,r>^^?f^^'^^f^m.i^'^'^^^ 1
^4-
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
THE BLUE PAVILIONS.
Works by Q.
TIIK SPLENDID SPUii
DEAD MANS HOCK
TUE ASTONISHING HISTORY OF TROY TOWN
NOUGHTS AND CROSSES
THE ULLE PAVILIONS
rrk< 3/6
.. 2/-
.. w-
Casski.i. k CoMPANV, Limited, London, I'uris X Melbourne.
THE BLUE PAVILIONS.
BY
Q
AUTHOR OF "THE SPLENDID SPUR," "NOUGHTS
AND CROSSES," ETC.
CASSELL & COMPANY, Limited
LONDON, PARIS S; MELBOURNE.
1891.
[all rights reserved.]
TO A FOEMER SCHOOLFELLOW.
My Dear — ,
I will not write your name, for we
Lave long been strangers ; and I, at any rate,
have no desire to renew our friendship. It is
now ten years and more from the end of that
summer term when we shook hands at the rail-
way station, and went east and west with swelling
hearts ; and since then no report has come of you.
In the meantime you ma}' have died, or grown
rich and esteemed ; but that you have remained
the boy I knew is clearly beyond hope.
You were a genius then, and wrote epic
poetry. I assume that you have found it worth
while to discontinue that habit, for I never see
your name among the publishers' announce-
ments. But your poetr}^ used to be magnificent
when you recited it in the shadow of the deserted
fives-court ; and I believe you spoke sincerely
when you assured me that my stories, too, were
something above contempt.
To the boy that was you I would dedicate a
small tale, crammed with historical inaccuracy.
720830
vi THK BLUE VAVIIJONS.
'J\)-day, IK) doubt you would rccot^nise the story
of Captain Setli Jenny a!id the Nlf//ifint/ale
fri«^ate, and point out that I liave put it seven-
teen vi'ars too early. J Jut in those days you
would neither have known nor cared. And the
rest of the book is far belated. Q.
Shiplake, 20th November, 1891.
CONTENTS.
CHAP.
1. — Cattain Johx and Captain Jemmy
II. — The Dice-uox ......
III.— The Two P.wilioxs
IV. — The Two Pavilions icontuiucd)
V. — A SwAKM of Bees
VI. — The Earl of MAiiLBORorGH seeks Eecuvits
VII. — The Captains make a False Start .
VIII. — Father and Son
IX. — The ForK Men at the "White Lamb"
X. — The TRTiiULATioNs OF Tristram .
XI.— The Galley " L'Heurevse" .
XII. — William of Orange .....
XIII. — Captain Salt effects one Surprise and plans
MORE ........
XIV. — The Galleys and the Frigate .
XV. — Back .\t the Blve Pavilions
TWO
FA6£
1
16
37
58
80
102
126
143
170
199
225
249
270
280
319
(
The Blue Pavilions.
CHAPTER I.
CAPTAIN JOHN AND CAI'TAIN JKMMY.
At noonday, on the 11th of October, 107'^, tlie
little seiipoit of Harwicli, beside the month of the
lliver Stour, presented a very lively appearance.
More than a hundred tall ships, newly returned
from the Dutch War, rode at anchor in the
haven, their bright masts swaying in the sunshine
above the thatched and red-tiled roofs of the
town. Tarry sailors in red and grey kersey suits,
red caps and flnt- heeled shoes, jostled in the
narrow streets and hung about St. Nicholas'
Churchyard, in front of 'the Admiralty House,
wherein the pursers sat before bags and small
piles of money paying off the crews. Soldiers
crowded the tavern doors — men in soiled uniforms
of the Admiral's regiment, the Buffs and the
1st Foot Guards, some with bandaged heads and
arms, and the most still yellow after their sea-
sickness, but all intrepidly toasting the chances
of peace and the girls in opposite windows.
Till-: lU.I'h' l'.\\'ILl'i\S.
Aluivc tlirir I;iUL;-lit('r, nml aloiiL;; every stroet or
passuu^e openiniL^ <»n tlie liiirhuur — from Coek and
Py' ^^^iiaw lioiii Laiiiliiird's staiis.tlie Casllejtort,
ami liair a do/en ollici' laii'liiiu" staiies — eanie
walled the slmiits ol' ea|)tains. pilols, IxKitswiiius,
caulkers, loiiLjfsliore men ; the noise ol" jirtillery
and stores uidadiiiL^ ; llie taek-ta<'k of mallets in
the dockyard, where Sir Anthony Deane's new
sliij) the llm'wicli was rlsinL^ on the billyways,
and whence the blown odours of ])itch and hemp
and tiiiil>er, niinLj-linL;- with the landward breeze,
drifted all day lonij into the townsfolk's nostrils,
and filled their very kitchens with the savour of
the sea.
In the thick of these scents and sounds, and
within a cool doorway, before which the shadow
of a barber's pole rested on the cobbles, reclined
Captain John Barker — a little wry-necked gentle-
man, with a prodigious hump between his
shoulders, and legs that dangled two inches off
the lloor. His wig was being curled by an
apprentice at the back of the shop, and his
natural scalp shone as bare as a billiard-ball ; but
two patches of brindled grey hail* stuck out fnun
his brow above a pair of fierce greenish eyes set
about with a complexity of wrinkles. Just now,
a coating of lather coverecl his shrewish nnder-
jaw
CAPTAIN JOIIX llAllKEn. 3
The dress of this unlovelv old opentleman
well became his rank as captain of his Majesty's
frigate, the IFaj), but went xhyj ill with his
figure — being, indeed, a square-cut coat of scarlet,
laced with gold, a long- flapped blue waistcoat,
black breeches and stockings. Enormous buckles
adorned the thick-soled shoes which lie drummed
impatiently against the legs of his chair.
The barber — a round, bustling fellow —
stropped his razor and prattled gossip. On a
settle to the right a couple of townsmen smoked,
listened, and waited their turn with, an educated
patience.
" Changes, indeed, since you left us, Captain
John," the barber began, his razor hovering for
the first scrape.
" Wait a moment. You were about to take
hold of me by the nose. If you do it, I'll run
you through. I thought you'd like to be warned,
that's all. Go on with your chatter."
" Certainly, Captain John — 'tis merely a
habit "
" Break yourself of it."
" I will, sir. I3ut, as I was saying, the
changes will astonish you that have been at sea
so long. In the first place, a riding post started
from hence to London and from London hitlier
a-gallop with brazen trumpet and loaded pistols,
1 '/'///•; lu.ri:' rwiLioys.
l(t kri'p liis Majesty certilicil every day oT tli«,'
Flet't's (Ininj^s, ami llie I'^leet of his Majesty's
w islies, aii'l all Jlatwieli a-lremble lialf the iilL,^ht
under its hedclotlies, hilt consoled to find tho
Kinuf takin*/ so nineh notice ol it Aiul the old
i^aol iiio\ed IVdiii St. Austin's (Jatc, and anew
one I'uildin^" tliis side of Chinvdi Street, where
Calaniv's Store used to stand -with a new town-
liall, too "
Jlere, as he paused to scrape the captain's
cheek, one ol" the two townsmen on tlie settle —
a square man in yrey, with a red waistcoat —
\vith(h'ew the long pipe from his mouth and
groaned lieavily.
"What's that?" asked the hunchback,
snappishly'.
"That, sir, is Mr. l*omphlett," the barber
explained. " He disapproves of the amount
s])ent in decorating the new liall with pillars,
rails, balusters, and what not; for the King's
arms, to be carved over the ma3'or's seat and
richly gilt, are to be a private gift of Mr, Isaac
Jietts, and the leathern fire-l)uckets to be hung
round the wall "
^Ir. Poni])hlett emitted another groan, which
the barber good-naturedly tried to druwn in talk.
Captain I'arker heard it, howevei'.
" There it is auain ! "
THE BARBER GOSSIPS. 5
" Yes, sir. You see Mr. Poniplilett allows
his public spirit to run lilgli. He says "
The little captain jerked round in his chair,
escaping a gash by a hair's breadth, and ad-
dressed the heavy citizen —
" Mr. Pomphlett, sir, it was not for the sake
of listening to your observations upon public
affairs that I came straight off my ship to this
shop, but to hear the news."
The barber coughed. Mr. Pomphlett feebly
traced a curve in the air with his pipe-stem, and
answered sulkily —
"I s-said nun-nothinir. I f-felt unwell."
" He suffers," interposed Mr. Pomphlett's
neighbour on the settle, a long- necked man in
brown, " from the wind ; don't you, Pomphlett ? "
Mr. Pomphlett nodded with an aggrieved
air, and sucked his pipe-
" Heath," continued the man iu brown, by
way of setting the conversation on its legs again,
" has been busy in Harwich, Barker."
" Ah ! now we come to business ? Barber,
who's dead ? "
" Alderman Croten, sir."
" Tut-tut. Croten gone ? "
" Yes, sir ; palsy took him at a ripe age.
And Abel's gone, the town crier ; and old
Mistress Pinch's bad le^• carried her from us
6 rill-: lii.i !•: I'Arn.ioxs.
last Christmas l>ay, <'l all (lavs in tlic Mar; aiul
younLT Mr. Kastwcll was snatched away hy a
chain-shot in the allair with the Smyrna lleet ;
and Mistress Salt — that was (lauL;hter of old Sir
Jabez Tellworthy, and broke her lather's heart —
she's a widow in straitened circumstances, and
living np at the old house again "
"//■//.///"
Captain JJarkcr bounced oil' his chair like a
dried pea irom a shovel.
"There ikiw ! Your honour's chin is
wounded."
" P'sh ! give me your towel." lie snatched
it from the barber's arm, and mopped away the
blood and lather from his jaw. " Mistress Salt
a widow ? When ? How ? "
" r thought, maybe, 3'our honour would know
about it."
"Don't think. Roderick Salt dead? Tell
me this instant, or "
"He was drowned, sir, in a ditch, they tell
Uio, but two months after he sailed with his
company of Foot Guards, in the spring of this
year. It seems 'twas a ditch that the Marshal
Turenne had the misfortune to forget about "
"]\ry hat— where is it? (,)uick ! "
Already Captain Barker had jilucked the
napkin from his throat, caught up his sword
EXIT CAPTAIN liARKEB, ABIiUFTLY. 7
from a chair, and was buckling on the belt in a
tremendous hurry.
" But your honour forgets the wig, which is
but half curled ; and your honour's face shaved
on the one side only."
The hunchback's answer was to snatch his
wig from between the apprentice's tongs, clap it
on his head, ram his hat on the top of it, and
flounce out at the shop-door.
The streets were full of folk, but he passed
through them at an amazing speed. His natural
gait on ship-board was a kind of anapa3stic
dance — two short steps and a long — and though
the crowd interrupted its cadence and coerced
him to a quick bobbing motion, as of a bottle
in a choppy sea, it hardly affected his pace.
Here and there he snapped out a greeting to
some ship's captain or townsman of his ac-
quaintance, or growled testily at a row of soldiers
bearing down on him three abreast. His angry
green eyes seemed to clear a path before him, in
spite of the grins which his hump and shambling
legs excited among strangers. In this way he
darted along High Street, turned up by the
markets, crossed Church Street into West Street,
and passed under the great gate by which the
Loudon Eoad left tlie town.
Beyond this gate the road I'an tli rough a
«5 77//; JUJi: r.wiijoxs.
lull ravfliii ;iiitl (tiit ii|kjii a breezy peninsula
betwoen tlie river ami tlie (i|hii >ea. And here
Captain liarker lialted an<l, 1 iiL^i^inLj oil hat and
wig, wiped his crown with a silk handkerchief.
Over ihe reedy marsh npnn liis ri<^lit, where
a windmill waved its la/y arms, a score of larks
were sinLjini;. Tu his left the gulls mewed
across the dills and the remoter sandbanks that
thrust up their \fllow ridges under the ebb-tide.
The hum of the little town sounded drowsily
behind him.
lie ga/.ed a<ross the sandbanks ujxui the blue
leagues of sea, and lublx-d his lingers softly u])
and down tlie unshavt-n side of his face.
''' ll'm,'* he said, and tlien "j)\hl" and then
" psh ' again; and, as if this settled it, re-
adjusted his wig and hat. and set off down tl)e
roa<l faster than ever.
A cluster of stunted poj)lar,-> apj^-ared in
the distance, and a long thatched house ; then,
l)etweeii the trees, the eye caught siglit of
two other buildings, e.vactly alike, but of a
curious shape and colour. Imagine two round
towers, each about forty feet in height, daubed
with a Ijright blue wash and surmounted with a
]iigh-]»itched, conical roof, (»f a soniewluit darker
tint. Above eacli roof a gilt vane glittered, and
a llock of wliite pigeons circled overhead, or
THE TWO PAVILIONS. 9
nligliting, dotted the tiles with patches of
silver.
A heiul of the road broke up this duster of
trees and buikUngs. The long thatched house
fell upon the left of the highway, and in front
of it a sign-post sprang into view, with a drink-
ing-trough below. Directly opposite, the two
blue roofs ranged themselves side by side, with
long strips of garden and a thick privet hedge
between them and the road. And behind, in the
direction of the marsh, the poplars stretched in an
irregular line.
Now the nearer of these blue pavilions was
the home of Captain Barker, who for more than
two years had not crossed its threshold. Yet he
neither paused b}^ its small blue gate nor glanced
up the gravelled path. Nor, though thirsty, did
he turn aside to the porch of tlie Fish and
Anchor Inn ; but kept along the privet hedge
until he came to the second blue gate. Here he
drew up, and stood for a moment with his hand
on the latch.
A trim lawn stretched before him to the door
of the pavilion, and here, on a rustic seat before
an equally rustic table, sat a long lean gentleman,
in a suit of Lincoln green faced with scarlet,
and gazed into a pewter tankard. His sword
lay on the turf beside him, and a cocked hat,
10 Tin: IIIA1-: J'AVJLWNS.
vihj^vd with rcatlicrs, liuiii^ on ilic arm of llic
bencli.
This lonir ircntlcniaii looked up as the j^ate
clickt'd. strctchi'd out", his 1<-ms, rose, and dis-
apjK'aivd witliin the pavilion, rcturniu!^ after
a minute with a jiiy of W'W and a frosli
tankard.
" Paid ofi'your crew already? "
The little hunchback took a ])ull, answered
"No" as he set down the tankard, and looked
up at the weather-cock overhead.
" Wind's in the south-east."
The long man looked at the little one and
pursed up his mouth. J I is face proclaimed him
of a like ai^^e with Captain Barker. It did not
at all match his figure, being short as a bull-
dog's ; and like a bulldog he was heavily jowled.
Many weathers had tanned his complexion to a
rich corn-colour. His name was Jeremy Kuna-
cles, and for two years, that had ended on this
very morning, he had commanded the Trident
frigate. As he climbed down her ladder into his
gig he had left on the deck behind him a repu-
tation for possessing a shorter temper than any
three ofhcers in his Majesty's service. At pre-
sent his steel-blue eyes seemed gentle enough.
" You've something to tell, ' he said, after a
minute s silence.
UUIV CAPTAIN EUNAGLES HEARD THE NEW,':!. 11
The Imnchback kicked at a plantain in tlie
tuif for two minutes longer, and asked —
" How's the little maid, Jemmy ? "
" Grown. She's having her morning nap."
" She want's a mother."
" She'll have to do with a nnrse."
" You don't want to marry again ? "
"No."
" That's a lie."
Before Captain Runacles could resent this,
the little man turned his back and took six paces
to the party hedge and six paces back.
" I say, Jemmy, do you think we could
light ? "
" Not decently."
" I was thinking that. I don't see another
way out of it, though."
He kicked the plantain out of the ground,
and, looking up, said very softly — " Meg's a
widow."
Captain Jeremy Eunacles sat down on the
rustic bench. A hot flush had sprung into his
face and a light leapt in his eyes ; but he said
nothing. Captain Barker cocked his head on
one side and Avent on —
" Yes, you lied, Jemmy. That fellow, as I
guess, ran off and left her, finding that the old
man had the courage to die without coming to
lj_,V. KJ^ KA...K. ,.ii;X.W^^V V.,V/......^
12 THE ULVK J'A\'JLl(f\S
rcusoii. n<' \\r\]\ l):itl< to liis rc^iiiuiit, sailed,
aiitl was tlruwiu'il in a ditcli. Slirs back at llii'
(»1(1 liousi', anil in want."
" ^^ll^\•«,' so^n iin* ?
" Look liiic, .Iciiimy. Yoii and I are a
couple of t(»ni- tools ; but we try to play fair."
" I p(»n my soul, Jack," observed Captain
dcnmiv, risini; to his l"c».'t aufain. " we can't tijjlit.
You're too good a fellow to kill."
" Il'mpli, [ was tliinkin;^ that."
As if by consent, tlie ])air be^an to pace up
and down llie turf, niic on either sith' of the
<;ravelled ]»ath. At tin- end of three minutes
Captain dack l(»<d<ed u\k
"After all, you've been married once,
whereas I "
"That doesn't cinnit, ' the other interrupted
" I iiiairicd in an un^Miar led moment. J was
iiutled with Mei]^ "
" X<.», 1 sujjposc it docsn t coMiif .
^J'hey resumed their walk. Captain .Jemmy
was tlie next to speak.
" Jt s<'ems to me Mcl;' must decide."
" Yes, but we must start lair."
" '^riie devil ! we can't projiose one in eacli
ear. And if we race for it
" You must give lue half a miK's start."
" jjut we can write."
FALAMOX AND AliCITE. 1:3
" Yes ; and deliver our letters together at
the door."
" On the other hand, I've always heard that
women look upon a written proposal of marriage
as rather tame."
" That objection would hardly apply to two
in one day."
" We'll write," said Captain Jemmy.
He went into the pavilion to search for pens
and paper, while Captain Barker stepped down
to the Fish and Anchor to borrow a bottle of
ink.
" There must be preliminaries," the little
man observed, returning and setting the ink
down in the centre of the rustic table, on whicli
already lay a bundle of old quills and some
quarto sheets of 3'ellow paper.
" As for instance ? "
^'Imprimis, a thick folio for me to sit upon.
The carpenter built this table after your mea-
sure."
" I will fetch one."
"Also, more beer.'
" I will draw some.
" Thirdly, a time-keeper. My stomach's
empty, but it can hold out for another hour.
AYe'll give ourselves an hour, start together :;n(l
finish together."
\i Till:' lll.ri: rAVILlnSS.
C':ij)t;ini IJiinadcs fislicd a silver wliisllc
fmin liis waistcicii jKickct aixl Mrw dii if slirilly.
Till' Itlup and wliiti' door ot" tlx' pavilion wa'^
ojK'iifd, and a slii^lit. olil man in a Idiic lixtTV
apjx'an-d on ilio step, ami camo and)linn' down
tiic piitli. Tlie weii^lit ol" an enormous head, on
tlie toj) ot" \vlii(di liis Ljrey wi^;" seemed to bo
lialauced ratliiT tlian fitted, l)o\ved liim as he
moved. I hit he (hew liimself uj) to salute the
two captains.
"Glad to welcome ye, Ca])tain John, along
with master here. Hey, but you've aged — the
pair o' ye."
" Simeon," said his master, " draw us some
beer. Aged, you say ? "
"Aye — aged, aged: a trivial, remediless
complaint, common to folk. Valiant deeds ye'll
do yet, my masters; but, though I likes to be
hopeful, the door's closiu' on ye both. Ye be
staid to the eye, noticeably staid. The first sign
o't, to be marked at forty or so, is when
a woman's blush pales before wine held to
the light ; the second, and that, too, ye've
Hiiny, you old fool! As it happens
3'ou've been proving us a pair t>t" raw strip-
Mni;s.
" liee-hee," tittered the old man sardonically,
THP: lilVALS CHOOSE THEIR WEAI'OXS. ]:>
and catching up the tankard trotted back to the
house, Avith his master at his heels. Captain
Barker, left alone, rearranged his neckcloth,
contemplated his crooked legs for a moment
with some disgust, and began to trot up and
down the grass-plot, whistling the while with
great energy and no regard for tune.
The pair reappeared in the doorway — Cap-
tain Runacles bearing an hour-glass and a
volume of " Purchas," and Simeon the tankard,
crowned with a creamy froth.
" Have you picked 3'our quill ? "
"Yes," answered the hunchback, settling
himself on top of the brown folio. " No, 'tis
a split one."
The pens were old, and had lain with the
ink dry upon them ever since the outbreak of
the Dutch War. The two men were half a
minute in finding a couple that would write.
Then Captain Euuacles turned the hour-glass
abruptly ; and for an hour there was no sound
in the pavilion garden but the scratching of
quills, the murmur of pigeons on the roof, and
the creaking of the gilded vane above them.
1(>
en AP'I'KII TI.
I III, IH( l-,-lt()\.
Til \ r Minu' aftcriioo;!, ;it lour o'clock, (^iptain
IJiiikcr and Captain liiinaclcs entered llaruich
and advaneecl np the West Street side by side.
Fiat-li liad a l)iilk3^ letter in liis side-pocket, and
the address upon eacli letter was the same.
'i'hey talked but little.
Ou the rio-ht-hand side of West Street, as
vou enter the town, and a hundred 3'ards or
more from the town gate, there stood, at that
time, a two-store3'ed liouse of more pretensions
tlun its fellows — from which it drew back some-
what. A line of railini^s, covered with ironwork
of a llorid and intricate pattern, but greatly
decayed, shut it ofl' IVom the roadway. The
visitor, on opening the broad iron gate over
^vhich this patti^rn culminated in the ligure of a
Triton blowing a conch->liell, ibund himself in
a pebbled court and belore a massive front dt)or.
Neglect liung visibly over house and court
alike, as the two ca])tains entered by the iron
gate and hjoked around them with more trepida-
tion than they had ever disjdaycd in action,
(irass s])ronte(l between the peldiles, and a
THE CONTEST OPENS. 17
greenish stain lay upon the flagstones. The
drab frontage was similarly streaked ; dust and
rain together had set a crust upon the windows,
and tufts of grass, again, flourished in the gutter-
pipes beneath the eaves.
Surveying this desolation, Captain Jemmy
uttered a grunt and Captain John a " p'sli ! "
They fumbled in their pockets, drew out their
two letters, and moved to the blistered front door.
A bell-pull, as rusty as the railings outside, de-
pended by the lintel. Captaiu Jemmy tugged
at it. It was noteworthy that whenever any
effort had to be put forth, however small, the tall
man stepped forward and the hunchback looked
on. It was Captain Jemmy, for instance, who
had, a moment before, pushed back the gate.
He had to tug thrice before a discordant bell
sounded Avithin the house, and twice again
before footsteps began to shufl^le along the
passage.
A bolt was let down and the big door fell open,
disclosing a small serving-girl, who stared upon
the visitors with round eyes.
" Is your mistress within ? "
" Mistress Salt is within, sirs ; but "
"But what?"
" She — she can't see you." The girl burst
into tears,
c
Is 77//; iiLir: lAnjjoss.
" AVlio tln' devil ;isk(«l In r to see US ? " rapjx'd
out Captain IJaikcr.
" Vou aiv to take tlirsi' two letters," iiiter-
])oseil Cajttaiu Ifunacles. Fiach captain licld out
liis letter. " You arc to take these two — blow
your nose and diy your eyes — letters to your
niistress at once — mind you, rt/ o//rc — and toy;etlier
— h)i/cf/it'i\yon under^;tand, and — what in thunder
are you whiniperins^ about ? '
" I c-c-can't, siis."
"Can't! ^^ liy, in i\\>' name of — don't drip
on 'em, 1 tc-11 you! ^^ hy, in the "
The iron i^ate creaked behind them, and the
two captains turned their heads. A portly, broad-
shouldered gentleman, in a suit of snuif colour, came
slowly across the court, witii both hands behind
him, and a clouded cane rajipinii^ against his heels,
"iJr. Ik'ckcrleg?"
"Hey? Why — Captain Harker, Captain
liunacles ! Glad to see you both — glad to see you
both home again ! Also, I'd be ^lad to know
wliat you're both doing here, at such a time."'
The captains looked at each other and
coughed. They turned towards the dooi'way.
The serving-girl had disappeared, iaking ilieir
letters with her. Captain Barker faced round
U])on the doctor.
" You said ' at such a time,' sir."
BUT JS SOllROWFULLY CHECKED. 19
"I did."
"And why not at this time, as well as
another ? "
" Grod bless me ! Is it possible you don't
know ? "
" It is not only possible, but certain."
The doctor bent his head, pointed up at a
window, and whispered ; then went softly up the
three steps into the house.
He left the two friends starino- at each other.
They stood and stared at each other for three
minutes or more. Then Captain Barker spoke in
a hoarse whisper.
" Jemmy, do you know anything about this —
this kind of business ? "
" Nothing*. I was abroad, you know, Avhen
my own little "
" Yes, I remember. But I thought, perhaps
— I say, I can't go home till — till I've seen the
doctor again."
"Nor I."
A dull moan sounded within the house.
" Oh, my (lod ! " groaned Captuin Eunacles ;
" Meg— Meg ! "
A lattice was opened softly above them and
the doctor leant out.
" Go away — you two," he whispered and
waved his hand towards the gate.
2n TJJK JUJ1-: J'AVUJiiyS.
" I5iit, (l..ct(.r "
"llsli' I'll como and tell you wlicn it's
ov( r. AVlicrc sliall 3'()u Ik*?"
" At till' 'I'liree Crowns, down the street here."
" Ifi-l.t."
'^riit' lattice was closed aij^ain, very i^'-ently.
Captain IJarker laid his hand upon the tall man's
sleeve.
" .!( iniiiy, we're out of this action. I thouf^ht
I knew what it meant to lay-to and have to look
on while a li^'ht went forward ; hut I didn't,
^ome
'J'hey passed out of the courtyard and
down the street towards the Three Crowns.
J^'ueatli the si<rn uf that inn there lounged a
Knot of otiicers, wearinn' the ilesh-coloured facin<j^s
of the Buffs, and within a young haritone voice
was uplifted and t^ollinL,^ to the accomjxmiment
of clinked glasses, a song of ^fi-. Shirley's : —
" You virgins that did late despair
To keep your wealth from cruel men,
Tie up in silk your careless linir :
Soft peace is come again "
There was one sitting-roDUi, hut no hedroom,
to be had at the Three Crowns. So they ordered
up a dinner which they could not touch, hut sat
over in silence for two weary liours, drinking
very much more hurgundy than they were aware
SUSPENSE. 21
of. Captain Jemmy, taking up three bottles
one after another, and finding them all empty,
ordered up three more, and drew his chair up to
the hearth, where he sat kicking the oaken logs
viciously with his long legs. 'J'he little hunch-
hack stared out on the falling night, rang for
candles, and began to pace the room like a caged
beast.
Before midnight Captain Eunacles was drunk.
Six fresh bottles stood on the table. The man
was a cask. Even in the warm firelight his face
was pale as a sheet, and his lips worked con-
tinually.
Captain Barker still walked up and down, but
his thin legs would not always move in a straight
line. His eyes glared like two globes of green
fire, and he began to knock against the furniture.
Few men can wait helplessly and come out of it
with credit. Every time Captain John hit him-
self against the furniture. Captain Jemmy cursed
him.
" Tie up in silk your careless hair ;
Soft peace is come again "
— sang the little man, in a rasping voice. " Your
careless hair," he hiccoughed ; " your careless
hair, Meg ! "
Then he sat down on the floor and laughed to
himself softly, rocking hisdistorted body toaucl fro.
22 TlIK JU.HH I'.WIIJONS.
" li;ili ! " s;iiil Ills Iriciid, uiiliout lo(»kini»"
round, " you'iv dnink. " And he puurcd out
more bui'L^nindy. IIi- w;is outrai^'cously drunk
himself, but it only ulVcctt'd his temper, not liis
wits.
" ^fci,''," lie said, " will lixc. What's moro,
she'll live to marry me."
" Sh<' wtin't. Slie'll die. Hist! there's a
star falliiiiif outside."
He picked himself up and crawled upon the
window-seat, clutchiuL;- at the red curtains to
keep his footing.
"Jemmy, she'll die. What was it that old
fool said to-day? The door's closing on us
botli. ^J'o think <>l our marching uj), j\ist now,
with those two letters ; and the very sun in
heaven cracking his cheeks with laughter at us
— us two poor scarecrows making love thirty
years after the time ! "
His wry head dropped forward on his chest.
After this the two kept silence. Tiie rest of
the house had long since gone to rest, and the
sound of mutiled snoring alone marked the time
as it passed, except when Captain Jemmy,
catching up another oak log, drove it into the
fire with his heel ; or out in the street the watch
went b}', chanting th.e hour ; or a tipsy sliouting
broke out in some distant street, or the noise of
THE BREAKING Oh' 'I'JIE DAWK 13
clogs challenging each other iVoni their kennels,
across the sleeping town.
A shudder of light ran across the hea\"ens,
and over against the window Captain Barker
saw the west grow pale. For some while the
stars had been l;)lotted out and light showers
had fallen at intervals. Heavy clouds were
banked across the river, behind Shotley ; and
the roofs began to glisten as they took the dawn.
Footsteps sounded on the roadway outside.
He pushed open the window and looked out.
Doctor Beckerleg was coming up the street, his
hat pushed back and his neck-cloth loosened as
he respired the morning air.
The footsteps paused underneath, by the inn
door ; but the little Captain leant back in the
window-seat, without making a sign. He had
seen the doctor's face. Before the lire Captain
Jemmy brooded, with chin on breast, hands
grasping the chair rail, and long legs stretched
out, one on each side of the hearth. The
knocking below did not rouse him from this
posture, nor the creaking of feet on the stairs.
Doctor Beckerleg stood in the doorway and
for a moment contemplated the scene — the
empt}^ bottles, the unsnuffed candles guttering
down upon the table, and the grey faces of both
2t THK III. II'. r.WILlONS.
iliuiikcii men. ^V]u'\\ li<' liinnd and whispered
a woi<l 1<i \\\r drawer wlio liad limricd <iiit oi"
Itrd Id admit liiiii, and now stood lioliiiid \\\<
sliouldrr. 'I'lir jcllow :-Iiii|]Icd downstairs.
Caj)tain J>arkor stru^^dcd with a (|U('sti()n
that was dried uj) in liis tliroat. IJcforo lie
could ^ot it out the doctor shook his head.
" She is dead," he announced, very gravely
and simply.
The luinehhack shivered. Captain Runacles
neither spoke nor stirred in his chair.
"A man-child was born at two o'clock. He
is alive : his mother died two hours later."
Captain ]}arker shivered again, plucked
aimlessly at a rosette in the window-cushion,
and stole a quick glance at his comrade's hack.
Then, putting a linger to his lip, he slid down
to the lioor and lurched across to the doctor.
" She was left penniless ? " he whispered.
"That, <tr almost that, 'tis said," replied Dr.
Beckerleg in the same key, though the question
obviously surprised him. " Her father left his
money to the town, as all know "
"Yes, yes; I knew that. Her husband '*
"Hadn't a penny-piece, I believe: pawned
her own mother's jewels and gambled 'em away ;
thereupon left her, as a dog his cleaned
bone "
THE AVl'LE OF DISCORD. 25
The little man laid a hand on his collar, and,
as- the doctor stooped, whispered low and rapidly
in his ear.
Their colloquy was interrupted.
I'll adopt that child," said Captain Runacles
from the hearth. He spoke aloud, but without
turnino; his head.
Captain Barker hopped ronnd, as if a pin
were stuck into him.
" You — adopt Meg's boy ! "
** I said that."
" But you won't."
" Pardon me ; I will."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Jemmy; but
I intend to adopt him myself."
" I know it. You were whispering as much
to the doctor there."
" You have a little girl already."
" Precisely. That's where the difference
comes in. This one, you'll note, is a boy."
" A child of your own ! "
"But not of Meg's."
Captain Hunacles turned in his chair as he
said this, and, reaching a hand back to the table,
drained the last bottle of burgundy into his glass.
His face was white as a sheet and his jaw set like
iron. "But not of Meg's," he repeated, lifting
the glass and nodding over it at the pair.
2(5 77//'; ni.rr: I'.wiiAnNs.
His IViciid s\vay('(l intd a cliair, and s;it
faciiiL;" liiiii, liis cliiii Itutjust aljovc the table and
his given eyes <(larinL( like an owl's.
"Jemmy Unnaeles, /adopt that boy."
" You're cursedly ol)stinat.e. Jack."
" II avi PLC adopted him, \ shall at once quit
my profession and devote the residue ol )\\y life
to his education. For a vear or two — that is,
until he reaches an age susceptible of tuition — I
shall mature a scheme of discipline, which "
"My dear sir," the doctor interposed, "surely
all this is somewhat precipitate."
" Not at all. j\Iy resolution was taken the
instant you entered the room."
" That hardly seems to me to prove "
The little mai\ waved aside the interrujjtion
and continued —
" Tristram — for I shall have him christened
by that name "
*' He'll be called Jeremiah," decided Captain
iiunacles, shortly.
"I've settled upon Tristram. The name is a
suitable one, and signifies that its wearer is a
child of sorrow."
" Jeremiah also suggests lamentations, and
ha-; the further merit of being my own name."
"Tristram "
'•' Jeremiah — ~- '
THE CAPTAINS QUAHREL. 27
" Gentlemen, gentlemen," cried Dr. Becker-
leg, '" would it not be as well to see the infant?"
" I can imagine," Captain Barker answered,
" nothing in the infant that is likely to shake
my resolution. My scheme of discipline will he
based "
" Decidedly, Jack, I shall have to run you
through," said his friend, gloomily. Indeed, the
doctor stood in instant fear of this catastrophe ;
for Captain Runacles' temper was a bye-word,
and not even his customary dark flush looked so
dangerous as the lustreless, sullen ej^es now
sunk in a face that was drawn and pinched and
absolutely wax-like in colour. To the doctor's
astonishment, however, it was the little hunch-
back who now jumped up and whipped out his
sword.
" Ivun me through ! " he almost screamed,
dancing before the other, and threatening him
with absurd flourishes — " Run me through ! "
" Listen, gentlemen ; listen, before blood is
spilt ! To me it appears evident that you are
both drunk."
" To me that seems an advantage, since it
equalises matters."
" But, whichever of you survives, he will be
unable to forgive himself, having sinned not
only against God, but also against logic."
28 TUh' JiLll-: I'.IVILIOXS.
'J >'
" ITow ;i<_,'ainst lo^-ic ?
" IV-niiit nil- to (Irinonsfrate. Mrs. Salt,
wliom (as I well know) you t'stocinod, is lost to
you; iiiul ill licr place is loft a babe whom —
healthy thou^li lie undoubtedly is — you cannot
possibly esteem without takini^ a <j^reat deal for
i^ranted, especially as 3'ou have not yet set eyes
on liiin. Now it is evident that, if one of you
should kill tlie other, a second life of aj)])rov('d
worth will be sacrificed for an infant of purel}'
hypothetical merits. As a man of business I
condemn the transaction. As a Christian I
deprecate the shedding of blood. 15ut if some-
body's blood must be shed, let us be reasonable
and kill the baby."
Captain Jiarker lowered his point.
" Decidedly the question is more difficult
than I imagined."
" At least it cannot be settled before eating,"
said Dr. lieckerleg, as the drawer entered with a
tray. " You will forgive me that I took the
liberty of ordering breakfast as soon as I looked
into this room. Without asking to see your
tongues, I prescribed dried lierrings and home-
brewed ale ; lor myself, a fried sole, a beef-steak
reasonably underdone, a kidney-pie which the
drawer commended on his own motion, with a
smoked cheek of pork, perhaps "
DR. BEGKEliLEG'S FIRST SUGGESTION. 29
" You wish us to sit still while you dev^our
all this ? "
"I am willing to give each side of the
arcjument a fair chance."
"But I find nothing to argue about,"
exchiimed Captain Runacles, pushing his plate
from him after a very faint attempt to eat. " My
mind being already made up "
"And mine," interrupted Captain Barker.
"If I suggest that you both adopt the
child," Dr. Beckerleg began.
" Still he must be educated ; and our notions
of education differ. Moreover, when w^e differ
- — as you may have observed — we do so with
some thoroughness."
" Let me propose, then, a system of alterna-
tion, by which you could adopt the boy for six
months each, turn and turn about."
" But if — as would undoubtedly happen —
each adoptive parent spent his six months in
undoing the other's w^ork, it must follow that, at
the end of any given period, the child's mind
would be a mere tahida rasa. Suppose, on the
other hand, we failed to wipe out each other's
teaching, the unfortunate youth would be
launched upon life wdtli half his guns pointed in-
board and his needle jerking from one pole to the
other. Consider the name, Jeremiah Tristram."
80 riiH /;/./•/■; I'aiilkjxs.
" It is lic'tero^vnuous,' admit tccl llic doctor.
"He WDidd ])c c.dli'd Tiistrain .Irrcmiali,"
Ca]>taiii IJarkcr put in.
•' Well. Imt tliat is not K'ss lieteroj^eucous.
() wist' SoloiiKUi I cried the doctor, with his
mouth lidl of lvi(hu'y-pie ; '' had I hut the
authority you enjoyed in a like dispute, 1 would
resio;n to you all the credit ol" orii^inality ! "
" As it is, however, you are wasting our time,
and it becomes clear that we must iii^ht, after all."
" ]Jy no means; for I have this moment
received an inspiration. J)ravver!"
The drawer answered this summons almost
before it was nttered, by appearing- in the door-
way with a dish of eggs and a fresh tankard.
" Set the dish down, and attend," commanded
Dr. Beckerleq;. " You have a dice-box and dice
in the house ? "
" No, sir. His worship the IMayor "
" ^ly good fellow, the regulations against
play in this town are well known to rae ; also
that the Crowns is an orderly house. Let me
suggest, then, that you have several gentlemen
of the army lodging under this roof; that one of
these, if politely asked, might own that he had
come across such a thiuL-- as a dice-box durins:
his s(>journ in the Low Countries. It ma}"^ even
be that in the sack of some unjtronounceable
DU. BECKERLEG'S SECOND SUGGESTION. :Jl
town or other he has acquired a specimen, and is
bringing it home in his valise to exhibit it to liis
family. Be so good as to inform him that three
gentlemen, in Eoom No. 6, who are about to
write a tractate on the amusements of the
Dutch "
" By your leave, sir, I don't know how it
may be on campaign ; but in this house m'q
never awaken a soldier for any reason which he
cannot grasp at once."
" In that case let him have his sleep out
before you vex him with our apologies. But
meanwhile bring the dice."
The fellow went out, whispered to the
chambermaid, and returned in less than live
minutes with a pair of dice and a leathern box,
much worn with use.
" They belong," he whispered, " to a 3'oung
gentleman of the Admiral's regiment, who was
losing heavily last night."
"Thank you; they are the le.^s likely to be
loaded. You may retire for a while. ^ly friends,"
the doctor continued, as soon as they were alone,
" Aristotle invented Chance to account for the
astonishiog fact that there were certain things
in the world which he could not explain. I
appeal to it for as cogent a reason. Indeed, had
Mistress Margaret— whose soul God has this
nii Till-: HUE I'AVILIONS.
lULjlit rosumed — had slie, 1 s;iy, been spared to
receive and ponder the two letters wliich I saw
you deliver at lier door; and liad slic invited me,
as a tried friend, to decide between tlieni ; 1 feel
sure I sliould have ended l)y puttin<; a dice-box
into her hands. \)n not Musli. No true man
needldush that lie has loved sucli a woman: and
you are botli true men, if a trille obstinate —
j//\/i (I fcufices propoxili. ^len of your character,
Flaccus tells us, do not bU'iich at the thmider-
bolts of Jove himself ; and truly, T can well
imagine his missile iizzing harmlessly into your
party hedge, unable to decide between the
])avilion of ('a))tain .lohn and the pavilion of
Captain .lereniy. Hut Cliance, being witless,
discriminates without trouble; and because she
is blind, lier arl)itraments offend nobody's sensi-
bility. Do yuu consent?"
The t\vo captains looked at the dice-box and
nodded.
" The conditions? "
"One throw," said Captain Kunacles.
" And the highest cast to -win," adiled
Captain Harker,
" Vou, Captain Darker, are the senior by a
year, I believe. Will you throw first ? '"
The little man caught up the box, rattled
the dice briskly, and thrv-v/ -four and three.
THE DICE. :i:^
Captain Runacles picked tlieiii up, and made
his cast delil^erately — six and ace.
" Gentlemen, you must tlirow again. For-
tune herself seems to hesitate between you."
Captain Barker threw again, and leant back
Avitli a sob of triumph.
" Two sixes, upon my soul ! " murmured the
doctor. " I'm afraid, Captain Jeremy "
Captain Jeremy took the dice up, turned them
between finger and thumb, and dropped them
slowly into the box. As he lifted his hand to
make the cast he looked up and saw the gleam
in his friend's greenish eyes.
The next moment box and dice Hew past the
hunchback's head and out at the open windov.-.
" That's my throw," Captain Eunacles an-
nounced, standing up and turning his back on
the ])air as he staggered across the room for his
hat. But the little man also had bounced up in
a fury.
" That's a vile trick ! i make the best throw,
and you force me to fight."
" Ah," said the other, facing slowly about
and putting on his hat, " I didn't see it in that
light. Very well. Jack, I decline to fight you."
" You apologise ? "
"Certainly."
The little man held out a hand. " I miglit
D
.'it Tin: liLUi: fAVlhlONS.
liavi' kiiuwii. Jc'ininy, you were too *^oo(l ;i
fellow ' he bejj^an.
'■ nil. sliiw iiway your jiretty speeches and
take hack your liaiul I can't prevent your
])]ayini,'' tin' WnA with Mc^-'s chiM ; l)ut ii" I liad
a (Irecnt excuse, you may make up your mind
1 (1 use it. As it is, the sight of you annoys me.
(Jood-morninii' ! "
He went out, slamming tlie door alter him,
and they heard liini descend the stairs and turn
down the street.
" A day's peace," mused Captain ]3arker,
" strikes me as more expensive tlian a3'ear's war.
It has cost me my two dearest friends."
He strode up and down the room, muttering
angrily ; then looked uj) and said —
" Take me to Meg ; I want to see her."
"And the child'/"
" To be sure. I'd clean forgotten the child."
Dr. Beckerleg led the way downstairs. A
pale sunshine touched the edge of the pave-
ment across the road, and while Captain Barker
was settling the hill, the doctor ste])ped across
and picked a dice-box out of the gutter.
'Luckily, I found the dice too; the^' were
lying close together," said he, as his companion
came out. lie turned the box round and
a})p(,'ared to be reflecting; but, next moment,
CAPTAIN BARKER CLAIMS HIS OWN. 35
walked briskly into the bar, and returned the
dice to the drawer, with a small fee.
"She is not much changed?" asked the
Captain, as they moved down the street, arm in
arm .
" Eh ? You were saying? No, not changed.
A beautiful face."
Though middle-aged and lined with trouble,
it was, as Dr. Beckerleg said, a beautiful face
that slept behind the dusty window above the
court where the sparrows chattered. From a
chamber at the back of the house the two men
were met, as they climbed the stairs, by the
sound of an infant's wailino-. Dr. Beckerleg-
went towards this, after opening for tlie captain
the door of a room wherein no sound was at all.
When, half an hour later, Captain Barker
came out and closed this door gently. Dr.
Beckerleg, who waited on the landing, forbore
to look a second time at his face. Instead, he
stared fixedly at the staircase wall and
observed —
'' I think it is time we turned our attention
upon the child."
" Take me to him by all means."
Margaret's son was reclining, very red and
angry, in the arms of an old woman who at-
tempted vainly to soothe him by tottering up and
'M Tin: IlLUE I'AVIIJUNS.
(Inwn lilt' rtMun as fast as licr decrepit lrL;s would
cari\' licr. Tlir sci'v iii^'-i^irl. \vli(» liad opoiird the
door (111 tlic previous eveiiiiii;, stood beside tlie
\\ iii<l(»\v, licr eyes swollen with weeping*.
" lie is extreinely small," said the C\i|)tain.
'"On the coiitraiy, he is an unusually line
boy.''
■ lie a])pears to nie to want something."
" He wants food. "
" Bless my soul I ILas none been ollered to
Ifim?"
" Yes ; but he refuses it."
" Extraordinary ! "
"Not at all. I understand — do I not? —
that you have adopted this infant."
The Cajjtain nodded.
" Then your parental duties have ah'eady
betrun. You must come with me at once and
choose a wet nurse."
As they passed through the hall to the front
door, Captain ]>arker perceived two letters lyin^-
side by side u})un a table there. He snatched
them up hastily and crammed one into his pocket.
Tlien, lianding the other to Dr. Beckerleg —
" \'(iu iiiiL!-ht irive that to Jemmy when you
see him, and — look here, as soon as the child is
out of tlie house, I think — if you went to
Jrinmy— he might like to see Meg, you know."
CHAPTER III.
THE TWO PAVILIONS.
Captain Barker and Captain Itunacles had been
friends from boyhood. They had been swished
together at Dr. Huskisson's school, hard by the
Water-gate ; had been packed off to sea in the
same sliip, and afterwards had more than once
smelt powder together. Admiral Blake and Sir
Christopher Mings had turned them into tong]i
fighters by sea; and Margaret Tellworthy had
completed their education ashore, and made them
good friends, by rejecting both. In an access of
misogyny they had planned and built their blue
pavilions, beside the London road, vowing to
shut themselves up and look on no woman again.
This happened but a short time before the first
Dutch war, in which the one served under
Captain Jonings in the Rnhi/, and the other had
the honour to be cast ashore with Prince Pupert
himself, aboard the Galloper. Upon the declara-
tion of peace, in the autumn of 1G67, they had
returned, and, forgetting their vow, laid siege
again to their mistress, who regretted the necessity
of refusing them thrice apiece.
Upon his third rejection, Jerem^^ Punacles
:}8 TIIH IllJlE I'AVILIOXS.
was (Irivon b}' in(lii,ni;iii(in 1o ofltT liis IkukI at
onco to Mistress Isal)ol Seaman, sister (•!" lliat
same Robert Seaman who, as Major of Ilarwicli.
admilti'd Sir Aniliuiiy Deane to tlic freedom of
1 lie Corporation, and liad tlu' liononr to reeeive,
in exclian^v, twelve lirc-biickcts for tl'.e new
town-hall. As IMistress Isabel iidicrited a third
of the profits amassed by her father in the rope-
makini;" trade, she was considered a f^ood match.
Captain Barker, however, resented the marriage
ou thr L^roiind that she was ont of place in a
pavilion ('.\))ressly desi^iuM] for a confirmed
bachelor. When, after a few months, lier
husband also began to hold tliis view, Mrs.
Ruiiacles, instead of remindini]^ him that he, and
he alone, was to blame for her intrusion, did her
best to make matters easy by quitting; this world
altogether on St. J3artholomew's Vac, 10/0,
leaving behind her the smallest possible daughter.
IJut as this daughter at once rerpiiivd a nurse,
the alleviation proved to be inconsiderable — as
Mr. Runacles would have delighted to point out
to his wife, had she remained within earshot.
As it was, he took infinite ])ains to select a
suitable nurse, and forthwith neglected the child
entirely — a course of conduct which was not so
culpable as might be suj)posed, since (with the
sole exception (jf Mrs. iiunacles) he had never
THE TWO PAVILIONS. 39
been known to err in clioosins^ a subordinate.
In times of peace he gave himself up to studying-
the mathematics, in which he was a proficient,
and to the designing of such cnrious toys as sun-
dials, water-clocks, pumps, and the like ; which
he so multiplied about the premises, out of pure
joy in constructing them, that Simeon, his body-
servant, had much ado to live among the man}'
contrivances for making his life easier.
Although the two pavilions were exactly
similar in shape and colour, their gardens differed
in some important respects. On Captain Runa-
cles' side of the hedge all was order — trim turf
and yews accurately clipped, though stunted by
the sea winds. Captain Barker's factotum, Nar-
cissus Swiggs bj' name, was a slow man with but
a single eye. His orbit in gardening was that
of the four seasons, but he had the misfortune
to lag behind them by the space of three months ;
while the two sides of the gravel path, though
each would be harmonious in itself, could onl}'-
be enjoyed by shutting one eye as you advanced
from the blue gate to the blue front-door. The
particular pride of Captain Barker's garden, how-
ever, was a collection of figure-heads set up, like
statues, at regular intervals around the hedge.
The like of it could be found nowhere. Here,
against a background of green, and hanging
40 TJih' iiLUh: r.w'iLJoxs.
lorwiU'd over a green lawn, were an Indian
Chief, a (ioldcn Hind, a Triton, a Centaur,
eflinics of" King Cliarlcs I., another ol" Jiritannia,
a third orthc god Pan, and a fourili of" Mr. dolin
iMiilIi]>son, somctinu' alderman and sliipowner
nl' llarwicli. 'i'hoUL;h I'liddy niodelle(l, the
majority received an extremely lilelike aj)|)ear-
ance fVom their colouring, wliicli was renewed
every now and then under the ca])tain's own
supervision, ile asserted them to be beautiful,
and his acquaintances were content with the
qualification that to an unwarned visitor, in
an uncertain light, they might be disconcerting.
To this paradise Cajjtain ]>arker introduced
his newly adopted son, with th(^ wet-nurse that
the doctor had found for him : and after ex-
phiining matters to Narcissus — ^vho had heard
of the 1/ rt.y/.s arrival in port and had been
vaguely troubled ])}' a long conversation with
Simeon, next door — installed the new-comers in
the two rooms und(M* the roof of the pavilion,
and sat down to meditate and wait for the
child's development.
On the fourth morning after the installation,
N.arcissus appeared and demanded a higher wage.
This w\as granted.
On the sixth morning. Narcissus appeared
again.
TBISTBAM'S INFAXOY. 41
" That there nurse " he bej^an.
"What of her?"
" As touching- that there nurse, 5^our instruc-
tions were to feed her wp."
"Well?"
"I've fed lier up."
"Well?"
"She's ate till she's sick."
The captain sent post-haste for Dr. Beckerle^.
" That woman's green with bile," the doctor
announced. " You've been over-feedinc^ her."
" I did it to strengthen the child."
"No doubt; but this sort of woman will
eat all that's put before ]ier. Lower her diet."
This was done. The woman recovered in a
couple of days and resigned her place at once,
declaring she was starved.
A second wet-nurse was sought for and found.
The child thrived, was weaned, and began to
cut his teeth without any trouble to mention.
Twice a day Captain Barker visited his nursery
and studied him attentively.
" I'll own that I'm boggled," he confessed to
Dr. Beckerleg. " You see, a child is the offspring
of his parents."
" That is undeniable ! " the doctor answered.
"And science now asserts that he inherits
his parents' aptitudes : therefore, to train him
12 Till': iiLvi: v.wij.joNfi.
.sccinit/inii iKilin-diii, I inii^i disctivrr llwsr apiitiulos
and pdnrato or check tlu'iu."
" IVcidcdly."
"Well, but his luotlior was an aiij^^cl, and liis
fatluT tlu' dirtiest scam]) that ever cheated tlie
halter."
'• I should advise you to strike a nieau.
What oftiie child himself?"
" He does nothing but eat."
"It appears to me that, striking a mean
between the two extremes you mention, we arrive
at mere man. I perceive a great opportunity.
Suppose you teach him exactly what Adam was
taught."
" Gardening? "
"Precisely. He will start with some ad-
vantage over Adam, there being no Eve to
complicate matters."
"He shall be taught gardening," the little
captain decided.
" The pursuit will accord well with his tem-
perament, which is notably pacific. The child
seldom or never cries. At the same time we
cannot quite revert to the Garden of Eden. His
life will, almost certainly, bring him more or less
into contact with his fellow men."
" We must expect that."
Therefore, as a mere measure of precaution,
ti 'v^
THE FIBST GREEN VOLUME. 43
it might be as well to instruct liini in the use of
the small-sword."
" I will look after that. There is nothing I
shall enjoy more than teaching him — precaution.
We have now, I think, settled everything "
"By no means." The doctor put a hand
into his tail-pocket, and, after some difficult}-
with the lining, pulled out a small book bound
in erreen leather and tied with a green ribbon.
" Here," he announced, " is the first volume of a
treatise on education "
" Plague take your books ! You're as bad as
Jemmy, yonder. I tell you I'll not addle the
boy's head with books."
" But this treatise has the advantage to be
unwritten."
Dr. Beckerleg untied the ribbon, and holding
out the book, turned over a score of pages. They
were all blank.
" Undoubtedly that is an advantage. But
then, it hardly seems to me to be a treatise."
" No : but it will be when you have written
it."
" I? "
" Certainly, you intend to train Tristram in
accordance with nature. On what do we base
our knowledge of nature ? On exj^eriment and
observation. For many reasons your e.xperiments
■II rill-: nijh: r.wiuoNS.
witli flic rliild must hr liniitod ; hut you can
ubsiTNc liiiii (l;iily — -li(»uil\ , il ymi like. In lliis
volume ynn shall record your observations from
(lay to da}', //////f/ dies si/ic I'm en. It is the first
])resent I make to him, as his L^odfather : and
in doinp^ so I sot you down to write the most
valuable hook in the world, a eomjdotc History
ol" a Human Creature."
Captain IJarker took the volume.
"But 1 shall never live to linish it."
" AVe ho])e not. 'i'he beauty, liowever, (tf
this history will be that at any point in its
progress we may consult it for Tristram's good,
and learn all that, \\\> to that point, God has
given us eyes to see. It may be that in deciding
to make him a gardener we have been mistaken.
That book will enlighten us."
" There's one blessing," said Captain Barker,
tucking the book under his ami; "whatever
pursuit the boy may follow, he'll want to follow
it unmolested. And therefore, in any case, I
must teach him to use the small-sword."
During the first few months, almost every
entry in the captain's green volume dealt with
Tristram's appetite. Nor did this fluctuate
enoujjh to make the record e.xcitinc:. He was a
slow, phlegmatic infant, with red clieeks and an
exuberant crop of 3'ellow curls. He slept all
THE TBISTRAFJ^'DEIA : PAGE I. 45
niylit and a good third of the day, and, beyond
cuttmg- ten teeth in as many months, exhibited
no precocity. Nothing troubled him, if we
except an insatiable hunger. He was weaned
with extreme difficult}--, and, even when promoted
to bread and biscuits and milk puddings, con-
tinued to recognise his nurse's past service and
reward it with so sincere an affection that the
woman accepted an increase of wage and cheer-
fully consented to stay on and take care of him.
Captain Barker saw nothing in all this to
shake his lirst resolution of making the boy a
gardener, but rather found in each successive
day a reason the more for making haste to learn
something about horticulture himself, in order
that when the time came he might be able
to teach it. At length he took counsel with
Narcissus Swiggs, and unfolded his desire.
Mr. Swiggs listened sleepily, and, as soon as
his master had done, gave him a month's notice.
" Wliat the devil's the use of that ? " Captain
Barker asked.
" I thought you weren't satisfied, that's all."
" If I weren't, I should kick you out without
half these words. You've been thinking of
yourself all this while."
" I mostly does."
" Then don't, while I'm talking." And
4<> TIIIJ BLUE JWVII.loNS.
C\ij)tiiiii HiirkiT t'xplaiiit'd his sclieine a second
tiiiR'.
"No use." inMiKtiiiiccd Mr. S\vi<,''g's at the
close, sliukiny liis lieud puiidcrously.
"Why nut?"
Mr. S\viij;-<^'s swept his hand bi'loiv him, suiu-
miug- up the whole hmdseiipe with one nuijestic
semicircle.
"Where is your soil?" he asked. "And
Avher.' is your water? Springs? " — he paused a
couple of seconds — " Tliere ain't none. All tluit
mortal man can do, I does."
"And what is that? "
" r does without."
" But the marsh behind us "
" Salt."
" Narcissus Swiggs, you have been in my
service twenty years."
" Twenty-three."
" During that time you have unce or twice
argued with me. I ask you, as a Christian man,
to tell me truly what you got by it."
"Naught."
" Just so. On this occasion, however, I've
listened with great patience to all your ob-
jections "
" Not a tithe of 'em."
" They're all you'll have a chance of making.
MATERIALS FOB THE TRISTRAFJEDEIA. 17
at any rate. And I answer them thus: It' the
worst comes to the worst, I'll cover the wliole of
this property with a couple of tuhs, one to catch
rain-water and t'other filled with garden mould.
If the sea rots 'era, I'll have the Avliole estate
careened, and its hottom pitched and its seams
stopped with oakum. I'll rig up a l)attery here,
and if the water-butt runs dry you shall blaze
away at the guns till you fetch the rain down,
as I've seen it fetched down before now b}'- a
cannonade. But I mean to have a garden here,
and a garden I'll have."
Faithful to this resolve, Captain Barker set
to work to study the art in which Tristram was
to be instructed, and, being by nature a hater of
superficialit}'", determined to begin by acquainting
himself with everything that had been written
about the nature and habits of plants from the
earliest ages to that present day. He engaged a
young demy of Magdalen College, Oxford — son
of Mr. Lucas, saddler, of the High Street,
Harwich — who was much pinched to continue
his studies at the universitj^ to extract and
translate for him whatever Aristotle, Tlieo-
phrastus, and others of the Peripatetic school
had written on the subject; to search the
college libraries for information concerning the
horticulture of China and Persia, the hangin"-
48 77//; /;/,/•/■; I'.wilions.
f^anlcns of Hal>_)l<»ii, those jdaiitid by tin- Icariicd
Al»(liillatit" at liai^ilad, aii<l llx' P^iropean
paradisi's ol Naples, Florence, .Moii/,a, Maimlieiin,
aiul Leydeii ; to draw uj) ])lans ami a particular
description ol" the Oxford IMiysic (Jardon, l)y
^lagdalen Collei^e, as well as the plantations of
Worcestei", Trinity, and St. John's Collei^es ; and
to ransfick the bookshops of that seat of learnini^
for sui'h works as niin-ht he procurable in no more
ditlicult tonL,^ue than the Latin. In this way
Captaiu Jiarker l)ecanie ])ossessed of a vast
nnnil)er of monkish herbals, Pliny's " Historia
Naturalis," the " Merbarum Vivie Eicones " of
]irunsfels, the treatises of Trai^us, Fuchsius,
iSlatthiolus, Ebn Jk'ithar, and Conrad Gesner,
the " Stirpium Adversaria Nova" and " JManta-
rum sen Stirj)Ium Jiistoria ' of Alatthew Lobel,
with th(.' works of such li\inL;- botanists as
llenshaw, I look, Grew, and MalpiL^^hi. As the
cai)tain had no thouirht of I'esuminn- a seafariim-
life, he lelt confident of diu'estinj^' in time lliese
masses of learninsj;, thouii'h it annoved him at
first to find himself cajjable of understandinn' but
a tenth of what he read. On sumnier eveninirs
he wotdd sit out on the lawn, with a folio
balanced on his knee, and do violence to J\lr.
Swiij^i^s's ears with such learned terms as
" Jjorajj^iniie," " Cucurbitaceie," " Leguminosa3,"
MOllE MATERIALS. l!>
aud as winter drew in, master and man would
hold loni^ consultations indoors over certain
plants, the portraits of which in the herjjals
seemed familiar enoug-li, thongdi their habitats
often proved, on further reading, to lie no nearer
than Arabia Felix or the Spice Islands. Never-
tlieless, tliey took some practical steps. To
begin with, the soil of the garden before the
l^lue Pavilion was entirely changed — Captain
Barker importing from The Hague no less than
thirty tons of the mould most approved by the
Dutch tulip-growers. A tank, too, was sunk at
the back of the building, towards the marsh, as
a receptacle and reservoir for rain-water ; and by
Tristram's fourth birthday his adoptive father
began to Imild, on the south side of the house, a
hibernatory, or greenhouse, differing in size only^
from that which Solomon de Cans had the
honour to erect for the Elector Palatine in his
gardens at Heidelberg.
jMeanwhile Captain Runacles, who watched
these operations from the other side of the privet
hedge and picked up many scraps of rumour
from the antique Simeon, was consumed with
scorn and envy. The two friends no longei
spoke. At the back of the Fish and Anchor,
across the road, there stretched at this time the
r>it rill:' ItHI: I'AVIIJliXS.
larufost and fairest bowliiiiif-ijcrocii in flic oast of
Kni^land — two i^ood acres ol" sniooili Inrt',
strctcIiinL^' almost to the cdii^c of tlir soa-rdill",
oil wliicli side the wall was cnt down to within
a loot of tjic i^H'Ound, so that the Lfossips as they
j)hiycd, or sat and smoked on tlie beiiclies about
the qreen, min'Jit have a clear view of the sliips
enterini^' oi' Iravinsj^ tlie harbonr, or of others that,
hull-down on the horizon, took tlie sunset on
their sails. 1 1 ither it had always been the custom
of tlu! two ca])tains to repair at the closinj^ in of
the da}', and drink their beer to^etlier as the}'
watched tliis or tliat vessel more or less narrowly
avoiding- tlic shoals below. Nor would Ihey
c(»nimoidy retire, unless the weather was dirty,
until the sea-coal fire was lit above the town-gate,
and the lesser lii^hthouse upon the town f^reen
answered with its si.x candles. \ow, however,
thouiih thev met here as usual, no salutation was
o.vchanLred. On benches as far apart as possible
the}' diank their beer in silence and watched the
])layeis. The situation was understood by every-
b<jdy at the inn ; and at first some awkward
attempts were made to heal the breach. JJut
Captain Jeremy's scowl and the lij^ht in Captain
John's i^reen eyes soon convinced the busy bodies
that they were playing with fire, and lilvcly to
bui-ii tlieir fingers.
CAPTAIN liUNAG'LES IS RESTLESS. 51
Tn his home, Captain Itunacles grew restless.
To cure this, he set to work and finished a large
dial which he had long intended to present to the
Corporation of Harwich, to set up over the town-
gate. Tlie Corporation accepted the gift, and
employed their clerk to write a letter ot' thanks.
The language of this letter was so flattering that
Captain Runacles made another dial for the
Exchano-e. Being thanked for this also, he
presented an excellent pendulum clock of his own
making, to be placed over his Majesty's arms
upon the principal gate of the dockyard ; with a
hell above the clock to strike the hours of the
day, as well as to summon the men to their
work ; and two more dials, the one for the new
town-hall, the other for the almshouses near
St. Helen's Port. Again the Corporation
thanked him as profusel}^ as before, but asked
him to be at the expense of affixing these dials,
which, both by their beaut}^ and number, were
rapidly making Harwich unique among towns of
its size. Upon this, Captain Runacles, in a huff,
forswore all further munificence, and applied
himself to the construction of a pair of compasses
capable of dividing an inch into a thousand
parts, and to the sinking of a well in the marsh
behind his pavilion. The design of this well was
extremely ingenious. It was worked by means
62 '/•///■; ni.rr: I'.wiijoxs.
of:! wlifi'l, nine Iccl in (liaiiictcr, with steps in
its circnmrcri'nci' like tlmsc of ;i treadmill, and
so wcML^liti'd thai l>y walkinL;- nj)()n it. as if np a
lliu'lit o[ stairs, a jx-rson of ('l«'vcn oi- Iwchc slono
wonld draw np a hncket — two Imckcts Ijcini^ so
linnj^, at the ends (tf a rope sui'ronndiiiL;' tli«>
wlircl. that while one ascendc(l, lull (.!' wiilcr, the
other, whieh was enipty, sank down and was
rdilled. Tiu'se bnekots hein^" too heav}' for a
nt;in to ovi-rturn to j)our out the watt-r. he hored
a hole in each, and eontrivrd to jiIul;' the holes
so that the \veiu;'lit ol' the hncket as it l)Uinj)ed
upon the tronnh ])repared i'or it at tli<' well's
ed^'e joi^^-ed out the 1)1 ul;- and sent the water
running- down the troni;h into whatever pail or
vessel stood ready to catch it. Nor is it
astonishing that he lost liis temper when, after
these preparations, he found the well was not
deep enough, and the water as much infected
with brine as if he had gathered it from the
surface of the marsh.
Tt was on the day lollowing this disapp(»int-
ment that, while walking to and fro the length
of his turfed garden, between three and four in
the afternoon (for his habits were methodical), lie
heard a child's voice lifted on the far side of the
party iicdge — gi
"Dad'l" I
A CONVERSATION BY THE FARTY-HEDGE. 53
" Ell ? What is it ? " answered the voice of
Captain Barker, from his new tulip-bed, across
the garden.
"What thin^ris this?
jj
"A nymph." Captain Runacles guessed by
this that the four-year-old's question had
reference to one of the figure-heads disposed
alons^ the hedije.
" What is a nymph ? "
" A sort of girl."
" I don't like this sort of girl. She's got no
legs."
" Come over here and look at this tulip."
" There's a much better sort of girl next
door," Tristram continued, unheeding'.
" What do 3'ou know about her ? " sharply
inquired his guardian.
" Oh, I see her often at the top window, and
sometimes out walking. Nurse says we're not
to speak, so we put out our tongues at each
other."
" Tristram, come over here and look "
" She's got funny curls, and puts her doll to
bed in the window-seat every night. I like that
sort of girl. When I grow up," the young
bashaw proceeded, " I shall have lots of that sort
of girl all over the garden, instead of these
wooden thing's."
•M TJIi: r.LUK J:\\1 LIONS.
Captain IJarker tivatcd tliis Oriental day-
divani witli silence.
" Dad — wliy an) I \v<iilli more tlian all the
yfirls in tlie world? "
" Who said you were ? "
"Nurse. She says you think so. She says
tile bi^" man next (h»or would i^'ive iiis eyes to
luive a boy like me; but he eant make nothiiiir
of a L;ir], and don't try. Narcissus "
"Hallo!" replied the lieavy voice of Mr.
Swiggs.
" Have you got a bo}' ? "
" No, sir : nmarried."
" What did you give your eye for, then ? "
" Losli ! " ejaculated Narcissus, as Captain
Barker pounced on the youngster and haled him
oM" to the tulip-bed. The interrogatory was
stayed for a while.
Captain Kunacles, wdio had caught every
word, strode half a dozen times u]) and down his
grass-plot : then summoned Simeon.
" Tell nurse to send Miss Sophia down to me."
Five minutes later a small child of seven
appeared in the doorway, and, after hesitating
there for a moment, stepped timidly across the
turf. Her figure and movements were ungainly,
and her com])lexion appeared unnaturally sallow
against a dark grey frock. A wet brush, applied
SOIUIIA ENTERS. 55
two minutes before with inconsiderate zciul, iiad
taken all the curl out of her dark hair and
smoothed it in preposterous bands on either side
of her brow. Her arms hung stiff and perpen-
dicular, and she fidgeted with her short skirt as
she advanced.
Captain Ixunacles stojiped short in his walk
and surveyed her.
" H'm," he said. " Don't shuffle."
The little girl looked up, dropped her eyes
again quickly, and let her hands hang limp beside
her. She was shakino* from head to foot.
" You are a girl."
" Pardon, father," she mumbled in a low
whisper.
" Next door there lives a small boy. You
are in the habit of putting out your tougue at
him. Why?"
" I— 1 "
Her voice wavered and she broke into a fit
of sobbing.
" Tut, tut ! Stop that noise; I haven't scolded
you. On the contrary, I sent for you in the hope
that you might always be able to put out your
tongue at that boy. Sophia, dry your eyes and
attend, pleaise. Would you like to be an accom-
plished woman ? "
" If it please you, father. '
56 Tjn-: nun-: r a virions.
" Now may llic di-vil llyawav witli IIk' wliolc
.SOX I \\ tlicy (/a Iia))|)iii to desire anytliini,' lifooil
in itseli", it's always to ])lease some man oraiiollier.
Sophia, I ask you il", lor your own sake, ami lor
the sake of knowledi^c, you will he m\' ])U|)il ;
if you care to ])ursue " Ca])taiii IJunacles
checked himself, not hecause he had any idea that
he was talking over the head ol" a girl of seven,
but because a general proposition had occurred to
him.
"Woman's notion of a ])ursuit," he said,
clas])ing his hands behind liim and regarding
his daughter's tear-stained face with severity —
" woman's notion of a pursuit is entirely passiv^e.
Her only idea is to be pursued, and, even so, her
mind runs on ultimate caj)ture. Sophia," he
continued, himself forgetting for the moment his
view of knowledge as micaimt ()})l(in(lni)i, " would
you like to please me by licking that boy across
tlie hedge into a cocked hat? "
"Jkit— oh, father! "
" What is it ? "
She could not answer for a moment. Nor
did he know that she besought (Jod every night
to change hi-r into a boy that she might lind some
grace in his sight.
" Vou have one advantage," said her father
coldly, as she struggled to keep down her tears.
[
USE IS FOUND Fun SUFJIIA. 57
Your rival across the hedge is in a I'aii- \v;iy to be
turned into a fool. We will beiz-in to-morrow.
In a week or so I shall be able to pronounce some
opinion on your capacity. Now run indoors to
your nurse — why, bless my soul ! "
The child had trotted forward, and, taking
his hand, kissed it passionatel3^ He looked into
her face, and, finding it white as a sheet, lifted
her in his arms and carried her into the pavilion.
58
ciiAin'Hi; i\
Till-, TWO 1'A\11,IU.NS {CU/lliillli'tl').
■ AVr, iiuist have an apiariuin," Captain Barker
announced, a week later.
" Wliat's tliat ? " Mr. Swings asked.
" Half-a-dozen beehives, at least."
" No room."
"There is nothing," pursued Captain Barker,
" that "ives such character to a yarden as an
apiariuni, unless it he fishponds. 1 will have
both."
" No water."
The fishponds shall be constantly suj^plied
with running w'ater. I will have three ponds at
(lillerent levels, connected with miniature water-
ialls, and approached by an a/lcc verfc. The
glimpse of water between green hedges will be
extremely refreshing to the eye. The a})iariuin
shall stand close to these ponds — as Virgil
commends —
At liiiuidi fontes et stagiia viiciitia iiiusco
A<lHiiit, et tenuis fugiens per giainiiui rivus *
— and shall be surrounded with beds of violets
* Let welling .springs and (spongy moss ])e nigli.
And through the grass a streandet Heeling by.
THE GARDEN. 59
aud lavender, and sucli blue Hovvers as bees
especially love. When, Narcissus, I glance over
the hedge at the back of the house and behold
Captain Runacles' two acres lying waste, cum-
bered like a mining country with the ruins of
his mechanical toys, I have a mind to "
" He'll neither sell nor lend."
" I perceive that in time we must set about
draining- so much of the marsh outside as
belongs to me. There, if anywhere, the fish-
ponds must lie. In the meantime there is a full
rood of ground beyond the northern hedge that
we may consider. By cutting a path through the
privet there, and enclosing this parcel, we gain
for our bees a quadrangle which will not only
give them their proper seclusion, but may be
planted in the classical style without detriment
to the general effect of our garden. The j^i'ivet
serving as a screen.
Invigorated by Mr. Swiggs's opposition, the
little man continued for twenty minutes to revel
in details, and ended by rushing his companion
off to examine the ground. In his hot fit he
forgot all about Tristram, who, tired of listening,
had slipped away among the gooseberry-bushes,
with a half-eaten slice of bread and butter in his
hand.
The fruit proved green and hard — for it was
<;•> /■///; i;lij: r.wiLioxs.
now tile lliird week ol" May — aiitl l)V tin' iiine
his lircad iiiid hiiUrr \v;is cjitcn tlic 1)()V luid a
tiiiicN 1(1 ('.\])l()i-t' rurtlic)'. lie waiidfi-t'd tliroiin'li
1 lie strawberry-beds, and, liiidiiiL'; iiotliiiiL;' there
l)ut disappointment, alhjwed hinisell to run
lazily alter a white butterlly, wliich led hini
down lo tlie front of the pavilion, over the
parterres of budding- tuli])s, and across to an east
border gay with heart's-ease, baclielor's buttons,
forget-me-nots, and purple honesty. The scent
of budding yews met him here, blown soltly
across from Captain Kunacles' garden. The
white butterlly l)alaueod ])imself on this
odorous breeze, and, rising against it, skimmed
suddenly over the hedge and dropped out oi"
sight.
Now there was set, under an archway in this
hedge, a blue door, the chinks of which were
veiled with cobwebs and the ])anels streaked
with the silvery tracks oI" snails. By this pcrrii/s
ff.s//-s- (as Captain IJunacles called it) the two
friends had been used to visit each other, but
since the cjuarrel it had never Ijcen opened. No
lock had been lixed upon it, however. Only the
passions of two obstinate men had ke])t it shut
for four years and more.
The child contemplated this door for a
minute, then lifted himself on tiptoe, and
TRISTRAM TUMBLES THROUOn THE HEDGE. 01
stretched his hand up towards the rusty Uitcli.
It was a good six inches above his reach.
He glanced back over his shoulder. Nobody
was in sight. His eyes fell on a stack of Hovver-
pots left by Narcissus beside the path. He
fetched one, set it upside-down in front ol" the
door, and climbed atop of it.
This time he reached the latch, and lifted it
with some difficulty. His weight pressed the
door open and he fell forward, sprawling on
hands and knees, into the next garden.
He picked himself up, and was on the point
of fetching a prolonged howl, but suddenly-
thought better of it, and began to stare instead.
Barely six paces in front of him, and in the
centre of a round garden-bed, a small girl was
kneeling. She held a rusty table-knife, the
blade of which was covered with mould ; and
as she gazed back at him the boy saw that
her face was stained with weeping.
" Hallo ! "
" Hallo ! "
" I was just thinking of you, little boy, and
beginning to despise you, when plump — in you
tumbled."
" But, I sa}^ — look here, 3'ou know — I've
been told Avhat despising is, and if 3'ou despise
me you ought to say why."
62 77//; /; /,/■/•; r.wiunxs.
" I»<'c;iUsr I've ht'cn n|-(l( ird tn. I'm l^oillU^
to <1<> it (»ut nl' this hook Imtc iiistrn : 'A
])oint is iliat wliidi lias iii» |»ai"ts and no iiiaLjiii-
liidr,' and that's only the hci^^inninL;-. ()h, my
(.{car, I II wit Ih'I" \ ou nj) you jnst wait a hit."
Shi' (hii;- the knilc \icionsly intt) the t-artli.
" I don't can'," said Tristrani, airal)ly.
" I' laps you doll t know what ' Don't ('arc
came to r
"No, I d..n't."
" Well, he came to — a ])laee. It was a good
deal deeper down than this hole I'm dii^j^ing."
" What's the h..le Ini-':' "
"My doll, here. I've i^'ot to |)nt iiwa^^
childish things; so I'm going to cover her rigiit
up and never see her face again. Oh ! oh ! "
Slic hegan to sob as if her heart vvoidd break.
" I woukln't or}' if I were you. T didn't cry
just now when I tumbled off the liower-pot."
" Yon don't know what it is to be a mother."
" No, but I can dig ever so much better than
you. Look here. I've got a spa(h' of my own,
and I'll show you how to dig properly, if you
like."
He ran off and returned with it in less than
a minute. In anotlier minute they were en-
orrossed in tlie burial rites, tlie girl still pla^'ing
at tragedy, but enjoying herself immensely.
S'H'UfA mnnES her doll. 63
** We must read something over tlie remains,"
she announced.
"Why?"
" Because it's always done, unless the dead
person is buried with a stake through his
inside,"
"Then we'd better take her out again and
put a stake through her ; because I can't read."
" Haven't you begun to learn yet ? "
"No."
" Well," said Sophia, picking up the Euclid,
" you can hold a corner of the book and listen to
what I read, and perhaps you can repeat some of
it after me, you contemptible boy."
They were standing over the doll's grave,
side by side, and chanting in antiplion the fourth
proposition of the First Book of Euclid, when
Captain Runacles came round the corner of the
house, and halted to rub his eyes.
At the sound of his footstep on the gravel
Sophia snatched the book from Tristram and
looked desparately round. It was too late.
Her father was glaring down upon them both,
with his hands behind him and his chin stuck
forward.
"You miserable child !
He pronounced it deliberately, sjdlable by
syllable, and turned upon Tristram.
•it 77//; /; /,/■/■; rwiiioxs.
" Will V(»u kindly (.'X|)laiii, sir, to \vli;il I owe
the lionoiir ol youi' jnvsciicc in my L;jii"<]('n ? "
'i'rish'Min, \\li<» li;nl ncvci- Ix'lore hrm ;i<I-
«ln'SS(Ml Willi li;ir>linc^s, r;iilc<l id nndrrsiand tli'
tttnc of this s])('L'cli, and answcrccj witli aniialile
directness -
" I i nndilrd in, (»IV a llt»\\fi'-|t()t."
" ln<lr,-d!"
" Ves ; and I stayed because 1 liked tjie ltIi"'
here.
"You do her infinite lionour."
" I'm ii:oinLr uwav now because I'm hunsr
But I'll come back ajj^ain after dinner, t
rii;-ht."
"No," said Ca])tain Hunacles, i;-rimly; "(
that point you must allow me to eorreet you.
You infernal young eul), if I catch you here
agam-
" Hi ! Captain ! " interrupted a voice at tlie
foot of the srarden.
Doctor Beckerleg stood beside tlie Idue gate
and held it open to admit another visitor, whose
dress and appearance were unfamiliar to the
Captain. He paused midway in his threat, and
removed liis eyes from the cliildren. So})hia
crept towards tlie house, while Tristram seized
his opportunity and slipped away to the safe side
ol the privet-hedge.
ME. JOSIAS FINCH. 65
"Let me present," said the doctor, "Mr.
Josias Fincli, of Boston, New England."
" Attorney-at-law," Mr. Fincli added, lifting
l)is hat politely.
He was a little man with a triple chin, and
small, intelligent eyes that twinkled deep in a
onnd, fat face. His dress was of a slate-
coloured material, decorated with silver huttons,
and he wore a voluminous wisr.
" With news for you, Captain."
" Important news," Mr. Finch echoed. He
lied out a silver snuff-box and offered it to
ptain Eunacles. " You don't indulge ? But
ou will suffer me, no doubt. Ah," he went on,
haling a pinch, " it has been a long journey,
sir, and my stomach abhors sea-voj^aging."
" Shall we steu into the house ? " sup-g-ested
Captain Eunacles.
" By all means, sir. My business is simple,
but may require some elucidation. May I
suggest that Dr. Beckerleg accompanies us ?
He is already acquainted with the drift of my
commission, for reasons I will expound here-
after."
" Of course. Come in, doctor." He led the
pair into his dining-room. " I may as well
state, Mr. Finch, that my temper is some-
what impatient. If you come as a friend, my
GG 77//; liLUE PAVf LIONS.
hospitality is yours for as lonjif as you care to
use it; l)ut I'd take it kindly if you came to
tlio heart of your business at once."
"To bo sure, sir, and a very proper altitude.
T })liini;e, tlien, into the middle ol' affairs. You
will doubtless remember Silvanus Tellworthy,
youui^er lu'other of lh<> laie Sir Jabez Tellworthy
whose virtues recently ceased to adorn this neig;h-
boiirhood."
" Perfectly."
" Tlis conscience led him to exchange tliis
country, in the thirty-lifth year of his age, for a
soil more amical to liis religious opinions,"
"I li.ive heard 'twas for fear of the attentions
of a widow in Harwich; but proceed."
" Alter amassing a considerable fortune he
died, sir, of a paralytica! stroke, upon the i2th
of November last."
" I am sorry to hear it."
" That was the common expression of Boston
at tliC time. Dismissing for a more leisurely
occasion the consideration of his civic virtues, I
may say that I had the honour to possess his
confidence in the double capacity of friend and
legal adviser. It fell to me to draw up his will,
some few years before his decease ; and now I
am left to the task of giving it effect. He was
a childless man, and, with the exception of some
8ILVANUS TELLWOBTHTS WILL. 67
trifling legacies to the town of Boston and a few
private friends, bequeathed his wealth to his only
niece, Margaret, daughter of the Sir Jabez Tell-
worthy already mentioned, and her heirs,"
Captain Eunacles uncrossed his legs and
addressed Dr. Beckerleg.
" Doctor, haven't you brought this gentle-
man to the wrong pavilion ? "
" Wait a moment."
" I should rather say," Mr. Finch continued,
" that a Hfe interest only was bestowed upon
Margaret Salt, the bulk of the estate going to
the anticipated heirs of her body, and being (also
by anticipation) apportioned among them on a
principle of division which need not occupy our
attention, for (as it turns out) she has left but
one child. My client made this will soon after
receiving the news of his niece's marriage with
Captain Eoderick Salt, and before he had any
reason to suspect that gentleman's real character.
It was, therefore, natural that in selecting a
couple of trustees he regarded the Captain as
the man who, of all others, might be reckoned on
to look after the interests of the child or children.
When, however, the unamiable qualities of
Captain Salt reached his ear, he would, doubtless,
have made some alteration in the will, but for
the tidings of that officer's death in the Low
68 TIfl'J BLUE PAVILIONS.
Countries. lie Imd such confRlcuce in the
surviving trustee "
" Man ahve ! " Ca})tain Runacles broke in,
" if 3'ou are talkini^of yourself, let me advise you
to quit EnL;-land by the lirst ship that sails. The
child is alread}- fiirnislu'd with a jj^uardian — a
guardian, my dear sir, who will nullify your legal
claim upon the child by the simple expedient of
taking your life."
" But, excuse me "
" You will waive 3^our claim, of course. But
let me advise you also to conceal it; for Captain
]5arker is quite capable, should he get hold ol
this will, of regarding your mere existence as an
insult."
" But, dear me — if 3'ou'll allow me to speak
— T am not talking of myself."
"No?"
" No ; I am not the child's legal guardian."
" I congratulate you. But who is it, then ? "
"It is you, Captain Runacles."
" What ! " The Captain leapt np and glared
at Mr. Finch incredulously.
" Here is a copy of the will ; read for your-
self. My friend, Silvanus '^I'ell worthy, remem-
bered you as a friend of his early days and as a
man of probity. He had heard also, from time
to time, news of your ])ul.)lic actions that increased
CAPTAIN liUNAOLES RECEIVES A SHOCK. 69
bis esteem. He was informed — j^arclon mo if I
mention it — of your sincere and honourable
affection for bis niece ; and, indeed, boped, I
may say "
" No more on tbat point, if you please."
" Sir, I am silent, and ask your pardon."
" But — but — doctor, tliis is simply astound-
ing. Do you bear wbat tbis gentleman says ?
— tbat I — I alone — am Tristram's guardian
after all?"
Mr. Fincb and I)r. Beckerleg excbauged an
anxious look. The doctor cleared bis tliroat and
took up tbe story.
"JNo, my dear Captain, I regret tbat you
make one mistake. You said ' alone.' "
" Wbat ? Is tbere anotber trustee ? "
" Tbere is tbe man alreadj^ mentioned —
Eoderick Salt."
" Tut, tut— be's dead."
" I fear, on tbe contrary, tbat be's alive."
" But be was drowned, confound bim ! "
" Some meddling Netberlander, cursed witb
too mucb bumanity, must bave baulked tbe will
of beaven by dragging bim out of tbe ditch and
reviving bim He was rescued, sir, and clapped
into prison; escaped by turning traitor and
entering tbe service of tbe Prince of Orange —
in wbat capacity I dare not say, but, likely
7U TUh' VLVK r.WlLluNS.
enoui^L as a spy, or porha])s a kidiiajjper of
soklicrs. There are plenty of tl»e trade along tlie
frontiers just now. lie has changed his name,
but has been recognised by more than one
Harwich man at the Hague, and again at Cux-
haven. For a year, now, I have heard nothing
of him. J3elike he is off npon a dirty mission
to some German principality no bigger than your
back garden ; ambassadors of his size are as easy
to find on the Continent of Europe as a needle
in a bottle of ha}'. Or, may-be, he wanders on
some gaming campaign of his own "
The face of Captain Runacles, as the doctor
proceeded, went through three rapid changes of
colour — white, scarlet, and purple.
"You knew all this?" he shouted, the con-
gested veins standing out upon his temples;
"you knew all this, and kept us in the
dark ? "
"I did. It affected the child in no way.
The fellow clearly knew nothing, or cared
nothing, about Tristram. Even supposing —
whicli was absurd — that he would wish to burden
himself with the boy, I felt pretty sure of
Barker's ability to cope with him, at the briefest
notice. Moreover, considering his mode of life,
I hoped by waiting a very short while \o be able
to tell you that Captain Salt's career was ended
THE MISSING TRUSTEE. 71
by the halter. You see, he was evidently not
born to be drowned, and I drew the usual
inference. But Mr. Finch's news puts a very
different complexion on the business. Tristram
being heir, as I understand, to some fifteen
hundred pounds per annum "
"Mr. Finch," said the Captain, calmly,
stepping to the door and locking it, "have you,
by any chance, the intention of seeking out mv
co-trustee ? "
" H'm : I am bound, sir, to consider my
duty as a professional man."
" Let me entreat you also to reconsider it."
The little attorney glanced over his shoulder
at the closed door.
" Sir," he replied with dignity, " I perceive
that I have been unfortunate enoue'h to srive
you a wrong notion of my character. Let me
say that, in interpreting my duty, I am even less
likely to be coerced by threats than by the strict
letter of the law. I will not be dragooned.
And I decide nothing until you have opened
that door."
" And that's mighty well said," commented
Dr. Beckerleo-.
Captain Jemmy slipped back the bolt.
" I shall nevertheless hold j^ou to account,"
he growled.
72 TJIE BLUE rAVJL10.\iS.
" Thank you ; I luii accustomed to responsi-
bility. And now let me say that as the child
seems to Ijc in ij^ood hands "
"On the contrary, he's in outrai^eously bad
ones."
" or rather, in the hands of au uprii^ht
and kindly gentleman, T think we may, perhaps,
agree that these rumours about Captain Salt are
— shall we say? — too good to be true. May I
ask Dr. Beckerleg here if he believes in ghosts? "
" Firmly," answered the doctor, hiding a
smile.
" I have known occasions," the attorney
went on, witli a serious face, " when a cautious
belit'f in ghosts has proved of the very highest
si'rvice in dealing with ap})arently intractable
problems. Or suppose we call it an hypothesis,
liable to correction "
" That's it," assented the Captain heartily.
" I can believe Koderick Salt to be a ghost until
he comes to me and proves that he is not."
" iJecidedly."
" And then I'll make him one."
The corners of Mr. Finch's mouth twitched
perceptibly.
" Gently, dear sir ; remember, please, that I
am onl}^ concerned with the immediate situation.
To-morrow I start again for Bristol, leaving the
A VISIT OF STATE. 73
future to be dealt witli as your prudence m ay-
direct. But I have no doubt," he added with a
bow, " that you will act, in all contingencies,
with a single eye to the child's welfare. It is
understood, then, that the child, Tristram Salt,
remains under the care of Captain Barker, your
friend, and his adoptive father "
" Not at all."
" I think so," said Dr. Beckerleg, quietly,
looking straiglit into the captain's eyes.
" That's for me to decide, doctor."
" Tut-tut ! it was decided the moment you
were born."
" I think," Mr. Finch interposed, " it is time
I gave Captain Eunacles some necessary informa-
tion about the boy's inheritance."
It was close upon four o'clock when the little
Hue door which, until that morniuir, had re-
mained shut for over four years was opened a
second time, and Captain Eunacles stepped
through into Captain Barker's domain. His
wig was carefully brushed, and he carried a
gold-headed cane. Whatever emotion he may
have felt was concealed by the upright carriage
and solemn pace proper to a visit of state.
Captain Barker, who stood at the low^er end
of the garden, and stooped over his beloved
tulips, started at the sound of footsteps, looked
74 Tin: ulii: i'a\jjj(j.\s.
roiiiul, antl, liastily })liickiii!j^ liis \vi<r IVuiii the
handle of a spade that stood iipriiifht in the
mould by his elbow, aiTanjj^od it upon his bald
seal}) and awaited the other's advance.
The pair did not shake hands.
" I have come to speak with you about — er —
Tristram." The name stuck in Captain Jeremy's
throat.
" The boy strayed into youi- promises to-day.
1 know it. If you are agi^rieved by such a
trifle "
"I am not. If you doubt the sufliciency of
my excuse lor calling upon you, let me say at
once that I come as the boy's guardian."
" Upon my word "
"As his legal guardian."
" Bah ! This is too much ! Do j'-ou con-
ceive yourself to be jesting ? "
" Have you ever known me to jest ?
" Not wilfully."
"Not, at any rate, upon ])archment. Be so
good as to run your eye over this."
The little man took the cojjy of Silvanus
Tellworthy's will and fumbled it between his
timbers.
" Is this some dirty trick of lawyer's work ? "
'' It is."
'■ Do you really wish me to read it? "
CAPTAIN BARKER'S FEELINGS ARE HURT. 75
" Unless you prefer me to exphiin."
" I do— vastly."
" Very well, then."
And Captain Eunacles proceeded to explain
the will in a hard, methodical voice, nodding
his head whenever he reached a point of im-
portance at the parchment which rustled between
Captain Barker's fingers. For a while this
rustle sounded like the whisper of a gathering
storm.
" It follows from this," concluded Captain
Eunacles, " that I am responsible for the child's
upbringing. Can you carry the reasoning a step
further ? "
The little man looked up. The wrath had
clean died out of his puckered face ; and in place
of it there showed a blank despair, mingled with
loathing and unspeakable bitterness of soul.
" Yes, I can," he replied very slowlj^, and
turning away his face leant a hand on the
spade beside him. " Oh, Jemmj^, Jemmy ! " he
muttered.
There was no entreaty in the words, but
they pierced Captain Jemmy's heart like two
stabs of a knife. He took a step forward, and
stretched out a hand as if to \cij it on his old
friend's shoulder. Tlie little man jumped aside,
faced him again, hissing out one word —
76 THE BLUE VAVILLUSS.
" Yoif I "
The arm dropped.
" Jack — I'm sorry ; Lut you have drawn the
wroiii,'' conclusion."
The pair looked each other in the face for
a moment, and Captain llunacles went on, but
more coldly, and as if rej)eating a task —
" Yes, the wrong conclusion. For ni}'^ own
part, as you once pointed out, I have a i^irl. I
may add that I propose to train up Sophia;
and 1 haven't the faintest doubt that, in spite of
her sex, T can train her to knock your Tristram
into a cocked hat in every department of useful
knowledge. At the same time it has occurred
to me that, as his guardian, 1 am at least bound
to give the boy every chance. You are teaching
him gardening? "
" Captain J3arker nodded, with a face pro-
f<jundly puzzled.
" Y'ou object to it? " he asked.
" Decidedly, under 3'our present conditions.
You are cramped for space."
" We are using every inch between the road
and the marsh."
" Y'^ou forget m}^ back-garden, which lies
waste at present."
" ]\Iy dear Jemmy ! "
" By knocking a hole in the l)arty hedge you
THE BALM OF FRIENDSHIP. 77
gain two and a-hal£ acres at least. Then, as to
water — you depend on the rain-fall."
"That's true."
" But there's an excellent spring between this
and Dovercourt ; and the owner will sell."
" It's half a mile away."
" God bless my soul ! I suppose I am not
too old to desis^n a conduit."
Captain Jack's arm stole into Captain
Jemmy's.
" You'll be saj^ing next," the latter went on,
" that I'm too old to set about drainino- the
marsh. Then, as to sun-dials: you're amazingly
deficient in sun-dials. Now half-a-dozen here
and there — and k fish-pond or two — unless j-ou'd
like to have a moat. I could run you a moat
around the back, and keep it supplied with fresh
water all the year round. By the wa}^ talking
of moats and fresh water, did I tell you that
Roderick Salt was not drowned, after all ? "
" Eh ? How did he die, then ? "
" He's not dead."
" Good God ! "
" He has been seen at the Hao^ue, and asfain
at Cuxhaven, by men of this very port. Becker-
leg will give you their names."
" But you toll me — the will, here, sa3^s — that
he's joint guardian "
78 THE BLUE 1' AVI LIONS.
"Yes; it's serious, if he iliuls out. Mr.
Finch — I may say I've a large respect for tliat
attorney — Mr. Finch suggests that it may have
been his c^liost. I tliink, Jack, we must take
tliat explanation."
" Rubbish ! "
" Gliosts have some usofnl properties."
" Name one or two."
*' Well, to start with, they can be disbelievet)
in until seen."
" 1 begin to see."
"Then, again, should one appear, he can
be believed in. ar.d walked through. This is a
rule without exceptions. If you have reason to
believe that a ghost stands before you, your first
step would be to make a hole in him to convince
yourself."
" But if one should be mistaken ? "
" If the apparition gives up the ghost, so to
speak, and you find yourself mistaken, I see no
harm in owning it. As co-trustee of aggrieved
man, I will at any time listen to your apologies.
By-the-bye, I have asked Mr. Finch to call uj^on
vou to-morrow and e.vplain his theor}^ among
other matters of business. You will understand
that I bear no affection towards this boy of
yours : on the contrary, I sincerely desire my
Sophia to shame him with her attainments. It
RECONCILIATION. 70
is a mere matter of my duty towards him ; and
I'll be obliged if you keep him, as far as possible,
out of my si gilt. Now about those dials "
Captain Barker understood, but replied onlv
by tightening for a moment the hand that rested
on his comrade's sleeve. The old friends moved
on beside the flower-borders and fell into trivial
converse to hide a joy as deep as that of
sweethearts who have quarrelled and now are
reconciled.
RO
CJ1A1''I'K1{ V.
A SWA U M or 1$KKS.
'J'liK ij^reen volumes in which, lor the iioxt
tliirtceu years, Captain Barker kept accurate
chronicle of Tristram's proj^ress, and of every
fact, how^ever trivial, that seemed to illustrate it,
have since been lost to the world, as our story
will show. There were thirty-seven of these
volumes; and as soon as one was filled Dr.
]>eckerleg presented another. It is our duty to
take up the tale on the 1st of May, 1091 — the
very day upon which misfortune stopped Captain
Barker's pen and (as it turned out) closed his
mafjnum opus for ever.
Let us record only that during these thirteen
years Tristram added so much to his stature
as to astonish his friends whenever they looked
at him; and that he took little interest in the
affairs of the world beyond the privet hedge —
affairs which just then were extremely unsettled,
and disturbed the sleep and appetite of a vast
number of people. To begin with, King Charles
had died without doing his faithful subjects the
honour of explaining whether he did so as a
Protestant or a Papist, an nncertainty which
A SUMMARY Oh' THIRTEEN YEARS. 81
caused them endless trouble. The religion of
his brother and successor, though quite un-
ambiguous, put them to no less vexation by
being incurably wrong ; and after four years of
heated controversy they felt justified in Hocking,
more in sorrow than in anger, round the standard
of William, Prince of Orange, who agreed with
them on first principles, and had sailed into
Torbay before an exceedingly prosperous breeze.
King James having escaped to Saint Germains,
King William reigned in his stead, to the welfare
of his people and the disgust of Captain Barker
and Captain Ituuacles, who, from habit, were
unable to regard a Dutchman otherwise than as
an enemy to be knocked on the head. Moreover,
they retained a warm respect for the seamanship
of their ejected Sovereign, under whom they had
frequently served, when, as Duke of York, he had
commanded the British Fleet.
Now, shortly after daybreak upon May
morning, 1691 — which fell on a Friday — his
Majesty King William the Third set out from
Kensington for Harwich, where a squadron of
five-and-twenty sail, under command of Ilear-
Admiral Eooke, lay waiting to escort him to the
Hague, there toopen the summer campaign against
King Lewis of France. This expedition raised
his Majesty's spirits for more than one reason.
G
s'j 77//; /;/.///■; i.wi lions.
Not only would it take him Tor some months out
of a country ho dt'tcsted, and hack to Ids heloved
Holland — the very llatncss of which was in-
expressihly dear to his recollection, thouLn'h he
had left it hut a month or two — hut the prospect
ol" this 3'ear's campaiL;*n had awakened quite
an extraordinary enthusiasm in England. For
the first time since Henry the EiL,dith bad laid
siege to Boulogne, an English army commanded
by an English king was about to exhibit its
prowess on Continental soil. It became the rage
among the young gentlemen of St. James's and
Whitehall to volunteer for seryice in Flanders.
The coffee-liouses were tbreatened with desertion,
and a prodigious number of banquets had been held
by way of farewell. The regiments which marched
into Harwich on the last day of AjDril to await
the lvin<r were swollen with recruits easrer for
glory. Addresses of duty and loyalty met his
Majesty at every halting-place, and acclamations
ibllowed the royal coach throughout the route.
The townsfolk of Harwich, in particular, had
hung out every scrap of bunting they could find,
besides erecting half-a-dozen triumphal arches,
which by their taste and magnificence were
calculated to leave the most favourable inq)ression
in the Sovereign's mind.
The first of these arches, bearing the
THE BEES BEGIN TO SWAUM 83
inscription, God Save King William, Defender of
our FaUh and Liberty, was erected on the London
road, a dozen paces beyond the Fish and Anchor
Inn, Captain Barker having refused the landlord
— who desired to build the arch right in front of
his inn-door — permission to set up any pole or
support against the privet-hedge. In fact, he
and Captain Runacles had sworn very heartily
to sit indoors, pull down tlieir blinds, and with-
hold their countenances from the usurper.
Nature, however, which regards neither the
majest}^ of Kings nor the indignation of their
subjects, made frustrate this unamiable design.
At twenty minutes past four that afternoon,
a hive-full of Captain Barker's bees took it into
their heads to swarm.
It was a warm afternoon, and the little man
sat in his library composing a letter to Mr. John
Eay, of Cambridge University, whose forthcom-
ing " Historia Plantarum " he believed himself to
be enriching with one or two suggestions on
hibernation. Narcissus Swiggs was down at the
Fish and Anchor, drinking King AVilliam's
health. Tristram, who was supposed to be at
work clipping the privet-hedge around the
apiarium, was engaged in the summer-house, at
the far end of it, upon business of his own.
This business — the nature of which shall be
84 TJIE BLUE L'AVILIOXS.
explained hoivaftLT — cumpletely engrossed him.
Nor (lid lie even liear the restless liiini of the
bees ut the mouth of the hive, ten paces away,
ni.r the noisy bustle of the drones. It was only
when the swarm poured out upon the air with a
whir of wini^'s, and, darkeninL^ for an instant the
sunny doorway of the summer-house, sailed over
the yew hedge towards the road, that Tristram
leapt to his feet and ran at full speed towards
the pavilion.
"The bees have swarmed !" he called out,
thrusting his head in at the library window.
Captain Barker dropped his pen, bounced up,
and came rushing out by the front door.
,.. "Where?"
" Down towards the road."
Years had not tamed the little hunchback's
agility. Without troubling to fetch hat or wig,
he raced down the garden path, and had alm<jst
reached the gate before Tristram caught him up.
" Up or down did they go ? " he asked,
standing in the middle of the road, uncertain in
which direction to run.
"Across, most likely; but higher up than
this, by the line they took," Tristram answered,
pointing in the direction of the town. " Hullo 1 "
" What is it?"
" Why, look : there — under the arch ! "
UNDER THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH 85
Beneath the very centre of the triumphal
arch, and directly under the sacred name of
King William, there hung a black object larger
than a man's head, and in shape resembling a
bunch of grapes. It was the swarm, and a very
fine one, numbering — as Captain Barker esti-
mated — twenty thousand workers at the very
least. He ran under the arch, and nearly
cricked his neck staring up at them.
His excited motions had been seen by a
small knot of waggoners and farm-hands, who
were drinking and gossiping on the benches
before the Fish and Anchor, to wile away the
time of waiting for the King's arrival. At first
they thought the royal cavalcade must be =in
sight, though not expected for an hour or more ;
and hurried up in twos and threes.
" What's the to-do, Captain ? "
"Where's that lumbering fool Narcissus?"
demanded Captain Barker, stamping his foot
and pointing to the cluster over his head.
Mr. Swiggs came forward, wiping his mouth
with the back of his hand. Pie had been the
last to arrive, having lingered a minute to attend
to the half-emptied mugs of his more impatient
fellows.
" Here," he announced.
" Fetch a ladder, and bring one of the new
80 Till: BLUE I'AVIIAOXS.
hives — the one I rubbed with elder-biuls the
day Ijcfore yesterday. 'J'ristrani, run to the
liouse for my gloves and a board. Quick, I say
— liere, somebod}^ kick that one-eyed dawdler !
AVliat the ])la<;-ue ? Haven't there been kings
enough in England these last fifty years that you
waste a erood afternoon on the look-out for the
newest? "
" You'll be careful of my arch, Captain ? "
the landlord hazarded nervously. His Majesty'Il
be coming along presently "
" I'll be careful of my bees. B'ye want me
to leave them there till he passes, and may-be
to lose the half of my swarm down the nape of
his royal neck ? I can't help their wearing the
orange : they were born o' that colour, which is
more than you can say, landlord, or any man
Jack here present. ]3ut I can prevent their
swarming and buzzing in his ^lajesty's path
like any crowd of turncoats. Ah, here comes
Tristram with the ladder. Set it here, my boy.
Take care — don't run a hole through Kitif/
William. — leave that to his new friends. So —
now pull on the gloves and step up, while I
come after with the hive."
Tristram, having fixed the ladder firmly, a
little to the right of "(^iq swarm, began to ascend.
Captain Barker, giving orders to Narcissus to
THE HIVING IS INTERRUPTED. 87
stand by with the flat iDoard, took the empty
hive, and holding it balanced, npside-down, in
the hollow of his palm, was preparing to follow
on Tristram's heels, when an interruption oc-
curred.
Eound the corner of the road from Harwich
town came a red-coated captain, riding on a gre}^
charger, and behind him a company of foot
marching eight abreast, with a sergeant beside
them .
"Hullo!" cried the Captain, lialting his
company and riding forward. He was a thin
and foppish young gentleman in a flaxen wig,
and spoke with a high sense of anthorit\',
having but recently sacrificed the pleasures of
his coffee-house and a fine view of St. James's
Park to seek even in the cannon's mouth a
bubble reputation that promised to be fashion-
able.
" Hullo ! what's the meaning of this ? "
" Bees," answered Captain Barker, shortly.
" Narcissus, is the board ready ? "
" Do 3^ou know, sir, that his Majesty is
shortly expected along here ? "
" To be sure I do."
" Then, sir, you are obstructing the road.
This is most irregular."
• "Not at all — most regular thing in the
88 Tiir: ni.ri: r.wiLR^Ns.
uoild. A liiilc c.-irlv, ))('rlm])s, for tlio first,
swarm, Ijut "
" Jie so good as to take down tliat ladder at
once, and let my coni]iany pass."
"A step lii<jfher, Tristram," said the little
man, tnrnin"^ a deaf ear to this order. " JJetter
use the rij^ht hand. Wait a moment, while 1
get the hive underneatli."
" Take down that ladder ! " shouted the red-
coated officer.
" You must wait a moment, I'm afraid."
*' You refuse? "
" Oh, dear, yes ! Keep back, sir, for the bees
are easily frightened."
"Sergeant!" foamed the 3'oung man, "come
and remove this bidder ! "
He spurred his horse up to the arcb as
the sergeant stepped forward. The beast, being
restive, rubbed against the ladder with his Hank
and shook it violently just as Tristram dislodged
the swarm overhead. Captain Barker reached
out, how^ever, and caught them deftly in the
upturned hive. Into it they tundjled plump.
But the little man, exasperated by the shock,
had now completely lost his temper. AVith
sudden and infernal malice he inverted the bee-
hive and clapped it, bees and all, on the officer's
head.
HOW CAPTAIN BARKER USED THE BEE-HIVE. 89
With that he skipped down to the ground,
and Tristram, foreseeing mischief, slid down
after him, quick as tliouglit.
The officer roared Hke Hercules causrht in
the shirt of Nessus. Nor for a few seconds
could he get rid of his diabolical helmet : for a
couple of bees had stung the charger, which
began to plunge and caper like a mad thing,
scattering the crowd right and left with his
hoofs. When at length he shook the hive off,
the furious swarm poured out upon the air,
dealing vengeance. The soldiers, whose red coats
attracted them at once, fled this way and that,
howling with pain, pursued now by the bees and
now chased into circles by the lashing heels of
the grey horse. The poor brute was stung by
degrees into a frenzy. With a wild leap, in
which his fonr legs seemed to meet under his
belly, he pitched his master clean over the
crupper, and, as a wind through chaff, swept
through the people at a gallop and off' along the
road towards the town.
" Phew ! " whistled Captain John Barker :
and stepping quickly to the prostrate officer he
whipped the unhappy gentleman's sword from
its sheath and handed it to Tristram.
" We'd best get ont of this."
" That's not easy. There's a score of soldiers
90 THE BLUE PAVILIONS.
between iis and tlio ij^ate ; and tlie sergeant looks
like niischiel."
" ]51ess my soul, what a face I've put on tliat
youni^ man !
The olheei', who had been stunned for a
moment by his fall, was soon recalled to life by
the pain of the stings. He sat up and looked
round. Already his face had about as much
feature as a turnip. His e3'es were closing fast,
and a lump as large as a plover's cg^:^ hung on
his under lip.
" Seize those men ! " he shouted, and began
a string of oaths, but stojjpcd because the utter-
ance caused him agony.
The sergeant, who had been bending over
him, drew his side-arm and advanced — a hulk-
ing big fellow with a pimply face, and an ugly
look in his eye.
"Dad," said Tristram, "you made me pro-
mise once never to run a man through unless
he molested me in the midst of a peaceful
pursuit."
"Well?"
" It appears to me that bee-keeping is a
peaceful pursuit."
" Decidedl3^"
" And that this fellow is going to molest
me.
HOW TRISTRAM USED A BORROWED SWORD. 91
" It looks like it."
" Then I may run him through ? "
" Say rather that you must."
" Thank you, dad. I felt sure of it ; but
tliis is the first time I've had to decide, and as
it was a promise — You'd best get behind me, I
think. Set your back to the arch. Now, sir."
" You are my prisoners," the sergeant an-
nounced.
" Pardon me. Let me direct your notice to
fhis weapon, which is in cf/iie — 3'ou seem to
have overlooked it."
," You are making matters worse."
" That is very likely. Guard, sir, if you
please."
" You mean to resist ? "
" Ah, have you grasped that fact, at last ? "
The sergeant rushed upon him, and crossed
swords. His first lunge was put aside easily,
and he was forced to break o-round.
" Hullo ! So you can really fence ! " lie
panted, feinting and aiming a furious thrust at
Tristram's throat.
" Upon my word," said Tristram, parrying,
and running him through the thigh as he re-
covered, " this gentleman seems astonished at
everything! "
As the sergeant dropped, Captain Barker
92 THE JiLUE J'AVJLTOXS.
tlartod from Ijcliind Tristram and ])()iuicod upon
a musket wliich one of tlie soldiers had ahaii-
doned when first assailed by the bees.
'■ Tliis frets serious," lie muttered. " Those
fellows yonder are fixing bayonets."
Indeed, some half-a-dozen of the red-coats
had already done so, and surrender seemed but
a matter of a few moments only.
" Give me the musket," sjiid Tristram ])la-
cidjy, " and take the sword. My arm is longer
than yours. Now get behind my shoulder
again. Don't expose yourself, but if one of
these fellows slips under my guard, I leave him
to you."
" Good bo}'- ! " murmured the little man,
exchanging weapons. It is a fact that tears of
pride filled his eyes.
" There are six of them. Excuse me, dad,
if I ask you to look out for 3'our head. I am
going to try a vfouIi?ict."
The six soldiers came on in a very deter-
mined manner, each man presenting his bayonet
at Tristram's chest. They had little doubt of
his instant submission, and were considerably
surprised when Tristram, lifting the musket by
its barrel, began to whirl it round his head with
the fury of a maniac. The foremost, as the butt
whizzed by his cheek, drew back a pace.
THU FIGHT IN TUE ROAD. 93
" IvLin tlie rebels through ! " cursed the
officer behind them.
The leader shortened his grasp on liis
bayonet, and, watching his opportunity, dashed
under Tristram's arm. At the same instant
Captain Barker popped out, and with a quiet
pass spitted him clean through the right lung.
" All together, you sons of dogs ! " yelled the
sergeant, who had dragged himself to a little
distance, and was stanching the How of blood
from his wounded thigh.
Two of the soldiers heard the advice and
came on tosrether with a rush. The first of
them caught the full swing of Tristram's musket
on the side of his stiff cap and went down like
an ox. The second took Captain Barker's sword
through the left arm and dropped his bayonet.
But before either Tristram or the Captain could
disengage his weapon the other three assailants
Avere upon them, and the fight was over.
" Surrender ! " cried one, holding his point
a£i-ainst Tristram's chest.
"Must I?" the latter inquired, turning to
Captain Barker.
" H'm, there seems to be no choice."
" And you, also, sir."
" Certainl}'. Here is my sword ; it belongs to
your captain, yonder, whom you may recognise
Oi Till: JifA'h' PAVILIONS.
by liis uniforin. Assure him, with my com-
pliiiu'uts "
He was in{('nMii)t('tl by the clatter of hoofs,
ami two i^^entlemeii on liorsebuck came caiiteriiii^
up the road and drew rein suddenly.
" llev ! What have we here? " demanded a
ioreii^n voice.
The soldiers turned and presented arms in a
IhnMy. The taller of the two horsemen was an
extremely handsome cavalier in a nut-brown
peruque and scarlet riding-suit on which several
orders jilistened. He bestrode a black charo-er
of remarkable size and beauty; and seemed, by
his stature and presence, to domineer over his
companion, a small man with a hooked nose and
an extremely emaciated face, who wore a plain
habit of dark purple and rode a sorrel l^lood-mare
of no especial points. Nevertheless it was this
little man who had spoken, and at the sound of
his voice a whisper ran through the crowd —
"The King!"
It was, in fact, his Majesty, King William
HI., wdio, tired of the slow jolting of the royal
coach along the abominable road of that period,
had exchanged that equipage for his hivourite
mare and cantered ahead of his escort, refreshing
his senses in the strong breeze that swept from
seaward across the level country.
KING WILLIAM. 95
" Sir, will you be good enough to explain ? "
lie demanded again, addressing the unfortunate
officer, who had picked himself up from the road,
and stood covered with shame and swellings.
" Your Majesty, the two prisoners here were
engagt'd in obstructing 3^our Majesty's high-road."
" They seem to be still doing so."
" And knowing that your Majesty was shortly
expected to pass, I proceeded to remove them."
" But what is this ? A company of my foot-
guards in confusion ! One — two — three — four
of them wounded — if, indeed, one is not killed
outright ! Do j^ou tell me that this old man
and this boy have done it all, besides bruising
the faces of a dozen more ? "
" They and a swarm of cursed bees, your
Majesty."
" This is incredible. Bees ? "
" Yes, your Majesty," put in Captain Barker,
" he is telling 3'ou the truth. You see, it
happened, that my bees swarmed this afternoon,
and had no better taste than to alight on this
arch, under which your Majesty was shortly
expected to pass. We were about to hive them
when this young gentleman came along at the
head of his company, and there arose a discussion,
at the end of which I hived him instead."
" But these wounded men^ "
'jii Tiih: nun-: i-aiiijoxs.
"All, \()ur M;lj(^st3^ it was uiirortunate ; but
oiR' can never tell wIrto these discussions will
end."
" 'I'hree of my men and u sergeant placed
//or.s (h' coinbal — a dozen more unfit to be seen —
an otlicer dismounted, and his whole company
scattered like a Hock of geese ! I am seriously
annoyed, sir. What is your name? "
" Sire, I am called Captain Barker, and was
formerly an olKcer in the lleet of his late Majesty
Kino' Charles the Second."
" Barker — ^^Barker, I seem to remember your
name. Captain John Barker, are you not ? "
" That is so."
" Sometime in command of the Wunp
frigate ? "
" Your Majesty has a perfect recollection of
his most insignificant enemies."
King William bit his lip.
" j\Iy memory is good. Captain Barker, as you
sa}'. Why did you quit the service ? "
" For private reasons."
" Come, sir ; you were, if I remember right,
a gallant commander. With such their country's
service stands above private reasons. Of late
your country's claim has been urgent upon all
brave men ; and, by the havoc I see around, you
are not past warfare."
CAPTAIN BARKER DISLIKES DUTCHMEN. 97
" Well, but "
" Speak out."
" Sire, all my life I have fought against
Dutchmen."
" You found them worthy foes, I expect."
" In all respects."
" Would they be less worthy allies ? "
" Not at all. But consider, sire, the habits
of a lifetime. From boyhood I never met a
Dutchman whom it was not my duty to knock
down. To-day, if I sailed in an English ship-of-
war, what should I find ? Dutchmen all around
me. Your Majesty, I cannot speak the Dutch
language except with a cutlass. I distrust my
habits. They would infallibl}^ lead to confusion.
In the heat of action, for instance "
The little man stopped abruptly. It seemed
that his speech gave uncommon pleasure to the
tall gentleman on the black charger, whose face
twitched with a barely perceptible smile. King
William, on the other hand, was frowning
heavily.
" Sir," he said, " your tongue runs dan-
gerously near sedition."
" I am sorry your Majesty thinks so."
" You are also very foolish. I find you
incurriug ni}^ just anger, and hint, as plainly as
I can, at an honourable way of escape. Captain
H
y« 77//-; IILI'K I'AVILJUNS.
IJarkcr. are you uwaro that your case is
•J >>
serious r
" I am, sire. Nevcrtliclcss, I decline to
escape by the road you are y;uod enough to
leave opm."
" Your reasons ? "
" They are private, as I had the honour to
inform your Majesty."
" My lord," said the KinL,^ turnini^ Irritably
to his coinj)anion, " what shall 1 do to this
intractable old man ? You have a voice in this,
seeini,' that he has spoilt lour of your favourite
guards.
The tall man in scarlet bent and muttered
a word or two in a low voice.
" Ah, to be sure : I had ibrgotten the
youngster. Is this your son, sir ? "
" By adoption only."
" A strapping fellow," said his Majesty,
eyeing Tristram from head to foot.
*' And as good as he's tail. Sire, his offence
— if olfence it be — arose from the affection he
bears me, and from no worse cause. He would
not willingly hurt a lly.
" What is he called?
'"I'ri.tram."
"■ He has a second name, T suppose? "
"Tristram Salt, then, in full."
>»
CAPTAIN BUNACLES INTERPOSES. 99
The man in scarlet at these words gave a
quick, penetrating glance at the speaker, and for
an instant seemed about to speak ; but closed
his lips again, and fell to regarding Tristram
with interest, as King William went on —
" He ought to be in my army."
" Your Majesty does him much honour,
but "
''But?"
" May it please your Majesty, I had other
intentions concerning him."
" My lord of Marlborough," said the King,
turning coldly from the little man and pointing
with his gloved hand towards Tristram, " allow
me to present you with a recruit."
Captain Barker's face was twisted with a
spasm of fury. But as he stammered for words
another voice was lifted, and Captain Eunacles
came through the crowd. He had been fetched
from his laboratory by Mr. Swiggs, and had
arrived on the scene in time to hear the last
sentence.
" Your Majesty ! Listen to me ! "
King William was turning calmly to ride back
to his escort. But at sight of the intruder's com-
manding and venerable figure he checked his mare.
" Pray, sir, who are you ? And what have
you to say ? "
l(Xt TJIE LLIK I'AVILIUSS.
" I'm Jert'iny liunacles, and tliis lad's
guardian."
" III' is peculiai'l}' uulortunate in the loyalty
of his jn'otectors."
" Sire, 1 have served my country in times
2)ast."
" I know it, Captain Runacles. But it seems
that yuu, too, tight only against the Dutch."
" Your Majesty has, it appears, done me the
honour to study my poor record."
" My word, sir ! Does that surprise you ? "
" No, sire, it reassures me. For you must be
aware that I am no rebel."
"H'm."
" Though, to be sure, 1 cannot help my
tastes."
" You may sufler for them, none the
1 "
less.
'* I am ready to pay for them. Since your
Majesty has taken a fancy to this young
man "
" Who, by the way, has maltreated a whole
comi)an3' of my guards."
" permit me, as his guardian, to ransom
him. Hr lias large estates."
" You forget, sir," exclaimed the King
haughtily, " that I am jKinisliing him. Do you
entertain the idea of bribing me ? "
TRISTRAM IS TAKEN TO TEE WARS. 101
" I forget nothing, sire. I even remember
that this is England, and not Holland."
" My lord," said William, turning to the
Earl of Marlborough, " I pray you dispose of the
recruit as you think fit. Have liim removed,
and have the high-road cleared of these rebels ;
for I see my escort down the road."
And touching the sorrel with his heel, his
Majesty cantered back to meet the approaching
cavalcade.
!<»•.
THE EAR]. OF M \in,nOU()U(ilI SKKKS RECRUITS.
Ntcht liad Fallen, ft was past eight o'clock,
and Captain Jolni and ('aj>tain Jemmy sat facinp^
each otlier, one on each side of the empty fire-
place, in Captain John's library, 'i'hey were in
complete darknes.s — for Hie red il,^1ow of tobac^co
in the pipe which Captain Jemmy pulled de-
jectedly could hardly be called a lii^dit. For
half-an-hour no word liad been spoken, when
somebody tapped at the door.
" What is it ? " asked Captain Barker.
" A gentleman to see you," answered the
voice of ]\rr. Swiggs.
" What's his name ? "
" He won't say."
"Tell him \ am busy to-night."
Narcissus withdrew, and knocked again, a
minute later.
" He says he must see you."
" Have you turned him out ? "
" I told him you were busy with Captain
Jemmy. 'Who's Captain Jemmy?' he asks.
' Caj)tain Jemmy liunacles,' I answers. ' All the
better.' savs ho."
THE EARL OF MARLBOROUGH. 103
" Excuse me," said a voice at the door ; " but
my business concerns both of you gentlemen.
Also it concerns Tristram Salt."
" Narcissus, bring a couple of candles."
While Mr. Swiggs was executing this order
an oppressive silence filled the room. The
stranger's dark shadow rested motionless b}^ the
doorway. Above the breathing of the three
men could only be heard the far-off soiuid of
Harwich bells still ringing their welcome to
King William.
When the candles were brought in and Nar-
cissus had retired again, after closing the shut-
ters, the stranger removed the broad-brimmed
hat and heavy cloak which he had worn till that
moment, and tossed them negligently on the
table before him.
It was the scarlet- coated cavalier who had
ridden beside the King that afternoon.
" The Earl of Marlborough ! "
" The same, sirs ; and your servant."
"Be kind enough, my lord, to state the
message you bring from your master, and to
leave this house as soon as it is delivered."
To Captain Barker's astonishment, the Earl
showed no sign of resenting this speech.
" You are wrong," he answered quieth'- ;
"William of Orange is not my master. If I
HU Tin: BLUE PAVlLIoXS.
mistake not, yon mikI 1. Lr<'ntleni('n, acknowlcdj^c
l)ut one sovereiLjn lulrr. Kin;^ .Tamos."
At tliese bold words, nttered in the calmest
voico, the two captains cauj^lit their breath and
stared at each other. Captain Kunacles was the
first to recover. He laivj^hed incredulously.
" Your lordship appears to have forgotten
Salisbury."
Anv other man would have winced at this
taunt. But the Earl of iVIarlborough met it
with the face of a statue.
'• Captain Kunacles, I have neither forgotten
it nor am likely to. The remembrance of that
afTair has f<dlowed me night and da}*. I cannot
— even now that I am pardoned — rid myself of
its horror. I cannot eat ; I cannot sleep. I see
my crime in its true light, and am appalled by
its enormit}'. And yet — God help me ! — T
thought at the time I was saving my country.
Gentlemen, you, who have laced no such re-
s])()nsibility as then confronted me, will be apt
t«> iu<l<:e me without mercv. T know not if I
can persuade you that my remorse is honest.
Ihit consider — here am I at AVilliani's right
hand, already rich and powerful, and pos.sessing
limitles:-! prospects ol' increased power and riches.
Yet I am ready to sacrifice everything, to brave
evervthinir, to bring utter ruin on my fortune,
THE EARL UNBUIWENS HIS SOUL. 105
if only I can rid myself of this nightmare of
shame. Is this the attitude of insincerity ? "
" Upon my word, my lord, I'd give some-
thing to know why the devil you tell all this to
us.
" I hardl}^ know myself," answered the Earl,
sighing deeply, but still without a grain of
expression on his handsome face. " A man
haunted as I am can hardl}^ account for all his
utterances. I have come to do you a service,
and, having done it, might have withdrawn with-
out a word. But the sight of you recalled the
honest words you spoke to the usurper this
afternoon. Sirs, I envied you then ; and just
now an insane longing took hold of me to set
myself right with two such inflexible friends of
King James."
" Would it not be more to the point if you
first obtained pardon from King James himself ? "
" I have done so."
" Well, my lord, I cannot yei see what your
affairs have to do with us. But if it will give
3'ou any pleasure that we should believe these
remarkable statements
" I have assured you that it will."
" Then perhaps you will produce some proof
of them in black and white."
The Earl drew a folded paper from his breast
IOC THE IJLUE J'.W'ILIOyS.
and spread it ujxiii the taldo boforo tlieiii. It
was ail allc'ctionatc letter of pardon, dated a
montli back from tlie Court of Saint Germains,
■written tlirouL,diout and signed ])y tlie hand of
Kini,' James himself.
" Thank you, my lord. When his Majesty
writes thus, it is not for his subjects to bear
rancour. Will you kindly state your immediate
business ? "
" It concerns the younu^ man Tristram Salt.
You desire that he should be restored to 3'ou ? "
" My lord," said Captain Barker, " that
young man is more to me than many sons."
" You are indignant at the recollection of
this afternoon."
" What has that to do with it? "
" Much. But let me continue. Your
adopted son, Captain J]arker, is at this moment
lying in the hold of his IMajesty's frigate the
Good Jnffiit . He is in irons."
" In irons !
"Yes, sir. He has undoubtedly imbibed
3''0ur opinions with regard to the JJutch, for he
began his military career Ijy blacking the eyes of
a gentleman of that nation, who, as ill-luck
will have it, is his superior officer."
"The devil!"
" To-morrow :uorning he will receive six
A CONDITIONAL PARDON. 107
dozen lashes — perhaps more. I take the most
cheerful view in order to spare your feelings ;
but most decidedlj^ it will be six dozen,
unless "
" Unless— what ? "
" Unless I remit the sentence. The young
man, you understand, was placed under my care."
" My lord, 3^ou will pardon him ? "
" With pleasure. Nay, I will restore him to
3'ou this very night "
Captain Barker leapt up from his seat in a
transport of gratitude, and would have caught
the Earl's hand had not his friend drao-g-ed him
back by the coat-tails.
" on conditions," his lordship concluded.
" Name them."
" In a moment. We are agreed, I believe,
that to blacken a Dutchman's e3^es is no great
sin. There are too many Dutchmen around his
Majesty — as you, sirs, had the courage to inform
his Majesty this afternoon.''
'■ Did we say that ? "
" I understood you to hint it, at an}'' rate.
I assure you that I am never so much disposed
to regret my change of allegiance on that
November night at Salisbury as when I look
around and see how little my own countrymen
have profited by that action."
108 '77//; 7>7./7-; I '.W I r JONS.
" A uliile ai(()," infi'i-poscd Captain Runaclos
sharply, " it was tlu* criiiic itself that pursued
\(tii with nMiiorsc."
" Tile results, sir, have helped me to see the
crime in its proper li<jfht. "
" ^T\- I'lrd, I have the deepest respect for
your t,^'uius ; but at the same time it appears to
me that 3'ou lack something."
" Indeed ? It would he a kindness to point
out in what respect "
" Let me call it — a gift. l]iit I interrupt
you."
"To proceed, then. We are at one on tht
question of these Dutchmen ; at one also on the
question of William's high-handed action this
afternoon. Let me propose a plan by which 3'ou
can effectively mark your disgust of both, while
at the same time you recover the young man on
whom you set so much store. Gentlemen, 3'^ou
are not ])ast serving your country on the seas."
" King William hinted as much to-day,"
rejdied Captain Barker, " and I gave him my
answer."
" I appeal to you not in the name of
William, but in the name of your true sove-
reign, King James."
" That is another matter, I'll admit. Would
you mind putting the question definitely?"
THE CHIEF TRAITOR. 109
" I must have your word to regard what I
am about to say as a secret."
"If it does not bind us in any way."
" It does not. You are free to accept or
reject my offer."
" We promise, then."
" Listen : I am in a position to offer each
of you the command of one of his Majesty's
ships."
" As a condition of getting back Tristram
to-night ? "
The Earl nodded.
" But excuse me "
" Ah, I know what you will say. It is a
sacrifice of your leisure. I admit it ; but from
certain expressions of yours this afternoon I
gathered that your love for this lad might over-
come your natural disinclination."
" You mistake. I was about to say that
this offer of yours strikes us as rather barren.
At least it might have been kept until King
James is restored to his country. In that event
he may very well prefer to give his commands to
younger men ; but in any case he will find us
obedient to his royal wish."
" That is a very loyal attitude. But, as it
happens, 3^ou would be required to enter into
your commands before his Majesty's restoration."
110 THE JJLUI'J VAVIIAONS.
"Explain yourst'lf, my l<»nl."
" I am not in ii position to speak with
authority' or exactness of the events which will
shortly take place in llu- J British fleet. I am a
mere soldier, you understand. Jiut let us sup-
pose a case. Kini^ William sails early to-mor-
row, with Hear- Admiral llooke's squadron, tor
the Macse. Let us suppose that no sooner is his
Majesty landed at The Hague and safe in his
own beloved realm than our jjfallant Enw-lish
sailors display a just distaste lor their Dutch
commanders by setting those commanders ashore,
and running — let us say — for Calais, where their
true Sovereign waits to be conveyed across to
the country which liis rival has quitted. Ob-
viously, for this purpose, the tleet would need,
on the spot, capable officers to step into the
shoes of the deposed Dutchmen."
" You propose that Jack and I shall be
two of these officers ? " asked Captain Kunacles,
slowly, with a glance at his comrade.
" I think it advisable that you should be
at The Hague. You understand that I merely
sketch out a possible cour.se of events."
" (Jf course. Do you think it likely that the
]3ritish .s(|uadron — supposing it to behave as you
say — would receive support at Calais ? "
" 1 fancy it might find a large squadron of
WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE. Ill
his French Majesty's fleet waiting there to co-
operate."
" And the army? "
" It is possible that events might happen,
about that time, among our regiments in Flan-
ders."
" That, in other words, they would desert to
King Lewis ? "
" You put it crudely, Captain Runacles. I
believe that our gallant soldiers will act with a
single eye to their country's welfare ; and I am
sure they will do nothing that can be construed
as a blot upon their country's Hag."
" I also am tolerably certain of that, my
lord," answered Captain Jemmy, drily. " Come,
Jack — your answer ? "
The little hunchback had been leaning back,
during the last minute or two, with his face in
the shadow ; but at these words he bent for-
ward. His cheeks were white and drawn.
" Why must I give the answer. Jemmy? "
" Because the lad is your son. It rests with
you to save him or not."
Captain Barker stood up.
" You'll abide by my decision ? "
" Certainly." Captain Eunacles crossed his
legs and took snufF deliberately.
" Then," said the little man, dragging out
112 THE lil.UE I'AVlf.Idys.
the worils syllul)lo l)y sylhible, "' there, my lord,
are yoiir liat and cloak. Oblige ine by (juitting
this house ot" mine at onee."
" God bless yoii, Jack I " muttered his friend.
The Earl's brow did not even flush at the
rebuir. Throui^hout his career this extraordinary
man was able to overlook the contempt of others
as easily as he disregarded their sufTerings.
Probably, as Captain Kunacles had said, he lacked
a gift.
On this occasion he picked up his hat and
cloak without a trace of discomposure.
"1 understand you to refuse my c»ffer?" he
said.
" Yes."
" You prefer that the young man should
receive si.x dozen lashes to-morrow morning."
Captain Barker winced, and his mouth con-
tracted painfully.
" My lord, 1 took that boy from his dead
mother when he was a few hours old. Never in
his life has a hand been laid upon him in anger;
he will hardly understand what it means. But
he has been taught to know honour, and to
cherish it. I choose as he would choose, were
he here."
"Are 3'ou going, my lord?" added Captain
Jemmy, " Y^ou have your answer."
THE GAI'TAnVS ANSWEB. 11 H
" Not quite yet, I fancy. Captain Barker,
you told me you took this lad from liis dead
mother. She was a Mistress Salt, I believe."
" Excuse me if I fail to see "
" You will see in a moment. I am not
wrong, perhaps, in supposing that lady to have
been the wife of Roderick Salt, sometime my
comrade in the Foot Guards. He married in
Harwich, I remember ; and in many respects the
resemblance which this lad bears to him is
remarkable."
" There is no likeness in their characters, my
lord."
" I daresay not ; indeed, I hope not. But
suppose now I inform you that Roderick Salt is
still alive "
The Earl broke off and looked at the two
captains narrowly.
" Did you know that ? " he asked.
There was no answer.
" I seem to remember an expression which
you. Captain Runacles, let fall this afternoon.
You told his Majesty that Tristram Salt owned
large estates. Is the boy's father aware of this ? "
Again he paused for an answer, but none
came.
" These estates are administered under trust,
I presume. Who are the legal trustees ? "
I
lit THE BLUE rAVfTJnxS.
"1 am," Cai)taiii Jcimny r.'plicd, with a
sudden ell'ort.
" You alono ? "
Captain Jommy, aft-^r strng^-lin^ for a mo-
ment with the wrath in his throat, answered —
" I refuse to say."
" AVell, well, the aftair seems to need some
explanation, but doubtless admits of a very good
one. It is none of my business, and I do not
ask you to satisfy me. But I cannot help
thinking that Roderick Bait will be hardly more
astonished to find that his son is a man of large
estates than disposed to make inquiries "
" What do you mean, my lord? "
" T moan tliat, as father and son happen at
this moment to lie aboard the same vessel, the
Good In foil "
The chair which Captain Barker had been
grasping and tilting impatiently fell to the floor
with a crash.
" 1 foresee a scene of h:ii)py recognition
and mutual explanations. We will suppose the
father to learn the truth before to-morrow's
punishment is inllictcd. We will picture his
feelings" — the Earl paused, and fired a shot
more or less at a venture — " when he becomes
aware that, though by law enabled to buy his
son oil" from military service, he has by chicanery
THE EARL BEATS A RETREAT. 115
been rendered powerless. We will imagine him
an enforced spectator, wincing as each, stroke
draws blood "
" You will do this thing ? You' will tell
him ? "
" My dear sirs, T shall hate to do it. In
proof that I speak sincerely, let me say that ray
offer still remains open. May T now count on
your accepting it? "
" No ! " thundered the little man, springing
forward in a fury. Captain Jemmy caught him
by the arm, however, and forced him back to the
armchair. The Earl shrugged his shoulders.
" Truly you are a Roman parent," said he,
bowing ironicall}^ ; "but you will excuse me if
I find it time to seek the lad's natural father,
Eemember, if j^'ou please, gentlemen, your
promise of silence."
He opened the door, and passed quietly
through the hall and out of the house. In the
road at the foot of the garden a sergeant stepped
out of the shadow and saluted him.
The Earl gave a muttered order.
" Where is my horse ? " he asked.
" A little up the road. The orderly is walking
him up and down to keep him warm."
The Earl nodded and walked on. A hundred
yards further he came up with them, and, climbing
11.; THK BLUE rAVTLIONS.
into till' saddlo, trotted oil" towards IFarwich,
the orderly at his heels.
At the Cock and Pye Stairs a boat was waiting.
He dismounted, and, giving his horse over to the
orderl}', stepped on l)nard and was rowed swiftly
out towards the harbour, where the lights of the
squadron flickered, and its great hulls brooded,
over the jet-black water. As the boat crossed
under the tilted stern and high, flaming lanterns
of liear-Admiral Rooke's ship, the Foresight, the
sentry on deck sang out his cliallenge.
It was answered. The boat dropped along-
side and the Earl climbed upon deck. Turning
at the top of the ladder, he gave his boatnum the
order to wait for half an hour, and, acknowledging
the sentry's salute, made his way aft, and down
the companion -stairs to the cabin set apart fo"
him.
In the passage below was a second sentry,
pacing up and down ; and by the Earl's door an
orderly standing ready.
" Send Captain Salt to me. After that, j^ou
ma}' retire."
The man saluted, and went off on his errand,
and the Earl stepped into his cabin. The furni-
ture of this narrow aj)artment consisted of a
hanging-lamp, a chair or two, a chest heaped
with dispatch-boxes, and a swing-table upon
ox BOARD THE " FOBE SIGHT." 117
which a map of the Low Countries was spread
amid regimental lists and reports, writing ma-
terials, works on fortification, official seals, and
piles of papers not yet reduced to order. Pushing
aside the map and a treatise by the Marechal de
Vauban that lay, face downwards, upon it, the
Earl drew a blank sheet of paper towards him,
dipped pen in ink, and, after a moment's consider-
ation, scribbled a sentence. Then, sprinkling it
quickly with sand, he folded the paper, and was
about to seal it, when a light tap sounded on
the cabin-door.
" Come in," said the Earl, quietly, holding
the sealing-wax to the flame, and without troubling
to turn.
The man who stood on the threshold demands
a somewhat particular description.
He was tall and of an eminently graceful
fiij-ure. The uniform which he carried — that of
a captain in the 1st or Eoyal Regiment of Foot
— well set off his small waist, deep chest, and
square shoulders. His complexion was clear and
sanguine, albeit no longer retaining the candour
of 3^outh ; his wig was carefully curled, and in
colour a light golden-brown. Though in fact his
age was not far short of fifty, he looked hardly
a day older than thirty-five.
In many respects his resemblance to Tristram
lis TlfE Bl.UK P.W'TLTONS.
was exceed i 11 L,^ly close. Tlie stature aucl propor-
tions were Tristram's; the nose like Tristram's
ill shape, but slightly longer ; the eyes of the
same greyish blue, though in this case deep lines
radiated from the outer corners. Above all, there
was a fugitive, baffling likeness, that belonged to
no particular feature, but to all. On the other
hand, the difference in expression between the
two faces was hardly less striking : for whereas
Tristram's beamed a modest kindliness on his
fellows, this face looked out on the world with
an unshrinking audacity. Beside it the Earl of
jVIarlborough's handsome countenance seemed to
lack intelligence ; but the Earl's countenance was
then, and remains to-day, an impenetrable mask.
" You sent for nie, my lord ? " Cax)tain Salt's
voice was silvery in tone, and pleasant to hear as
running water.
" I did," said the Earl, pressing his seal upon
the letter, and sitting down to direct it. " You
have the lists ? "
The other drew a bundle of papers from his
breast-pocket, and, advancing, laid them upon
the table. The Earl put the letter aside, opened
the bundle, and ran his eye over its contents.
" You are sure of all these men? "
"Quite."
" You seem to have enough. We mustn't
BODE RIG K SALT. 119
overdo this, 3'ou understand? It wouldn't do
for the affidr to — succeed."
Captain Salt smiled.
" If they carry off a vessel or two," the
Earl went on, " it's no great loss, and it will
give Saint Germains the agreeable notion that
something is about to happen. They've been
plaguing me again. This time it's an urgent
letter in my royal master's own hand. He calls
on me to bring over the whole army in the
very first action — the born fool ! Can he really
believe I love him so dearly? Has he really
persuaded himself that I've forgotten ? "
He checked himself; but for the first time
that evening his face w^as suffused with a hot
flush. For, in fact, he was thinking of his sister,
Arabella Churchill ; and John Churchill, though
he had made no scruple to profit by his sister's
shame, had never forgiven it.
Captain Salt filled up the pause in his dulcet
voice —
" We want, my lord, such a mutiny as, with-
out succeeding, shall convince England of the
strong dissatisfaction felt by our forces at the
favouritism shown by his Majesty towards the
Dutch."
" Salt," said his lordship, eyeing him nar-
rowly, " you are remarkably intelligent."
120 TJi /•; J! i.n-: /mi 'ri.h )xs.
" Why, my lord, should I C(jncoiil my
tlioughts when tlicy tally witli my honest
hopes? I look around, iind what do I see?
Dutchmen filliui^ every lucrative post; Dutch-
men crowding the House of Lords ; Dutchmen
commanding our armies ; Dutchmen pocketing
our fattest revenues. England is weary of it.
I, as an Englishman, am weary of it. My lord,
if I dared to say it "
" Would you mind looking out and observing
if the sentry is at his post?"
Ca])tain Salt stepped to the door and opened
it. The sentry was at the far end oi the
passage, engaged in his steady tramp to and
fro.
" ]My lord," he said, closing the door softly,
and returning, "let this rautiu}' fail. It will
serve its purpose if it brings home to the under-
standing of Englishmen the iniquity of this
plague of Dutchmen. Let that feeling ripen.
You will return before the winter, and by that
time you may strike boldly. Then, from 3'our
j)]ace in the House of Lords you can move an
address "
" Go on," murmured the Earl, as he paused
for a moment.
" an address praying that all foreigners
may be dismissed from his ^Majesty's service."
THE BEST OF THE PLOT. 121
The Earl looked up swiftl^^ and checked his
fingers, which had been drumming on the table.
" Decidedly j'ou are intelligent," he said,
very slowly.
"What can William do if that address is
carried, as it may be? To yield will be to
discard his dearest friends : to resist will mean
a national rising. He will lose his crown."
"And then?"
" My lord, ma// it not he jmssible to eject
WiUlam ivithoiit restoring James i'"
"Ah!"
" There is the Princess Anne."
The Earl looked into his companion's eyes
and read his own thouo-lits there. James was a
Papist, William a Dutchman ; but the Princess
Anne was an Eno-lish woman and a Protestant.
And the Earl and his countess held the Princess
Anne under their thumbs. Let her succeed to
the throne, and he would be, to all intents. King
of England. Nay, he would hold the balance
of Europe in his palm.
" My friend," he said, under his breath, " 3^ou
are too dangerous." Aloud he gave the talk a
new turn.
" This mutiny will not succeed," he ob-
served, reflectively. " The men who intend to
rise must be informed against."
IJJ Tlin BLUE FA VI LIONS.
" It appears so."
" Jiut not too soon. Tlioy must not succeed,
as 1 said ; but they must have time enough to
show their countrymen that the discontent is
serious, and to convince James that only an
accident has prevented then* coming over to him
in a body."
" That is clear enough."
" The only question," the Earl pursued, is —
who is to give the information at the proper
moment ? "
" Undoubtedly that is a dilliculty."
" I thought — excu.se me if I come to tlie
point — I thought that ^ou might do so."
" My lord ! "
"You object?"
"Decidedly I do. Already 1 have risked
much in tiiis business "
" I can think of nobody," said the Earl,
coldly, "so well suited for the task. William
thinks you arc his sp3% and would receive your
information without suspicion. He does not
guess that, owing to my knowledge of your
past — of the alfair of the dice at Antwerp,
for instance, or that trivial letter from Saint
Gcrmains which I happen to possess "
Captain Salt's sanguine cheeks were by this
time white as death.
RODEBIGK SALT HEARS OF HIS SON: 123
" If you insist " lie stammered in a hoarse
voice that hore no resemblance to his natural
tone.
" I'm afraid I must. At the same time I
mean to reward you," the Earl continued
pleasantly ; " and a portion of the reward shall
he paid in advance. My dear captain, I have
the most delightful surprise for you. You were
once a married man, and the lady you married
was a native of this port."
" Thank you, my lord ; I was aware of the
fact."
" You left her."
" I did."
" And in your absence she bore you a son."
" I have since heard a rumour to that effect/'
said Captain Salt, coldly.
" Cherish that son, for his worth to you is
inestimable. He lies, at this moment, on board
the Good Intent — I regret to say in irons. His
Majesty enlisted him this afternoon, somewhat
against his will, and he began very unluckil}" by
kicking his sujjerior officer from one end of the
frisfate to the other. It was the natural ebullition
of youth, and the sergeant was a Dutchman.
Therefore in this letter I have pardoned him.
Take it — a boat is waiting for you — -and convey
it to his captain. Thereafter seek the poor lad
U4, THE BLUE V AVI LIONS.
out and iinj)rlnt tlu' parental kiss upon both
cheeks. Ueveal yourself to him "
'' Vi>ur lordship is excessively kind, but I
stand in no immediate need of lilial love."
" My dear sir, I promise you that this son
means thousands in your pocket. He means to
you a calm old age, surrounded by luxuries which
are hardly to be gained by espionage, however
zealously practised."
" In what way, may I inquire?"
" J will inform you when you have done the
small service I asked just now."
Captain Salt took the letter and moved
towards the door.
" By the way," the Earl said, " it may be
painful to you to be reminded of your former
connection with Harwich ; but did you happen
to know, in those da3^s, two gentlemen, captains
in King Charles's Navy, and natives, I believe, of
this tov/n — J]arker and Runacles ? "
" I did. They were both, at one time, suitors
for the hand of m}- late wife."
" Indeed ? I have been trying to enlist them
for this business of the mutiny."
" The}' were a simple pair, I remember, and
Would serve our purpose admirably."
" T found them a trifle too simple. Well, I
won't keep you just \u)\\. llemember the help
AND DEPARTS TO EMBRACE HIM. 125
I expect from you ; but we will talk that over
in a day or two. Meanwhile, keep a parent's
eye upon your son (he's called Tristram), for
through him your reward will he attained.
Good-night."
Vli]
CTTAPTER Vri.
TIIK CAPTAINS MAKK A FALSR START.
It was past rtiidniLj^lit wlicii Captain Iluiiacles
left liis friend's ]Kivilion and lot liiiiisclf tlironu'li
the little blue door to his own <jjarden. The
heavens were clear and starry, and he paused for
a moment on the grass-plot, his hands clasped
behind him, his head tilted back, and his eyes
fixed on the Great Jjear that hunLf directly over-
head,
" Poor Jack ! " he muttered, shakini^ his head
at the constellation, as if gently accusing fiite.
His nature had been considerably softened by the
little man's distress, and he had come away with
a crcnerous trouble in his heart.
" I shan't sleep a wink to-night," he decided ;
and went on inconsequently, " After all, a girl is
less anxiety than a boy. People don't lind it
worth their while to kidnap a girl and flog her
with a cat-o'-nine-tails. A turn of a die, and I'd
have been in Jack's shoes to-night ; while, as it
>>
IS
As it was, however, he seemed hardly to enjoy
his good fortune, for he added, still looking up —
" Plagn<^ soi/e it ! 1 shan't sleep a wink — I
CAP TAIN B UNA CLES OB SEE VES THE S TABS. 127
know I shan't. What a magnificent show of
stars ! Let me see, how long is it before daybreak ?
One — two — three — five hours only. I won't go
to bed at all — I'll have a tm-n at the telescope."
He stole into the house softly, and climbed
up the spiral staircase. A faint light shone out
on the first hxnding from the half-open door of his
workroom. He entered and turned up the lamp.
Its light revealed a scene of amazing disorder.
The walls were covered with books and charts,
the floor was littered with manuscripts, mathe-
matical instruments, huge folios piled higgledy-
piggledy, carpenter's tools, retorts, bottles of
chemicals. In one corner, beside a door leadino-
to his bedroom, stood a turning-lathe six inches
deep in sawdust and shavings ; in another, a
human skeleton hung against the wall, its feet
concealed b}^ the model of a puniping-engine.
Hard by was nailed a rack containing a couple
of antique swords, a walking-cane, and a large
telescope.
Captain Eunacles took down this telescope
and tucked it under his arm. Then, unhitching
a dressing-gown of faded purple from a peg
behind the door, he turned the lamp low again,
and stepped out upon the landing. Here he
paused for a minute and listened. The house
was still. From the floor below ascended the
128 Tin: r.iri: v.wn.ioss.
sound of brouthinGf, roi'ular and stertorous, wliicli
proved that Simeon was asleep.
He put his liand on the stair-rail and ascended
to the next floor, passing his daughter's room on
tip-toe. Above this, a (light of steps that was
little more than a ladder led up into the obscurity
of the attics. He climbed these steps, and,
entering a lumber-room, where he had to duck
his head to avoid striking the sloping roof, felt
his way to a shuttered window, with the bolt
of which he fumbled for a moment. When at
length he drew the shutter o])i'n, a whiff of cold
air streamed into the room and a parallelogram
of purple sky was visible, studded with stars and
crossed by the bars of a little balcony.
Captain Runacles stepped out upon this
balcony. Ho had constructed it two years
before, and it ran completely round the roof.
Under his feet he heard the pigeons murmuring
in their cote. Below were spread the dim grass-
plots and flower-beds of his garden ; and, far upon
his right, the misty leagues of the North Sea.
Full in front of him, over Harwich town, hung the
dainty constellation of Cassiopeia's chair, and all
around the vast army of heaven moved, silent and
radiant. One seemed to hear its breathing up
there, across the deep calm of the firmament.
He turned to the western horizon, to the
1
SOPHIA. 129
spot wlieru the Pleiades liud just set I'ur tlie
summer months, and lifting' his glass, moved it
slowly up towards Capella and the Kids, thence
on to Perseus, and that most gorgeous tract o£
the Milky Way which lies thereby. Now, in
the sword-handle of Perseus, as it is called, are
set two clusters of" gems, by trying to count which
the Captain had, before now, amused himself for
hours together. He was about to make another
attempt, and, in fact, liad reached fifty-six, when
be felt a light touch on his elbow.
He faced quickh' round. Behind him, on
the balcony, stood his daughter.
" Don't be angiy," she entreated in a whisper.
" I heard you come up. I couldn't sleep until
I saw you."
He looked at her stern]}-. Her feet were
bare, and she wore but a dark cloak over her
night-vail. In the years since we last saw her
she had grown from an awkward girl into a
lovely woman. Thick waves of dark hair, dis-
arranged with much tossing on her pillow, fell
upon her shoulders and straggled over the lace
upon her bosom. The face they framed was
pale in the starlight, but the lips were red, and
the black eyes feverishly bright.
" Father," she went on, " I have somethine:
I must tell you."
J
13U 77/7; 7/7./ y; rjviLiu.W'^.
Tlicn, as lie coiitiiiucd io n^irard licr witli
(lis])k'asun>, she broke oil", aiul ])ut ilw (juestiou
that of all her trouble was U])})ennost.
" What has become of Tristram ? "
" He has i^oiie to make the campaign against
the Freneli. lie was enlis<:e(l to-(la3^ It was —
ini('X])ectecl," lier father answered slowly, with
his eyes lixed i>\\ hers.
" He went unwillingly,'' she said, sj)eaking
in a quick whisper; "he was dragged oH' —
trepanned. Simeon told me about it, and
besides, I know "
" What do you know ? "
"I know he never went willingly. Oh,
lather, listen "' — with a swift and pretty impulse
she stepped forward, and, reaching up her clasped
hands, laid them on his shoulder — "Tristram —
Tristram is very loud of nie."
"Good Lord!"
Captain Jemmy rai.>ed a hand to disengage
her grasp from his shoulder, but let it fall again.
" He told me so this morning at sunrise,"
she went on rapidly. " You see, it was May
morning, and I went out to gather the dew, and
he was there, in the garden already, and he said
— well, he said what T told you ; ;ind Ijeiug so
nuisterful "
'• T can't sa}- I've observed that quality in the
I
SOPHIA'S CONFESSION. 131
young man ; but no doubt you've had better
opportunities of judging."
" You shan't talk Hke that ! " she broke out
almost fiercely. It was curious that this girl,
who, until this moment, had alwa^^s trembled
before her father, now began to dominate him by
force of her passion.
"Ob, I mustn't, eh ? Devil take the fellow !
He tumbles out of one mess into another, and
plays skittles with my peace of mind, and in
return I'm not allowed a word ! "
" Father, you will fetch him back ? "
" Now, how the "
" But you must."
"Indeed!"
" Because I love him dearlv — there ! I have
nobody left but you, father." She knelt and
caught his hand, exchanging audacity for entreaty
in a second.
" Little maid," said her father, with a tender-
ness as sudden, " get up — your feet must be as
cold as ice, on these slates. Go in, and go to
bed."
" Let me stay a little. I can't sleep indoors.
It was so happy this morning, and to-night the
trouble is so heavy "
Captain Jemmy vanished into the lumber-
room for a moment, and reappeared, tugging an
l>2 Tin: JILUK J\[\JJJ(J.\S.
old iiiattrL'ss altrr liiiii, aii'l hi'iiriun' a latttTod
window-curtain under his Iclt arm. He sjjreiid
tile mattress on tlie balcony, motioned his
dauglitcr to sit, and wrapped her feet warmly in
liis ])urplc dressing-L^own. Then, as slie hiy
back, he spread tlie curtain over her, tuckinu;- it
close round her young body. She thanked him
with dim eyes.
"Sophia," he began, with much severity,
" you say you liave oidy your old lather in the
world, and I'm bound to say you seem to iiiid
it little enough. My dear, are you aware that
you've just been disapjjointing my dearest hopes?"
" iion't say that ! "
" I begin to think 1 mustn't say anything.
1 have brought you uj) carefully, instructing you
in all polite learning, and even in some of the
abstruser sciences. 1 have meant you, all alon^r,
to be the ornament of \our si-x, and now — the
di'vil take it ! — you j)i-el'er, aft'-r all, to be an
ornament of the otln i- ' I intended you, by
your acconii»lishments, to make that young man
look foolish "
" And 1 assure you, father dear, he did look
foolish this nu)rning, and again this alternoon in
the summer-house."
"Now, upon my soul, Scjphia ' T call your
attention to the fact I've been suspecting ever
CAUSATION. 133
since you began to speak, that you're at the
bottom of all to-day's mischief. If that un-
fortunate youth hadn't been makinij^ love to j-'ou
when he should have been attending' to the bees,
the chances are they would never have taken it
into their heads to swarm upon that accursed
arch, and consequently .
There was nothing which Captain Ruuacles
enjoyed so thoroughly as to discover the con-
nection between effects and their causes. When
such a chance offered, it was a common experience
with him to be drawn into prolixity, l^ut he
was pained and surprised, nevertheless, after
twenty minutes' discourse (in which he proved
Sophia, and Sophia alone, to be responsible for
the disasters of the day), to find that she had
dropped asleep. He looked down for a minute
or so upon her closed lids, then moved to the
rail of the balcony and ejaculated under his
breath —
" woman — woman ! Wise art thou as the
dove, and about as harmless as the serpent ! "
He considiered the heavens for some moments,
and added with some tartness but with a far-off
look in his eyes, as though aiming the remark at
the late Mrs. Runacles —
" Her charm, at any rate, is not derived from
her mother."
l.'A Till- JJLL'J'J 1'AVHJOX}^.
Ill' turned abruptly and ronsidcrod lior as
slic sl('])t undor tlio stars. Stoopiiif^ after a
minute or two, and liftiiiLC lier very i^-ently, he
bore litr into tbe bouse and (b)\vii to lier own
room. As tbcy descended tbi' ladcb'r from the
attic, slie stirred and opene<l ber eyes drowsil}' —
"You will briuii^ 'I'ristrani back?" slie mur-
mured, l)ut so softly that be liail to bend liis
bead to catch tlie syllables.
Her eyes closed again before lie could answer.
He carried her to her bed and laid her upon it ;
then, after waiting a while to assure himself that
she was fast asleep, retraced his steps softly to
the little balcony.
He was ]iaein!^ it, round and round, like a
ca^ed beast, when the stars q-rew faint and tbe
silver ripple of the da^'sprini^ broke over tbe sea.
For two hours and more be bad been tbinking
hard, and he reste<l bis elbows on the balcony
and ])aused for a minute or two to watch the red
ball ol" tbe sun as it heaved above tbe waters.
T«» the north, beyond tbe roofs of Harwich, he
saw the lights of the royal squadron still clear
in the grey dawn. Next, his gaze turned to the
triumphal arch in the road Im'Iow, which wore a
peculiarly dissipated look at this hour. Tlicn it
strayed back to the garden below him and be3'ond
the part}' hedge ; and was suddenly airested.
IN CAPTAIN BAIIKEIV8 GARDEN. 135
On a rustic seat, in the far corner, sat
Captain Barker, tryinf^ to read in a book.
The little man, too, had obviously passed
the ni^ht out of his bed. His clothes were
dishevelled and his attitude was one of extreme
dejection. Pie kept his head bowed over the
book and was wholly unaware of the eyes that
Avatched him from the opposite pavilion.
But his friend above on the balcou}' displayed
the most nervous apprehension of being seen.
He took his hand from the rail, as if fearful of
making the slightest sound, and stole back through
the window, into the lumber-room. Once within
the house, however, he behaved with the liriskest
determination. Descending, first of all, to his
own room, he washed his face and towelled it till
it glowed. Then, changing his coat and wig,
he took up hat and cane, descended to the front
door, and, crossing the grass-plot, let himself into
Captain Barker's garden.
Captain Barker still sat and read in his book ;
and, as he read, the tears coursed down his
wrinkled cheeks. For it was the first of the
famous green volumes.
He looked up as his friend advanced ; and
Captain Jemmy was forced to regard the
weathercock on the roof for a minute or so to
make sure of the rpuirtor in Avhich the wind \\iy.
i;j<i 'JJiK iiT.ri': iwnijoys.
" It's cine west," said Captain Jolin, as he
stare"! ujt ; ■■ ;iii<l it's cM)-! idc till nine o'clock.
T1k'3'11 sail ciii'ly."
"Jl'in ; J ^lioiildn't wonder. You're early
out of 1)<'(1."
' well, i"(ir tlic matter ol' that, so are 3-011
—eh?"
"I haven't heen to l)ed."
"Nor have T.'
"I've been tliinkinj^-,"" siid Ca})tain liuna-
cles.
"And I \c l)r(Mi tryiny nut to think."
" AVell, hnt I've come to a conclusion. Go
and get your hat, .lack."
"Why?"
"We've got to fetch Tristram Ijack."
"How?"
" By to.ssing our consciences over tlie liedge
and going to see King William."
The little rnan shook liis head.
" No, demm}'. You mean i1 kindly, and
God hless you ! But 1 can't do it.''
" Why not ? If I can do it "
' Y'^ou'd repent it, Jemmy. Y'ou're letting
your love for me carry you too far."
"What put it into your head tliat I'd do
til is for love of you ? "
" For Tristram, then."
A BUNAGLES TO THE llESGUE I 137
" Damn Tristram ! That youngster strikes
me as causing- a fuss quite out of proportion to
his intrinsic worth."
" Well, but "
" My dear Jack, I have reasons for wishing
Tristram back. You needn't ask what the}'
are, because I shan't tell you ; but they're at
least as intelligible as all the reasons you can
find in that volume." He caught it out of his
friend's hand, and read : — "June 12///. — T. io-
day refused his biscuit and milk at six in the
worning, but tooh it an hour later. Peevish all
nif/lit ; in part {I think) because not get recovered
of his weaning, and also because his 'teeth [second
pair on longer jaiv) are troubling him. Query:
If the biscuit should be boiled in the milk, or milk
merely poured over biscuit " Here he glanced
up, and seeing tlie anguish on the hunchback's
face, handed back the book.
" I beg your pardon, Jack. But get your
hat and come along."
" You forget. Jemmy. AYe gave our word,
you know."
Captain Eunacles stared.
" Trouble has unhinged your wits, my friend.
Did you seriously imagine I intended to disclose
to his Majesty the proposal we heard last
night ? "
138 THE BLVE I'AVILIONS.
"What, tlK'li?"
"Mv notion was tliat wo slioiild i^o and oH'cr
liini our swords and oui- services in ransom lor
'IVisiiaiii. He may lehuli' ns. On ilie other
liand, tliere's a cliance that he will not. ^'^ll
renieinl)er that lie hei^an, yesterday, l)y oU'eriiii^
yon Ihis way of escape. ^^>u are io take me
with yon and hei;- Tor a renewal ot" tliat olVer.
Mavd)e he'll demnr. Von'll then point out that
vou have two men's service to tender him in lieu
of one. 1 //arc s\mAt ])owder in my time, Jaek,
and I once had the luck to run 1 )e Rnyter's ])et
ca])tain 11iiou^-h the sword-arm and to carry his
ship. It's the very de\il liiat I never could
master the fellow's Dutch name snlhciently to
remember it ; hut his Majesty — who has a ii;Teater
grasp of his mother-tongtie — may be able to
recall it, and the recollection may turn the
scale. Anyhow, we'll try."
"You can serve this ^^'illiam ? "
" I can ; tor the matter stands thus : We go
and sav, ' Your jNIajesty lias laid hands on a
young man. AVill it please your Majesty to take
two (»ld men in exchange?' We're a couple of
old hulks, .lack ; but we may serve, as well as a
youngster, to be battt-red by the French."
" But, suppose that this ])lot breaks out — I
mean that whicli Ihe Kavl liiiited at?"
THE FALSE START. 139
" My friend, that proposal may be divided
into two parts. The first is mutiny ; the second
is desertion to the French. How do von like
them ? Could yon stand hy and help either? "
"Why, no," answered Captain liarker, with
a brightening face ; " because, after all, one could
always die first."
" To be sure. Make haste, then, and fetch
your hat, or we shall be too late to save the
boy."
Captain Runacles waited at the foot of the
garden, while his friend hurried into the house
and returned in something like glee.
" We are luck}^ Narcissus tells me his
Majesty is sleeping ashore at Thomas Langle3^'s
house in Church Street. It seems that his cabin
was not put rightly in order aboard the 3fa?y
yacht, and he won't embark until he has broken
his fast."
" Come along, then," said Captain Jemmy,
opening the gate ; " we may catch him before
he o;oes on board."
But scarcely had the pair set foot in the road
outside when a voice commanded them to halt.
In front of them, barring the highway towards
Harwich, stood a sergeant, with half-a-dozen
soldiers at his back. They seemed to have sprung
out of the hedge.
U<> . TJfE IlLVi: I'AVUJOX.^.
" Pardon, ij^ontlcincii ; 1)ut you arc walkini^
towards Uarwicli."
"We are."
" My orders are to forbid it."
" Who g-ave you that order? "
"Tlie General."
" Wliat ? l^hc Eari of Marllx.rouirli ? "
"Yes."
" So this is how he trusts our word I "
muttered Captain Ivunacles. " But, excuse me,"
lu' added aloud, "our business is wiOi his
jNIajcsty."
" 1 am trul}^ sorry, gentlemen."
" You decline to let us pass ? "
" I hope you will not insist."
" Well, but I have an idea. You can march
us into Harwich as your prisoners. Take us
into his ^Majesty's presence — that's all I ask,
and I don't care how it's done. You shall have
owY parole if you please."
The sergeant shook his head. " It's against
my orders."
" Then we must try to pass you."
" Suffer me to point out that we are seven
to two."
"Thank you. ihit ihi^ is an affair of
conscience."
" Nevertheless "
THE COMBAT. Ill
" Confouud it, sir ! " broke in tlio littk'
liuncliback. " You ure bere, it seems, to frus-
trate our intentions ; but I'm hanged if you shall
criticise them too. Guard, sirs, if you please ! "
And whipping out their swords, these in-
donutable old gentlemen fell with fury on their
seven adversaries, and engaged them.
The struggle, however, lasted but a minute.
Six bayonets are not to be charged with a couple
of small-swords ; and just as Captain Barker was
on the point of spitting himself like an over-
hasty game chicken, the sergeant raised his side-
arm and dealt him a cut over the head. Hat
and wig broke the blow somewhat ; but the little
man dropped with a moan and la}' (juite still in
the road.
Hearing the sound, Captain Jemmy turned,
dropped his sword, and ran to lift his friend.
The stroke had stunned him, and a trickle of
blood ran from a slight scalp-wound and mingled
with the dust.
" Jack, Jack ! " sobbed his friend, kneeHns:
and peering eagerly into his face. The hunchback
opened his eyes a little and stared up vacantly.
As he did so the dull roar of heavy guns
broke out in the direction of Harwich, shaking
the earth under Captain Jemmy's feet. It was
the town's parting salute to his Majesty-, King
]IJ Till-: I'.LVK I'AVILIOSS.
William the 'i'liird. And at tlic same moment
the leading sliij) ol" the royal s(jiiatlron swung
out of harbour on the ebb-tide and, rounding the
Guard Sandbank, stood majestically towards the
o))eu sea, her colours streaming and white canvas
bellying over the blue waters.
143
CHAPTEE VIII.
TATHER AND SON.
Tristram, meanwhile, was lying in darkness on
board the Ctood Intent, a frig'ate of twenty-six
guns, converted for the nonce into a transport-
ship to accommodate three companies of his
Majesty's Second Household Regiment, the
Coldstreams. To this regiment the Earl had
thought fit to attach him at first, not only on
account of his fine inches, but also to keep him
out of his father's way, being unwilling that the
two should meet until he had visited the Blue
Pavilions and endeavoured to bring Captain
Barker and Captain Eunacles to terms.
It cannot be said that his first acquaintance
with military life had lifted Tristram's spirits.
The frigate — to which he had been conve3^ed
without further resistance — struck him as smell-
ing extremel}" ill below decks ; and he was
somewhat dashed by the small amount of room
at his service. Moreover, the new suit into
which he was promptly clapped, though brilliant
in colour, had been made for a smaller man, and
obstructed his breathing, which would have been
diflicult enough in an}'- case. On the gun-deck,
Ill 77//; lujjh' r.wii.iit.ss.
wlieiv lie Ibiind liiinsi'lf, it w;i> iiiipossiljlc to
stand u])riL;'ht and i'(]uall\ iMi|)us>ible to lie at
k'iiL,^lli, every foot of rcjoiii Ijetweeii the tiers ol"
9-j)()undei's bein<^ occupied liy kits, kna])sacks,
chests, and mattresses littered about in all con-
ceivable disorder, and the intervals between these
bridL,^ed l)y the h-ys ol" hi.> brothers-in-arms. As
the C(»ldstreams were an exceedin<^dy well-<^rown
re<^inient, and lor the most part deeply absorbed,
just then, in dicing", (piarrellin*^, chuck-penny,
and lively discussions on the furthcomin<^ cam-
paign, Tristram had found the utmost difficulty
in avoiding- the sheaves of les^s between him and
the empty mattress assigned for his use. In his
dejection of spirits it was a comfort to find that
none ot" his future comrades turned a head to
observe him. He cast him.self down on the
mattress and gave vent to a profound sigh.
"Ahis, Sopliia!" he ingeminated, "how
liable to misconception — though doubtless wise
on the vvholc — are the rulings of Providence,
which in one short hour lias torn me from your
solt embrace to follow a calling which I foresee I
shall detest ! "
Unluckily, this emotion, though warranted
by his circumstances, ]>roved too great for the
ready -made suit which he wore. At the first
s\<s\\ two buttons burst Iroin his iacket, one of
SERGEANT KLOMP. 145
wliicli Hew a full two feet unci struck ilic clieek
of a Dutcli ser<^eant who was taking forty winks
upon the adjacent mattress.
"Vat the devil for?" excLaimed Ser^'cant
Klomp, opening his eyes and glaring upon the
recruit.
" I beg your pardon," said Tristram.
" Zat was in fon, he}^ ? "
" On the contrary "
" Vat for, if not ? "
" It was accidental, I assure you. I was
unbosoming myself "
" So ; I will deacli you to onbosoni 3'Ourself
of his Majesty's buttons. Agsidental ! You
shall not be agsidental to me ! " Sergeant
Klomp rolled his eyes, and, picking up his
cane, which lay beside him, rose to his feet and
advanced with mennce on his face.
Tristram hastily applied his sjdlogism. " It
is right," he said to himself, " to resist when
molested in a peaceful occupation. Sighing is a
peaceful occupation. Therefore I must resist
this man." In obedience to this valid conclusion
he hit Sergeant Klomp in the stomach as he
advanced, caught the cane out of his hand, and
belaboured him the entire length of the gun-
deck. It was impossible to do this without
discommoding the legs of the company and
I4(i Tin: ni.rr: I'Avn.Ktx^.
iinnuyiiin' llicin bi'voiul measure. And oonso-
queutly, at tin' rnd n\' Im mimitt's, Trish-aiii
IVmnd liiinscll" in iions in llic la/.aivtte, con-
dcnuu'd topassllic ni^lil w il li 1 wo drnnkcn mm,
whose siK^res were almost comfortiiiijf in the
pitchy darkness; for, as lie told himself, liuman
propinijuity, it" not exactly sym[)athy, is the first
step towards it: lie had been listcniiii^ to this
snoriiiL^ for four liours, wlien a liatchway above
liim was lifted, and a lantern slionc down into
tiie lazarette. It was carried by a corporal, who
came cautiously down the ladder, li^htinL,'' Ihc
footsteps of an ollifcr who followed and held a
handkerchief to his nose, for the smell of the
bilge was overpowering.
" Pah ! " exclaimed this olTicer, as he arrived
at the ladder's foot, and peered around. " Set
the li^ht down on the floor and leave us. What
a hole ! "
He waited whilst the corporal reascended the
laddei- and disa])peared ; then, ])icking nj) the
lantern, held it aloft and let its rays shine ftdl
on Tristram's face.
"Ah," he said, after regarding our hero in
silence for a few seconds, " it is unmistakable,"
and with that he sighed heavily.
" Pardon me, sir," said Tristram, " but the
sight of me appears to cause you sorrow."
THE RECOaxiTlOX. 147
" Ou the contrary, it fills me with jo}."
"J iim glad to hear 30U sar so, because, as I
am fastened here in these irons, it would have
been out of my power to relieve jou of my
presence. Since you are ghid, howev^er "
" Unspeakably."
" you would do me a great favour by
saying why."
" Because — look at me, dear lad — because
you are my only son."
" In that I really think 3^ou must be mis-
taken. There are two gentlemen yonder in the
corner who at present are asleep. Are you
quite sure one of these is not the object of
30ur search ? "
" Quite sure, my dear lad. It is unmistak-
able, as I said. You are Tristram ? "
" I am ; though I don't see why it should
be unmistakable."
" Those eyes — that voice ! It is impossible
you should not be Margaret's son ! "
" My mother's name was Margaret," Tris-
tram answered ; " that's true enough. She died
when I was born."
" Tristram," said his visitor, lowering the
lantern and bowing his head, " I was her un-
worth}' husband, and am 3 our father, Roderick
Salt."
us THE JJLUE r.U ILKiXS.
i< rn\
'I'lwii would ccrlaiiily In- jtl;iiisil)lr, l»ut for
oue dilliciilty."
" What is it?"
" My fiitlicr was drowned some iiiontlis
before I was born."
" You are mistaken. lie was partially
drowned, but not (juite."
" I admit that alters the case."
" Shall I tell you how it liap])ened ? "
" By all means, sir ; for I think the story
must be interestiu";. At the same time I ouLjht
to warn you that I ah'eady possess a father, on
whom you can scarcely improv^e."
" To whom do you ref(M- ? "
" He is called Captain Jiarker l)y those wdio
love liiiii less than I."
" Is it he, then, that has brounht you up?
Lursc liiiii :
U'listraiii opened his eyes. " Wh}' should
von eurse him ? " he asked.
" Because he has stolen your love from me."
" P>ut — excuse iiH! — it is only this moment
that I have heard 3'ou were coinpetini^ fen* it."
*' He has told you evil (;oncernin^- me."
" On the contrary, he lias never uttered vour
name. It was my nurse who told me one day
that you were drowned ; and even this turns out
to be a mistake, as you were about to prove."
FATHER AND SON. 119
" My son, your words and bearing cut me to
tlie heart. It is no less than I have deserved,
perhaps ; though, could you know all, I am sure
you would judge me leniently. But at least I
can give you some small proof of my love. Let
me first release j-ou from those irons."
He set the lantern on the floor, drew a small
key from his pocket and unlocked his son's
fetters.
" Tliank 3'ou. That is decidedly more agree-
able," said Tristram, stretching his stiffened
limbs.
" You were sutferin"- before I came ? "
" Why, truly," Tristram replied, shrugging
his shoulders as he glanced around ; " I find
military life duller than I expected. And since
this is the first night I have spent from
home '
" My poor boy ! Doubtless, too, you were
brooding on what would happen to-morrow
morning."
" Say rather on what happened this morn-
ing," corrected Tristram, his thoughts reverting
to Sophia.
" But surely the prospect of to-morrow's
punishment "
" Oh, will there be a puuishment to-
morrow ? "
loU JUL' liLUE I'AVILIOSS.
" AVliN , Mill kicked a siTijeaiit iVoin one end
of liis Majesty's sliij) to tlie i)tlier ! Did you
iniai^inc you could do that with iiiipiiiiity ? "
" I assure you lie deserved it."
" Nevertheless, you would have been Hoiri^ed
on deck to-morrow had I not come with a
pardon."
" You astonish me : and really you have been
very kind to me. Still, it would have been
quite unjust."
Captain Salt rejji'arded his son (juietly for a
moment or two. In truth he was somewhat
staggered by this sim])licity.
" You wish to escape from this service P " he
asked.
" 1 dislike it more and more. Besides "
*' Tell me 3'our desires; for, believe me,
my sou, i have no dearer wish than to further
them."
Tristraiii held out a hand and took his
lather's.
" Forgive me, sir, for my coldness just now.
Kemember that 1 had never seen, had scarcely
heard of", you before. ^ ou are very good to me.
I believe, b}' looking in ^our eyes, that you love
me; and 1 believe — I know — that in time I
should love you greatly in return. But you
must pardon that which I am going to say.
CAPTAIN SALTS GENEliOUS HEART. 151
Sir, I cannot help loving best those who have
dealt lovingly with me all my life. I was home-
s^ick " he broke off, as a lump rose in his
throat.
" You shall go home," said Captain Salt.
Still holding his hand, Tristram stared at
him incredulously.
" Why should you doubt me, my son ? Do
you think I despise those feelings, or can
neglect them ? No ; I honour them, though
bitterly regretting that, as fate has willed it,
they can never be entertained for me."
" Don't say that, my father."
" Why should I blink the truth ? " Captain
Salt turned and brushed away a fictitious tear.
" No, Tristram ; you shall go back to those you
love better. I only ask you to be patient for a
few days; for, indeed, I have but a certain
amount of influence with those who enlisted you
to-day against your will. Listen : early to-
morrow the squadron sets sail. If the wind
holds we shall be within the Maese by Sunday
morning. As soon as your regiment disem-
barks you shall be a free man : for not till then
shall I have an opportunity of speaking with his
Majesty. The squadron will be returning at
once to this port, and I trust you may return
with it. In the meantime you must give me
102 TJll:: BLUE VAVlLiUSS.
your word to rciniiin where you are ; for tliout;li
the ])unislnn('ut is icmittcd, you arc still under
iiirest. T have seen your ca])tain, liowever, and
you will lliid matters uiadf very lii^ht for you.
The sentry will hrin^- v>'U IocmI jukI drink."
]Ii' st(>j)))ed, lor 'l^ristrani had fallen on one
knee, and was passionately kissing- liis liand.
" How ill you must think of mc ! " lie mur-
mured ; " and how can I thank you? "
" By keeping one tendi-r tlumu'lit or two for a
Jiither wdio held aloof from yuu while it was lor
3'our good, and came to you wlien, for the first
time, you wanted him. Mine has been a liard
life, Tristram, and not altogether a good one.
By asking you to sliare it, I had done you
heaven know^s whal injury."
This was true eiiuuii'h, and it struck the
speakei- as so ]»athetic that he mainiged even to
stjuee/e up a tear.
" JJut come," he went on. with a sudden
change to vivacity, "tell me how 30U happened
into this scrape."
And so, with the lantern hetween them
casting long spokes of light on the slii])'s tim-
bers, the I'afters, and tlu' two druid<<'n sleepers
in the corner, father and son sat and talked for
the better part of an hour ; at the end of which
time Captain Salt, who dexterously numaged to
TlilSTlLUI IS LEFT ALONE. 153
do nine-tenths of the listening-, was pretty \\c\\
posted in the affiiirs of the Blue Pavilions and
their inmates, and knew almost as much of
Tristram's past history as if lie had spent a day
with the thirty-seven green volumes. It was
past two in the morning when he arose to return
to his own ship.
At parting he kissed Tristram on both
cheeks. " Farewell, dear lad," he said, with
a- manner that was admirably paternal ; " we
shall not meet again till the ships cast anchor
in the Maese. Meanwhile steel your heart and
look forward to a better fortune."
He picked up the lantern and, climbing the
ladder, nodded back reassuringly as he lifted the
hatch. At the same time he was secretly a
good deal perplexed; for in all that he had
learnt there was nothing to throw light on
the Earl's words. " Now, why the devil is the
lad to be looked after ? " he wondered. For in
fact Tristram had said nothing of the inherit-
ance. And the reason for this was the very
simple one that he himself knew nothing
about it, Captain Barker and Captain Runacles
having long ago agreed to keep it a secret Irom
him until he should come of age. They had
arrived at this resolution after many weeks of
discussion, and bej'ond a doubt their wisdom
15-t TJllJ JiLUE I'AVi LIONS.
liiid Ix'on jiistilii'd in (lie course of the last
liuiir.
There was no ])erj)le\ity visible, however, in
the kindly smile which Tristram beheld and
returned with interest. A moment after, he
was left in blank darkness. Jiut, bein<^ by this
time tired out, as well as <(reatly comforted, he
curled himself uj) un the bare lloor, and within
five minutes had dropped olT into a dreamless
sleep.
It was mornin<^ when he awoke, though he
could not tell the hour ; for the only light that
reached his prison was fdtered through the
hatch above, which somebody had kindly tilted
open. The sounds that woke him were those
ot" feet moving to and fro in the captain's cabin
overhead, and, far forward in the ship, the clatter
ot" boots as the soldiers turned out. He looked
about him and made two discoveries. In the first
place, his two drunken companions had vanished,
or had been removed ; and secondly, their place
was taken by a loaf and a tin pannikin.
He reached out a hand for these, and began
without hesitation the first meal in his life of
which the green volumes were to keep no record.
With less hunger he might have found it
nauseous ; for the bread was incredibly mouldy
and had been gnawed all round the crust by
THE -GOOD INTENT" WEIGHS ANCHOll. loo
rats, while the liquor in the pannikin was a
mixture of fiery rum and unclean water. The
first gulp fetched the tears ; but, after sput-
terimr a bit, he manai^ed to swallow a ijood
half of it. As he breakfasted he heard a deal
of muffled shouting above, and then a distant
clankino; sound that was unfamiliar. The Good
Intent was weighing anchor.
These noises, however, did not trouble
Tristram, who was minded by this time to
bear his fortune with hardihood. Only the
thought of Sophia vexed him while he ate,
and he sighed once or twice with a violence
that set the rats scampering. Then it struck
him that his morning prayers were unsaid, and,
scrambling on his knees, he committed himself
to the care of heaven, and afterwards felt still
easier at heart. Also, being a prudent youth in
some respects, he decided to reserve half of the
loaf in case no more should be brought for the
day ; and, because his hunger was excessive, it
took some time to decide on the amount to Ije
set aside. Indeed, he was still discussing this
with himself when the Good Intent shook with
the roar of the royal salute.
For the moment Tristram imagined that
he must he in the midst of a sea-fii'f'ht at
t>'
the very least. But his apprehensions were
lotJ TJIE IILVE I'AVILIOXS.
presently distracted l)y tlio motions of tlic sliip
under liim — motions wliich at length Ix'came
erratic, and even alanllinL^^ F<»r tlic (/(mu/ Intnit
was not <iiil\" licaxiii;;' up and d(j\vii, l^ut seemed
to be tearinif lorwaid in a series of veliement
rushes, with intervals ol" lanLiuid indecision.
Tristram's stoinncli simhi bei^an to al)lioi' these
intervals, aii<l in a little while he i'ound himsell
wondering to what end he had set aside hall" a
loat from his breakfast. For, as it seemed to
him, he was going to die, and the sooner the
better.
"Decidedly," he thought, "my breakfast
was poisoned, else 1 could never leel like this."
The Good Itilciit took another lurch forward,
and a clammy sweat broke out on both sides of
his forehead.
''if 1 have enemies so wicked," sighed he,
" ma}' (jud forgive them I " And, uttering this
Christian wish, he fell forward with his forehead
against the boards.
A little past noon the sentry brought him a
fresh loaf, with a plate of fat bacon and another
pannikin. The sea being chop])y, by this time
the vessel echoed from end to end with groans
and lamentations.
"Is it a massacre?" Tristram asked, sitting
up and regarding the man with wild eyes. Jhit
IN THE MAESE. 1.57
the sii>ht of the bacon, wliicli was ])lt'iitirully
doused with vinegar, conquered him afresh.
The sentry chuckled and went away.
To be short, our hero passed two-and-twenty
hours in this extremity of wretchedness, and was
only aroused, early next morning', by a corporal
who thrust his head in at the hatchwaj^ and bade
him arise and come on deck with all speed, as
the regiment was about to disembark. And,
as a matter of fact, when Tristram tottered up
tlie ladder into the fresh air which swept the
deck, he found that, though he had been be-
3'ond remarking any difference in the ship's
motion, she was now 13'ing at anchor, and
within a cable's length from a desolate shore,
which began in sand-hills and ended in mist.
The rain was pouring perpendicularly from a
leaden sk}', and drenching the decks. The
soldiers, in their great-coats, huddled together
as they waited for the boats, and shrugged
their shoulders to keep the drops from trickling
down the napes of their necks. Somebody gave
Tristram a great-coat and knapsack, and pointed
out the group to which he was to attach himself.
He obeyed, though scarcely aware of what he
did : for his head was light, his hunger w^as
ravenous, and his legs w^ere trembling beneath
liim. A soldier cursed close by, and he cursed
i.vs riih: in.ri-: r.\\iLin\s.
tni>, ('cliuiii^ tile mail's wonls witlmiit kimwinL^
\vli3'. Another man slajiprd liim on tlic hack,
mistakinu;- liim tor a iron}', and hogged his
panloii. " It rcallv inaki's iiu dilltTcnce," said
Tristram jiulitrly, and at oner Icll to wondcriuLj
il" tliis remark were ahsurd or int. l>eyoiid I lie
u;rey veils of rain lio spied, now and then, a cluster
of red i-(»((fs, and a stee])le close hoside the shore.
" What j)lace is that 3()nderr" he asked the
man who stood at his elhow.
" A^laardinLCen," said the fellow, ^-rutlly. It
was Seri^eant Klom]), and Tristram turned it
over in his mind wiiether to offer an a])oloiry (»|-
no. ^\'hile he was still debatinir^ ;t brisk youni,^
officer came aloni^ and called out —
" Get ready, boys. This is our turn."
Tn less than a minute after, for no apparent
reas(jn, the crowd around Tristram surged forward
to the bulwarks, and he was carried along with
the rush. Then he I'oiind himself swa3ing
unsteadily down a flight of steps and calling
to the men beiiind not to hustle and precipitate
him into one or otlier ol" the two longboats
that lay below. Into the nearer of these his
company swept him, and poured in at his heels
until the gunwale was nearly level with the
water. 'J'ho rowers ])ushed off in the nick of
time, and pulled their ri<-ight slowly acro.ss
THE DISEMBARKATION. 159
tlie sullen tide, while the rain beat down
relentlessly.
As they neared the shore, a landing-stage,
or low jetty, of sunk piles disengaged itself
from the mist. This was the sole object that
diversified the melancholy line of sand-banks,
and towards it they were steered, Tristram look-
ing eagerly out under the peak of his cap, from
which a rivulet of water was by this time
coursins: down his nose.
Half-a-dozen grey figures were standing on
the jetty, and, as the soldiers scrambled up
its dripping steps, one of them advanced and
touched Tristram by the elbow. It was his
father.
" Safe and sound, my boy ? Fnrhhu I but
it's easy to see you're no accomplished sailor;
but that's all the better."
Tristram was feeling too faint to contest
this, though it appeared to him to be dis-
cutable.
" Let us get ahead of this mob," his father
went on. " Come, use your best foot — it's no
great distance."
He struck off the sodden track and dived
into the mist, Tristram following close at his
heels. Their way lay over hillocks and hollows
of sand in which thev sank ankle-decD at everv
ifio Tiih' I'.i.ri: r.\\iij(}.\s.
step. Ill 1\\(» lililillirs tl|('\' lost sil^llt t»r tllO
ret^iiiniit ;iii(l were walkiiiiif wlili llicir laces set,
as it seemed, towards a wall ot" L^rey atmosphere,
iiiipciK'trable by the <y'e. After live iniimtes of
this, Tristram L,'roaned. He liad eateu m^thini^
tor twenty-four liours, and his limbs were weak
as water.
" Couran'e, my son ! A f<'w paces more."
Almost as he s[)oke a building- loomed out
of the mist, and they found themselves before
a doorway, over which \\\uv^ the sii^n of " Tiie
Four Seasons." A sentry, who stood beside the
entrance, presented arms and let them ])ass.
Captain Salt led the way indoors and up a rickety
staircase to the rii^'ht, on the lirst landinij;- of
which they found two ])an-('s in waitin<^.
"Say that Captain Salt desires to see his
Majesty."
■I •'
One of the passes tapped at the door, and,
havini^ delivered the messa^-e, commanded them
to enter. The place in which Tristram now
found himself was a low-browed room, smellini;'
In'n'hly of sawdust and stale tobacco. It was
bisected by a lon^- table of clean white deal, at
the end of which wi-re seated three s^entlemen
whose attire bespoke a (-(^nsiderable estate. All
three looked up as the pair entered, and in the
centre our hero at once recognised his Majesty,
AT THE "FOUR SEASONS." 161
with the Earl of Marlborough upon his left hand,
and upon his right a general of a plain but
shrewd and honest countenance, who glanced at
Captain Salt for a moment and resumed the
writing upon which he was engaged.
King William set down the bundle of papers
that he had been conning with a sour expres-
sion, as if tasting bad wine, and ordered the
Captain to come forward ; which he did, with
a profound salute.
" I have examined the lists. Captain Salt.
They tally with other information which my
admirals and generals have been able to give
me; though, as they have not your advantages,
their knowledge is, of necessity, scantier."
Beneath his words there lurked a contempt
which made the Captain wince.
" Your Majesty, I have endeavoured to do
my duty — such as it is."
" You say well. The disgrace lies with those
who make it necessary."
" I am gkid your Majesty should regard it in
that light."
" Eest assured that I do, and admit the
magnitude of the service you have done us. I
understand you have come for your reward."
" Sa}'- rather that I have brought it."
" Explain yourself."
L
mi TJll'J IILVE I'AVllAU.SS.
" J ask no reward, your ]\I;ijesty, but the
cli.scliarL,a' of tliis youn_<if recruit." As lie spoke
Captain Salt drew Tristram iorward from the
doorway, where he was standing- awkwardly.
"'i'liis is ver}' extraordinary-. I expected
some request for money, I will confess."
" There are some thiuLfs which rank above
nione}'," said the Captain, with ieeliui^.
" AVe are told so," replied AVilliam, drily.
" Jjiil miMit I ask for an instance or two? "
" There is paternal love. Your Majesty, this
young- man is my son." The Captain, at this
point, brushed away a tear with the back of
his hand.
" Why — but surely I remember his face."
" That is probable : for you yourself, sire, did
him the honour to enlist him, no longer ago than
last Fridav."
" I remember the occasion. But it did not
then appear — at least, to my recollection — that
he was a son of yours, Captain Salt."
" \\'\\\ your ^lajesty be good enough to note
till' likeness between us? "
" 1 do not doubt your word. T merely
remark that the two gentlemen who then
interceded ior him omitted to mention his
parentage."
" Their names, I believe "
LIBERTY AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE. 163
" They were two gallaDt but wroni^-lieaded
gentlemen of his late Majesty's navy — Captain
John Barker and Captain Jeremiah llunacles."
"It is to those gentlemen, who have guarded
him from his infancy, that I would restore this
young man."
" This is very magnanimous conduct."
" A father, sire, may, for his son's good,
disregard his own yearnings. I would, with
permission, escort him back to Harwich, and
assure myself of his happiness. Your Majesty
need have no doubt of my return with the next
transport."
" Indeed, Captain Salt, I myself should
advise you, for your own safety, to be out of the
way until this small storm has blown over.
Present yourself as soon as you return. Sir,"
he continued, addressing Tristram, " you are
discharged from my service, which, I must say,
has not bettered your looks. Return to your
guardians, and, if they will allow you, cultivate
some small amount of loyalty."
" I thank your Majesty very heartily," Tris-
tram replied ingenuously, "and I regret if the
plant has, until now, found no place in our
garden."
" The squadron will sail again for England
at midnight," said William, with a faint smile ;
T:i THE BLUJJ rAVIIAuSS.
then, tiiniiii<r to tlic Ivirl of .Marlborouj^li,
" My lord, will you write out the order?"
At this luoiuent oue ol" the pages entered
with a note for the Kin<;.
" Let him coine in," said William, after
opening it and runniiiL,^ his eye over the con-
tents ; then, addressing Captain Salt, " I fear
this puts an end to our conversation for the
time. If you will wait below, the necessary
papers shall be brought to you. Fare well ; young
man ; and when you embrace them, assure
Captain Barker and Captain Runacles that I
have still some hope of their finding a better
mind."
They bowed and withdrew, giving place to
the new-comer, Avho entered at that moment —
an old gentleman in a suit of dai-k blue edged
with silver. As lie passed them in the doorway
his eyes scanned Tristram narrowly, and he
appeared to hesitate for a moment as if desirous
of putting a question to the youth.
Unconscious of this Ljok, Tristram followed
his father down the stairs of the auberge. They
had hardly reached the bottom, however, when a
voice called from the landing above, and the Earl
of Marlborough descended after them.
" Here are the papers," he said. " But
young sir, would you mind waiting here lor a
THE SKITTLE-ALLEY. 165
minute or two while I speak with your father
in private ? "
With this he opened a door upon the left
and led the way through a dark passage to a
covered skittle-alley at the back of the house.
It was a deserted and ramshackle arcad(\ and
offered the poorest cover from the rain, whicli
dripped tlirough the roof and drifted under the
eaves. The skittles lay here and there, as if the
last player, weary of the game, had been toss-
ing them about at hapliazard. Here the Earl
paused, looked around him, and began in a low
voice,
" My friend, I regret to perceive that ^^ou
beo'in to act without instructions."
" In what way ? "
" You propose to return at once to Harwich
with this son of yours."
" Certainl}^ my lord. It appears to me that
I have deserved a holiday by this week's work."
" You shall take one ; but not at Harwich
just yet."
" And why not at Harwich ? "
" For two reasons. In the first place you do
no good, but harm, in returning thither at this
moment. Understand that I am only asking you
to defer the visit for a week or two. At ]:)resent
I am awaiting certain necessary information,
1(50 Tin: ni.ri: r.wirjONS.
without wliicli you will lianlly lay your hands
on the 1^00(1 lortuue T inicnd for you."
"You arc mysterious, my l<»i(l. This ])oy of
miuo "
" Will briui^ you wealth and di<^^nity, I
promise, if you allow me to eonduet the alTair.
Tlnot "
'' What is the other reason ? "
" The other reason," replied the Earljool-cini:^
down and movini;' a skiiile f^'ently with the toe
ol his boot — " tlic other reason is that T require
you to s])eud the first part of" 3'our lioliday else-
1 "
where.
" Where may that be ? "
" At Saint Germains."
" My lord, you risk ni}' neck witli much
composure ! "
"There is no risk at all, unless "
" l^ray finish your sentence."
" unless you refuse," said the Earl,
significantly.
" Proceed, my lord." Captain Salt's face
flushed, scarlet; then a sweat broke out on his
temples, where, an instant before, the veins had
swelled with rage.
" There is nothing to prevent your starting at
once. You have altered the fuses, I su])pose ? "
" Yes."
HOW TO MANIl'ULATE A MUTINY. \Cu
" And made all the arrangements ? "
" Nothing is omitted. The guns will be
fired twenty minutes too soon, at ten minutes
after nine. As William knows nothing about
the signal, and has made his dispositions for
half -past nine, the poor fellows will have some
fun for their pains, after all."
"Excellent!" said the Earl, smiling. "It
only remains for you to start. Here are the
papers ; I advise you to keep them carefully
sorted. This, in cypher, is for James. It is
full of promises ; and, in addition, to keep his
spirits up, 3"0U can give him an account of the
mutiny, pointing out how near it came to suc-
cess. A boat shall take you to Sevenbergen ;
after that you know the road — the usual one.
The word is Modena. You will take your son
with you, of course, and persuade him (if you
can) that he is travelling back to Harwich by
the shortest road."
" That will be difficult."
" Erom Paris return to Dunkirk, and there
await a letter from me. By that time I hope to
be able to send you information, on the strength
of which 3^ou may at once sail for Harwich.
Meanwhile, guard that young man as the apple
of your eye "
168 TIfE BLVE I'.W I I.K i.\'S.
AV(> will rotuni in llic subject of lliis amiiiLlc
advice. Tristram liad Ix'cn kickinj^ his hods for
ten minutes or more in the (lrauL;"hty passage,
and woiKh'rini,^ if lie slioiild cvei' know the taste
ol fond aii^ain, when tlie (h)or opened on tlie
landinn' above, and the old ij^entleman in hlue
and silver descended the stairs from his audience.
He was clearl}^ in something' of a hurr)', an<l
strode past our hero as il' unaware ol" his presence,
hut turn(Hl on his lied ;it the end ol" the passai^e
and came swiftl}- hack.
" I ask3'our pardon, younij^ man," he began,
in a quick, foreign voice, " but T thought I
heard his Majesty speaking to you of a Caj)tain
Kunacles as I entered the room. Forcrive me if 1
seem too inquisitive, but do you happen to know
Captain Jeremiah Runacles ? "
" T know no reason, sir, jigainst my answer-
ing. I know him well, and love him."
^ "Pla? AVheredoes he live?"
*' In Harwich."
" He keeps hale ? "
" In excellent health for his age."
"Could he still answer for himself with a
small-sword? — I mean not with a young adver-
sary, but, say, with a man of my age? "
" I have not the slightest doul)t of it, sir."
Tristram stared at the old gentleman, who was
CAPTAIN VJX ADETENSSEN. 169
of a tal], unwieldy figure, short, bull neck, and
clioleric complexion.
" You will see liim again shortly ? "
" With God's help I shall see him in three
days' time."
" Then I'd he obliged by 3^onr taking him a
message from me. Tell him, sir, that I, Captain
Van Adrienssen, may be heard of at the Hague
at any time, and have not forgotten a certain
promise of his (to cut my comb) whicli he
uttered at one time when our ships lay alongside
off the Texel. Assure him that, though night
parted us, I still retain the boot which he Hung
at my head and into my ship. Say that I have
been waiting ever since for the man who fits
that boot, and warn him that we are both well
stricken in years and have little time left in
which to try conclusions. You have that by
heart ? "
les, sir.
" Repeat it."
Tristram did so.
" Very well ; now be careful to deliver it."
And, nodding his head sharply, the old
gentleman hurried away on his business just as
the Earl and Captain Salt returned from their
colloquy.
I70
ClIAPTEU IX.
TIIK FOUR MKN AT THE "WIIITF, LAMB."
" Wkll, my son," bof^an Captain Salt, as the
Kai'l roasconded tlie stairs. " 'J'lianks ho tliat
wo are alone t()<:;;otlior at last ! Do 1 not kocp
my promises ? "
" Indeed, fatlicr, vou are kind. There is
only one tliin<^ "
"What is^that?"
"1 should prefer to return to Harwich alive;
and seeing that I have eaten nothing for a day
and a half "
Plis father interrupted him by taking his
arm and hurrying him off to the kitchen of the
auberge, where a fat woman was basting a couple
of ducks before a roaring fire.
" Pardon me, mistress," he began in Dutch ;
" but can you give this young man a breakfast ? "
The hostess seemed to be annoj'od.
" What docs lie want ? " she inquired,
sharply.
Tl»e question being interpreted to Tristram,
he answered that he wanted (iverything, but that
in the meantime .the ducks would serve to break
the edge of his fast.
TRISTRAM ORDERS BREAKFAST. 171
" But these are for his Majesty."
" What have you besides ? "
" Salt fish."
" I will begin with salt fish."
" Bacon."
" I see," said Tristram, nodding up at a
regiment of hams that depended from a rack
overhead; " I will eat these also. What else ? "
" Cheese."
" On second thoughts, I will begin \vith
cheese, while the fish is being prepared. Is
that all ? "
"Mother of God ! Is it not enouHi ? "
" How can I tell 3^et ? Let me see your
bread and cheese."
The woman left her ducks, and in a minute
had dumped down a loaf and a huge round
cheese of an orange colour before our hero.
" When do we start ? " he asked, with his
month full.
" Shortly after dark."
" Then I have plenty of time.'*
" I shonld hope so. Hostess, bring a bottle
or wme.
" Two bottles," Tristram interrupted.
" It will get into your head."
" I hope so, for my head is something light
at present."
1'- TUK ni.rE T'.wnjoxs.
" You ])r()))()S(', tlicn, to sjkmhI tlif diiy in
oatiiiL; and drinkiiii^'-? "
"Unless 3'ou know of sonic better amuse-
ment with wliicli we can l)('L,niile the time."
"None wliatever. And as T must leave you
i"<»r sonu' time while I niMkc ari'ani^emcnts for
our return "
" 1 sliall not Ix' lonely," said Tristram, witli
a glance at the ducks, rolIow(Ml 1)\- ;in u])\vard
look of resip^nation dii-eclfd ;i< the rows of hams.
It was dark wlim Ca|)tain Salt returned,
and found liis son on the settle where he had
left him. Tristram was not sitting, however,
but stretched at length, and breathing heavil}-.
At the further end of the table sat the host and
hostess of the inn, engaged in makinii- out the bill.
" One — two — three — six bottles ! " exclaimed
his father, counting the ruins on the board.
" Why, the boy is drunk 1 "
" No, father," Tristram interrupted, sitting
up and rubbing his eyes; " not so much drunk
as asleep, and not so much asleep but that I
could see the landlord here add three empty
bottles to the two T had finished, without count-
ing one that came full to the table and was
emptied l)y him for his su]>per."
Captain Salt shot a searching glance at the
couple, who coloured and seemed confused.
TlilSTliAM SETS OUT WITH HIS FATIIEIL 173
" What is this ? " he cried, examining the
reckoning. " Two ducks ! "
" Ah, I'm afraid it is true that I ate one of
the ducks."
" But they were for his Majesty."
" It appears they were cooked on the chance
of pleasing his Majesty, who left, however, with-
out inquiring for them. The landlord and his
wife have just eaten the other. Is it time to
start ? "
" Yes."
Tristram jumped up and stretched himself,
smiling amiably on the host and hostess,
who returned his look with no very good will.
Captain Salt, having made the proper deductions
calml}^ paid the reckoning, and they left tlie
house.
Outside the weather was still dirty, and a
wind, which had gradually risen since the morn-
ing, blew in their faces charged with chilly
moisture, The mist, however, had cleared a
little, and Tristram, as he rammed his hat
tightly on his head before facing the night,
could see the lights of the squadron far out upon
the black and broken waters of the Maese.
" In what ship do we return ? " he asked.
The wind, apparently, drowned his question;
for Captain Salt started off without replying and
17-t THE ULii: I'AVll.lOSS.
led tlio way down across tlic saii(l-1)anks. It
seenu'd to Tristram that their patli lay to tlie
lol't of that by whicli they had aj)proaclied the
iim early in the morning*. l£e was strainini^ liis
e^^es on the look-out for the wooden hmdini,^-
stage, when suddenl}-, on climbing a ridge some-
what higher than the rest, he saw the white
fringe of the waves glimmering close under his
leet, and the inky shadow of a boat, in which
sat a couple of dark forms. One of them,
hearing the low Avhistle uttered by Captain Salt,
scrambled forward to the bows and held out
a hand.
Tristram looked at his father, who nodded.
They entered the boat in silence, and within
a minute were being rowed rapidl}-- across the
tide. It struck our hero that the oars made
remarkably little noise, in spite of the energy
with whicli they were plied. He was about to
speak, but checked himself on seeing his father
raise a finger to his lips. "What is the meaning
of this ? " he wondered. His enormous meal
had made him drow.sy ; and deciding that, if not
allowed to speak, he might at least nod, he
closed his eyes.
He opened them again with a start. From
the shore behind them the roar of guns had just
burst out upon the night.
TJIJ^Y LEAVE THE SQUADRON BEUIXD. 175
This was his first impression ; but the sound
was not repeated, and in a moment or two he
fancied he must have been drearain"- of" the
salute he had heard in the lazarette of the Good
Intent, as the squadron sailed out of Harwich.
The boat was still moving with unabated speed,
and the dark, choppy water stretched all round
them. Through the murky night the ships'
lanterns still shone steadily enough, but further
off than before, and at a sharp angle behind his
riijht shoulder.
" It seems we are not steering very straight
for the fleet," he could not help remarking.
" We are not steering for the fleet," said
his father.
" But I thought "
He broke off as a series of sharp flashes
danced out in the distance, followed by the
rattle of musketry and a dull, confused shouting.
" You perceive," Captain Salt remarked,
"that the squadron is not the safest means of
reaching Harwich."
" What are they doing out there? "
" They are killing each other."
" That sounds very unpleasant."
" And as the night is too dark to distinguish
faces with any certaintj^ I thought you would
prefer to go home by another way."
17(> Till': llLLE L'AVlLiuSki.
" A lonn''-!' w:iy ? "
" It is ccrtiiiiilv a trillc lonLTtT ; but tlicn,
as it won't expose yuu to tlie risk of being
killed "
" That's true. 1 won't grudge the time."
The explosions ot" musketiy, meanwhile, had
been folhjwing each other faster aii<l faster, and
at length became incessant.
" Hravo !" muttered Captain Salt to himself;
" this will take some time to quell."
"What did you say?"
"I was thinking, my son, that 'tis lucky you
have somebody to look alter you." Tristram
sought for his father's hand and pressed it.
" I am not ungrateful, as you think."
" Why should I think so ? You will have
more yet to thank me for, I hope."
The boat at this moment swun<^ to the left,
around a sandy promontory that liid the jets of
firearms behind them ; but waves of light still
flickered across the black sky and the shouting
still went on, thougli growing fainter as they
hurried forward. B\' one of the Hashes, more
vivid tlian tlie rest, and accompanied by the
crackle of a whole volley, Tristram saw that
the boat w^as now being ])roi)elled down a narrow
channel, both shores of which he could just
perceive across the gloom.
TIIEY FIND TWO nORSES. 177
Captain Salt suddenly raised both hands to
his mouth, and, hollowing the palms, uttered
three mournful cries, long and loud, like the
wailing of a gull.
Within half a minute the sound was echoed
back from the darkness on the riglit shore, for
which the boat immediately headed. After
thirty strokes Tristram felt the sand rub beneath
the keel, and they came to a stand.
" Show the light," his father called, jumping
out into the water, that hardly covered the in-
steps of his riding-boots.
The red glow of a lantern appeared as if by
magic, and revealed a man standing but twenty
yards ahead, on a gentle slope of sand. He held
the lantern in one hand, and his right arm was
slipped through the bridles of two horses that
waited, side by side, and ready saddled, their
breath smoking out on the night wind.
"Dear me," Captain Salt observ^ed, reaching
a hand to Tristram, and helping him to land ;
" I forgot to ask if you could ride."
''A very little, my father."
" You will find it difficult, then, to trot.
Therefore we will gallop."
" You intend me to climb upon one of these
beasts?"
" That is easy enough,"
u
178 V'///: i:lJh' y.l I7/./0.V.'?.
" T do not deny it ; but T suppose you also
wisli me to stay on."
"Come ; we must lose no time."
"Luckily, tlic soil of TI(tll;nid. as far as I am
acquainted with it, is soli and sandy. On the
other hand "
"AVell?"
"I was about to remark that they i^row
an immense qnantit}^ ot tuli])s in this countiy,
which demand a harder soil."
" We shall pass none."
"That is fortunate. For wlien I reach home
and they ask me, ' Well, what have 3'ou done
in Holland?' it would be sad to own, 'I have
done little beyond rolling on a bed of tulips.'"
With this ho climbed into the saddle and
thrust his feet well into tlie stirrups, while his
father whispered a word or two to the boatmen,
who were about to push oit" on their return
journe3^
"Are you read}', my son?" he asked, re-
turn ini^ and mounting beside him.
" Quite."
"Forward, then ! "
The two horses broke into a trot. " Ugh,"
exclaimed Tristram, bobbing up and down.
" I told you we must go faster. Stick your
knees tightly into thn saddle — so."
A BLAZE IN THE SKY. 179
The wind and the night began to race by
Tristram's ears as his horse leapt forward. The
motion became easier, but the pace was terrifying
to a desperate degree ; for it seemed that he sat
upon nothing, but was being whirled through the
air as from a catapult at the heels of his father,
who pounded furiously through the darkness a
dozen yards ahead. For three minutes at least
he felt at every stride an extreme uncertainty as
to his chances of re-alighting in the saddle. It
reminded him of cup-and-ball, and he reflected
with envy that the ball in that game is always
attached to the cup with a string.
At the end of ten minutes Captain Salt
reined up, and Tristram's horse, after being
carried past for twenty yards by his mere
impetus, stopped of his own accord and to his
rider's intense satisfaction.
" Look," said the Captain, pointing to the
sky behind them, which was now illumined by a
broad scarlet glare.
''What is that?"
" One of the ships on fire."
" Then I am better off where I am."
" Did you doubt it ? "
" I was beginning to. How much further
must we ride ?
')
" Two leagues."
180 THE BLUE PAVILIONS.
Tristram i^roanod, and they set off a^^ain, but
more slowly, for the road now was paved with
hricks instead of the loose sand over which
they had travelled hitlierto, and, moreover, it
ran, without fence or parapet, alon<^ the top
of a formidable dyke, tlie black waters of which,
far beneath him, caused Tristram the most pain-
ful ai)])rehension. Captain Salt, guessing this,
slackened the ])ace to a walk. The glare still
reddened the sky behind, but either the firing
had ceased or they had passed beyond sound of
it. At any rate, they only heard the water
la])ping in the dykes and the wind that howled
over the wastes around.
Tristram had long since lost his hat, and
his nose was bleeding from a sharp blow against
his horse's neck. He was trying to stanch the
flow when the chimes of a clock pealed down the
wind from somewhere ahead and upon his right.
His father halted again, and, after scanning the
gloom for a minute, uttered again the three calls
that were like the wailing of a gull.
Again the signal was answered, this time
from their left, and the spark of a lantern ap-
peared. " Dismount, my son," said^the Captain,
setting the example and leading his horse by the
bridle towards the light ; " we leave our horses
here."
THEY FIND A CANAL BOAT. 181
" For otliers ? "
*' No, for a caiiiil-boat."
" This country may be flat," thought Tris-
tram ; " but decidedly the travelling is not
monotonous."
As he drew near the lantern, he saw, indeed,
that they were on the edge of a canal, wherein
lay a long black barge, with a boy on horseback
waiting on the tow-path, a little ahead of it.
On the barge's deck by the tiller an immensely
fat boatman leant and smoked his pipe, which he
withdrew placidl}^ from his lips as Captain Salt
gave the pass-word to the man with the lantern
and handed over the smoking horses.
" Modena ! "
The fat man spat, stood upright, and pre-
pared for business as the passengers stumbled
on board. Not a word more was spoken until
Tristram found himself in a long, low cabin,
divided into two parts by a deal partition. By
the light of a swinging lamp he saw that a bench
ran along the after compartment, and asked if
he might stretch himself out to sleep.
"By all means," said his father; "I was
going to propose it m3'self. We shall travel
without halting till morning."
" Then ' good- night.' "
" You appear in a hurry."
18li TJIE LLLE I'AVIlAuSS.
" It seonis to me that it's my turn."
The barL;e was hardly in motion before
Tristram be<;an to snore. Nor did he awake till
the sun was up and shininn' in through the
little openin*^ by the stern, through which he
could see the legs of the fat steersman on deck.
AVhile lie rubbed his eyes his father appeared at
the cabin-door with a bundle in one hand and u
big market-basket in the other.
" You sleep late, my son. 1 have already
been marketing, as you see."
" Then we are at a standstill."
" Yes, but we move on again in three
minutes."
" What have you bought ? "
" Your breakfast. See " and the Captain
spread on the cabin table an enormous sausage,
two loaves of bread, and a bottle of red wine.
" That is good, for I warn 30U I am
hungry."
" But first of all you must dress."
" Am I not already dressed ? "
" Jjet me point out that the uniform of a
private soldier in his ^lajesty's Coldstream
Guards differs in so many respects from the
native costume of these parts that it can hardly
fail to excite remark. Listen : I have here two
suits of clothes, in which we must travel for the
SLOW TRANSPORT. 183
next day or two ; I as a private gentleman, and
you as my lackey."
" I begin to see that tliis way back to
Harwich has its difficulties as well as the other,"
sighed Tristram, while they changed their suits.
This reflection threw him into a melancholy
which lasted throughout the day, insomuch that
he hardly found heart to go on deck, but sat
on his bench in the cabin, feeding his heart on
the prospect of Sophia's joy at his return and
listening to his father, who sat and whistled on
the cabin hatch, to the thud of the to wing-
horse's hoofs, and to the monotonous " huy ! "
and " vuU ! " of the boatman whenever tlieir
barge encountered another and one of the two
slackened rope to allow passage.
Occasionally they were hailed from the bank
by travellers who desired to journey down
stream ; but the invariable answer was that this
barge had been hired by a nobleman who wished
to travel without company and at his leisure.
As Tristram, however, knew nothing of the
Dutch language, he imagined these to be but
kindly salutations of the inhabitants designed to
enliven a voyage which (as he judged) must be
inexpressibly tedious to anyone who made it
with any other purpose than that of being
restored to Sophia's embrace.
I8i THE BLVE V A VI LIONS.
Towards sunset ho went on deck, and
observed his father steadily gazing at the lelt
bank of the eanal, parallel to which, and at a
distance of five hundred yards or less, there ran
an embankment with a high-road along the top
of it. Following the direction of Captain Salt's
eyes, he descried a party of four horsemen aboiit
half a mile behind them advancing down this
road at a steady trot. The Captain had paused
in his whistling — which had been pretty con-
tinuous all day — and was regarding these horse-
men with great interest.
" I do not like them," he said reflectively,
and spoke a few words to the steersman, wdio
glanced back over his shoulder.
" You have met them before P " Tristram
inquired.
" Not that I know of. Nevertheless, I do
not like them."
Tristram thought this odd, for it was impos-
sible at that distance to descry the features of
the riders.
" We will go below," his father announced,
rising in a leisurely manner.
They did so, and stood by the cabin door, so
that their forms were hidden while they could
see perfectly all that passed on the bank. The
four horsemen drew near and trotted b^^ at the
THE FOUR HOUSEMEN. 185
same pace without seeming to turn their heads
towards the canal. Two rode horses of a dark
bay colour, the third a dapple grey, and the
fourth a sorrel. As soon as they had passed out
of sight. Captain Salt ascended to the deck again
and entered into a long conversation in Dutch
with the fat boatman. As this did not amuse
Tristram any more than the windmills of whicli
the scenery was mainly composed, he remained
below, and, stretching himself again on the bench,
began to dream of Sophia.
Three hours later he awoke, said his pra3^ers,
and was preparing to go to sleep again, when his
father entered the cabin.
" Hullo ! What are you doing ? "
" I was just thanking heaven, which, against
my inclinations, makes our journey a slow one."
" You do not wish to reach home in a hurry ? "
" On the contrary, I desire it ardently. But
having remarked that whenever I travel fast I
am either sea-sick or jolted raw, I feel grateful
for every restraint put upon my ardour."
" In that case I almost fear to announce that
we shall move faster to-morrow."
" I am willing to be coerced," said Tristram,
and dropped off again.
It was but an hour after dawn when his
father aroused him. The boat lay moored by a
18G THE BLVE PAVILIONS.
little quay, beyond wliicli liis eye travelled to
clusters of" red roofs ^jlowing in the easterly sun-
shine, and a dominant s})ire, the weathercock of
whicli da/./.icd the eye with its hi-iij^litness. The
town was just waking u}), as could be perceived
from the blue wreaths of smoke that poured out
of the chimneys.
Captain Salt "was in an evident hurry.
Without giving Tristram time to wash in the
fore-cabin, he hustled him on shore and u]) a
narrow street to an inn, over the archway of
which Iiuug: the sii2:n of a AVhite Lamb with a
flag between its fore-legs. Here they rang a
bell, and were admitted after ten minutes by a
sleejDy chambermaid, who led them upstairs to a
low-browed sitting-room facing the street, as
they perceived when she drew back the shutters.
At the back of this room lay two bedchambers ;
and Tristram withdrew into the nearer, while his
father ordered breakfast.
It happened that these two bedrooms over-
looked a broad court or stable-yard behind
the White Lamb. Captain Salt, having given
his instructions, retired, whistling cheerfully, to
perform his toilet. He was in the best of spirits,
and broke now and again into snatches of song,
which he trolled out in a tenor voice of great
richness and ilexibility. Tristram listened in
AT TEE ''WHITE LAMB." 187
admiration on tlie other side of the partition.
The songs were those of Tom d'Urfey and his
imitators, and dealt in a strain of easy sentiment-
ality with hay-rakes, milking-pails, and all the
apparatus of a country life as etherealised by a
cockney fancy ; but the Captain sang with sucli
a gusto, such bravura, and such an appealing
tremolo in the pathetic passages, that you might
have mistaken the splashing of water in his
basin, as he broke off to wash his face, for
tears of uncontrollable re£i'ret that he had not
been born a "swain " (as he put it). Suddenly,
however, one of his roulades ceased with more
abruptness than usual, and the enchanted Tris-
tram waited in vain for the ditty to be resumed.
The fact was that Captain Salt had glanced out
of window, and seen at a stable -door across the
court a man stooping, with his back to the inn,
and washing down the legs of a dark bay horse.
The Captain contemplated this group for a
moment ; then, hastily donning his coat and
turning into the parlour, looked out upon the
street.
Immediately under the signboard of the
White Lamb, and before the front door, stood
a couple of men, who chatted as they passed a
tankard of beer to each other. Captain Salt
could not see their faces owing to the extreme
188 'nii: njA'H i'aviijons.
witltli of" tlicir li:it-l)riins. Hut he turned a
shadt' paler, and, drawin^^ l)aek from the window,
stej)ped to the door, wliicli opened upon the hind
ing". Afovin*^ softly to tlic Ijalusters, he peered
over. Directly beneath him, at the foot of the
stairs, sat yet another man in a broad-brimmed
hat, wlio was en<»'ai»'ed very tranquilly in polish-
ing- a pistol with an oil^- rai^. The barrel
ii'limmered in the iiirht that shone down the
well of the staircase from a skyli^'ht above
Captain Salt's head.
Jle retired to the parlour a^ain, and, after
trying the lock of the door, walked to and fro. in
deep thought For awhile. Then, from the bed-
room, he fetched his sword and belt, with the
two pistols which he had carried throughout the
journey. He was examining the priming of
these very narrowly when Tristram appeared,
red and jjlowinii- from his ablutions. Almost
at the same instant footsteps were heard ascend-
ing the stairs. The Captain went quickly to
the door, pistol in hand.
It was only the waitress, however, with the
tray containing their bivakfast. He told hi-r to
set it down, looked at the tray, and, announcing
that he was hungrier than he had imagined,
desired her to bring up a ham, another loaf, and
four bottles of wine. Tristram stared.
THE FOUR WATGIIEIIS. 189
" You seem puzzled, my son."
"It is my turn again. Let me remind you
tliat, two days ago, you marvelled at my
appetite."
" But this has to last us for a whole day,
and perhaps longer."
" Are we not, then, to proceed further
to-day ? "
" I doubt if we can."
" Decidedly this journey gets slower and
slower."
The waitress came hack with the additional
provisions, and set them on the table. As soon
as she was gone Captain Salt locked the door.
'•Why is that?"
" Merely that I don't wish to be inter-
rupted."
They ate their breakfast in silence. Tristram,
as soon as it was over, rose, and, strolling across
the room, was about to gaze out upon the street,
when his father begged him to come away from
the window.
"Why?"
" My son, you should obey 3'^our father
without questioning," the Captain answered
somewhat tartly.
" Forgive me."
Tristram had been taught to obey, but,
190 Tin: BLUE I'AVU.IDNS.
considering^ the wide views I'or wliicli this country
was notorious, lie bo^^an to reflect witli astonisli-
mcMit on tlie small amount he was able to
see. Also he remarked, as the mornini^ wore
on, that his father was ])orpetually at one
win(h»w or another, movin<^ i'roni parlour to
bedroom and back, and scanning now the street,
now the stable-yard, yet always with a certain
amount of caution. Captain Salt, indeed, was
gradually working himself into a state of restless
irritation. The man in the stable-yard groomed
awa}' at the four horses, one after another,
saddled them, led them back to the stable again,
then composed hiniseli" to sleep on the stool
outside the stable-door, with a straw in his
mouth and his hat-brim wtII over his eyes. The
others still lounsfed in the sunshine before the
inn-door. He could hear the sound of their
voices and occasional laughter, but not the
words of their conversation.
It was about six in the evening when the
Captain was struck with an idea. At first it
staggered him a little : then he thought it over
and looked at it from several sides. Each time
he reviewed the plan he got rid of a scruple or
two, and by degrees began to like it exceed-
ingly. His restlessness diminished, and in the
end he became quite still.
CAPTAIN SALT IS BESTLESS. 191
Tristram, yawning before the fire, glanced np
and found liis father's eyes fixed upon him.
" My compan}' wearies you, dear lad?"
The dear Lid disclaimed weariness. But
Captain Salt advanced, sighed, and laid a hand
on his shoulder.
" Yes, Tristram ; let us not deceive ourselves.
I have done you a wrong, for which you must
forgive me. I hoped, by delaying 3'our return
and keeping you near me — I hoped that per-
haps " Here he sighed again, and appeared
to struggle with an inward grief. "Do not
make it hard for me by bearing malice," he im-
plored, breaking off his explanation.
" I don't quite understand. Are you telling
me that you have kept me here unnecessarily?"
" Alas ! my boy — I hoped that your affection
for me might grow with this opportunity, as
mine has grown for you."
Tristram thought that to spend a morning
in pacing from one window to another was an
odd way of encouraging affection ; but he merely
answered —
"My dear father, I have a confession to make."
" A confession?"
" One that will not only explain my eager-
ness to get home, but also will, I trust, soothe
your disappointment. The fact is, I am in love."
192 THE JJLUE r.WlJJONS.
"Oil! lliat cortiiinl}' alters matters. With
wliom .-'
" With Sophia."
"Who is Sophia?"
" She is Captain Runacles' only (hnighter,
and lives on the other side of onr liedijre."
" My dear lad, wliy did you not tell me this?
Detain you! No. You shall Hy on the wings
of the wind. We will set out this very after-
noon on the swiftest horses this inn can furnish.
Tristram winced. " There are limits even to
a lover's zeal," he murmured.
"No, no. Ah, my ho}' ! I, too, have been
in love — 1 can find the key to your feelini^s by
searching my memory. May you be happier
than I ! "
He passed the back of his hand across his
eyes and continued more cheerfully, hilariously
almo.st —
" But away with an old man's memories !
I was young, then, and ardent as you. Nay, as
I look upon you I see my very self reflected
across a score of sorrowful years. We are ex-
traordinarily alike, Tristram. Stand up and
measure with me, back to back."
They did so. The Captain found himself the
taller by a mere shade.
" It is the wig," he said. " Come, twist up
A TRAJS'SFOUMATION-^CENE. l!J3
your natural liair and let me see you in tliis
wig."
Tristram obeyed, and his father fell back in
astonishment. " It is extraordinary ! "
" Certainly I perceive the likeness," admitted
Tristram, contemplating himself in the mirror
that hung above the mantel-piece.
" It is nothing to what could be produced
b}'- the merest touch or two of art. Give me five
minutes, and I warrant you shall deceive the
waitress here."
He drew the curtain, took down a candle
from the mantel-shelf, lit it, and set it on the
table ; then, |)icking up the cork of an empty
bottle, held it to the Hame for two seconds or
so, and began to operate on his son's face.
" Ah ! " he said, " to think that each
wrinkle, each line, that I copy with a piece
of cork has been traced in the original by
a separate sorrow ! Tristram, your presence
makes me young again, young and childish.
And in return I make you old — a pretty re-
compense ! "
Tristram, whose nature was profoundly
serious, stood up very stiff and blinked at the
hand which wandered over his lace, touching it
here and there as softly as with a feather.
" Are we not wasting time P " he protested.
1:M /•///•; JILI !■: I'A\J1AU.\S.
"Not at all: and to jH'ovc it, I am about
to si'iul 3'ou downstairs to order li(jrses. It is
wondcrrul ! I waucr tlic ]i('o])l(' of the inn
shall not know 3011. Order a couple ot" ileet
iiorscs to be waiting in an hour Ironi now: that
will i^ivi- us ])lcnt)- of time to reacli Nieupoort,
and take a night's rest before sailing to-morrow.
Here, kick off those cliiuisy boots and take
mine ; also m^' cloak here, and sword. Your
breeches and stockings will do. Afterwards you
can stroll out into the town, if 3 ou will, and
])urchase a keepsake for Sophia. I, myself, will
])[\y a ring at Nieupoort for 3'ou to tit upon
her prcttv iinirer, if you succeed in tricking- the
lolk below-stairs. Farewell, m3' son, and CJod
bless 30U ! — onl3', be back within the hour,"
As the door closed upon Tristram, Captain
Salt advanced to the key-hole and listened.
" A sound skin," he muttered to himself, "is
better than a dull son. Moreover, at the worst
he'll be taken back to the Hague, and there the
Marl will keej) him from me." lie examined
his pistols for a moment, opened the door softl3',
and, creeping out on the landing, began to listen
with all his ears.
Meanwhile our hero marched downstairs,
and, encountering the waitress in the passage
below, gave the order for the horses. The
TEE FOUR WATCEEliS ARE ASTONISHED. lt>5
waitress summoned a lethargic, round-bellied
man from an inner parlour, who bowed as well
as his waist would let him, and straddled out
to the stables to repeat the order. Somewhat
pleased to find he had not been recognised,
Tristram sauntered w^ the dusky passage and
forth at the front door. As he passed out
leisurabl}^ he took careless note of a party of
three men seated a few paces to the I'ight of the
door, around a rough wooden table. On the othei'
hand, the effect of his exit upon this party was
extraordinary. For a moment the}^ gazed after
him, their faces expressing sheer amazement.
Then they whispered together and stared again.
Finally all three stood on their legs and buckled
on their sword-belts. Two of them started oli'
to follow Tristram, who had by this time reached
the street corner, and was gazing up at the
house fronts on each hand with rapt in-
terest. The third man waited until they had
gone a dozen yards, and then blew a Avhistle.
In less than half a minute he was joined by the
man from the stable-yard, and, after a short
colloqu}', this pair also linked arms and strolled
up the street.
It was drawing towards sunset, and lights
began to appear in several of the houses as
Tristram passed along. The few foot-passengers
lilt; TJU'J IILUE VAVIIJD.SS.
in llic street wislicd liiin " ( Jood-niirlit " in \\\o
Dutch toni^'uc, and lie answered their salutations
aniialjly in Eni^lish, j^^uessinij^ the L,'ood\vill in
their voices. lie was i^reatly pleased, also, hy
tile nunibci- (»!' villas and small L^ardens that
diversified ilif houses of business, each with a
})ainted summer-house overtopping the wall, and
a j)aiiitcd motto on the i^^ate. He longed to
explore these gardens, and take home to Harwich
some rejiort of the famous Dutch tulip-beds (»n
which Captain Ihirker was ])erp('tnally descant-
iuLT. A row of these garden-walls enticed him
down a street to the right and out towards the
suburbs, where the prospect at the end of the
road was closed by a long line of wind-mills.
All this while he had been sauntering along at
the idlest pace, with a score of pauses. Suddenly
he bethought him that it must be time to
return, and was about to do so when his eye
was caught Ijy [i little shop on the other side of
the road. lie could not road the inscription
above it ; but the window was crowded with
bulbs and roots of .ill kinds, and bai^s of seed in
small stacks, lie crossed the road and entered
the low door, meaning to buy a present for
Sophia, whom for the last ball' an hour he had
comj)letely forgotten.
The proprietor of the shop sat inside behind
7iV THE SEEDSMAN'S SHOT. 19?
a low counter, reading a book by the light of n
defective oil-lamp, the smoke of which had
smeared the rafters in a large, irregular circle.
He was a little, wizened man, with a pair of
horn spectacles, which he pushed high upon his
brow as his customer entered.
" Since my father has engaged to buy Sophia
a ring," said Tristram to himself, " I will get
her a tulip. We will sit hand in hand and
watch it unfold."
The prospect so engaged his fancy that he
entered and began a sentence in excellent
English. The shopman replied by shaking his
head and uttering a few unintelligible words.
This was dashing. Tristram cast about for
a few seconds, and began again in dog-Latin, a
tongue which he had acquired in order to read
the herbals to Captain Barker on winter evenings.
To his delio-ht the little man answered him
promptly. Within a minute they were charmed
with each other ; within two, they had the
highest opinion of each other; within ten, the
counter was heaped with trays of the rarest bulbs,
insomuch that Tristram found a grave difficulty
in choosing that which should give the greatest
pleasure to his Sophia. But, alas ! in changing
clothes with his son. Captain .Salt had found
it unnecessar}^ to change breeches. Tristram
198 77//; liLrr-: riviniaxs.
put Ji liiind iiilii Iiis |i(ick('t ;ni<l (liscovcrcd tlial. it.
contiiiiK'd (iiic coin tmly — ilic sliilliiif]^ with wliich
ho liad Ix'cii ]»n'S(Mit('d wlicii Inrcihly ('nlist('(l in
Ids Majesty's ('(»ldstr('ain (Juards.
'J'lit' Latin itf ihi' ciiiliiisiastir shopman was
hocoininL^ ahmist ('iccnmian, when "^^rrislram
])ulh'd out the coin, and, lioldini,^ it nndrr liis
noso, brictly stated the ease. Tlien tlie wizened
fiicc fell a rull incli. and ihe eloquent voice broke
otr to explain that an KnL,Hish s]ulliu<^, thoufifh
doul)tless a valid tender in KuL^'land, was not wortli
more than a stiver, il" tliat, to a Dnteh tradesman.
Tristram apoloi^nsed, adding- that, if tlie
shopman had a pennyworth of any kind of seed,
he would pnrchase it as ii small reparation for
his intrusion on the time o[ so learned a man.
The sliopman took the shilliui^ and tossed
upon the counter a packet of peppercress seed.
Our hero pocketed it, and was leavinL,' the
shop ; but paused on the threshold and began to
renew his a])oloi^ies.
The little man had [)icked up his book aj:,''ain,
and turned a deaf ear.
Tristram stepped out into the street. As he
did so a hand was laid on his arm, and a voice
said in good English —
" I arrest you in the name of King
William ! ■'
Ib9
CHAPTER X.
THE TRIBULATIONS OF TRISTRAM.
" I THINK tliere must be some mistake," said
Tristrnm, as he turned in surprise and saw
a tall man of soldierly presence, with three
stalwart comrades immediately behind him.
"No mistake at all," said the tall man, with
conviction. " My orders are to arrest and con-
A'ey yon back to the Hngue."
" But I am about to leave Holland, and this
will cause me considerable delay."
" Undoubtedly."
" In that case," Tristram replied, springing^
back a pace and whipping out his sword, " I
must decline to follow you."
"Bah! This is folly."
" On the contrary, it is the conclusion of a
valid syllogism which I will explain to you if
you have time."
" Seize him ! " was the only answer. The
four men drew their swords and rushed forward
too-ether. Perceivino; that he must be skewered
against the shop-door if he awaited their onset,
Tristram contented himself with disarming his
200 riiH ni.i i: r.iiii.ioxs.
foremost ;ls^ail;^lt ; tlicii, s])riiiL;iiiL;- \vilill\- hiick
oil lil^ l<'lt Ih'cI, lie s|(llli l-<Hlli(l ;ill(l lit'j^ail to
riui flnwii t lie sircfl fdi-dt-ar life.
His iiKiN riiu'iit liad hern s«» siiddoi lliat
he gained a do/fii \ards hefore liis enemies
rooovered froiii tlieii- -;iir|)ris(' and sof ofT in
pursnit. S\\M)-d in liand, Trisii-am Hew aloiiLT
the eausewav, under llie lii^li n-ai'd<'n-\valls. \\>v
tlie ojR'ii country and the windmills aheacL lie
hoard tlie feet pounding after him, Ijut lu(d<ilv
did not look behimh 'I'heref(jre lie was iirnorant
that liis ]i'ading pursuer carried ;i brace of
pistols in his helt and was pulling tuie (»ut as
he ran.
It was so, however; and In half a minute
the pistol cracked out behind him — us it seemed,
at the very back of his ear.
He sped on nevertheless, not knowing if he
were wounded or not, ])ut ver}' wisely deciding
that tliis was the surest way to lind out.
As It lia])j)ened. lliis pistol-shot proved of
the greatest service to him. I'or an inquisitive
bnrgh(r, hearing the outcries along the road, had
popped his head out of his garden door at the
very moment that Tristram wiiiz/.ed 1)}', followed
b}' the detonation. The burgher, too, was un-
cerhiiii about the bullet, but determined on the
instant to take the gloomier view. He, therefore,
THE FUPiSUIT. 201
fell across the pavement on his stomach and
bellowed.
The distraction was so sudden that two of
the pursuers tripped over his prostrate form and
fell headlong. Their swords clanf:^ed on the
cohbles. With the clang- there mingled the
sound of a muffled explosion,
" Curse the idiot ! You've killed him, Dick."
The pair picked themselves up as their com-
rades leapt past them. Dick snatched up his
second pistol, and resumed the pursuit without
troublino- his head about the bury-her.
The burgher picked himself up and extracted
the ball — from the folds of his voluminous
breeches. Then he went indoors for ointment
and plaster, the flame of the powder having
scorched him severely. Later, he had the
bent guelder (which had diverted the bullet)
fastened to a little gold chain, and his wife wore
it always on the front of her bodice. Finall}' it
became an heirloom in a thriving Dutch family.
But he was a very slow man, and all this
took a considerable time. Meanwhile we have
left Tristram running, about thirty yards ahead
of his foremost enemy.
He gained the end of the quiet suburb, still
maintaining his distance, and scanned the land-
scape in front. Evening was descending fast.
202 77//; /;/,/•/•; r.wii.ioxs.
'\\) liis ri^lii Ii(^ s:i\v llic \\:iicrs of :i l)r();i(l (•;iii:il
tiliiiiiiici'iiiL'- uiidii' the LifV nIcv. Slraiii'lit lu'loi-r
liiiii ilic liin-li-road I'liii, wiilmuh so inncli as a
tree to slifllf]- liim, I'oi- miles. ( )ii (lir Imrizoii ;i
sCdi't' of wiinliiiills \\a\i'(l tlirir ai'ius like hcckoii-
inir ii'liosts. lie was a LTOod s\\ iiiiiiici'. II lla^licil
u|)(>ii liim iliat his one lio])*' was to make lor tlje
canal, and strike for lln' further bank. There
was a reasonable clianco of shaking" oil' one or
more of his pursuers by this device,
lie lea])t tlie narrow ditcli that ran parallel
with the road, and bei>-an to bear across the
wreen niead(.)ws in a line which verijed towards
the canal bank, at an ani>le suHiciently acute to
prevent his foes from interceptini;- him by a short
cut. B}' their shouts he judg-ed that his i^uess
was fairly correct, and the prospect of having to
swim the eanal daunted them somewhat. He
looked over his slioidder. "^I'lie pace had told
up<,»n three of them, l)ut one man had actuallv
trained on him, and could not be more than
twenty strides b(diind.
"I shall have to settle with this fellow," he
thought. " lie is going to catch me up before I
reach the bank,"
His first wind was failing him, and his heart
began to thump against his ribs. He spied a
beaten path at this point, that trended across
THE FUBSUIT CONTINUES. 203
the meadow at a blunter angle than the one he
was following. Almost unconsciously he began
to reason as follows —
" A beaten path is usually the shortest cut :
also, to follow it is usually to escape the risk of
meetino- unforeseen obstacles. But if I change
the an^le at which I am running for one more
obtuse, I give my pursuer the advantage of ten
yards or so. Yes ; but I shorten the distance
to be covered, and, moreover, this is a long-
distance man, and he is wearing me down."
Though this process of reasoning appeared
to him deliberate enough, in point of fact he
had worked it out and put the conclusion into
practice in a couple of bounds. As he darted
aside and along the footpath he could hear the
momentary break in his antagonist's stride.
Tristram had liardlv turned into this foot-
path, however, before he saw the occasion of it.
Just before him lay a plank, and beneath the
plank a simken dyke, dividing the meadow so
unexpectedly that at fifty yards' distance the
green lips seemed to meet in one continuou
stretch of turf. And yet the dyke was full forty
feet wide. He leapt on to the swaying bridge
and across to the further edge, almost without
a glance at the sluggish black water under his
feet-
•201 TJfH iii.ri: r.wiLioxs.
It is ])|-(il);il)lc tlial, his siuMi'ii wcii^lit JoHimI
llic |»l;iiik oui <il' ils ])(tsiil(iii. Vnv Iiai'dly was
lie sale oil lilt' luiT aL;aiii wIh'H lie licMid a sliarp
cry. TlirttwiiiLC a look hdiiml, lie saw his
pursuer toitcr, cliiich al tlic sli|i])iiii^ liinlicr,
iiud, still (•liiichiuL;" at it, turn a sonirrsaiilt and
disappear.
'I'ristrani ran <»ii. M'lien a scries of sliouts
rang in his ear, and he lo(tked behind a^'ain.
The other three men had come iij), and were
runniiiL;- aimlessly to and Iro upon the lurther
bank. From the pit at their feet rose a ^-uri^'ling
and lieart-rendinq; a]>p<-al for lielp. It was ])lain
the poor fellow was drowniui;-, and ecpially ]»lain
that his comrades could not swim. Tristram
took a couple of strides, and halted. Tiien he
faced about and walked back towards the dyke,
his heart still knockino- au^ainst his ribs.
" Help ! help ! '' resounded from the depths ol"
the dyke.
" (jrentlenien," said Tristram, "are 3'ou aware
that your conirade is pcrishinjjf ? "
They stared at him hcljjlessly. AVithout
more to-do he slipped oil' his shoes, and slidiiiL;'
down the bank, Hum;' hims(dr forward into the
icy water. In two strokes he was able to ii^rasp
the drowning man by the collar and began to
tug him towards the bank.
THE FUIISUIT RECEIVES A CHECK. 205
But it appeared that the fellow had other
views on the right method of heing saved : for,
castina" his arms ahout Tristram's neck and
wreathing them tightl}^ he not only resisted
all efforts to drag him ashore, hut hegun to
throttle his rescuer. In the struggle both went
under.
As the water closed over them, the drowning
man relaxed his hold a little, and Tristram,
breaking free, rose to the surface coughing and
spouting like a whale. Another moment, and
a hand a})peared above the water, its fingers
hooked like a ^bird's talons. This grisl}^ appeal
determined Tristram to nuike another attempt.
He kicked out, seized the uplifted arm just
around the wrist, and with half a dozen iierce
strokes managed to gain the bank at the feet of
his enemies. While he dug a hand into the
soft mud and paused for a moment to shift his
hold and draw breath, one of the three unclasped
a leathern belt and dangled it over the brink.
Tristram reached out, caught it by the buckle,
and was helped uj) with his burden. Two pairs
of strong arms grasped and pulled him forward.
" Turn him — on his face and let the water —
run out; then on his back— give him air," he
gasped, and with that fainted clean away on the
green turf.
2Uti TJIK HUE I'AVlLlnSS.
When his senses caine back, the tlirot' nicii
worr Ix'iidiiiL;- (ivrr Iiim.
" Where is tlie otlicr (»iie P " lie asked fe('l)ly.
"Oh, Dick's all ri-ht." An. 1. indeed, Dick
was sitting;- u]) a leu paces oil", and coughiuj^
viulentlv.
" ]]ut liMik here, you've phi3ed us a pretty
trick! " the voice went ow.
Tristram did not know that his \\\'^ had been
lost in the struLU'gle, or that the burnt cork
which Captain Salt h;id applied was now i-unnini,''
across bis face in a va^ue smear. He had lur-
gotten all about his dis^-uise.
" I was thinkinL;"," lie answered simply,
" that you mii^ht ^ive me the start 1 held before
this happened. Fifteen yards, gentlemen, is as
near as I can guess it. Don't you think that
would be fair ? "
" But why should we chase you at all "r^ "
" Upon my word, sirs, 7 don't know. 1 took
it for granted that you must have some motive."
" So we had; but it ajipears that you are not
Captain Salt."
" That is certain. A man cannot well be his
own father."
" Jiut you are disguised to resemble him."
" All I 1 remember. It was a fancy of his to
dress mcthus, an hour back. Jiut .stop a minute
CAFTAIX SALT HIDES AWAY. 2U7
— 1 be^^iu to perceive. You were after my
father ? "
" Yes, to arrest liim. The King' suspects
him of carrying treasonable 25apers."
A s the full treachery of his father's conduct
began to dawn upon Tristram, they heard the
clatter of hoofs on the road at tlieir back, and
turned. A thin moon hung in the twilight sky.
It was just that hour before dark when the land-
scape looks flat to the eye, and forms at a little
distance grow confused in outline. Yet they
could see the horseman plainly enough to recog-
nise him. It was Captain Salt who flew past,
well out of pistol-shot, and headed soutliAvards
afc a stretch-gallop, his hands down and his
shoulders bent as he rode.
" Devil seize him if he hasn't got my mare ! "
roared the man Dick, forgetting his cough and
leaping to his feet. " I can tell the sorrel a mile
away ! "
'^J'hen followed a dismayed silence as they
watched the escaping rider.
" She's the best nag of the four, too," one of
the men muttered gloomily.
" Boys," said the fellow who had first arrested
Tristram, "he's done us for a certainty. In an
hour or two he'll reach the French outposts.
We must go back and patch up the best story
208 '/•///•; iii.rr: r.ini.inxs.
\\v can tiiid. Young man," he added, turninii;
sliarply, " I'd like to be ciM'taiii you re as \n^^ a
fool as you make out. AVliere d'ye come from,
and where are ye bound loi"? "
Tristram told his story ingenuou-ly enouy;h.
" We'll have to search you."
They .searched him and found a sealed
packet.
"AVhatisthis?"
'' Pepper-cress seed."
" Pepper-cress be damned ! " was the only
comment.
However, when the packet was opened it
was found that he spoke the truth.
" Well, wc can't take you alon<^ with us, or
we shall have to tell his Majesty the truth,
which is something more improbal)le than 1 care
to risk. ^Moreover, you've saved a comrade "
"And many thanks for it, my lad," Dick
added, shaking Tristram by tlie hand.
" Therefore you're free to go. The question
is, Where do you want to go ? "
" Harwich."
"Harwich is a long way; and you've lost
your jiassport. How^ever, there's a chance you
may liud a l)oat on the coast to smuggle you
over. Cross the canal yonder, and bear away
to the west. There's a road '11 take you to
Tnr,'<TlLUf S'7?7'S' OUT ALOXE. 209
Nieupoort. But first you'll Lave to pass this
cursed dyke, unless you care to follow us back
to the town and walk round."
" Thank you, no ; I'll push on. I've crossed
the dyke twice already this evening, and a second
wetting won't matter much. Besides, I see my
sword and shoes lying on the other bank."
He said farewell, slid down into the dyke
again, and swam across. Then, regaining his
property, he turned, called back another " Grood-
night ! " and bore resolutely across the meadow,
the water squishing in his shoes at every step.
The one purpose in his head was to reach the
coast. He was young and sick of heart, but
his gentle mind abhorred from considering his
father's baseness. He thought only of home and
Sophia.
In a minute or two he began to run, for the
night air searched his sodden clothes and chilled
him. The sky was starless, too, but he saw the
dull gleam of the canal, and made for it. Then
he followed the tow-path southward for half a
mile, and came to a bridge, and crossing it, found
himself upon a hrm high-road leading (as it
seemed) straight towards the west, for it certainl}^
diverged from the canal at something like a
right angle. Unfortunatel}^ Tristram could not
see in the gloom that the caual here took a sharp
o
210 'lllh' lUJH r.wii.ioxs.
IxMid inland, and in cihisimiuoicc lie tramjxMl on
witli liis lace set aliimst. dnc sontli, notliiiii^
donM mil;" «>r Ins diivclion, Iml iKtjjiiiLr, i»s oacli lionr
passed, that the next would hrint;- liiin uitliin
sound of tlie surL'. The road ran strai^'ht for mile
after mile. Now and aL;ain he ])assed a small
eabaret brii^htly lit and merry with a iioisc of
talk and laui^'hter that warmed his heart lor a
moment. In the stretclies of darkness between he
met one or two wayfarers, who wished liim " (Jood
nig'ht " in i^-ruli' voices and passed on. Not under-
standing- what they said, he made no reply, but
pushed forward briskly, breaking into a run
whenever the cold began to creep upon him.
J]y-and-by the road was completely deserted.
The lights no longer shone from the lower lloors
of the wayside cottaofes, but, after linircrinir for
a while in the bedroom windows, vanished
altogether. The whole country slept. Then
followed hour after hour of doni^red walkinjr. A
thick haze encircled the moon, and under it a
denser exhalation began to creej* up from the
sodden land. In the silence the foj^ o-athered
iill it seemed to bar the way like a regiment
of white ghosts, wavering and closing its ranks
as the wind stirred over the levels. This
wind breathed on his right cheek steadily. He
never guessed that it came i'roni the sea, nor
''QUI YA LA/" 211
remembered that when he ran towards the canal
it had been blowing full in his face.
It was in the chilliest hour — the one before
dawn — that a voice suddenly calhid out from the
fog ahead : —
"Qui vala?'
Tristram halted, then took another step
forward in some uncertainty.
The voice repeated its challenge in an angrier
tone; and this time our hero stood stock-still.
The misfortune was that he knew not a word of
the French language.
Once more the voice called. Then a trig-o-er
clicked, a yellow Hare leapt out on the fog with
a roar, and something sang by Tristram's ear.
He jumped oft' the road and pelted across the
meadow to his rio'ht. A second shot was sent
after him, but this time very wide of its mark.
Then, as it seemed, at his very feet a dozen black
forms rose out of the earth. He tripped over
one and went floundering on to his nose. As
his hands touched the ground, a score of bright
sparks flew up and were extinguished. With a
cr}^ of pain he rolled upon his back, and was at
once pinned to the ground by a dozen firm
hands.
He had blundered full-tilt across the embers
of a French camp-iire.
212 Till-: iii,rr. r.wrLiDXs.
A lantcni was lit and ilinist clctsc toliisfapo.
Il('l)link('(l j)aiiiriilly lor a iiniiiiciil or two, ami
then jxTceivod tliat lie lay uitliiii ;i circle of
licrco, grey-coatod soldici's, wlio were ])iiitinL;"
liiiii a score of (|Ucs1ions m a ioii^nic wliicli, Ih'
felt sure, it would lake liini a year l(j nuislcr.
He endeavcjuri'd to say so.
"Ar-r-rlil" exclaimed one of the soldiers,
s[)ittin^- conteni[)tuously, " O'est uu Ani^lais."
" l-]spion ! " '^
" J'en reponds." He gave an order, and in a
trice Tristram's wrists were strapped, together
with a handkerchief. Then lie was heaved up
on liis feet, and a couple of meu took him, each
by an arm. They were about to march him oil',
when a voice hailed them, and up rode a general
olHcer, with two dragoons cantering behind him
for escort.
" Ou'y a-t-il, mes enfants ? " He had plainly
been disturl)ed by the noise of the tiring.
The soldiers niunuured, " M. de Soisson ! "
and })resented arms. Then the}^ exjilained
matters, and iliiMisI Tristram forward, holding
the lantern uncomfortal)!^' near his face.
M. de Soisson began an interrogatory in good
French. As the prisoner shook his head, he
harked back and repeated his cpiestions in ex-
tremely bad English. Tristram answered them
THE BARN. 213
truthfully, wliicli liad the effect of raising dis-
belief in M. de Soisson's breast. After ten
minutes this disbelief grew to such an extent
that the peppery officer turned to the sergeant
and ordered Tristram to be taken off to the barn
where the deserters were kept under guard.
This barn lay a mile to the rear, across
half-a-dozen meadows, over which Tristram was
hurried at a quick trot, with the point of a
bayonet at his back to discountenance delay.
On arriving at the building he was held while
the sergeant unlocked the door. Then he was
kicked into inner darkness. He stumbled over
the legs of a man who cursed him volubly, and
dropped on to a heap of straw. Within ten
minutes he was asleep), utterly worn out both in
body and mind.
Three hours passed, and then the door of the
barn was flung open and another sergeant
appeared with a squad of soldiers at his back.
He strode through the barn, kicking the sleepers,
among whom was our hero. Tristram sat up
and rubbed his eyes. He was one of at least
three dozen poor wretches, hollow-eyed, lean of
cheek, and shivering with famine, whom the
sergeant proceeded to drive into a small crowd
near the entrance, shouting an order which
was repeated outside. Six men appeared, each
211. 77//; lUJJE I'AVILIOXS.
carry in;;' a liuulol" cliaiiis. With tlicsclic I'asteiK'd
Ills ])ris()n('rs tog'ethor, two and two, l)y the wrist
ami ankle, and marclicd llicin ont into tin' open
air.
Outside, the rain was deseendini^ suUenly,
and in tliis downjjonr the captives waited for a
mortal Inmr. Then throe men came alonj^, bear-
ing- trays heaped nj) with thick hunks of hrown
bread. A hnidc was doled out to each of the
gang, and Tristram ate his portion greedily,
slaking his thirst afterwards by sucking at the
sleeve of his cloak. lie had hardly done when
the sergeant gave the word to march.
That day they tramped steadily till sunset,
when they reached the town of Gourtrai, and
were halted on the outskirts. Here the}^ re-
mained for half an hour in the road while the
sergeant sought lor quarters. Tristram's com-
rade — that is to say, the man wIkj was attached
to him by the wrist and ankle — was sulky and
extremely dejected. As for Tristram, his very
soul shuddered as he looked back upon the
journey. He was wet to the skin and aching ;
his teeth chattered with an ague; his legs were
so wear}' that he could seai'cely drag them along.
But worse than the shiverings, the weariness,
and the weight uf his fetters, were the revolting
sights he had witnessed along the road — men
WITH THE DESERTERS. 215
dropping with liimger and faintness, kicked to
their feet again, prodded with bayonets till the
blood ran, knouted with a thick whip if they
broke step, jeered at when they shrieked (as some
did) for merc}^ There was worse to come, and
he alone of all the gang was ignorant of it. Very
merciful was the confusion of tongues which
hid that knowledge from him for a few hours.
At length they were marched back half a
mile and turned into a barn, narrower than
their shelter of the previous night. Nor was
there any straw in it. They slept on the hard
bricks, pillowing their heads on each other's
legs, or lay awake and listened to each other's
moans. Two sentries with loaded muskets kept
guard by the door, and looked in whenever a
chain clanked or some unfortunate began to rave
in his sleep. Before morning a third of the
gang was down with rheumatic fever or typhus.
At six o'clock the sergeant entered and examined
them. Then he retired, and came back in
another hour with a covered wagon, into which
the sick were hoisted and packed like herrings.
All who had power to move their legs were after-
Avards turned out and treated to a pound and a-
half of the " King's bread " and a drink of water
before starting. Tristram was one of these. The
fever had relieved hiui of his companion, and
2in TUIJ BLUE I'.W'IlJ'tXS.
tliis (lav lie iiiaiclicd with inoro coinrort, albeit
his \\rists were hdUiid t(»;^('tli('r and a rope ol" t(.'U
yards or more tit<l him hy ilie waist to a coU])le
of i'cttcred deserters in I'roiit.
The weatlier liad hltt'd soincwliat, hut the
roads were still heav}', and their })aee was le^'-u-
lated by the co\ered Avayi,^un, which seemed to
loiter malevolently, as il" to L;et every ])Ossible
jolt out of the rutted highway. With every
jolt came a scream from one or more of the sick
men inside. Some, however, were past scream-
ing, and babbled continuously in hiij^h delirium;
and the ceaseless, monotonous talk of these
tortured Tristram's ears from Courtrai to Jjille.
Thev reached ]jille Iouli" alter dark, and
were driven through the streets, between the
hriglit windows ol" hajjpicr men, to the gloomy
tower of Saint Vicrre, that at this time was set
apart for Tgalley-slaves. On entering the jn-ison
they were marshalled in a long corridor, where
a couple of gaolers searched them all over.
Kotliing was found on Tristram but his packet
of pepper-cress seed, which the searchers
obligingly returned. As soon as this ceremony
was over, all who were not broken with fever
were led up two llights of stone stairs. An iron
door was opened, and the sound of heavy snoring
struck their ears. Inside, they perceived by the
THE TO WEB OF ST. PIEBBE. 217
lio'lit of the y-aoler's lantern a dozen liLi'ures
stretched on straw pallets, and between the
sleepers as many more empty couches, for which
the new-comers were left to scramble. Tristram
secured one as the door clanged and left them in
pitch-black night, but gave it up to a pitiful
wretch who crept near and, kissing his hand,
implored leave to share it. Curling himself up
upon the bare floor, he was quickl}^ asleep and
dreaming of Sophia.
A hand sliook his shoulder and aroused him.
Looking up, he saw a couple of villainous
faces, which he did not recognise as belonging
to the 2"anir he had been walkiuLic with for two
days. It was morning, as he could perceive by
the light that was strained through a cob webbed
grating over his head.
The two men demanded if he wished to be
tossed in a blanket. Tristram, not understand-
ing, shook his head. They thereupon demanded
money and began to threaten. Tristram hit one
violently in the eye, and, catching the other by the
throat, pounded his head against the wall of the
dungeon. He was surprised at the strength left in
him, and also at a fury which he had never felt
before in his life. A few of the prisoners roused
themselves listlessly and laughed. He kicked the
two fellows out of the way and lay down again.
21.S rilh' JJLUl'J rAllUONS.
Later in tlic innniinn' Ik- witnessed tlie pime
tliey liad meant to })Iay witli liini. One of his
conn'ades, a wretelied boy, blue with starvation,
denied tlieiii money, lor the simple reason that
he had Hone in liis pocket. Four of the old
liands thereupon produced a filthy counterpane
of coarse cloth and stretched their victim upon
it. Then each took a corner, and, raising it as
luL^h as they could rrach, th(y let the counter-
pane fall on the stone llooring with a horrible
thud. Tristram leapt forward indignantly and
cauiiht one of these ruffians a blow on the back
of the neck that sent him down like an ox.
Uj3on this the other three dropped their sport
and fell upon him, like angry women, tooth and
nail. Nobudv interfered, lie was driven back
against the wall, where he leant, just contriving
to keep his adversaries at arm's length with his
fists, and feeling, now that the first spurt of
wrath had left him, that within three minutes he
must faint from very hunger and weakness.
There is no knowing how the affair would
have ended had not the door been thrown open
at this moment. A couple of priests advanced
between the tiles of prisoners, who sat uj) at
once and began to howl out a dismal litany at
the top of their lungs. Tristram's assailants
left him hurriedl}', and, shiinking back to their
A DAY IN I'lilSOX. 21I»
pallets, began to lift their voices with the rest.
The noise was like that of a cat's battle, and the
priests marched to aud fro while it continued,
smiling to left and right and exhorting the poor
devils to an increase of fervour. One of them
spied Tristram and whispered to his brother;
and the pair seemed about to address him,
when three gaolers entered with large trap's,
bearing the prisoners' breakfasts. The litany
ceased, and the singers glanced at these trays
with greedy eyes.
It proved to be the best meal that Tristram
had swallowed since his misfortunes began, there
being a pint of soup to each man in addition to
the usual brown bread. After devouring it,
Tristram sat with his back to the wall, wonder-
ino; if the three ruffians would renew their
attack ; but they appeared to have forgotten
their resentment, and even his presence. Some
of his fellow-miserables fell to chatting ; others
to plaiting ropes out of the straw on which they
lay ; while some occupied themselves in keeping
a look-out for the rats that swarmed everywhere
and stole out in the dim light to gnaw the pieces
of bread which the prisoners saved and hid
away for future use.
About four in the afternoon the great door
was flung open again and the chief gaoler
±20 Till': iiiAJi: I'Avn.ioNS.
appcari'd, witli Idiii- liinikcys and tlic soldiers of
the prison yiiaid, all anucd id tlir teetli witli
pistols, swords and bayonets. Tlicii- object, it
tuniod out, was to examine tlie Icui- walls and tlie
Jloor veiy minutely, to see if" the prisoners were
nuiking an}- boles or planning- any attempt to
escape. They s])eut a full ball' an hour in rout-
ing out tlie i)risoners and searching high and
low witli their lanterns, using great roughness
and the most abominable talk, 'j'ristram watched
their movements lor some time, but at length
curled hinisell' up in his corner, which had
alread}^ been explored, lie was closing his eyes,
and putting a finger in each ear to shut out the
riot, when a smart blow desceiuled across his
thighs.
One of the soldiers was belabouring him with
the Hat of a sword, as a hint to stand up.
Tristram did so, and now observed that a
dozen of the men with whom be bad marched
during the two previous days were collected in a
little grou J) by the door, lie was taken b}' the
arms and hustled forward to join them. As he
came close and could see their faces in the dingj'-
twilight, he saw also that, though big, strapping
fellows, the most of them Avere weeping, and
shivering like conies in a trap.
He was still wonderinL-- at the cause of their
THE BRAZIER. 221
agitation when the gaoler reopened the door and
they were marched out, down the stone stairs,
then sharply to the right and along a narrow
corridor. A lamp flickered at the further end,
over a small door studded with iron nails ; and
before this door another small com pan 3^ of
soldiers was drawn up in two rows of six,
with their backs to either wall of the corridor.
Between them the prisoners were forced to defile,
still cringing and weeping, as the small door
opened and they passed into the chamber
beyond.
And now for the first time Tristram felt
thoroughly alarmed. The chamber was narrow
and lofty, and without any window that he
could perceive. But just now it was full of
a red light that poured out through the e3TS of
a charcoal brazier in the far corner. Two grim
figures in leathern aprons stood over this brazier,
with the glare on their brutal faces — the one
puffing with a pair of bellows till the room was
filled vv^ith suffocating vapours, the other diving
a handful of irons into the glowing centre,
wherein five or six already glowed at a red heat.
Beside them, and watching these operations
with a business-like air, stood a gentleman in a
handsome suit and plumed hat.
" Premiere fournee ! ' announced the sergeant
•JJJ Till': nj.li: r.wiLioxs.
in a loiul fon(\ inarslialliiiLi- I lie jii'isonors aloiiLJ^
tlic wall. I''iiiii- Ml- li\r (if lliciii lia<l l»y lliis limt*
hrolvcn out into loud sobs ami cries For nicrcv.
Tlic Li;ontlemaii scarcely turned his liead, but
continued to watch the heating- oi" tlie irons. At
lenL,''th, satisfied tliat all was ready, ho turned
and walked in front ol" the line, cxainininL!^ each
prisoner attentively with an absolutely impassive
face.
Comiuf? to Tristram — who by this time was
committing- his fate to heaven — he paused for
a moment and, beckoning the sergeant, put a
question or two. The sergeant shrugged his
shoulders and spread out both palms apologetic-
ally. Then the gentleman addressed a sentence
to Tristiam, and receiving no answer but a shake
of the head, cast about for a moment and began
again in English.
" You are Englishman ? "
" Yes, sir."
" Not French deserter ? "
" Certainly not."
"Then what the devil 3 ou do here? "
This was a question that seemed to require
a deal of answering. While Tristram was per-
pending how best to begin, his interrogator spoke
agani-
" Speak out. I am M. de Jjandjertie, Grand
.V. DE LAMBEllTIB. 223
Provost of Flanders. You liad better speak mo
tlie truth."
Our liero bo<]^an a recital of his woes, con-
densing as well as he could. After a mhiute,
M. de Lambertie interrupted him.
" I beg- 3'our pardon. I speak the Englisli
ver' Avell ; but mordk'u if I can comprehend a
word as you speak it ! Tenez dona — You are a
spy-
" Not a bit."
" Well, well," said the Grand Provost, alto-
gether gravelled, "you must be something —
come."
He called the sergeant again ; who plainly
could give no information, and was quite as
plainly surprised that any fuss should be made
over an affair so trivial. Indeed, the sergeant
ventured to suggest that Tristram should be
branded on the off-chance of its turning out for
his good.
" But no," said M. de Lambertie, " I am a
man of justice and of logic. It is incredible
that a youth who cannot speak a word but
English should be a deserter from our Majesty's
army. Moreover, I am a physiognomist, and his
face is honest. Therefore," concluded the man
of logic, "he shall go to the galle3"s."
This was interpreted to Tristram, who found
221 Tin: r.LJ'K vwiliox;^.
the arL;Mnnrnt fallacious, hiil lill on liis kiUTS
ainl kissed M. dc Iiaiiiln'rti<'"s liaml.
" 'I'akt' liiin a\\a\," said ilic (Irand Trovost.
lie was di'aL,''L,^<'(l to Ins fci't ;iiid l<'d i<> tlio
door, luUowc'd by tlic (Icspcratc eyes ol his
comrades. He heard their sobs and outcries
renewed above the steady pant of the bellows.
Then the door clanu^ed. 'JMie soldiers to(dc
him upstairs and cast him ])ack into the ij^reat
duuL^eon.
The next niorninf^ he started in a chain of
thirty-tive slaves for the g:dleys at Dunkirk.
225
CHAPTER XI.
THE GALLEY " l'hEUREUSE."
The archers, or constables, in charge of the
slaves took them through Ypres and Furnes ;
and, as the distance is about twelve leagues, it
was not till the third day that Tristram saw the
spires and fortifications of Dunkirk rising against
the blue sea. But in that time he learnt much,
being tied to a brisk, rotund Burgundian, the
cheerfullest of the gang, who had made two
campaigns with the English Foot Guards in
Turenne's time, and had picked up a smatter-
ing of their language. He knew, at any rate,
enou2"h Eiio-lish to teach Tristram the rudiments
of French on the road, and gave him much
information that went far to alter his notions of
the world.
Tristram was deeply shocked at the sight
of one or two of the men whom he had left in
the hands of M. de Lambertie. He now ceased
to wonder at the agony of apprehension they
had exhibited, and, while compassionating their
horrible case, did not forget to thank God for
having interposed to sa\e him from a similar
fate.
r
l!:i«i TJIE BLUE J'AVJLlOyS.
"All, yi's," said liis coiiinuU' tranquilly;
" tlii'y are (U'scrtcrs. Fdniifrlv tluv used to
Itave ilieir imsrs cut oil', as well as their ears;
but this was lound to breed infection, and now
thev arc merely slit — l)esides, of course, being
branded with tlie ll<»wer-de-luee on either cheek.
13ut what matters their apjx'arauce to tliem,
seeini,^ tliat their sentence is lor life?"
Tristram sliiuhlered. "This Kini;' of yours,"
said he, " must be tlie first-cousin to the devil."
" They are all alike, wou clivr. \Vhat, for
instance, has your Kiny done for you? Jiut
speak not so loud." He took a few steps in
silence, and added : " After all, one must dis-
tinguish l)etween crimes. If the ^ioor fa Kssoiiiers
are treated to the galleys it is absurd to suppose
that nothincT worse must befall a deserter."
" AVhat is a I'dusxonur V^
" U'here is one yonder, comrade — that young
])ea>-aii1 who walks like a ealf and >eems to know
not whither he is bound, lie is condemned
because he bought some salt lor his young wife,
Avho was ill. '
" Is that a crime ? "
"It depends where you buy it. You must
know, my friend, that in most of the provinces
of France salt is very dear. A pint will cost
you four francs and a little over. Thcrelure the
WITH THE CHAIN. 227
poor cannot afford it for their soup, and some,
for lack of it, go fasting most of the week. So
they starve and languish and fall sick, as did
this young man's wife. But In my native Bur-
gundy — blessed be its name ! — and also in the
country of Doubs, salt is cheap enough. Now,
this young man dwelt close on the frontier of
Burgundy — I have seen him times and again at
the vintage work — and because he was verj^ fond
of his wife, and could not bear to see her die, he
ventured across the frontier to buy salt cheaply ;
and, beinor taken, he has been condemned to the
galleys for six years. In the meantime his wife
will perish. But the King's taxes must be paid,
else how shall we exterminate his enemies? "
"But," Tristram exclaimed, trembling with
indignation, " how can you be cheerful in this
fearful land r "'
" What ! I ? Well, I am cheerful, to begin
with, because my nose is not slit.''
" Tliat appears to me a very slight reason."
" You would not sa}^ so if you had run so
near it as I."
" Are you a deserter, then ? "
" Thanks for your good ()i)inion, comrade !
No. I was never guilty of disloyalty to King
Lewis. But I killed my wife's mother, pardieu !
— which the judge seemed to think almost as
228 Tinc niAJi: I'avi lions.
vili'. lill I scut ;i Iriiiid to givasc liis palm with
the hist soil (»l" mv jiatriinouv. And, by <^ood
fortuiR', it becaiue L;iva>y ciKui^li to let nic slip
out of the worst."
" A uiurdt'ivr ! " u;as])cd our iuu(»cc'ut youth,
drawing- away from his side.
'■ She was talkative," the little luau cx-
])laiu('d. with coniposure. " But let us converse
upon other subjects. Only I must warn you
that on board the galleys, whither we are bound,
a man can recoil from his neighbour but just so
I'ar a^ his chain allows."
In such converse they beguiled the way,
talking low whenever an archer drew near, and
whispering together at night until they dropped
asleep in the lilthy stables where they were
])acked, their chains secured at either end to the
wall, and so tightly that they had barely liberty
to lie down, and none to turn, or even stir, in
their sleep. Hy degrees Tristraiu grew even
to like this volatile and disreputable comrade,
whose conscience was none of his own trrowintr,
but of the laws he lived under.
On reaching Dunkirk, however, they were
parted, Tristram being assigned to the galley
Jj J [en re use, while the J]urgundian was told oil"
to the M<'n-ci1li\ then commanded by the
Chevalier de Sainte-C^roix.
AT DUNKIRK. 229
" You are in luck, comrade," lie said, as they
parted under the Rice -bank fort, beside the pier ;
" Z'lIeureKse is the Commodore's galley, and the
only one in which a poor devil of a slave has an
awning- above his head to keep the rain and sun
off. Ah, what it is to have six feet of stature
and a pair of shoulders ! "
It turned out as he said. V Jleureuse, com-
manded by the Commodore de la Pailletine, was
the head of a squadron of six galleys then quar-
tered in the port of Dunkirk. But it is necessary
here to sa}'' a word or two about these strange
vessels which the Count de Tourville had re-
cently brought round to the north coast of France
from Marseilles and the ports of the Mediter-
ranean. They were narrow craft, ranging from
120 feet to 150 feet long, and from IS feet to
20 feet by the beam. In the hold the}^ were
not more than 7 feet deep ; so that, with a full
crew on board, the deck stood less than a couple
of feet from the water's ed^-e : for the number
of men tliey held was prodigious. The Com-
modore's galley alone was manned by 33G slaves,
and 150 men of all sorts, either officers, soldiers,
seamen, or sers^ants. This, however, was the
biggest complement of all ; for while JJ Hcureuse
had fifty-six oars, with six slaves to tug at each,
none of the rest carried more than fitt}^, with
230 77/y; luj'i-: i'aiijjos^.
li\'(' rowors npioco. Tlic prow of oacli ^:illoy
was of inm, pointed like a hcak, and so sliarp
dial when rowed ai I'lill sjtccd an'ainst a liostilc
sliij) it was like to sink licr, oi- at leasl to drive
deep and hold on while the boarders ])(Hired up
and ovei' her side. In addition 1o Ihis formid-
able weapon, each carried four l^muis rii;ht forward,
besides a lieavier piece which was worked on a
circular platlorni aniidslii])s, and wlien not re-
quired for service was stowed by the mainmast
for ballast. Each galley had two masts, though
they were next to useless, for it is easy to
see that vessels so laden and open at the decks
were fit only for the lii;-htest breezes, and in foul
weather must run to harbour for their lives.
Before eml)arkinL,^ in the boat which was to
take him on board, Tristram was led up to the
Itice-bank, where a barber shaved his head, and
where he was forced to exchange the suit he wore
for a coarse canvas frock, a canvas shirt, and a
little jerkin of red serge, sleeveless, and slit on
either side up to the arm-holes. The design of
this (as a warder explained to him) was to allow
his muscles free play, which Tristram ])i()nounced
very considerate, repeating this remark when he
received a small scarlet cap to keep the cold
from his shaven head, lie was next offered a
porringer of soup, consisting chiefly of oil, with a
THE GALLEY. 231
dozen lentils floating on the top ; and havinpf
consumed it, was rowed off to be introduced to
his new companions. On considering his cir-
cumstances, he found but one which could be
called con soli no^. It was that he had been
allowed to retain and stow in his waist-belt his
little packet of pepper-cress seed — a favour for
which he thanked his persecutors with tears in
his eyes.
It happened that his galle}^ was bound that
afternoon on a cruise of a few miles along the
coast, and indeed was lifting anchor as he was
hauled up the side. He had, therefore, but a
hasty view of his surroundings before he was
chained to his bench, facing the great oar. He
saw only a long chamber, crossed by row upon
row of white, desperate faces. Down the middle,
by the ends of the benches, ran a gangway, along
which three overseers paced leisurably, each with
a tall, flexible wand in his hand. The stench in
the place was overpowering, and Tristram was on
the point of swooning when the fellow who was
chained beside him growled a word of advice —
"Look sharp and slip your jacket off."
Tristram obeyed without understanding. He
saw that all the figures around him were naked
to the waist, and therefore pulled off shirt as
well as jacket, but not quickly enough to prevent
2:V2 THH lllAri': I'.IVI I.IONS.
ci stroke, wliicli liisscd (l(»\vn on liis sliouldcrs
;ni(l nin<l<' liim set his ti-ctli with :mi;uisli. The
iiiaii Ix'sidc liiiii utlcnMl ;i sliar]) cry. lie, too,
liad li'lt tlie cut, or ])art of it; for tlie overseer's
waiul (lid not discriminate.
'I'hc liaiidic of llie <^reat oar .swuni^ towards
Tristram. Noting- how liis ncii^libour's liands
were laid u]i(tn it, and cojniiii^ his example,
he Ix'^an to tun" with the rest, risin<^ from his
bencli and falliiin" hack upon it at each stroke ;
and at the end of each stroke, where ordinarily
a boat's oars raille Ijriskly a^'ainst the thole-
pins, the time was marked with a h^ud clasji
of chains, and oltcn eiioiiL;li with a sharp cry
from some poor wretch who had been cauu'lit
lagfi;'in<j^ and thwacked across tlie bare shoulders.
The fati^'ue after a time i^rew intolerably
heavy. AVliiic the snn smote down thronyh
the awnini^f, the heat of their exercise seemed
never to pass up throunh it, but beat back
upon their faces in sickenin*^ waves, stoppinij;'
their breath. Of the world outside their den
tliey could see nothini^ but a small patch
of blue sea beyond the hole in which their
oar worked. The sweat poured off their chests
and backs in streams, imtil their waistbands
clung- to the ilesh like soaked sp(mges. Some
began to moan and sob ; others to entreat
THIS I HAWS FIRST CBUJSE. 233
heaven for a respite, as if God were directing
their torture and takini^ delight in it; others
again hroke out into frightful imprecations,
cursino- their Maker and the hour of their birth.
And while the oars swung and the chains
clashed and the cries redoubled their volume,
tlie three keepers moved imperturbably up and
down the gangway, flicking their whips to left
and right, and drawing blood with ever}^ second
stroke. At length, when Tristram's head was
reeling and the backs of the bench-full just in
front were melting before his eyes and swimming
in a blood-red haze, the order was yelled to easy.
The men dropped their faces forward on the oars,
and rested them there while they panted and
coughed, catching the breath again into their
heaving bodies. Then one or two began to
laugh and utter some poor drolleries ; presently
the sound spread, and within three minutes the
whole pit was full of chatter and uproar. They
seemed to forget their miseries even as they
wiped the blood off their shoulders.
And now, while the cold wind began to creep
underneath the awning and dry the sweat
around their loins, Tristram had time to take
stock of his companions, and even to ask a
question or two of the slave that had spoken
to him. They were all stalwart fellows, the
2:51. ///a; uli'i-: I'.wii.ioxs.
Commodore having the pick of all tlic forcah
(Iral'ted to liis port, and cxercisin*^- it with some
care, hecauso he ])ri(h'd himself on the speed of
his vessel. Not a few wore on their cheeks the
j^hastly red ilo\ver-de-luce, which he now knew for
the mark of deserters, murderers, and the more
llaii;rant criminals ; others, he learned, were con-
demned for the pettiest thefts, and a lar^-e pro-
portion for having no better taste than to belong
to the l^rotestant reli'^ion. The man beside
him, for instance, was a poor Huguenot from
Periirord, who had been cauji-ht on the frontier
in the act of escaping to a country in which he
had a slight]}' better chance of calling his soul
liis own. All these were white men ; but at the
end of eacb bench, next the gangway, sat a Tink
or ]Moor. These were bought slaves, procured
expressly to manage the stroke of the oar, and.
for their skill, treated somewhat better than the
Christians. '^I'he}' earned the same pa}- as the
soldiers, and v.ere not chained, lik(» other slaves,
to the benches, but carried only a ring on the
foot as a badge of servitude. Indeed, when not
engaged in service, they enjoyed a certain
amount of liberty, being allowed to go on shore
and trade, purchasing meat for such of th<' white
men as had any money or were willing to earn
some by clearing their neighbours clothes of
TJ[E CHEW OF '' L^irEUREUSE." 235
vermin — a common trade on board these galleys,
where the confined space, the dirt, and profuse
sweating- at the oar bred all manner of loathsome
pests.
It was by degrees that Tristram learnt all
this, as during the week that followed he found
time to chat with the Huguenot and improve
his acquaintance with the French tongue. By
night he was provided with a board, a foot and
a-half wide, on which to stretch himself ; and as
he lay pretty far aft, was warned against scratch-
ing himself, lest the rattle of his chains should
disturb the officers, whose quarters were divided
from the slaves' by the thinnest of wooden
partitions. By day, indeed, these officers, as
well as the chaplain, had the use of the Com-
modore's room, a fairl}^ spacious chamber in the
stern, shaped on the outside like a big cradle,
with bulging windows and a couple of lanterns
on the taffrail above, that were lit when evening
closed in. But at night, or m foul weather,
M. de la Pailletine reserved this apartment for
his own use.
At six o'clock every morning the slaves were
roused up and began their day with prayers,
which the chaplain conducted, taking particular
care that the Huguenots were hearty in their
responses. The Turks — or Vocj tie- cw ants as they
2n(; Tui: ULUI-: i'avilioxs.
were culled — were never molested on the score of
reliL(ion ; ])ut wliile Mass was sayin^,^ were put
out of tlio galley into a lon<^-l)oat, wliore they
diverted themselves l)y smoking" and talkini^ till
the Christians were throngli with their exercises.
AVlien tliese were done the daily portion of
biscuit — pretty g'ood, thouij^li coarse— was doled
out to each man, and at ten o'clock a porrinj^er
of soup. Also, on days wlnn the L,^dleys were
taken for a cruise, each slave received somethinj^
less than a j)int of wine, niornin<( and eveniuf^,
to keep up liis strength. But it must not be
inuiirined from this that their work was \'\<j:ht
durinii: the rest of the week. AV^hen the weather
kept them in liarbour, all such as knew any
useful trade were taken off tlie iJialley to the
town of Dunkirk, and there set to work under
iruard, some at tlie makinir of new ch^tlies or the
repairini^ of ohl ones ; others at carpentry,
plumbini^, or shoemakinir; others, again, at
repairing the fortifications, and so on — thus
allowing room for the residue to scrul) out the
galley, wash down the benches and decks, and
set all ship-shape and in order : of which residue
Tristram was one, being versed in no trade but
that of gardening, for wdiich there seemed to be
no demand. But at length, having an eye for
colour, he was given a paint-pot and brushes.
USE IS FOUND FOR TRISTUAM. -IM
slung over tlie galley's stern, and set to work to
touch up the Avindow-fraines of the Commodore's
cabin. The position was uncomfortable at first,
since the board on which he was slung was but
eight inches wide, and the galley's stern rose to
a considerable height above the water. Looking
down, he reflected that, with the heavy chain on
his leg, he was safe to drown if he slipped ; and
in spite of his miserable situation, he had not the
least desire to die, being full of trust in Provi-
dence and assured that, so long as he lived, there
would always be a chance of regaining his
beloved Sophia. And pretty soon he grew to
delight in the work, not for its own sake alone,
but because it separated him for a time from the
sight of his companions and their misery. The
paint was blue, which reminded hira of the
Pavilions at home, and he began to throw his
soul into the job, with the result tliat the Com-
modore expressed much satisfaction Avitli it, and
gave him instructions to re-paint the whole of the
stern, including the magnificent board with the
inscription L'llEUREUSE in gilt letters, and
the royal arms of France surrounded with decora-
tions in the flamboyant style.
Tlius it happened that, one fine morning in
the middle of June, he was hanging out over
the stern in his usual posture, and, having
238 77/ /v' ]lJA'r: I'.W'IIJONS.
tinislicil llic letters //'//A7 , took ;i look aroiiiid
on tilt' hriu'litncss of i\\v day Ix'forc (li]>])in<^ his
l)riisli and startin*^ a^-aiii. The galley with her
live consorts lav in the Koyal l»asin nndor the
cita(h'l. and a niilf in tVoni the open sea, towards
wliieh the lon<^ line oi the pier extended, its tall
I'orts ddiiiinatinLC the sand-dnms iluit stretched
away to rii^lit and lell. The sands shone ; the
sea was a hri^ht hlni', i'dL,''ed with silver
where its breakers touched the shore ; a clear
northerly breeze came sweeping inland an<l
hummed in the galley's rigginij;' as it ilew by.
From the streets of Dunkirk sounded the eheer-
lul bustle of the morning's business ; and as
Tristram glanced up at the glistening spire of
the Jesuits' Church, its clock struck out eleven
o'clock as merrily as if it placed a time.
It was just at tliis moment, as he turned to
dip his l)rusli. that \\r caught sight of a small
boat a})j)roaching across the basin. It was rowed
b\' a waterman, and in the stern-sheets there sat
a jiii'ure the sii>lit of which caused Tristram's
heart to stop beating for a moment, and then to
resume at a gallop. He caught hold of the rope
by which he hung, a)id looked again.
Beyond a doubt it was his lather, lloderick
Salt.
Kow just as Tristram underwent this shock
CAPTAiy SALT STEPS ABOARD. 23i)
of surprise, from a point about three yards above
bis bead anotber persou was watching the boat
with some curiosity. This was the Commodore,
M. de hi Paillctine, who stood on the poop with
bis feet phmted wide and his hands clasped
beneath his coat-tails. He was wondering who
this visitor could be.
Captain Salt was elegantly dressed, and the
cloak thrown back from his broad chest revealed a
green suit, thick wdth gold lace, and a white waist-
coat also embroidered with gold. The bullion
twinkled in the sunshine as the boat drew near
and, crossing under Tristram's dangling heels,
dropped alongside the galley. And as it passed,
the son, looking straight beneath him, determined
in his heart that, bad as his present plight might
be, he would, endure it rather than trust himself
in his father's hands again. The Captain stepped
briskly u}) the ladder and gained the galley's
deck. He had given the 3'oung man a glance
and no more. It was not wonderi'ul that he had
failed to recognise in the y oun^^ forraf with the
shaven head and rough, stubbly beard the son
whom he had abandoned more than a month
before. Besides, he was busy composing in his
mind an introductory speech to be let off on
M. de la Pailletine, in whose manner of receiving
him he anticipated some little frigidit3^
•Jlo Till-: lilAK I'AllLlnXS.
ilowever, lie stopju'd (»n deck iiiid advanced
towards the oflicer on tlic iiooj) witli a pleasant
smile, d<)HinL;' Ills lae<'d liat with one hand and
lioldinL;; forward a Ictiri- in llic otlifr. M. d<' la
Paillcline took liis liands IVdUi hcncatli Ids coat-
tails and also advanced, retnrninj^ the salnte
very })olitely.
" The Commodore de la I'ailletine, 1 be-
lieve ? "
" The same, monsieur."
'^riie two gentlemen regarded each other nar-
rowly for an instant; then, still smiling, Captain
Salt presented his letter, and stood tapping the
deck with tlic toe of his square pointed shoe
and lookiuL!' aniialjl\ ahuut liini while the Coin-
modore glanced at the seal, broke it, and began
to read.
At the lirst sentence the niu.scles of ^I . de la
Pailletine's forehead contracted slightly.
"Just as T expected,'' said the Kngli.shnian
to himself, as he stole a glance. But he cun-
tinued to wear his air of good-fellowshij), and
his teeth, which were white as milk and quite
even, showed all the time.
Meanwhile llie (\inniiodore's brow did Jiot
clear. lie was a wiry, tall man, of beautiful
manners and a singularly urbane demeanour, but
he could not hide the annoyance which this letter
^r. l)E LA I'M Ll a: TINE IS GOLD. 241
caused liim. He finished it, turned abruptly to
the beg-innino-, juid read it throui^h again ; tlicn
looked at Captain Salt witli a shade of sov<M'it\'
on his face. " Sir," ho said, in a carefully rcg-u-
lated voice, "you may count on my obeying liis
Majesty's commands to the letter." He laid
some stress on the two words " commands " and
"letter."
" I thank you, monsieur," answered the
Englishman, without allowing himself to show
that he perceived this.
" I am ordered " — again the word " ordered "
was slightly emphasised — " I am ordered to
make 3011 welcome on board my galley. There-
fore I must ask you to consider yourself at home
licre for so long as it may please you to stay."'
He bowed again, but very stiffl}^ nor did he
offer to shake hands. Captain Salt regarded
him with his head tilted a little to one side, and
his lips pursed up as if he were whistling silently.
As a matter of fact he was whispering to him-
self, " You shall rue this, my gentleman." But
aloud he asked the somewhat puzzling question —
" Is that all, monsieur? "
" Why, yes," answered M. de la Pailletine,
"except that you need have no doubt I shall
treat you with the respect which is your due, or
rather "
li-2 Till-: BLUE I'M I LIONS.
" Prav ])n>('('('(l."
" (ir ralliiT, witli llio r('s|)('ot wliicli liis
i\l:i j('st\' 1 liinks is yum- (Inc."'
" All'l W lll<'ll \ oil (111 liol ."
" f]\cusc' ine, sir; I do not, vciitiiiv to sci up
iiiv opinion against, that of l\ing JjcwIs."'
"Yes, yes, of conrse ; l)ut, monsieur, T was
ti'xing to *^et at youi- own tVflinj^s. ^'ou <lo not
think that a ni:in who enlists against his own
countiy, even on the side of liis riglitliil King,
can be entitled to any respect ? "'
"Excuse nie " began the Commodore;
but Captain Salt interrupted with a gentle wave
of the hand.
" Tut-tut, my dear sir ! Pray do not imagine
that T resent this expression of your feelings.
On the contrary, I am grateful to you for treat-
ing me so frankly. 1 have consolations. Your
sovereign" — he ])oint<'d to the letter which
,M . de la Pailh'tinc was folding up and placing in
his breast-pocket — "has a more intelligent sense
of my merits and my honour."
" Doubtless, monsieur," the Commodore
answered; "but jx'rmit me to suggest that
the discussion of these matters is out of place
on deck. Suffer me, therefore, to conduct you
to my cabin, which is at 3Hjur disposal while you
clioose to honour us."
THE EXGUSiniAN MAKES FRTENDS. 243
The Englishman bowed and followed liis
host below. Nor could Tristram, who had
heard every sentence of their conversation, feel
sufficiently^ thankful that he had finished paint-
ing the cabin windows three da^'s before, and
was not obliged to expose his face to the chance
of recognition. And yet it is doubtful if he
would have been recognised, so direly had
tribulation altered him. lie finished his work
for the morning with less care than usual, and
was drawn upon deck shortly before the dinner
hour, by which time the galle3^'s complement
was brought on board for a short cruise. As
Tristram rose and fell to his oar, that afternoon,
he heard his father's voice just over his head,
and then the Commodore's answering it. Their
tones were not cordial ; but their feet were
pacing side by side, and it was obvious that
the Englishman had already- in some measure
abated the Commodore's dislike.
Indeed, in the course of the next week
Tristram learnt enough to be sure that his
father was making steadj^ progress in the
affections of the officers of the galle}^ At
first there is little doubt that the Captain was
moved to capture their goodwill from a merely
A^ague desire, common to all men of his character,
to stand well in the opinion of everj^body he
24-1 Tifi-: nhi'K rwiuoxs.
met. Jlc li;i(l arrived at St. (Jcnnaiiis, and liad
ridden tlieiiee to meet Kiii<4- .lames, wlio was
returniiiL;' from Calais in a d<)n"'s ii'mper over tlu;
I'ailiire of tlie nnitin<»us sliips io meet liim at
tl)at port. Ca])<ain Salt ])resented tlio Marl's
letter, and 1)\' depielinL;" ilie mutiny in e(tliiurs
wliieb his imni^ination sup])lied, laying' stress <>n
the enthusiasm of ihe crews, and deelarinir Ihat
the success of their plot was delayed rather than
destroyed by the cunuini;- of Ihe usurper, he con-
trived to inspire hope aj^ain in the hreast of the
cantankerous and exiled monarch, who kept him
at his side duriniL^ the rest of the journey back to
Paris, and tliere introduced him to the favour of
Kini;- Lewis. The hitter monarch, who lia])pemMl
to be bored, asked Cajjtaiu Salt what he could
do for him.
Captain Salt, remembering the Earl's
promise, suggested that a descent on the
English coast might be made from Dunkirk,
if his Majesty were still disposed io befriend
the unfortunate House of" Stuart.
King Lewis yawned, remembered that he
had a certain number of galleys hmguishing at
Dunkirk for want of exercise, and suggested
that Captain Salt had better go and see for him-
self what they were hkely to effect.
Captain Salt went. His nniin ])urpose was
THE GREEN PENNANT. 2i5
to live in comfortable quarters at tlie King's
expense, while waiting for the promised letter
from the Earl of Marlborono-h. On the eisrhth
day after his arrival, a small fishing-smack with
a green pennant came racing past the two
castles at the entrance of Dunkirk pier, slackened
her main-sheet, spun down between the forts
with the wind astern, and cast anchor in the
Royal Basin. Her crew then lowered a little
cockle-shell of a dingey, which she carried
inboard, and a tanned, red-bearded man pulled
straight for the Commodore's galley.
He bore a letter addressed to Captain
Roderick Salt. It was written in cypher, but
read as follows : —
"Dear S., — Portland suspected you and had
you followed. I saw his eye upon you during
your last interview with William. It was
clever to get through, nor can I discover how
you managed it ; for the account given by your
pursuers is plainly absurd. I've been turning
over their cock-and-bull story, which finds
credence here, and cannot fit it with the
probabilities. Yet they seem AVilliam's men.
I find that the horse on which one of them
returned is not the same as that upon which he
rode away; nor does their narrative account for
this. l?nt the main point is that you are safe.
2t() THE JJLLL' rAVJLWNS.
Hy ill"' way, 1 liopc you have ki'])t your sou ;it
your side; for I have now received tin- informa-
tion aljout wliicli ! (Irojij)ed you some liints. It
appears tliat lie inln'i-ils rnmi a i^reat-uncle (one
Silvanus Tellworthy) certain American estates,
of wliicli you and a Captain IJunacles, of"
Harwich, are the legal administrators. I fancy
this has been kept from you ; and, if so, a
descent upon liarwich maybe used to furnisji
you with a ])rovision for your old age. Still,
there is a j)resent danger that you may be
declared a traitor, and your goods confiscate,
wliich would spoil all. This (since naught has
been proved against you, and tlie aim of your
journey not known) you may avert by keeping
3-our eyes open at Dunquerque, and writing a
report of it to Wm. Such a report, aptl}'^ drawn,
may not only check Portland, but justify me,
as knowing your intent from the start, and that
it was a move foi- AVm.'s yood. — M."
On reading this. Captain Salt cursed several
times, and paced the deck in iiicditation fi>r a
whole afternoon. Then an idea struck him.
During the week that followed he made
excellent progress in the affections of the
officers of Ij llcurcnxr. lie had a face full of"
/jo/ilioiu'w, an engaging knack of seeming to
flatter his companions while he merely listened
BOLDER COUNSELS. 21.7
to their talk, a fund of anecdote, and (as we
know) a voice for singing that conciliated all
who had an ear for music. All these advantasres
he used. For the next few davs the? officers
came late to Led, and Tristram and his com-
panions could allay the irritation of their skins
as they listed. Night after night shouts of
laughter came from the Commodore's room : and
with the savour of delicate meats there now
reached them the notes of a tenor voice that
moved many of the most abandoned to tears.
The end was, that the officers admitted him
to their counsels, which may have been the
reason that the galleys, that until now had
taken but the shortest cruises, began to risk
more daring expeditions, and once or twice
adventured within a league of the English coast.
But no occasion was found for landing and burn-
ing a town — which was the object continually
debated at the officers' board. In fact, the
weather did not favour it ; and, moreover, the
whole line of coast was guarded by patrollinp-
parties, ready to give warning to the train-bands
stationed at convenient distances, so that the
crews ran no inconsiderable risk of beinir sur-
prised and cut to pieces if they landed, not to
speak of having their galleys taken behind them
by the British cruisers. And none knew better
2(>< /■///; /;/,/•/•; r.wif.inxs.
than M. •!(• la I'aillctiiic tli;it llic slaves, il' lift
without sullicioiit Ljuai'd iu (.'Di'n.'c lliciii, were as
likely as not to inunlcr tlu'ii- overseers and liand
their galleys over to the first enemy tliey met.
Nothing of ail}' conse(|uence, therefore, was
done for six weeks ; and at the end of that time
Captain Salt sought out the Commod(jre, and
announeed that lie had received a letter from
a friend in l*aris summoning him tliither (»n
private business. The Commodore, wlio liad
really grown to like the Englishman, expressed
his regret. He suspected nothing.
249
CHAPTER XII.
WII-LIAM or ORANGE.
On tlie third clay after Captain Salt departed for
Paris certain events befel at the Has^ue which
demand our attention.
The campaign of 1G91 in Flanders was con-
ducted on both sides with the utmost vigour and
the least possible result. Between May and
September the armies marched and counter-
marched, walked up to each other and withdrew
with ever}^ expression of deMance. No important
action was fought, though for some time less
than a league divided their hostility. William,
Avhose patience was worn out almost sooner than
the shoe-leather of his subjects, left the com-
mand in Marlborough's hands, and retired to his
park at Loo, whence, in the beginning of July,
he jDOsted to the Hague to attend a meeting of
the States-General.
On the 17tli day of that month, and at ten
o'clock in the morning — at which time the King
was taking the air in his famous park on the
outskirts of the town — a couple of old gentlemen
were advancing upon the Hague from the west-
Avard, along the old Scheveningen road. They
250 ■/■///■. JlLli: l'.l\ll.l(L\S.
walked slowly, by reason of llicir years, but witli
a certain solenmlly of ])ace wliicli indicated
lliat, in tlieir own <i|)iiii(»n at least, tiiey were
bound uiMtn an ei'iMud of :ni]»nrtance. At inter-
vals tlioy j)aused in iiio]) (lieir laces ; and at every
jKiuse they regarded the landscape with contempt.
One of" these old g-entlenien was thin and wiry,
with a jaw tliat protrudecl lik(' a Indl-doj^^'s. His
companion, for wdiose sake he corrected every
now and then his lonn' stride, was a little hunch-
back of ferocious demeanour, who looked out on
the world from a pair of terrifyin<^ green eyes. In
place of a wig he wore a bandage round his scalp.
The reader will not need to be told the names
of this pair of old gentlemen. After his treat-
ment at the hands of tlie Earl of .Marlborouirh's
soldiers. Captain Barker had been confined to
his pavilion by nothing short of main force,
which Dr. Beckerleg had with difficulty prevailed
on Captain liunacles to exert. The intlammation
of the patient's wound increasing with his irasci-
bility, the doctor ended by placing a j)adlock of
his own on the front door, and another on the
garden gate, and promising the little man his
lil)erty on the lirst (la}' he was lit to travel.
Captain Harker (lung a monastic herbal at
the doctor's head; whereupon the bleeding broke
out afresh. Then he fainted.
^.Y ADVANCE UPON THE HAGUE. 251
Ten weeks afterwards, Dr. Beckerleg removed
his padlocks, setting free not only tlie little
Captain, but also Mr. Swiggs, who throughout
the time had kept diligent watch by his master's
bedside.
Narcissus walked out to take a look at the
garden. Ten weeks of neglect had played havoc
with the beds. He contemplated it for some
time, and went down to the " Fish and Anchor "
for a mug of beer. There he was welcomed by
his cronies, who had missed him sorely ; or said
so, at an}^ rate.
Captain Barker went to pack his handbag.
When Narcissus returned, he was gone. Captain
Runacles was gone also.
"Any orders? " said Narcissus to Simeon.
" Not as I know b3^"
Narcissus went back to the " Fish and
Anchor."
The two friends entered the Hague, brisk-
ing up their pace and stepping gallantly abreast.
Turning to their left, they came, towards the
centre of the town, upon a fiiir sheet of water,
with avenues of pleasant trees planted aloug its
northern brink, and behind these trees a public
road i'aced with shops and cabarets, each shaded
by a coloured awning. It was the breakfast
'2'>.i THE /;/,/•/•; lAVlLlttSS.
liitui', and IxMicatli tlu'se awniiii^-s sat a crowd ol'
soldiers ol" tlie i^uard, citizi'iis and ritizciis' wives,
eating-, cliatteriiiij^, smokini^-, clinkinL,^ tlieir glasses,
and conteni])IatinLC lioni tlicir cool slieltcr tlir
water that twinkled Ijctwcen 1 lie trees and the
throng that moved njt and down the promenade.
Tlie two captains were hunL,n'y and thirsty.
They advanced, and, finding a small table nn-
occupied, ordered break last.
Their a])pearance, and more especially the
bandage around Captain 1 barker's head, attracted
some attention. JNIore than one group turned to
stare as the little man began in execrable Dutch
to explain his wants to the drawer. The fellow,
too, was more than ordinarily dtMise, and a tem-
pestuous scene was plainly but a matter of a
minute or so, when a tall ensign of the guard
rose from a neighbouring table, and lilting his hat,
addressed the Englishmen in their own lan<rua""c.
" Vardon, gentleinen, but I cannot help over-
hearing your diiliculty ; and Ihink, with your
leave, T may remove it."
Ca})lain JJarker scowled for a moment, and
seemed al)out to take deeper uinbraLTc. But tlie
tall young man seemed <|uite unconscious of this,
and smiled (h)wn with the serenest good-will.
" Do not say no. 1 have been in England,
and 1 lo\'e all men of \'onr country."
TTTi: ENSIGX OF THE GUABD. 253
"Jack," growled Captain Runaclos, 'Mliis is
one of a new generation of Dutclimen. We are
getting old, my boy."
The young man's manner was so sincere
tlint Captain Barker gave way with a fair grace
— the more readily because tlierc was sDinetliing
in the amiable face which recalled his lost Tris-
tram. In less than a minute he was statinLi: his
desires, which were promptly translated into
fluent Dutch. The drawer ran off on his
errand.
" Since 3^ou have been so kind, sir," said the
little hunchback politely, " perhaps you can do
us another favour."
" What is that ? "
" We have come across from Harwich for the
purpose of seeking an audience with his Majest}^,
King William. Can you tell us when and where
we are likely to find him ? "
" His Majesty is just now at the House in
the Wood."
" Where may that be ? "
" Not two miles beyond the town. On fine
days, such as the present, he gives audience
every morning, between nine and ten o'clock, in
the open air, walking up and down an alley,
which is called for that reason the Promenade
of Audience ; and again, if no other business
254 77//; ULII': /'.I 17/,/N.VS.
])ivvonts liiiii, at five o'clock in tlic artornoon,
wlicn the (lay i^rows cool." lit- pulled out a stout
waicli and t-onsultrd it. " JJy six o'clock I must
be back there, lor at lliai lime my duty begins.
But il'3'«'U ^vill I'd nic accuiiipany you and pass
you tliniuuli tin- })ark gates, I will gladly hasten
my return, and start — shall we say? — at half-
past four."
He would take no denial, but rose and lelt
them, waving his hand, smiling, and turning,
after a dozen steps, to call back and assure them
lie would be punctual.
" Jle has the very same e3'es," Captain JJarker
muttered, watcbing him as be disappeared be-
tween tbe trees.
" I remarked it, too," assented Captain Runa-
cles, who understood the allusion at once. " I'd
no notion there was such another pair of eyes in
the world."
" We'd better adopt him, Jerry," tbe little
man went on, with a wry and hopeless smile;
" for it's little chance we have of finding the
otber one." He gulped as he uttered tbe last
tbree words, and 1)1 inked at the broad sunshine
behind tbe awning.
"Tbe fact is. Jack, tbe doctor let you out too
soon."
" Eh ? "
THE LITTER. 255
" You're not fit to travel, but ought to be
between tlie blankets at this moment."
" Jerr}', that's false, and you know it.'
"Oh, do I? Then you'd best give over
talking nonsense, or by the Lord 111 take you
off :uid put you to bed this instant! And,
what's more, I'll call in a Dutch doctor."
Captain Barker could not deny that the rest
beneath the awning was welcome. The road
ii'om Scheveningen had been hot and dust}^ and
his illness had left him weaker than even his
comrade imagined. They sat sipping their beer
and gazing at the crowd till the town chimes
rang out and announced half-past four. At the
first note the}" saw their young friend advancing
from the Buitenhof.
" Here I am, 3'-ou see. But I have taken a
liberty, I fear, since leaving 3'ou."
" Eh ? AVhat have 3'ou been doing?"
Captain Kunacles inquired.
" Why, sir, perceiving that 3'our friend was
but lately recovered from an illness, and remem-
bering that though the distance to the House
in the Wood is but two miles or less, the distance
there and back is almost four, I have brousrht him
a litter. Perhaps I did wrong ? "
He pointed to the litter, which two men in
blue blouses were bringing across the road.
256 rifl-: BLUE P.llVAJO.V.S'.
"Not :it all, sir. On IIh' contrary, your
tlioui^htfuliicss puts iiic In sliaiiic," answered
('aj)lain Uunacles, willi soniciliiiii^ like a
hliisli.
(^i])tain r>:irk('r also lliankc*! liini,an(l a(l(lc(l,
" Deci<l('<ll\ , il iiii^'ht be Tristram's very sell" " —
a remark wliicli tlie younu^ olliccr did not under-
stand ill lilt' Irast. l>ut lie smiled lia]))Hl\. 'I'ln-
mere ])leasiire of doinn' a kindness and findiiiL;' it
appreciated was so siroiii;' in lliis yontli iliai lir
almost rejj^retted lieliad not sacridced afortniL,dit's
pay and hired a chariot and six horses.
Captain JJarker climl)ed into the litter, and
the party set out at a leisurely pace, which
brou<j;-ht them to the park gates in a little more
than half-an-hour. A couple of sentries ke])t
o-uard here, and within the lodi^fe a dozen others
were playing at dominoes, and laughing like
children.
" If you will permit me," said their conductor,
as Captain Barker alighted, " I will conduct you
as far as the Promenade of Audience. Otherwise
you will have to go with one of m}^ comrades,
and probably with one wliois ignorant of English."
Taking their consent for granted, he marched
them past the sentries and through the iron gates.
A broad avenue of yews confronted them, with
a gravelled carriage-drive that stretched away
WlTllIX 'I'lfK I' AUK. 257
till lost amid interlacing bouglis. A couple of
gentlemen were advancing down this avenue, in
brisk conversation. They were about to pass
our friends when the elder of the pair — an old
gentleman in blue, with a rudd}- complexion and
apoplectic neck — glanced up casual ly^ uttered an
exclamation, and came to a halt.
Leaving his companion to stare, he advanced
towards Captain Runacles and saluted him with
punctilio.
"This is a great pleasure,^' he observed in
ver}^ good English.
" I'm very glad of thai . sir," Ca])taln liunacles
answered, "though 'pon my lite [ don't know
why it should be."
" I have been expecting you."
"Indeed?"
" Will you be good enough to withdraw with
me behind these yews, in order that our con-
versation may not be observed from the lodge
windows ? "
" Certainly, if yon wish it."
The whole party followed him, much puzzled.
He led them between a couple of gigantic trees,
glanced around him, and asked suddenly —
"The young man, I presume, gave you my
message
Now, what in the world " began Captain
K
258 THE nWK I'AVILIdSS.
Ruiuicles witli II l)owil(lert'd stare. Hut the little
hunchbaek was (luickcr.
" What yoiiiii;- mail, sir?" lie cried sharply.
" Do 3'ou mean Tristram Salt? "
■"T really ilun'l know his name; Iml hi- was
aeeoni])anie(l, to be sure, l)^' a Captain Suit,
when 1 met liim at Vlaar(linLr<'n."
Captain Harkcr L^^roancd.
" Jkit excuse me," jjursued the old i,^entle
man in blue, still addressin<^ Captain Kunacles,
"I spoke not only ut' a 3'oung man, but of a
messacre. Did he deliver it ? "
" If you ni(»an Tristram Salt, I have not
clapped eyes on him since the 1st of Mu}'
last."
"Then I will deliver it mv^clf. Yt)U do not
appear to know^ me "
" Not from Adam."
" M}' name is Cornelius van Adrienssen, and
you, Ca])tain Eunacles, once lluni^'- a boot at m^'
head."
" l)i(l [, indeed! Tt was in a moment of
extreme irritation, no doubt."
" We were enj^ag-ed off the Texel — June the
5th, '71, was the date. You were on board the
Gal/ojjer, I on the ZecUnnhhooj). Niyht parted
us
" I beirin to remember the incident,"
CAPTAIN VAX ADRIEXSSEN AGAIN. 259
" Then I need not proceed. Let me merely
remark that I have kept that boot."
" Whatever for? "
" What for, sir? " cried the choleric old gen-
tleman, now fairl}' hopping with rage. " Whsit
for? To throw it back, sir — that's wh}."
" My dear Captain van Adrienssen, is not
this rather childish ? Twenty years is a long
time to harbour resentment."
" You shall fight me, sir."
"Tut, tut!"
" I regret that I have not the boot with me
to fling back at you "
" You have a pair on your feet, sir," suggested
the Englishman, whose temper was rising.
" but this shall do instead ! " and taking
his glove. Captain van Adrienssen dashed it in
Captain Runacles' face.
" By the Lord, you shall pay for this ! "
"I am read3% sir."
They tugged off their coats, and pulled out
their swords.
" Sirs, sirs ! " cried the young ensign ; " re-
member you are in his Majesty's park."
But before his sentence was out the two
swords were crossed, and the old gentlemen
attacking each other with the unregulated ardour
of a pair of schoolboys.
2t;ii rill-: nur: /Mr//./n.vs.
".Irn\ JciTV," iiiiniimi'cd C';i]>t;iin Harkei*,
"you iievrr liiid iiidch science, ImL this is foul-
work.'
(■;i])hiiii Ixnnuclcs licard, sfrjULrliit'iit'd liis aim
and CMiit rolled IiiiuscU". lie had little science,
l)ut an extremely t(»nL;h wrist. As for Captain
van Adricnssen, the veins of his neck were so
swolh'ii wilh ])assi(in tliat. his wii;" cin'led up at
till' cd'j^i' and stood out straii;'ht l}(dinnl him in
the iibsurdest fashion.
" The hoot — the l)oot ! " he ke])t exclaiiuin^-,
stamping- witli cacli huig-e. " 'I'akc that for the
hoot, sir ! ' He aimed a furious thiaist in tierce
at Captain Jiunacles' breast.
" And that for the glove, sir ! " retorted
his adversary, parrying- and running his
hlade on and through tho ex])o-ed arm l)y the
el how.
The .arm dropjied. Captain van A(hMenssen
scowled, looked round, and was caught in his
com})anion's arms as he fell.
" And now, sir, let me express my regret,"
began Captain Jerry, advancing and stooping
over him.
" I'll have you yet ! " retorted this implacable
old gentleman ; and with that fainted away.
He awoke to find his arm bandaged, and the
little group still standing around him.
THE DUEL. 2(il
" Peter," he said, sitting up with an elibrt ;
" get iny coat."
" But, captain, you cannot put it on," remon-
strated Peter, a squarely built man, with eyes ol'
a porcelain blue.
" Then how in the world do you suj)pose
that I'm to get past the sentries ? "
" You'll be carried."
"And let every man of them know that
this gentleman and I have been lighting in his
Majesty's park ! Tut-tut ; you'll have them both
arrested in a jiffy. Give me my coat ! "
" You cannot get your arm into it."
" My worthy Peter, you're m}' excellent
lieutenant and a fair seaman ; l)ut L begin to
doubt if vou'll ever make a cai)tain. You've no
resource. Take your knife. Now slit down the
inner seam of the sleeve — so. Now lift me up
and help me into it."
He stood on his legs. His face was a trifle
pale, but he kept his jaw set lirml}^
" Now button the sleeve at tlie wrist."
" ]3ut it still gapes above."
" Of course it does. Therefore we will walk
arm-in-arm ; only you must hold me very gentl3\
There, that's it." He nodded stiffly, and was
moving away on Peter's arm, when Captain
Barker interposed.
262 Tin: iim: r.wnjoxs.
"Excuse iiu', (.';i])t;iiii \;iii Ailrirnsson, but
just outside I lie ]»;irk L;iili' you'll liiid a litter,
which 1 am lia])j>y to place at your service."
" 'JMiauk you, .sir, hut I II not use it."
"You will," said i'eter, decidedly.
" ^\ hy, sir, we have to start for Amsterdam
to-nie^ht."
"You'll i-et no i'urtlier than the llaLTue,"
said Peter; " aud there you'Jl be put to
bed."
They walked shjwly oil, ariu-iu-arui. Draw-
ing near the sentries, Captain van Adrienssen
groaned.
" Going to faint ? " Peter asked.
" Not till I get outside."
He was as good as his word, and tliey went
through the gates without exciting suspicion.
'^I'lie litter was the)-e, aiul Peter, beckoning to
the men, ex])laincd the case in a whisper. Mis
comj)anion olTered no op})osition. Indeed, no
sooner was he phiced in tlie litter than he
swooned away.
KiuLT William was still strollinir in his
favourite avenue when the two captains ap-
proached, led by tlieir friend the ensign, who
was bcijrinninn" i<> wish hiniseli" well out of the
business. At his Majesty's side paced William
THE AUDIESCE. 263
Bentinck, Earl of PortUuKl, whom we have
already met, in the course of this narrative, in
the little inn at Vlaardiugen. The two were
alone and in earnest converse, but looked up as
the party approached along- the avenue.
" H'm, it appears to nie that I know these
two shapes," said William.
" They are odd enough to be remembered."
" That is the figure which honesty cuts in
the country over which I have the misfortune
to rule — or rather to reign. ]\Iy friend, these
are two honest Englishmen, and therefore worth
observation. Moreover, they are about to give
me the devil of a time. Well, gentlemen," he
continued, lifting his voice as they approached,
" what is your bu.siness? "
" We desire your Majesty to listen to us."
" On a matter of importance ? ''
" To us — yes. It has brought us from Eng-
land."
" Speak, then."
" Your Majesty," Captain Barker began, his
voice trembling slightly, " we have come to offer
you, and to beg that you will accept, our swords
and our service."
" That is very pretty, sir," answered William,
after a pause, dviring which his eye kindled with
some triumph ; " but unless I do you an injustice.
2t!i TJiK ni.ri: /-jry/joxv.
Cajitaiii llaikci- and ('.i])t;iiii K'niiacles, there is
some condition attaclied to lliis surrender,"
" None, sire, l)ul lliat wliicli your Majesty's
self imposed less than three months haek. We
are come to redeeni. if \\c nia\', the vouuLi" man
of whom you ilu'n i-ohhed us."
" l{ol)i)ed ! "
*' Forgive me, sire — de])rived. See, your
IMajesty ; we are two old men, but active ;
battered somewhat, but not ig-noi-ant ; worji, but
not worn-out. We arc at your service : take
us, use us as you will. \Vv will serve you faith-
full}', loyally, without (jucstion, until we die or
your enemies break us. Only restore our son,
Tristram Salt."
"Gentlemen, 1 will not say but that 1 am
Lii'atified by this " William j)aused, saw the
hope spring into their vyvs, and added, with
assumed coldness " only it hai)pens that you
come too hite."
The two honest faces felh
"Too — late?" Cai)tain JJarker stammered,
staring stupidl}^ at the King. " Is ni}' Ixw
dead ? " The question came in a dull, sick tone,
that turned their Sovereign's heart within him.
"Forgive me, gentlemen ; I had no right to
play thus with your feelings. You have come
too late, only because I gave the young man his
THE CAPTAINS SUBMIT THEMSELVES. 2(J5
discliarge, more tliau two inontlis ago, with a
passport to take hiui back to England.
" But he has not arrived ! "
" He started, at anj^ rate ; and in company
with 0]ie who appeared to have the best right to
take care of him — I mean his iather, Captain
Eoderick Salt."
Captain Barker groaned.
" May it please your Majesty," said Captain
Jemmy, thrusting himself forward, " but Rode-
rick's Salt's the damn'dest villain in your service ;
and that's saying a good deal. I mean no
olfence, of course."
" Of course not," commented the Earl ui"
Portland, who was hugely delighted.
" I believe that opinion is held by some," his
Majesty observed, with a side-glance at his friend.
" Not by me," said Portland, tran(piilly.
" There are worse than Salt — whom, after all,
your Majesty has neither enriched nor ennobled."
William frowned. For a moment or two he
stood, scraping the gravel gently with the side
of his boot. At last he spoke —
" Gentlemen, I thank you for your offer ; and
some day I may take advantage of it to conamand
you, for honest men (however wrong-headed)
and ^ood commanders " — this with a slight
bow — " are alwavs scarce. For the moment.
'266 JJlh' llLIf: l-AVIIJilXS.
liowrvcr, T should lecl that I wroiiL^cd you hv
:icci'|)tiiiii^ "
" ^ <Mii- Majesty is jj|;ood to us. But our word
liolds."
" 'IMiank you I had guessed that. Ncvn-tlic-
l('ss, I advise y<)U, just now, to ivturu to KiiLjlaud
and wait. I liave sonn' knowlcd^-c of Captain
Salt's iiiovt'Uicnts ; and when last }<»ui' lad was
heard of he had parted company with his father
and was making for the coast. I have some quick-
ness in reading character ; and there is a certain
placid obstinacy in that young man whicli per-
suades me he will reach Harwich in time.
Keturn, therefore, and wait with what patience
you may. Moreover, Captain Barker, I perceive
that you are recovering from some wound."
"Which explains, sire, the tardiness of my
submission. T was starting to se(dc an audience
on the morning that you sailed from Harwich,
when your soldiers "
" My soldiers ? "
" Yes, sire ; but perhaps they erred from
abundance of zeal."
Portland looked at the s|>eaker shrewdly.
" You know more than you tell us, my friend,"
he said quietly.
" Possibly, my lord ; but it is nothing that
can affect his INIajesty now."
A THUNDERBOLT. 267
"You are under some promise?" William
asked, gravely.
" A¥e are, sire; but be assured that if it
touched your welfare we had never come to lay
our services at your disposal."
" I believe you, my friends. And now, about
starting for England — I was about to propose
that as Captain van Adrienssen's frigate "
" Captain van Adrienssen ! "
" You know him ? He is about to sail from
Amsterdam in the frigate J\[erry 3Taid to escort
a convoy of thirty-six merchantmen to the
Thames. If you start at once you will overtake
him."
" Unfortunately, sire, Captain van Adrienssen
will not be able to start for many days."
" Eh? "
" He is unvvell."
" Unwell ? Why, it is not an hour since
he left me ! "
" Nevertheless "
"Let me explain, sire," said Captain llunacles,
stepping forward again. " It happened thus.
We met Captain van Adrienssen on our way
from the Hague."
" Yes, yes."
" And it appeared — though I had forgotten
it — that twenty years ago I had the imprudence
2«kS Jill-: III. IK l'.WILJ()Xi<.
to lliiMw a boot at his head. It was oft" tlie
i v\vl
" llavi- you lost your senses? "
" I ]n"j; your ^lajesty to listen, 'i'lie siijlit
o\' iiic revived tliai ]>aiiirul i-eeollection. We
pulled out our swords and I'ell on each other,
loru'ettiiiii", alas ! that now we are both servants
of your Majesty. it is annoyin<;-; but belbre
we could reuieniber it, Captain van Adrieiissen
was wounded."
AVilliain's brow was black as niyht.
" A duel ? " he t^aid sternly.
"Your ISfajesty, it could hardly be dignilied
by that name. Say rather "
" ^Vhat shall T do with these inccrri^'ibles ? "
asked the Kiui;', turniiiL;' to I'oitland. "At this
time, too, when I've not a .^iii^le other com-
nuuidcr of value within call ! "
" li' I ma)' advise 3'ou, sire — but, first, will
you command these gentlemen to retire? "
AVilliam dismissed them with 11 wave of the
hand, and they withdrew to a little distance
among the trees, where they waited in consider-
able trepidation.
it was a full half an hour before Portland
came towards them, trying to hide a siuile.
"Pouf! " lie said, "that was a tough busi-
ness, gentlemen. I ha\e persuaded his iMajesty
poiri'LAyn. 2f!9
to accept the otl'er he declined a wliile ago, and
to use your services."
" In what way, my lord ? "
" You will g-o at once to the Hague, and
find out the condition of Captain van Adrienssen.
If, as I suspect, he be unfit to travel, 3'ou will,
with this authority, take over his papers and
post to Amsterdam, where you will iind the
Merry Maid frigate with her convoy. You are
to escort this convoy to the Thames — but you
will read your instructions in the papers which
A^m Adrienssen will give you. You, Captain
Barker, are the senior, I believe. Yes ? I thought
so ; and therefore you will take command.
Unless your friend declines to act on this occasion
as your lieutenant "
" My lord, how can we thank you ? "
" By serving his Majesty," answered Port-
land ; and added significantly, " rather than the
Earl of Marlborough."
The two friends walked away, treading on
air. But perhaps their friend the ensign, from
whom they parted affectionately at the foot of
the avenue, was happier even than they. For
not only did his heart rejoice at their good
fortune, but his Majesty had failed to inquire
whether the duel had been fought within or
without the park gates.
270
CHAlTKi; Xlir.
rNPTMN SALT F.KKKCTS ONK SURIMUSE AM) TT.ANS
TWO MOKi:.
<)\ tlio sixth (lay iiftor liis dcparturo, Captain
Salt r<'i)irn<'(l to Dunkirk nncxix'ctodly.
Jit' arrived abont four in tlic afternoon, and
was rowed at onee to the Commodore's ^'alle}'.
He climbed on deck, and looked about him.
The lieutenant stepped forward. Captain Salt
shook hands, and asked —
" Where is the Commodore ? "
" In his cabin."
" Alone ? "
"No; he is holdint^ a council of war. All
his captains are there."
Captain Salt whistled softly to himself.
" IIow loUL^ lia\'e Ihey been sittini^?" he
asked.
" Less than len minutes. Tii fact they have
but just arrived."
" Thank you. I'll go down and look in."
" My friend," he said to himself, as he walked
aft and descended the ladder, " the chance has
come sooner than you expected. You'll have to
play this game boldly.
THE COUXOIL OF WAR: 271
He knocked at the cabin door and entered,
with the dust of travel thick upon bim. He
had ridden thirty-six miles since breakfast, along
dusty roads and under a broiling sun. Never-
theless, his manner was cool enongli as he bowed
to all ])resent.
" T must apologise, gentlemen, for the state
of my clothes ; but I beard you were sitting,
and could not rest until I had saluted you."
They welcomed him heartily as he dropped
into a vacant chair. M. de la Pailletine reached
across the table and shook hands with him.
" It is very thoughtful of you," said the
Commodore. " We were about to draw up a
plan of the cruises to be taken tbis week, and
shall be glad to have your advice."
" I'm afraid, gentlemen, I'm too weary to
offer much advice. But that need not prevent
my listening with attention to the wisdom of
others."
There was the faintest shade of derision in
his voice, if they had any cause for suspecting
it. As it was, however, not a man present had
the slightest mistrust of him. He had con-
quered all their prejudices.
The Commodore resumed the short speech
he had been making ; and when he had concluded,
one captain followed anotber with criticism and
i.'7j ■riii: ni.ur: /mi //./'/.vs.
rri->li proposals — Captain Uaiuliis, of Ac /'f/o//,
tlic CMn'\alier dr Saiiite-Cruix, ot" La Mi'rri'i//i\
Captain Dcnoyre, <»! I lie Sattspfirri/. During-
tlit'ir sjx'oches Caphiiii Salt sat ixTlrcMy silent.,
eitlicr rcsiinn" liis head on liis hands and stillini;"
his yawns, as though politcl}' conccalin*,' his
weariness, or drunnnini;' (piii'tly with his lini^-rrs
on tht' tahle and starini;' uj) at the ceiling; Wkr
one lost in tli<ini,dit.
Ihit, all of a snddm, as M. de hi I'aillftine
was in IIh' aft of oU'erinn" some remarks npon a
schrme of Captain I )onoyre's lor a di-seent ujion
the Isle of Thanet, the Englishman, still yawii-
inii', ifot upon his Icn's and said ver\' earelesslv —
"T re<^'ret to lDterruj)t M./c C/icf (fcscadiuf,
but we waste time."
The Commodore paused, open-mouthed, in
the middle of a sentence, and stared.
" Yes, yes," repeated Captain Salt, noddinic
at hiiu with the coolest assurance; "we are
really wastin£( time. Be so good as to lend
me your attention while J sketch out a little
plan that I have drawn \\y for a descent u])(»n
Harwich."
The oflicers round the board were fairly taken
aback by this stroke of impudence. The C(jni-
modore was the first to recover his presence ot"
mind, and said, drawing himself up —
THE CAPTAIN AND THE COMMUVOBE. 273
" Monsieur appears not to have observed
that I was speaking."
" Pardon, sir, but I observed that you were
speaking overmuch. But let me proceed. Har-
wich, as you know, is a port at the mouth of
the Eiver Stour, at the extreme north-east corner
of Essex. I give you this information, gentle-
men, as I am not sure if any of you have travelled
so far."
The captains looked at one another, and the
eldest among them, M. Baudus, of the Fao)i,
stood up.
" Monsieur will forgive the remark," he said,
" but it appears to me that he forgets his place."
" Tut-tut," answered the Englishman, with
an air of sliglit impatience ; " I must trouble you
to sit down, sir, and attend. Really," he con-
tinued, looking around, " I must insist upon the
attention of everyone, as I shall need your
intelligent co-operation. My plan is this : I
mean to make this a night attack. We should
leave the harbour here in four days' time — that
is to say, on the 23rd, if the weather holds, and
not later than six o'clock in the morning. It
may possibly be earlier, but that will depend to
some extent on the wind."
M. de la Pailletinc by this time was white
with passion. He began to comprehend that
27-1 TJIE BLUE I'AVILIONS.
Ills guest would not diirc to speak thus without
some liii^Ii autliurity to back him.
" Arc wc to uudcrstand, ^i^, tliat in this ])ni-
posed c'X})cditi()ii we sail under your orders ? "
" Certainly."
" Ma}' 1 ask to see your authority ? "
" or course you may."
Captain Salt put a hand into his breast and
drew out a folded paj)ei'. Laying this on the table,
he let his eyes travel round with a quiet smile.
It was signed in the handwriting and sealed
with the seal of his Majesty King Lewis.
j\I. dc la I'ailletine picked up the ])aper with
a shaking hand and read it through. There
was no room for demur. The Xing com-
manded him, as chief of the squadron of galleys
lying in iJunkirk, to place his ships, othcers, and
crews at Captain Halt's disposal, and to follow
his instructions implicitly throughout the ex-
pedition. Moreover, the Intendant was ordered
to furnish whatever stores, artillery, etc., Captain
Salt should find necessary to the success of his
design. If he should require it, the fighting
strength of the galleys should be supplemented
by drafts from the regiments stationed in the
citadel, the llice 15ank, and Forts Galliard, Rever,
and Bon Espcrance.
The Commodore read all this, and laid the
THE CAPTAIN PLAYS A BIG CARD. 275
paper down on the table. The officers around
him scanned his face and saw there was no
hope of resistance. Nevertheless, for a moment
they looked mutinous.
Their superior officer, however, set the
example of graceful obedience. He stood up,
and looked the Englishman straight in the face.
Then he spoke with a voice that trembled a
little over the opening words, but after that j)ro-
ceeded smoothly and composedly enough.
" Monsieur, it is my honour to serve his
Majesty without reservation, even when he
chooses to put a slight upon his tried servants.
Unfold your scheme. We will listen, and lend
you our best co-operation."
" I thank you, monsieur. Is that all? "
" No, sir ; not quite all. You will permit
me in addition to remark that n^ou are a very
dirty blackguard, and that, if you choose to resent
this criticism, I am your very obedient servant."
" Ah, yes. We will discuss that, if you
please, as soon as this business is over. Mean-
while let me proceed with my remarks."
That same evening Captain Salt assumed the
command, and within half an hour it was patent to
every slave in the squadron thatsomething beyond
the ordinary w^as afoot. Tlie new commander
276 TJli: BLUE I'AVJLIUXS.
bo«;an to* issue orders at once. Curiously cuou^li,
one ol' till' lirst (d" these was ^nven to the
lishinL,''-sniack with the j^reen pennant, which
had broujjfht him the lOarl ol" MarlhorciULih's
letter live days before, and had lain at anchor
ever since in tlie J>asin. It was ])r<'tty well
known to everyone in Dunkirk that tiiis little
craft plied to and I'nj in the Jacobite service, and
was allowed to pass the forts witiiout challenge.
Indeed, she had a special permit. Therefore
nobody wondered when Captain Salt paid her
red-bearded skipper a visit that eveninj^, (^n his
way to the citadel ; nur was the skij)p('r aston-
ished to receive a letter for the Earl ol' Marl-
borough's secret agent at Ostend, and be bidden
to leave the harbour that night.
Yet the red-bearded skipper would have been
considerably astonished had he been able to read
the cypher in which this letter was written, or
had he the faintest idea that the small mark on
the corner of the wrapper meant that it was to
be translated at once and despatched post-haste
to King William.
For, indeed, the captain was now playing
not merely a double, but a triple, and })erhaps a
quadruple, game. JIc was not only })Iaying for
AVilliam again.st James, and for James against
William, but lor the Earl against both, and for
THE GREEN PENNANT LEAVES DUNKIRK. 277
himself above all. For the moment he wished
to get to Harwich with power over the two old
men who (as he conceived it) Avere defraiidint^
him of his privileges ; and to obtain full pos-
session of those privileges he must stand well
with William, who at present suspected him.
' What better proof could he offer that his
journey had been all in his master's interest
than by engaging the six galleys at Dunkirk in
an attack upon Harwich, and forewarning the
Kino- of his design ? Or how could the Earl
have a better chance of clearing himself of the
King's suspicions than by receiving this warning
and passing it on to the King ?
Unfortunately, this accomplished schemer
omitted to take account of three accidents,
for the simple reason that he could not have
anticipated them : — 1st, the two old men whom
he meant to terrify at Harwich were at that
moment in Holland ; and, 2nd, the son, in
whose name he meant to terrify them, slept
every night within a foot of his head, a galley-
slave, disguised beyond recognition, and tilled
with a just resentment. No. 3 will be mentioned
hereafter.
The little fishing-smack sailed out of Dunkirk
that evening, an hour after sunset.
During the next three days Caj)tain Salt
l]78 TiriC llLUh: PAVILIONS.
worked liard. Sulliciciit storos were laid in to
last for a week's eniisc?. Tlio slaves who workod
nil shore ut'i'e hroiinht on Ixtai'il. The i^alleys'
heaks were tested, the L,nnis examined, oars and
rigging carefully overhauled. A iVesh supply of
anmiunition was drawn fr«Mii the citadel, and the
Hghting crew of each vessel increased by fifty
men, with a few Swiss artillerymen from the
batteries of Bourgogne, Auguenois and Santerre.
In all this, i\I. de la Pailletine lent the readiest
aid. He had postponed his animosity to the
da}' when the}' sliould return to harbour; and
to the casual eye he and the Englishman were
excellent friends.
By the night of August '2'2in] all was read}'.
At nine o'clock next morning the six galleys
started in solemn procession j)ast the forts and
f)ut into the open sea, which was smooth as glass.
A light but steady breeze breathed across the
sky from ilie north-east. They could have hoped
for nothing better. The broad lateen sails were
spread, and the slaves sat rpiietly before theii-
oars, ready to row, though lor hour after hour
there was no need of rowing. The six vessels
kept within easy distance of each other, and
Captain Salt, on the deck of IJ Ilcnreuse, directed
their movements with a serenity that cheered
even the poor nun on the benches below him.
THE DESCENT UPON HARWICH. 279
As ilie awuino- shook and the musts creaked,
gently above them, they stretched their limbs,
drew long breaths, and felt that after all it was
good to live.
So stead}" did the wind keep all day that
about five in the evening they brought the
English coast in sight. It was the opinion of
all the captains that they should run up for
Harwich at once ; but the Englishman had
other views.
" It is too early," he told M. de la Pailletine.
" There are cruisers about, and if we are seen
the game will be spoiled."
He ofave orders to lower the sails and stand
off till nightfall. The captains, of course, obeyed.
They had not lain to above an hour when
the man who had been sent to the mast-head of
L' Heureme shouted out —
" A fleet to the north ! "
" Whither bound?" called up Captain Salt.
" Steering west."
" What number ? "
The man was silent for a moment, then
answered —
" Thirty-six sail, all merchant-built, and an
escort.
" What is she like ? "
" A frigate, of about thirty guns."
ii8u
CMlAl'Ti:!.' \IV.
THI. (iAI.I.I.^S \M) I II I. IKKiATF..
T. — Tlic I'riijfih'.
Tiir, ^^rrn/ Mnhl \vm\ left llic Texol by tlu'
narrow gut called De Witt's Diep, ^vith her
convoy followin*^ in line and in adniiraMi; order.
The breeze was fair for England. A full round
moon rose over the sand-banks behind them as
Captain IJarker sent the pilots ashore and stood
easily (»ut to sea, for the most of his merchant
ships were shig-gish sailers, and not a few over-
laden. So clear was the night that, as he paced
the (|narter-deck with the dew fidling ste:idil3'
around liim, he could not only count their thirty-
six lanterns, but even discern their piled canvas
glimmering as they stole like ghosts in his wake.
That night he left his watch for an hour
only, when shortly before dawn Captain 1 luna-
cies came to relieve him, threatening mutiny-
unless he retired to snatch a little slumber. Jiut
the sun was scarce up before the little man
reappeared. The pride of his old profession was
working like yeast within him. , His breast
swelled and Iiis chin lifted as he found the
convoA'' still sailiuM' in close ordei-, obevinir his
THE ^'MEBRY MAID" AND HER CONVOY. 281
signals smoothly and intelligently as a trained
pack obeys its huntsman. He was delighted
with the frigate and her crew, who were English
to a man. To be sure there was a fair sprinkling
of Dutchmen among the soldiers ; but his heart
had begun to warm somewhat towards that
nation. As he shambled to and fro, jerking out
from time to time some necessary orders, he saw
that he had the respect of all these fellows,
even while they smiled at him. They felt that
this distorted little framework held a man. He
divined this with the quick sensibility that marks
all deformed people. His green e3'es kindled.
In the pride of his soul he had almost forgotten
Tristram.
The sight of the English coast, dim and
purple beneath the declining sun, brought it
back to him with a pang. After all, Tristram
was still lost, and his journey to Holland had
been a failure therefore. With a sudden con-
tempt for all that a moment before he had been
enjoying, he turned to his friend and asked him
to take charge for a while.
Nothing more was said, but Captain Runacles
gfuessed what drove the little man below like a
wounded beast, and began to pace the deck
gloomily.
" He'll never take it up again," he muttered.
282 ';///•; inji': rAVn.mNs.
" ri's ;ill very well, and ln' lliinks lie's ^'ctliiiL,'
coml'Drt imt of it. r>ii< il wont do."
lie j)aus«'d tor a nionicnt, contcniplaitMl flic
distant, coast, and rcMiiiKM] liis tread, rej)eatinL( —
" It won't do, Jack ; it won't do ;i hit, my boy."
Ca})tain Barker sat in liis cabin alone,
starinu' at a knot of wood on the table before
liim. There were traces of tears on his cheeks.
Somebody ta})ped at the door.
"What is it?"
" The devil," answered Captain Riniacles'
voice, coolly. " Six i;alleys to the south, between
us and the Thames ! "
Captain Barker sprang- up and hurried up on
deck.
"So those are the craft I've heard so muJi
about," he remarked, taking down the glass
through which he had been e3'eing them for a
couple of minutes.
" What do you propose. Jack ? "
"Propose? Why, propose to do what I'm
here for — to save the convoy,"
" That's very pretty. But do you know how
fast those sharks can move ? "
" No, I don't. But I know they can out-
pace ns. Nevertheless, I'll save tlie convoy."
"How?"
THE GALLEYS COME IN SIGHT. 283
" There's only one way."
" And that is "
" By losing the frigate."
Captain Runacles looked at him for a second,
and then placed a hand on his shoulder. This
simple gesture expressed all his heart. Captain
Barker turned briskly.
" Sio^nal the convoy," he shouted, " to make
all sail and run for the Thames ! "
II.— The GaUei/s.
M. de la Pailletine was in some respects a
weak man. He was impatient. Up to this
moment his behaviour in an extremely galling
position bad been perfect. He had been content
to bide his time and had furthered every ordei
issued by his rival with the cheerfullest alacrity.
But when the man at the mast-head an-
nounced the advance of the mercliant fleet, he
allowed himself to be tempted and turned to
Captain Salt, who stood beside him.
" You will follow them, of course ? "
" Of course I shall do nothing of the sort.
On the contrary, I intend to steer to the south,
out of their sight."
" You will fling away this splendid prize ? "
" Let me remind you, monsieur, tbat we are
bound for Harwich."
2b4 riir: /;/,/•;■; I'.wiijoxs.
" r.ui this is f(.lly, Captain Salt! Ilarwicli
will ri'iiiiiiu wlici'c it is, and we can ravat^e \\ at
any iinic. Never ai^ain may we liave so line an
()])|)(>i'tnnity of ('a])turin<^ tliirty-six morclianl men
and a liritisb friL,Mto almost witlioni a l)]n\v."
"Excuse me, M. dc j,i l*;iillftini', hul I do
not allow my orders to be ciit ieised."
"Then listen to me, sir," retorted the Com-
modore, his fare red witli lury, as he drew from
his coat the oi'ders wliich the Xing had addressed
to him. "Yon see this ])aper ? V(My well ; I
destroy it." lie tore it into shreds, and. let the
pieces Mutter over the galley's side.
" Are you aware of wdiat that action means ? "
Captain Salt was white to the lips.
i am, sir.
"It is treason."
"You think so, perhaps. But a Frenchman
should best know what is due to the King
of France. Nevertheless, I shall summon the
captains to confirm my action. Will you attend
them in my cabin ? "
" Thank you; no, sir. I am ijuite sure tliat
they will support you. Jt remains to see what
his Majesty will say when I report your contempt
of his orders."
" That is for the future to decide. Mean-
while be good eiiDiigh to recollect that T com-
CAPTAIN SALT IS DEPOSED. 285
mand the squadron from this moment. Should
you choose to volunteer, well and good. If not,
my cabin is at your disposal as soon as the
captains have left it."
He bowed, and turned away to summon the
captains.
They came in haste, and were, of course,
unanimous ; though it is difficult to say how far
they were influenced by sound argument and
how far by pique and a desire to thwart the
Englishman. While they sat. Captain Salt
remained on deck cursing quietly and examining
the approaching enemy with no pleasant stare.
Orders were issued to all the six galleys to
attack the fleet. Four were told off against the
merchantmen and commanded to make all speed
to get between them and the Thames ; while
L' Ileureuse herself and La Merveille (commanded
by the Chevalier de Sainte-Croix) were to attack
and take possession of the frigate.
Immediately they began to make all possible
haste with sails and oars. Captain Salt with-
drew to the cabin in dudgeon, and M. de la
Pailletine took his place. From their benches
below the slaves heard his voice shouting out
orders right and left, and at once they had to
catch up their oars and row. The English fleet
when lirst spied was coming right across their
28() Tllh' BIAJK PAVILIONS.
course, and still licM mi ils way wIhmi it p(>r-
coivcd ilic Frcnclinian s iiitciil. In |)ursiiiincc' ot
this iiilciit the four ^allcvs nuule oil' with all
speed to place themselves between tlie nicrchant-
111(11 and the coast, while the Commodore and
the Chevalier de Sainte-Croix bore down on the
frigate, straight as an arrow.
And now beLraii a hard time for Tristram
and his companions below. They tugged and
sweated, and presently L' lleurcusc began to leap
throufjh the water. Above the swisli of the lonir
sweeps rose a tumult of oaths, imprecations, out-
cries, sobs, as the overseers plied their whips,
not caring where they struck. Overhead they
heard the guns running out, the rolling of shot
and trampling of feet, the shouts and replies of
officers and men. They could see nothing of the
frigate for which they were bound, but i'roin the
confusion and hurry expected cverj' moment to
feel the shock as the galle3^'s beak drove into
her.
Then for a second or two all the noise ceased.
The reason was this. For some little while
the frigate held on her course ibr the mouth of
the Thames. Not a sail more did she carry than
when she first came in siui'ht. It almost seemed
THE "2IEEBY MAID" BEARS DOWN. 287
as if her captain had not seen the enemy flying
to destroy him. For thirt^^-five minutes she
hekl quietly on beside her convoy. And then
the helm was shifted, and she came down
straight into the Frenchman's teeth.
It was a gallant stroke, and a subtle — so
subtle that M. de la Pailletine mistook its
meaning and gave a great shout of joy. He
fancied he saw the English delivered into his
hand. But his rejoicing was premature.
To begin with, he perceived, the next
moment, that the frigate, by hastening the
attack, had caught his galley alone. Into this
trap he had been led partly by the excellence
of his crew. Not only was his the fleetest vessel
of the six, but he had always been jealous to
choose the strongest forcats to man it. More-
over, M. de Sainte-Croix had been slow in start-
ing, and by this time La Merveille was a
league or more behind her consort.
still the Commodore was in no way disturbed.
He admitted to his lieutenant beside him that
the frigate was showing desperate gallantry ; but
he never doubted for a moment that his galley
alone, with two hundred fighting men aboard,
would be more than a match for her.
Down came the Merrij Maid, closer and
closer, her red-crossed flag fluttering bravely at
288 THE BLUE PAVILIONS.
tlio peak; and on ruslicd tlic LTalloy, until the
\\\o were within cainiou-sliot. IM. dc la Paille-
tine gave the order, and sent ii shot to meet her
from one of the ("our L;iins in the prow. As the
thunder of it died awa}^ and the smoke cleared,
he waiti'd lor the KnL;-lish man's reply. There
was none. The frigate held on her course, silent
as death.
IU.~Thc Frirjafe.
The two English captains stood on the
quarter-deck, side by side, the tall inaii and the
dwarf. Beyond issuing an order or two, neither
had spoken a word for twenty minutes. Once
Captain Barker glanced over his shoulder to see
how the merchantmen were faring, and calculated
that within half an hour their enemies would
intercept them. Then he looked down on his
men, who stood, ready h}' the guns, motionless,
with lips set, repressing the fury of battle ; and
beyond them to the galley as she came, churning
the sea, her oars rising and falling like the
strong wings of a bird.
" ]\Iy God ! " he said softly, " if only Tris-
tram were here to see 1 "
TV.— The Ga/frifs.
When the frigate failed to answer his salute,
M. de la Paillctinc jumped to a fresh conclusion.
THE nrjNK OF THE TRAGEDY. 289
" Mordieu ! " he cried, here is another
English captain who, like our friend Salt, is
weary of carrying his Sovereign's colours. He
doesn't mean to strike a blow. A minute and
we shall see his flas: hauled down."
CD
But the minute passed, and another, and yet
a third, and the English flag still flew.
By this time they were within musket-shot.
One by one the four guns had spoken from the
galley's prow, and still there was no answer. On
the brink of the tragedy there was silence for an
instant. Then a few of the French musketeers
seemed to find this intolerable, and fired without
receiving the order. Followed a silence again,
and still the Me ny Maid came on, as if to impale
herself on the galley's beak.
And then, suddenly, when in five minutes
the vessels must have collided, round flew the
frio-ate's wheel. For a minute and a half she
fetched up, as if awaking to the consequences
of her folly ; shuddered and shook against the
wind ; and, as her sails filled again, fetched away
on the westerly tack for her life.
For a full two minutes the French were
taken aback.
" Fools, fools ! " shouted M. de la Pailletine,
beside himself with joy.
The order flew for the slaves on the larboard
T
•2!t<t Tin: r.l.VE rAVlLlnSS.
boiiclios t(» liold wuicr lor a minute, and tlie
L,Mllt'y's licud caiiio loimd. Nutliinj^ <^ives more*
spirit ilian a llvim;" ciirmy. Fr<»m moutli to
mouili rail the wliispci- tliat the EiiL;lisli were
showiiii;" tlioir liecls ; and in a moment tlicsc
])()or devils, wlio owed all their misery to Fnmoo,
wero jjullini;' like madmen. .leers rose IVoni llie
deck.
" If ^ronsiour tlie EnL,dislinuin does not strike
within two minutes, down he goes to the bottom."
" The idiot, to expose his stern ! "
" On the whole, it is just as well that La
Merveille is so far behind. We shall have all the
glory to onrselves — eh, my cluldren ? "
-:r $- * -;|:- * #
On board the Frigate, Captain Bai'ker said
four words only —
" Take the wheel, .lemni}'."
Captain liunacles stepjKvl to it, and Ihe
steersman gave place.
In truth the hunch1)aek, though this was
his first ac(|naintance with a galley, knew well
enough that she would strike; for the frigate's
stern as the weakest point. '^I'his was precisely
what he wished her to do.
Captain Uunacles stood with his hands on
the wheel, and waited, glancing back over his
shoulder.
VIIEUREUSE MISSES HER AUL 291
Captain Barker stood by the taffrail with one
eye upon the galley and his face turned in profile
to his friend. His right hand was lifted.
^ ^ 7^ TK ^ 7^
The Commodore had made all his disposi-
tions. The galley was to plunge her beak
straight into the Merry Maid's stern, and its
crew, after one discharge of cannon to clear the
frigate's poop, were to board at once. The men
stood ready with their hatchets and cutlasses,
and set up a wild yell as they drove straight for
her. From below the slaves echoed it with a
melancholy wail.
On they tore. As they yelled again
L' Heiireuse s beak was but twenty yards from her
prey. A few more leaps and it would strike.
" One — two "
The little man looked back in their faces and
smiled.
" Three — four — five "
He dropped his hand. Quick as lightning
Captain Jerry spun the wheel round. The stern
swung sharply off.
The next moment the galley flew past. Hei
beak, missing the stern, rushed on, tearing great
splinters out of the Merry Maid's flank. Her
starboard oars snapped like matchwood, hurling
the slaves backwards on their benches, and
L»92 TJIK IlLVE J'AVILIUXS.
killiiiL;' a dozen on the spot. Then slie brou<iflit
u]), lielplessly disabled, ri^^-lit under the Irit^ate's
side.
And then at leni'tli the EnLrlisli cheer ranir
forllj. Ju an instant the ij^nipplinLj-irons Avere
out, and tlio i'ri<;ate lield lier Ibe, chisped, strained
dose against her ribs.
And at len^^'tli, too, witli a Ijlindini;' Hash
and a roar, tlie Eni^'lish <;uns spoke. A minute
had done it all. Sixty seconds before the ii^allant
vessel had lain apparently at the Frenchman's
mercy. Now the Frenchman wis fastened in-
extricably, while the crowd upon deck stood as
much exposed as if the galley were a raft.
Down swept the grape-.shot, tearing ghastly
passages through them. They were near enough
to be scorched by the tiarae of it. Down and
across it rent them, as they crouched and fought
with each other to get away and hide. There
was no hiding. Before the breath of it they
went down in rows, strewing the deck horribly,
mangled, riddled, blown in miserable j^ioces.
In a trice, too, the English masts and rigging
were swarming with musketeers and sailors who
poured hand-grenades among them like hail,
scattering wounds and death. The Frenchmen
no longer thought of attacking. Such was the
panic among othcers as well as common men that
GBAPrLING-IBONS AND GRAPE-SHOT. 293
they were incapable even of resistance. Scores
who were neither killed nor wounded lay flat on
their faces, counterfeiting death and hoping to
find safety.
This carnage lasted, perhaps, for five minutes.
L' Heureuse s consort was still near upon a league
behind, and the other four galleys were still
busily chasing the merchantmen.
Captain Barker looked, and was well content.
But he had much work still before him, and to
do it properly he must husband his ammunition.
He gave the order to board. Forty or fifty
men dropped over the Merry MaicVs side, cutlass
in mouth, and rushed along the galley's deck,
hewing down all who ventured to oppose them,
and sparing only the slaves, who made no re-
sistance. At last, and merely by the weight of
numbers, they were driven back. But this did
the Frenchmen no good. Instantly the frigate
opened fire again and murdered them by
scores.
It was in this extremity that M. de la Paille-
tiue cast his eyes around and found himself
forced to do what Captain Barker from the first
bad meant him to do. The four galleys that
had started after the convoy were by this time
sweeping along on the full tide of success. In
another five minutes the pathway to the Thames
294 THH liLVK I'AVIIJnNS.
would 1)0 blockod, and all the luercliant vosst-ls
at tlu'ir mercy.
M. de la Paillotine hoisted the Hag; of distress.
ILe called them to Ins help.
A wild liurrah broke out from the crew of
the iriLi'ate. 'J'he order meant their destruction :
for liow couhl the JJcjr// Moid contend against si.x
<;alleys ? Yet they cheered, for they liad guessed
what their captain had in his mind. And the
little man's greenish eyes sparkled as he heard.
" Good boys ! " he said bricHy, turning to
liis friend. " The convoy is saved, my lad : and
0, but Jemmy, you did it prettily 1 "
v.— The Gallcij {in llic hold).
Let us go back, for a minute or two, to
Tristram,
The oar at which he tugged was one of the
starboard tier; and when ]J Ifriirci/.se missed her
stroke, as we have told, it went like a sugar-
stick, flinging him and his companions back
across the bench. Further than this they could
not fly, because the stout chains which fastened
them were but ten feet long. Tristram, indeed,
was hurled scarcely so far as the rest, lor his
seat was the inmost from the gangway, and
right against the galley's side ; so tliat he got
the shortest swing of the oar.
TEE GUN. 295
They scrambled up just as the fire of grape-
shot opened. And then Tristram made an
appalling discovery.
The hole through which their oar was worked
had been split wider by the crash ; and now,
looking out, he saw that it lay just opposite the
mouth of an English cannon. In this position
they had been brought up by the frigate's
grappling-irons.
It took him but an instant to see also that
the cannon, as it stared him in the face, was
loaded.
The two vessels, moreover, lay so close that
by reaching up with his hand he could have laid
his hand on its muzzle.
It was a horrible moment. There were four
Frenchmen and a Turk ranged along the bench
beside him. He looked into their faces. They
were ashen grey to the lips. No one could move
to get out of the way : the chains prevented that.
The Huguenot was praying wildly. Only the
Turk preserved his composure, and even he had
turned pale under his bronze skin.
Somebody cried : " Lie flat ! "
In a second every one of Tristram's com-
panions had flung himself flat on the bench.
Tristram glanced again at the gun. Even at
that moment he had enough presence of mind to
'2M THE BLUE rAVJJJUNf^.
note tliiit it was pointed downwards, and at such
an anL^dc that those who lay flat must ini'alllbly
receive all its contents. lie noted this even
while it seemed that every one of his faculties
was frozen up. He felt that he could move
neither hand nor loot ; and somehow he knew
that since, because of the chain, he could not
leave the bench, he must sit uprii^ht. And so
he stiffened his back, laid his hands on his lap,
and waited, with his eyes on the ^'un.
ThrouL;li the purt-hole he could see the
Engli.sh ijjunner. He saw the fuse in his hand.
He counted the seconds ; wondered, even, how
the fellow could be so deliberate. He heard the
explosions all around, and speculated. Would
the next be his turn? Or the next? Would
it be painful ? What was the next world like?
And \vould his body be badly mangled ?
The gunner had the match ready, when the
lad's lips moved, and a cry broke from them — a
cry which astonished him as he uttered it, for he
had no notion that his brain was busy with such
matters.
" O, m}' Father, have 2^ity on my poor soul!
I have loved all men and one woman. Give
comfort to her, and have mercy on my poor
soul ! "
As the last word dropped from his lips, a
TIIISTBAM OPENS HIS EYES. 297
great calm fell upon him, and his eyes rested
quietly on the gunner's hand as the man set the
lighted match to the touch-hole of the gun.
******
It was night when Tristram opened his eyes
again. A p:ile ray of moonlight slanted across
liis face. His head was pillowed on something
soft and warm. He lay for a while and stared
at the moonlight ; and by degrees he made out
that it was pouring through a rent in the galley's
side. Then he turned his head and lifted him-
self a little to see what it was on which his head
rested. It was the dead body of one of the
three overseers, who had been killed almost by
the first shot tired by the frigate.
He pulled himself up, and crept towards the
bench ; then put a hand down to his feet. The
ring was there, but no chain. Next he felt
along the bench with a wish — quite stupid — to
get back to his seat. His comrades were still
lying on their faces. He imagined for a moment
that their foolish fears still held them there, and
he laughed feebly. He was weak, but i'elt no pain
from any wound, nor suspected that he was hurt.
Then he began to eye the fellows roguishly,
taking a malicious pleasure in the continuance of
their terror. He tittered again, and suddenly
found himself out of patience with them.
298 TJlh' JSIAJI-: l'AVILInM>i.
" Conio, j^i't up — get up ! 'V\n' (langL'r's all
over long ago."
He received no answer, and put out his liand
towards the nearest, it was tlie Turk — a fellow
wlio had Ix'cn a janissary, and had ilie reputation
oi" not knowing what fear was.
"Hullo, Ysouf ! Get up, tor shame — get
11]), man ! And you — that wr callcMl so hi'ave ! "
Ysouf lay still. Tristram hent forward and
took his hand.
The hand came away from the body. It was
icy cold.
Still holding it, Tristram leant back and
stared ; and as he stared a pettish anger took
him. He tossed the hand back on the body.
And now for the first time he began to hear;
and as this lost sense crept back to him he knew
that the place was full of moaning, and that over
his head feet were trampling to and fro. The
noise caused him agony, and he put his two
hands to his ears.
Jle was sitting in this p(jsture when he felt
somethin*^ warm and moist trickle down his
body, which was naked to the waist. He took
a hand from his ear and put it to his breast. It
was all wet, but in the darkness nothing could
be distinguished. Suspecting, liowever, that it
must be blood from some wound, and following
THE SURVIVOR. 299
the smear with his fingers, he found that his
shoulder, near the clavicle, was pierced right
through. There was no pain.
Then he began to feel himself all over, and
found another gash in the left leg, below the
knee. He searched no more, feeling that it was
useless, as he was bound to die in a little while.
The men before him and behind him were dead.
Of eighteen men on the three benches he — who
had been blown the full length of the coursier —
was the only one left; and all owing to the
explosion of one cannon only. But such was
the manner of grape shot : after the cartouche of
powder, a long tin box of musket-balls rammed
in ; and as the box breaks, destruction right and
left.
As he sat, waiting listlessly for death, the
sense of pain came suddenly upon Tristram ;
and then he swooned away.
VL—The FH(/ate.
As soon as the galleys saw M. de la Paille-
tine's signal, and turned reluctantly back from
their chase, the capture of the Merrt/MaidhQQ,'SimQ
but a question of time. The Merveillc was the
first to come up, and, striking fairly at her stern,
riddled her windows with a gust of artillery
and prepared to board : a feat that was thrice
3(»U TJIK ni.Ul-: fAVJLluSS.
prevented by ('aptain L'lmaclcs and a couple of
dozen marines, Enj^disli and Dutch. Then fol-
lowed Captain Denoyre witli tlie Saiispnrril, who
a])proached from the starboard side, and lost both
his masts as lie did so. In fact, the execution
done upon liis galley was only second to that
suifered i)y 1/ JlcurcKfn'. But as Le Paon fol-
lowed from the same (piarter, with the Ni/inphe
and the Bc/h; J idle heading- down as fast as oars
could take them, Ca])taiii Barker cast a look back
and touched his old friend's arm.
The first of the merchantmen was entering
the Thames.
" Better get back to the fo'c's'le, Jemmy,
and intrench yourself."
Captain Runacles nodded. " And you ? " he
asked.
"Oh, I'm going down to the cabin — first of
all."
Captain I'unacles nodded again. They looked
straight into each other's eyes, shook hands, and
parted .
It was obvious that the men of the Mcriy
Maid could no longer keep the deck. She was
hemmed in on every side, and it onl}'^ remained
to board her.
Twenty-five grenadiers from each galley were
ordered upon this service. Those of La Merveille
THE CARBYING OF THE "MERRY MAID." 301
were the first to start, and they swarmed over
the stern without opposition. Jint no sooner
were they crowded upon the frigate's deck than
a volley of musketry mowed them down. Cap-
tain Kunacles and his heroes then ran back and
entrenched themselves in the forecastle ; and to
advance to close the hatchway was certain death.
Nor were they forced to surrender until long
after the English flag was hauled down : and,
indeed, were only silenced when M. de la Paille-
tine hit on the happy idea of setting fifty men to
work with axes to lay open the frigate's deck.
A score and a half of men were lost over this
piece of work. However, the forecastle was
carried at last by means of it ; and the prisoners
were brought on deck — among them Captain
Eunacles, with his right hand disabled.
" Are you the gallant captain of this frigate?"
asked M. de la Pailletine, doffing his hat; for as
yet he had received no sword in token of the
Merrji MauVs surrender.
" No, sir," Captain Eunacles answered ; " 1
have the honour to be his lieutenant."
" He is killed, perhaps ? "
" I fancy not."
" Then where is he ? "
" Excuse me, monsieur, it strikes me he has
yet to be taken."
302 vv//; iiLui': r.wnjoNS.
" But tlic slii]) is iiiirs ! "
" \\\'\\, inoMsitiir, you luivo hauled down our
colours, and I can't deny it. Tint as for the
fris^'at*', 1 (li)ulit if ynu can call it yours just
" What do you moan, sir? "
" Wliy, simply that you liavo not yet takon
Caj)tain llarker; and excuse me if, knowing-
Captain Jiarker hetter than you can possibly do,
I warn you that that part of the ship which he
sees fit to occupy at this moment will probably
be dangerous for some time to come."
As if to corroborate his words, at this
moment the hush which had fallen u])on the
frigate's deck was broken by the report of a fire-
arm, and two French grenadiers rushed upon deck
from below and came forward hurriedly , one with
a hand clapped to a wound in his shoulder.
" That," said Captain Kiinacles, "is probably
Ca})tain Barker. There is a shutter to his cabin
door."
" Hut this is trivial," exclaiinccl \\\r Fi-cnch
Commodore, frowning:
" If Monsieur will excuse me, it is scarcely
so trivial as it looks. Captain Barker is within
ten paces of the powder-magazine. Moreover,
between him and the powder-magazine there is
a door."
CAPTAIN BARKER HOLDS OUT. 303
M- de la Pailletine jumped in liis shoes.
He rushed aft to the companion leading to the
captain's cabin, and called on him to surrender.
"Go away ! " answered a very ill-tempered
voice from below.
"But, sir, consider. Your ship is in our
hands "
" Then come and take it."
" your gallant officers have surrendered.
You have behaved like a hero, and there is not
one of your enemies but honours you. Monsieur,
it is magnificent — but come out."
" I slian't."
" Monsieur, even this noble obstinacy extorts
my veneration ; but permit me to inquire. How
can you help it ? "
" Very simply, sir. Time is of no concern to
me. I have plenty of victuals and ammunition
down here ; and if any man comes to take my
sword I shall kill him."
" You cannot kill five or six hundred men."
" No ; when I am bored, I shall fire the
powder-magazine."
" Monsieur "
There was no answer but the sound of a man
blowing his nose violently, and the ring of a
ramrod as it was thrust home. It was absurd
that one man should hold a ship against
liiindiTcls. Nevertheless, it was t lie case, and llie
Commodoni did not see liis way out of it.
" i*erniit iu<', sir,'' said Captain IJunaeles,
st(^j)))inL;' (orwai-tl, " to add my assurance, if such
be needed, that Capiaiii Harkcr is a man nf his
Wol-cl.
The Commodore essayed i^entler tactics.
" Listen, monsieur," he calN-d down.
" Go away ! "
" I have the pleasure to announce to you that
you shall meet only with such treatment as your
bravery deserves. Dismiss all apprehension of
imprisonment "
At this point he skipped backwards with such
violence as to knock a couple of sailors sprawling-.
A bullet had embedded itself in the timbers at
his feet.
He determined to use summary measures, and
ordered twelve grenadiers, w^tli fixed bayonets,
to advance to the cabin door, break it open, and
overpower the Englishman.
The twelve men advanced as they were
bidden. The sergeant was half-way down the
ladder, with his detachment at his heels, when
the report of a musket was heard, and down he
dropped with a ball in his leg. The grenadiers
hesitated. Another shot followed. It was pretty
clear that the besieged man had plenty of fire-
CAPTAIN BARKER COMES OUT. 305
arms loaded and ready. They scrambled up the
steps again. " It was all very well," they said;
" but as they could only advance in single file,
exposing their legs before they could use their
arms, the Englishman from behind his barricade
could shoot them down like sheep."
M. de la Pailletine stamped and swore, up-
braiding them for their cowardice. He was
about to order them down again when a diversion
occurred.
A door slammed below, a wheezing cough
was heard, and Captain Barker's head appeared
at the top of the ladder.
" Which of you is the French captain ? "
M. de la Pailletine lifted his hat.
" H'mph ! "
He stepped up on deck, and the French
officers drew back in sheer amazement. They
looked at this man who had defied them for
pretty near an hour. They had expected to see
a giant. Instead they saw a tiny man, hump-
backed, wry-necked, pale of face, with a twisted
smile, and glaring green eyes, that surveyed
them witli a malicious smile. His wig was off,
and his bandaged scalp, as well as his face, was
smeared black with powder; and it appeared
that he could not even walk like other men, for
he moved across the deck with a gait that was
u
o06 THE BLUE PAVILIONS.
sometliiiiijf botwoon ;i trot iind a sluimblo, and
iiulescriljaljly liuliorous.
Yet all this abated bis dij^nity no wbit. He
trotted straiij^bt up to M. de la I'ailletine (wbose
astonisbment mastered bis manners for tbe
moment, so tbat be stared and drew back), and
working- bis jaw, as a man wbo lias to swallow a
bitter pill wbicb sticks in bis moutb, lie beld out
bis sword witbout ceremony.
"Here you are," be said: "I've done witb
it ; can't waste words."
" Sir," tbe Comniodure answered, bowing,
" l)elieve me, 1 receive it witb little gratification.
The victory is ours, no doubt ; but tbe honour
of it you have wrested from us. Sir, T am a
Frenchman ; but I am a sailor too ; and my
heart swells over such a feat as yours. Suffer
me, then, to remind you that your present cap-
tivity is but the fortune of war, against wbicb
3'ou have struggled heroically ; that your self-
sacrifice has saved your fleet ; and tbat, as France
knows bow to appreciate gallantry in her adver-
saries, your bondage shall be merely nominal."
" H'mph," said tbe little man, " fine talk,
sir, line talk. As for the ships, I saw tbe last
of 'em slip into tbe '^fliames, ten minutes since,
from my cabin window. Sorry to keep you
parleying so long, but couldn't come out before."
THE SURRENDER. 307
He blew his nose violently, cocked bis bead
on one side, and added
"... tbougb, to be sure, sir, your words
are devilisb kind — devilisb kind, 'pon my soul ! "
M. de la Pailletine, witb a pleasant smile,
lield out bis sword to bim,
" Take it back, Monsieur — take back a weapon
no man better deserves to wear. Forget tbat
you are my prisoner : and, if I may beg it,
remember ratber tbat you are my friend."
Tbe face of tbe little Imncbback flusbed
crimson. He besitated, took back tbe sword
clumsily, hesitated again, then swiftly held
out his hand to M. de la Pailletine, witb a
smile as beautiful as bis body was deformed.
" Sir, you have beaten me. I fought your
men for awhile, but I can't stand ujd against this."
VII.— The Galley.
There was one man, however, who soon had
reason to repent that the little man had been
g^iven his sword ao-ain.
Dark had fallen when M. de la Pailletine con-
ducted him courteously over the frigate's side and
across the deck of V Heiireuse towards bis own
cabin. Flinging the door open, he bowed,
motioning Captain Barker to precede bim.
As tbe hunchback entered, a figure rose from
308 TJIl-J BLUE J'AVILIitNS.
beside the table iukIit tlie s\vinL,'ini,^-lamp. It
was Roderick Salt, who had been sitting there
and sulkiiif;' since the eni^agernent bei^an.
Captain Barker juni2)ed back a foot and
stared.
" You ! "
Captain Salt had been expecting the Com-
modore, and was waiting to pay him a dozen
satirical comphments on the issue of the engage-
ment. Triumph shone in his eyes. It went out
like a candle-llame before a puit' of wind.
" You ! "
In a Hash the hunchback was runninij on
him with drawn sword. ]\I. de la Pailletine,
in a trice, interposing, knocked the blade up and
out of his hand. But he rushed on, and, dealing
the traitor a sound blow on the face with his fist,
began to kick and cuff and pummel him without
mercy.
"Take him off — take him off'!" gasped
Captain Salt, but offered not the least resistance.
The Commodore, amused, and secretl}^ pleased,
caught the little man in his arms and dragged
liiiii away by main force.
" Messieurs," he said, slijtping between them,
and still panting with the effort, " circumstances
compel me to leave you together for a while.
But before I go, 1 must exact a paro/e from
FACE TO FACE. 309
both of you that you will keep the peace towards
each other."
" But, Monsieur," Captain Barker exclaimed,
" I want to kill him ! "
" Doubtless ; but if, sir, you have that con-
sideration for me which you professed by shaking-
hands with me just now, you will ^-efrain.
Captain Salt will tell you, sir, that we have a
small affair to discuss together as soon as we
reach France again. When that discussion is
over, no doubt he will be at your service."
The pair gave their promise reluctantly, and,
as the Commodore left the cabin, sat down,
facing each other across the table — Captain Salt
with his back to the shattered stern-windows,
which, a week or two before, Tristram had
touched up with fresh paint and simple enthu-
siasm.
They knew nothing of this. Yet the first
question asked by Captain Barker, after he had
glared at his enemy in silence for twenty minutes,
was —
" Where is Tristram ? "
" Tristram? "
" Ay ; your son. You have seen him, and
have been with him."
" I do not know. I lost him."
"When? Where?"
oio THE iifjUhJ PAvrijnys.
" Two moiitlis since. We were travollinor
south toii^ethc'r "
" What rii^Hit liiid you "
" Excuse UK', T was al)out to jmt a siuiilar
questiou. To Ix'^iu wiili, you do uot deuy, I
su])j)ose, tliat tlie lad is uiy sou ? " lie paused
a secoud (»r two, aud listeuod ; i'or a sudden shout
had gone u]) from the galley's deck above tlieiu.
He continued, "Secondly, the boy is heir to
consideralile estates ; thirdly, he has been so for
many years; fourthly, 1 am legally an adminis-
trator of those estates; fifthly, you knew that
I was alive — what the devil is that noise ? "
" Never mind the noise. Proceed with your
remarks."
" I have simply to say that you, Captain
Barker, together with your friend Kunacles,
have for years been playing off a fraud on the
law, and that I am going to exact my rights to
the last farthing."
" Really, you must excuse me ; but do you — •
a traitor, on board a French ship — imagine that
you possess any rights in England ? "
There was certainly a loud trampling of feet
on the galley's deck at this moment. But
Captain Barker knew that the French would
make haste to clear their dead at once and g-et
into motion with their prize, for the merchant-
THE END OF CAPTAIN SALT. 311
men must, before this, liave given the alarm,
and the coast was continually patrolled by
British cruisers.
" You have a very imperfect knowledge of
my position. Captain Barker; and it naturally
leads you to jump to very wrong conclusions.
To begin with, you imagine me a traitor."
" I do."
" To whom ? To King William, I suppose ? "
" Well, as William is the king whose law
seems most likely to interfere with your j)resent
threats, I will instance King William."
" You are mistaken. Until you came into
sio-ht this squadron was advancing on Harwich
under my command. You understand? Well,
before it started I had sent word to William of
its intention. In other words, from first to last
I designed the whole expedition in his interests.
Had we gone on, by this time half a dozen
British frigates would have been upon us."
" M^ God ! And ihei/ are here ! "
As Captain Barker yelled it out, a broad flame
illumined the cabin, and the crash of broken
glass and rending timbers mingled with a roar
that shook the seas for miles.
And in the light of this thunderous broadside
Captain Salt rose slowly, lifted his arms, swayed
and dropped forward, striking the table with his
312 THE BLUE PAVIUnXF!.
brow ; tlion slid down n])oii the floor, stono-
deud.
I'lll.— nr GaJh'ii {hi Ihr hold).
From liis second swoon Ti-istnun ;i\V(»k(' lo
find the li<jjlit of :i lantern llasliin<r in liis face.
The Merry Maid's IIhl;" liad scarcely been
hauled down before night fell ; and almost with
its falling, while the men of the other galleys
were helping to clear J/ Ilcifrpuses decks, the}'
perceived lights twinkling off the mouth of the
Thames.
At once concluding that these were the
lights of English men-of-war sent to pursue
them, they used the utmost despatch. Their
first concern was to throw the dead overboard
and stow the wounded in the hold. Uut so
closely were they pressed by the fear of losing
their prize and being made prisoners, that it is
to be feared as many of the living were thrown
over for dead as of those who were dead in reality.
This, at any rate, came near to being
Tristram's fate. For when the keeper came to
unchain the killed and wounded of his seat he
was still without consciousness, lying among the
corpses, bathed in their blood and his own.
" A clean sweep of this bench," said the
keeper.
CLEARING THE BENCHES. 313
He and his fellows, therefore, without further
examination, did but unchain the slaves and
then fling them over. It was suflicient that the
body neither spoke nor cried.
Tristram's comrades, it is true, were in no
doubtful plight. The hand of death had im-
pressed them beyond chance of mistake. They
were thrown over limb by limb.
Tristram's was the only body that remained
entire, and to all appearance he, too, was dead.
Now, he had been chained by the left leg, in
which (as we have said) he was severely
wounded. The keeper, not knowing that the
chain had been blown away, grasped this leg in
his hand, felt for the ring, and tried to wrench
it open.
Fortunately he tugged so lustily, and in-
flicted so sharp a pang in the wounded limb,
that Tristram opened his eyes and sobbed with
the anguish of it. The fellow let go his grasp.
Then, suddenly perceiving what their in-
tention had been, the poor youth screamed out
at the top of his voice —
" Please do not throw me over. I'm not
dead yet ! "
Upon this they carried him to a small
chamber in the hold and tossed him down
among a heap of groaning wounded, upon a
SH THE BLUE rAVJLTONS.
Ciible iniulo up into ii roulomi, porluips the liardost
bed on wliicli a sick man can lie. About bini
were stretched indiscriminately petty officers,
sailors, soldiers, and slaves. The air could
reach this den only throui^h a scuttle about
two feet square, and the heat and stench were
therefore something intolerable. A suri^^eon
was at work anioni;' the sufferers. Reachintf
Tristram at length, he stopped the bleeding of
his wounds with a little spirits of wine. He
had no bandages ; nor did he come again to
see if his patient was dead or alive.
But, indeed, our hero was past caring for
this, and when he regained consciousness after a
third swoon it was to find himself in other hands.
For the pursuing English, aided by the
wind (which had shifted a little further to the
northward), had swept down upon the galleys
and taken them, with their prize, and were iiovv
towing them triumphantly into Sheerness.
IX. — At Sheerness.
At ten o'clock next morning, after a pro-
digious breakfast at Sheerness, Captain Barker
and Captain Kunacles (whose wounded arm was
sluu"- in a silk kerchief) strolled down to the
water-side to have a look at the strange vessels
they had so obstinately defied. They explored
AT SHEERNESS. 315
with especial care tlie unfortunate L'lleureme,
visiting first the Commodore's cabin, upon the
boards of which the blood of Eoderick Salt was
hardly dry. It cannot be said that they felt much
sorrow for his fate ; for to pity a traitor was a
height to which the faith of this pair of imperfect
Christians did not soar. But they uttered no
word of exultation, and quickly resumed their
examination of the deck and hold, discussing this
or that rent, debating over every splinter, proving
that such and such a groove was ploughed by a
ball from such and such an angle, and so on.
From the deck they descended to the long
chamber where now row upon row of battered
and deserted benches told of a tragedy more
pitiful than any that can befall men who are
free to stand up and fight for their lives.
" Merciful heaven ! " exclaimed the little
hunchback, standing with his arms folded and
gloomily conjuring up the scene of yesterday;
" Jemmy, we must have mown the poor brutes
down like swathes of meadow grass. See
here "
He bent to examine a bench along which a
broadening groove ran from end to end, telling a
frightful tale.
But Captain Eunacles did not answer. He
was standing by a battered hole in the galley's
31fi TJfK BLUE J'AVTLJONS.
starboartl side and lookinn- down at tlio floor.
A sunbeam fill 11iiX)UL;h ilic licdc and slanted
aloni;" I lie j)lanks oL" the llourinu^. His eyes were
follovvini^ this sunbeam, and his face was like a
i^diost's.
" Jemmy ; come and look — here's a whole
benchlul Mccotinlcd fni- at one swoop." Still
Jemmy did not reply. The sunbeam drifting
between the benches before him fell on a little
patch of earth — a patch collected by one of the
slaves whose comrades, humouring his whim,
had brought him a handful or two in their
pockets whenever they returned from shore.
Upon this patch of earth were sunk the prints
of a pair of feet, far apart ; and between these
footprints glimmered two lines of green, with
two other lines uniting them.
They were two lines of pepper-cress, un-
harmed and fresh as if they grew in some
sheltered garden, open only to the sun and rain.
And as Captain Jemmy looked, the two green
lines resolved themselves into two words ; thus
bracketed :
r SOPHIA. "1
Ltristram.J
" Jemmy — Jemmy, confound you ! Do you
hear ? "
"Yes, 3'es." Captain Eunacles turned sud-
CAPTAIN BUNACLES MAKES A DISGOVERY. 317 '
denly and took his friend by the arm. " Yes — 1
see — very curious. Now let's go."
" You're in a great hurry."
" Yes, I want to go up and have a look at
the wounded in hospital."
" AVhy, what's taken you ? We haven't
looked at the beak vet ; and that's the most
important of all."
" Very well, come along, and examine it
while I run up to the hospital. Come " — he
took the little man's arm — " I won't be gone ten
minutes."
" Now, why on earth you've taken this
fancy " began Captain Barker as he regained
the deck. And then he put his hands behind
him and stared ; for Captain Jemmy was already
hurrying away for his life.
It was fifteen minutes before he returned,
and the little man was hanging over the bows
with half his hody over the bulwarks and his
head twisted to get a better view of the for-
midable beak.
" Jack ! "
" Oh, you're back. I say, just lean over
here "
" Jack," Captain ituuacles caught him by
the coat-tails, and tore him back. " Now listen ;
you're not to speak ; you're not to ask questions ;
318 THE BLUE PAVILIONS.
you're not to open your inoutli. You've just to
come — that's all."
He took the little uian and hurried him
ashore, lie was breathless ; but he ran Ca|)tain
Barker over the i^^ang-plank like a charging bull.
" One moment, Jemmy — Jemmy ! Damme
I iu/7/ ask "
" Ask away, then — and wait for the answer."
And so it happened that Tristram, stretched
in the hospital at Sheerness, with his head to the
wall, and thirty wounded men on either side of
him, heard in his painless doze a sharp cry, and
then a voice that seemed to call him across miles
of empt}' space.
"0, my dear God! Tristram — my son,
my son ! "
He opened his eyes ieebl}'-, smiled, and
whispering one word — " Dad ! " — sank back into
a dreamless slumber.
319
CHAPTER XV.
BACK AT THE BLUE PAVILIONS.
Four weeks afterwards Tristram was put into a
boat, and taken up to London, whence after two
days' rest he was removed by easy stages back
to Harwich.
At the gate of Captain Barker's pavilion he
passed into the care of Dr. Beckerleg, who put
him to bed at once and dared him to get up.
As he was borne up the garden-path, Sophia
peeped through a chink of the little blue docfl' ;
and got not another glimpse of her lover for
another six weeks.
It was a soft and sunny mornicg in October
month when Dr. Beckerleg, having given his
patient leave to dress and set foot outside the
door for the first time, stepped down into the
garden to seek the two captains and send them
upstairs to help the invalid.
As he opened the front door a searching odour
caused him to pause in the porch and sniff.
He traced this odour round to the back of the
house, and there found Captain Barker, Captain
Eunacles, and Narcissus Swiggs. Between them
they had managed to clear the garden of an
320 THE BLUE V AVI LIONS.
enormous crop of weeds, of wliicli tlioy were
now iiiakinti^ a hoiilli'c I)cliiii(l llic thick and
yellowish coils of smoke, J)r. iieckerleg could
just discern the Inrnis of the two captains.
By their gestures they seemed to be en<i^a<j^ed
in an acrimonious discussion. Narcissus, little
heedins^, stoUdly poked the honlire with a ciiarred
stake.
"I will not,'' said Captain llunacles.
" But I say that you shall," said Ca[)tain
Barker.
" The lad is yours, and yours only.'
" He is yours also."
• " By a cast of dice you won him.
*' By law he was given back to you.
*' You have brought him up."
" You found him again when I lost
mi.
" Yes, by means of" an art which you taught
im.
" Gentlemen, gentlemen," interposed the
doctor, advancing, " what is all this fuss ? "
" AVhy," began Captain Barker, " I was
proposing that, for the future, we should take
equal shares in the superintendence of Tristram's
education ; and he won't listen to it."
" Certainly T won't," Caj)tain llunacles
assented stoutly.
j>
AN ALTERCATION. 321
The doctor looked from one to the other with
a good-humoured smile.
" And why won't you ? " he asked, addressing
Captain Jemmy.
" Why won't I ? Because, as you are aware
— for you were present — we once cast the dice
over this boy, and Jack won."
"Did he?"
" You know he did. He flung two sixes.
Bless my heart, doctor, you must remember
that ! "
" I do, perfectly. And you — what did you
throw ? "
" I— well, I "
" You threw the dice, and the box with 'em,
out of the window : that's what 3^ou did."
" Very well, then. That settles it. I don't
back out of my luck."
" Gentlemen," said Dr. Beckerleg, clearing
his throat, " I have something to tell you. It
is a fact, and I don't pretend to explain it. You
know the proverb about doctors and their un-
belief. Well, if I had been inclined — and I am
not — to deny a controlling wisdom in this scheme
of things, I should have been startled somewhat
when Captain Barker flung those two sixes.
That apparent chance should give an approval
so decided to Captain Barker's adoption of this
322 THE BLUE PAVILIONS.
urpluui child \v;is, to say tlie least, ronuirkiiblc,
for 1 thoiitrht then, and now I am suro, that no
better father could be found for the babe."
" That's what I say," Captain Eunacles put in.
" Do not interrupt me, please. I say uo
hc/fcr father could be found. I did not say that
none could be found as good. My dear Kunacles,
vou tossed the dice out of the window and
flounced olY in a huff. As they had been
borrowed, and without their owner's con.sent, I
thought lit to step across the street and pick
them up. They were lying not a yard apart, in
the gutter. You w^re wrong, captain, in not
giving them a look."
"Why?"
" Sivtp/i/ because, as they lay, fu-o sixes were
ujjpermosty
The two captains stared at him.
" I give you my word," he said quietly.
" Mv dear Jack "
" That settles it, Jemmy."
They took each other's hand.
" liut excuse me," said Dr. JJeckerleg, " this
is not what I came to tell you. Just now I have
given Tristram leave to stroll out into the garden
for an hour, and he is waiting for you to dress
him."
But here the doctor made a mistake, for when
THE LOVERS. 323
tliey went upstairs there was no sign of Tris-
tram. He and his clothes had disappeared.
They ran down to the front door, and looked
around. There was no sign of him.
Finally, Dr. Beckerleg advanced to the little
blue door in the hedge, opened it, and poked his
head into Captain Runacles' garden. Then he
turned softly and, putting a finger to his lip,
beckoned to the others. They advanced on tip-
toe and peeped through.
Beside a garden-bed, half a dozen yards away,
and with their backs to the door, knelt Sophia
and Tristram. The youth's left arm was around
the girl's waist, and the youth's hair mingled
with the girl's as unconscious of observation
they bent over the mould. It was the same
mould in which Sophia, years before, had buried
her doll, and now Tristram was helping Sophia
to sprinkle it with peppercress seed ; holding her
ri":ht hand as she traced this : —
The watchers withdrew as softly as they had
advanced. But on his w^ay back to the bonfire.
Captain Barker darted into the house and emerged
again with an armful of green volumes.
3-21 THE BLUE I'AVILIOXS.
"What's the nu'iinini,^ of this?" iiskcd Dr.
Beckerleg.
The little nuui trotted round iind shot his
burden right on top ol" the pile which Narcissus
had by this time stirred into a ]>laz«'
" There doesn't seem to be any I'urther use
for 'em," he explained, ]>antin2f and ninnini,'' back
to the house.
He fetched another arini'ul,and then another;
and as he discliarged the last upon the bonfire,
turned and laid a hand upon Captain Runacles'
arm.
" Jemmy, old friend, we needn't to have
made such a fuss about it, after all."
THE EXD.
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Little Mother Bunch. By Mrs. Molesworth. Illustrated. Cloth, 3s. 6d.
Ships, Sailors, and the Sea. By R. J. Cornewall-Jones. Ckeafi
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Famous Sailors of Former Times. By Clements Markham. Illus-
trated. 2s. 6d.
The Tales of the Sixty Mandarins. By P. V. Ramaswami Raju.
With an Introduction by Prof. Henry MoRLEV. Illustrated. 5s.
Pictures of School Life and Boj^hood. Selected from the best Authors.
Edited by Percy Fitzger.\ld,'M.A. 2s. 6d.
Heroes of Every-day Life. By Laura Lane. With about 20 Full-
page Illustrations. Cloth. 2S. 6d.
Books for Young People. Illustrated. Cloth gilt, 5s. each.
Tlie Champion of Odin; or, 1 Under Bayard's Banner. By Henry
Viking Life in the Days of Frith.
Old. By J. Fred. Ilcdgetts. Bound by a Spell; or. The Hunted
The Romance oi Invention. Witch of the Forest. By the
By Jaiiies Burnley. I Hon. Mrs. Greene.
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Polly : A New-Fashioned Girl. By
L. T. Meade.
The WTiite House at Inch Gow.
By Mrs. Pitt.
A Sweet Girl Graduate. By L. T.
Meade.
The King's Command: A Story
for Girls. By Maggie Symington.
Lost in Samoa. A Tale of Adven-
ture in the Navigator Islands. By
Edward S. Ellis.
Tad; or, "Getting Even" with
Him. By Edward S. Ellis.
For Fortune and Glory : A Story
of the Soudan War. By Lewis
Hough.
ston.
Crown 8vo Library. Cheap Editions. 2s. 6d. each.
"Follow My Leader." By Talbot
Baines Reed. [Pitt.
The Cost of a Mistake. By Sarah
A World of Girls: The Story of
a School. By L. T. Meade.
Lost among White Africans. By
David Ker.
The Palace Beautiful. By L. T.
Meade.
On Board the "Esmeralda." By
John C. Hutcheson.
In Quest of Gold. By A. St. John-
Kambles Bound London. By C.
L. Mateaux. Illustrated.'
Around and About Old England.
By C. L, Matdaux. Illustrated.
Paws and Claw^s. By one of the
Authors of " Poems written for a
Child." Illustrated.
Decisive Events in History.
By Thomas Archer. With Original
Illustrations.
The True Bobinson Crusoes.
Cloth gilt.
Peeps A broad for Polks at Home.
Illustrated throughout.
Wild Adventures in "Wild Places.
By Dr. Gordon Stables, R.N. Illus-
trated.
Modern Explorers. By Thomas
Frost. lUuttraied. Neiu a7id Cheaper
Edition.
Early Explorers. By Thomas Frost.
Home Chat with our Young Folks.
Illustrated throughout.
Jungle, Peak, and Plain. Illustrated
throughout.
The England of Shakespeare. By
E. Goadby. With Fulfpage IIlus
trations.
Selections from Caatll t; Company's Publicatiotu.
The
Cross and Crown" Series. Illustrated 2S. 6d. each.
Throutth Trial to Triumph. By
M.iacline It. Hunt
By Flro and Sword : A Story of
tho Hufuenola. By Thoin.is
Arclier.
Adam Hepbiim'e Vow: A Talo of
Klrlc and Covenant. By Annie
S Swan.
No. XIII.; or, Tho Story of tho
LOBl Vestal. A Talc of F.«rly
Christian Days. By Eniina Marshall.
"Golden Mottoes" Series, The. Each Rook containing ao8 pages, with
Four lull-page Original Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, 2s. each.
PrO'*dom'B Sword : A Story of ihe
Days if WilUce and Bruce.
Uy Annie S. Swmn.
StroiiK to Suffer: A Story of
the Jews. By E. Wynne.
Heroes ol the Indian Empire:
or, Stories of Vnlonr and
Victory. Ily I'rm-st Foster.
In Letters of Flame : A Story
of the Waldonscs. By C. I..
Matifaux.
" Nil Desperandum." By the
Rev. F. L.sn^):nd)<e. M.A.
"Bear and Forbear." By Sarah
I'iit.
"Foremost If I Can." By Helen
Atteridce.
" Honour is my Guide." By Jeaoie
ncrinR (Mrs. Adams- Arton).
" Aim at a Sure End." By F-mfly
Scarchfield.
" He Conquers who Endiires." By
the Author of " May Cunningham s
Trial." &c.
Cassell's Picture Story Books. Each containing about Sixty Pages of
Pictures .ind Stories, &c. 6d. each.
Uttlo Talks. Daisy's Story Book.
BriRlit Stars. Dot's Story Book.
Nursery Toys. A Nest of Stories.
Pctii Posy. Good-NlKht Storii s.
Tiny Tales Chats for Small CThatterers.
Auntie's Stories.
Birdie's Story Book.
Little Chimes.
A Shoaf of Tales.
Dewdrop Stories.
Cassell's Sixpenny Story Books. All Illustrated, and containing
Interesting Stories by well-known writers.
The Smuggler'.-! Cave.
Little Lizzie.
Little Bird, Life and Adven-
tures of.
Luke Barnicott.
The Delft Jug.
The Boat Club.
Little Pickles.
The Elchester College Boys.
My First Cruise.
The Little Peacemaker.
Cassell's Shilling Story Books. All
ing Stories.
Bunty and the Boys. I
The Heir of Elmdale. '
The Mystery at ShonoUff i
School.
Claimed at Last, and Boy's {
Keward.
Thorns and Tangles.
The Cuokoo in the Robin's Nest.
John's Mistake.
The History of Five Little
Pitchers.
Diamonds in the Sand.
Illustrated, and containing Interest-
Surly Bob.
Tho Oiant's Cradle.
Shai; and Doll.
Atint Lucia's Locket.
Tho MafTic Mirror.
Tho Cost of Revenge.
Clever Frank.
Among the Redskins.
The Perryman of BrllL
Harry Maxwell.
A Banished Monaroh.
Seventeen Cats.
Illustrated Books for the Little Ones. Containing interesting Stories.
All Illustrated, is. each ; cloth gilt, is. 6d.
Wandering Ways.
Dumb ill ends.
Those Golden Bands.
Little Mothers &theirCllUdren.
Our Pretty Pets.
Our Schoolday Hours.
Creatures Tame.
Creatures Wild.
Scrambles and Scrapes.
Tittle Tattle Tales.
Dp and Down the Garden.
All Sorts of Adventures.
Our Sunday Stories.
Our Holiday Hours.
Indoors and Out.
Some Farm Friends.
Albums for Children. 3s. 6d. each.
The Album for Home, School,
and Pla.v. Containing Stories by
Popular Authors. lUustrateil.
My Own Album of Animals.
Wllk Full-pace Illustrations.
Picture Album of All Sorts. With
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The Chit-Chat Album. Illnstrated
throughout.
Selections from Cassell f Company's Publications.
"Wanted— a King " Series. Illustrated. 33. 6d. each.
Great Q-randmamma and Elsie. By Georgina M. Syng^e.
Sobin's Ride. By Miss E. Davenport Adams.
Wantei— a King ; 01, How Merle Bet the Nursery Rliymes to Rights.
By Maggie Browne. With Original Designs by Harry Fumiss.
The World's Workers. A Series of New and Original Volumes.
With Portraits printed on a tint as Frontispiece, is. each.
Dr. Arnold of Kugby. By Rose
E. Selfe.
The Earl of Shaftesbury. By
Henry Frith.
Sarah Robinson, Agnes Wes-
ton, and Mrs. Meredith. By
E. M. Tomkinson.
Thomas A. Edison and Samuel
F. B. Morse. By Dr. Denslow
and J. Marsh Parker.
Mrs. SomercUle and Mary Car-
penter. By Phyllis Browne.
General Gordon. By the Rev.
S. A. Swaine.
Charles Dickens. By his Eld2st
Daughter.
Sir Titus Salt and George
Moore. By J. Burnley.
David Livingstone. By Robert
Smiles.
Florence Nightingale, Catherine
Marsh, Frances Ridley Haver-
gal, Mrs. Rauyard (" I^. N. R.").
By Lizzie AUdridge.
Dr. Guthrie, Father Mathew,
Elihu Burritt, George Livesey.
By John W. Kirton, LL.D.
Sir Henry Havelock and Colin
Campbell Lord Clyde. By E. C.
Phillips.
Abraham Lincoln. By Ernest Foster.
George Muller and Andrew Reed.
By E. R. Pitman.
Richard Cobden. By R. Cowing.
Benjamin Franklin. By E. M.
TomkinsoU.
Handel. By Eliza Clarke. [Swaine,
Turner the Artist. By the Rev. S. A.
George and Robert Stephenson.
By C. L. Mateaux.
•,• The above Works {excluditig RICHARD COBDEN) can also be had Three in
Otie I'ol., doth, gill edges, jr.
Library of Wonders. Illustrated Gift-books for Boys. Paper, is. ;
cloth, IS. 6d.
■Wonderful Adventures. Wonders of Bodily Strength
Wonders of Animal Instinct. and Skill.
Wonderful Balloon Ascents. Wondertul Escapes.
Cassell's Eighteenpenny Story Books. Illustrated.
Wee Willie Winkie.
Ups and Downs of a Donkey's
Life.
Three Wee Ulster Lassies.
ITp the Ladder.
Dick's Hero; and other Stories.
The Chip Boy.
Raggles, Baggies, and the
Emperor.
Roses from Thorns.
Gift Books for Young People.
Original Illustrations in each.
The Boy Hunters of Kentucky.
By Edwards. Ellis.
Bed Feather: a Tale Of the
American Frontier. By
Edward S. Ellis.
Seeking a City.
Rhoda*s Reward; or, "If
W^ishes were Horses."
Jack Marston's Anchor.
Frank's Life-Battle; or. The
Three Friends.
Fritters. By Sarah Pitt.
The Two Hardeastles. By Made-
line Bonavia Hunt.
Cassell's Two-Shilling Story Books. Illustrated.
Faith's Father.
By Land and Sea.
The Young Berringtons.
Jeff and Leff.
Tom Morris's Error.
Worth more than Gold.
"Through Flood— Through Fire, "
and other Stories.
The Girl with the Golden Looks.
Stories of the Olden Time.
By Popular Authors. With Four
Cloth gilt, IS. 6d. each.
Major Monk's Motto. By the Rev.
F. Langbridge.
Trixy. By Maggie Symington.
Ra^ and Rainbows: A Story of
Thanksgiving.
Unole wmiam's Charges; or. The
Broken Trust.
Pretty Pink's Purpose; or, The
Little Street Merchants.
Tim Thomson's Trial. By George
Weatherly.
Ursula's StumbUng-Bloek. By Julia
Goddard.
Ruth's Life-Work. By the Rev
Joseph Johnson.
Stories of the Tower.
Mr. Burke's Nieces.
May Cunningham's Trial.
The Top of the Ladder : How to
Little Flotsam. [Reach it.
Madge and Her Friends.
The Children of the Cotirt.
A Moonbeam Tangle.
Moid Marjory.
Peggy, and other Tales.
The Four Cats of the Tippertons.
Marion's Two Homes.
Little Folks' Sunday Book.
Two Fourpenny Bits.
Poor Nelly.
Tom Heriot.
Through Peril to Portima.
Aunt Tabitha's Waifs.
In Miscliief Again.
School Girls.
Selections from Cassell f Company s Publications.
Cheap Editions of Popular Volumes for Voting People,
cloth, cilf c<Ik<''>. 2s. 5d. each.
For Qiioon and Ring. I Three Honio>.
EBtUcr West. 1 Working to Win.
Perils Afloat and BriKa'.ds Ashore.
Bound in
The "Dcerfoot" Series. By Eoward S. Ei.lis. With Four fiili-page
Illustrations in each Bonk. Cloth, ticvelled bo.ircis, 2s. 6d. rach.
Tho Hunters of the Ozark. ( The Camp In the Mountains.
'Xbe Last War TraU.
The " LoE Cabin" Series. 15y Edward S.Ellis. With Four Full-
page Illustrations in each. Crown 8vo, cloth, as. 6d. each.
Tho Lost Traii. | Cainp-Pira and Wigwam.
Footprints in the Forest.
The "Great River" Series. I'.y F.dwakd .S. Ellis.
Crown 8vo, cloth, bevelled boards, 2s. 6d. e.-\ch.
Cowii the Mississippi. | Lost in tho Wilds.
Up ihe T.-ipajos; or. Adventures in Brazil.
Illustrated.
The " Boy Pioneer" Series. By Edward S. Ellis. With Four Full-
page Illustrations in each Book. Crown 8vo, cloth, as. 6d. each.
Ned in the Woods. A Tale of I Ned on tlic River. A Tale of Indian
Early D.ij'S in the West. | River Warfare.
Ned in the Block House. A Story of Pioneer Life in Kentucky.
The "World in Pictures." Illustrated throughout, as. 6d. each.
A Ramble Round France.
All the Russias.
Chats about Germany.
The Land of the Pyramids
(Egypt I.
Peeps into China.
The Eastern Wonderland (Japan).
Glimpses of South America.
Round Africa.
The Land of Temples (India).
The Isles of the Paciflo.
Half-Crovvn Story Books.
Little Hinges.
Margaret's Enemy.
Pen's Perplexities.
Notable Shipwrecks.
Golden UnvB.
■Wonders of Common Things.
Truth will Out.
Soldier and Patriot (George Wash-
ington).
The Young Man in the Battle of
Life, rty the Kev. Dr. Landcls.
The True Glory of Woman. By the
Kev. r^r. I.an.lels.
At the South Pole.
Three-and-Sixpenny Library of Standard Tales, &c. All Ilhis-
tr.-ited and bound in cloth gilt. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each.
The Half Sisters. | Krilof and his Fables. liyW. R. S.
Ralston. M.A.
Fairy Tales. By Prof. Morley.
^og^ Oglivie's Inheritance.
The Family Honour.
Books for the Little Ones.
Rliymes for the Young Folk.
By William Allingli.im. Ueautifully
Illustrated. 3s. 6d.
The Pilprrim'B Progress. With
Coloured Illustrations. 2s. 6d.
The History Scrap Book. With
nearly 1,000 Engravings. 68.;
cloth, 7b. ed.
The Old Fairy Tales. With Orifrlnal
Illustrations. Bonrds, Is.; cL, Is.Sd.
My Diary. With 12 Coloured Pl.ites
and Tfiij \V'..odcut5. Is.
The Sunday Scrap Book. With
One Tlious.ind Scipturc I'icturcs.
Boards, 68. ; cloth, Is. ed.
CasscU & Company's Complete Catalogue will be sent post
ircc on ii/'/ihcalion !o
CASSELL & COMPANY, Limitrd, Ludgate Hill, London.
UNIVERSITV' OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
Los Angeles
This book is DUE on the lust date stamped below.
MA^ ^ '^ 1984
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