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diff --git a/old/8mly110.txt b/old/8mly110.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..841694b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8mly110.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19343 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Charles O'Malley, Vol. 1, by Charles Lever +#2 in our series by Charles Lever + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Charles O'Malley, Vol. 1 + +Author: Charles Lever + +Release Date: July, 2005 [EBook #8577] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on July 25, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHARLES O'MALLEY, VOL. 1 *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +CHARLES O'MALLEY + + +The Irish Dragoon + + +BY CHARLES LEVER. + + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY PHIZ. + + +IN TWO VOLUMES. + +VOL. I. + + +[Illustration: THE SUNK FENCE] + + +TO THE + +MOST NOBLE THE MARQUESS OF DOURO, M.P., D.C.L., ETC., ETC. + + * * * * * + + MY DEAR LORD,-- + + The imperfect attempt to picture forth some scenes of the most + brilliant period of my country's history might naturally suggest their + dedication to the son of him who gave that era its glory. I feel, + however, in the weakness of the effort, the presumption of such a + thought, and would simply ask of you to accept these volumes as a + souvenir of many delightful hours passed long since in your society, + and a testimony of the deep pride with which I regard the honor of your + friendship. + + Believe me, my dear Lord, with every respect and esteem, + + Yours, most sincerely, + + THE AUTHOR. + + BRUSSELS, November, 1841. + + + + +A WORD OF EXPLANATION. + + * * * * * + +KIND PUBLIC,-- + +Having so lately taken my leave of the stage, in a farewell benefit, it is +but fitting that I should explain the circumstances which once more bring +me before you,--that I may not appear intrusive, where I have met with but +too much indulgence. + +A blushing _debutant_--_entre nous_, the most impudent Irishman that ever +swaggered down Sackville Street--has requested me to present him to +your acquaintance. He has every ambition to be a favorite with you; but +says--God forgive him--he is too bashful for the foot-lights. + +He has remarked---as, doubtless, many others have done--upon what very +slight grounds, and with what slender pretension, _my_ Confessions have +met with favor at the hands of the press and the public; and the idea has +occurred to him to indite his _own_. Had his determination ended here, +I should have nothing to object to; but unfortunately, he expects me to +become his editor, and in some sort responsible for the faults of his +production. I have wasted much eloquence and more breath in assuring him +that I was no tried favorite of the public, who dared take liberties +with them; that the small rag of reputation I enjoyed, was a very scanty +covering for my own nakedness; that the plank which swam with one, would +most inevitably sink with two; and lastly, that the indulgence so often +bestowed upon a first effort is as frequently converted into censure on the +older offender. My arguments have, however, totally failed, and he remains +obdurate and unmoved. Under these circumstances I have yielded; and as, +happily for me, the short and pithy direction to the river Thames, in the +Critic, "to keep between its banks," has been imitated by my friend, I find +all that is required of me is to write my name upon the title and go in +peace. Such, he informs me, is modern editorship. + +In conclusion, I would beg, that if the debt he now incurs at your hands +remain unpaid, you would kindly bear in mind that your remedy lies against +the drawer of the bill and not against its mere humble indorser, + +HARRY LORREQUER + +BRUSSELS, March, 1840. + + + + +PREFACE + +The success of Harry Lorrequer was the reason for writing Charles O'Malley. +That I myself was in no wise prepared for the favor the public bestowed on, +my first attempt is easily enough understood. The ease with which I strung +my stories together,--and in reality the Confessions of Harry Lorrequer are +little other than a note-book of absurd and laughable incidents,--led me +to believe that I could draw on this vein of composition without any limit +whatever. I felt, or thought I felt, an inexhaustible store of fun and +buoyancy within me, and I began to have a misty, half-confused impression +that Englishmen generally labored under a sad-colored temperament, took +depressing views of life, and were proportionately grateful to any one who +would rally them even passingly out of their despondency, and give them a +laugh without much trouble for going in search of it. + +When I set to work to write Charles O'Malley I was, as I have ever been, +very low with fortune, and the success of a new venture was pretty much as +eventful to me as the turn of the right color at _rouge-et-noir_. At the +same time I had then an amount of spring in my temperament, and a power of +enjoying life which I can honestly say I never found surpassed. The world +had for me all the interest of an admirable comedy, in which the part +allotted myself, if not a high or a foreground one, was eminently suited +to my taste, and brought me, besides, sufficiently often on the stage to +enable me to follow all the fortunes of the piece. Brussels, where I was +then living, was adorned at the period by a most agreeable English society. +Some leaders of the fashionable world of London had come there to refit and +recruit, both in body and estate. There were several pleasant and a great +number of pretty people among them; and so far as I could judge, the +fashionable dramas of Belgrave Square and its vicinity were being performed +in the Rue Royale and the Boulevard de Waterloo with very considerable +success. There were dinners, balls, déjeûners, and picnics in the Bois de +Cambre, excursions to Waterloo, and select little parties to Bois-fort,--a +charming little resort in the forest whose intense cockneyism became +perfectly inoffensive as being in a foreign land, and remote from the +invasion of home-bred vulgarity. I mention all these things to show the +adjuncts by which I was aided, and the rattle of gayety by which I was, as +it were, "accompanied," when I next tried my voice. + +The soldier element tinctured strongly our society, and I will say most +agreeably. Among those whom I remember best were several old Peninsulars. +Lord Combermere was of this number, and another of our set was an officer +who accompanied, if indeed he did not command, the first boat party who +crossed the Douro. It is needless to say how I cultivated a society so +full of all the storied details I was eager to obtain, and how generously +disposed were they to give me all the information I needed. On topography +especially were they valuable to me, and with such good result that I have +been more than once complimented on the accuracy of my descriptions of +places which I have never seen and whose features I have derived entirely +from the narratives of my friends. + +When, therefore, my publishers asked me could I write a story in the +Lorrequer vein, in which active service and military adventure could figure +more prominently than mere civilian life, and where the achievements of a +British army might form the staple of the narrative,--when this question +was propounded me, I was ready to reply: Not one, but fifty. Do not mistake +me, and suppose that any overweening confidence in my literary powers would +have emboldened me to make this reply; my whole strength lay in the fact +that I could not recognize anything like literary effort in the matter. If +the world would only condescend to read that which I wrote precisely as I +was in the habit of talking, nothing could be easier than for me to occupy +them. Not alone was it very easy to me, but it was intensely interesting +and amusing to myself, to be so engaged. + +The success of Harry Lorrequer had been freely wafted across the German +ocean, but even in its mildest accents it was very intoxicating incense to +me; and I set to work on my second book with a thrill of hope as regards +the world's favor which--and it is no small thing to say it--I can yet +recall. + +I can recall, too, and I am afraid more vividly still, some of the +difficulties of my task when I endeavored to form anything like an accurate +or precise idea of some campaigning incident or some passage of arms from +the narratives of two distinct and separate "eye-witnesses." What mistrust +I conceived for all eye-witnesses from my own brief experience of their +testimonies! What an impulse did it lend me to study the nature and the +temperament of narrator, as indicative of the peculiar coloring he might +lend his narrative; and how it taught me to know the force of the French +epigram that has declared how it was entirely the alternating popularity of +Marshal Soult that decided whether he won or lost the battle of Toulouse. + +While, however, I was sifting these evidences, and separating, as well as +I might, the wheat from the chaff, I was in a measure training myself for +what, without my then knowing it, was to become my career in life. This was +not therefore altogether without a certain degree of labor, but so light +and pleasant withal, so full of picturesque peeps at character and humorous +views of human nature, that it would be the very rankest ingratitude of me +if I did not own that I gained all my earlier experiences of the world in +very pleasant company,--highly enjoyable at the time, and with matter for +charming souvenirs long after. + +That certain traits of my acquaintances found themselves embodied in some +of the characters of this story I do not to deny. The principal of natural +selection adapts itself to novels as to Nature, and it would have demanded +an effort above my strength to have disabused myself at the desk of all +the impressions of the dinner-table, and to have forgotten features which +interested or amused me. + +One of the personages of my tale I drew, however, with very little aid from +fancy. I would go so far as to say that I took him from the life, if my +memory did not confront me with the lamentable inferiority of my picture to +the great original it was meant to portray. + +With the exception of the quality of courage, I never met a man who +contained within himself so many of the traits of Falstaff as the +individual who furnished me with Major Monsoon. But the major--I must +call him so, though that rank was far beneath his own--was a man of +unquestionable bravery. His powers as a story-teller were to my thinking +unrivalled; the peculiar reflections on life which he would passingly +introduce, the wise apothegms, were after a morality essentially of his own +invention. Then he would indulge in the unsparing exhibition of himself in +situations such as other men would never have confessed to, all blended up +with a racy enjoyment of life, dashed occasionally with sorrow that our +tenure of it was short of patriarchal. All these, accompanied by a face +redolent of intense humor, and a voice whose modulations were managed with +the skill of a consummate artist,--all these, I say, were above me to +convey; nor indeed as I re-read any of the adventures in which he figures, +am I other than ashamed at the weakness of my drawing and the poverty of my +coloring. + +That I had a better claim to personify him than is always the lot of a +novelist; that I possessed, so to say, a vested interest in his life and +adventures,--I will relate a little incident in proof; and my accuracy, if +necessary, can be attested by another actor in the scene, who yet survives. + +I was living a bachelor life at Brussels, my family being at Ostende +for the bathing, during the summer of 1840. The city was comparatively +empty,--all the so-called society being absent at the various spas or baths +of Germany. One member of the British legation, who remained at his post to +represent the mission, and myself, making common cause of our desolation +and ennui, spent much of our time together, and dined _tête-à-tête_ every +day. + +It chanced that one evening, as we were hastening through the park on +our way to dinner, we espied the major--for as major I must speak of +him--lounging along with that half-careless, half-observant air we had both +of us remarked as indicating a desire to be somebody's, anybody's guest, +rather than surrender himself to the homeliness of domestic fare. + +"There's that confounded old Monsoon," cried my diplomatic friend. "It's +all up if he sees us, and I can't endure him." + +Now, I must remark that my friend, though very far from insensible to the +humoristic side of the major's character, was not always in the vein to +enjoy it; and when so indisposed he could invest the object of his dislike +with something little short of antipathy. "Promise me," said he, as Monsoon +came towards us,--"promise me, you'll not ask him to dinner." Before I +could make any reply, the major was shaking a hand of either of us, and +rapturously expatiating over his good luck at meeting us. "Mrs. M.," said +he, "has got a dreary party of old ladies to dine with her, and I have come +out here to find some pleasant fellow to join me, and take our mutton-chop +together." + +"We're behind our time, Major," said my friend, "sorry to leave you +so abruptly, but must push on. Eh, Lorrequer," added he, to evoke +corroboration on my part. + +"Harry says nothing of the kind," replied Monsoon, "he says, or he's going +to say, 'Major, I have a nice bit of dinner waiting for me at home, enough +for two, will feed three, or if there be a short-coming, nothing easier +than to eke out the deficiency by another bottle of Moulton; come along +with us then, Monsoon, and we shall be all the merrier for your company.'" + +Repeating his last words, "Come along, Monsoon," etc., I passed my arm +within his, and away we went. For a moment my friend tried to get free and +leave me, but I held him fast and carried him along in spite of himself. He +was, however, so chagrined and provoked that till the moment we reached my +door he never uttered a word, nor paid the slightest attention to +Monsoon, who talked away in a vein that occasionally made gravity all but +impossible. + +Our dinner proceeded drearily enough, the diplomatist's stiffness never +relaxed for a moment, and my own awkwardness damped all my attempts at +conversation. Not so, however, Monsoon, he ate heartily, approved of +everything, and pronounced my wine to be exquisite. He gave us a perfect +discourse on sherry and Spanish wines in general, told us the secret of the +Amontillado flavor, and explained that process of browning by boiling down +wine which some are so fond of in England. At last, seeing perhaps that the +protection had little charm for us, with his accustomed tact, he diverged +into anecdote. "I was once fortunate enough," said he, "to fall upon some +of that choice sherry from the St. Lucas Luentas which is always reserved +for royalty. It was a pale wine, delicious in the drinking, and leaving no +more flavor in the mouth than a faint dryness that seemed to say, another +glass. Shall I tell you how I came by it?" And scarcely pausing for reply, +he told the story of having robbed his own convoy, and stolen the wine he +was in charge of for safe conveyance. + +I wish I could give any, even the weakest idea of how he narrated that +incident,--the struggle that he portrayed between duty and temptation, and +the apologetic tone of his voice in which he explained that the frame of +mind that succeeds to any yielding to seductive influences, is often, in +the main, more profitable to a man than is the vain-glorious sense of +having resisted a temptation. "Meekness is the mother of all the virtues," +said he, "and there is no being meek without frailty." The story, told as +he told it, was too much for the diplomatist's gravity, he resisted all +signs of attention as long as he was able, and at last fairly roared out +with laughter. + +As soon as I myself recovered from the effects of his drollery, I said, +"Major, I have a proposition to make you. Let me tell the story in print, +and I'll give you five naps." + +"Are you serious, Harry?" asked he. "Is this on honor?" + +"On honor, assuredly," I replied. + +"Let me have the money down, on the nail, and I'll give you leave to have +me and my whole life, every adventure that ever befell me, ay, and if you +like, every moral reflection that my experiences have suggested." + +"Done!" cried I, "I agree." + +"Not so fast," cried the diplomatist, "we must make a protocol of this; the +high contracting parties must know what they give and what they receive, +I'll draw out the treaty." + +He did so at full length on a sheet of that solemn blue-tinted paper, so +dedicated to despatch purposes; he duly set fourth the concession and the +consideration. We each signed the document; he witnessed and sealed it; and +Monsoon pocketed my five napoleons, filling a bumper to any success the +bargain might bring me, and of which I have never had reason to express +deep disappointment. + +This document, along with my university degree, my commission in a militia +regiment, and a vast amount of letters very interesting to me, was seized +by the Austrian authorities on the way from Como to Florence, in the August +of 1847, being deemed part of a treasonable correspondence,--probably +purposely allegorical in form,--and never restored to me. I fairly own that +I'd give all the rest willingly to repossess myself of the Monsoon treaty, +not a little for the sake of that quaint old autograph, faintly shaken by +the quiet laugh with which he wrote it. + +That I did not entirely fail in giving my major some faint resemblance +to the great original from whom I copied him, I may mention that he was +speedily recognized in print by the Marquis of Londonderry, the well-known +Sir Charles Stuart of the Peninsular campaign. "I know that fellow well," +said he, "he once sent me a challenge, and I had to make him a very humble +apology. The occasion was this: I had been out with a single aide-de-camp +to make a reconnaissance in front of Victor's division; and to avoid +attracting any notice, we covered over our uniform with two common gray +overcoats which reached to the feet, and effectually concealed our rank as +officers. Scarcely, however, had we topped a hill which commanded the view +of the French, than a shower of shells flew over and around us. Amazed to +think how we could have been so quickly noticed, I looked around me, and +discovered, quite close in my rear, your friend Monsoon with what he called +his staff,--a popinjay set of rascals dressed out in green and gold, and +with more plumes and feathers than the general staff ever boasted. Carried +away by momentary passion at the failure of my reconnaissance, I burst out +with some insolent allusion to the harlequin assembly which had drawn the +French fire upon us. Monsoon saluted me respectfully, and retired without a +word; but I had scarcely reached my quarters when a 'friend' of his waited +on me with a message, a very categorical message it was, too, 'it must be a +meeting or an ample apology.' I made the apology, a most full one, for the +major was right, and I had not a fraction of reason to sustain me in my +conduct, and we have been the best of friends ever since." + +I myself had heard the incident before this from Monsoon, but told among +other adventures whose exact veracity I was rather disposed to question, +and did not therefore accord it all the faith that was its due; and I admit +that the accidental corroboration of this one event very often served to +puzzle me afterwards, when I listened to stories in which the major seemed +a second Munchausen, but might, like in this of the duel, have been among +the truest and most matter-of-fact of historians. May the reader be not +less embarrassed than myself, is my sincere, if not very courteous, prayer. + +I have no doubt myself, that often in recounting some strange incident,--a +personal experience it always was,--he was himself more amused by the +credulity of the hearers, and the amount of interest he could excite in +them, than were they by the story. He possessed the true narrative gusto, +and there was a marvellous instinct in the way in which he would vary a +tale to suit the tastes of an audience; while his moralizings were almost +certain to take the tone of a humoristic quiz on the company. + +Though fully aware that I was availing myself of the contract that +delivered him into my hands, and dining with me two or three days a week, +he never lapsed into any allusion to his appearance in print; and the story +had been already some weeks published before he asked me to lend him "that +last thing--he forgot the name of it--I was writing." + +Of Frank Webber I have said, in a former notice, that he was one of my +earliest friends, my chum in college, and in the very chambers where I have +located Charles O'Malley, in Old Trinity. He was a man of the highest order +of abilities, and with a memory that never forgot, but ruined and run to +seed by the idleness that came of a discursive, uncertain temperament. +Capable of anything, he spent his youth in follies and eccentricities; +every one of which, however, gave indications of a mind inexhaustible in +resources, and abounding in devices and contrivances that none other but +himself would have thought of. Poor fellow, he died young; and perhaps it +is better it should have been so. Had he lived to a later day, he would +most probably have been found a foremost leader of Fenianism; and from +what I knew of him, I can say he would have been a more dangerous enemy to +English rule than any of those dealers in the petty larceny of rebellion we +have lately seen among us. + +I have said that of Mickey Free I had not one but one thousand types. +Indeed, I am not quite sure that in my last visit to Dublin, I did not +chance on a living specimen of the "Free" family, much readier in repartée, +quicker with an apropos, and droller in illustration than my own Mickey. +This fellow was "boots" at a great hotel in Sackville Street; and I owe him +more amusement and some heartier laughs than it has been always my fortune +to enjoy in a party of wits. His criticisms on my sketches of Irish +character were about the shrewdest and the best I ever listened to; and +that I am not bribed to this by any flattery, I may remark that they were +more often severe than complimentary, and that he hit every blunder of +image, every mistake in figure, of my peasant characters, with an acuteness +and correctness which made me very grateful to know that his daily +occupations were limited to blacking boots, and not polishing off authors. + +I believe I have now done with my confessions, except I should like to own +that this story was the means of according me a more heartfelt glow of +satisfaction, a more gratifying sense of pride, than anything I ever have +or ever shall write, and in this wise. My brother, at that time the rector +of an Irish parish, once forwarded to me a letter from a lady unknown to +him, but who had heard he was the brother of "Harry Lorrequer," and who +addressed him not knowing where a letter might be directed to myself. The +letter was the grateful expression of a mother, who said, "I am the +widow of a field officer, and with an only son, for whom I obtained a +presentation to Woolwich; but seeing in my boy's nature certain traits of +nervousness and timidity which induced me to hesitate on embarking him in +the career of a soldier, I became very unhappy and uncertain which course +to decide on. + +"While in this state of uncertainty, I chanced to make him a birthday +present of 'Charles O'Malley,' the reading of which seemed to act like a +charm on his whole character, inspiring him with a passion for movement and +adventure, and spiriting him to an eager desire for a military life. Seeing +that this was no passing enthusiasm, but a decided and determined bent, +I accepted the cadetship for him; and his career has been not alone +distinguished as a student, but one which has marked him out for an almost +hare-brained courage, and for a dash and heroism that give high promise for +his future. + +"Thank your brother for me," wrote she, "a mother's thanks for the welfare +of an only son; and say how I wish that my best wishes for him and his +could recompense him for what I owe him." + +I humbly hope that it may not be imputed to me as unpardonable vanity,--the +recording of this incident. It gave me an intense pleasure when I heard it; +and now, as I look back on it, it invests this story for myself with an +interest which nothing else that I have written can afford me. + +I have now but to repeat what I have declared in former editions, my +sincere gratitude for the favor the public still continues to bestow +on me,--a favor which probably associates the memory of this book with +whatever I have since done successfully, and compels me to remember that +to the popularity of "Charles O'Malley" I am indebted for a great share of +that kindliness in criticism, and that geniality in judgment, which--for +more than a quarter of a century--my countrymen have graciously bestowed on +their faithful friend and servant, + +CHARLES LEVER. + +TRIESTE, 1872. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER + +I. DALY'S CLUB-HOUSE +II. THE ESCAPE +III. MR. BLAKE +IV. THE HUNT +V. THE DRAWING-ROOM +VI. THE DINNER +VII. THE FLIGHT FROM GURT-NA-MORRA +VIII. THE DUEL +IX. THE RETURN +X. THE ELECTION +XI. AN ADVENTURE +XII. MICKEY FREE +XIII. THE JOURNEY +XIV. DUBLIN +XV. CAPTAIN POWER +XVI. THE VICE-PROVOST +XVII. TRINITY COLLEGE.--A LECTURE +XVIII. THE INVITATION.--THE WAGER +XIX. THE BALL +XX. THE LAST NIGHT IN TRINITY +XXI. THE PHOENIX PARK +XXII. THE ROAD +XXIII. CORK +XXIV. THE ADJUTANT'S DINNER +XXV. THE ENTANGLEMENT +XXVI. THE PREPARATION +XXVII. THE SUPPER +XXVIII. THE VOYAGE +XXIX. THE ADJUTANT'S STORY.--LIFE IN DERBY +XXX. FRED POWER'S ADVENTURE IN PHILIPSTOWN +XXXI. THE VOYAGE CONTINUED +XXXII. MR. SPARKS'S STORY +XXXIII. THE SKIPPER +XXXIV. THE LAND +XXXV. MAJOR MONSOON +XXXVI. THE LANDING +XXXVII. LISBON +XXXVIII. THE RUA NUOVA +XXXIX. THE VILLA +XL. THE DINNER +XLI. THE ROUTE +XLII. THE FAREWELL +XLIII. THE MARCH +XLIV. THE BIVOUAC +XLV. THE DOURO +XLVI. THE MORNING +XLVII. THE REVIEW +XLVIII. THE QUARREL +XLIX. THE ROUTE CONTINUED +L. THE WATCH-FIRE +LI. THE MARCH +LII. THE PAGE +LIII. ALVAS +LIV. THE SUPPER +LV. THE LEGION +LVI. THE DEPARTURE +LVII. CUESTA +LVIII. THE LETTER +LXIX. MAJOR O'SHAUGHNESSY +LX. PRELIMINARIES +LXI. ALL RIGHT +LXII. THE DUEL +LXIII. NEWS FROM GALWAY +LXIV. AN ADVENTURE WITH SIR ARTHUR +LXV. TALAVERA +LXVI. NIGHT AFTER TALAVERA +LXVII. THE OUTPOST + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS BY PHIZ IN VOL. I + +Etchings +THE SUNK FENCE +THE RESCUE +CHARLES POPS THE QUESTION +THE SKIRMISH + +Illustrations in the Text +MR. BLAKE'S DRESSING-ROOM +THE ELECTION +MR. CROW WELL PLUCKED +FRANK WEBBER AT HIS STUDIES +MISS JUDY MACAN +THE ADJUTANT'S AFTER-DINNER RIDE +THE RIVAL FLUNKIES +MAJOR MONSOON AND DONNA MARIA +THE SALUTATION +A TOUCH AT LEAP-FROG WITH NAPOLEON +MAJOR MONSOON TRYING TO CHARGE +MR. FREE'S SONG +THE COAT OF MAIL + + + + +CHARLES O'MALLEY. + + +THE IRISH DRAGOON. + + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER I. + + +DALY'S CLUB-HOUSE. + +The rain was dashing in torrents against the window-panes, and the wind +sweeping in heavy and fitful gusts along the dreary and deserted streets, +as a party of three persons sat over their wine, in that stately old pile +which once formed the resort of the Irish Members, in College Green, +Dublin, and went by the name of Daly's Club-House. The clatter of falling +tiles and chimney-pots, the jarring of the window-frames, and howling of +the storm without seemed little to affect the spirits of those within as +they drew closer to a blazing fire before which stood a small table covered +with the remains of a dessert, and an abundant supply of bottles, whose +characteristic length of neck indicated the rarest wines of France and +Germany; while the portly magnum of claret--the wine _par excellence_ of +every Irish gentleman of the day--passed rapidly from hand to hand, the +conversation did not languish, and many a deep and hearty laugh followed +the stories which every now and then were told, as some reminiscence of +early days was recalled, or some trait of a former companion remembered. + +One of the party, however, was apparently engrossed by other thoughts than +those of the mirth and merriment around; for in the midst of all he would +turn suddenly from the others, and devote himself to a number of scattered +sheets of paper, upon which he had written some lines, but whose crossed +and blotted sentences attested how little success had waited upon +his literary labors. This individual was a short, plethoric-looking, +white-haired man of about fifty, with a deep, round voice, and a chuckling, +smothering laugh, which, whenever he indulged not only shook his own ample +person, but generally created a petty earthquake on every side of him. For +the present, I shall not stop to particularize him more closely; but when I +add that the person in question was a well-known member of the Irish House +of Commons, whose acute understanding and practical good sense were veiled +under an affected and well-dissembled habit of blundering that did far +more for his party than the most violent and pointed attacks of his more +accurate associates, some of my readers may anticipate me in pronouncing +him to be Sir Harry Boyle. Upon his left sat a figure the most unlike him +possible. He was a tall, thin, bony man, with a bolt-upright air and a most +saturnine expression; his eyes were covered by a deep green shade, which +fell far over his face, but failed to conceal a blue scar that crossing his +cheek ended in the angle of his mouth, and imparted to that feature, when +he spoke, an apparently abortive attempt to extend towards his eyebrow; his +upper lip was covered with a grizzly and ill-trimmed mustache, which added +much to the ferocity of his look, while a thin and pointed beard on his +chin gave an apparent length to the whole face that completed its rueful +character. His dress was a single-breasted, tightly buttoned frock, in one +button-hole of which a yellow ribbon was fastened, the decoration of a +foreign service, which conferred upon its wearer the title of count; and +though Billy Considine, as he was familiarly called by his friends, was +a thorough Irishman in all his feelings and affections, yet he had no +objection to the designation he had gained in the Austrian army. The Count +was certainly no beauty, but somehow, very few men of his day had a fancy +for telling him so. A deadlier hand and a steadier eye never covered his +man in the Phoenix; and though he never had a seat in the House, he was +always regarded as one of the government party, who more than once had +damped the ardor of an opposition member by the very significant threat +of "setting Billy at him." The third figure of the group was a large, +powerfully built, and handsome man, older than either of the others, but +not betraying in his voice or carriage any touch of time. He was attired in +the green coat and buff vest which formed the livery of the club; and in +his tall, ample forehead, clear, well-set eye, and still handsome mouth, +bore evidence that no great flattery was necessary at the time which called +Godfrey O'Malley the handsomest man in Ireland. + +"Upon my conscience," said Sir Harry, throwing down his pen with an air of +ill-temper, "I can make nothing of it! I have got into such an infernal +habit of making bulls, that I can't write sense when I want it!" + +"Come, come," said O'Malley, "try again, my dear fellow. If you can't +succeed, I'm sure Billy and I have no chance." + +"What have you written? Let us see," said Considine, drawing the paper +towards him, and holding it to the light. "Why, what the devil is all this? +You have made him 'drop down dead after dinner of a lingering illness +brought on by the debate of yesterday.'" + +"Oh, impossible!" + +"Well, read it yourself; there it is. And, as if to make the thing less +credible, you talk of his 'Bill for the Better Recovery of Small Debts.' +I'm sure, O'Malley, your last moments were not employed in that manner." + +"Come, now," said Sir Harry, "I'll set all to rights with a postscript. +'Any one who questions the above statement is politely requested to call on +Mr. Considine, 16 Kildare Street, who will feel happy to afford him every +satisfaction upon Mr. O'Malley's decease, or upon miscellaneous matters." + +"Worse and worse," said O'Malley. "Killing another man will never persuade +the world that I'm dead." + +"But we'll wake you, and have a glorious funeral." + +"And if any man doubt the statement, I'll call him out," said the Count. + +"Or, better still," said Sir Harry, "O'Malley has his action at law for +defamation." + +"I see I'll never get down to Galway at this rate," said O'Malley; "and as +the new election takes place on Tuesday week, time presses. There are more +writs flying after me this instant than for all the government boroughs." + +"And there will be fewer returns, I fear," said Sir Harry. + +"Who is the chief creditor?" asked the Count. + +"Old Stapleton, the attorney in Fleet Street, has most of the mortgages." + +"Nothing to be done with him in this way?" said Considine, balancing the +corkscrew like a hair trigger. + +"No chance of it." + +"May be," said Sir Harry, "he might come to terms if I were to call and +say, 'You are anxious to close accounts, as your death has just taken +place.' You know what I mean." + +"I fear so should he, were you to say so. No, no, Boyle, just try a plain, +straightforward paragraph about my death; we'll have it in Falkner's paper +to-morrow. On Friday the funeral can take place, and, with the blessing +o' God, I'll come to life on Saturday at Athlone, in time to canvass the +market." + +"I think it wouldn't be bad if your ghost were to appear to old Timins the +tanner, in Naas, on your way down. You know he arrested you once before." + +"I prefer a night's sleep," said O'Malley. "But come, finish the squib for +the paper." + +"Stay a little," said Sir Harry, musing; "it just strikes me that if ever +the matter gets out I may be in some confounded scrape. Who knows if it is +not a breach of privilege to report the death of a member? And to tell you +truth, I dread the Sergeant and the Speaker's warrant with a very lively +fear." + +"Why, when did you make his acquaintance?" said the Count. + +"Is it possible you never heard of Boyle's committal?" said O'Malley. "You +surely must have been abroad at the time. But it's not too late to tell it +yet." + +"Well, it's about two years since old Townsend brought in his Enlistment +Bill, and the whole country was scoured for all our voters, who were +scattered here and there, never anticipating another call of the House, and +supposing that the session was just over. Among others, up came our friend +Harry, here, and the night he arrived they made him a 'Monk of the Screw,' +and very soon made him forget his senatorial dignities. On the evening +after his reaching town, the bill was brought in, and at two in the morning +the division took place,--a vote was of too much consequence not to look +after it closely,--and a Castle messenger was in waiting in Exchequer +Street, who, when the debate was closing, put Harry, with three others, +into a coach, and brought them down to the House. Unfortunately, however, +they mistook their friends, voted against the bill, and amidst the loudest +cheering of the opposition, the government party were defeated. The rage of +the ministers knew no bounds, and looks of defiance and even threats were +exchanged between the ministers and the deserters. Amidst all this poor +Harry fell fast asleep and dreamed that he was once more in Exchequer +Street, presiding among the monks, and mixing another tumbler. At length he +awoke and looked about him. The clerk was just at the instant reading out, +in his usual routine manner, a clause of the new bill, and the remainder +of the House was in dead silence. Harry looked again around on every side, +wondering where was the hot water, and what had become of the whiskey +bottle, and above all, why the company were so extremely dull and ungenial. +At length, with a half-shake, he roused up a little, and giving a look +of unequivocal contempt on every side, called out, 'Upon my soul, you're +pleasant companions; but I'll give you a chant to enliven you!' So saying, +he cleared his throat with a couple of short coughs, and struck up, with +the voice of a Stentor, the following verse of a popular ballad:-- + + 'And they nibbled away, both night and day, + Like mice in a round of Glo'ster; + Great rogues they were all, both great and small, + From Flood to Leslie Foster. + Great rogues all. + +Chorus, boys!' If he was not joined by the voices of his friends in the +song, it was probably because such a roar of laughing never was heard since +the walls were roofed over. The whole House rose in a mass, and my friend +Harry was hurried over the benches by the sergeant-at-arms, and left for +three weeks in Newgate to practise his melody." + +"All true," said Sir Harry; "and worse luck to them for not liking music. +But come, now, will this do? 'It is our melancholy duty to announce the +death of Godfrey O'Malley, Esq., late member for the county of Galway, +which took place on Friday evening, at Daly's Club-House. This esteemed +gentleman's family--one of the oldest in Ireland, and among whom it was +hereditary not to have any children--'" + +Here a burst of laughter from Considine and O'Malley interrupted the +reader, who with the greatest difficulty could be persuaded that he was +again bulling it. + +"The devil fly away with it," said he; "I'll never succeed." + +"Never mind," said O'Malley, "the first part will do admirably; and let us +now turn our attention to other matters." + +A fresh magnum was called for, and over its inspiring contents all the +details of the funeral were planned; and as the clock struck four the party +separated for the _night_, well satisfied with the result of their labors. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE ESCAPE. + +When the dissolution of Parliament was announced the following morning in +Dublin, its interest in certain circles was manifestly increased by the +fact that Godfrey O'Malley was at last open to arrest; for as in olden +times certain gifted individuals possessed some happy immunity against +death by fire or sword, so the worthy O'Malley seemed to enjoy a no less +valuable privilege, and for many a year had passed among the myrmidons of +the law as writ-proof. Now, however, the charm seemed to have yielded; and +pretty much with the same feeling as a storming party may be supposed to +experience on the day that a breach is reported as practicable, did the +honest attorneys retained in the various suits against him rally round each +other that morning in the Four Courts. + +Bonds, mortgages, post-obits, promissory notes--in fact, every imaginable +species of invention for raising the O'Malley exchequer for the preceding +thirty years--were handed about on all sides, suggesting to the mind of an +uninterested observer the notion that had the aforesaid O'Malley been an +independent and absolute monarch, instead of merely being the member for +Galway, the kingdom over whose destinies he had been called to preside +would have suffered not a little from a depreciated currency and an +extravagant issue of paper. Be that as it might, one thing was clear,--the +whole estates of the family could not possibly pay one fourth of the debt; +and the only question was one which occasionally arises at a scanty dinner +on a mail-coach road,--who was to be the lucky individual to carve the +joint, where so many were sure to go off hungry? + +It was now a trial of address between these various and highly gifted +gentlemen who should first pounce upon the victim; and when the skill of +their caste is taken into consideration, who will doubt that every feasible +expedient for securing him was resorted to? While writs were struck against +him in Dublin, emissaries were despatched to the various surrounding +counties to procure others in the event of his escape. _Ne exeats_ were +sworn, and water-bailiffs engaged to follow him on the high seas; and as +the great Nassau balloon did not exist in those days, no imaginable mode of +escape appeared possible, and bets were offered at long odds that within +twenty-four hours the late member would be enjoying his _otium cum +dignitate_ in his Majesty's jail of Newgate. + +Expectation was at the highest, confidence hourly increasing, success all +but certain, when in the midst of all this high-bounding hope the dreadful +rumor spread that O'Malley was no more. One had seen it just five minutes +before in the evening edition of Falkner's paper; another heard it in the +courts; a third overheard the Chief-Justice stating it to the Master of the +Rolls; and lastly, a breathless witness arrived from College Green with +the news that Daly's Club-House was shut up, and the shutters closed. +To describe the consternation the intelligence caused on every side is +impossible; nothing in history equals it,--except, perhaps, the entrance +of the French army into Moscow, deserted and forsaken by its former +inhabitants. While terror and dismay, therefore, spread amidst that wide +and respectable body who formed O'Malley's creditors, the preparations +for his funeral were going on with every rapidity. Relays of horses were +ordered at every stage of the journey, and it was announced that, in +testimony of his worth, a large party of his friends were to accompany his +remains to Portumna Abbey,--a test much more indicative of resistance +in the event of any attempt to arrest the body, than of anything like +reverence for their departed friend. + +Such was the state of matters in Dublin when a letter reached me one +morning at O'Malley Castle, whose contents will at once explain the +writer's intention, and also serve to introduce my unworthy self to my +reader. It ran thus:-- + + DALY'S, about eight in the evening. + Dear Charley,--Your uncle Godfrey, whose debts (God pardon + him!) are more numerous than the hairs of his wig, was obliged to + die here last night. We did the thing for him completely; and all + doubts as to the reality of the event are silenced by the + circumstantial detail of the newspaper, "that he was confined six + weeks to his bed from a cold he caught, ten days ago, while on guard." + Repeat this; for it is better we had all the same story till he + comes to life again, which, may be, will not take place before + Tuesday or Wednesday. At the same time, canvass the county for him, + and say he'll be with his friends next week, and up in Woodford and + the Scariff barony. Say he died a true Catholic; it will serve him on + the hustings. Meet us in Athlone on Saturday, and bring your uncle's + mare with you. He says he'd rather ride home. And tell Father Mac + Shane, to have a bit of dinner ready about four o'clock, for the corpse + can get nothing after he leaves Mountmellick. No more now, from + Yours ever, + HARRY BOYLE + + To CHARLES O'MALLEY, Esq., + O'Malley Castle, Galway. + + +When this not over-clear document reached me I was the sole inhabitant of +O'Malley Castle,--a very ruinous pile of incongruous masonry, that stood in +a wild and dreary part of the county of Galway, bordering on the Shannon. +On every side stretched the property of my uncle, or at least what had once +been so; and indeed, so numerous were its present claimants that he would +have been a subtle lawyer who could have pronounced upon the rightful +owner. The demesne around the castle contained some well-grown and handsome +timber, and as the soil was undulating and fertile, presented many features +of beauty; beyond it, all was sterile, bleak, and barren. Long tracts of +brown heath-clad mountain or not less unprofitable valleys of tall and +waving fern were all that the eye could discern, except where the broad +Shannon, expanding into a tranquil and glassy lake, lay still and +motionless beneath the dark mountains, a few islands, with some ruined +churches and a round tower, alone breaking the dreary waste of water. + +Here it was that I passed my infancy and my youth; and here I now stood, +at the age of seventeen, quite unconscious that the world contained aught +fairer and brighter than that gloomy valley with its rugged frame of +mountains. + +When a mere child, I was left an orphan to the care of my worthy uncle. My +father, whose extravagance had well sustained the family reputation, had +squandered a large and handsome property in contesting elections for his +native county, and in keeping up that system of unlimited hospitality for +which Ireland in general, and Galway more especially, was renowned. The +result was, as might be expected, ruin and beggary. He died, leaving every +one of his estates encumbered with heavy debts, and the only legacy he left +to his brother was a boy four years of age, entreating him with his last +breath, "Be anything you like to him, Godfrey, but a father, or at least +such a one as I have proved." + +Godfrey O'Malley some short time previous had lost his wife, and when this +new trust was committed to him he resolved never to remarry, but to rear +me up as his own child and the inheritor of his estates. How weighty and +onerous an obligation this latter might prove, the reader can form some +idea. The intention was, however, a kind one; and to do my uncle justice, +he loved me with all the affection of a warm and open heart. + +From my earliest years his whole anxiety was to fit me for the part of a +country gentleman, as he regarded that character,--namely, I rode boldly +with fox-hounds; I was about the best shot within twenty miles of us; I +could swim the Shannon at Holy Island; I drove four-in-hand better than the +coachman himself; and from finding a hare to hooking a salmon, my equal +could not be found from Killaloe to Banagher. These were the staple of my +endowments. Besides which, the parish priest had taught me a little Latin, +a little French, a little geometry, and a great deal of the life and +opinions of Saint Jago, who presided over a holy well in the neighborhood, +and was held in very considerable repute. + +When I add to this portraiture of my accomplishments that I was nearly six +feet high, with more than a common share of activity and strength for my +years, and no inconsiderable portion of good looks, I have finished my +sketch, and stand before my reader. + +It is now time I should return to Sir Harry's letter, which so completely +bewildered me that, but for the assistance of Father Roach, I should have +been totally unable to make out the writer's intentions. By his advice, I +immediately set out for Athlone, where, when I arrived, I found my +uncle addressing the mob from the top of the hearse, and recounting his +miraculous escapes as a new claim upon their gratitude. + +"There was nothing else for it, boys; the Dublin people insisted on +my being their member, and besieged the club-house. I refused; they +threatened. I grew obstinate; they furious. 'I'll die first,' said I. +'Galway or nothing!'" + +"Hurrah!" from the mob. "O'Malley forever!" + +"And ye see, I kept my word, boys,--I did die; I died that evening at a +quarter past eight. There, read it for yourselves; there's the paper. Was +waked and carried out, and here I am after all, ready to die in earnest for +you, but never to desert you." + +The cheers here were deafening, and my uncle was carried through the market +down to the mayor's house, who, being a friend of the opposite party, was +complimented with three groans; then up the Mall to the chapel, beside +which father Mac Shane resided. He was then suffered to touch the earth +once more; when, having shaken hands with all of his constituency within +reach, he entered the house, to partake of the kindest welcome and best +reception the good priest could afford him. + +My uncle's progress homeward was a triumph. The real secret of his escape +had somehow come out, and his popularity rose to a white heat. "An' it's +little O'Malley cares for the law,--bad luck to it; it's himself can laugh +at judge and jury. Arrest him? Nabocklish! Catch a weasel asleep!" etc. +Such were the encomiums that greeted him as he passed on towards home; +while shouts of joy and blazing bonfires attested that his success was +regarded as a national triumph. + +The west has certainly its strong features of identity. Had my uncle +possessed the claims of the immortal Howard; had he united in his person +all the attributes which confer a lasting and an ennobling fame upon +humanity,--he might have passed on unnoticed and unobserved; but for +the man that had duped a judge and escaped the sheriff, nothing was +sufficiently flattering to mark their approbation. The success of the +exploit was twofold; the news spread far and near, and the very story +canvassed the county better than Billy Davern himself, the Athlone +attorney. + +This was the prospect now before us; and however little my readers may +sympathize with my taste, I must honestly avow that I looked forward to +it with a most delighted feeling. O'Malley Castle was to be the centre +of operations, and filled with my uncle's supporters; while I, a mere +stripling, and usually treated as a boy, was to be intrusted with an +important mission, and sent off to canvass a distant relation, with whom +my uncle was not upon terms, and who might possibly be approachable by a +younger branch of the family, with whom he had never any collision. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +MR. BLAKE. + +Nothing but the exigency of the case could ever have persuaded my uncle to +stoop to the humiliation of canvassing the individual to whom I was now +about to proceed as envoy-extraordinary, with full powers to make any or +every _amende_, provided only his interest and that of his followers should +be thereby secured to the O'Malley cause. The evening before I set out was +devoted to giving me all the necessary instructions how I was to proceed, +and what difficulties I was to avoid. + +"Say your uncle's in high feather with the government party," said Sir +Harry, "and that he only votes against them as a _ruse de guerre_, as the +French call it." + +"Insist upon it that I am sure of the election without him; but that for +family reasons he should not stand aloof from me; that people are talking +of it in the country." + +"And drop a hint," said Considine, "that O'Malley is greatly improved in +his shooting." + +"And don't get drunk too early in the evening, for Phil Blake has beautiful +claret," said another. + +"And be sure you don't make love to the red-headed girls," added a third; +"he has four of them, each more sinfully ugly than the other." + +"You'll be playing whist, too," said Boyle; "and never mind losing a few +pounds. Mrs. B., long life to her, has a playful way of turning the king." + +"Charley will do it all well," said my uncle; "leave him alone. And now let +us have in the supper." + +It was only on the following morning, as the tandem came round to the door, +that I began to feel the importance of my mission, and certain misgivings +came over me as to my ability to fulfil it. Mr. Blake and his family, +though estranged from my uncle for several years past, had been always most +kind and good-natured to me; and although I could not, with propriety, have +cultivated any close intimacy with them, I had every reason to suppose that +they entertained towards me nothing but sentiments of good-will. The head +of the family was a Galway squire of the oldest and most genuine stock, a +great sportsman, a negligent farmer, and most careless father; he looked +upon a fox as an infinitely more precious part of the creation than a +French governess, and thought that riding well with hounds was a far better +gift than all the learning of a Parson. His daughters were after his +own heart,--the best-tempered, least-educated, most high-spirited, gay, +dashing, ugly girls in the county, ready to ride over a four-foot paling +without a saddle, and to dance the "Wind that shakes the barley" for four +consecutive hours, against all the officers that their hard fate, and the +Horse Guards, ever condemned to Galway. + +The mamma was only remarkable for her liking for whist, and her invariable +good fortune thereat,--a circumstance the world were agreed in ascribing +less to the blind goddess than her own natural endowments. + +Lastly, the heir of the house was a stripling of about my own age, whose +accomplishments were limited to selling spavined and broken-winded horses +to the infantry officers, playing a safe game at billiards, and acting as +jackal-general to his sisters at balls, providing them with a sufficiency +of partners, and making a strong fight for a place at the supper-table for +his mother. These fraternal and filial traits, more honored at home than +abroad, had made Mr. Matthew Blake a rather well-known individual in the +neighborhood where he lived. + +Though Mr. Blake's property was ample, and strange to say for his county, +unencumbered, the whole air and appearance of his house and grounds +betrayed anything rather than a sufficiency of means. The gate lodge was a +miserable mud-hovel with a thatched and falling roof; the gate itself, a +wooden contrivance, one half of which was boarded and the other railed; the +avenue was covered with weeds, and deep with ruts; and the clumps of young +plantation, which had been planted and fenced with care, were now open to +the cattle, and either totally uprooted or denuded of their bark and dying. +The lawn, a handsome one of some forty acres, had been devoted to an +exercise-ground for training horses, and was cut up by their feet beyond +all semblance of its original destination; and the house itself, a large +and venerable structure of above a century old, displayed every variety of +contrivance, as well as the usual one of glass, to exclude the weather. The +hall-door hung by a single hinge, and required three persons each morning +and evening to open and shut it; the remainder of the day it lay pensively +open; the steps which led to it were broken and falling; and the whole +aspect of things without was ruinous in the extreme. Within, matters were +somewhat better, for though the furniture was old, and none of it clean, +yet an appearance of comfort was evident; and the large grate, blazing with +its pile of red-hot turf, the deep-cushioned chairs, the old black mahogany +dinner-table, and the soft carpet, albeit deep with dust, were not to be +despised on a winter's evening, after a hard day's run with the "Blazers." +Here it was, however, that Mr. Philip Blake had dispensed his hospitalities +for above fifty years, and his father before him; and here, with a retinue +of servants as _gauches_ and ill-ordered as all about them, was he +accustomed to invite all that the county possessed of rank and wealth, +among which the officers quartered in his neighborhood were never +neglected, the Miss Blakes having as decided a taste for the army as any +young ladies of the west of Ireland; and while the Galway squire, with +his cords and tops, was detailing the latest news from Ballinasloe in one +corner, the dandy from St. James's Street might be seen displaying more +arts of seductive flattery in another than his most accurate _insouciane_ +would permit him to practise in the elegant salons of London or Paris, and +the same man who would have "cut his brother," for a solecism of dress or +equipage, in Bond Street, was now to be seen quietly domesticated, eating +family dinners, rolling silk for the young ladies, going down the middle +in a country dance, and even descending to the indignity of long whist at +"tenpenny" points, with only the miserable consolation that the company +were not honest. + +It was upon a clear frosty morning, when a bright blue sky and a sharp but +bracing air seem to exercise upon the feelings a sense no less pleasurable +than the balmiest breeze and warmest sun of summer, that I whipped my +leader short round, and entered the precincts of "Gurt-na-Morra." As I +proceeded along the avenue, I was struck by the slight traces of repairs +here and there evident,--a gate or two that formerly had been parallel to +the horizon had been raised to the perpendicular; some ineffectual efforts +at paint were also perceptible upon the palings; and, in short, everything +seemed to have undergone a kind of attempt at improvement. + +When I reached the door, instead of being surrounded, as of old, by a tribe +of menials frieze-coated, bare-headed, and bare-legged, my presence was +announced by a tremendous ringing of bells from the hands of an old +functionary in a very formidable livery, who peeped at me through the +hall-window, and whom, with the greatest difficulty, I recognized as my +quondam acquaintance, the butler. His wig alone would have graced a king's +counsel; and the high collar of his coat, and the stiff pillory of his +cravat denoted an eternal adieu to so humble a vocation as drawing a cork. +Before I had time for any conjecture as to the altered circumstances about, +the activity of my friend at the bell had surrounded me with "four others +worse than himself," at least they were exactly similarly attired; and +probably from the novelty of their costume, and the restraints of so +unusual a thing as dress, were as perfectly unable to assist themselves +or others as the Court of Aldermen would be were they to rig out in plate +armor of the fourteenth century. How much longer I might have gone on +conjecturing the reasons for the masquerade around, I cannot say; but my +servant, an Irish disciple of my uncle's, whispered in my ear, "It's a +red-breeches day, Master Charles,--they'll have the hoith of company in the +house." From the phrase, it needed little explanation to inform me that it +was one of those occasions on which Mr. Blake attired all the hangers-on +of his house in livery, and that great preparations were in progress for a +more than usually splendid reception. + +In the next moment I was ushered into the breakfast-room, where a party of +above a dozen persons were most gayly enjoying all the good cheer for which +the house had a well-deserved repute. After the usual shaking of hands and +hearty greetings were over, I was introduced in all form to Sir George +Dashwood, a tall and singularly handsome man of about fifty, with an +undress military frock and ribbon. His reception of me was somewhat +strange; for as they mentioned my relationship to Godfrey O'Malley, he +smiled slightly, and whispered something to Mr. Blake, who replied, "Oh, +no, no; not the least. A mere boy; and besides--" What he added I lost, for +at that moment Nora Blake was presenting me to Miss Dashwood. + +If the sweetest blue eyes that ever beamed beneath a forehead of snowy +whiteness, over which dark brown and waving hair fell less in curls than +masses of locky richness, could only have known what wild work they were +making of my poor heart, Miss Dashwood, I trust, would have looked at her +teacup or her muffin rather than at me, as she actually did on that fatal +morning. If I were to judge from her costume, she had only just arrived, +and the morning air had left upon her cheek a bloom that contributed +greatly to the effect of her lovely countenance. Although very young, her +form had all the roundness of womanhood; while her gay and sprightly manner +indicated all the _sans gêne_ which only very young girls possess, and +which, when tempered with perfect good taste, and accompanied by beauty and +no small share of talent, forms an irresistible power of attraction. + +Beside her sat a tall, handsome man of about five-and-thirty or perhaps +forty years of age, with a most soldierly air, who as I was presented to +him scarcely turned his head, and gave me a half-nod of very unequivocal +coldness. There are moments in life in which the heart is, as it were, laid +bare to any chance or casual impression with a wondrous sensibility of +pleasure or its opposite. This to me was one of those; and as I turned from +the lovely girl, who had received me with a marked courtesy, to the cold +air and repelling _hauteur_ of the dark-browed captain, the blood rushed +throbbing to my forehead; and as I walked to my place at the table, I +eagerly sought his eye, to return him a look of defiance and disdain, +proud and contemptuous as his own. Captain Hammersley, however, never took +further notice of me, but continued to recount, for the amusement of those +about him, several excellent stories of his military career, which, I +confess, were heard with every test of delight by all save me. One thing +galled me particularly,--and how easy is it, when you have begun by +disliking a person, to supply food for your antipathy,--all his allusions +to his military life were coupled with half-hinted and ill-concealed +sneers at civilians of every kind, as though every man not a soldier were +absolutely unfit for common intercourse with the world, still more for any +favorable reception in ladies' society. + +The young ladies of the family were a well-chosen auditory, for their +admiration of the army extended from the Life Guards to the Veteran +Battalion, the Sappers and Miners included; and as Miss Dashwood was the +daughter of a soldier, she of course coincided in many of, if not all, his +opinions. I turned towards my neighbor, a Clare gentleman, and tried to +engage him in conversation, but he was breathlessly attending to the +captain. On my left sat Matthew Blake, whose eyes were firmly riveted +upon the same person, and who heard his marvels with an interest scarcely +inferior to that of his sisters. Annoyed and in ill-temper, I ate my +breakfast in silence, and resolved that the first moment I could obtain a +hearing from Mr. Blake I would open my negotiation, and take my leave at +once of Gurt-na-Morra. + +We all assembled in a large room, called by courtesy the library, when +breakfast was over; and then it was that Mr. Blake, taking me aside, +whispered, "Charley, it's right I should inform you that Sir George +Dashwood there is the Commander of the Forces, and is come down here at +this moment to--" What for, or how it should concern me, I was not to +learn; for at that critical instant my informant's attention was called off +by Captain Hammersley asking if the hounds were to hunt that day. + +"My friend Charley here is the best authority upon that matter," said Mr. +Blake, turning towards me. + +"They are to try the Priest's meadows," said I, with an air of some +importance; "but if your guests desire a day's sport, I'll send word over +to Brackely to bring the dogs over here, and we are sure to find a fox in +your cover." + +"Oh, then, by all means," said the captain, turning towards Mr. Blake, and +addressing himself to him,--"by all means; and Miss Dashwood, I'm sure, +would like to see the hounds throw off." + +Whatever chagrin the first part of his speech caused me, the latter set my +heart a-throbbing; and I hastened from the room to despatch a messenger to +the huntsman to come over to Gurt-na-Morra, and also another to O'Malley +Castle to bring my best horse and my riding equipments as quickly as +possible. + +"Matthew, who is this captain?" said I, as young Blake met me in the hall. + +"Oh, he is the aide-de-camp of General Dashwood. A nice fellow, isn't he?" + +"I don't know what you may think," said I, "but I take him for the most +impertinent, impudent, supercilious--" + +The rest of my civil speech was cut short by the appearance of the very +individual in question, who, with his hands in his pockets and a cigar in +his mouth, sauntered forth down the steps, taking no more notice of Matthew +Blake and myself than the two fox-terriers that followed at his heels. + +However anxious I might be to open negotiations on the subject of my +mission, for the present the thing was impossible; for I found that Sir +George Dashwood was closeted closely with Mr. Blake, and resolved to wait +till evening, when chance might afford me the opportunity I desired. + +As the ladies had retired to dress for the hunt, and as I felt no peculiar +desire to ally myself with the unsocial captain, I accompanied Matthew to +the stable to look after the cattle, and make preparations for the coming +sport. + +"There's Captain Hammersley's mare," said Matthew, as he pointed out a +highly bred but powerful English hunter. "She came last night; for as he +expected some sport, he sent his horses from Dublin on purpose. The others +will be here to-day." + +"What is his regiment?" said I, with an appearance of carelessness, but in +reality feeling curious to know if the captain was a cavalry or infantry +officer. + +"The --th Light Dragoons," + +"You never saw him ride?" said I. + +"Never; but his groom there says he leads the way in his own country." + +"And where may that be?" + +"In Leicestershire, no less," said Matthew. + +"Does he know Galway?" + +"Never was in it before. It's only this minute he asked Moses Daly if the +ox-fences were high here." + +"Ox-fences! Then he does not know what a wall is?" + +"Devil a bit; but we'll teach him." + +"That we will," said I, with as bitter a resolution to impart the +instruction as ever schoolmaster did to whip Latin grammar into one of the +great unbreeched. + +"But I had better send the horses down to the Mill," said Matthew; "we'll +draw that cover first." + +So saying, he turned towards the stable, while I sauntered alone towards +the road by which I expected the huntsman. I had not walked half a mile +before I heard the yelping of the dogs, and a little farther on I saw old +Brackely coming along at a brisk trot, cutting the hounds on each side, and +calling after the stragglers. + +"Did you see my horse on the road, Brackely?" said I. + +"I did, Misther Charles; and troth, I'm sorry to see him. Sure yerself +knows better than to take out the Badger, the best steeple-chaser in +Ireland, in such a country as this,--nothing but awkward stone-fences, and +not a foot of sure ground in the whole of it." + +"I know it well, Brackely; but I have my reasons for it." + +"Well, may be you have; what cover will your honor try first?" + +"They talk of the Mill," said I; "but I'd much rather try Morran-a-Gowl." + +"Morran-a-Gowl! Do you want to break your neck entirely?" + +"No, Brackely, not mine." + +"Whose, then, alannah?" + +"An English captain's, the devil fly away with him! He's come down here +to-day, and from all I can see is a most impudent fellow; so, Brackely--" + +"I understand. Well, leave it to me; and though I don't like the only +deer-park wall on the hill, we'll try it this morning with the blessing. +I'll take him down by Woodford, over the Devil's Mouth,--it's eighteen foot +wide this minute with the late rains,--into the four callows; then over the +stone-walls, down to Dangan; then take a short cast up the hill, blow him +a bit, and give him the park wall at the top. You must come in then fresh, +and give him the whole run home over Sleibhmich. The Badger knows it all, +and takes the road always in a fly,--a mighty distressing thing for the +horse that follows, more particularly if he does not understand a stony +country. Well, if he lives through this, give him the sunk fence and the +stone wall at Mr. Blake's clover-field, for the hounds will run into the +fox about there; and though we never ride that leap since Mr. Malone broke +his neck at it, last October, yet upon an occasion like this, and for the +honor of Galway--" + +"To be sure, Brackely; and here's a guinea for you, and now trot on towards +the house. They must not see us together, or they might suspect something. +But, Brackely," said I, calling out after him, "if he rides at all fair, +what's to be done?" + +"Troth, then, myself doesn't know. There is nothing so bad west of Athlone. +Have ye a great spite again him?" + +"I have," said I, fiercely. + +"Could ye coax a fight out of him?" + +"That's true," said I; "and now ride on as fast as you can." + +Brackely's last words imparted a lightness to my heart and my step, and I +strode along a very different man from what I had left the house half an +hour previously. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +THE HUNT. + +Although we had not the advantages of a southerly wind and cloudy sky, the +day towards noon became strongly over-cast, and promised to afford us good +scenting weather; and as we assembled at the meet, mutual congratulations +were exchanged upon the improved appearance of the day. Young Blake had +provided Miss Dashwood with a quiet and well-trained horse, and his sisters +were all mounted as usual upon their own animals, giving to our turnout +quite a gay and lively aspect. I myself came to cover upon a hackney, +having sent Badger with a groom, and longed ardently for the moment when, +casting the skin of my great-coat and overalls, I should appear before the +world in my well-appointed "cords and tops." Captain Hammersley had not as +yet made his appearance, and many conjectures were afloat as to whether "he +might have missed the road, or changed his mind," or "forgot all about it," +as Miss Dashwood hinted. + +"Who, pray, pitched upon this cover?" said Caroline Blake, as she looked +with a practised eye over the country on either side. + +"There is no chance of a fox late in the day at the Mill," said the +huntsman, inventing a lie for the occasion. + +"Then of course you never intend us to see much of the sport; for after you +break cover, you are entirely lost to us." + +"I thought you always followed the hounds," said Miss Dashwood, timidly. + +"Oh, to be sure we do, in any common country, but here it is out of the +question; the fences are too large for any one, and if I am not mistaken, +these gentlemen will not ride far over this. There, look yonder, where +the river is rushing down the hill: that stream, widening as it advances, +crosses the cover nearly midway,--well, they must clear that; and then you +may see these walls of large loose stones nearly five feet in height. That +is the usual course the fox takes, unless he heads towards the hills and +goes towards Dangan, and then there's an end of it; for the deer-park wall +is usually a pull up to every one except, perhaps, to our friend Charley +yonder, who has tried his fortune against drowning more than once there." + +"Look, here he comes," said Matthew Blake, "and looking splendidly too,--a +little too much in flesh perhaps, if anything." + +"Captain Hammersley!" said the four Miss Blakes, in a breath. "Where is +he?" + +"No; it's the Badger I'm speaking of," said Matthew, laughing, and pointing +with his finger towards a corner of the field where my servant was +leisurely throwing down a wall about two feet high to let him pass. + +"Oh, how handsome! What a charger for a dragoon!" said Miss Dashwood. + +Any other mode of praising my steed would have been much more acceptable. +The word "dragoon" was a thorn in my tenderest part that rankled and +lacerated at every stir. In a moment I was in the saddle, and scarcely +seated when at once all the _mauvais honte_ of boyhood left me, and I +felt every inch a man. I often look back to that moment of my life, and +comparing it with similar ones, cannot help acknowledging how purely is the +self-possession which so often wins success the result of some slight and +trivial association. My confidence in my horsemanship suggested moral +courage of a very different kind; and I felt that Charles O'Malley +curvetting upon a thorough-bred, and the same man ambling upon a shelty, +were two and very dissimilar individuals. + +"No chance of the captain," said Matthew, who had returned from a +_reconnaissance_ upon the road; "and after all it's a pity, for the day is +getting quite favorable." + +While the young ladies formed pickets to look out for the gallant +_militaire_, I seized the opportunity of prosecuting my acquaintance with +Miss Dashwood, and even in the few and passing observations that fell from +her, learned how very different an order of being she was from all I had +hitherto seen of country belles. A mixture of courtesy with _naïveté;_ a +wish to please, with a certain feminine gentleness, that always flatters a +man, and still more a boy that fain would be one,--gained momentarily +more and more upon me, and put me also on my mettle to prove to my fair +companion that I was not altogether a mere uncultivated and unthinking +creature, like the remainder of those about me. + +"Here he is at last," said Helen Blake, as she cantered across a field +waving her handkerchief as a signal to the captain, who was now seen +approaching at a brisk trot. + +As he came along, a small fence intervened; he pressed his horse a little, +and as he kissed hands to the fair Helen, cleared it in a bound, and was in +an instant in the midst of us. + +"He sits his horse like a man, Misther Charles," said the old huntsman; +"troth, we must give him the worst bit of it." + +Captain Hammersley was, despite all the critical acumen with which I +canvassed him, the very beau-ideal of a gentleman rider; indeed, although a +very heavy man, his powerful English thorough-bred, showing not less bone +than blood, took away all semblance of overweight; his saddle was well +fitting and well placed, as also was his large and broad-reined snaffle; +his own costume of black coat, leathers, and tops was in perfect keeping, +and even to his heavy-handled hunting-whip I could find nothing to cavil +at. As he rode up he paid his respects to the ladies in his usual free and +easy manner, expressed some surprise, but no regret, at hearing that he was +late, and never deigning any notice of Matthew or myself, took his place +beside Miss Dashwood, with whom he conversed in a low undertone. + +"There they go!" said Matthew, as five or six dogs, with their heads up, +ran yelping along a furrow, then stopped, howled again, and once more set +off together. In an instant all was commotion in the little valley +below us. The huntsman, with his hand to his mouth, was calling off the +stragglers, and the whipper-in followed up the leading dogs with the rest +of the pack. "They've found! They're away!" said Matthew; and as he spoke +a yell burst from the valley, and in an instant the whole pack were off at +full speed. Rather more intent that moment upon showing off my horsemanship +than anything else, I dashed spurs into Badger's sides, and turned him +towards a rasping ditch before me; over we went, hurling down behind us a +rotten bank of clay and small stones, showing how little safety there had +been in topping instead of clearing it at a bound. Before I was well-seated +again the captain was beside me. "Now for it, then," said I; and away we +went. What might be the nature of his feelings I cannot pretend to state, +but my own were a strange _mélange_ of wild, boyish enthusiasm, revenge, +and recklessness. For my own neck I cared little,--nothing; and as I led +the way by half a length, I muttered to myself, "Let him follow me fairly +this day, and I ask no more." + +The dogs had got somewhat the start of us; and as they were in full cry, +and going fast, we were a little behind. A thought therefore struck me +that, by appearing to take a short cut upon the hounds, I should come down +upon the river where its breadth was greatest, and thus, at one coup, might +try my friend's mettle and his horse's performance at the same time. On +we went, our speed increasing, till the roar of the river we were now +approaching was plainly audible. I looked half around, and now perceived +the captain was standing in his stirrups, as if to obtain a view of what +was before him; otherwise his countenance was calm and unmoved, and not +a muscle betrayed that he was not cantering on a parade. I fixed myself +firmly in my seat, shook my horse a little together, and with a shout whose +import every Galway hunter well knows rushed him at the river. I saw the +water dashing among the large stones; I heard it splash; I felt a bound +like the _ricochet_ of a shot; and we were over, but so narrowly that the +bank had yielded beneath his hind legs, and it needed a bold effort of the +noble animal to regain his footing. Scarcely was he once more firm, when +Hammersley flew by me, taking the lead, and sitting quietly in his saddle, +as if racing. I know of little in my after-life like the agony of that +moment; for although I was far, very far, from wishing real ill to him, yet +I would gladly have broken my leg or my arm if he could not have been +able to follow me. And now, there he was, actually a length and a half in +advance! and worse than all, Miss Dashwood must have witnessed the whole, +and doubtless his leap over the river was better and bolder than mine. +One consolation yet remained, and while I whispered it to myself I felt +comforted again. "His is an English mare. They understand these leaps; but +what can he make of a Galway wall?" The question was soon to be solved. +Before us, about three fields, were the hounds still in full cry; a large +stone-wall lay between, and to it we both directed our course together. +"Ha!" thought I, "he is floored at last," as I perceived that the captain +held his course rather more in hand, and suffered me to lead. "Now, then, +for it!" So saying, I rode at the largest part I could find, well knowing +that Badger's powers were here in their element. One spring, one plunge, +and away we were, galloping along at the other side. Not so the captain; +his horse had refused the fence, and he was now taking a circuit of the +field for another trial of it. + +"Pounded, by Jove!" said I, as I turned round in my saddle to observe him. +Once more she came at it, and once more balked, rearing up, at the same +time, almost so as to fall backward. + +My triumph was complete; and I again was about to follow the hounds, when, +throwing a look back, I saw Hammersley clearing the wall in a most splendid +manner, and taking a stretch of at least thirteen feet beyond it. Once +more he was on my flanks, and the contest renewed. Whatever might be the +sentiments of the riders (mine I confess to), between the horses it now +became a tremendous struggle. The English mare, though evidently superior +in stride and strength, was slightly overweighted, and had not, besides, +that cat-like activity an Irish horse possesses; so that the advantages and +disadvantages on either side were about equalized. For about half an hour +now the pace was awful. We rode side by side, taking our leaps at +exactly the same instant, and not four feet apart. The hounds were still +considerably in advance, and were heading towards the Shannon, when +suddenly the fox doubled, took the hillside, and made for Dangan. "Now, +then, comes the trial of strength," I said, half aloud, as I threw my eye +up a steep and rugged mountain, covered with wild furze and tall heath, +around the crest of which ran, in a zigzag direction, a broken and +dilapidated wall, once the enclosure of a deer park. This wall, which +varied from four to six feet in height, was of solid masonry, and would, in +the most favorable ground, have been a bold leap. Here, at the summit of a +mountain, with not a yard of footing, it was absolutely desperation. + +By the time that we reached the foot of the hill, the fox, followed closely +by the hounds, had passed through a breach in the wall; while Matthew +Blake, with the huntsmen and whipper-in, was riding along in search of a +gap to lead the horses through. Before I put spurs to Badger to face the +hill, I turned one look towards Hammersley. There was a slight curl, +half-smile, half-sneer, upon his lip that actually maddened me, and had a +precipice yawned beneath my feet, I should have dashed at it after that. +The ascent was so steep that I was obliged to take the hill in a slanting +direction; and even thus, the loose footing rendered it dangerous in the +extreme. + +At length I reached the crest, where the wall, more than five feet in +height, stood frowning above and seeming to defy me. I turned my horse full +round, so that his very chest almost touched the stones, and with a bold +cut of the whip and a loud halloo, the gallant animal rose, as if rearing, +pawed for an instant to regain his balance, and then, with a frightful +struggle, fell backwards, and rolled from top to bottom of the hill, +carrying me along with him; the last object that crossed my sight, as I lay +bruised and motionless, being the captain as he took the wall in a flying +leap, and disappeared at the other side. After a few scrambling efforts to +rise, Badger regained his legs and stood beside me; but such was the shock +and concussion of my fall that all the objects around seemed wavering and +floating before me, while showers of bright sparks fell in myriads before +my eyes. I tried to rise, but fell back helpless. Cold perspiration broke +over my forehead, and I fainted. From that moment I can remember nothing, +till I felt myself galloping along at full speed upon a level table-land, +with the hounds about three fields in advance, Hammersley riding foremost, +and taking all his leaps coolly as ever. As I swayed to either side upon my +saddle, from weakness, I was lost to all thought or recollection, save a +flickering memory of some plan of vengeance, which still urged me forward. +The chase had now lasted above an hour, and both hounds and horses began to +feel the pace at which they were going. As for me, I rode mechanically; I +neither knew nor cared for the dangers before me. My eye rested on but one +object; my whole being was concentrated upon one vague and undefined sense +of revenge. At this instant the huntsman came alongside of me. + +"Are you hurted, Misther Charles? Did you fall? Your cheek is all blood, +and your coat is torn in two; and, Mother o' God! his boot is ground to +powder; he does not hear me! Oh, pull up! pull up, for the love of the +Virgin! There's the clover-field and the sunk fence before you, and you'll +be killed on the spot!" + +"Where?" cried I, with the cry of a madman. "Where's the clover-field; +where's the sunk fence? Ha! I see it; I see it now." + +So saying, I dashed the rowels into my horse's flanks, and in an instant +was beyond the reach of the poor fellow's remonstances. Another moment I +was beside the captain. He turned round as I came up; the same smile was +upon his mouth; I could have struck him. About three hundred yards before +us lay the sunk fence; its breadth was about twenty feet, and a wall of +close brickwork formed its face. Over this the hounds were now clambering; +some succeeded in crossing, but by far the greater number fell back, +howling, into the ditch. + +I turned towards Hammersley. He was standing high in his stirrups, and as +he looked towards the yawning fence, down which the dogs were tumbling in +masses, I thought (perhaps it was but a thought) that his cheek was paler. +I looked again; he was pulling at his horse. Ha! it was true then; he would +not face it. I turned round in my saddle, looked him full in the face, and +as I pointed with my whip to the leap, called out in a voice hoarse with +passion, "Come on!" I saw no more. All objects were lost to me from that +moment. When next my senses cleared, I was standing amidst the dogs, where +they had just killed. Badger stood blown and trembling beside me, his head +drooping and his flanks gored with spur-marks. I looked about, but all +consciousness of the past had fled; the concussion of my fall had shaken +my intellect, and I was like one but half-awake. One glimpse, short and +fleeting, of what was taking place shot through my brain, as old Brackely +whispered to me, "By my soul, ye did for the captain there." I turned a +vague look upon him, and my eyes fell upon the figure of a man that lay +stretched and bleeding upon a door before me. His pale face was crossed +with a purple stream of blood that trickled from a wound beside his +eyebrow; his arms lay motionless and heavily at either side. I knew him +not. A loud report of a pistol aroused me from my stupor; I looked back. I +saw a crowd that broke suddenly asunder and fled right and left. I heard +a heavy crash upon the ground; I pointed with my finger, for I could not +utter a word. + +"It is the English mare, yer honor; she was a beauty this morning, but +she's broke her shoulder-bone and both her legs, and it was best to put her +out of pain." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +THE DRAWING-ROOM. + +On the fourth day following the adventure detailed in the last chapter, I +made my appearance in the drawing-room, my cheek well blanched by copious +bleeding, and my step tottering and uncertain. On entering the room, I +looked about in vain for some one who might give me an insight into the +occurrences of the four preceding days; but no one was to be met with. The +ladies, I learned, were out riding; Matthew was buying a new setter, Mr. +Blake was canvassing, and Captain Hammersley was in bed. Where was Miss +Dashwood?--in her room; and Sir George?--he was with Mr. Blake. + +"What! Canvassing, too?" + +"Troth, that same was possible," was the intelligent reply of the old +butler, at which I could not help smiling. I sat down, therefore, in the +easiest chair I could find, and unfolding the county paper, resolved upon +learning how matters were going on in the political world. But somehow, +whether the editor was not brilliant or the fire was hot or that my own +dreams were pleasanter to indulge in than his fancies, I fell sound asleep. + +How differently is the mind attuned to the active, busy world of thought +and action when awakened from sleep by any sudden and rude summons to arise +and be stirring, and when called into existence by the sweet and silvery +notes of softest music stealing over the senses, and while they impart +awakening thoughts of bliss and beauty, scarcely dissipating the dreamy +influence of slumber! Such was my first thought, as, with closed lids, the +thrilling chords of a harp broke upon my sleep and aroused me to a feeling +of unutterable pleasure. I turned gently round in my chair and beheld Miss +Dashwood. She was seated in a recess of an old-fashioned window; the pale +yellow glow of a wintry sun at evening fell upon her beautiful hair, and +tinged it with such a light as I have often since then seen in Rembrandt's +pictures; her head leaned upon the harp, and as she struck its chords at +random, I saw that her mind was far away from all around her. As I looked, +she suddenly started from her leaning attitude, and parting back her curls +from her brow, she preluded a few chords, and then sighed forth, rather +than sang, that most beautiful of Moore's melodies,-- + + "She is far from the land where her young hero sleeps." + +Never before had such pathos, such deep utterance of feeling, met my +astonished sense; I listened breathlessly as the tears fell one by one down +my cheek; my bosom heaved and fell; and when she ceased, I hid my head +between my hands and sobbed aloud. In an instant, she was beside me, and +placing her hand upon my shoulder, said,-- + +"Poor dear boy, I never suspected you of being there, or I should not have +sung that mournful air." + +I started and looked up; and from what I know not, but she suddenly +crimsoned to her very forehead, while she added in a less assured tone,-- + +"I hope, Mr. O'Malley, that you are much better; and I trust there is no +imprudence in your being here." + +"For the latter, I shall not answer," said I, with a sickly smile; "but +already I feel your music has done me service." + +"Then let me sing more for you." + +"If I am to have a choice, I should say, Sit down, and let me hear you talk +to me. My illness and the doctor together have made wild work of my poor +brain; but if you will talk to me--" + +"Well, then, what shall it be about? Shall I tell you a fairy tale?" + +"I need it not; I feel I am in one this instant." + +"Well, then, what say you to a legend; for I am rich in my stores of them?" + +"The O'Malleys have their chronicles, wild and barbarous enough without the +aid of Thor and Woden." + +"Then, shall we chat of every-day matters? Should you like to hear how the +election and the canvass go on?" + +"Yes; of all things." + +"Well, then, most favorably. Two baronies, with most unspeakable names, +have declared for us, and confidence is rapidly increasing among our party. +This I learned, by chance, yesterday; for papa never permits us to know +anything of these matters,--not even the names of the candidates." + +"Well, that was the very point I was coming to; for the government were +about to send down some one just as I left home, and I am most anxious to +learn who it is." + +"Then am I utterly valueless; for I really can't say what party the +government espouses, and only know of our own." + +"Quite enough for me that you wish it success," said I, gallantly. "Perhaps +you can tell me if my uncle has heard of my accident?" + +"Oh, yes; but somehow he has not been here himself, but sent a friend,--a +Mr. Considine, I think; a very strange person he seemed. He demanded to see +papa, and it seems, asked him if your misfortune had been a thing of his +contrivance, and whether he was ready to explain his conduct about it; and, +in fact, I believe he is mad." + +"Heaven confound him!" I muttered between my teeth. + +"And then he wished to have an interview with Captain Hammersley. However, +he is too ill; but as the doctor hoped he might be down-stairs in a week, +Mr. Considine kindly hinted that he should wait." + +"Oh, then, do tell me how is the captain." + +"Very much bruised, very much disfigured, they say," said she, half +smiling; "but not so much hurt in body as in mind." + +"As how, may I ask?" said I, with an appearance of innocence. + +"I don't exactly understand it; but it would appear that there was +something like rivalry among you gentlemen _chasseurs_ on that luckless +morning, and that while you paid the penalty of a broken head, he was +destined to lose his horse and break his arm." + +"I certainly am sorry,--most sincerely sorry for any share I might have had +in the catastrophe; and my greatest regret, I confess, arises from the fact +that I should cause _you_ unhappiness." + +"_Me_? Pray explain." + +"Why, as Captain Hammersley--" + +"Mr. O'Malley, you are too young now to mate me suspect you have an +intention to offend; but I caution you, never repeat this." + +I saw that I had transgressed, but how, I most honestly confess, I could +not guess; for though I certainly was the senior of my fair companion in +years, I was most lamentably her junior in tact and discretion. + +The gray dusk of evening had long fallen as we continued to chat together +beside the blazing wood embers,--she evidently amusing herself with the +original notions of an untutored, unlettered boy, and I drinking deep +those draughts of love that nerved my heart through many a breach and +battlefield. + +Our colloquy was at length interrupted by the entrance of Sir George, who +shook me most cordially by the hand, and made the kindest inquiries about +my health. + +"They tell me you are to be a lawyer. Mr. O'Malley," said he; "and if so, I +must advise you to take better care of your headpiece." + +"A lawyer, Papa; oh dear me! I should never have thought of his being +anything so stupid." + +"Why, silly girl, what would you have a man be?" + +"A dragoon, to be sure, Papa," said the fond girl, as she pressed her arm +around his manly figure, and looked up in his face with an expression of +mingled pride and affection. + +That word sealed my destiny. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +THE DINNER. + +When I retired to my room to dress for dinner, I found my servant waiting +with a note from my uncle, to which, he informed me, the messenger expected +an answer. + +I broke the seal and read:-- + + + DEAR CHARLEY,--Do not lose a moment in securing old Blake,--if + you have not already done so,--as information has just reached + me that the government party has promised a cornetcy to young + Matthew if he can bring over his father. And these are the people + I have been voting with--a few private cases excepted--for thirty + odd years! + + I am very sorry for your accident. Considine informs me that it + will need explanation at a later period. He has been in Athlone + since Tuesday, in hopes to catch the new candidate on his way down, + and get him into a little private quarrel before the day; if he + succeeds, it will save the county much expense, and conduce greatly to + the peace and happiness of all parties. But "these things," as Father + Roach says, "are in the hands of Providence." You must also persuade + old Blake to write a few lines to Simon Mallock, about the + Coolnamuck mortgage. We can give him no satisfaction at present, + at least such as he looks for; and don't be philandering any longer + where you are, when your health permits a change of quarters. + + Your affectionate uncle, + GODFREY O'MALLEY. + + P.S. I have just heard from Considine. He was out this morning + and shot a fellow in the knee; but finds that after all he was + not the candidate, but a tourist that was writing a book about + Connemara. + + P.S. No. 2. Bear the mortgage in mind, for old Mallock is a + spiteful fellow, and has a grudge against me, since I horsewhipped + his son in Banagher. Oh, the world, the world! G. O'M. + + +Until I read this very clear epistle to the end, I had no very precise +conception how completely I had forgotten all my uncle's interests, and +neglected all his injunctions. Already five days had elapsed, and I had not +as much as mooted the question to Mr. Blake, and probably all this time my +uncle was calculating on the thing as concluded; but, with one hole in my +head and some half-dozen in my heart, my memory was none of the best. + +Snatching up the letter, therefore, I resolved to lose no more time, and +proceeded at once to Mr. Blake's room, expecting that I should, as the +event proved, find him engaged in the very laborious duty of making his +toilet. + +[Illustration: MR. BLAKE'S DRESSING ROOM.] + +"Come in, Charley," said he, as I tapped gently at the door. "It's only +Charley, my darling. Mrs. B. won't mind you." + +"Not the least in life," responded Mrs. B., disposing at the same time a +pair of her husband's corduroys tippet fashion across her ample shoulders, +which before were displayed in the plenitude and breadth of coloring we +find in a Rubens. "Sit down, Charley, and tell us what's the matter." + +As until this moment I was in perfect ignorance of the Adam-and-Eve-like +simplicity in which the private economy of Mr. Blake's household was +conducted, I would have gladly retired from what I found to be a mutual +territory of dressing-room had not Mr. Blake's injunctions been issued +somewhat like an order to remain. + +"It's only a letter, sir," said I, stuttering, "from my uncle about the +election. He says that as his majority is now certain, he should feel +better pleased in going to the poll with all the family, you know, sir, +along with him. He wishes me just to sound your intentions,--to make out +how you feel disposed towards him; and--and, faith, as I am but a poor +diplomatist, I thought the best way was to come straight to the point and +tell you so." + +"I perceive," said Mr. Blake, giving his chin at the moment an awful gash +with the razor,--"I perceive; go on." + +"Well, sir, I have little more to say. My uncle knows what influence you +have in Scariff, and expects you'll do what you can there." + +"Anything more?" said Blake, with a very dry and quizzical expression I +didn't half like,--"anything more?" + +"Oh, yes; you are to write a line to old Mallock." + +"I understand; about Coolnamuck, isn't it?" + +"Exactly; I believe that's all." + +"Well, now, Charley, you may go down-stairs, and we'll talk it over after +dinner." + +"Yes, Charley dear, go down, for I'm going to draw on my stockings," said +the fair Mrs. Blake, with a look of very modest consciousness. + +When I had left the room I couldn't help muttering a "Thank God!" for the +success of a mission I more than once feared for, and hastened to despatch +a note to my uncle, assuring him of the Blake interest, and adding that for +propriety's sake I should defer my departure for a day or two longer. + +This done, with a heart lightened of its load and in high spirits at my +cleverness, I descended to the drawing-room. Here a very large party were +already assembled, and at every opening of the door a new relay of Blakes, +Burkes, and Bodkins was introduced. In the absence of the host, Sir George +Dashwood was "making the agreeable" to the guests, and shook hands with +every new arrival with all the warmth and cordiality of old friendship. +While thus he inquired for various absent individuals, and asked most +affectionately for sundry aunts and uncles not forthcoming, a slight +incident occurred which by its ludicrous turn served to shorten the long +half-hour before dinner. An individual of the party, a Mr. Blake, had, from +certain peculiarities of face, obtained in his boyhood the sobriquet of +"Shave-the-wind." This hatchet-like conformation had grown with his growth, +and perpetuated upon him a nickname by which alone was he ever spoken of +among his friends and acquaintances; the only difference being that as he +came to man's estate, brevity, that soul of wit, had curtailed the epithet +to mere "Shave." Now, Sir George had been hearing frequent reference made +to him always by this name, heard him ever so addressed, and perceived him +to reply to it; so that when he was himself asked by some one what sport he +had found that day among the woodcocks, he answered at once, with a bow of +very grateful acknowledgment, "Excellent, indeed; but entirely owing to +where I was placed in the copse. Had it not been for Mr. Shave there--" + +I need not say that the remainder of his speech, being heard on all sides, +became one universal shout of laughter, in which, to do him justice, the +excellent Shave himself heartily joined. Scarcely were the sounds of mirth +lulled into an apparent calm, when the door opened and the host and hostess +appeared. Mrs. Blake advanced in all the plenitude of her charms, arrayed +in crimson satin, sorely injured in its freshness by a patch of grease +upon the front about the same size and shape as the continent of Europe in +Arrowsmith's Atlas. A swan's-down tippet covered her shoulders; massive +bracelets ornamented her wrists; while from her ears descended two Irish +diamond ear-rings, rivalling in magnitude and value the glass pendants of +a lustre. Her reception of her guests made ample amends, in warmth and +cordiality, for any deficiency of elegance; and as she disposed her ample +proportions upon the sofa, and looked around upon the company, she appeared +the very impersonation of hospitality. + +After several openings and shuttings of the drawing-room door, accompanied +by the appearance of old Simon the butler, who counted the party at least +five times before he was certain that the score was correct, dinner was +at length announced. Now came a moment of difficulty, and one which, as +testing Mr. Blake's tact, he would gladly have seen devolve upon some other +shoulders; for he well knew that the marshalling a room full of mandarins, +blue, green, and yellow, was "cakes and gingerbread" to ushering a Galway +party in to dinner. + +First, then, was Mr. Miles Bodkin, whose grandfather would have been a lord +if Cromwell had not hanged him one fine morning. Then Mrs. Mosey Blake's +first husband was promised the title of Kilmacud if it was ever restored; +whereas Mrs. French of Knocktunmor's mother was then at law for a title. +And lastly, Mrs. Joe Burke was fourth cousin to Lord Clanricarde, as is or +will be every Burke from this to the day of judgment. Now, luckily for her +prospects, the lord was alive; and Mr. Blake, remembering a very sage adage +about "dead lions," etc., solved the difficulty at once by gracefully +tucking the lady under his arm and leading the way. The others soon +followed, the priest of Portumna and my unworthy self bringing up the rear. + +When, many a year afterwards, the hard ground of a mountain bivouac, +with its pitiful portion of pickled cork-tree yclept mess-beef, and that +pyroligneous aquafortis they call corn-brandy have been my hard fare, +I often looked back to that day's dinner with a most heart-yearning +sensation,--a turbot as big as the Waterloo shield, a sirloin that seemed +cut from the sides of a rhinoceros, a sauce-boat that contained an +oyster-bed. There was a turkey, which singly would have formed the main +army of a French dinner, doing mere outpost duty, flanked by a picket of +ham and a detached squadron of chickens carefully ambushed in a forest +of greens; potatoes, not disguised _à la maître d'hôtel_ and tortured to +resemble bad macaroni, but piled like shot in an ordnance-yard, were posted +at different quarters; while massive decanters of port and sherry stood +proudly up like standard bearers amidst the goodly array. This was none +of your austere "great dinners," where a cold and chilling _plateau_ of +artificial nonsense cuts off one-half of the table from intercourse with +the other; when whispered sentences constitute the conversation, and all +the friendly recognition of wine-drinking, which renews acquaintance and +cements an intimacy, is replaced by the ceremonious filling of your glass +by a lackey; where smiles go current in lieu of kind speeches, and epigram +and smartness form the substitute for the broad jest and merry story. Far +from it. Here the company ate, drank, talked, laughed,--did all but sing, +and certainly enjoyed themselves heartily. As for me, I was little more +than a listener; and such was the crash of plates, the jingle of glasses, +and the clatter of voices, that fragments only of what was passing +around reached me, giving to the conversation of the party a character +occasionally somewhat incongruous. Thus such sentences as the following ran +foul of each other every instant:-- + +"No better land in Galway"--"where could you find such facilities"--"for +shooting Mr. Jones on his way home"--"the truth, the whole truth, and +nothing but the truth"--"kiss"--"Miss Blake, she's the girl with a foot and +ankle"--"Daly has never had wool on his sheep"--"how could he"--"what +does he pay for the mountain"--"four and tenpence a yard"--"not a penny +less"--"all the cabbage-stalks and potato-skins"--"with some bog stuff +through it"--"that's the thing to"--"make soup, with a red herring in it +instead of salt"--"and when he proposed for my niece, ma'am, says he"--"mix +a strong tumbler, and I'll make a shake-down for you on the floor"--"and +may the Lord have mercy on your soul"--"and now, down the middle and +up again"--"Captain Magan, my dear, he is the man"--"to shave a pig +properly"--"it's not money I'm looking for, says he, the girl of my +heart"--"if she had not a wind-gall and two spavins"--"I'd have given her +the rights of the church, of coorse," said Father Roach, bringing up the +rear of this ill-assorted jargon. + +Such were the scattered links of conversation I was condemned to listen to, +till a general rise on the part of the ladies left us alone to discuss our +wine and enter in good earnest upon the more serious duties of the evening. + +Scarcely was the door closed when one of the company, seizing the +bell-rope, said, "With your leave, Blake, we'll have the 'dew' now." + +"Good claret,--no better," said another; "but it sits mighty cold on the +stomach." + +"There's nothing like the groceries, after all,--eh, Sir George?" said an +old Galway squire to the English general, who acceded to the fact, which he +understood in a very different sense. + +"Oh, punch, you are my darlin'," hummed another, as a large, square, +half-gallon decanter of whiskey was placed on the table, the various +decanters of wine being now ignominiously sent down to the end of the board +without any evidence of regret on any face save Sir George Dashwood's, who +mixed his tumbler with a very rebellious conscience. + +Whatever were the noise and clamor of the company before, they were nothing +to what now ensued. As one party were discussing the approaching contest, +another was planning a steeple-chase, while two individuals, unhappily +removed from each other the entire length of the table, were what is called +"challenging each other's effects" in a very remarkable manner,--the +process so styled being an exchange of property, when each party, setting +an imaginary value upon some article, barters it for another, the amount +of boot paid and received being determined by a third person, who is the +umpire. Thus a gold breast-pin was swopped, as the phrase is, against a +horse; then a pair of boots, then a Kerry bull, etc.,--every imaginable +species of property coming into the market. Sometimes, as matters of very +dubious value turned up, great laughter was the result. In this very +national pastime, a Mr. Miles Bodkin, a noted fire-eater of the west, was +a great proficient; and it is said he once so completely succeeded in +despoiling an uninitiated hand, that after winning in succession his horse, +gig, harness, etc., he proceeded _seriatim_ to his watch, ring, clothes, +and portmanteau, and actually concluded by winning all he possessed, and +kindly lent him a card-cloth to cover him on his way to the hotel. +His success on the present occasion was considerable, and his spirits +proportionate. The decanter had thrice been replenished, and the flushed +faces and thickened utterance of the guests evinced that from the cold +properties of the claret there was but little to dread. As for Mr. Bodkin, +his manner was incapable of any higher flight, when under the influence of +whiskey, than what it evinced on common occasions; and as he sat at the end +of the table fronting Mr. Blake, he assumed all the dignity of the ruler of +the feast, with an energy no one seemed disposed to question. In answer to +some observations of Sir George, he was led into something like an oration +upon the peculiar excellences of his native country, which ended in a +declaration that there was nothing like Galway. + +"Why don't you give us a song, Miles? And may be the general would learn +more from it than all your speech-making." + +"To be sure," cried the several voices together,--"to be sure; let us hear +the 'Man for Galway'!" + +Sir George having joined most warmly in the request, Mr. Bodkin filled up +his glass to the brim, bespoke a chorus to his chant, and clearing his +voice with a deep hem, began the following ditty, to the air which Moore +has since rendered immortal by the beautiful song, "Wreath the Bowl," etc. +And, although the words are well known in the west, for the information of +less-favored regions, I here transcribe-- + + THE MAN FOR GALWAY. + + To drink a toast, + A proctor roast, + Or bailiff as the case is; + To kiss your wife, + Or take your life + At ten or fifteen paces; + To keep game-cocks, to hunt the fox, + To drink in punch the Solway, + With debts galore, but fun far more,-- + Oh, that's "the man for Galway." + CHORUS: With debts, etc. + + The King of Oude + Is mighty proud, + And so were onst the _Caysars_; + But ould Giles Eyre + Would make them stare, + Av he had them with the Blazers. + To the devil I fling--ould Runjeet Sing, + He's only a prince in a small way, + And knows nothing at all of a six-foot wall; + Oh, he'd never "do for Galway." + CHORUS: With debts, etc. + + Ye think the Blakes + Are no "great shakes;" + They're all his blood relations. + And the Bodkins sneeze + At the grim Chinese, + For they come from the _Phenaycians_. + So fill the brim, and here's to him + Who'd drink in punch the Solway, + With debts galore, but fun far more,-- + Oh, that's "the man for Galway." + CHORUS: With debts, etc. + +I much fear that the reception of this very classic ode would not be as +favorable in general companies as it was on the occasion I first heard it; +for certainly the applause was almost deafening, and even Sir George, the +defects of whose English education left some of the allusions out of his +reach, was highly amused, and laughed heartily. + +The conversation once more reverted to the election; and although I was too +far from those who seemed best informed on the matter to hear much, I could +catch enough to discover that the feeling was a confident one. This was +gratifying to me, as I had some scruples about my so long neglecting my +uncle's cause. + +"We have Scariff to a man," said Bodkin. + +"And Mosey's tenantry," said another. "I swear, though there's not a +freehold registered on the estate, that they'll vote, every mother's son +of them, or devil a stone of the court-house they'll leave standing on +another." + +"And may the Lord look to the returning officer!" said a third, throwing up +his eyes. + +"Mosey's tenantry are droll boys; and like their landlord, more by token, +they never pay any rent." + +"And what for shouldn't they vote?" said a dry-looking little old fellow in +a red waistcoat; "when I was the dead agent--" + +"The dead agent!" interrupted Sir George, with a start. + +"Just so," said the old fellow, pulling down his spectacles from his +forehead, and casting a half-angry look at Sir George, for what he had +suspected to be a doubt of his veracity. + +"The general does not know, may be, what that is," said some one. + +"You have just anticipated me," said Sir George; "I really am in most +profound ignorance." + +"It is the dead agent," says Mr. Blake, "who always provides substitutes +for any voters that may have died since the last election. A very important +fact in statistics may thus be gathered from the poll-books of this county, +which proves it to be the healthiest part of Europe,--a freeholder has not +died in it for the last fifty years." + +"The 'Kiltopher boys' won't come this time; they say there's no use trying +to vote when so many were transported last assizes for perjury." + +"They're poor-spirited creatures," said another. + +"Not they,--they are as decent boys as any we have; they're willing to +wreck the town for fifty shillings' worth of spirits. Besides, if they +don't vote for the county, they will for the borough." + +This declaration seemed to restore these interesting individuals to favor; +and now all attention was turned towards Bodkin, who was detailing the plan +of a grand attack upon the polling-booths, to be headed by himself. By this +time, all the prudence and guardedness of the party had given way; whiskey +was in the ascendant, and every bold stroke of election policy, every +cunning artifice, every ingenious device, was detailed and applauded in +a manner which proved that self-respect was not the inevitable gift of +"mountain dew." + +The mirth and fun grew momentarily more boisterous, and Miles Bodkin, who +had twice before been prevented proposing some toast by a telegraphic +signal from the other end of the table, now swore that nothing should +prevent him any longer, and rising with a smoking tumbler in his hand, +delivered himself as follows:-- + +"No, no, Phil Blake, ye needn't be winkin' at me that way; it's little I +care for the spawn of the ould serpent. [Here great cheers greeted the +speaker, in which, without well knowing why, I heartily joined.] I'm going +to give a toast, boys,--a real good toast, none of your sentimental things +about wall-flowers or the vernal equinox, or that kind of thing, but a +sensible, patriotic, manly, intrepid toast,--toast you must drink in the +most universal, laborious, and awful manner: do ye see now? [Loud cheers.] +If any man of you here present doesn't drain this toast to the bottom [here +the speaker looked fixedly at me, as did the rest of the company]--then, by +the great-gun of Athlone, I'll make him eat the decanter, glass-stopper and +all, for the good of his digestion: d'ye see now?" + +The cheering at this mild determination prevented my hearing what followed; +but the peroration consisted in a very glowing eulogy upon some person +unknown, and a speedy return to him as member for Galway. Amidst all the +noise and tumult at this critical moment, nearly every eye at the table was +turned upon me; and as I concluded that they had been drinking my uncle's +health, I thundered away at the mahogany with all my energy. At length the +hip-hipping over, and comparative quiet restored, I rose from my seat to +return thanks; but, strange enough, Sir George Dashwood did so likewise. +And there we both stood, amidst an uproar that might well have shaken the +courage of more practised orators; while from every side came cries of +"Hear, hear!"--"Go on, Sir George!"--"Speak out, General!"--"Sit down, +Charley!"--"Confound the boy!"--"Knock the legs from under him!" etc. Not +understanding why Sir George should interfere with what I regarded as my +peculiar duty, I resolved not to give way, and avowed this determination in +no very equivocal terms. "In that case," said the general, "I am to suppose +that the young gentleman moves an amendment to your proposition; and as the +etiquette is in his favor, I yield." Here he resumed his place amidst a +most terrific scene of noise and tumult, while several humane proposals as +to my treatment were made around me, and a kind suggestion thrown out to +break my neck by a near neighbor. Mr. Blake at length prevailed upon the +party to hear what I had to say,--for he was certain I should not detain +them above a minute. The commotion having in some measure subsided, I +began: "Gentlemen, as the adopted son of the worthy man whose health you +have just drunk--" Heaven knows how I should have continued; but here my +eloquence was met by such a roar of laughing as I never before listened to. +From one end of the board to the other it was one continued shout, and went +on, too, as if all the spare lungs of the party had been kept in reserve +for the occasion. I turned from one to the other; I tried to smile, and +seemed to participate in the joke, but failed; I frowned; I looked savagely +about where I could see enough to turn my wrath thitherward,--and, as it +chanced, not in vain; for Mr. Miles Bodkin, with an intuitive perception of +my wishes, most suddenly ceased his mirth, and assuming a look of frowning +defiance that had done him good service upon many former occasions, rose +and said:-- + +"Well, sir, I hope you're proud of yourself. You've made a nice beginning +of it, and a pretty story you'll have for your uncle. But if you'd like to +break the news by a letter the general will have great pleasure in franking +it for you; for, by the rock of Cashel, we'll carry him in against all the +O'Malley's that ever cheated the sheriff." + +Scarcely were the words uttered, when I seized my wineglass, and hurled it +with all my force at his head; so sudden was the act, and so true the aim, +that Mr. Bodkin measured his length upon the floor ere his friends could +appreciate his late eloquent effusion. The scene now became terrific; +for though the redoubted Miles was _hors-de-combat_, his friends made a +tremendous rush at, and would infallibly have succeeded in capturing me, +had not Blake and four or five others interposed. Amidst a desperate +struggle, which lasted for some minutes, I was torn from the spot, carried +bodily up-stairs, and pitched headlong into my own room; where, having +doubly locked the door on the outside, they left me to my own cool and not +over-agreeable reflections. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +THE FLIGHT FROM GURT-NA-MORRA. + +It was by one of those sudden and inexplicable revulsions which +occasionally restore to sense and intellect the maniac of years standing, +that I was no sooner left alone in my chamber than I became perfectly +sober. The fumes of the wine--and I had drunk deeply--were dissipated at +once; my head, which but a moment before was half wild with excitement, was +now cool, calm, and collected; and stranger than all, I, who had only an +hour since entered the dining-room with all the unsuspecting freshness of +boyhood, became, by a mighty bound, a man,--a man in all my feelings of +responsibility, a man who, repelling an insult by an outrage, had resolved +to stake his life upon the chance. In an instant a new era in life had +opened before me; the light-headed gayety which fearlessness and youth +impart was replaced by one absorbing thought,--one all-engrossing, +all-pervading impression, that if I did not follow up my quarrel with +Bodkin, I was dishonored and disgraced, my little knowledge of such matters +not being sufficient to assure me that I was now the aggressor, and that +any further steps in the affair should come from his side. + +So thoroughly did my own griefs occupy me, that I had no thought for the +disappointment my poor uncle was destined to meet with in hearing that the +Blake interest was lost to him, and the former breach between the families +irreparably widened by the events of the evening. Escape was my first +thought; but how to accomplish it? The door, a solid one of Irish oak, +doubly locked and bolted, defied all my efforts to break it open; the +window was at least five-and-twenty feet from the ground, and not a tree +near to swing into. I shouted, I called aloud, I opened the sash, and tried +if any one outside were within hearing; but in vain. Weary and exhausted, +I sat down upon my bed and ruminated over my fortunes. Vengeance--quick, +entire, decisive vengeance--I thirsted and panted for; and every moment +I lived under the insult inflicted on me seemed an age of torturing and +maddening agony. I rose with a leap; a thought had just occurred to me. +I drew the bed towards the window, and fastening the sheet to one of the +posts with a firm knot, I twisted it into a rope, and let myself down to +within about twelve feet of the ground, when I let go my hold, and dropped +upon the grass beneath safe and uninjured. A thin, misty rain was falling, +and I now perceived, for the first time, that in my haste I had forgotten +my hat; this thought, however, gave me little uneasiness, and I took my way +towards the stable, resolving, if I could, to saddle my horse and get off +before any intimation of my escape reached the family. + +When I gained the yard, all was quiet and deserted; the servants were +doubtless enjoying themselves below stairs, and I met no one on the way. I +entered the stable, threw the saddle upon "Badger," and before five minutes +from my descent from the window, was galloping towards O'Malley Castle at a +pace that defied pursuit, had any one thought of it. + +It was about five o'clock on a dark, wintry morning as I led my horse +through the well-known defiles of out-houses and stables which formed the +long line of offices to my uncle's house. As yet no one was stirring; and +as I wished to have my arrival a secret from the family, after +providing for the wants of my gallant gray, I lifted the latch of the +kitchen-door--no other fastening being ever thought necessary, even at +night--and gently groped my way towards the stairs; all was perfectly +still, and the silence now recalled me to reflection as to what course I +should pursue. It was all-important that my uncle should know nothing of my +quarrel, otherwise he would inevitably make it his own, and by treating +me like a boy in the matter, give the whole affair the very turn I most +dreaded. Then, as to Sir Harry Boyle, he would most certainly turn the +whole thing into ridicule, make a good story, perhaps a song out of it, and +laugh at my notions of demanding satisfaction. Considine, I knew, was my +man; but then he was at Athlone,--at least so my uncle's letter mentioned. +Perhaps he might have returned; if not, to Athlone I should set off at +once. So resolving, I stole noiselessly up-stairs, and reached the door of +the count's chamber; I opened it gently and entered; and though my step +was almost imperceptible to myself, it was quite sufficient to alarm the +watchful occupant of the room, who, springing up in his bed, demanded +gruffly, "Who's there?" + +"Charles, sir," said I, shutting the door carefully, and approaching his +bedside. "Charles O'Malley, sir. I'm come to have a bit of your advice; and +as the affair won't keep, I have been obliged to disturb you." + +"Never mind, Charley," said the count; "sit down, there's a chair somewhere +near the bed,--have you found it? There! Well now, what is it? What news of +Blake?" + +"Very bad; no worse. But it is not exactly _that_ I came about; I've got +into a scrape, sir." + +"Run off with one of the daughters," said Considine. "By jingo, I knew what +those artful devils would be after." + +"Not so bad as that," said I, laughing. "It's just a row, a kind of +squabble; something that must come--" + +"Ay, ay," said the count, brightening up; "say you so, Charley? Begad, the +young ones will beat us all out of the field. Who is it with,--not old +Blake himself; how was it? Tell me all." + +I immediately detailed the whole events of the preceding chapter, as well +as his frequent interruptions would permit, and concluded by asking what +farther step was now to be taken, as I was resolved the matter should be +concluded before it came to my uncle's ears. + +"There you are all right; quite correct, my boy. But there are many points +I should have wished otherwise in the conduct of the affair hitherto." + +Conceiving that he was displeased at my petulance and boldness, I was about +to commence a kind of defence, when he added,-- + +"Because, you see," said he, assuming an oracular tone of voice, "throwing +a wine-glass, with or without wine, in a man's face is merely, as you may +observe, a mark of denial and displeasure at some observation he may have +made,--not in any wise intended to injure him, further than in the wound to +his honor at being so insulted, for which, of course, he must subsequently +call you out. Whereas, Charley, in the present case, the view I take +is different; the expression of Mr. Bodkin, as regards your uncle, was +insulting to a degree,--gratuitously offensive,--and warranting a blow. +Therefore, my boy, you should, under such circumstances, have preferred +aiming at him with a decanter: a cut-glass decanter, well aimed and low, I +have seen do effective service. However, as you remark it was your first +thing of the kind, I am pleased with you--very much pleased with you. Now, +then, for the next step." So saying, he arose from his bed, and striking a +light with a tinder-box, proceeded to dress himself as leisurely as if for +a dinner party, talking all the while. + +"I will just take Godfrey's tax-cart and the roan mare on to Meelish, put +them up at the little inn,--it is not above a mile from Bodkin's; and I'll +go over and settle the thing for you. You must stay quiet till I come +back, and not leave the house on any account. I've got a case of old broad +barrels there that will answer you beautifully; if you were anything of +a shot, I'd give you my own cross handles, but they'd only spoil your +shooting." + +"I can hit a wine-glass in the stem at fifteen paces," said I, rather +nettled at the disparaging tone in which he spoke of my performance. + +"I don't care sixpence for that; the wine-glass had no pistol in his hand. +Take the old German, then; see now, hold your pistol thus,--no finger on +the guard there, these two on the trigger. They are not hair-triggers; drop +the muzzle a bit; bend your elbow a trifle more; sight your man outside +your arm,--outside, mind,--and take him in the hip, and if anywhere higher, +no matter." + +By this time the count had completed his toilet, and taking the small +mahogany box which contained his peace-makers under his arm, led the way +towards the stables. When we reached the yard, the only person stirring +there was a kind of half-witted boy, who, being about the house, was +employed to run of messages from the servants, walk a stranger's horse, or +to do any of the many petty services that regular domestics contrive always +to devolve upon some adopted subordinate. He was seated upon a stone step +formerly used for mounting, and though the day was scarcely breaking, and +the weather severe and piercing, the poor fellow was singing an Irish song, +in a low monotonous tone, as he chafed a curb chain between his hands with +some sand. As we came near he started up, and as he pulled off his cap to +salute us, gave a sharp and piercing glance at the count, then at me, +then once more upon my companion, from whom his eyes were turned to the +brass-bound box beneath his arm,--when, as if seized with a sudden impulse, +he started on his feet, and set off towards the house with the speed of a +greyhound, not, however, before Considine's practised eye had anticipated +his plan; for throwing down the pistol-case, he dashed after him, and in an +instant had seized him by the collar. + +"It won't do, Patsey," said the count; "you can't double on me." + +"Oh, Count, darlin', Mister Considine avick, don't do it, don't now," said +the poor fellow, falling on his knees, and blubbering like an infant. + +"Hold your tongue, you villain, or I'll cut it out of your head," said +Considine. + +"And so I will; but don't do it, don't for the love of--" + +"Don't do what, you whimpering scoundrel? What does he think I'll do?" + +"Don't I know very well what you're after, what you're always after too? +Oh, wirra, wirra!" Here he wrung his hands, and swayed himself backwards +and forwards, a true picture of Irish grief. + +"I'll stop his blubbering," said Considine, opening the box and taking out +a pistol, which he cocked leisurely, and pointed at the poor fellow's head; +"another syllable now, and I'll scatter your brains upon that pavement." + +"And do, and divil thank you; sure, it's your trade." + +The coolness of the reply threw us both off our guard so completely that we +burst out into a hearty fit of laughing. + +"Come, come," said the count, at last, "this will never do; if he goes on +this way, we'll have the whole house about us. Come, then, harness the roan +mare; and here's half a crown for you." + +"I wouldn't touch the best piece in your purse," said the poor boy; "sure +it's blood-money, no less." + +The words were scarcely spoken, when Considine seized him by the collar +with one hand, and by the wrist with the other, and carried him over the +yard to the stable, where, kicking open the door, he threw him on a heap of +stones, adding, "If you stir now, I'll break every bone in your body;" a +threat that seemed certainly considerably increased in its terrors, from +the rough gripe he had already experienced, for the lad rolled himself up +like a ball, and sobbed as if his heart were breaking. + +Very few minutes sufficed us now to harness the mare in the tax-cart, and +when all was ready, Considine seized the whip, and locking the stable-door +upon Patsey, was about to get up, when a sudden thought struck him. +"Charley," said he, "that fellow will find some means to give the alarm; we +must take him with us." So saying, he opened the door, and taking the poor +fellow by the collar, flung him at my feet in the tax-cart. + +We had already lost some time, and the roan mare was put to her fastest +speed to make up for it. Our pace became, accordingly, a sharp one; and as +the road was bad, and the tax-cart no "patent inaudible," neither of us +spoke. To me this was a great relief. The events of the last few days had +given them the semblance of years, and all the reflection I could muster +was little enough to make anything out of the chaotic mass,--love, +mischief, and misfortune,--in which I had been involved since my leaving +O'Malley Castle. + +"Here we are, Charley," said Considine, drawing up short at the door of a +little country ale-house, or, in Irish parlance, _shebeen_, which stood at +the meeting of four bleak roads, in a wild and barren mountain tract beside +the Shannon. "Here we are, my boy! Jump out and let us be stirring." + +"Here, Patsey, my man," said the count, unravelling the prostrate and +doubly knotted figure at our feet; "lend a hand, Patsey." Much to my +astonishment, he obeyed the summons with alacrity, and proceeded to +unharness the mare with the greatest despatch. My attention was, however, +soon turned from him to my own more immediate concerns, and I followed my +companion into the house. + +"Joe," said the count to the host, "is Mr. Bodkin up at the house this +morning?" + +"He's just passed this way, sir, with Mr. Malowney of Tillnamuck, in the +gig, on their way from Mr. Blake's. They stopped here to order horses to go +over to O'Malley Castle, and the gossoon is gone to look for a pair." + +"All right," said Considine, and added, in a whisper, "we've done it well, +Charley, to be beforehand, or the governor would have found it all out and +taken the affair into his own hands. Now all you have to do is to stay +quietly here till I come back, which will not be above an hour at farthest. +Joe, send me the pony; keep an eye on Patsey, that he doesn't play us a +trick. The short way to Mr. Bodkin's is through Scariff. Ay, I know it +well; good-by, Charley. By the Lord, we'll pepper him!" + +These were the last words of the worthy count as he closed the door behind +him, and left me to my own not very agreeable reflections. Independently of +my youth and perfect ignorance of the world, which left me unable to form +any correct judgment on my conduct, I knew that I had taken a great deal +of wine, and was highly excited when my unhappy collision with Mr. Bodkin +occurred. Whether, then, I had been betrayed into anything which could +fairly have provoked his insulting retort or not, I could not remember; and +now my most afflicting thought was, what opinion might be entertained of me +by those at Blake's table; and above all, what Miss Dashwood herself would +think, and what narrative of the occurrence would reach her. The great +effort of my last few days had been to stand well in her estimation, to +appear something better in feeling, something higher in principle, than the +rude and unpolished squirearchy about me; and now here was the end of +it! What would she, what could she, think, but that I was the same +punch-drinking, rowing, quarrelling bumpkin as those whom I had so lately +been carefully endeavoring to separate myself from? How I hated myself for +the excess to which passion had betrayed me, and how I detested my opponent +as the cause of all my present misery. "How very differently," thought +I, "her friend the captain would have conducted himself. His quiet and +gentlemanly manner would have done fully as much to wipe out any insult on +his honor as I could do, and after all, would neither have disturbed the +harmony of a dinner-table, nor made himself, as I shuddered to think I +had, a subject of rebuke, if not of ridicule." These harassing, torturing +reflections continued to press on me, and I paced the room with my hands +clasped and the perspiration upon my brow. "One thing is certain,--I can +never see her again," thought I; "this disgraceful business must, in some +shape or other, become known to her, and all I have been saying these +last three days rise up in judgment against this one act, and stamp me an +impostor! I that decried--nay, derided--our false notion of honor. Would +that Considine were come! What can keep him now?" I walked to the door; a +boy belonging to the house was walking the roan before the door. "What had, +then, become of Pat?" I inquired; but no one could tell. He had disappeared +shortly after our arrival, and had not been seen afterwards. My own +thoughts were, however, too engrossing to permit me to think more of this +circumstance, and I turned again to enter the house, when I saw Considine +advancing up the road at the full speed of his pony. + +"Out with the mare, Charley! Be alive, my boy!--all's settled." So saying, +he sprang from the pony and proceeded to harness the roan with the greatest +haste, informing me in broken sentences, as he went on with all the +arrangements. + +"We are to cross the bridge of Portumna. They won the ground, and it seems +Bodkin likes the spot; he shot Peyton there three years ago. Worse luck +now, Charley, you know; by all the rule of chance, he can't expect the same +thing twice,--never four by honors in two deals. Didn't say that, though. A +sweet meadow, I know it well; small hillocks, like molehills; all over it. +Caught him at breakfast; I don't think he expected the message to come from +us, but said it was a very polite attention,--and so it was, you know." + +So he continued to ramble on as we once more took our seats in the tax-cart +and set out for the ground. + +"What are you thinking of, Charley?" said the count, as I kept silent for +some minutes. + +"I'm thinking, sir, if I were to kill him, what I must do after." + +"Right, my boy; nothing like that, but I'll settle all for you. Upon my +conscience, if it wasn't for the chance of his getting into another quarrel +and spoiling the election, I'd go back for Godfrey; he'd like to see you +break ground so prettily. And you say you're no shot?" + +"Never could do anything with the pistol to speak of, sir," said I, +remembering his rebuke of the morning. + +"I don't mind that. You've a good eye; never take it off him after you're +on the ground,--follow him everywhere. Poor Callaghan, that's gone, shot +his man always that way. He had a way of looking without winking that was +very fatal at a short distance; a very good thing to learn, Charley, when +you have a little spare time." + +Half-an-hour's sharp driving brought us to the river side, where a boat +had been provided by Considine to ferry us over. It was now about eight +o'clock, and a heavy, gloomy morning. Much rain had fallen overnight, and +the dark and lowering atmosphere seemed charged with more. The mountains +looked twice their real size, and all the shadows were increased to +an enormous extent. A very killing kind of light it was, as the count +remarked. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +THE DUEL. + +As the boatmen pulled in towards the shore we perceived, a few hundred +yards off, a group of persons standing, whom we soon recognized as our +opponents. "Charley," said the count, grasping my arm tightly, as I stood +up to spring on the land,--"Charley, although you are only a boy, as I may +say, I have no fear for your courage; but still more than that is needful +here. This Bodkin is a noted duellist, and will try to shake your nerve. +Now, mind that you take everything that happens quite with an air of +indifference; don't let him think that he has any advantage over you, and +you'll see how the tables will be turned in your favor." + +"Trust to me, Count" said I; "I'll not disgrace you." + +He pressed my hand tightly, and I thought that I discerned something like +a slight twitch about the corners of his grim mouth, as if some sudden and +painful thought had shot across his mind; but in a moment he was calm, and +stern-looking as ever. + +"Twenty minutes late, Mr. Considine," said a short, red-faced little +man, with a military frock and foraging cap, as he held out his watch in +evidence. + +"I can only say, Captain Malowney, that we lost no time since we parted. We +had some difficulty in finding a boat; but in any case, we are here _now_, +and that, I opine, is the important part of the matter." + +"Quite right,--very just indeed. Will you present me to your young friend. +Very proud to make your acquaintance, sir; your uncle and I met more than +once in this kind of way. I was out with him in '92,--was it? no, I think +it was '93,--when he shot Harry Burgoyne, who, by-the-bye, was called the +crack shot of our mess; but, begad, your uncle knocked his pistol hand to +shivers, saying, in his dry way, 'He must try the left hand this morning.' +Count, a little this side, if you please." + +While Considine and the captain walked a few paces apart from where I +stood, I had leisure to observe my antagonist, who stood among a group of +his friends, talking and laughing away in great spirits. As the tone they +spoke in was not of the lowest, I could catch much of their conversation at +the distance I was from them. They were discussing the last occasion that +Bodkin had visited this spot, and talking of the fatal event which happened +then. + +"Poor devil," said Bodkin, "it wasn't his fault; but you see some of the +--th had been showing white feathers before that, and he was obliged to go +out. In fact, the colonel himself said, 'Fight, or leave the corps.' Well, +out he came; it was a cold morning in February, with a frost the night +before going off in a thin rain. Well, it seems he had the consumption or +something of that sort, with a great cough and spitting of blood, and this +weather made him worse; and he was very weak when he came to the ground. +Now, the moment I got a glimpse of him, I said to myself, 'He's pluck +enough, but as nervous as a lady;' for his eye wandered all about, and his +mouth was constantly twitching. 'Take off your great-coat, Ned,' said one +of his people, when they were going to put him up; 'take it off, man.' He +seemed to hesitate for an instant, when Michael Blake remarked, 'Arrah, let +him alone; it's his mother makes him wear it, for the cold he has.' They +all began to laugh at this; but I kept my eye upon him, and I saw that his +cheek grew quite livid and a kind of gray color, and his eyes filled up. 'I +have you now,' said I to myself, and I shot him through the lung." + +"And this poor fellow," thought I, "was the only son of a widowed mother." +I walked from the spot to avoid hearing further, and felt, as I did so, +something like a spirit of vengeance rising within me, for the fate of one +so untimely cut off. + +"Here we are, all ready," said Malowney, springing over a small fence into +the adjoining field. "Take your ground, gentlemen." + +Considine took my arm and walked forward. "Charley," said he, "I am to give +the signal; I'll drop my glove when you are to fire, but don't look at me +at all. I'll manage to catch Bodkin's eye; and do you watch him steadily, +and fire when he does." + +"I think that the ground we are leaving behind us is rather better," said +some one. + +"So it is," said Bodkin; "but it might be troublesome to carry the young +gentleman down that way,--here all is fair and easy." + +The next instant we were placed; and I well remember the first thought that +struck me was, that there could be no chance of either of us escaping. + +"Now then," said the count, "I'll walk twelve paces, turn and drop this +glove; at which signal you fire, and _together_ mind. The man who reserves +his shot falls by my hand." This very summary denunciation seemed to meet +general approbation, and the count strutted forth. Notwithstanding the +advice of my friend, I could not help turning my eyes from Bodkin to watch +the retiring figure of the count. At length he stopped; a second or two +elapsed; he wheeled rapidly round, and let fall the glove. My eye glanced +towards my opponent; I raised my pistol and fired. My hat turned half round +upon my head, and Bodkin fell motionless to the earth. I saw the people +around me rush forward; I caught two or three glances thrown at me with an +expression of revengeful passion; I felt some one grasp me round the waist, +and hurry me from the spot; and it was at least ten minutes after, as we +were skimming the surface of the broad Shannon, before I could well collect +my scattered faculties to remember all that was passing, as Considine, +pointing to the two bullet-holes in my hat, remarked, "Sharp practice, +Charley; it was the overcharge saved you." + +"Is he killed, sir?" I asked. + +"Not quite, I believe, but as good. You took him just above the hip." + +"Can he recover?" said I, with a voice tremulous from agitation, which I +vainly endeavored to conceal from my companion. + +"Not if the doctor can help it," said Considine; "for the fool keeps poking +about for the ball. But now let's think of the next step,--you'll have to +leave this, and at once, too." + +Little more passed between us. As we rowed towards the shore, Considine +was following up his reflections, and I had mine,--alas! too many and too +bitter to escape from. + +As we neared the land a strange spectacle caught our eye. For a +considerable distance along the coast crowds of country people were +assembled, who, forming in groups and breaking into parties of two and +three, were evidently watching with great anxiety what was taking place at +the opposite side. Now, the distance was at least a mile, and therefore any +part of the transaction which had been enacting there must have been quite +beyond their view. While I was wondering at this, Considine cried out +suddenly, "Too infamous, by Jove! We're murdered men!" + +"What do you mean?" said I. + +"Don't you see that?" said he, pointing to something black which floated +from a pole at the opposite side of the river. + +"Yes; what is it?" + +"It's his coat they've put upon an oar to show the people he's +killed,--that's all. Every man here's his tenant; and look--there! They're +not giving us much doubt as to their intention." + +Here a tremendous yell burst forth from the mass of people along the shore, +which rising to a terrific cry sunk gradually down to a low wailing, then +rose and fell again several times as the Irish death-cry filled the air and +rose to Heaven, as if imploring vengeance on a murderer. + +The appalling influence of the _keen_, as it is called, had been familiar +to me from my infancy; but it needed the awful situation I was placed in to +consummate its horrors. It was at once my accusation and my doom. I knew +well--none better--the vengeful character of the Irish peasant of the west, +and that my death was certain I had no doubt. The very crime that sat upon +my heart quailed its courage and unnerved my arm. As the boatmen +looked from us towards the shore and again at our faces, they, as if +instinctively, lay upon their oars, and waited for our decision as to what +course to pursue. + +"Rig the spritsail, my boys," said Considine, "and let her head lie up the +river; and be alive, for I see they're bailing a boat below the little reef +there, and will be after us in no time." + +The poor fellows, who, although strangers to us, sympathizing in what they +perceived to be our imminent danger, stepped the light spar which acted +as mast, and shook out their scanty rag of canvas in a minute. Considine +meanwhile went aft, and steadying her head with an oar, held the small +craft up to the wind till she lay completely over, and as she rushed +through the water, ran dipping her gun-wale through the white foam. + +"Where can we make without tacking, boys?" inquired the count. + +"If it blows on as fresh, sir, we'll run you ashore within half a mile of +the Castle." + +"Put an oar to leeward," said Considine, "and keep her up more to the wind, +and I promise you, my lads, you will not go home fresh and fasting if you +land us where you say." + +"Here they come," said the other boatman, as he pointed back with his +finger towards a large yawl which shot suddenly from the shore, with six +sturdy fellows pulling at their oars, while three or four others were +endeavoring to get up their rigging, which appeared tangled and confused at +the bottom of the boat; the white splash of water which fell each moment +beside her showing that the process of bailing was still continued. + +"Ah, then, may I never--av it isn't the ould 'Dolphin' they have launched +for the cruise," said one of our fellows. + +"What's the 'Dolphin,' then?" + +"An ould boat of the Lord's [Lord Clanricarde's] that didn't see water, +except when it rained, these four years, and is sun-cracked from stem to +stern." + +"She can sail, however," said Considine, who watched with a painful anxiety +the rapidity of her course through the water. + +"Nabocklish, she was a smuggler's jolly-boat, and well used to it. Look +how they're pulling. God pardon them, but they're in no blessed humor this +morning." + +"Lay out upon your oars, boys; the wind's failing us," cried the count, as +the sail flapped lazily against the mast. + +"It's no use, yer honor," said the elder. "We'll be only breaking our +hearts to no purpose. They're sure to catch us." + +"Do as I bade you, at all events. What's that ahead of us there?" + +"The Oat Rock, sir. A vessel with grain struck there and went down with +all aboard, four years last winter. There's no channel between it and the +shore,--all sunk rocks, every inch of it. There's the breeze." + +The canvas fell over as he spoke, and the little craft lay down to it till +the foaming water bubbled over her lee bow. + +"Keep her head up, sir; higher--higher still." + +But Considine little heeded the direction, steering straight for the narrow +channel the man alluded to. + +"Tear and ages, but you're going right for the cloch na quirka!" + +"Arrah, an' the devil a taste I'll be drowned for your devarsion!" said the +other, springing up. + +"Sit down there, and be still," roared Considine, as he drew a pistol from +the case at his feet, "if you don't want some leaden ballast to keep you +so! Here, Charley, take this, and if that fellow stirs hand or foot--you +understand me." + +The two men sat sulkily in the bottom of the boat, which now was actually +flying through the water. Considine's object was a clear one. He saw that +in sailing we were greatly overmatched, and that our only chance lay in +reaching the narrow and dangerous channel between Oat Rock and the shore, +by which we should distance the pursuit, the long reef of rocks that ran +out beyond requiring a wide berth to escape from. Nothing but the danger +behind us could warrant so rash a daring. The whole channel was dotted with +patches of white and breaking foam,--the sure evidence of the mischief +beneath,--while here and there a dash of spurting spray flew up from the +dark water, where some cleft rock lay hid below the flood. Escape seemed +impossible; but who would not have preferred even so slender a chance with +so frightful an alternative behind him? As if to add terror to the scene, +Considine had scarcely turned the boat ahead of the channel when a +tremendous blackness spread over all around, the thunder pealed forth, and +amidst the crashing of the hail and the bright glare of lightning a squall +struck us and laid us nearly keel uppermost for several minutes. I well +remember we rushed through the dark and blackened water, our little craft +more than half filled, the oars floating off to leeward, and we ourselves +kneeling on the bottom planks for safety. Roll after roll of loud thunder +broke, as it were, just above our heads; while in the swift dashing rain +that seemed to hiss around us every object was hidden, and even the other +boat was lost to our view. The two poor fellows--I shall never forget their +expression. One, a devout Catholic, had placed a little leaden image of a +saint before him in the bow, and implored its intercession with a torturing +agony of suspense that wrung my very heart. The other, apparently less +alive to such consolations as his Church afforded, remained with his hands +clasped, his mouth compressed, his brows knitted, and his dark eyes bent +upon me with the fierce hatred of a deadly enemy; his eyes were sunken and +bloodshot, and all told of some dreadful conflict within. The wild ferocity +of his look fascinated my gaze, and amidst all the terrors of the scene I +could not look from him. As I gazed, a second and more awful squall struck +the boat; the mast went over, and with a loud report like a pistol-shot +smashed at the thwart and fell over, trailing the sail along the milky sea +behind us. Meanwhile the water rushed clean over us, and the boat seemed +settling. At this dreadful moment the sailor's eye was bent upon me, his +lips parted, and he muttered, as if to himself, "This it is to go to sea +with a murderer." Oh, God! the agony of that moment! the heartfelt and +accusing conscience that I was judged and doomed! that the brand of Cain +was upon my brow! that my fellow-men had ceased forever to regard me as a +brother! that I was an outcast and a wanderer forever! I bent forward till +my forehead fell upon my knees, and I wept. Meanwhile the boat flew through +the water, and Considine, who alone among us seemed not to lose his +presence of mind, cut away the mast and sent it overboard. The storm began +now to abate; and as the black mass of cloud broke from around us we beheld +the other boat, also dismasted, far behind us, while all on board of +her were employed in bailing out the water with which she seemed almost +sinking. The curtain of mist that had hidden us from each other no sooner +broke than they ceased their labors for a moment, and looking towards us, +burst forth into a yell so wild, so savage, so dreadful, my very heart +quailed as its cadence fell upon my ear. + +"Safe, my boy," said Considine, clapping me on the shoulder, as he steered +the boat forth from its narrow path of danger, and once more reached the +broad Shannon,--"safe, Charley; though we've had a brush for it." In a +minute more we reached the land, and drawing our gallant little craft on +shore, set out for O'Malley Castle. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +THE RETURN. + +O'Malley Castle lay about four miles from the spot we landed at, and +thither accordingly we bent our steps without loss of time. We had not, +however, proceeded far, when, before us on the road, we perceived a mixed +assemblage of horse and foot, hurrying along at a tremendous rate. The mob, +which consisted of some hundred country people, were armed with sticks, +scythes, and pitchforks, and although not preserving any very military +aspect in their order of march, were still a force quite formidable enough +to make us call a halt, and deliberate upon what we were to do. + +"They've outflanked us, Charley," said Considine; "however, all is not yet +lost. But see, they've got sight of us; here they come." + +At these words, the vast mass before us came pouring along, splashing the +mud on every side, and huzzaing like so many Indians. In the front ran a +bare-legged boy, waving his cap to encourage the rest, who followed him at +about fifty yards behind. + +"Leave that fellow for me," said the count, coolly examining the lock of +his pistol; "I'll pick him out, and load again in time for his friends' +arrival. Charley, is that a gentleman I see far back in the crowd? Yes, +to be sure it is? He's on a large horse--now he's pressing forward; so +let--no--oh--ay, it's Godfrey O'Malley himself, and these are our own +people." Scarcely were the words out when a tremendous cheer arose from +the multitude, who, recognizing us at the same instant, sprang from their +horses and ran forward to welcome us. Among the foremost was the scarecrow +leader, whom I at once perceived as poor Patsey, who, escaping in the +morning, had returned at full speed to O'Malley Castle, and raised the +whole country to my rescue. Before I could address one word to my faithful +followers I was in my uncle's arms. + +"Safe, my boy, quite safe?" + +"Quite safe, sir." + +"No scratch anywhere?" + +"Nothing but a hat the worse, sir," said I, showing the two bullet-holes in +my headpiece. + +His lip quivered as he turned and whispered something into Considine's ear, +which I heard not; but the count's reply was, "Devil a bit, as cool as you +see him this minute." + +"And Bodkin, what of him?" + +"This day's work's his last," said Considine; "the ball entered here. But +come along, Godfrey; Charley's new at this kind of thing, and we had better +discuss matters in the house." + +Half-an-hour's brisk trot--for we were soon supplied with horses--brought +us back to the Castle, much to the disappointment of our cortege, who had +been promised a _scrimmage_, and went back in very ill-humor at the breach +of contract. + +The breakfast-room, as we entered, was filled with my uncle's supporters, +all busily engaged over poll-books and booth tallies, in preparation for +the eventful day of battle. These, however, were immediately thrown aside +to hasten round me and inquire all the details of my duel. Considine, +happily for me, however, assumed all the dignity of an historian, and +recounted the events of the morning so much to my honor and glory, that I, +who only a little before felt crushed and bowed down by the misery of my +late duel, began, amidst the warm congratulations and eulogiums about me, +to think I was no small hero, and in fact, something very much resembling +"the man for Galway." To this feeling a circumstance that followed assisted +in contributing. While we were eagerly discussing the various results +likely to arise from the meeting, a horse galloped rapidly to the door and +a loud voice called out, "I can't get off, but tell him to come here." We +rushed out and beheld Captain Malowney, Mr. Bodkin's second, covered with +mud from head to foot, and his horse reeking with foam and sweat. "I am +hurrying on to Athlone for another doctor; but I've called to tell you +that the wound is not supposed to be mortal,--he may recover yet." Without +waiting for another word, he dashed spurs into his nag and rattled down the +avenue at full gallop. Mr. Bodkin's dearest friend on earth could not have +received the intelligence with more delight; and I now began to listen to +the congratulations of my friends with a more tranquil spirit. My uncle, +too, seemed much relieved by the information, and heard with great good +temper my narrative of the few days at Gurt-na-Morra. "So then," said he, +as I concluded, "my opponent is at least a gentleman; that is a comfort." + +"Sir George Dashwood," said I, "from all I have seen, is a remarkably nice +person, and I am certain you will meet with only the fair and legitimate +opposition of an opposing candidate in him,--no mean or unmanly +subterfuge." + +"All right, Charley. Well, now, your affair of this morning must keep you +quiet for a few days, come what will; by Monday next, when the election +takes place, Bodkin's fate will be pretty clear, one way or the other, and +if matters go well, you can come into town; otherwise, I have arranged with +Considine to take you over to the Continent for a year or so; but we'll +discuss all this in the evening. Now I must start on a canvass. Boyle +expects to meet you at dinner to-day; he is coming from Athlone on purpose. +Now, good-by!" + +When my uncle had gone, I sank into a chair and fell into a musing fit over +all the changes a few hours had wrought in me. From a mere boy whose most +serious employment was stocking the house with game or inspecting the +kennel, I had sprung at once into man's estate, was complimented for my +coolness, praised for my prowess, lauded for my discretion, by those +who were my seniors by nearly half a century; talked to in a tone of +confidential intimacy by my uncle, and, in a word, treated in all respects +as an equal,--and such was all the work of a few hours. But so it is; the +eras in life are separated by a narrow boundary,--some trifling accident, +some casual _rencontre_ impels us across the Rubicon, and we pass from +infancy to youth, from youth to manhood, from manhood to age, less by +the slow and imperceptible step of time than by some one decisive act +or passion which, occurring at a critical moment, elicits a long latent +feeling, and impresses our existence with a color that tinges us for many +a long year. As for me, I had cut the tie which bound me to the careless +gayety of boyhood with a rude gash. In three short days I had fallen +deeply, desperately in love, and had wounded, if not killed, an antagonist +in a duel. As I meditated on these things, I was aroused by the noise of +horses' feet in the yard beneath. I opened the window and beheld no less a +person than Captain Hammersley. He was handing a card to a servant, which +he was accompanying by a verbal message; the impression of something like +hostility on the part of the captain had never left my mind, and I hastened +down-stairs just in time to catch him as he turned from the door. + +"Ah, Mr. O'Malley!" said he, in a most courteous tone. "They told me you +were not at home." + +I apologized for the blunder, and begged of him to alight and come in. + +"I thank you very much, but, in fact, my hours are now numbered here. I +have just received an order to join my regiment; we have been ordered for +service, and Sir George has most kindly permitted my giving up my staff +appointment. I could not, however, leave the country without shaking hands +with you. I owe you a lesson in horsemanship, and I'm only sorry that we +are not to have another day together." + +"Then you are going out to the Peninsula?" said I. + +"Why, we hope so; the commander-in-chief, they say, is in great want of +cavalry, and we scarcely less in want of something to do. I'm sorry you are +not coming with us." + +"Would to Heaven I were!" said I, with an earnestness that almost made my +brain start. + +"Then, why not?" + +"Unfortunately, I am peculiarly situated. My worthy uncle, who is all to me +in this world, would be quite alone if I were to leave him; and although he +has never said so, I know he dreads the possibility of my suggesting such +a thing to him: so that, between his fears and mine, the matter is never +broached by either party, nor do I think ever can be." + +"Devilish hard--but I believe you are right; something, however, may turn +up yet to alter his mind, and if so, and if you do take to dragooning, +don't forget George Hammersley will be always most delighted to meet you; +and so good-by, O'Malley, good-by." + +He turned his horse's head and was already some paces off, when he returned +to my side, and in a lower tone of voice said,-- + +"I ought to mention to you that there has been much discussion on your +affair at Blake's table, and only one opinion on the matter among all +parties,--that you acted perfectly right. Sir George Dashwood,--no mean +judge of such things,--quite approves of your conduct, and, I believe, +wishes you to know as much; and now, once more, good-by." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +THE ELECTION. + +The important morning at length arrived, and as I looked from my bed-room +window at daybreak, the crowd of carriages of all sorts and shapes +decorated with banners and placards; the incessant bustle; the hurrying +hither and thither; the cheering as each new detachment of voters came up, +mounted on jaunting-cars, or on horses whose whole caparison consisted in +a straw rope for a bridle, and a saddle of the same frail material,--all +informed me that the election day was come. I lost no further time, but +proceeded to dress with all possible despatch. When I appeared in the +breakfast-room, it was already filled with some seventy or eighty persons +of all ranks and ages, mingled confusedly together, and enjoying the +hospitable fare of my uncle's house, while they discussed all the details +and prospects of the election. In the hall, the library, the large +drawing-room, too, similar parties were also assembled, and as newcomers +arrived, the servants were busy in preparing tables before the door and up +the large terrace that ran the entire length of the building. Nothing could +be more amusing than the incongruous mixture of the guests, who, with every +variety of eatable that chance or inclination provided, were thus thrown +into close contact, having only this in common,--the success of the cause +they were engaged in. Here was the old Galway squire, with an ancestry that +reached to Noah, sitting side by side with the poor cotter, whose whole +earthly possession was what, in Irish phrase, is called a "potato +garden,"--meaning the exactly smallest possible patch of ground out of +which a very Indian-rubber conscience could presume to vote. Here sat the +old simple-minded, farmer-like man, in close conversation with a little +white-foreheaded, keen-eyed personage, in a black coat and eye-glass,--a +flash attorney from Dublin, learned in flaws of the registry, and deep in +the subtleties of election law. There was an Athlone horse-dealer, whose +habitual daily practices in imposing the halt, the lame, and the blind upon +the unsuspecting, for beasts of blood and mettle, well qualified him for +the trickery of a county contest. Then there were scores of squireen +gentry, easily recognized on common occasions by a green coat, brass +buttons, dirty cords, and dirtier top-boots, a lash-whip, and a half-bred +fox-hound; but now, fresh-washed for the day, they presented something the +appearance of a swell mob, adjusted to the meridian of Galway. A mass of +frieze-coated, brow-faced, bullet-headed peasantry filled up the large +spaces, dotted here and there with a sleek, roguish-eyed priest, or some +low electioneering agent detailing, for the amusement of the company, some +of those cunning practices of former times which if known to the proper +authorities would in all likelihood cause the talented narrator to be +improving the soil of Sidney, or fishing on the banks of the Swan river; +while at the head and foot of each table sat some personal friend of my +uncle, whose ready tongue, and still readier pistol, made him a personage +of some consequence, not more to his own people than to the enemy. While of +such material were the company, the fare before them was no less varied: +here some rubicund squire was deep in amalgamating the contents of a +venison pasty with some of Sneyd's oldest claret; his neighbor, less +ambitious, and less erudite in such matters, was devouring rashers of +bacon, with liberal potations of potteen; some pale-cheeked scion of the +law, with all the dust of the Four Courts in his throat, was sipping +his humble beverage of black tea beside four sturdy cattle-dealers from +Ballinasloe, who were discussing hot whiskey punch and _spoleaion_ (boiled +beef) at the very primitive hour of eight in the morning. Amidst the clank +of decanters, the crash of knives and plates, and the jingling of glasses, +the laughter and voices of the guests were audibly increasing; and the +various modes of "running a buck" (_Anglicé_, substituting a vote), or +hunting a badger, were talked over on all sides, while the price of a +_veal_ (a calf), or a voter, was disputed with all the energy of debate. + +Refusing many an offered place, I went through the different rooms in +search of Considine, to whom circumstances of late had somehow greatly +attached me. + +"Here, Charley," cried a voice I was very familiar with,--"here's a place +I've been keeping for you." + +"Ah, Sir Harry, how do you do? Any of that grouse-pie to spare?" + +"Abundance, my boy; but I'm afraid I can't say as much for the liquor. +I have been shouting for claret this half-hour in vain,--do get us some +nutriment down here, and the Lord will reward you. What a pity it is," he +added, in a lower tone, to his neighbor--"what a pity a quart-bottle won't +hold a quart; but I'll bring it before the House one of these days." That +he kept his word in this respect, a motion on the books of the Honorable +House will bear me witness. + +"Is this it?" said he, turning towards a farmer-like old man, who had put +some question to him across the table; "is it the apple-pie you'll have?" + +"Many thanks to your honor,--I'd like it, av it was wholesome." + +"And why shouldn't it be wholesome?" said Sir Harry. + +"Troth, then, myself does not know; but my father, I heerd tell, died of an +apple-plexy, and I'm afeerd of it." + +I at length found Considine, and learned that, as a very good account of +Bodkin had arrived, there was no reason why I should not proceed to the +hustings; but I was secretly charged not to take any prominent part in the +day's proceedings. My uncle I only saw for an instant,--he begged me to +be careful, avoid all scrapes, and not to quit Considine. It was past ten +o'clock when our formidable procession got under way, and headed towards +the town of Galway. The road was, for miles, crowded with our followers; +banners flying and music playing, we presented something of the spectacle +of a very ragged army on its march. At every cross-road a mountain-path +reinforcement awaited us, and as we wended along, our numbers were +momentarily increasing; here and there along the line, some energetic +and not over-sober adherent was regaling his auditory with a speech in +laudation of the O'Malleys since the days of Moses, and more than one +priest was heard threatening the terrors of his Church in aid of a cause +to whose success he was pledged and bound. I rode beside the count, who, +surrounded by a group of choice spirits, recounted the various happy +inventions by which he had, on divers occasions, substituted a personal +quarrel for a contest. Boyle also contributed his share of election +anecdote, and one incident he related, which, I remember, amused me much at +the time. + +[Illustration: THE ELECTION.] + +"Do you remember Billy Calvert, that came down to contest Kilkenny?" +inquired Sir Harry. + +"What, ever forget him!" said Considine, "with his well-powdered wig and +his hessians. There never was his equal for lace ruffles and rings." + +"You never heard, may be, how he lost the election?" + +"He resigned, I believe, or something of that sort." + +"No, no," said another; "he never came forward at all. There's some secret +in it; for Tom Butler was elected without a contest." + +"Jack, I'll tell you how it happened. I was on my way up from Cork, having +finished my own business, and just carried the day, not without a push for +it. When we reached,--Lady Mary was with me,--when we reached Kilkenny, the +night before the election, I was not ten minutes in town till Butler +heard of it, and sent off express to see me; I was at my dinner when the +messenger came, and promised to go over when I'd done. But faith, Tom +didn't wait, but came rushing up-stairs himself, and dashed into the room +in the greatest hurry. + +"'Harry,' says he, 'I'm done for; the corporation of free smiths, that were +always above bribery, having voted for myself and my father before, for +four pounds ten a man, won't come forward under six guineas and whiskey. +Calvert has the money; they know it. The devil a farthing we have; and +we've been paying all our fellows that can't read in Hennesy's notes, and +you know the bank's broke this three weeks.' + +"On he went, giving me a most disastrous picture of his cause, and +concluded by asking if I could suggest anything under the circumstances. + +"'You couldn't get a decent mob and clear the poll?' + +"'I am afraid not,' said he, despondingly. + +"'Then I don't see what's to be done, if you can't pick a fight with +himself. Will he go out?' + +"'Lord knows! They say he's so afraid of that, that it has prevented him +coming down till the very day. But he is arrived now; he came in the +evening, and is stopping at Walsh's in Patrick Street.' + +"'Then I'll see what can be done,' said I. + +"'Is that Calvert, the little man that blushes when the Lady-Lieutenant +speaks to him?' said Lady Mary. + +"'The very man.' + +"'Would it be of any use to you if he could not come on the hustings +to-morrow?' said she, again. + +"''Twould gain us the day. Half the voters don't believe he's here at all, +and his chief agent cheated all the people on the last election; and if +Calvert didn't appear, he wouldn't have ten votes to register. But why do +you ask?' + +"'Why, that, if you like, I'll bet you a pair of diamond ear-rings he +sha'n't show.' + +"'Done!' said Butler. 'And I promise a necklace into the bargain, if you +win; but I'm afraid you're only quizzing me.' + +"'Here's my hand on it,' said she. 'And now let's talk of something else.'" + +As Lady Mary never asked my assistance, and as I knew she was very well +able to perform whatever she undertook, you may be sure I gave myself very +little trouble about the whole affair; and when they came, I went off to +breakfast with Tom's committee, not knowing anything that was to be done. + +Calvert had given orders that he was to be called at eight o'clock, and so +a few minutes before that time a gentle knock came to the door. + +'Come in,' said he, thinking it was the waiter, and covering himself up in +the clothes; for he was the most bashful creature ever was seen,--'come +in.' + +The door opened, and what was his horror to find that a lady entered in her +dressing-gown, her hair on her shoulders, very much tossed and dishevelled. +The moment she came in, she closed the door and locked it, and then sat +leisurely down upon a chair. + +Billy's teeth chattered, and his limbs trembled; for this was an adventure +of a very novel kind for him. At last he took courage to speak. + +'I am afraid, madam,' said he, 'that you are under some unhappy mistake, +and that you suppose this chamber is--' + +'Mr. Calvert's,' said the lady, with a solemn voice, 'is it not?' + +'Yes, madam, I am that person.' + +'Thank God!' said the lady, with a very impressive tone. 'Here I am safe.' + +Billy grew very much puzzled at these words; but hoping that by his silence +the lady would proceed to some explanation, he said no more. She, however, +seemed to think that nothing further was necessary, and sat still and +motionless, with her hands before her and her eyes fixed on Billy. + +"'You seem to forget me, sir?' said she, with a faint smile. + +"'I do, indeed, madam; the half-light, the novelty of your costume, and the +strangeness of the circumstance altogether must plead for me, if I appear +rude enough.' + +"'I am Lady Mary Boyle,' said she. + +"'I do remember you, madam; but may I ask--' + +"'Yes, yes; I know what you would ask. You would say, Why are you here? How +comes it that you have so far outstepped the propriety of which your whole +life is an example, that alone, at such a time, you appear in the chamber +of a man whose character for gallantry--' + +"'Oh, indeed--indeed, my lady, nothing of the kind!' + +"'Ah, alas! poor defenceless women learn, too late, how constantly +associated is the retiring modesty which decries, with the pleasing powers +which ensure success--' + +"Here she sobbed, Billy blushed, and the clock struck nine. + +"'May I then beg, madam--' + +"'Yes, yes, you shall hear it all; but my poor scattered faculties will +not be the clearer by your hurrying me. You know, perhaps,' continued +she, 'that my maiden name was Rogers?' He of the blankets bowed, and she +resumed, 'It is now eighteen years since, that a young, unsuspecting, fond +creature, reared in all the care and fondness of doting parents, tempted +her first step in life, and trusted her fate to another's keeping. I am +that unhappy person; the other, that monster in human guise that smiled but +to betray, that won but to ruin and destroy, is he whom you know as Sir +Harry Boyle.' + +"Here she sobbed for some minutes, wiped her eyes, and resumed her +narrative. Beginning at the period of her marriage, she detailed a number +of circumstances in which poor Calvert, in all his anxiety to come _au +fond_ at matters, could never perceive bore upon the question in any way; +but as she recounted them all with great force and precision, entreating +him to bear in mind certain circumstances to which she should recur by and +by, his attention was kept on the stretch, and it was only when the clock +struck ten that he was fully aware how his morning was passing, and what +surmises his absence might originate. + +"'May I interrupt you for a moment, dear madam? Was it nine or ten o'clock +which struck last?' + +"'How should I know?' said she, frantically. 'What are hours and minutes to +her who has passed long years of misery?' + +"'Very true, very true,' replied he, timidly, and rather fearing for the +intellect of his fair companion. + +She continued. The narrative, however, so far from becoming clearer, grew +gradually more confused and intricate; and as frequent references were made +by the lady to some previous statement, Calvert was more than once rebuked +for forgetfulness and inattention, where in reality nothing less than +short-hand could have borne him through. + +"'Was it in '93 I said that Sir Harry left me at Tuam?' + +"'Upon my life, madam, I am afraid to aver; but it strikes me--' + +"'Gracious powers! and this is he whom I fondly trusted to make the +depository of my woes! Cruel, cruel man!' + +"Here she sobbed considerably for several minutes, and spoke not. A loud +cheer of 'Butler forever!' from the mob without now burst upon their +hearing, and recalled poor Calvert at once to the thought that the hours +were speeding fast and no prospect of the everlasting tale coming to an +end. + +"'I am deeply, most deeply grieved, my dear madam,' said the little man, +sitting up in a pyramid of blankets; 'but hours, minutes, are most precious +to me this morning. I am about to be proposed as member for Kilkenny.' + +"At these words the lady straightened her figure out, threw her arms at +either side, and burst into a fit of laughter which poor Calvert knew +at once to be hysterics. Here was a pretty situation! The bell-rope lay +against the opposite wall; and even if it did not, would he be exactly +warranted in pulling it? + +"'May the devil and all his angels take Sir Harry Boyle and his whole +connection to the fifth generation!' was his sincere prayer as he sat like +a Chinese juggler under his canopy. + +"At length the violence of the paroxysm seemed to subside; the sobs became +less frequent, the kicking less forcible, and the lady's eyes closed, and +she appeared to have fallen asleep. + +"'Now is the moment,' said Billy. 'If I could only get as far as my +dressing-gown.' So saying, he worked himself down noiselessly to the foot +of his bed, looked fixedly at the fallen lids of the sleeping lady, and +essayed one leg from the blanket. 'Now or never,' said he, pushing aside +the curtain and preparing for a spring. One more look he cast at his +companion, and then leaped forth; but just as he lit upon the floor she +again roused herself, screaming with horror. Billy fell upon the bed, and +rolling himself in the bedclothes, vowed never to rise again till she was +out of the visible horizon. + +"'What is all this? What do you mean, sir?' said the lady, reddening with +indignation. + +"'Nothing, upon my soul, madam; it was only my dressing-gown.' + +"'Your dressing-gown!' said she, with an emphasis worthy of Siddons; 'a +likely story for Sir Harry to believe, sir! Fie, fie, sir!' + +"This last allusion seemed a settler; for the luckless Calvert heaved a +profound sigh, and sunk down as if all hope had left him. 'Butler forever!' +roared the mob. 'Calvert forever!' cried a boy's voice from without. 'Three +groans for the runaway!' answered this announcement; and a very tender +inquiry of, 'Where is he?' was raised by some hundred mouths. + +"'Madam,' said the almost frantic listener,--'madam, I must get up! I must +dress! I beg of you to permit me!' + +"'I have nothing to refuse, sir. Alas, disdain has long been my only +portion! Get up, if you will.' + +"'But,' said the astonished man, who was well-nigh deranged at the coolness +of this reply,--'but how am I to do so if you sit there?' + +"'Sorry for any inconvenience I may cause you; but in the crowded state of +the hotel I hope you see the impropriety of my walking about the passages +in this costume?' + +"'And, great God! madam, why did you come out in it?' + +"A cheer from the mob prevented her reply being audible. One o'clock tolled +out from the great bell of the cathedral. + +"'There's one o'clock, as I live!' + +"'I heard it,' said the lady. + +"'The shouts are increasing. What is that I hear? "Butler is in!" Gracious +mercy! is the election over?' + +"The lady stepped to the window, drew aside the curtain, and said, 'Indeed, +it would appear so. The mob are cheering Mr. Butler.' A deafening shout +burst from the street. 'Perhaps you'd like to see the fun, so I'll not +detain you any longer. So, good-by, Mr. Calvert; and as your breakfast will +be cold, in all likelihood, come down to No. 4, for Sir Harry's a late man, +and will be glad to see you.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +AN ADVENTURE. + +As thus we lightened the road with chatting, the increasing concourse of +people, and the greater throng of carriages that filled the road, announced +that we had nearly reached our destination. + +"Considine," said my uncle, riding up to where we were, "I have just got a +few lines from Davern. It seems Bodkin's people are afraid to come in; they +know what they must expect, and if so, more than half of that barony is +lost to our opponent." + +"Then he has no chance whatever." + +"He never had, in my opinion," said Sir Harry. + +"We'll see soon," said my uncle, cheerfully, and rode to the post. + +The remainder of the way was occupied in discussing the various +possibilities of the election, into which I was rejoiced to find that +defeat never entered. + +In the goodly days I speak of, a county contest was a very different thing +indeed from the tame and insipid farce that now passes under that name: +where a briefless barrister, bullied by both sides, sits as assessor; a few +drunken voters, a radical O'Connellite grocer, a demagogue priest, a deputy +grand-purple-something from the Trinity College lodge, with some half-dozen +followers, shouting, "To the Devil with Peel!" or "Down with Dens!" form +the whole _corp-de-ballet_. No, no; in the times I refer to the voters were +some thousands in number, and the adverse parties took the field, far less +dependent for success upon previous pledge or promise made them than upon +the actual stratagem of the day. Each went forth, like a general to battle, +surrounded by a numerous and well-chosen staff,--one party of friends, +acting as commissariat, attended to the victualling of the voters, that +they obtained a due, or rather undue allowance of liquor, and came properly +drunk to the poll; others, again, broke into skirmishing parties, and +scattered over the country, cut off the enemy's supplies, breaking +down their post-chaises, upsetting their jaunting-cars, stealing their +poll-books, and kidnapping their agents. Then there were secret-service +people, bribing the enemy and enticing them to desert; and lastly, there +was a species of sapper-and-miner force, who invented false documents, +denied the identity of the opposite party's people, and when hard pushed, +provided persons who took bribes from the enemy, and gave evidence +afterwards on a petition. Amidst all these encounters of wit and ingenuity, +the personal friends of the candidate formed a species of rifle brigade, +picking out the enemy's officers, and doing sore damage to their tactics +by shooting a proposer or wounding a seconder,--a considerable portion of +every leading agent's fee being intended as compensation for the duels he +might, could, would, should, or ought to fight during the election. Such, +in brief, was a contest in the olden time. And when it is taken into +consideration that it usually lasted a fortnight or three weeks; that a +considerable military force was always engaged (for our Irish law permits +this), and which, when nothing pressing was doing, was regularly assailed +by both parties; that far more dependence was placed in a bludgeon than a +pistol; and that the man who registered a vote without a cracked pate was +regarded as a kind of natural phenomenon,--some faint idea may be formed +how much such a scene must have contributed to the peace of the county, and +the happiness and welfare of all concerned in it. + +As we rode along, a loud cheer from a road that ran parallel to the one we +were pursuing attracted our attention, and we perceived that the cortége of +the opposite party was hastening on to the hustings. I could distinguish +the Blake girls on horseback among a crowd of officers in undress, and +saw something like a bonnet in the carriage-and-four which headed the +procession, and which I judged to be that of Sir George Dashwood. My heart +beat strongly as I strained my eyes to see if Miss Dashwood was there; but +I could not discern her, and it was with a sense of relief that I reflected +on the possibility of our not meeting under circumstances wherein our +feelings and interests were so completely opposed. While I was engaged in +making this survey, I had accidentally dropped behind my companions; my +eyes were firmly fixed upon that carriage, and in the faint hope that it +contained the object of all my wishes, I forgot everything else. At length +the cortége entered the town, and passing beneath a heavy stone gateway, +was lost to my view. I was still lost in revery, when an under-agent of my +uncle's rode up. + +"Oh, Master Charles!" said he, "what's to be done? They've forgotten Mr. +Holmes at Woodford, and we haven't a carriage, chaise, or even a car left +to send for him." + +"Have you told Mr. Considine?" inquired I. + +"And sure you know yourself how little Mr. Considine thinks of a lawyer. +It's small comfort he'd give me if I went to tell him. If it was a case of +pistols or a bullet mould he'd ride back the whole way himself for them." + +"Try Sir Harry Boyle, then." + +"He's making a speech this minute before the court-house." + +This had sufficed to show me how far behind my companions I had been +loitering, when a cheer from the distant road again turned my eyes in that +direction; it was the Dashwood carriage returning after leaving Sir George +at the hustings. The head of the britska, before thrown open, was now +closed, and I could not make out if any one were inside. + +"Devil a doubt of it," said the agent, in answer to some question of a +farmer who rode beside him; "will you stand to me?" + +"Troth, to be sure I will." + +"Here goes, then," said he, gathering up his reins and turning his horse +towards the fence at the roadside; "follow me now, boys." + +The order was well obeyed; for when he had cleared the ditch, a dozen +stout country fellows, well mounted, were beside him. Away they went, at a +hunting pace, taking every leap before them, and heading towards the road +before us. + +Without thinking further of the matter, I was laughing at the droll effect +the line of frieze coats presented as they rode side by side over the +stone-walls, when an observation near me aroused my attention. + +"Ah, then, av they know anything of Tim Finucane, they'll give it up +peaceably; it's little he'd think of taking the coach from under the judge +himself." + +"What are they about, boys?" said I. + +"Goin' to take the chaise-and-four forninst ye, yer honor," said the man. + +I waited not to hear more, but darting spurs into my horse's sides, cleared +the fence in one bound. My horse, a strong-knit half-breed, was as fast as +a racer for a short distance; so that when the agent and his party had come +up with the carriage, I was only a few hundred yards behind. I shouted out +with all my might, but they either heard not or heeded not, for scarcely +was the first man over the fence into the road when the postilion on the +leader was felled to the ground, and his place supplied by his slayer; the +boy on the wheeler shared the same fate, and in an instant, so well managed +was the attack, the carriage was in possession of the assailants. Four +stout fellows had climbed into the box and the rumble, and six others were +climbing to the interior, regardless of the aid of steps. By this time the +Dashwood party had got the alarm, and returned in full force, not, however, +before the other had laid whip to the horses and set out in full gallop; +and now commenced the most terrific race I ever witnessed. + +The four carriage-horses, which were the property of Sir George, were +English thorough-breds of great value, and, totally unaccustomed to the +treatment they experienced, dashed forward at a pace that threatened +annihilation to the carriage at every bound. The pursuers, though well +mounted, were speedily distanced, but followed at a pace that in the end +was certain to overtake the carriage. As for myself, I rode on beside +the road at the full speed of my horse, shouting, cursing, imploring, +execrating, and beseeching at turns, but all in vain; the yells and shouts +of the pursuers and pursued drowned all other sounds, except when the +thundering crash of the horses' feet rose above all. The road, like most +western Irish roads until the present century, lay straight as an arrow +for miles, regardless of every opposing barrier, and in the instance in +question, crossed a mountain at its very highest point. Towards this +pinnacle the pace had been tremendous; but owing to the higher breeding of +the cattle, the carriage party had still the advance, and when they reached +the top they proclaimed the victory by a cheer of triumph and derision. The +carriage disappeared beneath the crest of the mountain, and the pursuers +halted as if disposed to relinquish the chase. + +"Come on, boys; never give up," cried I, springing over into the road, and +heading the party to which by every right I was opposed. + +It was no time for deliberation, and they followed me with a hearty cheer +that convinced me I was unknown. The next instant we were on the mountain +top, and beheld the carriage half way down beneath us, still galloping at +full stretch. + +"We have them now," said a voice behind me; "they'll never turn Lurra +Bridge, if we only press on." + +The speaker was right; the road at the mountain foot turned at a perfect +right angle, and then crossed a lofty one-arched bridge over a mountain +torrent that ran deep and boisterously beneath. On we went, gaining at +every stride; for the fellows who rode postilion well knew what was before +them, and slackened their pace to secure a safe turning. A yell of victory +arose from the pursuers, but was answered by the others with a cheer of +defiance. The space was now scarcely two hundred yards between us, when the +head of the britska was flung down, and a figure that I at once recognized +as the redoubted Tim Finucane, one of the boldest and most reckless fellows +in the county, was seen standing on the seat, holding,--gracious Heavens! +it was true,--holding in his arms the apparently lifeless figure of Miss +Dashwood. + +"Hold in!" shouted the ruffian, with a voice that rose high above all the +other sounds. "Hold in! or by the Eternal, I'll throw her, body and bones, +into the Lurra Gash!" for such was the torrent called that boiled and +foamed a few yards before us. + +[Illustration: THE RESCUE.] + +He had by this time got firmly planted on the hind seat, and held the +drooping form on one arm with all the ease of a giant's grasp. + +"For the love of God!" said I, "pull up. I know him well; he'll do it to a +certainty if you press on." + +"And we know you, too," said a ruffianly fellow, with a dark whisker +meeting beneath his chin, "and have some scores to settle ere we part--" + +But I heard no more. With one tremendous effort I dashed my horse forward. +The carriage turned an angle of the road, for an instant was out of sight, +another moment I was behind it. + +"Stop!" I shouted, with a last effort, but in vain. The horses, maddened +and infuriated, sprang forward, and heedless of all efforts to turn them +the leaders sprang over the low parapet of the bridge, and hanging for a +second by the traces, fell with a crash into the swollen torrent beneath. +By this time I was beside the carriage. Finucane had now clambered to the +box, and regardless of the death and ruin around, bent upon his murderous +object, he lifted the light and girlish form above his head, bent backwards +as if to give greater impulse to his effort, when, twining my lash around +my wrist, I levelled my heavy and loaded hunting-whip at his head. The +weighted ball of lead struck him exactly beneath his hat; he staggered, his +hands relaxed, and he fell lifeless to the ground; the same instant I was +felled to the earth by a blow from behind, and saw no more. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +MICKEY FREE. + +Nearly three weeks followed the event I have just narrated ere I again was +restored to consciousness. The blow by which I was felled--from what hand +coming it was never after discovered--had brought on concussion of the +brain, and for several days my life was despaired of. As by slow steps I +advanced towards recovery, I learned from Considine that Miss Dashwood, +whose life was saved by my interference, had testified, in the warmest +manner, her gratitude, and that Sir George had, up to the period of his +leaving the country, never omitted a single day to ride over and inquire +for me. + +"You know, of course," said the count, supposing such news was the most +likely to interest me,--"you know we beat them?" + +"No. Pray tell me all. They've not let me hear anything hitherto." + +"One day finished the whole affair. We polled man for man till past two +o'clock, when our fellows lost all patience and beat their tallies out +of the town. The police came up, but they beat the police; then they got +soldiers, but, begad, they were too strong for them, too. Sir George +witnessed it all, and knowing besides how little chance he had of success, +deemed it best to give in; so that a little before five o'clock he +resigned. I must say no man could behave better. He came across the +hustings and shook hands with Godfrey; and as the news of the _scrimmage_ +with his daughter had just arrived, said that he was sorry his prospect of +success had not been greater, that in resigning he might testify how deeply +he felt the debt the O'Malleys had laid him under." + +"And my uncle, how did he receive his advances?" + +"Like his own honest self,--grasped his hand firmly; and upon my soul, I +think he was half sorry that he gained the day. Do you know, he took a +mighty fancy to that blue-eyed daughter of the old general's. Faith, +Charley, if he was some twenty years younger, I would not say but--Come, +come, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings; but I have been staying here too +long. I'll send up Mickey to sit with you. Mind and don't be talking too +much to him." + +So saying, the worthy count left the room fully impressed that in hinting +at the possibility of my uncle's marrying again, he had said something to +ruffle my temper. + +For the next two or three weeks my life was one of the most tiresome +monotony. Strict injunctions had been given by the doctors to avoid +exciting me; and consequently, every one that came in walked on tiptoe, +spoke in whispers, and left me in five minutes. Reading was absolutely +forbidden; and with a sombre half-light to sit in, and chicken broth to +support nature, I dragged out as dreary an existence as any gentleman west +of Athlone. + +Whenever my uncle or Considine were not in the room, my companion was my +own servant, Michael, or as he was better known, "Mickey Free." Now, had +Mickey been left to his own free and unrestricted devices, the time would +not have hung so heavily; for among Mike's manifold gifts he was possessed +of a very great flow of gossiping conversation. He knew all that was +doing in the county, and never was barren in his information wherever his +imagination could come into play. Mickey was the best hurler in the barony, +no mean performer on the violin, could dance the national bolero of "Tatter +Jack Walsh" in a way that charmed more than one soft heart beneath a red +woolsey bodice, and had, withal, the peculiar free-and-easy devil-may-care +kind of off-hand Irish way that never deserted him in the midst of his +wiliest and most subtle moments, giving to a very deep and cunning fellow +all the apparent frankness and openness of a country lad. + +He had attached himself to me as a kind of sporting companion; and growing +daily more and more useful, had been gradually admitted to the honors of +the kitchen and the prerogatives of cast clothes, without ever having been +actually engaged as a servant; and while thus no warrant officer, as, in +fact, he discharged all his duties well and punctually, was rated among the +ship's company, though no one could say at what precise period he changed +his caterpillar existence and became the gay butterfly with cords and +tops, a striped vest, and a most knowing jerry hat who stalked about +the stable-yard and bullied the helpers. Such was Mike. He had made his +fortune, such as it was, and had a most becoming pride in the fact that he +made himself indispensable to an establishment which, before he entered +it, never knew the want of him. As for me, he was everything to me. Mike +informed me what horse was wrong, why the chestnut mare couldn't go out, +and why the black horse could. He knew the arrival of a new covey of +partridge quicker than the "Morning Post" does of a noble family from the +Continent, and could tell their whereabouts twice as accurately. But +his talents took a wider range than field sports afford, and he was the +faithful chronicler of every wake, station, wedding, or christening for +miles round; and as I took no small pleasure in those very national +pastimes, the information was of great value to me. To conclude this +brief sketch, Mike was a devout Catholic in the same sense that he was +enthusiastic about anything,--that is, he believed and obeyed exactly as +far as suited his own peculiar notions of comfort and happiness. Beyond +_that_, his scepticism stepped in and saved him from inconvenience; and +though he might have been somewhat puzzled to reduce his faith to a rubric, +still it answered his purpose, and that was all he wanted. Such, in short, +was my valet, Mickey Free, and who, had not heavy injunctions been laid on +him as to silence and discretion, would well have lightened my weary hours. + +"Ah, then, Misther Charles!" said he, with a half-suppressed yawn at the +long period of probation his tongue had been undergoing in silence,--"ah, +then, but ye were mighty near it!" + +"Near what?" said I. + +"Faith, then, myself doesn't well know. Some say it's purgathory; but it's +hard to tell." + +"I thought you were too good a Catholic, Mickey, to show any doubts on the +matter?" + +"May be I am; may be I ain't," was the cautious reply. + +"Wouldn't Father Roach explain any of your difficulties for you, if you +went over to him?" + +"Faix, it's little I'd mind his explainings." + +"And why not?" + +"Easy enough. If you ax ould Miles there, without, what does he be doing +with all the powther and shot, wouldn't he tell you he's shooting the +rooks, and the magpies, and some other varmint? But myself knows he sells +it to Widow Casey, at two-and-fourpence a pound; so belikes, Father Roach +may be shooting away at the poor souls in purgathory, that all this time +are enjoying the hoith of fine living in heaven, ye understand." + +"And you think that's the way of it, Mickey?" + +"Troth, it's likely. Anyhow, I know its not the place they make it out." + +"Why, how do you mean?" + +"Well, then, I'll tell you, Misther Charles; but you must not be saying +anything about it afther, for I don't like to talk about these kind of +things." + +Having pledged myself to the requisite silence and secrecy, Mickey began:-- + +"May be you heard tell of the way my father, rest his soul wherever he is, +came to his end. Well, I needn't mind particulars, but, in short, he was +murdered in Ballinasloe one night, when he was baitin' the whole town with +a blackthorn stick he had; more by token, a piece of a scythe was stuck at +the end of it,--a nate weapon, and one he was mighty partial to; but those +murdering thieves, the cattle-dealers, that never cared for diversion of +any kind, fell on him and broke his skull. + +"Well, we had a very agreeable wake, and plenty of the best of everything, +and to spare, and I thought it was all over; but somehow, though I paid +Father Roach fifteen shillings, and made him mighty drunk, he always gave +me a black look wherever I met him, and when I took off my hat, he'd turn +away his head displeased like. + +"'Murder and ages,' says I, 'what's this for?' But as I've a light heart, +I bore up, and didn't think more about it. One day, however, I was coming +home from Athlone market, by myself on the road, when Father Roach overtook +me. 'Devil a one a me 'ill take any notice of you now,' says I, 'and we'll +see what'll come out of it.' So the priest rid up and looked me straight in +the face. + +"'Mickey,' says he,--'Mickey.' + +"'Father,' says I. + +"'Is it that way you salute your clargy,' says he, 'with your caubeen on +your head?' + +"'Faix,' says I, 'it's little ye mind whether it's an or aff; for you never +take the trouble to say, "By your leave," or "Damn your soul!" or any other +politeness when we meet.' + +"'You're an ungrateful creature,' says he; 'and if you only knew, you'd be +trembling in your skin before me, this minute.' + +"'Devil a tremble,' says I, 'after walking six miles this way.' + +"'You're an obstinate, hard-hearted sinner,' says he; 'and it's no use in +telling you.' + +"'Telling me what?' says I; for I was getting curious to make out what he +meant. + +"'Mickey,' says he, changing his voice, and putting his head down close to +me,--'Mickey, I saw your father last night.' + +"'The saints be merciful to us!' said I, 'did ye?' + +"'I did,' says he. + +"'Tear an ages,' says I, 'did he tell you what he did with the new +corduroys he bought in the fair?' + +"'Oh, then, you are a could-hearted creature!' says he, 'and I'll not lose +time with you.' With that he was going to ride away, when I took hold of +the bridle. + +"'Father, darling,' says I, 'God pardon me, but them breeches is goin' +between me an' my night's rest; but tell me about my father?' + +"'Oh, then, he's in a melancholy state!' + +"'Whereabouts is he?' says I. + +"'In purgathory,' says he; 'but he won't be there long.' + +"'Well,' says I, 'that's a comfort, anyhow.' + +"'I am glad you think so,' says he; 'but there's more of the other +opinion.' + +"'What's _that?_' says I. + +"'That hell's worse.' + +"'Oh, melia-murther!' says I, 'is that it?' + +"'Ay, that's it.' + +"Well, I was so terrified and frightened, I said nothing for some time, but +trotted along beside the priest's horse. + +"'Father,' says I, 'how long will it be before they send him where you +know?' + +"'It will not be long now,' says he, 'for they're tired entirely with him; +they've no peace night or day,' says he. 'Mickey, your father is a mighty +hard man.' + +"'True for you, Father Roach,' says I to myself; 'av he had only the ould +stick with the scythe in it, I wish them joy of his company.' + +"'Mickey,' says he, 'I see you're grieved, and I don't wonder; sure, it's a +great disgrace to a decent family.' + +"'Troth, it is,' says I; 'but my father always liked low company. Could +nothing be done for him now, Father Roach?' says I, looking up in the +priest's face. + +"'I'm greatly afraid, Mickey, he was a bad man, a very bad man.' + +"'And ye think he'll go there?' says I. + +"'Indeed, Mickey, I have my fears.' + +"'Upon my conscience,' says I, 'I believe you're right; he was always a +restless crayture.' + +"'But it doesn't depind on him,' says the priest, crossly. + +"'And, then, who then?' says I. + +"'Upon yourself, Mickey Free,' says he, 'God pardon you for it, too!' + +"'Upon me?' says I. + +"'Troth, no less,' says he; 'how many Masses was said for your father's +soul; how many Aves; how many Paters? Answer me.' + +"'Devil a one of me knows!--may be twenty.' + +"'Twenty, twenty!--no, nor one.' + +"'And why not?' says I; 'what for wouldn't you be helping a poor crayture +out of trouble, when it wouldn't cost you more nor a handful of prayers?' + +"'Mickey, I see,' says he, in a solemn tone, 'you're worse nor a haythen; +but ye couldn't be other, ye never come to yer duties.' + +"'Well, Father,' says I, Looking very penitent, 'how many Masses would get +him out?' + +"'Now you talk like a sensible man,' says he. 'Now, Mickey, I've hopes for +you. Let me see,' here he went countin' upon his fingers, and numberin' to +himself for five minutes. 'Mickey,' says he, 'I've a batch coming out on +Tuesday week, and if you were to make great exertions, perhaps your father +could come with them; that is, av they have made no objections.' + +"'And what for would they?' says I; 'he was always the hoith of company, +and av singing's allowed in them parts--' + +"'God forgive you, Mickey, but yer in a benighted state,' says he, sighing. + +"'Well,' says I, 'how'll we get him out on Tuesday week? For that's +bringing things to a focus.' + +"'Two Masses in the morning, fastin',' says Father Roach, half aloud, 'is +two, and two in the afternoon is four, and two at vespers is six,' says he; +'six Masses a day for nine days is close by sixty Masses,--say sixty,' says +he; 'and they'll cost you--mind, Mickey, and don't be telling it again, for +it's only to yourself I'd make them so cheap--a matter of three pounds.' + +"'Three pounds!' says I; 'be-gorra ye might as well ax me to give you the +rock of Cashel.' + +"'I'm sorry for ye, Mickey,' says he, gatherin' up the reins to ride +off,--'I'm sorry for ye; and the time will come when the neglect of your +poor father will be a sore stroke agin yourself.' + +"'Wait a bit, your reverence,' says I,--'wait a bit. Would forty shillings +get him out?' + +"'Av course it wouldn't,' says he. + +"'May be,' says I, coaxing,--'may be, av you said that his son was a poor +boy that lived by his indhustry, and the times was bad--' + +"'Not the least use,' says he. + +"'Arrah, but it's hard-hearted they are,' thinks I. 'Well, see now, I'll +give you the money, but I can't afford it all at onst; but I'll pay five +shillings a week. Will that do?' + +"'I'll do my endayvors,' says Father Roach; 'and I'll speak to them to +treat him peaceably in the meantime.' + +"'Long life to yer reverence, and do. Well, here now, here's five hogs to +begin with; and, musha, but I never thought I'd be spending my loose change +that way.' + +"Father Roach put the six tinpinnies in the pocket of his black leather +breeches, said something in Latin, bid me good-morning, and rode off. + +"Well, to make my story short, I worked late and early to pay the five +shillings a week, and I did do it for three weeks regular; then I brought +four and fourpence; then it came down to one and tenpence halfpenny, then +ninepence, and at last I had nothing at all to bring. + +"'Mickey Free,' says the priest, 'ye must stir yourself. Your father is +mighty displeased at the way you've been doing of late; and av ye kept yer +word, he'd be near out by this time.' + +"'Troth,' says I, 'it's a very expensive place.' + +"'By coorse it is,' says he; 'sure all the quality of the land's there. +But, Mickey, my man, with a little exertion, your father's business is +done. What are you jingling in your pocket there?' + +"'It's ten shillings, your reverence, I have to buy seed potatoes.' + +"'Hand it here, my son. Isn't it better your father would be enjoying +himself in paradise, than if ye were to have all the potatoes in Ireland?' + +"'And how do ye know,' says I, 'he's so near out?' + +"'How do I know,--how do I know, is it? Didn't I see him?' + +"'See him! Tear an ages, was you down there again?' + +"'I was,' says he; 'I was down there for three quarters of an hour +yesterday evening, getting out Luke Kennedy's mother. Decent people the +Kennedy's; never spared expense.' + +"'And ye seen my father?' says I. + +'I did,' says he; 'he had an ould flannel waistcoat on, and a pipe sticking +out of the pocket av it.' + +"'That's him,' says I. 'Had he a hairy cap?' + +"'I didn't mind the cap,' says he; 'but av coorse he wouldn't have it on +his head in that place.' + +"'Thrue for you,' says I. 'Did he speak to you?' + +"'He did,' says Father Roach; 'he spoke very hard about the way he was +treated down there; that they was always jibin' and jeerin' him about +_drink_, and fightin', and the course he led up here, and that it was a +queer thing, for the matter of ten shillings, he was to be kept there so +long.' + +"'Well,' says I, taking out the ten shillings and counting it with one +hand, 'we must do our best, anyhow; and ye think this'll get him out +surely?' + +"'I know it will,' says he; 'for when Luke's mother was leaving the place, +and yer father saw the door open, he made a rush at it, and, be-gorra, +before it was shut he got his head and one shoulder outside av it,--so +that, ye see, a thrifle more'll do it.' + +"'Faix, and yer reverence,' says I, 'you've lightened my heart this +morning.' And I put my money back again in my pocket. + +"'Why, what do you mean?' says he, growing very red, for he was angry. + +"'Just this,' says I, 'that I've saved my money; for av it was my father +you seen, and that he got his head and one shoulder outside the door, oh, +then, by the powers!' says I, 'the devil a jail or jailer from hell to +Connaught id hould him. So, Father Roach, I wish you the top of the +morning.' And I went away laughing; and from that day to this I never heard +more of purgathory; and ye see, Master Charles, I think I was right." + +Scarcely had Mike concluded when my door was suddenly burst open, and Sir +Harry Boyle, without assuming any of his usual precautions respecting +silence and quiet, rushed into the room, a broad grin upon his honest +features, and his eyes twinkling in a way that evidently showed me +something had occurred to amuse him. + +"By Jove, Charley, I mustn't keep it from you; it's too good a thing not +to tell you. Do you remember that very essenced young gentleman who +accompanied Sir George Dashwood from Dublin, as a kind of electioneering +friend?" + +"Do you mean Mr. Prettyman?" + +"The very man; he was, you are aware, an under-secretary in some government +department. Well, it seems that he had come down among us poor savages as +much from motives of learned research and scientific inquiry, as though we +had been South Sea Islanders; report had gifted us humble Galwayans with +some very peculiar traits, and this gifted individual resolved to record +them. Whether the election week might have sufficed his appetite for +wonders I know not; but he was peaceably taking his departure from the west +on Saturday last, when Phil Macnamara met him, and pressed him to dine that +day with a few friends at his house. You know Phil; so that when I tell you +Sam Burke, of Greenmount, and Roger Doolan were of the party, I need +not say that the English traveller was not left to his own unassisted +imagination for his facts. Such anecdotes of our habits and customs as they +crammed him with, it would appear, never were heard before; nothing was +too hot or too heavy for the luckless cockney, who, when not sipping +his claret, was faithfully recording in his tablet the mems. for a very +brilliant and very original work on Ireland. + +"Fine country, splendid country; glorious people,--gifted, brave, +intelligent, but not happy,--alas! Mr. Macnamara, not happy. But we don't +know you, gentlemen,--we don't indeed,--at the other side of the Channel. +Our notions regarding you are far, very far from just." + +"I hope and trust," said old Burke, "you'll help them to a better +understanding ere long." + +"Such, my dear sir, will be the proudest task of my life. The facts I have +heard here this evening have made so profound an impression upon me that I +burn for the moment when I can make them known to the world at large. To +think--just to think that a portion of this beautiful island should be +steeped in poverty; that the people not only live upon the mere potatoes, +but are absolutely obliged to wear the skins for raiment, as Mr. Doolan has +just mentioned to me!" + +"'Which accounts for our cultivation of lumpers,' added Mr. Doolan, 'they +being the largest species of the root, and best adapted for wearing +apparel.' + +"'I should deem myself culpable--indeed I should--did I not inform my +countrymen upon the real condition of this great country.' + +"'Why, after your great opportunities for judging,' said Phil, 'you ought +to speak out. You've seen us in a way, I may fairly affirm, few Englishmen +have, and heard more.' + +"'That's it,--that's the very thing, Mr. Macnamara. I've looked at you more +closely; I've watched you more narrowly; I've witnessed what the French +call your _vie intime_.' + +"'Begad you have,' said old Burke, with a grin, 'and profited by it to the +utmost.' + +"'I've been a spectator of your election contests; I've partaken of your +hospitality; I've witnessed your popular and national sports; I've +been present at your weddings, your fairs, your wakes; but no,--I was +forgetting,--I never saw a wake.' + +"'Never saw a wake?' repeated each of the company in turn, as though the +gentleman was uttering a sentiment of very dubious veracity. + +"'Never,' said Mr. Prettyman, rather abashed at this proof of his +incapacity to instruct his English friends upon _all_ matters of Irish +interest. + +"'Well, then,' said Macnamara, 'with a blessing, we'll show you one. +Lord forbid that we shouldn't do the honors of our poor country to an +intelligent foreigner when he's good enough to come among us.' + +"'Peter,' said he, turning to the servant behind him, 'who's dead +hereabouts?' + +"'Sorra one, yer honor. Since the scrimmage at Portumna the place is +peaceable.' + +"'Who died lately in the neighborhood?' + +"'The widow Macbride, yer honor.' + +"'Couldn't they take her up again, Peter? My friend here never saw a wake.' + +"'I'm afeered not; for it was the boys roasted her, and she wouldn't be a +decent corpse for to show a stranger,' said Peter, in a whisper. + +"Mr. Prettyman shuddered at these peaceful indications of the neighborhood, +and said nothing. + +"'Well, then, Peter, tell Jimmy Divine to take the old musket in my +bedroom, and go over to the Clunagh bog,--he can't go wrong. There's twelve +families there that never pay a halfpenny rent; and _when it's done_, let +him give notice to the neighborhood, and we'll have a rousing wake.' + +"'You don't mean, Mr. Macnamara,--you don't mean to say--' stammered out +the cockney, with a face like a ghost. + +"'I only mean to say,' said Phil, laughing, 'that you're keeping the +decanter very long at your right hand.' + +"Burke contrived to interpose before the Englishman could ask any +explanation of what he had just heard,--and for some minutes he could only +wait in impatient anxiety,--when a loud report of a gun close beside the +house attracted the attention of the guests. The next moment old Peter +entered, his face radiant with smiles. + +"'Well, what's that?' said Macnamara. + +"''T was Jimmy, yer honor. As the evening was rainy, he said he'd take one +of the neighbors; and he hadn't to go far, for Andy Moore was going home, +and he brought him down at once.' + +"'Did he shoot him?' said Mr. Prettyman, while cold perspiration broke over +his forehead. 'Did he murder the man?' + +"'Sorra murder,' said Peter, disdainfully. 'But why shouldn't he shoot him +when the master bid him?' + +"I needn't tell you more, Charley; but in ten minutes after, feigning some +excuse to leave the room, the terrified cockney took flight, and offering +twenty guineas for a horse to convey him to Athlone, he left Galway, fully +convinced that they don't yet know us on the other side of the Channel." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +THE JOURNEY. + +The election concluded, the turmoil and excitement of the contest over, all +was fast resuming its accustomed routine around us, when one morning my +uncle informed me that I was at length to leave my native county and enter +upon the great world as a student of Trinity College, Dublin. Although long +since in expectation of this eventful change, it was with no slight feeling +of emotion I contemplated the step which, removing me at once from all my +early friends and associations, was to surround me with new companions and +new influences, and place before me very different objects of ambition from +those I had hitherto been regarding. + +My destiny had been long ago decided. The army had had its share of the +family, who brought little more back with them from the wars than a short +allowance of members and shattered constitutions; the navy had proved, on +more than one occasion, that the fate of the O'Malleys did not incline to +hanging; so that, in Irish estimation, but one alternative remained, and +that was the bar. Besides, as my uncle remarked, with great truth and +foresight, "Charley will be tolerably independent of the public, at all +events; for even if they never send him a brief, there's law enough in the +family to last _his_ time,"--a rather novel reason, by-the-bye, for making +a man a lawyer, and which induced Sir Harry, with his usual clearness, to +observe to me:-- + +"Upon my conscience, boy, you are in luck. If there had been a Bible in the +house, I firmly believe he'd have made you a parson." + +Considine alone, of all my uncle's advisers, did not concur in this +determination respecting me. He set forth, with an eloquence that certainly +converted _me_, that my head was better calculated for bearing hard knocks +than unravelling knotty points, that a shako would become it infinitely +better than a wig; and declared, roundly, that a boy who began so well and +had such very pretty notions about shooting was positively thrown away +in the Four Courts. My uncle, however, was firm, and as old Sir Harry +supported him, the day was decided against us, Considine murmuring as he +left the room something that did not seem quite a brilliant anticipation of +the success awaiting me in my legal career. As for myself, though only a +silent spectator of the debate, all my wishes were with the count. Prom my +earliest boyhood a military life had been my strongest desire; the roll of +the drum, and the shrill fife that played through the little village, +with its ragged troop of recruits following, had charms for me I cannot +describe; and had a choice been allowed me, I would infinitely rather have +been a sergeant in the dragoons than one of his Majesty's learned in the +law. If, then, such had been the cherished feeling of many a year, how much +more strongly were my aspirations heightened by the events of the last few +days. The tone of superiority I had witnessed in Hammersley, whose conduct +to me at parting had placed him high in my esteem; the quiet contempt of +civilians implied in a thousand sly ways; the exalted estimate of his own +profession,--at once wounded my pride and stimulated my ambition; and +lastly, more than all, the avowed preference that Lucy Dashwood evinced for +a military life, were stronger allies than my own conviction needed to make +me long for the army. So completely did the thought possess me that I felt, +if I were not a soldier, I cared not what became of me. Life had no other +object of ambition for me than military renown, no other success for +which I cared to struggle, or would value when obtained. "_Aut Caesar aut +nullus_," thought I; and when my uncle determined I should be a lawyer, +I neither murmured nor objected, but hugged myself in the prophecy of +Considine that hinted pretty broadly, "the devil a stupider fellow ever +opened a brief; but he'd have made a slashing light dragoon." + +The preliminaries were not long in arranging. It was settled that I should +be immediately despatched to Dublin to the care of Dr. Mooney, then a +junior fellow in the University, who would take me into his especial +charge; while Sir Harry was to furnish me with a letter to his old friend, +Doctor Barret, whose advice and assistance he estimated at a very high +price. Provided with such documents I was informed that the gates of +knowledge were more than half ajar for me, without an effort upon my +part. One only portion of all the arrangements I heard with anything like +pleasure; it was decided that my man Mickey was to accompany me to Dublin, +and remain with me during my stay. + +It was upon a clear, sharp morning in January, of the year 18--, that I +took my place upon the box-seat of the old Galway mail and set out on my +journey. My heart was depressed, and my spirits were miserably low. I had +all that feeling of sadness which leave-taking inspires, and no sustaining +prospect to cheer me in the distance. For the first time in my life, I had +seen a tear glisten in my poor uncle's eye, and heard his voice falter as +he said, "Farewell!" Notwithstanding the difference of age, we had been +perfectly companions together; and as I thought now over all the thousand +kindnesses and affectionate instances of his love I had received, my heart +gave way, and the tears coursed slowly down my cheeks. I turned to give one +last look at the tall chimneys and the old woods, my earliest friends; but +a turn of the road had shut out the prospect, and thus I took my leave of +Galway. + +My friend Mickey, who sat behind with the guard, participated but little in +my feelings of regret. The potatoes in the metropolis could scarcely be as +wet as the lumpers in Scariff; he had heard that whiskey was not dearer, +and looked forward to the other delights of the capital with a longing +heart. Meanwhile, resolved that no portion of his career should be lost, he +was lightening the road by anecdote and song, and held an audience of four +people, a very crusty-looking old guard included, in roars of laughter. +Mike had contrived, with his usual _savoir faire_, to make himself very +agreeable to an extremely pretty-looking country girl, around whose waist +he had most lovingly passed his arm under pretence of keeping her from +falling, and to whom, in the midst of all his attentions to the party at +large, he devoted himself considerably, pressing his suit with all the aid +of his native minstrelsy. + +"Hould me tight, Miss Matilda, dear." + +"My name's Mary Brady, av ye plase." + +"Ay, and I do plase. + + 'Oh, Mary Brady, you are my darlin', + You are my looking-glass from night till morning; + I'd rayther have ye without one farthen, + Nor Shusey Gallagher and her house and garden.' + +May I never av I wouldn't then; and ye needn't be laughing." + +"Is his honor at home?" + +This speech was addressed to a gaping country fellow that leaned on his +spade to see the coach pass. + +"Is his honor at home? I've something for him from Mr. Davern." + +Mickey well knew that few western gentlemen were without constant +intercourse with the Athlone attorney. The poor countryman accordingly +hastened through the fence and pursued the coach with all speed for above +a mile, Mike pretending all the time to be in the greatest anxiety for his +overtaking them, until at last, as he stopped in despair, a hearty roar of +laughter told him that, in Mickey's _parlance_, he was "sould." + +"Taste it, my dear; devil a harm it'll do ye. It never paid the king +sixpence." + +Here he filled a little horn vessel from a black bottle he carried, +accompanying the action with a song, the air to which, if any of my +readers feel disposed to sing it, I may observe, bore a resemblance to the +well-known, "A Fig for Saint Denis of France." + + POTTEEN, GOOD LUCK TO YE, DEAR. + + Av I was a monarch in state, + Like Romulus or Julius Caysar, + With the best of fine victuals to eat, + And drink like great Nebuchadnezzar, + A rasher of bacon I'd have, + And potatoes the finest was seen, sir, + And for drink, it's no claret I'd crave, + But a keg of ould Mullens's potteen, sir, + With the smell of the smoke on it still. + + They talk of the Romans of ould, + Whom they say in their own times was frisky; + But trust me, to keep out the cowld, + The Romans at home here like whiskey. + Sure it warms both the head and the heart, + It's the soul of all readin' and writin'; + It teaches both science and art, + And disposes for love or for fightin'. + Oh, potteen, good luck to ye, dear. + +This very classic production, and the black bottle which accompanied it, +completely established the singer's pre-eminence in the company; and I +heard sundry sounds resembling drinking, with frequent good wishes to the +provider of the feast,--"Long life to ye, Mr. Free," "Your health and +inclinations, Mr. Free," etc.; to which Mr. Free responded by drinking +those of the company, "av they were vartuous." The amicable relations thus +happily established promised a very lasting reign, and would doubtless have +enjoyed such, had not a slight incident occurred which for a brief season +interrupted them. At the village where we stopped to breakfast, three very +venerable figures presented themselves for places in the inside of the +coach; they were habited in black coats, breeches, and gaiters, wore hats +of a very ecclesiastic breadth in their brim, and had altogether the +peculiar air and bearing which distinguishes their calling, being no less +than three Roman Catholic prelates on their way to Dublin to attend a +convocation. While Mickey and his friends, with the ready tact which every +low Irishman possesses, immediately perceived who and what these worshipful +individuals were, another traveller who had just assumed his place on the +outside participated but little in the feelings of reverence so manifestly +displayed, but gave a sneer of a very ominous kind as the skirt of the +last black coat disappeared within the coach. This latter individual was a +short, thick-set, bandy-legged man of about fifty, with an enormous nose, +which, whatever its habitual coloring, on the morning in question was of a +brilliant purple. He wore a blue coat with bright buttons, upon which some +letters were inscribed; and around his neck was fastened a ribbon of the +same color, to which a medal was attached. This he displayed with something +of ostentation whenever an opportunity occurred, and seemed altogether a +person who possessed a most satisfactory impression of his own importance. +In fact, had not this feeling been participated in by others, Mr. Billy +Crow would never have been deputed by No. 13,476 to carry their warrant +down to the west country, and establish the nucleus of an Orange Lodge in +the town of Foxleigh; such being, in brief, the reason why he, a very well +known manufacturer of "leather continuations" in Dublin, had ventured upon +the perilous journey from which he was now returning. Billy was going on +his way to town rejoicing, for he had had most brilliant success: the +brethren had feasted and fêted him; he had made several splendid orations, +with the usual number of prophecies about the speedy downfall of Romanism, +the inevitable return of Protestant ascendancy, the pleasing prospect that +with increased effort and improved organization they should soon be able +to have everything their own way, and clear the Green Isle of the horrible +vermin Saint Patrick forgot when banishing the others; and that if Daniel +O'Connell (whom might the Lord confound!) could only be hanged, and Sir +Harcourt Lees made Primate of all Ireland, there were still some hopes of +peace and prosperity to the country. + +Mr. Crow had no sooner assumed his place upon the coach than he saw that he +was in the camp of the enemy. Happily for all parties, indeed, in Ireland, +political differences have so completely stamped the externals of each +party that he must be a man of small penetration who cannot, in the first +five minutes he is thrown among strangers, calculate with considerable +certainty whether it will be more conducive to his happiness to sing, +"Croppies Lie Down," or "The Battle of Ross." As for Billy Crow, long life +to him! you might as well attempt to pass a turkey upon M. Audubon for a +giraffe, as endeavor to impose a Papist upon him for a true follower of +King William. He could have given you more generic distinctions to guide +you in the decision than ever did Cuvier to designate an antediluvian +mammoth; so that no sooner had he seated himself upon the coach than he +buttoned up his great-coat, stuck his hands firmly in his side-pockets, +pursed up his lips, and looked altogether like a man that, feeling himself +out of his element, resolves to "bide his time" in patience until chance +may throw him among more congenial associates. Mickey Free, who was himself +no mean proficient in reading a character, at one glance saw his man, and +began hammering his brains to see if he could not overreach him. The +small portmanteau which contained Billy's wardrobe bore the conspicuous +announcement of his name; and as Mickey could read, this was one important +step already gained. + +He accordingly took the first opportunity of seating himself beside him, +and opened the conversation by some very polite observation upon the +other's wearing apparel, which is always in the west considered a piece of +very courteous attention. By degrees the dialogue prospered, and Mickey +began to make some very important revelations about himself and his master, +intimating that the "state of the country" was such that a man of his way +of thinking had no peace or quiet in it. + +"That's him there, forenent ye," said Mickey, "and a better Protestant +never hated Mass. Ye understand." + +"What!" said Billy, unbuttoning the collar of his coat to get a fairer view +at his companion; "why, I thought you were--" + +Here he made some resemblance of the usual manner of blessing oneself. + +"Me, devil a more nor yourself, Mr. Crow." + +"Why, do you know me, too?" + +"Troth, more knows you than you think." + +Billy looked very much puzzled at all this; at last he said,-- + +"And ye tell me that your master there's the right sort?" + +"Thrue blue," said Mike, with a wink, "and so is his uncles." + +"And where are they, when they are at home?" + +"In Galway, no less; but they're here now." + +"Where?" + +"Here." + +At these words he gave a knock of his heel to the coach, as if to intimate +their "whereabouts." + +"You don't mean in the coach, do ye?" + +"To be sure I do; and troth you can't know much of the west, av ye don't +know the three Mr. Trenches of Tallybash!--them's they." + +"You don't say so?" + +"Faix, but I do." + +"May I never drink the 12th of July if I didn't think they were priests." + +"Priests!" said Mickey, in a roar of laughter,--"priests!" + +"Just priests!" + +"Be-gorra, though, ye had better keep that to yourself; for they're not the +men to have that same said to them." + +"Of course I wouldn't offend them," said Mr. Crow; "faith, it's not me +would cast reflections upon such real out-and-outers as they are. And where +are they going now?" + +"To Dublin straight; there's to be a grand lodge next week. But sure Mr. +Crow knows better than me." + +Billy after this became silent. A moody revery seemed to steal over him; +and he was evidently displeased with himself for his want of tact in not +discovering the three Mr. Trenches of Tallybash, though he only caught +sight of their backs. + +Mickey Free interrupted not the frame of mind in which he saw conviction +was slowly working its way, but by gently humming in an undertone the loyal +melody of "Croppies Lie Down," fanned the flame he had so dexterously +kindled. At length they reached the small town of Kinnegad. While the coach +changed horses, Mr. Crow lost not a moment in descending from the top, and +rushing into the little inn, disappeared for a few moments. When he again +issued forth, he carried a smoking tumbler of whiskey punch, which he +continued to stir with a spoon. As he approached the coach-door he tapped +gently with his knuckles; upon which the reverend prelate of Maronia, or +Mesopotamia, I forget which, inquired what he wanted. + +"I ask your pardon, gentlemen," said Billy, "but I thought I'd make bold to +ask you to take something warm this cold day." + +"Many thanks, my good friend; but we never do," said a bland voice from +within. + +"I understand," said Billy, with a sly wink; "but there are circumstances +now and then,--and one might for the honor of the cause, you know. Just put +it to your lips, won't you?" + +"Excuse me," said a very rosy-cheeked little prelate, "but nothing stronger +than water--" + +"Botheration," thought Billy, as he regarded the speaker's nose. "But I +thought," said he, aloud, "that you would not refuse this." + +Here he made a peculiar manifestation in the air, which, whatever respect +and reverence it might carry to the honest brethren of 13,476, seemed only +to increase the wonder and astonishment of the bishops. + +"What does he mean?" said one. + +"Is he mad?" said another. + +"Tear and ages," said Mr. Crow, getting quite impatient at the slowness of +his friends' perception,--"tear and ages, I'm one of yourselves." + +"One of us," said the three in chorus,--"one of us?" + +"Ay, to be sure," here he took a long pull at the punch,--"to be sure I am; +here's 'No surrender,' your souls! whoop--" a loud yell accompanying the +toast as he drank it. + +"Do you mean to insult us?" said Father P------. "Guard, take the fellow." + +"Are we to be outraged in this manner?" chorussed the priests. + +"'July the 1st, in Oldbridge town,'" sang Billy, "and here it is, 'The +glorious, pious, and immortal memory of the great and good--'" + +"Guard! Where is the guard?" + +"'And good King William, that saved us from Popery--'" + +"Coachman! Guard!" screamed Father ------. + +"'Brass money--'" + +"Policeman! policeman!" shouted the priests. + +"'Brass money and wooden shoes;' devil may care who hears me!" said Billy, +who, supposing that the three Mr. Trenches were skulking the avowal of +their principles, resolved to assert the pre-eminence of the great cause +single-handed and alone. + +[Illustration: MR. CROW WELL PLUCKED.] + +"'Here's the Pope in the pillory, and the Devil pelting him with priests.'" + +At these words a kick from behind apprised the loyal champion that a very +ragged auditory, who for some time past had not well understood the gist of +his eloquence, had at length comprehended enough to be angry. _Ce n'est que +le premier pas qui coûte_, certainly, in an Irish row. "The merest urchin +may light the train; one handful of mud often ignites a shindy that ends in +a most bloody battle." + +And here, no sooner did the _vis-a-tergo_ impel Billy forward than a severe +rap of a closed fist in the eye drove him back, and in one instant he +became the centre to a periphery of kicks, cuffs, pullings, and haulings +that left the poor deputy-grand not only orange, but blue. + +He fought manfully, but numbers carried the day; and when the coach drove +off, which it did at last without him, the last thing visible to the +outsides was the figure of Mr. Crow,--whose hat, minus the crown, had been +driven over his head down upon his neck, where it remained like a dress +cravat,--buffeting a mob of ragged vagabonds who had so completely +metamorphosed the unfortunate man with mud and bruises that a committee of +the grand lodge might actually have been unable to identify him. + +As for Mickey and his friends behind, their mirth knew no bounds; and +except the respectable insides, there was not an individual about the coach +who ceased to think of and laugh at the incident till we arrived in Dublin +and drew up at the Hibernian in Dawson Street. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +DUBLIN. + +No sooner had I arrived in Dublin than my first care was to present myself +to Dr. Mooney, by whom I was received in the most cordial manner. In fact, +in my utter ignorance of such persons, I had imagined a college fellow to +be a character necessarily severe and unbending; and as the only two very +great people I had ever seen in my life were the Archbishop of Tuam and the +chief-baron when on circuit, I pictured to myself that a university +fellow was, in all probability, a cross between the two, and feared him +accordingly. + +The doctor read over my uncle's letter attentively, invited me to partake +of his breakfast, and then entered upon something like an account of the +life before me; for which Sir Harry Boyle had, however, in some degree +prepared me. + +"Your uncle, I find, wishes you to live in college,--perhaps it is better, +too,--so that I must look out for chambers for you. Let me see: it will be +rather difficult, just now, to find them." Here he fell for some moments +into a musing fit, and merely muttered a few broken sentences, as: "To be +sure, if other chambers could be had--but then--and after all, perhaps, as +he is young--besides, Frank will certainly be expelled before long, and +then he will have them all to himself. I say, O'Malley, I believe I must +quarter you for the present with a rather wild companion; but as your uncle +says you're a prudent fellow,"--here he smiled very much, as if my uncle +had not said any such thing,--"why, you must only take the better care of +yourself until we can make some better arrangement. My pupil, Frank Webber, +is at this moment in want of a 'chum,' as the phrase is,--his last three +having only been domesticated with him for as many weeks; so that until we +find you a more quiet resting-place, you may take up your abode with him." + +During breakfast, the doctor proceeded to inform me that my destined +companion was a young man of excellent family and good fortune who, with +very considerable talents and acquirements, preferred a life of rackety and +careless dissipation to prospects of great success in public life, which +his connection and family might have secured for him. That he had been +originally entered at Oxford, which he was obliged to leave; then tried +Cambridge, from which he escaped expulsion by being rusticated,--that +is, having incurred a sentence of temporary banishment; and lastly, was +endeavoring, with what he himself believed to be a total reformation, to +stumble on to a degree in the "silent sister." + +"This is his third year," said the doctor, "and he is only a freshman, +having lost every examination, with abilities enough to sweep the +university of its prizes. But come over now, and I'll present you to him." + +I followed him down-stairs, across the court to an angle of the old square +where, up the first floor left, to use the college direction, stood the +name of Mr. Webber, a large No. 2 being conspicuously painted in the middle +of the door and not over it, as is usually the custom. As we reached the +spot, the observations of my companion were lost to me in the tremendous +noise and uproar that resounded from within. It seemed as if a number of +people were fighting pretty much as a banditti in a melodrama do, with +considerable more of confusion than requisite; a fiddle and a French horn +also lent their assistance to shouts and cries which, to say the best, were +not exactly the aids to study I expected in such a place. + +Three times was the bell pulled with a vigor that threatened its downfall, +when at last, as the jingle of it rose above all other noises, suddenly +all became hushed and still; a momentary pause succeeded, and the door was +opened by a very respectable looking servant who, recognizing the doctor, +at once introduced us into the apartment where Mr. Webber was sitting. + +In a large and very handsomely furnished room, where Brussels carpeting and +softly cushioned sofas contrasted strangely with the meagre and comfortless +chambers of the doctor, sat a young man at a small breakfast-table beside +the fire. He was attired in a silk dressing-gown and black velvet slippers, +and supported his forehead upon a hand of most lady-like whiteness, whose +fingers were absolutely covered with rings of great beauty and price. His +long silky brown hair fell in rich profusion upon the back of his neck and +over his arm, and the whole air and attitude was one which a painter might +have copied. So intent was he upon the volume before him that he never +raised his head at our approach, but continued to read aloud, totally +unaware of our presence. + +"Dr. Mooney, sir," said the servant. + +_"Ton dapamey bominos, prosephe, crione Agamemnon"_ repeated the student, +in an ecstasy, and not paying the slightest attention to the announcement. + +"Dr. Mooney, sir," repeated the servant, in a louder tone, while the doctor +looked around on every side for an explanation of the late uproar, with a +face of the most puzzled astonishment. + +_"Be dakiown para thina dolekoskion enkos"_ said Mr. Webber, finishing a +cup of coffee at a draught. + +"Well, Webber, hard at work I see," said the doctor. + +"Ah, Doctor, I beg pardon! Have you been long here?" said the most soft and +insinuating voice, while the speaker passed his taper fingers across his +brow, as if to dissipate the traces of deep thought and study. + +While the doctor presented me to my future companion, I could perceive, in +the restless and searching look he threw around, that the fracas he had so +lately heard was still an unexplained and _vexata questio_ in his mind. + +"May I offer you a cup of coffee, Mr. O'Malley?" said the youth, with an +air of almost timid bashfulness. "The doctor, I know, breakfasts at a very +early hour." + +"I say, Webber," said the doctor, who could no longer restrain his +curiosity, "what an awful row I heard here as I came up to the door. I +thought Bedlam was broke loose. What could it have been?" + +"Ah, you heard it too, sir," said Mr. Webber, smiling most benignly. + +"Hear it? To be sure I did. O'Malley and I could not hear ourselves talking +with the uproar." + +"Yes, indeed, it is very provoking; but then, what's to be done? One can't +complain, under the circumstances." + +"Why, what do you mean?" said Mooney, anxiously. + +"Nothing, sir; nothing. I'd much rather you'd not ask me; for after all, +I'll change my chambers." + +"But why? Explain this at once. I insist upon it." + +"Can I depend upon the discretion of your young friend?" said Mr. Webber, +gravely. + +"Perfectly," said the doctor, now wound up to the greatest anxiety to learn +a secret. + +"And you'll promise not to mention the thing except among your friends?" + +"I do," said the doctor. + +"Well, then," said he, in a low and confident whisper, "it's the dean." + +"The dean!" said Mooney, with a start. "The dean! Why, how can it be the +dean?" + +"Too true," said Mr. Webber, making a sign of drinking,--"too true, Doctor. +And then, the moment he is so, he begins smashing the furniture. Never was +anything heard like it. As for me, as I am now become a reading man, I must +go elsewhere." + +Now, it so chanced that the worthy dean, who albeit a man of most +abstemious habits, possessed a nose which, in color and development, was a +most unfortunate witness to call to character, and as Mooney heard Webber +narrate circumstantially the frightful excesses of the great functionary, I +saw that something like conviction was stealing over him. + +"You'll, of course, never speak of this except to your most intimate +friends," said Webber. + +"Of course not," said the doctor, as he shook his hand warmly, and prepared +to leave the room. "O'Malley, I leave you here," said he; "Webber and you +can talk over your arrangements." + +Webber followed the doctor to the door, whispered something in his ear, to +which the other replied, "Very well, I will write; but if your father +sends the money, I must insist--" The rest was lost in protestations and +professions of the most fervent kind, amidst which the door was shut, and +Mr. Webber returned to the room. + +Short as was the interspace from the door without to the room within, it +was still ample enough to effect a very thorough and remarkable change in +the whole external appearance of Mr. Frank Webber; for scarcely had the +oaken panel shut out the doctor, when he appeared no longer the shy, timid, +and silvery-toned gentleman of five minutes before, but dashing boldly +forward, he seized a key-bugle that lay hid beneath a sofa-cushion and blew +a tremendous blast. + +[Illustration: FRANK WEBBER AT HIS STUDIES.] + +"Come forth, ye demons of the lower world," said he, drawing a cloth from +a large table, and discovering the figures of three young men coiled up +beneath. "Come forth, and fear not, most timorous freshmen that ye are," +said he, unlocking a pantry, and liberating two others. "Gentlemen, let +me introduce to your acquaintance Mr. O'Malley. My chum, gentlemen. Mr. +O'Malley, that is Harry Nesbitt, who has been in college since the days of +old Perpendicular, and numbers more cautions than any man who ever had his +name on the books. Here is my particular friend, Cecil Cavendish, the only +man who could ever devil kidneys. Captain Power, Mr. O'Malley, a dashing +dragoon, as you see; aide-de-camp to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, +and love-maker-general to Merrion Square West. These," said he, pointing to +the late denizens of the pantry, "are jibs whose names are neither known to +the proctor nor the police-office; but with due regard to their education +and morals, we don't despair." + +"By no means," said Power; "but come, let us resume our game." At these +words he took a folio atlas of maps from a small table, and displayed +beneath a pack of cards, dealt as if for whist. The two gentlemen to whom +I was introduced by name returned to their places; the unknown two put on +their boxing gloves, and all resumed the hilarity which Dr. Mooney's advent +had so suddenly interrupted. + +"Where's Moore?" said Webber, as he once more seated himself at his +breakfast. + +"Making a spatch-cock, sir," said the servant. + +At the same instant, a little, dapper, jovial-looking personage appeared +with the dish in question. + +"Mr. O'Malley, Mr. Moore, the gentleman who, by repeated remonstrances to +the board, has succeeded in getting eatable food for the inhabitants of +this penitentiary, and has the honored reputation of reforming the commons +of college." + +"Anything to Godfrey O'Malley, may I ask, sir?" said Moore. + +"His nephew," I replied. + +"Which of you winged the gentleman the other day for not passing the +decanter, or something of that sort?" + +"If you mean the affair with Mr. Bodkin, it was I." + +"Glorious, that; begad, I thought you were one of us. I say, Power, it was +he pinked Bodkin." + +"Ah, indeed," said Power, not turning his head from his game, "a pretty +shot, I heard,--two by honors,--and hit him fairly,--the odd trick. +Hammersley mentioned the thing to me." + +"Oh, is he in town?" said I. + +"No; he sailed for Portsmouth yesterday. He is to join the llth--game. I +say, Webber, you've lost the rubber." + +"Double or quit, and a dinner at Dunleary," said Webber. "We must show +O'Malley,--confound the Mister!--something of the place." + +"Agreed." + +The whist was resumed; the boxers, now refreshed by a leg of the +spatch-cock, returned to their gloves; Mr. Moore took up his violin; Mr. +Webber his French horn; and I was left the only unemployed man in the +company. + +"I say, Power, you'd better bring the drag over here for us; we can all go +down together." + +"I must inform you," said Cavendish, "that, thanks to your philanthropic +efforts of last night, the passage from Grafton Street to Stephen's +Green is impracticable." A tremendous roar of laughter followed this +announcement; and though at the time the cause was unknown to me, I may as +well mention it here, as I subsequently learned it from my companions. + +Among the many peculiar tastes which distinguished Mr. Francis Webber was +an extraordinary fancy for street-begging. He had, over and over, won large +sums upon his success in that difficult walk; and so perfect were his +disguises,--both of dress, voice, and manner,--that he actually at one time +succeeded in obtaining charity from his very opponent in the wager. He +wrote ballads with the greatest facility, and sang them with infinite +pathos and humor; and the old woman at the corner of College Green was +certain of an audience when the severity of the night would leave all other +minstrelsy deserted. As these feats of _jonglerie_ usually terminated in a +row, it was a most amusing part of the transaction to see the singer's part +taken by the mob against the college men, who, growing impatient to carry +him off to supper somewhere, would invariably be obliged to have a fight +for the booty. + +Now it chanced that a few evenings before, Mr. Webber was returning with a +pocket well lined with copper from a musical _reunion_ he had held at the +corner of York Street, when the idea struck him to stop at the end of +Grafton Street, where a huge stone grating at that time exhibited--perhaps +it exhibits still--the descent to one of the great main sewers of the city. + +The light was shining brightly from a pastrycook's shop, and showed the +large bars of stone between which the muddy water was rushing rapidly down +and plashing in the torrent that ran boisterously several feet beneath. + +To stop in the street of any crowded city is, under any circumstances, an +invitation to others to do likewise which is rarely unaccepted; but when +in addition to this you stand fixedly in one spot and regard with stern +intensity any object near you, the chances are ten to one that you have +several companions in your curiosity before a minute expires. + +Now, Webber, who had at first stood still without any peculiar thought in +view, no sooner perceived that he was joined by others than the idea of +making something out of it immediately occurred to him. + +"What is it, agra?" inquired an old woman, very much in his own style of +dress, pulling at the hood of his cloak. "And can't you see for yourself, +darling?" replied he, sharply, as he knelt down and looked most intensely +at the sewer. + +"Are ye long there, avick?" inquired he of an imaginary individual below, +and then waiting as if for a reply, said, + +"Two hours! Blessed Virgin, he's two hours in the drain!" + +By this time the crowd had reached entirely across the street, and the +crushing and squeezing to get near the important spot was awful. + +"Where did he come from?" "Who is he?" "How did he get there?" were +questions on every side; and various surmises were afloat till Webber, +rising from his knees, said, in a mysterious whisper, to those nearest him, +"He's made his escape to-night out o' Newgate by the big drain, and lost +his way; he was looking for the Liffey, and took the wrong turn." + +To an Irish mob what appeal could equal this? A culprit at any time has +his claim upon their sympathy; but let him be caught in the very act of +cheating the authorities and evading the law, and his popularity knows +no bounds. Webber knew this well, and as the mob thickened around him +sustained an imaginary conversation that Savage Landor might have envied, +imparting now and then such hints concerning the runaway as raised their +interest to the highest pitch, and fifty different versions were related on +all sides,--of the crime he was guilty of, the sentence that was passed on +him, and the day he was to suffer. + +"Do you see the light, dear?" said Webber, as some ingeniously benevolent +individual had lowered down a candle with a string,--"do ye see the light? +Oh, he's fainted, the creature!" A cry of horror burst forth from the crowd +at these words, followed by a universal shout of, "Break open the street." + +Pickaxes, shovels, spades, and crowbars seemed absolutely the walking +accompaniments of the crowd, so suddenly did they appear upon the field of +action; and the work of exhumation was begun with a vigor that speedily +covered nearly half of the street with mud and paving-stones. Parties +relieved each other at the task, and ere half an hour a hole capable +of containing a mail-coach was yawning in one of the most frequented +thoroughfares of Dublin. Meanwhile, as no appearance of the culprit could +be had, dreadful conjectures as to his fate began to gain ground. By this +time the authorities had received intimation of what was going forward, and +attempted to disperse the crowd; but Webber, who still continued to conduct +the prosecution, called on them to resist the police and save the poor +creature. And now began a most terrific fray: the stones, forming a ready +weapon, were hurled at the unprepared constables, who on their side fought +manfully, but against superior numbers; so that at last it was only by the +aid of a military force the mob could be dispersed, and a riot which had +assumed a very serious character got under. Meanwhile Webber had reached +his chambers, changed his costume, and was relating over a supper-table the +narrative of his philanthropy to a very admiring circle of his friends. + +Such was my chum, Frank Webber; and as this was the first anecdote I had +heard of him, I relate it here that my readers may be in possession of the +grounds upon which my opinion of that celebrated character was founded, +while yet our acquaintance was in its infancy. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +CAPTAIN POWER. + +Within a few weeks after my arrival in town I had become a matriculated +student of the university, and the possessor of chambers within its walls +in conjunction with the sage and prudent gentleman I have introduced to my +readers in the last chapter. Had my intentions on entering college been of +the most studious and regular kind, the companion into whose society I +was then immediately thrown would have quickly dissipated them. He voted +morning chapels a bore, Greek lectures a humbug, examinations a farce, +and pronounced the statute-book, with its attendant train of fines +and punishment, an "unclean thing." With all my country habits and +predilections fresh upon me, that I was an easily-won disciple to his code +need not be wondered at; and indeed ere many days had passed over, my +thorough indifference to all college rules and regulations had given me a +high place in the esteem of Webber and his friends. As for myself, I was +most agreeably surprised to find that what I had looked forward to as a +very melancholy banishment, was likely to prove a most agreeable sojourn. +Under Webber's directions there was no hour of the day that hung heavily +upon our hands. We rose about eleven and breakfasted, after which succeeded +fencing, sparring, billiards, or tennis in the park; about three, got on +horseback, and either cantered in the Phoenix or about the squares till +visiting time; after which, made our calls, and then dressed for +dinner, which we never thought of taking at commons, but had it from +Morrison's,--we both being reported sick in the dean's list, and thereby +exempt from the routine fare of the fellows' table. In the evening our +occupations became still more pressing; there were balls, suppers, whist +parties, rows at the theatre, shindies in the street, devilled drumsticks +at Hayes's, select oyster parties at the Carlingford,--in fact, every known +method of remaining up all night, and appearing both pale and penitent the +following morning. + +Webber had a large acquaintance in Dublin, and soon made me known to them +all. Among others, the officers of the --th Light Dragoons, in which +regiment Power was captain, were his particular friends; and we had +frequent invitations to dine at their mess. There it was first that +military life presented itself to me in its most attractive possible form, +and heightened the passion I had already so strongly conceived for +the army. Power, above all others, took my fancy. He was a gay, +dashing-looking, handsome fellow of about eight-and-twenty, who had already +seen some service, having joined while his regiment was in Portugal; was in +heart and soul a soldier; and had that species of pride and enthusiasm in +all that regarded a military career that forms no small part of the charm +in the character of a young officer. + +I sat near him the second day we dined at the mess, and was much pleased at +many slight attentions in his manner towards me. + +"I called on you to-day, Mr. O'Malley," said he, "in company with a friend +who is most anxious to see you." + +"Indeed," said I, "I did not hear of it." + +"We left no cards, either of us, as we were determined to make you out on +another day; my companion has most urgent reasons for seeing you. I see you +are puzzled," said he; "and although I promised to keep his secret, I must +blab. It was Sir George Dashwood was with me; he told us of your most +romantic adventure in the west,--and faith there is no doubt you saved the +lady's life." + +"Was she worth the trouble of it?" said the old major, whose conjugal +experiences imparted a very crusty tone to the question. + +"I think," said I, "I need only tell her name to convince you of it." + +"Here's a bumper to her," said Power, filling his glass; "and every true +man will follow my example." + +When the hip-hipping which followed the toast was over, I found myself +enjoying no small share of the attention of the party as the deliverer of +Lucy Dashwood. + +"Sir George is cudgelling his brain to show his gratitude to you," said +Power. + +"What a pity, for the sake of his peace of mind, that you're not in the +army," said another; "it's so easy to show a man a delicate regard by a +quick promotion." + +"A devil of a pity for his own sake, too," said Power, again; "they're +going to make a lawyer of as strapping a fellow as ever carried a +sabretasche." + +"A lawyer!" cried out half a dozen together, pretty much with the same tone +and emphasis as though he had said a twopenny postman; "the devil they +are." + +"Cut the service at once; you'll get no promotion in it," said the colonel; +"a fellow with a black eye like you would look much better at the head of +a squadron than of a string of witnesses. Trust me, you'd shine more in +conducting a picket than a prosecution." + +"But if I can't?" said I. + +"Then take my plan," said Power, "and make it cut _you_." + +"Yours?" said two or three in a breath,--"yours?" + +"Ay, mine; did you never know that I was bred to the bar? Come, come, if +it was only for O'Malley's use and benefit, as we say in the parchments, I +must tell you the story." + +The claret was pushed briskly round, chairs drawn up to fill any vacant +spaces, and Power began his story. + +"As I am not over long-winded, don't be scared at my beginning my +history somewhat far back. I began life that most unlucky of all earthly +contrivances for supplying casualties in case anything may befall the heir +of the house,--a species of domestic jury-mast, only lugged out in a gale +of wind,--a younger son. My brother Tom, a thick-skulled, pudding-headed +dog, that had no taste for anything save his dinner, took it into his wise +head one morning that he would go into the army, and although I had been +originally destined for a soldier, no sooner was his choice made than +all regard for my taste and inclination was forgotten; and as the family +interest was only enough for one, it was decided that I should be put in +what is called a 'learned profession,' and let push my fortune. 'Take +your choice, Dick,' said my father, with a most benign smile,--'take your +choice, boy: will you be a lawyer, a parson, or a doctor?' + +"Had he said, 'Will you be put in the stocks, the pillory, or publicly +whipped?' I could not have looked more blank than at the question. + +"As a decent Protestant, he should have grudged me to the Church; as a +philanthropist, he might have scrupled at making me a physician; but as he +had lost deeply by law-suits, there looked something very like a lurking +malice in sending me to the bar. Now, so far, I concurred with him; for +having no gift for enduring either sermons or senna, I thought I'd make a +bad administrator of either, and as I was ever regarded in the family as +rather of a shrewd and quick turn, with a very natural taste for roguery, I +began to believe he was right, and that Nature intended me for the circuit. + +"From the hour my vocation was pronounced, it had been happy for the family +that they could have got rid of me. A certain ambition to rise in my +profession laid hold on me, and I meditated all day and night how I was to +get on. Every trick, every subtle invention to cheat the enemy that I could +read of, I treasured up carefully, being fully impressed with the notion +that roguery meant law, and equity was only another name for odd and even. + +"My days were spent haranguing special juries of housemaids and +laundresses, cross-examining the cook, charging the under-butler, and +passing sentence of death upon the pantry boy, who, I may add, was +invariably hanged when the court rose. + +"If the mutton were overdone, or the turkey burned, I drew up an indictment +against old Margaret, and against the kitchen-maid as accomplice, and the +family hungered while I harangued; and, in fact, into such disrepute did I +bring the legal profession, by the score of annoyance of which I made +it the vehicle, that my father got a kind of holy horror of law courts, +judges, and crown solicitors, and absented himself from the assizes the +same year, for which, being a high sheriff, he paid a penalty of five +hundred pounds. + +"The next day I was sent off in disgrace to Dublin to begin my career in +college, and eat the usual quartos and folios of beef and mutton which +qualify a man for the woolsack. + +"Years rolled over, in which, after an ineffectual effort to get through +college, the only examination I ever got being a jubilee for the king's +birthday, I was at length called to the Irish bar, and saluted by my +friends as Counsellor Power. The whole thing was so like a joke to me that +it kept me in laughter for three terms; and in fact it was the best thing +could happen me, for I had nothing else to do. The hall of the Four Courts +was a very pleasant lounge; plenty of agreeable fellows that never earned +sixpence or were likely to do so. Then the circuits were so many country +excursions, that supplied fun of one kind or other, but no profit. As for +me, I was what was called a good junior. I knew how to look after the +waiters, to inspect the decanting of the wine and the airing of the claret, +and was always attentive to the father of the circuit,--the crossest old +villain that ever was a king's counsel. These eminent qualities, and my +being able to sing a song in honor of our own bar, were recommendations +enough to make me a favorite, and I was one. + +"Now, the reputation I obtained was pleasant enough at first, but I began +to wonder that I never got a brief. Somehow, if it rained civil bills or +declarations, devil a one would fall upon my head; and it seemed as if +the only object I had in life was to accompany the circuit, a kind of +deputy-assistant commissary-general, never expected to come into action. +To be sure, I was not alone in misfortune; there were several promising +youths, who cut great figures in Trinity, in the same predicament, the only +difference being, that they attributed to jealousy what I suspected was +forgetfulness, for I don't think a single attorney in Dublin knew one of +us. + +"Two years passed over, and then I walked the hall with a bag filled with +newspapers to look like briefs, and was regularly called by two or three +criers from one court to the other. It never took. Even when I used to +seduce a country friend to visit the courts, and get him into an animated +conversation in a corner between two pillars, devil a one would believe him +to be a client, and I was fairly nonplussed. + +"'How is a man ever to distinguish himself in such a walk as this?' was my +eternal question to myself every morning, as I put on my wig. 'My face is +as well known here as Lord Manners's.' Every one says, 'How are you, Dick?' +'How goes it, Power?' But except Holmes, that said one morning as he passed +me, 'Eh, always busy?' no one alludes to the possibility of my having +anything to do. + +"'If I could only get a footing,' thought I, 'Lord, how I'd astonish them! +As the song says:-- + + "Perhaps a recruit + Might chance to shoo + Great General Buonaparté." + +So,' said I to myself, 'I'll make these halls ring for it some day or +other, if the occasion ever present itself.' But, faith, it seemed as if +some cunning solicitor overheard me and told his associates, for they +avoided me like a leprosy. The home circuit I had adopted for some time +past, for the very palpable reason that being near town it was least +costly, and it had all the advantages of any other for me in getting me +nothing to do. Well, one morning we were in Philipstown; I was lying awake +in bed, thinking how long it would be before I'd sum up resolution to cut +the bar, where certainly my prospects were not the most cheering, when some +one tapped gently at my door. + +"'Come in,' said I. + +"The waiter opened gently, and held out his hand with a large roll of paper +tied round with a piece of red tape. + +"'Counsellor,' said he, 'handsel.' + +"'What do you mean?' said I, jumping out of bed. 'What is it, you villain?' + +"'A brief.' + +"'A brief. So I see; but it's for Counsellor Kinshella, below stairs.' That +was the first name written on it. + +"'Bethershin,' said he, 'Mr. M'Grath bid me give it to you carefully.' + +"By this time I had opened the envelope and read my own name at full length +as junior counsel in the important case of Monaghan _v_. M'Shean, to be +tried in the Record Court at Ballinasloe. 'That will do,' said I, flinging +it on the bed with a careless air, as if it were a very every-day matter +with me. + +"'But Counsellor, darlin', give us a thrifle to dhrink your health with +your first cause, and the Lord send you plenty of them!' + +"'My first,' said I, with a smile of most ineffable compassion at his +simplicity; 'I'm worn out with them. Do you know, Peter, I was thinking +seriously of leaving the bar, when you came into the room? Upon my +conscience, it's in earnest I am.' + +"Peter believed me, I think, for I saw him give a very peculiar look as he +pocketed his half-crown and left the room. + +"The door was scarcely closed when I gave way to the free transport of my +ecstasy; there it lay at last, the long looked-for, long wished-for object +of all my happiness, and though I well knew that a junior counsel has about +as much to do in the conducting of a case as a rusty handspike has in a +naval engagement, yet I suffered not such thoughts to mar the current of my +happiness. There was my name in conjunction with the two mighty leaders on +the circuit; and though they each pocketed a hundred, I doubt very much if +they received their briefs with one half the satisfaction. My joy at length +a little subdued, I opened the roll of paper and began carefully to peruse +about fifty pages of narrative regarding a watercourse that once had turned +a mill; but, from some reasons doubtless known to itself or its friends, +would do so no longer, and thus set two respectable neighbors at +loggerheads, and involved them in a record that had been now heard three +several times. + +"Quite forgetting the subordinate part I was destined to fill, I opened +the case in a most flowery oration, in which I descanted upon the benefits +accruing to mankind from water-communication since the days of Noah; +remarking upon the antiquity of mills, and especially of millers, and +consumed half an hour in a preamble of generalities that I hoped would make +a very considerable impression upon the court. Just at the critical moment +when I was about to enter more particularly into the case, three or four +of the great unbriefed came rattling into my room, and broke in upon the +oration. + +"'I say, Power,' said one, 'come and have an hour's skating on the canal; +the courts are filled, and we sha'n't be missed.' + +"'Skate, my dear friend,' said I, in a most dolorous tone, 'out of the +question; see, I am chained to a devilish knotty case with Kinshella and +Mills.' + +"'Confound your humbugging,' said another, 'that may do very well in Dublin +for the attorneys, but not with us.' + +"'I don't well understand you,' I replied; 'there is the brief. Hennesy +expects me to report upon it this evening, and I am so hurried.' + +"Here a very chorus of laughing broke forth, in which, after several vain +efforts to resist, I was forced to join, and kept it up with the others. + +"When our mirth was over, my friends scrutinized the red-tape-tied packet, +and pronounced it a real brief, with a degree of surprise that certainly +augured little for their familiarity with such objects of natural history. + +"When they had left the room, I leisurely examined the all-important +document, spreading it out before me upon the table, and surveying it as +a newly-anointed sovereign might be supposed to contemplate a map of his +dominions. + +"'At last,' said I to myself,--'at last, and here is the footstep to the +woolsack.' For more than an hour I sat motionless, my eyes fixed upon +the outspread paper, lost in a very maze of revery. The ambition which +disappointments had crushed, and delay had chilled, came suddenly back, and +all my day-dreams of legal success, my cherished aspirations after silk +gowns and patents of precedence, rushed once more upon me, and I was +resolved to do or die. Alas, a very little reflection showed me that the +latter was perfectly practicable; but that, as a junior counsel, five +minutes of very common-place recitation was all my province, and with the +main business of the day I had about as much to do as the call-boy of a +playhouse has with the success of a tragedy. + +"'My Lord, this is an action brought by Timothy Higgin,' etc., and down I +go, no more to be remembered and thought of than if I had never existed. +How different it would be if I were the leader! Zounds, how I would worry +the witnesses, browbeat the evidence, cajole the jury, and soften the +judges! If the Lord were, in His mercy, to remove old Mills and Kinshella +before Tuesday, who knows but my fortune might be made? This supposition +once started, set me speculating upon all the possible chances that might +cut off two king's counsel in three days, and left me fairly convinced that +my own elevation was certain, were they only removed from my path. + +"For two whole days the thought never left my mind; and on the evening of +the second day, I sat moodily over my pint of port, in the Clonbrock Arms, +with my friend Timothy Casey, Captain in the North Cork Militia, for my +companion. + +"'Dick,' said Tim, 'take off your wine, man. When does this confounded +trial come on?' + +"'To-morrow,' said I, with a deep groan. + +"'Well, well, and if it does, what matter?' he said; 'you'll do well +enough, never be afraid.' + +"'Alas!' said I, 'you don't understand the cause of my depression.' I here +entered upon an account of my sorrows, which lasted for above an hour, and +only concluded just as a tremendous noise in the street without announced +an arrival. For several minutes such was the excitement in the house, such +running hither and thither, such confusion, and such hubbub, that we could +not make out who had arrived. + +"At last a door opened quite near us, and we saw the waiter assisting a +very portly-looking gentleman off with his great-coat, assuring him the +while that if he would only walk into the coffee-room for ten minutes, the +fire in his apartment should be got ready. The stranger accordingly entered +and seated himself at the fireplace, having never noticed that Casey and +myself, the only persons there, were in the room. + +"'I say, Phil, who is he?' inquired Casey of the waiter. + +"'Counsellor Mills, Captain,' said the waiter, and left the room. + +"'That's your friend,' said Casey. + +"'I see,' said I; 'and I wish with all my heart he was at home with his +pretty wife, in Leeson Street.' + +"'Is she good-looking?' inquired Tim. + +"'Devil a better,' said I; 'and he's as jealous as old Nick.' + +"'Hem,' said Tim, 'mind your cue, and I'll give him a start.' Here he +suddenly changed his whispering tone for one in a louder key, and resumed: +'I say, Power, it will make some work for you lawyers. But who can she be? +that's the question.' Here he took a much crumpled letter from his pocket, +and pretended to read: '"A great sensation was created in the neighborhood +of Merrion Square, yesterday, by the sudden disappearance from her house of +the handsome Mrs. ------." Confound it!--what's the name? What a hand he +writes! Hill, or Miles, or something like that,--"the lady of an eminent +barrister, now on circuit. The gay Lothario is, they say, the Hon. George +------."' I was so thunderstruck at the rashness of the stroke, I could say +nothing; while the old gentleman started as if he had sat down on a pin. +Casey, meanwhile, went on. + +"'Hell and fury!' said the king's counsel, rushing over, 'what is it you're +saying?' + +"'You appear warm, old gentleman,' said Casey, putting up the letter and +rising from the table. + +"'Show me that letter!--show me that infernal letter, sir, this instant!' + +"'Show you my letter,' said Casey; 'cool, that, anyhow. You are certainly a +good one.' + +"'Do you know me, sir? Answer me that,' said the lawyer, bursting with +passion. + +"'Not at present,' said Tim, quietly; 'but I hope to do so in the morning +in explanation of your language and conduct.' A tremendous ringing of the +bell here summoned the waiter to the room. + +"'Who is that--' inquired the lawyer. The epithet he judged it safe to +leave unsaid, as he pointed to my friend Casey. + +"'Captain Casey, sir, the commanding officer here.' + +"'Just so,' said Casey. 'And very much, at your service any hour after five +in the morning.' + +"'Then you refuse, sir, to explain the paragraph I have just heard you +read?' + +"'Well done, old gentleman; so you have been listening to a private +conversation I held with my friend here. In that case we had better retire +to our room.' So saying, he ordered the waiter to send a fresh bottle +and glasses to No. 14, and taking my arm, very politely wished Mr. Mills +good-night, and left the coffee-room. + +"Before we had reached the top of the stairs the house was once more in +commotion. The new arrival had ordered out fresh horses, and was hurrying +every one in his impatience to get away. In ten minutes the chaise rolled +off from the door; and Casey, putting his head out of the window, wished +him a pleasant journey; while turning to me, he said,-- + +"'There's one of them out of the way for you, if we are even obliged to +fight the other.' + +"The port was soon despatched, and with it went all the scruples of +conscience I had at first felt for the cruel _ruse_ we had just practised. +Scarcely was the other bottle called for when we heard the landlord calling +out in a stentorian voice,-- + +"'Two horses for Goran Bridge to meet Counsellor Kinshella.' + +"'That's the other fellow?' said Casey. + +"'It is,' said I. + +"'Then we must be stirring,' said he. 'Waiter, chaise and pair in five +minutes,--d'ye hear? Power, my boy, I don't want you; stay here and study +your brief. It's little trouble Counsellor Kinshella will give you in the +morning.' + +"All he would tell me of his plans was that he didn't mean any serious +bodily harm to the counsellor, but that certainly he was not likely to be +heard of for twenty-four hours. + +"'Meanwhile, Power, go in and win, my boy,' said he; 'such another walk +over may never occur.' + +"I must not make my story longer. The next morning the great record of +Monaghan _v_. M'Shean was called on; and as the senior counsel were not +present, the attorney wished a postponement. I, however, was firm; told +the court I was quite prepared, and with such an air of assurance that I +actually puzzled the attorney. The case was accordingly opened by me in a +very brilliant speech, and the witnesses called; but such was my unlucky +ignorance of the whole matter that I actually broke down the testimony of +our own, and fought like a Trojan, for the credit and character of the +perjurers against us! The judge rubbed his eyes; the jury looked amazed; +and the whole bar laughed outright. However, on I went, blundering, +floundering, and foundering at every step; and at half-past four, amidst +the greatest and most uproarious mirth of the whole court, heard the jury +deliver a verdict against us, just as old Kinshella rushed into the court +covered with mud and spattered with clay. He had been sent for twenty miles +to make a will for Mr. Daly, of Daly's Mount, who was supposed to be at +the point of death, but who, on his arrival, threatened to shoot him for +causing an alarm to his family by such an imputation. + +"The rest is soon told. They moved for a new trial, and I moved out of the +profession. I cut the bar, for it cut me. I joined the gallant 14th as a +volunteer; and here I am without a single regret, I must confess, that I +didn't succeed in the great record of Monaghan _v_. M'Shean." + +Once more the claret went briskly round, and while we canvassed Power's +story, many an anecdote of military life was told, as every instant +increased the charm of that career I longed for. + +"Another cooper, Major," said Power. + +"With all my heart," said the rosy little officer, as he touched the bell +behind him; "and now let's have a song." + +"Yes, Power," said three or four together; "let us have 'The Irish +Dragoon,' if it's only to convert your friend O'Malley there." + +"Here goes, then," said Dick, taking off a bumper as he began the following +chant to the air of "Love is the Soul of a gay Irishman":-- + + THE IRISH DRAGOON. + + Oh, love is the soul of an Irish dragoon + In battle, in bivouac, or in saloon, + From the tip of his spur to his bright sabretasche. + With his soldierly gait and his bearing so high, + His gay laughing look and his light speaking eye, + He frowns at his rival, he ogles his wench, + He springs in his saddle and _chasses_ the French, + With his jingling spur and his bright sabretasche. + + His spirits are high, and he little knows care, + Whether sipping his claret or charging a square, + With his jingling spur and his bright sabretasche. + As ready to sing or to skirmish he's found, + To take off his wine or to take up his ground; + When the bugle may call him, how little he fears + To charge forth in column and beat the Mounseers, + With his jingling spur and his bright sabretasche. + + When the battle is over, he gayly rides back + To cheer every soul in the night bivouac, + With his jingling spur and his bright sabretasche. + Oh, there you may see him in full glory crowned, + As he sits 'midst his friends on the hardly won ground, + And hear with what feeling the toast he will give, + As he drinks to the land where all Irishmen live, + With his jingling spur and his bright sabretasche. + +It was late when we broke up; but among all the recollections of that +pleasant evening none clung to me so forcibly, none sank so deeply in my +heart, as the gay and careless tone of Power's manly voice; and as I fell +asleep towards morning, the words of "The Irish Dragoon" were floating +through my mind and followed me in my dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +THE VICE-PROVOST. + +I had now been for some weeks a resident within the walls of the +university, and yet had never presented my letter of introduction to Dr. +Barret. Somehow, my thoughts and occupations had left me little leisure to +reflect upon my college course, and I had not felt the necessity suggested +by my friend Sir Harry, of having a supporter in the very learned and +gifted individual to whom I was accredited. How long I might have continued +in this state of indifference it is hard to say, when chance brought about +my acquaintance with the doctor. + +Were I not inditing a true history in this narrative of my life, to the +events and characters of which so many are living witnesses, I should +certainly fear to attempt anything like a description of this very +remarkable man; so liable would any sketch, however faint and imperfect, be +to the accusation of caricature, when all was so singular and so eccentric. + +Dr. Barret was, at the time I speak of, close upon seventy years of age, +scarcely five feet in height, and even that diminutive stature lessened +by a stoop. His face was thin, pointed, and russet-colored; his nose so +aquiline as nearly to meet his projecting chin, and his small gray eyes, +red and bleary, peered beneath his well-worn cap with a glance of mingled +fear and suspicion. His dress was a suit of the rustiest black, threadbare, +and patched in several places, while a pair of large brown leather +slippers, far too big for his feet, imparted a sliding motion to his walk +that added an air of indescribable meanness to his appearance; a gown that +had been worn for twenty years, browned and coated with the learned dust of +the _Fagel_, covered his rusty habiliments, and completed the equipments of +a figure that it was somewhat difficult for the young student to recognize +as the vice-provost of the university. Such was he in externals. Within, a +greater or more profound scholar never graced the walls of the college; +a distinguished Grecian, learned in all the refinements of a hundred +dialects; a deep Orientalist, cunning in all the varieties of Eastern +languages, and able to reason with a Moonshee, or chat with a Persian +ambassador. With a mind that never ceased acquiring, he possessed a memory +ridiculous for its retentiveness, even of trifles; no character in history, +no event in chronology was unknown to him, and he was referred to by his +contemporaries for information in doubtful and disputed cases, as men +consult a lexicon or dictionary. With an intellect thus stored with deep +and far-sought knowledge, in the affairs of the world he was a child. +Without the walls of the college, for above forty years, he had not +ventured half as many times, and knew absolutely nothing of the busy, +active world that fussed and fumed so near him; his farthest excursion was +to the Bank of Ireland, to which he made occasional visits to fund the +ample income of his office, and add to the wealth which already had +acquired for him a well-merited repute of being the richest man in college. + +His little intercourse with the world had left him, in all his habits and +manners, in every respect exactly as when he entered college nearly half +a century before; and as he had literally risen from the ranks in the +university, all the peculiarities of voice, accent, and pronunciation which +distinguished him as a youth, adhered to him in old age. This was singular +enough, and formed a very ludicrous contrast with the learned and deep-read +tone of his conversation; but another peculiarity, still more striking, +belonged to him. When he became a fellow, he was obliged, by the rules of +the college, to take holy orders as a _sine qua non_ to his holding his +fellowship. This he did, as he would have assumed a red hood or blue one, +as bachelor of laws or doctor of medicine, and thought no more of it; +but frequently, in his moments of passionate excitement, the venerable +character with which he was invested was quite forgotten, and he would +utter some sudden and terrific oath, more productive of mirth to his +auditors than was seemly, and for which, once spoken, the poor doctor felt +the greatest shame and contrition. These oaths were no less singular than +forcible; and many a trick was practised, and many a plan devised, that the +learned vice-provost might be entrapped into his favorite exclamation of, +"May the devil admire me!" which no place or presence could restrain. + +My servant, Mike, who had not been long in making himself acquainted with +all the originals about him, was the cause of my first meeting the doctor, +before whom I received a summons to appear on the very serious charge of +treating with disrespect the heads of the college. + +The circumstances were shortly these: Mike had, among the other gossip of +the place, heard frequent tales of the immense wealth and great parsimony +of the doctor, and of his anxiety to amass money on all occasions, and the +avidity with which even the smallest trifle was added to his gains. He +accordingly resolved to amuse himself at the expense of this trait, and +proceeded thus. Boring a hole in a halfpenny, he attached a long string to +it, and having dropped it on the doctor's step stationed himself on the +opposite side of the court, concealed from view by the angle of the +Commons' wall. He waited patiently for the chapel bell, at the first toll +of which the door opened, and the doctor issued forth. Scarcely was his +foot upon the step, when he saw the piece of money, and as quickly stooped +to seize it; but just as his finger had nearly touched it, it evaded his +grasp and slowly retreated. He tried again, but with the like success. At +last, thinking he had miscalculated the distance, he knelt leisurely down, +and put forth his hand, but lo! it again escaped him; on which, slowly +rising from his posture, he shambled on towards the chapel, where, meeting +the senior lecturer at the door, he cried out, "H------ to my soul, Wall, +but I saw the halfpenny walk away!" + +For the sake of the grave character whom he addressed, I need not recount +how such a speech was received; suffice it to say, that Mike had been seen +by a college porter, who reported him as my servant. + +I was in the very act of relating the anecdote to a large party at +breakfast in my rooms, when a summons arrived, requiring my immediate +attendance at the board, then sitting in solemn conclave at the examination +hall. + +I accordingly assumed my academic costume as speedily as possible, and +escorted by that most august functionary, Mr. M'Alister, presented myself +before the seniors. + +The members of the board, with the provost at their head, were seated at a +long oak table covered with books, papers, etc., and from the silence they +maintained as I walked up the hall, I augured that a very solemn scene was +before me. + +"Mr. O'Malley," said the dean, reading my name from a paper he held in his +hand, "you have been summoned here at the desire of the vice-provost, whose +questions you will reply to." + +I bowed. A silence of a few minutes followed, when, at length, the learned +doctor, hitching up his nether garments with both hands, put his old and +bleary eyes close to my face, while he croaked out, with an accent that no +hackney-coachman could have exceeded in vulgarity,-- + +"Eh, O'Malley, you're _quartus_, I believe; a'n't you?" + +"I believe not. I think I am the only person of that name now on the +books." + +"That's thrue; but there were three O'Malleys before you. Godfrey O'Malley, +that construed _Calve Neroni_ to Nero the Calvinist,--ha! ha! ha!--was +cautioned in 1788." + +"My uncle, I believe, sir." + +"More than likely, from what I hear of you,--_Ex uno_, etc. I see your name +every day on the punishment roll. Late hours, never at chapel, seldom at +morning lecture. Here ye are, sixteen shillings, wearing a red coat." + +"Never knew any harm in that, Doctor." + +"Ay, but d'ye see me, now? 'Grave raiment,' says the statute. And then, ye +keep numerous beasts of prey, dangerous in their habits, and unseemly to +behold." + +"A bull terrier, sir, and two game-cocks, are, I assure you, the only +animals in my household." + +"Well. I'll fine you for it." + +"I believe, Doctor," said the dean, interrupting in an undertone, "that you +cannot impose a penalty in this matter." + +"Ay, but I can. 'Singing-birds,' says the statute, 'are forbidden within +the wall.'" + +"And then, ye dazzled my eyes at Commons with a bit of looking-glass, on +Friday. I saw you. May the devil!--ahem! As I was saying, that's casting +_reflections_ on the heads of the college; and your servant it was, +_Michaelis Liber_, Mickey Free,--may the flames of!--ahem!--an insolent +varlet! called me a sweep." + +"You, Doctor; impossible!" said I, with pretended horror. + +"Ay, but d'ye see me, now? It's thrue, for I looked about me at the time, +and there wasn't another sweep in the place but myself. Hell to!--I +mean--God forgive me for swearing! but I'll fine you a pound for this." + +As I saw the doctor was getting on at such a pace, I resolved, +notwithstanding the august presence of the board, to try the efficacy of +Sir Harry's letter of introduction, which I had taken in my pocket in the +event of its being wanted. + +"I beg your pardon, sir, if the time be an unsuitable one; but may I take +the opportunity of presenting this letter to you?" + +"Ha! I know the hand--Boyle's. _Boyle secundus_. Hem, ha, ay! 'My young +friend; and assist him by your advice.' To be sure! Oh, of course. Eh, tell +me, young man, did Boyle say nothing to you about the copy of Erasmus, +bound in vellum, that I sold him in Trinity term, 1782?" + +"I rather think not, sir," said I, doubtfully. + +"Well, then, he might. He owes me two-and-fourpence of the balance." + +"Oh, I beg pardon, sir; I now remember he desired me to repay you that sum; +but he had just sealed the letter when he recollected it." + +"Better late than never," said the doctor, smiling graciously. "Where's the +money? Ay! half-a-crown. I haven't twopence--never mind. Go away, young +man; the case is dismissed. _Vehementer miror quare hue venisti_. You're +more fit for anything than a college life. Keep good hours; mind the terms; +and dismiss _Michaelis Liber_. Ha, ha, ha! May the devil!--hem!--that is +do--" So saying, the little doctor's hand pushed me from the hall, his mind +evidently relieved of all the griefs from which he had been suffering, by +the recovery of his long-lost two-and-four-pence. + +Such was my first and last interview with the vice-provost, and it made an +impression upon me that all the intervening years have neither dimmed nor +erased. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +TRINITY COLLEGE.--A LECTURE. + +I had not been many weeks a resident of Old Trinity ere the flattering +reputation my chum, Mr. Francis Webber, had acquired, extended also to +myself; and by universal consent, we were acknowledged the most riotous, +ill-conducted, disorderly men on the books of the university. Were the +lamps of the squares extinguished, and the college left in total darkness, +we were summoned before the dean; was the vice-provost serenaded with +a chorus of trombones and French horns, to our taste in music was the +attention ascribed; did a sudden alarm of fire disturb the congregation +at morning chapel, Messrs. Webber and O'Malley were brought before the +board,--and I must do them the justice to say that the most trifling +circumstantial evidence was ever sufficient to bring a conviction. Reading +men avoided the building where we resided as they would have done the +plague. Our doors, like those of a certain classic precinct commemorated by +a Latin writer, lay open night and day, while mustached dragoons, knowingly +dressed four-in-hand men, fox-hunters in pink, issuing forth to the +Dubber or returning splashed from a run with the Kildare hounds, were +everlastingly seen passing and repassing. Within, the noise and confusion +resembled rather the mess-room of a regiment towards eleven at night +than the chambers of a college student; while, with the double object of +affecting to be in ill-health, and to avoid the reflections that daylight +occasionally inspires, the shutters were never opened, but lamps and +candles kept always burning. Such was No. 2, Old Square, in the goodly days +I write of. All the terrors of fines and punishments fell scathless on the +head of my worthy chum. In fact, like a well-known political character, +whose pleasure and amusement it has been for some years past to drive +through acts of Parliament and deride the powers of the law, so did Mr. +Webber tread his way, serpenting through the statute-book, ever grazing, +but rarely trespassing upon some forbidden ground which might involve the +great punishment of expulsion. So expert, too, had he become in his special +pleadings, so dexterous in the law of the university, that it was no easy +matter to bring crime home to him; and even when this was done, his pleas +of mitigation rarely failed of success. + +There was a sweetness of demeanor, a mild, subdued tone about him, that +constantly puzzled the worthy heads of the college how the accusations +ever brought against him could be founded on truth; that the pale, +delicate-looking student, whose harsh, hacking cough terrified the hearers, +could be the boisterous performer upon a key-bugle, or the terrific +assailant of watchmen, was something too absurd for belief. And when Mr. +Webber, with his hand upon his heart, and in his most dulcet accents, +assured them that the hours he was not engaged in reading for the medal +were passed in the soothing society of a few select and intimate friends +of literary tastes and refined minds, who, knowing the delicacy of his +health,--here he would cough,--were kind enough to sit up with him for an +hour or so in the evening, the delusion was perfect; and the story of the +dean's riotous habits having got abroad, the charge was usually suppressed. + +Like most idle men, Webber never had a moment to spare. Except read, there +was nothing he did not do; training a hack for a race in the Phoenix, +arranging a rowing-match, getting up a mock duel between two white-feather +acquaintances, were his almost daily avocations. Besides that, he was at +the head of many organized societies, instituted for various benevolent +purposes. One was called "The Association for Discountenancing Watchmen;" +another, "The Board of Works," whose object was principally devoted to the +embellishment of the university, in which, to do them justice, their labors +were unceasing, and what with the assistance of some black paint, a ladder, +and a few pounds of gunpowder, they certainly contrived to effect many +important changes. Upon an examination morning, some hundred luckless +"jibs" might be seen perambulating the courts, in the vain effort to +discover their tutors' chambers, the names having undergone an alteration +that left all trace of their original proprietors unattainable: Doctor +Francis Mooney having become Doctor Full Moon; Doctor Hare being, by the +change of two letters, Doctor Ape; Romney Robinson, Romulus and Remus, etc. +While, upon occasions like these, there could be but little doubt of Master +Frank's intentions, upon many others, so subtle were his inventions, so +well-contrived his plots, it became a matter of considerable difficulty to +say whether the mishap which befell some luckless acquaintance were the +result of design or mere accident; and not unfrequently well-disposed +individuals were found condoling with "Poor Frank" upon his ignorance of +some college rule or etiquette, his breach of which had been long and +deliberately planned. Of this latter description was a circumstance which +occurred about this time, and which some who may throw an eye over these +pages will perhaps remember. + +The dean, having heard (and, indeed, the preparations were not intended to +secure secrecy) that Webber destined to entertain a party of his friends +at dinner on a certain day, sent a peremptory order for his appearance at +Commons, his name being erased from the sick list, and a pretty strong hint +conveyed to him that any evasion upon his part would be certainly followed +by an inquiry into the real reasons for his absence. What was to be done? +That was the very day he had destined for his dinner. To be sure, the +majority of his guests were college men, who would understand the +difficulty at once; but still there were some others, officers of the 14th, +with whom he was constantly dining, and whom he could not so easily +put off. The affair was difficult, but still Webber was the man for a +difficulty; in fact, he rather liked one. A very brief consideration +accordingly sufficed, and he sat down and wrote to his friends at the Royal +Barracks thus:-- + + Saturday. + DEAR POWER,--I have a better plan for Tuesday than that I + had proposed. Lunch here at three (we'll call it dinner), in the hall + with the great guns. I can't say much for the grub; but the + company--glorious! + After that we'll start for Lucan in the drag; take + our coffee, strawberries, etc., and return to No. 2 for supper at ten. + Advertise your fellows of this change, and believe me, + + Most unchangeably yours, FRANK WEBBER. + +Accordingly, as three o'clock struck, six dashing-looking light dragoons +were seen slowly sauntering up the middle of the dining-hall, escorted +by Webber, who, in full academic costume, was leisurely ciceroning his +friends, and expatiating upon the excellences of the very remarkable +portraits which graced the walls. + +The porters looked on with some surprise at the singular hour selected +for sight-seeing; but what was their astonishment to find that the party, +having arrived at the end of the hall, instead of turning back again, very +composedly unbuckled their belts, and having disposed of their sabres in a +corner, took their places at the Fellows' table, and sat down amidst the +collective wisdom of Greek lecturers and Regius professors, as though they +had been mere mortals like themselves. + +Scarcely was the long Latin grace concluded, when Webber, leaning forward, +enjoined his friends, in a very audible whisper, that if they intended to +dine no time was to be lost. + +"We have but little ceremony here, gentlemen, and all we ask is a fair +start," said he, as he drew over the soup, and proceeded to help himself. + +The advice was not thrown away; for each man, with an alacrity a campaign +usually teaches, made himself master of some neighboring dish, a very quick +interchange of good things speedily following the appropriation. It was +in vain that the senior lecturer looked aghast, that the professor of +astronomy frowned. The whole table, indeed, were thunderstruck, even to the +poor vice-provost himself, who, albeit given to the comforts of the table, +could not lift a morsel to his mouth, but muttered between his teeth, "May +the devil admire me, but they're dragoons!" The first shock of surprise +over, the porters proceeded to inform them that except Fellows of the +University or Fellow-commoners, none were admitted to the table. Webber +however assured them that it was a mistake, there being nothing in the +statute to exclude the 14th Light Dragoons, as he was prepared to prove. +Meanwhile dinner proceeded, Power and his party performing with great +self-satisfaction upon the sirloins and saddles about them, regretting +only, from time to time, that there was a most unaccountable absence of +wine, and suggesting the propriety of napkins whenever they should dine +there again. Whatever chagrin these unexpected guests caused among their +entertainers of the upper table, in the lower part of the hall the laughter +was loud and unceasing; and long before the hour concluded, the Fellows +took their departure, leaving to Master Frank Webber the task of doing the +honors alone and unassisted. When summoned before the board for the offence +on the following morning, Webber excused himself by throwing the blame upon +his friends, with whom, he said, nothing short of a personal quarrel--a +thing for a reading man not to be thought of--could have prevented +intruding in the manner related. Nothing less than _his_ tact could have +saved him on this occasion, and at last he carried the day; while by an +act of the board the 14th Light Dragoons were pronounced the most insolent +corps in the service. + +An adventure of his, however, got wind about this time, and served to +enlighten many persons as to his real character, who had hitherto been most +lenient in their expressions about him. Our worthy tutor, with a zeal for +our welfare far more praiseworthy than successful, was in the habit of +summoning to his chambers, on certain mornings of the week, his various +pupils, whom he lectured in the books for the approaching examinations. +Now, as these séances were held at six o'clock in winter as well as summer, +in a cold fireless chamber,--the lecturer lying snug amidst his blankets, +while we stood shivering around the walls,--the ardor of learning must +indeed have proved strong that prompted a regular attendance. As to Frank, +he would have as soon thought of attending chapel as of presenting himself +on such an occasion. Not so with me. I had not yet grown hackneyed enough +to fly in the face of authority, and I frequently left the whist-table, or +broke off in a song, to hurry over to the doctor's chambers and spout Homer +and Hesiod. I suffered on in patience, till at last the bore became so +insupportable that I told my sorrows to my friend, who listened to me out, +and promised me succor. + +It so chanced that upon some evening in each week Dr. Mooney was in the +habit of visiting some friends who resided a short distance from town, +and spending the night at their house. He, of course, did not lecture the +following morning,--a paper placard, announcing no lecture, being affixed +to the door on such occasions. Frank waited patiently till he perceived the +doctor affixing this announcement upon his door one evening; and no sooner +had he left the college than he withdrew the paper and departed. + +On the next morning he rose early, and concealing himself on the staircase, +waited the arrival of the venerable damsel who acted as servant to the +doctor. No sooner had she opened the door and groped her way into the +sitting-room than Frank crept forward, and stealing gently into the +bedroom, sprang into the bed and wrapped himself up in the blankets. The +great bell boomed forth at six o'clock, and soon after the sounds of the +feet were heard upon the stairs. One by one they came along, and gradually +the room was filled with cold and shivering wretches, more than half +asleep, and trying to arouse themselves into an approach to attention. + +"Who's there?" said Frank, mimicking the doctor's voice, as he yawned three +or four times in succession and turned in the bed. + +"Collisson, O'Malley, Nesbitt," etc., said a number of voices, anxious to +have all the merit such a penance could confer. + +"Where's Webber?" + +"Absent, sir," chorussed the whole party. + +"Sorry for it," said the mock doctor. "Webber is a man of first-rate +capacity; and were he only to apply, I am not certain to what eminence his +abilities might raise him. Come, Collisson, any three angles of a triangle +are equal to--are equal to--what are they equal to?" Here he yawned as +though he would dislocate his jaw. + +"Any three angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles," said +Collisson, in the usual sing-song tone of a freshman. + +As he proceeded to prove the proposition, his monotonous tone seemed to +have lulled the doctor into a doze, for in a few minutes a deep, long-drawn +snore announced from the closed curtains that he listened no longer. After +a little time, however, a short snort from the sleeper awoke him suddenly, +and he called out, "Go on, I'm waiting. Do you think I can arouse at this +hour of the morning for nothing but to listen to your bungling? Can no one +give me a free translation of the passage?" + +This digression from mathematics to classics did not surprise the hearers, +though it somewhat confused them, no one being precisely aware what the +line in question might be. + +"Try it, Nesbitt,--you, O'Malley. Silent all? Really this is too bad!" An +indistinct muttering here from the crowd was followed by an announcement +from the doctor that the speaker was an ass, and his head a turnip! "Not +one of you capable of translating a chorus from Euripides,--'Ou, ou, papai, +papai,' etc.; which, after all, means no more than, 'Oh, whilleleu, murder, +why did you die!' etc. What are you laughing at, gentlemen? May I ask, does +it become a set of ignorant, ill-informed savages--yes, savages, I repeat +the word--to behave in this manner? Webber is the only man I have with +common intellect,--the only man among you capable of distinguishing +himself. But as for you, I'll bring you before the board; I'll write to +your friends; I'll stop your college indulgences; I'll confine you to the +walls; I'll be damned, eh--" + +This lapse confused him. He stammered, stuttered, endeavored to recover +himself; but by this time we had approached the bed, just at the moment +when Master Frank, well knowing what he might expect if detected, had +bolted from the blankets and rushed from the room. In an instant we were in +pursuit; but he regained his chambers, and double-locked the door before we +could overtake him, leaving us to ponder over the insolent tirade we had so +patiently submitted to. + +That morning the affair got wind all over college. As for us, we were +scarcely so much laughed at as the doctor; the world wisely remembering, +if such were the nature of our morning's orisons, we might nearly as +profitably have remained snug in our quarters. + +Such was our life in Old Trinity; and strange enough it is that one should +feel tempted to the confession, but I really must acknowledge these were, +after all, happy times, and I look back upon them with mingled pleasure and +sadness. The noble lord who so pathetically lamented that the devil was not +so strong in him as he used to be forty years before, has an echo in my +regrets that the student is not as young in me as when these scenes were +enacting of which I write. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +THE INVITATION.--THE WAGER. + +I was sitting at breakfast with Webber, a few mornings after the mess +dinner I have spoken of, when Power came in hastily. + +"Ha, the very man!" said he. "I say, O'Malley, here's an invitation for you +from Sir George, to dine on Friday. He desired me to say a thousand civil +things about his not having made you out, regrets that he was not at home +when you called yesterday, and all that. By Jove, I know nothing like the +favor you stand in; and as for Miss Dashwood, faith! the fair Lucy blushed, +and tore her glove in most approved style, when the old general began his +laudation of you." + +"Pooh, nonsense," said I; "that silly affair in the west." + +"Oh, very probably; there's reason the less for you looking so excessively +conscious. But I must tell you, in all fairness, that you have no chance; +nothing short of a dragoon will go down." + +"Be assured," said I, somewhat nettled, "my pretensions do not aspire to +the fair Miss Dashwood." + +"_Tant mieux et tant pis, mon cher_. I wish to Heaven mine did; and, by +Saint Patrick, if I only played the knight-errant half as gallantly +as yourself, I would not relinquish my claims to the Secretary at War +himself." + +"What the devil brought the old general down to your wild regions?" +inquired Webber. + +"To contest the county." + +"A bright thought, truly. When a man was looking for a seat, why not try a +place where the law is occasionally heard of?" + +"I'm sure I can give you no information on that head; nor have I ever heard +how Sir George came to learn that such a place as Galway existed." + +"I believe I can enlighten you," said Power. "Lady Dashwood--rest her +soul!--came west of the Shannon; she had a large property somewhere in +Mayo, and owned some hundred acres of swamp, with some thousand starving +tenantry thereupon, that people dignified as an estate in Connaught. This +first suggested to him the notion of setting up for the county, probably +supposing that the people who never paid in rent might like to do so in +gratitude. How he was undeceived, O'Malley there can inform us. Indeed, I +believe the worthy general, who was confoundedly hard up when he married, +expected to have got a great fortune, and little anticipated the three +chancery suits he succeeded to, nor the fourteen rent-charges to his wife's +relatives that made up the bulk of the dower. It was an unlucky hit for him +when he fell in with the old 'maid' at Bath; and had she lived, he must +have gone to the colonies. But the Lord took her one day, and Major +Dashwood was himself again. The Duke of York, the story goes, saw him at +Hounslow during a review, was much struck with his air and appearance, made +some inquiries, found him to be of excellent family and irreproachable +conduct, made him an aide-de-camp, and, in fact, made his fortune. I do not +believe that, while doing so kind, he could by possibility have done a more +popular thing. Every man in the army rejoiced at his good fortune; so that, +after all, though he has had some hard rubs, he has come well through, +the only vestige of his unfortunate matrimonial connection being a +correspondence kept up by a maiden sister of his late wife's with him. She +insists upon claiming the ties of kindred upon about twenty family eras +during the year, when she regularly writes a most loving and ill-spelled +epistle, containing the latest information from Mayo, with all particulars +of the Macan family, of which she is a worthy member. To her constant hints +of the acceptable nature of certain small remittances, the poor general is +never inattentive; but to the pleasing prospect of a visit in the flesh +from Miss Judy Macan, the good man is dead. In fact, nothing short of being +broke by general court-martial could complete his sensations of horror at +such a stroke of fortune; and I am not certain, if choice were allowed him, +that he would not prefer the latter." + +"Then he has never yet seen her?" said Webber. + +"Never," replied Power; "and he hopes to leave Ireland without that +blessing, the prospect of which, however remote and unlikely, has, I know +well, more than once terrified him since his arrival." + +"I say, Power, and has your worthy general sent me a card for his ball?" + +"Not through me, Master Frank." + +"Well, now, I call that devilish shabby, do you know. He asks O'Malley +there from _my_ chambers, and never notices the other man, the superior in +the firm. Eh, O'Malley, what say you?" + +"Why, I didn't know you were acquainted." + +"And who said we were? It was his fault, though, entirely, that we were +not. I am, as I have ever been, the most easy fellow in the world on +that score, never give myself airs to military people, endure anything, +everything, and you see the result; hard, ain't it?" + +"But, Webber, Sir George must really be excused in this matter. He has +a daughter, a most attractive, lovely daughter, just at that budding, +unsuspecting age when the heart is most susceptible of impressions; and +where, let me ask, could she run such a risk as in the chance of a casual +meeting with the redoubted lady-killer, Master Frank Webber? If he has not +sought you out, then here be his apology." + +"A very strong case, certainly," said Frank; "but, still, had he confided +his critical position to my honor and secrecy, he might have depended on +me; now, having taken the other line--" + +"Well, what then?" + +"Why, he must abide the consequences. I'll make fierce love to Louisa; +isn't that the name?" + +"Lucy, so please you." + +"Well, be it so,--to Lucy,--talk the little girl into a most deplorable +attachment for me." + +"But, how, may I ask, and when?" + +"I'll begin at the ball, man." + +"Why, I thought you said you were not going?" + +"There you mistake seriously. I merely said that I had not been invited." + +"Then, of course," said I, "Webber, you can't think of going, in any case, +on _my_ account." + +"My very dear friend, I go entirely upon my own. I not only shall go, but +I intend to have most particular notice and attention paid me. I shall be +prime favorite with Sir George, kiss Lucy--" + +"Come, come, this is too strong." + +"What do you bet I don't? There, now, I'll give you a pony apiece, I do. Do +you say done?" + +"That you kiss Miss Dashwood, and are not kicked down-stairs for your +pains; are those the terms of the wager?" inquired Power. + +"With all my heart. That I kiss Miss Dashwood, and am not kicked +down-stairs for my pains." + +"Then, I say, done." + +"And with you, too, O'Malley?" + +"I thank you," said I, coldly; "I am not disposed to make such a return for +Sir George Dashwood's hospitality as to make an insult to his family the +subject of a bet." + +"Why, man, what are you dreaming of? Miss Dashwood will not refuse my +chaste salute. Come, Power, I'll give you the other pony." + +"Agreed," said he. "At the same time, understand me distinctly, that I hold +myself perfectly eligible to winning the wager by my own interference; for +if you do kiss her, by Jove! I'll perform the remainder of the compact." + +"So I understand the agreement," said Webber, arranging his curls before +the looking-glass. "Well, now, who's for Howth? The drag will be here in +half an hour." + +"Not I," said Power; "I must return to the barracks." + +"Nor I," said I, "for I shall take this opportunity of leaving my card at +Sir George Dashwood's." + +"I have won my fifty, however," said Power, as we walked out in the courts. + +"I am not quite certain--" + +"Why, the devil, he would not risk a broken neck for that sum; besides, if +he did, he loses the bet." + +"He's a devilish keen fellow." + +"Let him be. In any case I am determined to be on my guard here." + +So chatting, we strolled along to the Royal Hospital, when, having dropped +my pasteboard, I returned to the college. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +THE BALL. + +I have often dressed for a storming party with less of trepidation than I +felt on the evening of Sir George Dashwood's ball. Since the eventful day +of the election I had never seen Miss Dashwood; therefore, as to what +precise position I might occupy in her favor was a matter of great doubt in +my mind, and great import to my happiness. That I myself loved her, was +a matter of which all the badinage of my friends regarding her made +me painfully conscious; but that, in our relative positions, such an +attachment was all but hopeless, I could not disguise from myself. Young as +I was, I well knew to what a heritage of debt, lawsuit, and difficulty I +was born to succeed. In my own resources and means of advancement I had no +confidence whatever, had even the profession to which I was destined been +more of my choice. I daily felt that it demanded greater exertions, if not +far greater abilities, than I could command, to make success at all likely; +and then, even if such a result were in store, years, at least, must elapse +before it could happen; and where would she then be, and where should I? +Where the ardent affection I now felt and gloried in,--perhaps all the more +for its desperate hopelessness,--when the sanguine and buoyant spirit to +combat with difficulties which youth suggests, and which, later, manhood +refuses, should have passed away? And even if all these survived the toil +and labor of anxious days and painful nights, what of her? Alas, I now +reflected that, although only of my own age, her manner to me had taken all +that tone of superiority and patronage which an elder assumes towards +one younger, and which, in the spirit of protection it proceeds upon, +essentially bars up every inlet to a dearer or warmer feeling,--at least, +when the lady plays the former part. "What, then, is to be done?" thought +I. "Forget her?--but how? How shall I renounce all my plans, and unweave +the web of life I have been spreading around me for many a day, without +that one golden thread that lent it more than half its brilliancy and all +its attraction? But then the alternative is even worse, if I encourage +expectations and nurture hopes never to be realized. Well, we meet +to-night, after a long and eventful absence; let my future fate be ruled by +the results of this meeting. If Lucy Dashwood does care for me, if I can +detect in her manner enough to show me that my affection may meet a return, +the whole effort of my life shall be to make her mine; if not, if my +own feelings be all that I have to depend upon to extort a reciprocal +affection, then shall I take my last look of her, and with it the first and +brightest dream of happiness my life has hitherto presented." + + * * * * * + +It need not be wondered at if the brilliant _coup d'oeil_ of the ball-room, +as I entered, struck me with astonishment, accustomed as I had hitherto +been to nothing more magnificent than an evening party of squires and +their squiresses or the annual garrison ball at the barracks. The glare of +wax-lights, the well-furnished saloons, the glitter of uniforms, and the +blaze of plumed and jewelled dames, with the clang of military music, was a +species of enchanted atmosphere which, breathing for the first time, rarely +fails to intoxicate. Never before had I seen so much beauty. Lovely faces, +dressed in all the seductive flattery of smiles, were on every side; and as +I walked from room to room, I felt how much more fatal to a man's peace and +heart's ease the whispered words and silent glances of those fair damsels, +than all the loud gayety and boisterous freedom of our country belles, who +sought to take the heart by storm and escalade. + +As yet I had seen neither Sir George nor his daughter, and while I looked +on every side for Lucy Dashwood, it was with a beating and anxious heart +I longed to see how she would bear comparison with the blaze of beauty +around. + +Just at this moment a very gorgeously dressed hussar stepped from a doorway +beside me, as if to make a passage for some one, and the next moment she +appeared leaning upon the arm of another lady. One look was all that I had +time for, when she recognized me. + +"Ah, Mr. O'Malley, how happy--has Sir George--has my father seen you?" + +"I have only arrived this moment; I trust he is quite well?" + +"Oh, yes, thank you--" + +"I beg your pardon with all humility, Miss Dashwood," said the hussar, in a +tone of the most knightly courtesy, "but they are waiting for us." + +"But, Captain Fortescue, you must excuse me one moment more. Mr. Lechmere, +will you do me the kindness to find out Sir George? Mr. O'Malley--Mr. +Lechmere." Here she said something in French to her companion, but so +rapidly that I could not detect what it was, but merely heard the reply, +_"Pas mal!"_--which, as the lady continued to canvass me most deliberately +through her eye-glass, I supposed referred to me. "And now, Captain +Fortescue--" And with a look of most courteous kindness to me she +disappeared in the crowd. + +The gentleman to whose guidance I was entrusted was one of the +aides-de-camp, and was not long in finding Sir George. No sooner had the +good old general heard my name, than he held out both his hands and shook +mine most heartily. + +"At last, O'Malley; at last I am able to thank you for the greatest +service ever man rendered me. He saved Lucy, my Lord; rescued her under +circumstances where anything short of his courage and determination must +have cost her her life." + +"Ah, very pretty indeed," said a stiff old gentleman addressed, as he +bowed a most superbly powdered scalp before me; "most happy to make your +acquaintance." + +"Who is he?" added he, in nearly as loud a tone to Sir George. + +"Mr. O'Malley, of O'Malley Castle." + +"True, I forgot; why is he not in uniform?" + +"Because, unfortunately, my Lord, we don't own him; he's not in the army." + +"Ha! ha! thought he was." + +"You dance, O'Malley, I suppose? I'm sure you'd rather be over there than +hearing all my protestations of gratitude, sincere and heartfelt as they +really are." + +"Lechmere, introduce my friend, Mr. O'Malley; get him a partner." + +I had not followed my new acquaintance many steps, when Power came up to +me. "I say, Charley," cried he, "I have been tormented to death by half the +ladies in the room to present you to them, and have been in quest of you +this half-hour. Your brilliant exploit in savage land has made you a +regular _preux chevalier_; and if you don't trade on that adventure to your +most lasting profit, you deserve to be--a lawyer. Come along here! Lady +Muckleman, the adjutant-general's lady and chief, has four Scotch daughters +you are to dance with; then I am to introduce you in all form to the Dean +of Something's niece,--she is a good-looking girl, and has two livings in +a safe county. Then there's the town-major's wife; and, in fact, I have +several engagements from this to supper-time." + +"A thousand thanks for all your kindness in prospective, but I think, +perhaps, it were right I should ask Miss Dashwood to dance, if only as a +matter of form,--you understand?" + +"And if Miss Dashwood should say, 'With pleasure, sir,' only as a matter of +form,--you understand?" said a silvery voice beside me. I turned, and saw +Lucy Dashwood, who, having overheard my free-and-easy suggestion, replied +to me in this manner. + +I here blundered out my excuses. What I said, and what I did not say, I do +not now remember; but certainly, it was her turn now to blush, and her arm +trembled within mine as I led her to the top of the room. In the little +opportunity which our quadrille presented for conversation, I could not +help remarking that, after the surprise of her first meeting with me, Miss +Dashwood's manner became gradually more and more reserved, and that there +was an evident struggle between her wish to appear grateful for what had +occurred, with a sense of the necessity of not incurring a greater degree +of intimacy. Such was my impression, at least, and such the conclusion I +drew from a certain quiet tone in her manner that went further to wound my +feelings and mar my happiness than any other line of conduct towards me +could possibly have effected. + +Our quadrille over, I was about to conduct her to a seat, when Sir George +came hurriedly up, his face greatly flushed, and betraying every semblance +of high excitement. + +"Dear Papa, has anything occurred? Pray what is it?" inquired she. + +He smiled faintly, and replied, "Nothing very serious, my dear, that +I should alarm you in this way; but certainly, a more disagreeable +_contretemps_ could scarcely occur." + +"Do tell me: what can it be?" + +"Read this," said he, presenting a very dirty-looking note which bore the +mark of a red wafer most infernally plain upon its outside. + +Miss Dashwood unfolded the billet, and after a moment's silence, instead of +participating, as he expected, in her father's feeling of distress, burst +out a-laughing, while she said: "Why, really, Papa, I do not see why this +should put you out much, after all. Aunt may be somewhat of a character, as +her note evinces, but after a few days--" + +"Nonsense, child; there's nothing in this world I have such a dread of as +that confounded woman,--and to come at such a time." + +"When does she speak of paying her visit?" + +"I knew you had not read the note," said Sir George, hastily; "she's coming +here to-night,--is on her way this instant, perhaps. What is to be done? If +she forces her way in here, I shall go deranged outright; O'Malley, my boy, +read this note, and you will not feel surprised if I appear in the humor +you see me." + +I took the billet from the hands of Miss Dashwood, and read as follows:-- + + DEAR BROTHER,--When this reaches your hand, I'll not be far + off. I'm on my way up to town, to be under Dr. Dease for the ould + complaint. Cowley mistakes my case entirely; he says it's nothing + but religion and wind. Father Magrath, who understands a good + deal about females, thinks otherwise; but God knows who's right. + Expect me to tea, and, with love to Lucy, + Believe me, yours in haste, + JUDITH MACAN. + +Let the sheets be well aired in my room; and if you have a spare bed, +perhaps we could prevail upon Father Magrath to stop too. + + +I scarcely could contain my laughter till I got to the end of this very +free-and-easy epistle; when at last I burst forth in a hearty fit, in which +I was joined by Miss Dashwood. + +From the account Power had given me in the morning, I had no difficulty in +guessing that the writer was the maiden sister of the late Lady Dashwood; +and for whose relationship Sir George had ever testified the greatest +dread, even at the distance of two hundred miles; and for whom, in any +nearer intimacy, he was in no wise prepared. + +"I say, Lucy," said he, "there's only one thing to be done: if this horrid +woman does arrive, let her be shown to her room; and for the few days of +her stay in town, we'll neither see nor be seen by any one." + +Without waiting for a reply, Sir George was turning away to give the +necessary instructions, when the door of the drawing-room was flung open, +and the servant announced, in his loudest voice, "Miss Macan." Never shall +I forget the poor general's look of horror as the words reached him; for as +yet, he was too far to catch even a glimpse of its fair owner. As for me, I +was already so much interested in seeing what she was like, that I made my +way through the crowd towards the door. It is no common occurrence that can +distract the various occupations of a crowded ball-room, where, amidst the +crash of music and the din of conversation, goes on the soft, low voice +of insinuating flattery, or the light flirtation of a first acquaintance; +every clique, every coterie, every little group of three or four has its +own separate and private interests, forming a little world of its own, and +caring for and heeding nothing that goes on around; and even when some +striking character or illustrious personage makes his _entrée_, the +attention he attracts is so momentary, that the buzz of conversation is +scarcely, if at all, interrupted, and the business of pleasure continues +to flow on. Not so now, however. No sooner had the servant pronounced the +magical name of Miss Macan, than all seemed to stand still. The spell thus +exercised over the luckless general seemed to have extended to his company; +for it was with difficulty that any one could continue his train of +conversation, while every eye was directed towards the door. About two +steps in advance of the servant, who still stood door in hand, was a tall, +elderly lady, dressed in an antique brocade silk, with enormous flowers +gaudily embroidered upon it. Her hair was powdered and turned back in the +fashion of fifty years before; while her high-pointed and heeled shoes +completed a costume that had not been seen for nearly a century. Her short, +skinny arms were bare and partly covered by a falling flower of old point +lace, while on her hands she wore black silk mittens; a pair of green +spectacles scarcely dimmed the lustre of a most piercing pair of eyes, to +whose effect a very palpable touch of rouge on the cheeks certainly added +brilliancy. There stood this most singular apparition, holding before her +a fan about the size of a modern tea-tray; while at each repetition of her +name by the servant, she curtesied deeply, bestowing the while upon the gay +crowd before her a very curious look of maidenly modesty at her solitary +and unprotected position. + +[Illustration: MISS JUDY MACAN.] + +As no one had ever heard of the fair Judith, save one or two of Sir +George's most intimate friends, the greater part of the company were +disposed to regard Miss Macan as some one who had mistaken the character of +the invitation, and had come in a fancy dress. But this delusion was but +momentary, as Sir George, armed with the courage of despair, forced his way +through the crowd, and taking her hand affectionately, bid her welcome to +Dublin. The fair Judy, at this, threw her arms about his neck, and saluted +him with a hearty smack that was heard all over the room. + +"Where's Lucy, Brother? Let me embrace my little darling," said the lady, +in an accent that told more of Miss Macan than a three-volume biography +could have done. "There she is, I'm sure; kiss me, my honey." + +This office Miss Dashwood performed with an effort at courtesy really +admirable; while, taking her aunt's arm, she led her to a sofa. + +It needed all the poor general's tact to get over the sensation of this +most _malapropos_ addition to his party; but by degrees the various groups +renewed their occupations, although many a smile, and more than one +sarcastic glance at the sofa, betrayed that the maiden aunt had not escaped +criticism. + +Power, whose propensity for fun very considerably out-stripped his sense of +decorum to his commanding officer, had already made his way towards Miss +Dashwood, and succeeded in obtaining a formal introduction to Miss Macan. + +"I hope you will do me the favor to dance next set with me, Miss Macan?" + +"Really, Captain, it's very polite of you, but you must excuse me. I was +never anything great in quadrilles; but if a reel or a jig--" + +"Oh, dear Aunt, don't think of it, I beg of you." + +"Or even Sir Roger de Coverley," resumed Miss Macan. + +"I assure you, quite equally impossible." + +"Then I'm certain you waltz," said Power. + +"What do you take me for, young man? I hope I know better. I wish Father +Magrath heard you ask me that question, and for all your laced jacket--" + +"Dearest Aunt, Captain Power didn't mean to offend you; I'm certain he--" + +"Well, why did he dare to [_sob, sob_]--did he see anything light about me, +that he [_sob, sob, sob_]--oh, dear! oh, dear! is it for this I came up +from my little peaceful place in the west [_sob, sob, sob_]?--General, +George, dear; Lucy, my love, I'm taken bad. Oh, dear! oh, dear! is there +any whiskey negus?" + +Whatever sympathy Miss Macan's sufferings might have excited in the crowd +about her before, this last question totally routed them, and a most hearty +fit of laughter broke forth from more than one of the bystanders. + +At length, however, she was comforted, and her pacification completely +effected by Sir George setting her down to a whist-table. From this moment +I lost sight of her for above two hours. Meanwhile I had little opportunity +of following up my intimacy with Miss Dashwood, and as I rather suspected +that, on more than one occasion, she seemed to avoid our meeting, I took +especial care on my part, to spare her the annoyance. + +For one instant only had I any opportunity of addressing her, and then +there was such an evident embarrassment in her manner that I readily +perceived how she felt circumstanced, and that the sense of gratitude to +one whose further advances she might have feared, rendered her constrained +and awkward. "Too true," said I, "she avoids me. My being here is only a +source of discomfort and pain to her; therefore, I'll take my leave, and +whatever it may cost me, never to return." With this intention, resolving +to wish Sir George a very good night, I sought him out for some minutes. At +length I saw him in a corner, conversing with the old nobleman to whom he +had presented me early in the evening. + +"True, upon my honor, Sir George," said he; "I saw it myself, and she did +it just as dexterously as the oldest blackleg in Paris." + +"Why, you don't mean to say that she cheated?" + +"Yes, but I do, though,--turned the ace every time. Lady Herbert said to +me, 'Very extraordinary it is,--four by honors again.' So I looked, and +then I perceived it,--a very old trick it is; but she did it beautifully. +What's her name?" + +"Some western name; I forget it," said the poor general, ready to die with +shame. + +"Clever old woman, very!" said the old lord, taking a pinch of snuff; "but +revokes too often." + +Supper was announced at this critical moment, and before I had further +thought of my determination to escape, I felt myself hurried along in the +crowd towards the staircase. The party immediately in front of me were +Power and Miss Macan, who now appeared reconciled, and certainly testified +most openly their mutual feelings of good-will. + +"I say, Charley," whispered Power, as I came along, "it is capital +fun,--never met anything equal to her; but the poor general will never +live through it, and I'm certain of ten day's arrest for this night's +proceeding." + +"Any news of Webber?" I inquired. + +"Oh, yes, I fancy I can tell something of him; for I heard of some one +presenting himself, and being refused the _entrée_, so that Master Frank +has lost his money. Sit near us, I pray you, at supper. We must take care +of the dear aunt for the niece's sake, eh?" + +Not seeing the force of this reasoning, I soon separated myself from them, +and secured a corner at a side-table. Every supper on such an occasion as +this is the same scene of solid white muslin, faded flowers, flushed faces, +torn gloves, blushes, blanc-mange, cold chicken, jelly, sponge cakes, +spooney young gentlemen doing the attentive, and watchful mammas +calculating what precise degree of propinquity in the crush is safe or +seasonable for their daughters to the mustached and unmarrying lovers +beside them. There are always the same set of gratified elders, like the +benchers in King's Inn, marched up to the head of the table, to eat, drink, +and be happy, removed from the more profane looks and soft speeches of the +younger part of the creation. Then there are the _hoi polloi_ of outcasts, +younger sons of younger brothers, tutors, governesses, portionless cousins, +and curates, all formed in phalanx round the side-tables, whose primitive +habits and simple tastes are evinced by their all eating off the same plate +and drinking from nearly the same wine-glass,--too happy if some better-off +acquaintance at the long table invites them to "wine," though the ceremony +on their part is limited to the pantomime of drinking. To this miserable +_tiers etat_ I belonged, and bore my fate with unconcern; for, alas, my +spirits were depressed and my heart heavy. Lucy's treatment of me was every +moment before me, contrasted with her gay and courteous demeanor to all +save myself, and I longed for the moment to get away. + +Never had I seen her looking so beautiful; her brilliant eyes were lit with +pleasure, and her smile was enchantment itself. What would I not have given +for one moment's explanation, as I took my leave forever!--one brief avowal +of my unalterable, devoted love; for which I sought not nor expected +return, but merely that I might not be forgotten. + +Such were my thoughts, when a dialogue quite near me aroused me from my +revery. I was not long in detecting the speakers, who, with their backs +turned to us, were seated at the great table discussing a very liberal +allowance of pigeon-pie, a flask of champagne standing between them. + +"Don't now! don't I tell ye; it's little ye know Galway, or ye wouldn't +think to make up to me, squeezing my foot." + +"Upon my soul, you're an angel, a regular angel. I never saw a woman suit +my fancy before." + +"Oh, behave now. Father Magrath says--" + +"Who's he?" + +"The priest; no less." + +"Oh, confound him!" + +"Confound Father Magrath, young man?" + +"Well, then, Judy, don't be angry; I only meant that a dragoon knows rather +more of these matters than a priest." + +"Well, then, I'm not so sure of that. But anyhow, I'd have you to remember +it ain't a Widow Malone you have beside you." + +"Never heard of the lady," said Power. + +"Sure, it's a song,--poor creature,--it's a song they made about her in the +North Cork, when they were quartered down in our county." + +"I wish to Heaven you'd sing it." + +"What will you give me, then, if I do?" + +"Anything,--everything; my heart, my life." + +"I wouldn't give a trauneen for all of them. Give me that old green ring on +your finger, then." + +"It's yours," said Power, placing it gracefully upon Miss Macan's finger; +"and now for your promise." + +"May be my brother might not like it." + +"He'd be delighted," said Power; "he dotes on music." + +"Does he now?" + +"On my honor, he does." + +"Well, mind you get up a good chorus, for the song has one, and here it +is." + +"Miss Macan's song!" said Power, tapping the table with his knife. + +"Miss Macan's song!" was re-echoed on all sides; and before the luckless +general could interfere, she had begun. How to explain the air I know not, +for I never heard its name; but at the end of each verse a species of echo +followed the last word that rendered it irresistibly ridiculous. + + THE WIDOW MALONE. + + Did ye hear of the Widow Malone, + Ohone! + Who lived in the town of Athlone, + Alone? + Oh, she melted the hearts + Of the swains in them parts, + So lovely the Widow Malone, + Ohone! + So lovely the Widow Malone. + + Of lovers she had a full score, + Or more; + And fortunes they all had galore, + In store; + From the minister down + To the clerk of the crown, + All were courting the Widow Malone, + Ohone! + All were courting the Widow Malone. + + But so modest was Mrs. Malone, + 'T was known + No one ever could see her alone, + Ohone! + Let them ogle and sigh, + They could ne'er catch her eye, + So bashful the Widow Malone, + Ohone! + So bashful the Widow Malone. + + Till one Mister O'Brien from Clare, + How quare! + It's little for blushin' they care + Down there; + Put his arm round her waist, + Gave ten kisses at laste, + "Oh," says he, "you're my Molly Malone, + My own; + Oh," says he, "you're my Molly Malone." + + And the widow they all thought so shy, + My eye! + Ne'er thought of a simper or sigh, + For why? + But "Lucius," says she, + "Since you've made now so free, + You may marry your Mary Malone, + Ohone! + You may marry your Mary Malone." + + There's a moral contained in my song, + Not wrong; + And one comfort it's not very long, + But strong; + If for widows you die, + Larn to _kiss, not_ to _sigh_, + For they're all like sweet Mistress Malone, + Ohone! + Oh, they're very like Mistress Malone. + +Never did song create such a sensation as Miss Macan's; and certainly +her desires as to the chorus were followed to the letter, for "The Widow +Malone, ohone!" resounded from one end of the table to the other, amidst +one universal shout of laughter. None could resist the ludicrous effect of +her melody; and even poor Sir George, sinking under the disgrace of his +relationship, which she had contrived to make public by frequent allusions +to her "dear brother the general," yielded at last, and joined in the mirth +around him. + +"I insist upon a copy of 'The Widow,' Miss Macan," said Power. + +"To be sure; give me a call to-morrow,--let me see,--about two. Father +Magrath won't be at home," said she, with a coquettish look. + +"Where, pray, may I pay my respects?" + +"No. 22 South Anne Street,--very respectable lodgings. I'll write the +address in your pocket-book." + +Power produced a card and pencil, while Miss Macan wrote a few lines, +saying, as she handed it:-- + +"There, now, don't read it here before the people; they'll think it mighty +indelicate in me to make an appointment." + +Power pocketed the card, and the next minute Miss Macan's carriage was +announced. + +Sir George Dashwood, who little flattered himself that his fair guest +had any intention of departure, became now most considerately attentive, +reminded her of the necessity of muffling against the night air, hoped she +would escape cold, and wished her a most cordial good-night, with a promise +of seeing her early the following day. + +Notwithstanding Power's ambition to engross the attention of the lady, Sir +George himself saw her to her carriage, and only returned to the room as a +group was collecting around the gallant captain, to whom he was relating +some capital traits of his late conquest,--for such he dreamed she was. + +"Doubt it who will," said he, "she has invited me to call on her to-morrow, +written her address on my card, told me the hour she is certain of being +alone. See here!" At these words he pulled forth the card, and handed it to +Lechmere. + +Scarcely were the eyes of the other thrown upon the writing, when he said, +"So, this isn't it, Power." + +"To be sure it is, man," said Power. "Anne Street is devilish seedy, but +that's the quarter." + +"Why, confound it, man!" said the other; "there's not a word of that here." + +"Read it out," said Power. "Proclaim aloud my victory." + +Thus urged, Lechmere read:-- + + + DEAR P.,-- + + Please pay to my credit,--and soon, mark ye!--the two ponies + lost this evening. I have done myself the pleasure of enjoying your + ball, kissed the lady, quizzed the papa, and walked into the cunning + Fred Power. Yours, + FRANK WEBBER. + "The Widow Malone, ohone!" is at your service. + + +Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet, his astonishment could not have +equalled the result of this revelation. He stamped, swore, raved, laughed, +and almost went deranged. The joke was soon spread through the room, and +from Sir George to poor Lucy, now covered with blushes at her part in the +transaction, all was laughter and astonishment. + +"Who is he? That is the question," said Sir George, who, with all the +ridicule of the affair hanging over him, felt no common relief at the +discovery of the imposition. + +"A friend of O'Malley's," said Power, delighted, in his defeat, to involve +another with himself. + +"Indeed!" said the general, regarding me with a look of a very mingled +cast. + +"Quite true, sir," said I, replying to the accusation that his manner +implied; "but equally so, that I neither knew of his plot nor recognized +him when here." + +"I am perfectly sure of it, my boy," said the general; "and, after all, it +was an excellent joke,--carried a little too far, it's true; eh, Lucy?" + +But Lucy either heard not, or affected not to hear; and after some little +further assurance that he felt not the least annoyed, the general turned to +converse with some other friends; while I, burning with indignation against +Webber, took a cold farewell of Miss Dashwood, and retired. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +THE LAST NIGHT IN TRINITY. + +How I might have met Master Webber after his impersonation of Miss Macan, I +cannot possibly figure to myself. Fortunately, indeed, for all parties, he +left town early the next morning; and it was some weeks ere he returned. +In the meanwhile I became a daily visitor at the general's, dined there +usually three or four times a week, rode out with Lucy constantly, and +accompanied her every evening either to the theatre or into society. Sir +George, possibly from my youth, seemed to pay little attention to an +intimacy which he perceived every hour growing closer, and frequently gave +his daughter into my charge in our morning excursions on horseback. As for +me, my happiness was all but perfect. I loved, and already began to hope +that I was not regarded with indifference; for although Lucy's manner never +absolutely evinced any decided preference towards me, yet many slight and +casual circumstances served to show me that my attentions to her were +neither unnoticed nor uncared for. Among the many gay and dashing +companions of our rides, I remarked that, however anxious for such a +distinction, none ever seemed to make any way in her good graces; and I had +already gone far in my self-deception that I was destined for good fortune, +when a circumstance which occurred one morning at length served to open my +eyes to the truth, and blast by one fatal breath the whole harvest of my +hopes. + +We were about to set out one morning on a long ride, when Sir George's +presence was required by the arrival of an officer who had been sent from +the Horse Guards on official business. After half an hour's delay, Colonel +Cameron, the officer in question, was introduced, and entered into +conversation with our party. He had only landed in England from the +Peninsula a few days before, and had abundant information of the stirring +events enacting there. At the conclusion of an anecdote,--I forget +what,--he turned suddenly round to Miss Dashwood, who was standing beside +me, and said in a low voice:-- + +"And now, Miss Dashwood, I am reminded of a commission I promised a very +old brother officer to perform. Can I have one moment's conversation with +you in the window?" + +As he spoke, I perceived that he crumpled beneath his glove something like +a letter. + +"To me?" said Lucy, with a look of surprise that sadly puzzled me whether +to ascribe it to coquetry or innocence,--"to me?" + +"To you," said the colonel, bowing; "and I am sadly deceived by my friend +Hammersley--" + +"Captain Hammersley?" said she, blushing deeply as she spoke. + +I heard no more. She turned towards the window with the colonel, and all I +saw was that he handed her a letter, which, having hastily broken open and +thrown her eyes over, she grew at first deadly pale, then red, and while +her eyes filled with tears, I heard her say, "How like him! How truly +generous this is!" I listened for no more; my brain was wheeling round and +my senses reeling. I turned and left the room; in another moment I was on +my horse, galloping from the spot, despair, in all its blackness, in my +heart, and in my broken-hearted misery, wishing for death. + +I was miles away from Dublin ere I remembered well what had occurred, and +even then not over clearly. The fact that Lucy Dashwood, whom I imagined +to be my own in heart, loved another, was all that I really knew. That +one thought was all my mind was capable of, and in it my misery, my +wretchedness were centred. + +Of all the grief my life has known, I have had no moments like the long +hours of that dreary night. My sorrow, in turn, took every shape and +assumed every guise. Now I remembered how the Dashwoods had courted my +intimacy and encouraged my visits,--how Lucy herself had evinced in a +thousand ways that she felt a preference for me. I called to mind the many +unequivocal proofs I had given her that my feeling at least was no common +one; and yet, how had she sported with my affections, and jested with my +happiness! That she loved Hammersley I had now a palpable proof. That this +affection must have been mutual, and prosecuted at the very moment I was +not only professing my own love for her, but actually receiving all but an +avowal of its return,--oh, it was too, too base! and in my deepest heart I +cursed my folly, and vowed never to see her more. + +It was late on the next day ere I retraced my steps towards town, my heart +sad and heavy, careless what became of me for the future, and pondering +whether I should not at once give up my college career and return to my +uncle. When I reached my chambers, all was silent and comfortless; Webber +had not returned; my servant was from home; and I felt myself more than +ever wretched in the solitude of what had been so oft the scene of noisy +and festive gayety. I sat some hours in a half-musing state, every sad +depressing thought that blighted hopes can conjure up rising in turn before +me. A loud knocking at the door at length aroused me. I got up and opened +it. No one was there. I looked around as well as the coming gloom of +evening would permit, but saw nothing. I listened, and heard, at some +distance off, my friend Power's manly voice as he sang,-- + + "Oh, love is the soul of an Irish dragoon!" + +I hallooed out, "Power!" + +"Eh, O'Malley, is that you?" inquired he. "Why, then, it seems it required +some deliberation whether you opened your door or not. Why, man, you can +have no great gift of prophecy, or you wouldn't have kept me so long +there." + +"And have you been so?" + +"Only twenty minutes; for as I saw the key in the lock, I had determined to +succeed if noise would do it." + +"How strange! I never heard it." + +"Glorious sleeper you must be; but come, my dear fellow, you don't appear +altogether awake yet." + +"I have not been quite well these few days." + +"Oh, indeed! The Dashwoods thought there must have been something of that +kind the matter by your brisk retreat. They sent me after you yesterday; +but wherever you went, Heaven knows. I never could come up with you; so +that your great news has been keeping these twenty-four hours longer than +need be." + +"I am not aware what you allude to." + +"Well, you are not over likely to be the wiser when you hear it, if you can +assume no more intelligent look than that. Why, man, there's great luck in +store for you." + +"As how, pray? Come, Power, out with it; though I can't pledge myself to +feel half as grateful for my good fortune as I should do. What is it?" + +"You know Cameron?" + +"I have seen him," said I, reddening. + +"Well, old Camy, as we used to call him, has brought over, among his other +news, your gazette." + +"My gazette! What do you mean?" + +"Confound your uncommon stupidity this evening! I mean, man, that you are +one of us,--gazetted to the 14th Light,--the best fellows for love, war, +and whiskey that ever sported a sabretasche. + + 'Oh, love is the soul of an Irish dragoon!' + +By Jove, I am as delighted to have rescued you from the black harness of +the King's Bench as though you had been a prisoner there! Know, then, +friend Charley, that on Wednesday we proceed to Fermoy, join some score +of gallant fellows,--all food for powder,--and, with the aid of a rotten +transport and the stormy winds that blow, will be bronzing our beautiful +faces in Portugal before the month's out. But come, now, let's see about +supper. Some of ours are coming over here at eleven, and I promised them a +devilled bone; and as it's your last night among these classic precincts, +let us have a shindy of it." + +While I despatched Mike to Morrison's to provide supper, I heard from Power +that Sir George Dashwood had interested himself so strongly for me that I +had obtained my cornetcy in the 14th; that, fearful lest any disappointment +might arise, he had never mentioned the matter to me, but that he had +previously obtained my uncle's promise to concur in the arrangement if his +negotiation succeeded. It had so done, and now the long-sought-for object +of many days was within my grasp. But, alas, the circumstance which lent it +all its fascinations was a vanished dream; and what but two days before had +rendered my happiness perfect, I listened to listlessly and almost without +interest. Indeed, my first impulse at finding that I owed my promotion to +Sir George was to return a positive refusal of the cornetcy; but then I +remembered how deeply such conduct would hurt my poor uncle, to whom I +never could give an adequate explanation. So I heard Power in silence to +the end, thanked him sincerely for his own good-natured kindness in the +matter, which already, by the interest he had taken in me, went far to heal +the wounds that my own solitary musings were deepening in my heart. At +eighteen, fortunately, consolations are attainable that become more +difficult at eight-and-twenty, and impossible at eight-and-thirty. + +While Power continued to dilate upon the delights of a soldier's life--a +theme which many a boyish dream had long since made hallowed to my +thoughts--I gradually felt my enthusiasm rising, and a certain throbbing at +my heart betrayed to me that, sad and dispirited as I felt, there was still +within that buoyant spirit which youth possesses as its privilege, and +which answers to the call of enterprise as the war-horse to the trumpet. +That a career worthy of manhood, great, glorious, and inspiriting, opened +before me, coming so soon after the late downfall of my hopes, was in +itself a source of such true pleasure that ere long I listened to my +friend, and heard his narrative with breathless interest. A lingering sense +of pique, too, had its share in all this. I longed to come forward in some +manly and dashing part, where my youth might not be ever remembered against +me, and when, having brought myself to the test, I might no longer be +looked upon and treated as a boy. + +We were joined at length by the other officers of the 14th, and, to the +number of twelve, sat down to supper. + +It was to be my last night in Old Trinity, and we resolved that the +farewell should be a solemn one. Mansfield, one of the wildest young +fellows in the regiment, had vowed that the leave-taking should be +commemorated by some very decisive and open expressions of our feelings, +and had already made some progress in arrangements for blowing up the great +bell, which had more than once obtruded upon our morning convivialities; +but he was overruled by his more discreet associates, and we at length +assumed our places at table, in the midst of which stood a _hecatomb_ +of all my college equipments, cap, gown, bands, etc. A funeral pile of +classics was arrayed upon the hearth, surmounted by my "Book on the +Cellar," and a punishment-roll waved its length, like a banner, over the +doomed heroes of Greece and Rome. + +It is seldom that any very determined attempt to be gay _par excellence_ +has a perfect success, but certainly upon this evening ours had. Songs, +good stories, speeches, toasts, high visions of the campaign before us, the +wild excitement which such a meeting cannot be free from, gradually, as +the wine passed from hand to hand, seized upon all, and about four in the +morning, such was the uproar we caused, and so terrific the noise of our +proceedings, that the accumulated force of porters, sent one by one to +demand admission, was now a formidable body at the door, and Mike at last +came in to assure us that the bursar,--the most dread official of all +collegians,--was without, and insisted, with a threat of his heaviest +displeasure in case of refusal, that the door should be opened. + +A committee of the whole house immediately sat upon the question; and it +was at length resolved, _nemine contradicente_, that the request should be +complied with. A fresh bowl of punch, in honor of our expected guest, was +immediately concocted, a new broil put on the gridiron, and having seated +ourselves with as great a semblance of decorum as four bottles a man admits +of, Curtis the junior captain, being most drunk, was deputed to receive the +bursar at the door, and introduce him to our august presence. + +Mike's instructions were, that immediately on Dr. Stone the bursar +entering, the door was to be slammed to, and none of his followers +admitted. This done, the doctor was to be ushered in and left to our polite +attentions. + +A fresh thundering from without scarcely left time for further +deliberation; and at last Curtis moved towards the door in execution of his +mission. + +"Is there any one there?" said Mike, in a tone of most unsophisticated +innocence, to a rapping that, having lasted three quarters of an hour, +threatened now to break in the panel. "Is there any one there?" + +"Open the door this instant,--the senior bursar desires you,--this +instant." + +"Sure it's night, and we're all in bed," said Mike. + +"Mr. Webber, Mr. O'Malley," said the bursar, now boiling with indignation, +"I summon you, in the name of the board, to admit me." + +"Let the gemman in," hiccoughed Curtis; and at the same instant the +heavy bars were withdrawn, and the door opened, but so sparingly as with +difficulty to permit the passage of the burly figure of the bursar. + +Forcing his way through, and regardless of what became of the rest, he +pushed on vigorously through the antechamber, and before Curtis could +perform his functions of usher, stood in the midst of us. What were his +feelings at the scene before him, Heaven knows. The number of figures in +uniform at once betrayed how little his jurisdiction extended to the great +mass of the company, and he immediately turned towards me. + +"Mr. Webber--" + +"O'Malley, if you please, Mr. Bursar," said I, bowing with, most +ceremonious politeness. + +"No matter, sir; _arcades ambo_, I believe." + +"Both archdeacons," said Melville, translating, with a look of withering +contempt upon the speaker. + +The doctor continued, addressing me,-- + +"May I ask, sir, if you believe yourself possessed of any privilege for +converting this university into a common tavern?" + +"I wish to Heaven he did," said Curtis; "capital tap your old commons would +make." + +"Really, Mr. Bursar," replied I, modestly, "I had begun to flatter myself +that our little innocent gayety had inspired you with the idea of joining +our party." + +"I humbly move that the old cove in the gown do take the chair," sang +out one. "All who are of this opinion say, 'Ay.'" A perfect yell of ayes +followed this. "All who are of the contrary say, 'No.' The ayes have it." + +Before the luckless doctor had a moment for thought, his legs were lifted +from under him, and he was jerked, rather than placed, upon a chair, and +put sitting upon the table. + +"Mr. O'Malley, your expulsion within twenty-four hours--" + +"Hip, hip, hurra, hurra, hurra!" drowned the rest, while Power, taking off +the doctor's cap, replaced it by a foraging cap, very much to the amusement +of the party. + +"There is no penalty the law permits of that I shall not--" + +"Help the doctor," said Melville, placing a glass of punch in his +unconscious hand. + +"Now for a 'Viva la Compagnie!'" said Telford, seating himself at the +piano, and playing the first bars of that well-known air, to which, in our +meetings, we were accustomed to improvise a doggerel in turn. + + "I drink to the graces, Law, Physic, Divinity, + Viva la Compagnie! + And here's to the worthy old Bursar of Trinity, + Viva la Compagnie!" + +"Viva, viva la va!" etc., were chorussed with a shout that shook the old +walls, while Power took up the strain: + + "Though with lace caps and gowns they look so like asses, + Viva la Compagnie!" + They'd rather have punch than the springs of Parnassus, + Viva la Compagnie! + What a nose the old gentleman has, by the way, + Viva la Compagnie! + Since he smelt out the Devil from Botany Bay,[1] + Viva la Compagnie! + +[Footnote:1 Botany Bay was the slang name given by college men to a new +square rather remotely situated from the remainder of the college.] + +Words cannot give even the faintest idea of the poor bursar's feelings +while these demoniacal orgies were enacting around him. Held fast in his +chair by Lechmere and another, he glowered on the riotous mob around like a +maniac, and astonishment that such liberties could be taken with one in his +situation seemed to have surpassed even his rage and resentment; and every +now and then a stray thought would flash across his mind that we were +mad,--a sentiment which, unfortunately, our conduct was but too well +calculated to inspire. + +"So you're the morning lecturer, old gentleman, and have just dropped in +here in the way of business; pleasant life you must have of it," said +Casey, now by far the most tipsy man present. + +"If you think, Mr. O'Malley, that the events of this evening are to end +here--" + +"Very far from it, Doctor," said Power; "I'll draw up a little account of +the affair for 'Saunders.' They shall hear of it in every corner and nook +of the kingdom." + +"The bursar of Trinity shall be a proverb for a good fellow that loveth his +lush," hiccoughed out Fegan. + +"And if you believe that such conduct is academical," said the doctor, with +a withering sneer. + +"Perhaps not," lisped Melville, tightening his belt; "but it's devilish +convivial,--eh, Doctor?" + +"Is that like him?" said Moreton, producing a caricature which he had just +sketched. + +"Capital,--very good,--perfect. M'Cleary shall have it in his window by +noon to-day," said Power. + +At this instant some of the combustibles disposed among the rejected +habiliments of my late vocation caught fire, and squibs, crackers, and +detonating shots went off on all sides. The bursar, who had not been deaf +to several hints and friendly suggestions about setting fire to him, +blowing him up, etc., with one vigorous spring burst from his antagonists, +and clearing the table at a bound, reached the floor. Before he could be +seized, he had gained the door, opened it, and was away. We gave chase, +yelling like so many devils. But wine and punch, songs and speeches, had +done their work, and more than one among the pursuers measured his length +upon the pavement; while the terrified bursar, with the speed of terror, +held on his way, and gained his chambers by about twenty yards in advance +of Power and Melville, whose pursuit only ended when the oaken panel of the +door shut them out from their victim. One loud cheer beneath his window +served for our farewell to our friend, and we returned to my rooms. By +this time a regiment of those classic functionaries ycleped porters had +assembled around the door, and seemed bent upon giving battle in honor +of their maltreated ruler; but Power explained to them, in a neat speech +replete with Latin quotations, that their cause was a weak one, that we +were more than their match, and finally proposed to them to finish the +punch-bowl, to which we were really incompetent,--a motion that met +immediate acceptance; and old Duncan, with his helmet in one hand and a +goblet in the other, wished me many happy days and every luck in this life +as I stepped from the massive archway, and took my last farewell of Old +Trinity. + +Should any kind reader feel interested as to the ulterior course assumed by +the bursar, I have only to say that the terrors of the "Board" were never +fulminated against me, harmless and innocent as I should have esteemed +them. The threat of giving publicity to the entire proceedings by the +papers, and the dread of figuring in a sixpenny caricature in M'Cleary's +window, were too much for the worthy doctor, and he took the wiser course +under the circumstances, and held his peace about the matter. I, too, have +done so for many a year, and only now recall the scene among the wild +transactions of early days and boyish follies. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +THE PHOENIX PARK. + +What a glorious thing it is when our first waking thoughts not only dispel +some dark, depressing dream, but arouse us to the consciousness of a new +and bright career suddenly opening before us, buoyant in hope, rich in +promise for the future! Life has nothing better than this. The bold spring +by which the mind clears the depth that separates misery from happiness is +ecstasy itself; and then what a world of bright visions come teeming before +us,--what plans we form; what promises we make to ourselves in our own +hearts; how prolific is the dullest imagination; how excursive the tamest +fancy, at such a moment! In a few short and fleeting seconds, the events of +a whole life are planned and pictured before us. Dreams of happiness +and visions of bliss, of which all our after-years are insufficient to +eradicate the _prestige_, come in myriads about us; and from that narrow +aperture through which this new hope pierces into our heart, a flood of +light is poured that illumines our path to the very verge of the grave. How +many a success in after-days is reckoned but as one step in that ladder of +ambition some boyish review has framed, perhaps, after all, destined to be +the first and only one! With what triumph we hail some goal attained, some +object of our wishes gained, less for its present benefit, than as the +accomplishment of some youthful prophecy, when picturing to our hearts all +that we would have in life, we whispered within us the flattery of success. + +Who is there who has not had some such moment; and who would exchange +it, with all the delusive and deceptive influences by which it comes +surrounded, for the greatest actual happiness he has partaken of? Alas, +alas, it is only in the boundless expanse of such imaginations, unreal and +fictitious as they are, that we are truly blessed! Our choicest blessings +in life come even so associated with some sources of care that the cup of +enjoyment is not pure but dregged in bitterness. + +To such a world of bright anticipation did I awake on the morning after the +events I have detailed in the last chapter. The first thing my eyes fell +upon was an official letter from the Horse Guards:-- + + "The commander of the forces desires that Mr. O'Malley will report + himself, immediately on the receipt of this letter, at the headquarters + of the regiment to which he is gazetted." + +Few and simple as the lines were, how brimful of pleasure they sounded to +my ears. The regiment to which I was gazetted! And so I was a soldier at +last! The first wish of my boyhood was then really accomplished. And my +uncle, what will he say; what will he think? + +"A letter, sir, by the post," said Mike, at the moment. + +I seized it eagerly; it came from home, but was in Considine's handwriting. +How my heart failed me as I turned to look at the seal. "Thank God!" said +I, aloud, on perceiving that it was a red one. I now tore it open and +read:-- + + My Dear Charley,--Godfrey, being laid up with the gout, has + desired me to write to you by this day's post. Your appointment to + the 14th, notwithstanding all his prejudices about the army, has + given him sincere pleasure. I believe, between ourselves, that your + college career, of which he has heard something, convinced him that + your forte did not lie in the classics; you know I said so always, but + nobody minded me. Your new prospects are all that your best friends + could wish for you: you begin early; your corps is a crack one; you + are ordered for service. What could you have more? + + Your uncle hopes, if you can get a few days' leave, that you will + come down here before you join, and I hope so too; for he is unusually + low-spirited, and talks about his never seeing you again, and + all that sort of thing. + + I have written to Merivale, your colonel, on this subject, as well + as generally on your behalf. We were cornets together forty years + ago. A strict fellow you'll find him, but a trump on service. If + you can't manage the leave, write a long letter home at all events. + And so, God bless you, and all success! + Yours sincerely, + W. Considine. + + I had thought of writing you a long letter of advice for your new + career; and, indeed, half accomplished one. After all, however, I + can tell you little that your own good sense will not teach you as you + go on; and experience is ever better than precept. I know of but + one rule in life which admits of scarcely any exception, and having + followed it upwards of sixty years, approve of it only the more: + Never quarrel when you can help it; but meet any man,--your + tailor, your hairdresser,--if he wishes to have you out. + W. C. + +I had scarcely come to the end of this very characteristic epistle, when +two more letters were placed upon my table. One was from Sir George +Dashwood, inviting me to dinner to meet some of my "brother officers." +How my heart beat at the expression. The other was a short note, marked +"Private," from my late tutor, Dr. Mooney, saying, "that if I made a +suitable apology to the bursar for the late affair at my room, he might +probably be induced to abandon any further step; otherwise--" then followed +innumerable threats about fine, penalties, expulsion, etc., that fell most +harmlessly upon my ears. I accepted the invitation; declined the apology; +and having ordered my horse, cantered off to the barracks to consult my +friend Power as to all the minor details of my career. + +As the dinner hour grew near, my thoughts became again fixed upon Miss +Dashwood; and a thousand misgivings crossed my mind as to whether I should +have nerve enough to meet her, without disclosing in my manner the altered +state of my feelings; a possibility which I now dreaded fully as much as I +had longed some days before to avow my affection for her, however slight +its prospect of return. All my valiant resolves and well-contrived plans +for appearing unmoved and indifferent in her presence, with which I stored +my mind while dressing and when on the way to dinner, were, however, +needless, for it was a party exclusively of men; and as the coffee was +served in the dining-room, no move was made to the drawing-room by any of +the company. "Quite as well as it is!" was my muttered opinion, as I got +into my cab at the door. "All is at an end as regards me in her esteem, and +I must not spend my days sighing for a young lady that cares for another." +Very reasonable, very proper resolutions these; but, alas! I went home to +bed, only to think half the night long of the fair Lucy, and dream of her +the remainder of it. + +When morning dawned my first thought was, Shall I see her once more? Shall +I leave her forever thus abruptly? Or, rather, shall I not unburden my +bosom of its secret, confess my love, and say farewell? I felt such a +course much more in unison with my wishes than the day before; and as Power +had told me that before a week we should present ourselves at Fermoy, I +knew that no time was to be lost. + +My determination was taken. I ordered my horse, and early as it was, rode +out to the Royal Hospital. My heart beat so strongly as I rode up to the +door that I half resolved to return. I rang the bell. Sir George was in +town. Miss Dashwood had just gone, five minutes before, to spend some days +at Carton. "It is fate!" thought I as I turned from the spot and walked +slowly beside my horse towards Dublin. + +In the few days that intervened before my leaving town, my time was +occupied from morning to night; the various details of my uniform, outfit, +etc., were undertaken for me by Power. My horses were sent for to Galway; +and I myself, with innumerable persons to see, and a mass of business to +transact, contrived at least three times a day to ride out to the Royal +Hospital, always to make some trifling inquiry for Sir George, and always +to hear repeated that Miss Dashwood had not returned. + +Thus passed five of my last six days in Dublin; and as the morning of +the last opened, it was with a sorrowing spirit that I felt my hour of +departure approach without one only opportunity of seeing Lucy, even to +say good-by. While Mike was packing in one corner, and I in another was +concluding a long letter to my poor uncle, my door opened and Webber +entered. + +"Eh, O'Malley, I'm only in time to say adieu, it seems. To my surprise this +morning I found you had cut the 'Silent Sister.' I feared I should be too +late to catch one glimpse of you ere you started for the wars." + +"You are quite right, Master Frank, and I scarcely expected to have seen +you. Your last brilliant achievement at Sir George's very nearly involved +me in a serious scrape." + +"A mere trifle. How confoundedly silly Power must have looked, eh? Should +like so much to have seen his face. He booked up next day,--very proper +fellow. By-the-bye, O'Malley, I rather like the little girl; she is +decidedly pretty, and her foot,--did you remark her foot?--capital." + +"Yes, she's very good-looking," said I, carelessly. + +"I'm thinking of cultivating her a little," said Webber, pulling up his +cravat and adjusting his hair at the glass. "She's spoiled by all the +tinsel vaporing of her hussar and aide-de-camp acquaintances; but something +may be done for her, eh?" + +"With your most able assistance and kind intentions." + +"That's what I mean exactly. Sorry you're going,--devilish sorry. You +served out Stone gloriously: perhaps it's as well, though,--you know they'd +have expelled you; but still something might turn up. Soldiering is a +bad style of thing, eh? How the old general did take his sister-in-law's +presence to heart! But he must forgive and forget, for I am going to be +very great friends with him and Lucy. Where are you going now?" + +"I am about to try a new horse before troops," said I. "He's stanch enough +with the cry of the fox-pack in his ears; but I don't know how he'll stand +a peal of artillery." + +"Well, come along," said Webber; "I'll ride with you." So saying, we +mounted and set off to the Park, where two regiments of cavalry and some +horse artillery were ordered for inspection. + +The review was over when we reached the exercising ground, and we slowly +walked our horses towards the end of the Park, intending to return to +Dublin by the road. We had not proceeded far, when, some hundred yards in +advance, we perceived an officer riding with a lady, followed by an orderly +dragoon. + +"There he goes," said Webber; "I wonder if he'd ask me to dinner, if I were +to throw myself in his way?" + +"Who do you mean?" said I. + +"Sir George Dashwood, to be sure, and, _la voilà_, Miss Lucy. The little +darling rides well, too; how squarely she sits her horse. O'Malley, I've a +weakness there; upon my soul I have." + +"Very possible," said I; "I am aware of another friend of mine +participating in the sentiment." + +"One Charles O'Malley, of his Majesty's--" + +"Nonsense, man; no, no. I mean a very different person, and, for all I can +see, with some reason to hope for success." + +"Oh, as to that, we flatter ourselves the thing does not present any very +considerable difficulties." + +"As how, pray?" + +"Why, of course, like all such matters, a very decisive determination to +be, to do, and to suffer, as Lindley Murray says, carries the day. Tell her +she's an angel every day for three weeks. She may laugh a little at first, +but she'll believe it in the end. Tell her that you have not the slightest +prospect of obtaining her affections, but still persist in loving her. +That, finally, you must die from the effects of despair, etc., but rather +like the notion of it than otherwise. That you know she has no fortune; +that you haven't a sixpence; and who should marry, if people whose position +in the world was similar did not?" + +"But halt; pray, how are you to get time and place for all such interesting +conversations?" + +"Time and place! Good Heavens, what a question! Is not every hour of the +twenty-four the fittest? Is not every place the most suitable? A sudden +pause in the organ of St. Patrick's did, it is true, catch me once in a +declaration of love, but the choir came in to my aid and drowned the lady's +answer. My dear O'Malley, what could prevent you this instant, if you are +so disposed, from doing the amiable to the darling Lucy there?" + +"With the father for an umpire in case we disagreed," said I. + +"Not at all. I should soon get rid of him." + +"Impossible, my dear friend." + +"Come now, just for the sake of convincing your obstinacy. If you like +to say good-by to the little girl without a witness, I'll take off the +he-dragon." + +"You don't mean--" + +"I do, man; I do mean it." So saying, he drew a crimson silk handkerchief +from his pocket, and fastened it round his waist like an officer's sash. +This done, and telling me to keep in their wake for some minutes, he turned +from me, and was soon concealed by a copse of white-thorn near us. + +I had not gone above a hundred yards farther when I heard Sir George's +voice calling for the orderly. I looked and saw Webber at a considerable +distance in front, curvetting and playing all species of antics. The +distance between the general and myself was now so short that I overheard +the following dialogue with his sentry:-- + +"He's not in uniform, then?" + +"No, sir; he has a round hat." + +"A round hat!" + +"His sash--" + +"A sword and sash. This is too bad. I'm determined to find him out." + +"How d'ye do, General?" cried Webber, as he rode towards the trees. + +"Stop, sir!" shouted Sir George. + +"Good-day, Sir George," replied Webber, retiring. + +"Stay where you are, Lucy," said the general as, dashing spurs into his +horse, he sprang forward at a gallop, incensed beyond endurance that his +most strict orders should be so openly and insultingly transgressed. + +Webber led on to a deep hollow, where the road passed between two smooth +slopes, covered with furze-trees, and from which it emerged afterwards in +the thickest and most intricate part of the Park. Sir George dashed boldly +after, and in less than half a minute both were lost to my view, leaving me +in breathless amazement at Master Frank's ingenuity, and some puzzle as to +my own future movements. + +"Now then, or never!" said I, as I pushed boldly forward, and in an instant +was alongside of Miss Dashwood. Her astonishment at seeing me so suddenly +increased the confusion from which I felt myself suffering, and for some +minutes I could scarcely speak. At last I plucked up courage a little, and +said:-- + +"Miss Dashwood, I have looked most anxiously, for the last four days, for +the moment which chance has now given me. I wished, before I parted forever +with those to whom I owe already so much, that I should at least speak my +gratitude ere I said good-by." + +"But when do you think of going?" + +"To-morrow. Captain Power, under whose command I am, has received orders to +embark immediately for Portugal." + +I thought--perhaps it was but a thought--that her cheek grew somewhat paler +as I spoke; but she remained silent; and I, scarcely knowing what I had +said, or whether I had finished, spoke not either. + +"Papa, I'm sure, is not aware," said she, after a long pause, "of your +intention of leaving so soon, for only last night he spoke of some letters +he meant to give you to some friends in the Peninsula; besides, I know," +here she smiled faintly,--"that he destined some excellent advice for your +ears, as to your new path in life, for he has an immense opinion of the +value of such to a young officer." + +"I am, indeed, most grateful to Sir George, and truly never did any one +stand more in need of counsel than I do." This was said half musingly, and +not intended to be heard. + +"Then, pray, consult papa," said she, eagerly; "he is much attached to you, +and will, I am certain, do all in his power--" + +"Alas! I fear not, Miss Dashwood." + +"Why, what can you mean. Has anything so serious occurred?" + +"No, no; I'm but misleading you, and exciting your sympathy with false +pretences. Should I tell you all the truth, you would not pardon, perhaps +not hear me." + +"You have, indeed, puzzled me; but if there is anything in which my +father--" + +"Less him than his daughter," said I, fixing my eyes full upon her as I +spoke. "Yes, Lucy, I feel I must confess it, cost what it may; I love you. +Stay, hear me out; I know the fruitlessness, the utter despair, that awaits +such a sentiment. My own heart tells me that I am not, cannot be, loved in +return; yet would I rather cherish in its core my affection, slighted and +unblessed, such as it is, than own another heart. I ask for nothing, I hope +for nothing; I merely entreat that, for my truth, I may meet belief, and +for my heart's worship of her whom alone I can love, compassion. I see that +you at least pity me. Nay, one word more; I have one favor more to ask,--it +is my last, my only one. Do not, when time and distance may have separated +us, perhaps forever, think that the expressions I now use are prompted by +a mere sudden ebullition of boyish feeling; do not attribute to the +circumstance of my youth alone the warmth of the attachment I profess,--for +I swear to you, by every hope that I have, that in my heart of hearts my +love to you is the source and spring of every action in my life, of every +aspiration in my heart; and when I cease to love you, I shall cease to +feel." + +"And now, farewell,--farewell forever!" I pressed her hand to my lips, gave +one long, last look, turned my horse rapidly away, and ere a minute was far +out of sight of where I had left her. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +THE ROAD. + +Power was detained in town by some orders from the adjutant-general, so +that I started for Cork the next morning with no other companion than my +servant Mike. For the first few stages upon the road, my own thoughts +sufficiently occupied me to render me insensible or indifferent to all +else. My opening career, the prospects my new life as a soldier held out, +my hopes of distinction, my love of Lucy with all its train of doubts and +fears, passed in review before me, and I took no note of time till far past +noon. I now looked to the back part of the coach, where Mike's voice had +been, as usual, in the ascendant for some time, and perceived that he was +surrounded by an eager auditory of four raw recruits, who, under the care +of a sergeant, were proceeding to Cork to be enrolled in their regiment. +The sergeant, whose minutes of wakefulness were only those when the coach +stopped to change horses, and when he got down to mix a "summat hot," paid +little attention to his followers, leaving them perfectly free in all their +movements, to listen to Mike's eloquence and profit by his suggestions, +should they deem fit. Master Michael's services to his new acquaintances, +I began to perceive, were not exactly of the same nature as Dibdin is +reported to have rendered to our navy in the late war. Far from it. His +theme was no contemptuous disdain for danger; no patriotic enthusiasm +to fight for home and country; no proud consciousness of British valor, +mingled with the appropriate hatred of our mutual enemies,--on the +contrary, Mike's eloquence was enlisted for the defendant. He detailed, +and in no unimpressive way either, the hardships of a soldier's life,--its +dangers, its vicissitudes, its chances, its possible penalties, its +inevitably small rewards; and, in fact, so completely did he work on the +feelings of his hearers that I perceived more than one glance exchanged +between the victims that certainly betokened anything save the resolve to +fight for King George. It was at the close of a long and most powerful +appeal upon the superiority of any other line in life, petty larceny and +small felony inclusive, that he concluded with the following quotation:-- + +"Thrue for ye, boys! + + 'With your red scarlet coat, + You're as proud as a goat, + And your long cap and feather.' + +But, by the piper that played before Moses! it's more whipping nor +gingerbread is going on among them, av ye knew but all, and heerd the +misfortune that happened to my father." + +"And was he a sodger?" inquired one. + +"Troth was he, more sorrow to him; and wasn't he a'most whipped one day for +doing what he was bid?" + +"Musha, but that was hard!" + +"To be sure it was hard; but faix, when my father seen that they didn't +know their own minds, he thought, anyhow, he knew his, so he ran away,--and +devil a bit of him they ever cotch afther. May be ye might like to hear the +story; and there's instruction in it for yez, too." + +A general request to this end being preferred by the company, Mike took a +shrewd look at the sergeant, to be sure that he was still sleeping, settled +his coat comfortably across his knees, and began:-- + +Well, it's a good many years ago my father 'listed in the North Cork, just +to oblige Mr. Barry, the landlord there. For,' says he, 'Phil,' says he, +'it's not a soldier ye'll be at all, but my own man, to brush my clothes +and go errands, and the like o' that; and the king, long life to him! will +help to pay ye for your trouble. Ye understand me?' Well, my father agreed, +and Mr. Barry was as good as his word. Never a guard did my father mount, +nor as much as a drill had he, nor a roll-call, nor anything at all, save +and except wait on the captain, his master, just as pleasant as need be, +and no inconvenience in life. + +"Well, for three years this went on as I am telling, and the regiment was +ordered down to Bantry, because of a report that the 'boys' was rising +down there; and the second evening there was a night party patrolling with +Captain Barry for six hours in the rain, and the captain, God be marciful +to him! tuk could and died. More by token, they said it was drink, but +my father says it wasn't: 'for' says he, 'after he tuk eight tumblers +comfortable,' my father mixed the ninth, and the captain waived his hand +this way, as much as to say he'd have no more. 'Is it that ye mean?' says +my father; and the captain nodded. 'Musha, but it's sorry I am,' says my +father, 'to see you this way; for ye must be bad entirely to leave off in +the beginning of the evening.' And thrue for him, the captain was dead in +the morning. + +"A sorrowful day it was for my father when he died. It was the finest +place in the world; little to do, plenty of divarsion, and a kind man he +was,--when he was drunk. Well, then, when the captain was buried and all +was over, my father hoped they'd be for letting him away, as he said, +'Sure, I'm no use in life to anybody, save the man that's gone, for his +ways are all I know, and I never was a sodger.' But, upon my conscience, +they had other thoughts in their heads, for they ordered him into the ranks +to be drilled just like the recruits they took the day before. + +"'Musha, isn't this hard?' said my father. 'Here I am, an ould vitrin that +ought to be discharged on a pension with two-and-sixpence a day, obliged +to go capering about the barrack-yard, practising the goose-step, or some +other nonsense not becoming my age nor my habits.' But so it was. Well, +this went on for some time, and sure, if they were hard on my father, +hadn't he his revenge; for he nigh broke their hearts with his stupidity. +Oh, nothing in life could equal him! Devil a thing, no matter how easy, he +could learn at all; and so far from caring for being in confinement, it was +that he liked best. Every sergeant in the regiment had a trial of him, but +all to no good; and he seemed striving so hard to learn all the while that +they were loath to punish him, the ould rogue! + +"This was going on for some time, when, one day, news came in that a +body of the rebels, as they called them, was coming down from the Gap of +Mulnavick to storm the town and burn all before them. The whole regiment +was of coorse under arms, and great preparations was made for a battle. +Meanwhile patrols were ordered to scour the roads, and sentries posted at +every turn of the way and every rising ground to give warning when the boys +came in sight; and my father was placed at the Bridge of Drumsnag, in the +wildest and bleakest part of the whole country, with nothing but furze +mountains on every side, and a straight road going over the top of them. + +"'This is pleasant,' says my father, as soon as they left him there alone +by himself, with no human creature to speak to, nor a whiskey-shop within +ten miles of him; 'cowld comfort,' says he, 'on a winter's day; and faix, +but I have a mind to give ye the slip.' + +"Well, he put his gun down on the bridge, and he lit his pipe, and he sat +down under an ould tree and began to ruminate upon his affairs. + +"'Oh, then, it's wishing it well I am,' says he, 'for sodgering; and bad +luck to the hammer that struck the shilling that 'listed me, that's all,' +for he was mighty low in his heart. + +"Just then a noise came rattling down near him. He listened, and before +he could get on his legs, down comes' the general, ould Cohoon, with an +orderly after him. + +"'Who goes there?' says my father. + +"'The round,' says the general, looking about all the time to see where was +the sentry, for my father was snug under the tree. + +"'What round?' says my father. + +"'The grand round,' says the general, more puzzled than afore. + +"'Pass on, grand round, and God save you kindly!' says my father, putting +his pipe in his mouth again, for he thought all was over. + +"'D--n your soul, where are you?' says the general, for sorrow bit of my +father could he see yet. + +"'It's here I am,' says he, 'and a cowld place I have of it; and if it +wasn't for the pipe I'd be lost entirely.' + +"The words wasn't well out of his mouth when the general began laughing, +till ye'd think he'd fall off his horse; and the dragoon behind him--more +by token, they say it wasn't right for him--laughed as loud as himself. + +"'Yer a droll sentry,' says the general, as soon as he could speak. + +"'Be-gorra, it's little fun there's left in me,' says my father, 'with this +drilling, and parading, and blackguarding about the roads all night.' + +"'And is this the way you salute your officer?' says the general. + +"'Just so,' says my father; 'devil a more politeness ever they taught me.' + +"'What regiment do you belong to?' says the general. + +"'The North Cork, bad luck to them!' says my father, with a sigh. + +"'They ought to be proud of ye,' says the general. + +"'I'm sorry for it,' says my father, sorrowfully, 'for may be they'll keep +me the longer.' + +"'Well, my good fellow,' says the general, 'I haven't more time to waste +here; but let me teach you something before I go. Whenever your officer +passes, it's your duty to present to him.' + +"'Arrah, it's jokin' ye are,' says my father. + +"'No, I'm in earnest,' says he, 'as ye might learn, to your cost, if I +brought you to a court-martial.' + +"'Well, there's no knowing,' says my father, 'what they'd be up to; but +sure, if that's all, I'll do it, with all "the veins," whenever yer coming +this way again.' + +"The general began to laugh again here; but said,-- + +'I'm coming back in the evening,' says he, 'and mind you don't forget your +respect to your officer.' + +"'Never fear, sir,' says my father; 'and many thanks to you for your +kindness for telling me.' + +"Away went the general, and the orderly after him, and in ten minutes they +were out of sight. + +"The night was falling fast, and one half of the mountain was quite dark +already, when my father began to think they were forgetting him entirely. +He looked one way, and he looked another, but sorra bit of a sergeant's +guard was coming to relieve him. There he was, fresh and fasting, and +daren't go for the bare life. 'I'll give you a quarter of an hour more,' +says my father, 'till the light leaves that rock up there; after that,' +says he, 'by the Mass! I'll be off, av it cost me what it may.' + +"Well, sure enough, his courage was not needed this time; for what did +he see at the same moment but a shadow of something coming down the road +opposite the bridge. He looked again; and then he made out the general +himself, that was walking his horse down the steep part of the mountain, +followed by the orderly. My father immediately took up his musket off the +wall, settled his belts, shook the ashes out of his pipe and put it into +his pocket, making himself as smart and neat-looking as he could be, +determining, when ould Cohoon came up, to ask him for leave to go home, at +least for the night. Well, by this time the general was turning a sharp +part of the cliff that looks down upon the bridge, from where you might +look five miles round on every side. 'He sees me,' says my father; 'but +I'll be just as quick as himself.' No sooner said than done; for coming +forward to the parapet of the bridge, he up with his musket to his +shoulder, and presented it straight at the general. It wasn't well there, +when the officer pulled up his horse quite short, and shouted out, 'Sentry! +sentry!' + +"'Anan?' says my father, still covering him. + +"'Down with your musket you rascal. Don't you see it's the grand round?' + +"'To be sure I do,' says my father, never changing for a minute. + +"'The ruffian will shoot me,' says the general. + +"'Devil a fear,' says my father, 'av it doesn't go off of itself.' + +"'What do you mean by that, you villian?' says the general, scarcely able +to speak with fright, for every turn he gave on his horse, my father +followed with the gun,--what do you mean?' + +"'Sure, ain't I presenting?' says my father. 'Blood an ages! do you want me +to fire next?' + +"With that the general drew a pistol from his holster, and took deliberate +aim at my father; and there they both stood for five minutes, looking at +each other, the orderly all the while breaking his heart laughing behind a +rock; for, ye see, the general knew av he retreated that my father might +fire on purpose, and av he came on, that he might fire by chance,--and +sorra bit he knew what was best to be done. + +"'Are ye going to pass the evening up there, grand round?' says my father; +'for it's tired I'm getting houldin' this so long.' + +"'Port arms!' shouted the general, as if on parade. + +"'Sure I can't, till yer past,' says my father, angrily; 'and my hands +trembling already.' + +"'By Heavens! I shall be shot,' says the general. + +"'Be-gorra, it's what I'm afraid of,' says my father; and the words wasn't +out of his mouth before off went the musket, bang!--and down fell the +general, smack on the ground, senseless. Well the orderly ran out at this, +and took him up and examined his wound; but it wasn't a wound at all, only +the wadding of the gun. For my father--God be kind to him!--ye see, could +do nothing right; and so he bit off the wrong end of the cartridge when he +put it in the gun, and, by reason, there was no bullet in it. Well, from +that day after they never got a sight of him; for the instant that the +general dropped, he sprang over the bridge-wall and got away; and +what, between living in a lime-kiln for two months, eating nothing but +blackberries and sloes, and other disguises, he never returned to the army, +but ever after took to a civil situation, and drive a hearse for many +years." + +How far Mike's narrative might have contributed to the support of his +theory, I am unable to pronounce; for his auditory were, at some distance +from Cork, made to descend from their lofty position and join a larger body +of recruits, all proceeding to the same destination, under a strong escort +of infantry. For ourselves, we reached the "beautiful city" in due time, +and took up our quarters at the Old George Hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +CORK. + +The undress rehearsal of a new piece, with its dirty-booted actors, its +cloaked and hooded actresses _en papillote_, bears about the same relation +to the gala, wax-lit, and bespangled ballet, as the raw young gentleman +of yesterday to the epauletted, belted, and sabretasched dragoon, whose +transformation is due to a few hours of head-quarters, and a few interviews +with the adjutant. + +So, at least, I felt it; and it was with a very perfect concurrence in his +Majesty's taste in a uniform, and a most entire approval of the regimental +tailor, that I strutted down George's Street a few days after my arrival in +Cork. The transports had not as yet come round; there was a great doubt of +their doing so for a week or so longer; and I found myself as the +dashing cornet, the centre of a thousand polite attentions and most kind +civilities. + +The officer under whose orders I was placed for the time was a great friend +of Sir George Dashwood's, and paid me, in consequence, much attention. +Major Dalrymple had been on the staff from the commencement of his military +career, had served in the commissariat for some time, was much on foreign +stations; but never, by any of the many casualties of his life, had he seen +what could be called service. His ideas of the soldier's profession were, +therefore, what might almost be as readily picked up by a commission in the +battle-axe guards, as one in his Majesty's Fiftieth. He was now a species +of district paymaster, employed in a thousand ways, either inspecting +recruits, examining accounts, revising sick certificates, or receiving +contracts for mess beef. Whether the nature of his manifold occupations had +enlarged the sphere of his talents and ambition, or whether the abilities +had suggested the variety of his duties, I know not, but truly the major +was a man of all work. No sooner did a young ensign join his regiment at +Cork, than Major Dalrymple's card was left at his quarters; the next day +came the major himself; the third brought an invitation to dinner; on the +fourth he was told to drop in, in the evening; and from thenceforward, +he was the _ami de la maison_, in company with numerous others as +newly-fledged and inexperienced as himself. + +One singular feature of the society at the house was that although the +major was as well known as the flag on Spike Island, yet somehow, no +officer above the rank of an ensign was ever to be met with there. It +was not that he had not a large acquaintance; in fact, the "How are you, +Major?" "How goes it, Dalrymple?" that kept everlastingly going on as +he walked the streets, proved the reverse; but strange enough, his +predilections leaned towards the newly gazetted, far before the bronzed +and seared campaigners who had seen the world, and knew more about it. The +reasons for this line of conduct were twofold. In the first place, there +was not an article of outfit, from a stock to a sword-belt, that he could +not and did not supply to the young officer,--from the gorget of the +infantry to the shako of the grenadier, all came within his province; +not that he actually kept a _magasin_ of these articles, but he had so +completely interwoven his interests with those of numerous shopkeepers in +Cork that he rarely entered a shop over whose door Dalrymple & Co. might +not have figured on the sign-board. His stables were filled with a perfect +infirmary of superannuated chargers, fattened and conditioned up to a +miracle, and groomed to perfection. He could get you--_only you_--about +three dozen of sherry to take out with you as sea-store; he knew of such a +servant; he chanced upon such a camp-furniture yesterday in his walks; in +fact, why want for anything? His resources were inexhaustible; his kindness +unbounded. + +Then money was no object,--hang it, you could pay when you liked; what +signified it? In other words, a bill at thirty-one days, cashed and +discounted by a friend of the major's, would always do. While such were the +unlimited advantages his acquaintance conferred, the sphere of his benefits +took another range. The major had two daughters; Matilda and Fanny were as +well known in the army as Lord Fitzroy Somerset, or Picton, from the Isle +of Wight to Halifax, from Cape Coast to Chatham, from Belfast to the +Bermudas. Where was the subaltern who had not knelt at the shrine of one +or the other, if not of both, and vowed eternal love until a change of +quarters? In plain words, the major's solicitude for the service was such, +that, not content with providing the young officer with all the necessary +outfit of his profession, he longed also to supply him with a comforter for +his woes, a charmer for his solitary hours, in the person of one of his +amiable daughters. Unluckily, however, the necessity for a wife is not +enforced by "general orders," as is the cut of your coat, or the length of +your sabre; consequently, the major's success in the home department of his +diplomacy was not destined for the same happy results that awaited it when +engaged about drill trousers and camp kettles, and the Misses Dalrymple +remained misses through every clime and every campaign. And yet, why was +it so? It is hard to say. What would men have? Matilda was a dark-haired, +dark-eyed, romantic-looking girl, with a tall figure and a slender waist, +with more poetry in her head than would have turned any ordinary brain; +always unhappy, in need of consolation, never meeting with the kindred +spirit that understood her, destined to walk the world alone, her fair +thoughts smothered in the recesses of her own heart. Devilish hard to stand +this, when you began in a kind of platonic friendship on both sides. More +than one poor fellow nearly succumbed, particularly when she came to quote +Cowley, and told him, with tears in her eyes,-- + + "There are hearts that live and love alone," etc. + +I'm assured that this _coup-de-grace_ rarely failed in being followed by +a downright avowal of open love, which, somehow, what between the route +coming, what with waiting for leave from home, etc., never got further than +a most tender scene, and exchange of love tokens; and, in fact, such became +so often the termination, that Power swears Matty had to make a firm +resolve about cutting off any more hair, fearing a premature baldness +during the recruiting season. + +Now, Fanny had selected another arm of the service. Her hair was fair; her +eyes blue, laughing, languishing,--mischief-loving blue, with long lashes, +and a look in them that was wont to leave its impression rather longer than +you exactly knew of; then, her figure was _petite_, but perfect; her feet +Canova might have copied; and her hand was a study for Titian; her voice, +too, was soft and musical, but full of that _gaiété de coeur_ that never +fails to charm. While her sister's style was _il penserono_, hers was +_l'allegro_; every imaginable thing, place, or person supplied food for her +mirth, and her sister's lovers all came in for their share. She hunted +with Smith Barry's hounds; she yachted with the Cove Club; she coursed, +practised at a mark with a pistol, and played chicken hazard with all +the cavalry,--for, let it be remarked as a physiological fact, Matilda's +admirers were almost invariably taken from the infantry, while Fanny's +adorers were as regularly dragoons. Whether the former be the romantic +arm of the service, and the latter be more adapted to dull realities, or +whether the phenomenon had any other explanation, I leave to the curious. +Now, this arrangement, proceeding upon that principle which has wrought +such wonders in Manchester and Sheffield,--the division of labor,--was a +most wise and equitable one, each having her one separate and distinct +field of action, interference was impossible; not but that when, as in the +present instance, cavalry was in the ascendant, Fanny would willingly spare +a dragoon or two to her sister, who likewise would repay the debt when +occasion offered. + +The mamma--for it is time I should say something of the head of the +family--was an excessively fat, coarse-looking, dark-skinned personage, of +some fifty years, with a voice like a boatswain in a quinsy. Heaven can +tell, perhaps, why the worthy major allied his fortunes with hers, for she +was evidently of a very inferior rank in society, could never have been +aught than downright ugly, and I never heard that she brought him any +money. "Spoiled five," the national amusement of her age and sex in Cork, +scandal, the changes in the army list, the failures in speculation of her +luckless husband, the forlorn fortunes of the girls, her daughters, kept +her in occupation, and her days were passed in one perpetual, unceasing +current of dissatisfaction and ill-temper with all around, that formed a +heavy counterpoise to the fascinations of the young ladies. The repeated +jiltings to which they had been subject had blunted any delicacy upon the +score of their marriage; and if the newly-introduced cornet or ensign was +not coming forward, as became him, at the end of the requisite number +of days, he was sure of receiving a very palpable admonition from Mrs. +Dalrymple. Hints, at first dimly shadowed, that Matilda was not in spirits +this morning; that Fanny, poor child, had a headache,--directed especially +at the culprit in question,--grew gradually into those little motherly +fondnesses in mamma, that, like the fascination of the rattlesnake, only +lure on to ruin. The doomed man was pressed to dinner when all others were +permitted to take their leave; he was treated like one of the family, God +help him! After dinner, the major would keep him an hour over his wine, +discussing the misery of an ill-assorted marriage; detailing his own +happiness in marrying a woman like the Tonga Islander I have mentioned; +hinting that girls should be brought up, not only to become companions to +their husbands, but with ideas fitting their station; if his auditor were +a military man, that none but an old officer (like him) could know how to +educate girls (like his); and that feeling he possessed two such treasures, +his whole aim in life was to guard and keep them,--a difficult task, when +proposals of the most flattering kind were coming constantly before him. +Then followed a fresh bottle, during which the major would consult his +young friend upon a very delicate affair,--no less than a proposition for +the hand of Miss Matilda, or Fanny, whichever he was supposed to be soft +upon. This was generally a _coup-de-maître_; should he still resist, he was +handed over to Mrs. Dalrymple, with a strong indictment against him, and +rarely did he escape a heavy sentence. Now, is it not strange that two +really pretty girls, with fully enough of amiable and pleasing qualities +to have excited the attention and won the affections of many a man, should +have gone on for years,--for, alas! they did so in every climate, under +every sun,--to waste their sweetness in this miserable career of intrigue +and man-trap, and yet nothing come of it? But so it was. The first question +a newly-landed regiment was asked, if coming from where they resided, was, +"Well, how are the girls?" "Oh, gloriously. Matty is there." "Ah, indeed! +poor thing." "Has Fan sported a new habit?" "Is it the old gray with the +hussar braiding? Confound it, that was seedy when I saw them in Corfu. And +Mother Dal as fat and vulgar as ever?" "Dawson of ours was the last, +and was called up for sentence when we were ordered away; of course, +he bolted," etc. Such was the invariable style of question and answer +concerning them; and although some few, either from good feeling or +fastidiousness, relished but little the mode in which it had become +habitual to treat them, I grieve to say that, generally, they were +pronounced fair game for every species of flirtation and love-making +without any "intentions" for the future. I should not have trespassed so +far upon my readers' patience, were I not, in recounting these traits of +my friends above, narrating matters of history. How many are there who may +cast their eyes upon these pages, that will say, "Poor Matilda! I knew her +at Gibraltar. Little Fanny was the life and soul of us all in Quebec." + +"Mr. O'Malley," said the adjutant, as I presented myself in the afternoon +of my arrival in Cork to a short, punchy, little red-faced gentleman, in a +short jacket and ducks, "you are, I perceive, appointed to the 14th; +you will have the goodness to appear on parade to-morrow morning. The +riding-school hours are----. The morning drill is----; evening drill----. +Mr. Minchin, you are a 14th man, I believe? No, I beg pardon! a carbineer; +but no matter. Mr. O'Malley, Mr. Minchin; Captain Dounie, Mr. O'Malley. +You'll dine with us to-day, and to-morrow you shall be entered at the +mess." + +"Yours are at Santarem, I believe?" said an old, weather-beaten looking +officer with one arm. + +"I'm ashamed to say, I know nothing whatever of them; I received my gazette +unexpectedly enough." + +"Ever in Cork before, Mr. O'Malley?" + +"Never," said I. + +"Glorious place," lisped a white-eyelashed, knocker-kneed ensign; "splendid +_gals_, eh?" + +"Ah, Brunton," said Minchin, "you may boast a little; but we poor devils--" + +"Know the Dals?" said the hero of the lisp, addressing me. + +"I haven't that honor," I replied, scarcely able to guess whether what he +alluded to were objects of the picturesque or a private family. + +"Introduce him, then, at once," said the adjutant; "we'll all go in the +evening. What will the old squaw think?" + +"Not I," said Minchin. "She wrote to the Duke of York about my helping +Matilda at supper, and not having any honorable intentions afterwards." + +"We dine at 'The George' to-day, Mr. O'Malley, sharp seven. Until then--" + +So saying, the little man bustled back to his accounts, and I took my leave +with the rest, to stroll about the town till dinner-time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +THE ADJUTANT'S DINNER. + +The adjutant's dinner was as professional an affair as need be. A circuit +or a learned society could not have been more exclusively devoted to +their own separate and immediate topics than were we. Pipeclay in all its +varieties came on the _tapis_; the last regulation cap, the new button, +the promotions, the general orders, the colonel and the colonel's wife, +stoppages, and the mess fund were all well and ably discussed; and strange +enough, while the conversation took this wide range, not a chance allusion, +not one stray hint ever wandered to the brave fellows who were covering the +army with glory in the Peninsula, nor one souvenir of him that, was even +then enjoying a fame as a leader second to none in Europe. This surprised +me not a little at the time; but I have since that learned how little +interest the real services of an army possess for the ears of certain +officials, who, stationed at home quarters, pass their inglorious lives in +the details of drill, parade, mess-room gossip, and barrack scandal. Such, +in fact, were the dons of the present dinner. We had a commissary-general, +an inspecting brigade-major of something, a physician to the forces, the +adjutant himself, and Major Dalrymple; the _hoi polloi_ consisting of the +raw ensign, a newly-fledged cornet (Mr. Sparks), and myself. + +The commissary told some very pointless stories about his own department; +the doctor read a dissertation upon Walcheren fever; the adjutant got very +stupidly tipsy; and Major Dalrymple succeeded in engaging the three juniors +of the party to tea, having previously pledged us to purchase nothing +whatever of outfit without his advice, he well knowing (which he did) how +young fellows like us were cheated, and resolving to be a father to us +(which he certainly tried to be). + +As we rose from the table, about ten o'clock, I felt how soon a few such +dinners would succeed in disenchanting me of all my military illusions; +for, young as I was, I saw that the commissary was a vulgar bore, the +doctor a humbug, the adjutant a sot, and the major himself I greatly +suspected to be an old rogue. + +"You are coming with us, Sparks?" said Major Dalrymple, as he took me by +one arm and the ensign by the other. "We are going to have a little tea +with the ladies; not five minutes' walk." + +"Most happy, sir," said Mr. Sparks, with a very flattered expression of +countenance. + +"O'Malley, you know Sparks, and Burton too." + +This served for a species of triple introduction, at which we all bowed, +simpered, and bowed again. We were very happy to have the pleasure, etc. + +"How pleasant to get away from these fellows!" said the major, "they are so +uncommonly prosy! That commissary, with his mess beef, and old Pritchard, +with black doses and rigors,--nothing so insufferable! Besides, in +reality, a young officer never needs all that nonsense. A little medicine +chest--I'll get you one each to-morrow for five pounds--no, five pounds +ten--the same thing--that will see you all through the Peninsula. Remind me +of it in the morning." This we all promised to do, and the major resumed: +"I say, Sparks, you've got a real prize in that gray horse,--such a trooper +as he is! O'Malley, you'll be wanting something of that kind, if we can +find it for you." + +"Many thanks, Major; but my cattle are on the way here already. I've only +three horses, but I think they are tolerably good ones." + +The major now turned to Burton and said something in a low tone, to which +the other replied, "Well, if you say so, I'll get it; but it's devilish +dear." + +"Dear, my young friend! Cheap, dog cheap." + +"Only think, O'Malley, a whole brass bed, camp-stool, basin-stand, all +complete, for sixty pounds! If it was not that a widow was disposing of +it in great distress, one hundred could not buy it. Here we are; come +along,--no ceremony. Mind the two steps; that's it, Mrs, Dalrymple, Mr. +O'Malley; Mr. Sparks, Mr. Burton, my daughters. Is tea over, girls?" + +"Why, Papa, it's nearly eleven o'clock," said Fanny, as she rose to ring +the bell, displaying in so doing the least possible portion of a very +well-turned ankle. + +Miss Matilda Dal laid down her book, but seemingly lost in abstraction, did +not deign to look at us. Mrs. Dalrymple, however, did the honors with much +politeness, and having by a few adroit and well-put queries ascertained +everything concerning our rank and position, seemed perfectly satisfied +that our intrusion was justifiable. + +While my _confrère_, Mr. Sparks, was undergoing his examination I had time +to look at the ladies, whom I was much surprised at finding so very +well looking; and as the ensign had opened a conversation with Fanny, I +approached my chair towards the other, and having carelessly turned over +the leaves of the book she had been reading, drew her on to talk of it. As +my acquaintance with young ladies hitherto had been limited to those who +had "no soul," I felt some difficulty at first in keeping up with the +exalted tone of my fair companion, but by letting her take the lead for +some time, I got to know more of the ground. We went on tolerably together, +every moment increasing my stock of technicals, which were all that was +needed to sustain the conversation. How often have I found the same plan +succeed, whether discussing a question of law or medicine, with a learned +professor of either! or, what is still more difficult, canvassing the +merits of a preacher or a doctrine with a serious young lady, whose +"blessed privileges" were at first a little puzzling to comprehend. + +I so contrived it, too, that Miss Matilda should seem as much to be making +a convert to her views as to have found a person capable of sympathizing +with her; and thus, long before the little supper, with which it was the +major's practice to regale his friends every evening, made its appearance, +we had established a perfect understanding together,--a circumstance that, +a bystander might have remarked, was productive of a more widely diffused +satisfaction than I could have myself seen any just cause for. Mr. Burton +was also progressing, as the Yankees say, with the sister; Sparks had +booked himself as purchaser of military stores enough to make the campaign +of the whole globe; and we were thus all evidently fulfilling our various +vocations, and affording perfect satisfaction to our entertainers. + +Then came the spatch-cock, and the sandwiches, and the negus, which Fanny +first mixed for papa, and subsequently, with some little pressing, for Mr. +Burton; Matilda the romantic assisted _me_; Sparks helped himself. Then we +laughed, and told stories; pressed Sparks to sing, which, as he declined, +we only pressed the more. How, invariably, by-the-bye, is it the custom to +show one's appreciation of anything like a butt by pressing him for a song! +The major was in great spirits; told us anecdotes of his early life in +India, and how he once contracted to supply the troops with milk, and made +a purchase, in consequence, of some score of cattle, which turned out to be +bullocks. Matilda recited some lines from Pope in my ear. Fanny challenged +Burton to a rowing match. Sparks listened to all around him, and Mrs. +Dalrymple mixed a very little weak punch, which Dr. Lucas had recommended +to her to take the last thing at night,--_Noctes coenoeque_ etc. Say +what you will, these were very jovial little _réunions_. The girls were +decidedly very pretty. We were in high favor; and when we took leave at the +door, with a very cordial shake hands, it was with no _arrière pensée_ we +promised to see them in the morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +THE ENTANGLEMENT. + +When we think for a moment over all the toils, all the anxieties, all the +fevered excitement of a _grande passion_, it is not a little singular that +love should so frequently be elicited by a state of mere idleness; and yet +nothing, after all, is so predisposing a cause as this. Where is the man +between eighteen and eight-and-thirty--might I not say forty--who, +without any very pressing duns, and having no taste for strong liquor and +_rouge-et-noir_, can possibly lounge through the long hours of his day +without at least fancying himself in love? The thousand little occupations +it suggests become a necessity of existence; its very worries are like the +wholesome opposition that purifies and strengthens the frame of a free +state. Then, what is there half so sweet as the reflective flattery which +results from our appreciation of an object who in return deems us the _ne +plus ultra_ of perfection? There it is, in fact; that confounded bump of +self-esteem does it all, and has more imprudent matches to answer for than +all the occipital protuberances that ever scared poor Harriet Martineau. + +Now, to apply my moralizing. I very soon, to use the mess phrase, got +"devilish spooney" about the "Dals." The morning drill, the riding-school, +and the parade were all most fervently consigned to a certain military +character that shall be nameless, as detaining me from some appointment +made the evening before; for as I supped there each night, a party of one +kind or another was always planned for the day following. Sometimes we had +a boating excursion to Cove, sometimes a picnic at Foaty; now a rowing +party to Glanmire, or a ride, at which I furnished the cavalry. These +doings were all under my especial direction, and I thus became speedily +the organ of the Dalrymple family; and the simple phrase, "It was Mr. +O'Malley's arrangement," "Mr. O'Malley wished it," was like the _Moi le +roi_ of Louis XIV. + +Though all this while we continued to carry on most pleasantly, Mrs. +Dalrymple, I could perceive, did not entirely sympathize with our projects +of amusement. As an experienced engineer might feel when watching the +course of some storming projectile--some brilliant congreve--flying over +a besieged fortress, yet never touching the walls nor harming the +inhabitants, so she looked on at all these demonstrations of attack with +no small impatience, and wondered when would the breach be reported +practicable. Another puzzle also contributed its share of anxiety,--which +of the girls was it? To be sure, he spent three hours every morning with +Fanny; but then, he never left Matilda the whole evening. He had given his +miniature to one; a locket with his hair was a present to the sister. +The major thinks he saw his arm round Matilda's waist in the garden; the +housemaid swears she saw him kiss Fanny in the pantry. Matilda smiles when +we talk of his name with her sister's; Fanny laughs outright, and +says, "Poor Matilda! the man never dreamed of her." This is becoming +uncomfortable. The major must ask his intentions. It is certainly one +or the other; but then, we have a right to know which. Such was a very +condensed view of Mrs. Dalrymple's reflections on this important topic,--a +view taken with her usual tact and clear-sightedness. + +Matters were in this state when Power at length arrived in Cork, to +take command of our detachment and make the final preparations for our +departure. I had been, as usual, spending the evening at the major's, and +had just reached my quarters, when I found my friend sitting at my fire, +smoking his cigar and solacing himself with a little brandy-and-water. + +"At last," said he, as I entered,--"at last! Why, where the deuce have you +been till this hour,--past two o'clock? There is no ball, no assembly going +on, eh?" + +"No," said I, half blushing at the eagerness of the inquiry; "I've been +spending the evening with a friend." + +"Spending the evening! Say, rather, the night! Why, confound you, man, what +is there in Cork to keep you out of bed till near three?" + +"Well, if you must know, I have been supping at a Major Dalrymple's,--a +devilish good fellow, with two such daughters!" + +"Ahem!" said Power, shutting one eye knowingly, and giving a look like a +Yorkshire horse-dealer. "Go on." + +"Why, what do you mean?" + +"Go on; continue." + +"I've finished; I've nothing more to tell." + +"So, they're here, are they?" said he, reflectingly. + +"Who?" said I. + +"Matilda and Fanny, to be sure." + +"Why, you know them, then?" + +"I should think I do." + +"Where have you met them?" + +"Where have I not? When I was in the Rifles they were quartered at Zante. +Matilda was just then coming it rather strong with Villiers, of ours, a +regular greenhorn. Fanny, also, nearly did for Harry Nesbitt, by riding a +hurdle race. Then they left for Gibraltar, in the year,--what year was it?" + +"Come, come," said I, "this is a humbug; the girls are quite young; you +just have heard their names." + +"Well, perhaps so; only tell me which is your peculiar weakness, as they +say in the west, and may be I'll convince you." + +"Oh, as to that," said I, laughing, "I'm not very far gone on either side." + +"Then, Matilda, probably, has not tried you with Cowley, eh?--you look a +little pink--'There are hearts that live and love alone.' Oh, poor fellow, +you've got it! By Jove, how you've been coming it, though, in ten days! She +ought not to have got to that for a month, at least; and how like a young +one it was, to be caught by the poetry. Oh, Master Charley, I thought that +the steeple-chaser might have done most with your Galway heart,--the girl +in the gray habit, that sings 'Moddirederoo,' ought to have been the prize! +Halt! by Saint George, but that tickles you also! Why, zounds, if I go on, +probably, at this rate, I'll find a tender spot occupied by the 'black +lady' herself." + +It was no use concealing, or attempting to conceal, anything from my +inquisitive friend; so I mixed my grog, and opened my whole heart; told how +I had been conducting myself for the entire preceding fortnight; and when +I concluded, sat silently awaiting Power's verdict, as though a jury were +about to pronounce upon my life. + +"Have you ever written?" + +"Never; except, perhaps, a few lines with tickets for the theatre, or +something of that kind." + +"Have you copies of your correspondence?" + +"Of course not. Why, what do you mean?" + +"Has Mrs. Dal ever been present; or, as the French say, has she assisted at +any of your tender interviews with the young ladies?" + +"I'm not aware that one kisses a girl before mamma." + +"I'm not speaking of that; I merely allude to an ordinary flirtation." + +"Oh, I suppose she has seen me attentive." + +"Very awkward, indeed! There is only one point in your favor; for as your +attentions were not decided, and as the law does not, as yet, permit +polygamy--" + +"Come, come, you know I never thought of marrying." + +"Ah, but they did." + +"Not a bit of it." + +"Ay, but they did. What do you wager but that the major asks your +intentions, as he calls it, the moment he hears the transport has arrived?" + +"By Jove! now you remind me, he asked this evening, when he could have a +few minutes' private conversation with me to-morrow, and I thought it was +about some confounded military chest or sea-store, or one of his infernal +contrivances that he every day assures me are indispensable; though, if +every officer had only as much baggage as I have got, under his directions, +it would take two armies, at least, to carry the effects of the fighting +one." + +"Poor fellow!" said he, starting upon his legs; "what a burst you've made +of it!" So saying, he began in a nasal twang,-- + +"I publish the banns of marriage between Charles O'Malley, late of his +Majesty's 14th Dragoons, and ------ Dalrymple, spinster, of this city--" + +"I'll be hanged if you do, though," said I, seeing pretty clearly, by this +time, something of the estimation my friends were held in. "Come, Power, +pull me through, like a good fellow,--pull me through, without doing +anything to hurt the girls' feelings." + +"Well, we'll see about it," said he,--"we'll see about it in the morning; +but, at the same time, let me assure you, the affair is not so easy as +you may at first blush suppose. These worthy people have been so often +'done'--to use the cant phrase--before, that scarcely a _ruse_ remains +untried. It is of no use pleading that your family won't consent; that your +prospects are null; that you arc ordered for India; that you are engaged +elsewhere; that you have nothing but your pay; that you are too young or +too old,--all such reasons, good and valid with any other family, will +avail you little here. Neither will it serve your cause that you may +be warranted by a doctor as subject to periodical fits of insanity; +monomaniacal tendencies to cut somebody's throat, etc. Bless your heart, +man, they have a soul above such littlenesses! They care nothing for +consent of friends, means, age, health, climate, prospects, or temper. +Firmly believing matrimony to be a lottery, they are not superstitious +about the number they pitch upon; provided only that they get a ticket, +they are content." + +"Then it strikes me, if what you say is correct, that I have no earthly +chance of escape, except some kind friend will undertake to shoot me." + +"That has been also tried." + +"Why, how do you mean?" + +"A mock duel, got up at mess,--we had one at Malta. Poor Vickers was the +hero of that affair. It was right well planned, too. One of the letters +was suffered, by mere accident, to fall into Mrs. Dal's hands, and she was +quite prepared for the event when he was reported shot the next morning. +Then the young lady, of course, whether she cared or not, was obliged to be +perfectly unconcerned, lest the story of engaged affections might get wind +and spoil another market. The thing went on admirably, till one day, some +few months later, they saw, in a confounded army-list, that the late +George Vickers was promoted to the 18th Dragoons, so that the trick was +discovered, and is, of course, stale at present." + +"Then could I not have a wife already, and a large family of interesting +babies?" + +"No go,--only swell the damages, when they come to prosecute. Besides, your +age and looks forbid the assumption of such a fact. No, no; we must go +deeper to work." + +"But where shall we go?" said I, impatiently; "for it appears to me these +good people have been treated to every trick and subterfuge that ever +ingenuity suggested." + +"Come, I think I have it; but it will need a little more reflection. +So, now, let us to bed. I'll give you the result of my lucubrations at +breakfast; and, if I mistake not, we may get you through this without any +ill-consequences. Good-night, then, old boy; and now dream away of your +lady-love till our next meeting." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +THE PREPARATION. + +To prevent needless repetitions in my story, I shall not record here the +conversation which passed between my friend Power and myself on the morning +following at breakfast. Suffice it to say, that the plan proposed by him +for my rescue was one I agreed to adopt, reserving to myself, in case +of failure, a _pis aller_ of which I knew not the meaning, but of whose +efficacy Power assured me I need not doubt. + +"If all fail," said he,--"if every bridge break down beneath you, and no +road of escape be left, why, then, I believe you must have recourse to +another alternative. Still I should wish to avoid it, if possible, and I +put it to you, in honor, not to employ it unless as a last expedient. You +promise me this?" + +"Of course," said I, with great anxiety for the dread final measure. "What +is it?" + +He paused, smiled dubiously, and resumed,-- + +"And, after all,--but, to be sure, there will not be need for it,--the +other plan will do,--must do. Come, come, O'Malley, the admiralty say that +nothing encourages drowning in the navy like a life-buoy. The men have such +a prospect of being picked up that they don't mind falling overboard; so, +if I give you this life-preserver of mine, you'll not swim an inch. Is it +not so, eh?" + +"Far from it," said I. "I shall feel in honor bound to exert myself the +more, because I now see how much it costs you to part with it." + +"Well, then, hear it. When everything fails; when all your resources are +exhausted; when you have totally lost your memory, in fact, and your +ingenuity in excuses say,--but mind, Charley, not till then,--say that you +must consult your friend, Captain Power, of the 14th; that's all." + +"And is this it?" said I, quite disappointed at the lame and impotent +conclusion to all the high-sounding exordium; "is this all?" + +"Yes," said he, "that is all. But stop, Charley; is not that the major +crossing the street there? Yes, to be sure it is; and, by Jove! he has got +on the old braided frock this morning. Had you not told me one word of your +critical position, I should have guessed there was something in the wind +from that. That same vestment has caused many a stout heart to tremble that +never quailed before a shot or shell." + +"How can that be? I should like to hear." + +"Why, my dear boy, that's his explanation coat, as we called it at +Gibraltar. He was never known to wear it except when asking some poor +fellow's 'intentions.' He would no more think of sporting it as an +every-day affair, than the chief-justice would go cook-shooting in his +black cap and ermine. Come, he is bound for your quarters, and as it +will not answer our plans to let him see you now, you had better hasten +down-stairs, and get round by the back way into George's Street, and you'll +be at his house before he can return." + +Following Power's directions, I seized my foraging-cap and got clear out of +the premises before the major had reached them. It was exactly noon as I +sounded my loud and now well-known summons at the major's knocker. The door +was quickly opened; but instead of dashing up-stairs, four steps at a time, +as was my wont, to the drawing-room, I turned short into the dingy-looking +little parlor on the right, and desired Matthew, the venerable servitor of +the house, to say that I wished particularly to see Mrs. Dalrymple for a +few minutes, if the hour were not inconvenient. + +There was something perhaps of excitement in my manner, some flurry in my +look, or some trepidation in my voice, or perhaps it was the unusual hour, +or the still more remarkable circumstance of my not going at once to the +drawing-room, that raised some doubts in Matthew's mind as to the object of +my visit; and instead of at once complying with my request to inform Mrs. +Dalrymple that I was there, he cautiously closed the door, and taking a +quick but satisfactory glance round the apartment to assure himself that we +were alone, he placed his back against it and heaved a deep sigh. + +We were both perfectly silent: I in total amazement at what the old man +could possibly mean; he, following up the train of his own thoughts, +comprehended little or nothing of my surprise, and evidently was so +engrossed by his reflections that he had neither ears nor eyes for aught +around him. There was a most singular semi-comic expression in the old +withered face that nearly made me laugh at first; but as I continued to +look steadily at it, I perceived that, despite the long-worn wrinkles that +low Irish drollery and fun had furrowed around the angles of his mouth, the +real character of his look was one of sorrowful compassion. + +Doubtless, my readers have read many interesting narratives wherein the +unconscious traveller in some remote land has been warned of a plan to +murder him, by some mere passing wink, a look, a sign, which some one, less +steeped in crime, less hardened in iniquity than his fellows, has ventured +for his rescue. Sometimes, according to the taste of the narrator, the +interesting individual is an old woman, sometimes a young one, sometimes +a black-bearded bandit, sometimes a child; and not unfrequently, a dog is +humane enough to do this service. One thing, however, never varies,--be the +agent biped or quadruped, dumb or speechful, young or old, the stranger +invariably takes the hint, and gets off scott free for his sharpness. This +never-varying trick on the doomed man, I had often been sceptical enough to +suspect; however, I had not been many minutes a spectator of the old man's +countenance, when I most thoroughly recanted my errors, and acknowledged +myself wrong. If ever the look of a man conveyed a warning, his did; but +there was more in it than even that,--there was a tone of sad and pitiful +compassion, such as an old gray-bearded rat might be supposed to put on at +seeing a young and inexperienced one opening the hinge of an iron trap, +to try its efficacy upon his neck. Many a little occasion had presented +itself, during my intimacy with the family, of doing Matthew some small +services, of making him some trifling presents; so that, when he assumed +before me the gesture and look I have mentioned, I was not long in +deciphering his intentions. + +"Matthew!" screamed a sharp voice which I recognized at once for that of +Mrs. Dalrymple. "Matthew! Where is the old fool?" + +But Matthew heard not, or heeded not. + +"Matthew! Matthew! I say." + +"I'm comin', ma'am," said he, with a sigh, as, opening the parlor-door, he +turned upon me one look of such import that only the circumstances of my +story can explain its force, or my reader's own ingenious imagination can +supply. + +"Never fear, my good old friend," said I, grasping his hand warmly, and +leaving a guinea in the palm,--"never fear." + +"God grant it, sir!" said he, setting on his wig in preparation for his +appearance in the drawing-room. + +"Matthew! The old wretch!" + +"Mr. O'Malley," said the often-called Matthew, as opening the door, he +announced me unexpectedly among the ladies there assembled, who, not +hearing of my approach, were evidently not a little surprised and +astonished. Had I been really the enamored swain that the Dalrymple family +were willing to believe, I half suspect that the prospect before me might +have cured me of my passion. A round bullet-head, _papilloté_, with +the "Cork Observer," where still-born babes and maids-of-all-work were +descanted upon in very legible type, was now the substitute for the classic +front and Italian ringlets of _la belle_ Matilda; while the chaste Fanny +herself, whose feet had been a fortune for a statuary, was, in the most +slatternly and slipshod attire, pacing the room in a towering rage, at +some thing, place, or person, unknown (to me). If the ballet-master at the +_Académie_ could only learn to get his imps, demons, angels, and goblins +"off" half as rapidly as the two young ladies retreated on my being +announced, I answer for the piece so brought out having a run for half the +season. Before my eyes had regained their position parallel to the plane of +the horizon, they were gone, and I found myself alone with Mrs. Dalrymple. +Now, she stood her ground, partly to cover the retreat of the main body, +partly, too, because--representing the baggage wagons, ammunition stores, +hospital, staff, etc.--her retirement from the field demanded more time and +circumspection than the light brigade. + +Let not my readers suppose that the _mère_ Dalrymple was so perfectly +faultless in costume that her remaining was a matter of actual +indifference; far from it. She evidently had a struggle for it; but a sense +of duty decided her, and as Ney doggedly held back to cover the retreating +forces on the march from Moscow, so did she resolutely lurk behind till +the last flutter of the last petticoat assured her that the fugitives were +safe. Then did she hesitate for a moment what course to take; but as I +assumed my chair beside her, she composedly sat down, and crossing her +hands before her, waited for an explanation of this ill-timed visit. + +Had the Horse Guards, in the plenitude of their power and the perfection of +their taste, ordained that the 79th and 42d Regiments should in future, +in lieu of their respective tartans, wear flannel kilts and black worsted +hose, I could readily have fallen into the error of mistaking Mrs. +Dalrymple for a field officer in the new regulation dress; the philabeg +finding no mean representation in a capacious pincushion that hung down +from her girdle, while a pair of shears, not scissors, corresponded to the +dirk. After several ineffectual efforts on her part to make her vestment (I +know not its fitting designation) cover more of her legs than its length +could possibly effect, and after some most bland smiles and half blushes at +_dishabille_, etc., were over, and that I had apologized most humbly for +the unusually early hour of my call, I proceeded to open my negotiations, +and unfurl my banner for the fray. + +"The old 'Racehorse' has arrived at last," said I, with a half-sigh, "and I +believe that we shall not obtain a very long time for our leave-taking; so +that, trespassing upon your very great kindness, I have ventured upon an +early call." + +"The 'Racehorse,' surely can't sail to-morrow," said Mrs. Dalrymple, whose +experience of such matters made her a very competent judge; "her stores--" + +"Are taken in already," said I; "and an order from the Horse Guards +commands us to embark in twenty-four hours; so that, in fact, we scarcely +have time to look about us." + +"Have you seen the major?" inquired Mrs. Dalrymple, eagerly. + +"Not to-day," I replied, carelessly; "but, of course, during the morning we +are sure to meet. I have many thanks yet to give him for all his most kind +attentions." + +"I know he is most anxious to see you," said Mrs. Dalrymple, with a very +peculiar emphasis, and evidently desiring that I should inquire the +reasons of this anxiety. I, however, most heroically forbore indulging my +curiosity, and added that I should endeavor to find him on my way to the +barracks; and then, hastily looking at my watch, I pronounced it a full +hour later than it really was, and promising to spend the evening--my last +evening--with them, I took my leave and hurried away, in no small flurry to +be once more out of reach of Mrs. Dalrymple's fire, which I every moment +expected to open upon me. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +THE SUPPER. + +Power and I dined together _tête-à-tête_ at the hotel, and sat chatting +over my adventures with the Dalrymples till nearly nine o'clock. + +"Come, Charley," said he, at length, "I see your eye wandering very often +towards the timepiece; another bumper, and I'll let you off. What shall it +be?" + +"What you like," said I, upon whom a share of three bottles of strong +claret had already made a very satisfactory impression. + +"Then champagne for the _coup-de-grace_. Nothing like your _vin mousseux_ +for a critical moment,--every bubble that rises sparkling to the surface +prompts some bright thought, or elicits some brilliant idea, that would +only have been drowned in your more sober fluids. Here's to the girl you +love, whoever she be." + +"To her bright eyes, then, be it," said I, clearing off a brimming goblet +of nearly half the bottle, while my friend Power seemed multiplied into +any given number of gentlemen standing amidst something like a glass +manufactory of decanters. + +"I hope you feel steady enough for this business," said my friend, +examining me closely with the candle. + +"I'm an archdeacon," muttered I, with one eye involuntarily closing. + +"You'll not let them double on you!" + +"Trust me, old boy," said I, endeavoring to look knowing. + +"I think you'll do," said he, "so now march. I'll wait for you here, +and we'll go on board together; for old Bloater the skipper says he'll +certainly weigh by daybreak." + +"Till then," said I, as opening the door, I proceeded very cautiously to +descend the stairs, affecting all the time considerable _nonchalance_, and +endeavoring, as well as my thickened utterance would permit, to hum:-- + + "Oh, love is the soul of an Irish dragoon." + +If I was not in the most perfect possession of my faculties in the house, +the change to the open air certainly but little contributed to their +restoration; and I scarcely felt myself in the street when my brain became +absolutely one whirl of maddened and confused excitement. Time and space +are nothing to a man thus enlightened, and so they appeared to me; scarcely +a second had elapsed when I found myself standing in the Dalrymples' +drawing-room. + +If a few hours had done much to metamorphose _me_, certes, they had done +something for my fair friends also; anything more unlike what they appeared +in the morning can scarcely be imagined. Matilda in black, with her hair in +heavy madonna bands upon her fair cheek, now paler even than usual, never +seemed so handsome; while Fanny, in a light-blue dress, with blue flowers +in her hair, and a blue sash, looked the most lovely piece of coquetry ever +man set his eyes upon. The old major, too, was smartened up, and put into +an old regimental coat that he had worn during the siege of Gibraltar; and +lastly, Mrs. Dalrymple herself was attired in a very imposing costume that +made her, to my not over-accurate judgment, look very like an elderly +bishop in a flame-colored cassock. Sparks was the only stranger, and +wore upon his countenance, as I entered, a look of very considerable +embarrassment that even my thick-sightedness could not fail of detecting. + +_Parlez-moi de I'amitié_, my friends. Talk to me of the warm embrace of +your earliest friend, after years of absence; the cordial and heartfelt +shake hands of your old school companion, when in after years, a chance +meeting has brought you together, and you have had time and opportunity for +becoming distinguished and in repute, and are rather a good hit to be known +to than otherwise; of the close grip you give your second when he comes up +to say, that the gentleman with the loaded detonator opposite won't fire, +that he feels he's in the wrong. Any or all of these together, very +effective and powerful though they be, are light in the balance when +compared with the two-handed compression you receive from the gentleman +that expects you to marry one of his daughters. + +"My dear O'Malley, how goes it? Thought you'd never come," said he, still +holding me fast and looking me full in the face, to calculate the extent to +which my potations rendered his flattery feasible. + +"Hurried to death with preparations, I suppose," said Mrs. Dalrymple, +smiling blandly. "Fanny dear, some tea for him." + +"Oh, Mamma, he does not like all that sugar; surely not," said she, looking +up with a most sweet expression, as though to say, "I at least know his +tastes." + +"I believed you were going without seeing us," whispered Matilda, with a +very glassy look about the corner of her eyes. + +Eloquence was not just then my forte, so that I contented myself with a +very intelligible look at Fanny, and a tender squeeze of Matilda's hand, as +I seated myself at the table. + +Scarcely had I placed myself at the tea-table, with Matilda beside and +Fanny opposite me, each vying with the other in their delicate and kind +attentions, when I totally forgot all my poor friend Power's injunctions +and directions for my management. It is true, I remembered that there was +a scrape of some kind or other to be got out of, and one requiring some +dexterity, too; but what or with whom I could not for the life of me +determine. What the wine had begun, the bright eyes completed; and amidst +the witchcraft of silky tresses and sweet looks, I lost all my reflection, +till the impression of an impending difficulty remained fixed in my mind, +and I tortured my poor, weak, and erring intellect to detect it. At last, +and by a mere chance, my eyes fell upon Sparks; and by what mechanism I +contrived it, I know not, but I immediately saddled him with the whole of +my annoyances, and attributed to him and to his fault any embarrassment I +labored under. + +The physiological reason of the fact I'm very ignorant of, but for the +truth and frequency I can well vouch, that there are certain people, +certain faces, certain voices, certain whiskers, legs, waistcoats, and +guard-chains, that inevitably produce the most striking effects upon the +brain of a gentleman already excited by wine, and not exactly cognizant of +his own peculiar fallacies. + +These effects are not produced merely among those who are quarrelsome in +their cups, for I call the whole 14th to witness that I am not such; but to +any person so disguised, the inoffensiveness of the object is no security +on the other hand,--for I once knew an eight-day clock kicked down a +barrack stairs by an old Scotch major, because he thought it was laughing +at him. To this source alone, whatever it be, can I attribute the feeling +of rising indignation with which I contemplated the luckless cornet, who, +seated at the fire, unnoticed and uncared for, seemed a very unworthy +object to vent anger or ill-temper upon. + +"Mr. Sparks, I fear," said I, endeavoring at the time to call up a look of +very sovereign contempt,--"Mr. Sparks, I fear, regards my visit here in the +light of an intrusion." + +Had poor Mr. Sparks been told to proceed incontinently up the chimney +before him, he could not have looked more aghast. Reply was quite out of +his power. So sudden and unexpectedly was this charge of mine made that he +could only stare vacantly from one to the other; while I, warming with +my subject, and perhaps--but I'll not swear it--stimulated by a gentle +pressure from a soft hand near me, continued:-- + +"If he thinks for one moment that my attentions in this family are in any +way to be questioned by him, I can only say--" + +"My dear O'Malley, my dear boy!" said the major, with the look of a +father-in-law in his eye. + +"The spirit of an officer and a gentleman spoke there," said Mrs. +Dalrymple, now carried beyond all prudence by the hope that my attack might +arouse my dormant friend into a counter-declaration; nothing, however, was +further from poor Sparks, who began to think he had been unconsciously +drinking tea with five lunatics. + +"If he supposes," said I, rising from my chair, "that his silence will pass +with me as any palliation--" + +"Oh, dear! oh, dear! there will be a duel. Papa, dear, why don't you speak +to Mr. O'Malley?" + +"There now, O'Malley, sit down. Don't you see he is quite in error?" + +"Then let him say so," said I, fiercely. + +"Ah, yes, to be sure," said Fanny. "Do say it; say anything he likes, Mr. +Sparks." + +"I must say," said Mrs. Dalrymple, "however sorry I may feel in my own +house to condemn any one, that Mr. Sparks is very much in the wrong." + +Poor Sparks looked like a man in a dream. + +"If he will tell Charles,--Mr. O'Malley, I mean," said Matilda, blushing +scarlet, "that he meant nothing by what he said--" + +"But I never spoke, never opened my lips!" cried out the wretched man, at +length sufficiently recovered to defend himself. + +"Oh, Mr. Sparks!" + +"Oh, Mr. Sparks!" + +"Oh, Mr. Sparks!" chorussed the three ladies. + +While the old major brought up the rear with an "Oh, Sparks, I must say--" + +"Then, by all the saints in the calendar, I must be mad," said he; "but if +I have said anything to offend you, O'Malley, I am sincerely sorry for it." + +"That will do, sir," said I, with a look of royal condescension at the +_amende_ I considered as somewhat late in coming, and resumed my seat. + +This little _intermezzo_, it might be supposed, was rather calculated to +interrupt the harmony of our evening. Not so, however. I had apparently +acquitted myself like a hero, and was evidently in a white heat, in which I +could be fashioned into any shape. Sparks was humbled so far that he would +probably feel it a relief to make any proposition; so that by our opposite +courses we had both arrived at a point at which all the dexterity and +address of the family had been long since aiming without success. +Conversation then resumed its flow, and in a few minutes every trace of our +late _fracas_ had disappeared. + +By degrees I felt myself more and more disposed to turn my attention +towards Matilda, and dropping my voice into a lower tone, opened a +flirtation of a most determined kind. Fanny had, meanwhile, assumed a place +beside Sparks, and by the muttered tones that passed between them, I could +plainly perceive they were similarly occupied. The major took up the +"Southern Reporter," of which he appeared deep in the contemplation, while +Mrs. Dal herself buried her head in her embroidery and neither heard nor +saw anything around her. + +I know, unfortunately, but very little what passed between myself and my +fair companion; I can only say that when supper was announced at twelve (an +hour later than usual), I was sitting upon the sofa with my arm round +her waist, my cheek so close that already her lovely tresses brushed my +forehead, and her breath fanned my burning brow. + +"Supper, at last," said the major, with a loud voice, to arouse us from +our trance of happiness without taking any mean opportunity of looking +unobserved. "Supper, Sparks, O'Malley; come now, it will be some time +before we all meet this way again." + +"Perhaps not so long, after all," said I, knowingly. + +"Very likely not," echoed Sparks, in the same key. + +"I've proposed for Fanny," said he, whispering in my ear. + +"Matilda's mine," replied I, with the look of an emperor. + +"A word with you, Major," said Sparks, his eye flashing with enthusiasm, +and his cheek scarlet. "One word,--I'll not detain you." + +They withdrew into a corner for a few seconds, during which Mrs. Dalrymple +amused herself by wondering what the secret could be, why Mr. Sparks +couldn't tell her, and Fanny meanwhile pretended to look for something at a +side table, and never turned her head round. + +"Then give me your hand," said the major, as he shook Sparks's with a +warmth of whose sincerity there could be no question. "Bess, my love," said +he, addressing his wife. The remainder was lost in a whisper; but whatever +it was, it evidently redounded to Sparks's credit, for the next moment a +repetition of the hand-shaking took place, and Sparks looked the happiest +of men. + +"_A mon tour_," thought I, "now," as I touched the major's arm, and led him +towards the window. What I said may be one day matter for Major Dalrymple's +memoirs, if he ever writes them; but for my part I have not the least idea. +I only know that while I was yet speaking he called over Mrs. Dal, who, +in a frenzy of joy, seized me in her arms and embraced me. After which, I +kissed her, shook hands with the major, kissed Matilda's hand, and laughed +prodigiously, as though I had done something confoundedly droll,--a +sentiment evidently participated in by Sparks, who laughed too, as did the +others; and a merrier, happier party never sat down to supper. + +"Make your company pleased with themselves," says Mr. Walker, in his +_Original_ work upon dinner-giving, "and everything goes on well." Now, +Major Dalrymple, without having read the authority in question, probably +because it was not written at the time, understood the principle fully +as well as the police-magistrate, and certainly was a proficient in the +practice of it. + +To be sure, he possessed one grand requisite for success,--he seemed most +perfectly happy himself. There was that _air dégagé_ about him which, when +an old man puts it on among his juniors, is so very attractive. Then the +ladies, too, were evidently well pleased; and the usually austere mamma had +relaxed her "rigid front" into a smile in which any _habitué_ of the house +could have read our fate. + +We ate, we drank, we ogled, smiled, squeezed hands beneath the table, +and, in fact, so pleasant a party had rarely assembled round the major's +mahogany. As for me, I made a full disclosure of the most burning love, +backed by a resolve to marry my fair neighbor, and settle upon her a +considerably larger part of my native county than I had ever even rode +over. Sparks, on the other side, had opened his fire more cautiously, +but whether taking courage from my boldness, or perceiving with envy the +greater estimation I was held in, was now going the pace fully as fast as +myself, and had commenced explanations of his intentions with regard to +Fanny that evidently satisfied her friends. Meanwhile the wine was passing +very freely, and the hints half uttered an hour before began now to be more +openly spoken and canvassed. + +Sparks and I hob-nobbed across the table and looked unspeakable things at +each other; the girls held down their heads; Mrs. Dal wiped her eyes; and +the major pronounced himself the happiest father in Europe. + +It was now wearing late, or rather early; some gray streaks of dubious +light were faintly forcing their way through the half-closed curtains, and +the dread thought of parting first presented itself. A cavalry trumpet, +too, at this moment sounded a call that aroused us from our trance of +pleasure, and warned us that our moments were few. A dead silence crept +over all; the solemn feeling which leave-taking ever inspires was +uppermost, and none spoke. The major was the first to break it. + +"O'Malley, my friend, and you, Mr. Sparks; I must have a word with you, +boys, before we part." + +"Here let it be, then, Major," said I, holding his arm as he turned to +leave the room,--"here, now; we are all so deeply interested, no place is +so fit." + +"Well, then," said the major, "as you desire it, now that I'm to regard +you both in the light of my sons-in-law,--at least, as pledged to become +so,--it is only fair as respects--" + +"I see,--I understand perfectly," interrupted I, whose passion for +conducting the whole affair myself was gradually gaining on me. "What +you mean is, that we should make known our intentions before some mutual +friends ere we part; eh, Sparks? eh, Major?" + +"Right, my boy,--right on every point." + +"Well, then, I thought of all that; and if you'll just send your servant +over to my quarters for our captain,--he's the fittest person, you know, at +such a time--" + +"How considerate!" said Mrs. Dalrymple. + +"How perfectly just his idea is!" said the major. + +"We'll then, in his presence, avow our present and unalterable +determination as regards your fair daughters; and as the time is short--" + +Here I turned towards Matilda, who placed her arm within mine; Sparks +possessed himself of Fanny's hand, while the major and his wife consulted +for a few seconds. + +"Well, O'Malley, all you propose is perfect. Now, then, for the captain. +Who shall he inquire for?" + +[Illustration: CHARLES POPS THE QUESTION.] + +"Oh, an old friend of yours," said I, jocularly; "you'll be glad to see +him." + +"Indeed!" said all together. + +"Oh, yes, quite a surprise, I'll warrant it." + +"Who can it be? Who on earth is it?" + +"You can't guess," added I, with a very knowing look. "Knew you at Corfu; a +very intimate friend, indeed, if he tell the truth." + +A look of something like embarrassment passed around the circle at these +words, while I, wishing to end the mystery, resumed:-- + +"Come, then, who can be so proper for all parties, at a moment like this, +as our mutual friend Captain Power?" + +Had a shell fallen into the cold grouse pie in the midst of us, scattering +death and destruction on every side, the effect could scarcely have been +more frightful than that my last words produced. Mrs. Dalrymple fell with +a sough upon the floor, motionless as a corpse; Fanny threw herself, +screaming, upon a sofa; Matilda went off into strong hysterics upon the +hearth-rug; while the major, after giving me a look a maniac might have +envied, rushed from the room in search of his pistols with a most terrific +oath to shoot somebody, whether Sparks or myself, or both of us, on his +return, I cannot say. Fanny's sobs and Matilda's cries, assisted by a +drumming process by Mrs. Dal's heels upon the floor, made a most infernal +concert and effectually prevented anything like thought or reflection; and +in all probability so overwhelmed was I at the sudden catastrophe I had so +innocently caused, I should have waited in due patience for the major's +return, had not Sparks seized my arm, and cried out,-- + +"Run for it, O'Malley; cut like fun, my boy, or we're done for." + +"Run; why? What for? Where?" said I, stupefied by the scene before me. + +"Here he is!" called out Sparks, as throwing up the window, he sprang out +upon the stone sill, and leaped into the street. I followed mechanically, +and jumped after him, just as the major had reached the window. A ball +whizzed by me, that soon determined my further movements; so, putting on +all speed, I flew down the street, turned the corner, and regained the +hotel breathless and without a hat, while Sparks arrived a moment later, +pale as a ghost, and trembling like an aspen-leaf. + +"Safe, by Jove!" said Sparks, throwing himself into a chair, and panting +for breath. + +"Safe, at last," said I, without well knowing why or for what. + +"You've had a sharp run of it, apparently," said Power, coolly, and without +any curiosity as to the cause; "and now, let us on board; there goes the +trumpet again. The skipper is a surly old fellow, and we must not lose his +tide for him." So saying, he proceeded to collect his cloaks, cane, etc., +and get ready for departure. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +THE VOYAGE. + +When I awoke from the long, sound sleep which succeeded my last adventure, +I had some difficulty in remembering where I was or how I had come there. +From my narrow berth I looked out upon the now empty cabin, and at length +some misty and confused sense of my situation crept slowly over me. I +opened the little shutter beside me and looked out. The bold headlands of +the southern coast were frowning in sullen and dark masses about a couple +of miles distant, and I perceived that we were going fast through the +water, which was beautifully calm and still. I now looked at my watch; +it was past eight o'clock; and as it must evidently be evening, from the +appearance of the sky, I felt that I had slept soundly for above twelve +hours. + +In the hurry of departure the cabin had not been set to rights, and there +lay every species of lumber and luggage in all imaginable confusion. +Trunks, gun-cases, baskets of eggs, umbrellas, hampers of sea-store, +cloaks, foraging-caps, maps, and sword-belts were scattered on every +side,--while the _débris_ of a dinner, not over-remarkable for its +propriety in table equipage, added to the ludicrous effect. The heavy tramp +of a foot overhead denoted the step of some one taking his short walk of +exercise; while the rough voice of the skipper, as he gave the word to "Go +about!" all convinced me that we were at last under way, and off to "the +wars." + +The confusion our last evening on shore produced in my brain was such +that every effort I made to remember anything about it only increased my +difficulty, and I felt myself in a web so tangled and inextricable that +all endeavor to escape free was impossible. Sometimes I thought that I had +really married Matilda Dalrymple; then, I supposed that the father had +called me out, and wounded me in a duel; and finally, I had some confused +notion about a quarrel with Sparks, but what for, when, and how it ended, I +knew not. How tremendously tipsy I must have been! was the only conclusion +I could draw from all these conflicting doubts; and after all, it was the +only thing like fact that beamed upon my mind. How I had come on board and +reached my berth was a matter I reserved for future inquiry, resolving that +about the real history of my last night on shore I would ask no questions, +if others were equally disposed to let it pass in silence. + +I next began to wonder if Mike had looked after all my luggage, trunks, +etc., and whether he himself had been forgotten in our hasty departure. +About this latter point I was not destined for much doubt; for a well-known +voice, from the foot of the companion-ladder, at once proclaimed my +faithful follower, and evidenced his feelings at his departure from his +home and country. + +Mr. Free was, at the time I mention, gathered up like a ball opposite a +small, low window that looked upon the bluff headlands now fast becoming +dim and misty as the night approached. He was apparently in low spirits, +and hummed in a species of low, droning voice, the following ballad, at the +end of each verse of which came an Irish chorus which, to the erudite in +such matters, will suggest the air of Moddirederoo:-- + + MICKEY FREE'S LAMENT. + + Then fare ye well, ould Erin dear; + To part, my heart does ache well: + From Carrickfergus to Cape Clear, + I'll never see your equal. + And though to foreign parts we're bound, + Where cannibals may ate us, + We'll ne'er forget the holy ground + Of potteen and potatoes. + Moddirederoo aroo, aroo, etc. + + When good Saint Patrick banished frogs, + And shook them from his garment, + He never thought we'd go abroad, + To live upon such varmint; + Nor quit the land where whiskey grew + To wear King George's button, + Take vinegar for mountain dew, + And toads for mountain mutton. + Moddirederoo aroo, aroo, etc. + +"I say, Mike, stop that confounded keen, and tell me where are we?" + +"Off the ould head of Kinsale, sir." + +"Where is Captain Power?" + +"Smoking a cigar on deck, with the captain, sir." + +"And Mr. Sparks?" + +"Mighty sick in his own state-room. Oh, but it's himself has enough of +glory--bad luck to it!--by this time. He'd make your heart break to look at +him." + +"Who have you got on board besides?" + +"The adjutant's here, sir; and an old gentleman they call the major." + +"Not Major Dalrymple?" said I, starting up with terror at the thought, "eh, +Mike?" + +"No, sir, another major; his name is Mulroon, or Mundoon, or something like +that." + +"Monsoon, you son of a lumper potato," cried out a surly, gruff voice from +a berth opposite. "Monsoon. Who's at the other side?" + +"Mr. O'Malley, 14th," said I, by way of introduction. + +"My service to you, then," said the voice. "Going to join your regiment?" + +"Yes; and you, are you bound on a similar errand?" + +"No, Heaven be praised! I'm attached to the commissariat, and only going to +Lisbon. Have you had any dinner?" + +"Not a morsel; have you?" + +"No more than yourself; but I always lie by for three or four days this +way, till I get used to the confounded rocking and pitching, and with +a little grog and some sleep, get over the time gayly enough. Steward, +another tumbler like the last; there--very good--that will do. Your good +health, Mr.--what was it you said?" + +"O'Malley." + +"O'Malley--your good health! Good-night." And so ended our brief colloquy, +and in a few minutes more, a very decisive snore pronounced my friend to be +fulfilling his precept for killing the hours. + +I now made the effort to emancipate myself from my crib, and at last +succeeded in getting on the floor, where, after one _chassez_ at a small +looking-glass opposite, followed by a very impetuous rush at a little brass +stove, in which I was interrupted by a trunk and laid prostrate, I finally +got my clothes on, and made my way to the deck. Little attuned as was my +mind at the moment to admire anything like scenery, it was impossible to be +unmoved by the magnificent prospect before me. It was a beautiful evening +in summer; the sun had set above an hour before, leaving behind him in the +west one vast arch of rich and burnished gold, stretching along the whole +horizon, and tipping all the summits of the heavy rolling sea, as it rolled +on, unbroken by foam or ripple, in vast moving mountains, from the far +coast of Labrador. We were already in blue water, though the bold cliffs +that were to form our departing point were but a few miles to leeward. +There lay the lofty bluff of Old Kinsale, whose crest, overhanging, peered +from a summit of some hundred feet into the deep water that swept its rocky +base, many a tangled lichen and straggling bough trailing in the flood +beneath. Here and there upon the coast a twinkling gleam proclaimed the hut +of the fisherman, whose swift hookers had more than once shot by us and +disappeared in a moment. The wind, which began to fall at sunset, freshened +as the moon rose; and the good ship, bending to the breeze, lay gently +over, and rushed through the waters with a sound of gladness. I was alone +upon the deck. Power and the captain, whom I expected to have found, had +disappeared somehow, and I was, after all, not sorry to be left to my own +reflections uninterrupted. + +My thoughts turned once more to my home,--to my first, my best, earliest +friend, whose hearth I had rendered lonely and desolate, and my heart +sank within me as I remembered it. How deeply I reproached myself for the +selfish impetuosity with which I had ever followed any rising fancy, any +new and sudden desire, and never thought of him whose every hope was in, +whose every wish was for me. Alas! alas, my poor uncle! how gladly would +I resign every prospect my soldier's life may hold out, with all its +glittering promise, and all the flattery of success, to be once more beside +you; to feel your warm and manly grasp; to see your smile; to hear your +voice; to be again where all our best feelings are born and nurtured, our +cares assuaged, our joys more joyed in, and our griefs more wept,--at home! +These very words have more music to my ears than all the softest strains +that ever siren sung. They bring us back to all we have loved, by ties that +are never felt but through such simple associations. And in the earlier +memories called up, our childish feelings come back once more to visit us +like better spirits, as we walk amidst the dreary desolation that years of +care and uneasiness have spread around us. + +Wretched must he be who ne'er has felt such bliss; and thrice happy he who, +feeling it, knows that still there lives for him that same early home, with +all its loved inmates, its every dear and devoted object waiting his coming +and longing for his approach. + +Such were my thoughts as I stood gazing at the bold line of coast now +gradually growing more and more dim while evening fell, and we continued +to stand farther out to sea. So absorbed was I all this time in my +reflections, that I never heard the voices which now suddenly burst upon my +ears quite close beside me. I turned, and saw for the first time that at +the end of the quarter-deck stood what is called a roundhouse, a small +cabin, from which the sounds in question proceeded. I walked gently forward +and peeped in, and certainly anything more in contrast with my late revery +need not be conceived. There sat the skipper, a bluff, round-faced, +jolly-looking little tar, mixing a bowl of punch at a table, at which sat +my friend Power, the adjutant, and a tall, meagre-looking Scotchman, whom +I once met in Cork, and heard that he was the doctor of some infantry +regiment. Two or three black bottles, a paper of cigars, and a tallow +candle were all the table equipage; but certainly the party seemed not to +want for spirits and fun, to judge from the hearty bursts of laughing that +every moment pealed forth, and shook the little building that held them. +Power, as usual with him, seemed to be taking the lead, and was evidently +amusing himself with the peculiarities of his companions. + +"Come, Adjutant, fill up; here's to the campaign before us. We, at least, +have nothing but pleasure in the anticipation; no lovely wife behind; no +charming babes to fret and be fretted for, eh?" + +"Vara true," said the doctor, who was mated with a _tartar_, "ye maun have +less regrets at leaving hame; but a married man is no' entirely denied his +ain consolations." + +"Good sense in that," said the skipper; "a wide berth and plenty of sea +room are not bad things now and then." + +"Is that your experience also?" said Power, with a knowing look. "Come, +come, Adjutant, we're not so ill off, you see; but, by Jove, I can't +imagine how it is a man ever comes to thirty without having at least one +wife,--without counting his colonial possessions of course." + +"Yes," said the adjutant, with a sigh, as he drained his glass to the +bottom. "It is devilish strange,--woman, lovely woman!" Here he filled and +drank again, as though he had been proposing a toast for his own peculiar +drinking. + +"I say, now," resumed Power, catching at once that there was something +working in his mind,--"I say, now, how happened it that you, a right +good-looking, soldier-like fellow, that always made his way among the fair +ones, with that confounded roguish eye and slippery tongue,--how the deuce +did it come to pass that you never married?" + +"I've been more than once on the verge of it," said the adjutant, smiling +blandly at the flattery. + +"And nae bad notion yours just to stay there," said the doctor, with a very +peculiar contortion of countenance. + +"No pleasing you, no contenting a fellow like you," said Power, returning +to the charge; "that's the thing; you get a certain ascendancy; you have a +kind of success that renders you, as the French say, _téte montée_, and you +think no woman rich enough or good-looking enough or big enough." + +"No; by Jove you're wrong," said the adjutant, swallowing the bait, hook +and all,--"quite wrong there; for some how, all my life, I was decidedly +susceptible. Not that I cared much for your blushing sixteen, or budding +beauties in white muslin, fresh from a back-board and a governess; no, my +taste inclined rather to the more sober charms of two or three-and-thirty, +the _embonpoint_, a good foot and ankle, a sensible breadth about the +shoulders--" + +"Somewhat Dutch-like, I take it," said the skipper, puffing out a volume of +smoke; "a little bluff in the bows, and great stowage, eh" + +"You leaned then towards the widows?" said Power. + +"Exactly; I confess, a widow always was my weakness. There was something +I ever liked in the notion of a woman who had got over all the awkward +girlishness of early years, and had that self-possession which habit and +knowledge of the world confer, and knew enough of herself to understand +what she really wished, and where she would really go." + +"Like the trade winds," puffed the skipper. + +"Then, as regards fortune, they have a decided superiority over +the spinster class. I defy any man breathing,--let him be half +police-magistrate, half chancellor,--to find out the figure of a young +lady's dower. On your first introduction to the house, some kind friend +whispers, 'Go it, old boy; forty thousand, not a penny less.' A few weeks +later, as the siege progresses, a maiden aunt, disposed to puffing, comes +down to twenty; this diminishes again one half, but then 'the money is in +bank stock, hard Three-and-a-Half.' You go a little farther, and as you sit +one day over your wine with papa, he certainly promulgates the fact that +his daughter has five thousand pounds, two of which turn out to be in +Mexican bonds, and three in an Irish mortgage." + +"Happy for you," interrupted Power, "that it be not in Galway, where a +proposal to foreclose, would be a signal for your being called out and shot +without benefit of clergy." + +"Bad luck to it, for Galway," said the adjutant. "I was nearly taken in +there once to marry a girl that her brother-in-law swore had eight hundred +a year; and it came out afterwards that so she had, but it was for one year +only; and he challenged me for doubting his word too." + +"There's an old formula for finding out an Irish fortune," says Power, +"worth, all the algebra they ever taught in Trinity. Take the half of the +assumed sum, and divide it by three; the quotient will be a flattering +representative of the figure sought for." + +"Not in the north," said the adjutant, firmly,--"not in the north, Power. +They are all well off there. There's a race of canny, thrifty, half-Scotch +niggers,--your pardon, Doctor, they are all Irish,--linen-weaving, +Presbyterian, yarn-factoring, long-nosed, hard-drinking fellows, that lay +by rather a snug thing now and then. Do you know, I was very near it once +in the north. I've half a mind to tell you the story; though, perhaps, +you'll laugh at me." + +The whole party at once protested that nothing could induce them to deviate +so widely from the line of propriety; and the skipper having mixed a fresh +bowl and filled all the glasses round, the cigars were lighted, and the +adjutant began. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +THE ADJUTANT'S STORY.--LIFE IN DERBY. + +"It is now about eight, may be ten, years since we were ordered to march +from Belfast and take up our quarters in Londonderry. We had not been more +than a few weeks altogether in Ulster when the order came; and as we had +been, for the preceding two years, doing duty in the south and west, we +concluded that the island was tolerably the same in all parts. We opened +our campaign in the maiden city exactly as we had been doing with +'unparalleled success' in Cashel, Fermoy, Tuam, etc.,--that is to say, we +announced garrison balls and private theatricals; offered a cup to be run +for in steeple-chase; turned out a four-in-hand drag, with mottled grays; +and brought over two Deal boats to challenge the north." + +"The 18th found the place stupid," said his companions. + +"To be sure, they did; slow fellows like them must find any place stupid. +No dinners; but they gave none. No fun; but they had none in themselves. +In fact, we knew better; we understood how the thing was to be done, and +resolved that, as a mine of rich ore lay unworked, it was reserved for us +to produce the shining metal that others, less discerning, had failed to +discover. Little we knew of the matter; never was there a blunder like +ours. Were you ever in Derry?" + +"Never," said the three listeners. + +"Well, then, let me inform you that the place has its own peculiar +features. In the first place, all the large towns in the south and west +have, besides the country neighborhood that surrounds them, a certain +sprinkling of gentlefolk, who, though with small fortunes and not much +usage of the world, are still a great accession to society, and make up the +blank which, even in the most thickly peopled country, would be sadly +felt without them. Now, in Derry, there is none of this. After the great +guns--and, _per Baccho!_ what great guns they are!--you have nothing but +the men engaged in commerce,--sharp, clever, shrewd, well-informed fellows; +they are deep in flax-seed, cunning in molasses, and not to be excelled +in all that pertains to coffee, sassafras, cinnamon, gum, oakum, and +elephants' teeth. The place is a rich one, and the spirit of commerce is +felt throughout it. Nothing is cared for, nothing is talked of, nothing +alluded to, that does not bear upon this; and, in fact, if you haven't a +venture in Smyrna figs, Memel timber, Dutch dolls, or some such commodity, +you are absolutely nothing, and might as well be at a ball with a cork leg, +or go deaf to the opera." + +"Now, when I've told thus much, I leave you to guess what impression our +triumphal entry into the city produced. Instead of the admiring crowds +that awaited us elsewhere, as we marched gayly into quarters, here we saw +nothing but grave, sober-looking, and, I confess it, intelligent-looking +faces, that scrutinized our appearance closely enough, but evidently with +no great approval and less enthusiasm. The men passed on hurriedly to the +counting-houses and wharves; the women, with almost as little interest, +peeped at us from the windows, and walked away again. Oh, how we wished for +Galway, glorious Galway, that paradise of the infantry that lies west of +the Shannon! Little we knew, as we ordered the band, in lively anticipation +of the gayeties before us, to strike up 'Payne's first set,' that, to the +ears of the fair listeners in Ship Quay Street, the rumble of a sugar +hogshead or the crank of a weighing crane were more delightful music." + +"By Jove!" interrupted Power, "you are quite right. Women are strongly +imitative in their tastes. The lovely Italian, whose very costume is a +natural following of a Raphael, is no more like the pretty Liverpool damsel +than Genoa is to Glasnevin; and yet what the deuce have they, dear souls, +with their feet upon a soft carpet and their eyes upon the pages of Scott +or Byron, to do with all the cotton or dimity that ever was printed? But +let us not repine; that very plastic character is our greatest blessing." + +"I'm not so sure that it always exists," said the doctor, dubiously, as +though his own experience pointed otherwise. + +"Well, go ahead!" said the skipper, who evidently disliked the digression +thus interrupting the adjutant's story. + +"Well, we marched along, looking right and left at the pretty faces--and +there were plenty of them, too--that a momentary curiosity drew to the +windows; but although we smiled and ogled and leered as only a newly +arrived regiment can smile, ogle, or leer, by all that's provoking we might +as well have wasted our blandishments upon the Presbyterian meeting-house, +that frowned upon us with its high-pitched roof and round windows. + +"'Droll people, these,' said one; 'Rayther rum ones,' cried another; 'The +black north, by Jove!' said a third: and so we went along to the barracks, +somewhat displeased to think that, though the 18th were slow, they might +have met their match. + +"Disappointed, as we undoubtedly felt, at the little enthusiasm that marked +our _entrée_, we still resolved to persist in our original plan, and +accordingly, early the following morning, announced our intention of giving +amateur theatricals. The mayor, who called upon our colonel, was the first +to learn this, and received the information with pretty much the same +kind of look the Archbishop of Canterbury might be supposed to assume if +requested by a a friend to ride 'a Derby.' The incredulous expression of +the poor man's face, as he turned from one of us to the other, evidently +canvassing in his mind whether we might not, by some special dispensation +of Providence, be all insane, I shall never forget. + +"His visit was a very short one; whether concluding that we were not quite +safe company, or whether our notification was too much for his nerves, I +know not. + +"We were not to be balked, however. Our plans for gayety, long planned and +conned over, wore soon announced in all form; and though we made efforts +almost super-human in the cause, our plays were performed to empty benches, +our balls were unattended, our picnic invitations politely declined, and, +in a word, all our advances treated with a cold and chilling politeness +that plainly said, 'We'll none of you.' + +"Each day brought some new discomfiture, and as we met at mess, instead +of having, as heretofore, some prospect of pleasure and amusement to chat +over, it was only to talk gloomily over our miserable failures, and lament +the dreary quarters that our fates had doomed us to. + +"Some months wore on in this fashion, and at length--what will not time +do?--we began, by degrees, to forget our woes. Some of us took to late +hours and brandy-and-water; others got sentimental, and wrote journals and +novels and poetry; some made acquaintances among the townspeople, and out +in to a quiet rubber to pass the evening; while another detachment, among +which I was, got up a little love affair to while away the tedious hours, +and cheat the lazy sun. + +"I have already said something of my taste in beauty; now, Mrs. Boggs +was exactly the style of woman I fancied. She was a widow; she had black +eyes,--not your jet-black, sparkling, Dutch-doll eyes, that roll about and +twinkle, but mean nothing; no, hers had a soft, subdued, downcast, pensive +look about them, and were fully as melting a pair of orbs as any blue eyes +you ever looked at. + +"Then, she had a short upper lip, and sweet teeth; by Jove, they were +pearls! and she showed them too, pretty often. Her figure was well-rounded, +plump, and what the French call _nette_. To complete all, her instep and +ankle were unexceptional; and lastly, her jointure was seven hundred pounds +per annum, with a trifle of eight thousand more that the late lamented +Boggs bequeathed, when, after four months of uninterrupted bliss, he left +Derry for another world. + +"When chance first threw me in the way of the fair widow, some casual +coincidence of opinion happened to raise me in her estimation, and I soon +afterwards received an invitation to a small evening party at her house, to +which I alone of the regiment was asked. + +"I shall not weary you with the details of my intimacy; it is enough that I +tell you I fell desperately in love. I began by visiting twice or thrice a +week, and in less than two months, spent every morning at her house, and +rarely left it till the 'Roast beef' announced mess. + +"I soon discovered the widow's cue; she was serious. Now, I had conducted +all manner of flirtatious in my previous life; timid young ladies, manly +young ladies, musical, artistical, poetical, and hysterical,--bless you, I +knew them all by heart; but never before had I to deal with a serious one, +and a widow to boot. The case was a trying one. For some weeks it was all +very up-hill work; all the red shot of warm affection I used to pour in on +other occasions was of no use here. The language of love, in which I was +no mean proficient, availed me not. Compliments and flattery, those rare +skirmishers before the engagement, were denied me; and I verily think that +a tender squeeze of the hand would have cost me my dismissal. + +"'How very slow, all this!' thought I, as, at the end of two months siege, +I still found myself seated in the trenches, and not a single breach in the +fortress; 'but, to be sure, it's the way they have in the north, and one +must be patient.' + +"While thus I was in no very sanguine frame of mind as to my prospects, in +reality my progress was very considerable. Having become a member of Mr. +M'Phun's congregation, I was gradually rising in the estimation of the +widow and her friends, whom my constant attendance at meeting, and my very +serious demeanor had so far impressed that very grave deliberation was held +whether I should not be made an elder at the next brevet. + +"If the widow Boggs had not been a very lovely and wealthy widow; had she +not possessed the eyes, lips, hips, ankles, and jointure aforesaid,--I +honestly avow that neither the charms of that sweet man Mr. M'Phun's +eloquence, nor even the flattering distinction in store for me, would have +induced me to prolong my suit. However, I was not going to despair when in +sight of land. The widow was evidently softened. A little time longer, and +the most scrupulous moralist, the most rigid advocate for employing time +wisely, could not have objected to my daily system of courtship. I was +none of your sighing, dying, ogling, hand-squeezing, waist-pressing, +oath-swearing, everlasting-adoring affairs, with an interchange of rings +and lockets; not a bit of it. It was confoundedly like a controversial +meeting at the Rotundo, and I myself had a far greater resemblance to +Father Tom Maguire than a gay Lothario. + +"After all, when mess-time came, when the 'Roast beef' played, and we +assembled at dinner, and the soup and fish had gone round, with two glasses +of sherry in, my spirits rallied, and a very jolly evening consoled me for +all my fatigues and exertions, and supplied me with energy for the morrow; +for, let me observe here, that I only made love before dinner. The evenings +I reserved for myself, assuring Mrs. Boggs that my regimental duties +required all my time after mess hour, in which I was perfectly correct: +for at six we dined; at seven I opened the claret No. 1; at eight I had +uncorked my second bottle; by half-past eight I was returning to the +sherry; and at ten, punctual to the moment, I was repairing to my quarters +on the back of my servant, Tim Daly, who had carried me safely for eight +years, without a single mistake, as the fox-hunters say. This was a way we +had in the --th. Every man was carried away from mess, some sooner, some +later. I was always an early riser, and went betimes. + +"Now, although I had very abundant proof, from circumstantial evidence, +that I was nightly removed from the mess-room to my bed in the mode I +mention, it would have puzzled me sorely to prove the fact in any direct +way; inasmuch as by half-past nine, as the clock chimed, and Tim entered to +take me, I was very innocent of all that was going on, and except a certain +vague sense of regret at leaving the decanter, felt nothing whatever. + +"It so chanced--what mere trifles are we ruled by in our destiny!--that +just as my suit with the widow had assumed its most favorable footing, old +General Hinks, that commanded the district, announced his coming over to +inspect our regiment. Over he came accordingly, and to be sure, we had a +day of it. We were paraded for six mortal hours; then we were marching and +countermarching, moving into line, back again into column, now forming open +column, then into square; till at last, we began to think that the old +general was like the Flying Dutchman, and was probably condemned to keep on +drilling us to the day of judgment. To be sure, he enlivened the proceeding +to me by pronouncing the regiment the worst-drilled and appointed corps in +the service, and the adjutant (me!) the stupidest dunderhead--these were +his words--he had ever met with. + +"'Never mind,' thought I; 'a few days more, and it's little I'll care for +the eighteen manoeuvres. It's small trouble your eyes right or your left, +shoulders forward, will give me. I'll sell out, and with the Widow Boggs +and seven hundred a year,--but no matter.' + +"This confounded inspection lasted till half-past five in the afternoon; so +that our mess was delayed a full hour in consequence, and it was past seven +as we sat down to dinner. Our faces were grim enough as we met together at +first; but what will not a good dinner and good wine do for the surliest +party? By eight o'clock we began to feel somewhat more convivially +disposed; and before nine, the decanters were performing a quick-step round +the table, in a fashion very exhilarating and very jovial to look at. + +"'No flinching to-night,' said the senior major. 'We've had a severe day; +let us also have a merry evening.' + +"'By Jove! Ormond,' cried another, 'we must not leave this to-night. +Confound the old humbugs and their musty whist party; throw them over.' + +"'I say, Adjutant,' said Forbes; addressing me, 'you've nothing particular +to say to the fair widow this evening? You'll not bolt, I hope?' + +"'That he sha'n't,' said one near me; 'he must make up for his absence +to-morrow, for to-night we all stand fast.' + +"'Besides,' said another, 'she's at meeting by this. +Old--what-d'ye-call-him?--is at fourteenthly before now.' + +"'A note for you, sir,' said the mess waiter, presenting me with a +rose-colored three-cornered billet. It was from _la chère_ Boggs herself, +and ran thus:-- + + DEAR SIR,--Mr. M'Phun and a few friends are coming to tea at + my house after meeting; perhaps you will also favor us with your + company. + Yours truly, + ELIZA BOGGS. + +"What was to be done? Quit the mess; leave a jolly party just at the +jolliest moment; exchange Lafitte and red hermitage for a _soirée_ of +elders, presided over by that sweet man, Mr. M'Phun! It was too bad!--but +then, how much was in the scale! What would the widow say if I declined? +What would she think? I well knew that the invitation meant nothing less +than a full-dress parade of me before her friends, and that to decline was +perhaps to forfeit all my hopes in that quarter forever. + +"'Any answer, sir?' said the waiter. + +"'Yes,' said I, in a half-whisper, 'I'll go,--tell the servant, I'll go.' + +"At this moment my tender epistle was subtracted from before me, and ere I +had turned round, had made the tour of half the table. I never perceived +the circumstance, however, and filling my glass, professed my resolve to +sit to the last, with a mental reserve to take my departure at the very +first opportunity. Ormond and the paymaster quitted the room for a moment, +as if to give orders for a broil at twelve, and now all seemed to promise a +very convivial and well-sustained party for the night. + +"'Is that all arranged?' inquired the major, as Ormond entered. + +"'All right,' said he; 'and now let us have a bumper and a song. Adjutant, +old boy, give us a chant.' + +"'What shall it be, then?' inquired I, anxious to cover my intended retreat +by any appearance of joviality. + +"'Give us-- + + "When I was in the Fusiliers + Some fourteen years ago."' + +"'No, no; confound it! I've heard nothing else since I joined the regiment. +Let us have the "Paymaster's Daughter."' + +"'Ah! that's pathetic; I like that,' lisped a young ensign. + +"'If I'm to have a vote,' grunted out the senior major, 'I pronounce for +"West India Quarters."' + +"'Yes, yes,' said half-a-dozen voices together; 'let's have "West India +Quarters." Come, give him a glass of sherry, and let him begin.' + +"I had scarcely finished off my glass, and cleared my throat for my song, +when the clock on the chimney-piece chimed half-past nine, and the same +instant I felt a heavy hand fall upon my shoulder. I turned and beheld my +servant Tim. This, as I have already mentioned, was the hour at which Tim +was in the habit of taking me home to my quarters; and though we had dined +an hour later, he took no notice of the circumstance, but true to his +custom, he was behind my chair. A very cursory glance at my 'familiar' was +quite sufficient to show me that we had somehow changed sides; for Tim, who +was habitually the most sober of mankind, was, on the present occasion, +exceedingly drunk, while I, a full hour before that consummation, was +perfectly sober. + +"'What d'ye want, sir?' inquired I, with something of severity in my +manner. + +"'Come home,' said Tim, with a hiccough that set the whole table in a roar. + +"'Leave the room this instant,' said I, feeling wrath at being thus made +a butt of for his offences. 'Leave the room, or I'll kick you out of it.' +Now, this, let me add in a parenthesis, was somewhat of a boast, for Tim +was six feet three, and strong in proportion, and when in liquor, fearless +as a tiger. + +"'You'll kick me out of the room, eh, will you? Try, only try it, that's +all.' Here a new roar of laughter burst forth, while Tim, again placing an +enormous paw upon my shoulder, continued, 'Don't be sitting there, making a +baste of yourself, when you've got enough. Don't you see you're drunk?' + +"I sprang to my legs on this, and made a rush to the fireplace to secure +the poker; but Tim was beforehand with me, and seizing me by the waist with +both hands, flung me across his shoulders as though I were a baby, saying, +at the same time, 'I'll take you away at half-past eight to-morrow, as +you're as rampageous again.' I kicked, I plunged, I swore, I threatened, I +even begged and implored to be set down; but whether my voice was lost in +the uproar around me, or that Tim only regarded my denunciations in the +light of cursing, I know not, but he carried me bodily down the stairs, +steadying himself by one hand on the banisters, while with the other he +held me as in a vice. I had but one consolation all this while; it was +this, that as my quarters lay immediately behind the mess-room, Tim's +excursion would soon come to an end, and I should be free once more; but +guess my terror to find that the drunken scoundrel, instead of going as +usual to the left, turned short to the right hand, and marched boldly +into Ship Quay Street. Every window in the mess-room was filled with our +fellows, absolutely shouting with laughter. 'Go it Tim! That's the fellow! +Hold him tight! Never let go!' cried a dozen voices; while +the wretch, with the tenacity of drunkenness, gripped me still harder, and +took his way down the middle of the street. + +[Illustration: THE ADJUTANT'S AFTER DINNER RIDE.] + +"It was a beautiful evening in July, a soft summer night, as I made this +pleasing excursion down the most frequented thoroughfare in the maiden +city, my struggles every moment exciting roars of laughter from an +increasing crowd of spectators, who seemed scarcely less amused than +puzzled at the exhibition. In the midst of a torrent of imprecations +against my torturer, a loud noise attracted me. I turned my head, and +saw,--horror of horrors!--the door of the meeting-house just flung open, +and the congregation issuing forth _en masse_. Is it any wonder if I +remember no more? There I was, the chosen one of the widow Boggs, the elder +elect, the favored friend and admired associate of Mr. M'Phun, taking an +airing on a summer's evening on the back of a drunken Irishman. Oh, the +thought was horrible! and certainly the short and pithy epithets by which I +was characterized in the crowd, neither improved my temper nor assuaged my +wrath, and I feel bound to confess that my own language was neither serious +nor becoming. Tim, however, cared little for all this, and pursued the even +tenor of his way through the whole crowd, nor stopped till, having made +half the circuit of the wall, he deposited me safe at my own door; adding, +as he set me down, 'Oh, av you're as throublesome every evening, it's a +wheelbarrow I'll be obleeged to bring for you!' + +"The next day I obtained a short leave of absence, and ere a fortnight +expired, exchanged into the --th, preferring Halifax itself to the ridicule +that awaited me in Londonderry." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +FRED POWER'S ADVENTURE IN PHILIPSTOWN. + +The lazy hours of the long summer day crept slowly over. The sea, unbroken +by foam or ripple, shone like a broad blue mirror, reflecting here and +there some fleecy patches of snow-white cloud as they stood unmoved in the +sky. The good ship rocked to and fro with a heavy and lumbering motion, the +cordage rattled, the bulkheads creaked, the sails flapped lazily against +the masts, the very sea-gulls seemed to sleep as they rested on the long +swell that bore them along, and everything in sea and sky bespoke the calm. +No sailor trod the deck; no watch was stirring; the very tiller ropes were +deserted; and as they traversed backwards and forwards with every roll of +the vessel, told that we had no steerage-way, and lay a mere log upon the +water. + +I sat alone in the bow, and fell into a musing fit upon the past and +the future. How happily for us is it ordained that in the most stirring +existences there are every here and there such little resting-spots of +reflection, from which, as from some eminence, we look back upon the road +we have been treading in life, and cast a wistful glance at the dark vista +before us! When first we set out upon our worldly pilgrimage, these are +indeed precious moments, when with buoyant heart and spirit high, believing +all things, trusting all things, our very youth comes back to us, reflected +from every object we meet; and like Narcissus, we are but worshipping our +own image in the water. As we go on in life, the cares, the anxieties, and +the business of the world engross us more and more, and such moments become +fewer and shorter. Many a bright dream has been dissolved, many a fairy +vision replaced, by some dark reality; blighted hopes, false friendships +have gradually worn callous the heart once alive to every gentle feeling, +and time begins to tell upon us,--yet still, as the well-remembered melody +to which we listened with delight in infancy brings to our mature age a +touch of early years, so will the very association of these happy moments +recur to us in our revery, and make us young again in thought. Then it is +that, as we look back upon our worldly career, we become convinced how +truly is the child the father of the man, how frequently are the projects +of our manhood the fruit of some boyish predilection; and that in the +emulative ardor that stirs the schoolboy's heart, we may read the +_prestige_ of that high daring that makes a hero of its possessor. + +These moments, too, are scarcely more pleasurable than they are salutary to +us. Disengaged for the time from every worldly anxiety, we pass in review +before our own selves, and in the solitude of our own hearts are we judged. +That still small voice of conscience, unheard and unlistened to amidst the +din and bustle of life, speaks audibly to us now; and while chastened +on one side by regrets, we are sustained on the other by some approving +thought; and with many a sorrow for the past, and many a promise for the +future, we begin to feel "how good it is for us to be here." + +The evening wore later; the red sun sank down upon the sea, growing larger +and larger; the long line of mellow gold that sheeted along the distant +horizon grew first of a dark ruddy tinge, then paler and paler, till it +became almost gray; a single star shone faintly in the east, and darkness +soon set in. With night came the wind, for almost imperceptibly the sails +swelled slowly out, a slight rustle at the bow followed, the ship lay +gently over, and we were once more in motion. It struck four bells; some +casual resemblance in the sound of the old pendulum that marked the hour at +my uncle's house startled me so that I actually knew not where I was. With +lightning speed my once home rose up before me with its happy hearts; the +old familiar faces were there; the gay laugh was in my ears; there sat +my dear old uncle, as with bright eye and mellow voice he looked a very +welcome to his guests; there Boyle; there Considine; there the grim-visaged +portraits that graced the old walls whose black oak wainscot stood in broad +light and shadow, as the blazing turf fire shone upon it; there was my own +place, now vacant; methought my uncle's eye was turned towards it and that +I heard him say, "My poor boy! I wonder where is he now!" My heart swelled, +my chest heaved, the tears coursed slowly down my cheeks, as I asked +myself, "Shall I ever see them more?" Oh, how little, how very little to us +are the accustomed blessings of our life till some change has robbed us of +them, and how dear are they when lost to us! My uncle's dark foreboding +that we should never meet again on earth, came for the first time forcibly +to my mind, and my heart was full to bursting. What could repay me for +the agony of that moment as I thought of him, my first, my best, my only +friend, whom I had deserted? And how gladly would I have resigned my bright +day-dawn of ambition to be once more beside his chair, to hear his voice, +to see his smile, to feel his love for me! A loud laugh from the cabin +roused me from my sad, depressing revery, and at the same instant +Mike's well-known voice informed me that the captain was looking for me +everywhere, as supper was on the table. Little as I felt disposed to join +the party at such a moment, as I knew there was no escaping Power, I +resolved to make the best of matters; so after a few minutes I followed +Mickey down the companion and entered the cabin. + +The scene before me was certainly not calculated to perpetuate depressing +thoughts. At the head of a rude old-fashioned table, upon which figured +several black bottles and various ill-looking drinking vessels of every +shape and material, sat Fred Power; on his right was placed the skipper, on +his left the doctor,--the bronzed, merry-looking, weather-beaten features +of the one contrasting ludicrously with the pale, ascetic, acute-looking +expression of the other. Sparks, more than half-drunk, with the mark of a +red-hot cigar upon his nether lip, was lower down; while Major Monsoon, to +preserve the symmetry of the party, had protruded his head, surmounted by a +huge red nightcap, from the berth opposite, and held out his goblet to be +replenished from the punch-bowl. + +"Welcome, thrice welcome, thou man of Galway!" cried out Power, as he +pointed to a seat, and pushed a wine-glass towards me. "Just in time, too, +to pronounce upon a new brewery. Taste that; a little more of the lemon you +would say, perhaps? Well, I agree with you. Rum and brandy, glenlivet +and guava jelly, limes, green tea, and a slight suspicion of preserved +ginger,--nothing else, upon honor,--and the most simple mixture for the +cure, the radical cure, of blue devils and debt I know of; eh, Doctor? You +advise it yourself, to be taken before bed-time; nothing inflammatory in +it, nothing pugnacious; a mere circulation of the better juices and more +genial spirits of the marly clay, without arousing any of the baser +passions; whiskey is the devil for that." + +"I canna say that I dinna like whiskey toddy," said the doctor; "in the +cauld winter nights it's no sae bad." + +"Ah, that's it," said Power; "there's the pull you Scotch have upon us poor +Patlanders,--cool, calculating, long-headed fellows, you only come up to +the mark after fifteen tumblers; whereas we hot-brained devils, with a +blood at 212 degrees of Fahrenheit and a high-pressure engine of good +spirits always ready for an explosion, we go clean mad when tipsy; not but +I am fully convinced that a mad Irishman is worth two sane people of any +other country under heaven." + +"If you mean by that insin--insin--sinuation to imply any disrespect to the +English," stuttered out Sparks, "I am bound to say that I for one, and the +doctor, I am sure, for another--" + +"Na, na," interrupted the doctor, "ye mauna coont upon me; I'm no disposed +to fetch ower our liquor." + +"Then, Major Monsoon, I'm certain--" + +"Are ye, faith?" said the major, with a grin; "blessed are they who expect +nothing,--of which number you are not,--for most decidedly you shall be +disappointed." + +"Never mind, Sparks, take the whole fight to your own proper self, and +do battle like a man; and here I stand, ready at all arms to prove my +position,--that we drink better, sing better, court better, fight better, +and make better punch than every John Bull, from Berwick to the Land's +End." + +Sparks, however, who seemed not exactly sure how far his antagonist was +disposed to quiz, relapsed into a half-tipsy expression of contemptuous +silence, and sipped his liquor without reply. + +"Yes," said Power, after a pause, "bad luck to it for whiskey; it nearly +got me broke once, and poor Tom O'Reilly of the 5th, too, the best-tempered +fellow in the service. We were as near it as touch and go; and all for some +confounded Loughrea spirits that we believed to be perfectly innocent, and +used to swill away freely without suspicion of any kind." + +"Let's hear the story," said I, "by all means." + +"It's not a long one," said Power, "so I don't care if I tell it; and +besides, if I make a clean breast of my own sins, I'll insist upon +Monsoon's telling you afterwards how he stocked his cellar in Cadiz. Eh, +Major; there's worse tipple than the King of Spain's sherry?" + +"You shall judge for yourself, old boy," said Monsoon, good-humoredly; "and +as for the narrative, it is equally at your service. Of course it goes no +further. The commander-in-chief, long life to him! is a glorious fellow; +but he has no more idea of a joke than the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it +might chance to reach him." + +"Recount, and fear not!" cried Power; "we are discreet as the worshipful +company of apothecaries." + +"But you forget you are to lead the way." + +"Here goes, then," said the jolly captain; "not that the story has any +merit in it, but the moral is beautiful. + +"Ireland, to be sure, is a beautiful country; but somehow it would prove a +very dull one to be quartered in, if it were not that the people seem to +have a natural taste for the army. From the belle of Merrion Square down +to the inn-keeper's daughter in Tralee, the loveliest part of the +creation seem to have a perfect appreciation of our high acquirements and +advantages; and in no other part of the globe, the Tonga Islands included, +is a red-coat more in favor. To be sure, they would be very ungrateful if +it were not the case; for we, upon our side, leave no stone unturned to +make ourselves agreeable. We ride, drink, play, and make love to the ladies +from Fairhead to Killarney, in a way greatly calculated to render us +popular; and as far as making the time pass pleasantly, we are the boys for +the 'greatest happiness' principle. I repeat it; we deserve our popularity. +Which of us does not get head and ears in debt with garrison balls and +steeple-chases, picnics, regattas, and the thousand-and-one inventions to +get rid of one's spare cash,--so called for being so sparingly dealt out +by our governors? Now and then, too, when all else fails, we take a +newly-joined ensign and make him marry some pretty but penniless lass in +a country town, just to show the rest that we are not joking, but have +serious ideas of matrimony in the midst of all our flirtations. If it were +all like this, the Green Isle would be a paradise; but unluckily every now +and then one is condemned to some infernal place where there is neither a +pretty face nor tight ankle, where the priest himself is not a good fellow, +and long, ill-paved, straggling streets, filled on market days with booths +of striped calico and soapy cheese, is the only promenade, and a ruinous +barrack, with mouldy walls and a tumbling chimney, the only quarters. + +"In vain, on your return from your morning stroll or afternoon canter, you +look on the chimney-piece for a shower of visiting-cards and pink notes of +invitation; in vain you ask your servant, Has any one called. Alas, +your only visitor has been the ganger, to demand a party to assist in +still-hunting amidst that interesting class of the population who, having +nothing to eat, are engaged in devising drink, and care as much for the +life of a red-coat as you do for that of a crow or a curlew. This may seem +overdrawn; but I would ask you, Were you ever for your sins quartered in +that capital city of the Bog of Allen they call Philipstown? Oh, but it is +a romantic spot! They tell us somewhere that much of the expression of the +human face divine depends upon the objects which constantly surround us. +Thus the inhabitants of mountain districts imbibe, as it were, a certain +bold and daring character of expression from the scenery, very different +from the placid and monotonous look of those who dwell in plains and +valleys; and I can certainly credit the theory in this instance, for every +man, woman, and child you meet has a brown, baked, scruffy, turf-like face, +that fully satisfies you that if Adam were formed of clay the Philipstown +people were worse treated and only made of bog mould. + +"Well, one fine morning poor Tom and myself were marched off from Birr, +where one might 'live and love forever,' to take up our quarters at this +sweet spot. Little we knew of Philipstown; and like my friend the adjutant +there, when he laid siege to Deny, we made our _entrée_ with all the pomp +we could muster, and though we had no band, our drums and fifes did duty +for it; and we brushed along through turf-creels and wicker-baskets of new +brogues that obstructed the street till we reached the barrack,--the only +testimony of admiration we met with being, I feel bound to admit, from a +ragged urchin of ten years, who, with a wattle in his hand, imitated me as +I marched along, and when I cried halt, took his leave of us by dexterously +fixing his thumb to the side of his nose and outstretching his fingers, as +if thus to convey a very strong hint that we were not half so fine fellows +as we thought ourselves. Well, four mortal summer months of hot sun and +cloudless sky went over, and still we lingered in that vile village, the +everlasting monotony of our days being marked by the same brief morning +drill, the same blue-legged chicken dinner, the same smoky Loughrea +whiskey, and the same evening stroll along the canal bank to watch for +the Dublin packet-boat, with its never-varying cargo of cattle-dealers, +priests, and peelers on their way to the west country, as though the demand +for such colonial productions in these parts was insatiable. This was +pleasant, you will say; but what was to be done? We had nothing else. Now, +nothing saps a man's temper like _ennui_. The cranky, peevish people one +meets with would be excellent folk, if they only had something to do. As +for us, I'll venture to say two men more disposed to go pleasantly down +the current of life it were hard to meet with; and yet, such was the +consequence of these confounded four months' sequestration from all other +society, we became sour and cross-grained, everlastingly disputing +about trifles, and continually arguing about matters which neither were +interested in, nor, indeed, knew anything about. There were, it is true, +few topics to discuss; newspapers we never saw; sporting there was +none,--but then, the drill, the return of duty, the probable chances of our +being ordered for service, were all daily subjects to be talked over, and +usually with considerable asperity and bitterness. One point, however, +always served us when hard pushed for a bone of contention; and which, +begun by a mere accident at first, gradually increased to a sore and +peevish subject, and finally led to the consequences which I have hinted at +in the beginning. This was no less than the respective merits of our mutual +servants; each everlastingly indulging in a tirade against the other for +awkwardness, incivility, unhandiness,--charges, I am bound to confess, most +amply proved on either side. + +"'Well, I am sure, O'Reilly, if you can stand that fellow, it's no affair +of mine; but such an ungainly savage I never met,' I would say. + +"To which he would reply, 'Bad enough he is, certainly; but, by Jove! when +I only think of your Hottentot, I feel grateful for what I've got.' + +"Then ensued a discussion, with attack, rejoinder, charge, and +recrimination till we retired for the night, wearied with our exertions, +and not a little ashamed of ourselves at bottom for our absurd warmth and +excitement. In the morning the matter would be rigidly avoided by each +party until some chance occasion had brought it on the _tapis_, when +hostilities would be immediately renewed, and carried on with the same +vigor, to end as before. + +"In this agreeable state of matters we sat one warm summer evening before +the mess-room, under the shade of a canvas awning, discussing, by way of +refrigerant, our eighth tumbler of whiskey punch. We had, as usual, been +jarring away about everything under heaven. A lately arrived post-chaise, +with an old, stiff-looking gentleman in a queue, had formed a kind of +'godsend' for debate, as to who he was, whither he was going, whether +he really had intended to spend the night there, or that he only put up +because the chaise was broken; each, as was customary, maintaining his own +opinion with an obstinacy we have often since laughed at, though, at the +time, we had few mirthful thoughts about the matter. + +"As the debate waxed warm, O'Reilly asserted that he positively knew +the individual in question to be a United Irishman, travelling with +instructions from the French government; while I laughed him to scorn by +swearing that he was the rector of Tyrrell's Pass, that I knew him well, +and, moreover, that he was the worst preacher in Ireland. Singular enough +it was that all this while the disputed identity was himself standing +coolly at the inn window, with his snuff-box in his hand, leisurely +surveying us as we sat, appearing, at least, to take a very lively interest +in our debate. + +"'Come, now,' said O'Reilly, 'there's only one way to conclude this, and +make you pay for your obstinacy. What will you bet that he's the rector of +Tyrrell's Pass?' + +"'What odds will you take that he's Wolfe Tone?' inquired I, sneeringly. + +"'Five to one against the rector,' said he, exultingly. + +"'An elephant's molar to a toothpick against Wolfe Tone,' cried I. + +"'Ten pounds even that I'm nearer the mark than you,' said Tom, with a +smash of his fist upon the table. + +"'Done,' said I,--'done. But how are we to decide the wager?' + +"'That's soon done,' said he. At the same instant he sprang to his legs and +called out: 'Pat, I say, Pat, I want you to present my respects to--' + +"'No, no, I bar that; no _ex parte_ statements. Here, Jem, do you simply +tell that--' + +"'That fellow can't deliver a message. Do come here, Pat. Just beg of--' + +"'He'll blunder it, the confounded fool; so, Jem, do you go.' + +"The two individuals thus addressed were just in the act of conveying a +tray of glasses and a spiced round of beef for supper into the mess-room; +and as I may remark that they fully entered into the feelings of jealousy +their respective masters professed, each eyed the other with a look of very +unequivocal dislike. + +"'Arrah! you needn't be pushing me that way,' said Pat, 'an' the round o' +beef in my hands.' + +"'Devil's luck to ye, it's the glasses you'll be breaking with your awkward +elbow!' + +"'Then, why don't ye leave the way? Ain't I your suparior?' + +"'Ain't I the captain's own man?' + +"'Ay, and if you war. Don't I belong to his betters? Isn't my master the +two liftenants?' + +"This, strange as it may sound, was so far true, as I held a commission in +an African corps, with my lieutenancy in the 5th. + +"'Be-gorra, av he was six--There now, you done it!' + +"At the same moment, a tremendous crash took place and the large dish +fell in a thousand pieces on the pavement, while the spiced round rolled +pensively down the yard. + +[Illustration: THE RIVAL FLUNKIES.] + +"Scarcely was the noise heard when, with one vigorous kick, the tray of +glasses was sent spinning into the air, and the next moment the disputants +were engaged in bloody battle. It was at this moment that our attention was +first drawn towards them, and I need not say with what feelings of interest +we looked on. + +"'Hit him, Pat--there, Jem, under the guard! That's it--go in! Well done, +left hand! By Jove! that was a facer! His eye's closed--he's down! Not a +bit of it-how do you like that? Unfair, unfair! No such thing! I say it +was! Not at all--I deny it!' + +"By this time we had approached the combatants, each man patting his own +fellow on the back, and encouraging him by the most lavish promises. Now it +was, but in what way I never could exactly tell, that I threw out my right +hand to stop a blow that I saw coming rather too near me, when, by some +unhappy mischance, my doubled fist lighted upon Tom O'Reilly's nose. Before +I could express my sincere regret for the accident, the blow was returned +with double force, and the next moment we were at it harder than the +others. After five minutes' sharp work, we both stopped for breath, and +incontinently burst out a-laughing. There was Tom, with a nose as large as +three, a huge cheek on one side, and the whole head swinging round like a +harlequin's; while I, with one eye closed, and the other like a half-shut +cockle-shell, looked scarcely less rueful. We had not much time for mirth, +for at the same instant a sharp, full voice called out close beside us-- + +"To your quarters, sirs. I put you both under arrest, from which you are +not to be released until the sentence of a court-martial decide if conduct +such as this becomes officers and gentlemen.' + +"I looked round, and saw the old fellow in the queue. + +"'Wolfe Tone, by all that's unlucky!' said I, with an attempt at a smile. + +"'The rector of Tyrrell's Pass,' cried out Tom, with a snuffle; 'the worst +preacher in Ireland--eh, Fred?' + +"We had not much time for further commentaries upon our friend, for he at +once opened his frock coat, and displayed to our horrified gaze the uniform +of a general officer. + +"'Yes, sir, General Johnson, if you will allow me to present him to your +acquaintance; and now, guard, turn out.' + +"In a few minutes more the orders were issued, and poor Tom and myself +found ourselves fast confined to our quarters, with a sentinel at the door, +and the pleasant prospect that, in the space of about ten days, we should +be broke, and dismissed the service; which verdict, as the general order +would say, the commander of the forces has been graciously pleased to +approve. + +"However, when morning came the old general, who was really a trump, +inquired a little further into the matter, saw it was partly accidental, +and after a severe reprimand, and a caution about Loughrea whiskey after +the sixth tumbler, released us from arrest, and forgave the whole affair." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +THE VOYAGE CONTINUED. + +Ugh, what a miserable thing is a voyage! Here we are now eight days at sea, +the eternal sameness of all around growing every hour less supportable. +Sea and sky are beautiful things when seen from the dark woods and waving +meadows on shore; but their picturesque effect is sadly marred from want +of contrast. Besides that, the "_toujours_ pork," with crystals of salt as +long as your wife's fingers; the potatoes that seemed varnished in French +polish; the tea seasoned with geological specimens from the basin of +London, ycleped maple sugar; and the butter--ye gods, the butter! But why +enumerate these smaller features of discomfort and omit the more glaring +ones?--the utter selfishness which blue water suggests, as inevitably as +the cold fit follows the ague. The good fellow that shares his knapsack +or his last guinea on land, here forages out the best corner to hang his +hammock; jockeys you into a comfortless crib, where the uncalked deck-butt +filters every rain from heaven on your head; votes you the corner +at dinner, not only that he may place you with your back to the +thorough-draught of the gangway ladder, but that he may eat, drink, and lie +down before you have even begun to feel the qualmishness that the dinner of +a troop-ship is well calculated to suggest; cuts his pencil with your best +razor; wears your shirts, as washing is scarce; and winds up all by having +a good story of you every evening for the edification of the other "sharp +gentlemen," who, being too wide awake to be humbugged themselves, enjoy his +success prodigiously. This, gentle reader, is neither confession nor avowal +of mine. The passage I have here presented to you I have taken from +the journal of my brother officer, Mr. Sparks, who, when not otherwise +occupied, usually employed his time in committing to paper his thoughts +upon men, manners, and things at sea in general; though, sooth to say, his +was not an idle life. Being voted by unanimous consent "a junior," he was +condemned to offices that the veriest fag in Eton or Harrow had rebelled +against. In the morning, under the pseudonym of _Mrs_. Sparks, he presided +at breakfast, having previously made tea, coffee, and chocolate for the +whole cabin, besides boiling about twenty eggs at various degrees of +hardness; he was under heavy recognizances to provide a plate of buttered +toast of very alarming magnitude, fried ham, kidneys, etc., to no end. +Later on, when others sauntered about the deck, vainly endeavoring to fix +their attention upon a novel or a review, the poor cornet might be seen +with a white apron tucked gracefully round his spare proportions, whipping +eggs for pancakes, or, with upturned shirt-sleeves, fashioning dough for +a pudding. As the day waned, the cook's galley became his haunt, where, +exposed to a roasting fire, he inspected the details of a _cuisine_; for +which, whatever his demerits, he was sure of an ample remuneration in abuse +at dinner. Then came the dinner itself, that dread ordeal, where nothing +was praised and everything censured. This was followed by the punch-making, +where the tastes of six different and differing individuals were to be +exclusively consulted in the self-same beverage; and lastly, the supper at +night, when Sparkie, as he was familiarly called, towards evening grown +quite exhausted, became the subject of unmitigated wrath and most +unmeasured reprobation. + +"I say, Sparks, it's getting late. The spatch-cock, old boy. Don't be +slumbering." + +"By-the-bye, Sparkie, what a mess you made of that pea-soup to-day! By +Jove, I never felt so ill in my life!" + +"Na, na; it was na the soup. It was something he pit in the punch, that's +burning me ever since I tuk it. Ou, man, but ye're an awfu' creture wi' +vittals!" + +"He'll improve, Doctor; he'll improve. Don't discourage him; the boy's +young. Be alive now, there. Where's the toast?--confound you, where's the +toast?" + +"There, Sparks, you like a drumstick, I know. Mustn't muzzle the ox, eh? +Scripture for you, old boy. Eat away; hang the expense. Hand him over the +jug. Empty--eh, Charley? Come, Sparkie, bear a hand; the liquor's out." + +"But won't you let me eat?" + +"Eat! Heavens, what a fellow for eating! By George, such an appetite is +clean against the articles of war! Come, man, it's drink we're thinking of. +There's the rum, sugar, limes; see to the hot water. Well, Skipper, how are +we getting on?" + +"Lying our course; eight knots off the log. Pass the rum. Why, Mister +Sparks!" + +"Eh, Sparks, what's this?" + +"Sparks, my man, confound it!" + +And then, _omnes_ chorussing "Sparks!" in every key of the gamut, the +luckless fellow would be obliged to jump up from his meagre fare and set to +work at a fresh brewage of punch for the others. The bowl and the glasses +filled, by some little management on Power's part our friend the cornet +would be _drawn out_, as the phrase is, into some confession of his +early years, which seemed to have been exclusively spent in +love-making,--devotion to the fair being as integral a portion of his +character as tippling was of the worthy major's. + +Like most men who pass their lives in over-studious efforts to +please,--however ungallant the confession be,--the amiable Sparks had +had little success. His love, if not, as it generally happened, totally +unrequited, was invariably the source of some awkward catastrophe, there +being no imaginable error he had not at some time or other fallen into, nor +any conceivable mischance to which he had not been exposed. Inconsolable +widows, attached wives, fond mothers, newly-married brides, engaged +young ladies were by some _contretemps_ continually the subject of his +attachments; and the least mishap which followed the avowal of his passion +was to be heartily laughed at and obliged to leave the neighborhood. +Duels, apologies, actions at law, compensations, etc., were of every-day +occurrence, and to such an extent, too, that any man blessed with a smaller +bump upon the occiput would eventually have long since abandoned the +pursuit, and taken to some less expensive pleasure. But poor Sparks, in the +true spirit of a martyr, only gloried the more, the more he suffered; and +like the worthy man who continued to purchase tickets in the lottery for +thirty years, with nothing but a succession of blanks, he ever imagined +that Fortune was only trying his patience, and had some cool forty thousand +pounds of happiness waiting his perseverance in the end. Whether this prize +ever did turn up in the course of years, I am unable to say; but certainly, +up to the period of his history I now speak of, all had been as gloomy +and unrequiting as need be. Power, who knew something of every man's +adventures, was aware of so much of poor Sparks's career, and usually +contrived to lay a trap for a confession that generally served to amuse us +during an evening,--as much, I acknowledge, from the manner of the recital +as anything contained in the story. There was a species of serious +matter-of-fact simplicity in his detail of the most ridiculous scenes that +left you convinced that his bearing upon the affair in question must have +greatly heightened the absurdity,--nothing, however comic or droll in +itself, ever exciting in him the least approach to a smile. He sat with his +large light-blue eyes, light hair, long upper lip, and retreating chin, +lisping out an account of an adventure, with a look of Listen about him +that was inconceivably amusing. + +"Come, Sparks," said Power, "I claim a promise you made me the other night, +on condition we let you off making the oyster-patties at ten o'clock; you +can't forget what I mean." Here the captain knowingly touched the tip of +his ear, at which signal the cornet colored slightly, and drank off his +wine in a hurried, confused way. "He promised to tell us, Major, how +he lost the tip of his left ear. I have myself heard hints of the +circumstance, but would much rather hear Sparks's own version of it." + +"Another love story," said the doctor, with a grin, "I'll be bound." + +"Shot off in a duel?" said I, inquiringly. "Close work, too." + +"No such thing," replied Power; "but Sparks will enlighten you. It is, +without exception, the most touching and beautiful thing I ever heard. As a +simple story, it beats the 'Vicar of Wakefield' to sticks." + +"You don't say so?" said poor Sparks, blushing. + +"Ay, that I do; and maintain it, too. I'd rather be the hero of that little +adventure, and be able to recount it as you do,--for, mark me, that's no +small part of the effect,--than I'd be full colonel of the regiment. Well, +I am sure I always thought it affecting. But, somehow, my dear friend, you +don't know your powers; you have that within you would make the fortune of +half the periodicals going. Ask Monsoon or O'Malley there if I did not say +so at breakfast, when you were grilling the old hen,--which, by-the-bye, +let me remark, was not one of your _chefs-d'oeuvre_." + +"A tougher beastie I never put a tooth in." + +"But the story, the story," said I. + +"Yes," said Power, with a tone of command, "the story, Sparks." + +"Well, if you really think it worth telling, as I have always felt it a +very remarkable incident, here goes." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +MR. SPARKS'S STORY. + +"I sat at breakfast one beautiful morning at the Goat Inn at Barmouth, +looking out of a window upon the lovely vale of Barmouth, with its tall +trees and brown trout-stream struggling through the woods, then turning +to take a view of the calm sea, that, speckled over with white-sailed +fishing-boats, stretched away in the distance. The eggs were fresh; the +trout newly caught; the cream delicious. Before me lay the 'Plwdwddlwn +Advertiser,' which, among the fashionable arrivals at the seaside, set +forth Mr. Sparks, nephew of Sir Toby Sparks, of Manchester,--a paragraph, +by the way, I always inserted. The English are naturally an aristocratic +people, and set a due value upon a title." + +"A very just observation," remarked Power, seriously, while Sparks +continued. + +"However, as far as any result from the announcement, I might as well have +spared myself the trouble, for not a single person called. Not one solitary +invitation to dinner, not a picnic, not a breakfast, no, nor even a +tea-party, was heard of. Barmouth, at the time I speak of, was just in that +transition state at which the caterpillar may be imagined, when, having +abandoned his reptile habits, he still has not succeeded in becoming a +butterfly. In fact, it had ceased to be a fishing village, but had not +arrived at the dignity of a watering-place. Now, I know nothing as bad as +this. You have not, on one hand, the quiet retirement of a little peaceful +hamlet, with its humble dwellings and cheap pleasures, nor have you the gay +and animated tableau of fashion in miniature, on the other; but you have +noise, din, bustle, confusion, beautiful scenery and lovely points of view +marred and ruined by vulgar associations. Every bold rock and jutting +promontory has its citizen occupants; every sandy cove or tide-washed bay +has its myriads of squalling babes and red baize-clad bathing women,--those +veritable descendants of the nymphs of old. Pink parasols, donkey-carts, +baskets of bread-and-butter, reticules, guides to Barmouth, specimens of +ore, fragments of gypsum meet you at every step, and destroy every illusion +of the picturesque." + +"'I shall leave this,' thought I. 'My dreams, my long-cherished dreams of +romantic walks upon the sea-shore, of evening strolls by moonlight, through +dell and dingle, are reduced to a short promenade through an alley of +bathing-boxes, amidst a screaming population of nursery-maids and sick +children, with a thorough-bass of "Fresh shrimps!" discordant enough to +frighten the very fish from the shores. There is no peace, no quiet, no +romance, no poetry, no love.' Alas, that most of all was wanting! For, +after all, what is it which lights up the heart, save the flame of a mutual +attachment? What gilds the fair stream of life, save the bright ray of warm +affection? What--" + +"In a word," said Power, "it is the sugar in the punch-bowl of our +existence. _Perge_, Sparks; push on." + +"I was not long in making up my mind. I called for my bill; I packed my +clothes; I ordered post-horses; I was ready to start; one item in the bill +alone detained me. The frequent occurrence of the enigmatical word 'crw,' +following my servant's name, demanded an explanation, which I was in the +act of receiving, when a chaise-and-four drove rapidly up to the house. In +a moment the blinds were drawn up, and such a head appeared at the window! +Let me pause for one moment to drink in the remembrance of that lovely +being,--eyes where heaven's own blue seemed concentrated were shaded by +long, deep lashes of the darkest brown; a brow fair, noble, and expansive, +at each side of which masses of dark-brown hair waved half in ringlets, +half in loose falling bands, shadowing her pale and downy cheek, where one +faint rosebud tinge seemed lingering; lips slightly parted, as though to +speak, gave to the features all the play of animation which completed this +intellectual character, and made up--" + +"What I should say was a devilish pretty girl," interrupted Power. + +"Back the widow against her at long odds, any day," murmured the adjutant. + +"She was an angel! an angel!" cried Sparks with enthusiasm. + +"So was the widow, if you go to that," said the adjutant, hastily. + +"And so is Matilda Dalrymple," said Power, with a sly look at me. "We are +all honorable men; eh, Charley?" + +"Go ahead with the story," said the skipper; "I'm beginning to feel an +interest in it." + +"'Isabella,' said a man's voice, as a large, well-dressed personage +assisted her to alight,--'Isabella, love, you must take a little rest here +before we proceed farther.' + +"'I think she had better, sir,' said a matronly-looking woman, with a plaid +cloak and a black bonnet. + +"They disappeared within the house, and I was left alone. The bright dream +was past: she was there no longer; but in my heart her image lived, and I +almost felt she was before me. I thought I heard her voice, I saw her move; +my limbs trembled; my hands tingled; I rang the bell, ordered my trunks +back again to No. 5, and as I sank upon the sofa, murmured to myself, 'This +is indeed love at first sight.'" + +"How devilish sudden it was," said the skipper. + +"Exactly like camp fever," responded the doctor. "One moment ye are vara +well; the next ye are seized wi' a kind of shivering; then comes a kind of +mandering, dandering, travelling a'overness." + +"D---- the camp fever," interrupted Power. + +"Well, as I observed, I fell in love; and here let me take the opportunity +of observing that all that we are in the habit of hearing about single or +only attachments is mere nonsense. No man is so capable of feeling deeply +as he who is in the daily practice of it. Love, like everything else in +this world, demands a species of cultivation. The mere tyro in an affair of +the heart thinks he has exhausted all its pleasures and pains; but only +he who has made it his daily study for years, familiarizing his mind with +every phase of the passion, can properly or adequately appreciate it. Thus, +the more you love, the better you love; the more frequently has your heart +yielded--" + +"It's vara like the mucous membrane," said the doctor. + +"I'll break your neck with the decanter if you interrupt him again!" +exclaimed Power. + +"For days I scarcely ever left the house," resumed Sparks, "watching to +catch one glance of the lovely Isabella. My farthest excursion was to the +little garden of the inn, where I used to set every imaginable species of +snare, in the event of her venturing to walk there. One day I would leave a +volume of poetry; another, a copy of Paul and Virginia with a marked page; +sometimes my guitar, with a broad, blue ribbon, would hang pensively from a +tree,--but, alas! all in vain; she never appeared. At length I took courage +to ask the waiter about her. For some minutes he could not comprehend what +I meant; but, at last, discovering my object, he cried out, 'Oh, No. 8, +sir; it is No. 8 you mean?' + +"'It may be,' said I. 'What of her, then?' + +"'Oh, sir, she's gone these three days.' + +"'Gone!' said I, with a groan. + +"'Yes, sir; she left this early on Tuesday with the same old gentleman and +the old woman in a chaise-and-four. They ordered horses at Dolgelly to meet +them; but I don't know which road they took afterwards.' + +"I fell back on my chair unable to speak. Here was I enacting Romeo for +three mortal days to a mere company of Welsh waiters and chamber-maids, +sighing, serenading, reciting, attitudinizing, rose-plucking, +soliloquizing, half-suiciding, and all for the edification of a set of +savages, with about as much civilization as their own goats. + +"'The bill,' cried I, in a voice of thunder; 'my bill this instant.' + +"I had been imposed upon shamefully, grossly imposed upon, and would not +remain another hour in the house. Such were my feelings at least, and so +thinking, I sent for my servant, abused him for not having my clothes ready +packed. He replied; I reiterated, and as my temper mounted, vented every +imaginable epithet upon his head, and concluded by paying him his wages and +sending him about his business. In one hour more I was upon the road. + +"'What road, sir,' said the postilion, as he mounted into the saddle. + +"'To the devil, if you please,' said I, throwing myself back in the +carriage. + +"'Very well, sir,' replied the boy, putting spurs to his horse. + +"That evening I arrived in Bedgellert. + +"The little humble inn of Bedgellert, with its thatched roof and earthen +floor, was a most welcome sight to me, after eleven hours' travelling on a +broiling July day. Behind the very house itself rose the mighty Snowdon, +towering high above the other mountains, whose lofty peaks were lost amidst +the clouds; before me was the narrow valley--" + +"Wake me up when he's under way again," said the skipper, yawning +fearfully. + +"Go on, Sparks," said Power, encouragingly; "I was never more interested in +my life; eh, O'Malley?" + +"Quite thrilling," responded I, and Sparks resumed. + +"Three weeks did I loiter about that sweet spot, my mind filled with images +of the past and dreams of the future, my fishing-rod my only companion. +Not, indeed, that I ever caught anything; for, somehow, my tackle was +always getting foul of some willow-tree or water-lily, and at last, I gave +up even the pretence of whipping the streams. Well, one day--I remember it +as well as though it were but yesterday, it was the 4th of August--I had +set off upon an excursion to Llanberris. I had crossed Snowdon early, and +reached the little lake on the opposite side by breakfast time. There I sat +down near the ruined tower of Dolbadern, and opening my knapsack, made a +hearty meal. I have ever been a day-dreamer; and there are few things I +like better than to lie, upon some hot and sunny day, in the tall grass +beneath the shade of some deep boughs, with running water murmuring near, +hearing the summer bee buzzing monotonously, and in the distance, the +clear, sharp tinkle of the sheep-bell. In such a place, at such a time, +one's fancy strays playfully, like some happy child, and none but pleasant +thoughts present themselves. Fatigued by my long walk, and overcome by +heat, I fell asleep. How long I lay there I cannot tell, but the deep +shadows were half way down the tall mountain when I awoke. A sound had +startled me; I thought I heard a voice speaking close to me. I looked up, +and for some seconds I could not believe that I was not dreaming. Beside +me, within a few paces, stood Isabella, the beautiful vision that I had +seen at Barmouth, but far, a thousand times, more beautiful. She was +dressed in something like a peasant's dress, and wore the round hat which, +in Wales at least, seems to suit the character of the female face so well; +her long and waving ringlets fell carelessly upon her shoulders, and her +cheek flushed from walking. Before I had a moment's notice to recover my +roving thought, she spoke; her voice was full and round, but soft and +thrilling, as she said,-- + +"'I beg pardon, sir, for having disturbed you unconsciously; but, having +done so, may I request you will assist me to fill this pitcher with water?' + +"She pointed at the same time to a small stream which trickled down a +fissure in the rock, and formed a little well of clear water beneath. I +bowed deeply, and murmuring something, I know not what, took the pitcher +from her hand, and scaling the rocky cliff, mounted to the clear source +above, where having filled the vessel, I descended. When I reached the +ground beneath, I discovered that she was joined by another person whom, +in an instant, I recognized to be the old gentleman I had seen with her at +Barmouth, and who in the most courteous manner apologized for the trouble I +had been caused, and informed me that a party of his friends were enjoying +a little picnic quite near, and invited me to make one of them. + +"I need not say that I accepted the invitation, nor that with delight I +seized the opportunity of forming an acquaintance with Isabella, who, I +must confess, upon her part showed no disinclination to the prospect of my +joining the party. + +"After a few minutes' walking, we came to a small rocky point which +projected for some distance into the lake, and offered a view for several +miles of the vale of Llanberris. Upon this lovely spot we found the party +assembled; they consisted of about fourteen or fifteen persons, all busily +engaged in the arrangement of a very excellent cold dinner, each individual +having some peculiar province allotted to him or her, to be performed by +their own hands. Thus, one elderly gentlemen was whipping cream under a +chestnut-tree, while a very fashionably-dressed young man was washing +radishes in the lake; an old lady with spectacles was frying salmon over a +wood-fire, opposite to a short, pursy man with a bald head and drab shorts, +deep in the mystery of a chicken salad, from which he never lifted his eyes +when I came up. It was thus I found how the fair Isabella's lot had been +cast, as a drawer of water; she, with the others, contributing her share of +exertion for the common good. The old gentleman who accompanied her seemed +the only unoccupied person, and appeared to be regarded as the ruler of the +feast; at least, they all called him general, and implicitly followed every +suggestion he threw out. He was a man of a certain grave and quiet manner, +blended with a degree of mild good-nature and courtesy, that struck me much +at first, and gained greatly on me, even in the few minutes I conversed +with him as we came along. Just before he presented me to his friends, he +gently touched my arm, and drawing me aside, whispered in my ear:-- + +"'Don't be surprised at anything you may hear to-day here; for I must +inform you this is a kind of club, as I may call it, where every one +assumes a certain character, and is bound to sustain it under a penalty. We +have these little meetings every now arid then; and as strangers are never +present, I feel some explanation necessary, that you may be able to enjoy +the thing,--you understand?' + +"'Oh, perfectly,' said I, overjoyed at the novelty of the scene, and +anticipating much pleasure from my chance meeting with such very original +characters. + +"'Mr. Sparks, Mrs. Winterbottom. Allow me to present Mr. Sparks.' + +"'Any news from Batavia, young gentleman?' said the sallow old lady +addressed. 'How is coffee!' + +"The general passed on, introducing me rapidly as he went. + +"'Mr. Doolittle, Mr. Sparks.' + +"'Ah, how do you do, old boy?' said Mr. Doolittle; 'sit down beside me. We +have forty thousand acres of pickled cabbage spoiling for want of a little +vinegar.' + +"'Fie, fie, Mr. Doolittle,' said the general, and passed on to another. + +"'Mr. Sparks, Captain Crosstree.' + +"'Ah, Sparks, Sparks! son of old Blazes! ha, ha, ha!' and the captain fell +back into an immoderate fit of laughter. + +"_'Le Rio est serci_,' said the thin meagre figure in nankeens, bowing, cap +in hand, before the general; and accordingly, we all assumed our places +upon the grass. + +"'Say it again! Say it again, and I'll plunge this dagger in your heart!' +said a hollow voice, tremulous with agitation and rage, close beside me. I +turned my head, and saw an old gentleman with a wart on his nose, sitting +opposite a meat-pie, which he was contemplating with a look of fiery +indignation. Before I could witness the sequel of the scene, I felt a soft +hand pressed upon mine. I turned. It was Isabella herself, who, looking at +me with an expression I shall never forget, said:-- + +"'Don't mind poor Faddy; he never hurts any one.' + +"Meanwhile the business of dinner went on rapidly. The servants, of whom +enormous numbers were now present, ran hither and thither; and duck, ham, +pigeon-pie, cold veal, apple tarts, cheese, pickled salmon, melon, and rice +pudding, flourished on every side. As for me, whatever I might have gleaned +from the conversation around under other circumstances, I was too much +occupied with Isabella to think of any one else. My suit--for such it +was--progressed rapidly. There was evidently something favorable in the +circumstances we last met under; for her manner had all the warmth and +cordiality of old friendship. It is true that, more than once, I caught the +general's eye fixed upon us with anything but an expression of pleasure, +and I thought that Isabella blushed and seemed confused also. 'What care +I?' however, was my reflection; 'my views are honorable; and the nephew and +heir of Sir Toby Sparks--' Just in the very act of making this reflection, +the old man in the shorts hit me in the eye with a roasted apple, calling +out at the moment:-- + +"'When did you join, thou child of the pale-faces?' + +"'Mr. Murdocks!' cried the general, in a voice of thunder; and the little +man hung down his head, and spoke not. + +"'A word with you, young gentleman,' said a fat old lady, pinching my arm +above the elbow. + +"'Never mind her,' said Isabella, smiling; 'poor dear old Dorking, she +thinks she's an hour-glass. How droll, isn't it?' + +"'Young man, have you any feelings of humanity?' inquired the old lady, +with tears in her eyes as she spoke; 'will you, dare you assist a +fellow-creature under my sad circumstances?' + +"'What can I do for you, Madam?' said I, really feeling for her distress. + +"'Just like a good dear soul, just turn me up, for I'm nearly run out.' + +"Isabella burst out a laughing at the strange request,--an excess which, I +confess, I was unable myself to repress; upon which the old lady, putting +on a frown of the most ominous blackness, said:-- + +"'You may laugh, Madam; but first before you ridicule the misfortunes of +others, ask yourself are you, too, free from infirmity? When did you see +the ace of spades, Madam? Answer me that.' + +"Isabella became suddenly pale as death; her very lips blanched, and her +voice, almost inaudible, muttered:-- + +"'Am I, then, deceived? Is not this he?' So saying, she placed her hand +upon my shoulder. + +"'That the ace of spades?' exclaimed the old lady, with a sneer,--'that the +ace of spades!' + +"'Are you, or are you not, sir?' said Isabella, fixing her deep and languid +eyes upon me. 'Answer me, as you are honest; are you the ace of spades?' + +"'He is the King of Tuscarora. Look at his war paint!' cried an elderly +gentleman, putting a streak of mustard across my nose and cheek. + +"'Then am I deceived,' said Isabella. And flying at me, she plucked a +handful of hair out of my whiskers. + +"'Cuckoo, cuckoo!' shouted one; 'Bow-wow-wow!' roared another; 'Phiz!' went +a third; and in an instant, such a scene of commotion and riot ensued. +Plates, dishes, knives, forks, and decanters flew right and left; every +one pitched into his neighbor with the most fearful cries, and hell itself +seemed broke loose. The hour-glass and the Moulah of Oude had got me down +and were pummelling me to death, when a short, thickset man came on all +fours slap down upon them shouting out, 'Way, make way for the royal Bengal +tiger!' at which they both fled like lightning, leaving me to the encounter +single-handed. Fortunately, however, this was not of very long duration, +for some well-disposed Christians pulled him from off me; not, however, +before he had seized me in his grasp, and bitten off a portion of my left +ear, leaving me, as you see, thus mutilated for the rest of my days." + +"What an extraordinary club," broke in the doctor. + +"Club, sir, club! it was a lunatic asylum. The general was no other than +the famous Dr. Andrew Moorville, that had the great madhouse at Bangor, and +who was in the habit of giving his patients every now and then a kind of +country party; it being one remarkable feature of their malady that when +one takes to his peculiar flight, whatever it be, the others immediately +take the hint and go off at score. Hence my agreeable adventure: the Bengal +tiger being a Liverpool merchant, and the most vivacious madman in England; +while the hour-glass and the Moulah were both on an experimental tour to +see whether they should not be pronounced totally incurable for life." + +"And Isabella?" inquired Power. + +"Ah, poor Isabella had been driven mad by a card-playing aunt at Bath, and +was in fact the most hopeless case there. The last words I heard her speak +confirmed my mournful impression of her case,-- + +"'Yes,' said she, as they removed her to her carriage, 'I must, indeed, +have but a weak intellect, when I could have taken the nephew of a +Manchester cotton-spinner, with a face like a printed calico, for a trump +card, and the best in the pack!'" + +Poor Sparks uttered these last words with a faltering accent, and finishing +his glass at one draught withdrew without wishing us good-night. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +THE SKIPPER. + +In such like gossipings passed our days away, for our voyage itself had +nothing of adventure or incident to break its dull monotony; save some few +hours of calm, we had been steadily following our seaward track with a fair +breeze, and the long pennant pointed ever to the land where our ardent +expectations were hurrying before it. + +The latest accounts which had reached us from the Peninsula told that our +regiment was almost daily engaged; and we burned with impatience to share +with the others the glory they were reaping. Power, who had seen service, +felt less on this score than we who had not "fleshed our maiden swords;" +but even he sometimes gave way, and when the wind fell toward sunset, he +would break out into some exclamation of discontent, half fearing we should +be too late. "For," said he, "if we go on in this way the regiment will be +relieved and ordered home before we reach it." + +"Never fear, my boys, you'll have enough of it. Both sides like the work +too well to give in; they've got a capital ground and plenty of spare +time," said the major. + +"Only to think," cried Power, "that we should be lounging away our idle +hours when these gallant fellows are in the saddle late and early. It is +too bad; eh, O'Malley? You'll not be pleased to go back with the polish on +your sabre? What will Lucy Dashwood say?" + +This was the first allusion Power had ever made to her, and I became red to +the very forehead. + +"By-the-bye," added he, "I have a letter for Hammersley, which should +rather have been entrusted to your keeping." + +At these words I felt cold as death, while he continued:-- + +"Poor fellow! certainly he is most desperately smitten; for, mark me, when +a man at his age takes the malady, it is forty times as severe as with a +younger fellow, like you. But then, to be sure, he began at the wrong end +in the matter; why commence with papa? When a man has his own consent for +liking a girl, he must be a contemptible fellow if he can't get her; and as +to anything else being wanting, I don't understand it. But the moment you +begin by influencing the heads of the house, good-by to your chances with +the dear thing herself, if she have any spirit whatever. It is, in fact, +calling on her to surrender without the honors of war; and what girl would +stand that?" + +"It's vara true," said the doctor; "there's a strong speerit of opposition +in the sex, from physiological causes." + +"Curse your physiology, old Galen; what you call opposition, is that +piquant resistance to oppression that makes half the charm of the sex. +It is with them--with reverence be it spoken--as with horses: the dull, +heavy-shouldered ones, that bore away with the bit in their teeth, never +caring whether you are pulling to the right or to the left, are worth +nothing; the real luxury is in the management of your arching-necked +curvetter, springing from side to side with every motion of your wrist, +madly bounding at restraint, yet, to the practised hand, held in check with +a silk tread. Eh, Skipper, am I not right?" + +"Well, I can't say I've had much to do with horse-beasts, but I believe +you're not far wrong. The lively craft that answers the helm quick, goes +round well in stays, luffs up close within a point or two, when you want +her, is always a good sea-boat, even though she pitches and rolls a bit; +but the heavy lugger that never knows whether your helm is up or down, +whether she's off the wind or on it, is only fit for firewood,--you can do +nothing with a ship or a woman if she hasn't got steerage way on her." + +"Come, Skipper, we've all been telling our stories; let us hear one of +yours?" + +"My yarn won't come so well after your sky-scrapers of love and courting +and all that. But if you like to hear what happened to me once, I have no +objection to tell you. + +"I often think how little we know what's going to happen to us any minute +of our lives. To-day we have the breeze fair in our favor, we are going +seven knots, studding-sails set, smooth water, and plenty of sea-room; +to-morrow the wind freshens to half a gale, the sea gets up, a rocky coast +is seen from the lee bow, and may be--to add to all--we spring a leak +forward; but then, after all, bad as it looks, mayhap, we rub through even +this, and with the next day, the prospect is as bright and cheering as +ever. You'll perhaps ask me what has all this moralizing to do with women +and ships at sea? Nothing at all with them, except that I was a going to +say, that when matters look worst, very often the best is in store for us, +and we should never say strike when there is a timber together. Now for my +story:-- + +"It's about four years ago, I was strolling one evening down the side of +the harbor at Cove, with my hands in my pocket, having nothing to do, nor +no prospect of it, for my last ship had been wrecked off the Bermudas, and +nearly all the crew lost; and somehow, when a man is in misfortune, the +underwriters won't have him at no price. Well, there I was, looking about +me at the craft that lay on every side waiting for a fair wind to run down +channel. All was active and busy; every one getting his vessel ship-shape +and tidy,--tarring, painting, mending sails, stretching new bunting, and +getting in sea-store; boats were plying on every side, signals flying, guns +firing from the men-of-war, and everything was lively as might be,--all but +me. There I was, like an old water-logged timber ship, never moving a spar, +but looking for all the world as though I were a settling fast to go down +stern foremost: may be as how I had no objection to that same; but that's +neither here nor there. Well, I sat down on the fluke of an anchor, and +began a thinking if it wasn't better to go before the mast than live on +that way. Just before me, where I sat down, there was an old schooner that +lay moored in the same place for as long as I could remember. She was there +when I was a boy, and never looked a bit the fresher nor newer as long as I +recollected; her old bluff bows, her high poop, her round stern, her flush +deck, all Dutch-like, I knew them well, and many a time I delighted to +think what queer kind of a chap he was that first set her on the stocks, +and pondered in what trade she ever could have been. All the sailors about +the port used to call her Noah's Ark, and swear she was the identical craft +that he stowed away all the wild beasts in during the rainy season. Be that +as it might, since I fell into misfortune, I got to feel a liking for the +old schooner; she was like an old friend; she never changed to me, fair +weather or foul; there she was, just the same as thirty years before, when +all the world were forgetting and steering wide away from me. Every morning +I used to go down to the harbor and have a look at her, just to see that +all was right and nothing stirred; and if it blew very hard at night, I'd +get up and go down to look how she weathered it, just as if I was at sea in +her. Now and then I'd get some of the watermen to row me aboard of her, and +leave me there for a few hours; when I used to be quite happy walking the +deck, holding the old worm-eaten wheel, looking out ahead, and going down +below, just as though I was in command of her. Day after day this habit +grew on me, and at last my whole life was spent in watching her and looking +after her,---there was something so much alike in our fortunes, that +I always thought of her. Like myself, she had had her day of life and +activity; we had both braved the storm and the breeze; her shattered +bulwarks and worn cutwater attested that she had, like myself, not escaped +her calamities. We both had survived our dangers, to be neglected and +forgotten, and to lie rotting on the stream of life till the crumbling hand +of Time should break us up, timber by timber. Is it any wonder if I loved +the old craft; nor if by any chance the idle boys would venture aboard +of her to play and amuse themselves that I hallooed them away; or when a +newly-arrived ship, not caring for the old boat, would run foul of her, and +carry away some spar or piece of running rigging, I would suddenly call out +to them to sheer off and not damage us? By degrees, they came all to notice +this; and I found that they thought me out of my senses, and many a trick +was played off upon old Noah, for that was the name the sailors gave me. + +"Well, this evening, as I was saying, I sat upon the fluke of the anchor, +waiting for a chance boat to put me aboard. It was past sunset, the tide +was ebbing, and the old craft was surging to the fast current that ran by +with a short, impatient jerk, as though she were well weary, and wished to +be at rest; her loose stays creaked mournfully, and as she yawed over, the +sea ran from many a breach in her worn sides, like blood trickling from a +wound. 'Ay, ay,' thought I, 'the hour is not far off; another stiff gale, +and all that remains of you will be found high and dry upon the shore.' My +heart was very heavy as I thought of this; for in my loneliness, the old +Ark--though that was not her name, as I'll tell you presently--was all +the companion I had. I've heard of a poor prisoner who, for many and many +years, watched a spider that wove his web within his window, and never lost +sight of him from morning till night; and somehow, I can believe it well. +The heart will cling to something, and if it has no living object to press +to, it will find a lifeless one,--it can no more stand alone than the +shrouds can without the mast. The evening wore on, as I was thinking thus; +the moon shone out, but no boat came, and I was just determining to go home +again for the night, when I saw two men standing on the steps of the wharf +below me, and looking straight at the Ark. Now, I must tell you I always +felt uneasy when any one came to look at her; for I began to fear that some +shipowner or other would buy her to break up, though, except the copper +fastenings, there was little of any value about her. Now, the moment I saw +the two figures stop short, and point to her, I said to myself, 'Ah, my old +girl, so they won't even let the blue water finish you, but they must +set their carpenters and dockyard people to work upon you.' This thought +grieved me more and more. Had a stiff sou'-wester laid her over, I should +have felt it more natural, for her sand was run out; but just as this +passed through my mind, I heard a voice from one of the persons, that I at +once knew to be the port admiral's:-- + +"'Well, Dawkins,' said he to the other, 'if you think she'll hold together, +I'm sure I've no objection. I don't like the job, I confess; but still the +Admiralty must be obeyed.' + +"'Oh, my lord,' said the other, 'she's the very thing; she's a +rakish-looking craft, and will do admirably. Any repair we want, a few days +will effect; secrecy is the great thing.' + +"'Yes,' said the admiral, after a pause, 'as you observed, secrecy is the +great thing.' + +"'Ho! ho!' thought I, 'there's something in the wind, here;' so I laid +myself out upon the anchor-stock, to listen better, unobserved. + +"'We must find a crew for her, give her a few carronades, make her as +ship-shape as we can, and if the skipper--' + +"'Ay, but there is the real difficulty,' said the admiral, hastily; 'where +are we to find a fellow that will suit us? We can't every day find a man +willing to jeopardize himself in such a cause as this, even though the +reward be a great one.' + +"'Very true, my lord; but I don't think there is any necessity for our +explaining to him the exact nature of the service.' + +"'Come, come, Dawkins, you can't mean that you'll lead a poor fellow into +such a scrape blindfolded?' + +"'Why, my lord, you never think it requisite to give a plan of your cruise +to your ship's crew before clearing out of harbor.' + +"'This may be perfectly just, but I don't like it,' said the admiral. + +"'In that case, my lord, you are imparting the secrets of the Admiralty to +a party who may betray the whole plot.' + +"'I wish, with all my soul, they'd given the order to any one else,' said +the admiral, with a sigh; and for a few moments neither spoke a word. + +"'Well, then, Dawkins, I believe there is nothing for it but what you say; +meanwhile, let the repairs be got in hand, and see after a crew.' + +"'Oh, as to that,' said the other, 'there are plenty of scoundrels in the +fleet here fit for nothing else. Any fellow who has been thrice up for +punishment in six months, we'll draft on board of her; the fellows who have +only been once to the gangway, we'll make the officers.' + +"'A pleasant ship's company,' thought I, 'if the Devil would only take the +command. + +"'And with a skipper proportionate to their merit,' said Dawkins. + +"'Begad, I'll wish the French joy of them,' said the admiral. + +"'Ho, ho!' thought I, 'I've found you out at last; so this is a secret +expedition. I see it all; they're fitting her out as a fire-ship, and going +to send her slap in among the French fleet at Brest. Well,' thought I, +'even that's better; that, at least, is a glorious end, though the poor +fellows have no chance of escape.' + +"'Now, then,' said the admiral, 'to-morrow you'll look out for the fellow +to take the command. He must be a smart seaman, a bold fellow, too, +otherwise the ruffianly crew will be too much for him; he may bid high, +we'll come to his price.' + +"'So you may,' thought I, 'when you're buying his life.' + +"'I hope sincerely,' continued the admiral, 'that we may light upon some +one without wife or child; I never could forgive myself--' + +"'Never fear, my lord,' said the other; 'my care shall be to pitch upon one +whose loss no one would feel; some one without friend or home, who, setting +his life for nought, cares less for the gain than the very recklessness of +the adventure.' + +"'That's me,' said I, springing up from the anchor-stock, and springing +between them; 'I'm that man.' + +"Had the very Devil himself appeared at the moment, I doubt if they would +have been more scared. The admiral started a pace or two backwards, while +Dawkins, the first surprise over, seized me by the collar, and hold me +fast. + +"'Who are you, scoundrel, and what brings you here?' said he, in a voice +hoarse with passion. + +"'I'm old Noah,' said I; for somehow, I had been called by no other name +for so long, I never thought of my real one. + +"'Noah!' said the admiral,--'Noah! Well, but Noah, what were you doing here +at this time of night?' + +"'I was a watching the Ark, my lord,' said I, bowing, as I took off my hat. + +"'I've heard of this fellow before, my lord,' said Dawkins; 'he's a poor +lunatic that is always wandering about the harbor, and, I believe, has no +harm in him.' + +"'Yes, but he has been listening, doubtless, to our conversation,' said the +admiral. 'Eh, have you heard all we have been saying?' + +"'Every word of it, my lord.' + +"At this the admiral and Dawkins looked steadfastly at each other for some +minutes, but neither spoke; at last Dawkins said, 'Well, Noah, I've been +told you are a man to be depended on; may we rely upon your not repeating +anything you overheard this evening,--at least, for a year to come?' + +"'You may,' said I. + +"'But, Dawkins,' said the admiral, in a half-whisper, 'if the poor fellow +be mad?' + +"'My lord,' said I, boldly, 'I am not mad. Misfortune and calamity I have +had enough of to make me so; but, thank God, my brain has been tougher than +my poor heart. I was once the part-owner and commander of a goodly craft, +that swept the sea, if not with a broad pennon at her mast-head, with as +light a spirit as ever lived beneath one. I was rich, I had a home and a +child; I am now poor, houseless, childless, friendless, and an outcast. If +in my solitary wretchedness I have loved to look upon that old bark, it is +because its fortune seemed like my own. It had outlived all that needed or +cared for it. For this reason have they thought me mad, though there are +those, and not few either, who can well bear testimony if stain or reproach +lie at my door, and if I can be reproached with aught save bad luck. I have +heard by chance what you have said this night. I know that you are fitting +out a secret expedition; I know its dangers, its inevitable dangers, and I +here offer myself to lead it. I ask no reward; I look for no price. Alas, +who is left to me for whom I could labor now? Give me but the opportunity +to end my clays with honor on board the old craft, where my heart still +clings; give me but that. Well, if you will not do so much, let me serve +among the crew; put me before the mast. My lord, you'll not refuse this. +It is an old man asks; one whose gray hairs have floated many a year ago +before the breeze.' + +"'My poor fellow, you know not what you ask; this is no common case of +danger.' + +"'I know it all, my lord; I have heard it all.' + +"'Dawkins, what is to be done here?' inquired the admiral. + +"'I say, friend,' inquired Dawkins, laying his hand upon my arm, 'what is +your real name? Are you he who commanded the "Dwarf" privateer in the Isle +of France?' + +"'The same.' + +"'Then you are known to Lord Collingwood?' + +"'He knows me well, and can speak to my character.' + +"'What he says of himself is all true, my lord.' + +"'True,' said I, 'true! You did not doubt it, did you?' + +"'We,' said the admiral, 'must speak together again. Be here to-morrow +night at this hour; keep your own counsel of what has passed, and now +good-night.' So saying, the admiral took Dawkins by the arm and returned +slowly towards the town, leaving me where I stood, meditating on this +singular meeting and its possible consequences. + +"The whole of the following day was passed by me in a state of feverish +excitement which I cannot describe; this strange adventure breaking in so +suddenly upon the dull monotony of my daily existence had so aroused and +stimulated me that I could neither rest nor eat. How I longed for night to +come; for sometimes, as the day wore later, I began to fear that the whole +scene of my meeting with the admiral had been merely some excited dream of +a tortured and fretted mind; and as I stood examining the ground where +I believed the interview to have occurred, I endeavored to recall the +position of different objects as they stood around, to corroborate my own +failing remembrance. + +"At last the evening closed in; but unlike the preceding one, the sky +was covered with masses of dark arid watery cloud that drifted hurriedly +across; the air felt heavy and thick, and unnaturally still and calm; the +water of the harbor looked of a dull, leaden hue, and all the vessels +seemed larger than they were, and stood out from the landscape more clearly +than usual; now and then a low rumbling noise was heard, somewhat alike in +sound, but far too faint for distant thunder, while occasionally the boats +and smaller craft rocked to and fro, as though some ground swell stirred +them without breaking the languid surface of the sea above. + +"A few drops of thick, heavy rain fell just as the darkness came on, and +then all felt still and calm as before. I sat upon the anchor-stock, my +eyes fixed upon the old Ark, until gradually her outline grew fainter +and fainter against the dark sky, and her black hull could scarcely be +distinguished from the water beneath. I felt that I was looking towards +her; for long after I had lost sight of the tall mast and high-pitched +bowsprit, I feared to turn away my head lest I should lose the place where +she lay. + +"The time went slowly on, and although in reality I had not been long +there, I felt as if years themselves had passed over my head. Since I +had come there my mind brooded over all the misfortunes of my life; as I +contrasted its outset, bright with hope and rich in promise, with the sad +reality, my heart grew heavy and my chest heaved painfully. So sunk was I +in my reflections, so lost in thought, that I never knew that the storm had +broken loose, and that the heavy rain was falling in torrents. The very +ground, parched with long drought, smoked as it pattered upon it; while the +low, wailing cry of the sea-gull, mingled with the deep growl of far-off +thunder, told that the night was a fearful one for those at sea. Wet +through and shivering, I sat still, now listening amidst the noise of the +hurricane and the creaking of the cordage for any footstep to approach, and +now relapsing back into half-despairing dread that my heated brain +alone had conjured up the scene of the day before. Such were my dreary +reflections when a loud crash aboard the schooner told me that some old +spar had given way. I strained my eyes through the dark to see what had +happened, but in vain; the black vapor, thick with falling rain, obscured +everything, and all was hid from view. I could hear that she worked +violently as the waves beat against her worn sides, and that her iron +cable creaked as she pitched to the breaking sea. The wind was momentarily +increasing, and I began to fear lest I should have taken my last look at +the old craft, when my attention was called off by hearing a loud voice cry +out, 'Halloo there! Where are you?' + +"'Ay, ay, sir, I'm here.' In a moment the admiral and his friend were +beside me. + +"'What a night!' exclaimed the admiral, as he shook the rain from the heavy +boat-cloak and cowered in beneath some tall blocks of granite near. 'I +began half to hope that you might not have been here, my poor fellow,' said +the admiral; 'it's a dreadful time for one so poorly clad for a storm. I +say, Dawkins, let him have a pull at your flask.' The brandy rallied me a +little, and I felt that it cheered my drooping courage. + +"'This is not a time nor is it a place for much parley,' said the admiral, +'so that we must even make short work of it. Since we met here last night I +have satisfied myself that you are to be trusted, that your character +and reputation have nothing heavier against them than misfortune, which +certainly, if I have been rightly informed, has been largely dealt out to +you. Now, then, I am willing to accept of your offer of service if you +are still of the same mind as when you made it, and if you are willing to +undertake what we have to do without any question and inquiry as to points +on which we must not and dare not inform you. Whatever you may have +overheard last night may or may not have put you in possession of our +secret. If the former, your determination can be made at once; if the +latter, you have only to decide whether you are ready to go blindfolded in +the business.' + +"'I am ready, my lord,' said I. + +"'You perhaps are then aware what is the nature of the service?' + +"'I know it not,' said I. 'All that I heard, sir, leads me to suppose it +one of danger, but that's all.' + +"'I think, my lord,' said Dawkins, 'that no more need now be said. Cupples +is ready to engage, we are equally so to accept; the thing is pressing. +When can you sail?' + +"'To-night,' said I, 'if you will.' + +"'Really, Dawkins,' said the admiral, 'I don't see why--' + +'"My lord, I beg of you,' said the other, interrupting, 'let me now +complete the arrangement. This is the plan,' said he, turning towards me +as he spoke: 'As soon as that old craft can be got ready for sea, or some +other if she be not worth, it, you will sail from this port with a strong +crew, well armed and supplied with ammunition. Your destination is Malta, +your object to deliver to the admiral stationed there the despatches +with which you will be entrusted; they contain information of immense +importance, which for certain reasons cannot be sent through a ship of war, +but must be forwarded by a vessel that may not attract peculiar notice. If +you be attacked, your orders are to resist; if you be taken, on no account +destroy the papers, for the French vessel can scarcely escape capture from +our frigates, and it is of great consequence these papers should remain. +Such is a brief sketch of our plan; the details can be made known to you +hereafter.' + +"'I am quite ready, my lord. I ask for no terms; I make no stipulations. If +the result be favorable it will be time enough to speak of that. When am I +to sail?' + +"As I spoke, the admiral turned suddenly round and said something in a +whisper to Dawkins, who appeared to overrule it, whatever it might be, and +finally brought him over to his own opinion. + +"'Come, Cupples,' said Dawkins, 'the affair is now settled; to-morrow a +boat will be in waiting for you opposite Spike Island to convey you on +board the "Semiramis," where every step in the whole business shall be +explained to you; meanwhile you have only to keep your own counsel and +trust the secret to no one.' + +"'Yes, Cupples,' said the admiral, 'we rely upon you for that, so +good-night.' As he spoke he placed within my hands a crumpled note for ten +pounds, and squeezing my fingers, departed. + +"My yarn is spinning out to a far greater length than I intended, so I'll +try and shorten it a bit. The next day I went aboard the 'Semiramis,' +where, when I appeared upon the quarter-deck, I found myself an object +of some interest. The report that I was the man about to command the +'Brian,'--that was the real name of the old craft,--had caused some +curiosity among the officers, and they all spoke to me with great courtesy. +After waiting a short time I was ordered to go below, where the admiral, +his flag-captain, Dawkins, and the others were seated. They repeated at +greater length the conversation of the night before, and finally decided +that I was to sail in three weeks; for although the old schooner was sadly +damaged, they had lost no time, but had her already high in dock, with two +hundred ship-carpenters at work upon her. + + +"I do not shorten sail here to tell you what reports were circulated about +Cove as to my extraordinary change in circumstances, nor how I bore my +altered fortunes. It is enough if I say that in less than three weeks I +weighed anchor and stood out to sea one beautiful morning in autumn, and +set out upon my expedition. + +"I have already told you something of the craft. Let me complete the +picture by informing you that before twenty-four hours passed over I +discovered that so ungainly, so awkward, so unmanageable a vessel never +put to sea. In light winds she scarcely stirred or moved, as if she were +waterlogged; if it came to blow upon the quarter, she fell off from her +helm at a fearful rate; in wearing, she endangered every spar she had; and +when you put her in stays, when half round she would fall back and nearly +carry away every stitch of canvas with the shock. If the ship was bad, the +crew was ten times worse. What Dawkins said turned out to be literally +true. Every ill-conducted, disorderly fellow who had been up the gangway +once a week or so, every unreclaimed landsman of bad character and no +seamanship, was sent on board of us: and in fact, except that there was +scarcely any discipline and no restraint, we appeared like a floating +penitentiary of convicted felons. + +So long as we ran down channel with a slack sea and fair wind, so long all +went on tolerably well; to be sure they only kept watch when they were +tired below, when they came up, reeled about the deck, did all just as they +pleased, and treated me with no manner of respect. After some vain efforts +to repress their excesses,--vain, for I had but one to second me,--I +appeared to take no notice of their misconduct, and contented myself with +waiting for the time when, my dreary voyage over, I should quit the command +and part company with such associates forever. At last, however, it came on +to blow, and the night we passed the Lizard was indeed a fearful one. +As morning broke, a sea running mountains high, a wind strong from +the northwest, was hurrying the old craft along at a rate I believed +impossible. I shall not stop to recount the frightful scenes of anarchy, +confusion, drunkenness, and insubordination which our crew exhibited,--the +recollection is too bad already, and I would spare you and myself the +recital; but on the fourth day from the setting in of the gale, as we +entered the Bay of Biscay, some one aloft descried a strange sail to +windward bearing down as if in pursuit of us. Scarcely did the news reach +the deck when, bad as it was before, matters became now ten times worse, +some resolving to give themselves up if the chase happened to be French, +and vowing that before surrendering the spirit-room should be forced, and +every man let drink as he pleased. Others proposed if there were anything +like equality in the force, to attack, and convert the captured vessel, if +they succeeded, into a slaver, and sail at once for Africa. Some were for +blowing up the old 'Brian' with all on board; and in fact every counsel +that drunkenness, insanity, and crime combined could suggest was offered +and descanted on. Meanwhile the chase gained rapidly upon us, and before +noon we discovered her to be a French letter-of-marque with four guns and a +long brass swivel upon the poop deck. As for us, every sheet of canvas we +could crowd was crammed on, but in vain. And as we labored through the +heavy sea, our riotous crew grew every moment worse, and sitting down +sulkily in groups upon the deck, declared that, come what might, they would +neither work the ship nor fight her; that they had been sent to sea in a +rotten craft merely to effect their destruction; and that they cared little +for the disgrace of a flag they detested. Half furious with the taunting +sarcasm I heard on every side, and nearly mad from passion, and bewildered, +my first impulse was to run among them with my drawn cutlass, and ere I +fell their victim, take heavy vengeance upon the ringleaders, when suddenly +a sharp booming noise came thundering along, and a round shot went flying +over our heads. + +"'Down with the ensign; strike at once!' cried eight or ten voices +together, as the ball whizzed through the rigging. Anticipating this, and +resolving, whatever might happen, to fight her to the last, I had made the +mate, a staunch-hearted, resolute fellow, to make fast the signal sailyard +aloft, so that it was impossible for any one on deck to lower the bunting. +Bang! went another gun; and before the smoke cleared away, a third, which, +truer in its aim than the rest, went clean through the lower part of our +mainsail. + +"'Steady, then, boys, and clear for action,' said the mate. + +'She's a French smuggling craft that will sheer off when we show fight, so +that we must not fire a shot till she comes alongside.' + +"'And harkee, lads,' said I, taking up the tone of encouragement he spoke +with, 'if we take her, I promise to claim nothing of the prize. Whatever we +capture you shall divide among yourselves.' + +"'It's very easy to divide what we never had,' said one; 'Nearly as easy as +to give it,' cried another; 'I'll never light match or draw cutlass in the +cause,' said a third. + +"'Surrender!' 'Strike the flag!' 'Down with the colors!' roared several +voices together. + +"By this time the Frenchman was close up, and ranging his long gun to +sweep our decks; his crew were quite perceptible,--about twenty bronzed, +stout-looking follows, stripped to the waist, and carrying pistols in broad +flat belts slung over the shoulder. + +"'Come, my lads,' said I, raising my voice, as I drew a pistol from my side +and cocked it, 'our time is short now; I may as well tell you that the +first shot that strikes us amidship blows up the whole craft and every man +on board. We are nothing less than a fireship, destined for Brest harbor +to blow up the French fleet. If you are willing to make an effort for your +lives, follow me!' + +"The men looked aghast. Whatever recklessness crime and drunkenness had +given them, the awful feeling of inevitable death at once repelled. +Short as was the time for reflection, they felt that there were many +circumstances to encourage the assertion,--the nature of the vessel, her +riotous, disorderly crew, the secret nature of the service, all confirmed +it,--and they answered with a shout of despairing vengeance, 'We'll board +her; lead us on!' As the cry rose up, the long swivel from the chase rang +sharply in our ears, and a tremendous discharge of grape flew through our +rigging. None of our men, however, fell; and animated now with the desire +for battle, they sprang to the binnacle, and seized their arms. + +"In an instant the whole deck became a scene of excited bustle; and +scarcely was the ammunition dealt out, and the boarding party drawn up, +when the Frenchman broached to and lashed his bowsprit to our own. + +"One terrific yell burst from our fellows as they sprang from the rigging +and the poop upon the astonished Frenchmen, who thought that the victory +was already their own; with death and ruin behind, their only hope before, +they dashed forward like madmen to the fray. + +"The conflict was bloody and terrific, though not a long one. Nearly equal +in number, but far superior in personal strength, and stimulated by their +sense of danger, our fellows rushed onward, carrying all before them to the +quarter-deck. Here the Frenchmen rallied, and for some minutes had rather +the advantage, until the mate, turning one of their guns against them, +prepared to sweep them down in a mass. Then it was that they ceased their +fire and cried out for quarter,--all save their captain, a short, thick-set +fellow, with a grizzly beard and mustache, who, seeing his men fall back, +turned on them one glance of scowling indignation, and rushing forward, +clove our boatswain to the deck with one blow. Before the example could +have been followed, he lay a bloody corpse upon the deck; while our +people, roused to madness by the loss of a favorite among the men, dashed +impetuously forward, and dealing death on every side, left not one man +living among their unresisting enemies. My story is soon told now. We +brought our prize safe into Malta, which we reached in five days. In less +than a week our men were drafted into different men-of-war on the station. +I was appointed a warrant officer in the 'Sheerwater,' forty-four guns; and +as the admiral opened the despatch, the only words he spoke puzzled me for +many a day after. + +"'You have accomplished your orders too well,' said he; 'that privateer is +but a poor compensation for the whole French navy.'" + +"Well," inquired Power, "and did you never hear the meaning of the words?" + +"Yes," said he; "many years after I found out that our despatches were +false ones, intended to have fallen into the hands of the French and +mislead them as to Lord Nelson's fleet, which at that time was cruising +to the southward to catch them. This, of course, explained what fate was +destined for us,--a French prison, if not death; and after all, either was +fully good enough for the crew that sailed in the old 'Brian.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +THE LAND. + +It was late when we separated for the night, and the morning was already +far advanced ere I awoke; the monotonous tramp overhead showed me that the +others were stirring, and I gently moved the shutter of the narrow window +beside me to look out. + +The sea, slightly rippled upon its surface, shone like a plate of fretted +gold,--not a wave, not a breaker appeared; but the rushing sound close by +showed that we were moving fast through the water. + +"Always calm hereabouts," said a gruff voice on deck, which I soon +recognized as the skipper's; "no sea whatever." + +"I can make nothing of it," cried out Power, from the forepart of the +vessel. "It appears to me all cloud." + +"No, no, sir, believe me; it's no fog-bank, that large dark mass to leeward +there,--that's Cintra." + +"Land!" cried I, springing up, and rushing upon deck; "where, +Skipper,--where is the land?" + +"I say, Charley," said Power, "I hope you mean to adopt a little more +clothing on reaching Lisbon; for though the climate is a warm one--" + +"Never mind, O'Malley," said the major, "the Portuguese will only be +flattered by the attention, if you land as you are." + +"Why, how so?" + +"Surely, you remember what the niggers said when they saw the 79th +Highlanders landing at St. Lucie. They had never seen a Scotch regiment +before, and were consequently somewhat puzzled at the costume; till at +last, one more cunning than the rest explained it by saying: 'They are in +such a hurry to kill the poor black men that they came away without their +breeches.'" + +"Now, what say you?" cried the skipper, as he pointed with his telescope to +a dark-blue mass in the distance; "see there!" + +"Ah, true enough; that's Cintra!" + +"Then we shall probably be in the Tagus River before morning?" + +"Before midnight, if the wind holds," said the skipper. We breakfasted on +deck beneath an awning. The vessel scarcely seemed to move as she cut her +way through the calm water. + +The misty outline of the coast grew gradually more defined, and at length +the blue mountains could be seen; at first but dimly, but as the day wore +on, their many-colored hues shone forth, and patches of green verdure, +dotted with sheep or sheltered by dark foliage, met the eye. The bulwarks +were crowded with anxious faces; each looked pointedly towards the shore, +and many a stout heart beat high, as the land drew near, fated to cover +with its earth more than one among us. + +"And that's Portingale, Mister Charles," said a voice behind me. I turned +and saw my man Mike, as with anxious joy, he fixed his eyes upon the shore. + +"They tell me it's a beautiful place, with wine for nothing and spirits for +less. Isn't it a pity they won't be raisonable and make peace with us?" + +"Why, my good fellow, we are excellent friends; it's the French who want to +beat us all." + +"Upon my conscience, that's not right. There's an ould saying in Connaught, +'It's not fair for one to fall upon twenty.' Sergeant Haggarty says that +I'll see none of the divarsion at all." + +"I don't well understand--" + +"He does be telling me that, as I'm only your footboy, he'll send me away +to the rear, where there's nothing but wounded and wagons and women." + +"I believe the sergeant is right there; but after all, Mike, it's a safe +place." + +"Ah, then, musha for the safety! I don't think much of it. Sure, they might +circumvint us. And av it wasn't displazing to you, I'd rather list." + +"Well, I've no objection, Mickey. Would you like to join my regiment?" + +"By coorse, your honor. I'd like to be near yourself; bekase, too, if +anything happens to you,--the Lord be betune us and harm," here he crossed +himself piously,--"sure, I'd like to be able to tell the master how you +died; and sure, there's Mr. Considine--God pardon him! He'll be beating my +brains out av I couldn't explain it all." + +"Well, Mike, I'll speak to some of my friends here about you, and we'll +settle it all properly. Here's the doctor." + +"Arrah, Mr. Charles, don't mind him. He's a poor crayture entirely. Devil a +thing he knows." + +"Why, what do you mean, man? He's physician to the forces." + +"Oh, be-gorra, and so he may be!" said Mike, with a toss of his head. +"Those army docthers isn't worth their salt. It's thruth I'm telling you. +Sure, didn't he come to see me when I was sick below in the hould? + +"'How do you feel?' says he. + +"'Terribly dhry in the mouth,' says I. + +"'But your bones,' says he; 'how's them?' + +"'As if cripples was kicking me,' says I. + +"Well, with that he wint away, and brought back two powders. + +"'Take them,' says he, 'and you'll be cured in no time.' + +"'What's them?' says I. + +"'They're ematics,' says he. + +"'Blood and ages!' says I, 'are they?' + +"'Devil a lie,' says he; 'take them immediately.' + +"And I tuk them; and would you believe me, Mister Charles?--it's thruth I'm +telling you,--devil a one o' them would stay on my stomach. So you see what +a docther he is!" + +I could not help smiling at Mike's ideas of medicine, as I turned away +to talk to the major, who was busily engaged beside me. His occupation +consisted in furbishing up a very tarnished and faded uniform, whose white +seams and threadbare lace betokened many years of service. + +"Getting up our traps, you see, O'Malley," said he, as he looked with no +small pride at the faded glories of his old vestment. "Astonish them at +Lisbon, we flatter ourselves. I say, Power, what a bad style of dress +they've got into latterly, with their tight waist and strapped trousers; +nothing free, nothing easy, nothing _dégagé_ about it. When in a campaign, +a man ought to be able to stow prog for twenty-four hours about his person, +and no one the wiser. A very good rule, I assure you, though it sometimes +leads to awkward results. At Vimeira, I got into a sad scrape that way. Old +Sir Harry, that commanded there, sent for the sick return. I was at dinner +when the orderly came, so I packed up the eatables about me, and rode off. +Just, however, as I came up to the quarters, my horse stumbled and threw me +slap on my head. + +"'Is he killed?' said Sir Harry. + +"'Only stunned, your Excellency,' said some one. + +"'Then he'll come to, I suppose. Look for the papers in his pocket.' + +"So they turned me on my back, and plunged a hand into my side-pocket; +but, the devil take it! they pulled out a roast hen. Well, the laugh was +scarcely over at this, when another fellow dived into my coat behind, and +lugged out three sausages; and so they went on, till the ground was covered +with ham, pigeon-pie, veal, kidney, and potatoes; and the only thing like a +paper was a mess-roll of the 4th, with a droll song about Sir Harry written +in pencil on the back of it. Devil of a bad affair for me! I was nearly +broke for it; but they only reprimanded me a little, and I was afterwards +attached to the victualling department." + +What an anxious thing is the last day of a voyage! How slowly creep the +hours, teeming with memories of the past and expectations of the future! + +Every plan, every well-devised expedient to cheat the long and weary +days is at once abandoned; the chess-board and the new novel are alike +forgotten, and the very quarter-deck walk, with its merry gossip and +careless chit-chat, becomes distasteful. One blue and misty mountain, one +faint outline of the far-off shore, has dispelled all thought of these; and +with straining eye and anxious heart, we watch for land. + +As the day wears on apace, the excitement increases; the faint and shadowy +forms of distant objects grow gradually clearer. Where before some tall and +misty mountain peak was seen, we now descry patches of deepest blue and +sombre olive; the mellow corn and the waving woods, the village spire and +the lowly cot, come out of the landscape; and like some well-remembered +voice, they speak of home. The objects we have seen, the sounds we have +heard a hundred times before without interest, become to us now things that +stir the heart. + +For a time the bright glare of the noonday sun dazzles the view and renders +indistinct the prospect; but as evening falls, once more is all fair and +bright and rich before us. Rocked by the long and rolling swell, I lay +beside the bowsprit, watching the shore-birds that came to rest upon the +rigging, or following some long and tangled seaweed as it floated by; my +thoughts now wandering back to the brown hills and the broad river of my +early home, now straying off in dreary fancies of the future. + +How flat and unprofitable does all ambition seem at such moments as these; +how valueless, how poor, in our estimation, those worldly distinctions +we have so often longed and thirsted for, as with lowly heart and simple +spirit we watch each humble cottage, weaving to ourselves some story of its +inmates as we pass! + +The night at length closed in, but it was a bright and starry one, lending +to the landscape a hue of sombre shadow, while the outlines of the objects +were still sharp and distinct as before. One solitary star twinkled near +the horizon. I watched it as, at intervals disappearing, it would again +shine out, marking the calm sea with a tall pillar of light. + +"Come down, Mr. O'Malley," cried the skipper's well-known voice,--"come +down below and join us in a parting glass; that's the Lisbon light to +leeward, and before two hours we drop our anchor in the Tagus." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +MAJOR MONSOON. + +Of my travelling companions I have already told my readers something. Power +is now an old acquaintance; to Sparks I have already presented them; of the +adjutant they are not entirely ignorant; and it therefore only remains for +me to introduce to their notice Major Monsoon. I should have some scruple +for the digression which this occasions in my narrative, were it not that +with the worthy major I was destined to meet subsequently; and indeed +served under his orders for some months in the Peninsula. When Major +Monsoon had entered the army or in what precise capacity, I never yet met +the man who could tell. There were traditionary accounts of his having +served in the East Indies and in Canada in times long past. His own +peculiar reminiscences extended to nearly every regiment in the service, +"horse, foot, and dragoons." There was not a clime he had not basked in; +not an engagement he had not witnessed. His memory, or, if you will, his +invention, was never at fault; and from the siege of Seringapatam to +the battle of Corunna he was perfect. Besides this, he possessed a mind +retentive of even the most trifling details of his profession,--from the +formation of a regiment to the introduction of a new button, from the +laying down of a parallel to the price of a camp-kettle, he knew it all. To +be sure, he had served in the commissary-general's department for a number +of years, and nothing instils such habits as this. + +"The commissaries are to the army what the special pleaders are to the +bar," observed my friend Power,--"dry dogs, not over creditable on the +whole, but devilish useful." + +The major had begun life a two-bottle man; but by a studious cultivation of +his natural gifts, and a steady determination to succeed, he had, at the +time I knew him, attained to his fifth. It need not be wondered at, then, +that his countenance bore some traces of his habits. It was of a deep +sunset-purple, which, becoming tropical, at the tip of the nose verged +almost upon a plum-color; his mouth was large, thick-lipped, and +good-humored; his voice rich, mellow, and racy, and contributed, with the +aid of a certain dry, chuckling laugh, greatly to increase the effect of +the stories which he was ever ready to recount; and as they most frequently +bore in some degree against some of what he called his little failings, +they were ever well received, no man being so popular with the world as he +who flatters its vanity at his own expense. To do this the major was ever +ready, but at no time more so than when the evening wore late, and the last +bottle of his series seemed to imply that any caution regarding the +nature of his communication was perfectly unnecessary. Indeed, from the +commencement of his evening to the close, he seemed to pass through a +number of mental changes, all in a manner preparing him for this final +consummation, when he confessed anything and everything; and so well +regulated had those stages become, that a friend dropping in upon him +suddenly could at once pronounce from the tone of his conversation on what +precise bottle the major was then engaged. + +Thus, in the outset he was gastronomic,--discussed the dinner from the soup +to the Stilton; criticised the cutlets; pronounced upon the merits of the +mutton; and threw out certain vague hints that he would one day astonish +the world by a little volume upon cookery. + +With bottle No. 2 he took leave of the _cuisine_, and opened his battery +upon the wine. Bordeaux, Burgundy, hock, and hermitage, all passed in +review before him,--their flavor discussed, their treatment descanted +upon, their virtues extolled; from humble port to imperial tokay, he was +thoroughly conversant with all, and not a vintage escaped as to when the +sun had suffered eclipse, or when a comet had wagged his tail over it. + +With No. 3 he became pipeclay,--talked army list and eighteen manoeuvres, +lamented the various changes in equipments which modern innovation had +introduced, and feared the loss of pigtails might sap the military spirit +of the nation. + +With No. 4 his anecdotic powers came into play,--he recounted various +incidents of the war with his own individual adventures and experience, +told with an honest _naïveté_, that proved personal vanity; indeed, +self-respect never marred the interest of the narrative, besides, as he had +ever regarded a campaign something in the light of a foray, and esteemed +war as little else than a pillage excursion, his sentiments were singularly +amusing. + +With his last bottle, those feelings that seemed inevitably connected +with whatever is last appeared to steal over him,--a tinge of sadness for +pleasures fast passing and nearly passed, a kind of retrospective glance at +the fallacy of all our earthly enjoyments, insensibly suggesting moral and +edifying reflections, led him by degrees to confess that he was not quite +satisfied with himself, though "not very bad for a commissary;" and +finally, as the decanter waxed low, he would interlard his meditations by +passages of Scripture, singularly perverted by his misconception from +their true meaning, and alternately throwing out prospects of censure or +approval. Such was Major Monsoon; and to conclude in his own words this +brief sketch, he "would have been an excellent officer if Providence had +not made him such a confounded, drunken, old scoundrel." + +"Now, then, for the King of Spain's story. Out with it, old boy; we are all +good men and true here," cried Power, as we slowly came along upon the tide +up the Tagus, "so you've nothing to fear." + +"Upon my life," replied the major, "I don't half like the tone of our +conversation. There is a certain freedom young men affect now a-days +regarding morals that is not at all to my taste. When I was five or six and +twenty--" + +"You were the greatest scamp in the service," cried Power. + +"Fie, fie, Fred. If I was a little wild or so,"--here the major's eyes +twinkled maliciously,--"it was the ladies that spoiled me; I was always +something of a favorite, just like our friend Sparks there. Not that we +fared very much alike in our little adventures; for somehow, I believe I +was generally in fault in most of mine, as many a good man and many an +excellent man has been before." Here his voice dropped into a moralizing +key, as he added, "David, you know, didn't behave well to old Uriah. Upon +my life he did not, and he was a very respectable man." + +"The King of Spain's sherry! the sherry!" cried I, fearing that the major's +digression might lose us a good story. + +"You shall not have a drop of it," replied the major. + +"But the story, Major, the story!" + +"Nor the story, either." + +"What," said Power, "will you break faith with us?" + +"There's none to be kept with reprobates like you. Fill my glass." + +"Hold there! stop!" cried Power. "Not a spoonful till he redeems his +pledge." + +"Well, then, if you must have a story,--for most assuredly I must drink,--I +have no objection to give you a leaf from my early reminiscences; and in +compliment to Sparks there, my tale shall be of love." + +"I dinna like to lose the king's story. I hae my thoughts it was na a bad +ane." + +"Nor I neither, Doctor; but--" + +"Come, come, you shall have that too, the first night we meet in a bivouac, +and as I fear the time may not be very far distant, don't be impatient; +besides a love-story--" + +"Quite true," said Power, "a love-story claims precedence; _place aux +dames_. There's a bumper for you, old wickedness; so go along." + +The major cleared off his glass, refilled it, sipped twice, and ogled it as +though he would have no peculiar objection to sip once more, took a long +pinch of snuff from a box nearly as long as, and something the shape of a +child's coffin, looked around to see that we were all attention, and thus +began:-- + +"When I have been in a moralizing mood, as I very frequently am about this +hour in the morning, I have often felt surprised by what little, trivial, +and insignificant circumstances our lot in life seems to be cast; I mean +especially as regards the fair sex. You are prospering, as it were, to-day; +to-morrow a new cut of your whiskers, a novel tie of your cravat, mars your +destiny and spoils your future, _varium et mutabile_, as Horace has it. +On the other hand, some equally slight circumstance will do what all your +ingenuity may have failed to effect. I knew a fellow who married the +greatest fortune in Bath, from the mere habit he had of squeezing one's +hand. The lady in question thought it particular, looked conscious, and all +that; he followed up the blow; and, in a word, they were married in a week. +So a friend of mine, who could not help winking his left eye, once opened +a flirtation with a lively widow which cost him a special license and a +settlement. In fact you are never safe. They are like the guerillas, and +they pick you off when you least expect it, and when you think there is +nothing to fear. Therefore, as young fellows beginning life, I would +caution you. On this head you can never be too circumspect. Do you know, I +was once nearly caught by so slight a habit as sitting thus, with my legs +across." + +Here the major rested his right foot on his left knee, in illustration, and +continued:-- + +"We were quartered in Jamaica. I had not long joined, and was about as raw +a young gentleman as you could see; the only very clear ideas in my head +being that we were monstrous fine fellows in the 50th, and that the +planters' daughters were deplorably in love with us. Not that I was much +wrong on either side. For brandy-and-water, sangaree, Manilla cigars, and +the ladies of color, I'd have backed the corps against the service. +Proof was, of eighteen only two ever left the island; for what with the +seductions of the coffee plantations, the sugar canes, the new rum, the +brown skins, the rainy season, and the yellow fever, most of us settled +there." + +"It's very hard to leave the West Indies if once you've been quartered +there." + +"So I have heard," said Power. + +"In time, if you don't knock under to the climate, you become soon totally +unfit for living anywhere else. Preserved ginger, yams, flannel jackets, +and grog won't bear exportation; and the free-and-easy chuck under the +chin, cherishing, waist-pressing kind of way we get with the ladies would +be quite misunderstood in less favored regions, and lead to very unpleasant +consequences." + +"It is a curious fact how much climate has to do with love-making. In our +cold country the progress is lamentably slow. Fogs, east winds, sleet, +storms, and cutting March weather nip many a budding flirtation; whereas +warm, sunny days and bright moonlight nights, with genial air and balmy +zephyrs, open the heart like the cup of a camelia, and let us drink in the +soft dew of--" + +"Devilish poetical, that," said Power, evolving a long blue line of smoke +from the corner of his mouth. + +"Isn't it, though?" said the major, smiling graciously. "'Pon my life, I +thought so myself. Where was I?" + +"Out of my latitude altogether," said the poor skipper, who often found it +hard to follow the thread of a story. + +"Yes, I remember. I was remarking that sangaree and calipash, mangoes and +guava jelly, dispose the heart to love, and so they do. I was not more than +six weeks in Jamaica when I felt it myself. Now, it was a very dangerous +symptom, if you had it strong in you, for this reason. Our colonel, the +most cross-grained old crabstick that ever breathed, happened himself to be +taken in when young, and resolving, like the fox who lost his tail and said +it was not the fashion to wear one, to pretend he did the thing for fun, +determined to make every fellow marry upon the slightest provocation. +Begad, you might as well enter a powder magazine with a branch of candles +in your hand, as go into society in the island with a leaning towards the +fair sex. Very hard this was for me particularly; for like poor Sparks +there, my weakness was ever for the petticoats. I had, besides, no +petty, contemptible prejudices as to nation, habits, language, color, or +complexion; black, brown, or fair, from the Muscovite to the Malabar, from +the voluptuous _embonpoint_ of the adjutant's widow,--don't be angry old +boy,--to the fairy form of Isabella herself, I loved them all round. But +were I to give a preference anywhere I should certainly do so to the West +Indians, if it were only for the sake of the planters' daughters. I say it +fearlessly, these colonies are the brightest jewels in the crown. Let's +drink their health, for I'm as husky as a lime-kiln." + +This ceremony being performed with suitable enthusiasm, the major cried +out, "Another cheer for Polly Hackett, the sweetest girl in Jamaica. By +Jove, Power, if you only saw her as I did five and forty years ago, with +eyes black as jet, twinkling, ogling, leering, teasing, and imploring, +all at once, do you mind, and a mouthful of downright pearls pouting +and smiling at you, why, man, you'd have proposed for her in the first +half-hour, and shot yourself the next, when she refused you. She was, +indeed, a perfect little beauty, _rayther_ dark, to be sure,--a little upon +the rosewood tinge, but beautifully polished, and a very nice piece of +furniture for a cottage _orné_, as the French call it. Alas, alas, how +these vanities do catch hold of us! My recollections have made me quite +feverish and thirsty. Is there any cold punch in the bowl? Thank you, +O'Malley, that will do,--merely to touch my lips. Well, well, it's all past +and gone now; but I was very fond of Tolly Hackett, and she was of me. +We used to take our little evening walks together through the coffee +plantation: very romantic little strolls they were, she in white muslin +with a blue sash and blue shoes; I in a flannel jacket and trousers, straw +hat and cravat, a Virginia cigar as long as a walking-stick in my +mouth, puffing and courting between times; then we'd take a turn to the +refining-house, look in at the big boilers, quiz the niggers, and come back +to Twangberry Moss to supper, where old Hackett, the father, sported a +glorious table at eleven o'clock. Great feeding it was; you were always +sure of a preserved monkey, a baked land-crab, or some such delicacy. And +such Madeira; it makes me dry to think of it. + +"Talk of West India slavery, indeed. It's the only land of liberty. +There is nothing to compare with the perfect free-and-easy, +devil-may-care-kind-of-a-take-yourself way that every one has there. If it +would be any peculiar comfort for you to sit in the saddle of mutton, and +put your legs in a soup tureen at dinner, there would be found very few to +object to it. There is no nonsense of any kind about etiquette. You eat, +drink, and are merry, or, if you prefer, are sad; just as you please. You +may wear uniform, or you may not, it's your own affair; and consequently, +it may be imagined how insensibly such privileges gain upon one, and how +very reluctant we become ever to resign or abandon them. + +"I was the man to appreciate it all. The whole course of proceeding seemed +to have been invented for my peculiar convenience, and not a man in the +island enjoyed a more luxurious existence than myself, not knowing all the +while how dearly I was destined to pay for my little comforts. Among my +plenary after-dinner indulgences I had contracted an inveterate habit of +sitting cross-legged, as I showed you. Now, this was become a perfect +necessity of existence to me. I could have dispensed with cheese, with my +glass of port, my pickled mango, my olive, my anchovy toast, my nutshell of +curaçoa, but not my favorite lounge. You may smile; but I've read of a man +who could never dance except in a room with an old hair-brush. Now, I'm +certain my stomach would not digest if my legs were perpendicular. I +don't mean to defend the thing. The attitude was not graceful, it was not +imposing; but it suited me somehow, and I liked it. + +"From what I have already mentioned, you may suppose that West India habits +exercised but little control over my favorite practice, which I indulged +in every evening of my life. Well, one day old Hackett gave us a great +blow-out,--a dinner of two-and-twenty souls; six days' notice; turtle from +St. Lucie, guinea-fowl, claret of the year forty, Madeira _à discrétion_, +and all that. Very well done the whole thing; nothing wrong, nothing +wanting. As for me, I was in great feather. I took Polly in to dinner, +greatly to the discomfiture of old Belson, our major, who was making up in +that quarter; for you must know, she was an only daughter, and had a very +nice thing of it in molasses and niggers. The papa preferred the major, +but Polly looked sweetly upon me. Well, down we went, and really a most +excellent feed we had. Now, I must mention here that Polly had a favorite +Blenheim spaniel the old fellow detested; it was always tripping him up and +snarling at him,--for it was, except to herself, a beast of rather vicious +inclinations. With a true Jamaica taste, it was her pleasure to bring the +animal always into the dinner-room, where, if papa discovered him, there +was sure to be a row. Servants sent in one direction to hunt him out, +others endeavoring to hide him, and so on; in fact, a tremendous hubbub +always followed his introduction and accompanied his exit, upon which +occasions I invariably exercised my gallantry by protecting the beast, +although I hated him like the devil all the time. + +"To return to our dinner. After two mortal hours of hard eating, the pace +began to slacken, and as evening closed in, a sense of peaceful repose +seemed to descend upon our labors. Pastels shed an aromatic vapor +through the room. The well-iced decanters went with measured pace along; +conversation, subdued to the meridian of after-dinner comfort, just +murmured; the open _jalousies_ displayed upon the broad veranda the +orange-tree in full blossom, slightly stirring with the cool sea-breeze." + +"And the piece of white muslin beside you, what of her?" + +"Looked twenty times more bewitching than ever. Well, it was just the hour +when, opening the last two buttons of your white waistcoat (remember we +were in Jamaica), you stretch your legs to the full extent, throw your arm +carelessly over the back of your chair, look contemplatively towards the +ceiling, and wonder, within yourself, why it is not all 'after dinner' in +this same world of ours. Such, at least, were my reflections as I assumed +my attitude of supreme comfort, and inwardly ejaculated a health to Sneyd +and Barton. Just at this moment I heard Polly's voice gently whisper,-- + +"'Isn't he a love? Isn't he a darling?' + +"'Zounds!' thought I, as a pang of jealousy shot through my heart, 'is it +the major she means?' For old Belson, with his bag wig and rouged cheeks, +was seated on the other side of her. + +"'What a dear thing it is!' said Polly. + +"'Worse and worse,' said I; 'it must be him.' + +"'I do so love his muzzy face.' + +"'It is him!' said I, throwing off a bumper, and almost boiling over with +passion at the moment. + +"'I wish I could take one look at him,' said she, laying down her head as +she spoke. + +"The major whispered something in her ear, to which she replied,-- + +"'Oh, I dare not; papa will see me at once.' + +"'Don't be afraid, Madam,' said I, fiercely; 'your father perfectly +approves of your taste.' + +"'Are you sure of it?' said she, giving me such a look. + +"'I know it,' said I, struggling violently with my agitation. + +"The major leaned over as if to touch her hand beneath the cloth. I almost +sprang from my chair, when Polly, in her sweetest accents, said,-- + +"'You must be patient, dear thing, or you may be found out, and then there +will be such a piece of work. Though I'm sure, Major, you would not betray +me.' The major smiled till he cracked the paint upon his cheeks. 'And I am +sure that Mr. Monsoon--' + +"'You may rely upon me,' said I, half sneeringly. + +"The major and I exchanged glances of defiance, while Polly continued,-- + +"'Now, come, don't be restless. You are very comfortable there. Isn't he, +Major?' The major smiled again more graciously than before, as he added,-- + +"'May I take a look?' + +"'Just one peep, then, no more!' said she, coquettishly; 'poor dear Wowski +is so timid.' + +"Scarcely had these words borne balm and comfort to my heart,--for I +now knew that to the dog, and not to my rival, were all the flattering +expressions applied,--when a slight scream from Polly, and a tremendous +oath from the major, raised me from my dream of happiness. + +"'Take your foot down, sir. Mr. Monsoon, how could you do so?' cried Polly. + +"'What the devil, sir, do you mean?' shouted the major. + +"'Oh, I shall die of shame,' sobbed she. + +"'I'll shoot him like a riddle,' muttered old Belson. + +"By this time the whole table had got at the story, and such peals of +laughter, mingled with suggestions for my personal maltreatment, I never +heard. All my attempts at explanation were in vain. I was not listened to, +much less believed; and the old colonel finished the scene by ordering me +to my quarters, in a voice I shall never forget, the whole room being, at +the time I made my exit, one scene of tumultuous laughter from one end to +the other. Jamaica after this became too hot for me. The story was repeated +on every side; for, it seems, I had been sitting with my foot on Polly's +lap; but so occupied was I with my jealous vigilance of the major I was not +aware of the fact until she herself discovered it. + +"I need not say how the following morning brought with it every possible +offer of _amende_ upon my part; anything from a written apology to a +proposition to marry the lady I was ready for, and how the matter might +have ended I know not; for in the middle of the negotiations, we were +ordered off to Halifax where, be assured, I abandoned my Oriental attitude +for many a long day after." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +THE LANDING. + +What a contrast to the dull monotony of our life at sea did the scene +present which awaited us on landing in Lisbon. The whole quay was crowded +with hundreds of people eagerly watching the vessel which bore from her +mast the broad ensign of Britain. Dark-featured, swarthy, mustached faces, +with red caps rakishly set on one side, mingled with the Saxon faces and +fair-haired natives of our own country. Men-of-war boats plied unceasingly +to and fro across the tranquil river, some slender reefer in the +stern-sheets, while behind him trailed the red pennon of some "tall +admiral." + +The din and clamor of a mighty city mingled with the far-off sounds of +military music; and in the vistas of the opening street, masses of troops +might be seen in marching order; and all betokened the near approach of +war. + +Our anchor had scarcely been dropped, when an eight-oar gig, with a +midshipman steering, came alongside. + +"Ship ahoy, there! You've troops on board?" + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +Before the answer could be spoken, he was on the deck. + +"May I ask," said he, touching his cap slightly, "who is the officer in +command of the detachment?" + +"Captain Power; very much at your service," said Fred, returning the +salute. + +"Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Douglas requests that you will do him the favor to +come on board immediately, and bring your despatches with you." + +"I'm quite ready," said Power, as he placed his papers in his sabretasche; +"but first tell us what's doing here. Anything new lately?" + +"I have heard nothing, except of some affair with the Portuguese,--they've +been drubbed again; but our people have not been engaged. I say, we had +better get under way; there's our first lieutenant with his telescope up; +he's looking straight at us. So, come along. Good-evening, gentlemen." And +in another moment the sharp craft was cutting the clear water, while Power +gayly waved us a good-by. + +"Who's for shore?" said the skipper, as half-a-dozen boats swarmed around +the side, or held on by their boat-hooks to the rigging. + +"Who is not?" said Monsoon, who now appeared in his old blue frock covered +with tarnished braiding, and a cocked hat that might have roofed a pagoda. +"Who is not, my old boy? Is not every man among us delighted with the +prospect of fresh prog, cool wine, and a bed somewhat longer than four feet +six? I say, O'Malley! Sparks! Where's the adjutant? Ah, there he is! We'll +not mind the doctor,--he's a very jovial little fellow, but a damned bore, +_entre nous_; and we'll have a cosy little supper at the Rue di Toledo. I +know the place well. Whew, now! Get away, boy. Sit steady, Sparks; she's +only a cockleshell. There; that's the Plaza de la Regna,--there, to +the left. There's the great cathedral,--you can't see it now. Another +seventy-four! Why there's a whole fleet here! I wish old Power joy of his +afternoon with old Douglas." + +"Do you know him then, Major?" + +"Do I?--I should rather think I do. He was going to put me in irons here in +this river once. A great shame it was; but I'll tell you the story another +time. There, gently now; that's it. Thank God! once more upon land. How I +do hate a ship; upon my life, a sauce-boat is the only boat endurable in +this world." + +We edged our way with difficulty through the dense crowd, and at last +reached the Plaza. Here the numbers were still greater, but of a different +class: several pretty and well-dressed women, with their dark eyes +twinkling above their black mantillas as they held them across their faces, +watched with an intense curiosity one of the streets that opened upon the +square. + +In a few moments the band of a regiment was heard, and very shortly after +the regular tramp of troops followed, as the Eighty-seventh marched into +the Plaza, and formed a line. + +The music ceased; the drums rolled along the line; and the next moment +all was still. It was really an inspiriting sight to one whose heart was +interested in the career, to see those gallant fellows, as, with their +bronzed faces and stalwart frames, they stood motionless as a rock. As I +continued to look, the band marched into the middle of the square, and +struck up, "Garryowen." Scarcely was the first part played, when a +tremendous cheer burst from the troop-ship in the river. The welcome notes +had reached the poor fellows there; the well-known sounds that told of home +and country met their ears; and the loud cry of recognition bespoke their +hearts' fulness. + +"There they go. Your wild countrymen have heard their _Ranz des vaches_, +it seems. Lord! how they frightened the poor Portuguese; look how they're +running!" + +Such was actually the case. The loud cheer uttered from the river was taken +up by others straggling on shore, and one universal shout betokened that +fully one-third of the red-coats around came from the dear island, and in +their enthusiasm had terrified the natives to no small extent. + +"Is not that Ferguson there!" cried the major, as an officer passed us with +his arm in a sling. "I say, Joe--Ferguson! oh, knew it was!" + +"Monsoon, my hearty, how goes it?--only just arrived, I see. Delighted to +meet you out here once more. Why, we've been as dull as a veteran battalion +without you. These your friends? Pray present me." The ceremony of +introduction over, the major invited Ferguson to join our party at supper. +"No, not to-night, Major," said he, "you must be my guests this evening. My +quarters are not five minutes' walk from this; I shall not promise you very +luxurious fare." + +"A carbonade with olives, a roast duck, a bowl of bishop, and, if you will, +a few bottles of Burgundy," said the major; "don't put yourself out for +us,--soldier's fare, eh?" + +I could not help smiling at the _naïve_ notion of simplicity so cunningly +suggested by old Monsoon. As I followed the party through the streets, +my step was light, my heart not less so; for what sensations are more +delightful than those of landing after a voyage? The escape from the +durance vile of shipboard, with its monotonous days and dreary nights, +its ill-regulated appointments, its cramped accommodation, its uncertain +duration, its eternal round of unchanging amusements, for the freedom +of the shore, with a land breeze, and a firm footing to tread upon; and +certainly, not least of all, the sight of that brightest part of creation, +whose soft eyes and tight ankles are, perhaps, the greatest of all +imaginable pleasures to him who has been the dweller on blue water for +several weeks long. + +"Here we are," cried out Ferguson, as we stopped at the door of a large +and handsome house. We follow up a spacious stair into an ample room, +sparingly, but not uncomfortably furnished: plans of sieges, maps of the +seat of war, pistols, sabres, and belts decorated the white walls, and a +few books and a stray army list betokened the habits of the occupant. + +While Ferguson disappeared to make some preparations for supper, Monsoon +commenced a congratulation to the party upon the good fortune that had +befallen them. "Capital fellow is Joe; never without something good, and +a rare one to pass the bottle. Oh, here he comes. Be alive there, Sparks, +take a corner of the cloth; how deliciously juicy that ham looks. Pass +the Madeira down there; what's under that cover,--stewed kidneys?" While +Monsoon went on thus we took our places at the table, and set to with an +appetite which only a newly-landed traveller ever knows. + +"Another spoonful of the gravy? Thank you. And so they say we've not been +faring over well latterly?" said the major. + +"Not a word of truth in the report. Our people have not been engaged. The +only thing lately was a smart brush we had at the Tamega. Poor Patrick, a +countryman of ours, and myself were serving with the Portuguese brigade, +when Laborde drove us back upon the town and actually routed us. The +Portuguese general, caring little for anything save his own safety, was +making at once for the mountains when Patrick called upon his battalion to +face about and charge; and nobly they did it, too. Down they came upon the +advancing masses of the French, and literally hurled them back upon the +main body. The other regiments, seeing this gallant stand, wheeled about +and poured in a volley, and then, fixing bayonets, stormed a little mount +beside the hedge, which commanded the whole suburb of Villa Real. The +French, who soon recovered their order, now prepared for a second attack, +and came on in two dense columns, when Patrick, who had little confidence +in the steadiness of his people for any lengthened resistance, resolved +upon once more charging with the bayonet. The order was scarcely given when +the French were upon us, their flank defended by some of La Houssaye's +heavy dragoons. For an instant the conflict was doubtful, until poor +Patrick fell mortally wounded upon the parapet; when the men, no longer +hearing his bold cheer, nor seeing his noble figure in the advance, turned +and fled, pell-mell, back upon the town. As for me, blocked up amidst the +mass, I was cut down from the shoulder to the elbow by a young fellow of +about sixteen, who galloped about like a schoolboy on a holiday. The wound +was only dangerous from the loss of blood, and so I contrived to reach +Amacante without much difficulty; from whence, with three or four others, I +was ordered here until fit for service." + +"But what news from our own head-quarters?" inquired I. + +"All imaginable kind of rumors are afloat. Some say that Craddock is +retiring; others, that a part of the army is in motion upon Caldas." + +"Then we are not going to have a very long sojourn here, after all, eh, +Major? Donna Maria de Tormes will be inconsolable. By-the-bye, their house +is just opposite us. Have you never heard Monsoon mention his friends +there?" + +"Come, come, Joe, how can you be so foolish?" + +"But, Major, my dear friend, what signifies your modesty? There is not a +man in the service does not know it, save those in the last gazette." + +"Indeed, Joe, I am very angry with you." + +"Well, then, by Jove! I must tell it, myself; though, faith, lads, you lose +not a little for want of Monsoon's tact in the narrative." + +"Anything is better that trusting to such a biographer," cried the major; +"so here goes:-- + +"When I was acting commissary-general to the Portuguese forces some few +years ago, I obtained great experience of the habits of the people; for +though naturally of an unsuspecting temperament myself, I generally +contrive to pick out the little foibles of my associates, even upon a short +acquaintance. Now, my appointment pleased me very much on this score,--it +gave me little opportunities of examining the world. 'The greatest study of +mankind is man,'--Sparks would say woman, but no matter. + +"Now, I soon discovered that our ancient and very excellent allies, the +Portuguese, with a beautiful climate, delicious wines, and very delightful +wives and daughters, were the most infernal rogues and scoundrels ever met +with. 'Make yourself thoroughly acquainted with the leading features of the +natives,' said old Sir Harry to me in a despatch from head-quarters; and, +faith, it was not difficult,--such open, palpable, undisguised rascals +never were heard of. I thought I knew a thing or two myself, when I landed; +but, Lord love you! I was a babe, I was an infant in swaddling clothes, +compared with them; and they humbugged me,--ay, _me!_--till I began to +suspect that I was only walking in my sleep. + +"'Why, Monsoon,' said the general, 'they told me you were a sharp fellow, +and yet the people here seem to work round you every day. This will never +do. You must brighten up a little or I shall be obliged to send you back.' + +"'General,' said I, 'they used to call me no fool in England; but, somehow, +here--' + +"'I understand,' said he; 'you don't know the Portuguese; there's but one +way with them,--strike quickly, and strike home. Never give them time for +roguery,--for if they have a moment's reflection, they'll cheat the devil +himself; but when you see the plot working, come slap down and decide the +thing your own way.' + +"Well, now, there never was anything so true as this advice, and for the +eighteen months I acted upon it, I never knew it to fail. + +"'I want a thousand measures of wheat.' + +"'Senhor Excellenza, the crops have been miserably deficient, and----' + +"'Sergeant-major,' I would say, 'these poor people have no corn; it's a +wine country,--let them make up the rations that way.' + +"The wheat came in that evening. + +"'One hundred and twenty bullocks wanted for the reserve.' + +"'The cattle are all up the mountains.' + +"'Let the alcalde catch them before night or I'll catch _him_.' + +"Lord bless you! I had beef enough to feed the Peninsula. And in this way, +while the forces were eating short allowance and half rations elsewhere, +our brigade were plump as aldermen. + +"When we lay in Andalusia this was easy enough. What a country, to be sure! +Such vineyards, such gardens, such delicious valleys, waving with corn and +fat with olives; actually, it seemed a kind of dispensation of Providence +to make war in. There was everything you could desire; and then, the +people, like all your wealthy ones, were so timid, and so easily +frightened, you could get what you pleased out of them by a little terror. +My scouts managed this very well. + +"'He is coming,' they would say, 'after to-morrow.' + +"'_Madre de Dios!_' + +"'I hope he won't burn the village.' + +"'_Questos infernales Ingleses!_ how wicked they are.' + +"'You'd better try what a sack of moidores or doubloons might do with him; +he may refuse them, but make the effort.' + +"Ha!" said the major, with a long-drawn sigh, "those were pleasant times; +alas, that they should ever come to an end! Well, among the old hidalgos I +met there was one Don Emanuel Selvio de Tormes, an awful old miser, rich as +Croesus, and suspicious as the arch-fiend himself. Lord, how I melted him +down! I quartered two squadrons of horse and a troop of flying artillery +upon him. How the fellows did eat! Such a consumption of wines was never +heard of; and as they began to slacken a little, I took care to replace +them by fresh arrivals,--fellows from the mountains, _caçadores_ they call +them. At last, my friend Don Emanuel could stand it no longer, and he sent +me a diplomatic envoy to negotiate terms, which, upon the whole, I must +say, were fair enough; and in a few days after, the _caçadores_ were +withdrawn, and I took up my quarters at the château. I have had various +chances and changes in this wicked world, but I am free to confess that I +never passed a more agreeable time than the seven weeks I spent there. Don +Emanuel, when properly managed, became a very pleasant little fellow; Donna +Maria, his wife, was a sweet creature. You need not be winking that way. +Upon my life she was: rather fat, to be sure, and her age something verging +upon the fifties; but she had such eyes, black as sloes, and luscious as +ripe grapes; and she was always smiling and ogling, and looking so sweet. +Confound me, if I think she wasn't the most enchanting being in this world, +with about ten thousand pounds' worth of jewels upon her fingers and in +her ears. I have her before me at this instant, as she used to sit in the +little arbor in the garden, with a Manilla cigar in her mouth, and a little +brandy-and-water--quite weak, you know--beside her. + +"'Ah, General,' she used to say--she always called me general--'what a +glorious career yours is! A soldier is _indeed_ a man.' + +"Then she would look at poor Emanuel, who used to sit in a corner, holding +his hand to his face, for hours, calculating interest and cent per cent, +till he fell asleep. + +"Now, he labored under a very singular malady,--not that I ever knew it at +the time,--a kind of luxation of the lower jaw, which, when it came on, +happened somehow to press upon some vital nerve or other, and left him +perfectly paralyzed till it was restored to its proper place. In fact, +during the time the agony lasted, he was like one in a trance; for though +he could see and hear, he could neither speak nor move, and looked as if he +had done with both for many a day to come. + +"Well, as I was saying, I knew nothing of all this till a slight +circumstance made it known to me. I was seated one evening in the little +arbor I mentioned, with Donna Maria. There was a little table before us +covered with wines and fruits, a dish of olives, some Castile oranges, and +a fresh pine. I remember it well: my eye roved over the little dessert set +out in old-fashioned, rich silver dishes, then turned towards the lady +herself, with rings and brooches, earrings and chains enough to reward one +for sacking a town; and I said to myself, 'Monsoon, Monsoon, this is better +than long marches in the Pyrenees, with a cork-tree for a bed-curtain, and +wet grass for a mattress. How pleasantly one might jog on in this world +with this little country-house for his abode, and Donna Maria for a +companion!' + +"I tasted the port; it was delicious. Now, I knew very little Portuguese, +but I made some effort to ask if there was much of it in the cellar. + +"She smiled, and said, 'Oh, yes.' + +"'What a luxurious life one might lead here!' thought I; 'and after all, +perhaps Providence might remove Don Emanuel.' + +"I finished the bottle as I thus meditated. The next was, if possible, more +crusty. + +"'This is a delicious retreat,' said I, soliloquizing. + +"Donna Maria seemed to know what was passing in my mind, for she smiled, +too. + +"'Yes,' said I, in broken Portuguese, 'one ought to be very happy here, +Donna Maria.' + +"She blushed, and I continued:-- + +"'What can one want for more in this life? All the charms that rendered +Paradise what it was'--I took her hand here--'and made Adam blessed.' + +"'Ah, General!' said she, with a sigh, 'you are such a flatterer.' + +"'Who could flatter,' said I, with enthusiasm, 'when there are not words +enough to express what he feels?' This was true, for my Portuguese was fast +failing me, 'But if I ever was happy, it is now.' + +"I took another pull at the port. + +"'If I only thought,' said I, 'that my presence here was not thought +unwelcome--' + +"'Fie, General,' said she, 'how could you say such a thing?' + +"'If I only thought I was not hated,' said I, tremblingly. + +"'Oh!' said she, again. + +"'Despised.' + +"'Oh!' + +"'Loathed.' + +[Illustration: MAJOR MONSOON AND DONNA MARIA.] + +"She pressed my hand, I kissed hers; she hurriedly snatched it from me, and +pointed towards a lime-tree near, beneath which, in the cool enjoyment of +his cigar, sat the spare and detested figure of Don Emanuel. + +"'Yes,' thought I, 'there he is,--the only bar to my good fortune; were +it not for him, I should not be long before I became possessor of this +excellent old château, with a most indiscretionary power over the cellar. +Don Mauricius Monsoon would speedily assume his place among the grandees of +Portugal.' + +"I know not how long my revery lasted, nor, indeed, how the evening passed; +but I remember well the moon was up, and a sky, bright with a thousand +stars was shining, as I sat beside the fair Donna Maria, endeavoring, with +such Portuguese as it had pleased fate to bestow on me, to instruct her +touching my warlike services and deeds of arms. The fourth bottle of port +was ebbing beneath my eloquence, as responsively her heart beat, when I +heard a slight rustle in the branches near. I looked, and, Heavens, what a +sight did I behold! There was little Don Emanuel stretched upon the grass +with his mouth wide open, his face pale as death, his arms stretched out at +either side, and his legs stiffened straight out. I ran over and asked if +he were ill, but no answer came. I lifted up an arm, but it fell heavily +upon the ground as I let it go; the leg did likewise. I touched his nose; +it was cold. + +"'Hollo,' thought I, 'is it so? This comes of mixing water with your +sherry. I saw where it would end.' + +"Now, upon my life! I felt sorry for the little fellow; but somehow, one +gets so familiarized with this sort of thing in a campaign that one only +half feels in a case like this. + +"'Yes,' said I, 'man is but grass; but I for one must make hay when the sun +shines. Now for the Donna Maria,'--for the poor thing was asleep in the +arbor all this while. + +"'Donna,' said I, shaking her by the elbow,--'Donna, don't be shocked at +what I'm going to say.' + +"'Ah, General,' said she, with a sigh, 'say no more; I must not listen to +you.' + +"'You don't know that,' said I, with a knowing look,--'you don't know +that.' + +"'Why, what can you mean?' + +"'The little fellow is done for.' For the port was working strong now, +and destroyed all my fine sensibility. 'Yes, Donna,' said I, 'you are +free,'--here I threw myself upon my knees,--'free to make me the happiest +of commissaries and the jolliest grandee of Portugal that ever--' + +"'But Don Emanuel?' + +"'Run out, dry, empty,' inverting a finished decanter to typify my words as +I spoke. + +"'He is not dead?' said she, with a scream. + +"'Even so,' said I, with a hiccough! 'ordered for service in a better +world, where there are neither inspections nor arrears.' + +"Before the words were well out, she sprang from the bench and rushed over +to the spot where the little don lay. What she said or did I know not, but +the next moment he sat bolt upright on the grass, and as he held his jaw +with one hand and supported himself on the other, vented such a torrent of +abuse and insult at me, that, for want of Portuguese enough to reply, I +rejoined in English, in which I swore pretty roundly for five minutes. +Meanwhile the donna had summoned the servants, who removed Don Emanuel to +the house, where on my return I found my luggage displayed before the door, +with a civil hint to deploy in orderly time and take ground elsewhere. + +"In a few days, however, his anger cooled down, and I received a polite +note from Donna Maria, that the don at length began to understand the joke, +and begged that I would return to the château, and that he would expect me +at dinner the same day." + +"With which, of course, you complied?" + +"Which of course I did. Forgive your enemies, my dear boy,--it is only +Christian-like; and really, we lived very happily ever after. The donna was +a mighty clever woman, and a dear good soul besides." + +It was late when the major concluded his story; so after wishing Ferguson a +good-night, we took our leave, and retired for the night to our quarters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + + +LISBON. + +The tramp of horses' feet and the sound of voices beneath my window roused +me from a deep sleep. I sprang up and drew aside the curtain. What a +strange confusion beset me as I looked forth! Before me lay a broad and +tranquil river whose opposite shore, deeply wooded and studded with villas +and cottages, rose abruptly from the water's edge; vessels of war lay +tranquilly in the stream, their pennants trailing in the tide. The loud +boom of a morning gun rolled along the surface, awaking a hundred echoes as +it passed, and the lazy smoke rested for some minutes on the glassy water +as it blended with the thin air of the morning. + +"Where am I?" was my first question to myself, as I continued to look from +side to side, unable to collect my scattered senses. + +One word sufficed to recall me to myself, as I heard Power's voice, from +without, call out, "Charley! O'Malley, I say! Come down here!" + +I hurriedly threw on my clothes and went to the door. + +"Well, Charley, I've been put in harness rather sooner than I expected. +Here's old Douglas has been sitting up all night writing despatches; and +I must hasten on to headquarters without a moment's delay. There's work +before us, that's certain; but when, where, and how, of that I know +nothing. You may expect the route every moment; the French are still +advancing. Meanwhile I have a couple of commissions for you to execute. +First, here's a packet for Hammersley; you are sure to meet him with the +regiment in a day or two. I have some scruples about asking you this; but, +confound it! you're too sensible a fellow to care--" Here he hesitated; +and as I colored to the eyes, for some minutes he seemed uncertain how to +proceed. At length, recovering himself, he went on: "Now for the other. +This is a most loving epistle from a poor devil of a midshipman, written +last night by a tallow candle, in the cock-pit, containing vows of eternal +adoration and a lock of hair. I promised faithfully to deliver it myself; +for the 'Thunderer' sails for Gibraltar next tide, and he cannot go ashore +for an instant. However, as Sir Arthur's billet may be of more importance +than the reefer's, I must intrust its safe keeping to your hands. Now, +then, don't look so devilish sleepy, but seem to understand what I am +saying. This is the address: 'La Senhora Inez da Silviero, Rua Nuova, +opposite the barber's.' You'll not neglect it. So now, my dear boy, till +our next meeting, _adios!_" + +"Stop! For Heaven's sake, not so fast, I pray! Where's the street?" + +"The Rua Nuova. Remember Figaro, my boy. _Cinque perruche_." + +"But what am I to do?" + +"To do! What a question! Anything; everything. Be a good diplomate. Speak +of the torturing agony of the lover, for which I can vouch. The boy is only +fifteen. Swear that he is to return in a month, first lieutenant of the +'Thunder Bomb,' with intentions that even Madame Dalrymple would approve." + +"What nonsense," said I, blushing to the eyes. + +"And if that suffice not, I know of but one resource." + +"Which is?" + +"Make love to her yourself. Ay, even so. Don't look so confoundedly +vinegar; the girl, I hear, is a devilish pretty one, the house pleasant, +and I sincerely wish I could exchange duties with you, leaving you to make +your bows to his Excellency the C. O. F., and myself free to make mine to +La Senhora. And now, push along, old red cap." + +So saying, he made a significant cut of his whip at the Portuguese guide, +and in another moment was out of sight. + +My first thought was one of regret at Power's departure. For some time past +we had been inseparable companions; and notwithstanding the reckless and +wild gayety of his conduct, I had ever found him ready to assist me in +every difficulty, and that with an address and dexterity a more calculating +adviser might not have possessed. I was now utterly alone; for though +Monsoon and the adjutant were still in Lisbon, as was also Sparks, I never +could make intimates of them. + +I ate my breakfast with a heavy heart, my solitary position again +suggesting thoughts of home and kindred. Just at this moment my eyes fell +upon the packet destined for Hammersley; I took it up and weighed it in +my hand. "Alas!" thought I, "how much of my destiny may lie within that +envelope! How fatally may my after-life be influenced by it!" It felt heavy +as though there was something besides letters. True, too true; there was +a picture, Lucy's portrait! The cold drops of perspiration stood upon +my forehead as my fingers traced the outline of a miniature-case in the +parcel. I became deadly weak, and sank, half-fainting, upon a chair. And +such is the end of my first dream of happiness! How have I duped, how +have I deceived myself! For, alas, though Lucy had never responded to my +proffered vows of affection, yet had I ever nurtured in my heart a secret +hope that I was not altogether uncared for. Every look she had given me, +every word she had spoken, the tone of her voice, her step, her every +gesture, were before me, all confirming my delusion, and yet,--I could bear +no more, and burst into tears. + +The loud call of a cavalry trumpet aroused me. + +How long I had passed in this state of despondency I knew not; but it was +long past noon when I rallied myself. My charger was already awaiting me; +and a second blast of the trumpet told that the inspection in the Plaza was +about to commence. + +As I continued to dress, I gradually rallied from my depressing thoughts; +and ere I belted my sabretasche, the current of my ideas had turned from +their train of sadness to one of hardihood and daring. Lucy Dashwood had +treated me like a wilful schoolboy. Mayhap, I may prove myself as gallant a +soldier as even him she has preferred before me. + +A third sound of the trumpet cut short my reflections, and I sprang into +the saddle, and hastened towards the Plaza. As I dashed along the streets, +my horse, maddened with the impulse that stirred my own heart, curvetted +and plunged unceasingly. As I reached the Plaza, the crowd became dense, +and I was obliged to pull up. The sound of the music, the parade, the tramp +of the infantry, and the neighing of the horses, were, however, too much +for my mettlesome steed, and he became nearly unmanageable; he plunged +fearfully, and twice reared as though he would have fallen back. As I +scattered the foot passengers right and left with terror, my eye fell upon +one lovely girl, who, tearing herself from her companion, rushed wildly +towards an open doorway for shelter; suddenly, however, changing her +intention, she came forward a few paces, and then, as if overcome by fear, +stood stock-still, her hands clasped upon her bosom, her eyes upturned, her +features deadly pale, while her knees seemed bending beneath her. Never did +I behold a more beautiful object. Her dark hair had fallen loose upon her +shoulder, and she stood the very _idéal_ of the "Madonna Supplicating." +My glance was short as a lightning flash; for the same instant my horse +swerved, and dashed forward right at the place where she was standing. One +terrific cry rose from the crowd, who saw her danger. Beside her stood a +muleteer who had drawn up his mule and cart close beside the footway for +safety; she made one effort to reach it, but her outstretched arms alone +moved, and paralyzed by terror, she sank motionless upon the pavement. +There was but one course open to me now; so collecting myself for the +effort, I threw my horse upon his haunches, and then, dashing the spurs +into his flanks, breasted him at the mule cart. With one spring he rose, +and cleared it at a bound, while the very air rang with the acclamations +of the multitude, and a thousand bravos saluted me as I alighted upon the +opposite side. + +"Well done, O'Malley!" sang out the little adjutant, as I flew past and +pulled up in the middle of the Plaza. + +"Something devilish like Galway in that leap," said a very musical voice +beside me; and at the same instant a tall, soldier-like man, in an undress +dragoon frock, touched his cap, and said, "A 14th man, I perceive, sir. May +I introduce myself? Major O'Shaughnessy." + +I bowed, and shook the major's proffered hand, while he continued,-- + +"Old Monsoon mentioned your name to us this morning. You came out together, +if I mistake not?" + +"Yes; but somehow, I've missed the major since my landing." + +"Oh, you'll see him presently; he'll be on parade. By-the-bye, he wishes +particularly to meet you. We dine to-day at the 'Quai de Soderi,' and if +you're not engaged--Yes, this is the person," said he, turning at the +moment towards a servant, who, with a card in his hand, seemed to search +for some one in the crowd. + +The man approached, and handed it to me. + +"What can this mean?" said I. "Don Emanuel de Blacas y Silviero, Rua +Nuova." + +"Why, that's the great Portuguese contractor, the intendant of half the +army, the richest fellow in Lisbon. Have you known him long?" + +"Never heard of him till now." + +"By Jove, you're in luck! No man gives such dinners; he has such a cellar! +I'll wager a fifty it was his daughter you took in the flying leap a while +ago. I hear she is a beautiful creature." + +"Yes," thought I, "that must be it; and yet, strange enough, I think the +name and address are familiar to me." + +"Ten to one, you've heard Monsoon speak of him; he's most intimate there. +But here comes the major." + +And as he spoke, the illustrious commissary came forward holding a vast +bundle of papers in one hand, and his snuff-box in the other, followed by a +long string of clerks, contractors, assistant-surgeons, paymasters, etc., +all eagerly pressing forward to be heard. + +"It's quite impossible; I can't do it to-day. Victualling and physicking +are very good things, but must be done in season. I have been up all +night at the accounts,--haven't I, O'Malley?" here he winked at me most +significantly; "and then I have the forage and stoppage fund to look +through ['we dine at six, sharp,' said he, _sotto voce_], which will leave +me without one minute unoccupied for the next twenty-four hours. Look to +your toggery this evening; I've something in my eye for you, O'Malley." + +"Officers unattached to their several corps will fall into the middle of +the Plaza," said a deep voice among the crowd; and in obedience to the +order I rode forward and placed myself with a number of others, apparently +newly joined, in the open square. A short, gray-haired old colonel, with a +dark, eagle look, proceeded to inspect us, reading from a paper as he came +along,-- + +"Mr. Hepton, 6th Foot; commission bearing date 11th January; drilled, +proceed to Ovar, and join his regiment. + +"Mr. Gronow, Fusilier Guards, remains with the depot. + +"Captain Mortimer, 1st Dragoons, appointed aide-de-camp to the general +commanding the cavalry brigade. + +"Mr. Sparks,--where is Mr. Sparks? Mr. Sparks absent from parade; make a +note of it. + +"Mr. O'Malley, 14th Light Dragoons. Mr. O'Malley,--oh, I remember! I have +received a letter from Sir George Dashwood concerning you. You will hold +yourself in readiness to march. Your friends desire that before you may +obtain any staff appointment, you should have the opportunity of seeing +some service. Am I to understand such is your wish?" + +"Most certainly." + +"May I have the pleasure of your company at dinner to-day?" + +"I regret that I have already accepted an invitation to dine with Major +Monsoon." + +"With Major Monsoon? Ah, indeed! Perhaps it might be as well I should +mention,--but no matter. I wish you good-morning." + +So saying, the little colonel rode off, leaving me to suppose that my +dinner engagement had not raised me in his estimation, though why, I could +not exactly determine. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +THE RUA NUOVA. + +Our dinner was a long and uninteresting one, and as I found that the major +was likely to prefer his seat as chairman of the party to the seductions +of ladies' society, I took the first opportunity of escaping and left the +room. + +It was a rich moonlight night as I found myself in the street. My way, +which led along the banks of the Tagus, was almost as light as in daytime, +and crowded with walking parties, who sauntered carelessly along in the +enjoyment of the cool, refreshing night-air. On inquiring, I discovered +that the Rua Nuova was at the extremity of the city; but as the road led +along by the river I did not regret the distance, but walked on with +increasing pleasure at the charms of so heavenly a climate and country. + +After three quarters of an hour's walk, the streets became by degrees less +and less crowded. A solitary party passed me now and then; the buzz of +distant voices succeeded to the gay laughter and merry tones of the passing +groups, and at length my own footsteps alone awoke the echoes along the +deserted pathway. I stopped every now and then to gaze upon the tranquil +river, whose eddies were circling in the pale silver of the moonlight. I +listened with attentive ear as the night breeze wafted to me the far-off +sounds of a guitar, and the deep tones of some lover's serenade; while +again the tender warbling of the nightingale came borne across the stream +on a wind rich with the odor of the orange-tree. + +As thus I lingered on my way the time stole on, and it was near midnight +ere I had roused myself from the revery surrounding objects had thrown +about me. I stopped suddenly, and for some minutes I struggled with +myself to discover if I was really awake. As I walked along, lost in my +reflections, I had entered a little garden beside the river. Fragrant +plants and lovely flowers bloomed on every side; the orange, the camelia, +the cactus, and the rich laurel of Portugal were blending their green and +golden hues around me, while the very air was filled with delicious music. +"Was it a dream? Could such ecstasy be real?" I asked myself, as the rich +notes swelled upwards in their strength, and sank in soft cadence to tones +of melting harmony; now bursting forth in the full force of gladness, +the voices blended together in one stream of mellow music, and suddenly +ceasing, the soft but thrilling shake of a female voice rose upon the air, +and in its plaintive beauty stirred the very heart. The proud tramp of +martial music succeeded to the low wailing cry of agony; then came the +crash of battle, the clang of steel; the thunder of the fight rolled on in +all its majesty, increasing in its maddening excitement till it ended in +one loud shout of victory. + +All was still; not a breath moved, not a leaf stirred, and again was I +relapsing into my dreamy scepticism, when again the notes swelled upwards +in concert. But now their accents were changed, and in low, subdued tones, +faintly and slowly uttered, the prayer of thanksgiving rose to Heaven and +spoke their gratefulness. I almost fell upon my knees, and already the +tears filled my eyes as I drank in the sounds. My heart was full to +bursting, and even now as I write it my pulse throbs as I remember the hymn +of the Abencerrages. + +When I rallied from my trance of excited pleasure, my first thought was, +where was I, and how came I there? Before I could resolve my doubts upon +the question, my attention was turned in another direction, for close +beside me the branches moved forward, and a pair of arms were thrown around +my neck, while a delicious voice cried out in an accent of childish, +delight, "_Trovado!_" At the same instant a lovely head sank upon my +shoulder, covering it with tresses of long brown hair. The arms pressed me +still more closely, till I felt her very heart beating against my side. + +"_Mio fradre_," said a soft, trembling voice, as her fingers played in my +hair and patted my temples. + +What a situation mine! I well knew that some mistaken identity had been the +cause, but still I could not repress my inclination to return the embrace, +as I pressed my lips upon the fair forehead that leaned upon my bosom; at +the same moment she threw back her head, as if to look me more fully in the +face. One glance sufficed; blushing deeply over her cheeks and neck, she +sprang from my arms, and uttering a faint cry, staggered against a tree. +In an instant I saw it was the lovely girl I had met in the morning; and +without losing a second I poured out apologies for my intrusion with all +the eloquence I was master of, till she suddenly interrupted me by asking +if I spoke French. Scarcely had I recommenced my excuses in that language, +when a third party appeared upon the stage. This was a short, elderly man, +in a green uniform, with several decorations upon his breast, and a cocked +hat with a most flowing plume in his right hand. + +"May I beg to know whom I have the honor of receiving?" inquired he, in +very excellent English, as he advanced with a look of very ceremonious and +distant politeness. + +I immediately explained that, presuming upon the card which his servant had +presented me, I had resolved on paying my respects when a mistake had led +me accidentally into his garden. + +My apologies had not come to an end when he folded me in his arms and +overwhelmed me with thanks, at the same time saying a few words in +Portuguese to his daughter. She stooped down, and taking my hand gently +within her own, touched it with her lips. + +This piece of touching courtesy,--which I afterwards found meant little or +nothing,--affected me deeply at the time, and I felt the blood rush to my +face and forehead, half in pride, half in a sense of shame. My confusion +was, however, of short duration; for taking my arm, the old gentleman led +me along a few paces, and turning round a small clump of olives, entered a +little summer-house. Here a considerable party were assembled, which for +their picturesque effect could scarcely have been better managed on the +stage. + +Beneath the mild lustre of a large lamp of stained glass, half hid in the +overhanging boughs, was spread a table covered with vessels of gold and +silver plate of gorgeous richness; drinking cups and goblets of antique +pattern shone among cups of Sèvres china or Venetian glass; delicious +fruit, looking a thousand times more tempting for being contained in +baskets of silver foliage, peeped from amidst a profusion of fresh flowers, +whose odor was continually shed around by a slight _jet d'eau_ that played +among the leaves. Around upon the grass, seated upon cushions or reclining +on Genoa carpets, were several beautiful girls in most becoming costumes, +their dark locks and darker eyes speaking of "the soft South," while their +expressive gestures and animated looks betokened a race whose temperament +is glowing as their clime. There were several men also, the greater number +of whom appeared in uniform,--bronzed, soldier-like fellows, who had +the jaunty air and easy carriage of their calling,--among whom was one +Englishman, or at least so I guessed from his wearing the uniform of a +heavy dragoon regiment. + +"This is my daughter's _fête_," said Don Emanuel, as he ushered me into the +assembly,--"her birthday; a sad day it might have been for us had it not +been for your courage and forethought." So saying, he commenced a recital +of my adventure to the bystanders, who overwhelmed me with civil speeches +and a shower of soft looks that completed the fascination of the fairy +scene. Meanwhile the fair Inez had made room for me beside her, and I found +myself at once the lion of the party, each vying with her neighbor +who should show me most attention, La Senhora herself directing her +conversation exclusively to me,--a circumstance which, considering the +awkwardness of our first meeting, I felt no small surprise at, and which +led me, somewhat maliciously I confess, to make a half allusion to it, +feeling some interest in ascertaining for whom the flattering reception was +really intended. + +"I thought you were Charles," said she, blushing, in answer to my question. + +"And you are right," said I; "I am Charles." + +"Nay, but I meant _my_ Charles." + +There was something of touching softness in the tone of these few words +that made me half wish I were _her_ Charles. Whether my look evinced as +much or not, I cannot tell, but she speedily added,-- + +"He is my brother; he is a captain in the caçadores, and I expected him +here this evening. Some one saw a fi'gure pass the gate and conceal himself +in the trees, and I was sure it was he." + +"What a disappointment!" said I. + +"Yes; was it not?" said she, hurriedly; and then, as if remembering how +ungracious was the speech, she blushed more deeply and hung down her head. + +Just at this moment, as I looked up, I caught the eye of the English +officer fixed steadfastly upon me. He was a tall, fine-looking fellow, of +about two or three and thirty, with marked and handsome features, which, +however, conveyed an expression of something sneering and sinister that +struck me the moment I saw him. His glass was fixed in his eye, and I +perceived that he regarded us both with a look of no common interest. My +attention did not, however, dwell long upon the circumstance, for Don +Emanuel, coming behind my shoulder, asked me if I would not take out his +daughter in the bolero they were just forming. + +To my shame I was obliged to confess that I had not even seen the dance; +and while I continued to express my resolve to correct the errors of my +education, the Englishman came up and asked the senhora to be his partner. +This put the very keystone upon my annoyance, and I half turned angrily +away from the spot, when I heard her decline his invitation, and avow her +determination not to dance. + +There was something which pleased me so much at this refusal, that I could +not help turning upon her a look of most grateful acknowledgment; but as I +did so, I once more encountered the gaze of the Englishman, whose knitted +brows and compressed lips were bent upon me in a manner there was no +mistaking. This was neither the fitting time nor place to seek any +explanation of the circumstance, so, wisely resolving to wait a better +occasion, I turned away and resumed my attentions towards my fair +companion. + +"Then you don't care for the bolero?" said I, as she reseated herself upon +the grass. + +"Oh, I delight in it!" said she, enthusiastically. + +"But you refused to dance?" + +She hesitated, blushed, tried to mutter something, and was silent. + +"I had determined to learn it," said I, half jestingly; "but if you will +not dance with me--" + +"Yes; that I will,--indeed I will." + +"But you declined my countryman. Is it because he is inexpert?" + +The senhora hesitated, looked confused for some minutes; at length, +coloring slightly, she said: "I have already made one rude speech to you +this evening; I fear lest I should make a second. Tell me, is Captain +Trevyllian your friend?" + +"If you mean that gentleman yonder, I never saw him before." + +"Nor heard of him?" + +"Nor that either. We are total strangers to each other." + +"Well, then, I may confess it. I do not like him. My father prefers him +to any one else, invites him here daily, and, in fact, instals him as his +first favorite. But still, I cannot like him; and yet I have done my best +to do so." + +"Indeed!" said I, pointedly. "What are his chief demerits? Is he not +agreeable? Is he not clever?" + +"Oh, on the contrary, most agreeable, fascinating, I should say, in +conversation; has travelled, seen a great deal of the world, is very +accomplished, and has distinguished himself on several occasions. He wears, +as you see, a Portuguese order." + +"And with all that--" + +"And with all that, I cannot bear him. He is a duellist, a notorious +duellist. My brother, too, knows more of him, and avoids him. But let us +not speak further. I see his eyes are again fixed on us; and somehow, I +fear him, without well knowing wherefore." + +A movement among the party, shawls and mantillas were sought for on all +sides; and the preparations for leave-taking appeared general. Before, +however, I had time to express my thanks for my hospitable reception, the +guests had assembled in a circle around the senhora, and toasting her with +a parting bumper, they commenced in concert a little Portuguese song of +farewell, each verse concluding with a good-night, which, as they separated +and held their way homewards, might now and then be heard rising upon the +breeze and wafting their last thoughts back to her. The concluding verse, +which struck me much, I have essayed to translate. It ran somehow thus:-- + + "The morning breezes chill + Now close our joyous scene, + And yet we linger still, + Where we've so happy been. + How blest were it to live + With hearts like ours so light, + And only part to give + One long and last good-night! + Good-night!" + +With many an invitation to renew my visit, most kindly preferred by Don +Emanuel and warmly seconded by his daughter, I, too, wished my good-night +and turned my steps homeward. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + + +THE VILLA. + +The first object which presented itself to my eye the next morning was the +midshipman's packet intrusted to my care by Power. I turned it over to read +the address more carefully, and what was my surprise to find that the name +was that of my fair friend Donna Inez. + +"This certainly thickens the plot," thought I. "And so I have now fallen +upon the real Simon Pure, and the reefer has had the good fortune to +distance the dragoon. Well, thus far, I cannot say that I regret it. Now, +however, for the parade, and then for the villa." + +"I say, O'Malley," cried out Monsoon, as I appeared on the Plaza, "I have +accepted an invitation for you to-day. We dine across the river. Be at my +quarters a little before six, and we'll go together." + +I should rather have declined the invitation; but not well knowing why, and +having no ready excuse, acceded, and promised to be punctual. + +"You were at Don Emanuel's last night. I heard of you!" + +"Yes; I spent a most delightful evening." + +"That's your ground, my boy. A million of moidores, and such a campagna in +Valencia. A better thing than the Dalrymple affair. Don't blush. I know it +all. But stay; here they come." + +As he spoke, the general commanding, with a numerous staff, rode forward. +As they passed, I recognized a face which I had certainly seen before, and +in a moment remembered it was that of the dragoon of the evening before. He +passed quite close, and fixing his eyes steadfastly on me, evinced no sign +of recognition. + +The parade lasted above two hours; and it was with a feeling of impatience +I mounted a fresh horse to canter out to the villa. When I arrived, the +servant informed me that Don Emanuel was in the city, but that the senhora +was in the garden, offering, at the same time, to escort me. Declining this +honor, I intrusted my horse to his keeping and took my way towards the +arbor where last I had seen her. + +I had not walked many paces, when the sound of a guitar struck on my ear. I +listened. It was the senhora's voice. She was singing a Venetian canzonetta +in a low, soft, warbling tone, as one lost in a revery; as though the music +was a mere accompaniment to some pleasant thought. I peeped through the +dense leaves, and there she sat upon a low garden seat, an open book on the +rustic table before her, beside her, embroidery, which seemed only lately +abandoned. As I looked, she placed her guitar upon the ground and began to +play with a small spaniel that seemed to have waited with impatience for +some testimony of favor. A moment more, and she grew weary of this; then, +heaving a long but gentle sigh, leaned back upon her chair and seemed lost +in thought. I now had ample time to regard her, and certainly never beheld +anything more lovely. There was a character of classic beauty, and her +brow, though fair and ample, was still strongly marked upon the temples; +the eyes, being deep and squarely set, imparted a look of intensity to her +features which their own softness subdued; while the short upper lip, +which trembled with every passing thought, spoke of a nature tender and +impressionable, and yet impassioned. Her foot and ankle peeped from beneath +her dark robe, and certainly nothing could be more faultless; while her +hand, fair as marble, blue-veined and dimpled, played amidst the long +tresses of her hair, that, as if in the wantonness of beauty, fell +carelessly upon her shoulders. + +It was some time before I could tear myself away from the fascination of so +much beauty, and it needed no common effort to leave the spot. As I made a +short _détour_ in the garden before approaching the arbor, she saw me as I +came forward, and kissing her hand gayly, made room for me beside her. + +"I have been fortunate in finding you alone, Senhora," said I, as I seated +myself by her side, "for I am the bearer of a letter to you. How far it +may interest you, I know not, but to the writer's feelings I am bound to +testify." + +"A letter to me? You jest, surely?" + +"That I am in earnest, this will show," said I, producing the packet. + +She took it from my hands, turned it about and about, examined the seal; +while, half doubtingly, she said:-- + +"The name is mine; but still--" + +"You fear to open it; is it not so? But after all, you need not be +surprised if it's from Howard; that's his name, I think." + +"Howard! from little Howard!" exclaimed she, enthusiastically; and tearing +open the letter, she pressed it to her lips, her eyes sparkling with +pleasure and her cheek glowing as she read. I watched her as she ran +rapidly over the lines; and I confess that, more than once, a pang of +discontent shot through my heart that the midshipman's letter could call up +such interest,--not that I was in love with her myself, but yet, I know +not how it was, I had fancied her affections unengaged; and without asking +myself wherefore, I wished as much. + +"Poor dear boy!" said she, as she came to the end. How these few and simple +words sank into my heart, as I remembered how they had once been uttered to +myself, and in perhaps no very dissimilar circumstances. + +"But where is the souvenir he speaks of?" said she. + +"The souvenir. I'm not aware--" + +"Oh, I hope you've not lost the lock of hair he sent me!" I was quite +dumfounded at this, and could not remember whether I had received it from +Power or not, so answered, at random,-- + +"Yes; I must have left it on my table." + +"Promise me, then, to bring it to-morrow with you?" + +"Certainly," said I, with something of pique in my manner. "If I find such +a means of making my visit an agreeable one, I shall certainly not omit +it." + +"You are quite right," said she, either not noticing or not caring for the +tone of my reply. "You will, indeed, be a welcome messenger. Do you know, +he was one of my lovers?" + +"One of them, indeed! Then pray how many do you number at this moment?" + +"What a question; as if I could possibly count them! Besides, there are +so many absent,--some on leave, some deserters, perhaps,--that I might be +reckoning among my troops, but who, possibly, form part of the forces of +the enemy. Do you know little Howard?" + +"I cannot say that we are personally acquainted, but I am enabled through +the medium of a friend to say that his sentiments are not strange to +me. Besides, I have really pledged myself to support the prayer of his +petition." + +"How very good of you! For which reason you've forgotten, if not lost, the +lock of hair." + +"That you shall have to-morrow," said I, pressing my hand solemnly to my +heart. + +"Well, then, don't forget it. But hush; here comes Captain Trevyllian. So +you say Lisbon really pleases you?" said she, in a tone of voice totally +changed, as the dragoon of the preceding evening approached. + +"Mr. O'Malley, Captain Trevyllian." + +We bowed stiffly and haughtily to each other, as two men salute who are +unavoidably obliged to bow, with every wish on either side to avoid +acquaintance. So, at least, I construed his bow; so I certainly intended my +own. + +It requires no common tact to give conversation the appearance of +unconstraint and ease when it is evident that each person opposite is +laboring under excited feelings; so that, notwithstanding the senhora's +efforts to engage our attention by the commonplaces of the day, we remained +almost silent, and after a few observations of no interest, took our +several leaves. Here again a new source of awkwardness arose; for as we +walked together towards the house, where our horses stood, neither party +seemed disposed to speak. + +"You are probably returning to Lisbon?" said he, coldly. + +I assented by a bow; upon which, drawing his bridle within his arm, he +bowed once more, and turned away in an opposite direction; while I, glad to +be relieved of an unsought-for companionship, returned alone to the town. + + + + +CHAPTER XL + + +THE DINNER. + +It was with no peculiar pleasure that I dressed for our dinner party. Major +O'Shaughnessy, our host, was one of that class of my countrymen I cared +least for,--a riotous, good-natured, noisy, loud-swearing, punch-drinking +western; full of stories of impossible fox hunts, and unimaginable duels, +which all were acted either by himself or some member of his family. The +company consisted of the adjutant, Monsoon, Ferguson, Trevyllian, and some +eight or ten officers with whom I was acquainted. As is usual on such +occasions, the wine circulated freely, and amidst the din and clamor of +excited conversation, the fumes of Burgundy, and the vapor of cigar smoke, +we most of us became speedily mystified. As for me, my evil destiny would +have it that I was placed exactly opposite Trevyllian, with whom upon more +than one occasion I happened to differ in opinion, and the question was in +itself some trivial and unimportant one; yet the tone which he assumed, and +of which, I too could not divest myself in reply, boded anything rather +than an amicable feeling between us. The noise and turmoil about prevented +the others remarking the circumstance; but I could perceive in his manner +what I deemed a studied determination to promote a quarrel, while I felt +within myself a most unchristian-like desire to indulge his fancy. + +"Worse fellows at passing the bottle than Trevyllian and O'Malley there I +have rarely sojourned with," cried the major; "look if they haven't got +eight decanters between them, and here we are in a state of African +thirst." + +"How can you expect him to think of thirst when such perfumed billets +as that come showering upon him?" said the adjutant, alluding to a +rose-colored epistle a servant had placed within my hands. + +"Eight miles of a stone-wall country in fifteen minutes,--devil a lie in +it!" said O'Shaughnessy, striking the table with, his clinched fist; "show +me the man would deny it." + +"Why, my dear fellow--" + +"Don't be dearing me. Is it 'no' you'll be saying me?" + +"Listen, now; there's O'Reilly, there--" + +"Where is he?" + +"He's under the table." + +"Well, it's the same thing. His mother had a fox--bad luck to you, don't +scald me with the jug--his mother had a fox-cover in Shinrohan." + +When O'Shaughnessy had got thus far in his narrative, I had the opportunity +of opening my note, which merely contained the following words: "Come to +the ball at the Casino, and bring the Cadeau you promised." + +I had scarcely read this over once, when a roar of laughter at something +said attracted my attention. I looked up, and perceived Trevyllian's eyes +bent upon me with the fierceness of a tiger; the veins in his forehead were +swollen and distorted, and the whole expression of his face betokened rage +and passion. Resolved no longer to submit to such evident determination to +insult, I was rising from my place at table, when, as if anticipating +my intention, he pushed back his chair and left the room. Fearful of +attracting attention by immediately following him, I affected to join in +the conversation around me, while my temples throbbed, and my hands tingled +with impatience to get away. + +"Poor McManus," said O'Shaughnessy, "rest his soul! he'd have puzzled the +bench of bishops for hard words. Upon my conscience, I believe he spent his +mornings looking for them in the Old Testament. Sure ye might have heard +what happened to him at Banagher, when he commanded the Kilkennys,--ye +never heard the story? Well, then, ye shall. Push the sherry along first, +though,--old Monsoon there always keeps it lingering beside his left arm. + +"Well, when Peter was lieutenant-colonel of the Kilkennys,--who, I may +remark, _en passant_, as the French say, were the neediest-looking devils +in the whole service,--he never let them alone from morning till night, +drilling and pipe-claying and polishing them up. 'Nothing will make +soldiers of you,' said Peter, 'but, by the rock of Cashel! I'll keep you +as clean as a new musket!' Now, poor Peter himself was not a very warlike +figure,--he measured five feet one in his tallest boots; but certainly if +Nature denied him length of stature, she compensated for it in another +way, by giving him a taste of the longest words in the language. An extra +syllable or so in a word was always a strong recommendation; and whenever +he could not find one to his mind, he'd take some quaint, outlandish one +that more than once led to very awkward results. Well, the regiment was one +day drawn up for parade in the town of Banagher, and as M'Manus came +down the lines he stopped opposite one of the men whose face, hands, and +accoutrements exhibited a most woeful contempt of his orders. The fellow +looked more like a turf-stack than a light-company man. + +"'Stand out, sir!' cried M'Manus, in a boiling passion. 'Sergeant O'Toole, +inspect this individual.' Now, the sergeant was rather a favorite with Mac; +for he always pretended to understand his phraseology, and in consequence +was pronounced by the colonel a very superior man for his station in life. +'Sergeant,' said he, 'we shall make an exemplary illustration of our system +here.' + +"'Yes, sir,' said the sergeant, sorely puzzled at the meaning of what he +spoke. + +"'Bear him to the Shannon, and lave him there.' This he said in a kind +of Coriolanus tone, with a toss of his head and a wave of his right +arm,--signs, whenever he made them, incontestibly showing that further +parley was out of the question, and that he had summed up and charged the +jury for good and all. + +"'_Lave_ him in the river?' said O'Toole, his eyes starting from the +sockets, and his whole face working in strong anxiety; 'is it _lave_ him in +the river yer honor means?' + +"'I have spoken,' said the little man, bending an ominous frown upon the +sergeant, which, whatever construction he may have put upon his words, +there was no mistaking. + +"'Well, well, av it's God's will he's drowned, it will not be on my head,' +says O'Toole, as he marched the fellow away between two rank and file. + +"The parade was nearly over, when Mac happened to see the sergeant coming +up all splashed with water and looking quite tired. + +"'Have you obeyed my orders?' said he. + +"'Yes, yer honor; and tough work we had of it, for he struggled hard.' + +"'And where is he now?' + +"'Oh, troth, he's there safe. Divil a fear he'll get out.' + +"'Where?' said Mac. + +"'In the river, yer honor.' + +"'What have you done, you scoundrel?' + +"'Didn't I do as you bid me?' says he; 'didn't I throw him in and _lave_ +[leave] him there?' + +"And faith so they did; and if he wasn't a good swimmer and got over to +Moystown, there's little doubt but he'd have been drowned, and all because +Peter McManus could not express himself like a Christian." + +In the laughter which followed O'Shaughnessy's story I took the opportunity +of making my escape from the party, and succeeded in gaining the street +unobserved. Though the note I had just read was not signed, I had no doubt +from whom it came; so I hastened at once to my quarters, to make search for +the lock of Ned Howard's hair to which the senhora alluded. What was my +mortification, however, to discover that no such thing could be found +anywhere. I searched all my drawers; I tossed about my papers and letters; +I hunted every likely, every unlikely spot I could think of, but in +vain,--now cursing my carelessness for having lost it, now swearing most +solemnly to myself that I never could have received it. What was to be +done? It was already late; my only thought was how to replace it. If I only +knew the color, any other lock of hair would, doubtless, do just as well. +The chances were, as Howard was young and an Englishman, that his hair was +light; light-brown, probably, something like my own. Of course it was; why +didn't that thought occur to me before? How stupid I was. So saying, I +seized a pair of scissors, and cut a long lock beside my temple; this in a +calm moment I might have hesitated about. "Yes," thought I, "she'll +never discover the cheat; and besides, I do feel,--I know not exactly +why,--rather gratified to think that I shall have left this _souvenir_ +behind me, even though it call up other recollections than of me." So +thinking, I wrapped my cloak about me and hastened towards the Casino. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + +THE ROUTE. + +I had scarcely gone a hundred yards from my quarters when a great tramp of +horses' feet attracted my attention. I stopped to listen, and soon heard +the jingle of dragoon accoutrements, as the noise came near. The night was +dark but perfectly still; and before I stood many minutes I heard the tones +of a voice which I well knew could belong to but one, and that Fred Power. + +"Fred Power!" said I, shouting at the same time at the top of my +voice,--"Power!" + +"Ah, Charley, is that you? Come along to the adjutant-general's quarters. +I'm charged with some important despatches, and can't stop till I've +delivered them. Come along, I've glorious news for you!" So saying, he +dashed spurs to his horse, and followed by two mounted dragoons, galloped +past. Power's few and hurried words had so excited my curiosity that I +turned at once to follow him, questioning myself, as I walked along, +to what he could possibly allude. He knew of my attachment to Lucy +Dashwood,--could he mean anything of her? But what could I expect there; +by what flattery could I picture to myself any chance of success in that +quarter; and yet, what other news could I care for or value than what bore +upon her fate upon whom my own depended? Thus ruminating, I reached the +door of the spacious building in which the adjutant-general had taken up +his abode, and soon found myself among a crowd of persons whom the rumor of +some important event had assembled there, though no one could tell what had +occurred. Before many minutes the door opened, and Power came out; bowing +hurriedly to a few, and whispering a word or two as he passed down the +steps, he seized me by the arm and led me across the street. "Charley," +said he, "the curtain's rising; the piece is about to begin; a new +commander-in-chief is sent out,--Sir Arthur Wellesley, my boy, the finest +fellow in England is to lead us on, and we march to-morrow. There's news +for you!" A raw boy, unread, uninformed as I was, I knew but little of his +career whose name had even then shed such lustre upon our army; but the +buoyant tone of Power as he spoke, the kindling energy of his voice roused +me, and I felt every inch a soldier. As I grasped his hand in delightful +enthusiasm I lost all memory of my disappointment, and in the beating throb +that shook my head; I felt how deeply slept the ardor of military glory +that first led me from my home to see a battle-field. + +"There goes the news!" said Frederick, pointing as he spoke to a rocket +that shot up into the sky, and as it broke into ten thousand stars, +illuminated the broad stream where the ships of war lay darkly resting. In +another moment the whole air shone with similar fires, while the deep roll +of the drum sounded along the silent streets, and the city so lately sunk +in sleep became, as if by magic, thronged with crowds of people; the +sharp clang of the cavalry trumpet blended with the gay carol of the +light-infantry bugle, and the heavy tramp of the march was heard in the +distance. All was excitement, all bustle; but in the joyous tone of every +voice was spoken the longing anxiety to meet the enemy. The gay, reckless +tone of an Irish song would occasionally reach us, as some Connaught Ranger +or some 78th man passed, his knapsack on his back; or the low monotonous +pibroch of the Highlander, swelling into a war-cry, as some kilted corps +drew up their ranks together. We turned to regain our quarters, when at +the corner of a street we came suddenly upon a merry party seated around a +table before a little inn; a large street lamp, unhung for the occasion, +had been placed in the midst of them, and showed us the figures of several +soldiers in undress; at the end, and raised a little above his compeers, +sat one whom, by the unfair proportion he assumed of the conversation, not +less than by the musical intonation of his voice, I soon recognized as my +man, Mickey Free. + +"I'll be hanged if that's not your fellow there, Charley," said Power, as +he came to a dead stop a few yards off. "What an impertinent varlet he is; +only to think of him there, presiding among a set of fellows that have +fought all the battles in the Peninsular war. At this moment I'll be hanged +if he is not going to sing." + +Here a tremendous thumping upon the table announced the fact, and after a +few preliminary observations from Mike, illustrative of his respect to the +service in which he had so often distinguished himself, he began, to +the air of the "Young May Moon," a ditty of which I only recollect the +following verses:-- + + "The pickets are fast retreating, boys, + The last tattoo is beating, boys, + So let every man + Finish his can, + And drink to our next merry meeting, boys. + + The colonel so gayly prancing, boys, + Has a wonderful trick of advancing, boys, + When he sings out so large, + 'Fix bayonets and charge!' + He sets all the Frenchmen a-dancing, boys. + + Let Mounseer look ever so big, my boys, + Who cares for fighting a fig, my boys? + When we play 'Garryowen,' + He'd rather go home; + For somehow, he's no taste for a jig, my boys." + +This admirable lyric seemed to have perfect success, if one were only to +judge from the thundering of voices, hands, and drinking vessels which +followed; while a venerable, gray-haired sergeant rose to propose Mr. +Free's health, and speedy promotion to him. + +We stood for several minutes in admiration of the party, when the loud roll +of the drums beating to arms awakened us to the thought that our moments +were numbered. + +"Good-night, Charley!" said Power, as he shook my hand warmly, "good-night! +It will be your last night under a curtain for some months to come; make +the most of it. Adieu!" + +So saying, we parted; he to his quarters, and I to all the confusion of my +baggage, which lay in most admired disorder about my room. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + +THE FAREWELL. + +The preparations for the march occupied me till near morning; and, indeed, +had I been disposed to sleep, the din and clamor of the world without would +have totally prevented it. Before daybreak the advanced guard was already +in motion, and some squadrons of heavy cavalry had begun their march. + +I looked around my now dismantled room as one does usually for the last +time ere leaving, and bethought me if I had not forgotten anything. +Apparently all was remembered; but stay,--what is this? To be sure, how +forgetful I had become! It was the packet I destined for Donna Inez, and +which, in the confusion of the night before, I had omitted to bring to the +Casino. + +I immediately despatched Mike to the commissary with my luggage and orders +to ascertain when we were expected to march. He soon returned with the +intelligence that our corps was not to move before noon, so that I had yet +some hours to spare and make my adieux to the senhora. + +I cannot exactly explain the reason, but I certainly did bestow a more than +common attention upon my toilet that morning. The senhora was nothing to +me. It is true she had, as she lately most candidly informed me, a score of +admirers, among whom I was not even reckoned; she was evidently a coquette +whose greatest pleasure was to sport and amuse herself with the passions +she excited in others. And even if she were not,--if her heart were to be +won to-morrow,--what claim, what right, had I to seek it? My affections +were already pledged; promised, it is true, to one who gave nothing in +return, and who, perhaps, even loved another. Ah, there was the rub; that +one confounded suspicion, lurking in the rear, chilled my courage and +wounded my spirit. + +If there be anything more disheartening to an Irishman, in his little +_affaires de coeur_, than another, it is the sense of rivalry. The +obstinacy of fathers, the ill-will of mothers, the coldness, the +indifference of the lovely object herself,--obstacles though they be,--he +has tact, spirit, and perseverance to overcome them. But when a more +successful candidate for the fair presents himself; when the eye that +remains downcast at _his_ suit, lights up with animation at _another's_ +coming; when the features whose cold and chilling apathy to him have +blended in one smile of welcome to another,--it is all up with him; he sees +the game lost, and throws his cards upon the table. And yet, why is this? +Why is it that he whose birthright it would seem to be sanguine when others +despond, to be confident when all else are hopeless,--should find his +courage fail him here? The reason is simply--But, in good sooth, I am +ashamed to confess it! + +Having jogged on so far with my reader, in all the sober seriousness which +the matter-of-fact material of these memoirs demands, I fear lest a seeming +paradox may cause me to lose my good name for veracity; and that while +merely maintaining a national trait of my country, I may appear to be +asserting some unheard-of and absurd proposition,--so far have mere vulgar +prejudices gone to sap our character as a people. + +The reason, then, is this,--for I have gone too far to retreat,--the +Irishman is essentially bashful. Well, laugh if you wish, for I conclude +that, by this time, you have given way to a most immoderate excess of +risibility; but still, when you have perfectly recovered your composure, I +beg to repeat,--the Irishman is essentially a bashful man! + +Do not for a moment fancy that I would by this imply that in any new or +unexpected situation, that from any unforeseen conjuncture of events, the +Irishman would feel confused or abashed, more than any other,--far from it. +The cold and habitual reserve of the Englishman, the studied caution of the +North Tweeder himself, would exhibit far stronger evidences of awkwardness +in such circumstances as these. But on the other hand, when measuring his +capacity, his means of success, his probabilities of being preferred, with +those of the natives of any other country, I back the Irishman against the +world for distrust of his own powers, for an under-estimate of his real +merits,--in one word, for his bashfulness. But let us return to Donna Inez. + +As I rode up to the villa, I found the family assembled at breakfast. +Several officers were also present, among whom I was not sorry to recognize +my friend Monsoon. + +"Ah, Charley!" cried he, as I seated myself beside him, "what a pity all +our fun is so soon to have an end! Here's this confounded Soult won't be +quiet and peaceable; but he must march upon Oporto, and Heaven knows where +besides, just as we were really beginning to enjoy life! I had got such a +contract for blankets! And now they've ordered me to join Beresford's corps +in the mountains; and you," here he dropped his voice,--"and you were +getting on so devilish well in this quarter; upon my life, I think +you'd have carried the day. Old Don Emanuel--you know he's a friend of +mine--likes you very much. And then, there's Sparks--" + +"Ay, Major, what of him? I have not seen him for some days." + +"Why, they've been frightening the poor devil out of his life, +O'Shaughnessy and a set of them. They tried him by court-martial yesterday, +and sentenced him to mount guard with a wooden sword and a shooting jacket, +which he did. Old Colbourne, it seems, saw him; and faith, there would be +the devil to pay if the route had not come! Some of them would certainly +have got a long leave to see their friends." + +"Why is not the senhora here, Major? I don't see her at table." + +"A cold, a sore throat, a wet-feet affair of last night, I believe. Pass +that cold pie down here. Sherry, if you please. You didn't see Power +to-day?" + +"No: we parted late last night; I have not been to bed." + +"Very bad preparation for a march; take some burned brandy in your coffee." + +"Then you don't think the senhora will appear?" + +"Very unlikely. But stay, you know her room,--the small drawing-room that +looks out upon the flower-garden; she usually passes the morning there. +Leap the little wooden paling round the corner, and the chances are ten to +one you find her." + +I saw from the occupied air of Don Antonio that there was little fear of +interruption on his part; so taking an early moment to escape unobserved, I +rose and left the room. When I sprang over the oak fence, I found myself in +a delicious little garden, where roses, grown to a height never seen in our +colder climate, formed a deep bower of rich blossom. + +The major was right. The senhora was in the room, and in one moment I was +beside her. + +"Nothing but my fears of not bidding you farewell could palliate my thus +intruding, Donna Inez; but as we are ordered away--" + +"When? Not so soon, surely?" + +"Even so; to-day, this very hour. But you see that even in the hurry of +departure, I have not forgotten my trust; this is the packet I promised +you." + +So saying, I placed the paper with the lock of hair within her hand, and +bending downwards, pressed my lips upon her taper fingers. She hurriedly +snatched her hand away, and tearing open the enclosure, took out the lock. +She looked steadily for a moment at it, then at me, and again at it, and at +length, bursting into a fit of laughing, threw herself upon a chair in a +very ecstasy of mirth. + +"Why, you don't mean to impose this auburn ringlet upon me for one of poor +Howard's jetty curls? What downright folly to think of it! And then, with +how little taste the deception was practised,--upon your very temples, too! +One comfort is, you are utterly spoiled by it." + +Here she again relapsed into a fit of laughter, leaving me perfectly +puzzled what to think of her, as she resumed:-- + +"Well, tell me now, am I to reckon this as a pledge of your own allegiance, +or am I still to believe it to be Edward Howard's? Speak, and truly." + +"Of my own, most certainly," said I, "if it will be accepted." + +"Why, after such treachery, perhaps it ought not; but still, as you have +already done yourself such injury, and look so very silly, withal--" + +"That you are even resolved to give me cause to look more so," added I. + +"Exactly," said she, "for here, now, I reinstate you among my true and +faithful admirers. Kneel down, Sir Knight--in token of which you will wear +this scarf--" + +A sudden start which the donna gave at these words brought me to my feet. +She was pale as death and trembling. + +"What means this?" said I. "What has happened?" + +She pointed with her finger towards the garden; but though her lips moved, +no voice came forth. I sprang through the open window; I rushed into the +copse, the only one which might afford concealment for a figure, but no one +was there. After a few minutes' vain endeavor to discover any trace of an +intruder, I returned to the chamber. The donna was there still, but how +changed; her gayety and animation were gone, her pale cheek and trembling +lip bespoke fear and suffering, and her cold hand lay heavily beside her. + +"I thought--perhaps it was merely fancy--but I thought I saw Trevyllian +beside the window." + +"Impossible!" said I. "I have searched every walk and alley. It was nothing +but imagination,--believe me, no more. There, be assured; think no more of +it." + +While I endeavored thus to reassure her, I was very far from feeling +perfectly at ease myself; the whole bearing and conduct of this man +had inspired me with a growing dislike of him, and I felt already +half-convinced that he had established himself as a spy upon my actions. + +"Then you really believe I was mistaken?" said the donna, as she placed her +hand within mine. + +"Of course I do; but speak no more of it. You must not forget how few my +moments are here. Already I have heard the tramp of horses without. Ah! +there they are. In a moment more I shall be missed; so, once more, fairest +Inez--Nay, I beg pardon if I have dared to call you thus; but think, if it +be the first it may also be the last time I shall ever speak it." + +Her head gently drooped, as I said these words, till it sank upon my +shoulder, her long and heavy hair falling upon my neck and across my bosom. +I felt her heart almost beat against my side; I muttered some words, I know +not what; I felt them like a prayer; I pressed her cold forehead to my +lips, rushed from the room, cleared the fence at a spring, and was far +upon the road to Lisbon ere I could sufficiently collect my senses to know +whither I was going. Of little else was I conscious; my mind was full to +bursting; and in the confusion of my excited brain, fiction and reality +were so inextricably mingled as to defy every endeavor at discrimination. +But little time had I for reflection. As I reached the city, the brigade to +which I was attached was already under arms, and Mike impatiently waiting +my arrival with the horses. + + + + +CHAPTER XXLIII. + + +THE MARCH. + +What a strange spectacle did the road to Oliveira present upon the morning +of the 7th of May! A hurried or incautious observer might, at first sight, +have pronounced the long line of troops which wended their way through +the valley as the remains of a broken and routed army, had not the ardent +expression and bright eye that beamed on every side assured him that men +who looked thus could not be beaten ones. Horse, foot, baggage, artillery, +dismounted dragoons, even the pale and scarcely recovered inhabitants of +the hospital, might have been seen hurrying on; for the order, "Forward!" +had been given at Lisbon, and those whose wounds did not permit their +joining, were more pitied for their loss than its cause. More than one +officer was seen at the head of his troop with an arm in a sling, or a +bandaged forehead; while among the men similar evidences of devotion +were not unfrequent. As for me, long years and many reverses have not +obliterated, scarcely blunted, the impression that sight made on me. The +splendid spectacle of a review had often excited and delighted me, but +here there was the glorious reality of war,--the bronzed faces, the worn +uniforms, the well-tattered flags, the roll of the heavy guns mingling with +the wild pibroch of the Highlander, or scarcely less wild recklessness of +the Irish quick-step; while the long line of cavalry, their helmets and +accoutrements shining in the morning sun, brought back one's boyish dreams +of joust and tournament, and made the heart beat high with chivalrous +enthusiasm. + +"Yes," said I, half aloud, "this is indeed a realization of what I longed +and thirsted for," the clang of the music and the tramp of the cavalry +responding to my throbbing pulses as we moved along. + +"Close up, there; trot!" cried out a deep and manly voice; and immediately +a general officer rode by, followed by an aide-de-camp. + +"There goes Cotton," said Power. "You may feel easy in your mind now, +Charley; there's some work before us." + +"You have not heard our destination?" said I. + +"Nothing is known for certain yet. The report goes, that Soult is advancing +upon Oporto; and the chances are, Sir Arthur intends to hasten on to its +relief. Our fellows are at Ovar, with General Murray." + +"I say, Charley, old Monsoon is in a devil of a flurry. He expected to have +been peaceably settled down in Lisbon for the next six months, and he has +received orders to set out for Beresford's headquarters immediately; and +from what I hear, they have no idle time." + +"Well, Sparks, how goes it, man? Better fun this than the cook's galley, +eh?" + +"Why, do you know, these hurried movements put me out confoundedly. I found +Lisbon very interesting,--the little I could see of it last night." + +"Ah, my dear fellow, think of the lovely Andalusian lasses with their brown +transparent skins and liquid eyes. Why, you'd have been over head and ears +in love in twenty-four hours more, had we stayed." + +"Are they really so pretty?" + +"Pretty! downright lovely, man. Why, they have a way of looking at you, +over their fans,--just one glance, short and fleeting, but so melting, +by Jove--Then their walk,--if it be not profane to call that springing, +elastic gesture by such a name,--why, it's regular witchcraft. Sparks, my +man, I tremble for you. Do you know, by-the-bye, that same pace of theirs +is a devilish hard thing to learn. I never could come it; and yet, somehow, +I was formerly rather a crack fellow at a ballet. Old Alberto used to +select me for a _pas de zéphyr_ among a host; but there's a kind of a hop +and a slide and a spring,--in fact you must have been wearing petticoats +for eighteen years, and have an Andalusian instep and an india-rubber sole +to your foot, or it's no use trying it. How I used to make them laugh at +the old San Josef convent, formerly, by my efforts in the cause!" + +"Why, how did it ever occur to you to practise it?" + +"Many a man's legs have saved his head, Charley, and I put it to mine to do +a similar office for me." + +"True; but I never heard of a man that performed a _pas seul_ before the +enemy." + +"Not exactly; but still you're not very wide of the mark. If you'll only +wait till we reach Pontalegue, I'll tell you the story; not that it's worth +the delay, but talking at this brisk pace I don't admire." + +"You leave a detachment here, Captain Power," said an aide-de-camp, riding +hastily up; "and General Cotton requests you will send a subaltern and +two sergeants forward towards Berar to reconnoitre the pass. Franchesca's +cavalry are reported in that quarter." So speaking, he dashed spurs to his +horse, and was out of sight in an instant. + +Power, at the same moment, wheeled to the rear, from which he returned in +an instant, accompanied by three well-mounted light dragoons. "Sparks," +said he, "now for an occasion of distinguishing yourself. You heard the +order, lose no time; and as your horse is an able one, and fresh, lose not +a second, but forward." + +No sooner was Sparks despatched on what it was evident he felt to be +anything but a pleasant duty, than I turned towards Power, and said, with +some tinge of disappointment in the tone, "Well, if you really felt there +was anything worth doing there, I flattered myself that--" + +"Speak out man. That I should have sent you, eh? Is it not so?" + +"Yes, you've hit it." + +"Well, Charley, my peace is easily made on this head. Why, I selected +Sparks simply to spare you one of the most unpleasant duties that can be +imposed upon a man; a duty which, let him discharge it to the uttermost, +will never be acknowledged, and the slightest failure in which will be +remembered for many a day against him, besides the pleasant and very +probable prospect of being selected as a bull's eye for a French rifle, or +carried off a prisoner; eh, Charley? There's no glory in that, devil a ray +of it! Come, come, old fellow, Fred Power's not the man to keep his friend +out of the _mêlée_, if only anything can be made by being in it. Poor +Sparks, I'd swear, is as little satisfied with the arrangement as yourself, +if one knew but all." + +"I say, Power," said a tall, dashing-looking man of about five-and-forty, +with a Portuguese order on his breast,--"I say, Power, dine with us at the +halt." + +"With pleasure, if I may bring my young friend here." + +"Of course; pray introduce us." + +"Major Hixley, Mr. O'Malley,--a 14th man, Hixley." + +"Delighted to make your acquaintance, Mr. O'Malley. Knew a famous fellow in +Ireland of your name, a certain Godfrey O'Malley, member for some county or +other." + +"My uncle," said I, blushing deeply, with a pleasurable feeling at even +this slight praise of my oldest friend. + +"Your uncle! give me your hand. By Jove, his nephew has a right to good +treatment at my hands; he saved my life in the year '98. And how is old +Godfrey?" + +"Quite well, when I left him some months ago; a little gout, now and then." + +"To be sure he has, no man deserves it better; but it's a gentlemanlike +gout that merely jogs his memory in the morning of the good wine he has +drank over night. By-the-bye, what became of a friend of his, a devilish +eccentric fellow who held a command in the Austrian service?" + +"Oh, Considine, the count?" + +"The same." + +"As eccentric as ever; I left him on a visit with my uncle. And Boyle,--did +you know Sir Harry Boyle?" + +"To be sure I did; shall I ever forget him, and his capital blunders, that +kept me laughing the whole time I spent in Ireland? I was in the house when +he concluded a panegyric upon a friend, by calling him, 'the father to the +poor, and uncle to Lord Donoughmore'" + +"He was the only man who could render by a bull what it was impossible to +convey more correctly," said Power. + +"You've heard of his duel with Dick Toler?" + +"Never; let's hear it." + +"It was a bull from beginning to end. Boyle took it into his head that Dick +was a person with whom he had a serious row in Cork. Dick, on the other +hand, mistook Boyle for old Caples, whom he had been pursuing with +horse-whipping intentions for some months. They met in Kildare Street Club, +and very little colloquy satisfied them that they were right in their +conjectures, each party being so eagerly ready to meet the views of the +other. It never was a difficult matter to find a friend in Dublin; and to +do them justice, Irish seconds, generally speaking, are perfectly free from +any imputation upon the score of mere delay. No men have less impertinent +curiosity as to the cause of the quarrel; wisely supposing that the +principals know their own affairs best, they cautiously abstain from +indulging any prying spirit, but proceed to discharge their functions as +best they may. Accordingly, Sir Harry and Dick were 'set up,' as the phrase +is, at twelve paces, and to use Boyle's own words, for I have heard him +relate the story,-- + +"We blazed away, sir, for three rounds. I put two in his hat and one in his +neckcloth; his shots went all through the skirt of my coat. + +"'We'll spend the day here,' says Considine, 'at this rate. Couldn't you +put them closer?' + +"'And give us a little more time in the word,' says I. + +"'Exactly,' said Dick. + +"Well, they moved us forward two paces, and set to loading the pistols +again. + +"By this time we were so near that we had full opportunity to scan each +other's faces. Well, sir, I stared at him, and he at me. + +"'What!' said I. + +"'Eh!' said he. + +"'How's this?' said I. + +"'You're not Billy Caples?' said he. + +"'Devil a bit!' said I, 'nor I don't think you are Archy Devine;' and +faith, sir, so it appeared, we were fighting away all the morning for +nothing; for, somehow, it turned out _it was neither of us!_" + +What amused me most in this anecdote was the hearing it at such a time and +place. That poor Sir Harry's eccentricities should turn up for discussion +on a march in Portugal was singular enough; but after all, life is full of +such incongruous accidents. I remember once supping with King Calzoo on the +Blue Mountains, in Jamaica. By way of entertaining his guests, some English +officers, he ordered one of his suite to sing. We were of course pleased at +the opportunity of hearing an Indian war-chant, with a skull and thigh-bone +accompaniment; but what was our astonishment to hear the Indian,--a +ferocious-looking dog, with an awful scalp-lock, and two streaks of red +paint across his chest,--clear his voice well for a few seconds, and +then begin, without discomposing a muscle of his gravity, "The Laird of +Cockpen!" I need not say that the "Great Raccoon" was a Dumfries man who +had quitted Scotland forty years before, and with characteristic prosperity +had attained his present rank in a foreign service. + +"Halt! halt!" cried a deep-toned, manly voice in the leading column, and +the word was repeated from mouth to mouth to the rear. + +We dismounted, and picketing our horses beneath the broad-leaved foliage +of the cork-trees, stretched ourselves out at full length upon the grass, +while our messmen prepared the dinner. Our party at first consisted of +Hixley, Power, the adjutant, and myself; but our number was soon increased +by three officers of the 6th Foot, about to join their regiment. + +"Barring the ladies, God bless them!" said Power, "there are no such +picnics as campaigning presents. The charms of scenery are greatly enhanced +by their coming unexpectedly on you. Your chance good fortune in the prog +has an interest that no ham-and-cold-chicken affair, prepared by your +servants beforehand, and got ready with a degree of fuss and worry that +converts the whole party into an assembly of cooks, can ever afford; and +lastly, the excitement that this same life of ours is never without, gives +a zest--" + +"There you've hit it," cried Hixley; "it's that same feeling of uncertainty +that those who meet now may ever do so again, full as it is of sorrowful +reflection, that still teaches us, as we become inured to war, to economize +our pleasures, and be happy when we may. Your health, O'Malley, and your +uncle Godfrey's too." + +"A little more of the pastry." + +"What a capital guinea fowl this is!" + +"That's some of old Monsoon's particular port." + +"Pass it round here. Really this is pleasant." + +"My blessing on the man who left that vista yonder! See what a glorious +valley stretches out there, undulating in its richness; and look at those +dark trees, where just one streak of soft sunlight is kissing their tops, +giving them one chaste good-night--" + +"Well done, Power!" + +"Confound you, you've pulled me short, and I was about becoming downright +pastoral. Apropos of kissing, I understand Sir Arthur won't allow the +convents to be occupied by troops." + +"And apropos of convents," said I, "let's hear your story; you promised it +a while ago." + +"My dear Charley, it's far too early in the evening for a story. I should +rather indulge my poetic fancies here, under the shade of melancholy +boughs; and besides, I am not half screwed up yet." + +"Come, Adjutant, let's have a song." + +"I'll sing you a Portuguese serenade when the next bottle comes in. What +capital port! Have you much of it?" + +"Only three dozen. We got it late last night; forged an order from the +commanding officer and sent it up to old Monsoon,--'for hospital use.' He +gave it with a tear in his eye, saying, as the sergeant marched away, +'Only think of such wine for fellows that may be in the next world before +morning! It's a downright sin!'" + +"I say, Power, there's something going on there." + +At this instant the trumpet sounded "boot and saddle," and like one man the +whole mass rose up, when the scene, late so tranquil, became one of excited +bustle and confusion. An aide-de-camp galloped past towards the river, +followed by two orderly sergeants; and the next moment Sparks rode up, his +whole equipment giving evidence of a hurried ride, while his cheek was +deadly pale and haggard. + +Power presented to him a goblet of sherry, which, having emptied at a +draught, he drew a long breath, and said, "They are coming,--coming in +force!" + +"Who are coming?" said Power. "Take time, man, and collect yourself." + +"The French! I saw them a devilish deal closer than I liked. They wounded +one of the orderlies and took the other prisoner." + +"Forward!" said a hoarse voice in the front. "March! trot!" And before we +could obtain any further information from Sparks, whose faculties seemed to +have received a terrific shock, we were once more in the saddle, and moving +at a brisk pace onward. + +Sparks had barely time to tell us that a large body of French cavalry +occupied the pass of Berar, when he was sent for by General Cotton to +finish his report. + +"How frightened the fellow is!" said Hixley. + +"I don't think the worse of poor Sparks for all that," said Power. "He saw +those fellows for the first time, and no bird's-eye view of them either." + +"Then we are in for a skirmish, at least," said I. + +"It would appear not, from that," said Hixley, pointing to the head of the +column, which, leaving the high road upon the left, entered the forest by a +deep cleft that opened upon a valley traversed by a broad river. + +"That looks very like taking up a position, though," said Power. + +"Look,--look down yonder!" cried Hixley, pointing to a dip in the plain +beside the river. "Is there not a cavalry picket there?" + +"Right, by Jove! I say, Fitzroy," said Power to an aide-de-camp as he +passed, "what's going on?" + +"Soult has carried Oporto," cried he, "and Franchesca's cavalry have +escaped." + +"And who are these fellows in the valley?" + +"Our own people coming up." + +In less than half an hour's brisk trotting we reached the stream, the banks +of which were occupied by two cavalry regiments advancing to the main army; +and what was my delight to find that one of them was our own corps, the +14th Light Dragoons! + +"Hurra!" cried Power, waving his cap as he came up. "How are you, +Sedgewick? Baker, my hearty, how goes it? How is Hampton and the colonel?" + +In an instant we were surrounded by our brother officers, who all shook me +cordially by the hand, and welcomed me to the regiment with most gratifying +warmth. + +"One of us," said Power, with a knowing look, as he introduced me; and the +freemasonry of these few words secured me a hearty greeting. + +"Halt! halt! Dismount!" sounded again from front to rear; and in a few +minutes we were once more stretched upon the grass, beneath the deep +and mellow moonlight, while the bright stream ran placidly beside us, +reflecting on its calm surface the varied groups as they lounged or sat +around the blazing fires of the bivouac. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + +THE BIVOUAC. + +When I contrasted the gay and lively tone of the conversation which ran on +around our bivouac fire, with the dry monotony and prosaic tediousness of +my first military dinner at Cork, I felt how much the spirit and adventure +of a soldier's life can impart of chivalrous enthusiasm to even the dullest +and least susceptible. I saw even many who under common circumstances, +would have possessed no interest nor excited any curiosity, but now, +connected as they were with the great events occurring around them, +absolutely became heroes; and it was with a strange, wild throbbing of +excitement I listened to the details of movements and marches, whose +objects I knew not, but in which the magical words, Corunna, Vimeira, +were mixed up, and gave to the circumstances an interest of the highest +character. How proud, too, I felt to be the companion-in-arms of such +fellows! Here they sat, the tried and proved soldiers of a hundred fights, +treating me as their brother and their equal. Who need wonder if I felt +a sense of excited pleasure? Had I needed such a stimulant, that night +beneath the cork-trees had been enough to arouse a passion for the army in +my heart, and an irrepressible determination to seek for a soldier's glory. + +"Fourteenth!" called out a voice from the wood behind; and in a moment +after, the aide-de-camp appeared with a mounted orderly. + +"Colonel Merivale?" said he, touching his cap to the stalwart, soldier-like +figure before him. + +The colonel bowed. + +"Sir Stapleton Cotton desires me to request that at an early hour to-morrow +you will occupy the pass, and cover the march of the troops. It is his +wish that all the reinforcements should arrive at Oporto by noon. I need +scarcely add that we expect to be engaged with the enemy." + +These few words were spoken hurriedly, and again saluting our party, he +turned his horse's head and continued his way towards the rear. + +"There's news for you, Charley," said Power, slapping me on the shoulder. +"Lucy Dashwood or Westminster Abbey!" + +"The regiment was never in finer condition, that's certain," said the +colonel, "and most eager for a brush with the enemy." + +"How your old friend, the count, would have liked this work!" said Hixley. +"Gallant fellow he was." + +"Come," cried Power, "here's a fresh bowl coming. Let's drink the ladies, +wherever they be; we most of us have some soft spot on that score." + +"Yes," said the adjutant, singing,-- + + "Here's to the maiden of blushing fifteen; + Here's to the damsel that's merry; + Here's to the flaunting extravagant quean--" + +"And," sang Power, interrupting,-- + + "Here's to the 'Widow of Derry.'" + +"Come, come, Fred, no more quizzing on that score. It's the only thing ever +gives me a distaste to the service,--the souvenir of that adventure. When +I reflect what I might have been, and think what I am; when I contrast a +Brussels carpet with wet grass, silk hangings with a canvas tent, Sneyd's +claret with ration brandy, and Sir Arthur for a Commander-in-Chief _vice_ +Boggs, a widow--" + +"Stop there!" cried Hixley. "Without disparaging the fair widow, there's +nothing beats campaigning, after all. Eh, Fred?" + +"And to prove it," said the colonel, "Power will sing us a song." + +Power took his pencil from his pocket, and placing the back of a letter +across his shako, commenced inditing his lyric, saying, as he did so, "I'm +your man in five minutes. Just fill my glass in the mean time." + +"That fellow beats Dibdin hollow," whispered the adjutant. "I'll be hanged +if he'll not knock you off a song like lightning." + +"I understand," said Hixley, "they have some intention at the Horse Guards +of having all the general orders set to popular tunes, and sung at every +mess in the service. You've heard that, I suppose, Sparks?" + +"I confess I had not before." + +"It will certainly come very hard upon the subalterns," continued Hixley, +with much gravity. "They'll have to brush up their _sol mi fas_. All the +solos are to be their part." + +"What rhymes with slaughter?" said Power. + +"Brandy-and-water," said the adjutant. + +"Now, then," said Power, "are you all ready?" + +"Ready." + +"You must chorus, mind; and mark me, take care you give the hip-hip-hurra +well, as that's the whole force of the chant. Take the time from me. Now +for it. Air, 'Garryowen,' with spirit, but not too quick. + + "Now that we've pledged each eye of blue, + And every maiden fair and true, + And our green island home,--to you + The ocean's wave adorning, + Let's give one Hip-hip-hip-hnrra! + And, drink e'en to the coming day, + When, squadron square, + We'll all be there, + To meet the French in the morning. + + "May his bright laurels never fade, + Who leads our fighting fifth brigade, + Those lads so true in heart and blade, + And famed for danger scorning. + So join me in one Hip-hurra! + And drink e'en to the coming day, + When, squadron square, + We'll all be there, + To meet the French in the morning. + + "And when with years and honors crowned, + You sit some homeward hearth around, + And hear no more the stirring sound + That spoke the trumpet's warning, + You'll fill and drink, one Hip-hurra! + And pledge the memory of the day, + When, squadron square, + They all were there, + To meet the French in the morning." + +"Gloriously done, Fred!" cried Hixley. "If I ever get my deserts in this +world, I'll make you Laureate to the Forces, with a hogshead of your own +native whiskey for every victory of the army." + +"A devilish good chant," said Merivale, "but the air surpasses anything I +ever heard,--thoroughly Irish, I take it." + +"Irish! upon my conscience, I believe you!" shouted O'Shaughnessy, with an +energy of voice and manner that created a hearty laugh on all sides. "It's +few people ever mistook it for a Venetian melody. Hand over the punch,--the +sherry, I mean. When I was in the Clare militia, we always went in to +dinner to 'Tatter Jack Walsh,' a sweet air, and had 'Garryowen' for a +quick-step. Ould M'Manus, when he got the regiment, wanted to change: he +said, they were damned vulgar tunes, and wanted to have 'Rule Britannia,' +or the 'Hundredth Psalm;' but we would not stand it; there would have been +a mutiny in the corps." + +"The same fellow, wasn't he, that you told the story of, the other evening, +in Lisbon?" said I. + +"The same. Well, what a character he was! As pompous and conceited a little +fellow as ever you met with; and then, he was so bullied by his wife, he +always came down to revenge it on the regiment. She was a fine, showy, +vulgar woman, with a most cherishing affection for all the good things in +this life, except her husband, whom she certainly held in due contempt. 'Ye +little crayture,' she'd say to him with a sneer, 'it ill becomes you +to drink and sing, and be making a man of yourself. If you were like +O'Shaughnessy there, six foot three in his stockings--'Well, well, it looks +like boasting; but no matter. Here's her health, anyway." + +"I knew you were tender in that quarter," said Power, "I heard it when +quartered in Limerick." + +"May be you heard, too, how I paid off Mac, when ho came down on a visit to +that county?" + +"Never: let's hear it now." + +"Ay, O'Shaughnessy, now's your time; the fire's a good one, the night fine, +and liquor plenty." + +"I'm _convanient_," said O'Shaughnessy, as depositing his enormous legs on +each side of the burning fagots, and placing a bottle between his knees he +began his story:-- + +"It was a cold rainy night in January, in the year '98, I took my place in +the Limerick mail, to go down for a few days to the west country. As the +waiter of the Hibernian came to the door with a lantern, I just caught a +glimpse of the other insides; none of whom were known to me, except Colonel +M'Manus, that I met once in a boarding-house in Molcsworth Street. I did +not, at the time, think him a very agreeable companion; but when morning +broke, and we began to pay our respects to each other in the coach, I +leaned over, and said, 'I hope you're well, Colonel M'Manus,' just by way +of civility like. He didn't hear me at first; so that I said it again, a +little louder. + +"I wish you saw the look he gave me; he drew himself up to the height of +his cotton umbrella, put his chin inside his cravat, pursed up his dry, +shrivelled lips, and with a voice he meant to be awful, replied:-- + +"'You appear to have the advantage of me.' + +"'Upon my conscience, you're right,' said I, looking down at myself, and +then over at him, at which the other travellers burst out a laughing,--'I +think there's few will dispute that point.' When the laugh was over, I +resumed,--for I was determined not to let him off so easily. 'Sure I met +you at Mrs. Cayle's,' said I; 'and, by the same token, it was a Friday, I +remember it well,--may be you didn't pitch into the salt cod? I hope it +didn't disagree with you?' + +"'I beg to repeat, sir, that you are under a mistake,' said he. + +"'May be so, indeed,' said I. 'May be you're not Colonel M'Manus at all; +may be you wasn't in a passion for losing seven-and-sixpence at loo with +Mrs. Moriarty; may be you didn't break the lamp in the hall with your +umbrella, pretending you touched it with your head, and wasn't within three +foot of it; may be Counsellor Brady wasn't going to put you in the box of +the Foundling Hospital, if you wouldn't behave quietly in the streets--' + +"Well, with this the others laughed so heartily, that I could not go on; +and the next stage the bold colonel got outside with the guard and never +came in till we reached Limerick. I'll never forget his face, as he got +down at Swinburne's Hotel. 'Good-by, Colonel,' said I; but he wouldn't take +the least notice of my politeness, but with a frown of utter defiance, he +turned on his heel and walked away. + +"'I haven't done with you yet,' says I; and, faith, I kept my word. + +"I hadn't gone ten yards down the street, when I met my old friend Darby +O'Grady. + +"'Shaugh, my boy,' says he,--he called me that way for shortness,--'dine +with me to-day at Mosey's; a green goose and gooseberries; six to a +minute.' + +"'Who have you?' says I. + +"'Tom Keane and the Wallers, a counsellor or two, and one M'Manus, from +Dublin.' + +"'The colonel?' + +"'The same,' said he. + +"'I'm there, Darby!' said I; 'but mind, you never saw me before.' + +"'What?' said he. + +"'You never set eyes on me before; mind that.' + +"'I understand,' said Darby, with a wink; and we parted. + +"I certainly was never very particular about dressing for dinner, but on +this day I spent a considerable time at my toilet; and when I looked in my +glass at its completion, was well satisfied that I had done myself justice. +A waistcoat of brown rabbit-skin with flaps, a red worsted comforter +round my neck, an old gray shooting-jacket with a brown patch on the arm, +corduroys, and leather gaiters, with a tremendous oak cudgel in my hand, +made me a most presentable figure for a dinner party. + +"'Will I do, Darby?' says I, as he came into my room before dinner. + +"'If it's for robbing the mail you are,' says he, 'nothing could be better. +Your father wouldn't know you!' + +"'Would I be the better of a wig?' + +"'Leave your hair alone,' said he. 'It's painting the lily to alter it.' + +"'Well, God's will be done,' says I, 'so come now.' + +"Well, just as the clock struck six I saw the colonel coming out of his +room, in a suit of most accurate sable, stockings, and pumps. Down-stairs +he went, and I heard the waiter announce him. + +"'Now's my time,' thought I, as I followed slowly after. + +"When I reached the door I heard several voices within, among which I +recognized some ladies. Darby had not told me about them. 'But no matter,' +said I; 'it's all as well;' so I gave a gentle tap at the door with my +knuckles. + +"'Come in,' said Darby. + +"I opened the door slowly, and putting in only my head and shoulders took a +cautious look round the room. + +"'I beg pardon, gentlemen,' said I, 'but I was only looking for one Colonel +M'Manus, and as he is not here--' + +"'Pray walk in, sir,' said O'Grady, with a polite bow. 'Colonel M'Manus +is here. There's no intrusion whatever. I say, Colonel,' said he turning +round, 'a gentleman here desires to--' + +"'Never mind it now,' said I, as I stepped cautiously into the room, 'he's +going to dinner; another time will do just as well.' + +"'Pray come in!' + +"'I could not think of intruding--' + +"'I must protest,' said M'Manus, coloring up, 'that I cannot understand +this gentleman's visit.' + +"'It is a little affair I have to settle with him,' said I, with a fierce +look that I saw produced its effect. + +"'Then perhaps you would do me the very great favor to join him at dinner,' +said O'Grady. 'Any friend of Colonel M'Manus--' + +"'You are really too good,' said I; 'but as an utter stranger--' + +"'Never think of that for a moment. My friend's friend, as the adage says.' + +"'Upon my conscience, a good saying,' said I, 'but you see there's another +difficulty. I've ordered a chop and potatoes up in No. 5.' + +"'Let that be no obstacle,' said O'Grady. 'The waiter shall put it in my +bill; if you will only do me the pleasure.' + +"'You're a trump,' said I. 'What's your name?' + +"'O'Grady, at your service.' + +"'Any relation of the counsellor?' said I. 'They're all one family, the +O'Gradys. I'm Mr. O'Shaughnessy, from Ennis; won't you introduce me to the +ladies?' + +"While the ceremony of presentation was going on I caught one glance at +M'Manus, and had hard work not to roar out laughing. Such an expression of +surprise, amazement, indignation, rage, and misery never was mixed up in +one face before. Speak he could not; and I saw that, except for myself, he +had neither eyes, ears, nor senses for anything around him. Just at this +moment dinner was announced, and in we went. I never was in such spirits in +my life; the trick upon M'Manus had succeeded perfectly; he believed in his +heart that I had never met O'Grady in my life before, and that upon the +faith of our friendship, I had received my invitation. As for me, I spared +him but little. I kept up a running fire of droll stories, had the ladies +in fits of laughing, made everlasting allusions to the colonel; and, in +a word, ere the soup had disappeared, except himself, the company was +entirely with me. + +"'O'Grady,' said I, 'forgive the freedom, but I feel as if we were old +acquaintances.' + +"'As Colonel M'Manus's friend,' said he, 'you can take no liberty here to +which you are not perfectly welcome.' + +"'Just what I expected,' said I. 'Mac and I,'--I wish you saw his face when +I called him Mac,--'Mac and I were schoolfellows five-and-thirty years ago; +though he forgets me, I don't forget him,--to be sure it would be hard for +me. I'm just thinking of the day Bishop Oulahan came over to visit the +college. Mac was coming in at the door of the refectory as the bishop was +going out. "Take off your caubeen, you young scoundrel, and kneel down for +his reverence to bless you," said one of the masters, giving his hat a blow +at the same moment that sent it flying to the other end of the room, and +with it, about twenty ripe pears that Mac had just stolen in the orchard, +and had in his hat. I wish you only saw the bishop; and Mac himself, he was +a picture. Well, well, you forget it all now, but I remember it as if it +was only yesterday. Any champagne, Mr. O'Grady? I'm mighty dry.' + +"'Of course,' said Darby. 'Waiter, some champagne here.' + +[Illustration: THE SALUTATION.] + +"'Ah, it's himself was the boy for every kind of fun and devilment, quiet +and demure as he looks over there. Mac, your health. It's not every day of +the week we get champagne.' + +"He laid down his knife and fork as I said this; his face and temples grew +deep purple; his eyes started as if they would spring from his head; and he +put both his hands to his forehead, as if trying to assure himself that it +was not some horrid dream. + +"'A little slice more of the turkey,' said I, 'and then, O'Grady, I'll try +your hock. It's a wine I'm mighty fond of, and so is Mac there. Oh, it's +seldom, to tell you the truth, it troubles us. There, fill up the glass; +that's it. Here now, Darby,--that's your name, I think,--you'll not think +I'm taking a liberty in giving a toast? Here then, I'll give M'Manus's +health, with all the honors; though it's early yet, to be sure, but we'll +do it again, by-and-by, when the whiskey comes. Here's M'Manus's good +health; and though his wife, they say, does not treat him well, and keeps +him down--' + +"The roar of laughing that interrupted me here was produced by the +expression of poor Mac's face. He had started up from the table, and +leaning with both his hands upon it, stared round upon the company like a +maniac,--his mouth and eyes wide open, and his hair actually bristling with +amazement. Thus he remained for a full minute, gasping like a fish in +a landing-net. It seemed a hard struggle for him to believe he was not +deranged. At last his eyes fell upon me; he uttered a deep groan, and with +a voice tremulous with rage, thundered out,-- + +"'The scoundrel! I never saw him before.' + +"He rushed from the room, and gained the street. Before our roar of +laughter was over he had secured post-horses, and was galloping towards +Ennis at the top speed of his cattle. + +"He exchanged at once into the line; but they say that he caught a glimpse +of my name in the army list, and sold out the next morning; be that as it +may, we never met since." + +I have related O'Shaughnessy's story here, rather from the memory I have of +how we all laughed at it at the time, than from any feeling as to its real +desert; but when I think of the voice, look, accent, and gesture of the +narrator, I can scarcely keep myself from again giving way to laughter. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + + +THE DOURO. + +Never did the morning break more beautifully than on the 12th of May, 1809. +Huge masses of fog-like vapor had succeeded to the starry, cloudless night, +but one by one, they moved onwards towards the sea, disclosing as they +passed long tracts of lovely country, bathed in a rich golden glow. The +broad Douro, with its transparent current, shone out like a bright-colored +ribbon, meandering through the deep garment of fairest green; the darkly +shadowed mountains which closed the background loomed even larger than they +were; while their summits were tipped with the yellow glory of the morning. +The air was calm and still, and the very smoke that arose from the +peasant's cot labored as it ascended through the perfumed air, and save the +ripple of the stream, all was silent as the grave. + +The squadron of the 14th, with which I was, had diverged from the road +beside the river, and to obtain a shorter path, had entered the skirts of +a dark pine wood; our pace was a sharp one; an orderly had been already +despatched to hasten our arrival, and we pressed on at a brisk trot. In +less than an hour we reached the verge of the wood, and as we rode out upon +the plain, what a spectacle met our eyes! Before us, in a narrow valley +separated from the river by a low ridge, were picketed three cavalry +regiments; their noiseless gestures and perfect stillness be-speaking at +once that they were intended for a surprise party. Farther down the stream, +and upon the opposite side, rose the massive towers and tall spires of +Oporto, displaying from their summits the broad ensign of France; while far +as the eye could reach, the broad dark masses of troops might be seen; the +intervals between their columns glittering with the bright equipments of +their cavalry, whose steel caps and lances were sparkling in the sun-beams. +The bivouac fires were still smouldering, and marking where some part of +the army had passed the night; for early as it was, it was evident that +their position had been changed; and even now, the heavy masses of dark +infantry might be seen moving from place to place, while the long line of +the road to Vallonga was marked with a vast cloud of dust. The French drum +and the light infantry bugle told, from time to time, that orders were +passing among the troops; while the glittering uniform of a staff officer, +as he galloped from the town, bespoke the note of preparation. + +"Dismount! Steady; quietly, my lads," said the colonel, as he alighted upon +the grass. "Let the men have their breakfast." + +The little amphitheatre we occupied hid us entirely from all observation +on the part of the enemy, but equally so excluded us from perceiving their +movements. It may readily be supposed then, with what impatience we waited +here, while the din and clangor of the French force, as they marched and +countermarched so near us, were clearly audible. The orders were, however, +strict that none should approach the bank of the river, and we lay +anxiously awaiting the moment when this inactivity should cease. More than +one orderly had arrived among us, bearing despatches from headquarters; but +where our main body was, or what the nature of the orders, no one could +guess. As for me, my excitement was at its height, and I could not speak +for the very tension of my nerves. The officers stood in little groups of +two and three, whispering anxiously together; but all I could collect was, +that Soult had already begun his retreat upon Amarante, and that, with the +broad stream of the Douro between us, he defied our pursuit. + +"Well, Charley," said Power, laying his arm upon my shoulder, "the French +have given us the slip this time; they are already in march, and even if we +dared force a passage in the face of such an enemy, it seems there is not a +boat to be found. I have just seen Hammersley." + +"Indeed! Where is he?" said I. + +"He's gone back to Villa de Conde; he asked after you most particularly. +Don't blush, man; I'd rather back your chance than his, notwithstanding the +long letter that Lucy sends him. Poor fellow, he has been badly wounded, +but, it seems, declines going back to England." + +"Captain Power," said an orderly, touching his cap, "General Murray desires +to see you." + +Power hastened away, but returned in a few moments. + +"I say, Charley, there's something in the wind here. I have just been +ordered to try where the stream is fordable. I've mentioned your name to +the general, and I think you'll be sent for soon. Good-by." + +I buckled on my sword, and looking to my girths, stood watching the groups +around me; when suddenly a dragoon pulled his horse short up, and asked a +man near me if Mr. O'Malley was there. + +"Yes; I am he." + +"Orders from General Murray, sir," said the man, and rode off at a canter. + +I opened and saw that the despatch was addressed to Sir Arthur Wellesley, +with the mere words, "With haste!" on the envelope. + +Now, which way to turn I knew not; so springing into the saddle, I galloped +to where Colonel Merivale was standing talking to the colonel of a heavy +dragoon regiment. + +"May I ask, sir, by which road I am to proceed with this despatch?" + +"Along the river, sir," said the heavy ------, a large dark-browed man, +with a most forbidding look. "You'll soon see the troops; you'd better stir +yourself, sir, or Sir Arthur is not very likely to be pleased with you." + +Without venturing a reply to what I felt a somewhat unnecessary taunt, I +dashed spurs into my horse, and turned towards the river. I had not gained +the bank above a minute, when the loud ringing of a rifle struck upon my +ear; bang went another, and another. I hurried on, however, at the top of +my speed, thinking only of my mission and its pressing haste. As I turned +an angle of the stream, the vast column of the British came in sight, and +scarcely had my eye rested upon them when my horse staggered forwards, +plunged twice with his head nearly to the earth, and then, rearing madly +up, fell backwards to the ground. Crushed and bruised as I felt by my fall, +I was soon aroused to the necessity of exertion; for as I disengaged myself +from the poor beast, I discovered he had been killed by a bullet in the +counter; and scarcely had I recovered my legs when a shot struck my shako +and grazed my temples. I quickly threw myself to the ground, and creeping +on for some yards, reached at last some rising ground, from which I rolled +gently downwards into a little declivity, sheltered by the bank from the +French fire. + +When I arrived at headquarters, I was dreadfully fatigued and heated; +but resolving not to rest till I had delivered my despatches, I hastened +towards the convent of La Sierra, where I was told the commander-in-chief +was. + +As I came into the court of the convent, filled with general officers and +people of the staff, I was turning to ask how I should proceed, when Hixley +caught my eye. + +"Well, O'Malley, what brings you here?" + +"Despatches from General Murray." + +"Indeed; oh, follow me." + +He hurried me rapidly through the buzzing crowd, and ascending a large +gloomy stair, introduced me into a room, whore about a dozen persons in +uniform were writing at a long deal table. + +"Captain Gordon," said he, addressing one of them, "despatches requiring +immediate attention have just been brought by this officer." + +Before the sentence was finished the door opened, and a short, slight man, +in a gray undress coat, with a white cravat and a cocked hat, entered. The +dead silence that ensued was not necessary to assure me that he was one in +authority,--the look of command his bold, stern features presented; the +sharp, piercing eye, the compressed lip, the impressive expression of the +whole face, told plainly that he was one who held equally himself and +others in mastery. + +"Send General Sherbroke here," said he to an aide-de-camp. "Let the light +brigade march into position;" and then turning suddenly to me, "Whose +despatches are these?" + +"General Murray's, sir." + +I needed no more than that look to assure me that this was he of whom I had +heard so much, and of whom the world was still to hear so much more. + +He opened them quickly, and glancing his eye across the contents, crushed +the paper in his hand. Just as he did so, a spot of blood upon the envelope +attracted his attention. + +"How's this,--are you wounded?" + +"No, sir; my horse was killed--" + +"Very well, sir; join your brigade. But stay, I shall have orders for you. +Well, Waters, what news?" + +This question was addressed to an officer in a staff uniform, who entered +at the moment, followed by the short and bulky figure of a monk, his shaven +crown and large cassock strongly contrasting with the gorgeous glitter of +the costumes around him. + +"I say, who have we here?" + +"The Prior of Amarante, sir," replied Waters, "who has just come over. We +have already, by his aid, secured three large barges--" + +"Let the artillery take up position in the convent at once," said Sir +Arthur, interrupting. "The boats will be brought round to the small creek +beneath the orchard. You, sir," turning to me, "will convey to General +Murray--but you appear weak. You, Gordon, will desire Murray to effect a +crossing at Avintas with the Germans and the 14th. Sherbroke's division +will occupy the Villa Nuova. What number of men can that seminary take?" + +"From three to four hundred, sir. The padre mentions that all the vigilance +of the enemy is limited to the river below the town." + +"I perceive it," was the short reply of Sir Arthur, as placing his hands +carelessly behind his back, he walked towards the window, and looked out +upon the river. + +All was still as death in the chamber; not a lip murmured. The feeling of +respect for him in whose presence we were standing checked every thought of +utterance; while the stupendous gravity of the events before us engrossed +every mind and occupied every heart. I was standing near the window; +the effect of my fall had stunned me for a time, but I was gradually +recovering, and watched with a thrilling heart the scene before me. Great +and absorbing as was my interest in what was passing without, it was +nothing compared with what I felt as I looked at him upon whom our destiny +was then hanging. I had ample time to scan his features and canvass their +every lineament. Never before did I look upon such perfect impassibility; +the cold, determined expression was crossed by no show of passion or +impatience. All was rigid and motionless, and whatever might have been the +workings of the spirit within, certainly no external sign betrayed them; +and yet what a moment for him must that have been! Before him, separated by +a deep and rapid river, lay the conquering legions of France, led on by one +second alone to him whose very name had been the _prestige_ of victory. +Unprovided with every regular means of transport, in the broad glare of +day, in open defiance of their serried ranks and thundering artillery, +he dared the deed. What must have been his confidence in the soldiers he +commanded! What must have been his reliance upon his own genius! As such +thoughts rushed through my mind, the door opened and an officer entered +hastily, and whispering a few words to Colonel Waters, left the room. + +"One boat is already brought up to the crossing-place, and entirely +concealed by the wall of the orchard." + +"Let the men cross," was the brief reply. + +No other word was spoken as, turning from the window, he closed his +telescope, and followed by all the others, descended to the courtyard. + +This simple order was enough; an officer with a company of the Buffs +embarked, and thus began the passage of the Douro. + +So engrossed was I in my vigilant observation of our leader, that I would +gladly have remained at the convent, when I received an order to join my +brigade, to which a detachment of artillery was already proceeding. + +As I reached Avintas all was in motion. The cavalry was in readiness beside +the river; but as yet no boats had been discovered, and such was the +impatience of the men to cross, it was with difficulty they were prevented +trying the passage by swimming, when suddenly Power appeared followed by +several fishermen. Three or four small skiffs had been found, half sunk +in mud, among the rushes, and with such frail assistance we commenced to +cross. + +"There will be something to write home to Galway soon, Charley, or I'm +terribly mistaken," said Fred, as he sprang into the boat beside me. "Was I +not a true prophet when I told you 'We'd meet the French in the morning?'" + +"They're at it already," said Hixley, as a wreath of blue smoke floated +across the stream below us, and the loud boom of a large gun resounded +through the air. + +Then came a deafening shout, followed by a rattling volley of small arms, +gradually swelling into a hot sustained fire, through which the cannon +pealed at intervals. Several large meadows lay along the river-side, where +our brigade was drawn up as the detachments landed from the boats; and +here, although nearly a league distant from the town, we now heard the din +and crash of battle, which increased every moment. The cannonade from the +Sierra convent, which at first was merely the fire of single guns, now +thundered away in one long roll, amidst which the sounds of falling walls +and crashing roofs were mingled. It was evident to us, from the continual +fire kept up, that the landing had been effected; while the swelling tide +of musketry told that fresh troops were momentarily coming up. + +In less than twenty minutes our brigade was formed, and we now only waited +for two light four-pounders to be landed, when an officer galloped up in +haste, and called out,-- + +"The French are in retreat!" and pointing at the same moment to the +Vallonga road, we saw a long line of smoke and dust leading from the town, +through which, as we gazed, the colors of the enemy might be seen as they +defiled, while the unbroken lines of the wagons and heavy baggage proved +that it was no partial movement, but the army itself retreating. + +"Fourteenth, threes about! close up! trot!" called out the loud and manly +voice of our leader, and the heavy tramp of our squadrons shook the very +ground as we advanced towards the road to Vallonga. + +As we came on, the scene became one of overwhelming excitement; the +masses of the enemy that poured unceasingly from the town could now be +distinguished more clearly; and amidst all the crash of gun-carriages and +caissons, the voices of the staff officers rose high as they hurried along +the retreating battalions. A troop of flying artillery galloped forth +at top speed, and wheeling their guns into position with the speed of +lightning, prepared, by a flanking fire, to cover the retiring column. The +gunners sprang from their seats, the guns were already unlimbered, when Sir +George Murray, riding up at our left, called out,-- + +"Forward! close up! Charge!" + +The word was scarcely spoken when the loud cheer answered the welcome +sound, and the same instant the long line of shining helmets passed with +the speed of a whirlwind; the pace increased at every stride, the ranks +grew closer, and like the dread force of some mighty engine we fell upon +the foe. I have felt all the glorious enthusiasm of a fox-hunt, when the +loud cry of the hounds, answered by the cheer of the joyous huntsman, +stirred the very heart within, but never till now did I know how far higher +the excitement reaches, when man to man, sabre to sabre, arm to arm, we +ride forward to the battle-field. On we went, the loud shout of "Forward!" +still ringing in our ears. One broken, irregular discharge from the French +guns shook the head of our advancing column, but stayed us not as we +galloped madly on. + +I remember no more. The din, the smoke, the crash, the cry for quarter, +mingled with the shout of victory, the flying enemy, the agonizing shrieks +of the wounded,--all are commingled in my mind, but leave no trace of +clearness or connection between them; and it was only when the column +wheeled to reform behind the advancing squadrons, that I awoke from my +trance of maddening excitement, and perceived that we had carried the +position and cut off the guns of the enemy. + +"Well done, 14th!" said an old gray-headed colonel, as he rode along our +line,--"gallantly done, lads!" The blood trickled from a sabre cut on his +temple, along his cheek, as he spoke; but he either knew it not or heeded +it not. + +"There go the Germans!" said Power, pointing to the remainder of our +brigade, as they charged furiously upon the French infantry, and rode them, +down in masses. + +Our guns came up at this time, and a plunging fire was opened upon the +thick and retreating ranks of the enemy. The carnage must have been +terrific, for the long breaches in their lines showed where the squadrons +of the cavalry had passed, or the most destructive tide of the artillery +had swept through them. The speed of the flying columns grew momentarily +more; the road became blocked up, too, by broken carriages and wounded; and +to add to their discomfiture, a damaging fire now opened from the town upon +the retreating column, while the brigade of Guards and the 29th pressed +hotly on their rear. + +The scene was now beyond anything maddening in its interest. From the walls +of Oporto the English infantry poured forth in pursuit, while the whole +river was covered with boats as they still continued to cross over. The +artillery thundered from the Sierra to protect the landing, for it was even +still contested in places; and the cavalry, charging in flank, swept the +broken ranks and bore down upon the squares. + +It was now, when the full tide of victory ran highest in our favor, that we +were ordered to retire from the road. Column after column passed before us, +unmolested and unassailed, and not even a cannon-shot arrested their steps. + +Some unaccountable timidity of our leader directed this movement; and +while before our very eyes the gallant infantry were charging the retiring +columns, we remained still and inactive. + +How little did the sense of praise we had already won repay us for the +shame and indignation we experienced at this moment, as with burning check +and compressed lip we watched the retreating files. "What can he mean?" +"Is there not some mistake?" "Are we never to charge?" were the muttered +questions around, as a staff officer galloped up with the order to take +ground still farther back, and nearer to the river. + +The word was scarcely spoken when a young officer, in the uniform of a +general, dashed impetuously up; he held his plumed cap high above his head, +as he called out, "14th, follow me! Left face! wheel! charge!" + +So, with the word, we were upon them. The French rear-guard was at this +moment at the narrowest part of the road, which opened by a bridge upon a +large open space; so that, forming with a narrow front and favored by a +declivity in the ground, we actually rode them down. Twice the French +formed, and twice were they broken. Meanwhile the carnage was dreadful +on both sides, our fellows dashing madly forward where the ranks were +thickest, the enemy resisting with the stubborn courage of men fighting for +their last spot of ground. So impetuous was the charge of our squadrons, +that we stopped not till, piercing the dense column of the retreating mass, +we reached the open ground beyond. Here we wheeled and prepared once more +to meet them, when suddenly some squadrons of cuirassiers debouched from +the road, and supported by a field-piece, showed front against us. This was +the moment that the remainder of our brigade should have come to our aid, +but not a man appeared. However, there was not an instant to be lost; +already the plunging fire of the four-pounder had swept through our files, +and every moment increased our danger. + +"Once more, my lads, forward!" cried out our gallant leader, Sir Charles +Stewart, as waving his sabre, he dashed into the thickest of the fray. + +So sudden was our charge that we were upon them before they were prepared. +And here ensued a terrific struggle; for as the cavalry of the enemy gave +way before us, we came upon the close ranks of the infantry at half-pistol +distance, who poured a withering volley into us as we approached. But what +could arrest the sweeping torrent of our brave fellows, though every moment +falling in numbers? + +Harvey, our major, lost his arm near the shoulder. Scarcely an officer +was not wounded. Power received a deep sabre-cut in the cheek from an +aide-de-camp of General Foy, in return for a wound he gave the general; +while I, in my endeavor to save General Laborde when unhorsed, was cut down +through the helmet, and so stunned that I remembered no more around me. I +kept my saddle, it is true, but I lost every sense of consciousness, my +first glimmering of reason coming to my aid as I lay upon the river bank +and felt my faithful follower Mike bathing my temples with water, as he +kept up a running fire of lamentations for my being _murthered_ so young. + +[Illustration: THE SKIRMISH.] + +"Are you better, Mister Charles? Spake to me, alanah! Say that you're not +kilt, darling; do now. Oh, wirra! what'll I ever say to the master? and you +doing so beautiful! Wouldn't he give the best baste in his stable to be +looking at you to-day? There, take a sup; it's only water. Bad luck to +them, but it's hard work beatin' them. They 're only gone now. That's +right; now you're coming to." + +"Where am I, Mike?" + +"It's here you are, darling, resting yourself." + +"Well, Charley, my poor fellow, you've got sore bones, too," cried Power, +as, his face swathed in bandages and covered with blood, he lay down on the +grass beside me. "It was a gallant thing while it lasted, but has cost us +dearly. Poor Hixley--" + +"What of him?" said I, anxiously. + +"Poor fellow, he has seen his last battle-field! He fell across me as we +came out upon the road. I lifted him up in my arms and bore him along above +fifty yards; but he was stone dead. Not a sigh, not a word escaped him; +shot through the forehead." As he spoke, his lips trembled, and his voice +sank to a mere whisper at the last words: "You remember what he said last +night. Poor fellow, he was every inch a soldier." + +Such was his epitaph. + +I turned my head towards the scene of our late encounter. Some dismounted +guns and broken wagons alone marked the spot; while far in the distance, +the dust of the retreating columns showed the beaten enemy as they hurried +towards the frontiers of Spain. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + + +THE MORNING. + +There are few sadder things in life than the day after a battle. The +high-beating hope, the bounding spirits, have passed away, and in their +stead comes the depressing reaction by which every overwrought excitement +is followed. With far different eyes do we look upon the compact ranks and +glistening files,-- + + With helm arrayed, + And lance and blade, + And plume in the gay wind dancing! + +and upon the cold and barren heath, whose only memory of the past is the +blood-stained turf, a mangled corpse, the broken gun, the shattered wall, +the well-trodden earth where columns stood, the cut-up ground where cavalry +had charged,--these are the sad relics of all the chivalry of yesterday. + +The morning which followed the battle of the Douro was one of the most +beautiful I ever remember. There was that kind of freshness and elasticity +in the air which certain days possess, and communicate by some magic their +properties to ourselves. The thrush was singing gayly out from every grove +and wooded dell; the very river had a sound of gladness as it rippled on +against its sedgy banks; the foliage, too, sparkled in the fresh dew, as in +its robes of holiday, and all looked bright and happy. + +We were picketed near the river, upon a gently rising ground, from which +the view extended for miles in every direction. Above us, the stream came +winding down amidst broad and fertile fields of tall grass and waving corn, +backed by deep and mellow woods, which were lost to the view upon the +distant hills; below, the river, widening as it went, pursued a straighter +course, or turned with bolder curves, till, passing beneath the town, it +spread into a large sheet of glassy water as it opened to the sea. The sun +was just rising as I looked upon this glorious scene, and already the tall +spires of Oporto were tipped with a bright rosy hue, while the massive +towers and dark walls threw their lengthened shadows far across the plain. + +The fires of the bivouac still burned, but all slept around them. Not a +sound was heard save the tramp of a patrol or the short, quick cry of +the sentry. I sat lost in meditation, or rather in that state of dreamy +thoughtfulness in which the past and present are combined, and the absent +are alike before us as are the things we look upon. + +One moment I felt as though I were describing to my uncle the battle of the +day before, pointing out where we stood, and how we charged; then again +I was at home, beside the broad, bleak Shannon, and the brown hills of +Scariff. I watched with beating heart the tall Sierra, where our path lay +for the future, and then turned my thoughts to him whose name was so soon +to be received in England with a nation's pride and gratitude, and panted +for a soldier's glory. + +As thus I followed every rising fancy, I heard a step approach; it was a +figure muffled in a cavalry cloak, which I soon perceived to be Power. + +"Charley!" said he, in a half-whisper, "get up and come with me. You are +aware of the general order, that while in pursuit of an enemy, all military +honors to the dead are forbidden; but we wish to place our poor comrade in +the earth before we leave." + +I followed down a little path, through a grave of tall beech-trees, that +opened upon a little grassy terrace beside the river. A stunted olive-tree +stood by itself in the midst, and there I found five of our brother +officers standing, wrapped in their wide cloaks. As we pressed each other's +hands, not a word was spoken. Each heart was full; and hard features that +never quailed before the foe were now shaken with the convulsive spasm of +agony or compressed with stern determination to seem calm. + +A cavalry helmet and a large blue cloak lay upon the grass. The narrow +grave was already dug beside it; and in the deathlike stillness around, the +service for the dead was read. The last words were over. We stooped and +placed the corpse, wrapped up in the broad mantle, in the earth; we +replaced the mould, and stood silently around the spot. The trumpet of our +regiment at this moment sounded the call; its clear notes rang sharply +through the thin air,--it was the soldier's requiem! and we turned away +without speaking, and returned to our quarters. + +I had never known poor Hixley till a day or two before; but, somehow, my +grief for him was deep and heartfelt. It was not that his frank and manly +bearing, his bold and military air, had gained upon me. No; these were +indeed qualities to attract and delight me, but he had obtained a stronger +and faster hold upon my affections,--he spoke to me of home. + +Of all the ties that bind us to the chance acquaintances we meet with in +life, what can equal this one? What a claim upon your love has he who can, +by some passing word, some fast-flitting thought, bring back the days of +your youth! What interest can he not excite by some anecdote of your boyish +days, some well-remembered trait of youthful daring, or early enterprise! +Many a year of sunshine and of storm have passed above my head; I have not +been without my moments of gratified pride and rewarded ambition; but my +heart has never responded so fully, so thankfully, so proudly to these, +such as they were, as to the simple, touching words of one who knew my +early home, and loved its inmates. + +"Well, Fitzroy, what news?" inquired I, roused from my musing, as an +aide-de-camp galloped up at full speed. + +"Tell Merivale to get the regiment under arms at once. Sir Arthur Wellesley +will be here in less than half an hour. You may look for the route +immediately. Where are the Germans quartered?" + +"Lower down; beside that grove of beech-trees, next the river." + +Scarcely was my reply spoken, when he dashed spurs into his horse, and was +soon out of sight. Meanwhile the plain beneath me presented an animated and +splendid spectacle. The different corps were falling into position to the +enlivening sounds of their quick-step, the trumpets of the cavalry rang +loudly through the valley, and the clatter of sabres and sabretasches +joined with the hollow tramp of the horses, as the squadron came up. + +I had not a moment to lose; so hastening back to my quarters, I found Mike +waiting with my horse. + +"Captain Power's before you, sir," said he, "and you'll have to make haste. +The regiments are under arms already." + +From the little mound where I stood, I could see the long line of cavalry +as they deployed into the plain, followed by the horse artillery, which +brought up the rear. + +"This looks like a march," thought I, as I pressed forward to join my +companions. + +I had not advanced above a hundred yards through a narrow ravine when the +measured tread of infantry fell upon my ears. I pulled up to slacken my +pace, just as the head of a column turned round the angle of the road, and +came in view. The tall caps of a grenadier company was the first thing I +beheld, as they came on without roll of drum and sound of fife. I watched +with a soldier's pride the manly bearing and gallant step of the dense mass +as they defiled before me. I was struck no less by them than by a certain +look of a steady but sombre cast which each man wore. + +"What can this mean?" thought I. + +My first impression was, that a military execution was about to take place, +the next moment solved my doubt; for as the last files of the grenadiers +wheeled round, a dense mass behind came in sight, whose unarmed hands, and +downcast air, at once bespoke them prisoners-of-war. + +What a sad sight it was! There was the old and weather-beaten grenadier, +erect in frame and firm in step, his gray mustache scarcely concealing +the scowl that curled his lip, side by side with the young and daring +conscript, even yet a mere boy; their march was regular, their gaze +steadfast,--no look of flinching courage there. On they came, a long +unbroken line. They looked not less proudly than their captors around them. +As I looked with heavy heart upon them, my attention was attracted to one +who marched alone behind the rest. He was a middle-sized but handsome youth +of some eighteen years at most; his light helmet and waving plume bespoke +him a _chasseur à cheval_, and I could plainly perceive, in his careless +half-saucy air, how indignantly he felt the position to which the fate of +war had reduced him. He caught my eyes fixed upon him, and for an instant +turned upon me a gaze of open and palpable defiance, drawing himself up +to his full height, and crossing his arms upon his breast; but probably +perceiving in my look more of interest than of triumph, his countenance +suddenly changed, a deep blush suffused his cheek, his eye beamed with a +softened and kindly expression, and carrying his hand to his helmet, he +saluted me, saying, in a voice of singular sweetness,-- + +_"Je vous souhaite un meilleur sort, camarade."_ + +I bowed, and muttering something in return, was about to make some inquiry +concerning him, when the loud call of the trumpet rang through the valley, +and apprised me that, in my interest for the prisoners, I had forgotten all +else, and was probably incurring censure for my absence. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + + +THE REVIEW. + +When I joined the group of my brother officers, who stood gayly chatting +and laughing together before our lines, I was much surprised--nay almost +shocked--to find how little seeming impression had been made upon them, by +the sad duty we had performed that morning. + +When last we met, each eye was downcast, each heart was full,--sorrow for +him we had lost from among us forever, mingling with the awful sense of +our own uncertain tenure here, had laid its impress on each brow; but +now, scarcely an hour elapsed, and all were cheerful and elated. The last +shovelful of earth upon the grave seemed to have buried both the dead and +the mourning. And such is war, and such the temperament it forms! Events so +strikingly opposite in their character and influences succeed so rapidly +one upon another that the mind is kept in one whirl of excitement, and at +length accustoms itself to change with every phase of circumstances; and +between joy and grief, hope and despondency, enthusiasm and depression, +there is neither breadth nor interval,--they follow each other as naturally +as morning succeeds to night. + +I had not much time for such reflections; scarcely had I saluted the +officers about me, when the loud prolonged roll of the drums along the line +of infantry in the valley, followed by the sharp clatter of muskets as they +were raised to the shoulder, announced the troops were under arms, and the +review begun. + +"Have you seen the general order this morning, Power?" inquired an old +officer beside me. + +"No; they say, however, that ours are mentioned." + +"Harvey is going on favorably," cried a young cornet, as he galloped up to +our party. + +"Take ground to the left!" sung out the clear voice of the colonel, as +he rode along in front. "Fourteenth, I am happy to inform you that your +conduct has met approval in the highest quarter. I have just received the +general orders, in which this occurs:-- + +"'THE TIMELY PASSAGE OF THE DOURO, AND SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENTS UPON THE +ENEMY'S FLANK, BY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SHERBROKE, WITH THE GUARDS AND 29TH +REGIMENT, AND THE BRAVERY OF THE TWO SQUADRONS OF THE 14TH LIGHT +DRAGOONS, UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAJOR HARVEY, AND LED BY THE HONORABLE +BRIGADIER-GENERAL CHARLES STEWART, OBTAINED THE VICTORY'--Mark that, my +lads! obtained the victory--'WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THE HONOR OF +THE TROOPS ON THIS DAY.'" + +The words were hardly spoken, when a tremendous cheer burst from the whole +line at once. + +"Steady, Fourteenth! steady, lads!" said the gallant old colonel, as he +raised his hand gently; "the staff is approaching." + +At the same moment, the white plumes appeared, rising above the brow of +the hill. On they came, glittering in all the splendor of aignillettes and +orders; all save one. He rode foremost, upon a small, compact, black horse; +his dress, a plain gray frock fastened at the waist by a red sash; his +cocked hat alone bespoke, in its plume, the general officer. He galloped +rapidly on till he came to the centre of the line; then turning short +round, he scanned the ranks from end to end with an eagle glance. + +"Colonel Merivale, you have made known to your regiment my opinion of them, +as expressed in general orders?" + +The colonel bowed low in acquiescence. + +"Fitzroy, you have got the memorandum, I hope?" + +The aide-de-camp here presented to Sir Arthur a slip of paper, which he +continued to regard attentively for some minutes. + +"Captain Powel,--Power, I mean. Captain Power!" + +Power rode out from the line. + +"Your very distinguished conduct yesterday has been reported to me. I shall +have sincere pleasure in forwarding your name for the vacant majority. + +"You have forgotten, Colonel Merivale, to send in the name of the officer +who saved General Laborde's life." + +"I believe I have mentioned it, Sir Arthur," said the colonel: "Mr. +O'Malley." + +"True, I beg pardon; so you have--Mr. O'Malley; a very young officer +indeed,--ha, an Irishman! The south of Ireland, eh?" + +"No, sir, the west." + +"Oh, yes! Well, Mr. O'Malley, you are promoted. You have the lieutenancy +in your own regiment. By-the-bye, Merivale," here his voice changed into a +half-laughing tone, "ere I forget it, pray let me beg of you to look into +this honest fellow's claim; he has given me no peace the entire morning." + +As he spoke, I turned my eyes in the direction he pointed, and to my utter +consternation, beheld my man Mickey Free standing among the staff, the +position he occupied, and the presence he stood in, having no more +perceptible effect upon his nerves than if he were assisting at an Irish +wake; but so completely was I overwhelmed with shame at the moment, +that the staff were already far down the lines ere I recovered my +self-possession, to which, certainly, I was in some degree recalled by +Master Mike's addressing me in a somewhat imploring voice:-- + +"Arrah, spake for me, Master Charles, alanah; sure they might do something +for me now, av it was only to make me a ganger." + +Mickey's ideas of promotion, thus insinuatingly put forward, threw the +whole party around us into one burst of laughter. + +"I have him down there," said he, pointing, as he spoke, to a thick grove +of cork-trees at a little distance. + +"Who have you got there, Mike?" inquired Power. + +"Devil a one o' me knows his name," replied he; "may be it's Bony himself." + +"And how do you know he's there still?" + +"How do I know, is it? Didn't I tie him last night?" + +Curiosity to find out what Mickey could possibly allude to, induced Power +and myself to follow him down the slope to the clump of trees I have +mentioned. As we came near, the very distinct denunciations that issued +from the thicket proved pretty clearly the nature of the affair. It was +nothing less than a French officer of cavalry that Mike had unhorsed in the +_mêlée_, and wishing, probably, to preserve some testimony of his prowess, +had made prisoner, and tied fast to a cork-tree, the preceding evening. + +"_Sacrebleu!_" said the poor Frenchman, as we approached, "_ce sont des +sauvages!_" + +"Av it's making your sowl ye are," said Mike, "you're right; for may be +they won't let me keep you alive." + +Mike's idea of a tame prisoner threw me into a fit of laughing, while Power +asked,-- + +"And what do you want to do with him, Mickey?" + +"The sorra one o' me knows, for he spakes no dacent tongue. Thighum thu," +said he, addressing the prisoner, with a poke in the ribs at the same +moment. "But sure, Master Charles, he might tache me French." + +There was something so irresistibly ludicrous in his tone and look as +he said these words, that both Power and myself absolutely roared with +laughter. We began, however, to feel not a little ashamed of our position +in the business, and explained to the Frenchman that our worthy countryman +had but little experience in the usages of war, while we proceeded to +unbind him and liberate him from his miserable bondage. + +"It's letting him loose, you are, Captain? Master Charles, take care. +Be-gorra, av you had as much trouble in catching him as I had, you'd think +twice about letting him out. Listen to me, now," here he placed his closed +fist within an inch of the poor prisoner's nose,--"listen to me! Av you say +peas, by the morreal, I'll not lave a whole bone in your skin." + +With some difficulty we persuaded Mike that his conduct, so far from +leading to his promotion, might, if known in another quarter, procure him +an acquaintance with the provost-marshal; a fact which, it was plain to +perceive, gave him but a very poor impression of military gratitude. + +"Oh, then, if they were in swarms fornent me, devil receave the prisoner +I'll take again!" + +So saying, he slowly returned to the regiment; while Power and I, having +conducted the Frenchman to the rear, cantered towards the town to learn the +news of the day. + +The city on that day presented a most singular aspect. The streets, filled +with the town's-people and the soldiery, were decorated with flags and +garlands; the cafés were crowded with merry groups, and the sounds of +music and laughter resounded on all sides. The houses seemed to be +quite inadequate to afford accommodation to the numerous guests; and in +consequence, bullock cars and forage; wagons were converted into temporary +hotels, and many a jovial party were collected in both. Military music, +church bells, drinking choruses, were all commingled in the din and +turmoil; processions in honor of "Our Lady of Succor" were jammed up among +bacchanalian orgies, and their very chant half drowned in the cries of the +wounded as they passed on to the hospitals. With difficulty we pushed our +way through the dense mob, as we turned our steps towards the seminary. We +both felt naturally curious to see the place where our first detachment +landed, and to examine the opportunities of defence it presented. The +building itself was a large and irregular one of an oblong form, surrounded +by a high wall of solid masonry, the only entrance being by a heavy iron +gate. + +At this spot the battle appeared to have raged with violence; one side of +the massive gate was torn from its hinges and lay flat upon the ground; the +walls were breached in many places; and pieces of torn uniforms, broken +bayonets, and bruised shakos attested that the conflict was a close one. +The seminary itself was in a falling state; the roof, from which Paget +had given his orders, and where he was wounded, had fallen in. The French +cannon had fissured the building from top to bottom, and it seemed only +awaiting the slightest impulse to crumble into ruin. When we regarded the +spot, and examined the narrow doorway which opening upon a flight of a few +steps to the river, admitted our first party, we could not help feeling +struck anew with the gallantry of that mere handful of brave fellows who +thus threw themselves amidst the overwhelming legions of the enemy, and at +once, without waiting for a single reinforcement, opened a fire upon their +ranks. Bold as the enterprise unquestionably was, we still felt with what +consummate judgment it had been planned; a bend of the river concealed +entirely the passage of the troops, the guns of the Sierras covered their +landing and completely swept one approach to the seminary. The French, +being thus obliged to attack by the gate, were compelled to make a +considerable _détour_ before they reached it, all of which gave time +for our divisions to cross; while the brigade of Guards, under General +Sherbroke, profiting by the confusion, passed the river below the town, and +took the enemy unexpectedly in the rear. + +Brief as was the struggle within the town, it must have been a terrific +one. The artillery were firing at musket range; cavalry and infantry were +fighting hand to hand in narrow streets, a destructive musketry pouring all +the while from windows and house-tops. + +At the Amarante gate, where the French defiled, the carnage was also great. +Their light artillery unlimbered some guns here to cover the columns as +they deployed, but Murray's cavalry having carried these, the flank of the +infantry became entirely exposed to the galling fire of small-arms from +the seminary, and the far more destructive shower of grape that poured +unceasingly from the Sierra. + +Our brigade did the rest; and in less than one hour from the landing of the +first man, the French were in full retreat upon Vallonga. + +"A glorious thing, Charley," said Power, after a pause, "and a proud +souvenir for hereafter." + +A truth I felt deeply at the time, and one my heart responds to not less +fully as I am writing. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + + +THE QUARREL. + +On the evening of the 12th, orders were received for the German brigade and +three squadrons of our regiment to pursue the French upon the Terracinthe +road by daybreak on the following morning. + +I was busily occupied in my preparations for a hurried march when Mike came +up to say that an officer desired to speak with me; and the moment after +Captain Hammersley appeared. A sudden flush colored his pale and sickly +features, as he held out his hand and said,-- + +"I've come to wish you joy, O'Malley. I just this instant heard of your +promotion. I am sincerely glad of it; pray tell me the whole affair." + +"That is the very thing I am unable to do. I have some very vague, +indistinct remembrance of warding off a sabre-cut from the head of a +wounded and unhorsed officer in the _mêlée_ of yesterday, but more I know +not. In fact, it was my first duty under fire. I've a tolerably clear +recollection of all the events of the morning, but the word 'Charge!' once +given, I remember very little more. But you, where have you been? How have +we not met before?" + +"I've exchanged into a heavy dragoon regiment, and am now employed upon the +staff." + +"You are aware that I have letters for you?" + +"Power hinted, I think, something of the kind. I saw him very hurriedly." + +These words were spoken with an effort at _nonchalance_ that evidently cost +him much. + +As for me, my agitation was scarcely less, as fumbling for some seconds in +my portmanteau, I drew forth the long destined packet. As I placed it in +his hands, he grew deadly pale, and a slight spasmodic twitch in his upper +lip bespoke some unnatural struggle. He broke the seal suddenly, and as he +did so, the morocco case of a miniature fell upon the ground; his eyes ran +rapidly across the letter; the livid color of his lips as the blood forced +itself to them added to the corpse-like hue of his countenance. + +"You, probably, are aware of the contents of this letter, Mr. O'Malley," +said he, in an altered voice, whose tones, half in anger, half in +suppressed irony, cut to my very heart. + +"I am in complete ignorance of them," said I, calmly. + +"Indeed, sir!" replied he, with a sarcastic curl of his mouth as he spoke. +"Then, perhaps, you will tell me, too, that your very success is a secret +to you--" + +"I'm really not aware--" + +"You think, probably, sir, that the pastime is an amusing one, to interfere +where the affections of others are concerned. I've heard of you, sir. Your +conduct at Lisbon is known to me; and though Captain Trevyllian may bear--" + +"Stop, Captain Hammersley!" said I, with a tremendous effort to be +calm,--"stop! You have said enough, quite enough, to convince me of what +your object was in seeking me here to-day. You shall not be disappointed. I +trust that assurance will save you from any further display of temper." + +"I thank you, most humbly I thank you for the quickness of your +apprehension; and I shall now take my leave. Good-evening, Mr. O'Malley. I +wish you much joy; you have my very fullest congratulations upon _all_ your +good fortune." + +The sneering emphasis the last words were spoken with remained fixed in my +mind long after he took his departure; and, indeed, so completely did the +whole seem like a dream to me that were it not for the fragments of the +miniature that lay upon the ground where he had crushed them with his heel, +I could scarcely credit myself that I was awake. + +My first impulse was to seek Power, upon whose judgment and discretion I +could with confidence rely. + +I had not long to wait; for scarcely had I thrown my cloak around me, when +he rode up. He had just seen, Hammersley, and learned something of our +interview. + +"Why, Charley, my dear fellow, what is this? How have you treated poor +Hammersley?" + +"Treated _him_! Say, rather, how has he treated _me!_" + +I here entered into a short but accurate account of our meeting, during +which Power listened with great composure; while I could perceive, from the +questions he asked, that some very different impression had been previously +made upon his mind. + +"And this was all that passed?" + +"All." + +"But what of the business at Lisbon?" + +"I don't understand." + +"Why, he speaks,--he has heard some foolish account of your having made +some ridiculous speech there about your successful rivalry of him in +Ireland. Lucy Dashwood, I suppose, is referred to. Some one has been +good-natured enough to repeat the thing to him." + +"But it never occurred. I never did." + +"Are you sure, Charley?" + +"I am sure. I know I never did." + +"The poor fellow! He has been duped. Come, Charley, you must not take it +ill. Poor Hammersley has never recovered a sabre-wound he received some +months since upon the head; his intellect is really affected by it. Leave +it all to me. Promise not to leave your quarters till I return, and I'll +put everything right again." + +I gave the required pledge; while Power, springing into the saddle, left me +to my own reflections. + +My frame of mind as Power left me was by no means an enviable one. A +quarrel is rarely a happy incident in a man's life, still less is it so +when the difference arises with one we are disposed to like and respect. +Such was Hammersley. His manly, straightforward character had won my esteem +and regard, and it was with no common scrutiny I taxed my memory to think +what could have given rise to the impression he labored under of my +having injured him. His chance mention of Trevyllian suggested to me some +suspicion that his dislike of me, wherefore arising I knew not, might have +its share in the matter; and in this state of doubt and uncertainty I paced +impatiently up and down, anxiously watching for Power's return in the hope +of at length getting some real insight into the difficulty. + +My patience was fast ebbing, Power had been absent above an hour, and no +appearance of him could I detect, when suddenly the tramp of a horse came +rapidly up the hill. I looked out and saw a rider coming forward at a very +fast pace. Before I had time for even a guess as to who it was, he drew +up, and I recognized Captain Trevyllian. There was a certain look of easy +impertinence and half-smiling satisfaction about his features I had never +seen before, as he touched his cap in salute, and said,-- + +"May I have the honor of a few words' conversation with you?" + +I bowed silently, while he dismounted, and passing his bridle beneath his +arm, walked on beside me. + +"My friend Captain Hammersley has commissioned me to wait upon you about +this unpleasant affair--" + +"I beg pardon for the interruption, Captain Trevyllian, but as I have yet +to learn to what you or your friend alludes, perhaps it may facilitate +matters if you will explicitly state your meaning." + +He grew crimson on the cheek as I said this, while, with a voice perfectly +unmoved, he continued,-- + +"I am not sufficiently in my friend's confidence to know the whole of the +affair in question, nor have I his permission to enter into any of it, he +probably presuming, as I certainly did myself, that your sense of honor +would have deemed further parley and discussion both unnecessary and +unseasonable." + +"In fact, then, if I understand, it is expected that I should meet Captain +Hammersley for some reason unknown--" + +"He certainly desires a meeting with you," was the dry reply. + +"And as certainly I shall not give it, before understanding upon what +grounds." + +"And such I am to report as your answer?" said he, looking at me at the +moment with an expression of ill-repressed triumph as he spoke. + +There was something in these few words, as well as in the tone in which +they were spoken, that sunk deeply in my heart. Was it that by some trick +of diplomacy he was endeavoring to compromise my honor and character? Was +it possible that my refusal might be construed into any other than the +real cause? I was too young, too inexperienced in the world to decide the +question for myself, and no time was allowed me to seek another's counsel. +What a trying moment was that for me; my temples throbbed, my heart beat +almost audibly, and I stood afraid to speak; dreading on the one hand lest +my compliance might involve me in an act to embitter my life forever, and +fearful on the other, that my refusal might be reported as a trait of +cowardice. + +He saw, he read my difficulty at a glance, and with a smile of most +supercilious expression, repeated coolly his former question. In an instant +all thought of Hammersley was forgotten. I remembered no more. I saw him +before me, he who had, since my first meeting, continually contrived to +pass some inappreciable slight upon me. My eyes flashed, my hands tingled +with ill-repressed rage, as I said,-- + +"With Captain Hammersley I am conscious of no quarrel, nor have I ever +shown by any act or look an intention to provoke one. Indeed, such +demonstrations are not always successful; there are persons most rigidly +scrupulous for a friend's honor, little disposed to guard their own." + +"You mistake," said he, interrupting me, as I spoke these words with a look +as insulting as I could make it,--"you mistake. I have sworn a solemn oath +never to _send_ a challenge." + +The emphasis upon the word "send," explained fully his meaning, when I +said,-- + +"But you will not decline--" + +"Most certainly not," said he, again interrupting, while with sparkling eye +and elated look he drew himself up to his full height. "Your friend is--" + +"Captain Power; and yours--" + +"Sir Harry Beaufort. I may observe that, as the troops are in marching +order, the matter had better not be delayed." + +"There shall be none on my part." + +"Nor mine!" said he, as with a low bow and a look of most ineffable +triumph, he sprang into his saddle; then, "_Au revoir_, Mr. O'Malley," said +he, gathering up his reins. "Beaufort is on the staff, and quartered at +Oporto." So saying, he cantered easily down the slope, and once more I was +alone. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + + +THE ROUTE CONTINUED. + +I was leisurely examining my pistols,--poor Considine's last present to me +on leaving home,--when an orderly sergeant rode up, and delivered into my +hands the following order:-- + + Lieutenant O'Malley will hold himself in immediate readiness to + proceed on a particular service. By order of his Excellency the + Commander of the Forces. + [Signed] S. GORDON, Military Secretary. + +"What can this mean?" thought I. "It is not possible that any rumor of my +intended meeting could have got abroad, and that my present destination +could be intended as a punishment?" + +I walked hurriedly to the door of the little hut which formed my quarters; +below me in the plain, all was activity and preparation, the infantry were +drawn up in marching order, baggage wagons, ordnance stores, and artillery +seemed all in active preparation, and some cavalry squadrons might be +already seen with forage allowances behind the saddle, as if only waiting +the order to set out. I strained my eyes to see if Power was coming, but no +horseman approached in the direction. I stood, and I hesitated whether I +should not rather seek him at once, than continue to wait on in my present +uncertainty; but then, what if I should miss him? And I had pledged myself +to remain till he returned. + +While I deliberated thus with myself, weighing the various chances for and +against each plan, I saw two mounted officers coming towards me at a brisk +trot. As they came nearer, I recognized one as my colonel, the other was an +officer of the staff. + +Supposing that their mission had some relation to the order I had so lately +received, and which until now I had forgotten, I hastily returned and +ordered Mike to my presence. + +"How are the horses, Mike?" said I. + +"Never better, sir. Badger was wounded slightly by a spent shot in the +counter, but he's never the worse this morning, and the black horse is +capering like a filly." + +"Get ready my pack, feed the cattle, and be prepared to set out at a +moment's warning." + +"Good advice, O'Malley," said the colonel, as he overheard the last +direction to my servant. "I hope the nags are in condition?" + +"Why yes, sir, I believe they are." + +"All the better; you've a sharp ride before you. Meanwhile let me introduce +my friend; Captain Beaumont, Mr. O'Malley. I think we had better be +seated." + +"These are your instructions, Mr. O'Malley," said Captain Beaumont, +unfolding a map as he spoke. "You will proceed from this with half a troop +of our regiment by forced marches towards the frontier, passing through +the town of Calenco and Guarda and the Estrella pass. On arriving at the +headquarters of the Lusitanian Legion, which you will find there, you are +to put yourself under the orders of Major Monsoon, commanding that force. +Any Portuguese cavalry he may have with him will be attached to yours and +under your command; your rank for the time being that of captain. You will, +as far as possible, acquaint yourself with the habits and capabilities of +the native cavalry, and make such report as you judge necessary thereupon +to his Excellency the commander of the forces. I think it only fair to add +that you are indebted to my friend Colonel Merivale for the very flattering +position thus opened to your skill and enterprise." + +"My dear Colonel, let me assure you--" + +"Not a word, my boy. I knew the thing would suit you, and I am sure I +can count upon your not disappointing my expectations of you. Sir Arthur +perfectly remembers your name. He only asked two questions,-- + +"'Is he well mounted?' + +"'Admirably,' was my answer. + +"'Can you depend upon his promptitude?' + +"'He'll leave in half an hour.' "So you see, O'Malley, I have already +pledged myself for you. And now I must say adieu; the regiments are about +to take up a more advanced position, so good-by. I hope you'll have a +pleasant time of it till we meet again." + +"It is now twelve o'clock, Mr. O'Malley," said Beaumont; "we may rely upon +your immediate departure. Your written instructions and despatches will be +here within a quarter of an hour." + +I muttered something,--what, I cannot remember; I bowed my thanks to my +worthy colonel, shook his hand warmly, and saw him ride down the hill +and disappear in the crowd of soldiery beneath, before I could recall my +faculties and think over my situation. + +Then all at once did the full difficulty of my position break upon me. If +I accepted my present employment I must certainly fail in my engagement to +Trevyllian. But I had already pledged myself to its acceptance. What was to +be done? No time was left for deliberation. The very minutes I should have +spent in preparation were fast passing. Would that Power might appear! +Alas, he came not! My state of doubt and uncertainty increased every +moment; I saw nothing but ruin before me, even at a moment when fortune +promised most fairly for the future, and opened a field of enterprise my +heart had so often and so ardently desired. Nothing was left me but to +hasten to Colonel Merivale and decline my appointment; to do so was to +prejudice my character in his estimation forever, for I dared not allege +my reasons, and in all probability my conduct might require my leaving the +army. + +"Be it so, then," said I, in an accent of despair; "the die is cast." + +I ordered my horse round; I wrote a few words to Power to explain my +absence should he come while I was away, and leaped into the saddle. As I +reached the plain my pace became a gallop, and I pressed my horse with all +the impatience my heart was burning with. I dashed along the lines towards +Oporto, neither hearing nor seeing aught around me, when suddenly the clank +of cavalry accoutrements behind induced me to turn my head, and I perceived +an orderly dragoon at full gallop in pursuit. I pulled up till he came +alongside. + +"Lieutenant O'Malley, sir," said the man, saluting, "these despatches are +for you." + +I took them hurriedly, and was about to continue my route, when the +attitude of the dragoon arrested my attention. He had reined in his horse +to the side of the narrow causeway, and holding him still and steadily, sat +motionless as a statue. I looked behind and saw the whole staff approaching +at a brisk trot. Before I had a moment for thought they were beside me. + +"Ah, O'Malley," cried Merivale, "you have your orders; don't wait; his +Excellency is coming up." + +"Get along, I advise you," said another, "or you'll catch it, as some of us +have done this morning." + +"All is right, Charley; you can go in safety," said a whispering voice, as +Power passed in a sharp canter. + +That one sentence was enough; my heart bounded like a deer, my cheek beamed +with the glow of delighted pleasure, I closed my spurs upon my gallant gray +and dashed across the plain. + +When I arrived at my quarters the men were drawn up in waiting, and +provided with rations for three days' march; Mike was also prepared for the +road, and nothing more remained to delay me. + +"Captain Power has been here, sir, and left a note." + +I took it and thrust it hastily into my sabretasche. I knew from the +few words he had spoken that my present step involved me in no ill +consequences; so giving the word to wheel into column, I rode to the front +and set out upon my march to Alcantara. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + + +THE WATCH-FIRE. + +There are few things so inspiriting to a young soldier as the being +employed with a separate command; the picket and outpost duty have a charm +for him no other portion of his career possesses. The field seems open for +individual boldness and heroism; success, if obtained, must redound to his +own credit; and what can equal, in its spirit-stirring enthusiasm, that +first moment when we become in any way the arbiter of our own fortunes? + +Such were my happy thoughts, as with a proud and elated heart I set forth +upon my march. The notice the commander-in-chief had bestowed upon me had +already done much; it had raised me in my own estimation, and implanted +within me a longing desire for further distinction. I thought, too, of +those far, far away, who were yet to hear of my successes. + +I fancied to myself how they would severally receive the news. My poor +uncle, with tearful eye and quivering lip, was before me, as I saw him read +the despatch, then wipe his glasses, and read on, till at last, with one +long-drawn breath, his manly voice, tremulous with emotion, would break +forth: "My boy! my own Charley!" Then I pictured Considine, with port +erect and stern features, listening silently; not a syllable, not a motion +betraying that he felt interested in my fate, till as if impatient, at +length he would break in: "I knew it,--I said so; and yet you thought to +make him a lawyer!" And then old Sir Harry, his warm heart glowing with +pleasure, and his good-humored face beaming with happiness, how many a +blunder he would make in retailing the news, and how many a hearty laugh +his version of it would give rise to! + +I passed in review before me the old servants, as they lingered in the +room to hear the story. Poor old Matthew, the butler, fumbling with his +corkscrew to gain a little time; then looking in my uncle's face, half +entreatingly, as he asked: "Any news of Master Charles, sir, from the +wars?" + +While thus my mind wandered back to the scenes and faces of my early home, +I feared to ask myself how _she_ would feel to whom my heart was now +turning. Too deeply did I know how poor my chances were in that quarter to +nourish hope, and yet I could not bring myself to abandon it altogether. +Hammersley's strange conduct suggested to me that he, at least, could not +be _my_ rival; while I plainly perceived that he regarded me as _his_. +There was a mystery in all this I could not fathom, and I ardently longed +for my next meeting with Power, to learn the nature of his interview, and +also in what manner the affair had been arranged. + +Such were my passing thoughts as I pressed forward. My men, picked no less +for themselves than their horses, came rapidly along; and ere evening, we +had accomplished twelve leagues of our journey. + +The country through which we journeyed, though wild and romantic in its +character, was singularly rich and fertile,--cultivation reaching to the +very summits of the rugged mountains, and patches of wheat and Indian corn +peeping amidst masses of granite rock and tangled brushwood. The vine +and the olive grew wild on every side; while the orange and the arbutus, +loading the air with perfume, were mingled with prickly pear-trees and +variegated hollies. We followed no regular track, but cantered along over +hill and valley, through forest and prairie, now in long file through some +tall field of waving corn, now in open order upon some level plain,--our +Portuguese guide riding a little in advance of us, upon a jet-black mule, +carolling merrily some wild Gallician melody as he went. + +As the sun was setting, we arrived beside a little stream that flowing +along a rocky bed, skirted a vast forest of tall cork-trees. Here we called +a halt, and picketing our horses, proceeded to make our arrangements for a +bivouac. + +Never do I remember a more lovely night. The watch-fires sent up a +delicious odor from the perfumed shrubs; while the glassy water reflected +on its still surface the starry sky that, unshadowed and unclouded, +stretched above us. I wrapped myself in my trooper's mantle, and lay down +beneath a tree,--but not to sleep. There was a something so exciting, and +withal so tranquillizing, that I had no thought of slumber, but fell into +a musing revery. There was a character of adventure in my position that +charmed me much. My men were gathered in little groups beside the fires; +some sunk in slumber, others sat smoking silently, or chatting, in a low +undertone, of some bygone scene of battle or bivouac; here and there were +picketed the horses; the heavy panoply and piled carbines flickering in the +red glare of the watch-fires, which ever and anon threw a flitting glow +upon the stern and swarthy faces of my bold troopers. Upon the trees +around, sabres and helmets, holsters and cross-belts, were hung like +armorial bearings in some antique hall, the dark foliage spreading its +heavy shadow around us. Farther off, upon a little rocky ledge, the erect +figure of the sentry, with his short carbine resting in the hollow of his +arm, was seen slowly pacing in measured tread, or standing for a moment +silently, as he looked upon the fair and tranquil sky,--his thoughts +doubtless far, far away, beyond the sea, to some humble home, where,-- + + "The hum of the spreading sycamore, + That grew beside his cottage door," + +was again in his ears, while the merry laugh of his children stirred his +bold heart. It was a Salvator-Rosa scene, and brought me back in fancy to +the bandit legends I had read in boyhood. By the uncertain light of the +wood embers I endeavored to sketch the group that lay before me. + +The night wore on. One by one the soldiers stretched themselves to sleep, +and all was still. As the hours rolled by a drowsy feeling crept gradually +over me. I placed my pistols by my side, and having replenished the fire by +some fresh logs, disposed myself comfortably before it. + +It was during that half-dreamy state that intervenes between waking and +sleep that a rustling sound of the branches behind attracted my attention. +The air was too calm to attribute this to the wind, so I listened for some +minutes; but sleep, too long deferred, was over-powerful, and my head sank +upon my grassy pillow, and I was soon sound asleep. How long I remained +thus, I know not; but I awoke suddenly. I fancied some one had shaken me +rudely by the shoulder; but yet all was tranquil. My men were sleeping +soundly as I saw them last. The fires were becoming low, and a gray streak +in the sky, as well as a sharp cold feeling of the air, betokened the +approach of day. Once more I heaped some dry branches together, and was +again about to stretch myself to rest, when I felt a hand upon my shoulder. +I turned quickly round, and by the imperfect light of the fire, saw the +figure of a man standing motionless beside me; his head was bare, and his +hair fell in long curls upon his shoulders; one hand was pressed upon his +bosom, and with the other he motioned me to silence. My first impression +was that our party were surprised by some French patrol; but as I looked +again, I recognized, to my amazement, that the individual before me was the +young French officer I had seen that morning a prisoner beside the Douro. + +"How came you here?" said I, in a low voice, to him in French. + +"Escaped; one of my own men threw himself between me and the sentry; I swam +the Douro, received a musket-ball through my arm, lost my shako, and here I +am!" + +"You are aware you are again a prisoner?" + +"If you desire it, of course I am," said he, in a voice full of feeling +that made my very heart creep. "I thought you were a party of Lorge's +Dragoons, scouring the country for forage; tracked you the entire day, and +have only now come up with you." + +The poor fellow, who had neither eaten nor drunk since daybreak, wounded +and footsore, had accomplished twelve leagues of a march only once more to +fall into the hands of his enemies. His years could scarcely have numbered +nineteen; his countenance was singularly prepossessing; and though bleeding +and torn, with tattered uniform, and without a covering to his head, there +was no mistaking for a moment that he was of gentle blood. Noiselessly and +cautiously I made him sit down beside the fire, while I spread before him +the sparing remnant of my last night's supper, and shared my solitary +bottle of sherry with him. + +From the moment he spoke, I never entertained a thought of making him a +prisoner; but as I knew not how far I was culpable in permitting, if not +actually facilitating, his escape, I resolved to keep the circumstance a +secret from my party, and if possible, get him away before daybreak. + +No sooner did he learn my intentions regarding him, than in an instant +all memory of his past misfortune, all thoughts of his present destitute +condition, seemed to have fled; and while I dressed his wound and bound up +his shattered arm, he chattered away as unconcernedly about the past +and the future as though seated beside the fire of his own bivouac, and +surrounded by his own brother officers. + +"You took us by surprise the other day," said he. "Our marshal looked for +the attack from the mouth of the river; we received information that your +ships were expected there. In any case, our retreat was an orderly one, and +must have been effected with slight loss." + +I smiled at the self-complacency of this reasoning, but did not contradict +him. + +"Your loss must indeed have been great; your men crossed under the fire of +a whole battery." + +"Not exactly," said I; "our first party were quietly stationed in Oporto +before you knew anything about it." + +"_Ah, sacré Dieu!_ Treachery!" cried he, striking his forehead with his +clinched fist. + +"Not so; mere daring,--nothing more. But come, tell me something of your +own adventures. How were you taken?" + +"Simply thus,--I was sent to the rear with orders to the artillery to cut +their traces, and leave the guns; and when coming back, my horse grew tired +in the heavy ground, and I was spurring him to the utmost, when one of your +heavy dragoons--an officer, too--dashed at me, and actually rode me down, +horse and all. I lay for some time bruised by the fall, when an infantry +soldier passing by seized me by the collar, and brought me to the rear. No +matter, however, here I am now. You will not give me up; and perhaps I may +one day live to repay the kindness." + +"You have not long joined?" + +"It was my first battle; my epaulettes were very smart things yesterday, +though they do look a little _passés_ to-day. You are advancing, I +suppose?" + +I smiled without answering this question. + +"Ah, I see you don't wish to speak. Never mind, your discretion is thrown +away upon me; for if I rejoined my regiment to-morrow, I should have +forgotten all you told me,--all but your great kindness." These last words +he spoke, bowing slightly his head, and coloring as he said them. + +"You are a dragoon, I think?" said I, endeavoring to change the topic. + +"I was, two days ago, _chasseur à cheval_, a sous-lieutenant, in the +regiment of my father, the General St. Croix." + +"The name is familiar to me," I replied, "and I am sincerely happy to be in +a position to serve the son of so distinguished an officer." + +"The son of so distinguished an officer is most deeply obliged, but wishes +with all his heart and soul he had never sought glory under such very +excellent auspices. You look surprised, _mon cher_; but let me tell you, +my military ardor is considerably abated in the last three days. Hunger, +thirst, imprisonment, and this"--lifting his wounded limb as he spoke--"are +sharp lessons in so short a campaign, and for one too, whose life hitherto +had much more of ease than adventure to boast of. Shall I tell you how I +became a soldier?" + +"By all means; give me your glass first; and now, with a fresh log to the +fire, I'm your man." + +"But stay; before I begin, look to this." + +The blood was flowing rapidly from his wound, which with some difficulty I +succeeded in stanching. He drank off his wine hastily, held out his glass +to be refilled, and then began his story. + +"You have never seen the Emperor?" + +"Never." + +"_Sacrebleu!_ What a man he is! I'd rather stand under the fire of your +grenadiers, than meet his eye. When in a passion, he does not say much, it +is true; but what he does, comes with a kind of hissing, rushing sound, +while the very fire seems to kindle in his look. I have him before me this +instant, and though you will confess that my present condition has nothing +very pleasing in it, I should be sorry indeed to change it for the last +time I stood in his presence. + +"Two months ago I sported the gay light-blue and silver of a page to the +Emperor, and certainly, what with balls, _bonbons_, flirtation, gossip, +and champagne suppers, led a very gay, reckless, and indolent life of it. +Somehow,--I may tell you more accurately at another period, if we ever +meet,--I got myself into disgrace, and as a punishment, was ordered +to absent myself from the Tuileries, and retire for some weeks to +Fontainebleau. Siberia to a Russian would scarcely be a heavier infliction +than was this banishment to me. There was no court, no levee, no military +parade, no ball, no opera. A small household of the Emperor's chosen +servants quietly kept house there. The gloomy walls re-echoed to no music; +the dark alleys of the dreary garden seemed the very impersonation of +solitude and decay. Nothing broke the dull monotony of the tiresome day, +except when occasionally, near sunset, the clash of the guard would be +heard turning out, and the clank of presenting arms, followed by the roll +of a heavy carriage into the gloomy courtyard. One lamp, shining like a +star, in a small chamber on the second floor, would remain till near four, +sometimes five o'clock in the morning. The same sounds of the guard and +the same dull roll of the carriage would break the stillness of the early +morning; and the Emperor--for it was he--would be on his road back to +Paris. + +"We never saw him,--I say we, for like myself some half-dozen others were +also there, expiating their follies by a life of cheerless _ennui_. + +"It was upon a calm evening in April, we sat together chatting over the +various misdeeds which had consigned us to exile, when some one proposed, +by way of passing the time, that we should visit the small flower-garden +that was parted off from the rest, and reserved for the Emperor alone. It +was already beyond the hour he usually came; besides that, even should he +arrive, there was abundant time to get back before he could possibly reach +it. The garden we had often seen, but there was something in the fact that +our going there was a transgression that so pleased us all that we agreed +at once and set forth. For above an hour we loitered about the lonely and +deserted walks, where already the Emperor's foot-tracks had worn a marked +pathway, when we grew weary and were about to return, just as one of the +party suggested, half in ridicule of the sanctity of the spot, that we +should have a game of leap-frog ere we left it. The idea pleased us and was +at once adopted. Our plan was this,--each person stationed himself in some +by-walk or alley, and waited till the other, whose turn it was, came and +leaped over him; so that, besides the activity displayed, there was a +knowledge of the _locale_ necessary; for to any one passed over a forfeit +was to be paid. Our game began at once, and certainly I doubt if ever those +green alleys and shady groves rang to such hearty laughter. Here would be +seen a couple rolling over together on the grass; there some luckless wight +counting out his pocket-money to pay his penalty. The hours passed quietly +over, and the moon rose, and at last it came to my turn to make the tour of +the garden. As I was supposed to know all its intricacies better than the +rest, a longer time was given for them to conceal themselves; at length the +word was given, and I started. + +"Anxious to acquit myself well, I hurried along at top speed, but guess my +surprise to discover that nowhere could I find one of my companions. Down +one walk I scampered, up another, across a third, but all was still and +silent; not a sound, not a breath, could I detect. There was still one part +of the garden unexplored; it was a small open space before a little pond +which usually contained the gold fish the Emperor was so fond of. Thither +I bent my steps, and had not gone far when in the pale moonlight I saw, at +length, one of my companions waiting patiently for my coming, his head +bent forward and his shoulders rounded. Anxious to repay him for my own +disappointment, I crept silently forward on tiptoe till quite near him, +when, rushing madly on, I sprang upon his back; just, however, as I rose to +leap over, he raised his head, and, staggered by the impulse of my spring, +he was thrown forward, and after an ineffectual effort to keep his legs +fell flat upon his face in the grass. Bursting with laughter, I fell over +him on the ground, and was turning to assist him, when suddenly he sprang +upon his feet, and--horror of horrors!--it was Napoleon himself; his +usually pale features were purple with rage, but not a word, not a syllable +escaped him. + +"'_Qui êtes vous_?' said he, at length. + +"'St. Croix, Sire,' said I, still kneeling before him, while my very heart +leaped into my mouth. + +"'St. Croix! _toujours_ St. Croix! Come here; approach me,' cried he, in a +voice of stifled passion. + +"I rose; but before I could take a step forward he sprang at me, and +tearing off my epaulettes trampled them beneath his feet, and then he +shouted out, rather than spoke, the word '_Allez!_' + +"I did not wait for a second intimation, but clearing the paling at a +spring, was many a mile from Fontainebleau before daybreak." + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + + +THE MARCH. + +Twice the _réveil_ sounded; the horses champed impatiently their heavy +bits; my men stood waiting for the order to mount, ere I could arouse +myself from the deep sleep I had fallen into. The young Frenchman and his +story were in my dreams, and when I awoke, his figure, as he lay sleeping +beside the wood embers, was the first object I perceived. There he lay, +to all seeming as forgetful of his fate as though he still inhabited the +gorgeous halls and gilded saloons of the Tuileries; his pale and handsome +features wore even a placid smile as, doubtless, some dream of other days +flitted across him; his long hair waved in luxurious curls upon his neck, +and his light-brown mustache, slightly curled at the top, gave to his +mild and youthful features an air of saucy _fierté_ that heightened their +effect. A narrow blue ribbon which he wore round his throat gently peeped +from his open bosom. I could not resist the curiosity I felt to see what it +meant, and drawing it softly forth, I perceived that a small miniature was +attached to it. It was beautifully painted, and surrounded with brilliants +of some value. One glance showed me,--for I had seen more than one +engraving before of her,--that it was the portrait of the Empress +Josephine. Poor boy! he doubtless was a favorite at court; indeed, +everything in his air and manner bespoke him such. I gently replaced the +precious locket and turned from the spot to think over what was best to +be done for him. Knowing the vindictive feeling of the Portuguese towards +their invaders, I feared to take Pietro, our guide, into my confidence. I +accordingly summoned my man Mike to my aid, who, with all his country's +readiness, soon found out an expedient. It was to pretend to Pietro that +the prisoner was merely an English officer who had made his escape from the +French army, in which, against his will, he had been serving for some time. + +This plan succeeded perfectly; and when St. Croix, mounted upon one of my +led horses, set out upon his march beside me, none was more profuse of his +attentions than the dark-brown guide whose hatred of a Frenchman was beyond +belief. + +By thus giving him safe conduct through Portugal, I knew that when we +reached the frontier he could easily manage to come up with some part of +Marshal Victor's force, the advanced guard of which lay on the left bank of +the Tagus. + +To me the companionship was the greatest boon; the gay and buoyant spirit +that no reverse of fortune, no untoward event, could subdue, lightened many +an hour of the journey; and though at times the gasconading tone of the +Frenchman would peep through, there was still such a fund of good-tempered +raillery in all he said that it was impossible to feel angry with him. +His implicit faith in the Emperor's invincibility also amused me. Of the +unbounded confidence of the nation in general, and the army particularly, +in Napoleon, I had till then no conception. It was not that in the profound +skill and immense resources of the general they trusted, but they actually +regarded him as one placed above all the common accidents of fortune, and +revered him as something more than human. + +"_Il viendra et puis_--" was the continued exclamation of the young +Frenchman. Any notion of our successfully resisting the overwhelming might +of the Emperor, he would have laughed to scorn, and so I let him go on +prophesying our future misfortunes till the time when, driven back upon +Lisbon, we should be compelled to evacuate the Peninsula, and under +favor of a convention be permitted to return to England. All this was +sufficiently ridiculous, coming from a youth of nineteen, wounded, in +misery, a prisoner; but further experience of his nation has shown me +that St. Croix was not the exception, but the rule. The conviction in the +ultimate success of their army, whatever be the merely momentary mishap, is +the one present thought of a Frenchman; a victory with them is a conquest; +a defeat,--if they are by any chance driven to acknowledge one,--a +_fatalité_. + +I was too young a man, and still more, too young a soldier, to bear with +this absurd affectation of superiority as I ought, and consequently was +glad to wander, whenever I could, from the contested point of our national +superiority to other topics. St. Croix, although young, had seen much of +the world as a page in the splendid court of the Tuileries; the scenes +passing before his eyes were calculated to make a strong impression; and +by many an anecdote of his former life, he lightened the road as we passed +along. + +[Illustration: A TOUCH AT LEAP-FROG WITH NAPOLEON.] + +"You promised, by-the-bye, to tell me of your banishment. How did that +occur, St. Croix?" + +"_Ah, par Dieu!_ that was an unfortunate affair for me; then began all my +mishaps. But for that, I should never have been sent to Fontainebleau; +never have played leap-frog with the Emperor; never have been sent a +soldier into Spain. True," said he, laughing, "I should never have had the +happiness of your acquaintance. But still, I'd much rather have met you +first in the Place des Victoires than in the Estrella Mountains." + +"Who knows?" said I; "perhaps your good genius prevailed in all this." + +"Perhaps," said he, interrupting me; "that's exactly what the Empress +said,--she was my godmother,--'Jules will be a _Maréchal de France yet_.' +But certainly, it must be confessed, I have made a bad beginning. However, +you wish to hear of my disgrace at court. _Allans donc_. But had we not +better wait for a halt?" + +"Agreed," said I; "and so let us now press forward." + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + + +THE PAGE. + +Under the deep shade of some tall trees, sheltered from the noonday sun, we +lay down to rest ourselves and enjoy a most patriarchal dinner,--some dry +biscuits, a few bunches of grapes, and a little weak wine, savoring more of +the borachio-skin than the vine-juice, were all we boasted; yet they were +not ungrateful at such a time and place. + +"Whose health did you pledge then?" inquired St. Croix, with a +half-malicious smile, as I raised the glass silently to my lips. + +I blushed deeply, and looked confused. + +"_A ses beux yeux!_ whoever she be," said he, gayly tossing off his wine; +"and now, if you feel disposed, I'll tell you my story. In good truth, it +is not worth relating, but it may serve to set you asleep, at all events. + +"I have already told you I was a page. Alas, the impressions you may feel +of that functionary, from having seen Cherubino, give but a faint notion of +him when pertaining to the household of the Emperor Napoleon. + +"The _farfallone amoroso_ basked in the soft smiles and sunny looks of the +Countess Almaviva; we met but the cold, impassive look of Talleyrand, the +piercing and penetrating stare of Savary, or the ambiguous smile, half +menace, half mockery, of Monsieur Fouché. While on service, our days were +passed in the antechamber, beside the _salle d'audience_ of the Emperor, +reclining against the closed door, watching attentively for the gentle +tinkle of the little bell which summoned us to open for the exit of some +haughty diplomate, or the _entrée_ of some redoubted general. Thus passed +we the weary hours; the illustrious visitors by whom we were surrounded +had no novelty, consequently no attraction for us, and the names already +historical were but household words with us. + +"We often remarked, too, the proud and distant bearing the Emperor assumed +towards those of his generals who had been his former companions-in-arms. +Whatever familiarity or freedom may have existed in the campaign or in the +battle-field, the air of the Tuileries certainly chilled it. I have often +heard that the ceremonious observances and rigid etiquette of the old +Bourbon court were far preferable to the stern reserve and unbending +stiffness of the imperial one. + +"The antechamber is but the reflection of the reception-room; and whatever +be the whims, the caprices, the littleness of the Great Man, they are +speedily assumed by his inferiors, and the dark temper of one casts a +lowering shadow on every menial by whom he is surrounded. + +"As for us, we were certainly not long in catching somewhat of the spirit +of the Emperor; and I doubt much if the impertinence of the waiting-room +was not more dreaded and detested than the abrupt speech and searching look +of Napoleon himself. + +"What a malicious pleasure have I not felt in arresting the step of M. de +Talleyrand, as he approached the Emperor's closet! With what easy insolence +have I lisped out, 'Pardon, Monsieur, but his Majesty cannot receive you,' +or 'Monsieur le Due, his Majesty has given no orders for your admission.' +How amusing it was to watch the baffled look of each, as he retired once +more to his place among the crowd, the wily diplomate covering his chagrin +with a practised smile, while the stern marshal would blush to his very +eyes with indignation! This was the great pleasure our position afforded +us, and with a boyish spirit of mischief, we cultivated it to perfection, +and became at last the very horror and detestation of all who frequented +the levees; and the ambassador whose fearless voice was heard among the +councils of kings became soft and conciliating in his approaches to us; and +the hardy general who would have charged upon a brigade of artillery was +timid as a girl in addressing us a mere question. + +"Among the amiable class thus characterized I was most conspicuous, +preserving cautiously a tone of civility that left nothing openly to +complain of. I assumed an indifference and impartiality of manner that no +exigency of affairs, no pressing haste, could discompose or disturb; and +my bow of recognition to Soult or Massena was as coolly measured as my +monosyllabic answer was accurately conned over. + +"Upon ordinary occasions the Emperor at the close of each person's audience +rang his little bell for the admission of the next in order as they arrived +in the waiting-room; yet when anything important was under consideration, a +list was given us in the morning of the names to be presented in rotation, +which no casual circumstance was ever suffered to interfere with. + +"It is now about four months since, one fine morning, such a list was +placed within my hands. His Majesty was just then occupied with an inquiry +into the naval force of the kingdom; and as I cast my eyes carelessly +over the names, I read little else than Vice-Admiral So-and-so, Commander +Such-a-one, and Chef d'Escardron Such-another, and the levee presented +accordingly, instead of its usual brilliant array of gorgeous uniform and +aiguilletted marshals, the simple blue-and-gold of the naval service. + +"The marine was not in high favor with the Emperor; and truly, my reception +of these unfrequent visitors was anything but flattering. The early part +of the morning was, as usual, occupied by the audience of the Minister of +Police, and the Duc de Bassano, who evidently, from the length of time +they remained, had matter of importance to communicate. Meanwhile the +antechamber filled rapidly, and before noon was actually crowded. It was +just at this moment that the folding-door slowly opened, and a figure +entered, such as I had never before seen in our brilliant saloon. He was a +man of five or six and fifty, short, thickset, and strongly built, with a +bronzed and weather-beaten face, and a broad open forehead deeply scarred +with a sabre-cut; a shaggy gray mustache curled over and concealed his +mouth, while eyebrows of the same color shaded his dark and piercing eyes. +His dress was a coarse cut of blue cloth such as the fishermen wear in +Bretagne, fastened at the waist by a broad belt of black leather, from +which hung a short-bladed cutlass; his loose trousers, of the same +material, were turned up at the ankles to show a pair of strong legs +coarsely cased in blue stockings and thick-soled shoes. A broad-leaved +oil-skin hat was held in one hand, and the other stuck carelessly in his +pocket, as he entered. He came in with a careless air, and familiarly +saluting one or two officers in the room, he sat himself down near the +door, appearing lost in his own reflections. + +"'Who can you be, my worthy friend?' was my question to myself as I +surveyed this singular apparition. At the same time, casting my eyes down +the list, I perceived that several pilots of the coast of Havre, Calais, +and Boulogne had been summoned to Paris to give some information upon the +soundings and depth of water along the shore. + +"'Ha,' thought I, 'I have it. The good man has mistaken his place, +and instead of remaining without, has walked boldly forward to the +antechamber.' + +"There was something so strange and so original in the grim look of the old +fellow, as he sat there alone, that I suffered him to remain quietly in his +delusion, rather than order him back to the waiting-room without; besides, +I perceived that a kind of sensation was created among the others by his +appearance there, which amused me greatly. + +"As the day wore on, the officers formed into little groups of three or +four, chatting together in an undertone,--all save the old pilot. He had +taken a huge tobacco-box from his capacious breast-pocket, and inserting +an immense piece of the bitter weed in his mouth, began to chew it +as leisurely as though he were walking the quarter-deck. The cool +_insouciance_ of such a proceeding amused me much, and I resolved to draw +him out a little. His strong, broad Breton features, his deep voice, his +dry, blunt manner, were all in admirable keeping with his exterior. + +"'_Par Dieu_, my lad,' said he, after chatting some time, 'had you not +better tell the Emperor that I am waiting? It's now past noon, and I must +eat something.' + +"'Have a little patience,' said I; 'his Majesty is going to invite you to +dinner.' + +"'Be it so,' said he, gravely; 'provided the hour be an early one, I'm his +man.' + +"With difficulty did I keep down my laughter as he said this, and +continued. + +"'So you know the Emperor already, it seems?' + +"'Yes, that I do! I remember him when he was no higher than yourself.' + +"'How delighted he'll be to find you here! I hope you have brought up some +of your family with you, as the Emperor would be so flattered by it?' + +"'No, I've left them at home. This place don't suit us over well. We have +plenty to do besides spending our time and money among all you fine folks +here.' + +"'And not a bad life of it, either,' added I, 'fishing for cod and +herrings,--stripping a wreck now and then.' + +"He stared at me, as I said this, like a tiger on the spring, but spoke not +a word. + +"'And how many young sea-wolves may you have in your den at home?' + +"'Six; and all of them able to carry you with one hand, at arm's length.' + +"'I have no doubt. I shall certainly not test their ability. But you +yourself,--how do you like the capital?' + +"'Not over well; and I'll tell you why--' + +"As he said this the door of the audience-chamber opened, and the Emperor +appeared. His eyes flashed fire as he looked hurriedly around the room. + +"'Who is in waiting here?'" + +"'I am, please your Majesty,' said I, bowing deeply, as I started from my +seat. + +"'And where is the Admiral Truguet? Why was he not admitted?' + +"'Not present, your Majesty,' said I, trembling with fear. + +"'Hold there, young fellow; not so fast. Here he is.' + +"'Ah, Truguet, _mon ami!_' cried the Emperor, placing both hands on the old +fellow's shoulders, 'how long have you been in waiting?' + +"'Two hours and a half,' said he, producing in evidence a watch like a +saucer. + +"'What, two hours and a half, and I not know it!' + +"'No matter; I am always happy to serve your Majesty. But if that fine +fellow had not told me that you were going to ask me to dinner--' + +"'He! He said so, did he?' said Napoleon, turning on me a glance like a +wild beast. 'Yes, Truguet, so I am; you shall dine with me to-day. And you, +sir,' said he, dropping his voice to a whisper, as he came closer towards +me,--'and you have dared to speak thus? Call in a guard there. Capitaine, +put this person under arrest; he is disgraced. He is no longer page of the +palace. Out of my presence! away, sir!' + +"The room wheeled round; my legs tottered; my senses reeled; and I saw no +more. + +"Three weeks' bread and water in St. Pélagie, however, brought me to my +recollection; and at last my kind, my more than kind friend, the Empress, +obtained my pardon, and sent me to Fontainebleau, till the Emperor should +forget all about it. How I contrived again to refresh his memory I have +already told you; and certainly you will acknowledge that I have not been +fortunate in my interviews with Napoleon." + +I am conscious how much St. Croix's story loses in my telling. The simple +expressions, the grace of the narrative, were its charm: and these, alas! +I can neither translate nor imitate, no more than I can convey the strange +mixture of deep feeling and levity, shrewdness and simplicity, that +constituted the manner of the narrator. + +With many a story of his courtly career he amused me as we trotted along; +when, towards nightfall of the third day, a peasant informed us that a +body of French cavalry occupied the convent of San Cristoval, about three +leagues off. The opportunity of his return to his own army pleased him far +less than I expected. Ho heard, without any show of satisfaction, that the +time of his liberation had arrived; and when the moment of leave-taking +drew near, he became deeply affected. + +"_Eh, bien_, Charles," said he, smiling sadly through his dimmed and +tearful eyes. "You've been a kind friend to me. Is the time never to come +when I can repay you?" + +"Yes, yes; we'll meet again, be assured of it. Meanwhile there is one way +you can more than repay anything I have done for you." + +"Oh, name it at once!" + +"Many a brave fellow of ours is now, and doubtless many more will be, +prisoners with your army in this war. Whenever, therefore, your lot brings +you in contact with such--" + +"They shall be my brothers," said he, springing towards me and throwing his +arms round my neck. "Adieu, adieu!" With that he rushed from the spot, and +before I could speak again, was mounted upon the peasant's horse and waving +his hand to me in farewell. + +I looked after him as he rode at a fast gallop down the slope of the green +mountain, the noise of the horse's feet echoing along the silent plain. I +turned at length to leave the spot, and then perceived for the first +time that when taking his farewell of me he had hung around my neck his +miniature of the Empress. Poor boy! How sorrowful I felt thus to rob him of +what he had held so dear! How gladly would I have overtaken him to restore +it! It was the only keepsake he possessed; and knowing that I would not +accept it if offered, he took this way of compelling me to keep it. + +Through the long hours of the summer's night I thought of him; and when +at last I slept, towards morning, my first thought on waking was of the +solitary day before me. The miles no longer slipped imperceptibly along; no +longer did the noon and night seem fast to follow. Alas, that one should +grow old! The very sorrows of our early years have something soft and +touching in them. Arising less from deep wrong than slight mischances, the +grief they cause comes ever with an alloy of pleasant thoughts, telling +of the tender past, and amidst the tears called up, forming some bright +rainbow of future hope. + +Poor St. Croix had already won greatly upon me, and I felt lonely and +desolate when he departed. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + + +ALVAS. + + +Nothing of incident marked our farther progress towards the frontier of +Spain, and at length we reached the small town of Alvas. It was past sunset +as we arrived, and instead of the usual quiet and repose of a little +village, we found the streets crowded with people, on horseback and on +foot; mules, bullocks, carts, and wagons blocked up the way, and the oaths +of the drivers and the screaming of women and children resounded on all +sides. + +With what little Spanish I possessed I questioned some of those near me, +and learned, in reply, that a dreadful engagement had taken place that day +between the advanced guard of the French, under Victor, and the Lusitanian +legion; that the Portuguese troops had been beaten and completely routed, +losing all their artillery and baggage; that the French were rapidly +advancing, and expected hourly to arrive at Alvas, in consequence of which +the terror-stricken inhabitants were packing up their possessions and +hurrying away. + +Here, then, was a point of considerable difficulty for me at once. My +instructions had never provided for such a conjuncture, and I was totally +unable to determine what was best to be done; both my men and their horses +were completely tired by a march of fourteen leagues, and had a pressing +need of some rest; on every side of me the preparations for flight were +proceeding with all the speed that fear inspires; and to my urgent request +for some information as to food and shelter, I could obtain no other reply +than muttered menaces of the fate before me if I remained, and exaggerated +accounts of French cruelty. + +Amidst all this bustle and confusion a tremendous fall of heavy rain set +in, which at once determined me, come what might, to house my party, and +provide forage for our horses. + +As we pushed our way slowly through the encumbered streets, looking on +every side for some appearance of a village inn, a tremendous shout rose in +our rear, and a rush of the people towards us induced us to suppose +that the French were upon us. For some minutes the din and uproar were +terrific,--the clatter of horses' feet, the braying of trumpets, the +yelling of the mob, all mingling in one frightful concert. + +I formed my men in close column, and waited steadily for the attack, +resolving, if possible, to charge through the advancing files,--any retreat +through the crowded and blocked-up thoroughfares being totally out of the +question. The rain was falling in such torrents that nothing could be seen +a few yards off, when suddenly a pause of a few seconds occurred, and from +the clash of accoutrements, and the hoarse tones of a loud voice, I judged +that the body of men before us were forming for attack. + +Resolving, therefore, to take them by surprise, I gave the word to charge, +and spurring our jaded cattle, onward we dashed. The mob fled right and +left from us as we came on; and through the dense mist we could just +perceive a body of cavalry before us. + +In an instant we were among them; down they went on every side, men and +horses rolling pell-mell over each other; not a blow, not a shot striking +us as we pressed on. Never did I witness such total consternation; some +threw themselves from their horses, and fled towards the houses; others +turned and tried to fall back, but the increasing pressure from behind held +them, and finally succeeded in blocking us up among them. + +It was just at this critical moment that a sudden gleam of light from a +window fell upon the disordered mass, and to my astonishment, I need not +say to my delight, I perceived that they were Portuguese troops. Before +I had well time to halt my party, my convictions were pretty well +strengthened by hearing a well-known voice in the rear of the mass call +out,-- + +"Charge, ye devils! charge, will ye? Illustrious Hidalgos! cut them down; +_los infidelos, sacrificados los!_ Scatter them like chaff!" + +One roar of laughter was my only answer to this energetic appeal for my +destruction, and the moment after the dry features and pleasant face of old +Monsoon beamed on me by the light of a pine-torch he carried in his right +hand. + +[Illustration: MAJOR MONSOON TRYING TO CHARGE.] + +"Are they prisoners? Have they surrendered?" inquired he, riding up. "It is +well for them; we'd have made mince-meat of them otherwise; now they shall +be well treated, and ransomed if they prefer." + +"_Gracios excellenze!_" said I, in a feigned voice. + +"Give up your sword," said the major, in an undertone. + +"You behaved gallantly, but you fought against invincibles. Lord love them! +but they are the most terrified invincibles." + +I nearly burst aloud at this. + +"It was a close thing which of us ran first," muttered the major, as he +turned to give some directions to an aide-de-camp. "Ask them who they are," +said he, in Spanish. + +By this time I came close alongside of him, and placing my mouth close to +his ear, holloed out,-- + +"Monsoon, old fellow, how goes the King of Spain's sherry?" + +"Eh, what! Why, upon my life, and so it is,--Charley, my boy, so it's you, +is it? Egad, how good; and we were so near being the death of you! My poor +fellow, how came you here?" + +A few words of explanation sufficed to inform the major why we were there, +and still more to comfort him with the assurance that he had not been +charging the general's staff, and the conmander-in-chief himself. + +"Upon my life, you gave me a great start; though as long as I thought you +were French, it was very well." + +"True, Major, but certainly the invincibles were merciful as they were +strong." + +"They were tired, Charley, nothing more; why, lad, we've been fighting +since daybreak,--beat Victor at six o'clock, drove him back behind the +Tagus; took a cold dinner, and had at him again in the afternoon. Lord love +you! we've immortalized ourselves. But you must never speak of this little +business here; it tells devilish ill for the discipline of your fellows, +upon my life it does." + +This was rather an original turn to give the transaction, but I did not +oppose; and thus chatting, we entered the little inn, where, confidence +once restored, some semblance of comfort already appeared. + +"And so you're come to reinforce us?" said Monsoon; "there was never +anything more opportune,--though we surprised ourselves today with valor, I +don't think we could persevere." + +"Yes, Major, the appointment gave me sincere pleasure; I greatly desired +to see a little service under your orders. Shall I present you with my +despatches?" + +"Not now, Charley,--not now, my lad. Supper is the first thing at this +moment; besides, now that you remind me, I must send off a despatch myself, +Upon my life, it's a great piece of fortune that you're here; you shall be +secretary at war, and write it for me. Here now--how lucky that I thought +of it, to be sure! And it was just a mere chance; one has so many things--" +Muttering such broken, disjointed sentences, the major opened a large +portfolio with writing materials, which he displayed before me as he rubbed +his hands with satisfaction, and said, "Write away, lad." + +"But, my dear Major, you forget; I was not in the action. You must +describe; I can only follow you." + +"Begin then thus:-- + + HEADQUARTERS, ALVAS, JUNE 26. + YOUR EXCELLENCY,--Having learned from Don Alphonzo Xaviero + da Minto, an officer upon my personal staff-- + +"Luckily sober at that moment--" + + That the advanced guard of the eighth corps of the French + army-- + +"Stay, though, was it the eighth? Upon my life, I'm not quite clear as to +that; blot the word a little and go on--" + + That the--corps, under Marshal Victor, had commenced a forward + movement towards Alcantara, I immediately ordered a flank + movement of the light infantry regiment to cover the bridge over the + Tagus. After breakfast-- + +"I'm afraid, Major, that is not precise enough." + +"Well--" + + About eleven o'clock, the French skirmishers attacked, and drove + in our pickets that were posted in front of our position, and following + rapidly up with cavalry, they took a few prisoners, and killed old + Alphonzo,--he ran like a man, they say, but they caught him in + the rear. + +"You needn't put that in, if you don't like." + + I now directed a charge of the cavalry brigade, under Don + Asturias Y'Hajos, that cut them up in fine style. Our artillery, + posted on the heights, mowing away at their columns like fun. + + Victor didn't like this, and got into a wood, when we all went + to dinner; it was about two o'clock then. + + After dinner, the Portuguese light corps, under Silva da Onorha, + having made an attack upon, the enemy's left, without my orders, + got devilish well trounced, and served them right; but coming up + to their assistance, with the heavy brigade of guns, and the cavalry, + we drove back the French, and took several prisoners, none of whom + we put to death. + +"Dash that--Sir Arthur likes respect for the usages of war. Lord, how dry +I'm getting!" + + The French were soon seen to retire their heavy guns, and + speedily afterwards retreated. We pursued them for some time, but + they showed fight; and as it was getting dark, I drew off my forces, + and came here to supper. Your Excellency will perceive, by the + enclosed return, that our loss has been considerable. + + I send this despatch by Don Emanuel Forgales, whose services-- + +"I back him for mutton hash with onions against the whole regiment--" + + --have been of the most distinguished nature, and beg to recommend + him to your Excellency's favor. + + I have the honor, etc. + + +"Is it finished, Charley? Egad, I'm glad of it, for here comes supper." + +The door opened as he spoke, and displayed a tempting tray of smoking +viands, flanked by several bottles,--an officer of the major's staff +accompanied it, and showed, by his attentions to the etiquette of the +table and the proper arrangement of the meal, that his functions in his +superior's household were more than military. + +We were speedily joined by two others in rich uniform, whose names I now +forget, but to whom the major presented me in all form,--introducing me, +as well as I could interpret his Spanish, as his most illustrious ally and +friend Don Carlos O'Malley. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + + +THE SUPPER. + +I have often partaken of more luxurious cookery and rarer wines; but never +do I remember enjoying a more welcome supper than on this occasion. + +Our Portuguese guests left us soon, and the major and myself were once +more tête-a-tête beside a cheerful fire; a well-chosen array of bottles +guaranteeing that for some time at least no necessity of leave-taking +should arise from any deficiency of wine. + +"That sherry is very near the thing, Charley; a little, a very little +sharp, but the after-taste perfect. And now, my boy, how have you been +doing since we parted?" + +"Not so badly, Major. I have already got a step in promotion. The affair at +the Douro gave me a lieutenancy." + +"I wish you joy with all my heart. I'll call you captain always while +you're with me. Upon my life I will. Why, man, they style me your +Excellency here. Bless your heart, we are great folk among the Portuguese, +and no bad service, after all." + +"I should think not, Major. You seem to have always made a good thing of +it." + +"No, Charley; no, my boy. They overlook us greatly in general orders +and despatches. Had the brilliant action of to-day been fought by the +British--But no matter, they may behave well in England, after all; and +when I'm called to the Upper House as Baron Monsoon of the Tagus,--is that +better than Lord Alcantara?" + +"I prefer the latter." + +"Well, then, I'll have it. Lord! what a treaty I'll move for with Portugal, +to let us have wine cheap. Wine, you know, as David says, gives us a +pleasant countenance; and oil,--I forget what oil does. Pass over the +decanter. And how is Sir Arthur, Charley? A fine fellow, but sadly +deficient in the knowledge of supplies. Never would have made any character +in the commissariat. Bless your heart, he pays for everything here as if he +were in Cheapside." + +"How absurd, to be sure!" + +"Isn't it, though? That was not my way, when I was commissary-general about +a year or two ago. To be sure, how I did puzzle them! They tried to audit +my accounts, and what do you think I did? I brought them in three thousand +pounds in my debt. They never tried on that game any more. 'No, no,' said +the Junta, 'Beresford and Monsoon are great men, and must be treated with +respect!' Do you think we'd let them search our pockets? But the rogues +doubled on us after all; they sent us to the northward,--a poor country--" + +"So that, except a little commonplace pillage of the convents and +nunneries, you had little or nothing?" + +"Exactly so; and then I got a great shock about that time that affected my +spirits for a considerable while." + +"Indeed, Major, some illness?" + +"No, I was quite well; but--Lord, how thirsty it makes me to think of it; +my throat is absolutely parched--I was near being hanged!" + +"Hanged!" + +"Yes. Upon my life it's true,--very horrible, ain't it? It had a great +effect upon my nervous system; and they never thought of any little pension +to me as a recompense for my sufferings." + +"And who was barbarous enough to think of such a thing, Major?" + +"Sir Arthur Wellesley himself,--none other, Charley?" + +"Oh, it was a mistake, Major, or a joke." + +"It was devilish near being a practical one, though. I'll tell you how it +occurred. After the battle of Vimeira, the brigade to which I was attached +had their headquarters at San Pietro, a large convent where all the church +plate for miles around was stored up for safety. A sergeant's guard was +accordingly stationed over the refectory, and every precaution taken to +prevent pillage, Sir Arthur himself having given particular orders on the +subject. Well, somehow,--I never could find out how,--but in leaving the +place, all the wagons of our brigade had got some trifling articles of +small value scattered, as it might be, among their stores,--gold cups, +silver candlesticks, Virgin Marys, ivory crucifixes, saints' eyes set in +topazes, and martyrs' toes in silver filagree, and a hundred other similar +things. + +"One of these confounded bullock-cars broke down just at the angle of the +road where the commander-in-chief was standing with his staff to watch the +troops defile, and out rolled, among bread rations and salt beef, a whole +avalanche of precious relics and church ornaments. Every one stood aghast! +Never was there such a misfortune. No one endeavored to repair the mishap, +but all looked on in terrified amazement as to what was to follow. + +"'Who has the command of this detachment?' shouted out Sir Arthur, in a +voice that made more than one of us tremble. + +"'Monsoon, your Excellency,--Major Monsoon, of the Portuguese brigade.' + +"'The d--d old rogue, I know him!' Upon my life that's what he said. 'Hang +him up on the spot,' pointing with his finger as he spoke; 'we shall see +if this practice cannot be put a stop to.' And with these words he rode +leisurely away, as if he had been merely ordering dinner for a small party. + +"When I came up to the place the halberts were fixed, and Gronow, with a +company of the Fusiliers, under arms beside them. + +"'Devilish sorry for it, Major,' said he; 'It's confoundedly unpleasant; +but can't be helped. We've got orders to see you hanged.' + +"Faith, it was just so he said it, tapping his snuff-box as he spoke, and +looking carelessly about him. Now, had it not been for the fixed halberts +and the provost-marshal, I'd not have believed him; but one glance at them, +and another at the bullock-cart with all the holy images, told me at once +what had happened. + +"'He only means to frighten me a little? Isn't that all, Gronow?' cried I, +in a supplicating voice. + +"'Very possibly, Major,' said he; 'but I must execute my orders.' + +"'You'll surely not--' Before I could finish, up came Dan Mackinnon, +cantering smartly. + +"'Going to hang old Monsoon, eh, Gronow? What fun!' + +"'Ain't it, though,' said I, half blubbering. + +"'Well, if you're a good Catholic, you may have your choice of a saint, +for, by Jupiter, there's a strong muster of them here.' This cruel allusion +was made in reference to the gold and silver effigies that lay scattered +about the highway. + +"'Dan,' said I, in a whisper, 'intercede for me. Do, like a good, kind +fellow. You have influence with Sir Arthur.' + +"'You old sinner,' said he, 'it's useless.' + +"'Dan, I'll forgive you the fifteen pounds.' + +"'That you owe _me_,' said Dan, laughing. + +"'Who'll ever be the father to you I have been? Who'll mix your punch with +burned Madeira, when I'm gone?' said I. + +"'Well, really, I am sorry for you, Monsoon. I say, Gronow, don't tuck him +up for a few minutes; I'll speak for the old villain, and if I succeed, +I'll wave my handkerchief.' + +"Well, away went Dan at a full gallop. Gronow sat down on a bank, and +I fidgeted about in no very enviable frame of mind, the confounded +provost-marshal eying me all the while. + +"'I can only give you five minutes more, Major,' said Gronow, placing his +watch beside him on the grass. I tried to pray a little, and said three or +four of Solomon's proverbs, when he again called out: 'There, you see it +won't do! Sir Arthur is shaking his head.' + +"'What's that waving yonder?' + +"'The colors of the 6th Foot. Come, Major, off with your stock.' + +"'Where is Dan now; what is he doing?'--for I could see nothing myself. + +"'He's riding beside Sir Arthur. They all seem laughing.' + +"'God forgive them! what an awful retrospect this will prove to some of +them.' + +"'Time's up!' said Gronow, jumping up, and replacing his watch in his +pocket. + +"'Provost-Marshal, be quick now--' + +"'Eh! what's that?--there, I see it waving! There's a shout too!' + +"'Ay, by Jove! so it is; well, you're saved this time, Major; that's the +signal.' + +"So saying, Gronow formed his fellows in line and resumed his march quite +coolly, leaving me alone on the roadside to meditate over martial law and +my pernicious taste for relics. + +"Well, Charley, this gave me a great shock, and I think, too, it must have +had a great effect upon Sir Arthur himself; but, upon my life, he has +wonderful nerves. I met him one day afterwards at dinner in Lisbon; he +looked at me very hard for a few seconds: 'Eh, Monsoon! Major Monsoon, I +think?' + +"'Yes, your Excellency,' said I, briefly; thinking how painful it must be +for him to meet me. + +"'Thought I had hanged you,--know I intended it,--no matter. A glass of +wine with you?' + +"Upon my life, that was all; how easily some people can forgive themselves! +But Charley, my hearty, we are getting on slowly with the tipple; are they +all empty? So they are! Let us make a sortie on the cellar; bring a candle +with you, and come along." + +We had scarcely proceeded a few steps from the door, when a most vociferous +sound of mirth, arising from a neighboring apartment, arrested our +progress. + +"Are the dons so convivial, Major?" said I, as a hearty burst of laughter +broke forth at the moment. + +"Upon my life, they surprise me; I begin to fear they have taken some of +our wine." + +We now perceived that the sounds of merriment came from the kitchen, +which opened upon a little courtyard. Into this we crept stealthily, and +approaching noiselessly to the window, obtained a peep at the scene within. + +Around a blazing fire, over which hung by a chain a massive iron pot, sat a +goodly party of some half-dozen people. One group lay in dark shadow; but +the others were brilliantly lighted up by the cheerful blaze, and showed +us a portly Dominican friar, with a beard down to his waist, a buxom, +dark-eyed girl of some eighteen years, and between the two, most +comfortably leaning back, with an arm round each, no less a person than my +trusty man Mickey Free. + +It was evident, from the alternate motion of his head, that his attentions +were evenly divided between the church and the fair sex; although, to +confess the truth, they seemed much more favorably received by the latter +than the former,--a brown earthen flagon appearing to absorb all the worthy +monk's thoughts that he could spare from the contemplation of heavenly +objects. + +"Mary, my darlin,' don't be looking at me that way, through the corner of +your eye; I know you're fond of me,--but the girls always was. You think +I'm joking, but troth I wouldn't say a lie before the holy man beside me; +sure I wouldn't, Father?" + +The friar grunted out something in reply, not very unlike, in sound at +least, a hearty anathema. + +"Ah, then, isn't it yourself has the illigant time of it, Father dear!" +said he, tapping him familiarly upon his ample paunch, "and nothing to +trouble you; the best of divarsion wherever you go, and whether it's +Badahos or Ballykilruddery, it's all one; the women is fond of ye. Father +Murphy, the coadjutor in Scariff, was just such another as yourself, and +he'd coax the birds off the trees with the tongue of him. Give us a pull at +the pipkin before it's all gone, and I'll give you a chant." + +With this he seized the jar, and drained it to the bottom; the smack of his +lips as he concluded, and the disappointed look of the friar as he peered +into the vessel, throwing the others, once more, into a loud burst of +laughter. + +"And now, your rev'rance, a good chorus is all I'll ask, and you'll not +refuse it for the honor of the church." + +So saying, he turned a look of most droll expression upon the monk, and +began the following ditty, to the air of "Saint Patrick was a Gentleman":-- + + What an illegant life a friar leads, + With a fat round paunch before him! + He mutters a prayer and counts his beads, + And all the women adore him. + It's little he's troubled to work or think, + Wherever devotion leads him; + A "pater" pays for his dinner and drink, + For the Church--good luck to her!--feeds him. + + From the cow in the field to the pig in the sty, + From the maid to the lady in satin, + They tremble wherever he turns an eye. + He can talk to the Devil in Latin! + He's mighty severe to the ugly and ould, + And curses like mad when he's near 'em; + But one beautiful trait of him I've been tould, + The innocent craytures don't fear him. + + It's little for spirits or ghosts he cares; + For 'tis true as the world supposes, + With an Ave he'd make them march down-stairs, + Av they dared to show their noses. + The Devil himself's afraid, 'tis said, + And dares not to deride him; + For "angels make each night his bed, + And then--lie down beside him." + +A perfect burst of laughter from Monsoon prevented my hearing how Mike's +minstrelsy succeeded within doors; but when I looked again, I found +that the friar had decamped, leaving the field open to his rival,--a +circumstance, I could plainly perceive, not disliked by either party. + +"Come back, Charley, that villain of yours has given me the cramp, standing +here on the cold pavement. We'll have a little warm posset,--very small and +thin, as they say in Tom Jones,--and then to bed." + +Notwithstanding the abstemious intentions of the major, it was daybreak +ere we separated, and neither party in a condition for performing upon the +tight-rope. + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + + +THE LEGION. + +My services while with the Legion were of no very distinguished character, +and require no lengthened chronicle. Their great feat of arms, the repulse +of an advanced guard of Victor's corps, had taken place the very morning I +had joined them, and the ensuing month was passed in soft repose upon their +laurels. + +For the first few days, indeed, a multiplicity of cares beset the worthy +major. There was a despatch to be written to Beresford, another to +the Supreme Junta, a letter to Wilson, at that time with the corps of +observation to the eastward. There were some wounded to be looked after, a +speech to be made to the conquering heroes themselves, and lastly, a few +prisoners were taken, whose fate seemed certainly to partake of the most +uncertain of war's proverbial chances. + +The despatches gave little trouble; with some very slight alterations, the +great original, already sent forward to Sir Arthur, served as a basis for +the rest. The wounded were forwarded to Alcantara, with a medical staff; to +whom Monsoon, at parting, pleasantly hinted that he expected to see all the +sick at their duty by an early day, or he would be compelled to report the +doctors. The speech, which was intended as a kind of general order, he +deferred for some favorable afternoon when he could get up his Portuguese; +and lastly, came the prisoners, by far the most difficult of all his cares. +As for the few common soldiers taken, they gave him little uneasiness,--as +Sir John has it, they were "mortal men, and food for powder;" but there +was a staff-officer among them, aiguilletted and epauletted. The very +decorations he wore were no common temptation. Now, the major deliberated a +long time with himself, whether the usages of modern war might not admit of +the ancient, time-honored practice of ransom. The battle, save in glory, +had been singularly unproductive: plunder there was none; the few +ammunition-wagons and gun-carriages were worth little or nothing; so that, +save the prisoners, nothing remained. It was late in the evening--the +mellow hour of the major's meditations--when he ventured to open his heart +to me upon the matter. + +"I was just thinking, Charley, how very superior they were in olden times +to us moderns, in many matters, and nothing more than in their treatment of +prisoners. They never took them away from their friends and country; +they always ransomed them,--if they had wherewithal to pay their way. So +good-natured!--upon my life it was a most excellent custom! They took any +little valuables they found about them, and then put them up at auction. +Moses and Eleazar, a priest, we are told, took every piece of gold, and +their wrought jewels,--meaning their watches, and ear-rings. You needn't +laugh, they all wore ear-rings, those fellows did. Now, why shouldn't +I profit by their good example? I have taken Agag, the King of the +Amalekites,--no, but upon my life, I have got a French major, and I'd let +him go for fifty doubloons." + +It was not without much laughing, and some eloquence, that I could persuade +Monsoon that Sir Arthur's military notions might not accept of even the +authority of Moses; and as our headquarters were at no great distance, +the danger of such a step as he meditated was too considerable at such a +moment. + +As for ourselves, no fatiguing drills, no harassing field-days, and no +provoking inspections interfered with the easy current of our lives. +Foraging parties there were, it was true, and some occasional outpost duty +was performed. But the officers for both were selected with a tact that +proved the major's appreciation of character; for while the gay, joyous +fellow that sung a jovial song and loved his _liquor_ was certain of being +entertained at headquarters, the less-gifted and less-congenial spirit had +the happiness of scouring the country for forage, and presenting himself as +a target to a French rifle. + +My own endeavors to fulfil my instructions met with but little +encouragement or support; and although I labored hard at my task, I must +confess that the soil was a most ungrateful one. The cavalry were, it is +true, composed mostly of young fellows well-appointed, and in most cases +well-mounted; but a more disorderly, careless, undisciplined set of +good-humored fellows never formed a corps in the world. + +Monsoon's opinions were felt in every branch of the service, from the +adjutant to the drumboy,--the same reckless, indolent, plunder-loving +spirit prevailed everywhere. And although under fire they showed no lack of +gallantry or courage, the moment of danger passed, discipline departed with +it, and their only conception of benefiting by a victory consisted in the +amount of pillage that resulted from it. + +From time to time the rumors of great events reached us. We heard that +Soult, having succeeded in re-organizing his beaten army, was, in +conjunction with Ney's corps, returning from the north; that the marshals +were consolidating their forces in the neighborhood of Talavera; and that +King Joseph himself, at the head of a large army, had marched for Madrid. + +Menacing as such an aspect of affairs was, it had little disturbed the +major's equanimity; and when our advanced posts reported daily the +intelligence that the French were in retreat, he cared little with what +object of concentrating they retired, provided the interval between us +grew gradually wider. His speculations upon the future were singularly +prophetic. "You'll see, Charley, what will happen; old Cuesta will pursue +them, and get thrashed. The English will come up, and perhaps get thrashed +too; but we, God bless us! are only a small force, partially organized and +ill to depend on,--we'll go up the mountains till all is over!" Thus did +the major's discretion not only extend to the avoidance of danger, but he +actually disqualified himself from even making its acquaintance. + +Meanwhile our operations consisted in making easy marches to Almarez, +halting wherever the commissariat reported a well-stocked cellar or +well-furnished hen-roost, taking the primrose path in life, and being, in +words of the major, "contented and grateful, even amidst great perils!" + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + + +THE DEPARTURE. + +On the morning of the 10th July a despatch reached us announcing that Sir +Arthur Wellesley had taken up his headquarters at Placentia for the purpose +of communicating with Cuesta, then at Casa del Puerto; and ordering me +immediately to repair to the Spanish headquarters and await Sir Arthur's +arrival, to make my report upon the effective state of our corps. As for +me, I was heartily tired of the inaction of my present life, and much as I +relished the eccentricities of my friend the major, longed ardently for a +different sphere of action. + +Not so Monsoon; the prospect of active employment and the thoughts of being +left once more alone, for his Portuguese staff afforded him little society, +depressed him greatly; and as the hour of my departure drew near, he +appeared lower in spirits than I had ever seen him. + +"I shall be very lonely without you, Charley," said he, with a sigh, as we +sat the last evening together beside our cheerful wood fire. "I have little +intercourse with the dons; for my Portuguese is none of the best, and only +comes when the evening is far advanced; and besides, the villains, I fear, +may remember the sherry affair. Two of my present staff were with me then." + +"Is that the story Power so often alluded to, Major; the King of Spain's--" + +"There, Charley, hush; be cautious, my boy. I'd rather not speak about that +till we get among our own fellows." + +"Just as you like, Major; but, do you know, I have a strong curiosity to +hear the narrative." + +"If I'm not mistaken, there is some one listening at the door,--gently; +that's it, eh?" + +"No, we are perfectly alone; the night's early; who knows when we shall +have as quiet an hour again together? Let me hear it, by all means." + +"Well, I don't care; the thing, Heaven knows! is tolerably well known; so +if you'll amuse yourself making a devil of the turkey's legs there, I'll +tell you the story. It's very short, Charley, and there's no moral; so +you're not likely to repeat it." + +So saying, the major filled up his glass, drew a little closer to the fire, +and began:-- + +"When the French troops, under Laborde, were marching, upon Alcobaca, +in concert with Loison's corps, I was ordered to convey a very valuable +present of sherry the Duo d'Albu-querque was making to the Supreme +Junta,--no less than ten hogsheads of the best sherry the royal cellars of +Madrid had formerly contained. + +"It was stored in the San Vincente convent; and the Junta, knowing a little +about monkish tastes and the wants of the Church, prudently thought it +would be quite as well at Lisbon. I was accordingly ordered, with a +sufficient force, to provide for its safe conduct and secure arrival, and +set out upon my march one lovely morning in April with my precious convoy. + +"I don't know, I never could understand, why temptations are thrown in our +way in this life, except for the pleasure of yielding to them. As for me, +I'm a stoic when there's nothing to be had; but let me get a scent of +a well-kept haunch, the odor of a wine-bin once in my nose, I forget +everything except appropriation. That bone smells deliciously, Charley; a +little garlic would improve it vastly. + +"Our road lay through cross-paths and mountain tracts, for the French were +scouring the country on every side, and my fellows, only twenty altogether, +trembled at the very name of them; so that our only chance was to avoid +falling in with any forage parties. We journeyed along for several days, +rarely making more than a few leagues between sunrise and sunset, a scout +always in advance to assure us that all was safe. The road was a lonesome +one and the way weary, for I had no one to speak to or converse with, so I +fell into a kind of musing fit about the old wine in the great brown casks. +I thought on its luscious flavor, its rich straw tint, its oily look as it +flowed into the glass, the mellow after-taste warming the heart as it went +down, and I absolutely thought I could smell it through the wood. + +"How I longed to broach one of them, if it were only to see if my dreams +about it were correct. 'May be it's brown sherry,' thought I, 'and I am +all wrong.' This was a very distressing reflection. I mentioned it to the +Portuguese intendant, who travelled with us as a kind of supercargo; but +the villain only grinned and said something about the Junta and the galleys +for life, so I did not recur to it afterwards. Well, it was upon the third +evening of our march that the scout reported that at Merida, about a league +distant, he had fallen in with an English cavalry regiment, who were on +their march to the northern provinces, and remaining that night in the +village. As soon, therefore, as I had made all my arrangements for the +night, I took a fresh horse and cantered over to have a look at my +countrymen, and hear the news. When I arrived, it was a dark night, but I +was not long in finding out our fellows. They were the 11th Light Dragoons, +commanded by my old friend Bowes, and with as jolly a mess as any in the +service. + +"Before half an hour's time I was in the midst of them, hearing all about +the campaign, and telling them in return about my convoy, dilating upon the +qualities of the wine as if I had been drinking it every day at dinner. + +"We had a very mellow night of it; and before four o'clock the senior +major and four captains were under the table, and all the subs, in a state +unprovided for by the articles of war. So I thought I'd be going, and +wishing the sober ones a good-by, set out on my road to join my own party. + +"I had not gone above a hundred yards when I heard some one running after, +and calling out my name. + +"'I say, Monsoon; Major, confound you, pull up.' + +"'Well, what's the matter? Has any more lush turned up?' inquired I, for we +had drank the tap dry when I left. + +"'Not a drop, old fellow!' said he; 'but I was thinking of what you've been +saying about that sherry.' + +"'Well! What then?' + +"'Why, I want to know how we could get a taste of it?' + +"'You'd better get elected one of the Cortes,' said I, laughing; 'for it +doesn't seem likely you'll do so in any other way.' + +"'I'm not so sure of that,' said he, smiling. 'What road do you travel +to-morrow?' + +"'By Cavalhos and Reina.' + +"'Whereabouts may you happen to be towards sunset?' + +"'I fear we shall be in the mountains,' said I, with a knowing look, 'where +ambuscades and surprise parties would be highly dangerous.' + +"'And your party consists of--' + +"'About twenty Portuguese, all ready to run at the first shot.' + +"'I'll do it, Monsoon; I'll be hanged if I don't.' + +"'But, Tom,' said I, 'don't make any blunder; only blank cartridge, my +boy.' + +"'Honor bright!' cried he. 'Your fellows are armed of course?' + +"'Never think of that; they may shoot each other in the confusion. But if +you only make plenty of noise coming on, they'll never wait for you.' + +"'What capital fellows they must be!' + +"'Crack troops, Tom; so don't hurt them. And now, good-night.' + +"As I cantered off, I began to think over O'Flaherty's idea; and upon my +life, I didn't half like it. He was a reckless, devil-may-care fellow; and +it was just as likely he would really put his scheme into practice. + +"When morning broke, however, we got under way again, and I amused myself +all the forenoon in detailing stories of French cruelty; so that before we +had marched ten miles, there was not a man among us not ready to run at the +slightest sound of attack on any side. As evening was falling we reached +Morento, a little mountain pass which follows the course of a small river, +and where, in many places, the mule carts had barely space enough to pass +between the cliffs and the stream. 'What a place for Tom O'Flaherty and his +foragers!' thought I, as we entered the little mountain gorge; but all was +silent as the grave,--except the tramp of our party, not a sound was heard. +There was something solemn and still in the great brown mountain, rising +like vast walls on either side, with a narrow streak of gray sky at top and +in the dark, sluggish stream, that seemed to awe us, and no one spoke. The +muleteer ceased his merry song, and did not crack or flourish his long whip +as before, but chid his beasts in a half-muttered voice, and urged them +faster, to reach the village before nightfall. + +"Egad, somehow I felt uncommonly uncomfortable; I could not divest my mind +of the impression that some disaster was impending, and I wished O'Flaherty +and his project in a very warm climate. 'He'll attack us,' thought I, +'where we can't run; fair play forever. But if they are not able to get +away, even the militia will fight.' However, the evening crept on, and no +sign of his coming appeared on any side; and to my sincere satisfaction, I +could see, about half a league distant, the twinkling light of the little +village where we were to halt for the night. It was just at this time that +a scout I had sent out some few hundred yards in advance came galloping up, +almost breathless. + +"'The French, Captain; the French are upon us!' said he, with a face like a +ghost. + +"'Whew! Which way? How many?' said I, not at all sure that he might not be +telling the truth. + +"'Coming in force!' said the fellow. 'Dragoons! By this road!' + +"'Dragoons? By this road?' repeated every man of the party, looking at each +other like men sentenced to be hanged. + +"Scarcely had they spoken when we heard the distant noise of cavalry +advancing at a brisk trot. Lord, what a scene ensued! The soldiers ran +hither and thither like frightened sheep; some pulled out crucifixes and +began to say their prayers; others fired off their muskets in a panic; the +mule-drivers cut their traces, and endeavored to get away by riding; and +the intendant took to his heels, screaming out to us, as he went, to fight +manfully to the last, and that he'd report us favorably to the Junta. + +"Just at this moment the dragoons came in sight; they came galloping up, +shouting like madmen. One look was enough for my fellows; they sprang to +their legs from their devotions, fired a volley straight at the new moon, +and ran like men. + +"I was knocked down in the rush. As I regained my legs, Tom O'Flaherty was +standing beside me, laughing like mad. + +"'Eh, Monsoon! I've kept my word, old fellow! What legs they have! We shall +make no prisoners, that's certain. Now, lads, here it is! Put the horses +to, here. We shall take but one, Monsoon; so that your gallant defence of +the rest will please the Junta. Good-night, good-night! I will drink your +health every night these two months.' + +"So saying, Tom sprang to his saddle; and in less time than I've been +telling it, the whole was over and I sitting by myself in the gray +moonlight, meditating on all I saw, and now and then shouting for my +Portuguese friends to come back again. They came in time, by twos and +threes; and at last the whole party re-assembled, and we set forth again, +every man, from the intendant to the drummer, lauding my valor, and saying +that Don Monsoon was a match for the Cid." + +"And how did the Junta behave?" + +"Like trumps, Charley. Made me a Knight of Battalha, and kissed me on both +cheeks, having sent twelve dozen of the rescued wine to my quarters, as a +small testimony of their esteem. I have laughed very often at it since. But +hush, Charley? What's that I hear without there?" + +"Oh, it's my fellow Mike. He asked my leave to entertain his friends before +parting, and I perceive he is delighting them with a song." + +"But what a confounded air it is! Are the words Hebrew?" + +"Irish, Major; most classical Irish, too, I'll be bound!" + +"Irish! I've heard most tongues, but that certainly surprises me. Call him +in, Charley, and let us have the canticle." + +In a few minutes more, Mr. Free appeared in a state of very satisfactory +elevation, his eyebrows alternately rising and falling, his mouth a little +drawn to one side, and a side motion in his knee-joints that might puzzle a +physiologist to account for. + +"A sweet little song of yours, Mike," said the major; "a very sweet thing +indeed. Wet your lips, Mickey." + +"Long life to your honor and Master Charles there, too, and them that +belongs to both of yez. May a gooseberry skin make a nightcap for the man +would harm either of ye." + +"Thank you, Mike. And now about that song." + +"It's the ouldest tune ever was sung," said Mike, with a hiccough, "barring +Adam had a taste for music; but the words--the poethry--is not so ould." + +"And how comes that?" + +"The poethry, ye see, was put to it by one of my ancesthors,--he was a +great inventhor in times past, and made beautiful songs,--and ye'd never +guess what it's all about." + +"Love, mayhap?" quoth Monsoon. + +"Sorra taste of kissing from beginning to end." + +"A drinking song?" said I. + +"Whiskey is never mentioned." + +"Fighting is the only other national pastime. It must be in praise of +sudden death?" + +"You're out again; but sure you'd never guess it," said Mike. "Well, ye +see, here's what it is. It's the praise and glory of ould Ireland in the +great days that's gone, when we were all Phenayceans and Armenians, +and when we worked all manner of beautiful contrivances in gold and +silver,--bracelets and collars and teapots, elegant to look at,--and read +Roosian and Latin, and played the harp and the barrel-organ, and eat and +drank of the best, for nothing but asking." + +"Blessed times, upon my life!" quoth the major; "I wish we had them back +again." + +"There's more of your mind," said Mike, steadying himself. "My ancesthors +was great people in them days; and sure it isn't in my present situation +I'd be av we had them back again,--sorra bit, faith! It isn't, 'Come +here, Mickey, bad luck to you, Mike!' or, 'That blackguard, Mickey Free!' +people'd be calling me. But no matter; here's your health again, Major +Monsoon--" + +"Never mind vain regrets, Mike. Let us hear your song; the major has taken +a great fancy to it." + +"Ah, then, it's joking you are, Mister Charles," said Mike, affecting an +air of most bashful coyness. + +"By no means; we want to hear you sing it." + +"To be sure we do. Sing it by all means; never be ashamed. King David was +very fond of singing,--upon my life he was." + +"But you'd never understand a word of it, sir." + +"No matter; we know what it's about. That's the way with the Legion; they +don't know much English, but they generally guess what I'm at." + +This argument seemed to satisfy all Mike's remaining scruples; so placing +himself in an attitude of considerable pretension as to grace, he began, +with a voice of no very measured compass, an air of which neither by name +nor otherwise can I give any conception; my principal amusement being +derived from a tol-de-rol chorus of the major, which concluded each verse, +and indeed in a lower key accompanied the singer throughout. + +Since that I have succeeded in obtaining a free-and-easy translation of the +lyric; but in my anxiety to preserve the metre and something of the spirit +of the original, I have made several blunders and many anachronisms. Mr. +Free, however, pronounces my version a good one, and the world must take +his word till some more worthy translator shall have consigned it to +immortal verse. + +With this apology, therefore, I present Mr. Free's song: + + AIR,--_Na Guilloch y' Goulen_. + + Oh, once we were illigint people, + Though we now live in cabins of mud; + And the land that ye see from the steeple + Belonged to us all from the Flood. + My father was then King of Connaught, + My grand-aunt Viceroy of Tralee; + But the Sassenach came, and signs on it, + The devil an acre have we. + + The least of us then were all earls, + And jewels we wore without name; + We drank punch out of rubies and pearls,-- + Mr. Petrie can tell you the same. + But except some turf mould and potatoes, + There's nothing our own we can call; + And the English,--bad luck to them!--hate us, + Because we've more fun than them all! + + My grand-aunt was niece to Saint Kevin, + That's the reason my name's Mickey Free! + Priest's nieces,--but sure he's in heaven, + And his failins is nothin' to me. + And we still might get on without doctors, + If they'd let the ould Island alone; + And if purple-men, priests, and tithe-proctors + Were crammed down the great gun of Athlone. + + +[Illustration: MR. FREE'S SONG.] + +As Mike's melody proceeded, the major's thorough bass waxed beautifully +less,--now and then, it's true, roused by some momentary strain, it swelled +upwards in full chorus, but gradually these passing flights grew rarer, and +finally all ceased, save a long, low, droning sound, like the expiring sigh +of a wearied bagpipe. His fingers still continued mechanically to beat time +upon the table, and still his head nodded sympathetically to the music; +his eyelids closed in sleep; and as the last verse concluded, a full-drawn +snore announced that Monsoon, if not in the land of dreams, was at least in +a happy oblivion of all terrestrial concerns, and caring as little for the +woes of green Erin and the altered fortunes of the Free family as any Saxon +that ever oppressed them. + +There he sat, the finished decanter and empty goblet testifying that his +labors had only ceased from the pressure of necessity; but the broken, +half-uttered words that fell from his lips evinced that he reposed on the +last bottle of the series. + +"Oh, thin, he's a fine ould gentleman!" said Mike, after a pause of some +minutes, during which he had been contemplating the major with all the +critical acumen Chantrey or Canova would have bestowed upon an antique +statue,--"a fine ould gentleman, every inch of him; and it's the master +would like to have him up at the Castle." + +"Quite true, Mike; but let us not forget the road. Look to the cattle, and +be ready to start within an hour." + +When he left the room for this purpose I endeavored to shake the major into +momentary consciousness ere we parted. + +"Major, Major," said I, "time is up. I must start." + +"Yes, it's all true, your Excellency: they pillaged a little; and if they +did change their facings, there was a great temptation. All the red velvet +they found in the churches--" + +"Good-by, old fellow, good-by!" + +"Stand at ease!" + +"Can't, unfortunately, yet awhile; so farewell. I'll make a capital report +of the Legion to Sir Arthur; shall I add anything particularly from +yourself?" + +This, and the shake that accompanied it, aroused him. He started up, and +looked about him for a few seconds. + +"Eh, Charley! You didn't say Sir Arthur was here, did you?" + +"No, Major; don't be frightened; he's many a league off. I asked if you had +anything to say when I met him?" + +"Oh, yes, Charley! Tell him we're capital troops in our own little way in +the mountains; would never do in pitched battles,--skirmishing's our forte; +and for cutting off stragglers, or sacking a town, back them at any odds." + +"Yes, yes, I know all that; you've nothing more?" + +"Nothing," said he, once more closing his eyes and crossing his hands +before him, while his lips continued to mutter on,--"nothing more, except +you may say from me,--he knows me, Sir Arthur does. Tell him to guard +himself from intemperance; a fine fellow if he wouldn't drink." + +"You horrid old humbug, what nonsense are you muttering there?" + +"Yes, yes; Solomon says, 'Who hath red eyes and carbuncles?' they that mix +their lush. Pure _Sneyd_ never injured any one. Tell him so from me,--it's +an old man's advice, and I have drunk some hogsheads of it." + +With these words he ceased to speak, while his head, falling gently forward +upon his chest, proclaimed him sound asleep. + +"Adieu, then, for the last time," said I, slapping him gently on the +shoulder. "And now for the road." + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + + +CUESTA. + +The second day of our journey was drawing to a close as we came in view of +the Spanish army. + +The position they occupied was an undulating plain beside the Teitar River; +the country presented no striking feature of picturesque beauty, but the +scene before us needed no such aid to make it one of the most interesting +kind. From the little mountain path we travelled we beheld beneath a force +of thirty thousand men drawn up in battle array, dense columns of infantry +alternating with squadrons of horse or dark masses of artillery dotted +the wide plain, the bright steel glittering in the rich sunset of a July +evening when not a breath of air was stirring; the very banners hung down +listlessly, and not a sound broke the solemn stillness of the hour. All was +silent. So impressive and so strange was the spectacle of a vast army thus +resting mutely under arms, that I reined in my horse, and almost doubted +the reality of the scene as I gazed upon it. The dark shadows of the tall +mountain were falling across the valley, and a starry sky was already +replacing the ruddy glow of sunset as we reached the plain; but still no +change took place in the position of the Spanish army. + +"Who goes there?" cried a hoarse voice, as we issued from the mountain +gorge, and in a moment we found ourselves surrounded by an outpost party. +Having explained, as well as I was able, who I was, and for what reason I +was there, I proceeded to accompany the officer towards the camp. + +On my way thither I learned the reason of the singular display of troops +which had been so puzzling to me. From an early hour of that day Sir Arthur +Wellesley's arrival had been expected, and old Cuesta had drawn up his men +for inspection, and remained thus for several hours patiently awaiting his +coming; he himself, overwhelmed with years and infirmity, sitting upon his +horse the entire time. + +As it was not necessary that I should be presented to the general, my +report being for the ear of Sir Arthur himself, I willingly availed myself +of the hospitality proffered by a Spanish officer of cavalry; and having +provided for the comforts of my tired cattle and taken a hasty supper, +issued forth to look at the troops, which, although it was now growing +late, were still in the same attitude. + +Scarcely had I been half an hour thus occupied, when the stillness of +the scene was suddenly interrupted by the loud report of a large gun, +immediately followed by a long roll of musketry, while at the same moment +the bands of the different regiments struck up, and as if by magic a blaze +of red light streamed across the dark ranks. This was effected by pine +torches held aloft at intervals, throwing a lurid glare upon the grim and +swarthy features of the Spaniards, whose brown uniforms and slouching hats +presented a most picturesque effect as the red light fell upon them. + +The swell of the thundering cannon grew louder and nearer,--the shouldering +of muskets, the clash of sabres, and the hoarse roll of the drum, mingling +in one common din. I at once guessed that Sir Arthur had arrived, and as I +turned the flank of a battalion I saw the staff approaching. Nothing can be +conceived more striking than their advance. In the front rode old Cuesta +himself, clad in the costume of a past century, his slashed doublet and +trunk hose reminding one of a more chivalrous period, his heavy, unwieldy +figure looming from side to side, and threatening at each moment to fall +from his saddle. On each side of him walked two figures gorgeously dressed, +whose duty appeared to be to sustain the chief in his seat. At his +side rode a far different figure. Mounted upon a slight-made, active +thorough-bred, whose drawn flanks bespoke a long and weary journey, sat +Sir Arthur Wellesley, a plain blue frock and gray trousers being his +unpretending costume; but the eagle glance which he threw around on every +side, the quick motion of his hand as he pointed hither and thither among +the dense battalions, bespoke him every inch a soldier. Behind them came +a brilliant staff, glittering in aiguillettes and golden trappings, among +whom I recognized some well-remembered faces,--our gallant leader at the +Douro, Sir Charles Stewart, among the number. + +As they passed the spot where I was standing, the torch of a foot soldier +behind me flared suddenly up and threw a strong flash upon the party. +Cuesta's horse grew frightened, and plunged so fearfully for a minute that +the poor old man could scarcely keep his seat. A smile shot across Sir +Arthur's features at the moment, but the next instant he was grave and +steadfast as before. + +A wretched hovel, thatched and in ruins, formed the headquarters of the +Spanish army, and thither the staff now bent their steps,--a supper being +provided there for our commander-in-chief and the officers of his suite. +Although not of the privileged party, I lingered round the spot for some +time, anxiously expecting to find some friend or acquaintance who might +tell me the news of our people, and what events had occurred in my absence. + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + + +THE LETTER. + +The hours passed slowly over, and I at length grew weary of waiting. +For some time I had amused myself with observing the slouching gait and +unsoldier-like air of the Spaniards as they lounged carelessly about, +looking in dress, gesture, and appointment, far move like a guerilla than a +regular force. Then again, the strange contrast of the miserable hut with +falling chimney and ruined walls, to the glitter of the mounted guard of +honor who sat motionless beside it, served to pass the time; but as the +night was already far advanced, I turned towards my quarters, hoping that +the next morning might gratify my curiosity about my friends. + +Beside the tent where I was billeted, I found Mike in waiting, who, the +moment he saw me, came hastily forward with a letter in his hand. An +officer of Sir Arthur's staff had left it while I was absent, desiring +Mike on no account to omit its delivery the first instant he met me. +The hand--not a very legible one--was perfectly unknown to me, and the +appearance of the billet such as betrayed no over-scrupulous care in the +writer. + +I trimmed my lamp leisurely, threw a fresh log upon the fire, disposed +myself completely at full length beside it, and then proceeded to form +acquaintance with my unknown correspondent. I will not attempt any +description of the feelings which gradually filled me as I read on; the +letter itself will suggest them to those who know my story. It ran thus:-- + + PLACENTIA, July 8, 1809. + DEAR O'MALLEY,--Although I'd rather march to Lisbon barefoot + than write three lines, Fred Power insists upon my turning scribe, + as he has a notion you'll be up at Cuesta's headquarters about this + time. You're in a nice scrape, devil a lie in it! Here has Fred + been fighting that fellow Trevyllian for you,--all because you would + not have patience and fight him yourself the morning you left the + Douro,--so much for haste! Let it be a lesson to you for life. + + Poor Fred got the ball in his hip, and the devil a one of the doctors + can find it. But he's getting better any way, and going to Lisbon + for change of air. Meanwhile, since Power's been wounded, Trevyllian's + speaking very hardly of you, and they all say here you must + come back--no matter how--and put matters to rights. Fred has + placed the thing in my hands, and I'm thinking we'd better call out + the "heavies" by turns,--for most of them stand by Trevyllian. + Maurice Quill and myself sat up considering it last night; but, + somehow, we don't clearly remember to-day a beautiful plan we hit + upon. However, we'll have at it again this evening. Meanwhile, + come over here, and let us be doing something. We hear that old + Monsoon has blown up a town, a bridge, and a big convent. They + must have been hiding the plunder very closely, or he'd never have + been reduced to such extremities. We'll have a brush with the + French soon. + Yours most eagerly, + D. O'SHAUGHNESSY. + +My first thought, as I ran my eye over these lines, was to seek for Power's +note, written on the morning we parted. I opened it, and to my horror +found that it only related to my quarrel with Hammersley. My meeting with +Trevyllian had been during Fred's absence, and when he assured me that all +was satisfactorily arranged, and a full explanation tendered, that nothing +interfered with my departure,--I utterly forgot that he was only aware of +one half my troubles, and in the haste and bustle of my departure, had not +a moment left me to collect myself and think calmly on the matter. The two +letters lay before me, and as I thought over the stain upon my character +thus unwittingly incurred; the blast I had thrown upon my reputation; the +wound of my poor friend, who exposed himself for my sake,--I grew sick at +heart, and the bitter tears of agony burst from my eyes. + +That weary night passed slowly over; the blight of all my prospects, when +they seemed fairest and brightest, presented itself to me in a hundred +shapes; and when, overcome by fatigue and exhaustion, I closed my eyes to +sleep, it was only to follow up in my dreams my waking thoughts. Morning +came at length; but its bright sunshine and balmy air brought no comfort to +me. I absolutely dreaded to meet my brother officers; I felt that in such a +position as I stood, no half or partial explanation could suffice to set me +right in their estimation; and yet, what opportunity had I for aught else? +Irresolute how to act, I sat leaning my head upon my hands, when I heard +a footstep approach; I looked up and saw before me no other than my poor +friend Sparks, from whom I had been separated so long. Any other adviser +at such a moment would, I acknowledge, have been as welcome; for the +poor fellow knew but little of the world, and still less of the service. +However, one glance convinced me that his heart at least was true; and I +shook his outstretched hand with delight. In a few words he informed me +that Merivale had secretly commissioned him to come over in the hope of +meeting me; that although all the 14th men were persuaded that I was not to +blame in what had occurred,--yet that reports so injurious had gone abroad, +so many partial and imperfect statements were circulated, that nothing but +my return to headquarters would avail, and that I must not lose a moment in +having Trevyllian out, with whom all the misrepresentation had originated. + +"This, of course," said Sparks, "is to be a secret; Merivale, being our +colonel--" + +"Of course," said I, "he cannot countenance, much less counsel, such a +proceeding; Now, then, for the road." + +"Yes; but you cannot leave before making your report. Gordon expects to see +you at eleven; he told me so last night." + +"I cannot help it; I shall not wait; my mind is made up. My career here +matters but little in comparison with this horrid charge. I shall be broke, +but I shall be avenged." + +"Come, come, O'Malley; you are in our hands now, and you must be guided. +You _shall_ wait; you shall see Gordon. Half an hour will make your report, +and I have relays of horses along the road, and we shall reach Placentia by +nightfall." + +There was a tone of firmness in this, so unlike anything I ever looked for +in the speaker, and withal so much of foresight and precaution, that I +could scarcely credit my senses as he spoke. Having at length agreed to his +proposal, Sparks left me to think over my return of the Legion, promising +that immediately after my interview with the military secretary, we should +start together for headquarters. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + + +MAJOR O'SHAUGHNESSY. + +"This is Major O'Shaughnessy's quarters, sir," said a sergeant, as he +stopped short at the door of a small, low house in the midst of an olive +plantation; an Irish wolf-dog--the well-known companion of the major--lay +stretched across the entrance, watching with eager and bloodshot eyes the +process of cutting up a bullock, which two soldiers in undress jackets were +performing within a few yards of the spot. + +Stepping cautiously across the savage-looking sentinel, I entered the +little hall, and finding no one near, passed into a small room, the door of +which lay half open. + +A very palpable odor of cigars and brandy proclaimed, even without his +presence, that this was O'Shaughnessy's sitting-room; so I sat myself down +upon an old-fashioned sofa to wait patiently for his return, which I heard +would be immediately after the evening parade. Sparks had become knocked up +during our ride, so that for the last three leagues I was alone, and like +most men in such circumstances, pressed on only the harder. Completely worn +out for want of rest, I had scarcely placed myself on the sofa when I +fell sound asleep. When I awoke, all was dark around me, save the faint +flickerings of the wood embers on the hearth, and for some moments I could +not remember where I was; but by degrees recollection came, and as I +thought over my position and its possible consequences, I was again nearly +dropping to sleep, when the door suddenly opened, and a heavy step sounded +on the floor. + +I lay still and spoke not, as a large figure in a cloak approached the +fire-place, and stooping down endeavored to light a candle at the fast +expiring fire. + +I had little difficulty in detecting the major even by the half-light; a +muttered execration upon the candle, given with an energy that only an +Irishman ever bestows upon slight matters, soon satisfied me on this head. + +"May the Devil fly away with the commissary and the chandler to the forces! +Ah, you've lit at last!" + +With these words he stood up, and his eyes falling on me at the moment, +he sprang a yard or two backwards, exclaiming as he did so, "The blessed +Virgin be near us, what's this?" a most energetic crossing of himself +accompanying his words. My pale and haggard face, thus suddenly presented, +having suggested to the worthy major the impression of a supernatural +visitor, a hearty burst of laughter, which I could not resist, was my only +answer; and the next moment O'Shaughnessy was wrenching my hand in a grasp +like a steel vice. + +"Upon my conscience, I thought it was your ghost; and if you kept quiet a +little longer, I was going to promise you Christian burial, and as many +Masses for your soul as my uncle the bishop could say between this and +Easter. How are you, my boy? A little thin, and something paler, I think, +than when you left us." + +Having assured him that fatigue and hunger were in a great measure the +cause of my sickly looks, the major proceeded to place before me the +_débris_ of his day's dinner, with a sufficiency of bottles to satisfy a +mess-table, keeping up as he went a running fire of conversation. + +"I'm as glad as if the Lord took the senior major, to see you here this +night. With the blessing of Providence we'll shoot Trevyllian in the +morning, and any more of the heavies that like it. You are an ill-treated +man, that's what it is, and Dan O'Shaughnessy says it. Help yourself, my +boy; crusty old port in that bottle as ever you touched your lips to. +Power's getting all right; it was contract powder, warranted not to kill. +Bad luck to the commissaries once more! With such ammunition Sir Arthur +does right to trust most to the bayonet. And how is Monsoon, the old +rogue?" + +"Gloriously, living in the midst of wine and olives." + +"No fear of him, the old sinner; but he is a fine fellow, after all. +Charley, you are eating nothing, boy." + +"To tell you the truth, I'm far more anxious to talk with you at this +moment than aught else." + +"So you shall: the night's young. Meanwhile, I had better not delay +matters. You want to have Trevyllian out,--is not that so?" + +"Of course; you are aware how it happened?" + +"I know everything. Go on with your supper, and don't mind me; I'll be back +in twenty minutes or less." + +Without waiting for any reply, he threw his cloak around him, and strode +out of the room. Once more I was alone; but already my frame of mind was +altered,--the cheering tone of my reckless, gallant countryman had raised +my spirits, and I felt animated by his very manner. + +An hour elapsed before the major returned; and when he did come, his +appearance and gestures bespoke anger and disappointment. He threw himself +hurriedly into a seat, and for some minutes never spoke. + +"The world's beautifully changed, anyhow, since I began it, O'Malley,--when +you thanked a man civilly that asked you to fight him! The Devil take the +cowards, say I." + +"What has happened? Tell me, I beseech you?" + +"He won't fight," said the major, blurting out the words as if they would +choke him. + +"He'll not fight! And why?" + +The major was silent. He seemed confused and embarrassed. He turned from +the fire to the table, from the table to the fire, poured out a glass of +wine, drank it hastily off, and springing from his chair, paced the room +with long, impatient strides. + +"My dear O'Shaughnessy, explain, I beg of you. Does he refuse to meet me +for any reason--" + +"He does," said the major, turning on me a look of deep feeling as he +spoke; "and he does it to ruin you, my boy. But as sure as my name is +Dan, he'll fail this time. He was sitting with his friend Beaufort when I +reached his quarters, and received me with all the ceremonious politeness +he well knows how to assume. I told him in a few words the object of my +visit; upon which Trevyllian, standing up, referred me to his friend for +a reply, and left the room. I thought that all was right, and sat down to +discuss, as I believed, preliminaries, when the cool puppy, with his back +to the fire, carelessly lisped out, 'It can't be, Major; your friend is too +late.' + +"'Too late? too late?' said I. + +"'Yes, precisely so; not up to time. The affair should have come off some +weeks since. We won't meet him now.' + +"'This is really your answer?' + +"'This is really my answer; and not only so, but the decision of our mess.' + +"What I said after this _he_ may remember; devil take me if _I_ can. But I +have a vague recollection of saying something that the aforesaid mess will +never petition the Horse Guards to put on their regimental colors; and here +I am--" + +With these words the major gulped down a full goblet of wine, and once +more resumed his walk through the room. I shall not attempt to record the +feelings which agitated me during the major's recital. In one rapid glance +I saw the aim of my vindictive enemy. My honor, not my life, was the object +he sought for; and ten thousand times more than ever did I pant for the +opportunity to confront him in a deadly combat. + +"Charley," said O'Shaughnessy, at length, placing his hand upon my +shoulder, "you must get to bed now. Nothing more can be done to-night in +any way. Be assured of one thing, my boy,--I'll not desert you; and if that +assurance can give you a sound sleep, you'll not need a lullaby." + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + + +PRELIMINARIES. + +I awoke refreshed on the following morning, and came down to breakfast with +a lighter heart than I had even hoped for. A secret feeling that all +would go well had somehow taken possession of me, and I longed for +O'Shaughnessy's coming, trusting that he might be able to confirm my hopes. +His servant informed me that the major had been absent since daybreak, and +left orders that he was not to be waited for at breakfast. + +I was not destined, however, to pass a solitary time in his absence, for +every moment brought some new arrival to visit me; and during the morning +the colonel and every officer of the regiment not on actual duty came over. +I soon learned that the feeling respecting Trevyllian's conduct was one of +unmixed condemnation among my own corps, but that a kind of party spirit +which had subsisted for some months between the regiment he belonged to and +the 14th had given a graver character to the affair, and induced many men +to take up his views of the transaction; and although I heard of none who +attributed my absence to any dislike to a meeting, yet there were several +who conceived that, by my going at the time, I had forfeited all claim to +satisfaction at his hands. + +"Now that Merivale is gone," said an officer to me as the colonel left the +room, "I may confess to you that he sees nothing to blame in your conduct +throughout; and even had you been aware of how matters were circumstanced, +your duty was too imperative to have preferred your personal consideration +to it." + +"Does any one know where Conyers is?" said Baker. + +"The story goes that Conyers can assist us here. Conyers is at Zaza la +Mayor, with the 28th; but what can he do?" + +"That I'm not able to tell you; but I know O'Shaughnessy heard something at +parade this morning, and has set off in search of him on every side." + +"Was Conyers ever out with Trevyllian?" + +"Not as a principal, I believe. The report is, however, that he knows more +about him than other people, as Tom certainly does of everybody." + +"It is rather a new thing for Trevyllian to refuse a meeting. They say, +O'Malley, he has heard of your shooting." + +"No, no," said another; "he cares very little for any man's pistol. If the +story be true, he fires a second or two before his adversary; at least, it +was in that way he killed Carysfort." + +"Here comes the great O'Shaughnessy!" cried some one at the window; and the +next moment the heavy gallop of a horse was heard along the causeway. In an +instant we all rushed to the door to receive him. + +"It's all right, lads!" cried he, as he came up. "We have him this time!" + +"How?" "When?" "Why?" "In what way have you managed?" fell from a dozen +voices, as the major elbowed his way through the crowd to the sitting-room. + +"In the first place," said O'Shanghnessy, drawing a long breath, "I have +promised secrecy as to the steps of this transaction; secondly, if I +hadn't, it would puzzle me to break it, for I'll be hanged if I know more +than yourselves. Tom Conyers wrote me a few lines for Trevyllian, and +Trevyllian pledges himself to meet our friend; and that's all we need know +or care for." + +"Then you have seen Trevyllian this morning?" + +"No; Beaufort met me at the village. But even now it seems this affair is +never to come off. Trevyllian has been sent with a forage party towards +Lesco. However, that can't be a long absence. But, for Heaven's sake, let +me have some breakfast!" + +While O'Shaughnessy proceeded to attack the viands before him, the others +chatted about in little groups; but all wore the pleased and happy looks of +men who had rescued their friend from a menaced danger. As for myself, my +heart swelled with gratitude to the kind fellows around me. + +"How has Conyers assisted us at this juncture?" was my first question to +O'Shaughnessy, when we were once more alone. + +"I am not at liberty to speak on that subject, Charley. But be satisfied +the reasons for which Trevyllian meets you are fair and honorable." + +"I am content." + +"The only thing now to be done is to have the meeting as soon as possible." + +"We are all agreed upon that point," said I; "and the more so as the matter +had better be decided before Sir Arthur's return." + +"Quite true. And now, O'Malley, you had better join your people as soon as +may be, and it will put a stop to all talking about the matter." + +The advice was good, and I lost no time in complying with it; and when +I joined the regiment that day at mess, it was with a light heart and a +cheerful spirit, for come what might of the affair, of one thing I was +certain,--my character was now put above any reach of aspersion, and my +reputation beyond attack. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + + +ALL RIGHT. + +Some days after coming back to headquarters, I was returning from a visit I +had been making to a friend at one of the outposts, when an officer whom I +knew slightly overtook me and informed me that Major O'Shaughnessy had +been to my quarters in search of me, and had sent persons in different +directions to find me. + +Suspecting the object of the major's haste, I hurried on at once, and as +I rode up to the spot, found him in the midst of a group of officers, +engaged, to all appearance, in most eager conversation. + +"Oh, here he comes!" cried he, as I cantered up. "Come, my boy, doff the +blue frock as soon as you can, and turn out in your best-fitting black. +Everything has been settled for this evening at seven o'clock, and we have +no time to lose." + +"I understand you," said I, "and shall not keep you waiting." So saying, I +sprang from my saddle and hastened to my quarters. As I entered the room I +was followed by O'Shaughnessy, who closed the door after him as he came in, +and having turned the key in it, sat down beside the table, and folding +his arms, seemed buried in reflection. As I proceeded with my toilet he +returned no answers to the numerous questions I put to him, either as to +the time of Trevyllian's return, the place of the meeting, or any other +part of the transaction. His attention seemed to wander far from all around +and about him; and as he muttered indistinctly to himself, the few words I +could catch bore not in the remotest degree upon the matter before us. + +"I have written a letter or two here, Major," said I, opening my +writing-desk. "In case anything happens, you will look to a few things I +have mentioned here. Somehow, I could not write to poor Fred Power; but you +must tell him from me that his noble conduct towards me was the last thing +I spoke of." + +"What confounded nonsense you are talking!" said O'Shaughnessy, springing +from his seat and crossing the room with tremendous strides, "croaking away +there as if the bullet was in your thorax. Hang it, man, bear up!" + +"But, Major, my dear friend, what the deuce are you thinking of? The few +things I mentioned--" + +"The devil! you are not going over it all again, are you?" said he, in a +voice of no measured tone. + +I now began to feel irritated in turn, and really looked at him for some +seconds in considerable amazement. That he should have mistaken, the +directions I was giving him and attributed them to any cowardice was too +insulting a thought to bear; and yet how otherwise was I to understand the +very coarse style of his interruption? + +At length my temper got the victory, and with a voice of most measured +calmness, I said, "Major O'Shaughnessy, I am grateful, most deeply +grateful, for the part you have acted towards me in this difficult +business; at the same time, as you now appear to disapprove of my conduct +and bearing, when I am most firmly determined to alter nothing, I shall beg +to relieve you of the unpleasant office of my friend." + +"Heaven grant that you could do so!" said he, interrupting me, while his +clasped hands and eager look attested the vehemence of the wish. He paused +for a moment, then, springing from his chair, rushed towards me, and threw +his arms around me. "No, my boy, I can't do it,--I can't do it. I have +tried to bully myself into insensibility for this evening's work,--I have +endeavored to be rude to you, that you might insult me, and steel my heart +against what might happen; but it won't do, Charley, it won't do." + +With these words the big tears rolled down his stern cheeks, and his voice +became thick with emotion. + +"But for me, all this need not have happened. I know it; I feel it. I +hurried on this meeting; your character stood fair and unblemished without +that,--at least they tell me so now; and I still have to assure you--" + +"Come, my dear, kind friend, don't give way in this fashion. You have stood +manfully by me through every step of the road; don't desert me on the +threshold of--" + +"The grave, O'Malley?" + +"I don't think so, Major; but see, half-past six! Look to these pistols for +me. Are they likely to object to hair-triggers?" + +A knocking at the door turned off our attention, and the next moment +Baker's voice was heard. + +"O'Malley, you'll be close run for time; the meeting-place is full three +miles from this." + +I seized the key and opened the door. At the same instant, O'Shaughnessy +rose and turned towards the window, holding one of the pistols in his hand. + +"Look at that, Baker,--what a sweet tool it is!" said he, in a voice that +actually made me start. Not a trace of his late excitement remained; his +usually dry, half-humorous manner had returned, and his droll features were +as full of their own easy, devil-may-care fun as ever. + +"Here comes the drag," said Baker. "We can drive nearly all the way, unless +you prefer riding." + +"Of course not. Keep your hand steady, Charley, and if you don't bring him +down with that saw-handle, you're not your uncle's nephew." + +With these words we mounted into the tax-cart, and set off for the +meeting-place. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + + +THE DUEL. + +A small and narrow ravine between the two furze-covered dells led to the +open space where the meeting had been arranged for. As we reached this, +therefore, we were obliged to descend from the drag, and proceed the +remainder of the way afoot. We had not gone many yards when a step was +heard approaching, and the next moment Beaufort appeared. His usually easy +and _dégagé_ air was certainly tinged with somewhat of constraint; and +though his soft voice and half smile were as perfect as ever, a slightly +flurried expression about the lip, and a quick and nervous motion of his +eyebrow, bespoke a heart not completely at ease. He lifted his foraging cap +most ceremoniously to salute us as we came up, and casting an anxious look +to see if any others were following, stood quite still. + +"I think it right to mention, Major O'Shaughnessy," said he, in a voice of +most dulcet sweetness, "that I am the only friend of Captain Trevyllian on +the ground; and though I have not the slightest objection to Captain Baker +being present, I hope you will see the propriety of limiting the witnesses +to the three persons now here." + +"Upon my conscience, as far as I am concerned, or my friend either, we +are perfectly indifferent if we fight before three or three thousand. In +Ireland we rather like a crowd." + +"Of course, then, as you see no objection to my proposition, I may count +upon your co-operation in the event of any intrusion,--I mean, that while +we, upon our sides, will not permit any of our friends to come forward, you +will equally exert yourself with yours." + +"Here we are, Baker and myself, neither more nor less. We expect no one, +and want no one; so that I humbly conceive all the preliminaries you are +talking of will never be required." + +Beaufort tried to smile, and bit his lips, while a small red spot upon his +cheek spoke that some deeper feeling of irritation than the mere careless +manner of the major could account for, still rankled in his bosom. We +now walked on without speaking, except when occasionally some passing +observation of Beaufort upon the fineness of the evening, or the rugged +nature of the road, broke the silence. As we emerged from the little +mountain pass into the open meadow land, the tall and soldier-like figure +of Trevyllian was the first object that presented itself. He was standing +beside a little stone cross that stood above a holy well, and seemed +occupied in deciphering the inscription. He turned at the noise of our +approach, and calmly waited our coming. His eye glanced quickly from the +features of O'Shaughnessy to those of Baker; but seeming rapidly reassured +as he walked forward, his face at once recovered its usual severity and its +cold, impassive look of sternness. + +"All right!" said Beaufort, in a whisper the tones of which I overheard, as +he drew near to his friend. Trevyllian smiled in return, but did not speak. +During the few moments which passed in conversation between the seconds, +I turned from the spot with Baker, and had scarcely time to address a +question to him, when O'Shaughnessy called out, "Hollo, Baker!--come here +a moment!" The three seemed now in eager discussion for some minutes, when +Baker walked towards Trevyllian, and saying something, appeared to wait +for his reply. This being obtained, he joined the others, and the moment +afterwards came to where I was standing. "You are to toss for first shot, +O'Malley. O'Shaughnessy has made that proposition, and the others agree +that with two crack marksmen, it is perhaps the fairest way. I suppose you +have no objection?" + +"Of course, I shall make none. Whatever O'Shaughnessy decides for me I am +ready to abide by." + +"Well, then, as to the distance?" said Beaufort, loud enough to be heard by +me where I was standing. O'Shaughnessy's reply I could not catch, but it +was evident, from the tone of both parties, that some difference existed on +the point. + +"Captain Baker shall decide between us," said Beaufort, at length, and they +all walked away to some distance. During all the while I could perceive +that Trevyllian's uneasiness and impatience seemed extreme; he looked from +the speakers to the little mountain pass, and strained his eyes in every +direction. It was clear that he dreaded some interruption. At last, unable +any longer to control his feelings, he called out, "Beaufort, I say, what +the devil are we waiting for now?" + +"Nothing at present," said Beaufort, as he came forward with a dollar in +his hand. "Come, Major O'Shaughnessy, you shall call for your friend." + +He pitched the piece of money as he spoke high into the air, and watched it +as it fell on the soft grass beneath. + +"Head! for a thousand," cried O'Shaughnessy, running over and stooping +down; "and head it is!" + +"You've won the first shot," whispered Baker; "for Heaven's sake be cool!" + +Beaufort grew deadly pale as he bent over the crownpiece, and seemed +scarcely to have courage to look his friend in his face. Not so Trevyllian; +he pulled off his gloves without the slightest semblance of emotion, +buttoned up his well-fitting black frock to the throat, and throwing a +rapid glance around, seemed only eager to begin the combat. + +"Fifteen paces, and the words, 'One, two!'" + +"Exactly. My cane shall mark the spot." + +"Devilish long paces you make them," said O'Shaughnessy, who did not seem +to approve of the distance. "They have some confounded advantage in this, +depend upon it," said the major, in a whisper to Baker. + +"Are you ready?" inquired Beaufort. + +"Ready,--quite ready!" + +"Take your ground, then!" + +As Trevyllian moved forward to his place, he muttered something to his +friend. I did not hear the first part, but the latter words which met me +were ominous enough: "For as I intend to shoot him, 'tis just as well as it +is." + +Whether this was meant to be overheard and intimidate me I knew not; +but its effect proved directly opposite. My firm resolution to hit my +antagonist was now confirmed, and no compunctious visitings unnerved my +arm. As we took our places some little delay again took place, the flint of +my pistol having fallen; and thus we remained full ten or twelve seconds +steadily regarding each other. At length O'Shaughnessy came forward, and +putting my weapon in my hand, whispered low, "Remember, you have but one +chance." + +"You are both ready?" cried Beaufort. + +"Ready!" + +"Then: One, two--" + +The last word was lost in the report of my pistol, which went off at the +instant. For a second the flash and smoke obstructed my view; but the +moment after I saw Trevyllian stretched upon the ground, with his friend +kneeling beside him. My first impulse was to rush over, for now all feeling +of enmity was buried in most heartfelt anxiety for his fate; but as I was +stepping forward, O'Shaughnessy called out, "Stand fast, boy, he's only +wounded!" and the same moment he rose slowly from the ground, with the +assistance of his friend, and looked with the same wild gaze around him. +Such a look! I shall never forget it; there was that intense expression of +searching anxiety, as if he sought to trace the outlines of some visionary +spirit as it receded before him. Quickly reassured, as it seemed, by +the glance he threw on all sides, his countenance lighted up, not with +pleasure, but with a fiendish expression of revengeful triumph, which even +his voice evinced as he called out: "It's my turn now." + +I felt the words in their full force, as I stood silently awaiting my death +wound. The pause was a long one. Twice did he interrupt his friend, as he +was about to give the word, by an expression of suffering, pressing his +hand upon his side, and seeming to writhe with torture; and yet this was +mere counterfeit. + +O'Shaughnessy was now coming forward to interfere and prevent these +interruptions, when Trevyllian called out in a firm tone, "I'm ready!" At +the words, "One, two!" the pistol slowly rose; his dark eye measured me +coolly, steadily; his lip curled; and just as I felt that my last moment +of life had arrived, a heavy sound of a horse galloping along the rocky +causeway seemed to take off his attention. His frame trembled, his hand +shook, and jerking upwards his weapon, the ball passed high above my head. + +"You bear me witness I fired in the air," said Trevyllian, while the large +drops of perspiration rolled from his forehead, and his features worked as +if in a fit. + +"You saw it, sir; and you, Beaufort, my friend, you also. Speak! Why will +you not speak?" + +"Be calm, Trevyllian; be calm, for Heaven's sake! What's the matter with +you?" + +[Illustration: THE COAT OF MAIL.] + +"The affair is then ended," said Baker, "and most happily so. You are, I +hope, not dangerously wounded." + +As he spoke, Trevyllian's features grew deadly livid; his half-open mouth +quivered slightly, his eyes became fixed, and his arm dropped heavily +beside him, and with a low moan he fell fainting to the ground. + +As we bent over him I now perceived that another person had joined our +party; he was a short, determined-looking man of about forty, with black +eyes and aquiline features. Before I had time to guess who it might be, I +heard O'Shaughnessy address him as Colonel Conyers. + +"He is dying!" said Beaufort, still stooping over his friend, whose cold +hand he grasped within his own. "Poor, poor fellow!" + +"He fired in the air," said Baker, as he spoke in reply to a question from +Conyers. + +What he answered I heard not, but Baker rejoined,-- + +"Yes, I am certain of it. We all saw it." + +"Had you not better examine his wounds?" said Conyers, in a tone of +sarcastic irony I could almost have struck him for. "Is your friend not +hit? Perhaps he is bleeding?" + +"Yes," said O'Shaughnessy, "let us look to the poor fellow now." So saying, +with Beaufort's aid he unbuttoned his frock and succeeded in opening his +waistcoat. There was no trace of blood anywhere, and the idea of internal +hemorrhage at once occurred to us, when Conyers, stooping down, pushed me +aside, saying at the same time,-- + +"Your fears for his safety need not distress you much,--look here!" As he +spoke he tore open his shirt, and disclosed to our almost doubting senses +a vest of chain-mail armor fitting close next the skin and completely +pistol-proof. + +I cannot describe the effect this sight produced upon us. Beaufort sprang +to his feet with a bound as he screamed out, rather than spoke, "No man +believes me to have been aware--" + +"No, no, Beaufort, your reputation is very far removed from such a stain," +said Conyers. + +O'Shaughnessy was perfectly speechless. He looked from one to the other, as +though some unexplained mystery still remained, and only seemed restored +to any sense of consciousness as Baker said, "I can feel no pulse at his +wrist,--his heart, too, does not beat." + +Conyers placed his hand upon his bosom, then felt along his throat, lifted +up an arm, and letting it fall heavily upon the ground, he muttered, "He is +dead!" + +It was true. No wound had pierced him,--the pistol bullet was found within +his clothes. Some tremendous conflict of the spirit within had snapped the +cords of life, and the strong man had perished in his agony. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + + +NEWS FROM GALWAY. + +I have but a vague and most imperfect recollection of the events which +followed this dreadful scene; for some days my faculties seemed stunned and +paralyzed, and my thoughts clung to the minute detail of the ground,--the +persons about, the mountain path, and most of all the half-stifled cry that +spoke the broken heart,--with a tenacity that verged upon madness. + +A court-martial was appointed to inquire into the affair; and although I +have been since told that my deportment was calm, and my answers were firm +and collected, yet I remember nothing of the proceedings. + +The inquiry, through a feeling of delicacy for the friends of him who was +no more, was made as brief and as private as possible. Beaufort proved the +facts which exonerated me from any imputation in the matter; and upon the +same day the court delivered the decision: "That Lieutenant O'Malley was +not guilty of the charges preferred against him, and that he should be +released from arrest, and join his regiment." + +Nothing could be more kind and considerate than the conduct of my brother +officers,--a hundred little plans and devices for making me forget the +late unhappy event were suggested and practised,--and I look back to that +melancholy period, marked as it was by the saddest circumstance of my life, +as one in which I received more of truly friendly companionship than even +my palmiest days of prosperity boasted. + +While, therefore, I deeply felt the good part my friends were performing +towards me, I was still totally unsuited to join in the happy current of +their daily pleasures and amusements. The gay and unreflecting character of +O'Shaughnessy, the careless merriment of my brother officers, jarred upon +my nerves, and rendered me irritable and excited; and I sought in lonely +rides and unfrequented walks, the peace of spirit that calm reflection and +a firm purpose for the future rarely fail to lead to. + +There is in deep sorrow a touch of the prophetic. It is at seasons when the +heart is bowed down with grief, and the spirit wasted with suffering, that +the veil which conceals the future seems to be removed, and a glance, short +and fleeting as the lightning flash, is permitted us into the gloomy valley +before us. + +Misfortunes, too, come not singly,--the seared heart is not suffered to +heal from one affliction ere another succeeds it; and this anticipation +of the coming evil is, perhaps, one of the most poignant features of +grief,--the ever-watchful apprehension, the ever-rising question, "What +next?" is a torture that never sleeps. + +This was the frame of my mind for several days after I returned to my +duty,--a morbid sense of some threatened danger being my last thought at +night and my first on awakening. I had not heard from home since my arrival +in the Peninsula; a thousand vague fancies haunted me now that some +brooding misfortune awaited me. My poor uncle never left my thoughts. Was +he well; was he happy? Was he, as he ever used to be, surrounded by the +friends he loved,--the old familiar faces around the hospitable hearth his +kindliness had hallowed in my memory as something sacred? Oh, could I but +see his manly smile, or hear his voice! Could I but feel his hand upon my +head, as he was wont to press it, while words of comfort fell from his +lips, and sunk into my heart! + +Such were my thoughts one morning as I sauntered, unaccompanied, from my +quarters. I had not gone far, when my attention was aroused by the noise +of a mule-cart, whose jingling bells and clattering timbers announced its +approach by the road I was walking. Another turn of the way brought it into +view; and I saw from the gay costume of the driver, as well as a small +orange flag which decorated the conveyance, that it was the mail-cart with +letters from Lisbon. + +Full as my mind was with thoughts of home, I turned hastily back, and +retraced my steps towards the camp. When I reached the adjutant-general's +quarters, I found a considerable number of officers assembled; the report +that the post had come was a rumor of interest to all, and accordingly, +every moment brought fresh arrivals, pouring in from all sides, and eagerly +inquiring, "If the bags had been opened?" The scene of riot, confusion, and +excitement, when that event did take place, exceeded all belief, each man +reading his letter half aloud, as if his private affairs and domestic +concerns must interest his neighbors, amidst a volley of exclamations of +surprise, pleasure, or occasional anger, as the intelligence severally +suggested,--the disappointed expectants cursing their idle correspondents, +bemoaning their fate about remittances that never arrived, or drafts never +honored; while here and there some public benefactor, with an outspread +"Times" or "Chronicle," was retailing the narrative of our own exploits in +the Peninsula or the more novel changes in the world of politics since we +left England. A cross-fire of news and London gossip ringing on every side +made up a perfect Babel most difficult to form an idea of. The jargon +partook of every accent and intonation the empire boasts of; and from the +sharp precision of the North Tweeder to the broad doric of Kerry, every +portion, almost every county, of Great Britain had its representative. Here +was a Scotch paymaster, in a lugubrious tone, detailing to his friend the +apparently not over-welcome news that Mistress M'Elwain had just been +safely delivered of twins, which, with their mother, were doing as well +as possible. Here an eager Irishman, turning over the pages rather than +reading his letter, while he exclaimed to his friend,-- + +"Oh, the devil a rap she's sent me. The old story about runaway tenants and +distress notices,--sorrow else tenants seem to do in Ireland than run away +every half-year." + +A little apart some sentimental-looking cockney was devouring a very +crossed epistle which he pressed to his lips whenever any one looked at +him; while a host of others satisfied themselves by reading in a kind of +buzzing undertone, every now and then interrupting themselves with some +broken exclamation as commentary,--such as, "Of course she will!" "Never +knew him better!" "That's the girl for my money!" "Fifty per cent, the +devil!" and so on. At last I was beginning to weary of the scene, and +finding that there appeared to be nothing for me, was turning to leave the +place, when I saw a group of two or three endeavoring to spell out the +address of a letter. + +"That's an Irish post-mark, I'll swear," said one; "but who can make +anything of the name? It's devilish like Otaheite, isn't it?" + +"I wish my tailor wrote as illegibly," said another; "I'd keep up a most +animated correspondence with him." + +"Here, O'Shaughnessy, you know something of savage life,--spell us this +word here." + +"Show it here. What nonsense, it's as plain as the nose on my face: 'Master +Charles O'Malley, in foreign parts!'" + +A roar of laughter followed this announcement, which, at any other time, +perhaps, I should have joined in, but which now grated sadly on my ruffled +feelings. + +"Here, Charley, this is for you," said the major; and added in a +whisper,--"and upon my conscience, between ourselves, your friend, whoever +he is, has a strong action against his writing-master,--devil such a fist +ever I looked at!" + +One glance satisfied me as to my correspondent. It was from Father Rush, +my old tutor. I hurried eagerly from the spot, and regaining my quarters, +locked the door, and with a beating heart broke the seal and began, as well +as I was able, to decipher his letter. The hand was cramped and stiffened +with age, and the bold, upright letters were gnarled and twisted like a +rustic fence, and demanded great patience arid much time in unravelling. It +ran thus:-- + + THE PRIORY, Lady-day, 1809. + MY DEAR MASTER CHARLES,--Your uncle's feet are so big and + so uneasy that he can't write, and I am obliged to take up the pen + myself, to tell you how we are doing here since you left us. And, + first of all, the master lost the lawsuit in Dublin, all for the want + of a Galway jury,--but they don't go up to town for strong reasons + they had; and the Curranolick property is gone to Ned M'Manus, + and may the devil do him good with it! Peggy Maher left this on + Tuesday; she was complaining of a weakness; she's gone to consult + the doctors. I'm sorry for poor Peggy. + + Owen M'Neil beat the Slatterys out of Portunma on Saturday, + and Jem, they say, is fractured. I trust it's true, for he never was + good, root nor branch, and we've strong reasons to suspect him for + drawing the river with a net at night. Sir Harry Boyle sprained his + wrist, breaking open his bed-room, that he locked when he was inside. + The count and the master were laughing all the evening at + him. Matters are going very hard in the country,--the people paying + their rents regularly, and not caring half as much as they used + about the real gentry and the old families. + + We kept your birthday at the Castle in great style,--had the + militia band from the town, and all the tenants. Mr. James Daly + danced with your old friend Mary Green, and sang a beautiful song, + and was going to raise the devil, but I interfered; he burned down + half the blue drawing-room the last night with his tricks,--not that + your uncle cares, God preserve him to us! it's little anything like + that would fret him. The count quarrelled with a young gentleman + in the course of the evening, but found out he was only an attorney + from Dublin, so he didn't shoot him; but he was ducked in the pond + by the people, and your uncle says he hopes they have a true copy of + him at home, as they'll never know the original. + + Peter died soon after you went away, but Tim hunts the dogs + just as well. They had a beautiful run last Wednesday, and the + Lord[2] sent for him and gave him a five-pound note; but he says + he'd rather see yourself back again than twice as much. They + killed near the big turnip-field, and all went down to see where you + leaped Badger over the sunk fence,--they call it "Hammersley's + Nose" ever since. Bodkin was at Ballinasloe the last fair, limping + about with a stick; he's twice as quiet as he used to be, and never + beat any one since that morning. + + Nellie Guire, at the cross-roads, wants to send you four pair of + stockings she knitted for you, and I have a keg of potteen of Barney's + own making this two months, not knowing how to send it. May be + Sir Arthur himself would like a taste,--he's an Irishman himself, + and one we're proud of, too! The Maynooth chaps are flying all + about the country, and making us all uncomfortable,--God's will be + done, but we used to think ourselves good enough! Your foster-sister, + Kitty Doolan, had a fine boy; it's to be called after you, and + your uncle's to give a christening. He bids me tell you to draw + on him when you want money, and that there's £400 ready for you + now somewhere in Dublin,--I forget the name, and as he's asleep, I + don't like asking him. There was a droll devil down here in the + summer that knew you well,--a Mr. Webber. The master treated + him like the Lord Lieutenant, had dinner parties for him, and + gave him Oliver Cromwell to ride over to Meelish. He is expected + again for the cock-shooting, for the master likes him greatly. I'm + done at last, for my paper is finished and the candle just out; so with + every good wish and every good thought, remember your own old + friend,-- + PETER RUSH. + P.S. It's Smart and Sykes, Fleet Street, has the money. + Father O'Shaughnessey, of Ennis, bids me ask if you ever met his + nephew. If you do, make him sing "Larry M'Hale." I hear it's a + treat. + + How is Mickey Free going on? There are three decent young + women in the parish he promised to marry, and I suppose he's pursuing + the same game with the Portuguese. But he was never + remarkable for minding his duties. Tell him I am keeping my eye + on him. + P. R. + +[Footnote:2 To excuse Father Rush for any apparent impiety, I must add +that, by "the Lord," he means "Lord Clanricarde."] + +Here concluded this long epistle; and though there were many parts I could +not help smiling at, yet upon the whole I felt sad and dispirited. What I +had long foreseen and anticipated was gradually accomplishing,--the wreck +of an old and honored house, the fall of a name once the watch-word for +all that was benevolent and hospitable in the land. The termination of the +lawsuit I knew must have been a heavy blow to my poor uncle, who, every +consideration of money apart, felt in a legal combat all the enthusiasm and +excitement of a personal conflict. With him there was less a question of +to whom the broad acres reverted, so much as whether that "scoundrel Tom +Basset, the attorney at Athlone, should triumph over us;" or "M'Manus live +in the house as master where his father had officiated as butler." It was +at this his Irish pride took offence; and straitened circumstances and +narrowed fortunes bore little upon him in comparison with this feeling. + +I could see, too, that with breaking fortunes, bad health was making heavy +inroads upon him; and while, with the reckless desperation of ruin, he +still kept open house, I could picture to myself his cheerful eye and +handsome smile but ill concealing the slow but certain march of a broken +heart. + +My position was doubly painful: for any advice, had I been calculated to +give it, would have seemed an act of indelicate interference from one who +was to benefit by his own counsel; and although I had been reared and +educated as my uncle's heir, I had no title nor pretension to succeed him +other than his kind feelings respecting me. I could, therefore, only look +on in silence, and watch the painful progress of our downfall without power +to arrest it. + +These were sad thoughts, and came when my heart was already bowed down with +its affliction. That my poor uncle might be spared the misery which sooner +or later seemed inevitable, was now my only wish; that he might go down to +the grave without the embittering feelings which a ruined fortune and a +fallen house bring home to the heart, was all my prayer. Let him but close +his eyes in the old wainscoted bed-room, beneath the old roof where his +fathers and grand-fathers have done so for centuries. Let the faithful +followers he has known since his childhood stand round his bed; while his +fast-failing sight recognizes each old and well-remembered object, and the +same bell which rang its farewell to the spirit of his ancestors toll for +him, the last of his race. And as for me, there was the wide world before +me, and a narrow resting-place would suffice for a soldier's sepulchre. + +As the mail-cart was returning the next day to Lisbon, I immediately sat +down and replied to the worthy Father's letter, speaking as encouragingly +as I could of my own prospects. I dwelt much upon what was nearest my +heart, and begged of the good priest to watch over my uncle's health, to +cheer his spirits and support his courage; and that I trusted the day was +not far distant when I should be once more among them, with many a story +of fray and battle-field to enliven their firesides. Pressing him to write +frequently to me, I closed my hurried letter; and having despatched it, sat +sorrowfully down to muse over my fortunes. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + + +AN ADVENTURE WITH SIR ARTHUR. + +The events of the last few days had impressed me with a weight of years. +The awful circumstances of that evening lay heavily at my heart; and though +guiltless of Trevyllian's blood, the reproach that conscience ever carries +when one has been involved in a death-scene never left my thoughts. + +For some time previously I had been depressed and dis-spirited, and the +awful shock I had sustained broke my nerve and unmanned me greatly. + +There are times when our sorrows tinge all the colorings of our thoughts, +and one pervading hue of melancholy spreads like a pall upon what we have +of fairest and brightest on earth. So was it now: I had lost hope and +ambition; a sad feeling that my career was destined to misfortune and +mishap gained hourly upon me; and all the bright aspirations of a soldier's +glory, all my enthusiasm for the pomp and circumstance of glorious war, +fell coldly upon my heart, and I looked upon the chivalry of a soldier's +life as the empty pageant of a dream. + +In this sad frame of mind, I avoided all intercourse with my brother +officers; their gay and joyous spirits only jarred upon my brooding +thoughts, and feigning illness, I kept almost entirely to my quarters. + +The inactivity of our present life weighed also heavily upon me. The +stirring events of a campaign--the march, the bivouac, the picket--call +forth a certain physical exertion that never fails to react upon the torpid +mind. + +Forgetting all around me, I thought of home; I thought of those whose +hearts I felt were now turning towards me, and considered within myself how +I could have exchanged the home, the days of peaceful happiness there, for +the life of misery and disappointment I now endured. + +A brooding melancholy gained daily more and more upon me. A wish, to return +to Ireland, a vague and indistinct feeling that my career was not destined +for aught of great and good crept upon me, and I longed to sink into +oblivion, forgotten and forgot. + +I record this painful feeling here, while it is still a painful memory, as +one of the dark shadows that cross the bright sky of our happiest days. + +Happy, indeed, are they, as we look back to them and remember the times we +have pronounced ourselves "the most miserable of mankind." This, somehow, +is a confession we never make later on in life, when real troubles and true +afflictions assail us. Whether we call in more philosophy to our aid, or +that our senses become less acute and discerning, I'm sure I know not. + +As for me, I confess by far the greater portion of my sorrows seemed to +come in that budding period of existence when life is ever fairest and most +captivating. Not, perhaps, that the fact was really so, but the spoiled +and humored child, whose caprices were a law, felt heavily the threatening +difficulties of his first voyage; while as he continued to sail over the +ocean of life, he braved the storm and the squall, and felt only gratitude +for the favoring breeze that wafted him upon his course. + +What an admirable remedy for misanthropy is the being placed in a +subordinate condition in life! Had I, at the period that I write, been Sir +Arthur Wellesley; had I even been Marshal Beresford,--to all certainty I'd +have played the very devil with his Majesty's forces; I'd have brought my +rascals to where they'd have been well-peppered, that's certain. + +But as, luckily for the sake of humanity in general and the well-being of +the service in particular, I was merely Lieutenant O'Malley, 14th Light +Dragoons, the case was very different. With what heavy censure did I +condemn the commander of the forces in my own mind for his want of daring +and enterprise! Whole nights did I pass in endeavoring to account for his +inactivity and lethargy. Why he did not _seriatim_ fall upon Soult, Ney, +and Victor, annihilate the French forces, and sack Madrid, I looked upon as +little less than a riddle; and yet there he waited, drilling, exercising, +and foraging, as if he were at Hounslow. Now most fortunately here again I +was not Sir Arthur. + +Something in this frame of mind, I was taking one evening a solitary ride +some miles from the camp. Without noticing the circumstance, I had entered +a little mountain tract, when, the ground being broken and uneven, I +dismounted and proceeded a-foot, with the bridle within my arm. I had not +gone far when the clatter of a horse's hoofs came rapidly towards me, and +though there was something startling in the pace over such a piece of road, +I never lifted my eyes as the horseman came up, but continued my slow +progress onwards, my head sunk upon my bosom. + +"Hallo, sir!" cried a sharp voice, whose tones seemed, somehow, not heard +for the first time. I looked up, saw a slight figure closely buttoned up +in a blue horseman's cloak, the collar of which almost entirely hid his +features; he wore a plain, cocked hat without a feather, and was mounted +upon a sharp, wiry-looking hack. + +"Hallo, sir! What regiment do you belong to?" + +As I had nothing of the soldier about me, save a blue foraging cap, to +denote my corps, the tone of the demand was little calculated to elicit +a very polished reply; but preferring, as most impertinent, to make no +answer, I passed on without speaking. + +"Did you hear, sir?" cried the same voice, in a still louder key. "What's +your regiment?" + +I now turned round, resolved to question the other in turn; when, to my +inexpressible shame and confusion, he had lowered the collar of his cloak, +and I saw the features of Sir Arthur Wellesley. + +"Fourteenth Light Dragoons, sir," said I, blushing as I spoke. + +"Have you not read the general order, sir? Why have you left the camp?" + +Now, I had not read a general order nor even heard one for above a +fortnight. So I stammered out some bungling answer. + +"To your quarters, sir, and report yourself under arrest. What's your +name?" + +"Lieutenant O'Malley, sir." + +"Well, sir, your passion for rambling shall be indulged. You shall be sent +to the rear with despatches; and as the army is in advance, probably the +lesson may be serviceable." So saying, he pressed spurs to his horse, and +was out of sight in a moment. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + + +TALAVERA. + +Having been despatched to the rear with orders for General Crawfurd, I did +not reach Talavera till the morning of the 28th. Two days' hard fighting +had left the contending armies still face to face, and without any decided +advantage on either side. + +When I arrived upon the battle-field, the combat of the morning was over. +It was then ten o'clock, and the troops were at breakfast, if the few +ounces of wheat sparingly dealt out among them could be dignified by that +name. All was, however, life and animation on every side; the merry laugh, +the passing jest, the careless look, bespoke the free and daring character +of the soldiery, as they sat in groups upon the grass; and except when a +fatigue party passed by, bearing some wounded comrade to the rear, no touch +of seriousness rested upon their hardy features. The morning was indeed +a glorious one; a sky of unclouded blue stretched above a landscape +unsurpassed in loveliness. Far to the right rolled on in placid stream the +broad Tagus, bathing in its eddies the very walls of Talavera, the ground +from which, to our position, gently undulated across a plain of most +fertile richness and terminated on our extreme left in a bold height, +protected in front by a ravine, and flanked by a deep and rugged valley. + +The Spaniards occupied the right of the line, connecting with our troops at +a rising ground, upon which a strong redoubt had been hastily thrown up. +The fourth division and the Guards were stationed here, next to whom came +Cameron's brigade and the Germans, Mackenzie and Hill holding the extreme +left of all, which might be called the key of our position. In the valley +beneath the latter were picketed three cavalry regiments, among which I was +not long in detecting my gallant friends of the Twenty-third. + +As I rode rapidly past, saluting some old familiar face at each moment, I +could not help feeling struck at the evidence of the desperate battle that +so lately had raged there. The whole surface of the hill was one mass of +dead and dying, the bearskin of the French grenadier lying side by side +with the tartan of the Highlander. Deep furrows in the soil showed the +track of the furious cannonade, and the terrible evidences of a bayonet +charge were written in the mangled corpses around. + +The fight had been maintained without any intermission from daybreak +till near nine o'clock that morning, and the slaughter on both sides was +dreadful. The mounds of fresh earth on every side told of the soldier's +sepulchre; and the unceasing tramp of the pioneers struck sadly upon the +ear, as the groans of the wounded blended with the funeral sounds around +them. + +In front were drawn up the dark legions of France,--massive columns of +infantry, with dense bodies of artillery alternating along the line. They, +too, occupied a gently rising ground, the valley between the two armies +being crossed half way by a little rivulet; and here, during the sultry +heat of the morning, the troops on both sides met and mingled to quench +their thirst ere the trumpet again called them to the slaughter. + +In a small ravine near the centre of our line were drawn up Cotton's +brigade, of whom the Fusiliers formed a part. Directly in front of this +were Campbell's brigade, to the left of which, upon a gentle slope, the +staff were now assembled. Thither, accordingly, I bent my steps, and as +I came up the little scarp, found myself among the generals of division, +hastily summoned by Sir Arthur to deliberate upon a forward movement. The +council lasted scarcely a quarter of an hour, and when I presented myself +to deliver my report, all the dispositions for the battle had been decided +upon, and the commander of the forces, seated upon the grass at his +breakfast, looked by far the most unconcerned and uninterested man I had +seen that morning. + +He turned his head rapidly as I came up, and before the aide-de-camp could +announce me, called out:-- + +"Well, sir, what news of the reinforcements?" + +"They cannot reach Talavera before to-morrow, sir." + +"Then, before that, we shall not want them. That will do, sir." + +So saying, he resumed his breakfast, and I retired, more than ever struck +with the surprising coolness of the man upon whom no disappointment seemed +to have the slightest influence. + +I had scarcely rejoined my regiment, and was giving an account to my +brother officers of my journey, when an aide-de-camp came galloping at full +speed down the line, and communicating with the several commanding officers +as he passed. + +What might be the nature of the orders we could not guess at; for no word +to fall in followed, and yet it was evident something of importance was +at hand. Upon the hill where the staff were assembled no unusual bustle +appeared; and we could see the bay cob of Sir Arthur still being led up and +down by the groom, with a dragoon's mantle thrown over him. The soldiers, +overcome by the heat and fatigue of the morning, lay stretched around upon +the grass, and everything bespoke a period of rest and refreshment. + +"We are going to advance, depend upon it!" said a young officer beside me; +"the repulse of this morning has been a smart lesson to the French, and Sir +Arthur won't leave them without impressing it upon them." + +"Hark, what's that?" cried Baker; "listen!" + +As he spoke, a strain of most delicious music came wafted across the plain. +It was from the band of a French regiment, and mellowed by the distance, +it seemed in the calm stillness of the morning air like something less of +earth than heaven. As we listened, the notes swelled upwards yet fuller; +and one by one the different bands seemed to join, till at last the whole +air seemed full of the rich flood of melody. + +We could now perceive the stragglers were rapidly falling back, while high +above all other sounds the clanging notes of the trumpet were heard along +the line. The hoarse drum now beat to arms; and soon after a brilliant +staff rode slowly from between two dense bodies of infantry, and advancing +some distance into the plain, seemed to reconnoitre us. A cloud of Polish +cavalry, distinguished by their long lances and floating banners, loitered +in their rear. + +We had not time for further observation, when the drums on our side beat to +arms, and the hoarse cry, "Fall in,--fall in there, lads!" resounded along +the line. + +It was now one o'clock, and before half an hour the troops had resumed the +position of the morning, and stood silent and anxious spectators of the +scene before them. + +Upon the table-land to the rear of the French position, we could descry the +gorgeous tent of King Joseph, around which a large and splendidly-accoutred +staff were seen standing. Here, too, the bustle and excitement seemed +considerable, for to this point the dark masses of the infantry seemed +converging from the extreme right; and here we could perceive the royal +guards and the reserve now forming in column of attack. + +From the crest of the hill down to the very valley, the dark, dense ranks +extended, the flanks protected by a powerful artillery and deep masses of +heavy cavalry. It was evident that the attack was not to commence on our +side, and the greatest and most intense anxiety pervaded us as to what part +of our line was first to be assailed. + +Meanwhile Sir Arthur Wellesley, who from the height had been patiently +observing the field of battle, despatched an aide-de-camp at full gallop +towards Campbell's brigade, posted directly in advance of us. As he passed +swiftly along, he called out, "You're in for it, Fourteenth; you'll have to +open the ball to-day." + +Scarcely were the words spoken, when a signal gun from the French boomed +heavily through the still air. The last echo was growing fainter, and the +heavy smoke breaking into mist, when the most deafening thunder ever my +ears heard came pealing around us; eighty pieces of artillery had opened +upon us, sending a very tempest of balls upon our line, while midst the +smoke and dust we could see the light troops advancing at a run, followed +by the broad and massive columns in all the terror and majesty of war. + +"What a splendid attack! How gallantly they come on!" cried an old veteran +officer beside me, forgetting all rivalry in his noble admiration of our +enemy. + +The intervening space was soon passed, and the tirailleurs falling back as +the columns came on, the towering masses bore down upon Campbell's division +with a loud cry of defiance. Silently and steadily the English infantry +awaited the attack, and returning the fire with one withering volley, were +ordered to charge. Scarcely were the bayonets lowered, when the head of the +advancing column broke and fled, while Mackenzie's brigade, overlapping the +flank, pushed boldly forward, and a scene of frightful carnage followed; +for a moment a hand-to-hand combat was sustained, but the unbroken files +and impregnable bayonets of the English conquered, and the French fled, +leaving six guns behind them. + +The gallant enemy were troops of tried and proved courage, and scarcely had +they retreated when they again formed; but just as they prepared to come +forward, a tremendous shower of grape opened upon them from our batteries, +while a cloud of Spanish horse assailed them in flank and nearly cut them +in pieces. + +While this was passing on the right, a tremendous attack menaced the hill +upon which our left was posted. Two powerful columns of French infantry, +supported by some regiments of light cavalry, came steadily forward to the +attack; Anson's brigade were ordered to charge. + +Away they went at top speed, but had not gone above a hundred yards when +they were suddenly arrested by a deep chasm; here the German hussars pulled +short up, but the Twenty-third dashing impetuously forward; a scene of +terrific carnage ensued, men and horses rolling indiscriminately together +under a withering fire from the French squares. Even here, however, British +valor quailed not, for Major Francis Ponsonby, forming all who came up, +rode boldly upon a brigade of French chasseurs in the rear. Victor, who +from the first had watched the movement, at once despatched a lancer +regiment against them, and then these brave fellows were absolutely cut to +atoms, the few who escaped having passed through the French columns and +reached Bassecour's Spanish division on the far right. + +During this time the hill was again assailed, and even more desperately +than before; while Victor himself led on the fourth corps to an attack upon +our right and centre. + +The Guards waited without flinching the impetuous rush of the advancing +columns, and when at length within a short distance, dashed forward with +the bayonet, driving everything before them. The French fell back upon +their sustaining masses, and rallying in an instant, again came forward, +supported by a tremendous fire from their batteries. The Guards drew back, +and the German Legion, suddenly thrown into confusion, began to retire +in disorder. This was the most critical moment of the day, for although +successful upon the extreme right and left of our line, our centre was +absolutely broken. Just at this moment Gordon rode up to our brigade; his +face was pale, and his look flurried and excited. + +"The Forty-eighth are coining; here they are,--support them, Fourteenth." + +These few words were all he spoke; and the next moment the measured tread +of a column was heard behind us. On they came like one man, their compact +and dense formation looking like some massive wall; wheeling by companies, +they suffered the Guards and Germans to retire behind them, and then, +reforming into line, they rushed forward with the bayonet. Our artillery +opened with a deafening thunder behind them, and then we were ordered to +charge. + +We came on at a trot; the Guards, who had now recovered their formation, +cheered us as we proceeded. The smoke of the cannonade obscured everything +until we had advanced some distance, but just as we emerged beyond the line +of the gallant Forty-eighth, the splendid panorama of the battle-field +broke suddenly upon us. + +"Charge, forward!" cried the hoarse voice of our colonel; and we were upon +them. The French infantry, already broken by the withering musketry of our +people, gave way before us, and unable to form a square, retired fighting +but in confusion, and with tremendous loss, to their position. One glorious +cheer, from left to right of our line, proclaimed the victory, while a +deafening discharge of artillery from the French replied to this defiance, +and the battle was over. Had the Spanish army been capable of a forward +movement, our successes at this moment would have been, much more +considerable; but they did not dare to change their position, and the +repulse of our enemy was destined to be all our glory. The French, however, +suffered much more severely than we did; and retiring during the night, +fell back behind the Alberche, leaving us the victory and the battle-field. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + + +NIGHT AFTER TALAVERA. + +The night which followed the battle was a sad one. Through the darkness, +and under a fast-falling rain, the hours were spent in searching for +our wounded comrades amidst the heap of slain upon the field; and tho +glimmering of the lanterns, as they flickered far and near across the wide +plain, bespoke the track of the fatigue parties in their mournful round; +while the groans of the wounded rose amidst the silence with an accent of +heart-rending anguish; so true was it, as our great commander said, "There +is nothing more sad than a victory, except a defeat." + +Around our bivouac fires, the feeling of sorrowful depression was also +evident. We had gained a great victory, it was true: we had beaten the +far-famed legions of France upon a ground of their own choosing, led by the +most celebrated of their marshals and under the eyes of the Emperor's own +brother; but still we felt all the hazardous daring of our position, and +had no confidence whatever in the courage or discipline of our allies; and +we saw that in the very _mêlée_ of the battle the efforts of the enemy +were directed almost exclusively against our line, so confidently did they +undervalue the efforts of the Spanish troops. Morning broke at length, and +scarcely was the heavy mist clearing away before the red sunlight, when the +sounds of fife and drum were heard from a distant part of the field. The +notes swelled or sank as the breeze rose or fell, and many a conjecture was +hazarded as to their meaning, for no object was well visible for more than +a few hundred yards off; gradually, however, they grew nearer and nearer, +and at length, as the air cleared, and the hazy vapor evaporated, the +bright scarlet uniform of a British regiment was seen advancing at a +quick-step. + +As they came nearer, the well-known march of the gallant 43d was recognized +by some of our people, and immediately the rumor fled like lightning: "It +is Crawfurd's brigade!" and so it was; the noble fellow had marched his +division the unparalleled distance of sixty English miles in twenty-seven +hours. Over a burning sandy soil, exposed to a raging sun, without rations, +almost without water, these gallant troops pressed on in the unwearied hope +of sharing the glory of the battle-field. One tremendous cheer welcomed the +head of the column as they marched past, and continued till the last file +had deployed before us. + +As these splendid regiments moved by we could not help feeling what +signal service they might have rendered us but a few hours before. Their +soldier-like bearing, their high and effective state of discipline, their +well-known reputation, were in every mouth; and I scarcely think that any +corps who stood the brunt of the mighty battle were the subject of more +encomium than the brave fellows who had just joined us. + +The mournful duties of the night were soon forgotten in the gay and buoyant +sounds on every side. Congratulations, shaking of hands, kind inquiries, +went round; and as we looked to the hilly ground where so lately were +drawn up in battle array the dark columns of our enemy, and where not one +sentinel now remained, the proud feeling of our victory came home to our +hearts with the ever-thrilling thought, "What will they say at home?" + +I was standing amidst a group of my brother officers, when I received an +order from the colonel to ride down to Talavera for the return of our +wounded, as the arrival of the commander-in-chief was momentarily looked +for. I threw myself upon my horse, and setting out at a brisk pace, soon +reached the gates. + +On entering the town, I was obliged to dismount and proceed on foot. The +streets were completely filled with people, treading their way among +wagons, forage carts, and sick-litters. Here was a booth filled with all +imaginable wares for sale; there was a temporary gin-shop established +beneath a broken baggage-wagon; here might be seen a merry party throwing +dice for a turkey or a kid; there, a wounded man, with bloodless cheek and +tottering step, inquiring the road to the hospital. The accents of +agony mingled with the drunken chorus, and the sharp crack of the +provost-marshal's whip was heard above the boisterous revelling of the +debauchee. All was confusion, bustle, and excitement. The staff officer, +with his flowing plume and glittering epaulettes, wended his way on foot, +amidst the din and bustle, unnoticed and uncared for; while the little +drummer amused an admiring audience of simple country-folk by some wondrous +tale of the great victory. + +My passage through this dense mass was necessarily a slow one. No one made +way for another; discipline for the time was at an end, and with it all +respect for rank or position. It was what nothing of mere vicissitude in +the fortune of war can equal,--the wild orgies of an army the day after a +battle. + +On turning the corner of a narrow street, my attention was attracted by a +crowd which, gathered round a small fountain, seemed, as well as I could +perceive, to witness some proceeding with a more than ordinary interest. +Exclamations in Portuguese, expressive of surprise and admiration, wore +mingled with English oaths and Irish ejaculations, while high above all +rose other sounds,--the cries of some one in pain and suffering; forcing my +way through the dense group, I at length reached the interior of the crowd +when, to my astonishment, I perceived a short, fat, punchy-looking man, +stripped of his coat and waist-coat, and with his shirt-sleeves rolled +up to his shoulder, busily employed in operating upon a wounded soldier. +Amputation knives, tourniquets, bandages, and all other imaginable +instruments for giving or alleviating torture were strewed about him, and +from the arrangement and preparation, it was clear that he had pitched upon +this spot as an hospital for his patients. While he continued to perform +his functions with a singular speed and dexterity, he never for a moment +ceased 'a running fire of small talk, now addressed to the patient in +particular, now to the crowd at large, sometimes a soliloquy to himself, +and not unfrequently, abstractedly, upon things in general. These little +specimens of oratory, delivered in such a place at such a time, and, not +least of all, in the richest imaginable Cork accent, were sufficient to +arrest my steps, and I stopped for some time to observe him. + +The patient, who was a large, powerfully-built fellow, had been wounded +in both legs by the explosion of a shell, but yet not so severely as to +require amputation. + +"Does that plaze you, then?" said the doctor, as he applied some powerful +caustic to a wounded vessel; "there's no satisfying the like of you. Quite +warm and comfortable ye'll be this morning after that. I saw the same shell +coming, and I called out to Maurice Blake, 'By your leave, Maurice, let +that fellow pass, he's in a hurry!' and faith, I said to myself, 'there's +more where you came from,--you're not an only child, and I never liked the +family.' What are ye grinning for, ye brown thieves?" This was addressed +to the Portuguese. "There, now, keep the limb quiet and easy. Upon my +conscience, if that shell fell into ould Lundy Foot's shop this morning, +there'd be plenty of sneezing in Sacksville Street. Who's next?" said he, +looking round with an expression that seemed to threaten that if no wounded +man was ready he was quite prepared to carve out a patient for himself. Not +exactly relishing the invitation in the searching that accompanied it, +I backed my way through the crowd, and continued my path towards the +hospital. + +Here the scene which presented itself was shocking beyond +belief,--frightful and ghastly wounds from shells and cannon-shot were seen +on all sides, every imaginable species of suffering that man is capable of +was presented to view; while amidst the dead and dying, operations the most +painful were proceeding with a haste and bustle that plainly showed how +many more waited their turn for similar offices. The stairs were blocked +up with fresh arrivals of wounded men, and even upon the corridors and +landing-places the sick were strewn on all sides. + +I hurried to that part of the building where my own people were, and soon +learned that our loss was confined to about fourteen wounded; five of them +were officers. But fortunately, we lost not a man of our gallant fellows, +and Talavera brought us no mourning for a comrade to damp the exultation we +felt in our victory. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + + +THE OUTPOST. + +During the three days which succeeded the battle, all things remained as +they were before. The enemy had gradually withdrawn all his forces, and our +most advanced pickets never came in sight of a French detachment. Still, +although we had gained a great victory, our situation was anything but +flattering. The most strenuous exertions of the commissariat were barely +sufficient to provision the troops; and we had even already but too much +experience of how little trust or reliance could be reposed in the most +lavish promises of our allies. It was true, our spirits failed us not; +but it was rather from an implicit and never-failing confidence in the +resources of our great leader, than that any among us could see his way +through the dense cloud of difficulty and danger that seemed to envelop us +on every side. + +To add to the pressing emergency of our position, we learned on the evening +of the 31st that Soult was advancing from the north, and at the head +of fourteen thousand chosen troops in full march upon Placentia; thus +threatening our rear, at the very moment too, when any further advance was +evidently impossible. + +On the morning of the 1st of August, I was ordered, with a small party, to +push forward in the direction of the Alberche, upon the left bank of which +it was reported that the French were again concentrating their forces, and +if possible, to obtain information of their future movements. Meanwhile the +army was about to fall back upon Oropesa, there to await Soult's advance, +and if necessary, to give him battle; Cuesta engaging with his Spaniards +to secure Talavera, with its stores and hospitals, against any present +movement from Victor. + +After a hearty breakfast, and a kind "Good-by!" from my brother officers, +I set out. My road along the Tagus, for several miles of the way, was a +narrow path scarped from the rocky ledge of the river, shaded by rich olive +plantations that throw a friendly shade over us during the noonday heat. + +We travelled along silently, sparing our cattle from time to time, but +endeavoring ere nightfall to reach Torrijos, in which village we had heard +several French soldiers were in hospital. Our information leading us to +believe them very inadequately guarded, we hoped to make some prisoners, +from whom the information we sought could in all likelihood be obtained. +More than once during the day our road was crossed by parties similar to +our own, sent forward to reconnoitre; and towards evening a party of the +23d Light Dragoons, returning towards Talavera, informed us that the French +had retired from Torrijos, which was now occupied by an English detachment +under my old friend O'Shaughnessy. + +I need not say with what pleasure I heard this piece of news, and eagerly +pressed forward, preferring the warm shelter and hospitable board the +major was certain of possessing, to the cold blast and dripping grass of +a bivouac. Night, however, fell fast; darkness, without an intervening +twilight, set in, and we lost our way. A bleak table-land with here and +there a stunted, leafless tree was all that we could discern by the pale +light of a new moon. An apparently interminable heath uncrossed by path or +foot-track was before us, and our jaded cattle seemed to feel the dreary +uncertainty of the prospect as sensitively as ourselves,--stumbling and +over-reaching at every step. + +Cursing my ill-luck for such a misadventure, and once more picturing to my +mind the bright blazing hearth and smoking supper I had hoped to partake +of, I called a halt, and prepared to pass the night. My decision was +hastened by finding myself suddenly in a little grove of pine-trees whose +shelter was not to be despised; besides that, our bivouac fires were now +sure of being supplied. + +It was fortunate the night was fine, though dark. In a calm, still +atmosphere, when not a leaf moved nor a branch stirred, we picketed our +tired horses, and shaking out their forage, heaped up in the midst a +blazing fire of the fir-tree. Our humble supper was produced, and even with +the still lingering revery of the major and his happier destiny, I began to +feel comfortable. + +My troopers, who probably had not been flattering their imaginations with +such _gourmand_ reflections and views, sat happily around their cheerful +blaze, chatting over the great battle they had so lately witnessed, and +mingling their stories of some comrade's prowess with sorrows for the dead +and proud hopes for the future. In the midst, upon his knees beside +the flame, was Mike, disputing, detailing, guessing, and occasionally +inventing,--all his arguments only tending to one view of the late victory: +"That it was the Lord's mercy the most of the 48th was Irish, or we +wouldn't be sitting there now!" + +Despite Mr. Free's conversational gifts, however, his audience one by one +dropped off in sleep, leaving him sole monarch of the watch-fire, and--what +he thought more of--a small brass kettle nearly full of brandy-and-water. +This latter, I perceived, he produced when all was tranquil, and seemed, +as he cast a furtive glance around, to assure himself that he was the only +company present. + +Lying some yards off, I watched him for about an hour, as he sat rubbing +his hands before the blaze, or lifting the little vessel to his lips; his +droll features ever and anon seeming acted upon by some passing dream +of former devilment, as he smiled and muttered some sentences in an +under-voice. Sleep at length overpowered me; but my last waking thoughts +were haunted with a singular ditty by which Mike accompanied himself as +he kept burnishing the buttons of my jacket before the fire, now and then +interrupting the melody by a recourse to the copper. + +"Well, well; you're clean enough now, and sure it's little good brightening +you up, when you'll be as bad to-morrow. Like his father's son, devil a lie +in it! Nothing would serve him but his best blue jacket to fight in, as if +the French was particular what they killed us in. Pleasant trade, upon my +conscience! Well, never mind. That's beautiful _sperets_, anyhow. Your +health, Mickey Free; it's yourself that stands to me. + + "It's little for glory I care; + Sure ambition is only a fable; + I'd as soon be myself as Lord Mayor, + With lashings of drink on the table. + I like to lie down in the sun + And _drame_, when my _faytures_ is scorchin' + That when I'm too _ould_ for more fun, + Why, I'll marry a wife with a fortune. + + "And in winter, with bacon and eggs, + And a place, at the turf-fire basking, + Sip my punch as I roasted my legs, + Oh, the devil a more I'd be asking! + For I haven't a _janius_ for work,-- + It was never the gift of the Bradies,-- + But I'd make a most _illigant_ Turk, + For I'm fond of tobacco and ladies." + +This confounded _refrain_ kept ringing through my dream, and "tobacco and +ladies" mingled with my thoughts of storm and battle-field long after their +very gifted author had composed himself to slumber. + +Sleep, and sound sleep, came at length, and many hours elapsed ere I awoke. +When I did so, my fire was reduced to its last embers. Mike, like the +others, had sunk in slumber, and midst the gray dawn that precedes the +morning, I could just perceive the dark shadows of my troopers as they lay +in groups around. + +The fatigues of the previous day had so completely overcome me, that it was +with difficulty I could arouse myself so far as to heap fresh logs upon the +fire. This I did with my eyes half closed, and in that listless, dreamy +state which seems the twilight of sleep. + +I managed so much, however, and was returning to my couch beneath a tree, +when suddenly an object presented itself to my eyes that absolutely rooted +me to the spot. At about twenty or thirty yards distant, where but the +moment before the long line of horizon terminated the view, there now stood +a huge figure of some ten or twelve feet in height,--two heads, which +surmounted this colossal personage, moved alternately from side to side, +while several arms waved loosely to and fro in the most strange and uncouth +manner. My first impression was that a dream had conjured up this distorted +image; but when I had assured myself by repeated pinchings and shakings +that I was really awake, still it remained there. I was never much given +to believe in ghosts; but even had I been so, this strange apparition +must have puzzled me as much as ever, for it could not have been the +representative of anything I ever heard of before. + +A vague suspicion that some French trickery was concerned, induced me to +challenge it in French; so, without advancing a step, I halloed out, "_Qui +va là_?" + +My voice aroused a sleeping soldier, who, springing up beside me, had his +carbine at the cock; while, equally thunderstruck with myself, he gazed at +the monster. + +"_Qui va là_?" shouted I again, and no answer was returned, when suddenly +the huge object wheeled rapidly around, and without waiting for any further +parley, made for the thicket. + +The tramp of a horse's feet now assured me as to the nature of at least +part of the spectacle, when click went the trigger behind me, and the +trooper's ball rushed whistling through the brushwood. In a moment the +whole party were up and stirring. + +"This way, lads!" cried I, as drawing my sabre, I dashed into the pine +wood. + +For a few moments all was dark as midnight; but as we proceeded farther, we +came out upon a little open space which commanded the plain beneath for a +great extent. + +"There it goes!" said one of the men, pointing to a narrow, beaten path, +in which the tall figure moved at a slow and stately pace, while still the +same wild gestures of heads and limbs continued. + + +"Don't fire, men! don't fire!" I cried, "but follow me," as I set forward +as hard as I could. + +As we neared it, the frantic gesticulations grew more and more remarkable, +while some stray words, which we half caught, sounded like English in our +ears. We were now within pistol-shot distance, when suddenly the horse--for +that much at least we were assured of--stumbled and fell forward, +precipitating the remainder of the object headlong into the road. + +In a second we were upon the spot, when the first sounds which greeted me +were the following, uttered in an accent by no means new to me:-- + +"Oh, blessed Virgin! Wasn't it yourself that threw me in the mud, or my +nose was done for? Shaugh, Shaugh, my boy, since we are taken, tip them the +blarney, and say we're generals of division!" + +I need not say with what a burst of laughter I received this very original +declaration. + +"I ought to know that laugh," cried a voice I at once knew to be my friend +O'Shaughnessy's. "Are you Charles O'Malley, by any chance in life?" + +"The same, Major, and delighted to meet you; though, faith, we were near +giving you a rather warm reception. What, in the Devil's name, did you +represent, just now?" + +"Ask Maurice, there, bad luck to him. I wish the Devil had him when he +persuaded me into it." + +"Introduce me to your friend," replied the other, rubbing his shins as he +spoke. "Mr. O'Mealey,"--so he called me,--"I think. Happy to meet you; my +mother was a Ryan of Killdooley, married to a first cousin of your father's +before she took Mr. Quill, my respected progenitor. I'm Dr. Quill of the +48th, more commonly called Maurice Quill. Tear and ages! how sore my back +is! It was all the fault of the baste, Mr. O'Mealey. We set out in search +of you this morning, to bring you back with us to Torrijos, but we fell in +with a very pleasant funeral at Barcaventer, and joined them. They invited +us, I may say, to spend the day; and a very jovial day it was. I was the +chief mourner, and carried a very big candle through the village, in +consideration of as fine a meat-pie, and as much lush as my grief permitted +me to indulge in afterwards. But, my dear sir, when it was all finished, we +found ourselves nine miles from our quarters; and as neither of us were in +a very befitting condition for pedestrian exercise, we stole one of the +leaders out of the hearse,--velvet, plumes, and all,--and set off home. + +"When we came upon your party we were not over clear whether you were +English, Portuguese, or French, and that was the reason I called out to +you, 'God save all here!' in Irish. Your polite answer was a shot, which +struck the old horse in the knee, and although we wheeled about in +double-quick, we never could get him out of his professional habits on the +road. He had a strong notion he was engaged in another funeral,--as he was +very likely to be,--and the devil a bit faster than a dead march could we +get him to, with all our thrashing. Orderly time for men in a hurry, with a +whole platoon blazing away behind them! But long life to the cavalry, they +never hit anything!" + +While he continued to run on in this manner, we reached our watch-fire, +when what was my surprise to discover, in my newly-made acquaintance, the +worthy doctor I had seen a day or two before operating at the fountain at +Talavera. + +"Well, Mr. O'Mealey," said he, as he seated himself before the blaze, "What +is the state of the larder? Anything savory,--anything drink-inspiring to +be had?" + +"I fear, Doctor, my fare is of the very humblest; still--" + +"What are the fluids, Charley?" cried the major; "the cruel performance I +have been enacting on that cursed beast has left me in a fever." + +"This was a pigeon-pie, formerly," said Dr. Quill, investigating the ruined +walls of a pasty; "and,--but come, here's a duck; and if my nose deceive +me not, a very tolerable ham. Peter--Larry--Patsy--What's the name of your +familiar there?" + +"Mickey--Mickey Tree." + +"Mickey Free, then; come here, avick! Devise a little drink, my son,--none +of the weakest--no lemon---hot! You understand, hot! That chap has an eye +for punch; there's no mistaking an Irish fellow, Nature has endowed them +richly,--fine features and a beautiful absorbent system! That's the gift! +Just look at him, blowing up the fire,--isn't he a picture? Well, O'Mealey, +I was fretting that we hadn't you up at Torrijos; we were enjoying life +very respectably,--we established a little system of small tithes upon +fowl, sheep, pigs' heads, and wine skins that throve remarkably for the +time. Here's the lush! Put it down there, Mickey, in the middle; that's +right. Your health, Shaugh. O'Mealey, here's a troop to you; and in the +mean time I'll give you a chant:-- + + 'Come, ye jovial souls, don't over the bowl be sleeping, + Nor let the grog go round like a cripple creeping; + If your care comes, up, in the liquor sink it, + Pass along the lush, I'm the boy can drink it. + Isn't that so, Mrs. Mary Callaghan? + Isn't that so, Mrs. Mary Callaghan?' + +"Shaugh, my hearty, this begins to feel comfortable." + +"Your man, O'Mealey, has a most judicious notion of punch for a small +party; and though one has prejudices about a table, chairs, and that sort +of thing, take my word for it, it's better than fighting the French, any +day." + +"Well, Charley, it certainly did look quite awkward enough the other day +towards three o'clock, when the Legion fell back before that French column, +and broke the Guards behind them." + +"Yes, you're quite right; but I think every one felt that the confusion was +but momentary,--the gallant Forty-eighth was up in an instant." + +"Faith, I can answer for their alacrity!" said the doctor "I was making my +way to the rear with all convenient despatch, when an aide-de-camp called +out,-- + +"'Cavalry coming! Take care, Forty-eighth!' + +"'Left face, wheel! Fall in there, fall in there!' I heard on every side, +and soon found myself standing in a square, with Sir Arthur himself and +Hill and the rest of them all around me. + +"'Steady, men! Steady, now!' said Hill, as he rode around the ranks, while +we saw an awful column of cuirassiers forming on the rising ground to our +left. + +"'Here they come!' said Sir Arthur, as the French came powdering along, +making the very earth tremble beneath them. + +"My first thought was, 'The devils are mad, and they'll ride down into us, +before they know they're kilt!' And sure enough, smash into our first rank +they pitched, sabring and cutting all before them; when at last the word +'Fire!' was given, and the whole head of the column broke like a shell, and +rolled horse over man on the earth. + +"'Very well done! very well, indeed!' said Sir Arthur, turning as coolly +round to me as if he was asking for more gravy. + +"'Mighty well done!' said I, in reply; and resolving not to be outdone in +coolness, I pulled out my snuff-box and offered him a pinch, saying, 'The +real thing, Sir Arthur; our own countryman,--blackguard.' + +"He gave a little grim kind of a smile, took a pinch, and then called +out,-- + +"'Let Sherbroke advance!' while turning again towards me, he said, 'Where +are your people, Colonel?' + +"'Colonel!' thought I; 'is it possible he's going to promote me?' But +before I could answer, he was talking to another. Meanwhile Hill came up, +and looking at me steadily, burst out with,-- + +"'Why the devil are you here, sir? Why ain't you at the rear?' + +"'Upon my conscience,' said I, 'that's the very thing I'm puzzling myself +about this minute! But if you think it's pride in me, you're greatly +mistaken, for I'd rather the greatest scoundrel in Dublin was kicking me +down Sackville Street, than be here now!' + +"You'd think it was fun I was making, if you heard how they all laughed, +Hill and Cameron and the others louder than any. + +"'Who is he?' said Sir Arthur, quickly. + +"'Dr. Quill, surgeon of the Thirty-third, where I exchanged, to be near my +brother, sir, in the Thirty-fourth.' + +"'A doctor,--a surgeon! That fellow a surgeon! Damn him, I took him for +Colonel Grosvenor! I say, Gordon, these medical officers must be docked of +their fine feathers, there's no knowing them from the staff,--look to that +in the next general order.' + +"And sure enough they left us bare and naked the next morning; and if the +French sharpshooters pick us down now, devil mend them for wasting powder, +for if they look in the orderly books, they'll find their mistake." + +"Ah, Maurice, Maurice!" said Shaugh, with a sigh, "you'll never +improve,--you'll never improve!" + +"Why the devil would I?" said he. "Ain't I at the top of my +profession--full surgeon--with nothing to expect, nothing to hope for? Oh, +if I had only remained in the light company, what wouldn't I be now?" + +"Then you were not always a doctor?" said I. + +"Upon my conscience, I wasn't," said he. "When Shaugh knew me first, I was +the Adonis of the Roscommon militia, with more heiresses in my list than +any man in the regiment; but Shaugh and myself were always unlucky." + +"Poor Mrs. Rogers!" said the major, pathetically, drinking off his glass +and heaving a profound sigh. + +"Ah, the darling!" said the doctor. "If it wasn't for a jug of punch that +lay on the hall table, our fortune in life would be very different." + +"True for you, Maurice!" quoth O'Shaughnessy. + +"I should like much to hear that story," said I, pushing the jug briskly +round. + +"He'll tell it you," said O'Shaughnessy, lighting his cigar, and leaning +pensively back against a tree,--"he'll tell it you." + +"I will, with pleasure," said Maurice. "Let Mr. Free, meantime, amuse +himself with the punch-bowl, and I'll relate it." + + +END OF VOLUME I. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Charles O'Malley, Vol. 1, by Charles Lever + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHARLES O'MALLEY, VOL. 1 *** + +This file should be named 8mly110.txt or 8mly110.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8mly111.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8mly110a.txt + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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