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TW Mutual Kecofmiiiou.
<'<->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
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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)
fA
1.0
I.I
2.5
2.2
|50 '"^
^ i;^ 12.0
IX
IL25 i 1.4
m
1.6
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
v
^x^
a>^
'C^
rv
'"«>
^v:.^ ^^%
C^
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
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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
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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!
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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!
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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
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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
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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;
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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
TEST TARGET (MT-S)
\»\J |££ ^^
I.I
s«.i
|2.5
2.2
1^
IL25 II 1.4
m
1.6
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716)872-4503
\
iV
•^
:\
\
^\^
'^
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)
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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'^'^
11 f ' ''H
; i
M
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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'"^^"^
fill
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Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
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^i>^ ^i>
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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.