
 J'Ut if her 
 •e of some 
 Mipense of 
 low much 
 ter, — the 
 led to the 
 er, whoso 
 he could 
 
 i to have 
 •n of my 
 It Avas 
 at it was 
 -for goal 
 
 GAM BUSING. 
 
 HK " life of the prairie," with all its s.rming 
 
 The Chase, whic:rt:^Stre^;^r^^^^^^ 
 
 uuvary n<r asnec) f,, tlu.«o „.? • '"^^^'"^d the same 
 
 aboun ,.<r n, '„:;; I;;,.,""™, " srr'^r/ro '""' 
 
 skin is the rarest nieoo nf '/'fj^''^^'^ f"-^'' whose sable 
 
 exhibit; now a::/^!;! 1i,f ^ ^ll^^a "'irT^T ^^" 
 bear would mark the earth, and .nU u 'v, '^. " ^T"" 
 pursuit; or, ajrain, some Indian - ti^i " T "T'""^ 
 - sirrn "_ would Warn „a fhoT —some red-man 
 
 hunting-grounds of r rib It tTatT "^'^'•"''^'"■"«" ^^^ 
 was needed. Besides these tLrP 7 on-cumspection 
 
 ri 
 
 ■'ill 
 
 ppp f' 
 
 iii ''^ 
 
 ' I'll 
 
58 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 a tree, a shrub, or a trfckli f bll^""?^^' "^^^°"* ^ l^ou^e, 
 nals of seenic interest ; aSihe e.thnatil' '"^f '^ '''' "^^^«- 
 cult as the fact. One rn„«f !, ^ i'""" '^ ^^'nost as diffl- 
 and isolation which tLrwild^asieT,!^^^ 'f^ ^^ ^^"^^^^ 
 every inoss-clad stone can have iHZ ^P'^' *^ ^^^^ ^ow 
 ^ence of some little insi<.nifica,it t^ ¥' ^ ^^^ ^^^ P^e- 
 of water, -how the bluf foX , sho ''f '''''' *^« ^^^'^^^y 
 found, -how the faint sptT^^^^^^^^^^^^ is to b^ 
 
 warning that rain is nigh at hand Vf -P^'" ^''^^^ S^^es 
 at each sunset is the horln ^ Jed " 7*' "^^ "^^^^^ 
 pierce space to a vast extent, and r.kll-^^^^ he eye can 
 tower afar off, and distinguish the an.. ^'^^-banks which 
 
 dark-backed herd of bulaloes or f ""^ '^^"^'^ ^^'^^^ ^^^^ 
 march. Every prairie -mr' S'''"^ ''^ ^"''^^"^ «» a 
 
 thatv t,„^JJ^^- 01^^ e^v^^^ undulation of 
 
 to think that all other prosoer . 1 V * ^^"^^^ ^ learned 
 unexciting, in conipa is'on S ZVo'-*'"'' ^^^""^ 
 sky and earth were one, aid wIpvpI ?' '^P^"^«' ^^^^re 
 shadows upon the vast pS. '''' '^""^« alone threw 
 
 The habit of a hunter's lif« ;„ 
 watchfulness against sudden perH It '''"?' *^' "^"«*^»t 
 ;n which deep reflectiveness is'blnded'.ith' ""^f- ^' '"^"^ 
 promptitude of action, -gifts whTH." ^ readiness and 
 
 favorable to moral tra ninf do 1 "i ""'"""^'^^"^^^ ^^^ more 
 day passed in total omudrior^' '"^?^^- '^^« ^^"g 
 separates to rendezvous at „i'.h?nM "^''^ '^''" ''^^ P^^ty 
 thought, -not, indeed the deam^^^^^^ necessarily calli for 
 forgetful of himself and all he J L 7 ""^ *^" ^'^'^^'^nary, 
 JJirring mental operation w i h' Tmal^l;! f ^V-^-'' 
 If fanciful pictures of the futuro «« f""'^ ^"^ ^ill. 
 
 it, intervene, they come wko it di«n. '''''J^^ ^'^^ '« "^^f^'^ 
 of the present, any more than thpf^'^-"^ '" '''''' ''^^^'^'^ 
 in^rfei. with the ^ures^nhe forf^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ « P^^-e 
 
 iS-r^-r^-~.sswithwhi. 
 
 --,-theonlyreJ-^----;^;f^ 
 
te. Indeed, I 
 ithoutahoiise, 
 5ply the mate- 
 ilmost as diffl. 
 'e of solitude 
 » to feel how 
 how the pre- 
 s the viciuity 
 onej is to be 
 a grass gives 
 w^hat interest 
 the eye can 
 l>anks which 
 ids from the 
 ndians on a 
 idulation of 
 th I learned 
 'iritless, and 
 anse, where 
 alone threw 
 
 'e constant 
 le of mind 
 iiness and 
 s far more 
 
 The long 
 the party 
 
 calls for 
 v^isionary, 
 it active, 
 and will. 
 I to make 
 ' realities 
 a picture 
 
 th which 
 t oppor- 
 )btained 
 of self. 
 r taught 
 
 THE FATE OF A GAMBUSWO. 
 
 Sips '"uo:;,^:™-;;.;"'';""' "'■""PPointmen,, and bear 
 'tat be Mlio ivoiiid ivi , „ =" " ™» 'tere I camp tTv 
 
 ^•■;Paeity. TioyVe,. iSo, tr-''"''"'' '"<'^'=«"o Z 
 
 While M *'' '"^' ^t^^-y- personal 
 
 ti»e "expedifiou'-l '"" ^""^"'» P^^time over th. ■ • 
 
 ^-covered in qua^^^ V 'and%i.n^"^' '^'•^' "-n'g^d wa' 
 slower process of "siffiL" k ^^shers," desnrsinaTh 
 
 and the " barret. " i L ?' ^^*^<^^^ themselves Tnfr^ *^^ 
 rejoicin- on^ ' ^^^^ ^heir comrades r, ''' *^ ^he pick 
 
 "a»e„cle," as the leoS';?"' ^"'^ "--P«t i°t 
 
 -^ and tad;:,;::,-'™'""- -^ ^^^ -'""^otni' ™t 
 
 ^or was it the le-mf .. 
 
 :ier ,.t ,'-"; arir:::,;:-!,?!! -™. «e . 
 
 av 
 
 laughed 
 
 '^"gt^ed at his humilitvt r %, "'^' «^^«ociates. How Vh 
 rence of the GamCi 'li 'Z^.rT '' ''^ ^'"^-' 
 -e. Most were outcasts^^; ^^^^ ^^^^^-own a parem's 
 
 
 . li 
 
 and started 
 
60 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN, 
 
 life wi*^h that selfish indifference to all others which is so 
 often ihe passport to success. I saw this, and perceived how 
 affection anil syniputliy are so niucii additional weight upon 
 the bade of liini *' wiio enters for the plate of Fortune; " but 
 yet my esteem for Ihdkett increased from that moment. I 
 fancied that his capacity for labor and exertion was greater 
 from the force of a hi^lier and a nobler impulse than that 
 which animatcnl the otlu>rs; and I tliought I could trace to 
 this source \\\c unlii'ing' energy for which lie was conspicuous 
 above all (lie rest. It was evident, too, that this "weak- 
 ness," as they deemed it, had Siii)ped nothing of his courage, 
 nor detracted in auglit from his resolute daring, — ever fore- 
 most, as lie was, wiierever peril was to be confronted. 
 
 I ruminated long and frequently over this, to me, singular 
 trait of character, — whole days as I rambled the prairies 
 alone in search of game ; the tedious hours of the night I 
 would lie awake speculating ui)on it, and wondering if it 
 were impulses of this nature that elevated men to liigh deeds 
 and generous actions, and — to realize my conception in one 
 word — made them "gentlemen." 
 
 To be sure, in all the accessory advantages of such, Halkett 
 was most lamentably deficient, and it would have been labor 
 in vain to endeavor to conform him to any one of the usages 
 of the polite world; and yet, I thought, might it not be 
 possible that this rude, unlettered man might have within 
 him, in the recesses of his own heart, all those finer instincts, 
 all those refinements of higli feeling and honor that make 
 up a gentleman, — like a lump of pure virgin gold encased 
 in a mass of pudding-stone. The study of this problem took 
 an intense hold upon me ; for while I could recognize in 
 myself a considerable power for imitating all the observations 
 of the well-bred world, I grieved to see .liat these graces 
 were mere garments, wiiich no more influenced a man's real 
 actions than the color of his coat or the shape of his hat 
 will affect the stages of an ague or the paroxysms of a 
 fever. 
 
 To become a "gentleman," according to my very crude 
 notions of that character, was the ruling principle of my life. 
 I knew that rank, wealth, and station were all indispensably 
 requisite; but these I also fancied might be easily counterfeited, 
 
hicli is so 
 eived how 
 !ight upon 
 me; " but 
 Duieut. I 
 as greater 
 Hum that 
 :l trace to 
 iispicuous 
 3 "weak- 
 i courage, 
 ever fore- 
 id. 
 
 , singular 
 8 prairies 
 le night I 
 ring if it 
 igh deeds 
 on in one 
 
 1, Halkett 
 eon labor 
 be usages 
 it not be 
 ^'e Avithiu 
 instincts, 
 hat make 
 I encased 
 jlem took 
 )gnize in 
 ervations 
 5e graces 
 lan's real 
 f his hat 
 ms of a 
 
 iry crude 
 ' my life, 
 pensably 
 terfeited, 
 
 THE FATE OF A GAMBUSINO. gj 
 
 while other gifts must be absolutely possessed, -suc-i .s a 
 Sood address; a skill i„ .U n.udy Exercises ; a l-son.! 
 courage ever ready to the proof; a steady ad .erere tT a 
 pledged word. Now I tried to educate u.yseff to aTtC> La 
 to a certau) extent I succeeded Fn f..,./ r , ' 
 
 all men h-iv.. ul„. i ^^^':^'^*'- ^'^ ^'^' t, I experienced what 
 mlmenh.l^e^^hohuve set up a standard before them that 
 oons an nH.asuren.ent will make one grow taller, l^,^^ 
 i.at Halkett and myself were on the way to the sanu^c biJt 
 .y clKferent roads. Forgive the absurd presuu , t on . osa 
 benevolent reader; for there is really something sX.^^^ 
 ludicrous n. the very thought; and I n.ake the '^con essio " 
 now only m the fulness of a heart which is deSnni md to 
 have no concealments. utieimmed to 
 
 mJ'bhnV'f ''"^ •"'""''""= " ^^'^"'^K%^'-«^^ter air; that I wore 
 my bhvck fox pebsse more jauntily; tiial I slung my rifle It 
 my back with a certain affectation of grace- that tn! 
 altogether ''got up" with an eye to the ^ietur'esq u i-dM 
 not escape my companions, who made themsTv s' vas v 
 men-y at pretensions which, in their eyes, were so u,!. i e\'^ 
 ndiculous, but which amply repaid me for all the s ca m 
 by suggestn.g a change of their nan.e for n.^- mv old 
 appelation, ^. H J/pero," being abandoned for ''II Cond ' 
 the Count It matters little in what spirit you <nve a man a 
 peculiar designation: the world take it ^up in tl'eii own 
 ^shion, and he himself conforms to it, wLthL. t ;::d 
 
 As the "Condd," I doubtless displayed many a lau-habl. 
 affectation, and did many things i!. o'pen oa! -^atu^o ^b 
 It e; but on the other hand, the nan.e spurred me on to 
 actions of most perilous daring, and made me confron 
 danger for the very sake of the hazard; till, by Se" s 
 
 Lre V b ' '"'^'"'''"" ^"^'^"^^^^ "1^"" — '^t fir in 
 comtdLr^''"^ ' ""■' ^' ''''''■'''' -^-- --»g -y 
 The prairie was fruitful in incidents to test my coura<re 
 As the season wore on, and game became more scarce wi 
 were compelled to pursue the " bison " into distant t.'cks 
 vei-gm, „p tbe hunting.grounds of an Indian t be eatd 
 the Camanches. At first our " renc .ntres " were confined to 
 meeting with a scout or some smaU outlying pait^ ^ th^ 
 
 M 
 
 .'r 15 
 
62 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 tribe; but later on we ventured farther within their frontier 
 and upon one occasion we penetrated a long and windinr^ 
 ravn.e whieli expanded into a sniall plain, in the midst of 
 which, to our aniaze:nent, we behold their villac^e. 
 
 The scene was in every way a strikino- one. It'was a few 
 minutes after sunset, and while vet the "yellow "lorv " of 
 the hour bathed the earth, that w^ saw the cane wi^wains of 
 the "Camanches" as they stood at either side of a little 
 river that, with many a curve, meandered through the plain 
 Some squaws were seated on the banks, and a number of 
 children were sporting in the stream, which appeared too 
 shallow for swimming. Here and there, at the door of the 
 wigwams, an old man was sitting smoking. Some mustano-s 
 seemingly fresii caught, were picketed in a circle, and a few 
 boys were amusing themselves, tormenting the animals into 
 bounds and curvets, the laughter the sport excited beina au- 
 dible where we stood. The soft influence of the hour! the 
 placid beauty of the picture, the semblance of tranquil secur- 
 ity mipressed on everything, the very childish gambols, - 
 were all images so full of home and homelike memorips that 
 we halted and gazed on the scene in speechless emotion 
 Perhaps each of us at that moment had traversed in imagina- 
 tion half a world of space, and was once again a child '" As 
 for myself, infancy had been " no fairy dream," and yet my 
 eyes filled up, and yet my lip quivered, as I looked. 
 
 It was evident that the warriors of the tribe were absent 
 on some expedition. The few figures that moved about 
 were either the very old, the very young, or the squaws, 
 who in all the enjoyment of that gossiping, as fashionable 
 m the wild regions of the West as in the gilded boudoirs of 
 raris, sat enjoying the cool luxui-y of the twilio-ht 
 
 Our party consisted of only four and myself; and stand- 
 ing as we did, in a grove of nut-trees, were perfectly con- 
 cealed from view: no sense of danger then interfered with 
 our enjoyment of the prospect; we gazed calmly on the 
 scene on which we looked 
 
 "Senhor Conde," whispered one of my party, a swarthy 
 Spaniard from the Basque, " what a foray we micrht make 
 yonder! Their young men are absent; they could^make no 
 defence. Caramba! it would be rare sport." 
 
eir frontier, 
 ml windiuc 
 le midst of 
 ige. 
 
 t was a few 
 ,- glory " of 
 ivigvvams of 
 of a little 
 ti the plain, 
 number of 
 peai-ed too 
 door of the 
 i mustangs, 
 and a few 
 iiimals into 
 1 being au- 
 ■ hour, the 
 quil secur- 
 inibols, — 
 tiories that 
 1 emotion. 
 1 imagina- 
 hild ! As 
 tid yet my 
 1. 
 
 re absent 
 'ed about 
 ! squaws, 
 shionable 
 )udoir8 of 
 ht. 
 
 lid stand- 
 ictly con- 
 3red with 
 y on the 
 
 swarthy 
 ;ht make 
 make no 
 
 THE FATE OF A GAMBUSINO. 
 
 68 
 
 horle'^dealtr""' J ''"■"' '\ '''"""^' "'^ ""'"^ «"«« ^-" - 
 .Inin .!' '^ mustangs yonder worth Ave hundred 
 
 a::;r;ryS:^.r-^^^--^'--^aveadasht.rward 
 
 ''There is gold in that village," nn.ttered an old Ranchero 
 jnth a wlnte moustache; ^^I .e sifting.ieves drying besiS 
 
 And so, thought I to myself, these are the associates 
 who, a moment back, I drean.ed were sliaring my t Whts 
 and whose hearts, I fancied, were overflowi.^ v^ Isoftes; 
 emotions One, indeed, had not pronounced,\nd to hb^ j 
 unied n. hope. He was a dark-eyed, sharp-featured Breton 
 ^ And you, Claude," said I, ^ ,,,,, ,,, ^,,J, thoughtl on tMs 
 
 in mnilT''%'", •" '^" ^""'^' "^ ^^>' ^^Pt'-^"^'" ^'-^W he, salutin^ 
 in military fashion; - but if there be a pillaoe I claim p 
 
 :z:\'''^, : -'"^^ "^ ^'^ -«^^ yonder,4h i x; 
 
 girdle round her, as mine." jcnuw 
 
 I turned away in utter disappointment. The robber-snirit 
 
 t'hi^k o'f it"' h" '-'1 :r'"^' '^"^ ' ^•'-' ^'^^ ^' ^-t^^ 
 
 think of It. How IS ,t that, in certain moods of mind, the 
 
 to lave i.rj;-ed us7'"''""" '^ "'^^ ''''' '^''' ^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 Jh!' 'Vu-^"'.'"' "''*•" °'°^^*^^^ the Spaniard, who, havin- 
 ghtened his girths and examined the lock of his rifle now 
 &tood in somewhat patient anxiety. ' 
 
 ''Since when have we become banditti," said I, insultinoW, 
 
 dren? Are these the lessons Halkett has taught ns^ Back 
 to the camp. Let us have no more of such counsels." 
 
 VV^e meet nothing but scoffs and jibes when we rpfn.-n 
 empty-handed," muttered the Spaniard.' " I^ is seldom s 
 an opportunity ofters of a heavv booty " 
 
 " Right-about," said L impeHously, not carin- to risk mv 
 ascendency by debating the question further. They obeyed 
 without a word; but it was easy to see that theLiriTo 
 rnutmy was but sleeping. For ^ome miles of t^ie':ay1 
 Ueary silence pervaded the party. I tried all in my Zer 
 to bring back our old good understandinc ' ^ 
 
 I I 
 
 ' i i .■] 
 
 I 'I 
 
 m 
 
 ^o' 
 
 erase the 
 
64 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 ItaJMiS 
 
 ZZ7k"J/:^ 1'" altoreation; but even n,y f.-iend Nar- 
 ^asque lield a Oof, and seemed to side with he others I 
 
 dent was fur from wan■antin^•; nor was the fiot tl.nt 
 returning without an, succers\vitho:;t it'L le^ Mo^ 
 and saxl, I rode along at their head not nu-Jdng any f iS 
 c"tWt to renew their oonlidenee, when sudde.dy a spo t 
 buck started from the shelter of a prairie roll, ami took hi 
 
 Mas the A^oik of halt a muuite. My shot missed- and I 
 
 bSS me "^U,/ ^Tf ' ' '"''^^ ^^ -temptnouri;.;^;! 
 iKliind me. AV^ithout turnmg my head, I spurred my horse 
 to a sharp gal op, and proceeded to reload my H le tj 
 
 a^Kf;,th ,'"'' '''' '^"^^'"■' ^^' - " 1-^g start" of me 
 
 si saw'tn,""?"^' '"\^"^'' ^^^^^^ -^ endurancTi 
 soon sav that the chase would prove unrewarding, and 
 
 about. Where was my party? Not a trace of them was to he 
 seen I rode up a little slope of the prairie, anT then at a 
 grea way off, I could descry their figures as with ^n-ious 
 speed they were hastening back in^the direction o Z 
 
 ^^ZTl" r"'°'- ^ '"""^* ^'^i^^-^^« '^' bitterness of the 
 teelmg that came over me. 
 
 niied my heart. Selfishness usurped the ground aui^ether 
 and It was the injured honor of a leader whose orders h.d 
 
 ^Tso d'e'Jv Th '''r T ""'T '^ '"^' '^"^'^-*^' --'-' 
 me so deeply. Then I fancied to myself their triumnhant 
 
 return o the camp, laden with the spoils of victory and fu 
 of heroic stories of their own deeds while I, the captain o 
 
 he band should have nothing to contribute but alame nar 
 rative of m.splaced compassion, which some might call by 
 even a harsher name. Alas for weak principle ! I w bed 
 myself back at their head a hundred times ov .-. The" t. 
 no atrocity that, for a minute or two. I did not fee my el 
 
 camp. Ciest-f alien and sad indeed was I as I rode forward 
 -now cursmg the insubordinate rabble that deserted me 
 now mve^ghmg against my own silly efforts to chrnge'h; 
 
fi'iencl Nar- 
 others. I 
 of the iuci- 
 liat we were 
 !e. Moody 
 any further 
 a spotted 
 id took liis 
 Hre at hini 
 sod; and I 
 IS laughter 
 I my horse 
 rifle as I 
 t"of me; 
 durance, I 
 iiig; and, 
 d wheeled 
 was to be 
 then, at a 
 :h furious 
 n of the 
 ss of the 
 
 ity which 
 'together, 
 •dcrs had 
 wounded 
 iumphant 
 and full 
 aptain of 
 ame nar- 
 ; call by 
 f wished 
 here was 
 I myself 
 I'se were 
 i'ard the 
 'orward, 
 ted me ; 
 nge the 
 
 THE FATE OF A GAMBUSINO. 
 
 f . 65 
 
 «P^^TatS;ran^^^^ rn .y bitterness of 
 
 gentlen.an." ^Vhat bnsin'fs t ' ",""""'" "^' ^^'^^^ " tbe 
 ;vhat possible link could ,' T ^ '^ ^-''^^'-aoter there v or 
 
 In ^"y discontent, uTl^.T^ ^"^''^ ^on^panionshipV 
 ti-aits were like st ul l..^ jj^'l '''''' "'^''^^ "gentlemen" 
 -"d with a fair win Kut ' fL'' T"''^ ''» """^^ ^-^ther 
 of l;fe such hne-spnn ca a .' L ^u '^' ''''''''' -'^' ^jualls 
 "^edful I sJ,ould ay thrtrih'e 1 ",•'''''' ""•^"'^-'- ^^ it 
 e'-ror? •> '"^'^ I J^^^^l to discover this to be an 
 
 To reach the camp ere ninh,f,„ r 
 -n^I the quick ^trl^Uo^'^'^l'i^l^^'^^lsea to ride fast, 
 
 ^y spirits than all niy nl jLo, '''^ '^'"^ ^»<^'-« to rally 
 
 The slight breeze of ^ '"''"-'• 
 
 ^hen I came in sIomT J ' '^ ""'''' *'^^ P'-^ine 
 
 «^eltered the cam^r'th:.';!?, '';'?: "' ""t-ocl\v eh 
 somehow, that spot. rL '? "''^- "^^ ^^'^^^ 1"^'^ home 
 given it that character and n, '"'" *^ '^ '^^^ ^^'^'"i"g had 
 ;ork to make substitute; or ? H "ff"'^^'^ /""^ ^.variably a 
 family and friends. I evpe i; L , ^:''''-'' " '^'^^ tell of 
 -^ I entered the wood ^"^^^''''''^'''^^^^^ 
 t ent to catch a gli.npse at tie " e ff/"^' """^ ""^"^■^' ^"^P^' 
 he copse, and looked up to warct :''.•:;, ^' ^ '''^'^ ^^^^ 
 he camp used to stan 1, I Z nl^h" V'*^'^"^^'^"^' ^^'here 
 friends. There were no fi.-n ^"'" "^''^^ «Poke of mv 
 
 «Pot. . I pressed elge ; t^,^\ ^ «.^--e mived on he 
 ^y mind full of its ';wn exph' H ?'''"^'''" "^« ^"eason! 
 I own it, fears were a 4d J ? 7- ""^ *''' ^''^'^t, in which 
 -moved somewhat hiJ er X'^!"'''"^" ^^-'h^ps they S 
 Camanches had been there .nd i f ?''"'" ' ^''^^^' the 
 Pei-haps- But why oZlne^ A, ? ^'"^ ^^^^» fought- 
 spreading surface of tal 'hnd . '^'^^ ^ ''^'^^ "Pon the 
 whereallour huts were biirndnl'l ^^^-V- the spo 
 filled my ears, -a hollovv; ' "^ '^«^P' »^ooming noise 
 -ying within some n;:!^;^:r7;;:,-"-'' '^'<e tij''^ 
 and louder, or seemed to do so V, , r ''"'^'' ' '^ ^^Tew fuller 
 
 tan 
 
 o-. a 
 
 ^qnally frightened 
 
 now risen to tort 
 
 nre, and 
 
 ''«te,oi,4,t;::-;;:.s'^'-<i'-^'"."o^ 
 
 rocks. 
 n>y i>ooi' nms- 
 
 VOL. 11.-5 
 
 - «-™«, .ac, ^.-L^rsis 
 
ij6 
 
 CONFKSSIONS OF CON CKKGAN. 
 
 \fMt 
 
 aud^^protrudecl nostril, Builling, in a very paroxysm of 
 
 1 clismountocl, and, fastening ins Lead to ins fore-le-, in 
 Mexican fuslaon, advanced on foot. Each step I nX 
 brought n,e nearer to the so.u.ds, winch now 1 pe -e v'd 
 
 Z; h :r. %^"^^^-'-^""'" -'-•• A horrid d/ead 2t 
 thiough my heart, my senses reeled as it struck me- but 
 wUh an effort I sprang forward, and there, deep b W n, 
 n a boihng ocean of foan, rolled the river ilong the cin 1 
 
 side, and in ^^hose dry bed all our labo.-s had been followed 
 In an instant the whole truth revealed itself before m the 
 stream, swollen by the rain falling in the distant mou Uains 
 bad overborne the barrier, and, descending with all its fo ee 
 had carried away village, mine., and evZy trace of the ill' 
 fated "Expedition." The very l.-ees that g "w a lot tt 
 banks were at first undermined, and then swept away%i^ 
 mif be seen waving their great branches above th'floo^ 
 and then disappearing forever, like gigantic fiaures stm^ 
 gbng m he agony of drowning. Th: rude smeling-housl 
 built of heavy stones and masses of rock, had been carded 
 down with the rest. Trees whose huge si^e at ested aZot 
 growth reeled with the shock that s^ook the elrth beside 
 them, and seemed to tremble at their own coming destin;'' 
 The inundation continued to increase at each Instant anrl 
 
 s'^Thirr ''' :-'^^'''''" -^^- com Jn:^"!", 
 
 le lie. This It was which first led me to despa r of my noor 
 comrades, since I inferred that the torrent had b" fst'S 
 barrier only a short space before my arrival- .nrl ?«\f 
 sunset was the hour when al, the g4f d^s 'vo ^d dm: 
 he day was washed, before being deposited in the smel i^ 
 hoiise I conjectured that my companions we,roveitS; 
 
 However the sad event took place, I never saw anv of 
 /ent"; feLtS'ttrf ' '™^'«' ''-'-- fo-""o?an" 
 
 umleigone- .hat whenever I awoke from a sleep, short and 
 
THE KATE np ^ GAMBL'SINO. qj 
 
 tliaUvhere (l.at swollen a In. ?' ''"'^' ^^^ " Camp ; " 
 the dry, gravel!,, be .'L!^:: ";^7/-;-" V""^^'' ^^^^ ^^- 
 "eath those cedars, whe^-e , ow t / '' '"^"^•^^' ' ^^^^^ be- 
 tide „Hul<ly Blirne, ^e u^d to Ti/ Tr"" ""''^■"^^^- ^^'''red 
 
 Jived and flourished in hat Ihth 1 ^'""""T ""^^ ^°P«« °»ce 
 lation had now set tl e^ i a L ''';'?'' ""^ ^"^^ ^^--- 
 traveller wonld not lin..",- Z "^ '''"'"' "^^' ^^'^^^''i^st 
 
 every feature of the s'^^ne ""''^^^^-^^''^ck and sad was 
 
 and comfort, forn.ed, doub 1 ' i 2'""^ "' ^"^"'"^^ ^^^PPiness 
 only realized to be (lashed for;ver'^ Hr'^ ^''''' '''"•^' ^^ 
 and outcast, doubtless, like him In v. /"'^"^ ^ wanderer 
 graves in far-away lands and "f wT '^' "^'^ unhonored 
 
 wlio are classed amo . the w .m '" "° ^'"'^^'^ ^^^^^s, and 
 tbeir fann-lies; and t^j ^C'^^^^ ^^ ^'^ ""'^^'''^^^ ^f 
 
 learn, perhaps, l.owt'hc!.;trofhlT" of'' ^^T' ^^ -'='^* 
 of some kind sister of s^m, 7 .^ ~ '''''''^^ '^«^'' "^^^ther, 
 
 than father --had si, -ted thlr' T^' ^'^^ ^^^" ™°^^ 
 privation, and how/ a theTe'-M^ ^'''^' "' ^^^""^ ^^^ 
 which their days w;-e J^) 't 1 7 '■'""^''* ^^ ^^"^S^r in 
 Y7 at last, ilitter^ E a ^ t^i^l '^f' 1 ^^^"^^^ 
 slied a radiance when all aronn f! / T "" '^""'^^^ ^^^^ ^nd 
 
 The third day broke and sf^llT' T'^ ""^^ ^''^^^y- 
 the fatal torrent"^ nor^iuy ti hou T t""' """""'^^ ^^^^^ 
 former comrades, but even TT. ^'*'"-^' ""''^^ ^""y «f my 
 to the Indian villW^norone came T ?^ "^ '^^^ -^"-«^ 
 tion of prairie habit, I erected aTttle"'" '" '^""^^^^ ""^*^- 
 with my penknife nsc ibed r>Tu\T ?" '^' ^J'^*, and 
 clone, I led mv horse Twlv If ? ^'^"' °^'"^'- This 
 -ood till I reach 1 «rotrif 'T'^ '^' '^'^^loa under- 
 gallop, and rode in the dird,f ! "' "l? ^ ^^'•"^'^- <>"* in a 
 
 The mere detail o , eSol ", J 7 "" '''' ''"'"^• 
 
 of character or the ever v- ' '"^"''"'' ^» ^'^^^^h the traits 
 finci no place, mu t 2"?!?" "'^'"''' "' ^"'"^" "^'ure 
 ''hair-brLdth'scap s'Sr rt."""- '^"^ ^'^ "-' 
 passions and emoLs;ri/r:-th;^eS^^?-^ . 
 
 I •i 
 
 I )' 
 
 
68 
 
 CONFKSSIOXS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 i n 
 
 ii 
 
 lone y tnivellor amid the .losorts of the Far West could not 
 vie „. u.tonvst with th. .shght.st ineidout <.f doM.rtie li ^ 
 whorean h.uuan cares and hopes and joys are u.in.lod up ' 
 I Mil not ion^u^M; trespass on the iudulgeuce of any one 
 ^^ho has accompanied me so far, l,y linuvrh.-r over the a^ 
 ; ents of n.y prairie life, nor tell by what c-h^n^es I t",ed 
 eath H, some of ats n.ost appaliino- foru.s. The '• Choct -' 
 
 the .and lakes, ha.l e«cl, n. turn marked me for its prev and 
 yet, p.vserved fron, every peril, I succec-ded in r.!.d. mMhe 
 httle vd age of ^; La Noria," or the '^ Well," which occup 
 
 outski-t. o/''T"';" "*''""' "^ '^'' ^^'''^y ^^^onntains, at the 
 outskirts of winch son.e of the inhabitants found n.e aslee.) 
 with clothmg reduced to very ra,s, nothing ren.aini m- , i 
 
 ZmSr" ^^^^ "^^ '''' -'' ^ ^^"^^ — 1-e^ o" 
 My entertainers were miners, whose extreme poverty and 
 pnya aon would have been inexplicable, had I not arne 
 that the settkMnent was formed exclusively of conv c ho 
 had e.ther been pardoned dunng the ternfof tl ei Lamce 
 or,_havnag completed their time, preferred passin' the re! 
 inamder of their lives in exile. As a '' billit of ^n luct '' 
 
 11 '^^s!?'!;: ;" ^^^" ^^"^^^ ^' ^'^ -i'^^^' the i:;:;Mt. 
 
 ants, w th a %ery lew exceptions, were peaceable, quiet and 
 inoffensive; and of the less well disposed, a riOid y I;;" e 
 police took the most effective c!iar4 ' 
 
 hafe'belnTuffe'r^?" "'"'"' f »"""^^ ^^ '"^' ' ^^^^^'^ -^ 
 nave Deen suffeied to remain ; but as there was no " narish " 
 
 to which they could " sen.l me on," nor any distinc uid 
 
 upon which to charge me, I was retained in a of ude 
 
 Sr Thr:^ c'f ' '^? ^^.^'^'^" ^^- rudeiTlLI; e. 
 gratetul. Ilie Gobeinador " o( tlie Beltlcment wai ^n nU 
 
 Mexican officer of Santa Anna's staff ca I d Mezl "nd 
 
 whose " pron,otion " was a kind of penalty hnpo.odul; Mm 
 
 for h,a robbenes and extortions in the commissari, t"^ of te 
 
 army. He was not altogether unworthy of the trust since 
 
 ;t was assetted that there never was 'a cottt c vt'e "or 
 
 ohrfretl'dT",''''"™'"^™-^''''"--"^^^^ 
 
ist could not 
 :)iiu'stic' life, 
 ii^k'd up. 
 
 of Jiiiy one 
 >'er the acci- 
 L\s I escaped 
 'Choctaw," 
 3 cayman of 
 ts prey, and 
 eachinir the 
 ell occupies 
 iiiiis, at the 
 
 nie asleep, 
 iiiing' of all 
 s pouch of 
 
 loverty and 
 lot learned 
 ivieis, who 
 V sentence, 
 iiii; the re- 
 conduct " 
 le in habit- 
 quiet, and 
 idly severe 
 
 should not 
 "parish" 
 tinct fund 
 ■it of rude 
 had been 
 ras an old 
 ozar, and 
 upon him 
 iat of the 
 ust, since 
 vice nor 
 3ould any 
 ingenuity 
 
 THE FATR OK A (iAMIHSINC. qq 
 
 I was summon..,! beA.ro him on fi i 
 certainly a .reat.. c.ntr , e ". 7'"^'^ '">' ^^'•'•'-". ^^nd 
 ^J-as the brave, y of his cos ,'?''' ''^'^•'' •'^'«'''-' than 
 Spanish hat and feather "J 'a ''i' ?'' ''' '"'"- ^ 
 
 ^'f fiery re,l nmustaelu'V vis^ 1 I I''*"""'^''' ^'^'^'^ ! ^ pair 
 ^••iti'a tail out of then 'ike ' '■' "•""'•'''^^" ^•'•'•<-'-, 
 
 '"^' '^" ^^'^'^""^''^-'''^''n sky-blue 
 
 ^^P%'^ 
 
 
 
 
 jacket covered with silvov K.,f+ 
 
 »n>e colon, an., Hoi ' bo ' "" U'S r'''"""' "' *° 
 .>f u figure whose unwiel v s°2 H^.i , ," "" "'" '■'"^' <"'"■■'"» 
 »°t by „„.v means ,,t off'to . , tS ';? "' "'° *'''' "'^^ 
 quantity of da"o-ers ni,t„i„ ''"V "■>'^- He wore besides a 
 
 iis person, a„d""a h^fe pt^ ! ': ' '';"^■'"^l''■"'''^ ->«..<" 
 obains from his side, 'he ,4u 1 " *■ ""'" "^ «»» ^"™r 
 
 si»ke, appeared to .ive , „" ;: .'S'" ^f ""-"• "^ "e 
 ordered to stand before a tableVt^^u-*' '''™""'*'- ' «» 
 " — y at his Side, ^brhelntr^Lle-^ ^a'^ 
 
 I 
 
 I*f1 
 
I 
 
 ■I 
 
 70 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CN^N CREGAN. 
 
 I was, «U*nce I came, the object of my journey, and so forth 
 My account of my«,.lf was given in the very briefest way 
 could dey.se, - totally devoid of uU coloring or exag. Ja- 
 tion, and, Jor me, with a most ningular avoidance of" the 
 romantic; and yet, to iny utter discomliture, fn.m the verv 
 announcement of my nan.e, down to the last incident of mv 
 journey, he characterized every statement by the very short 
 and emphatic word '^a lie," desiring the seci.tary ^re'o, 
 the same m h.s -Ledger," as his own firm conviction ; .^ an 
 add said he, solen.nly, - that the fellow is a spy f om the 
 States of North America, _ that he probably belonged to 
 some exploring party into our frontier, and that he will 
 most certamly be hanged whenever the smallest offence i;s 
 proved against him." These benign words were most royally 
 spoken, and J made my acknowledgments for them by tak- 
 ing oft my tattered and greasy cap nnd, with a n.ost iu-ba,ie 
 bow, wishing him health and happiness for half a century 
 to come, to pronounce similar blessings upon many others 
 
 Ihe bystanders did look, I confess, somewhat ter.-iiied 'it 
 u.y impromptu courtesy ; but Salezar, upon whom my rao's 
 and my grotesque appearance generally, produced a rather 
 amusing effect, laughed heartily, and bade them give ine 
 something to eat. The order, simple and intelligiWe as i^ 
 A\as, at least to me, seemed to evoke the strangest si.r„s of 
 surprise and astonishment, and not unreat;onably • foi" as J 
 afterwards came to know, no Lazarus eat of the cr'umbs 
 Avhich fell from this "rich man's table," while from the poor 
 herd of the settlers not a crust nor ;.. parched pea cou' 1 be 
 expected, as they were fed by rations so scantily doh j out 
 as barely to support life. The order to feed me was there- 
 fore issued pretty much in the same spirit which made Marie 
 Antoinette recommend the starving people to eat " brioche " 
 As no OL .ras to be found, however, bold enough to express 
 silence* '' ' ^'' ^""''^'^ ""^ ^^' m^asme, 1 was led away in 
 A ^;ery arin.f r.d little dis ;<:3ion arose in the street as to 
 What 1 was to g.,:, where to nave it, and who to give it — 
 dilhculties which none seemed able to solve by any expla'na 
 tiou save the usual Mexican one of " Quien sabe^ " or '* Who 
 knows i " - having uttered which in accents of very convin- 
 
and HO forth. 
 •I'icfest wuy I 
 or exugjrera- 
 laiico of the 
 i'<'in thi' very 
 3ident of my 
 le very short 
 iry to i-ocord 
 :'tion; "and 
 ipy from thi- 
 belonged to 
 that lie will 
 st offence ia 
 most royally 
 hem by tak- 
 iiiost urbane 
 If a century 
 ny others. 
 t teri'ilied at 
 n\ my rag.s, 
 od a rather 
 in give me 
 igible as it 
 est signs of 
 ' ; for, as I 
 lie crumbs 
 tti the poor 
 a eon'd he 
 y dole J GUI 
 ".vas there- 
 lade Marie 
 ' brioche." 
 to exj)ress 
 id away in 
 
 treat as to 
 give it, — 
 I explana- 
 or " Who 
 ■y convin- 
 
 Tiiic fatt: of a GAMnusixo. 
 
 71 
 
 chig oni])arra.ssment,oach went hi- „ , . 
 
 '""■'■H^ "ho h..,vi,.,. died off ?hl ;^^ ^''"' ^^■"'•^^^■•l I'y two 
 two ndserable asses of .lu- ;!!•,. !'.^«J^- -'i'plie^l by 
 
 '"K^^M- than sheep, and scared v stro .';; T '''"'''"' '"•'^''' 
 Jh-isIs luu\ luvM t\n vears na^t J.l ' . ^ '"''''' wretched 
 
 by the Mssidm.us pe . ., ,S ; '' '" '''^•''" ^'^'''-V ^-^ov 
 
 -ho with bark al,d iTZ^ 1^1 """"^" '"'"■"'•'^' 
 •"^^•tynlom. Kithernorn-nu V " ''''y l^'^'tty 
 
 <"• that asses' tlesh (of v ] ,. V ' 'T"'''^^''"" oxertion.s 
 
 the aninn,. .sicken;.! an, ed * ' " , ^^'•'"^"'"^'"^ ^^''"' »'""' 
 own unaided devices t 1 iv t Id ;' V ' '"'"' ''•"'"" ^« '"'« 
 ^'"•^'1- I believe that Id,, '"'^''^ '■'^""•' ^"e charmed 
 
 "f' -in fact, in evervthi,, ' " ^ ^ "'f:'' '"^'" "'^^^ ^''Pable 
 closely the practices ott, '' '?' *^"^"^'' ''^' '""'^^^t^*! 
 
 t'-ugh they' were hey o ,::'"" ''r'""'^" '^"' ^^^'^ 
 
 '"otiveprinciple'^vas\v' t' 71 ''''' "'^ " S^'^"^* 
 
 ^^ far easier Lul ,„or2 ^i Sd /'''r'^ tU.ni.,w:, to 
 work. <^ongtn,aI mode of doing the day's 
 
 it -::;-S^tf ;•:: t^y r : ijtr ^ ^-f ••^«-^^"' -^ 
 
 yet, in some sort, perform he 'f "ct o,^ '^^l^quately, could 
 "o rensou why a n.an, even a verpri^^^ 'I'^'"' ''''' 
 
 one should not replace a bull-dor"^ P; <, -'ookmg and ragged 
 half-starved look 'about n f thl T' T /'^"' '^"""'•3'' 
 
 7"H not be of the sweetest irn ""f^ '">' ^^'"P^"'' 
 
 Slance of a connoisseur At Inst Ir-' "^'f '"^' ^^'^^ the 
 ealled-,nado the projiisanV m ^n ^^^f -' ""'^ ^'^^ "^ 
 that my predecessor had had lis nt '^" ,^™' ^-^'Plaining 
 eolonist, and was entitle d to s '> T' ''"^^''^' ''im like a 
 of his forn.er n.istress t^Z Di " ""?*" "'^^ ^'^^ ^'^"^^ 
 with a sly wink, - was In "' ^'h'''" I'e ad-V.], 
 
 aMexica' nev;V bo^do^t" He "'""''?•'' ^^^^^" ^'-- 
 palpable, I took no notice of ;,'V"t' ''" ^""^^^' ^^^^' 
 be impossible, but proceeded n , """" ^""^'^^-^ed to 
 
 functions I might bo ^^ tc t 'l;:;o::: '' ''' ^^^^ 
 capacity. * ^" peitorm m my canine 
 
 ill 
 
 
 
72 
 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 y. ou have yoin- loiinds at iii<.ht " 
 " My rounds ! wlicM-e, and what foi-V" 
 
 kids a„c. lanjbs, _,.,, ,„,„ »„,„;;iL: t ; L, ^ ^ "' "" 
 He w,,, <ed w,th a tonible signillouucc at tho L t ™,,s 
 
 ^upo did It, responded he, with a nod 
 ' i/e was a dog, Seiihor Mi jo," said I 
 
 glance at my ragged habiliments. 1 read the w o t If" ^ 
 
 h->d tfT' ™"" !• "■'"' " "'Sh; and wo,rdcn„g if F„,,„„e 
 
 BiS fint M,,„ ,,ro(.<.(.dpd t„ aoqnnint mo witi, all the detnik 
 of my ofBcc, a„,l al,o oc-tain peoaliaritics of the two cat 
 fo. whose especial misery I was engasred. If comnsl' 
 
 n f , '"''"" "' '''="'• »•''"« tlieir tails were a 
 
 rTes'iTi;:'^; I'lr '" *'-"'-- ^^'■■'■»-• 
 
 'Lm»'» AidT"'"'""' "; ""^ "»""'• r '""»' call yo„ 
 " v\ • ? ?''■!"• ^'°" ''-^ '1° objection? " ^ 
 
 a do'- : "L":;'^"'" ^"^^ '' " 'f " "»"« "- omce, why „„t 
 F iiit <„at, at tae siga of which animal La 
 
hm shoulders ; 
 3e o'clock ; by 
 I' ainuse your- 
 authinte Sale- 
 lat only takes 
 
 THE FATE OP A GAMBUSINO. 
 
 es 111. 
 
 3n are daring 
 Lncl carry off 
 ) there." 
 ast words. 
 I all day, but 
 indignantly. 
 
 ?i'y different 
 disparaging 
 ^'hole mean- 
 3 hod at the 
 
 ving that I 
 
 r if Fortune 
 wed him to 
 the details 
 two beasts 
 compassion 
 moved nie 
 ■0 notched 
 ails were a 
 bell-ropes, 
 
 call you 
 
 i' why not 
 
 lelGato," 
 nimal La 
 
 73 
 
 SeiKhora Dias rcsiM,.,! n 
 
 -treniit^of tCy't i ll" ! Tl "^"^^^ ^* *^« -^y 
 i-e a kind of cant mV /held I t^^'^ ^'''"^'''' ^"^ 
 cured cigars, brandy, a^ oh ' ike" uf ''"^ '''''''' P'^ 
 for their "tickets of labor!" ^"^""es, in exchange 
 
 Of the Seiihora, some mystery exist.vl • f. 
 was, that she had been the fum.;t V '^ P^P"'^^ ''^^or 
 
 -Lose inlluencc, hovveve coi d l; f "' ^''""'^ ^"'^^' 
 
 or "convict, to which sL^;; frte ::-,^^--/-m the fate 
 
 yreat patron contrived, however to .^^^ '"'^'^- "^^• 
 
 ^lignity of a penal settl-n e.U and l . Tf ^''' ^'■"'" '^'^ "'" 
 wiiere she had resided Z, In ^l'^ ^^' ^^ " ^^ ^^^"^/' 
 conceal herself from tie n.vT ^^"-"'^ '""''^ "^^* '^ ^^'^« o 
 -mother, that it L t hide^,;? ,""'T'*^ ^' ^^^^ ^^^^g-'- 
 burned with a hot irL n forehr^?f ''' ''''''' " ^'•' 
 was by Santa Anna's expres order h .f '' ^^'"^' ^^^^^ ^* 
 
 dog, a tierce Kn' lis" b do' ^^ " '""^'^^ '"^^ ^'^^'^t ^^^ 
 who by peculiar Lvoiw^spfiwio^ T'" P^'^^^^'^^^^^r, and 
 used to wear a nnssL «n! P"™ "^^^ ^o accompany her, - 
 
 ^nented: ^cti^rSl^td i.:^^ed1t^h'"^^' ^' ^-- 
 and gems; but these w-ere nu -p^* -P'"^^'""' '^^^^^^ 
 
 Even devoid of jewels uolu.^ ^naginative ornaments, 
 proof of riches imong t i<,t ul "'^ "" unequivocal 
 very lowest order and r ^^i rt P^'^''^" ^'^^ ^^ tbe 
 
 lionnaire" char^l^at":^ ^ f^r^r t"''' ''^ " ""^- 
 interesting part in her ^tn., ^! ^"^ '"^' ^'le most 
 
 countrywoman • a id vefH • ""''' ^* ^^^^'^ ^'^^^^^ ^^^r my 
 
 coupiec^ witir:;, 2 h'lfiVnrf r """'"'•>-' -^ -« 
 
 did not venture to belief! it"^ *" ^' unpossible, that I 
 
 i-bitedbyLu;r"TL:::^?r;;si^:f^-^ 
 
 , I r 
 
74 
 
 CONFESSIO.XS OF CON CRKGAN. 
 
 1 1 
 
 :#! 
 
 chertnut-lcaves were my bed; .a sumll spring aff.r.led m. 
 latter "out" i„ saus„»os. W t ,'e7ru ' ^f ,; """" "'" 
 
 :r;^s^L^:-rt:':;:;-,!r---^^^^ 
 
 never faile,! , a t e d " t "TlITr "' '"'"'^-''"' """ 
 
 -.ny d,nie, , already ^r ^.kI tr^i :'L-:i;.r,7;:;.s 
 
 ."rialrr'" ""-^^^ '■'■''•""" °" "'^^ -n-ow" to C 
 I sball never forget tlie strange melamj,. of feelin.^, nl,.n 
 
 j:fi^2-;rsrTt^~-tS= 
 
 I was redneod would have tended to break d„ "^ a 1 1 'it 
 
 respect and esteem. l\qietlier to inv ,.,. . in , 
 
 I know not, but I did not fe^ t us - nav v T' "TT' 
 
 a» to eongratnlate n.yself t,,at t son S\ ,", 'JlCrj!: 
 
 open to me whicli did ,iot involve mo in fo, Ji „ 
 
 »bip, and that I might devote so Zny hou" orST''" 
 
 Culture It had none, nor seemed fn na^ri u 
 duties was to pluck the rine f nit . f ' ""' ^^ '"^' 
 
 forth to the - Well " on!] ^ '^^^^'ery day, ere 1 issued 
 
 dnnr ■ n ., ' "'^ 1*''^''^ ^''^ ^'^^'^^^^s at the Senh<)r•l'^ 
 
 dooi and, save this, I believe all was left to nitur. w ! 
 a wilderness of ranlc luxuriance it .^ • Th e-irti if 1 
 >ecc>,ne so fertilized by the fallen fruit It to tt^ i I 
 
 with the .•ip;^t;t;:r'th:r';;;i:.„:;::;sr' """"^"-^ 
 
; afFmled me 
 se 1 •eatl each 
 •' taken " the 
 ! garden, con- 
 ifii I w;is free 
 hick-iiiail that 
 y porquisltes, 
 ine to reci'tiit 
 >\v" to begin 
 
 ?olings, plea- 
 I first found 
 iv condition, 
 hition would 
 life to which 
 >wn all self- 
 r otherwise, 
 I went so far 
 eliliood was 
 conipanion- 
 >f each day 
 1 about that 
 peared ever 
 
 one of my 
 I'e I issued 
 5 Seilhora's 
 ii-e. Wliat 
 earth had 
 't as it fell, 
 e odor of 
 and gaudy 
 grass that 
 I of C(»lors 
 the leaves, 
 leliciously 
 
 LA SKIVHORA 
 
 O THIS very hour I am unable to sav how 1 
 ,. ^ r remained at the vilh.ro of r ^^^ .^^^ ^^ng 
 
 slipped away unchronieled ; the e4o. . • ,T'"' '^''™^ 
 for about two winter months wh^; I ''^ ^^*^^'' '^''^ 
 
 severe cold prevailed; but ^Cfolo !;;';, """^^"' ->^ 
 denness that seemed like mao-ic^ "^n .? ''" '^'^'^ "" «"<^- 
 
 autumn, as it were blende. ' . " '^'"^ '""™er and 
 
 beauties of the one s;a' , • , 'l^^ '^' -™I 
 
 ••^•1 that M-as wanting t cVm It ' I •,?''''■• '^'^''^ ^'^^ 
 '-"otony of n,y daifv life Zl t,d fof "'"^^^ *^« 
 
 companionship, -no link thnf'T f'^'' '"e there was no 
 
 tbe '^ Sunday," too, ' ' ^n ".o S 'bi TT '"^' '^"'^"-'»^" ^ 
 ^".nble range of n,y Jl^s ^ '^ Ij^?^ ^^ -'' The 
 ^^Iijo, did r ever exchan<re evon n ' "*"'' '''^^'^ "'i^b 
 
 t;- hours of ., labo; et ;.:i:,n;^;''^ T"''- ^"^^^^^' 
 slept; and whether I tracke t^o ' '' ''^'" ^" ^^'^^^•« 
 ^^•-'7 round, or pursui;:^ ' ^ it::^;;/ T" • ^ ''^'^ 
 
 are iS; less";;- ^Ilief ' '^^^ ^^^^T ^^ -^^t^cj tL^ 
 
 ■ Had always wherewithal to subsist 
 
 .■ if 
 
 1 
 
 •II , J ti 
 
 I 
 
i i 
 
 16 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 -'ir-conunu.nug and tie! ion ti rTf-'' '" - ^'"^ '^- 
 which the meanest tvetr^alsedh "'1'? ^^^•^"'•^' ^" 
 " Home." J ^as hi, nv H T ^ ^^"^^' ^^^o^n^ one 'a 
 little contHvlres tol^ibt , ; .''7^ -^n fashion; various 
 my thoughts. To\ g1 el^^^^^^^^ 
 
 a passion with n,e; a„d\l houSh t Lstate'w^^ '''' 
 
 fashion the tools to work win r "''^^^^"^^ted to niveut and 
 
 ^^ifflculty, but manfu rovrrca; T T 'f ' '^ ^^^« 
 Watt ever gazed it n ,"^^^^"^^'"® ^f^- I greatly doubted if 
 
 with half Cdetht I^oir""^^ in«tean.„.aehinery 
 a rake. Then, what pelt didT e"' '"^ ^""^^^ ^' 
 the trim beds covered w^thL- 'i'P""'^"'^^ ^^ I saw 
 raked walks, the Zis! lots IT'"'"^' '""'' *^' ^^^"^'^^ 
 How the thoughts of chanl n '^rV^^''''' ""^^ ^^^^^^ss ! 
 as I wandered if. tL^l^S.^.^t^ wS f."?,^ "^-j"' 
 uot invent; what festoons of ff • 1 trellises did 1 
 what bowers of the lelt^'baf.naT I-;'^';f ---^--bes; 
 Adanu I began at last to tC^hat .ll h I ^^'^ ^^'^'^^"^'•' 
 beautiful for one man's n!. M ^'^'' ^^"'S's were too 
 deserved conipanioTishin '; d ^' T"" '''''''''' ^' ""^^^ 
 enjoyment wair"rel'st'l^^t' "f ''^'"^"^^^ ^^ "^^ 
 this notion caught holUfLer T'\ ''" r'''''''''' ^"^'^^^ 
 the '' Donna Maria de os Do o J" "' T7 "^ '"^«^' *« 
 did I believe that, with h r to sha/e / n '" ^""^ ^"'"'^""^ 
 had been a life ^f Pa.adisel ' ^ ^'''''"* ''^''^^^»«<^ 
 
 These thoughts at last evhnnstp^ iU. ^ 
 
 thing in the cliffloulty that pro,„; ,^ a < T;,!,. to'! "' "<""'■ 
 and sol set myself to pla„ tl,o nK.a„ " hy 11" ' r/"^ !" 
 her ncqiiaiiitanpe. Of the wi„,i„ ■;.'"'•'" niigijt make 
 thesatden, the hUnds 4^ T^." "'"f' '""^od to,va,xb 
 
 ..e,c always closed; the single door 
 
N, 
 
 ty incompatible 
 " all — time for 
 3US leisure, in 
 ! become one 's 
 isliion ; various 
 1 and occupied 
 i-der was also 
 I to invent and 
 terred by this 
 tly doubted if 
 'am machinery 
 'St attempt at 
 uce as I saw 
 '> the clearly 
 ud weedless ! 
 illed my mind 
 rellises did 1 
 ine-brancbes ; 
 3ld gardenej-, 
 ings were too 
 sies as mine 
 uiess of my 
 tion. When 
 y iu fancy to 
 ^\v fervently 
 ;nt existence 
 
 and I fell a 
 curioyity to 
 ought in it. 
 how, then, 
 f hours that 
 iwn curtain 
 
 lip over in 
 was some- 
 'ercome it; 
 night make 
 d towards 
 ingle door 
 
 I^A SENHORA. 
 
 ^^^'^^'zii:;::^ ^^^thought me of 
 
 -y utter solitude and iSiJ ' b t wL?""^' '^^^"'"^ ^^'^^ 
 and paper to come from? Th^so 1 ' '"''' ^^'" ^^'"^ '"'< 
 nador himself alone possessed Ar' '"'"'""" *^« <^«ber- 
 P'-acticable: it was ti de, o f ;aoh ^' "'"'• '''""°'^' '''^' ™«^-« 
 of fruit a little bouquet of Lth1 "'"^^ "i^"" ^'' ^^^^'^'^t 
 they ever reach her h- L h? T. ''"*' ^^«"' ^^-"••' 
 
 purloin and intercept J^^^ri^r'"' T '^' ^-'-''t 
 thought of. ^ ^ oiTtnuo.^_ay, that was to be 
 
 By most assiduous watcbino- t nf i . v 
 bedroom looked into the ! "i' t ''^ f'>«covered that her 
 
 al«-st hidden by to "n? ed' br/ ^ ""'" ^'''''''' -^-'-- 
 This at once afforded m "he' tor ^i^. 1 ^I ""' ^^'^-^-«' 
 the branches of this I clim HHlTao, "''^-^ "^'''''"^^ ^'«' "P 
 
 fear agitated me as^ earn;^! .''''"' "' ^"P^ ^»<^ 
 saw, to my inexpressibl I S tl nf theT' "''' ^^^''"«^ "I^' 
 I could have cried for very ov f' 4M ! t'"^"'' ''''' ^^"^ •' 
 outcast, forgotten by my fdlows n 7T "^ ^^'^°^^- ^" 
 
 n^y existence, and possLv ni i 'f' ""^ ''^'^' ^"^^ of 
 desolation. ^ ''''^^ ^^^'^^^ ^"^ compassionated my 
 
 H^e ;"S:^;rr t f:::'^' - ^^^^» to the love of 
 
 a thousand hopes and ,', Lrand it' "'"""'^"^ '^ "^^^^ 
 eheenng thought, where, be,; ^^1 '^^"SS'^^ted matter for 
 stretched ,,athless and p n^teTe; tf^ ""V' "^''^tence 
 for that skill by which I mi'd t l f ^ '":' ^^""^ ^ '«"Sed 
 P'-eters of n,y thoughts ! ^1^,1,'';? "'' ^^"^^''^ '''' '"t^r- 
 f could but form them into Zh o ^'^" ?' '^'^' ''^^^'^^'«'- J 
 order as should please T. "^''""^^ions of color and 
 
 '--t; and yet I j-i ; '"^^^^.'^^^ -t appeal to the 
 
 --thatthekeyofL-;^--™— ^ 
 fo! my i.„]e. J hastenpr^ K , '^rgotten the caps 
 
 •i'lfl 
 
 I Mil 
 
 I tf! 
 
 I! iii 
 
 ■ill 
 'III 
 
 :f! 
 
78 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CllEGAN. 
 
 lift 
 
 ■I. 
 
 made, and of which few were eogniztint. It was a nif^ht of 
 bright moonlight; but the wind was high, and (U-ifted°laro-e 
 masses of cloud across the sky, alternately hiding and dis- 
 playing the moon. Tracking, with an instinct" too well 
 trained to become deceptive, the walks of the garden, while 
 a dark mass shutout the "lamp of night," 1 reaehed my 
 hut, when suddenly, on a little stone bench beside the door, 
 I beheld a female iigure seated. She was scarcely four yards 
 from where I stood, and in the full glare of the moonlight 
 as palpable as at noonday. She was tall and elegan°tly 
 formed; her air and carriage, even beneath the coarse" folds 
 of a common dress of bhick serge, such as bespoke con- 
 dition ; her hands, too, were white as marble, and finely and 
 delicately formed ; in one of them she held a velvet mask, 
 and I watched with anxiety to see the face fi-om which it had 
 been removed, which was still averted from me. At last she 
 turned slowly round, and 1 could perceive that her features, 
 although worn by evident suffering and sorrow, had once 
 been beautiful; the traits were in perfect symmetry; the 
 mouth alone had a character of severity somewhat at 
 variance with the rest, but its outline was faultless, — the ex- 
 pression only beiiig unpleasing. The dark circles around 
 the eyes attested the work of years of grief, bitter and 
 corroding. 
 
 What should I do, — advance boldly, or retire noiselessly 
 from the spot? If the first alternative presented perhaps 
 the only chance of ever speaking to her, it might also pre- 
 vent her ever again visiting the garden. This was a difllcnlty ; 
 and ere I had time to solve it, she arose to leave the si)ot. 
 I coughed slightly : she halted and looked around, without 
 any semblance of terror or even surprise, and so we stood 
 face to face. 
 
 "You should have been on your rounds on this hour!" 
 said she, with a manner of almost stern expression, and 
 using the Spanish language. 
 
 " So I should, Senhora; but having forgot a part of my 
 equipment, I returned to seek it." 
 
 "They would punish you severely if it were known," said 
 she, in the same tone. 
 
 "I am aware of that," replied I; "and yet I would 
 
LA SENHORA. 
 
 'as a night of 
 drifted large 
 ding- and dis- 
 inct too wt'U 
 garden, wliilo 
 [ naelied my 
 side the door, 
 -'ly four yards 
 he nioonlisiiit 
 nd elegantly 
 ! coarse folds 
 bes[)oke con- 
 ud Ihiely and 
 velvet mask, 
 which it had 
 At last slie 
 her features, 
 U', had once 
 nuietry ; the 
 oniewliat at 
 iii, — the ex- 
 "cles around 
 , bitter and 
 
 I noiselessly 
 ted perhaps 
 !;'ht also pre- 
 adiOieulty ; 
 ve the spot. 
 md, without 
 so we stood 
 
 this hour ! " 
 ession, and 
 
 part of my 
 
 lown," said 
 
 3t I would 
 
 79 
 
 incur the penalty twice over to have seen one of whom mv 
 thoughts tor eveiy hour these months past have been 
 
 " Of me ? You speak of me ? " 
 
 "Yes, 8enh,.ra, of you. I know the presumption of my 
 words ; but bethink you that it is not in such a spirit they 
 are uttered, but as the cry of one humbled and humiliated 
 |, the very dust and who, on looking at you, remembers the 
 bnk that bnuls hnn to his fellows, und for the instant rises 
 above the degradati<Mi of his sad condition." 
 
 "And it is through me, -by looking at mr, - such 
 thoughts are inspired ! " said she, in an accent of piercing 
 anguish. "Aiv you an English youth?" 
 
 !! ^'^^' «^''^>lJora, as much as an Irishman can call himself." 
 ^ And IS this the morality of your native land," said she, 
 ni Knghsh, -that you can feel an elevation of heart and 
 sentiment from the contemplation of such as I am ? Shame 
 sn-, -shame upon your falsehood, or worse shame upon 
 your princii)le." * 
 
 ''I only know you as my day and night dreams have 
 made you, lady, —as the worshipper creates his own idol." 
 
 ''But you have heard of me?" said she, speaking with 
 a violence and rapidity that betokened a disordered mind. 
 
 AH the world lias heard of me, from the Ilavannah to 
 Lfuajuaqualla, as the poisoner and the forger ! " 
 
 I shook my head dlssentingly. 
 
 ''It is, then, because you are less than human," said she, 
 scoflmgly, '' or you had heard it. But mind, sir, it is untrue • 
 I am neither." She paused, and then, in a voice c'' terrible 
 emotion, said, "There is enough of crime upon this poor 
 head, but not that! And where have you lived, not to 
 have heard of La Senhora Dias? " said she, with an hysteric 
 laugh. "^ 
 
 In a few words I told her how T had made part of a great 
 gold-searching expedition, and been utterly ruined by the 
 calamity which destroyed iny companions. 
 
 " You would have sold yourself for gold wherewith to buy 
 pleasure ! " muttered she to herself. 
 
 "I was poc-, lady; I must needs do something for mv 
 support." ■^ 
 
 •11; N 
 
 t; 
 
 '?i; 
 
80 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I 
 
 I! -w 
 
 w J^r^l"'^ "r^ ^**"'''' '^""^^'^*^ ^'^^^'-^ What need of 
 IZ . '^'^ ^'°" ''-'''■"''^ '^' ^^-^^"t, or acquired the 
 
 taste to expend .t.-* You could only have in.itated rich 
 men 9 vices, not their virtues, that sometimes ennoble them." 
 The wild vehen.ence of her manner, as with an excessive 
 rapuhty she uttered these words, convinced me that her 
 faculties were not under the right control of reason, and 1 
 tollowed her with an interest even heightened by that sad 
 impression. j "" 
 
 ^ " You see no one, you speak to none," said she, turn- 
 ing round suddenly, "else I should bid you forget that you 
 have ever seen me." "^ 
 
 ''Are we to meet again, Senhora?" said I, submissively, 
 hand ^^^ '^'''''' ""^ '''^'''^ '^"^ ^""^'^ ^^^ ^^^' "' ^^' 
 
 left'rar~^'''^''^'~"^ '^°°'* ^"'''''" ^^''' '" "''^'"S' «^« 
 
 Two months crept over - and how slowly they went ' 
 without my again seeing the Sefihora. Were it not that the 
 bouquets which each morning T fastened to the window-bars 
 were removed before noon, I could have fancied that she had 
 no other existence than what my dreamy imagination aave 
 her. Ihe heavy wooden "jalousies" were never opened- 
 the door remained close locked ; not a foot-tread marked 
 the gravel near it. It was clear to me she had never 
 crossed the threshold since the night I first saw her. 
 
 1 tell into a plodding, melancholy mood. The tiresome 
 routine of my daily life, its dull, unvarying monotony, becran 
 to wear into my soul, and I ceased either to think overlhe 
 past or speculate on the future, but would sit for hours loner 
 m a moody revery, actually unconscious of everythincr 
 
 Sometimes I would make an effort to throw off tli'is de- 
 spondency, and try, by recollection of the active enero-v of 
 my own nature, to stir up myself to an effort of one kind or 
 other; but the unbroken stillness, the vast motionless soli- 
 tude around me, the companionless isolation in which 1 
 lived would resume their influence, and with a weary si-h I 
 would resign myself to a hopelessness that left no wish in 
 the heart save for a speedy death. 
 Even castle-building -the last resource of imprisonment 
 
LA SENIIORA. g- 
 
 — ceased to interesf r ja^ i i , 
 
 uigl.t patrul, „.„.„ u, S': t^f rh""' '"^"' "' '"y '»'''■ 
 by day, hour I™ l,„u,- i ,, „ ' ' '^" "'i'"'" '"''""g Jay 
 
 -om... a„;;:::i', 7,:^;;; 7" ;;;:;;•'; "•;«"' ^o avoided, 
 
 escape niy chiily toil Tl,. . "^ r ' '''"- ^'^"tnvunces to 
 
 every sign of fon.er cum^.^ \ t t^::'r" r ^'"^ ^''^^^^ 
 was mine ! Eveu the pruoress of fht "' ''^"'^ ^^ '"'"^^ 
 
 to tiie full as oreat -is In n .-''"' -^''^ "^'^ ^^ P'^'^i«^"'e 
 i". beauty c5 ii^ t^^U fr^J^^ ^l^^^-^'"^ f^^ bloon. 
 amono- the rank and noisome vee ll -^ h" U "'''^ *^ ^'"^^^ 
 ot some democratic leader wl . s u i I "'^''=' ^^^'"=^<^ 
 ^Jownfall of the beautiful 1. ■ ' *''""^i^'' '""'^1 the 
 
 experiencing a spec es of n , 1"^'''''"^' '''''' '^' ^'^^i^'^^^^' 
 «on.e fancied vengeance ^'^''"'^'^ '" *^^ ^^^^^'^t of 
 
 ilow the wild onjwtii ^f +u ■ , 
 t«'Hle.- «colIe„er„ .he ft*:,™'''";'r\"1'' "™*"'P«' "" 
 "J">-ove,po„redi..rclS,f,. ',"''•• -"T '"" "'"■''""«= 
 loided it over civiliz.,ti„7, K ' ^""^ '" '•■«='• baibansra 
 
 A lilflu more and thtl „,• ■1"^ "' "'" ^^O'l- 
 
 ganlei. : it was already Le |,„u"",, '""" ""^ '"»''' » "'e 
 tave begun ; b„t latteHv I had » ™ ,'"^ " P"'"' " »''™M 
 
 duty : as Hope died out with ° ""''ft«'ent to the call of 
 
 ca.c.d mtle fo'rthel,.: '„ hmTn't" "'" ^'" '''"' °"^ ' 
 rebellious spirit was .-aini " , ' ' ' ~ ""y- "><»-e, aliind of 
 "ocideut which mi.! ,t°b "u? "i TV™' m" ' '''"^"^ <"' «<>™ 
 Ab I sat tluts, I holla "fL?.t ° n""'"'"" "'"> "O""^ »■>«• 
 »aw the Seflhira cTso to m"; '!'""' ""■ ^ ""-"ed, and 
 
 vor„ ir — G 
 
82 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I nodded assent. 
 
 " And understand what you hear?" 
 I nodded again. 
 
 "Listen to me, then, attentively, for I have but a short 
 time to Slay, and have nnieh to tell you. And, first of all, do 
 you wish to escaiK' ri\)iu henee?" 
 
 "Do I wish it! ■• cried I; and in the sudden burst, Ion- 
 dried-up sources of emotion opened out afresh, and the heavy 
 tears rolled d(nvii my cheeks. 
 
 " Are you willing to incur the danger of atteinr)tino- it?" 
 "Ay, this instant!" " 
 
 "If 80, the means await you. I want a letter conveyed 
 to a certain person in the town of Guajua.iualla, which is 
 about two hundred miles distant." 
 "In which direction r " asked 1. 
 _ " You shall see the map for yourself ; here it is," said she 
 giving ma a small package which contained a n.up and a 
 mariner s compass. " I only know that the luUii lies over the 
 prairie and by the banks of a branch of the Ked River 
 Ihere are villages and farmhouses when you have reached 
 that region. 
 
 " And how am I to do so, unmolested, Senhora? A foot- 
 traveller on the prairie must be overtaken at once." 
 
 "You shall be well mounted on a mustang worth a thou- 
 sand dollars; but ride him without spurring. If he brincr 
 you safe to Guajnaqualla he has paid his pHce." She then 
 proceeded to a detail which showed how well and maturely 
 every minute circumstance had been weighed and considered 
 Ihe greatest dilliculty lay in the fact that no water was to be 
 met with nearer than eighty miles, which distance I should 
 be compelled to compass on the lirst day. If this were a 
 serious obstacle on one side, on the other it i-elieved me of 
 all apprehension of being captured after the first foi-ty or 
 fifty miles were accomplished, since my pursuers would 
 scarcely venture farthei-. 
 
 The Senhora had provided for everything. My dress, which 
 would have proclaimed me as a runaway " settler," was to 
 be exchangecl for the gay attire of a Mexican horse-dealer, 
 -a green velvet jacket and hose, all slashed and decorated 
 with Jingling Silver buttons. 
 
 1> 
 
 sabre, and rille to suit. 
 
e but a short 
 first of all, do 
 
 11 burst, long 
 ixiui the heavy 
 
 inpting it?" 
 
 tor conveyed 
 lUa, whicli is 
 
 is," said she, 
 
 , u.;ip and a 
 
 lies over the 
 
 Ked River. 
 
 luve reached 
 
 •a? A foot- 
 le." 
 
 ^ortli a thou- 
 li he bring 
 Slie then 
 lid maturely 
 considered, 
 er was to be 
 ice I should 
 this were a 
 eved me of 
 rst foj'ty or 
 uers would 
 
 Iress, which 
 er," was to 
 orse-dealer, 
 :1 decorated 
 ■itle to suit. 
 
 LA SENIIOllA. M 
 
 The mustang, whoso saddle was to be fitted wifh h 
 accompaniinont .,f nnrtni'iiUo'in ^Z i . ^ "'^ "^"^^ 
 
 the leathern vn^Jo^!'^.,^':!^;^^^^^ to have 
 
 lock, and a goodly ballast of \l' ' """""" '*'^^'' 
 days' provision ami al^Lao^tT' ""'"'T ''^^^ 
 equipment which to my eyes was mo 1^' T^'^'^'''^ '''' 
 an e.nphe. ^ ^ ^ '"'*"' ^^*"' '»« wealth of 
 
 "Are you content?" asked sIip n« .1 .• • , , 
 catalogue. ' ^^ ^^^^ finished the 
 
 I sei^od her hand, and kissed it witli a u-nm, ^ .• 
 /'Now for ,1,0 reverse of th. me HI v n .""' 
 
 taken; pursuit is almost c-rfn * '''^ "^^ ^^'^- 
 
 so, you must tear the Tetter I s ' 7 • '^ ''' «"^'^-essful ; if 
 suiall that all detection of iL^. ^^'7 ^''^ '^ fragments so 
 Sell your life leaHv tlW. ' - '"'^ ^' i'npossible. 
 
 death\voulcl L r'set^d 1. v''''';i\^'""' '''''' ' '^^^^''^^^^ 
 all, don't betra/nl" ^"" '' '^^^^" P^'^^^"-' Above 
 
 Kstavan Glares a well ; '^'T , '^ ^«tter to the Senhor 
 present you wi'th a^tl^", ''"'"i "', '''''' ^-^»- He will 
 services the hp -n . f ^ ^''" ^'""'^ «"fiieient for your 
 
 «aelity, Jall^ist:;,: 'Lw:nL^^^S '"'^ ^"^^^^^ 
 speak of me so long as I live • nor i '' ^ """ ""'' '''''^' ^^^ 
 we should chance ^o meet a'-'vin h". r ^ '"^ '"" °^ ^^"^'^""« 
 
 -. You need be at no h^; ^ let:::/:^ :;:,r'''^^^ 
 
 the position in which I am iiore nhce 1 H ! '"'^""'^ = 
 
 unjust sentence, as great as tl e h ni~f h ^'1""'"^"' "" 
 
 vv e aie. When do I set out''' " = ' • 
 
 skirts the beech wood nllV f ., 1' , '"'- ^'^^ l^^'^th that 
 knowthe spot.''ir:h; e t r^U h. t tLr""'' ^''''' 
 your horse all ready, - the letter is 1 ere '' No/ r" ";;" '"^ 
 l"ne her voice trembled sli.-htlv a d L ,^^^/"V^' '"'"^ 
 she seemed irresolute " aVv '■' ? " '"^*''°' ^'^ ^^^ 
 
 nresolute. My mind is sometimes so shaken 
 
84 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 by sufiferiug," said she, "that I ncarcely dare to trust its 
 guidance; and even now I feel a.H if the coulidunce 1 am 
 about to place in an utter stranger, in an — " 
 
 ''Outcast, you Avould say," saiil I, (inishing what she fal- 
 tered at. " Do n.n fi'ar, then, one humbled as I have been 
 can take offence at an epithet." 
 
 '' Nor is it one such as I am who have the right to confer 
 it," said she, wiping the heavy drops from her eyes. 
 "Good-bye forever !— since, if you keep your pledge, 
 we are never to meet again." She gave me her hand, which 
 I kissed twice, and then, turning away, she passed into the 
 house ; and before I even knew that she was gone, I was 
 standing alone in the garden, wondering if what had just 
 occurred could be real. 
 
 If my journey was not without incident and adventure, 
 neither were they of a cliaiactor which it is necessary I shouhi 
 inHict upon my reader, who doubtless ere this has felt all the 
 wearisome monotony of prairie life, by rellection. Enough 
 that I say, after an inteiesting mistake of the " trail" which 
 led me above a hundred miles astray ! I crossed the Conchos 
 River within a week, and reached Chihuahua, a city of con- 
 siderable size, and far more pretensions than any I had vet 
 seen in the " Far West." 
 
 Built on the narrow gorge of two abrupt mountains, the 
 little town consists of one great straggling street, wjn'ch 
 occupies each side of a torrent that descends in a groat 
 tumbling mass of foam and spray along its rocky course? It 
 was the time of the monthly market, or fair, when I arrived, 
 and the streets were crowded with peasants and nuileteers in 
 every imaginable costume. The houses were mostly built 
 with projecting balconies, from which gay-colored carpets 
 and bright draperies hung down, while female fi<rures sat 
 lounging and smoking their cigarettes above. Tiu' "aspect of 
 the place was at once picturesque and novel, (ireat wooden 
 wagons of melons and encumbers, nuts, casks of olive-oil and 
 wine ; bales of bright scarlet cloth, in the dye of whicli they 
 excel; pottery ware; droves of mustangs, fresh cauuht and 
 capering in all their native wildness ; flocks of white goats 
 from the Cerzo Gorde, whose wool is almost ns fine as the 
 Llama's; piles of firearms from Birmingham and Lietre, 
 
LA SK53H()KA. 
 
 85 
 
 arotnid which oicui.h ,.f ., i • • 
 
 gathered; ,.r.:,:i: ^i, :^:;:;\ifr ^^^^ "'-^« 
 
 >vuy so that all passa. t' '* "";' '•''^^''^■^'^' "1' tl.c 
 
 Before I a,>pJ.elu.^,hoi;^^;;;:"'^'''''-•'^• 
 
 myself hou- best I nii^ht .scan; n i .iT'" ''''^'''^'^^^ ^'^^h 
 "ess to which ovcv sr.an.ar el " ' '''^""'' '"'1"'^^'^'^- 
 
 found that I yvI^^Z^lf^"^: ''•"'^"^'. "^'^■«^'"' ^''^" troubU., fo 
 ^vith which I ,;•:,.';::,' ^'^ """-'^'^-^ i" tl.. numey IhronJ 
 
 ^^:r^;::;:;\^fr ;;-!-- ^''^-^ -"oci forth 
 
 nor even a word, fo.- the rid .' iVl st '"'i' '"' ""'>' «3'^' 
 ;ns the inn, I behold a small knot nf """ ."'''" ••'I'l"-oach- 
 looks were not unfanuliart ,.;',"•"" '''"^^'-' ^'''^'■^^ ••^"" 
 '•enienibered that they were th! Vnn "1 "" '""""""^ ^''l^''' ' 
 '•;et with at Austin noVne ^u-J t^ r'""'^'^'^.'''^ ' ^^^ 
 changed me far more than them T% ^ ?' ^^' ^""^ ^^'^<l 
 "ition, not being by C mean; 1 '''^' ^^ escape reeog- 
 acouaintanne. f o.^hHot; MfTi I^' """^'"^ ^'^ 
 costume, I wore a very in.poZn^ j. ^"^ , "^^' ^^''^'^^n 
 and beard, the growth of Uvn J ^'''''^' moustaches 
 
 tbat detection w.=s not very ;:;/""''' "^ " ^^ ^--'" «o 
 
 iH..et4:: <,rs:r ^^d ^i::? '-^ -^^ ^--- ^wo 
 
 ^hom I at once .-ecogn ^1 ; S p'r' T "' ^'""^ ^^'''^"P' 
 on my beast's shoulder 2 sTids^ ''•'""' '''''^ '^'« '^^"^ 
 is for eale?" ''''''' "^ ^'^P''^"'^!^ ''The nuistang 
 
 and Si ',^':;;:n; ^;:;:^:;,:,:'- 1^^^^- "'-^«'^' " ^^ 
 
 him." ^"""^ disposal, but I would not sell 
 
 stepped a paoc of™ S'ok ' :i,T''';''f ^ »«- "hioir .,e 
 »l.n he .U„, . Move M^'X', ' ^ t f,,.*" ™"-e.v >.»,, 
 
 r ryi 
 
86 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "Not if I were to offer you five hundred dollars?" said 
 he, still staring at the beast. 
 
 " Not if you were to say a thousand, Senhor," said I, 
 haughtily; ''and now pray let ine pass into the court, for 
 we are both in need of refreshment." 
 
 "He an't no Mexican, that 'ere chap," whispered one of 
 the group to Chiseller. 
 
 " He sits more like a Texan," muttered another. 
 "He'll be the devil, or a Choctaw outright, but Seth will 
 have his beast out of him," said another, with a laugh ; and 
 with this the group opened to leave me a free passage into 
 the inn-yard. 
 
 All the easy assurance I could put on did not convince 
 myself that my fears Avere not wi-itten in my face as I rode 
 forward. To be sure, I did swagger to the top of my bent; 
 and as I flung myself from the saddle, I made my rifle, my 
 brass scabbard, my sabretache, and my spurs perform a 
 crash that drew many a dark eye to the windows, and set 
 many a fan fluttering in attractive coquetry. 
 
 "What a handsome Caballero ! how graceful and well- 
 looking ! " I thought I could read in their flashing glances ; 
 and how pleasant was such an imaginary amende for the 
 neglect I had suffered hitherto. 
 
 Having commended my beast to the hands of the ostler, I 
 entered the inn with all the swaggering assurance of my sup- 
 posed calling, but, in good earnest, with anything but an 
 easy heart at the vicinity of Seth and his followers. The 
 public room into which I passed was crowded with the 
 dealers of the fair in busy and noisy discussion of their 
 several bargains ; and had I been perfectly free of all per- 
 sonal anxieties, the study of Iheir various countenances, 
 costumes, and manners had been most amusing, combining 
 as they did every strange nationality, ~ from the pale-faced, 
 hatchet-featured New Englander to the full-eyed, swarthy 
 descendant of old Spain. The mongrel Frenchman of 
 New Orleans, with the half-breed of tlie prairies, more 
 savage! in feature than the Pawnee himself, the shining 
 negro, the sallow Yankee, the Jew from the Havannah, 
 and the buccaneer-like sailor who commanded his sloop 
 and accompanied him as a species of body-guard, — 
 
'^'^miy,^ 
 
 LA SENHORA. 
 
 ollars ? " said 
 
 lor," said I, 
 be court, for 
 
 pered one of 
 
 ler. 
 
 but Setli will 
 I laugh ; and 
 passage iuto 
 
 not convince 
 LCe as I rode 
 of my bent ; 
 my riflo, my 
 3 perform a 
 jws, and set 
 
 il and well- 
 ing glances; 
 mde for the 
 
 the ostler, I 
 i of my sup- 
 hing but an 
 )wers. The 
 ed with the 
 on of their 
 ! of all per- 
 untenances. 
 , combining 
 
 pale-faced, 
 ed, swarthy 
 mchman of 
 dries, more 
 the shining 
 
 Havannah, 
 I his sloop 
 y-guard, — 
 
 87 
 
 :ZZ:S'''' '' ''''- -^ -^ fun of subject for 
 
 i ;'^^S'/rS:T^S;^^ r ^ ^e conceived that 
 
 >vith garlic" without ;"; a pals .1"^' '""'' "' " '^'^^'^^ 
 on, however, I was far f.nn T ° ^^^'^^'^'^^tion. As f ate 
 
 and another 1.;^:!::: [l^ "^^"^ i:;^''^ ''"' ''^ 
 «'Hl kept their eyes full on me wiH. , \ ' "°^* ^W^<^«^'te, 
 ';^1 been a n.ost hnj.ud nt t e L'^l 5" ""'''''' '^^'^^Y 
 his, and even treated n^yse f o , l^'f ""' *" ^'''''^'^ 
 tlie air of a man revellin , 1 1 \^' ^ ''"^^ ^^'"'^> with 
 all the rich bouquet a 't^cdS"^^'' "'^*^^"""^^- ^"^ 
 ^"e; the sense of s^n.e imnend^^^^^^^^^ '''''' ^""'^ "P«» 
 
 else; and let me look wi, 7 av m/ '.'f '. """''^^"^^•^^•^^^ all 
 
 "IW" ti«- floor; ,vlu.„-f ,1", 'itM"'°'"°''™'-''8'»^'' 
 
 fa3h.o„. I turned up the „Zu^l °''""""= "'^"'^i'''"" 
 
 true Wdalgo, aud playe sS d „ 'I'f "'""'""^'"' '*'' " 
 bent. ' •' '^P"""id to the very top of my 
 
 Not only did these nhs seem not t„.l, 
 but I re„,arked that he eyed me mot "" °* *'"> «>^«". 
 
 conversed i„ whispers .,^h n, cm? ^ ■''''"■'°,"''^' "'"' "f™ 
 no.v increase,! to , sense f ',,"', f'' "■""•"icty had 
 else should do so ". t^.l ' "'"' ' """' "«" 'f nothin-r 
 
 »eoordin,dy arose an falW the"'" r"'" '""■''y '"- I 
 room. ' '■"'™ "«= ""Iter to show me to a 
 
 other furniture than a rna tros a!, r'' f ^^.' ""^ ^^*^ »« 
 however, I was alone ; I was Iw^ f ^'"l '^'''''' ^^^ l^^st, 
 of that confounded Lorrdeale " ^^'l" H " ^'^-^^'"^^ ^^^"^"ees 
 on my mattress in com para ti4.n,nf f "' "^^''"^^ ^"^n 
 
 I o-d a smart tap at 'th^di ::::'r e,:,'^ :;*■;'[ 
 
 I i 
 
88 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHEGAN. 
 
 a very Yankee accent, " I say, friend, I want a word with 
 you." 
 
 I replied, in Spanish, that if any one wanted nic, they 
 must wait till 1 had taken my " siesta." 
 
 " Take your siesta anotlier time, and open your door at 
 once; or mayhap I '11 do it myself! " 
 
 "Well, sir," said I, us I threw it open, and feigning a 
 look of angry indignation, the better to conceal my fear, 
 "what is so very urgently tiie matter that a traveller can- 
 not take his rest, witliout being disturbed in this fashion? " 
 "Hoity-toity! what a pucker you're in, boy !" said he, 
 shutting the door beliind him ; •' and we old friends too ! " 
 
 "When or where have we ever met before?" asked I, 
 boldly. 
 
 " For the ' where,' — it was up at Austin, in Texas ; for 
 the ' when,' — something like three years bygone." 
 I shook my head, with a saucy smile of incredulity. 
 "Nay, nay, don't push me faither than I want to go, lad. 
 Let bygones be bygones, and tell me what 's the price of 
 your beast, yonder." 
 
 "I'll not sell tlie mustang," said I, stoutly. 
 " Ay, but you will, boy ! and to me, too ! And it's Seth 
 Chiseller says it ! " 
 
 " No man can pi-esume to compel another to part with his 
 horse against his will, I suppose?" said I, affecting a cool- 
 ness I did not feel. 
 
 "There's many a stranger thing than that happens in 
 these wild parts. I've known a chap ride away with a 
 beast, — just without any qn».stion at all!" 
 
 " That was a robbery ! " exclaimed I, in an effort at vir- 
 tuous indignation. 
 
 " It war n't far off from it," responded Seth ; " but there 's 
 a reward for the fellow's apprehension, and there it be ! " 
 and as he spoke he threw a printed handbill on the table, 
 of which all that I could read with my swimming eyes 
 were the words, "One Hundred Dollars Reward," — "a 
 mare called Charcoal," — "taking the down trail towards 
 the San Josd." 
 
 "There was no use in carrying that piece of paper so far," 
 said I, pitching it contemptuously away. 
 
 
And it 's Seth 
 
 effort at vir- 
 
 LA SENHORA. ^^ 
 
 Mexico." ^ ^"^ "^ ^«'^'^«' and here we are in 
 
 I pass a ruani„g-k,ot ove his w •. ' ' " ■"' ^^'^^' ^^^^"'^ n't 
 "'0 on one of n.y horses > WluT's ' '"*' '^'^^^ ^"" ^^^^'^d 
 -'-'H to stop 'fellortha ;;, r:/:\?T ^'-'-t^'or 
 well-mounted lads, with Cflf. > '^ "' ^^^^^ of thirty 
 
 -tell me that, bo^ » ' ^""^'^ '^'^'^^^•^■'•^ ^^ the saddle-bow? 
 
 I'i-ei^brti^'/iir^iroK^'^ 
 
 "market, deserves nothin blt< -^ "", ''"'^'. "'' '^'^^' ^ ^'^'^^ ^or 
 ^0 owned a four-barr ,1^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 drew the formidable wea, o 7 tl^'*^ •' " - and here I 
 
 presented towards him ffa m ' " '".{ ^'■'"''' ""^^ ^^^^ ^^ 
 able to confront. ' "^''"'^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^'arely agree- 
 
 "Put down your irons Inj " c, -^ u 
 est appearance^of a.' 'at bn n 1^ '' ""'^^ "" ''''y ^"g'^t- 
 terms without burning i^.ae"'' ""''"' " ^^'" ^^"^e to 
 
 " I ask for nothiu*" botfpr " Ln,-^ t 
 " but I ■!! not ..a„c, •bi:"t,;.,SJj ?'"""''' '* -"^ "-P-^ 
 
 tbat iiMstaii!.." ' '*°"'' 'o husiness: I „a„t 
 
 o:f°;SsTatt;:.fra'„';;i-^ 
 
 tha,d,rti:;f°'"« "'"■"'•••-« «<^«>. »"™«y "and not in 
 
 him tacl" " """ ""^ "' ^"^ P-P'« along .ith „,e, to fetch 
 
 "Better to leave him ^jfu 
 the journey," safd he ""' "'^' "°^ '^^^e a hack for 
 
 This was rather too much fm- m,r * 
 to say that he who was "o rec iv/. ^P''"' ""^ ^ ^'^^^^^^d 
 dictate the conditions accomp'rn^r^""^ ^^^^^ — ly 
 
 he, gr?veV""' ''"' ~^ ^-'^eit, -1 ,ot a present," said 
 
 " LiP.t us see if vnn 
 
 «ve.y grasping the^^'a™ Sr^J'erb:^ '' """■"' 
 
 ::f 
 
 I i 
 
 
 IflfJ 
 
90 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 "There, now, you're angry iigain ! " said he, with his 
 importiirbable smile; "if we're to have a deal together, let 
 us do it Hive gentlemen." 
 
 Now, probably a more ludicrous caricature of that character 
 could not have been drawn than eitJier in the persons, the 
 manners, or the subject of the transaction in haml ; but the 
 word wap ialismanic, and no sooner had he uttered it than I 
 became amenable to his very slightest suggestion. 
 
 " Let me have the beast, — I want him ; and I see your 
 holsters and saddle-bags have a jingle in them that tells me 
 dollars are plenty with you; and as to this," — he threw the 
 piece of paper offering the reward at his feet, — " the man 
 who says anything about it will have to account with Seth 
 Chiseller, that's all." 
 
 " How far is it from this to Guajuaqualla?" 
 "About a hundred and twenty miles by the regular road; 
 but there 's a trail the ininers follow makes it forty less. 
 Not that I would advise you to try that line ; the runaway 
 iiiggers and the half-breeds are always loitering about there, 
 and they 're over ready with the bowie-knife, if tempted by 
 a dollar or two." 
 
 Our conversation now took an easy, almost a friendly 
 tone. Seth knew tlie country and its inhabitants perfectly, 
 iuid became freely communicative in discussing them and 
 all his dealings with them. 
 
 " Let us have a flask of ' Aguadeute,' " said he, at last, 
 " and then we '11 join the fandango in the court beneath." 
 
 Both propositions were sufficiently to my taste; and by 
 way of showing that no trace of any ill-feeling lingered in 
 my mind, I ordered an excellent supper and two flasks of 
 the best Amontillado. 
 
 Seth expanded, under the influence of the grape, into a 
 most agreeable companion. His personal adventi.-res had 
 been most numerous, and many of them highh, excitino-; 
 and although a certain Yankee suspiciousness of every man 
 and his motives tinged all he said, there was a hearty tone 
 of good-nature about him vastly different from what I had 
 given him credit for. 
 
 The Amontillado being discussed, Seth ordered some Mex- 
 ican "Paquaretta," of delicious flavor, of which every glass 
 
LA SENirORA. g^ 
 
 eou..,.., into bi„uor„rr «:; z:r "-"^^ °' "■» 
 
 •■'Hie pine-torches lit up" the vh ol !'^'' '1 ^'"'"'"'^^ ^'''^''' ^"^^ 
 ^'olo'-ecl and shon-y c t '> . . T ^'""^ *" ^^^^' P'^'-tJ- 
 which the severer test o vli , / • ^l^^""'^ ^"^^ »^^-"li^"oy 
 -'« enough to d^rV 'iilT-''*^^^^'«^-"»"gene' 
 
 o- ^" denv 'n, ' T- , " "''^^ "een unjrener- 
 flashing d^rk ey^^\^,'^rj:^-^T' ^^'"P^--'>" - the 
 ™««ic-the nferry v oL:; ' ^'''Tf ~" "^^ ^"«P''''"^i"^' 
 many ingredients or p easure" f '•^"^^'^^r - were all too 
 ble, the human heart u It ^" "'"' ""'^ ^''•"«- 
 
 very like enohantnu' t, - . ,7? °'T''f ^"^" ^^'"^^^^'"^^ 
 perhaps contributed "^^ *" ^^'^'^^ ^he PaquarettS 
 
 "^i-t ^Sn'^h^'o^r^^^ li'- n.en deter- 
 
 It was at the very d hnax of U ^ "'"!' '^'^ ^"^^^ h^™«-" 
 entered. The dance as the mI '''""f^ amusement we 
 performed in this vvi e a ^u r" ' ''^^ ^'"^'^ ^"^ 
 . after displaying her ath-acuif ^1 S of' ''^ ^^^^'^' 
 lutious, makes the " tour » of f ^ ^ °'^^'''f"' evo- 
 
 Caballero she desires tolke L tr'pSne': 'T' '' *^^ 
 option either to decline the honor hv o ^* '' ""^ ^"^ 
 
 humility, or, accepting iUegTes her sf ""' "' ^'''^^«»*>'^^ 
 went, _ his hat, his Lea rf f 1 'lei some part of his equip- 
 to be aftervvarc^' reLre i I ^T ^II^'T' ^'""=^-^^^^'^' 
 mentofthesceneconsistinoin,,^ ,' ^^'^ ^'^''^ amuse- 
 -hieh are invariab y aw "S ^ /. r^' ^f"'^'''" '^^^«*«^'' 
 the peculiar temperlmeat oft^ ^/e ^^ Z '""^'"" *^ 
 fellow is certain to be mulcfprl ~,/,'f^'^'' ^hus, a miserly 
 
 mass of fears and ter ors . n 1 '""T^"' "" ""^^'^Wv 
 
 f--anship; a 'ol^VL ^ e^ft:: ^H 'T ^ 
 least appetiziiiK nature' ,i„l „„ . " '''^'' "t the 
 
 «,,iation wliich is oe tn'in ,"""' '" "'"«"<' '« a., 
 
 these are the '\ZZ--Z117T "'" ^"•■""''"■- While 
 the soft, sed„cti" an." ';!'■!,• ""=. I'™«'' <-'At in 
 
 Of Castilian Are in th^; u;,.;,Z:Lg ,; 
 
 f^yes that have lost noth 
 
 ms 
 
 ond seas ; in the 
 
92 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CUEGAN. 
 
 graceful gestures of a partner to whom the native dance is 
 like an expressive language, and whose motions are more 
 eloquent than words, — -iu l)eing, perhaps, the favored of her 
 whoso choice has made you the hidalgo of the evening ; and 
 all these, even without the aid of Paquaretta, are no slight 
 distinctions. 
 
 Were the seductions less attractive, it is not a man whose 
 Irish blood has been set a-glowing with Spanish wine who is 
 best fitted to resist them, n(n' assuredly ought Con Cregau to 
 be selected for such self-denial. I stood in the circle with 
 wondering admiration, delighted with everything. Oh, happy 
 age! glorious hour of the balmy night! excellent grapa- 
 juice ! how nuich of delicious enjoyment do I owe you all 
 tlu-ee ! I sui)pose it is the case with evei-y one, i ut I know 
 it to be Avith me, that wherever I am, or however situated, 
 I immediately single out some particular object for my 
 especial predilection. If it be a landscape, I at once pitch 
 upon the spot for a cottage, a temple, or a villa; if it be a 
 house, I instantly settle in my mintl the room I would take 
 as my own, the window I would sit beside, the very chair 
 I 'd take to lounge in ; if it be a garden, I fix upon the 
 walk among whose embowering blossoms I would always be 
 found : and so, if the occasion be one of festive enjoyment, 
 I have a quick eye to catch her whose air and appearance 
 possess highest attractions for me. Not always for me the 
 most beautiful, — whose faultless outlines a sculptor would 
 like to chisel, — but one whose fair form and loveliness arc 
 suggestive of the visions one has had in boyhood, tilling up, 
 in rich colors, the mind-drawn picture we have so often 
 gazed on, and made the heroine of a hundred little love- 
 stories, only known to one's own heart. And, oh, dear ! 
 are not these about the very best of our adventures? At 
 least, if they be not, tliey are certainly those we look back 
 on with fewest self-reproaches. 
 
 In a mood of this kind it was that my eye rested upon a 
 slightly formed but graceful girl, whose dark eyes twice or 
 thrice had met ray own, and been withdrawn again with a 
 kind of indolent reluctance — as I fancied — very flattering to 
 me. She wore the square piece of scarlet cloth on her head, 
 so fashionable among the ^Mexican peasantry, the corners of 
 
LA SENIIOUA. 
 
 e, '. ut I kuow 
 
 93 
 
 ^;''acefully thrown ove/o i ,,0 ,i :'' '^ ^'''"^^^^^^ ^-'^'> -a. 
 i'^^' I^n liuney of Ler olive tt' '"''^^ '" ^^^''^^^'^^•" 
 
 "P ;v^th a golden cord/disl'v f ^"'^'' '''"^'"^ ^"^^ l<^oped 
 ;7^1<lc,'. There was an u f ^ ' , ' "'^^^^'''"^'^ "^«tep an 
 ti;- position of the fo -s ^ r';'^""^^^'" ^^"^^ - i 
 ac nnrably with the erect tntl::; f T^' ^''^^^ ^^^nnoni^e< 
 
 kei^iniig" ^vith lier 
 
 gesture, we e 7^ " V'^'' ^^^'■' ^ 
 
 costume. '' ^"^^^ ^^'^U>lete 
 
 ^ue was not one of fim n 
 f^t-H, and, if l\;f. t';;::;:;^"^f-^--"gthespee- 
 l;estowed uj,on the circle " f'^'" ^^^ glances she 
 ti^ere; her features eithevv,' "' '^^^ ^"^^^ -^^n.irin' 
 '"^^^fference,orchan.in. oah "" '•/ '""^'^'^^^^n of passive 
 M with an intere,^ .^i^icl. n^^'r '''*"■" ^"^ ^-'^-"Pt 
 vvaehed her movements, I ^rri, "' ''''^' moment I 
 P""ed by a hand fro,n be lind ^'' '^'^'"^ ^^'^« gen Iv 
 ;; gesture of ahnost inel^ b ei^ 'l^f' ^^'"''^^^^' ^^^ -Uh 
 theii moved proudly away to uu t,! ^^'"" ^"^^' ^^'^''^J^' and 
 , . Through the vacant spot she t'"'' ^T ''' ^''^ "^""'- •" 
 f^« who had addressed he ' f ^"'^^^'^^ ^ ^^"^^^ able to see 
 h>»lt fellow, in the dres of a J!u 7'"" " ^'"^'"•^•' Po^ve,fui,! 
 f ently of the peasant diss hi :,'""^"'' •'^-^' ^^-'gh ev.^ 
 he was well to do in the Zm u 'T' '""^'^''^ that 
 sombrero, the rich bullion tals 'of r ^"^^^ ^^'"^ ^'^ ^'^ 
 mn-s of solid silver, /)einc. .Tl evid ' '''^' '''^ '"''^•^'^'^'e 
 even the tan-colored hue of hL lt"r' '' ""^'^'^- ^^^«t 
 fl"sh of anger upon it as the o l '''^ ^^ee couU, ,,^.,^,^. ^ 
 
 eyes as they followed, glowed lir^"''' ""'' ^'^^ ^ack 
 h'^ glance was next bJnt up^, ^^ '''% J^ "^V an.azoment, 
 «^on of hatred there was i o mist H f ^'^'^ ^" ^-^P^'^^' 
 
 J^ might have been mere f- ' '"=• ^* «^«t, I thought 
 
 > as the unvanished clo^U ^ ZZ '''' '' /l^^" ^ ^'^'P'-'-i 
 at last I saw plainly tlnf tu ''"f^'^'^" <^» his features • but 
 myself. I,.t Le h^'t^^^^f ^^ '^^s were meani )^ 
 attention how I mi-rht the f.ii . '"'''' ^^^ me occupy mv 
 turned from me fo?aa insta:" "' ' ^""'^'^ ' «"^^- ^^e/ne^S 
 
94 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CliEUAN. 
 
 't 
 
 1 '- s 
 
 
 I suppose somotliiniJi; must luivo betrayed to my compatiiou 
 •vvlitit wtis passiiii^' williiu mo, Tor Sotli wliispeird iu uiy eai', 
 "Take no notice of Iiim, — lie 's a Kauchei'o ; and they are 
 always bad luis to deal with." 
 
 " But wiiat cause of (|uarrel can lie have with me?" said 
 I; "we never saw I'acii other befor"." 
 
 " Don't you see what it is?" said Setli. "It's the mu- 
 chaeha : she's his sweetheart, and siie 's been a-lookiii<'' 
 too long this way to please him." 
 
 " Well, if the <;irl has ^ot sucii good taste," said I, with a 
 saucy laugh, " he ought to prize her the more for it." 
 
 " She in a neat un, that's a fact," muttered Seth ; and at 
 the same instant llie girl walked proudly up to where I stood, 
 and, m:d<ing a low courtesy before me, held out her hand. 1 
 suppose there must have been a little more tiiau the ordinary 
 enthusiasm in the manner 1 pressed my lips upon it, for she 
 blushed, and a little nun-nuir ran round the circle. Tlie next 
 moment we were whirling along in the waltz, -- I, at least, h)st 
 to everything save the i)roud pleasure of what 1 deemed my 
 triumph. The nuisie suddenly changed to the fandango, of 
 which dance 1 was a i)erfect master ; and now the graceful 
 elegance of my partner and the warm phiudits of the com- 
 pany called forth my utmost exertions. As for her, she was 
 the most bewitching representative of her native measure it 
 is possible to conceive, iier changeful expression following 
 every movement of tlie dauce : now retiring in shrinking 
 bashfulness, now advancing with proud and haughty mien, 
 now enticing to pursuit by looks of languislnuent, now, as if 
 daring all advances, her Hashing eyes would almost sparkle 
 with defiance. 
 
 What a tei-rible battery was this to open upon the defence- 
 less breastwork of a poor Irishman ! IIow withstand the 
 showering grape-shot of dark glances? — how resist the 
 assault of graces that lurked in every smile and every ges- 
 ture? Alas! I never attempted a defence; I suri'cndered, 
 not " at," but "without," discretion; and, tearing off the 
 great embroidered scarf which I wore, all lieavy with its gold 
 fringe, I passed it round her taper waist in a very transport 
 of enthusiasm. 
 
 While a buzz of approbation ran round the circle, I heard 
 the words uttered on all sides, " Destago ! " "A forfeit ! " 
 
LA SKJJiiora. 
 
 ,itli me?" said 
 
 '^:i;v- ■...<. 'n:;;;:„'t; :;,';'''■'■''■* '''•'■'^^--; 
 
 ""■'' « with ,.ic.a»,„.„ ■ n ':'"r"""' ' ■^""" """ '" 
 
 l»v« l„st tUoi,. cl,a,.,n. ,,"1 . : ,T1 "l'^' ''"'''■^ "»"l>l 
 
 and now the erovv.UW.lt m,o!/,r ^1 "'""^'^'- ^^ ^^'^^s; 
 hundred tong,.,, „., ,,^^, ' '^ a o duncing space, and a 
 
 ew professed the.nsdv-cs in i- ^ ' ^ 7=^'-"- Although a 
 tl'us U)sulted, 1 sun- phiinly ^ 1 ''•" :^*'''^""'^>'- ^f^ould be 
 ^'^^"•^ '-yman, whom they .^,., ' d V"''^'"T.'''^ ^^'^^''^^ ^^itli their 
 ^;^ge<l and injured individualT .•''''*''''"■ "' ^^ '""«t out- 
 discovered that n.y friend Sefh ? f '''"^ =^'^t^^"i«hment, I 
 "'^-^tter, and vva.s even In "^' '^'^'"^ ^'^^^ of the 
 -probation of my eomCT. '"""''' ^^^-^^ ^'^ others in 
 
 j^i^swSri'Cfs Th^r; "f";^"' ^^^- ^^k- 
 
 to provoke his jealousy." '""^''^^^eha has done all this 
 
 "vo>,s avez ;i,.„-t L,;;,;!;;:'. ';;'-;;f>-'ooki„g F,.„„„,„„,„, 
 
 •" ali probability, had tit , "">'"' '" ™" 
 '■ after tbe fact , " fo, i tr, ■"""*'^ '""' '""" ■■"' "tered 
 
 "'-.-wa.o,d,,,e,dtrt;;r-:ta>s: 
 
 ' } 
 
 ''I 
 
96 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 perod in my ear, ''Talv(> it coolly, lad; it ni'iHt !)p a fight 
 uow, and duu'l unsteady yoni- ham! h} llyin<«' into a passion." 
 
 JMeanwbile the noise and contusion waxed louder and 
 louder ; and from the glances directed towards nie there was 
 very lilllo doubt how strongly i)ul»lio opinion pronounced 
 against nie. 
 
 " No, no ! " broke in Seth, — in reply to some speech 
 whose purport I could only guess at, for 1 did not hear the 
 words, — ''that would be a downrigiit sluuuc Let the lad 
 have fair play. There 's a pretty bit of ground outside the 
 garden, for either sword or i)istol-work, whichever you 
 choose it to be. 1 '11 not stand anything else." 
 
 Another very ilery discussion ensued upon this, the end of 
 ■which was that 1 was led away by J^. ih and one of his com- 
 rades to my I'oom, with the satisfactory assurance that at the 
 very first dawn of day I was to meet the Mexicau peasant in 
 single combat. 
 
 '' You have two gc^od hours of sleep before you," said 
 Seth, as we entered my room ; " and my advice is, dou't lose 
 a minute of tbem." 
 
 Jt has been a mystery to me, up to the very hour I am 
 writing in, how far my friend Seth Chiseller's conduct on 
 this occasion accorded with good faith. Certainly, it would 
 have been impossil)le for any one to have evinced a more 
 chivalrous regard for my honor, and a more contemptuous 
 disdain for my life, than the aforesaid Seth. He advanced 
 full one hundi-ed reasons for a dc-atUy combat, the results of 
 which, he confessed, WH»re speculative matters of a most 
 dreamy inditTerence. Now, althougii it has almost become 
 an axiom in these affairs that there is nothing; like a bold, 
 decided friend, yet even these qualities may be carried to 
 excess ; and so I began to experience. 
 
 Thei'c was a viudictiveness in the way he expatiated upon 
 the gross character of the insult I had received, the palpable 
 openness of the outrage, tliat showed the liveliest suscepti- 
 bility on the score of my reputation ; and thus it came to 
 pass, I suppose, from that spirit of divergence and contra- 
 diction so native to the hunuin heart that tlie stronger Seth's 
 argument ran in favor of a most bloody letribution, the more 
 ingenious grew my casuistry on the side of mercy; till. 
 
be carried to 
 
 grown woarv of .„„ . . ^"^ 
 
 ^ htiJutto uiidcf (I. -1 ^ ^'' '-''•'II ; Mil, I if „ -> 
 
 flow So''' W i 1 ' >• o 
 
 " 'I'l, . , ' ^"" " HOOll 
 
 ui cue k'ft shoulder T'll i ^ '^ ■'^''M'^^t aalne-onf 
 
 t'»'«tolo8e. J\I„m;< '"'■ '■"" '''^'' it; tlim-'I / 
 
 '7W.^c,oaf,e,,if,,,;,, r„.;;™.I'l -save „ .o,, ":? 
 
 I ll.e.-ef,„-e be,,„o„li;.,, ,^ "" "' f » Wt ugly." 
 
 rifle 
 
08 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHEUAN. 
 
 as well as all my movables of every kind. I only stipulated 
 that, in the event of the '• uuly " termination alluded to, he 
 would convey the letter witli lii.s own luinds to (;uajiia(jualla, 
 — a pk'il^'e he gave with the greater reudinessi that a reward 
 was to be rendered for tlie Herviec. There wad some seventy 
 dollars in my )iag, wliicli, SetU s:iid, need not be mentioned 
 in the will, ns they woukl be needed for the funeral. " It's 
 costly hereabouts," said he, growing (juite lively on the 
 theme. ^' Tliey put ye in a great basket, all decked with 
 flowers, and tliey sticks two big oranges or lemons in your 
 hands; and tlie clnips as carry you are dressed like devils 
 or angels, 1 don't nmch know which, — and they do make 
 such a cry ! My eye for it, but if you was n't dead, you 'd 
 not lie there long and listen to 'tin ! " 
 
 Now, although the subject was not one half so amusing to 
 me as it seemed to Seth, 1 felt that strange fasciiuition which 
 ever attaches to a painful theme, and asked a variety of 
 questions about the grave and the ceremonies and the 
 masses, reminding my executor that, as a good Catholic, I 
 hoped I should have the otlices of the Church in all liberality. 
 
 " Don't distress yourself about that," said he ; "I '11 learn 
 a lot of prayers in Latin myself, — ' just to help you on,' as; 
 a body might say. Hut, iis I li\.', there goes the chaps to 
 the ' Molino ' ; " and he pointed to a group of about a dozen 
 or more, who, wrapped up in their large cloaks, took the 
 way slowly and silently tn-ough the tall wit grass at the 
 bottom of the garden. 
 
 I have ever been too candid with my kind reader to con- 
 ceal anything from him. Let him not, therefore, I beg, 
 think the worse of me if I own that, at the sight of that 
 procession, a strange and most uncomfcn-table feeling per- 
 vaded me. There seemed something so purpose-like in their 
 steady, regular tramp. There was a look of cold determina- 
 tion in their movement that chilled me to the heart. " Oidy 
 to think !" muttered I, " how they have left their beds on 
 this raw, damp morning, at the risk of colds, catarrhs, and 
 rheumatism, all to murder a poor young fellow who never 
 injured one of them ! " 
 
 Not a thougiit had I for the mnchnchn. — the cause of all 
 my trouble; my faculties were limited to a little routine, 
 

 "Come al„„,.., .. „,i,| ^s,,„ ,?.'"•• f""^"' i"'l'm-ity. 
 
 fX^r -r--: i£-' 
 
 >V hat are voii m ^.i.: 
 
 It 8 all I'io'ljt " u • 1 r 
 S'"1l,„r,a', le.i^, ^^^"'"J ' i "I wa„te,l to see that I had the 
 ..e-eh?" "-.f-a„,t„h,,-,„, ....jJ^JJ^'-J 
 
 res, yes i 1 'II 1,,,,^. . . 
 ; - I he „.r.h a .iiaML,^^.t^ r"'"';''' ""'T .o„ with 
 
 .• na.,,;,, CZ ::;,:;*:';;„';; '"^ «"" »yn,pa.hiesof 
 ».I".e». x:„ ..,„„,,„;;l. "j«> 'Vm.-e spidt of p,.aetioal 
 
 made me posi- 
 our 
 
 stable ,ve entered, and hiivdfV. "'' "' *^« very first 
 
 called it, -fo. the s„„ ^f t wL^ ' ^ ^^'' ^^^^''^^"'•«' -«o e 
 ; e«patehed to hold hhn t-Z T'^"'" ^ "'"""^^^in lad was 
 ^f -acl. The sabre J SedT^' .'•' ^ ^^''^^"^ «Pot c?' 
 «^ than /ive .ninut. , we we.^ o, "^"^ ^'' ^'^^"^l^^'". a"d iu 
 f»Uy equipped and - .e-id 1 / """' "'''^' ^^^ ^he Molini 
 , " ^«"'t forget ^vlnt \Ju ^^' ^""y'' 
 -l^ays keep the hil of i. ^"" "^^"^ the face-^unrd • 
 
 I^V-^nd hold the XC'^T^ ,^^?'^^^^ bet^:^'^: ; 
 t'»"allj as we went alon^ t^i r f ,''' '''P* ^'^P^-'^ting con 
 ^vords after hhn mecha, ic;iK ^ ^'^"r^' '''^^''^^ "HUterin. the 
 es meaning to then. "? t^" ^^^^ •' ''^"''^^^'""» ^'^^^ «'U - 
 ci^'ip, and perhaps he '11 hp f^ , ^'^ '' "" ^^rong muscular 
 -f-./orce, and' cle^v „ ^^^ 'S''"'" 'r" >'-»• ^-" 7 
 •e^ It, you 've only to s^.W n ? ", ""'^^ ^ «'^'«ke. If he 
 
 ::^-:i p^^-: 4wh:n£:-:^- o. 
 
 L,„ ., ^^ discuss a hinidred IJhi ?", ^^'^^ this he 
 
 =-™ the Me.ioa„, are f:m. 1 "with"'"' "^h T" ^"■'"*- 
 
 *"'"> SO that at last I 
 
 
 mm 
 
'iW 
 
 li 
 
 -liS- 
 
 100 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 regretted, from the very bottom of my soul, that the gage 
 of battle had not fallen upon Seth himself, so much more 
 worthy in every way of the distinction. 
 
 If I seemed full of attention to all he was saying, my 
 thoughts, in truth be it spoken, were travelling a vastly 
 different road. I was engaged in the performance of a little 
 mental catechism, which ran somewhat in this wise: "If 
 you 'jscape this peril, JNIaster Con, will it not be wise to 
 eschew fandangoes in luturo, — or, at least, not indulge in 
 them with other men's sweethearts? Beware, besides, of 
 horse-dealers, of Xeres and Paquaretta ; and, above all, of 
 such indiscretions as may make the ' Seth Chisellers ' of this 
 world your masters ! " Ay, there was the sum and substance 
 of my sorrows : that unlucky step about " Charry " and the 
 lottery-ticket placed me in a situation from which tliere was 
 no issue. I now saw, what many have seen before, and 
 many will doubtless see again, that crime has other penalties 
 besides legal ones, and that the diiliculty of conforming to 
 an assumed good character, with even one lapse from the 
 path of honesty, is very considerable. 
 
 "Are you attending to me, lad?" cried Seth, impatiently. 
 "I was telling you about the cross-guard for the head." 
 
 " I have not heard one word of it," said I, frankly ; " nor 
 is it of the least consequence. All the talk in the world 
 could n't make a swordsman, still less would a few passing 
 hints like those you give me. If the villauo be the better 
 man, there's an end of the matter." 
 
 Seth, less convinced by my reasonings than offended at 
 them, spoke no more, and we approached the Molino in 
 silence. As we neared the spot, we perceived the party 
 seated in a little arbor, and by their gestures, as well as 
 by a most savory odor of garlic, evidently eating their 
 breakfast. 
 
 "The fellows are jolly," said Seth: " had we not better 
 follow their example? Here is a nice spot, and a table just 
 at hand." At the same time he called out, " Muehacho, pan 
 el vino en la mesa, and we '11 think of somewhat to eat." 
 
 I tried to play indifferent, and seem at my ease ; but it 
 was no use. The vicinity of the other group, and, in 
 particular, of a certain broad-shouldered • m^raber of it 
 
LA SENHORA. 
 
 103 
 
 8, as well as 
 
 whom I could detect throuoh the Ip^vp^ « a u 
 did not eat with the -lir of ! , u ' ^°^ ^'^"^ certainly 
 
 breakfast, spoiled aUmv.ffnT" ""^^ ^'^* ^* ^° ^« ^'^' 1^«< 
 they budded ^ "^""'''^ ""^^ "^PP^^^ them even aa 
 
 " ^ee how he lays in his proo' i » 
 
 dous effort. ° ' ^'" ^' '^^^'^ a tremeu- 
 
 "Egad! I'll tell him that," cried Spth i • 
 hastening across the garden I had no/ 1' "^ ?^''"^ "P' ^"^ 
 effect of the speech. Scarcely ha.? cl 7^ *^ ''"^* ^°^ *^« 
 words than the whole narfvi ?""' ""^^'^^ ^ ^^w 
 
 "Maledicion!" Tnd ''&kI?.!' Z' T"" " "^"^^^ ^^ 
 never heard before or sfncc ' "''''' "^^ '^™^ ^ 
 
 alllXtlTotrme^^ ^e; ^ they're 
 
 iuto a little paddock ^,1 f.l ,7'^' ""^ ^""^^^ ^^^er him 
 signs, seem'd tot'a^^o 'n^Hht^n^r t^l^^^^^^^ 
 such an amusement. The others eZpdh. ^ '''"' ^^^ 
 
 and, taking off their cloak, fin ?. ^^" «PP«site gate, 
 them on the benchTs.'^ Th ; r,^:" T^'f "^ "^' '^^^ 
 and really did look amazin^. I LTh. /.' ^' ?7 ''''''^ 
 
 2 o'flertt r-> -ew'meSml "'^"^ 
 yuc VI me paity advanced toward. Spth f^ 
 limmaries, while the rest liahtpTi Vi ^ ^ *^ """'^""^ pre- 
 
 Bmoking,-an example I ietned ft'"' -'^^^ '"^ ^^«^° 
 least, it looked cool ^ ''''' ^ '"^^tate; at 
 
 in a warm altercation m. the s,,lto nf ' ?'''^'"^"^ ^''^ 
 villano's friend insisted 1.^/]^! "^ '^^'^' ^^'c*^ the 
 long. Seth, howeve IZ 1 u "t' ""' °"^^ '»«''^^ too 
 tha?I had a ways used it In T I '^'""^'^^^ "^ '-^^^^^-t'^g 
 
 ana if we couic^ri; ^ r ^:^^,r!;rw^ '"^^^^^^'^ ^^^ 
 
 for certain cogent reasons thaf n^v . 1 '^^^"^^•^^^' it was 
 I chuckled at^his iTo I ;tn,^ "^^^ How 
 
 -^ght terrify the enemy! N^t " f Z I'T'lt ''''' '' 
 
 -age stepped out ii u.:'^!^:'^ ^^^Jti::;^ 
 
 
102 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I, 
 
 rolled up to the shoulder, displaying an arm whoso muscular 
 dcvelopmeut was like knotted cordage. As if to give a 
 foretaste of what he intended for me, he clove down the 
 stout branch of an elm-tree with a single stroke and with 
 the ease of a man slicing a cheese. Never did I think so 
 meanly of a fandango as at that moment ; never was I in a 
 mood less lenient to female coquetry ! 
 
 "All's ready, Con, my hearty," whispered Seth, leaning 
 over my shoulder; "here's the tool." 
 
 If I had followed the instinct tlieu strongest, I should have 
 treated my " friend" Seth to tlie first of my maideu sword. 
 But for him — But it was too late for regrets ; and already 
 tlie group had retired, leaving the villano standing in a 
 position of formidable defence alone in the circle. 
 
 I can remember that I walked calmly and slowly forward 
 to the spot assigned me. I can remember the word being 
 given to draw swords, and I even yet can see the flashmg 
 steel as it glistened, and hear the clang of the scabbards as 
 we flung them from us ; but of the encounter itself I have 
 only th^vaguest impression. Cuts, thrusts, parries, advances 
 and retiriugs, feints and guards, are all blended up with the 
 exclamations of the bystanders as, in praise or censure, they 
 followed the encounter. At last, without knowmg why, 
 after a warm rally, my antagonist uttered a faint cry, and 
 tottering a few paces back, let fall his sword, and sank 
 heavily ^to the earth. I sprang forward in dread anxiety; 
 but tvvo of the others held me back while they cried out, 
 " Basta — Basta, Senhor!" I tried to force my way past 
 them, but tliey held me fast; and all that I could see was 
 one of the group take up the villano's arm and let it go 
 again, when it fell heavily to the ground with a dull bang I 
 shall never forget ! They tiien threw his cloak over him, 
 and I saw him no more. 
 
 " What are ye waitin' for, lad? " whispered Seth. " You 
 don't want to attend his funeral, I reckon?" 
 
 4t Is he — is he ? " I could n't get the word out for 
 
 worlds. 
 
 " By course he is ; and so will you be, if ye don t make a 
 
 bolt of it." 
 
 1 have some recollection of an angry altercation between 
 
Seth, leaning 
 
 cation between 
 
 LA SENHORA. ^q^ 
 
 iug along the (3uai,,,o,nM , 1 , / f'"^ '">'*" 8»"°1>- 
 my extreme IZ^T^^J"'"^ "* ^ "■*"' l'-^^. ""d, to 
 a. befa-e I hac, 'b^e,: -.SiliS,;;'^; " -«- ='^™' ». -fety 
 
 e. e'reT, sr^rroi:',:,/™." r ^"^^ <" "--- ^ 
 
 pursuit aroused i„ n 1 e ; ^ ',S'' l^ ' """ '"« "»g'^' <>' 
 Arado sisn-uost it ,. ',"„ °^"''f-I"«senatlou. 
 
 :'.:a"b.;>:'b T;:::^;,r -^ ';™--^'" ---s 
 
 ';.n.ec, the a^liutaT.oi:':^ S'/ltr Ti:" ""?' ' 
 
 to .be p,oddL, .. ...;!?:;: e';:ts;;i"'°;'=" ,r ""'• 
 
 case you " shoot your sorrows flvi o- '' . . ^" ^^^ "'"•^ 
 
 alongside of you 111 tko^^^^tm^Jlu^^^^^^^^ 
 down at noon, and takin<. share of^h' ^ ^^'" ^'^^ ^'^ 
 your parched lips are e°f reh d it '^''"° /'""'" ^'^"^'^ 
 quaintance, they will not be Sd . ^h '" T^''^''"^ ^«- 
 ^o«r way; » and in the r ent 'iitwr^ ''^?^'^ "S-'"^ 
 you company. *^ ^^'''^ "^^^^^ on bearing 
 
 At a little cabaret of the verv hiimM«.+ ^ 
 some breakfast aud rnJei:ZslTltTo! b "'."""I 
 a gourd of wine as 1 Ipo.nori f. f ?, • ^^ ^'^'^^^ *^"d 
 
 beforeIreachal'^S.4 " he,t.tT:^^r-^^ '^ ^^^ 
 was reckoned halfway to G;ua it nua la 'iV T'"''' ^'^'^^ 
 set forth on my journey. ''"'^'"'''^"^"^- ^^'^ done, again I 
 
 The scenery was wild, without being errand Thpv. 
 bareness and desolation, but no sublimftv A ? ""^^ 
 
 their aoUslrrtr,rr;i'i,:r'""^ '*" "■*™«"^ ''"'' 
 ^r-r;"Vi--s;-^ts:;?:ss 
 
 and 
 wan 
 lead 
 
 -Mi 
 
 s il 
 
 m\ 
 
 y 
 
 
 lUif 
 
104 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 J :\ 
 
 and wounded honor, necessity, and the like could not cover 
 the fact tha I had taken away a man's life in a foolish 
 brawl, from the very outset of which the whole fault lay on 
 my side. 
 
 "So much," said I, "for trying to be a 'gentleman.' 
 Every step in this disastrous pursuit would seem to have a 
 penalty attached to it; and, after all, I am just as far from 
 the goal as when I set out." 
 
 That day seeired a year in length ; and were I to attempt 
 to chronicle it, the reader would confess himself convinced 
 before I had half finished; so that, for both cav sakes, I '11 
 not " file my bill of particulars," as my respected father 
 would have said, but at once come to the hour when the sun 
 approached the horizon, and yet not anything like a human 
 dwelling came in sight ; and I still plodded along, sad and 
 weary, and anxious for rest. If the events which I am 
 about to record have little in them of extraordinary interest, 
 they at least were the turning-points in my humble destiny, 
 and therefore, kind reader, with your permission, we '11 give 
 them a chapter to themselves. 
 
)uld not cover 
 ! in a foolish 
 e fault lay on 
 
 ' gentleman.' 
 ^era to have a 
 it as far from 
 
 3 I to attempt 
 elf convinced 
 \iv sakes, I '11 
 pectcd father 
 when the sun 
 like a human 
 long, sad and 
 which 1 am 
 nary interest, 
 mble destiny, 
 m, we'll give 
 
 
 V "'^'IJK DISCOVERY." 
 
 without di.covorh!^!^.;:^^jr::;- --V twelve hours 
 
 Which n.adi.opc.l to piX;r litnf-"'^ "'"^' "^ 
 assured me that I had not lost "the - ?S'"r'''''^^''^^« 
 light were burning for milp« ... i ' '^"'^ y^^ i^ anv 
 
 wiiieh J stood S1K.U rike rvilin''' '1""'"^ '^'' «» 
 fatigued, there was notl '.fo^^ JfW "^'''^^^"^^ '^^^^'^ 
 length I found myself : nan-1 u ^''''''''^' ^"^ ^t 
 heard described as the situ./^ ''f-'^ '''^''^' ^eth hnd 
 
 ■stood. It was dark a die .";j'r'^ ^'^^" '""^^'^ ^ut 
 "eanng the spot chocrod mo ad i !^ i f ''' ^''^^ ^ ^"^« 
 ti>-ed as I was. Once or twioe T i T'^ ^"' ^''''^''''^ and 
 of a dog. I stopped to lilte?- T ""f J ^ ^^^"''^ ^'^« ^ark 
 '>"t to no end. After an inten'a I ""''' '''^"^' ^ ^'^"■^^l^d, 
 repeated, and now I comTlf V'!'' '^' ^^""^« ^^^^ 
 low, plaintive wail ofl^^ tt^{ Z''''^ '']' '^'''' ' ~ ''^^ '^^ 
 not unfrequentl. happens Ziu ''^"^"Slv ui pain. As it 
 
 h' wolves, it immedS; o t , e,I ^T''"'^ ^''^ ^^^^^^^ 
 present ease; ^^ I looI-PrJ * . "''' such might be the 
 
 tasteued o„ i„ ti,e'dtto„ of t rs."' "" ^"■°'™'- »<« 
 
 
 # (I 
 
 ' f 
 
f 
 
 i: 
 
 JOG 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CIIEGAN. 
 
 The wailing sounds grew fuller and louder as I advanced, 
 and now 1 c.uld distinguish that they were the cries of an 
 animal in grief, and not of one in bodily pain. I increased 
 my speec' to the utmost, and suddenly I felt the warm tongue 
 of a dog touch my hand, and his tail brush my legs, in sign 
 of friendly welcome. I stopi)ed to put and caress him, but 
 the poor creature uttered another cry so full of sorrow .hat 
 all other thoughts were routed on the instant. 
 
 He now pieceded me, turning at each moment as if to see 
 that I followed, and whining in a low, faint tone, as before. 
 We b",d not long proceeded thus, when he stopped sud- 
 denly, and set up a cry the most shri!'. and heart-thrilling. 
 I saw that we were in front of a miserable shealing, the 
 door of which lay open ; but all was dark within. I struck 
 a light with my flint, and lighted a little taper. To my 
 surprise, the hut contained several articles of furniture ; but 
 I had not more than time to notice them, when the dog, 
 darting forward, placed his fore-paws upon a low settle-bed, 
 and gave a dismal howl. I turned and beheld the figure of 
 a very old man, his white beard hanging down to his chest, 
 as he lay in what seemed a heavy sleep. I touched him ; 
 he was cold. I placed my hand on his heart; it was still. 
 I tried to detect breathing ; there was none — he was quite 
 dead ! 
 
 The poor dog appeared to watch me with intense interest, 
 as, one by one, I tried these different signs of life ; but when 
 he saw the hand fall heavily from my own, he again set up 
 his cries, which now lasted for several minutes. The scene 
 was a sad and touching one. The poor old miner, — for such 
 his dress and the scattered implements of the craft bespoke 
 him, — forgotten b}' all the Avorld save by his dog, lay in all 
 the seeming calm of sleej). A cup of water stood near him, 
 and a little wooden crucifix lay on the bed, where probably 
 it had fallen from his fingers. Everything around betokened 
 great poverty. The few articles of furniture seemed as if 
 they had been fashioned by himself, being of the rudest work- 
 manship : his lamp was a dried gourd, and his one chair had 
 been a stump, hollowed out with a hatcliet. The most strik- 
 ing feature of all was a number of printed paragraphs cut 
 from old newspapers and magazines and nailed against the 
 
"THE DISCOVERY." j^^ 
 
 object of bis life ne 'ill ed T ''''' "' '''' ^^"^ ^"^ 
 exception, exa-n^erate and . « '^' '"""^ ^"' ^^^hout 
 discovered "PhTms" .X, ^'-^'-"'^^^" ^ceouuts of newly 
 dark plains of t^ Uk7a ne T""' "' 'f'''^-^-^^ m the 
 Mexico, some in e httc'^'' f 17 -"^ '''' '^''^' ^""^''^^ts of 
 shores of the plit p ^^ ^^l''"- '''''"^ "" the far-away 
 of wealth o lin" "v,,t :;;;;rT "' ^"^^'^" ''-'^-t' visions 
 before the parched .,;,thi"T' '^'''''' ''''^''' ^^ S^^n 
 Little thought they w 1 , f h'H '' '^^ '"^ "^^^ ^^'"^"« ^ 
 colored the^e desc^i . 1 • ^":,;7r^"-''^-^ ^^^ ^--^^ 
 n^any a rugged nature! ^ha tw.'^ , '^''^' '''''' ^'^^^'"^- i» 
 engendering! what Im-e^ lo • ^ l'^'""""'' ^hey were 
 
 yonth and Tnanhool nd a-t T-'m "^'" "^ '^'"* ""' ^^^''^^g'^ 
 enslave them ! ° ' '''^^ ''''' ^''''^^^ fascination to 
 
 tu^ri.t^E -;:t^^--ti". -aps of adven. 
 
 were merely dr; and sucr t notic s of'tKciT""'"' ^^'^" 
 ^n particular places, announcem ^s whi r^^ r^ 
 an mnate devotion to the nnTT *''''"- ^^^''^ of 
 
 dwelt upon; and the , f i ^ e\o ":^;7^^^ 'T'^'y ^'^^e 
 they occupied, were the mo. f ^i ^^"^ ^'■"'" ^^« situations 
 most frequently reac over t f^''''' P'-^-'agraphs, and those 
 which he^ed L l^TpeTtLl-o :,f 7" ,f ^'^''y ^-^ with 
 Buffering and toil. It vvas S '.n '"^^f^' ^'^"^ ^^^^-^ ^^ 
 lamp when the wick had bu ne to thJ '■'^PJ«"'"«'^ed the 
 
 How one could fancy the 1 r?f ''-'"^^ ''^^'^'^*- 
 his winter fire, half dozino 1 ^T"'"^"?^"^ ^^^ he sat before 
 panionableexi^tenc ,^ n^J\.f" ^"^'^:f .«f b- uncom- 
 uis mind was filled! With wh V ' ' '"«'ons with which 
 followed his fellow-labo e s in e; ,.?7^'' '^' '""'^ ''' ^'^^'^ 
 globe ! how nmmned ov their d^ T""^ ^^""''^^^ ^^ *''^' 
 h^ their successes ! These li ,''''"'"*"''"*'' ^"^^ ^^'^'"lt«d 
 the only links that tied hi to t 3 "'1 ^"^^"^^^« -- 
 spoke to him of his own species ' ^ ^^ '''"■' ^" *^'-'^^ 
 
 As I went about the Imi the 
 poverty and privatio tn ok ^r^''^'^ '' ''^^ ^'''''^^ 
 worn to very tatte,-s har t T ^'^ "'^' = ^^' ^'^thin.^r, 
 
 and patches^f . ::Jf^'.'^"' '"5»^'«d ^^J 
 
 patches of canvas; the 
 
 . skins of beasts 
 tools with which he worked 
 
 I, ' 
 
 ■I ' 
 
 :] i 
 
 I 
 
 
108 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 showed marks of rude repair that proved how "he to him- 
 self sulliced," without aid from others. 
 
 T passed the night without sleep, my mind full of tht mel- 
 ancholy picture before me. When day broke, I walked 
 forth into the cool air to refresh myself, and found, to my 
 astonishment, that the spot had been a Placer of once great 
 repute, — at least so 1 he remains around attested. The ruined 
 framework of miners' huts ; the great massive furnaces for 
 smelting; huge cradles, as they are ca-'ed, for gold-sifting ; 
 long troughs, formed of hollowed trunks, for washing, — 
 lay scattered on all sides. The number of these showed 
 what importance the spot had once possessed, and the rotten 
 condition in which they now were proved how long it had 
 been deserted by all save him who was now to take his rest 
 where, for many a weary year, he had toiled and labored. 
 
 A little cross, decorated with those insignia of torture so 
 frequently seen in Catholic countries, — the pincers, the 
 sccHirge, and the crown of thorns, — showed where Piety had 
 raised an altar beside that of Mammon ; and underneath this 
 I resolved to lay the poor old Gambusinc's bones, as in a 
 Christian grave. I could not divest my mind of the impres- 
 sion that some power, higher than mere cluince, had led me 
 to the spot to perform those last offices to the poor outcast. 
 Having eaten my breakfast, which I shared with the dog, I 
 set to work to fashion something that should serve as a 
 coffin. There was timber in abundance, and the old miner's 
 tools sufficed for all I needed. INIy labor, however, was only 
 completed as night closed in, so that 1 was obliged to wait 
 for morning to finish my task. 
 
 Wearied by my exertions, I slept soundly, and never awoke 
 till the bright sunbeams pierced through the chinks of the 
 log-hut, and streamed in amidst its dusky atmosphere ; then 
 I arose, and placed the old man in his coflin. I sat down 
 beside it, and as I looked at th(; calm, cold features I could 
 not help reflecting th:. even he had not been more an outcast 
 from his fellows than I was myself. If fate had cast hi;i 
 lot in the solitude of this dreary region, he was not more 
 alone in the world than /, who had neither home nor family. 
 How strange was it, too, thnt it sliould have devolved upon 
 me to pay him these last rites. No, no ; this could not be 
 
"he to him- 
 
 'THE DISCOVERY.' 
 
 100 
 
 f^-5;^as? • ,.!~ ^;Z:r '''' •*'^'"^' ^^^ -ore 
 looking back, af t r the kpi o v"' "'''T'''''' ' ^^^^ "^^v, 
 niorc confinnecl by ti.ne ^'^"''' ''^"^ ^^^""S i« ^uJ 
 
 Stony, so that at first I made b fliftl '"'^'' ^'"' '^"''^^ ^'"^ 
 reached a elay.y soft soil '^i ^^^ „i;;;:;S^^ ^^"t soon I 
 
 dense, firm stratum of stono. ": ""^ succeeded by a 
 
 a pavement made by ham' iT?" '^'^^'^^ ''^^'^'^'^ 'i^e 
 eeive it otherwise, the stoJs ' '' ''"'' ^•'^"^'"'t ^o con- 
 
 si-e, and laid do^n with ' <n. ."l '" "^''^'•^•>' "^ the same 
 Po^elike. r proceeded lool^ '''^'' «o striking and pn,. 
 to my surprise, no si e hJ r 'r" 7'"\'''^' ''^'''•^t^' ^^"t' 
 another exactly sinnlar^ Lphvtl j /;''^ ''''' ^'y'^' "'-n 
 be ''Nature^s'handi^vo k7 W r :;'!:'"-"-^h- ^^ this 
 thing I ever saw." I labo, , /i '' '' ^''" strangest 
 tier, and now came ch>.'^ ,/'!''' ,'/"'"'" ''"''''''''' 
 which the barreta passed easv Ifu P^'""^ ^'^''' ^"to 
 with a sense of disap, o .tme t tl . r ^ ^^"' ''^^^* ^t was 
 was not that my eTc t^t "^ I w V'''"'^^'^^^ '''^''^ It 
 
 aroused me by lickin- mvTn i^ "t, trom which the dog 
 face, as ti.ouo^ e oac^^^L "^i ^^^'^'^S' "i> '"to m^ 
 
 arose at oncefan,! e' to ^4- in i^r'"'''" '"'^ ''''^- ^ 
 was now full five feet in den h 7 T"'''''' '^'"^^ ^'-ave 
 a little longer. Itl^^s "ft 1 ?'r^ "f^^^f «"'^ to be made 
 '"y task m;s all but coi^ le o^r T ^'T' ^""''^ ^'^'^O'"' and 
 Htone which it was reZTs tn " ''' ^""''''^ struck a 
 
 l^eavy one, and mnokZ^tlZ' \'\ ""'' "" ^"'^'^ '^-1 
 I at first supposed, an it u -^ TT"'^ "' *^^ ^^^'t^ than 
 tl- iron '^crow" tha"? was ^e t'o J ''''I'''''"' '' ^'^ 
 the fragments and threw tTiem nio T''^- ^' ^ "^ted 
 
 taet with a soft subst^ce ZS;;::^^:^ t T^ '^ ^^"■ 
 least, resembled the skin of a be^t w h h it ' '^*^\teel, at 
 I cleared away the earth an^ 7'''t;^ith the wool or hair on. 
 y eaith, and saw to my astonishment what 
 
rr 
 
 tlO 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 II 
 
 I at once knew to be, a pioee of ImlTulo hide, smeared over 
 with a peculiar oil the Indians use to prevent rotting or 
 decomposition. I drew forth my knife and ripped it open ; 
 a strong skin of undifssod buck was now laid bare ; again 
 I applied my knife vigorously to this, and as the sharp stei-l 
 ran freely along, a glittering heap of gold disclosed itself 
 before me, and rolled in fraginenl.i to my feet ! 
 
 I cainiot attempt t'> describe the emotions of that moment, 
 as, with a iieart bursting with delight, I ran my fingers 
 through the heaps of shining metal, many of them larger 
 than my closed list. I pulkd off my cap and tilled it; 1 
 opened my handkerchief, and in a few moments that also 
 was cranuned; I stuffed my pockets; but the treasure 
 seemed inexhaustible. 1 arose, and hastened to the hut 
 for the great canvas bag in which the poor miner used to 
 keep his chestnuts, and, oh, the terror that came over me 
 now, lest I should be seen, lest any other should discover 
 me ! With the speed that fear alone can supply I soon filled 
 the sack, not alone willi gold, but also with several little 
 leather bags, whicii 1 discovered contained gems and pre- 
 cious stones, emeralds principally, with opals, sai)phires, 
 and rubies, some of a size and color I had never seen 
 equalled before. There were eight of these bags, marked 
 with some enigmatical letters, of which T did not know the 
 meaning, nor, in good truth, did I puzzle myself to dis- 
 cover. The wealth, unbounded as it seemed, needed no 
 explanation ; there it: lay glittering upon the grass beneath 
 the morning sun, and Uum'c I sat amidst it, as Aladdin might 
 have sat amidst the treasures of his mine. 
 
 As I opened the bags one after another, in eager impa- 
 tience, I came upon one filled with papers, and these 1 
 quickly discovered were receipts for dei)osits of large 
 sums placed at various times in the hands of Don XafiVe 
 Hijaros, banker, at Guajuaqualla, l>y Mkxklaus Crkk ! 
 Yes, these were the hidden treasures for which the Black 
 Boatswain of Anticosti had endui'cd the tortures of the 
 burning iron and the steel, the terrible agonies of the flesh 
 pincers, and the slow, lingering pains of paralysis. These, 
 then, were the visions that haunted his dotage in the very 
 night T had seen him, as he struggled in some imaginary 
 
"THE DISCO VliKY," 
 
 Hinoared over 
 
 111 
 
 sr:tr''A''::,;ru,,;';:i,5™;;;:;' "T ""'''-' - "' -■ 
 
 iinglJt-miy, luiiat _ l,,v, ,? "" ""^ treasure 
 
 -.» of „„„i'.r .:;:,' „„'::,:,„'; vr:;' if .r"'" '^■'■'■""^ 
 
 '■"■■Wy sel, and .sl,„„x,l that li.e ,n, I. ^ " *'"""' ""^ 
 
 tlleemerul.la hail beo„ ,.v .., V " "°™- ''^""""'f 
 
 '■■on, the „„,. Of ' .l^r r , ;:" "J"?""""' -' '■"<™ 
 tad staiiKHl Ihem .,11 tT„.r„ . """'"■, ^'"'^'liee ami blooil 
 n«-v there ar„ \ i, ''' ^ ~'' '' ""' "" >l"'"" "f it, ami 
 
 twr»t f„r weaiti;:;"; ^d i, ,: sr""'''- ■" ""i^" ti. 
 
 wliisnered, '• N„ luek ,.„„l , * "' »ill'iTslilio,i tliat 
 
 swelled a„d tUrobbed w u it^ II :: 7'"^«i "V lti=art 
 temples beat with a !. ,'IT l ""= "'te"'^'- "f ,„y 
 
 brain as I eanvassM t Ids """"•' '" ™'"^ "■" ™'y 
 
 weai,usoa,s„eia.:r:vi:;;'de2if'x;'u''«-» ' --^ 
 
 g»l.l can' bu/ r. ,/; r'b '""'' " '"" "«"■»■'"- ""'t 
 Horrible fa„oies f a ,1 '* "'°'' ''"«''""«' ""ere. 
 
 crime nnexpiated, .nonaced there 'MavT.;^ T'" '" 
 preside in u com-t whoiv ti.. V ^ "^^''^^' '^'"^^'^ to 
 where the faet 4 o ' V'?^?"'' 'f '" strongly opposed, 
 I beheld myself the 3f'' ^'"'"r ^^ ' ^^' '^^^ ^"^ >"^^^"t 
 into the wi/e oco-i oF^ ,lTf '"f """•'^i^-'^^^ launching forth 
 
 B.-V myself c^ H ^ , ^'^art??'"""^; '-^^ *^^^ "^"^^ ^ 
 like the old neo-rolsl. e . ' "'""""'^^ ^^"^^ ^'''PPl^^l 
 
 widowed n.othe,;^-i„; Vi,?,?''"''^' "•^•^" '"^^ '' "^« ""i^^ of 
 
 fathers traekh^me ^ Sev r?::;:;; "f "'"" ^'^ '•^''"^^^ 
 verdict my poor emnanel pH n. ^ '"''""'"^ ^^"" ^^^^^t 
 
 in at last,Vut LZ^i^^t^^^^'' '^'^'^' '^^^^ brought 
 
 -cl gave a most decided tntrrcl^'^Th' " ^'^ T' 
 than " the Church " n-l,n„ t...- ^'"* "'"' "" '«'» 
 
 it the matter were one ofdS'l'tTi;'"""^ '"""""'«' "'»' 
 these treasures have in nri^. ^P • ^'^'■^P^'cd she, -that 
 Church canoot pu^i f/Lt^ 1 rr,-;Jl~el" 
 
]Y 
 
 112 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON C REGAN. 
 
 throw a liiatre upon deeds that have not ' loved the light.' 
 A"i embroidered petticoat can cover a great many small sins, 
 -lud tli( incense that rises from a gold censer, offered by 
 pions han(h, will do much to correct the puugency of even 
 tin saltest tears." 
 
 Build a ciiapel, Con ; endow a nunnery, — or, if you don't 
 like shutting ui) young ladies, let it be a " monkery; " make 
 an investment in iiair-clotii shirts and cord giidles; buy 
 shares in the grand Purgatory scheme, tind take out "next 
 world scrip," in the shape of masses, jubilees, and novcnas. 
 You can keep a bishop, without feeling the cost, and .lave a 
 wiiole candle manufactory perpetually at the service of " Our 
 Lady," without being obliged to curtail one of your own wax- 
 lights. AVhat a revulsion did this bright thought give to all 
 my previous doubtings ! not only satisfying my scruples here, 
 but suggesting very comfortable associations for hereafter. 
 By this proceeding. Con, thought I, you are " hedging 
 against hereafter ; " you may be a Sardanapalus while you 
 live, and a saint after death : it 's betting upon the '' double 
 event," with all the odds in your favor. 
 
 I must say, for the sake of my credit, that I resolved to 
 "do the thing handsomely." I determined that a finer 
 virgin should not be seen than mine, and that if a "Saint 
 Cregan " could be discovered in the catalogue, I 'd adopt 
 him as my patron, at any cost. Neither would I forget the 
 poor old miner in my pious offerings : he should have masses 
 said for him for a full twelvemonth to come, and I 'd offer a 
 silver pickaxe to any of the calendar who would deign to ac- 
 cept it. In a word, there was nothing that money could do 
 (and what can it not?) that I would not engage to perform, 
 so that the Church should consent to take me into partnership. 
 
 Never was a poor head exposed to such a conflict of 
 discordant thoughts. Plans of pleasures and pilgrimages ; 
 gorgeous visions of enjoyment warring with fancies of sack- 
 cloth and scourges; sumptuous dinners, equipages, theatres, 
 balls, and festivities mingling with fastings, processions, 
 and mortifications, made up a chaos only a shade above 
 downright insanity. 
 
 The day wore on, and it was late in the afternoon ere I 
 bethought me of the poor Gambusino, beside whose open 
 
Tine DISCO VKRY." 
 
 113 
 
 A>< I «ui,l this -I Hlvuuotnn'^''''^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 «^;lf-comMKM.,latiou in tho 0011,7 V\7 "'?'" ^^'"'^ ^^ ^'"fe'^' "f 
 ^^'"^^ •' "^>'''^' '•ell.nv f un.: ;: , ''-'"f '"^^'-'-i^S, ''See 
 
 ■•t « very l.a„,|.soino of you C I n ^ ^ ^^'I'-^'-^I " 
 
 ii^ve a gold collar and a clasn of v ol' ''^' '''^' ">''^" «''^i" 
 umlly does a rich .nan veouu^'l:^ '^'''f^^'' n<>>v ..at- 
 
 - -vereig., ro.nody fo,- all diso.de;:, '"'' '''^^^ '^^'^ '« -' 
 
 -soi::;L^^rt';;:;U;';;^^^^ 
 
 7 Ji'H fann-liarity, he show ' l'^ '^ 
 
 How differently ll.d he Xtl 'ti;"'' ^''''f' •'"eons<,io '' 
 '"^'J"' , What sudden ros, ;,''';''-'';/' ^^^^^ he been a 
 
 aturalrelnetancetoobtrdf,, ;' '^' f^'lt for „,e ; whal 
 y-ny notice, Ik)w distinguish bf ""Z"^^' ^^ow honored 
 t'o <log is a very inferioz^. ^ ' . ''^' '''''''■ '' ^^ P'-in 
 fi 'e enough to distinguish b ve i', J^'^^^'P^ions are not 
 
 the pauper ! ''^^^^" the ,nau of wealth and 
 
 These and very similar rofln«f 
 P;^ted my task,^f^:;'::, «-^^- -.aged -ewhilelcom- 
 '>il and deposited them within the h \ '"'l,P'-^^'o»« burdens 
 vo'-y J-nngry, but had nothi to . '" ^^ ^'''« ^ime I was 
 -m^ned from my break ^.^^,:;:- ^'^ ^-gments th 
 ^" a httmg place, could have <li„od " Y """' ^^^^ «"« ^ho, 
 
 rocJi 
 
 VOT,. Tr. _8 
 
 iny fiitur« 
 
 1)1 
 
 
 
 IT 
 
 \<<,k 
 
 
 rs iBfs 
 
■L:ii-.at--.^rr-.~-^h5i-i -'"i-Hm^ ^T^t-Tii .pgjj- 
 
 114 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Perhaps my whole life — not wanting in hours of pleasure 
 and enjoyment — never presented anything so truly delight- 
 ful as that evening. 
 
 The season of gratification which I had dreamed of, sighed, 
 panted, and prayed for, was now to be mine. I was at last to 
 be a " gentleman," — so far, at least, as immense wealth and 
 a very decided taste for spending it could make me. But 
 were these, I tlatteringiy asked myself, all my qualillcations? 
 Was I not master of tiu-ee or four languages? Had I not 
 become an expert shot, an excellent rider, a graceful dancer, 
 Avith some skill upon the guitar and the mandolin? Could I 
 not contend in most exercises where strength and activity 
 were required, with any? Had I not travelled and seen 
 something of the world and its ways? Ay, marr}', and a 
 little more of both than was usual for young gentlemen of 
 fortune ! 
 
 Of personal advantages it might not become me to speak ; 
 but the truth requires me to say that Nature had dealt very 
 handsomely by me. And now I ask of the fair reader, — 
 the unfair one I put out of court on the occasion, — " Are 
 not these very pretty chances with which to woo fortune?" 
 Less sanguine spirits would perhaps have sighed for more, 
 and asked for a hundred gifts, of whose use and value T 
 knew nothing, — such as birth, family influence, and the like. 
 As for me, I was content with the " hand of trumps" Fate 
 had dealt me ; I owned frankly that if I lost the game, it 
 must be for lack of skill, and not of luck. 
 
 Mv plans were very simple. Once at Guajuaqualla, I 
 should find out where Donna Ma- la de los Dolores lived, and 
 then, providing myself with a suitable equipage and ser- 
 vants, I should proceed to pay my addresses in all form, 
 affecting to have resumed my real rank and station, from 
 which, on our first acquaintance, a passing caprice had with- 
 drawn me. T anticipated, of course, very shrewd inquiries 
 as to my family and fortune ; but I trusted to " native wit " 
 to satisfy these, secretly resolving at the time that I M'ould 
 avoid lying for e future. And H propos of this propensity, 
 I had never indulged in it, save from that vagrant impulse 
 that tempts a child t<* scamper over the flower-plat of a 
 garden, ins; -ad of keeping to the gravel, — the great charm 
 
;eutlemeu of 
 
 "THE DISCOVERY" 
 
 115 
 
 eorreet, who can pass uS ts T'l ''''''''''' ^''^ '^•^-J^ 
 -nng then, off; who ;!., "'V^"^' "*^^ ^^''«'^ to 
 
 •ovc. think c.n.reaki„gL:rS^^ nj lonely spots, and 
 
 f "Picl, nor niistify the v . . ? ''^^'^' " ''^"'ibug " f . 
 
 forgive the «ena-L b^,^^' ' ^f^ '' fake 'i^e - senon:iy,i: 
 
 - fo regard '^ fun " " U.^^ ^ '^^'^'^ ^-^^-^ which lekds 
 
 1^'adH us to extract it frou ve v flo t"" •^' rl '^^^^^"^^' ^^<i 
 When 1 u ]ie,,,"_^^^ ";;;'> "^^er m life's path! 
 
 moreatrocionsly,-! ' ^ ^"'"* "Pi.ito" ever lied 
 
 ^-nees than .1^ ^ "^^^ --^d by „,.,.„ ei'rJ;:^ 
 ^'^'ong stupid folk as a ricrman fl "'T-^'"' "'^' •"mentions 
 g'-oup of beggars, to enjoy the '"fn'" ^^""^^^ -«^>"o- a 
 forjuch an u,dooked-for priL ^"''^^^^"^^ '^"^ contendfng 
 
 -^^t:^^.:^S;i^- ^^on the ^f^^t, as one un- 
 dear, u hat a sioh hono.rT , f. "^'^ '"^"'^ station ! Oh 
 when he s^ore"^!^'^^^ ^^^^^^aff ..nst have heaved 
 ^^d live c!eauly.» ^'^ '''^'''' '^^^' ^nd low company 
 
 -^cssr'^rr ^™r^ ^^ -^ -k, and' 
 
 f^'-eat bulk of my ,.easu e ;'P''"'''^ '"'' '"« to car y the 
 canvas sack, with the' ^^/'"^^J"«a-alla, I replaced the 
 ♦''e gems, in the g oun an ,^"1' "' '^^' ^^'^'=^'- ^^'-^g^ «? 
 tained the paper secu it es and ■"^' 'T^' '^^'' that con- 
 e'neralds, along with me ' "'"' "^ ^'^^ "^^^'^ valuable 
 
 oon^s^^::;ie:^;:;;::^:^;!;; -» for a short absence, I 
 
 beset me, and I t.rrn;; to s -e'y r''' . t ^'""^^"^ ^-- 
 lay, wondering if there wnT7 ^''.' ^P'^' ^^"eath which it 
 eoncealed rich"es be ow v , 7 '"''"''^''"" ^^ ^"^'-^ the 
 P''^"-ble; and I proce'ede:^ on "?""' '"?'^'^^' ^'-^^^ ^nd 
 ^^asy as, I suppose rich m 's he.r7. '''^'' ''''" " ^^^-^''^ ^« 
 
 I believe the road alon.. Thie,, r ' ^'""'"'"^^ ^"^ ^e ! 
 '/ '-^ fertde and pleasi '^r ct V h'"r^"V'^ '" "^^ '"^^^«t 
 I saw nothing o it. The Hv e.Tl ! T- '.' ^ ^''^^ ' ^^^^ ^ own 
 silver, molten silver, to me ho f '' •7^'''^ ^ ^^''^^'^^^ ««^«^ed 
 P'"-«gold; the stars \v^iers\XT''''"'^ ^^^'^^ -^ 
 «^P*es and diamonds; \r:lt^--;;:!S^^ 
 
 ' fiiii 
 
 ! i 
 
 'i I; 
 
 •Iot 
 
 ,1 ?. 
 
 
 §0 h i 
 
 iwi 
 
CSEi'*SKS5Hri.»i!^aSS«'>{-;*;'"" 
 
 116 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 opals all. Tf I sat down to rest myself, I instantly took one 
 of my preeiouB bags from my pocket, to gaze at the bright 
 treasures it contained, and feast my eyes with brilliancy. 
 
 At last I found myself on the great high road, and, as the 
 sign-post told me, only " tres legiias " — three leagues — 
 from Guajuaqualla. For a few copper coins I obtained a 
 seat upon a peasant's " carro," and journeyed along more 
 agreeably, secretly laughing to myself at the strange cou- 
 veyance that carried " Ca?sar and his fortunes." 
 
 The peasant was an old man who lived by selling water- 
 melons, gourds, and cucumbers in the city, and knew most of 
 its well-known inhabitants. It was, therefore, a good oppor- 
 tunity for me to learn something of those in whom T was 
 interested. He told me tliat the banker Don Xafire Ilijaros 
 had died several years ago, but that bis son Mamiel carried 
 on the business, and was reputed to be the ricliest man in 
 Guajuaqualla. It was said that the great wealth of the 
 house had been accumulated in ways and by means that 
 would not bear too close scrutiny, l^arge sums had been, it 
 was alleged, lodged in his hands by negroes and Indians 
 working at the mines, the owners of which were often made 
 away with, — at least, few of those who made large deposits 
 ever lived to claim them. The peasant told me several stories 
 in illustration of this suspicion ; but although they certainly 
 did make an impression upon me, I attributed much to tlie 
 exaggeration so common to every piece of local gossip, and 
 I had seen enough in the world to know how frequently 
 successful industry meets disparagement. 
 
 As for Don Estaban Glare/., the old man told me that he 
 had once been extremely rich, but that certain speculations 
 he had entered in. > having proved unfortunate, he had lost 
 the greater part of his fortune, and lived now in a state of 
 comparative retirement about a league from (luajnaciualla. 
 This piece of news had not the depressing effect upon me it 
 might be supposed, since I augured that a rich son-in-law 
 would be less scrupulously interrogated by the broken mei'- 
 chant than by the millionnaire. I «^ven speculated on the 
 manner I should adopt to dazzle him by my splendor, and 
 with what cold and cutting irony I would address the Fra 
 Miguel, and thank him for the considerate kiuduess with 
 
"THE DISCOVERY." 
 
 117 
 
 ^2.^ t^eS::;:!;:;^,^!!--^ ^^^I^^y and prou., with 
 ^»^so I went on, like n,y ,n t . "'' •^' '">' t""^'" ^aid I ; 
 nmnnatino- upon my pow "^v u t ^^^^' '" '^"^ ''^^^^^^''•» tale 
 I 'ad wa,.ned my Woo to a l?^ ""''T''"^ ^li-sposition, til 
 -J^'eh state I was aro -d by ,7 •"''" '^''""* '^'^^"' f-'" 
 tovvn asking if r k,a a. ; ,Z.. ;,f '^'■•' '^', ^''^^ ^'^^e of ti.e 
 c»ftom. >"''"^ ^v'tl' m, which should pay 
 
 "A poor traveller with l.i« i- 
 S";'ely pass freely." I^napsack," said I, u ^^^ 
 
 " V'aya con DioH " a.»,M i 
 city. '"^' ^^'^''J i'e, carelessly, and I entered the 
 
 AlthOlJOrll flir, lifil , . 
 
 -- ^a;;rab:'1^7':;te";v^'^; ^-J-^i-Ila stands is 
 Ch.bnahna is situated, the civ t ,r"-"" ^'^'^^ -'-- 
 letter. Built irregularlv not ^1 '"^ " '''^'''''^' to the 
 dn-ected, but shadng i f '.I'L"^^- '" ''''""^^ «•- ^-PHce 
 -^-i^ the mines affonlJd, t e ", ir'^'f '^ "^ ^Pecuhltion 
 mean hovels, and gorgeo," 'h m^^^ ''^"^* '^>' ^''^^ «'<»« of 
 
 of squalid poverty. StZl '"1 '"'" ^^^"'^'^'^I l^J abodes 
 
 the city was founded in tmuCl time" T'T "'"' ^"^' - 
 was unrestraiiied, - the forces- IlT'^', '' ^'''^''' ^''^'^^»^'e 
 ings was often conspicuous Mw '^?^™^"'' ^^ the build- 
 ;ons protected the wLlows of tt 'T '^"'"^ ^^"^ «tanch- 
 
 temngs secured the <C,iiZ'2f '''''''' ^ ^^^^^^^ ^- 
 of 'ron. Loop-holes for musketrv n ""^^ " ^''^twork 
 
 «'de of the entrance, andV" .HIl. -' n'"''"^' ^''''''^'^ ^^eh 
 Jhowed that no stranger could ' / •' '^^'* ^^ '"^ <^""vent, 
 f-y of the housesVer lt;TeTf "^ ""interrogated.' 
 of n^oat and bastion, while he ", ^?- '"^''^''' ""t>vorks 
 cannon, half hid among te weeds u , /'?' "" ^^^^' '"''^ty 
 t'ous though possibly not vm i 1 '" "^"''^ ^'''''^• 
 
 Of shrines, holy wells, and ^„t r,"'' '''''''' ^^ ''^^ence. 
 «"perstitious character of he n,, '^''^"''^'^ "^> ^"^1- The 
 ''^<^';oitly laid hold of by the pHes^^ .'"'"^ "'" ^^'^^^^ ^^^n 
 each phase of existence to tle^o.; r ''''"'^ ^'^" to turn 
 '-- priestly hierarchy appel e to n' "' T^' ^" ^^"'^ ^P^t, 
 i'eart as the success of tL ' 1 »' "^^''^"g «o near a^ 
 v^^ins, looking blandly down ai^^^oup Xl^^t^^ 
 
 If 
 
118 
 
 CONFESSIONS O^^ COX CREGAN. 
 
 ft! 
 
 i i 
 
 ill' 
 
 half-breeds, at a washing ; there wan an old negro present- 
 ing a massive lump of gold to St. Joseph, who, with a sly 
 look, seemed to promise not to forget the donor. St. Francis 
 himself, piclc in liand. was seen laboring at the head of a 
 sturdy gang of Avorkmen, and angels of all sizes appeared 
 to busy theniselv's in gold-seeking, as though it were their 
 natural pastime. 
 
 Upon several of the altars, pieces of solid gold and silver 
 lay, in a security that said much for the religious zeal of the 
 inhabitants, while lamps of pure silver hung in a profusion 
 on i^^'ory side, — snrroundi>d by votive offerings of the same 
 metal, — such as shovels, barretas, picks, and sieves. Nor 
 did piety limit itself merely to inceu -.e:. to " stand well 
 with the saints ; " some most terrible examples of the oppo- 
 site line of conduct were conspicuously displayed. Pictures 
 representing dreadful catastrophes, by falling masses of 
 rock, irruptions of torrents, and down-pouring cataracts, 
 showed what fates were ever in store for those who 
 " forgot the Church." And, as if to heighten the effect, 
 whenever a cayman or a jaguar was " sloping off" with a 
 miner in his mouth, a respectable saint was sure to be 
 detected in the otfing, wiping his ey«- iu compassion, .but 
 not stirring a finp;er to his assistance. 
 
 I will not say that these specimens of pictorial piety 
 induced any strong religious feeling to my mind, but they 
 certainly amused me higlily ; and although hungry from a 
 long fast, I stopped full twenty times on my way to the 
 Posada to gnze and wonder at them. 
 
 At the "Mono" (tlie "Ape"), a beast which at first T 
 mistook for a certain historical character to whom popular 
 prejudice always vouclisafes a tail, I put up, and having dis- 
 cussed a very sumptuous breakfast, sent for the landlord, a 
 little dark-visaged .Jew from Pernambuco. 
 
 " I hear," said I, arranging myself in an attitude of im- 
 posing elegance, " I hear, Seiihor Maestro, that my people 
 and equipages have not arrived yet, and I begin to feel a 
 great anxiety for their safety. Can you learn from any of 
 the Muleros if they have seen two carriages, with four mules 
 edch. on the Cliihuahua road? " 
 
 " I have just inquired," said the Jew, with a sly, almost 
 
"THE DISCOVERY." 
 
 119 
 
 impertinent leer. " nnn f,;u i? ,i 
 
 ' '"^' '"'' K^collcney's suite have not been 
 
 " How provolvino- 1 » u.,;,i t ,-. 
 
 here I an., witl.out c^oti^;? ^r'^^V""""^'^^ ^^'"'--v, 
 fact, with nothing that a^i:^'^', '^^^'S^'-^'^^^^' - '" 
 tomcd to have abont him » '"^ """'^^^ion is aecus- 
 
 tbese fooleries. T 't a - let wl ' ? ^'^ ''"'^^«-' "P^n by 
 
 with ragged clothes^ ii^ tL;!:^ ;;; ^ r,"" ^" ^^^ ^-' 
 
 flight when he raves of e.mip.v 'e 1 ' ^''^''f, ^"'^ ^^S^ ^ 
 
 1 bethou-htme of thn " , ^"l''>^^ei-«." 
 
 t-nsport sLip" ^,c!t ^^dVr^r '7' ''' '^'^'^ ^' the 
 chair and staml coolly at the Je7 '1 '^'^^"^^'^ '" "^^ 
 SHicI I, with a slow intoiatln ^: r '^"" '^'^ Abraham," 
 -clulge in a vast variety: ' cap ts'T ''''''' T ^^^'^ ' 
 severe world calls follies • bnt X ' ' "' ''^ ''^'''^^ the 
 pennit "^jself, _ „a,,,;V t'' 1,^^'^. ''^ ^"^ -hieh I never 
 he part of an inferior. J vc if h ' ^^''^'''' '"^^''t^' °» 
 
 «ei!:/::rir;:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ -- -.. „ ,,,,, 
 
 contrasted with the rai^.^ed inTn !i f^ P^'^tentious tone, 
 Pnde, with all the semiiCo^^^^J^' ''^"\^^ insufferable 
 Posure of oonfl.lence, seemed to hi^^, ^ ^'' f "^ ^^^^ ^^^'^ com- 
 whose apparent destitnt o mi , " ''''^'^'' ^^''^^nres in onr 
 
 " I «ee your en.barrassme f'^'^l Z^'^T^ '"'""'*^- 
 error; and now to business. V ,Z s'ev 'T^ ^ '^'^'^'^ ^'°»^- 
 his neighborhood; n.y people mavno;. "T '' ^""^ "^ 
 two; and I cannot affo d the eL nf ™ ^'^^r a day or 
 Can you tell if there be a mh 'i Lh ,,7''-'"^^ ''' ''''^' 
 equipage for a man of ran Ifn ? ^ ?^' ^" the way of 
 «-Ple, Of course, as befllthlg the pLr' 'TI • ^^^tiing 
 
 s ^ue piace, — a plain carriage, 
 
 
 
 
 H, 
 
I: 
 
 ^^li 
 
 120 
 
 CONTESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 with four mules, — if Authilusiau, all the better ; two iaza- 
 dores, or outriders, ^vill be siitlicieut, as I wish '.o avoid cda- 
 play; the liveries aud equipment may l)e |)lain ali6o." 
 
 "There is at this moment, Seilhor, the open carriage of 
 the late Gobernador of Guajuaqu.dla to be sold, — he had not 
 used it when he was called avrav by deatii : that and his six 
 mules, — not Andalusian, it is true, but of the 'lack breed 
 of the Habannah, -are now at yoitr Excellency'; disposal." 
 
 '•'And the price," said I, not seeming to notice the half- 
 impertinent &u)iio that curled his lip as he spoke. 
 
 "Three th i'.vnud crowns, Seuhor, — less than half their 
 cost." 
 
 " A mere trifle.' iiid I, carelessly, " if the carriage please 
 me." 
 
 " Your Excelletiey can see it in the court beneath." 
 
 I followed the Jew as he led the way into the open "■ ^our," 
 and, after passing across it, we entered a spacious buiiJiug, 
 where, amidst a whole hospital of ruined and dilapidated 
 caleches, carres, and wagons, stood a most beautiful britscl^a, 
 evidently imitated from some London or I'arisian model. It 
 was of a dark chocolate coloi with rich linings of pale-blue 
 silk. The arms of the late Gobernador were to have been 
 painted on the doors, but fortunately were not begun when 
 he died, so that the " carroza " seemed in every respect a 
 private one. The Jew next showed me the team of mules, 
 magnificent animals of fifteen and half hands in height, and 
 in top condition. The harness and housings were all equally 
 splendid and suitable. 
 
 "If your Excellency does not deem them unworthy of 
 you," said he, with a smile of most treacherous meaning, 
 " they are certainly a great bargain. I have myself advanced 
 fifteen hundred piastres upon them." 
 
 "I'll take them," said I, curtly; "and now for the 
 servants." 
 
 " The coachman and a few lacqueys are here stil' ■ ir 
 Excellency; but their 'iveries had not been ordere ' 'hen 
 the sad event occurre ^ 
 
 " Send the first t\\i.: in the place to my apart i'^^ut,' said 
 T; ^' and if there be a diamond merchant or a j/::::: valuer 
 here, let him come also." 
 
"THE DISCOVERY." jgl 
 
 . had yet exhibited. °'^ «ubin,asu-e air than he 
 
 "Come witii mo then " snirl j. a t t , 
 of my less valuable ,„c'„bou°.';,l'""''^''"""-'-y«°°'« 
 
 the si,.i„g.,.„„,„, X p„s,;;t/;„v dSt '"""'»■■" » 
 
 re-entered with a l,a,Kl»„,„„ emerdd " ' "'"'"'"'^ 
 
 ".Hlan,by b,-„„caofg,.oat»i.. i,. „, ■ i,";;,;"""' ■"^' ""S'"-, 
 
 that :f t^ r^rar- 1"l™' a:;-:: ': "-> r^"- '- 
 
 "Yes," said I, carelessly; "there i.-p ^ti 
 I am deterinined to turn into cash W L 7'' ^^'^' ^^^"^ 
 put upon this ring? " ^^^^ ^'^'"« would you 
 
 "Plve hundred crowns, Senhor if if i. 
 it seems." ' '''''' " '* t)e really as pure as 
 
 :™strs\rr:b;J:.t^r^-^^^^^ 
 
 tbe present „f Ibe s', k fu , °'r '''«<"=''>'ta"8- It ™ 
 the K.npresB Matilda » '^' ""''8"' "'' Meeru„-ak-Rooo to 
 
 " Six thousand piastres ! " cohoprl th^ t 
 ment stopped sbolt at the ^tunrtbout 7' "'""'= ^''O'"^''- 
 great names I had l,urled at him ^ "^"'^ '°' "'' 
 
 ™:^X;d-:5H5rF'~-Xs^ 
 
 between him and the li"l,t ' and »? . ' "" "" '""'' '' 
 would be a rare prize • '• ' ' ™ " """ '<"■ ""^ "aw, 
 
 be' whe^ '?t"rd t ?,::;Snf'^f:'/' "" "•-« '«» 
 
 own poi.na'rd, '-"r blnjrri ■-™'- ^ - 
 
 M . 
 
 Ill 
 
 y. i 
 
 » '! 
 
 Ml 
 
122 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Auersberg ; and then, at the value of six thousand piastres, 
 by a wager, came into my own." 
 
 " Ami at what price would you now dispose of it?" asked 
 he, timidly. 
 
 " A friend might have it for ten thousand," said I, calmly ; 
 " to the world at large the price would be twelve." 
 
 "Ah, your Excellency, such sums rest not in our humble 
 city! You must go to Madrid or (jrenada for wealth like 
 that." 
 
 "So I suspect," said I, coolly. " I will content myself 
 with depositing them with my banker for the present ; to sell 
 them here would be a needless sacrillce of them." 
 
 "And yet, Senhor, I wcnild willingly be the purchaser of 
 that gem," said he, as he stood, fascinated by the lustre of 
 the stone, from which he could not take his eyes. " If six 
 thousand five hundred piastres — " 
 
 "I have said ten to a friend, my honest Israelite," inter- 
 rupted I. 
 
 " I am but a poor man, your Excellency, — a poor strug- 
 gling, hard-working man, — content if he but gain the hum- 
 blest profit by his labor ; say, then, seven thousand piastres, 
 and I will sell my mules to make up the amount." 
 
 "I will say twelve, and not a doubloon less, ' Sefibor 
 Judio;' but a friend may have it for ten." 
 
 "Ah, if your ' Alteza ' would but say eight! Eight 
 thousand piastres counted down upon the table in honest 
 silver," said he; and the tears stood in his eyes as he 
 supplicated. 
 
 " Be it so," said I, " but upon one condition. Should you 
 ever reveal this, or should you speak of the transaction in 
 any way, there is no manner of evil and mischief I will not 
 work you. If it cost me haif my fortune, I will be your 
 ruin ; for I refused to part with that same to the Primate of 
 Seville, and he would never forgive me if the story should 
 reach his ears." 
 
 The Jew wished the Patriarchs to witness his oath of 
 secrecy ; and though each of us was well aware that the other 
 was, lying, somehow we seemed satisfied by the exchange 
 of our false coinage. I suppose we acted on the same 
 principle as the thieves who could not keep their hands out 
 
"TH1-: DlSCOVEiJY." 
 
 no«r« Z:- ""*'"' »'"■■"•«" '"0, knew „e,i .,e.o ^ 
 
 "•" "■■ ""Si't ii-ai, ,„ore prom bv f iV '""'•'^^""y "'""Silt 
 U"-' JlKlgt.,1 wisfi^-, = ■* "'••■"■^'■■'■a i ii.Hl, so far, 
 
 lll^vin^:^:;::/ on t,o «pot, an J 
 
 P^un su.ts of brown, witi ok ..'>''' '^''"" l^v-eries, -_ 
 directions for niv ou'n u . •' ^"' '•^'•^"i'^'ttes, --i '„^ 
 
 -^"ifeenee tuL ^r,! r'^L^r.^' 1" /^ ''^'^ ^^^^1^ 
 f'vcn by all who cunie in e n'^t u-.-f ' '^'^' "^ " AIte^a,» 
 tionn occupied the entire n o .i .> , T '^^''''' -^'^'"P^- 
 
 ^va k n, the garden of the nn b / . ^V'''''^^^ "'J^elf by a 
 -h'ch I an, free to own/wa he ^Jn /'""'■: ~' J"°"'-^^^J« 
 f V:^'^ rustling sounds of 1 £-?'■>" ''' '^"J"^'"^^'"^ by 
 ^°d the soft, downy tread of , ^ 'Z"' '''^'■'^'■ohamhre, 
 B-^ooth turf. It .a"^. a deli ou?; "'"'"'' ''''^'^^^'^ «" th 
 «een.ed to sing a little p^oanoior"'"' ' '''' ^'^''^ birds 
 the flowers put forth their s ee e 'r^'^' V'y ^^^^ luck; 
 felt myself in ecstasy witl the' ^ ' "' ^ ^'""'"''^ > -"^ ^ 
 t'cular with that se^ient of it f f'"f tion, and in par- 
 *^-e be folk in thfs w" ,f ^^.^f ^^\,^^7 ^regan. La 
 ^•^'^'"ty; ay, and by worse namer r'"". ''''' '^^'^'^ ^nd 
 -«7 P"'--t pinIa,Uhropr-!;r f n? ')! '' '' "^« "^^ the 
 «Pnng from the cairn ifsu ranee tW f'-'''''''^' <^W not 
 -ere bestowed in the righ di e^tio . ^ T'^ ^' ^^^^une 
 whom men call '' fickle ''%var '2 '^'* '^^ ^«^^^«« 
 
 '"J'' <^eity ! ^'^^ ^'^ reality a most discriminat- 
 
 ;-ich'mnr;fdrpoiTon:> :tt 'r -^^'^^ ^^^^ ^ 
 
 eelnigs, .nd affection. >■ n ^ *, " •"'/^'^ ^" t'^^»' thoughts, 
 I-^'Snients are cliffere" ^ • ," J f, Tf/'' ^*'^'^""^'«' ^"t the 
 P-;t>cular aspects to the wo 1, i " '" ^''-^'"'^ ^^ P'-esentin^ 
 to the mipressions conceived ;,f 2 '^ "' ^"'^ ^'^ ^'^"f'^nS 
 eccentricities of wealth ar e 'a d 2 f'\ • '^ P"''''^' The 
 harities of poverty nr . r7 '^'^^^ "'to fashions, — the npn., 
 
 eMlaimed I, as I ^-^^ ^^ 
 
 *.p 
 
 i 
 
 ^ff 
 
 tl. I 
 
 i 
 
 J l!J 
 
 <rs% 
 
124 
 
 CONJKiJbiuXN M COX CUEGAN. 
 
 !«• 
 
 "that smooths tli'.> roughest road of life, that makes the 
 toughest venison savory, and renders the rudest associates 
 civil and eonipliiuit, wliat insolence and contumely had I n(jt 
 met with Ik re, in tliis poor ' Pusadn ' '. ■ ' ly been what 
 my humble dress and mean exterior denoted; and now, what 
 is there thai I cannot exact, what demands can I make, 
 and hear Ihat they are impossible!" 
 
 " His Kxcellency's dinner is served," said the host, as he 
 advanced, witii many a low and obsequious salutation, to 
 anno uico m}- dinner. 
 
 I suppose that the cookery of the " Mono" was not of the 
 very hi<:'iest order, and that i':' presented before me now, 
 it would meet but sorry acceptance from my moi'c educated 
 palate ; but at the time I speak of, it seemed actually 
 delicious. Tliere appeared to arise 1 unt odors, of savory 
 import, from dishes whose garlic would now almost suffocate 
 me, and I luxuriated in the llavor of wine, every glass of 
 which would, at this day, have put my teeth on edge. If 
 my enjoyment was great, however, I took care not to let it 
 appear too palpable; on the contrary, I criticised and con- 
 demned with all the fastidiousness of a spoiled nature, and 
 only condescended to taste anything on the perpetual assur- 
 ance of the host that " though very d'tferent from what his 
 Excellency was used 'o, it wns exac v to the taste of the 
 late 'Gobernador.'" 
 
 I felt all the swelling importance of wealth within me as I 
 beheld the cringing lacqvioys and the obsequious host, who 
 never dr.red to carry himself erect in n.v presence; the very 
 meats seemed to send up an incense to my aostrils. The 
 gentle wind that shook the orange-blosEcMis seemed made tu 
 bear its odors to my senses; all >' ture appeared tributary 
 to my enjoyment. And only to k it! all this aiula- 
 tion was f(M- poor Con ( 'regan, tl: )n 's son ; the house- 
 less street-runner of Dublin; the cabin-boy of the yacht; 
 the flunkey at Quebec; tlie penniless wanderer in Texas; the 
 wag of the " Noria," in Mexico. What a revulsion, and 
 how sudden and unexpected ! 
 
 It' now became a matter of deep consideration within me 
 how I should support this unlooked-for change of condition, 
 without betraying too palpably what the French would call 
 
"THE DISCOVKKY." 
 
 126 
 
 "ly "antecedents." Am fn , 
 
 poor P"n,~il,ov..nv, 1 ,;;-y 'J ''^'^f'^''^^/' - forgive the 
 
 "'o>-e absurd and odious li-d tl'n T' '"^""'^■^ '^self in a 
 "';- of .vhicl. ,ho sole enj'o^^H ,T; r ""'"'"'"" '» Pl^^s- 
 rhe upstart rioh man -nay sin ' '! ." """""^ "^ ^''« ^ost. 
 l;t.an, VVlas,uez, and Va^nl In J!""'"^' '^' I^'^^"''- ^vhere 
 whose very countenances sc"t^^:>''y^:" ^im a co.npany 
 of nothing save (I.e price. ; t ! ^';'' "''"^^ ^^ *'"'"'^'« 
 
 ^ense awakened U the cost oVh " "" •^^'^'i'"'^", the only 
 
 ^'>'^t stolid .p,th,, thel" eC:;;>T'"'''^'' -"' i^-'co 
 ness, he exhibits in societv Tvi° ■ ^^'' "'"•^'Heved weari- 
 " ""'n^l " is clinking, auTnof \, ''" '^ ''' "'^ '"^tal of the 
 ; certain extenf f cT ] "^ "' f' "^^^"^ ''^" 'he - mint." l^ 
 N'^are had done n.e some , T' ^'"''''' ''" ""« ^ead 
 --. she had .nade me an I , T"^"^' *^^ ^^^^f of which 
 
 Tj . „,„ ^ "" J'lsnnian .' 
 
 een.-son.thl:;\;;X":^^?^---^- there 
 
 shoula .eem ^ son.eth "t ' r;," ^^ ^"^V^^"- '^^^ there 
 ^^'fa^" «or w and sutT.Min JaTe t ^ -^"^ ^''''' '"^^^' 
 
 «Poak o.uy of tho indivi.luamVr ,"'^ """^ P^^-^^^n ^ but i 
 have s...„ or U, ] of l!,^ '"'•''^' --^'"^^'^ every other I 
 whatever isaar.. ,; ', Z'^^XZ^'"' ' '''''^^'^ ^^<^ 
 safeguard against the vu tariu'I; '''"'^ "^^^ ''^ ^ g^-^at 
 ^an who launches forth upo 1 P'^'^^-P'"'^'^' «inee the 
 rarely^occupiod by thoug/rof s^f ^'^ ''" "^ P^^^^^'-e is 
 
 ^M^:;; ;^:;c[i:^{;:i;;;,^;;^^;;;-7 ^or every denght that 
 equipages I would drive- wuf ^■''"'^' '"habit; what 
 
 give; what inimitable little Tr "^''^-"'fi^^'^-t fetes I would 
 pnins alone should 1^ trtl'Sthf ''^ /"'^"^'^ ^^'^ "' 
 r possess in "my private band '' Sf.'' '''''''* '""^ic should 
 vatory ; and how f should dstnst, "T'' '" "^^^ ^'^"•^^r- 
 happmess would I diffuse in the el '"' 'f ^^''^^^^'""^ .' what 
 ;''•'" ' ^'■••"h. would that bet itl"!^! ";;!'''^h r ;„<.ved, and 
 buoyant fancy had brought me aAV "' P^'^"'^^ P^"'"* my 
 P-gue, iced almost to a crystal' h , '"'""^ ^^'^^^ ^^^^ ^^am- 
 of m,. ;inative enthusiasm ' "f '"'^^ "'^ '"^^ ^ glow 
 
 -^oon, where, ann'd C^iJ^^^l^ "^^^-'^ ^n a gilded 
 b-"-nt ..^p, ^^,.^ aS)l^d f;r'"' "^^-J%hts, a 
 •>P«""'gof thefoldn.g-doorrsmt '''' '' ^^^^ 
 
 ser% ant annouucea some name, 
 
 
 (f'lmi 
 
fjSff 
 
 mu 
 
 126 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CoN CIUCOAN. 
 
 i| 
 
 illustrious from poni'on or yivat in reputation, ntxl tliat 
 around an', as I stood, a j^roiip was ^athort'd of all tliat was 
 distiiijiui.siu'd in the world of fasliion or coli'hrity. "Your 
 Royal Hij>linfHS lias niade tills tlic proudest day of tny life," 
 said I, rising?, and bowini!; reverentially before a faded old 
 arm-chair. " May I offer your Lnunence a seat," eon 
 tinned I to a reil sofu-eusliion I mistook for a cardinal. 
 " Your Excellency iH most heartily welcome," said I to an 
 empty decanter. And so did I convert every adjunct of tiio 
 chamber into some distniiiuished personajje, even, to my fast 
 expiring lami), which, with a jilinunering llame and a nau- 
 seous odor, was gradually dying away, and which I actually 
 addressed as a great amI)assador! 
 
 After this, I conclude that I must have imagined myself 
 in the East, — possibly taldng a cup of sherbet with the Sul- 
 tan, or a chibouk witli the Klian of Tammerkabuud ; for 
 when I became conscious once more. I found myself upon 
 the hearthrug, where I had been enjoying a delicious sleep 
 for some hours. 
 
 "Would his Excellency desire to see his chamber?" 
 asked the landlord, as, with a branch of candles, he stood in 
 the doorway. 
 
 I waved my hand in sign of assent, and followed him. 
 
 I V.-. 
 
•■<ii'v.ir.\'iu,u,i,A.- 
 
 ••> » !■ in a .n::/l'\; ™;,,,,,,f7' ■-.'"-«'■ < wont 
 
 Town „|,„„ ii, , . „„,„„.;,' ";'■";'- ''""giiig" a,„l a gilt 
 
 my enemy wo„l<l 1,,. „„ i,,,,,,,,, ^'"""" ''»• At one time 
 now, a necrro- „„„■ , ,„ i",..llier, a Imlf-lnecl: 
 
 -ho;,,or;,:a/er;,,'4":;:;e";;" '''"'r""^*'^ '"■' -"> 
 
 No.l,i„g else Bcen,„., tot^t; l,oi': '^'"''"' ''"'■ '""""^ ' 
 
 "With davlifrht, howpv^r t t 
 
 streaming l^ro.!ZZ'.l,tTn,yf f ""-"'" ^""' 
 before me, and re„,h„le,l meT L ! -'^ "' "^ '""Py '"' 
 state imposed. My lir, e^e 1 ! '""" ''"'"''' '"^ '"?> 
 and secn'i.y „f n,v ,," e, .J't , ^T""' ""' "'""""' 
 larly an.I i„ ,,„. n,o, b 'i, o ., .rm: '"■'"'T"' '■'-"■ 
 
 
128 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 banker resided, and found myself actually without one sinale 
 satisfactory account of who I was, whence I came, and by 
 what means I became possessed of the formidable papers I 
 carried. "Let circumstances pilot the event" was my old 
 maxim; and, so saying, I entered. 
 
 The rattling tramp of my six mules, the cracking of whips 
 and the crash of the wheels, bi-ought many a head to the 
 windows of tlie old jail-like palace when my cai-riage drove 
 up to the door, and the two outriders stood in "a^salute" 
 at each side while 1 descended. " Sua Eccelenza El Conde 
 de Cregano" resounded thi-ough the arched hall aud pas- 
 sages, as an old servant in a tawdry suit of threadbare livery 
 led the way to Don Xafire's private apartment. 
 
 After a brief wait in a large but meagrely furnished cham- 
 ber, an old man — or a middle-aged one, with a look of au-e 
 — entered, and, with a profusion of ceremonial, in which he 
 assured me that his house, his wife, his oxen, his mules, his 
 asses, and in fact everything " that was his," stood at my 
 disposal, asked to what fortunate event be owed the honor 
 of my visit. 
 
 " I am the representative, Senhor Xafire," said I, " of the 
 great house of Cregan and Company, of which doubtless 
 you have hea.d, whose ships walk the waters of the icy seas, 
 and lay at anchor amid the perfumes of the spice islands, 
 and whose traffic unites two hemispheres." 
 
 "May they always be prosperous ! " said the polite Span- 
 iard, bowing. '■ 
 
 " They have hitherto enjoyed that blessing," responded I. 
 almost thankfully. - Even as the youngest member of the 
 firm. I h.ave nothing to complain of on the score of pros- 
 perity. I smilcl, took forth a most gorgeous snuff-box, all 
 glittering with brilliants, and, presenting it to the Spaniard, 
 laid It carelessly on the table. After a brief pause, to let the 
 splendor settle down into his heart, I proceeded to inform 
 him that in the course of commercial transactions a vast 
 number of bills, receipts for deposits and other securities, 
 had fallen into our hands, upon many of which we had 
 advanced large sums, seeing that they bore the name of that 
 most res,,ectable house, -V, Bank of Don Xafire, of Guaiua- 
 qualla. " These would, " I added, ' have been dispersed 
 
"GUAJUAQUALLA." ^^^ 
 
 tl^e propositiou. This ham' P^^i'^oually nuiking- 
 
 ^•eeent purchase of the <S ' , ;7'''''''^^^' '''' '^^'^^^^ by our 
 
 '^o^- seventy n.illions of 1 ias r's of^'r .'^^ '"^ ' ^^'---che' 
 
 -the ' Faros de la IlllCa, ' »' "'^^*'^^"^" '^^^^ ^^-'^ read 
 
 He bowed a humble ne<^utivc'- .nri r . 
 om- mming operations i-emiirh.o' . "'"'^ °" *<^«tate that, 
 
 -^esired to open .elX "tu 1:^'?:' ^^^^^^^--' 
 
 -^y^^:?Ult^rrr^^^^^^^^^ ^- ^^^e, Se^hor; 
 
 "^.ou shall see them, Don Y^firr "" ■^ r 
 n)ao,„fie,nt pocket-book, an tt;,-. 'r^ 1' ^i^^""^" a very 
 forty-eight years back, for i^T^'T""'''''^'^^^'^ 
 piastres in silver, and f^ur ba!^ , -"^ ^^^'^^^'^ thousand 
 
 ;;ighty pounds o^ gold .U^tS r/f"" two hundred and 
 Cnek, of the min^s of H^ras '^r c""'' "' ^'^^"^^'^^'^ 
 Spaniard's dark cheek tremble' ' a" fl Gua.,uuqualla. The 
 yellow seemed to replace tlTh\T t ^'"S^ «f «ickly 
 
 «-- "This is but wa e X s'e'^'' "' ''^ ^"^^' '^^ ^^^ 
 exeollont house has adv^^S mt; '' '^'^ ^ ''^'^ Jo^^ 
 
 •'On the contrary, Se^lW p ^'^ "" ^" '^' ^^'^dit." 
 l^ave given the full sum Lf"'^'' '"''''' ^'^^^I'^'"^^«^l I- '' we 
 competent counsel » ' ^''''^ '""^'^ ^^^^^'^^^^ thereto by 
 
 ^^e tissue of invent^o " l^S Z •"'" '^ -capitulating 
 -•"ysolf. I saw quicklvtlJ 7 V !.r''^''^™^"^'^-'-W 
 '•^•'tagonist, and that for everv st.tn ' \'''^"'' '^ ^^^^^ '"J 
 equally ready with another \ Z" "^T"^ ^ I^^^^^^^c^V^^ was 
 evasions, equivocations, and subL r ' ^'"'/'''^ ''^''^^ ^^^ ^^^ 
 "tter a shadowy kind ' ^'^^'^^^''.^''S^^' ^ was driven to 
 
 *--d to mix fhe ,e ^ ir^" ^^",'1 ^ '^''^^"^'^ -- 
 word, in those days, of mo" t Ian M "'' ^""^''^ Anna, -a 
 
 "And this reminds mo'^'^^^T''''^'''''''' 
 who lost his way, and wis i ' ""' ^"' ^^ "^3^ «"ite 
 VOL, u.-g ^' ^^^^ taken prisoner in the Rooky 
 
 
 i! '1 
 
 1 
 
 
 i'i. 
 
180 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF COX CilEGAN, 
 
 Mountaius, committed to my chai-go a letter, in wliieh I fancy 
 the (iencral is interested." This was a random shot, but it 
 struck the bull's-eye thr.nigh ;he very centre. Tiie Sefihora 
 Dias's letter was enclosed in an envelope, in which a few 
 \vords only were Avritten ; but these, few as they were, were 
 sullicu'nt to create considei-able emotion in Don Xaflre, who 
 retired into a window to read and re-i'cad them. 
 
 Another shot, thouglit I, and he's disabled ! " It is need- 
 less, then, Don Xaiire, to prolong tin interview which promises 
 so little. I will therefore take my leave ; my next communi- 
 cation will reach you through the General Santa Anna." 
 
 '• May 1 not crave a little time for consideration, Seiihor? " 
 said he, humbly. '^ These are weighty considerations ; there 
 may be other demands still heavier in store for us of the 
 same kind." 
 
 " You are right, Senhor; there are other and still heavier 
 claims, as you very properly opine. Some of them I have 
 here with me ; others are in the hands of our house ; but all 
 shall be forthcoming, I assure you." 
 
 "What may be the gross amount, Sefihor?" said the 
 banker, trying, but very ineffectually, to look at his ease. 
 
 " Without pretending to minute accuracy, I should guess 
 the sum at something like j,even hundred thousand piastres, 
 — this, exclusive of certain claims for compensation usual iii 
 cases of inquiry. You understand me, I believe." The last 
 menace was a shot in the very centre of his magazine, and 
 so the little usurer felt it, as he lidgeted among^his papers 
 and concealed his face from me. 
 
 " Come, Seuhor Xafire," said I, with the air of a man who 
 means to deal mercifully, and not to c h the victim in his 
 power, "I will be moderate with 3 These bills and 
 
 receipts shall be all placed in your hands on payment of the 
 sums due, without any demand for interest whatever. We 
 will not speak of the other claims at all. The transaction 
 shall be strictly in honor between us, and nothing shall 
 ever transpire to youi' disadvantage regarding it. '"is this 
 enough?" 
 
 The struggle in the banker's mind was a difficult one; 
 but after several hours passed in going over the papers,' 
 after much di.scussion, and sojne altercation, I gained the 
 
'GUAJUAQUALLA.' 
 
 Santa Ciuz, and the Havannnr •.? , ^ '^^'"'^"'^"co, Mexico, 
 
 and other s;curit e^ thlwhot ''"'''' "' '^^•^^^'*' ^^"^^ 
 
 thousand piastres To .^'"^""ting to four hundred 
 
 thousand, \ i::;n,rei ^ Tr 1 1;:;;; :^ ^'^-\^-^-^ 
 
 reasonable interest! In fact I wL b"! foo ', ' ^'"''^ "' 
 possession of so n.uch to think t^e ablut whtt?" " ''^ 
 the remainder. ^"^^^ became of 
 
 I presented my friend Ynfh-P rvo^u 
 souvenir,-not, indeed ft f ,^^ '""''^ ^''^^^h, as a 
 
 him of on- acquaintance and "'1'^^ ""^''''"^ to remind 
 of brothers ab'out to ";;. "^ " """'' "'^' ^" ^^^ ^-^S^-^ts 
 
 i-eturnhere;'' andso Srol \ 1'' '"^'''^ ^ ^^^^^^^ to 
 My next care wL^n '^ ''"^'''''^' ^^'^ P^^'ted- 
 
 to open my campaig^n as frich dtc^'Tor T'l "T"' "°' 
 day chosen for this exneditinn « ^'^' ^''"'^- ^he 
 
 f road, which led S^ghTs e^^ of ^^ ?^' ^^^ 
 thronged with townspoonte „ 'f ^'''''^" ^^^'^^^J^^ds, was 
 
 d-.ses, all wending S .^ ^^117 ' ^"r^'^ ^^^'^^^^ 
 ourselves. I aske.l ti 1 ^ ^^ '"'''"^ direction with 
 
 /'^eof th Vir" detsDol^"' ""I '^"'^^ "^^^^ '' ^^ the 
 estate of Don Es aban f h T'' T'^''' '^^^^^^^ ^'^« «« the 
 had planned a p it tte to tL^^^ "'^ ?'•*'"' *""*^ "^^'^ ^ 
 Peeting that I iaMo mSe'u S m;^,:tr^i7 '"'^ ^f" 
 and two outriders ! ^ t>aiiiage, wiih six mules 
 
 I;;: t 
 
 I .jj 
 
 ?*■ ^'fi 
 
Ifr 
 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CRF-GAN. 
 
 sitting, while the tinkling sounds of guitar and mandolin 
 broke the stillness. 
 
 It was a strange and curious sight; for while pleasure 
 seemed to hold unbounded sway on every side, the procession 
 of priests in rich vestments, the smoke of censers, the red 
 robes of acolytes, mingled with the throng, and the deep 
 chanting of the liturgies was blended with the laughter of 
 children and the merry sounds of light-hearted joy. ''I 
 have come in the very nick of time," thought I, " to complete 
 this scene of festivity; " and finding that my carriage could 
 only adva' ce slowly along the crowded avenue, I descended, 
 and proceeded on foot, merely attended by two lacqueys to 
 make way for me in front. 
 
 A lively controversy ran among the spectators at each side 
 of me, of which 1 was evidently the subject, some averring 
 that I was there as a portion of the pageant, an integral 
 feature in the procession; others, with equal discrimination, 
 insisting that my i)resence was a polite attention on the part 
 of Our Lady de " Los Dolores," who had sent an illustrious 
 personage to grace the festival as her representative. On 
 one point all were agreed, — that my appearance amongst 
 them was a favor which a wdiole life of devotion to me could 
 not repay ; and so rapidly was this impression propagated 
 that it sped up the long approach througli vai'ious groups and 
 knots of people, and actually reached the villa itself long 
 before my august person arrived at the outer court. 
 
 Never was dignity --at least such dignity as mine — in- 
 trusted to better hands than those of my •' Cagadores." 
 They swaggered along, pushing back the crowds on each 
 side as though it were a piofanation to press too closely upon 
 me. They flourished their great gold-headed canes as if 
 they would smash tlie skulls of those whose eager curiosity 
 outstepped the reverence due to me ; and when at length we 
 reached the gates of the court-yard, thoy announced my 
 name with a grandeur and pomp of utterance tiiat, I own it 
 frankly, actually appalled myself! I had not, however, 
 much time given me for such weaknesses, as, directly in front 
 of the villa, at a table spread beneath an awning of blue silk. 
 sat a goodly company, whose splendor of dress anrl profu 
 «iion of jewellery bespoke them the great guests of the occa 
 
and mandolin 
 
 "GUAJUAQUALLA." 
 
 133 
 
 seat he oco„S~' o™ asTc^j'f"' 'T "^ "■« ^'"-'^O 
 mil:'*y I never can nraL ,i l m °''"™''"' """'• '''"' » ta- 
 choice „.e,.e Pcn^iS^rtirnt >•„:;::■ t™" "« " -^ 
 dying on the sn„f, „„„■ ,i,.,. i,i, ^n .' '■" "'""''' P''<!f«"- 
 e-ooed the trh!„,,h 7 . m t t,''' '^' l™:"™ '■'''''^' "e™r 
 the festivity was' as glo m a„ ^d ' " ^"1 "'<■ I'aW'ines, of 
 
 pared to the brilliancj^rnre 'e, oe d ff"' 1' " '°"'' <^"""- 
 waacvervthin.'heownJ'^ ?*"'«'•• ^'"1 "»* onlv 
 
 ceeding generation! " '" '"= ""^ '""''-"» "' »ue- 
 
 theT.:h%T;t-;ZtT::^,i'"'-* r- "'™«'^" '» ■*» 
 
 "..em .ith the eonrsee dhtg Snh"':; f f .'f'«-<' ^ 
 reign may be nresuinpri tr. i '" "^""J with which a sove- 
 
 ^elody in their m' ^ 'a nl''' ^ '''''^' "' '""^ "^^^^'^^l 
 another individuS "a; adc^iHrh ''"''"' ^""^"^'^^^ ^'^'^^ 
 features evinced noth"for c.f ther".?^ "'"^ ""^"^^"^^ 
 my grandeur. This was F, ^711- ? .?^ ' I'everence or of 
 
 costume of extrao di^^^ai v .' vT^' ^^'' ^^""'' ^J^^' i'^ ^ 
 at me. ^^'^-^o^^'inaiy snnphcity, stood stai.ug fixedly 
 
 " II Conde de Crpo-onn? " ,. ^ , ^ 
 have s„,,,,y heard th"^. ^e'^e, f VonH " ,'=""".'"'• " ' 
 less a grandee of S|,a in?" ^ »"'■ highness is doubt- 
 
 " Of the first class ' " anU r -^.i 
 confounded Kriar ^ver t:,!^ i,::^;^tl ™"="'- '" ''« 
 
 a mo:;" :;its,'™;r"':^^":r ?r ^■•" ^-"^ "" -'* 
 
 pleasant forme to tl ank f^r^ ^ '""' """''• "How 
 owed to the mere Va f,rer '• TW T'''?' ' '"'"''™<J ' 
 whisper close to my 'ow^ear "'"'"' ""= "'"'^^'^ *° » 
 
 »'d iwriho'ta,;;;;!,;: to;;?':";;:;,"^.,.^^^^" t^-^^-'--' - 
 
 »l." stood a,nazed at onr ",;,„„ io a f ° 'iT,.'^'''""'"' 
 "moh what I had aheadv relX ,!lf 1' , '^ '""' f"^^^i' 
 •maila; onlv addin- tL, .h.7 '""*'''' "' •"'"•''i"''- 
 
 my caprice to ,„a ol ','" ™ ■""■"'*" "'"«'■ " >'">• 
 "hie to' render aslU erW /"'r'T!'"""'' ' '"•" "o"" 
 Maria de Los Oolore^aS' Zl ^1^ p^S; !::^ 
 
 i1 
 f 
 
 V 
 
 1^ 
 
 '111 
 
134 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 borhood without inquiring after her health, and craving 
 permission to kiss her hand. 
 
 '' Is this the Senhor Creganof the ' Rio del Crocodielo' ?" 
 cried Don Estaban, in rapture. 
 
 " The same wliom we left in safe keeping with our 
 Brothers of Mercy, ai ^exav ! " exclaimed the Friar, in 
 affected amazement. 
 
 " The very same, Fra Miguel, whom you humanely con- 
 signed to the Lazaretto of Bexar, - an establishment which 
 has as little relation to ' mercy' as need be; the same who, 
 having resumed the rank and station that belong to him, can 
 afford to forget your cold-hearted desertion." 
 
 " San Joachim of Ulloa knows if I did not pay for masses 
 for your soul's repose ! " exclaimed he. 
 
 "A very little care of me in this world," said I, "had 
 been to the full as agreeable as all your solicitations for me 
 in the next ; and as for San Joachim," added I, " no witness 
 can be received as evidence who will not appear in court." 
 
 " It is a pleasure to see your Excellency in the perfect en- 
 joyment of your faculties," said the Era, with a deceitful 
 smile; but I paid little attention to his sneer, and turned 
 willingly to Don Estaban, whose grateful acknowledgments 
 were beyond all bounds. He vowed that he ovved his 
 daughter's life to my heroism, and that he and she, and ttll 
 that were theirs, were mine. 
 
 "Very gratifying tidings these," thought I, "for a man 
 who only asks for an ' instalment of his debt,' and will be 
 satisfied with the lady." 
 
 " Maria shall tell you so herself," added Don Estaban, in 
 a perfect paroxysm of grateful emotion. "Don Lopez y 
 Cuesta y Goloso can never forgvt vour noble conduct." Not 
 caring much how retentive the memory of the aforesaid 
 hidalgo might prove, -whom I at once set down as an uncle 
 or a godfather, — ! hastened after the host to where his 
 daughter sat at the table. T luid but time to see that she 
 was dressed in black, with a profusion of diamonds scattered, 
 not only through her hair, but over hei- dress, when she arose, 
 and, ere I could prevent it, fell at mv feet and covered mv 
 hands with kisses, calling me her " Salvador." in a voice of 
 the wiiu*;st enthusiasm, an emotion which seemed most 
 
and craving 
 
 !rocodielo ' ? " 
 
 ing with our 
 the Friar, in 
 
 umanely con- 
 shmeut which 
 lie same who, 
 g to him, can 
 
 ly for masses 
 
 said I, " had 
 tions for me 
 
 " no witness 
 ' ill court." 
 le perfect en- 
 i a deceitful 
 , and turned 
 owledgments 
 le owed his 
 
 she, and till 
 
 " for a man 
 and will be 
 
 Estaban, in 
 on Lopez y 
 duct." Not 
 le aforesaid 
 I as an uncle 
 3 where his 
 see that she 
 Is scattered, 
 sn she arose, 
 
 covered my 
 n a voice of 
 eemed most 
 
 "GUAJUAQUALLA." 
 
 186 
 
 nrSti;ro?terii::;S ^^rr --P-y^ ^or I was 
 
 Ig'-ieve to sMy, were the v-er^ l^'" J^'T "'"-"'''^^^ ^^" ^^''«'», 
 called the softer sex ^ ''''^''^ specimens of what is 
 
 
 This was Don rip .^' ^Z^'^T''^.'' ""'' ^'"^ ^-'^-m^ 
 appear to my ey J th'e iX .tt "u" T '"'" ^' ^'«"'- ^^ 
 was exceedinolv short of s, ... 1/ V'^'"^-''^'^' ^'^'^^' «« 
 and yet, even 'with tins h ,1, '" "" ''"'"^''«^* ^''^^-^dth ; 
 ^ody. A huge spher il'n^^^ ,';',t;"•^^^•'^^ ^^ ^ig for his 
 debauch, looked Le alne^^l^^r T^J''''' '^''^^^ts of 
 represented the equator. Hlt^l'' f ""^'''^ '^' "'outh 
 oven made him more horribl^' f^^T ^^ ^'"'I'oIIishment had 
 Jong curls flowing upon h ^«h t!." '""''" '^ -"^^"^ "'>' ^ith 
 nioustachioswere^u e },^oa " ''; •'"'' ""'' ^^'"^"^e 
 horn. His nose had beer livii ' !' 1'"'^^' ''^' ^ ^'-"'^ 
 s^'emed the sln.h ->f , !' , "^ '"'"'" ^^"^ '"Wdle bv whnf 
 
 an^yred color,an;id tl^t^ia^:!^:^ ''""^'"'"J^^-f ai, 
 
I ''1 
 
 136 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 their symmetry. It was a cross between a scowl and a 
 sneer ; the eyes and brow performed the former, the mouth 
 assuming the latter function. 
 
 Blushing with shame and trembling with emotion, Maria 
 led me towards him, and, in accents I can never forget, told 
 how I had rescued her in tlie passage of the Crocodile River. 
 The wretch scowled more darkly than before, as he listened, 
 and when she ended, he muttered something between his 
 bloated lips that sounded marvellously like "Picaro!" 
 
 " Your godfather scarcely seems so grateful as one might 
 expect, Senhora," said I. 
 
 " Muerte de Dios! " he burst out, " I am her husband." 
 Whether it was the simple fact so palpably brought for- 
 ward, the manner of its announcement, or the terrible curse 
 that involuntarily fell from my lips, I know not, but Donna 
 Maria fell down in a swoon. Fainting, among foreigners, I 
 have often found, is regarded next door to actually dying ; 
 and so it was here. A scene of terror and dismay burst 
 forth that soon converted the festivity into an uproar of wild 
 confusion. Every one screamed for aid, and dashed water 
 in his neighbor's face. The few who retained any presence 
 of mind filled out large bumpers of wine, and drank them 
 off. Meanwhile, Donna Maria was sufliciently recovered to 
 be conducted into the house, whither she was followed by 
 her " marido," Don Lopez, whose last look as be passed me 
 was one of insulting defiance. 
 
 The cause of order having triumphed, as the newspapers 
 say, I was led to one side by Don Estaban, who in a fen- 
 words told me that Don Lopez was a special envoy from tho 
 Court of ^Madrid, come out to arrange some disputed ques- 
 tion of a debt between the tAvo countries; that he was a 
 Grandee d'Espana, a Golden Fleece, and I don't know what 
 besides; his title of Donna ^laria's husband being more than 
 enough to swallow up eveiy other consideration with me. 
 The ceremony had been performed tiiat very morning. It 
 was the wedding breakfast I had thrown into such confusion 
 and dismay. 
 
 Don Estaban, in his triumphal narrative of his daughter's 
 great elevation in rank, of the proud place she would occupy 
 in ;Lii proud court of the Escurial, her wealth, her splendor, 
 and her dignity, could not repress the fatherly sorrow he felt 
 
"GUAJUAQUALLA. 
 
 137 
 
 ■-^ you are, I l.a.I been h!^n>P ^'^"^^«°'"^'' ^nd well-born 
 
 " Is it too hite, Don Estab'ur^" «.,i,i t 
 have wealth that .loos n ot v d "to ) ' '^'^^'^'""'-^tely. - j 
 
 not-at least, she was^ ot 1 hV \^''f^^''' ^'"'^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 " Ol, if Ju / ^^'i« "ot — indifferent ro<-ar(liii<r ,„« » 
 _ Uh, It 18 too late, far too late ! " cri.-d Ti,. f T • 
 
 ii'g his hands. ^' ^'^^' ^'^^^^'^'^ wring- 
 
 Inia cannot be, Seuhor C-ib-.H..!-. " -i 
 It. was F.-a Mi,neI,\vho, " v^l^te ^' ,ntr'''"/"^" 
 joined the collo.^uy. - .\^>thi.,.rsl o,^'/ r ""* J'^'^"^' "°^ 
 
 "ot likely to ask for one." ''"''''='' ^"^^ ^"^^ Lopez is 
 
 " I will not suffer it," cried I, in desneration u t 
 rather carrv her mwiv u.r t ■ ''^'^Peiation. "I won d 
 
 tion." ^ '''''^ ^^ ^•^'■^^' ^^^"^ P^^-n^it such a desecra- 
 
 Es;'afa"'\fi:^L!>r^t *'%'^"-^'"' ^^'''-•''' cried Don 
 Guard, and ^Z^^^S^"" ^' ^'^ "^^^^ ^^ the 
 
 Miguel. . We Ce i S ce:;;d'::'H ' ' ^^^'^'^^^ ^^- 
 
 although .-e are no longer suljct ol OXaT^- ^^*'^^"^'^' 
 
 was an air of cool nniace in the in 1 ^'^"'- ^^^^^'^ 
 
 ;i'<'ken that made me fe "; iU at eYse / ""''^ "^"^ 
 
 I'owevor, and, drawing the Fiir to n'? • . '°^" '^"*^^^' 
 
 many crowns will b^y a cande U^ '''^'' f"^' " ^^^^ 
 chapel?" -^ candelabrum worthy of your 
 
 He looked at me fixedlv fnr n fo«. „ i 
 
 Would she not condescend to wear n f 
 petticoat?" asked r with i\ ^' ' '^^^^^ 'n h«r 
 
 balked. " ■ ' ^''^ ^^" '^'^ -^^^mr^nc^ o. one not to be 
 
 i , 'fi 
 
 ■4 
 
 
 K HI 
 
138 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 ^aid the Fra, with 
 
 " She has no pleasure in such vanities,' 
 an hypocritical easting down of his eyes. 
 
 " Would she not accept of an embroidered handkerchief " 
 said I, " to dry her tears ? I have known one of this pattern 
 to possess the most extraordinary powers of consolation-" 
 and as I spoke I drew forth a bank-note of some amount, 
 and gently drew it across liis kmieklea. 
 
 A sliglit tremor shook his frame, and a short, convulsive 
 motion was perceptible in the hand I had " galvanized • " 
 but in an instant, witii his habitual calm smile and mellow 
 voice, he said, " Your piety will bring a blessing upon you, 
 benhor, but our poor shrine is unused to such princely 
 donations." -^ 
 
 "Confound the old hypocrite," muttered I to myself- 
 "what is he at? -Fra Miguel," said I, assuming the 
 business-lik»- ni.iiiner of a man who could not afford to lose 
 time, "tho ^/i.-hi may be, and doubtless is, all that von 
 say of !u " . ;.-,! there must needs be many excellent and 
 devout meu heri\ yourself doubtless among the number, who 
 see numberless objects of charity, for whom their hearts 
 bleed in vain. Take tliis, and remember that he who gave 
 It, only asks as a return your prayers and good wishes."'' 
 
 The Friar deposited the present in some inscrutable fold 
 of_ his loose garment, and then, drawing himself proudly un 
 said, " Well, now what is it?" ^ ^ 
 
 "Am I too late?" asked I, with the same purpose-like 
 tone. 
 
 "Of course you are; the ceremony is finished, the con- 
 tracts are signed and witnessed. In an hour they will be 
 away on their road to the Havannah." 
 
 " You have no consolation to offer me, — no hope' " 
 " None of an earthly character," said he, with a half-closed 
 eye. 
 
 " Confound your hypocrisy ! " cried T, in a raae. 
 _ " Don't be profane," said he, calmly. " What'l have .'aid 
 is true. Heaven will some day take Don Lopez, — he is too 
 good for this wicked world; and then, who knows what may 
 happen .-' ' -^ 
 
 This was but sorry comfort, waiting for the bride to 
 become a widow ; but, alas, I had no better ! Besides it had 
 
"•'z's mind 
 
 iiod and 
 
 •> H'liut was 
 
 ■•QUAji;aqu.vlla." jgg 
 
 l>air took place hi ,„h,. „r .,m "'" ""''y "eilded 
 
 <l.ove awa/witU Ins • n,." b „ "" TTrt] """ '"*- 
 was a ,vl,itc han.l vv:,vi„„ ° ,,',.' ~ '"': '"•" ' '"'Md ,.f her 
 
 ".ajority of the eon^.anv , ! ^v v ''''^r-' «'■'' l"'«« 
 anjthh,j5 b„! friendly fe,.|i„„, to on,. "";"'":'" J'- "'"I l'"™ 
 f^tivhie, and cut '»h„,. ll , :„ : ' ;;;,f"' ;'■•-'-' the 
 what nuniber of dav8 — 11... „!„• , ' °"'-^' ''" by 
 
 The old ladies wei-e peenliarlv sovero in thei,- „ 
 aveiTiiig that mi ivell-hied n.n„ ,". i , " <^"'"i"ents, 
 
 fering with a nuan^a J" ,'";::'' .'i'™ "'°"»'" '" '"'-' 
 of his passion when-^the o U ," ^^: 'Zr'"'?' '" '»'" 
 niaiTied! ^'-^ ^^ *'Jg'it months 
 
 ^yll-oL-r:^^;'':;;:;!:/;",-";'*'' -"■■ -• i-'-^ 
 
 When I tried ,„y h^c, ..'J^r.'I;: ^^i;; 't: >,"';- that 
 generous to me. .- ,„ ,.;„„,„„ hiraself"app' " ' „ ' v,™™ 
 tliize suieere y with mv ^nrrnu- „ i V '^'^" ^^^ sympa- 
 -ase of gratitude fo " ,o ^ ^ i"";,,"'"^' '"" ™™''^' 
 good-nature, but it sat ni un„,, I • ,'". '™ "■'>^'' '^ '''ttle 
 
 that he euter'taiued ^^.U" Sutr^f I ' " ""' ""'^' '" -" 
 
 Cir,;::;id;^-:-,-c:i^:r^;r'- 
 
 earlier years, it is unneee sn ■ o ■ ^iud the T' ''""'' 
 ..ore fasciuath. fLlttt 'L'^.^-'t: Srcr'^'^ 
 
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140 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 's 
 
 Hi> 
 
 opposition to my will, I grew sad, dispirited, and morose. I 
 shou d bave been very angry with myself for my ingratitude 
 but that I set It all down to the score of love ; Ld°so I venj 
 about the house, visiting each room where Donna m1 L 
 used to sit, reading her books, gazing at her picture ad 
 feeding niy mind with a hundred fancies which the next 
 moment of thought told me were now impossible. 
 _ Don Estaban, whose grief for the loss of his dau-hter was 
 m a manner divided with mine, would not suffer m^ to lelve 
 him; and although the place itself served to keep open the 
 wound o my regret, and the Fra's presence was aLyth ng 
 but conciliatory, I passed several days at the villa 
 
 It would have been the greatest relief to me could I have 
 persuaded myself to be candid with Don Esiaban, and told 
 him frankly the true story of n>y life. I felt tlit all the 
 consolations which he offered me were of no avail, simply 
 
 in wH^; T '' 7''i ''" •' ''^^^ "^=^"'^"« ^>^«"« of fiction 
 in which I enveloped myself was a web so thin that it tore 
 
 when.xer I stirred, and my whole time was spent, as it were 
 
 whiclTr/' ''T''^"' T' ^^'"^°= ^'^^ ^-" g^^--^"t with 
 ^hich I covered my nakedness. 
 
 A dozen times every day I jumped np, determined to 
 reveal my humble liistory ; but as regularly did a sentil,? 
 of alse shame hold me back, and a dread ofCl^^M tueT 
 malicious leer, should he hear the story. Another a''nd a 
 strange feeling, too, influenced me. Il, imag nary rank 
 birth, and station had, from Uie mere force of repet tb ' 
 grown to be a portion of myself. I had playecTlL mrl 
 with such applause before the world that I could ot find n 
 my heart to retire behind the scenes and resume the humb 
 dress of my real condition. ^uiuuie 
 
 By way of distracting my gloomy thoughts, I made little 
 excursions m the surrounding country, in oi e of wLc 
 contrived to revisit the "placer," and carry away T he 
 treasure which I had left behind me. This was much mo I 
 considerable than I had at first believed, the g^nrbei " 
 a size and beauty far beyond any I had evei°seen b Jo^re 
 while the gold, m actual coined money, amounted to a larg^ 
 
 Affecting to have change^' .,y original Intention of invest- 
 
"GUAJUAQUALLA." 
 
 141 
 jng a great capital in the minp= r.f nr • 
 'usteacl to return to f"uroDe iZ f ^f'-^'''°' '"^"^ ^'esolved 
 tl^e safest hands i„ .t chTde, oS '' ^"^ ^^^^^^^ - to 
 a certain wealthy firm at thp U ^ "''"">'• ^e named 
 
 of intz-oduetion i then' zt ' stir?'' '''' -''''' -^ '^^ '^tter 
 
 carry with me, to this 1 o a tho'^n ""^^ '^^^^tionate ; and I 
 and honest pkcept as tl-ea.n ''^' "^ ^"^ ''^'' <''<^^'»«ol« 
 
 i arrived sif^itr of iu tt 'voiui, 
 
 state witl^ t:^^;:^,^/^^;-'^' travelling in princely 
 guarded by four mounted - ctLr ^"''''^ ^^SS-'^ge- wagon 
 solemn oath at the sh e of T^TT "'^" ^^^^ ^aken a 
 any bandits who sho Id ll'f " ^'"'' ^'^'^^'^^^^''^^ to eat 
 wbieh I was not sorrv l^irSi^ '"'' "' ^^=ostion 
 
 The bankers to wh^n ' ] ^ Fs^ ''"f '^^"'''^• 
 were most profuse in their offers of' "lu'l-" ^"^''^^^''^cd nze 
 '^ewith all the civilities resemv/f.,"'"^"'"' ""'"'^ treated 
 r only accepted, however oTe in ^l" r^' '"^'^t favored client, 
 tbegreatothcialdignitlde's of tir 1 '" V''''''^ '^ '"^<^t 
 box each evening at the olra Iff'.' '"'' ''^^ "«^ ^^ their 
 l^ealth the veasozz^of no fZ 'I'f '''^^^ '" ™'^'^'« c^elicacy of 
 often remarked >n u 'e 3r ° T'"'"'^' -"^ ^ P^'^text I had 
 tion, among whose "rK^^^^^.^^^^-^-f '-^nd disti,^^^ 
 without suffering. =" ^^'^ '^ that of being sick 
 
 There Avas a French r.o«i.„4. i • 
 «bout ten days af eri W ^ ' f "'' '"' ^^''^'''^^?^'^ ''" 
 Lopez intended to leTve h i /or^f '\ '""^' ^''^^^ ^-^ 
 ;vaitedin the Ilava.uiah, det rLired /^i; '•'■"'''^' ^ ^"'^tly 
 !-•• In preparing for thi's ' 4" ev^^^^ f^'Ho. -travel- 
 
 was occupied, resolved to outdo ihe ol^ <. "^ ' ?^ '"^' """^^ 
 and magnificence. I ordered L ^P^»>ard in luxury 
 
 gaged the most accompli.^ 's VntT n""^ f '"^'"^' ' - 
 ^'hich could make the tediou'neVrnf M ^'"^P«'^« everything 
 ("ven to the services of n T "" ■^''^ ^^'«^ irksome 
 
 P-itar,whowasTb::t 4its;;:'r.'^^^'^^™- - tS 
 
 l^is journey under such distin'.;^ ' '^ ^"»'"Sed to be^in 
 Ccide de Cregano. ^''^"^S"^^^*^^ patronage as that of the 
 
 'i 
 
 II 
 
142 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 What wonderful speculations did I revpl in «« t «,•«♦ ^ 
 to nyself Don Lopez's ineffectual rage^ud his fafrvr' 
 satisfaction, when I should first luaK-e „" an earner o' 
 deck, -an appearance which I artfullv <WJa t , ^" 
 take place until we were som da^' at^a wi l'"'' "'* 
 of jealousy should I not inliict upon the ok C-L ill TT 
 delicate flatteries should I not offL up t th Do " W, 
 laid m a store of moss-rose plants, to present W wH 
 resh bouquet every ,norning ; and theflTould se "nad! 
 her each night beneath the very window of T,. f"^"^^« 
 
 pate nty to Don Lopez; so that, followin<r up these spI 
 created convictions in my usual sancruine rm L Vf 
 pei-suaded myself that the worthy hi^bandw 'eiJ^t 
 mad or jump overboard before we landed nt Ar. . r° 
 
 .K>t the reader fall into the error of ^ ^i 1 ^ nl^ireit! 
 Don Lopez was uppermost in my thoughts,!- a l-o 
 I wished hun m heaven every hour of The wen y-fc' i 
 would wilingly have devoted one-half of my fortune to m-U-e 
 a^^J^ Of him m the next world, rather thi makeV^'^ 
 
 I was walking one evening in my banker's garden chat 
 t^^^g pleasantly on indifferent topics, when, oirascndit 1" 
 htt e eminence, we came in view of the sea. It was a caln! 
 and lovely evening, a very light land breeze was irtrL'n"^ 
 the waters of the bay, frino-in-.- the blue wifh ^J,?,/"^'^ ' W^''"S 
 saw the graceful spai; of a smal slo^; o ta, '^;:t7 ^'^ 
 beneath the shadow of the tall cliffs a./d sta^o^ ^::r^'" 
 
 ' ihe Moschetta,' " sa d he " In^ <mf ., f„,- 
 will be out of .ight of la„,l 1,%^:^^ ' '"" """'' ""■I 
 " J'nnmi, she bound ? " .,.,„<1 I, carelessly. 
 
 ».o„^:^,^-r,i;„,::4,':';:.:!;,«,r"»» ■"-> .- o„iy ta. 
 
 thl'<°' ^f''°\:' '''"' '"'™ "> ™"^'«y non Lopez v Geloso 
 the Spanish ambassa.lnr, back to Madrid." ' 
 
5J. 
 
 in as I pictured 
 liis fair wife's 
 appearance on 
 Jed should not 
 ^Vliat agonies 
 'astilian ! what 
 ionna ! I had 
 lit her with a 
 ould serenade 
 er cabin. So 
 'ny own satis- 
 mere pleasure 
 '■iginated with 
 ts owed their 
 ip these self- 
 iiier, J firmly 
 iild either go 
 \I;iluga. Let 
 'hal hatred to 
 far fro ; 
 nty-fcu .1 
 tune to make 
 ake a martyr 
 
 garden, chat- 
 ascending a 
 ' was a calm 
 just rippling 
 ite, when we 
 emerge fi-oni 
 it to sea. 
 t' wind, and 
 
 ■t only this 
 'h the same 
 5 y Geloso, 
 
 "GUAJUAQUALLA." j^g 
 
 quite ™,e of ln„ guest sta'u.'''' ""° "'''""'y ™ "«' 
 
 dea°S;t"ta,,X';rj'i'?'1, "■'-'• "-™ ^' "-e the 
 upon a seat, my » "/e S' ' ,? f ""' "I'"*' >-"' ^"t down 
 uiy cloaiest hopes! ^'•" "'"" ""^ ^<^»'"'' «l.ieh carried all 
 
 iu^M^e ox-„eotatio„ ,„at ,";:;;;;';"?;; ■;;"^"- -""= - '-'s time 
 
 sorro?„t,r:r:L1aL„V!:;^!'"'''"'^»« '• »^-"u<>ing my 
 
 " What a n,W«tu ,0 "''"''"?"" '""° """cit.do. ^ 
 
 lave missed h ,r ir^lli T^"] °',-'""" ^"'^ "^uld 
 
 ^ould bave agreed to .„r ,o™f " ' '"" ""^ ^^«" """- "« 
 
 «e would have acooi^fod (i,^ "^ui. 
 
 out the remotest idea oT what ther'T"""'" """"'^ '• '''«'- 
 "Oh, Madrc de Dios wh! f"'" '°"'" ""»"'• 
 
 I« i' J-et too h.,e? Ala! ttl," •'""■^' ""''"'"»"'='' '« 'W^! 
 »loop is already si„ki„„ ", ,„« ^«=?^«.« foshening, _ ,he 
 
 "ould bo impossible ! Ancfv ^ ",'" ' *" "~"'"'ke I'or 
 have beeu acceiitod ? " ^ "^ """ ""= guarantee would 
 
 You may rely unon if " -it 
 I saw that the ship ,4^ far bevoLl n"'' T'' ^^"fi^^'^ntlv as 
 
 -What a benefactor to ht^Jo ' '' '''''''' '^' P»'-«"it: 
 •Senhor, had you done us fhl ^^'^T" '"'^^^^ have been, 
 with enthusiasm. ^'' ''"''''''• ^^'i^^ the banker, 
 
 eaplS^ ff ' rt^:ntrbf :;::;.■ V^ --'" -^^ I^ -her 
 '.'Of course, for the p^^senUt ";"'/*" mystification, 
 amve in Europe, Senhor Con J i ''^'' '^"^ ^'^^^'^ vou 
 in the land where your natur.nH ' .^''" ''^'"^ «"«« ^or. 
 
 entertain the hope' tL yt wi "r J"''^ '""'^^ ^^^^ -« 
 same favorable eyes?" '^^'"^ ^"'" ^^^e with the 
 
144 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP COx\ CKEGAN. 
 
 auother person, approaching towards me. ^""^^^P^^^^^ ^3' 
 
 uLi^itu lu all tlie reverence of awe hp iv>fii.nri i„ • 
 ace to face with a tall, ^ns^Me^^^t^t—'^kZ 
 Tj,Vr'''f '","" '"'"^ "'■ « S-at cloak * ■ "''"'' 
 
 Gov ™;''beS"i'':oi"x°l "; rV"' «""""-y' "-= 
 
 k^ • 1 "*^ofe*^" 1 would be seated, and took lii^ nkna 
 
 besKle me. He explained how the banker, one o th ricts 
 and most respected men in the Havannah, had inform ihn 
 
 nap by which my mediation was foiled. He enfpvprl nt i. Vi 
 mto the question of .he debt, and all it. n„a„c tu flc tt - 
 which, even had they been far le,, imHcate and com ica tod 
 
 raetlcal. How he hnnself saw his way thi-on^h the lalvrin I, 
 
 ™d7,r ' ';" ""' *» -™ been a^moderlte o^ ? "w i 
 would .athcr have paid it myself than investigate it aT,v 
 
 sum i?"fl ' ^"^ P™f'™-" "••"" be, at the close of a formidable 
 o?™," ol n "'' 1 "" "'"' '■=""'<'" ""'"•"» ™»"e no pa 
 
J. 
 
 see no reason 
 ere can be no 
 
 estions I must 
 ieive that auj 
 ndiscreet." 
 'd the warmth 
 leaving me to 
 hts. 
 
 ig on the sea, 
 le vessel had 
 to my amaze- 
 ompanied by 
 
 lisper, "this 
 ;hese words, 
 , leaving me 
 mage, whose 
 
 country, the 
 >k his place 
 f the richest 
 iforrned him 
 the sad mis- 
 ed at length 
 ilticulties, — 
 ■omplicated, 
 bump arith- 
 e labyrinth, 
 ne, 1 vow I 
 ?ate it any 
 IS, doubles, 
 
 formidable 
 tde no part 
 
 of what is 
 
 have had 
 le original 
 
 145 
 
 "GUAJUAQUALLA." 
 ;^' Perfectly; proceed." 
 
 ^'.^^^y^^ reduced to the sum 
 
 Clearly so." "^ ^^'^ ^^"^-^'i^-a-quarters " 
 
 Je:' l^/r::^:-;-''; ^^«e"lt pan Of .,e „,a«e,"'..,, 
 here lios the „„int wbicrlr •„"°" °"'*«' "tteutioL ■ ?f 
 
 .>y that? .. 1^° y" Pe.co,v„ „.a,t .,, Piear,-,,;;",' 
 
 '^e face of the gbbe, to hi.tar^Vo:';:/' '"'"''^ " "™' 
 
 i"ii are satislied ahn„t ,i "'• 
 
 C»ncl»?"at last saM he 1 ""»''"'" ""M, Seilhor 
 e^planatiou. ^ "'• "«'='■ " " tour-mile heat "of 
 
 ;;Mostth„ Uy,"8aidI,bowi„„. 
 
 " ^ot a'l;;;!:,:!; "-■ »>■"-"« ^-'ther o„ that head?" 
 
 don't you?"' "'''"^ ''""•°8l«' in the Chihuahua 
 
 nves,' don't you?" 
 ;; Plain as my hand before me." 
 reserve fund?"''""'' ^^^^ -^knowledge our right to the 
 
 contest ! " ^''^""''^^y ^hat the Madrid Government 
 
 ;;^^'hat injustice .'"exclaimed I 
 
 fonnd to take the riiht ^^ie f ott, L '' ''"'' '"^^ ^ '^^-e ever 
 pieasu.tocns.ssastat:;j:i-S^^^^ 
 
 k lil 
 
146 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Hereupon we both burst forth into an animated duet of 
 comp unents, in which, 1 am bound to confess, the Governor 
 was the victor. wciuui 
 
 "And now, Senhor Cond-S" said he, after a long volley 
 of panegyric, -may we reckon upon your support in this 
 
 HIT till ; 
 
 T '' }/"; ;""'* ""^^^«*^"f^' fii-st of all, Excellenza," replied 
 1, that I am not in any way an oflicial personage. I am," 
 -here I smiled with a most fascinating air of mock humil- 
 ity,- I am, so to speak, a humble -a very humble - 
 individual, of unpretending rank and small fortune " 
 
 " Ah, Senhor Conde," sighed the Governor, for he had 
 heard of my ingots from the banker. 
 
 .Su^'J. T ^ "''/'" '^'"'"^'^ ^' " ™^ influence is naturally 
 small. It I am listened to in a matter of political impoi-- 
 tance, I owe the courtesy rather to the memory of my fam- 
 ily s services than to any insignificant merits I may possess. 
 The cause of justice is, however, never weak, no matter 
 how humble the means of him who asserts it. Such as I 
 am, rely upon me." 
 
 We embraced here, and the Governor shed a few official 
 tears at the thought of so soon separating from one he 
 regarded as more than his brother. 
 
 " We feel, Soulior Conde," said he, - how inadequate any 
 recognition of ours must be for services such as yours. We 
 are a young country and a Republic; honors we have none 
 to bestovv - wealth is already your own ; we have nothing 
 to otter, therefore, but our gratitude." 
 
 lu^llV'' '"'" '^""°^^ ^ ' " '^' ^""'^''^ ^"1 ««t i^crense my 
 
 SJ^'' ^? ""/" '"'"'"^ ^'°"' ^^^"^'^^■' °f ^» interview, and 
 
 Zf of T- ""re ""T "f '^'' ^'""^'^'"'''^ ^' ^' '' the proudest, 
 hour of his life; here he presented me with a splendid gold 
 snuff-box containing a miniature of the President, surrounded 
 by enormous diamonds. 
 
 Resolving not to be outdone in generosity, and at least 
 not to be guilty of dishonesty before my own conscience, I 
 insisted upon the Governor's acceptance of my watch - a 
 very costly repeater, studded with precious stones ' 
 
 "The arms of my family — the Cregans are Irish — will 
 
Tiated duet of 
 the Governor 
 
 a long volley 
 ipport in this 
 
 Jiiza," replied 
 lage. I am," 
 mock humil- 
 I'y humble — 
 uue." 
 •, for he had 
 
 ! is naturally 
 litical impor- 
 y of my fam- 
 may possess. 
 ^ no matter 
 Such as I 
 
 . few official 
 'rom oue he 
 
 dequate any 
 yours. We 
 3 have none 
 ave nothing 
 
 incretise my 
 
 erview, and 
 le proudest, 
 •lendid gold 
 surrounded 
 
 nd at least 
 
 'nscience, I 
 
 watch, — a 
 
 les. 
 
 rish — will 
 
 "GUAJUAQUALLA." ^^^ 
 
 hringmeto your recollection " ^.,n r • 
 ^"'^yx^ncent heraldic di.ph on , ' ^'""""= ^o a very 
 
 "••-1 the ancient crow^ o/ l",. > ''"''^'^^'^'' ^^^^^'^"^ 4 
 --npartment of ,vhich was t"t "'"• ,' '^'^'^^^' "^ '^"^ 
 
 t'o" that I was presentee t,; j J!'" ''' ^""'-^^"t to men- 
 ;ecom„, ,,,,.^,^ to the M x a 'a • ,/' "'^^■^^^"^^'^>» and 
 ^y^Kliid, mstructing thom to\l ^^^"^''t^''*^ ^t Paris and 
 ; ->n,^ then, to extend om'lliL;"!"-^'^' ^^^-t-n, and 
 t'cularly to furnish me with uu \\ '''' confidence, par- 
 sonages with whom ia^TTr'"'''' *" '-^"^ '^'"•'^■•'-1 Pe - 
 "» that I wanted; fo f ' '"• '^'^ acquainted. This vas 
 
 "eeded permission opLth:;.''''Tr^^ '''^^ ^"^1 onW 
 -ingle in that societyC^ch 2 li '']' " ^""^^^ ^^-•^^'" to 
 unceasingly. ^ """'^^ ^^ ^^eart yearned and longed 
 
 Some of my readers win 
 >;»ne™, tho»f p.,;^," 'J™ ; »' «.= s™p,ie,V which 
 "oalth al„„e is „.»„«„,. to athl;^^^' """ '™^ 'S'^'int that 
 
 "a:e^^l^;?^.^•-"^"c 
 
 "meanness, knavery, nar'evelf no '''/'!'°'""^'^'' coarseness, 
 guests of .oyal ^a boS' T To ^n"?' -""*' ^'^^ ^''^vored 
 cnme have to the full as man fl '"' "indictments against 
 -? spe, in every society' C^^..^^:^ '^^^ '^^ %^i ones' and 
 cnnnnal as though the^; wo 'e' ' 7^7" «'^' «« notoriously 
 lie galleys. Physicians ten! L7 '"'^'^''"""^ "^'^ry of 
 tarj properties are acknow 1 "^.i f 'T^.' ^'^"^ ^^'l^ose sani- 
 "igredients of a noxio^oni "'"''' "^^"^''''"^ «ome 
 something similar exfst 'n the i T""' ""*"^-^- ^% not 
 v-y healthiest mi Ji e mav 2' ^''^'- ^^^"^ ^^^n fn the 
 be found to lurk? ' "^^ "°^ ^^'"^ " bitter principle'' 
 
 * m 
 
 
 i' liJil 
 

 if 
 
 "THE VOYAGE OF THE ' ACADTE.' 
 
 WAS not sorry to leave the Ilavannah on 
 ,, . t^^ following' day. I did not deniro an- 
 
 other niterview with my "friend" the Governor, but rather 
 telt nnpalient to escape a repetition of his aiithmetic and 
 the story of the "original debt." 
 
 Desirous of supporting my character as a great persona<-e 
 and at the same time to secure for myself tlie pleasure'of 
 bemg nnmolested during the voyage, I obtained the sole 
 right to the entire cabin acconnnodation of the "Acadie" 
 for myself and suite ; my equipages, baggage, and some 
 eight or ten Mexican horses occupying the deck. 
 
 A salute of honor was fired as I ascended the ladder and 
 replied to by the forts, — a recognition of my dignity at 
 which I took occasion to seem offended, assuring the captain 
 tnat I. was travelling in the strictest incognito; leaving it to 
 his powers of calculation to compute what amount of retinue 
 and followers I should have when journeying in the full 
 blaze of acknowledged identity. 
 
 I sat upon the poop-deck as they weighed the anchor, con- 
 trasting in my mind my present condition with that of my 
 first marine experiences on board tiie " Firefly." I am richer 
 thought I. Am I better? Have I become more generous! 
 move truthtul, more considerate, more forgiviuo-? 
 
"THE VOyAGKorTnK.ACADIE.- 
 
 
 'AC A DTE.'" 
 
 Ila van nail on 
 lot desire an- 
 ur, but rather 
 litbnietic and 
 
 iat personage, 
 le pleasure of 
 ined the sole 
 le " Aeadie " 
 ?e, and some 
 deck. 
 
 e ladder, and 
 ny dignity at 
 g the captain 
 leaving it to 
 nit of retinue 
 ; in the full 
 
 anchor, con- 
 
 i that of my 
 
 I am richer, 
 
 re generous, 
 
 jg? 
 
 149 
 
 . Has my knowliHliro „f (, , , 
 
 ^n n>e, or of evil" h- v , ''''''^'''^^ "^^''^ ^^ good 
 
 '■ather to my self-esteem" tl an n *"'" '""^'''^^^^^'^ niinistered 
 I learned to think ^n^y'^^^2. r'T''^'' ' "'"' ''-- 
 '•«e.^ of fortune? Alas- U. e e • ''''" *'"'" ''*"'^f^'" ''" '^^^ 
 
 "'ent to which I darJd pku'v" ''':;''"''''' ^'^'« '"^'ct- 
 ^'navery thrive too often no to f I ",""■'•" ^ ^^'^ «^'^" 
 
 •t^ -^'iiity; I sa. horn"; to . :;;; :'":' r^ -p-^ ^>'- 
 
 Hon.ething like contempt tW i' ' -n 'l'' ""' ''' ^'''^ 
 
 to feel a reverence for pove tv w"v '' ^^"^ *>i"^'^^"lt 
 ^•"liculous; and it was I i ^to ? ' '''^' ^"^'''^ f''^'l»ontly 
 
 "ing sophistries hy veiveeov '''''''"'• ^'^' ^'^^' ^•"•^- 
 this lilc^ smothering V .; ',X?"'" ""^T' '"^'"^ ^■^'^'''"^^ m 
 ous aspiration, u.ider t le ^u f ^'^ "''r;^^ --> -ery gener- 
 
 My conscience was lessle den f r ^'^"'^'^"tionulity." 
 a sorry figure - in the doe ' ' , ^"' ^ ''^^''^^^- I cut but 
 
 -If upon the mei^;!;; zt.n i':n;f''' '' '''^'" -^■ 
 
 "^ future, said I to myself vi,. J ' ' '"^'"^ ^^"■^''^^''^te 
 «e>-vants, and more dr^lJ o th '^T', '""'""^^ ^^''^'' '"^^ 
 try and remember th. 1 ' " ;- *'^' V'^'''"^l"^'»eies ; 1 will 
 
 that sours even the L^tt," "ndlkT; , '"'''''' "^ '^^^^^^^ 
 will be trustful, too, - a ''InUeman ' ""T; ''"'"^^"" ' 
 P^c^ous; it i. eminently bec;:,^^ I'n "'^;^ "^'' '^> ''^' «"- 
 «U'ts not the atmosphe,"! of" " ",%' f?" ^'^I^' ^^^"^^^ ^>»t 
 resolutions were to a certain ovM,,f "^^ ' ''''^'' excellent 
 
 fB "the foresail began <ruv''r. ? '"'"'^"^ ' " '"«'• J"^^ 
 hailed the sliip. j "jj,? ' , j'J' ^ ^"''^t came alongside and 
 
 •stance so trivial to 'o e of nv "'^^;!^"*-" to a circum- 
 ticed the conversation which f Tv ""'" "^^^ '"^'^'- "- 
 kept up between the captain an ,^/''"""^'*"^^ *^"«« ^^'^^^^ 
 'ner, approaching me nl^ he 1 f ?""^''"' ""*" ^''^^ ^^r- 
 asking forgiveness for e . eat Tl ert'vT ""' 'T'^''^^ ^'^^ 
 ^a>d that a gentleman wfl u '"^^ 
 
 Enrope humbly entreated penn sin to ^'n '""'""^^ ^« 
 board the " Aeadie." P^""'^^'ou to take his passage on 
 
 saidt liS::;;: ^^^if ^.rri^' "^ ^^^^ ^-"<^?" 
 
 stricted, as it is; my s Ltar"' ^r ".^f l->menfably re- 
 and my second coo/has actui L f ." '" " ^^«g-kennel, 
 
 a snake." ''''*"''"^ ^'^ ^'« ''ound a corner, like 
 
 i 
 
 M 
 
 4 
 
 
 ' i 
 
 |i 
 
150 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHKGAN 
 
 The captaiu rodtli-iiecl, uiul bit his lip in Hilcnce. 
 "As for i„ys».lf," said J, heroieully, - I lu-vor complain. 
 Lot mo have any liltl.« cahiM f„r my lu-.I, a small bath-room, 
 a phu-e to lounyo in .luiin- the tlay, with a f^w ousy sofan, 
 and a snug cfib for a dinnor-room, and I can always ron-l, 
 It. It was part of my father's system never to make Syba- 
 ntos „f ins boys." Ti.i.s [ asserted with all the sturdy 
 vehemence of tiutlu 
 
 "We will do cvcrythin-v to make yonr Excellency com- 
 lortable, suid the cai)tain, who clearly conld not see the 
 reasons for n.y self-praise. -And as to the Consul, what 
 shall we say to him ? " 
 
 "Consul, did you say?" said I. 
 
 " Yes, Senhor Cond :, he is the French Consul for the 
 Republic of ' Campe<.ho."> That this was a State 1 had 
 never heard of before, was ,i.iite true; yet it was elea.ly one 
 which the French Govenunent were better informed upon, 
 and deigned to recognize by an ollicial agent. 
 
 "Hold on there a bit!" shouted out tlfe captain to the 
 boat s crew. " AVhat shall I say, Senhor Conde ? The Che- 
 valier do la Boutonerie is very anxious on the subject." 
 
 " Let this man have his passage," said I, indolently, and 
 lighted a Cigar, as if to turn my thoughts in another direc- 
 tion, not even noticing the new arrival, who was hoisted up 
 the side with his portmanteau in a very undignified fashion 
 for an official character. He soon, however, baffled this 
 mdifTeronce on my part, by advancing towards me, and, in 
 a manner where considerable ease and tact were evident, 
 thanked me for my polite consideration regarding him, an(i 
 expressed a hope that he might not in any way inconvenience 
 me during the voyage. 
 
 _ Now, the Chevalier was not in himself a very prepossess- 
 ing personage, while his dress was of the very shabbiest, 
 being a worn-out suit of black, covered by a coarse brown 
 Mexican mantle; and yet his fluency, his ,iuiet assurance, 
 His seeming self-satisfaction, gained an ascendancy over me 
 at once. I saw that he was a master in a walk in which I 
 myself had so long been a student, and that he was a con- 
 summate adept in the "art of impudence." 
 
 And how mistaken is the world at large in the meaning of 
 that art! How prone to call the unblushing efifrontery of 
 
ce. 
 
 er complain, 
 11 buth-rooiu, 
 V easy sofaa, 
 ihviiy.s roiiirli 
 nmko Syba- 
 1 the sturdy 
 
 client}' com- 
 not see tiie 
 'onaul, what 
 
 iiHul for the 
 State 1 had 
 1 cU'ai'Iy one 
 irnied upon, 
 
 )tain to the 
 ' The Che- 
 -iject." 
 jlently, and 
 3ther direc- 
 hoisted up 
 lied fashion 
 :)a(fled this 
 me, and, in 
 re evident, 
 g him, and 
 onvenience 
 
 oropossess- 
 shabbiest, 
 u'se brown 
 assurance, 
 3y over mc 
 in which I 
 vas a con- 
 
 neanlng of 
 I'ontery of 
 
 "TilE^'OVAOEOFTriK.ACADll,,.. j^j 
 
 every underbred n.an impudence ' Th. ..,.1 
 ;"y -spcrch, or adventures up ,. '.vnio i '"•"'' '''"' '^''''' 
 
 '"V'l'Io any society, .- these 'u^^ZT- , ''''""I*'^'-'* »^'^ to 
 
 «"eh Mp..einuM.s ofVhe o . 1 V . ""''""^^'"^'^"' '>■' ^hvy are 
 -ith inferior anin.d 'iZ^' fTr '/""'"^ '" '•---' 
 " •'"l'"^'^'nce '• which, neve : .,1 ? "'"^•''^"•'' ^'"'"v'^^-.l 
 -"tely, i. resolved oov-oewt^ "" '"""•'"'•' ^^'' ^-'^ 
 exercise of gift, that a .' • :, ''f '"'^'J'''''-^^^ ^y the 
 power of riHinir, by the ev.n.Li 7 ^' "''''' '^thern, - a 
 «on-ething alu;:;t 'JthuaMo :,::'" ''' ^^"^--'"^ i-to 
 Intervals, pe, ,alnnn, as tl.e d<.cto ' ■^' ";"''"'' ^"" ''^'•^ '"^t 
 whole life is a lie. The CeH :;"'!: \- '"'^ ^"^^^ 1>-1>'«'« 
 e ass, and seemed as indiilV it ,.;""''""'''''''' ^'" ^I'o 
 circumstances us thoug • " . /^ ';''"''r| ."•'"^' H.lverse 
 and pleuaantly. ^^^0 thing around hi,n went well 
 
 Tliere was a suave dionti^r ,-. ,, 
 
 dubious hand oveiht" „ : " T"^' 'f ""^^'^^ ^ very 
 
 "^'«Hgence he exhiblte w L ,•' '""' '" '^'' ^'^^^-^'^ 
 
 '^^^^^^har. cloak, in tl h v •'1?'"" ""' ^'^'''^ '^'' '"'^ 
 
 " " millio„„ai,e." """'"^ss bticrf-ninrit.,-. Imil become 
 
 ti.« airs or ass„4Mr:;,;r „.,^i;;:: "*;;i:rt "■■"; "» 
 
 a blessing compared wifi, ti.. »" " <?ss, would have been 
 "Chevalier." KuJr:;!/^ t^l^IL "^"^^%"^ ''' 
 consciousness that his honeved woris we o "'^^ ' "^^ 
 
 smile a delusion; and I coul IZ '"^'^' '"^'•^ '»« 
 
 feeling that he s'aw into tr t;Te;.et?/ ''''T ^^ ''' 
 knew me thoroughly. ^ °^ "^ ^^'*^^<^' an<l 
 
 I must become his dune flmnrrhf t .^ . 
 »e. The feUow .ill deS'. fof .'pr„.oJ.? '„""; 7"" 
 we reach Malaga! paivenu long before 
 
 m 
 
 I n if 
 
 
 .'s 
 
 
152 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 No man born and bred to affluence could have acquired 
 the keen nisight into life that I possessed. I must mask this 
 knowledge, then, if I would still be thought a " born creutle- 
 man." This was a wise resolve, — at least, its effect's were 
 immediately such as I hoped for. The Chevalier's little sly 
 sarcasms, his half-insinuated " i^quivoques," were chanf^ed 
 for a tone of wonder and admiration for all I said, ifow 
 one so young could have seen and learned so much ! — what 
 natural gifts I must possess ! how remarkably just niy 
 views were ! -■ how striking the force of my observations ! — 
 and all this while I was discoursing what certainly does not 
 usually pass for "consummate wisdom." I soon saw that 
 the Chevalier set me down for a fool ; and from that moment 
 we changed places, — /*« became the dupe versus vie. To be 
 sure, the contrivance cost me something, as we usually spent 
 the evenings at piquet or rcart s and the consul was the 
 luckiest of men ; to use his own phrase, applied to one he 
 once spoke of, " savait corriger la fortune." 
 
 Although he spoke freely of the fashionable world of Paris 
 and London, with all whose celebrities he affected a near 
 intimacy, he rarely touched upon his Xew World experiences, 
 and blinked all allusion whatever to the repu1)lic of " Cam- 
 pecho." His own history was comprised in the brief fact 
 that he was the cadet of a great family of Provence, — all 
 your French rogues, I remark, come from the South of France, 
 — that he had once held a high diplomatic rank, from which' 
 m consequence of the fall of a ministry, he was degraded,' 
 and, after many vicissitudes of fortune, he had become 
 Consul-General at Campeclio. " My friends," contimied he 
 " are now looking up again in the world, so that I entertain 
 hopes of something better than perpetual banishment." 
 
 Of English people, their habits, modes of life, and thouf^ht, 
 the Chevalier spoke to me with a freedom he never would 
 have used if he had not believed me to be a Spaniard, and 
 only connected with Ireland through the remote chain of 
 ancestry. This deceit of mine Avas one he never penetrated, 
 and I often thought over the fact with satisfaction. To 
 encourage his frankness on the subject of my country, I 
 affected to know nothing, or next to nothing, of England : 
 and gradually he grew to be more communicative, and at 
 
lave acquired 
 ust mask this 
 ' born geatle- 
 3 effects were 
 ier's little sly 
 rere changed 
 ' said. How 
 inch ! — what 
 ibly just my 
 L'lvations ! — 
 nly does not 
 )ou saw that 
 that moment 
 1 me. To be 
 jsually spent 
 sul was the 
 id to one he 
 
 >rld of Paris 
 cted a near 
 experiences, 
 3 of " Cam- 
 e brief fact 
 v-ence, — all 
 li of France, 
 from which, 
 3 degraded, 
 ad become 
 'Utinued he, 
 
 I entertain 
 lent." 
 
 nd thought, 
 ever would 
 miard, and 
 e chain of 
 penetrated, 
 ction. To 
 country, I 
 
 England ; 
 ve, and at 
 
 "THE VOYAGE OF THE 'ACADIE.'" 153 
 
 last spoke with an unguarded freedom which soon opened to 
 Hie a clew ot his real history. "peneo 10 
 
 It was one day as we walked the deck together that nff^r 
 c^scussmg the tastes and pursuits of the weSt y Em'u.a "^ 
 
 Kicing Ihe character of this national pastin e he annoared 
 
 I saw that he colored all his descripti-- ■ with a tint monnf 
 to excite an interest within me for ties, .ports U \^T 
 picture of an ^' Ascot meeting," wherein rfassedaU 
 he mgredients that could excite the curiosity and c^tifv 
 the ambition of a wealthy, high-spirited youth a^dh^ 
 dilated with enthusiasm upon his own fu't mp" sion 
 of these scenes, mingled with half-regrets of ho^ naiv 
 ofjiis^once friends had quitted the '"Turf since he S 
 
 He spoke familiarly of those whose names I had often 
 read m newspapers as the great leaders of the 'spor h ^ 
 world, and affected to have known them all on terms of 
 intimaoy and friendship. Even had the theme been less 
 attractive to me, I would have encouraged it fo other 
 
 mn d that I had heard of the worthy Chevalier before and 
 U'Kler another title; and so completely had this ilea .lined 
 possession of me that I could think of nothino- else ^ 
 
 At length, after we had been some weeks It sea, the wel- 
 come cry of " Land ! " was given from the mast-head buTas 
 
 il T "' T ''''' ""^ ^'"^'^'' ^^^ ^^^- --in^lled to 'shorten 
 sai and made comparatively little way throuoh the water 
 so t^Iiat at nightfall we saw that anothef day mut lapse er^ 
 we touched mother earth again. ^ 
 
 The Chevalier and the Captain both dined with me- the 
 
 ?11"V ";r' ''''■ '"'^''''^ ^' '''' ^''^'- leavinrus in 
 ^^^e-a-e>e. it was in all likelihood the last evening we 
 
 should ever pass together, and I felt a most ea<rer Iop^ h^^To 
 
 ascertain the truth of my vague suspicions." ^Chance gave 
 
 me the opportunity. We had been playing cards, ad lu k 
 
 
 i ( 
 
154 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 - contrary to custom, and in part owi„. to my always shuf 
 fling the cards .fte,- my adversary - had doseitedfL i 
 taken ., side. At first this seenLl to an t h n/ d'he 
 merely complimented me upon mv fort.,np l a , , 
 blandly at my success. Af er a while hoTe'voT, """'^'^ 
 tinued losses began to irritate him, Infi 00^; t^at^hl" 
 habitual command of temper was yielding to a peevish 
 captious spn-it he had never exhibited previoush' "^ '^"^' 
 .^^_^^Shall we double our stake?" said he, after a long run of 
 
 - If !/ou prefer it, of course," said I. And we nlaved on 
 but ever with the same result. ^ ^^ °°' 
 
 " Come," cried he, at last, "I'll wacrp,- fiffv v„.. 1 
 this o-amp " Thn iJf 1 " "-^ Napoleons on 
 
 lit! m /^'^^*^^ ^^■'^^ '"'-^^^'^ and he lost it! With the 
 like fortune he played on and on, till at last as rnv w 
 dawning, he had not only lost all that \u hull f^ ' 
 during the voyage, but a^ considL'ble s n b s dT^ 'Z Z 
 which he gave me his check upon a well-known I'a^ke/at 
 
 '--Shall I tell you your fortune, Monsieur le Comte v " said 
 
 he ma tone of bitterness that almost startled me ' ^ 
 
 ^\ ith all my heart," said I, laughino-. u a ,. ,,^„ ,,.,-. , 
 
 as a necromancer?" "^ Aie 30U skilful 
 
 "I can at least decipher what the cards indicate " said 
 
 Zt f 7 T ''"''^'' '^^ '^'"^*^^l the cards, dividin-. 
 
 hem into two or three packets; the first card of each ^ 
 urned on the face. "Let me premise. Count," saUht 
 
 - be ore I begin, that you will not take anything n ba par? 
 
 which I may reveal to you, otherwise I'll be "silent Yo 
 
 are free to belr .e, or not to believe, what I tell yon\Z 
 
 iwaitTou!" ""'"^'^^ '' " '^''^ '' ""^^^^"^^-^^ ^^— ^es 
 fo/fh^^ ""^ fearlessly," said I; "I'll not promise implicit 
 t^ifpei" """''"=' '"* ''" P^^^^^« -^-Jf to keep' my 
 lie began at once drawing forth every third card of each 
 heap, and disposing them in a circle, side by side When 
 they were so arranged, he bent over, as if VZdy hem 
 concealing h.s eyes from me by his hand; but at the same 
 
y always shuf- 
 serted him ami 
 e him, and he 
 ^ and smiled 
 iver, his cou- 
 l see that his 
 
 a peevish, 
 'sly. 
 
 a long run of 
 
 vc played on, 
 
 S^apoleons on 
 •' With the 
 as day was 
 on from me 
 :les, and for 
 a banker at 
 
 )mte?" said 
 
 s you skilful 
 
 icate," said 
 the print is 
 Is, dividing 
 of each he 
 " said he, 
 in bad part 
 lent. You 
 
 1 you; but 
 discoveries 
 
 36 implicit 
 keep my 
 
 'd of each 
 
 e. When 
 
 idy them, 
 
 the same 
 
 "THE VOVAU. 01.- ™k ..VCAWa- 155 
 
 '„ti8. 1 here IS some oi^nf • . , ^ ^^^^ between 
 ength, in a voice of irrit'xTon . ?? ''' ^'"'^'" ^^'^^ '^^ a 
 ^vrong, somehow: it must ) ^ ^^''"' ^'''^^^•" the card, 
 
 far as print. ' ^^V^'^;Jtu ''l ^"^-'I-t^ion 
 «e^'"edas if about todal it ', '"''"' "^"'" ^"^^ ^^ 
 sense^ of angry disappointment "'^ "^ ^" ^^^ ^-P' ^-m a 
 
 t^ey's^?^;e^S\ho;S\v;mf:7'^^- "^^t "« hear what 
 " If it were less rkliruo,' if '''!''' ''^^ testiumny." '* 
 smiling: u u,,. ,„„. "^^"^«"« It might be offensive " «o-, v. 
 ^ i. .. "' being as it i« if ,• " **'^e, said he. 
 
 "^^"er-" " ''' '^ ^« ^'^^^^ good laughing: 
 
 -^^^ he, smiling:i;:,lt-^.J-".thing hut ridicule,', 
 expression, u y^„ , erceive 0° .,' • '"'^^ ^ ^»««t Uialiciois 
 ^« the first card we Ju ,? ts '^^' ^^"^^ ^^^ ^^ibs, wh ch 
 ^neneement in life. No"' 'tf' *^ ^"^'^"^'^te yo a- c^' 
 ^'hat this most ins lont li li.T ^' ^""'^' ^f^^^'^""'' Je Co mtT 
 J cannot continue. V *^!; "rV^'"'^^^ ^'"^^''-^te. J^' 
 that you were not only born wi'tl 1 ""' '^^^^'^ ^^^^'^ --' » a^; 
 - a condition of tul v ^ ; t^,;;.;^" V^" ""^"' ^'"^-'^-% 
 
 fit of immoderate laughter i„ I . '. ^'"'''^"'" ^^'t hito a 
 h-y^eem eyes seemed U, piercTtW, "^ i'"'""''"' ^'^^'^^^ of 
 
 As for me, I lau^^ei too- ''"'V'"^^ 'hrou.,h me. 
 ^ever was a burst of natural ; ''^"'* '"^ ''-^"oWi it wist 
 
 ;^« that forced laugh, Xn 2''"; "' '^"'^^"-'t hi suffS^ 
 beneath the sarcastic ii o C o 7 '"'''' '''••^'"^' ^ ^'^^t ther^ 
 
 ^^?f ?-■ ^'^ ^^^•^-- he tri,^,! i:,r^^^'^'' -^^ seemed to 
 i- can scarcelv evm.,.f ^i ' '^^'".^- 
 
 ^ith much confideni^t' f ''''' "^^^"'"^"' ^^"1 inspire von 
 
 -JrP:7cX/:^" '»''''•''" '-t least ve.. 
 
 What would tlie old fount. „f 
 -.el. a p..„fa„atlo„ ? - c- J tr,^™;"""'!? ""^ -'" «" 
 ' ''ould n.)t liavc been tl,p m„ -'"■"''«'■ '' 'iy Saint Denta 
 ■" tiel.- old haU» at Cada™" '" '•^''^-' '"^^ Wood ttas,' 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 
156 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 " WelWe in a less haughty ago," said I, affecting a smile 
 ot md^fferenco, and luotioniug to him to procood. 
 
 "What follows is the very couiuiouest of that nonsense 
 which IS revealed in all lowly fortin.es. You are, as usual, 
 the yietnn ot cold and hunger, suffering from destitution and 
 want. Then there are indications of a bold spirit, ambitious 
 and energetic, burstiiig out through all the gloom of your 
 dark condition, and a small whispered word in your ear 
 tells you to hope!" While the Chevalier rattled out this 
 rodomontade " at a much greater length than J have time 
 or patience to repeat, his eyes never quitted me, but seemed 
 to sparkle with a fiend-like intelligence of what was passin- 
 within me. As he concluded, he mixed up the cards togethel^ 
 merely muttering, half aloud, "adventures and escapes by 
 land and sea. Abundance of hard luck, to be all compen- 
 sated for one day, when wealth in all its richest profusion 
 IS showered upon you." Then, dashing the cards from him 
 m affected anger, he said, " It is enough to make men de- 
 spise themselves, the way in which they yield credence to 
 such rank tomfoolery! but I assure you. Count, however 
 contemptible the oracle has shown herself to-day, I have on 
 more than one occasion been present at the most startlino' 
 revelations, — not alone as regarded the past, but the future 
 also." 
 
 " I can easily believe it, Chevalier," replied I, with a great 
 effort to seem philosophically calm. " One must not reject 
 everything that has not the stamp of reason upon it; and 
 even what I have listened to to-day, absurd as it is, has not 
 shaken my faith in the divination of tlie cards. Perhaps 
 this fancy of mine is the remnant of a childish superstition, 
 which I owe in great part to my old nurse. She was a 
 Moor by birth, and imbued with all the traditions and 
 superstitions of her own romantic land." 
 
 There was a most sneering expression on the Chevalier's 
 face as I uttered these words. I paid no attention to it, 
 however, but went on : " From the venerable dame I myself 
 attained to some knowledge of 'destiny readinjr.' of wliich 
 I remember once or twice in life to have afforded very sino,,- 
 ar proofs. ]\hj skill, however, usually preferred unraveuFno' 
 the ' future ' to the ' present.' " 
 
cting a smile 
 
 lat nonsense 
 I'e, us usuiil, 
 stitution and 
 it, ambitious 
 )oin of your 
 n your ear, 
 cd out this 
 J have time 
 
 but seemed 
 was passing 
 ds together, 
 
 escapes by 
 all com pen- 
 It profusion 
 Is from him 
 ke men de- 
 L*redence to 
 it, however 
 , I have on 
 st startling 
 t the future 
 
 i^ith a great 
 . not reject 
 on it ; and 
 is, has not 
 . Perhaps 
 iperstition, 
 She was a 
 litions and 
 
 Chevalier's 
 tion to it, 
 ic I myself 
 of whicli 
 'ery singu- 
 mravellino- 
 
 "THE VOYAGE OF THE 'ACADIE, 
 
 > >» 
 
 157 
 
 tlian recital," said the 
 
 "Speculation is always easier 
 Chevalier, dryly. "^ 
 
 " Very true " said I " 
 ever found ho'w .v;nt of su(!!oient '^'ii;"f '^' P'^' ^ ^^^^« 
 giving to the great fact of at';! i ^''"''''''''^ '"3^ 
 connection; so that, indeed t ? ^' ''"' ^^'"^ necessary 
 alone were revealed to me 4ior''i '' '' ""'''''''' «^'^""^« 
 or followed them. I see l^s nv ^ '"^ ''^'''' ^''^<^'^^^^^ 
 
 «eape by fitful flashes of - , .f '"^r^"' '^'^ ^ 1-^1- 
 eountry suddenly dispIayoM fh , 1"^'^'' ''''''' ''^'^^ -^ 
 
 lost to sight the next^no'n fi e ! s" ,'! '"""'''^^' '^"^ 
 a« bese are, I an. well awar , n ^ thv ' ^"'"^'^^ ^^^^^^'"'^ 
 ;itl| your more cultivated oifi l^^ ^?}''^' competition 
 ffctions, you are disposed to-ec/H' -'"'^ '" '''''' ""P«^- 
 «nicerely at your service " ^^ *'^'"" ^^^^^'^^^e, they are 
 
 niyself to htm, for he neither seen.P 1 ?•' ' '' ^'^^'^ ^'•«^» 
 
 "or feel any interest in its exercise ^"^''''' "^ ^"^ «^^'»' 
 
 p-;rf;;srn;;^^^^^^^ 
 
 great mnntk with a bood „Lh^ ^ "l^' '"""'« <"> ^ 
 cftoetually eoncealod ttow'jj ! "^o" V •""" '°'"'"' 
 caution I took the betfpr t V , f ^''"^ ^^'^^^ a pre- 
 
 reniah.ed hid from vSew ''"'^ '" ''^'^ "'^'"^ -^ own 
 
 ca:;^:;:^^:t!'t.?^r ii:^ ? ^ ^^-p^^^ ^^an r 
 
 '"nd lay back ind;ient v to aw > '' *'" '' ^'S'^^^'^' '"^ ^'"^^'^'N 
 great display of kno.i L : '^^ " ^ '"'-^^^e a 
 
 cards, the better to t^^^,: . th '''f "" T'"'"'""^ ^'- 
 last, disposing some dozen in c rt^in nn sS'' '?•"'' ''^"^^ ^* 
 me, I began. ^^^'" "'3'stic positions before 
 
 "Von startled me, Chevalier K,r „ t 
 -anted truth to maU it ^ ';\l:,,tbi:"T f '^'^ "^^^ 
 repay yo,, by another which T.h^.!T, Let me now 
 
 same condition. There 1 ''^''"■^^'>- «"«P^ct to be in the 
 
 whose meaning is most DOS Hv."T';' "^^ ^^^^'^ ^e, 
 
158 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 ,-, n .'I "^-n "''' ^' "''^ ^^''^^•"" •^'^ ^ff'^Pt^d ^ase,- " here 
 
 s a„o her s .11 stranger rovdation, wl.ioh says that you a e 
 
 I iMonclunan, l,„t a native of a land which lattcM-Iy haS 
 
 k.n upon ,t to supply tho rest of the world with adven u- 
 
 leis, — Ml plani words, a Polo." 
 
 "It is true that n,y father, who held a command in the 
 Impenal anny l.ved son.e years in that country," said he 
 
 '' 1 only know what the cards tell me," said T, spreadin<t 
 on a mass o them before n.e, and pretending to tu'dy them 
 att ntively; ''and here is a complication which would ne^d 
 a cleverer expositor than I am. Of all the tangled webs 
 ever I essayed to unravel, this is the knottiest, ^y, reallv 
 Chevaher, yours must have been a life of more than ordinai-y 
 fronTS;,"' '^" "^' ^"^^^^^^^^ '^''' ^- -ff-d sadl^ 
 
 " Judging from what you have just told me, I rather lean 
 
ease,— "here 
 3 that you arc 
 :li latterly has 
 with adventu- 
 
 umand in the 
 ti-y," said he, 
 ed bis nation- 
 
 , spreadinrt; 
 study them 
 rt'ould need 
 iijlcd webs 
 ^liy, really, 
 n ordinary 
 ered sadly 
 
 •ather lean 
 
 "THE VOYAGE OE THE 'ACADIE.'" I5y 
 
 these mystic stnr on v • "''-r' ^'"''''"'^>' ''^ ''^^^^S 
 
 which I can now o.r i.-' '"' ''' '"^' '^"^^ ^''-'n 
 
 either a niistuko of niin,. 1 I, ''' "'"^'''"^ ^^''^^ *''*« '"« 
 
 deception." ' ""' ^^'' ^'""y' ^t'^^''^' ^ cheat and a 
 
 Chevalier, with a snei, '^^^ ""•''^""'" «^^i^' the 
 
 -:^i:ri:^dcr;i:;rfL:it:c:;:r7^r^"^ 
 
 passes now before my eves it, n ''^'"= '"''^'"'^ 
 
 crowds of peoDle and L fl " f ''^ice-course, witJi its 
 are led outtobe " dtl "T' '/f .^-i^^^-' -h1 the horses 
 
 ness, and what ' T ' ''• ^^-^'P^^^^^^^io" ^^'ul eager- 
 
 pass^d away, ind I a^ I ^ V""' f "-"^"- ' ^^^^ ^"'--^ ^^s 
 side by sid^e a ,' KK f ^"' /^"^ ^'-"''^•^ ^^'^^^ «tand 
 
 woman She is ween net ^ i';"''^^'"^ ^•'^°'"' ^^ »''^» ^"'^ a 
 liftu 1 • . r ^^^Pi"J.^ and /«' consoliiKv her SHv r tr 
 
 colored hi, d.„k featoe, ' ' """ '™*' '""'™' ''"<"««» 
 as'i 'tSrZ: r:; ' "'■""' "'"«'" ^'.-axdai^od I, 
 
 A fpnvfMi .1 1 PC'iectly,— the naine is Alexis ' " 
 
 het^^^irt^rlnlTdarM-^'^l'^^ 
 
 brow, u Away with vol. ^'" f''''^ ''''' '^"^^^^'^ ^''"^^ 
 
 miserable the^t s ^Zf'"^'^"'^\ '^"^'^ ^^""^ "^-^'^^ y«"«- 
 
 children. SiS^i o ut^k^ .:";, .^h' '""'^ """^"'-' 
 are you?" ""' ' '^^"^ ^^"^ J^u. and what 
 
 m 
 
 Ms 
 
 i4 
 
160 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 am, and whence I have eomo m«^, +i 
 
 tvveen uh, o. it ,nay bo ^o^f "r ^^^'^ ''^ ^""^ ^^"^^ ^- 
 
 " \ ou threaten n,e, then," said I, calmly. 
 
 "I do," was the answer. "^ 
 
 ^'1 It is therefore open war between us ? " 
 
 shall soon Kn^t w i^ rn^:;:;' '"foh r" '"';;"'' '"" 
 
 "ot find yourself forgotten." ' ~ ^'^'^^^ ^"^y^^^^ yon will 
 II Agreed, then; no\v k-ave nie, sir." 
 
 take 4 leave Bel i^,'"""' ^':"'',' '•'">"<" """< f'"". ".kI 
 
 fa. .o^f ber^:":; -i.f';;o 1-^ r:f.o^-.™ ™'"^ 
 
 -It , " and wi,taU ' ofCu 7,""°,^'' ^»'^" '"-^ 
 moved away. '' '^°' ' """M "»' speak, I 
 
 into "wSlrthe S '""" ' '/P™'"^ - °f "- -^ f°l>v 
 I had mn.lA „J T ^ ""^ "''''"•'' piece of malice 
 
 Lr;tr,::-„Tr,:ii:vr,e?°^» ""°" --- ™-''«' 
 
 approaoLd .be bulwa.to:,: wtil "f , ..S- "o'f f,"' ""'" 
 
 " l8 he on board of her' " si id T «;fv ''"'^'/'^ «»ce. 
 not conceal. ' ""'"' '''' ^"^''^ty I could 
 
une equal b©- 
 
 tting irony of 
 >, — and you 
 ■self you will 
 
 hypocritical 
 •it politeness 
 
 find another 
 ilk forth and 
 • you would 
 
 30." 
 
 1st words, I 
 id eaten inv 
 aot speak, 1 
 
 le rash folly 
 eiigeance, 1 
 3e of malice 
 er vouched 
 
 ttaek could 
 ly that he 
 pursue me 
 hard ques- 
 tely that I 
 .1 on board 
 'Id that we 
 deck and 
 the crew 
 t, with all 
 ilot-boat," 
 ; ' ' she is 
 t once." 
 ;y I could 
 
 "THE VOYAGE OF THE <ACADIE... JOl 
 
 J Yes, Se.hor Coadd, and your Excellency's secretary 
 
 ^acZ" ' lVZ:^'^:':L ''- -r-' -• -- ■* the sin,.,, 
 ^-ey'- werearticuL^dl s:;;;:^'''";r*'' ^"^ " ^^-l" 
 "o opportunity to put th!^ m ''!'r ''^'" ^ '"'''''- ^ ''=^^» 
 
 nous cares the noar a,,, n.nVl, . ""^'' "■'^'' ^''^' "'"lti'':i- 
 
 t'^-.-^t was, ^yu, hac? ;;t , 1 "'' "'"^'•^'^'- % "-"t 
 >n.y order.? ^Vus this a piece f^^ ?'/"'"; '''''''' ^^•'"t^''-'^ 
 I''M)arution,s for our disemluki, ,■ 1' °", '" ''"^"^ '^^ '"^^'^^ 
 ^^'•«e:^ and, if .so ,vha v '^' '"'°''^ 't bo somethh.g 
 
 tiuMr shadows before t" ,W ' ",' ^' ""«^"-'tunes do cast 
 ^vl^ohning sense of depr ^ . t at "'■''''' "^^^ ^^'^^- 
 
 ••an over every species of IITJ .\ "^^^ '" ^'^"«^^less. I 
 except highwa'y U^er; ,c u^f ^b f' ' f^'"'!."'^^"'"^' ^"^ 
 fanoy any real positive din "'' to b ^ '"'' ' ^^"^^^ "^^ 
 Chevaber. "=^' ^^' ^e anticipated from the 
 
 stances of „,y „,„,.„ t|,„, pX" ,■ ^*/''™ the ,„.„„., e,>c„m{ 
 
 g'ven a full f„„rtb of my Stl to ^'''V ' """I'" l>»™ 
 t ""Sly and quietly, „,„, ^ "™™ '" I)" an.led unostenta- 
 
 "" 'head of the ou,.ed cfJlZ "' """" '■'"-«' f™" 
 provtr "'" ""' -e„.a.e the pe.,, before ,„e, event, soon 
 
 VOL. 11. — 11 
 
 .f4 
 
 i : .11 
 
fflrMfctia 
 
 rilE "CARCEL MOREXA" AT MALAGA. 
 
 S we sailed proudly into the harbor of 
 Mrh.vn, iiiy attontion — :it first .lireotod to the strikiiio- 
 features of th<> shore, where lay a city actuallv embowered 
 amid oranoe-irroves — was soon drawn off by the appearance 
 of a boat, rowed by twelve men, which \approached the 
 ship. The national tln.i,' of Spain floated from a standard in 
 her stern, and T could mark the flitter of arms and uniforms 
 on board of her. 
 
 " The odicers of health, I suppose? " said I, carelessly, to 
 the captain. •^' 
 
 " No. Sofihor. these are soldiers of the garrison " 
 
 " Ah I understand," said I, " they are on the alert as to 
 whom they land in these troublous times;" for it was the 
 period of the «rreat Carlist struir^le. 
 
 " Possibly," was his dry remark, and he moved away. 
 
 A ho.arse challen-e from the boat was answered by some- 
 thing from the ship; and the "accommodation-ladder" was 
 immediately lowered, and an officer ascended to the deck, 
 followed by two of his men, with their side-arms. 
 
 Some of the ordinary greetings being interchancrod be- 
 tween the captain and the officer, the latter said, " My busi- 
 ness here is with the person styling himself the Conde de 
 Cregano. Where is he?" 
 
MALAGA. 
 
 harbor of 
 he striking 
 oniboAvercd 
 appearance 
 oaeliiHl the 
 standard in 
 d uniforiTis 
 
 relessly, to 
 
 alert as to 
 it was the 
 
 away. 
 I by some- 
 Idor " was 
 the deck, 
 
 ino;od be- 
 
 My busi- 
 
 Conde' de 
 
 THE "CAItCEb MOUKNA" AT MALAGA. 163 
 
 "That 18 my name, Sefihor," .said I wifh „ uf,, r 
 
 admixture or civility and eunde.s;.cn.sion. ''"'^'""' 
 
 'Plea.se to walk this wiv uif " ..: i n 
 
 n»»u,.ane,. tl,.. hoc,., in f„,. „ii in.p.vio'o . 'If "* 
 
 1 wish to see your passport, Senhor " «oi,l i.r, i 
 
 seated himself at the table. ' ^^^"^"'' said he, as he 
 
 "My passport shall be prochiced at the fitting, time " said 
 
 lutormatiou you have received, su- ! " excl'iimori t ,-. 
 terror and amazement, exclaimed I, m 
 
 "Yes, sir; I may as well tell you that Mala-a is not in 
 the possession of your friends, -you will no^ tind a Ca.lil^ 
 garrison ready to five von n «.,i„fn\.f i <-ailist 
 
 Far less fonnn t\ ^T f ""^ ^''"°'' '''*>'""^" l^-^'ulini?. 
 
 vou R.J . 1 ' °^^ ^''' peremptory attentions await 
 
 you Bu produce your papers, for I have no time to lose.'' 
 
 1 saw at a glance that my position was most perilous, and 
 as rapidly resolved to make an effort for safety. - Sefih^ 
 Capitana," said I, placing an open pocket-book stuffed wth 
 bank-notes before him, -please to accept my passpm^ 
 and to keep it in your own safe possession. I shall put to 
 sea again, and order the captain to land me at some port in 
 
 "It is too late," said he, with a sigh, as he pushed the 
 
 pocket-book away ; " the informations against you are already 
 
 transmitted to Madrid." ^ 
 
 "Great heavens! and for whom do they take me?" 
 cried I. ./ «. . 
 
 " I cannot tell ; I never heard. I only know that I have 
 the order for your arrest as the person assuming to be ' the 
 Conde Cregano.' " =.0 
 
 "What crime is laid to my ciuirge? Have I defrauded 
 any one ? What is alleged against me ? " 
 
 !(?.; 
 
m 
 
 CONFESSIONS OK coN CIIEGAN. 
 
 •'8IJOW mc your pjwHpoit," saM W agalti. 
 
 n^n'r"."^ '^*'•" •'""' ^' P''>'l"i'i"y till, document which bv 
 Don hHtahau'H mtorvention I Juul c,l,tai.u.,| fn„„ (h. ■., ho 
 nues of Gu.jua,uall., and wherein i wu. called : a ^^ 
 Grenada and a noble of Spain. 
 
 ^'' And all this is true as net forth?" said the ..(Jicer 
 
 soner is called upon to criminate himself," said I 
 
 "In I hat case you are no Spaniard," said the ollicer 
 hrewdly, ^M.or, in.lee.I, does your accent ho bespeak ^^u.' 
 \ ou are now under arrest." He opened the door as he said 
 this, and, pon.tn.g me out to the two sentries, whis,>erc 
 somethm. too low for „.o to overhear. This done, he le 
 the cabm and went upon deck 
 
 I lookcvl up from the chair where I sat, into the faces of 
 my two guardians, and a more ill-favored pair of gentleu.a 
 I never beheld. Jll-fed but dissipated-looking rascal ' 
 
 seemed n.ore like highwaymen than ..Idiers.^ Stil ev ^ 
 chance was not to be thrown away, and so I whis, e c lu 
 a soft voice: -My worthy friends, in that writ^^no-ca e 
 yonder there are bank-notes to a very large amount ° I u 
 
 ^:::r7y '''' ir /^'^^" ^^^-^^^ ^'•-" -"' --- 1' ^ 
 
 esto ed. I may as well have the satisfaction of knowin.^ 
 
 I shall not attempt to e cape nor wer^T ? 'f """^ •^'"'^• 
 aid me in anv Jnv T ' , ' '^^ ^ *'' '^^ ^"' couh" '■.,„ 
 fellows wL;;^.;^,;,::^^-^;! ^^ ---^t two worthy 
 of fortune.' " ' ''''" *''^' ^^^''^d children 
 
 pe^'"^''^^ '"^\ ''r'^ ^^-'^^ -^<1 -t last they whis- 
 ov r and \. "'"''^ '?-f f' =^"'^ ^'"- «"« of them we, t 
 can ma^e - t,,, ,-> n^,on at another time" siid T- uu il 
 
 Wal the ,.K,„i.y „h„,t y„,„. persons. Here ore ,omo ein-l.t „r 
 tea tUousaud piastre., - „„cl here, fully as auch mwe for 
 
It which by 
 
 the Hiilho- 
 
 ii iisitive of 
 
 leer. 
 
 liit no pri- 
 
 he ollicer, 
 peak you. 
 iis ho suiil 
 whispi'ictl 
 ne, he left 
 
 le faces of 
 ti,enth'iiion 
 K'.'ils, they 
 ill, even a 
 ispored in 
 iting-ease 
 lit. In a 
 JVer to be 
 knowing 
 !• liiins 
 looked at 
 1 towards 
 ?aknif?, it 
 iiiiids 
 rorn yo?i, 
 
 !0U1(' '•,.;! 
 
 ^ wortliy 
 children 
 
 ley wliis- 
 ie;n went 
 " You 
 ; "it ig 
 nee con- 
 eic^ht or 
 aore for 
 
 TiIE..CAnc,.:LM<,U,:XA"ATALM.AGA. JfiS 
 
 you. ThoHc arc Mexicun tint,.- »• . i 
 
 That's ri-ht, n.v d ; "'"''^'""'' ^"'- K''-'"t amounts, 
 ".-.ui, iiiy i.Kit, niiike .sliort work of U 
 
 boots, M, your ahakoH; anywhere tW '~ " ^'""'' 
 
 quiet;" 'I'Owucic toi the present, only be 
 
 ''>til.y they merited all my encomiiiMH ' To ii . 
 plunder, I M back then, a-ain^ -u • " , '^''"' ''''''y 
 
 ••ilii^ence on (h, ln..|, In.?] ^ I'""' "''<' ever stopped a 
 
 I «.^ to ,ve:rur ';,. i:.:: Lr,.;";::,';- -■ "•"- " -? 
 
 effect-, tiLt ,,y 'I t """ '"';' l"^"' 1'I»<'«1 »" all ,„y 
 
 .articles of , n ., u- , 7 ' 'T^' l>f""' ""' H- various 
 
 ^or^„,c to ,i„-;,',; ;:::;t:;;;:;fr,^;:';::x,r """'■« "-- 
 wi;^^\::r'„T::;iio';;:f'i:'.i;>:''-.-">y>'»..a.e 
 
 pulling ..apMly f„,. ti,,, I °,l Ti " '" "'" ''<"" »■"' 
 
 no other ohioct l,an n,lj 7 ,o ™ P"'"""''''"'"'' 
 Hon„„o to o.i,,ibitr rmesi:^*'2?i','."'"'T l"" ""' 
 faction, I eouW ..caark that olfe™ old c™™',,'"'''"""- 
 passionate, an.l oven a kin.II ■ I™ u" 7, "'' =" ""'"■ 
 
 i t 
 
166 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 and residence of the Governor, exhibiting a curious mixture 
 of these incongruous fuuctions in all its details. 
 The apartment itito which 1 was ushered was a large 
 
 Ss"' ^;^V'^''.T'' 'f ";™^^ -"-1-- P-eing the thiSk 
 ^alls. Ihe furniture had once been handsome, but from 
 tune and neglect had beconie worn and disfigured: A smal 
 table, spread with a very tolerable breakfast, stood in one of 
 
 1 waTtfH' "' :'"'' ' '"''^ '"^^"^ '^ '''''' "^^'-If ' -^^ then 
 1 was left alone to my own lucubrations. Hunger prevailed 
 
 over grief, I ate heartily; and having concluded nv meal, 
 amused myself by studying the Trojan war, which was dS 
 played upon the walls in a very ancient tapestry 
 walls^Hl/r'^ the fortunes of Greeks and Trojans on the 
 > alls till I was weil-nigh wearied. 1 l^ad even gazed upon 
 the little patches of brown grass beneath the windows till mv 
 eyes grew dim with watching ; but no one came to look after 
 me, and, in the unbroken silence around, I half feared that I 
 should be utterly forgotten, and left, like the old tapestry, to 
 die of moths and years ; but at last, as day was declining, I 
 heard something like the clank of arms and the tramp of 
 soldiery; and soon the sounds were more distinctly marked, 
 approaching my door. Suddenly the two leaves of the fold- 
 ing-door wpi-e thrown wide, and an elderly man, in a .General's 
 uniform, followed by two other olllcers, entered. ° 
 
 Without taking any notice of the salute I made him, he 
 walked towards the fireplace, and, standing with his back to 
 It, said to one of his aides-de-camp, "Read the ' proces- 
 verbal,' Jose'." 
 
 Jose bowed, and, taking from his sabretache a very lengthy 
 roll of paper, began to read aloud, but with such rapidity'and 
 such indistinctness withal that I could only, and with the 
 greatest difficulty, catch a stray word here and, there. The 
 titles of her IMajesty the Queen appeared to occupy full ten 
 minutes, and an equal time to be passed in setting forth the 
 authority under whose jurisdiction I then stood. These over, 
 there came something about an individual who, born a Mexi- 
 can or a native of Texas, has assumed the style, title, and 
 dignity of a Count of Spain, such rank being taken for pur- 
 poses of deception, and the better to efftc-tV-ertain treason- 
 able designs, to be set forth hereafter. After this there 
 
ous mixture 
 
 'as a large 
 g the thick 
 !, but from 
 • A small 
 •d in one of 
 If, and then 
 ir prevailed 
 1 nv meal, 
 ^h was dis- 
 
 ians on the 
 ?azed upon 
 3WS till my 
 
 look after 
 ared that I 
 apestry, to 
 eclining, I 
 
 tramp of 
 y marked, 
 f the fold- 
 a general's 
 
 le him, he 
 is back to 
 ! ' proces- 
 
 vy lengthy 
 pidity and 
 
 with the 
 ere. The 
 y full ten 
 
 forth the 
 lese over, 
 1 a Mexi- 
 title, and 
 1 for pur- 
 
 treason- 
 hk there 
 
 THE "CARCEL MORENA" AT MALAGA. 167 
 
 wicked men who sol' t fo 'u v . r'' " ^'^ '^' ^'"'^ ""^^ 
 
 of their couutrv n, f i ';'"'y.^li«sension mto the bosom 
 
 couuny, and convulse w th the msqinna ,.f „ • •■ 
 
 paper, except the mn„er;i",i,:f w'r.'eUer!: VI' 
 truisms, n inllafprl lo.,n-n„-v i ittited it. State 
 
 nothing recdml ' i i H^ ' 7'' "''••"■'«<""« Platitudes about 
 
 h.."g tVe t^.^ '"'r^'^'^ °' " "■- ''*- '-tunes 
 
 indifference- an,] locfi T "^ ' "^ ^^^^'"^ "'^th more 
 
 of the vo ce ' an t ' ^ ''"'"^^^^^^^>^ "•-^••J«^» ^y the monotony 
 
 not preven ^w t o ,itT?r ^'""1"" ^' ^^" «^^'^^^' ^ '^^'^ 
 in hand. ^ " *' ^'"™ wandermg far from the affair 
 
 in the pleasant lane? of d y-'dTeams F f i'"'' '^"''' ^"'^ 
 
 ing in the shade of a forest vSrn .f ^ "'^'''^^' ^^^■""- 
 
 while I poured out n\;nlf ''""^ ^^^^^'^'^ ^^"i^^^ me, 
 
 and fidelitr N^wasT ;'"PaBs.oned narrative of my love 
 a loud "Hem''' C r..; V '"'T^"'^^ '"^' concluded, and 
 chamber, that I re^Zbl^Xre T'Z''' '''-''' ''' 
 
 haver^-:^i,:;s.^j;t'chr:^^^^^ 
 
 reasons of your arrest • vn„ Ju " "'^'"^^ y^"' ^"^ the 
 
 replies to which, if no^racir""''"^'^ ^"^^^■^-' *^« 
 the crime of ' T-aicion' ho nu '/"''' ^""'^^' constitute 
 your name?" ' ^'^^ P^"^% being Jeath. What is 
 
 "Con Cregan." 
 
 ' ' Native of what country ? " 
 "Ireland." 
 
 (( 
 
 one, — as luck favor 
 
 What trade or profo..,_ ,., ^,,, 
 ^hatever seems most convenient 
 
 s me. 
 
 iion do you follow? 
 
 ' '! 
 
 II 
 
 ' >i 
 
 n. 
 
 
 Have 
 
 you served ? 
 
 at the moment. 
 
168 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "I have." 
 
 " Id the land or sea service ? " 
 
 "In both." 
 
 "With what grade?" 
 
 " Nothing very distinguished " 
 
 ;; Have^ou ever held the comu^and of an expedition ? » 
 
 " With wliat object, and where '<> " 
 
 ;' lu the prairies of Sonth An.erica, to shoot red-deer " 
 for ^';i:'':£^ ^,^'^-^^ "^^^« ^---sion 
 than you thVkfor." "'"' '''' ^"" '"^^'^ ^-^'l^ 
 
 "If I am to speak the truth," said I, boldlv ut . . 
 
 And add, by Avay of parenthesis," said I u tw <I,p 
 
 " t;^ te'drT'^ f "^y ^^- -^ ^f thinkhg/^' ''' 
 
 boili:i".:?thT:; "^"^^^ ''' ^^"^--^-'' " -^^ t^e General, 
 
 no^SSr :tr ^"^' ^^^ ^^^ ^--^^-^"^ - 
 
 "Now, sir," resumed the General, "state yom- object in 
 
 commg to the country." ^ ^ ^" 
 
 ;; To get out of it as fast as I could." 
 My own." 
 
 '• None. I never knew any " 
 
 " I found them." 
 "How, and where?" 
 "In a hole." 
 
 '^u- ^i-iiii iij lue niutteriufs ho U>f foil +^ i • 
 
 '"oS »e Jbt tall to his secretary. 
 
)edition ? " 
 
 •ed-deer." 
 i uo occasion 
 more dearly 
 
 [y, "I must 
 m ready for 
 
 is perfectly 
 
 , "that the 
 
 ±e General, 
 
 ogating was 
 
 n- object in 
 
 horses and 
 whom you 
 ■y in your 
 
 m once 1 
 intr indig- 
 yecretary, 
 
 THE -CARCEL MORENA" AT MALAGA. 169 
 
 "orrZl'ur ""' "'^ ^°"--'^ - '"« evidence we,.e 
 
 ziliosT"'' """ ■■'"'""'''"'^'' '"«' Brigadier Hermose Gon- 
 
 "No." 
 
 ;; Nor with his brother, the Canon Gou.illos ? " 
 
 "When didj^u first meet Seuhor Ruy Peres Y' Hnohn?" 
 " Never saw hini iu my life." Haeho? » 
 
 "Nor held intercourse with him?" 
 "Never." 
 
 opened, and the ClSiJ,- di V '° """l"'' ""'' «■" ''""^ 
 
 wi..^e.., deco,a;i„:f:^i t:s o;,;:;:'sr"°™ ^--^ 
 
 chottsky-at least „n,l., , " "'""" '" ^'''^'» Had- 
 
 „, f . ' ' ""^ General to tlie secieh.v .. ri , ■ 
 
 confronted wili, tUe Senlior I{„v IVmvs I, ^*^'- ^" """"« 
 
 h,™ ,„t,n,aa.l, several yea,, beto.-c TrLond j" "°" """'" 
 is that man a witness against nie'-' " n«i.-o i r 
 "Attend to me, sh." s.id .r ? , /' '^*''°^'"*^- 
 
 sign to the Cheval er to n^e ' 'V r ' ?"' ^^ '"^^^ ^ 
 science will avail yon w'^Tou tf ^iS^J'^^f T ^'^■ 
 ^^us, - y.. early his^ry, your late i^^! ^ :^ 
 
 said T coom' '" i;r'' ^^r'f'' ''' ^'' ^'^^^^ -^' ^^^eraV 
 
 in ushI!^^'thT^'''"j -''f ^'"" '^^'^^''^^^^^ .'ulmonitions, persisted 
 ^V'^'"^ the most mdeeorons language to the co.nmissi^n!" 
 
 words the General dictated hfa loud 
 
 were immediately taken down by 
 
 ' Senlior Conci 
 now committed 
 
 US Hecretary 
 
 *'oice, and they 
 
 3gan," said he, addressin- 
 by virtue of a royal war 
 
 me, "you stand 
 rant, a copy of 
 
 ""I 
 
 •i-'.L 
 il 
 
170 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Whether your oinee sl^^T^ 1"; ""f "' '"T '^'''^^ 
 
 on by foreign ty/a m" f . ^"'n -'r'"^"' '"^ ^^ ^^'^""P^^^^ 
 life to be sacrificed oJ 'flit •"" ^' •'^"'^'^^'' ^^^^ Ji''«>ty or 
 
 the protection of ly " Jbt,;!^"?"^;'^ ""'■""^- ^ ^^^^•- 
 resentativo of n.y comZ as ton ' ''^ ^^'^''-^^^ "^ «"eh a rep- 
 I desire - " wlx wa^s 1^.0^'^'' ^'T"^^^' "''''^' l'-«^-- 
 was not destined to l^^ tl^^e , /^:;;^-^^^^^ 
 at a signal from the General thpTi ^ occasion, since 
 
 advancing, adjusted rll^^r :^:": -S' f^ f f ^"^^ 
 aAvay oven before I had recovered from thl • "'^ ^'^' "'« 
 
 proceeding occasioned me ' ''"''^^■'^^ ^he whole 
 
 Whether it was that I enioved thp ,...> 
 prisoner, or that the authoS ^^^Z^^^: ""', ^ ^^^ 
 they were justified in what they T^ere doh o-^ '^'^' '''"* 
 b" my pnson discipline was of ^'e v^l'^j^t^^^f ""^^ -^3'! 
 had a most comfortable room wJH. n ■ T "''^^''- ^ 
 
 ward over the beautiful bav of' Mat A Tak ^ ''t'"= ^"'^- 
 along shore, where gardens \Tyni^\^^^y 
 extended for miles. The fumkl ' """^ orange-groves 
 pretensions to luxury and ^^ r"'^*' '""^^ ^^'**'^ «<^'"c 
 was excellent. Book^ "ml t ' ^ "'" '^"""^ *« «^vn, 
 supplied tome.and/saVe LTn ":"'^"^^""'^' ""'"^ '^'^^h^ 
 Of a musket, and the^hufflit .ffeftt";, '"'""'.^'^ ^^^ ^''^^^^ 
 told that the sentry of mv "-n ' ,i f ''' '^'■'•'^^«'- ^^ithout, 
 
 have fancied myself n some 1 T '"^^ '''^''^^■^^' ^ ^-"1^ 
 tioD upon my libcrtv mT) i^.^' '""' '''*^^«"t a resti'ic- 
 -omeit I hi^l t/^a ^^:^'''f been removed the 
 
 chions of my window 7e,Tth^l\ "^'^ '^' ""^^ ^^an- 
 around n,e. ^^^^ ^"^-^ ^'eminders of a jail 
 
IN. 
 
 u, will be (Inly 
 es have decided 
 ii civil or iiiili- 
 1." 
 
 "I belong to a 
 to be trampled 
 '• liis liberty or 
 '"imy. I cfaiin 
 of such a rep- 
 y may possess. 
 ' my bij'thright 
 occasion, since 
 id two soldiers, 
 '• and led nie 
 'i-ise the whole 
 
 ve of a State 
 ite clear that 
 
 cannot say; 
 est order. I 
 
 looking sea- 
 a wide i-ange 
 ii'ange-groves 
 id with some 
 und to own, 
 
 wcr- fi-eely 
 lis the claniv 
 dor without, 
 ved, I could 
 lit a resf]-ip- 
 removed the 
 ^ iron stan- 
 5 of Q jail 
 
 COXSOLATIOXS OF DIPLOMACY. 
 
 Hble shock of ^a^l,;^::^^^.^-""^ --' '^^ ter- 
 
 greatness to the lowly condSonof'"!"'' "' """^^^ ^''^' 
 and destitute, _ I actuaHv W . ^''''''"''' unfriended 
 feel something wond^-S^it^r "''"^ "'^^ ^'^^^ ^"^1 
 tend to say that mv , « ^ 'lappmess. I do not pre- 
 
 and painful ^ Z tX^nini^T "^^ r' ^^^ 
 Plation of my ruined hop f L . /"" '^' ^""^^^- 
 grief, like the course of a m ... f ' . ''°'" '*' ^ut my 
 and left the stream of nnlif" '"'■''""*' ««^» ^'a" off! 
 It is true, thouglTr;[h"' Jtto Sh/"' T'''''''^' '^ --•' 
 aweek ago; l^^t st 1^ ^ t no ' ?'''"'^'' "^'^^ ^ ^^^^ 
 what my original condi^o . iLd^' 71' " ^^^l^'^'- ^^ 
 a Span sh fortress ■ k n..f ."omised.'' I am a prisoner in 
 
 a.. IHsh l>ove Th v"v I™ '"./'I'", "'"" " ■— ' "' 
 bespeak a certain con .i™'; !''."'''<''' I ""' -"rounded 
 
 whom ministers of 8tirti I ,',"'!'= '° "'°' ' ""><»» 
 is often on their li^ J" \"'''' '!« <•■''■''"*. "hose „a„,e 
 
 half-waking m„ JX' '1^,!, ' r''^' ""',"."' ""^"> '" «!'«'■ 
 
 great dea. .0 one wi.ose wLIc I 'TrT,!'!,'".'', .f^ ." -' » 
 
 or hro nv.^ A_i_ 1 . 
 
 i? 
 
 of life, and take his 
 thoroughfares ? 
 
 course m its very widest 
 
 was to avoid the bypaths 
 
 and busiest 
 
 >',n 
 
172 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I 
 
 The occupations in which I mqqpfl m-^r a^ 
 
 fi>'u.«i ,o ..,„i„ this pill 'i Liou' ?';r:^ °7 
 
 not, or i,itei„,i„alL,l,, „,„Taliv..a to .,11 ,„ ' ■ ' "''■" 
 of time no aoJvnonlPcl.rment of i^U Tn ' ^ '""^^'^ 
 
 various' lettJ.. tad ^'ol tho t,;; 'r;'"r"^'V t^^'^ther with 
 ami to shite, in ivulv tht II' f .•''''^' '""'^ *'''^* ti"'e. 
 
 Gove,-ninent. '"''^^'^*^"" ^^^^h tlie authorities of the Spanisli 
 can hold out no prosxcf Iw. ," T''"' "^ ^'""'' "^''^'•ation he 
 
 "1 have the honor to bo, sir 
 
 " .?;; ^rfr* " ^'''"'' "'««t «'>^dient s'ervant, 
 
 "Oct. 18— . ,, . 
 
 uTr^r V r. 'Joseph Backslip. 
 
 " io Cornehus Cregan, Esq." 
 
 This was a sad danipci- ! To think that I was to ln<,P th. 
 immense an.ount of p.-oporty with which I had e nl^u ked 
 the gems an.] jewels, the rare objects «,f .rf- 1,1 ' ~ 
 
 the beautiful horses of purest mS!:: bl^ ^ tt^S 
 of that far greater loss, -the large sun. in actual mo il' 
 But then, what a consolation to remember that a SecS; 
 of State was mn.ghng his sorrows with my own on Z 
 sub,,ee ; t^at he actually gave an oflicial charac r to hs 
 gnef by desn-mg the Under-Secretary to convey '' h " 
 grets" in a despatch! nis reorels — to mp r7 n , 
 
 What iae.ti,„a„o .o.-.,.,! ,,att.. l^C^^t ^Tow 
 
AN. 
 
 lays greatly con- 
 I was ctcriuillv 
 facts, and Avh.-rt 
 !• niiiiistcivs and 
 ill the name of 
 -' tyranny of my 
 igthy documents 
 '• For a length 
 3n ever eached 
 formed me that 
 i: — 
 
 tate for Foreign 
 Memorials dated 
 h, together with 
 since that time, 
 complaint is at 
 of the Spanish 
 
 :n Affairs desires 
 ur liberation he 
 cnsation will bo 
 3 have sutfered, 
 many risks nat- 
 e engaged in. 
 
 rant, 
 
 EPII Backslip. 
 
 as to lose the 
 embaikod, — 
 le equipages, 
 not to speak 
 2tual money! 
 t a Secretary 
 own on the 
 I'actor to his 
 'ey "his re- 
 ^on Cregan ! 
 ive to know 
 
 CONSOLATIONS op DI,.U)MACV. 
 
 173 
 
 <^.«""nuns," ,iH. nivored guest wi?^' "•"''l'"!'!''"*' -^ " U'e 
 
 b>^ «oal of his ollice, ass.^;. ue f is t:;;^!""'"' ""•'-■ *^- 
 I closed my eyes as I re-u , ^"^^'^^^ sympathy! 
 
 "-t we were 4ping to"u. ' ^!"^r'i>''' -'^^ i'-'^ned 
 Wood." ..ij,,, tl/wrom th'is ' '" " ''^''^^'•^ ^" ^^"^ 
 
 :"^Ia.Kl; what calumnies liey eh. ri'' I'""^''^ '^ " '" 
 i-^ I'cartlessness, and so fo h^ " ' i fT '*'^ '"^-^^3', 
 '""'« '"y in the private sorrows o^ 7 r ^-T^' ''' '^''" '^^''« 
 Pai-t in all the private woes f r ""''^-"l-'al, and takin-r 
 
 tiful artifice I contrived to raL;;; '''?'''-" ''y ^^- '^-u: 
 considerable elevation n hi 'o 1 ^ '''^'"^'•^'^'^ ^'-' to a very 
 - er, by pleasant fancies "i;^,,::^;^;;; -' ^'^-^ worth^ 
 that every man can fashion atwill , """'-^^■^'•«8 
 
 ^-y Vn^on at Mai.., a n os nd,;;^ 1 ""•"'■"' '"^ ^'-f^^ 
 even now to „,ake its retrosnec i V"''"""-^^''^^^"' ^'^^^ 
 
 ^'^'- we-c n,y imagininos Z ' / '" ''\'''''' "'«'"ones. 
 for I loved to comjJu-e ml co. v ""'' '''•^'''"•^ ^^^ ti^^'«c, 
 fed prisoners, anl an ,'?''" "'? "'^^^ <>' «ther ex^: 
 ti^« «i<lo of iAelr.. i ? J ! '^-'^ ^"^."^'"^'t ^vould read by 
 submissive, than Silvio V^" ^'^ ^'''fy '^^^^'^-^, less 
 ;^^'%inmyfall than the E^t .H" V ^''^^^^'^ ^"'^- 
 tiie httle vexations of my lot wi o " t'"'' ^ ^''^'^ ^" 
 «»tu-ely subdued every iuT^ 'l, ''•'"f ^^ ^-^^^''ve that 
 -e..^tos..,,.MyLe^;ill:.^-|r- nature, and 
 
 At last It appeared either 'i^ if , ^ 
 opened, or, if opened, „ev"r" , "'-V'— -^^l'^ were never 
 ever ! and even the Mih<rn J •'^"^"'^'' ^'^'^ what- 
 
 oj snipping iiitelH^^^:^^^^;:;^-!--' -l-h, i„ the dea:^ 
 
 of me, stating ho^ " the " Co n ' T'^ '"'"' '''"^' "^'^'■-' 
 
 i^O"'- upon ^the leads' " ^ . T^"?: ^'^^^^erdny for an 
 
 q>petite of a partrid-^e and oUZ Tl ^^^^''^"^^^ ^''th an 
 
 - ^^"ty,"and soon,:!'." 'r :;':r f"^'^- ''"''' ^'- 'Officer 
 
 o me; and I seenml, f al Z'; '''^'f^^''^^^'"'^^'''^^^ alluded 
 
 ed about me. to haJeuffere '""''' '''*' '''''^'^ '"="^'f^'«- 
 
 I^ was the unhealth^cl" >f t7'''''^'' '""^"^ ^^^"^^^««- 
 
 ''-<! absented hin.self, l^u" . i ' ' -^f."'"' ^-^"^^ ^he Co„suJ 
 
 who, having also a ' 'con Sti^ 'TTT '" ^^'^ " ^'^<^«'^* 
 
 constitution, had departed likewise, 
 
 ftil 
 ■ I'l 
 
 i 
 
174 
 
 CONFKSSIONS OF CON CUKGAN. 
 
 bo ,ueath.ng the tra.litions and cares of ofHce to his Dutch 
 colk-aguo who neither spoke nor read any other tongue than 
 that muddy iangna^e begotten of dikes and fogs. WeaHe 
 poss.bly l,v the .luily arrival of half a qnire of myrenlon: 
 strances, or curious to see the machine by which these broad 
 
 c.al anned one day at the prison with an order from the 
 Lxovernor, pernnlting him to see tlie '' Cond'-." 
 
 I was, as usual, writing away, when the turnkey announced 
 
 his Excellency (every oilicial is Excellency if too low fo 
 
 Highness), Mynheer van Iloagendrius, and a very short and 
 
 rnmensely fat personage, dressed in a kind of 'black-and- 
 
 Mh.te pla.d jacket and trousers, entered. He looked like 
 
 sound'li? "/""■', 'f ^" ^^^"- ^ "^'""t, a snort, a thick 
 sound hke a struggle between choking and gurgling, ensued 
 winch I concluded to be something in Dutch, tnd'ie seated 
 hunself opposite me. 
 
 Fullth^'s? «o"'Pliments to him, polyglot-wise, in French, 
 
 Lnghsh, Spanish, and at last German, -the last evideutlC 
 
 triking a spark out of the embers of his cold intellioence 
 
 or he hxed his dull eyes upon me, and seemed as tho.;:^! he 
 
 would soon wake up. Animated by this hope, I proce deS 
 
 Foitunatel, for me, my German had been acquired in the 
 low companionship of "skippers" and sailors and conse- 
 
 HoTland tl^'' H '"''■'' T'"^^'^'^"^^ ^« ''' balf-brother of 
 Ho land than the more cultivated tongues of professors and 
 philosophers. 
 
 I cannot, to this hour, say whether it arose from any 
 nterest in the narrative, or whether proceeding from the 
 
 d m;;^ ' T:V\'r' ""' ^"^ ^^-^^'^ "' - ^"-^ion of much 
 d fl culty but the Mynheer now came to me each morning, 
 ad usually stayed two hours, during which I talked and he 
 s^noked incessantly. Often, when he left me, have I asked 
 
 Ef! h^'i ; 'T^;'"'' ^ ^'""'^ '^"^^ "^ his good opinion? 
 how far had I made him master of my case?" but the ques- 
 tion remained without an answer; for if occasionally a stray 
 flash of intelligence would light up his dull features, on fol- 
 lowing the direction of his eyes T could perceive that the 
 animation arose from the sight of some fishing-boat return- 
 
iAN. 
 
 flice to his Dutch 
 otiior tongue than 
 tl fogs. Wearied 
 ire of my reiiion- 
 vhich these broad 
 celerity, this ofli- 
 1 ordei- fioui the 
 
 iiiikcy announced 
 y if too hnv for 
 a very short and 
 id of blaclv-and- 
 He loolved lilie 
 a snort, a thick 
 gurgling, ensued, 
 ih, and he seated 
 
 wise, in French, 
 
 ae last evidently 
 
 3old intelligence, 
 
 led as though he 
 
 3pc, 1 proceeded 
 
 sorrows to him. 
 
 acquired in the 
 
 ors, and conse- 
 
 half-brother of 
 
 professors and 
 
 irose from any 
 eding from the 
 lestion of much 
 each morning, 
 I talked and he 
 e, have I asked 
 good opinion? 
 " but the ques- 
 sionally a stray 
 eatures, on fol- 
 rceive that the 
 ug-boat return- 
 
 CONSOLATIONS OF DIPLOMACY. 
 
 nroor' .. " '^ '-' '•'--'"'^•'-"othing to mark my 
 
 piogiess or say m what latitude I eruised ^ 
 
 My Dutch friend had now been visitiniv me for ubove siv 
 weeks, dm- no- vvhiol. if I,., i, , i , " '"^ ^*^' '"-'"^^e six 
 every detail of nv . •. ""^ "^'l'^*''^'* *'''"«^'l^' ^vith 
 
 wiTrj ?' ^' ^'alf amused, at the little act of dexterity 
 wihwhich he emptied the last remnant of my n.n-e Ilav n 
 nah into his pipe, and heard, with a kind of u a e us tlii " 
 
 ^^^t^Z'"" '''' ^'^ '^ ^-'^' ^^^y 
 
 refI^c\fons"buf:! f"' '^T f'""' '" '''' ^^'^""^^ '' ^^^ ^"^ch 
 renections, but at length he fixed his eyes upon me and in n 
 
 low, suffocating tone said, " Hast a file' » ' ^ 
 
 " No," said I. 
 
 tied nnT' ^^'"'" '^^^^ ''"' -^'■"^" "^^- ^ «m^" Parcel tiWitly 
 IrTe "'?!'■• , ;' ''"•"^'^'" • " '-^-^ ^^ "-ved'to.ardl the 
 
 As L e'el 1 ;; . T'''\ 'T "^>' '""'^'''^ ^<' thank him. 
 AS lie leached it, he turned about, and in a very sjonificant 
 voice said, -^ Der bood est hardt,"- a species of Phu:] u s h 
 I ^ight not have understood if unaccompanied by a ;"("' 
 wh ch iinphed that the ground was hard beneath n^ wi idov 
 as a caution to me in the event of a leap ' 
 
 No sooner was I alone than I opened my precious packet 
 which, besides two files, contained a small j.h al of aqu'fo -t ^ 
 and another of oil, -the latter a useful adjunct to'^r ye 
 the gratmg noise being heard. Having concealed the imple 
 nients ill a rat-hole, ] proceeded to examine the iron bars of 
 
 stiength were in reality coated with a rust of more than 
 half their actual thickness. This was a most inspiritin" 
 
 succels!"^' '" ''' ''"'' '"'''"'"''^^ '"' ''''^ «^"^^"'S '^•^l^^^ <^^ 
 
 , .f!/ T^"^ only work during the night, I affected illness as 
 a reason for keeping my bed during the day, when I sleot 
 profoundly and refreshiu-ly. ^ ^* 
 
 I ^1 
 ' -I 
 
 H 
 
 ;! ' <i 
 
 i.:j 
 
176 
 
 
 TlK' 
 
 my ciuise 
 
 gloom 
 
 CONFKSSIOXS OF CON CUEUAN. 
 
 i^t ^^a.s ju^t bi'oi„iiiiio- to i,mf..«- ,r, u.. .. . •'^ 
 
 in 
 
 and (1( 
 
 pivss me nitb a sense of 
 
 to 
 
 lespondency, when this new iuo-ident o^curm 
 a ly luy d.oopn.g eourage. Life had nou- an objec Id 
 that, if: not ahvavH enoiKrli f,w. I.,, • • ""'Ji^i-i, ana 
 
 to rouse th,..Z^,Z^'^ZhT"'"': '" """'"'"'" "' ''■"»' 
 
 mn: How I lon^i^u^", ' . f::';;;:;";'' '-7;"°^ ""■ 
 
 my labor' with wh-.f -o ■ , ';"^^'\^'*'"^' ^'^i^ J might resume 
 
 gnuloing the few seconds thns wasted t Vv h uh i T?" 
 
 I used to measnre the tissure whici I fi.-.t '^'^'«^* 
 
 f,... ,v -1 "''ijuii. >\uicu, at lirst o jiv deen piinndli 
 
 foi i.,y na,l, was „„vv mnkmn to cover tl,e 1 e . Tin' T 
 "se,l to conceal each „,or„i„g with breLl colore:! K *. 
 rusty powder that fell fr„,„ thetUiu .o that t! T ^'-""^ 
 everythiuit was in its usual order ' ''™"""=' 
 
 .■en";;!:™ ;';,';";?a„c:.''. t^' ""'■■■"" °' -^ ■■'« - '«'-h i 
 «onpcrha;j;'i't:\;„t™;,;:r;::;":r;:r;:,:r;.t:"''i 
 
 and twenty feet fro.n the /r^n'..; tl wl "tS: t.^:;- 
 
 least fift^ 
 
!st diplomacy in 
 witli 11 seiisG of 
 lent occum-cl to 
 iiii object; aiul 
 inicicnt at k'ast 
 It, i)roduce de- 
 I "light rcsiinic 
 I'Icod on diu-iiiir 
 ot the sentries 
 o\v, and even 
 h what delight 
 y deep enough 
 ' file! This I 
 olored by the 
 to all seeming, 
 
 fe in which I 
 in our condi- 
 thongiits. I 
 
 WW situated; 
 
 liains to daily 
 
 UK' settlement 
 Did he ever 
 
 ? And what 
 That, after 
 
 tiy thoughts ! 
 
 iraan to take 
 
 '■ inestimable 
 " or, in less 
 liddle bar of 
 free egress 
 I, with a low 
 3 about five- 
 dod beneath 
 !2 '-watch" 
 'ent and the 
 remained to 
 :>n from the 
 't least fifty 
 
 CONSOLATIONS OF DIPLOMACY. I77 
 
 choice stratagems which afterthou-ht alwiv. .hr. i 
 perfectly worthless. I bethou-hf m VI- '"'""^ ''''^''« 
 
 >vith the few gold pie es w eh 2u"u ""^ '^^ ^"'''•^' 
 fecurity had I that he u.ig ... t "i "uu" i T ''''' 
 betray me even after receiving L':;::,,:;^ ^^"^'"^^'^^"' ^ 
 
 g'-ound. It nu,st be •' a dro " -u , , '7^"'-.'">-'^^'l'' ^- the 
 I bo in were I to brenl • ' ' '''"'^ '' ''*"^^^'^» «'^*^"W 
 
 the etfort! Ah . I Iv^ ''•'''"r''' ''"'^'" '>• ^^"'<1« m 
 laborious poAi o ;,f "? ^'T'"'''^ '^'''' ^^'^''""^" ^''^' '""^^^ 
 
 diiiicuit stiir::ma;in>rdr ^^^^'^^'^^'^'^ ^^^<^ -o^t 
 ptttr:!:::;^.i;;:-:rrc:m:ert'^^ 
 
 I reached the ground i.r safetv f , ^' '""■'"^''' '^^'t^^'' 
 
 «l^oIter, passpo/t, o ant nf n/'o t di ""' "''""^ ''•'^"'^'' 
 whatever. *^ ^^ '^''="'''" ^'' concealment 
 
 I pondered long and carefnllv r.,-, *i 
 already had tw-o dantry we 1 L' ,''' '^'' ':^"««tion ; and 
 through the bar, and yeV'otr af I'm"" "'"' ' ''"' ^'"* 
 iibcration than when ^h^s^Mid i. I do^.rm;"^^^''-; ^^ 
 began to sink under the f..fio-,w. .^'"-'^^^^ "'^- My mnid 
 
 a".i .■> .i,o„,„y, «.oa;,t, :'f „: ,:r r::^ ™","'™"™- 
 
 "" "10. It l,a<I lieen a ,U,\- M ,, ,'" , ''*"<^'-.*' «'t"iwl gaming 
 
 Mi.nv,.., ,,y i,„,:™,: "■; ;a T'v ;•■• ""'' -"^'^ "' >"-'• 
 
 heavy, and char<'ed with fi,. 1 " • '"'" ^^''^^ '"*^*>'*^t and 
 
 of k.a„e„-c„.,„.o<l c.l„,„,, floa,:; To toT e sea"",,'?""™ 
 '■■-..Iccn into a sliort ansjiv " iol)l,„ •' 2 t „ "' "'"'^'' '™« 
 All betokened the .u,m-,v,n^ f , "'''' " "'•"■'"• 
 
 had the sun set, „°,en t ItZc^Z"''^'- ®™'"'"y 
 "Inch had Inlled f,„- a brief "p,o,;., ■'■"'' *' """'• 
 "P, and the sea fretted a, I el,' '"'?"'""' ■>»" "I'rang 
 
 that peenliar «ha,,, ,,1 ' ! ' tS'"'' '"' ^"''^^ -"■ 
 The clank of ehain cables , he 1, ''"""""" "™'^" 
 anehors, the lon.l shonts rf ti s. " ""M'""'' "' ""''"'« 
 meet the Ratherins stn.-n, .,.„„'"' ".'oy l"-<'l>ai'ed to 
 
 changmg position of the different lights of ,' bo 
 discern the movements of tu. .....L 3 ' "" . ^'^'^ ^^^3' 
 
 in the 
 I could 
 
 if T 
 
 ■ rfl 
 
 if 
 
 m 
 
 VOL. IT, 
 
 movement^? nf th^ ,. • ■> ^ couici 
 
 _oyments of the various vessels as they sought 
 
178 
 
 CONFKSSIOXS OF CON CKEUAN. 
 
 ^nili. 
 
 slu'lter or made ready for sea, in expectation of (|„. - ,.,i„. 
 Il.e .i,.,u.,u.trablo darkness, ti.e nmring wind, ll.. ihMl.in.r 
 
 of tlie l,-l,tH, tlie cries of the seamen, tlie liurryi <,f f,," 
 
 til-.n-. ti.e quays, and tlie sounds of different boiUs' erews 
 
 ;q'Hrtn,o ,u l.aste, - all j,M,ve a eharn, to a seene of whieh 
 
 he obscurity n.crease.l tl.e interest. A large French stean.er 
 
 Mas to have sailed that night for Marseilles; but I overheard 
 
 ^t voice tron. the street foretelling that the "Gazonne" 
 
 might leave without her i.assengers, - as no one would <ro on 
 
 H>a.-d of her on such a night." A red lantern at the"peak 
 
 ixl.catcd the vessel, and I could see that she had chan-red 
 
 her position and - taken up a berth " farther out in "the 
 
 I cannot tell by what instinct I selected her as a peculiar 
 object of my interest, but so it was. I watched her unceas- 
 ingly, and rarely took my eyes from the quarter where she 
 ay ; and when the heaving motion of the - red light " showed 
 that she was tossing in a heavy sea, I listened too with ea<rer- 
 ness to catch anything from those that passed beneath That 
 might concern this vessel, which now engrossed all mv 
 sympathy - Were I once but on board of her," thought I, 
 the Wildes hurricane that ever blew would be sweeter to 
 me than all the balmy airs that ever bore the od.M- of oran<re. 
 blossom through my barred window! " I would have braved 
 the stormiest seas, the maddest gale, shipwreck itself, rather 
 than longer remain the helpless, hopeless thino- a life of im- 
 prisonment was making of me. " Would that the alternative 
 were given me," said I to myself : "the free choice to chan-e 
 these lour walls for the deck over which the waves are 
 dancing in foamy sheets ! with what a thankful heart would 
 I take the offer ! " 
 
 The last visit of the turnkey, who came to see all safe 
 broke in for a moment upon these musings; and now the 
 double-locked door, and his retiring footsteps, told me that 
 no further molestation was to be feared, and that I was, at 
 least till daybreak, the undisturbed master of my own rev- 
 eries. I opened the window, pushed back the iron stanchion, 
 and wa ked out upon the terrace. It was a night of storm 
 and wild hurricane. The rain swept bv in .n-pat plashes 
 increasing the darkness, and mingling its hissing noise with 
 
.(■ II.,. <'<raU.." 
 ■, till' lliisliinjr 
 •I'.viii;; of feel 
 
 lioaU' oruwH 
 •one of which 
 ri'iK'h stt'iiiiior 
 It I ovorlunird 
 
 " (Jazonue" 
 ! would (TO on 
 II ill tiie penk 
 
 liiul chiingod 
 !!■ out in the 
 
 an a peculiar 
 1 luT uiiceas- 
 er where she 
 j^ht " showed 
 
 with eager- 
 beueath that 
 9sed all my 
 ," thought I, 
 e sweeter to 
 )r of orange- 
 lia,ve braved 
 itdelf, rather 
 a life of im- 
 e alternative 
 ce to change 
 3 waves are 
 lieart would 
 
 lee all safe, 
 nd now the 
 old me that 
 it I was, at 
 ly own rev- 
 
 1 stanchion, 
 lit of storm 
 !at plashes, 
 ; noise with 
 
 CO.NSULATIUNS OF DIl'LOMACY. ny 
 
 roc^'l'hedr'- "' ^r' '" '' '^'^^ f"--'y against the 
 
 ;:^Vh;:::;^•;:;;^l;;r;;;;^:r^itt;r'•f^ 
 -r;;;:.:;i;!d;:;:w;:;\- 
 
 ehuuierthJ::;:;ji;:inr;f;::j;;:^''-'''^-''^«^^^ 
 
 ^-plunade beneath tlc^^rtf r> ?''^^ "' ^''" 
 self disencun.horod fr , hiV t \ 'l''^ '"""''' •"^■■ 
 ou'irt.M- Tu.f I *'" *'* "it^^miption in anv 
 
 da;;,;,„ ,:,;■;,:' ;;i;;;;.'.';r •«"■■•"»■': -" p'-«i i...oZ 
 
 •Irop, hut after a whilo 1 ,7 v „ ", , ' """""' " '''''"'^ 
 
 more acc„8ton,,.,l t„ tl.o ,.|„„„ r '.' "' '">' '^'S'" Srew 
 
 objects, -amonToth,.,.."! ' '""™e iliiriTent 
 
 Pl^vce? how risk the almost c rt' Uv o l" "' '""' '"^ 
 
 sentry hiuiselfv Thw „.. ^^''^^^"".Y of recapture by the 
 
 inanded n u h cons ,- t ' ' '"?'''''''^^ ""''^'^^'y^ -^-^ ^^«- 
 other spot, r n iol t 'hn ; 7^ ^'''' "'^''^ ^ ^'^ '^^'l^-^t any 
 
 ever, a ,.4., ..c;;:;;r^:^s;:^^^^^^^^^ ^-^' - 
 S::^^5S5 Td^^" t,K>ught::;^e t;t, t.^ s 
 
 safest. By doscendn^g on the sentry-box, I should 
 
 :1 
 
180 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 at least reach the ground withoui injury; and if I were to 
 have a "tussle" for it with the guard, it would be without 
 the disadvantage of a previous damage. Besides this, the 
 incessant noise of the tempest, the crashing of li.e sea,-and 
 the deep booming of the thunder gave hopes that my descent 
 might be unheard. Nay, more, the sound of my heavy 
 body over his head would be rather an admonition to stay 
 quiet y within than risk himself outside, to the danoer of 
 tumbling tiles or masses of masonry from the parapet. The 
 more 1 reflected upon this, the clearer I saw that the storm 
 was a Heaven-sent accident forme; that the darkness, the 
 tumult, and the deserted streets were all accessories the 
 most favorable; that to neglect such an occasion of escape 
 would be downright madness. If I took some time to arrive 
 at this conclusion, 1 made up for the delay by the rapidity 
 ot my subsequent movements. I hastily returned to my 
 room ; and had I been bred a ropeinaker, my two sheets and 
 counterpane could not have been fashioned into a three- 
 stranded rope more handily; and, my sailor's experience 
 favoring, I adjusted the cord in a "timber hitch" round 
 one of the battlements, and well satisfied myself that I 
 might trust to the other extremity, - " Con Cregan and his 
 fortunes." 
 
 I then took a Imrried survey of my room, trimmed my 
 lamp that it might burn till morning, secured the three or 
 four papers of value which still remained to me, and then 
 issued forth to my enterprise. 
 
 A cannon-shot from the bay rung out as I again stepped 
 upon the terrace, and I accepted the augury as an omen of 
 welcome I will not deny that my hands trembled as I 
 examined, for the last time, the fastening of the cord ; nor 
 do I seek to conceal that as I buttoned my coat, the beatin<r 
 of my heart smote heavily against my fingers. I even hesi"^ 
 tated for an instant; and during that instant, brief as it 
 was I could have faced death itself rather than the uncer- 
 tainty before me The weakness passed quickly away, and, 
 wth a ,h,,t bu fervent prayer, I grasped the rop; and 
 slipped noiselessly over the parapet. 
 
 A sudden gust of wind swept past at the moment, and 
 bwung me out from the >vall as though I had been a thing 
 
5f. 
 
 id if I were to 
 uld be without 
 3sides this, the 
 3f llie sea, 'and 
 bat my descent 
 
 of my heavy 
 )nition to stay 
 the danger of 
 parapet. The 
 that the storm 
 
 darkness, the 
 accessories the 
 sioii of escape 
 
 time to arrive 
 y the rapidity 
 turned to my 
 ;wo sheets and 
 
 into a three- 
 r's experience 
 
 hitch" round 
 nyself that I 
 'regan and his 
 
 trimmed mj^ 
 
 the thi-ee or 
 
 me, and then 
 
 igain stepped 
 9 an omen of 
 -embled as I 
 the cord ; nor 
 ;, the boating 
 I even hesi- 
 t, brief as it 
 m the uncer- 
 y away, and, 
 ilie rope and 
 
 noment, and 
 been a thing 
 
 COXSOI^TIONS OF DII'LOMacv. Igj 
 
 here aud throwu 4ere witli vi , ,"""'"' "''°'"' '"^^^l 
 
 -■-y joint iu ,uy S:"''-;; *'r """ '""'"^' """x^"'"! 
 
 rity, ami not without oiTsof ' '"" "''-'""'''' '"'■ "V «■'-■"■ 
 
 -pa.M .ro,.e, , ean. .Kn; 'r;- :aStX 
 
 The force of my fall, added to the previous bln^v n • , 
 the sentry-box, and I oamo t,. ti, . I^^-y'^^s Wow, capsized 
 
 ^tate Of iigl,t't„It ™ „ tl it "rr' "'T= "'"' "' i" " 
 withont alii, Merino- ir if , ,7 "'"' ' '■•■"'""' 'W""! 
 
 almost HfeielfSn . ™ "T':' '?;, ""^ tWI,.b,„i«e,, and 
 
 ;i 
 
182 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 
 was it till after the lapse of several minutes that T perceived 
 that the soldier was in a trap, the weighty sontry-box had 
 fallen over on the front, and effectually debarred him from 
 any chance of self-extrication. 
 
 I stooped over to listen, but all was still; he never spoke 
 a word, — probably stunned by the shock, or he might have 
 fainted from terror. Whatever the cau.se, neither my human- 
 ity nor my curiosity cared to explore further, but, ilsing to 
 my feet, and ascertaining, to my inexpressible delight, tliiit I 
 was uninjured, I set off at full speed toward the shore. The 
 sea suggested escape, and thither I bent my way, without 
 thinking more on the matter. 
 
 I could see, from the hurried movement of lights along the 
 pier, that boats were rapidly leaving for the various ships in 
 the harbor. To get on board any of these, no matter what, 
 or whither bound, Avas all my object, — a Tunis pirate or a 
 JMalay prow would have been a happy exchange for the 
 black prison at Malaga. 
 
 I had almost run myself out of breath, when I came up 
 with a knot of some dozen peo])lo who were hastening on- 
 ward as fast as they could. Two heavily laden barrows 
 with luggage, and a multitude of cloaks, shawls, anil mantles, 
 pronounced (hem to be travellers ; and I soon collected, from 
 the expressions dropped by the boatmen, that they were 
 about to embark in the French steamer for Leghorn. Min- 
 gling with the group, which the darkness freely permitted, I 
 heard a voice say, in ICnglish, something about the weather ; 
 and now, listening more attentively, I picked up that they 
 were an English family hurrying to Pisa to see a son whose 
 failing health gave them no time for delay. I gathered, too, 
 that the packet, which should not have started till the next 
 day, was now leaving suddenly; the captain having sent a 
 message to say that he had determined to put to sea rather 
 than ride out the gale so near shore. 
 
 The travellers were mingling their complaints at this 
 peremptory summons, with others over the absence of their 
 courier, who had got leave to see some of his friends about 
 a league away, and must now inevitably be left behind. In 
 the course of their lamentings, I could learn that they had 
 only engaged the man the evening before at the recommen- 
 
 " s mvji."! ' ,:'.. -^ 
 
CONSOLATIONS OF DIPLOMACY. 
 
 r perceived 
 ry-box bad 
 d biin from 
 
 lever spoke 
 might luive 
 my liuman- 
 t, rising to 
 iglit, tliat I 
 bore. Tbe 
 ly, without 
 
 s along the 
 113 ships in 
 atter wbat, 
 pu'utc or a 
 ;e for tbe 
 
 1 came up 
 teuing on- 
 u barrows 
 d mantles, 
 cted, from 
 they were 
 )rn. Min- 
 n-mitted, I 
 
 2 weather ; 
 that they 
 
 son whose 
 lered, too, 
 1 the next 
 ing sent a 
 sea rather 
 
 :s at this 
 !e of their 
 nds about 
 hind. In 
 they bad 
 ecommen- 
 
 
 l83 
 -Me :; I^lt:"""""' -^ "«• --01, seen hto above a 
 
 ^^^^ tiiem on, m tbe hope that he n.ight yet come 
 
 be^lJfwe^Ur'lI;:!^?'/"' '^^""^ "^^^^" '' ^«'" be here 
 "No .m" • 1 V""" ™''" ^^^ the party. 
 
 My '""^■°'"°"'"'»-™-"?" asked anelcIcH, 
 
 flJ s'plt'r"' '' '''^ °'""""' '"-"°'™" -'■">"S." »a the 
 u';\^'' ,"' i" ;"'"" '""S""?" <li<l you speak? " 
 
 them >lesee,Kl the »t2s to t"e b" at 'n' "'''''' '"."'" 
 to shove off was ^ivon T uT \ / ' •^"'"^ ^^" *'^« ^^^d 
 
 1 
 
 I ill 
 
184 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 known t n H ^'"' *" T ''^"' "^^ ''''^'' '^'^^ ^^C^-^o 
 
 known, - that the garrison of the fortress was on the ale-t 
 
 to recapture ine. Although fully a mile from lan.l, and row 
 ing with all the vigor of twelve stout sailors to.-arcis a ve - 
 sel whose steam was already whizzing through tlu, escape 
 funnel, my heart almost sunk within mo from yovy fear ami 
 rather thar. ue retaken I would have jumped hi the'bd' 
 ing tide that swelled and broke around me 
 
 The sailors more than once relaxed their efforts to watch 
 what was going forward on shore ; and how fervently did 
 I, m SI ence curse their curiosity ! Externally, however 
 I maintained my calm demeanor, and even ventured to 
 conjecture that a fire must have broken out in the fortress 
 such was the commotion and excitement discernible in thai 
 
 Jo,^Tl\'T""Y f'' possibility of its being some pris- 
 onci that had made his escape, -a notion which I took 
 occ xsion to ridicule, by averring that the Carcel was reputed 
 to he he strongest prison in Spain, and an instance of eva- 
 sion altogether unknown. 
 
 Thus chatting, we reached the steamer. To my intense 
 delight, the anchor was already weighed; and scarcely had 
 we mounted the ladder than she broached round, head to 
 sea, and clove through the water like a fish. 
 
 Every plunge of the great ship shook the strong timbers 
 and made her huge framework tremble, sending a thrill of 
 pleasure through me. AVith each mountain wave that rolled 
 past, I saw my chance of safety increase, and knew that no 
 boat — manned by Spaniards, at least — would dare pursuit 
 m such a storm. I had abundant leisure for these rejec- 
 tions, since my "masters" had only time to get on board 
 when they retired to their berths, overcome liy sea-sickness, 
 so that I was at full liberty to indulge my own thou"-h*s' 
 and dispose of myself without the slightest inte.ruplion. 
 From a smart little French maid I learned that the family 
 was called Grimes; that they had recentlv come from 
 England by way of Gibraltar, where one of the sons, - ow 
 with them, was quartered with his regiment; that the party 
 consisted of a widow Indy with three dan^hter.s and two 
 sous, a third being the invalid at Pisa. They were rich, 
 
Iiad become 
 on the alert 
 1(1, and vow- 
 vaiils a ves- 
 the escape 
 y fear ; and 
 to the boil- 
 
 ts to watch 
 rvently did 
 , however, 
 entured to 
 le fortress, 
 ible in that 
 
 some pris- 
 ich I took 
 xs repnted 
 ice of eva- 
 
 ny intense 
 arcely had 
 I, head to 
 
 g timbers 
 a thrill of 
 :hat rolled 
 w that no 
 re pursuit 
 ise rellec- 
 on board 
 -sickness, 
 thought, 
 irruption, 
 le family 
 me from 
 ions, "ow 
 the party 
 and two 
 ere rich, 
 
 
 CONSOLATIONS OF DIPLOMACY. 185 
 
 good sort of folks, very ignorant of the Continent, very 
 credulous, and altogether a satisfactory kind of connection 
 {ov a cmimng ln-enohfenime<le.c/nnubre and a roguish cou- 
 rier to fall m with. This latter fact Mademoiselle Viroinie 
 insisted upon with no small ,U'gree of self-gratulation, <nVin<r 
 n.e to understand that we n.ight have a very thriving career 
 as fellow-laborers in the same vineyard 
 
 ller sketches of English life, nuinn.rs, nn,i prejudices were 
 1 ot a httle annising, while tlie rulrs slu. h.i.l down for the 
 due management and control of her ihusUms were a perfect 
 chapter in domestic machiavelism. There had oner been 
 a time when I would have enlisted willingly und^-r such a 
 banner, -glad to reach the upper story of life, even by such 
 a back stair ; but now that 1 had tasted the glori(K.s suprem- 
 acy of command myself, that I had revelled in the mastery 
 of a great household, that I had rolled along in n.y own 
 chariot, clothed in fine linen and faring sumptuously every 
 day, I fe t my return to a menial situation a degradation 
 unendurable. I determined that, once in Italy, ^I would 
 S'of'it" ^^' ^^"■''^'^''''' ""^ '"''' Bervitude, come what 
 By long dwelling on the theme, I had contrived to impress 
 myself with the most profound conviction that I was a much- 
 lujured individual, that my case, if not suliicient for a war 
 with 8pani, was a fair ground for a parliamentary " llare-un " 
 angry diplomatic notes, and Heaven knows what threats of 
 our outraged Foreign Ollice. That a man with such a Wo- 
 nous grievance should sink down into a courier, to wranole 
 with landlords, bully waiters, and llirt with the " maid 'in 
 the rumble," was not to be thou-ht of. I f(>li, Mvxt I was 
 sworn at Highgate, and destined for the inside of tuj travel- 
 ling-carnage, and not the " out." 
 
 Scarcely were we arrived at Leghorn, and installed at the 
 ban Marco, than 1 began to prepare for my emancipation, 
 — a bold step, considering that all the available resources I 
 possessed was a ruby ring set round with brilliants, which 
 I had concealed in my cap along with my papers. I was 
 admonished to lose no time in my departure, by romarkin- 
 that another pacKet from Malaga wns expected within a 
 week, which probably would convey the rightful courier, iu 
 
 ' Ji 
 
 ' ("il 
 
 -m 
 
 M 
 
 'if 
 
 
 ill 
 
186 
 
 CCWFESSIOXS OF COX CREGAN. 
 
 ly 
 
 I 
 
 A^-^-i , / lougei lu a capacity even a« ImmKi.. 
 
 With such peon e as the Grimp^'^ ti „ . • ""mWe. 
 
 and his rule despotic I^omf I,!' '""'''^/•.^^•'^^ «"Preme, 
 to dine, to what hey vere to eat how't "' ''^^ ""'^ 
 the day, what to set, a^^ th^ ^atll -^wl^ Jir r/ •' 
 dictation; while from the landlord da peTfrt t^l? ^'^ 
 civilities that plainly showed who ,v^ttL}\ """^ ""^ 
 
 w^m adulatii. was^due. U :y:ZZ^^,:::^ ^T'^'S^ 
 
 cmaute, / luxuriated on Chateau La Rose n,- Pi o 
 bertin. For «,^ table were reserved the ovsfers of V "" 
 the fresh "sardines" of Goroona thtdpn! . ) ''"^' 
 
 Pistoja, the delicious l^eeZf7 ^ 'vttA:::^:^ 
 Piscia was ransacked for my dessert till >«,',. '^^ 
 
 pervaded everything I did or imagined. "^^^l^^^^^^^^^^ty 
 
 very flattering to my vanity to see tl,o'dire°s »:"•„„' "' 
 m„at created, tbey evidently felt like a erew abont to be 
 
^ no means de- 
 11 Pure. 
 
 I did not weigh 
 y of my situu- 
 it bave induced 
 LMi as iiunible. 
 was supreme, 
 ieb they were 
 were to spend 
 ''ere all at his 
 ■feet volley of 
 ■ personage to 
 ou a lickeu, 
 :?es over their 
 )se or Cham- 
 I's of Venice, 
 te mutton of 
 I'Arno, while 
 V myself sur- 
 ys I scarcely 
 
 mode ot life 
 esponslbility 
 
 which besets 
 Igence. He 
 >r of Russia 
 ows how to 
 intrigue for 
 He is per- 
 il, — nay, he 
 is own per- 
 te all these 
 cape. The 
 light arrive 
 
 y housed at 
 
 n. It was 
 
 annonncc- 
 
 bout to be 
 
 CONSOLATIONS OF DIPLOMACY. 
 
 1 n-» 
 
 repenw of my ^Zl:eV I'Z^T]'"' ' """"■^' 
 ca«.o,ied, the full „H.a,„,.e of wlX 7 1^ "T^- " "'- 
 witness, since -f,.o,nmvsii„„L„"' admitted to 
 
 tUey disenssed the quesTiJ;? Ll^" r'"" '" ■="«"»"- 
 
 " Does he sav he 's di^^ilr . y " '"^ I'iracnco. 
 the old huly. ^ '•'^''tolled wth his situation ? " asked 
 
 roiMiedi'dfiSte'.'" '"''' °"' "'"' ^" ">-'«. Mamma," 
 otal^dlhe "Zt:™."'"^* '"'"^'^^ '«■■ W="l.e,. wages," 
 relAed''th'e"!:Snd'*„'"°P'^ "' ^'-»'«- -nseqnenee," 
 
 FirbettL';ti';:do"°'' "* '"'°^' ^--.- "-p-ks 
 to the:sSr,;;'tte-wotor,r''''«' ^^ ^ -"p"™-' 
 
 and, after a brief delay the tad 7 T "' '"'' ''™«'«' «". 
 appearanee. To avoiZ'ny eSforof": "r'^""" '"""^ "'^ 
 went forward, I stood in mHenr"^ ''""'''''S"''"' 
 
 my head in thL dire?ta wC t" e femT' ""' """ """'"8 
 aronnd the " Dragoman " '^ "''='''' """^ 8™»Ped 
 
 eaglj;- "V;rat°wir XSri^n f °'f -^^ 
 and if it be an- increase — » ^^'^^^^^^ satisfied with him ; 
 
 in ;?::,^ 'ii r siveraS "'* -"^ --"'.'• --oke 
 
 the line." ^' "'"""'y "">'•« 'llan a captain in 
 
 ca;Ld"g:f"t,roed''ti'oth:" "^ ^ •""»" *° ^p-^ »* 
 
 daitghto- "' ""'" "^"-^Santly paid," said the elder 
 nnmb''«.\:r""'" ^'™ "'^™*- -"" «-." observed 
 
 abi;""broieTn nS,rthi''"w::';"'TH°^ '^'^''-^ -'»>- 
 
 me throns^h her eye^Ls "*'"' """"^ »'="»'"g 
 
 t.-ori:^;^,^r„^'tit:rm:t 'r '"-™- 
 
 -m adjoining the saioon. I o^e'edTrr::;; LdTh!! 
 
 Ill 
 
 ' ,t ?1 
 
 Pll 
 
 
188 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CHK(iAN. 
 
 dooi^ closed upon uh tha.i I gtarted, and broke out into au 
 mvonnuury exehunnlion of surpriso. The individual b f< o 
 me was no other than n.y first friend, the kin.l youth o 
 had taken me by the hand at the very outset of my earee 
 the student of Trinity, Dublin, nan.ed Lyndsay. ^ ' 
 
 As I perceived that he did not recooni;^e n.e I had fbno 
 enough to observe l„-n. well, and n.aH< the ^an'rl id 
 more than twelve years had wrought upon hin.. "tW 
 stdl young, anx.ety and niental exertion had worn him inio 
 premature ag.^ His eye was .lulled, his cheeks pale d 
 sunken, and in his n.anner there was that tln.id Is a 
 hat stood abashed in the presence of n,y own cool ellvontery 
 I could see easily that the man of thought and reHection whs 
 succumbing before the man of action and of the wo,^ and 
 I was selfish enough to revel in the triumph. ' 
 
 In a low, diirklent voice he proceeded to ask me if there 
 was anythmg in the nature of my situation that indu e I me 
 to qu.t a service where I had given the fullest satisfactul! 
 
 anda'ce^' in^ '''' '"'^ "''"'' ^^ "^^ '^'"^ ^^^^^^ n.oustache, 
 convev hn '""^'ff'''' ^^^^^^''^ «f ^he shoulders, meant to 
 convey that my objections were of a nature that did not 
 admit exactly of discussion, -rather questions of 1 cate 
 personal feeling than of actual difllcultv Hinted tin I ir.d 
 
 sXkiriti 'T '^^" ^ '-^^^ ^^^^^^f!^^:! 
 
 Mat I should be likely to injure myself,— of ile<re,iemtino 
 into an easy and familiar manner, 4 as^oeiating w h tta! 
 so nearly of my own level. 
 
 I saw the blood mantle in the pale cheek of the student as 
 he listened to this impertinence, and thought th^t I co.ild 
 mark the struggle that was passina within him win 
 calm collected tone, he said^hat Ih^le 1 rquls'ts^on' 
 which he could not give any opinion, and thatT Id" 'irecl 
 
 teou^';,!iS:;!::./^ ltd^\f,:;;:-^ ^ '-^ cour. 
 
 qu^^c^ic^sof aVerso,: •;your'Stion:;^l^^^ ''' ''' 
 I think, replied I, - that I appreciate the meanincr of 
 your question You would ask by wliat right a man humbly 
 born, educated to mere menial duties, can a«pire to the no 
 tion and the nnv n ^n.,,.,-... ^i...-™„ t „ '^ ^^ ^"^ P'^^' 
 
 _ pay a courier claims. I am »,„„ 
 
 lo begin, then : He must be familiar with the 
 
 Avilling to tell you. 
 geography of 
 
)ke out into tin 
 
 dividual before 
 
 :iM(l youtli nlio 
 
 of my career, 
 
 lie, I had time 
 oliaiiire whicli 
 him. Tliough 
 worn him into 
 eeks pale and 
 mid hesitation 
 ^ool effrontery, 
 reflection was 
 the world, and 
 
 k me if there 
 It induced me 
 iatis fact ion. 
 !k moustache, 
 ei's, meant to 
 that did not 
 18 of delicate 
 ed that I had 
 !s, and feared 
 degenerating 
 ig with those 
 
 le student as 
 that I could 
 I, while, in a 
 f]|uestions on 
 
 if I desired 
 ' be offered, 
 a most cour- 
 i^hat are the 
 e?" 
 
 meaning of 
 man humbly 
 
 to the posi- 
 
 to tell you. 
 eography of 
 
 COXSOLATIOXS OF DlVLnMACY. 
 
 Kui 
 
 180 
 
 •o 
 
 'P«% — 1 speak hereof (1 
 
 must kn :)\v (he bound 
 
 he 
 
 the customs, tl 
 «mall(>,si 
 of a Cz; 
 and 
 
 le 
 ii'ies 
 >o privileges of 
 
 "H>rely Continental com 
 I'lt' high roads, tli 
 
 ler. 
 
 11' couiaiie 
 
 l>'"'^''!>:ility of (Jerniany tod 
 
 '"Vory petty Stale, f,-,,,,, ,| 
 
 n»--i 
 
 le 
 
 11 
 
 must know the I 
 
 patoi 
 
 gnuiiinariatts know tlieni I 
 
 le givalcst, S()verei<r(ity 
 i"/?'>'i.i;»'.S not, as Hchoiiirs 
 
 It i 
 
 in which Dant 
 
 s not enough thai, he has I 
 " wrote, or IMetaslasio su 
 
 "" '■" •'" <l""'i- dialects and 
 
 earned the loM<'iie 
 h 
 
 Venetian an.l MilHnoso N, ■ > n ",'""' '"" '""■^^ '^l'''^''^ 
 
 Bl.oul.lk.iowthe wr .. ^. '■' *""' '''■^'''""'"(ose. M, 
 
 f'-oin the frontier Vl^,^t T'' ^'■'^•'"'•" ''' '''•-"''' 
 and Auvergne. He nus 1 " ^:;!'"-"'"vV'^ of IVoveuce 
 
 I^u-Pe as Though .::,;■ ;:^ :,;:"-• -','• -ery city or 
 the galleries, thdr umm uu its ur''" T'"' "'' ''""•^'''^"•^' 
 know the <lelicacies of Z tul ., " ""'''■'' "*' ""-^ 
 
 :i.'-fonhe palate of, he t^::r^7;2;::;;r'*^^^ 
 
 in wme, pictures, china, cu sine stal nv '"^ '\^"""""««''"'- 
 
 ancient furniture man.., i ' , *'*"'^'>' •'"^^''avmgs, armor, 
 
 •Bohennan glass ^urH^:^'''''^^;''-''' <"•' ''-ma, anci 
 
 Tit..n; tolllustku a 'Xo 17] "" •"'"^''^^^' ""'- ^^ 
 l^uUy a pref..ct, n.ake an o lic^t '' <"'«t',u.-house, to 
 
 with a iunning k vli' -e ^ i^^ ''"?■ '"r"''^"- '^"''^««' 
 Code Napoleo.;^ and ^^ e sk U T^T ''" "" "'« 
 of surgery, _ these ar(> .. """'"" "IHM-ations 
 
 qnalifications.'-' ' '"^ ''^""""^••>' ''^ ^ eou.^ier's 
 
 craft; but as I am stilF ; ;\'' f :;: 'T''"-'"'^ '" ''' 
 eminence." "^ "' ^ '' '"'' ^^"^P'^"' of future 
 
 hand! '"'^' ' '"P ^•"^' --^ J--^ his head upon his 
 
 at^t:;;ha^r!:;ir;i s^ r r'^^-^- ^^^^ -'^'^ -< 
 
 with that of vour In ^'ontrastmg the catalogue 
 
 yourself, to l?::;'LT".;'::'""'^'"!-.^^«' --^-^ P--'.apH ask?n. 
 
 11 fl 
 
 midnight toil of Sf^holarsi 
 
 lin? 
 
 ing brow and fevered 
 
 JVhy have I labored hard, with ach 
 
 nagments, the crumbs that fall from the table 
 
 P^i 
 
190 
 
 CONFESSrOXS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 Of real know cage, -can secure a b^^tter livelihood and more 
 rea KKlependenee t an n^ysclf ; and the reason is, mine a 
 maikotaule wares tl.at (iM<l purchasers in every class, and 
 an,ong every o.,ada.ion of society. ^ My lo,d' nnust have 
 IHH courier; so nu.s, the rich cotton-spiuuer or the barri 't > 
 on h.s weddn.g-tour. The weal-hy dowager, the bloo i . 
 vdow, the ex-nnnister travelling for ' distraction,' the yo iT 
 l.en- journeynig tor dissipntion, the prelate, the bankeV e 
 nnned cU,ke, the newly enriched nnll-owner, _ all, how 
 over d.ftern.g ui other points, agree in this one want, ami 
 nn.st have one who will think for then: and speak To the 
 bargan. and bully for then, assert then- rank and in i ortan e 
 whenever they appear ; so that of the obstacles of tCC ts 
 Whcu ties and contrarieties, they shoul.^ know as little a 
 though heir road lay between London and Croydon.'' 
 
 htill, it is a puzzle to n.e," sighed.the young man, " how 
 these peoi>le achieve the attaiiiments von speak of. Even a 
 
 r ^lil^^tud^' ' '""^^^^^^ '-''' --^ ^° -^»^- both 
 "They have but a smattering," said I ; " yet it is -ained 
 exactly H. the ve.-y school whc-e such sn.all proficienc;™ 
 farthest, -' the woi-ld,'_ and which you will one day "dis- 
 cover has Its sou.-cesof knowledge, its tests of ability, ay, and 
 
 Cambi'idge. Iheie is this advaiitage, too, sir, over the uni- 
 versity, - the t.ack in which you a,-e to ti-avel is marked out 
 tor you; you must not sti-ay to tiie right or to the left — 
 while in ' the woi-ld ' the field of dii-ection is wide, open, and 
 expanded ; there 's a path for every one, if they '11 only look 
 
 He started as i said these words ; and as his cheeks 
 flushed up, he said, "I remember once upon a time hearin- 
 those very words from a poor friendless boy in my own 
 counti-y. He was setting out, as he said, to seek liis fortune, 
 ano his whole stock in life was the hope inspired bv that 
 sentiment." J " 
 
 " And what became of him ? " 
 
 "I never could learn. He disappeared suddenly; and 
 Whether he enlisted into some i-egiment abroad, or died at 
 Home, I never ascertained." 
 
 " Then I can tell you, sir, — he now stands before you, 
 
ill 
 
 hood and tnoro 
 >n is, miiio aro 
 cry class, and 
 I'd' must have 
 )!• tho barrister 
 
 the blooiniiii!; 
 on,' the young 
 le banker, the 
 , — all, how- 
 mc want, and 
 )eak. for them, 
 nd importance 
 3 of travel, it3 
 vr as little as 
 Croydon." 
 g man, " how 
 ; of. p:ven a 
 
 require both 
 
 it it is gained- 
 >ficiency goes 
 one day dis- 
 )ility, ay, and 
 ^ Oxford and 
 over the uni- 
 9 marked out 
 ) the left, — 
 le, open, and 
 '11 only look 
 
 his cheeks 
 
 time hearing 
 
 in my own 
 
 his fortune, 
 
 ired by that 
 
 denly; and 
 1 or (lied at 
 
 before yon, 
 
 CONSOLATIONS OF DIPLOMACY. 
 
 lei 
 
 
 the same whom once you bo kindly succored ! tho housrless, 
 ncndless chi d whom you protected and sheltered. 1 an 
 Con Cregan." 
 
 It would be diJficult to describe the ])ewilderment of poor 
 
 Lyndsay as I said this; he sat down, dosed his eyes, opined 
 
 hem agam, rubbed then., stared at nu-, tried to sp.'ak, and 
 
 at last, nsmg up, grasped my hand warn.ly, and cried, 
 
 men, of course, you remember >/>>/ name''"' 
 
 ate'ly' ''''"^'^ "'''"' ^"*"="' '^' ^^''' ^>'"^'«^^>''" '^^^^ ^ ^^'fection- 
 
 Thisi was enough, and he now shook me by both hands 
 with all the wari.Uh of old friendship. 
 
 As he was madly eager to learn the story of my life, and 
 as wa. bent on n.y departure by the morning n.ail foj 
 Genoa, we agreed to meet at an hour when the h(,usehoId had 
 hH . ' njeanwhile, he was to charge himself with 
 the office of making an explanation to the family, and 
 mform.ng them that matters of urgency required my p.^^ence 
 at Pans without delay. This agree.l upon, we sepaited. 
 
 Ihe entire night we passed in talking, for he insisted upon 
 hearing my adventures from the very hour we had parted 
 company m Dublin, down to t!ie nioment we w reXm 
 seated together. It was evident, at times, from the one 
 o questioning, that he accepted several of my tate.nrts 
 at least as doubtful; but gradually, as he diLovered my 
 acquaintance with various languages, the knowled-e I pos^ 
 sessed of different remote countries, their habhs and natu a1 
 productions, this incredulity gave way ; and when fi a Iv I 
 procluced the letters of the Ilavanna'h Inuike wi h 'Ihe 
 receipts for my instalments, he showed tliat ever; sha e ? 
 hesitation had vanished, and that he no longer e/tertain d a 
 doubt of my veracity. 
 
 su^ect' to ,.^v"n ""^ .''^'^'f'^S drew nigh, he turned the 
 assued hirrr '"^'^^:<l>ate requirements; and although I 
 assmed hmi that my ring, which I had already disposed 
 of, was sufficient for all immediate wants, he insisted upon 
 my accepting a loan of one hundred dolhrs, to be epakl 
 as he himself said, " when I resumed mv coun^hip." T h e e 
 jere his parting words as I ascended to the roof of the 
 
 m 
 
?Mm 
 
 "A NEW WALK IN J'IKXJKKSSI VE LIFE." 
 
 tho details!;';;^ Z^^'zzz:^;:'' '^^^'^-^^ -^^^^ 
 
 with any of thoi plea a"? ^!Z' I ^?<l»^^>"tance 
 whin./eap.ees, Ja ^ni:; t^^^i^^'X To^ 
 The eominxny of a diligcMK-. is a lit.l.Nvorl i nail it 
 feaU.es of^ne fishness, apathy, trustfulness, cred:Ht^^^ 
 unDelief. It has its mock huiiiiiities anrl absiirrl uvmL 
 
 i":"»,;Kii,i?r •■•■'■S's.ss: 
 
 wbt"e"veran- tT 7'""" "' '"'"■'''• """ SloriouB capital, 
 -"^ i-'^^^' ^ ^Hinged uloug towards the 
 
^E LIFE." 
 
 )atience with 
 icquaiiitance 
 aions whose 
 fl the road. 
 I ill all its 
 3dulity, and 
 pretensions 
 life exhibits 
 >e('iinens of 
 iv'S Koyales, 
 ' court, we 
 e who were 
 -hearted at 
 
 >U8 capital, 
 and where, 
 every side, 
 liilly thinks 
 id him. I 
 ' my heart 
 in which I 
 and with 
 'Wards the 
 
 "A N12W WALK IN J-UCGHESSIVE LIFE." 193 
 
 After some littlo (Icl-iv ..., i i- , 
 partorabulkyportJt^. ; ;,;:^;f\-f'''f-.outhe 
 
 room whore a nun.her of lu-ople chie.ivV '•"'"""^"^' '" ^ 
 ''"'^'■^ ^'« I'laee," were assln 1 d t ' o :'.'''''':-^ '^'''' '' J^'^" 
 P^H^portH, and who were sun o I... r ^'''. "'"'''^^^•''■^''^ '"• 
 enter aninnerchu.nber when ;'"'" '""" ♦" ^'"""^ to 
 
 «t length, and, with a L . t -d .I . ' ,?"• ^'^'^ ^"'•" ^"'^">« 
 I entercMl. I'ta.t almost swdlinjr to snllocation, 
 
 "For Kngltmd, I ,sn|)|)„so " H-ii<i ., „ni 
 with blaek n.oustaelu>s not ;,oH '. ' •''*""' f^^^-H^^man, 
 
 he sat readino. his ^'l^iliZ^^:^''^ "'' *'••"" ^''^' ^nble, where 
 
 a ehi^; t;;;;;!:;^,;: s;:i!;::i;r ^^^^- / - ^-- to make 
 
 njent and spoliation '' ^^>vernment for false in.prison- 
 
 of.aeeents, said,^^Be ^oj^:^'^ ' '';• '" ^« "lost silvery 
 
 to repeat what you have 
 
 of accents, said, 
 said." 
 
 have heard „f „,y na,„e, _(.,:„'"l; ::;■.?""' "'">■ l'"-ibly 
 
 -lae youth spran<>- m) Cnm k; . '"• 
 another'room, Ihe fee \ co ' ''T''\ ""'' '"^^^^"^^^ ''"to 
 
 immediately procee.lh'. ^'''' ^'^"^^ ^^'^'"^« ^^ laughter 
 
 ";'^;'":;rrft:;tii:,fr/''i---'- voice; 
 
 rid of him at once. He '1 be a b;;' "' '''"" *" ^^^ 
 
 week, if you oive him the sb .ht. t "' ''''''^' ^^''^^ ^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 ;;B.nsth.. really tt:;;;;:irL^rp^^---'' 
 
 " S p.;' 7;"'"'"' '^ '^ ' ^''^-""»ht impostor " 
 
 handle orh.^%t;'^' ^^^Z^^ ^^T^^- -king a 
 whole thing was a truu,)edM p c .aU 1 7' '""" '''' '^' 
 SO on smoothly with the Ma rid Po! '' ""' '^'^'^"^ *« 
 
 absurd to .ii«;„..i) o- ^ ^^-overnment, it would bp 
 
 like this.'' " '"^^^^""^ '^' t^e sake of a fellow 
 
 VOL. 11.^13 
 
 
194 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 (( 
 
 some- 
 
 "Oh, that's it," said the attache^ catching a faint glim- 
 mering of the secret machinery of diplomacy. 
 
 " To be sure," added the other; " if we wanted a griev- 
 ance, that man's would do as well as another; but there is 
 no need to hold hijn over, we can always catch the Spaniards 
 tripping when we want it. My advice is, therefore, get rid 
 of him. Say that he must embody his statement in the form 
 of a ra. morial, supported by whatever he can adduce in the 
 way of evidence; that a personal interview can lead to 
 nothing; and, in fact, dismiss him in the usual way." 
 
 And with these lucid instructions, — given in a tone fai- 
 too loud to be diplomatic, — the attache returned to the room 
 where I waited. 
 
 "You'll have to reduce this to writing, Count Cregan," 
 said he, standing with his back to the fire, and assuming an 
 air that he fancied was quite that of a Talleyrand, - 
 thing in the form of a memorial, you understand." 
 
 " I have already done so, unsuccessfully," said I, 
 shortly. 
 
 "Ah, wasn't aware," sighed the young gentleman, stro- 
 king his moustache. 
 
 "The Secretary of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the 
 receipt of my statement, and at one time held out some hope 
 of redress." 
 
 " Ah, indeed ! " echoed the other. 
 
 "The state of our relations with Spain, however," added 
 I, "not requiring a grievance just then, my case was 
 naturally shelved." 
 
 He started, bit his lip, and evinced unmistakable signs of 
 being ill at ease. " In fact," resumed T, growing w^armer 
 as I proceeded, " no further notice was taken of me than 
 what barely sufficed to take my case out of the hands of 
 Opposition members. I was assumed to be an impostor, 
 because the moment was not favorable to l^cliove me honest. 
 Good diplomacy, perhaps, but rather lax morality. Now, 
 sir, I have lost m,y cause, — that is quite evident ; let us see 
 if you have gained yonrfi. The press is the great vindicator 
 of individual wrongs, and I '11 make its columns the arena in 
 which this struggle shall be decided." 
 
 "Be good enough to wait one instant, — take a seat. 
 
I faint glim- 
 
 nted a griev- 
 but there is 
 lie Spaniards 
 !fore, get rid 
 t ill the form 
 dduce in the 
 
 can lead to 
 way." 
 n a tone fai* 
 
 to the room 
 
 nt Cregan," 
 assuming an 
 I, — " some- 
 
 '," said I, 
 
 leman, stro- 
 
 <^ledged the 
 t some hope 
 
 ver," added 
 y ease was 
 
 ble signs of 
 ing warmer 
 of me than 
 le hands of 
 n impostor, 
 me honest, 
 lity. Now, 
 ; let us see 
 t vindicator 
 the arena in 
 
 ike a seat, 
 
 "A NEW WALK IN PROGRESSIVE LIFE." 195 
 
 Count," observed the young gentleman, in his very politest 
 
 mo e 'rr ; '' 'r'''' '''''''' '^'^ the inner room once 
 moie. This tune the conversation was so low that noJa 
 whisper reached me. After a few seconds he rl-ente ed 
 "lour case will be inquired into PoMnf ' ,''"'^^^<^- 
 
 Hou „,ac,e to the Spanisu'-niutt^ra"' t'^' 'u t ' XTafk 
 where you are staying here ? " ^ ^^ 
 
 "I have not yet taken up my residence at Paris." 
 rour passport is of course with the police V" 
 
 me -ltTmTan"l"'"r "''^" ^'^^"-^^ «-^-^ ---«« 
 
 aLke had i ice akl "GtoTm"' '' ^ ^^""^^'^ ' " ^^' 
 uavi twice saici brood morning," ere J rpmipb-nri if 
 
 Zai:L^! l:!' "^^^ ^'^'^^ ^ ^"--^-^ fit of p'assioa 
 
 a llr'/'f ''^^' enough,- my passport would at once offer 
 
 a ground for my expulsion : I was an En-^lish sub^fj 
 
 ravelling on a Spanish passport. I must, o eCse exS 
 
 i:i::it;:ro::r^^ ^^^^^^^ -^^^--^^ - -ir: 
 
 .J.ot ^""^ ^ '°"? ^^-^""'"g' an^^ I sauntered out into the 
 
 myself, and, wh le obta.nh.g a livelihoMl, avoid discovery" 
 I knew vanous things, i„ that smattering sort of ZTm 
 
 wor r. ttieHf^'r ""'T''' ''"^" ---rwuh f 
 m;'^.hS""3r 
 
 of my a tags Take ,h:rf'" """" '"^ ^ """"^ '■""■"»" 
 the eLrgy tL sStt.^lrL'-^d'-l's: ZJt.o"h^ 
 mere adventurer, living on from day to day, and hour t 
 
 "-.= auveniurer, l.ving on from day to d, 
 Hour, without purpose or ambition. I had 
 
 ■bit. 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 ffj 
 
 fifl 
 
 :il 
 
 ij 
 
 '.J 
 
 m 
 
 borne 
 
 my name 
 
196 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 in the very lowest passages of my fortune, hopin- one dav 
 or other to contrast these dark periods with th^ bdll^nt 
 hours of my destiny. And now I must abandon t ! ^'wtll 
 be It so, thought I, ''and, by way of eon.pronnse, I'll keep 
 ha f of ,t, and call myself Monsieur Corneille • and as to 
 na .onahty, there need be little diffleulty. W IneJer a man 
 alks inchfterent Spanish, he says he .s from the Basque T 
 he speaks bad German, he calls himself an Austrian' So I 
 
 ssen tSr/ "'^^°"^r'^"^ "^ '''' ^■^^^"^-- -••^«' -i" -oily 
 asseit that I am a brave Beige and a subiect of Kinir 
 
 land ; .?' I' '"""^^^ ^^ ^ ^'^^•^"^' t^- ^•l--e of '/.f,"! 
 land ought to do me credit." 
 
 founcrmvil7ntT.' "''" "^>;"^"^"^Ss at this moment, and 
 round myself at the corner of the Rue Goguenarde exaotlv 
 opposue a house covered with placards ani anno . ;c'Lmts^ 
 
 ^r^:::T '^ ^ '''-" ^^^••^^' ^ ^--^ board ;"":;; 
 
 Affiches^' fo n '"'■'"'"' P'-«^l^'^''"'"g it the "Bureau des 
 Affiches for al nations. Nor was the universality a mere 
 
 tisement., takn.g m everything, from an estate in Guada- 
 
 Lvons to V' ''""'"; '" ^'" ^^™' from a found.; at 
 Lyons to the sn-eepmg of a passage in the Rue Rivoli. All 
 
 he nostrums of medicine, all the cheap appliances of ^e 
 
 toilet, remedies against corpulence, pe.-ventiles to extreme 
 
 emaciation, how to grow hair, how to get rid of it .0'^ 
 
 nesses, ballet-dancers, even ladies "with suitable ^onions 
 
 and great personal attractions," were all at the command o 
 
 him rich enough to indulge his indolence. "There must 
 
 sure y be something applicable to me in all those v^ied 
 
 knots 'of m"'' ' ""' ' entered a great room where severa 
 knots of men and women, of different ranks and conditions, 
 were gathered around large tablets of advertisements. ' 
 
 Some were in search of lost articles of dress or iewelrv a 
 runaway c iiild or a missing spaniel; some inquHi^^^or 
 cheap apartments, or economical modes of travel with others 
 going the same road: but the greater number were i.i pu ! 
 
 were' P^f ""''"' f livelihood, - and what a host they 
 were! Professors of every art, science, and lan^aiace 
 
 S^'ol';]'"''' 'T'^' -"•^^^""•^' ^— esses, mlssifnl 
 aries, rope-dancers, frail litUe damsels who performed as 
 
g one day 
 e brilliant 
 ! "Well, 
 > I '11 keep 
 and as to 
 ver a man 
 Lsque. If 
 m. So I, 
 svill coolly 
 of King 
 f a native 
 
 nent, and 
 L', exactly 
 icements, 
 
 with gilt 
 ireau des 
 ty a mere 
 )f adver- 
 i Guada- 
 •undry at 
 oli. All 
 !s of the 
 
 extreme 
 t, gover- 
 portions 
 inand of 
 re must 
 e varied 
 3 several 
 iditions, 
 
 welry, a 
 •ing for 
 h others 
 in pur- 
 >pt they 
 iguage ; 
 nission- 
 -med as 
 
 ■•A NEW WALK IS PROGRESSIVE LIFE." I97 
 
 engage., i„ a delicate a„<, c,i«i„ur;;» a In " "'' "'"'' 
 
 My heart sunk w thin me as r «.,w ti 
 
 by which I ™, smrounced .^■hIt : irL "Tf""^ 
 with me," thoii.-ht r i> ,•„ , , , '' ""^ "'°'''<' ™n' 
 
 see here'" A,T,l T : v ? " »'"' "' "^q'-i'-ements as I 
 
 impovtunatcly entrcati ,.t onf if J '" 'f T" '""' '™^ °°»« 
 service or oUier rie nU "'"'''' '" ''" >"''" '""^ 
 
 painful to witne;. "I^m seTl' ta-T"'"" "^' ""'"'"'^ 
 
 "": ';o:^"f ;' ™'' ™ «™ b" ■d.s n-r !""'""«•" -^^ 
 
 the clerk "" '^ ^"" «<>' ""'= '"."Jred for it," eaid 
 
 eighty," -fheTr ofdTaV"^ ^"""-W- y! rd take 
 
 a dLc"ourn'':;"'2fi'i" "*"• ." '"'^^ '""«« - "'> a. 
 «on. Ketire;enu:„tt;:t::t:rr,^^^^^^^^^^^^ *- 
 
 "Find me a pPrchaser w Hi ' 17 ''^^' *^ "'*^"- 
 the oM man, "Inrrrcr^SrS^^^^'' ^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 "r?^i:ii:;i!^:^^^:;;r:-^^ 
 
 he might earn his comm sion in he' v^;."! "'^^fT' ^'^^ 
 quatorzieme ; and I am bonnr fl ^^«»t «f a deal. " A 
 quarter of Paris It tnt! ^^^.f^'^^ °"« ^^ t^e best in this 
 Place de la Bo^c herie l^ul "' ''? """^ '^' '^ C^'""-' the 
 vard Mont Parnalse!'" '^ ^"'"^^ '^^^^ °^ ^^^ ^^^^e- 
 
 herrcfofTnv''^'";'-'" '''''^ ^' "^ -"^a^ement; -J never 
 ^^Z:Z:::^-^T A.ethere;eallyh= 
 
 it^s!;metr^rri^^"^t^-^-^^^ 
 
 sufficientlytore W nt Of -T^'^ ''''''''' ^'' ^''^^vity 
 
 <,icnr i.. f ^ ^' ^"""^ ^'^^ ^^^'^^' "I perceive that Afon 
 
 tilt aq,:tts: ii^S'" ""^ ^'^^ ^^^'^' -- ^- ™^^^ »;-; 
 
 quatoizieme ,s not an apartment fourteen stories high, 
 
 i(! 
 
 ■m 
 
198 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF COX CREGAN. 
 
 but an individual who holds himself always in readiness at 
 the dining-hourt of his neighborhood, to make the fourteenth 
 at any table, where, by accident, the urjucky nuni})er of 
 thirteen should be assembled, — a party which every well- 
 mformed person would otherwise scruple to sit down with. 
 This, sir, is a quatorzieme ; and here is a gentleman desirous 
 of disposing of his interest in such an enviable property." 
 ^ To my question as to what were the necessary qualifica- 
 tions, they both answered in a kind of duet, by volubly reca- 
 pitulating that nothuig was needed but a suit of black, and 
 clean gloves; unobtrusive demeanor and a mode: ate appe- 
 tite being the certain reconnneudations to a high professional 
 success. I saw the chief requirement well, — to eat little, and 
 to talk less ; to come in with the soup, and go out with the 
 salad; never to partake of an entree, nor drink save the 
 "ordinaire:" these were the duties; the reward was ten 
 francs. " It used to be a Napoleon, Monsieur," said the old 
 man, wiping his eyes. " In the time of Charles the Tenth it 
 was always a Napoleon; but these 'canailles' nowadays 
 have no reverence for anything; I have known even the 
 ministry dine thirteen on a Friday, — to be sure, the king 
 was fired at two days afterwards for it; but nothino- can 
 teach them." ° 
 
 The old gentleman grew most communicative on the sub- 
 ject of his " walk," which he was only abandoning in conse- 
 quence of the rheumatism, and the cJifHculty of ascending to 
 dinner-parties on a high elevation. He depicted with enthu- 
 siasm the enjoyments of a profession that demanded, as he 
 observed, so litde previous study, was removed from all the 
 vicissitudes of commerce, pleasant in practice, and remu- 
 nerative in pay He also insinuated the possible advantages 
 to a young and handsome man, wiio could scarcely fail to 
 secure a good marriage, by observing a discreet and decorous 
 demeanor; and, in fact, he represented his calling in such a 
 light as at least to give me the liveliest curiosity to enter 
 upon it for a brief spn-e, and while meditating what future 
 steps I should take in life. 
 
 That same afternoon I saw myself announced at the 
 porter's window of a very shabby-looking house in the Rue 
 
 de la Forge as "Monsieur de Corneille," — the "de 
 
 being 
 
eadiness at 
 fourteenth 
 number of 
 svery well- 
 lown with. 
 \n desirous 
 )perty." 
 f qualifica- 
 hibly reca- 
 black, and 
 :ate appe- 
 •ofessional 
 little, and 
 It with the 
 : save the 
 I was ten 
 lid the old 
 e Tenth it 
 nowadays 
 even the 
 the king 
 thing can 
 
 I the sub- 
 in eonse- 
 ending to 
 ith enthu- 
 ed, as he 
 m all the 
 lid remu- 
 vantages 
 y fail to 
 decorous 
 in such a 
 to enter 
 at future 
 
 I at the 
 the Rue 
 ; " being 
 
 "A NEW WALK IN PROGRESSIVE LIFE." I99 
 
 ^-?a'^Z^^;-;'^-r-e prOt a toJte 
 that it was all innxSan 2Z T'"^ '''''''' ^ ''^' ^old 
 seen much .hrSX^V^^T" '""T ', f ""'^^ "^^ ^« 
 mysteriousness about me ^^'j / "'' f^"^^^ ^' ^ ^^^'tain 
 that might permit the host t^ ifS'S ^\^ '^^^<^^-^^l^, 
 as his old friend the I>.aron do sH d 1 " ,"" T''^''' ^ 
 out even to dine with him. In ^ r;," " T'' ''"'"'•^' 
 against publicity as though I were a ro'^. '' ^""""''^^ 
 
 was not a hard condition at\h!f ^ Parsonage This 
 of escaping notice. "sstlal mv"' ""'' ' ""^ ^^^'^'-- 
 writing -sometimes iXdal ^/ ""•""?^^,«' ^''-'^^ore, in 
 statements for the press now f^ '"''"'*"'' ««'"^^ti>"e« 
 banker at Guajuaqufl Jr H^,, ^^. T' '^""'^ '' ^'- 
 firm at the Havannah. ' Th e '^ ' of no T" "'/' ''^ ^''^' 
 from despatching- most of ti. , . I '^ '''"'' '^''^''^-''^^^ me 
 them, as though^to feed L " "' ' ^^""t"^"«^ to write 
 
 evening drew nigh:i^band:^.:^r3:sk't^^i;rr; t^"'^'^ 
 havmg arrayed mvself in nmst n 1 1 n , ^''^' ^"^ 
 
 summons whicli should i.v '''^''' '^''^'^ed for the 
 
 have often pe st ' o f ^J'" ''' 'T "'""'"'^^ '''''' ^ 
 fessional life, -tie r.,stui, 7^ T""-"^'"' "^ ^ P''-' 
 fear which haunt hin .:,;';"'' ^'"'^" ^^^^^ '^"^ 
 time, that he is not:r:ttnZZT\;'''\''''''-' 
 jealousies of the fortunafe nVd fl o 7 ^' ''^' ^'''^''^ 
 his own failures . the e"re .. • ^^f ''"'^ clepression over 
 stairs stop not-a In' d"^ ^ Htlv ■ ''' '^^^'^" ^" *'- 
 heart as tue sounds T^;;'. 1 ";''"'"' ''''^'''^ "^ ^'^« 
 to the silence pf his t. " ; p! , '^j 'f ."^ i" "l' ^""" '"'" 
 corroding regrets of hin ^^i h^'s to led l' "'' ',' '"' ^'''« 
 for the attainment of a kmnv!ed< e t^ , "^r""'^ "'^^'^^^^^ 
 unused, unasked for, unwanted I ,^ T '''',"' ^■"«*'" 
 tortures who waits till the wodd call him '^"'^ "'^^ ''' ^'^ 
 
 Ihere I sat in all mv " braverv " ' \\n „f 
 between my sleek exterior .u^Z^u^Uf u ^ ''"*'"^^* 
 within! Sometimes mv f n n ' '"^'f-famishe.. creature 
 
 a fit of passion:-: ^L T lui:? ^^1^ olTf ^"* ^^^ 
 had entrapped me, at fortu-' th.t 1 1 ''''' '"'^^ 
 
 Who had grown indolent, anlrvo fof tX ^If' s' "f"^'' 
 I became almost stupid by long retier^rrd wo^ S 
 
 ■if* 
 
 ;. ■■'*1 
 
200 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 r ( 
 
 a late hour of tne night, unconscious of everything- and 
 sometimes I would actually laugh outright at tiie absurdity 
 of my assuMiod calling, wondering how I ever could have 
 been fool enough to embrace it. 
 
 The world had evidently grown out of its superstitions- 
 republicanism and socialism, and all the other free -md easy 
 notions by which men persuaded themselves that the rich are 
 thieves, and the poor the just inheritors of the <rains had 
 knocked down many a mock idol besides monarc5iy ' 'iMen 
 no longer :hrew a pinch of salt over their left shoulder when 
 they upset the salt-cellar ; did n't pierce thtir eocr-shell lest 
 the fairies might make a boat of it; and so, among many 
 other remains of the custom of our ancestors abandoned, 
 they sat down to dinner, careless whether the party were 
 thirteen or thirty. ^ -^ 
 
 " I might as well try and revive astrology," thou<Tht I " as 
 seek to trade upon superstition in this unbelievin" aoe i I 
 doubt If all Paris contains another quatorzieme than nfyself : 
 the old villain knew the trade was ruined, when he sold me 
 his 'goodwill' of the business." 
 
 I was in the very deepest and darkest abyss of these 
 gloomy thoughts one evening, when a heavy down- pour o? 
 rain, and the sorrowful moanings of a Decembei w ncf 
 added melancholy to my wearied spirit. It was su( a 
 mght that none would have ventured out who couUl have 
 claimed the humblest roof to shelter him. The stree s tere 
 perfectly deserted, and, early as it was, the shop^ w ere . ^ y 
 closed tor the night. The very lamps that swun<. to a^J 
 fro with the wind looked hazy and dim amid the ^ween' ^^ 
 
 g^bet ' ''"" ''"^'"' "^^' *^^ ^^---^ cadenceTa 
 
 I knew it was needless to go through the ceremonv of 
 dressing on such a night. '' Bettor fae^ all the in"" a", 
 terrors of a thirteen party than brave the real da "er oJ :^. 
 
 of my tattered drossing-gown, I paced my room in a frame 
 of mind very little above despair. '' A^d thiT Pa.- " 
 cried I; uth,, the city where in some hundred Sd 
 
 aUthr;i^s'of? ■''' 7--*— -et men brilliant ; 
 aU the gifts ot genius, and women more beautiful and more 
 
'thing; and 
 le absurdity 
 could have 
 
 perstitions • 
 ?e uud easy 
 the rich are 
 gains, had 
 ehy. Men 
 ulder vvlien 
 r-shell, lest 
 long many 
 abandoned, 
 jarty were 
 
 as 
 
 ightl, 
 g age! I 
 m myself; 
 le sold me 
 
 I of these 
 n-pour of 
 ber wind, 
 IS sucli a 
 ould have 
 eets were 
 fe already 
 ig to and 
 sweeping 
 enee of a 
 
 3mony of 
 niagiiiai-y 
 igcr of a 
 freedom 
 I a frame 
 » Paris," 
 d gilded 
 illiant in 
 md more 
 
 "A NEW WALK IN PROGRESSIVE LIFE." 201 
 fascinating than the Imnria ^p r> ^^ 
 
 a.md the glitter of stars, and c L s '',, ,' ""^\"""yl'"g 
 soiiie thousands, like me are ac uall v f " , ^'"''.'"^' ' ^^'^^ 
 -too poor evei to hav!. ^f r^to ^^^,1' "" " 1 "'"i '^""=^'-' 
 that are gathering around tl.^ hlart ' ' ''^'^'' "^ '^''^'''^ 
 
 Had It not been better for me if F l,n,i i; i 
 same humble comlitiontowhichTwlbonVy^^^^ ^" >^ '^' 
 of the fascinations of riches to lov^ n. ' '." ^'''''' ^'''^''^ 
 ever? No ! this I conk In' ^""' "^^''^" ^^^^ ^o^- 
 
 moments of my o^'ou oro n =7% " '"''^''^ ^^'^''^ ««'«« 
 all I had, or a 1 T eou uffTS' .' "'" "^"^^^ '"^ ^- 
 depth of evil destiny I iohfv/r '"= ^"""^^ to wliatever 
 with me the dehSs n m ,/ f '""''''^' ^ ^^^^"^^1 ^^''^T 
 Cregan-thellhrar I T' ''''''''''''''- Con 
 
 vagrant, the P-^cnS^l^^^f^X ^llfe ^' ^ 
 pleasure, of beauty, an.: of splendor Ml , ''? °^ 
 
 With a i^-o^r:^:d:^n^^^^^ 
 
 was graced with a meal ! a bed tinf .!l, , , "' °'™'' 
 and a oha,r, to sit „poa wide w ,1 o :;;;.^ ? ■' " " "''"''•" 
 the dexterity of a j„Lle,. . ""' »i"asl,mg, re<jui,ed 
 
 amt:'™L'::t7,£^Ti„^?""' -i ^""■' '"^^^ ™"'»«°™. 
 
 in," said I, authodtSv I r"'-"',".;"^'."™''- " f'"™ 
 lord, and ^s „ot so ry^o brav .".im 7"",V" .'"^ ="'* 
 The door onomd a,;d , «„, , ''^ ""* ''"'kness. 
 
 could perceive tt that of :?' "■'"°'' '=™" i" "><= gloom I 
 de Cofneille Mverhere?" saufhT' ™'""'- "*'™^'™'- 
 SLondedT '"' '"■"'^"' ''°"°'- *<>' "e that individual," re. 
 
 " Have you got no light? I have smashed „,, i • 
 a confounded chair," sa'id he, quer ,loriy ^ """'"""^^ 
 
 " 1 ou 're all safe now," said T • u .- ^' 
 hut take care of the rat-Jrar,'!!; the fnl?"' '' ""= "»' 
 
 coaxtogV. " """' """' """■'" '"'" "-^ "'h^'. half 
 
 "I never have a liaht." sniri t. ut i ^ . , 
 fnnlBng a candle, and c'i.n't endure ttethoth, ?'"'!' ""I" 
 ing Russia and her tallow." ^^' "' Patroniz- 
 
 I I 
 
 'Hi 
 
 d 
 
 ml 
 
202 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 violence to your feelings?" •■ ^''^^^ ^"^^ 
 
 " Have you a cigar-case? " said I. 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Well, strike a light: and here 's n l^ffo,. ^u- i 
 
 than that very graceful dressing-room ? » ^"^ 
 
 " Oh, certamly ! » exclaimed I ; - only be good enonrrh to 
 say why you ask the question." By thi's time%he st"S.'s 
 torch had burned down so close to his fingers as to ' m s°e ' 
 exclamation of pain as he threw it on the ground and thus 
 were we once more in the dark. " ' *''"'' 
 
 ;' Not from mere motives of idle curiosity, Monsieur " 
 Baid he, "did I ask, but simply, havin^ come ho o ^n 
 request the pleasure of your company at dinne to-da I I 
 
 fhJ'fr\!'f/''*'"^"''^''^ writer, the inimitable novelist 
 the delightful composer of the ' Curate's Niece ' ' The P t ! 
 through the Vineyard,' ' The Rose of Auteuir' " '^ 
 
 '^'^' rrzr :;!!"! ^";;f™^--^ -y pLprodu:. 
 
 tibns; but, as time presses, will you be gooa enou-h in 
 hasten our toilet, for my 'cottage 'is near Bell S and 
 wall take us nigh an hour to reach." ^^ievuie, and 
 
id he. 
 
 " Are we in 
 
 'aria at this 
 
 ur," said the 
 without any 
 
 ich you may 
 aie by ' inch 
 
 id the letter, 
 1, he took a 
 yself being 
 
 irtinent has 
 
 magnificent 
 
 ask if you 
 ore limited 
 
 enough to 
 
 stranger's 
 
 o '^^llse an 
 
 , and thus 
 
 lonsieur," 
 3 here to 
 o-day. I 
 e is Paul 
 
 novelist, 
 The Path 
 
 enumcra- 
 r produc- 
 lough tu 
 '■ille, and 
 
 "A NEW WALK IN PROGRESSIVE LIFE." 203 
 
 tumf Sl;^;:;:;tp:;r^ "-''''' ^" ^'-"-' - 
 
 chieay bearing upon mv line n ^f 'f''"^^^ conversation, 
 of which, he seen' d Z nk I ''' '^""''^''^^ ^^^'^^S^^ 
 
 ^«ent; nor could le\i:"f/ '" ,"'''"' "'"^^ -""««- 
 that he himself was mv «? '^'^^^to'ushment on learning 
 
 age we live in '' cri hi\ ' ''". "" ^' '^'''"'- ""^^^^ -« 
 <^eparted ? Can nJn s o, en v'l''''' '' '^"^ ' ""^^^'"^ ^^'th ' 
 
 " Thou.rh mv .' 1 T ^ 'J'«Pai-age the gods? " 
 all Ti . ^ theology has beenchan.^ed " said T u *, ,, 
 
 Witt t;;;^.:t':« '":;::.': S" ': ".' "'" ^"-■'"ve 
 
 with tLenr,to,trfe.''b| ",,!"' ^ ■'""" l'«^^ i ' ™se,ved 
 * r&i«,„„«,; ,l:f„ ov,^ com, „„„y^,^ after the pi..ce 
 
 soothing ,vith the r.t .„ I '^.if'""""'" "' *''" P°»" 
 gentle sadnes. as the de'sse,! """l' ""° " »°" ""d 
 
 take it, eourso, watinrrLfrr- ' ^''™ ''«''»"™ '» 
 
 agreeability." "^ -^'^ ^^'^ vividness of 
 
 a freI™i;r'^';,';rtV:'rtr'V" ?!'<'»■>% ---"ended to. 
 
 e.-pIo,.e very unwholeso J S'™ ""''',!^- "='""-«'« "'"^ to 
 regions a bltnding ot that w eh male h 'r ""'""-■*"« 
 ter and Louis Philippe a teacher oj ;;,;„.£" ' ""'"'"- 
 
 us with his eompany Thel n ^ ^ " ^T' ^'''"™ "'" honor 
 general. The ,is ot the ,,n . " "^"'''^ "^ '""''^'™ "nd a 
 .useeptiblmies ..rnllCLT °a uh^ff ,*^'' ""»'« 
 nahsts, and dansenses, hoover tmielv in ,,'''' >"'"- 
 are angels of good temper in s^ a fe , "' f^bT^ 
 proceeded to give me n no-n-n,. ; • ?; . ^^'^^ this he 
 
 pany into whinf T Z fo be , "f = "^^o the kind of com- 
 
 r could learn, that a n-^idl"^^^^^^^^ ''''''^^ '^'^^^^ 
 
 fair than honest." J Sar^d to Sr '""I '^''''''^ " "^^'^ 
 lieained, too, that I owed the distinction 
 
 "Hi 
 
204 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I 
 
 a 
 
 of my invitation to a wager between his Royal Highness the 
 Due de St. Cloud and my host; the bet being tliat De 
 Min<'rale was to find out a " quatorziemo " and bring him 
 to dinner, his search for one not to begin till after five 
 o'clock I'.M. ; the Prince being fully convinced that no regu- 
 lar practitioner in that walk any longer existed. "Your 
 presence, my dear sir," continued he, " is worth, indepen- 
 dent of the charm of your conversation, fifty Napoleons ; 
 one-half of which I must beg you tu accept;" saying which, 
 lie gracefully presented me with a purse, whose pleasant 
 weight descended into my palm with a sensuLiou indescri- 
 bably soft and soothing. 
 
 All this time we were rattling along towards Belleville at 
 a rapid pace ; and although the rain swept past in torrents, 
 the lightning flashed, and the wind tore the strong trees 
 from their roots, and strewed the ground with their gigantic 
 limbs, I sat in a revery of sweet and delightful fancies, 
 the only alloy to my ecstasy being a passing fear that at 
 each moment shot through me: Can this be real? Am I 
 awake? or has long fasting so weakened my faculties that 
 this is but a delusion ; and instead of hastening to a dinner- 
 party with a royal guest, I am speeding onwards to a prison, 
 or, mayhap, a madhouse. These fancies, at first but fitful 
 and at intervals, became at length so distressing that I was 
 on the very point of communicating them to my companion, 
 and asking for his counsel and comfort, when we drove into 
 a small avenue, and then almost immediately drew up in 
 front of a porch, where, amid a blaze of light, stood three or 
 four servants in gaudy li\cries, awaiting our arrival. 
 
 " Well, Paul ! " cried a young, fashionable-looking fellow, 
 with a very imposing black beard, " what success? " 
 
 " I 've won, — here he is ! " cried my companion. " Have 
 I much time to spare ? " 
 
 " Something less than two minutes," said the other, as he 
 coolly surveyed me through his glass. " Present me, Paul." 
 
 "Mons. Alphonse de Langeron — Mons. de Corneille." 
 
 " The author of the ' Fancies by Starlight,' " said I, bow- 
 ing with a most respectful devotion. 
 
 "Guilty, sir! and of fifty other indiscretions to the full 
 as great," said he, laughing. 
 
[igliness the 
 iig tlitit De 
 I bring him 
 I after five 
 bat no regu- 
 tjd. " Your 
 ;h, indepen- 
 Napoleons ; 
 lying which, 
 )3C pleasant 
 on indescri- 
 
 Belleville at 
 
 in torrents, 
 
 strong trees 
 
 lieir gigantic 
 
 iful fancies, 
 
 fear that at 
 
 real? Am I 
 
 acuities that 
 
 to a dinner- 
 
 to a prison, 
 
 St but fitful 
 
 y that I was 
 
 companion, 
 
 e drove into 
 
 drew up in 
 
 ;ood three or 
 
 •ival. 
 
 )king fellow, 
 
 58?" 
 
 on. 
 
 u 
 
 Have 
 
 other, as he 
 it me, Paul." 
 ^orneille." 
 said I, bow- 
 
 s to the full 
 
 "A NEW WALK IN PROGRESSIVE LIFE." 205 
 
 (( 
 
 Ah, sir, I know it by heart ; that stanza on the ' Waled 
 Letty ' haunts ine like a dream." 
 
 "Sharp fellow, our friend the ' quatorzitMne ' ! " whi;*- 
 pered Alphonse to Paul as we walked along towards the 
 drawing-room. 
 
 How J should like to dwell upon the details of that dinner, 
 the most delightful entertainment of my whole life! Jt 
 needed not the sudden transition from the dark and dreary 
 chamber I inhabited to the gilded saloon, all in a blaze with 
 wax-lights, to make me feel it sueli. The "service" was 
 splendid — the cookery perfecti >n — the wines the rarest of 
 every vintage — the apartment itself had all the chastened 
 grandeur of a mediieval chamber, witii the gorgeous splen- 
 dor contributed by a magniOeent beaufet of silver ; — and 
 the guests! what beauty and fascination of female loveli- 
 ness — what charm of wit and agrecability among the mv'^n ! 
 The great damjjcr upon my enjoyment was my actual doubt 
 of the reality of the whole scene. It was not, alone, that all 
 the splendor appeared so wonderful — tliat the glitter of 
 gold and the beauty of porcelain dazzled the eye ; but the 
 very names of the illustrious guests themselves suggested 
 incredidity. What wonder if I could not credit my senses, 
 as I heard the first names in all the genius of France on 
 every side of me ! Here, the great historian, and philosopher, 
 and statesman ; there, the delightful lyric poet ; yonder, the 
 first novelist of Europe ; and next to him the distinguished 
 painter, whose great battle-piece was in commemoration of 
 the young Prince beside him, a hero of " two-and-twenty." 
 
 Notiiing could be more easy or familiar than the tone of 
 conversation, — that happy pleasantry that tickles but never 
 
 wounds, so unlike the English propensity for " quizzing " 
 
 that vulgar version of Gallic " badinage ; " and then how 
 eloquent, without pedantry, how sparkling, and how sug- 
 gestive ! Ah, my kind reader, I see the rippling smile over 
 the broad Atlantic of your countenance. You have guessed 
 all the secret of my enthusiasm, and you know the mystery 
 of my admiration. Be it so; I am ready to confess all. It 
 was my own success that made the chief enchantment of the 
 scene. I was the lion of the evening. Not a theme on 
 which I did not hold forth, not a subject I did not discuss, 
 
 f;'i 
 
 f:.i 
 
 1 
 
 I'Si 
 
206 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREOAN. 
 
 Z^uJ^T) ^^""-""''.t'^g' ^^^l^^O-, <lrosH, litorature, duelling 
 he ba U , horse-rac.ng, play, scandal, naval tactics cona- 
 tion, otton-Hpinnnij., n.n .c, railroads, and tl.o - dry- cT" 
 I w.. profound, playful, s.,,iou.s, jocose, instructive a id 
 aiMsu.^^ i,y turns. Madn.llo. de la Hourdonaye, the n 
 actroHs of tu- "Fran,ais,- was charmed with n.y d . ,„ c 
 cn.e,sn>; the poet -enthusiastic at n.y recital of s''^ 
 of h s own ; the General pro..oun(.ed n,e the very best 'e 
 of cavalry evolutions he had ever met; the ieat pa t^r 
 begged the favor of a visit fron> me at Ms sttu io i n th 
 Pnnces ..ude-de-carnp- himself a distinguished ok, r 
 
 These were, after all, but the precursors of Greater tri 
 umphs n, the drawing-roon., where 1 played and ^in' 'v' 
 oral Mexican ballads; danced the lilk^.o wit M dn 1 1" 
 Rose Jasmu., of the Grand Op6ra ; and lassoed a m1; 
 St. Bernard mastiff with the bell-rope. After this bent H 
 statesman at chess; rolled up Indian'cigarttts fotl.c ladies' 
 whom I taught to sit scjuaw fashion ; told various anecdotes 
 
 ^7^^Zn^Ti^^ .^"^^ rr' "p ^" ^y -north : 
 
 and t^ deS^; irT=:: X^;--^^^^ 
 longer on this theme, nor speak of that sZf witht 
 ctapagne and culembourgs, its lyrics and its Kt^r sa ad 
 
 ;;5^.°rugk:^^fr:;rr"t r^^' ^i --^^ 
 
 till «ngh -i^ing; a.l^;i;r„~:"r eTor a^^^^^^^ 
 streak of coming day was strugglinrbe ween th^ ^ 
 of the curtains. °^ ^ oetween the margins 
 
 my kind best and his fnend. cSf ^'e « t ^d'lt 
 
 TrZZ T r" *" "■"" »""'"• ■"'^' me=o„ every S !nd 
 I .etoed actually ovem-l,eIraed with civil attcntio/s 
 
 Do ;,e pass by your quarter, Monsieur? " said his Rnv»l 
 Highness, as I tools my seat in the carriage ^ 
 
 I -ould have given all „,y worldly welilth, and expecta- 
 
3AN. 
 
 ti'ratiire, ducllinu, 
 1 tiictics, colon i/u- 
 1(1 the " dry-rot." 
 
 inHtriu'tive, and 
 ■<l«>iitiye, tlio tlvHt 
 nth my druiriatie 
 eeital of a Htunza 
 i very best judge 
 lie great i)iiintc'r 
 
 studio ; and the 
 uished soldier — 
 engaged for the 
 
 3 of greater tri- 
 d aud sang sev- 
 ' with Afadinlle. 
 issoed a Mount 
 ;er this, beat the 
 3S for the ladies, 
 rious anecdotes 
 by concocting a 
 le astonishment 
 nyself to dwell 
 upper, with its 
 * lobster salads, 
 md maraschino 
 
 less — lasted 
 
 1 table, a pale 
 ;n the margins 
 
 Mons.de Cor- 
 le. 
 
 2i'» I accepted 
 
 ) take leave of 
 
 tings, and iht- 
 
 ivery side, and 
 
 tions. 
 
 said his Royal 
 
 and expecta- 
 
 "A NEW WALK IN PHOGUESSIVE LIFE." 207 
 
 tions to boot, to be able to snv Hm* r i- , , 
 
 Mm. ,„. i|,„ uu„ Koyal huf t ' ''™' '",">" «"«'-• Ven- 
 
 klf in the eye „f the Vide ,1 ... ? " '■'■''.»' 1'"™""'- '"»- 
 
 --O'lhiu,^ a„ accusation llrj" I'"" ","' """■«l't 
 
 vinceclme, for «vl,ile to Jl'ln, tar I ''' ' '"'"'" '"'"^ ""'• 
 e.l«n,ent of ,„y hnn.i.ie " „ " ;: '-1::'"'V " "''T'- 
 
 sulJieiciit to sever us f, , , J, ,. . ^'"' " "llock 
 
 no other ^igni.iea, ce ha '„„ ' ^ ' ["r" """ "'■""■•'■ ""'I 
 which, wl,ethe,- a.nnle or la"" ■' """f .'"J' ■»«'""'. "Ith 
 ■noddle. Indeed, 1 was ,„tL V T'"' ""^ •''"'' "" '«'" "> 
 the fact, since in the"di|r ™1, ° 7 ° '^"""" '" ''™l" "Pon 
 de.can,p and the e„ chn u, wh' T""""" '*"™"' "«= »««■ 
 of my unhappy st™ h i n ''"''never so much as heard 
 
 any surprise'wLte • 'b 1%,^ ,"'f' '"'" '"'™'- -'"ced 
 
 'li»cusHi'n, without v„„^h,:B,„er"^ '" '"' ^"^ "' ">« 
 subject. voucu,satlng even a word upon the 
 
 ehllur! ar;l.h°.:|;?,I'"T"' "'■»"- 21,748," said the 
 where th old pS te'r ^a ' , ea,^'" "'"" '"" """•'^''own door, 
 w»s peeling carrots atthr";!,"? """ "''°' """'^ "'^ "'"^ 
 
 ■eff ir st "'fporb"' i™f "r ^ ^"*"^^' ""- ^ had 
 
 lacaueylet <low, the st pfan^off "1 '" ". "'""» "' "'<' 
 »ce„d. The lowly ve,>e ml "f ., ?, ""' """ '"" "> <'"■ 
 »t the royal liverfe, a",d t e.^K "''' ■""■""■• '"' ''« «""-ed 
 
 Of the chasseur, wh.; e^yeTsre „ 7^1^ ?,"" °"^ '"""'^ 
 very heart, so that I ■letn^M,, .m .^ ^ ""■<"'«'' 'nto my 
 Of .he Prin'ce as the'e^^'^ ^^^'ai:;" "" '■"■■""'" ^^^ 
 
 Prince's iiieu. Ho » ,m ch 1 r """'""8 ™"" "f '^^ 
 
 pan^of scorn .au rorbar:;';-^. -'I ^r;:5: 
 
 il 
 
 r 
 
 'M 
 
 "If 
 
208 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKLGAN. 
 
 my reflections as I entered my humble chamber, every por- 
 tion of which seemed doubly miserable to me now. "Is it 
 possible," thought I, " that I have endured this hitherto? 
 Have I really sat in that crazy old chair, and stretched my 
 limbs upon that wretched pallet ? Can it be real ? or which is 
 the delusion, — my recent splendor, or my present squalor?" 
 Altliough up all night, I was far too much excited for sleep, 
 even could I have persuaded myself to seek it on so humble 
 a couch. I therefore set myself to think over the future, 
 and wonder whether the brilliant scene in which I had so 
 lately mixed would remain in its isolated brightness amid 
 the desolation of my life, or be the guide-star to future great- 
 ness and distinction. My late success emboldened me to 
 think that Fortune had not yet deserted me. " Who knows," 
 thought I, " but the Spaniards may behave handsomely yet, 
 and make restitution of my property ; or what if the Mexican 
 banker should be a true man, and acknoAvledge my claim 
 upon him? " " If I could but enlist the Prince in my cause," 
 thought I again, "how certain should I be of tlie issue! 
 French influence always was powerful in Spain. Napoleon 
 used to say, ' There were no Pyrenees ; ' I should be con- 
 tent if there were only a good road over them to convey the 
 despiiiohes that might assert my just right." 
 
 A quick step upon the stairs at that instant caught my 
 ear ; few ever ascended so high up as my story, so I listened, 
 and almost at once my door was thrown open, and my host 
 of the preceding evening rushed into the room. Having 
 shaken hands with me :!ordially, he said, " Corneille, mon 
 ami ! I have made another wager about you ; and although 
 the sum is a trifling one, I am curious to ascertain if I am 
 the winner. Jules de Montserrat aid Emile de Gency and 
 myself had a dispute last night about your nationality, which 
 ended in a bet. I am bound in honor not to tell you what 
 our several opinions and guesses were, but still at liberty to 
 ask you, what is your native country? " 
 
 " I am an Irishirin, and derive my name from the ancient 
 
 family of Cregan. Cornelius is but my Christian name, 
 
 which I assumed to cover the disgrace of my altered 
 
 fortune." 
 
 "As to our wager, then, we were all in error, — none of 
 
3er, every por- 
 
 "A »ZW WALK IN PROGBESSIVE LIJ^,. 209 
 
 "s guessed Ireland. As fn ,r^ u • 
 
 station, I need scarcely say we"! S ^ ™^° °^ ^'''^^ and 
 >Vould It were otherwise," said T •.? 
 
 'a humble position mi^ht be ph^ ^' '"'^^ ^ ^^^P ^igh; 
 alloyed by the regrets of a co.kI h"? f 7" """»'^' ^^ "- 
 you are curious to hear a ve.l unhal .'^''^' '^'■^^'«^'- « 
 to relate it." ^'^ unhappy story, I am willing 
 
 l^n^S lilHXt tTir- ^^^-'" -^^ ^e, seating 
 
 W not one acquaintanceTn Paris ^"^^'-^""Ption, - for J 
 history from beginning to end " '""^^^ '^^^^ ^^^ar n,y 
 
 -Pidlyas though ;uch del cad^s^t'^^^^ appearance "Is 
 "counting these steep stai S aL ! ^" "f ^"^^^ ^^^ ^'aily 
 once more in a -rate wI.pvI .1 /^ cheerful blaze glowed 
 beheld a fire. «'''^ ^^«^« '^^ oldest inhabitant had neTer 
 
 These preparations beino- mnr^o 
 opened my narrative. ThoTeader"' T" ""^ "^^^'' ^^^ I 
 >viti me if I ventured to dmw nno^ T • ""'-'^^^ ^^^^^^ed 
 earher facts of my history. VhZ 7, ^"^^-^^^^^^^ for the 
 tome m the article of a^athe; ',. ' "^* ^«^^ generous 
 vented one for myself? Fortune I f"f ^""'"^ '^ ^ ^^^ 
 beneath the thatched roof o? an Iri^? ''''^''^ "^^ ^irth 
 generous of me to call it the ancie^ h ''^!" '' ^^« ^* °ot 
 C'-egans? She started me poo' aTd , ""'"^ '''' '' '^' 
 mnmng, and called myself r ch ,nd 1 ''^'' •" ^ ^"^ ^^^^« 
 weary ,ny reader with such a recita?^ r;""''"^^^' «"* ^^y , 
 a^se the foundation on fiction the ip^^ '' ^"^ '^^^^^^ary to 
 I was satisfied to state p.^t v npf '"*' ^^ ^"^^^^^^^ 
 
 merely altering the reasons Ir!;'^- ^' "^^^^ happened, 
 World, which I ascribed to mv « ^, '"'"'"'^ ^^ t^e New 
 tance belonging to my flmUv tl after a great inher^ 
 Anddusia, and grandees of Sn^n "'''' °^'^'°^^^"^ ^rom 
 
 oprtnin ^fi,-„ _ , "'^ "IV storv PSQ ,-„^--.._.. 
 
 rjd, who 
 
 — wi.i, puriion of mv fltnrir I • -^ -"cim, wno 
 
 TZT'' ™" '""'-^ «"•" J-"Iri^-^'^ »'"'^^«"S ''■an 
 "n the contrary," said 
 
 VOT,. Tr Ji 
 
 passages. 
 
 I succeeded perfectly. 
 
 
 
 (..ill 
 
 i 
 
 \m 
 
 i.i 
 
 I not 
 
210 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 i'l: 
 
 only discovered the banker in whose hands my family wealth 
 
 was deposited, but established my claim most satisfactorily, 
 
 and received a very large sum in gold, with bills to a hi4 
 
 amount on various mercantile houses, besides leavin- in his 
 
 hands an important balance, for which I had no immediate 
 
 necessity. After a slight sketch of my Mexican progress, 
 
 -very httle embellished or exaggerated,-! narrated my 
 
 voyage to Kurope and my capture at Malaga exactly as they 
 
 occurred, circumstantially recording every detail of name 
 
 and date I could remember down to the very moment of my 
 
 reaching Paris. ^ 
 
 " One question more, my dear friend," said M. Paul, after 
 some hfty very searching interrogatories, as closely aro-ned as 
 the cross-examination of a counsel at law. " One question 
 more and I have done. I know you '11 not be offended at the 
 liberty I am about to take, - nay, I feel you'll be even 
 gratihed with my candor. Tell me frankly, as between 
 man and man, is there ono word of truth in all this, or is it 
 not downright moonshine, - sheer invention from beginnin- 
 t*^ end .'* o o 
 
 1 started to my legs, my face crimson with anger, but, as 
 suudenly recovering myself, said, " You were right, sir, to 
 bespeak a degree of command over ray feelings before you 
 ventured upon this freedom, which if I cannot altogether 
 pardon, yet I will not resent." ° 
 
 _ ''So it is true, then," said he, with a degree of melancholy 
 m his voice I could not fathom. 
 " Of course it is,'' rejoined I. 
 
 "Sorry to hear it; deeply, sincerely sorry, — that 's all," 
 replied he, m the self-same manner; "I cannot express to 
 you one-half of my disappointment." 
 
 " Sorrow ! disappointmnnt ! " exclaimed I. " May I ask 
 what possible interest you could have in supposing me to be 
 an impostor and a cheat?" 
 
 "Hard names these," said he, laughing, "but I will 
 explain myself If the story that you have just told me were 
 fiction r could give you three hundred francs a day to write 
 fenilletons for the ' Dr^bats.' If one-half of it were even 
 invention, you 'd be worth two hundred on the ' Siecle ' or 
 the _Pre,,c ; ' say you stole the material, and you'd still do 
 admirably for the ' Mode.' 
 
amily wealth 
 itisfactorily, 
 Us to a high 
 javiiig ill Ills 
 
 immediate 
 an progress, 
 larrated my 
 ctly as they 
 il of name 
 iment of my 
 
 Paul, after 
 ly argued as 
 'ne question 
 !nded at the 
 '11 be even 
 IS between 
 ;his, or is it 
 
 1 beginning 
 
 ?er, but, as 
 
 ght, sir, to 
 
 before you 
 
 altogether 
 
 nelancholy 
 
 hat's all," 
 express to 
 
 May I ask 
 
 ; me to be 
 
 )ut I will 
 d me were 
 y to write 
 ivere even 
 Siecle ' or 
 'd still do 
 
 (( 
 
 "A NEW WALK IN PKOGllESSIVE LIFE." 211 
 
 extended itself frou^tTL! Znt f '"'"''''' "' ^^^"^^ ^^« 
 
 operations of genius and / 1 '"^"ufacture to the 
 
 tbiukof compoLTanenttewo^^^^^ "^ "^-" ^-ould 
 
 would of tmnin.. mason cam? ; f' ^""^ ^^^'^ '^'^^ ^^ 
 
 gl-ie. were he^Ct S^.^n^lt^"''^^ ^"' 
 liavuig fixed upon the sifo .nui ",: *-* ' the contrary, 
 
 of his future iliflc he ;u "oLt T""f. '^' P^^^^^^^-- 
 -Kl skilful hands in' all t" Lv'^al waT oT'^ T'^''"^ 
 "ess, reserving to hi-nself t\Z ^ constructive- 
 
 which could not be pi^ctiLwe .^!'";""'" '"' ^^'"''^^ 
 labor. Thus is he a masted "nT'- ^l '"^"»^^^ ^" ^^^ual 
 artificers, storing his mate "ho " "V'' '"' ''^''''^'^ ^^' 
 keenly watching th^ vS^' ^^^l^^'lS^ ''T'''^ 
 ducnig at last a mass and varietv h^f ,!? , ' ."""'^ P'°" 
 ever fertile and assiduous 1 col 1 ^^ one bram _ how- 
 Baid he, drawing himself up pZ t ' H ^''^^' ^^^ '^^^^'" 
 the aid of this discoverv C ^^ ' ^^'' '' "^^ ^''^^k. By 
 
 I am enabled to ^^i'^V^ "n",' T' "'" ^"^^' ^ 
 with laughter in the ' Con! >nf *^^ P-^^^ts/ and convulse 
 the ton-id zone if one To ;r^^ an.l while writing of 
 
 hero in another mZ IZ' ! i "^^ ^"^ Icelander as my 
 
 of life under:;pectrt i^ s"rn;ufe^V"^.''^^^^^^^' 
 may they wonder, were iZTJ ^^^^««^'dant ; and well 
 
 faeulties!^ But it'isTe: H^ou S" ^^ ^^T'^'f 
 
 Uion^found" rvi^:;L'ic\n\:2:?''^"^^ -^^ -^-^^ ^^ ^^« 
 
 Were I but capable — " 
 
 craZTaXS""' "• '^T^ "" '"""^ ^ility, no 
 wool i„ tbrfaoto ;"T,^,',>T """ *° <='"'•' "'» Pi<=l« *e 
 weaves it „t„S7 LeT ""fl"- Z"/'"™' ">° "'°™ «-t 
 
 Kar, free acl,„is,io„ to ev JJ be lo to P "'"""",' "j"^' " 
 at 'La Troa auv j,.,, ^ 'f™"" "> P"™. and a dinner 
 
 every Sunday?" -"'""■'= y™ *"-=<• yesterday - 
 
 "A bargain," cried I, in ecstasy. 
 Concluded by botb parties, wbo thns acknowledge their 
 
 ■"! 
 
 M 
 
 fi 
 
 III 
 
212 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Ji 
 
 hand and seal," cried he, tossing off a glass of champagne • 
 and then, rising from the table, he prepared to taite" his 
 leave. " 1 conclude," said he, "that you'll not continue 
 your residence here much longer. Seek out some quarter 
 less near to heaven, and more accessible to poor human 
 nature." 
 
 I promised to folic v the advice, and we separated : he to 
 repair to liis haunts, — the cafe,;, the editorial snuggeries, and 
 otlier gossip shops of Peris ; and I to seek out a more con- 
 genial abode, and one more b, fitting the favorable turn 
 which Fate had now impia-t^d to my fortune. 
 
 The aflernoon of that same day saw me installed in a 
 pleasant little apartment overlooking th, ;.- ien of the 
 Luxembourg, and where, from a little terract, I could inhale 
 the odor of tho orange blossom,,, and see the children at play 
 amid the plas.'jng )f fouutainy and the waving of the tall 
 grass. It was, as I discovered, the quarter of the whole 
 artiste class, — poets, painters, actors, sculptors, feuilleto- 
 nists, and caricaturists : nor was it difiicult to ascertain the 
 fact, as a certain extravagance of beard, various modifica- 
 tions of hat, and peculiarly cut coats and trousers presented 
 themselves at every moment. Resolving to n " tlie livery 
 of my race," I made my appearance in a jit of coffee- 
 brown, hat and russet boots to matrfh ; as for beard, a life 
 of seclusion for several weeks had only left me the task of 
 retrenchment; and the barber whose services T invoked 
 had but to ask my career to impress me with that artiste 
 s..imp that makes every full-faced man a mock " Flolbein " 
 and every thin one a bad Vandyke. ' 
 
 thp'nT?' ^\"^?;'^^ts wear it straight across, and square below 
 the chn sir," said he. " This is a plate of Monsieur Eugc^ne 
 Sue ; but there is a certain dash of energy about Monsieur's 
 eyes -a kind of ' beaute insolente,' if I ,nay be pardoned 
 the phrase -that would warrant the beard i be\>ointed. 
 May I venture to trim Monsieur as Salvator Rosa^" 
 
 Use your own discretion. Monsieur Palmyre." said I- 
 the responsibility is great, and I will not clog it by even a 
 suggeshon." ° ■^ 
 
 from his hands is no exaggeration, so perfectly changed had 
 
 1 'i 
 
"A NEW WALK ,,v -KOO^ESSly, U.E. 2U 
 
 my features beeomp in fi ^- 
 
 w- perfect; and Uus aloii'^^C^r H ^' ^ ^^'«^"'-' ^^ 
 . As I walked the alleys of th V , v T" ''^^'^'^^^^naaiion. 
 instant men travestied like mvi "^''"°' ''^'''^ ^^ every 
 "ot l^elp reealling the cL ^ f .'"^""f. ''"^^' ^^eut, I could 
 augurs could n,eet face to f ee\ t ';"? "'^^' " '^« two 
 wondered excessively how we artis "" ''"-•^'"='" ^"^^ I 
 and preserved even a decent 'r'vUv" '"^'''^^' ^^^^ ^^^^r 
 
 ~x;redit:::;st^^^ - r ^- - ^ 
 
 Jtempete" to furnish a feuHl "n of '7" ' '^ ""^^'^ ^' " ^a 
 four hues; the postscript addit that a.^/-'^' '"^^ *^^«"*^- 
 ^ad just arrived from Macr^some u ^ ""'"^ ^" ^"^«^li'^- 
 Chnaoises" would be well thn d O 'r^'"'^^'^ ^^^« ^""^"^'s 
 what a lacquered tea-tray an he '.vil^o ^'''^ ^ ^"^^ ^'"^w 
 «^e ; but I set to work at^onc atu v? ^'"''''''' ^""^^^ teach 
 to be personal adventures and S l^f '"'"'"'"^ ^J sketches 
 
 wasp;:S:til;— -cess theairofv 
 deluded by the impositi^ "^as ttl ''^ ""''' ^^^'« «^ 
 frequently met me at Shanlkee-fhil o' r '''^ "^"^^ ^^^^ 
 
 Thus was I launched into o ° ' ^'«»g-wong-loo. 
 
 ^-u-ng, the most etmnTaLrrm"' f f "^''^'^'^^ "-^t 
 
 dissipated. Living apart^rom al Si ,"• '"''^ '^' '"-t 
 
 of our own, where wi only re '"^^ "W^"^^ '^^'^^^ 
 
 selves were pleased to pafnt 1 , ''"'^'^ "' ^'^ °»'- 
 
 long scoff and sneer at evervbidvo,'''" "^^^ ^'^''^ one 
 
 «h;p meant the habit o meet';^^^^^ everything. Friend- 
 
 "obih y of soul was his .vho p ■ 1 fh T'^ '''' ^^'^^est 
 
 If there was little icfnn 7 ' '"^ ''eckoning, 
 
 -rtainlyno care nt at u:,^^r" ^"""^^ "•^' ^^-^ was 
 condemned, a poem cuf u "'"™"'- ^ great picture 
 
 suggested ; ^CZ'll ^'T'. " ^^'y '^'««ed off o L 
 author would be tif .,fto cTf '" "'^" *^'^ ""'-^y 
 and ridicule the offsnri.o of ■ " ' "''^'^ '^'^^ ^"•>'> failure 
 
 -kfors,„,p,thywr"fn;^h:^,ro7 v'^T ""'^^ ^^^^ 
 I^^ven thieves, the prnverb "i, f ^"''^ ^"'" t'»^'nseIvP.v 
 
 ««ch other; but we were woit 2. .T'"" "^^""«^-" ^ith 
 
 i 
 
 if 
 
 '11 
 
 wi 
 
 'lul 
 
214 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 
 exhibited a statue at tlie Louvi-e, another was sure to carici- 
 ture it for the Passage de I'Opera. If one brought out a 
 grand drama at the Franyais, a Inirlesque was certain to fol- 
 low it at the Palais-RoyaL p:very little trait that neuc inter 
 course and familiarity discloses, every wealuh. 4s that is laid 
 bare in the freedom oi' friendly association, were made venal, 
 and worth so much :; line for '' Le V^oleur " or "' L'Kspior." 
 
 As to any sulkuig, or dreaming of -esenting thest; iui'rac- 
 tions, he miglit as well try to repress the free-iuKl-.vasy 
 haliits of u midylupman's !)erth. They were the " masonry 
 of the craft," v.ijieli eacii tacitly subscribed to when he 
 entered it. 
 
 All intercourse uas courpletely gladiatorial, not for dis- 
 play, but for defence. Everlasting badinage on every sub- 
 ject and on everybody was the order of each day; and as 
 success was to the full us nmeh quizzed as failure, iny 
 exhibition of vanity or self-gratulation met a heavy retri';ni- 
 tion. Woe unto him whose romance went through throe 
 editions in a fortnight, or whom the audience called for at 
 the conclusion of his drama! 
 
 As for the fairer portion of our guild, being for the most 
 part ostracized in general society, they bore a grudge against 
 their sex, and affected a thousand airs of mannishness. 
 Some always dressed in male attire; many sported little 
 moustaches and chin-tufts, rode man-fashion in the Bois de 
 Boulogne, fought duels ; and all smoked. Like other con- 
 verts, they went farther in their faith than the old believers, 
 and talked Communism, Socialism, and Saint Simonianism, 
 with a freedom that rose high above all the little prejudices 
 ordinary life fosters. 
 
 If great crimes, such as shock the world by their enormity, 
 were quite unknown among us, all the vices practicable 
 vrithin the Law and the Code Napole'on were widely popular ; 
 and the worst of it all was, none seemed to have the remo- 
 test conception that he was not the beau-ideal of moraii' ■ 
 The simple fact was, we assumed a very low standar" i. 
 right, and chose to wa : ^ven under that. 
 
 With Paris and all its ied forms of life I soo;; '>>!;. t-ne 
 perfectly familiar, — not merely that city which occip. - the 
 Faubourg St. Honore, or St. Germain, not the Vuxid of 
 
"A NKW WALK ,N PROORESSIVE WE." 21C 
 
 tii^' Boulevards or the Pnlnia t? i , 
 ■•^'- Denis, the Batignolles Z" r? ""^ ^''. ^"* ^''^'^ ^^^^-tier 
 knew ev.ry dialect, from Jhfsl-n' T^^ '^' ^">'« I^^^in. I 
 tional language of its lowe't p ^^^ 'fr T ''' ^^"-"- 
 froir, the cabinet of the MinisfM . / ''""''^ every rumor, 
 t e '^ Coulisses : " what tJe" or ll ^id td'tl'^^'f ''''''^' ^' 
 of its varying and dissimilar sect ons "^^'^'' *" '^'^ 
 
 move was judged; what was th. .^"'"^ '^"'^ P^l'tical 
 or that measure ; low the '^ nnnv ! '^fi'» '"'''"» ^^^ this 
 ^ issatisfied, whether w th the Z f'''^ ^^^'^ ^^^isfied or 
 tl^e legs of the new dan ou 1 • 'fr ?' ""^ '^'' ^^*"'«try, or 
 perfection of a feuilletonLte Vr "k ^ ^^^'^'"e the v;ry 
 species of literature, - the ever wnf !' ^"^'^'^^ ««^''-et in this 
 public; and when i't is con: d i^f ,' "' f ^-'-^tion of the 
 public, the task is not quite so oM n ' '' ^ ^^^'^n 
 
 This watchfulness, and a certain ht^r? T? ^'""'^' ^^««^" ^t. 
 from any theme, howevert roi tTt "^"' "^^'^'^ ^^^inks 
 
 it^nsiT'^' ^-^ ^" ^^'^uSiS:^^"'^"^' ^— 
 
 excitement:^ tlL^lLlThTr^ "^^'-^"^ ^^ ^^--^ 
 ceasing flow of stimulating 1,0,.^ ''""i'^'^' '^' "^^^'- 
 for happiness, I ,ni<w,t havt. be 'ad > ^"^^ ^""^^^^ 
 eon ented. Still, the whole was^-^,? ""^^V" ^'''''' ^«^"' 
 world we had made for ourselves n', f""' '^"^^^ ^^« t^e 
 ments, all our speculations, our Lnf' "' '" "'"' J"^^' 
 our very likings and dislikings Our ant .Th' '-^"^'^'P'-^tions, 
 and what we denounced with al th. . f ^f "'' ^"^'^ "^ock, 
 heartfelt conviction in one tim If 7^ r'''/'"""«"^«« «f 
 uounced to be a heaven-sent hir- • "*"* ""f^'equently pro- 
 the pen, we had no X 1 '^ ^^^ '-^"""-^ B'-^s of 
 utterly indifferent at whom w s£k " '"' P'^' ^'^^ ^^re 
 should prove fatal. That II louH 7' """^^'^ *^^ ^'^^ 
 every subject; that we shoJd ceZT, T""' '"'^^''^^ «« 
 -anything, believing that aU a v"? ^"^ ^''^^^' ^^'^'^ence on 
 and unreal as ourselves! wa n Z T' 'f'^^' ^^P^^'^tical, 
 of mind bears its own ^elltv S.- , r'"^^''' ^"* ''^'^ ^^'^^^e 
 miserable victim of supers L'f 1'' '"'^ "^* ^^'^n the 
 l^^m whose mind clemai Hf "ista^t T'^ ^^"^"^« 1"- 
 course, the torrent of new ide" " f T^""''^ ^^ "^ter- 
 "nreflecting and unthinkint '"'' *^"* ^^"'^^ ^^m along, 
 
 'tf 
 I 
 
 M 
 
 I;'; 
 
 
 
216 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 n 
 
 It will be easily seen that all my narrative of myself met 
 but little faith in such company. They unhesitatingly re- 
 jected the wh(jle story of my wealth ; and my future restora- 
 tion to rank and riches used to be emploved as a Iviud of 
 synonym for tlie Greeic calends. The worst of all this was, 
 then- disbelief infected even me, and I gradually began to 
 look upon myself as an impostor. My hope — the guide-star 
 that cheered me in many a dark and gloomy period — be<rati 
 to wane, and I felt tliat ere long all those aspirations which 
 had spirited me on in life would lie cold and dead within me, 
 and that my horizon would extend no further than where 
 each daily sun sunk to rest. To show any discontent with 
 iny walk, to evince in the slightest degree any mis<>ivincrs 
 that we of " La petite Presse " did not give laws to taste, 
 morals, jurisprudence, and legislation, would have been hio-h 
 treason. To imply a doubt that we held in our hands, not 
 alone the destinies of Paris, but of Europe, —of all civiliza- 
 tion,— would have been a rank and outrageous heresy. Like 
 the priest, the journalist can never unfrock himself. The 
 mark of the ink, more tenacious than the blood on Lady 
 Macbeth's fingers, will "never out." What, then, could I 
 do.-' For, wearied of my calling, I yearned for a little truth, 
 for a new glimpse of reality, however short and fleeting. 
 
 Full of these thougiits, I repaired one morning to the 
 Trou-aux-Bois, where fortunately I found my friend Paul 
 alone, — at least, except three secretaries, to whom he was 
 dictating by turns, he had no one with liim ! "Wait till 
 I have finished this 'Attack of Wolves on a Caravan,'" 
 said he, "and the ' Death of Jules de Tavanne by Poison,' 
 and I 'm your man. Meanwhile, step into my study ; there 
 are masses of newspapers and letters which you can read 
 freely." 
 
 He did not detain me long. Apparently the wolves were 
 weak, and soon beaten off, and the poison was strong, and 
 soon did its work; for he joined me in less than half an 
 hour. 
 
 My explanation was listened to patiently, and, what sur- 
 prised me more, without astonishment. He saw nothin<r 
 exaggerated or high-flown in the difflculcies I started, and 
 even went the length of confessing that many of my objec- 
 
myself met 
 sitatingly re- 
 tiire restora- 
 iii a kind of 
 all this was, 
 lly began to 
 ie guide-star 
 iod — began 
 ixtions which 
 lI witiiin me, 
 
 than where 
 3onteiit with 
 
 misgivings 
 ws to taste, 
 'e been high 
 
 hands, not 
 all eiviliza- 
 eresy. Lilve 
 nself. The 
 )d on Lady 
 en, could I 
 little truth, 
 leeting. 
 ling to the 
 'riend Paul 
 lom he was 
 "Wait till 
 Caravan,'" 
 by Poison,' 
 udy; there 
 1 can read 
 
 '^olves were 
 trong, and 
 an half an 
 
 what sur- 
 w nothing 
 arted, and 
 
 my objec- 
 
 "A NKVV WALK IN PROGRESSIVE LIFE." 217 
 
 tions had occurred to his own mind " Rnf .1 .. . , 
 " what is to be done? If you " I' s., k *'''"' '"''' ''^' 
 certain that you will concuMn te 1 ^ [r' ?" ^"' '^'T' 
 >vhich you tjoht? lif^Pnmp „ 1 ^ ^^ *^'^ ^^"^^ ^or 
 
 T.y ,„ec.ici„e , ,u„f.v>,.Je ;4; bo ^ ' 'p.:S /'" ™°"f 
 prescribe fo,- tl,e realiv a/llieted ■,, ,1 ,, . /"" ""'^ 
 caprice, auci faster tbe^oon,, a ..i'n.'f ',.'?' ',"""«" '"« 
 "aire '? As an anotlwnn,-,, '""-■''•,"' "'" maladc iiiiagi- 
 
 to tbe eud of tbe c a, e" o 1,, '' •'"'''''''''™'' ' »"'l ™ 
 
 because it ijbe bet, but b ause h"', "' ■?" '"'" "' ""' 
 -bove all, be slow iu eba ,»,."?«. 1 t'l.^^ ""'7' """' 
 with success. Tbe best Moot tl,!f •. " ^■°" '"''■'^ ■"<=' 
 
 public tbink so." ' """ " ""'^ y°" i'. 'Iiat the 
 
 Bee'"?;;? i'rr ;.":;„::, zr"*i ' r -"«'«' -^ "-■- «» 
 
 some other as,«ot 1^ ,', "" °^°'™ "•»"■""'' ""der 
 few moments'' nscu,sio„,,IT?'.T' ''"'^'y- "'"'• »"" » 
 
 he bad received ::'";; otl'v" "'"' "' < ''"^' 
 DucdeSf Pir.M.1 I "^'^ '""»'""g- 'lou remember the 
 
 sp™t here'?" "' ""'°"' ^°" "^' "' <"-- «- ««' <!»; you 
 "Perfectly." 
 
 to;ri\ti™ii;:,./— a^r^;^^^^^^^^^^ 
 .xr"rrr;:-:,:;;,i'-™rt;''''-''»''''""^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 «.y Hterary .a-^ultL* c^ 'fiirrX::? ^r """"^ 
 secretary. You are ovnoiKr fj. ^'^e omce of his private 
 
 Thedutfes areli^t 1^ naVliL'^r.f''' ^'^ ''^PP^-^'^-nt. 
 in every way; and in If? ' .*'^' I'"'^^^^" ^^^''e^^ble 
 
 country, pfop^a f e;;;;"V"L^;f J' ^^ "°«lty of 
 prince for my comuani,,, ,. adventure, with a 
 
 desires of m/aSn ' ~ '"' '"' ""= ^"'^ «™™i"g 
 
 
 
t&u. 
 
 218 
 
 CONFESSir 
 
 •*^N CllEGAN. 
 
 "1 '11 write about .1 tais very day : there will be a mail for 
 Algiers nujcle up tins evening, .nd not a moment Tu be 
 lost in making the .•ipplication." 
 
 I could not express one half my gratitudo fo- .his oppor- 
 tune kmdncHs; and when I again tu, ..d a.y stepa tS 
 Pans, my h.art had regained the buoyant elasticity wWch 
 had 80 often lifted me above Ul the troubled waves of Ife 
 
V Ipaa fU „ — JtJLES Jam v. 
 
 I faave Just r „ll ^.W^^T^, f ^ 1^^ ^"tcvie. 
 enclosing another, n iroHsecl toV /''""" ^" ^f''»'^rale, 
 «eal at once prod. ,, the l^ '^^ '"^"^^ ^'^^^^^^ ''oja 
 only a few lines, thus:-- '''"'' ^' Minerale's was 
 
 ^^^^^^m ItZt ^^:^^^^ ' -P^y to ., „ote, by 
 -;ough to secure your aj,po tm' nt t" ^ ?"^' ""^^ ^^^tunate 
 filling the iustructions contained Tn it I / ^-""^ ^ "^°'"'^"t i" ful- 
 the « Fr^res,' at seven. " '*' ^"^ '^"^•^ ^'ith me to-day at 
 
 " Yours, 
 
 "My Dear Dk MmfiPArP nr "^'- ''^^^'^Rters, Qrax. 
 ourfriond 'he ' ()„,.uorzi^mt^' "I ?°'"''^ ^ remember perfectlv 
 
 J'-e since ^eenn:::i::Zsj'::2'XT ''''''' ^' ^^^ 
 «"it me well, bein;^ a fellow of 1 ih ',"' ''''P'°t« ^e would 
 
 "ess, and, if T m .take not^^e , fiSd'r'^L ^^'''^' ^'-"'^t '^^'i- 
 ^ampaign. But it strike m' th"t if T" '""«'' "'^^^^ ^^ ^ 
 you represent it thepv-^!.. , " '''^ Position i,P onch „_ 
 
 This ,,%,,,,, .a „itw"&:a":;i'„'%'''''*" 
 
 we never see tmffloc ii, . , " '^^ luxuries. Tell i,,m fi,„<. 
 
 truffles, that champagne is only a tiadL " Itf 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 ■t^'i, and. 
 
220 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON C REGAN. 
 
 except Moorish .latiiscls, wli'^ never «how iih more of their faws 
 than a pair of eyes, -.Jartiu- fire and uii-.-r.-w,, have no benij. 
 tle.s. Yet If, (l.«spite all thcs.. drawbacks jio be still willini.' f<. 
 tempt Ins fortune, and trust (o 'a razzia • for the rest, let him call 
 on fount du V.-r-nubl.., at the 'Minisloro .Ic la (Juerre,' where he 
 will hnd every thai-' in readiness for his appointment 
 
 " Should he dcNire it, he can also receive his commission in mv 
 own iry^njcnt, the l:Uh Chasseu.s-Ji-chcval ; and as he will not 
 be called on for duty he might as well accept an appoint.nent 
 tfiat will at least give lain forage for his horses and some other 
 advantages. 
 
 "Send me all the new things that are out, and tell me what 
 you and Alphonse are doing. 'iMes amities ' to our fair friend in 
 tlie Kue roiicliaule, and the like — indiMcriininately — to all the 
 others. 
 
 *« Yours aft'ectionately, 
 
 H. DE St. C. 
 
 "You call him • Le Comte de Creganne,' and so I have written 
 it for the Minister : is this right? " 
 
 I read and re-read the hotter till T knew every sentence of 
 it by heart; and then, dressing myself with a deyree of care 
 the importance of the occasion sujrocsted, I drove off for the 
 Minister's oflice. It was not the hour of his usual recep- 
 tion ; but on sending in my name, which I did as Le Comte 
 de Creganne, I was at once admitted. 
 
 His Excellency was all smiles and affability, praised his 
 Royal Highness's selection of a name so greatly honored in 
 literature, and paid me many flattering compliments on my 
 writings,— which, by the way, he confounded with those 
 of half-a-dozen others; and then, after a variety of civil 
 speeches, gently diverged into a modest inquiry as to my 
 native country, rank, and fortune. " We live in days, mon 
 Cher Comte," said he, laughing, "in which high capacity 
 and talent happily take precedence of mere lineage; but 
 still, an illustrious personage has always insisted upon the 
 necessity of those immediately about the person of the 
 princes being of noble families. 1 am quite aware that you 
 can fulfil every condition of the kind, and only desire such 
 information as may satisfy his Majesty." 
 
 I replied by relating the capture of my property at Malaga, 
 which, among other things, contained all the title-deeds'of 
 
N. 
 
 •re of their faws 
 
 rVt; liiivc no Imnui- 
 i Hlill willing' (,, 
 
 rt'Mt, let him call 
 ; lie lie,' where ho 
 eiit 
 
 juiinissiou in luy 
 <1 118 ho will not 
 an iij)pointnu'nt 
 
 and some other 
 
 nil tell me what 
 )ur fair friend in 
 tely — to all the 
 
 H. DE St. C. 
 
 3 r have written 
 
 'ry sentence of 
 degree of care 
 rove oft' for the 
 is usunl recep- 
 d as Le Com to 
 
 ty, praised his 
 tly honored in 
 linients on my 
 led Avith those 
 ariety of civil 
 uiry as to my 
 3 in days, mon 
 high capacity 
 2 lineage; but 
 sted upon the 
 person of the 
 iware that you 
 ly desire such 
 
 irty at Malaga, 
 title-deeds of 
 
 '"y ^Htates, and the patent .,f 
 
 r:V' P-iucing ul:' l!:>;"f''''^^ , - These alone,-. 
 
 CoKle de CVegano, '' are u f t .'^ "^ "^'^'''^'-^-i to me L 
 
 emuHl me of ,ny form.r st-mi. .'""'" ^'' "^« »'^w to 
 
 linlKsh Huhject, , nngh u ;-' "";' ^^'^'-"gh, us bo n a 
 «ub.stantiate my eiain..; ,. „ Z '•''''''>' ^o n.y ,„i,n;ster to 
 
 us^es, „,,,,,,„, ,.,,,^^^^J^^ patriot, have nuule 
 
 ;^f i;re"^;t;;;;;:;;;r r!:;;;;r-r '^^^^^^^^ The 
 
 rebelhon at once,- and a (T; f , """^.^''^^''^thy for j,iJa 
 appon.tment sy., /Hied up and r ^^"^^ ^'''^ cliscu^sion, n, 
 ^-•y <o Ihe Due de St. ClZ S^ •""'""' ^'''^^te S^c '. 
 
 become by that time a kin/of • , '' ''"'" "' ^^^'-'^a had 
 vliere Frenchmen could i, f ''"''^', '' ^^'"'^ ^''^" only liehl 
 he military fever of 11^? •'^"^' *'-""•'•" 'U.nJ, a 
 J- enthusiasn. I tlnxnv uy" ' uT h'' ''' '^''°^^- ^"to 
 he stimulation derived f/J„ ./'''' "'^^' ^^^^ it need 
 
 ;;27-^ r - P.vparat,ons for 
 
 the Court, to waft upon vi^^io, T* '' ^''"'^'^ «"dience of 
 
 ">'». of mi„e was, howe™ "IT "'■""-'-=">■ sad affair,. 
 
 the r.in ^ *''^ brilliancv and nt ? ^'""''^' '^'^ast, 
 
 the cleverest men in Paris JtL ."'''''''''' ^^^cellence of 
 hi'igs, the ready-witted om^ , P^'^fessional sayers of smart 
 
 o smash a cabi.L, o L^:^',!"' '''^'''^^ ^-^ «"d 
 ^-h «nHts, smce what ^r^o^^T^ "^^ f^'' ^ ^"^' ^^^ 
 P« -at gave n..ay others a' 'sTeVS; .V"^^^ ^'^ 
 
 «iep in the ranks of 
 
 ';,! 
 
 the 
 lette: 
 
 
222 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 "Wbat speeches were made in my honor, what toasts, 
 prefaced by all the exaggeration of praise that would have 
 been fulsome, save for the lurking diablerie of fun that 
 every now and then burst forth in the midst of them ! And 
 then there were odes, and sonnets, and songs, in which my 
 future achievements were pictured in a vein half-flattering, 
 half-satirical, — that peculiar eau sucre', with a squeeze of 
 lemon, that only a Frenchman knows how to concoct! 
 
 During one of my most triumphant moments, when two of 
 the very prettiest actresses of the " Odeon " were placing 
 a laurel crown upon my brow, a cabinet-messenger was 
 announced, and presented me with an order to repair at once 
 to the Tuileries with my official letter of appointment, as 
 his Majesty, by some accident, had forgotten to append to 
 it his signature. Apologizing to my worthy friends for a 
 brief absence, which they assured me should be devoted to 
 expatiating on those virt- s of my character which my 
 presence interdicted them from enlargi/.g upon, I arose, and 
 
I 
 
 "MOI ET MON PRINCE." 223 
 
 pronouuced me perfect, a„<I I dmve off ^ "' '™«"' 
 
 AltUouga alreadv past midni^lif ,J ir- 
 memheis of the royal fain wS "=• ™'' s"™™' 
 
 the minister, a few .1™!'^™.?'° *?"''' =" *""■■ "™ »' 
 dor betag of the party ' " '°''"2'' ""''«'«»". 
 
 I was now iotroduced by^mZ^:7:r !^^Tl' 
 Kl?Sr«r^ ^■°- '^■'^-^'" -« ^el-.wiee^'^e^e'-.t 
 
 it seem, I had Ti^ot,™ tl' ''*' ''*'y<'^''-- Count, 
 mistake that ,„i,h have .^ T ^""^ appointment, _ a 
 and delay a Awt. l""T^ ^'°" """"^ ""convenience 
 forgetfnlnes,." ^ '" ""^ "'"'""' ""'» Piece of 
 
 ^qua^ZriSth^'thrh "^Pi.-.^»=f<- M- tte great 
 cltainc. my'^^ml^^atl™! ""=" °'"""' ^''"' -™»<i. 'hat 
 
 tea',' Co'u'nV'" r tt K™"" T"' '^ ''"'P^ "> ^ive yon some 
 
 g^eat^'o^re » '^nTl""'.^" "' f "= '-"^ '-table of^a 
 a king, ;rf„^' oin hL Va™"" ''^'■^'"' '"^ <>»"«'"- <" 
 
 eten^disr;: ''iiss^^sittor't^ ^ ^^'-'^ ^■-- 
 
 toneof thesoverei™ M,n. f ?.-h k, , "" "'",">»""«■ and 
 was his nsual mann'er-™ as f ee fmS*,T ""^ ""'"■'' " 
 -periority as won.d he any pSir ^I^^^ rdTK;^ 
 
 11 
 
 
 ; .-11 j 
 
 i r 
 
'1 1 ! 
 
 224 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 'til 
 
 Fi! 
 
 roof; his conversation was maintained in a tone of perfect 
 familiarity with all around him, and even when differing in 
 opinion with any one, there was a degree of almost defere°nce 
 in the way he insinuated his own views. 
 
 On this occasion he directed nearly all his attention to my- 
 self, and made Ireland the subject, asking a vast variety of 
 questions, chiefly regarding the condition of the peasantry 
 their modes of life, habits of thinkh.g, education, and future 
 prospects. I saw that my stcitements were all new to him 
 that he was not prepared for much that 1 told him, and he 
 very soon avowed it by saying, -These, I must own, are 
 not the opinions I have usually heard from your countrymen. 
 Count ; but I conclude that the opportunities of ti-avel and 
 the liberalism of thought which intercourse with forei<ru 
 countries begets, may lead you to take views not quite In 
 accordance with mere stay-at-home politicians." I could 
 have given him another and more accurate explanation of the 
 difference. It was the first and only time that his Maiestv 
 had conversed with the son of a peasant, -one, himself born 
 and bred beneath the thatch of a cabin, and who had felt the 
 very emotions which others merely draw from their imaoina- 
 tions. As it grew late, his Majesty arose, and the Ministers 
 one by one retired, leaving me the only stranger present. 
 Now, Count, I must not d.tain you longer; you leave 
 Tans early to-morrow morning, and I should have remem- 
 bered how large a portion of your night I have monopolized. 
 1 his paper, — where is it ? " 
 
 I at once took up the envelope, and drew forth a docu- 
 ment; but conceive my liorror when I discerned that it was 
 a piece of verse, -a droll song upon my new dignity that 
 one of my villanous companions had stuffed into the envelope 
 in place of my oOicial letter of appointment "rushincr it in 
 my hand, I pulled out another. Worse agum ! It was the 
 bil-of-fare of our dinner at Very's, where " enti-Mes " and 
 " hors-d'anivres, salmis and mac Moines," figured in impos- 
 ing array. One document still remained, and I drew it out • 
 but as his Majesty's eyes were this time bent upon me I 
 had not a moment to see what might be its contents, — indeed 
 I half suspected the King saw my indecision; and, determin- 
 mg to put a bold face on the matter, I doubled down a blank 
 
'MOI ET M02^ PRINCE." 
 
 1 differing in 
 ost deference 
 
 ■It "as ali I couW do • T„™ I""" "<=' whatever. -^ 
 
 "-'I replace,, u „„■";"' V'-"'""'^ acco,„ » T' "^ '•■""l 
 
 effected to h-ivo y'^^"y t^e triumph of fi..i , ^^^• 
 
 o.. w '^^^ discovered tim + • , . "'•^"" ma ce T 
 
 dfeaJer^-f "'?, •:°">P""«i«n there Z I Zl \'"'™'y «« 
 and „,.:[," '— -e had e,.^!^, ^1^^:^,^ 
 VVe separated now, with n]i h . 
 
 last .i„e, - .tZi ;™";' - '- «i.o,k ,„, ,;„„, ^ ' ™o 
 
 »" njany vicissitudes, -!!el me f™; ,'" """<■' »«""'- life h's 
 «'n history, y„„,. ,i„^^, , « ™ f™"l.-l.v, then, if ^^^ 4'? 
 
 f™- ".bles, y„,„. „„,„,;» S;'"' ami gold, your-dia,„o„ch 
 a h m„l.„a, together „itl, "''„ "'' ^ ""■ "'"Mores, are not ,1 
 a'l'ts conseq„e„ce.,?.. ^ "' "°l'"»"meat i„ Malaga, 1^" 
 True, every word of h " • , ^ 
 " Come, conie, „^^ "' ; «""' '■ i-pressively. 
 and above-bo-rrt ■ 1 T ""'"■'" '» '"fe will, ,„, r, 
 "Y I P.-on,trl,; .;:,, ;"-^«''" ".e ^hl'le'tas^rS; 
 
<tl 
 
 226 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 twaw.' 
 
 esteem I set n?ore store by. If I could oblige you by becom- 
 ing a cheat, my regard for you might possibly overmaster 
 my better judgment ; but, unhappily, I am what I represent 
 myself, and wliat I trust one day yet to convince you." With 
 this we parted. As the diligence drove away, I could see 
 Paul still standing in the same place, evidently unable to 
 resolve tlie dillicult problem of my veraciousness. 
 
 And now I am approaching a chapter of my history whose 
 adventures and chances are alone a story in themselves. The 
 varied fortunes of a campaign in a strange land, vith strano-e 
 enemies, new scenes and climate, of course Avere not without 
 incidents to diversify and interest them; and although I 
 could probably select more passages of curious adventure 
 from this than from any other portion of my life, J am forced 
 to pass by all in silence ; and for these reasons : first, the 
 narrative would lead me to a greater length than I have any 
 right to presume upon in this history, or to believe that 
 my reader would be a willing party to ; and, secondly, the 
 recital would entail the acquaintance Avith a vast variety of 
 characters, not one of whom ever again occurred to me in 
 life, and of whom, when I quitted Africa, their very names 
 never were heard by me more. And here I may be par- 
 doned for saying that I have been sadly constrained, in these 
 my Confessions, to avoid, upon the one hand, any mention 
 of those persons who mej-ely exercised a passing influence on 
 my fortunes, and yet to show by what agencies of personal 
 acquaintanceship my oharaeter became formed and moulded. 
 In a novel, tlie world would seem to consist of only the very 
 characters introduced, or, rather, the characters serve as 
 abstractions to represent certain qualities and passions of 
 mankind; but in real life is this the case? Nay, is it not 
 precisely the reverse? Do not the chance intimacies we 
 form in the steamboat or the diligence very frequently 
 leave deep and lasting impressions behind them? Are not 
 phrases remembered, and words treasured up as axioms, that 
 we have heard passingly from those we are never to see 
 again? Of how many of our strongest convictions the 
 origin was mere accident, — ideas dropped like those seeds 
 of distant plants that are borne for thousands of miles 
 upon the wind, and let fall in some far-away land to take 
 
IGAN. 
 
 lige you by becom- 
 >ssibly overmaster 
 n what I represent 
 \iiiee you." AVith 
 away, I could see 
 'idently ujiable to 
 asncss. 
 
 my history whose 
 I themselves. The 
 land, vith strange 
 ! Avere not without 
 ; and although I 
 curious adventure 
 f life, I am forced 
 •easons : first, the 
 1 than I have any 
 r to believe that 
 md, secondly, the 
 
 a vast variety of 
 occurred to me in 
 
 their very names 
 e I may be par- 
 istrained, in these 
 md, any mention 
 ssing influence on 
 ncies of personal 
 led and moulded. 
 ; of only the very 
 racters serve as 
 
 and passions of 
 ? Nay, is it not 
 ?e intimacies we 
 
 very frequently 
 
 them? Are not 
 p as axioms, that 
 ire never to see 
 
 convictions the 
 
 like those seeds 
 usands of miles 
 vsiy land to take 
 
 "MOI ET MON PKINCE.,. gg^ 
 
 root and fructify? And nm .1 
 
 ;-J when a ma.^ J,^ ^ f ff!o / '-^'""^^ '"^ ^' «-'*- 
 ^y^ are the letters of ^n i.Hlivid ??•'" ^ '^ '^' ^^'«^-'^? 
 «ave as recording his iul- . / ^^ ^'' ^'''' J>iography 
 people, with whom, inllS^/P, ^T"^ ^^^^^ 
 connection? But enough of ^'r^^ ^"' ^'''^' subsequent 
 ^Pology to those who seethe dieiulr.'; ''"' '"^''"'^^"^ ''' 
 wto do not, I have been prol i X'ut 1 ' """ '''' ^^-« 
 
 i -^ without being profitable. 
 
 battle -had done the work ofe7u nor ^^ ^"""'^"^^ ^"^ 
 appearance. I was bronzed almo t o x/ ^?"«^'^"tion and 
 straggling hairs of oray sliovvedT f ^^"'''''^' ^'^^ ' ^ fow 
 and moustache ; wiIile'ome;il eff T "^ ^"^^' '^^^ ^^ard 
 ;nds had in.parted a ster ef h X^ r'"'; "' ''^^^'-"'^ 
 btt e resembled the careless J oH ' f ^ ""^ ^*^-*^^"'e«' that 
 addition to this, 1 was woum led -'f 7 '''""' ^'^^'«- ^^ 
 defendinir the P-V- - ""^'^a- a ,sabre cut r^^u,^^ • 
 
 J "=W arm i aud altlioogi, encoar. 
 
 I 
 
228 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 U ih 
 
 aged to believe that I should yet recover its use, I was for 
 the time, at least, totally disabled, and as ineoiupeteut to 
 wield a sword us a pen. A very flattering mention of me in 
 "general orders," my name recorded in a despatch, and the 
 ribbon of the "Legion," well rewarded me for these mis- 
 haps ; and now, as a season of peace intervened, I was about 
 to return to France with the rank of " Chef d'Escadron " and 
 the fame of a distinguished oi-'-er. As the Prince, my mas- 
 ter, was to make a tour in the provinces before his return to 
 Paris, permission was given me to visit Italy, whither the 
 physician advised me to repair to recruit my strength, before 
 adventuring upon the trials of a more northern climate. The 
 " Due " overwhelmed me with kind protestations at parting, 
 and gave n)e a letter to the French Minister at Naples^ 
 especially commending me to his friendship, and speaking of 
 my services in terms that my modesty cannot permit me' to 
 repeat. Thus was Fortune once more my friend ; and could 
 I have but obliterated all memory of the past, and of those 
 fatal riches, — the brief enjoyment of which had given an 
 •mpulse to all my desires, — I might now have been well con- 
 tented. High character as a soldier, a certain rank in the 
 service, and the friendship of a Royal Prince, were not 
 trifling advantages to one who had often sued destiny with 
 success, even " informd pauperis; " still, the " great game " 
 I should have played, as the man of large fortune, was 
 never out of my thoughts, and in secret I resolved to return 
 to Mexico, and, as the phrase has it, "look after mv 
 affairs." ^ 
 This determination grew more fixed the longer I considered 
 it ; and here I may remark that the document to which the 
 King had appended his signature and approval was a state- 
 ment of my claims on Spain, drawn up by myself, one of 
 
 those hundred representations wnich I made, in idle hours, to 
 while away time and amuse hope. If I was well aware that 
 the signature was obtained by a mere accident, and without 
 knowledge of the contents, I was not deterred from spec- 
 ulating as to what uGeful purpose it might be employed, 
 
 scruples of conscience being of all things in the world those 
 I best knew how to dispose of. 
 
 On reaching Naples I discovered ILitl ibe Envoy to whom 
 
se, I was for 
 competent to 
 tioa of me in 
 -tch, and the 
 r these mis- 
 , I was about 
 cadron " and 
 ice, my mas- 
 his return to 
 
 whither the 
 ;ngth, before 
 limate. The 
 s at parting, 
 
 at Naples, 
 
 speaking of 
 ermit me to 
 
 ; aud could 
 xnd of those 
 id given an 
 sen well con- 
 rank in the 
 3, were not 
 :lestiny Avith 
 ;reat game " 
 jrtune, was 
 3d to return 
 £ after my 
 
 ; considered 
 3 which the 
 tvas a state- 
 f , — one of 
 le hours, to 
 aware that 
 md without 
 from spee- 
 nployed, — 
 Yorld those 
 
 •y to whom 
 
 •MOI 
 
 MON PRINCE. 
 
 229 
 
 cj^Pty, and conceited ^vhu '. ^^'^^s ^landyism — vn.-. 
 Aithr. u ^^^' ^^^I'l^Page, and 
 
 ■f assured him fl.nf .i 
 
 oi: oir "V"'^' '"-'■' "'""': ::'":. r-' "■' "■"""■•""» 
 
 one of my „^^^^^ . . 'ti to ilje eajc „f ,„ , , 
 
 Spa,„»h G„v.n„„c.,„, t. '*',;,":, '° 1»'^» '^ claim , po^ "'j 
 
 f« notes of my «ta ome'at t Z ^^"r"'"«'' ''" '"ad" f 
 Ambassador upon i, ,„at ZylT *" »'''' ">« Spanish 
 
 from the mome t7,t7iZ"°' 'l ""' " ^'"P"-- one- but 
 "S the aid of th ' Mis ™ • 'r',"^'^'' "^ " P-»„ c,^^' 
 lermelioally sealed a'ah st ' 1 'IT? "^ "'" "■'^^"'•"'y w" 
 '="or" (everything !,'■,""' ',,r ." ' «'"<=<'. "His Exce,! 
 ""her in conference w.'n ",",?' '" ■■"' '"'^"""y l»'ta-) was 
 'patch, or with the com- ';;?'''-°8;™' o.' replying .o do 
 a polite aclcn„w,edg,n: nt of ' 7„t ^ r'"^^"'- "'4^ 
 
 '^--or.ha.hoha;,ree2edt:et:f.;sS.t-'- 
 
 r/li| 
 
 i : 'f'l 
 
230 
 
 i! 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 I knew if I were to address the Due de St. Cloud on the 
 subject, that my essenced friend would at once receive a 
 check, and possibly a heavy reprimand ; but I was too proud 
 to descend to this, and resolved to right niys(?lf without call- 
 ing in the aid of others. With tliis intention, I repaired one 
 day to the Mission, and having waited for some time, till I 
 saw a person leave the cabinet, from wliom I learned that 
 the Envoy was at hom'e, 1 advanced to the door. " Out, 
 sir," said the porter, barring the way. 1 pushed him aside, 
 with the air of one who was not to be trifled with, and, open- 
 ing the door, walked in. 
 
 Whether it was that the suddenness of my appearance 
 unmanned him, or that something in my manner showed 
 there was no time for furtlier deception, he arose to receive 
 me, and handed me a chair. 
 
 "I have come, sir," said I, calmly but resolutely, "to 
 ask if, in the matter which I intrusted to your hands, any 
 progress has been made, or if I am still to be the patient 
 recipient of notes which tell me nothing?" 
 
 " What if there be nothing to tell, su-?" said the young 
 diplomatist, now recovering his self-possession, and standing 
 with his back to the fire, in the very easiest of attitudes. 
 " I will beg of you to be more explicit," said I. 
 *' You shall not have to complain of me on that score, 
 sir," said he, with a most affected air of courtesy; " and, as 
 brevity is the very essence of clearness, I may as well state 
 that on representing the case of El Conde de Cregano to the 
 Minister of Spain, he very gravely assured me that I was 
 inventing a personage, for that no such name existed among 
 tlie nobility of his land. The dignity may be recognized in 
 Mexico," added he, " but the Mexician Minister is equally 
 perverse, and disclaims having so much as heard of you. 
 I spoke of your wealth and great treasures, and they actually 
 were rude enough to laugh, — not at you, sir, don't be angry. 
 — but at me. The Spanish Ambassavlor, indeed, said tlint 
 nothing was more common than for Carlist agents of infcrici- 
 station to assume styles and titles which might entitle them 
 to greater consideration if taken prisoner, and that in this 
 wise you might have succeeded to your countship ; but that 
 to real rank, he persisted in asserting you had no claim 
 whatever. This you must allow, sir, is awkward." 
 
 u 
 
 
3ud on the 
 I receive a 
 i too proud 
 ithout call- 
 'ptiii'ed one 
 time, till I 
 larued that 
 V. " Out, 
 him aside, 
 and, open- 
 
 ippearance 
 
 ler showed 
 
 to receive 
 
 itely, " to 
 liands, any 
 ;he patient 
 
 the young 
 i standing 
 tudes. 
 
 hat score, 
 
 " and, as 
 
 well state 
 
 ano to the 
 
 hat I was 
 
 ted among 
 
 agnized in 
 
 is equally 
 
 i of 3^ou. 
 
 y actually 
 
 be ansry. 
 
 said tlmt 
 
 )f infcrir.r 
 
 title thcni 
 
 at in this 
 
 ; but that 
 
 no claim 
 
 i." 
 
 'MOI ET MON PfiiNCE." 
 
 281 
 
 mtzst Will end'wherei 'be ;,„''' Y^^T ^^""' ^^ ^"^'P^o- 
 one whose sligj.test word oS l" . u ^^""^ ^^'"^^ ^^ i"«"lt 
 that such an exercise of iH, ^'''"' ^^^^ ^'^ "«* ^ee 
 
 ci«proponionedtotheob;cl.t "^^^^ would be luUie.ousTy 
 1, there is a written !.t"r./ 7'''^^ "°'^"^^*- '^'^^^'l 
 f"Il and explicit demand t;/^/"^ "^"''»5 ^^ere a 
 signature of your master he K'/^"^^'"" ' ^"^^ there, the 
 eannot be ignorant of th W "=' "' '^' ^"^* ^' ^t. You 
 't IS a foz-gery. " ^•^"^^' "<^'' can you dare to pretc^; 
 
 his presence of n.ind, and Fe t il ""'^P^^^^'^ overcame aU 
 and perplexity that any one L^ "^. "' ,p ''''' "*" ^^"^"^ion 
 
 "The writing is cefta'2 Tn th^K^ ^ 
 
 ' and therefore I am obliged tn * ?= ' ^^"^'" «aid he, 
 
 claim possesses features I fva, L r''^' ','' ^'^^^^ ^^^t yo,S 
 
 your leave, then, I will |.,Vh . ^''^^^lously aware of- with 
 
 Minister - » ' ' "^'^^ ^'^^ *^^« document before the Sp'a^ 
 
 ;'i/asi?t:d\ttTs;rt\ttf; ^"'^^^'^ ^' ^-^-htny^ 
 
 that paper; nor shall I stoonto . ^'^^^'^ ^ «'^«^^'^°^ Jou 
 
 o^ '»y claim, even from t Sand 'T '^^T'^^^^"^'^ testimo^ny 
 
 mpertinent speech I advanc d L '7'^' " "'^^ ^^'^'t'^ this 
 
 the paper into th. fire, pre,sfn.T[ ' *^' "''''' '-^"^ thrust 
 
 «y oot and watching tnUsaw ' "^" ^"'^ ''^^ ^^^^« ^'^th 
 
 The diplomatist watched 2 "'""^'^^• 
 hnef proceeding, and I Sf fe^! "^^^^ throughout this 
 "'y stratagon, as he said !^^eT rl '?' ""''' ^^^" ^^^0"^" 
 ' ">t oan exist now as to the an h";' "' ""' '-^ ^^^''^^^^ of 
 ''* '»nnd, the best course w m h f "?""tic character of yon,- 
 -'^; the Spanish AmbrssI ^ VeZ^ ^^'T^' ^^'^^ 
 ",-)^tnei. Of coursp thn +• ' "^^" wait upon him 
 
 -ydiscsionof'iS :i,"t,.f"« P"- -ill not ZitTf 
 necessary |„oli„,i„a,.v t„ r,: f ^'"' "'" '«' Presented, _ » 
 
 This ..„ ,„„,„„ „„f,,';^„ r,;*™™- "-' wm f. „o,;, ■■ 
 
 »r •ndeciswn now wonld 1,« '. ■'"■'P: Hut as any dwbt 
 P'-ed Wit, ^, ,„;-« a^d^'piC:'^-' '" "^ -«" 
 
 J'i 
 
 if 1 
 
i • I 
 
 A S!*J!r6R IN THE "CtI^EAT -WORLD." 
 
 T svns noi. without eonsitlorable trepi.lation 
 and great misgivi;.^/ !i,at I awaited the ovenino. ^n,at 
 subtlety might be in store for mo, I could not ;vih..Ts ; but it 
 seemed clear that the young secretary meditiitod a heavy 
 vengeance upon me, and would not lightly pardon the insult 
 I had passed upon him, 
 
 " I have it," thought I, after long and deep ponderino-- 
 "his plan is to introduce me into a great and crowded 
 assembly, with ministers, ambassadors, and generals, and 
 then, in the face of a distinguished company, to proclaim me 
 a cheat and impostor. He has doubtless tlie train all laid, 
 only waiting for the match; and as the outrage will be 
 inflicted conjointly and diplomatically, any demau'd for per- 
 sonal satisfaction will be vain ; while a very slight hint at 
 the Prefecture would suffice to have me expelled from the 
 country." 
 
 Should I confront this danger, or hazard the risk of such 
 an exposure, or should I sufifer judgment to be given against 
 me by default? What a trying alternative! In the one 
 qase, a peril the greater for its shadowy, ill-defined conse- 
 quences ; in the other, certain and irretrievable disgrace! 
 How often did I curse my ambitious yearning after wealth, 
 
fl^'lcl of battle, .n, whol^ e t"'!;!?/ T'' '''^ "^^^^ ^^« 
 "otice of his prince, i ou'W.t f h '"'^"'"^^^ *''« esp. ^al 
 
 wimt higher condition shone f H '\"'''^ '"^^ '^^P'^' -^^ 
 coiinnand of a French re-M nen, ,' ' m'P"'" *° ^'^^'^ the 
 «taff appoinhnent? WhvCl , \/ '^^^^/''^^ '^'^■"e brilliant 
 t''-yelin,b ,he monntain'o If " • T" ^""'^' ^^'^^nward as 
 ^•-.n which thcv lKxvet::u?'';C, !";'". ^'?^^ ^^^- 
 '"'^»y would be convinced thnf Vh .7 ^"^ ^^ ^'^^ ««' ^<^w 
 ""t "sk all by Htrivi rl nl^Y-'r' ,''"' ^"^"'^"^' ^'h' 
 poor peasant^. General o^^^^ The son of the 
 decorated group surrounding the sotl " ~ ?' ^""""- t'"^' 
 - was not this su/lieieutv In l - "" =''^' "^''^" ^ 
 
 ^^y reach, n,erely by h I'th of 1 1^. l" >' ""'T'^^ '''' ^''^hin 
 events ! And yet all hif m, s t ^^^^^''^'^"^'7 ''outine of 
 gold ! And now wl n co " ! f Jeopardize for the sake of 
 
 philosophy .lu4l it^Td'en : ' ' '''''''' ^^>' ^^'-^^ 
 Which sunnned ujT all Ma.lal r? TT'"'"^ "^ '^^' ^^' ^^^d 
 
 genc,v-..it had cut t f b a k tot of"" ' '■^"^" ^'"- 
 «hould I not still abide by it ? Of .n ""'i^?^ ^ tangle ; .- 
 moment to abandon the'boid po icv"'" ^'" "^^ "^^ ^^^ 
 
 lue nosi oi mnie inn " t i 
 njmister, whose receptions w re 1 ttt"', '^'' ^^o Spanish 
 those of the court itself, ocoun Id I •^''' '^^^"^^'^^ than 
 tries of more rigid mora iu 'vo 'l I.f'"? ^^^'^^ '" ««"'^- 
 crowdod. In fact, it was assm d t^t?. '''' '^'"^ ^"'^"^ I^«« 
 station to his having consented l! '''''^ ^'' ''''"'^"* 
 once been the rival'of royaltv itseir'^'^c ^^'^•^ ^^^ ^^'^^ 
 banishment had been thus' Zred p"- ^P"'"' ^"^' ^^^''^e 
 Pnde of her beauty, ad no« • ''"- '"" ^'^ the full 
 ^caudal" only adj^d o ^7^ .f'' -^'^h, the 
 "otonety of any kind is re^ardec Tsn ^w- '°''^^^' ^^^^^ 
 
 She was the reianino- hJf^pl! ^istmction. 
 
 ^-^ on every theC^of !,tn"^^'^^'' ««^ -ord was 
 exerted a considerable influence nnJ''''*^ ' ^'' ^P'"^^"^ 
 
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284 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON CREGAN. 
 
 : 
 
 the arbitress of every claim to admission into that society 
 which arrogated to itself the name of being " the best." 
 
 It is needless to say that a station of the kind engenders a 
 species of tyranny to which the world responds by Tcventing 
 all manner of stories and strange histories; and thus the 
 Marchesa de la Norada was by some proclaimed a natural 
 daughter of the Emperor Napoleon, — by others, of an Eng- 
 lish Royal Duke. Slie was a widow, and the wife of half-a- 
 dozen personages together. There was not an European 
 court into which she had not brought discord, —not a 
 cabinet where she had not sown intrigue. Her beauty had 
 seduced, her gold corrupted, and her wiles entrapped half 
 the great statesmen of the age ; while there was scarcely a 
 cruiie within the red catalogue of the law that was not laid 
 to her charge ; and yet, with all these allegations against her, 
 she was more sovereign in that capital than the rightful 
 queen of the land. This was the presence into which I 
 was to be introduced to-night, and— I frankly own it — I 
 would have rather confronted the searching scrutiny of the 
 most penetrating of men than meet the careless, half- 
 bestowed glances of that woman ! nor was it at all unlikely 
 that to such a test they wished now to subject me and my 
 pretensions. 
 
 It is far easier for many men to confront a personal dan- 
 ger, the peril of life or limb, than to meet the trying dithculty 
 of a slight before the world. To myself, the former would 
 be as nothing in comparison. I could face any amount of 
 peril in preference to the risk of a public mark of deprecia- 
 tion, and from a woman, too ! where redress was as impos- 
 sible as reply was useless. 
 
 It was already midnight ere I could muster courage to set 
 out, --not that the hour was inappropriate, for the Mar- 
 chesa's receptions only began when the opera was over. As 
 I drove along the Chiaia, the crowd of carriages told that 
 this was a night of more than ordinary attraction, and more 
 than one equipage of tlie Court passed by, showing that some 
 members of the royal family would be present. This again 
 terrified me. Was royalty to be among the witnesses of my 
 shame? When a man's thonohts do take the turn of self- 
 tormenting, what ingenuity will they not exhibit, — what 
 
ASOIRf:EmTHE..aREATWORLD.. 
 
 235 
 
 astonishing resources of an 
 my gi-eatest enemy in life couM n? "' / ^™ convinced that 
 part of that sufferh.g wh ch no v T '"' ""' '"^^^*^^"^' ^ ^enth 
 fancies ! Among the though? J, '?^"^°«e^'* ^'om ,ny om.i 
 kept continually Teeurrngt 11' '^°^^^'^^ ->' "^'-1 one 
 
 memory will p,obablynev^r'oer" ""^'■''""' '^^' '"^ 
 I ought not to retnn. and excha;:,." ^'^« my doubt whether 
 
 c othes, and thus avoid expo^b ' tf "'^ ""'''"'•™ ^'°'- Pl^i" 
 
 hove upset half the eo.^n,, ' T ^i '^' ""'"'''"" "'« ""ght 
 
 for me. My eaK-che Ittlnh Z ' ^'"'"''"' ""' '"' ^'™e 
 hMdedmycart witU my larae „ "'!•'" ""= ""'"'■. ''"d I 
 
 at tUe top of the stahs w ,h ° "''■'"''"'^°"'"' "■''» ''""d 
 around hun. u Le r L!"!' "i' "■"«>■ "f Hvoried laoquevs 
 
 '^■■ougl. the .pao,o„\'aZSut,':rr,; " '■^^'' '"' "- 
 
 took it up, and the echo «- f . ' ^''^ ^'^'^es of others 
 
 falling up'on rny heart , 1 e ,e^^ ^t, every syllable 
 
 Although our nro.n- .? " ""^ "" ^loath-bell ! 
 
 e.wd,an'da,lchlnc:ofUwr,"^^^^^^^ '' ''^ ^-- 
 out of the question, the lacoulv -/•""' ' ' ^""' ^* ^'^'^^ 
 aloud, with what! deemed a 1^^^^^^ '' '^^^ ^"3^ "a me 
 
 announcement. At las ceased S"' ^'"P-'-t-''ty of 
 ment of a momentary tranounHt^^' "^ ""^ *^ ^^« ^"Joy- 
 
 It was indeed but mCenL "\" T""' ^^^^ *^° ^--d- 
 made his way thron^^h the fh ?.' ?^ ^^""^ attache had 
 
 " Let us retire th^way aS^^^^^^^^ and wbj ^ in my ea. 
 
 «age, otherwise you wilf ;«„ ! 11 . ^? ^^ ^"''*'^^'- P'^^" 
 «ented to the Marchesa " T n/n f "'^ ^^ "^^'^'- beme pre- 
 have borne even thlrmisfortre ike"" ''^' '™ ^'^^^ ^ -"'d 
 and merely followed liin a e led f. '"'" '" ^"* ^ ^^^ ^ot, 
 of rooms, of which nZ T,}'J''^ ^^' ""^y through a suite 
 
 card -party. 
 The buzz and hum of 
 
 one wan occupied, and^'that by 
 voices apprised me that 
 
 a 
 
 m 
 
 
 we were 
 
236 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 again approaching the company, and snddeuly, on opening 
 a door, we found ourselves in a small but gorgeously fur- 
 nished chamber, where throe or four ladies and about a 
 dozen men were assembled, while the main body of the 
 guests passed through in defile, each stopping to salute and 
 say a few words to a lady who did the honors of the recep- 
 tion. As her back was towards me, I could only mark that 
 slic was tall, and of an air that was queenly in state and 
 dignity. The stars and decorations around her showed that 
 some of the party were princes of the blood, and others, 
 ambassadors and ministers of state. 
 
 " Wait where you are," whispered my companion ; and he 
 moved forward and entered the crowd. I stood an easier 
 spectator of the scene, in which, despite all my anxieties, I 
 could not but feel interested. It was the first great review 
 I had ever witnessed of that fashionable world whose recog- 
 nition and acceptance I so ardently coveted. Its slightest 
 gestures, its least and most insignificant observances, were 
 all matters of study to me. Every deep reverence, each 
 motion of respectful courtesy, were things to mark and imi- 
 tate, and I was storing up many a hint for future guidance, 
 when I observed that a gentleman, whom I had rightly con- 
 jectured to be a royal prince, appeared to press some remt 
 upon the " Marchesa," to which at last she replied, 
 believe I must follow your Royal Highness's counsel, aud 
 take a few minutes' rest ; " and, so saying, she dropped back 
 from the group, and retired within a few paces of where I 
 stood. 
 
 " May I beg you to hand that chair, sir," said the Prince 
 to me, and in a tone in which I own a certain haughtiness 
 seemed to rebuke my want of thoughtfulness in not present- 
 ing it unbidden. I hastened to perform this service. The 
 lady turned to acknowledge it ; our eyes met, aud we stood 
 fixed and rooted to the spot, each speechless and pale 
 with emotion. In those few se ^nds I felt as if I had lived 
 years. 
 
 " La Seiihora Dias," murmured I, unconsciously to 
 myself. 
 
 "Lupo! " ejaculated she, as if in answer, and she trem- 
 bled from head to foot. 
 
^, on opening 
 3i'geously fur- 
 and about a 
 
 body of the 
 
 to salute and 
 
 of the recep- 
 
 nly mark that 
 
 iu state and 
 L- showed that 
 , and others, 
 
 niou ; and he 
 ood an eager 
 y anxieties, I 
 
 great review 
 whose recog- 
 
 Its slightest 
 rvanees, were 
 .^erence, each 
 lark and imi- 
 ire guidance, 
 J rightly con- 
 some rems. 
 
 replied, 
 counsel, and 
 iropped back 
 } of where I 
 
 d the Prince 
 haughtiness 
 not present- 
 srvice. The 
 nd we stood 
 3S and pale 
 f I had lived 
 
 isciously to 
 
 id she treni' 
 
 A SOI«i;,, IN THE ..GKEAI WOHLW 
 
 237 
 
 as, talking S Z^ r;;^;^^^ T^^^^'" -d the prince, 
 
 Her eyes never quitted mef ' ^''''" ^'^^^ * ««^t- 
 sion of her featurefCj: ^^^ ^ ^ ^^ ^he expres- 
 
 sl^e motioned me to approach her u'/ *^ "«^'"^"'^^ P'^^i" as 
 before me my old friend the Duke n '' .^'^'''^^« ^^^t I see 
 
 and, with a look of entreatv T n " *^'^« ^^PPed, 
 
 t^at I Should fill up t bla'nk '''' ""'''' '^''^^'^ -tiilia'ted 
 
 reso.^^ u "l**^ ."^^ Cregaune, Madame " said T „ • 
 
 rescue, " who is but too happy to T.ui , ', '^'"'"'"^ *« ^'^e 
 
 by the Marchesa de la NoS '' '"''^^ remembered 
 
 very true, Comte; I was rnnf. ,• 
 constant companion, the DuTe de H H "^ ^"" ^'^'^^ ^^o"^ 
 well, and the dear duchess Audvo^^'''T"' ^ ^^^^^ '^^ i« 
 
 ter, a,a, with a S7nd co'rt 1"' "f ^^ ^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ 
 for devoting herself to the old ,f? T^''^^ *° ^^^ P""ce 
 edly presented himself she dl i , '"'^^ ^"^^ «« "'^^''^Pect- 
 and said, u,>,,t now, n^Aeit En ' ""'^^ *^ ^ ^^^'«P- 
 together." ' '^®^^' ^ut to-morrow we will speak 
 
 " Enough," said I, rapidiv -"To 
 
 friend the Comte de Cre^gann; • vou'"/'"'' '^^ '"^ ^^*«^"^«^ 
 calling me so." " ^ ' ^°" ^'^ "ot compromised in 
 
 And now some nf fi.^ „ 
 
 tomostof whomshep^selHe'^f ^^^'^^^^^ ---<^ -, 
 courteous expressions' i idi" att^ ^^^'"-^ «ome fe; 
 
 and of the pleasure sh fel at om L "' '"'^'"' friendship, 
 I have occasionally yiven wav to L '^P'"*'^ '"^^^ng- If 
 which led me to believe ,^01^^ ' '''''^'' ^'^^ts of fancy 
 born and nurtured, Jth wea i .'''" ^^ ^ "^^^'^ ''""««' ^'» 
 station in store, .uZl^ "^J command and a hi'h 
 creative efforts ^f Lm^ .1^^"; ^^ "othing to tt 
 
 «>>ndmg xne of a hundred people Vlo^n^"'"'"^^' ^^ ^- 
 
 P«opie Who never existed, and 
 
 M 
 
238 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 places and incidents which were all as unreal. How we did 
 bewail the death of some, rejoice over the good fortune of 
 other "dear dear friends" who had never breathed! and 
 with what pleasant laughter we remembered eccentricities 
 and oddities that once used to amuse us so much ' 
 
 Never can I forget the look of astonishment of the young 
 attache as he came up and found me seated on the ottoman 
 beside the Marchesa, with her pet spaniel upon my lap, while 
 my whole air was redolent of that triumphant expression so 
 unmistakably denoting security. 
 
 " I perceive," said he, with difficulty repressing his ill- 
 humor, » that Madame la Marchesa is acquainted with the 
 Comte de Creganne." 
 
 " For many years, sir, the Comte and I have known each 
 other, and I have only to own my surprise that none of my 
 friends at Naples ever mentioned to me the arrival of one in 
 every way so distinguished. But here is the Marquese ; I 
 
AN. 
 
 al. How we did 
 good fortune of 
 1' breathed! and 
 'ed eccentricities 
 ;nucli ! 
 
 A SOmto m THE ..GBEAT WORLD... 
 
 it of the young 
 on the ottoman 
 n my lap, while 
 t expression so 
 
 i-essing his ill- 
 dnted with the 
 
 '^e known each 
 
 at none of my 
 
 ival of one in 
 
 Marquese; I 
 
 ^S 
 
 must present you, Comte " Q^ • 
 a .tall, pompous-looking 'eldedv?."?,' '^' ^"^^^^^uced me to 
 fan- to add, did not evince hall^''''^''"'^"' ''^o, it is but 
 Of me as his wife showed, ind ,? '''"''''"'^" '' «'='^ 
 evening. I, ^,,^ ^.^ walkedihe n "^ ""'' ^ '^' '^'^'^ «f °^^ 
 back without notice or recol ttn i ^^'^''^^ ^^J for y^eTs 
 ;dea occurred to me, have f^i^''";' ^'^^ ''^'^ ^^SK had he 
 'o pity me, ^i bec;me all of rsSrn'"' ''^' -^^^o.t ^^l 
 personage " I My African campa" 1 " ' "'"'' " ^"^^''-^i'^^ 
 feet career of glory, and even .^' T'T'! '^''^^^ "^^« ^ P^^° 
 to accept the praises mostlavisWv hi .^ ^f P"^^^^^ ^ard 
 he^usm of which I had not even ia.d"' "^^'^ ^^^« ^^ 
 
 ihe Duke of Valhhmffo *u "eaicl. 
 
 was certain te Id"S: ' ^^.^^^-f J b-otbe,. o, .,e .,•„,, 
 *'• Cloud." He was n„it„ ■ • ''°"' li s " fripji.I r? 
 
 i"! o the iU.mnoL ere tie"" 'h '"r?"^' "'"'^ '""j o,« 
 ously laid to „,y caa,-.,o TZf . "'■•■"' "■»'■ «= 4ne ! 
 to the cha,™ Of heroist in I , a ° T"^' "*'« "»'»«« I' 
 
 ^a.f ffV&ttiTfl'tT ^r-- -e „e o„e 
 French attache, ,vhom I pertouL 2'''"= "P"" "■« littte 
 nearly drove him -mad. Alfl! ■'"" " P™«' ''i^lain that 
 ^ociety, the obscurity in whTch ?l f !"'''""'' »' Neapol ta" 
 
 cil'nf ". "'P'°™^ "olt fee, „X n' """"'' ""''^ » 
 cient mode in which we were ,1 °^ ""^ P"°<=« the incrti- 
 
 l«™«cl to use my infl j;„': 'Z'T"^ "' "'' -»"« atd 
 my disposition is not so aril,' ""f ""« " """ange. r few 
 I actually ,a.ed my nVem,t%r •."n"''''^ '=°"««™ it, o 
 agamstthcu,J„eky^iptoC n V''"'' ™''J«ts of at tac, 
 f.™ t e salons crLet": tlfc„ T,'''"! »' '^Sth reta 
 Another consideration n^r ' "'"' ""serable. 
 
240 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 il 
 
 one short day all the prospect I trusted to be the most stable 
 and certain; and, for the future, 1 was fully resolved never 
 to forego the stroke to-day for which my arm mi^ht be too 
 weak to-morrow. As I saw him depart, I felt like a na a^ 
 hero when his enemy has struck, and in the pride of vie ov 
 abandoned myself to pleasure. victory, 
 
 If the Marchesa watched me at first with an uneasv and 
 
 m that high and polished world, I soon saw that her fearl 
 were allayed as she saw the easy quietude of mv manner 
 and that tranquil self-possession%vhich is rup^oidrbe 
 only acquired by long admixture with the worlUf fashion 
 It was evident, too, that if any failure on my par tvould 
 en ail disgrace, success was just as certain to d J her hon^ 
 and credit, smce I was a strong rebutting evidence ao^aTus 
 all those who denied that the IMarchesa was eve know, or 
 recognized before in the high circles of a court. 
 
 lo-morrow, at noon," said she, as I made my bow at 
 parting ; and it was not likely I should forget the appointment 
 I was with very different feelings I drtve up to^the pa ace 
 of the Marchesa on the day following, from those I had 
 experienced on approaching it on the evening of the receo- 
 tion; nor was I long without perceiving that my confidenco 
 was wel founded. The Groom of the Chambers recS 
 me wj h his most bland courtesy, and by his manner showed 
 that he expected my arrival. 
 
 Preceding me thi-ough a suite of rooms whose magnificence 
 I had not time to observe on the previous evening, he ush! 
 ered me into a sn.all chamber leading into a conservato v 
 from which the view extended over the wide Bay of Ces' 
 and p,esented Vesuvius from base to summit^ As I wa^ 
 eft by mysel here for someminutes, I had leisure to no ice 
 the varied elegance by which I was surrounded R a e 
 
 statulrd HoTT " ^'" '' ''''''' ^^"'-'-"' ^^^ 
 statues and rich bronzes appeared amid the clustering foli- 
 
 S'of 1 "'"f '' *'"' ^"^ ^'"^ ^^•--' «^ tl^e rare 
 breed of Morocco, lay tranquilly in a little basin, whose 
 
 rirhT ^^"^ " '''-' ^^"""^" ^^ --' ^^^ 
 
 While yet gazing on the tasteful objects around, the Mar- 
 
5AN. 
 
 Je the most stable 
 
 ly resolved uever 
 
 arm migLt be too 
 
 felt like a naval 
 
 pride of victory, 
 
 h an uneasy and 
 lid acquit myself 
 w tiiat ber fears 
 ' of my manner, 
 
 supposed to be 
 i^orld of fashion, 
 t my part would 
 
 to do ber honor 
 evidence against 
 i ever known or 
 court. 
 
 lade my bow at 
 Ihe appointment, 
 up to tbe palace 
 3m those I had 
 ng of the recep. 
 t my confidence 
 imbers received 
 manner showed 
 
 se magnificence 
 vening, be ush- 
 i conservatory, 
 Ray of Naples, 
 flit. As I was 
 eisure to notice 
 funded. Rare 
 ain ; alabaster 
 clustering foli- 
 is, of tbe rare 
 ! basin, whose 
 nost elaborate 
 
 •und, the Mar- 
 
 "^" expression of fh« . 7 sunken eve nrwi tu 
 
 "Pppf *^ ^'^ you bound 
 
 I was suoding." »"' -eefug, ia wtae prS:!:'; 
 
 you anrl f. ? ^ »ame never escmp x ^- ^^®"^ora." 
 j'*Ju and trust vou Ti.^ *^s<-xipe j-our lins • r k„i; 
 
 -dfai,„u„y /::„ J, \ -■-■•-;-. I gave i.:; ii:t" 
 eCJ:i^tr\r.t^ ^""™" "- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 i«-e; but t„„i ./,„:; ",'=,f-" «o.«is >vau;y„r::„ti 
 
 a We of terror; „ ,„„,„e°,t"fi/ ?'"""• ' ^III not, live 
 word a ba,t,, expression™ ,t,!""»7». «» unguarded 
 
 'T^:o-;o;ix r 'T ^x?"~^^ -»• 
 
 " Ti'at would I P 7^' ^'''" '^^"''^'^ it." 
 "fe must not enc^n.:::::^;:,^;' «^ ,-id thoughtful,,. 
 
 I gave the restoration^of mv Cb., > ^'"^ ^^" ^'^'<^^ " 
 ^ luded to the circumstances of mv V' '^"'/'^'^^^ and then 
 had hoped Naples would hLe Z. f'" ^^'''"' ^^^^'^ ^ 
 Pressing. ^^e proved a suitable place for 
 
 »V ho knows nf 4-w 
 
 you 
 
 G0V€ 
 
 The 
 
 mmister 
 
 % wii 
 
 riedly. 
 ose oi'der I 
 
 To" f J^'"=-> "^ "«o,-a, undetii™. irr""'; .«■« 
 
 VOL. n. __i6 
 
 oS, all know of it." 
 
242 
 
 ^ I 
 
 [J.. 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 " Enough. Now, by whom was the infomation given on 
 which you were arrested ? " ^ 
 
 "A umn vyho called himself the Consul at Camnecho and 
 to whose early history I an. disposed to suspect IhaJ; the 
 clew, but to whon,, unfortunately, in a hasty mom nt I 
 betrayed that secret knowledge." '""uitui, i 
 
 -And thus he dreads and hates you," said she, fixing her 
 dark eyes sternly on me. ^ 
 
 " He rather feara me without reason," said I 
 
 "But still you would have traded on that fear, had it 
 seryecl your purpose?" reiterated she, with a pointedls 
 that showed how the application to her own case was upper' 
 most m her thoughts. ^^ 
 
 " You are less than just to me, Senhora ! " said I, proudly 
 "A vanety o cncumstances led me to connect this man 
 with a very unhappy incident which took place years ago in 
 Ingland, and wherein his conduct - supposing him to be 
 the same -was base to the last degree. This suspicion I 
 was weak enough to let escape me. His enmity was the 
 
 hariiS.""' '™ '' ''"'^'' '" *'^ misfortunes I 
 " Was he a murderer?" 
 "No, — not that." 
 
 "Nor a forger? — for methinks in Encrlish estepm cn^h 
 IS the parallel offence." '" ^^'^ ''"'''' 
 
 " In the case I speak of, forgery was the least of his 
 crimes : he seduced the wife of his friend and benefactor." 
 Oh, the wretch ! exclaimed she, with a derisive smile 
 that gave her features - beautiful as they were -an aJo 
 
 sr-:i;r^"~- "^^-^^~ prospered after 
 
 Not heeding the tone of sneer in which she uttered this, I 
 replied, "lou are right, Senhora; he lived a life of terror 
 and misery. He was a coward ; and the man he had in lured 
 never ceased to track him from country to country. Over 
 sea and land he followed him ; the thirst for vencreance 
 stimulating a heart dead to every other emotion. Accident 
 when I was a mere boy, brought me into close relation with 
 poor Broughton." 
 
 "With whom'" said she, grasping my wrist, while her 
 eyes strained till the very blood started in" them. 
 
EGAN. 
 
 formation given on 
 
 I at Campecbo, and 
 suspect 1 have the 
 liasty momeut, I 
 
 laid she, fixing her 
 
 Jaid I. 
 
 I that fear, had it 
 ith a pointednesa 
 r'n case was upper- 
 
 i " said I, proudly, 
 connect this man 
 place years ago in 
 posing him to be 
 This suspicion I 
 J enmity was the 
 he misfortunes I 
 
 ;lish esteem such 
 
 the least of his 
 and benefactor." 
 
 a derisive smile 
 i^ere — an almost 
 
 prospered after 
 
 lie uttered this, I 
 1 a life of terror 
 n he had injured 
 country. Over 
 for vengeance 
 ;ion. Accident, 
 )se relation with 
 
 tvrist, while her 
 em. 
 
 
 243 
 
 placed hor on u sofa • .nu\ iT ^'''"'■- ^ '■^'«ed her aud 
 
 f'^ve no sign of returuin.aS.r ^^ ^''''- ^"^ «^e 
 powerless at either side- she ? ' ^"' ^'''"^ ^^^'oPPed 
 
 >Vhal was I tc do? J .'new no T '""'" «^*^^'" to breathe 
 «'on the s...va,.lH, even slZld /f ''%'" f"^' ^ ^^^^ ^o sun " 
 excitement, I believprl fi ? , ^''^''^ *o leave her J„ „, I 
 f'^f,l^er;a.::['^^r^-«;-^ead,^^ 
 
 terrible conviction that this co ukl , ''"°^ "'^ ^''^"^ ^he 
 J^ioughton lier8elf,_the unl.nn r ."° ^^^'^'' t^'^" Lady 
 
 ong-drawn sigh sh'e at l^.." " 'Je '"'? ''^-'"^'•- ^^^^h ^ 
 looked up at me. A convni ' '"''^' "I^^niug lier eves 
 
 -Hi she closed thet ^g '^'I^.f '-'^'- ^fedii; foU^v'^ 
 
 " Havrfh "^^^^'^ -er^ierh'ea:^""^^^' ^'"^' ^^^^ ^'e^ 
 
 Jast,inaweranrtoS;^:::fl^--'"^ 
 t'^oughts realities? Tell me of what , °'' ''' "'^' ^''^^^^^"1 
 
 I did not answer. I could ,.1^?.!^ ''''' «Peaking? " 
 sordid I dare to deceir t In r" ,^f the sad°theme, 
 «'lfnt; but my confusion did no e' ^^emma I became 
 vo.ce, every syllable of wh ch st ' - f ^''^ "'^^ ^'^'^ « 
 «hesaid, '' Is this secret you oVnnH '^' "^'^ "^^ ^^^^'t, 
 It to another ? " "^ '''^"' °' ^^ve you ever revealed 
 
 I have n^ver fni/i ;♦ . , 
 
 ■".vstery known toL"e,f ""' '°''=''' "" ' ''-. «b the fmi 
 
 " Let ns speak of tb 11 m7 ' "'"' ''•'' """«'°"- 
 -n,e hurried voice wh ch oTeeTfo "T"."'' "* '^^'' '•" «'e 
 the smmdness of her intell™t "5 "'' ""'"<' ""^ ^"spect 
 ■"yself to dwell upon tWs Le • no,"""?; ""''^ °'"- '■■'•«' 
 to usurp an ascendency over m^f; "'" ^ "'"''"• "ny one 
 stall not deceive yourTel7bv suehri? ,^'-°'- ^"' '" • y"" 
 -great and powerf „1 fHei ""-^ who 'n"' ' """ ""^"d^ 
 We money, and can buy t he -II Tf , '"" P''"'*'" "■«• I 
 i^eware, then, how you threa ten le ^- """"^"^ P»'^<'™««' 
 
 ','! 
 
244 
 
 CONFKSSIONS OF CON CUEGAN. 
 
 lutely. - 1 new.; .neant to threaten. A .nore uceulent ha« 
 put lue in posst^ssi.m of a necret wl.ieh, while you live, uone 
 Bha i ever hear from uiy lips ; nor need you feur any ullusiou 
 lO It will ever escape nie, to yourHelf." 
 
 " Then let us part. J.et us see each other no more," said 
 Bhe, risn.jr, and approaching a Hiuall ivorv cabinet which she 
 unlockeu. -See, here is enough to satisfy the desire for 
 niero money if your heart be so set upon wealth that it has 
 uo other Idol, 'lake these, and these, and these; they are 
 gems of price, and taken from a royal crown. That neck- 
 lace ot rubies once graced the shoulders of an empress • and 
 here are rings, whose value will buy long years of dissipa- 
 lion and excess. 
 
 "I must interrupt you, Senhora," said I, o.Tended at the 
 tone she assumed towards me. '' There is no nee.l to ' buy 
 me oft; I am ready to take my leave, -to quit Naples 
 within an hour, -and I pledge myself that we shall never 
 meet again, or, if we do, as utter strangers to each other." 
 
 Ihese were the terms of our contract once before," said 
 she, fixing her gaze steadfastly on me. 
 
 " And by whom broken, and how?" said I. 
 "True, -too true!" exclaimed she, in a voice of deen 
 emotion. " Fate, that did this, has doubtless other punish- 
 ments in store for me ! It is plain, then, that I must trust 
 you, — 1, who can feel confidence in none ! " 
 
 " I do not seek for it, Senhora," replied I ; " my offer is 
 to leave this city, where already I see but little prospect of 
 urging my suit with success. Why should we meet again in 
 life, when both of us are travelling opposite roads?" 
 
 "This suit of yours is, then, a real demand, founded 
 upon an actual loss, — matter of fact throughout?" This 
 although said in these few words, had nothing offensive in 
 Its tone, and I replied by an assurance of my good faith and 
 veracity. 
 
 "Send me the memorial this evening; to-morrow, or the 
 day after at farthest, you shall have an answer. As for your 
 demand upon the Havannah, the banker is my own, and I 
 can answer for your being honorably dealt with ; all your 
 property in his keeping, I will guarantee." 
 

 ''^-ar,;:7;;:r;:''';r''"'''"^"' Mexico-. 
 
 '"''tterecl7o'V4lr''''iT''*''V"*''' ^' '"'""te or two „nJ .. 
 "'« '•''^"k!" tl ;«;,.. ^ ^ ''''"^ P'-^ten«ion should'/ *^"" 
 CVe.rano t ' "'"° ^° "'^» suid " w . question 
 
 ismmm 
 
 V rn this she gave ,ne her h-md . • \ ^"' '">' udmirer " 
 ^» J to m^ ,ip3, ,„^, , ! ^; ^J^ K , which I p,e,,,„ ,^ ;^;- 
 
 . ^ ^ "";!-«tnn„ each orh "'tirsT"' '?^'"'^« ''^ '^^ol. 
 
 Perfectly, Mada.ne," replWl T ' '^"^'"^^• 
 
 . -Then never sav si.- ' • .. ' ^' 
 
 "e the eha,,.o,e,.a.,i:„" " i,f ™',''"-'l» of life, ^eS,' ^^ 
 
 -k m:„,-;-. - yo,. .00. ni;,J'te-,'-er 
 
 -*^ "-"fcal^-:,--- ^^^^^ M.O, .,,, 
 
 «r enjoyment, while passing 
 
 i' 
 
246 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 il 
 
 I might liiigor upon the weeks I spent in Naples as parhaps 
 the very pleasajitest of my life. The world of fashion was 
 new to me. All those fascinations to which habit renders 
 men either apathetic or indifferent, came fresh upon me. 
 The outward show of splendor in dress and jewels, gorgeous 
 saloons, rare flowers, exquisite pictures and statues, soon 
 cease to astonish and amaze ; but it takes a long while ere 
 the charm of intercourse with really brilliant society begins 
 to wear off, and ere a man recognizes a degree of sameness 
 in the pleasures and amusements of his fashionable friends. 
 
 I am not sure that the society which I frequented had not 
 more power of caplivation than a more rigidly scrupulous 
 circle, since, while exacting all the observances of polished 
 life, it yet admitted a degree of liberty, almost of fr.miliar- 
 ity, among its members, that I have since remarked is not 
 common in the wider intercv)urse of the world. 
 
 Pretty women were not ashamed to look their best, and 
 dress the most becomingly; witty men were not chary of 
 their snuutness ; courtiers were conlidential; statesmen were 
 candid ; men of the world unbent, as if in a circle where their 
 freedom would not be misinterpreted, and said a himdred 
 thing's that in other societies would have been, to say the 
 least, indiscreet. It is true that individuals were more 
 discussed than events, and that characters, not facts, 
 formed the staple of the talk; but how amusing was it, 
 what stores of anecdote were opened, whnt strange histo- 
 ries and curious illustrations of life unfolded ! Pretension 
 ■was ridiculed, vulgarity exposed, stupidity laughed at, awk- 
 wardness criticized, and want of tact condemned, with most 
 unsparing ridicule ; but I am bound to own that there were 
 few commendations reserved for virtuous conduct or honor- 
 able action. The debtor side of the account was full, but 
 the credit had not an item on it! 
 
 No rank, however exalted, could escape the judgments of 
 a " set " who, with all the excluaiveness of fashion, affected 
 a most democratic spirit of equality. It was, however, a 
 " communism" that assumed to start on the basis of every 
 one having at least ten thousand a year, — not so bad a 
 theory, were it only practicable. 
 
 I must not linger longer on this subject, on which I have 
 
 li 
 
A soiKE. ,x .„rE -aniUT wohld.- 
 
 which T have 
 
 use a Che., pUnu^by w S f '"''''^ " -<1 " opcubg I: 
 
 ..U.u-y wi,l, ,„,„ a ,„„.:,■ ri'r 77- y";"«lf ag»i t 
 
 "n illustration or a story ■ „• , , ^ , ™™"' "I"-" 1« use 
 
 ■o-v to assist a slo,v „„, , ',v it ' r ''T"" =" ""■'■" li«>o„or 
 
 ^7 to close a chscussi „ vX 'f '' ""-""•'"'""' "'o aid , and 
 
 wuhout the faintest sl,„,v of . "' .''l"S™m, -and al (1°" 
 
 ff "ign of f„re,|,„n.; 7 " ! ' «"»<i"alion or the very s i. h ! 
 
 -e^hi:co„t::aS;:tt;::Trr^ 
 
 '■eated; that not alone ,' t -,;";','''''■'' '"»' "'fa.nonsly 
 '"We, but that the indivi lunl "'""'^' "'■'■'= inMspl 
 
 anested „-as l„-,„,,,f ™ '; ' °» «'l'ose allirmation I,™ 
 great .Northern power ^ 1 ^"f """ .""' "OM agent of ^ 
 '■ons against law, i„ eve, c™, . i""""^"'" ""'^'e ''is ".f.« 
 *lliculty was to w'hat >a i,!nr ■^' '" "-"'"P'' tl'at the o 2 
 -ny laying eiai.n to «" 1 foT'' '° ,''.^"" '""'over! 
 emi, Naple, „b,ained this disi^, ° , '"'"f ""*■' l-""- !■> the 
 I was en oying the luxurio,,. '"' ■■" ""- very period 
 
 '*„d the Co;;sul"trra:,r'r°'', "™"'"l-"a"'my 
 >es.„ the less captivatin'f'oa ee *f ' T' "'"^ '"» f""'!^ 
 tone ,8 just," said I, as I nrr^ , " g"ll»y-slave. u For- 
 whieh overlooked he Bav o ' , "'^ '■'"™' »' "- «iud'w 
 kalf-dozen boats n^ole! U^^^Z^^j'^y ^"^lao. ^Z 
 
 zz. '-'' "■- '" '^» ''-o" Vthfcirof-i:- 
 
 "-''Tx-i^nrr prS's -"'r"-'^ "'■^" «■» »»= is 
 
 admitted my „,a-„, a' T rwaTtT" '^ •""'™'"""= 'U 
 humor, they sent me a cross of ,? a ,""'""« '"" « good- 
 first class, -a very .„-"iT:," "" °':"" of Isabella, of the 
 and merits. My i Ui n ?^':'|, 7Sn.tion of my noble bi h 
 '•fotherofll,c|ii,g._,,"^4" "' th-* "f" °f M«li"a-tle 
 and thus was j d?o„ra d ? u ™° "'° T.''"=""'"-" O^* ' 
 dons which r wore in my t 'i h^'"'^ ''isUnguished coi^: 
 
248 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 m"' imitators have since that affected to be the inventors of 
 the method. 
 
 Periods of expectancy are generally deemed great trials, 
 making inroads upon the health, and sapping the energies of 
 the mind. Such was not my case liere ; I waited like one 
 who loiters in some delicious garden, surrounded with bloom- 
 ing flowers and sweet odors. The delays and procrastina- 
 tions of cabinets — for which the most profuse apologies were 
 made — I bore with a degree of calm equanimity that won for 
 me the appellation of a most finished gentleman; and thus 
 was I almost unconsciously perfecting myself in that grand 
 element of breeding whose triumph is " impassiveness." 
 ^ There were moments when I actually dreaded the termina- 
 tion of my cause, so agreeable had Naples become to me ; 
 but as the rich gamester is certain to win, while the poor 
 player is luckless ever, successes crowded on me, because I 
 was half indifferent to them. 
 
 Six months had now neai-ly elapsed since my arrival at 
 Naples, and I wa.- paying a morning visit to the Marchesa, 
 whom I was engaged to accompany to a grand dejeuner, to 
 be given on board of a British ship of war in the Bay. It 
 was one of those gorgeous days of brilliant coloring, which, 
 in Italy, seem to exaggerate the effect of landscape,'and defy 
 all efforts of art to imitate ; the scene was heightened, too, 
 by the objects moving across the bay. The various boats, 
 with ensigns tloating and music playing; the swift "La- 
 teeners," skimming along the glassy surface, almost without 
 a breath of wind ; and then the great three-decker herself, 
 in all the pride of her majestic size, with flags of every nation 
 fluttering from her halyards, — were splendid adjuncts to the 
 picture. 
 
 " Here are three letters for you. Monsieur le Comte," said 
 the Marchesa, "they came in the Spanish Minister's ba<T 
 this mornmg; but I suppose there is nothing sufficiently 
 mterestmg ni them to withdraw your thoughts from that 
 magnificent panorama." 
 
 Of course I affected concurrence in the sentiment, and 
 thrust them into my pocket with assumed indifference. The 
 room soon after filled with arriving visitors, and among the 
 rest the Spanish Ambassador. 
 
e inventors of 
 \ great trials, 
 
 A SOIREE IN THE "GREAT WORLD." 249 
 
 "Ha, Senhor Condc' " snid i,n „ 
 offer ,„j, warmest Mfci aC *": ""'"'"""""S ■"». "let me 
 .«a,„ through which vtm":;.'.l . ." ?"^ ""' ' '° '"' "'<' 
 
 I bmve,), smiled aLHlZ^f,"'" '"''■'' ''""=''«' y" ! " 
 
 however, soo„ detected Tny gam L' J"" '"T'l""' ''^<'' 
 received your letters, I ho,fe?" ' *" """' ^o" ''"e 
 
 ki.;;IroWr;o':teVe:tt' ;."•'''= ^'-^^^ -^^ bee. 
 
 pleasure of a ha|,„v dav hv m>t!i '" '"'™'' '" '^k ""e 
 
 " Wbatif its io'ftZ wereZ f " '"""'■ "' """'"'■" 
 what if the tidings wore to mi „, ? '""'■""'' ""= '^»W">e»t , 
 wishes, Sefihor?" '' ""^ ''"■->' "k"*"™ of you^ 
 
 willbe"ve';.ya:::;V;hS'tm ''"' °*"^ "» ^'f-'^'^- "they 
 
 Mv^-aiue^ Ch;t';rh; ;rs::;rs; .?" '^- ' ->■ 
 
 be pa^d'Zf:CS ttr '"" '^- " «""• ' "- 
 fore take upon me to i form « ,"°'''"'- ' "ball there- 
 ier Majesty n,y ojal n toll h °''™'"' """""""^ """ 
 
 CreganoaGraudCorclTthe Fl '""" '"' ^''"'" ""^ 
 iis distinguished servioT, Z ""^^ '" consideration of 
 
 that all hi^proltrtoken?,'''™"*"'* *"' "o^'™" debt; 
 
 torous impu ati™ sk^bl " """" '^ '"''« """ tm^ 
 
 *• 1 *>"Jii, siiaii De at once rpstorprl . +k-,+ 
 
 tional recompense he may demand ?!?' ^.^^^* ^"^ '-^^^i" 
 and other inconveniences Lm ed L i ""Pnsonment 
 corded; and that all eLvs ' d AT . ™™ediately ac- 
 Spainare instructed tfl7:wTL'^c^^^^^^^^ 
 every honor and distinction IL/i u '^^ ^''^^^no with 
 and facilitating him in ho n, ? ^™ ''^''^ protection, 
 
 wln-ch he mav ■be™t;rested " ' "" °' ''^^ ^^'^J^^' "» 
 
 Pany, the Lrchl' 1 1 n 'l Tf ^'^ ^^^^^"^'^^^ -- 
 and whispering the worSs; " How ^oon ?» " ^-^^^^^^tion, 
 To^morrow, If T mnst," ,,>piied I, sorrowfully 
 
 p'^i 
 
I 
 
 ff 1 
 
 250 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 what formed the substance of two of the letters ; the third I 
 contrived to peep into unobserved, was a formal notification 
 from the Havannah that my bills for the amount in the 
 bankers' hands would be accepted and negotiated at a well- 
 knowu house in Paris. Thus, then, and in one moment, was 
 I once more rich, — the possessor of immense wealth, and 
 not alone of mere fortune, but of all the honors and dio-- 
 nities which can grace and adorn it. Of course I became 
 the hero of the day. To me was intrusted the arm of the 
 IVIarciiesa as we descended to the pier ; to me was accorded 
 the seat of honor becide her in the boat. All the pleasant 
 flatteries that are reserved for rich men were lieaped upon 
 me, and I felt that life had but one prize more with which 
 to fill up the most ambitious of my cravings. That, alas ' 
 could never be, — Donna Maria was the wife of another • 
 and thus should I learn that complete happiness is never to 
 be the lot of any mere mortal ! 
 
 The fete on board the " Tariff a" was very splendid ; but 
 It had another charm still more rarely met with, — I mean 
 that hearty cordiality which graces every entertainment 
 where British sailors are the hosts, their courtesy bein*' 
 blended with an actual warmth of hospitality that wins even 
 upon the coldest guest, and gives a tone of friendliness to 
 the most promiscuous gathering. 
 
 Every one appeared to experience the influence of this 
 peculiar magic, and all gave way to the impulse that sug- 
 gested the fullest enjoyment of the hour. 
 
 To waltzes had succeeded the manolo and the bolero- 
 dances of the wild regions of Calabria and Sicily were per- 
 formed by men of noble birth, the petty princes of those 
 countries ; and all were vying who should introduce something 
 new and unknown to the rest, when, suddenly, the distant 
 sound of the church bells of the city was borne along the 
 water, announcing the " Vinti quatro," as it is called, — the 
 hour of evening prayer. In a moment a sudden air of devo- 
 tional seriousness spread itself over the company, and most 
 bent their heads in pious reverence while they recited to 
 themselves the words of the " Angelus." If there seemed, 
 to the sense of English Protestantism, something strange 
 and unnatural in this great revulsion, there was a degree of 
 
^^ GREAT WORLD." 
 
 ice of this 
 
 '^"J wi.ile tJ Jr-^ .^ "'^"'^^^t labor, Return f, < • "'"P'^^'ed 
 ai; gathered between decks ta ?te "tn ""'^ """ "« »-« 
 
 o7tir '?f ="'-ta«. bets tr^"-'" -*'«"/» 
 
 o ti e „t ^^ commanding a VoS '""l™ ■=« »' tho „,Hcer 
 
 . * nniidred conjectures „. „ 
 
 ing of the order • h,,, """ '■•'"' ™"id ai fi .r,„ 
 
 '«»>inutcs late;, p"Vr ° V^ "^-"'^'^ '-stUy e'tcrh'"" 
 «» lUt a very d -c ,,n, -'"^ '" »" S"™«i'ig. by faS' " 
 
 -Xt'hr", "■°'" -'>- t' .^'".r'"™' -Hhin 
 
 Wit whose condH<>t is c-.i,,,,. , ""^ "<">' "<>' wmaintorf 
 
 ;»-=« are accnstcned to "" i'f '" '=°'"'™ °» "■« P e ch' 
 '«.'., even in erfme^^rjj.r;;-"-' '^'^ ^or ::t 
 
 '™ ""' nt an early hour 
 
252 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 ! I 
 
 
 this morning 
 
 ic landed at the Mole, and by means of letters 
 with which he was provided to the Minister of Police, 
 obtained leave to inspect the different prisons of the city, 
 and to pass under the most minute examination all those 
 condemned to the galleys for life. As already all those 
 who work at Castelamare had been sent away, he obtained 
 an order to visit the galleys there, being determined, as it 
 would seem, to leave nothing unseen. On reaching Castela- 
 mare, it is said that he again commenced his tour of inspec- 
 tion, going over the roll of the prisoners, with the muster-book 
 in his hand, as if to compare their features with the crimes 
 alleged against them, and scrutinizing each with a most 
 searching look. The visit lasted till nigh evening; and 
 although the governor was not a little astonished at the 
 proceeding of the stranger, still less Avas he prepared for the 
 singular request which succeeded : it was, that he might be 
 permitted to return to Naples in one of the convict boats 
 instead of in his own gig. The demand might have been 
 treated lightly, or altogether refused, but that the English- 
 man's appearance and manner indicated rank, while the 
 letter he carried from the minister showed him to be one 
 with claims for consideration. The governor, therefore, 
 gave the permission, smiling at the same time at a caprice 
 which could not have proceeded from the native of any 
 other country. 
 
 "The Englishman took his seat in the stern of the boat, 
 and, as I am told by the steersman, never spoke nor moved 
 for nigh an hour's time, muffling himself up in his cloak so 
 that his very face was concealed ; he neither cast his eyes 
 over the bay, nor looked towards the shore, but sat like one 
 in deep reflection. As we ncared the ' Tariffa,' " said my 
 informant, " our passenger affected to feel cold and chilly, 
 — he might have been so, since the evening breeze was just 
 springing up, — and said that he would like to row for a 
 spell, just to warm himself. The petty officer in charge 
 explained that the request could not be complied with, since, 
 amongst other reasons, the men Avere chained two and two 
 on every bench, and then obliged to tug at the same oar. 
 • "The Englishman, who throughout the day had inva- 
 riably overruled every objection opposed to him, grew only 
 
A SOIREE IN THP «^T,T, 
 
 J HE "GREAT Worlj^.- 
 
 «ipi-e positive in his do, , — -• 253 
 
 or the cone tion r>f fi P^^'nission to learn nii i ' 
 
 of l.,!.^ * experiencin.^ in .ia ^'^termiued not to 
 
 .J at once called out to Z l ''"'» ^'^^^'^^ to him ' 
 
 I- 
 
 
254 
 
 CONrESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 of brilliant pleasure. Of course various surmises as to the 
 motive of this fearful act were uttered, but they all tended 
 to the conclusion that it proceeded from insanity, which 
 occasionally displays amongst its wonderful phenomena all 
 the premeditation and circumspection of accomplished guilt. 
 There is that of solenniity about an event of this nature 
 that even frivolity itaelf stands relinked by, and so, now, 
 instead of resuming tlio occupations of pleasure, many took 
 their leave suddenly ; and of those who still remained, but 
 one topic engrossed the conversation, —that of madness as 
 an element in all great cases of guilt. 
 
 Of course, as in all similar discussions, the superiority lay 
 with those who, with r.ore readiness of expression, also 
 possessed greater resources in anecdote and illustration ; and 
 of these the greater number were disposed to believe that all 
 great criminality is allied with deranged intellect. The Mar- 
 chesa, however, took the opposite side, aud insisted that the 
 passion which prompted to the most terrible and appalling 
 acts was perfectly consistent with right reason and sound 
 judgment. 
 
 " It is too rash in us," said she, " to assume a mere blind 
 impulse in cases even Avhere recognized insanity exists. 
 ^ Were we to know the secrets of the human heart, we might,' 
 perhaps, see a long-cherished purpose in acts which appear- 
 to be dictated by momentary passion. These impulses may 
 be excessive, ill-directed, and ill-judging ; but still they may 
 have their origin in some train of thought where generous 
 feelings and noble aspirations mingle. Witness those heroic 
 — for they are, after all, heroic — assassinations of the stu- 
 dent Sandt and Charlotte Corday. What a perfect abroc^a- 
 tion of self did these acts evince ; what consummate devotion 
 to a cause ! Deeply as we may condemn the horrid nature 
 of the crime, it would be a great error to class these men 
 with vulgar criminals, or deny to them the motives, at least, 
 of something great." 
 
 ^ I am not able — were I even disposed —to repeat all the 
 ingenious arguments by which the IMarchesa supported her 
 opinion, nor the instances she so readily adduced in support 
 of it. She became highly excited by the theme, and soon, 
 by the eloquence of her words and the fascinations of her 
 
lises as to the 
 bey all tended 
 isaiilty, which 
 [)henomena all 
 nplished guilt, 
 of this nature 
 and 80, now, 
 re, many took 
 remained, but 
 3f madness as 
 
 mperiority lay 
 pression, also 
 istration ; and 
 •elieve that all 
 ct. The Mar- 
 sisted that the 
 and appalling 
 )n and sound 
 
 ! a mere blind 
 lanity exists, 
 rt, we might, 
 which appear 
 impulses may 
 ^till they may 
 lere generous 
 i those heroic 
 IS of the stu- 
 rfect abroga- 
 nate devotion 
 borrid nature 
 5s these men 
 ves, at least, 
 
 •epeat all the 
 upported her 
 d in support 
 e, and soon, 
 itions of her 
 
 ^'°"'^'^"'™^"<=HEATwoati>... 
 
 »«„ "v^ni,U." net 
 
 manner, enchained fhp ^u , ^ 
 
 around her. ^^« ^^^le company in a mute attention 
 
 A low groan b,„ke SmmZ^ B'oughton." 
 
 ctsfr %'°™* '"- of'i' IT' T ^^- «'»>y 
 
 ■Meed, tte rigid co„to„r of ihp!.,.;, ''''''"' '''««^«i and 
 
 w^oste,,'". Madame ,H^^_„ said . ,en«e.an 
 
 dvce sT''' ''"• '° P'e S atL,?'^' ^"■"'" "O" 
 tuvice. She never spoke -^ in. , ^"^"tions and sua^est 
 
 tjem, _ but sat with her h-^' ' '"'"^^'^ "^^ to he ' 
 
 stretched out on either detotrf' ''' ''' ™« ^g^dly 
 
 . The shocking incident thlth 7 ''' ^' ^ '^^^^^- 
 
 -on Which followed it w s 1^^?'' "^'^ *^« ^-cus- 
 
 «"dden attack in one Uose ,1, * *^ ^"^°»"t for thL 
 
 finely strung; but as she sho. ^^^ ^^^P^^^ment was so 
 
 conscbusnesa r.^. showed no sians nf .« '^'^s so 
 
 inrr n "'•ness, nor gave the qJioi f... • ,? ^* ^ecoverinff 
 
 '^S, n was decided at once ' ho. „. „'^ '"^Ji^'^^tion 
 
 (ii 
 
 o— ou ''Jiucation of mJi,, 
 that she should be e ill I 
 
 iyed to 
 
256 
 
 CONFESSIO.NS OF CON CKEGAN. 
 
 •■■' 
 
 shore, where in her own house medical aid might be had 
 recourse to. 
 
 I was one of those who assisted to carry her to the boat, 
 and sat beside her afterwards, and held her hand iu mine I 
 but she never recognized me; her hand, too, was cold and 
 clammy, and the lingers felt rigid and cramped. The stern, 
 impressive looi< of her featui-es, the cold stare of her fixed 
 eyes, were terrible to l^ehold, — far more so than even the 
 workings of mere bodily sulferings. 
 
 During the passage to the shore, at the landing itself, and 
 on our way to the Palazzo, she remained in the same state ; 
 nor did she ever evince any trait of consciousness till she 
 reached the foot of the great staircase, where a ci'owd of 
 servants, in the richest liveries, awaited to offer their ser- 
 vices. Then suddenly she moved her head from side to side, 
 regarding the crowd with a glance of wild and terrific mean- 
 ing ; she raised her hand to her brow, and passed it slowly 
 across her forehead. For an instant it seemed as if the 
 lethargic paroxysm was about to pass away, for her features 
 softened into a look of calm but melancholy beauty. This, 
 too, glided away, and her mouth settled into a hard and 
 rigid smile. It was the last change of all, for she had 
 become an idiot! 
 
 From that hour forth she never spoke again! she never 
 knew those about her, neither missing them while absent, nor 
 recognizing them wlien they reappeared. She had none of 
 the childish wilfulness of others in her sad condition, nor did 
 she show the likings and dislikings they usually manifest; 
 and thus she lingered on to her death. 
 
 Of her secret I was the sole depositary ; and from that 
 hour to this, in which I write, it has never escaped my lips. 
 
 ^^.r^ 
 
d might be had 
 
 
 I 
 
258 
 
 CONFKSSloxs OF CON CHEGAN. 
 
 S^n^-y over their rniuds, iuu\ oxoir ined ut lust jvn unwonted 
 a«u,,.c of tyranny. TJit- pansion lut pluy, the love of pic- 
 tures, the lUHtu fur couipany-seeing, the aports of tlie field 
 una so on, ou-ht never to be allowed any paramount plaee, 
 or used as pursuits; all these things should be simply en.- 
 ployed as meuns of obtninin- un ascendency over other 
 men, and ot exercising that sway which is uever denied U) 
 success. 
 
 Some men are your slaves because your cook is unrivalled 
 or your cellar incomparable : others look up to you because 
 your equipaoes exhibit an ele-atice with which none can vie • 
 because your thorouol,b.-eds are larger, show more bone' 
 and curry the hiohest condition. Others, aoain, revere you 
 for your Vandykes and your Titiuns, your liembrandts aiid 
 MuriUos, your illuminated missals, your antique marbles 
 lo every section of society you can exhibit some peculiar 
 and special temptation, which, in their blind admiration 
 they refer to as un attribute of yourself. Your own fault is it 
 If they ever discover their error ! 1 he triumi)h8 of Raphael 
 and Velasquez shed a retlected light upon him who possesses 
 them ; and so of each excellence that wealth can purchase 
 You stand embodied in the exercise of your taste, and in 
 your own person receive the adulation which greatness and 
 genius have achieved. 
 
 To accomplish this, however, requires infinite tact and a 
 great abrogation of self. All individuality nmst be merged, 
 and a new character created, from the "disjecta membra'' 
 of many crafts and callings. 
 
 To have any one inordinate passion is to betray a weak 
 spot in one's armor of which the cunning will soon < ?, 
 advantage. Such were among my meditations as I roneu 
 along towai-ds Paris ; and so long as I journeyed alone, with 
 no other companionship than my own thoughts, these 
 opinions n-peared sage and well reasoned; but how soon 
 were they . -t-d as I drove into that gorgeous capital, and 
 saw the M' \\. of -t:, pleaaure-loving inhabitants as it 
 rolled prou Uy ; 3l ' How vain to reason farther upon the 
 regulation cf :>. !i;e to wh!.' u ealth set no limits I how 
 impossible to restrain one's self within the barriers of cold 
 prudential thought, where all was to be hud for asking I 
 
\N. 
 
 ist an uti wonted 
 the love of j)ic- 
 rtii of till! Hold, 
 iirainouut phice, 
 1 bo .siini)ly ein- 
 ucy over other 
 never denied to 
 
 )k is nn rivalled, 
 to you because 
 h none can vie ; 
 o\v more bone, 
 ain, revere you 
 ienibrandts and 
 itique marbles. 
 ' some peculiar 
 nd admiration, 
 • own fault is it 
 [)h8 of liapliael 
 1 who possesses 
 can purchase, 
 r taste, and in 
 greatness and 
 
 lite tact and a 
 list be merged, 
 ecta membra" 
 
 betray a weuh 
 tvill soon <.']<. 
 ns as I roiied 
 cd alone, with 
 oughts, these 
 but how soon 
 IS capital, and 
 ibitants as it 
 ther upon the 
 ' limits! how 
 rriers of cold 
 for asking! 
 
 COSviAniuN. 
 
 250 
 
 ^^^^ r ^•^-'<' in ti s: 'of r^'^" " ^^""^^ = " i-' ^s 
 
 \''"<lV'"' anl see the r,,-^""' ^''"^'"^ '""'el in the Place 
 ^:;\ '« the illuHtriouH ar, ; ";;^ "^'T' ^'"^^ "'^"' - 
 2"'^'^«i-undfulU..;youfeliL^ "'■ ''^""''^ ^^g"'« to bea 
 
 'ieers n. hi.^h connnand courUe^. * •"'^''''"'^ """"^«'. - 
 '^"'1' of those whose ran r .o V"'"''^^''"'^' «''<' ''i^lcsV 
 'i;Jaee" in ,ike a Au ^ "^th if "'" !''^ "''^^ visit. The 
 Jote .H actually besie,,, " .J /;'"'^'' "^ -I'npages, the 
 l^^n\ vvuhin its "porre-c<,chV '^^ T'"' ^^ '^^"''ope is 
 J8 o^-erwhelmed with oi^o M ' "'"^ >*^"'- «>vn chasseu, 
 distracted. aucstionings enough to drive him 
 
 thosVini;i[wrs!!ftl)n''°-^hel!rn7 '"^"."^"'••^tos wealth, when 
 «on.cly to worship and eC t^' '''''' ^' the earth'JIar 
 
 ^ly first care w-is of « "' 
 
 Pmco, „^ g,„„,;„; ,„;™;™' to prcsenl myself before tl,e 
 
 ttename is Celtic." ^""^ " *'"'""""»">"y. Count; I fancy 
 
 ^pj^'o/ „';::;r ""^ f"™ '-'-".•• -« i. b,ushi„g ,» 
 
 Ah, vei'y true The 
 of races between 'the two Tr '''''''^' ^ ^''^^* interchange 
 
 iearn wao are the lineal descendants .?''['' '° ^' ^ 
 "I have been hitherto, Sire rn t ^ ^""'' ^°"«e?» 
 
 o,^"e,,atheramanofactiouthanof 
 
260 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 thought or reflection. To obtain possession of a property 
 belonging to iny family, I undertook a journey to, and along 
 residence in Mexico ; and although successful in this, a sub- 
 sequent misfortune deprived me of all I owned, and left me 
 actually m want. The good fortune which led me to take 
 service under your Majesty has, however, never deserted 
 
 "eLged to me" "" '="" '' ^^^""^ *^^ ^^^^^^ '^^^ 
 
 The King heard me with apparent pleasure, and after a 
 few genera .ties about Paris and my acquaintances, said : 
 
 His Royal Highness the Due de St. Cloud has asked me 
 to appoint you on my personal staff. There is not at the 
 present a vacancy, but you sliall be named as an extra aide- 
 de-camp m the meanwhile." 
 
 Ov-erwhelmed by this distinction, I could only bow mv 
 gratitude in silence ; and, with an air and show of -reat 
 devotion, I retired from the royal presence. Thus did 
 pioper feeling suggest the truest politeness; for had I been 
 more assured, the chances were I should have endeavored 
 to say something, and consequently committed a very 
 grievous breach of etiquette. ^ 
 
 The following day I received an invitation to dine at Court, 
 rhe company was numerous, and among them I discovered 
 the young English attache who had so insolently ti-eated my 
 demands on my first visit to Paris. With what sovereign 
 contempt did I now look down upon him ! He was the^e 
 exacUy as I left him, muddling away in the petty detasoj 
 his 1 tie routine life, -signing a passport o' copjt. T de 
 patch, playing off the airs of grand seigneur to co irie^rs and 
 laquais de place, while in the same tim'e I had won honors 
 an rewards upon the field of battle, and now stood while the 
 Pimce eaned upon my arm and chatted familiarly over the 
 
 seTsetf^rnvT^""?- ^'"^'^ ^"^^'^ "^ ' more'confident 
 sense of my own standing in the world than the feeling with 
 
 which I now regarded those whom once J looked up to with 
 
 a kind of awe. It is precisely as we discover that the hills 
 
 Tre mere h'i ,M, "'• '^'"'"^ '' ^^ "'^'^^^ -°"»tains 
 are mere hi locks, thai ... after life we fi-^d out how indescri- 
 bably small are many of those ^e used to think of as " hicrh 
 and iflighty, ^ " 
 
SGAN. 
 
 sion of a property 
 rney to, and a long 
 Bsful in this, a sub- 
 owned, and left me 
 ieh led ine to take 
 er, never deserted 
 ine the station that 
 
 asure, and after a 
 quaintances, said: 
 3ud has asked me 
 rhere is not at the 
 1 as an extra aide- 
 
 uld only bow my 
 id sliow of great 
 ience. Thus did 
 IS ; for had I been 
 have endeavored 
 :)mmitted a very 
 
 I to dine at Court, 
 them I discovered 
 'lently ti'eated my 
 h what sovereign 
 ! He was there, 
 e petty details of 
 or enjoying a de- 
 ar to couriers and 
 had won honors 
 w stood while the 
 imiliai'ly over the 
 I more confident 
 1 the feeling with 
 ooked up to with 
 ver that the hills 
 ?antic mountains 
 3ut how indescri- 
 link of as "hiffh 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 I therefore sneerpd ri^ ^^^ 
 
 him, I believe J eve f ^^^^^ f^ ^''' ^«ache, and as I n. . 
 
 ^ot without hopinl, L^fr^^ '"^ '^^'^ to jar aaaius/rf^ 
 
 satisfaction f o? if r ,?' ""'^^^ ««tice the sK « I" ^'^' 
 
 ^^•-' -ver t:\;:.,,f ,^^^,JJ- disappoints tnd'S 
 
 Among the pleasure^^vhich '"°'" "^^^^ ^"«- 
 
 ;'come:ou?4h"r"r^^^^«^'^- ""' '"'^ 
 
 -I^ell me frankly how h ' ^^ something of fhn . 
 
 Pnnt it till you Ve dead .r' ^'^^' ^'^ ^y i^onor T m '** 
 refusion T 'II „/ ^^"^ ^'^^ gone. In fait if ^ "^^^^ 
 
 descr hp'/ ^ ""^ ^^" to the world wffh ' ^''^ P^^'^^st in 
 uesciibe you as a fellow H,af • , ' ^^'^ '^ame in full t mi 
 
 -t^ut me down for fif* 
 
 ■i^us did wp «f+« . •' 
 
 «--''y,- fo, .CX'tS' ":" -«-■ ""« - n>e. con. 
 
 tactions ofZ dlC'^'N"?' '"^^ «"; 7 I'lS 
 was to discredif .. . "®'y- Not to lau-rh at i ho • ^ ^® 
 
 f'i 
 
262 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 ii. 
 
 while your "rights of man" and "popular sovereio-itv 
 advocate " insists upon always being the king of his om- 
 pany. Forgive this digression, my dear reader, if for 
 nothing else than because it shall be the last time of mv 
 oflrending. -^ 
 
 T had now enjoyed myself at Paris about two months, or 
 thereabouts, in which, having most satisfactorily arranged 
 a 1 my monetary matters, and -besides having a consider- 
 able sum in the English funds - found myself down in the 
 Grand Livre for a couple of million of fiancs, — a feature 
 which made me a much-caressed individual in that new social 
 order just then springing up, called the -Hnaucrre" class 
 one which, if with few claims to the stately manners of the 
 Faubourg, numbered as many pretty women and as 
 agreeable ones as could be found anywhere. Had I been 
 matrimonially disposed, this set would certainly have been 
 dangerous ground for me, -the attentions which beset me 
 being almost like adulation. The truth was, however, 
 Donna Maria had left an impression which comparison with 
 others did not efface. I felt, if I were to marry, it might as 
 wel be for high rank and family influence, since I never 
 could do so for love. My nobility required a little strength, 
 ening, nor was there any easier or more etHcient mode of 
 supporting it than by an alliance with some of those anti- 
 quated houses who, with small fortunes but undiminished 
 pride, inhabited the solitudes of the "Faubourg St. Ger- 
 niain." I cannot afford space here to recount my adventures 
 m that peaceful and deserted quarter, whose amusements 
 ranged between masses and tric-trac, — where Piety and 
 Pope Joan divided the hours. The antiquity of my family 
 and the pnrcness of my Castilian blood ! had been the pre- 
 tensions which obtained admission for me into these sacred 
 precincts ; and there, I must say, everything seemed old and 
 worn out : the houses, the salons, the furniture, the masters, 
 servants, horses, carriages, — all were as old as the formali- 
 ties and the opinions they professed. 
 
 Even the young ladies had got a premature cast of serious- 
 ness that took away every semblance of juvenility. Whether 
 from associating with them, or that I had voluntarily con- 
 formed to the staid Puritanisn. of their manners, I cannot 
 
GAN. 
 
 •pular sovereigity 
 king of his r mili- 
 ar reader, if for 
 3 last time of my 
 
 ut two months, or 
 factorily arranged 
 laving a considcr- 
 lyself down in the 
 rancs, — a feature 
 in that new social 
 tinauciire " class, 
 ly manners of the 
 r women and as 
 M-e. Had I been 
 rtainly liave been 
 s which beset me 
 h was, however, 
 I comparison with 
 narry, it might as 
 ce, since I never 
 I a little strength- 
 efficient mode of 
 ne of those anti- 
 )ut undiminished 
 Lubourg St. Ger- 
 nt my adventures 
 iose amusements 
 where Piety and 
 ity of my famil}' 
 ad been the pre- 
 nto these sacred 
 l seemed old and 
 Lire, the masters, 
 d as the formali- 
 
 B cast of serious- 
 nility. Whether 
 voluntarily con- 
 mners, I cannot 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 ; jp;.^."Xr °'r r, t^- - ^^- - -/«! 
 
 abonf? ^' and although / w, ' "" *^« oJ<^ ones of 
 ■»wion. ShJTLkT t '''°°''' "Imi'-aMv fit von f ., ' 
 
 that they vvSe h°„ ""•'""'™ ''itt the S f /""te" 
 
 . I»<"'"<"^Wgedade»reeof. • • 
 
 bewailed ™y ig„oraC" ."'r '^^ '» «>» m as .„,. 
 
 leasun 
 
 but 
 ba 
 
 '--rsr,[;;^zs, 
 
 great draw- 
 
 said the Prince. 
 
264 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAX. 
 
 Not a word," said I, coolly. " When a child, I belieTe 
 I could speak it fluently, — so I have heard; but since that 
 period I have utterly forgotten all about it." This may seem 
 to have been a gratuitous fiction on my part, but it was not 
 so; and to prove it, I must tell the reader a little incident 
 which was running in my mind at that moment. A certain 
 Tipperary gentleman, whose name is too familiar for me to 
 print, once called upon a countryman in Paris, and, after 
 ringing stoutly at the bell, the door was opened by a very 
 smartly dressed " maid," whose grisette cap and apron im- 
 mediately seemed to pronounce her to be French. "Est 
 Capitaine, — est Monsieur O'Shea ici?" asked he, in con- 
 siderable hesitation. 
 
 " Oh, sir ! you're English," exclaimed the maid, in a very 
 
 London accent. 
 
 " Yes, my little darlin', I was asking for Captain O'Shea." 
 "Ah, sir, you're Irish! " said she, with a very significant 
 
 fall of the voice. " So," as he afterwards remarked, " my 
 
 French showed that I was English, and my English that I 
 
 was Irish." 
 
 Now, although my French would have passed muster from 
 Cannes to Caen, my English had something of the idiomatic 
 peculiarity of the gentleman just alluded to; and were I 
 only to speak once in Ireland, I must be inevitably detected. 
 There was then no choice for it ; I must even consent to talk 
 through an interpreter, ~ a rather dull situation for a man 
 about to " tour it" in Ireland ! 
 
 As the Prince's journey was a secret in Paris, our arrange- 
 ments were made with great caution and despatch. We 
 travelled down to Boulogne with merely one other compa- 
 nion, an old Colonel Demannais, who had been for some 
 years a prisoner in England, and spoke English fluently, and 
 with only three servants ; there was nothing in our " cortege " 
 betraying the rank of his Royal Highness. 
 
 Apartments had been prepared for us at Mivart's, and 
 we dined each day at the French Embassy, — going to the 
 Opera in the evening, and sight-seeing all the forenoon, 
 like genuine " country cousins." The Court was in Scot- 
 land ; but even had it been in London, I conclude that the 
 Prince would Iiavc been received in some mode which should 
 not have attracted publicity. 
 
iAN. 
 
 a child, I believe 
 <\ ; but since that 
 This may seem 
 Li't, but it was not 
 jr a little incident 
 ment. A certain 
 'amiliar for me to 
 
 Paris, and, after 
 opened by a very 
 -p and apron im- 
 
 French. "Est 
 sked he, in con- 
 
 e maid, in a very 
 
 Captain O'Shea." 
 
 I very significant 
 
 remarked, " my 
 
 y English that I 
 
 ised muster from 
 of the idiomatic 
 to; and were I 
 litably detected. 
 1 consent to talk 
 lation for a man 
 
 ris, our arrange- 
 despatch. We 
 le other compa- 
 been for some 
 ish fluently, and 
 1 our " cortege " 
 
 i Mivart's, and 
 — going to the 
 the forenoon, 
 •t was in Scot- 
 nclude that the 
 le which should 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 eagerness. ^^^ Highness was all inmnHL ^^' 
 
 AVvo.. ^ ""patience and 
 
 ■^>ever can I foro-pf tu 
 
 rr;' -'- 'i'V-et'r; \r"f ""'™™ "0;^';.^?.^ 
 
 *^«tea to have ]-e<rn,v]„,i , , . ^"^ J'otel thnf r .. 
 
 and profusion ,> ' ^^' '^^ ^ kind of mhoo »'«inem. 
 
 tl^e waiters 2vT'^'^'' ^'^^^'"^^^ "ow j,!' T ''"' 'P'^"^^^ 
 eyes of wonderment a.u / " ^ '"'^'^ f<^ >V'«ard w I '7 
 
 t-ooU ,„ a se.-|,iece. P"""' »'«' 'oungod like iC 
 
 ':t.^z ~ -^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ^n iJubhn, however f!^ ^i 
 P^ow It „,,3 „„j : ;, ■'■.^''^f ^ere greater ,l,an I e^ 
 
 ^ There were few carriages, 
 
266 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 nothing deserving the rame of equipage, — none of that stir 
 and movement which characterize a capital. It all looked 
 like a place where people dwelt to wear out their old houses 
 and old garments, and to leave both behind them when no 
 longer wearable. Windows mended with paper, pantaloons 
 patched with party-colored cloth, "shocking bad hats," 
 mangy car-drivers, and great troops of beggars of every age 
 and walk of mendicancy, were met with even in the belt 
 quarters ; and with all these signs of poverty and decay, 
 there was an air of swaggering recklessness in every one 
 that was particularly striking All were out of temper with 
 England and English rule; and " Ireland for the Irish" was 
 becoming a popular cant phrase, —pretty much on the same 
 principle that blacklegs extinguish the lights when luck 
 goes against them, and have a scramble for " the bank " in 
 the dark. The strangest of all was, however, that nobody 
 seemed to have died or left the place since I remembered it 
 as a boy. There went the burly barrister down Bachelor's 
 Walk, with the same sturdy stride I used to admire of yore, 
 — his cheek a little redder, his presence somewhat more 
 portly, perhaps, but with the self-same smile with which he 
 then cajoled the jury, and that imposing frown with which 
 he repelled the freedom of a witness. There were the same 
 civic magistrates, the same attorneys, dancing-masters. — ay, 
 even the dandies had not been replaced, but were the old 
 crop, sadly running to seed, and marvellously ill cared for. 
 
 Even the Castle officials were beautifully consistent, and 
 true to their old traditions ; they were as empty and insolent 
 as ever. It was the English pale performed over again at 
 the Upper Castle Yard, and all without its limits were the 
 kerns and " wild Irish " of centuries ago. 
 
 How is a craft like this ever to take the sea, thought I, 
 with misery and mutiny everywhere ! With six feet of water 
 in the hold, the crew are turning out for higher wages, and 
 ready to throw overboard the man who counsels them to put 
 a hand to the pump ! 
 
 But what had I to do w'th all this? Nor would I allude to 
 it .here, save to mention the straits and difficulties which beset 
 me, to account for changes that I had never anticipated. 
 We dined everywhere, from that viceregal palace in a 
 
JAN. 
 
 -none of that stir 
 al. It all looked 
 t their old houses 
 lid thein when no 
 paper, pantaloons 
 ±ing bad hats," 
 gars of every age 
 even in the best 
 verty and decay, 
 less in every one 
 at of temper with 
 or the Irish " was 
 nuch on the same 
 ights w^hen luck 
 ir " the bank " in 
 ver, that nobody 
 I remembered it 
 down Bachelor's 
 admire of yore, 
 somewhat more 
 ile with which he 
 rown with which 
 re were the same 
 ^-masters, — ay, 
 3ut were the old 
 ly ill cared for. 
 
 consistent, and 
 
 ipty and insolent 
 
 ed over again at 
 
 limits were the 
 
 sea, thouglit I, 
 six feet of water 
 ^hev wages, and 
 sels them to put 
 
 'ould I allude to 
 [ties which beset 
 mticipated. 
 al palace in a 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 '0 speak to so,„e peonle „ L '■"'' "' ' ""^ dismountin,, 
 
 he at a steepjecbaso tLe Z^;^" ™'-' '^'^ ■■-oal rod^ 
 ■t^iis possible ' " p\ 1 • ' 
 
 an indignity. . Whattec^^t 'of^f ! ''^'^ ''^^^^^ of such 
 
 ■f forget, now, whether r i . i ^""""^ ^''"^J" ? " 
 publicly Whipped ; but it eel- ;i^^' ^'' ^^^^^^^ ^e was 
 r felt a flush of ancer rise il ^ "^''^'" ^^'"^ to good » 
 I Checked my passion^ a ^ UnT,:'?;^' '^ '''' ^^--^' '"t 
 «;y -- condition and upon 1/ "t'l ^^ ^ '"^^^^^^t upon 
 interest or sympathy as to the bov . , "''' "'"'^^"^^^ ^"^ 
 absurd, and I was silent a ^' ''"'"^'' ^^'o^'^J have been 
 to the house of a baro 't w^oTslirT'- '"'^'^^'"-' -« o" 
 only a few miles from mv n^f 1 '^ '" '*' '"'^"''^"^1 county 
 
 a Knockdangan Castlef ',,'':"; '^f '''''''' ^' "S 
 ^bich means a marvell^uslv 1^' ™^'^'''" ^'^thic style, 
 
 abnost uninhabitable by the ZTT '''''^'''''^ ^'^"^'^-ed 
 « airs, narrow eorridors/lo't e S f^ f ^^^'^"^ winding 
 Ibe house was full of ^ompC L'' ""^^ '^^^^^ed windows! 
 
 bad an-u-ecl unexpectedly. "^7' '^'"'''"' ^""'^ of whom 
 
 tbat genial hospitality co;.]] ,'; "''"'X^'^" ^'^^ everythin.. 
 
 rooms had been alreadv'^t^^v^^^^^^^^^^^ . ^"' "^ *^^ ^™-„.! 
 
 room, with half-a-doze,i beri r " I' •' '^''"^^ ^^ barrack- 
 to be devoted to the plZ • '""'^ "^^^ ^he library was 
 heading Off it, about th^\!"'r --» octagon to^" 
 Reserved for me. If these ^n- ''P' ^^ ^ ^ea-tray, was 
 
 -convenience, certain yZtT^"'' "^" attended wih 
 or hostess showed it. 'rhev"4d/,' '""""^^' ^^ cither host 
 
 ^ '^"^ *^^>^ numerous family of 
 
268 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Bons and daughters seemed to take it as the most natural 
 hing in hfe to be thrown into disorder to accommodate 
 hen- friends; not alone then- friends, but their friends' 
 friends: for so proved more than half of the present com- 
 pany. Several of - the boys," meaning the sons of the host. 
 tTull'T"' ? ^^" "ei^'l^borhood ; one actually bivouacked 
 n a little temple, in the garden. There seemed no limit to 
 the contrivances of our kind entertainers, either in the 
 variety of the plans for pleasure, or the hearty good-nature 
 wih which they concurred in any suggestion of the guests. 
 All that Spanish politeness expresses, as a phrase, was here 
 reduced to actual practice. Everything was at the disposal 
 
 flu TTr\ f""^ ''^°"' ''''' ^'' ^' I'^^^-ty to ride, drive, 
 fish, shoot, hunt, boat, or course at will, but all his hours 
 were at his own disposal, and his liberty unfettered, even as 
 to whether he dined in his own apartment, or joined the 
 general company. Nothing that the most courteous attention 
 could prov'ide was omitted, at the same time that the most 
 ample freedom was secured to all. Here, too, was found a 
 tone of cultivation that would have graced the most polished 
 society of any European capital. Foreign languages were 
 we understood and spoken; music practised in its hio-her 
 walks ; drawing cultivated with a skill rarely seen out of°the 
 hands of professed masters ; subjects of politics and general 
 literature were discussed with a knowledge and a liberality 
 that bespoke the highest degree of enlightenment; while to 
 all these gifts the general warmth of native character lent an 
 mdescnbable charm of kindliness and cordiality that left 
 none a stranger who spent even twelve hours beneath their 
 roof. 
 
 The Prince was in ecstasies with everything and every one 
 and he himself nc less a favorite with all. Every fall he o-ot 
 m hunting made him more popular; every misadventure that 
 occurred to him, in trying to conform to native tastes, crave 
 a new grace and charm to his character. The ladies pro- 
 nounced him "a love," and the men, in less polished, but 
 not less hearty, encomium, called him " a devilish good fellow 
 for a Frenchman." 
 
 The habits I have already alluded to, of each guest livincr 
 exactly how he pleased, gave a continual novelty to the com° 
 
GAN. 
 
 the most natural 
 
 to accommodate 
 but their frieuds' 
 
 the present com- 
 e sons of the host, 
 ;tually bivouacked 
 3emed no limit to 
 rs, either in the 
 earty good-nature 
 on of the guests. 
 
 phrase, was here 
 IS at the disposal 
 rty to ride, drive, 
 but all his hours 
 ifettered, even as 
 t, or joined the 
 )urteou8 attention 
 ne that the most 
 too, was found a 
 he most polished 
 I languages were 
 3ed in its higher 
 y seen out of the 
 itics and general 
 
 and a liberality 
 nment ; while to 
 I'haracter lent an 
 diality that left 
 rs beneath their 
 
 ? and every one, 
 A-ery fall he got 
 isad venture that 
 ive tastes, gave 
 rhe ladies pro- 
 3s polished, but 
 lish good fellow 
 
 ich guest living 
 2lty to the com- 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 Pany; sometimes two or thm 
 
 the clinner-table or Tthe d,a:inr: '''" "^"'^ ^PP^- at 
 ^'ver at work whether the lastT "v ?\^"^' conjecture was 
 wbo were they who prese , t en^'l'^^ ^^^^ Jet seen, and 
 , You will meet two new luL '. ? ^'''''''• 
 rf one day, as we entered theX^^r'^^' ^'°""*'" '^'^ the 
 a Spanish IJishop ar,d bis nioo. ^ '"'^^''^ ^^'^^''^ dinner • 
 
 and a widow of nineteen ' Thf' "~ ^ "^''"^ "''^'•'"^'^^ Person ' 
 -me disputed question of il)ZtT' T" '' ^^^^ '^S 
 by fan^ly, -_and are now, I rS'to";. "? "'''°'"""^ ^sh 
 *»pain m a few davs Vfuu . ^'^^'' '^^out to return tr. 
 
 ti^el.shoptohiscibe?.tnThr-^""^ ''''' '- co ' Ld 
 ;;proficient in any but he; n tte an^l^"^? ^f ^"g, I fancy! 
 to face a miscellaneous partv ln»"^°^ ^'^^ "ot courage 
 favor us to-day; and as you Zr'e th. ^'^"' ^"*'^' ^^^^v^! 
 command the ' true cJtul ! ^ """^^ ^"« ^^ere who can 
 Countess in to dinner »"° *^"°"^'' ^^^ will take the 
 
 «ion ordtpTa^nt mTfe ^o have the occa- 
 
 n^y fair coun^^oman^'""' '"' ^'^^^^^ the agreeable to 
 
 Sttfrr:s~^,^^ 
 
 although diffusing a rich and ^; '' ^^ ^^S deal, which 
 within the circlelround it 4T^^^^ ^'^^ °ver all ;bo ,1 
 n-nt m comparative darkness IVT"'''^'' ""^ the apart- 
 ntjmate, were able to recogn L* each oT' '^''P' *^^«« ^^ry 
 Whether this was a whim oF tie hosf ." '" '^'^ obscurity": 
 to make the splendor of tL 4n >,'/ f P"''^^^^"^^^'^ artifii 
 effective, on the principle of oraVor ° ^ ,^'""«^-table more 
 to create silence, I know not b it ^ "" ^'^^" ^' ^ ^h^^Per 
 broken shins and upset spider Ul Jh T'^ '^ ^''' «^'cr fhe 
 the entrance of some -uest t^ff V^*"* ^^^^ "^^y announced 
 of the apartment. " ' ^''^ familiarized to the geography 
 
 On this particular occasion th. . 
 possibly a certain curiostr to t/the ^ "'' """^"^"^ ^-ge; 
 to the number, while some^of the nllT ?''''' ^^^ ^^^ed 
 also present. Various were hi "^'^^boring fazniHeg were 
 
 Z ,\ ^! ^"""g widow foUowino- wifl the house upon his 
 
270 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 with a 8mall b aek skull-cap, a stooping figure, and a great 
 gold cross, whjh, I concluded, represented tb; holy man 
 
 the'blnr'M 'r ''/;'' ^ "^^^ '^"^ ^«'l descending S 
 the back of her head, being as evidently the niece. 
 
 A fevv formal introductions were gone through in clever 
 pantomime dinner was announced, and the confpany paled 
 off in a statehnesB, while the host, seizing my arm, led me 
 across the roon, and in a few words pre'sented me to the 
 fair widow, who courtesied, and accepted my arm, and away 
 we marched in that solemn procession by which nelle 
 endeavor to thaw the ice of first acquaintance. ^ ^ ' 
 
 Your first visit to Ireland, I believe, Senhora? " said I 
 in Spanish wishing to say something as we walked along, 
 she. ' ^""^ ^''"'' ''^"°' ^ understand?" replied 
 
 " Not exactly," muttered I, taken too suddenly to rocover 
 myself; u^,hen I was a boy, a mere child _ " I he t bv 
 accident employed a Mexican word almost synonymous' with 
 the French >• gamm." She started, and said eageii, ' How ' 
 you have been in Mexico?" ^ 
 
 eount^-y!" ^'"'''''' ^ ^"''^ ^^'''^ «""^^ ^^^^^ ^^ that 
 "I am a Mexican," cried she, delightedly. ''Tell me 
 
 where have you travelled, and whom did you know there ^''' 
 T have travelled a good deal, but scarcely knew any one " 
 
 laphedl. "AtGuajuaqualla-" w any one, 
 
 "Oh, were you there? My own neighborhood, _ my 
 
 home, exclaimed she, fervidly. ^ 
 
 ^ "Then probably you know Don Estaban Glares," said 
 
 "My own father!" 
 
 pnfJ"''"ir""v ' ^^^ 'y^' "^^*5 ^t ^^^ J»«t at the very 
 entrance of the dinner-room, where a blaze of light was shed 
 
 herThelk "t T' *'"' "P°" "^^ '-^^-'^ "^ ^'^' ^-^^ tremb fn^ 
 her cheek colorless, and her eyes swimming in tears- wa 
 
 speak -and while her eyes wandered from my face to the 
 Beyeral decorations I wore upon my breast, a/d I watched 
 with agonizing intensity the look of terror she threw down 
 the table towards the place where her uncle was seated, J 
 
BAN. 
 
 igure, and a great 
 id the holy man; 
 descending from 
 e niece. 
 
 through in clever 
 3 company paired 
 J my arm, led me 
 iented me to the 
 ly arm, and away 
 >y which people 
 ce. 
 
 3uhora?" said I, 
 walked along, 
 i-stand?" replied 
 
 Idenly to recover 
 — " I he^e by 
 ynonymous with 
 eagerly, "How! 
 
 years in that 
 
 ly. " Tell me, 
 know there ? " 
 knew any one," 
 
 iborhood, — my 
 
 1 Glares," said 
 
 ist at the very 
 light was shed 
 land trembling, 
 in tears — was 
 }r of us could 
 my face to the 
 and I watched 
 le threw down 
 was seated, I 
 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 morrow *« ■ . ' eued sijo: " i „.:u ^ „ ^ '■ 
 
 talk Tf '"•"'S'lt. if Hiero be a fit I, ^" i'"" "" to- 
 
 Wk of something else, or we l|„i '* ">'P"'t'"'ity. Im „» 
 I tr.«l „,y best to obev he, . ^ "'•'""■k<x>." "" 
 
 «"e"s oTeCSeV/bf -■"« "" '"" "'"'°' 
 
 ,tr^ «™-^ -X sX:'''* -^ -"'ectation 
 i" • '*' existence had been ?fl „ ., ?^ "^ ^"° Ge'oso had 
 he was ,00 jea.ons to suff " t" t ' °' " """ '" " "'oi'te^ 
 save at the Court Chane 1 , ^° '"'» 'te world and 
 
 »ever saw anything of 'ttTn""""'"^ """ ''ve^ng, she' 
 equals were movino wi, , ""''l""" society in „.,;' i , 
 Seville, .he remOfd toT,t T f* ™ "L ed B Lt 
 J" her husband after. Su7,.'°™" "''". and had never 
 Of :„ '"\ """'^ """otony w;S hrr^' "■"' "-e story 
 
 affectionate feeling brtrav „' T "t' 'I'*" ^"l> dem an™ 
 -"feed ahuost a-fl-ieSsfue by the','"' "'' °™ '"' «s 
 
 liift same cveninff as W„ T^ , ''ereavement. 
 examining pic„„.e3 aS ancient *'" *"""'«'' "■« -'ooms 
 «ssomcwhatvaiu,I?earnedt, '"""■' "^ ""eh our hos 
 had alluded at ,„b L and dt t"™''"' '° ""eh the Seflhora 
 
 *'--™--e,ha,pe^rSs=;--W 
 
 j^l 
 
272 
 
 CONFESSIONS OP CON C REGAN. 
 
 of my earlier adventures in Texas, and even traced me in 
 my nuublos to the night of my duel with the Ranehero. 
 Hence he drew the somewhat nish and ungenerous conclusion 
 that .ny eliaracter was not so unimpeachable as 1 affected 
 and that my veracity was actually open to question ! An 
 active correspondence had taken place between Don Geloso 
 and himself about me, in which the former, after great re- 
 searches, pronounced that no noble family of my name had 
 existed in Old Spain, and that, in plain fact, I was nothing 
 better than an impostor! In this terrible delusion the old 
 gentleman died ; but so fearful was he of the bare possibility 
 of mjuring one in whose veins flowed the pure blood of Cas- 
 tile that on his death-bed he besought the Bishop to ascertain 
 the fact to a certainty, and not to desist in the investigation 
 till he had traced me to my birth, parentage, and country. 
 Upon this condition he had bequeathed all his fortune to the 
 Church, and not alone all his own wealth, but all Donna 
 Maria s also. 
 
 The Bishop's visit to Ireland, therefore, had no other 
 
 object than to look for my baptismal certificate, - an 
 
 investigation, I need scarcely say, somewhat difficult and 
 intricate ! 
 
 Of course, in this confession, the fair Contessa never 
 hesitated to regard me as an injured and calumniated indi- 
 vidual; but so assured was she of the Bishop's desire to 
 endow he Church with her wealtii that he would have less 
 brooked to discover me a noble of title and rank indisputable, 
 than to find me a poor and ignoble adventurer. " Were he 
 but to recognize you," said she, " /should be condemned to 
 a nunnery for life ! " and this terror, however little startling 
 to my ears, had too much of significance to her mind to be 
 undervalued. 
 
 Of course my present position, the companionship of ihe 
 Prince the foreign orders I wore, were more than suffi- 
 cient to accredit me to her as anything I pleased to repre- 
 sent myself ; but somehow I felt little inclination for that 
 vein of fiction in which so often and so largely I had in- 
 dulged ! For the first time in my life I regarded this flow 
 of mvention as a treachery! and, when pressed by her t» 
 relate the full story of my life, I limited myself to that period 
 
OAN. 
 
 3ven traced me in 
 ith tlio Ranchero. 
 MerouH conclusion 
 ible as 1 affected, 
 to question ! An 
 ween Don Geloso 
 ?r, after great re- 
 
 of my name liad 
 ct, I was notliing 
 
 delusion the old 
 le bare possibility 
 ure blood of Cas- 
 ishop to ascertain 
 
 the investigation 
 ge, and country, 
 jis fortune to the 
 1, but all Donna 
 
 J, had no other 
 certificate, — an 
 hat difficult and 
 
 Contessa never 
 alumniated indi- 
 shop's desire to 
 would have less 
 ink indisputable, 
 rer. " Were he 
 )e condemned to 
 ;r little startling 
 
 her mind to be 
 
 mionship of ihe 
 nore than suffi- 
 leased to repre- 
 ination for that 
 rgely I had in- 
 jarded this flow 
 jssed by her to 
 If to that period 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 7^ich, beginning with mv A . • ^' ^ 
 
 acter fo „ / ''^' ""^' ^^''ich oay,.,f,,Z ''^ ^^'^^ Spanish 
 
 :^^ and aaoi:,: ;'X;"-ti„g „„ "^'onnZn":^' 
 Other ao-a n I i-<i ^'^"^^'g, if ever w«ok. ii "'""ge- 
 
 'oW bet that f„ ' ' "'' ""''«' '»'■ never LT ''"'^^'^ 
 
 -''"- '.oto'o rcc'";^ "'"' -"ot-tratTi ' 
 
 was „„?,' '^' "■••'^ """i and wi.en r :,n. > "' ' '"''^ " 
 a " b.'ton.;d .^" r"'y "^ l»""-" intr ' 7r"""« """ 
 
 delight. ' "" ^ was almost nut of,,,? ™' » 
 
 Tie Bishop, Witt „, ^ '"■''' '^'^ 
 
 .0,,. ..i',:"" -"o" my ac,„afata„„eship h«, „eve. 
 
274 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 betrayed my secret, was to leave Ireland iu a few dayn, aud 
 the Prince, to whom I told everytiiing, with the kindness of 
 a true trieud promised that he would take the very same day 
 for his own departure. The remahider we were to leave to 
 fortune. Love-making left me little time for any other 
 thoughts; but still as, for appearance' sake, I was oblioed 
 to pass some hours of every day apart from Donna Maria, I 
 took the occasion of one of those forced absences to visit 
 ascene^xyhich had never quitted my mind through all the 
 changeful fortunes of my life, - the little spot where I was 
 born. Rising one morning at break of day, 1 set out for 
 Horseleap, to see once more, and for the last time, the 
 humble home of my childhood The distance was about 
 sixteen miles; but as I rode slowly, my mind full of old 
 memories and reflections, I did not reach the place till nigh 
 noon. Alas ! I should never have known the spot ! There 
 had been a season of famine and pestilence, and now the 
 little village was almost tenantless. Many of the cabins 
 were unroofed ; in some, the blackened rafters bore tokens of 
 hre. The one shop that used to supply the humble luxu- 
 ries of the poor was closed, and I passed on with a heavy 
 heart towards the cross-roads where " Con's Acre " lay 
 
 I had not gone far when my eye, straining to catch it, 
 detected the roof of the cabin rising above the little thorn 
 hedge that flanked the road. Ay, there was the old stone- 
 quarry I used to play in, as a child, fancying that its granite 
 sides were mountain precipices, and its little pools were 
 lakes. There was the gate on which for hours long I have 
 sat, gazing at the bleak expanse of moorland, and wonderino- 
 If all the wide world beyond had nothing fairer or more 
 beautiful than this. 
 
 " Who lives in that cabin yonder? " asked I, of a peasant 
 on the road. 
 
 The man replied that it was " the minister; » adding his 
 name, which, however, I could not catch. Long as I had 
 been away from Ireland, I could not forget that this was the 
 especial title given to the Protestant clergyman of the parish, 
 and I rode up to the door wondering how it chanced that he 
 was reduced to a dwelling of such humble pretensions. An 
 old woman came out as I drew up, and told me that the 
 
N. 
 
 few days, and 
 the kiudiiess of 
 
 very same day 
 ere to leave to 
 for any other 
 
 I was obliged 
 )oiiua Maria, I 
 seuces to visit 
 hrough all the 
 ot where I was 
 I I set out for 
 
 last time, the 
 lice was about 
 ud full of old 
 
 place till nigh 
 ! spot ! There 
 , and now the 
 
 of the cabins 
 bore tokens of 
 
 humble luxu- 
 
 with a heavy 
 ere " lay. 
 g to catch it, 
 he little thorn 
 the old stone- 
 hat its granite 
 e pools were 
 •s long I have 
 nd wonderinjr 
 lirer or more 
 
 of a peasant 
 
 " adding his 
 >ng as I had 
 t this was the 
 )f the parish, 
 meed that he 
 jusious. An 
 
 me that the 
 
 
 CONCLUSION, 2j. 
 
 the parloi till he%Tme ^ ""^ ^'''*'" ^"^ '^^ ^own in 
 
 whU^:Egl\T^^^^^^^^ ^er into the cabin, 
 
 from what I remembered ^0^0^."''^ '^''^ ^^^'^'^^ 
 i^i; days in an instant! xLte was ZT 'f' '!.^ "^ ^^y" 
 naked feet roasting before thV hi '!'^'' '""^^'^^ ""'^^ 
 
 «lept full many an hour dL^in j of^ '"' ' ' "^"^ ''' ^"^ 
 as nothing to those my realh e^h«^ ^d^^ntures which were 
 corner where I used to sit h, . """^ ^'^^- ^^^'^ ^^^ 
 those law papers rvfat^,pf J ?f.^"^ '^' °^g^t' copying 
 Kilbeggan: 'ICi'sto d hTlS e 2 T "'.' '™''«- 
 sobbed myself to sleeo whpn ! ? ""^^'^ ^^*^" ^ ^^^ve 
 punished forsome tdflin- on ' '^ ^"^ ^^^° «»*, I was 
 
 tal mistake Tsall""?"' '""^.^ '^^^^* ^"^ ^^-^en- 
 hands, for a sens of my utter I'T'' ™^ '''' ^^^^ ^y 
 suddenly over me- I feTas if l^^'''''''^ ^^^ ^orld came 
 
 let his riVrenee have pace and eai t U h t™ ' ~ ^'^ »'' 
 the parish, though there was n't TsLfif'; "" '""^ ^'"""^ *" 
 the whole length and breadth of in i '°' " K^-X'^an in 
 «l.e, " we had t» pnt „p „i h thi i„? T"' °° "'" ""'<'«' 
 Con's Acre and it'was 'airf ™L''; ' '^^P'^ -' t^e, oaU 
 And who owned this cabin before ? "askeV I 
 
 -efretrh^ir!f?h\^;rpidr^^^ 
 
 Cregan's son was todL^" " " ™» '"" 'V «>»' Con 
 
 4i„MhTS,''T'' *!' ' '" "o i-'J-'oement for „„. 
 
 5"-o '"'•' Gonvcisation, wherein nil th^ f a. "' ^ 
 
 t.e eggs and n.ii. the :^^:i;xz::7^c lirs 
 
276 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 the door opened, and the curate entered. A deep cavernous 
 cough and a stooped figure announcing the signs of some 
 serious chest disease, were all I had time to observe; when 
 with the politeness of a gentleman, he advanced towards 
 me. Ihe hrst sound of his voice was enough, and I cried 
 out, " Lyndsay ! my oldest and best friend, — don't you know 
 me ? J ' 
 
 "I am ashamed to say that I do not," said he, faltering, 
 while he still held my hand, and gazed into my face. 
 
 "Not yet? " asked I again, smiling at the embarrassment 
 of his countenance. 
 
 " Not even yet," said he. " Tell me, I beseech you, where 
 did we meet ? " 
 
 " Come here," said I, leading him to the door, and point- 
 ing to the wide-stretching moor that lay before us ; "it was 
 there, —yonder, where you see that heavy cloud-shadow 
 stealing along, — yonder we first met. Do you know me 
 now ? " 
 
 He started ; his pale cheek grew paler, and he fell upon 
 my neck in a burst of tears. Who shall ever know the 
 source, or what the meaning? They were not of joy, still 
 less of sorrow, — they were the outbreak of a hundred 
 emotions. Old memories of happy days, never to come 
 back; boyish triumphs, successes, failures; moments of 
 ecstasy — of bitter anguish ; his own bleak, joyless existence, 
 perhaps, contrasting with mine; and then at last the fell 
 consciousness of the malady in which he was but linaerinff 
 out life. ^ ^ 
 
 " And here are you, and here I ! " cried he, in a voice 
 which his faltering accents made scarce intelligible; "who 
 should say that we were to meet thus?" Then, as if his 
 words had conveyed a meaning of which he was ashamed, he 
 blushed doeply, and said, " And oh, my friend ! how truly 
 you told me that life had its path for each, if we but knew 
 how to choose it." 
 
 I must not say how the hours were passed, nor how it was 
 nightfall ere either of us guessed it. Lvndsay insisted upon 
 hearing every adventure that had befallen me, questioning 
 me eagerly as I went, how each new feature of prosperity 
 had " worked with me," and whether gold had yet hardened 
 my heart, and taught me indifference to the poor. 
 
I. 
 
 ieep cavernous 
 signs of some 
 bserve; when, 
 auced towards 
 h, and I cried 
 iou't you know 
 
 1 he, faltering, 
 f face, 
 srabarrassment 
 
 jch you, where 
 
 or, and point- 
 3 us; "it was 
 cloud-shadow 
 i^ou know me 
 
 1 he fell upon 
 VQx know the 
 t of joy, still 
 >f a hundred 
 !ver to come 
 
 moments of 
 ess existence, 
 
 last the fell 
 but lingering 
 
 3, in a voice 
 ?ible; " who 
 en, as if his 
 ashamed, he 
 I ! how truly 
 <ve but knew 
 
 r how it was 
 nsisted upon 
 questioning 
 i prosperity 
 et hardened 
 
 CONCLUSION. 27- 
 
 r told him of mv love thiI v^\*u i 
 that he even offered tolid mlJ T' ' '^^^^'^^^ ^^elight 
 to Donna Maria, - ^^Z Sot ^t^I "'^"^^"° ^'^ 
 that originated less in /riendshinthanrf ho ' """^ '''*^"^' 
 sely te, - the niece of a bishop f too" ^"^'^ '' ^ P''"' 
 
 while occupying, ber l^^^with v lo:;^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 prolong our excursion to Horselean u it, ' ^^"^"^'ed to 
 
 you have chosen for our drK^ "^said I / \^''''' ^^^^ 
 her. ^^' ^'^i^ sae, lookmg around 
 
 "Do you see yonder little hut," said T u ^u ., 
 18 rising ? » '' ®^^^ ^' where the smoke 
 
 "Yes, that poor cabin yonder' Ynn i,„ 
 sbow me that?" said she, lauahin; '^' '^^^ ^«"^^ '« 
 
 "Even so, Maria." snul t.°u+°' • 
 humble hm, ;„ci to ell ™ ha ° ''"T ^°" """ P<""' "-"J 
 peasant's son ; that from th!, ? ''"'' ' ™» I""-". - a 
 
 ou. upon the'wS M™d ess anTh "'^' ■''"•' ' ""'^-^d 
 euergy, partly by a reSlTto^ eSTLuvlPr^.^^ 
 ing determination that would nor.H -I "^ / ^ ""y "^ ''"'•■ 
 become what I am _ titled 1 ? " '"""''• ' '""^ 
 son of a poor .nan ' I "n d norhZ 'r"'"^; '"' ^«" '^» 
 even thongh this conferon SnM iSrate n, 7"'""°"' 
 could not speak more, nor "eeded I Stand tdT / 
 " N w"Tth: ''' ■"""""'•^'' •• •' Y°- .»or tht'eve?'" 
 
 H.£5 - t,reSg--edtrwitS ' 
 toTif;sre':"^<r- eiTotre ""'" •'"'"^" ^™ « ---* 
 
 .a.:3£t£r,U:^-f4\--"--byt. 
 
 are marrS' " '"" ' '*'" '^ "^'" ^' -*'" P-™ely. for we 
 
 a^o^ncLl::? "K BUhr"*: r' rr"'"™"*"' ^i, 
 
 bh- uttered somTtk^ Jry""! ke '" 'i^l' ™n,i° '^P""' 
 blushed-some of the^aZ looked" sC;^ -^t"™^' 
 
278 
 
 CONFESSIONS OF CON CREGAN. 
 
 Shook hands with me, and the Prince, saluting Donna Maria 
 with a most hearty embrace, begged to say ?' thafthe lady 
 would be very welcomely received in Paris, since t was the 
 
 I^Lrmartr^ ^^^^^""^^^^ ^ ^" ambassador -^a^ 
 
 hafsted \nrL^T;~''''' *^"* °^^ Confessions are ex- 
 hausted, but that I fear my reader's patience may be- I 
 
 nage m which I had a share, - that my career in greatness 
 was not less eventful than my life in obscurity, and that I 
 
 tkZaV ''^' '^•^' ^'^"^'^^ '' ^^^ '^' travelleno say'fhe 
 should ever care hereafter to journey further with me. 
 
 THE ESB. 
 
 University Press : John Wilson & Son, Cambridge, U.S.A. 
 
Donna Maria 
 that the lady 
 ice it was the 
 jsador — that 
 
 lions are ex- 
 I may be; I 
 Spanish mar- 
 in greatness 
 , and that I 
 ^ to say if he 
 :h me.