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" Up, Guards, and at them !
i
VENGEANCE
IS MINE
By ANDREW BALFOUR
AUTHOR OF "BY STROKE OF SWORD," -TO ARMS."
Illustrations by JOHN HENDERSON BETTS.
W. T. SMITH, AND R. CATON WOODVILLE
Toronto: GEORGE J. M c L K O D
TO
G. C.
IN MEMORY OF vlANY A DAY ON MOOR
AND LOCH IN *oOR AIN COUNTRIe'
CONTENTS
BOOK I.
THE HOUSE OF DARRQCH
CHArrBR
I- THE GATHERING
"• ^«E MERCHANTMAN
"1. THE CORPSE -
IV. THE CASTAWAY
V. THE CONSPIRATORS
VI. A FAIR YANKEE
Vn. THE RIVALS .
Vni. FACE TO FAu£
BOOK n.
THE TRIAL
I- FROM LUGGER TO FRIGATE
"• ^"^ °«^ER TO KEEL-HAUI
I". YARD-ARM TO YARD-ARM
IV. THE EXILE -
V. CRASPINAT -
VI. THE MYSTERY
I
II
19
31
40
51
63
72
90
loi
115
129
144
I4S
vni
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. FROM PERIL TO PERIL
II. THE GASCON •
III. THE ESCAPE -
IV. 'VIVE l'empereurI'
V. THE MARCH -
VL THE ASSASSINS
VII. THE AUDIENCE
VIII. A NIGHT OF RECKONING
IX. IN THE DAY OF BATTLE
X. AFTER MANY DAYS •
BOOK III.
REVENGE
PACK
i6i
178
187
208
221
233
244
258
277
300
I-
il
'li
r
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
t
PAGE
Frontispiece (in colors) "Up, Guards, and At Them !"
He looked quickly up
• •
82
"What!" shouted Calthrop, leaning across the tabic
139
I
"Soldiers of the Fifth," he exclaims, "behold me!" . 226
"This, Sir," said he, "is not a duel; it is an appeal
to God"
274
VENGEANCE IS MINE
BOOK I.
THE HOUSE OF DARROCH
CHAPTER I.
THE GATHERING
IT was the wildest storm that had visited the West
Coast for many a year. It had come with the
coming of night, and had increased in violence
as the darkness fell. There was a heavy sea at the
mouth of the Whipple water, but the fishermen of
Shiachan were weather-wise, and their skiffs lay
safely within the bar, but a few yards from the tiny
hamlet.
Round the old house of Darroch the wind yelled
and whistled like a fiend freed from bondage, and
exulting madly in his liberty, and within, the lean
recluse sat huddled over his fire of peat, and shivered
in his great red-padded chair.
This night recalled just such another to Ian Darroch
— the night when he had tricked the red-coats., and
won back his inheritance. Since then he had kept it
secure, at first by defiance, and then because the law
had wearied of him and bis ways, had forgotten him,
and left him in peace. He was far from the bustling
world in this lone place of sea and mountain-land,
I
2 VENGEANCE IS MINE
but he was content— indeed, his life had been varied
enough to make amends for anydulness and monotony
at its fag-end. Proscribed and hunted after the '45,
he had been captured and shipped to the plantations.
He had known the lash in Barbadoes, and learned
to hate the English with an undying hate ; but he
had taken his revenge. For many a year after his
return his name was spoken of with awe amongst the
islands and in every seaward parish of the adjacent
mainland. It was an open secret that he had been
m league with the wild wreckers of Pitlochie, the
lawless men of the Black Glen, and it was whispered
that even now he had dealings with their descend-
ants, who were ever ready to take charge of a cargo
when the Solway was watched too closely, who had
many a still hidden away amongst the corries and
the heather, and who were none too anxious to save
the crew of a vessel driven from her course to meet
her fate on the wild and barren coast which as cliff
and reef bade defiance to the ocean's might.
But Ian Darroch was nearing his end. Hard and
bony he had been all his life, and hard and bony he
was in his senility.
A huge hound, gaunt and shaggy as his master,
lay at his feet, and whimpered uneasily as the gale's
eerie voice sang a storm-song about the gables and
the sleet rattled on the coarse window-panes.
The old Jacobite was a mere wreck of his former
self, thin and stooping, watery-eyed, with bleared
vision and trembling limbs, but still fierce and bitter
in temper, and caring for nothing on earth but the
great dog Ossian and the younger of his two grand-
sons. They were all the kith and kin left to him,
and the elder he hated as being the child of his son
by the latter's first wife, an Englishwoman. He had
driven the first Neil Darroch from his home on
account of this marriage, and had never seen his
face again, but in his old age he had been fain to
welcome the second Neil despite the fact that the
^ THE GATHERING 3
boy's mother was a Frenchwoman, one of that
nation who had betrayed the Stuart cause, and
whom he had cursed as faithless and corrupt. He
had let the lad run wild, and filled his head with
strange ideas foreign to the times, but Ian Darroch
lived in the past, and would have it that things were
as they had been when the White Rose blossomed for
the last time. A curious whim took possession of
him when he realized that the curly-headed little
fellow in a kilt was little no longer, had attained
years of discretion, and was growing restless and dis-
satisfied with his surroundings. He resolved that
Neil Darroch should study the law with which he
had been at enmity all his life. He would make
others suffer as he had suffered, make his younger
grandson an instrument to bully and browbeat hap-
less prisoners— a judge with the power of life and
death, who might fine and imprison and hang with-
out mercy, and make the name of Darroch a terror
on the bench.
To this end he had parted with him, and the slow
years had passed till now both his grandsons had
been suinmoned to see him die. For the nonce,
however, he had cheated the devil, and was able to
leave his bed ; but he was very lonely that night —
sick and lonely. Strange visions framed themselves
in the glowing embers. He saw faces of those long
dead, gallant men who had taken pistol and clay-
more for the Prince. He saw again the slave-gangs
and the long green stretches of the cane-fields under
the fierce light of a tropic sun. He had been young
then, hot-tempered and proud, but full of a yearning
for home, for the kindly hills and the sound of the
western surges as they beat monotonously on the
Croban Point and the curving sands of the Bay of
Shiachan. He had got his chance at last, and he
had taken it and come up from the sea as an avenger
of blood. This had been the great deed of his life,
and the old man rarely conjured up his later years :
1—2
.4 VENGEANCE IS MINE
his dealings vyith the smugglers, his marriage, his
wife s death, his bitter quarrel with his or ^ son— all
these he had forgotten, and his thoughts .t .ire away
back to the wild night when he had seized Darroch
House, and won a name for himself in every seaward
parish. His mouth twitched, and he muttered and
mumbled as memory after memory crowded on his
feeble brain, as he planned and plotted once again,
and led the way from the sea-caves by the light of
the pine torches. It all came back to him as it had
so often done, and then the vision passed, and left
him wearied, but content; and so, spreading out his
lean hands, all veins and knuckles, before the peat
blaze, he smiled to himself, and, smiling, dropped
into a doze. ^"^
Whatever else Ian Darroch might be, he was in
keeping with his surroundings. The same could not
be said of the three men who occupied the next room,
and sat m silence listening to the sough of the wind
without and Its fitful roaring in the wide chimney, up
which leaped the flames of a huge fire of wood. They
were seated round the hearth of what out of courtesy
was called the hall, a long, narrow chambei panelled
in black oak, but bare and comfortless, with no
claims to justify its high-sounding name save a
venerable appearance and a fine arching fireplace of
red and white stone. The most remarkable of the
three was a man well past the middle age, whose
thick hair, the colour of bleached seaweed, was
gacnered up into a queue, and fastened by a bow of
faded yellow ribbon. His features were finely cut
his whole bearing distinguished at first sight, but a
closer inspection revealed the fact that something
was lacking in his face. His expression was pleasant.
hi3 dark eyes benevolent, but his thin lips were
tremulous, his chin weak. He sat very stiffly on a
straight-backed chair, and kept constantly smiling
as though well satisfied, and nodding aimlessly at the
glow in front of him. His coat, whirh h^A or1«;«.ii..
THE GATHERING
been of a good green cloth, was shabby in the
extreme, his knee-breeches frayed and shiny, while
his black silk stockin<^s had been darned in many
places with a coarse purple wool, which made his
spidery shanks look as if covered with small nodosi-
ties or warts. A muffler round his neck, a shirt of
doubtful linen, and a pair of carpet slippers of a
gorgeous pattern completed a costume at once
pathetic and ridiculous. And yet its owner had once
been a man of fashion, a leader of the mode in a city
where fashion is fashioned, so to speak.
Monsieur Deschamps had been born and bred a
Parisian, one of an old Huguenot family ; but, un-
fortunately for himself, his connections were aristo-
cratic and his ideas conservative. He had by a
marvellous series of escapes saved his neck at the
time of the Terror, but only at the expense of his
reason. He would never again be the keen and
alert young dandy who had practised bows and soft
speeches, and been always ready to take up an affair
of honour, whatever the weapon, knowing himself to
be equally expert with pistol and small sword. He
would now in all probability continue as he had been
for years, a very polite old gentleman, eccentric in
his dress and manners, but perfectly harmless and
extremely contented with his lot.
It had been no hardship for him to accompany his
only sister, wife and then widow of a British naval
officer, to this outlandish place on the Scottish West
Coast. He imagined it an excellent change of air,
and peopled the lonely spot with visionary beings
whose conversation was much to his liking, m whom
he confided, and with whom he shared many a secret.
The gentle Frenchwoman soon drooped and died,
scared out of her life, so said report, by Ian Darroch's
grimness and ferocity ; but there remained the child,
and Monsieur Deschamps told him as many tales as
did the old Jacobite, and divided Neil's affections
with his grandfather.
iililllii«i(iii!w!»«-'-»j««5«,-
6 VENGEANCE IS MINE
He was if anything a little elated, for his prot6e««
had returned after a long absence, and he had not
yet detected any remarkable change in him. They
would renew their walks, and he would no 'onger
have the old housekeeper as his sole society. The
woman was well enough, but no companion; while
there never had been the least cordiality in the rela-
tions of Charles Deschamps and Ian Darroch. So
the former, like the latter, sat quietly, his face
wrmklmg with complacent smiles all on account of
the young man who was seated on his right, and
who httle imagined what awaited him in the near
luture.
Neil Darroch, as a man, was very different from
what he had been as a boy, at least, to the casual
observer. In the days when he had lived a half-
savage existence, save for the gentle restraint of his
uncle, he had been a creature of moods, but for the
most part a dreamy, sensitive lad, whose surround-
mgs had done much to shape his character. The
loneliness and grandeur of the spot appealed to his
imagination. The heather-clad hills, purple-breasted
in autumn, crowned by ridges of black peat-hagg, and
gashed by birch and rowan-lined gullies, the home
ot the wily blackcock and the grey hen, he regarded
as emblems of his country and his people.
He had waded among the long green reeds and
scared the teal and mallard from their nests. He
had wandered by th^ cold, bleak shore and watched
the wave-ripples spreading out upon the firm yellow
sand and curling round the lug-worms' casts. He
had heard the cry of the snowy owl as it hooted in
the coppices of Darroch, and was answered by the
harsh note of the night-fishing heron. He knew the
long coast-line from the rocky Croban Point in the
south, past the wide bay of Shiachan to the long line
of northern cliffs, cave-pierced, high and beetling, a
coa.st-line fringed with floating wrack and the broken
cugc uf the ceaseless ocean swell.
Hi
m
THE GATHERING
i^
after f/hn^ ^^^ ^T^ ^* ^^^ ^° influence him in
fa her's wilH fT*^ '"'*' ^ ."^^"^^' ^^^h his grand"
wnc n. ^ ^""^l^ ""^'"S in his ears of nights it
was no wonder that NpH nor^^^u u i "K"'^» "
violent Tacohifp Tnli Pai^roch had grown up a
a,^ f ,> ""V^ 'rf ^'"^ come when he^Ionged to
wa's rairin7.%^"r"'^^ lacking fhiraUowance
rbotand"t„ 'o? a' f/uWw'cle^r /r'""
knowledge of the world and ts brooked ^iLT^>'^
Neil was so woefully deficient H» if, j ^ ■ "*
in wl ^ °\ "? was a man h body— av and
days the Scottish.?!^? "' ^'' innocence. In those
lov^lr cl«„°'i:!i'!P!il' w^f ??n«.t°° virtuous. Its
often drunVena;d co:?srit^rfbi^%Xlt
8
VENGEANCE IS MINE
. At first, bewilderpH o„^
»hy and retiringr .hen ^T'"' *"> '""^ hold aloof
lU-advisers, he had .'one'J.^ '"^^ .confidence and
but he stopped in tin^e il^''^"" f^ ™ad to rufn
told what i, was thararre" eS'h,^"'^ "?''''* ""« have'
the change was sudden hI"^ ^" ""'"" steps, but
dead earnest; J.e shnnied hi, lT'"'="'' '° *o k „
made no other friends H.T .'f '=°'"Panions, bit
of reserve from which' he Lr*" ''="='' '"'o the she"
"".longer in danger He h /"""'S"''' l"" he was
™%ht P/^ve^l'iva'^ret.f ;"^<' ^''^he' a^f*^^
pleasantly. Lonely self co„» * " '"'^^^^d him un
which was not concnlf i ^'i'''''^' "nd with a nrJdL
peculiar sort of man '' t'^l^K^'^^^'"^ developed i^
interesting type the "^, ^'^.^ame that stranee hnf
tr.cksofsLe^Ph'andg^stufe"L'^"^;'^' ^"^ '^"''-a'ed
o hers, who did not laHstbJl'u''^ """^ amusing to
profession, but they were pM T^^^' ^"^^ ^n his
earned a right to he e^ceLt^A "^^"' ^ho had
the time Neil Darroch h^"" 'V^^^' chose, and bv
fma]] practice a? the nf T'^^^ ^^'^ wa^lnfo a
favourite with his rnnf ^'' ^^ ^o"nd himself n
"ot deny hi tXts ^"'P^'^''^"^^- ^"t theyfouM
that he earnoi I ; . ^° caustic wa<? hil : "^^
<-^T earned for himself fk ^ "^^ tone^ue
Colocynth.' "imseJt the name of ' YourS
se^^ ttt1,t\l";-,^5 h^m, but he shocked
^ ' "6 Kept hjs semi-French
Oarroch in
J held aloof,
dencc and
ad to ruin,
d not have
steps, but
to work in
anions, but
o the shell
•ut he was
nowledge,
» to many
e law, it
hini un-
h a pride
•ed into a
^nge but
uitivated
lusing to
iumed to
old; he
ed him-
in his
ho had
and by
' into a
self no
' could
ongue,
Young
locked
ws on
2d an
ought
5ad of
THE GATHERING 9
origin a close secret. He had clever, if somewhat
shallow Views about most of the pressing c,uestions
of tb day and when .n the humour cm.ld argue
nu *i^'^ and well. ^
ns the years passed he almost forgot the wild
outlandish place which was his home, where two
old men. the very opposites of each other, yearned
for a sight of the c,uiet. affectionate lad who had
brightened their liv.s, but would not beg his Return
—the om because he was too proud, the other
because he feared to injure h-". nephe^' chances
of success Neil wrote short letters, and in return
received sheets of underlined woru . ending in queer
fZ?l'' rT ^""T"^ I^eschamp. and curt notes
W« Ia- ^'^^^ .^^"^ who were an Darroch's
legal advisers; but it never occ- red to him *hat
his appearance at Shiachan woul be welcome
Une day however, a n essag had come, and
with something akin to remorse the ut-and-drv
HaTinV'r ^^-^^^,»^y coach fn m the Whi ^
for thl Jill ^'^^\"^^;^^t' leaving h ]ients to fend
tor themselves. And now he was 1 ^k in the hall
her^d'h^ '^^'"'^^ ^l^' ^ ^^*^"> ^^^-nt being
he had becon e smce the smack fror. Portrov the
nearest town, hip, had borne him of: ^o make his
fX;'0 "^ •^'- ""^^ '^' ^^"^'"^ j"^^- h5^ grand!
fathers lurid m agination. 5 ^"u
A tall, thin man, but p )ssessed the wirv
s rength which .^oes further than mass nd weiVht^
his face distinctly handsome, his comp.x ion dark
his expression cignified, he fidgets with a quizz
ing glass, danglir, by a broad rLnd an s?uXs
the face of his un. nown step-brother Geoffiey.
his In^lT^ lad developed into a mixture of
nis grandfather ai d his uncle, and the result was
curiously like a cer ain class of Englishman though
this he himself wo Id have been the first to deny
and repudiate: fori, ider all h;= .i^.i, JA,^ °..^^">^
there still lay those fixed " b^hef^wli^^rhk^i;^
r^
lO
VENGEANCE IS MINE
one would expect to meet in such a nl«.^"l ""^ ""^^
his comDanion*? R» j,Vi • l ^ P^^^^ *^^" were
his motherland put ft to a S/"'"^ T""^^ f™"
man to all intents'^and purposes hfw "^"r ^"f '''''-
broal-sho^'ltt'^nlTd T^u^J^" ^^^^^ '
prasr"re?ord"<'.ir^/f gaC'Sffwifnot a'
have summed him 1 r*^'""^" blackguard ' would
must be c"nfess?d Ti.TT^^^ """^ '^"j'' ">ough it
heredity and enviroleSTr'''/rS^'y "'"^^ °f
him also, and pkarre ;. J''" T't^ ^l'"'' "'^^ -n
from his motWs side h'-^ - -■ ■^°'^' "''"^
Souty constitution. He'^hadn'^vefh'' '°?''= l"<^ *
curb his Da<:<!ir,n= . kT ^^"^ ''®^'' taught to
things weSt^lI^ith hr buThf "f '' ''"S ^^
that dangerous comSo'n"'o ^tSf aTd
trtheTalbwI'^Vhat ha'd\= "roughrntTa m^'
House was t^e faci thL h» h'^"^'' ''^ '° Da"°ch
a little too hot for L^felf aJ!? "'^<^?J'^' °^'^ haunts
the better part of vabur ' <=°"='d«'«d discretion
tilUhe"day'tfortou°rTai:f '^ '^ ""^ "-- =««■>
he was already disgusted • buThi,'"'' ^'"' ^''''=''
just then were embarra«.^H j^ I <='V="'"stances
the harsh, hafking coueh of th^T"^ ''°^, ^"-^ then
wild blood
h his veins,
nd of man
than were
oney from
n English-
Londoner
shion, with
md figure,
full of a
^as not a
rd ' would
though it
' those of
^in was in
nd, while
)ks and a
aught to
1 long as
cter was
ess and
y a man
Darroch
n haunts
iscretion
ver seen
h which
istances
hoped,
s some-
a.de one
moil of
id then
; whose
:ether.
iggered
sang a
THE MERCHANTMAN n
CHAPTER II.
THE MERCHANTMAN
AT the head of the Black Glen lay the crofts of
Pitlochie, hidden away in a nook amongst
.u A A^}'}^^' "^^^'^ *^^ Whipple was a mere
thread, dyed brown with the moss-water, where the
dark tarn nestled at the base of a might; mountain
spur and where often in summer-time no sound
might be heard the live-long day but the plaintive
bleat of sheep, the melancholy whistle of the curlew
the drumming of solitary snipe, and the harsh'
barking croak of the ravens from the rock corries ^
fho ^.-11 • ""??' ^""^f" ^"^ ^^^^d would be ofT to
tlrlhh ? b^^^k Gl^n Molachan, unless indeed
there had been work m the night to keep them all
to r.;r^ ^^^'' '^l'"^ ^'r ^^^ Solway mouth ready
to run a cargo where there was little risk of dis-
covery. "*
Now, however the Pitlochie men were at their
CO age doors The night had passed, but the storm
T^S^' w\'^^^ '"^'"^^^ '^^ ^^"^^i"g streamers
of mist which swept along the hill crests and
Sulill ^ effects ^f the 'blast on theTw a"d
fwl t " "','"'^5 had struggled for existence on
those bare uplands. But a half-dozen remained
and even those showed long white scars where
branches had been rent from the parent stemrand
now ragged and forlorn, they were swaying and
^^!(lt -T^r things/while the InoLnful
^,A Ir^ Wind through their dark needle clusters
sounded like a weird hill music, a dirge of death.
♦„ i .r ° "'f'" was at last uprooted and crashed
to mother earth after a gallant fight and much loss
anoXrT'"V''r/"l''^"'y ^^^'hed the onlookers
another signal of death an^ ^^of,-,,^^;^^ t. ^^
cleared, but the whistling gusts'-werraniolent'as
r
IB
VENGEANCE IS MINE
whisked awav oni^hw I- °lf" '"''*"*' «"d then
thatch ofT„^ZL:'^-^Tr!/^-^^^ '- ">«
ooLTnlt;. afd"'at'"]rs;°l'°^^'^'''^"''/ '-'«-
caught up his sticks nHK.°"^'"^" *fter man
land patfwhLh led t^^u"",?' *"•* ^?°^ "^e moor-
the salt spray flyine inland anH^; ° the heather,
faces, a feeling aU^thetn^e as ff*f°^ ^^'°'^ ^^^'"
against some Invisible Zer cirrenTn^' ."f '"?
and strength- bnt =t uZ u "i""^"t of vast depth
they reached the d fflie'tnd 'f.' """^ ^''"^'^'l'
down, gripping the coars^ ' grl 'a^^'^l'^T'^^^
stems, and gaing out to sea ' ^'^"^^^
wal a ctj'iouf tes^'ir^n'^" ?T ">« °^«- there
ness and ransnSf'' '•''' ''«''''. ^ =°" of airi-
morning afre^rhSv^'^Ler's^r '•'"b^t^"" It'
gale was still raging in smWfM ', j "i* •''f * ""e
and the absencf of mlfo 'dr vi'n„ "Seet "Ih' ''^'
the mighty rdlers'ca'nf '!"'^?i; ""''^'^ ='"' showed,
better furLg whitehn '° nTf"" ' ™=''' '="^"°g ''"d
wards along thIirL'?,fh ^"^"^ ^'.-'^^ing back-
overbalancing thevthund.r^n'^^ '""'"^ backs, till,
and pebbles Ind Tack Sow f'T.T" "'^ '^"^
fro^ i,r "^; oftum'e^^hiltt rth" of^crlt'
bat XTofsS °""^^^^ towardfth'S
. on.y to be sucked seawards and overwhelmed
ds of fine,
le hillsides
le glen was
luse, as of
nt, distant
, and then
ti tore the
lis lawless
ifter man
the moor-
Caves of
ig breaths
5 heather,
linst their
e striving
ast depth
xhausted,
lemselves
bracken
2an there
t of airi-
seen the
here the
ight sky,
The sea
surging
nes and
ay.
showed,
ing and
g back-
:ks, till,
le sand
' would
creamy
he cliff
THE MERCHANTMAN 13
by the next towering water wall as it fell and burst.
North and south m an almost unbroken line the
charging mountainous seas wreaked their fury upon
the shiftmg foreground, almost unbroken, for in one
part a row of peaked, wrack-clad rocks, showing in
Ime like the back ridge of an alligator, broke the
torce of these ocean giants. They formed a sort
ot natural breakwater, within which the sea was only
gently ruffled, although the wind-blown crests of the
great waves without came down in showers upon it
hke huge pearl-drops.
The dreaded Skerries, a mile off shore, low-lying,
hke hidden traps, at the best of times, were row
buried beneath a constant streak of broken water, a
wild jabble of foam, which showed awav out to sea
on either side of the Stacks. These latter, two in
number, were like sharp black teeth, rocks such as
may be seen off the lies D'Hyeres, near Toulon,
miniature Pitons of St. Lucia, small pyramids jutting
upwards from the waste around. A narrow/a very
narrow channel separated one from the other, and
there the water was of great depth, but on the outer
side of either fang lay the Skerries, north and south,
as they were named upon the chart.
Surrounded by a network of currents and tiny
whirlpools, they were dreaded by both fishermen
and mariners and loved only by the restless herring-
gulls and wild sea-mews, which in calm weather
congregated about them in myriads, and rent the
air with their discordant cries. But there was no
bird-life on the Skerries that day, and the Stacks
were being bombarded by billow after billow, some
sweeping clear over their forty feet of weathered
basalt, while others caught them half-way up in
their chill embrace, and yet others, their bases
broken, swept and washed about them in broad,
white, bubbling tracts, as though baffled in their
ettorts to outdo their mightier hr«thr^n
i3ut the men of Pitio°chie had no eyes for such a
1 1
'4 VENGEANCE IS MINE
tTstareintentll'Inf'TA '^''«' y^ich caused them
^Jlf '"'fP"y '"to the eye of the wind was the
reeis. with nothing showing but a tinv soreaH
PacroTlaTn^^L"""" J"'' ™* broken stU^ In
anTbtrpr t :nd g^^aTd^'f' ^f ^T'/"?^'
wreckage clinging to Sera'd'side Tgrlttro"!
was striving to beat off shore ^ ^
toThrsfas*an/f ' ^"^ "^^^ ""^'^ ^^^ ^^e lifted
10 tne seas and I'Tched with a stapler into th^
save twoT^ ^'^' l^^T"^ ^^^^ ^" the fL r ggLT
save two figures ^yhlch were lashed to the wheet
Not a rag of bunting betraved her na ionalitv hnf
she was plainly a merchan-tman and a^Sv a
merchantman doomed. Piamly a
'A furriner,' growled a grizzled, evil-faced man
Suck sr f ^f^:^r:^^''i:^f^
a string of foul oathsr?orTe'.;;rcau"ghtTigh :r'a
dt-e^n of^he^^gX''^ ''"■^''^^^ ^^
A]!!s^7:rT^^ ^nii^°det ttr r-
moment, so pungent was the salt solutteJ ^hirh
struck upon their eyeballs. When next thev look^H
Sfon ''¥h "^^ ^"^"^^. ^° -^-" 'hX wtl^
vesse h^H ^^ '^'t^^? ^"^^ had vanished, the
vessel had relinquished her desperate strue^Ie hnf
r''cl"hTottrT-""V
£|e-| ^-, -Hifg-oTthI fo„^rf to^ra's tS
rocks Then suddenly she vanished in the troulh
only to be ae^ain rnnt,v,f „« -_j _ . "^ irougn,
nearer than evertoTerfote^'' '^^^" '^ ^^"^^^^
i
E
lused them
id was the
rocks and
iny spread
stumps in
)retopmast
3f floating
eat barque
she lifted
into the
swept in
gulph her
her crew
:e-rigging,
he wheel,
lality, but
plainly a
::ed man,
?e in the
ided with
ight of a
from the
sphemies,
n for a
ir which
!y looked
nr whole
hed, the
?gle, but
>site the
as they
le shore,
ve, and
■rds the
trough,
vanish,
THE MERCHANTMAN
15
A
A shout burst from the smugglers, for once again
the black form of the ship showed upon a wave-top,
with a smother of foam all about her. On she
came, till she seemed balanced half-way up between
the mighty teeth, and, tossing on the wind, a wild
cry was born to the shore. Then the wave surged
forward alone, and there, gripped by the rocks,
stuck fast between the deadly Stacks, with broken
water pouring over her in cascades, and dripping
down upon her from above, hung the poor barque,
her nose dipping low, her stern tilted high, and her
streaming decks showing in their full length and
breadth.
At the sight a chorus of angry curses burst from
the men of Pitlochie. Their prey had escaped them.
Well did they know the run of the currents and the
faint chance there was of any cargo drifting to the
beach once the Stacks or Skerries had gripped a
hapless ship. They started to their feet and shook
their fists at the wreck, then cursed again, as they
became aware of the presence of a dozen men who
had halted some twenty yards away.
These were the fishermen of Shiachan, and at
their head were the grandsons of Ian Darroch.
Word had been brought of the minute-guns, and
Neil, a favourite in the old days with the big
burly men of bronzed faces and horny hands, had
organized a rescue party, which at the last moment
Geoffrey Darroch had asked leave to join. They
carried several coils of rope and lighter lines, but
Neil, who knew that for long there had been bad
blood between the fisher-folk and the smugglers,
was a trifle put out at the latter's appearance. He
began to see trouble ahead, and halted his men to
consider what best could be done. Meanwhile the
barque's foremast broke across some six feet above
deck-level, and fell upon her port-bow, taking most
of her crew with it, and flinging half a dozen of
them into the sea, where they were swallowed up in
a few seconds of time.
i6
VENGEANCE IS MINE
Curious streaks of a bXhter Lt f ""1°^^" ^^y-
stretched in lone ]tZfl ''Sht than the sky held
glimmering of sunS wT ""Z"" ',? =°'"«h. ind a
itself-a did, wimirder,?;' l'™Fi'"S '° *=P'»y
cheerfulness aboi" it rtT ^^'"'^ i""^ "°*ing of
lessening, while "lady the wavef '"' '""^' *^'
huge as the^ had been "'^''^ =<="<=« so
"at s^' t^hal if :rpo^:S!r T^^^ '^^^^ ^^
shelterofthelorgreefBuVc *""'•'' ^ ''°^' ""der
I've in such weather where 4sTtnh^ ' ??*' '=°"'d
was no sign of anv cr^ft.ZTL t^ ''^ 8r°' ^^ There
Neil remembe edXcave^""/,''^ '""'\ A" ^' °"^«
almost certain, that some kinH^l' P^bable. indeed
rsid? ^^''^ °^ *^- Bu^h^w-t'^i',!-^^^
co|t-ire, ?r m^ b^^rtheTar^j^i'-^P-' °f the
men of Pitlochie A* the " ^'^f "'^''^ «''"' the
theremust be some sec'ret o Jt i"T ''" '"'^«' '^at
from the cliif-topTthe ci £ t/'''f'^'"«^'° "^'=<=aves
hundred feet in heiehl i 5' j''^'"=^'™«' ^ough not a
He had heard of such entr^/ ^'^ "?'P ^""^ P^'hless.
long sloping tunnels wth/n' °" f'i ^*^' ^oast-
natural, half artificial Wh=? "^'^"^ """"'hs, half
however, have to be donlvlf"' "^^', '^°"<' «'«"«.
could be launched once the r!^f ''"u'^'y- ^o boa
into the rock recesses tU, "^ ""^San to plunge
lessening the number S'thf^acrfiT "°T^°' ^*'
niast-stumps or bulwarktand evfrl"^nr 'i"„?"I '°
—J ~-^TT aiiu uien
fancy,' Neil
1.
>inted away
ce that the
fiother day.
he sky heJd
)uth, and a
to display
nothing of
blast was
scarce so
ig the un-
■ was only
i the cliff-
oat under
3oat could
: ? There
^11 at once
le, indeed
concealed
hey to be
Lrt of the
e-traders
! had not
with the
new that
ihe caves
gh not a
Pathless.
Coast —
hs, half
- would,
^0 boat
' plunge
nt was
'ging to
.J i.1
THE MERCHANTMAN 17
there came floating shorewards the mournful wail of
some poor wretch going down to feed the crabs and
cod and conger, or to drift in time, a disfigured.
swollen horror, upon the wave-beat shingle.
From what the excited fishermen said* amongst
themselves, Neil gathered that the smugglers had a
large boat, buoyed with empty barrels, which thev
used m a rough sea, and that if she was forthcoming
his men were willing to make an attempt at rescue.
He resolved that it should be made.
'Yonder fellows are difficult to handle,' he said to
Geoffrey, nodding towards the free-traders, ' but I
suppose I can count on your support ?'
^ ' To tell the truth, Mr. Darroch,' was the reply.
It seenis to me a hopeless business, and scarcely
worth the risk of making enemies of those men.
i hey may be my neighbours before long.'
And to conciliate a pet of rogues you would let a
ship s company, with perhaps women amongst them,
drown before your eyes! Shame on you, sir!'
sneered Neil, his natural coolness all but deserting
him for a moment. ' Come along, men,' he added!
We, at any rate, must do our best.'
Geoffrey Darroch made no answer to Neil's
scornful words, but he was none the less enraged.
He made up his mind there and then that this
whelp of a Frenchman,' as he called his step-
brother, would yet suffer for his insolence, and in
high dudgeon he turned his back, and set off the way
ne had come. "^
The which more than one of the men of Pitlochie
noted with a lively satisfaction, for this fine-looking
gentlenian could be none other than the future
JJarroch of Darroch.
.Ja ^"^?"^^g^^ them in their spirit of resistance,
and Neil s demand for a guide to the caves was met
by a sullen refusal. It was no time for words, and
as ne was determinpH fn nc^ fnt-.-^ ,v „ — j u_ __ j ^l _
hshermen were ready to back him, things might have
I''
! ", i
I I
I !
i8
VENGEANCE IS MINE
filled" wrT^'ZnM""^' '"^ ''" "-" --^-^-ly
thunder. booming sound, like distant
The sea had reached the rorks ,„^ tu
waves were pluneine onl \,flT^ ' , *''* Sreat
verberating roar inJn tK ^ , another with re-
of Cowrie "'° "'^ ^"'' souths of the Caves
heldir'^tan" ':l:Zo:^i^j'' ^"t"-^-^-
" ■ AvlLS^' -ar thr^g^ STt! ""='^'" ' ' -''•
black'he^td cowlrds '"°"'"' ' '"" <="^« t^em for
th^^gafe^^quklf to To °"'' '^' ''='^'5"'=- Although
aitho^ugh'tge breakers were^'cL ''"•"' ^° ^°- ='"<^
without ragsed hrnl»n!^ . changing mto rollers
fel' work. The shTo had «f-' ^'/'^ ''"'^ ''°'"= "=
was again on a levef keel an'?''h''^''°*"*"<^^- She
race of waters frZ^lfohtL^^ ""^'"^ *" ^^'^^
greedy and hissintr <;h. ^™? ^P''^°S '« hef
bottom against the st».? "-as gnnding out her
shatte-dVanL All tL„7f^.Tl!"f ^''^ =?"« and
her decks; she was f?^ u ''^? ^^"'^''ed from
end was nit long ^'omTn/' x\*P"'^='. '"■"'• H^^
followed one anfther aTT/;^ ^^'^^ " ^hty billows
cession. Their comhin^H T "'?'"' '" "'apid su ;-
for the hapless sh°p The fi?4 1"^*" ^f u'°° ""><=h
the Stacks, the second rirn„ * '°°sened her hold of
■nore a glimpse cou?dhphr fi ^^' ^'«™ *"' once
only, fo? thrthlrrrorrfng a°s']ri^,''=-«|'™P=e
rushing over her in a ilLn * ° '"umph, went
streaked by white foam »ni^ ^^^''"=*' ^"^^^"^ and
passed, the barque had^»«-H T^^J ^"'^ "'h«n it
dived and sunk^to meet'^the r„f^'°' ''■.'' ^"'^^"^ ^"^
ordnance which la^rfn VT °"'",S "'>« and rusted
Stacks and Skerr Sas bone, T^°''°'^ about the
an eagle's eyrie o^a ^lldrast's" de„^^^^=^= "^ ^''°'"
The last trace of the merchantman was gone.
NE
been suddenly
. like distant
nd the great
her with re-
of the Caves
Tosh, a gray-
height; 'and,
urse them for
3. Although
to go, and
into rollers
had done its
wards. She
ed the white
>rang at her
iiff out her
th split and
ni3hed from
hulk. Her
?hty billows
n rapid suc-
s too much
her hold of
rn till once
—a glimpse
imph, went
edged and
id when it
urched and
and rusted
about the
s lie about
gone.
THE CORPSE 19
CHAPTER HI.
THE CORPSE
HARD upon the storm came a white frost.
Ihere was a silvery coating of rime on
every grass-blade, a stillness all over the
tnrrJc'' i'°"°^^*^l.^°"l^ °^ Darroch, whose leaden
Th" K- § ^^""f ^ "^.^'^^ *^'"°"^^ the morning's mist.
The birds sat still and ruffled in the coppices, a
AU^'??u Si 'f^ ^^^ gathered at the burn's side.
About the Stacks and Skerries the sea sobbed heavily
as a child sobs after a fit of anger. As the hours
hrfX A 'u" T"^^ ,h'' presence felt, and the day
brightened, but brought no relief to Neil Darroch.
He was restless and annoyed.
Although there had been no open breach of the
peace he knew that the smugglers looked on him
For fh ?'k°"' ^"^. "?.'^^* y^* P^°v« troublesome.
For that he cared little, but his stepbrother's
behaviour irritated and angered him. Geoffrey
fnnT ^"Ir^* ^'"^ ""'^^ ^^^^k looks on his return,
comn^n"^h ^^nsieur Deschamps, pleased at having
company, had been lively and amusing for a time
his efforts had failed to dissipate the doud whiTh,'
though small as a man's hand, had already begun to
fhlfh /he old Frenchman could not undefstand
to h l.^^"^ r""'^'. ^".^ ^^^^^'"^ he was in some way
to blame, became timid and out of humour.
unJtT T! "° ^^"^' ^'^ the morrow. Neil did
not feel called upon to apologize. This brother of
his was not at all to his liking, and though with
Ian Darroch worse and the shadow of death hover-
wf. 1/ • ^} *^^* ^,"y ^"^^^^1 ^as unseemly, he
was determined to make no advances till Geoffrey
had explained his conduct of the previous da/
Ine man dnpa n«^f u«i, ^ j > iT . .... /.'
but his^ action was tantamount to an insult,' and
A
M'
20
VENGEANCE IS MINE
Monsieur Deschamps, whom he took into his con-
fidence entirely agreed with him.
'AlLi \^'"?. "°*' ^^ ^o^'' said the old man
Already he sits in the best chair, and speaks ?s?f
have Teen i^hA? ^^^^^^"^Ps,; but let him beware ! I
Monsieur Deschamps to show such spirit ^
Never mind him,' he answered. 'We'll both im
off together and see how town life suits you.' ^
with a'kamthiTf'H"'. ^""'•' ^^'^ '"« °'^ f^""--
witn a gleam m his faded eyes. * It Prows dull hpre
t:i^:,tr^^''T''''. .'^^"'- -y h^'^ith'f thtk:
longer.' ' *^^'^ ^' "° '"^^°" ^^ '"^t^y
cruTt^inlTn/'^'' u ' ^^?' *^^* '^^^ ^^s "merely re-
cruiting, and would ere long return to his gaieties
and beloved Pans. Those terrible days when his
life hung by a thread and his brain became unhin J^d
were mercifully blotted out, and as a rde MonsTur
Deschamp's chatter was of the cheeriest He was
however, readily influenced by his sunoundin^s Inri
Z^ '^^^' ^i ^'^ ^^^* ^" the long summef da^-^
when he would wander out to havel ch^t w th the
ft w "^'^u' ''^'' P^^y ^'*h th^ bairns. In thT winter
be^r: the Site "' Tif "^ ^'^"^ -' ^^uTout
ueiore the hail fire, mournfully shak ng his head anrJ
^^\"tl\Zr -^"T- "'^ P"'ke"ed'ct:ks'
TW u u ^^^^ "P°" bim now, and Geoffrev
Nei to wh^^^ ^°'^'^ ^^"^^^^^ ^"*^^^s own room^
sanL out^nlf . '"f ^^'^ ^^^ ^ ^^^"^ unbearable
f hi wu" * .^""^ *°?^ ^'s ^ay towards the mouth of
the Whipple, a tidal stream with a bar of sLi
the^'ebb '\Tc ^' ^"^ ^ TP^^-^ -' .'::« weed :'
tne ebb. He^came upon^the cobble which served as
a ferrv ic\T fK-<
A
it
gatiierers, and a few strokes
SfE
into his con-
he old man.
i speaks as if
ughinc^atme
m beware ! I
ny eye. Oh
' upon some
•miled at his
iw thing for
it.
^e'll both go
you.'
e old fellow,
vs dull here,
tlth, I think,
ison to stay
merely re-
his gaieties
s when his
le unhinged
e Monsieur
• He was,
idings, and
imer days,
t with the
the winter
, hour out,
' head, and
id cheeks.
Geofifirey
)wn room,
nbearable,
mouth of
• of silted
n weed at
served as
w strokes
THE CORPSE 2,
carried hin a oss the annel, the water be.ng low
and runnm; ;>idly ou i\e 1 nded, and walking
across a strett,ii of links dott'^d with hi vn-tipped
prickly whin-clumps, which u spring re masses
of golden yellow, he reached the great sweep of
sands which bounded the bay of Shiachan from the
river's mouth to the rocky, sea-bird-spotted Croban,
towards which he saw a scart speeding with low and
rapid flight— an evil-looking bird, so black its colour
so strange its shape, long-necked and long-winged.
silent and solitary. Like all thoughtful men, Neil
Darroch found a real pleasure in Nature, and no-
where more than on the beach. The dead star-fish
:he empty, spineless case of the urchin, the mottled
razor-shells, forced open and polished clean, all told
him a stoiy— the great tragedy of the survival of the
httest. The birds were busy playing in it, uncon-
scious actors ; the very weed masses were full of
sand-beetles and minute crabs, taking minor parts,
and as much else as they could get. Winter in
some ways is.the best time on the shore. There is
more wild hfe in the short days, there is more drift
trom the angry seas and the high tides, and there is
often a strange beauty in a frosty evening on a
deserted strand, in the setting of a crimson sun
away out upon a cold, gray ocean, in the vague
melancholy of a vast water stretch, drab and dull
and beating sorrowfully upon a lonely length of salt
sea sand.
He sauntered along, wonderirg if he would have
h Z^"?!^'" beyond the week or ten days which he
had allowed himself. His grandfather was worse,
and only ha f-conscious, and he sorrowed for the old
man whose life had been so loveless and sad.
^trange,' he muttered, • that he who hates the
^nghsh, and with good cause, should be succeeded
by one who has no sympathy with him, though, if
1 am not mistakpn Ha Hoo i,;^ ,.: t.^ i-_i
though ne meant to encourage those rogues of
I ^'i
aa
1 M
.!
VENGEANCE IS MINE
spared us h.s presence at such a time.' '
befo^id The bluff'^hrn? T '° l^''' '" ">e north,
wodd''be"f4t'foT» •"•"•, ",T" ^''""- ""• there
wuuia oe iignt lor a couple of hours. Whv shnnlH
henot pay a visit to the scene of theThiDwreck?
Retracmg h.s steps, he again crossed in the cobbt
t^^»t\ h P ""d wiiholfrorTirhi
nM T^ u. /-^"^ ,*^® ^^^" ^^se, he would have asked
ctn^^rthX^Tio^ero,' tttiS
grown raw, and a faint sea-breeze laden with ;.!• .
was rnmi'ncr i'« ,> «• r , "^^ '^<J^" With moisture
was coming m puffs from the north-west Still it
ita iVhfdTf?^ oreepingfp,tlhe ts o'f Z
stacks hid It from him as he drew close to them
The birds on the Skerries were uneasyrshiftine here
and there, and screaming harshly as Lfainltfde
left bare some savoury tit-bit. Very vast and for
sV^l^L^r^^f '¥^S^' '"«g"'" pyramids of rock'
st"U,!^irckei" Vfh/r ^'B7t4^7H"^^''"«"'^
to view them justnhe'ir.'"-Th^l^t"demand°ei™U
thdr ^rro'Tn!, V '^'/''""l' d««P currenTsSfdlt i"
tneir grip, and tended to whirl it this wav =«^ /», 1
to spin it like a teetotum, and it nSded aC/sl*^:''
been'herrffi° 'o7? '" "T =*™ght°''&rhaf
venturtrfor''thr;at°er''rS: ± ,.^"1". -' ,.■?-«
J „„^, i^_^^ ^ nay, iiKc a
vould be hard
t him here at
d in Glasgow,
t matter, and
the north,
base coursed
Stack rising
n, and there
Why should
: shipwreck ?
1 the cobble,
boat, which
re were oars
nore ado he
I have asked
the day had
air, it had
ith moisture
St. Still, it
•face of the
as he pulled
ie did not
mass of the
se to them,
tiifting here
falling tide
st and for-
ds of rock,
rgling gray
ad no time
nanded all
:s had it in
7 and that,
long swing
. He had
not have
rap, like a
THE CORPSE
«3
liquid maze, bewildering and deadly, and even on
the land side a tract of foam formed a setting for
the wreck-feathered Skerries. As it was, he found
himself in the channel between the Stacks where
the ill-fated barque had stuck fast till she was swept
to her doom.
At the ebb there was a curve in the narrow
passage which broke the force of the ocean heave
that came lapping in between the black walls of
basalt, and so, though the water strip was streaked
with white, it was comparatively calm. Neil was
breathing hard as he forced the boat into the chasm,
and he rested a little, fending himself from the
slippery rock as he drifted towards it.
As he thus lay, dipping and splashing, the sea-fog,
salt and stealthy, began to close about him. Almost
before he realized its presence it had wrapped him
round. Forty feet above him the Stack top rose
clear from its shredding streamers, but on the water
surface It lay thick, yet lightly, rolling gently past
him and shrouding his view at the distance of a few
yards. He began to grow alarmed. The birds had
ceased their clamour, and all was dead silent, save
for the suck and drip of the sea and the monotonous
splash, splash of the boat's bow. It was impossible
for him to find his way back in safety v/hile the fog
lasted. **
He sat, oars in hand, on one of the thwarts, his
thick topcoat buttoned closely round his throat, and
waited. Presently, to hi-, relief, a rift showed in the
vapour curtain. He got a glimpse of the northern
Stack, and at the same moment something white
caught his eye. It startled him, but vanished again
as a fresh curl of fog drifted past. He thought of
the ship s crew who lay fathoms deep beneath his
boat's keel. He shivered a little, and wondered
what It was he had seen against the black rock.
Once more the fog cleared, and he looked anxioii<;lv
at the spot. The white object was still there, but a
'fU
►4
VENGEANCE IS MINE
1
f
I
il
"I
; .lit
!l ijl
!
■'
second later he laughed at his feais. It was a ereat
white gu 1, perched on a rounded block^but! s^tTv
f^n t:?p^teii''sur:5'a'? ifrr ^.?-'^*
jnore definite. J.'iXTe rrroJVof "hXoT
his'slTdlV''^ ''"=" °' ^ ™^"' ^"-^ ">« I'-'J =-' upon
blalk^as^the^ rlt •';'''r'', ,* ''"^'^ «''*°'" * body,
u«PrJ » o, ™pk 'tself. Almost involuntarily Nei
uttered a cry of dismay, and the bird lazily spread
as wmgs and launched itself into the mst which
quTcl^y "°« '«""• ''"' ^^'^'""S only to pass
h.fj' ^f^ "°' ^^^" .deceived. What he saw was the
reveairn/a"df hi "'" ^^T^'"^ "P= shrunkel and
half" "fed, the t/Har forS 'T' "?^ ^^^^
pifh»r o.-^^ ri uuge ears spreading like wings on
weird **' ''''^ ^ gargoyle, motionless and
tha^theTll'tidf ''T'' """^ ^' •>« '''d '° "«"«d
ghastSy^rlnc'-^^t^e'^^Lr" "™^^' '^^' ^•'°- ">''
suffers"'bM/'tr"^K \^t '*'* '^ '•>« «'=' P"' which
suHers, but there had been no time for disfiguration
to see the eyelids wink and the srin pvnanH -rh!.
negro looked as if smiling to himsllf ^ '''
h.li "If r'^ when Neil had run his boat up to the
base of the rock that the mystery was exolained
The man was fixed up to the chin il a great vert"cd
^ef . It was possible to land on a narrow ledge and
asfcX";?^ ""t ".^'"^•' ^^P-gnanceTSbi:^
s ^tr^utrof t',!^ cTer.^ '"' ''-- -'■'-'
The cleft was narrow ; no doubt the bodv had
been sucked into it. and had bp.p po "I.TZ„??
INE
It was a great
)ck— -but, stay !
)ed and yellow
s outline grew
took hold of
bird sat upon
without a body,
oluntarily Neil
i lazily spread
he mist which
only to pass
le saw was the
shrunken, and
eeth, the eyes
like wings on
lotionless and
id so noticed
Bt above this
st part which
disfiguration
half expected
xpand. The
3at up to the
as explained.
?reat vertical
)w ledge, and
e, scrambled
m. This he
he rock, and
is on a level
e body had
THE CORPSE
25
the chin. The neck rested in a groove with sharp
edges. The trunk, short but stoutly built, hung
suspended m the fissure, which, though not wide
was deep. The sea was disintegrating the base of
the northern Stack. The miniature chasm was free
of water, there being cracks in its outer wall, through
which the sea drained. Its bottom would have been
visible but for what it held in the shape of driftwood
It was a veritable trap.
Now that Neil had solved the mystery, the feeling
of dread which had possessed him passed away.
For a moment he thought of carrying the body
ashore; but the idea was repulsive, and it would
serve no purpose. The negro was clad in a loose
shirt and duck trousers. All that could be done was
to search him for some clue as to what vessel this
was which had met an untimely fate, and then to
commit his body to the deep, to complete the ship's
company which it would seem he had striven hard
to leave.
Neil's footing was too uncertain to allow him to
drag the body free, and so, without a second thought
he slipped down into the crevice, and began hastily
to turn out the man's pockets. As he did so, a fresh
wreath of fog came swirling past, and had it not
been that he could hear his boat splashing briskly
below him, he might have imagined himself cut off
trom the shore, for he could see nothing of the water
channel.
But as he completed his fruitless search, another
sound caught his ears : a creaking as of wood on
wood, and then the unmistakable dip of oars. He
was not alone ; he held his breath, and listened
intently. There came a murmur of voices from
somewhere in the mist, and then again the creak of
pars in rowlocks. His height was such that, stand-
ing erect, he could look over the edge of the rock-
clett J^but^there was nothing to be seen— everything
was Sii^uuded from his view.
! M !
M
III
VENGEANCE IS MINE
wou d be drscov.r./^-rr' """"'"S' ^°<J his boat
very men and fhJ^f *X ^^^"^ ^^ ^""^ defied these
Ijie whole history of the gan^ was Decnlfnr
Their origin dated back to the vear ZT. ^jiul
Jr"ison°">,'^^^' °^"°'='' «°"=« "-^s held by a
overawea pLt of ^^"^"'1'^'"^=?°* fr°"> ^^ich to
and whicS C n°/t btnrctt?„ n°", '?°'^"'°r'
the exiled Hous. of Stuarf wl ^ proclaiming for
neyer fully known, buf certain k fs t^'""" -^^^
the red-rnatc fl^^ ^"^ v^enain it is that one night
reLedtoreturntoaob"°\'\^°?'-°y' ^"^ fla^tly
of devih N^th- P^"=* "''"<=h they said was full
soldfer except EftXr Tl\^' '^^"^^ f™™ he
nor bloodshed Even tt, ^^^^^^^ "e^'her violence
absent at the timf could dn °'^,k-"' "^? ''^'^ '•««°
having braved a nfehtrn,h»K"°"""^ "'",'' ""em, but
half sfared out of fhei wit^ °"''' ""'^ ^^° ^^«"^"«'l
[INE
to the cause of
mself, had seen
He cursed tl 3
t the hkelihood
no help for it
1:, and his boat
> doubt he was
ad defied these
3 he knew that
e Stacks as an
at trifles, and
3 ransom, even
was pecuh'ar.
1754. In that
leader of a set
escaped from
nail craft, but
k night came
r bones there.
i shore at the
I come a few
sred marriage
id v/oise than
s held by a
rom which to
3re populous,
oclaiming for
appened was
at one night
y» and flatly
said was full
led from the
ther violence
10 had been
th them, but
dso returned
THE CORPSE 27
The years passed, and long after all danger of a
rismg was over a rumour went abroad that some-
one was hvmg m Darroch House, while a tale was
told of a gang of wreckers in the Black Glen
These, however, kept to themselves, and when it
was found that amongst them were men who had
been shipped mto slavery eight years before, and
when It was whispered that the lonely man in
Darroch House was the laird himself, there were
tt7n'I^''.r?''^ ^^'" blood-money by giving informa-
tion to the Government. One such there was, but
he vanished mysteriously on his way to the sherifi"
and when proceedings were threatened at a late^
period men still told how, in broad daylight, a band
of swarthy smugglers, headed by a blind piper!
entered Portroy, and vowed to burn every house^ in
iittfeii?:LrStrth\i^ ^" ^^^^^- ^^^^^ '^' ^-"
Ian Darroch was said to rule his wild followers
with an iron hand, and while they took what the
sea gave, and while from a dozen wrecks no living
being emerged to tell the tale, there were till
recently no complaints on the part of those who
were neighbours to the men of Pitlochie.
Time wrought changes. A fishing village sprang
up at Sh achan. Ian Darroch was absent for a
h!frf;]f^"^ °"?^-^ ^?"'^. ^ ^^^^' ^ho, happily for
herself, died in giving birth to a son. The son grew
to manhood, would have nothing to do with his
ather's methods of hfe, went off in a revenue cutte !
and returned with an English bride, only to have
the door slammed in his face, and to be cursed and
threatened. Trouble and want had come upon th"s
Neil Darroch despite his wife's prospects, and
thf n."' tf^' ^r^"^ ^'' ^°" Geoffrey: he entered
h.H T^ b^/^^^^he mast. When a petty officer he
Sn a W?? a beautiful French girl, taken prisoner
on a West Indiaman from Guadaloimr^. A« ^
iieutenant, rising rapidly to fame, he had" f^illen in
--Illi
■ fi
!
' i II
;i Mil
28
VENGEANCE IS MINE
a cutting-out expedition at the mouth of the LoiVp
and we know what beram^ r^f u- • , ^°'^^'
children became of his widow and
th" Slav" B tlhough' aTco?/ '?' ''^ "^^'"'^ ^^
marked the rest ng-Dlaces of thf u ""f ^ ''°°^^
descendants stm li^d b/^.^ems^r';''"'' "l^"
people, occasionally reinforced Tv=f' P""."'""
utdV^^su^c^Lil^-^^^^^^^^
which he i:rsri?S'^;\S-s^-^^^
many believed to be gfpsies, for alreaiy the stor';!
ft^f M TA"^ ''^t ?"'"« forgotten. ^ ""^
him, was frequently at Darrnrh w. u^ crippled
v4:|fe'Lj,™h<^%rrtLT
n/ver'get'~h IrTh'T?"' '^''^' -''° S'
they h!d suSd, ho^gh ;ka°rGSr"/h'''' "''fi
do their best. "'""8". P'ease God, they would
This Neil Darroch was- ready enoueh in I,.!;,
INE
I of the Loire,
s widow and
:> had escaped
arroch, nearly
runl<en habits,
d Dugald, the
fteen when he
had not saved
I the brand of
mossy stones
Teckers, their
5, a peculiar
me wanderer
provided he
:amination to
i of Darroch.
orities found
Dlony, whom
dy the story
he exception
whole crew,
;k merely by
le had been
tyr, and the
sm crippled
lad taken a
I, while Neil
no one else,
3 finger the
§:glers were
vho, except
who could
It for what
they would
THE CORPSE
29
but those who were approaching through the mist
were a set of hard-drinking rogues, who more than
once had come to loggerheads with the fisher-folk,
and even with the Portroy people, and whom even
Ian Darroch could not always control.
' The only thing to do,' Neil thought, * is to frighten
the villains and then slip round to the sea cave and
hide there; but how?'
A moment more and his boat would be discovered.
They were drawing near. As they approached
closer their gruff voices sounded weirdly loud,
hemmed in as they were by the walls of rock on
either side, and it was this that brought an idea
into his head.
He waited till he could dimly see a dark shape
below him, and then he crouched down in the
crevice beside the body of the negro. The black
head fixed in its niche had scared him. Why, then,
should it not scare the new-comers, especially if he
was there to aid it ? The action he felt to be undig-
nified, the trick that of a schoolboy, but it was no
time to hesitate, and there was a grim humour in the
thought. Raising his voice till it rang out in a
wailing shriek, he began a series of cries, which
echoed and re-echoed, and were answered by the
clamour of affrighted sea-birds on the Skerries.
He paused, and he could tell at once that they had
taken effect. The voices had ceased. A waft of
wind swept lazily through the passage, and drove
the fog wreath before it.
As it did so he began again, imitating as best he
could the laughter of a maniac. He was himself
surprised to find how eerie and awe-inspiring it
sounded — a shrill, long-drawn laughter, pealing out
into the salt sea mist, tuneless and horrible. He
almost shivered as he listened to its notes, and
heard it answered by the harsh and yet plaintive
j~ 'o ■'' ■-^^'^ iiv-1 liiig-g uiio. JLJUL liicic vvaa
more to follow. As once again he commenced his
m
hi
30 VENGEANCE IS MINE
outcry there came a shout of f^rr^. j ^-
edge of therockcleft Th» l^ '?°''«'' ""^^ "le
ruse had succeeded better fh^^^'l^^' '='^"; his
it was far from improbabfe tt " h^^ 'l°P«''- '>«
return. *^ '"^' '"« smugglers would
wafa'cavlr^'^lrcrctirbr T' ''/ ^^^^ ^»^-«
tide, a ^reat arctd glot'o Tn7f T f * ''^^
columns, and formed not hvfh !^ "^'^.^ ^^^^^ic
wind, but by the samp L? -^ ^5-^'°" °^ ^^^^s and
1-d heaved VUritact'andt.'"''^"^%"^'^^
the home of a colon v of rn.^- ^kernes. It was
ledges on which they ^nested t^^^^^^^^ ^"» °^
though the free-trad^ers were cer^ain?''"^''"'"'.^"^
existence, he fancied it St .V aI^"^^'^ °^ ^ts
place. ^ "^'^^t afford him a hiding-
. He hesitated whether nr r.«<. * i
n position, but he reflected "hat ff \T% '^' "^^^^
found neither boat nor head o^ 1 ' free-traders
might reasonably conclude tl?.K^^T 5^*""" they
taken and not viirT^Tth' ^ ^^f^' ^^^ ^^en mis-
were superstilio^el .^to^r't^^^ • ^^^^
coming from the ehost? nf tKL ™^*™_ '"e cries as
no effOTt to succour anHVn ii "''u "^ ""^y ''^d made
to explain wha? they had ee„ L'd h""/^ ^"r'''"^
Lkely be eager to stay long in a soirft h=' ''.°"i'^ °°'
especially when it was groi ng dS Ar/h "^ 'P°''
time, he was glad to b? rlH ^f .u- ^: ^' '"^ same
and with some difficulty for S" l^T^^ P'-^=»<=«.
be managed to raise ^ttL-. u? ''"'^^ «'»= heavy
compfete '' ' ~"P^°^' ''« '°'d himselff was again
i
I
S
THE CASTAWAY
3t
CHAPTER IV.
THE CASTAWAY
AS rapidly as possible Neil scrambled down into
his boat, cast her off, and, settling to the
oars, pulled round to the mouth of the sea-
cave, into which the swell rolled with a sluggish
lurch and heave. His last visit had been on a day
of brilliant sunshine, when a bluish sheen wavered
along the walls of the grotto, and when one could
trace the undulating lines of the rock columns far
down into the transparent depths. Now all was
gloomy : the sea a murky, grayish brown, like the
mist which shrouded it, the narrow opening yawning
black and forbidding, while from it there issued a
hollow moaning like the mournful song of some
huge shell. Had it not been for the fog, he would
have tried to slip round the southern Stack, and
trust to the start this would give him and to his own
powers as an oarsman ; but he knew better than to
grope his way in this reef-sown sea, and so crept
cautiously within the arch.
The cave was of no great length, but half-way
down It a branch ran off almost at right angles, and
into this Neil thrust his boat, and made her fast by
jamming her painter into a cranny. He sat still for
a time, feeling fairly secure ; then, wearying of doing
nothing, and there being no sign of the smugglers,
he clambered up to a ledge which, even at full tide
vvas above the water-level. It led along the side of
the cavern as far as the entrance, beyond which it
was continued on the face of the Stack, running
round towards the channel he had just left. From
It he could hear any boat approaching, and if the
tree-traders entered, he would have them at his
mercy, for strewn on the ledge were small boulders
and manv lof>se stnnpc wifh wkiVh u^ • •
cause them to beat a retreat.
aoon
) ;! J .i%i
l!
1
4
w
li i
32 VEWGEANCE IS MINE
lent : your own^hfp out orhfP?'''^°"^ ^^^ ^-^^^J"
enemy: to reach h^have to ru? h '''^' ^!^^^^ ^^^
a vengeance. One of thLI i *^^ gauntlet with
send them to the boUom • "''^' ^°"^^ J"«^ ^^out
<^^^''^^^^^^^^^ hour of
town Jife had not fitted h?m f ^^^^^^^^ hungry. His
sort, though in tL old H. ^' ^" adventure of this
nothing bitter" ^^' ^^ ^^"'^ ^ave enjoyed
'Confound the rascals I' he omu^l^^ u • .
his way along the ledte \n ,h -.^^ ^^ P'^ked
then halted suddenly A ^? *^^?^"^'-darkness, and
him lay something & front of
was not a boulder rL '"^S""^^^ '^ shape which
tomed to the glooni fnd 2"l ^^ ^^*^ "^ ^^^"s-
saw that it wasThl:;;!^ "" ""^" '' ^«
laugh w\ifh%STfTeS' o'f' """^^^^' -^h a
He was no coward but hi d^L"''^^"' discomfort,
him, and there was som^h"^ "^^'° '^"^ daunted
across another^o"rpyrstta%"^^^^^^^ ^" --"^
Poor wretch!' he thought 'Whof .u
began it might have finished ' Rnf f* 1^^ '^^
covery filled him with 7 • "* ^ further dis-
relic^f the wre"k wis a ,foman' If' '^'"'^ °"^^'
clad, and lav face Hn„,^,. ?^' ^"^ "'*« scantily
hair' streaJng about hTi-'w^ ''^==f °f ^ark
bare. One arm^vaXbIed un bent^A .^'''l'^ ^^'^
outstretched, and he no fce^that ?h»'if '"'"°"'«'
clenched, shut fast with fh. ■\ *® ''"S^" were
dead-the dead who have h"^"^/"'""^"' °f the
must have been wished nnh ^^K drowned. 'She
inward commant ^ ^^'^ ^^ * ^^^e-' was his
her\":ct«lri„':heX'li'^J ^^""^■™""'^ «P-
could see that she wl, vn™J'!?^' '^'° .'" death, he
sea takes
INE
)u should have
tions are excel-
way, while the
■ gauntlet with
mid just about
!ly an hour of
? hungry. His
'enture of this
have enjoyed
as he picked
darkness, and
:e in front of
1 shape which
ett.ng accus-
nearer it he
Ted, with a
5 discomfort,
still haunted
ly in coming
lat the sea
further dis-
This other
A^as scantily
5ses of dark
which were
^er, the other
ingers were
igth of the
tied. * She
ve,' was his
found upon
1 death, he
THE CASTAWAY 33
toll of all ; yet it's a sad pity. Oh. damn those
rogues I I half wish they were here to sink with
her. But no, my lass,' he went on, 'you've keot
clear of the sea so far, and I'll see to it that you
rest m a kirkyard.' ^
He felt himself a fool for his pains, but he had not
the heart to pitch this hapless waif into the cold
and greedy water which lapped sullenly below him.
tor all his reserve and his sarcasm, Neil Darroch
vl.u ^'"J^'y heart enough. He stooped again to
lift the body m his arms, but as he did so he started
It almost seemed to him as if there was life vet
present. He placed his hand over the region of
the heart ; he could feel nothing, but his studies
had not been confined to law. In his wild days
some of his boon companions had been students of
medicine, and from them he had picked up many
a rough-and-ready hint. He turned the body round
again, so that the heart would fall against the ribs
and this time there could be no doubt. It still
beat feebly it is true, but there was yet pulsation.
At the wrist he could detect no sign of Hfe
He passed his hand in front of the mouth, and
there was no breath-stream to be felt ; the face
was icy cold, the eyes closed, but it mattered
not.
To his joy he remembered that the day before
when starting off for the caves, he had slipped a
brandy-flask into his coat-pocket. It was there
fi?7' ^^ -unscrewed the top, and forced some of
the contents between the teeth. He had little hope
ot saving the woman, but none the less, he resolved
L°in'Pf^'^ "f ^^'''^- . ^^ ^^' fortunate that she had
lain face downwards. If she had been upon her
hlr '^u- ^^M ^T^^^ ^^^ ^°"^'"^ ^o"^^ have choked
.hi' ^\\^^'^ P^^'och knew. He knew also that
she must^ have been strong and healthy, otherwise
cue vvuuiu never nave survived so lonf^.' As it was
he could scarcely credit that she had been wasTied
I !i
M ::
! ill
^m
iiil
^^^^^^^1
H
H iMi'lllfl
^H
i
1
■ :. i
■
i
■;!li
34 VENGEANCE IS MINE
from the ship's decks to such a place, and yet her
hair was darr.p .vith more than the sea-fog; her
clothes were crusted with the sea-salt. hI knelt
beside her, and chafed her hands. He poured more
brandy inco her mouth, but it merely lodged there'
and trickled from the corners of her lips He set'
to work and moved her arms rnd rolled her upon
in su^'hVilo.^' t7 \ '^^' '^^" ^^^^ -^^ ^"'t^rry
no froth nhn . K^'",.^" remembered there had been
no froth about her lips. It was possible she was
faSir/s! °' ^°^' ^"^ exposuri' than of '^re^!
.om^ !?f°? ^' i^'l °^C"^red to him he stripped off
some of her clothes, divested himself of his crat
and overcoat and wrapped the woman in them
For half an hour he continued his exertions and
&zz: '-'''''' ^^--^ -- --ti^to
flnM^' woman stirred, and swallowed some of the
fluid. The light was so poor that he could not now
see more than the outline of her face ; he could no^
see if there was any twitching of her eyelids anv
other sign of life. But he did not hesitate ToTe^
de^atr^H^e I^f " ^f \^T ^^'^ '^' -^^ai^
aeatn He had no doubt that he could find his
way through the channel, and with care ?mi/ht be
possible to shape a course for the mouth^ of the
Whipple as on the landward side of the Stacks and
Skerries there were few isolated rocks.
.1 he smugglers constituted a danger, but he deter
L; .1 I *^^" ^^^^^y that he would be able to
on?*!f l"5 "'^ "'°"??"- he carried her alon? the ledjre
and with some difficulty got her into the bo?t'
Then, casting off, he pulled slowly and cautiously &;
k! °P!" f_^- 0'"=f f^«? of the cave, he he.ded for
passage, and then, lying on his
oars, listened
^~^<<StSa3taiii^ .
NE
e, and yet her
sea-fog; her
It. He knelt
i poured more
lodged there,
lips. He set
led her upon
as customary
lere had been
ible she was
an of water-
; stripped off
of his C( at
an in them,
tertions, and
! reaction to
some of the
>uld not now
he could not
eyelids, any
ite. To let
sant certain
lid find his
it might be
5uth of the
Stacks and
ut he deter-
ng darkness
be able to
the neigh-
? the ledge,
the boat,
utiously for
headed for
:s, listened
THE CASTAWAY
35
mtently. Hearing nothing to alarm him, he bent
to his work, and soon was clear of the grim walls
on either side. To make certain of gaining open
water, he continued rowing steadily towards the
shore, and then, setting the boat's bow for what he
thought was the direction in which lay Shiachan
and safety, he started at full speed. He rowed well
and strongly, and his craft hissed and splashed
upon the long, smooth swell as she sprang forward
with fresh impetus at every stroke.
/oc once m his life Neil Darroch was in dead
earnest. He was set upon saving this woman upon
whom he had stumbled in so remarkable a way,
and thus, when there came a sudden hail from
somewhere near him, and then the measured beat
of oars, a very stern look came into his face, which
boded ill to any who might interfere with him.
Trusting to the low-lying mist and the gloom of
night, he never paused, save to administer more
brandy to his passenger.
Presently he became aware that the chase had
commenced, and that this other boat was near him.
For a time there would be the sound of splashing
blades and a swishing keel, then a pause, and then
again the noise of the pursuit, as the smugglers got
an inkling of his whereabouts. There was some-
thing very curious in thus flying from a foe which
could be heard though not seen— a sense of exhilara-
tion m driving onwards into black obscurity, striving
to avoid a danger which was invisible, but none the
less real. For a good ten minutes he held his own,
fervently trusting that he was heading aright, and
taking care that if he erred at all it should be in
the direction of the shore. Then he became aware
that the Pitlochie boat had gained upon his, and
that they were rowing level, though at some distance
apart, he being nearer the beach.
Scarcely had this dawned on hirii when the sound
of oars ceased yet again, and then a black shape
3—2 ^
ir''
^
mil
iij
Ji:
36 VENGEANCE IS MINE
Hy way of answer Neil wrenrh^rj o* T- ,
oar; his boat swung Void "s thl . '' '^^'•^^^'•d
a pivot, and the smu/glr"' craf w^^^^^ °"
men in her, ran oast a Xm a' 1^ ^^'^ ^ ^^^^n
shipped one7l^toarTslr^t^ Neil
with the other lunged at th. fi^ ^''t-^^^^' ^"^
Uttering a cry of alarm fL ^^""l^ '" ^er bows.
blow, lof t hKnce^nd vam-^h I'f ^ ,'° ^^^^^ '^^
the gunwale, M'hile ? stol'^^ urts ^ur^^^^^^ T^
companions. curses burst from his
of the, ? f„r„ -^ wr,^^^%':rf ^;i;r '^^^^
stretch of seaS 'ween him a^Hl'° P"' ^' ^reat a
^ In the excitement of™heeh^sTh? ^?'^'^•
forgotten the womin wh^ i„ • }'^'^ ^''"ost
planking at his fee" "^ motionless on the
of a life.Tnot't'iii' r'^L""',!^^^''' '}' '' '= 'he price
Even supposing he haH^ \^? ^ ^°°'' 'h^^' '^ ^'l-'
news that he had brought » '"" '■^<^°S"'sed, the
or dead, could not b?£=-> ■"'""'J'" ^^^ore, living
Pitlochi;, and then th^ «!f ^ ^ u^P' f™"" '^e men of
the betteV Ae " mu4le°r"rh^1 '"' °"™'='' House
the end of their terefind fh. T^^^^ """" ^ot to
they would scatter in search of nl""""""" '^."''■^■
after Ian Darroch's de,th l,^T/=°"«^^"'='' ^oH
they would be al° 7he more like'v to ? ^ '"""? ■ ^°
of revenge uDon a man , u u ^j ? take some kind
passed upon^heir n™ese J«° ^".^ '^^^"'^ ^em, tres-
number sLethi^^K^e^T^Trir" °"^ °^ "'-
in unlas;fo7e\U°°gs'""t°.'^h"P'^<^'' ^^^'^ '™^
encounter with the ffe;tr,H 'h^^^'t^'ient of his
of his bearinll and 1 i, ./'■ *"-' ^^"^ '°=' «" '^ea
" ' '■-' ■-"'"" ""'y iow his hardest
INE
man standing
heave to.
•t his starboard
gh working on
:h half a dozen
^e did so Neil
his feet, and
• in her bows.
;d to avert the
ackwards over
burst from his
vould be some
Dok advantage
t of sight,
im doubly so
'ut as great a
s possible.
3 had almost
nless on the
it is the price
1, that is all.'
cognised, the
ishore, living
the men of
Lrroch House
' well got to
[len belie
3ngenial soil
fe doing so
e some kind
them, tres-
one of their
waste time
lent of his
ost all idea
his hardest
I
THE CASTAWAY
37
I
from the spot without the vaguest notion as to
whither he was going. Happily for him there soon
loomed up on his right a dark mass, which he knew
must be the cliffs, while the long boom of the swell
sounde'J in his ears. He crept closer, and then
keeping along the shore, arrived off the river mouth
without having heard anything more of the smugglers
The tide was now half-full, and he crossed the
bar with ease, and began to pull rapidly up stream
in the direction of Darroch House. It occurred to
him to leave the castaway at one of the fisher
cottages; but he dismissed the thought, knowing she
would be better tended by Teeny, the old house-
keeper, who was both capable and willing, and had
proved herself a faithful servant to Ian Darroch.
As soon as the water became so shallow that his
boat was in danger of grounding, he ran her up on
the bank and leaped out of her. Then, stooping, he
lifted the woman in his arms. That she was recover-
ing was evident. She struggled feebly, and groaned
as if in pain.
'You are safe,' he said. 'Have no fear; we'll
have you comfortable in a few minutes ;' and then
he set of along the narrow path which led from the
Whipp to the house of Darroch.
r ir^ ' -l "^Y^y pitch-dark and a fine rain was
tailing. His shirt was soaked with perspiration ; the
cold nipped him everely now that his violent
exercise was at an end, but he hurried on, though
the woman was no light weight. His feeling of
relief vvas great when he saw welcome lights before
r im. The door was open ; a man— it was his uncle,
Monsieur Deschamps— stood on the threshold peer-
ing out into the night. Neil could hear his shrill
voice while he was yet twenty yards away. The
old Frenchman was speaking rapidly to himself, as
was his way when excited.
• Qui va Id I' he cried, as Neil with his burden
came within the circle of light.
38
VENGEANCE IS MINE
you Deen my son ? The master s worse and-
But what have you there ?' '
' It's a woman,' said Neil hurriedly—' a passenger
y^erd'a; '7o' "d ^f. you rememb'er wL^^Xd
yesterday. Go and fetch Teeny, like a £ood man •
we must get her to bed at once.' ^ '
awtl'^wkht'^i'""'' ^°"'^'"' Deschamps shuffled
was at^ bertv tn^nf^P'^''^' ''^ ^"^P"^^' ^"^ Neil
was at liberty to observe his prize more closely He
' Humph !• said he, with a little jerk of his head •
•it appears that she was worth the saving, after all '
whIS o"u?h,-,^M? ''««\^«'5hing Ian DaJro i,
wneezing out his life, now hurried forward— a brisk
little woman with gray hair and ruddy cheeks Sh^
had not much English, but the little she could boast
was spoken with that soft Highland accent which is
both quaint and attractive.
Yes^ve-"' M^m" -1"^'"^ T"' "'^ '^°'<^' P°°' thing I
to vour'self' Thl ^*^n k"" '° "" "'"^ ^"^ 1°°^
another- "^ ^ ^"""S'' "'<='' «''t'>°"t
^JVery well; she will occupy my room,' said
•'7?J™'''"^ J? P''"=® ■"'"« at the lady's disDosal •
said Monsieur Deschamps, with a bow and aSish
his puckered old face lighting up with the Seas frl'
this chance of a little gallantr^ afforJed him?^ " '
He had been a stranger to the societv nf =n„
woman save his sister, Teeny, and the fi L?Ln'^
wives for nearly twenty years. "snermen s
/So be it, uncle,' answered Neil, for he did not
wish to hurt the old man's feelings, ^nd i? anything
his own room was the plainer and barer of the two'
I trust she may be able to thank you herself ere
many days have passed." "crseii ere
,ii(W(
No thanks are due-
-. -- ...x«iin.a aic uuu, inumiureU
[NE
)d's name have
vorse, and-
— * a passenger
r was wrecked
a good man ;
amps shuffled
•ise, and Neil
2 closely. He
elvet collar of
of his head ;
ing, after all.'
Ian Darroch
^ard — a brisk
cheeks. She
e could boast
cent which is
poor thing !
ow and look
sick without
room,' said
j^'s disposal,'
id a flourish,
the pleasure
him.
:iety of any
fishermen's
he did not
if anything,
of the two.
herself ere
'murniured
THE CASTAWAY 39
Monsieur Charles, all in a flutter. ' She will, I am
sure, find the place very excellent for the health -the
air mvigoratmg, and the company, now that you are
here, my dear boy, both elevating and '
He stopped abruptly, for Neil and the housekeeper
had hurried oft. With a meaningless smile and a
hand fumbling at his well-cut lips, now so void of
any expression but a contented weakness, the old
fellow wandered off to the hall, a silk handkerchief
dangling half-way out of his tail-coat pocket
• Between ourselves,' he murmured to himself in
French, it is not a pleasant thing to have to do : but
such a visitor cannot be tolerated, and the master
being ill, Noel must attend to it.'
He waited impatiently till Neil, who had seen that
everything which could be done had been done for
the unexpected visitor, returned tired and hungry.
^ Where is Geoffrey ?' was his first question.
You refer to the young man who came here
several days since ?' said Monsieur Deschamps. with
an air quite foreign to him.
' Of course,' answered Neil. ' I have tried to
explain to you that he is my step-brother'
JJj^^^'^lu^ to regard him as any relation,' said his
uncle, with such emphasis that Neil stared hard at
He had never seen the old man assume so grand a
manner, but he recalled his varying moods, and only
sm^iled good-naturedly as he replied :
fo/J^^* 't ^'"^^ unnecessary, sir. Although his
father and m. - were the same, it does not entitle
Him to the honour of being one of your family.'
w.« . IZ^T ^"^c^Ptible Monsieur Deschamps
was to a ittle harmless flattery, and humoured him
accordingly.
'I should disown him if it did, for such habits are
not to my taste.'
' Whv ?' askerl N^il in Octr^r^ic,y,^^^4. i^in-_. 1
ne been doing now ?'
40
VENGEANCE IS MINE
He led the way to the room which Geoffrev
Darroch occupied, and threw open the door. ^
h.ii^/''^''''^. ^^ "'"^^'' sa^d Neil quietly. 'He
had the watery eye and the high colour of the
occasional toper. Well, we must^et him to bed
Haying discharged what he considered his dutv
Monsieur Deschamps' fine airs vanished and he
nieekly assisted in placing Geoffrey Darroch within
the bed-curtains, where they left him to rec/aircon
sciousness and develop a headache. " °"'
we^ fa"; from Tl'. ^''\ ""% ^'^' ^^^^"^' ^^' thoughts
were lar troni pleasant. He saw trouble ahead—
P?trochir;'but''whe°''" °'- "i^ ^"-^ wi.h theTe'n 7f
riiiocnie , but when, wearied and worried he fell
asleep in his chair, he was haunted by visions o
Wn! dainty and attracti- I,, had ever
CHAPTER V.
THE CONSPIRATORS
TWO men were gazing from an upper window of
successLi"nfT V^^' ^PParently endless
th^ nUr ^"^^^ssion of the allied troops pouring into
Ind'fustrPan'^''^' J-"^ cuirassiers, P^rus^sian caVal ?
fiwi ^"^^i^^ grenadiers, foot-guards and artillerv
by a ^I'nt ver/^T*. ^'^ «tLts were thr^ngej
what the ol7... *^^"fi^d/''Owd. who now witnessed
thiu Kr '* ^?^?ngst them could not remember
—tne humbling of fh^ h^arf ^r c icuicuioer
i !
NE
^oel, and you
bich Geoffrey
door.
2 face flushed,
-bottle at his
ivy sleep of a
luietly. ' He
colour of the
him to bed
red his duty,
ihed, and he
irroch within
regain con-
his thoughts
ible ahead —
h the men of
rried, he fell
>y visions of
liideous, the
ho had ever
THE CONSPIRATORS
41
if window of
ntly endless
)ouring into
sian cavalry
tid artillery
e thronged
7 witnessed
remember
Suddenly at some distance there arose a shout— a
shout which rapidly grew in intensity, and finally
changed into repeated bursts of cheering. Its import
was not at first apparent to the two men above, but
as it passed from mouth to mouth the people upon
the pavement immediately below them took up the
cry with wild enthusiasm till it drowned the heavy
tread of the troops, the jingling of accoutrements,
the rumble of cannon.
• Long live the Emperor Alexander ! Long live
our liberators!' yelled the Parisians; and at the
words the watchers withdrew their heads, and the
bigger of them slammed down the window with such
violence that its frame rattled, and one of its panes
was cracked across.
He was a man who in any company would have
attracted attention. Tall and very strongly built,
with coal-black hair, swarthy complexion, and a
commanding presence. Carlo Massoni was clearly not
one of the common herd. His features were good,
but his expression unpleasant. He wore an habitual
scowl, which just then was more apparent than
usual.
'Do you hear them, Emile d'Herbois 7' he said to
his companion, with a gesture of disdain.
The latter nodded, and swore softly to himself.
He presented a marked contrast to the man Massoni,
being a short, slim creature, with a thin and anxious
face, his hair turning gray, though he did not look
much above fifty. His eyes, light blue in colour,
were set so closely in his head that they gave him
a sinister appearance, while he seemed unable to
remain at rest, his fingers twitching, his feet moving
hither and thither, his whole body full of a nervous
energy. He reminded one of a weasel.
* Well,' said Massoni impatiently, * and what do
you think of it all ?'
' Nay,' answered the other
opinion, Carlo, my friend,'
lie
Ill 'J J|'!
i r,
CT
42 VENGEANCE IS MINE
wiilf^fS!!°"' ^.^^ve^I see/ replied his companion,
with the suspicion of a sneer. ' Well, at any rate
I. Carlo Massoni, am not afraid to sp^ak my mTnd
My opinion is that our time is comin/' ^
He flung himself into a chair, and ifixed his dark
eyes on the man before him, who had begun pacfn.
the floor with quick, uneven steps, but who at wl
words wheeled round and faced him.
Very good,' said he, ' and the money, Carlo ? In
these days nothing can be done without n)oney.'
. Irue, there seems little hope of raising it here
in Pans, at any rate. Yonder scum will dance to
anyone who will pipe to them '
noito"?' '° '^^" ^'* ^^"'' *° °"^ P^^yi"^- I« it
*' Rf,t whYf -f f"^' ^°^" ^' ^""' ^"^ "ot till then.'
But what if I see a way to do so ?'
Ihe other sprang to his feet.
'Do you mean anything, or are vou ^n^tino
vaguely?' he cried ' Have^u a^planT ^'"^^"^
' I h^a^'e nTplan"'^ ''''"'°^^' ^^^""^^ ^^ walk;
' Then what the d '
'I have no plan, most impatient of men but I
thmkj have the money. Yer. I thinlc I can safely
' You would weary a saint with your mysteries
Can you not come to the point ?' '"ysteries.
• I am coming, but you will kindly allow me to
take my own way of getting there,' snapped the
o her, producmg a snuff-box, into which he thrus?
h.s.long, thm nose, as if he were a fowl dabbing at
.'uTket^i^tXtT"^' ■''"^''^" -"-'-^''
'No"'th"?''' T """'' ''''^•J """ thankful to say."
iNo, that IS true ennntrh • o o»J^*; ,/ .
_.. J „ j-uai: c WUUia SUlt
THE CONSPIRATORS
43
r mysteries.
impetuous, too fiery, to
wuuia suit
you better. You are too
make a good conspirator.'
• But not too weak to wring your neck, Monsieur
d'Herbois.'
'Precisely, but too wise. We do not kill the
goose ; you know the old saw.'
• It is these golden eggs I would fain see.'
' Then I will be frank with you. My sister, a
woman whom it is fortunate you never met, as she
was possessed of considerable beauty '
• If you will forgive me saying so, that is difficult
to realize.'
• I will not only forgive you, my dear Carlo, I will
explain. All the good looks in our family passed
me by and settled upon her; but come, we have
trifled with words long enough. My sister, God
rest her soul ! married an American, against my
wishes, it is true, though the man was a good
Republican. I foolishly quarrelled with her over
this trifling matter, and now she is lost to me. As
you know, I am not a man of warm emotions, like
you of the sunny South, but all my affections were
centred on this, my only sister, my only near relative
in fact. Her husband, a very wealthy man, died
several years ago; but even then I would not forgive
her. She herself passed to her rest at the close of
last year, leaving behind her a daughter, a girl who
must now be nearly twenty years of age. This
daughter she committed to my care, with the
management— you follow me. Carlo? — with the
management of her affairs. Does this give you a
clue ?'
* Sapristi !'
the nose on
noble use.'
* Very good, but what of the giri, my niece ?'
* I do not think,' said Massoni with a coarse
laugh, 'that your conscience will trouble vou much
about the girl'
exclaimed
your face.
the other; *it is plain as
You put this money to a
44
VENGEANCE IS MINE
* Indeed 1' snapped Monsieur d'Herbois. ' Then
let me tell you that you are sadly mistaken. Had
this girl come to me, not a penny of her money
would I have touched, save to invest it for her, and
put it to the best advantage; but the girl has not
come.'
' Then where is she ?*
* With her mother, I fear. Her ship, the Auvergne,
should have reached Havre a month ago. She was
under the captain's care, who was to have seen her
safe in my keeping. Neither ship, captain, nor niece
has been heard of since they left New York. From
incoming vessels I learn that there have been heavy
storms in the Atlantic. The Auvergne, I believe,
has foundered. In the event of the girl's death this
fortune passes to me. When, therefore, I am certain
that it is mine by right, it will be at the disposal of
our unhappy country, which, thanks to a tyranny
worse than any Bourbon's, is now the prey of every
filthy foreigner.'
* And when will you be sure, Emile ?'
'There is no immediate hurry. At present we
must watch and wait. As far as I can see, those
who have now the ordering of affairs will do one of
three things : they will make peace with Napoleon,
establish a regency, or restore Louis.'
* Which will be the more likely ?'
' The last, friend Carlo, or I am much mistaken.
They have the power just now, and the Emperor,
thank God ! is helpless.'
* I would he were dead 1' cried the other vehe-
mently.
'Others besides you will utter the same wish
before we are finished with him,' said d'Herbois.
* but for our purpose a regency would be the best.
No one is ever satisfied with a Regent, and they
would soon learn to hail a President and an
Assembly as a happy deliverance. And now what of
yourself?'
THE CONSPIRATORS
45
The question was a natural one. These men had
seen nothing of each other for ten long years-ten
years which had sufficed to change the face of
Europe, which had been amongst the most eventful
in the world's history.
Carlo Massoni was a Corsican, who, like another
of that island, had adopted France as his country
when a mere lad. Unlike that other, his career had
been a signal failure. Of good birth, with an ample
. share of health, if not of money, he had quitted his
native mountains, and wandered to Pans. Clever,
but vicious, he had idled and wasted his time, while
other men, grasping the chances that lay ready to
their hands, had risen during the terrible epoch
which convulsed the whole land, but especially its
capital. Eventually he became a servant m the
famous Jacobin club, and came under the notice ot
one of its most active members, a man considerably
older than himself, named Emile d'Herbois.
Emile d'Herbois was of a type by no means
common at that time. For one thing, he was strictly
honest and disinterested. He was a Jacobin be-
cause he firmly believed that the salvation of France
lay in a republican government, and he devoted all
his talents, which were not inconsiderable, to the
furtherance of his views. But though honest him-
self, he had no scruples in making use of any kind
of man who might suit his purpose. He perceived
that Massoni possessed just those qualities which he
himself lacked— a dauntless courage, a fine physique,
and a recklessness which, if controlled, might do
much. He was able to help this Corsican on
several occasions, and a friendship grew up between
them, never very great, it is true, but firm enough to
enable them to work together harmoniously, and
with a single eye to the object in view.
D'Herbois was the master spirit, and where he
\^A Ayfooc^r.,- f,^lir,wpH. Such a combination of cun-
ning and cdurage, of shrewd caution and heedless
46
VENGEANCE IS MINE
daring, might have achieved great things, had not
the shadow ot the First Consul blotted out all hopes
of a democracy.
D'Herbois accepted the situation with a good
grace. He was one of those men who are content
to wait if only they see some chance of eventually
obtaining their desires. Massoni, hot-blooded and
rash, could neither brook delay nor advice. He
ventured to pit his strength against that of the
rising power and was promptly vanquished. There-
after d'Herbois, who had warned him in vain, lost
sight of him, but now he had again turned up at the
very time that d'Herbois's brain was once more
beginning to plot and plan.
The older man had recognised Napoleon's great-
ness, ,nd wisely bowed before it, but he had also
seen that an Empire founded upon military power
and on that alone was not likely to be stable. It
had lasted longer than he had thought possible, but
the crash had come at last. It was then with a
genuine pleasure that he had stumbled across Carlo
Massoni, who had fallen upon evil days, and in-
habited the attic from which they viewed the occu-
pation of Paris by the three great Powers.
That pleasure was quickly modified. This
Massoni, as he quickly recognised, was not the man
he had once known, a youth with lofty ideals and a
high sense of honour, despite his lax code of morals
and native indolence. The man before him looked
like a needy adventurer consumed with ideas of re-
venge. He doubted hugely if he could again direct
and control him, but of this doubt he showed never
a sign. Massoni was free and easy, but this Emile
d'Herbois did not resent. He was singularly devoid
of personal conceit and was merely amused at his
companion's offhand manner. Still, he had need ol
help. Jacobinism had changed with the times.
There were icw^ oi any importunce WiiO now ti6;d
his opinions ; and if he was to form a party, he must
THE CONSPIRATORS
47
begin with recruits of whom he knew something
and whom he could trust. r • a.^
nrthought it wise to take this man so far into
his confidfnce ; but before going further, he was
anxious to hear what had befallen h.m. and so to
get an idea of the changes ten years had wrought in
"'^ ^n^'S^rp.r.s sake and dnnk a
Tble boule in the cupboard which I am not ashamed
*° 'to, Tthink you. As I grow older I grow more
abstemious, friend Carlo-a hab.t you would do well
'°Wang your philosophy! A short life and a
merrv one for me. You are a queer fellow, Em.le ,
you7min<i is placid, your body like a restless spint
while my brain works like a wmdmiU, and my big
Tarcass fs like a sloth's, unless there is something
°" He"i^'e we agree; but let us have your veracious
""'hf story told him was sufficiently remarkable
Massoni had become a wanderer on the face of the
farth? He had subsisted as a waiter in London, as
a labourer in America; he had voyaged to the savage
Ulands of the Pacific; he had rubbed shoulders with
all sorts and conditions of men and women.
He frankly confessed that since returning o
Europe he had been engaged '» several plots to
assassinate Napoleon, all of which had failed.
As he made this announcement, with something
of bravtdo in his manner, D'Herbo.s shrank back
^'° You'"eo too far,' said he. ' To assassinate is to
ruin your cause, besides being a crime in the sight
^.f Oo.d p^nd m3.n,
"' The Corsican gave a gruff laugh.
48
VENGEANCE IS MINE
' There is no God,' he said ; ' and that for what
man may think I'
He snapped his thumb and forefinger in the face
of Emile d'Herbois.
* As for ruining a cause,' he went on, ' I was con-
sidermg myself alone. We have an old feud with
the house of Buonaparte, and when he was First
Consul he made a mock of me — of me, Carlo Massoni;
therefore^ I shall yet have him at my mercy, and
then ' He made a gesture as of striking home
with a dagger.
D'Herbois looked at him with disgust.
* Your morals have not improved in a decade,' he
said briskly ; ' but go an. How did you fail ?'
* I will tell you, Emile. Do you remember a man
Gironde— Jules Gironde, once in the army, then a
member of the secret service ?'
' Gironde,' said D'Herbois musingly. ' What, a
little fat fellow, with a strut in his walk, and eyes
like a hawk ?*
* The same, curse him I He is, or was rather, as
sharp as a fish-bone in the throat. He is to blame
for all my troubles.'
' And how, pray ?'
* The fool was devoted to his beloved Emperor-
served him like a dog, though, as far as I can tell,
he got nothing in return, save one of those digs in
the paunch or slaps in the face the great buffoon
loves to bestow on his veterans, with or without the
cross of the Legion.'
'You interest me,' said D'Herbois, coming to a
stop in his walk. 'Had Napoleon more like this
man about him, there would have been no chance
of a republic while he and they lived. But I
interrupt.'
'You do,' answered Massoni coolly. *I once
killed a Spaniard for doing as much. Ay, you do
well to turn nale : rnnmcrp «/as ne^vpr o cfr-r^^r. ^^i^*.
With you.
THE CONSPIRATORS
49
He tossed off a third glass of wine, and glared
triumphantly at the weak figure before him.
D'Herbois, though he knew that there was much
truth in what the other proclaimed so brutally,
showed no signs of irritation. He was conscious of
his own failings, and acquiesced in them. At the
same time, he began to wish that he had not met this
man, who was a totally different being from the
enthusiastic young Corsican of his earlier days. He
recognised that he had been unwise in his confidences ;
but his soul had been starving for someone to whom
he could air his views, whose sympathies he could
enlist in carrying out the great scheme of his life.
It was too late to draw back now. Instinctively he
sought to cover his mistake by learning the secrets
of this garrulous and boastful bravo.
* Courage,' he said quietly, * is greatly a matter of
health. I am a dyspeptic'
' And so should Gironde be by this time,' said the
other with a truly diabolic chuckle.
' Indeed 1'
* Yes, indeed. He foiled me, as I have told you ;
never mind how. I was clapped in prison at Mar-
seilles, but I escaped. My liberty was brief, but
Gironde's was still briefer. By the time I was
caught and condemned to the galleys he was on his
way to Corsica, where he has been havmg a pleasant
time at a little hill resort of mine. Yes, he has been
there, at least most of him, for five years.'
He made a curious motion with his hands at the
sides of his head, and D'Herbois nodded shortly.
He had heard of the habits and customs of Co. ican
brigands.
* Gironde, in a way, owes his lease of life to him-
self,' continued Massoni. ' My orders were that he
was to be kept till I returned and passed sentence
upon him. I expected then to attend to him very
nfiinh]\r Knf ac iho Aatri] \xTr\■l^]A l-iotrA if T foil tnf^
the hands of the English. Do you know what an
4
50
VENGEANCE IS MINE
English naval prison is like ? No ?— then thank God.
Look here, Emile d'Herbois.'
He stretched out a long brown hand, the nails of
which were neither trimmed nor clean, and empha-
sized his words by ticking them off upon his fingers.
* Three men,' said he, ' I hate upon this earth, and
in this order : the first, Buonaparte, the buffoon ; the
second, Gironde, the spy ; the third, the Englishman,
lord of heaven and the high seas, as he thinks him-
self. I am a little revenged upon the last, for I have
accounted for three of them ; now I go to settle with
Gironde ; then will come the man, the devil rather,
who first stole from me my low, then mocked me,
then chained me to an oar and made me what I now
am.'
He finished the bottle, and rose to his feet.
' Can you spare me a small sum ?' he asked.
* I can,' answered Emile d'Herbois ; • but I do not
give it for nothing.
* No, no,' said the other. * With all my faults, I
am a good Jacobin yet, as you shall find. There is
no need of haste till we see how things go ; but before
I start for Corsica I will find you a man who will
prove invaluable, who knows Paris and everyone in
it, I verily believe. If this is to bear fruit at all, we
must have his aid.'
'Again you interest me,' said D'Herbois, pulling
out a purse, and laying a few gold coins upon the
table. ' This will meet your immediate wants ; and
the man, what is his name ?'
* His name is Craspinat,' answered Massoni—* and
he is a beauty,' he added under his breath as he
bade his visitor adieu.
' Yes, yes, my bomb-maker,' he said to himself a
moment later, * I have done you a good turn to-day
and helped myself as well, but it would be awkward
were this girl to turn up.'
With that he threw open the window, and leaninr^
out, watched the retreating figure of Emiie d'Herbois°.
A FAIR YANKEE
51
CHAPTER VI.
A FAIR YANKEE
THE da/ was glorious, the air fresh and cold,
with something of a land smell about it— a
fine mellow odour as of tbi turnip-fields
about the Whipple water, and the breath of the
hills, now garbed in faded bracken and rough heather
out of bloom. There was just a touch of spring in
it, an earnest of bursting buds and lively sap; a
foreshadowing of lengthening days and softening
showers ; a reminder of the adv .i.. of the vast
herring-shoals, with their attendan: r-xii voracious
-ompany— little fox-sharks and hideous dog-fish,
blimmering, black-barred mackerel, wandering, huge-
h< ded cod, blubbery porpoises, pig-eyed dolphins,
gr Is and gannets, and the mighty bo 'tie-nose
nimself intent upon the fry.
A robin, his breast still sombre-hued, trilled out
his early song from a patch of bare bush, and shafts
of sunlight played here and there on the old gray
walls and leaden turrets of Darroch House.
But while without all spoke of life and action,
there was death within. Ian Darroch had gone to
his account, and of all the outlawed men who half
a century and more ago had pushed off from the
sinking brig there remained but one.
It was the day of the funeral, and early in the
morning, from far up Glen Dhu, there had come the
long wail of drone and chanter, the pipes playing
the melancholy pibroch of the broken clan as the
smugglers of Pitlochie marched to do honour to the
dead. xt -i l j
Since the old man had passed away Neil had
wondered if the free-traders would make their
^^^^r^r-^n^a r»M»a1H th*» ninftr. hft knew would be
present, but he was doubtful about the others, of
4r-a
52
VENGEANCE IS MINE
lf33
whom he had seen nothing since he rescued the
girl, who still slept the sleep of exhaustion, having
only wakened at long intervals to take nourish-
ment, and immediately to seek again the land of
dreams.
It was with a curious feeling of satisfaction that
he found every one of the lawless crew gathered
before Darroch House, waiting in silence to accom-
pany the coffin.
There was no service. Geoffrey, indeed, had
expressed his surprise at the absence of ' the
Church,' as he called it, but was wise and sober
enough to see that any religious ceremony would
have been a little incongruous. Neil was certain
that the minister of Portroy would flatly refuse to
officiate if asked, for on his last visit to Darroch
the grim old Jacobite !iad shown him the door with
but scant ceremony.
So Ian Darroch was buried without book or bell,
and though Neil was in a manner grieved at his
loss, the only signs of sorrow came from Teeny and
Monsieur Descharaps. The gloom and dismal pre-
parations appealed powerfully to the latter, and,
unable to control himself, he wandered about with
red eyes and a quivering lip, shaking his head as if
he had lost his dearest friend, instead of a man who,
till he grew so feeble that he was confined to one
room, had very nearly terrified the poor old French-
man into a hopeless idiocy.
As the little procession formed, the smugglers fell
in before the fishermen, and though Neil noticed
that this gave rise to some wrangling, he did not
interfere. Indeed, he could not help feeling it was
but fitting, for the fishermen were decent, hard-
working folk, who had nothing in common with the
man whose strange, embittered life had at last come
to an end.
He was relieved to find that the free-traders paid
no special attention to him, though had he heard
A FAIR YANKEE
?3
their talk, he would have found good reason for
anxiety.
All such thoughts, however, were driven out of
his head as, after a prehminary blast, the pipes burst
into a coronach.
The deep sonorous hum of the death music
sounded like a moaning for the dead, rising now
and then to a shriek of sorrow, as a higher note
quavered on the reeds, anon falling to a low tremu-
lous wail with a wild peal sobbing through it all the
time, and mingling with the dismal groaning of the
drones. The tears sprang to Neil's eyes at the
sound. It was not so much that he grieved for the
old man, but the sad song of the pipes made him
think of thr many times he who lay in the coffin
had heard such music, had heard also other pibrochs
— the full swelling skirl and defiant blast of the great
war-pipes, telling of the glory of the clans, a glory
long since faded ; the quick martial music of the
gathering , the loud imperious summons to the
charge. He had inherited a sensitive nature, his
imagination was vivid, and he thrilled all over as he
kept time to the Highland dirge.
Although he knew it not, another who heard it
for the first time was gazing in wonder at the scene
before her.
Earlier in the day a stray sunbeam had made
its way into a room which faced the south. It had
fallen on a firm little chin, under which the sheet
was tightly tucked, had kissed a pair of rosy lips,
had played upon a delicate and finely-shaped nose,
and rested at length on a pair of closed eyelids, from
which long dark lashes drooped upon a fair white
skin. Its light spread till it touched a smooth,
broad forehead, and picked out strands of bronze in
a mass of dark hair, which streamed in wild con-
fusion upon the pillow. It came and went, growing
stronger, till the sleeper stirred and opened a pair
of hazel eyes, which blinked, being yet heavy with a
54
VENGEANCE IS MINE
long slumber and dazzled by the gleam upon them.
But the sun was not to be denied. Already the
world outside had wakened under his influence ;
birds had long been twittering cheerily, and all
Nature had owned his sway. He was not going to
fail with this dainty damsel. Her pallor was gone ;
she had regained her strength and vigour, and it
was time she was up and about.
Presently she uttered a sigh of content, stretched
out her arms, and then raised herself upon one
elbow. She looked about her in bewilderment.
Where was she ? What had happened ? She lay
back again, and from the frown which gathered on
her brow, seemed to be thinking deeply. Then she
gave a low cry, and sat up, staring wildly about her.
The memory of a helpless ship, an angry sea and
cruel black rocks had come to her. She shut her
eyes tightly, and pressed one hand upon them, as if
to blot out a vision of drowning men and utter
destruction.
The roar of mighty waters was in her ears, the
despairing shrieks of the drowned, the rending and
splitting of stout planks. Again she saw men
scjuirming beneath heavy masts, and sucked out of
sight like flies above a sink outlet. They had
perished, but she had survived.
She recalled event after event of that terrible
night, which she had come to regard as her last on
earth, and of that still more terrible morning when
a helpless wreck strove to beat off an iron-bound
coast, and was driven to her fate. Now she re-
membered how, as she clung to the stump of a
mast, to which she had been lashed, her black
servant had cut her loose id struggled ashore with
her, battling with heav} seas on a narrow rock
ledge, fighting with all his giant strength through
spray and blinding sheets of foam, clinging to a
spar wedged between ship and rock, and alone
««■« i: -u. _r i:r_
it
A FAIR YANKEE
55
She had been half-dead with fear and cold, but
she could dimly remember the sudden rush he had
made for safety ; how they had gained a huge hollow
out of the reach of the cruel sea, and how, in spite
of her entreaties, he had left her with a ' Cheer up,
Missy Kate,' and gone back to aid the others. Then
had come the dread suspense, the long crouching
and waiting, drenched and helpless, the roar of
waves sweeping below her the sole answer to her
piteous cries, the sudden faintness, and then a
blank.
She must have been found and brought to the
land. What, then, had become of the others — of
the faithful Joe, of the kindly French seamen, who
had done their best to keep up her spirits as disaster
after disaster befell the A uvergne ?
Again she looked about her. All was strange:
this low- roofed room, with its deep i^et windows,
and its walls bare, except for a couple of crossed
swords. Save for the dancing light, it was com-
fortless and was poorly furnished. She must be in a
foreign country. Was it France ? she asked her-
self. The sailors had not been able to tell her what
that long, surf-frilled coast-line was which the day
disclosed to their wearied, hopeless eyes. Ail reckon-
ing had been lost. The good captain had been
washed overboard, his first mate killed by a falling
spar, and so, buffeted and bruised, the Auvergne
had laboured and drifted, a plaything of the angry
deep.
She thought of it all, then, hiding her face in the
pillow, sobbed quietly to herself. But bhe was
young and brave, and so she presently ceased weep-
ing, and once more took stock of her surroundings.
There was no bell by which to summon anyone,
but on a chair she noticed a pile of neatly-folded
clothes.
She rose, but a fit of weakness came upon her,
and she was fain to sit down. It passed quickly;
II
'I
56
VENGEANCE IS MINE
1*^
then, as she regained her feet, she heard a sound
which made her hurry to the window. It was of a
nature not altogether foreign to her. In a little
American town she had heard the like as a body of
British troops passed through it during a retreat on
Canada.
She recognised the music of the Highland pipes.
Then a great fear came upon her: she was in an
enemy's country. War had still been waging when
the Auvergne had sailed, and she remembered the
danger she ran even in a French ship, and the sharp
look-out that had been kept for English frigates.
Clever and sharp-witted though she v/as, her
knowledge of the world was of the slightest, and
she had no idea as to what might be done with her.
She assured herself that no one was likely to harm
a helpless girl ; but it was a timid enough face that
peered through th - tiny panes of coarse glass. She
had half expected to see soldiers in red coats, with
bare knees, and feather bonnets. What did meet
her gaze was a coffin, borne shoulder high, and
followed by a group of rugged-looking men, who
tramped behind it without any sort of order. They
passed out of sight even as she watched them, and
nothing remained but a stretch of bare hilly country,
a piece of meadow-land, and a glimpse of sparkling
sea.
She shrank back, asking herself who was this
they carried to the grave. Could it be one of the
Auveygne*s crew, or was it black Joe? How long
was it since the shipwreck ?
As no answer was forthcoming, she turned her
attention to ihe clothes. They were not such as
she had been accustomed to wear. This, as she
was to know later, was not Teeny's fault. That
good woman had intended to lay out a dress which
had belonged to the gentle Frenchwoman who was
remembered in Shiachan as * Madame,' and who
.i__i
oicpt ill tne iittic niiiSide kirk} aid to which iiit-y
■'i
A FAIR YANKEE
57
were bearing Ian Darroch, in the spot marked by
rusty iron railings, close to the ruins of an old
chapel, which was sacred to the house of the Oak
for such was the symbol of the Clan Darroch!
But Madame's clothes had suffered sadly through
moths and damp, and so what Kate Ingleby found
set aside for her was the Sunday dress of one of
the fishermen's daughters, the housekeeper's niece,
who was in service in Glasgow.
Neil, at Teeny's instigation, had borrowed it, and
though a new style of garment to the forlorn girl,
there was no doubt it was becoming. The fisher-
lass had been something of a belle in her way, and
had been wont to turn the heads of the lads in
Portroy when attired in a coat and short skirt of
dark blue, a spotted kerchief, bright red stockings,
and neat broad -toed and buckled shoes.
But though this castaway gave to the dress an
air which it lacked even when worn by the pretty
Flora, she was too sad at heart, too doubtful of her
iuture, to think much of her appearance; and in
•any case, there was nothing but a small hand-glass
m which to survey herself. With a natural and
careless grace she coiled the lustrous masses of her
hair about her head, and after a moment's hesita-
tion opened the door. A narrow stair led down-
wards, joining another at right angles, and de-
scending both without meeting a soul, or hearing
anything but the solemn ticking of a :lock, she
tound her way into another room— a long, low
chamber, hung with a few portraits and prints, and
heavily-curtained at the window.
For all that, she had been watched. Monsieur
Deschamps, who had been left behind to mop his
eyes, and lament he knew not what, had heard her
light foot:;tep, and hastening to the door of the hall,
had seen her enter the ' living room,' as it was called.
Her appearance greatly excited him. His vatrn^
sorrow forgotten, he hurried off to Neil's roo'rn,
i
58
VENGEANCE IS MINE
i-'
which he now occupied, and to which his few
belongings had been transferred. There, from the
depths of a huge box, he extracted all the finery he
possessed in the world.
With trembling hands he got himself into a suit
well nigh as ancient as himself, and despite its faded
colours, still sufficiently revnarkable for a day when
men were turning to less gaiidy avid more serviceable
clothing. It was i Court dress of the period of the
unfortunate Louis, who snore tht r* expiated his own
faults, ii not those cf hi3 predece^; ors, in the Place
de la Revolution.
Poor Charles Deschamps was no longer the man
he havi been when he last donned such gay attire.
His coat of yellow sati?!, embroidered at the
pockets, huiig loosely on his withered frame; his
waistcoat, of a f't:licate pink^ no longer fitted him
elegantly; h;s white mee - breeches would at the
buckles have passed twice round his shrunken legs.
He had but the one pair of silk pumps, and took such
pride in his slippers — the gift and work of Teeny,
and the only present made him for many a year, till
Neil brought hira a treasured snuff-box — that he re-
tained these wo/drous things of wool and beads;
and so, having arranged his queue and sighed over
the want of powder, he made his way down the
stairs, lace handkerchief in hand, and a bright flush
on either cheek, surely as queer a figure as Darroch
House, in all its history, had held.
Such was the apparition which suddenly appeared
before the astonished American girl. She stood
silent and amazed, as this gorgeously- arrayed old
man advanced in a series of short steps with multi-
tudinous bows and flourishes.
* I trust I see you recovered,' was what he said.
* You will find the air excellent, and my nephew
being present, the company agreeable,'
* I thank you, sir,' she managed to stammer out,
•' i am very well.*
A FAIR YANKEE
59
' Believe me, I am rejoiced to hear it,' he
answered with yet another bow. * Allow me to have
the honour of making my introduction — Charles
Deschamps, and at your service.'
' You are French !' she cried.
' But yes,' he replied, ' is it possible I see before
me a countrywoman ?'
' My mother was from France.*
So far the old beau had behaved in the most ex-
emplary manner, but at this piece of information
his wits deserted him. His language and gestures
became extravagant ; he laughed shrilly and per-
formed a little dance, skipping this way and that,
till the girl could no longer doubt that he was
insane.
She hastily retreated behind one of the curtains,
but he did not appear to notice this movement on
her part, pirouetting about and babbling to himself.
In the midst of his performance the door was
thrown open, and Geoffrey Darroch entered.
' Good God !' was his first exclamation, as his eye
lit on the figure before him. He crossed the room
and shook the old Frenchman roughly by the arm.
' Come, come,' said he, ' you have more sense
than to behave like this. Bless me, but you are
like a d d parrot ! Quit this silly nonsense, and
put on decent clothes, you fool !'
His words, and still more his action, had an
instant effect.
Monsieur Deschamps seemed to collapse at once.
He stood limp and almost whimpering with fear, as
had been his way when Ian Darroch ill-used him,
and then slunk towards the door.
Just then, however, Neil, who had been giving
necessary orders for the usual drinking which in
those days was inseparable from a funeral in any
part of Scotland, followed his brother, and at a
glance saw how matters stood, and noticed how
his uncle's pitiful face brightened at his appearance.
6o
VENGEANCE IS MINE
m
* You have scared him,' he said almost angrily, as
the old man disappeared.
' The deuce take it I' said Geoffrey. ' It was too
much to come back from such a function and find
him capering like a painted monkey. Gad I you
should have seen him. I had either to shake him
up a bit, or die of laughing myself
* Well, well,' answered Neil, somewhat mollified,
*you must remember he cannot help himself. No
doubt he got himself up in honour of the girl.*
' Like enough, sir, though it was a devilish queer
notion ; but, by the way, how is our visitor ?'
* She was still asleep this morning, but from what
Teeny says, she will do now, I think.'
* I'm glad to hear it, 'pon honour I am ; she will
liven up this dull hole, I hope. Has she any looks
to commend her ?'
* You had best judge for yourself, sir,' said a quiet
but angry voice.
Had a thunderbolt descended at their feet the two
men could not have been more surprised.
They turned sharply and confronted the girl,
who had stepped out from her place of conceal-
ment.
Geoffrey, man about town though he was, did
nothing but deliver himself of sundry ejaculations,
neither remarkable for wit nor politeness. His
brother, who was rarely at a loss for words, whose
training had been such that he was not easily taken
unawares, was the first to speak. His quick ear had
recognised her accenf, even though it was not
specially pronounced.
* Pardon me,' said he quickly, with a short bow,
' but I think I see before me an American ?'
* Yes,' she answered, and as he thought defiantly,
' I am from the States.'
* Oh, indeed !' said he, his face screwed up and
one eye half closed, a manner he adopted when
examining a witness. * Then it is my duty to warn
A FAIR YANKEE
61
you that anything you may say will be taken as
evidence against you.'
He spoke merely in jest, but what prompted him
to greet her in so peculiar a manner he did not
himself quite know. It may have been that he dis-
liked Americans, and without any good reason. He
had met very few of them, and was one of the many
who recognised that in the War of Independence they
had been in the right, while even in the present
struggle he regarded them as more sinned against
than sinning, as having been forced into a contest
clearly distasteful to them. Still, Neil, who was
more of a Briton than he himself imagined, had
been profoundly disgusted at the despised Yankees'
brilliant victories at sea, and felt somewhat bitter at
this upstart race, who dared dispute supremacy
with the old country, even on her own hunting-
grounds.
This feeling may have influenced him, and in
addition he was old-fashioned, and had his own
ideas as to woman's place and behaviour. The girl's
method of introducing herself seemed both forward
and impertinent to him.
A moment later he was sorry for his words, as he
remembered all she had passed through — her provo-
cation, and saw the fear and doubt come into her
eyes, even though her face w' In the shade. She
evidently misunderstood him, but she could defend
herself.
' You do not make war on women, do you ?' she
asked, with a quiver of scorn in her voice. * Even
in the days we beat you I have been told that was
left to the Hessians. The English, I believe, are
gentlemen.'
Geoffrey, who fully appreciated her answer,
laughed long and loiic"^. Neil, vastly amused,
though a trifle irritated, fauibled for his quizzing
crrnfiniypri
orlacc
fc, '"--•"
Qr\A fVirr»nffli if
the n*'ure before
..J^i
6a VENGEANCE IS MINE
« Wh.Vh^ "°^ if ^"^^^"^' however/ he said sharply.
Which no doubt accounts for your oresence •
was her retort. ^ presence,
a^nfe'^ht^n^t^- ^'^ ^ ^'^ -^ fit»
.1 r^oartPP • i°/^P^^«s 'Py admiration for your gift
A repartee he answered courteously. ' I trust at
a later period we may resume orir conversation
where now we leave off.' conversation
'And high time, too,' broke in his brother ' Solit
tT T' ' En 1 • / ^^ '' r' England Ly na^m [
us p. it ^. tnfland, so — -' '
nesf ^ v'^T.r'' \".'T"Pted Neil with a sudden stern-
ness, jou are entirely m error ; this is Scotland hL
ever been Scotland, and will continue so as vo„ thl
representative of an old Highland^nJ^, hS
the first to acknowledge and hope.'
Tut, tut!' said Geoffrey impatiently 'Yon
rTc^er^S • ''''' "'° ' ^"^ ^^^^^ "° -« ^^as
: I also.' said Neil, ' would compliment vou on
being able to rise unassisted. I fear my ^rthv
ntsTa'd"' 'h:!";;^"^^^ ^r -^--nTS
perSy'trmlS:/'^^^^^ '" '^^^^'^^^- ^"^ »^^ -
no't^CurtrTthfunf ' ^^^^'^^^^^ ^^^' ^^^ ' ^^t
'fdrfhL'i.^"' he curtain was no douot .seful.
I do think said she, 'that you are very cruel '
The nasal di awl, rather pleasing than otherwise
was m re evident now that she was%oused ^^'''
. Anu so do 1 1' said Geoffrey otly. I am sur
prised at you, Mr. Darroch.' ^ "'"
th^!'^ ? ^''""P^ '^^ '* ^'"^^«^f' hut his was one of
those contrary natures which often say and do the
y^^. y„j.„ ._^ ^^^^ ^^^^ j^^^ opinion,'
A FAIR YANKEE
63
be answered, ignoring his brother, and addressing
i aseif to the girl, whoso face had haunted him ever
bi .ce he had carried her to Monsieur Deschamps'
room. * Miss ?' he paused.
' My name is Ingleby — Kate Ingleby.'
'Thank you. Miss Ingleby, I suppose, is to con-
sider herself your guest?' he added, turning to
Ge:*frey.
* Uf course, sir, of course. You see ' — and the
latter went on to explain how matters stood.
' Dinner will soon be sei /ed when we hope to
hear your story, if such be your pleasure,' he con-
cluded. 'Till then you will find the hall more
comfortable. Allow me to offer you my arm ;' and,
escorted by the new Laird of Darroch, Kate Ingleby
passed from the room, while Neil followed them,
cool as ever to all appearance, but inwardly raging
at himself, at his step-brother, and even at this faii
but self-possessed American lass, for whose presence
in Darroch House he alone was responsible.
CHAPTER VII.
THE RIVALS
MORE than a week had passed, and Kate
Ingleby was still an inmate of Darroch
House. She could not resume her journey
unprotected, and neither brother was in a position
to accompany her till after the visit of the lawyer
who had control of Ian Darroch's affairs. That
wily old fox had long ago got himself confirmed in
the possession of h* forfeited estate. He had
waited till his "^ 'ous escapade was forgotten, and
then managee ^y I ' \1 aid to have his rights and
privileges restore. .> him. But in those days
Kintyre and the western isles were nearly as far
from civilisation as is St. Kilda at the present time.
I
m
64 VENGEANCE IS MINE
and though Mr. Quill, of the firm of Quill and Driver
of Glasgow, had been apprised of his cUem's decease
It might be some time ere he put in an appearancl'
As a matter of fact, he had started on recefpt of the
news, but had been seized with illness on the road
and was further delayed by hav.ng to return oZe
to pressmg and important business. Hrk-tter of
apology under any other circumstances would have
proved highly exasperating to both br. 't^rs Mh
was, neither regretted his tardiness a^ tpr'evemed
their visitor setting off to join her rdatives'^^laris
Both men were already sorely smitten by her charms
herth^l '.'"fJi' ^"''''- ?" ^"^ =" fr«h and new to
her that she did not much mind her enforced deten-
tion and she certainly could not compkfn of ™e
treatment accorded her. Her life had hitherto been
very peaceful and colourless, for though money was
at her command, her mother had been a Kl
nvahd, who could not bear town life, and thev had
lived m retirement. Kate's pleasu.es had beeif few
was well read, ana possessed considerable talent
Indeed, she was ignoi.-ntof the fine qualities of her
voice, which, had it been trained ir.ight have been a
f°rt""« '" ''=«'f- She san« like a^ bird-simp"v
unaffectedly, and it was not long before Ne™d s'
covered this and had overcome hfr natural shlness
at singing before strangers. There was a spS f -!
^ v.°"f 7^'=''.''?'' belonged to his dead n, "tier
and he had heard her accompanying herself upon ii
to a plaintive negro melody. But ere this he had
learned all she had to tell about herself With the
candour of youth and of her country, she had told
him unaffectedly of her father, a strong-minded
hard-headed American, who on a visit to Par s had
fallenm love with, and carried away as his wife, the
bright and vivacious Lucie d'Herbois. She snoke of
her wealth, of the uncle to wL.m she had beergoing
when disaster overtook the Auver^n,. With ,°I."!
THE RIVALS
65
!■
in her fine eyes she recounted the perils of the
voyage and the heroism of her faithful negro • but
it was not in hei rature to be sad.
To begin with, she was attracted by GeoUrey, who
was essentially manly, and Neil at their fii t inter-
view had appeared in a very unpleasant light. A
few days sufficed to change her opinions. She had
known men like Geoffrey Darroch, but had never
come across anyone remotely resembling the
younger brother, and the novel is always interesting.
Such men, spread thickly with the varnish of re-
serve, scarcely existed in her country, where life
was too hard, the struggle for existence in a new
land too absorbing, to permit the study of how best
to cloak one's real feelings from the world, not from
any shame or desire to deceive, but as a method of
gaming self-confidence and assuring originality.
She was puzzled and, so strong a factor is
woman's vanity, a little piqued by Neil's cool in-
difference, and his delight in drawing her into
political discussions where she felt herself at a loss,
though in reality she astonished the shrewd lawyer
by her quick decision and ready argument.
What first installed him in her favour was the
fact that he, like herself, could claim a French
origin. It was characteristic of him, however, after
acknowledging this fact, to make as little of it as
pQSsible, just as though he regretted to find they
had anything in common, whereas he was secretly
congratulating himself on his Gallic descent.
' Strange, is it not, Miss Ingleby ?' he remarked,
on learning that her mother was a Frenchwoman,
' that I also owe my mother, who rests yonder on
the hillside, to my father's meeting with a fair
French lass.'
' Is that really so ?* she said eagerly ; ' then,' with
a roguish laugh, * I am not so much an enemy as
you were pleased to make out.'
By this time she had learned that the speech
5
66 VENGEANCE IS MINE
which
joke.
had so incensed her was but a harmless
reeard" mv 'Fr.°n'.h' ^""^^?.^ g^^^^^y J ' but I cannot
regard my French connection as very strong Mv
mother, on both sides of her house, could trice her
ofTrfoffi^''^ to a Scottish ancestry to the marriage
of an officer of Louis Eleventh's guard with a young
Scotchwoman, who was being educated in France.'
1 hen I guess you are not proud of your French
origin ?' she said regretfully. ^rencn
He glanced at her with a curious smile, which
changed into a frown as his brother blundered into
the conversation. «cicu luiu
''}^}}^ .f^^ ^"® deference to you, Miss Inelebv '
said Geoffrey loftily^ 'I never ^saw r^ch in tL
French myself; a vain and shallow race I call 'em
Of course,' he added graciously, ' there are exceD-
tions ; I speak of them as a whole ' ^
Fr.trU ^uV'^^''!t'^ ' '^""> ^'•acked voice in
l^rench, shaking with excitement.
They one and all had forgotten Monsieur
Deschamps' presence, but he was prepared to
champion his people The old man had^isen to
Hi/firi; ^"^'"^^^"g^ ^"f sputtering with vehemence.
Wis hrst words were plain enough, but, mastered by
his passion, he poured out a string of disconnected
sentences, speaking so fast, so volubly, that of the
three who heard him, the girl alone could catch his
meaning. ^^
NeO listened with astonishment. This man was
not the gentle soft-spoken Charles Deschamps of
II ^°f 'T^^ ^* ^^' P^^^" that for some rea^n or
nlrrnM? ^^^.T?'"^^"^ ^ ^,'^^^ ^"^'P^t^yto Geoffrey
fhTv A I ^* ^"^ gentleman, angered at being
thus bearded in presence of a stranger, rose suddenl?
without pausing to reflect, and ordered Monsie,^
Deschamps to quit his table.
The old man, whose gust of rage had passed, and
■ —'J- t-f-'^p.xi.s.iiiiii
oiuiie amiauiy on
THE RIVALS
67
the company, was once more awed by Geoffrey's
harshness, which on this occasion was without
excuse. , •, r
Rising, he was about to do as he was bid, for all
the world like a rebellious child who had become
scared and penitent, when Neil interfered.
• Nonsense,' he said decisively but cheerily ; * sit
down, uncle, and eat your dinner.'
Reassured immediately, the old fellow resumed
his seat and, quaintly enough, bowed his head and
asked a blessing, as if he were just beginning, and
had no recollection of what had passed.
His action prevented a storm. Even Geoffrey,
who had been on the point of asserting his authority,
could not forbear smiling, and nothing more was
said, Neil adroitly changing the conversation ; but
Kate Ingleby saw and understood, and this was her
first insight into the characters of the two men
into whose lives she had come so strangely.
Later, from Teeny, she learned the story of her
rescue, though by no means the whole story ; and,
impulsive and full of gratitude, she took an early
opportunity of thanking Neil. She met him on the
road to Shiachan, for the fishing village had great
attractions for her, and he confessed to himself that
she looked more than pretty as she approached him.
The fresh but balmy sea air — for it was a day like
that which had graced Ian Darroch's funeral— gave
colour to her usually pale cheeks, a colour which
was intensified by her resolve ; her face, half hidden
by the great straw bonnet she wore, and which had
been his mother's, appeared to him more charming
than ever. It was not merely well-shaped, with a
pair of eyes which could sparkle as finely as they
could look dreamy and wistful, with a dainty nose
and a rosebud of a mouth, but it was full of intelli-
gence ; her brow was thoughtful, and there was a
oleasant mingling of dignity and vivacity in her
expression.
5— a
11
.'I
68
VENGEANCE IS MINE
Ke told himself that here one found the charac
a^ hatloh? '?^^^-^-the piquancy of the French,
and that sober judgment and keen intellect which
he understood was characteristic of the womin of
America, as well as of its sons. women oi
his'£l^1;VhT'''^/T^''' 1"^^"^^'' ^^id he, raising
his hat slightly It is a fine day, is it not ?'
I thouSt'thl. f!j'^ concurred. 'Do you know,
Dar^och/ ^''^ "°*^'°^ ^"^ rain here, Mr.
twile i^hl: !yr' ^^'^ ^^^^' -^h '^^ ^-test
She looked puzzled, but gave a little nod of assent.
I was wishing to see you.' she went on rather
of th s ml^' 'V""' "^^; if anything, a trifl" afrafd
01 tms man. You must think me very ungrateful.'
; I cannot say that idea occurred to me.'
horrM'' ^^' °°^ ' ^"* ^" ^^" '^"^^' I have felt
'And looked the reverse,' said Neil with an
' No, but you must have taken trouble : I know
' Oh • Ttt"' ''it—' She ..topped'ionfused
f edtep.scre u^^t t ?^I btk^ of ^r
wordT^'a'ouVr'^'"^"' <''^ '^"^ -phasis-ofSf
She saw his allusion.
M^^T^"i_T"y ? ^as rude.' she said; 'but when
.r^x. x.-axiucn spoice I could not help myself.'
THE RIVALS
69
* No,' said Neil ; * Geoffrey is not always in the
best of taste, though, of course, he was ignorant of
your presence.'
* He has been very polite since,' she replied ; and
Neil did not like her taking up the* cudgels on his
brother's behalf.
'Very,' said he, and again raising his hat, left
her and continued his walk.
His abrupt manner very naturally hurt the girl,
and she promptly went and made herself most
gracious to the laird, who, anxious to appear well
in her sight— he remembered her account of her
father's wealth— eschewed the bottle, and though
he grumbled at being forced to stay on at Darroch,
behaved as pleasantly as his selfish and arrogant
nature would allow. Geoffrey Darroch had his
good points, for few men are wholly bad. He was
weak rather than wicked, and certainly just then
he did his best to appear as a virtuous and respect-
able member of society, even if he could not conceal
his dislike of Neil and Monsieur Deschamps.
His encounter with the latter had sensibly
weakened his position with Kate Ingleby. Once
she heard the old Frenchman's tragic story, her
sympathy was roused, and sympathy with her meant
more than a mere feeling of interested pity. She
became the old man's companion. To his supreme
delight she spoke with him in French. He was
never tired of conversing with her, and followed her
about like a dog. Neil found himself supplanted
in his uncle's affections, and inwardly was much
tickled by the old fellow's devotion. He himself
was a fair French scholar, and would sometimes join
in their chatter, but he had no facility in the use of
idioms, and was frequently at a loss to understand
them, much to his uncle's diversion.
* No, no,' he would say ; * your accent is atrocious !
You spoil all the beauty, all the elegance ; but made-
moiselle, she is wonderful, and yet you say she has
* I
^^1
70
VENGEANCE IS MINE
?nr i, ! n 1 ^'^T- ^u^ '^ ^°'"&' ^^' that is sad
tor me ! Only perhaps when I am restored to health
I also will return, and then we shall have ereat
times. The Court, they say, is the finest in Europe !
Yes yes, I shall see it again!' and away he would
go, humming to himself some snatch of verse with
a catching chorus and but little meaning, which
perhaps had been m vogue when he paraded in the
Bois or sauntered in the avenues at Versailles
The girl's kindness to his uncle, who was often,
without the least intending it, troublesome and
exacting, was not lost on such a close observer as
Neil Dairoch. He admired her patience, and still
more the brave way she bore up under the misfor-
tunes which had befallen her. She had not been
beggared, it is true ; this uncle Emile of whom she
spoke had already charge of the fortune left her bv
her father, but at one fell swoop her own private
possessions, her wardrobe, her trinkets, those things
so dear to every woman of her age, had been torn
w^. • r \^* l^^ ""^^^^ h^^P^d upon her loss.
What grief she showed was for her black servant,
whom Neil never mentioned, but whose body he
almost wished he had brought ashore, when he saw
the girl looking wistfully at the sea, with unshed
llth '"^ ^^^® heads of dew upon her long
He guessed her thoughts, and knew well that she
telt lonely and depressed, but never a word of com-
tort passed his lips. He was struggling with himself,
for was he not a poor man, who could speak no
word of love to any woman, least of all to one who
was possessed of ample means ? And yet she was
dependent on Geoffrey. This was what galled him.
No doubt he had written at her request to Monsieur
d Herbois, and knew that she intended repayin- his
brother, for she made no secret of her wish to be
free from any obligation; but, as things were,
"'-"»,"'^'" auj uuiigauon; out, as
Ueoffrey had some kind of hnlH nr^.^r,
he
THE RIVALS
71
himself was merely a guest, a guest in the old house
which had been his home, and which this Anglicized
Scot cared nothing about.
Kate Ingleby, however, was interested in it, and
this constituted some bond of union between them.
She never wearied of listening to what he had to
tell her of the history of his clan, of old Ian
Darroch, of the Pitlochie smugglers, and even of
the great rebellion. Of himself he rarely spoke,
and this the giri was quick to note and approve ;
Geoffrey, on the other hand, was, if amusing and at
times interesting, distinctly vainglorious. His talk
ran on horses, on cards, duels, and prize-fighters — on
the fashionable circles in which he moved, and of
which, according to himself, he was no mean
ornament.
Neil, who from his brief intercourse with the man
had thought him a besotted fool, was forced to alter
his views.
Geoffrey Darroch had seen life, and knew how to
describe it. In the company of men with whom he
had no tastes in common he was dull and rude, but
with kindred spirits he was a different being, and
the same held true when the spur of vanity goaded
him to exertion. It was so now, and it is not to
be wondered at that Kate Ingleby found him enter-
taining. His compliments were deHcate enough.
Strictly speaking, he was a more taking man than
the quiet, clean-shaven advocate, and the American
knew nothing to his discredit. Neil saw that she
listened to his step-brother attentively, and chafed
inwardly. What he did not see — for the cleverest
men in his condition are often blind — was that Kate's
sharp eyes had penetrated his mask, and that she
was amusing herself at his expense.
She could not help it ; she was young, unsophisti-
cated, full of health and spirits, and a little in-
toxicated by the unwonted attentions paid her.
Besides. » mixture of French and American blood
I
72
VENGEANCE IS MINE
IS not conducive to the formation of a youthful
prude or an old maid, especially when its owner is
not yet tvventy, has a face and figure fashioned to
turn men s heads, and is robed in a costume more
befittmg the stage than prosaic everyday life.
Therefore, the girl played with fire in perfect
innocence, despite her occasional sauciness and
glimpses of shrewd mother-wit, and fanned the
flame which had already been kindled between the
grandsons of Ian Darroch.
,{\y^%/Sr^^^ that Mr. Quill should take charge
ot Miss Kate, and see to her safe conduct to Paris ;
but both men devoutly hoped that he would be in
no haste to put in an appearance.
Geoffrey had at first been solely influenced by the
mention the girl made of her worldly possessions,
but he was too much of a sensualist not to be
attracted by her uncommon beauty.
Neil's surrender was that of a man who has met
his fate. He kept a close watch on himself, how-
?7ru^' and fondly beheved his secret was his own.
Whether his brother guessed the real state of his
ieelings or not, one thing is certain : unfriendly from
the first, each now regarded the other as a rival.
CHAPTER VIII.
FACE TO FACE
CAPTAIN VAN HAGEN, skipper of the
smuggling lugger Tyfel, was beyond all doubt
an extremely ugly man. He was like nothing
so much as a huge codfish, with his soft, flabby
face, his bulging eyes, distended nose, and great
clumsy mouth, which for ever kept opening and
shutting as he mechanically chewed tobacco. The
resemblance was heightened by the greasy curl of
beard, whirh ri«»nAnrJoW fj-nm Ui,^ ^i,;., J -•_____•_, -1 1
FACE TO FACE
11
reminded one of the barbule of the foul-feeding cod.
His body was rotund but powerful, his legs short,
his bodily presence, in fact, contemptible, but he was
no fool. An excellent seaman, a good commander,
and a daring runner of contraband, he was both
callous and rapacious. He was like a fish in soul
as well as in face — a cold-blooded, greedy Dutch-
man, but he had the courage of a pike.
He lay upon his stomach behind one of the rocks
on the Croban Point, and with a telescope surveyed
the coast-line from the distant Stacks, along the
cliffs to the mouth of the Whipple, and the curving
sands which ran from the estuary to where the
Croban jutted seawards.
One of the Pitlochie gang, no other than the
man whom Neil Darroch had sent overboard nearly
a fortnight before, crouched by his side, and puffed
solemnly at a cutty pipe.
The lugger Tyfd, whose colour suited her name,
lay at anchor with her topmasts struck to the south
of the promontory, and so was concealed from the
view of any in Shiachan or Darroch House. As a
rule, she hid behind the Stacks, but Captain Van
Hagen had been met by a boatload of the free-
traders, with the sad information that his old friend
Ian Darroch was no more, and that the crofts of
Pitlochie were to be deserted.
On receipt of this news, Van Hagen had sworn
vigorously, for he had been chased from the Solway,
and had on board a valuable cargo of schnapps and
other commodities upon which a verdomde Govern-
ment exacted duty.
He was a slow thinker, and so found holding
ground for his vessel behind the Croban, and re-
viewed the situation. It was only an hour after
daybreak, but the skipper was an early riser, and
had gone ashore with Jan Holland, a man after his
own heart, half Dutch, half English, who, after
HiaKincr C*»\7<aro1 \7r\^Tnnac ..rii-K U
•-;3 vTii
1 1
UU.U
i^iuy
.r..ii_
74
VENGEANCE IS MINE
stabbed a woman in Amsterdam, and found it con-
venient to reside at the head of Glen Dhu, where
all, except Dugald the piper, welcomed so daring
and jovial a manner. His crime had been forgotten
by this time, and so he had again gladly shipped
with Van Hagen, and had persuaded four of his
kidney to join him.
His elegant commander suddenly uttered a grunt
expressive of surprise, and spitting solemnly, handed
nim the glass.
By its aid Jan Holland perceived the figure of a
tall man making its way across the stretch of benty
links. It was coming towards the sands, now un-
covered and dotted with the black shapes of sea-
birds busy at their breakfasts. Jan Holland knew
the man, and v/histled to himself.
It was Neil Darroch.
A thought struck him, and he was about to pro-
pose something to the solemn skipper, when that
worthy again grunted, though in a higher key. His
keen eye had seen something else of interest. Follow-
ing the direction indicated by a fat forefinger, Tan
focussed the glass, and delivered himself of an oath
Another man was abroad at this early hour head-
ing apparently for the same place. It was the new
Laird of Darroch. Jan knew they were step-
brothers, therefore he asked himself why they did
not walk together if they must take the air at an
hour when gentlefolk are supposed to be abed.
His unspoken question was soon answered.' The
two men gained the beach at points a few yards
apart, raised their hats to each other, and began
going through certain movements, which caused
Van Hagen's protruding eyes to become yet more
prominent, while Jan Holland's pipe went out
' Strike me bhnd,' said the former, in Dutch ' if
they are not going to fight a duel !' He chortled with
pleasure at the prospect. ' Let us get nearer,' said
he ; I smell money this morning. Ha, ha ! ho. ho !'
'
I
B^
I
FACE TO FACE 75
His painted visage became purple as a oainteH
hnr*'^^""* "si"g with difficulty, on account^of Ms
Degan to creep cautiously towards the base of the
ittle peninsula of rock. It was not hard to keeo
thenriselves effectually hidden behind the miehtv
blocks and hchen-spotted boulders which wit^S
"krcfXan.^"' '°""'^' P^^^^^^' formed thf beak.
to^arms th^^h ^T? ^^^^^S^t. It was an appeal
to arnis which had kept Geoffrey Darroch awake
all nigh and dragged both him and Neil fromXir
beds with the first glimpse of light.
The reason is not far to seek. Several things
hi^WK *° the fighting point, and it was only
open run^r"'' tk''^ ^^ "^ ^^" "°^ prevented an
open rupture. Though he knew it not, Geoffrey
.nohTS'^K'^ \'^^ ^''^' ^"^ ^^^^ rejected S
such had been the result of the latter's wooing was
was ThTt"r ^' '"' '^^ "^^'^^ '' making hraTvfn":
ZZ t i 7°^?^ amongst the dissolute set with
m.t^^H^^^^'PPJ!^' ^^^°"^^ associated.
What had forced him to hasten his declaration
aT^eareil^hr't''"^' ^?i' ^" opportunity whlcE
Eed bv K.t?« ^\^°°^ *° ^^ ^°^*- He was
her a roP,n-.^ h debonair manner, and thought
kkI . 5°^"'sh hoyden, who would rather eniov a
liberty being taken with her. ^^
He was undeceived by as sound a box on the
f T.u""^'- ,^^^SSered a forward lover. He had
on"l toe ^"^ '^°"^. °"^ t^' ^"^ approkchVng her
on tip-toe, managed to clap his somewhat shakv
hands over her eyes. Then, altering hiiv^ce hthad
:a's%r:mp^^^^^^^^^
Zit ^i ?^ 'r ^"^ somewhat disconcerting She
mistook him for^the half-witted Charles Des^chamos
her-"torhiJ.f '"' ^^''^ ^^^^'' '^'^ ^^' releasing
ner , too bad to mix me up with that old ass.'
76
VENGEANCE IS MINE
* It is,' she answered, in a tone which sbould have
been a warning t( him. ' I might ha'^'e ki. >wn that
Monsieur Deschamps would not have done such a
thing. And now, how dare you behave in such a way !'
* Tut, tut !' said he. ' Faint heart, you know,
Miss Kale. I am g ing to dare a great deal more,
for I'm blessed if 1 cai help myself. Now, what
say you ? I have my faults, but I'm none > bad at
bottom, and egad, my lass ! if you'll marry me I can
show you a little more of ^ife and gaiety than that
cold-blooded, sneering brother of mine. I've watched
you, and I want you for yourself, and that's God's
truth.'
She let him run on, hiefly because she was too
much astonished to check him. When she found
words, they were scarcely what Geoffrey had
expected.
* You do me too much ho our, do you not ?' she
asked with a flushed cheek, but lo- king him very
straight in the eyes.
* Honour 1' said he. ' Oh, honour be — I mean,
confound it ! Of course you are not English, but
that's no matter. I'm in dead earn 3t ; for you're too
pretty, and, you see '
It was then, as he made an effort to clip her round
the waist, that he received his well-merited reward.
He had the grace to stifle the oath which rose to
his lips, and Kate noticed this act of repression even
then. Her treatment had done him good.
' It's late in the day for this kind of thing,' he
stammered.
* But not too late, sir. Do you think I am to be
insulted because I am here alone and unprotected ?'
* Ton honour,' he began, ' I meant nothing.'
* I thought so,' she answered. ' Please keep to
that, Mr. Darroch, if you wish me to forget what
has passed ;' and while Geoffrey was wondering what
_l-ȣi li=.ff l-iirr\ v*'!*!"* Q t-Jr^nrlinof iao r
Sa\^ i'—ll, l.l.lttx TYitli O. tlMv_Jta^- •-.-•.*,»
-and a very rueful countenance.
FACE TO FACE
he
Thinking over the affair aiterwards, she was more
amused than angrv, and wisely let it make no
difference in her behaviour, meeting him frankly and
without resc But it was otherwise with Geoffrey.
He did n* t me the girl, 1 r his ears had been
boxed befor and yet he had wor in the long-run,
but he put dc vvii his present repulse to Neil's influence,
and resolved to vent his sple( i accordingly. He
began with personal insults, but to these Neil paid
no heed. His object was to make the house unbear-
able, and to drivf Meil back to his work. He never
thought his brother would fi;;l.t. Somehow he did
not associate him with the pistol or the small sword,
and so, in the evenings, when all had retired, these
two r sat down and wrangled over their wine.
NeiU his temper admirably in check. He would
have a wiser to have avoided Geoffrey's company
altogeaer, but he had a mistaken idea that to leave
the room would savour of cowardice on his part,
and he believed himself strong enough to resist the
temptation of slapping the other across the mouth.
Indeed, he found a little pleasure in irritating his
brother by his silence and contemptuous smiles,
which, though highly reprehensible, was perhaps
natural enough. An idle man makes love or quarrels
if he has an opportunity for either amus ment, and
Neil, haying debarred himself from the former pursuit,
found time hang less heavily by indulging in a
negative way in the latter.
' So,' began Geoffrey on the night of the final out-
burst, ' you think you're strong in the running, do
you?'
Neil merely raised his glass and scrutinized its
contents, holding it between him and the lamplight.
* May I ask why you wear that piece of glass in
your eye, sir ?' was the next question— one not asked
for the first time.
The offending glass was dropped by a slight relaxa-
tion of the muscles holding it" in position. ~ Geoffrey^
^m^
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7^
VENGEANCE IS MINE
nonplussed for a moment, subsided into silence, but
began to drink rapidly and deeply.
A feeling of pity possessed Neil, and he resolved
to make an effort to patch up the peace.
' I think,' he said, ' there should be an end to this.
We are here but for a short time, and I regret that
we are so unfriendly.'
* Go to the devil !' was the polite rejoinder.
* My dear sir,' said Neil, who felt his conscience
eased by his attempt at reconciliation, and into
whose throat there had suddenly come a feeling of
constriction at this bluff rejoinder. • My dear sir, I
prefer not to do so, for if you continue drinking as
you are doing, it would necessitate my again meeting
you one of these days.'
* God forbid !' said the other. ' I have had enough
of you and your breed. You give yourself the airs
of a lord, and would rule the roost hke that blessed
old rogue we planted the other day— and a good job
too, let me tell you.'
'Have a care,' said Neil, into whose eyes had
sprung the light of battle. 'You would do well to
keep your foul tongue off the dead.'
*I would have you know,' cried Geoffrey, 'that I
cannot tolerate you longer. This place is mine, sir '
—he rapped violently upon the table— ' and you have
been here on sufferance, remember that.'
* I am not likely to forget it,' said Neil bitterly.
Very well, then you will oblige me bv clearing
out to-morrow.' ^
1 1 regret that I must refuse to do any such thin^ '
Confound your impertinence!' hiccoughed
£f ?f 'Tf 1 J ^^"^^""^ '^i^ °'^^" ^*' ^^^ ' You may
be thankful I don't say this very night.'
'There is no need to bluster,' said Neil quietly.
You are not dealing with a child. What is more
you are not yet confirmed in possession, and further.'
Miss Ingleby has to be considered. At present you
are no fit comnaninn fnr a lorlt, » ^
J- — . .. »«\i y ,
FACE TO FACE
79
' Blast you, sir ! I believe you put her up to box
my ears.'
' Box your ears ! Believe me, I did not know she
had done anything so fitting. I have no doubt it
was well deserved.*
■ At this Geoffrey, savage and annoyed at the slip
of the tongue which in his drunken folly had placed
him still further at the mercy of Neil's sarcasm, cast
caution to the winds, lost his head, and poured out
a torrent of filthy abuse. He cast Neil's ancestry
in his teeth, he made base insinuations, he ranted
and cursed. It was painful to see his flushed face
and reddened eyes ; it was impossible to endure his
language.
Anxious to avoid extremes, Neil rose to leave the
room, but as he passed his brother's chair the latter
seized his coat-tails, and hung on to them, roaring
with senseless laughter.
'You pale-faced, white-livered hound!' he began,
' I know what you're after ! Sit down and be
to you !'
* Let go,' said Neil quietly, 'or it will be the worse
for you.'
Many men can stand a railing tongue, but let a
hand be laid on them, and they are up in arms at
once.
By way of answer Geoffrey tugged fiercely at the
cloth, and Neil, losing his balance, was sent sprawl-
ing backwards upon the table. He was on his
feet in an instant, and picking up Geoffrey's glass,
which, for a wonder, had not been upset, without
a second thought he dashed its contents in his
brother's face.
The change was ludicrous.
The red wine streamed down the red-veined
cheeks of the toper and dropped upon his linen.
He choked and spluttered, half of it having caught
him in the throat and ended his merriment. But the
dose did him good, as the box on the ear had done ;
So
VENGEANCE IS MINE
it brought out what of the man there was in him ;
and that is how, at a distance of twenty paces, each
with a. pistol in his hand and another lying I'^aded
at his feet, with no seconds, and with, "as they
thought, no witnesses, the grandsons of the old
Jacobite faced one another, intent on settling their
differences with powder and shot.
Neither was in a happy frame of mind, but one
alone appeared agitated.
No man can drink brandy to excess and have a
clear head and a steady hand, and when in addition
that man has an accusing conscience and a cool
and collected adversary, his nerves are not likely to
be composed.
So Geoffrey Darroch sweated with anxiety rather
than fear, despite the cold, and Neil, looking into his
face, could find it in his heart to pity him. He had
no intention of trj'ing to kill the man who reigned
in Ian Darroch's stead, but he hoped to gi' e him
a lesson and make him apologize, for Neil prided
himself on his obstinacy and grim determination.
He was yet to learn how futile these might be, how
a man may be stripped naked of all his little fads,
his accumulated mannerisms and oddities, ay, and
be broken in spirit and bereft even of intellect itself,
by relentless Fate.
Although without experience in affairs of honour,
he was a good marksman. Half his time as a boy
had been spent in amusing I elf with one of
those fine steel pistols, claw . -itted and inlaid
with silver, which Highland geni emen carried as
far as Derby, and used in vain on the moor of
Drummossie.
He had himself well under control ; he had right
on his side, but he was miserable. He knew now
how madly he loved Kate Ingleby. He was
astonished at his own ardour, this man who
•SnpPTPcl af tflf- £:p»V aiir\ hoA hrtrxwrn r\n]rT l^^-,,, f^^l\
» „_ . ...... .i.vvi i^i»-,-TTXi \_-iilj ll»_rTV Xiail
they could become. He had reasoned and argued
FACE TO FACE
8i
1
I'
with this insane fancy, as at first he called it, but in
vain. That sweetly serious face with the merry
hazel eyes, that voice with its faint drawl and its
powers of song, the lissom, upright figure, the girl's
naivete, her want of conventionalism and stiffness,
and airs and graces, all held him in thraldom.
And now he was going to run the risk of leaving
her for ever. An interest had come into his life, the
life he might be about to quit. He shook himself
free of such gloomy thoughts. He would not, he
could not, believe it. He had fashioned his own
character with the greatest care, and was the work
of years to be snuffed out by yonder bulky, royster-
ing toper, who openly laughed at his father's
country, and made a mock of everything he held
sacred ?
* Nonsense !' he told himself, as he removed his
hat, buttoned his coat tightly to the throat, and
saw to his priming.
As there was no one to give the signal, Geoffrey
had proposed a plan to which Neil had agreed.
Each was to have two pistols, one placed on the
sand, the other held in the hand. Each was to
discharge the latter in the air and then to stoop,
pick up the remaining weapon, and as rapidly as
possible to take aim and fire.
Naturally enough, on hearing this curious sugges-
tion, Neil had demurred. He would have to rely
wholly on the honour of his step-brother. He
quietly said as much to Geoffrey, but he had mis-
taken his man.
* Pardon me, Mr. Darroch,' the latter had replied,
with the gravity of a half-sobered man, * I recognise
I am dealing with a person of birth, even if he be
half a foreigner and a Scotch lawyer. I trust you.
Is it, therefore, too much to ask you to believe that
I shall act in good faith ?'
Neil had regarded him with amazement. The
man was transformed. He now spoke m ihout
6
82
VENGEANCE IS MINE
using
foul language, and his speech had the ring
of truth about it.
Neil recognised that, after all, this step-brother
might have some spark of the gentleman in his
composition. He merely bowed his assent. Never
had he felt so drawn to his relative.
* Humph !' he commented ; * he has some of the
old man's blood in him after all, it would appear ;
but he needs a lesson, and he'll get it '
That lesson was to be very different from what
Neil imagined.
Captain Van Hagen and Jan had an excellent
view of the encounter. They were surprised, and
the former was disgusted, to see both men fire in
the air, but as each stooped rapidly the skipper
understood and grinned his approval.
Like one report sounded the discharge of the
second pistols, but one man alone fell, tottering
backwards and sinking to the sand as his knees
gave wpy.
It was Jan Holland's turn to grin. His debt was
paid, in part at least.
Geoffrey Darroch stood like one dazed, with the
smoking weapon in his hand. Then, as he saw the
motionless figure stretched out before him, the
pistol dropped from his grasp ; he gave a shuddering
sigh, half of relief, half of horror, and approached
the body, his limbs trembling, his face ashen, his
very lips white and dry. He was bending over it
when he heard the sound of soft, pattering footsteps.
He looked quickly up. A tall man was running
towards him, and behind him waddled another,
who at that moment shouted out something which
Geoffrey could not understand.
But he did not wait. Turning, he made off along
the beach as fast as his legs could carry him. He
was possessed by a wild, unreasoning terror; he
would have screamed aloud had he had anv breath
to spare.
N
00
a.
3
3
cr
-a
«j
o
Ill
,
;'i
I*; I
FACE TO FACE
83
And he might have spared it, for he had not a
chance with the long-legged, hardy smuggler, who
ran him down in thirty yards, and gripped him by
the collar.
'Gently, my hearty!' said he; ' there s no one
going to harm ye. What! would ye?' for the
frightened man began to struggle violently, and was
no easy prey. But he was too late. Up panted
Van Hagen to the aid of his comrade.
* Mein Gott 1' he exclaimed, * what a fuss abood
nodings ! Tell him what it is we do want, Jari, and
put no price on him till I haben time to think.'
They led Geoffrey up to Neil, who lay where he
had fallen, a smear of blood upon his forehead.
' See if he is dead, Jan ; I will watch de gentle-
mans.'
Thus adjured, Jan knelt down and made a hasty
examination.
* Queer,' said he ; ' dash my buttons if ever I seed
the Tike ! The ball took him on the temple, just on
the edge, but it's glanced off— flay me 1 but it's
been touch and go,' he added ; * he's not dead, only
stunned, but pretty bad, I should say.'
' Damn !' was Captain Van Hagen's sole remark.
* It's all right,' said Jan, nodding at their captive,
who seemed dazed and stupefied ; * he wants to get
rid o' him, and there's the lugger. Why not give
him a passage, skipper ?' j • -r. ^ u
' Jan,' said the captain solemnly, and in Dutch,
' you are a genius, my boy ; tell him.'
' Look here, you,' said Jan ; * Van Hagen here
says I be a genius, and d'ye know \ .^- ?'
Geoffrey, whose scattered wits were returning,
looked at him with an air of relief.
* He is alive, did you say ?' he asked.
* Ay, ay, he'll do,' said Jan ; ' but listen to me as
you value your hide.'
Thereupon Geoffrey was made acquainted with
- xi. .■ . 1__ J ...1%^ th«» f'»*- rriq^n \xrac who
many iirngai icamcu wiiv i-iiv- lai. ta<%'- — -
6 — 2
EH
84
VENGEANCE IS MINE
stood and puffed and chewed beside him ; heard of
his grandfather's doings, and finally listened to an
offer made him by Jan,
' If ye don't agree he may die,' said that logician ;
* then where'll you be, I should like to know ? If
he pegs out on the lugger, no one's the wiser, and
they'll think the Pitlochie lads played the trick on
him. If he lives, we won't hurt him, bless your
heart ; but a voyage will help his constitootion and
heal his wound. Meanwhile, you splice the girl and
clear out.'
He laughed coarsely.
* Ho, ho r bellowed Van Hagen. ' So a little bird
is de cause? Dooble de price, Jan, dooble de price.*
' Hold your row, man !' said Jan ; * the figger's
moderate. Now then, what d'ye say ?'
The wretched man was in a trap ; the offer was
tempting.
' But I have no money here,' he protested.
'That don't matter; we'll take the watch and
chain, thank 'ee. Hold on, though, that ain't
enough.'
* You can't come near the house,' said Geoffrey in
alarm ; * you'll be seen by someone.'
' Bless your heart 1 can't we ? Don't ye know
there's a passage to the cellars from the caves ?'
* What I' cried Geoffrey.
* To be sure ; that's the way your precious old cuss
of an ancestor scared the sogers. We'll be at the
trap-door at twelve this blessed night, ay, and a
dozen men behind us, so no monkeying. Mister
Laird. See and be there with the yellow boys, or
it's in Portroy you'll be in the morning.'
* Curse you !' snarled Geoffrey, thoroughly cowed,
and with that thej' let him go.
Securing the pistols, they raised the unconscious
nian, bore him caiefully to their boat, and hoisted
him on board the Tyfel,
' Beautiful !' said Captain Van Ilagen ; * by to-
FACE TO FACE
85
night he will be dead— you understand me, Jan ?—
den de price will be doobled.*
And Jan Holland's wink was evidence of his com-
prehension.
It was a wretched being that slunk across the
links and fields to Darroch House. Once a weak
man stoops to evil, there is no saying where he may
end. Geoffrey had been guilty of many minor
crimes ; he had been known to cheat at cards and
on the turf. His reputation where women were
concerned was bad ; but so far, as Neil had found,
he had not wholly abandoned every principle of
honour and virtue. Now he had gone a step further.
Before the duel, and even as he faced his brother,
he had no clear idea as to what he wanted to do.
His brain was fuddled, and the matter had risen so
suddenly, that he had been hurried into a demand
for satisfaction. His conduct all along had been
that of a drunken and irritated man, but it had re-
coiled on his own head with a vengeance.
He was sobered at last, and in a fine dilemma.
He cursed his folly, but that did not help him.
It must be confessed that he thought little of poor
Neil. His consternation was entirely for himself
His available funds were at a very low ebb, and this
bargain into which he had been forced would absorb
half his ready money.
Then again, if the arrangement were discovered,
he would have to make himself scarce. He dreaded
to think of what the fishermen would do if they
heard of his transaction. To fight a duel was one
thinf, to wound a man and then pay to have him
kid; :u:>ped, was quite another. He must brazen it
out, he told himself, and approached the house with
the greatest care, hiding behind bushes and survey-
ing the premises before he ventured nearer. To his
relief no one was stirring. On tip-toe he made his
wav within and reached his room without having
seen or heard anything to cause him alarm.
86
VENGEANCE IS MINE
But a pair of suspicious eyes had marked his
every i lovenient.
The damaged brain rests uneasily. The half-witted
are poor sleepers as a rule, and Monsieur Deschamps
was no exception. Geoffrey was unaware that the old
man would frequently be up and about at cock-crow,
even in the cold winter mornings, and thus he had
slipped past the hall-door without an idea that it
was slightly ajar, and that a face was surveying nim
through the narrow chink. It was the same puck-
ered and vacant face which a moment before had
been peering through a little clear space in a clouded
pane of glass, and had noted his cautious approach.
Monsieur Deschamps might have a want, but he
could put two and two together in a feeble way. and
he hated and feared this new master even more
than the old, who had not troubled him for long
before his death. ^
'I must tell Neil,' he mumbled. ' Why does he
creep like a fox ? He is bad, very bad, but Charles
i>>eschamps knows something I Hee I hee ''
His face wrinkled with pleasure, and he gave a
httle skip of delight as he shuffled off to feed his
friends the fowls. He would talk to them for hours
at a time.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey Darroch was wonderin-
what course of action he should adopt. Knowing
tnat the American was unacquainted with Neil's
handwriting, he was on the point of composing a
letter to her purporting to come from his step-
brother, and stating that pressing business required
his immediate return. h ^
'Egad!' he muttered, 'I could even make it an
affectionate farewell— deeply regret-hope ere lon^
—shall ever remember, and so forth.' He gave a
mockery of a laugh, a hollow laugh, which betrayed
his state of miserable indecision, the pricking of a
guilty conscience. ' Great C^sar I thonph thti .,m11
not do I' he told himself. 'It would be'damVing
FACE TO FACE
87
^
evidence if anything leaked out. No, no ! I must
appear as surprised aS they will be. Then there's the
housekeeper. She won't count for much, however.'
His hand trembled so much that he could not
shave. He cursed at his condition :ind steadied his
nerves temporarily in a way which was growing'
upon him, and ruining him, body and soul. But for
the present the brandy did him good : his courage
returned, and there was nothing about him to attract
special attention when Kate Ingleby met him at the
breakfast-table.
She was looking her best that morning. The
effect of the terrible struggle for life had worn off,
and as the memory of the wreck began to grow dim
—it takes a heavy loss to tell for long on the young
and healthy— hei spirits rose, and she was again the
same vivacious lass whose natural brightness a dull
and dreary life had not been able to quench.
What added to her attractiveness was the fact that
there was something of an unconscious challenge in
the flash of her gay eyes, in the poise of her head, in
her very speech. It was the same attitude, with,
mdeed, the unconscious element deleted, which her
country has adopted since ever it became a nation.
But surely there was something more, else whence
came a certain old-world grace, a touch of hauteur
that pursing of a pretty mouth, that firm, rounded
chm, that dignity of carriage, which tells its own
story ? Beyond a doubt these were her legacy from
France— not the France of the sans-culotte and the
guillotme, not the France of tlu^ Empire, with its
hybrids and its foreigners, but the vanished France,
vvhich somehow suggests stately minuets and light
tmkling music, and love and gallantry, and aristo-
crats galore.
'By Jove!' thought Geoffrey. 'It was worth
doing to vyin her, hang me if it wasn't I'
He noticed the quick glance she gave round the
room, and rightly interpreted its meaning.
88
VENGEANCE IS MINE
* My brother has not yet put in an appearance,' he
said.
* Oh !' she answered lightly, with a pardonable
duplicity, * I was wondering if the lawyer with the
queer name had come.'
* Mr. Quill ? Come, come, Miss Ingleby ! Then
you wish to leave us ? That is too bad, 'pon honour
it is!'
* No, no !' she replied earnestly ; * it is not that,
but I am trespassing on your kindness.'
He made a gesture of dissent.
* Yes, but I am,' she retorted. ' I have a terrible
appetite, I know.'
* It is a pleasure,' he protested.
* To be eaten out of house and home ?' she said
gaily. 'You are too polite, Mr. Darroch. Now,
Neil' — it was wonderful how glibly the name fell
from her lips — 'would have agreed with me. Are
there many men like him in this country ?'
The question staggered him. He reddened under
her frank gaze.
* I do believe you are jealous !' she laughed. * Fie !
fie 1 " Let brotherly love continue," you know. But
I am hungry. I wish he would be quick. Why, my
old friend is not here, either !'
Her words tortured him.
' Let us start without them,' he said in avr^'ce the
hoarseness of which he hid by a cough.
' I reckon they deserve it,' she answered j * but
here they come, I think.'
The door opened, and Charles Deschamps
entered.
' Come away, you lazy old man 1' she cried. ' Late,
but not last.'
He shuffled in, bowed coldly to Geoffrey, and with
much etnpressement to the girl. She noticed that
he was flushed, that his eyes were bright, that his
usual well-bred, if meaningless, smile was absent.
' You have been out ?' she queried.
FACE TO FACE
%
'Yes, yes/ he said quickly. ' And not I only.'
Geoffrey started.
. 13* F°"\f u^® fool have seen him ?' he asked himself,
i^shaw ! he exclaimed inwardly ; * impossible ''
But he felt far from comfortable.
* Was Mr. Neil with you ?' asked Kate.
But the old man did not seem to hear her He
had one of his strange fits upon him, and ate little
fumbling at his mouth with his long taper fingers
and fidgeting on his seat. ^
The meal proceeded in silence.
..K^^'l^'fy curious,' said Geoffrey after a time,
that he has not come down, though we sat up late
last night. With your leave I shall go and see/
He rose and hurriedly left the room.
At once the ok Frenchman's manner changed.
He leaned across the table towards the girl.
Why was he out ?' he asked in French. ' Made-
moiselle, v'Hy was he out ?'
* Who ? .ne asked, bewildered.
But he did not answer. Getting up without any
apology— a thing most unusual with him— he hesi-
tated a moment and then followed Geoffrey from the
BOOK II.
THE TRIAL
''■
! 1
m
CHAPTER I.
FROM LUGGER TO FRIGATE
NEIL DARROCH came to himself when the
lugger Tyfel had been three days at sea.
He was lying on his back in some dark
place, some gloomy, ill-smelling hole, full of a multi-
tude of sounds — creakings and squeakings, sharp
raps and heavier blows — while he became conscious
of a swaying movement, regular and sickening, which
could not be mistaken. He was on board a ship.
His head was strangely dull and heavy. He raised
a hand to his brow, and found a cloth bound round
it. His eyelids felt as if their lashes were of lead,
so weighty did they seem, so great was their tendency
to droop and shut out his vision. It was with a
conscious effort he kept his eyes open, and this first
voluntary action since he fell upon the sands stimu-
lated his brain to greater exertions. He began to
think, and at once experienced pain. Still he per-
severed, and memory returned to him. He recalled
the quarrel, the duel, everything, down to the whip-
like crack of his first pistol. Then how came he
to be in this place ? he asked himself. There was
no fear in his (question ; he was too languid, too
J
]
1
■I
FROM LUGGER TO FRIGATE 91
drowsy, to trouble about it, and in this condition he
lay yet another day while the Tyfel threshed into
ead.seas, and tacked for the Soiway.
f.r^f.^i*'"^/^." S^^l" ^^? ^ humorous, or rather, a
farcical, side to his objectionable character. That is
ht^uti u 'Ta\^^'^'^ quizzing-glass had taken
his fancy. He had dispensed with the riband, and
now one of his fish-like orbs surveyed Jan Ho land
through It, much to that worthy's admiration.
And how is the gentlemans to-day. Tan ?' he
asked aH he rolled along his quarterdeck
Clumsy and uncouth on land, the skipper was at
home on his beloved planking. His shon legs, se
wide apart, swayed to every motion of the vessll he
Z7.^t i T "^'^^ ^'^''' ^* ^^^'^ ^ith wonderful
act vity and a jaunty step when at sea. He was
bait to withstand a nor'-easter, and to stagger on
incliried planes. ^'^
' h!J^.to.^vf-^l" '^^' ^? '^ ^^"^'"'' answered his mate,
but that his temper is growing worse. He wants
to know where the devil he is, and what has become
of his fine clothes.'
pity. It is sad that he is so silly.'
Whereupon both master and mate laughed heartily.
they stood they could see a tall figure, clad in a
seaman's togs, emerge from the forecastle.
Strike me blind !' exclaimed the skipper, ' but here
he does come! His head-bones must be thick Jam-
It was indeed Neil, who, a prey to doubt and
he'Sf TV'^ b^^" ""-ble to rest, and so, though
he felt far fronj well, his head aching sorely, his
hnT^ ^7.1"^ ^"^"'^^^' ^^ ^^^ ^^s^lved to get t^o the
bottom of the mystery. ^
nf h?i^''l°" ,°^ tf ^""i?^^" ^^s w'th him a creed.
He had schooled hmiself in it till he fondlv imagined
hiajseir a ^toic. Iherein he was mistaken. Such
a philosophy is impossible for the Celt. The Teuton
j!
i i
I !
92 VENGEANCE IS MINE
and the Slav, the Englishman more especially, may
make himself well-nigh perfect in the art of sei -
control, but the Highlander will rarely succeed.
Neil's acquired coolness and reserve had so tar
served him well enough, but they had never been put
to the test. In the course of his readmg he had
encountered situations which he was wont to con-
sider critically. He had found it entertammg to
imagine how he would behave m this and that
extremity. He was to find— to learn by bitter ex-
perience—that theory is vastly different from practice.
Still his allies— for such they had become— were not
to desert him immediately. From the little he had
gathered, he suspected that he was the victim of foul
play, and he determined to carry things with a high
On reaching the open air, he paused and looked
about him. He recognised at once that he was on
one of those smuggling craft which at rare intervals
used to appear off the coast, and with which he knew
his grandfather had been wont to have dealings.
There was no sign of land from her deck— nothing
but a vast expanse of gray sea tipped with white,
through which she was running fast and easily under
a press of canvas. He noticed the two men standing
on her poop, and paying no attention to some of the
crew who were watching him curiously, he made his
way aft with the clumsiness of a landsman. His
first act as he reached them was characteristic of
the man. , , . i-^
* Pardon me,' he said with the greatest politeness,
* but that is my property ;' and to their astonishment,
he plucked his glass from the eye of Captain Van
Hagen, and after wiping it on the cloth of a rough
pea-jacket he wore, transferred it to his own.
There was something so audacious in the act,
something so masterful about thi^ tall,^gaunt man,
who looked scarcely able to keep his feet, that ^or a
moment the Dutch skipper was nonplussed. Then,
y^, may
if self-
icceed.
so far
len put
le had
to con-
ling to
d that
ter ex-
ractice.
ere not
he had
of foul
a high
looked
was on
itervals
le knew
ealings.
nothing
I white,
y under
tanding
e of the
lade his
n. His
ristic of
iiteness,
shment,
lin Van
a rough
the act,
nt man,
Then,
-u
i
FROM LUGGER TO FRIGATE 93
with a curse and a quick motion, he snatched at the
glass, and pitched it overboard.
* That, sir/ said Neil, ' I consider an impertinence ;'
but even as he sp'>ke a lurch of the vessel would
have upset him had not Jan Holland, with no gentle
hand, caught him by the arm.
Neil's bold front, however, was his salvation.
* Strike me blind !' said Van Hagen, ' but he is a
brave man, and not like de oder. Jan you , what
you laugh at ?'
' I presume you refer to Mr. Darroch ?' said Neil.
* Oh, tell him, Jan ; tell him all. It will do no
harm,' chuckled the skipper.
_ Jan Holland had been promising himself much joy
m the way of repaying Neil for the bath he had given
him, but he saw that this man with the thin lips and
the grim, dark face was not to be trifled with, and
that already he had found his way into Van Hagen's
good graces. Moreover, he also could admire
courage in whatever form, and so, mentally can-
celhng his debt, which indeed had been more than
repaid, he proceeded with the greatest sangfroid to
recount the incidents which had led to Neil's appear-
ance on the lugger. The latter listened quietly. He
showed no sign of the wrath which possessed him,
but It was well for Geoffrey Darroch that he was
nowhere within reach.
The unhappy man could have groaned with
misery and fear when he had heard all— fear, not for
himself, but for the girl left in the clutches of such
a scoundrel as he found his step-brother to be.
* And this is his honour,' he said to himself.
He had escaped with his life by a miracle, but no
thought of thankfulness crossed his mind. As for
the men before him, he did not blame them. In-
deed, when he heard that they had told Geoffrey he
was dead, and forced him to disgorge a double sum,
he joined in their mirth; but his was a terrifying
h, so fierce, so tuneless, that even Van ""
laug
Hagen
94
VENGEANCE IS MINE
! li!
paused and looked doubtfully at him. He did not
want a maniac on board his ship.
' You will put me ashore ?' said Neil, as if he were
giving an order.
* Strike me blind, but I will !' said the skipper.
* I would §,ive half de money to see de second fight.
Jan,' he added in Dutch, * tell him to come to the
cabin and drink grog with me ; he is a man after my
own heart, and his watch and chain will pay for his
passage — ho, ho ! ha, ha !'
Captain Van Hagen meant what he said, but.
* I'homme propose, mais Dieu dispose.* Foiled in
his attempt to land a cargo at the Cowrie Caves, he
again headed for the Solway, and for the last time
in his existence.
That very night they made the land and crept
cautiously in towards the rocky Wigtownshire coast,
with a blue light at the forepeak, and a flare in the
bows, as signals to their accomplices on shore.
The Tyfel was running a great risk ; for her com-
mander did not know but that the cutter to which
he had given the slip might not be in the neigh-
bourhood ; but the stakes were high, and he had the
gambling spirit.
His signals were answered, and presently the
lugger came to an anchorage ; boats were lowered,
and they began to transfer her cargo. Van Hagen,
having been assured that the coast was clear, v/ent
ashore with half his men, leaving Jan in charge,
while Neil received a promise that he would be
landed in the dinghy at some distance away, as the
free-traders would not be inclined to welcome him
along with the kegs and bales.
His prospects were gloomy enough. He was still
weak, and he was without money; his clothes had
been put up to auction for the benefit of the crew,
and he had no idea how he was to get to Glasgow,
which m.ust be his first step. But he was feverishly
impatient to start off; bis fingers were itching to be
FROM LUGGER TO FRIGATE 95
at Geoffrey's throat ; he tortured himself with
thoughts of what might have happened in his ab-
sence.
As he waited, there suddenly came a great uproar
from the direction of the shore ; lights flickered
through the darkness, faint shouts and cries were
borne to his ears.
The crew, who were already armed, a motley set,
of many nations and languages, became instantly
excited and thronged to the side nearest the land,
listenmg to those noises which told of a desperate
struggle.
But Jan Holland was an old bird, and knew that
such an attack was likely to be supported. He gave
orders for all lights to be dowsed, and set his men
to work to clear away the long Tom, which, loaded
to the muzzle, might have saved the lugger.
He was too late. A hail came from the dark
haze which shrouded the sea, from a couple of
boats full of revenue men, who with muffled oars
had slipped down upon the Tyfel,
It was answered by a dropping fire, and the
smugglers strove like fiends to get their heavy car-
ronade slewed into position.
Before they succeeded, with a rousing cheer the
launches made their dash, and the cutter's men were
scrambling aboard.
A confused fight began, but it ended quickly.
The lugger's hawser was severed with a hatchet, and
she began to drift with the tide. Her crew were
driven below, Neil Darroch amongst them, and the
Tyfel was the prize of His Majesty's cutter Vigilant.
As for Captain Van Hagen, he was like a fish in
death as m life. He was taken cunningly in a net,
and ere long, like the angler's sign, he dangled from
a pole, being hanged in chains in the market-place
of Dumfries.
„ s cotiiiiianucr, m high
good -humour at the success of his ruse (he had
96
VENGEANCE IS MINE
transformed his cutter into the sailing image of a
dirty collier, and boldly returned to the Solway in
broad daylight), sent a prize-crew on board his cap-
ture, in charge of an old gray-haired lieutenant and
a master's mate. They quickly weeded out the
unmistakable foreigners amongst the smugglers and
transferred them to the cutter. The remainder were
clapped below under hatches, for the lugger was to
be run round to the Mersey, and there no doubt a
King's ship would be found only too pleased to receive
aboard so sturdy a set of rogues.
Neil Darroch had mustered with the rest, and
when he found he was in danger of being mistaken
for one of the TyfeVs crew, his consternation may be
imagined. The tide was favourable, the wind would
serve, and things were being done in a hurry.
He saw he must protest at once. Stepping for-
ward, a tremor of anxiety in his voice which he
could not conceal, ' I trust you do not include me ?'
he began.
* Eh, what's that ?' said the officer. ' No time to
listen to you, my man ; thank your stars you're not
on shore with the horse soldiers prodding your back.
Stand out of the way now.'
' But, sir,' entreated Neil.
Jan Holland, who v/as standing in the line, savage
in temper, with a broken arm and a badly cut head,
called out at this moment :
* Never heed him ; he's queer in tha noddle, since
he was hurt in a tussle ; thinks he's a gent, he does.'
* None of your blarney !' answered the lieutenant.
' That's all right — seven of the devils ; get thetn
below.*
His orders were speedily obeyed, and Neil, with a
feeling of intense dismay, was bundled down the
companion stairs.
Before morning broke, he was again at sea, ill
and down-hearted, his only satisfaction, a poor one
at the best, being that Jan Holland was delirious.
\
FROM LUGGER TO FRIGATE 97
The next two days he endured the misery of that
hope deferred which maketh the heart sick.
The shock had been such that his rage mastered
him, and he stormed at both lieutenant and master's
mate as they made their inspection on the day
following the capture.
The former, coarse and sour-tempered, three parts
full of rum, and puffed up by his new command,
made a mock of him, laughing at his threats and hot
words, and vowing — for another of the Pitlochie
men had lied to him — that he knew how to handle
Highland cattle, and hinting that a rope's end was a
salutary cure for a grumbler.
His second in command, a sneak and toady, took
his cue from his superior officer, and Neil found it
hard to restrain himself from assaulting them. They
seemed to find infinite amusement in his rage and
distress. They were of the nature that rejoices in
a bull-baiting or a badger-drawing — that fine old
English stock whose memory we associate with a
sweet savour of beer-pots and coarse tobacco, the
rubicund, pimple-faced, foul-mouthed set with whom
we are acquainted from the old prints and from
many a book-picture. God knows they were brave
enough, blustering, free-handed, broad-backed rogues,
those of them who followed the sea, without rever-
ence for anything in earth or heaven, devoted solely
to their victuals and their bottles, and, when it suited
them, their duty.
* Damn all Frenchmen, and down with the rum !'
was their motto, and they acted up to it and very
much beyond it.
To a man with the refined susceptibilities of Neil
Darroch, a man who, besides, had those innate feel-
ings of a gentleman characteristic of the poorest and
humblest of that old class of Celt which have long
since passed away — stamped out by town life and
.^:..:k~^4.c~-.
„,. •11:,
tongued salts were like brute beasts.
«^^P"«WS«"PP"'
98
VENGEANCE IS MINE
! i
He had no eye for any good points they might
possess ; their vulgarity sickened him. He did not
understand their habits, and this, his first introduc-
tion to the English seaman, made him remember
without wonder his grandfather's hatred of the
whole race.
The crew, he found, were little better. They were
ill-conditioned, surly, and fond of a rude joke, smart
enough, no doubt, when the occasion demanded,
but at other times lazy and quarrelsome, a type
common in the smaller vessels of the navy, where
the discipline was often slack, the officers middle-
aged and disappointed, and the men sick of their
smuggler-catching trade.
Realizing at last the hopelessness of his present
position, Neil resigned himself to the inevitable,
devoutly hoping that some way of escape might be
opened up to him ; for if, as his comrades in mis-
fortune predicted, he was made over to some out-
ward-bound ship-of-war, and if her officers were of
the same class as those into whose hands he had
fallen, then indeed his lot would be unbearable.
He worried himself into a fever, and it was a good
thing for him that his scalp wound — due, fortunately,
to a small bullet, and unassociated with injury to
any vessel — was in process of healing, thanks to a
liberal application of friar's balsam and a healthy
constitution ; otherwise his mental state would
have reacted most unfavourably upon it.
From the King's men, who were friendly enough
to the prisoners, he learned when they might
expect to make the land ; and there happened
something which gave him the very opportunity he
was praying for, and which he almost despaired of
obtaining.
Jan Holland died. Less lucky than Neil, or with
a thinner skull, a cutlass had fractured his brain-pan,
and, after raving blasphemously for four-and-twenty
hours, he had sunk into coma and slipped his cable.
FROM LUGGER TO FRIGATE 99
As it was towards evening he drew his last breath,
and as the lieutenant expected to come to an anchor-
age in a few hours, when it would be advisable to get
a surgeon to view the corpse, they wrapped the once
bold Jan in a fold of canvas.
The body lay in a kind of upper hold, where the
smugglers were confined, and not one of these hardy
rascals seemed to care much about it. They dropped
off to sleep, which, with very moderate eating and
drinking, was their sole occupation, unless, indeed, they
meditated ; but this was, to say the least, doubtful.
Not so, however, with Neil. He saw, or thought
he saw, a feasible plan. It was repulsive to him,
but the beggar may not be a chooser. As much as
possible he had held aloof from the other men,
sleeping, or, rather, trying to sleep, in a separate
corner, and holding little communication with them.
As a reward for his marked objection to their
manners and conversation, they had kindly shifted
Jan's body from their midst to his private nook, if
such a word can be applied to a place absolutely
devoid of comfort. It was this put the idea in his
head. The place was as dark as pitch, and he had
made a point of resenting their hideous joke.
Hurriedly, yet as gently as possible, he dragged
the sheet away from the corpse, propped it up against
the bulkhead, dragging a bandage which circled its
scalp down over its face. He was thankful then
that he also was wounded. With a shudder of
disgust he lay down upon the canvas and gathered
it about him. As may be imagined, he could not
rest. His hearing seemed intensely acute; every
sense was on the qui vive as he thus simulated the
dead man.
While it was yet night, indeed, in a very short
time, he could tell, from the cessation of motion,
that the lugger had come to moorings. He heard
the clatter and rub of the cable in the hawse-hole,
the distant splash of the anchor, the stamp of men's
7—3
loo VENGEANCE IS MINE
feet on the deck above. Then his heart almost
ceased beating. He held his breath as he became
conscious that somebody was approaching.
'Wh«re is the ?' said a voice, with that
teirible blasphemy which in those days was half a
seaman's conversation, and which meant absolutely
nothing.
' Gawd knows, Bill 1' came the answer. * These be
pretty tougfti uns— all asleep, every man Tack o'
them.' -'
A lantern flashed its light here and there.
* Split my planks if he beant shoved up beside the
daft cuss, what looks half dead hisself I See him.
lad ?'
* Never mind him,' growled the other. ' Get the
corpse on deck, and hurry up. Wonder the old man
didn't heave it over hours ago.'
' Has to see the doctor, sonny. Much good that'll
do him! And old Figgis, he wouldn't have him
lumbenng up the deck. Are ye readv ? Then heave,
my hearty. Gawd! but he's heavy, and hardly
stiff.'
Neil, keeping himself as rigid as he could, and
imitating the inertness of the dead, felt himself
borne upstairs amongst oaths and grumbles, and
finally deposited with a bump on the planking. He
waited till all was again silent, then, separating the
coarse folds of Jan Holland's winding-sheet, he
peered out. He recognised he was lying in the
bows of the lugger, close by the root of the bow-
sprit.
Cautiously he raised himself and freed his head of
what, to his almost morbid imagination, seemed
clammy and chill. The fore -deck was deserted.
The night was cold, dark and clenr, but an irregular'
black outline showed him in v,'h8t direction hj the
land. In a second he was Jeu ci his wrapping,
had crept to the side, found the anchor- rooe. rmd
was afloat. Ihere was a current running,' as he
AN ORDER TO KEEL-HAUL
roi
could tell by the way his legs drifted when he hung
on by his Hands alone, h w« «ld carry him away
from the vto^el, he noted.
He hesitated no longer, and, sinking to his
shoulders, struck out. The water was bitterly cold,
but he wa an excell'^nt swimmer. His shoes he had
slipped oil, and fastened by their laces round his
neck. He paddled easily till he jyot a notion of the
leal direction of the tide. To his joy he found it
would aid him in reaching the shore ; then softly yet
swiftly he ploughed his way through the gently
ruffled water, rejoicing in his liberty, and leaving the
lugger Tyfd silent as the grave.
CHAPTER n.
AN ORDER TO KEEL-HAUL.
NEIL DARROCH was dripping wet, soaked
to the skin with brine, and wearied beside.
He had not the ghost of an i.lea as to where
he was save that he stood on a si etch of sand
lapped by the sea from which he had just emerged.
Nothing was visible but a twinkle of light half a mile
off-shore, a sparkle of yellow in the blackness of
night.
Neil shook his clenched fist at it and laughed
aloud, for he knew it to come from th .i masthead
lantern of the lugger from which he had just
escaped. He was free once more, free t* make his
way back and bring the man who had foui y wronged
him to an account. But he was in a miserable
plight. It was long before feeling returi A to his
numbed toes and fingers, but even after lis blood
was coursing freely he kept going as rapi ly as he
could, though he had to moderate his pace when he
„ ^._. ^.i^ .„ji^ ^.^ tj^c aauu oticicii ariu goi amongst
rocks, ridges, and pebbles.
:
I02 VENGEANCE IS MINE
Finding at last that, what with pools, boulders
and shppery sea- tangle, there was considerable
danger m thus stumbling quickly along in the dark^
ness, he s ruck inland, and eventuallv, after croW
several fields and ditches, he came upin a high road
which ran parallel with the shore
f.^i "^^^^ ""u"^' ?/ ^"difference which direction he
took, and so he walked blindly on, meeting no one
and every moment of his discomfort addL^o hfs
rage. Had any footpads thought fit to s op him
niht'^'bit thT f°""^ "^""/" "^'y '^^'-^-^ that'
night , but the place seemed deserted, and it was
wi h some surprise that, after mounting a s iffish
hill, he saw lights away below him. From hSr
number and their close setting, he surmised^hat he
a^lit^aTeapC. ' ^^"^^'^^^'^^ ^°^"' ^ ^" P^^-
w^e no? hif ^"^ """"'y"' ^'' P°'^^^°"- His clothes
were not his own, and were still damp, all excent
his jacket which he had managed to keep feidy dry
He was absolutely penniless : he was ignorant of hfs
whereabouts, though he fancied he must have landed
somewhere on the Welsh or English coast It m"ght
take him weeks to work his way home, and mefn
while Kate, young and thoughtless, might fo! f a
victim to Geoffrey's villainy. He ground hs teeth
the L'tlciwln^'Alf '^^"^'-^"^ ^"^^^d t° himself
the anticipation of the surprise and dismay he would
he resolved to be neither timid nor puncSs A
bold face and assured manner, he was convinced
would, as on the lugger, serve him best, and Ifpav-
ment was demanded at once, he cou d part S
some portion of his clothing, even his shoes wS
happened to be of good leather. H.w'fh ';,;!;!!!!';
10 leei exhausted, though it is wonderfufhow a great
AN ORDER TO KEEL-HAUL 103
anger will sustain a man. and carry him through the
most hazardous enterprises. To some it is a stronger
tonic than love or jealousy.
He stopped at the first house with a signboard
that he came across. Though the night was now
black as Erebus, the hour was none so late, and
there was a cheery light streaming from the broad
window, the lower part of which was screened.
Neil entered a passage, and from it passed into a
kind of bar-parlour with a sanded floor and a couple
ot tables. The air was heavy with tobacco smoke,
but the room was warm, though far from clean. A
coarse-featured woman was apparently its presiding
genius, and its other tenants consisted of three
viUainous-looking gentry in greasy clothes and fur
caps with ear-protectors, who looked up from their
mugs as if startled at his entrance.
It was not surprising that the men looked startled.
m the hrst place, their conversation was of a strictly
private nature. They had no desire to be overheard,
m the second, Neil Darroch presented a sufficiently
curious appearance. He was a very tall man, and
the clothes which had been given him in lieu of his
own were meant for the average seaman, who tends
to be short, whatever his bulk. It was part of the
men s business to study the mariner, and they were
aware of this fact, and recognised an out-of-the-way
type in this big lean fellow. Moreover, they noted
that his trousers had been soaking wet not so very
long ago, and, with the keen sense of their kind, thev
began to smell a mystery. ^
' Frinch leave,' whispered one of them, and winked
expressively.
Neil scarcely noticed them. He was tired, un-
comtortable, and hungry, and sat down in a corner
where presently the woman took his orders, looking
somewhat askance at him, but, to his relief, not ask-
ing lO see tnc colour of his money.
He was making good play with his knife and fork
ifii
! !
i !
I iiil!
il!|i
104 VENGEANCE IS MINE
as one of the men slipped out quietly, and he did
not pay any attention to his exit, nor to the entrance
of a squat httle man, with a roll in his walk, and the
bronzed face of a voyager.
The latter seemed disposed to be friendly. He
took a seat near Neil, and, calling for a glass of hot
grog, surveyed the premises with a cheerful smile.
His glance lit upon the two greasy characters, who
.^M^\ u-^^ a pack of dirty cards, and he whistled
f^r^Vu "'?^^' ^""^ changed his seat, so that he
faced them He caught Neil's eye as he did so. and
•'JJ \- ^*°"P^'"*° ^'^ cheek, and made a sign
with his thumb which Neil could not interpret. It
would have been a good thing for him if he had.
duZ/oTd hteT' "^' ^'^ ""^^ "^^"- ' J""^ -<^
Neil smiled at his manner of speech.
* Passable,' he said.
'Eh?'
' Passable,' he repeated.
* Blamed if I know the word,' said the questioner •
but ye stow 'em well. Are ye at moorings ?'
^ No, said Neil ' I came in just before you.'
Humph ! said the little man. ' Ye'll have vour
certificate on you ?' ^ ""^
; Not I {'replied Neil, wondering what he meant,
dirtv do J Th^' ,^^d best keep an eye on them
thpr^'A^ There s a frigate in the offing, and
there s been boats moving about '
sook^^fn f°i^°" "''^"^' ^'^^^ Neil, for the man
I Crimps,' whispered the other,
sailo?"''^ ""^^'"^ ^ mistake,' said Neil. ' I'm not a
"---J-W ^ vvuuia maKe myself scarce
AN ORDER TO KEEL-HAUL 105
tni I got rigged out in other togs. Blow me if you
haven't the cut of the sarvice I'
Neil beean to get alarmed. If what the man said
was true, he might find himself in an awkward fiL
nlf-.^ if "^^^/" ^^ '^^^^"^^ *^^t one of the party
opposite had disappeared. ^ ^
^•ffi '"?.?"''^ ""^^'^^^ *° y^"'' said he. ' It would be
XK 'ri?"^'^' ^^' ^°"^ °"t Since I came in.'
1 tie little man swore beneath his breath
It s a trap, sir,' said he ; ' I'll take my davy on it
SayT? to mysdTi^"^ ^ ^^^^' '^' ' ^^^ ^^ ^' onc^*.'
What his reflections had been Neil was never to
Tfnnt' ^^"t^ T""^"!^ }^^'^ '^^"^^ ^ hurried sound
of footsteps outside, and then a loud knocking at the
door. The woman had vanished into the back-
room. Neil sprang to his feet as the crimps ran
to open to the King's man. ^
hJ ^''i'^K '^' ^^ £ '' ^^'^ the little seaman, as
headed by an officer, a crowd of pig-tailed lacks in
tlVLTn' '"' "^'^ '^PP^"^ '^^' '^- pouiefLJo
'A couple o' pretty birds!' said the lieutenant
You had best come along quietly, my lads.'
hce\7n^LT'' f}^ ^?^''^J '^""^y hair, a freckled
tace, blotched and discoloured, and a pair of ferretv
eyes which looked like black beads in the lampligh?
rnll^''''^T '*^^' ^^'' *^"^^' ^^P'"'' said Neil's fS
the jeity.' ""''' °^'^' ^'""^^"^' ^^^''' ^^^^^Me
voirl^^ '^^^T ^°" ^'^ ^' ^'^^^ the other in a gruff
voice. Where's your papers ? Just so,' he went
on, running his eye over the sheets. ' Get out and
a^/hur^'u".^^"^ ^"^ ''^ '^^ -^ ^^-^'ho7'
. tM? ti?"* yourself,' said the mate of the Grami>us :
luia iicics a gent.
There was a roar of laughter from the frigate's crew.
I(i
1; i
1 1
^"'It!
i
11
Ii!i:i
io6 VENGEANCE IS MINE
dele^tTr^ii^' """I'^J^ ?^" lieutenant. 'A damned
even t; rV ""Y-.^u ''' T^" '^^^'^ ^^ his ducks
ir J .u ?.^^^se^. 'f he won't be the fly dog who
look out for you, my man.*
; Sir/ said Neil, * allow me to explain.'
You 11 have lots of time to explain on the way to
Gib., my fine fellow. It'll keep your jaw-tackle in
order so stow your gab and fetch your bundle.'
alonY if 3 i^ '?°" ""^^^ y°" °"^' then. Come
along, if you don't want a cracked head : and no
more of your lies.' ' °
* No more of your impertinence, you mean ' cried
Neil, forgetting the ludicrous figure he made in h' s
short-sleeved jacket and shrunken nether garments
l^m a lawyer, an advocate.'
i^lrt^' »^^' ^ ^^^ lawyer,' laughed the officer
'Where's your proofs? None to show, as usual
wonder you're not a mate, like all the rest o' them
No no, my lad ; your spree's over, so no nonsense/"
1 give you fair warning,' said Neil, ' that if one of
your men so much as lays a finger on me I'll fell him.
I ve told you the truth.'
ff.i'o^Ki'^ so have I when I say you board the Rattler
this^ blessed night, for all your yarns. Seize him,
But Neil did not wait. With a bound he was
upon them. His clenched fist took the Heutenint
raider the angle of his jaw, drove his teeth hallway
mto his tongue, and sent him reeling against the
wall. The men closed upon Neil with a rush, but he
andl'"\"^^' ""/ ^'^'' ^"^' ^^^^d by his he gM
fht *he^^ hampered movements, he cleared a way
maT.'^.f t,^,^"^^^"t° the passage, while he heardThe
^^1 -f ?u ^'''''^P^' cheering vociferously at his
exploit That worthy, indeed, after giving vent to
his feelings, found it advisable to clear out bv the
wuiuow. ana so passes also out of our tale.
Ilhil!
AN ORDER TO KEEL-HAUL 107
Neil's desperate bid for liberty might have ended
successfully had not the man who had brought the
pressgang on him remained outside. He, seeing
how matters went, shut the outer door and hung
on to It by the knocker, while before Neil could
wrench it open he was overpowered from behind.
1 he rest of that night he spent as a prisoner between
decks m company with a dozen others, some drunk
some sober, who were to be forced against their wills
to serve His Graciou.- Majesty on board the fine
trigate Rattler, bound for the Mediterranean with
sealed orders, a sick captain, and a first lieutenant
who was a disgrace to the uniform he wore.
*****
tJ^ D^lf ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^y' "o* even a ripple visible.
1 he Rattler sat upon the water like a ship fixed in
glass. Her long hull, her masts and shrouds and
sails were all faithfully reproduced in the motionless
depths which bosomed her keel and a dozen and odd
teet of her copper-sheathed bottom. Her ensign
drooped at half-mast, not a breath of air stirred her
cloths, which hung in lags and lurks and wrinkles
those fantastic shapes with lights and shadows on
them which canvas takes when at full spread but not
wind-stirred. There was nothing in sight from the
decks, not even a wandering seabird or a travelling
porpoise heralding his passage in his own merry,
b owing fashion. There was a peace and rest ove^
all the ocean which seemed in harmony with the
occasion ; for a hammock lay upon a grating, and
withm the hammock lay Captain Caldecott, who
had resigned his command under orders from a
greater power than the Lords of the Admiralty. The
crew stood in a double line on either side, bare-
headed and uneasy. It was not merely that they
had that aversion to a funeral at sea common to
men of their class, but they had doubts as to the
.. ,,,.^ „^„ ^^^^ cuaise sailcloth covered the
body of one of that great number of loyal and
II
11
• ■§
ii I
io8 VENGEANCE IS MINE
honest gentlemen who have served Eneland on the
darte"d from h',' '"^^ "'"" "^^^ donned'a^our and
darted from bay and river-mouth in the beak-bowed
galleys of Kmg Alfred to give battle to Dane Tnd
Weman-a grand breed of men who neverfafled
heartvT ^iJh ^r "^f.- '^T ^'' '"''"^^y- bluff and
nearty, but with thought for the sea-does who fniwht
under them, and bled and died besidf them-men
without genius perhaps, with few talents and Stle
culture, but sailors to the core and fighters to he
that nr-**''" T^i '"""^ *"'! ^«^<= followed wth
that devotion which made the name of Brita
terrible upon the high seas. Now and then a ma'
more brilliant than his fellows, more daring "r more
cunnmg, rose from their ranks, and such lone was
to fe b,":.'th'°''^' ""^ ^'•""''^ down h?s name
to history ; but there is no record of many a olain
God-fearing, French-hating commander who rod
his quarterdeck in days of yore till ho JfiL? -^
with his blood, died bLeath^t in h s cabin or le
It, maimed and wounded, in his prime, or at a ripe old
age, having served long and faithfuli;. ^ "'"^
Captain Caldecott had been one of them and hi.:
Z^^^X-r' ""- *^- - none rke^tt
mam?"'!."!"' *^f l"*' ''^° ^^'^ ""^ ^^^'^^^d com-
mand, belonged to another class, haoDilv rot
:? StTeo^^e" "^^^ '^^' ^ '^"" "Pon therdts?g°n'
sht aTd wffi"'^ "y- '^^^*''"^= busy" ontt':!
a skittle ban whf °h P"""""?" "-^Pid. It was hke
a sKittie-bali, which sweeps down its men at one
fell^swoop, leaving great gaps, and these gaps had ?o
the'Je waTtlie H?v;/t' """"^ J""" ^""^ "^em, and
ITIV^ ■ 'l^^'' to pay. and a record of mutiny
and marooninc, and the hn-'cln., ,^f c i,i i '""'^"'y
o, _.i_ Lie noiSiing ot (ue black flag to
AN ORDER TO KEEL-HAUL 109
fill folks with horror, and raise a doubt as to the
manning of our wooden walls.
Lieutenant Gasket was a product of his times.
As a boy he had been given the chance of a prison
or a three-decker, and had decided to serve his King.
He had served every able-bodied man and boy on the
ship as well, and had lived to remember it. Cuffed
and kicked, and starved till the iron had entered his
soul, he had become a seaman, and learned his work
well. He was clever in a shallow way. quick to
grasp his opportunities, and civil to those above
him.
^ Thanks to these traits in his character, he had
risen to be a petty officer, hated and feared, and full
of a zeal for those slight tyrannies which gall the
spirit and leave a rankle behind them. But I.e got
the name of being a smart officer, and made the
most of It, Willing to do any dirty work, and finding
out exactly how far he might go in imitation of those
who had made his life a burden to him when he
had first encountered a rope's end. He had sprung
suddenly to his late post, and stayed there, growing
gray and lean and sour, increasing his faculty of
getting work out of his men and himself disliked,
and the best officer in the navy to head a press-gang
or deal with a defaulter. Short-and-Sharp was his
method, and his nickname, and the latter was
rarely mentioned in the midshipmen's mess or
the 'tween decks forrard without a garnishing of
oaths.
No wonder the crew of the Rattler looked glum
and sorrowful as, the hurried reading of the burial
service ended, the boatswain's whistle piped long
and melancholy, the flag was whipped aside, and
the hammock, with its twenty-four pound shot
flashed from the side and cleft the surface of the
Bay of Biscay.
John Gasket held supreme power at last, and he
quickly showed it. He counted it fortunate that he
IM
3 \
i I
M!
Ill:
I!!;
M i !i
till
iii'iill
' ro
VENGEANCE IS MINE
to furnish would, he fancied Itfluvl u- "^^^ ^^^"^
well, and so he was aware ^hatNeHn"'' ^1"* '^'""
favourite. He haH ,n ^u " Da"och was no
direction and an etceiui'! 1?°'^ '° P^^ °ff 'n that
to justify Vs p"rocel'rt nd^^^o^'^^efot tt^"°"
dispersed, the whistle pi^ed again' this tL. .h™""
nierriy, and evervman JitiT^, • .' , '""® "'"ce
stood that hisIkSwn,?lH h„?"5''*""e/'''°=''-d under-
rorwa. did hX^"\;-^^^^^^^^^
s.•nl1h?--H^^ tLTS:^ hu&t,X''l
gagged, on board the frigate H^ lltn i .?,*?''
philosopher about him by this "' j and ^n M '*""
f.». ^^ ,. .„a ., „.„, .., „,„ ^ .~.j-
' The ship's sailed, and you're in her ' w^q h,'c i
rhracrrviici^''-'^ -^ --r-s
ine^^abfe! an'd^lrtL^ be°sf of'^n^tt'^^^t '° '"^
can blame him for acting otherwise" Th" l ■"!' ^''°
at first had no doubts but that nJi '^."tenant
did not pay special attention o Wm "'whtt; did
he found reasons of his own for dishknghit?
beJnTo^Lt^j -"?? ''^ was a petty olc'e^-he had
r.^A ;„ xK .". ^ F^i-^y umcer, ne had
n.a lu .he cutting out of a West India^
ii.
AN ORDER TO KEEL-HAUL in
man. In one of the cabins he had come upon a
young French girl of singular beauty, whom he
handled roughly, stripping her of the few rings and
trinkets she wore, and threatening to gag her if she
made an outcry.
In the midst of his gentlemanly occupation he
had been surprised by another petty officer named
Darroch, a man who had risen rapidly from before
the mast and whom John Gasket hated with the
hatred begotten of jealousy and thwarted hopes.
Darroch had forced him to relinquish his prey and
threatened him with exposure, and he had vowed to
be quits with the 'canting Scotchman.' But his
laudable resolve was never fulfilled. They drifted
apart and did not meet again. When therefore
Lieutenant Gasket heard the name of one of the
pressed men, a name far from common, he had much
ado to conceal his excitement. On more careful
scrutiny than had at first been possible he traced a
resemblance between his latest recruit and the man
whose memory he hated. But he gave no one an
inkling of what passed in his mind. He was too
cunning to show personal spite, and though his
officers came to wonder at the severity of the punish-
ment he meted out to the unfortunate Neil, they
never suspected that he was actuated by any other
motive than a desire to uphold discipline, coupled
with a natural anger at the assault made upon him.
He did not even make certain he was on the right
track. It was enough for John Gasket that he was
possibly, nay, probably, paying off old scores.
Neil had behaved foolishly. The crew quickly
sized him up and at firs were inclined to com-
miserate him, but he would have none of their pity;
always a solitary man, he was bewildered by the
company in which he found himself.
He had never had dealings with the lower orders
-J.... .Hvx ii^^L uxi^^tiotttuu. ixicxii. nis ciiencs iiaa oe-
longed to that law-crazy class who at one time
112
P!
in I
VENGEANCE IS MINE
Edlnbnih''* ^7"""^' ?^ ">e Parliament House in
and a 'darned nr i- • =„S a ,"" '^ * ^wab'
for him. "^ ^' '""^ •""<*« "lings unpleasant
in t w«ch madrhim'^T''- J°*,''"g ^^"g««"ce
consideJLd hot Tm^te ™ i°etas " Afte^/an'^h" T
was no worse than th^v ^f , .^ ^^^' ^^s lot
were tornfrom th" tot'^XtflVv"'' ^'^^
times after having been ab'""'! ''""'"'e^. some-
The only wonder if thntR-,- '°'^ "^"^ ^ y«ar.
by her prelsed men r ♦ IJ,'*'" ^*= ^ "«" served
tu'^ns hfs qufd a"d ihefe s an end"' r".'""^"- "«
ing. He'^is perhaps tTe mo^t s oLfof'i^en"™""
Thmgs went from bad to worse with NeU' Th.
^:^?;hrnc"irt h\TLr& ^^^Ir'^'i
slVe :'ftorI^:l!^" obstina^yne r^*?: r
and tpt rsoH?a'r;Ton^fi'::S^'^??tf 'f ° 7°"^
defylraS'' '— ""^ in'hfs rSolv'l^t'S
the"ot«?and'he\o'ped\tv^^'"''?i''^ °f --« °f
him, but he hoped in vain ^ "'"^ '"'''""^^ ^"^
had^^entlLd on'is''s?heme X' ""^^ '"'" '^
grandfather's blood was com ^"^"ppe^^^t'ln hfn!'
llfb^atSspSi^^^
AN ORDER TO KliEl HAUI 113
A couple of .marines brought N^n on deck. He
found the crew drawn up on three sides of a squai
about a carronade beside which stood a brawn\
fellow fingering the leaden-tipped thongs of a cat-
-nine-tails.
Lieutenant Gasket cleared his throat.
•You know me, my lads,' he said. ' I'm of the old
school, and when any man don't obey my orders I
give him a chance, a fair chance. If that fails he's
flogged. The prisoner has had his chance, but I am
willing to go no further this time if he will stow
his nonsense and qj as he is told. Now, my
nrian, there's the cat and here am I. Make your
choice.'
' I protest,' began Neil.
* Make your choice I' roared Gasket.
'I appeal to these gentlemen,' cried Neil des-
perately, nodding towards the officers, who were at
no pains to conceal their disgust.
'You appeal, do you ?' sneered the lieutenant, who
had mastered his temper. ' You will find there's no
appeal from my finding, Mr. Sea Lawyer. Three
dozen, and well laid on,' he added, turning to the
man with the cat, who was one of his creatures,
and so had been chosen for the office.
' Mark me,' said Neil quietly, seeing his case was
hopeless, * you shall rue this some day ; and here
and now I say in your teeth that you are a villain, sir,
and a liar, and I am prepared to back my words.'
'And I am prepared to score your back,' said
Gasket, who was white with suppressed passion.
1 his is rank mutiny, ship's books or no ship's books.
Trice him up!'
He was obeyed, and Neil, stripped and spread-
eagled across the cannon's breech, suffered his
punishment to the full, took it without a sound his
eyes starting from his head with pain, and his anger
almost Stirling him. The tails curled ahont hjc rih-^
and left their trace in blood, a trace of shame which
"4
VENGEANCE IS MINE
was as' nothing , !„? S^JVe"?""!,'^ ■"'' '"'" '^'"
Scottish family shonWhL' * Sen^eman of an old
a crowd of^n^pl sh ' ,m?„ '"f 'I.^" '"<^'e"i'y before
bred upstart of low birth ?A,',"i\'?''''^'"= °f ^^ "'"
He did not str.Se b' t th»" '"' ^""}° ""e quick,
his throat as thev c«t nff If f T-' * barsh sob in
been a specially Cy sentence"":'"^^- ^' ^'"^ ""^
ay. and far more, was not nn.^""' ^°^«" '"™'=es.
times-but it wouThave leftZr *" '?°=' ""«''
bmp and broken. For a mnm "^x^ ^ f'™"^ '"''"
agamst the metal soent -n^^ "' ^^'' '^^ P^nt'ng
then, braced by hL'^'^con';"!;" ^" ""S"?^
quickly round, aL prin "inraTfh.T''!' ^' '^""^
him at one blow '^""^'"S at the lieutenant, felled
for'thT^un'^d'Taf 'sh^^Jtl^d"^^ If ^" P™'>^''""y,
one stirred as Gasket ." uni t'e'VP'"=''^d, but no
men faced each other ^ ^" '^'^' *"<* 'be two
sobe™! •tfan'Sth^r th'S ' "'If"" "«"'--'
to strike your suDerior offi^! ^? "^l" teach you not
a" here. ThereTnovfe about r" I' ^ '"=°" '°
"4£e'r ■'^r'p''- i>^e'hrm%';,t ^^ ■"-'
you ntMhtk"thVmL°'l"rb"'r'''f"">'= '^^^^o
present ? He looks T, th„. 1 u^*^ ^"°"Kb for the
Indeed, Neil nreLnLn ^''- b\ would faint.'
the long weals a^„d"wood.gou';^s*'str^oin''^^'f!' -'"
his white skin, his face n=i„ i^'°S and dotting
som^ sign of w^XeLr^;"^^^^^^ bursting ^^,
happen fo'tow- f°go"o°d'oM ? ^.^""^P ' ^ell, I
'bat. There's tim^ Zt S^'^r?^. ^-edy for
-• "^^- uiccze reaches
s torn skin
I of an old
nity before
5 of an ill-
the quick,
rsh sob in
t had not
n strokes,
ose rough
fong man
y panting
3f shame,
le swung
mt, felled
^bability,
I but no
the two
eutenant
I you not
esson to
VQ must
again.
V asked
'but do
for the
t:
le, with
dotting
is eyes
tightly
: forth,
A^ell, I
dy for
eaches
YARD-ARM TO YARD ARM 115
us ; and mark me, men, I am master here, let there
be no mistake ^s to that. Get a tackle on the main
vard-arm, and quick about it. This fellow has to
learn the ship, and he'll begin with the keel.'
CHAPTER III.
YARD-ARM TO YAKU-AKM.
IT is said that the Dutch invented the science of
keel-hauling, but it would be difficult to say
where Captain Gasket got the idea, as this
mode of torture had long been obsolete. Indeed,
half its charm vanished when barnacles refused to
adhere to copper sheathing, and so, perhaps, it passed
into disuse. John Gasket was wise in his generation.
Had he insisted on again flogging Neil, he might
have raised an ugly storm against himself; but this,
to them, novel form of punishment appealed to the
ciew. Few, if any of them, had seen it in operation,
but most were aware that in a large ship it was no
very dreadful ordeal, nothing to riding the whole
length of the barnacle-spotted keel of a small vessel.
Thus they regarded it as a mitigation of the
sentence and as an interesting spectacle at another's
expense.
Mr. Calthrop did not protest further, so .'ar as
words went. He merely quitted the deck, followed
by his brother officers, with the exception of a
couple of midshipmen, whose boyish fancies con-
strained them to remain, though inwardly they were
damning their new captain with the utmost vigour
and sincerity.
The calm had come to an end, and had been
superseded by an easy swell, the forerunner of a
westerly breeze, which was driving up a cloud-bank
on the horizon, but was yet far from the ship.
The Rattler rolled a little, and b
8—3
yards dipped
I!
1 1 i
I* !
13-
1 !l
! Ill:
It '
■'I mi
Ii6
VENGEANCE IS MINE
had firi; of f^biVdSdT' %'',!«''' °f-'''"h
dragged along till it restedlf^Lh-^' *'l? ^^"" and
was quickly ,^ade fast o it H. S-A ^*" ^"™'^''
said not a word as he was r„n ."^ ?°' ■•«^''='. he
yard-arm, and hung drnlli^P lit" '° "'^ ""'^ °f ">«
Presently the boaf swa"n d^Ih / ^•'"^" ''^°g«d.
through the airand enTereH*^ £! %^'"^ ^"<^ he slipped
the instinct of sel^pr" ervationhffi'l^'^l'-'"'"'- ^''h
he sank and then ^wasTraggTd sw m i" '""«' ^'^
The salt nipped his raw f5^ TJ"^ downwards.
momentarily^ickened his sensed wt-\^ back and
toe been blunted by what h^hl'^^^'"'' ''*<' fo"" a
But he afterwards had I^fli n"^ P^'^^^ through,
felt-of the scraping aiainstTh"''"""", °f ^^hatTe
?nd against her bWd S 'f tt K ^^''^^ sheathing
jn h,s chest, relieved as he ^ot r?H T'^^^^^ '^"^^''O"
taken in, and then of the tirrl."^ the air he had
f truggle for breath. The a lonv f" oppression, the
the oxygen which is life to\ ,^,n '^=P"-^«°n. for
scious as he left the ser=.n^ u' • ^^ ™s uncon-
extremity of the yard "^ '""^ "'^^ ^°''ted to the other
Ramer rot dTd"t1r th'elrtl 'a^d^^' 'TI: ^"'' - 'he
>ng from her forefoot «nft ft ^^°' 'he spray fly.
stern-post and rudder Net Dtrocrh' ''^''""'^ ^e";
to himself in the cockpit underT» • ^a^""" '° '^""'^
brandy, rubbing, and the trlV '"""ence of hot
natured Irish swgeon vvhn '"^^'^i" of the good-
was shedding tearf nf 'J r?°°'' bibulous soul 1-.
the pitiable loX°n^?L"ftl!f:l,^"l^™''--
The ifaj/fcr fell in «,;ti, . ! ' patient.
bravely on her way ' S tW ^^''''^^ ^"^ d^^hed
prettiersight atseathkna first cl=?^' '^''^ ""^^ "o
What with her bowsprit enAin-^''"' '" ^ '"'^^^e'
the rakish set of her hIi v ? '" ^ dainty point
h-ne of her cutwaVer he "^^ra^'V^'f t' l!'^ '^''^"out:
row of ports, from w&chLf.ff£"i''"!' ''ned by her
>-■""'"" grinned defiance,
re was no
t of which
stern and
1 Darroch
resist, he
fid of the
mged.
le sh'pped
St. With
■ungs ere
i^nwards.
ack and
td for a
■hrough.
tvhat he
leathing
-nsation
he had
ion, the
on, for
uncon-
e other
as the
•ay fly.
id her
come
of hot
good-
mil—
: over
ashed
is no
"eeze.
'oint,
out-
^ her
ince»
YARD-ARM TO YARD-ARM 117
her stern windows glancing in the sea light, her
snowy decks and sparkling brass-work, her lofty
masts tapering to shapely wands and clad with
snowy cloths from her bulging mainsails to her taut
top-gallants, her flaunting ensign, and the delicate
tracery of her standing and running rigging, she was
the embodiment of sauciness and speed. She might
not have the stately majesty of the huge line-of-battle
ship, whose vast swelling bows, tiers of guns, tower-
mg sides and clouds of canvas filled the beholder
with a sense of power and grandeur, but for all that
she was the favourite. Gallant craft they were, and
very different from the long, black, steel-clad, smoke-
belching cruisers which have ousted them from their
ocean hunting-grounds, and drive nose-deep into
a sea and against the teeth of gales which would
have sent the old wooden walls scudding before
them under bare poles and with hatches battened
down.
Outwardly, the Rattler was as smart a frigate as any
in commission, inwardly she was a floating hell. Her
lieutenant commandant was a dyspeptic and had the
temper bred of indigestion in addition to his natural
vindictiveness and acquired sourness of disposition.
His sudden access to power seemed to have turned
his head. His usual caution deserted him in large
measure. He found fault with trifles, he quarrelled
with his oflicers, he docked the men of their tot of
grog, he gave them no peace, putting them through
cutlass drill, fire drill, small-arms exercise, and a
dozen other wearying performances till life was a
burden to them. He was possesssed of an over-
weening conceit, and was determined to make a
name for himself as a frigate captain. He certainly
very quickly made a name for himself on board, but
not of the kind he hankered after, though such was
his nature that he found some pleasure in being
known as a harsh martinpf. Ha fr>nA]^T Ara^rr>^r1 ^(
an admiral's pennant and a jewelled sword, but came
<l
Jf'
"! Ml
If j: !
ii8 VENGEANCE IS MINE
fw^K^'l^""^^ °^ ^^^^ '" ^^^ ^^a" carcass, placed
there by his own crew.
English seamen stand much. There is a dogged,
to ditlT'"' . J^'^ ^'^ P/°^^b^y more'amenable
Th.ri ^P "^, '^^",^»y other race or profession.
1 here has always been a very small proportion of
fn''?^' M l"^7e' *^- "S^ "'^''^ th^" their fair share
in the Merchant Service. The reason is simple. The
Scotchman as an English naval captain once re-
^endem.' " ^^^"^^ ^P^^^' ' ^' *°° ^"^^^^^ ^"^^■
u- ^,"Vi?®^^ CPP^S ,^ time when the English tar gets
b ft h. "if- ^^ "^'^ ?*^"^ ^">' ^"^°""t «f discipHne,
but he will not long brook oppression. When this
mood ^^"^es upon him, he is not to be trifled
Tevoit I Onr^T?" *^' commander who goads him
tn hiV ^""^l^^"* ^ ^'^^'^ "^^ke up their minds to
to hate an officer or to mutiny, they rarely alter
£7 'xK^' °' ^Tr ^^^^' provided they have a
eader. They are like sheep in some ways, and
there are no more obstinate animals than those
woolly quadrupeds.
Things went smoothly enough for a week after
Neil s punishment, though there was grumbling and
discontent a Gasket's fads and methods ; bSt by
l^ff A ^"'^-ri', °" ^'' f^^* ^"d ^e^dy for revenge
he found a suitable material to his hand. The > is
shi^ and'^fh! T.^f "^ ^"^ exasperating than a wet
nffh- . ^""^^^'^ "^^^ ^^* ^"0"gh to swim in.
Off Finisterre she niet a capful of wind and a jabble
which set her dipping bows under and flooded he^
TurFltlu ^-^ "^iPP"^ ^"? ^"PP^^ ^"^ would not
run easily, trim her as they might. The snoring
breeze becanie a stiff sou'wester, and the sou'weste?
a three days' gale. It was a case of lying.to,Xe-
reefed and battened down, a lurching%ush knd an
^^'Lu'^^' "P ^"^ ^°^"' down and tp. with now
and then a r«l*.Qn o,.,« r ^ r ,. *^* - *■" ""^
.,,.n ovvccp ui luns 01 salt sea from the
YARD-ARM TO YARD-ARM 119
cat-heads to he poop-stairs. The wind shrilled in
twanging notes through the shrouds, and sang its
storm-song amongst the yards and round the tops.
1 he ram showers, coming and going as the vapour
nriasses drifted overhead, hissed and spluttered, and
the great drops danced and hopped upon the soak-
ing planks. It was cold and cheerless, like an
autumn day on the German Ocean, rather than a
day m the latitude of sunny Spain.
There was no danger, no deadly lee shore, no need
lor anchors out and a firm holding; there was
plenty of sea-room, and nothing to do but wait.
It was weary work, and the men had time to count
the number of floggings which had taken place since
Gasket took over command. *"
'Mind ye,' said one, 'I'm not sayin' he ain't a
sailor— he knows the ropes, none better— but of all
the blamed ramrods and lanterned-jawed skippers !
A nagger he is, and no mistake— nag to-day, nag
to-morrow, and on Friday it's vinegar and the cat.
Bile me alive if I ever seed such a termigint I'
' Bedad, and that's thrue !' growled a son of Erin.
" Be aisy, Cap'n dear," says I, seein' him all av a
sweat ; and the dirthy baste heard me in a twinklin'
and put me on senthry duty, like a lobster. He's the
sowl av a tom-cat and the snort av a grampus
bad luck to his bones !' t> t- >
. ' Ay, ay,' chimed in another. * There's Mr. Bowl-
mg, a nice bit o' a lad as don't mind ye havin' a
whiff in a dog-watch.'
*A broth av a boy,' quoth the Irishman.
'And I'm blowed if this 'ere Gasket don't go and
masthead him from three bells till sundown in this
blessed smother all for skylarkin' with the cat in the
gun-room. The kid was fair froze and doing his
best not to blubber when he came down. A black
shame I call it.'
-..=-^ j-t J v/u siaiiu it, aaiQ a voice.
Neil Darroch had been reluctantly discharged from
I20
1
Mi
VENGEANCE IS MINE
The others laughed, and Neil saw that he had nn
BuT T 'h"^ ^^ "^^k'"g headway vNdth them
But he altered his conduct. He had got h s sea W.'
t^asket m the efficacy of his treatment.
Look there sir,' he said to Mr. Calthroo • 'th.t'c
what comes of\aving served before the m^a^t You
know your men and how to handle them A clever
scamp, that Darroch. I half believed h^s vfrn and
look at him, sir : lays out upon the yards like f
monkey and knows more than youVthink ' A
^.^ , to you I Its a pity you hadn't my training,
r. Ju- ^\o^ which Lieutenant Calthroo answer^rl
nothing, but bowed in a way his senior officer se^retlv
envied, and even practised before hTs gTass as S
to prove useful when he ruled a three-decker Tn
the old days Neil would never have resorted [; ft
methods he employed for carrying out his Plan of
^w TscSnl "If t- "^ r''' hav?sco?^ed ?1
buw aiscontent, to whisper here, to drop a wnrrl
we;f,^drtt;^i4°rriS^^^^^^^
yy vjdSKet s spies, to have to choose hiq nnnnrf«r,;
revolted trom the meanness of the thing but ev^r
'J^Trt Z°^'1.T4 A"? «!<>«ght of tho^f'shlTfuf
' o-«- Him lu lurtner ettorts. Just then he
m
<
i
ered un-
lere's no
ly mate,
instid av
had no
1 them,
sea-legs
est, and
) appear
confirm
'that's
t. You
i clever
rn, and
like a
«. "A
and be
aining,
swered
ecretly
5 likely
jr. In
to the
Ian of
ned to
word
ippre-
those
?' It
A^atch
rtuni-
3 soul
ever
meful
m he
YARD-ARM TO YARD-ARM 12,
was a little queer in the head. There was a .!tr»in
paJst aTdheTn wif 'V^ZJ".'^'' ''^"""S
me?f/^: ^^^f^l^ \ir-'^ -onf ; tht
night sowed tares ™'^'"y "'''° '° *e
He was fiendishly clever in his way. It had been
his business to refute arguments, to detect flaw. In
s:rgrrndT"^!?r''\"p,M°°"-""p-
s:tjtaS^=---r^^^^^^^^^^
the officer InH I" . ^ round-robin addressed tJ
notbtr^pp^tt^^'eapfairth^'.^H-''^- ^^^^^^ ^^^
not been SrmpH ? wL*^^^^'' P^^"^^^^^" had
122 VENGEANCE IS MINE
had been sent adrift. The big Irishman who had
come in for the cat considered that there was nothing
loike shovin' the dirthy blaggyard overboard av a
dark night if it was rough,' and expressed his wilHng-
ness to do the deed, which, being reported by some
eavesdropper, resulted in the master-at-arms and
bread-and-water diet for poor Mike, and a threat of
another keel-hauhng, the last having proved so satis-
factory.
The Rattler should have touched at Gibraltar, but
for reasons of his own Lieutenant Gasket considered it
better to carry on, explaining that he bore despatches
tor the Mediterranean fleet, and had already lost
nearly a week as the result of calms and rough
weather. In his inmost soul John Gasket was
thirsting to distinguish himself. A successful action
u^^} ^u °^* certainly secure to him the post he
held. There had never been any doubt as to his
courage. A bully, some say, cannot be brave. He
may not possess that self-sacrificing heroism which
is the finest, as it is the rarest, form of courage ; but
there can be no doubt that bullies— that stamp of
them, at least, who are cruel from the belief that
such cruelty is necessary— may be possessed of no
httle valour. History has proved it. The martinet
is indeed rarely a coward.
, It is very different with the wretch who loves to
mtlict pain, who takes a pleasure in making men's
lives a burden. Such villains are for the most part
poltroons ; but John Gasket was not one of these.
We had been bred in a rough school, and believed in
Its teaching. A disordered stomach and a lon^
disappointing career had irritated and embittered
him ; he was not a gentleman by birth, he was
narrow-minded, and so he was brutal in a cold, calcu-
lating way. But he had a fiery ambition stowed
away somewhere out of sight, and half his prepara-
tions, which had wearied and angered the crew, had
been to make sure of victory in the event of an
ho had
nothing
rd av a
wilHng-
>y some
US and
ireat of
10 satis-
tar, but
dered it
matches
dy lost
rough
2t was
action
•ost he
to his
5. He
which
e; but
mp of
jf that
of no
irtinet
ves to
men's
it part
these,
ved in
long:,
ttered
3 was
calcu-
towed
jpara-
7-. had
of an
YARD-ARM TO YARD-ARM 123
engagement. He was willing to attack anvfV
from a corvette to a hundred-fun ship for h. fi !
his chance mieht Da<;c: ThL^ u J^IP* "® feared
peace before fhe S,- S E„.^'nd'"ltrr.'^ °'
the general opinion that tTutfX '' ^^^ ^^en
convulsed the whole of pfrl ""^ P°»'er which had
the master-spinTwill-nth broten^'Vr'lr- ^P^"''
conquered onevprvhV.!^! oroken. The allies had
Napileon Thiy had uni,"H*''' '''°' °° ""'^'"S
d-feat and humble him 1^^ '" " 8'^*' ^ff°« t°
frigate knew how il^a'd^endTd' "°"^ °° ""^^'^ '"«
ceased rfi'^^PK''""!'^ '° '^^^f" 'hat hostilities had
averreli lh^Z^f\l ^l^''' ^^ Midshipman Bowling
straits on a westerly ^^JZ lu'^^. ""^°"S'' 'he
heading for ^ gX o L;o"„?'rFr'e°nch7°^''''
ship, from the We^t inHiIo u- .. ■_ .^"'=° 6o-gun
past the for ress rork l„H ' "'u'^'' ^^ also slipped
pointed her bowsp^t ?n thTLm""J^ for Marseilles,
the frigate was'unTr easy sa Und ^ Fre"; ^^^ ^^
m a mortal hnrnr o«^ r ^ne J:^renchman
befell one Lem^ornTn, that thrf"? '^^'^^^' "
ff<»«fc>-'s fore-toD eTnieH^thf^ ' t '?°k-o"t in the
the south anVh^'aife^d"' L'qLTrdec°k tVth'at^'? ?
the national" of the stranfer"" ^» ^t !? '"^'''^ °"'
all his life at sea f^, .! .t"^ ^"^ ''ad not spent
topgallants showeXwI^'hflV'"'' ^^ "'« t™« her
fispfay the tricoTour IndL'Tt^oveT'^!;^"°"''^
^ii'S/^^^iSs:S--S^
ma?aLfrs^„':i!!H^^„T.'.^- ,---;, the
Now, lads, said Gasket to the'^men, who were
124
VENGEANCE IS MINE
mustered aft, ' no cheering, but yonder comes a
Frenchman, who has to change his colours before
night.'
The men's faces bore witness to their feelings. In
the excitement of a coming fight the greater number
forget their animosity to the lean, ugly officer, who
in his nervous tension kept buttoning and unbutton-
ing his long blue coat, and clearing his throat and
spitting over the side. His behaviour was not
dignified, but he showed no trace of fear.
* I haven't flogged the rogues for nothing,^ he
remarked to Calthrop as he noticed the smart way
the men went to their posts. * I only hope the
Mounseers won't turn tail'
' The French,' replied the lieutenant with an
emphasis on the word, ' rarely do so, sir, till they have
tried conclusions.'
* Ay, ay,' said Gasket, ' but we'll conclude them,
though, by the Lord ! she carries heavy metal. I've
seen that hull befoie. They call her the T oolong ;
maybe you've heard tell of her ?'
'Not by that name, sir,' said Calthrop with the
suspicion of a smile.
He was a quiet, pale-faced little man, whose
ancestors had served afloat for generations, and he
was amused and a trifle annoyed at Gasket's nervous-
ness when in command. He put it down to lack
of breeding, for he had his own ideas as to an
officer's proper behaviour, and hated fuss and dis-
play of any kind. His commander did not perceive
the drift of his remark, but continued his pre-
parations till it was clear the enemy, whatever
their suspicions, had no intention of altering their
course.
Meanwhile a great struggle was going on in Neil
Darroch's mind. As soon as he heard there was a
likelihood of an engagement he had devised a plan
r\^lTjr\»*£i »«tMi/^m V»ir« y-v4-V».^*. w-.1^-«.i> .^n*..1* •«.i.^^ Z« — '»< tH
i-"wi.i_-iu vviiiv-ii ilio v^Liltii piUL SdiiiV illLU iiiblj^iiiiUJliiiCo'.
He remembered that he had the same blood in him
ft
YARD-ARM TO YARU-ARM 125
as had those who manned the ship to windward.
He had no love for England. On the contrary, the
history of his family, his own experiences, the point
of view from which he had been accustomed to
regard his country's past, caused him to dislike,
indeed alm^^c to hate, the dominant partner. At
the same time the idea which had come into his
head disturbed him mightily. Man is the creature
of his environment, and part of Neil's life had done
something to efface his early memories and pre-
J"TF^^- , He had found the Scottish capital loyal,
Whiggish, and ultra-British. A few of the old-time
Jacobites remained, and many yet clinked glasses to
I famous toast, and wore a white cockade upon
occasion, but there had been none of that fierce
consuming passion which had possessed old Ian
Darroch. Jacobitism was dead. It had degenerated
into something like old lace— something rare, out-
ot-date and ornamental, and was considered very
becoming to a vapouring, hoary-headed gentleman
in knee-breeches and ruffles, or an elderly dame
with a turban and hooped petticoats. Neil had
recognised this at first with sorrow and surprise,
then with equanimity, though he never wavered in
his beliefs. He had cheered with the crowd at the
news of a victory, he had approved of bonfires and
volunteers, but naturally enough he had never
seriously considered the allegiance he professed to
the 13ritish crown. Indeed, being a great reader,
ne had conceived an admiration for his mother's
country, for her literature, her art, her fascinating
history her prowess on the field. Buonaparte's
marvellous deeds had thrilled him as they thrilled
many who had no kinship with France. He had
never found reason to be ashamed of his Gallic
blood. Was it not a tie between him and the
woman he had loved and lost, thanks to a villain
\\Tu •"•,•" "^"J iiiibh^n ill oi-eeaing 11 not in birth?
What did he owe to England ? An impoverished
in ■ f
126
VENGEANCE IS MINE
t'
an"r„suU I'Z'l'/ ""'/ '"^'^'■^^'°^'^. punishment
whose decks he narpH -ruic, -t:-"fensn crait,
for the former wo5 was" not usedo^n b°oLd"f'Th"«'
was not a single Scot in the frigates company '^''fi^:
had no sympathy with any of the crew or officers
Some, he knew, were good fellows; b^t as he sa?H
=af«Vof"K^t^°t:t^ba?rS
least one of Napoleon's marshals wis a counrvrnan
to^ htsT-in Ihtwin °t^ h*]: 1-0? fe^^"
Of John Gasket. ^ * "^'^^ ^^^ ^"^'"'^s
tnr^p'JtK'' ;^^'' '^•^^'"^ succeeded, he would have
Zrrf ' ^^^^'' ^^*^ ^ vengeance. He knew the
fierce proud spirit with which England's soL in
those days ruled the seas. Could hi but in some
measure tame it, could he but make Gasket's name
a by-word in every seaport town, could he but land
th^'fi^s^pa^rof hir^^' "^"' ^" ^ Freth prisl'
wfc: nr.1 ^ ^'r ^^^cnge would be complete
His conscience was free ; he had signed no Daoerc;
he had been captured, and was in riality a pSe;
mm on. and who shall sa^ '"^-'-t^ ..._:_u , .' u'^gea
:,d.j rr.^,-^ii „.cigiit,Q tne most
I
*
!
J-
YARD-ARM TO YARD-ARM 127
with him when he cried exultingly, ' I'll do it, so help
me God! *
His plan was no less than the resolve to put the
Rattler at the mercy of her antagonist. His notion
was to gam access to the magazine, and threaten to
blow the frigate to pieces if she did not instantly
surrender. This daring design was, he found,
frustrated by the presence of a guard of marines,
who, he fancied, looked -ipon him with suspicion.
He slunk back as he noticed them, and as he came
out of the narrow passage a gruff voice hailed
hjm:
• Now then, you there, no skulking !' shouted the
captain of the lower deck. ' Away with you aft, you
shore-going swab ! Here, Billy, take him to your
gun and see he does his duty.'
The powder-monkey grinned ; but he was friendly
enough with Neil, who followed him, trying to shake
ott a feeling of shame which, argue as he might
possessed him. '^
By a curious chance he found the gun's crew com-
posed largely of men with whom he had influence,
bome of them had been pressed like himself, others
were the sweepings of gaols and crimp-houses, few
It u^'V5?'"^^^^^"^^"' ^"^ h^ knew that one and
all hated Gasket as much as he did. They looked
sullen, and were clearly not fired by any enthusiasm.
Neil s ready brain began to scheme anew, to imagine
atresh, as soon as he saw them.
Meanwhile, the Frenchman had come up in gallant
style threshing and plunging on the silver-laced
swell, her amber, black-dotted sides showing up
against the rich blue of the sea, that glorious sapphire
hue for which the Mediterranean is famed. A
cluster of red-capped men thronged her bows, her
guns were run out, her nettings rigged, and the roll
ot a drum came over the waters as she beat to
quarters.
Her captain was no greenhorn, and had his doubts
128 VENGEANCE IS MINE
of the trim black frigate with the striped flag at her
gaff. As soon as Gasket saw that the enemy had no
desire to avoid a contest if it was forthcoming, he
threw deception to the winds. Down came the tri-
colour, and up went a Jack in its place, and the red
cross to the masthead.
As the bunting flutte.ed out, a shout came from the
Frenchman's decks and a cheer from the frigate,
which crowded sail, and, veering, stood across the
Frenchman's bows, resolved to engage her to leeward
lest she should change her mind and attempt to
escape.
As she did so, the Frenchman opened fire with her
fore-deck guns, long eights and heavy carronades.
Flash and boom, flash and boom, out thundered her
cannonade, and the battle smoke drifted in sulphurous
clouds from her sides; then, to foil her adversary,
she filled, wore, and came to on the opposite tack,
and again half a broadside hurtled its round-shot at
the Rattler, The fri-ate's sails showed seams and
rents and holes, many a rope's end dangled loose
aloft, a spar or two came rattling down upon her
planking. Again she manoeuvred, and again was
baffled and received the fire of the great yellow
ship.
'Blow them!' yelled Gasket; 'they're no fools.
Mr. Calthrop, run us to close quarters, sir, and see
she don't rake us.'
It was a bold measure to sail right at the enemy to
windward, but the frigate bore down on her adversary,
grim and silent, while the Frenchman's ports spoute'd
flame, and white water-jets sprang upwards from the
swells on which the Rattler rode, and her hull was
streaked wh^ e the shot met it and glanced ofi".
' Ready, men !' roared Gasket, his face hot ith
excitement, his whole thoughts centred on the
moment.
It looked^ as if the frigate would strike her foe
aiiiidsiiips, but suddenly she swung round within
YARD-ARM TO YARD-ARM 129
pistol-shot, till her whole broadside was brought to
bear, and then in one ear-splitting discharge her
eighteen cannon belched forth their iron hail, and
swept the Toulon's decks.
• Give it her again, my lads !' shouted Calthrop, and
his middies echoed his order.
Round, grape, and musketry did their fell work,
and made a shambles of both craft, but the Rattler
suffered more than her opponent, whose heavier
broadside at such close range did deadly execution.
'Too hot to last, sir,' said Cahhrop, as a man
beside him was cut almost in half. ' We're a wreck
aloft, and she'll forge ahead and cross our bows.'
• Will she ?' cried Gasket, with an oath. * Then
we'll give them the cutlass, sir, and finish it quick.
Hard a-port,' he bellowed through his trumpet, • and
prepare to board ! Out grapplings, and stand by to
repel boarders I Send Mr. Harper forrard, and see
to the small arms,' he added. 'Where's the wind?
Curse it I she's slow, sir — she's slow.'
But if slow, she was sure. Her bow pointed towards
the Toulon, the strip of sea between them lessened.
Steered to a nicety, she rar along the Frenchm a's
side, with hand grenades .1 musket-balls raining
down upon her, and found nerself at last where the
British tar loved to place his ship, yard-a m to yard-
arm.
CHAPTER IV.
THE EXILE
NOW began a battle more fierce and terrible
yet like a hundred others the seas had wit-
nessed in the course of the lo.ig war waged
by the greatest maritime natiutis of the world.
^ Lashed together, gripped by the grappling-irons,
rising and falling on the swell, drifting with the
breeze, the two vessels poured a deadly fire into each
9
'
II
4^.
130 VENGEANCE IS MINE
other. Their sides were scorched with flame, their
paint burst into blisters and cracked and peeled : a
dense canopy of smoke enveloped them, and from
Its midst rose their masts, their tattered sails, their
hanging cordage. Amongst it their crews fought
like fiends, sponging and ramming, loading and
running out, cheering and sweating.
,. ^" * v°'f "^^y^ ^^^'^ "^^^ "° particular uniform for
the British seaman. Some fought in their glazed
billycock hats, some bareheaded, many had handker-
chiefs bound about their brows. Some w^re naked
to the hips, others were clad in variously coloured
shirts open at the breast and rqlled up to the
elbows. The officers and the marines alone were
distinguished. There were some score of the latter
on board the Rataer, and they stood in a red line
upon the m^n deck pouring in volleys or picking off
'"^J}. ^" ^. ^^^^'^'^'-f tops, as cool as if on parade.
Ihe dm was deafening: the roar of the great
guns, the crackle of musketry, the crashing thunder
of a whole broadside, mingled with the tearing, rend-
ing sound of splintering wood, the rattle of falling
blocks and spars, the flapping of sails loose in the bolt
ropes. Hoarse orders were bawled from quarterdeck
to forecastle, shot hummed or shrieked overhead a
babel of shouts and cries rang out across the
waters.
Twice the French crew essayed to board, leaping
downwards in swarms upon the RaU/er's deck-
swarms of swarthy, agile seamen, most of them
bearded to the eyes, and all tanned by a tropic
Half of them never returned the way they came
so fiercely were they opposed. Man grappled with
man, steel clashed on steel, and pistols flashed in the
pan a cou[)le of yards from their targets.
There was charging and counter - charging, and
flank attacks, till the frigate was cleared at a heavy
Cu.^i, auu yet ail Uic time a dozen cannon continued
THE EXILE
13^
, their
led; a
; from
, their
fought
: and
'
to belch their missiles, though not a few were too hot
for handling.
The Toulon was firing red-hot shot from some of
her guns forward, and the Rattler's crew were busy
slinging water on the flames which sprang up greedily
in the track of the glowing balls. A cock on the
French ship, liberated from a shattered }>oultry coop,
crowed defiance, till a musket-ball carried away his
head and gaping beak.
Great splinter-fringed gaps showed in the masts,
more than one of which quivered ominously as their
sails now and then bulged out before a waft of the
breeze which the heavy cannonade had not entirely
quelled. The planking of both craft, lately as trim
and white as holystone could make it, was now
blackened with powder smoke, and stained with
terrible crimson splotches, which turned rapidly to
dark, maroon-coloured crusts.
Coils of rope, empty buckets, bits of spars, frag-
ments of clothing, loose shot, cutlasses, boarding
pikes, discarded pistols, boat-stretchers, shattered
boat^ timbers and other debris littered the decks.
Men's bodies lay around the gun breeches limp or
stiffening, straight or curved. The wounded were
being borne to the cockpit, where, in the low-roofed,
ill-lighted space, they were ranged against the bulk-
heads, each to wait his turn, or to die before that
turn came. The place reeked of hot tar and vinegar,
and the piteous moans and cries of agony spoke to
the horror and disgrace of such a contest. And yet
>'ts glory and romance blotted out such scenes as
these, and few thought of war's misery and hideous
aspect. Perhaps it was as well in those days, for one
nation at least was fighting for existence. Neil
Darroch all this time had stood by the gun-carriage,
lever in hand, and done what was required of him.
His comrades fell fast, and the men, untrained to the
work. haH tnrniaH ciVU of \\\n oJrrkf
^ t^ h.,^ «r ■.«*■««
C
who had been dragged on board like Neil were soon
^—2
%.'.
f
. X .J
132 VENGEANCE IS MINE
mere mangled heaps, the victims of as vile a tyranny
as was ever justified by a stern necessity. The others
looked at them, and though they fought doggedly,
Neil could see that they felt themselves sacrificed, that
they were bitter against the men who had forced them
to risk their lives. It was the same at the next two
ports for by a curious coincidence the most discon-
tented men on board seemed to be gathered aft Yet
th^ were not allowed to slacken in their efforts.
The gunners, who were old sea-dogs, were fighting
heart and soul. It was their business to win their
country's battles without question, and they trained
their cannon and cried cheerily to their crews, who
after a time entered into • the fun of the thing.' as
Mr. Bowling called it. Neil alone did not grow ex-
cited. He kept strangely calm, listening to the din
till he was deaf as a post, watching the Frenchmen
at the port opposite, who were as active as cats and
served their eight-pounder as if it had been a toy.
Suddenly the captain of Neil's gun staggered, even is
he held the lanyard, and with a little cry of wonder
fell flat upon his back, shot through the chest. The
men looked at each other in dismay. None but
novices were left. Almost at the same moment Neil
saw the Frenchmen rush from their cannon. It was
now the turn of the Rattlers, who were boarding the
rou/on, led by Lieutenant Calthrop.
him^^''' ^^ Gasket's work,' said Neil, looking about
The men did not answer; the full meaning of
Tfraki ^^^^ ^^"^^ *° *^^'"' ^"* ^^^y ^^'^
• Look here !' he cried. * Are we to b.^ flogged and
starved and shot like dogs, to please him, Ind help
FrTn.l? ^^" Pf^"^°tjon? I'm going aboard that
±«renchman, lads, and you can come if you like I'll
be quits with him before the day's done : we're free
men, not galley-slaves.' " »c , we re iree
' that's so !'■ shouted a sullen, heavy- featured rogue,
THE EXILE
133
who had picked oakum in his day. 'Lead on,
and ' he ended with a string of foul oaths.
* Fetch a plank, then,' said Neil, now full of his
project and with all his doubts gone. There were
only half a dozen to follow him, but he knew the
effect their presence on the enemy's side would have.
They quickly ran a plank from port to port, and,
headed by Neil, crossed one after another to the
Toulon's under deck, which they reached unopposed.
* Now,' said Neil, * follow me. I can speak to them,
so all will be well.'
The men grinned. Neil could not help feelin<,^
ashamed of these traitorous Englishmen, but they
served his purpose. He could not regard himself in
the same lij.jht ; he had quieted his conscience most
effectually. He made them put on the caps of the
dead Frenchmen they found, and mounting the com-
panion stairs, came out upon the main-deck, where a
fierce fight was raging. The Rattlers had boarded
forward, and driven the Toulon's crew before them,
but the latter had been reinforced from below, and
were now making an effectual stand, slashing and
firing, and shouting to encourage one another.
The moment was critical. Neil and his body of
turncoats were in the rear of the Frenchmen. He
saw at once how matters stood, and ran forward
shouting out :
* Voil4 vos amis ! Vive la France, i bas les Anglais!'
But he ran forward alone. His men had also
recognised the situation, and it proved too much for
them. They could see their shipmates closely pressed,
and the blood in them was stronger than their thirst
for vengeance on a flogging captain.
' Bile me,' cried one of them, • if I help the Parlez-
voos !'
They stood irresolute, and then there arose a great
cheer from below, and up came tumbling the crews
Oi uiC licxi, Lwu j^UHo, vviiw iiau :>ccn (.ncul Ci^-33 nic
plank, and had followed hot-foot.
m
34 VENGEANCE IS MINE
armed with anything they could pick up, rushed a"
It Nen-, 1; ^T °K "•" '?""^'"°^' French'^had lurned
a te^fl . ?•'• ''"J '^f'^S one man, had paid l™tle
attention to him. As they turned agkin the EncrliVh
cou?d"nr' Tl */■"• For a minute or twolieH
ttai he dTh"''*^"'' "'^^' ''*'' happened. By the
^4.^li%rp-ed?od:i?niLxs
3^ll°arh5-rpto-fcts^^
results, however, were striking enough. Instekd of
ts winning the day for the W.«. it compTeted tl?e
r -if ^.^' "*»'• Attacked front and rear h^
Stt;tic^;:;X\:,^r^lh''^^^^^^^^
their captamSing,^r„'„Th;ouIh%y"caThror:lro
was an expert swordsman, but they VughtTn'^'va n
t/^"'"^ ?'""'' *^" : ">ey threw down thei" a7ms'
thL %l°' '^"^'^^'- "hich for a moment was denSd
hu«ed t?rtrti.':'7' '"" "^^i *" -""-cio t
tricolt;;att'uck'a°nd 'SeTe^^ cS if ^'■, "^^
Then, ,„d „ ,„, ,,^ tj|e red cross in ^s place
guns cease, and the hellish din come to an end Lv^fj
two battered ships filled with the fruits of wfr"^
The frigate, though the conqueror had «i,ff»...4
nT^r'^ix^br^""'^' ?-'^-™^-
mo;^-: L ^^^ °^^^' promoted to the jrrpaf
firLd^?H'r",°'^'^P^' -^' whatevefw
'duits, had died bravely enouL-h. Out of a tnfoi
h^If 1 ?Tf"">^ ^^ ^72;no less than Le-and fiftv
had lost the number of thefr mess, and twice thl^
number were wounded, some desperately. Of the
Tou/ons 330 souls, forty were r ady for the sail
maker and the weiVhtin<^-shot md hJlf
crippled for life, wh.le thSrr:^;';tcelv a'- /"'"''
without a wound of some sort ^ ^ '""^^
I'
THE EXILE
135
The Rattler had to stand by her prize, which had
received several shots between wind and water, while
the frigate herself was in a sorry plight aloft, and her
mizzen-mast, after seeing the fight through, collapsed,
and added to the melancholy of the spectacle.
Neil Darroch was in a state of the utmost dejection.
He took part with the rest of the crew in swabbing
and clearing the decks, and this, added to his
depression, nearly sickened him. His ruse had had
exactly the opposite result from what he had intended.
There was something ludicrous in its remarkable
effects, but he was in no position to appreciate the
grim humour of the situation. He felt dazed and
stunned. While the ships bombarded each other he
had forced himself to keep cool and collected, but
when at last his opportunity came he had gone wild
with excitement. He had been madly eager for success,
fully realizing the boldness of his bid for freedom,
and^ lo ! he had, so to speak, cut his own throat.
Curiously enough, the danger of his position did not
appeal to him. He never thought of the men who
had known his design and had follov/ed him. It
would be easy for them to denounce him and
exonerate themselves. They had merely to assert
that they had boarded the Frenchman from very
different motives to those which had influenced their
leader. Their acts spoke for themselves, and who
was to deny the truth of such a statement ? And yet
Neil never troubled his head as to whether any of his
band of irresolute traitors survived or not. As a
matter of fact, only two of them had fallen, and there
might be four witnesses to compass his ruin, for to be
convicted of such a design could mean nothing but
the death sentence and a hempen noose.
The first thing to rouse him was the news that
Gasket was dead. The second was still more
startling. He had been sent below with a gang of
men, and as he returned on deck he happened to be
the last of his paity. The Toulon had been put to
Itv
136 VENGEANCE IS MINE
rights by this time, cleaned and made ship-shape with
that marvellous celerity which characterizes the man-
of-war's man when he puts his back to a job. They
were still busy on board the frigate, splicing and
knotting, and bending new sails, for she was a terrible
wreck aloft, but Calthrop had drawn up part of his
command on the Frenchman's main deck and was
already telling off a prize-crew. It was at this
moment that Neil emerged from the hatchway, his
tall figure dishevelled and begrimed, his clothes
bloodstained, his face so black with powder that its
miserable look could not be seen.
The instant the men caught sight of him they
burst into round after round of cheering. In their
hearty, manly way they forgot or put aside any past
dislike to the silent, sneering man who, in their
opinion, had acted like a hero and turned the tide
of battle in their favour. The four men who knew
differently chanced to be on board the RaU/er, and
they so far had held their tongues. Rough and
Ignorant, they were at first afraid to make any charge
which might possibly reflect upon themselves. Their
little game would probably be private blackmail,
but as yet they had not had time to settle their
plans.
So the others, never dreaming how far they were
from the mark, gave vent to their feelings. Neil,
downcast and bi><-er, had not the least idea that they
were cheering i a. He thought that the lieutenant
had been addressing the men en their victory, and he
wondered at the rapid chango which had come over
the sullen, dispirited crew, who, from being half
mutineers, had cheerfully obeyed orders and fought
many of them to the death. He had yet to learn that
the English seaman of that date was a curious
mixture of good and bad ; indeed, he did not in the
least understand the English nature at all. He had
judged them on the belief that they would act as did
the MacGregors and MacPhersons' at Dunblane, the
THE EXILE
137
Macdonalds at Culloden, but in the Saxon there is
not the same stubborn, insane pride as in the Celt.
He had erred and paid heavily for his error.
Lieutenant Calthrop turned to see what was the
matter. A smile came into his pale face, paler than
ever, for he had a broken arm in a sling and a
bandaged head.
He walked up to where Neil was standing, and
held out his hand.
\ I am proud of you, my man,' he said, in a loud
voice; and then added in a half- whisper, 'You will
come to my cabin at eight to-night, Darroch.'
The crew cheered again. Neil, scarce knowing
what he did, took the officer's hand, and then
suddenly seeing what was meant, he started back'
his face working convulsively, a hot feeling of shame
rising wichin him.
' What's the matter V said Calthrop kindly. ' Are
you wounded?'
Neil could stand the stress no longer. These, the
first friendly words he had heard for many a day
the startling ovation he had received, the knowledge
01 what all but himself would regard as base and low
and traitorous, proved too much for him. To the
lieutenant's astonishment, he gave a wild laugh,
which had not a vestige of amusement in it, and
rushed down the companion stairs. There he threw
himself into a corner, and, strong, proud man though
he was, gave way to a passionate burst of grief.
Mr. Calthrop had b^ at a loss to understand
Neils strange behaviouaut he knew how a battle
will shake men's nerves, dnd though he rather feared
the man might lose his reason, he hoped to find him
recovered at their next interview.
His expectation was justified. Neil Darroch
entered his presence calm and composed. His
storm of sorrow had done him good. He had no
leeJing against Calthroo. and hnwed a= he v's
ushered in and found the lieutenant" alone." The
I
If';
f
?^S8
138 VENGEANCE IS MINE
comfort of the cabin, with its padded lockers, cheery
oil-lamp, and sparkling glass, appealed to him. He
was sick to death of his dark bunk and crowded
quarters forward, sick of the coarseness of his com-
panions, and the rough-and-ready fare he had been
forced to consume. He thought he saw an end to it
all, for he regarded Calthrop as a just man, and he
held up his head proudly enough after acknowledging
the officer's presence.
' Shut the door, Raites,' said Calthrop to the cox-
swain of the late captain's gig, who was in attend-
ance, ' and tell the guard to let no one past without
my orders.'
The man tugged at his forelock and withdrew.
* Now, sir,' said Calthrop, ' we are here as equals ;
take a seat and pour yourself out a finger's length.'
He pushed a square bottle in Neil's direction ; he,
however, shook his head.
'As you will, then,' said the lieutenant. * But
first I have to thank you for what you did to-day ;
you took a noble revenge upon us, and I for one
heartily regret what has passed. There's my hand
upon it.'
Neil flushed and half rose.
* I cannot,' he said hoarsely.
Calthrop looked surprised.
* I meant it kindly,' he said coldly ; 'brt, of course,
if you prefer to——'
' No, no,' broke in Neil ; * you misunderstand me.'
He was upon his feet now, his face drawn and
whitQ, and Calthrop noticed how gaunt and haggard
he had become.
*I beg your pardon, then,' said the lieutenant.
* You had better confide your whole story to me, and
let me advise you. I have tried to get speech with
you before, but you seemed to avoid me.'
This was perfectly true. Latterly Neil had been
in no mood for sympathy, now he did not hesitate.
He resolved to tell the truth and shame the devil, for
E
ckers, cheery
to him. He
ind crowded
of his com-
he had been
an end to it
man, and he
knowledging
to the cox-
ls in attend-
past without
ithdrew.
2 as equals ;
r's length.*
Irection ; he,
inant. * But
did to-day ;
d I for one
s's my hand
:t, of course,
jrstand me.'
drawn and
ind haggard
lieutenant.
r to me, and
speech with
il had been
lot hesitate,
he devil, for
I
!
J I
1 '
> 1
**What!" shouted Calthrop leaning across the table. — Page 139
I
THE EXILE
«39
somehow since he had failed, his project looked
blacker than prev.ously, and he experienced a haunt
mg sense of guilt. "«tuni.
^ ' I have to thank you for your courtesy ' he said
in a low voice. « but you have made a great mfstake
sir. I am in a lalse position.' ^ mistake,
'Ofcourse, of course-; answered Calthrop testilv—
' No sir you do not,' said Neil 6rmly but guicklv
• Wh /p' ?"'''"J° ^""S you help. I d°d not •
tabl^ . PaMo"""'^ . Sf '"'™P' '^^"'"S across the
table Pardon me.' he immediately added 'but
your statement bewilders, sir. What was your'idea ?'
^ I went to help the French.'
' Thil too'Zl !•'"'"" '' "''" ""= ""'« offi--
•I shall pass over your remark,' said Neil auietlv
andjmost as if he were the judg^ ; 'only pra^S
be'h^a^ndcte onc.^!""""-'""" ^^""-P' ''' ^^ould
gentlem^a'- '"^ ' "''"= *■= ''°"°'" °' "^^--g -
'Proceed,' said the h'eutenant curtly.
And then Neil told his tale. He had not a little
warm:d^?„"t"'"'^ ''tV^' ""-«-' ^'^^^^
Carop'face '"''''' "^^ '""'^ °' '^''^g-' '««
his'^oei"/ ''VVh-'l^ ^/'V^^ ''^ ^""^ '° =Peak of
aisgrace the marks I can never get rid of the forr^H
submission to a brute like Gasket 1' ' ^
nevefpus'ed""' ' '''■^'" ''^^ "' *'^-«' ""' Neil
'Think of if- s««' "'i -" — i^u-. .
fhi^n «rk^«. * V' ' " "^^ witiioui cause I And.
then, what torture was that to inflict even for a blow
-to be trussed like a fowl and half drowned like I
1
140 VENGEANCE IS MINE
dog ! Great heavens I I only wonder I did not tear
him in pieces anJ make an end of myself. Look
at me I People will take me for a felon. And,
listen, this hatred of the 'English is in my blood.
My grandfather was lashed as I have been, branded
for life— and why? Because he did not fear to
champion a just cause. I am partly a Frenchman
by birth, and is it any wonder I turned against you ?
I am no traitor, sir, but I am a man who was
desperate and hounded to this deed. Had I been
in your place, I would not have suffered Gasket or
anyone else to do what he did to a prisoner, innocent
and defenceless.'
•We are not here to discuss my failings, Mr.
Darroch, and you have not yet explained how the
men came to follow you.'
Neil had no wish to incriminate the poor wretches.
'I suppose they thought as you did,' he said
bitterly, ' and so came after me. You have heard my
story. I have failed, and I cannot honestly say I am
glad that I did not succeed.'
• A moment,' said Calchrop. ' Was it fear that the
men might possibly suspect you and inform me that
induced you to make this confession ?'
' No, sir ; it was not. I am not a cur, whatever
my faults.' , , r .4.
' I believe you, Mr. Darroch, and I am glad of it.
You have had a hard time and deserve sympathy.
The point upon which I am inclined to lay most stress
is your semi-French origin. In your position, I do
not know but that I would have acted as you have
done. I have no wish to speak evil of the dead, but
our late captain is well away. For all that, his treat-
ment would not have justified the course you took
had you been an Englishman. As it is, I cannot
find it in my heart to blame you, though I must
decline your company. You will forgive my pre-
judices, "but the very thought is distasteful to me,
and yet you did a very brave thing, hang me, sir, if
THE EXILE
141
I not tear
f. Look
1. And,
ly blood,
branded
t fear to
•enchman
nst you?
who was
d I been
jasket or
, innocent
ings, Mr.
how the
wretches.
he said
heard my
say I am
,r that the
n me that
whatever
jlad of it.
sympathy,
nost stress
ition, I do
you have
I dead, but
, his treat-
you took
I cannot
jh I must
i my pre-
fui to me,
me, sir, if
you didn't ! only I think you must have been mad,
and no wonder, poor fellow, no wonder 1'
As Lieutenant Calthrop concluded the lonp^est
speech he ever made in his life, he found it convenient
to blow his nose vigorously -.id cough once or twice.
Neil stood silent, wond:.ring what was to come
next. Meanwhile Calthrop became again the quiet
self-possessed man he appeared in public. Ha
motioned Neil to sit down.
* What you have just told me, Mr. Darroch,' he
said, * naturally alters my plans concerning you. I
have said that I hold you free from punishment, but
mark me, should the crew get an inkling of this 11
would be awkward. Have you any suggestion \o
make?'
* None, un
'Very well, I think you had better return to
Gibraltar in ^hc p< ize. We are short of officers, and
Mr. Bowlin- must take charge of her. Of course,
you go as a seaman, but you should find opportunities
to get home when v'ou reach the port. I will give
your officer a hint, as well as the master's mate who
accompanies him. I wish no thanks, and I doubt
much if I am doing my duty, but I shall answer for
that some day, when, perhaps, we may meet again.
I may say frankly I have no desire to fall in with
you till then, Mr. Darroch, though I bear no malice.
And now good-night. Might I ask you to send
Raites to me ? You sail at daybreak to-morrow, if the
Toulon's leaks are got under by then.'
He turned to some papers on the table, and Neil,
with a short bow, left him. He scarcely knew what
to think. The lieutenant had been kind in a way of
his own, but had scarcely veiled his contempt, although
he had been at pains to view the matter from Neil's
standpoint
'He thinks I have done a vile thing,' groaned Neil
u :*:■-" ' '^"«' " ^"^y "c naa inose scores upon his
shoulders, if he could but understand what I have lost
■ -■^r-'
142
VENGEANCE IS MINE
J.:
besides I And yet,' he added fiercely, ' my time will
come, and Geoffrey will smart all the more for what I
have suffered.'
His head throbbed, his throat felt parched, and it
was a very different man who boarded the Toulon for
the second time.
The Rattler and her prize parted company as thin
streaks of morning light showed away in the east,
while it was yet half night, and the sea stretched
faint and dark and ghostly on every hand, shrouding
in its depths men who the day before had sailed it
bravely, and now awaited the last trump and the
giving up of its dead. There was no occasion for
their having died ; the battle had been a huge mistake.
It had been a bad thing for poor Gasket that he had
not touched at Gibraltar, for there he would have
heard that peace had been concluded, and other news
still more wonderful.
The Rattler stood off to the south and east with a
jury-mast rigged ; but her prize lay much where she
was for a couple of days, as shortly after her consort's
departure tne mainmast went by the board in a totally
unexpected manner, carried with it the foretop-
mast, and crushed the larboard bulwarks and two of
the prize crew. The others refitted her as best they
could, but Neil Darroch was not of their number.
He lay below in a half-unconscious state, and added
another load of anxiety to the unhappy midshipman's
already overburdened mind. Thus it happened that
the British frigate Undaunted, making an offing from
Marseilles and bound for the Gulf of St. Raphael on
a unique mission, fell in with the drifting and dis-
abled Toulon, and Captain Usher nearly scared Mr
Bowling out of his wits. That dignified little mortal
would take no htlp, but transhipped his invalid tc
the doctor's care, and quite forgot to send his strange
and eventfjl story with him.
The Undaunted h;Ad been summoned by Colonel
V ampueii^ tnc £>ntisn Com rn issary, and no one on
THE EXILE ,43
board troubled himself much about the wretched
man n. the sick-bay, who raved and talked nonsense
for It was the general opinion that the Undaunted was
to undertake a duty which would render her name
historic. She was to convey the hapless Emperor
from France to Elba, from what had been his Tmp re
to his island kingdom. But of all this Neil knew
nothing He did not hear the salute of twenty-four
^r^ ' H "^"i" ^"''^" P"'^ ^° h^^ vanquished
".K ?L* tA i ,"°^ '^^ ^^^ square-set little man
with the subdued look upon his somewhat puffy face
and the g htter in his eyes. He was not a witness of
the remarkable change Napoleon wrought in the feel-
ings of the English seamen t. wards him ere four days
had passed. Inclined at first to exult over his mS
fortune, they had found him affable. He was pleased
o be amused at their coarse humour. He even tried
to converse with them, and laughed at his own mis-
takes 1 here vyas a curious blending of dignity and
bSrhi'" "^i, ''!,""^' ^ gentle%adne!s S
became him well, and touched even the rough-and-
Darked at Porto Perrajo he was a prime favourite
with every man and boy on board, who had watched
him during a trying time, which had followed what
was perhaps the most dangerous period in hTs career
. As a salvo of one-and-twenty guns roared its narf
ing rom the frigate, and was LLeredTy a simikr"
greeting from the forts Stella and Falcone ^he Brit sh
crew with one accord joined in the che^rfng ^
welcomed the ruler to his mockery of a kingdom
and the great hills around echoed and rtechoed To
the unwonted sound. But of all this Neil Darroch
iT
144 VENGEANCE IS MINE
h
CHAPTER V.
CRASPINAT
ALTHOUGH Carlo Massoni knew where Cras-
pinat lodged, although he had visited the
place before, yet he experienced a difficulty
in finding it again. Not that this was wonderful.
Paris, though greatly altered, still contained parts
where the narrow, filthy, and winding streets consti-
tuted a maze through which a man might wander
from one tortuous lane to another, and find no land-
mark to guide him.
It was in such a spot that the thing called Craspinat
had its abode, an underground dwelling, dark and
dismal, which the sun's light never reached — the very
existence of which was unknown to those who lived
hard by ; for this Craspinat was a night-bird. It is
strange how, in most people, we can, by careful
scrutiny, detect a resemblance to the lower animals.
One man irresistibly reminds us of a dog ; we speak
of a cat-like woman ; a starved and wizened child
may be the image of a monkey. Emile d'Herbois,
as we have seen — in outward appearance, at least —
took after the weasel tribe, Van Hagen had the
characteristics of a fish, but Craspinat was something
worse.
This creature, which seemed scarcely human, so
repulsive was it in body and mind, so horribly shaped,
so grotesque in expression, so hideous in movement,
suggested nothing so much as a huge pider. Not,
indeed, the harmless fly-sucker, usefu and diligent,
with his graceful web and cunningly hidden lair, but
rather some noxious tarantula, brown, hairy and
poi5onous, an insect loathsome and repellent. There
had been a blight upon it from its birth. It was a
aciOfraity ana an abortion which should have been
CRASPINAT
^'45
killed as soon as its eyes opened — as soon as it drew
breath. .
It is not easy to portray Craspinat. Imagine a
form in man's clothing with legs which could meet at
the ankles, and not again till they reached the trunk,
short, thick-set limbs, each describing a curve like the
wood of a strung bow. Picture, further, a body as
broad as it was long, and strangely bent to one side
and upon itself, skinny arms reaching to the knees
when allowed to hang downwards, and covered with
a downy, reddish hair, shoulders hunched and angular,
and then a head. From the front there was no neck
to be seen. The chin rested constantly upon the
chest. It could move slightly from side to side, but
not up and down. The reason is simple. The
muscles at the back of the neck — for a neck there
was — had been severed, and had not properly united ;
further, the vertebra: had been injured. Those who
knew Craspinat knew the cause. La guillotine,
they whispered, had been blunt one day, now long,
Ir ng ago.
But one forgot the legs and even the body when one
viewed the face of this monstrosity. And yet there
was not much face to be seen. The hair of the head
shaded it down to the eyes, which men said were
green, like those of a cat in the dark. The hair which
grew upon it shaded it elsewhere, save for two patches
of reddish skin on either side of a protuberant nose,
and a prehensile upper lip, from below which pro-
truded one solitary fang, both long and yellow. But
there was something unwholesome about this board,
as about everything else connected with Craspinat.
It was weak and, though plentifully distributed, grew
sparsely ; there was a lack of firmness and cohesion
about it ; it recalled the feathers of a moulting fowl.
Such v\ as Craspinat, whom Carlo Massoni had recom-
mended to his friend Emile d'Herbois.
It inav oerhans he «iinnnc/>r? fl-i^f Kic r'Un't^a ..,«,. «
.- i -_ _ — — ^.^ — ^, ,,... .,,..,. .^_ — cxc: a
bad one, that such a creature was no fit companion
lO
1^*6 VENGEANCE IS MINE
t
ir
try
tiL
for any man, that its brain must b ^ on a par with the
organism it ruled ; but this was not the case. Cras-
pinat was stunted in body, but not in mind, unless a
low morality is taken as evidence of such a process.
That mind was useful, not to its owner only, for
Craspinat was an intelligence department. There
was no spot in Paris, however obscure, which Craspinat
did not know. Those who had dealings with this
extraordinary being said :
• He himself lives in the best-hidden corner of the
city ; it is, therefore, natural he should have learned
Its mysterious quarters, for he must have visited them
all ere he fixed on his cellar.*
The conclusion was certainly legitimate.
The police were fools to Craspinat, and of this they
were aware. When, therefore, thev were baffled,
they said : ' Let us apply to the ogre ' ; and it was
rarely they applied in vain. They were suspicious of
their frequent informant, but, as Savary once re-
marked : * He is invaluable, and the end justifies the
means.' It is the creed of the Jesuit, but it was true
of Craspinat.
There was probably only one man in Paris who was
thoroughly conversant with Craspinat's history, and
that man was Carlo Massoni. Many had known it
m earlier days, but these had been days of very
rapid change. The death-rate was high in Paris
when Craspinat was middle-aged and Massoni was
young.
The Corsican had prevented the knife shearing
completely through that neck which had once been
straight and supple enough, anu this was the chief tie
which bound the two together, for Craspinat was not
destitute of afiection.
The chief tie, we have said, and with reason, for
there were others. This weird mortal's business
in life was believed to be that of a detective, but
although skilled in disguises, fertile in suggestions,
and sought after by many clients, both rich and
CRASPINAT
147
poor, although consulted about all things, from
such a trivial matter as a lost child to such a grave
question as the spiriting away of a bag of gold ;
this was not so, These were Craspinat's amuse-
ments; the business of this blighted life was the
study of explosives. Hence was Carlo Massoni
interested.
There could be no doubt, they said, that Craspinat
was mad, but it was a madness with a method in it.
It was said, * He is rich—fabulous sums have been
paid to him ' ; but this was an error — in part, at
least. All that Craspinat made by amusements was
spent upon this strange hobby. That is why Carlo
Massoni spoke of • my bomb-maker.'
At the time with which we deal Craspinat was ill.
Carlo Massoni had said :
' You need good food ; you need light and air ; you
are not healthy, and no wonder, living in such a den.
You have established such a system that it is not
necessary for you to stay here longer, and in any case
folks are now so poor, thanks to Napoleon, that it
does not pay you, and you are in danger, for you
know too much. They will send and kill you some
fine night. Be guided by me, and I will find you a
home where you will be safe.'
To this Craspinat agreed.
Emile d'Herbois' house was a little like himself.
It was, so to speak, in touch with the world, but
retired from it. It stood in a lane which ran off the
old Rue de Gramont, close to the river, in a deserted
neighbourhood, and yet not a hundred miles from the
Place Bastille and the busy streets which lead from
and to that spot of ghastly memories.
Here Craspinat found an asylum, though M. d'Her-
bois had at first been horrified at the very idea of
harbouring such a 'parody of a human being,' for
this was the expression he used to describe his
visitor.
But Massoni had over-persuaded him, hp'' begged
I
i ;
.!i
? .
I'' i'W 't
lit
'48 VENGEANCE IS MINE
that a trial might be given, and Emile d'Herbois had
a soft heart. Suffering in any form appealed to him,
hence his failure as a Jacobin ; and so at last against
his better judgment he consented, and assigned Cras-
pinat— there was no other name— a room in the base-
ment and at the hack of the house.
He was forced to confess that Mas'^oin had rot lied
to him. Information formerly difficult, nriy, Inipossille
to obtain was now so no longer, lliere was r,r>
trouble, no fu;;s. His old servant, w?:r> had be, n in i^
frenzy when she saw the new occupant, became
speedily reconciled. ' lie would scare the bravest
burglar that ever walkers, ' ::he said.
The Corsican had been careful not to mention the
true nature of Craspinat's pursuits. He had merely
spoken vaguely of a love for djemistry, ..od bad
tappfid his forehead significantly.
60 Craipinat was left to work in peace.
CHAPTER VI.
THE MYSTERY.
TV /TASSONI, after arranging everything to his
iVJL satisfaction, departed for his native island,
there to carry out his intentions regarding
the man called Jules Gironde, who had presumed to
thwart his plans. If during his journey he had been
able to look into his friend's house in the Rue de
Gramont, he would have been both surprised and
arinoyed, for it soon contained others besides
DHerbois, his servant, and the creature which
resided in the basement, and never left it, at least
by day.
These fresh arrivals were a young girl of un-
common beauty, dressed in a fashion long defunct
and an old man, who seemed fond of bright colours'
THE MYSTERY
149
had
It was a strange story that was told Emile
d'Herbois by his niece, who with this Monsieur
Deschainps had arrived before the letter which she
asserted had been sent him, but which was never
delivered. There was nothing in her uncle's manner
to lead Kate Ingleby to suppose that she was not
welcome. Emile d'Herbois saw his schemes again
frustrated, but he did not dream of renouncing the
charge given him by his dying sister, neither did
he think of using the friendless girl's fortune to
further his ambition.
* Let her come of age and judge for herself,' he
said. * I will instil those principles which have
guided my life, and if she approves them, good and
well, if not '
He sighed deeply, and quickened his already hasty
walk. No man had ever accused Emile d'Herbois
of doing anything dishonourable. That is why none
guessed whither Craspinat had gone, for the Jacobin's
servant implicitly obeyed her master, and he had
enforced secrecy on this point.
He listened with amazement to Kate Ingleby's
account of the adventures which had befallen her,
and looked askance on poor Charles Deschamps.
He pitied the man, but he loathed the aristocrat.
' And so,' said the girl, continuing her tale, * I could
not help suspecting Geoffrey Darroch. Monsieur
Deschamps here would tell me nothing, but hinted at
something he had seen, and as the day wore on, I
grew very frightened and uncomfortable. There was
no sign of Monsieur Neil, and his brother went out
and did not return till late, when he said he feared
the smugglers had carried him off.'
She stopped, and he saw there were tears in her
eyes.
• Poor Noel, poor Noel ! he was a good lad,' muttered
the old Frenchman. ' Your pardon, sir,' he added,
as if ashamed of his sfrief before a strano"er.
Emile d'Herbois nodded and proffered his snuff-
'!
^ti
150 VENGEANCE IS MINE
box, but the other took no notice. He was absorbed
in his own wandering thoughts.
•* ' f!^^"' ""cle '—she said the word as if not used to
It— I did a stupid thing, and let him see what was
m my mind. Ah! but he must have been guilty
you should have seen his passion ! Till then I had
thought him a stupid man, though kind, but my eyes
were opened. I answered him back for a little'—
she smiled bravely as she spoke—' but then I saw he
was drunk, and I was afraid, and locked myself into
my room, and he stood outside and tried to force the
door, and swore he would kill me.'
' And then ?' said her uncle. *' Go on. Catherine :
you interest me.' '
'Then he'— she glanced at her companion— 'came
to the rescue. I heard them having high words.
1 know that Monsieur Darroch struck Monsieur
Ueschamps, and'— she lowered her voice— 'he
cannot stand a blow or a harsh word,'
* He shall have neither here,' said Emile d'Herbois
decisively 'Accept my thanks for the protection
you afforded my niece,' he added, turning to
Monsieur Charles. ^
The latter roused himself, and once more his old
cheery smile played amongst the wrinkles on his face.
tie waved his hand with the grand air.
* No thanks are due,' he said ; ' to be in mademoi-
selle s company is sufficient pleasure.' His dark eyes
which had a weary look in them, rested lovingly on
the bright young face at his side. Where had he
seen one like it? he asked himself, as he had so often
done, but with the same result. The past was still a
blank to Monsieur Deschamps.
'What you say is highly gratifying to me,' said
Uncle Emile ; but, Catherine, I am anxious to learn
how you escaped from this Scottish castle and the
villain— for such he seems to be— who owns it.'
* There is not much to tell.' answered Kate 'T
did not Sleep all that terrible night, but in the morn-
THE MYSTERY 151
ing my old friend came and told me that Monsieur
Darroch was dead drunk, and could do no harm.
Then when I had found this was true, the housekeeper
took me to see a man who was in the kitchen I
have never encountered anyone so strange, so oic-
turesque. He was-how am I to explain ?-the
musician to the wild smugglers, and he was very old.
but st.ll strong and vigorous. His beard was long
and very white, but it was his eyes Nvhich fascinated
me. They were deep-set in his head, and glowed as
If candles were placed behind them, while his brows
were shaggy and frowning. He had, so Teeny told
Z'Jau ^ / '^n 'u ^ 1^'°"^ ''^^^ ; he was a prophet
ndeed. but for all that he could speak no English, at
least that I could understand.'
Emile d'Herbois smiled, and dabbed at his snnfT.
Vou are laughing,' said Kate gravely, • but you
would not have laughed had you heard him. He got
up and made me an oration, and waved his arms, and
shook his fist, and groaned, and even wept. It is not
nice to see an old man weep. When he had finished
and gone away, the housekeeper toU me that all the
other smugglers had left the Black Glen, but he had
refused to quit it He had come to the house to ask
fnl"^ '"i!: . K 'L u ^^ ""'^^^ '^^y th^^^' but when he
found what had happened he had flown int. terrible
rage, and spoken of some ship or other, and vowed
vengeance, and warned me to fly with Monsieur
Ueschamps. Teeny advised me to do as he said, and
we went away that very day to a little town called
1 ortroy, where she remained behind while we sailed
to Glasgow ; but first I left a note in case Monsieur
Neil should return, yet I fear he must be dead.'
Her voice sank to a whisper which had a tremor
■II lv«
J.^J"' i'^'' ^*^f Charies Deschamps suddenly ; ' he is
not dead, not dead.' / » ^ «
' Ah I that
nothing for certain.
li.^f U^ .1
i-ijat iitj
3;vvays says, but he knows
'm
1
152
VENGEANCE IS MINE
' Indeed 1' said her uncle; 'but you would need
money to travel, and you had none.*
'Yes, bui Monsieur Deschamps had, and how do
you think he made most of it f It is odd, but pitiful.
All the years he was there he used to tell the fisher
children stories, and their mothers would give him
sous- they call them. He had put them
as''!:, ( IS saving them till he had enough to
cany ium home to Paris.'
' And had he ?'
' No, not even half ; but Teeny, who was a good
Woman, lent me the rest. I promised you would pay
her for me.'
' It shall be done,' said Emile d'Herbois. 'And
did the man follow you ?'
* I know no more,' said she. ' We were just in time
to sail. I thought it the best thing to do, but I have
often wondered what happened.'
What had happened was that Geoffrey Darroch
wakened from a two days' orgie to find himself in a
burning house, and was only saved by his knowledge
of the passage which led to the Cowrie caves.
A body, indeed, they found among the ruins, but it
was not his. Once more, and once onl-. -hall we meei
with him again. Suffice it to say that, ruined in
pocket, consumed by remorse, haunted by visions of
the gallows and what he had lost, Geoffrey Darroch
prdved to the hilt the truth of that grim passage,
' The way of transgressors is trd.'
Now beg n as pleasant a time a: Emile d'Herbois
had ever known in 'tis life, and that although he had
relinouishe'1 for th present his greai scheme of re-
establishing a republic on a new basis. Te had
always been a solitary man, and this niece of his was
a rev .ci.;on to hit He v uld check his hurried,
restless movements, and listen to he*- with a .mile on
his thin lips. He pp ceived with plea^iure that she
had an ample share of soun^ common sense, a virtue
lir- believed tii. hr aimself pos-esscu hi u ;>mall
I
THE MYSTERY
153
measure, wheris in reality he was very much of a
dreamer and a enthusiast. He had asked why she
did not mform .e authorities as to Neil Danoch's dis!
^'^hTa^^'f ^" ?.°'"^ ^J' ''^^y ^^'^h satisfaction
What good would ,t have done?' she said 'I
had no proofs no witnesses, and they might have
detamed me till his brother came, and then I would
have been lost. A woman, you know harnot
fordgni'"" "'' ' "^" '■' '^''' ^ ^^^'^^^^^
jourl'/'her:..'"^""^' ' '^°' "°^ ^^" -« -' Xour
her"eveTt°olnr^" delighted him. She had used
ner eyes to good purpose, and ..s he had been in
I:^£i:f *!' could appreciate her descriptions of the
coach-roads and the people she had met
Above all, she made him comfortable. Much of
his appare-^t energy was wasted ; he was absenf
oThls dome ;" ' '^'^ ^'°^* ^-^ «^- ^-'^ 'h-ge
of his domestic arrangements, went to the market
Mm TlFr.''^ ^^ ^,""^'^"^ Deschamps, and broum
himal the news, along with dainty tit 'bits n.^ch to
his hking for Emile d'Herbois was a good Parisian
m that he enjoyed a rec/iercA/ dinnlr He was
gratified to find her a little republican already
useless ^'aoT thev' ^'''^'^ '"^ 'y^""*^' °^ ^^^^ and
dktum ^ ^'^ ^ ^'^^^ expense,' was her
hu',X°" Wai? Imin^^^' ^' '"''^ • ' ^ " "«='* ■■' "o
iiui.y Wait till you have seen more, and arp nf
age; thi . we shall see. Th fc lenfv nf ?•
yet I am not an old man.' ^ ^"'^ °' '"""
monI°Z.1f^-'il '"T' Craspinat. That str.nge
morta. W4i ,nv,sible. Kate Inglebv did not \.nL
'"£'.. wai Such a being in the house."
154 VENGEANCE IS MINE
Nowadays we hear of curious photographs, whfch
show that spirits, good and evil, hover near us.
The dead mother guards her sleeping child, some
emissary of the devil sits at the gambler's elbow,
and no one ever guesses it.
Craspinat, for all that the new-comers in Emile
d'Herbois' house saw or heard, might have been one
of these. But Craspinat knew all that was occui ng
and knew what the girl's arrival signified.
* here is plenty of time,' was Emile d'Herbois*
motto. It was also Craspinat's.
As may be imagined, Kate's new life was very
much to her liking. Everything was novel and
interesting, and she had no desire to play the grand
lady. Her uncle was, as he well might be, indulgent,
but her tastes were simple. She seemed perfectly
happy, yet once or twice Emile d'Herbois got a
glimpse of what he had surmised. She har' not for-
gotten Neil Darroch.
' He may be living,' she said wistfully, * and what
if he should come here ?'
' Impossible,' said her uncle.
' Why ?' she asked. ' If he were really carried off
by the smugglers, it is quite likely. Their trade I
know— for so he told me— was partly with France
and Holland, and he might escape and come here.'
* And why here ?'
She reddened ever so little, but he read the danger-
signal.
' Well, do you not see that as he wrote you, even
though the letter has never come, he must know
where you live ; he would want help, and he might
think, you see '
• I see,' said Emile d'Herbois. and Kate hid her
confusion— and her tears, if truth be told— by running
off to greet Monsieur Charles, who happened to enter
the room just at that critical moment.
Emile d'Herbois had a soft heart, as we have said,
and he feit sorry for the lass ; but she was apparently
^t
THE MYSTERY ,55
not smitten too deeply, an.l so, as was his custom
he put his trust m time. He had done so all his
life, and the result was he had accomplished nothing
forelock.""* '° "' """"'^ ' *"> '" '° ^ '="'^" by th^e
To one however, time meant nothing, and that
one was Monsieur Deschamps. He spefdify forgot
Ne.l m the excitement of being again in the ckv of
his youth and yet he was bewildcrld. Since he had
qui ted ,t, Paris was indeed changed. Over four
milhons m English money had Napoleon expended
on his capital, and even poor Monsieur Charles
Sh " h's handiwork. He would accompany
Kate here and there, and stand sucking at the sK
ItF. 1m T^ '^^ ^"^ ''""ght him as a plaything
ai-d tttf. I' P?'' disconsolately about ^iT hI
said httle but It was clear that his feeble brain
was questioning, ever questioning, and yet ne«r
answering, or even voicing its own confused^nquiS
But he was brightening up. He no loncer shuffled
and was untidy in his dre.4 The sudden alteration
n his surroundings had done him good, and Kate
Ingleby was delighted. ^ ' *"
then^l'f'Neu' Mr' n°"'^ ^ ?"""^'' '^' ^^""SK 'and
Surh fl»i7 ■P*''"^'^' ' mean-could see himl'
kindness to theMnT ^"t"^ '"" t''^^ ^"'^ »<''««°"al
Kmaness to the old Frenchman, her sole link with the
Monsieur would never have recovered, but he miVht
have improved even more, and in good time gotrid
of his despondent fits and many of his childrsh^wavs
had IJain" 'T' "'"■'^ '•^•'■^" '°""' -nonths aft« ^e
paced^Sor'''r''"'"r""'"'=* "'"' *« »"«'» he had
andtiSf "'"^""'' '^"'*"''' "P"" ""'h his country
old^house"*a M^I^^I *"*'¥ '° ^"''^ d'Herbo.V
fafinw "'f'^lP'*?f*?', «"°"gh spct which had lain
bulbs and tenTed"d?^„'gThrul^^ """" '"' ^"""'^
If
156 VENGEANCE IS MINE
Here it was that when the demon of unrest forced
him out of doors with the first streak of light,
Monsieur Charles would wander up and down, cane
in hand^ talking to himself and the sparrows. A high
wall surrounded it, and close to one angle was a little
door which gave access to a dismal lane that led to
the river. .
The old man had been promenading briskly m his
shirt and small clothes— for he was not susceptible to
cold— when he heard a sound which attracted his
attention. He was near the house, behind a large
bush which concealed the greater portion of the
garden from his view. Always inclined to be suspi-
cious, he kept himself concealed, and half-playfuUy
peered round the ragged edge of his hiding-place.
He was not the only occupant of the garden. A
figure was closing the little door in the wall— the
figure of a man whose back was towards him, but
such a figure !
■ Squat and bent like a hobgoblin, with shaggy head
and distorted legs, it was working at the lock. Its
shape was enough to scare anyone, so out of place
was it in the stillness of a fresh summer's morn ; but
its effect on Monsieur Deschamps was extraordinary.
Great beads of sweat burst out upon the skin of his
forehead, his gentle eyes seemed as if they would start
from their sockets, and in them was a look which
had long been absent from them — a look of remem-
brance and recognition. His lips trembled, his very
body shook as though smitten by the palsy ; the cane,
his newest and dearest possession, dropped unheeded
on the grass, and then he became petrified, rigid,
motionless, and his expression changed. He was
waiting to see the face.
But who shall say what memories were struggling
to life in his enfeebled nerve- cells- memories of a
fearful day of misery and slaughter, of ruthless
massacre and outrage, when in the court of the
Abbaye a howling mob had danced and yelled like
ii
est forced
of light,
[own, cane
s. A high
vas a little
hat led to
skly in his
ceptible to
racted his
id a large
on of the
o be suspi-
If.playfully
f-place.
arden. A
wall — the
s him, but
laggy head
lock. Its
Lit of place
morn ; but
raordinary.
skin of his
would start
ook which
of remem-
id, his very
' ; the cane,
i unheeded
ificd, rigid,
, He was
struggling
nories of a
of ruthless
urt of the
yelled like
THE MYSTERY 157
heathen cannibals, and glutted their ferocity in the
best blood of France? Did he know now of whom
mademoiselle reminded him ? The fair young face of
his betrothed, which he had last seen— God help him '
--borne upon a pike, borne high upon a pike, and
by whom ? r x- 1
,.J^^» ^^^e could be no doubt; the dress was
ditterent, but the figure was the same; the twisted
figure, and not only the figure, but its visage, the
ghouhsh, hairy visage of Craspinat.
With a scream, a choking scream like that of a
child which in the dark throws out a hand and
touches the fur of a cat seated on its chest— with
such a scream of the most intense horror, the most
abject terror, Charles Deschamps spun round, fell on
his hands and knees and crawled into the house,
gibbering and raving— ay, and laughing, as the souls
may laugh in hell.
Monsieur Deschamps did not make his usual
fl^P^^'t"""^ "^^^^ ^^® ^<^"s a"<^ coffee that morning.
When Kate Ingleby went in search of him, what she
found crouching in a dark closet was not the Charles
Deschamps she had known.
Hastily, in great fear, with a sinking heart, and all
the brightness gone from her face, she summoned
o^u". 1 . Herbois, and he summoned his physician.
Ihat kindly man made a few inquiries, and shook
his head.
* He has had a fright,' he said. ' Should he become
violent he must be put under restraint, but I do not
think It will be necessary. Get him to bed in a
darkened room, keep him absolutely quiet and I
will come again.'
He came, and gave it as his opinion that his patient
. had not a vestige of reason left, that he might live
tor quite a lengthened period, but would get no better
— he could scarcely become worse.
t^rrx. — "y '-'°-'' ^■*- ""^'"^ ""ijpcnca r soDDed me mrl.
Who could have terrified him ?'
ir-
i !
158
VENGEANCE IS MINE
Emile d'Herbois guessed, but shook his head.
The affair roused him, however. He resolved to go
and question this Craspinat.
Since Massoni left he had scarcely seen the creature
he had taken in out of charity and to serve his own
ends. He had preferred to communicate his wishes
by writing and receive written or rather scrawled
reports. The reason is simple: he was afraid.
There was something so silent and mysterious in
this dependent of his, that Emile d'Herbois avoided
the basement. He told himself there was no need
for him to go there, and it was in a manner true.
His servant never complained, there had been no
disturbance of any kind. But now he felt it his duty
to find out if Craspinat had been up to any tricks,
though he believed the old Frenchman had lost the
remainder of his wits merely on account of the
grotesque hideousness of a face which he had
probably seen by chance.
Still, it is significant that when D'Herbois de-
scended to the basement, he carried a stout cudgel
in his hand, and had a loaded pistol in his pocket.
The door of Craspinat's room was locked. Mon-
sieur d'Herbois knocked loudly upon it. A man
often makes most noise when he is timid. Craspinat
was probably aware of this, for the face which greeted
d'Herbois when the door opened had a leer upoo
it.
' I wished to see you,' said Emile d'Herbois.
* And I am here,' was the reply, in a thin, shrill
voice, which affected D'Herbois unpleasantly.
The figure before him made no sign of moving out
of the way, and so he pushed quickly past it.
He was sufficiently surprised by what he saw.
Barrels and cases were ranpfcd against the walls,
curious vessels and pieces of metal littered a table, a
charcoal fire burnt on a stone slab, and its fumes were
conducted by a pipe through one of the window-
panes.
i
THE MYSTERY ,59
'You have a fine mess here,' he said angrily.
• What are you doing ?' ^ ^
There was no answer.
Son ehow or other he did not feel inclined to repeat
the question just then.
* Do you know anything of what happened yester-
day ?' he asked.
* I have heard the old man is madder than he was '
whmed the creature before him ; ' but I am not to
blame. I did not make myself, good sir.'
*Then you have been playing no tricks?' he de-
manded.
* Tricks ? No, no. I have served you well in
everythmg, have I not ?'
' That is true, but I think I can dispense with you
now. You are strong again, and so had better go. I
will pay you for the trouble you have taken.'
* But the Signor Massoni said I was to stay till he
returned/
' I have nothing to do with what he said. This is
my house, and I shall have in it whom I please.'
He stopped. Was it possible that the thing was
laughing at him ? Emile d'Herbois began to grow
angry. ** ^
' What is this r he asked, and gathered a black
powder from a barrel. He dropped it quickly.
Confound you !' he cried. ' What devil's business
are you at here ? Would you blow us all up? Out
you bundle, and all your stuff along with you !'
'No, no!' cried the creature shrilly — 'no no
Monsieur d'Herbois ! I am here and I shall stay ' '
But I say you shall go !' repeated D'Herbois. ' If
the police knew of this -'
dr'Tackle"^^"^"^ <^o nothing,' said Craspinat. with a
^ ' Then, I will I' shouted the other, raising his stick.
Uo before I thrash you, miserable wretch though
'Ha, har screamed the figure before him, com-
!r
.
1 60
VENGEANCE IS MINE
mencing to dance and hop upon the floor, and
snapping its fingers in his face. ' You dare not touch
'Dare not I And why not, pray? stammered
D'Herbois, amazed at the audacity of this deformed
' That is why— one reason why !' it shrilled, raising
a long arm and plucking off first a wig and then the
shaggy straggling hairs which covered its face.
Emile d'Herbois staggered back, speechless with
surprise, and gazed at a countenance which, though
the prey of some loathsome disease, was yet dis-
tinctive.
Craspinat was a woman !
II!.
Ilii
:', i
or, and
ot touch
mmered
eformed
I, raising
then the
:e.
ess with
L, though
yet dis-
BOOK IIL
REVENGE
CHAPTER I.
FROM PERIL TO PERIL
TO-DAY Elba is deserted. Cook's tours, like
the Levite, pass by on the other side — the
other side of the Straits of Piombino, which
separate it from the coast of Tuscany. It lies out of
the track of the globe-trotter, it is unknown and un-
visited save by a passing yacht and a few Napoleonic
enthusiasts. And yet there is, perhaps, no finer bay
in Europe than that of Porto Ferrajo. In the straits
lie the islets of Palmajola and Cerboli, topped by fair
white buildings ; and as one rounds the green Capo
della Vita, a vista of majestic beauty is disclosed.
In front lies a great stretch of water on which a navy
might ride. To the left tower mighty hills, shooting
sheer upwards from the green sea, veined by the red,
iron-bearing rocks, and narrowing to ragj^jed peaks
and ridges. From the face of one curving hill a vast
pinnacle rises clear against the blue sky, a pinnacle
crowned by an ancient temple to almighty Jove.
Beyond, the mountains recede from the bay and
sweep round the valley land in a great semicircle,
finally ending in a low p«omontory, which in its fold
nioes tac iittic towQ wflosft houses rise tier upon tiefi
II
l62
VENGEANCE IS MINE
white and yellow and red, flanked by two old forts,
guarded by a crumbling wall, smelling of the east,
quaint, irregular, and fascinating. Gateways and
moats still exist, narrow lanes, black and dismal by
night, cool and shady by day, run here and there.
The town seems aln^ost to overhang the still waters of
the bay, so that one looks up from the quay at terraces
and balconies, and roofs overlapping each other in
a fine confusion. A pink marl coats the toy-like
harbour works, which, with the Bagno, alone show
no sign of decay. Porto Ferrajo is gloriously sleepy,
content with its brief forgotten fame, for does it not
hold the Villa San Martino, where dwelt the Emperor,
at once its prisoner and its King ? Away inland,
towards the hill range, built indeed upon its lower
slopes, lies his palace, with its long avenue, its great
gates and gilded eagles, its roof ga.den, its cool, pure
white stone, its wonderful prospect of sea and hill
and distant town, and above all, 2ts air of melancholy.
The grim, dark wood of huge conifers in whose shade
it rests is more in keeping with its history than its
trim garden, gay with flowers and sweet with scents.
The vine-clad spurs mount up behind it, a background
sombre and fitting, its gallery re-echoes to the tread
of strangers, it is full of relics, relics of the fallen
great.
But when the Undaunted lay in the bay of Porto
Ferrajo, the town was delirious with joy. Its in-
habitants looked forward to an era of unexampled
prosperity, to a model government, to wealth and
fame, and a great future. They were to be bitterly
disappointed. There were f&tes and ceremonies, but
the Emperor's face was gloomy. He wearied his
attendants by a restless energy, by a ceaseless flow of
questions. He rose at unearthly hours, to the disgust
of the members of his suite, and yet they pitied him.
He could not blot out the past.
Louis XVI n. entered Paris on the very day that
the British frigate cast anchor in the roads.
FROM PERIL TO PERIL 163
Of all this bustle Neil Darroch, as we have said
knew nothing. He came to his senses at last, weak
and wasted, and found himself in a hammock close
beside an open port. He looked out and was filled
with pleasure. He feasted his eyes upon the hills
about the tops of which the mists clung, casting lone
shadows on the barren slopes.
The scenery of Elba is at times singularly like that
of the Scottish West Coast. Given a cloudy day, with
gentle ram, the mountains might be those of Arran
save that they are scarcely so bluff and massive!
They spoke of home to Neil Darroch, and with the
thought of home came the thought of revenge He
was strangely persistent. Never for a moment had
he forgotten the debt he owed his step-brother He
might have recognised the truth of that solemn text
'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord,' but
his warnings had been futile, his heredity had been
too strong for him ; such wrath as his was not to be
easily quelled.
He did not stay long on the Undaunted. He
learned where he was, and found that it would be
useless for him to try to get anyone to believe his*
strange story.
The doctor, as the ship's surgeon was always called
in those day^, had detected the long white weals on
his back. The man who brought him his meals
hinted at them and winked knowingly. Neil felt the
bitterness of shame. He resolved to escape as soon
as he was strong enough. The Italian coast was not
tar off, and it was better to be free and penniless, he
argued, than to be under orders and suspected As
soon as he was on his feet and beginning to gather
strength he commenced watching for an ooDor-
tunity. *^*^
At last, as he fondly imagined, fortune favoured
him One of the small, felucca- rigged craft employed
..,,,,._ „3ncry aiii,iiuicu ior cne nigiit about a
hundred yards from the frigate. Neil watched her
11 — 2
I
i
!■:
I-
164 VENGEANCE IS MINE
crew furl the sail, put things ship-shape, and push off
for the shore in their shallop. He had borrowed a
stout clasp-knife from one of the sailors wherewith
to whittle wood and pass the time, and he resolved to
test it on the rope of the fishing-craft. There was
plenty of wind ; had he only known it, there was too
much.
The bay of Porto Ferrajo is sheltered from every
quarter of the compass, but of this Neil Darroch was
ignorant. He trusted to luck to find food and water
on board. In any case the voyage would be short,
though he had decided it would be useless to hide
himself on the island. The theft of the boat did not
trouble him. A desperate man does not stick at
trifles, and Neil Darroch was scarcely so particular as
he had been. , , •,
He was pleased to find the night dark and cloudy,
with no phosphorescence in the water. Somewhere
in the small hours of the morning he paid out a length
of cable from the port, made it fast, and slipped
quietly down it. The frigate was in harbour, and the
watch taking things easily. They never heard him.
*He had been careful to locate the position of the
boat, and swam straight for it. So exhausted was he
that he had to hang on to its gunwale for a time
before he recovered sufficiently to hoist himself on
board. Then all was easy. A slash with the knife
freed the bow, the oars were handy, and very slowly
he began to creep seawards. He had got some notion
of the shape of the bay from a map the doctor had
lent him, and even in the darkness it was not difficult
to steer a course. His chief danger lay in passing
other vessels, for there was a crowd of shipping in the
roads. He was hailed more than once, and kept silent
or answered gruffly in French.
In a very short time he was skirting the sea-washed
base of Monte Grosso, which rose on his right, a black
nrerjnitous wall, and he began to comprehend the
real nature of his undertaking. An easterly gale was
h 11
FROM PERIL TO PERIL 165
sweeping down from the Apennines, and away in
front of him he could hear the roar of the breakers as
they beat on the Capo della Vita, and dashed on the
little isolated rock which stands like a sentinel before
it. The waves were swirling round it like white-
plumed cavalry on the wheel, and as they ran along
the wp-'tern side of the promontory his boat began to
danct ^.pon them and to ship spray. But he could
not turn back. He pulled off shore, and, hoisting
sail, scudded out into the waste of waters. He sped
along with a mere rag of canvas showing till klba
had long vanished in the gloom, and then, going
about, he commenced to beat to the south, trying to
run towards the Tuscan coast, but trying in vain.
Even in the darkness he could soon tell that he was
making no headway.
Again he tacked and drove to the north-west, head-
ing, though he knew it not, for Capraya, the island
of the wild goats. But the elements were against
him. Every tack he made, he lost ground. The
sea grew wilder ; the billows buffeted his boat's bow,
and she fell off from the wind. He was far from'
skilful, and at last, drenched and desponding, gave
up the struggle and ran blindly before the gale, the
towering surges chasing him and threatening to
swamp his tiny craft. He sat, wet and miserable, in
the stern, holding the sheet in one hand, the tiller in
the other, and scarcely caring what became of him.
Long before morning broke he had to ride it out with
the oars as a sea-anchor, drifting steadily to the west-
ward. There was a little food and a keg of fresh
water on board, sufficient, he hoped, to last him till
he reached land of some description, if he survived
the storm.
He was nearer safety than he thought. Both sea
and wind began to subside as the pale dawn spread
over the vault. He looked to the east, and saw far
away on the horizon the outlines of two islands, cloudy
aua mysierious, till the morning sun struck upon
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1 66
VENGEANCE IS MINE
them, and they showed as dark masses rising high
from the water plain. Th y were Elba and Capraya.
But 1( ug before his attention was directed else-
where. Out of the darkness behind him loomed some-
tbiij^ huge and black and indistinct. Suddenly it
began to take shape, and as tie light of a new day
stretched in lemon-coloured i>treal ; across the sky,
he saw that it was land. A misty vapour rolled
upwards, and revealed a line of low hills, green and
brown, a rocky coast frilled by surf, and a bold head-
land. To the south the sky took on a rosy hue, and
there also the veil of night began to lift. It thinned
as it rose, thinned to filmy streamers like white smoke,
and disclosed a long coast line, v^ ith the same low
hills climbing up from it. The mist curtain dis-
persed still more, a faint blue tinge crept up from
the west, and there, piled one upon another, rose
peak on peak, the highest glistening a dazzling
white, as its snow-covered top caught a shaft o< sun-
light
It was the inland mountain chain of Corsica.
Neil Darroch guessed as much. He remembered
having noted it on the map, but it was aard to
realize that an island could hold such rocky giants
as those which reared up, gray and rugged, behind
the bulwark of lower hills. One of the wonders of
Corsica is the loftiness of its summits. Its area is
comparatively small, and yet its mountain-tops rise
7,000 and 8,000 feet above the level of the Mediter-
ranean, crowded together, separated from one another
by deep rifts and forest-clad valleys, by mighty pre-
cipices and narrow gorges. It is like a wide continent
in miniature. Neil Darroch hailed it with delight.
He dragged the oars abroad, hoisted his soaking sail,
and made straight for it, tossing and pitching on the
lively waves, which ran towards the beach. He was
some three miles away, and long before he drew near
he could see clumps of trees, and here and there
white buildings dotted the vivid green of the slopes.
FROM P RIL TO PERIL 167
These were few in number, for Cape Corso is but
sparsely inhabited, and its villages are small.
He headed for a spot wh-re there was no sign of
life, as he was doubtful as r as reception. It was
merry ork threshing alon- before a strong bree-e
and Neils spirits rose. H , languor left him; he
forgo his weariness and feebleness, and fixed hi- '>yes
eagerly on this new land whither he had drifted
On he drove till he caught sight of a little bay
between the fringing rocks, ov< which the spray
was flying in showers. He steered carefully f . ,vards
It ; the boat was caught up by one breaker after
?"?r In' ^""^ crunching down upon a sunken reef,
ha f filled, was wash ' Jear, and finally, with her
sand°'" "^ '"' '^'''' ' ^ "P °" a stretch of silvery
Neil leapt out, leav .^ his craft to her fate. He
staggered a short way, and then sat down, a prayer
of thankfulness rising to his lips. He caught at the
soft dry sand and let it trickle through his fingers:
he laughed to himself, and shook his fist at the sea.
Ihe reaction was so great that he felt like a child
and behaved like one. When he had rested he ijot
upon his feet and looked about him. A path ran
along the shore at the base of a steep slope, which
was covered with low-growing trees and shrubs. The
latter was the Corsican macchie and was sprinkled
with blossoms white and red. A heavy scent as of
sweet-smelling musk was wafted to him. The air
seemed full of aromatic odours. 1 he rocky bank in
which the beach ended, and which was topped by
the dry, white road, was covered with vegetation
launches of dark-leaved plants bedecked it, tiny
purple and crimson flowers peeped out from its
crannies, stranr cactus-like forms, pulpy and spiny,
stood stiff and erect amongst the trailing under-
growth. The place resembled a shrubbery formed
to delight the eye and perfume the air. Kvf-rvwh^-r^
he looked there was bright colouring, the w'aves a
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i68 VENGEANCE IS MINE
brilliant blue, the sand and spray a dazzling white,
the hills behind green and pearly gray.
Corsica, where it is not barren and sterile, is a
veritable garden. Neil stood entranced, as if it \yere
all a dream, which would vanish for ever. The sight
of the boat lying broadside to the beach, and beating
itself to pieces, recalled him to his position. He
waded in beside it, and secured what food was left,
dried fish and raw macaroni. Then, returning, he
stripped to the skin and spread out his clothes to
dry. It was already growing hot. Bright-eyed
lizards came forth from holes and sunned themselves.
Birds twittered merrily amongst the bushes. There
was something in the life and gaiety of his surround-
ings which brought back Kate Ingleby to his mind.
For weeks he had resolutely thrust all thought of her
aside, for such thoughts had been torture to him.
Now, however, that he was again his own master
that hope which, thank God! is so rarely absent
altogether from the most unhappy, sprang up again
within him. She might have met Mr. Quill and
reached Paris after all, and he himself was not so far
from France.
With a lighter heart than he had known for many
a day Neil made a scanty breakfast, and set off alo ig
the road— a road fringed by tall grasses and the weird
prickly pear, lined on one side by high banks of
reddish soil, over which hung masses of golden
spurge, on whose crests nodded tall foxgloves. As
he approached in the boat, he had seen a village
with a watch-tower to the north of him, situated on a
promontory which jutted far out into the sea. He
took the opposite direction, and trudged steadily along,
half wondering if he were in fairyland. His musings
were rudely interrupted. As he rounded a corner,
the black barrel of a musket was thrust over the top
of a boulder, and a voice called out in French :
* Halt, there ! Throw up your arms 1'
He stopped, and involuntarily did as he was bid,
FROM PERIL TO PERIL 169
wondering dully what new misery was about to befall
him. He had begun to look for nothing else in life,
despite his brief period of hopefulness. Presently the
barrel slid along its rest, and a tall man, picturesquely
clad in a coloured cap of red, a loose jacket, em-
broidered vest, and crimson sash, with breeches
tucked into long boots of soft, untanned leather,
made his appearance. He carried his weapon care-
lessly, and had the air of one who has been alarmed
but is reassured, '
Carlo Massoni— for it was he— had need of some
caution in Corsica. His family had been engaged
for years in more than one vendetta, and he never
knew when a bullet might plunge into his back or
flick out his brains. Such uncertain knowledge is
an excellent preventive against sluggish habits and
day-dreaming. Massoni was always very wide-awake
when breathing his native air. Thus, on hearing
someone approaching, he had hastily concealed him-
self, but he quickly saw that the stranger was harm-
less enough. Though satisfied on this point, he was
sufficiently surprised at his appearance, and no wonder.
Neil s coloured shirt and loose sailor's breeches had
both shrunk, the latter so much that his legs were
bare half-way to the knees ; he wore shoes of list, and
carried his provender in a knotted kerchief.
Massoni in all his experience of Corsica had seen
nothing quite like this tall, gaunt man. He spoke
rapidly to him in the patois of the island, but Neil
still stood with his arms raised above his head, as if
invoking a blessing on the man who had made him
assume so uncomfortable and undignified a position.
Massoni, however, relieved him from it by repeating
himself in broken English. He was testing the
stranger s natioiiality. He himself had from various
reasons been greatly delayed on his journey south.
!• ranee was m a restless state, and every gendarme
^_^-.^,.„^ ,^, .^.^j^,„^^^j^^^.. ^j some sorr m every traveller
ne met. Massoni had been questioned and cross-
t(fir
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170 VENGEANCE IS MINE
questioned till he hit upon the expedient of question-
ing his questioners as though he were a commissary
of police, and this bold move, together with his size
and scowling face, secured him frcrr. further annoy-
ance But so much time was wasted through this and
other causes that he missed a vessel sailing for Ajaccio,
which, being nearer his home on the slopes of Monte
Padro was his original destination. He had eventu-
ally to be content with a passage to Bastia, and
having left his baggage the-e, had passed the night
with a relative at the sea-coast village of Erbalunga.
Now he was returning to take the steep hill-road
which led from Bastia to the west.
• You are an Englishman ?' he said in French.
' You are mistaken, sir.' answered Neil, who w;is
not impressed in favour of this swarthy-complexioneu
^"^Take^care,' said the latter, tapping the barrel of
his musket ; * do not trifle with me.'
' I am not likely to,' answered Neil. ' while you hold
* nTdid not turn the phrase properly. Massoni
showed his white teeth, which contrasted with tlie
jet-black of his tiny pointed moustache.
' What is you" name ?' he asked. ^
«I cannot see how that concerns you, said Neil
coldly. ' I have the honour to wish you good-morn-
'"?Not so fast, my fr?- ^' laughed Massoni. ' I am
responsible for stran- here. We will retrace our
steps a little, so face aboi't.' , , . ^, ,
He emphasized his woids by thrusting the n.uzzle
of his musket into the small of Neil's back, and there
was nothing for it but to obey. Presently they came
upon the wrecked boat.
•Sapristil' said Massoni in the Italian fashion,
' Flbese ! There is something strange here/ ^^
He seemed to meditate a moment, anu men lus
manner changed. He became alible and polite.
the barrel of
ill retrace our
FROM PERIL TO PERIL 17,
' I have made a mistake/ he said ; • your oardon
sir. I am the Signor Massoni, of Olimaf a "la^ce tw^
days journey hence amongst the mountains. 1
perceive you have been unfortunate, and shall be
pleased if you will accept my hospitality. This is a
barren coast as far as people are concerned, and the
villages are dirty.'
There he lied, for Bastia was but a few miles to the
south.
Neil did not understand his change of front but he
was tired and helpless. He did not much care what
. 'J[ •;^^^" yj"^ confidence.' he answered. • My name
|S Noe Deschamps. True, I am not wholly French
biit^ neither am I in any sense English/l thank
Massoni stared at him. Again he was at fault.
W. 1 ^.Tu 'r^^^" ?^'^ ^^^^ °"« °f the race he
hated. Still he determined that he should accompany
i^^;.A I l^^r the Emperor was in exile on the
ontt In'- ^^V°"'^f ^ rising black and precipitous
Med^erranean TV '^? great glittering pLn of the
SV k1 ;u-^^'' '1'^"^^" ^^^ ^ro'^ Elba, there
t^be obtaTnTd V^.'^ ^l "^"^^ °^ ^•"^' information
Massonl ^Z^'T °^ ^^'^''l' ^^' ""scrupulous, and
Massom shrewdly guessed that there would soon be
plots on foot. This Noel Deschamps might mean
forte'i'en".^. ^.f '?' ^7^^' "^'^^^ ^"^^^er hif sch'm'es
tor^tevenge, therefore he resolved not to lose sight of
hZfs n?',> """'^'"F ^^£^T"» its geography, or the
Par hi h ^ f ""P^ "^ ^^'^^ ''^^ °^ the patriot
vendetta h.t h""''^ vaguely of brigandage and the
vendetta, but he was practically in a new world.
Witn as good a erare a« h#. .^o-jIH ? *— ^ / ,
Mat!«r»n;'o ^/r ° TI r •-^^'^"" muotci uc accepted
Massoni s offer, and together they set out.
ine two days which followed filled him w. b
172
VENGEANCE IS MINE
wonder. The scenery would have entranced him had
he not been worrying as to the future, and trying to
fathom his companion.
Following a track winding upwards through groves
of olive and walnut trees, they climbed the steep slope
till they were out upon a bare hillside — bare, that is,
except for occasional clumps of the wild cherry, and
patches of sweet-smelling mountain flowers. They
crowned the ridge, and beyond stretched a prospect
like a mighty relief-map, with another glimpse of
smiling sunlit sea to the north. Eventually they
reached the road leading to the little town of St.
Florent on the gulf of that name.
Neil found Massoni taciturn and uncommunicative,
but he had no desire to talk. He was too busy
noting everything — the brown-skinned, drowsy men,
the bare-footed women and children, the quaint
houses of stone and sun-dried clay. But after they
had eaten, Massoni provided him with a pair of
coarse boots and a hat of straw, apologizing for the
appearance of both, and they left the beaten track.
Their way led through valleys full of the sound of
running water and the song of birds, over mountain
spurs, clothed to the summit by clustering ilex-trees
or chestnut forests, and seamed by merry, splashing
cascades. They camped in the open, and a hera of
half-wild goats came and browsed about them, and
then wandered off, as clear and faint came a
plaintive piping summoning them to the milking.
The sun was brilliant all day long, the soft breezes
laden with the scent of wood violets and the inevitable
macchie, and now and then with the resinous smell
wafted from sombre fir-trees on the higher slopes.
Neil Darroch felt dazed and stupefied. After all
the misery he had endured this seemed to him a
heaven upon earth. He was content at last to gaze
aboui him, and eat and drink, his mind well-nigh a
blank, his senses intoxicated.
On they marched, by paths known to few; and
n to few; and
FROM PERIL TO PERIL 173
they rapidly dre^^' near a wilder district, the nome of
Massoni ; for Olima was a village of brigands.
Upwards they toiled till they were amongst gorges
and precipices, till above gleamed the winter's snow
cappmg vast mountain flanks, shaggy with fir forests!
or barren, like Neil's own hills. Ermine-tipped cones
stood out against the blue sky away to the south,
where lay Monte Cinto and Monte Rotondo, giants
amongst giants. In front towered Monte Padro
and m a nook on its eastern ' > they came upon
Olima. ^
It was a dirty village, small and straggling, but
Massoni lived apart in a fair-sized house, with a flat
roof and a covered veranda, a house perched on a
tiny, vme-clad peak, which caught all the sunlight
that played upon this gloomy, rock-girt spot.
Now that Neil Darroch saw the place to which
Massoni had brought him, his suspicions were again
aroused. He felt glad he had a knife in his posses-
sion when a score of wild-looking men appeared and
greeted his companion with cries of welcome. They
were all armed, and he fancied they did not regard
him favourably. Massoni, however, said a few words
to them, and passed on.
' Any one of these fellows would willingly die for
me, he told Neil, who could not help thinking their
devotion might be expended on a worthier object.
btill, his host was gracious enough, though very
taciturn. He did not even put any further questions,
but Neil could see that he was absorbed in his own
thoughts, which seemed to afford him infinite satis-
faction. Massoni, indeed, was gloating over his lono-.
delayed revenge.
Neil slept well and soundly, despite his new
surroundings, for the long march had wearied him. In
the morning he found a suit of clothes laid out for him
and a boy came, who indicated by signs that he would
till the evening, and spent the day in the house,
fW
174 VENGEANCE IS MINE
watching from its windows, which had shutters but
no glass, the magnificent panorama of crag and forest
spread out below him.
Massoni har.dly spoke at tlie evening meal of goat's
flesh and dried fruit, save to compliment him on his
appetite and to inquire politely if he lacked any-
thing. For all that, Neil could not overcome a certain
dislike to him, which he strove to banish, but in vain
Now that his body was rested, his mind became more
active, and he lay awake on his hard bed, which was
too short for him, and reviewed the situation. Had
any man he asked himself, undergone such a series of
remarkable changes in such a time? 'Adventures
are to the adventurous.' they say, but they had
crowded on him unsought.
As he tossed to and fro, he suddenly became aware
of a repeated tapping on the shutters. He imagined
that a lizard was running up and down them, or that
the light breeze was playing with a loose spar. But
no ; the noise continued, and grew in intensity. Some-
one upon the veranda was making him a signal.
He rose, slipped on some clothes, and, with the
clasp-knife open in his hand, stealthily crossed to the
window and looked out. He could see through the
slits a dark figure, and as he stood and watched it
the tapping ceased.
• Open I For God's sake open !' said a low voice in
r rench.
Neil experienced a feeling of relief. It was a
woman who spoke to him. Wondering what was
about to happen, he undid the fastenings, still keep-
ing his weapon ready in case of need. It was one of
those lovely nights which come but rarely in his own
land. A gorgeous moon sailed high in a vault which
was blue-black in colour, and studded with innumer-
able stars, and a silver light made all well-nigh as
plain as in the daytime. ^
A form, shrouded in some kind of drapery, slipped
into the room and stood before him.
I a low voice in
FROM PERIL TO PERIL 175
• What do you want ?' he asked in a tone which had
a warning in it.
* I want a brave man,' was the answer, and with
that the woman, by a quick motion, bared her face a
face so full of woe, of deep suffering, that Neil's pity
was aroused. "^
He had been growing selfish, and no wonder, per-
uP\ IK"^^^ ^^^^ ^°' ^'"^ ^o fi"d there were others
who had known misery and shame.
'God knows • he said solemnly, 'if you have come
to the right place. I was once brave enough but
now ^ '
* You must be— you are an Englishman I' she said
in a quick, breathless whisper.
He felt as if he had been stung.
* I am not,' he said harshly.
The vvoman gave a faint cry of dismay which
touched him.
' Still, I may aid you,' he said.
* Then you are French ?'
He did not answer.
^ • It is no matter,' she whispered hastily : ' your face
daf e?'^" ^t^o"g; and besides, you yourself are in
'Indeed!'
'Yes, though I thought it was because you were
English, for Carlo hates them ; but he has brought
you here for evil, be sure of that.' ^
' He has been kindness itself.'
to stv much '^? -T ^"T.^''"' ' ^"^ ' h^^^ "« time
to say much. Listen, and do not ref ^^: me • it is not
for myself I ask,' she pleaded. '
It had once been a fair face which was now lifted
entreatingly to his. a face crowned by soft brown hatr
and lighted by a pair of faded eyesf which long ago
^eL^ru 5"" °^ ^T'y^ ^ ^^^^ both sensitivf and
rehned, but worn and weary.
I will listen,' he said
fT(=»ntlti
Then learn first who"l am.* Years since, when I
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176 VENGEANCE IS MINE
was but a girl, Carlo Massoni would have made me
his wife, but I would have none of him, though he
fancied I was not indifferent. Then, as ever, he was
blinded by conceit, headstrong, and vicious. There
was to me but one on earth to whom I would have
given myself, and he, alas !— he did not care. In
those days he had no thought for women.'
She paused, trying vainly to conceal her agitation.
'And this man, who was he?' asked Neil with a
faint trace of his old legal bearing.
' He was — how am I to own it to a stranger ? He
was the man who is now the Emperor of the French.'
* Napoleon I'
' Hush 1 you will be heard. Yes, Napoleon Buona-
parte of Ajaccio, now the greatest of the great.'
Neil noted the proud ring in her voice. He had
been on the point of telling her how Napoleon had
fallen. Now he refrained.
' Well ?' he asked, for she stood as if in a reverie,
a wan smile upon her pale lips.
* Ah I yes. When Massoni found I wourd not be
his wife, he vowed that I. should be no other's, and
one night he and his brothers carried me off to the
mountains. You can guess the rest, monsieur.'
Neil bowed. He was strangely moved.
' But your friends ?' he asked.
* They tried to rescue me, but everyone, my father,
my two brothers, my cousins, all, all were shot, one
after the other. I have now no friends, monsieur — in
all the wide world not one to help.'
* Your pardon,' said Neil ; * I am ready.'
She gave a sob of joy.
'Ah! I knew you were a good man!' she cried.
' And we will save him yet !'
'Him?*
* Yes ; listen again. It will not be for long.
Massoni, five years ago, sent here a man who has
been held a prisoner ever since, who has been tortured,
who is kept in a miserable hole upon the side of a
in a reverie,
1' she cried.
FROM PERIL TO PERIL 177
precipice, but who is brave — braver than any I have
heard of. If you could hear him singin/^ cheerily in
spite of his troubles ! I have wept for him often.'
' Who is he ?' asked Neil, now full of interest.
* He is a servant of the Emperor,' she answered,
' who would be faithful to the death, and it is from
death that he must be saved. In two days Massoni
is to kill him— kill, no, butcher him ! He is but
waiting till his brother, cruel as himself, comes from
Bonifacio. I have tried before now to help him, but *
— her voice trembled — ' I have not the courage. I
could beat myself for my cowardice, but I am afraid
of the sentinel who guards the edge of the cliff night
and day. Heaven help me ! I was not always a
coward, but ' she began to weep softly.
' My God !' said Neil to himself in English. ' May
I perish like a dog if I do not thwart this Massoni 1'
Not for a moment did he doubt the woman.
' Quick I' he said. * Tell me what is to be done.'
' All is ready,' she answered. ' It has long been
ready, but it will be best to wait for daylight'
She snatched at his hand, and kissed it passionately.
He drew it back quietly, and somehow took the
lead.
* Then as soon as it is dawn you will meet me —
where ?*
* On the ground below where we stand.'
' Good. Have you a knife ?'
' I will bring a dagger with a cutting edge, a strong
rope, and all that is needed. It will be necessary,
perhaps, to kill the guard,' she said fearfully.
* If necessary,' replied Neil grimly, * he shall be
killed.'
'At ( ivvn, then ; and the good God thank you, fcr
I cannot*
' At dawn be it,' said Neil Darroch.
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CHAPTEP II.
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long shafts' of g'^Ten lit »trl".„'''' 'T'" '=''''• '''«
south, tingin/the "rillt' m ^'^it; 'r """^ '°
ghstencd with rainbow hue-, it. 1" ■ '*P°""
striking on peak and pfnnacle Lh •Tm"",^ ^P*'''-
and on the green carpetingof the filin;''''?,'' ^""^''
moved him not one whit" He h=M """^y"- ''
to find it wonderful h';. ^ *^*" " '°° ofton
appreciates "he beautiful H? "°' ?*"= ^>'« ^^ich
long vigil, though he h!i„"^' ^^ ^^"^^ *'"' '"'"
all niggt.' Why should h"? Y°''''''=^t?, ^^^P awake
it of him. when the nriinn . f T'l' '^""^ '° '•<=q"''fe
long years Hni . P"«°"'-"r had been safe for five
oTt-- :-gr tiL^T^] ;"-"'--
mouth, his'head^was wrelheS"! 1^'"="^^ °" "is
knee was driven into the small „f^r''f''' *"'' ^
''•Tt-s-i;^i^i? -: wh-t ihi'^lat'p-'
forward a ftw paces to wh°'"P^"'??' ""'' '^^ »"•"'
grew upon a cliff 'dge ^"'^ ^ thick-stemmed tree
a wi'rfft"!^''."'' "'' astonished. Below him was
far fSow ~03e^°;!rj,^°/%='<^-. clad with v^rd^e
hundred feet barren TnH "!"■ ">* ""^^-b^It five
he could tral; trthre^H ^T!i?^- . ^t its base
^ o^ ^,,,.ci cnac marked the
THE GASCON
179
water-course which had through countless ages cut
this cafton in the mountain's flank. It made him
U,\6i]y to look into its depths, where as a mere speck
he could see some great bird sailing slowly alone in
mid-air. **
* Look,' said the woman; 'do you see that ledge
straight below, some twenty feet down .? It is upon
It that the cave opens in which he is. Ah, listen I
Did I not tell you so ?'
There floated up to him the sound of a man's voice
singing. Neil recognised the air. It was the ' Mar-
seillaise.'
* Is he not brave ?' said the woman. ' At all hours
I have heard him, and that ls his favourite.'
* Yes,' said Neil slowly, and there was a moisture
in his eyes ; ' he is worth the saving.'
They returned to where they had laid down the
rope and their provisions before securing the sentinel.
' They have a ladder made of rope and wood,' said
the woman, ' but this is the best I could ge' . I stole
it three years ago, yet it is good and strong.'
* I cannot see,' said Neil, * how they could get him
up without danger to themselves, if he has any
sense.' '
' You forget,' she said, ' they have pistols ; they
could shoot him from the ladder. But see, I have
written a note saying we are friends, and here is a
cord by which to lower it. We need a small stone
to weight it.'
'You are thoughtful,' said Neil.
' I have had plenty of time to think,' answered the
woman sadly.
A man who was half choking, whose eyes were
glaring at them in rage, was finding time pass all too
quickly from one point of view, and all too slowly
from another. He was working desperately at his
lashings.
Neil Darroch lay down, and s^ave a low whisH**
Ine singing ceased abruptly. He whistled again.
12 — 2 * '
!i!ii!li
II rii!
i'lih II
I 't! I
li liiiiil!
ill
iSo VENGEANCE IS MINE
ami 1 man appeared on the little platform of rock
It safely and read its contents. He looked up and
began making signs. He held a hand aloff and
shj>ok It vigorously, as if in pain. He pointed to h^
rope^' '" ^"''*' '"'"^ ^'"' '^"^ ^^°"°* h^ld on to the
'What are we to do ?' cried the woman in despair
roof ?«f r '' ^"' °"? '^'"^ ^°^ '^'' h- answered 'Tf he
rope IS long enough, and that is to cut off a portion
I shall descend, fasten him to myself-he does not
look heavy-and bring him up.' "°^
^ But can you ? will you be able ?'
self '"if" b"t try; he said ; 'and,' he added to him-
fof nothing '^' "'" ' '^^^ "°* --^^ - the ^.X
nothing which could chafe it
helrt"""' ''^ '*'''^' '''^^P * eood watch and a good
spelk! "'°"*" ^''^ "°* '■'P'^' '''^ "^^ '°° «'='"ted to
Neil lowered himself carefully over the chT and
cliff 7ac"±"'''- ,^^^<^■•'^ ^"''^ noticed that the
absolutefv^o /'T"""^^ '"'°°"' »'^". affording
absolutely no footing. It was a fiendish idea tn
ZrZt^T'"' '" l"^," ^ ^P°'- Neil's or!fy w^ndlr
was that the man below him had not lone since
hurled himself into space, and found reliefTn^deX
He did not know Jules Gironde. ^•
nn„ ' . Tu- '°.''''"'elf, his experience on the frieate
now stood him m good stead. He took care no! to
1°°": iTaV"i° *«. ^>- below him! buT^pt'hi:
-^ ^- ..^vd Ox. uic lucK lace past which he slipped.' The
THE GASCON
i8i
man below kept the rope as taut as he could. Neil
found the descent easier than he anticipated.
Presently a hand caught him by the leg, and a
nioment later he was upon the ledge, and before
him stood the strangest figure of a man he had ever
seen. He was short and thickly-built, and clad in
rags. He was bareheaded, and his skin showed
through great rents in his boots. He looked more
like a scarecrow than anything else, and stood peer-
ing at Neil out of half-closed eyes like a sleepy
chicken wakened in the hen-roost.
As Neil returned his scrutiny with interest, he
noticed that there was something very singular about
him. For a moment he could not discern the cause ;
then, with a start, he perceived that the man had
no ears. The outline of his head was unbroken. It
was marked by a dark ed scar on either side, and
in the centre of each was an oval hole, surrounded
by pouting skin, like the featherless auricle of a bird.
A straggling, • nidy beard bedecked his cheeks and
chin, but his sc^ip was nearly bald, though what hair
there was had a fluffy appearance, and was gray in
colour. It resembled the fine fur of a young rabbit.
His face was brown as a berry, and was the face of
a man who had once been fat. There was some-
thing pitiful in its evident capacity for filling out, in
its empty lurks of skin and furrowed leanness. For
all that he had not the alert look of a hungry animal,
but rather the dull, heavy expression of one who had
fasted long and slept little. His eyes were weak and
reddened at the lid-margins, but Neil could see the
excitement in them. Jules Gironde seemed suddenly
to rouse himself. He clapped his heels together and
bowed.
Neil nodded to him. It was no time for ceremony.
He could see behind the man an opening in the cliff
about four feet in height. The ledge was narrow,
and ended abruptly on either side ; he did not feel
inclined to look behind him.
l82
m\
VENGEANCE IS MINE
; Vour hand is hurt?' said Neil in French
Emperor!- he exdS"^ ^"""'' "^"""S^ ''"^ *«
his^bra?„'^'Hl° ""'"'' ?"' '"■^ ^"«'^""g' had turned
"lb Drain. He was about to pyr^!a;« fu^ i ^
cave. coveri„;t-i^?ar;rhi;Sr' '""^^"^ ""^
ovfr"'°Tvf "^PP^^ '° the edge and quietl,- looked
the Sde^, ^"' ""^"^ ^--'°"« of a slap upon
into^rjroMo'.' "'' " ^°'''^- ^""^ <^'™"''^ '^^ the way
troubies''L^ !7^' effort mastered his emotion. ' Her
troubles are at an end,' he told himself u;,
seemed to have begun afresh. ' "'' °™
What are we to do now ?' he aslced ■ Ti,= .
gone, the food is gone, and presently tiat Xn
tt'o^r' > '""^' '''" -'"^how^'got freC wm suSm '"„
Jul'et GironVe!'"' "'■" "°' '"" "=' ' ""P^ — 'ed
taki^g't^ fl^eSuTeTof'th"'^,''"'- "\° "^"^ ^een
found himself. ""^ P''"'" '" "^ich he now
I |i
THE GASCON
183
It was a mere hole in the limestone, with irregular
sides, and a roof which at its inner end sloped nearly
to the floor, and from which water dripped in parts.
. yre was no vestige of a bed, no vestige of anything
- uich might give such a prison even the semblance of
comfort.
' Great heavens I' said Neil. ' Have you lived here
five years ?'
'For nearly five years, monsieur,' said the little
man. 'Is it not a palace?' He waved his hand
abroad in a manner which reminded Neil of Charles
Deschamps. ' I would do you the honours,' he added
quaintly, ' but our time is strictly limited. We must
leave at once, and fortunately no packing up is
required. May I inquire the name of my travellinr/
companion ?' ^ t»
' My name,' said Neil, 'is Deschamps— Noel Des-
champs; but I fail to catch your meaning. If there
IS any passage from this hole— and I confess I see
none — why have you remained ?'
' A question, sir, which does you credit ; but look
j^*"^ , 1?®., ^^^ trembling with excitement, and
draoged Neil to the end of the cave. A light began
to dawn upon the latter.
What he saw was a huge rounded block of black
stone, with a whitish crusting upon it here and there
iincircling it was a deep groove, which looked as if it
had been chiselled.
' Behold the work of four years— work I thought
was in vain until ten minutes ago,' said Jules Gironde
with an air of triumph.
1 1 do not understand,' said Neil Darroch.
^ * That is natural enough, but permit me to explain
in a few words. Ah, my friend, if you knew the joy
of again speaking to a human being ! but there will
be time to chatter like a jay, please God. Observe,
then, that this rock is different from the rest. It did
-_. ^ ,^. ..vHun iii:»t I Lariie 10 be iieie, lor it was
coated with a deposit of lime— you see how the water
1 84
VENGEANCE IS MINE
trickles over it ? I chipped oflF some by chance, and
more for amusement.' He laughed softly. ' It has
been great fun,' he said, with a droll wag of his head.
' Here are my tools ' ; he picked up a bone and a
pointed piece of rock. ' I worked till I found the stone
was set in a ring of hard clay. Then I understood.
Said I to myself, " Courage, Jules Gironde, this is
man s doing ; there is a passage beyond." I am from
Gascony,' he added, ' and we Gascons are not easily
beaten. Monsieur Deschamps.' He laid emphasis on
the name. It was as if he doubted Neil's word, but
the latter was too interested to notice this fact. ' Is
it any wonder my fingers are rough and torn ? At
times I grew frenzied and tore at it with my nails.
A year ago I had picked away as much as I could
pick. Behold the result !'
He stooped, and pressed his shoulder against the
stone near its base. Its upper part swung outwards
towards Neil, but its movement was very slight.
•You see,' said Jules Gironde, *I have not the
strength. It is balanced in some way. I think a bar
6f iron passes through its centre, and is fixed in i\w
wall on either side ; but that does not matter now.
Together we shall succeed.'
' But what is beyond ?'
*Ta, ta, ta !' said the little man testily; ' let us go
and see. To stay here means death.'
•By all means,' said Neil ci^ldly, 'let us ex-
plore it.*
Jules Gironde touched his arm.
* Do not be offended, my friend,* he said. ' I am
perhaps a little elated ; but remember I thought I
was as near liberty a year ago. I wept when I found
I was not strong enough to move it, but I shall not
weep again. If I was rude I ask your pardon.'
Neil had the grace to feel ashamed of his touchi-
ness.
u-?!j^"l^i^,"^'"^'' ^^'^ ^^' ^"^ g»"Jpped the hand
Wiiicu the iuijjulsfve Gascon proiTered him.
THE GASCON
185
Mon Dieu !' said the latter, 'your clasp is like a
vice, but all the better. Catch the upper edL^e when
I press again. Are you ready ? Then, ehoe, ehoe !'
i;arbleu! said Gironde, panting, 'but it is stiff.
Again, my friend ; there is need of haste.'
Once more they struggled with the block, and Neil
summoned all his energies to the work in hand. It
creaked, stuck fast, and then slowly yielded to the
siram.
As the lower half was raised Gironde crept throueh
beneath it He shifted his grasp, and then, its
tastenings being thoroughly loosened, managed to re-
tarn It in its new position till Neil joined him.
Keeping the stone raised, they could see that, as
tjironde had surmised, a tunnel ran away from it but
omng to the gloom, it was impojjible to make out its
nature.
'At last!' said Gironde; 'God is very good.' and
with that they let the block sink heavily back into its
place.
They were in total darkness. Before leaving his
prison the Gascon had taken the precaution of carry,
ing through with him the fruit of his labours, in other
words, the pieces of clay which he had picked out so
laboriously; now he managed to thrust them into the
groove explaining that it would malce things more
difficult for their pursuers, and then they began to
grope their way along the passage, proceeding with
the greatest care and in utter silence, save when
Gironde, who led the way, uttered a word of caution.
ihe air was damp and smelt foul, the roof low. the
floor uneven When they stood still they could hear
the steady drip of water-drops. As they advanced
Isceni^n'cf^'VK''"''*^"' ^^^^ ^^^y ^^^« gradually
ascending. They were proceeding up a gentle
'This, also,' said Gironde at length, Ms the work
KJ i III n j 1 .
Neil did not answer. He was thinking of the
I !l
lii:
i86 VENGEANCE IS MINE
wretched woman, and thinking also that the flint and
steel had gone with her, otherwise their progress
would have been easier.
Suddenly Gironde uttered a low cry of surprise.
He had come upon a flight of rude stairs cut in the
solid rovk. He halted and waited till Neil joined
him.
' Have you the dagger ready ?' he asked ; * we may
have need of it soon.'
' Here it is, and here is a knife which you had
better take.'
' Good,' said Gironde, * and now for liberty!*
They mounted steadily, and then the Gascon,
whose hands were stretched out before him, came
again to a stop. The stair had ended ; his knuckles
were rapping lightly upon wood.
He hurriedly explained the situation.
' What are we to do now ?' asked Neil. ' If we stay
here long enough we shall be killed like rats in a
hole.'
'Pouf !' said Jules Gironde, ' I would give a third
ear if I had one to meet them here, provided they
had not pistols or guns ; but your true dog of a
Corsican is never without his musket ; however, I
have been in many a worse fix than this. Courage,
my friend !'
All the time he was feeling the woodwork in front
of him, and Neil, standing below, heard him give a
grunt of satisfaction.
'Your dagger,' said the Gascon. * I have found a
spring; but be ready for a rush— God knows where
we are.'
There came a gentle hammering, then a click, and
the blackness before them vanished as if by magic.
They stood staring into an empty room, destitute of
furniture.
' Parbleu !' said Jules Gironde, 'a sliding panel, as I
thought ; but I would wager no one here knows of its
existence. This house must be very old. En avant V
THE ESCAPE
187
They stepped out, and while his companion tnrnn.i
his attention to the secret door whirhTff^ i / J"^
covered with whitewash ik-rthewSL f?v,"^ *° ^^
and absolutely in6istin,[-Z^^^^ ^^^^
crossed to a small window and looked out '
It was his turn to be <5iirr.r;co^ j \
prised but astounded The^3cene'whf.h"°' °"'^ ""■
I'-m was the same wi h whTch hf hT r"'"'
acquainted during the last two days '""'""
He was once more in the Villa ni.r,,^ 4.u
hold of Carlo Massoni. ^^'"'^' ^^^ '^'''''S-
CHAPTER III.
THE ESCAPE.
the 'e.hargicteS°:'h:\^ad''Sd'h;".^ ''■°'"
ge n ce'^-^'His"' '"' "^''^-<' 'uT with '" Te°„"
^cdnce. His movements were full nf i;S. j
;-.y. He had a huge gWnTponts rean'.'lta^vcd
. 'To bTsu^^w^t: r,r;' .^'^■■fp-i Nei,
irying.pan to fue.' "' ^^ '■> ^ ^^-''■^- 01 from
i88
VENGEANCE IS MINE
' It seems to afford you much pleasure.'
• Ha ! ha !' said the little man softly. ' You may
yet see the meaning of my words. Hush I' he added
quickly.
From immediately below them came the sound of
an angry voice, faint but unmistakable.
In a moment Gironde darted to the window, peered
from it for a second, and then thrust out his head.
Withdrawing it, he stood back and surveyed the
opening.
' Superb !' said he. ' It is large enough. I shall
trouble you for the rope you have tied round your
middle, monsieur.'
Neil had forgotten all about it. It was the piece
with which he had intended to lash Gironde to him-
self. Certainly this blind-looking mortal had all his
wits about him.
As he unwound the coils Gironde again examined
the window.
* What are you up to now ?' asked Neil.
' I am going to discover what is going on in the
room below, that is, if the rope be long enough.' He
laid it out before him. * It will do,' he said. * Now
for a loop. Monsieur, may I ask you to make one ?
I perceive you have been a sailor, and my hands are
too painful.'
Neil was by this time so amazed that he asked no
more questions.
* Allow me to mount on your back,' said Gironde.
' I thank you. You are tall, even for an English-
man.'
Neil's start would have shaken him off had he not
been already half-way through the aperture.
* There is no one about,' said he. * Be good enough
to slip the noose round my right foot. Thank you.
Do you see a hook on the wall, to which a bar has
once been fastened ? That will do for making fast
the other end. Lower away, monsieur.'
perceived nis object. He was about to
E
'You may
!' he added
ke sound of
dow, peered
t his head,
rveyed the
h. I shall
round your
s the piece
de to him-
had all his
examined
on in the
lugh.' He
id. * Now
nake one ?
hands are
i asked no
I Gironde.
I English-
lad he not
od enough
hank you.
a bar has
aking fast
: about to
THE ESCAPE
189
^^
descend head first, so that he might bring his eyes on
a level with a window directly below, and yet remain
concealed from those within. Neil's feelings at this
extraordinary escapade were a mixture of wonder
horror and suspense.
They were exactly those of Jules Gironde himself,
who was staring upside down at a scene in which he
knew both actors— the last act of a tragedy.
Carlo Massoni had been roused from sleep by the
arrival of the sentinel whose duty it was to guard the
captive. He was a powerful fellow, and had twice
got clear of the prison in Ajaccio, so that he knew a
trick or two with regard to the freeing of wrists and
the wrigghnoj out of lashings. Once rid of his bonds,
he had stealthily crept upon the woman who lay
int^ently watching the men on the ledge beneath
Her senses were, however, acute. She heard his
approach, turned her head, and read, as she thought
murder in his face. Forgetting everything in he?
wild terror, she sprang up, and as he made a rush
towards her, stepped backwards, overbalanced, and
went headlong into the gorge, crashing through the
tree belt five hundred feet below, and meeting what
may have been an easy death.
Vezzani, the sentinel, did not turn a hair: he coolly
dragged up the rope, and then lay down to wait
His object was to shoot the man who had gagged
him. His delay was that man's salvation, and the
reason why Jules Gironde was a witness to his death •
tor what he heard were these words : '
'You are a fool, Vezzani, a blind bat, a dog without
sense ; you are a son of the mountains, and yet do not
knoxy that the surest way to force a person over a
cliff is to rush towards him. You had no intention of
killing her, you say, Vezzani. I am grieved, mv
iriend, that my intentions regarding you are the very
And what Gironde saw was a dagger sheathed to
I90 VENGEANCE IS MINE
Massoni frnm f ^"'' "^"'^ u^"l ^'^^ ^^'t ^f Carlo
corpse '°''"' ''" '^^ ^^^^ °^ ^^^^^ Jay a
he^^etrZf V^r K-"^' ^"^ P\^ ^^'J ^a^»-°ch when
diVculty ' ^"^ ^"^ '" backwards with no h'ttle
ou^bvfll T '''!'^°"'i' ^' P^"'^^- ' Had we gone
out by the door ten chances to one we would have
orTwn ''T''^ ' >"' "f " ''" "^y *^a^- '^arn a thing
or two-oh yes, just a leetle.' he added in English
thrusting his tongue into his cheek. ' Now.' he went
on 'the house will be clear in a minute. listen T'
am'ongS thrhllls'^ ^°""' ^^ ^ ^^^^P'^^ ^^-^
th.lmbr"' ??u^"'''^ "°'^'"S: of this '-he jerked his
thumb toward the passage-' and they are off upon a
Wild-goose chase. We will wait here for five minutes
then go downstairs.' """uces,
I The boy will be there,' said Neil.
' Ha ! do you know the place .?'
* I slept in it last night.'
'The devil you did ! It is more than anyone will
'he fij:?"^^''' ""^ ^°" "°" ''"^^ ^y n^eanfng as to
' But,' said Neil, ' if we burn the house it will
summon them back.' ' ^^^
' Maybe, my friend, but our start will be a short
like T I'Z "'"'.^""^ "° "'^" '^^" ^^^at J"l^« Gironde
like a bear lor five years, and spoil his beauty and
torture him by cold-such cold as'^blinds-and yk ^o
unscathed ; he will burn later, his house wiirbufn
now. Are you with me in this matter ?'
I am,' replied Neil Darroch
staTr^^L°f r^"^ ^^f ^^f' descended a flight of wooden
nZn:^ ^i!'""^^' ^^^^' P^"'^"& a "^o"^ent, gently
opened another door, and pointed with h.s finger^
uLf'^'l' ^T^'""^ P^^^ ^'"^' ^a^v a figure lying
huddled on the floor. ^ ^ ^
' Does anything strike you .?' whispered Gironde.
THE ESCAPE ,9.
* Yes/ answered Neil 'M•lQBr^n; ^^ ^ . .
havmg his handiwork concealed" '^ "°' "''J^^' '°
Precisely,' replied the Ga'sr-nn . r 1
pardon for having thought vo„^' f-' ^^ ''-°'"'
brahman.' "'" 'gm you a fool, though a
' I lay claim to be neither' oai/^ m-m •.!
of his old self • I am^„ 5' . ^''' "'"' » 'ouch
was a legal one.' " advocate, and your question
'Superb !• said Jules Gironde. ' We shall h, „ 1
a ^erTi Trt 'n,asst''th^%r°r"<';?^ ''"^ "^^ "--«
Gascon had beeTtoo tie o'uI^^k™'""'^'' ''<" '^e
The house was deserted "'^ ™P^ ''^'''"'l-
thet re^owtThelr tfsoner 1"' "" -""agration ;
hurriedly cofeted a ferprovi^^/^f^uP'^"' j^ey
time to look for arm, »irhi^. k •. ' ^'^^y ^""^ "°
every man had lefuhet^il^^f " "'^ ^"''^'"^ 'h^'
the'bov^?wrf'f''^^''<*°^''™"<l«- stooping over
his'T^:,'for"rmarca'„° be' r^"l'^^f ">' N^" -»
death and forget i? ""''"^ well-nigh to the
werl^^rsuTi t"rl .'ted 'h'' -^ ''"^^T"'' *at they
the mongrel do jr whfrl, *'"^ ^'^^^^ ^y «°""= °f
heaps in f very vTag:*^? cS "''The-*'''' F'^''^''
fact on, as thev h.irriL f ^"^" °"'>' ^atis-
mountain side was to i!^ 1'°"^ \ sparsely-wooded
them. The Viuroi mf H ^^^^^ "'°°""S "P '■^'-'nd
briskly Thev stood/' ^'^"^ "' ''°"^' "-^^ dazing
• Suoerh I • » ?° a nioment to watch it. ^
oupero I exclaimed Gironde ' M„t i
Massoni probablv keen h" It .^^"^ "".1^. «"!'
Vezzani is well diarred, b
think of the faces of
'if
192 VENGEANCE IS MINE
those who have exploited the passage. There will
U.i Jea'rT/r i^''" '" "^'^ '"^^- ' ^ouldgivTa
itolffl ear, if I had one, to see them '
He chuckled with glee, and his appearance was so
com.caI that Nell burst into a l.-artyLgh He „a!
ueKlnn.ng to enjoy, ,„d therefore to like, this Vagged
linked "'°" "'"' "'"'"' *■" fort""" ha-l befomr
' En avant !• cried the Gascon, and on thev ran till
:h?ya**cutr'=' *'^^^°""' "-*>«= "-^^Vo"
Gironde seemed full of resource. He would return
and double back on his tracks. He wou d make
t^^'i '"" r^ ^*y- ""'' '"" """'her himself AHast
they reached a steen moss-lined watercourse, shadtd
by giant ferns and graceful maidenhair, froi und -r
which crawled a long black snake, terrified by thlir
approach. At sight of it, Neil thanked his stars
that h.s clothes, although they were beginninf to
suffer, were a very efficient covering comp^d li h
etrX-'ghT^Jhtr'"^ ^-""=- ^-"-^'"r
Events proved he was right.
They crawled dowa the bed of the stream and the
Gascon suffered torment from his bruised hTids as he
clung to roots and boulders and tufts of long coarse
Eventually they quitted the rivulet where it reached
a tmy green vale, studded with the choicest blossoms
where countless bees were on the wing/and where
gorgeous butterflies flitted lazily past. Thev would
fain have rested, but it was not to be ^
All day they travelled amongst enchanting scenes
and at mght reached a bare spot hhh u"^unon .'
mountam spur It nas cold, but sfJx,!''^^^
wind and both were so exhausted .., could go n^
THE ESCAPE ,93
■ To-morrow,' said Gironde. 'w-. will sliape a course
Wc must find i village, and ri U ;, little.'
I know n. .iiing of the i:;...,d,- answered Nnl
Where do yrm propose going ?>
honlftob':-' ^"''""'^ '-'"^ — « ' "- thl.
he^rrredrClt:"'' ''" ""■«"*'"«■ '^"--^
' rnd"Chrthe t; r ■""' "^'"^ '° *' -''••
to'lS'sure? °' '=°''"'=-'"" "hy. you do not know.
•Know what?; cried the other, sitting up.
Know that Napoleon is in Elba.'
Imp^oXf ^^',:^t Slrtou ; ^''^' "'-= "^ '^- '
tremendo'r ^"' '°"' "'"'• "» o?''"'-" *-
Neifi^uesse"d'fh?rTl,''™ '""^ 'S°'' •"= "'"""^d. »nd
•Yes, I. You see in me the soldier, Jul. ^ Gironde
of Gascony, who became-I speak wi hoi» bo °st-
he most trusted, the most famous, of the secret
re lil°m"rf -^""^ Emperor had any wo;k
lor one Jik, me. Is it not so? I see it is But
monsieur, you are mistaken. There was a tin-e when
Jules Gironde was a man worth knowing J v dmv
was to capture this Carlo Massoni. I did so 4t h^
"^''ff.'=^"ght me. The Corsican is cunnim as I
should have known, for is not Napoleon of A cdo?
par^ VoUdrg/r'r .°'.'^""-""""K - ^
had been .M„ ^ 1?"'='""' '^* P'''"^ "-h"*^ hi ears
naa Deen. No doubt many think me deait • hi, n,-
Emperor is wise He said to himsdf: ■'riiis'^i. ^^t
ioltis^rd'^rL^^.-l^illl''* .-.,''■•» 'eft ear, but'
That is hecause-h7i;;s7ou;d7orkTo"d:r T't
I 1U
194 VENGEANCE IS MINE
will come in due time, for he has never failed me "
You see monsieur, the Emperor was nVht/
Neil devoutly hoped so. for he was as anxious as
Gironde to be quit of Corsica. ct"xious as
ih.^^'^i" """ "^^"^ -*° '^''°""* ^*" ^^t^'J all that befell
inem. it was a series of escapes, one very much like
the other though Massoni himself had to b^e Careful as
soon as he and his band left the district, whkh was
more or less under his control. This alone saved The
two men who had tricked him. I Gironde proved
himself a skilled forager. Woe betide the chicken
which strayed anywhere near him. There was ffu' t
to be had for the stealing-luscious thick-skinned
oranges, juicy green figs and tiny plums. They were
Once, indeed, they were driven back upon Monte
when G^ondt "T 'u .^'"^^^ ^^ actual^starvatbn!
dnwn . ammunition, managed to stalk and bring
ffo^n. • ^T^ "moufflon, one of those long-haired
mountain sheep, now rarely seen, but then fairlv
Pj5"tf 1 on the higher ranges. They hid in the
lair of the boar and the wild deer and among "t the
dense macchie. They found friends in thi rude
charcoal-burners of the great fir-forests
rnJu"^ n l^' *^u^ ^^'^ ^°^^ *^« Gascon all that he
could tell him about the past five years of French
history, and listened to his lame^ntations. The
n^^M '''^' as emotional as a woman. He wept
over Mascow and the fate of the great army, he crfed
down bitter curses on those whom he imagined had
tricked and deserted the Emperor. To hear hhn
speak one would have thought he could have p^
vented Napoleon's downfall, and beaten back ^the
Allies from the very gates of Paris. Neil had been
deeply interested in all that had passed in Europe
during that stirring period. Naturally he wafS
conversant with Wellinptnn'^ hr,•l^■.p^ ,,;...„yl .-i"..
THE ESCAPE ,95
Peninsula, and it was a new thine for him to Hm,- h,.
names Badajos. Albuera and Vittlria greeted bv everv
sign of grief and dismay. To him the GasS
extravagant sorrow appeared at first ridiculous bm
as he looked at the little man's disfigured face h"s
tattered clothes and half-starved body, he was mived
to a profound pity. He felt that h s o Jn liS had
been selfish and colourless compared with that of ?W«
dauntless enthusiast who never tired of recoun«ne
episodes from his own eventful existence. He had
served m Egypt when Naooleon was but a general
had followed the First Consul, and as a soldier had
hailed the Emperor, but being possessed of a ereat
na ural talent for acquiring languages he had df
veloped It on every occasion, and\ad exchanged fhe
sword for the passport, the game of war for the stiU
more dangerous game of the%ecret servke He had
been here, there, and everywhere. His account of penl
and adventure made Neil forget his own proiecVs?h7,
enthusiasm for his master fired even NeTDarroch!?
cool and calculating spirit. This maimed tear shed
ding Gascon had something noble about him Not J
single complaint as to hinfself passed his Hps His
Em^pe^ rhfs II '"" '' '^' "°» "- wiih Se^
, [^"IJ ^''*" ^ with him when he re-entpr« P=r!= 1
Ju es Gironde will be there if thegood God w , i^ he
on such Lis K l"'p''";','/°°'^- '° P"' ="<=h a man
of Co sica there h. " ' ^^ "=*" smell the flowers
but a s prikii^^ Ha f^r^^i^^^ '^Hr J^
'^iXy. --« P^y our debts, and we^ha",! 1"^^
Neil only smiled Primlv v^f h^ u^^ u^^r ^ , .
to accompany his queer bed.kio;\rElba.ld"aTm:st
S T|
Ml
196 VENGEANCE IS MINE
regarded himself as an adherent of the man who was
,hTj Tu f ""'^K^y ^^""'^ ^^^"*y "^''^es away across
the stretch of smihng, sunh't sea which separated the
eastern coast of Corsica from the Tuscan island.
bo friendly did they become that Neil's reserve
told h m of Geoffrey's treachery, and all the events
wi "P !?u^^!^ '"^^^^"^' ^"* "°t a ^ord of Kate
Ingleby passed his lips. It would have been well for
him ay, and for Gironde, had his tale been complete.
The vivacious Jules had been greatly delighted.
Your surprising confidences are safe with me
monsieur, said he with a ludicrous air of politeness;'
"whidil-s? ^'""^ ^°" ^"^""^ ^°'''^ ^'^'''*'^-'
vo!,Tw/°V^^''^ ^^'^. ^'* °^ your cold island from
your feet and come with me to serve the only man
worth serving What will the Emperor say whe^he
reTur^d' t' ^^'•'""^^'" ^^ ^''^ «^>^' ''you have
^,?r ' ^' ^.''"^'^ y°" ^°"^^' and you have brought
he is something better than a prisoner." « Then niv
friend, he is a faithful servant like yourself/'' he
Emperor will reply, and tap me on the shoulder, so.'
What i you smile, monsieur; you are willing .?'
Time will show/ said Neil. ' As we say in Scot-
land, It IS a far cry to Elba.'
Gironde!" ''^' ""'"'* ""'^'^ *""* ^ '^°'* '^"'' '^'^ J»^^«
she^t'eT in'tL '^'j; ''^'l'^^ J^^ coast, and found
shelter m the hollow of a dry watercourse on the
s^7fh^eio::^^:r%tt ^°""^"^ '-''^ '^ ^'^
Gironde had grown quite fat, and with his stoutness
but that's T',A^- ,^°"""S >^°"'<' please h!m
but that he should steal into Bastia at night and
of hrn,:'"' r °"""'"S. He returned in a state
ot intense excitement.
* Great news !' h^^riVH < w^ k~,— • • - - ,
— .^. ica. we iittVc now, ne added
tm
VE
man who was
s away across
separated the
n island.
"Beit's reserve
jironde. He
ill the events
word of Kate
been well for
en complete,
delighted,
ife with me,
•f politeness ;
ivice.'
i island from
he only man
say when he
, "you have
lave brought
will answer,
" Then, my
)urself," the
houlder, so.'
ing .?'
say in Scot-
1/ said Jules
and found
irse on the
erra to the
lis stoutness
please him
night, and
d in a state
/ he added
THE ESCAPE 197
proudly, ' not only to contend with these rascals, but
with the governor of Corsica himself, and all the
powers that be.'
' The deuce we have !' said Neil Darroch. ' And is
that a cause for jubilation ?'
• It is a reason for quitting this accursed spot as
soon as may be--not for our own safety only, but for
that of France.
Neil was becoming used to the little man's extrava-
gant ideas, and only smiled.
'You smile, monsieur!' he cried; 'you well may,
for It will be our lot-yes, yours and mine-to convey
^ the Emperor tidings of the utmost importance.
This Bruslart the governor, is a wily fox, and as
ambitious as he is cunning. He has conceived the
notion of capturing Napoleon, and holding him for
H^S;'"'?; ^^^'\^"d ^ 'night do it. for it woSld not be
difficult ; but then, he has forgotten something.'
^ Indeed ! said Neil, half guessing what was doming.
Yes, my friend, he has forgotten Jules Gironde.'
Ihe frenchman had spoken the truth when he
mentioned the plot against Napoleon. Bruslart, an
unscrupulous but daring man, was even then con-
sidenng how he might best entrap the Emperor, and
serve his own ends. He was not the only one to
Whom such a scheme commended itself. The
dreaded Barbary pirates at a later period formed a
similar project, which, like that of Bruslart. never
came to maturity.
H,n^r°"'^%^^'^/.^'?^'"^>' ""^^^ 'h« "^ost of his oppor.
tunities. In addition to his other discoveries, he had
exploited the harbour and found a boat, which from
Us position could be easily seized, and in which they
might escape unseen if fortune favoured them. He
insisted, however that they must wait for a calm
mght and a suitable wind, and Neil, though consumed
with impatieace, saw the wisdom of such a course.
tie feared thaf frt^ch /4->.,.,^_„ __:_u^ ....
t.lba if the Undaunted was still lying in the roads ;
-. ^1
198 VENGEANCE IS MINE
but anything was better than this inaction, and he
ZretJlTjiy'''^ ^I ^°^rse, ill-cooked food, his
wood ^^°*^^^' ^"d uncomfortable bed of brush-
There would have been much less difficulty in
gettmg out of Corsica if Gironde had come across a
boat on the beach, but, as he said :
],o!TflT ?^^i?" "^^^^ ^""^ ^^^y ^<^g"es. They might
have fish for the catching, but not one of them wil
in/p T' ^?u "^u^ \^^^^ ^'^ I «^e between here
shore? ' ^"^ '^''^ ^'^ *'^° "'"^^^^ °" the
nfJhfT.! ^^^'''''^ *^'"^ ^^^ them that they soon got a
night fitted in every way for their adventure. A long
fnM h-""? have meant discovery, as Massoni had
told his story to the governor, and he was as anxious
dead nr .r" ^^T' '° ^">' ^^"^^ ^" J"^^« Gironde
dead or alive. As it was, a bold stroke paid, as it so
often does, and on a dark morning, with the wind
from the south-west, the Gascon and Neil Darroch
s ipped wanly out of the harbour of Bastia. andlaid
wonH.7 ' ^r ^7 ^^^"- T^^^'^ ^^^^P-de had been
thl /c l^ ^'f/'^"' ^^"^"'■- C"'-^ had barked at
tSe nfrf ^^^y .'^°^ P^^t the shingle-roofed houses in
the dirty mean-looking villages, but they had not
been challenged by a soul. Neil's spirits rose as
dimbi'n??,^ f^"""^ -?" °P"" ^°^^' *he black hillside
climbing up from it on one hand, on the other the
sea murmuring a lullaby far below, the soft air laden
with fragrant odours from the strips of meadow, and
the clustering groves and vine-terraces.
l:.v fnV.r"' "^'^^ '^' *^" buildings and narrow streets,
ay for the most part to the south of the harbour, and
shed! ^^'^ ^'^ ''''' '''^''''''''' ^'" the Cusioms
Neil had to repeat his swim, for Gironde with all
his accomplishments could not manage a dozen
wfi'h hi;,^";^''"'' T '^" ^°"'' ^^ "^"ffl^^^ the oars
with bits of his nether garments, severed her rope
THE ESCAPE 199
with his knife, and pulled gently ashore. The Gascon
after bowing ironically to the dark mass with here
and there a twinkling light, which was all they could
see of Corsica, stepped aboard, and surely never in
Its history did two stranger figures round the end of
the breakwater which guards the quaint and stone-
girt harbour of the island's seaport
Once again Neil Darroch saw the rosy dawn touch
the long line of the Montagna Serra, and turn to gold
the winters snow on the fnland peaks. Once again
he watched the night shadows quit the island chain
l°iK eastward, from Capraya, famed of old, past
tlba, whose fame was in process of making, past
httle Pianosa, to the distant granite cone of Monte
Cristo which was yet to be the most famous of the
Jour, thanks to a wizard's pen.
Away astern, however, there was a sight not so
pleasant— a polacre clearing out from Bastip. her
triangular sail a white dot against the shore. She
was fully five miles to the rear, but Jules Gironde
apparently had no doubts as to her intentions.
Yonder they come,' said he. ' How many of them
will go back, think you ?' ^
' Time will show,' said Neil, who was busy changing
his clothes. He had found a fisherman's outfit in a
locker forward, and was glad to get rid of his torn and
nitny costume.
'Ah, the philosopher speaks,' chuckled the Gascon
beaming his approval. ' Perhaps there will be no
more time for some of these rascals, only eternity '
mu'^k^ffi^^^^^^ '' ""'' '''''' J^*^^' ^"^ P^" '^ ^-
be;tl' makru^o"' '"'' "^^^ ""''' ' ^^" '^^
Jules Gironde shook his head.
JJt '* Ih^^y^}"^^ "^^ sain the island before they
reach us ?' he asked. "^
' I thfnb- nr\t- ' <,«;j XT_:i . ....
fk^j"!""" "';"' ""^''^ ^''^"' '"^'asunng with his eye
the distance between the boat's bow and the lofty
200
VENGEANCE IS MINE
I
cliffs ahead, and that between the boat's stern and
her pursuer, whose sail was growing perceptibly
larger.
'Then, why spoil a good set of clothes?' said
Gironde dryly, with a shrug of his shoulders.
Neil Darroch laughed uneasily. He could not take
matters with the cool nonchalance of the old soldier.
His training had been entirely different, and he knew
that if it came to a fight his would be the hardest
task, as he could do nothing till it was a case of close
quarters, which might never be.
Gironde, on the other hand, whistled a tune to
himself, cleaned out his gun and reloaded, and then
laid the weapon aside, speaking to it as if it had been
a living thing. The boat scarcely needed any man-
agement, for the breeze was falling. Neil took his
turn at steering, and the Gascon lay down in the
bows.
Suddenly he gave a cry and jumped to his feet,
pointing straight in front of him.
* What is it .?' Neil called out.
* There, in the shadow of the land, is there not
something ? My sight is not what it was, but surely
something moves ! Yes, it is a ship. Par Dieu I we
shall trick them yet 1'
Neil kept the boat away a little, and then saw what
was exciting his companion. A couple of leagues
ahead lay the western coast of Elba, black, lofty, and
precipitous, and amongst the dark shadows which
stretched out from it across the water there crept a
brig, a mere brown blur, stealing lazily along close
in shore under easy sail. Could they but attract
the attention of her crew, there might yet be a chance
of safety.
The boat swished lightly through the sea, running
merrily enough, but her ropes no longer twanged like
taut wires, and her canvas shivered now and then.
The polacre had the tail of the breeze, and they
watched her till her hull showed.
THE ESCAPE
201
Knot after knot slipped past under both keels, and
Corsica loomed a mere mass of glittering peaks a
score of miles away, while Elba rose steep and mas-
sive before them, and they could see the white walls
of houses and mark the outline of the coast. The
brig was well-nigh becalmed, and Neil headed for
her, while Gironde kept up a ceaseless jabber, and
now and then shouted defiantly at their pursuers.
They were still two miles from the brig when the
wind failed utterly. They lowered sail ; so did the
polacre. Neil of his own accord settled himself at
the oars, and almost at the same moment a line of
silver flashed along each side of the polacre.
' They have sweeps, my friend,' cried the Gascon,
and sat down very contentedly in the stern. 'This
good gun,' said he, ' sends a ball one hundred yards,
and I was accounted the best shot in the old Thirty-
Second when in Egypt'
Neil Darroch had no time to answer. He was
exerting himself to the uttermost, and the small boat
sprang forward at each stroke, the water bubbling
round her bows, and streaming in curling eddies from
the oar blades.
Jules Gironde cheered himself hoarse, shouted
encouragement, and several times stood up and
shook his fist at the long black craft which came rush-
ing steadily upon their track, nearer and nearer, till
they could see the men aboard her.
The strain was terrible. Neil's veins stood out like
blue and knotted cords upon his forehead, his arms
felt like steel bands about to burst asunder, he pulled
like an automaton, swinging backwards and forwards
like a machine. His breath came in great sobbing
gasps, but he never halted, never paused.
* Pour I'Empercur !' yelled the Gascon. ' The brig
has cannon, and we near her. Pull, for God's sake
pull I She is French— perhaps a Bourbon,' he shouted
a mnmfnt lafor • * h>'t ^ftrfhinrr Jr. U„«.f,... i.U-^ A.I
devils behind. Remember, it means your ears at
Uis
202 VENGEANCE IS MINE
least. Bravo my friend I The Emperor shall hear of
this. He will say — pouf I'
His last exclamation was in answer to a bullet
from the polacre, which raised a jet of spray yards
m their rear. Following it there came a hail, a sum-
mons to surrender.
Gironde's answer may not be printed. He was
scarcely responsible at such a time. It was replied
to by a volley of musketry, which did no harm,
• Ta, ta, ta !' said the little man impatiently ; ' there
IS too much noise all on one side. Monsieur is too
inquisitive, he continued, taking sights at a head
just beside the root of the bowsprit. There was a
bang and the head vanished. ' He has learned the
same lesson a did our friend the moufflon,' said
Jules Gironde, and rammed another pellet down the
barrel.
He looked round and faced about with a glitter in
his weakened eyes. It had come to the pinch, and
all his eifervescence vani^'hed.
Neil Darroch's strength was failing him. He was
soaking with sweat, strained, and almost spent. Still
he laboured on, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, till
the boom of a heavy gun brought him to his senses.
He looked dully about him. The polacre had turned
tail, and was racing for dear life. Gironde was
blaspheming and praying by turns, and a few hundred
yards away lay a graceful brig, a cloud of blue smoke
drifting from her side, and a crowd of men lining her
bulwarks. Neil Darroch made a futile effort at a
cheer, and collapsed into the bottom of the boat.
He had somewhat revived by the time his com-
panion had placed them alongside the vessel which had
come so opportunely to their aid. As Jules Gironde
did so there was a murmur as of pity, and then
a roar of laughter. The Gascon was on his legs,
flourishing his ancient head-piece and bowing this
way and that with the utmost gravity, as if wholly
unconscious of his dilapidated breeches, his burst
THE ESCAPE 203
shoes, and his well-ventilated jacket. A rope ladder
was sent down the side, and Gironde promptly
mounted, followed by Neil Darroch. whose muscles
were trembling with fatigue, but he made a great
the'^deck ^'"^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^"d dignified as he gained
The brig appeared to be a ship of war. Half the
men aboard her were in some sort of uniform, though
they locked slovenly and untidy. The Gascon, Neil
noticed was standing staring at them open-mouthed,
while they for their part, crowded round the strange
pair of fugitives. ^
. , ' What is this ?' cried the Frenchman all at once.
Who are you my friends .? 1 see here grenadiers
01 the guard, chasseurs, men of the artillery. What
does_^it mean .? Are you ghosts ? Is this a phantom
A shout of merriment answered him.
'Fair play !' cried a voice. 'You are the visitor.
Monsieur I'Epouvantail ; we shall ask your name
nrst.
* And I am not ashamed to give it, though you
seem ashamed to show your ugly face. Have you
ever heard of Jules Gironde?'
.,-*^^*'°I!^®'' echoed a chorus of voices— ' Gironde
the spy ?
*Yes, my friends— Gironde of the secret service'
^ll'l^^'he »'**^^ Gascon, visibly swelling with pride.
'But your ears, monsieur?' queried a very trim
tellow in the front.
' Have been where you would not dare to show
your nose, snapped Jules Gironde, letting the butt
of his musket fall . eavily on the other's toes, and
joining m the roar which followed.
'And this great fellow?' cried another.
Is worth two of you, mon brave.'
Neil Wa«! faiVhr UaxitilA^r'^^ ^-j <-!-.«. ■!.' ^ ! -
J, •^•_rviiu;.rv,v_j uy the raitie 01 their
tongues, and stood staring at the bronzed, hairy faces
It
«04 VENGEANCE IS MINE
about him, tin a tall man came pushing through the
si^ht ^Tlhf? 'P'?^ °''" '"■^ '="^= a' he caught
somehow '"° adventurers, but he swallowed .-l
mesSur:, T^oTpZT-" "''•' ''^ ''''■ ' ^°"°- -«•
qufrto dec\'^T,.°^ ''"^ ''^ '^'' *« "»y '°>^«"1^ the
nf th„ /i, ' ^"'u "° =°°"='' «'='s Jules Gironde free
^z^, r tro-d^';:,i.toi:,'j- - fz^'S
Ndl'narm^rV''!,''' ^V, ."""•■""^d the Gascon,
rveil JJarroch followed h s gaze. There wrr^ thr..
men standing at the top of%he stai's whlh llS to
the poop but he had eyes only for the one n fh^
middle, the shortest of the trio. ^ This man a man
pTa-nelt leir^Set^H' '"'"""■''■ -- klso'th
L/f hin- gJ::nMt°fa:;'.;^4 ix°x^^
and buttoned very tightly across hi.^ ches "^Wh re
>t fell away on either side his paunch protruded
covered by a close-fitting Kerseymere waisteoat a„d
bis legs were cased in breeches of the sTme maier?,
wrfnSe 'Th"°" ^'°^'-"g^. ="1 with scarce Ts ng i
Tnd p acidTn hf»""" ^"'"^'hing smooth and rounded
nearer hi M-i^PP^"?""^^ • ^"^ as they approached
cTershtl fn' v?ry ^^%.)'lJror thaf ''t'"'^'^
stoutness which show^ itself Tnl^osf-htging^'mrsL'
ro=.tf P°'!. "''"'/ '' "'^^ fi"-™ »nd smooth.'^the sWn
coarse and weather-beaten, the features clear! vnl?
so handsome as they had been. He appeaTetin a
very good humour, and as he smiled Sved an
excellent set of teeth, and, reaching up tapped one
of his companions on the shoulderfand 4w some
^ing to h,m which made him laugh immodera^dv
Then he put his hands h„i,;.„i hi- ^ ™ °f'*'ely.
— ■■■■ -^ "»= uacK ana stood
THE KSC vPL 205
erect and passive, and for t\u .rst time, as hfs .es
met Neil Darroch's, the latter understood wh vas
meant by a penetrating gaze, and felt stra..i,^ely
uncomfortable. Apart from Gironde's exclamation
he knew instmctively that he stood in the presence of
the greatest man of his age. ^
^ The chief feeling which possessed him was an
intense curiosity. He could not keep his eyes off
the plump figure and set face of the late Emperor of
he Irench This was the genius whose shadow had
lam across Europe, from Connaught to the Caucasus,
from Archange. to Gibraltar, Sicily, and the Archi-
pclago, for five-and-twenty years, who had conquered
in the country of the Pyramids, who had defied the
bphinx of the desert, who had tasted victory and
defeat in the Holy Land itself. He was but a^name
m Britam— a name dreaded and hated, but a name
only, thanks to a silver streak of sea
Novv Neil Darroch, who had read of him and
marvelled at his deeds, and been ready more than
once to carry a musket against him and his threaten-
ing hordes, saw him in the flesh, a prisoner, a petty
king, a fallen star. The brig was the I^iconsfaul and
Napoleon had been surveying his little island, visitin-
its ancient iron mines, accompanied by his faithful
Bertrand and Colonel Campbell, and was now return
ing to his new capital. This incident was to his
taste. Anything was welcome which could di\ert
the backward current of his thoughts.
Neil Darroch was about to bow when he remem-
bered his costume and the r61e he had assumed. He
stood in a respectful attitude, waiting eagerly to hear
ment ^^^^'^'" ^ ^'''^''' ^""^ matching his every move-
As for Jules Gironde, as soon as he recovered from
his surprise he became a different being. His slouch
and careless lounge vanished ; he held up his head
braced back his shoulders, and marched at a reg^a
tion pace, with his musket tucked into the hollow of
2o6 VENGEANCE IS MINE
his shoulder. As they halted he came to the salute,
and. standing thus, looked more ludicrous than ever
Buonaparte motioned their conductor to stand
aside, and a smile flickered for a moment about his
I.ps as he surveyed the two men at a distance of a
V[^!u \ ^-^'^u^^'j^/ "^^^"^^ ^^'"^ over his face.
He thrust his head forward, wrinkled his brows, and
stared intensely at the Gascon.
• Your name ?' he asked sharply.
Gironde did not reply, but Neil saw him make a
curious movement with the fingers of his left hand
Again the ghost of a smile played about the
corners of Napoleon's mouth.
/A moment; he said quickly, as if to prevent
Gironde speaking. ' Ah ! now I know that face— the
face of a brave man and an old servant, one who
has suffered for France.'
The Gascon made no effort to hide his scars, but
a great tear rolled down either cheek. He saluted
agam.
•For France and the Emperor,' he said,
with ."11" on Napoleon's right, a big-boned man
with a thm, fresh-coloured face and a patch of
whisker in front of each ear. listened stolidly. The
other who had an honest open countenance, a large
mouth, and a fine figure, slapped his thigh and nodded
approvingly. Napoleon returned the salute
'Jules Gironde,' said he, and there was a touch of
sadness in his voice, 'the day is past when I might
reward you as you deserve, but you have my thanks
for I know you have done your duty. Would that I
could say the same of all'
His face darkened and grew angry, but the frown
passed m a moment.
' You were in Egypt ?'
' Yes, sire.'
stride's ?*^ ^""'' "^ ^''"'"' y"" s^'"'^ y°<»
* Yes. sire,*
THE ESCAPE
207
* Since then you have served me — where ?'
* In Spain, Italy, Prussia, Austria, the Netherlands
and En nd.'
' And lastly in Corsica ?*
* In Corsica, sire.'
* Where you lost your ears ?'
Gironde saluted.
* Never was man better served than I have been—
by some— by some,' said the Emperor significantly
[)rcssing Bertrand's arm kindly.
' And who are you ?' he asked, shifting his glance
to Neil.
* My name is Noel Deschamps.'
' Deschamps ! Deschamps ! I seem to know that
name, but no matter. And what may you be, sir ? It
is clear you are not a fisherman : you are tail enough
for a grenadier.*
' I am a lawyer by profession.'
•A lawyer ! That is bad, sir, that is bad ; we must
find something more useful for you to do. Jules
Gironde, is this long fellow a friend of yours ?'
' He is a brother in arms, sire.'
' Good ; we will hear your story in an hour from
now, if,' he added, wheeling round and facing the
British Commissary, 'that suits your convenience
monsieur.' '
Colonel Campbell flushed. He merelv bowed, and
Napoleon, turning on his heel, walked slowly aft,
while Neil Darroch and the Gascon v/ere instanth'
surrounded by a mob of excited men, each more
anxious than the other to show them some attention.
Neil Darroch, however, was too busy thinking of
other things to trouble his head about them, and let
their questions pass unanswered. He saw now why
Jules Gironde had no wish to change his clothes.
The man loved a scene. He was an actor in a small
way. But Neil Darroch had heard his story before,
and recognised that the man with whom he had been
face to face, the man with the keen blue eyes and the
i
208
i i
f;
VENGEANCE IS MINE
harsh, metallic voice, was an arfnr .ic r .
most accomplished the ZlTktT^j' :;,""' "' *'
Darroch's sleeve and ht\ '*'"/".'? •■" P'"*^'' Neil
soon as they were flon."?^ '"? '° f""""- As
"ttlecaperTpoTJheXks"' """"■^^"^'^ "« -' »
b.o^S^ril,''^;;-;^^^^^^^^ a .arshal-s
' ivr^ 1 ^°" "^^^^ •^' asked Neil
on tItheT:&^H^„?r;ntS^"?^^^^^
CHAPTER IV.
*vivE l'empereur!*
T TL^Kd^f X 'ei ?-"[• He was
and bloodless march on^hf A •5rP"°''* audacious
him in admiraHon of the g^eafsSkTT Vk°"^ "'"^
power, and still more of fhe head whf^h ''?"'J',^"d
caf?GueL°"l?'t^h': Rufdu tc^'^'^ '^^"t' '" "'^
one man in whom the r.^. * ^"'f ""*'• h°»ever,
narration routed no enth^da™' "Z'^ ^""^ ""'="'"&
-- — '••■' wit wmcii
•VIVE L'EMPEREUR!' 209
«ie spy dilated, and was himself included in the tale
The man was Neil Darroch. He was much changed'
There was an air of listlessness about him ; his face
had acquired an unpleasant expression, half-cynical
half-scornful. It was the face of a man who was
not at peace either with himself or the world As
a matter of fact, it was the face of a man whose
Ideals had been shattered, whose ambition had been
thwarted, and who had even relinquished his thirst
for vengeance.
Things had not gone well with him at first.
Anxiety, exposure, and fatigue brought on ill-health •
a low, languishing fever gripped him at Porto Ferrajo'
and made an invalid of him all through the hot
summer and the autumn. Had it not been for the
cheery Jules he might have left his bones in Elba
uncared for, scarcely missed. But though he found
a true friend in the little Gascon, he discovered that
he himself had neither the tastes nor the instincts of
a Frenchman. He could admire the good-nature
and burning zeal of the exiled veterans; he saw
much which attracted him— a gallant esprit de corps
a shoulder-shrugging philosophy, fine touches of true
chivalry, and that careless, light-hearted courage
which characterizes the French soldier who has seen
service. There was a simplicity and frugality about
^Y^^r/^aily existence which appealed to him, but for
all that, he felt with somewhat of dismay that their
ways were not his ways.
Porto Ferrajo was vicious during the brief reign of
Napoleon, and there was a levity and license which
shocked the staid and somewhat strait-laced Scot.
His nature was too sensitive, his upbringing had
been too stern, for such pleasures to have any charm
for him. It was not so much the sins in themselves
as the open way in which they were committed which
disgusted him. He viewed it all with a fine contem.pt
and laughed at him.
Gifuodc understood,
2IO
VENGEANCE IS MINE
cloak things TuTthe candri' "fl"""'"^ ^"^ ^'°''
the extinguisher We lit IT^ ,^^'"^^'""' «"'''=■•
there is th'e cnfflr.nYe'i:'! n^^^^Vrk '°l "'~
busy man, therefore moral •hnfff" V^^^^'f »■" a
friend all custom, 7 assure you • " '' '" '"^"""' "y
-va'gdrand'''(j^fo„1e^het'i';s?'' "°"'.' ^'-'
better than to arm?^ ,. .v? ^ .tongue, knowing
misanthrope. ^ "'"" * P"^"^'' '°™"d and f
Da^roc!;re„TavoT to .^'""^^^'"S-hlock in Neil
mother's people Certaintf^ '""'^'^ '^'"' h'''
evidence either i^ .^ ^ ^ " "'^^ "o* much in
of a fini -p^ct'r h?L^„^™hVwhVh'r ^^^^^^^
B^t ErtaTltaSra °; '^ ^ ^'--isfrctlf ^
went, and shorn pr"estsw?rrtv'^ ^"""'t "^""^ ^"^
these latter Neil had frL h? f ''' ''^"'^^' ""d
regarded as emsaries o? Satan Thf "'i'"^ '^^^^
in the history of France w^^ ;J\^-^''^*'.^'.' ^P°=h
gallant struggle for lihlrM, r "^ ' °P'"'°n 'he
the Huguenot from ' s^m^e °of "^TZ "'f' "^J
descent: its fonlf^cf o«^ ^ i ^"°^" "e claimed
of St. BLrthoiomew '"''"' P^^^ "^« "^^^--^^e
mat; he' waslHe the iiLr -""^ " ''P^^''">' P--
careless; but religfouf hll^.'^""^' '^^P^^'^'ble'^and
with him, as with S nfh^^ ""*'. * "™"S P"'"'
Catholicism was th^ faith iyV"""''^"^"- ^o^^n
had any faith at all iji/r'J'^/' inasmuch as it
to the man wholv^as It^ . ''!? °°' ""« '''"dly
his birth. """"e '° '"'•get the land of
hafbee,, SreHT^K'' ■"■" '^°'""^ '""^'eased. He
he. saw "Co?^^ a°t tS'Tors^'ir '"PP- ■ ''««
hving the life of a no," L^?.:!.. „^"°"»Partc was
'"•-' '"vuuua country gentle-
♦VIVE L'EMPEREUR!'
211
yourself/
ind have
way you
in under
DU are —
elf am a
torn, my
d growl
knowing
1 and a
in Neil
nth his
luch in
ception
all ages
faction,
me and
es, and
g days
i epoch
on the
ade by
laimed
issacre
pious
le and
point
t-omaii
I as it
kindly
,nd of
He
; but
: was
en tie-
man. His fire and energy seemed to have fled ; he
was oiten melancholy and out of humour.
Neil Darroch had detected his plausibility when
first he saw him, and this had rankled. He had con-
sidered Napoleon as a general and a leader of men,
and had forgotten that such a prodigy must needs
have manifold sides to his character. His little trick
with Gironde had disgusted Neil, who had very fine
and wholly unpractical ideas as to the behaviour of
persons of exalted rank and great attainments. It
shocked him to find that the terror of Europe was in
any sense a charlatan. Still, he had lingered on in
Elba, carefully avoiding the British Commissary and
the inquisitive English travellers who not infrequently
honoured the fallen giant by coming to inspect him
as they would a lion in a cage. Their manneri, and
customs still further prejudiced Neil against the
dominant partner.
Then came the fatal coup, and for a time Neil was
enthusiastic as one dramatic incident followed another,
and he saw a devotion and a magnetism unsurpassed
in the annals of war and hero-worship. The effect,
however, had not been lasting. Truth to tell, the
man was soured and embittered. He came to look
upon the sobbing soldiery as ridiculous children, on
the whole affair as a gigantic farce. He could not
help being moved at times, as when he witnessed the
transformation at the Bridge of Laffray and the affect-
ing scenes at Lyons and Fontainebleau ; but his
ardour always cooled, his excitement abated, and so
now he sat and listened, half amused, half scornful, to
the astonishing tale which the warm-hearted Jules
Gironde was spluttering out, embellishing it by
motions and gestures which were more befitting in
an actor than an historian.
•I have told you,' he said, *how Monsieur Des-
champs there and myself came to be upon the brig,
., ^ -,,,.,. ^, .,.,.._, vii^.^-.^ -w-vioi\,aii laouaiD auu umi luX
Bruslart.'
14—1
III
If'- *
m
i
, ]
I >
212
VENGEANCE IS MINE
friend Gironde ?' ' """ "'''*' of 'he Empero^
that virtue.' ^ ' '^°" ^''""''^ ^now tlio value of
waglr^rJe^tmV a„°d"itT"/, ""k' ""'^ »°"^-
One would think no"ne had i"ff ''i'^"''"'" y°"'-self.
secret service. Par Weu rUalT'' «"' "'"'^ "^ *«
my ribs on one side run through .7 IT''' '""' «"<^
five of them through a devfl„f^''^"'^^°"^'^'^='^
for -■ S° * °«vil of a mess, while as
occurrenc^Maughedilitttwn'v!^*''' ^ P''°''*'''«
hussar uniform, who kent tllfP^u- * ,""*" '" » showy
hind-legs and ^iS^ngft hs wL ' "^^"^"""^ °" "^
tache. ■ But go on GirondL "^J'y.*"^ glased mous-
of the next chltterer • ' '*'*" '"■^^'^ the head
whlh"Lf &/j;;;?,-°-red his good-nature.
' The Emperor senT S. " ""^r Pi^oreeded :
an interview^ Wha" he saW% ' ''^^ ""= ''°"°"' °f
disclose, but he waslnnH^ i?"" "°' *' "herty to
my services in C^rsiS"' iTam^^ i^/P^^^highl? of
ear to ear '-here a burst of k^^h^^ '"''""g ^o™
Gascon-' from scar to scar thi "^ '?'"™P'«'^ ^e
will have it so ; and whv ? N„f k ™^ "^"'''' '"' J"-"
words and compirments n. ^'^^"'^ °f honeyed
but I read hope ^ thl"^ ' "°' ? ^^ "°' » child-
had something^' h, flfve^^T ' ^^'^- ^ '"'-«' he
yes, and by ^od", he' haTp kye^T'*'""' '° ^''y~
'fl^:^.^L-^I^?^ voices.
• ^* -^ "^- ^niperor " I' shoui ed
*VIVE L'EMPEREURP
213
^ tapping
Emperor,
'As ex-
• value of
i tongue-
yourself.
se of the
left, and
net scar,
vhile as
a lean
-d from
)any to
robable
showy
^ on its
mous-
ehead
lature,
our of
!rty to
hly of
from
;d the
f you
I eyed
ild—
!w he
ay—
uied
Gironde for the third time that morning, and it was
drunk with acclamation.
' So we came at last to that dull hole, Porto Ferrajo,
where I found that Drouot was the governor. His
health, my friends ! he is an honest man, is Drouot, he
and Bcrtrand. Why, bless me ! we have not drunk a
glass to the General. Bertrand, my friends ! I give
you the Count Bertrand !'
After the noise which this toast evoked had sub-
sided the Gascon again took up the thread of his
narrative.
'You ask me, gentlemen, how we lived at Porto
Ferrajo. I answer, none too well. What think you
of the Emperor as a land surveyor and an overseer of
mines? True, there was some state ceremony
ob;served. Madame Mere was there, the Princess
Paulina paid us a visit, we had receptions and balls
which were attended by whom, think you? The
wives of butchers and bakers. As for pleasures, we
turned a church or two into theatres, and voyaged in
the brig, with the English Commissioner to see that
we behaved ourselves. Ah! my friends, is it any
wonder our spirits were nearly broken ? Cipriani, the
major-domo, has wept with me time and again.'
' And what of the ladies ?' asked the gay hussar,
slyly winking at the company.
'You are condemned out of your own mouth,
Perrier,' retorted Gironde. * Only I do not see how
you can well break your own head, and it would not
harm you much if you did. Napoleon longed for the
Empress, who never came, though someone else did.
As to that, my lips are sealed ; but I will give you
yet another toast.'
* Bravo I another toast ; let us but fill our glasses,
Gironde.'
' You are ready, my friends ? Then drink to a true
woman and a faithful friend.'
n. viv/uuic luast r abKcd a civinan, tne only one
present.
3 i
li
214 VENGEANCE IS MINE
and in sUence, messieurs T.^' ' ""' "-"^ "'^ ■■'^™«.
In silence ii rsTon'ouTed;'"^"'^^' "^ "^ «"'"S'
Deschamps'trre'wa! o'^'hf/f ''>', "'^"■™« Monsieur
there was somettiW in f^ -^^ ^ ?' '^^^' l^"^"- 'hat
Cipriani went Tofenn t„ '"■' u""^ '.''"' =^«" before
palace. But he clme LrtP"'£^'' '^'™''"« f°' ""e
veterans ),ad knownT wouW W "'"'i "'II''^''' '^ "'<^
enough to blow Elba 'out of the le^ Th'T '^^^^
Congress at Vienna harl ,„ j i , f ?' '"*' rasca y
and imprison l^™o,f a r«k1n ^^h'^'ttP '^' ^""P""'
called St. Helena And th; f Atlantic-a place
promises and vows Ah I b '.T''^°"' ^'■'^'- »" ^eir
for it. I would h^ve ^v^n a thir!? "'". W ^--etly
to have seen the romf«^ ?=. "? ^'"■' '"^ ' ^ad one,
news from tL Gulf ?f %/„ "''"" '"^^^ ''^^^'' "^e
is daTki^^/rtVu'sTha'nrG^^^^^"/"^ °" -"at
was good-indeed7betlr than r h, T'""" ^ "<^^'"'
have heard that some hit that hi fsf^iiinr^T "• u'
at^hl S-am^a'}^!'^ '^ ^oL^r S ^I^f.^nl
P^t'ntTdlngXrX' '""' '"'"•' """^-^
beef rslnfrffirs'? meT^hJ '^' "^ "'='«-■ "« "^s
the great amusement n?fl '"' ""^PP^'^ ^ironde, to
acquainted w^hThefailini'n'fTPrr.' "''° ^"'^ ^^»
^ ^fythattLE^ ^is sSTmV"°^-*''^^-.
health. No «?irt m^i; ij soDer— I mean in good
"de and taL an intere t° in evef Th-'' \^ ''"■ '°"''
is yet the man of Mar^nL "f^'^mg he saw. He
the saints in the calendar^^ and Austerlitz, and by all
I give you his heaUk" ' "'" ^"' '^°^ "• Again
* Some have need of it ' rhnrH«^ r* •
a fat infantryman who sat hS ?-'"^*"' P""ching
looks spoke\o^ Z.Lf^^ t''"^^ ^'?' ^"d whose
™"^ "vcr. nut none heeded
'VIVE L'EMPEREUR!' 215
him, and he drank with the rest, Neil, for form's sake
also complying with the call. '
<fhllr\' *!3'u^' '" December,' Gironde continued,
^^lth\lTA u^"" "^/u "°^ '^ ^''•^"^"y ^^ he had been
with that dry bag of bones, the English Colonel, who,
hf .K T^^l^' "^^^ P°^ "" ^'^ ^^1^°^^' ^"d a Scot bJ
gendemen/^''" ^ ^""^'^ ^''^^"^ ^^' ^^" ^'''''^'^'
I And 1 1' ' And I also I' affirmed several,
i here was a girl of that nation,' began Perrier
but someone kicked his chair from under him and his
story ended abruptly, and probably in time.
As I was saying,' the Gascon went on. 'the
Umperor, who is never double-faced, grew less inti
mate with the Commissioner, though it was not till
Jiebruary that strange visitors came and went. Till
then we had Italians by the hundred-I have seen
three hundred in a single day-English milords, at
whom the grizzled old fire-eaters of the Guard spat
more ruT^ft^. ''°''' °^ °'^'"- ^^"^^ ^^' ^^^^^^^^
'Sacrd !' growled the sergeant of voltigeurs, 'in my
time the running was the other way.'
shllT'J!!^'''' "^•^' S^'2"^^^^^^' 5 and, please Heaven.it
shall be so again. But, as I was saying, in February
there came a sailor who was no sailor, and a merchant
who was no merchant They were both closeted with
the Emperor, and I could guess what it was they
talked about Besides, did we not hear rumours o^f
the watchwords and the pocket-pieces ?'
There is one,' said the recruit, who had been re-
adrnitted slapping a little medal down upon th^
and ;n thi'Th ^V^^Y oi Napoleon on one side!
and on the other the words. • He has been, and will
Jn 7n ^X ' ^"!i ^^^ f ^?^*' '* ''^""^ h'ke a thunder.
m .he end and what a scene it was ! The
o^iTu"^'"':" "t" ^°"^ ^^ iMorence, the cat was
, and the mice played— to some tune, my friends I
clap
2l6
IS M
n i
VENGEANCE IS MINE
It was on the 26th of FebmarTr t-i.^4. 4.u .
The EnprlKh dn.^r. V ^ ^"^^ the order came.
A lie digiihii sloop-of-war was af T i"tror«« 'ru
a man can ke"; a :ic.et' ^°" ''"' ''^ ^"""'^ '^" ^^^'^
men of the ZftheLuT^ ^"'^ "l" ^'"''^' *he
meamng!' '*' '""' '^"'■"'^' ''"'g'>' ^ave a double
no't kLryou'ra't^ue'sot 'n? fh' P;^^'="^ " ' ''-^
shoot you artwentv nacef K?.f ^""P"""' ' "'""''^
ncp^&T5ui:r^h^i^orro^^^^^
p.ro„de gave a little snort of contempt? ^'
' N^SrArcrSe'd"°"=''^"^ Beschamp^s.'?"-'" -'•
I
der came.
'. There
ley might
Jstination.
irm more
he air of
tell when
a smile.
and the
it passed,
quainted
!y agreed
Gironde
spy, his
ning, 'I
ard, the
riff-raff,
n seven
i^mperor
myself,
nple — a
ibitants
double
f I did
• would
risome,
)y, and
[ could
times
bt me,
•VIVE L'EMPEREUR!' 217
• I confirm all you have said with regard to these
events.' he replied, with emphasis.
' There T said the Gascon triumphantly. ' That is
the word of a gentleman and an advocate, who has
seen what I describe. You are satisfied, messieurs ?
Ihe, .lad better be,' growled old Babbitdt the
LTe^uire'd.' ' '''" "'" '" ^"^^ head-breaking that
He thumped the table and glared at the hussar
wh^o merely smiled affably and lifted his glass to
afresh^ ^""'"^ '*""' '^'^'''^'^' "^"^^^ ^''°°^« began
mlf.li^ have said, I was on the Inconstant; and let
me tell you. it was wonderful to see the change which
came over the old grenadiers. Moustache? whch
had drooped for months stiffened like magic back
went their shoulders, up went their heads ''p'art or
fr cl tl;'e V^"^^^ ^^' ^^- - ^^« -hX:
Hef [^b?;. LTnP,!;-: g^^^fa^d^^^^^^^^^^^^^
cheeks and pul!ed their bristles. When he toU thZ
we were bound for France, they coTd scLce^^chee"
MeonTH'lf'^ ""°'r- ^ «"-'' that Drouoi
s bret:-th^- r„d%?^wdt'^^iir '-' "-
daybreak we had hardly%dvanced. The ^ wete
Bourbon fngates about-I shall not call them French
youro^p'ro^'-"'' ""= ^'"P^™' '° "•^•"-h" «
'" vi! "**' °fy°"\ Majesty," ' I affirmed.
our course.'- "^ ' ''^ ^"^"^--^d; " let us hold on
• To lighten the vessels the baggage was thrown
2l8
VENGEANCE IS MINE
over the side. Providence was with us, and behold a
breeze! Behold, also, in the afternoon, a brig-of-
war ! She sights us, and bears down upon us.
' We prepare for battle, but the Emperor is merciful.
He sends the guard below and the brigs meet. Our
captain speaks that of le Zt'phir, who, as I am
a living man, must ask after Napoleon's health.
What then, think you? The Emperor takes the
speakmg-trumpet himself, and answers that the
Emperor is extremely well.'
A shout of laughter greeted this part of Gironde's
narration.
* Un, deux, trois !' shouted the recruit, and one and
all clapped their approval.
• Yes,' said the Gascon, ' i* was superb, my friends ;
and yet they say the Emperor is in ill-health ! Sick
men do not jest. But we were not yet out of the
wood. The next day we sighted a ship, but happily
she took no notice of us. We sail along merrily, and
the Emperor writes a proclamation to the army, to
the garrisons of the south, to the veterans, to all.
It stirs us, I can tell you. It shows how France has
been sold, sold by traitors to the Bourbon tyrants
and to foreign hordes. It promises victory and
liberty. We weep as it is read, but scarcely is it
finished when there is a cry of " Land !" It is Antibes,
it is France. We iiail it with shouts, and on every
cap is seen the tricoloured cockade. The white and
amaranth powdered with bees vanishes like magic,
and so does all fear.
* You may think, my friends, with what feelings I
view the coast line. I think of all I have suffered,
of the loss of my ears, of my blindness ; my emotion
chokes me ; but I thank God I have lived to see this
day. If these were my thoughts, what must have
been the Emperor's ? I watched him, and his face
was calm, though his lips twitched. He stood upon
the foredeck, his hand so. his hat off, and I do not
think he knew anything of what was passing. He
■4
'VIVE L'EMPEREUR!' 219
foresaw yesterday, the scene at the Tuilcrics, his
triumph I'
'Ay,' muttered Neil Darroch to himself, 'and
perhaps that which is to comL-.'
He was not blinded by enthusiasm as was Jules
Gironde, and he read the signs more surely. He saw
there must be delay, and delay he knew meant ruin
sooner or later. He had not the Gascon's faith, and
It may be the wi-'i -as father to his thoughts, for a
change had come over his ideas as well as over him-
self. He no longer regarded Buonaparte as a hero.
He had been prepared to do so. He had been ready
to regard him as a leader and to serve under him,
even to blot out his own past and start upon a new
career, which, as Gironde hinted, might prove a
brilliant one. At the very outset he had been
shocked by the little incident he had witnessed on
board the brig. Afterwards his pride had been hurt.
Although on several occasions he had come under the
Emperor's notice, his presence had been ignored.
He saw he was forgotten and he made no effort to
attract attention. Instead, he, so to speak, recoiled
upon himself True, he had hoped that somethiricr
might occur on the way to Paris which would direct
notice to his abilities, but he had been disappointed.
He had seen a series of events well worth the seeing,
but he had been an interested spectator only. His
position was curious. He was entirely dependent
upon Gironde, and at this he chafed, but was unable
to remedy it. He had thought more than once of
severing his connection with the band of men which
had m a few short weeks become an army, bul he
had finally resolved to wait till he had an opportunity
of repaying the cheery little Gascon to whom he owed
so much.
He had found a friend, and, lonely man as he was,
he shrank from breaking the ties of comradeship
wxiicii iiaa grown up between them. He did no"t
beheve that this effort of Napoleon, marvellous though
(Ill
kh^u.:
220 VENGEANCE IS MINE
it was, could eventually be crowned with success. But
that was not his reason for feeling dissatisfied and
restless. The Emperor had not come up to his ex-
pectations. Every now and then he saw, or thought
he saw, traces of a low cunnin^^. The proclamations
he had heard sounded false. They prated of peace
and liberty, and yet he knew there could be neither
under such a man. He had watched him as narrowly as
he could, and while he found much to admit e, there had
been that which repelled him. He began to see what
he had so often heard stated as a fact, that the motive
power of Buonaparte's every action was a boundless
ambition, that he was self-centered and vainglorious.
He could not deny Napoleon's wonderful personality.
His Celtic blood, hot and impulsive, might have led
him to fall down and worship as so many had done,
but It was counteracted by the effect of a legal
training, by the ideas he had imbibed from a shrewd,
hard-headed set of men, and perhaps, under all, there
was something else, for, as we have said, a man
cannot change his country like his coat.
In his own mind he was always trying to justify his
actions, which in itself pointed to something wrong.
He had made a mistake, and he knew it, but he had
nothing to fall back upon save a desire for revenge
which time and distance had weakened. He began to
look upon himself as a wanderer and homeless as
one who had renounced his birthright, and had
neither a country nor a people, and he took refuge in
a hopeless cynicism as unhealthy as it was miserable.
It IS scarcely remarkable that, after all that had
befallen him, and especially with the heredity which
was unhappily Iiis, he should have passed into such
a state.
Gironde did not profess to understand Kim, and
was secretly annoyed and distressed, but was un-
swerving in his friendship, and never ceased trying
to make Neil as staunch a Buonaoartist as himself
In en envied him, and never more so than when he
THE MARCH
221
heard the delight and gusto with which Jules related
every incident of the first part of that astonishing
period which has passed into history under the fittine
title of ' the Hundred Days.' ^
CHAPTER V.
THE MARCH
* TX -^"^^^ "^ ^^ 'ast on French soil,' said Gironde
1 J —* p'even hundred men, ready to march on
Pans. Picture to yourself such an army of
invasion. In all history there is none like it • but
remember, with these eleven hundred was the Em-
peror.'
* And Jules Gironde,' murmured Perrier.
•Ay, and Jules Gironde!' thundered old Babbitdt
Had every citizen done his duty like our friend here'
there would have been no need for any invasion, so
put that in your pouch, my dandy.'
' Geritly, gently !' said the Gascon. ' Perrier must
have his little joke, and he is not far wrmg. but
mark me, whatever is store for France is due 'to us'
We of the forlorn hc^ . have made history. Think
of us I We were in the south, which has always been
hostilr to the Emperor, where Napoleon was but a
year betore in danger of his life from a mad crowd of
fanatics, and yet we were confident. The Emperor
speaks of his star, a vanishing star some have called
!t, but to me It .s like one of those brilliant planets
which storm-clouds may obscure, but which is there
all the same, and shines again more brightly than
Gironde was so pleased with his poetical simile and
ti ^ applause it called f rth, that he rose and bowed
repeatedly, and Neil noticed he was not very steady
on his feet. It is scarcely to be wondered ^t ron.
sidenng the amount of wine he had stowed away •
222 VENGEANCE IS MINE
but his head was clear and his speech unaffected
man who, after dehvering a few incoherent sentences
th"flr"V,''rY".\""^ p™"p"^ deposited :«
tfle Hoor As he had been known to snatch fortv
winks w,th hs company under fire, Gironde took hTs
inattention with a very good grace
'At first things looked black enough The oro-
clamation to the army, signed by the Emperor ai^d
" V,V?n^^"'n ^y ^u'".""' »'^^'^='"d, foretold victory
Victory will march forward with the charge-sten"
It said ; "the eagle, with the national colourfw iX
SZe n"'''.'%''''P'"' ^'■" " ^^^^hes the tower of
k h.«? « V r^"''J"y ^"'"^'- *«■•« was no sign of
It these first few days. "Mount the tricoloured
^°^^»?,%'^f""'^.*e eagles you bore at Aus erK
Jena, at Lutzen !• cried the proclamation ; but dev 1 a
tnped cockade did we see outside the eleven hundred
Soldiers," said the proclamation, " in my exile 1
heard your voice. I am arrived through , ve,^ obs acle
hr'onf brZ'"''"^"^- Jr' Genefal, called X
lour ,hwi • ". °^*''* P^°P'=- »"<^ '•ai^d on
your shields, .s restored to you. Come and join
' It was like a trumpet-call, messieurs, but never a
tZT "^'1, ''%^''- "^°" '''^ •>'"' I remembeTall
these words. Let me tell you. On the brig all who
could write a fair hand had the honour of copying
both proclamations. You would have laughed had
^t"h ?h "• °^u'" ^"'' '°^'^'"' »"d *« very seamen
with their elbows squared, scribbling away^for dear
life, as though It were a boys' school. I wrote wfth
the rest and the fieiy words burned into my ve y
brain Listen to what he told the French peonl?
He showed that the country had been betrayed that
Parrs and Lyons had been given up by Au^ereau and
Marmont,v.le traitors that they were. He mldedear
X^J'f^H^!^"!^? E^^/:,with atn^rSI
,.„^. „^ ^ auaiu, and men iie calls on
THE MARCH 223
them : " Frenchmen, in my exile I heard your com-
plaint and wishes. You called for that Government
of your own choice which alone is legitimate. You
blamed my long slumber, you reproached me with
sacrificing the great interests of the country to my
own repose. I have crossed the sea amidst perils of
every kind ; I arrive among you to resume my rights,
which are also yours."
* Grand ! is it not, my friends .?'
* It went on to quote history, to show that every
nation had the right to free itself from a yoke imposed
by a foreign enemy victorious for a time, and then it
finished : ** It is to you only, and to the brave men of
the army, that I make and shall always make it my
glory to owe everything." '
' Ay, ay,' growled Babbit6t ; ' but the army might
have come first.'
* Out upon you, old grumbler!' cried Gironde; 'and
once more, gentlemen, the Emperor, and then we
shall follow him to the capital'
* Bravo ! the Emperor !' shouted the others.
Neil Darroch did not stir. These very proclama-
tions, packed with what he considered lies and fulsome
flatteries, had done more to set him against Napoleon
than anything he had seen, and yet in their way they
were masterpieces.
' You will understand that I, Jules Gironde, late of
the thirty-second of the line, and then of the secret
service, had exceptional opportunities of seeing all
that passed. I was given charge of the Emperor's
person. It was my duty to look out for suspicious
fellows, to listen and report. I had the help of
Monsieur Deschamps there on more than one ticklish
occasion, for, -^s you may suppose, there was more
than one gentleman of the stiletto about. The
Bourbons have always made use of the assassin. In
due time I shall tell you what befell at Auxerre ; at
present we shall consider the march fmm AnfJK«c f^
Grenoble.
•a Si
224 VENGEANCE IS MINE
• I have said we did not get one recruit. I was
wrong. Two soldiers joined us—two men wlio may
yet become Marshals of France. All honour to them.
1 say I They are a poor lot yonder in the south-east.
At Cannes they did not turn a hair. They stared
and jabbered, the dull fools I At Grasse they were
cowards. '
\rllTlJ'f^^^^\ *°^^^ ^'^^ "«' ^"d how many
1° 1 Vu ^' u^ y*l" ^ One-and he a tanner. Bless
his leather breeches, say I, and this to his health 1 A
gendarme came in on the march across the mountains
to Digne. May he live to be a chief of police ! Four
men in as many days, and yet we never quailed
Instead, we covered thirty miles in twenty hours, and
that over a mere track amongst precipices, and
through scenery like that of the accursed island
Corsica which to me is only bearable in that it pro-
duced Napoleon Buonaparte.
' Imagine my anxiety as we advanced upon
Grenoble where was a whole regiment under
Marchand. To be sure, there was a small garrison
at Digne which retired, but we knew they were
triendly At Sisteron, where two rivers meet, there
IS a citadel and a garrison also, but Mass^na had eot
fmm M^' •n''"'^'u"u '^"' ^ ^^'■P^ °f observation
from Marseilles, which overawed them. Otherwise
the brave fellows had been with us. It was not our
policy to fight just then, so we passed on.
' And now, my friends, the good peasants came
flocking to jom our standards, all in their blue blouses
and sabots, their brown faces alight with enthusiasm
• u'^r ,T.^ ^^"r^" ""^^^y ^^ ^^"■'^^ a blow for thei;
rightful Kir g. Had you seen their weapons— scythes
and pitchforks, and old muskets which you fire from'
rests— you would have grinned as I did. The Emperor
was well pleased, but he had no use for such He
drank vin ordmaire with them to show his affection
but he knew— none better— that this was not the
material he urante^^ ^
THE MARCH
225
•And now, messieurs, we come to the greatest
scene of all. We approach Grenoble, as you know, a
fortress on the Is^re. We are in a beautiful land, and
our spirits rise. All about us are great mountains,
with little lakes nestling in their folds ; there is the
murmur of running water ; the world is green and
fresh. Tramp, tramp, on we plod, very dusty, very
wearied, but full of faith. I, who am acquainted
with these valleys, know that here we shall be faced,
if at all.
' And so it is. As we swing along the highway,
what is it that we see in front ? The old sight, friends
—the old sight. The gleam of sun upon steel, the
flash of rippling light upon the bayonets. You know
it, friend Babbitot ?'
*Too well— too well!' cried the old sergeant in a
shaky voice. ' But go on, Jules Gironde ; you had
the skirmishers out, had you not ?'
* Trust the Emperor for that. We were not taken
unawares, but there they were, a regiment of the line
massed upon the road, and we could hear their officers
shouting and swearing at them.
' The Emperor dismounts. You know the figure,
the brave figure in a gray surtout, with cocked hat
and the striped cockade .? Faith 1 and the officers in
front knew it too, and trembled in their boots. What
then, think you ? The Emperor advances on foot, at
the regulation pace, straight towards the line of
levelled muskets. Men have told me their hearts
ceased beating as they saw him face the foe, but,
messieurs, if my pulse quickened in the least, it was
not with fear. I, Jules Gironde, knew what would
happen.
'Someone — may he rot in hell ! — cries "Fire!" but
there is not even the clicking of a trigger. The line of
barrels wavers up and down like that of a recruit
company for the first time in action. I laugh to
mVSelf as T CI*** fh<a r>M rviali^, .-,«.. ( U_l.:„J .-I-_„^
Ihese, ' say I to myself, '^are veterans; they will
IS ' '
t f
i:
tl
226 VENGEANCE IS MINE
remember, even though they have never seen their
General in such a shabby coat "
ovlr^ead'^^'i tfj'^'f ^"'^ ^' '""^^'"^ ^^^^ somewhere
overnead. 1 take it as a good omen. There is not
a sound now to drown his song. '• This " I sav t«
myself, " .3 history." The Emperor halte. ' Sudden v
he throws open his coat ^uaaeniy
vL"u''^^'T °^ ^^^ ^'^^^'" ^^ exclaims, " behold me !
You have been told I am afraid of d^ath HerT i.
mytf t^:;o^r tL^I^f f-^' ^^ -"• ^ ---o oner
che^eks° ^'^^^ '^^'' ^""^P'"^ "^^^^ Babbit6t's furrowed
* And then ?' he asked huskily
r.l?^^^1'' ^^[^ Gironde, 'there was no loneer a
regiment, nothmg but a mob of men who sobbed 1 ke
children and could hardly cry "Vive I'EmDereurl-
for the lumps in their throats/ They thronged about
him, they knelt in the dust and kissed his S thev
a:kirTo?hr M°''" ^° '^ ^^^ first'toSth^
trayed skirt of his old gray coat. I do not know what
he said or how he looked, for he was lost to s^^ht
amongst the crowd, but I saw a good d^zen of fhe
grenadiers rubbing their eyes.
wMl^^ ^""f "'^' I.yowed it would have been worth
while to lose a third ear to see snrh a cVilt ^ r
^-Y that all danger was'past The to f L'ff'av
Zn'^^u" '^' ' ^^'''°" ^^'S"^"^'"g ^» through Franc?
from the frontier garrisons in thi north to the arm J
Tofnth""^' T '^' south-east, summoning them alH^
join the eagles, and so it proved, and so it proved. '
The Gascon paused for breath. He was greatlv
excited, and fairly carried away by hiTtalf R^
minutes, but no one. not even Perrier broke th^
the b %, ^"Af ' •'" ^'^ ^"^ ^" «-- they could hear
the bustle of the citizens, the shrill voices of the paper
sellers shoiit mo- th^ ««,..„ ^r .t-. t^ uiepaper-
sellers shoutme- the npwe r^f fK»
-lupeiurs anival.
their
-'•-Soldiers of the Fifch," he exclaims.
behold me!"— Page 226.
1
II
1
1
From
song,
caf6 c
voice
not d
Giror
his st
over
witli
Italj
of h
wha
— lil
him
mecj
His
Moi
veir
^
con
helj
witl
1^
pas
hac
Gir
all
«
cna
THE MARCH
227
K„™ the -x\t„; wrch't^ati^dr:;;!^
voice sang a verse of »'h'<=h the I's^en^re ^^^
"ot^rbelJ^^-'thn*^^^^^^^^^^ Babbit6t with
his stick :
• Though days were dark,
Though days were drear,
Though rare the smile,
Though oft the tear,
We of the army, tried and true.
Amongst the clouds yet saw the blue.
Napoleon's glory cannot fade.
So drink we to the old cockade.
. AnrI we also my friends V cried Jules, smiling all
^I'lketeoldTedgeho.when the spring-n warms
^:^^^^.p 4- scotch blood in your
^Teifshorhu' head. " H^ did not like the turn the
^tn^lfaVin s^:J^^ and the company were
^". uTin the middle of all this confusion that a big
" 'f '" u •! ™" . romes pushing his way mto the
man u" « ^'s ="'
15— a
2?8 VENGEANCE IS MINE
press, with a cockade half the size of his rusty hat
He wears he uniform of the national guard, and he
^^^uJ- ^V*^ ^^"°"''' ^o'- he cries out : '
. bire, I am Jean Dumoulin, the glove-maker I
and UVm"' ""'^"'^ ' '"°'^^' tLu sand francs!
'How we cheered him. my friends! He must
roTumn"%'oSfr\"r.-!i^ '^ ^^^^ ^* ^^^ head of the
column. Fouf ! what did we care now for Grenoble
and Its emigrants ! You may be sure they deLrved
by uraVd rr ' ^'"^' # ^^ were ^thrrc:::'
Dy nrght, and I assure you that I, Jules Gironde fat
The ?,rettS '"'.'-'^ ^^"" °' -gkiightZl'uis^d
see us.- ^' '" "■ '° S'^" ""« *« folk to
intenslj" '''*™'' * ^"■s" ^''"°^' t^^'fy-g '" its
' Pardon me,' he said, ' but what have I not missed I
Co„t.„ue,fnend Jules, but spare my feelings I^ntre't
The Gascon shook his head at him
You do not deserve it, my boy, but I shall oav
L-aVttTaXTa'tt-e^rjr "^^ V '"'^^"''^
L>.ns with si/teTthertt^TUs!^^^^^^
sabre of them a handsomer fellow than you, PerrieT
with all your pomade and silver braid. The eleven
hundred of Antibes had now become seven thousand
W;rrfinrr"^f'-.^^^"^' - some TyoJ
^no^, IS a fine city. As for me, the Rhone is mv
[w.T'^T,"^''' '."'^.".^^"^ ^'^ ''' ^^^^ fairer than wh^^
twenty thousand citizens lined its quays to bid us
welcome. Where now, I ask you, were Macdonald
Monsieur, and the Duke.? Where was St Cvr?
Away to carry the news to Louis Bourbon tha^he
had better scuttle back to Holland. ^
It was at Lyons the Emperor struck the first blow
t:}Z!T!^!t J^ir^^^ -t shed a drop ofllood!
"" ' "--—-- "^"^«. "ave raaae that fox Talleyrand
THE MARCH 229
quake -ay and Marmont and Augereau and
Dalberg who owed everything to him. but spun
rotund hke weathercocks when the wind was con^
fK-T"" .!f"f "^ ^"^"^ regiments of the h'ne and the
thirteenth dragoons waiting to join us, and learned
inn.M T^'Z ""^ ^^^ Twentieth had bearded Mac-
he ^ifth^'^^'r' '^'V"^ ^'' ^°^^^ '" ^'« teeth when
the faithless General spoke of honour and fidelity.
10 Napoleon we owe the oath," he said, " to
Tunt Tn H ^ ^n^Peror after having abandoned the
iving . in that alone consists our fidelity "
' Such, my friends, was the spirit of the army. As
Sher'' 'Behoii'"' V''^^'^''^'' ^^^' ^^^'^ ^is
hutT • u! J"^ "^' ^'''^"' "^ ^°"8^'' a forlorn hope,
but a mighty force marching to restore liberty and
Tw'tl'ilP '\f'^"u^ ^" the forefront of the nations.
to pLL /„™^ • '^ ^^' promised to carry Napoleon
know nM^P iron cage. I laugh when I hear it. for
I know old Red Face too well. They call him the
bravest of the brave, and he will not sully his name!
At Auxerre he meets his master. I did not see the
interview, which was in private-one cannot see
everything-but I hear of it^ What, think you was
£r hit H.F"" •''''?'""•' '^" ^"^P^^^^ inflicted on' him
fh' • uf u^ '" .J^'"'"^ "'^ H^ would not see him
the night he arrived. That was ail-not a harsh woJ?
M.r.\T? /ifP'''^^^' ^"iy^* ^t «^"^t l^ave stung the
n^douht ^h ' V;^' J^^y *^^^^ ^^"^d about him;
chan?.r K^l^ '"'^^ L^^ ^^°"^ ^'"^ t° the end of the
to dHnt f^ ^'lu°^r ""r' Sentlemon, I call on you
thank vo„'''^-Hr-'^">'' ^^"^^^^ ^^ them all.
1 tnank you, said Gironde, when the classes wrrn
agam emptied and filled, 'but I am asfe Ts'l
; And as drunk as an owl,' laughed Perrier.
TnlZ "«°l'°.i'""^ *^ * certain hussar,' retorted
teirvon ^"L"-'"-^"' P^^"^»^si^n, my friends, 1 will
tell you of an incident at Auxerre, which will show
230 VENGEANCE IS MINE
you that Jules Gironde yet has his wits about him.
On the march I had made myself acquainted with
all that was passing. I sucked in news as a bee
sucks honey and, like honey, it was for the most
part sweet ; but now and then I got a bitter mouth-
ful to make me wary. You have no doubt heard
an^ .f "" M- °^' °^ Vendeans, disguised as women
and as soldiers, were sent from Paris to make away
with Napoleon. He laughed when he was told, and
took no precautions, but I did. I trapped one of the
villains ma little inn half a mile from^he town but
another set on me, and had it not been for Mon ieur
Deschamps there, who twisted his neck for him there
t^'^TI^nTo^^^ ^^^^"^^ '^ quaff you'rlt:
.r.^^^'^ I^arroch, bowing his acknowledgments to the
a spy ; and ho-.v, you ask ? By hifgreen panta
M^'whfch t f ff '— «he breechls of Cot-
guards, which he had forgotten to change! Poufi
he would not have done for the Emperor's serWce
He deserved a finng-party, but they let him go'
Ihey let too many go,' said the civilian. 'Fouchi
sasnalcemtl.e grass, whose head should come off
m the Place de Grive. and there are a dozen others
who would be better under lock and key'
' Tf ! Ji"l "2''*' ""'■" Max'nie.' answered Gironde
crl^d^oWytoh^fel^*""'" '"^ -o'--> Gascon
an J^hT "*f •"° T'^^° ^^ sot out Of Gironde that day
and the c.v.han, Max.me Despard.who had gone S
"•fc?!*] fr? '° F?ntainebleau. took up the tale
-...vv v..= uays oi me i error I cannot remember
»out him.
I ted with
as a bee
:he most
■ iiiouth-
3t heard
women
ke away
old, and
le of the
3wn, but
lonsieur
m, there
)ur wine
pathetic
s to the
how he
gatelle.
etected
panta-
Artois'
Pouf!
service.
).'
Fouch^
me off
others
ronde.
las too
lascon
It day,
e with
lie.
-•mber
THE MARCH 23,
Paris so excited as it has been since the news came
of the Emperor's landing ; and this is the way t^
t^^^elk "Th^^T-^" geographical progresLrso
- rf M T^ ^'^^' ^^^ '^^°'^'^'" our of his den "
qJi^ v,"""'.^"'.^.^' *^'^^ ^^y' at sea." ''The
Sc^Ierat has landed at Frei'u^ " '« tu^ u • j ,
' The next,' cried old Babbitdt-' the next is easv
for ^e^eti £fy!^' ''"^°='> »° '"'■"-'f-' - "-h
'As most of you are aware,' continued DesnarH
■t^arat'tarhe^.^^r"" " 1^^^^^ cast of Veat'u es,-
!?!,„?• *"^'^''«'' *° the commissariat, and so was at
Fontainebleau. Long before I left the caoital hn.„
ever, one could see ho«r things were S Th:
wind ''T^"'^°'^' '"P^i^ were tunUn^wlih the
Column of'whrchV^ ^^T't P"^'^" °" «'' Vend6n,e
■Superb I' exclaimed the Gascon. 'As vou sav
cousm, worthy of me-of Jul.s Gironde Does anv'
one here deny it ? ">^"
No one apparently did.
oppos^Nrpol^on^ ^Th' !f '" '\'oldiers would never
addpH fX^v : ? • ?^^ "^^y ^t Fontainebleau merely
la's? W h';^r Thfre 'xhe" h7 '^^^^^"^ ^^^^ ^-
up at Melun to give battle to tt f "^^.^'^ ^'^^
called him tV F f u ^^^ Invader, as they
«r.lS^ ^'?-u.^.*. "^'^^^f ^he road to Paris, and we
ov.r the plam. There was not a sound but the
232 VENGEANCE IS MINE
barids playing and the orders of the officers u
the woods about FontaTn ebl J ^T"'"^ '^°P'' "P '»
sight. Suddenl/wTh^a" d'a roi.-'e -^ "Ca":!!'v'rl!d"
a man near me ; but instead we saw a c^rrL ^ ^"^
from the forest, and a troop ofho^s" I? cam. ^.m'^"
down theroa<U,.d we saw there were three ™Jn'"^«
"I-on, h-ve-,hI"Emp": oT,^' i^^^^^" ^0^' "'
Napoleon the Great r' cried fh. . ' '^^Po'eon—
National Guard took up the crv Th"?'' ""'' "^"^
from the ranks as tL F,? ^' ^''* "'"op- '"'"''c
them. Thef efders s?eZ"°h'at"an"!,'"> ,*?""' '"
at an end, took to fli.'ht fnd th. ■'"./'=';'P'>ne was
play at the Opera, we saw the OM r^ J' ^^'^ ^^° »
i"g down the hill wkh the earr^ .^fh"^ come swing,
band crashed into the Imnert 1 Ir *'='';,''ead, and a
what Frederick thlceafoTce said?- n°.^°'^J"r
If the god Mars were to se"ect h^ L 1 ^^'^ }^'^
the inhabitants of this worl? h» ''°^>'S""d from
French grenadifrc '/'""""'J' "e wou.u choose the
can well^Leheveit' '' "'''^^ '^«' '^em at Fontainebleau,
•buf^ive^'me't'j.T/oirigt;'?'"'' «™"'^^ «■""""';
• I'ntdTeir^o'u t "ZtXf" ""T^'^ <l--«'y ■•
Emperor up the staTrs ;n„ 1" "'*'" '^"y 'he
the Pflap of lufc^atTou Cw hLThasldid'^l
rmiUri^-u.rgtTn::t/Fi^
"This brav/frwts7ev'e°r aTan^d'on'e^dt'.^? '^'■"•
wei^^'Snt^™:: Ifd t°"^'^ ■■ "r '-« ^°-
Emperor!- ' ^"'' '"'^ ">« '«s' «»e. the
'The Emperor!' echoed th,. ^m-..
«\«AO*
THE MARCH 33,
co:eTe^'To'';ro;T:ru"^s"aa te'of l°h' "" •"" '^'-
, 'Whatr cried .l.o Gas^,'^^:^?, f/rCfee. .
'you listen to such stuff as iu-.f ?\\i ^^ '
information, do not a" It ft . ^''"" ^^^ ^^"'
sir, but ap^lytome-tol Tue^"^'°T°"/P^'
secret sprJiL t 1 [ ^^' J"'^^ Gironde, of tue
secret serv ce. Let us be going, friend Noel '
On Neil's arm the little m in l^ff ru
hard to j„aster l.is way"ard Tegs!'" ""■' ^°°'"' "^'"^
agaSL.''"""'" '''•' """"■ - ■""" '-c^ up
feeble '■ o,7t at the^alute"" ' ■ Po^' 1?,? ''"'' '"^"''^
CHAPTER Vl
THE ASSASSINS
-*• nJff ' ? ^. "'^ y*' °"e incident he did
unimportant'' T?' '^""^^ '" ^""^ ^" f™™ befng
tTatTh?d"occuTr:d""°" " ""^^'^ = "^ "^ "--»-
TelrlH-^^^^^^^^ »
|^^t;^-.r.i/^^^^^^^^^^
who called himself Noel Deschamps. ^"
at arTaHv d^'tf '°"j "^^'^^'-'-^d to visit that island
had „oT&;.^."^d-^':"'<^."''.<^°ubt have done so
™*— -■'^>: dctcrmmea otherAise. U is a
N i
234 VENGEANCE IS MINE
dangerous thing at any time to nil , n ■
remain in Corsica. " ^ Corsican and
Vezzani had a brother an.1 fl„» i. ^t
satisfied as to the way in wW.h v ' *"■?*" «-« not
death. When he Sd tht ^Y^?-*"' i'*'^ '"^' ^''^
mised, Massoni had been in „n ., """^^ ''*'' ="^-
Villa Olima from the flfme h,", . ""^ "> '*™ "•«
firmed. Vezzani's bod" was „ot'''s'„"°? '"'^f """
destroyed but that he coulH Lf 1 "^''^"^'^ ^"<i
wound in the chest Tht ^^*? ^""^ 'race of a
of what haShappened on theTj'^r^'" "'^ ««°""t
with the evidence of the W X k' ^"u™'"^' ^"^
trussed up like a fowf wS^no° h ? ^P ''"""'^
brother. He took a solpmnt !k^^ '°'' Vezzani's
Ca.o Massoni, and he1:^t"hrv';:° '"' ' ''""^' '•"
■•n P"r'uTanrhe'^'S\tt\^'^''^^,.''y -- -nt
satisfied wth himself as h^"iMi*?.'^'^'' I^''^ so
Massoni's woun™ thouA t ''^'^ ''^ ''"°»"' "-at
was, however, suffic^en? to ^rif' 75' "°' '''"^'- ''
by the heels for severlHon^Li*' dangerous villain
;o^.e^P him out of"^i^c«r^rn:tJ-,-
chfs^r^,pt-t't;Trn '"'•■ ^" '""> •'-»"
out his nefarious designs ' ^ *''" '° "''?
Elb'^'as Sed'^and ir^^'L"''^ '"' ^^'^ '"''tter.
a.ssassins ol^ SS-is a^^ ^^^^^^ *« °n« of the
sent to CorsicaTthe hooe h^? ^^ ""■" '^ ' '""' '^""
to Napoleon's person Sefofr.' "'^''' ^et access
Fortune favours the hrl„„ f ^°'-"'* "'^s watched,
time in his chequ^rS carelr'n "^""u' J"^ "P '° «>is
accuse Carlo mS orcowa°dr ^'^ ^'"' '"''^ '"
acquaintance with the governor Pr.,,V'/*"*'"''' ""'^
THE ASSASSINS 335
SiVnor Mas«?on.- .tTvI^ )^ ^ '^ "^''"'^^ ^^^ well,
totrnto^""^"'^"'' "'^ f"- ->^--«d his desire
; One would be a fool if he did not.' replied Massoni
tnp^ and the weather promises well.' ^ ^ '^"^
the first, he accepted ' '' '" ""'^ ""^"'^^<' f™™
po.t .ppetri B.^sti ti:,.rd ft ria
gJ?d^trov:?Ce7^TL°r:ri^fc-^
ner was a single passenger, who carried
i I
236 VENGEANCE IS MINE
himself with a mih'tarv air nr.^
cloak susp;dou.lyllTaF;,KhUe7/ ThF, ''f
vidual's language was excessively Wolnt q^ 1 "'*'"
less had been the srhnnn.,'„ ^ violent, bo harm-
was he of aU matter, n.rt,- ""^^^J'^- ^o ignorant
did not realize "f was TdaS mM "^^ ?."=" ''^
came crowding over the side^ h! 1,^*^'°"" ""^^
remove a cipher hidden in fi i" ,"'. ''^'^ "° *'™« '»
He fervent! vtrust^iJ . m *' "'^ °°^ ^^ >"■= ^°ot^-
Massoni had not wlS^deren ^ '""^f u'"'^'^^"' ^ut
nothing. wandered half round the globe for
wit?: dlSntTrertd^ir??!""^''- ""'
completely different Trt of crotL^ for .^'''°"' '" "
was a man much of hfa own ^ze '.^''"".''^'y
wearer of the blue cloak and hH f 1 "^ origmal
veyed in the schooner to R /"'"'^''"P*' *»^ "^on-
threatened to murder him .T'^' *i'^''« ^™='art
the emissao- thanked him • ""^ '"''^ ^"^^o"' «»
of ?'e"4:y^:hlt'tefon" '* '"'^i" ^^"J"' °-
attended as a rule w^h !, ^t"'!*"^' *"'* *hich he
at the plebeian comoinv fn f^ l^i ^?'^- ^'=g"»'«d
This night. howeveTKor.r''' *!? '^^""'^ "''"'^^'f-
freely with several of rt/ 1 T'* '•'*'!'>' *''> "^hatted
himself led the anolausl Ih'l'''"^ ^habitants, and
the musicians '^'^ ^ '^'"''' ^'^^^^ 'he efforts of
weS' bri:k?Tis' ti^i r Lr '^j;!' f "■°-"""'
observer might have fenced that hifnlulT \"°'*
and somewhat bilious vLfff fo^r P' '^"''"""■
expectancy-that he^l=,n. I \^'^ °" » '0°'' of
door. Otherwise therf was noTh^"' "^".^ "' «>«
behaviour. He was c^.r^/ v ^f ?="="''" '" h's
who sat upon a ra^erf h" ,"">' '^^" '" Madame Mire,
before her^it'hTh^ ca^s^v XTr "'^^'°"P^
at:n|:fthTisrbr£r^"^^^^^^^^
Of efery eyHe^l^rr^fe^^^
THE ASSASSINS 237
witnessed him playing the host to tt,» -
daughters of Ita Man trad«folt Hi .■ "'"? ^""^
of humble people J th:Se"ha"rn?fh-"'"«
common, whom she knew he dSo^eH hi u "F '"
of many millions, now owned hir::'ay''"' "'''° ="™^'
DrouLTtLe'^G^'vlt "bm r! ''tJ'' "^'■*'>- -'
of few talents bXreat int.; T""'-'^^''"'''"'^' « ">»"
upon the comVanS r''L''/;rb;^^^^
as he thought of the past shoulders
appe"ared'"^at%h!r1oor''""':?'"""^<' '">' ^ '-ban,
^ero.s^dU^nfStfertnlsHr."'-' '" ^"^
witWXer:^ty~T ''^n''°'^'"^
to cont^nue^^^'d disapp"et:i' '"''"'"' "" '"^ '-'^
Jm^arhis e"asf'^re;r\"'r?-",'^° ''' "°'
anr^ fK..^ excnanged a few words with Rnsf-an
and then mounted the stairs leadino-%o v '
ments. •"■rtui* leaaing to his apart-
He motioned Bertrand to remain in fi,. .
chamber, and, unattended na/spd nf k- *" ^"*^"
room, which was h't by a ^Ind'elabrl "'" ^^' ^"^^^^
do/Asi^-i^^ r t^a sr '\^
^orJZ^^:^::^^^ His
238 VENGEANCE IS MINE
'I permit none to qrestion what I sav ' he. r.,,i:.j
^and, moreover, it was a mistake to' tS^el'^ffi
more nor less than the look o„ til J ^ "^f ?^^^^^^
mere was something terriffin» .v n, c
gaze ; his lips were tightly shu/hii l^^ En.peror'a
ward, his ne'ck sunk &f h,^ ^^u^f '-^^^^ for-
drawn down into a frown and 'W.' f- '"■°"''
his eyes which by the "anSle ithf 7'^u*/'",'^'' '"
black. It was as If he were read S.hr. ''""?^'
'What are you here for i"' he aske^ 's„dd"n'lv '°"'-
an^^-C^fh^ti^Lti:^^^^^^
HeJrm''e^rru^-if-^Jontoth^
1 hen, why waste time ?' wa« ff,^ .
own time and mine. Areyou aware tht^f" y""'
have passed since I first saw you ?' ° '"'""'"''
of trnt^:tMr,ta".'Sy''^°'''" °"'^ "^ '^ -"<-
ste'r!;ir'tm Jl^^e'ste^rSiSr/.T-'
were not destined to use it against such as ^ ^"^
He had been maste^ldX^'^i ."^i^' P°-rless.
opfnThtdoor'"™^'^ "'^ ""-^ "P°" "i™ and pulled
'Bertrand!' he called out.
see* iftht p^e::on^:'■tUlr,L^- . ^.°'' -"
— , „„^^ J^JJ^J^ J^J^J ^^^
THE ASSASSINS
he replied ;
in such a
:ss. What
t hindered
home the
^as neither
r's face.
ing at him
Joting the
Emperor's
hrust for-
his brows
gh'tter in
d almost
»'s soul.
his head,
e heart !'
f — •_' your
minutes
le sound
imperor
and you
s under-
werless.
pulled
ou will
hat he
239
quits the island this night There must be no dis-
turbance, no whisper as to his presence.'
' Go !' he added, wheeling round and pointing with
his finger. ' Go, sir, and profit by what you have
seen and heard.'
Carlo Massoni went. Many a time and oft was
he to ask himself bitterly what had possessed him
to let pass the chance for which he had waited and
watched. All had gone well. Gironde was absent
at Longone ; none had suspected him ; the cipher
had been an efficient passport, and yet he had failed.
The buffoon at whom he had sneered was in his
power, alone, unarmed. He had meant to strike at
once, and yet— Carlo Massoni, at last, had learned
that a mere animal courage will not always serve a
man ; but was it fear which had unnerved him ?
He could not return to Corsica ; Elba was shut
against him, there remained only Paris— Paris and
Craspinat,
There was nothing noble about Massoni ; he had
not even Jan Holland's admiration for a brave man ;
thus, once he recovered from his chagrin and de-
spondency, the thought which came uppermost in
his mind was if he might not even yet accomplish
his purpose. He dare not do the deed with those
terrible eyes piercing his very brain, with that heavy-
jawed face, set and stern, staring into his, imperio-'s,
commanding, with the influence of that dread presence
upon him ; but there was perhaps another method.
He was to be doubly surprised when he reached
the house off the Rue de Gramont, for not only had
It new occupants, but it had lost an inhabitant.
Emile d'Herbois was dead.
Kate Ingleby's troubles began with the time when
Charles Deschamps lost even what reason remained
to him, and became a mere imbecile, subject to night
terrors, scarcely able to feed or clothe himself, feeble
- — c — 1 --'"v^ It. iiij -•n.uij.3, anu icaiiui as a cniia.
Emile d'Herbois wouid have sent him io an asylum.
240 VlixNGKANCH IS MixNJi
but the girl would not hear of t> Tn fk j
great Esquirol was indeed Hvin^ bu.\r/^^' ^^^
btN-fun his beneficent reformrand ^hl ^ ^'^ ''^'"'^y
out who IS to look aftf r him ? tr- -n
atte«danV safd her uncirtestiir " '"
kept hr'word!"' ''™'' '"' '''''"""' '■■""?'>• »"d ^he
""^^^ appeared alwf ys bright and ch^frv «,u;i
his old servant worshipper- her ^' '""^'^^
J^^tta?sEi^'Ura^,^L"or/r/F
had fascinated her, and she da^ed not di obe;'''""*'
sucked all the volition out of her lDdt'fl"'h "
mere automaton. ' '"' •>«'' »
hold. th.?,!!. 'ii_^?^"^".3f came over the house.
-,„.._-,5,^ .^..^ ureau, iiic doubt.
THE ASSASSINS
241
It was nothing marked or definite, scarcely more
than a shadow, but it was the shadow of Craspinat.
Even as it was, the girl remarked her uncle's irrita-
tion, his worried appearance, his abstraction ; but
she attributed it to ill-health. She was so far correct.
Emile d'Herbois was not the man he had been, other-
wise he would not have had dealings with Carlo
Massoni ; but he had developed a hesitancy, a want
of decision, which is not unfrequontly seen in men of
his age. He resolved to tell his niece the cause of
his trouble, but as usual imagined there was no need
of haste, and was loath to add to her burdens.
But he knew Craspinat's secret, and on that account
alone was doomed. Moreover, Craspinat had a plan.
This wretched being owed her life to Carlo Massoni.
In his youth, before he became a hardened ruffian,
Massoni was capable of doing a kindness. He had
one day come across an infuriated mob attacking a
thing like a hobgoblin, which faced them with tooth
and nail. * Kill the wizard !' the crowd had roared.
* To the Seine with him ! See how his hair falls off —
he hath a devil I'
The wretched creature, catching perhaps a gleam of
pity in Massoni's eyes, had made a sudden dart to his
side, and almost before he realized what had happened
he found himself regarded as its protector. He had
to fight, and fight he did, and the creature fought
with him till at last they both won clear and found
safety.
Then he learned that it was a woman he had saved —
a woman to whom Nature had been so unkind, whose
life had been so horrible, that as a mere mitigation of
her sufferings, and as a protection, she had adopted
a disguise which caused her to be feared, and eventu-
ally gained for her a livelihood.
Since that time he had but to raise his finger, and
Craspinat crawled to his feet. She was his, body and
her occupation consoled her.
16
I i
24» VENGEANCE IS MINE
and to thL'Vht^:L^°a"fr'eX:"/i^^ThT:5'"^'
first no special object in vieJj • j""^'^'- , She had at
in destruction, h^r ",^holy Hee Th"?'^ ^'' '^^''e'"
which would make her fem„^ ? ?°'"S something
- citement produced by woS :?th h' T' """ «-
an unhealthy excitement. ,i ""h deadly materials,
since the dw of tTe V "^ ^V"^ ""^^ f°r tver
occupy heS r }Z 7^"^'' *•>»* induced her to
Masf"ni.s;Tdlor^,';^'t^hetaro7;he'"r,''"^r''' ""
had fixed on one as a virtim * populace, she
worthy to perish bv thlJ ' °" u°"= "'''° »'°"e was
She deterSd to d^o.! "'°"' ^°'^^ °^ Craspinat.
herself by dXing?jrp"o"on""'"'^''^'"^ '"- ^^
dea^d°s:S;:t;?o'b?^evTaS1'„';^e'?'"r''^[ 'r'^"^ "
who would surely ghL her a wnM I? *^*-'° '^''"°"'''
with her in the JeJ e^L • °/ P"'^'= ""d Jo'n
to herself. ^ *' enterprise. So said Craspinat
pinliS'onrjp^n' ^The .^hf '"■"'^^- '^^^ "°' ^ras-
Emile d'Herbok ^he I "?' '.''* destruction of
her the fate of th. "^"i '^°'' Massoni had told
the' caLf of°'the%roWr'%'l"^ '° "ave aidid
money should becCe tassonit' "T.TT'^ 't'^
might have killed TC=t^ "'assoni s. It is true she
Shi might Lve to a?knowef'=^>'',''»t ^^e was wise.
on D'Herbol- 1 fc ^nnT "^ef/^'^e '" ^er attempt
should remain as then M"°"'^ be well that the girl
secure the fortune ^°"' ""^^'^ "^^ her and
^^^j'^^^^.'^^^^^P^-;'^' -kled to
bufd"eV h:r"sour:itVtr !?■= 'f^°""' "°' »"" ^^'her
things sho'uldlarj tr^'arV' ■^'=' f^'
one pleasure in I,T^ ^ aesigns. Craspinat had
wi JherrTpVi:ir^,;atu';l!^^"irj:^'t7„Vo" '7r
visit to what is nnw .J^^AnY^tr ^^^ ^^..^ ^aily
--. .«!..« ia iviorgue.- iihe was
THE ASSASSINS
243
ever the first to appear at that ghastly abode of the
dead, and feast her perverted senses on the gruesome
and the horrible, and it so happened that there she
met Emile d'Herbois, who had been found dead in
the streets, laid out upon a slab. He had played
with time, and time for him had changed suddenly to
eternity ; for his heart was soft in texture as well as
in sentiment ; it had in a moment ceased to act.
Craspinat chuckled and scuttled back to the house
off the Rue de Gramont, where all slept, save,
perhaps, poor Charles Deschamps. Then Craspinat
made a search, found certain papers, and descended
with them to the basement.
To Kate Ingleby her uncle's death came as a heavy
shock. He had always been kind, and he was her
one relative on earth. But another shock awaited
her. The notary came— a dry, cold man of law.
He fussed and fumed, for though he had a legal
bearing, he was none the less a Frenchman. He
knew the conditions of the will, but there was no will
to be found. There were no papers or drafts even
which would procure the monev he knew belonged
to D'Herbois' niece— the girl,' beautiful as Marie
Antomette, the notary told himself (he was a French-
man and married), who showed a marvellous self-
control, and had her uncle buried in th. iVotestant
fashion, despite the lawyer's remonstrances.
Emile d'Herbois had been what he called a Theist,
and in life had never let a priest poke his prying nose
withm the door.
Kate Ingleby, daughter of a Puritan, resolved to
respect his wishes, but in doing so she made an
enemy of the notary, who was not so thorough in his
search as he might otherwise have been. The result
was that Craspinat and her doir, .^ r. mained un-
known. Victorine, ignorant and superstitious, would
not have opened her lips for untold' gold. Had not
Craspinat even prophesied her mp.ster's death ? A
man who could do this could do anvthine"""'" '
16—2 ' ^
iillM
^i}i«
^l
if
»44 VENGEANCE IS MINE
chief desire in life a n^ ^^.u* .'"'*" ''" ""<='<='»
the papers missL » * ''*' ''^ "»' d<^ad and
UK. ,,it there hadLL J iu ' '=°"''' "°'- She now
in Kmile d^Herbois_tLtT''r ^^f^"" fo'' 'he change
conscience. Si!:"?eared*,h\?after'':!'rh"' ' ^"''"^
t'ons, he had used ilie monevtnil- •"' Protesta-
was unjust, but scarce W to ^n .°"'" ''"'''• She
said.Emii,:,:-' '^^ f > '° blame, for, as has been
one is apt to judge a man bv h"'""' ^^P-'^^'o". and
this fear tJ ke'p't h^^^'^^.^r sL"''=- /j "^'
for a moment hint at ,> =Ja . , ; She would not
nigh a beetrar Th. L' '" '''* '"'""' herself well
mhted fo^sfay inTt for the 7' "k'-""" ^"^ ^^^ P« -
relief; but she had no friend Tnl'^h"^' ""* '° ''"
which will not suffer cha^y' " **' "'^ P"'^*'
wi^ 'tharftraightfrardnt ^"'/"if "*^'' "P™ ''
were her ^athe?s Cc; o- -< ''°" "•"*
wonderful voice ^' '"*''<■' "^^ "' her
way waf ope^e'f'; to^her^'T'^'."" ^^-'^' V a
success will yc. be 1° nf V 1° "t' '""s-'sted Ser
.•tsheig,UCar£'«^,:,ra;%b.^be..^^^^^^^^^^^
CHAPTER VII.
THE AUDIENCE
T'l t"hf , I;Lrwe"e sum ^l^^f "Poor's arrival
;* Neil's tho ghtrS>m ?h ' '^ ''""'5' '° '"^"t
which they h, , cour'ed P, ^'""'i'^ '=''«'"«1 '""
foment, ' 'I of t^.jtJ^'. ^""^ '" « ^tate of
ri,- ^u:s crow
•^cu to excess.
I
THE AUDIENCE
245
ary by her
led to him
nd he was
ler uncle's
dead and
her mind.
She now
he change
d a guilty
protesta-
ids. She
has been
ision, and
'• It was
^ould not
•self well
was per-
il to her
the pride
i upon it
11 which
of her
at first dc 'ous with joy, then sullen and apathetic.
Gironde \ , here, there, and everywhere ; and for
the first til e Neil perceived that the Gaicon, when he
settled to work, was a man of great ability. His
bombast and his excitement both vanished in large
measure. Me became crafty and secretive, though in
Neil's presc-^"'! he spoke freely enough. The city
was a perfect hotbed of conspiracy. Plots were
being hatched by half a dozen diffen nt parties — by
the royalists, by republicans, by mc^e gold-greedy
desperadoes ; but their object was the same — to com-
pass the death u( the Emperor.
Neil Darroch, whatever his views, had no sympathy
with such villainy. Together they visited the caf<^s and
wine-shops. A favourite hunting-ground of Gironde's
was the Caf^ Montansier, in the Palais Royal, where
Congregated hundreds of officers who had served in
the 1 J wars. Here they gave themselves to a mad
revelry, men of nearly every European nation vying
with each other in drinking bumpers to the '^oming
campaign, which was the hope of every one 01 them,
embracing each other as some popular song stirred up
old recollections, shouting choruses, and yelling them-
selves hoarse.
Even here the Gascon found his victims, and
tracked them to their lairs, where the hand of Fouche,
Chief of Police, fell heavily on them if it was thought
worth while to make an example.
Gironde was hopeful as ever. He did not seem to
observe, as did Neil, that most of the enthusiasm was
limited to the army. The populace were indiflferent.
All they wanted was a settled government and the
peace to which France had beci. so long a stranger.
They fancied at first *'"1 it had returned with
Napoleon, and it was noi aie ^ peror, but what they
imagined he represented, thi?, they had welcomed.
Mos* significant was the cry of the working class:
'The great Contractor has returned ; we shall now eat
bread l' By way of insv^ ;r came the great review in
"'^jfe"""
'4' i
246 VENGEANCE [S MINE
impulse.' "' endeavours and foiow our
The nation had no desire to f]n or,« *u-
of gathering .^frnTecr, ""^ "^''J' '"^« "=»™« "-O'd
he was th^lnlfuT " have tch a°„ ^b.^'-^^"K'''- "'""e"
Neil proved liimself to be substitute as
doSl'udteXrie'n'd •'sa^d''^-'''T^'^; '"-g" =>
you will be af «cd lent n'nh-f • ""r''^ *° '"■" ■ ' ^"^
you would not excel thon^h"- ,,'° ">/ P^fosion
lilce m seU^ Tdo notrnJ" ^r™"" '°°'^'"g f^"""'^
ordinary build. "'^"^^ °e of
'A moderate-sized man nnv ar?ri f« u- • .
alter his appearance,but a H^^ l°4".l"'^'' "r
*••- cju^n aa you are
0~^
THE AUDIENCE
247
remains a steeple, or becomes round in the back
which IS still worse. Now, my boy, as you do not
fancy handlinjT a musket for a year or two, your ambi-
tion must be the portfolio, and I shall give you your
chance. While you have been poking your bier nose
into odd corners and getting yourself disliked. I have
been drawing up a report which must go to Fouch^
I do not believe in writing when one has a tongue in
one s head, but the matter is important, and it is also
important that you should come under the notice of
those in authority. This will procure for you an
audience, and your wits must do the rest. Now no
refusal, my friend ; I ask it as a favour. I know your
heart IS not with us, but I know also that you have
not been well treated. Once you have an object in
view, you will live, as I do. to serve the greatest man
on earth ; and I am much mistaken if you do not
serve him faithfully. ^
' Let me now explain your mission. You think
you know all that Jules Gironde has been doing
during the past week. There you are wron- Believe
me, 1 do not doubt you, but it is best to keep some
things to one's self. I discovered, ju«t before this
miserable shivering and sweating pounced on me. a
new conspiracy. It is remarkable because there are
few concerned in it As a result, it is all the more
ikely to succeed. What is more, there is a woman
in the business, and women are the very devil in an
affair of this kind f Last night I got fLh informa"
tion—never mind from what source. You, you old
Huguenot, are not so indispensable as you imagine.
it!f. »s not ripe ; indeed. I know very little about
hevlf/i'K?.' I shall be out in two days, and then
. F 1, "^'" ^°^^ ^^^^' ^^^'^^ "ecks.
.P„H ^^ t .**i^'' ^ ^l'''"^^ "^^^"^ be forgiven if I did not
send early information; and.besides, I have now rivals.'
In thf nM sighed heavily. • 7 repeat, I have rivals,
in ttiL old days I was supreme. When we hav^
leisure i may tell you how Tbecame known at' every
fr
i:;;ii!
i
248 VENGEANCE IS MINE
Court, how I made my name once and, as I thought,
for ever. Alas ! I find I am forgotten by some of
them but we must remedy that; though, after all, if
the Emperor is satisfied, it is not of much account.
But they are all babes and sucklings compared with
me, and I have the first clue here, at any rate. I
benefit myself, I benefit you-two birds with one
stone. You do not refuse me this small favour ?'
^ 1 would be a cur if I did,' answered Neil Darroch
h. K .? ^'!-n F^^ ^^^^^'^^ ^^^^' ^*^°"gh yo" would
be better still had your mother wed a Frenchman-
but now let me tell you the kind of man you are
going to meet. Between ourselves, FouchJ is the
greatest rascal unhung. The Orator, as they call
him IS worse than the Bishop, and that is saying a
good deal, for Talleyrand is the most cunning rolue
in Christendom ! Fouch^- is not such a fox, but he is
u^^■t .u^ wolf ; he is greedy, he is treacherous, but,
unlike the wolf, he is bold ; one may best compare
him to a hungry wolf. He has been useful to the
Kmperor, but I know that Napoleon hates him. In
rny opinion, his head should part company with his
shoulders to-morrow, for no one can say what game
he is now playing. s ^
'However, that is not our business. Answer him
short y and without hesitation, but it is best to appear
a itt e stupid and dull. He has a great contempt for
a fool and will not trouble you much if you appear
vacant and reply in monosyllables. Men who
have tried to appear too clever have suffered before
now for he is always on the outlook for people who
might suspect him and prove troublesome, i shall
?XlI tif -.""^ first interview with him. Some day
1 shall tell It you. We understand each other now, I
think, though he was but ill-pleased to find me very
much ahve. No matter ; remember what I have told
you, and keep your tongue in check. You will prob-
ably be insulted a dozen times in as many minutes
but you must neither lash him w.>h th^ r.i^ ,„^.'
nswer him
THE AUDIENCE 249
nor pound him with the other.' And. Gironde laugh-
ingly touched Neil's heavy knuckles. ' Here is a
passport for the gate. You enter by the door on the
right of the square. I shall expect you in an hour at
most, as you will go and come in a hackney coach.
the^MinTs'try"' ' ""^^ '^'' ^" >'°"'' ^^^t^tep to
Neil laughed dryly, and set off without delay. He
was just a trifle excited as he rattled over the cause-
way stones. He had put from him all desire of
advancement he regarded himself as a man with a
career blasted ; there had crept into his mind a con.
viction that a curse was upon him which was pursuing
him to some bitter termination. But he was young
Despite his melancholy, his spirits would now and
then rise and he would build castles in the air. and
nlT ^i ^u^l undertakings and mighty achieve-
ments. buch fits were momentary, but one of them
lastened upon him now as, with a bundle of sealed
papers in the breast-pocket of his coat, he drove along
the Rue de Rivoli to the gates of the ancient palace,
once the abode of kings, now that of the man who
was defying the armed might of Europe.
He had no difficulty in being admitted, and was
respectful y attended by a servant in a gorgeous
ivery of blue and silver. As they proceeded along
a pass^e decorated by a double row of statues they
met a tall man in an undress uniform, whom Neil at
once recognised as General B.rtrand. He stopped
and exchanged a few words with the lacquey.
standi h'^'^ •!? f ^ '.^' ^"^" °^ ^^^^"t«> I ""der.
fpnolnAf r V^i!'"'"F ^° ^^^"' ^^°' however, was
ignorant of Fouch^'s title, and so replied :
] I have a report for the Minister of the Police '
yuite so ; then be good criou^h to come with me
^nd^lXr^'' ^'"^^'^'"''^ ^"^^^ '- the servant
and led the way from one corridor to another till Neil
palace '' ""' """ ''^"""^^^'''"s 01 me huge
250 VENGEANCE IS MINE
At last they stopped before a door in front of
which was hung a heavy curtain. Bertrand Tapped
A man was standing looking out of a window
round as he heard their footsteps, and advanced
rapidly towards them. It was the Emperor He
was dressed in a plain blue coat, with a sinele star
upon the left breast, breeches of a brown nfnkeen
told tn n"' ""t'l^'- ^ ''"g'^ g'-"« «t h'^ face
truth Th?™* "1« /"""»"• for once spoke the
hemat =,„,?'• U-* *' '^"'^ ■»*" ^ho had led
them at an astoni.shmg rate from the shores of the
Mediterranean to the banks of the Seine. His jaws
h^H h.T\'^*"' ^''^>^' *«^« dull and heavy. '' He
had lost flesh everywhere, save round the waist His
gone. His clothes seemed to hang loosely on him
&"th»tT P^"<'«'°"^- He was dearly u'^healthy.'
'^^l ^- ^'f manner was brisk and alert
. Who is this man?' he asked. He nodded
vigorous y as Bertrand told him. • We shaU make
ChifJa «tf r( ^r?""'-;''^ 'a"ghed, a„d"ht
b:?orJ:'he'said:har^p^'. ^"""^"^ '^ "^^ -" ^o"
' Rn?'!"'*' '."^""^f'^ely Neil gave him his title.
But where, sir where ?' he asked impatiently
; On board the brig off" the coast of Elba.' ^
on ^^r^w^rs^d^^s tsfyrr^rhTv:
^aOTafJSVr sf-'lu"::ref °" --'-
An advocate, sire.'
• A lawyer ? A bad trade, sir, but, like that of th^
surgeon, necessary; the latter lops off limbs t£e
W us'how n^ir ''""' r'*"'- are'meam to
'w ",Ji' ''?.":Jl"^ "^ ^'^K how easily we mav be
-r-rP--. ""'^ "«: surged >s greater than the lawyer
THE AUDIENCE
251
—a single surgeon is worse than a whole congress of
them. Ah ! Bertrand, that is so, is it not ?'
' Jt depends upon the subject, I should say,' answered
the Count.
' Precisely ; but what is your name, young man ?'
' Noel Deschamps.'
' Deschamps ? I have heard it before. Your accent
is strange; what was your birthplace ?'
*I am half a Scotchman, and was born in that
country.*
' In Scotland ; I see, your father being French. Do
you know, Bertrand, that I was once supposed to be a
Scotchman myself?'
* Impossible, sire!'
* So it would seem, yet the London journals gave
credence to the report. They called me a poor
fellow Oswald who was a member of a club I fre-
quented, and with whom they asserted I changed
names. He was killed in La Vendue— that is to say, I
was killed and Oswald became the Emperor Napoleon,
unhappy man that he was.'
The Emperor smiled and took snuflf copiously from
a plain wooden box. He was clearly in a good
humour.
* And so you followed me to Elba with that faithful
fellow Gironde. What have you done since ?'
*I have continued to follow you, sire,' said Neil
quietly.
•A good answer, I allow, but that scarcely filled
your stomach, young man ; you did not carry a
musket'
' I have assisted Monsieur Gironde.'
' And no doubt have proved useful. You are
modest; that is well— the bravest men are those
who say least about themselves. And now what is
your business with Fouch^ ?
* It is with the Minister of Police, sire.'
;Whatl'
Ihe Emperor made a threatening gesture ; but Neil
I !
ill
252 VENGEANCE IS MINE
did not flinch, though he noticed the gust of oassion
which swept across Napoleon's face, an^d markerhow
h,s smile vanished and his lips met'and were pressed
tightly one against another till the colour left them
I merely state that Monsieur Gironde. who is ill
Poh?e Tam f >'' ^^^^^P^^-^ to the'Mi;:?ster of
bidding.' ' '' ''^'^' ^'' '^'^^"^' ^"^ '""^t do hi.
'th.Y°K ^'^ ■'^^^' ^'''' ^^^'^ '^e Emperor coldly
though your manners might be improved It so
happens^^ however, that Gironde is my servant and so
del ' S"^' ^^ ^^^^"^°- ^ therefore order you o
deliver those papers to me.' ^
Without a word Neil placed the bundle in u;
outstretched hand, and then^owed and'rade aL"f';o
Scoi"d wdlV"-' "■' ">' =™P«™'- ' D° yo" know
I It was my home for many years."
London?" ^''°^^" ""'""' "'"^ ''^'"g e°^«™«> from
'Indifferent^ T^'j, f*'%""'J°"'y «« indifferent.'
indiflerent ? Good ! I am ob iged to vou for
your mformat.on, Monsieur Deschamps. You seem
ometC Buf "' f"""' "^^ '^^y ^^' ^O"" ' "
your addr«s k^ ^i"*' '"' ^' """^ <=a'«f"l '»
master >l?f I T "'u" '""^^y "y 'hanks to your
master —he laid emphasis on the word—' and sav I
hope he may soon be restored to health. And '-fhere
he reached up and tapped Neil lightly on the left
shoulder-' on the whole, the EmpfrorVve^ wd
Neil Darroch retired, not knowing whether to h^
«hlt^ °^JTy?' '"^ 'eception.^He had often
when m Edinburgh, heard mfn boast of how thev
would face the Emperor of the French, and defy liS^
f need be-how they would very quickly cive hL'
upstart monarch a piece of their ^unt.S-'^
tlWVV
THE AUDIENCE
253
their sturdy British inrJependence. He wc.ndcred
what those windbags would have done had they been
in his place, and seen for a moment the Emperor's
frown, and heard the harsh, rasping tones of his
angry voice. He himself, with one exception, had
studied Napoleon at a distance. Now he understood
that, charlatan or no charlatan, this man was one
born to reign, one who had reigned as no other had,
and who would not brook the slightest opposition to
his imperial wishes. He marvelled when he remem-
bered how meekly he had stood in the presence of
this little fat man and answered his questions. Had
he but known it, he had presented a braver front than
most of those whose lot it had been to confront
Buonaparte in a passion. He had done more: he
had impressed the Emperor by his bearing and his
replies.
As he was driven swiftly back to his lodgings on
the south side of the river, he again began to enter-
tain hopes that life might yet hold something for him.
The worn, anxious expres;,ion on Napoleon's face as
he turned from the window had roused in him a feel-
mg of pity. There was something pathetic as well
as grand in this domineering spirit which had forced
the fallen monarch to make one mighty effort to
regain part, though only a part, of what he had won
lor himself by these years of war and intrigue and
marvellous diplomacy.
There was something stirring in the thought that
this pale, dejected, flabby little man was at that
moment rousing all France, raising two millions of
warriors from an exhausted country, holding the
reins of government, and meeting plot with counter-
plot ; that he was the mainspring which had set in
motion the vast mechanism required for a great
campaign— the arsenals, the factories, the swarms of
workmen, the military administrations ; that it was
-.gamst iiim, and him only, that huge armaments were
moving, that England was pouring out her gold like
!!l'!!(
II !
ml
I II
(4.
I- '■i
--^-
254 VENGEANCE IS MINE
water, that curses were bein? cA«!f K , fu
at least six countries wSadtprn'^d tn^H ^^l^'u^^
very name. ^earned to dread his
reaching. He was r^]LZl ^- ^® ^^^V ^ar-
pohticsfso to sp^ak inH if ^ P^^l '" ^^« world's
be, it was not faTr^LvedV^oTthe i'""''' ''. "^'^^'
most of the civiliTPH \J^ m *^® ^''^^ ^o""^ which
been spinning^ ^TwenT^^ear Tt^' ^"^ ^^^
said, 'On thlwhol^ T o£ ^ * J^^ Eniperor had
Monsieur Deschamos' ZT^ .rl^^^^'^"^ ^^'^^ you,
days Neil Dfrroc7^L.^"f^^' *^^ ^^^^ ^ime for many
himself. His steo wl? / ' '^^'^ ^^" ^^'^'^^^d with
rickety wooden tarwh'r^^^^^ " 'tL^^''"^'^' 't
inhabited with Gironde rI 7 I .^^^ ''^^"^^ ^^
state of uncontrS"xc!?emr' '"'' "°^''^ ^*" ^
ba/ht^•n";\^"?ra^^^^^^^ ^^-^'"^ ^^^--If,
tions. P^^^P'ration, and pantmg with his exer-
n *ii H ^°" '' ^® <="ed, as Neil enter ^^i » tu ,
God! I never evnprf/.^ ♦■« ^"' Thank
M^ #^1, , . expected to see you again •
f™S\KeTr'''"'° ^ "^"^'-"'^ -^"^ the beads
thefci;:"''"' " ""°"S'' ^''«==' Neil, completely i„
'God knows how much or how Htn. :.
boy ! You have seen Foueh^ ?- ''"'^ " """"^ "y
No, I have not.'
whomhavr;ou:L'nr'""^' *^'^''-°''- 'Then
■thaM-sfrwoTanrLpTrt;::.".'^"^'' ^^" ''-'^-
Who w^rrtUy?"' ''""" ■^°" *'■" 'i"- -e mad I
The fifcf itfoo ^ 1 -r* .
" '^ ""^~ vjrciicrai Derirand, the second .'
■"'■*?^a«^5S0Kis»i-
THE AUDIENCE 255
* Yes ?'
* The second was Fouchd's master/ replied Neil,
remembering Napoleon's words.
* Fouch^'s master I The Emperor, you mean ?
Embrace me, my friend — we are saved. This is
superb !'
' But what is wrong ?'
'Nothing now; but had you seen the Minister, my life
at least would not have been worth a day's purchase.
Listen ! A man has just gone out, a man paid by me,
who brings me certain information that there are
four persons concerned in this plot. One of them
you know already. He is Massoni — our old enemy
Massoni ; the second is, as I said, a woman ; the
third is their tool, gutter-bred, a mere machine ; but
the fourth — the fourth is Fouch^ himself!'
' Good Lord !' cried Neil. ' Are you sure ?'
'As sure as I well can be ; the man does not know
as much, but he described the fourth conspirator, who
meets in a certain house, which shall be nameless and
numberless at present. The description is enough
for me ; the fourth, as I say, is Fouch^ I'
' Whew !' whistled Neil. ' This has been a narrow
escape.'
' Let me hear it, then,' cried Jules impatiently, as
Neil helped him into bed.
* Superb !' said Gironde again, when he had learned
full particulars of Neil's mission. * Things could not
have turned out better both for you and for me, and
yet it would have been amusing to have seen how the
rascal looked when he read the papers.'
* I'm glad I was not amused in that way,' laughed
Neil.
' Ta, ta, ta, my friend 1 It is ver/ fine to see a man
suddenly surprised.'
*So I can testify.*
' Pouf ! I was a little upset ; it is the fever. Feel
my pulse now — as steady as the Guard under tire.
To be sure-, there was not a breath of suspicion in
my report, but I would stake > third ear, if I had
I. mill il:
256
VENGEANCE IS Mike
one, that Fourhi* i-«^ •
have had me safe^':T^T?nn'',\''r "f'"^' *<'"•''
thr latest.' "* ^^"'P'e before to-night at
per fidv .""irorrfble"' To t'''' '' ''''''^ Neil. ■ Such
King would be td eT^u'Tco'^^f ^'""^'H^' ^''"^ '"e
mak-eout, hisVdou We„W As far as I can
forfeited estates from Lonfl!) ^*''* * P^-n'se of
to get them, when the Bo, A ""^^ "'^'"^ ''" ••' f^" way
hands, over the frontr Then".'! ''"\^""Sing Js
X Jules Gironde is anythh^^ "f "^' '^t' ?'"'• »"<i
covered it himself, and becamp fi. • '^l' ^'""=h^ dU-
of something ver; big you ™! T' *">' °" P^^'se
say what he will dot ^To 17 ^ ""^- ^ho can
rather be in the Emoemr', i ""= '™"'' ' "ould
Massoni's. The Orato fs bad 1^°"' "'^" '" Carlo
times worse as a friend ' *" *"*'"}'• he is ten
.Nnt1,"'''^"'^'"''« done now?'
watch ''^„.^,^7;-n,ust wait and we must
he 'S like a slimy snake fS, 1? °' *">' accusation •
and putting on T^et onrb'f "•" "' »" "''^ ^'<'n
g've me time. Leave "t ' to Z^'r"^^ P™"*"' ^"^
tmperor n my heariL i ^^ Gironde. The
will probably ha'^g'=^;"„"|,j'!L^^'^ 'hat Talleyrand
Jules Gironde .should doti' ""^ ''^J'' What if
A week passed tk«, A
about for three d'ays nL m -fu 5^"^ ^^" "P and
own devices ; for gLIJ^ ^"' ^""^ ^een left to his
that too many cooS Tnllf ?' "''" '° """-"tand
broth, and bade him occupt himf fr"°'l!'' 'P°'' 'he
of the city and its sn^T^T "5^ "'^^"^with the sights
^rprise, Girondf pr;":™:^'^'"^:- Somewhat to^h s
should pay a visit to "heTheatr^ 7T"^ "'at they
will be in dire str»;,." /!'.^''?'^'= °' Varieties. Paris
will be in dire straL K r^"^*"''^ °''
'e straits before the 4^
ors of net places
THE AUDIENCE
257
of amusement are closed, and in spite of war-clouds
and the prevailing depression, her stage-loving citizens
still thronged the play-houses.
'It is time we had a little amusement,' said
Crironde; 'and we may perhaps combine business
with r :^asure. The Varieties is most to my taste,
and ia belle Americaine " is said to be charming.
But perhaps you object; you are too strict, too
proper — is it so ?'
'When you are in Rome, do as the Romans/
laughed Neil. 'The Varieties be it; though I have
no great liking for the plav.'
'The play!' chuckled Gironde. 'It is scarcely to
be so called ; but no matter, you shall see it. I will
wager you that Perrier will be there. He knows a
pretty girl, and is a sad dog— only I know more ;' and
the Gascon nodded very wisely.
The place was packed, chiefly with the military,
but the audience were cold and unresponsive, save
when allusion was made to the Emperor, when there
went up a roar which might have shaken the walls.
They seem to care little about it all,' said Neil,
and I do not wonder.'
' Patience/ said Gironde. ' They wait for mademoi-
seiie.
And he was right. As she came upon the stage,
she was greeted with uproarious applause and showers
of flowers, but Neil Darroch sat as one transfixed.
1 his woman, dressed in a coquettish costume, who
bowed and smiled, a woman of a rare and bewitching
beauty, with a rich deep voice and pretty tricks of
manner and dainty dancing steps, was no other than
the waif whom he had saved, it seemed to him, half a
century ago. She was Kate Ingleby— but she was
something more. As a fresh burst of applause
neraided her appearance, Gironde bent towards him.
and whispered in his ear :
JlPhrklrl fViA n^^» 1; . r A% mar... -
p |~""|r"" ""'- *-^^'"F"i-^- 01 cne ministef of the
17
258 VENGEANCE IS MINE
M
liii
III;:
I ■M'
CHAPTER VIII.
A NIGHT OF RFCKONING
C"^ IRONDE naturally enough attributed the in-
j[ tense astonishment depicted on his friend's
f;^« IT u*^ ^'^ °^" surprising piece of infornia-
tion. He had not noticed ihe start Neil Darroch
gave the monrient he caught sight of the girl, nor did
he perceive that his companion's agitation and half
incredulous stare were both present before he whis-
pered m his ear.
Neil, indeed, scarcely heard him. This strange
meeting with the woman he had tried to forget, who
was m a way the cause of all his trebles, affected
him powerfully. He had despaired of ever seeing
her again ; he had resolved to make no effort .u find
fter. How could he. a man who bore on his back the
brand of ignominy, venture to approach hei ? Over
and over again he repeated this argument to himself,
but every time his mind would conjure up a vision of
her as he had last se n her, talkingto poor old Charles
.->eschamps, laughing gaily at some gallant speech of
her ancient admirer. How could he, broken in spirit,
A^ith no future^ ruined, a mere outcast, ever raise his
eyes to one who was rich both in charms and beauty
rn, u'" ! !•' "^"'u '' f °°^' • ^^ ^^ked himself, bS
could not forget her face and figure and the dainty
drawl of her sweet voice. ^
And now she was before him upon a theatre staee
—a common actress. Could this indeed be she— this
woman who sang entrancingly, to whom the whole
house was listening with bated breath } A feelinffof
intense re lef possessed him when he found that there
was no hing objectionable in the words she voiced
fn .h/ '"^° ^^.^"'^' "^°^"^' ^"d g'-^^^f'-'J. swaying
, ^ „„^ cuihujg to ner audience.
'''i IP mt "
A NIGHT OF RECKONING 259
ed the in
lis friend's
f informa-
1 Darroch
rl, nor did
1 and lialf
he whis-
s strange
)rget, who
5, affected
er seeing
5rt .u find
; back the
r ? Over
himself,
. vision of
d Charles
speech of
1 in spirit,
raise his
3 beauty,
iself, but
le dainty
tre stage
she— this
le whole
eeling of
iiat there
J voiced,
swaying
uuience,
he wings.
J her, but only to
even as she had many a time nodded and smiled to
^lim ; and then she vanished
A storm of cheering r
curtsey and beam withpleasi ;. Neil tound hinisel',
quite unconsciously, joining in the ovation, and dis-
covered Julcb Gironde with a suspicious moistur in
his eyes.
* Think of her !' said the little Gascon in a snuffling
voice. * It is as they told me: she s like a lark and
a humming-bird rolled into one, and the spirit of a
viper is inside. Why, my friend, are the worst women
often the fairest ?'
His words recalled to himself. He must be
cautious and circumsp
* I cannot say I see > thing very bad in her,' he
answered.
' No, no, but wait ; you heard what I said. She
comes again ; then you will sec what I mean.'
He was right. She appeared for the second time
in character, in the costume of a vivandi^re of the
line, and her dress brought vividly to Neil's mind the
spotted kerchief, the short skirt and the red stoc'.ings
she had worn at Darroch House. She played her
part to perfection, slapping an imaginary veteran on
the face, chaffing a raw recruit, gently tending a dying
conscript. The house laughed with her and cried
with her. Never for a moment had Neil Darroch
supposed that she possessed such talent.
But why, in any case, was she here > What did her
appearance in this public place mean ? Was she now
poor, or was it ? But as he cudgelled his brains
for an answer her acting ceased.
There was a Head silence, and from the roof were
lowered two standards, each surmounted by the
imperial eagle. The house restrained itself by a
mighty effort, and, accompanied by the full orchestra,
she sang again. The glory of Napoleon was her
♦■h*»mp I-T^- ..^:->» — _:_u ^1 r..n i_ij _r ^i. _ _ii
.-sciiic. xx^j vwii,c, iiuvv iii^ii aiiu iuu, luiu ui iiic Uiu
campaigns and the old triumphs. It quavered iuto
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ii
260 VENGEANCE IS MINE
melancholy notes and recounted the fall of the
Empire ; it rose vigorous and strong, denouncing the
Bourbons, the tyrants, the curse of France ; it was
hushed into expectancy, and then, little by little
pealed out mto a paean of victory, telling of the great
"l^!u A?^J^^ flocking to the colours, and the trust
ot the Old Guard, and finally ended in a jubilation and
a prophecy of peace with honour.
The song itself was mere clap-trap, but the woman
threw feeling and passion into it. One would have
sworn she was the Emperor's devoted slave, that in
her heart she echoed every word to which she gave
utterance, every sentiment she expressed. As she
ceased she kissed the flags, which were represented as
riddled with shot and scorched with flame. Then
raising them, she looked upwards, as if praying for a
blessing on the cause they represented.
The effect was marvellous. Neil himself was
moved. Gironde was in a state of mad enthusiasm,
lears were rolling down war-worn faces, hoarse
voices were trying to shout, though half-choked by
sobs ; bearded men were hugging each other, beard-
less boys were flushed as though with wine.
A moment so, and then, as the curtain 'fell, every
sound was lost in a mighty roar like that raised by
an army on the field of battU . No words could be
heard, nothing but a volume of rolling sound, yet
Neil Darroch understood its import, dazed and
bewildered though he was, and, carried away for
the moment, shouted also with the rest :
' Vive I'Empereur !'
As they mingled with the press on the way out
Jules caught hold of Neil's arm.
* Do you know what she is ?' he whispered
'What she is ?' echoed Neil, on the point of reveal-
ing his secret.
' She is Fouch^ in petticoats. I could no more
.... -*;*"" '"^ -t-age i,ia.n 1 cuuiu arrest me Orator
m the Cabinet. She would prove me a liar to my
A NIGHT OF RECKONING 261
face. Hush!' he added warningly, 'Yonder is
number one.'
Neil followed the direction of his gaze, and there,
head and shoulders above the crowd, his chin and
mouth concealed, a rapt look in his dark eyes, was
the assassin. Carlo Massoni.
Neil would fhere and then have forced his way
through the throng and grappled with the villain, had
not Gironde restrained him.
'Gently, my friend,' he whispered; 'all in good
time. You would scare the other birds, and do no
good, for where are your proofs ?'
» ' True, and where are your proofs about — about the
girl's guilt.?' asked Neil.
' Here at present,' said Jules, tapping his head ;
'but it is dangerous to speak so loud.'
Neil felt himself in a quandary. He did not know
what to believe. He reflected how short had been
his acquaintance with Kate Ingleby ; he could not tell
to what influences she had been subjected in Paris ; he
knew nothing of her uncle or her uncle's friends.
Was it possible she could be so vile ?
*No, no,' he cried to himself, *it cannot be;' but
then again his own question would crop up : ' Where
are your proofs ?'
Guilty or not guilty, he determined to save her from
the clutches of the law. If she had indeed fallen so
low in so short a time, it could not be her fault
altogether. She must have unwittingly got into the
power of villains, of this Massoni, perhaps, or maybe
her uncle, D'Herbois, had been a scoundrel.
He must deceive Gironde, that was evident. It
would serve no purpose to frankly tell him evcrytliing,
for it would make no difference to the Gascon's
course of action.
It will be noted that Neil could not absolutely
convince himself of the girl's innocence. His trials
had made him suspicious, he had lost faith in human
nature.
'*iL
11
li
26:
VENGEANCE IS MINE
I*
Still he became an habitual frequentfir of the
theatre, aware that there was little risk of his being
recognised, so altered wer<» his features by illness, so
changed his expression. His one pleasure in life
was to sit and watch her, to listen to her clear young
voice, to let his thoughts wander back to the past and
recall the old scenes at Darroch. It often sef;med to
him as though she sang to the music of the Western
waves as they splashed and played upon the sands of
Shiachan, or came tumbling, white and frothy, about
the Croban Point.
He would lose himself in a reverie and be roused
only when the house rose in mad enthusiasm at the
song of the Emperor. Then he would stagger out
into the night and torture himself with questions.
It was not without a fierce struggle that he made
up his mind. He long halted between his love for
Kate Ingle by and his friendship for Gironde. He
knew how the latter looked forward to the great haul
he was going to ncake, how he counted upon it to
re-establish his fame as the most cunning and adroit
member of the secret service, how he hoped to show
by it his de/otion to his Emperor, his zeal for the
re-established Empire.
If h is hard for a youth with all his life before
him to have his ambitions thwarted, how much
greater is the blow to a man of middle age, striving
to regain a position he has lost I
Neil fully predated this ; he feared that his
comrade wou.. think he had merely forestalled him,
that he was jea) tus and greedy for a>'.ancement, for
be it observed that he had to anticipate the Gascon.
At the same time as he warned Kate Ingleby he
would have to kill or capture her fellow-conspirators.
If she fled they would at once take the alarm.
There must be no bungling. There would be no
little danger, for he must do the deed alone. It
would be fatal to have witnesses.
So great was the conflict he waged with himself,
A NIGHT OF RECKONING 263
that it was not till the evening of the great concert
in the garden of the Tuileries, the night following
the famous Champs de Mai, that he finally resolved
to put into execution the plan he had been so long
maturing. He was in an excellent position to gain
information, and what he heard still further dis-
tressed him. The girl lived in the same house with
the villain Massoni, a deformed creature, and — here
was his one crumb of comfort — an old female servant,
who had been there while Emile d'Herbois lived.
Be it remembered neither he nor Gironde knew
aught of Charles Deschamps, who, little better than
a helpless infant, lay hidden away in an inner room.
How, then, could Neil understand what kept the
girl in such vile, such loathsome company ?
He k"ew the house which all three inhabited, the
rambling building in the narrow lane near the river,
and within the boundaries of the old Quartier St.
Paul. He know also that Gironde was to arrest the
whole band at midnight on the Monday following
the great fete and presentation of the eagles on the
ChaiiXTs de Mars.
Neil Darroch made up his mind to carry out his
project on the preceding night. Gironde considered
Fouch6 too powerful to proclaim him as a traitor,
and worse than a traitor; but he was bent on
capturing the others, and had left them no loophole
of escape, not even that devised for the girl by Neil
Darroch. For the spy had not been blind : he quietly
altered his plans : he also resolved to visit the house
off the Rue de Gramont on the night of Sunday,
June 4.
There were two differences in their methods of
setting to work, and this was unknown to the Gascon.
Neil Darroch had to go alone, and he considered it
best to go when the house was vacant. Jules Gironde
was to hav& men at his back, and to wait till the
uirus were iii inc traj^.
Neil Darroch's chief concern wa lo explain his
264
VENGEANCE IS MINE
conduct to the man who had trusted and loved him ;
Jules Gironde's to explain to his followers the con-
duct cf the man he pitied and understood.
For all that, he did not know that Noel Deschamps
and the actress had met before, that she was the
woman who, in some measure, was the cause of the
story he had heard in Corsica. He merely thought
that his friend was fascinated by * la belle Ameri-
caine,' and being a man with a big heart, he did not
blame him. Instead, he was sincerely sorry to find
himself in such an awkward position ; but duty was
duty, and ' the Emperor,' so said the Gascon, ' must
come first.' Jules Gironde would have arrested his
mother had he believed her dangerous to the object
of his hero-worship.
It was a very miserable man who excused himself
on a plea of illness from going to the Tuileries, and,
as soon as Gironde departed, prepared a dark lantern,
cleaned and loaded a brace of pisto]s, and saw that
a long knife could be slipped readily from its sheath.
The venture was perilo'is. Nothing must be left to
chance.
He had explored the neighbourhood of the house,
and discovered a window in the back, to which
access could be obtained by means of an outhouse
roof.
Gironde's agents had brought in the news that
Massoni and the woman were to be at the palace,
and that Craspinat, the third of the party, was to
join them after the display of fireworks, and return
home with them.
The Gascon had only waited so long because he
wished to excite in his victims a false sense of security,
and he knew that the bomb which was to be their
instrument for Napoleon's assassination was yet
hardly completed. He had learned a good deal
more about Craspinat, and no longer regarded that
repulsive being as a mere tool in the hands cf
Massoni.
A NIGHT OF RFXKONING 265
Had Gironde conceived that Neil Darroch would
he in wait at the house off the Rue de Gramont he
would at once have again altered his plans ; but as
he expected to arrive immediately after his victims
and as he had given orders for men to be posted
about the house an hour before midnight he felt
certain that he would frustrate Neil Darroch's pur-
pose and carry out his own. The old Jules Gironde
would have been more careful, but five years of
solitude amongst the mountains of Corsica had left
their mark on the faithful Gascon; for once his
strategy was at fault.
Neil Darroch found himself so feverish and restless
that he set out sooner than he had intended. It w'll
be remembered that he was ignorant of the alteration
m Gironde s plan. He himself was to have taken
part in the surprise on the morrow.
He experienced no difficulty in carrying out his in-
tentions. The ill-lighted streets were deserted. All
Fans seenied to be at the concert and pyrotechnic
display. The night was clear and warm. The man
hurrying along in the shadows, started at the sound of
his own footsteps ; his head was throbbing, his eyes
wild. Worry and passion had told their tale on him
He was a mere mockery of the man who, little more
than a year before, had saved the girl he was again
trying to save ; and yet the same traits were present
m him— a cool courage, a certain degree of dogged-
ness, and a morbid sensitiveness; but in addition
tT.u^^'u '.^! ?"*^' °^ undeserved cruelty, illness,
and the cherished desire for revenge.
It was an hour and a half before the first of
Uirondes gendarmes posted himself where he could
command the back of the house that Neil Darroch
mounted on the sloping roof of the shed and tried
the window Somewhat to his surprise, it was not
lastened. He knew that just then the onlv nrrun^n^
01 liie house, the old servant, was no doubt already
266
VENGEANCE IS MIIE
His knowledge, like Gironde's, was, as we have
seen, defective. '^ he Gascon was aware that Massoni
had only recently made the house his abode, and this
he regarded as a sign that matters were approaching
a crisis.
Neil Darroch clambered in, and, gently closing the
window, began to look about him with the aid of the
lantern. He found that he was in a large chamber,
half sitting-room, half bedroom. A table stood in
the centre, but there was little furniture besides, with
the exception of a canopied bed and a few chairs.
There was a candle upon the mantelshelf, and Neil,
after hesitating a moment, lit it and surveyed the
premises. It was clearly a woman's room. Whose,
then, but Kate Ingleby's ? Suddenly he caught sight
of something lying on a shelf which projected from
the wall and formed a makeshift dressing-table. It
was a little brooch of gold, which had been his
mother's, and which he had one day presented to the
girl when she had been in difficulties about the fasten-
ing of her dress at the throat. He picked it up and
fingered it curiously. What a host of memories it
brought back to him ! He smiled as he replaced it,
and his smile was less grim than it had been for many
a day.
' Yes,' he muttered, * I did right in coming here.
Poor lass I she may not be so much to blame as one
would think. God knows how hard it is for some to
guard themselves from crime.'
He passed his hand across his brow. His head
ached ; he did not feel equal to the task which might
be before him. So far, however, fortune had once in
a way favoured him. It might now be possible for
him to warn the girl without alarming the others.
Together they might devise some plan of esc?oe for
her if she would abandon the conspiracy.
At the same time, he recognised that he was in an
invidious Dosition^ He had the feclino^s of a crentle-
man, and disliked having thus to intrude on any
I
we have
Massoni
and this
reaching
Dsing the
id of the
:hamber,
stood in
des, with
V chairs,
.nd Neil,
eyed the
Whose,
ght sight
ted from
able. It
been his
;d to the
le fasten-
t up and
nories it
>laced it,
for many
ing here.
le as one
some to
^is head
ch might
i once in
ssible for
e others.
jCFie for
vas in an
a gentle-
on any
A NIGHT OF RECKONING 267
woman's privacy, but it was no time for false modesty
and so, when he discovered a closet filled with clothes
but large enough to accommodate him, and even to
permit his standing upright, he resolved to conceal
himself. He carefully extinguished the candle, and
making himself as comfortable as possible in the
recess, pulled the door to until only a chink remained
and seeing that his pistols were easy in his belt, began
his vigil. The time passed wearily ; there was not a
sound in the building, not even the monotonous tick
of a clock to tell how the minutes sped. His
thoughts went flymg back again to Darroch House
uu^^T^T"^ "^'^^ ^^^'"^ ^"""P^'se the kind of man
he had then been the finicking, cold-mannered advo-
cate, who fumbled with his eyeglass, made neat little
speeches, and was the better pleased if they happened
to be cynical ; who was full of family pride and
passionately patriotic, however slightly he might show
Sltn? ""!," k' ^"^. ^'^, ^^^'^ ^"°J' leg^^l brain had
been turned by a fair lass with wonderful eyes and
hair a mixed ancestry, and a Yankee drawl.
And yet,' he said to himself, 'this passion is all
that remains to me.'
It was not strictly true.
A moment later he was thinking of Geoffrey, of
the foul-mouthed, drunken Londoner who was to
blame for all his miseries, for those scars upon his
—for the girl's present position.
ina firlrV^K^;"' ..^V"",'' ^^ muttered. The slumber-
ing fires of hate sil glowed within him. 'He shall
have his chance, though he deserves to dh like the
dog he is; but I am not an assassin. I shall ^ive
A sound"rl-' ,,«%^.^°PP^d. ^nd listened intently,
come tatJ^ '^' ^^'^'"' "^^^^"2^ °^ ^ ^^«r had
teZL /^'\ "^ ^^'^^^ impatiently. Every
HeZ. T"^-^^ .^" ^^"^1" ^'' ''"^'^ °f nervous tension^
h;^ — —a --"'"to ^^ """K nis senses iiaci deceived
him. when he heard a light footstep, and then was
^
f
268 VENGEANCE IS MINE
conscious of a faint yellow gleam visible throu<];h the
chink. He helJ his breath and waited, pushing the
press-door a little further ajar. A figure, carrying a
light, passed across his line of vision, the figure of a
woman. It was Kate Ingleby.
At the same moment he distinctly heard the snarling
whine of a street cur. Though he did not know it,
Gironde's spies were signalling that there was a glow
at the back of the house, but they were signalling a
trifle too soon. The Gascon and his band of men
were not yet on the spot. If the spy had not out-
witted the Minister of Police, they would not even
have been upon their way ; but Gironde had been too
clever for Fouch6. He was late, but he was coming.
Had he not changed his plans, there would have been
no midnight raid on the morrow; but Fouch6 had
taken alarm only at the last moment, and had to be
careful how he opposed the man who had thwarted
him more than once. The Orator was not the person
to run his head into a noose or forge evidence agamst
himself. His attempt had been hurried and incom-
plete. . , ,
Neil Darroch, unaware that he had not a moment
to lose, was yet conscious that there must be no delay.
As soon, therefore, as Kate passed his hiding-place,
he slipped quietly out. She was pulling down the
window-blind, but turned sharply as she heard him.
He held up a warning hand, but not in time to
check the cry of surprise and fear she uttered as she
saw the tall stranger standing at the table.
She had thrown aside her hat, and was robed in a
long cloak, a fold of which she clutched with the
fingers of her left hand, while her right began to
search her dress. .
Neil understood the motion. She was seeking a
weapon. . , . t- l . t
* You need not be afraid,' he said in French. 1
•A .^« V« ^^ a^r
W^lii CIO you liO uai "1
' Now that he was
close to her, he saw that a year
the
A NIGHT OF RECKONING 269
had changed her also. She was thinner and paler •
her face was a little careworn ; she looked .-kJer and
more of a woman than she had done. Ho. girlish
brightness was gone in large measure, but to him she
was more beautiful than ever. Trouble hr.d refined
her. while ,t had hardened him, but her eyc.s were the
same, with the old defiant flash in them, ihough now
along with It there was something of wonder, some-
thing of fear. '
' Who are you ?' she asked. ' What do you want ?'
It matters not who I am. I want to see you safe
You must leave Paris to-night; to-morrow will be too
' Leave Paris I'
It was plain she was utterly bewildered. Suddenly
her manner changed. ^
* Is there anything else you have to propose to me?'
•I entertained no such idea,' he answered,
^^bomething in his bearing, in his words, startled
.rt^- ''^''u-''^r^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^"d J^^"^d forward,
scanning his features, and then gave a little cry the
meaning of which he could not Soubt. It expre;sed
rel,ef-ay, and more than relief. It was the cry of
IZ l^^ .^? '?u'^ ^^"^' ^^°*^^^ h°P^d ^"d watched,
and has at last been rewarded.
* It is you !' she said softly. ' Ah, I knew vou
srlddT'-;. "^ ^""^ "'"P'^^ her Vace 'No^;^,'
not afraid • ^ ^'""^ ^^'*"''' ""^ ^^' ^^^"^'' ' ^ ^"^
Neil Darroch trembled as he had never done, even
to St h"?.^ '"' ''''^ ^^^ '^^ ^^^^ > ^"* ^^ ^^^°'-2
sake^^'^n^""^ '' !lf- ?'^ '^''■"^>^- ' ^ ^"^ ^^'^ ^or your
sake. Do you think you can fool me as you fool
tne.Sf^ marl at^*-U.,^:~-i.- ^> /'-'u i\j\ji
' Fool you I' she repeated, all the glow fading from
hi ■'
I ■>
270 VENGEANCE IS MINE
her face. 'What do you mean? What has hap-
pened ?'
Her surprise was too real to be feigned.
* Then, you do not know — you are not guilty ?' he
said hoarsely. ' For God's sake, Miss Ingleby— Kate
— tell me if you have any dealings with this man
Massoni 1'
' With Signor Massoni 1 dealings! How dare you?'
she cried.
Then suddenly she covered her face, and began to
sob bitterly.
•You mistake my meaning,' said Neil, striving hard
to steady his voice. ' I mean, are you concerned in
this plot of his and the man Craspinat ?'
The most intense astonishment checked her grief,
though she could not control her agitation.
* A plot !' she stammered, * I know nothing of a plot.
And who is Craspinat ?'
It was his turn to be astounded. He knew her to
be far too clever to overact a part, and yet
•Craspinat, the deformed being, the inventor of
the bomb, who lives in this house, and has done so for
months.'
•Are you mad ?' she asked.
* God knows!' said Neil, passing his hand across
his forehead.
* Tell me,' she cried softly, catching at his arm—
' tell me all. There is some terrible mystery here.'
In a few hurried words he made it clear to her.
She listened, her amazement growing with his narra-
tion.
He finished at last, and marvelled to see how
calmly she took the news ; but her next words thrilled
him.
' And knowing all this, knowing the danger you
run, even though you thought me wicked' — he made
a sign of dissent, but she never paused—' you yet
came to warn me?'
* 1 could not help it,* he said.
A NIGHT OF RECKONING 271
* I suppw.se,' she asked, with just a suspicion of her
old archness and raillery — * I suppose it was entirely
unintentional ?'
'Kate I' was all he said.
Somehow he found hinnself at her side, his arm
about her, her eyes smiling into his, and then he came
to himself.
• No, no,' he said harshly, ' it cannct be. I am un-
worthy ; I am marked like a felon. I have no hope,
no country, no God!'
She shrank back, alarmed at his violence.
' But you must leave at once/ he said, mastering
himself.
* I cannot,' she cried. 'There is your uncle — he is
dying.'
' My uncle !'
• Yes, Monsieur Descaamps.'
And then she told him.
' But,' said he, ' what of Ma ,joni ?'
' It is only recently I have bejjun to suspect him,'
she said. ' I have told you how I found I was poor,
how I had to go upon the stage, and it was after that
he came. He represented himself as an old friend of
Monsieur d'Herbois, and Victorine said it was so. He
was very pleasant, and would have helped me with
money had I let him.'
* The devil !' exclaimed Neil.
• Then ne said he had to leave his lodgings, and
could find no others, and oflfered to pay me board. I
refused, but a week ago he came of his own accord,
and since then I have feared him and carried a
weapon. I could not leave Monsieur Deschamps,
and Victorine was always with me ; but I have been
in misery. To-night he forced me to go to the
Tuileries, but I slipped away when he was busy talk-
ing to one who, from what you say, must have been
this terrible Craspinat, and who must also have made
Monsieur Deschamps what he is. I have no friends ;
I nave quarrelled with the notary, and was too
272
VENGEANCE IS MINE
:
i?.;' ;
proud Ah, you do not know how hard it was
for me 1'
'Ay,' said Neil grimly, 'and it shall go hard with
himr
' Hush !' she whispered.
There was the sound of heavy footsteps upon the
creaking stairs.
' Who is it ?' asked Neil Darroch quietly.
' It is Massoni ; he has come back ! He '
She gave a cry of alarm as there came a rapping on
the panels.
' Hide !' she whispered, pointing towards the closet.
Neil Darroch paid no attention. A few strides on
tiptoe carried him to the door. The key, he noticed,
was on the inside, but it was not locked.
A moment later it was flung back on his face and a
man entered hurriedly.
Then Neil Darroch quietly shut the door, and shot
to the bolt, putting the key in his pocket.
He turned immediately, and found himself face to
face with Carlo Massoni.
* Who the devil are you .?* asked the latter. ' If
this is one of yowx friends ^' he added with a sneer,
turning to the girl, 'he has come at a very incon-
venient time.'
' By no means,' said Neil ; ' nothing could have
suited better.'
' Sacr^ !' hissed Massoni ; * it is you, is it ?'
' Yes, it is I,' replied Neil Darroch in a strained,
unnatural voice.
For a moment he had entirely forgotten his
mission. The extraordinary story he had just heard,
the thought of what this Massoni had done, of what
Monsieur Deschamps had become, of the risks the
girl had run, the insults she had suffered, had mad-
dened him. The sight of Massoni in her room, his
sneering words, goaded him to fury, but he was
deadly calm. His was the most dangerous form of
rtacQirtn
A NIGHT OF RECKONING 273
'You appear surprised,' he went on; 'but I am
not a man who readily forgets.'
♦Curse youP said Massoni, 'my memorv is as
good as yours.'
* Pardon me, but you do not understand, and there
IS no time to explain.'
'Look here,' said Massoni, 'you seem to be mad ■
but, mad or not. I shall meet you later where and
when you wil . At present, let me tell you, the odds
are too great.
' There are no odds,' said Neil Darroch. ' I am
exactly m the same position as yourself. If you are
found here alive, you are arrested as a conspirator.
If I am found. I am arrested as an accomplice.
Things could not be fairer. You have no second
neither ha. . I ; there is, however, a third party who
can give the word to fire. I regret the choice of
weapons IS limited ; but you have a brace of pistols
^: have I No. sir!' he thundered suddenly, 'drop
chf I ^^t'?' l^^^^^ '^°°^ y°" ^« y^" deserve to be
shot ! That IS better,' he went on, in his former level
tones. I have waited long for this ; the table alone
shall separate us~the length of the table.'
It is murder!' cried the Corsican, staggered at
this man s knowledge of his affairs
•You will kindly call for ends,' said Neil Darroch
producing a com and balancing it on his thumb-nail.'
I say It IS murder!' said Massoni again
By no means. It is, shall we say, an appeal to
hear"d aH^h. °a"'^ occupation of yours, ii I have
the rofn ^ T ^'/°u" ^^^^^' *° °^J^^*' ^ ^^all spin
the coin. I regret the necessity of catching it ; but
I knovyyou too well to let it fall on the floor and
necessitate my stooping. You are dealing with a
f^^^^S^^'^l^^'^^^^'^^f^^rMhongh his back has been
orn by the cat. Heads I I have won. Fortune
seems against you to-night. I shall stand with ml
back to the window. Oblige me by taking un vZ
puoiuon with your back to the door. 1 am sor/yto
!'l;i
274 VENGEANCE IS MINE
have again to threaten you. Thank you. The hght,
I think, favours neither side.'
As Neil Darroch spoke, he walked past Carlo
Massoni, turning round immediately so that he faced
him, and paced backwards till he stood at the other
end of the table.
* This, sir/ said he, ' is not a duel ; it is an appeal
to God. I had reason to doubt if such a Being
existed;; but now I know He does. I regret this scene
should take place in the presence of any woman, but
It IS necessary. You will kindly count three in French,
and in a loud voice,' he added, never taking his eyes
off the other's face, but addressing the girl, who all
this time had been standing with parted lips, staring
from one to the other, unable to stir or utter a sound,
fascinated by what was passing before her. ' You
will lay one of your pistols on the table, sir, as I do,
for a second shot, to be fired immediately after the
first. I may tell you I believe you will fall at the
first discharge, and so a second will not be required ;
but it is well to be prepared. Do you agree V
' You are mad !' said the Corsican, in a hoarse voice,
as he saw the pale, set face of the man a few feet in
front of him, a man whose eyes glowed with a strange
fire.
* Do you agree ?'
* Sacr6, yes I One may as well be shot as hanged ;
but you shall go with mc'
' Then lay your second pistol on the table. Ah !'
Neil Darroch had seen Massoni's gaze shift from
his face. He was still looking in his direction, but
beyond him. At the same moment there came a
noise from behind him, and a cry from Kate Ingleby.
Something was happening at the window, and not at
the window only. All at once the house resounded
with shouts and cries ; in rapid succession there came
the clatter of feet upon the stairs, and then a thunder-
ing of fists upon the door, while a voice roared :
* •^ ... _ _
v--j,"_rj, jij uiij. tsaiiic KJi liic £.ixipcror I
A NIGHT OF RECKONING 275
The summons mingled with the report of a pistol
and a heavy fall.
Neil Darroch, the instant he realized that the
window was being forced, sprang quickly to one side.
He had a glimpse, and a glimpse only, of a face,
blood-stained and ferocious, covered with shaggy hair,
and carrying a long knife between its teeth. It was
like the head of some hideous insect, of some huge
deformed spider, a face which might have been —
and indeed was in some measure — the product of
those terrible days when the guillotine was red to
the frame and blunted with excess of work, the days
of the tumbril and the basket, the days which had
vanished more quickly than they had begun, and
had carried to ruin even those who gloried in them.
The creature who owned it had pushed up the
sash, and was bundling over the sill— a creature short
and twisted, clad in man's clothes, but like nothing
human.
^ It was Craspinat, the bomb-maker, who, in attempt*
ting to escape, had been surrounded and turned back
by the cordon which the cautious Gascon had placed
round the house.
It has taken a brief space again to describe her as
she came crawling into the light from the darkness
without, but Neil saw her face as her life had made
it for an instant only. Almost as he leapt aside
Massoni's pistol rang out, a knife tinkled on the
boards, and the face of Craspinat was no longer a
face— nothing but a broadening smear of crimson, a
ghastly patch fringed by shaggy hair, which in parts
had dropped away— a patch which seemed to quiver
and pulsate, and then vanished as the creature pitched
forward, a corpse, upon the floor.
The curl of the smoke had not drifted from the
pistols muzzle when, with a crack of metal and a
sphntering of wood, the door gave way^ and Jules
Gironde, with half a dozen men at his back, burst
mto the room. The Gascon took in the situation at
18 — a
276 VENGEANCE IS MINE
a glance There was a tall man with his back to him
ni H^l,^ ^ "'-^u S^"'^^"' "^"^t ^'^' Gironde, quick
lorehnger. Two reports, one following the other as if
It were ,ts echo, resounded through thi room and yet
Massoni had not again fired ^
Neil Darroch, bewildered for a moment, had taken
han r?rnnl"^ ?I ""^i^* ^.^' P^^^'"^ ^ ««<=0"d later
than Gironde. He also levelled his pistol at the
Corsican aimmg low and sure; but even as his
finger t,ghtened on the trigger, he percefved wha
would happen, yet could not check his fire.
rnlfr ^ . exploded, and Neil Darroch, from his
corner, saw two men fall. The first was Massoni
who jerked up his head, threw out his armrand
w" G.roTd?' H " ^^r' T" ^^^ ^-'^- Thes^c'd
was Gironde, who collapsed in a heap, and then rose
upon his knees and hobbled forward upon them dU
ing from his head, a ruddy stream began to trickle
over his lower lip and course down his chin
With a cry of agony Neil Darroch ran towards
h,m, while no one else stirred except Masson, whose
egs were twitching like those of a pithed frog n con!
tact with vinegar paper. ^
But the Gascon was past all help. His head
drooped he grew limp, as if dead, and then suddenly
he roused himsel . He gathered his short legs beneath
him and struggled up on his feet, a glef m In his
klw Xch' h't T ^" '''' "^^^^ ^-'^ ^-"--h
w^en' Jules r.Vnni^^ seen upon the brig /«..«,,^«,
wnen Jules Gironde n-.et his master after five wearv
tnilT^r.^''-. Very waveringly his hanS went ^^^
to the salute It never reached his forehead. It feU
for the last time as his lips moved
Neil Darroch alone heard his dying whisoer—a
ack to him
! that man,
»nde, quick
ooked his
other as if
n, and yet
had taken
:ond later
ol at the
5n as his
ved what
from his
Massoni,
rms, and
he second
then rose
them till
ere start-
:o trickle
towards
ni, whose
g in con-
lis head
suddenly
< beneath
n in his
Darroch
tconsiant
e weary,
went up
It fell
isper— a
'een his
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE 277
•Pour lEmpereur!' gasped Jules Gironde, and
sank down across the table.
It was, perhaps, as well, for what would the faithful
Gascon have said to the sauve qui pent of Buona-
parte's last battle ?
CHAPTER IX.
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE
GIRONDE was dead, Massoni was dead, Cras-
pinat was dead, but a man was sitting in
the corner of a cell of the Temple, a prison
set apart for State offenders and criminals of the
higher class. In several ways he was remarkable.
His great height was apparent even as he sat, bowed
upon a small bench ; he was young, powerful, and his
face was distinctly handsome, his features clear-cut
and refined. But what would specially have struck
an observer was his expression. It was that of a
man who has been dazed and has not yet recovered,
whose senses are under a cloud. It was not the
vacant look of utter idiocy, neither was it the
besotted, wandering, shiftless aspect of the chronic
drunkard; it was something between the two— a
kmd of facial mask. The mental powers which go
to make a vigorous, healthy mind were present, but
they were in abeyance. His brain-cells were normal,
but their action was sluggish, their stream of energy
feeble, and coursing only in certain broad channels.
Ihis man could eat and drink, could understand
what was said to him, and answer coherently, but
without evmcing any interest in the subject. His
memory was dulled, but not quite gone. Now and
then he passed his hand wearily across his forehead,
and his face grew pained in his effort to recall what
was just then a blank. Otherwise he was singularly
impassive, and apparently contented with his bed o'f
sssiffiEaoBSBa
278 VENGEANCE IS MINE
straw and his meagre fare. His gaoler understood
him ; for the turnkey had seen dainty women of the
aristocracy with just such a look upon their poor wan
faces, due to a variety of causes, any one of which
bra?n sufficient to shake the best-balanced
He knew that his prisoner was in a condition where
liberties might be safely taken with him ; he might
be cuffed and kicked and sworn at with impunity :
but the gaoler was a kindly man, if somewhat rou/h-
tunmes ^""^ "^'"^ "°' "™^^^ *^^ """""^ ""^ ^'' °PP°^"
Now he was glad he had not done so, for that
morning he had received certain orders respecting
his captive which, while they considerably astonished
fro"^ fu r,""" ?P*i?" ^"* ^° °^^y- They came
trom the Duke of Otranto, and commanded the
release of Noel Deschamps, and his transference to
the care of a certain Sergeant Vichery, and this but
two days after his admission on a serious charge of
conspiring a^^ainst the Emperor's life.
ij^^u I"^^^-^ y"'^^ cunning. Even as David placed
Uriah the Hittite m the forefront of the battle, and
hoped to hear the last of him, so Fouch^, on learning
the condition into wliich the tragedy of the house
n the Rue de Gramont had cast his prisoner, and
knowing that he had been intimate with Gironde
considered it expedient to hurry him off to a place
where he certainly could do no harm, and might do
good by deserting or being put /lors de combat. It
was his surest course.
Sergeant Vichery appeared in due course, an old
campaigner, with a fine grog-blossom of a nose, and a
moustache whose spiked ends might have served
as bayonets at close quarters.
He was delighted with the proportions of his latest
recruit and as he was kept in ignorance of his
mental condition, it was some time before he came
to the conrliiQi'on fV»of flu'o ^^^^*. j;_ . /- <• ..
.„^ ^„jj git-as. giciiauicr 01 a lenow
oor wan
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE 279
j^as a fool of a man, and a greater fool of a soldier
"Jfi ^'"VV^"'^^"^' ^^i^ conscripts, half veterans, were
well on their way to Avesnes ere he discovered that
some of Deschamps's brain, were missing. By that
.me, however he had discovered something else-
that this stolid, impassive mortal, who at a dozen
yards looked the beau-ideal of a guardsman, had the
fane;.L>)e "'^ ^"^ ''"^''^ ^'^^ '^^' ^^ ^
Jacques Vichery imagined a tragedy, and became
sympathetic. Truth to tell, his own back was not
as smooth as it might have been. Sergeant Vicherv
as a private had been an inveterate looter, and should
have been shot long ago.
So he made things easy for Neil Darroch, who
trudged along in his shako, his tailed tunic and his
gaiters, white with June dust from top to toe, in as
great a haze outwardly as inwardly
He answered his comrades in monosyllables, he
never spoke except when questioned, he did nothing
of his own initiative. He was a mere automafon^
but as Jacques Vichery said :
•I've seen them so. Wait till we get at the fat
i russians or the red-coats, and then watch our pretty
f{7e"^' .."k". ^^^' "? V"^ ' vengeance, and^ven
It he don t, he s as good food for powder and shot as
any of you chatterers. W? don't want him for a
gentry, and he can hit a barn-door as well as some of
your precious clodhoppers. My faith I he could lunge
with a bayonet See him smile I He has more wits
than we think.' And the sergeant patted his espedal
prot^g^ on the cheek as though he had been a baby
fitTt.fl^'^^' P^^"?^ ^° '''^^''''^ N^"' had he been in a
fhe tr! '*" f ^P:^^^^*« »t- The summer was glorious,
everv .n.d ^"'1^"^ g»'een, the crops heavy. From
tt^Xi '-"^ '^^y approached the frontier, came the
Jt.nng ^aicjc rv^nrch of drum and fife, the merry
thicif~K^!I^i,'K*''^''''^^^' tootling sounding between the
nuck beech-hedges, and broken now and then by the
28o
VENGEANCE IS MINE
throaty bugle music or the quick chorus of a marching
song.
Cavalry clattered past, artillery rumbled and rattled
through sleepy villages, watched from the cottage-
doors by bright-eyed children, who were yet to tell
their sons and daughters how they had seen the
gathering of the last grand army of France.
Vichery's little company belonged to a regiment in
the division commanded by the Baron Marcognet,
which formed part of the Corps d'Erlon. This first
Corps d'Arin^e had been stationed at Lille, but had
now, along with the others, concentrated upon the
Sambre.
Serjeant Vichery was late in joining— had, indeed,
been kept in Paris on a special mission. He was to
collect some thirty men who were on leave and hurry
them to the fronC, and in the meantime he had not
been idle. A dozen stout fellows had found fighting
Jacques's tongue so persuasive, and the glories of the
coming campaign so enticing, that they had, after a
heavy supper, vowed to follow the gallant sergeant
anywhere he might choose to lead them, so long as
they got a chance at the hated Prussians, and ' those
unknown devils of Englishmen who had been so
lucky in the Peninsula— confound their ugly faces !'
It was a very proud old sergeant, with a very fiery
nose, who marched his comrades and his recruits into
quarters at Solre-sur-Sambre, where lay over forty
thousand of what poor Jules Gironde would have
styled * the finest infantry on earth.'
Neil Darroch passed almost unnoticed. The
surgeon did not trouble him, and the soldiers were
too busy to take an interest in this new conscript, who
had no business to be there at all, and who had not a
sou in his pouch.
Old Vichery was a favourite, and his officers only
laughed at his ' chickens,' as they called his recruits,
and told the sergeant to turn them out efficient in
a couple of days, which terrible task the smiling
f.',!
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE 28.
night. '^"'"«"» lad no rest, morning, noon, or
las't'a^p'eattolTlneln*/' '"^ ^'"P'^^"' ■'''•«=<' •"»
in the'^field Well roi^htit™^.?' k" '''''' '^-^^ P'^^d
might it be received w^h k i"'. ''^'"»"'' ' Well
exfite the w|Stoi:"s| ""'~""''*' enthusiasm, and
M:r^ngraid'ori!?;iedl'and'''^'l *''^- '"•"'-"»■> <>f
destiny of Lrooe Th.n "''"'='' '"'<=« decided^he
after Wagram w? w-rJ ton ^' *"" Austerlitz, as
in the prltesTatfonsTnd in ?h^'"'-''u°"'V ^^ ''e'''eved
we left on SeTr thrones %Z\°' ^"'"''' '"^°"'
together, thev a m »t ?i^f •' j °*', ""owever, leagued
sacred n'ghZf France '^t?'^'^""' ^""^ ">e ^ost
most unjust of Le^ess'ionT ^I r"=r '"="«<1 '^e
meet them. Are thev Ij" ' "?' "**"' '""<='' '»
men ? '^ *"'' *« no longer the same
no:^s'it;^gf„J-»-4S;j-' these same Prussians,
mirail one tf s"x f Let th^f '° *^'^^' ^""^ *' "ont-
been captives o the FniNf /"""^ y°" »''«> have
their prison shTps and fh!\''T:-!'f ""^ "<""'= of
endured. '^ ' "^ ""^ '^^'S'^f"' miseries they
somIS: ortSrctre?et?o"„\vv^sr"r' ">«
that they are comDell/rl f„ !u*- ^'""e- 'ament
cause of the prS the enen,r f^".^""^ >" the
rights of all nations' 'Th», T "^ ('"^'-'^e and of the
is insatiable, is haThS^H,""""!." ">'''' "^^^''''^n
of Poles, twelvrmm,trff''Sns onf '^r'"""?
Saxons, and six millions of BeS 1? no '°".°'^
to devour the States of t;,. -Belgians, it now wishes
'Madmen I one mom?„rof'°'"* """^ '" Germany.
dered them THp ^^?^ • Prosperity has bewil-
01 the French peoprire't" ""^ l''^ humiliation
they enter Franc^e tv wif, LTill.."l^Z P-". If
-o'diers, we have forced ma.heTto'm^te. battles
282 VENGEANCE IS MINE
to fight, dangers to encounter, but with firmness
victory will be ours I The rights, the honour, r .jd
the happiness of the country will be recovered !
' To every Frenchman who has a heart the moment
has now arrived to conquer or to die !'
Had Neil Darroch been in a condition to under-
stand it, one clause must surely have struck him,
one in which there was no note of triumph, no con-
juring up of past glories, nothing but an inciting to
revenge, an appeal to the baser passions.
Of all the nations across which the shadow of
Napoleon Buonaparte had fallen, one alone had been
able to utterly defy him, had never been trampled
under foot. The children of the sea kings alone had
not bowed the knee to Baal.
On the morning of the day following the march
began, and in the dull gray light of a balmy summer's
dawn the French left column came in contact with
the Prussians, and the boom of cannon told that the
campaign had commenced. All that day Neil
Darroch marched in the rear of his division. He
saw nothing of the fighting in front of him, of the
gallant stand of the Westphalian Landwehr and
their bloody defeat, of the fierce charge of the
French cavalry on Woisky's dragoons. He merely
trudged along untiringly, to all appearance unmoved
by the sounds of war which struck upon his unaccus-
tomed ears. His nearest comrades gave him up in
despair ; they could not get a;Word out of this phleg-
matic mortal, who smiled peaceably upon them, and
seemed in a dream.
' A touch of the sun or a touch of the heart,' said
the one to the other, nudging his fellow and point-
ing to Neil, as, tired and dusty, they settled to their
soup and bread In the bivouac at Marchienne au
Pont* . , , .,, , ^
They were still more tired and still more dusty,
and not a little disgusted at their next bivouac ; for
it was nine o'clock in the evening of the i6th that
firmness
our, r .id
idl
moment
under-
ick him,
, no con-
citing to
ladow of
had been
trampled
ilone had
le march
summer's
tact with
i that the
iay Neil
iion. He
n, of the
vehr and
e of the
;e merely
unmoved
1 unaccus-
lim up in
his phleg-
them, and
eart,' said
nd point-
id to their
lienne au
ore dusty,
/ouac ; for
1 6th that
9 Softe
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE 283
the Corps d'Erlon encamped in the rear nf m. .
P°-''°"- to, ">« »°uth of the^eigHts of Fra nf '''^ "
All day long the division had marched and co,.n
where the rye-fields were soaked with the hL^r
gallant men, the ditches lined with dead ,h» i
■ ^r'^J"^} °^ ^°""ded. who sought a heltl°1n
the"r«^S:' "V'l^ Frt'c^^"'^^ "='1
tt"\' 7'r '"'"' do had'been'^rntthlrdfy but
fi^ CuirassifrranH'r"'^'^''^^ l''""^^' "ad stood
be^reT.:^^ ^-ol fa^'Sfeirh^-^^^^^^^
fittmg prelude to the final struggle » It wa. niuhX t
tS^/n^rh?thav'r 'i ^"^^^^^^-^
the wounded were beZ carld toX°"' "Tv, ^^y-
were twinkling in lonefines „ fh.i, "' ^^^ '''•"
the heights ^ " ""* ^a"'=>' and "Pon
Sf^"L>:.=i?°*''«' '^"nd rose upon the ni^ht air
u.. ji.. 7 — "J* •"•'^ "P"" ine nignt air
as a low wamn»"L^' '• "°"^^ '° '*■« F'^"'^'' ""es
a low wailmg music, weird and melancholy, a
284
VENGEANCE IS MINE
strange, wild, tremulous sobbing, its sonorous bray
and harsh war-like notes mellowed, its droning and
it- skirl mingled and dying away in a plaintive call
like 'he lonely cry of a shore bird quavering out into
the darkness.
A piper of the Black Walch was playing a lament
for his kilted lads who lay amongst the down-trodden,
ty^ood-soaked, heavy-eared rye, and would never again
listen to drone and chanter.
It ceased as suddenly as it began. A sleepy
officer had ordered him to keep quiet, aad yet
without an oath, for the burly piper h id great *ears
stealing down his cheeks, and the officer know it, and
knew the mournful dirge of the broken clan.
But elsewhere as the first notf ' - .ole out upon the
night air, a man started up from the knapsack which
served him for a pillow and listened with straining
ears and bated breath. What was this he heard?
He conld not understand, but a fierce restlessness
fastened upon him. Something called him, was
calling him impatiently, he could not stay. Ere the
sound died away he was crawling on his hands and
knees with his face towards the north. On and
on, past men slumbering heavily, picking his way
cunningly as a cat, warily halting, sinking to earth,
on and on till he was out in the open, and then again
amongst sleeping forms grouped in fantastic attitudes
round the flickering wood fires. He was in danger,
and he seemed to know it, for he grew more and more
cautious, waiting for longer intervals, taking advantage
of every bush and every little mound. Men stirred
and he lay like a log, they snored and he glided past
them.
There was so: .thing animal-like in his stealthy
movements. If wa>. a. mere it, net which guided
him. Now ana lacii a soldier would start up crying
loudly in his sleep, his brain bu^y witn what had
rAoccorl hn«- hie rnmriirlPS rifiincr Oil their clboWS tO
curse him, savr nothing to cause them alarm.
ous bray
ning and
ntive call
r out into
a lament
i-trodden,
ver again
\ sleepy
and yet
reat ':t;ars
:iw it, and
upon the
ick which
straining
le heard?
istlessness
him, was
Ere the
Lands and
On and
y his way
to earth,
;hen again
: attitudes
n danger,
and more
advantage
[en stirred
jlided past
is stealthy
ch guided
up crying
what had
elbows to
m alarm.
I
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE 285
Neither did 'he sentry, for lean fingers gripped his
throat from » 4;-.d and a l>lacl<n^ss came^ver him
a sound ^"'^ """^^^ '^'''''' ^^^ '^°P^ mthoui
The man was away on *he right of the French
position, far to the east of the Charleroi road, and
once clear of the hnes, he haltel.
There was no longer any sound. He listened
Thr.i^'if!? 1^'" ''"'P' ^' *^^"^^ ^^--"^^ »^ forehead.
The act had become mechanical. He did rot know
what he was domg, why he was here, who cr what he
was He felt tired, and lay down upon tht hare
earth like a brute beast t' ^ it '^rc
An hour before daybreak he was roused . tin this
time by heavy firing. He stared dully aL ut hirn
and then, breaking into a run, went wiftly owarHs
It. It was merely an affair of picquets, beginning .t
P ermont ; but it spread rapidly, till the ^hn!^ face
of each line was engapred. It soon ended o.
cause, a straymg cavalry patrol, had been disc,
iiut by that time the man was stretched sensci^
his back. A spent bullc t had taken him on the >-
and though it had ganced off, its impact
been sufficient to effectually quieten his wande.
A shock may dull the senses, a shock may quic 1
them to life. When Neil Darroch regained consc^ot
ness, he was no longer the ame man^ho had g^^^^^^^^^
his way clear of the French army, more by luck than
good guidance. He found himself lying-in a grass
?h obbtl t'n T'"^ "P '' '^' sky, while his head
throbbed, and there was erupted blood amongst his
He was bewildered to fin' himself in a uniform
wounded, and lying out in the open amongst a S
thet^llT'te'H'r"" ^"?-^"^'' "^'^^ ^^d --Ped
tne sickle. He had been wakened by the splashing? of
heavy rain-drops on his unturr nH (L. a .u ."L-
Shower, almost tropical in vio once? was' pouring 7n
the
cd.
. on
ull,
id
286
VENGEANCE IS MINE
if
sheets upon the parched ground. Masses of black
cloud obscured the sun, and heaven's artillery was
rumbling, and now and then crashing out in startling
peals.
The storm which burst over the combatants in the
cavalry charge at Genappe had travelled south, and
was now deluging the deserted field of Quatre Bras
and the heights of Frasne.
Neil Darroch staggered to his feet, sick and faint ;
but his memory had returned to him, save that all
which had happened since the fatal night in the house
of the conspirators was a blank.
He remembered only too clearly how Gironde
had fallen, the terrible accident which had made
an end of the friendly little Gascon. He groaned
as he thought of it, and then stared dully about
him.
Where was he now ? How came he to be dressed
like a French infantryman of the line ? Surely he
must be dreaming I But no, he was in a hollow with
a steep slope on one side of him and a more gradual
ascent on the other. The grass around was trampled
as though by many feet, but nothing living was in
sight. There was something horrible in this uncer-
tainty.
How long was it since he had dashed forward to
catch the senseless form of the one man who had
proved himself a friend indeed, and whom he had
killed ? Yes, killed, however unwittingly. He buried
his aching head in his hands, and summoned all his
energies in a desperate endeavour to bridge the gap.
It was in vain. He must have been mad— he had
heard of such things. And what then ? He had per-
haps enlisted — become the grenadier the Emperor
had called him. But he was wounded. Had there
been a battle ? had he been left as dead ?
He cried aloud in his misery of thought. What
fate was this which had befallen him ?
Unable to rcinain still, he set off at a hurried walk,
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE 287
striding aimlessly up the more gentle slope, which
was laid out in fields, dotted with trees and streaked
by hedges. The rain soaked him, but he heeded it
not. ^ The air was close and steamy. It was evidently
late m the day. ^
As a matter of fact, it was already growing dark.
He had lam for hours where the bullet had stretched
hnn out. and the French army had swept past him in
pursu, of the allied forces, which wer^ falling back on
Waterloo. Hidden by the long grass, none had
noticed him, as he had fallen considerably to the
right of the route followed by the main bodyof Nev's
battalions. ' ^
Soon he could no longer doubt that his supposi-
tions were correct He came upon a pool of water
and lying at its ed-e was the body of a man in the
uniform of the chasseurs k cheval. His head was
hidden beneath the surface. It was plain that he had
been wounded, and had crawled here to die. A little
further and he was amongst more corpses, dead bodies
of men and horses in every attitude it is possible to
conceive.
He went from one to another, and then suddenly
he gave a choking cry, and came to a dead halt At
his feet lay a Scottish Highlander, his bare knees
sticking up from the kilt folds, both his hands still
gripping a musket by the barrel. Three French
soldiers of the line, their heads battered out of all
shape, lay around him. He had died hard, this Celt
and he seemed to know it. for the rain-drops pattered
down upon a grinning face.
Neil Darroch, however, scarcely noticed this It
was the dress, the tartan, which fascinated him. Here
H.-ahl!n J R ^ countryman of his own. one of the
Highland Brigade. He stooped over him. and read
Gord"oT ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^"''" '^^^ "'^" "^^^ ^
' God help me I' muttered Neil. « r hntr^ k«^^ n.,^
ing against ray own folk.' With a couple^'oT quick
I :s
288
VENGEANCE IS MINE
jerks he tore the coarse epaulettes from his shoulders,
and trampled them under foot,
' I have been mad !' he moaned. ' I have been mad
all these long months, and this is a judgment upon me.'
A hundred memories crowded upon his disoidered
brain — memories of his old home, the great lone hills,
the surf-beat of the western sea on the Croban, and
the sandy bay of Shiachan. He had fancied he was
an Ishmael amongst men — a man without a country
or a people, but he could no longer deceive himself.
The blood of his race was too strong for him. He
might be partly French by descent, but he was a
Darroch — a Darroch and a Scot.
A new idea occurred to him. Perhaps he had paid
his debt to Jules Gironde, to the cheery little spy who
had been so anxious that he should serve Napoleon.
But he could not bear to think of his dead comrade.
He cursed himself for a murderer, and swearing loudly
in his frenzy, he started off again. As his excitement
lessened, however, he became conscious of his soaking
clothes. He was drenched to the skin, and the storm
showed no signs of abating, though the thunder had
rolled away to the east to mutter and crash over
another battle-field. There was a house near him,
standing all by itself in a garden full of fruit-trees
and flowers. The latter had been crushed into the
soil, for this was the very position which the 92nd
had carried at the bayonet as they charged from the
ditch on the Namur road.
The dead did not lie so thickly here. The burial
parties had been busy the night before — busiest where
death had been busiest also. The glass of the
windows was shattered, the door hung open, half
wrenched from its hinges, there were bullet-marks
where the lead had splashed upon the walls.
Neil entered, and stumbling along a passage, passed
into a room. A gruesome sight greeted him. The
place had been the kitchen of the house, and through
its low latticed window a faini stream of lurid light
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE 289
poured the last gleam of an angry sun which had
forced Its way through the murky clouds and the rain-
drops. A table lay upon its side, dishes were scattered
on the floor, the dresser broken, the whole room in a
wild disorder.
In a corner, with his back to the wall, sat a gigantic
Highlander, one of the biggest men Neil Darrodi had
ever seen He was in a horrid mess, a great flap of
his scalp hanging down over one ear, where a sabre-
cut had sheared to the bone. A bullet had passed
through his abdomen, but he was still alivef His
face, that of a man about the middle age, was ashen,
with dark circles about his eyes ; but the eyes them-
selves were bright and feverish.
^ ' So here's another !' he cried feebly as Neil entered.
You need not be scared, my mannie. Nat Gordon
could not hurt a fly. He'll be posted as missing,
^ hrfl/n^ .1^"^^ A^ "1"??' ^'^'^ ^°'' ^ gentleman, in
a hole like this. Ay, ay, I'm a private, a — private.
but cousin to a duke for all that !'
He laughed shrilly.
* What do you want ?' he asked. ' Curse you, but
il^^V ^\!f .y°" ^,h« ^^^"ch, and my wits are
going I m CO d in the legs ; when it gets up here '-
he patted his chest lightly-' I'll be missing : a queer
death for a gentleman. Steady! So ho, my boy !' he
caled out as Neil lurched up against' the opposite
t? L Jr^Jf -^^i"^ "^f " ^° °"^ ^^gether. Answer
to the roll-call in trench, ye devil !'
• I'ni a Scot like yourself,' said Neil hoarsely.
solemn] %^7 ^T"" ^^'''^ ^'^^ ""^ '' ^^'^ the other
InH a^-r ?"\.r^^^ are ye doing in a swallow-tail
serif or 7J ^^? "^"'' "^ y^ °"^' y^ damned de-
mnrX^ ^^y'^^ \'^''^ y^ ^^ *h^ drum-head in the
morning~ay, in the morning, when Pll be missing,
i hey wanted to carry me off, but I wouldn't trouble
the lads I d,dn't think I'd last, and it's no joke
being whummled when th/=»r^'c o u^\^ ..,„,-,._,. ..- /
help you ? asked Neil, shuddc
19
ing as he
290 VENGEANCE IS MINE
stared at this wreck of a man who made a jest of his
suflferings.
'No, no, my mannie. The thirst's gone, and so's
the pain, and so will be Nat Gordon in a wee while —
a wee while.'
His voice had grown weaker and his head dropped.
Neil Darroch sat down and watched him.
An hour passed. The room was darkening, and
there was no sound but the constant drip of the
water-drops and the laboured breathing of the man
in front of him.
Neil Darroch had much to ask him, but bided his
time. He was content to wait ; for when next the
Highlander opened his eyes he was quite sensible
though his voice had grown weaker.
♦Quick!' said Neil; * tell me, there has been a
battle?'
* A bit of a tulzie,' said the soldier with a wan
smile. He spoke like a gentleman and gazed curi-
ously at Neil.
* The French won ?'
' The French ! Excuse me, sir, but are you not a
French officer ?'
* No, no,'^ answered Neil. ' My story is too long to
tell you ; I'm a countryman of your own.'
* Indeed, it's pleasant to have kith and kin about ye
at the bitter end. I have been off my head all day I
think, though I heard the French passing.'
* They won, then ?'
' Not the battle of yesterday. But we were to fall
back on Waterloo if the Prussians were beaten,'
*And where may that be?'
* It's on the Brussels road, straight to the rear of
this. If ye want to join the army, ye'll have to go
round about and look out for French troops coming
across country. We heard their cannon away to the
east. It'll be a good twenty miles of a tramp, I
should say, but I'll never cover it.'
FTa ]m-\}^oA fi.<o4-Ai11.. 4-^...~..J_ i.1 i 1^
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE 29,
'It grows dark.' he muttered-' dark and very cold '
Can I do anything for you ?' asked Neil ^
had Vot tTr^^t^] ^" "'y '"^■' -''' '"« ™-. as if he
ove"h's?act ^'iZ'', t «">'""''' "^^g^n to creep
St Support ''"'^"^ ''™^^'^^ »P -'' -' «-<='
left "i-'Vher. t^TT^ ''■ ' '^''"yJ'" y"""^^'' "" 'hafs
comil^''''- • ^"'' '^'y "ant the flank man of my
alrSd/S^ng"^"'^ "" "'"^ «"S-» -"ich were
eyls'^n ^NeiFs° fece^w: l?'^''' ?™''"S "'^ ^'^-g
« V T. A J ^i. ' "'^ "P^ working convulsivelv
ml or rifh.^'"" r.'^' ^'!'- ^^'^^ y°" will go o;
me or 1 11 be posted as missing.' ^
I swear,' said Neil Darroch solemnly.
* * » «
next dav that" tht"'" f '?'^u'"" ""= f°^'^"°°" °f 'h^
next day that the sound of the cannonade which an
nounced the attack upon Hougoumont struck faintly
on the ears of a man who, from sheer exhauttinn
tolhfeXarrof th "^-r" *? ^ """ "^ ™ "^
to tne eastward of the village of Ohaia He wore a
carried wl h"'h^ ''■='= ^'""^ *« epauletter and
carried with him a musket and the blood-stained
?oot ^He^Jr'^ '■" i!"^ 9^""^ -giment of Br ti*
loot. He had been on the march all night stumbUno
aong the muddy lanes which led northward fom
L^s "firicnvts-x^frmt tI
NdlTrocr' '"h "^ ^""'■''"" asp'ecTof hi-stc"
INCH Darroch was dome oenanre H^ h--^ -
paiis, and it was a wonder he had got so nekr"
Cuiii-
19— a
left
292
VENGEANCE IS MINE
of the British position as he had done ; but he had
still a long way to go. He would fain have rested,
but the fever in his brain urged him to fresh efforts.
He rose and set off in the direction of the can-
nonade. The rain-clouds were dispersing ; there was
a gleam of watery sunlight and every promise of a
fine day. As he pressed on, the din in front of him
gr^ew louder ; he could distinguish the rattle of
musketry volleys mingling with the heavy boom of
field artillery. He kept away to his right. The country
was well wooded. He struck a cross road and ad-
vanced rapidly. Presently he met a peasant from
whom he learned that he was heading directly for the
left of the British position ; that a few miles in front
was a village occupied by the allied troops. He
inquired its name ; it was Papelotte.
Though his ideas were still confused, though he
was still in a kind of frenzy, there was a strange
method about all his actions. He questioned the
rustic closely, and though the man was frightened at
his appearance, and kept glancing fearfully at his
musket, he seemed to answer truthfully and to the
best of his ability. Neil Darroch therefore retired
into a patch of trees as soon as his informant was out
of sight, and shortly emerged in the uniform he had
taken from the body of the Gordon. He had the
height but not the bulk of the dead Highlander, and
the tunic hung loosely on him. A cloth was bound
about his head, which was burning hot, and there were
great blood-stains on the white facings and the red
cloth, and on the green tartan of the kilt. But Neil
Darroch scarcely noticed them. He had been a
traitor to his country, he told himself. No thought
of England, of the scars upon his back, now crossed
his mind. He had sworn to take the dr^d man's
place and he would fulfil his vow. The idea had
taken firm hold of his disordered brain. Thus, and
thus alone, could he atone for the past.
It was an hour after mid-day ere he drew near
;w near
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE 293
the village. He could no longer doubt that a great
battle was m progress. The discharge of cannon was
incessant ; he could hear the sharper explosion of
snells, the crash of volleys, and the shouts and cries
of the combatants. Faster and faster he hurried for-
ward, and now he was amongst the outposts, men
of the regiment of Nassau. He passed them, leavino
them starmg in wonder at him ; but they had Z
time to question him, for a dropping fire was already
begmnmg from behind the hedges and enclosures.
There was a little knoll beyond a farmhouse, and
he gained Its summit. At once there was. dis-
closed to his view the greater part of the field of
Waterloo.
On a long slope away to the south were dark
masses of troops, the sunlight flashing from the steel
points amongst them, glancing from burnished cuirass
and helmet in a thousand sparkles. This line of
elevated ground was the French position, and its left
was shrouded in drifting smoke, where the batteries
were covering yet another fierce assault on Houl^ou-
mont, wrapped likewise in rolling, sulphurous clouds.
Ihe plain between Hougoumont and the height was
lull of men the light troops advancing to the attack.
Ihe roll of drums came distinctly to Neil Darroch's
ears as he stood motionless, staring at the scene.
Ihe plain, m reality a shallow valley, was clear
grass-covered, and gently undulating from the line
ot the Charleroi and Brussels road to the villages of
lapelotte and Smohain, which lay just below it and
to the south Very nearly in a direct line with the
muund on which he was posted stretched the crest
lih nrl 1!'°^' "^^'"^ ^?""^^ ^^^ ^^^'''' position.
Bchnd him on a level plateau, were cavalry, the
light horse of Vivian and Vandeleur. To the right of
these stood masses of men clad in some dark uniform.
1 hey were Vmcke's and Best's brigades; but Neil
had no f^vp« f^^r i^u^^ o 1 ^^ ' . ,"
, . , , --^ --- ■ •• "^v.iix. jjcyuiid incse, ana partly
hidden by them, were columns in red, and stretch-
I
294 VENGEANCE IS MINE
ing from the latter away to the west he could mark
the front of the British lines.
About their centre, in front of it, and therefore on
the southern aspect of the slope, and reaching down
to the hollow, was a clump of wood. It marked the
position of La Haye Sainte; he could plainly see
the farm-buildings. The right of the Allied position,
like the French left which it approached, separated
from it by little more than the lands of Hougoumont,
was enveloped in smoke, and from it came the distant
roar of artillery, and the ceaseless report of a brisk
musketry fire.
It takes long to tell, but the whole prospect was
suddenly presented to Neil's astonished gaze. He
saw at once what was proceeding; he knew at once
what he must do. Turning, he began to run in a
direction which would bring him between the light
horse and the infantry 'brigades nearest him.
As he hurried on, his musket at the trail, his
bayonet fixed, a mounted 1 fficer dashed up to him.
' What are you doing here, my man ?' he cried.
Neil made no answer.
' Great Heavens !' said the officer. * You must be
a straggler from Quatre Bras— 92nd is it? That's
Pack's brigade. They're yonder on the left, behind
and to the right of the Hanoverians and those d d
Belgians,'*
'Ay,' said Neil quickly, 'they're on the left. I
was to find them on the left.'
' And so you will, my lad ; and you're just in
time for the fun. Yonder they come. Thunder!
what a sight !'
Well might he say so. As Neil hastened off in
the direction indicated, a course which carried him
away from the summit of the ridge, and down the
very gentle incline of its northern face, so concealing
* The officer was in error. The Dutch Belgians formed
Bylandt s brigade, considerably to the right, and somewhat in
advvince of the ouier troops.
Id mark
efore on
ig down
:ked the
inly see
position,
iparated
oumont,
; distant
a brisk
)ect was
ze. He
at once
un in a
lie light
rail, his
) him.
ied.
nust be
That's
behind
d d
left. I
just in
lunder I
1 off in
ed him
wn the
icealing
! formed
ewhat in
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE .95
Allied left aXntre ^" «"=^' ''^^^"" °° 'he
charge, thfir shou s'^rei't'sk^tm d'''"'"^.^
the terrific reoort of fm,r o i ^ ^'" drowned by
hurtled theirr^h^ntrttSs^X^
force playing with deadly effect on/u-^ ^^
Allied troops. ^ °" '"^ advanced
the French column, came ^l^fM "" ,"'* '"°'"^'"
He heard also thTvellfa^H h ^ musketry range.
British soldiery a^ the rahhi. ""^? °^ "><-" ^""£^<1
Pack's battalL? nterv, „i 1°".""^ P^^' ">«">. but
fueitives H„ " '"'/""^ned between him and the
thf^ttbu^anorceMab^r-''" ^."^''■* -g'™™''
mender ed out to kno:.whTlS" T^^.' ^'"""^ ^="="«-
thcre.' and pointed ?o where n a tht'd "t! '?•'"»
stood a Highland regiment " ''°"'''* ''°«'
of tS;^: an"ete''behtdte^"''%" ^° ■'" f™"'
to their right rear a bnH„^f ^ ' *"'' <=°"s'c!erably
gray horsS Th^ ntn^of^i"''"'".!"'' ''^^goons on
this tall, gaunt. :ord"ed'mgWa^^Trf •'■"■"//"
fierce contest of two Ha«« K.f 1 * "^^'"^ °f the
as he passed in fmnt „7fi, °''''' '^''^''^'^ ^im loudly
ranks ?f^°t4^i;-',°fi;[he"• -d between the rea^
from L^^nTk'^LtTf' tf "^i" *' "■^' "'°"'^«
shouts, id immediS °he tn[l', '"""Y '°'"'
through the hedge. ^ """^ bursting
give them «me to' L!'f!ll5''"*^''^'^''''"^d them to
Just then a horseman-it was Pack himself-spurred
m
HI
296 VENGEANCE IS MINE
along in front of the Gordons— of the 230 men who
were all that were left of the 92nd, and who were to
face 2,CXX), amongst whom was borne the eagle of
*The Invincibles.' a„ • r <•
* Ninety-second, you must char^^e. All m front ot
you have given way !' cried the General, waving his
cocked hat as a signal.
A mighty cheer answered him, and loud and clear
rang out the war-pipes as the double line of kilted
nien sprang forward.
Crash 1 A rolling fire burst from the column m
front, now in perfect order, but on swept the High-
landers. , ,
The French lines wavered. They seemed struck
with fear at the grim, silent advance of this strangely
clad infantry, with their hi ge leather bonnets and
swinging tartans. But now they were no longer silent.
They poured in a volley at thirty yards, and the
bristling line of bayonets sank to the charge. With
another cheer they hurled themselves like one of their
own raging torrents upon the foe. But what noise
was this, swelling in volume till the air was full of it P
—a sound like distant thunder, or a breaking sea, the
hoof-strokes of four hundred horse.
The Greys were coming. They had passed rapidly
through the infantry to the right, and were now in
the open, gathering way, ru^ihing to the aid of their
countrymen.
* Open oot, lads ! for God's sake, open oot 1 yelled
the sergeants, as they saw behind them a whirlwind
of gray and scarlet, of great black busbies and
glittering steel. In a moment it was upon them — the
huge, dapple - hided, heavy- limbed chargers, with
necks outstretched, blood-streaked eyes, and spread-
ing nostrils ; the troopers, red-faced and drunk with
the battle fever, rising for the downward cut, or sitting
firm for the shock.
As thev passed, out rang the slogan of the North.
* Scotland' for ever 1' shouted horse and foot, and
IN THE D. OFL^TTl.: „
Ztr:VTZTj,-' "°"'"' -^-y-S ■«'■'» of the
mist, "hearing no'^hing'bu ' t" ' sLX'fh^ ""' ? '^^
pipes. ** "**- snarling bray of the
Nel DiS''d^-;[,i:Stf '"^ ^"""P-l-thers.
a man whose teeth were se? 1'"°^"!: '^"^ P^=* him.
death, an.- never looked kt^he^Gorf"^^"'''"^
clingmg to his horse Gordon who was
d Jd'\"nd g:ria:;t"dihs° b:;'l^°"f"^'°"' °^ g»"ant
of '-"fent-y^amper^d and p e'ceJ'to T''''^'"'''
way on every side P'erced to its core, gave
d4oons^and."l.tngt.o?sT„ ^T "«^ ''-y
plunged madly into ^h- suonort. '"'"^f"'"g space,
broke from the outer file's and '/„ ^spluttering fire
less and many a trooper ' hortS'' iSt^'h ''•"'''*^-
was tremendous, the forJ T ^ V ' ""> 'mpctus
Whole ranks were driven hi u'^ "5"^* irresistible,
earth, the column? tXred -H '*"'', <=™»hed to the
defeated, overwl^Imed The nr''-"^ ^"? ""=» »a°k.
was a mere rabble Tut the Wctolnfr °^ Marcogne^
■n the plain, scatWed and exSe /'^' ^""^ °"'
theXis/ a?: ^iTrf te1?a"^ ^^ '•'-gh
sacrificing themselves t "rain T. "X"""" ™'"'y
V'chery yielded up the ehfS sZ / "'''^';' ^^'g-^ant
■^h'n by the famous Elartin'^^h/''?'" '"',""-'=»? '«
eagle, Neil caught sieht of ti» f 'J^^^'* ''or the
rode beside him Chanll th T- °' "■'« ■»*" who
worn, and now 1 glUed uf bv ?i?,"^ '^ T^'' '^^»' "re-
he re cognised it.^nd crfedVu^l''. '"=' "^ fighting,
illd^Li^L^L-^..,'^" broX;,%tvs^!r„-
- -le-The troo-- gtnSd^^, '^ ^ l.g ■_-
298
VENGEANCE IS MINE
ml
a
• Are you wounded ?' he shouted. ' I can't hold
the brute; he's ^ot the bit, and is fairly off. You
had better let go.'
He turned to slash at a fierce little man who poked
his bayonet at him, and whose head he cleft as he
would have cleft an orange.
Neil Darroch still clung on desperately. A wild
thought had come into his mind — to make a thrust
at the broad back above him. It passed instantly.
He must bide his time ; he was not an assassin ;
that time was coming. They were now out on the
plain. The horse, maddened with pain and excite-
ment, careered towards the batteries, yet Neil kept
pace with it, sustained by the same fiery, restless
spirit which had possessed him ever since he came to
his senses on the field of Quatre Bras.
But a bullet from one of the fugitives did what its
rider could not do. The charger sprang convulsively
into the air, pitched forward on its head, and, as Neil
Darroch leapt clear, rolled heavily on its side, pinning
its rider beneath it.
The dragoon groaned heavily: his leg was fractured
at the thigh, his foot crushed and useless. As he
opened his eyes and realized his position, he became
aware of a man bending over him, whose head was
bound about with a bloody cloth, whose face, haggard
and dirty, yet seemed familiar.
* Never mind me,' said Geoffrey in a low voice ;
* the French will be on you if yv>u don't look out.
Save yourself while you can.'
By way of answer the man began to drag him free.
So exquisite was the torture his mangled limb gave
him that he fainted. When he came to himself he
was on the Highlander's back, being carried slowly
towards the rear. Suddenly the man laid him down
and stood over him with his bayonet at the charge.
A gray-haired officer of French chasseurs came
galloping towards them. He was a very fine man,
with a heavy moustache and a pointed beard.
IN THE DAY OF BATTLE ,99
wave of hi/hand hr'ped on »nH^" ■ f .'■°* »"d a
a dragoon, wl.ose horse w^VL"'* ^""^^^ °»'"took
despatched with ease onlv^fr.^ ""'"' t""^ "'''°™ he
- chuCed Jj;"^e^1r th% "S^t'i^^
Geoffr^ytl^eThfe frrald"."^";' '"'^ '"=' ''^"'her,
••"Kly. at his face ™' '"'^ '"^'•<''' '^"S^^'y. wonder^
deld'l- ' ^o" '■ he gasped. • Thank God you are not
, •'ttr.:!^-xnriaTr4f ^
I^fe has been a hell on earth T- "" ' '^^
save yourself.' ""* ^^^^e nie to die and
railf;p;';„1tgl"'hi??e"ret'"'' '^'"■" ''°°P'^S.
of th^m! 'a'^d ' wUh bud°°L?,l '\""" '""S" sight
speed, their gay pennons fl?f ■'^'^ ."o"" « ^"U
'riu.«ph co„i^„/,h';n'j;rhlI eiVs''"' "•"■' ^'•""^ of
was resc^eTh'aS"thr,ifte "^i'''""- ^here
advancing on the ight mor^« l°u^'"''"'^'" "'as
sweeping down the Tpe To ake"th*> '"""'^J' ^"-=
flank but there was no^help ?or hfm *"?"' °" '"e
Geoffrey to his fate. * """ ""'««« he left
So this is th(» Anri • u
steady aim. dropped o'e of T""/"' ' """^ '»king
saddle. "™ O"^ of the Lancers from his
few^TcondsX": wa?a' c'^? "^ «P°" "■■-• For a
horses =. .u""^ "'^^ => confused grouo of n,.„ ..?
and the troop, tfth another ^ ""■ '^° '" ^>^"ch,
f, wiin another vacant saddle and a
300 VENGEANCE IS MINE
man bent in agony upon his ^rupper. dashed onw^^^^^
and were rolled up and swept away by Fonsonoy s
"^'Out^in the open lay two men. the one a mass of
wounds, the other killed by a lance thrust.
Such was Neil Darroch's revenge.
CHAPTER X.
AFTER MANY DAYS
UPON Craspinat's body, scarce more hideous in
death than it had been in life, were found
the missins papers. This at first was boked
upon as an addkbnal Foof of Kate Ingleby's guilt, and
she wa immediately arrested, though her behaviour on
the Terrible night when the house was surrounded and
trr^ed was Lmewhat P-^^-^^J^.^-.^^P^^T-^^^:
the confusion consequent upon the death of Gironde
she might have escaped. None had paid any atten-
tion To her Indeed, when they came to look about
hem she had disappeared ; but to their surprise they
iSiv found her again. Stunnedby grief and horror,
Te had Ihpped awa'y to the room -^-e at last Mon-
sieur Deschamps was drawing near an end of all his
roubles. He had been g---^ f-^\;^/ty ^^^dead"^
without any apparent cause. ^ ^^^.f ^"^^I^^^i- ^s
his body dying, slowly and painlessly. Presently , as
cie watched him, his old puckered face, now almost
devoTd of exp Tssion. wrinkled into a vague flickering
tmSe He struggled up in bed and sat with a hand
bTh nd his earTn^^he attitude of one who listens. His
cmnrincreased It was plain that he heard some-
Xing^erTptating. ^ As h'e listened he began to^^^^^^
t;^e— ^ short, stately measure— with the forehnger
^'xtug"^^^ knew it not, he was conducting an
AFTER MANY DAYS 301
orchestra which was playing that quaint tinkh'ng music
of the minuet composed a century and more before by
King Louis Xfll. ^
His movement ceased. A heavy tear, which had
gathered on his drooping, reddened under-lid, trickled
slowly down his furrowed cheek, but he did not
look sad. Indeed he gave a sigh of great content.
C est paradis he muttered ; 'mai oui, c'est paradis.'
and began to drag the bedclothes about him with
feeble hands ) but as Kate leaned forward to help him
her own face wet, the change came, and Charles
Deschamps passed gladly to his rest
By his side they found Kate Ingleby; and though
they were rough men, but lately full of fight and ready
for a desperate struggle, she had no reason to com-
plain of their behaviour.
* It is la belle Americaine !' they whispered. ' Can
she be guilty ?' And they shook their heads.
UA rl,*^'"^*' ^^ ""''^^^ ^^v« gone hard with the girl
had not the notary come to the rescue. He heard of
^^n^" f'5^ ^'Jf^^^u^^^'' P^Pe'-s^and the manage-
^T u ^u'^^ d'Herbois' affairs meant money to
n™ .K ^ "^ ^ "^i^" ^""^ ^^""'^y' both small, but
none the less exacting and so he bestirred himself.
Not only so, but the girl's misfortunes moved him to
P^ty. He was a Frenchman, and he had a heart
Moreover, he had a very smart brain when he cared
n ''""u^ '.° '^' ^""' ^"^ K«^^' anxious asloN^n
Darroch's fate, and realizing that she had misjudged
her uncle now confided in his lawyer, and with the
his services' '"' '"""' """^"' ^'""^'^'^ ^° -^^"
He very soon found that there was absolutely no
proof against her, and began instituting such^earch.'n^
inquiries that the Minister of Police, who was a ready
busy intriguing with the Bourbons, was but too llad
to accede to his demand for a release ^
ifle iirst use Kate Ingleby made of her freedom
was to employ the notary, and as much money as by
302
VENGEANCE IS MINE
the terms of her uncle's will she could command, in
a search for Neil Darroch, who she found passed
under the name of Noel Deschamps, and had
been sent to the front in the charge of a certain
Sergeant Vichery, attached to a regiment in D'Erlon's
corps.
This was all, and the man of law shook hJis head,
especially when the news arrived of the great defeat,
the hurried flight, and the advance on Paris.
But Kate was determined. It would be the basest
ingratitude, she told herself, to make no effort to
rescue the man who was suffering for her sake. Her
heart told her a great deal more, but she would
not listen to its promptings. Besides, a great fear
possessed her, for the turnkey at the Temple had
dilated upon his prisoner's peculiar condition of
mind.
In spite of considerable difficulty, Kate and her
adviser managed to leave Paris, and began a weary
search, and, as the notary remarked testily, one
utterly hopeless.
* Hopeless ?' answered Kate ; ' it cannot be until we
find that he is dead. Stay at home, if you are afraid,
but I am going.'
And the man of law, wondering if all American
women were so constituted, and thrinking his guardian
saint that he did not practise in the young repubhc,
had perforce to follow her.
It was a remarkable but not unnatural coincidence
that, while Kate Ingleby and the notary were on the
track of Neil Darroch, a certain solicitor of Glasgow,
to wit, Mr. Benjamin Quill, senior partner of the firm
of Quill and Driver, should have arrived in Belgium
in pursuit of Neil's step-brother.
This energetic little lawyer, however, had been
much disturbed in mind. After a most unpleasant
journey, he had arrived at Shiachan, to find Darroch's
1 J.
^c
story going the round of the fishermen.
AFTER MANY DAYS 303
hnfl'^^^'^^^^T^}' ^n- Q"'" ^^^ '^'^> i^rking With
th.. H H '.^K \^'u'.°^^^' ^^^'^ bottle-green coat; but
that did not help him much.
There was no Geoffrey Darroch to be found, Neil
Darroch had vanished, and yet Mr. Quill had a con
siderable amount of business to arrange; for the oM
Jacobite had been miserly, in addition o his other
virtues and had left his younger grandson a very fal
sum of money, obtained, as Mr. Quill remarked
jocosely and in strict confidence to M^. Quill, by the
sweat of other men's brows. ^
In whatever way it was amassed, it was yet Mr
Quills duty to find the heir; and being an elder of
rnt. ^" exceedingly conscientious, and being,
moreover, in need of a change of air after his iUnesf
he forthwith set off for London, whither he found
alter much anxious inquiry at Portroy and elsewhere'
Geoffrey Darroch had betaken himself. Mr Qum
was dry and brown, like the sherry which was his
favourite tipple, but he had the essence of Tfirst
in h;<= ^-K^ '''^^ 1" ^'''"- Although, being well versed
in his Bible, he knew to what extremes of wickedness
a man may venture, and with what interest his sins
may recoil upon his head, he was yet consideraWv
Sc^'sfs.'" ''"" °' ""^^^'"^ Darfoch's mTserable
fh."S ^'^f c ^^''^' ^t^P by step, to his enlistment in
the Royal Scots Greys, and his departure with tha"
regiment for the seat of war. Then Mr. Q u 1 1 pro
ceeded to cross the Channel for the last time as^ he
£rld i'wfuld'h" '^^'"^^ ^° ^""^^^^' ^^" ^" ~-
problb vT f H^ ^gf '" necessary to face the sea, and
probably in a double sense, if Mrs. Quill and the
U.e""si?r"? r' '""' *° ^' transported with joy by
1,^1^%^^.''^ ^'''P^PP^r-and.salt whiskers. Where-
toT ine"iitX^"'" ^^°^"^'' ^"^ ^^^^^-^ »^--^f
was' a'nniT '\ ^ '''''^^^^ ^^'P'*^^ ^" Brussels who
was a puzzle to many people. He puzzled the
304
VENGEANCE IS MINE
surgeons by recovering in spite of their assurances to
the contrary ; he had puzzled the orderlies by the fact
that, though wearing a badly fitting uniform of the
92nd Highlanders, his boots were those of a French
infantryman. He puzzled those who nursed him by
raving constantly in French, with the exception of
the repeated utterance in English of a few names,
amongst them a woman's. Still more he puzzled the
surviving sergeants and corporals of the Gordons,
who, at the time he was found lying across the dead
body of Trooper Darroch of the Greys, one and all
vowed that he was not on the roll-call of the regiment.
Some regarded him as a deserter from the French
lines, but none knew anything for certain till he
came to his senses, weak as a babe, but out of
danger.
Then the kindly Bible-reader, bit by bit, got his
story from him, and was more than astonished. His
Scotch grew broader and broader as he asked question
after question, and he finally shocked himself by
making use of some very strong language. He was
shocked, but much relieved. Then he set himself to
work to comfort this sufferer, who, he saw, was a strong
man broken, in whom he discerned a proud spirit
crushed. And his efforts were not unsuccessful,
though for a time Neil Darroch was full of remorse.
* There is no pardon for me,' he said. ' I harboured
vengeance to the very end.'
* Hoots I ' rejoined the other; 'ye're haverin, man.
I'm telt ye carried this same scoondrel o' a step-
brither to the rear on your back, and they say ye
stood ower him wi* the bayonet fixed, till ye couldna
stand ony mair. If that's no gude for evil, what is,
sir, I wad like to ken ?'
And then came the confession. It had been done
to save Geoffrey for another meeting.
* Then, thank God I it canna be,' said the old reader,
and neither blamed nor excused, for he knew that
the gaunt, bloodless man before him had not been in
AFTER MANY DAYS 305
his right mind for many a day. But he had 110 fear
tor his reason now.
What pained him was to see that Neil Darroch
havmg struggled back to saneness and some measure
of health, made no further effort. He lay dreamily
on his back, languid and without desire.
Therefore, when the reader learned that a most
inquisitive little man had been making inquiries after
Trooper Darroch, who lay under the sod on the
u. u ,. ' i5 "^^"^ ^^^^ ^" haste to the hotel at
which Mr. Quill resided, and caught the worthy
solicitor on the eve of departure.
'Preposterous !' the latter exclaimed when he heard
the tale but would have gone to see the patient at
once had he not been absolutely forbidden to go near
him for a week.
'A sudden shock might finish him,' said the sur-
geon; and though Mr. Quill, having heard the
reader s story, did not believe much in the surgeon
he had nothing for it but to obey.
In the meantime there arrived in Brussels another
lawyer, with a lady in his company— a girl with a very
fair but a very sad face. Kate Ingleby had not gone
hither and thither amongst the retreating French
troops for nothing. The scenes she witnessed were
to be graven m her memory for ever.
^ But she found no trace of Neil Darroch. At last
in despair, she journeyed to Brussels, and began
making inquiries amongst the numerous French
wounded and amongst the prisoners.
While she did so she stayed at the hotel to which
Mr. Quill had extended his patronage, and along with
not a few he became interested in the beautiful
American.
When he heard Kate Ingleby's mission— she made
no secret of it— his surprise may be imagined.
ui. ^*"^P^s^,f «"s !' he exclaimed, with such a jerk that
i"3 coat-coaar gave way ac the back and he well-nigh
forgot his eldership. ^
20
3o6
VENGEANCE IS MINE
It did not take long to exchange confidences, and
then Mr. Quill, his face radiant, his coat mended by
Kate Ingleby herself, much to her notary's disgust,
went off to inform the Bible-reader. That kindly old
man breathed a prayer of thankfulness and gave the
surgeon a bit of his mind. As a result, it was Mr.
Quill's turn to be disgusted ; for the American girl
was admitted to see Mr. Darroch even before his legal
adviser.
* Preposterous !' said Mr. Quill, but very mildly,
and wiped his spectacles. He explained to the
French notary in what he took to be French that it
was wonderful how moisture deposited upon glass in
the heat of a Continental summer, and the notary
bowed, as wise as he had been before.
The old Scotchman had prepared his patient for
the interview, and had seen the momentary gleam in
his eyes, the flush come to his cheek. But when the
girl entered, eager, trembling, Neil Darroch lay calm
and impassive. He was making a last effort to be
like his old self.
* You are better?' she said softly. * You will get
well ?•
' Hoots, ay 1' said the Bible-reader, and discreetly
withdrew.
* Maybe,' said Neil, and she noticed how weak was
his voice — ' maybe ; but I have not much to live for.'
' That is not true,' said Kate.
He looked at her with dull eyes, in which, however,
there was a question.
' Yes,' she answered gaily, though God knows her
heart was sad at sight of him, * though you may do
things unintentionally, I guess I do not. I came here
to find you, and I have found you, and I am not going
to lose you now,*
* Kate !' he said hoarsely — * Miss Ingleby I mean-
it cannot be. Do you know I have been flogged with
the cat, that it was my bullet which struck down
Gironde — unintentionally, it is true, but none the
1
AFTER MANY DAYS 307
less mine ? Do you know that I have fought against
my own folk, that I have been a traitor, that I am an
outcast ?
'Yes, yes/ she said ; ' I know all there is to know
and this is my answer.' '
She bent over him and kissed him on the forehead
His thin hand lying on the sheet trembled, but his
mouth was still stern.
' It may not be,' he said.
* What is your reason now, most quibbling of men ?'
she asked, with a merry laugh.
He was yielding; she saw it, she knew it.
' Do you think,' he said slowly and painfully, ' that
I could do so mean a thing as this? You arc rich
again, I am a beggar ; you are '
^^^y s that all ?' she interposed ; ' tell me truly, is that
' I suppose so,' he answered, ' but it is enough '
Is It, though ?• she said lightly, and rising, opened
Sfh r'^i^"^'"^ ''"^ ^"^° '^^ P^''^^^^^' ^"<^ beckoned
with her nnger.
There enlereu Mr. Quill,
■ 1*1;.
-■
■ ^
;
• .
A DASH
FOR A THRONE
BY
Arthur W. Marchmont
Author of* Bjr Ri|ht of Sword."
SEVENTH EDITION
Illustrated by D. Murrat Smith
Large i2mo. Featherweight Paper
Richly Decorated Cover, $1.2^
" There is a dash and a daring about the
story that hold the interest of the reader
throughout." — /%«/afif(r//.A/a Northwestern.
"In the Countess Minna the author has
created a strong character that makes a deep
impression on the reader. The incidents in
the tale have a high dramatic quality, anil
the dialogue is alwavs entertaining.'"
—Extract from N. Y. Times Review.
NEW AMSTERDAM BOOK COMPANY
156 FIFfH AVENUE : : : NEW YORK
J
i ■;
n
TENTH FMTION.
BY RIGHT OF SWORD
B A>ilitan; "novel
BY
ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT
ILLUSTRATED
THICK i2M0. FEATHERWEIGHT
PAPER $1.25 .: ;; :; ;: :; :;
tJ
Tpj story of adventure carried out to its
furtherest development.— A^«» York Times.
#f.