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} + HR { width: 33%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size: 9pt;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12558 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Snarleyyow, by Captain Frederick Marryat</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>SNARLEYYOW;</h1> +<h5>OR,</h5> +<h2>THE DOG FIEND</h2> +<br> +<br> +<h5>BY</h5> +<h3>CAPTAIN MARRYAT</h3> +<br> +<h5>MDCCCXCVI</h5> +<br> +<h2>Contents</h2> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XLI">CHAPTER XLI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_LI">CHAPTER LI.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XLII">CHAPTER XLII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_LII">CHAPTER LII.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XLIII">CHAPTER XLIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_LIII">CHAPTER LIII.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XLIV">CHAPTER XLIV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_LIV">CHAPTER LIV.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XLV">CHAPTER XLV.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_LV">CHAPTER LV.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XLVI">CHAPTER XLVI.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XLVII">CHAPTER XLVII.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XLVIII">CHAPTER XLVIII.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXXIX">CHAPTER XXXIX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XLIX">CHAPTER XLIX.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Chapter_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_XL">CHAPTER XL.</a></td> +<td><a href="#Chapter_L">CHAPTER L.</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</center> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2>Prefatory Note</h2> +<p><i>The dog fiend, or Snarleyyow</i> is the earliest of the three +novels, <i>The Phantom Ship</i> and <i>The Privateersman</i> being +the other two, in which Marryat made use of historical events and +attempted to project his characters into the past. The research +involved is not profound, but the machinations of Jacobite +conspirators provide appropriate material for the construction of +an adventure plot and for the exhibition of a singularly despicable +villain. Mr Vanslyperken and his acquaintances, male and female, at +home and abroad, are all--except perhaps his witch-like +mother--thoroughly life-like and convincing: their conduct is +sufficiently probable to retain the reader's attention for a rapid +and exciting narrative.</p> +<p>The numerous escapes of the vile cur, after whom the novel is +christened, and of his natural enemy Peter Smallbones are not all +equally well contrived, and they become a little wearisome by +repetition; but a general atmosphere of <i>diablerie</i> is very +effectively produced by their means. Some such element of unreality +is absolutely demanded to relieve the sordid and brutal details by +which the main plot is worked out; and it must be admitted that in +certain passages--the death-struggle between Smallbones and the +lieutenant's mother, the discovery of the woman's body, and the +descriptions of kisses between Corporal Van Spitter and the Frau +Vandersloosh--Marryat's habitual literalness becomes unpleasantly +coarse. The offensive touches, however, are incidental, and the +execution of the two villains, Vanslyperken and Snarleyyow, with +its dash of genuine pathos, is dramatic and impressive:--"They were +damnable in their lives, and in their deaths they were not +divided."</p> +<p>As usual the interest of the novel depends almost entirely upon +men, but on the character of Mrs Corbett, <i>née</i> Nancy +Dawson, Marryat has expended considerable care with satisfactory +results. Barring the indecorous habit of regretting her past in +public, which is not perhaps untrue to nature, she is made +attractive by her wit and sincere repentance, without becoming +unnaturally refined. The song in her honour referred to on p. 107 +is not suitable for reproduction in this place. She was an historic +character in the reign of William III., but must not be confounded +with her more celebrated namesake (1730-1767) of Sadler's Wells, +Covent Garden, and Drury Lane, who danced a horn-pipe in <i>The +Beggar's Opera</i> to the air of "Nancy Dawson," which is mentioned +in the epilogue of <i>She Stoops to Conquer</i>, and survives in +our nurseries as "Here we go round the Mulberry Bush."</p> +<p>The greater part of <i>Snarleyyow</i> was first printed in +<i>The Metropolitan Magazine</i>, 1836 and 1837; but on reaching +Chapter xl., just as the novel had appeared in book form, the +editor--not then Marryat himself--told his readers that it was not +his intention to give an extended review of this work, as they had +already "ample means of forming their own opinion of its varied +merits:"--"We shall therefore content ourselves with a few remarks, +in announcing its publication and giving a brief outline of the +termination of the story from our last number." At the close of the +said extracts he writes:--</p> +<p>"And so ends Snarleyyow, with as much quaintness, spirit, and +character as it commenced."</p> +<p>The book was evidently written in haste, and few of the minor +characters retained one Christian name throughout its pages. It is +here reprinted, with the corrections of such slips as those just +mentioned, from the first edition in three volumes. Henry Colburn, +1837.</p> +<p>R.B.J.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h1>Snarleyyow</h1> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_I"></a>Chapter I</h2> +<h3>Introduction of divers parties and a red-herring.</h3> +<br> +<p>It was in the month of January, 1699, that a one-masted vessel, +with black sides, was running along the coast near Beachy Head, at +the rate of about five miles per hour. The wind was from the +northward and blew keenly, the vessel was under easy sail, and the +water was smooth. It was now broad daylight, and the sun rose clear +of clouds and vapour; but he threw out light without heat. The +upper parts of the spars, the hammock rails, and the small iron +guns which were mounted on the vessel's decks, were covered with a +white frost. The man at the helm stood muffled up in a thick +pea-jacket and mittens, which made his hands appear as large as his +feet. His nose was a pug of an intense bluish red, one tint arising +from the present cold, and the other from the preventive checks +which he had been so long accustomed to take to drive out such an +unpleasant intruder. His grizzled hair waved its locks gently to +the wind, and his face was distorted with an immoderate quid of +tobacco which protruded his right cheek. This personage was second +officer and steersman on board of the vessel, and his name was +Obadiah Coble. He had been baptised Obadiah about sixty years +before; that is to say if he had been baptised at all. He stood so +motionless at the helm, that you might have imagined him to have +been frozen there as he stood, were it not that his eyes +occasionally wandered from the compass on the binnacle to the bows +of the vessel, and that the breath from his mouth, when it was +thrown out into the clear frosty air, formed a smoke like to that +from the spout of a half-boiling tea-kettle.</p> +<p>The crew belonging to the cutter, for she was a vessel in the +service of his Majesty, King William the Third, at this time +employed in protecting his Majesty's revenue against the +importation of alamodes and lutestrings, were all down below at +their breakfasts, with the exception of the steersman and +lieutenant-commandant, who now walked the quarter-deck, if so small +an extent of plank could be dignified with such a name. He was a Mr +Cornelius Vanslyperken, a tall, meagre-looking personage, with very +narrow shoulders and very small head. Perfectly straight up and +down, protruding in no part, he reminded you of some tall parish +pump, with a great knob at its top. His face was gaunt, cheeks +hollow, nose and chin showing an affection for each other, and +evidently lamenting the gulf between them which prevented their +meeting. Both appeared to have fretted themselves to the utmost +degree of tenuity from disappointment in love: as for the nose, it +had a pearly round tear hanging at its tip, as if it wept. The +dress of Mr Vanslyperken was hidden in a great coat, which was very +long, and buttoned straight down. This great coat had two pockets +on each side, into which its owner's hands were deeply inserted, +and so close did his arms lie to his sides, that they appeared +nothing more than as would battens nailed to a topsail yard. The +only deviation from the perpendicular was from the insertion of a +speaking-trumpet under his left arm, at right angles with his body. +It had evidently seen much service, was battered, and the clack +Japan worn off in most parts of it. As we said before, Mr +Vanslyperken walked his quarter-deck. He was in a brown study, yet +looked blue. Six strides brought him to the taffrail of the vessel, +six more to the bows, such was the length of his tether--and he +turned, and turned again.</p> +<p>But there was another personage on the deck, a personage of no +small importance, as he was all in all to Mr Vanslyperken, and Mr +Vanslyperken was all in all to him; moreover, we may say, that he +is the hero of the TAIL. This was one of the ugliest and most +ill-conditioned curs which had ever been produced:--ugly in colour; +for he was of a dirty yellow, like the paint served out to decorate +our men-of-war by his Majesty's dock-yards:--ugly in face; for he +had one wall-eye, and was so far under-jawed as to prove that a +bull-dog had had something to do with his creation:--ugly in shape; +for although larger than a pointer, and strongly built, he was +coarse and shambling in his make, with his forelegs bowed out. His +ears and tail had never been docked, which was a pity, as the more +you curtailed his proportions, the better looking the cur would +have been. But his ears, although not cut, were torn to ribbons by +the various encounters with dogs on shore, arising from the acidity +of his temper. His tail had lost its hair from an inveterate mange, +and reminded you of the same appendage to a rat. Many parts of his +body were bared from the same disease. He carried his head and tail +low, and had a villanous sour look. To the eye of a casual +observer, there was not one redeeming quality that would warrant +his keep; to those who knew him well, there were a thousand reasons +why he should be hanged. He followed his master with the greatest +precision and exactitude, walking aft as he walked aft, and walking +forward with the same regular motion, turning when his master +turned, and moreover, turning in the same direction; and, like his +master, he appeared to be not a little nipped with the cold, and, +as well as he, in a state of profound meditation. The name of this +uncouth animal was very appropriate to his appearance, and to his +temper. It was Snarleyyow.</p> +<p>At last, Mr Vanslyperken gave vent to his pent-up feelings. "I +can't, I won't stand this any longer," muttered the lieutenant, as +he took his six strides forward. At this first sound of his +master's voice the dog pricked up the remnants of his ears, and +they both turned aft. "She has been now fooling me for six years;" +and as he concluded this sentence, Mr Vanslyperken and Snarleyyow +had reached the taffrail, and the dog raised his tail to the half +cock.</p> +<p>They turned, and Mr Vanslyperken paused a moment or two, and +compressed his thin lips--the dog did the same. "I will have an +answer, by all that's blue!" was the ejaculation of the next six +strides. The lieutenant stopped again, and the dog looked up in his +master's face; but it appeared as if the current of his master's +thoughts was changed, for the current of keen air reminded Mr +Vanslyperken that he had not yet had his breakfast.</p> +<p>The lieutenant leant over the hatchway, took his battered +speaking-trumpet from under his arm, and putting it to his mouth, +the deck reverberated with, "Pass the word for Smallbones forward." +The dog put himself in a baying attitude, with his forefeet on the +coamings of the hatchway, and enforced his master's orders with a +deep-toned and measured bow, wow, wow.</p> +<p>Smallbones soon made his appearance, rising from the hatchway +like a ghost; a thin, shambling personage, apparently about twenty +years old--a pale, cadaverous face, high cheek-bones, goggle eyes, +with lank hair very thinly sown upon a head, which, like bad soil, +would return but a scanty harvest. He looked like Famine's eldest +son just arriving to years of discretion. His long lanky legs were +pulled so far through his trousers, that his bare feet, and half +way up to his knees, were exposed to the chilling blast. The +sleeves of his jacket were so short, that four inches of bone above +his wrist were bared to view--hat he had none--his ears were very +large, and the rims of them red with cold, and his neck was so +immeasurably long and thin, that his head appeared to topple for +want of support. When he had come on deck, he stood with one hand +raised to his forehead, touching his hair instead of his hat, and +the other occupied with a half-roasted red-herring. "Yes, sir," +said Smallbones, standing before his master.</p> +<p>"Be quick!"--commenced the lieutenant; but here his attention +was directed to the red-herring by Snarleyyow, who raised his head +and snuffed at its fumes. Among other disqualifications of the +animal, be it observed, that he had no nose except for a +red-herring, or a post by the way side. Mr Vanslyperken +discontinued his orders, took his hand out of his great coat +pocket, wiped the drop from off his nose, and then roared out, "How +dare you appear on the quarter-deck of a king's ship, sir, with a +red-herring in your fist?"</p> +<p>"If you please, sir," replied Smallbones, "if I were to come for +to go to leave it in the galley, I shouldn't find it when I went +back."</p> +<p>"What do I care for that, sir? It's contrary to all the rules +and regulations of the service. Now, sir, hear me-----"</p> +<p>"O Lord, sir! let me off this time, it's only a <i>soldier</i>," +replied Smallbones, deprecatingly; but Snarleyyow's appetite had +been very much sharpened by his morning's walk; it rose with the +smell of the herring, so he rose on his hind legs, snapped the +herring out of Smallbones' hand, bolted forward by the lee gangway, +and would soon have bolted the herring, had not Smallbones bolted +after him and overtaken him just as he had laid it down on the deck +preparatory to commencing his meal. A fight ensued; Smallbones +received a severe bite in the leg, which induced him to seize a +handspike, and make a blow with it at the dog's head, which, if it +had been well aimed, would have probably put an end to all further +pilfering. As it was, the handspike descended upon one of the dog's +fore toes, and Snarleyyow retreated, yelling, to the other side of +the forecastle, and as soon as he was out of reach, like all curs, +bayed in defiance.</p> +<p>Smallbones picked up the herring, pulled up his trousers to +examine the bite, poured down an anathema upon the dog, which was, +"May you be starved, as I am, you beast!" and then turned round to +go aft, when he struck against the spare form of Mr Vanslyperken, +who, with his hands in his pocket, and his trumpet under his arm, +looked unutterably savage.</p> +<p>"How dare you beat <i>my</i> dog, you villain?" said the +lieutenant at last, choking with passion.</p> +<p>"He's a-bitten my leg through and through, sir," replied +Smallbones, with a face of alarm.</p> +<p>"Well, sir, why have you such thin legs, then?"</p> +<p>"'Cause I gets nothing to fill 'em up with."</p> +<p>"Have you not a herring there, you herring-gutted scoundrel? +which, in defiance of all the rules of the service, you have +brought on his Majesty's quarter-deck, you greedy rascal, and for +which I intend--"</p> +<p>"It ar'n't my herring, sir, it be yours--for your breakfast--the +only one that is left out of the half-dozen."</p> +<p>This last remark appeared somewhat to pacify Mr +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Go down below, sir," said he, after a pause, "and let me know +when my breakfast is ready."</p> +<p>Smallbones obeyed immediately, too glad to escape so easily.</p> +<p>"Snarleyyow," said his master, looking at the dog, who remained +on the other side of the forecastle; "O Snarleyyow, for shame! Come +here, sir. Come here, sir, directly."</p> +<p>But Snarleyyow, who was very sulky at the loss of his +anticipated breakfast, was contumacious, and would not come. He +stood at the other side of the forecastle, while his master +apostrophised him, looking him in the face. Then, after a pause of +indecision, he gave a howling sort of bark, trotted away to the +main hatchway, and disappeared below. Mr Vanslyperken returned to +the quarter-deck, and turned, and turned as before.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_II"></a>Chapter II</h2> +<h3>Showing what became of the red-herring.</h3> +<br> +<p>Smallbones soon made his re-appearance, informing Mr +Vanslyperken that his breakfast was ready for him, and Mr +Vanslyperken, feeling himself quite ready for his breakfast, went +down below. A minute after he had disappeared, another man came up +to relieve the one at the wheel, who, as soon as he had surrendered +up the spokes, commenced warming himself after the most approved +method, by flapping his arms round his body.</p> +<p>"The skipper's out o' sorts again this morning," said Obadiah, +after a time. "I heard him muttering about the woman at the Lust +Haus."</p> +<p>"Then, by Got, we will have de breeze," replied Jansen, who was +a Dutch seaman of huge proportions, rendered still more +preposterous by the multiplicity of his nether clothing.</p> +<p>"Yes, as sure as Mother Carey's chickens raise the gale, so does +the name of the Frau Vandersloosh. I'll be down and get my +breakfast, there may be keel-hauling before noon."</p> +<p>"Mein Got--dat is de tyfel."</p> +<p>"Keep her nor-east, Jansen, and keep a sharp look out for the +boats."</p> +<p>"Got for dam--how must I steer the chip and look for de boats at +de same time?--not possible."</p> +<p>"That's no consarn o' mine. Those are the orders, and I passes +them--you must get over the unpossibility how you can." So saying, +Obadiah Coble walked below.</p> +<p>We must do the same, and introduce the reader to the cabin of +Lieutenant Vanslyperken, which was not very splendid in its +furniture. One small table, one chair, a mattress in a standing +bed-place, with curtains made of bunting, an open cupboard, +containing three plates, one tea-cup and saucer, two drinking +glasses, and two knives. More was not required, as Mr Vanslyperken +never indulged in company. There was another cupboard, but it was +carefully locked. On the table before the lieutenant was a white +wash-hand basin, nearly half full of burgoo, a composition of +boiled oatmeal and water, very wholesome, and very hot. It was the +allowance, from the ship's coppers, of Mr Vanslyperken and his +servant Smallbones. Mr Vanslyperken was busy stirring it about to +cool it a little, with a leaden spoon. Snarleyyow sat close to him, +waiting for his share, and Smallbones stood by, waiting for +orders.</p> +<p>"Smallbones," said the lieutenant, after trying the hot mess +before him, and finding that he was still in danger of burning his +mouth, "bring me the red-herring."</p> +<p>"Red-herring, sir?" stammered Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied his master, fixing his little grey eye sternly on +him, "the red-herring."</p> +<p>"It's gone, sir!" replied Smallbones, with alarm.</p> +<p>"Gone!--gone where?"</p> +<p>"If you please, sir, I didn't a-think that you would have +touched it after the dog had had it in his nasty mouth; and so, +sir--if you please, sir--"</p> +<p>"And so what?" said Vanslyperken, compressing his thin lips.</p> +<p>"I ate it myself--if you please--O dear--O dear!"</p> +<p>"You did, did you--you gluttonous scarecrow--you did, did you? +Are you aware that you have committed a theft--and are you aware of +the punishment attending it?"</p> +<p>"O sir--it was a mistake--dear sir," cried Smallbones, +whimpering.</p> +<p>"In the first place, I will cut you to ribbons with the +cat."</p> +<p>"Mercy, sir--O sir!" cried the lad, the tears streaming from his +eyes.</p> +<p>"The thief's cat, with three knots in each tail."</p> +<p>Smallbones raised up his thin arms, and clasped his hands, +pleading for mercy.</p> +<p>"And after the flogging--you shall be keel-hauled."</p> +<p>"O God!" screamed Smallbones, falling down on his knees, +"mercy--mercy!"</p> +<p>But there was none. Snarleyyow, when he saw the lad go down on +his knees, flew at him, and threw him on his back, growling over +him, and occasionally looking at his master.</p> +<p>"Come here, Snarleyyow," said Mr Vanslyperken. "Come here, sir, +and lie down." But Snarleyyow had not forgotten the red-herring; so +in revenge, he first bit Smallbones in the thigh, and then obeyed +his master.</p> +<p>"Get up, sir," cried the lieutenant.</p> +<p>Smallbones rose, but his temper now rose also; he forgot all +that he was to suffer, from indignation against the dog: with +flashing eyes, and whimpering with rage, he cried out, as the tears +fell, and his arms swung round, "I'll not stand this--I'll jump +overboard--that I will: fourteen times has that ere dog a-bitten me +this week. I'd sooner die at once, than be made dog's-meat of in +this here way."</p> +<p>"Silence, you mutinous rascal, or I'll put you in irons."</p> +<p>"I wish you would--irons don't bite, if they hold fast. I'll run +away--I don't mind being hung--that I don't--starved to death, +bitten to death in this here way--"</p> +<p>"Silence, sir. It's over-feeding that makes you saucy."</p> +<p>"The Lord forgive you'" cried Smallbones, with surprise; "I've +not had a full meal"</p> +<p>"A full meal, you rascal! there's no filling a thing like +you--hollow from top to bottom, like a bamboo."</p> +<p>"And what I does get," continued Smallbones, with energy, "I +pays dear for; that ere dog flies at me, if I takes a bit o' +biscuit. I never has a bite without getting a bite, and it's all my +own allowance."</p> +<p>"A proof of his fidelity, and an example to you, you wretch," +replied the lieutenant, fondly patting the dog on the head.</p> +<p>"Well, I wish you'd discharge me--or hang me, I don't care +which. You eats so hearty, and the dog eats so hearty, that I gets +nothing. We are only victualled for two."</p> +<p>"You insolent fellow! recollect the thief's cat."</p> +<p>"It's very hard," continued Smallbones, unmindful of the threat, +"that that ere beast is to eat my allowance, and be allowed to half +eat me too."</p> +<p>"You forget the keel-hauling, you scarecrow."</p> +<p>"Well, I hope I may never come up again, that's all."</p> +<p>"Leave the cabin, sir."</p> +<p>This order Smallbones obeyed.</p> +<p>"Snarleyyow," said the lieutenant, "you are hungry, my poor +beast." Snarleyyow put his forepaw up on his master's knee. "You +shall have your breakfast soon," continued his master, eating the +burgoo between his addresses to the animal. "Yes, Snarleyyow, you +have done wrong this morning--you ought to have no breakfast." +Snarleyyow growled. "We are only four years acquainted, and how +many scrapes you have got me into, Snarleyyow!" Snarleyyow here put +both his paws upon his master's knee. "Well, you are sorry, my poor +dog, and you shall have some breakfast;" and Mr Vanslyperken put +the basin of burgoo on the floor, which the dog tumbled down his +throat most rapidly. "Nay, my dog, not so fast; you must leave some +for Smallbones, he will require some breakfast before his +punishment. There, that will do;" and Mr Vanslyperken wished to +remove the basin with a little of the burgoo remaining in it. +Snarleyyow growled, would have snapped at his master, but Mr +Vanslyperken shoved him away with the bell mouth of his +speaking-trumpet, and recovering a portion of the mess, put it on +the table for the use of poor Smallbones. "Now then, my dog, we +will go on deck." Mr Vanslyperken left the cabin, followed by +Snarleyyow; but as soon as his master was half way up the ladder, +Snarleyyow turned back, leaped on the chair, from the chair to the +table, and then finished the whole of the breakfast appropriated +for Smallbones. Having effected this, the dog followed his +master.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_III"></a>Chapter III</h2> +<h3>A retrospect, and short description of a new character</h3> +<br> +<p>But we must leave poor Smallbones to lament his hard fate in the +fore peak of the vessel, and Mr Vanslyperken and his dog to walk +the quarter-deck, while we make our readers a little better +acquainted with the times in which the scenes passed which we are +now describing, as well as with the history of Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>The date in our first chapter, that of the year 1699, will, if +they refer back to history, show them that William of Nassau had +been a few years on the English throne, and that peace had just +been concluded between England with its allies and France. The king +occasionally passed his time in Holland, among his Dutch +countrymen, and the English and Dutch fleets, which but a few years +before were engaging with such an obstinacy of courage, had lately +sailed together, and turned their guns against the French. William, +like all those continental princes who have been called to the +English throne, showed much favour to his own countrymen, and +England was overrun with Dutch favourites, Dutch courtiers, and +peers of Dutch extraction. He would not even part with his Dutch +guards, and was at issue with the Commons of England on that very +account. But the war was now over, and most of the English and +Dutch navy lay dismantled in port, a few small vessels only being +in commission to intercept the smuggling from France that was +carrying on, much to the detriment of English manufacture, of +certain articles then denominated alamodes and lutestrings. The +cutter we have described was on this service, and was named the +<i>Yungfrau</i>, although built in England, and forming a part of +the English naval force.</p> +<p>It may readily be supposed that Dutch interest, during this +period, was in the ascendant. Such was the case: and the Dutch +officers and seamen who could not be employed in their own marine +were appointed in the English vessels, to the prejudice of our own +countrymen. Mr Vanslyperken was of Dutch extraction, but born in +England long before the Prince of Orange had ever dreamt of being +called to the English throne. He was a near relation of King +William's own nurse, and even in these days, that would cause +powerful interest. Previous to the revolution he had been laid on +the shelf for cowardice in one of the engagements between the Dutch +and the English, he being then a lieutenant on board of a +two-decked ship, and of long standing in the service; but before he +had been appointed to this vessel, he had served invariably in +small craft, and his want of this necessary qualification had never +been discovered. The interest used for him on the accession of the +Dutch king was sufficient for his again obtaining the command of a +small vessel. In those days, the service was very different from +what it is now. The commanders of vessels were also the pursers, +and could save a great deal of money by defrauding the crew; and +further, the discipline of the service was such as would astonish +the modern philanthropist; there was no appeal for subordinates, +and tyranny and oppression, even amounting to the destruction of +life, were practised with impunity. Smollett has given his readers +some idea of the state of the service a few years after the time of +which we are now writing, when it was infinitely worse, for the +system of the Dutch, notorious for their cruelty, had been grafted +upon that of the English: the consequence was, a combination of all +that was revolting to humanity was practised without any notice +being taken of it by the superior powers, provided that the +commanders of the vessels did their duty when called upon, and +showed the necessary talent and courage.</p> +<p>Lieutenant Vanslyperken's character may be summed up in the +three vices of avarice, cowardice, and cruelty. A miser in the +extreme, he had saved up much money by his having had the command +of a vessel for so many years, during which he had defrauded and +pilfered both from the men and the government. Friends and +connections he had none on this side of the water, and, when on +shore, he had lived in a state of abject misery, although he had +the means of comfortable support. He was now fifty-five years of +age. Since he had been appointed to the <i>Yungfrau</i>, he had +been employed in carrying despatches to the States-General from +King William, and had, during his repeated visits to the Hague, +made acquaintance with the widow Vandersloosh, who kept a Lust +Haus<a name="FNanchor1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1">[1]</a>, a place +of resort for sailors, where they drank and danced. Discovering +that the comfortably fat landlady was also very comfortably rich, +Mr Vanslyperken had made advances, with the hope of obtaining her +hand and handling her money. The widow had, however, no idea of +accepting the offer, but was too wise to give him a decided +refusal, as she knew it would be attended with his preventing the +crew of the cutter from frequenting her house, and, thereby, losing +much custom. Thus did she, at every return, receive him kindly and +give him hopes, but nothing more. Since the peace, as we before +observed, the cutter had been ordered for the prevention of +smuggling.</p> +<blockquote><a name="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor1">[1]</a> +Pleasure House.</blockquote> +<p>When and how Mr Vanslyperken had picked up his favourite +Snarleyyow cannot be discovered, and must remain a secret. The men +said that the dog had appeared on the deck of the cutter in a +supernatural way, and most of them looked upon him with as much awe +as ill-will.</p> +<p>This is certain, that the cutter had been a little while before +in a state of mutiny, and a forcible entry attempted at night into +the lieutenant's cabin. It is therefore not unreasonable to suppose +that Vanslyperken felt that a good watch-dog might be a very useful +appendage to his establishment, and had procured one accordingly. +All the affection he ever showed to anything living was certainly +concentrated on this one animal, and, next to his money, Snarleyyow +had possession of his master's heart.</p> +<p>Poor Smallbones, cast on the world without father or mother, had +become starved before he was on board the cutter, and had been +starved ever since. As the reader will perceive, his allowance was +mostly eaten up by the dog, and he was left to beg a precarious +support from the good-will and charity of his shipmates, all of +whom were equally disgusted with the commander's cruelty and the +ungainly temper of his brute companion.</p> +<p>Having entered into this retrospect for the benefit of the +reader, we will now proceed.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken walked the deck for nearly a quarter of an hour +without speaking: the men had finished their breakfasts, and were +lounging about the deck, for there was nothing for them to do, +except to look out for the return of the two boats which had been +sent away the night before. The lieutenant's thoughts were, at one +minute, upon Mrs Vandersloosh, thinking how he could persuade her, +and, at another, upon Smallbones, thinking how he could render the +punishment adequate, in his opinion, to the magnitude of the +offence. While discussing these two important matters, one of the +men reported the boats ahead, and broke up the commander's +reverie.</p> +<p>"How far off?" demanded Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"About two miles."</p> +<p>"Pulling or sailing?"</p> +<p>"Pulling, sir; we stand right for them."</p> +<p>But Mr Vanslyperken was in no pleasant humour, and ordered the +cutter to be hove-to.</p> +<p>"I tink de men have pull enough all night," said Jansen, who had +just been relieved at the wheel, to Obadiah Coble, who was standing +by him on the forecastle.</p> +<p>"I think so too: but there'll be a breeze, depend upon it--never +mind, the devil will have his own all in good time."</p> +<p>"Got for dam," said Jansen, looking at Beachy Head, and shaking +his own.</p> +<p>"Why, what's the matter now, old Schnapps?" said Coble.</p> +<p>"Schnapps--yes--the tyfel--Schnapps, I think how the French +schnapped us Dutchmen here when you Englishmen wouldn't fight."</p> +<p>"Mind what you say, old twenty breeches--wouldn't fight--when +wouldn't we fight?"</p> +<p>"Here, where we were now, by Got, you leave us all in the lurch, +and not come down."</p> +<p>"Why, we couldn't come down."</p> +<p>"Bah!" replied Jansen, who referred to the defeat of the +combined Dutch and English fleet by the French off Beachy Head in +1690.</p> +<p>"We wouldn't fight, heh?" exclaimed Obadiah in scorn, "what do +you say to the Hogue?"</p> +<p>"Yes, den you fought well--dat was good."</p> +<p>"And shall I tell you why we fought well at the Hogue--you Dutch +porpoise--just because we had no Dutchmen to help us."</p> +<p>"And shall I tell you why the Dutch were beat off this +Head?--because the English wouldn't come down to help us."</p> +<p>Here Obadiah put his tongue into his right cheek. Jansen in +return threw his into his left, and thus the argument was finished. +These disputes were constant at the time, but seldom proceeded +further than words-- certainly not between Coble and Jansen, who +were great friends.</p> +<p>The boats were soon on board; from the time that the cutter had +been hove-to, every stroke of their oars having been accompanied +with a nautical anathema from the crews upon the head of their +commander. The steersman and first officer, who had charge of the +boats, came over the gangway and went up to Vanslyperken. He was a +thickset, stout man, about five feet four inches high, and, wrapped +up in Flushing garments, looked very much like a bear in shape as +well as in skin. His name was Dick Short, and in every respect he +answered to his name, for he was short in stature, short in speech, +and short in decision and action.</p> +<p>Now when Short came up to the lieutenant, he did not consider it +at all necessary to say as usual, "Come on board, sir," for it was +self-evident that he had come on board. He therefore said nothing. +So abrupt was he in his speech, that he never even said "Sir," when +he spoke to his superior, which it may be imagined was very +offensive to Mr Vanslyperken: so it was, but Mr Vanslyperken was +afraid of Short, and Short was not the least afraid of +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Well, what have you done, Short?"</p> +<p>"Nothing."</p> +<p>"Did you see anything of the boat?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>"Did you gain any information?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>"What have you been doing all night?"</p> +<p>"Pulling."</p> +<p>"Did you land to obtain information?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"And you got none?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>Here Short hitched up the waistband of his second pair of +trousers, turned short round, and was going below, when Snarleyyow +smelt at his heels. The man gave him a back kick with the heel of +his heavy boot, which sent the dog off yelping and barking, and put +Mr Vanslyperken in a great rage. Not venturing to resent this +affront upon his first officer, he was reminded of Smallbones, and +immediately sent for Corporal Van Spitter to appear on deck.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IV"></a>Chapter IV</h2> +<h3>In which there is a desperate combat.</h3> +<br> +<p>Even at this period of the English history, it was the custom to +put a few soldiers on board of the vessels of war, and the +<i>Yungfrau</i> cutter had been supplied with a corporal and six +men, all of whom were belonging to the Dutch marine. To a person +who was so unpopular as Mr Vanslyperken, this little force was a +great protection, and both Corporal Van Spitter and his corps were +well treated by him. The corporal was his purser and purveyor, and +had a very good berth of it, for he could cheat as well as his +commandant. He was, moreover, his prime minister, and an obedient +executor of all his tyranny, for Corporal Van Spitter was without a +shadow of feeling--on the contrary, he had pleasure in +administering punishment; and if Vanslyperken had told him to blow +any man's brains out belonging to the vessel, Van Spitter would +have immediately obeyed the order without the change of a muscle in +his fat, florid countenance. The corporal was an enormous man, +tall, and so corpulent, that he weighed nearly twenty stone. Jansen +was the only one who could rival him; he was quite as tall as the +corporal, and as powerful, but he had not the extra weight of his +carcass.</p> +<p>About five minutes after the summons, the huge form of Corporal +Van Spitter was seen to emerge slowly from the hatchway, which +appeared barely wide enough to admit the egress of his broad +shoulders. He had a flat foraging cap on his head, which was as +large as a buffalo's, and his person was clothed in blue +pantaloons, tight at the ankle, rapidly increasing in width as they +ascended, until they diverged at the hips to an expanse which was +something between the sublime and the ridiculous. The upper part of +his body was cased in a blue jacket, with leaden buttons, stamped +with the rampant lion, with a little tail behind, which was shoved +up in the air by the protuberance of the parts. Having gained the +deck, he walked to Vanslyperken, and raised the back of his right +hand to his forehead.</p> +<p>"Corporal Van Spitter, get your cats up for punishment, and when +you are ready fetch up Smallbones."</p> +<p>Whereupon, without reply, Corporal Van Spitter put his left foot +behind the heel of his right, and by this manoeuvre turned his body +round like a capstern, so as to bring his face forward, and then +walked off in that direction. He soon re-appeared with all the +necessary implements of torture, laid them down on one of the lee +guns, and again departed to seek out his victim.</p> +<p>After a short time, a scuffle was heard below, but it was soon +over, and once more appeared the corporal with the spare, tall body +of Smallbones under his arm. He held him, grasped by the middle +part, about where Smallbones' stomach ought to have been, and the +head and heels of the poor wretch both hung down perpendicularly, +and knocked together as the corporal proceeded aft.</p> +<p>As soon as Van Spitter had arrived at the gun he laid down his +charge, who neither moved nor spoke. He appeared to have resigned +himself to the fate which awaited him, and made no resistance when +he was stripped by one of the marines, and stretched over the gun. +The men, who were on deck, said nothing; they looked at each other +expressively as the preparations were made. Flogging a lad like +Smallbones was too usual an occurrence to excite surprise, and to +show their disgust would have been dangerous. Smallbones' back was +now bared, and miserable was the spectacle; the shoulder-blades +protruded, so that you might put your hand sideways under the +scapula, and every bone of the vertebræ, and every process +was clearly defined through the skin of the poor skeleton. The +punishment commenced, and the lad received his three dozen without +a murmur, the measured sound of the lash only being broken in upon +by the baying of Snarleyyow, who occasionally would have flown at +the victim, had he not been kept off by one of the marines. During +the punishment, Mr Vanslyperken walked the deck, and turned and +turned again as before.</p> +<p>Smallbones was then cast loose by the corporal, who was twirling +up his cat, when Snarleyyow, whom the marine had not watched, ran +up to the lad, and inflicted a severe bite. Smallbones, who +appeared, at the moment, to be faint and lifeless--not having risen +from his knees after the marine had thrown his shirt over him, +roused by this new attack, appeared to spring into life and energy; +he jumped up, uttered a savage yell, and to the astonishment of +everybody, threw himself upon the dog as he retreated, and holding +him fast with his naked arms, met the animal with his own weapons, +attacking him with a frenzied resolution with his teeth. Everybody +started back at this unusual conflict, and no one interfered.</p> +<p>Long was the struggle, and such was the savage energy of the +lad, that he bit and held on with the tenacity of a bull-dog, +tearing the lips of the animal, his ears, and burying his face in +the dog's throat, as his teeth were firmly fixed on his windpipe. +The dog could not escape, for Smallbones held him like a vice. At +last, the dog appeared to have the advantage, for as they rolled +over and over, he caught the lad by the side of the neck; but +Smallbones recovered himself, and getting the foot of Snarleyyow +between his teeth, the dog threw up his head and howled for +succour. Mr Vanslyperken rushed to his assistance, and struck +Smallbones a heavy blow on the head with his speaking-trumpet, +which stunned him, and he let go his hold.</p> +<p>Short, who had come on deck, perceiving this, and that the dog +was about to resume the attack, saluted Snarleyyow with a kick on +his side, which threw him down the hatchway, which was about three +yards off from where the dog was at the time.</p> +<p>"How dare you strike my dog, Mr Short?" cried Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>Short did not condescend to answer, but went to Smallbones and +raised his head. The lad revived. He was terribly bitten about the +face and neck, and what with the wounds in front, and the lashing +from the cat, presented a melancholy spectacle.</p> +<p>Short called some of the men to take Smallbones below, in which +act they readily assisted; they washed him all over with salt +water, and the smarting from his various wounds brought him to his +senses. He was then put in his hammock.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken and the corporal looked at each other during the +time that Short was giving his directions--neither interfered. The +lieutenant was afraid, and the corporal waited for orders. So soon +as the men had carried the lad below, Corporal Van Spitter put his +hand up to his foraging cap, and with his cat and seizings under +his arm, went down below. As for Vanslyperken, his wrath was even +greater than before, and with hands thrust even further down in his +pockets than ever, and the speaking-trumpet now battered flat with +the blow which he had administered to Smallbones, he walked up and +down, muttering every two minutes, "I'll keel-haul the scoundrel, +by heavens! I'll teach him to bite my dog."</p> +<p>Snarleyyow did not re-appear on deck; he had received such +punishment as he did not expect. He licked the wounds where he +could get at them, and then remained in the cabin in a sort of +perturbed slumber, growling every minute as if he were fighting the +battle over again in his sleep.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_V"></a>Chapter V</h2> +<h3>A consultat on in which there is much mutiny.</h3> +<br> +<p>This consultation was held upon the forecastle of his Majesty's +cutter <i>Yungfrau</i>, on the evening after the punishment of +Smallbones. The major part of the crew attended; all but the +Corporal Van Spitter, who, on these points, was known to split with +the crew, and his six marines, who formed the corporal's tail, at +which they were always to be found. The principal personage was not +the most eloquent speaker, for it was Dick Short, who was supported +by Obadiah Coble, Yack Jansen, and another personage, whom we must +introduce, the boatswain or boatswain's mate of the cutter; for +although he received the title of the former, he only received the +pay of the latter. This person's real name was James Salisbury, but +for reasons which will be explained he was invariably addressed or +spoken of as Jemmy Ducks. He was indeed a very singular variety of +human discrepancy as to form: he was handsome in face, with a manly +countenance, fierce whiskers and long pigtail, which on him +appeared more than unusually long, as it descended to within a foot +of the deck. His shoulders were square, chest expanded, and, as far +as half-way down, that is, to where the legs are inserted into the +human frame, he was a fine, well-made, handsome, well-proportioned +man. But what a falling off was there!--for some reason, some +accident, it is supposed, in his infancy, his legs had never grown +in length since he was three years old: they were stout as well as +his body, but not more than eighteen inches from the hip to the +heel; and he consequently waddled about a very ridiculous figure, +for he was like a man <i>razeed</i> or cut down. Put him on an +eminence of a couple of feet, and not see his legs, and you would +say at a distance, "What a fine looking sailor!" but let him get +down and walk up to you, and you would find that nature had not +finished what she had so well begun, and that you are exactly half +mistaken. This malconformation below did not, however, affect his +strength, it rather added to it; and there were but few men in the +ship who would venture a wrestle with the boatswain, who was very +appropriately distinguished by the cognomen of Jemmy Ducks. Jemmy +was a sensible, merry fellow, and a good seaman: you could not +affront him by any jokes on his figure, for he would joke with you. +He was indeed the fiddle of the ship's company, and he always +played the fiddle to them when they danced, on which instrument he +was no mean performer; and, moreover, accompanied his voice with +his instrument when he sang to them after they were tired of +dancing. We shall only observe that Jemmy was a married man, and he +had selected one of the tallest of the other sex: of her beauty the +less that is said the better--Jemmy did not look to that, or +perhaps, at such a height, her face did not appear so plain to him +as it did who were to those more on a level with it. The effect of +perspective is well known, and even children now have as +playthings, castles, &c., laid down on card, which, when looked +at in a proper direction, appear just as correct as they do +preposterous when lying flat before you.</p> +<p>Now it happened that from the level that Jemmy looked up from to +his wife's face, her inharmonious features were all in harmony, and +thus did she appear--what is very advantageous in the marriage +state--perfection to her husband, without sufficient charms in the +eyes of others to induce them to seduce her from her liege lord. +Moreover, let it be recollected, that what Jemmy <i>wanted</i> was +<i>height</i>, and he had gained what he required in his wife, if +not in his own person: his wife was passionately fond of him, and +very jealous, which was not to be wondered at, for, as she said, +"there never was such a husband before or since."</p> +<p>We must now return to the conference, observing, that all these +parties were sitting down on the deck, and that Jemmy Ducks had his +fiddle in his hand, holding it with the body downwards like a bass +viol, for he always played it in that way, and that he occasionally +fingered the strings, pinching them as you do a guitar, so as to +send the sound of it aft, that Mr Vanslyperken might suppose that +they were all met for mirth. Two or three had their eyes directed +aft, that the appearance of Corporal Van Spitter or the marines +might be immediately perceived; for, although the corporal was not +a figure to slide into a conference unperceived, it was well known +that he was an eavesdropper.</p> +<p>"One thing's sartain," observed Coble, "that a dog's not an +officer."</p> +<p>"No," replied Dick Short.</p> +<p>"He's not on the ship's books, so I can't see how it can be +mutiny."</p> +<p>"No," rejoined Short.</p> +<p>"Mein Got--he is not a tog, he is te tyfel," observed +Jansen.</p> +<p>"Who knows how he came into the cutter?"</p> +<p>"There's a queer story about that," said one of the men.</p> +<p>Tum tum, tumty tum--said the fiddle of Jemmy Ducks, as if it +took part in the conference.</p> +<p>"That poor boy will be killed if things go on this way: the +skipper will never be content till he has driven his soul out of +his body--poor creature; only look at him as he lies in his +hammock."</p> +<p>"I never seed a Christian such an object," said one of the +sailors.</p> +<p>"If the dog ain't killed, Bones will be, that's sartain," +observed Coble, "and I don't see why the preference should be given +to a human individual, although the dog is the skipper's dog--now +then, what d'ye say, my lads?"</p> +<p>Tum tum, tum tum, tumty tumty tum, replied the fiddle.</p> +<p>"Let's hang him at once."</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>Jansen took out his snickerree, looked at Short, and made a +motion with the knife, as if passing it across the dog's +throat.</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Let's launch him overboard at night," said one of the men.</p> +<p>"But how is one to get the brute out of the cabin?" said Coble; +"if it's done at all it must be done by day."</p> +<p>Short nodded his head.</p> +<p>"I will give him a launch the first opportunity," observed Jemmy +Ducks, "only--" (continued he in a measured and lower tone) "I +should first like to know whether he really <i>is</i> a dog or +<i>not</i>."</p> +<p>"A tog is a tog," observed Jansen.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied one of the forecastle men, "we all know a dog is +a dog, but the question is--is <i>this</i> dog a dog?"</p> +<p>Here there was a pause, which Jemmy Ducks filled up by again +touching the strings of his fiddle.</p> +<p>The fact was, that, although every one of the sailors wished the +dog was overboard, there was not one who wished to commit the deed, +not on account of the fear of its being discovered who was the +party by Mr Vanslyperken, but because there was a great deal of +superstition among them. It was considered unlucky to throw any dog +or animal overboard; but the strange stories told about the way in +which Snarleyyow first made his appearance in the vessel, added to +the peculiarly diabolical temper of the animal, had often been the +theme of midnight conversation, and many of them were convinced +that it was an imp of Satan lent to Vanslyperken, and that, to +injure or to attempt to destroy it would infallibly be followed up +with terrible consequences to the party, if not to the vessel and +all the crew. Even Short, Coble, and Jansen, who were the boldest +and leading men, although when their sympathies were roused by the +sufferings of poor Smallbones they were anxious to revenge him, had +their own misgivings, and, on consideration, did not like to have +anything to do with the business. But each of them kept their +reflections to themselves, for, if they could not combat, they were +too proud to acknowledge them.</p> +<p>The reader will observe that all their plans were immediately +put an end to until this important question, and not a little +difficult one, was decided--Was the dog a dog?</p> +<p>Now, although the story had often been told, yet, as the crew of +the cutter had been paid off since the animal had been brought on +board, there was no man in the ship who could positively detail, +from his own knowledge, the facts connected with his first +appearance--there was only tradition, and, to solve this question, +to tradition they were obliged to repair.</p> +<p>"Now, Bill Spurey," said Coble, "you know more about this matter +than any one, so just spin us the yarn, and then we shall be able +to talk the matter over soberly."</p> +<p>"Well," replied Bill Spurey, "you shall have it just as I got it +word for word, as near as I can recollect. You know I wasn't in the +craft when the thing came on board, but Joe Geary was, and it was +one night when we were boozing over a stiff glass at the new shop +there, the Orange Boven, as they call it, at the Pint at +Portsmouth--and so you see, falling in with him, I wished to learn +something about my new skipper, and what sort of a chap I should +have to deal with. When I learnt all about <i>him</i>, I'd +half-a-dozen minds to shove off again, but then I was adrift, and +so I thought better of it. It won't do to be nice in peace times +you know, my lads, when all the big ships are rotting in +Southampton and Cinque Port muds. Well, then, what he told me I +recollect as well--ay, every word of it--as if he had whispered it +into my ear but this minute. It was a blustering night, with a +dirty southwester, and the chafing of the harbour waves was thrown +up in foams, which the winds swept up the street, they chasing one +another as if they were boys at play. It was about two bells in the +middle watch, and after our fifth glass, that Joe Geary said as +this:</p> +<p>"It was one dark winter's night when we were off the Texel, +blowing terribly, with the coast under our lee, clawing off under +storm canvas, and fighting with the elements for every inch of +ground, a hand in the chains, for we had nothing but the lead to +trust to, and the vessel so flogged by the waves, that he was +lashed to the rigging, that he might not be washed away; all of a +sudden the wind came with a blast loud enough for the last trump, +and the waves roared till they were hoarser than ever; away went +the vessel's mast, although there was no more canvas on it than a +jib pocket-handkerchief, and the craft rolled and tossed in the +deep troughs for all the world like a wicked man dying in despair; +and then she was a wreck, with nothing to help us but God Almighty, +fast borne down upon the sands which the waters had disturbed, and +were dashing about until they themselves were weary of the load; +and all the seamen cried unto the Lord, as well they might.</p> +<p>"Now, they say, that <i>he</i> did not cry as they did, like men +and Christians, to Him who made them and the waters which +surrounded and threatened them; for Death was then in all his +glory, and the foaming crests of the waves were as plumes of +feathers to his skeleton head beneath them; but he cried like a +child--and swore terribly as well as cried--talking about his +money, his dear money, and not caring about his more precious +soul.</p> +<p>"And the cutter was borne down, every wave pushing her with +giant force nearer and nearer to destruction, when the man at the +chains shrieked out--'Mark three, and the Lord have mercy on our +souls!" and all the crew, when they heard this, cried out--'Lord, +save us, or we perish.' But still they thought that their time was +come, for the breaking waves were under their lee, and the yellow +waters told them that, in a few minutes, the vessel, and all who +were on board, would be shivered in fragments; and some wept and +some prayed as they clung to the bulwarks of the unguided vessel, +and others in a few minutes thought over their whole life, and +waited for death in silence. But <i>he</i>, he did all; he cried, +and he prayed, and he swore, and he was silent, and at last he +became furious and frantic; and when the men said again and again, +'The Lord save us!' he roared out at last, "Will the <i>devil</i> +help us, for--' In a moment, before these first words were out of +his mouth, there was a flash of lightning, that appeared to strike +the vessel, but it harmed her not, neither did any thunder follow +the flash; but a ball of blue flame pitched upon the knight heads, +and then came bounding and dancing aft to the taffrail, where +<i>he</i> stood alone, for the men had left him to blaspheme by +himself. Some say he was heard to speak, as if in conversation, but +no one knows what passed. Be it as it may, on a sudden he walked +forward as brave as could be, and was followed by this creature, +who carried his head and tail slouching, as he does now.</p> +<p>"And the dog looked up and gave one deep bark, and as soon as he +had barked the wind appeared to lull--he barked again twice, and +there was a dead calm--he barked again thrice, and the seas went +down--and <i>he</i> patted the dog on the head, and the animal then +bayed loud for a minute or two, and then, to the astonishment and +fear of all, instead of the vessel being within a cable's length of +the Texel sands in a heavy gale, and without hope, the Foreland +lights were but two miles on our beam with a clear sky and smooth +water."</p> +<p>The seaman finished his legend, and there was a dead silence for +a minute or two, broken first by Jansen, who in a low voice said, +"Then te tog is not a tog."</p> +<p>"No," replied Coble, "an imp sent by the devil to his follower +in distress."</p> +<p>"Yes," said Short.</p> +<p>"Well, but," said Jemmy Ducks, who for some time had left off +touching the strings of his fiddle, "it would be the work of a good +Christian to kill the brute."</p> +<p>"It's not a mortal animal, Jemmy."</p> +<p>"True, I forgot that."</p> +<p>"Gifen by de tyfel," observed Jansen.</p> +<p>"Ay, and christened by him too," continued Coble. "Who ever +heard any Christian brute with such a damnable name?"</p> +<p>"Well, what's to be done?"</p> +<p>"Why," replied Jemmy Ducks, "at all events, imp o' Satan or not, +that ere Smallbones fought him to-day with his own weapons."</p> +<p>"And beat him too," said Coble.</p> +<p>"Yes," said Short.</p> +<p>"Now, it's my opinion, that Smallbones ar'n't afraid of him," +continued Jemmy Ducks, "and devil or no devil, he'll kill him if he +can."</p> +<p>"He's the proper person to do it," replied Coble; "the more so, +as you may say that he's his <i>natural</i> enemy."</p> +<p>"Yes, mein Got, de poy is de man," said Jansen.</p> +<p>"We'll put him up to it at all events, as soon as he is out of +his hammock," rejoined Jemmy Ducks.</p> +<p>A little more conversation took place, and then it was carried +unanimously that Smallbones should destroy the animal, if it was +possible to destroy it.</p> +<p>The only party who was not consulted was Smallbones himself, who +lay fast asleep in his hammock. The consultation then broke up, and +they all went below.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VI"></a>Chapter VI</h2> +<h3>In which, as often happens at sea when signals are not made +out, friends exchange broadsides.</h3> +<br> +<p>Notwithstanding all the precautions of the party on the +forecastle, this consultation had been heard by no less a person +than the huge Corporal Van Spitter, who had an idea that there was +some mystery going on forward, and had contrived to crawl up under +the bulwark, and throw himself down on the forestaysail, which lay +between two of the guns. Having so done without being perceived, +for it was at the very moment that the party were all listening to +Bill Spurey's legend of the dog's first appearance on board, he +threw a part of the sail over his fat carcass, and thus remained +undiscovered during the remainder of the colloquy. He heard them +all descending below, and remained still quiet, till he imagined +that the forecastle was clear. In the meantime Mr Vanslyperken, who +had been walking the deck abaft, unaccompanied by his faithful +attendant (for Snarleyyow remained coiled up on his master's bed), +was meditating deeply how to gratify the two most powerful passions +in our nature, love and revenge: at one moment thinking of the fat +fair Vandersloosh, and of hauling in her guilders, at another +reverting to the starved Smallbones and the comfort of a +keel-hauling. The long conference on the forecastle had not been +unperceived by the hawk's eye of the lieutenant, and as they +descended, he walked forward to ascertain if he could not pick up +some straggler who, unsupported by his comrades, might be induced +by fear to acquaint him with the subject of the discussion. Now, +just as Mr Vanslyperken came forward Corporal Van Spitter had +removed the canvas from his body, and was about to rise from his +bed, when he perceived somebody coming forward. Not making it out +to be the lieutenant, he immediately dropped down again and drew +the canvas over him. Mr Vanslyperken perceived this manoeuvre, and +thought he had now caught one of the conspirators, and, moreover, +one who showed such fear as to warrant the supposition that he +should be able to extract from him the results of the night's +unusually long conference.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken walked up to where the corporal lay as quiet, +but not quite so small, as a mouse. It occurred to Mr Vanslyperken +that a little taste of punishment <i>in esse</i> would very much +assist the threats of what might be received <i>in posse</i>; so he +laid aside his speaking-trumpet, looked round, picked up a +handspike, and raising it above his head, down it came, with all +the force of the lieutenant's arm, upon Corporal Van Spitter, whose +carcass resounded like a huge kettle-drum.</p> +<p>"Tunder and flame," roared the corporal under the canvas, +thinking that one of the seamen, having discovered him +eavesdropping, had thus wreaked his revenge, taking advantage of +his being covered up, and pretending not to know him. "Tunder and +flame!" roared the corporal, muffled up in the canvas, and trying +to extricate himself; but his voice was not recognised by the +lieutenant, and, before he could get clear of his envelope, the +handspike had again descended; when up rose the corporal, like a +buffalo out of his muddy lair, half-blinded by the last blow, which +had fallen on his head, ran full butt at the lieutenant, and +precipitated his senior officer and commander headlong down the +fore-hatchway.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken fell with great force, was stunned, and lay without +motion at the foot of the ladder, while the corporal, whose wrath +was always excessive when his blood was up, but whose phlegmatic +blood could not be raised without some such decided stimulus as a +handspike, now turned round and round the forecastle, like a bull +looking for his assailants; but the corporal had the forecastle all +to himself, and, as he gradually cooled down, he saw lying close to +him the speaking-trumpet of his senior officer.</p> +<p>"Tousand tyfels," murmured Corporal Van Spitter, "but it must +have been the skipper. Got for damn, dis is hanging matter!" +Corporal Van Spitter was as cool as a cucumber as soon as he +observed what a mistake he had made; in fact, he quivered and +trembled in his fat. "But then," thought he, "perhaps he did not +know me--no, he could not, or he never would have handspiked +<i>me</i>." So Corporal Van Spitter walked down the hatchway, where +he ascertained that his commandant lay insensible. "Dat is good," +thought he, and he went aft, lighted his lanthorn, and, as a +<i>ruse</i>, knocked at the cabin-door. Receiving no answer but the +growl of Snarleyyow, he went in, and then ascended to the +quarter-deck, looked round him, and inquired of the man at the +wheel where Mr Vanslyperken might be. The man replied that he had +gone forward a few minutes before, and thither the corporal +proceeded. Of course, not finding him, he returned, telling the man +that the skipper was not in the cabin or the forecastle, and +wondering where he could be. He then descended to the next officer +in command, Dick Short, and called him.</p> +<p>"Well," said Short.</p> +<p>"Can't find Mr Vanslyperken anywhere," said the corporal.</p> +<p>"Look," replied Dick, turning round in his hammock.</p> +<p>"Mein Got, I have looked de forecastle, de quarter-deck, and de +cabin,--he not anywhere."</p> +<p>"Overboard," replied Dick.</p> +<p>"I come to you, sir, to make inquiry," said the corporal.</p> +<p>"Turn out," said Dick, suiting the action to the words, and +lighting with his feet on the deck in his shirt.</p> +<p>While Short was dressing himself, the corporal summoned up all +his marines; and the noise occasioned by this turn out, and the +conversation overheard by those who were awake, soon gave the crew +of the cutter to understand that some accident had happened to +their commander. Even Smallbones had it whispered in his ear that +Mr Vanslyperken had fallen overboard, and he smiled as he lay in +the dark, smarting with his wounds, muttering to himself that +Snarleyyow should soon follow his master. By the time that Short +was on the quarter-deck, Corporal Van Spitter, who knew very well +where to look for it, had, very much to the disappointment of the +crew, found the body of Mr Vanslyperken, and the marines had +brought it aft to the cabin, and would have laid it on the bed, had +not Snarleyyow, who had no feeling in his composition, positively +denied its being put there.</p> +<p>Short came down and examined his superior officer.</p> +<p>"Is he dead?" inquired the corporal with alarm.</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Vat can it be then?" said the corporal.</p> +<p>"Stunned," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Mein Got! how could it happen?"</p> +<p>"Tumbled," replied Short.</p> +<p>"What shall we do, sir?" rejoined the corporal.</p> +<p>"Bed," replied Short, turning on his heel, and a minute after +turning into his hammock.</p> +<p>"Mein Got, the dog will not let him go to bed," exclaimed the +corporal.</p> +<p>"Let's put him in," said one of the marines, "the dog won't bite +his master."</p> +<p>So the marines lifted up the still insensible Mr Vanslyperken, +and almost tossed him into his standing bed-place, right on the +body of the snarling dog, who, as soon as he could disengage +himself from the weight, revenged himself by making his teeth meet +more than once through the lanthorn cheek of his master, and then +leaping off the bed, retreated growling under the table.</p> +<p>"Well, you <i>are</i> a nice dog," exclaimed one of the marines, +looking after Snarleyyow in his retreat.</p> +<p>Now, there was no medical assistance on board so small a vessel. +Mr Vanslyperken, was allowed a small quantity of medicine, +unguents, &c., but these he always sold to an apothecary, as +soon as he had procured them from the authorities. The teeth of the +dog had, however, their effect, and Mr Vanslyperken opened his +eyes, and in a faint voice cried "Snarleyyow." Oh, if the dog had +any spark of feeling, how must he then have been stung with remorse +at his ingratitude to so kind a master! But he apparently showed +none, at least, report does not say that any symptoms were +manifest.</p> +<p>After a little burnt oakum had excoriated his nose, and a +certain quantity of the cold salt-water from alongside had wetted +through his bedclothes, Mr Vanslyperken was completely recovered, +and was able to speak and look about him. Corporal Van Spitter +trembled a little as his commandant fixed his eyes upon him, and he +redoubled his attention.</p> +<p>"Mein Got, Mynheer Vanslyperken, how was this happen?" exclaimed +the corporal in a pathetic tone. Whereupon Mr Vanslyperken ordered +every one to leave the cabin but Corporal Van Spitter.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken then communicated to the corporal that he had +been knocked down the hatchway by one of the men when he went +forward; that he could not distinguish who it was, but thought that +it must have been Jansen from his size. Corporal Van Spitter, +delighted to find that his skipper was on a wrong scent, expressed +his opinion in corroboration of the lieutenant's: after which a +long consultation took place relative to mutiny, disaffection, and +the proper measures to be taken. Vanslyperken mentioned the +consultation of the men during the first watch, and the corporal, +to win his favour, was very glad to be able to communicate the +particulars of what he had overheard, stating that he had concealed +himself for that purpose.</p> +<p>"And where did you conceal yourself?" said Vanslyperken with a +keen inquiring look: for it immediately occurred to him that, +unless it was under the sail, there could be no concealment for +such a huge body as that of the corporal; and he had his +misgivings. But the corporal very adroitly observed, that he stood +at the lower step of the fore-ladder, with his head level with the +coamings; and had, by this means, overheard the conversation +unperceived, and had only walked away when the party broke up. This +restored the confidence of Mr Vanslyperken, and a long discussion +took place, in which it was agreed between them, that the only way +to prevent Snarleyyow from being destroyed, was to try some means +to make away quietly with poor Smallbones. But this part of the +conversation was not carried to any length: for Mr Vanslyperken, +indignant at having received such injury in his face from his +ungrateful cur, did not, at that moment, feel the current of his +affection run so strong as usual in that direction. After this, the +corporal touched his hat, swung round to the right about in +military style, and left the cabin.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VII"></a>Chapter VII</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken goes on shore to woo the Widow +Vandersloosh.</h3> +<br> +<p>Three weeks of comparative calm now passed away, during which Mr +Vanslyperken recovered of his wounds and accident, and meditated +how he should make away with Smallbones. The latter also recovered +of his bites, and meditated how he should make away with +Snarleyyow. Smallbones had returned to his avocations, and +Vanslyperken, intending mischief, treated him more kindly, as a +blind. Snarleyyow also, not forgetting his defeat on the +quarter-deck, did not renew his attacks, even when the poor lad +helped himself to biscuit.</p> +<p>The <i>Yungfrau</i> anchored in the Downs, and Mr Vanslyperken +received despatches for the Hague; King William having written some +letters to his friends, and sent over to them a little English +money, which he knew would be acceptable; for continental kings on +the English throne have never appeared to have a clear sense of the +honour conferred upon them. England, in their ideas, has always +been a <i>parvenue</i> kingdom; her nobles not able to trace +farther back than the Conquest; while, in their country, the lowest +baron will prove his sixteen quarters, and his descent from the +darkest ages. But, nevertheless, upon the same principle that the +poor aristocracy will condescend to unite themselves occasionally +to city wealth, so have these potentates condescended to reign over +us.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken received his despatches, and made the best of +his way to Amsterdam, where he anchored, delivered his credentials, +and there waited for the letters of thanks from his Majesty's +cousins.</p> +<p>But what a hurry and bustle there appears to be on board of the +<i>Yungfrau</i>--Smallbones here, Smallbones there--Corporal Van +Spitter pushing to and fro with the dog-trot of an elephant; and +even Snarleyyow appears to be unusually often up and down the +hatchway. What can it all be about? Oh! Mr Vanslyperken is going on +shore to pay his respects, and continue his addresses, to the widow +Vandersloosh. His boat is manned alongside, and he now appears on +the cutter's quarter-deck.</p> +<p>Is it possible that this can be Mr Vanslyperken? Heavens, how +gay! An uniform certainly does wonders with some people: that is to +say, those who do not look well in plain clothes are invariably +improved by it; while those, who look most like gentlemen in plain +clothes, lose in the same proportion. At all events Mr Vanslyperken +is wonderfully improved.</p> +<p>He has a loose pair of blue pantaloons, with boots rising above +his knees pulled over them: his lower parts remind you of Charles +the Twelfth. He has a long scarlet waiscoat, with large gilt +buttons and flap pockets, and his uniform coat over all, of blue +turned up with red, has a very commanding appearance. To a broad +black belt over his shoulder hangs his cutlass, the sheath of which +is mounted with silver, and the hilt of ivory and gold threads; +and, above all, his small head is almost dignified by being +surmounted with a three-cornered turned-up and gold-banded cocked +hat, with one corner of the triangle in front parallel with his +sharp nose. Surely the widow must strike her colours to scarlet, +and blue, and gold. But although women are said, like mackerel, to +take such baits, still widows are not fond of a man who is as thin +as a herring: they are too knowing, they prefer stamina, and will +not be persuaded to take the shadow for the substance.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken was, nevertheless, very well pleased with +himself, which was something, but still not quite enough on the +present occasion, and he strutted the deck with great complacency, +gave his final orders to Dick Short, who, as usual, gave a short +answer; also to Corporal Van Spitter, who, as usual, received them +with all military honour; and, lastly, to Smallbones, who received +them with all humility. The lieutenant was about to step into the +boat, when a doubt arose, and he stopped in his advance, perplexed. +It was one of no small importance--was Snarleyyow to accompany him +or not? That was the knotty question, and it really was a case +which required some deliberation. If he left him on board after the +conspiracy which had been formed against him, the dog would +probably be overboard before he returned; that is, if Smallbones +were also left on board; for Mr Vanslyperken knew that it had been +decided that Smallbones alone could and should destroy the dog. He +could not, therefore, leave the dog on board with safety; and, as +for taking him on shore with him, in that there was much danger, +for the widow Vandersloosh had set her face against the dog. No +wonder: he had behaved in her parlour as bad as the dog Crab in the +Two Gentlemen of Verona; and the Frau was a very clean person, and +had no fancy for dogs comparing their legs with those of her +polished mahogany chairs and tables. If Mr Vanslyperken's suit was +to be decided according to the old adage, "love me, love my dog," +he certainly had but a poor chance; for the widow detested the cur, +and had insisted that it should never be brought into her house. +Take the dog on shore, therefore, he could not; but, thought Mr +Vanslyperken, I can take Smallbones on shore, that will do as well. +I have some biscuit to dispose of, and he shall go with it and wait +till I come off again. Smallbones was, therefore, ordered to put on +his hat and step into the boat with two half bags of biscuit to +carry up to the widow's house, for she did a little business with +Mr Vanslyperken, as well as allowing him to make love to her; and +was never so sweet or so gracious, as when closing a bargain. So Mr +Vanslyperken waited for Smallbones, who was soon ready, for his +best consisted only in a pair of shoes to his usually naked feet, +and a hat for his generally uncovered head. And Mr Vanslyperken, +and Smallbones, and the biscuit, were in the boat, when Snarleyyow +intimated his intention to join the party; but this was refused, +and the boat shoved off without him.</p> +<p>As soon as Mr Vanslyperken had shoved off, Dick Short, being in +command, thought he might as well give himself leave, and go on +shore also. So he went down, put on his best, and ordered the other +boat to be manned, and leaving Obadiah Coble on board as the next +officer, he took with him Jansen, Jemmy Ducks, and four or five +others, to have a cruise. Now, as Snarleyyow had this time made up +his mind that he would go on shore, and Short was willing to +indulge him, for he knew that Smallbones, if he fell in with him, +would do his best to launch him into one of the canals, so +convenient in every street, the cur was permitted to get into the +boat, and was landed with the rest of the party, who, as usual, +repaired to the Lust Haus of the widow Vandersloosh; where we must +leave them for the present, and return to our friend, Mr +Vanslyperken.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VIII"></a>Chapter VIII</h2> +<h3>In which the Widow lays a trap for Mr Vanslyperken,<br> +and Smallbones lays a trap for Snarleyyow, and both bag their +game.</h3> +<br> +<p>The widow Vandersloosh, as we have informed the reader, was the +owner of a Lust Haus, or pleasure-house for sailors: we will +describe that portion of her tenements more particularly +by-and-bye: at present, we must advert to her own private house, +which stood adjoining, and had a communication with the Lust Haus +by a private door through the party wall. This was a very small, +snug little habitation, with one window in each front, and two +stories high; containing a front parlour and kitchen on the +basement, two small rooms on the first, and two on the second +floor. Nothing could be better arranged for a widow's residence. +Moreover, she had a back-yard running the whole length of the wall +of the Lust Haus in the rear, with convenient offices, and a +back-door into the street behind.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken had arrived, paid his humble devoirs to the +widow, more humble, because he was evidently pleased with his own +person, and had been followed by Smallbones, who laid the biscuit +by the scraper at the door, watching it as in duty bound. The +lieutenant imagined that he was more graciously received than +usual. Perhaps he was, for the widow had not had so much custom +lately, and was glad the crew of the cutter were arrived to spend +their money. Already had Vanslyperken removed his sword and belt, +and laid them with his three-cornered laced hat on the side-table; +he was already cosily, as of wont, seated upon the widow's little +fubsy sofa, with the lady by his side, and he had just taken her +hand and was about to renew his suit, to pour forth the impromptu +effusions of his heart, concocted on the quarter-deck of the +<i>Yungfrau</i>, when who should bolt into the parlour but the +unwelcome Snarleyyow.</p> +<p>"O that nasty brute! Mynheer Vanslyperken, how dare you bring +him into my house?" cried the widow, jumping up from the sofa, with +her full-moon-face red with anger.</p> +<p>"Indeed, widow," replied Vanslyperken, "I left him on board, +knowing that you were not fond of animals; but some one has brought +him on shore. However, I'll find out who it was, and keel-haul him +in honour of your charms."</p> +<p>"I am fond of animals, Mr Vanslyperken, but I am not fond of +such animals as that--such a filthy, ugly, disagreeable, snarling +brute; nor can I think how you can keep him after what I have said +about it. It don't prove much regard, Mr Vanslyperken, when such a +dog as that is kept on purpose to annoy me."</p> +<p>"I assure you, widow--"</p> +<p>"Don't assure me, Mr Vanslyperken, there's no occasion--your dog +is your own--but I'll thank you to take him out of this house; and, +perhaps, as he won't go without you, you had better go with +him."</p> +<p>Now the widow had never spoken so indignantly before: if the +reader wishes to know why she did so now, we will acquaint him; the +widow Vandersloosh had perceived Smallbones, who sat like Patience +on a monument, upon the two half bags of biscuit before her porch. +It was a query to the widow whether they were to be a present, or +an article to be bargained for: it was therefore very advisable to +pick a quarrel, that the matter might be cleared up. The widow's +ruse met with all the success which it deserved. In the first +place, Mr Vanslyperken did what he never would have believed +himself capable of, but the wrath of the widow had worked him also +up to wrath, and he saluted Snarleyyow with such a kick on the +side, as to send him howling into the back-yard, followed him out, +and, notwithstanding an attempt at defence on the part of the dog, +which the lieutenant's high boots rendered harmless, Snarleyyow was +fairly or unfairly, as you may please to think it, kicked into an +outhouse, the door shut, and the key turned upon him. After which +Mr Vanslyperken returned to the parlour, where he found the widow, +erect, with her back turned to the stove, blowing and bristling, +her bosom heaving, reminding you of seas mountains high, as if she +were still under the effect of a just resentment for the affront +offered to her. There she stood waiting in all dignity for Mr +Vanslyperken to repair the injury done, whether unintentional or +not. In few words, there she waited, for the <i>biscuit</i> to be +presented to her. And it was presented, for Vanslyperken knew no +other way of appeasing her wrath. Gradually the storm was +allayed--the flush of anger disappeared, the corners of the +scornfully-turned-down mouth, were turned up again--Cupid's bow was +no longer bent in anger, and the widow's bosom slept as when the +ocean sleeps, like "an unweaned child." The biscuit bags were +brought in by Smallbones, their contents stored, and harmony +restored. Once more was Mr Vanslyperken upon the little sofa by the +side of the fat widow, and once more did he take her melting hand. +Alas! that her heart was not made of the same soft materials.</p> +<p>But we must not only leave Short and his companions in the Lust +Haus, but the widow and the lieutenant in their soft dalliance, and +now occupy ourselves with the two principal personages of this our +drama, Smallbones and Snarleyyow.</p> +<p>When Smallbones had retired, with the empty bread-bags under his +arm, he remained some time reflecting at the porch, and then having +apparently made up his mind, he walked to a chandler's shop just +over the bridge of the canal opposite, and purchased a needle, some +strong twine, and a red-herring. He also procured, "without +purchase," as they say in our War Office Gazettes, a few pieces of +stick. Having obtained all these, he went round to the door of the +yard behind the widow's house, and let himself in. Little did Mr +Vanslyperken imagine what mischief was brewing, while he was +praising and drinking the beer of the widow's own brewing.</p> +<p>Smallbones had no difficulty in finding out where Snarleyyow was +confined, for the dog was very busy gnawing his way through the +door, which, however, was a work of time, and not yet a quarter +accomplished. The place had been a fowl-house, and, at the bottom +of the door, there was a small hatch for the ingress and egress of +these bipeds, the original invention of some thrifty spinster, to +prevent the maids from stealing eggs. But this hatch was closed, or +Snarleyyow would have escaped through it. Smallbones took up his +quarters in another outhouse, that he might not be observed, and +commenced his operations.</p> +<p>He first took out the bottom of one bread-bag, and then sewed +that on the other to make it longer; he then ran a string through +the mouth, so as to draw it close when necessary, and cut his +sticks so as to support it and keep it open. All this being +arranged, he went to where Snarleyyow was busy gnawing wood with +great pertinacity, and allowed him not only to smell, but to tear +off the tail of the red-herring, under the door; and then gradually +drew the herring along until he had brought it right under the +hatch in the middle, which left it at the precise distance that the +dog could snuff it but not reach it, which Snarleyyow now did, in +preference to gnawing wood. When you lay a trap, much depends upon +the bait; Smallbones knew his enemy's partiality for savoury +comestibles. He then brought out his bag, set up his supporters, +fixed it close to the hatch, and put the red-herring inside of it. +With the string in one hand, he lifted up the hatch with the other. +Snarleyyow rushed out and rushed in, and in a moment the strings +were drawn, and as soon as drawn were tied tight round the mouth of +the bag. Snarleyyow was caught; he tumbled over and over, rolling +now to the right and now to the left, while Smallbones grinned with +delight. After amusing himself a short time with the evolutions of +his prisoner, he dragged him in his bag into the outhouse where he +had made his trap, shut the door, and left him. The next object was +to remove any suspicion on the part of Mr Vanslyperken; and to +effect this, Smallbones tore off the hatch, and broke it in two or +three pieces, bit parts of it with his own teeth, and laid them +down before the door, making it appear as if the dog had gnawed his +own way out. The reason for allowing the dog still to remain in +prison, was that Smallbones dared not attempt anything further +until it was dark, and there was yet an hour or more to wait for +the close of the day.</p> +<p>Smallbones had but just finished his work in time; for the widow +having been summoned to her guests in the Lust Haus, had left +Vanslyperken alone, and the lieutenant thought this a good +opportunity to look after his four-footed favourite. He came out +into the yard, where he found Smallbones, and he had his +misgivings.</p> +<p>"What are you doing here, sir?"</p> +<p>"Waiting for you, sir," replied Smallbones, humbly.</p> +<p>"And the dog?" said Vanslyperken, observing the strewed +fragments of the door hatch.</p> +<p>"He's a-bitten himself out, sir, I believe."</p> +<p>"And where is he, then?"</p> +<p>"I don't know, sir; I suppose he's gone down to the boat."</p> +<p>Snarleyyow hearing his master's voice, had commenced a whine, +and Smallbones trembled: fortunately, at that moment, the widow's +ample form appeared at the back-door of the house, and she called +to Mr Vanslyperken. The widow's voice drowned the whine of the dog, +and his master did not hear it. At the summons, Vanslyperken but +half convinced, but not daring to show any interest about the +animal in the presence of his mistress, returned to the parlour, +and very soon the dog was forgotten.</p> +<p>But as the orgies in the Lust Haus increased, so did it become +more necessary for the widow to make frequent visits there; not +only to supply her customers, but to restrain them by her presence; +and as the evening wore away, so did the absences of the widow +become more frequent. This Vanslyperken well knew, and he therefore +always pressed his suit in the afternoon, and as soon as it was +dark returned on board. Smallbones, who watched at the back-door +the movements of his master, perceived that he was refixing his +sword-belt over his shoulder, and he knew this to be the signal for +departure. It was now quite dark, he therefore hastened to the +outhouse, and dragged out Snarleyyow in the bag, swung him over his +shoulder, and walked out of the yard-door, proceeded to the canal +in front of the widow's house, looked round him, could perceive +nobody, and then dragged the bag with its contents into the +stagnant water below, just as Mr Vanslyperken, who had bidden adieu +to the widow, came out of the house. There was a heavy splash--and +silence. Had such been heard on the shores of the Bosphorus on such +a night, it would have told some tale of unhappy love and a +husband's vengeance; but, at Amsterdam, it was nothing more than +the drowning of a cur.</p> +<p>"Who's there--is it Smallbones?" said Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir," said Smallbones, with alarm.</p> +<p>"What was that noise I heard?"</p> +<p>"Noise, sir? Oh, I kicked a paving-stone into the canal."</p> +<p>"And don't you know there is heavy fine for that, you scoundrel? +And pray where are the bread-bags?"</p> +<p>"The bread-bags, sir? Oh, Mr Short took them to tie up some +vegetables in them."</p> +<p>"Mr Short! O, very well. Come along, sir, and no more throwing +stones into the canal; why you might have killed somebody--there is +a boat down there now, I hear the people talking." And Mr +Vanslyperken hastened to his boat, which was waiting for him; +anxious to ascertain if Snarleyyow, as he fully expected, was in +it. But to his grief and disappointment he was not there, and Mr +Vanslyperken sat in the stern sheets, in no pleasant humour, +thinking whether it was or was not a paving-stone which Smallbones +had thrown into the canal, and resolving that if the dog did not +appear, Smallbones should be keel-hauled. There was, however, one +more chance, the dog might have been taken on board.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IX"></a>Chapter IX</h2> +<h3>A long chapter, in which there is lamentation, singing, +bibbing, and dancing.</h3> +<br> +<p>It may readily be supposed, that the first question asked by Mr +Vanslyperken, on his gaining the quarter-deck, was, if Snarleyyow +were on board. He was received with the military salute of Corporal +Van Spitter, for Obadiah Coble, having been left commanding +officer, had given himself leave, and, with a few men, had joined +Dick Short and the first party at the Lust Haus, leaving the +corporal as the next senior officer in charge. The answer in the +negative was a great mortification to Mr Vanslyperken, and he +descended to his cabin in no very good humour, and summoned +Smallbones. But before Smallbones was summoned, he had time to +whisper to one or two of the conspirators--"<i>He's gone</i>." It +was enough; in less than a minute the whisper was passed throughout +the cutter. "He's gone," was sibilated above and below, until it +met the ears of even Corporal Van Spitter, who had it from a +marine, who had it from another marine, who had it from a seaman, +who--but it was, however, soon traced up to Smallbones by the +indefatigable corporal--who considered it his duty to report the +report to Mr Vanslyperken. Accordingly he descended to the cabin +and knocked for admission.</p> +<p>In the meantime Vanslyperken had been venting his ill-humour +upon Smallbones, having, as he took off from his person, and +replaced in his drawers, his unusual finery, administered an +unusual quantity of kicks, as well as a severe blow on the head +with his sheathed cutlass to the unfortunate lad, who repeated to +himself, by way of consolation, the magic words--"<i>He's +gone</i>."</p> +<p>"If you please, sir," said Corporal Van Spitter, "I've +discovered from the ship's company that the dog <i>is +gone</i>."</p> +<p>"I know that, corporal," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"And, sir, the report has been traced to Smallbones."</p> +<p>"Indeed!--then it was you that said that the dog is gone--now, +you villain, where is he?"</p> +<p>"If you please, I did say that the dog was gone, and so he is; +but I didn't say that I knew where he was--no more I don't. He's +runned away, and he'll be back to-morrow--I'm sure he will."</p> +<p>"Corporal Van Spitter, if the dog is not on board again by eight +o'clock to-morrow morning, you will get all ready for keel-hauling +this scoundrel."</p> +<p>"Yes, mynheer," replied the corporal, delighted at having +something to do in the way of punishment.</p> +<p>Smallbones made up a lachrymal face.</p> +<p>"It's very hard," said he; "suppose the dog has fallen into the +canal, is that my fault? If he's a-gone to the bottom of the canal, +that's no reason why I'm to be dragged under the bottom of the +cutter."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes," replied Vanslyperken, "I'll teach you to throw +paving-stones off the wharf. Leave the cabin, sir."</p> +<p>Smallbones, whose guilty conscience flew into his pallid face at +the mention of the paving-stones, immediately made a hasty retreat; +and Vanslyperken turned into his bed and dreamt of vengeance.</p> +<p>We must now return to the Lust Haus, and the party on shore; and +our first task must be, to give the reader an idea of what a Lust +Haus may be. It is, as its name imports, a resort for pleasure and +amusement; and in this respect the Dutch are certainly very much in +advance of the English, who have, in the pot-houses and low inns +resorted to by seamen, no accommodation of the kind. There is +barely room for Jack to foot it in a reel, the tap-room is so +small; and as Jack is soon reeling after he is once on shore, it is +a very great defect. Now, the Lust Haus is a room as large as an +assembly-room in a country-town, well lighted up with lamps and +chandeliers, well warmed with stoves, where you have room to dance +fifty reels at once, and still have plenty of accommodation at the +chairs and tables ranged round on each side. At the end of the room +is a raised chair, with a protecting railing, on which the +musicians, to the number of seven or eight, are posted, and they +continue during the evening to play when requested. The people of +the Lust Haus furnish wine and spirits of every description, while +cakes, nuts, walnuts, oranges, &c, are supplied from the +baskets of numerous young women who hand them round, and press +their customers to purchase. Police officers superintend these +resorts to remove those who are violent, and interfere with the +amusements of others. On the whole, it is a very gay scene, and is +resorted to by seamen of all nations, with a sprinkling of those +who are not sailors, but who like amusement, and there are plenty +of females who are ready to dance with them, and to share their +beer or grog. Be it further known, that there is a great deal of +decorum in a Lust Haus, particularly among the latter sex; and +altogether it is infinitely more rational and less debasing, than +the low pot-houses of Portsmouth or Plymouth.</p> +<p>Such was the place of amusement kept by the Frau Vandersloosh, +and in this large room had been seated, for some hours, Dick Short, +Coble, Jansen, Jemmy Ducks, and some others of the crew of his +Majesty's cutter <i>Yungfrau</i>.</p> +<p>The room was now full, but not crowded, it was too spacious well +to be so. Some sixteen couples were dancing a quadrille to a lively +tune played by the band, and among the dancers were to be seen old +women, and children of ten or twelve: for it was not considered +improper to be seen dancing at this humble assembly, and the +neighbours frequently came in. The small tables and numerous chairs +round the room were nearly all filled, beer was foaming from the +mouths of the opened bottles, and there was the ringing of the +glasses as they pledged each other. At several tables were +assemblages of Dutch seamen, who smoked with all the phlegm of +their nation, as they gravely looked upon the dancers. At another +were to be seen some American seamen, scrupulously neat in their +attire, and with an air <i>distinguee</i>, from the superiority of +their education, and all of them quiet and sober. The basket-women +flitted about displaying their stores, and invited every one to +purchase fruit, and particularly hard-boiled eggs, which they had +brought in at this hour, when those who dined at one might be +expected to be hungry. Sailors' wives were also there, and perhaps +some who could not produce the marriage certificates; but as these +were not asked for at the door, it was of no consequence. About the +centre of the room, at two small tables joined together, were to be +seen the party from the <i>Yungfrau</i>: some were drinking beer, +some grog, and Jemmy Ducks was perched on the table, with his +fiddle as usual held like a bass viol. He was known by those who +frequented the house by the name of the Manikin, and was a +universal object of admiration and good-will. The quadrille was +ended, and the music stopped playing.</p> +<p>"Come now," said Coble, tossing off his glass, "spell oh!--let's +have a song while they take their breath. Jemmy, strike up."</p> +<p>"Hurrah for a song!" cries Jemmy. "Here goes."</p> +<p>Jemmy then tuned one string of his fiddle, which was a little +out, and accompanying his voice, sang as follows: all those who +were present immediately keeping silence, for they were used to +Jemmy's melody.</p> +<blockquote>Twas on the twenty-fourth of June, I sailed away to +sea,<br> +I turned my pockets in the lap of Susan on my knee;<br> +Says I, my dear, 'tis all I have, I wish that it was more,<br> +It can't be helped, says Susan then, you know we've spent +galore.</blockquote> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>You know we've spent galore, my Bill,</p> +<p class="i1">And merry have been we,</p> +<p>Again you must your pockets fill,</p> +<p class="i1">For Susan on your knee.</p> +</div> +</div> +<blockquote>"Chorus, my boys--"</blockquote> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>For Susan on my knee, my boys,</p> +<p>With Susan on my knee.</p> +</div> +</div> +<blockquote>The gale came on in thunder, lads, in lightning, and in +foam,<br> +Before that we had sail'd away three hundred miles from home;<br> +And on the Sunday morning, lads, the coast was on our lee,<br> +Oh, then I thought of Portsmouth, and of Susan on my +knee.</blockquote> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>For howling winds and waves to boot,</p> +<p class="i1">With black rocks on the lee,</p> +<p>Did not so well my fancy suit,</p> +<p class="i1">As Susan on my knee.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--</p> +<p class="i2">With Susan on my knee, my boys,</p> +<p class="i2">With Susan on my knee.</p> +</div> +</div> +<blockquote>Next morning we were cast away upon the Frenchman's +shore,<br> +We saved our lives, but not our all, for we could save no more;<br> +They marched us to a prison, so we lost our liberty,<br> +I peeped between the bars, and sighed for Susan on my +knee.</blockquote> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>For bread so black, and wine so sour,</p> +<p class="i1">And a son a-day to me,</p> +<p>Made me long ten times an hour,</p> +<p class="i1">For Susan on my knee.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>--</p> +<p class="i2">For Susan on my knee, my boys,</p> +<p class="i2">For Susan on my knee.</p> +</div> +</div> +<blockquote>One night we smashed our jailer's skull and off our +boat did steer,<br> +And in the offing were picked up by a jolly privateer;<br> +We sailed in her the cruise, my boys, and prizes did take we,<br> +I'll be at Portsmouth soon, thinks I, with Susan on my +knee.</blockquote> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>We shared three hundred pounds a man,</p> +<p class="i1">I made all sail with glee,</p> +<p>Again I danced and tossed my can,</p> +<p class="i1">With Susan on my knee.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--</p> +<p class="i2">With Susan on my knee, my boys,</p> +<p class="i2">With Susan on my knee.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"That's prime, Jemmy. Now, my boys, all together," cried Obadiah +Coble.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--Very good song, and very well sung,</p> +<p class="i4">Jolly companions every one;</p> +<p class="i4">We are all here for mirth and glee,</p> +<p class="i4">We are all here for jollity.</p> +<p class="i4">Very good song, and very well sung,</p> +<p class="i4">Jolly companions every one;</p> +<p class="i4">Put your hats on to keep your heads warm,</p> +<p class="i4">A little more grog will do us no harm.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"Hurrah! now, Bill Spurey, suppose you tip us a stave. But I +say, Babette, you Dutch-built galliot, tell old Frank Slush to send +us another dose of the stuff; and d'ye hear, a short pipe for me, +and a paper o' baccy."</p> +<p>The short, fat Babette, whose proportions all the exercise of +waiting upon the customers could not reduce, knew quite enough +English to require no further explanation.</p> +<p>"Come, Jemmy, my hearty, take your fingers off your fiddle, and +hand in your pot," continued Coble; "and then if they are not going +to dance, we'll have another song. Bill Spurey, wet your whistle, +and just clear the cobwebs out of your throat. Here's more 'baccy, +Short."</p> +<p>Short made no reply, but he shook out the ashes and filled his +pipe. The music did not strike up again, so Bill Spurey sang as +follows:--</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Says the parson one day, as I cursed a Jew,</p> +<p class="i1">Do you know, my lad, that we call it a sin?</p> +<p>I fear of you sailors there are but few,</p> +<p class="i1">St Peter, to heaven, will ever let in.</p> +<p>Says I, Mr Parson, to tell you my mind,</p> +<p class="i1">No sailors to knock were ever yet seen,</p> +<p>Those who travel by land may steer 'gainst wind,</p> +<p class="i1">But we shape a course for Fidler's Green.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i3">For Fidler's Green, where seamen true,</p> +<p class="i4">When here they've done their duty,</p> +<p class="i3">The bowl of grog shall still renew</p> +<p class="i4">And pledge to love and beauty.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Says the parson, I hear you've married three wives,</p> +<p class="i1">Now do you not know, that that is a sin?</p> +<p>You sailors, you lead such very bad lives,</p> +<p class="i1">St Peter, to heaven, will ne'er let you in</p> +<p>Parson, says I, in each port I've but <i>one</i>,</p> +<p class="i1">And never had more, wherever I've been;</p> +<p>Below I'm obliged to be chaste as a nun,</p> +<p class="i1">But I'm promised a dozen at Fidler's Green.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i3">At Fidler's Green, where seamen true,</p> +<p class="i4">When here they've done their duty,</p> +<p class="i3">The bowl of grog shall still renew,</p> +<p class="i4">And pledge to love and beauty.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Says the parson, says he, you're drunk, my man,</p> +<p class="i1">And do you not know that that is a sin?</p> +<p>If you sailors will ever be swigging your can,</p> +<p class="i1">To heaven you surely will never get in.</p> +<p>(<i>Hiccup</i>.) Parson, you may as well be mum,</p> +<p class="i1">'Tis only on shore I'm this way seen;</p> +<p>But oceans of punch, and rivers of rum,</p> +<p class="i1">Await the sailor at Fidler's Green.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i3">At Fidler's Green, where seamen true,</p> +<p class="i4">When here they've done their duty,</p> +<p class="i3">The bowl of grog shall still renew,</p> +<p class="i4">And pledge to love and beauty.</p> +</div> +</div> +<br> +<p>"Well reeled off, Billy," cried Jemmy Ducks, finishing with a +flourish on his fiddle, and a refrain of the air. I don't think we +shall meet <i>him</i> and his dog at Fidler's Green--heh!"</p> +<p>"No," replied Short, taking his pipe from his lip.</p> +<p>"No, no, Jemmy, a seaman true means one true in heart as well as +in knowledge; but, like a blind fiddler, he'll be led by his dog +somewhere else."</p> +<p>"From vere de dog did come from," observed Jansen.</p> +<p>The band now struck up again, and played a waltz--a dance new to +our country, but older than the heptarchy. Jansen, with his pipe in +his mouth, took one of the women by the waist, and steered round +the room about as leisurely as a capstern heaving up. Dick Short +also took another, made four turns, reeled up against a Dutchman +who was doing it with <i>sang froid</i>, and then suddenly left his +partner and dropped into his chair.</p> +<p>"I say, Jemmy," said Obadiah Coble, "why don't you give a girl a +twist round?"</p> +<p>"Because I can't, Oby; my compasses arn't long enough to +describe a circle. You and I are better here, old boy. I, because +I've very little legs, and you, because you havn't a leg to stand +upon."</p> +<p>"Very true--not quite so young as I was forty years ago. +Howsomever I mean this to be my last vessel. I shall bear up for +one of the London dock-yards as a rigger."</p> +<p>"Yes, that'll do; only keep clear of the girt-lines, you're too +stiff for that."</p> +<p>"No, that would not exactly tell; I shall pick my own work, and +that's where I can bring my tarry trousers to an anchor--mousing +the mainstay, or puddening the anchor, with the best of any. Dick, +lend us a bit of 'baccy."</p> +<p>Short pulled out his box without saying a word. Coble took a +quid, and Short thrust the box again into his pocket.</p> +<p>In the meantime the waltz continued, and being a favourite +dance, there were about fifty couples going round and round the +room. Such was the variety in the dress, country, language, and +appearance of the parties collected, that you might have imagined +it a masquerade. It was, however, getting late, and Frau +Vandersloosh had received the intimation of the people of the +police who superintend these resorts, that it was the time for +shutting up; so that, although the widow was sorry on her own +account to disperse so merry and so thirsty a party as they were +now becoming, so soon as the waltz was ended the musicians packed +up their instruments and departed.</p> +<p>This was a signal for many, but by no means for all, to depart; +for music being over, and the house doors closed, a few who +remained, provided they made no disturbance, were not interfered +with by the police. Among those who stayed were the party from the +<i>Yungfrau</i>, one or two American, and some Prussian sailors. +Having closed up together,</p> +<p>"Come," cried Jemmy, "now that we are quiet again, let's have +another song; and who is it to be--Dick Short?"</p> +<p>"Short, my boy, come, you must sing."</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes--one verse," said Spurey.</p> +<p>"He never sings more," replied Jemmy Ducks, "so he must give us +that. Come, Short."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short, taking the pipe out of his mouth, and +wetting his lips with the grog.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Short</i> stay apeak was the anchor,</p> +<p class="i1">We had but a <i>short</i> minute more,</p> +<p>In <i>short</i>, I no longer could banker,</p> +<p class="i1">For <i>short</i> was the cash in my store.</p> +<p>I gave one <i>short</i> look,</p> +<p class="i1">As Poll heaved a <i>short</i> sigh</p> +<p>One <i>short</i> hug I took,</p> +<p class="i1"><i>Short</i> the matter cut I,</p> +<p class="i2">And off I went to sea.</p> +</div> +</div> +<br> +<p>"Go on, Dick."</p> +<p>"No," replied Short, resuming his pipe.</p> +<p>"Well, then, chorus, my boys."</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Very good song, and very well sung,</p> +<p>Jolly companions every one;</p> +<p>We all are here for mirth and glee,</p> +<p>We all are here for jollity.</p> +<p>Very good song, and very well sung,</p> +<p>Jolly companions every one;</p> +<p>Put your hats on, and keep your heads warm,</p> +<p>A little more liquor will do us no harm.</p> +</div> +</div> +<br> +<p>"Now then, Jemmy Ducks, it's round to you again. Strike up, +fiddle and all."</p> +<p>"Well, here goes," said Jemmy Ducks.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>The captain stood on the carronade--first lieutenant, says +he,</p> +<p>Send all my merry men aft here, for they must list to me:</p> +<p>I havn't the gift of the gab, my sons--because I'm bred to the +sea,</p> +<p>That ship there is a Frenchman, who means to fight with we.</p> +<p class="i2">Odds blood, hammer and tongs, long as I've been to +sea,</p> +<p class="i2">I've fought 'gainst every odds--but I've gained the +victory.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>That ship there is a Frenchman, and if we don't take +<i>she,</i></p> +<p>'Tis a thousand bullets to one, that she will capture +<i>me</i>;</p> +<p>I havn't the gift of the gab, my boys, so each man to his +gun,</p> +<p>If she's not mine in half an hour, I'll flog each mother's +son.</p> +<p class="i2">Odds bobs, hammer and tongs, long as I've been to +sea,</p> +<p class="i2">I've fought 'gainst every odds--and I've gained the +victory.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>We fought for twenty minutes, when the Frenchman had enough,</p> +<p>I little thought, said he, that your men were of such stuff;</p> +<p>The captain took the Frenchman's sword, a low bow made to +he,</p> +<p>I havn't the gift of the gab, Mounsieur, but polite I wish to +be.</p> +<p class="i2">Odds bobs, hammer and tongs, long as I've been to +sea,</p> +<p class="i2">I've fought 'gainst every odds--and I've gained the +victory.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Our captain sent for all of us; my merry men, said he,</p> +<p>I havn't the gift of the gab, my lads, but yet I thankful +be;</p> +<p>You've done your duty handsomely, each man stood to his gun,</p> +<p>If you hadn't, you villains, as sure as day, I'd have flogged +each mother's son.</p> +<p class="i2">Odds bobs, hammer and tongs, as long as I'm at +sea,</p> +<p class="i2">I'll fight 'gainst every odds--and I'll gain the +victory.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"><i>Chorus</i>--Very good song, and very well +sung,</p> +<p class="i8">Jolly companions every one;</p> +<p class="i8">We all are here for mirth and glee,</p> +<p class="i8">We all are here for jollity.</p> +<p class="i8">Very good song, and very well sung,</p> +<p class="i8">Jolly companions every one;</p> +<p class="i8">Put your hats on to keep your heads warm,</p> +<p class="i8">A little more grog will do us no harm.</p> +</div> +</div> +<br> +<p>"Now, Coble, we must have yours," said Jemmy Ducks.</p> +<p>"Mine! well, if you please: but half my notes are stranded. +You'll think that Snarleyyow is baying the moon: howsomever, take +it as it is."</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Oh, what's the use of piping, boys, I never yet could larn,</p> +<p>The good of water from the eyes I never could disarn;</p> +<p>Salt water we have sure enough without our pumping more,</p> +<p>So let us leave all crying to the girls we leave on shore.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">They may pump,</p> +<p class="i8">As in we jump</p> +<p class="i6">To the boat, and say, "Good-bye;"</p> +<p class="i8">But as for men,</p> +<p class="i8">Why, I say again,</p> +<p class="i6">That crying's all my eye.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>I went to school when quite a boy, and never larnt to read,</p> +<p>The master tried both head and tail--at last it was agreed</p> +<p>No larning he could force in me, so they sent me off to sea,</p> +<p>My mother wept and wrung her hands, and cried most bitterly.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">So she did pump,</p> +<p class="i8">As I did jump</p> +<p class="i6">In the boat, and said, "Good-bye;"</p> +<p class="i8">But as for me,</p> +<p class="i8">Who was sent to sea,</p> +<p class="i6">To cry was all my eye.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>I courted Poll, a buxom lass; when I returned A B,</p> +<p>I bought her ear-rings, hat, and shawl, a sixpence did break +we;</p> +<p>At last 'twas time to be on board, so, Poll, says I, +farewell;</p> +<p>She roared and said, that leaving her was like a funeral +knell.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">So she did pump,</p> +<p class="i8">As I did jump</p> +<p class="i6">In the boat, and said, "Good-bye;"</p> +<p class="i8">But as for me</p> +<p class="i8">With the rate A B,</p> +<p class="i6">To cry was all my eye.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>I soon went back, I shoved on shore, and Polly I did meet,</p> +<p>For she was watching on the shore, her sweetheart for to +greet,</p> +<p>She threw her arms around me then, and much to my surprise,</p> +<p>She vowed she was so happy that she pumped with both her +eyes.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">So she did pump,</p> +<p class="i8">As I did jump</p> +<p class="i6">To kiss her lovingly,</p> +<p class="i8">But, I say again,</p> +<p class="i8">That as for men,</p> +<p class="i6">Crying is all my eye.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Then push the can around, my boys, and let us merry be;</p> +<p>We'll rig the pumps if a leak we spring, and work most +merrily:</p> +<p>Salt water we have sure enough, we'll add not to its store,</p> +<p>But drink, and laugh, and sing and chat, and call again for +more.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">The girls may pump,</p> +<p class="i8">As in we jump</p> +<p class="i6">To the boat, and say, "Good-bye;"</p> +<p class="i8">But as for we,</p> +<p class="i8">Who sailors be,</p> +<p class="i6">Crying is all my eye.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"Bravo, Obadiah! now one more song, and then we'll aboard. It +won't do to bowse your jib up too tight here," said Jemmy; "for +it's rather dangerous navigation among all these canals--no room +for yawing."</p> +<p>"No," replied Dick Short.</p> +<p>"Then," said Jemmy, jumping off the table with his fiddle in his +hand, "let's have the roarer by way of a finish--what d'ye say, my +hearties?"</p> +<p>Up they all rose, and gathered together in the centre of the +room, save Jemmy Ducks, who, flourishing with his fiddle, +commenced.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Jack's alive and a merry dog,</p> +<p class="i1">When he gets on shore,</p> +<p>He calls for his glass of grog,</p> +<p class="i1">He drinks, and he calls for more.</p> +<p>So drink, and call for what you please,</p> +<p class="i1">Until you've had your whack, boys;</p> +<p>We think no more of raging seas,</p> +<p class="i1">Now that we've come back, boys.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"Chorus, now--"</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>With a <i>whip, snip</i>, high cum diddledy,</p> +<p class="i1">The cog-wheels of life have need of much oiling;</p> +<p><i>Smack, crack</i>--this is our jubilee;</p> +<p class="i1">Huzza, my lads! we'll keep the pot boiling.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>All the seamen joined in the chorus, which they accompanied both +with their hands and feet, snapping their fingers at <i>whip</i> +and <i>snip</i>, and smacking their hands at <i>smack</i> and +<i>crack</i>, while they danced round in the most grotesque manner, +to Jemmy's fiddle and voice; the chorus ended in loud laughter, for +they had now proved the words of the song to be true, and were all +alive and merry. According to the rules of the song, Jemmy now +called out for the next singer, Coble.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Jack's alive and merry, my boys,</p> +<p class="i5">When he's on blue water,</p> +<p class="i4">In the battle's rage and noise,</p> +<p class="i5">And the main-deck slaughter.</p> +<p class="i4">So drink and call for what you please,</p> +<p class="i5">Until you've had your whack, boys;</p> +<p class="i4">We'll think no more or angry seas,</p> +<p class="i5">Until that we go back, boys.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--With a <i>whip, snip</i>, high cum diddledy,</p> +<p class="i5">The cog-wheels of life have need of much oiling;</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Smack, crack</i>--this is our jubilee;</p> +<p class="i5">Huzza my lads! we'll keep the pot boiling.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Jansen and Jemmy Ducks, after the dancing chorus had +finished,</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Yack alive and merry, my boys,</p> +<p class="i1">Ven he get him <i>frau</i>,</p> +<p>And he vid her ringlet toys,</p> +<p class="i1">As he take her paw.</p> +<p>So drink, and call for vat you please.</p> +<p class="i1">Until you hab your vack, boys;</p> +<p>Ve'll think no more of angry seas,</p> +<p class="i1">Till ve standen back, boys.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Chorus and laughter</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>With a <i>whip, snip</i>, high cum diddledy,</p> +<p class="i1">The cog-wheels of life have need of much oiling;</p> +<p><i>Smack, crack</i>--this is our jubilee;</p> +<p class="i1">Huzza, my lads, we'll keep the pot boiling.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Bill Spurey--</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Jack's alive and merry, boys,</p> +<p class="i5">When he's got the shiners;</p> +<p class="i4">Heh! for rattle, fun, and noise,</p> +<p class="i5">Hang all grumbling whiners.</p> +<p class="i4">Then drink, and call for what you please,</p> +<p class="i5">Until you've had your whack, boys;</p> +<p class="i4">We think no more of raging seas,</p> +<p class="i5">Now that we've come back, boys.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--With a <i>whip, snip</i>, high cum diddledy,</p> +<p class="i5">The cog-wheels of life have need of much oiling;</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Smack, crack</i>--this is our jubilee;</p> +<p class="i5">Huzza, my lads! we'll keep the pot boiling.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"Dick Short must sing."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Dick.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Jack's alive and full of fun,</p> +<p class="i5">When his hulk is crazy,</p> +<p class="i4">As he basks in Greenwich sun,</p> +<p class="i5">Jolly still though lazy.</p> +<p class="i4">So drink, and call for what you please,</p> +<p class="i5">Until you've had your whack, boys;</p> +<p class="i4">We'll think no more of raging seas,</p> +<p class="i5">Now that we've come back, boys.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--With a <i>whip, snip</i>, high cum diddledy,</p> +<p class="i5">The cog-wheels of life have need of much oiling;</p> +<p class="i4"><i>Smack, crack</i>--this is our jubilee;</p> +<p class="i5">Huzza, my lads! we'll keep the pot boiling.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>As this was the last chorus, it was repeated three or four +times, and with hallooing, screaming, and dancing in mad +gesticulation.</p> +<p>"Hurrah, my lads," cried Jemmy, "three cheers and a bravo."</p> +<p>It was high time that they went on board; so thought Frau +Vandersloosh, who trembled for her chandeliers; so thought Babette, +who had begun to yawn before the last song, and who had tired +herself more with laughing at it; so thought they all, and they +sallied forth out of the Lust Haus, with Jemmy Ducks having the +advance, and fiddling to them the whole way down to the boat. +Fortunately, not one of them fell into the canal, and in ten +minutes they were all on board; they were not, however, permitted +to turn into their hammocks without the important information being +imparted to them, that Snarleyyow had disappeared.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_X"></a>Chapter X</h2> +<h3>In which is explained the sublime mystery of +keel-hauling--Snarleyyow saves Smallbones<br> +from being drowned, although Smallbones would have drowned +him.</h3> +<br> +<p>It is a dark morning; the wind is fresh from the northwest; +flakes of snow are seen wafting here and there by the wind, the +avant-couriers of a heavy fall; the whole sky is of one murky grey, +and the sun is hidden behind a dense bank. The deck of the cutter +is wet and slippery, and Dick Short has the morning watch. He is +wrapt up in a Flushing pea-jacket, with thick mittens on his hands; +he looks about him, and now and then a fragment of snow whirls into +his eye; he winks it out, it melts and runs like a tear down his +cheek. If it were not that it is contrary to man-of-war custom he +would warm himself with the <i>double-shuffle</i>, but such a step +would be unheard of on the quarter-deck of even the cutter +<i>Yungfrau</i>.</p> +<p>The tarpaulin over the hatchway is pushed on one side, and the +space between the coamings is filled with the bull head and broad +shoulders of Corporal Van Spitter, who, at last, gains the deck; he +looks round him and apparently is not much pleased with the +weather. Before he proceeds to business, he examines the sleeves +and front of his jacket, and having brushed off with the palm of +his hand a variety of blanket-hairs, adhering to the cloth, he is +satisfied, and now turns to the right and to the left, and forward +and aft--in less than a minute he goes right round the compass. +What can Corporal Van Spitter want at so early an hour? He has not +come up on deck for nothing, and yet he appears to be strangely +puzzled: the fact is, by the arrangements of last night, it was +decided, that this morning, if Snarleyyow did not make his +appearance in the boat sent on shore for fresh beef for the ship's +company, the unfortunate Smallbones was to be +<i>keel-hauled</i>.</p> +<p>What a delightful morning for a keel-hauling!</p> +<p>This ingenious process, which, however, like many other good old +customs, has fallen into disuse, must be explained to the +non-nautical reader. It is nothing more nor less than sending a +poor navigator on a voyage of discovery under the bottom of the +vessel, lowering him<a name="FNanchor2"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_2">[2]</a> down over the bows, and with ropes detaining +him exactly in his position under the kelson, while he is drawn aft +by a hauling line until he makes his appearance at the +rudder-chains, generally speaking quite out of breath, not at the +rapidity of his motion, but because, when so long under the water, +he has expended all the breath in his body, and is induced to take +in salt water <i>en lieu.</i> There is much merit in this +invention; people are very apt to be content with walking the deck +of a man-of-war, and complain of it as a hardship, but when once +they have learnt, by experience, the difference between being +comfortable above board, and the number of deprivations which they +have to submit to when under board and overboard at the same time, +they find that there are worse situations than being on the deck of +a vessel--we say privations when under board, for they really are +very important:--you are deprived of the air to breathe, which is +not borne with patience even by a philosopher, and you are obliged +to drink salt water instead of fresh. In the days of keel-hauling, +the bottoms of vessels were not coppered, and in consequence were +well studded with a species of shell-fish which attached +themselves, called barnacles, and as these shells were all +open-mouthed and with sharp cutting points, those who underwent +this punishment (for they were made by the ropes at each side, +fastened to their arms, to hug the kelson of the vessel) were cut +and scored all over their body, as if with so many lancets, +generally coming up bleeding in every part, and with their faces, +especially their noses, as if they had been gnawed by the rats; but +this was considered rather advantageous than otherwise, as the loss +of blood restored the patient if he was not quite drowned, and the +consequence was, that one out of three, it is said, have been known +to recover after their submarine excursion. The Dutch have the +credit, and we will not attempt to take from them their undoubted +right, of having invented this very agreeable description of +punishment. They are considered a heavy, phlegmatic sort of people, +but on every point in which the art of ingeniously tormenting is in +request, it must be admitted that they have taken the lead of much +more vivacious and otherwise more inventive nations.</p> +<blockquote><a name="Footnote_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor2">[2]</a> +The author has here explained keel-hauling as practised in those +times in small <i>fore and aft</i> vessels. In large and +square-rigged vessels, the man was hauled up to one main-yard arm, +and dropped into the sea, and hauled under the bottom of the vessel +to the other; but this in small fore and aft vessels was not so +easily effected, nor was it considered sufficient +punishment.</blockquote> +<p>And now the reader will perceive why Corporal Van Spitter was in +a dilemma. With all the good-will in the world, with every anxiety +to fulfil his duty, and to obey his superior officer, he was not a +seaman, and did not know how to commence operations. He knew +nothing about foddering a vessel's bottom, much less how to fodder +it with the carcass of one of his fellow-creatures. The corporal, +as we said before, turned round and round the compass to ascertain +if he could compass his wishes; at last, he commenced by dragging +one-rope's end from one side and another from the other; those +would do for the side ropes, but he wanted a long one from forward +and another from aft, and how to get the one from aft under the +cutter's bottom was a puzzle; and then there was the mast and the +rigging in his way;--the corporal reflected--the more he considered +the matter, the more his brain became confused; he was at a +nonplus, and he gave it up in despair: he stood still, took out a +blue cotton handkerchief from the breast of his jacket and wiped +his forehead, for the intensity of thought had made him +perspire--anything like reflection was very hard work for Corporal +Van Spitter.</p> +<p>"Tousand tyfels!" at last exclaimed the corporal, and he paused +and knocked his big head with his fist.</p> +<p>"Hundred thousand tyfels!" repeated the corporal after five +minutes' more thought.</p> +<p>"Twenty hundred tousand tyfels!" muttered the corporal, once +more knocking his head: but he knocked in vain; like an empty +house, there was no one within to answer the appeal. The corporal +could no more: so he returned his pocket-handkerchief to the breast +of his jacket, and a heavy sigh escaped from his own breast. All +the devils in hell were mentally conjured and summoned to his aid, +but they were, it is to be presumed, better employed, for although +the work in hand was diabolical enough, still, Smallbones was such +a poor devil, that probably he might have been considered as +remotely allied to the fraternity.</p> +<p>It may be inquired why, as this was <i>on service</i>, Corporal +Van Spitter did not apply for the assistance of the seamen +belonging to the vessel, particularly to the officer in charge of +the deck; but the fact was, that he was unwilling to do this, +knowing that his application would be in vain, for he was aware +that the whole crew sided with Smallbones; it was only as a last +resource that he intended to do this, and being now at his +<i>wit's</i> end, he walked up to Dick Short, who had been watching +the corporal's motions in silence, and accosted him.</p> +<p>"If you please, Mynheer Short, Mynheer Vanslyperken give orders +dat de boy be keel-hauled dis morning:--I want haben de rope and de +way."</p> +<p>Short looked at the corporal, and made no reply.</p> +<p>"Mynheer Short, I haben tell de order of Mynheer +Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>Dick Short made no reply, but leaning over the hatchway, called +out, "Jemmy."</p> +<p>"Ay, ay," replied Jemmy Ducks, turning out of his hammock and +dropping on the lower deck.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter, who imagined that Mr Short was about to +comply with his request after his own Harpocratic fashion, remained +quietly on the deck until Jemmy Ducks made his appearance.</p> +<p>"Hands," quoth Short.</p> +<p>Jemmy piped the hands up.</p> +<p>"Boat," quoth Short, turning his head to the small boat hoisted +up astern.</p> +<p>Now as all this was apparently preparatory to the work required, +the corporal was satisfied. The men soon came up with their +hammocks on their shoulders, which they put into the nettings, and +then Jemmy proceeded to lower down the boat. As soon as it was down +and hauled up alongside, Short turned round to Coble, and waving +his hand towards the shore, said,</p> +<p>"Beef."</p> +<p>Coble, who perfectly understood him, put a new quid into his +cheek, went down the side, and pulled on shore to bring off the +fresh beef and vegetables for the ship's company; after which Dick +Short walked the deck and gave no further orders.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter perceiving this, went up to him again.</p> +<p>"Mynheer Short, you please get ready."</p> +<p>"No!" thundered Short, turning away.</p> +<p>"Got for dam, dat is mutiny," muttered the corporal, who +immediately backed stern foremost down the hatchway, to report to +his commandant the state of affairs on deck. Mr Vanslyperken had +already risen; he had slept but one hour during the whole night, +and that one hour was so occupied with wild and fearful dreams that +he awoke from his sleep unrefreshed. He had dreamed that he was +making every attempt to drown Smallbones, but without effect, for, +so soon as the lad was dead he came to life again; he thought that +Smallbones' soul was incorporated in a small animal something like +a mouse, and that he had to dislodge it from its tenement of clay; +but as soon as he drove it from one part of the body it would force +its way back again into another; if he forced it out by the mouth +after incredible exertions, which made him perspire at every pore, +it would run back again into the ear; if forced from thence, +through the nostril, then in at the toe, or any other part; in +short, he laboured apparently in his dream for years, but without +success. And then the "change came o'er the spirit of his dream;" +but still there was analogy, for he was now trying to press his +suit, which was now a liquid in a vial, into the widow +Vandersloosh, but in vain. He administered it again and again, but +it acted as an emetic, and she could not stomach it, and then he +found himself rejected by all--the widow kicked him, Smallbones +stamped upon him, even Snarleyyow flew at him and bit him; at last, +he fell with an enormous paving-stone round his neck, descending +into a horrible abyss head foremost, and, as he increased his +velocity, he awoke trembling and confused, and could sleep no more. +This dream was not one to put Mr Vanslyperken into good humour, and +two severe cuts on his cheek with the razor as he attempted to +shave, for his hand still trembled, had added to his discontent, +when it was raised to its climax by the entrance of Corporal Van +Spitter, who made his report of the mutinous conduct of the first +officer. Never was Mr Vanslyperken in such a tumult of rage; he +pulled off some beaver from his hat to staunch the blood, and +wiping off the remainder of the lather, for he put aside the +operation of shaving till his hand was more steady, he threw on his +coat and followed the corporal on deck, looked round with a savage +air, spied out the diminutive form of Jemmy Ducks, and desired him +to pipe "all hands to keel-haul."</p> +<p>Whereupon Jemmy put his pipe to his mouth, and after a long +flourish, bawled out what appeared to Mr Vanslyperken to be--all +hands to <i>be heel-hauled;</i> but Jemmy slurred over quickly the +little change made in the order, and, although the men tittered, Mr +Vanslyperken thought it better to say nothing. But there is an old +saying, that you may bring a horse to the pond, but you cannot make +him drink. Mr Vanslyperken had given the order, but no one +attempted to commence the arrangements. The only person who showed +any activity was Smallbones himself, who, not aware that he was to +be punished, and hearing all hands piped for something or another, +came shambling, all legs and wings, up the hatchway, and looked +around to ascertain what was to be done. He was met by the bulky +form of Corporal Van Spitter, who, thinking that Smallbones' making +his appearance in such haste was with the intention of jumping +overboard to avoid his punishment, immediately seized him by the +collar with the left hand, turned round on a pivot towards Mr +Vanslyperken, and raising his right hand to his foraging cap, +reported, "The prisoner on deck, Mynheer Vanslyperken." This roused +the lieutenant to action, for he had been walking the deck for a +half minute in deep thought.</p> +<p>"Is all ready there, forward?" cried Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>No one replied.</p> +<p>"I say, boatswain, is all ready?"</p> +<p>"No, sir," replied Jemmy; "nobody knows how to set about it. I +don't, anyhow--I never seed anything of the like since I've been in +the service--the whole of the ship's company say the same." But +even the flakes of snow, which now fell thick, and whitened the +blue jacket of Mr Vanslyperken, could not assuage his wrath--he +perceived that the men were refractory, so he summoned the six +marines--who were completely under the control of their +corporal.</p> +<p>Poor Smallbones had, in the meantime, discovered what was going +on, and thought that he might as well urge something in his own +defence.</p> +<p>"If you please, what are you going for to do with me?" said the +lad, with a terrified look.</p> +<p>"Lead him forward," said Mr Vanslyperken; "follow me, marines;" +and the whole party, headed by the lieutenant, went before the +mast.</p> +<p>"Strip him," cried Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Strip me, with the snow flying like this! An't I cold enough +already?"</p> +<p>"You'll be colder when you're under the bottom of the cutter," +replied his master.</p> +<p>"O Lord! then it is keel-hauling a'ter all; why what have I +done?" cried Smallbones, as the marines divested him of his shirt, +and exposed his emaciated body to the pitiless storm.</p> +<p>"Where's Snarleyyow, sir?--confess."</p> +<p>"Snarleyyow--how should I know, sir? it's very hard, because +your dog is not to be found, that I'm to be dragged under the +bottom of a vessel."</p> +<p>"I'll teach you to throw paving-stones in the canal."</p> +<p>"Paving-stones, sir!" and Smallbones' guilty conscience flew in +his face. "Well, sir, do as you please, I'm sure I don't care; if I +am to be killed, be quick about it--I'm sure I sha'n't come up +alive."</p> +<p>Here Mr Vanslyperken remembered his dream, and the difficulty +which he had in driving Smallbones' soul out of his body, and he +was fearful that even keel-hauling would not settle Smallbones.</p> +<p>By the directions of Mr Vanslyperken, the hauling ropes and +other tackle were collected by the marines, for the seamen stood +by, and appeared resolved, to a man, to do nothing, and, in about +half an hour, all was ready. Four marines manned the hauling line, +one was placed at each side-rope fastened to the lad's arms, and +the corporal, as soon as he had lifted the body of Smallbones over +the larboard gunnel, had directions to attend the bow-line, and not +allow him to be dragged on too fast: a better selection for this +purpose could not have been made than Corporal Van Spitter. +Smallbones had been laid without his clothes on the deck, now +covered with snow, during the time that the lines were making fast +to him; he remained silent, and as usual, when punished, with his +eyes shut, and as Vanslyperken watched him with feelings of hatred, +he perceived an occasional smile to cross the lad's haggard +features. He knows where the dog is, thought Vanslyperken, and his +desire to know what had become of Snarleyyow overcame his +vengeance--he addressed the shivering Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Now, sir, if you wish to escape the punishment, tell me what +has become of the dog, for I perceive that you know."</p> +<p>Smallbones grinned as his teeth chattered--he would have +undergone a dozen keel-haulings rather than have satisfied +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"I give you ten minutes to think of it," continued the +lieutenant; "hold all fast at present."</p> +<p>The snow storm now came on so thick that it was difficult to +distinguish the length of the vessel. Smallbones' naked limbs were +gradually covered, and, before the ten minutes were expired, he was +wrapped up in snow as in a garment--he shook his head occasionally +to clear his face, but remained silent.</p> +<p>"Now, sir," cried Vanslyperken, "will you tell me, or overboard +you go at once? Will you tell me?"</p> +<p>"No," replied Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Do you know, you scoundrel?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Smallbones, whose indignation was roused.</p> +<p>"And you won't tell?"</p> +<p>"No," shrieked the lad--"no, never, never, never!"</p> +<p>"Corporal Van Spitter, over with him," cried Vanslyperken in a +rage, when a sudden stir was heard amongst the men aft, and as the +corporal raised up the light frame of the culprit, to carry it to +the gunnel, to the astonishment of Vanslyperken, of the corporal, +and of Smallbones, Snarleyyow appeared on the forecastle, and made +a rush at Smallbones, as he lay in the corporal's arms, snapped at +his leg, and then set up his usual deep baying, "bow, bow, +bow!"</p> +<p>The re-appearance of the dog created no small +sensation--Vanslyperken felt that he had now no reason for +keel-hauling Smallbones, which annoyed him as much as the sight of +the dog gave him pleasure. The corporal, who had dropped Smallbones +on the snow, was also disappointed. As for Smallbones, at the +baying of the dog, he started up on his knees, and looked at it as +if it were an apparition, with every demonstration of terror in his +countenance; his eyes glared upon the animal with horror and +astonishment, and he fell down in a swoon. The whole of the ship's +company were taken aback--they looked at one another and shook +their heads--one only remark was made by Jansen, who muttered, "De +tog is no tog a'ter all."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken ordered Smallbones to be taken below, and then +walked aft; perceiving Obadiah Coble, he inquired whence the dog +had come, and was answered that he had come off in the boat which +he had taken on shore for fresh beef and vegetables. Mr +Vanslyperken made no reply, but, with Snarleyyow at his heels, went +down into the cabin.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XI"></a>Chapter XI</h2> +<h3>In which Snarleyyow does not at all assist his master's cause +with the Widow Vandersloosh.</h3> +<br> +<p>It will be necessary to explain to the reader by what means the +life of our celebrated cur was preserved. When Smallbones had +thrown him into the canal, tied up, as he supposed, in his +winding-sheet, what Mr Vanslyperken observed was true, that there +were people below, and the supposed paving-stone might have fallen +upon them: the voices which he heard were those of father and son, +who were in a small boat going from a galliot to the steps where +they intended to land; for this canal was not like most others, +with the water in it sufficiently high to enable people to step +from the vessel's gunnel to the jetty. Snarleyyow fell in his bag a +few yards ahead of the boat, and the splash naturally attracted +their attention; he did not sink immediately, but floundered and +struggled so as to keep himself partly above water.</p> +<p>"What is that?" exclaimed the father to his son, in Dutch.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! who is to know?--but we will see;" and the son took +the boat-hook, and with it dragged the bread-bags towards the boat, +just as they were sinking, for Snarleyyow was exhausted with his +efforts. The two together dragged the bags with their contents into +the boat.</p> +<p>"It is a dog or something," observed the son.</p> +<p>"Very well, but the bread-bags will be useful," replied the +father, and they pulled on to the landing-stairs. When they arrived +there they lifted out the bags, laid them on the stone steps, and +proceeded to unrip them, when they found Snarleyyow, who was just +giving signs of returning animation. They took the bags with them, +after having rolled his carcass out, and left it on the steps, for +there was a fine for throwing anything into the canal. The cur soon +after recovered, and was able to stand on his legs; so soon as he +could walk he made his way to the door of the widow Vandersloosh, +and howled for admittance. The widow had retired: she had been +reading her book of <i>prières</i>, as every one should do, +who has been cheating people all day long. She was about to +extinguish her light, when this serenade saluted her ears; it +became intolerable as the dog gained strength.</p> +<p>Babette had long been fast asleep, and was with difficulty +roused up and directed to beat the cur away. She attempted to +perform the duty, arming herself with the broom; but the moment she +opened the door Snarleyyow dashed in between her legs, upsetting +her on the brick pavement. Babette screamed, and her mistress came +out in the passage to ascertain the cause; the dog not being able +to run into the parlour, bolted up the stairs, and snapping at the +widow as he passed, secured a berth underneath her bed.</p> +<p>"Oh, mein Gott! it is the dog of the lieutenant," exclaimed +Babette, coming up the stairs in greater dishabille than her +mistress, and with the broom in her hand. "What shall we do--how +shall we get rid of him?"</p> +<p>"A thousand devils may take the lieutenant, and his nasty dog, +too," exclaimed the widow, in great wrath; "this is the last time +that either of them enter my house; try, Babette, with your +broom--shove at him hard."</p> +<p>"Yes, ma'am," replied Babette, pushing with all her strength at +the dog beneath the bed, who seized the broom with his teeth, and +pulled it away from Babette. It was a struggle of strength between +the girl and Snarleyyow--pull, Babette--pull, dog--one moment the +broom, with two-thirds of the handle, disappeared under the bed, +the next the maid recovered her lost ground. Snarleyyow was first +tired of this contention, and to prove that he had no thoughts of +abandoning his position, he let go the broom, flew at Babette's +naked legs, and having inserted his teeth half through her ankle, +he returned growling to his former retreat. "O dear, mein Gott!" +exclaimed Babette, dropping her broom, and holding her ankle with +both hands.</p> +<p>"What shall we do?" cried the widow, wringing her hands.</p> +<p>It was indeed a case of difficulty. Mynheer Vandersloosh, before +he had quitted this transitory scene, had become a personage as +bulky as the widow herself, and the bed had been made unusually +wide; the widow still retained the bed for her own use, for there +was no knowing whether she might not again be induced to enter the +hymeneal state. It occupied more than one half of the room, and the +dog had gained a position from which it was not easy for two women +to dislodge him; and, as the dog snarled and growled under the bed, +so did the widow's wrath rise as she stood shivering--and it was +directed against the master. She vowed mentally, that so sure as +the dog was under the bed, so sure should his master never get into +it.</p> +<p>And Babette's wrath was also kindled, now that the first pain of +the bite had worn off; she seized the broom again, and made some +furious lunges at Snarleyyow, so furious, that he could not regain +possession with his teeth. The door of the room had been left open +that the dog might escape--so had the street-door; and the widow +stood at the foot of the bed, waiting for some such effect being +produced by Babette's vigorous attacks; but the effects were not +such as she anticipated; the dog became more enraged, and at last +sprang out at the foot of the bed, flew at the widow, tore her only +garment, and bit her in the leg. Frau Vandersloosh screamed and +reeled--reeled against the door left half open, and falling against +it, slammed it to with her weight, and fell down shrieking. +Snarleyyow, who probably had intended to make off, seeing that his +escape was prevented, again retreated under the bed, and as soon as +he was there he recommenced an attack upon Babette's legs.</p> +<p>Now, it appears, that what the united courage of the two females +could not accomplish, was at last effected by their united fears. +The widow Vandersloosh gained her legs as soon as she could, and at +first opened the door to run out, but her night dress was torn to +ribbons in front. She looked at her situation--modesty conquered +every other feeling--she burst into tears, and exclaiming, "Mr +Vanslyperken! Mr Vanslyperken!" she threw herself in an ecstasy of +grief and rage on the centre of the bed. At the same moment the +teeth of the dog were again fixed upon the ankles of Babette, who +also shrieked, and threw herself on the bed, and upon her mistress. +The bed was a good bed, and had for years done its duty; but you +may even overload a bed, and so it proved in this instance. The +united weights of the mistress and the maid coming down upon it +with such emphasis, was more than the bed could bear--the sacking +gave way altogether, and the mattress which they lay upon was now +supported by the floor.</p> +<p>But this misfortune was their preservation--for when the +mattress came down, it came down upon Snarleyyow. The animal +contrived to clear his loins, or he would have perished; but he +could not clear his long mangy tail, which was now caught and +firmly fixed in a new species of trap, the widow's broadest +proportions having firmly secured him by it. Snarleyyow pulled, and +pulled, but he pulled in vain--he was fixed--he could not bite, for +the mattress was between them--he pulled, and he howled, and +barked, and turned himself every way, and yelped; and had not his +tail been of coarse and thick dimensions, he might have left it +behind him, so great were his exertions; but, no, it was +impossible. The widow was a widow of substance, as Vanslyperken had +imagined, and as she now proved to the dog--the only difference +was, that the master wished to be in the very situation which the +dog was now so anxious to escape from--to wit, tailed on to the +widow. Babette, who soon perceived that the dog was so, now got out +of the bed, and begging her mistress not to move an inch, and +seizing the broom, she hammered Snarleyyow most unmercifully, +without any fear of retaliation. The dog redoubled his exertions, +and the extra weight of Babette being now removed, he was at last +able to withdraw his appendage, and probably-feeling that there was +now no chance of a quiet night's rest in his present quarters, he +made a bolt out of the room, down the stairs, and into the street. +Babette chased him down, threw the broom at his head as he cleared +the threshold, and then bolted the door.</p> +<p>"O the beast!" exclaimed Babette, going up stairs again, out of +breath; "he's gone at last, ma'am."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied the widow, rising up with difficulty from the +hole made with her own centre of gravity; "and--and his master +shall go too. Make love indeed--the atomy--the shrimp--the dried-up +stock-fish. Love, quotha--and refuse to hang a cur like that. O +dear! O dear! get me something to put on. One of my best chemises +all in rags--and his nasty teeth in my leg in two places, Babette. +Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see--I don't care for their +custom. Mr Vanslyperken, you'll not sit on my sofa again, I can +tell you;--hug your nasty cur--quite good enough for you. Yes, yes, +Mr Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>By this time the widow had received a fresh supply of linen from +Babette; and as soon as she had put it on she rose from the bed, +the fractured state of which again called forth her +indignation.</p> +<p>"Thirty-two years have I had this bed, wedded and single, +Babette!" exclaimed the widow. "For sixteen years did I sleep on +that bed with the lamented Mr Vandersloosh--for sixteen years have +I slept in it, a lone widow--but never till now did it break down. +How am I to sleep to-night? What am I to do, Babette?"</p> +<p>"'Twas well it did break down, ma'am," replied Babette, who was +smoothing down the jagged skin at her ankles; "or we should never +have got the nasty biting brute out of the house."</p> +<p>"Very well--very well. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken--marriage, +indeed, I'd as soon marry his cur."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott!" exclaimed Babette. "I think madame, if you did +marry, you would soon find the master as cross as the dog; but I +must make this bed."</p> +<p>Babette proceeded to examine the mischief, and found that it was +only the cords which tied the sacking which had given way, and +considering that they had done their office for thirty-two years, +and the strain which had been put upon them after so long a period, +there was not much to complain of. A new cord was procured, and, in +a quarter of an hour, all was right again; and the widow, who had +sat in the chair fuming and blowing off her steam, as soon as +Babette had turned down the bed, turned in again, muttering, "Yes, +yes, Mr Vanslyperken--marriage indeed. Well, well, we shall see. +Stop till to-morrow, Mr Vanslyperken;" and as Babette has closed +the curtains, so will we close this chapter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XII"></a>Chapter XII</h2> +<h3>In which resolutions are entered into in all quarters,<br> +and Jemmy Ducks is accused of mutiny for singing a song in a +snow-storm.</h3> +<br> +<p>What were the adventures of Snarleyyow after this awkward +interfence with his master's speculations upon the widow, until he +jumped into the beef boat to go on board of the cutter, are lost +for ever; but it is to be supposed that he could not have remained +the whole night without making himself disagreeable in some quarter +or another. But, as we before observed, we know nothing about it; +and, therefore, may be excused if we do not tell.</p> +<p>The widow Vandersloosh slept but little that night: her soul was +full of vengeance; but although smarting with the imprints of the +cur's teeth, still she had an eye to business; the custom of the +crew of the cutter was not to be despised, and, as she thought of +this, she gradually cooled down. It was not till four o'clock in +the morning that she came to her decision; and it was a very +prudent one, which was to demand the dead body of the dog to be +laid at her door before Mr Vanslyperken should be allowed +admittance. This was her right, and if he was sincere, he would not +refuse; if he did refuse, it was not at all clear that she should +lose the custom of the seamen, over the major part of whom +Vanslyperken then appeared to have very little control; and all of +whom, she knew, detested him most cordially, as well as his dog. +After which resolution the widow Vandersloosh fell fast asleep.</p> +<p>But we must return on board, where there was almost as much +confusion as there had been on shore. The reappearance of +Snarleyyow was considered supernatural, for Smallbones had +distinctly told in what manner he had tied him up in the +bread-bags, and thrown him into the canal. Whisperings and +murmurings were heard all round the cutter's decks. Obadiah Coble +shrugged up his shoulders, as he took an extra quid--Dick Short +walked about with lips compressed, more taciturn than ever--Jansen +shook his head, muttering, "Te tog is no tog"--Bill Spurey had to +repeat to the ship's company the legend of his coming on board over +and over again. The only persons who appeared not to have lost +their courage were Jemmy Ducks and poor Smallbones, who had been +put in his hammock to recover him from his refrigeration. The +former said, "that if they were to sail with the devil, it could +not be helped, pay and prize-money would still go on;" and the +latter, who had quite recovered his self-possession, "vowed that +dog or devil, he would never cease his attempts to destroy him--if +he was the devil, or one of his imps, it was his duty as a +Christian to oppose him, and he had no chance of better treatment +if he were to remain quiet." The snow-storm continued, and the men +remained below, all but Jemmy Ducks, who leaned against the lee +side of the cutter's mast, and, as the snow fell, sang, to a slow +air, the following ditty, it probably being called to his +recollection by the state of the weather.</p> +<blockquote>'Twas at the landing-place that's just below Mount +Wyse,<br> +Poll leaned against the sentry's box, a tear in both her eyes,<br> +Her apron twisted round her arms, all for to keep them warm,<br> +Being a windy Christmas-day, and also a snow-storm.</blockquote> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">And Bet and Sue</p> +<p class="i4">Both stood there too,</p> +<p class="i5">A-shivering by her side,</p> +<p class="i4">They both were dumb,</p> +<p class="i4">And both looked glum,</p> +<p class="i5">As they watched the ebbing tide.</p> +<p class="i4">Poll put her arms a-kimbo,</p> +<p class="i5">At the admiral's house looked she,</p> +<p class="i4">To thoughts before in limbo,</p> +<p class="i5">She now a vent gave free.</p> +<p class="i4">You have sent the ship in a gale to work,</p> +<p class="i5">On a lee shore to be jammed,</p> +<p class="i4">I'll give you a piece of my mind, old Turk,</p> +<p class="i5">Port Admiral, you be d----d.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--We'll give you a piece of our mind, old +Turk,</p> +<p class="i5">Port Admiral, you be d----d.</p> +</div> +</div> +<blockquote>Who ever heard in the sarvice of a frigate made to +sail<br> +On Christmas-day, it blowing hard, with sleet, and snow, and +hail?<br> +I wish I had the fishing of your back that is so bent,<br> +I'd use the galley poker hot unto your heart's +content.</blockquote> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Here Bet and Sue</p> +<p class="i4">Are with me too,</p> +<p class="i5">A shivering by my side,</p> +<p class="i4">They both are dumb,</p> +<p class="i4">And both look glum,</p> +<p class="i5">And watch the ebbing tide.</p> +<p class="i4">Poll put her arms a-kimbo,</p> +<p class="i5">At the admiral's house looked she,</p> +<p class="i4">To thoughts that were in limbo,</p> +<p class="i5">She now a vent gave free.</p> +<p class="i4">You've got a roaring fire I'll bet,</p> +<p class="i5">In it your toes are jammed,</p> +<p class="i4">Let's give him a piece of our mind, my Bet,</p> +<p class="i5">Port Admiral, you be d----d.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--Let's give him a piece of our mind, my Bet,</p> +<p class="i5">Port Admiral, you be d----d.</p> +</div> +</div> +<blockquote>I had the flour and plums all picked, and suet all +chopped fine,<br> +To mix into a pudding rich for all the mess to dine;<br> +I pawned my ear-rings for the beef, it weighed at least a +stone,<br> +Now my fancy man is sent to sea, and I am left alone.</blockquote> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">Here's Bet and Sue</p> +<p class="i4">Who stand here too,</p> +<p class="i5">A shivering by my side,</p> +<p class="i4">They both are dumb,</p> +<p class="i4">They both look glum,</p> +<p class="i5">And watch the ebbing tide.</p> +<p class="i4">Poll put her arms a-kimbo,</p> +<p class="i5">At the admiral's house looked she,</p> +<p class="i4">To thoughts that were in limbo,</p> +<p class="i5">She now a vent gave free.</p> +<p class="i4">You've got a turkey I'll be bound,</p> +<p class="i5">With which you will be crammed,</p> +<p class="i4">I'll give you a bit of my mind, old hound,</p> +<p class="i5">Port Admiral, you be d----d.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--I'll give you a bit of my mind, old hound,</p> +<p class="i5">Port Admiral, you be d----d.</p> +</div> +</div> +<blockquote>I'm sure that in this weather they cannot cook their +meat,<br> +To eat it raw on Christmas-day will be a pleasant treat;<br> +But let us all go home, girls, it's no use waiting here,<br> +We'll hope that Christmas-day to come, they will have better +cheer.</blockquote> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">So Bet and Sue</p> +<p class="i4">Don't stand here too,</p> +<p class="i5">A shivering by my side,</p> +<p class="i4">Don't keep so dumb,</p> +<p class="i4">Don't look so glum,</p> +<p class="i5">Nor watch the ebbing tide.</p> +<p class="i4">Poll put her arms a-kimbo,</p> +<p class="i5">At the admiral's house looked she,</p> +<p class="i4">To thoughts that were in limbo,</p> +<p class="i5">She now a vent gave free.</p> +<p class="i4">So while they cut their raw salt junks,</p> +<p class="i5">With dainties you'll be crammed,</p> +<p class="i4">Here's once for all my mind, old hunks,</p> +<p class="i5">Port Admiral, you be d----d.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p><i>Chorus</i>.--So once for all our mind, old hunks,</p> +<p class="i4">Port Admiral you be d----d.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"Mein Gott! but dat is rank mutiny, Mynheer Shemmy Tucks," +observed Corporal Van Spitter, who had come upon the deck +unperceived by Jemmy, and had listened to the song.</p> +<p>"Mutiny, is it?" replied Jemmy, "and report this also.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4">"I'll give you a bit of my mind, fat thief,</p> +<p class="i4">You, corporal, may be d----d."</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"Dat is better and better--I mean to say, worser and worser," +replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"Take care I don't pitch you overboard," replied Jemmy, in +wrath.</p> +<p>"Dat is most worse still," said the corporal, stalking aft, and +leaving Jemmy Ducks to follow up the train of his own thoughts.</p> +<p>Jemmy, who had been roused by the corporal, and felt the snow +insinuating itself into the nape of the neck, thought he might as +well go down below.</p> +<p>The corporal made his report, and Mr Vanslyperken made his +comments, but he did no more, for he was aware that a mere trifle +would cause a general mutiny. The recovery of Snarleyyow consoled +him, and little thinking what had been the events of the preceding +night, he thought he might as well prove his devotion to the widow, +by paying his respects in a snow-storm--but not in the attire of +the day before--Mr Vanslyperken was too economical for that; so he +remained in his long threadbare great-coat and foul-weather hat. +Having first locked up his dog in the cabin, and entrusted the key +to the corporal, he went on shore, and presented himself at the +widow's door, which was opened by Babette, who with her person +barred entrance: she did not wait for Vanslyperken to speak +first.</p> +<p>"Mynheer Vanslyperken, you can't come in. Frau Vandersloosh is +very ill in bed--the doctor says it's a bad case--she cannot be +seen."</p> +<p>"Ill!" exclaimed Vanslyperken; "your dear, charming mistress +ill! Good heavens! what is the matter, my dear Babette?" replied +Vanslyperken, with all the pretended interest of a devoted +lover.</p> +<p>"All through you, Mr Vanslyperken," replied Babette.</p> +<p>"Me!" exclaimed Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Well, all through your nasty cur, which is the same thing."</p> +<p>"My dog! I little thought that he was left here," replied the +lieutenant; "but, Babette, let me in, if you please, for the snow +falls fast, and--"</p> +<p>"And you must not come in, Mr Vanslyperken," replied Babette, +pushing him back.</p> +<p>"Good heavens! what is the matter?"</p> +<p>Babette then narrated what had passed, and as she was very +prolix, Mr Vanslyperken was a mass of snow on the windward side of +him before she had finished, which she did, by pulling down her +worsted stockings, and showing the wounds which she had received as +her portion in the last night's affray. Having thus given ocular +evidence of the truth of what she had asserted, Babette then +delivered the message of her mistress; to wit, "that until the dead +body of Snarleyyow was laid at the porch where they now stood, he, +Mr Vanslyperken, would never gain re-admission." So saying, and not +feeling it very pleasant to continue a conversation in a +snow-storm, Babette very unceremoniously slammed the door in Mr +Vanslyperken's face, and left him to digest the communication with +what appetite he might. Mr Vanslyperken, notwithstanding the cold +weather, hastened from the door in a towering passion. The +perspiration actually ran down his face, and mingled with the +melting snow. "To be or not to be"--give up the widow or give up +his darling Snarleyyow--a dog whom he loved the more, the more he +was, through him, entangled in scrapes and vexations--a dog whom +every one hated, and therefore he loved--a dog which had not a +single recommendation, and therefore was highly prized--a dog +assailed by all, and especially by that scarecrow Smallbones, to +whom his death would be a victory--it was impossible. But then the +widow--with such lots of guilders in the bank, and such a good +income from the Lust Haus, he had long made up his mind to settle +in possession. It was the haven which, in the vista of his mind, he +had been so long accustomed to dwell upon, and he could not give up +the hope.</p> +<p>Yet one must be sacrificed. No, he could part with neither. "I +have it," thought he; "I will make the widow believe that I have +sacrificed the dog, and then, when I am once in possession, the dog +shall come back again, and let her say a word if she dares; I'll +tame her; and pay her off for old scores."</p> +<p>Such was the determination of Mr Vanslyperken, as he walked back +to the boat. His reverie was, however, broken by his breaking his +nose against a lamp-post, which did not contribute to his +good-humour. "Yes, yes, Frau Vandersloosh, we will see," muttered +Vanslyperken; "you would kill my dog, would you? It's a dog's life +I'll lead you when I'm once secure of you, Madame Vandersloosh. You +cheated me out of my biscuit--we shall see;" and Mr Vanslyperken +stepped into his boat and pulled on board.</p> +<p>On his arrival he found that a messenger had come on board +during his absence, with the letters of thanks from the king's +loving cousins, and with directions that he should return with them +forthwith. This suited the views of Vanslyperken; he wrote a long +letter to the widow, in which he expressed his willingness to +sacrifice everything for her--not only to hang his dog, but to hang +himself if she wished it--lamented his immediate orders for +sailing, and hinted that, on his return, he ought to find her more +favourable. The widow read the letter, and tossed it into the grate +with a Pish! "I was not born yesterday, as the saying is," cried +the widow Vandersloosh.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIII"></a>Chapter XIII</h2> +<h3>In which the ship's company join in a chorus, and the corporal +goes on a cruise.</h3> +<br> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken is in his cabin, with Snarleyyow at his side, +sitting upon his haunches, and looking in his master's face, which +wears an air of anxiety and discomfiture; the fact is, that Mr +Vanslyperken is anything but content; he is angry with the widow, +with the ship's company, with the dog, and with himself; but his +anger towards the dog is softened, for he feels that, if anything +in this world loves him, it is the dog--not that his affection is +great, but as much as the dog's nature will permit; and, at all +events, if the animal's attachment to him is not very strong, still +he is certain that Snarleyyow hates everybody else. It is +astonishing how powerful is the feeling that is derived from habit +and association. Now that the life of his cur was demanded by one, +and, as he was aware, was sought for by many, Vanslyperken put a +value upon him that was extraordinary. Snarleyyow had become a +precious jewel in the eyes of his master, and what he suffered in +anxiety and disappointment from the perverse disposition of the +animal, only endeared him the more. "Yes, my poor dog," +apostrophised the lieutenant, "they would seek your life--nay, that +hard-hearted woman demands that you should be laid--dead at her +porch. All conspire against you, but be not afraid, my dog, your +master will protect you against all."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken patted the animal on the head, which was not a +little swelled from the blows received from the broom of Babette, +and Snarleyyow rubbed his nose against his master's trousers, and +then raised himself up, by putting his paw upon his master's knee. +This brought the dog's head more to the light, and Vanslyperken +observed that one eye was swelled and closed. He examined it, and, +to his horror, found that it had been beaten out by the broom of +Babette. There was no doubt of it, and Mr Vanslyperken's choler was +extreme. "Now, may all the curses of ophthalmia seize the fagot," +cried the lieutenant; "I wish I had her here. My poor, poor dog!" +and Vanslyperken kissed the <i>os frontis</i> of the cur, and what +perhaps had never occurred since childhood, and what nothing else +could have brought about, Mr Vanslyperken <i>wept</i>--actually +wept over an animal, which was not, from any qualification he +possessed, worth the charges of the cord which would have hanged +him. Surely the affections have sometimes a bent towards +insanity.</p> +<p>After a short time the lieutenant rang his bell, and ordered +some warm water, to bathe the dog's eye. Corporal Van Spitter, as +Smallbones was in his hammock, answered the summons, and when he +returned aft with the water, he made known to Mr Vanslyperken the +mutinous expressions of Jemmy Ducks. The lieutenant's small eye +twinkled with satisfaction. "Damned the Admiral, did he!--which one +was it--Portsmouth or Plymouth?"</p> +<p>This, Corporal Van Spitter could not tell; but it was certain +that Jemmy had damned his superior officer; "And moreover," +continued the corporal, "he damned me." Now Mr Vanslyperken had a +great hatred against Jemmy Ducks, because he amused the ship's +company, and he never could forgive any one who made people happy; +moreover, he wanted some object to visit his wrath upon: so he +asked a few more questions, and then dismissed the corporal, put on +his tarpaulin hat, put his speaking-trumpet under his arm, and went +on deck, directing the corporal to appoint one of the marines to +continue to bathe the eye of his favourite.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken looked at the dog-vane, and perceived that the +wind was foul for sailing, and moreover, it would be dark in two +hours, so he determined upon not starting till the next morning, +and then he thought that he would punish Jemmy Ducks; but the +question occurred to him whether he could do so or not. Was James +Salisbury a boatswain by right or not? He received only the pay of +a boatswain's mate, but he was styled boatswain on the books. It +was a nice point, and the balance was even. Mr Vanslyperken's own +wishes turned the scale, and he resolved to flog Jemmy Ducks if he +could. We say, if he could, for as, at that time, tyrannical +oppression on the part of the superiors was winked at, and no +complaints were listened to by the Admiralty, insubordination, +which was the natural result, was equally difficult to get over; +and although on board of the larger vessels, the strong arm of +power was certain to conquer, it was not always the case in the +smaller, where the superiors were not in sufficient force, or +backed by a numerous party of soldiers or marines, for there was +then little difference between the two services. Mr Vanslyperken +had had more than one mutiny on board of the vessels which he had +commanded, and, in one instance, his whole ship's company had taken +the boats and gone on shore, leaving him by himself in the vessel, +preferring to lose the pay due to them, than to remain longer on +board. They joined other ships in the service, and no notice was +taken of their conduct by the authorities. Such was the state of +half discipline at the period we speak of in the service of the +king. The ships were, in every other point, equally badly fitted +out and manned; peculation of every kind was carried to excess, and +those who were in command thought more of their own interest than +of anything else. Ship's stores and provisions were constantly +sold, and the want of the former was frequently the occasion of the +loss of the vessel, and the sacrifice of the whole crew. Such +maladministration is said to be the case even now in some of the +continental navies. It is not until a long series of years have +elapsed, that such regulations and arrangements as are at present +so economically and beneficially administered to our navy, can be +fully established.</p> +<p>Having settled the point so far, Mr Vanslyperken then proceeded +to debate in his own mind, whether he should flog Jemmy in harbour, +or after he had sailed; and feeling that if there was any serious +disturbance on part of the men, they might quit the vessel if in +harbour, he decided that he would wait until he had them in blue +water. His thoughts then reverted to the widow, and, as he turned +and turned again, he clenched his fists in his great-coat pockets, +and was heard by those near him to grind his teeth.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the news had been imparted by the marine, who +came up into the galley for more warm water, that the dog had had +one of his eyes put out, and it was strange the satisfaction which +this intelligence appeared to give to the ship's company. It was +passed round like wildfire, and, when communicated, a beam of +pleasure was soon apparent throughout the whole cutter, and for +this simple reason, that the accident removed the fear arising from +the supposition of the dog being supernatural, for the men argued, +and with some reason, that if you could put out his eye, you could +kill him altogether; for if you could destroy a part, you could +destroy the whole. No one ever heard of the devil's eye being put +out--<i>ergo</i>, the dog could not be a devil, or one of his imps: +so argued a knot of the men in conclave, and Jansen wound up by +observing, "Dat de tog was only a tog after all."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken returned to his cabin and stated his intentions to +his factotum and confidant, Corporal Van Spitter. Now, in this +instance, the corporal did not adhere to that secrecy to which he +was bound, and the only reason we can give is, that he had as great +a dislike to Jemmy Ducks as his lieutenant--for the corporal obeyed +orders so exactly, that he considered it his duty not to have even +an opinion or a feeling contrary to those of his superior officer. +He was delighted at the idea of flogging Jemmy, and communicated +the lieutenant's intention to the most favoured of his marines, who +also told the secret to another, and thus in five minutes, it was +known throughout the cutter, that as soon as they were in blue +water, the little boatswain was to be tied up for having damned the +admiral in a snow-storm. The consequence was, as the evening was +clear, that there was a very numerous assemblage upon the +forecastle of the cutter <i>Yungfrau</i>.</p> +<p>"Flog Jemmy," said Bill Spurey. "Why, Jemmy's a hofficer."</p> +<p>"To be sure he is," observed another; "and quite as good a one +as Vanslyperken himself, though he don't wear brass on his +hat."</p> +<p>"D--n it--what next--heh, Coble?"</p> +<p>Coble hitched up his trousers. "It's my opinion he'll be for +flogging <i>us</i> next, Short," said the old man.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Shall we allow Jemmy to be flogged?"</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>"If it warn't for them 'ere marines, and the lumpy beggar of a +corporal," observed one of the seamen.</p> +<p>"Pish," quoth Jemmy, who was standing among them.</p> +<p>"Won't he make it out mutiny?" observed Spurey.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! it was mutiny to flog de officer," said Jansen.</p> +<p>"That's very true," observed another.</p> +<p>"But Jemmy can't stand against the fat corporal and the six +marines," observed Bill Spurey.</p> +<p>"One up and t'other down, I'll take them all," observed Jemmy, +expanding his chest.</p> +<p>"Yes, but they'll all be down upon you at once, Jemmy."</p> +<p>"If they lays their hands upon an officer," observed Coble, "it +will be mutiny; and then Jemmy calls in the ship's company to +protect him."</p> +<p>"Exactly," observed Jemmy.</p> +<p>"And den, mein Gott, I zettle for de corporal," observed +Jansen.</p> +<p>"I'll play him a trick yet."</p> +<p>"But now, it's no use palavering," observed Spurey; "let's come +to some settlement. Obadiah, give us your opinion as to what's best +to be done."</p> +<p>Hereupon Coble squirted out a modicum of 'baccy juice, wiped his +mouth with the back of his hand, and said, "It's my opinion, that +the best way of getting one man out of a scrape, is to get all the +rest in it. Jemmy, d'ye see, is to be hauled up for singing an old +song, in which a wench very properly damns the admiral for sending +a ship out on a Christmas-day, which, let alone the +unchristian-like act, as you may know, my lads, always turns up on +a Friday, a day on which nothing but being blown out from your +anchors can warrant any vessel sailing on. Now, d'ye see, it may be +mutiny to damn a live admiral, with his flag hoisted--I won't say +but what it is--but this here admiral as Jemmy damned, is no more +alive than a stock fish; and, moreover, it is not Jemmy as damns +him, but Poll; therefore it can be no mutiny. Now, what I consider +best is this, if so be it be against the articles--well, then, +let's all be in for it together, and then Vanslyperken will be +puzzled, and, moreover, it will give him a hint how matters stand, +and he may think better of it; for although we must not have Jemmy +touched, still it's quite as well not to have a regular breeze with +the jollies; for if so be that the <i>Scarborough,</i> or any other +king's ship, be in port when we arrive, Vanslyperken may run under +the guns, and then whip the whole boiling of us off to the Ingies, +and glad to get us, too, and that's no joke. Now, that's my idea of +the matter."</p> +<p>"Well, but you've not told us how we are all to get into it, +Coble."</p> +<p>"More I have--well, that's funny; left out the whole burden of +my song. Why, I consider that we had better now directly sing the +song over again, all in chorus, and then we shall have damned the +admiral a dozen times over; and Vanslyperken will hear us, and say +to himself, 'They don't sing that song for nothing.' What do you +say, Dick Short, you're first hofficer?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Hurrah! my lads, then," cried Bill Spurey; "now then, strike +up, Jemmy, and let us give it lots of mouth."</p> +<p>The song which our readers have already heard from the lips of +Jemmy Ducks, was then sung by the whole of the men, <i>con animo e +strepito</i>, and two verses had been roared out, when Corporal Van +Spitter, in great agitation, presented himself at the cabin door, +where he found Mr Vanslyperken very busy summing up his +accounts.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, sar! dere is de mutiny in de <i>Yungfrau</i>," cried +the corporal.</p> +<p>"Mutiny!" cried Vanslyperken, catching at his sword, which hung +up on the bulk-head.</p> +<p>"Yaw, mynheer--de mutiny--hear now de ship's company."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken lent his ears, when the astounding chorus came +rolling aft through the door of the cabin,</p> +<blockquote>"I'll give you a bit of my mind, old hunks,<br> +Port Admiral--you be d---d"</blockquote> +<p>"Bow, wow, wow," barked Snarleyyow.</p> +<p>"Why, it's the whole ship's company!" cried Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"All but de Corporal Van Spitter, and de six marines," replied +the corporal, raising his hand up to his head <i>a la +militaire</i>.</p> +<p>"Shut the door, corporal. This is indeed mutiny and defiance," +cried Vanslyperken, jumping up from his chair.</p> +<p>"It is von tyfel of a song," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"I must find out the ringleaders, corporal; do you think that +you could contrive to overhear what they say after the song is +over? they will be consulting together, and we might find out +something."</p> +<p>"Mynheer, I'm not very small for to creep in and listen," +replied the corporal, casting his eyes down upon his huge +carcass.</p> +<p>"Are they all forward?" inquired the lieutenant.</p> +<p>"Yes, mynheer--not one soul baft."</p> +<p>"There is the small boat astern; do you think you could get +softly into it, haul it up to the bows, and lie there quite still? +You would then hear what they said, without their thinking of it, +now that it is dark."</p> +<p>"I will try, mynheer," replied the corporal, who quitted the +cabin.</p> +<p>But there were others who condescended to listen as well as the +corporal, and in this instance, every word which had passed, had +been overheard by Smallbones, who had been for some hours out of +his hammock. When the corporal's hand touched the lock of the door, +Smallbones made a hasty retreat.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter went on the quarter-deck, which he found +vacant; he hauled up the boat to the counter, and by degrees +lowered into it his unwieldy carcass, which almost swamped the +little conveyance. He then waited a little, and with difficulty +forced the boat up against the strong flood-tide that was running, +till at last he gained the chesstree of the cutter, when he +shortened in the painter (or rope that held the boat), made it fast +to a ringbolt without being perceived, and there he lay concealed, +not daring to move, for fear of making a noise.</p> +<p>Smallbones had, however, watched him carefully, and as the +corporal sat in the middle thwart, with his face turned aft, +catching but imperfectly the conversation of the men, the lad +separated the painter with a sharp knife, and at the same time +dropping his foot down, gave the bow of the boat a shove off, which +made it round with the stream. The tide was then running five or +six miles an hour, and before the corporal, in the utter darkness, +could make out what had occurred, or raise his heavy carcass to +assist himself, he was whirled away by the current clear of the +vessel, and soon disappeared from the sight of Smallbones, who was +watching his progress.</p> +<p>It is true that the corporal shouted for assistance when he +found himself astern, and also that he was heard by the men, but +Smallbones had leaped among them, and in a few words told them what +he had done; so of course they took no notice, but rubbed their +hands with delight at the idea of the corporal being adrift like a +bear in a washing-tub, and they all prayed for a gale of wind to +come on that he might be swamped, and most of them remained on deck +to hear what Mr Vanslyperken would say and do when the corporal's +absence was discovered. Mr Vanslyperken remained nearly two hours +without sending for the corporal; at last, surprised at not seeing +him return, he went on deck. The men on the forecastle perceiving +this, immediately disappeared gently down the fore-hatchway. Mr +Vanslyperken walked forward and found that every one was, as he +supposed, either in bed or below; for in harbour the corporal kept +one of the watches, and this night it was his first watch. +Vanslyperken looked over the side all round the cutter, and could +see no boat and no Corporal Van Spitter, and it immediately +occurred to him that the corporal must have gone adrift, and he was +very much puzzled how to act. It would be flood-tide for two hours +more, and then the whole ebb would run before it was daylight. +Corporal Van Spitter would traverse the whole Zuyder Zee before +they might find him. Unless he had the fortune to be picked up by +some small craft, he might perish with cold and hunger. He could +not sail without him; for what could he do without Corporal Van +Spitter, his protection, his factotum, his distributer of +provisions, &c. The loss was irreparable, and Mr Vanslyperken, +when he thought of the loss of the widow's favour and the loss of +his favourite, acknowledged with bitterness that his star was not +in the ascendant. After some reflection, Mr Vanslyperken thought +that as nothing could be gained by making the fact known, the +wisest thing that he could do was to go to bed and say nothing +about it, leaving the whole of the ulterior proceedings until the +loss of the boat should be reported to him in the morning. Having +arranged this in his mind, Mr Vanslyperken took two or three turns +more, and then went down and turned in.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIV"></a>Chapter XIV</h2> +<h3>In which some new characters appear on the stage, although the +corporal is not to be heard of.</h3> +<br> +<p>The loss of the boat was reported by Obadiah Coble at daylight, +and Mr Vanslyperken immediately went on deck with his spy-glass to +ascertain if he could distinguish the corporal coming down with the +last of the ebb-tide but he was nowhere to be seen. Mr Vanslyperken +went to the mast-head and surveyed in every direction, but he could +neither see anything like the boat or Corporal Van Spitter. His +anxiety betrayed to the men that he was a party to the corporal's +proceedings, and they whispered among themselves. At last Mr +Vanslyperken came down on deck, and desired Corporal Van Spitter to +be sent to him. Of course, it was soon reported to him that +Corporal Van Spitter was nowhere to be found, and Mr Vanslyperken +pretended to be much astonished. As the lieutenant took it for +granted that the boat had been swept out with the ebb, he +determined to get under weigh in pursuance of his orders, pick up +the corporal, if he could find him, and then proceed to Portsmouth, +which was the port of his destination. Smallbones attended his +master, and was so unusually active that the suspicious Mr +Vanslyperken immediately decided that he had had a finger in the +business; but he took no notice, resolving in his own mind that +Smallbones should some day or another be adrift himself as the +corporal was, but with this difference, that there should be no +search made after him. As soon as the men had finished their +breakfasts, the cutter was got under weigh and proceeded to sea. +During the whole day Vanslyperken cruised in the Zuyder Zee looking +for the boat, but without success, and at last he unwillingly +shaped his course for England, much puzzled and perplexed, as now +he had no one to act as his steward to whom he could confide, or by +whose arrangements he could continue to defraud the ship's company; +and, farther, he was obliged to put off for the present all idea of +punishing Jemmy Ducks, for, without the corporal, the marines were +afraid to move a step in defiance of the ship's company. The +consequence was, that the three days that they were at sea, Mr +Vanslyperken confined himself altogether to his cabin, for he was +not without some fears for his own safety. On his arrival at +Portsmouth, he delivered his letters to the admiral, and received +orders to return to his cruising ground after the smugglers as soon +as he had replaced his lost boat.</p> +<p>We have observed that Mr Vanslyperken had no relations on this +side of the water; but in saying that, we referred to the epoch +that he was in the service previous to the accession of King +William. Since that, and about a year from the time we are now +writing about, he had brought over his mother, whom he had not, +till the peace, seen for years, and had established her in a small +apartment in that part of the town now known by the name of the +Halfway Houses. The old woman lived upon a small pension allowed by +the Dutch court, having been employed for many years in a +subordinate capacity in the king's household. She was said to have +once been handsome, and when young, prodigal of her favours; at +present she was a palsied old woman, bent double with age and +infirmity, but with all her faculties as complete as if she was in +her prime. Nothing could escape her little twinkling bloodshot +eyes, or her acute ear; she could scarcely hobble fifty yards, but +she kept no servant to assist her, for, like her son, she was +avaricious in the extreme. What crime she had committed was not +known, but that something lay heavy on her conscience was certain; +but if there was guilt, there was no repentance, only fear of +future punishment. Cornelius Vanslyperken was her only living +child: she had been twice married. The old woman did not appear to +be very fond of him, although she treated him still as a child, and +executed her parental authority as if he were still in petticoats. +Her coming over was a sort of mutual convenience. She had saved +money, and Vanslyperken wished to secure that, and also have a home +and a person to whom he could trust; and she was so abhorred, and +the reports against her so shocking where she resided, that she was +glad to leave a place where every one, as she passed, would get out +of her way, as if to avoid contamination. Yet these reports were +vague, although hinting at some horrid and appalling crimes. No one +knew what they exactly were, for the old woman had outlived her +contemporaries, and the tradition was imperfect, but she had been +handed down to the next generation as one to be avoided as a +basilisk.</p> +<p>It was to his mother's abode, one room on the second floor, to +which Mr Vanslyperken proceeded as soon as he had taken the +necessary steps for the replacing of the boat. As he ascended the +stairs, the quick ear of the old woman heard his footstep, and +recognised it. It must be observed, that all the conversation +between Vanslyperken and his mother was carried on in Dutch, of +which we, of course, give the translation.</p> +<p>"There you come, Cornelius Vanslyperken; I hear you, and by your +hurried tread you are vexed. Well, why should you not be vexed as +well as your mother, in this world of devils?"</p> +<p>This was a soliloquy of the old woman's before that Vanslyperken +had entered the room, where he found his mother sitting over a few +cinders half ignited in a very small grate. Parsimony would not +allow her to use more fuel, although her limbs trembled as much +from cold as palsy; her nose and chin nearly met; her lips were +like old scars, and of an ashy white; and her sunken hollow mouth +reminded you of a small, deep, dark sepulchre; teeth she had +none.</p> +<p>"How fare you, mother?" said Vanslyperken on entering the +room.</p> +<p>"I'm alive."</p> +<p>"And long may you live, dear mother."</p> +<p>"Ah," replied the woman, as if doubting.</p> +<p>"I am here but for a short time," continued Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Well, child, so much the better; when on board you save money, +on shore you must spend some. Have you brought any with you?"</p> +<p>"I have, mother, which I must leave to your care."</p> +<p>"Give it me then."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken pulled out a bag and laid it on the lap of his +mother, whose trembling hands counted it over.</p> +<p>"Gold, and good gold--while you live, my child, part not with +gold. I'll not die yet--no, no, the devils may pull at me, and grin +at me, but I'm not theirs yet."</p> +<p>Here the old woman paused, and rocked herself in her chair.</p> +<p>"Cornelius, lock this money up and give me the key:--there, now +that is safe, you may talk, if you please, child: I can hear well +enough."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken obeyed; he mentioned all the events of the last +cruise, and his feelings against the widow, Smallbones, and Jemmy +Ducks. The old woman never interrupted him, but sat with her arms +folded up in her apron.</p> +<p>"Just so, just so," said she, at last, when he had done +speaking; "I felt the same, but then you have not the soul to act +as I did. I could do it, but you--you are a coward; no one dared +cross my path, or if they did--ah, well, that's years ago, and I'm +not dead yet."</p> +<p>All this was muttered by the old woman in a sort of half +soliloquy: she paused and continued, "Better leave the boy +alone,--get nothing by it;--the woman--there's work there, for +there's money."</p> +<p>"But she refuses, mother, if I do not destroy the dog."</p> +<p>"Refuses--ah, well--let me see:--can't you ruin her character, +blast her reputation; she is yours and her money too;--then, +then--there will be money and revenge--both good;--but +money--no--yes, money's best. The dog must live, to gnaw the +Jezebel--gnaw her bones--but you, you are a coward--you dare do +nothing."</p> +<p>"What do I fear, mother?"</p> +<p>"Man--the gallows, and death. I fear the last, but I shall not +die yet:--no, no, I <i>will</i> live--I will <i>not</i> die. Ay, +the corporal--lost in Zuyder Zee--dead men tell no tales; and he +could tell many of you, my child. Let the fish fatten on him."</p> +<p>"I cannot do without him, mother."</p> +<p>"A hundred thousand devils!" exclaimed the old mother, "that I +should have suffered such throes for a craven. Cornelius +Vanslyperken, you are not like your mother:--your father, +indeed"</p> +<p>"Who was my father?"</p> +<p>"Silence, child,--there, go away--I wish to be alone with +memory."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken, who knew that resistance or remonstrance would be +useless, and only lead to bitter cursing and imprecation on the +part of the old woman, rose and walked back to the sallyport, where +he slipped into his boat and pulled on board of the +<i>Yungfrau</i>, which lay at anchor in the harbour, about a +cable's length from the shore.</p> +<p>"Here he comes," cried a tall bony woman, with nothing on her +head but a cap with green faded ribbons, who was standing on the +forecastle of the cutter. "Here he comes;--he, the willain, as +would have flogged my Jemmy." This was the wife of Jemmy Ducks, who +lived at Portsmouth, and who, having heard what had taken place, +vowed revenge.</p> +<p>"Silence, Moggy," said Jemmy, who was standing by her.</p> +<p>"Yes, I'll hold my tongue till the time comes, and then I'll +sarve him out, the cheating wagabond."</p> +<p>"Silence, Moggy."</p> +<p>"And as for that 'peaching old Corporal Blubber, I'll <i>Wan +Spitter</i> him if ever he turns up again to blow the gaff against +my own dear Jemmy."</p> +<p>"Silence, Moggy--there's rowed of all, and a marine at your +elbow."</p> +<p>"Let him take that for his trouble," cried Moggy, turning round, +and delivering a swinging box of the ear upon the astonished +marine, who not liking to encounter such an Amazon, made a hasty +retreat down the fore-hatchway.</p> +<p>"So there you are, are you?" continued Moggy, as Vanslyperken +stepped on the deck.</p> +<p>"Silence, Moggy."</p> +<p>"You, that would flog my own dear darling duck--my own +Jemmy."</p> +<p>"Silence! Moggy, will you?" said Jemmy Ducks, in an angry tone, +"or I'll smash your peepers."</p> +<p>"You must climb on the gun to reach them, my little man," +replied his wife. "Well, the more I holds my tongue now, the more +for him when I gets hold on him. Oh! he's gone to his cabin, has +he, to kiss his Snarleyyow:--I'll make <i>smallbones</i> of that +beast afore I'm done with him. Flog my Jemmy--my own, dear, darling +Jemmy--a nasty lean--"</p> +<p>"Go down below, Moggy," said Jemmy Ducks, pushing her towards +the hatchway.</p> +<p>"Snivelling, great-coated--"</p> +<p>"Go below," continued Jemmy, shoving her.</p> +<p>"Ferret-eyed, razor-nosed--"</p> +<p>"Go down below, will you?" cried Jemmy, pushing her near to the +hatchway.</p> +<p>"Herring-gutted, bare-poled--"</p> +<p>"Confound it! go below."</p> +<p>"Cheating rip of a wagabond! Lord, Jemmy, if you a'n't a shoved +me down the hatchway! Well, never mind, my darling, let's go to +supper;" and Moggy caught hold of her husband as she was going +down, and with surprising strength lifted him off his legs and +carried him down in her arms as she would have done a child, much +to the amusement of the men who were standing on the +forecastle.</p> +<p>When it was dusk, a boat dropped alongside of the cutter, and a +man stepped out of it on the deck, when he was met by Obadiah +Coble, who asked him, "What's your pleasure?"</p> +<p>"I must speak with the commander of this vessel directly."</p> +<p>"Wait a moment, and I'll tell him what you say," replied Coble, +who reported the message to Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"What sort of a person is he?" demanded the lieutenant.</p> +<p>"Oh, I don't know,--sort of half-bred, long-shore chap--looks +something between a bumbailey and a bum-boatman."</p> +<p>"Well, you may show him down."</p> +<p>The man, who shortly after entered the cabin, was a short, +punchy little fellow, with a red waistcoat, knee-breeches, and a +round jacket of green cloth. His face was covered with carbuncles, +some of them so large that his small pug-nose was nothing more in +appearance than a larger blotch than the others. His eyes were +small and keen, and his whiskers of a deep red. As soon as he +entered the cabin, he very deliberately locked the door after +him.</p> +<p>"Nothing like making sure," observed he.</p> +<p>"Why, what the devil do you want?" exclaimed Vanslyperken, +rather alarmed; while Snarleyyow walked round and round the thick +calves of the man's legs, growling, and in more than two minds to +have a bite through his blue worsted stockings; and the peculiar +obliquity with which he carried his head, now that he surveyed with +only one eye, was by no means satisfactory.</p> +<p>"Take your cur away, and let us proceed to business, for there +is no time to lose," said the man coolly, taking a chair. "Now +there can be no eavesdropping, I trust, for my life may be +forfeited, if I'm discovered."</p> +<p>"I cannot understand a word of all this," replied Vanslyperken, +much surprised.</p> +<p>"In a few words, do you want to put some five thousand pounds in +your pocket?"</p> +<p>At this question Vanslyperken became attentive. He beat off the +dog, and took a chair by the side of the stranger.</p> +<p>"Ah! interest will always bring civility; so now to the point. +You command this cutter, do you not?"</p> +<p>"I do," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Well, you are about to cruise after the smugglers?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"I can give information of a cargo to be landed on a certain +night worth ten thousand pounds or more."</p> +<p>"Indeed!" replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Yes, and put your boats in such a position that they must seize +the whole."</p> +<p>"I'm very much obliged to you. Will you take something, sir, any +scheedam?" said Vanslyperken, unlocking one of his cupboards, and +producing a large stone bottle, and a couple of glasses, which he +filled.</p> +<p>"This is very good stuff," observed the man; "I'll trouble you +for another glass."</p> +<p>This was one more than Mr Vanslyperken intended; but on second +thoughts, it would make his new acquaintance more communicative, so +another was filled, and as soon as it was filled, it was +emptied.</p> +<p>"Capital stuff!" said he of the rubicund face, shoving his glass +towards Vanslyperken, by way of hint; but the lieutenant would not +take the hint, as his new guest had already swallowed as much as +lasted himself for a week.</p> +<p>"But now," observed Vanslyperken, "where is this cargo to be +seen, and when?"</p> +<p>"That's tellings," replied the man.</p> +<p>"I know that; but you have come to tell, or what the devil +else?" replied Vanslyperken, who was getting angry.</p> +<p>"That's according," replied the man.</p> +<p>"According to what?"</p> +<p>"The snacks," replied the man. "What will you give up?"</p> +<p>"Give up! How do you mean?"</p> +<p>"What is my share to be?"</p> +<p>"Share! you can't share--you're not a king's officer."</p> +<p>"No, but I'm an informer, and that's the same thing."</p> +<p>"Well, depend upon it, I'll behave very liberally."</p> +<p>"How much, I ask?"</p> +<p>"We'll see to that afterwards; something handsome, depend upon +it."</p> +<p>"That won't do. Wish you good-evening, sir. Many thanks for the +scheedam--capital stuff!" and the man rose from his chair.</p> +<p>But Mr Vanslyperken had no intention to let him go; his avarice +induced him at first to try if the man would be satisfied with his +promise to reward him--a promise which would certainly never have +been adhered to.</p> +<p>"Stop! my dear sir, do not be in such a hurry. Take another +glass."</p> +<p>"With pleasure," replied the man, re-seating himself, and +drinking off the scheedam. "That's really prime; I like it better +every time I taste it. Now, then, shall we go to business again? +I'll be plain with you. Half is my conditions, or I don't +inform."</p> +<p>"Half!" exclaimed Vanslyperken; "half of ten thousand pounds? +What, five thousands pounds?"</p> +<p>"Exactly so; half of ten is five, as you say."</p> +<p>"What, give you five thousand pounds?"</p> +<p>"I rather think it is I who offer you five thousand, for the +devil a penny will you get without me. And that I will have, and +this bond you must sign to that effect, or I'm off. You're not the +only vessel in the harbour."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken tried for some time to reduce the terms, but the +man was positive. Vanslyperken then tried if he could not make the +man intoxicated, and thus obtain better terms; but fifteen glasses +of his prime scheedam had no effect further than extorting +unqualified praise as it was poured down, and at last Mr +Vanslyperken unwillingly consented to the terms, and the bond was +signed.</p> +<p>"We must weigh at the ebb," said the man, as he put the bond in +his pocket. "I shall stay on board; we have a moonlight night, and +if we had not, I could find my way out in a yellow fog. Please to +get your boats all ready, manned and armed, for there may be a +sharp tussle."</p> +<p>"But when do they run, and where?" demanded Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"To-morrow night at the back of the Isle. Let me see," continued +the man, taking out his watch; "mercy on me! how time has +flown--that's the scheedam. In a couple of hours we must weigh. +I'll go up and see if the wind holds in the same quarter. If you +please, lieutenant, we'll just drink success to the expedition. +Well, that's prime stuff, I do declare."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XV"></a>Chapter XV</h2> +<h3>In which the crew of the <i>Yungfrau</i> lose a good prize, and +Snarleyyow loses his character.</h3> +<br> +<p>The next morning the <i>Yungfrau</i> was clear of St Helens, and +sounding the eastern part of the Isle of Wight, after which she +made sail into the offing, that she might not be suspected by those +on shore waiting to receive the cargo. The weather was fine, and +the water smooth, and as soon as she was well out, the cutter was +hove-to. In the hurry of weighing, Mr Vanslyperken had not thought, +or had not known perhaps, that the wife of Jemmy Ducks was still on +board, and as he was turning up and down on the quarter-deck, he +perceived her on the forecastle, laughing and talking with the +men.</p> +<p>"What woman is that?" said he to Jansen, who was at the +wheel.</p> +<p>"De frau, mynheer. Dat is de frau of Shimmy Duk."</p> +<p>"How dare she come on board? Send her aft here, marine."</p> +<p>The marine went forward and gave the order; and Jemmy, who +expected a breeze, told his wife to behave herself quietly. His +advice did not, however, appear to be listened to, as will be shown +in the sequel.</p> +<p>"How came you on board, woman?" cried Vanslyperken, looking at +her from top to toe several times, as usual, with his hands in his +great-coat pockets, and his battered speaking-trumpet under his +arm.</p> +<p>"How did I come on board! why, in a boat to be sure," replied +Moggy, determined to have a breeze.</p> +<p>"Why did you not go on shore before the cutter sailed?" replied +Vanslyperken, in an angry tone.</p> +<p>"Why, just for the contrary reason, because there was no +boat."</p> +<p>"Well, I'll just tell you this, if ever I see you on board +again, you'll take the consequences," retorted Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"And I'll just tell you this," replied Moggy; "if ever you come +on shore again you shall take the consequences. I'll have you--I +give you warning. Flog my Jemmy, heh! my own dear darling Jemmy." +Hereupon Moggy held out one arm bent, and with the palm of her +other hand slapped her elbow--"<i>There!</i>" cried she.</p> +<p>What Jemmy's wife meant by this sign, it is impossible for us to +say; but that it was a very significant one was certain, for Mr +Vanslyperken foamed with rage, and all the cutter's crew were +tittering and laughing. It was a species of free-masonry known only +to the initiated at the Sallyport.</p> +<p>"Send the marines aft here. Take this woman below," cried +Vanslyperken. "I shall put all this down to your husband's account, +and give him a receipt in full, depend upon it."</p> +<p>"So you may. Marines, keep off, if you don't wish your heads +broken; and I'll put all this down to your account; and as you say +that you'll pay off on my pet, mark my words, if I don't pay off on +yours--on your nasty cur there. I'll send him to cruise after +Corporal Van Spitter. As sure as I stand here, if you dare to lay a +finger on my Jemmy, I'll kill the brute wherever I find him, and +make him into <i>saussingers</i>, just for the pleasure of eating +him. I'll send you a pound as a present. You marine, don't be a +fool--I can walk forward without your hoffering your arm, and be +d----d to you." So saying, Moggy stalked forward and joined the men +on the forecastle.</p> +<p>"D'ye know much of that strapping lass?" said Mr Vanslyperken's +new acquaintance.</p> +<p>"Not I," replied Vanslyperken, not much pleased at the +observation.</p> +<p>"Well, look out for squalls, she'll be as good as her word. +We'll draw the foresheet, and stand in now, if you please."</p> +<p>It was about dusk, for the days were now short, and the cutter +was eight miles off the land. By the directions of the informer, +for we have no other name to give him, they now bore up and ran +along the island until they were, by his calculations, for it then +was dark, abreast of a certain point close to the Black Gang Chyne. +Here they hove-to, hoisted out their boats, three in number, and +the men were sent in, well armed with pistols and cutlasses. Short +had the charge of one, Coble of the second, the stern-sheets of the +third was occupied by Vanslyperken and the informer. As soon as all +was ready, Jemmy Ducks, who, much against Vanslyperken's wish, was +left in charge of the cutter, received his orders to lie-to where +he was, and when the tide made flood, to stand close in-shore; and +all was prepared for a start, when it occurred to Vanslyperken that +to leave Snarleyyow, after the threat of Jemmy's wife, and the +known animosity of Smallbones, would be his death-warrant. He +determined, therefore, to take him in the boat. The informer +protested against it, but Vanslyperken would not listen to his +protestations. The dog was handed into the boat, and they shoved +off. After they had pulled a quarter of an hour in-shore, they +altered their course, and continued along the coast until the +informer had made out exactly where he was. He then desired the +other two boats to come alongside, told the crews that they must +keep the greatest silence, as where they were about to proceed was +directly under where the smugglers would have a party to receive +the goods, and that the least alarm would prevent them from making +the capture. The boats then pulled in to some large rocks, against +which the waves hoarsely murmured, although the sea was still +smooth, and passing between them, found themselves in a very small +cove, where the water was still, and in which there was deep +water.</p> +<p>The cove was not defended so much by the rocks above water, for +the mouth of it was wide; but there appeared to be a ridge below, +which broke off the swell of the ocean. Neither was it deep, the +beach not being more than perhaps fifty feet from the entrance. The +boats, which had pulled in with muffled oars, here lay quietly for +nearly an hour, when a fog came on and obscured the view of the +offing, which otherwise was extensive, as the moon was at her full, +and had shone bright.</p> +<p>"This is all the better," whispered the informer, "they will +fall into the trap at once. Hark! hist! I hear oars."</p> +<p>They all listened; it was true, the sound of oars was heard, and +the men prepared their arms.</p> +<p>The splash of the oars was now more plain. "Be silent and +ready," whispered the informer, and the whisper was passed round. +In another minute a large lugger-built boat, evidently intended for +sailing as well as pulling, was seen through the fog looming still +larger from the mist, pulling into the cove.</p> +<p>"Silence, and not a word. Let her pass us," whispered the +informer.</p> +<p>The boat approached rapidly--she was within ten fathoms of the +entrance, when Snarleyyow, hearing the sound, darted forward under +the thwarts, and jumping on the bow of the boat, commenced a most +unusual and prolonged baying of Bow wow, bow wow wow wow!</p> +<p>At the barking of the dog the smugglers backed water to stop +their way. They knew that there was no dog with those they expected +to meet, it was therefore clear that the Philistines were at hand. +The dog barked in spite of all attempts to prevent him, and acting +upon this timely warning, the lugger-boat pulled short round, just +as lights were shown from the cliffs to notify an enemy at hand, +for the barking of the dog had not escaped the vigilance of those +on shore, and in a few seconds she disappeared in the mist.</p> +<p>"Blast your cur! Five thousand pounds out of my pocket;" +exclaimed the informer. "I told you so. Chuck him overboard, my +men, for your pockets would have been lined."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken was as savage, and exclaimed, "Give way, my men, +give way; we'll have them yet."</p> +<p>"Send a cow to chase a hare," replied the informer, throwing +himself back in the stern-sheets of the boat. "I know better; you +may save yourself the trouble, and the men the fatigue. May the +devil take you, and your cursed dog with you! Who but a fool would +have brought a dog upon such an occasion? Well, I've lost five +thousand pounds; but there's one comfort, you've lost too. That +will be a valuable beast, if you put all down to his account."</p> +<p>At this moment Vanslyperken was so much annoyed at the loss of +what would have been a fortune to him, that he felt as angry as the +informer. The boats' crew were equally enraged, the dog was +pommelled, and kicked, and passed along from one to the other, +until he at last gained the stern-sheets, and crouched between the +legs of his master, who kicked him away in a rage, and he saved +himself under the legs of the informer, who, seizing a pistol, +struck him with the butt-end of it such a blow, that nothing but +the very thick skull of the dog could have saved him. Snarleyyow +was at a sad discount just then, but he very wisely again sought +protection with his master, and this time he was not noticed.</p> +<p>"What are we to do now?" observed Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Go back again, like dogs with their tails between their legs; +but observe, Mr Lieutenant, you have made me your enemy, and that +is more serious than you think for."</p> +<p>"Silence, sir, you are in a king's boat."</p> +<p>"The king be d--d," replied the informer, falling back sulkily +against the gunnel of the boat.</p> +<p>"Give way, men, and pull on board," said Vanslyperken, in +equally bad humour.</p> +<p>In equally bad humour the men did give way, and in about an hour +were on board of the cutter.</p> +<p>Every one was in a bad humour when the affair was made known; +but Smallbones observed, "that the dog could be no such great +friend, as supposed, of Vanslyperken's, to thwart his interests in +that way; and certainly no imp sent by the devil to his +assistance." The ship's company were consoled with this idea, and +Jansen again repeated, "that the <i>tog</i> was but a tog, after +all."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVI"></a>Chapter XVI</h2> +<h3>In which we change the scene, and the sex of our +performers.</h3> +<br> +<p>We must now leave the cutter to return to Portsmouth, while we +introduce to our readers a new and strange association. We stated +that the boats had been ensconced in a very small cove at the back +of the Isle of Wight. Above these hung the terrific cliff of the +Black Gang Chyne, which, to all appearance, was inaccessible. But +this was not the case, or the smugglers would not have resorted +there to disembark their cargo. At that time, for since that period +much of the cliff has fallen down, and the aspect is much changed, +the rocks rose up from the water nearly perpendicularly, to the +height of fifty or sixty feet. At that height there was a flat of +about one hundred feet square in front of a cave of very great +depth. The flat, so called in contradistinction to the +perpendicular cliff, descended from the seaward to the cave, so +that the latter was not to be seen either by vessels passing by, or +by those who might be adventurous enough to peep over the ridge +above; and fragments of rocks, dispersed here and there on this +flat, or platform, induced people to imagine that the upper cliff +was a continuation of the lower. The lower cliff, on which this +platform in front of the cave was situated, was on the eastern side +as abrupt as on that fronting the sea to the southward; but on the +western side, its height was decreased to about fifteen feet, which +was surmounted by a ladder removed at pleasure. To this means of +access to the cave there was a zigzag path, used only by the +smugglers, leading from the small cove, and another much more +tedious, by which they could transport their goods to the summit of +this apparently inaccessible mass of rocks. The cave itself was +large, and with several diverging galleries, most of which were +dry; but in one or two there was a continual filtering of clear +pure water through the limestone rock, which was collected in pits +dug for that purpose on the floor below; these pits were always +full of water, the excess being carried off by small open drains +which trickled over the eastern side of the platform. Some +attention to comfort had been paid by the inhabitants of these +caverns, which were portioned off here and there by sail-cloth and +boards, so as to form separate rooms and storehouses. The cookery +was carried on outside at the edge of the platform nearest the sea, +under an immense fragment of rock, which lay at the very edge; and +by an ingenious arrangement of smaller portions of the rock neither +the flame was to be distinguished, nor was the smoke, which was +divided and made to find its passage through a variety of fissures, +never in such a volume as to be supposed to be anything more than +the vapours drawn up by the heat of the sun.</p> +<p>In this abode there were at least thirty people residing, and +generally speaking, it might be called a convent, for it was +tenanted by women. Their husbands, who brought over the cargoes, +returning immediately in their boat to the opposite shore, for two +reasons; one, that their boats could only land in particular +seasons, and could never remain in the cove without risk of being +dashed to pieces; and the other, that the absence of all men +prevented suspicion; the whole of the interior smuggling being +carried on by the other sex, who fearlessly showed themselves on +every part of the island, and purchased their necessary supplies of +provisions here and there, without exciting any misgivings as to +the nature of their employment. A few isolated cottages, not far +from the beetling brow of the cliff above, were their supposed +abodes; but no one ever troubled them with a visit, and if they +did, and found that they could gain no admittance, they imagined +that the occupants had locked their doors for security, while they +were busied with their labours in the field. Accustomed to climb up +the tortuous path from the cave to the summit, the women would, on +the darkest night, carry up their burdens and deposit them in the +cottages above, until they had an opportunity of delivering their +contraband articles into the hands of their agents; and this +traffic had been carried on for many years, without the government +or excise having the slightest suspicion by what means the +smuggling was accomplished. As we before observed, the great +articles in request, and which were now smuggled from France, were +alamodes and lutestrings. The attention of government had been +called to check the admission of these goods, but hitherto their +attempts had not been attended with much success.</p> +<p>At the grey of the morning after the attempt to seize the +smugglers had been defeated by the instrumentality of Snarleyyow, +upon the top of the immense fragment of the rock which we have +described as lying upon the sea-edge of the platform, was perched a +fair, slight-made little girl, of about twelve years of age. She +was simply clad in a short worsted petticoat and bodice of a dark +colour; her head was bare, and her hair fluttered with the breeze; +her small feet, notwithstanding the severity of the weather, were +also naked, and her short petticoat discovered her legs half way up +to the knee. She stood there, within a few inches of the precipice +below, carelessly surveying the waves as they dashed over the +rocks, for she was waiting until the light would enable her to see +further on the horizon. By those who might have leaned over the +ridge above, as well as by those who sailed below, she might have +been taken, had she been seen to move, for some sea bird reposing +after a flight, so small was her frame in juxtaposition with the +wildness and majesty of nature which surrounded her on every side. +Accustomed from infancy to her mode of life, and this unusual +domicile, her eye quailed not, nor did her heart beat quicker, as +she looked down into the abyss below, or turned her eyes up to the +beetling mass of rock which appeared, each moment, ready to fall +down and overwhelm her. She passed her hand across her temples to +throw back the hair which the wind had blown over her eyes, and +again scanned the distance as the sun's light increased, and the +fog gradually cleared away.</p> +<p>"A sharp look out, Lilly, dear; you've the best eyes among us, +and we must have a clue from whence last night's surprise +proceeded."</p> +<p>"I can see nothing yet, mother; but the fog is driving back +fast."</p> +<p>"It's but a cheerless night your poor father had, to pull twice +across the channel, and find himself just where he was. God speed +them, and may they be safe in port again by this time."</p> +<p>"I say so too, mother, and amen."</p> +<p>"D'ye see nothing, child?"</p> +<p>"Nothing, dear mother; but it clears up fast to the eastward, +and the sun is bursting out of the bank, and I think I see +something under the sun."</p> +<p>"Watch well, Lilly," replied the woman, who was throwing more +wood on the fire.</p> +<p>"I see a vessel, mother. It is a sloop beating to the +eastward."</p> +<p>"A coaster, child?"</p> +<p>"No, mother, I think not. No, it is no coaster--it is that +king's vessel, I think, but the glare of the sun is too great. When +he rises higher I shall make it out better."</p> +<p>"Which do you mean, the king's cutter on the station, the +<i>Yungfrau</i>?"</p> +<p>"Yes, mother," replied Lilly, "it is. I'm sure it is the +<i>Yungfrau</i>."</p> +<p>"Then it is from her that the boats came last night. She must +have received some information. There must be treachery somewhere; +but we'll soon find that out."</p> +<p>It may appear singular that Lilly could speak so positively as +to a vessel at a great distance; but it must be remembered that she +had been brought up to it, nearly all her life. It was her +profession, and she had lived wholly with seamen and seamen's +wives, which will account for her technical language being so +correct. What Lilly said was true; it was the <i>Yungfrau</i>, +which was beating up to regain her port, and having to stem a +strong ebb-tide during the night, had not made very great +progress.</p> +<p>"There are three other vessels in the offing," said Lilly, +looking round, "a ship and two brigs, both going down channel:" and +as she said this, the little thing dropped lightly from rock to +rock till she stood by her mother, and commenced rubbing her hands +before the now blazing fire.</p> +<p>"Nancy must go over to Portsmouth," observed the mother, "and +find out all about this. I hardly know whom to suspect; but let +Nancy alone, she'll ferret out the truth--she has many gossips at +the Point. Whoever informed against the landing, must know of this +cave."</p> +<p>But we must introduce the mother of Lilly to the reader. She was +a tall, finely-featured woman, her arms beautifully moulded, and +bare. She was rather inclined to be stout, but her figure was +magnificent. She was dressed in the same costume as her daughter, +with the exception of a net worsted shawl of many colours over her +shoulders. Her appearance gave you the idea that she was never +intended for the situation which she was now in; but of that +hereafter. As the reader may have observed, her language was +correct, as was that of the child, and proved that she had not only +been educated herself, but had paid attention to the bringing up of +Lilly. The most perfect confidence appeared to subsist between the +mother and daughter: the former treated her child as her equal, and +confided everything to her; and Lilly was far advanced beyond her +age in knowledge and reflection; her countenance beamed with +intelligence; perhaps a more beautiful and more promising creature +never existed.</p> +<p>A third party now appeared from the cave; although not in +canonicals, his dress indicated his profession of a priest. He +approached the mother and daughter with, "Peace be with you, +ladies."</p> +<p>"You forget, good father," replied the elder of the females, "my +name is Alice--nothing more."</p> +<p>"I crave pardon for my forgetting who you were. I will be more +mindful. Well, then, Alice--yet that familiar term sounds +strangely, and my tongue will not accustom itself, even were I to +remain here weeks, instead of but two days--I was about to say, +that the affair of last night was most untoward. My presence is +much wished for, and much required, at St Germains. It was +unfortunate, because it proves that we have traitors among us +somewhere; but of that, and of the whole affair, I will have +cognizance in a few days."</p> +<p>"And should you discover the party?"</p> +<p>"His doom is sealed."</p> +<p>"You are right."</p> +<p>"In so important and so righteous a cause, we must not stop at +aught necessary to secure our purpose. But, tell me, think you that +your husband will soon be here again?"</p> +<p>"I should think not to-night, but to-morrow or the next he will +be off; and if we can show the signals of surety he will land, if +the weather will permit."</p> +<p>"'Tis indeed time that I were over. Something might now be +done."</p> +<p>"I would so too, father; it is a tedious time that I have spent +here."</p> +<p>"And most unfitting for you, were it not that you laboured in a +great cause; but it must soon be decided, and then that fair lily +shall be transplanted, like a wild flower from the rock, and be +nurtured in a conservatory."</p> +<p>"Nay, for that, the time is hardly come. She is better here, as +you see her, father, than in the chambers of a court. For her sake +I would still remain; but for my husband's sake, and the perils he +encounters, I wish that one way or the other it were decided."</p> +<p>"Had there been faith in that Italian, it had been so before +how," replied the priest, grinding his teeth, and turning away.</p> +<p>But the conversation was closed at the appearance of some women +who came out of the cave. They were variously clothed, some +coarsely, and others with greater pretensions to finery: they +brought with them the implements for cooking, and appeared +surprised at the fire being already lighted. Among them was one +about twenty-five years of age, and although more faded than she +ought to have been at that early age, still with pretensions to +almost extreme beauty. She was more gaily dressed than the others, +and had a careless, easy air about her, which suited to her +handsome, slight figure. It was impossible to see her without being +interested, and desiring to know who she was.</p> +<p>This person was the Nancy mentioned by Alice in her conversation +with Lilly. Her original name had been Nancy Dawson, but she had +married one of the smugglers, of the name of Corbett. Her original +profession, previous to her marriage, we will not dwell upon; +suffice it to say, that she was the most celebrated person of that +class in Portsmouth, both for her talent and extreme beauty. Had +she lived in the days of King Charles II., and had he seen her, she +would have been more renowned than ever was Eleanor Gwynne; even as +it was, she had been celebrated in a song, which has not been lost +to posterity. After a few years of dissipated life, Nancy reformed, +and became an honest woman, and an honest wife. By her marriage +with the smuggler, she had become one of the fraternity, and had +taken up her abode in the cave, which she was not sorry to do, as +she had become too famous at Portsmouth to remain there as a +married woman. Still she occasionally made her appearance, and to a +certain degree kept up her old acquaintances, that she might +discover what was going on--very necessary information for the +smugglers. She would laugh, and joke, and have her repartee as +usual, but in other points she was truly reformed. Her acquaintance +was so general, and she was such a favourite, that she was of the +greatest use to the band, and was always sent over to Portsmouth +when her services were required. It was supposed there, for she had +reported it, that she had retired to the Isle of Wight, and lived +there with her husband, who was a pilot, and that she came over to +Portsmouth occasionally, to inquire after her old friends, and upon +business.</p> +<p>"Nancy Corbett, I must speak to you," said Alice. "Come aside: I +wish you, Nancy, to go over immediately. Can you go up, do you +think, without being perceived?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Mistress Alice, provided there is no one to see me."</p> +<p>"The case is so important, that we must run the risk."</p> +<p>"We've run cargoes of more value than that."</p> +<p>"But still you must use discretion, Nancy."</p> +<p>"That's a commodity that I've not been very well provided with +through life; but I have my wits in its stead."</p> +<p>"Then you must use your wit, Nancy."</p> +<p>"It's like an old knife, well worn, but all the sharper."</p> +<p>Alice then entered into a detail of what she would find out, and +gave her instructions to Nancy. The first point was, to ascertain +whether it was the cutter which had received the information; the +second, who the informer was.</p> +<p>Nancy, having received her orders, tied the strings of her +bonnet, caught up a handful of the victuals which were at the fire, +and bidding the others a laughing good-bye, with her mouth full, +and one hand also occupied, descended the ladder, previously to +mounting the cliff.</p> +<p>"Nancy," said Lilly, who stood by the ladder, "bring me some +pens."</p> +<p>"Yes, dear; will you have them alive, or dead?"</p> +<p>"Nonsense, I mean some quills."</p> +<p>"So do I, Miss Lilly; but if you want them dead, I shall bring +them in my pocket--if alive, I shall bring the goose under my +arm."</p> +<p>"I only want the quills, Nancy," replied Lilly, laughing.</p> +<p>"And I think I shall want the feathers of them before I'm at the +top," replied Nancy, looking up at the majestic cliff above her. +"Good-bye, Miss Lilly."</p> +<p>Nancy Corbett again filled her handsome mouth with bread, and +commenced her ascent. In less than a quarter of an hour she had +disappeared over the ridge.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVII"></a>Chapter XVII</h2> +<h3>In which there is a great deal of plotting, and a little +execution.</h3> +<br> +<p>We will follow Nancy Corbett for the present. Nancy gained the +summit of the cliff, and panting for breath, looked round to +ascertain if there was any one in sight, but the coast was clear: +she waited a minute to recover herself a little, and then set off +at a brisk pace in the direction of the hamlet of Ryde, which then +consisted of a few fishermen's huts. It was an hour and a-half +before she gained this place, from whence she took a boat, and was +safely landed at the Point. The fisherman who brought her over was +an old acquaintance of Nancy's, and knew that he would have to +remain to take her back, but he was well paid for his trouble, and +it was a lucky day for him when Nancy required his services. The +<i>Yungfrau</i> had rounded St Helen's, and was standing into +Spithead, when Nancy landed, and the first door at which she +knocked was at the lodgings of Moggy Salisbury, with whom she was +well acquainted, and from whom she expected to be able to gain +information. On inquiry, she found that Moggy had not come on shore +from the cutter, which had sailed during the night very +unexpectedly.</p> +<p>This information pleased Nancy, as Moggy would in all +probability be able to give her important information, and she took +up her quarters in Moggy's apartments, anxiously awaiting her +arrival, for Nancy was not at all desirous to be seen. In due time +the cutter was again anchored in the harbour, and the first order +of Mr Vanslyperken's was, that Moggy Salisbury should be sent on +shore, which order was complied with, and she left the vessel, +vowing vengeance upon the lieutenant and his dog. The informer also +hastened into a boat, and pulled on shore on the Gosport side, with +a very significant farewell look at Mr Vanslyperken. Moggy landed, +and hastened, full of wrath, to her own lodgings, where she found +Nancy Corbett waiting for her. At first she was too full of her own +injuries, and the attempt to flog her dear darling Jemmy, to allow +Nancy to put in a word. Nancy perceived this, and allowed her to +run herself down like a clock; and then proposed that they should +send for some purl and have a cosy chat, to which Moggy agreed, and +as soon as they were fairly settled, and Moggy had again delivered +herself of her grievances, Nancy put the requisite questions, and +discovered what the reader is already acquainted with. She +requested, and obtained a full description of the informer, and his +person was too remarkable, for Nancy not to recognise immediately +who it was.</p> +<p>"The villain!" cried she; "why, if there was any man in whom we +thought we could trust, it was--him;" for Nancy had, in her +indignation, nearly pronounced his name.</p> +<p>"Nancy," said Moggy, "you have to do with the smugglers, I know, +for your husband is one of them, if report says true. Now, I've +been thinking, that the cutter is no place for my Jemmy, and that +with this peak-nosed villain, he will always be in trouble. Tell +me, will they let him in, if he volunteers."</p> +<p>"I can't exactly say, Moggy; but this I can tell you, that you +may be very useful to them in giving us information, which you may +gain through your husband."</p> +<p>"Ay, and not only through my husband, but from everybody on +board the cutter. I'm yours, Nancy--and here's my hand on +it--you'll see what I can do. The wagabond, to attempt to flog my +own dear, darling duck--my own Jemmy. Only tell me what you want to +know, and if I don't ferret it out, my name's not Moggy. But hear +me, Nancy; I join you now hand and heart, though I gain nothing by +it; and when you choose to have him, I'll bring you my little duck +of a husband, and he will be worth his weight in gold, though I say +it that shouldn't say it."</p> +<p>"Thanky, Moggy; but you shall not work for nothing;" and Nancy +laid a gold Jacobus on the table.</p> +<p>"This for your present information. Be secret and cautious, and +no gossiping, and you'll find that you shall have all you wish, and +be no loser in the bargain. And now, good-night--I must be away. +You shall see me soon, Moggy; and remember what I have told +you."</p> +<p>Moggy was astonished at the sight of the gold Jacobus, which she +took up and examined as Nancy departed. "Well," thought she, "but +this smuggling must be a pretty consarn; and as sure as gold is +gold, my Jemmy shall be a smuggler."</p> +<p>Nancy turned down the street, and passed rapidly on, until she +was clear of the fortifications, in the direction of South Sea +Beach. A few scattered cottages were at that time built upon the +spot. It was quite dark as she passed the lines, and held her way +over the shingle. A man was standing alone, whose figure she +recognised. It was the very person that she wished to find. Nancy +watched him for awhile, and observed him pull out a paper, tear it +in two, and throw it down with gesticulations of anger and +indignation. She then approached.</p> +<p>"What's o'clock?" said Nancy.</p> +<p>"Do you want the right time?" replied the man.</p> +<p>"To a minute," replied Nancy, who, finding that the password was +given correctly, now stopped, and faced the other party. "Is that +you, Cornbury?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Nancy," replied the man, who, was the same person who went +on board of the cutter to give the information.</p> +<p>"I have been seeking you," replied Nancy. "There has been some +information laid, and the boats were nearly surprised. Alice +desires that you will find out what boats entered the cove, whom +they belonged to, and, if possible, how they obtained the +information."</p> +<p>"Boats nearly surprised!--you don't say so," replied Cornbury, +with affected astonishment. "This must indeed be looked to. Have +you no idea--"</p> +<p>"None," replied Nancy. "There was no vessel to be seen the next +morning--the fog was too thick. Have you seen Wahop?"</p> +<p>"No; I thought he was on the Isle."</p> +<p>"He ought to have been, but has not come; I have been at the +oak-tree for three nights running. It's very strange. Do you think +that he can have played false?"</p> +<p>"I never much liked the man," replied Cornbury.</p> +<p>"Nor I either," replied Nancy; "but I must go now, for I must be +back at the crags before daylight. Find out what you can, and let +us know as soon as possible. I shall be over again as soon as the +cargo is run; if you find out anything, you had better come +to-morrow night."</p> +<p>"I will," replied Cornbury; and the parties separated.</p> +<p>"Traitor," muttered Nancy, when she was once more alone. "If he +comes, it shall be to his death;" and Nancy stooped down, picked up +the pieces of paper which Cornbury had torn up, and put them in the +basket she carried on her arm.</p> +<p>It will be observed that Nancy had purposely thrown out hints +against Wahop, to induce Cornbury to believe that he was not +suspected. Her assertion that Wahop was not on the island was +false. He had been three days at Ryde, according to the +arrangement. The bait took. Cornbury perceiving that the suspicion +was against Wahop, thought that he could not do better than to +boldly make his appearance at the cave, which would remove any +doubts as to his own fidelity.</p> +<p>Nancy hastened down to the Point, and returned that night to +Ryde, from whence she walked over to the cave, and was there before +daylight. She communicated to Alice the intelligence which she had +received from Moggy Salisbury, and the arrangements she had +proposed to her, by which the motions of the cutter could be +known.</p> +<p>"Is that woman to be trusted, think you, Nancy?" inquired +Alice.</p> +<p>"Yes, I believe sincerely she may be. I have known her long; and +she wishes her husband to join us."</p> +<p>"We must reflect upon it. She may be most useful. What is the +character of the officer who commands the vessel?"</p> +<p>"A miser, and a coward. He is well known--neither honour nor +conscience in him."</p> +<p>"The first is well, as we may act upon it, but the second +renders him doubtful. You are tired, Nancy, and had better lie down +a little."</p> +<p>Nancy Corbett delivered the pens to Lilly, and then took the +advice of her superior. The day was remarkably fine, and the water +smooth, so that the boats were expected that night. At dusk two +small lights, at even distances, were suspended from the cliff, to +point out to the boats that the coast was free, and that they might +land. Alice, however, took the precaution to have a watch on the +beach, in case of any second surprise being attempted; but of this +there was little fear, as she knew from Nancy, that all the +cutter's boats were on board when she entered the harbour. Lilly, +who thought it a delight to be one moment sooner in her father's +arms, had taken the watch on the beach, and there the little girl +remained perched upon a rock, at the foot of which the waves now +only sullenly washed, for the night was beautifully calm and clear. +To a passer on the ocean she might have been mistaken for a mermaid +who had left her watery bower to look upon the world above.</p> +<p>What were the thoughts of the little maiden as she remained +there fixed as a statue? Did she revert to the period at which her +infant memory could retrace silken hangings and marble halls, +visions of splendour, dreamings of courtly state, or was she +thinking of her father, as her quick ear caught the least swell of +the increasing breeze? Was she, as her eye was fixed as if +attempting to pierce the depths of the ocean, wondering at what +might be its hidden secrets, or as they were turned towards the +heavens, bespangled with ten thousand stars, was she meditating on +the God who placed them there? Who can say?--but that that +intellectual face bespoke the mind at work is certain, and from one +so pure and lovely could emanate nothing but what was innocent and +good.</p> +<p>But a distant sound falls upon her ear; she listens, and by its +measured cadence knows that it is the rowers in a boat: nearer it +comes and more distinct, and now her keen eye detects the black +mass approaching in the gloom of night. She starts from the rock +ready to fly up to the cave to give notice of an enemy, or, if +their anticipated friends, to fly into the arms of her father. But +her alarm is over, she perceives that it is the lugger, the boat +dashes into the cove, and the first who lands strains her to his +bosom.</p> +<p>"My dearest Lilly, is all well?"</p> +<p>"Yes, all is well, father; but you are well come."</p> +<p>"Run up, dearest, and let the women be ready to assist. We have +that here which must soon be out of sight. Is the Father Innis +here?"</p> +<p>"Since Thursday last."</p> +<p>"'Tis well, dear; you may go. Quick, my lads, and beach the +cargo:--see to it, Ramsay; I must at once unto the cave." Having +given these directions, the father of Lilly commenced his ascent +over the rough and steep rocks which led up to the cavern, anxious +to obtain what information could be imparted relative to the +treachery which had led to their narrow escape two nights +preceding.</p> +<p>He was met by Alice, who cordially embraced him; but he appeared +anxious to release himself from her endearments, that he might at +once enter upon matters to him of more serious importance. "Where +is the Father Innis, my dear?" said he, disengaging himself from +her arms.</p> +<p>"He sleeps, Robert, or, at least, he did just now, but probably +he will rise now that you are come. But in the meantime, I have +discovered who the traitor is."</p> +<p>"By all the saints, he shall not escape my vengeance!"</p> +<p>Alice then entered into the particulars related by Nancy +Corbett, and already known to the reader. She had just concluded +when Father Innis made his appearance from the cave.</p> +<p>"Welcome, thrice welcome, holy father."</p> +<p>"Welcome, too, my son. Say, do we start to-night?"</p> +<p>"Not till to-morrow night," replied the husband of Alice, who +having ascertained that in all probability Cornbury would come that +night, determined, at all risks, to get possession of him: "we +could well be over before daylight, and with your precious person, +I must not risk too much. You are anxiously expected."</p> +<p>"And I have important news," replied the priest; "but I will not +detain you now; I perceive that your presence is wanted by your +men."</p> +<p>During this colloquy the women had descended the ladder, and had +been assisting the men to carry up the various packages of which +the boat's cargo consisted, and they now awaited directions as to +the stowing away.</p> +<p>"Ramsay," said the leader, "we do not return to-night; take the +men, and contrive to lift the boat up on the rocks, so that she may +not be injured."</p> +<p>An hour elapsed before this was effected, and then the leader, +as well as the rest of the smugglers, retired to the cave to +refresh themselves with sleep after their night of fatigue. As +usual, one woman kept watch, and that woman was Nancy Corbett. The +ladder had been hauled up, and she was walking up and down, with +her arms under a shawl, to a sort of stamping trot, for the weather +was frosty, when she heard a low whistle at the west side of the +flat.</p> +<p>"Oh, ho! have I lured you, you traitorous villain?" muttered +Nancy, "you come in good time:" and Nancy walked to the spot where +the ladder was usually lowered down, and looked over. Although the +moon had risen, it was too dark on that side of the platform to +distinguish more than that there was a human form, who repeated the +whistle.</p> +<p>"What's o'clock?" said Nancy, in a low tone.</p> +<p>"Do you want the right time to a minute?" replied a voice, which +was recognised as Cornbury's. Nancy lowered down the ladder, and +Cornbury ascended the platform.</p> +<p>"I am glad you are come, Cornbury. Have you heard anything of +Wahop?"</p> +<p>"No one has seen or heard of him," replied the man, "but I have +found out what boats they were. Did the lugger come over +to-night?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Nancy, "but I must go in and let Mistress Alice +know that you are here."</p> +<p>Nancy's abrupt departure was to prevent Cornbury from asking if +the boat had remained, or returned to the French coast; for she +thought it not impossible that the unusual circumstance of the boat +remaining, might induce him to suppose that his treachery had been +discovered, and to make his immediate escape, which he, of course, +could have done, and given full information of the cave and the +parties who frequented it.</p> +<p>Nancy soon re-appeared, and familiarly taking the arm of +Cornbury, led him to the eastern side of the platform, asking him +many questions. As soon as he was there, the leader of the gang, +followed by half a dozen of his men, rushed out and secured him. +Cornbury now felt assured that all was discovered, and that his +life was forfeited. "Bind him fast," said the leader, "and keep +watch over him;--his case shall soon be disposed of. Nancy, you +will call me at daylight."</p> +<p>When Cornbury had been secured, the men returned into the cave, +leaving one with a loaded pistol to guard him. Nancy still remained +on the watch.</p> +<p>"Nancy Corbett," said Cornbury, "why am I treated thus?"</p> +<p>"Why?" replied Nancy, with scorn; "ask yourself why. Do you +think that I did not know when I sought you at the beach that you +had sailed in the cutter, had brought the boats here, and that if +it had not been for the lieutenant taking his dog in the boat, and +its barking, you would have delivered us all into the hands of the +Philistines?--wretched traitor."</p> +<p>"D--n!" muttered Cornbury; "then it is to you, you devil, that I +am indebted for being entrapped this way."</p> +<p>"Yes, to me," replied Nancy, with scorn. "And, depend upon it, +you will have your deserts before the sun is one hour in the +heavens."</p> +<p>"Mistress Nancy, I must beg you to walk your watch like a lady, +and not to be corresponding with my prisoner anyhow, whether you +talk raison or traison, as may happen to suit your convanience," +observed the man who was guard over Cornbury.</p> +<p>"Be aisy, my jewel," replied Nancy, mimicking the Irishman, "and +I'll be as silent as a magpie, anyhow. And, Mr Fitzpatrick, you'll +just be pleased to keep your two eyes upon your prisoner, and not +be staring at me, following me up and down, as you do, with those +twinklers of yours."</p> +<p>"A cat may look at a king, Mistress Nancy, and no harm done +either."</p> +<p>"You forget, Mr Fitzpatrick," replied Nancy, "that I am now a +modest woman."</p> +<p>"More's the pity, Mrs Nancy, I wish you'd forget it too, and I +dying of love for you."</p> +<p>Nancy walked away to the end of the platform to avoid further +conversation. The day was now dawning, and as, by degrees, the +light was thrown upon the face of Cornbury, it was strange to +witness how his agitation and his fear had changed all the ruby +carbuncles on his face to a deadly white. He called to Nancy +Corbett in a humble tone once or twice as she passed by in her +walk, but received no reply further than a look of scorn. As soon +as it was broad daylight, Nancy went into the cave to call up the +leader.</p> +<p>In a few minutes he appeared, with the rest of the +smugglers.</p> +<p>"Philip Cornbury," said he, with a stern and unrelenting +countenance, "you would have betrayed us for the sake of +money."</p> +<p>"It is false," replied Cornbury.</p> +<p>"False, is it?--you shall have a fair trial. Nancy Corbett, give +your evidence before us all."</p> +<p>Nancy recapitulated all that had passed.</p> +<p>"I say again, that it is false," replied Cornbury. "Where is the +woman whom she states to have told her this? This is nothing more +than assertion, and I say again, it is false. Am I to be condemned +without proofs? Is my life to be sacrificed to the animosity of +this woman, who wishes to get rid of me, because--"</p> +<p>"Because what?" interrupted Nancy.</p> +<p>"Because I was too well acquainted with you before your +marriage, and can tell too much."</p> +<p>"Now, curses on you, for a liar as well as a traitor!" exclaimed +Nancy. "What I was before I was married is well known; but it is +well known, also, that I pleased my fancy, and could always choose. +I must, indeed, have had a sorry taste to be intimate with a +blotched wretch like you. Sir," continued Nancy, turning to the +leader, "it is false, and whatever may be said against me on other +points, Nancy Dawson, or Nancy Corbett, was never yet so vile as to +assert a lie. I put it to you, sir, and to all of you, is not my +word sufficient in this case?"</p> +<p>The smugglers nodded their heads in assent.</p> +<p>"And, now that is admitted, I will prove his villany and +falsehood. Philip Cornbury, do you know this paper?" cried Nancy, +taking out of her bosom the agreement signed by Vanslyperken, which +she had picked up on the night when Cornbury had torn it up and +thrown it away. "Do you know this paper, I ask you? Read it, sir," +continued Nancy, handing it over to the leader of the +smugglers.</p> +<p>The paper was read, and the inflexible countenance of the leader +turned towards Cornbury,--who saw his doom.</p> +<p>"Go in, Nancy Corbett, and let no women appear till all is +over."</p> +<p>"Liar!" said Nancy, spitting on the ground as she passed by +Cornbury.</p> +<p>"Bind his eyes, and lead him to the western edge," said the +leader.</p> +<p>"Philip Cornbury, you have but few minutes to live. In mercy, +you may see the holy father, if you wish it."</p> +<p>"I'm no d----d papist," replied Cornbury, in a sulky tone.</p> +<p>"Lead him on then."</p> +<p>Cornbury was led to the western edge of the flat, where the +cliff was most high and precipitous, and then made to kneel +down.</p> +<p>"Fitzpatrick," said the leader, pointing to the condemned.</p> +<p>Fitzpatrick walked up to the kneeling man with his loaded +pistol, and then the others, who had led Cornbury to the edge of +the cliff, retired.</p> +<p>Fitzpatrick cocked the lock.</p> +<p>"Would you like to say, 'God have mercy on my treacherous sinful +sowl,' or anything short and sweet like that?" said Fitzpatrick; +"if so, I'll wait a couple of seconds more for your convanience, +Philip Cornbury."</p> +<p>Cornbury made no reply. Fitzpatrick put the pistol to his ear, +the ball whizzed through his brain, the body half raised itself +from its knees with a strong muscular action, and then toppled over +and disappeared down the side of the precipice.</p> +<p>"It's to be hoped that the next time you lave this world, Master +Cornbury, it will be in a purliter sort of manner. A civil question +demands a civil answer anyhow," said Fitzpatrick, coolly rejoining +the other men.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVIII"></a>Chapter XVIII</h2> +<h3>The whole of which has been fudged out of the History of +England,<br> +and will therefore be quite new to the majority of our +readers.</h3> +<br> +<p>Were we in want of materials for this eventful history, we have +now a good opportunity for spinning out our volumes; but, so far +from this being the case, we hardly know how to find space for what +it is now absolutely necessary that the reader should be acquainted +with. Our friends may probably recollect, when we remind them of +the fact, that there was a certain king, James II., who sat upon +our throne, and who was a very good Catholic--that he married his +daughter, Mary, to one William of Orange, who, in return for +James's kindness in giving him his daughter, took away from him his +kingdom, on the plea, that if he was a bad son-in-law, at all +events, he was a sound Protestant. They may also recollect, that +the exiled king was received most hospitably by the grand monarque, +Louis XIV., who gave him palaces, money, and all that he required, +and, moreover, gave him a fine army and fleet to go to Ireland and +recover his kingdom, bidding him farewell with this equivocal +sentence, "That the best thing he, Louis, could wish to him was, +never to see his face again." They may further recollect, that King +James and King William met at the battle of the Boyne, in which the +former was defeated, and then went back to St Germains and spent +the rest of his life in acts of devotion and plotting against the +life of King William. Now, among other plots real and pretended, +there was one laid in 1695, to assassinate King William on his way +to Richmond; this plot was revealed, many of the conspirators were +tried and executed, but the person who was at the head of it, a +Scotchman, of the name of Sir George Barclay, escaped. In the year +1696, a bill was passed, by which Sir George Barclay and nine +others who had escaped from justice, were attainted of high +treason, if they did not choose to surrender themselves on or +before the 25th day of March ensuing. Strange to say, these parties +did not think it advisable to surrender themselves; perhaps it was +because they knew that they were certain to be hung; but it is +impossible to account for the actions of men: we can only lay the +facts before our readers.</p> +<p>Sir George Barclay was by birth a Scotchman, of high family, and +well connected. He had been an officer in the army of King James, +to whom he was strongly attached. Moreover, he was a very bigoted +Catholic. Whether he ever received a commission from King James, +authorising him to assassinate King William, has never been proved; +but, as King James is well known to have been admitted into the +order of the Jesuits, it is not at all unlikely. Certain it is, +that the baronet went over to St Germains, landed again in England, +and would have made the attempt, had not the plot been discovered +through some of the inferior accomplices; and it is equally sure +that he escaped, although many others were hung--and few people +knew what had become of him. The fact was, that when Barclay had +fled to the sea-side, he was assisted over the water by a band of +smugglers, who first concealed him in the cave we have described, +which was their retreat. This led to a communication and +arrangement with them. Sir George Barclay, who, although foiled in +his attempt at assassination, never abandoned the cause, +immediately perceived what advantages might be derived in keeping +up a communication by means of these outlaws. For some time the +smugglers were employed in carrying secret despatches to the +friends of James in England and Scotland; and, as the importance of +the correspondence increased, and it became necessary to have +personal interviews instead of written communications, Sir George +frequently passed over to the cave as a rendezvous, at which he +might meet the adherents of the exiled king. In the course of time +he saw the prudence of having the entire control of the band, and +found little difficulty in being appointed their leader. From the +means he obtained from St Germains, the smuggling was now carried +on to a great and very profitable extent, and by the regulations +which he enacted, the chance of discovery was diminished. Only one +point more was requisite for safety and secrecy, which was, a +person to whom he could confide the charge of the cave. Lady +Barclay, who was equally warm in the cause, offered her services, +and they were accepted; and at the latter end of the year 1696, +about one year after the plot had failed, Lady Barclay, with her +only child, took up her abode in this isolated domicile; Sir George +then first making the arrangement that the men should always remain +on the other side of the water, which would be an additional cause +of security. For upwards of four years, Lady Barclay had remained +an inmate, attending to the instruction of her little Lilly, and +carrying on all the correspondence, and making all the necessary +arrangements with vigour and address, satisfied with serving the +good cause, and proving her devoted allegiance to her sovereign. +Unfortunate and unwise as were the Stuart family, there must have +been some charm about them, for they had instances of attachment +and fidelity shown to them, of which no other line of kings could +boast.</p> +<p>Shortly after the tragical event recorded in the last chapter, +the Jesuit came out of the cave and went up to Sir George, who +coolly observed, "We have just been sending a traitor to his +account, good father."</p> +<p>"So may they all perish," replied the priest. "We start this +evening?"</p> +<p>"Certainly. What news have you for St Germains?"</p> +<p>"Much that is important. Discontent prevails throughout the +country. The affair of Bishop Watson hath brought much odium on the +usurper. He himself writhes under the tyrannical commands of the +Commons, and is at issue with them."</p> +<p>"And, in Scotland, father?"</p> +<p>"All is there ripe and ready--and an army once landed, would be +joined by thousands. The injustice of the usurper in wishing to +sacrifice the Scotch Settlement, has worked deep upon the minds of +those who advanced their money upon that speculation--in the total, +a larger sum than ever yet was raised in Scotland. Our emissaries +have fanned the flame up to the highest pitch."</p> +<p>"To my thoughts, good father, there needed not further +discontent. Have we not our king dethroned, and our holy religion +persecuted?"</p> +<p>"True, my son--true; but still we must lose no means by which we +may increase the number of our adherents. Some are swayed by one +feeling, and some by another. We have contrived to throw no small +odium upon the usurper and betrayer of his wife's father, by +exposing and magnifying, indeed, the sums of money which he has +lavished upon his courtesan, Mistress Villiers, now, by his heretic +and unsanctified breath, raised into the peerage by the title of +Countess of Orkney. All these items added together, form a vast sum +of discontent; and could we persuade his Catholic majesty to rouse +himself to assert once more his rights by force of arms, I should +not fear for the result."</p> +<p>"Had I not been betrayed," observed Sir George, musing, "before +this the king would have had his own again."</p> +<p>"And thrice blessed would have been the arm that had laid the +usurper low," rejoined the Jesuit; "but more of this hereafter. +Your lady hath had much converse with me. She thinks that the +character of the man who commands that cutter, is such as to +warrant his services for gold--and wishes to essay him."</p> +<p>"The woman Corbett is of that opinion, and she is subtle. At all +events, it can be tried; for he would be of much utility, and there +would be no suspicion. The whole had better be left to her +arrangement. We may employ, and pay, yet not trust him."</p> +<p>"That is exactly what Lady Alice had proposed," replied the +Jesuit. Here Lilly came out to tell her father that the morning +meal was ready, and they all returned to the cave.</p> +<p>That evening the boat was launched, and the Jesuit went over +with Sir George, and landed at Cherbourg, from whence they both +proceeded with all expedition to the court of King James.</p> +<p>We have entered into this short detail, that the reader may just +know the why and the wherefore these parties in the cave were +introduced, and now we shall continue our most faithful and +veracious history.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIX"></a>Chapter XIX</h2> +<h3>In which Smallbones is sent to look after a pot of black +paint.</h3> +<br> +<p>We must now return to the cutter, which still remains at anchor +off the Point in Portsmouth harbour. It is a dark, murky, blowing +day, with gusts of rain and thick fog. Mr Vanslyperken is more than +usually displeased, for, as he had to wait for the new boat which +he had demanded, he thought this a good opportunity of enlivening +the bends of the <i>Yungfrau</i> with a little black paint--not +before it was required, most certainly, for she was as rusty in +appearance as if she had been built of old iron. But paint fetched +money, and as Mr Vanslyperken always sold his, it was like parting +with so much of his own property, when he ordered up the paint-pots +and brushes. Now the operation of beautifying the <i>Yungfrau</i> +had been commenced the day before, and the unexpected change in the +weather during the night, had washed off the greater portion of the +paint, and there was not only all the trouble, but all the expense, +to be incurred again. No wonder that Mr Vanslyperken was in a bad +humour--not only in a bad humour, but in the very worst of humours. +He had made up his mind to go on shore to see his mother, and was +pacing the quarter-deck in his great-coat, with his umbrella under +his arm, all ready to be unfurled as soon as he was on shore. He +was just about to order his boat to be manned: Mr Vanslyperken +looked up at the weather--the fog was still thick, and the rain +fell. You could not even make out the houses on the point. The wind +had gone down considerably. Mr Vanslyperken looked over the +gunnel--the damage was even greater than he thought. He looked over +the stern, there was the stage still hanging where the painters had +been standing or sitting, and, what was too bad, there was a pot of +paint, with the brush in it, half full of rain water, which some +negligent person had left there. Mr Vanslyperken turned forward to +call somebody to take the paint below, but the decks were empty, +and it was growing dark. A sudden thought, instigated no doubt by +the devil, filled the brain of Mr Vanslyperken. It was a glorious, +golden opportunity, not to be lost. He walked forward, and went +down into his cabin again, where he found Smallbones helping +himself to biscuit, for the lad was hungry, as well he might be; +but on this occasion Mr Vanslyperken took no notice.</p> +<p>"Smallbones," said he, "one of the men has left his paint-pot on +the stage, under the stern, go and bring it in immediately."</p> +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Smallbones, surprised at the unusually quiet +style of his master's address to him.</p> +<p>Smallbones ran up the ladder, went aft, and slid down by the +rope which held the plank used as a stage by the painters. Mr +Vanslyperken seized his carving-knife, and following softly on +deck, went aft. He took a hurried look forward--there was no one on +deck. For a moment, he hesitated at the crime; he observed the +starboard rope shake, for Smallbones was just about to shin up +again. The devil prevailed. Mr Vanslyperken sawed through the rope, +heard the splash of the lad in the water, and, frightened at his +own guilt, ran down below, and gained his cabin. There he seated +himself, trembling like an aspen leaf. It was the first time that +he had been a <i>murderer</i>. He was pale as ashes. He felt sick, +and he staggered to his cupboard, poured out a tumbler of scheedam, +and drank it off at a draught. This recovered him, and he again +felt brave. He returned on deck, and ordered his boat to be manned, +which was presently done. Mr Vanslyperken would have given the +world to have gone aft, and to have looked over the stern, but he +dared not; so, pushing the men into the boat, he slipped in, and +was pulled on shore. Without giving any directions to the men he +stepped out, and felt a relief when he found himself on terra +firma. He walked away as fast as he could--he felt that he could +not walk fast enough--he was anxious to arrive at his mother's. The +rain fell fast, but he thought not of his umbrella, it remained +under his arm, and Mr Vanslyperken, as if he were chased by a +fiend, pushed on through the fog and rain; he wanted to meet a +congenial soul, one who would encourage, console him, ridicule his +fears, and applaud the deed which he would just then have given the +world to have recalled.</p> +<p>Where could he seek one more fitted to the purpose than his +mother? The door of the house where she lodged was common to many, +and therefore opened with a latch. He went in, and upstairs, tried +the door of his mother's room, and found it fastened within. He +knocked, heard the grumbling of the old woman at her being obliged +to rise from her chair: she opened the door, and Vanslyperken, as +soon as he was in, slammed it to, and exhausted with his emotions, +fell back in a chair.</p> +<p>"Hey day! and what's the matter now?" cried the old woman, in +Dutch; "one would think that you had been waylaid, robbed, and +almost murdered."</p> +<p>"Murdered!" stammered Vanslyperken; "yes--it was murder."</p> +<p>"What was murder, my child?" replied the old woman, reseating +herself.</p> +<p>"Did I say murder, mother?" said Vanslyperken, wiping the +blended rain and perspiration from his brow with a cotton +handkerchief.</p> +<p>"Yes, you did, Cornelius Vanslyperken; not that I believe a +craven like you would ever attempt such a thing."</p> +<p>"But I have, mother. I have done the deed," replied +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"You have!" cried his mother; "then at last you have done +something, and I shall respect you. Come, come, child, cheer up, +and tell me all about it. There is a slight twinge the first +time--but the second is nothing. Did you get gold? Hey, my son, +plenty of gold?"</p> +<p>"Gold! no, no--I got nothing--indeed I lost by it--lost a pot +full of black paint--but never mind that. He's gone," replied +Vanslyperken, recovering himself fast.</p> +<p>"Who is gone?"</p> +<p>"The lad, Smallbones."</p> +<p>"Pish," replied the old woman, rocking her chair. "Ay, well, +never mind--it was for revenge, then--that's sweet--very sweet. +Now, Cornelius, tell me all about it."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken, encouraged by the sympathy, if we may use the +term, shown by his mother, narrated what he had done.</p> +<p>"Well, well, child, 'tis a beginning," replied the old woman, +"and I'll not call you craven again."</p> +<p>"I must go back," said Vanslyperken, starting up from his +chair.</p> +<p>"Go, child, it is late--and dream it over. Vengeance is sweet, +even in sleep. I have had mine--and for years have I dwelt on +it--and shall for years to come. I shall not die yet--no, no."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken quitted the house; the weather had cleared up, the +breeze was fresh and piercing, and the stars twinkled every now and +then, as the wild scud which flew across the heavens admitted them +to view. Vanslyperken walked fast--he started at the least +sound--he hurried by everyone whom he met, as if fearful to be +recognised--he felt relieved when he had gained the streets of +Portsmouth, and he at last arrived at the Point; but there was no +cutter's boat, for he had given no orders. He was therefore obliged +to hire one to go on board. The old man whom he engaged shoved into +the stream; the tide was running in rapidly.</p> +<p>"A cold night, sir," observed the man.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, mechanically.</p> +<p>"And a strong tide, with the wind to back it. He'd have but a +poor chance, who fell overboard such a night as this. The strongest +swimmer, without help, would be soon in eternity."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken shuddered. Where was Smallbones at this moment? and +then, the mention of eternity!</p> +<p>"Silence, man, silence," said Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Hope no offence, Mr Lieutenant," replied the man, who knew who +his fare was.</p> +<p>The boat pulled alongside of the <i>Yungfrau</i>, and +Vanslyperken paid his unusual fare, and stepped on the deck. He +went down below, and had the precaution to summon Smallbones to +bring lights aft. The word was passed along the lower deck, and +Vanslyperken sat down in the dark, awaiting the report that +Smallbones could not be found.</p> +<p>Snarleyyow went up to his master, and rubbed his cold nose +against his hand, and then, for the first time, it occurred to +Vanslyperken, that in his hurry to leave the vessel, he had left +the dog to the mercy of his enemies. During the time that +Vanslyperken waited for the report of the lights, he passed over in +his mind the untoward events which had taken place--the loss of the +widow's good-will, the loss of Corporal Van Spitter, who was adrift +in the Zuyder Zee, the loss of five thousand pounds through the +dog, and, strange to say, what vexed him more, the loss of the +dog's eye; and when he thought of all these things his heart was +elated, and he rejoiced in the death of Smallbones, and no longer +felt any compunction. But a light is coming aft, and Vanslyperken +is waiting the anticipated report. It is a solitary purser's dip, +as they are termed at sea, emitting but feeble rays, and +Vanslyperken's eyes are directed to the door of the cabin to see +who carries it. To his horror, his dismay, it is brought in by the +drowned Smallbones, who, with a cadaverous, and as he supposes, +unearthly face and vacant look, drawls out, "It's a-blowed out +twice, sir, with the wind."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken started up, with his eyes glaring and fixed. There +could be no mistake. It was the apparition of the murdered lad, and +he fell back in a state of unconsciousness.</p> +<p>"You've a-got it this time," said Smallbones, chuckling as he +bent over the body of the lieutenant with his purser's dip, and +perceived that he was in a state of insensibility.</p> +<p>Had Mr Vanslyperken had the courage to look over the stern of +the cutter when he re-ascended on the deck, he would have +discovered Smallbones hanging on by the rudder chains; for had the +fog not been so thick, Mr Vanslyperken would have perceived that at +the time that he cut Smallbones adrift it was slack water, and the +cutter was lying across the harbour. Smallbones was not, therefore, +carried away by the tide, but being a very fair swimmer, had gained +the rudder chains without difficulty; but at the time that +Smallbones was climbing up again by the rope, he had perceived the +blade of the carving-knife working at the rope, and was assured +that Vanslyperken was attempting his life. When he gained the +rudder chains, he held on. At first he thought of calling for +assistance; but hearing Vanslyperken order his boat to be manned, +the lad then resolved to wait a little longer, and allow his master +to think that he was drowned. The result was as Smallbones +intended. As soon as the lad saw the boat was out of hearing he +called out most lustily, and was heard by those on board, and +rescued from his cold immersion. He answered no questions which +were put to him till he had changed his clothing and recovered +himself, and then with great prudence summoned a council, composed +of Short, Coble, and Jemmy Ducks, to whom he narrated what had +taken place. A long consultation succeeded, and at last it was +agreed that Smallbones should make his appearance as he did, and +future arrangements to be taken according to circumstances.</p> +<p>As soon as Smallbones had ascertained the situation of his +master, he went forward and reported it to Dick Short, who with +Coble came aft in the cabin. Short looked at Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Conscience," said Short.</p> +<p>"And a d----d bad un, too," replied Coble, hitching up his +trousers. "What's to be done, Short?"</p> +<p>"Nothing," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Just my idea," replied Coble; "let him come to if he pleases, +or die and be d----d. Who cares?"</p> +<p>"Nobody," replied Short.</p> +<p>"My eyes, but he must have been frightened," said Smallbones; +"for he has left the key in the cupboard. I'll see what's in it for +once and away."</p> +<p>Snarleyyow, when Smallbones opened the cupboard, appeared to +have an intuitive idea that he was trespassing, so he walked out +growling from under the table; Short saluted him with a kick in the +ribs, which tossed him under the feet of Coble, who gave him a +second with his fisherman's boots, and the dog howled, and ran out +of the cabin. O Mr Vanslyperken! see what your favourite was +brought to, because you did not come to.</p> +<p>At this time Smallbones had his nose in the stone jar of +scheedam--the olfactory examination was favourable, so he put his +mouth to it--the labial essay still more so, so he took down a wine +glass, and, without any ceremony, filled a bumper, and handed it to +Coble.</p> +<p>"We'll drink to his recovery," said Obadiah, tossing off the +contents.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short, who waited till the glass was refilled, +and did the same.</p> +<p>"Here's bad luck to him in his own good stuff," said Smallbones, +tossing off a third glass, and, filling it again, he handed it to +Coble.</p> +<p>"Here's reformation to him," said Coble, draining the glass +again.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short, taking the replenished vessel.</p> +<p>"Here's d----n to him and his dog for ever and ever, Amen," +cried Smallbones, tippling off his second allowance.</p> +<p>"Who's there?" said Vanslyperken in a faint voice, opening his +eyes with a vacant look.</p> +<p>Smallbones replaced the bottle in the cupboard, and replied, +"It's only Smallbones, sir, and the mates, come to help you."</p> +<p>"Smallbones!" said Vanslyperken, still wandering. "Smallbones is +drowned--and the whole pot of black paint."</p> +<p>"Conscience," said Short.</p> +<p>"Carving-knife," rejoined Coble.</p> +<p>"Carving-knife!" said Vanslyperken, raising himself up; "I never +said a word about a carving-knife, did I? Who is it that I see? +Short--and Coble--help me up. I've had a sad fall. Where's +Smallbones? Is he alive--really alive?"</p> +<p>"I believe as how I bees," replied Smallbones.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken had now recovered his perfect senses. He had +been raised on a chair, and was anxious to be rid of intruders, so +he told Short and Coble that he would now do very well, and they +might go; upon which, without saying a word, they both quitted the +cabin.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken collected himself--he wished to know how +Smallbones had been saved, but still dared not broach the subject, +as it would be admitting his own guilt.</p> +<p>"What has happened, Smallbones?" said Vanslyperken. "I still +feel very faint."</p> +<p>"Take a glass of this," replied Smallbones, opening the +cupboard, and bringing out the scheedam. He poured out a glass, +which Vanslyperken drank, and then observed, "How did you know what +was in that cupboard sirrah?"</p> +<p>"Because you called for it when you were in your fits," replied +Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Called for scheedam?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, and said you had lost the carving-knife."</p> +<p>"Did I?" replied Vanslyperken, afraid that he had committed +himself. "I have been ill, very ill," continued he, putting his +hand up to his forehead. "By-the-bye, Smallbones, did you bring in +that pot of paint?" said Vanslyperken, adroitly.</p> +<p>"No, sir, I didn't, because I tumbled overboard, pot and all," +replied Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Tumbled overboard! why, I did not leave the ship till +afterwards, and I heard nothing about it."</p> +<p>"No, sir, how could you?" replied Smallbones, who was all +prepared for this explanation, "when the tide swept me past the +saluting battery in a moment."</p> +<p>"Past the saluting battery?" exclaimed Vanslyperken, "why, how +were you saved?"</p> +<p>"Because, thanks to somebody, I be too light to sink. I went out +to the Nab buoy, and a mile ayond it."</p> +<p>"The Nab buoy!" exclaimed Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Yes, and ayond it, afore the tide turned, and then I were swept +back again, and came into harbour again, just half-an-hour afore +you come aboard."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken looked aghast; the lad must have had a charmed +life. Nine miles at least out to sea, and nine miles back +again.</p> +<p>"It's as true as I stand here, sir," continued Smallbones; "I +never were so cold in all my life, a-floating about like a bit of +duck-weed with the tide, this way and that way."</p> +<p>"As true as you stand here!" repeated Vanslyperken; "but do you +stand here?" and he made a desperate grasp at the lad's arm to +ascertain whether he held substance or shadow.</p> +<p>"Can I do anything more, sir?" continued Smallbones; "for I +should like to turn in--I'm as cold as ice, even now."</p> +<p>"You may go," replied Vanslyperken, whose mind was again +becoming confused at what had passed. For some time, the lieutenant +sat in his chair, trying to recollect and reason; but it was in +vain--the shocks of the day had been too great. He threw himself, +dressed as he was, upon his bed--never perceived the absence of his +favourite--the candle was allowed to burn itself to the socket, and +Vanslyperken fell off into a trance-like sleep.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XX"></a>Chapter XX</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken proves false to the Widow +Vandersloosh,<br> +and many strange things take place.</h3> +<br> +<p>Mr. Vanslyperken was awakened, the next morning, by the yelping +of his dog, who, having been shut out of the cabin, had ventured up +the ladder in the morning when the men were washing the deck, and +had a bucket shied at him by Jemmy Ducks, with such excellent +precision, that it knocked him over, and nearly broke his hind leg, +which he now carried high up in the air as he howled upon the other +three at the cabin door. Mr Vanslyperken rose, and tried to +recollect what had passed; but it was more than a minute before he +could recall the circumstances of the day before. He then tried to +call to mind how he had gone to bed, and by what means Snarleyyow +was left outside, but he could make nothing of it. He opened the +cabin door, and let in the dog, whose lame leg instantly excited +his indignation, and he then rang his bell for Smallbones, who soon +made his appearance.</p> +<p>"How came the dog out of the cabin, sir?"</p> +<p>"I'm sure I don't know, sir; I never put him out."</p> +<p>"Who is it that has hurt him?"</p> +<p>"I'm sure I don't know, sir; I never touched him."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken was about to vent his anger, when Smallbones said, +"If you please, I don't know what's a-going on. Why here, sir, the +men washing the decks have found your carving-knife abaft, by the +traffrail. Somebody must have taken it there, that's sartain."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken turned pale.</p> +<p>"Who could have taken it?"</p> +<p>"That's what I said, sir. Who dare come in the cabin to take the +knife? and what could they have taken it for, but unless it was to +cut summut?" And Smallbones looked his master full in the face. And +the lieutenant quailed before his boy. He could not meet his gaze, +but turned away.</p> +<p>"Very odd," continued Smallbones, perceiving the advantage he +had gained.</p> +<p>"Leave the cabin, sir," cried Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Sha'n't I make no inquiries how this ere knife came there, +sir?" replied Smallbones.</p> +<p>"No, sir, mind your own business. I've a great mind to flog you +for its being found there--all your carelessness."</p> +<p>"That would be a pretty go," murmured Smallbones, as he shut the +cabin door.</p> +<p>The feeling of vengeance against Smallbones, was now redoubled +in the breast of his master; and the only regret he felt at the +transactions of the day before was, that the boy had not been +drowned.</p> +<p>"I'll have him yet," muttered the lieutenant; but he forgot that +he was shaving himself, and the involuntary movements of his lips +caused him to cut a large gash on his right cheek, from which the +blood trickled fast.</p> +<p>"Curses on the"--(razor he was going to say, but he changed it +to)--"scoundrel!"</p> +<p>A slice with a razor is certainly a very annoying thing. After a +certain time, Mr Vanslyperken finished his toilet, called for his +breakfast, went on deck, and as the day was fine, ordered the paint +to be renewed, and then went on shore to ascertain if there were +any commands for him at the admiral's office.</p> +<p>As he walked up the street in a brown study, he at last observed +that a very pretty woman dogged him, sometimes walking a-head and +looking back, at others dropping astern, and then again ranging up +alongside. He looked her in the face, and she smiled sweetly, and +then turned her head coquettishly, and then looked again with eyes +full of meaning. Now, although Mr Vanslyperken had always avoided +amours on account of the expense entailed upon them, yet he was, +like a dry chip, very inflammable, and the extreme beauty of the +party made him feel unusual emotions. Her perseverance too--and her +whole appearance so very respectable--so superior to the class of +people who generally accosted him. He thought of the widow and her +money-bags, and thought, also, how infinitely more desirable the +widow would be, if she possessed but the beauty of the present +party.</p> +<p>"I do believe I've lost my way," exclaimed the young person. +"Pray, sir, can you tell me the way to Castle Street, for I'm +almost a stranger? And" (added she, laughing) "I really don't know +my way back to my own house."</p> +<p>Castle Street was, at that time, one of the best streets in +Portsmouth, as Mr Vanslyperken well knew. This assured him of her +respectability. He very gallantly offered his arm which, after a +little demur, was accepted, and Mr Vanslyperken conveyed her to her +house. Of course she could do no less than ask him to walk up, and +Mr Vanslyperken, who had never been in anything approaching to good +society, was in astonishment at the furniture. All appeared to +denote wealth. He was soon in an interesting conversation, and by +degrees found out that the lady was a young widow of the name of +Malcolm, whose husband had been factor to the new company, called +the East India Company; that she had come down to Portsmouth +expecting him home, and that she had learnt that he had died on +shore a few days before his intended embarkation for England. Since +which, as she liked the place and the society, she had thoughts of +remaining here.</p> +<p>"They say that gold in India is to be had for nothing."</p> +<p>"It must be very plentiful," replied the widow, "if I am to +judge by the quantity my poor husband sent me home, and he was not +out more than three years. He left me a week after our +marriage."</p> +<p>Here the lovely widow put her handkerchief up to her eyes, and +Mr Vanslyperken attempted to console her.</p> +<p>"It's so very unpleasant to be left without any one to advise +you, and exposed to be cheated so dreadfully. What can a poor lone +woman do? Did you ever see me before, sir?"</p> +<p>"I never did," replied our lieutenant. "May I ask the same +question, for I thought you appeared to know me?"</p> +<p>"O yes! I've seen you very often, and wished to know who you +were, but I was ashamed to ask. One cannot be too particular in my +situation."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken was much pleased, but he had remained some time, +and he thought it right to depart, so he rose and made his +adieus.</p> +<p>"I hope I shall see you again," cried the widow, earnestly. "You +will call again, sir, won't you?"</p> +<p>"Most certainly, and with the greatest pleasure," replied +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>The lady extended her gloved hand, and as it was closed in that +of Vanslyperken, he thought he felt a slight, a very slight +pressure, which made his heart leap. And then, as he shut the door, +she gave him such a look--O those eyes!--they pierced right through +the heart of Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>The reader may not, perhaps, be aware who this gay widow might +be. It was Nancy Corbett, who had, by the advice of Lady Alice, +taken this step to entrap Mr Vanslyperken. Nancy had obtained from +Moggy all the particulars of the lieutenant's wooing of the widow +Vandersloosh, and his character as a miser and a coward. Had he +been a miser only, she would have attacked by gold alone, but being +a coward, it was decided that he should have some further stimulus +to betray his country, and enlist himself among the partisans of +King James.</p> +<p>Beauty, joined with wealth, the chance of possessing both, with +the attractive arts of Nancy, were considered necessary to sway +him. Indeed they were so far right, that had any one made the bold +proposal to Vanslyperken of joining the other party, and offered +him at the same time ample remuneration, he would have been too +suspicious or too timorous to run the risk. It was necessary to win +him over by means which appeared accidental rather than otherwise. +The difficulty of correspondence was very great; and as the cutter +constantly was despatched to the Hague, and the French had agents +there, not only letters, but even messengers, might be sent over +without risk and without suspicion; for open boats being then the +only means of communication, during the wintry part of the year, +the correspondence was very precarious, and at long intervals.</p> +<p>Thus was Nancy Corbett changed into a buxom widow, all for the +good cause, and well did she perform her part; for there was no +lack of money when such services were required. Vanslyperken left +the house quite enchanted. "This will do," thought he, "and if I +succeed, Frau Vandersloosh may go to the devil." He returned on +board, unlocked his cabin, where Snarleyyow had been secured from +the machinations of Smallbones and other malcontents, and sat down +to enjoy the castle-building which he had commenced after he left +the house. He patted his dog, and apostrophised it. "Yes, my poor +brute," said Vanslyperken, "your master will get a rich widow, +without it being necessary that you should be laid dead at her +porch. D--n Frau Vandersloosh."</p> +<p>The widow was more enchanting when Vanslyperken called on the +ensuing day, than she was on the first. Her advances to the +lieutenant were no longer doubtful to him. She entered freely into +the state of her affairs, asked his advice upon money matters, and +fully proved to his satisfaction that, independent of her beauty, +she would be a much greater catch than Frau Vandersloosh. She spoke +about her family; said that she expected her brother over, but that +he must come <i>incog.</i>, as he was attached to the court of the +exiled king, lamented the difficulty of receiving letters from him, +and openly expressed her adherence to the Stuart family. +Vanslyperken appeared to make very little objection to her +political creed; in fact, he was so fascinated that he fell blindly +into the snare; he accepted an invitation to dine with her on that +very day, and went on board to dress himself as fine for her as he +had for the widow Vandersloosh. The lovely widow admired his +uniform, and gave him many gentle hints upon which he might speak: +but this did not take place until a +<i>tête-à-tête</i> after dinner, when he was +sitting on a sofa with her (not on such a fubsy sofa as that of +Frau Vandersloosh, but one worked in tapestry); much in the same +position as we once introduced him in to the reader, to wit, with +the lady's hand in his. Vanslyperken was flushed with wine, for +Nancy had pushed the bottle, and, at last, he spoke out clearly +what his aspirations were. The widow blushed, laughed, wiped her +eyes as if to brush away a falling tear, and eventually, with a +slight pressure of the hand, stammered that she did not know what +to say, the acquaintance was so short--it was so unexpected--she +must reflect a little: at the same time, she could not but +acknowledge, that she had been taken with him when she first saw +him; and then she laughed and said, that she did really begin to +believe that there was such a thing as love at first sight, and +then--he had better go now, she wished to be alone--she really had +a headache. Oh! Nancy Corbett! you were, indeed, an adept in the +art of seduction--no wonder that your name has been handed down to +posterity. Mr Vanslyperken perceived his advantage, and pressed +still more, until the blushing widow declared that she would really +think seriously about the matter, if on further acquaintance she +found that her good opinion of him was not overrated.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken returned on board intoxicated with his success. On +his arrival, he was informed that a messenger had been sent for +him, but no one knew where to find him, and that he must be at the +admiral's early the next morning, and have all ready for immediate +sailing. This was rather annoying, but there was no help for it. +The next day Vanslyperken went to the admiral's, and received +orders to sail immediately to the Hague with despatches of +consequence, being no less than an answer from King William to the +States General. Mr Vanslyperken proceeded from the admiral's to the +charming widow, to whom he imparted this unwelcome intelligence. +She, of course, was grave, and listened to his protestations with +her little finger in her mouth, and a pensive, down-cast eye.</p> +<p>"How long will you be away?" inquired she.</p> +<p>"But a week or ten days at the farthest. I shall fly back to see +you again."</p> +<p>"But, tell me the truth, have you no acquaintances there?--now, +tell me the truth. I don't mean men."</p> +<p>"Upon my honour, fair widow, I don't know a single woman there," +replied Vanslyperken, pleased with this little appearance of +jealousy; "but I'm afraid that I must leave you, for the admiral is +very severe."</p> +<p>"Will you do me one favour, Mr Vanslyperken?"</p> +<p>"Anything:--ask what you will."</p> +<p>"I want this letter forwarded to my brother--I am very anxious +about it. The French agent there will send it on;--it is enclosed +to him. Will you do me that favour, my dear sir?--I'm sure you will +if----"</p> +<p>"If what?"</p> +<p>"If you love me," replied the widow, laying her hand upon +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"I will, most certainly," said Vanslyperken, taking the letter +and putting it in his pocket.</p> +<p>"Then I shall ask you another," said the widow. "You will think +me very foolish, but there may be an opportunity--will you write to +me--just a few lines--only to tell me that you have given the +letter, that's all--and to say how you are--don't you think me very +foolish?"</p> +<p>"I will write, dearest, since you wish it--and now, +good-bye."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken took the widow round the waist, and after a little +murmuring and reluctance, was permitted to snatch a kiss. Her eyes +followed him mournfully till he shut the door and disappeared, and +then Nancy Corbett gave way to unbounded mirth.</p> +<p>"So the fool has bit already," thought she; "now if he only +writes to me, and I get his acknowledgment of having delivered the +letter, the beast is in my power, and I can hang him any day I +please. Upon his honour, he did not know a single woman +there:--Lord have mercy!--what liars men are--but we can sometimes +beat them with their own weapons." And Nancy's thoughts reverted to +her former life, which she now dwelt upon with pain and sorrow.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken returned on board; the anchor was weighed +immediately that the boats had been hoisted up, and the +<i>Yungfrau</i> ran out with a fair wind, which lasted until the +evening, when it fell almost calm, and the cutter made but little +way through the water. Many of the men were conversing on the +forecastle as usual, and the subject of their discourse was the +surmising what had become of Corporal Van Spitter. In one point +they all appeared to agree, which was, that they hoped he would +never return to the cutter.</p> +<p>"If he does I owe him one," observed Jemmy Ducks. "It's all +through him that my wife was turned out of the vessel."</p> +<p>"And a little bit from her tongue, Jemmy," observed Coble.</p> +<p>"Why, perhaps so," replied Jemmy; "but what was it set her +tongue loose but the threat of <i>him</i> to flog me, and what made +him threaten that but the 'peaching of that fat marine?"</p> +<p>"Very good arguments, Jemmy. Well, I will say that for your +wife, Jemmy, she does love you, and there's no sham about it."</p> +<p>"Never mind Jemmy's wife, let's have Jemmy's song," said Spurey; +"he hasn't piped since he was pulled up by the corporal."</p> +<p>"No: he put my pipe out, the hippopotamus. Well, I'll give it +you--it shall be about what we are talking of, Obadiah." Jemmy +perched himself on the fore-end of the booms, and sang as +follows:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>"I suppose that you think 'cause my trousers are tarry,</p> +<p class="i1">And because that I ties my long hair in a tail,</p> +<p>While landsmen are figged out as fine as Lord Harry,</p> +<p class="i1">With breast-pins and cravats as white as old +sail;</p> +<p>That I'm a strange creature, a know-nothing ninny,</p> +<p class="i1">But fit for the planks for to walk in foul +weather;</p> +<p>That I ha'n't e'er a notion of the worth of a guinea,</p> +<p class="i1">And that you, Poll, can twist me about as a +feather,--</p> +<p class="i2">Lord love you!!</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>"I know that this life is but short at the best on't,</p> +<p class="i1">That Time it flies fast, and that work must be +done;</p> +<p>That when danger comes 'tis as well for to jest on't,</p> +<p class="i1">'Twill be but the lighter felt when it do come:</p> +<p>If you think, then, from this that I an't got a notion</p> +<p class="i1">Of a heaven above, with its mercy in store,</p> +<p>And the devil below, for us lads of the ocean,</p> +<p class="i1">Just the same as it be for the landsmen on +shore,--</p> +<p class="i2">Lord love you!!</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>"If because I don't splice with some true-hearted woman,</p> +<p class="i1">Who'd doat on my presence, and sob when I sail,</p> +<p>But put up with you, Poll, though faithful to no man,</p> +<p class="i1">With a fist that can strike, and a tongue that can +rail;</p> +<p>'Tis because I'm not selfish, and know 'tis my duty</p> +<p class="i1">If I marry to moor by my wife, and not leave her,</p> +<p>To dandle the young ones,--watch over her beauty,</p> +<p class="i1">D'ye think that I'd promise and vow, then deceive +her?--</p> +<p class="i2">Lord love you!!</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>"I suppose that you think 'cause I'm free with my money,</p> +<p class="i1">Which others would hoard and lock up in their +chest,</p> +<p>All your billing and cooing, and words sweet as honey,</p> +<p class="i1">Are as gospel to me while you hang on my breast;</p> +<p>But no, Polly, no;--you may take every guinea,</p> +<p class="i1">They'd burn in my pocket, if I took them to sea;</p> +<p>But as for your love, Poll, I indeed were a ninny,--</p> +<p class="i1">D'ye think I don't know you cheat others than me?</p> +<p class="i2">Lord love you!!"</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"Well, that's a good song, Jemmy, and he can't pull you up for +that, anyhow."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken appeared to think otherwise, for he sent a +marine forward to say, that no singing would be permitted in +future, and that they were immediately to desist.</p> +<p>"I suppose we shall have a song considered as mutiny soon," +observed Coble. "Ah, well, it's a long lane that has no +turning."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Jemmy, in an under tone, "and for every rogue +there's a rope laid up. Never mind, let us go below."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken's dreaming thoughts of the fair widow were +nevertheless occasionally interrupted by others not quite so +agreeable. Strange to say, he fully believed what Smallbones had +asserted about his being carried out by the tide to the Nab buoy +and he canvassed the question in his mind, whether there was not +something supernatural in the affair, a sort of interposition of +Providence in behalf of the lad, which was to be considered as a +warning to himself not to attempt anything further. He was +frightened, although his feeling for revenge was still in all its +force. As for any one suspecting him of having attempted the boy's +life, he had recovered from that feeling; even if they did, who +dare say a word? There was another point which also engrossed the +moody Vanslyperken, which was how he should behave relative to the +widow Vandersloosh. Should he call or should he not? he cared +nothing for her, and provided he could succeed with the Portsmouth +lady, he would pitch her to the devil; but still he remembered the +old proverb, "You should never throw away dirty water before you +are sure of clean." After some cogitation he determined upon still +pressing his suit, and hoped at the same time that the widow would +not admit him into her presence. Such were the different resolves +and decisions which occupied the mind of Mr Vanslyperken until he +dropped his anchor at Amsterdam, when he ordered his boat to go on +shore, and gave positive directions to Dick Short that no one was +to leave the cutter on any pretence, for he was determined that as +the widow would not have his company, she should not have the +profits arising from his men spending their money at her house.</p> +<p>"So," cried Coble, after the boat shoved off, "liberty's stopped +as well as singing. What next, I wonder? I sha'n't stand this +long."</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Stop till he makes friends with the widow," observed Bill +Spurey; "she'll get us all leave."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, he nebber say anyting before," observed Jansen.</p> +<p>"No; we might almost go and come as we wished. We must not stand +this."</p> +<p>"We won't," replied Jemmy Ducks.</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>While the crew of the cutter were in this incipient state of +mutiny, Vanslyperken bent his steps to deliver up to the +authorities the despatches with which he was charged; and having so +done, he then took out the letter intrusted to him by Nancy Corbett +and read the address. It was the same street in which lived the +Frau Vandersloosh. This was awkward, as Vanslyperken did not want +to be seen by her; but there was no help for it. He trusted to her +not seeing him, and he proceeded thither: he ran down the numbers +on the doors until he came to the right one, which was exactly +opposite to the widow's house:--this was more unfortunate. He rang +the bell; it was some time before the door was opened, and while he +was standing there he could not help looking round to see if any +one saw him. To his annoyance, there stood the widow filling up her +door with her broad frame, and Babette peeping over her shoulder. +Mr Vanslyperken, as there was only the canal and two narrow roads +between them, could do no less than salute her, but she took no +notice of him farther than by continuing her stare. At last, upon a +second pulling of the bell, the door opened, and on Mr Vanslyperken +saying that he had a letter for such an address, he was admitted, +and the door immediately closed. He was ushered into a room, the +window-panes of which were painted green, so that no one outside +could look in, and found himself in the presence of a tall man, in +a clerical dress, who motioned to him to sit down.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken delivered the letter, and then took a seat. The +gentleman made a graceful bow, as if to ask permission to break the +seal, and then opened the letter.</p> +<p>"Sir, I am obliged to you for charging yourself with these +packets--infinitely obliged to you. You are in command of a sloop +here, I believe."</p> +<p>"A king's cutter, sir," replied Vanslyperken, with importance; +"I am Lieutenant Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>"I thank you, sir. I will take down your name. You expect, I +presume, to be rewarded for this small service," continued the +gentleman, with a bland smile.</p> +<p>"Why, she must have told him," thought Vanslyperken; who replied +with another smile, "that he certainly trusted that he should +be."</p> +<p>Upon which reply, the other went to an escritoire, and taking +out a bag, opened it and poured out a mass of gold, which made +Vanslyperken's mouth water, but why he did so Vanslyperken did not +give a thought, until having counted out fifty pieces, the +gentleman very gracefully put them into his hand, observing,</p> +<p>"A lieutenant's pay is not great, and we can afford to be +generous. Will you oblige me by calling here before you sail for +England, and I will beg you to take charge of a letter."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken was all amazement: he began to suspect what was the +fact, but he had the gold in his hand, and for the life of him, he +could not have laid it down again on the table. It was too great a +sacrifice, for it was his idol--his god. He therefore dropped it +into his pocket, and promising to call before he sailed, bowed and +took his leave. As he went out, there were the Frau Vandersloosh +and Babette still watching him at the door, but Vanslyperken was in +a state of agitation, and he hurried off as fast as he could. Had +he known why they watched so earnestly, and what had occurred, his +agitation would have been greater still. As soon as Mr Vanslyperken +had arrived on board, he hastened down into his cabin, and throwing +the money down on the table, feasted his eyes with it, and remained +for nearly half-an-hour in a state of deep cogitation, during which +he often asked himself the question, whether he had not been a +traitor to the king and country in whose pay he was employed. The +answer that he gave to himself was anything but satisfactory: but +the prospect of possessing the fair Portsmouth widow, and the gold +displayed upon the table, were very satisfactory, and the balance +was on the latter side: so Vanslyperken gradually recovered +himself, and had risen from his chair to collect the gold and +deposit it in a place of safety, when he was interrupted by a tap +at the door. Hastily sweeping off the gold pieces, he cried, "Come +in;" when who, to his surprise, should appear, in excellent +condition and fresh as a peony, but the lost and almost forgotten +Corporal Van Spitter, who, raising his hand to his forehead as +usual, reported himself man-of-war fashion, "Vas come on board, +Mynheer Vanslyperken." But as the corporal did not tell all the +facts connected with his cruise in the jolly-boat to Mr +Vanslyperken, for reasons which will hereafter appear, we shall +reserve the narrative of what really did take place for another +chapter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXI"></a>Chapter XXI</h2> +<h3>In which are narrated the adventures which took place in the +corporal's cruise in the jolly-boat.</h3> +<br> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter, so soon as he had expended all his breath +in shouting for help, sat down with such a flop of despair on the +thwart of the boat, as very nearly to swamp it. As it was, the +water poured in over the starboard-gunnel, until the boat was +filled up to his ankles. This alarmed him still more, and he +remained mute as a stockfish for a quarter of an hour, during which +he was swept away by the tide until he was unable to discover the +lights on shore. The wind freshened, and the water became more +rough, the night was dark as pitch, and the corporal skimmed along +before the wind and tide. "A tousand tyfels!" at last muttered the +corporal, as the searching blast crept round his fat sides, and +made him shiver. Gust succeeded gust, and, at last, the corporal's +teeth chattered with the cold: he raised his feet out of the water +at the bottom of the boat, for his feet were like ice, but in so +doing, the weight of his body being above the centre of gravity, +the boat careened over, and with a "Mein Gott!" he hastily replaced +them in the cold water. And now a shower of rain and sleet came +down upon the unprotected body of the corporal, which added to his +misery, to his fear, and to his despair.</p> +<p>"Where am I?" muttered he; "what will become of me? Ah, mein +Gott! twenty tousand tyfels--what had I to do in a boat--I, +Corporal Van Spitter?" and then he was again silent for nearly half +an hour. The wind shifted to the northward, and the rain cleared +up, but it was only to make the corporal suffer more, for the +freezing blast poured upon his wet clothes, and he felt chilled to +the very centre of his vitals. His whole body trembled +convulsively, he was frozen to the thwart, yet there was no +appearance of daylight coming, and the corporal now abandoned +himself to utter hopelessness and desperation, and commenced +praying. He attempted the Lord's Prayer in Dutch, but could get no +further than "art in heaven," for the rest, from disuse, had quite +escaped the corporal's memory. He tried to recollect something +else, but was equally unsuccessful; at last, he made up a sad +mixture of swearing and praying.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott--a hundred tousand tyfels--gut Gott--twenty hundred +tousand tyfels! Ah, Gott of mercy--million of tyfels! holy Gott +Jesus! twenty millions of tyfels--Gott for dam, I die of cold!" +Such were the ejaculations of the corporal, allowing about ten +minutes to intervene between each, during which the wind blew more +freshly, the waves rose, and the boat was whirled away.</p> +<p>But the corporal's miseries were to be prolonged; the flood-time +of water was now spent, and the ebb commenced flowing against the +wind and sea. This created what is called boiling water, that is, a +contest between the wind forcing the waves one way, and the tide +checking them the other, which makes the waves to lose their run, +and they rise, and dance, and bubble into points. The consequence +was, that the boat, as she was borne down by the tide against them, +shipped a sea every moment, which the wind threw against the +carcass of the corporal, who was now quite exhausted with more than +four hours' exposure to a wintry night, the temperature being +nearly down to zero. All the corporal's stoicism was gone; he +talked wildly, crouched and gibbered in his fear, when he was +suddenly roused by a heavy shock. He raised his head, which had +sunk upon his chest, and beheld something close to him, and to the +gunnel of the boat. It was a thin, tall figure, holding out his two +arms at right angles, and apparently stooping over him. It was just +in the position that Smallbones lay on the forecastle of the cutter +on that day morning, when he was about to keel-haul him, and the +corporal, in his state of mental and bodily depression, was certain +that it was the ghost of the poor lad whom he had so often +tortured. Terror raised his hair erect--his mouth was wide open--he +could not speak--he tried to analyse it, but a wave dashed in his +face--his eyes and mouth were filled with salt water, and the +corporal threw himself down on the thwarts of the boat, quite +regardless whether it went to the bottom or not; there he lay, half +groaning, half praying, with his hands to his eyes, and his huge +nether proportion raised in the air, every limb trembling with +blended cold and fright. One hour more, and there would have been +nothing but corporal parts of Corporal Spitter.</p> +<p>The reason why the last movement of the corporal did not swamp +the boat, was simply that it was aground on one of the flats; and +the figure which had alarmed the conscience-stricken corporal, was +nothing more than the outside beacon of a weir for catching fish, +being a thin post with a cross bar to it, certainly not unlike +Smallbones in figure, supposing him to have put his arms in that +position.</p> +<p>For upwards of an hour did the corporal lie reversed, when the +day dawned, and the boat had been left high and dry upon the flat. +The fishermen came down to examine their weir, and see what was +their success, when they discovered the boat with its contents. At +first they could not imagine what it was, for they could perceive +nothing but the capacious round of the corporal, which rose up in +the air, but, by degrees, they made out that there was a head and +feet attached to it, and they contrived, with the united efforts of +four men, to raise him up, and discovered that life was not yet +extinct. They poured a little schnappes into his mouth, and he +recovered so far as to open his eyes, and they having brought down +with them two little carts drawn by dogs, they put the corporal +into one, covered him up, and yoking all the dogs to the one cart, +for the usual train could not move so heavy a weight, two of them +escorted him up to their huts, while the others threw the fish +caught into the cart which remained, and took possession of the +boat. The fishermen's wives, perceiving the cart so heavily laden, +imagined, as it approached the huts, that there had been unusual +success, and were not a little disappointed when they found that +instead of several bushels of fine fish, they had only caught a +corporal of marines; but they were kind-hearted, for they had known +misery, and Van Spitter was put into a bed, and covered up with all +the blankets they could collect, and very soon was able to drink +some warm soup offered to him. It was not, however, till long past +noon, that the corporal was able to narrate what had taken +place.</p> +<p>"Will your lieutenant pay us for saving you and bringing him his +boat?" demanded the men.</p> +<p>Now, it must be observed, that a great revolution had taken +place in the corporal's feelings since the horror and sufferings of +the night. He felt hatred towards Vanslyperken, and good-will +towards those whom he had treated unkindly. The supernatural +appearance of Smallbones, in which he still believed, and which +appeared to him as a warning--what he had suffered from cold and +exhaustion, which by him was considered as a punishment for his +treatment of the poor lad but the morning before, had changed the +heart of Corporal Van Spitter, so he replied in Dutch,</p> +<p>"He will give you nothing, good people, not even a glass of +schnappes, I tell you candidly--so keep the boat if you wish--I +will not say a word about it, except that it is lost. He is not +likely to see it again. Besides, you can alter it, and paint +it."</p> +<p>This very generous present of his Majesty's property by the +corporal, was very agreeable to the fishermen, as it amply repaid +them for all their trouble. The corporal put on his clothes, and +ate a hearty meal, was freely supplied with spirits, and went to +bed quite recovered. The next morning, the fishermen took him down +to Amsterdam in their own boat, when Van Spitter discovered that +the <i>Yungfrau</i> had sailed; this was very puzzling, and +Corporal Van Spitter did not know what to do. After some +cogitation, it occurred to him that, for Vanslyperken's sake, he +might be well received at the Lust Haus by widow Vandersloosh, +little imagining how much at a discount was his lieutenant in that +quarter.</p> +<p>To the Frau Vandersloosh accordingly he repaired, and the first +person he met was Babette, who finding that the corporal was a +Dutchman, and belonging to the <i>Yungfrau</i>, and who presumed +that he had always felt the same ill-will towards Vanslyperken and +Snarleyyow, as did the rest of the ship's company, immediately +entered into a narrative of the conduct of Snarleyyow on the +preceding night, the anger of her mistress, and every other +circumstance with which the reader is already acquainted. Corporal +Van Spitter thus fortunately found out how matters stood previous +to his introduction to the widow. He expatiated upon his +sufferings, upon the indifference of his lieutenant in sailing as +to what had become of him, and fully persuaded Babette not only +that he was inimical, which now certainly he was, but that he +always had been so, to Mr Vanslyperken. Babette, who was always +ready to retail news, went up to the widow, and amused her, as she +dressed her, with the corporal's adventures, and the widow felt an +interest in, before she had seen, Corporal Van Spitter, from the +account of his "moving accidents by flood and field."</p> +<p>But if prepossessed in his favour before she saw him, what did +she feel when she first beheld the substantial proportions of +Corporal Van Spitter! There she beheld the beau ideal of her +imagination--the very object of her widow's dreams--the antipodes +of Vanslyperken, and as superior as "Hyperion to a Satyr." He had +all the personal advantages, with none of the defects of her late +husband; he was quite as fleshy, but had at least six inches more +in height, and, in the eyes of the widow, the Corporal Van Spitter +was the finest man she ever had beheld, and she mentally exclaimed, +"There is the man for my money;" and, at the same time, resolved +that she would win him. Alas I how short-sighted are mortals; +little did the corporal imagine that the most untoward event in his +life would be the cause of his being possessed of ease and +competence. The widow received him most graciously, spoke in no +measured terms against Vanslyperken, at which the corporal raised +his huge shoulders, as much as to say, "He is even worse than you +think him," was very violent against Snarleyyow, whom the corporal, +aware that it was no mutiny, made no ceremony in "damning in +heaps," as the saying is.</p> +<p>The widow begged that he would feel no uneasiness, as he should +remain with her till the cutter returned; and an hour after the +first introduction, Corporal Van Spitter had breakfasted with, and +was actually sitting, by her request, on the little fubsy sofa, in +the very place of Vanslyperken, with Frau Vandersloosh by his +side.</p> +<p>We must pass over the few days during which the cutter was away. +Widows have not that maiden modesty to thwart their wishes, which +so often prevents a true love tale from being told. And all that +the widow could not tell, Babette, duly instructed, told for her, +and it was understood, before the cutter's arrival, that Corporal +Van Spitter was the accepted lover of the Frau Vandersloosh. But +still it was necessary that there should be secrecy, not only on +account of the corporal's being under the command of the +lieutenant, who, of course, would not allow himself to be crossed +in his love without resenting it, but also, because it was not +advisable that the crew of the <i>Yungfrau</i> should not be +permitted to spend their money at the Lust Haus. It was therefore +agreed that the lieutenant should be blinded, as to the real nature +of the intimacy, and that nothing should take place until the +cutter was paid off, and Corporal Van Spitter should be a gentleman +at large.</p> +<p>Independent of the wisdom of the above proceedings, there was a +secret pleasure to all parties in deceiving the deceiver +Vanslyperken. But something else occurred which we must now refer +to. The corporal's residence at the widow's house had not been +unobserved by the Jesuit, who was the French agent in the house +opposite, and it appeared to him, after the inquiries he had made, +that Corporal Van Spitter might be made serviceable. He had been +sent for and sounded, and it was canvassed with the widow whether +he should accept the offers or not, and finally it was agreed that +he should, as there would be little or no risk. Now, it so +happened, that the corporal had gone over to the Jesuit's house to +agree to the proposals, and was actually in the house conversing +with him, when Vanslyperken arrived and knocked at the door. The +corporal ascertaining who it was by a small clear spot left in the +painted window for scrutiny, begged that he might be concealed, and +was immediately shown into the next room by a door, which was hid +behind a screen. The Jesuit did not exactly shut the door, as he +supposed he did, and the corporal, who wondered what could have +brought Vanslyperken there, kept it ajar during the whole of the +interview and the counting out of the money. Vanslyperken left, and +as he shut the other door the corporal did the same with the one he +held ajar, and took a seat at the other end of the room, that the +Jesuit might not suspect his having overheard all that had +passed.</p> +<p>Now the Jesuit had made up his mind that it was better to treat +with the principal than with a second, and therefore did not +further require the services of Corporal Van Spitter. He told him +that the lieutenant having received private information that one of +the people of the cutter had been seen at his house, and knowing +that he was the French agent, had come to inform him that if he +attempted to employ any of his men in carrying letters, that he +would inform against him to the authorities. That he was very +sorry, but that after such a notice he was afraid that the +arrangements could not proceed. The corporal appeared to be +satisfied, and took his final leave. No wonder, therefore, that the +widow and Babette were on the watch, when they saw Vanslyperken +enter the house, at the very time the corporal was there also.</p> +<p>The corporal went over to the widow's, and narrated all that he +had heard and seen.</p> +<p>"Why, the traitor!" exclaimed the widow.</p> +<p>"Yes, mein Gott!" repeated the corporal.</p> +<p>"The villain to sell his country for gold."</p> +<p>"Yes, mein Gott!" repeated the corporal.</p> +<p>"Fifty guineas, did you say, Mynheer Van Spitter?"</p> +<p>"Yes, mein Gott!" repeated the corporal.</p> +<p>"Oh, the wretch!--well," continued the widow, "at all events he +is in your power."</p> +<p>"Yes, mein Gott!"</p> +<p>"You can hang him any day in the week."</p> +<p>"Yes, mein Gott!"</p> +<p>"Ho, ho! Mr Vanslyperken:--well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we will +see," continued the widow, indignant at the lieutenant receiving so +large a sum, which would otherwise have been, in all probability, +made over to Corporal Van Spitter, with whom she now felt that +their interests were in common.</p> +<p>"Tousand tyfels!" roared the corporal, dashing his foot upon one +of the flaps of the little table before them with so much force, +that it was broken short off and fell down on the floor.</p> +<p>"Hundred tousand tyfels!" continued the corporal, when he +witnessed the effects of his violence.</p> +<p>Although the widow lamented her table, she forgave the corporal +with a smile; she liked such proofs of strength in her intended, +and she, moreover, knew that the accident was occasioned by +indignation at Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, you'll pay me for that," exclaimed +she; "I prophesy that before long you and your nasty cur will both +swing together."</p> +<p>The corporal now walked across the little parlour and back +again, then turned to the widow Vandersloosh, and with a most +expressive look slowly muttered,</p> +<p>"Yes, mein Gott!"</p> +<p>After which he sat down again by the side of the widow, and they +had a short consultation; before it was over, Corporal Van Spitter +declared himself the deadly enemy of Lieutenant Vanslyperken; swore +that he would be his ruin, and ratified the oath upon the widow's +lips. Alas! what changes there are in this world!</p> +<p>After which solemn compact the corporal rose, took his leave, +went on board, and reported himself, as we have stated in the +preceding chapter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXII"></a>Chapter XXII</h2> +<h3>In which Snarleyyow proves to be the devil, and no +mistake.</h3> +<br> +<p>That the corporal mystified his lieutenant, may easily be +supposed; but the corporal had other work to do, and he did it +immediately. He went up to Jemmy Ducks, who looked daggers at him, +and said to him quietly, "That he had something to say to him as +soon as it was dusk, and they would not be seen together." +Vanslyperken ordered the corporal to resume his office, and serve +out the provisions that afternoon: and to the astonishment of the +men, he gave them not only full, but overweight; and instead of +abusing them, and being cross, he was good-humoured, and joked with +them; and all the crew stared at each other, and wondered what +could be the matter with Corporal Van Spitter. But what was their +amazement, upon Snarleyyow's coming up to him as he was serving out +provisions, instead of receiving something from the hand of the +corporal as usual, he, on the contrary, received a sound kick on +the ribs from his foot which sent him yelping back into the cabin. +Their astonishment could only be equalled by that of Snarleyyow +himself. But that was not all; it appeared as if wonders would +never cease, for when Smallbones came up to receive his master's +provisions, after the others had been served and gone away, the +corporal not only kindly received him, but actually presented him +with a stiff glass of grog mixed with the corporal's own hand. When +he offered it, the lad could not believe his eyes, and even when he +had poured it down his throat, he would not believe his own mouth; +and he ran away, leaving his provisions, chuckling along the lower +deck till he could gain the forecastle, and add this astonishing +piece of intelligence to the other facts, which were already the +theme of admiration.</p> +<p>"There be odd chops and changes in this here world, for sartin," +observed Coble. (Exactly the same remark as we made at the end of +the previous chapter.)</p> +<p>"Mayn't it all be gammon?" said Bill Spurey.</p> +<p>"Gammon, for why?" replied Jemmy Ducks.</p> +<p>"That's the question," rejoined Spurey.</p> +<p>"It appears to me that he must have had a touch of conscience," +said Coble.</p> +<p>"Or else he must have seen a ghost," replied Smallbones.</p> +<p>"I've heard of ghosts ashore, and sometimes on board of a ship, +but I never heard of a ghost in a jolly-boat," said Coble, spitting +under the gun.</p> +<p>"'Specially when there were hardly room for the corporal," added +Spurey.</p> +<p>"Yes," observed Short.</p> +<p>"Well, we shall know something about it to-night, for the +corporal and I am to have a palaver."</p> +<p>"Mind he don't circumwent you, Jimmy," said Spurey.</p> +<p>"It's my opinion," said Smallbones, "that he must be in real +arnest, otherwise he would not ha' come for to go for to give me a +glass of grog--there's no gammon in that;--and such a real stiff +'un too," continued Smallbones, who licked his lips at the bare +remembrance of the unusual luxury.</p> +<p>"True," said Short.</p> +<p>"It beats my comprehension altogether out of nothing," observed +Spurey. "There's something very queer in the wind. I wonder where +the corporal has been all this while."</p> +<p>"Wait till this evening," observed Jemmy Ducks; and, as this was +very excellent advice, it was taken, and the parties separated.</p> +<p>In the despatches it had been requested, as important +negotiations were going on, that the cutter might return +immediately, as there were other communications to make to the +States General on the part of the King of England; and a messenger +now informed Vanslyperken that he might sail as soon as he pleased, +as there was no reply to the despatches he had conveyed. This was +very agreeable to Vanslyperken, who was anxious to return to the +fair widow at Portsmouth, and also to avoid the Frau Vandersloosh. +At dusk, he manned his boat and went on shore to the French agent, +who had also found out that the cutter was ordered to return, and +had his despatches nearly ready. Vanslyperken waited about an hour; +when all was complete he received them, and then returned on +board.</p> +<p>As soon as he had quitted the vessel, Corporal Van Spitter went +to Jemmy Ducks, and without letting him know how matters stood on +shore, told him that he was convinced that Vanslyperken had sent +him into the boat on purpose to lose him, and that the reason was, +that he, Van Spitter, knew secrets which would at any time hang the +lieutenant. That in consequence he had determined upon revenge, and +in future would be heart and hand with the ship's company, but that +to secure their mutual object, it would be better that he should +appear devoted to Vanslyperken as before, and at variance with the +ship's company.</p> +<p>Now Jemmy, who was with all his wits at work, knew that it was +Smallbones who cut the corporal adrift; but that did not alter the +case, as the corporal did not know it. It was therefore advisable +to leave him in that error. But he required proofs of the +corporal's sincerity, and he told him so.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! what proof will you have? De proof of de pudding is +in de eating."</p> +<p>"Well, then," replied Jemmy, "will you shy the dog +overboard?"</p> +<p>"Te tog?--in one minute--and de master after him."</p> +<p>Whereupon Corporal Van Spitter went down into the cabin, which +Vanslyperken, trusting to his surveillance, had left unlocked, and +seizing the cur by the neck, carried him on deck, and hurled him +several yards over the cutter's quarter.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! but dat is well done," observed Jansen.</p> +<p>"And he'll not come back wid de tide. I know de tide, Mein +Gott!" observed the corporal, panting with the exertion.</p> +<p>But here the corporal was mistaken. Snarleyyow did not make for +the vessel, but for the shore, and they could not in the dark +ascertain what became of him, neither was the tide strong, for the +flood was nearly over; the consequence was, that the dog gained the +shore, and landed at the same stairs where the boats land. The men +were not in the boat, but waiting at a beer-shop a little above, +which Vanslyperken must pass when he came down again. Recognising +the boat, the cur leapt into it, and after a good shaking under the +thwarts, crept forward to where the men had thrown their +pea-jackets under the bow-sheets, curled himself up, and went to +sleep.</p> +<p>Shortly afterwards the lieutenant came down with the men, and +rowed on board but the dog, which, exhausted with his exertion, was +very comfortable where he was, did not come out, but remained in +his snug berth.</p> +<p>The lieutenant and men left the boat when they arrived on board, +without discovering that the dog was a passenger. About ten minutes +after the lieutenant had come on board, Snarleyyow jumped on deck, +but, as all the men were forward in close consultation, and in +anticipation of Mr Vanslyperken's discovery of his loss, the dog +gained the cabin, unperceived not only by the ship's company, but +by Vanslyperken, who was busy locking up the letters entrusted to +him by the French agent. Snarleyyow took his station under the +table, and lay down to finish his nap, where we must leave him for +the present in a sound sleep, and his snoring very soon reminded +Vanslyperken of what he had, for a short time unheeded, that his +favourite was present.</p> +<p>"Well, it's very odd," observed Spurey, "that he has been on +board nearly half-an-hour, and not discovered that his dog is +absent without leave."</p> +<p>"Yes," said Short.</p> +<p>"I know for why, mein Gott!" exclaimed the corporal, who shook +his head very knowingly.</p> +<p>"The corporal knows why," observed Jemmy Ducks.</p> +<p>"Then why don't he say why?" retorted Bill Spurey, who was still +a little suspicious of the corporal's fidelity.</p> +<p>"Because Mynheer Vanslyperken count his money de guineas," +replied the corporal, writhing at the idea of what he had lost by +his superior's interference.</p> +<p>"Ho, ho! his money, well, that's a good reason, for he would +skin a flint if he could," observed Coble; "but that can't last for +ever."</p> +<p>"That depends how often he may count it over," observed Jemmy +Ducks--"but there's his bell;" and soon after Corporal Van +Spitter's name was passed along the decks, to summon him into the +presence of his commanding officer.</p> +<p>"Now for a breeze," said Coble, hitching up his trousers.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"For a regular <i>shindy</i>," observed Spurey.</p> +<p>"Hell to pay and no pitch hot," added Jemmy, laughing; and they +all remained in anxious expectation of the corporal's return.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter had entered the cabin with the air of the +profoundest devotion and respect--had raised his hand up as usual, +but before the hand had arrived to its destination, he beheld +Vanslyperken seated on the locker, patting the head of Snarleyyow, +as if nothing had happened. At this unexpected resuscitation, the +corporal uttered a tremendous "Mein Gott!" and burst like a mad +bull out of the cabin, sweeping down all who obstructed his passage +on the lower deck, till he arrived to the fore-ladder, which he +climbed up with tottering knees, and then sank down on the +forecastle at the feet of Jemmy Ducks.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, mein Gott, mein Gott!" exclaimed the corporal, +putting his hands to his eyes as if to shut out the horrid +vision.</p> +<p>"What the devil is the matter?" exclaimed Coble.</p> +<p>"Ah! mein Gott, mein Gott!"</p> +<p>As it was evident that something uncommon had happened, they all +now crowded round the corporal, who, by degrees, recovered +himself.</p> +<p>"What is it, corporal?" inquired Jemmy Ducks.</p> +<p>Before the corporal could reply, Smallbones, who had been +summoned to the cabin on account of the corporal's unaccountable +exit, sprang up the ladder with one bound, his hair flying in every +direction, his eyes goggling, and his mouth wide open: lifting his +hands over his head, and pausing as if for breath, the lad +exclaimed with a solemn sepulchral voice, "By all the devils in +hell he's come again!"</p> +<p>"Who?" exclaimed several voices at once.</p> +<p>"Snarleyyow," replied Smallbones, mournfully.</p> +<p>"Yes--mein Gott!" exclaimed Corporal Van Spitter, attempting to +rise on his legs.</p> +<p>"Whew!" whistled Jemmy Ducks--but nobody else uttered a sound; +they all looked at one another, some with compressed lips, others +with mouths open. At last one shook his head--then another. The +corporal rose on his feet and shook himself like an elephant.</p> +<p>"Dat tog is de tyfel's imp, and dat's de end on it," said he, +with alarm still painted on his countenance.</p> +<p>"And is he really on board again?" inquired Coble, +doubtingly.</p> +<p>"As sartin as I stands on this here forecastle--a-kissing and +slobbering the lieutenant for all the world like a Christian," +replied Smallbones, despondingly.</p> +<p>"Then he flare fire on me wid his one eye," said the +corporal.</p> +<p>"Warn't even wet," continued Smallbones.</p> +<p>Here there was another summons for Corporal Van Spitter.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, I will not go," exclaimed the corporal.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, go, corporal," replied Smallbones; "it's the best way +to face the devil."</p> +<p>"Damn the devil!--and that's not swearing," exclaimed +Short--such a long sentence out of his mouth was added to the +marvels of the night--some even shrugged up their shoulders at +that, as if it also were supernatural.</p> +<p>"I always say so," said Jansen, "I always say so--no tog, no +tog, after all."</p> +<p>"No, no," replied Coble, shaking his head.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter was again summoned, but the corporal was +restive as a rhinoceros.</p> +<p>"Corporal," said Smallbones, who, since the glass of grog, was +his sincere ally, and had quite forgotten and forgiven his +treatment, "go down and see if you can't worm the truth out of +him."</p> +<p>"Ay, do, do!" exclaimed the rest.</p> +<p>"Smallbones--Smallbones--wanted aft," was the next summons.</p> +<p>"And here I go," exclaimed Smallbones. "I defy the devil and all +his works--as we said on Sunday at the workhouse."</p> +<p>"That lad's a prime bit of stuff," observed Spurey, "I will say +that."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>In a few seconds Smallbones came hastily up the ladder.</p> +<p>"Corporal, you must go to the cabin directly. He is in a devil +of a rage--asked me why you wouldn't come--told him that you had +seen something dreadful--didn't know what. Tell him you saw the +devil at his elbow--see if it frightens him."</p> +<p>"Yes, do," exclaimed the others.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter made up his mind; he pulled down the skirts +of his jacket, descended the ladder, and walked aft into the cabin. +At the sight of Snarleyyow the corporal turned pale--at the sight +of the corporal, Mr Vanslyperken turned red.</p> +<p>"What's the meaning of all this?" exclaimed Vanslyperken, in a +rage. "What is all this about, corporal? Explain your conduct, sir. +What made you rush out of the cabin in that strange manner?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, Mynheer Vanslyperken, I came for orders but I no +come keep company wid de tyfel."</p> +<p>"With the devil!--what do you mean?" exclaimed Vanslyperken, +alarmed. The corporal, perceiving that the lieutenant was +frightened, then entered into a detail, that when he had entered +the cabin he had seen the devil sitting behind Mr Vanslyperken, +looking over his shoulder, and grinning with his great eyes, while +he patted him over the back with his left hand and fondled the dog +with his right.</p> +<p>This invention of the corporal's, "whom Mr Vanslyperken +considered as a stanch friend and incapable of treachery, had a +great effect upon Mr Vanslyperken. It immediately rushed into his +mind that he had attempted murder but a few days before, and that, +that very day he had been a traitor to his country--quite +sufficient for the devil to claim him as his own.</p> +<p>"Corporal Van Spitter," exclaimed Vanslyperken with a look of +horror, "are you really in earnest, or are you not in your +senses--you really saw him?"</p> +<p>"As true as I stand here," replied the corporal, who perceived +his advantage.</p> +<p>"Then the Lord be merciful to me a sinner!" exclaimed +Vanslyperken, falling on his knees, at the moment forgetting the +presence of the corporal, and then recollecting himself, he jumped +up--"It is false, Corporal Van Spitter; false as you are +yourself--confess," continued the lieutenant, seizing the corporal +by the collar, "confess, that it is all a lie."</p> +<p>"A lie," exclaimed the corporal, who now lost his courage, "a +lie, Mynheer Vanslyperken! If it was not the tyfel himself it was +one of his imps, I take my Bible oath."</p> +<p>"One of his imps," exclaimed Vanslyperken; "it's a lie--an +infamous lie, confess," continued he, shaking the corporal by the +collar--"confess the truth."</p> +<p>At this moment Snarleyyow considered that he had a right to be a +party in the fray, so he bounded forward at the corporal, who, +terrified at the supernatural beast, broke from Vanslyperken's +grasp, and rushed out of the cabin, followed, however, the whole +length of the lower deck by the dog, who snapped and bayed at him +till he had gained the fore ladder.</p> +<p>Once more did the corporal make his appearance on the +forecastle, frightened and out of breath.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! de man is mad," exclaimed he, "and de tog is de +tyfel himself." The corporal then narrated in broken English what +had passed. For some time there was a confused whispering among the +men; they considered the dog's reappearance on this occasion even +more wonderful than on the former, for the men declared positively +that he never came off in the boat, which, had he done, would have +unravelled the whole mystery; and that a dog thrown overboard, and +swept away by the tide should be discovered shortly after perfectly +dry and comfortable, not only on board of the cutter, which he +could not have got on board of, but also in his master's cabin, +which he could not get into without being seen, proved at once that +the animal was supernatural. No one was now hardy enough to deny +it, and no one appeared to have the least idea of how to proceed +except Smallbones, who, as we have shown, was as full of energy as +he was deficient in fat. On all occasions of this kind the bravest +becomes the best man and takes the lead, and Smallbones, who +appeared more collected and less alarmed than the others, was now +listened to with attention, and the crowd collected round him.</p> +<p>"I don't care for him or for his dog either," exclaimed +Smallbones, with a drawling intrepid tone; "that dog I'll settle +the hash of some way or the other, if it be the devil's own cousin. +I'll not come for to go to leave off now, that's sartain, as I am +Peter Smallbones--I'se got a plan."</p> +<p>"Let's hear Smallbones,--let's hear Smallbones!" exclaimed some +of the men. Whereupon they all collected round the lad, who +addressed the crew as follows. His audience, at first, crowded up +close to him, but Smallbones, who could not talk without his arms, +which were about as long and thin as a Pongo's are in proportion to +his body, flapped and flapped as he discoursed, until he had +cleared a little ring, and when in the height of his energy he +threw them about like the arms of a windmill, every one kept at a +respectable distance.</p> +<p>"Well, now, I considers this, if so be as how the dog be a +devil, and not a dog, I sees no reason for to come for to go for to +be afraid; for ar'n't we all true Christians, and don't we all fear +God and honour the king? I sartainly myself does consider that that +ere dog could not a have cummed into this here vessel by any manner +of means natural not by no means, 'cause it's very clear, that a +dog if he be as he be a dog, can't do no more than other dogs can; +and if he can do more than heither dog or man can, then he must be +the devil, and not a dog--and so he is--that's sartain. But if so +be as he is the devil, I say again, I don't care, 'cause I sees +exactly how it is,--he be a devil, but he be only a sea-devil and +not a shore-devil, and I'll tell you for why. Didn't he come on +board some how no how in a gale of wind when he was called for? +Didn't I sew him up in a bread-bag, and didn't he come back just as +nothing had happened; and didn't the corporal launch him into a +surge over the taffrail, and he comes back just as if nothing had +happened? Well, then, one thing is clear; that his power be on the +water, and no water will drown that ere imp, so it's no use trying +no more in that way, for he be a sea-devil. But I thinks this: he +goes on shore and he comes back with one of his impish eyes knocked +out clean by somebody or another somehow or another, and, +therefore, I argues that he have no power on shore not by no means; +for if you can knock his eye out, you can knock his soul out of his +body, by only knocking a little more to the purpose. Who ever heard +of any one knocking out the devil's eye, or injuring him in any +way?--No; because he have power by sea and by land: but this here +be only a water-devil, and he may be killed on dry land. Now, +that's just my opinion, and as soon as I gets him on shore, I means +to try what I can do. I don't fear him, nor his master, nor +anything else, 'cause I'm a Christian, and was baptised +Peter; and I tells you all, that be he<br> +a dog, or be he a devil, I'll have a shy at him as soon as I can, +and if I don't, I hope I may be d--d, that's all."</p> +<p>Such was the oration of Smallbones, which was remarkably well +received. Everyone agreed with the soundness of his arguments, and +admired his resolution, and as he had comprised in his speech all +that could be said upon the subject, they broke up the conference, +and everyone went down to his hammock.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIII"></a>Chapter XXIII</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken finds great cause of vexation and +satisfaction.</h3> +<p>In the meanwhile Mr Vanslyperken was anything but comfortable in +his mind. That Corporal Van Spitter should assert that he saw the +devil at his shoulder, was a matter of no small annoyance any way; +for either the devil was at his shoulder or he was not. If he was, +why then it was evident that in consequence of his having attempted +murder, and having betrayed his country for money, the devil +considered him as his own, and this Mr Vanslyperken did not approve +of; for, like many others in this world, he wished to commit every +crime, and go to heaven after all. Mr Vanslyperken was +superstitious and cowardly, and he did believe that such a thing +was possible; and when he canvassed it in his mind, he trembled, +and looked over his shoulder.</p> +<p>But Corporal Van Spitter might have asserted it only to frighten +him. It was possible--but here again was a difficulty: the corporal +had been his faithful confidant for so long a while, and to suppose +this, would be to suppose that the corporal was a traitor to him, +and that, upon no grounds which Vanslyperken could conjecture, he +had turned false: this was impossible--Mr Vanslyperken would not +credit it; so there he stuck, like a man between the horns of a +dilemma, not knowing what to do; for Mr Vanslyperken resolved, had +the devil really been there, to have repented immediately, and have +led a new life; but if the devil had not been there, Mr +Vanslyperken did not perceive any cause for such an immediate +hurry.</p> +<p>At last, an idea presented itself to Mr Vanslyperken's mind, +which afforded him great comfort, which was, that the corporal had +suffered so much from his boat adventures--for the corporal had +made the most of his sufferings--that he was a little affected in +his mind, and had thought that he had seen something. "It must have +been so," said Mr Vanslyperken, who fortified the idea with a glass +of scheedam, and then went to bed.</p> +<p>Now, it so happened, that at the very time that Mr Vanslyperken +was arguing all this in his brain, Corporal Van Spitter was also +cogitating how he should get out of his scrape; for the Corporal, +although not very bright, had much of the cunning of little minds, +and he felt the necessity of lulling the suspicions of the +lieutenant. To conceal his astonishment and fear at the appearance +of the dog, he had libelled Mr Vanslyperken, who would not easily +forgive, and it was the corporal's interest to continue on the best +terms with, and enjoy the confidence of his superior. How was this +to be got over? It took the whole of the first watch, and +two-thirds of the middle, before the corporal, who lay in his +hammock, could hit upon any plan. At last he thought he had +succeeded. At daybreak, Corporal Van Spitter entered the cabin of +Mr Vanslyperken, who very coolly desired him to tell Short to get +all ready for weighing at six o'clock.</p> +<p>"If you please, Mynheer Vanslyperken, you think me mad last +night 'cause I see de tyfel at your shoulder. Mynheer Vanslyperken, +I see him twice again this night on lower deck. Mein Gott! Mynheer +Vanslyperken, I say twice."</p> +<p>"Saw him again twice!" replied the lieutenant.</p> +<p>"Yes, Mynheer Vanslyperken, I see twice again--I see him very +often since I drift in de boat. First, I see him when in de +boat--since that I see him one time, two times, in de night."</p> +<p>"It's just as I thought," said Mr Vanslyperken, "he has never +got over his alarm of that night.--Very well, Corporal Van Spitter, +it's of no consequence. I was very angry with you last night, +because I thought you were taking great liberties; but I see now +how it is, you must keep yourself quiet, and as soon as we arrive +at Portsmouth, you had better lose a little blood."</p> +<p>"How much, Mynheer Vanslyperken, do you wish I should lose?" +replied the corporal, with his military salute.</p> +<p>"About eight ounces, corporal."</p> +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the corporal, turning on his pivot, and +marching out of the cabin.</p> +<p>This was a peculiarly satisfactory interview to both parties. Mr +Vanslyperken was overjoyed at the corporal's explanation, and the +corporal was equally delighted at having so easily gulled his +superior.</p> +<p>The cutter weighed that morning, and sailed for Portsmouth. We +shall pass over the passage without any further remarks than that +the corporal was reinstated into Mr Vanslyperken's good +graces--that he appeared as usual to be harsh with the ship's +company, and to oppress Smallbones more than ever; but this was at +the particular request of the lad, who played his own part to +admiration--that Mr Vanslyperken again brought up the question of +flogging Jemmy Ducks, but was prevented by the corporal's +expressing his fears of a mutiny--and had also some secret +conference with the corporal as to his desire of vengeance upon +Smallbones, to which Van Spitter gave a ready ear, and appeared to +be equally willing with the lieutenant to bring it about. Things +were in this state when the cutter arrived at Portsmouth, and, as +usual, ran into the harbour. It may be supposed that Mr +Vanslyperken was in all haste to go on shore to pay his visit to +his charming widow, but still there was one thing to be done first, +which was to report himself to the admiral.</p> +<p>On his arrival at the admiral's, much to his dissatisfaction, he +was informed that he must hold himself ready for sailing +immediately, as despatches for the Hague were expected down on the +next morning. This would give but a short time to pay his +addresses, and he therefore made all haste to the widow's presence, +and was most graciously received. She almost flew into his arms, +upbraided him for being so long away, for not having written to +her, and showed such marks of strong attachment, that Vanslyperken +was in ecstasies. When he told her that he expected to sail again +immediately, she put her handkerchief up to her eyes, and appeared, +to Vanslyperken at least, to shed a few bitter tears. As soon as +she was a little more composed, Vanslyperken produced the packet +with which he was entrusted, which she opened, and took out two +letters, one for herself, and the other addressed to a certain +person in a house in another street.</p> +<p>"This," said the widow, "you must deliver yourself--it is of +consequence. I would deliver it, but if I do, I shall not be able +to look after my little arrangements for dinner, for you dine with +me of course. Besides, you must be acquainted with this person one +time or another, as it will be for OUR advantage."</p> +<p>"OUR advantage!" how delightful to Mr Vanslyperken was that +word! He jumped up immediately, and took his hat to execute the +commission, the injunction of the widow to be soon back hastening +his departure. Vanslyperken soon arrived at the door, knocked, and +was admitted.</p> +<p>"Vat vash you vant, sare?" said a venerable looking old Jew, who +opened the door to him.</p> +<p>"Is your name Lazarus?" inquired the lieutenant.</p> +<p>"Dat vash my name."</p> +<p>"I have a letter for you."</p> +<p>"A letter for me!--and from vare?"</p> +<p>"Amsterdam."</p> +<p>"Shee! silence," said the Jew, leading the way into a small +room, and shutting the door.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken delivered the letter, which the Jew did not open, +but laid on the table. "It vas from my worthy friend in Billen +Shaaten. He ist veil?"</p> +<p>"Quite well," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Ven do you sail again, mynheer?"</p> +<p>"To-morrow morning."</p> +<p>"Dat is good. I have the letters all ready; dey come down +yesterday--vil you vait and take them now?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, who anticipated another rouleau of +gold on his arrival at Amsterdam.</p> +<p>"An den I will give you your monish at de same time."</p> +<p>More money, thought Vanslyperken, who replied then, "With all my +heart," and took a chair.</p> +<p>The Jew left the room, and soon returned with a small yellow +bag, which he put into Vanslyperken's hand, and a large packet +carefully sealed. "Dis vas of de hutmost importance," said the old +man, giving him the packet. "You will find you monish all right, +and now vas please just put your name here, for I vas responsible +for all de account;" and the Jew laid down a receipt for +Vanslyperken to sign. Vanslyperken read it over. It was an +acknowledgment for the sum of fifty guineas, but not specifying for +what service. He did not much like to sign it, but how could he +refuse? Besides, as the Jew said, it was only to prove that the +money was paid; nevertheless he objected.</p> +<p>"Vy vill you not sign? I must not lose my monish, and I shall +lose it if you do not sign. Vat you fear--you not fear that we +peach; ven peoples pay so high, they not pay for noting. We all +sall hang togeder if de affair be found."</p> +<p>Hang together! thought Vanslyperken, whose fears were roused, +and he turned pale.</p> +<p>"You are vell paid for your shervices--you vas vell paid at +doder side of de vater, and you are now von of us. You cannot go +back, or your life vill be forfeit, I can assure you--you vill sign +if you please--and you vill not leave dis house, until you do +sign," continued the Jew. "You vill not take our monish and den +give de information, and hang us all. You vill sign, if you please, +sare."</p> +<p>There was a steadiness of countenance and a firmness in the tone +of the old man, which told Vanslyperken that he was not to be +trifled with, and assured him that he must have help at hand if +requisite. If left to himself, the Jew would have been easily +mastered by the lieutenant, but that such was not the case, was +soon proved, by the old man ringing a small silver bell on the +table, and shortly afterwards there was a rustling and noise, as if +of several persons, heard in the passage. Vanslyperken now +perceived that he was entrapped, and he also felt that it was too +late to retreat. Actuated by his fear of violence on the one hand, +and his love of gold on the other, he consented to sign the voucher +required. As soon as this was done, the old Jew was all civility. +He took the paper, and locked it up in a large cabinet, and then +observed,</p> +<p>"It is for your own shafety, sare lieutenant, dat we are obliged +to do dis. You have noting to fear--we are too much in want of good +friends like you, to lose them, but we must be safe and shure; now +you are von of us--you cannot tell but we can tell too--we profit +togeder, and I vill hope dat we do run no risk to be hang togeder. +Fader Abraham! we must not think of that, but of de good cause, and +of de monish. I am a Jew, and I care not whether de Papist or de +Protestant have de best of it--but I call it all de good cause, +because every cause is good which brings de monish."</p> +<p>So thought Vanslyperken, who was in heart a Jew.</p> +<p>"And now, sare, you vill please to take great care of de packet, +and deliver it to our friend at Amsterdam, and you vill of course +come to me ven you return here."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken took his leave, with the packet in his pocket, not +very well pleased; but as he put the packet in, he felt the yellow +bag, and that to a certain degree consoled him. The old Jew +escorted him to the door, with his little keen gray eyes fixed upon +him, and Vanslyperken quailed before it, and was glad when he was +once more in the street. He hastened back to the widow's house, +full of thought--he certainly had never intended to have so +committed himself as he had done, or to have positively enrolled +himself among the partisans of the exiled king; but the money had +entrapped him--he had twice taken their wages, and he had now been +obliged to give them security for his fidelity, by enabling them to +prove his guilt whenever they pleased. All this made Mr +Vanslyperken rather melancholy--but his meditations were put an end +to by his arrival in the presence of the charming widow. She asked +him what had passed, and he narrated it, but with a little +variation, for he would not tell that he had signed through a fear +of violence, but, at the same time, he observed, that he did not +much like signing a receipt.</p> +<p>"But that is necessary," replied she; "and besides, why not? I +know you are on our side, and you will prove most valuable to us. +Indeed, I believe it was your readiness to meet my wishes that made +me so fond of you, for I am devotedly attached to the rightful +king, and I never would marry any man who would not risk life and +soul for him, as you have done now."</p> +<p>The expression "life and soul," made Vanslyperken shudder, and +his flesh crept all over his body.</p> +<p>"Besides," continued the widow, "it will be no small help to us, +for the remuneration is very great."</p> +<p>"To us!" thought Vanslyperken, who now thought it right to press +his suit. He was listened to attentively, and at last he proposed +an early day for the union. The widow blushed, and turned her head +away, and at last replied, with a sweet smile, "Well, Mr +Vanslyperken, I will neither tease you nor myself--when you come +back from your next trip, I consent to be yours."</p> +<p>What was Vanslyperken's delight and exultation! He threw himself +on his knees, promised, and vowed, and thanked, kissed hands, and +was in such ecstasies! He could hardly imagine that his good +fortune was real. A beautiful widow with a handsome fortune--how +could he ever have thought of throwing himself away upon such a +bunch of deformity as the Frau Vandersloosh? Poor Mr Vanslyperken! +Dinner put an end to his protestations. He fared sumptuously, and +drank freely to please the widow. He drank death to the usurper, +and restoration to the King James. What a delightful evening! The +widow was so amiable, so gentle, so yielding, so, so, so--what with +wine and love, and fifty guineas in his pocket, Mr Vanslyperken was +so overcome with his feelings, that at last he felt but so so. +After a hundred times returning to kiss her dear, dear hand, and at +last sealing the contract on her lips, Mr Vanslyperken departed, +full of wine and hope--two very good things to lay in a stock +of.</p> +<p>But there was something doing on board during Mr Vanslyperken's +absence. Notwithstanding Mr Vanslyperken having ordered Moggy out +of the cutter, she had taken the opportunity of his being away to +go on board to her dear, darling Jemmy. Dick Short did not prevent +her coming on board, and he was commanding officer, so Moggy once +more had her husband in her arms; but the fond pair soon retired to +a quiet corner, where they had a long and serious conversation; so +long, and so important, it would appear, that they did not break +off until Mr Vanslyperken came on board, just before dark. His +quick eye soon perceived that there was a petticoat at the +taffrail, where they retired that they might not be overheard, and +he angrily inquired who it was, his wrath was not appeased when he +heard that it was Salisbury's wife, and he ordered her immediately +to be put on shore, and sent for Corporal Van Spitter in his cabin, +to know why she was on board. The corporal replied, "That Mr Short +had let her in; that he had wished to speak on the subject, but +that Mr Short would not speak," and then entertained his superior +with a long account of mutinous expressions on the lower deck, and +threats of doing him (Mr Vanslyperken) a mischief. This +conversation was interrupted by a messenger coming on board with +the despatches, and an order to sail at daylight, and return +immediately without waiting for any answers.</p> +<p>The reader may wish to know the subject of the long conversation +between Jemmy Ducks and his wife. It involved the following +question. Moggy had become very useful to Nancy Corbett, and Nancy, +whose services were required at the cave, and could not well be +dispensed with, had long been anxious to find some one, who, with +the same general knowledge of parties, and the same discrimination, +could be employed in her stead. In Moggy she had found the person +required, but Moggy would not consent without her husband was of +the same party, and here lay the difficulty. Nancy had had a reply, +which was satisfactory, from Sir Robert Barclay, so far as this. He +required one or two more men, and they must be trustworthy, and +able to perform the duty in the boats. Jemmy was not very great at +pulling, for his arms were too short as well as his legs, but he +was a capital steersman. All this had been explained to Nancy, who +at last consented to Jemmy being added to the crew of the smuggler, +and Moggy had gone off to the cutter to persuade Jemmy to desert, +and to join the smugglers.</p> +<p>Now, as to joining the smugglers, Jemmy had not the least +objection: he was tired of the cutter, and being separated from his +wife had been to him a source of great discontent; but, as Jemmy +very truly observed, "If I desert from the vessel, and am ever seen +again, I am certain to be known, and taken up; therefore I will not +desert, I will wait till I am paid off, unless you can procure my +discharge by means of your friends." Such had been the result of +the colloquy, when interrupted by the arrival of Vanslyperken, and +the case thus stood, when, on the next morning, at daylight, the +cutter weighed, and steered her course for the Texel.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIV"></a>Chapter XXIV</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken has nothing but trouble from the +beginning to the end.</h3> +<br> +<p>So soon as the cutter had sailed, Moggy hastened to the +pretended widow to report the answer of her husband. Nancy +considered that there was much sound judgment in what Jemmy had +said, and immediately repaired to the house of the Jew, Lazarus, to +whom she communicated her wishes. At that time, there were many +people high in office who secretly favoured King James, and the +links of communication between such humble individuals as we are +treating of, with those in power, although distant, were +perfect.</p> +<p>In a few days, an order came down for the discharge of James +Salisbury from the cutter <i>Yungfrau</i>, and the letter the same +day was put into the hands of the delighted Moggy.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken made his short passage to the Zuyder Zee, and +anchored as usual; and when he had anchored, he proceeded to go on +shore. Previously, however, to his stepping into the boat, the +ship's company came aft, with Jemmy at their head, to know whether +they might have leave on shore, as they were not very well pleased +at their liberty having been stopped at Portsmouth.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken very politely told them that he would see them +all at the devil first, and then stepped into his boat; he at once +proceeded to the house of the Jesuit, and this time, much to his +satisfaction, without having been perceived, as he thought, by the +widow Vandersloosh and Babette, who did not appear at the door. +Having delivered his despatches, and received his customary fee, Mr +Vanslyperken mentioned the difficulty of his coming to the house, +as he was watched by some people opposite, and inquired if he could +have the letters sent under cover to himself by some trusty hand, +mentioning the ill-will of the parties in question. To this the +Jesuit consented, and Vanslyperken took his leave; but on leaving +the house he was again annoyed by the broad form of the widow, with +Babette, as usual, at her shoulder, with their eyes fixed upon him. +Without attempting a recognition, for Vanslyperken cared little for +the opinion of the Frau Vandersloosh, now that he was accepted by +the fair widow of Portsmouth, Mr Vanslyperken walked quietly +away.</p> +<p>"Ah, very well, Mr Vanslyperken--very well," exclaimed the Frau +Vandersloosh, as he pursued his way at a rapid rate; "very well, Mr +Vanslyperken--we shall see--three times have you entered those +doors, and with a fifty guineas in your pocket, I'll be bound, +every time that you have walked out of them. Treason is paid high, +but the traitor sometimes hangs higher still. Yes, yes, Mr +Vanslyperken, we shall see--we are evidence, Mr Vanslyperken--and +I'll not be married before I see you well hanged, Mr Vanslyperken. +Deary me, Babette," exclaimed the widow, altering her tone, "I +wonder how the corporal is: poor dear man, to be ruled by such a +traitorous atomy as he."</p> +<p>"Perhaps he will come ashore, madam," replied Babette.</p> +<p>"No, no, he will never let him; but, as you say, perhaps he may. +Put half a dozen bottles of the best beer to the stove--not too +near, Babette--he is fond of my beer, and it does one's heart good +to see him drink it, Babette. And, Babette, I'll just go up and put +on something a little tidier. I think he will come--I know he will +if he can."</p> +<p>We must leave the widow to decorate her person, and follow +Vanslyperken down to the boat, and on board. On his arrival, he +went down into the cabin to lock up his money. When Corporal Van +Spitter went to the cabin-door, the corporal heard the clanking of +the pieces as Vanslyperken counted them, and his bile was raised at +the idea of Vanslyperken possessing that which should have been his +own. The corporal waited a little, and then knocked. Vanslyperken +put away the rest of his money, shut the drawer, and told him to +come in.</p> +<p>The corporal saluted, and made a request to be allowed to go on +shore for an hour or two.</p> +<p>"Go on shore! <i>you</i> go on shore, corporal? why you never +asked to go on shore before," replied the suspicious +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"If you please, sir," replied the corporal, "I wish to pay de +people who gave me de board and de lodging ven I vas last on +shore."</p> +<p>"Ah, very true, I forgot that, corporal. Well, then, you may go +on shore; but do not stop long, for the people are much inclined to +mutiny, and I cannot do without you."</p> +<p>The corporal quitted the cabin and was put on shore by two of +the men in the small boat. He hastened up to the widow's house, and +was received with open arms. Seated on the squab sofa, with a +bottle of beer on the table, and five others all ready at the +stove, the widow's smiles beaming on him, who could be more happy +than the Corporal Van Spitter? The blinds were up at the windows, +the front door fast to prevent intrusion, and then the widow and he +entered into a long colloquy, interrupted occasionally by little +amorous dallyings, which reminded you of the wooings of a male and +female elephant.</p> +<p>We shall give the substance of the conversation. The widow +expressed her indignation against Vanslyperken, and her resolution +not to be married until he was hanged. The corporal immediately +became an interested party, and vowed that he would assist all in +his power. He narrated all that had passed since he had left the +widow's, and the supernatural appearance of the dog after he had +thrown it overboard. He then pointed out that it was necessary that +Vanslyperken should not only be blinded as to the state of matters +between them, but that, to entrap him still more, the widow should, +if possible, make friends with him. To this the widow unwillingly +consented; but as the corporal pointed out that that was the only +chance of her occasionally seeing him, and that by his pretending +to be in love with Babette, Vanslyperken might be deceived +completely, she did consent; the more so, that the greater would be +his disappointment at the end, the more complete would be her +vengeance. Their plans being arranged, it was then debated whether +it would not be better to send some message on board to +Vanslyperken, and it was agreed that it should be taken by the +corporal. At last all was arranged, the six bottles of beer were +finished, and the corporal having been permitted to imprint as many +hearty smacks upon the widow's thick and juicy lips, he returned on +board.</p> +<p>"Come on board, Mynheer Vanslyperken," said the corporal, +entering the cabin.</p> +<p>"Very well, corporal; did you do all you wanted? for we sail +again at daylight."</p> +<p>"Yes, mynheer, and I see somebody I never see before."</p> +<p>"Who was that, corporal?" replied Vanslyperken, for he had been +feasting upon the recollections of the fair Portsmouth widow, and +was in a very good humour.</p> +<p>"One fine Frau, Mynheer Vanslyperken--very fine Frau. Babette +came up to me in the street."</p> +<p>"Oh, Babette--well, what did she say?"</p> +<p>Hereupon the corporal, as agreed with the widow, entered into a +long explanation, stating his Babette had told him that her +mistress was very much surprised that Mr Vanslyperken had passed +close to the door, and had never come in to call upon her; that her +mistress had been quite satisfied with Mr Vanslyperken's letter, +and would wish to see him again; and that he, the corporal, had +told Babette the dog had been destroyed by him, Mr Vanslyperken, +and he hoped he had done right in saying so.</p> +<p>"No," replied Vanslyperken, "you have done wrong; and if you go +on shore again, you may just give this answer, that Mr Vanslyperken +don't care a d--n for the old woman; that she may carry her carcass +to some other market, for Mr Vanslyperken would not touch her with +a pair of tongs. Will you recollect that, corporal?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied the corporal, grinding his teeth at this insult +to his betrothed, "yes, mynheer, I will recollect that. Mein Gott! +I shall not forget it."</p> +<p>"Kill my dog, heh!" continued Vanslyperken, talking to himself +aloud. "Yes, yes, Frau Vandersloosh, you shall fret to some +purpose. I'll worry down your fat for you. Yes, yes, Madam +Vandersloosh, you shall bite your nails to the quick yet. Nothing +would please you but Snarleyyow dead at your porch. My dog, +indeed!--you may go now, corporal."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! but ve vill see as well as you, Mynheer +Vanslyperken." muttered the corporal, as he walked forward.</p> +<p>After dark, a man came alongside in a small boat, and desired to +see Mr Vanslyperken. As soon as he was in the cabin and the door +shut, he laid some letters on the table, and without saying a word +went on deck and on shore again. At daybreak the cutter weighed, +and ran with a fair wind to Portsmouth.</p> +<p>With what a bounding heart did Mr Vanslyperken step into the +boat attired in his best! He hardly could prevail upon himself to +report his arrival to the admiral, so impatient was he to throw +himself at the fair widow's feet, and claim her promise upon his +return. He did so, however, and then proceeded to the house in +Castle Street.</p> +<p>His heart beat rapidly as he knocked at the door, and he awaited +the opening with impatience. At last it was opened, but not by the +widow's servant. "Is Mrs Malcolm at home?" inquired +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Malcolm, sir!" replied the woman; "do you mean the lady who was +living here, and left yesterday?"</p> +<p>"Left yesterday!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, hardly able to stand +on his feet.</p> +<p>"Yes, only yesterday afternoon. Went away with a gentleman."</p> +<p>"A gentleman!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, all amazement.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir; pray, sir, be you the officer of the king's +cutter?"</p> +<p>"I am!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, leaning against the door-jamb +for support.</p> +<p>"Then, sir, here be a letter for you." So saying, the woman +pulled up her dirty apron, then her gown, and at last arrived at a +queer fustian pocket, out of which she produced the missive, which +had been jumbled in company with a bit of wax, a ball of blue +worsted, some halfpence, a copper thimble, and a lump of Turkey +rhubarb, from all of which companions it had received a variety of +hues and colours. Vanslyperken seized the letter as soon as it was +produced, and passing by the woman, went into the dining-parlour, +where, with feelings of anxiety, he sat down, brushed the +perspiration from his forehead, and read as follows:</p> +<p>"<i>My dear, dear, ever dear Mr Vanslyperken,</i></p> +<p>"Pity me, pity me, O pity me! Alas! how soon is the cup of bliss +dashed from the lips of us poor mortals. I can hardly write, hardly +hold my pen, or hold my head up. I cannot bear that, from my hand, +you should be informed of the utter blight of all our hopes which +blossomed so fully. Alas! alas! but it must be. O my head, my poor, +poor head--how it swims! I was sitting at the fireside, thinking +when you would return, and trying to find out if the wind was fair, +when I heard a knock at the door. It was so like yours, that my +heart beat, and I ran to the window, but I could not see who it +was, so I sat down again. Imagine my surprise, my horror, my +vexation, my distress, my agony, when who should come in but my +supposed dead husband! I thought I should have died when I saw him. +I dropped as it was, down into a swoon, and when I came to my +senses, there he was hanging over me; thinking, poor fool, that I +had swooned for joy, and kissing me--pah! yes, kissing me. O dear! +O dear! My dear Mr Vanslyperken, I thought of you, and what your +feelings would be, when you know all this; but there he was alive, +and in good health, and now I have nothing more to do but to lie +down and die.</p> +<p>"It appears that in my ravings I called upon you over and over +again, and discovered the real state of my poor bleeding heart, and +he was very angry: he packed up everything, and he insisted upon my +leaving Portsmouth. Alas! I shall be buried in the north, and never +see you again. But why should I, my dear Mr Vanslyperken? what good +will come of it? I am a virtuous woman, and will be so: but, O +dear! I can write no more.</p> +<p>"Farewell, then, farewell! Farewell for ever! Dear Mr +Vanslyperken, think no more of your disconsolate, unhappy, +heart-broken, miserable</p> +<blockquote>"ANN MALCOLM.</blockquote> +<p>"<i>P.S.</i>--For my sake you will adhere to the good cause; I +know you will, my dearest."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken perused this heart-rending epistle, and fell +back on his chair almost suffocated. The woman, who had stood in +the passage while he read the letter, came to his assistance, and +pouring some water into his mouth, and throwing a portion of it +over his face, partially revived him. Vanslyperken's head fell on +the table upon his hands, and for some minutes remained in that +position. He then rose, folded the letter, put it in his pocket, +and staggered out of the house without saying a word.</p> +<p>O Nancy Corbett! Nancy Corbett! this was all your doing.</p> +<p>You had gained your point in winning over the poor man to commit +treason--you had waited till he was so entangled that he could not +escape, or in future refuse to obey the orders of the Jacobite +party--you had seduced him, Nancy Corbett--you had intoxicated +him--in short, Nancy, you had ruined him, and then you threw him +over by this insidious and perfidious letter.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken walked away, he hardly knew whither--his mind was a +chaos. It did so happen, that he took the direction of his mother's +house, and, as he gradually recovered himself, he hastened there to +give vent to his feelings. The old woman seldom or ever went out; +if she did, it was in the dusk, to purchase in one half-hour enough +to support existence for a fortnight.</p> +<p>She was at home with her door locked, as usual, when he demanded +admittance.</p> +<p>"Come in, child, come in," said the old beldame, as with palsied +hands she undid the fastenings. "I dreamt of you, last night, +Cornelius, and when I dream of others it bodes them no good."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken sat down on a chest, without giving any answer. He +put his hand up to his forehead, and groaned in the bitterness of +his spirit.</p> +<p>"Ah! ah!" said his mother "I have put my hand up in that way in +my time. Yes, yes--when my brain burned--when I had done the deed. +What have you done, my child? Pour out your feelings into your +mother's bosom. Tell me all--tell me why--and tell me, did you get +any money?"</p> +<p>"I have lost everything," replied Vanslyperken, in a melancholy +tone.</p> +<p>"Lost everything! then you must begin over again, and take from +others till you have recovered all. That's the way--I'll have more +yet, before I die. I shall not die yet--no, no."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken remained silent for some time. He then, as usual, +imparted to his mother all that had occurred.</p> +<p>"Well, well, my child; but there is the other one. Gold is gold, +one wife is as good--to neglect--as another. My child, never marry +a woman for love--she will make a fool of you. You have had a lucky +escape--I see you have, Cornelius. But where is the gold you said +you took for turning traitor--where is it?"</p> +<p>"I shall bring it on shore to-morrow, mother."</p> +<p>"Do, child, do. They may find you out--they may hang you--but +they shall never wrest the gold from me. It will be safe--quite +safe, with me, as long as I live. I shall not die yet--no, no."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken rose to depart; he was anxious to be aboard.</p> +<p>"Go, child, go. I have hopes of you--you have murdered, have you +not?"</p> +<p>"No, no," replied Vanslyperken, "he lives yet."</p> +<p>"Then try again. At all events, you have wished to murder, and +you have sold your country for gold. Cornelius Vanslyperken, by the +hatred I bear the whole world, I feel that I almost love you +now;--I see you are my own child. Now go, and mind to-morrow you +bring the gold."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken quitted the house, and walked down to go on board +again; the loss of the fair widow, all his hopes dashed at once to +the ground, his having neglected the widow Vandersloosh and sent +her an insulting message, had only the effect of raising his bile. +He vowed vengeance against everybody and everything, especially +against Smallbones, whom he was determined he would sacrifice: +murder now was no longer horrible to his ideas; on the contrary, +there was a pleasure in meditating upon it, and the loss of the +expected fortune of the fair Mrs Malcolm only made him more eager +to obtain gold, and he contemplated treason as the means of so +doing without any feelings of compunction.</p> +<p>On his arrival on board, he found an order from the Admiralty to +discharge James Salisbury. This added to his choler and his +meditations of revenge. Jemmy Ducks had not been forgotten; and he +determined not to make known the order until he had punished him +for his mutinous expressions; but Moggy had come on board during +his absence, and delivered to her husband the letter from the +Admiralty notifying his discharge. Vanslyperken sent for Corporal +Van Spitter to consult, but the corporal informed him that Jemmy +Ducks knew of his discharge. Vanslyperken's anger was now without +bounds. He hastened on deck, and ordered the hands to be turned up +for punishment, but Corporal Van Spitter hastened to give warning +to Jemmy, who did not pipe the hands when ordered.</p> +<p>"Where is that scoundrel, James Salisbury?" cried +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Here is James Salisbury," replied Jemmy, coming aft.</p> +<p>"Turn the hands up for punishment, sir."</p> +<p>"I don't belong to the vessel," replied Jemmy, going +forward.</p> +<p>"Corporal Van Spitter--where is Corporal Van Spitter?"</p> +<p>"Here, sir," said the corporal, coming up the hatchway in a +pretended bustle.</p> +<p>"Bring that man, Salisbury, aft."</p> +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the corporal, going forward with assumed +eagerness.</p> +<p>But all the ship's company had resolved that this act of +injustice should not be done. Salisbury was no longer in the +service, and although they knew the corporal to be on their side, +they surrounded Jemmy on the forecastle, and the corporal came aft, +declaring that he could not get near the prisoner. As he made this +report a loud female voice was heard alongside.</p> +<p>"So, you'd flog my Jemmy, would you, you varmint? But you won't +though; he's not in the service, and you sha'n't touch him; but +I'll tell you what, keep yourself on board, Mr Leeftenant, for if I +cotches you on shore, I'll make you sing in a way you don't think +on. Yes, flog my Jemmy, my dear darling duck of a Jemmy--stop a +minute--I'm coming aboard."</p> +<p>Suiting the action to the word, for the sailors had beckoned to +Moggy to come on board, she boldly pulled alongside, and skipping +over, she went up direct to Mr Vanslyperken. "I'll just trouble you +for my husband, and no mistake," cried Moggy.</p> +<p>"Corporal Van Spitter, turn that woman out of the ship."</p> +<p>"Turn me, a lawful married woman, who comes arter my own husband +with the orders of your masters, Mr Leeftenant!--I'd like to see +the man. I axes you for my Jemmy, and I'll trouble you just to hand +him here--if not, look out for squalls, that's all. I demand my +husband in the king's name, so just hand him over," continued +Moggy, putting her nose so close to that of Mr Vanslyperken that +they nearly touched, and then after a few seconds' pause, for +Vanslyperken could not speak for rage, she added, "Well, you're a +nice leeftenant, I don't think."</p> +<p>"Send for your marines, Corporal Van Spitter."</p> +<p>"I have, Mynheer Vanslyperken," replied the corporal, standing +erect and saluting; "and if you please, sir, they have joined the +ship's company. You and I, mynheer, are left to ourselves."</p> +<p>"I'll just trouble you for my little duck of a husband," +repeated Moggy. Vanslyperken was at a nonplus. The crew were in a +state of mutiny, the marines had joined them--what could he do? To +appeal to the higher authorities would be committing himself, for +he knew that he could not flog a man who no longer belonged to the +vessel.</p> +<p>"I wants my husband," repeated Moggy, putting her arms +a-kimbo.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken made no reply. The corporal waited for orders, +and Moggy waited for her husband.</p> +<p>Just at this moment, Snarleyyow, who had followed his master on +deck, had climbed up the small ladder, and was looking over the +gunnel on the side where the boat lay in which Moggy came on board. +Perceiving this, with the quickness of thought she ran at the dog +and pushed him over the side into the boat, in which he fell with a +heavy bound; she then descended the side, ordered the man to shove +off, and kept at a short distance from the cutter with the dog in +her possession.</p> +<p>"Now, now," cried Moggy, slapping her elbow, "hav'n't I got the +dog, and won't I cut him up into sassingers and eat him in the +bargain, if you won't give me my dear darling Jemmy and all his +papers in the bargain?"</p> +<p>"Man the boat," cried Vanslyperken. But no one would obey the +order.</p> +<p>"Look here," cried Moggy, flourishing a knife which she had +borrowed from the man in the boat. "This is for the cur; and unless +you let my Jemmy go, ay and directly too--"</p> +<p>"Mercy, woman!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, "Do not harm the poor +dog, and your husband shall go on shore."</p> +<p>"With his papers all ready to receive his pay?" inquired +Moggy.</p> +<p>"Yes, with his papers and everything, if you'll not harm the +poor beast."</p> +<p>"Be quick about them, for my fingers are itching, I can tell +you," replied Moggy. "Recollect, I will have my Jemmy, and cut the +dog's throat in the bargain if you don't look sharp."</p> +<p>"Directly, good woman, directly," cried Vanslyperken, "be +patient."</p> +<p>"Good woman! no more a good woman than yourself," replied +Moggy.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken desired the corporal to see Jemmy Ducks in the +boat, and went down into the cabin to sign his pay order. He then +returned, for he was dreadfully alarmed lest Moggy should put her +threats in execution.</p> +<p>Jemmy's chest and hammocks were in the boat. He shook hands with +his shipmates, and receiving the papers and his discharge from +Corporal Van Spitter, and exchanging an intelligent glance with +him, he went down the side. The boat pulled round the stern to take +in Moggy, who then ordered the waterman to put the dog on board +again.</p> +<p>"My word's as good as my bond," observed Moggy, as she stepped +into the other boat, "and so there's your cur again, Mr Leeftenant; +but mark my words: I owe you one, and I'll pay you with interest +before I have done with you."</p> +<p>Jemmy then raised his pipe to his lips, and sounded its loudest +note: the men gave him three cheers, and Mr Vanslyperken in a +paroxysm of fury, ran down into his cabin.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXV"></a>Chapter XXV</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken proves that he has a great aversion to +cold steel.</h3> +<br> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken had been so much upset by the events of the day, +that he had quite forgotten to deliver the letters entrusted to him +to the care of the Jew Lazarus; weighty indeed must have been the +events which could have prevented him from going to receive +money.</p> +<p>He threw himself on his bed with combined feelings of rage and +mortification, and slept a feverish sleep in his clothes.</p> +<p>His dreams were terrifying, and he awoke in the morning +unrefreshed. The mutiny and defection of the ship's company, he +ascribed entirely to the machinations of Smallbones, whom he now +hated with a feeling so intense, that he felt he could have +murdered him in the open day. Such were the first impulses that his +mind resorted to upon his awaking, and after some little demur, he +sent for Corporal Van Spitter, to consult with him. The corporal +made his appearance, all humility and respect, and was again +sounded as to what could be done with Smallbones, Vanslyperken +hinting very clearly what his wishes tended to.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter, who had made up his mind how to act after +their previous conference, hummed and ha'ed, and appeared unwilling +to enter upon the subject, until he was pushed by his commandant, +when the corporal observed there was something very strange about +the lad, and hinted at his being sent in the cutter on purpose to +annoy his superior.</p> +<p>"That on that night upon which he had stated that he had seen +the devil three times, once it was sitting on the head-clue of +Smallbones' hammock, and at another time that he was evidently in +converse with the lad, and that there were strange stories among +the ship's company, who considered that both Smallbones and the dog +were supernatural agents."</p> +<p>"My dog--Snarleyyow--a--what do you mean, corporal?"</p> +<p>The corporal then told Mr Vanslyperken that he had discovered +that several attempts had been made to drown the dog, but without +success; and that among the rest, he had been thrown by Smallbones +into the canal, tied up in a bread-bag, and had miraculously made +his appearance again.</p> +<p>"The villain!" exclaimed Vanslyperken. "That then was the +paving-stone. Now I've found it out, I'll cut his very soul out of +his body."</p> +<p>But the corporal protested against open measures, as, although +it was known by his own confession to be the case, it could not be +proved, as none of the men would tell.</p> +<p>"Besides, he did not think that any further attempts would be +made, as Smallbones had been heard to laugh and say, 'that water +would never hurt him or the dog,' which observation of the lad's +had first made the ship's company suspect."</p> +<p>"Very true," exclaimed Vanslyperken; "he floated out to the Nab +buoy and back again, when I--" Here Mr Vanslyperken stopped short, +and he felt a dread of supernatural powers in the lad, when he +thought of what had passed and what he now heard.</p> +<p>"So they think my dog--"</p> +<p>"De tyfel," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken was not very sorry for this, as it would be the +dog's protection; but at the same time he was not at all easy about +Smallbones; for Mr Vanslyperken, as we have observed before, was +both superstitious and cowardly.</p> +<p>"Water won't hurt him, did you say, corporal?"</p> +<p>"Yes, mynheer."</p> +<p>"Then I'll try what a pistol will do, by heavens!" replied +Vanslyperken. "He threw my dog into the canal, and I'll be +revenged, if revenge is to be had. That will do, corporal, you may +go now," continued Vanslyperken, who actually foamed with rage.</p> +<p>The corporal left the cabin, and it having occurred to +Vanslyperken that he had not delivered the letters, he dressed +himself to go on shore.</p> +<p>After having once more read through the letter of the fair +widow, which, at the same time that it crushed all his hopes, from +its kind tenour, poured some balm into his wounded heart, he +sighed, folded it up, put it away, and went on deck.</p> +<p>"Pipe the gig away," said Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"No pipe," replied Short.</p> +<p>This reminded Mr Vanslyperken that Jemmy Ducks had left the +ship, and vexed him again. He ordered the word to be passed to the +boat's crew, and when it was manned he went on shore. As soon as he +arrived at the house of Lazarus, he knocked, but it was some time +before he was admitted, and the chain was still kept on the door, +which was opened two inches to allow a scrutiny previous to +entrance.</p> +<p>"Ah! it vash you, vash it, good sar? you may come in," said the +Jew.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken walked into the parlour, where he found seated a +young man of very handsome exterior, dressed according to the +fashion of the cavaliers of the time. His hat, with a plume of +black feathers, lay upon the table. This personage continued in his +careless and easy position without rising when Vanslyperken +entered, neither did he ask him to sit down.</p> +<p>"You are the officer of the cutter?" inquired the young man, +with an air of authority not very pleasing to the lieutenant.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, looking hard and indignantly in +return.</p> +<p>"And you arrived yesterday morning? Pray, sir, why were not +those letters delivered at once?"</p> +<p>"Because I had no time," replied Vanslyperken, sulkily.</p> +<p>"No time, sir; what do you mean by that? Your time is ours, sir. +You are paid for it; for one shilling that you receive from the +rascally government you condescend to serve and to betray, you +receive from us pounds. Let not this happen again, my sir, or you +may repent it."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken was not in the best of humours, and he angrily +replied, "Then you may get others to do your work, for this is the +last I'll do; pay me for them, and let me go."</p> +<p>"The last you'll do; you'll do as much as we please, and as long +as we please. You are doubly in our power, scoundrel! You betray +the government you serve, but you shall not betray us. If you had a +thousand lives, you are a dead man the very moment you flinch from +or neglect our work. Do your work faithfully, and you will be +rewarded; but either you must do our work or die. You have but to +choose."</p> +<p>"Indeed!" replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed! And to prove that I am in earnest, I shall punish +you for your neglect, by not paying you this time. You may leave +the letters and go. But mind that you give us timely notice when +you are ordered back to the Hague, for we shall want you."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken, indignant at this language, obeyed his first +impulse, which was to snatch up the letters and attempt to leave +the room.</p> +<p>"No pay, no letters!" exclaimed he, opening the door.</p> +<p>"Fool!" cried the young man with a bitter sneer, not stirring +from his seat.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken opened the door, and to his amazement there were +three swords pointed to his heart. He started back.</p> +<p>"Will you leave the letters now?" observed the young man.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken threw them down on the table with every sign of +perturbation, and remained silent and pale.</p> +<p>"And now perfectly understand me, sir," said the young cavalier. +"We make a great distinction between those who have joined the good +cause, or rather, who have continued steadfast to their king from +feelings of honour and loyalty, and those who are to be bought and +sold. We honour the first, we despise the latter. Their services we +require, and therefore we employ them. A traitor to the sovereign +from whom he receives his pay, is not likely to be trusted by us. I +know your character, that is sufficient. Now, although the +government make no difference between one party or the other, with +the exception that some may be honoured with the axe instead of the +gibbet, you will observe what we do: and as our lives are already +forfeited by attainder, we make no scruple of putting out of the +way any one whom we may even suspect of betraying us. Nay, more; we +can furnish the government with sufficient proofs against you +without any risk to ourselves, for we have many partisans who are +still in office. Weigh now well all you have heard, and be assured, +that although we despise you, and use you only as our tool, we will +have faithful and diligent service; if not, your life is +forfeited."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken heard all this with amazement and confusion: he +immediately perceived that he was in a snare, from which escape was +impossible. His coward heart sank within him, and he promised +implicit obedience.</p> +<p>"Nevertheless, before you go you will sign your adherence to +King James and his successors," observed the young cavalier. +"Lazarus, bring in writing materials." The Jew, who was at the +door, complied with the order.</p> +<p>The cavalier took the pen and wrote down a certain form, in +which Vanslyperken dedicated his life and means, as he valued his +salvation, to the service of the exiled monarch. "Read that, and +sign it, sir," said the cavalier, passing it over to +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>The lieutenant hesitated. "Your life depends upon it," continued +the young man coolly; "do as you please."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken turned round; the swords were still pointed, and +the eyes of those which held them were fixed upon the cavalier +awaiting his orders. Vanslyperken perceived that there was no +escape. With a trembling hand he affixed his signature.</p> +<p>"'Tis well:--now, observe, that at the first suspicion, or want +of zeal, even, on your part, this will be forwarded through the +proper channel, and even if you should escape the government, you +will not escape us:--our name is Legion. You may go, sir;--do your +work well, and you shall be well rewarded."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken hastened away, passing the swords, the points of +which were now lowered for his passage. Perhaps he never till then +felt how contemptible was a traitor. Indignant, mortified, and +confused, still trembling with fear, and, at the same time, burning +with rage, he hastened to his mother's house, for he had brought on +shore with him the money which he had received at Amsterdam.</p> +<p>"What, more vexation, child?" said the old woman, looking +Vanslyperken in the face as he entered.</p> +<p>"Yes," retorted Vanslyperken, folding his arms as he sat +down.</p> +<p>It was some time before he would communicate to his mother all +that happened. At last the truth, which even he felt ashamed of, +was drawn out of him.</p> +<p>"Now may all the curses that ever befell a man fall on his +head!" exclaimed Vanslyperken as he finished. "I would give soul +and body to be revenged on him."</p> +<p>"That's my own child--that is what I have done, Cornelius, but I +shall not die yet awhile. I like to hear you say that; but it must +not be yet. Let them plot and plot, and when they think that all is +ripe, and all is ready, and all will succeed--then--then is the +time to revenge yourself--not yet--but for that revenge, death on +the gallows would be sweet."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken shuddered:--he did not feel how death could in any +way be sweet;--for some time he was wrapped up in his own +thoughts.</p> +<p>"Have you brought the gold at last?" inquired the old woman.</p> +<p>"I have," replied Vanslyperken, who raised himself and produced +it. "I ought to have had more,--but I'll be revenged."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, but get more gold first. Never kill the goose that +lays the golden egg, my child," replied the old woman, as she +turned the key.</p> +<p>So many sudden and mortifying occurrences had taken place in +forty-eight hours that Vanslyperken's brain was in a whirl. He felt +goaded to do something, but he did not know what. Perhaps it would +have been suicide had he not been a coward. He left his mother +without speaking another word, and walked down to the boat, +revolving first one and then another incident in his mind. At last, +his ideas appeared to concentrate themselves into one point, which +was a firm and raging animosity against Smallbones; and with the +darkest intentions he hastened on board and went down into his +cabin.</p> +<p>What was the result of these feelings will be seen in the +ensuing chapter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXVI"></a>Chapter XXVI</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken sees a ghost.</h3> +<br> +<p>Before we acquaint the reader with the movements of Mr +Vanslyperken, we must again revert to the history of the period in +which we are writing. The Jacobite faction had assumed a formidable +consistency, and every exertion was being made by them for an +invasion of England. They knew that their friends were numerous, +and that many who held office under the ruling government were +attached to their cause, and only required such a demonstration to +fly to arms with their numerous partisans.</p> +<p>Up to the present, all the machinations of the Jacobites had +been carried on with secrecy and dexterity, but now was the time +for action and decision. To aid the cause, it was considered +expedient that some one of known fidelity should be sent to +Amsterdam, where the projects of William might be discovered more +easily than in England: for, as he communicated with the States +General, and the States General were composed of many, secrets +would come out, for that which is known to many soon becomes no +longer a secret.</p> +<p>To effect this, letters of recommendation to one or two of those +high in office in Holland, and who were supposed to be able to give +information, and inclined to be confiding and garrulous, had been +procured from the firm allies of King William, by those who +pretended to be so only, for the agent who was about to be sent +over, and this agent was the young cavalier who had treated +Vanslyperken in so uncourteous a manner. He has already been +mentioned to the reader by the name of Ramsay, and second in +authority among the smugglers. He was a young man of high family, +and a brother to Lady Alice, of course trusted by Sir Robert and +his second in command. He had been attainted for non-appearance, +and condemned for high treason at the same time as had been his +brother-in-law, Sir Robert Barclay, and had ever since been with +him doing his duty in the boat and in command of the men, when Sir +Robert's services or attendance were required at St Germains.</p> +<p>No one could be better adapted for the service he was to be +employed upon. He was brave, cool, intelligent, and prepossessing. +Of course, by his letters of introduction, he was represented as a +firm ally of King William, and strongly recommended as such. The +letters which Vanslyperken had neglected to deliver were of the +utmost importance, and the character of the lieutenant being well +known to Ramsay, through the medium of Nancy Corbett and others, he +had treated him in the way which he considered as most likely to +enforce a rigid compliance with their wishes.</p> +<p>Ramsay was right; for Vanslyperken was too much of a coward to +venture upon resistance, although he might threaten it. It was the +intention of Ramsay, moreover, to take a passage over with him in +the <i>Yungfrau</i>, as his arrival in a king's vessel would add +still more to the success of the enterprise which he had in +contemplation.</p> +<p>We will now return to Mr Vanslyperken, whom we left boiling with +indignation. He is not in a better humour at this moment. He +requires a victim to expend his wrath upon, and that victim he is +resolved shall be Smallbones, upon whom his hate is +concentrated.</p> +<p>He has sent for the corporal, and next ordered him to bring him +a pistol and cartridge, which the corporal has complied with. +Vanslyperken has not made the corporal a further confidant, but he +has his suspicions, and he is on the watch. Vanslyperken is alone, +his hand trembling as he loads the pistol which he has taken down +from the bulkhead where it hung, but he is nevertheless determined +upon the act. He has laid it down on the table, and goes on deck, +waiting till it is dusk for the completion of his project. He has +now arranged his plan and descends; the pistol is still on the +table, and he puts it under the blanket on his bed, and rings for +Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Did you want me, sir?" said Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Yes, I am going on shore to sleep a little way in the country, +and I want you to carry my clothes; let everything be put up in the +blue bag, and hold yourself ready to come with me."</p> +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Smallbones; "am I to come on board again +to-night?"</p> +<p>"To be sure you are."</p> +<p>Smallbones put up as desired by his master, whose eyes followed +the lad's motions as he moved from one part of the cabin to the +other, his thoughts wandering from the recollection of Smallbones +having attempted to drown his dog, to the more pleasing one of +revenge.</p> +<p>At dusk, Mr Vanslyperken ordered his boat to be manned, and so +soon as Smallbones had gone into it with the bag, he took the +pistol from where he had hid it, and concealing it under his +great-coat, followed the lad into the boat.</p> +<p>They landed, and Vanslyperken walked fast; it was now dark, and +he was followed by Smallbones, who found difficulty in keeping pace +with his master, so rapid were his strides.</p> +<p>They passed the half-way houses, and went clear of the +fortifications, until they had gained five or six miles on the road +to London.</p> +<p>Smallbones was tired out with the rapidity of the walk, and now +lagged behind. The master desired him to come on. "I does come on +as fast as I can, sir, but this here walking don't suit at all, +with carrying a bag full of clothes," replied Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Make haste, and keep up with me," cried Vanslyperken, setting +off again at a more rapid pace.</p> +<p>They were now past all the buildings, and but occasionally fell +in with some solitary farmhouse, or cottage, on the road side; the +night was cloudy, and the scud flew fast; Vanslyperken walked on +faster, for in his state of mind he could feel no bodily fatigue, +and the lad dropped astern.</p> +<p>At last the lieutenant found a spot which afforded him an +opportunity of executing his fell purpose. A square wall, round a +homestead for cattle, was built on the side of the footpath. +Vanslyperken turned round, and looked for Smallbones, who was too +far behind to be seen in the obscurity. Satisfied by this that the +lad could not see his motions, Vanslyperken secreted himself behind +the angle of the wall so as to allow Smallbones to pass. He cocked +his pistol, and crouched down, waiting for the arrival of his +victim.</p> +<p>In a minute or two he heard the panting of the lad, who was +quite weary with his load. Vanslyperken compressed his lips, and +held his breath. The lad passed him; Vanslyperken now rose from +behind, levelled the pistol at the lad's head, and fired. +Smallbones uttered a yell, fell down on his face, and then rolled +on his back without life or motion.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken looked at him for one second, then turned back, and +fled with the wings of the wind. Conscience now appeared to pursue +him, and he ran on until he was so exhausted, that he fell; the +pistol was still in his hand, and as he put out his arm +mechanically to save himself, the lock of the pistol came in +violent contact with his temple.</p> +<p>After a time he rose again, faint and bleeding, and continued +his course at a more moderate pace, but as the wind blew, and +whistled among the boughs of the trees, he thought every moment +that he beheld the form of the murdered lad. He quickened his pace, +arrived at last within the fortifications, and putting the pistol +in his coat-pocket, he somewhat, recovered himself. He bound his +silk handkerchief round his head, and proceeded to the boat, which +he had ordered to wait till Smallbones' return. He had then a part +to act, and told the men that he had been assailed by robbers, and +ordered them to pull on board immediately. As soon as he came on +board he desired the men to assist him down into his cabin, and +then he sent for Corporal Van Spitter to dress his wounds. He +communicated to the corporal, that as he was going out in the +country as he had proposed, he had been attacked by robbers, that +he had been severely wounded, and had, he thought, killed one of +them, as the others ran away; what had become of Smallbones he knew +not, but he had heard him crying out in the hands of the +robbers.</p> +<p>The corporal, who had felt certain that the pistol had been +intended for Smallbones, hardly knew what to make of the matter; +the wound of Mr Vanslyperken was severe, and it was hardly to be +supposed that it had been self-inflicted. The corporal therefore +held his tongue, heard all that Mr Vanslyperken had to say, and was +very considerably puzzled.</p> +<p>"It was a fortunate thing that I thought of taking a pistol with +me, corporal, I might have been murdered outright."</p> +<p>"Yes, mynheer," replied the corporal, and binding the +handkerchief round Vanslyperken's head, he then assisted him into +bed. "Mein Gott! I make no head or tail of de business," said the +corporal, as he walked forward; "but I must know de truth soon; I +not go to bed for two or three hours, and den I hear others."</p> +<p>It is needless to say that Mr Vanslyperken passed a restless +night, not only from the pain of his wound, but from the torments +of conscience; for it is but by degrees that the greatest villain +can drive away its stings, and then it is but for a short time, and +when it does force itself back upon him, it is with redoubled +power. His occasional slumbers were broken by fitful starts, in +which he again and again heard the yell of the poor lad, and saw +the corpse rolling at his feet. It was about an hour before +daylight that Mr Vanslyperken again woke, and found that the light +had burnt out. He could not remain in the dark, it was too +dreadful; he raised himself, and pulled the bell over his head. +Some one entered. "Bring a light immediately," cried +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>In a minute or two the gleams of a light were seen burning at a +distance by the lieutenant. He watched its progress aft, and its +entrance, and he felt relieved; but he had now a devouring thirst +upon him, and his lips were glued together, and he turned over on +his bed to ask the corporal, whom he supposed it was, for water. He +fixed his eyes upon the party with the candle, and by the feeble +light of the dip, he beheld the pale, haggard face of Smallbones, +who stared at him, but uttered not a word.</p> +<p>"Mercy, O God! mercy!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, falling back, and +covering his face with the bedclothes.</p> +<p>Smallbones did not reply; he blew out the candle, and quitted +the cabin.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXVII"></a>Chapter XXVII</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken is taught a secret.</h3> +<br> +<p>We are anxious to proceed with our narrative, but we must first +explain the unexpected appearance of Smallbones. When Corporal Van +Spitter was requested by Vanslyperken to bring a pistol and +cartridge, the corporal, who had not forgotten the hints thrown out +by Vanslyperken during their last consultation, immediately +imagined that it was for Smallbones' benefit. And he was +strengthened in his opinion, when he learnt that Smallbones was to +go on shore with his master after it was dusk. Now Corporal Van +Spitter had no notion of the poor lad's brains being blown out, and +when Mr Vanslyperken went on deck and left the pistol, he went into +the cabin, searched for it, and drew the bullet, which +Vanslyperken, of course, was not aware of. It then occurred to the +corporal, that if the pistol were aimed at Smallbones, and he was +uninjured, it would greatly add to the idea, already half +entertained by the superstitious lieutenant, of there being +something supernatural about Smallbones, if he were left to suppose +that he had been killed, and had reappeared. He, therefore, +communicated his suspicions to the lad, told him what he had done, +and advised him, if the pistol were fired, to pretend to be killed, +and when left by his master, to come on board quietly in the night. +Smallbones, who perceived the drift of all this, promised to act +accordingly, and in the last chapter it will be observed how he +contrived to deceive his master. As soon as the lieutenant was out +of hearing, Smallbones rose, and leaving the bag where it lay, +hastened back to Portsmouth, and came on board about two hours +before Vanslyperken rang his bell. He narrated what had passed, +but, of course, could not exactly swear that it was Vanslyperken +who fired the pistol, as it was fired from behind, but even if he +could have so sworn, at that time he would have obtained but little +redress.</p> +<p>It was considered much more advisable that Smallbones should +pretend to believe that he had been attacked by robbers, and that +the ball had missed him, after he had frightened his master by his +unexpected appearance, for Vanslyperken would still be of the +opinion that the lad possessed a charmed life.</p> +<p>The state of Mr Vanslyperken during the remainder of that night +was pitiable, but we must leave the reader to suppose, rather than +attempt to describe it.</p> +<p>In the morning the corporal came in, and after asking after his +superior's health, informed him that Smallbones had come on board, +that the lad said that the robbers had fired a pistol at him, and +then knocked him down with the butt end of it, and that he had +escaped but with the loss of the bag.</p> +<p>This was a great relief to the mind of Mr Vanslyperken, who had +imagined that he had been visited by the ghost of Smallbones during +the night: he expressed himself glad at his return, and a wish to +be left alone, upon which the corporal retired. As soon as +Vanslyperken found out that Smallbones was still alive, his desire +to kill him returned; although, when he supposed him dead, he +would, to escape from his own feelings, have resuscitated him. One +chief idea now whirled in his brain, which was, that the lad must +have a charmed life; he had floated out to the Nab buoy and back +again, and now he had had a pistol-bullet passed through his skull +without injury. He felt too much fear to attempt anything against +him for the future, but his desire to do so was stronger than +ever.</p> +<p>Excitement and vexation brought on a slow fever, and Mr +Vanslyperken lay for three or four days in bed; at the end of which +period he received a message from the admiral, directing him to +come or send on shore (for his state had been made known) for his +despatches, and to sail as soon as possible.</p> +<p>Upon receiving the message, Mr Vanslyperken recollected his +engagement at the house of the Jew Lazarus, and weak as he was, +felt too much afraid of the results, should he fail, not to get out +of bed and go on shore. It was with difficulty he could walk so +far. When he arrived he found Ramsay ready to receive him.</p> +<p>"To sail as soon as possible:--'tis well, sir. Have you your +despatches?"</p> +<p>"I sent to the admiral's for them," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Well, then, be all ready to start at midnight. I shall come on +board about a quarter of an hour before; you may go, sir."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken quailed under the keen eye and stern look of +Ramsay, and obeyed the uncourteous order in silence; still he +thought of revenge as he walked back to the boat and re-embarked in +the cutter.</p> +<p>"What's this, Short?" observed Coble: "here is a new freak; we +start at midnight, I hear."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Something quite new, anyhow:--don't understand it: do you?"</p> +<p>"No," replied Dick.</p> +<p>"Well, now Jemmy's gone, I don't care how soon I follow, +Dick."</p> +<p>"Nor I," replied Short.</p> +<p>"I've a notion there's some mystery in all this. For," continued +Coble, "the admiral would never have ordered us out till to-morrow +morning, if he did not make us sail this evening. It's not a +man-of-war fashion, is it, Dick?"</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Well, we shall see," replied Coble. "I shall turn in now. +You've heard all about Smallbones, heh! Dick?"</p> +<p>Short nodded his head.</p> +<p>"Well, we shall see: but I'll back the boy 'gainst master and +dog too, in the long run. D--n his Dutch carcass, he seems to make +but small count of English subjects, heh!"</p> +<p>Short leant over the gunwale and whistled.</p> +<p>Coble, finding it impossible to extract one monosyllable more +from him, walked forward, and went down below.</p> +<p>A little before twelve o'clock a boat came alongside, and Ramsay +stepped out of it into the cutter. Vanslyperken had been walking +the deck to receive him, and immediately showed him down into the +cabin, where he left him to go on deck, and get the cutter under +way. There was a small stove in the cabin, for the weather was +still cold; they were advanced into the month of March. Ramsay +threw off his coat, laid two pair of loaded pistols on the table, +locked the door of the cabin, and then proceeded to warm himself, +while Vanslyperken was employed on deck.</p> +<p>In an hour the cutter was outside and clear of all danger, and +Vanslyperken had to knock to gain admittance into his own cabin. +Ramsay opened the door, and Vanslyperken, who thought he must say +something, observed gloomily,</p> +<p>"We are all clear, sir."</p> +<p>"Very good," replied Ramsay; "and now, sir, I believe that you +have despatches on board?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"You will oblige me by letting me look at them."</p> +<p>"My despatches!" said Vanslyperken with surprise.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, your despatches; immediately, if you please--no +trifling."</p> +<p>"You forget, sir," replied Vanslyperken angrily, "that I am not +any longer in your power, but on board of my own vessel."</p> +<p>"You appear not to know, sir, that you are in my power even on +board of your own vessel," replied Ramsay, starting up, and laying +his hand over the pistols, which he drew towards him, and replaced +in his belt. "If you trust to your ship's company you are mistaken, +as you will soon discover. I demand the despatches."</p> +<p>"But, sir, you will ruin me and ruin yourself," replied +Vanslyperken, alarmed.</p> +<p>"Fear not," replied Ramsay; "for my own sake, and that of the +good cause, I shall not hurt you. No one will know that the +despatches have been ever examined, and----"</p> +<p>"And what?" replied Vanslyperken, gloomily.</p> +<p>"For the passage, and this service, you will receive one hundred +guineas."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken no longer hesitated; he opened the drawer in which +he had deposited the letters, and produced them.</p> +<p>"Now lock the door," said Ramsay, taking his seat.</p> +<p>He then examined the seals, pulled some out of his pocket, and +compared them; sorted the letters according to the seals, and laid +one corresponding at the heading of each file, for there were three +different government seals upon the despatches. He then took a long +Dutch earthen pipe which was hanging above, broke off the bowl, and +put one end of the stem into the fire. When it was of a red heat he +took it out, and applying his lips to the cool end, and the hot one +close to the sealing-wax, he blew through it, and the heated blast +soon dissolved the wax, and the despatches were opened one after +another without the slightest difficulty or injury to the paper. He +then commenced reading, taking memorandums on his tablets as he +proceeded.</p> +<p>When he had finished, he again heated the pipe, melted the wax, +which had become cold and hard again, and resealed all the letters +with his counterfeit seals.</p> +<p>During this occupation, which lasted upwards of an hour, +Vanslyperken looked on with surprise, leaning against the bulk-head +of the cabin.</p> +<p>"There, sir, are your despatches," said Ramsay, rising from his +chair: "you may now put them away; and, as you may observe, you are +not compromised."</p> +<p>"No, indeed," replied Vanslyperken, who was struck with the +ingenuity of the method; "but you have given me an idea."</p> +<p>"I will tell you what that is," replied Ramsay. "You are +thinking, if I left you these false seals, you could give me the +contents of the despatches, provided you were well paid. Is it not +so?"</p> +<p>"It was," replied Vanslyperken, who had immediately been struck +with such a new source of wealth; for he cared little what he +did--all he cared for was discovery.</p> +<p>"Had you not proposed it yourself, I intended that you should +have done it, sir," replied Ramsay; "and that you should also be +paid for it. I will arrange all that before I leave the vessel. But +now I shall retire to my bed. Have you one ready?"</p> +<p>"I have none but what you see," replied Vanslyperken. "It is my +own, but at your service."</p> +<p>"I shall accept it," replied Ramsay, putting his pistols under +his pillow, after having thrown himself on the outside of the +bedclothes, pulling his roquelaure over him. "And now you will +oblige me by turning that cur out of the cabin, for his smell is +anything but pleasant."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken had no idea of his passenger so coolly taking +possession of his bed, but to turn out Snarleyyow as well as +himself, appeared an unwarrantable liberty. But he felt that he had +but to submit, for Ramsay was despotic, and he was afraid of +him.</p> +<p>After much resistance, Snarleyyow was kicked out by his master, +who then went on deck not in the very best of humours, at finding +he had so completely sold himself to those who might betray and +hang him the very next day. "At all events," thought Vanslyperken, +"I'm well paid for it."</p> +<p>It was now daylight, and the cutter was running with a +favourable breeze; the hands were turned up, and Corporal Van +Spitter came on deck. Vanslyperken, who had been running over in +his mind all the events which had latterly taken place, had +considered that, as he had lost the Portsmouth widow, he might as +well pursue his suit with the widow Vandersloosh, especially as she +had sent such a conciliating message by the corporal; and +perceiving the corporal on deck, he beckoned to him to approach. +Vanslyperken then observed, that he was angry the other day, and +that the corporal need not give that message to the Frau +Vandersloosh, as he intended to call upon her himself upon his +arrival. Van Spitter, who did not know anything about the +Portsmouth widow, and could not imagine why the angry message had +been given, of course assented, although he was fully determined +that the widow should be informed of the insult. The question was +now, how to be able to go on shore himself; and to compass that +without suspicion, he remarked that the maid Babette was a very +fine maid, and he should like to see her again.</p> +<p>This little piece of confidence was not thrown away. +Vanslyperken was too anxious to secure the corporal, and he +replied, that the corporal should go ashore and see her, if he +pleased; upon which Corporal Van Spitter made his best military +salute, turned round on his heel, and walked away, laughing in his +sleeve at having so easily gulled his superior.</p> +<p>On the third morning the cutter had arrived at her destined +port. During the passage Ramsay had taken possession of the cabin, +ordering everything as he pleased, much to the surprise of the +crew. Mr Vanslyperken spoke of him as a king's messenger, but still +Smallbones, who took care to hear what was going on, reported the +abject submission shown to Ramsay by the lieutenant, and this was +the occasion of great marvel; moreover, they doubted his being a +king's messenger, for, as Smallbones very shrewdly observed, "Why, +if he was a king's messenger, did he not come with the despatches?" +However, they could only surmise, and no more. But the dog being +turned out of the cabin in compliance with Ramsay's wish, was the +most important point of all. They could have got over all the rest, +but that was quite incomprehensible; and they all agreed with +Coble, when he observed, hitching up his trousers, "Depend upon it, +there's a screw loose somewhere."</p> +<p>As soon as the cutter was at anchor, Ramsay ordered his +portmanteau into the boat, and Vanslyperken having accompanied him +on shore, they separated, Ramsay informing Vanslyperken that he +would wish to see him the next day, and giving him his address.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken delivered his despatches, and then hastened to the +widow Vandersloosh, who received him with a well-assumed appearance +of mingled pleasure and reserve.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken led her to the sofa, poured forth a multitudinous +compound composed of regret, devotion, and apologies, which at last +appeared to have melted the heart of the widow, who once more gave +him her hand to salute.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken was all rapture at so unexpected a reconciliation; +the name of the cur was not mentioned, and Vanslyperken thought to +himself, "This will do,--let me only once get you, my Frau, and +I'll teach you to wish my dog dead at your porch."</p> +<p>On the other hand the widow thought, "And so this atomy really +believes that I would look upon him! Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, +we shall see how it ends. Your cur under my bed, indeed, so sure do +you never--. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>There is a great deal of humbug in this world, that is +certain.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXVIII"></a>Chapter XXVIII</h2> +<h3>In which we have at last introduced a decent sort of heroine, +who, however,<br> +only plays a second in our history, Snarleyyow being first +fiddle.</h3> +<br> +<p>But we must leave Mr Vanslyperken, and the widow, and the +<i>Yungfrau</i>, and all connected with her, for the present, and +follow the steps of Ramsay, in doing which we shall have to +introduce new personages in our little drama.</p> +<p>As soon as Ramsay had taken leave of Vanslyperken, being a +stranger at Amsterdam, he inquired his way to the Golden Street, in +which resided Mynheer Van Krause, syndic of the town, and to whom +he had obtained his principal letters of introduction. The syndic's +house was too well known not to be immediately pointed out to him, +and in ten minutes he found himself, with the sailors at his heels +who had been ordered to carry up his baggage, at a handsomely +carved door painted in bright green, and with knockers of massive +brass which glittered in the sun.</p> +<p>Ramsay, as he waited a few seconds, looked up at the house, +which was large and with a noble front to the wide street in face +of it, not, as usual with most of the others, divided in the centre +by a canal running the whole length of it. The door was opened, and +led into a large paved yard, the sides of which were lined with +evergreens in large tubs, painted of the same bright green colour; +adjoining to the yard was a small garden enclosed with high walls, +which was laid out with great precision, and in small beds full of +tulips, ranunculuses, and other bulbs now just appearing above the +ground. The sailors waited outside while the old gray-headed +servitor who had opened the gate, ushered Ramsay through the court +to a second door which led into the house. The hall into which he +entered was paved with marble, and the staircase bold and handsome +which led to the first floor, but on each side of the hall there +were wooden partitions and half-glass doors, through which Ramsay +could see that the rest of the basement was appropriated to +warehouses, and that in the warehouse at the back of the building +there were people busily employed hoisting out merchandise from the +vessels in the canal, the water of which adjoined the very walls. +Ramsay followed the man upstairs, who showed him into a very +splendidly-furnished apartment, and then went to summon his master, +who, he said, was below in the warehouse. Ramsay had but a minute +or two to examine the various objects which decorated the room, +particularly some very fine pictures, when Mynheer Van Krause made +his appearance, with some open tablets in his hand and his pen +across his mouth. He was a very short man, with a respectable +paunch, a very small head, quite bald, a keen blue eye, reddish but +straight nose, and a very florid complexion. There was nothing +vulgar about his appearance, although his figure was against him. +His countenance was one of extreme frankness, mixed with +considerable intelligence, and his whole manner gave you the idea +of precision and calculation.</p> +<p>"You would--tyfel--I forgot my pen," said the syndic, catching +it as it fell out of his mouth. "You would speak with me, mynheer? +To whom have I the pleasure of addressing myself?"</p> +<p>"These letters, sir," replied Ramsay, "will inform you."</p> +<p>Mynheer Van Krause laid his tablets on the table, putting his +pen across to mark the leaf where he had them open, and taking the +letters begged Ramsay to be seated. He then took a chair, pulled a +pair of hand-glasses out of his pocket, laid them on his knees, +broke the seals, and falling back so as to recline, commenced +reading. As soon as he had finished the first letter, he put his +glasses down from his eyes, and made a bow to Ramsay, folded the +open letter the length of the sheet, took out his pencil, and on +the outside wrote the date of the letter, the day of the month, +name, and the name of the writer. Having done this, he laid the +first letter down on the table, took up the second, raised up his +glasses, and performed the same duty towards it, and thus he +continued until he had read the whole six; always, as he concluded +each letter, making the same low bow to Ramsay which he had after +the perusal of the first. Ramsay, who was not a little tired of all +this precision, at last fixed his eyes upon a Wouvermann which hung +near him, and only took them off when he guessed the time of bowing +to be at hand.</p> +<p>The last having been duly marked and numbered, Mynheer Van +Krause turned to Ramsay, and said, "I am most happy, mynheer, to +find under my roof a young gentleman so much recommended by many +valuable friends; moreover, as these letters give me to understand, +so warm a friend to our joint sovereign, and so inimical to the +Jacobite party. I am informed by these letters that you intend to +remain at Amsterdam. If so, I trust that you will take up your +quarters in this house."</p> +<p>To this proposal Ramsay, who fully expected it, gave a willing +consent, saying, at the same time, that he had proposed going to an +hotel; but Mynheer Van Krause insisted on sending for Ramsay's +luggage. He had not far to send, as it was at the door.</p> +<p>"How did you come over?" inquired the host.</p> +<p>"In a king's cutter," replied Ramsay, "which waited for me at +Portsmouth."</p> +<p>This intimation produced another very low bow from Mynheer Van +Krause, as it warranted the importance of his guest; but he then +rose, and apologising for his presence being necessary below, as +they were unloading a cargo of considerable value, he ordered his +old porter to show Mr Ramsay into his rooms, and to take up his +luggage, informing his guest that, it being now twelve o'clock, +dinner would be on the table at half-past one, during which +interval he begged Ramsay to amuse himself, by examining the +pictures, books, &c., with which the room was well furnished. +Then, resuming his tablets and pen, and taking the letters with +him, Mynheer Van Krause made a very low bow, and left Ramsay to +himself, little imagining that he had admitted an attainted traitor +under his roof.</p> +<p>Ramsay could speak Dutch fluently, for he had been quartered two +years at Middleburg, when he was serving in the army. As soon as +the sailors had taken up his portmanteau, and he had dismissed them +with a gratuity, the extent of which made the old porter open his +eyes with astonishment, and gave him a favourable opinion of his +master's new guest, he entered into conversation with the old man, +who, like Eve upon another occasion, was tempted, nothing loth, for +the old man loved to talk; and in a house so busy as the syndic's +there were few who had time to chatter, and those who had, +preferred other conversation to what, it must be confessed, was +rather prosy.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, mynheer, you must not expect to have company here +all day. My master has the town business and his own business to +attend to: he can't well get through it all: besides, now is a busy +time, the schuyts are bringing up the cargo of a vessel from a far +voyage, and Mynheer Krause always goes to the warehouse from +breakfast till dinner, and then again from three or four o'clock +till six. After that he will stay above, and then sees company, and +hears our young lady sing."</p> +<p>"Young lady! has he a daughter then?"</p> +<p>"He has a daughter, mynheer--only one--only one child--no son, +it is a pity; and so much money too, they say. I don't know how +many stivers and guilders she will have by-and-bye."</p> +<p>"Is not Madame Krause still alive?"</p> +<p>"No, mynheer, she died when this maiden was born. She was a good +lady, cured me once of the yellow jaundice."</p> +<p>Ramsay, like all young men, wondered what sort of a person this +lady might be; but he was too discreet to put the question. He was, +however, pleased to hear that there was a young female in the +house, as it would make the time pass away more agreeably; not that +he expected much. Judging from the father, he made up his mind, as +he took his clothes out of his valise, that she was very short, +very prim, and had a hooked nose.</p> +<p>The old man now left the room to allow Ramsay to dress, and +telling him that if he wanted anything, he had only to call for +Koops, which was his name, but going out, he returned to say, that +Ramsay must call rather loud, as he was a little hard of +hearing.</p> +<p>"Well," thought Ramsay, as he was busy with his toilet, "here I +am safe lodged at last, and everything appears as if it would +prosper. There is something in my position which my mind revolts +at, but stratagem is necessary in war. I am in the enemy's camp to +save my own life, and to serve the just cause. It is no more than +what they attempt to do with us. It is my duty to my lawful +sovereign, but still I do not like it. Then the more merit in +performing a duty so foreign to my inclinations."</p> +<p>Such were the thoughts of Ramsay, who like other manly and +daring dispositions, was dissatisfied with playing the part of a +deceiver, although he had been selected for the service, and his +selection had been approved of at the Court of St Germains.</p> +<p>Open warfare would have suited him better; but he would not +repine at what he considered he was bound in fealty to perform, if +required, although he instinctively shrank from it. His toilet was +complete, and Ramsay descended into the reception-room: he had been +longer than usual, but probably that was because he wished to +commune with himself; or it might be, because he had been informed +that there was a young lady in the house.</p> +<p>The room was empty when Ramsay entered it, and he took the +advice of his host, and amused himself by examining the pictures, +and other articles of <i>virtu</i>, with which the room was +filled.</p> +<p>At last, having looked at everything, Ramsay examined a splendid +clock on the mantelpiece, before a fine glass, which mounted to the +very top of the lofty room, when, accidentally casting his eyes to +the looking-glass, he perceived in it that the door of the room, to +which his back was turned, was open, and that a female was standing +there, apparently surprised to find a stranger, and not exactly +knowing whether to advance or retreat. Ramsay remained in the same +position, as if he did not perceive her, that he might look at her +without her being aware of it. It was, as he presumed, the syndic's +daughter; but how different from the person he had conjured up in +his mind's eye, when at his toilet! Apparently about seventeen or +eighteen years of age, she was rather above the height of woman, +delicately formed, although not by any means thin in her person: +her figure possessing all that feminine luxuriance, which can only +be obtained when the bones are small, but well covered. Her face +was oval, and brilliantly fair. Her hair of a dark chestnut, and +her eyes of a deep blue. Her dress was simple in the extreme. She +wore nothing but the white woollen petticoats of the time, so +short, as to show above her ankles, and a sort of little jacket of +fine green cloth, with lappets, which descended from the waist, and +opened in front. Altogether, Ramsay thought that he had never in +his life seen a young female so peculiarly attractive at first +sight: there was a freshness in her air and appearance so uncommon, +so unlike the general crowd. As she stood in a state of +uncertainty, her mouth opened, and displayed small and beautifully +white teeth.</p> +<p>Gradually she receded, supposing that she had not been +discovered, and closed the door quietly after her leaving Ramsay +for a few seconds at the glass, with his eyes fixed upon the point +at which she had disappeared.</p> +<p>Ramsay of course fell into a reverie, as most men do in a case +of this kind; but he had not proceeded very far into it before he +was interrupted by the appearance of the syndic, who entered by +another door.</p> +<p>"I am sorry to have been obliged to leave you to your own +company, Mynheer Ramsay, so soon after your arrival; but my +arrangement of time is regular, and I cannot make any alteration. +Before you have been with us long, I trust that you will find means +of amusement. I shall have great pleasure in introducing you to +many friends whose time is not so occupied as mine. Once again let +me say how happy I am to receive so distinguished a young gentleman +under my roof. Did the cutter bring despatches for the States +General, may I enquire?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Ramsay, "she did; and they are of some +importance."</p> +<p>"Indeed?" rejoined Mynheer inquisitively.</p> +<p>"My dear sir," said Ramsay, blushing at his own falsehood, "we +are, I believe, both earnest in one point, which is to strengthen +the good cause. Under such an impression, and having accepted your +hospitality, I have no right to withhold what I know, but with +which others are not acquainted."</p> +<p>"My dear sir," interrupted Krause, who was now fully convinced +of the importance of his guest, "you do me justice; I am firm and +steadfast in the good cause. I am known to be so, and I am also, I +trust, discreet; confiding to my tried friends, indeed, but it will +be generally acknowledged that Mynheer Krause has possessed, and +safely guarded, the secrets of the state."</p> +<p>Now, in the latter part of this speech, Mynheer Krause committed +a small mistake. He was known to be a babbler, one to whom a secret +could not be imparted, without every risk of its being known; and +it was from the knowledge of this failing in Mynheer Krause that +Ramsay had received such very particular recommendations to him. As +syndic of the town, it was impossible to prevent his knowledge of +government secrets, and when these occasionally escaped, they were +always traced to his not being able to hold his tongue.</p> +<p>Nothing pleased Mynheer Krause so much as a secret, because +nothing gave him so much pleasure as whispering it confidentially +into the ear of a dozen confidential friends. The consequence was, +the government was particularly careful that he should not know +what was going on, and did all they could to prevent it; but there +were many others who, although they could keep a secret, had no +objection to part with it for a consideration, and in the enormous +commercial transactions of Mynheer Krause, it was not unfrequent +for a good bargain to be struck with him by one or more of the +public functionaries, the difference between the sum proposed and +accepted being settled against the interests of Mynheer Krause, by +the party putting him in possession of some government movement +which had hitherto been kept <i>in petto</i>. Every man has his +hobby, and usually pays dear for it, so did Mynheer Krause.</p> +<p>Now when it is remembered that Ramsay had opened and read the +whole of the despatches, it may at once be supposed what a valuable +acquaintance he would appear to Mynheer Krause; but we must not +anticipate. Ramsay's reply was, "I feel it my bounden duty to +impart all I am possessed of to my very worthy host, but allow me +to observe, mynheer, that prudence is necessary--we may be +overheard."</p> +<p>"I am pleased to find one of your age so circumspect," replied +Krause; "perhaps it would be better to defer our conversation till +after supper, but in the meantime, could you not just give me a +little inkling of what is going on?"</p> +<p>Ramsay had difficulty in stifling a smile at this specimen of +Mynheer Krause's eagerness for intelligence. He very gravely walked +up to him, looked all round the room as if he was afraid that the +walls would hear him, and then whispered for a few seconds into the +ear of his host.</p> +<p>"Indeed!" exclaimed Krause, looking up into Ramsay's face.</p> +<p>Ramsay nodded his head authoritatively.</p> +<p>"Gott in himmel!" exclaimed the syndic; but here the bell for +dinner rang a loud peal. "Dinner is on the table, mynheer," +continued the syndic, "allow me to show you the way. We will talk +this over to-night. Gott in himmel! Is it possible?"</p> +<p>Mynheer Krause led the way to another saloon, where Ramsay found +not only the table prepared, but, as he had anticipated, the +daughter of his host, to whom he was introduced. "Wilhelmina," said +Mynheer Krause, "our young friend will stay with us, I trust, some +time, and you must do all you can to make him comfortable. You +know, my dear, that business must be attended to. With me, time is +money; so much so, that I can scarcely do justice to the affairs of +the state devolving upon me in virtue of my office. You must, +therefore, join with me, and do your best to amuse our guest."</p> +<p>To this speech, Wilhelmina made no reply, but by a gracious +inclination of her head towards Ramsay, which was returned with all +humility. The dinner was excellent, and Ramsay amused himself very +well indeed until it was over. Mynheer Krause then led the way to +the saloon, called for coffee, and, so soon as he had finished it, +made an apology to his guest, and left him alone with his beautiful +daughter.</p> +<p>Wilhelmina Krause was a young person of a strong mind +irregularly cultivated; she had never known the advantage of a +mother's care, and was indeed self-educated. She had a strong tinge +of romance in her character, and, left so much alone, she loved to +indulge in it.</p> +<p>In other points she was clever, well read, and accomplished; +graceful in her manners, open in her disposition, to a fault; for, +like her father, she could not keep a secret, not even the secrets +of her own heart; for whatever she thought she gave utterance to, +which is not exactly the custom in this world, and often attended +with unpleasant consequences.</p> +<p>The seclusion in which she had been kept added to the natural +timidity of her disposition--but when once intimate, it also added +to her confiding character. It was impossible to see without +admiring her, to know her without loving her; for she was nature +herself, and, at the same time, in her person one of Nature's +masterpieces.</p> +<p>As we observed, when they retired to the saloon, Mynheer Krause +very shortly quitted them, to attend to his affairs below, desiring +his daughter to exert herself for the amusement of his guest; the +contrary, however, was the case, for Ramsay exerted himself to +amuse her, and very soon was successful, for he could talk of +courts and kings, of courtiers and of people, and of a thousand +things, all interesting to a young girl who had lived secluded; and +as his full-toned voice, in measured and low pitch, fell upon +Wilhelmina's ear, she never perhaps was so much interested. She +seldom ventured a remark, except it was to request him to proceed, +and the eloquent language with which Ramsay clothed his ideas, +added a charm to the novelty of his conversation. In the course of +two hours Ramsay had already acquired a moral influence over +Wilhelmina, who looked up to him with respect, and another feeling +which we can only define by saying that it was certainly anything +but ill-will.</p> +<p>The time passed so rapidly, that the two young people could +hardly believe it possible that it was past six o'clock, when they +were interrupted by the appearance of Mynheer Krause, who came from +his counting-house, the labours of the day being over. In the +summer-time it was his custom to take his daughter out in the +carriage at this hour, but the weather was too cold, and, moreover, +it was nearly dark. A conversation ensued on general topics, which +lasted till supper-time; after this repast was over Wilhelmina +retired, leaving Ramsay and the syndic alone.</p> +<p>It was then that Ramsay made known to his host the contents of +the despatches, much to Mynheer Krause's surprise and delight, who +felt assured that his guest must be strong in the confidence of the +English government, to be able to communicate such intelligence. +Ramsay, who was aware that the syndic would sooner or later know +what had been written, of course was faithful in his detail; not +so, however, when they canvassed the attempts of the Jacobite +party; then Mr Krause was completely mystified.</p> +<p>It was not till a late hour that they retired to bed. The next +morning, the syndic, big with his intelligence, called upon his +friends in person, and much to their surprise told them the +contents of the despatches which had been received--and, much to +his delight, discovered that he had been correctly informed. He +also communicated what Ramsay had told him relative to the +movements of the Court of St Germains, and thus, unintentionally, +false intelligence was forwarded to England as from good authority. +It hardly need be observed, that, in a very short time, Ramsay had +gained the entire confidence of his host, and we may add also, of +his host's daughter; but we must leave him for the present to +follow up his plans, whatever they may be, and return to the +personages more immediately connected with this narrative.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIX"></a>Chapter XXIX</h2> +<h3>In which Jemmy Ducks proves the truth of Moggy's assertion,<br> +that there was no one like him before or since--Nancy and Jemmy +serenade the stars.</h3> +<br> +<p>As soon as Moggy landed at the Point with her dear darling duck +of a husband, as she called him, she put his chest and hammock on a +barrow and had them wheeled up to her own lodgings, and then they +went out to call upon Nancy Corbett to make their future +arrangements; Moggy proceeding in rapid strides, and Jemmy trotting +with his diminutive legs behind her, something like a stout pony by +the side of a large horse. It was in pedestrianism that Jemmy most +felt his inferiority, and the protecting, fond way in which Moggy +would turn round every minute and say, "Come along, my duck," would +have been irritating to any other but one of Jemmy's excellent +temper. Many looked at Jemmy, as he waddled along, smiled and +passed on; one unfortunate nymph, however, ventured to stop, and +putting her arms a-kimbo, looked down upon him and exclaimed, +"Vell! you are a nice little man," and then commenced singing the +old refrain--</p> +<blockquote>"I had a little husband no bigger than my thumb,<br> +I put him in a pint pot, and there I bid him drum:"</blockquote> +<p>when Moggy, who had turned back, saluted her with such a box on +the ear, that she made the drum of it ring again. The young lady +was not one of those who would offer the other cheek to be smitten, +and she immediately flew at Moggy and returned the blow; but Jemmy, +who liked quiet, caught her round the legs, and, as if she had been +a feather, threw her over his head, so that she fell down in the +gutter behind him with a violence which was anything but agreeable. +She gained her legs again, looked at her soiled garments, scraped +the mud off her cheek--we are sorry to add, made use of some very +improper language, and finding herself in the minority, walked off, +turning round and shaking her fist at every twenty paces.</p> +<p>Moggy and her husband continued their course as if nothing had +happened, and arrived at the house of Nancy Corbett, who had, as +may be supposed, changed her lodgings and kept out of sight of +Vanslyperken. Nancy was no stranger to Jemmy Ducks; so far as his +person went he was too remarkable a character not to be known by +her who knew almost everybody; and, moreover, she had made +sufficient inquiries about his character. The trio at once +proceeded to business: Jemmy had promised his wife to join the +smugglers, and it was now arranged, that both he and his wife +should be regularly enlisted in the gang, she to remain at the cave +with the women, unless her services were required elsewhere, he to +belong to the boat. There was, however, one necessary preliminary +still to be taken, that of Jemmy and his wife both taking the oath +of fidelity at the house of the Jew Lazarus; but it was not +advisable to go there before dusk, so they remained with Nancy till +that time, during which she was fully satisfied that, in both +parties, the band would have an acquisition, for Nancy was very +keen and penetrating, and had a great insight into human +nature.</p> +<p>At dusk, to the house of Lazarus they accordingly repaired, and +were admitted by the cautious Jew. Nancy stated why they had come, +and there being, at the time, several of the confederates, as +usual, in the house, they were summoned by the Jew to be witnesses +to the oath being administered. Half-a-dozen dark-looking bold men +soon made their appearance, and recognised Nancy by nods of their +heads.</p> +<p>"Who have we here, old Father Abraham?' exclaimed a stout man, +who was dressed in a buff jerkin and a pair of boots which rose +above his knees.</p> +<p>"A good man and true," replied Nancy, caking up the answer.</p> +<p>"Why, you don't call that thing a man!" exclaimed the +fierce-looking confederate with contempt.</p> +<p>"As good a man as ever stood in your boots," replied Moggy in +wrath.</p> +<p>"Indeed: well, perhaps so, if he could only see his way when +once into them," replied the man with a loud laugh, in which he was +joined by his companions.</p> +<p>"What can you do, my little man?" said another of a slighter +build than the first, coming forward and putting his hand upon +Jemmy's head.</p> +<p>Now Jemmy was the best-tempered fellow in the world, but, at the +same time, the very best-tempered people have limits to their +forbearance, and do not like to be taken liberties with by +strangers: so felt Jemmy, who, seizing the young man firmly by the +waistband of his trousers just below the hips, lifted him from the +ground, and with a strength which astonished all present, threw him +clean over the table, his body sweeping away both the candles, so +they were all left in darkness.</p> +<p>"I can douse a glim anyhow," cried Jemmy.</p> +<p>"That's my darling duck," cried Moggy, delighted with this proof +of her husband's vigour.</p> +<p>Some confusion was created by this manoeuvre on the part of +Jemmy, but candles were reproduced, and the first man who spoke, +feeling as if this victory on the part of Jemmy was a rebuke to +himself, again commenced his interrogations.</p> +<p>"Well, my little man, you are strong in the arms, but what will +you do without legs?"</p> +<p>"Not run away, as you have done a hundred times," replied Jemmy, +scornfully.</p> +<p>"Now by the God of War you shall answer for this," replied the +man, catching hold of Jemmy by the collar; but in a moment he was +tripped up by Jemmy, and fell down with great violence on his +back.</p> +<p>"Bravo, bravo!" exclaimed the rest, who took part with +Jemmy.</p> +<p>"That's my own little duck," cried Moggy; "you've shown him what +you can do, anyhow."</p> +<p>The man rose, and was apparently feeling for some arms secreted +about his person, when Nancy Corbett stepped forward.</p> +<p>"Do you dare?" cried she; "take what you have received, and be +thankful, or--" and Nancy held up her little forefinger.</p> +<p>The man slunk back among the others in silence. The old Jew, who +had not interfered, being in presence of Nancy, who had superior +commands, now read the oath, which was of a nature not to be +communicated to the reader without creating disgust. It was, +however, such an oath as was taken in those times, and has since +been frequently taken in Ireland. It was subscribed to by Jemmy and +his wife without hesitation, and they were immediately enrolled +among the members of the association. As soon as this ceremony had +been gone through, Nancy and her protegés quitted the house +and returned to her lodgings, when it was agreed that the next +night they should go over to the island, as Jemmy's services were +required in the boat in lieu of Ramsay, whose place as steersman he +was admirably qualified to occupy, much better, indeed, than that +of a rower, as his legs were too short to reach the stretcher, +where it was usually fixed.</p> +<p>The next evening the weather was calm and clear, and when they +embarked in the boat of the old fisherman, with but a small portion +of their effects, the surface of the water was unruffled, and the +stars twinkled brightly in the heavens; one article which Jemmy +never parted with, was in his hand, his fiddle. They all took their +seats, and the old fisherman shoved off his boat, and they were +soon swept out of the harbour by the strong ebb tide.</p> +<p>"An't this better than being on board with Vanslyperken, and +your leave stopped?" observed Moggy.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied the husband.</p> +<p>"And I not permitted to go on board to see my duck of a +husband--confound his snivelling carcass?" continued Moggy.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Jemmy, thoughtfully.</p> +<p>"And in company with that supernatual cur of his?"</p> +<p>Jemmy nodded his head, and then in his abstraction touched the +strings of his violin.</p> +<p>"They say that you are clever with your instrument, Mr +Salisbury," observed Nancy Corbett.</p> +<p>"That he is," replied Moggy; "and he sings like a darling duck. +Don't you, Jemmy, my dear?"</p> +<p>"Quack, quack," replied Jemmy.</p> +<p>"Well, Mr Salisbury, there's no boat that I can see near us, or +even in sight; and if there was it were little matter. I suppose +you will let me hear you, for I shall have little opportunity after +this?"</p> +<p>"With all my heart," replied Jemmy; who, taking up his fiddle, +and playing upon the strings like a guitar, after a little +reflection, sang as follows:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Bless my eyes, how young Bill threw his shiners away,</p> +<p class="i1">As he drank and he danced, when he first came on +shore!</p> +<p>It was clear that he fancied that with his year's pay,</p> +<p class="i1">Like the Bank of Old England, he'd never be poor.</p> +<p>So when the next day, with a southerly wind in</p> +<p class="i1">His pockets, he came up, my rhino to borrow;</p> +<p>"You're welcome," says I, "Bill, as I forked out the tin,</p> +<p class="i1">But when larking to-day--<i>don't forget there's +to-morrow</i>."</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>When our frigate came to from a cruise in the west,</p> +<p class="i1">And her yards were all squared, her sails neatly +furled,</p> +<p>Young Tom clasped his Nancy, so loved, to his breast,</p> +<p class="i1">As if but themselves there was none in the world.</p> +<p>Between two of the guns they were fondly at play,</p> +<p class="i1">All billing and kissing, forgetting all sorrow;</p> +<p>"Love, like cash," says I, "Nan, may all go in a day,</p> +<p class="i1">While you hug him so close--<i>don't forget there's +to-morrow</i>."</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>When a hurricane swept us smack smooth fore and aft,</p> +<p class="i1">When we dashed on the rock, and we floundered on +shore,</p> +<p>As we sighed for the loss of our beautiful craft,</p> +<p class="i1">Convinced that the like we should never see more,</p> +<p>Says I, "My good fellows," as huddled together,</p> +<p class="i1">They shivered and shook, each phiz black with +sorrow,</p> +<p>"Remember, it's not to be always foul weather,</p> +<p class="i1">So with ill-luck to-day--<i>don't forget there's +to-morrow</i>!"</p> +</div> +</div> +<br> +<p>"And not a bad hint, neither, Mr Salisbury," said Nancy, when +Jemmy ceased. "You sailors never think of to-morrow, more's the +pity. You're no better than overgrown babies."</p> +<p>"I'm not much better, at all events," replied Jemmy, laughing: +"however, I'm as God made me, and so all's right."</p> +<p>"That's my own darling Jemmy," said Moggy, "and if you're +content, and I'm content, who is to say a word, I should like to +know? You may be a rum one to look at, but I think them fellows +found you but a rum customer the other night."</p> +<p>"Don't put so much rum in your discourse, Moggy, you make me +long for a glass of grog."</p> +<p>"Then your mouth will find the water," rejoined Nancy; "but, +however, singing is dry work, and I am provided. Pass my basket +aft, old gentleman, and we will find Mr Salisbury something with +which to whet his whistle." The boatman handed the basket to Nancy, +who pulled out a bottle and glass, which she filled, and handed to +Jemmy.</p> +<p>"Now, Mr Salisbury, I expect some more songs," said Nancy.</p> +<p>"And you shall have them, mistress; but I've heard say that +you've a good pipe of your own; suppose that you give me one in +return, that will be but fair play."</p> +<p>"Not exactly, for you'll have the grog in the bargain," replied +Nancy.</p> +<p>"Put my fiddle against the grog, and then all's square."</p> +<p>"I have not sung for many a day," replied Nancy, musing, and +looking up at the bright twinkling stars. "I once sang, when I was +young--and happy--I then sang all the day long; that was really +singing, for it came from the merriness of my heart;" and Nancy +paused. "Yes, I have sung since, and often, for they made me sing; +but 'twas when my heart was heavy--or when its load had been, for a +time, forgotten and drowned in wine. That was not singing, at least +not the singing of bygone days."</p> +<p>"But those times are bygone too, Mistress Nancy," said Moggy; +"you have now your marriage lines, and are made an honest +woman."</p> +<p>"Yes, and God keep me so, amen," replied Nancy mournfully.</p> +<p>Had not the night concealed it, a tear might have been seen by +the others in the boat to trickle down the cheek of Nancy Corbett, +as she was reminded of her former life; and as she again fixed her +eyes upon the brilliant heavens, each particular star appeared to +twinkle brighter, as if they rejoiced to witness tears like +those.</p> +<p>"You must be light o' heart now, Mistress Nancy," observed +Jemmy, soothingly.</p> +<p>"I am not unhappy," replied she, resting her cheek upon her +hand.</p> +<p>"Mistress Nancy," said Moggy, "I should think a little of that +stuff would do neither of us any harm; the night is rather +bleak."</p> +<p>Moggy poured out a glass and handed it to Nancy; she drank it, +and it saved her from a flood of tears, which otherwise she would +have been unable to repress. In a minute or two, during which Moggy +helped herself and the old boatman, Nancy's spirits returned.</p> +<p>"Do you know this air?" said Nancy to Jemmy, humming it.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, I know it well, Mistress Nancy. Will you sing to +it?"</p> +<p>Nancy Corbett who had been celebrated once for her sweet +singing, as well as her beauty, immediately commenced in a soft and +melodious tone, while Jemmy touched his fiddle.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i7">Lost, stolen, or strayed,</p> +<p class="i7">The heart of a young maid;</p> +<p class="i7">Whoever the same shall find,</p> +<p class="i7">And prove so very kind.</p> +<p class="i7">To yield it on desire,</p> +<p class="i7">They shall rewarded be,</p> +<p class="i7">And that most handsomely,</p> +<p class="i7">With kisses one, two, three.</p> +<p class="i9">Cupid is the crier,</p> +<p class="i9">Ring-a-ding, a-ding,</p> +<p class="i9">Cupid is the crier.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i7">O yes! O yes! O yes!</p> +<p class="i7">Here is a pretty mess!</p> +<p class="i7">A maiden's heart is gone,</p> +<p class="i7">And she is left forlorn,</p> +<p class="i7">And panting with desire;</p> +<p class="i7">Whoever shall bring it me,</p> +<p class="i7">They shall rewarded be.</p> +<p class="i7">With kisses one, two, three.</p> +<p class="i9">Cupid is the crier,</p> +<p class="i9">Ring-a-ding, a-ding,</p> +<p class="i9">Cupid is the crier.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i7">'Twas lost on Sunday eve,</p> +<p class="i7">Or taken without leave,</p> +<p class="i7">A virgin's heart so pure,</p> +<p class="i7">She can't the loss endure,</p> +<p class="i7">And surely will expire;</p> +<p class="i7">Pity her misery.</p> +<p class="i7">Rewarded you shall be,</p> +<p class="i7">With kisses one, two, three.</p> +<p class="i9">Cupid is the crier,</p> +<p class="i9">Ring-a-ding, a-ding,</p> +<p class="i9">Cupid is the crier.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i7">The maiden sought around,</p> +<p class="i7">It was not to be found,</p> +<p class="i7">She searched each nook and dell,</p> +<p class="i7">The haunts she loved so well,</p> +<p class="i7">All anxious with desire;</p> +<p class="i7">The wind blew ope his vest,</p> +<p class="i7">When, lo! the toy in quest,</p> +<p class="i7">She found within the breast</p> +<p class="i9">Of Cupid, the false crier,</p> +<p class="i9">Ring-a-ding, a-ding-a-ding,</p> +<p class="i9">Cupid the false crier.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"Many thanks, Mistress Corbett, for a good song, sung in good +tune, with a sweet voice," said Jemmy. "I owe you one for that, and +am ready to pay you on demand. You've a pipe like a missel +thrush."</p> +<p>"Well, I do believe that I shall begin to sing again," replied +Nancy. "I'm sure if Corbett was only once settled on shore in a +nice little cottage, with a garden, and a blackbird in a wicker +cage, I should try who could sing most, the bird or me."</p> +<p>"He will be by-and-bye, when his work is done."</p> +<p>"Yes, when it is; but open boats, stormy seas, and the halter, +are heavy odds, Mr Salisbury."</p> +<p>"Don't mention the halter, Mistress Nancy, you'll make me +melancholy," replied Jemmy, "and I sha'n't be able to sing any +more. Well, if they want to hang me, they need not rig the +yard-arm, three handspikes as sheers, and I shouldn't find +soundings, heh! Moggy?"</p> +<p>Nancy laughed at the ludicrous idea; but Moggy exclaimed with +vehemence, "Hang my Jemmy! my darling duck! I should like to see +them."</p> +<p>"At all events, we'll have another song from him, Moggy, before +they spoil his windpipe, which, I must say, would be a great pity; +but Moggy, there have been better men hung than your husband."</p> +<p>"Better men than my Jemmy, Mrs Corbett! There never was one like +him afore or since;" replied Moggy, with indignation.</p> +<p>"I only meant of longer pedigree, Moggy," replied Nancy +soothingly.</p> +<p>"I don't know what that is," replied Moggy, still angry.</p> +<p>"Longer legs, to be sure," replied Jemmy. "Never mind that, +Moggy. Here goes, a song in two parts. It's a pity, Mistress Nancy, +that you couldn't take one."</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">"When will you give up this life of wild roving?</p> +<p class="i2">When shall we be quiet and happy on shore?</p> +<p class="i1">When will you to church lead your Susan, so +loving,</p> +<p class="i2">And sail on the treacherous billows no more?"</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">"My ship is my wife, Sue, no other I covet,</p> +<p class="i2">Till I draw the firm splice that's betwixt her and +me;</p> +<p class="i1">I'll roam on the ocean, for much do I love it--</p> +<p class="i2">To wed with another were rank bigamy."</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">"O William, what nonsense you talk, you are +raving;</p> +<p class="i2">Pray how can a ship and a man become one?</p> +<p class="i1">You say so because you no longer are craving,</p> +<p class="i2">As once you were truly--and I am undone."</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">"You wrong me, my dearest, as sure as I stand +here,</p> +<p class="i2">As sure as I'll sail again on the wide sea;</p> +<p class="i1">Some day I will settle, and marry with you, dear,</p> +<p class="i2">But now 'twould be nothing but rank bigamy."</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">"Then tell me the time, dear William, whenever</p> +<p class="i2">Your Sue may expect this divorce to be made;</p> +<p class="i1">When you'll surely be mine, when no object shall +sever,</p> +<p class="i2">But locked in your arms I'm no longer afraid."</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">"The time it will be when my pockets are lined,</p> +<p class="i2">I'll then draw the splice 'tween my vessel and +me,</p> +<p class="i1">And lead you to church, if you're still so +inclined--</p> +<p class="i2">But before, my dear Sue, 'twere rank bigamy."</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"Thank you, Mr Salisbury. I like the moral of that song; a +sailor never should marry till he can settle on shore."</p> +<p>"What's the meaning of big-a-me?" said Moggy.</p> +<p>"Marrying two husbands or two wives, Mrs Salisbury. Perhaps you +might get off on the plea that you had only one and a half," +continued Nancy, laughing.</p> +<p>"Well, perhaps she might," replied Jemmy, "if he were a judge of +understanding."</p> +<p>"I should think, Mistress Nancy, you might as well leave my +husband's legs alone," observed Moggy, affronted.</p> +<p>"Lord bless you, Moggy, if he's not angry, you surely should not +be; I give a joke, and I can take one. You surely are not +jealous?"</p> +<p>"Indeed I am though, and always shall be of anyone who plays +with my Jemmy."</p> +<p>"Or if he plays with anything else?"</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed."</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed! then you must be downright jealous of his fiddle, +Moggy," replied Nancy; "but never mind, you sha'n't be jealous now +about nothing. I'll sing you a song, and then you'll forget all +this." Nancy Corbett then sang as follows:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">Fond Mary sat on Henry's knee,</p> +<p class="i1">"I must be home exact," said he,</p> +<p class="i2">"And see, the hour is come."</p> +<p class="i1">"No, Henry, you shall never go</p> +<p class="i1">Until me how to count you show;</p> +<p class="i2">That task must first be done."</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">Then Harry said, "As time is short,</p> +<p class="i1">Addition you must first be taught;--</p> +<p class="i2">Sum up these kisses sweet;</p> +<p class="i1">"Now prove your sum by kissing me:--</p> +<p class="i1">Yes, that is right, 'twas three times three--</p> +<p class="i2">Arithmetic's a treat.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">"And now there is another term,</p> +<p class="i1">Subtraction you have yet to learn;</p> +<p class="i2">Take four away from these."</p> +<p class="i1">"Yes, that is right, you've made it out,"</p> +<p class="i1">Says Mary, with a pretty pout,</p> +<p class="i2">"Subtraction don't me please."</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">Division's next upon the list;</p> +<p class="i1">Young Henry taught while Mary kissed,</p> +<p class="i2">And much admired the rule;</p> +<p class="i1">"Now, Henry, don't you think me quick?"</p> +<p class="i1">"Why, yes, indeed, you've learned the trick;</p> +<p class="i2">At kissing you're no fool."</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">To multiply was next the game,</p> +<p class="i1">Which Henry by the method same,</p> +<p class="i2">To Mary fain would show;</p> +<p class="i1">But here his patience was worn out,</p> +<p class="i1">She multiplied too fast I doubt,</p> +<p class="i2">He could no farther go.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i1">"And now we must leave off, my dear;</p> +<p class="i1">The other rules are not so clear,</p> +<p class="i2">We'll try at them to-night;"</p> +<p class="i1">"I'll come at eve, my Henry sweet;</p> +<p class="i1">Behind the hawthorn hedge we'll meet,</p> +<p class="i2">For learning's my delight."</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"That's a very pretty song, Mistress Corbett, and you've a nice +collection, I've no doubt. If you've no objection, I'll exchange +another with you."</p> +<p>"I should be most willing, Mr Salisbury; but we are now getting +well over, and we may as well be quiet, as I do not wish people to +ask where we are going."</p> +<p>"You're right, ma'am," observed the old fisherman, who pulled +the boat. "Put up your fiddle, master; there be plenty on the look +out, without our giving them notice."</p> +<p>"Very true," replied Jemmy, "so we break up our concert."</p> +<p>The whole party were now silent. In a quarter of an hour the +boat was run into a cut, which concealed it from view; and, as soon +as the fisherman had looked round to see the coast clear, they +landed and made haste to pass by the cottages; after that Nancy +slackened her pace, and they walked during the night over to the +other side of the island, and arrived at the cottages above the +cave.</p> +<p>Here they left a portion of their burdens and then proceeded to +the path down the cliff which led to the cave. On Nancy giving the +signal, the ladder was lowered, and they were admitted. As soon as +they were upon the flat, Moggy embraced her husband, crying, "Here +I have you, my own dear Jemmy, all to myself, and safe for +ever."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXX"></a>Chapter XXX</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken treats the ladies.</h3> +<br> +<p>On the second day after his arrival, Vanslyperken, as agreed, +went up to the syndic's house to call upon Ramsay. The latter paid +him down one hundred pounds for his passage and services, and +Vanslyperken was so pleased, that he thought seriously, as soon as +he had amassed sufficient money, to withdraw himself from the +service, and retire with his ill-gotten gains; but when would a +miser like Vanslyperken have amassed sufficient money? Alas! never, +even if the halter were half round his neck. Ramsay then gave his +instructions to Vanslyperken, advising him to call for letters +previously to his sailing, and telling him that he must open the +government despatches in the way to which he had been witness, take +full memorandums of the contents, and bring them to him, for which +service he would each time receive fifty pounds as a remuneration. +Vanslyperken bowed to his haughty new acquaintance, and quitted the +house.</p> +<p>"Yes," thought Ramsay, "that fellow is a low, contemptible +traitor, and how infamous does treason appear in that wretch! +but--I--I am no traitor--I have forfeited my property and risked my +life in fidelity to my king, and in attempting to rid the world of +a usurper and a tyrant. Here, indeed, I am playing a traitor's part +to my host, but still I am doing my duty. An army without spies +would be incomplete, and one may descend to that office for the +good of one's country without tarnish or disgrace. Am I not a +traitor to her already? Have not I formed visions in my imagination +already of obtaining her hand, and her heart, and her fortune? Is +not this treachery? Shall I not attempt to win her affections under +disguise as her father's friend and partisan? But what have women +to do with politics? Or if they have, do not they set so light a +value upon them, that they will exchange them for a feather? Yes, +surely; when they love, their politics are the politics of those +they cling to. At present, she is on her father's side; but if she +leave her father and cleave to me, her politics will be transferred +with her affections. But then her religion. She thinks me a +Protestant. Well, love is all in all with women; not only politics +but religion must yield to it; 'thy people shall be my people, and +thy God shall be my God,' as Ruth says in the scriptures. She is +wrong in politics, I will put her right. She is wrong in religion, +I will restore her to the bosom of the church. Her wealth would be +sacrificed to some heretic; it were far better that it belonged to +one who supports the true religion and the good cause. In what way, +therefore, shall I injure her? On the contrary." And Ramsay walked +down stairs to find Wilhelmina. Such were the arguments used by the +young cavalier, and with which he fully satisfied himself that he +was doing rightly; had he argued the other side of the question, he +would have been equally convinced, as most people are, when they +argue without any opponent; but we must leave him to follow +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken walked away from the syndic's house with the +comfortable idea that one side of him was heavier than the other by +one hundred guineas. He also ruminated; he had already obtained +three hundred pounds, no small sum, in those days, for a +lieutenant. It is true that he had lost the chance of thousands by +the barking of Snarleyyow, and he had lost the fair Portsmouth +widow; but then he was again on good terms with the Frau +Vandersloosh, and was in a fair way of making his fortune, and, as +he considered, with small risk. His mother, too, attracted a share +of his reminiscences; the old woman would soon die, and then he +would have all that she had saved. Smallbones occasionally intruded +himself, but that was but for a moment. And Mr Vanslyperken walked +away very well satisfied, upon the whole, with his <i>esse</i> and +<i>posse</i>. He wound up by flattering himself that he should wind +up with the savings of his mother, his half-pay, the widow's +guilders, and his own property,--altogether it would be pretty +comfortable. But we leave him and return to Corporal Van +Spitter.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter had had wisdom enough to dupe Vanslyperken, +and persuade him that he was very much in love with Babette; and +Vanslyperken, who was not at all averse to this amour, permitted +the corporal to go on shore and make love. As Vanslyperken did not +like the cutter and Snarleyyow to be left without the corporal or +himself, he always remained on board when the corporal went, so +that the widow had enough on hand--pretending love all the morning +with the lieutenant, and indemnifying herself by real love with the +corporal after dusk. Her fat hand was kissed and slobbered from +morning to night, but it was half for love and half for +revenge.</p> +<p>But we must leave the corporal, and return to Jemmy Ducks. Jemmy +was two days in the cave before the arrival of the boat, during +which he made himself a great favourite, particularly with Lilly, +who sat down and listened to his fiddle and his singing. It was a +novelty in the cave, anything like amusement. On the third night, +however, Sir R. Barclay came back from Cherbourg, and as he only +remained one hour, Jemmy was hastened on board, taking leave of his +wife, but not parting with his fiddle. He took his berth as +steersman, in lieu of Ramsay, and gave perfect satisfaction. The +intelligence brought over by Sir Robert rendered an immediate +messenger to Portsmouth necessary, and, as it would create less +suspicion, Moggy was the party now entrusted in lieu of Nancy, who +had been lately seen too often, and, it was supposed, had been +watched. Moggy was not sorry to receive her instructions, which +were, to remain at Portsmouth until Lazarus the Jew should give her +further orders; for there was one point which Moggy was most +anxious to accomplish, now that she could do it without risking a +retaliation upon her husband, which was, to use her own expression, +to pay off that snivelling old rascal, Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>But we must leave Moggy and the movements of individuals, and +return to our general history. The <i>Yungfrau</i> was detained a +fortnight at Amsterdam, and then received the despatches of the +States General and those of Ramsay, with which Vanslyperken +returned to Portsmouth. On his arrival, he went through his usual +routine at the admiral's and the Jew's, received his douceur, and +hastened to his mother's house, when he found the old woman, as she +constantly prophesied, not dead yet.</p> +<p>"Well, child, what have you brought--more gold?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, laying down the one hundred and +fifty guineas which he had received.</p> +<p>"Bless thee, my son--bless thee!" said the old woman, laying her +palsied hand upon Vanslyperken's head. "It is not often I bless--I +never did bless as I can recollect--I like cursing better. My +blessing must be worth something, if it's only for its scarcity; +and do you know why I bless thee, my Cornelius? Because--ha, ha, +ha! because you are a murderer and a traitor, and you love +gold."</p> +<p>Even Vanslyperken shuddered at the hag's address.</p> +<p>"What do you ever gain by doing good in this world? nothing but +laughter and contempt. I began the world like a fool, but I shall +go out of it like a wise woman, hating, despising everything but +gold. And I have had my revenge in my time--yes--yes--the world, my +son, is divided into only two parts, those who cheat, and those who +are cheated--those who master, and those who are mastered--those +who are shackled by superstitions and priests, and those who, like +me, fear neither God nor devil. We must all die; yes, but I shan't +die yet, no, no."</p> +<p>And Vanslyperken almost wished that he could gain the unbelief +of the decrepit woman whom he called mother, and who, on the verge +of eternity, held fast to such a creed.</p> +<p>"Well, mother, perhaps it may be you are right--I never gained +anything by a good action yet."</p> +<p><i>Query</i>. Had he ever done a good action?</p> +<p>"You're my own child, I see, after all; you have my blessing, +Cornelius, my son--go and prosper. Get gold--get gold," replied the +old hag, taking up the money, and locking it up in the oak +chest.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken then narrated to his mother the unexpected +interview with Smallbones, and his surmise that the lad was +supernaturally gifted. "Ah, well," replied she, "those who are born +to be hung will die by no other death; but still it does not follow +that they will not die. You shall have your revenge, my child. The +lad shall die. Try again; water, you say, rejects him? Fire will +not harm him. There is that which is of the earth and of the air +left. Try again, my son; revenge is sweet, next to gold."</p> +<p>After two hours' conversation, it grew dark, and Vanslyperken +departed, revolving in his mind, as he walked away, the sublime +principles of religion and piety, in the excellent advice given by +his aged mother. "I wish I could only think as she does," muttered +Vanslyperken at last; and as he concluded this devout wish, his arm +was touched by a neatly-dressed little girl, who curtsied, and +asked if he was not Lieutenant Vanslyperken, belonging to the +cutter. Vanslyperken replied in the affirmative, and the little +girl then said that a lady, her mistress, wished to speak to +him.</p> +<p>"Your mistress, my little girl?" said Vanslyperken, +suspiciously; "and pray who is your mistress?"</p> +<p>"She is a lady, sir," replied the latter; "she was married to +Major Williams, but he is dead."</p> +<p>"Hah! a widow; well, what does she want? I don't know her."</p> +<p>"No, sir, and she don't know you; but she told me if you did not +come at once, to give you this paper to read."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken took the paper, and walking to the window of a shop +in which there was a light, contrived to decipher as follows:--</p> +<blockquote>"SIR,<br> +<br> +"The lady who lived in Castle Street has sent me a letter, and a +parcel, to deliver up into your own hands, as the parcel is of +value. The bearer of this will bring you to my house.</blockquote> +<br> +<p class="loc">"Your very obedient,<br> +"JANE WILLIAMS."</p> +<blockquote><i>Two o'clock</i>.</blockquote> +<p>"Where does your mistress live, little girl?" enquired +Vanslyperken, who immediately anticipated the portrait of the fair +widow set in diamonds.</p> +<p>"She lives in one of the publics on the hard, sir, on the first +floor, while she is furnishing her lodgings."</p> +<p>"One of the publics on the hard; well, my little girl, I will go +with you."</p> +<p>"I have been looking for you everywhere, sir," said the little +girl, walking, or rather trotting by the side of Vanslyperken, who +strided along.</p> +<p>"Did your mistress know the lady who lived in Castle +Street?"</p> +<p>"O yes, sir, my mistress then lived next door to her in Castle +Street, but her lease was out, and now she has a much larger house +in William Street, but she is painting and furnishing all so +handsome, sir, and so now she has taken the first floor of the +'Wheatsheaf' till she can get in again."</p> +<p>And Mr Vanslyperken thought it would be worth his while to +reconnoitre this widow before he closed with the Frau Vandersloosh. +How selfish men are!</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour Mr Vanslyperken and the little girl had +arrived at the public-house in question. Mr Vanslyperken did not +much admire the exterior of the building, but it was too dark to +enable him to take an accurate survey. It was, however, evident, +that it was a pot-house, and nothing more; and Mr Vanslyperken +thought that lodgings must be very scarce in Portsmouth. He entered +the first and inner door, and the little girl said she would go +upstairs and let her mistress know that he was come. She ran up, +leaving Mr Vanslyperken alone in the dark passage. He waited for +some time, when his naturally suspicious temper made him think he +had been deceived, and he determined to wait outside of the house, +which appeared very disreputable. He therefore retreated to the +inner door to open it, but found it fast. He tried it again and +again, but in vain, and he became alarmed and indignant. Perceiving +a light through another keyhole, he tried the door, and it was +open; a screen was close to the door as he entered, and he could +not see its occupants. Mr Vanslyperken walked round, and as he did +so, he heard the door closed and locked. He looked on the other +side of the screen, and, to his horror, found himself in company +with Moggy Salisbury, and about twenty other females. Vanslyperken +made a precipitate retreat to the door, but he was met by three or +four women, who held him fast by the arms. Vanslyperken would have +disgraced himself by drawing his cutlass; but they were prepared +for this, and while two of them pinioned his arms, one of them drew +his cutlass from its sheath, and walked away with it. Two of the +women contrived to hold his arms, while another pushed him in the +rear, until he was brought from behind the screen into the middle +of the room, facing his incarnate enemy, Moggy Salisbury.</p> +<p>"Good evening to you, Mr Vanslyperken," cried Moggy, not rising +from her chair. "It's very kind of you to come and see me in this +friendly way--come, take a chair, and give us all the news."</p> +<p>"Mistress Salisbury, you had better mind what you are about with +a king's officer," cried Vanslyperken, turning more pale at this +mockery, than if he had met with abuse. "There are constables, and +stocks, and gaols, and whipping-posts on shore, as well as the cat +on board."</p> +<p>"I know all that, Mr Vanslyperken," replied Moggy, calmly; "but +that has nothing to do with the present affair: you have come of +your own accord to this house to see somebody, that is plain, and +you have found me. So now do as you're bid, like a polite man; sit +down, and treat the ladies. Ladies, Mr Vanslyperken stands treat, +and please the pigs, we'll make a night of it. What shall it be? I +mean to take my share of a bottle of Oporto. What will you have, +Mrs Slamkoe?"</p> +<p>"I'll take a bowl of burnt brandy, with your leave, Mrs +Salisbury, not being very well in my inside."</p> +<p>"And you, my dear?"</p> +<p>"O, punch for me--punch to the mast," cried another. "I'll drink +enough to float a jolly-boat. It's very kind of Mr +Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>All the ladies expressed their several wishes, and Vanslyperken +knew not what to do; he thought he might as well make an effort, +for the demand on his purse he perceived would be excessive, and he +loved his money.</p> +<p>"You may all call for what you please," said Vanslyperken, "but +you'll pay for what you call for. If you think that I am to be +swindled in this way out of my money, you're mistaken. Every soul +of you shall be whipped at the cart's tail to-morrow."</p> +<p>"Do you mean to insinuate that I am not a respectable person, +sir?" said a fierce-looking virago, rubbing her fist against +Vanslyperken's nose. "Smell that!"</p> +<p>It was not a nosegay at all to the fancy of Mr Vanslyperken; he +threw himself back, and his chair fell with him. The ladies +laughed, and Mr Vanslyperken rose in great wrath.</p> +<p>"By all the devils in hell," he exclaimed, whirling the chair +round his head, "but I'll do you a mischief!"</p> +<p>But he was soon pinioned from behind.</p> +<p>"This is very unpolite conduct," said one; "you call yourself a +gentleman?"</p> +<p>"What shall we do, ladies?"</p> +<p>"Do," replied another; "let's strip him, and pawn his clothes, +and then turn him adrift."</p> +<p>"Well, that's not a bad notion," replied the others, and they +forthwith proceeded to take off Mr Vanslyperken's coat and +waistcoat. How much further they would have gone it is impossible +to say, for Mr Vanslyperken had made up his mind to buy himself off +as cheap as he could.</p> +<p>Be it observed, that Moggy never interfered, nor took any part +in this violence; on the contrary, she continued sitting in her +chair, and said, "Indeed, ladies, I request you will not be so +violent, Mr Vanslyperken is my friend. I am sorry that he will not +treat you; but if he will not, I beg you will allow him to go +away."</p> +<p>"There, you hear," cried Mr Vanslyperken; "Mrs Salisbury, am I +at liberty to depart?"</p> +<p>"Most certainly, Mr Vanslyperken; you have my full permission. +Ladies, I beg that you will let him go."</p> +<p>"No, by the living jingo! not till he treats us," cried one of +the women; "why did he come into this shop, but for nothing else? +I'll have my punch afore he starts."</p> +<p>"And I my burnt brandy." So cried they all, and Mr Vanslyperken, +whose coat and waistcoat were already off, and finding many fingers +very busy about the rest of his person, perceived that Moggy's +neutrality was all a sham, so he begged to be heard.</p> +<p>"Ladies, I'll do anything in reason. As far as five +shillings--"</p> +<p>"Five shillings!" exclaimed the woman; "no, no--why, a foremast +man would come down with more than that. And you a lieutenant? Five +guineas, now, would be saying something."</p> +<p>"Five guineas! why I have not so much money. Upon my soul I +hav'n't."</p> +<p>"Let us see," said one of the party, diving like an adept into +Vanslyperken's trousers-pocket, and pulling out his purse. The +money was poured out on the table, and twelve guineas counted +out.</p> +<p>"Then whose money is this?" cried the woman; "not yours on your +soul; have you been taking a purse to-night? I vote we sends for a +constable."</p> +<p>"I quite forgot that I had put more money in my purse," muttered +Vanslyperken, who never expected to see it again. "I'll treat you, +ladies--treat you all to whatever you please."</p> +<p>"Bravo! that's spoken like a man," cried the virago, giving +Vanslyperken a slap on the back which knocked the breath out of his +body.</p> +<p>"Bravo!" exclaimed another, "that's what I call handsome; let's +all kiss him, ladies."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken was forced to go through this ordeal, and then the +door was unlocked, but carefully guarded, while the several orders +were given.</p> +<p>"Who is to pay for all this?" exclaimed the landlady.</p> +<p>"This gentleman treats us all," replied the woman.</p> +<p>"Oh! very well--is it all right, sir?"</p> +<p>Vanslyperken dared not say no: he was in their power, and every +eye watched him as he gave his answer; so he stammered out "Yes," +and, in a fit of despair at the loss of his money, he threw himself +into his chair, and meditated revenge.</p> +<p>"Give Mr Vanslyperken his purse, Susan," said the prudent Moggy +to the young woman who had taken it out of his pocket.</p> +<p>The purse was returned, and, in a few minutes, the various +liquors and mixtures demanded made their appearance, and the +jollification commenced. Every one was soon quite happy, with the +exception of Mr Vanslyperken, who, like Pistol, ate his leek, +swearing in his own mind he would be horribly revenged.</p> +<p>"Mr Vanslyperken, you must drink my health in some of this +punch." Vanslyperken compressed his lips, and shook his head. "I +say yes, Mr Vanslyperken," cried the virago, looking daggers; "if +you don't, we quarrel--that's all."</p> +<p>But Vanslyperken argued in his mind that his grounds of +complaint would be weakened, if he partook of the refreshment which +he had been forced to pay for, so he resolutely denied.</p> +<p>"Von't you listen to my harguments, Mr Vanslyperken?" continued +the woman. "Vell, then, I must resort to the last, which I never +knew fail yet." The woman went to the fire and pulled out the +poker, which was red hot, from between the bars. "Now then, my +beauty, you must kiss this, or drink some punch;" and she advanced +it towards his nose, while three or four others held him fast on +his chair behind; the poker, throwing out a glow of heat, was +within an inch of the poor lieutenant's nose: he could stand it no +more, his face and eyes were scorched.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes," cried he at last, "if I must drink, then, I will. We +will settle this matter by-and-bye," cried Vanslyperken, pouring +down with indignation the proffered glass.</p> +<p>"Now, Susan, don't ill-treat Mr Vanslyperken: I purtest against +all ill-treatment."</p> +<p>"Ill-treat, Mrs Salisbury! I am only giving him a lesson in +purliteness."</p> +<p>"Now, Mr What-the-devil's-your-name, you must drink off a glass +of my burnt brandy, or I shall be jealous," cried another; "and +when I am jealous I always takes to red-hot pokers." Resistance was +in vain, the poker was again taken from between the bars, and the +burnt brandy went down.</p> +<p>Again and again was Mr Vanslyperken forced to pour down his +throat all that was offered to him, or take the chance of having +his nose burnt off.</p> +<p>"Is it not wrong to mix your liquors in this way, Mr +Vanslyperken?" said Moggy, in bitter mockery.</p> +<p>The first allowance brought in was now despatched, and the bell +rung, and double as much more ordered, to Vanslyperken's great +annoyance; but he was in the hands of the Philistines. What made +the matter worse, was, that the company grew every moment more +uproarious, and there was no saying when they would stop.</p> +<p>"A song--a song--a song from Mr Vanslyperken," cried one of the +party.</p> +<p>"Hurrah! yes, a song from the jolly lieutenant."</p> +<p>"I can't sing," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"You shall sing, by the piper who played before Moses," said the +virago; "if not, you shall sing out to some purpose;" and the +red-hot poker was again brandished in her masculine fist, and she +advanced to him, saying, "suppose we hargue that point?"</p> +<p>"Would you murder me, woman?"</p> +<p>"No; singing is no murder, but we ax a song, and a song we must +have."</p> +<p>"I don't know one--upon my honour I don't," cried +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Then, we'll larn you. And now you repeat after me."</p> +<p>"'Poll put her arms a-kimbo.' Sing--come, out with it." And the +poker was again advanced.</p> +<p>"O God!" cried Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Sing, or by Heavens I'll shorten your nose! Sing, I say," +repeated the woman, advancing the poker so as actually to singe the +skin.</p> +<p>"Take it away, and I will," cried Vanslyperken, breathless.</p> +<p>"Well then, 'Poll put her arms a-kimbo.'"</p> +<p>"'Poll put her arms a-kimbo,'" repeated Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"That's saying, not singing," cried the woman. "Now again. 'At +the admiral's house looked she.'"</p> +<p>"'At the admiral's house looked she,'" replied Vanslyperken, in +a whining tone.</p> +<p>Thus, with the poker staring him in the face, was Vanslyperken +made to repeat the very song for singing which he would have +flogged Jemmy Ducks. There was, however, a desperate attempt to +avoid the last stanza.</p> +<blockquote>"I'll give you a bit of my mind, old boy,<br> +Port Admiral, you be d----d."</blockquote> +<p>Nothing but the tip of his nose actually burnt would have +produced these last words; but fear overcame him, and at last they +were repeated. Upon which all the women shouted and shrieked with +laughter, except Moggy, who continued sipping her port wine.</p> +<p>"Your good health, Mr Vanslyperken," said Moggy, drinking to +him.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken wiped the perspiration off his forehead, and made +no reply.</p> +<p>"You call yourself a gentleman, and not drink the health of the +lady of the house!" cried virago Mrs Slamkoe. "I'll hargue this +point with you again."</p> +<p>The same never-failing argument was used, and Mr Vanslyperken +drank Mrs Salisbury's health in a glass of the port wine which he +was to have the pleasure of paying for.</p> +<p>"I must say, Mr Vanslyperken," said Moggy, "it was very hard for +to wish to flog my poor Jemmy for singing a song which you have +just now been singing yourself."</p> +<p>"Did he want to flog your Jemmy for that?"</p> +<p>"Yes, he did indeed, ladies."</p> +<p>"Then as sure as I stand here, and may this punch be my poison, +if he sha'n't beg your pardon on his knees. Sha'n't he, girls?" +cried Mrs Slamkoe.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, that he shall, or we'll poke him with the poker."</p> +<p>This was a dreadful threat, but the indignity was so great, that +Vanslyperken attempted to resist. It was, however, in vain; he was +forced to go on his knees, and ask Mrs Salisbury's pardon.</p> +<p>"Indeed, ladies, I do not wish it," said Moggy; "no, pray don't. +Well, Mr Vanslyperken, pardon granted; so now kiss and make +friends."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken, surrounded now by furies rather than +Bacchanalians, kissed Mrs Salisbury.</p> +<p>"What in the world would you have me do, you she-devils?" cried +he at last, driven to desperation.</p> +<p>"This is language for a gentleman," said Mrs Slamkoe.</p> +<p>"They shall make you do nothing more," replied Moggy. "I must +retire, ladies, your freak's up. You know I never keep late hours. +Ladies, I wish you all a very good-night."</p> +<p>"Perhaps, Mr Vanslyperken, you would wish to go. I'll send for +the woman of the house that you may settle the bill; I think you +offered to treat the company?"</p> +<p>Vanslyperken grinned ghastly. The bell was rung, and while Mr +Vanslyperken was pulling out the sum demanded by the landlady, the +ladies all disappeared.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken put up his diminished purse. "There is your sword, +Mr Vanslyperken," said Moggy; who, during the whole of the scene, +had kept up a <i>retenue</i> very different from her usual +manners.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken took his sword, and appeared to feel his courage +return--why not? he was armed, and in company with only one woman, +and he sought revenge.</p> +<p>He rang the bell, and the landlady appeared.</p> +<p>"Landlady," cried Vanslyperken, "you'll send for a constable +directly. Obey me, or I'll put you down as a party to the robbery +which has been committed. I say, a constable immediately. Refuse on +your peril, woman; a king's officer has been robbed and +ill-treated."</p> +<p>"Lauk-a-mercy! a constable, sir? I'm sure you've had a very +pleasant jollification."</p> +<p>"Silence, woman; send for a constable immediately."</p> +<p>"Do you hear, Mrs Wilcox?" said Moggy, very quietly, "Mr +Vanslyperken wants a constable. Send for one by all means."</p> +<p>"Oh! certainly, ma'am, if you wish it," said the landlady, +quitting the room.</p> +<p>"Yes, you infamous woman, I'll teach you to rob and ill-treat +people in this way."</p> +<p>"Mercy on me! Mr Vanslyperken, why I never interfered."</p> +<p>"Ay, ay, that's all very well; but you'll tell another story +when you're all before the authorities."</p> +<p>"Perhaps I shall," replied Moggy, carelessly. "But I shall now +wish you a good-evening, Mr Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>Thereupon Mr Vanslyperken very valorously drew his sword, and +flourished it over his head.</p> +<p>"You don't pass here, Mrs Salisbury. No--no--it's my turn +now."</p> +<p>"Your turn now, you beast!" retorted Moggy. "Why, if I wished to +pass, this poker would soon clear the way; but I can pass without +that, and I will give you the countersign. Hark! a word in your +ear, you wretch. You are in my power. You have sent for a +constable, and I swear by my own Jemmy's little finger, which is +worth your old shrivelled carcass, that I shall give you in charge +of the constable."</p> +<p>"Me!" exclaimed Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Yes, you--you wretch--you scum. Now I am going, stop me if you +dare. Walls have ears, so I'll whisper. If you wish to send a +constable after me, you'll find me at the house of the Jew Lazarus. +Do you understand?"</p> +<p>Vanslyperken started back as if an adder had come before him, +his sword dropped out of his hand, he stood transfixed.</p> +<p>"May I go now, Mr Vanslyperken, or am I to wait for the +constable? Silence gives consent," continued Moggy, making a mock +courtesy, and walking out of the room.</p> +<p>For a minute, Vanslyperken remained in the same position. At +last, bursting with his feelings, he snatched up his sword, put it +into the sheath, and was about to quit the room, when in came the +landlady with the constable.</p> +<p>"You vants me, sir?" said the man.</p> +<p>"I did," stammered Vanslyperken, "but she is gone."</p> +<p>"I must be paid for my trouble, sir, if you please."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken had again to pull out his purse; but this time he +hardly felt the annoyance, for in his mind's eye his neck was +already in the halter. He put the money into the man's hand without +speaking, and then left the room, the landlady courtesying very +low, and hoping that she soon should again have the pleasure of his +company at the Wheatsheaf.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXI"></a>Chapter XXXI</h2> +<h3>In which Snarleyyow again triumphs over his enemies.</h3> +<br> +<p>But we must return to the cabin, and state what took place +during this long absence of the commander, who had gone on shore +about three o'clock, and had given directions for his boat to be at +the Point at sunset. There had been a council of war held on the +forecastle, in which Corporal Van Spitter and Smallbones were the +most prominent; and the meeting was held to debate, whether they +should or should not make one more attempt to destroy the dog; +singular that the arguments and observations very nearly coincided +with those made use of by Vanslyperken and his mother, when they +debated how to get rid of Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Water won't touch him, I sees that," observed Smallbones.</p> +<p>"No. Mein Gott, dat was to trow time and de trouble away," +replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"Hanging's just as natural a death for a cur," observed +Spurey.</p> +<p>"Yes," observed Short.</p> +<p>"I'm afeard that the rope's not laid that's to hang that +animal," observed Coble, shaking his head. "If water won't do, I'm +persuaded nothing will, for did not they use, in former days, to +lay all spirits in the Red Sea?"</p> +<p>"Yes," quoth Short.</p> +<p>"But he ban't a spirit yet," replied Smallbones; "he be flesh +and blood o' some sort. If I gets fairly rid of his body, d----n +his soul, I say, he may keep that and welcome."</p> +<p>"But then, you know, he'll haunt us just as much as ever--we +shall see him here just the same."</p> +<p>"A spirit is only a spirit," observed Smallbones; "he may live +in the cabin all day and night afore I care; but, d'ye see, there's +a great difference between the ghost of a dog, and the dog +himself."</p> +<p>"Why, if the beast ar'n't natural, I can't see much odds," +observed Spurey.</p> +<p>"But I can feel 'em," replied Smallbones. "This here dog has +a-bitten me all to bits, but a ghost of a dog can't bite +anyhow."</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>"And now, d'ye see, as Obadiah Coble has said as how spirits +must be laid, I think if we were to come for to go for to lay this +here hanimal in the cold hearth, he may perhaps not be able to get +up again."</p> +<p>"That's only a perhaps," observed Coble.</p> +<p>"Well, a perhaps is better than nothing at all," said the +lad.</p> +<p>"Yes," observed Short.</p> +<p>"That depends upon sarcumstances," observed Spurey. "What sort +of a breakfast would you make upon a perhaps?"</p> +<p>"A good one, perhaps," replied Smallbones, grinning at the +jingling of the words.</p> +<p>"Twenty dozen tyfels, Smallbones is in de right," observed +Jansen, who had taken no part in the previous conversation. +"Suppose you bury de dog, de dog body not get up again. Suppose he +will come, his soul come, leave him body behind him."</p> +<p>"That's exactly my notion of the thing," observed +Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Do you mean for to bury him alive?" inquired Spurey.</p> +<p>"Alive! Gott in himmel--no. I knock de brains out first, perry +afterwards."</p> +<p>"There's some sense in that, corporal."</p> +<p>"And the dog can't have much left anyhow, dog or devil, when his +brains are all out."</p> +<p>"No," quoth Short.</p> +<p>"But who is to do it?"</p> +<p>"Corporal and I," replied Smallbones; "we be agreed, ban't we, +corporal?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes!"</p> +<p>"And now I votes that we tries it off-hand; what's the use of +shilly-shally? I made a mortal vow that that 'ere dog and I won't +live together--there ban't room enough for us two."</p> +<p>"It's a wide world, nevertheless," observed Coble, hitching up +his trousers; "howsomever, I have nothing to say, but I wish you +luck; but if you kill that dog, I'm a bishop--that's all."</p> +<p>"And if I don't try for to do so, I am an harchbishop, that's +all," replied the gallant Smallbones. "Come along, corporal."</p> +<p>And here was to be beheld a novel scene. Smallbones followed in +obedience by his former persecutor and his superior officer; a bag +of bones--a reed--a lath--a scarecrow; like a pilot cutter ahead of +an Indiaman, followed in his wake by Corporal Van Spitter, weighing +twenty stone. How could this be? It was human nature. Smallbones +took the lead, because he was the more courageous of the two, and +the corporal following, proved he tacitly admitted it.</p> +<p>"He be a real bit of stuff, that 'ere Peter Smallbones," said +one of the men.</p> +<p>"I thinks he be a supernatural himself, for my part," rejoined +Spurey.</p> +<p>"At all events, he ar'n't afeard of him," said another.</p> +<p>"We shall see," replied Coble, squirting out his tobacco-juice +under the gun.</p> +<p>"Come, men, we must go to work now. Shall we, Mr Short?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied the commanding officer, and the conference broke +up.</p> +<p>In the meantime the consultation was continued between +Smallbones and the corporal. The latter had received instruction to +take on shore Mr Vanslyperken's dirty linen to the washerwoman, and +of course, as a corporal, he was not obliged to carry it, and would +take Smallbones for that purpose. Then he could easily excuse +taking the dog on shore, upon the plea of taking care of it. It was +therefore so arranged; the dog would follow the corporal in the +absence of his master, but no one else. In a few minutes the +corporal, Smallbones, Snarleyyow, and a very small bundle of linen, +were in the boat, and shoved off with as many good wishes and as +much anxiety for their success, as probably Jason and his followers +received when they departed in search of the Golden Fleece.</p> +<p>The three parties kept in company, and passed through the town +of Portsmouth. The washerwoman lived outside the Lines, and there +they proceeded, Snarleyyow very much in spirits at being able to +eat the grass, which his health very much required. They walked on +until they arrived at a large elm-tree, on the side of the road, +which lay between two hedges and ditches.</p> +<p>"This will do," observed the corporal solemnly. "Mein Gott! I +wish it was over," continued he, wiping the perspiration from his +bull-forehead.</p> +<p>"How shall we kill him, corporal?" inquired Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! knock him head against de tree, I suppose."</p> +<p>"Yes, and bury him in the ditch. Here, dog--Snarleyyow--here, +dog," said Smallbones; "come, a poor doggy--come here."</p> +<p>But Snarleyyow was not to be coaxed by Smallbones; he suspected +treachery.</p> +<p>"He won't a-come to me, corporal, or I'd soon settle his hash," +observed Smallbones.</p> +<p>The corporal had now got over a little panic which had seized +him. He called Snarleyyow, who came immediately. Oh! had he +imagined what the corporal was about to do, he might have died like +Cæsar, exclaiming, "Et tu Brute," which, in plain English +means, "and you--you brute."</p> +<p>The corporal, with a sort of desperation, laid hold of the dog +by the tail, drawing him back till he could swing him round. In a +second or two Snarleyyow was whirling round the corporal, who +turned with him, gradually approaching the trunk of the elm-tree, +till at last his head came in contact with it with a resounding +blow, and the dog fell senseless. "Try it again, corporal, let's +finish him." The corporal again swung round the inanimate body of +the dog; again, and again, and again, did the head come in contact +with the hard wood; and then the corporal, quite out of breath with +the exertion, dropped the body on the grass. Neither of them spoke +a word for some time, but watched the body, as it lay motionless, +doubled up, with the fore and hind feet meeting each other, and the +one eye closed.</p> +<p>"Well, I've a notion that he is done for, anyhow," said +Smallbones, "at last."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes!" replied the corporal. "He never get on his +legs again, be he tog or be he tyfel."</p> +<p>"Now for to come for to go for to bury him," said Smallbones, +swinging the dog by the tail, and dragging him towards the ditch. +"I wonder if we could get a spade anywhere, corporal."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! if we ask for a spade they will ask what for, and +Vanslyperken may find it all out."</p> +<p>"Then I'll bury him and cover him up, anyhow; he'll not come to +life again, if he does may I be knocked on the head like him, +that's all." Smallbones dragged the body into the ditch, and +collecting out of the other parts of the ditch a great quantity of +wet leaves, covered the body a foot deep. "There, they won't find +him now, because they won't know where to look for him. I say, +corporal, I've a notion we had better not be seen here too +long."</p> +<p>"No," said the corporal, wiping his forehead, putting his +handkerchief in his cap, and his cap on his head; "we must go +now."</p> +<p>They went to the washerwoman's, delivered the bundle, and then +returned on board, when the whole crew were informed of the success +of the expedition, and appeared quite satisfied that there was an +end of the detested cur; all but Coble, who shook his head.</p> +<p>"We shall see," says he; "but I'm blessed if I don't expect the +cur back to-morrow morning."</p> +<p>We must now return to Vanslyperken, who left the public-house in +a state of consternation. "How could she possibly know anything +about it?" exclaimed he. "My life in the power of that she-devil" +And Vanslyperken walked on, turning over the affair in his mind. "I +have gone too far to retreat now. I must either go on, or fly the +country. Fly, where? What a fool have I been!" but then +Vanslyperken thought of the money. "No, no, not a fool, but I am +very unfortunate." Vanslyperken continued his route, until it at +last occurred <i>to</i> him that he would go to the Jew Lazarus, +and speak with him; for, thought Vanslyperken, if all is +discovered, they may think that I have informed, and then my life +will be sought by both parties. Vanslyperken arrived at the Jew's +abode, knocked softly, but received no answer: he knocked again, +louder; a bustle and confusion was heard inside, and at last the +door, with the chain fixed, was opened a couple of inches, and the +Jew stammered out, "Wot vash there at this late hour of the +night?"</p> +<p>"It is me, the lieutenant of the cutter," replied Vanslyperken. +"I must speak with you directly."</p> +<p>The door was opened, several figures, and the clatter of arms, +were heard in the dark passage, and as soon as Vanslyperken had +entered it was relocked, and he was left in the dark.</p> +<p>In a minute the Jew, in a woollen wrapper, made his appearance +with a light, and led Vanslyperken into the room where he had been +shown before.</p> +<p>"Now then, Mishter Leeftenant, vat vash de matter?"</p> +<p>"We are discovered, I'm afraid!" exclaimed Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Holy father Abraham!" exclaimed the Jew, starting back. "But +tell me vy you shay sho."</p> +<p>"A woman told me this night that she knew why I came to your +house--that I was in her power."</p> +<p>"Vat woman?"</p> +<p>"A hell-cat, who hates me as she does the devil."</p> +<p>"A hell-cat vould not hate de divil," slowly observed the +Jew.</p> +<p>"Well, perhaps not; but she will ruin me if she can."</p> +<p>"Vat vash her name?" said Lazarus.</p> +<p>"Moggy Salisbury."</p> +<p>"Paah! is dat all? vy, my good friend, she is one of us. Dere, +you may go vay--you may go to bed, Mr Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> +<p>"I mean dat she laughed at you, and frighten you--dat she is one +of us, and so is her husband, who vas in your chip. Ven you hang, +she and I vill all hang together; now you comprehend?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, "I do now: but how could you trust +such people?"</p> +<p>"Trust such people, Mr Vanslyperken? If you prove as true as +those peoples, vy all de bitter; now go avay--go to bed--you have +vaked up all the peoples here. Good night, Mr Leeftenant;" and the +Jew led the way to the door, and let Vanslyperken out.</p> +<p>"So then," thought Vanslyperken, as he pursued his way down to +the Point, "that woman and her husband are--damnation, but I've a +great mind to discover all, if it's only to hang them." But on +second thoughts, Vanslyperken thought that it was not worth while +to be hanged himself, just for the pleasure of hanging others. It +was a great relief to his mind to know that there was no fear of +discovery. The tip of his nose itched, and he rubbed it +mechanically; the rubbing brought away all the skin. He remembered +the hot poker--the money he had been forced to pay--his being made +to sing and to beg pardon on his knees; and he cursed Moggy in his +heart, the more so, as he felt that he dare not take any steps +against her.</p> +<p>When he came to the Point, he stood on the shingle, looking for +his boat, but the men had waited till twelve o'clock, and then +presuming that their commander did not intend to come at all that +night, had pulled on board again. He was looking round for a +waterman to pull him off, when something cold touched his hand. +Vanslyperken started, and almost screamed with fear. He looked, and +it was the cold nose of Snarleyyow, who now leaped upon his +master.</p> +<p>"Snarleyyow, my poor dog! how came you on shore?"</p> +<p>But the dog not being able to speak, made no answer.</p> +<p>While Vanslyperken was wondering how the dog could possibly have +come on shore, and what Corporal Van Spitter could be about to have +allowed it, the small casement of a garret window near him was +opened, and a head was thrust out.</p> +<p>"Do you want to go on board, sir?" said a tremulous voice.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"I will be down directly, sir," replied the old boatman, who in +a minute or two appeared with his sculls on his shoulder.</p> +<p>"Not easy to find a boat at this time of the morning, sir," said +the man; "but I heard you speaking, for I've had such a toothache +these two nights that I can't shut my eyes."</p> +<p>The old man unlocked the chain which fastened his wherry, and in +a few minutes Vanslyperken was on the deck of the cutter, but he +found there was no one to receive him,--no watch kept.</p> +<p>"Very well," thought he, "we'll talk about this to-morrow +morning. Short or Coble, I wonder which of the two--pretty neglect +of duty, indeed--report to the admiral, by heavens!"</p> +<p>So saying, Mr Vanslyperken, with Snarleyyow at his heels, went +down into the cabin--undressed in the dark, for he would not let +anyone know that he was on board. It being about three o'clock in +the morning, and Mr Vanslyperken being well tired with the events +of the day, he was soon in a sound sleep. There will be no +difficulty in accounting for the return of the dog, which had a +skull much thicker than even the corporal's. He had been stunned +with the heavy blows, but not killed. After a certain time he came +to himself in his bed of leaves, first scratched with one paw, and +then with another, till his senses returned: he rose, worked his +way out, and lay down to sleep. After he had taken a long nap, he +rose recovered, shook himself, and trotted down to the beach, but +the boat had shoved off, and the cur had remained there waiting for +an opportunity to get on board, when his master came down with the +same object in view.</p> +<p>But as every soul is fast asleep, we shall now finish the +chapter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXII"></a>Chapter XXXII</h2> +<h3>Listeners never hear any good of themselves.</h3> +<br> +<p>Vanslyperken was awakened three hours after he had fallen asleep +by the noise of the buckets washing the decks. He heard the men +talking on deck, and aware that no one knew that he was on board, +he rose from his bed, and opened one of the sliding sashes of the +skylight, that he might overhear the conversation. The first words +he heard were from Bill Spurey.</p> +<p>"I say, Coble, I wonder what the skipper will say when he comes +on board, and finds that the dog is gone?"</p> +<p>"Hoh! hoh!" thought Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"I arn't convinced that he is gone yet," replied Coble.</p> +<p>"Smallbones swears that he's settled, this time," replied +Spurey.</p> +<p>"So he did before," replied Coble.</p> +<p>"Smallbones again," thought Vanslyperken. "I'll--Smallbones him, +if I hang for it."</p> +<p>"Why, he says he buried him two feet deep."</p> +<p>"Ay, ay; but what's the use of burying an animal who's not a +human creature? For my part, I say this, that the imp belongs to +his master, and is bound to serve him as long as his master lives. +When he dies the dog may be killed, and then----"</p> +<p>"Then what?"</p> +<p>"Why, with the blessing of God, they'll both go to hell +together, and I don't care how soon."</p> +<p>"Kill me, you old villain!" muttered Vanslyperken, grinding his +teeth.</p> +<p>"Well, anyhow, if the dog be not made away with, no more be +Smallbones. He ar'n't afeard of the devil himself."</p> +<p>"No, not he; I'm of opinion Smallbones wa'n't sent here for +nothing."</p> +<p>"He's escaped him twice, at all events."</p> +<p>"Then they know it," thought Vanslyperken, turning pale.</p> +<p>"Ay, and I will take you any bet you please, that the skipper +never takes that boy's life. He's charmed, or I am a gudgeon."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken felt that it was his own suspicion, and he trembled +at the idea of the lad being supernatural.</p> +<p>"Out of the way, Coble, or I'll fill your shoes," cried out one +of the men, slashing a bucket of water.</p> +<p>"That's not quite so easy, 'cause I've got boots on," replied +Coble. "However, I'll take up another berth."</p> +<p>The men walked away, and Vanslyperken could hear no more; but he +had heard quite enough. The life of the dog had been attempted by +Smallbones, it was evident. Mr Vanslyperken, after a little +agitation, rang the bell.</p> +<p>"By all that's blue, the skipper's on board!" exclaimed the men +on deck.</p> +<p>"When the devil did he come?"</p> +<p>"Not in my watch, at all events," replied Coble. "Did he come in +yours, Short?"</p> +<p>"No," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Then it must have been in the corporal's."</p> +<p>"The corporal never called me, nor was he 'on deck," replied +Coble. "I've a notion he never kept his watch."</p> +<p>The ring at the bell particularly concerned two people, the two +culprits, Smallbones and Corporal Van Spitter.</p> +<p>The latter made his appearance; but previous to his answering +the bell, Mr Vanslyperken had time to reflect. "So they think my +dog is supernatural," said he; "so much the better. I'll make them +believe it still more." Mr Vanslyperken called the dog, and pointed +to his bed. The dog, who was fond of a warm berth, and but seldom +allowed to get on the bed, immediately jumped up into it when +invited, and Mr Vanslyperken patted him, and covered him up with +the bedclothes. He then drew the curtains of the bed, and waited to +see who would answer the bell. Corporal Van Spitter made his +appearance.</p> +<p>"Corporal, I came on board very late, where have you put the +dog? Bring him into the cabin."</p> +<p>Here the corporal, who was prepared, shook his head, smoothed +down the hair of his forehead, and made a very melancholy face.</p> +<p>"It was all my fault, Mynheer Vanslyperken; yet I do for the +best, but de tog be lost."</p> +<p>"How is that, corporal?"</p> +<p>The corporal then stated that he had taken the precaution to +take the dog on shore, as he was afraid to leave it on board when +he went to the washerwoman's, and that he was not long there, but +while he was, the dog disappeared. He had looked everywhere, but +could not find it.</p> +<p>"You took Smallbones with you?" said Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Yes, mynheer, to carry de linen."</p> +<p>"And where was he when you were at the washerwoman's."</p> +<p>"He was here and dere."</p> +<p>"I know that it was he who killed and buried the dog, +corporal."</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter started, he thought he was discovered.</p> +<p>"Kilt and perryed, mein Gott!" said the corporal, obliged to say +something.</p> +<p>"Yes, I overheard the men say so on deck, corporal. He must have +taken the opportunity when you were in the house counting the +linen."</p> +<p>Now the corporal had time to recover himself, and he argued that +anything was better than that he should be suspected. Smallbones +was already known to have attempted the life of the dog, so he +would leave the lieutenant in his error.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott' he is von d----d kill-dog feller," observed the +corporal. "I look everywhere, I no find te tog. Den de dog is +dead?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, "but I'll punish the scoundrel, +depend upon it. That will do, corporal; you may go."</p> +<p>As Snarleyyow remained perfectly quiet during this conversation, +we must give Vanslyperken great credit for his manoeuvre. The +corporal went to Smallbones, and repeated what had passed. +Smallbones snapped his fingers.</p> +<p>"He may keel-haul, or hang me, for all I care. The dog is dead. +Never fear, corporal, I won't peach upon you. I'm game, and I'll +die so--if so be I must."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken sent for Smallbones. Smallbones, who was worked up +to the highest state of excitement, came in boldly.</p> +<p>"So, you villain, you've killed my dog, and buried it."</p> +<p>"No, I ar'n't," replied Smallbones. "I knows nothing about your +dog, sir."</p> +<p>"Why, the men on deck said so, you scoundrel, I heard them."</p> +<p>"I don't care what the men say; I never killed your dog, +sir."</p> +<p>"You rascal, I'll have your life!" exclaimed Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>Smallbones grinned diabolically, and Vanslyperken, who +remembered all that the men had said in confirmation of his own +opinion relative to Smallbones, turned pale. Smallbones, on his +part, aware from Corporal Van Spitter, that the lieutenant had such +an idea, immediately took advantage of the signs in the +lieutenant's countenance, and drawled +out,--"That's--not--so--easy!"</p> +<p>Vanslyperken turned away. "You may go now, sir, but depend upon +it you shall feel my vengeance!" and Smallbones quitted the +cabin.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken finished his toilet, and then turned the dog out of +the bed.</p> +<p>He went on deck, and after he had walked a little while, sent +for Corporal Van Spitter to consult as to the best method of +ascertaining what had become of Snarleyyow. Having entered +apparently very earnestly into the corporal's arrangements, who was +to go on shore immediately, he desired the corporal to see his +breakfast got ready in the cabin.</p> +<p>It so happened, that the corporal went into the cabin, followed +by Smallbones; the first object that met his view, was Snarleyyow, +sitting upon the chest, scratching his ragged ear as if nothing had +happened.</p> +<p>"Gott in himmel!" roared the corporal, turning back, and running +out of the cabin, upsetting Smallbones, whom he met in the passage, +and trotting, like an elephant, right over him. Nor was Smallbones +the only one who suffered; two marines and three seamen were +successively floored by the corporal, who, blinded with fear, never +stopped till he ran his head butt against the lining in the +forepeak of the cutter, which, with the timbers of the vessel, +brought him up, not all standing, in one sense of the word, for in +his mad career his head was dashed so violently against them, that +the poor corporal fell down, stunned to insensibility.</p> +<p>In the meantime Smallbones had gained his feet, and was rubbing +his ribs, to ascertain if they were all whole. "Well, I'm sure," +said he, "if I ar'n't flattened for all the world like a pancake, +with that 'ere corporal's weight. One may as well have a +broad-wheel waggon at once go over one's body; but what could make +him come for to go to run away bellowing in that ere manner? He +must have seen the devil; or, perhaps," thought Smallbones, "that +imp of the devil, Snarleyyow. I'll go and see what it was, +anyhow."</p> +<p>Smallbones, rubbing his abdomen, where the corporal had trod +hardest, walked into the cabin, where he beheld the dog. He stood +with his mouth wide open.</p> +<p>"I defy the devil and all his works," exclaimed he, at last, +"and you be one of his, that's sartain. I fear God, and I honour +the king, and the parish taught me to read the bible. There you be +resurrectioned up again. Well, it's no use, I suppose. Satan, I +defy you, anyhow, but it's very hard that a good Christian should +have to get the breakfast ready, of which you'll eat one half; I +don't see why I'm to wait upon the devil or his imps."</p> +<p>Then Smallbones stopped, and thought a little. "I wonder whether +he bee'd dead, as I thought. Master came on board last night +without no one knowing nothing about it, and he might have brought +the dog with him, if so be he came to again. I won't believe that +he's hal-together not to be made away with, for how come his eye +out? Well, I don't care, I'm a good Christian, and may I be swamped +if I don't try what he's made of yet! First time we cuts up beef, +I'll try and chop your tail, anyhow, that I will, if I am hung for +it."</p> +<p>Smallbones regained his determination. He set about laying the +things for breakfast, and when they were ready he went up to the +quarter-deck, reporting the same to Mr Vanslyperken, who had +expected to see him frightened out of his wits, and concluding his +speech by saying, "If you please, sir, the dog be in the cabin, all +right; I said as how I never kilt your dog, nor buried him +neither."</p> +<p>"The dog in the cabin!" exclaimed Mr Vanslyperken, with apparent +astonishment. "Why, how the devil could he have come there?"</p> +<p>"He cummed off, I suppose, sir, same way as you did, without +nobody knowing nothing about it," drawled out Smallbones, who then +walked away.</p> +<p>In the meantime the corporal had been picked up, and the men +were attempting to recover him. Smallbones went forward to see what +had become of him, and learnt how it was that he was +insensible.</p> +<p>"Well, then," thought Smallbones, "it may have been all the same +with the dog, and I believe there's humbug in it, for if the dog +had made his appearance, as master pretends he did, all of a +sudden, he'd a been more frightened than me."</p> +<p>So reasoned Smallbones, and he reasoned well. In the meantime +the corporal opened his eyes, and gradually returned to his senses, +and then for the first time, the ship's company, who were all down +at their breakfast, demanded of Smallbones the reason of the +corporal's conduct.</p> +<p>"Why," replied Smallbones, "because that 'ere beast, Snarleyyow, +be come back again, all alive, a'ter being dead and buried--he's in +the cabin now--that's all."</p> +<p>"That's all!" exclaimed one. "All!" cried another. "The devil!" +said a third.</p> +<p>"I said as how it would be," said Obadiah Coble--"that dog is no +dog, as sure as I sit here."</p> +<p>The return of the dog certainly had a strong effect upon the +whole of the ship's company. The corporal swore that he was not in +the cabin, and that Mr Vanslyperken had arranged for his going on +shore to look for him, when all of a sudden the dog made his +appearance, no one knew how. Smallbones found himself so much in +the minority, that he said nothing. It was perfect heresy not to +believe that the dog was sent from the lower regions; and as for +any further attempts to destroy it, it was considered as perfect +insanity.</p> +<p>But this renewed attempt on the part of Smallbones, for +Vanslyperken was convinced that an attempt had been made, although +it had not been successful, again excited the feelings of Mr +Vanslyperken against the lad, and he resolved somehow or another to +retaliate. His anger overcame his awe, and he was reckless in his +desire of vengeance. There was not the least suspicion of treachery +on the part of Corporal Van Spitter in the heart of Mr +Vanslyperken, and the corporal played his double part so well, that +if possible he was now higher in favour than ever.</p> +<p>After a day or two, during which Mr Vanslyperken remained on +board, he sent for the corporal, determining to sound him as to +whether he would make any attempts upon Smallbones; for to such a +height had Vanslyperken's enmity arrived, that he now resolved to +part with some of his darling money, to tempt the corporal, rather +than not get rid of the lad. After many hints thrown out, but not +taken by the wily corporal, who was resolved that Vanslyperken +should speak plainly, the deed and the reward of ten guineas were +openly proclaimed, and Vanslyperken waited for the corporal's +reply.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, Mynheer Vanslyperken! suppose it vas possible, I not +take your money, I do it wid pleasure; but, sir, it not +possible."</p> +<p>"Not possible!" exclaimed Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"No, mynheer," replied the corporal, "I not tell you all, +tousand tyfel, I not tell you all;" and here the corporal put his +hand to his forehead and was silent, much to Vanslyperken's +amazement. But the fact was, that Corporal Van Spitter was thinking +what he possibly could say. At last, a brilliant thought struck +him--he narrated to the lieutenant how he had seen the ghost of +Smallbones, as he thought, when he was floating about, adrift on +the Zuyder Zee--described with great force his horror at the time +of the appearance of the supernatural object, and tailed on to what +he believed to be true, that which he knew to be false, to wit, +that the apparition had cried out to him, that "<i>he was not to be +hurt by mortal man</i>." "Gott in Himmel," finished the corporal, +"I never was so frightened in my life. I see him now, as plain as I +see you, mynheer. Twenty tousand tyfels, but the voice was like de +tunder--and his eye like de lightning--I fell back in one swoon. +Ah, mein Gott, mein Gott!"</p> +<p>So well did the corporal play his part, that Vanslyperken became +quite terrified; the candle appeared to burn dim, and he dared not +move to snuff it. He could not but credit the corporal, for there +was an earnestness of description, and a vividness of colouring, +which could not have been invented; besides, was not the corporal +his earnest and only friend? "Corporal," said Vanslyperken, +"perhaps you'll like a glass of scheedam; there's some in the +cupboard."</p> +<p>This was very kind of Mr Vanslyperken, but he wanted one +himself, much more than the corporal. The corporal produced the +bottle and the glass, poured it out, made his military salute, and +tossed it off.</p> +<p>"Give me another glass, corporal," said Vanslyperken, in a +tremulous tone. The lieutenant took one, two, three glasses, one +after another, to recover himself.</p> +<p>The corporal had really frightened him. He was convinced that +Smallbones had a charmed life. Did he not float to the Nab buoy and +back again?--did not a pistol ball pass through him without injury? +Vanslyperken shuddered; he took a fresh glass, and then handed the +bottle to the corporal, who helped himself, saluted, and the liquor +again disappeared in a moment.</p> +<p>Dutch courage is proverbial, although a libel upon one of the +bravest of nations. Vanslyperken now felt it, and again he +commenced with the corporal. "What were the words?" inquired +he.</p> +<p>"Dat he was not to be hurt by mortal man, mynheer. I can take +mine piple oath of it," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"Damnation!" cried Vanslyperken; "but stop--mortal man--perhaps +he may be hurt by woman."</p> +<p>"Dat is quite anoder ting, mynheer."</p> +<p>"He shan't escape if I can help it," retorted Vanslyperken. "I +must think about it." Vanslyperken poured out another glass of +scheedam, and pushed the stone bottle to the corporal, who helped +himself without ceremony. Mr Vanslyperken was now about two-thirds +drunk, for he was not used to such a quantity of spirits.</p> +<p>"Now, if I had only been friends with that--that--hell-fire +Moggy Salisbury," thought Vanslyperken, speaking aloud to +himself.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes, mynheer," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken took another glass--spilling a great deal on the +table as he poured it out; he then covered his eyes with his hand, +as if in thought. Thereupon the corporal filled without being +asked, and, as he perceived that his superior remained in the same +position, and did not observe him, he helped himself to a second +glass, and then waited till Vanslyperken should speak again; but +the liquor had overpowered him, and he spoke no more.</p> +<p>The corporal, after a few minutes, went up to his superior; he +touched him on the shoulder, saying, "Mynheer," but he obtained no +reply. On the contrary, the slight touch made Mr Vanslyperken fall +forward on the table. He was quite insensible.</p> +<p>So the corporal took him up in his arms, laid him in his bed, +then taking possession of the lieutenant's chair, for he was tired +of standing so long, he set to work to empty the bottle, which, +being large and full at the time that it was produced from the +cupboard, took some time, and before it was accomplished, the +Corporal Van Spitter had fallen fast asleep in the chair. Shortly +afterwards the candle burnt out, and the cabin was in darkness.</p> +<p>It was about three o'clock in the morning when Mr Vanslyperken +began to recover his senses, and as his recollection returned, so +were his ears met with a stupendous roaring and unusual noise. It +was, to his imagination, unearthly, for he had been troubled with +wild dreams about Smallbones, and his appearance to the corporal. +It sounded like thunder, and Mr Vanslyperken thought that he could +plainly make out, "<i>Mortal man! mortal man!</i>" and, at times, +the other words of the supernatural intimation to the corporal. The +mortal man was drawn out in lengthened cadence, and in a manner +truly horrible. Vanslyperken called out, "Mor--tal--man," was the +reply.</p> +<p>Again Vanslyperken almost shrieked in a perspiration of fear. +The sound now ceased; but it was followed up by a noise like the +rattling of glasses, tumbling about of the chairs and table, and +Vanslyperken buried his face under the clothes. Then the door, +which had been shut, was heard by him to slam like thunder; and +then Snarleyyow barked loud and deep. "Oh! God forgive me!" cried +the terrified lieutenant. "Our Father--which art in heaven--save +me--save me!"</p> +<p>Shortly afterwards the corporal made his appearance with a +light, and inquired if Mr Vanslyperken had called. He found him +reeking with perspiration, and half dead with fear. In broken words +he stated how he had been visited, and how the same intimation that +no mortal man could hurt Smallbones had been rung into his +ears.</p> +<p>"It was only one dream, Mynheer Vanslyperken," observed the +corporal.</p> +<p>"No--it was no dream," replied Vanslyperken. "Stay in the cabin, +good corporal."</p> +<p>"Yes, mynheer," replied the corporal, drawing the curtains of +the bed; and then quietly picking up the various articles on the +floor, the table and chairs which had been overturned.</p> +<p>Alas! Fear is the mate of guilt. All this horrid visitation was +simply that Mr Vanslyperken had heard the corporal's tremendous +snoring, as he slept in the chair, and which his imagination had +turned into the words, "Mortal man." The first exclamation of Mr +Vanslyperken had awoke the corporal, who, aware of the impropriety +of his situation, had attempted to retreat; in so doing he had +overturned the table and chairs, with the bottles and glasses upon +them.</p> +<p>Fearful of discovery upon this unexpected noise, he had hastened +out of the cabin, slammed the door, and waked up Snarleyyow; but he +knew, from the exclamations of Vanslyperken, that the lieutenant +was frightened out of his wits; so he very boldly returned with a +candle to ascertain the result of the disturbance, and was +delighted to find that the lieutenant was still under the +delusion.</p> +<p>So soon as he had replaced everything, the corporal took a +chair, and finding that he had fortunately put the cork into the +stone bottle before he fell asleep, and that there was still one or +two glasses in it, he drank them off, and waited patiently for +daylight. By this time Vanslyperken was again asleep and snoring; +so the corporal took away all the broken fragments, put the things +in order, and left the cabin.</p> +<p>When Vanslyperken awoke and rang his bell, Smallbones entered. +Vanslyperken got up, and finding the cabin as it was left the night +before, was more than ever persuaded that he had been +supernaturally visited. Fear made him quite civil to the lad, whose +life he now considered, as the ship's company did that of the +dog's, it was quite useless for him, at least, to attempt, and thus +ends this chapter of horrors.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXIII"></a>Chapter XXXIII</h2> +<h3>In which there is nothing very particular or very +interesting.</h3> +<br> +<p>We must now change the scene for a short time, and introduce to +our readers a company assembled in the best inn which, at that +time, was to be found in the town of Cherbourg. The room in which +they were assembled was large in dimensions, but with a low +ceiling--the windows were diminutive, and gave but a subdued light, +on account of the vicinity of the houses opposite. The +window-frames were small, and cut diamond-wise; and, in the centre +of each of the panes, was a round of coarsely-painted glass. A +narrow table ran nearly the length of the room, and, at each end of +it, there was a large chimney, in both of which logs of wood were +burning cheerfully. What are now termed <i>chaises longues</i>, +were drawn to the sides of the table, or leaning against the walls +of the room, which were without ornament, and neatly coloured with +yellow ochre.</p> +<p>The company assembled might have been about thirty in number, of +which half a dozen, perhaps, were in the ecclesiastical dress of +the time; while the others wore the habiliments then appropriated +to cavaliers or gentlemen, with very little difference from those +as worn in the times of the Charleses in England, except that the +cloak had been discarded, and the more substantial roquelaure +substituted in its place. Most of the party were men who had not +yet arrived to middle age, if we except the clericals, who were +much more advanced in life; and any one, who had ever fallen in +with the smuggling lugger and its crew, would have had no +difficulty in recognising many of them, in the well-attired and +evidently high-born and well-educated young men, who were seated or +standing in the room. Among them Sir Robert Barclay was eminently +conspicuous; he was standing by the fire conversing with two of the +ecclesiastics.</p> +<p>"Gentlemen," said he at last, "our worthy Father Lovell has just +arrived from St Germains; and, as the most rapid communication is +now necessary, he is empowered to open here and before us, every +despatch which we bring over, before it is transmitted to +head-quarters, with permission to act as may seem best to the +friends of his Majesty here assembled."</p> +<p>The fact was, that King James had lately completely given +himself up to religious exercises and mortification, and any +communication to him was attended with so much delay, that it had +been considered advisable to act without consulting him; and to +avoid the delay consequent on the transmission of communications to +Paris, the most active parties had determined that they would, for +the present, take up their residence at Cherbourg, and merely +transmit to their friends at St Germains, an account of their +proceedings, gaining, at least, a week by this arrangement. The +party assembled had many names of some note. Among the +ecclesiastics were Lovell, Collier, Snatt, and Cooke; among the +cavaliers were those of Musgrave, Friend, and Perkins, whose +relatives had suffered in the cause; Smith, Clancey, Herbert, +Cunningham, Leslie, and many others.</p> +<p>When Sir Robert Barclay approached the table, the others took +their seats in silence.</p> +<p>"Gentlemen," said Sir Robert, laying down the despatches, which +had been opened, "you must be aware that our affairs now wear a +very prosperous appearance. Supported as we are by many in the +government of England, and by more in the House of Commons, with so +many adherents here to our cause, we have every rational prospect +of success. During the first three months of this year, much has +been done; and, at the same time, it must be confessed that the +usurper and the heretics have taken every step in their power to +assail and to crush us. By this despatch, now in my hand, it +appears that a Bill has passed the Commons, by which it is enacted, +'that no person born after the 25th March next, being a Papist, +shall be capable of inheriting any title of honour or estate, +within the kingdom of England, dominion of Wales, or town of +Berwick-on-the-Tweed.'"</p> +<p>Here, some of the ecclesiastics lifted up their eyes, others +struck their clenched hands on the table, and the cavaliers, as if +simultaneously, made the room ring, by seizing hold of the handles +of their swords.</p> +<p>"And further, gentlemen, 'that no Papist shall be capable of +purchasing any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, either in his +own name, or in the name of any other person in trust for +him.'"</p> +<p>The reader must be reminded, that in those days, there was no +<i>Times</i> or <i>Morning Herald</i> laid upon the breakfast table +with the debates of the House--that communication was anything but +rapid, there being no regular post--so that what had taken place +two months back, was very often news.</p> +<p>"It appears then, gentlemen, that our only chance is to win our +properties with our own good swords."</p> +<p>"We will!" was the unanimous reply of the laity present.</p> +<p>"In Scotland, our adherents increase daily; the interests of so +many have been betrayed by the usurper, that thousands of swords +will start from their scabbards so soon as we can support the cause +with the promised assistance of the court of Versailles: and we +have here intelligence that the parliament are in a state of actual +hostility to the usurper, and that the national ferment is so great +as to be almost on the verge of rebellion. I have also gained from +a private communication from our friend Ramsay, who is now at +Amsterdam, and in a position to be most useful to us, that the +usurper has intimated to his own countrymen, although it is not yet +known in England, that he will return to the Hague in July. Such, +gentlemen, is the intelligence I have to impart as respects our own +prospects in our own country--to which I have to add, that the +secret partition treaty, which is inimical to the interests of the +French king, has been signed both in London and the Hague, as well +as by the French envoy there. A more favourable occurrence for us, +perhaps, never occurred, as it will only increase the already +well-known ill-will of his Catholic Majesty against the usurper of +his own father-in-law's crown. I have now, gentlemen, laid before +you our present position and future prospects; and, as we are met +to consult upon the propriety of further measures, I shall be most +happy to hear the suggestions of others."</p> +<p>Sir Robert Barclay then sat down.</p> +<p>Lovell, the Jesuit, first rose. "I have," said he, "no opinion +to offer relative to warlike arrangements, those not being suitable +to my profession. I leave them to men like Sir Robert, whose swords +are always ready, and whose talents are so well able to direct +their swords; still, it is well known, that the sources of war must +be obtained, if war is to be carried on; and I have great pleasure +in announcing to those assembled, that from our friends in England, +I have received advice of the two several sums of ninety-three +thousand pounds and twenty-nine thousand pounds, sterling money, +having been actually collected, and now held in trust for the +support of the good cause; and, further, that the collections are +still going on with rapidity and success. From his most Catholic +Majesty we have received an order upon the minister for the sum of +four thousand louis, which has been duly honoured, and from our +blessed father, the Pope, an order for five hundred thousand +paolis, amounting to about thirteen thousand pounds in sterling +money, together with entire absolution for all sins already +committed, and about to be committed, and a secure promise of +paradise to those who fall in the maintenance of the true faith and +the legitimate king. I have, further, great expectations from +Ireland, and many promises from other quarters, in support of the +cause which, with the blessing of God, I trust will yet +triumph,"</p> +<p>As soon as Lovell sat down, Collier, the ecclesiastic, rose.</p> +<p>"That we shall find plenty of willing swords, and a sufficient +supply of money for our purposes, there can be no doubt; but I wish +to propose one question to the company here assembled. It is an +undoubted article of the true faith, that we are bound to uphold it +by any and by every means. All human attempts are justifiable in +the service of God. Many have already been made to get rid of the +usurper, but they have not been crowned with success, as we too +well know; and the blood of our friends, many of whom were not +accessories to the act, has been lavishly spilt by the insatiate +heretic.</p> +<p>"But they have, before this, received immortal crowns, in +suffering as martyrs in the cause of religion and justice. I still +hold that our attempts to cut off the usurper should be continued; +some hand more fortunate may succeed. But not only is his life to +be taken, if possible, but the succession must be cut off root and +branch. You all know that, of the many children born to the heretic +William, all but one have been taken away from him in judgment for +his manifold crimes. One only remains, the present Duke of +Gloucester, and I do consider that this branch of heresy should be +removed, even in preference to his parent, whose conduct is such as +to assist our cause, and whose death may weaken the animosity of +his Catholic Majesty, whose hostility is well known to be personal. +I have neither men nor money to offer to you, but I have means, I +trust, soon to accomplish this point, and I dedicate my useless +life to the attempt."</p> +<p>It would occupy too much of our pages, if we were to narrate all +that was said and done at this conference, which we have been +obliged to report, as intimately connected with our history. Many +others addressed the meeting, proposals were made, rejected, and +acceded to. Lists of adherents were produced, and of those who +might be gained over. Resolutions were entered into and recorded, +and questions debated. Before the breaking up, the accounts of the +sums expended, and the monies still on hand, were brought forward; +and in the former items, the name of Vanslyperken appeared rather +prominent. As soon as the accounts were audited, the conference +broke up.</p> +<p>We have said that, among those who were at the conference, might +be observed some persons who might be recognised as part of the +crew of the lugger. Such was the case; Sir Robert Barclay and many +others were men of good family, and stout Jacobites. These young +men served in the boat with the other men, who were no more than +common seamen; but this was considered necessary in those times of +treachery. The lugger pulled eighteen oars, was clinker built, and +very swift, even with a full cargo. The after-oars were pulled by +the adherents of Sir Robert, and the arm-chest was stowed in the +stern-sheets: so that these young men being always armed, no +attempt to betray them, or to rise against them, on the part of the +smugglers, had they been so inclined, could have succeeded. +Ramsay's trust as steersman had been appropriated to Jemmy +Salisbury, but no other alteration had taken place. We have entered +into this detail to prove the activity of the Jacobite party. About +an hour after the conference, Sir Robert and his cavaliers had +resumed their seamen's attire, for they were to go over that night; +and two hours before dusk, those who had been at a conference, in +which the fate of kingdoms and crowned heads was at stake, were to +be seen labouring at the oar, in company with common seamen, and +urging the fast boat through the yielding waters, towards her haven +at the cove.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXIV"></a>Chapter XXXIV</h2> +<h3>Besides other Matter, containing an Argument.</h3> +<br> +<p>We left Ramsay domiciliated in the house of the syndic Van +Krause, on excellent terms with his host, who looked upon him as +the mirror of information, and not a little in the good graces of +the syndic's daughter, Wilhelmina. There could not be a more +favourable opportunity, perhaps, for a handsome and well-informed +young man to prosecute his addresses and to gain the affections of +the latter, were he so inclined. Wilhelmina had been brought up in +every luxury, but isolated from the world. She was now just at the +age at which it was her father's intention to introduce her; but +romantic in her disposition, she cared little for the formal +introduction which it was intended should take place. Neither had +she seen, in any of the young Dutch aristocracy, most of whom were +well known to her by sight, as pointed out to her by her father +when riding with him, that form and personal appearance which her +mind's eye had embodied in her visions of her future lover. Her +mind was naturally refined, and she looked for that elegance and +grace of deportment which she sought for in vain among her +countrymen, but which had suddenly been presented to her in the +person of Edward Ramsay.</p> +<p>In the few meetings of her father's friends at their house, the +conversation was uninteresting, if not disgusting; for it was about +goods and merchandise, money and speculation, occasionally +interrupted by politics, which were to her of as little interest. +How different was the demeanour, the address, and the conversation +of the young Englishman, who had been bred in courts, and, at the +same time, had travelled much! There was an interest in all he +said, so much information blended with novelty and amusement, so +much wit and pleasantry crowning all, that Wilhelmina was +fascinated without her being aware of it; and, before the terms of +intimacy had warranted her receiving his hand on meeting, she had +already unconsciously given her heart. The opportunities arising +from her father's close attention to his commercial affairs, and +the mutual attraction which brought them together during the major +part of the day, she, anxious to be amused, and he attracted by her +youth and beauty, were taken advantage of by them both, and the +consequence was that, before ten days, they were inseparable.</p> +<p>The syndic either did not perceive the danger to which his child +was exposed, provided that there was any objection to the intimacy, +or else, equally pleased with Ramsay, he had no objection to +matters taking their course.</p> +<p>As for Ramsay, that he had at first cultivated the intimacy with +Wilhelmina more perhaps from distraction than with any definite +purpose, is certain; but he soon found that her attractions were +too great to permit him to continue it, if he had not serious +intentions. When he had entered his own room, before he had been a +week in the house, he had taxed himself severely as to the nature +of his feelings, and he was then convinced that he must avoid her +company, which was impossible if he remained in the house, or, as a +man of honour, make a timely retreat; for Ramsay was too honourable +to trifle with the feelings of an innocent girl. Having well +weighed this point, he then calculated the probability of his being +discovered, and the propriety of his continuing his attentions to +the daughter of one whom he was deceiving, and whose political +opinions were at such variance with his own--but this was a point +on which he could come to no decision. His duty to the cause he +supported would not allow him to quit the house--to remain in the +house without falling in love was impossible.</p> +<p>Why should his political opinions ever be known? and why should +not Wilhelmina be of the same opinion as he was?--and why--Ramsay +fell asleep, putting these questions to himself, and the next +morning he resolved that things should take their chance.</p> +<p>It was about a fortnight since the cutter had left for England. +Ramsay was rather impatient for intelligence, but the cutter had +not yet returned. Breakfast had been over some time, Mynheer Van +Krause had descended to his warehouses, and Ramsay and Wilhelmina +were sitting together upon one of the sofas in the saloon, both +reclining and free from that restraint of which nothing but extreme +intimacy will divest you.</p> +<p>"And so, my Wilhelmina," said Ramsay, taking up her hand, which +lay listless at her side, and playing with her taper fingers, "you +really think William of Nassau is a good man."</p> +<p>"And do not you, Ramsay?" replied Wilhelmina, surprised.</p> +<p>"However I may rejoice at his being on the throne of England, I +doubt whether I can justify his conduct to the unfortunate King +James; in leaguing against his own father-in-law and dispossessing +him of his kingdom. Suppose now, Wilhelmina, that any fortunate man +should become one day your husband: what a cruel--what a diabolical +conduct it would be on his part--at least, so it appears to me--if, +in return for your father putting him in possession of perhaps his +greatest treasure on earth, he were to seize upon all your father's +property, and leave him a beggar, because other people were to +invite him so to do."</p> +<p>"I never heard it placed in that light before, Ramsay; that the +alliance between King William and his father-in-law should have +made him very scrupulous, I grant, but when the happiness of a +nation depended upon it, ought not a person in William's situation +to waive all minor considerations?"</p> +<p>"The happiness of a nation, Wilhelmina? In what way would you +prove that so much was at stake?"</p> +<p>"Was not the Protestant religion at stake? Is not King James a +bigoted Catholic?"</p> +<p>"I grant that, and therefore ought not to reign over a +Protestant nation; but if you imagine that the happiness of any +nation depends upon his religion, I am afraid you are deceived. +Religion has been made the excuse for interfering with the +happiness of a nation whenever no better excuse could be brought +forward; but depend upon it, the mass of the people will never +quarrel about religion if they are left alone, and their interests +not interfered with. Had King James not committed himself in other +points, he might have worshipped his Creator in any form he thought +proper. That a Protestant king was all that was necessary to quiet +the nation, is fully disproved by the present state of the country, +now that the sceptre has been, for some years, swayed by King +William, it being, at this moment, in a state very nearly +approaching to rebellion."</p> +<p>"But is not that occasioned by the machinations of the Jacobite +party, who are promoting dissension in every quarter?" replied +Wilhelmina.</p> +<p>"I grant that they are not idle," replied Ramsay; "but observe +the state of bitter variance between William and the House of +Commons, which represents the people of England. What can religion +have to do with that? No, Wilhelmina; although, in this country +there are few who do not rejoice at their king being called to the +throne of England, there are many, and those the most wise, in that +country, who lament it quite as much."</p> +<p>"But why so?"</p> +<p>"Because mankind are governed by interest, and patriotism is +little more than a cloak. The benefits to this country, by the +alliance with England, are very great, especially in a commercial +point of view, and therefore you will find no want of patriots; but +to England the case is different; it is not her interest to be +involved and mixed up in continental wars and dissensions, which +must now inevitably be the case. Depend upon it, that posterity +will find that England will have paid very dear for a Protestant +king; religion is what everyone is willing to admit the propriety +and necessity of, until they are taxed to pay for it, and then it +is astonishing how very indifferent, if not disgusted, they become +to it."</p> +<p>"Why, Ramsay, one would never imagine you to be such a warm +partisan of the present government, as I believe you really are, to +hear you talk this morning," replied Wilhelmina.</p> +<p>"My public conduct, as belonging to a party, does not prevent my +having my private opinions. To my party, I am, and ever will be +steadfast; but knowing the world, and the secret springs of most +people's actions, as I do, you must not be surprised at my being so +candid with you, Wilhelmina. Our conversation, I believe, commenced +upon the character of King William; and I will confess to you, that +estimating the two characters in moral worth, I would infinitely +prefer being the exiled and Catholic James than the unnatural and +crowned King William?"</p> +<p>"You will say next, that you would just as soon be a Catholic as +a Protestant."</p> +<p>"And if I had been brought up in the tenets of the one instead +of the other, what difference would it have made, except that I +should have adhered to the creed of my forefathers, and have +worshipped the Almighty after their fashion, form, and ceremonies? +And are not all religions good if they be sincere?--do not they all +tend to the same object, and have the same goal in view--that of +gaining heaven? Would you not prefer a good, honest, conscientious +man, were he a Catholic, to a mean, intriguing, and unworthy +person, who professed himself a Protestant?"</p> +<p>"Most certainly; but I should prefer to the just Catholic, a man +who was a just Protestant."</p> +<p>"That is but natural; but recollect, Wilhelmina, you have seen +and heard, as yet, but one side of the question; and if I speak +freely to you, it is only to give you the advantage of my +experience from having mixed with the world. I am true to my party, +and, as a man, I must belong to a party, or I become a nonentity. +But were I in a condition so unshackled that I might take up or lay +down my opinions as I pleased, without loss of character--as a +woman may, for instance--so little do I care for party--so well +balanced do I know the right and the wrong to be on both +sides--that I would, to please one I loved, at once yield up my +opinions, to agree with her, if she would not yield up hers to +agree with mine."</p> +<p>"Then you think a woman might do so? that is no compliment to +the sex, Ramsay; for it is as much as to assert that we have not +only no weight or influence in the world, but also that we have no +character or stability."</p> +<p>"Far from it; I only mean to say that women do not generally +enter sufficiently into politics to care much for them; they +generally imbibe the politics of those they live with, without +further examination, and that it is no disgrace to them if they +change them. Besides, there is one feeling in women so powerful as +to conquer all others, and when once that enters the breast, the +remainder are absorbed or become obedient to it."</p> +<p>"And that feeling is"</p> +<p>"Love, Wilhelmina; and if a woman happens to have been brought +up in one way of thinking by her parents, when she transfers her +affections to her husband, should his politics be adverse, she will +soon come round to his opinion, if she really loves him."</p> +<p>"I am not quite so sure of that, Ramsay."</p> +<p>"I am quite sure she ought. Politics and party are ever a +subject of dispute, and therefore should be avoided by a wife; +besides, if a woman selects one as her husband, her guide and +counsellor through life, one whom she swears to love, honour, +cherish, and obey, she gives but a poor proof of it, if she does +not yield up her judgment in all matters more peculiarly his +province."</p> +<p>"You really put things in such a new light, Ramsay, that I +hardly know how to answer you, even when I am not convinced."</p> +<p>"Because you have not had sufficient time for reflection, +Wilhelmina; but weigh well, and dwell upon what I have said, and +then you will either acknowledge that I am right, or find arguments +to prove that I am wrong. But you promised me some singing. Let me +lead you into the music-room."</p> +<p>We have introduced this conversation between Wilhelmina and +Ramsay, to show not only what influence he had already gained over +the artless, yet intelligent girl, but also the way by which he +considerately prepared her for the acknowledgment which he resolved +to make to her on some future opportunity; for, although Ramsay +cared little for deceiving the father, he would not have married +the daughter without her being fully aware of who he was. These +conversations were constantly renewed, as if accidentally, by +Ramsay; and long before he had talked in direct terms of love, he +had fully prepared her for it, so that he felt she would not +receive a very severe shock when he threw off the mask, even when +she discovered that he was a Catholic, and opposed to her father in +religion as well as in politics. The fact was, that Ramsay, at +first, was as much attracted by her wealth as by her personal +charms; but, like many other men, as his love increased, so did he +gradually become indifferent to her wealth, and he was determined +to win her for his wife in spite of all obstacles, and even if he +were obliged, to secure her hand, by carrying her off without the +paternal consent.</p> +<p>Had it been requisite, it is not certain whether Ramsay might +not have been persuaded to have abandoned his party, so infatuated +had he at last become with the really fascinating Wilhelmina.</p> +<p>But Ramsay was interrupted in the middle of one of his most +favourite songs by old Koops, who informed him that the lieutenant +of the cutter was waiting for him in his room. Apologising for the +necessary absence, Ramsay quitted the music-room, and hastened to +meet Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken had received his orders to return to the Hague a +few days after the fright he had received from the nasal organ of +the corporal. In pursuance of his instructions from Ramsay, he had +not failed to open all the government despatches, and extract their +contents. He had also brought over letters from Ramsay's +adherents.</p> +<p>"You are sure these extracts are quite correct?" said Ramsay, +after he had read them over.</p> +<p>"Quite so, sir," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"And you have been careful to seal the letters again, so as to +avoid suspicion?"</p> +<p>"Does not my life depend upon it, Mr Ramsay?"</p> +<p>"Very true, and also upon your fidelity to us. Here's your +money. Let me know when you sail, and come for orders."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken then took his bag of money, made his bow, and +departed, and Ramsay commenced reading over the letters received +from his friends. Mynheer Van Krause observed Vanslyperken as he +was leaving the house, and immediately hastened to Ramsay's room to +inquire the news. A portion of the contents of the despatches were +made known to him, and the syndic was very soon afterwards seen to +walk out, leaving his people to mark and tally the bales which were +hoisting out from a vessel in the canal. The fact was, that Mynheer +Van Krause was so anxious to get rid of his secret, that he could +not contain himself any longer, and had set off to communicate to +one of the authorities what he had obtained.</p> +<p>"But from whence did you receive this intelligence, Mynheer +Krause," demanded the other. "The despatches have not yet been +opened; we are waiting for Mynheer Van Wejen. I suppose we shall +learn something there. You knew all before we did, when the cutter +arrived last time. You must have some important friends at the +English court, Mynheer Van Krause."</p> +<p>Here Mynheer Krause nodded his head, and looked very knowing, +and shortly afterwards took his leave.</p> +<p>But this particular friend of Mynheer Krause was also his +particular enemy. Krause had lately imparted secrets which were +supposed to be known and entrusted to none but those in the entire +confidence of the government. How could he have obtained them +unless by the treachery of some one at home; and why should Mynheer +Krause, who was not trusted by the government there, +notwithstanding his high civil office, because he was known to be +unsafe, be trusted by some one at home, unless it were for +treacherous purposes? So argued Mr Krause's most particular friend, +who thought it proper to make known his opinions on the subject, +and to submit to the other authorities whether this was not a fair +subject for representation in their next despatches to England; and +in consequence of his suggestion, the representation was duly made. +Mynheer Krause was not the first person whose tongue had got him +into difficulties.</p> +<p>So soon as Vanslyperken had delivered his despatches to Ramsay, +he proceeded to the widow Vandersloosh, when, as usual, he was +received with every apparent mark of cordial welcome, was again +installed on the little sofa, and again drank the beer of the +widow's own brewing, and was permitted to take her fat hand. +Babette inquired after the corporal, and, when rallied by the +lieutenant, appeared to blush, and turned her head away. The widow +also assisted in the play, and declared that it should be a match, +and that Babette and herself should be married on the same day. As +the evening drew nigh, Vanslyperken took his leave, and went on +board, giving permission to the corporal to go on shore, and very +soon the corporal was installed in his place.</p> +<p>This is a sad world of treachery and deceit.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXV"></a>Chapter XXXV</h2> +<h3>In which the agency of a red-herring is again introduced into +our wonderful history.</h3> +<br> +<p>We are somewhat inclined to moralise. We did not intend to write +this day. On the contrary, we had arranged for a party of pleasure +and relaxation, in which the heels, and every other portion of the +body upwards, except the brain, were to be employed, and that was +to have a respite. The morning was fair, and we promised ourselves +amusement, but we were deceived, and we returned to our task, as +the rain poured down in torrents, washing the dirty face of mother +earth. Yes, deceived; and here we cannot help observing, that this +history of ours is a very true picture of human life--for what a +complication of treachery does it not involve!</p> +<p>Smallbones is deceiving his master, Mr Vanslyperken--the +corporal is deceiving Mr Vanslyperken--the widow is deceiving Mr +Vanslyperken, so is Babette, and the whole crew of the +<i>Yungfrau</i>. Ramsay is deceiving his host and his mistress. All +the Jacobites, in a mass, are plotting against and deceiving the +government, and as for Mr Vanslyperken; as it will soon appear, he +is deceiving everybody, and will ultimately deceive himself. The +only honest party in the whole history is the one most hated, as +generally is the case in this world--I mean Snarleyyow. There is no +deceit about him, and therefore, <i>par excellence</i>, he is +fairly entitled to be the hero of, and to give his name to, the +work. The next most honest party in the book is Wilhelmina; all the +other women, except little Lilly, are cheats and impostors--and +Lilly is too young; our readers may, therefore, be pleased to +consider Snarleyyow and Wilhelmina as the hero and the heroine of +the tale, and then it will leave one curious feature in it, the +principals will not only not be united, but the tale will wind up +without their ever seeing each other. <i>Allons en avant</i>.</p> +<p>But of all the treachery practised by all the parties, it +certainly appears to us that the treachery of the widow was the +most odious and diabolical. She was like a bloated spider, slowly +entwining those threads for her victim which were to entrap him to +his destruction, for she had vowed that she never would again be +led to the hymeneal altar until Mr Vanslyperken was hanged. +Perhaps, the widow Vandersloosh was in a hurry to be married, at +least, by her activity, it would so appear--but let us not +anticipate.</p> +<p>The little sofa was fortunately like its build, strong as a cob, +or it never could have borne the weight of two such lovers as the +widow Vandersloosh and the Corporal Van Spitter; there they sat, +she radiant with love and beer, he with ditto; their sides met, for +the sofa exactly took them both in, without an inch to spare; their +hands met, their eyes met, and whenever one raised the glass, the +other was on the alert, and their glasses met and jingled--a more +practical specimen of hob and nob was never witnessed. There was +but one thing wanting to complete their happiness, which, unlike +other people's, did not hang upon a thread, but something much +stronger, it hung upon a cord; the cord which was to hang Mr +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>And now the widow, like the three fates rolled into one, is +weaving the woof, and, in good Dutch, is pouring into the attentive +ear of the corporal her hopes and fears, her surmises, her wishes, +her anticipations, and her desires--and he imbibes them all +greedily, washing them down with the beer of the widow's own +brewing.</p> +<p>"He has not been to the house opposite these two last arrivals," +said the widow, "that is certain; for Babette and I have been on +the watch. There was hanging matter there. Now I won't believe but +that he must go somewhere; he carries his letters, and takes his +gold as before, depend upon it. Yes, and I will find it out. Yes, +yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we will see who is the 'cutest--you, or the +widow Vandersloosh."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes!" replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"Now he landed a passenger last time, which he called a king's +messenger, and I am as sure as I sit here that he was no king's +messenger, unless he was one of King James's as was; for look you, +Corporal Van Spitter, do you suppose that King William would employ +an Englishman, as you say he was, for a messenger, when a Dutchman +was to be had for love or money?"</p> +<p>"No, no, we must find out where he goes to. I will have some one +on the look out when you come again, and then set Babette on the +watch; she shall track him up to the den of his treachery. Yes, +yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we will see who gains the day, you or the +widow Vandersloosh."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"And now, corporal, I've been thinking over all this ever since +your absence, and all you have told me about his cowardly attempts +upon that poor boy's life, and his still greater cowardice in +believing such stuff as you have made him believe about the lad not +being injured by mortal man. Stuff and nonsense! the lad is but a +lad."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes," said the corporal.</p> +<p>"And now, corporal, I'll tell you something else, which is, that +you and the <i>Yungfraus</i> are just as great fools as Mynheer +Vanslyperken, in believing all that stuff and nonsense about the +dog. The dog is but a dog."</p> +<p>This was rather a trial to the corporal's politeness; to deny +what the widow said, might displease, and, as he firmly believed +otherwise, he was put to a nonplus; but the widow looked him full +in the face, expecting assent, so at last the corporal drawled out, +"Mein Gott! yes a tog is but a tog."</p> +<p>The widow was satisfied, and not perceiving the nice +distinction, continued.</p> +<p>"Well, then, corporal, as a lad is but a lad, and a dog is but a +dog, I have been setting my wits to work about getting the rascally +traitor in my power. I mean to pretend to take every interest in +him, and to get all his secrets, and then, when he tells me that +Smallbones cannot be hurt by mortal man, I shall say he can by +woman, at all events; and then I shall make a proposition, which +he'll accept fast enough, and then I'll have more hanging matter +for him, besides getting rid of the cur. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, +match a woman if you can. We'll see if your dog is to take +possession of my bedroom again."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes," replied the corporal again.</p> +<p>"And now I'll tell you what I'll do, Mr Corporal; I will prepare +it myself; and, then, Mr Vanslyperken shall have it grilled for his +breakfast, and then he shall not eat it, but leave it for +Smallbones, and then Smallbones shall pretend to eat it, but put it +in his pocket, and then (for it won't do to do it on board, or +he'll find out that the lad has given it to the dog) he shall bring +it on shore, and give it to the dog here in the yard, so that he +shall kill the dog himself, by wishing to kill others. Do you +understand, corporal?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes, I understand what you say; but what is it that +you are to prepare?"</p> +<p>"What? why, a red-herring to be sure."</p> +<p>"But how will a red-herring kill a body or a dog?"</p> +<p>"Lord, corporal, how stupid you are; I'm to put arsenic in."</p> +<p>"Yes; but you left that out till now."</p> +<p>"Did I? well, that was an oversight; but now, corporal, you +understand it all?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes; but if the lad does not die, what will he +think?"</p> +<p>"Think! that he can take poison like pea-soup, without injury, +and that neither man nor woman can take his life; be afraid of the +lad, and leave him alone."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes," replied the rather obtuse corporal, who now +understood the whole plot.</p> +<p>Such was the snare laid for Mr Vanslyperken by the treacherous +widow, and before the cutter sailed, it was put in execution. She +received the lieutenant now as an accepted lover, allowed him to +talk of the day, wormed out of him all his secrets except that of +his treason, abused Smallbones, and acknowledged that she had been +too hasty about the dog, which she would be very happy to see on +shore. Vanslyperken could hardly believe his senses--the widow +forgive Snarleyyow, and all for his sake, he was delighted, +enchanted, threw himself at her feet, and vowed eternal gratitude +with his lips--but vengeance in his heart.</p> +<p>Oh! Mr Vanslyperken, you deserved to be deceived.</p> +<p>The dislike expressed by the widow against Smallbones was also +very agreeable to the lieutenant, and he made her his confidant, +stating what the corporal had told him relative to the appearance +of Smallbones when he was adrift.</p> +<p>"Well then, lieutenant," said the widow, "if mortal man can't +hurt him, mortal woman may; and for my love for you I will prepare +what will rid you of him. But, Vanslyperken, recollect there's +nothing I would not do for you; but if it were found out--O dear! O +dear!"</p> +<p>The widow then informed him that she would prepare a red-herring +with arsenic, which he should take on board, and order Smallbones +to grill for his breakfast; that he was to pretend not to be well, +and to allow it to be taken away by the lad, who would, of course, +eat it fast enough.</p> +<p>"Excellent!" replied Vanslyperken, who felt not only that he +should get rid of Smallbones, but have the widow in his power. +"Dearest widow, how can I be sufficiently grateful? Oh! how kind, +how amiable you are!" continued Vanslyperken, mumbling her fat +fingers, which the widow abandoned to him without reserve.</p> +<p>Who would have believed that, between these two, there existed a +deadly hatred? We might imagine such a thing to take place in the +refinement and artificial air of a court, but not in a Dutch Lust +Haus at Amsterdam. That evening, before his departure, did the +widow present her swain with the fatal herring; and the swain +received it with as many marks of gratitude and respect, as some +knight in ancient times would have shown when presented with some +magical gift by his favouring genius.</p> +<p>The red-herring itself was but a red-herring, but the charm +consisted in the two-pennyworth of arsenic.</p> +<p>The next morning Vanslyperken did not fail to order the +red-herring for his breakfast, but took good care not to eat +it.</p> +<p>Smallbones, who had been duly apprised of the whole plan, asked +his master, as he cleared away, whether he should keep the +red-herring for the next day; but Mr Vanslyperken very graciously +informed him that he might eat it himself. About an hour afterwards +Mr Vanslyperken went on shore, taking with him, for the first time, +Snarleyyow, and desiring Smallbones to come with him, with a bag of +biscuit for the widow. This plan had been proposed by the widow, as +Smallbones might be supposed to have eaten something on shore. +Smallbones took as good care as his master not to eat the herring, +but put it in his pocket as a <i>bonne bouche</i> for Snarleyyow. +Mr Vanslyperken, as they pulled on shore, thought that the lad +smelt very strong of herring, and this satisfied him that he had +eaten it; but to make more sure, he exclaimed, "Confound it, how +you smell of red-herring!"</p> +<p>"That's all along of having eaten one, sir," replied Smallbones, +grinning.</p> +<p>"You'll grin in another way before an hour is over," thought his +master.</p> +<p>The lieutenant, the dog, and the biscuit were all graciously +received.</p> +<p>"Has he eaten it?" inquired the widow.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, with a nod. "Empty the bag, and I +will send him on board again."</p> +<p>"Not yet, not yet--give him half an hour to saunter, it will be +better. That poor dog of yours must want a little grass," said the +widow, "always being on board. Let him run a little in the yard, he +will find plenty there."</p> +<p>The obedient lieutenant opened the back-door, and Snarleyyow, +who had not forgotten either the widow Or Babette, went out of his +own accord. Mr Vanslyperken looked to ascertain if the yard-door, +which led to the street, was fast, and then returned, shutting the +back-door after him.</p> +<p>Smallbones was waiting at the porch as usual.</p> +<p>"Babette," cried the widow, "mind you don't open the yard-door +and let Mr Vanslyperken's dog out. Do you hear?"</p> +<p>Smallbones, who understood this as the signal, immediately +slipped round, opened the yard-door, took the herring out of his +pocket, and threw it to Snarleyyow. The dog came to it, smelt it, +seized it, and walked off, with his ears and tail up, to the sunny +side of the yard, intending to have a good meal; and Smallbones, +who was afraid of Mr Vanslyperken catching him in the act, came out +of the yard, and hastened to his former post at the porch. He +caught Babette's eye, coming down stairs, and winked and smiled. +Babette walked into the room, caught the eye of the mistress, and +winked and smiled. Upon which, the widow ordered Babette to empty +the bread-bag and give it to Smallbones, to take on board,--an +order repeated by Vanslyperken. Before he returned to the boat, +Smallbones again passed round to the yard-door. Snarleyyow was +there, but no signs of the red-herring. "He's a eaten it all, by +gum," said Smallbones, grinning, and walking away to the boat, with +the bread-bag over his shoulder. As soon as he had arrived on +board, the lad communicated the fact to the crew of the +<i>Yungfrau</i>, whose spirits were raised by the intelligence, +with the exception still of old Coble, who shook his head, and +declared, "It was twopence and a red-herring thrown away."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken returned on board in the afternoon, fully +expecting to hear of Smallbones being very ill. He was surprised +that the man in the boat did not tell him, and he asked them +carelessly if there was anything new on board, but received a reply +in the negative. When he came on board, followed by Snarleyyow, the +eyes of the crew were directed towards the dog, to see how he +looked; but he appeared just as lively and as cross-grained as +ever, and they all shook their heads.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken sent for Smallbones, and looked him hard in the +face. "Ar'n't you well?" inquired he.</p> +<p>"Well, sir!" replied Smallbones: "I'd a bit of a twinge in my +stummick this morning, but it's all gone off now."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken waited the whole day for Smallbones to die, but +he did not. The crew of the vessel waited the whole day for the cur +to die, but he did not. What inference could be drawn. The crew +made up their minds that the dog was supernatural; and old Coble +told them that he told them so. Mr Vanslyperken made up his mind +that Smallbones was supernatural, and the corporal shook his head, +and told him that he told him so.</p> +<p>The reason why Snarleyyow did not die was simply this, that he +did not eat the red-herring. He had just laid it between his paws, +and was about to commence, when Smallbones, having left the +yard-door open in his hurry, the dog was perceived by a dog bigger +than he, who happened to pass that way, and who pounced upon +Snarleyyow, trampling him over and over, and walked off with the +red-herring, which he had better have left alone, as he was found +dead the next morning.</p> +<p>The widow heard, both from the corporal and Vanslyperken, the +failure of both their projects. That Smallbones was not poisoned +she was not surprised to hear, but she took care to agree with +Vanslyperken that all attempts upon him were useless; but that the +dog still lived was indeed a matter of surprise, and the widow +became a convert to the corporal's opinion that the dog was not to +be destroyed.</p> +<p>"A whole two-pennyworth of arsenic! Babette, only think what a +cur it must be!" And Babette, as well as her mistress, lifted up +her hands in amazement, exclaiming, "What a cur indeed!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXVI"></a>Chapter XXXVI</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken, although at fault, comes in for the +brush.</h3> +<br> +<p>Vanslyperken having obtained his despatches from the States +General, called at the house of Mynheer Krause, and received the +letters of Ramsay, then, once more, the cutter's head was turned +towards England.</p> +<p>It may be as well to remind the reader, that it was in the month +of January, sixteen hundred and ninety-nine, that we first +introduced Mr Vanslyperken and his contemporaries to his notice, +and that all the important events, which we have recorded, have +taken place between that date and the month of May, which is now +arrived. We think, indeed, that the peculiar merit of this work is +its remarkable unity of time and place; for, be it observed, we +intend to finish it long before the year is out, and our whole +scene is, it may be said, laid in the channel, or between the +channel and the Texel, which, considering it is an historical +novel, is remarkable. Examine other productions of this nature, +founded upon historical facts, like our own, and observe the +difference. Read Scott, Bulwer, James, or Grattan, read their +historical novels, and observe how they fly about from country to +country, and from clime to clime. As the Scythians said to +Alexander, their right arm extends to the east, and their left to +the west, and the world can hardly contain them. And over how many +years do they extend their pages? while our bantling is produced in +the regular nine months, being the exact period of time which is +required for my three volumes. It must, therefore, be allowed that +in unity of time, and place and design, and adherence to facts, our +historical novel is unique.</p> +<p>We said that it was the month of May--not May coming in as she +does sometimes in her caprice, pouting, and out of humour--but May +all in smiles. The weather was warm, and the sea was smooth, and +the men of the cutter had stowed away their pea-jackets, and had +pulled off their fishermen's boots, and had substituted shoes. Mr +Vanslyperken did not often appear on deck during the passage. He +was very busy down below, and spread a piece of bunting across the +skylight, so that no one could look down and see what he was about, +and the cabin-door was almost always locked. What could Mr +Vanslyperken be about? No one knew but Snarleyyow, and Snarleyyow +could not or would not tell.</p> +<p>The cutter anchored in her old berth, and Vanslyperken, as +usual, went on shore, with his double set of despatches, which were +duly delivered; and then Mr Vanslyperken went up the main street, +and turned into a jeweller's shop. What could Mr Vanslyperken do +there? Surely it was to purchase something for the widow +Vandersloosh--a necklace or pair of ear-rings. No, it was not with +that intention; but nevertheless, Mr Vanslyperken remained there +for a long while, and then was seen to depart. Seen by whom? By +Moggy Salisbury, who had observed his entering, and who could not +imagine why; she, however, said nothing, but she marked the shop, +and walked away.</p> +<p>The next day, Mr Vanslyperken went on shore, to put into his +mother's charge the money which he had received from Ramsay, and +narrated all that had passed--how Smallbones had swallowed +two-pennyworth of arsenic with no more effect upon him than one +twinge in his stomach, and how he now fully believed that nothing +would kill the boy.</p> +<p>"Pshaw! child--phut!--nonsense!--nothing kill him?--had he been +in my hands, old as they are, and shaking as they do, he would not +have lived; no, no--nobody escapes me when I am determined. We'll +talk about that, but not now, Cornelius; the weather has turned +warm at last, and there is no need of fire. Go, child, the money is +locked up safe, and I have my mood upon me--I may even do you a +mischief."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken, who knew that it was useless to remain after this +hint, walked off and returned on board. As he pulled off, he passed +a boat, apparently coming from the cutter, with Moggy Salisbury +sitting in the stern-sheets. She waved her hand at him, and laughed +ironically.</p> +<p>"Impudent hussy!" thought Vanslyperken, as she passed, but he +dared not say a word. He turned pale with rage, and turned his head +away; but little did he imagine, at the time, what great cause he +had of indignation. Moggy had been three hours on board of the +cutter talking with the men, but more particularly with Smallbones +and the corporal, with which two she had been in earnest conference +for the first hour that she was on board.</p> +<p>Moggy's animosity to Vanslyperken is well known, and she +ridiculed the idea of Snarleyyow being anything more than an +uncommon lucky dog in escaping so often. Smallbones was of her +opinion, and again declared his intention of doing the dog a +mischief as soon as he could. Moggy, after her conference with +these two, mixed with the ship's company, with whom she had always +been a favourite, and the corporal proceeded to superintend the +cutting up and the distribution of the fresh beef which had that +morning come on board.</p> +<p>The beef block was on the forecastle, where the major part of +the crew, with Moggy, were assembled; Snarleyyow had always +attended the corporal on these occasions, and was still the best of +friends with him; for somehow or another, the dog had not seemed to +consider the corporal a party to his brains being knocked out, but +had put it all down to his natural enemy, Smallbones. The dog was, +as usual, standing by the block close to the corporal, and picking +up the fragments of beef which dropped from the chopper.</p> +<p>"I vowed by gum, that I'd have that ere dog's tail off," +observed Smallbones; "and if no one will peach, off it shall go +now. And who cares? If I can't a kill him dead, I'll get rid of him +by bits. There's one eye out already, and now I've a mind for his +tail. Corporal, lend me the cleaver."</p> +<p>"Bravo, Smallbones, we won't peach--not one of us."</p> +<p>"I'm not sure of that," replied Moggy; "some won't, I know; but +there are others who may, and then Smallbones will be keel-hauled +as sure as fate, and Vanslyperken will have right on his side. No, +no, Smallbones--you must not do it. Give me the cleaver, corporal, +I'll do it; and anyone may tell him who pleases, when he comes on +board. I don't care for him--and he knows it, corporal. Hand me the +cleaver."</p> +<p>"That's right, let Moggy do it," said the seamen.</p> +<p>The corporal turned the dog round, so as to leave his tail on +the block, and fed him with small pieces of meat, to keep him in +the same position.</p> +<p>"Are you all ready, Moggy?" said Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Back him a little more on the block, corporal, for I won't +leave him an inch if I can help it," said Moggy; "and stand farther +back, all of you."</p> +<p>Moggy raised the cleaver, took good aim--down it came upon the +dog's tail, which was separated within an inch of its insertion, +and was left bleeding on the block, while the dog sprang away aft, +howling most terribly, and leaving a dotted line of blood to mark +his course upon the deck.</p> +<p>"There's a nice skewer-piece for anyone who fancies it," +observed Moggy, looking at the dog's tail, and throwing down the +cleaver. "I think Mr Vanslyperken has had enough now for trying to +flog my Jemmy--my own duck of a husband."</p> +<p>"Well," observed Coble, "seeing's believing; but, otherwise, I +never should have thought it possible to have divided that ere +dog's tail in that way."</p> +<p>"He can't be much of a devil now," observed Bill Spurey; "for +what's a devil without a tail? A devil is like a sarpent, whose +sting is in his tail."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short, who had looked on in silence.</p> +<p>"But, I say, Moggy, perhaps it's as well for him not to find you +on board."</p> +<p>"What do I care?" replied Moggy. "He is more afraid of me than I +of him; but, howsomever, it's just as well not to be here, as it +may get others in trouble. Mind you say at once it was me--I defy +him."</p> +<p>Moggy then wished them good-bye, and quitted the cutter, when +she was met, as we have already observed, by Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! vat must be done now?" observed the corporal to +those about him, looking at the mangy tail which still remained on +the beef-block.</p> +<p>"Done, corporal," replied Smallbones, "why, you must come for to +go for to complain on it, as he comes on board. You must take the +tail, and tell the tale, and purtend to be as angry and as sorry as +himself, and damn <i>her</i> up in heaps. That's what must be +done."</p> +<p>This was not bad advice on the part of Smallbones--the ship's +company agreed to it, and the corporal perceived the propriety of +it.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the dog had retreated to the cabin, and his +howlings had gradually ceased; but he had left a track of blood +along the deck, and down the ladder, which Dick Short perceiving, +pointed to it, and cried out "Swabs."</p> +<p>The men brought swabs aft, and had cleaned the deck and the +ladder down to the cabin door, when Mr Vanslyperken came on +board.</p> +<p>"Has that woman been here?" inquired Mr Vanslyperken, as he came +on deck.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Dick Short.</p> +<p>"Did not I give positive orders that she should not?" cried +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"No," replied Dick Short.</p> +<p>"Then I do now," continued the lieutenant.</p> +<p>"Too late," observed Short, shrugging up his shoulders, and +walking forward.</p> +<p>"Too late! what does he mean?" said Vanslyperken, turning to +Coble.</p> +<p>"I knows nothing about it, sir," replied Coble. "She came for +some of her husband's things that were left on board."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken turned round to look for the corporal for +explanation.</p> +<p>There stood Corporal Van Spitter, perfectly erect, with a very +melancholy face, one hand raised as usual to his cap, and the other +occupied with the tail of Snarleyyow.</p> +<p>"What is it? what is the matter, corporal?"</p> +<p>"Mynheer Vanslyperken," replied the corporal, retaining his +respectful attitude, "here is de tail."</p> +<p>"Tail! what tail?" exclaimed Vanslyperken, casting his eyes upon +the contents of the corporal's left hand.</p> +<p>"Te tog's tail, mynheer," replied the corporal, gravely, "which +de dam tog's wife--Moggy--"</p> +<p>Vanslyperken stared; he could scarcely credit his eyesight, but +there it was. For a time he could not speak for agitation; at last, +with a tremendous oath, he darted into the cabin.</p> +<p>What were his feelings when he beheld Snarleyyow lying in a +corner tailless, with a puddle of blood behind him.</p> +<p>"My poor, poor dog!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, covering up his +face.</p> +<p>His sorrow soon changed to rage--he invoked all the curses he +could imagine upon Moggy's head--he vowed revenge--he stamped with +rage--and then he patted Snarleyyow; and as the beast looked +wistfully in his face, Vanslyperken shed tears. "My poor, poor dog! +first your eye--and now your tail--what will your persecutors +require next? Perdition seize them! may perdition be my portion if +I am not revenged. Smallbones is at the bottom of all this; I +can--I will be revenged on him."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken rang the bell, and the corporal made his appearance +with the dog's tail still in his hand.</p> +<p>"Lay it down on the table, corporal," said Vanslyperken, +mournfully, "and tell me how this happened."</p> +<p>The corporal then entered into a long detail of the way in which +the dog had been <i>de</i>tailed--how he had been cutting up +beef--and how while his back was turned, and Snarleyyow, as usual, +was at the block, picking up the bits, Moggy Salisbury, who had +been allowed to come on board by Mr Short, had caught up the +cleaver and chopped off the dog's tail.</p> +<p>"Was Smallbones at the block?" inquired Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"He was, mynheer," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"Who held the dog while his tail was chopped off?" inquired +Vanslyperken, "some one must have held him."</p> +<p>This was a home question; but the corporal replied, "Yes, +mynheer, some one must have held the dog."</p> +<p>"You did not hear who it was, or if it were Smallbones?"</p> +<p>"I did not, mynheer," replied the corporal; "but," added he with +a significant look, "I tink I could say."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, corporal, I know who you mean. It was him--I am +sure--and as sure as I sit here I'll be revenged. Bring a swab, +corporal, and wipe up all this blood. Do you think the poor animal +will recover?"</p> +<p>"Yes, mynheer; there be togs with tail and togs without +tail."</p> +<p>"But the loss of blood--what must be done to stop the +bleeding?"</p> +<p>"Dat d----n woman Moggy, when I say te tog die--tog bleed to +death, she say, tell Mynheer Vanslyperken dat de best ting for cure +de cur be de red hot poker."</p> +<p>Here Vanslyperken stamped his feet and swore horribly.</p> +<p>"She say, mynheer, it stop all de bleeding."</p> +<p>"I wish she had a hot poker down her body," exclaimed +Vanslyperken, bitterly.</p> +<p>"Go for the swab, corporal, and send Smallbones here."</p> +<p>Smallbones made his appearance.</p> +<p>"Did you come for--to want me, sir?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir. I understand from the corporal that you held the dog +while that woman cut off his tail."</p> +<p>"If so be as how as the corporal says that ere," cried +Smallbones, striking the palm of his left hand with his right fist, +"why I am jiggered if he don't tell a lie as big as himself--that's +all. That ere man is my mortal henemy; and if that ere dog gets +into trouble I'm a sartain to be in trouble too. What should I cut +the dog's tail off for, I should like for to know? I arn't so +hungry as all that, any how."</p> +<p>The idea of eating his dog's tail increased the choler of Mr +Vanslyperken. With looks of malignant vengeance he ordered +Smallbones out of the cabin.</p> +<p>"Shall I shy this here overboard, sir?" said Smallbones, taking +up the dog's tail, which lay on the table.</p> +<p>"Drop it, sir," roared Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>Smallbones walked away, grinning with delight, but his face was +turned from Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>The corporal returned, swabbed up the blood, and reported that +the bleeding had stopped. Mr Vanslyperken had no further orders for +him--he wished to be left alone. He leaned his head upon his hand, +and remained for some time in a melancholy reverie, with his eyes +fixed upon the tail, which lay before him--that tail, now a +"bleeding piece of earth," which never was to welcome him with a +wag again. What passed in Vanslyperken's mind during this time, it +would be too difficult and too long to repeat, for the mind flies +over time and space with the rapidity of the lightning's flash. At +last he rose, took up the dog's tail, put it into his pocket, went +on deck, ordered his boat, and pulled on shore.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXVII"></a>Chapter XXXVII</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken drives a very hard bargain.</h3> +<br> +<p>We will be just and candid in our opinion relative to the +historical facts which we are now narrating. Party spirit, and +various other feelings, independent of misrepresentation do, at the +time, induce people to form their judgment, to say the best, +harshly, and but too often, incorrectly. It is for posterity to +calmly weigh the evidence handed down, and to examine into the +merits of a case divested of party bias. Actuated by these +feelings, we do not hesitate to assert, that, in the point at +question, Mr Vanslyperken had great cause for being displeased; and +that the conduct of Moggy Salisbury, in cutting off the tail of +Snarleyyow was, in our opinion, not justifiable.</p> +<p>There is a respect for property, inculcated and protected by the +laws, which should never be departed from; and, whatever may have +been the aggressions on the part of Mr Vanslyperken, or of the dog, +still a tail is a tail, and whether mangy or not, is <i>bond +fide</i> a part of the living body; and this aggression must +inevitably come under the head of the cutting and maiming act, +which act, however, it must, with the same candour which will ever +guide our pen, be acknowledged, was not passed until a much later +period than that to the history of which our narrative refers.</p> +<p>Having thus, with all deference, offered our humble opinion, we +shall revert to facts. Mr Vanslyperken went on shore, with the +dog's tail in his pocket. He walked with rapid strides towards the +half-way houses, in one of which was the room tenanted by his aged +mother; for, to whom else could he apply for consolation in this +case of severe distress? That it was Moggy Salisbury who gave the +cruel blow, was a fact completely substantiated by evidence; but +that it was Smallbones who held the dog, and who thereby became an +active participator, and therefore equally culpable, was a surmise +to which the insinuations of the corporal had given all the +authority of direct evidence. And, as Mr Vanslyperken felt that +Moggy was not only out of his power, but even if in his power, that +he dare not retaliate upon her, for reasons which we have already +explained to our readers; it was, therefore, clear to him, that +Smallbones was the party upon whom his indignation could be the +most safely vented: and, moreover, that in so doing, he was only +paying off a long accumulating debt of hatred and ill-will. But, at +the same time, Mr Vanslyperken had made up his mind that a lad who +could be floated out to the Nab buoy and back again without +sinking--who could have a bullet through his head without a mark +remaining--and who could swallow a whole twopenny-worth of arsenic +without feeling more than a twinge in his stomach, was not so very +easy to be made away with. That the corporal's vision was no +fiction, was evident--the lad was not to be hurt by mortal man; but +although the widow's arsenic had failed, Mr Vanslyperken, in his +superstition, accounted for it on the grounds that the woman was +not the active agent on the occasion, having only prepared the +herring, it not having been received from her hands by Smallbones. +The reader may recollect that, in the last interview between +Vanslyperken and his mother, the latter had thrown out hints that +if she took Smallbones in hand he would not have such miraculous +escapes as he had had, as, in all she undertook, she did her +business thoroughly. Bearing this in mind, Mr Vanslyperken went to +pour forth his sorrows, and to obtain the assistance of his +much-to-be-respected and venerable mother.</p> +<p>"Well, child, what is it--is it money you bring?" cried the old +woman, when Vanslyperken entered the room.</p> +<p>"No, mother," replied Vanslyperken, throwing himself on the only +chair in the room, except the one with the legs cut off half-way +up, upon which his mother was accustomed to rock herself before the +grate.</p> +<p>"No, mother; but I have brought something--and I come to you for +advice and assistance."</p> +<p>"Brought no money--yet brought something!--well, child, what +have you brought?"</p> +<p>"This!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, throwing the dog's tail down +upon the table.</p> +<p>"This!" repeated the old beldame, lifting up the tail, and +examining it as well as she could, as the vibration of her palsied +members were communicated to the article--and pray, child, what is +this?"</p> +<p>"Are you blind, old woman," replied Vanslyperken in wrath, "not +to perceive that it is my poor dog's tail?"</p> +<p>"Blind old woman! and dog's tail, eh! Blind old woman, eh! Mr +Cornelius, you dare to call me a blind old woman, and to bring here +the mangy tail of a dog--and to lay it on my table! Is this your +duty, sirrah? How dare you take such liberties? There, sir," cried +the hag in a rage, catching hold of the tail, and sending it flying +out of the casement, which was open--"there, sir--and now you may +follow your tail. D'ye hear?--leave the room instantly, or I'll +cleave your craven skull. Blind old woman, forsooth--undutiful +child--"</p> +<p>Vanslyperken, in spite of his mother's indignation, could not +prevent his eyes from following the tail of his dog, as it sailed +through the ambient air surrounding the half-way houses, and was +glad to observe it landed among some cabbage-leaves thrown into the +road, without attracting notice. Satisfied that he should regain +his treasure when he quitted the house, he now turned round to +deprecate his mother's wrath, who had not yet completed the +sentence which we have quoted above.</p> +<p>"I supplicate your pardon, my dear mother," said Vanslyperken, +who felt that in her present humour he was not likely to gain the +point with her that he had in contemplation. "I was so vexed--so +irritated--that I knew not what I was saying."</p> +<p>"Blind old woman, indeed," repeated the beldame.</p> +<p>"I again beg you to forgive me, dearest mother," continued +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"All about a dog's tail cut off. Better off than on--so much the +less mange on the snarling cur."</p> +<p>This was touching up Vanslyperken on the raw; but he had a great +object in view, and he restrained his feelings.</p> +<p>"I was wrong, mother--very wrong--but I have done all I can, I +have begged your pardon. I came here for your advice and +assistance."</p> +<p>"What advice or assistance can you expect from a blind old +woman?" retorted the old hag. "And what advice or assistance does +so undutiful a child deserve?"</p> +<p>It was some time before the ruffled temper of the beldame could +be appeased: at last, Vanslyperken succeeded. He then entered into +a detail of all that had passed, and concluded by observing, "that +as Smallbones was not to be injured by mortal man, he had come to +her for assistance."</p> +<p>"That is to say--you have come to me to ask me to knock the +lad's brains out--to take away his life--to murder him, in fact. +Say, Cornelius, is it not so?"</p> +<p>"It is exactly so, my dearest mother. I know your +courage--your--"</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, I understand all that; but, now hear me, child. There +are deeds which are done, and which I have done, but those deeds +are only done upon strong impulses. Murder is one, but people +murder for two reasons only--for revenge and for gold. People don't +do such acts as are to torture their minds here, and perhaps be +punished hereafter--that is, if there be one, child. I say, people +don't do such deeds as these, merely because a graceless son comes +to them, and says, 'if you please, mother.' Do you understand that, +child? I've blood enough on my hands already--good blood too--they +are not defiled with the scum of a parish boy, nor shall they be, +without--"</p> +<p>"Without what, mother?"</p> +<p>"Have I not told you, Cornelius, that there are but two great +excitements--revenge and gold? I have no revenge against the lad. +If you have--if you consider that a dog's, tail demands a human +victim--well and good--do the deed yourself."</p> +<p>"I would," cried Vanslyperken, "but I have tried in vain. It +must be done by woman."</p> +<p>"Then hear me, Cornelius; if it must be done by woman, you must +find a woman to do it, and you must pay her for the deed. Murder is +at a high price. You apply to me--I am content to do the deed; but +I must have gold--and plenty too."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken paused before he replied. The old woman had charge +of all his money--she was on the verge of the grave--for what could +she require his gold?--could she be so foolish?--it was insanity. +Vanslyperken was right--it was insanity, for avarice is no +better.</p> +<p>"Do you mean, mother," replied Vanslyperken, "that you want gold +from me?"</p> +<p>"From whom else?" demanded the old woman sharply.</p> +<p>"Take it, then, mother--take as many pieces as you please."</p> +<p>"I must have all that there is in that chest, Cornelius."</p> +<p>"All, mother?"</p> +<p>"Yes, all; and what is it, after all? What price is too high for +blood which calls for retribution? Besides, Cornelius, it must be +all yours again when I die; but I shall not die yet--no, no."</p> +<p>"Well, mother," replied Vanslyperken, "if it must be so, it +shall all be yours--not that I can see what difference it makes, +whether it is called yours or mine."</p> +<p>"Then why not give it freely? Why do you hesitate to give to +your poor old mother what may be again yours before the leaf again +falls? Ask yourself why, Cornelius, and then you have my answer. +The gold is here in my charge, but it is not <i>my</i> gold--it is +yours. You little think how often I've laid in bed and longed that +it was all <i>mine</i>. Then I would count it--count it again and +again--watch over it, not as I do now as a mere deposit in my +charge, but as a mother would watch and smile upon her first-born +child. There is a talisman in that word <i>mine</i>, that not +approaching <i>death</i> can wean from <i>life</i>. It is our +natures, child--say, then, is all that gold <i>mine</i>?"</p> +<p>Vanslyperken paused; he also felt the magic of the word; and +although it was but a nominal and temporary divestment of the +property, even that gave him a severe struggle; but his avarice was +overcome by his feelings of revenge, and he answered solemnly, "As +I hope for revenge, mother, <i>all</i> that gold is <i>yours</i>, +provided that you do the deed."</p> +<p>Here the old hag burst into a sort of shrieking laugh. "Send him +here, child;" and the almost unearthly cachinnation was +continued--"send him here, child--I can't go to seek him--and it is +done--only bring him here."</p> +<p>So soon as this compact had been completed, Vanslyperken and his +mother had a consultation; and it was agreed, that it would be +advisable not to attempt the deed until the day before the cutter +sailed, as it would remove all suspicion, and be supposed that the +boy had deserted. This arrangement having been made, Vanslyperken +made rather a hasty retreat. The fact was, that he was anxious to +recover the fragment of Snarleyyow, which his mother had so +contemptuously thrown out of the casement.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXVIII"></a>Chapter XXXVIII</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken is taken for a witch.</h3> +<br> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken hastened into the street, and walked towards the +heap of cabbage-leaves, in which he observed the object of his +wishes to have fallen; but there was some one there before him, an +old sow, very busy groping among the refuse. Although Vanslyperken +came on shore without even a stick in his hand, he had no fear of a +pig, and walked up boldly to drive her away, fully convinced that, +although she might like cabbage, not being exactly carnivorous, he +should find the tail in <i>status quo</i>. But it appeared that the +sow not only would not stand being interfered with, but, moreover, +was carnivorously inclined; for she was at that very moment routing +the tail about with her nose, and received Vanslyperken's advance +with a very irascible grunt, throwing her head up at him with a +savage augh; and then again busied herself with the fragment of +Snarleyyow. Vanslyperken, who had started back, perceived that the +sow was engaged with the very article in question; and finding it +was a service of more danger than he had expected, picked up one or +two large stones, and threw them at the animal to drive her away. +This mode of attack had the effect desired in one respect; the sow +made a retreat, but at the same time she would not retreat without +the <i>bonne bouche</i>, which she carried away in her mouth.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken followed; but the sow proved that she could fight +as well as run, every minute turning round to bay, and chumping and +grumbling in a very formidable manner. At last, after Vanslyperken +had chased for a quarter of a mile, he received unexpected +assistance from a large dog, who bounded from the side of the road, +where he lay in the sun, and seizing the sow by the ear, made her +drop the tail to save her own bacon.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken was delighted; he hastened up as fast as he could +to regain his treasure, when, to his mortification, the great dog, +who had left the sow, arrived at the spot before him, and after +smelling at the not one bone, but many bones of contention, he took +it in his mouth, and trotted off to his former berth in the +sunshine, laid himself down, and the tail before him.</p> +<p>"Surely one dog won't eat another dog's tail," thought +Vanslyperken, as he walked up to the animal; but an eye like fire, +a deep growl, and exposure of a range of teeth equal to a hyena's, +convinced Mr Vanslyperken that it would be wise to retreat--which +he did, to a respectable distance, and attempted to coax the dog. +"Poor doggy, there's a dog," cried Vanslyperken, snapping his +fingers, and approaching gradually. To his horror, the dog did the +same thing exactly: he rose, and approached Mr Vanslyperken +gradually, and snapped his fingers: not content with that, he flew +at him, and tore the skirt of his great-coat clean off, and also +the hinder part of his trousers for Mr Vanslyperken immediately +turned tail, and the dog appeared resolved to have his tail as well +as that of his darling cur. Satisfied with about half a yard of +broadcloth as a trophy, the dog returned to his former situation, +and remained with the tail of the coat and the tail of the cur +before him, with his fierce eyes fixed upon Mr Vanslyperken, who +had now retreated to a greater distance.</p> +<p>But this transaction was not unobserved by several of the people +who inhabited the street of cottages. Many eyes were directed to +where Mr Vanslyperken and the sow and dog had been at issue, and +many were the conjectures thereon.</p> +<p>When the dog retreated with the skirt of the great-coat, many +came out to ascertain what was the cause of the dispute, and among +others, the man to whom the dog belonged, and who lived at the +cottage opposite to where the dog had lain down. He observed +Vanslyperken, looking very much like a vessel whose sails have been +split in a gale, and very rueful at the same time, standing at a +certain distance, quite undecided how to act, and he called out to +him, "What is it you may want with my dog, man?"</p> +<p>Man! Vanslyperken thought this designation an affront; whereas, +in our opinion, Vanslyperken was an affront to the name of man. +"Man!" exclaimed Vanslyperken; "why your dog has taken my +property!"</p> +<p>"Then take your property," replied the other, tossing to him the +skirt of his coat, which he had taken from the dog.</p> +<p>By this time there was a crowd collected from out of the various +surrounding tenements.</p> +<p>"That's not all," exclaimed Vanslyperken; "he has got my dog's +tail there."</p> +<p>"Your dog's tail!" exclaimed the man, "what do you mean? Is it +this ragged mangy thing you would have?" and the man took the tail +of Snarleyyow, and held it up to the view of the assembled +crowd.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, coming towards the man with +eagerness; "that is what I want," and he held out his hand to +receive it.</p> +<p>"And pray, may I ask," replied the other, looking very +suspiciously at Vanslyperken, "what can you want with this piece of +carrion?"</p> +<p>"To make soup of," replied another, laughing; "he can't afford +ox-tail."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken made an eager snatch at his treasure; but the man +lifted it up on the other side, out of his reach.</p> +<p>"Let us have a look at this chap," said the first, examining +Vanslyperken, whose peaked nose and chin, small ferret eyes, and +downcast look were certainly not in his favour; neither were his +old and now tattered habiliments. Certainly no one would have taken +Vanslyperken for a king's officer--unfortunately they took him for +something else.</p> +<p>"Now tell me, fellow, what were you going to do with this?" +inquired the man in a severe tone.</p> +<p>"I sha'n't tell you," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Why that's the chap that I sees go in and out of the room where +that old hell-fire witch lives, who curses all day long."</p> +<p>"I thought as much," observed the man, who still held up the +cur's tail. "Now I appeal to you all, what can a fellow want with +such as this--ay, my good people, and want it so much too, as to +risk being torn to pieces for it--if he arn't inclined to evil +practices?"</p> +<p>"That's sartain sure," replied another.</p> +<p>"A witch--a witch!" cried the whole crowd.</p> +<p>"Let's duck him--tie his thumbs--away with him--come along, my +lads, away with him."</p> +<p>Although there were not, at the time we write about, regular +witch-finders, as in the time of James I., still the feeling +against witches, and the belief that they practised, still existed. +They were no longer handed over to summary and capital punishment, +but whenever suspected they were sure to meet with very rough +treatment. Such was the fate of Mr Vanslyperken, who was now seized +by the crowd, buffeted, and spit upon, and dragged to the parish +pump, there being, fortunately for him, no horse-pond near. After +having been well beaten, pelted with mud, his clothes torn off his +back, his hat taken away and stamped upon, he was held under the +pump and drenched for nearly half-an-hour, until he lay beneath the +spout in a state of complete exhaustion. The crowd were then +satisfied, and he was left to get away how he could, which he did, +after a time, in a most deplorable plight, bare-headed, in his +shirt and torn trousers. He contrived to walk as far as to the +house where his mother resided, was admitted to her room, when he +fell exhausted on the bed. The old woman was astonished; and having +some gin in her cupboard, revived him by administering a small +quantity, and, in the course of half-an-hour, Vanslyperken could +tell his story; but all the consolation he received from the old +beldame was, "Serve you right too, for being such an ass. I suppose +you'll be bringing the stupid people about my ears soon--they've +hooted me before now. Ah, well--I'll not be pumped upon for +nothing--my knife is a sharp one."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken had clothes under his mother's charge, and he +dressed himself in another suit, and then hastened away, much +mortified and confounded with the latter events of the day. The +result of his arrangements with his mother was, however, a balm to +his wounded spirit, and he looked upon Smallbones as already dead. +He hastened down into his cabin, as soon as he arrived on board, to +ascertain the condition of Snarleyyow, whom he found as well as +could be expected, and occasionally making unavailing attempts to +lick the stump of his tail.</p> +<p>"My poor dog!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, "what have you suffered, +and what have I suffered for you? Alas! if I am to suffer as I have +to-day for only your tail, what shall I go through for your whole +body?" And, as Vanslyperken recalled his misfortunes, so did his +love increase for the animal who was the cause of them. Why so, we +cannot tell, except that it has been so from the beginning, is so +now, and always will be the case, for the best of all possible +reasons--that it is <i>human nature</i>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXXIX"></a>Chapter XXXIX</h2> +<h3>In which is recorded a most barbarous and bloody murder.</h3> +<br> +<p>We observed, in a previous chapter, that Mr Vanslyperken was +observed by Moggy Salisbury to go into a jeweller's shop, and +remain there some time, and that Moggy was very inquisitive to know +what it was that could induce Mr Vanslyperken to go into so unusual +a resort for him.</p> +<p>The next day she went into the shop upon a pretence of looking +at some ear-rings, and attempted to enter into conversation with +the jeweller; but the jeweller, not perhaps admiring Moggy's +appearance, and not thinking her likely to be a customer, dismissed +her with very short answers. Failing in her attempt, Moggy +determined to wait till Nancy Corbett should come over, for she +knew that Nancy could dress and assume the fine lady, and be more +likely to succeed than herself. But although Moggy could not +penetrate into the mystery, it is necessary the reader should be +informed of the proceedings of Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>When Ramsay had shown him how to open the government despatches, +and had provided him with the false seals for the re-impressions, +he forgot that he also was pointing out to Vanslyperken the means +of also opening his own, and discovering his secrets, as well as +those of government; but Vanslyperken, who hated Ramsay, on account +of his behaviour towards him, and would with pleasure have seen the +whole of his party, as well as himself, on the gibbet, thought that +it might be just as well to have two strings to his bow; and he +argued, that if he could open the letters of the conspirators, and +obtain their secrets, they would prove valuable to him, and perhaps +save his neck, if he were betrayed to the government. On his +passage, therefore, to Amsterdam, he had carefully examined the +seal of Ramsay, and also that on the letters forwarded to him; and, +having made a drawing, and taken the impression in wax, as a +further security, he had applied to the jeweller in question to get +him seals cut out with these impressions, and of the exact form and +size. The jeweller, who cared little what he did, provided that he +was well paid, asked no questions, but a very high price, and +Vanslyperken, knowing that they would be cheap to him at any price, +closed with him on his own terms, provided that they were +immediately forthcoming. In the week, according to the agreement, +the seals were prepared. Mr Vanslyperken paid his money, and now +was waiting for orders to sail.</p> +<p>The dog's stump was much better.</p> +<p>On the ninth day, a summons to the admiral's house was sent, and +Vanslyperken was ordered to hold himself in readiness to sail the +next morning at daylight. He immediately repaired to the Jew's, to +give intimation, and from thence to his mother's to prepare her for +the arrival of Smallbones that evening a little before dusk.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken had arranged that, as soon as the murder had been +committed, he would go to the Jew's for letters, and then hasten on +board, sailing the next morning at daylight; so that if there was +any discovery, the whole onus might be on his mother, who, for all +he cared, might be hung. It is a true saying, that a good mother +makes a good son.</p> +<p>When Vanslyperken intimated to Smallbones that he was going on +shore in the evening, and should take him with him, the lad did not +forget the last walk that he had in company with his master, and, +apprehensive that some mischief was intended, he said, "I hope it +arn't for to fetch another walk in the country, sir?"</p> +<p>"No, no," replied Vanslyperken, "it's to take some biscuit up to +a poor old woman close by. I don't want to be robbed, any more than +you do, Smallbones."</p> +<p>But the very quick reply of his master only increased the +apprehension of Smallbones, who left the cabin, and hastened to +Corporal Van Spitter, to consult with him.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter was of the same opinion as Smallbones, that +mischief was intended him, and offered to provide him with a +pistol; but Smallbones, who knew little about fire-arms, requested +that he might have a bayonet instead, which he could use better. He +was supplied with this, which he concealed within his shirt, and +when ordered, he went into the boat with Vanslyperken. They landed, +and it was dark before they arrived at the half-way houses. +Vanslyperken ascended the stairs, and ordered Smallbones to follow +him. As soon as they were in the room, Mr Vanslyperken said, "Here +is the biscuit, good woman, and much good may it do you."</p> +<p>"It's very kind of you, sir, and many thanks. It's not often +that people are charitable now-a-days, and this has been a hard +winter for poor folk. Put the bag down there, my good little +fellow," continued the old hypocrite, addressing Smallbones.</p> +<p>"And now, good woman, I shall leave my lad with you, till I come +back. I have to call at a friend's, and I need not take him. +Smallbones, stay here till I return; get the biscuit out of the +bag, as we must take that on board again."</p> +<p>Smallbones had no objection to remain with a withered, palsied +old woman. He could have no fear of her, and he really began to +think that his master had been guilty of charity.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken departed, leaving Smallbones in company with his +mother.</p> +<p>"Come now, my lad, come to the chair, and sit down by the fire," +for a fire had been lighted by the old woman expressly, "sit down, +and I'll see if I can find you something in my cupboard; I have, I +know, a drop of cordial left somewhere. Sit down, child; you have +had the kindness to bring the bread up for me, and I am +grateful."</p> +<p>The tones of the old beldame's voice were very different from +those she usually indulged in; there was almost a sweetness about +them, which proved what she might have effected at the period when +she was fair and young. Smallbones felt not the least disquietude; +he sat down in the chair by the fire, while the old woman looked in +the cupboard behind him for the cordial, of which she poured him a +good allowance in a tea-cup.</p> +<p>Smallbones sipped and sipped, he was not in a hurry to get rid +of it, as it was good; the old woman went again to the cupboard, +rattled the things about a little, and then, on a sudden, taking +out a large hammer, as Smallbones unconsciously sipped, she raised +it with both her hands, and down came the blow on his devoted +head.</p> +<p>The poor lad dropped the cup, sprang up convulsively, staggered, +and then fell. Once he rolled over, his leg quivered, and he then +moved no more.</p> +<p>The beldame watched him with the hammer in her hand, ready to +repeat the blow if necessary, indeed she would have repeated it had +it not been that after he fell, in turning over, Smallbones' head +had rolled under the low bedstead where she slept.</p> +<p>"My work is sure," muttered she, "and <i>all</i> the <i>gold</i> +is <i>mine</i>."</p> +<p>Again she watched, but there was no motion--a stream of blood +appeared from under the bed, and ran in a little rivulet towards +the fire-place.</p> +<p>"I wish I could pull him out," said the old woman, lugging at +the lad's legs; "another blow or two would make more sure." But the +effort was above her strength, and she abandoned it. "It's no +matter," muttered she; "he'll never tell tales again."</p> +<p>But there the old hag was mistaken; Smallbones had been stunned, +but not killed; the blow of the hammer had fortunately started off, +divided the flesh of the skull for three inches, with a gash which +descended to his ear. At the very time that she uttered her last +expressions, Smallbones was recovering his senses, but he was still +confused, as if in a dream.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes," said the old woman, after some minutes' pause, "all +the gold is mine."</p> +<p>The lad heard this sentence, and he now remembered where he was, +and what had taken place. He was about to rise, when there was a +knocking at the door, and he lay still. It was Vanslyperken. The +door was opened by the old beldame.</p> +<p>"Is it done?" said he, in a loud whisper.</p> +<p>"Done!" cried the hag; "yes, and well done. Don't tell me of +charmed life. My blows are sure--see there."</p> +<p>"Are you sure that he is dead?"</p> +<p>"Quite sure, child--and all the gold is mine."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken looked with horror at the stream of blood still +flowing, and absorbed by the ashes in the grate.</p> +<p>"It was you did it, mother; recollect it was not I," cried +he.</p> +<p>"I did it--and you paid for it--and all the gold is mine."</p> +<p>"But are you quite sure that he is dead?"</p> +<p>"Sure--yes, and in judgment now, if there is any."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken surveyed the body of Smallbones, who, although he +had heard every word, lay without motion, for he knew his life +depended on it. After a minute or two the lieutenant was +satisfied.</p> +<p>"I must go on board now, mother; but what will you do with the +body?"</p> +<p>"Leave that to me; who ever comes in here? Leave that to me, +craven, and, as you say, go on board."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken opened the door, and went out of the room; the old +hag made the door fast, and then sat down on the chair, which she +replaced by the side of the fire with her back to Smallbones.</p> +<p>The lad felt very faint from loss of blood, and was sick at the +stomach, but his senses were in their full vigour.</p> +<p>He now was assured that Vanslyperken was gone, and that he had +only the old woman opposed to him. His courage was unsubdued, and +he resolved to act in self-defence if required; and he softly drew +the bayonet out of his breast, and then watched the murderous old +hag, who was rocking herself in the chair.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, the gold is mine," muttered she--"I've won it, and +I'll count it. I won it dearly;--another murder--well, 'tis but one +more. Let me see, what shall I do with the body? I must burn it, by +bits and bits--and I'll count the gold--it's all mine, for he's +dead."</p> +<p>Here the old woman turned round to look at the body, and her +keen eyes immediately perceived that there was a slight change of +position.</p> +<p>"Heh'" cried she, "not quite dead yet; we must have the hammer +again," and she rose from her chair, and walked with an unsteady +pace to pick up the hammer, which was at the other side of the +fire-place. Smallbones, who felt that now was his time, immediately +rose, but before he could recover his <i>feet</i>, she had turned +round to him: with a sort of low yell, she darted at him with an +agility not to be imagined in one of her years and decrepit +appearance, and struck at him. Smallbones raised his left arm, and +received the blow, and with his right plunged the bayonet deep into +the wrinkled throat of the old woman. She grappled with him, and +the struggle was dreadful; she caught his throat in one of her bony +hands, and the nails pierced into it like the talons of a bird of +prey--the fingers of the other she inserted into the jagged and +gaping wound on his head, and forced the flesh still more asunder, +exerting all her strength to force him on his back; but the bayonet +was still in her throat, and with the point descending towards the +body, and Smallbones forced and forced it down, till it was buried +to the hilt. In a few seconds the old hag loosed her hold, +quivered, and fell back dead; and the lad was so exhausted with the +struggle, and his previous loss of blood, that he fell into a swoon +at the side of the corpse.</p> +<p>When Smallbones recovered, the candle was flickering in the +socket. He rose up in a sitting posture, and tried to recollect all +that had passed.</p> +<p>The alternating light of the candle flashed upon the body of the +old woman, and he remembered all. After a few minutes he was able +to rise, and he sat down upon the bed giddy and faint. It occurred +to him that he would soon be in the dark, and he would require the +light to follow up his intended movements, so he rose, and went to +the cupboard to find one. He found a candle, and he also found the +bottle of cordial, of which he drank all that was left, and felt +himself revived, and capable of acting. Having put the other candle +into the candlestick, he looked for water, washed himself, and +bound up his head with his handkerchief. He then wiped up the blood +from the floor, threw some sand over the part, and burnt the towel +in the grate. His next task was one of more difficulty, to lift up +the body of the old woman, put it into the bed, and cover it up +with the clothes, previously drawing out the bayonet. No blood +issued from the wound--the hemorrhage was all internal. He covered +up the face, took the key of the door, and tried it in the lock, +put the candle under the grate to burn out safely, took possession +of the hammer; then having examined the door, he went out, locked +it from the outside, slid the key in beneath the door, and hastened +away as fast as he could. He was not met by anybody, and was soon +safe in the street, with the bayonet, which he again concealed in +his vest.</p> +<p>These precautions taken by Smallbones, proved that the lad had +conduct as well as courage. He argued that it was not advisable +that it should be known that this fatal affray had taken place +between the old woman and himself. Satisfied with having preserved +his life, he was unwilling to be embroiled in a case of murder, as +he wished to prosecute his designs with his companions on +board.</p> +<p>He knew that Vanslyperken was capable of swearing anything +against him, and that his best safety lay in the affair not being +found out, which it could not be until the cutter had sailed, and +no one had seen him either enter or go out. There was another +reason which induced Smallbones to act as he did--without appealing +to the authorities--which was, that if he returned on board, it +would create such a shock to Mr Vanslyperken, who had, as he +supposed, seen him lying dead upon the floor. But there was one +person to whom he determined to apply for advice before he decided +how to proceed, and that was Moggy Salisbury, who had given her +address to him when she had gone on board the <i>Yungfrau</i>. To +her house he therefore repaired, and found her at home. It was then +about nine o'clock in the evening.</p> +<p>Moggy was much surprised to see Smallbones enter in such a +condition; but Smallbones' story was soon told, and Moggy sent for +a surgeon, the services of whom the lad seriously required. While +his wound was dressing, which was asserted by them to have been +received in a fray, Moggy considered what would be the best method +to proceed. The surgeon stated his intention of seeing Smallbones +the next day, but he was requested to leave him sufficient +dressing, as it was necessary that he should repair on board, as +the vessel which he belonged to sailed on the following morning. +The surgeon received his fee, recommended quiet and repose, and +retired.</p> +<p>A consultation then took place. Smallbones expressed his +determination to go on board; he did not fear Mr Vanslyperken, as +the crew of the cutter would support him--and, moreover, it would +frighten Mr Vanslyperken out of his wits. To this Moggy agreed, but +she proposed that instead of making his appearance on the following +morning, he should not appear to Mr Vanslyperken until the vessel +was in the blue water; if possible, not till she was over on the +other side. And Moggy determined to go on board, see the corporal, +and make the arrangements with him and the crew, who were now +unanimous, for the six marines were at the beck of the corporal, so +that Mr Vanslyperken should be frightened out of his wits. Desiring +Smallbones to lie down on her bed, and take the rest he so much +needed, she put on her bonnet and cloak, and taking a boat, pulled +gently alongside the cutter.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken had been on board for two hours, and was in his +cabin; the lights, however, were still burning. The corporal was +still up, anxiously waiting for the return of Smallbones, and he +was very much alarmed when he heard Moggy come alongside. Moggy +soon detailed to the corporal, Dick Short, and Coble, all that had +taken place, and what it was proposed should be done. They assented +willingly to the proposal, declaring that if Vanslyperken attempted +to hurt the lad, they would rise, and throw Mr Vanslyperken +overboard; and everything being arranged, Moggy was about to +depart, when Vanslyperken, who was in a state of miserable anxiety +and torture, and who had been drowning his conscience in scheedam, +came on deck not a little the worse for what he had been +imbibing.</p> +<p>"Who is that woman?" cried Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"That woman is Moggy Salisbury," cried Moggy, walking up to +Vanslyperken, while the corporal skulked forward without being +detected.</p> +<p>"Have I not given positive orders that this woman does not come +on board?" cried Vanslyperken, holding on by the skylight. "Who is +that--Mr Short?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Why did you allow her to come on board?"</p> +<p>"I came without leave," said Moggy. "I brought a message on +board."</p> +<p>"A message! what message--to whom?"</p> +<p>"To you," replied Moggy.</p> +<p>"To me--from whom, you cockatrice?"</p> +<p>"I'll tell you," replied Moggy, walking close up to him; "from +Lazarus the Jew. Will you hear it, or shall I leave it with Dick +Short?"</p> +<p>"Silence--silence--not a word; come down into the cabin, good +Moggy. Come down--I'll hear it then"</p> +<p>"With all my heart, Mr Vanslyperken, but none of your attacks on +my vartue; recollect I am an honest woman."</p> +<p>"Don't be afraid, my good Moggy--I never hurt a child."</p> +<p>"I don't think you ever did," retorted Moggy, following +Vanslyperken, who could hardly keep his feet.</p> +<p>"Well, there's Abacadabra there, anyhow," observed Coble to +Short, as they went down.</p> +<p>"Why she turns him round her finger."</p> +<p>"Yes," quoth Short.</p> +<p>"I can't comprehend this not no how."</p> +<p>"No," quoth Short.</p> +<p>As soon as they were in the cabin, Moggy observed the bottle of +scheedam on the table. "Come, Mr Vanslyperken, you'll treat me +to-night, and drink my health again, won't you?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Moggy, yes--we're friends now, you know;" for +Vanslyperken, like all others suffering under the stings of +conscience, was glad to make friends with his bitterest enemy.</p> +<p>"Come, then, help me, Mr Vanslyperken, and then I'll give my +message."</p> +<p>As soon as Moggy had taken her glass of scheedam, she began to +think what she should say, for she had no message ready prepared; +at last a thought struck her.</p> +<p>"I am desired to tell you, that when a passenger, or a person +disguised as a sailor, either asks for a passage, or volunteers for +the vessel, you are to take him on board immediately, even if you +should know them in their disguise not to be what they pretend to +be--do you understand?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, who was quite muddled.</p> +<p>"Whether they apply from here, or from the other side of the +channel, no consequence, you must take them--if not--"</p> +<p>"If not, what?" replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"You'll swing, that's all, my buck. Good-night to you," replied +Moggy, leaving the cabin.</p> +<p>"I'll swing," muttered Vanslyperken, rolling against the +bulkhead. "Well, if I do, others shall swing too. Who cares? damn +the faggot!"</p> +<p>Here Mr Vanslyperken poured out another glass of scheedam, the +contents of which overthrew the small remnant of his reasoning +faculties. He then tumbled into his bed with his clothes on, +saying, as he turned on his side, "Smallbones is dead and gone, at +all events."</p> +<p>Moggy took leave of her friends on deck, and pushed on shore. +She permitted Smallbones, whom she found fast asleep, to remain +undisturbed until nearly three o'clock in the morning, during which +time she watched by the bedside. She then roused him, and they +sallied forth, took a boat, and dropped alongside of the cutter. +Smallbones' hammock had been prepared for him by the corporal. He +was put into it, and Moggy then left the vessel.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken was in a state of torpor during this proceeding, +and was, with great difficulty, awoke by the corporal, according to +orders given, when it was daylight, and the cutter was to weigh +anchor.</p> +<p>"Smallbones has not come off, sir, last night," reported the +corporal.</p> +<p>"I suppose the scoundrel has deserted," replied Vanslyperken, "I +fully expected that he would. However, he is no loss, for he was a +useless, idle, lying rascal." And Mr Vanslyperken turned out; +having all his clothes on, he had no occasion to dress. He went on +deck, followed by the tail-less Snarleyyow, and in half an hour the +cutter was standing out towards St Helen's.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XL"></a>Chapter XL</h2> +<h3>In which a most horrid spectre disturbs the equanimity of Mr +Vanslyperken.</h3> +<br> +<p>Two days was the cutter striving with light winds for the Texel, +during which Mr Vanslyperken kept himself altogether in his cabin. +He was occasionally haunted with the memory of the scene in his +mother's room.--Smallbones dead, and the stream of blood running +along the floor, and his mother's diabolical countenance, with the +hammer raised in her palsied hands; but he had an instigator to his +vengeance beside him, which appeared to relieve his mind whenever +it was oppressed; it was the stump of Snarleyyow, and when he +looked at that he no longer regretted, but congratulated himself on +the deed being done. His time was fully occupied during the day, +for with locked doors he was transcribing the letters sent to +Ramsay, and confided to him.</p> +<p>He was not content with taking extracts, as he did of the +government despatches for Ramsay; he copied every word, and he +replaced the seals with great dexterity. At night his mind was +troubled, and he dare not lie himself down to rest until he had +fortified himself with several glasses of scheedam; even then his +dreams frightened him; but he was to be more frightened yet.</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter came into the cabin on the third morning +with a very anxious face.--"Mein Gott! Mynheer Vanslyperken, de +whole crew be in de mutinys."</p> +<p>"Mutiny!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, "what's the matter?"</p> +<p>"They say, sir, dat dey see de ghost of Smallbones last night on +de bowsprit, with one great cut on his head, and de blood all over +de face."</p> +<p>"Saw what? who saw him?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, mynheer! it all true, I really think I see it myself +at de taffrail, he sit there and have great wound from here down +to," said the corporal, pointing to his own head, and describing +the wound exactly. "The people say that he must have been murdered, +and dey kick up de mutiny."</p> +<p>"I did not do it, corporal, at all events," replied +Vanslyperken, pale and trembling.</p> +<p>"So Smallbones tell Dick Short, when he speak to him on +bowsprit."</p> +<p>"Did it speak to Short?" inquired Vanslyperken, catching the +corporal's arm.</p> +<p>"Yes, mynheer; Mynheer Short speak first, and den the ghost say +dat you not do it, but dat you give gold to old woman to do it, and +she knock him brain out vid de hammer."</p> +<p>To portray Vanslyperken's dismay at this intelligence would be +impossible. He could not but be certain that there had been a +supernatural communication. His knees knocked and trembled, and he +turned sick and faint.</p> +<p>"O Lord, O Lord! corporal, I am a great sinner," cried he at +last, quite unaware of what he was saying. "Some water, corporal." +Corporal Van Spitter handed some water, and Vanslyperken waved his +hand to be left alone; and Mr Vanslyperken attempted to pray, but +it ended in blaspheming.</p> +<p>"It's a lie, all a lie," exclaimed he, at last, pouring out a +tumbler of scheedam. "They have frightened the corporal. +But--no--he must have seen him, or how could they know how he was +murdered. He must have told them; and him I saw dead and stiff, +with these own eyes. Well, I did not do the deed," continued +Vanslyperken, attempting to palliate his crime to himself; but it +would not do, and Mr Vanslyperken paced the little cabin racked by +fear and guilt.</p> +<p>Remorse he felt none, for there was before his eyes the unhealed +stump of Snarleyyow. In the evening Mr Vanslyperken went on deck; +the weather was now very warm, for it was the beginning of July; +and Mr Vanslyperken, followed by Snarleyyow, was in a deep reverie, +and he turned and turned again.</p> +<p>The sun had set, and Mr Vanslyperken still continued his walk, +but his steps were agitated and uneven, and his face was haggard. +It was rather the rapid and angry pacing of a tiger in his den, who +has just been captured, than that of a person in deep +contemplation. Still Mr Vanslyperken continued to tread the deck, +and it was quite light with a bright and pale moon.</p> +<p>The men were standing here and there about the forecastle and +near the booms in silence and speaking in low whispers, and +Vanslyperken's eye was often directed towards them, for he had not +forgotten the report of the corporal, that they were in a state of +mutiny.</p> +<p>Of a sudden, Mr Vanslyperken was roused by a loud cry from +forward, and a rush of all the men aft. He thought that the crew +had risen, and that they were about to seize him, but, on the +contrary, they passed him and hastened to the taffrail with +exclamations of horror.</p> +<p>"What! what is it?" exclaimed Vanslyperken, fully prepared for +the reply by his own fears.</p> +<p>"O Lord! have mercy upon us," cried Bill Spurey.</p> +<p>"Good God, deliver us!" exclaimed another.</p> +<p>"Ah, Mein Gott!" screamed Jansen, rushing against Vanslyperken +and knocking him down on the deck.</p> +<p>"Well, well, murder will out!--that's sartain," said Coble, who +stood by Vanslyperken when he had recovered his legs.</p> +<p>"What, what!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, breathless.</p> +<p>"There, sir,--look there," said Coble, breathless, pointing to +the figure of Smallbones, who now appeared from the shade in the +broad moonshine.</p> +<p>His head was not bound up, and his face appeared pale and +streaked with blood. He was in the same clothes in which he had +gone on shore, and in his hand he held the hammer which had done +the deed.</p> +<p>The figure slowly advanced to the quarter-deck, Vanslyperken +attempted to retreat, but his legs failed him, he dropped down on +his knees, uttered a loud yell of despair, and then threw himself +flat on the deck face downwards.</p> +<p>Certainly, the pantomime was inimitably got up, but it had all +been arranged by Moggy, the corporal, and the others. There was not +one man of the crew who had not been sworn to secrecy, and whose +life would not have been endangered if, by undeceiving +Vanslyperken, they had been deprived of such just and legitimate +revenges.</p> +<p>Smallbones disappeared as soon as Vanslyperken had fallen +down.</p> +<p>He was allowed to remain there for some time to ascertain if he +would say anything, but as he still continued silent, they raised +him up and found that he was insensible. He was consequently taken +down into the cabin and put into his bed.</p> +<p>The effect produced by this trial of Mr Vanslyperken's nerves, +was most serious. Already too much heated with the use of ardent +spirits, it brought on convulsions, in which he continued during +the major part of the night. Towards the morning, he sank into a +perturbed slumber.</p> +<p>It was not till eleven o'clock in the forenoon that he awoke and +perceived his <i>faithful</i> corporal standing by the side of the +bed.</p> +<p>"Have I not been ill, corporal?" said Mr Vanslyperken, whose +memory was impaired for the time.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes, mynheer."</p> +<p>"There was something happened, was not there?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes, mynheer."</p> +<p>"I've had a fit; have I not?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes, mynheer."</p> +<p>"My head swims now; what was it, corporal?"</p> +<p>"It was de ghost of de poy," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes," replied Vanslyperken, falling back on his +pillow.</p> +<p>It had been intended by the conspirators, that Smallbones should +make his appearance in the cabin, as the bell struck one o'clock; +but the effect had already been so serious that it was thought +advisable to defer any further attempts. As for Smallbones being +concealed in the vessel for any length of time there was no +difficulty in that; for allowing that Vanslyperken should go +forward on the lower deck of the vessel, which he never did, +Smallbones had only to retreat into the eyes of her, and it was +there so dark that he could not be seen. They therefore regulated +their conduct much in the same way as the members of the +inquisition used to do in former days; they allowed their patient +to recover, that he might be subjected to more torture.</p> +<p>It was not until the fourth day, that the cutter arrived at the +port of Amsterdam, and Mr Vanslyperken had kept his bed ever since +he had been put into it; but this he could do no longer, he rose +weak and emaciated, dressed himself, and went on shore with the +despatches which he first delivered, and then bent his steps to the +syndic's house, where he delivered his letters to Ramsay.</p> +<p>The arrival of the cutter had been duly notified to the widow +Vandersloosh, before she had dropped her anchor, and in pursuance +with her resolution she immediately despatched Babette to track Mr +Vanslyperken, and watch his motions. Babette took care not to be +seen by Mr Vanslyperken, but shrouding herself close in her cotton +print cloak, she followed him to the Stadt House, and from the +Stadt House to the mansion of Mynheer Van Krause, at a short +distance from the gates of which she remained till he came out. +Wishing to ascertain whether he went to any other place, she did +not discover herself until she perceived that he was proceeding to +the widow's--she then quickened her pace so as to come up with +him.</p> +<p>"Oh! Mynheer Vanslyperken, is this you? I heard you had come in +and so did my mistress, and she has been expecting you this last +half-hour."</p> +<p>"I have made all the haste I can, Babette. But I was obliged to +deliver my despatches first," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"But I thought you always took your despatches to the Stadt +House?"</p> +<p>"Well, so I do, Babette; I have just come from thence."</p> +<p>This was enough for Babette, it proved that his visit to the +syndic's was intended to be concealed; she was too prudent to let +him know that she had traced him.</p> +<p>"Why, Mr Vanslyperken, you look very ill. What has been the +matter with you? My mistress will be quite frightened."</p> +<p>"I have not been well, Babette," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"I really must run home as fast as I can. I will tell my +mistress you have been unwell, for otherwise she will be in such a +quandary;" and Babette hastened ahead of Mr Vanslyperken, who was +in too weak a state to walk fast.</p> +<p>"The syndic's house--heh!"--said the widow, "Mynheer Van Krause. +Why he is thorough king's man, by all report," continued she. "I +don't understand it. But there is no trusting any man +now-a-days.</p> +<p>"Babette, you must go there by-and-bye and see if you can find +out whether that person he brought over, and he called a king's +messenger, is living at the syndic's house. I think he must be, or +why would Vanslyperken go there? and if he is, there's treason +going on--that's all! and I'll find it out, or my name is not +Vandersloosh."</p> +<p>Shortly after, Mr Vanslyperken arrived at the house and was +received with the usual treacherous cordiality; but he had not +remained more than an hour when Coble came to him (having been +despatched by Short), to inform Mr Vanslyperken that a frigate was +coming in with the royal standard at the main, indicating that King +William was on board of her.</p> +<p>This intelligence obliged Mr Vanslyperken to hasten on board, as +it was necessary to salute, and also to pay his respects on board +of the frigate.</p> +<p>The frigate was within a mile when Mr Vanslyperken arrived on +board of the cutter, and when the batteries saluted, the cutter did +the same. Shortly afterwards the frigate dropped her anchor and +returned the salute. Mr Vanslyperken, attired in his full uniform, +ordered his boat to be manned and pulled on board.</p> +<p>On his arrival on the quarter-deck Vanslyperken was received by +the captain of the frigate, and then presented to King William of +Nassau, who was standing on the other side of the deck, attended by +the Duke of Portland, Lord Albemarle, and several others of his +courtiers, not all of them quite as faithful as the two whom we +have named.</p> +<p>When Mr Vanslyperken was brought forward to the presence of his +Majesty, he trembled almost as much as when he had beheld the +supposed spirit of Smallbones, and well he might, for his +conscience told him as he bowed his knee that he was a traitor. His +agitation was, however, ascribed to his being daunted by the +unusual presence of royalty. And Albemarle, as Vanslyperken +retreated with a cold sweat on his forehead, observed to the king +with a smile,</p> +<p>"That worthy lieutenant would show a little more courage, I +doubt not, your Majesty, if he were in the presence of your +enemies."</p> +<p>"It is to be hoped so," replied the king, with a smile. "I agree +with you, Keppel."</p> +<p>But his Majesty and Lord Albemarle did not know Mr Vanslyperken, +as the reader will acknowledge.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XLI"></a>Chapter XLI</h2> +<h3>In which is shown how dangerous it is to tell a secret.</h3> +<br> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken received orders to attend with his boat upon his +Majesty's landing, which took place in about a quarter of an hour +afterwards, amidst another war of cannon.</p> +<p>King William was received by the authorities at the +landing-stairs, and from thence he stepped into the carriage, +awaiting him, and drove off to his palace at the Hague; much to the +relief of Mr Vanslyperken, who felt ill at ease in the presence of +his sovereign. When his Majesty put his foot on shore, the foremost +to receive him, in virtue of his office, was the syndic Mynheer Van +Krause, who, in full costume of gown, chains, and periwig, bowed +low, as his Majesty advanced, expecting as usual the gracious smile +and friendly nod of his sovereign; but to his mortification, his +reverence was returned with a grave, if not stern air, and the king +passed him without further notice. All the courtiers also, who had +been accustomed to salute, and to exchange a few words with him, to +his astonishment turned their heads another way. At first, Mynheer +Van Krause could hardly believe his senses, he who had always been +so graciously received, who had been considered most truly as such +a staunch supporter of his king, to be neglected, mortified in this +way, and without cause. Instead of following his Majesty to his +carriage, with the rest of the authorities, he stood still and +transfixed, the carriage drove off, and the syndic hardly replying +to some questions put to him, hurried back to his own house in a +state of confusion and vexation almost indescribable. He hastened +upstairs and entered the room of Ramsay, who was very busy with the +despatches which he had received. "Well, Mynheer Van Krause, how is +his Majesty looking," inquired Ramsay, who knew that the syndic had +been down to receive him on his landing.</p> +<p>Mynheer Krause threw himself down in a chair, threw open his +gown, and uttered a deep sigh.</p> +<p>"What is the matter, my dear sir, you appear ruffled," continued +Ramsay, who from the extracts made by Vanslyperken from the +despatches, was aware that suspicions had been lodged against his +host.</p> +<p>"Such treatment--to one of his most devoted followers," +exclaimed Krause, at last, who then entered into a detail of what +had occurred.</p> +<p>"Such is the sweet aspect, the smile, we would aspire to of +kings, Mynheer Krause."</p> +<p>"But there must be some occasion for all this," observed the +syndic.</p> +<p>"No doubt of it," replied Ramsay--"some reason--but not a just +one."</p> +<p>"That is certain," replied the syndic, "some one must have +maligned me to his Majesty."</p> +<p>"It may be," replied Ramsay, "but there may be other causes, +kings are suspicious, and subjects may be too rich and too +powerful. There are many paupers among the favourites of his +Majesty, who would be very glad to see your property confiscated, +and you cast into prison."</p> +<p>"But, my dear sir,--"</p> +<p>"You forget also, that the Jacobites are plotting, and have been +plotting for years; that conspiracy is formed upon conspiracy, and +that when so surrounded and opposed, kings will be suspicious."</p> +<p>"But his Majesty, King William,--"</p> +<p>"Firmly attached, and loyal as I am to my sovereign, Mynheer +Krause, I do not think that King William is more to be relied upon +than King James. Kings are but kings, they will repay the most +important services by smiles, and the least doubtful act with the +gibbet. I agree with you that some one must have maligned you, but +allow me to make a remark that if once suspicion or dislike enters +into a royal breast, there is no effacing it, a complete verdict of +innocence will not do it; it is like the sapping of one of the dams +of this country, Mynheer Krause, the admission of water is but +small at first, but it increases and increases, till it ends in a +general inundation."</p> +<p>"But I must demand an audience of his Majesty and explain."</p> +<p>"Explain--the very attempt will be considered as a proof of your +guilt; no, no, as a sincere friend I should advise you to be quiet, +and to take such steps as the case requires. That frown, that +treatment of you in public, is sufficient to tell me that you must +prepare for the event. Can you expect a king to publicly +retract?"</p> +<p>"Retract! no--I do not require a public apology from my +sovereign."</p> +<p>"But if having frowned upon you publicly, he again smiles upon +you publicly, he does retract. He acknowledges that he was in +error, and it becomes a public apology."</p> +<p>"God in heaven! then I am lost," replied the syndic, throwing +himself back in his chair. "Do you really think so, Mynheer +Ramsay?"</p> +<p>"I do not say that you are lost. At present, you have only lost +the favour of the king; but you can do without that, Mynheer +Krause."</p> +<p>"Do without that--but you do not know that without that I am +lost. Am I not Syndic of this town of Amsterdam, and can I expect +to hold such an important situation if I am out of favour?"</p> +<p>"Very true, Mynheer Krause; but what can be done? you are +assailed in the dark, you do not know the charges brought against +you, and therefore cannot refute or parry with them."</p> +<p>"But what charges can they bring against me?"</p> +<p>"There can be but one charge against a person in your high +situation, that of disaffection."</p> +<p>"Disaffection! I who am and have always been so devoted."</p> +<p>"The most disaffected generally appear the most devoted, Mynheer +Krause, that will not help you."</p> +<p>"My God! then," exclaimed Krause, with animation, "what will, if +loyalty is to be construed into a sign of disaffection?"</p> +<p>"Nothing," replied Ramsay, coolly. "Suspicion in the heart of a +king is never to be effaced, and disaffection may soon be magnified +into high treason."</p> +<p>"Bless me!" exclaimed Van Krause, crossing his hands on his +heart in utter despair. "My dear Mynheer Ramsay, will you give me +your opinion how I should act?"</p> +<p>"There is no saying how far you may be right in your +conjectures, Mynheer Krause," replied Ramsay: "you may have been +mistaken."</p> +<p>"No, no, he frowned--looked cross--I see his face now."</p> +<p>"Yes, but a little thing will sour the face of royalty, his corn +may have pinched him, at the time he might have had a twinge in the +bowels--his voyage may have affected him."</p> +<p>"He smiled upon others, upon my friend, Engelback, very +graciously."</p> +<p>This was the very party who had prepared the charges against +Krause--his own very particular friend.</p> +<p>"Did he?" replied Ramsay. "Then depend upon it, that's the very +man who has belied you."</p> +<p>"What, Engelback? my particular friend?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I should imagine so. Tell me, Mynheer Krause, I trust you +have never entrusted to him the important secrets which I have made +you acquainted with, for if you have, your knowledge of them would +be quite sufficient."</p> +<p>"My knowledge of them. I really cannot understand that. How can +my knowledge of what is going on among the king's friends and +councillors be a cause of suspicion?"</p> +<p>"Why, Mynheer Krause, because the king is surrounded by many who +are retained from policy and fear of them. If these secrets are +made known contrary to oath, is it not clear that the parties so +revealing them must be no sincere friends of his Majesty's, and +will it not be naturally concluded that those who have possession +of them, are equally his open or secret enemies."</p> +<p>"But then, Mynheer Ramsay, by that rule you must be his +Majesty's enemy."</p> +<p>"That does not follow, Mynheer Krause, I may obtain the secrets +from those who are not so partial to his Majesty as they are to me, +but that does not disprove my loyalty. To expose them would of +course render me liable to suspicion--but I guard them carefully. I +have not told a word to a soul, but to you, my dear Mynheer Krause, +and I have felt assured that you were much too loyal to make known +to anyone, what it was your duty to your king to keep secret; +surely, Mynheer Krause, you have not trusted that man?"</p> +<p>"I may have given a hint or so--I'm afraid that I did; but he is +my most particular friend."</p> +<p>"If that is the case," replied Ramsay, "I am not at all +surprised at the king's frowning on you: Engelback having +intelligence from you, supposed to be known only to the highest +authorities, has thought it his duty to communicate it to +government, and you are now suspected."</p> +<p>"God in heaven! I wish I never had your secrets, Mynheer Ramsay. +It appears then that I have committed treason without knowing +it."</p> +<p>"At all events, you have incurred suspicion. It is a pity that +you mentioned what I confided to you, but what's done cannot be +helped, you must now be active."</p> +<p>"What must I do, my dear friend?"</p> +<p>"Expect the worst and be prepared for it--you are wealthy, Mr +Van Krause, and that will not be in your favour, it will only +hasten the explosion, which sooner or later will take place. Remit +as much of your money as you can to where it will be secure from +the spoilers. Convert all that you can into gold, that you may take +advantage of the first opportunity, if necessary, of flying from +their vengeance. Do all this very quietly. Go on, as usual, as if +nothing had occurred--talk with your friend Engelback--perform your +duties as syndic. It may blow over, although I am afraid not. At +all events you will have, in all probability, some warning, as they +will displace you as syndic before they proceed further. I have +only one thing to add. I am your guest, and depend upon it, shall +share your fortune whatever it may be; if you are thrown into +prison, I am certain to be sent there also. You may therefore +command me as you please. I will not desert you, you may depend +upon it."</p> +<p>"My dear young man, you are indeed a friend, and your advice is +good. My poor Wilhelmina, what would become of her."</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed, used to luxury--her father in prison, perhaps his +head at the gates--his whole property confiscated, and all because +he had the earliest intelligence. Such is the reward of +loyalty."</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed," repeated the syndic, "'put not your trust in +princes,' says the psalmist. If such is to be the return for my +loyalty--but there is no time to lose. I must send this post, to +Hamburgh and Frankfort. Many thanks, my dear friend for your kind +council, which I shall follow," so saying, Mynheer Krause went to +his room, threw off his gown and chains in a passion, and hastened +to his counting-house to write his important letters.</p> +<p>We may now take this opportunity of informing the reader of what +had occurred in the house of the syndic. Ramsay had, as may be +supposed, gained the affections of Wilhelmina; had told his love, +and received her acknowledgment in return; he had also gained such +a power over her, that she had agreed to conceal their attachment +from her father; as Ramsay wished first, he asserted, to be +possessed of a certain property which he daily expected would fall +to him, and, until that, he did not think that he had any right to +aspire to the hand of Wilhelmina.</p> +<p>That Ramsay was most seriously in love there was no doubt; he +would have wedded Wilhelmina, even if she had not a sixpence; but +at the same time, he was too well aware of the advantages of wealth +not to fully appreciate it, and he felt the necessity and the +justice to Wilhelmina, that she should not be deprived, by his +means, of those luxuries to which she had been brought up. But here +there was a difficulty, arising from his espousing the very +opposite cause to that espoused by Mynheer Krause, for the +difference of religion he very rightly considered as a mere trifle +compared with the difference in political feelings. He had already +weaned Wilhelmina from the political bias, imbibed from her father +and his connections, without acquainting her with his belonging to +the opposite party, for the present. It had been his intention as +soon as his services were required elsewhere, to have demanded +Wilhelmina's hand from her father, still leaving him in error as to +his politics; and by taking her with him, after the marriage, to +the court of St Germains, to have allowed Mynheer Krause to think +what he pleased, but not to enter into any explanation; but, as +Ramsay truly observed, Mynheer Krause had, by his not retaining the +secrets confided to him, rendered himself suspected, and once +suspected with King William, his disgrace, if not ruin, was sure to +follow. This fact, so important to Ramsay's plans, had been +communicated in the extracts made by Vanslyperken from the last +despatches, and Ramsay had been calculating the consequences when +Mynheer Krause returned discomfited from the presence of the +king.</p> +<p>That Ramsay played a very diplomatic game in the conversation +which we have repeated is true; but still it was the best game for +Krause as well as for his own interests, as the events will show. +We must, however, remind the reader that Ramsay had no idea +whatever of the double treachery on the part of Vanslyperken, in +copying all the letters sent by and to him, as well as extracting +from the government despatches.</p> +<p>"My dearest Edward, what has detained you so long from me this +morning," inquired Wilhelmina when he entered the music-room, about +an hour after his conversation with the syndic.</p> +<p>Ramsay then entered into the detail of what had occurred, and +wove in such remarks of his own as were calculated to disgust +Wilhelmina with the conduct of King William, and to make her +consider her father as an injured man. He informed her of the +advice he had given him, and then pointed out to her the propriety +of her enforcing his following it with all the arguments of +persuasion in her power.</p> +<p>Wilhelmina's indignation was roused, and she did not fail, when +speaking with her father, to rail in no measured tones against the +king, and to press him to quit a country where he had been so +ill-used. Mynheer Krause felt the same, his pride had been severely +wounded; and it may be truly said, that one of the staunchest +adherents of the Protestant king was lost by a combination of +circumstances as peculiar as they were unexpected.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the corporal had gone on shore as usual and +made the widow acquainted with the last attempt upon Smallbones, +and the revenge of the ship's company. Babette had also done her +part.</p> +<p>She had found out that Ramsay lived in the house of the syndic, +and that he was the passenger brought over by Vanslyperken in the +cutter.</p> +<p>The widow, who had now almost arranged her plans, received +Vanslyperken more amicably than ever; anathematised the--supposed +defunct Smallbones; shed tears over the stump of Snarleyyow, and +asked Vanslyperken when he intended to give up the nasty cutter and +live quietly on shore.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XLII"></a>Chapter XLII</h2> +<h3>In which is shown the imprudence of sleeping in the open air, +even in a summer's night.</h3> +<br> +<p>The <i>Yungfrau</i> was not permitted to remain more than two +days at her anchorage. On the third morning Mr Vanslyperken's +signal was made to prepare to weigh. He immediately answered it, +and giving his orders to Short, hastened, as fast as he could, up +to the syndic's house to inform Ramsay, stating, that he must +immediately return on board again, and that the letters must be +sent to him: Ramsay perceived the necessity of this, and consented. +On his return to the boat, Mr Vanslyperken found that his signal to +repair on board the frigate had been hoisted, and he hastened on +board to put on his uniform and obey this order. He received his +despatches from the captain of the frigate, with orders to proceed +to sea immediately. Mr Vanslyperken, under the eye of his superior +officer, could not dally or delay: he hove short, hoisted his +mainsail, and fired a gun as a signal for sailing; anxiously +looking out for Ramsay's boat with his letters, and afraid to go +without them; but no boat made its appearance, and Mr Vanslyperken +was forced to heave up his anchor. Still he did not like to make +sail, and he remained a few minutes more, when he at last perceived +a small boat coming off. At the same time he observed a boat coming +from the frigate, and they arrived alongside the cutter about the +same time, fortunately Ramsay's boat the first, and Mr Vanslyperken +had time to carry the letters down below.</p> +<p>"The commandant wishes to know why you do not proceed to sea, +sir, in obedience to your orders," said the officer.</p> +<p>"I only waited for that boat to come on board, sir," replied +Vanslyperken to the lieutenant.</p> +<p>"And pray, sir, from whom does that boat come?" inquired the +officer.</p> +<p>"From the syndic's, Mynheer Van Krause," replied Vanslyperken, +not knowing what else to say, and thinking that the name of the +syndic would be sufficient.</p> +<p>"And what did the boat bring off, to occasion the delay, +sir?"</p> +<p>"A letter or two for England," replied Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Very well, sir, I wish you a good morning," said the +lieutenant, who then went into his boat, and Vanslyperken made +sail.</p> +<p>The delay of the cutter to receive the syndic's letters was +fully reported the same evening to the commandant, who, knowing +that the syndic was suspected, reported the same to the +authorities, and this trifling circumstance only increased the +suspicions against the unfortunate Mynheer Van Krause; but we must +follow the cutter and those on board of her. Smallbones had +remained concealed on board, his wounds had been nearly healed, and +it was now again proposed that he should, as soon as they were out +at sea, make his appearance to frighten Vanslyperken; and that, +immediately they arrived at Portsmouth, he should go on shore and +desert from the cutter, as Mr Vanslyperken would, of course, find +out that his mother was killed, and the consequences to Smallbones +must be dangerous, as he had no evidence, if Vanslyperken swore +that he had murdered his mother; but this arrangement was +overthrown by events which we shall now narrate. It was on the +third morning after they sailed, that Vanslyperken walked the deck: +there was no one but the man at the helm abaft. The weather was +extremely sultry, for the cutter had run with a fair wind for the +first eight-and-forty hours, and had then been becalmed for the +last twenty-four, and had drifted to the back of the Isle of Wight, +when she was not three leagues from St Helen's. The consequence +was, that the ebb-tide had now drifted her down very nearly +opposite to that part of the island where the cave was situated of +which we have made mention. Vanslyperken heard the people talking +below, and, as usual, anxious to overhear what was said, had +stopped to listen. He heard the name of Smallbones repeated several +times, but could not make out what was said.</p> +<p>Anxious to know, he went down the ladder, and, instead of going +into his cabin, crept softly forward on the lower deck, when he +overheard Coble, Short, and Spurey in consultation.</p> +<p>"We shall be in to-morrow," said Spurey, "if a breeze springs +up, and then it will be too late: Smallbones must frighten him +again to-night."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"He shall go into his cabin at twelve o'clock, that will be the +best way."</p> +<p>"But the corporal."</p> +<p>"Hush!--there is someone there," said Spurey, who, attracted by +a slight noise made by Vanslyperken's boots, turned short +round.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken retreated and gained the deck by the ladder; he had +hardly been up when he observed a face at the hatchway, who was +evidently looking to ascertain if he was on deck.</p> +<p>These few words overheard, satisfied Vanslyperken that +Smallbones was alive and on board the cutter; and he perceived how +he had been played with. His rage was excessive, but he did not +know how to act. If Smallbones was alive, and that he appeared to +be, he must have escaped from his mother, and, of course, the +ship's company must know that his life had been attempted. That he +did not care much about; he had not done the deed; but how the lad +could have come on board! did he not see him lying dead? It was +very strange, and the life of the boy must be charmed. At all +events, it was a mystery which Mr Vanslyperken could not solve; at +first, he thought that he would allow Smallbones to come into the +cabin, and get a loaded pistol ready for him. The words, "But the +corporal," which were cut short, proved to him that the corporal +was no party to the affair; yet it was strange that the ship's +company could have concealed the lad without the corporal's +knowledge. Vanslyperken walked and walked, and thought and thought; +at last he resolved to go down into his cabin, pretend to go to +bed, lock his door, which was not his custom, and see if they would +attempt to come in. He did so, the corporal was dismissed, and at +twelve o'clock his door was tried and tried again; but being fast, +the party retreated. Vanslyperken waited till two bells to +ascertain if any more attempts would be made; but none were, so he +rose from his bed, where he had thrown himself with his clothes on, +and, opening the door softly, crept upon deck. The night was very +warm, but there was a light and increasing breeze, and the cutter +was standing in and close to the shore to make a long board upon +next tack. Vanslyperken passed the man at the helm, and walked aft +to the taffrail; he stood up on the choak to ascertain what way she +was making through the water, and he was meditating upon the best +method of proceeding. Had he known where Smallbones' hammock was +hung, he would have gone down with the view of ascertaining the +fact; but with a crew so evidently opposed to him, he could not see +how even the ascertaining that Smallbones was on board, would be +productive of any good consequences. The more Vanslyperken thought, +the more he was puzzled. The fact is, that he was between the horns +of a dilemma; but the devil, who always helps his favourites, came +to the aid of Mr Vanslyperken. The small boat was, as usual, +hoisted up astern, and Mr Vanslyperken's eyes were accidentally +cast upon it. He perceived a black mass lying on the thwarts, and +he examined it more closely: he heard snoring; it was one of the +ship's company sleeping there against orders. He leant over the +taffrail, and putting aside the great-coat which covered the party, +he looked attentively on the face--there was no doubt it was +Smallbones himself. From a knowledge of the premises, Vanslyperken +knew at once that the lad was in his power.</p> +<p>The boat, after being hauled up with tackles, was hung by a +single rope at each davit. It was very broad in proportion to its +length, and was secured from motion by a single gripe, which +confined it in its place, bowsing it close to the stern of the +cutter, and preventing it from turning over bottom up, which, upon +the least weight upon one gunnel or the other, would be inevitably +the case. Smallbones was lying close to the gunnel next to the +stern of the cutter. By letting go the gripe, therefore, the boat +would immediately turn bottom up, and Smallbones would be dropped +into the sea. Vanslyperken carefully examined the fastenings of the +gripe, found that they were to be cast off by one movement, and +that his success was certain; but still he was cautious. The man at +the helm must hear the boat go over; he might hear Smallbones' cry +for assistance. So Vanslyperken went forward to the man at the +helm, and desired him to go down and to order Corporal Van Spitter +to mix a glass of brandy-and-water, and send it up by him, and that +he would steer the vessel till he came up again. The man went down +to execute the order, and Vanslyperken steered the cutter for half +a minute, during which he looked forward to ascertain if any one +was moving. All was safe, the watch was all asleep forward, and +Vanslyperken, leaving the cutter to steer itself, hastened aft, +cast off the gripe, the boat, as he calculated, immediately turning +over, and the sleeping Smallbones fell into the sea. Vanslyperken +hastened back to the helm, and put the cutter's head right. He +heard the cry of Smallbones, but it was not loud, for the cutter +had already left him astern, and it was fainter and fainter, and at +last it was heard no more, and not one of the watch had been +disturbed.</p> +<p>"If ever you haunt me again," muttered Vanslyperken, "may I be +hanged."</p> +<p>We particularly call the reader's attention to these words of Mr +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>The man returned with the brandy-and-water, with which +Vanslyperken drank <i>bon voyage</i> to poor Smallbones. He then +ordered the cutter to be put about, and as soon as she was round, +he went down into his cabin and turned in with greater satisfaction +than he had for a long time.</p> +<p>"We shall have got rid of him at last, my poor dog," said he, +patting Snarleyyow's head. "Your enemy is gone for ever."</p> +<p>And Mr Vanslyperken slept soundly, because, although he had +committed a murder, there was no chance of his being found out. We +soon get accustomed to crime: before, he started at the idea of +murder; now, all that he cared for was detection.</p> +<p>"Good-night to you, Mr Vanslyperken."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XLIII"></a>Chapter XLIII</h2> +<h3>In which Smallbones changes from a king's man into a smuggler, +and also changes his sex.</h3> +<br> +<p>If we adhered to the usual plans of historical novel writers, we +should, in this instance, leave Smallbones to what must appear to +have been his inevitable fate, and then bring him on the stage +again with a <i>coup de théâtre</i>, when least +expected by the reader. But that is not our intention; we consider +that the interest of this our narration of bygone events is quite +sufficient, without condescending to what is called claptrap; and +there are so many people in our narrative continually labouring +under deception of one kind or another, that we need not add to it +by attempting to mystify our readers; who, on the contrary, we +shall take with us familiarly by the hand, and, like a faithful +historian, lead them through the events in the order in which they +occurred, and point out to them how they all lead to one common +end. With this intention in view, we shall now follow the fortunes +of Smallbones, whom we left floundering in about seven fathoms +water.</p> +<p>The weather was warm, even sultry, as we said before; but +notwithstanding which, and notwithstanding he was a very tolerable +swimmer, considering that he was so thin, Smallbones did not like +it. To be awoke out of a profound sleep, and all of a sudden to +find yourself floundering out of your depth about half a mile from +the nearest land, is anything but agreeable; the transition is too +rapid. Smallbones descended a few feet before he could divest +himself of the folds of the Flustering coat which he had wrapped +himself up in. It belonged to Coble, he had purchased it at a +sale-shop on the Point for seventeen shillings and sixpence, and, +moreover, it was as good as new. In consequence of this delay below +water-mark, Smallbones had very little breath left in his body when +he rose to the surface, and he could not inflate his lungs so as to +call loud until the cutter had walked away from him at least one +hundred yards, for she was slipping fast through the water, and +another minute plainly proved to Smallbones that he was left to his +own resources.</p> +<p>At first, the lad had imagined that it was an accident, and that +the rope had given way with his weight; but when he found that no +attention was paid to his cries, he then was convinced that it was +the work of Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"By <i>gum</i>, he's a done for me at last. Well, I don't care, +I can die but once, that's sartin sure; and he'll go to the devil, +that's sartin sure."</p> +<p>And Smallbones, with this comfortable assurance, continued to +strike out for the land, which, indeed, he had but little prospect +of ever making.</p> +<p>"A shame for to come for to go to murder a poor lad three or +four times over," sputtered Smallbones, after a time, feeling his +strength fail him. He then turned on his back, to ease his +arms.</p> +<p>"I can't do it no how, I sees that," said Smallbones, "so I may +just as well go down like a dipsey lead."</p> +<p>But, as he muttered this, and was making up his mind to +discontinue further exertions,--not a very easy thing to do, when +you are about to go into another world, still floating on his back, +with his eyes fixed on the starry heavens, thinking, as Smallbones +afterwards narrated himself, that there wa'n't much to live for in +this here world, and considering what there could be in that 'ere, +his head struck against something hard. Smallbones immediately +turned round in the water to see what it was, and found that it was +one of the large corks which supported a heavy net laid out across +the tide for the taking of shoal-fish. The cork was barely +sufficient to support his weight, but it gave him a certain relief, +and time to look about him, as the saying is. The lad ran under the +net and cork with his hands until he arrived at the nearest shoal, +for it was three or four hundred yards long. When he arrived there, +he contrived to bring some of the corks together, until he had +quite sufficient for his support, and then Smallbones voted himself +pretty comfortable after all, for the water was very warm, and now +quite smooth.</p> +<p>Smallbones, as the reader may have observed during the +narration, was a lad of most indisputable courage and of good +principles. Had it been his fortune to have been born among the +higher classes, and to have had all the advantages of education, he +might have turned out a hero; as it was, he did his duty well in +that state of life to which he had been called, and as he said in +his speech to the men on the forecastle, he feared God, honoured +the king, and was the natural enemy to the devil.</p> +<p>The Chevalier Bayard was nothing more, only he had a wider field +for his exertions and his talents; but the armed and accoutred +Bayard did not show more courage and conduct when leading armies to +victory, than did the unarmed Smallbones against Vanslyperken and +his dog. We consider that <i>in his way</i>, Smallbones was quite +as great a hero as the Chevalier, for no man can do more than his +best; indeed, it is unreasonable to expect it.</p> +<p>While Smallbones hung on to the corks, he was calculating his +chances of being saved.</p> +<p>"If so be as how they comes to take up the nets in the morning, +why then I think I may hold on; but if so be they waits, why +they'll then find me dead as a fish," said Smallbones, who seldom +ventured above a monosyllable, and whose language if not considered +as pure English, was certainly amazingly Saxon; and then Smallbones +began to reflect, whether it was not necessary that he should +forgive Mr Vanslyperken before he died, and his pros and cons ended +with his thinking he could, for it was his duty; however he would +not be in a hurry about it, he thought that was the last thing that +he need do; but as for the dog, he wa'n't obliged to forgive him +that was certain--as certain as that his tail was off; and +Smallbones, up to his chin in the water, grinned so at the +remembrance, that he took in more salt water than was pleasant.</p> +<p>He spit it out again, and then looked up to the stars, which +were twinkling above him.</p> +<p>I wonder what o'clock it is, thought Smallbones, when he thought +he heard a distant sound. Smallbones pricked up his ears and +listened;--yes, it was in regular cadence, and became louder and +louder. It was a boat pulling.</p> +<p>"Well, I am sure," thought Smallbones, "they'll think they have +caught a queer fish anyhow:" and he waited very patiently for the +fisherman to come up. At last he perceived the boat, which was very +long and pulled many oars. "They be the smuglars," thought +Smallbones.</p> +<p>"I wonder whether they'll pick up a poor lad? Boat ahoy!"</p> +<p>The boat continued to pass towards the coast, impelled at the +speed of seven or eight miles an hour, and was now nearly abreast +of Smallbones, and not fifty yards from him.</p> +<p>"I say, boat ahoy!" screamed Smallbones, to the extent of his +voice.</p> +<p>He was heard this time, and there was a pause in the pulling, +the boat still driving through the water with the impulse which had +been given her, as if she required no propelling power.</p> +<p>"I say you arn't a going for to come for to leave a poor lad +here to be drowned, are you?"</p> +<p>"That's Smallbones, I'll swear," cried Jemmy Ducks, who was +steering the boat, and who immediately shifted the helm.</p> +<p>But Sir Robert Barclay paused; there was too much at stake to +run any risk, even to save the life of a fellow-creature.</p> +<p>"You takes time for to think on it anyhow," cried +Smallbones--"you are going for to leave a fellow-christian stuck +like a herring in a fishing net, are you? you would not like it +yourself, anyhow."</p> +<p>"It is Smallbones, sir," repeated Jemmy Ducks, "and I'll vouch +for him as a lad that's good and true."</p> +<p>Sir Barclay no longer hesitated: "Give way, my lads, and pick +him up."</p> +<p>In a few minutes, Smallbones was hauled in over the gunnel, and +was seated on the stern-sheets opposite to Sir Robert.</p> +<p>"It's a great deal colder out of the water than in, that's +sartain," observed Smallbones, shivering.</p> +<p>"Give way, my lads, we've no time to stay," cried Sir +Robert.</p> +<p>"Take this, Smallbones," said Jemmy.</p> +<p>"Why, so it is, Jemmy Ducks!" replied Smallbones, with +astonishment--"why, how did you come here?"</p> +<p>"Sarcumstances," replied Jemmy; "how did you come there?"</p> +<p>"Sarcumstances too, Jemmy," replied Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Keep silence," said Sir Robert, and nothing more was said until +the lugger dashed into the cave.</p> +<p>The cargo was landed, and Smallbones who was very cold was not +sorry to assist. He carried up his load with the rest, and as usual +the women came half-way down to receive it.</p> +<p>"Why, who have we here?" said one of the women to whom +Smallbones was delivering his load, "why, it's Smallbones."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Smallbones, it is me; "but how came you here, +Nancy?"</p> +<p>"That's tellings, but how came you, my lad?" replied Nancy.</p> +<p>"I came by water anyhow."</p> +<p>"Well, you are one of us now, you know there's no going +back."</p> +<p>"I'm sure I don't want to go back, Nancy; but what is to be +done? nothing unchristianlike I hope."</p> +<p>"We're all good Christians here, Smallbones; we don't bow down +to idols and pay duty to them as other people do."</p> +<p>"Do you fear God, and honour the king?"</p> +<p>"We do; the first as much as the other people, and as for the +king, we love him and serve him faithfully."</p> +<p>"Well, then I suppose that's all right," replied Smallbones; +"but where do you live?"</p> +<p>"Come with me, take your load up, and I will show you, for the +sooner you are there the better; the boat will be off again in +half-an-hour, if I mistake not."</p> +<p>"Off, where?"</p> +<p>"To France, with a message to the king."</p> +<p>"Why, the king's in Holland! we left him there when we +sailed."</p> +<p>"Pooh! nonsense! come along."</p> +<p>When Sir Robert arrived at the cave, he found an old friend +anxiously awaiting his arrival; it was Graham, who had been +despatched by the Jacobites to the court of St Germains, with +intelligence of great importance, which was the death of the young +Duke of Gloucester, the only surviving son of King William. He had, +it was said, died of a malignant fever; but if the reader will call +to mind the address of one of the Jesuits on the meeting at +Cherbourg, he may have some surmises as to the cause of the duke's +decease. As this event rendered the succession uncertain, the hopes +of the Jacobites were raised to the highest pitch: the more so as +the country was in a state of anxiety and confusion, and King +William was absent at the Hague. Graham had, therefore, been +despatched to the exiled James, with the propositions from his +friends in England, and to press the necessity of an invasion of +the country. As Nancy had supposed, Sir Robert decided upon +immediately crossing over to Cherbourg, the crew were allowed a +short time to repose and refresh themselves, and once more returned +to their laborious employment; Jemmy Ducks satisfied Sir Robert +that Smallbones might be trusted and be useful, and Nancy +corroborated his assertions. He was, therefore, allowed to remain +in the cave with the women, and Sir Robert and his crew, long +before Smallbones' garments were dry, were again crossing the +English Channel.</p> +<p>Now, it must be observed, that Smallbones was never well off for +clothes, and, on this occasion, when he fell overboard, he had +nothing on but an old pair of thin linen trousers and a shirt +which, from dint of long washing, from check had turned to a light +cerulean blue: what with his struggles at the net and the force +used to pull him into the boat, the shirt had more than one-half +disappeared--that is to say, one sleeve and the back were wholly +gone, and the other sleeve was well prepared to follow its fellow, +on the first capful of wind. His trousers also were in almost as +bad a state. In hauling him in, when his head was over the gunnel, +one of the men had seized him by the seat of his trousers to lift +him into the boat, and the consequence was, that the seat of his +trousers having been too long set upon, was also left in his +muscular gripe. All these items put together, the reader may infer, +that, although Smallbones might appear merely ragged in front, that +in his rear he could not be considered as decent, especially as he +was the only one of the masculine sex among a body of females. No +notice was taken of this by others, nor did Smallbones observe it +himself, during the confusion and bustle previous to the departure +of the smugglers; but now they were gone, Smallbones perceived his +deficiencies, and was very much at a loss what to do, as he was +aware that daylight would discover them to others as well as to +himself: so he fixed his back up against one of the rocks, and +remained idle while the women were busily employed storing away the +cargo in the various compartments of the cave.</p> +<p>Nancy, who had not forgotten that he was with them, came up to +him.</p> +<p>"Why do you stay there, Smallbones? you must be hungry and cold, +come in with me, and I will find you something to eat."</p> +<p>"I can't, Mistress Nancy, I want your advice first. Has any of +the men left any of their duds in this here cavern?"</p> +<p>"Duds, men! No, they keep them all on the other side. We have +nothing but petticoats here and shimmeys."</p> +<p>"Then what must I do?" exclaimed Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Oh, I see, your shirt is torn off your back. Well, never mind, +I'll lend you a shimmey."</p> +<p>"Yes, Mistress Nancy, but it be more worse than that, I an't got +no behind to my trousers, they pulled it out when they pulled me +into the boat. I sticks to this here rock for decency's sake. What +must I do?"</p> +<p>Nancy burst into a laugh. "Do, why if you can't have men's +clothes, you must put on the women's, and then you'll be in the +regular uniform of the cave."</p> +<p>"I do suppose that I must, but I can't say that I like the idea +much, anyhow," replied Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Why, you don't mean to stick to that rock like a limpit all +your life, do you? there's plenty of work for you."</p> +<p>"If so be, I must, I must," replied Smallbones.</p> +<p>"You can't appear before Mistress Alice in that state," replied +Nancy. "She's a lady bred and born, and very particular too, and +then there's Miss Lilly, you will turn her as red as a rose, if she +sees you."</p> +<p>"Well then, I suppose I must, Mistress Nancy, for I shall catch +my death of cold here, I'm all wet and shivery, from being so long +in the water, and my back against the rock, feels just as ice."</p> +<p>"No wonder, I'll run and fetch you something," replied Nancy, +who was delighted at the idea of dressing up Smallbones as a +woman.</p> +<p>Nancy soon returned with a chemise, a short flannel petticoat, +and a shawl, which she gave to Smallbones, desiring him to take off +his wet clothes, and substitute them. She would return to him as +soon as he had put them on, and see that they were put tidy and +right.</p> +<p>Smallbones retired behind one of the rocks, and soon shifted his +clothes, he put everything on the hind part before, and Nancy had +to alter them when she came. She adjusted the shawl, and then led +him into the cave where he found Mistress Alice, and some of the +women who were not busy with the cargo.</p> +<p>"Here's the poor lad who was thrown overboard, madam," said +Nancy, retaining her gravity. "All his clothes were torn off his +back, and I have been obliged to give him these to put on."</p> +<p>Lady Barclay could hardly repress a smile. Smallbones' +appearance was that of a tall gaunt creature, pale enough, and +smooth enough to be a woman certainly, but cutting a most +ridiculous figure. His long thin arms were bare, his neck was like +a crane's, and the petticoats were so short as to reach almost +above his knees. Shoes and stockings he had none. His long hair was +platted and matted with the salt water, and one side of his head +was shaved, and exhibited a monstrous half-healed scar.</p> +<p>Lady Barclay asked him a few questions, and then desired Nancy +to give him some refreshment, and find him something to lie down +upon in the division of the cave which was used as a kitchen.</p> +<p>But we must now leave Smallbones to entertain the inhabitants of +the cave with the history of his adventures, which he did at +intervals, during his stay there. He retained his women's clothes, +for Nancy would not let him wear any other, and was a source of +great amusement not only to the smugglers' wives, but also to +little Lilly, who would listen to his conversation and remarks +which were almost as naive and unsophisticated as her own.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XLIV"></a>Chapter XLIV</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken meets with a double defeat.</h3> +<br> +<p>It was late in the evening of the day after Smallbones had been +so satisfactorily disposed of that the cutter arrived at +Portsmouth; but from daylight until the time that the cutter +anchored, there was no small confusion and bustle on board of the +<i>Yungfrau</i>. When Vanslyperken's cabin door was found to be +locked, it was determined that Smallbones should not appear as a +supernatural visitant that night, but wait till the one following; +consequently the parties retired to bed, and Smallbones, who found +the heat between decks very oppressive, had crept up the ladder and +taken a berth in the small boat that he might sleep cool and +comfortable, intending to be down below again long before Mr +Vanslyperken was up; but, as the reader knows, Mr Vanslyperken was +up before him, and the consequence was that Smallbones went down +into the sea instead of the lower deck as he had intended.</p> +<p>The next morning it was soon ascertained that Smallbones was not +to be found, and the ship's company were in a state of dismay. The +boat, as soon as Smallbones had been turned out, had resumed her +upright position, and one of the men when busy washing the decks, +had made fast the gripe again, which he supposed had been cast off +by accident when the ropes had been coiled up for washing, +Smallbones not being at that time missed. When, therefore, the +decks had been searched everywhere and the lad was discovered not +to be in the ship, the suspicion was very great. No one had seen +him go aft to sleep in the boat. The man who was at the wheel +stated that Mr Vanslyperken had sent him down for a glass of grog, +and had taken the helm for the time; but this proved nothing. His +disappearance was a mystery not to be unravelled. An appeal to Mr +Vanslyperken was, of course, impossible, for he did not know that +the lad was on board. The whole day was spent in surmises and +suppositions; but things all ended in the simple fact, that somehow +or another Smallbones had fallen overboard, and there was an end of +the poor fellow.</p> +<p>So soon as the cutter was at anchor, Mr Vanslyperken hastened to +perform his official duties, and anxious to learn how Smallbones +had contrived to escape the clutches of his mother, bent his steps +towards the half-way houses. He arrived at the door of his mother's +room, and knocked as usual, but there was no reply. It was now the +latter end of July, and although it was past seven o'clock it was +full daylight. Vanslyperken knocked again and again. His mother +must be out, he thought; and if so, she always took the key with +her. He had nothing to do but to wait for her return. The passage +and staircase was dark, but there was a broad light in the room +from the casement, and this light streamed from under the door of +the room. A shade crossing the light attracted Vanslyperken's +attention, and to while away the tediousness of waiting he was +curious to see what it was; he knelt down, looked under the door, +and perceived the key which Smallbones had placed there; he +inserted his finger and drew it forth, imagining that his mother +had slid it beneath till her return.</p> +<p>He fitted it to the lock and opened the door, when his olfactory +nerves were offended with a dreadful stench, which surprised him +the more as the casement was open. Vanslyperken surveyed the room, +he perceived that the blood had been washed from the floor and sand +strewed over it. Had he not known that Smallbones had been on board +of the cutter the day before, he would have thought that it had +been the smell of the dead body not yet removed. This thought +crossing his imagination, immediately made the truth flash upon +him, and, as if instinctively, he went up to the bed and pulled +down the clothes, when he recoiled back with horror at uncovering +the face of his mother, now of a livid blue and in the last stage +of putrefaction.</p> +<p>Overcome with the horrid sight, and the dreadful stench which +accompanied it, he reeled to the casement and gasped for breath. A +sickness came over him, and for some time he was incapable of +acting and barely capable of reflection.</p> +<p>"She is gone then," thought he at last, and he shuddered when he +asked himself <i>where</i>. "She must have fallen by the hands of +the lad," continued he, and immediately the whole that had happened +appeared to be revealed to him. "Yes, yes, he has recovered from +the blow--killed her and locked the door--all is clear now, but I +have revenged her death."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken, who had now recovered himself, went softly to the +door, took out the key and locked himself in. He had been debating +in his mind whether he should call in the neighbours; but, on +reflection, as no one had seen him enter, he determined that he +would not. He would take his gold and leave the door locked and the +key under it, as he found it before her death was discovered: it +would be supposed that she died a natural death, for the state of +the body would render it impossible to prove the contrary. But +there was one act necessary to be performed at which Vanslyperken's +heart recoiled. The key of the oak chest was about his mother's +person and he must obtain it, he must search for it in corruption +and death, amongst creeping worms and noisome stench. It was half +an hour before he could make up his mind to the task! but what will +avarice not accomplish!</p> +<p>He covered up the face, and with a trembling hand turned over +the bedclothes. But we must not disgust our readers, it will +suffice to say, that the key was obtained, and the chest +opened.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken found all his own gold, and much more than he had +ever expected belonging to his mother. There were other articles +belonging to him, but he thought it prudent not to touch them. He +loaded himself with the treasure, and when he felt that it was all +secure, for he was obliged to divide it in different parcels and +stow it in various manners about his person, he relocked the chest, +placed the key in the cupboard, and quitting the room made fast the +door, and like a dutiful son, left the remains of his mother to be +inhumed at the expense of the parish.</p> +<p>As he left the house without being observed, and gained the town +of Portsmouth, never was Mr Vanslyperken's body so heavily loaded, +or his heart lighter. He had got rid of Smallbones and of his +mother, both in a way perfectly satisfactory to himself.</p> +<p>He had recovered his own gold, and had also been enriched beyond +his hopes by his mother's savings. He felt not the weight which he +carried about his person, he wished it had been heavier. All he +felt was, very anxious to be on board and have his property +secured. His boat waited for him, and one of the men informed him +his presence was required at the admiral's immediately; but Mr +Vanslyperken first went on board, and having safely locked up all +his treasures, then complied with the admiral's wishes. They were +to sail immediately, for the intelligence of the Duke of +Gloucester's death had just arrived with the despatches, announcing +the same to be taken to King William, who was still at the Hague. +Vanslyperken sent the boat on board with orders to Short, to heave +short and loose sails, and then hastened up to the house of +Lazarus, the Jew, aware that the cutter would, in all probability, +be despatched immediately to the Hague. The Jew had the letters for +Ramsay all prepared. Vanslyperken once more touched his liberal +fee, and, in an hour, he was again under way for the Texel.</p> +<p>During the passage, which was very quick, Mr Vanslyperken amused +himself as usual, in copying the letters to Ramsay, which contained +the most important intelligence of the projects of the Jacobites, +and, from the various communications between Ramsay and the +conspirators, Vanslyperken had also been made acquainted with the +circumstance hitherto unknown to him, of the existence of the caves +above the cove, where he had been taken to by the informer, as +mentioned in the early part of this work, and also of the names of +the parties who visited it.</p> +<p>Of this intelligence Vanslyperken determined to avail himself +by-and-bye. It was evident that there were only women in the cave, +and Mr Vanslyperken counted his gold, patted the head of +Snarleyyow, and indulged in anticipations of further wealth, and +the hand of the widow Vandersloosh.</p> +<p>All dreams! Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>The cutter arrived, and he landed with his despatches for the +government; and his letters to Ramsay being all delivered, +Vanslyperken hastened to the widow's, who, as usual, received him, +all smiles. He now confided to her the death of his mother, and +astonished her by representing the amount of his wealth, which he +had the precaution to state, that the major part of it was left him +by his mother.</p> +<p>"Where have you put it all, Mr Vanslyperken?" inquired the +widow. And Vanslyperken replied that he had come to ask her advice +on the subject, as it was at present all on board of the cutter. +The widow, who was not indifferent to money, was more gracious than +ever. She had a scheme in her head of persuading him to leave the +money under her charge; but Vanslyperken was anxious to go on board +again, for he discovered that the key was not in his pocket, and he +was fearful that he might have left it on the cabin table; so he +quitted rather abruptly, and the widow had not time to bring the +battery to bear. As soon as Mr Vanslyperken arrived on board, +Corporal Van Spitter, without asking leave, for he felt it was not +necessary, went on shore, and was soon in the arms of his enamoured +widow Vandersloosh. In the meantime, Mr Vanslyperken discovered the +key in the pocket of the waistcoat he had thrown off, and having +locked his door, he again opened his drawer, and delighted himself +for an hour or two in re-arranging his treasure; after which, +feeling himself in want of occupation, it occurred to him, that he +might as well dedicate a little more time to the widow, so he +manned his boat and went on shore again.</p> +<p>It is all very well to have a morning and afternoon lover if +ladies are so inclined, just as they have a morning and afternoon +dress, but they should be worn separately. Now, as it never entered +the head of Mr Vanslyperken that the corporal was playing him +false, so did it never enter the idea of the widow, that Mr +Vanslyperken would make his appearance in the evening, and leave +the cutter and Snarleyyow, without the corporal being on board to +watch over them.</p> +<p>But Mr Vanslyperken did leave the cutter and Snarleyyow, did +come on shore, did walk to the widow's house, and did most +unexpectedly enter it, and what was the consequence?--that he was +not perceived when he entered it, and the door of the parlour as +well as the front door being open to admit the air, for the widow +and the corporal found that making love in the dog days was rather +warm work for people of their calibre--to his mortification and +rage the lieutenant beheld the corporal seated in his berth, on the +little fubsy sofa, with one arm round the widow's waist, his other +hand joined in hers, and, <i>proh pudor!</i> sucking at her dewy +lips like some huge carp under the water-lilies on a midsummer's +afternoon.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken was transfixed--the parties were too busy with +their amorous interchange to perceive his presence; at last the +corporal thought that his lips required moistening with a little of +the beer of the widow's own brewing, for the honey of her lips had +rather glued them together--he turned towards the table to take up +his tumbler, and he beheld Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>The corporal, for a moment, was equally transfixed, but on these +occasions people act mechanically because they don't know what to +do. The corporal had been well drilled, he rose from the sofa, held +himself perfectly upright, and raised the back of his right hand to +his forehead, there he stood like a statue saluting at the presence +of his superior officer.</p> +<p>The widow had also perceived the presence of Vanslyperken almost +as soon as the corporal, but a woman's wits are more at their +command on these occasions than a man's. She felt that all +concealment was now useless, and she prepared for action. At the +same time, although ready to discharge a volley of abuse upon +Vanslyperken, she paused, to ascertain how she should proceed. +Assuming an indifferent air, she said--"Well, Mr Vanslyperken?"</p> +<p>"Well!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, but he could not speak for +passion.</p> +<p>"Eaves-dropping, as usual, Mr Vanslyperken?"</p> +<p>"May the roof of this house drop on you, you infernal----."</p> +<p>"No indelicate language, if you please, sir," interrupted the +widow, "I won't put up with it in my house, I can tell you--ho, ho, +Mr Vanslyperken," continued the widow, working herself into a rage, +"that won't do here, Mr Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>"Why, you audacious--you double-faced----"</p> +<p>"Double-faced!--it's a pity you wer'n't double-faced, as you +call it, with that snivelling nose and crooked chin of yours. +Double-faced, heh!--oh! oh! Mr Vanslyperken--we shall see--wait a +little--we shall see who's double-faced. Yes, yes, Mr +Vanslyperken--that for you, Mr Vanslyperken--I can hang you when I +please, Mr Vanslyperken. Corporal, how many guineas did you see +counted out to him at the house opposite?"</p> +<p>During all this the corporal remained fixed and immovable with +his hand up to the salute; but on being questioned by his mistress, +he replied, remaining in the same respectful attitude.</p> +<p>"Fifty golden guineas, Mistress Vandersloosh."</p> +<p>"A lie! an infamous lie!" cried Vanslyperken, drawing his sword. +"Traitor, that you are," continued he to the corporal, "take your +reward." This was a very critical moment. The corporal did not +attempt the defensive, but remained in the same attitude, and +Vanslyperken's rage at the falsehood of the widow, and the +discovery of his treason was so great, that he had lost all command +of himself. Had not a third party come in just as Vanslyperken drew +his sword, it might have gone hard with the corporal; but +fortunately Babette came in from the yard, and perceiving the sword +fly out of the scabbard, she put her hand behind the door, and +snatched two long-handled brooms, one of which she put into the +hands of her mistress, and retained the other herself.</p> +<p>"Take your reward!" cried Vanslyperken, running furiously to cut +down the corporal. But his career was stopped by the two brooms, +one of which took him in the face, and the other in the chest. The +widow and Babette now ranged side by side, holding their brooms as +soldiers do their arms in charge of bayonets.</p> +<p>How did the corporal act? He retained his former respectful +position, leaving the defensive or offensive in the hands of the +widow and Babette.</p> +<p>This check on the part of Vanslyperken only added to his rage. +Again he flew with his sword at the corporal, and again he was met +with the besoms in his face. He caught one with his hand, and he +was knocked back with the other. He attempted to cut them in two +with his sword, but in vain.</p> +<p>"Out of my house, you villain!--you traitor--out of my house," +cried the widow, pushing at him with such force as to drive him +against the wall, and pinning him there while Babette charged him +in his face which was now streaming with blood. The attack was now +followed up with such vigour, that Vanslyperken was first obliged +to retreat to the door, then out of the door into the street, +followed into the street he took to his heels, and the widow and +Babette returned victorious into the parlour to the corporal. Mr +Vanslyperken could not accuse him of want of respect to his +superior officer; he had saluted him on entering, and he was still +saluting him when he made his exit.</p> +<p>The widow threw herself on the sofa--Corporal Van Spitter then +took his seat beside her. The widow overcome by her rage and +exertion, burst into tears and sobbed in his arms.</p> +<p>The corporal poured out a glass of beer, and persuaded her to +drink it.</p> +<p>"I'll have him hanged to-morrow, at all events. I'll go to the +Hague myself," cried the widow. "Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we +shall see who will gain the day," continued the widow, sobbing.</p> +<p>"You can prove it, corporal?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"As soon as he's hung, corporal, we'll marry."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes."</p> +<p>"Traitorous villain!--sell his king and his country for +gold!"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes."</p> +<p>"You're sure it was fifty guineas, corporal?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes."</p> +<p>"Ah, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see," said the widow, +drying her eyes. "Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, you shall be hanged, +and your cur with you, or my name's not Vandersloosh."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes," replied the corporal.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XLV"></a>Chapter XLV</h2> +<h3>In which Mr Vanslyperken proves his loyalty and his fidelity to +King William.</h3> +<br> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken hastened from his inglorious conflict, maddened +with rage and disappointment. He returned on board, went down into +his cabin, and threw himself on his bed. His hopes and calculations +had been so brilliant--rid of his enemy Smallbones--with gold in +possession, and more in prospect, to be so cruelly deceived by the +widow--the cockatrice! Then by one to whom he fully confided, and +who knew too many of his secrets already--Corporal Van Spitter--he +too!--and to dare to aspire to the widow--it was madness--and then +their knowledge of his treason--the corporal having witnessed his +receiving the gold--with such bitter enemies what could he expect +but a halter--he felt it even now round his neck, and Vanslyperken +groaned in the bitterness of his spirit.</p> +<p>In the meantime, there was a consultation between the widow and +the corporal as to the best method of proceeding. That the corporal +could expect nothing but the most determined hostility from +Vanslyperken was certain; but for this the corporal cared little, +as he had all the crew of the cutter on his side, and he was in his +own person too high in rank to be at the mercy of Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>After many pros and cons, and at least a dozen bottles of +beer--for the excitement on the part of the corporal, and the +exertion of the widow, had made them both dry--it was resolved that +the Frau Vandersloosh should demand an audience at the Hague the +next morning, and should communicate the treasonable practices of +Mr Vanslyperken, calling upon the corporal as a witness to the +receipt of the money from the Jesuit.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott!" exclaimed the corporal, striking his bull forehead +as if a new thought had required being forced out, "but they will +ask me how I came there myself, and what shall I say?"</p> +<p>"Say that the Jesuit father had sent for you to try and seduce +you to do his treason, but that you would not consent."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes--that will do."</p> +<p>The corporal then returned on board, but did not think it worth +while to report himself to Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken had also been thinking over the matter, and in +what way he should be able to escape from the toils prepared for +him. That the widow would immediately inform the authorities he was +convinced. How was he to get out of his scrape?</p> +<p>Upon mature reflection, he decided that it was to be done. He +had copies of all Ramsay's letters, and those addressed to Ramsay, +and the last delivered were very important. Now, his best plan +would be to set off for the Hague early the next morning--demand an +interview with one of the ministers, or even his Majesty +himself--state that he had been offered money from the Jacobite +party to carry their letters, and that, with a view to serve his +Majesty by finding out their secrets, he had consented to do it, +and had taken the money to satisfy them that he was sincere. That +he had opened the letters and copied them, and that now as the +contents were important, he had thought it right to make them +immediately known to the government, and at the same time to bring +the money received for the service, to be placed at his Majesty's +disposal.</p> +<p>"Whether she is before or after me," thought Vanslyperken, "it +will then be little matter, all I shall have to fear will be from +Ramsay and his party, but the government will be bound to protect +me."</p> +<p>There certainly was much wisdom in this plan of Vanslyperken, it +was the only one which could have been attended with success, or +with any chance of it.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken was up at daylight, and dressed in his best +uniform; he put in his pocket all the copies of the Jacobite +correspondence, and went on shore--hired a calash, for he did not +know how to ride, and set off for the Hague, where he arrived about +ten o'clock. He sent up his name, and requested an audience with +the Duke of Portland, as an officer commanding one of his Majesty's +vessels: he was immediately admitted.</p> +<p>"What is your pleasure, Mr Vanslyperken?" said the duke, who was +standing at the table, in company with Lord Albemarle.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken was a little confused--he muttered, and stammered +about anxiety, and loyalty, and fidelity, and excess of zeal, +&c.--</p> +<p>No wonder he stammered, for he was talking of what he knew +nothing about--but these two noblemen recollecting his confusion +when presented to his sovereign on board of the frigate, made +allowances.</p> +<p>"I have at last," cried Vanslyperken, with more confidence, +"been able to discover the plots of the Jacobites, your grace."</p> +<p>"Indeed! Mr Vanslyperken," replied the duke, smiling +incredulously, "and pray what may they be? you must be as +expeditious as possible, for his Majesty is waiting for us."</p> +<p>"These letters will take some time to read," replied +Vanslyperken; "but their contents are most important."</p> +<p>"Indeed, letters--how have you possession of their letters?"</p> +<p>"It will be rather a long story, sir--my lord! I mean," replied +Vanslyperken; "but they will amply repay an hour of your time, if +you can spare it."</p> +<p>At this moment, the door opened and his Majesty entered the +room. At the sight of the king, Vanslyperken's confidence was again +taking French leave.</p> +<p>"My lords, I am waiting for you," said the king, with a little +asperity of manner.</p> +<p>"May it please your Majesty, here is Lieutenant Vanslyperken, +commanding one of your Majesty's vessels, who states that he has +important intelligence, and that he has possession of Jacobite +papers."</p> +<p>"Indeed!" replied King William, who was always alive to Jacobite +plotting, from which he had already run so much risk.</p> +<p>"What is it, Mr Vanslyperken? speak boldly what you have to +communicate."</p> +<p>"Your Majesty, I beg your gracious pardon, but here are copies +of the correspondence carried on by the traitors in England and +this country. If your Majesty will deign to have it read, you will +then perceive how important it is--after your Majesty has read it, +I will have the honour to explain to you by what means it came into +my possession."</p> +<p>King William was a man of business, and Vanslyperken had done +wisely in making this proposal. His Majesty at once sat down, with +the Duke of Portland on the one side and Lord Albemarle on the +other: the latter took the letters which were arranged according to +their dates, and read them in a clear distinct voice.</p> +<p>As the reading went on, his Majesty made memorandums and notes +with his pencil on a sheet of paper, but did not interrupt during +the whole progress of the lecture. When the last and most important +was finished, the two noblemen looked at his Majesty with +countenances full of meaning. For a few moments his Majesty drummed +with the second and third finger of his left hand upon the table, +and then said--</p> +<p>"Pray, Mr Vanslyperken, how did you obtain possession of these +papers and letters, or make copies of these letters?"</p> +<p>Vanslyperken, who had been standing at the other side of the +table during the time of the reading, had anxiously watched the +countenance of his Majesty and the two noblemen, and perceived that +the intelligence which the letters contained, had created a strong +feeling, as he expected. With a certain degree of confidence, he +commenced his explanation.</p> +<p>He stated that the crew of the cutter had been accustomed to +frequent the Lust Haus of a certain widow Vandersloosh, and that he +had made her acquaintance, by several times going there to look +after his seamen.</p> +<p>That this widow had often hinted to him, and at last proposed to +him, that he should take letters for some friends of hers--at last +she had told him plainly that it was for the Jacobite party, and he +pretended to consent.</p> +<p>That he had been taken by her to the house of a Jesuit, 169, in +the Bur street, nearly opposite to her Lust Haus, and that the +Jesuit had given him some letters and fifty guineas for his +trouble.</p> +<p>He then stated, that he had opened, copied, and resealed them; +further, that he had brought over one of the confederates, who was +now residing in the house of the syndic, Van Krause. That he should +have made all this known before, only that he waited till it was +more important. That the last letters appeared of such consequence, +that he deemed it his duty no longer to delay.</p> +<p>"You have done well, Mr Vanslyperken," replied his Majesty.</p> +<p>"And played a bold game," observed Lord Albemarle, fixing his +eyes upon Vanslyperken. "Suppose you had been found out +co-operating with traitors, before you made this discovery!"</p> +<p>"I might have forfeited my life in my zeal," replied Mr +Vanslyperken, with adroitness; "but that is the duty of a king's +officer."</p> +<p>"That is well said," observed the Duke of Portland.</p> +<p>"I have a few questions to put to you, Mr Vanslyperken," +observed his Majesty.</p> +<p>"What is the cave they mention so often?"</p> +<p>"It is on the bank of the Isle of Wight, your Majesty. I did not +know of its existence, but from the letters--but I once laid a +whole night in the cove underneath it, to intercept the smugglers, +upon information that I had received, but the alarm was given, and +they escaped."</p> +<p>"Who is their agent at Portsmouth?"</p> +<p>"A Jew of the name of Lazarus, residing in little Orange Street, +at the back of the Point, your Majesty!"</p> +<p>"Do you know of any of the names of the conspirators?"</p> +<p>"I do not, your Majesty, except a woman, who is very active, one +Moggy Salisbury--her husband not a month back, was the boatswain of +the cutter, but by some interest or another, he has obtained his +discharge."</p> +<p>"My Lord of Portland, take a memorandum to inquire who it was +applied for the discharge of that man. Mr Vanslyperken you may +retire--we will call you in by-and-bye--you will be secret as to +what has passed."</p> +<p>"I have one more duty to perform," replied Vanslyperken, taking +some rouleaus of gold out of his pocket; "this is the money +received from the traitors--it is not for a king's officer to have +it in his possession."</p> +<p>"You are right, Mr Vanslyperken, but the gold of traitors is +forfeited to the crown, and it is now mine, you will accept it as a +present from your king."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken took the gold from the table, made a bow, and +retired from the royal presence.</p> +<p>The reader will acknowledge that it was impossible to play his +cards better than Mr Vanslyperken had done in this interview, and +that he deserved great credit for his astute conduct. With such +diplomatic talents, he would have made a great prime minister.</p> +<p>"The council was ordered at twelve o'clock, my lords. These +letters must be produced. That they are genuine appears to me +beyond a doubt."</p> +<p>"That they are faithful copies, I doubt not," replied Lord +Albemarle, "but--"</p> +<p>"But what, my Lord Albemarle?"</p> +<p>"I very much suspect the fidelity of the copier--there is +something more that has not been told, depend upon it."</p> +<p>"Why do you think so, my lord?"</p> +<p>"Because, your Majesty, allowing that a man would act the part +that Mr Vanslyperken says that he has done to discover the +conspiracy, still, would he not naturally, to avoid any risk to +himself, have furnished government with the first correspondence, +and obtained their sanction for prosecuting his plans? This officer +has been employed for the last two years or more in carrying the +despatches to the Hague, and it must at once strike your Majesty, +that a person who can, with such dexterity, open the letters of +others can also open those of his own government."</p> +<p>"That is true, my lord," replied his Majesty, musing.</p> +<p>"Your Majesty is well aware that suspicions were entertained of +the fidelity of the syndic, suspicions which the evidence of this +officer have verified. But why were these suspicions raised? +Because he knew of the government secrets, and it was supposed he +obtained them from some one who is in our trust, but inimical to us +and unworthy of the confidence reposed in him.</p> +<p>"Your Majesty's acuteness will at once perceive that the secrets +may have been obtained by Mynheer Krause, by the same means as have +been resorted to, to obtain the secrets of the conspirators. I may +be in error, and if I do this officer wrong by my suspicions, may +God forgive me, but there is something in his looks which tells +me----"</p> +<p>"What, my lord?"</p> +<p>"That he is a traitor to both parties. May it please your +Majesty."</p> +<p>"By the Lord, Albermarle, I think you have hit upon the truth," +replied the Duke of Portland.</p> +<p>"Of that we shall soon have proof--at present, we have to decide +whether it be advisable to employ him to discover more, or at once +to seize upon the parties he has denounced. But that had better be +canvassed in the council-chamber. Come, my lords, they be waiting +for us."</p> +<p>The affair was of too great importance not to absorb all other +business, and it was decided that the house of Mynheer Krause, and +of the Jesuit, and the widow Vandersloosh should be entered by the +peace-officers, at midnight, and that they and any of the +conspirators who might be found should be thrown into prison. That +the cutter should be despatched immediately to England, with orders +to seize all the other parties informed against by Vanslyperken, +and that a force should be sent to attack the cave, and secure +those who might be found there, with directions to the admiral, +that Mr Vanslyperken should be employed both as a guide, and to +give the assistance of the cutter and his crew.</p> +<p>These arrangements having been made, the council broke up, King +William had a conference with his two favourites, and Vanslyperken +was sent for.</p> +<p>"Lieutenant Vanslyperken, we feel much indebted to you for your +important communications, and we shall not forget, in due time, to +reward your zeal and loyalty as it deserves. At present, it is +necessary that you sail for England as soon as our despatches are +ready, which will be before midnight; you will then receive your +orders from the admiral, at Portsmouth, and I have no doubt you +will take the opportunity of affording us fresh proofs of your +fidelity and attachment."</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken bowed humbly and retired, delighted with the +successful result of his manoeuvre, and, with a gay heart he leaped +into his calash, and drove off.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes," thought he, "Madam Vandersloosh, you would betray +me. We shall see. Yes, yes, we shall see, Madam Vandersloosh."</p> +<p>And sure enough he did see Madam Vandersloosh, who in another +calash was driving to the palace, and who met him face to face.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken turned up his nose at her as he passed by, and the +widow astonished at his presumption, thought as she went on her +way, "Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see, you may turn up +your snivelling nose, but stop till your head's in the halter--yes, +Mr Vanslyperken, stop till your head's in the halter."</p> +<p>We must leave Mr Vanslyperken to drive, and the widow +Vandersloosh to drive, while we drive on ourselves.</p> +<p>The subsequent events of this eventful day we will narrate in +the following chapter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XLVI"></a>Chapter XLVI</h2> +<h3>In which there is much bustle and confusion, plot and +counter-plot.</h3> +<br> +<p>About two hours after the council had broken up, the following +communication was delivered into the hands of Ramsay by an old +woman, who immediately took her departure.</p> +<p>"The lieutenant of the cutter has taken copies of all your +correspondence and betrayed you. You must fly immediately, as at +midnight you and all of you will be seized. In justice to Mynheer +Krause, leave documents to clear him.</p> +<p>"The cutter will sail this evening--with orders to secure your +friends at Portsmouth and the cave."</p> +<p>"Now, by the holy cross of our Saviour! I will have revenge upon +that dastard; there is no time to lose; five minutes for +reflection, and then to act," thought Ramsay, as he twisted up this +timely notice, which, it must be evident to the reader, must have +been sent by one who had been summoned to the council. Ramsay's +plans were soon formed, he despatched a trusty messenger to the +Jesuit's, desiring him to communicate immediately with the others, +and upon what plan to proceed. He then wrote a note to +Vanslyperken, requesting his immediate presence, and hastened to +the morning apartment of Wilhelmina. In a few words, he told her +that he had received timely notice that it was the intention of the +government to seize her father and him as suspected traitors, and +throw them that very night in prison.</p> +<p>Wilhelmina made no reply.</p> +<p>"For your father, my dearest girl, there is no fear: he will be +fully acquitted; but I, Wilhelmina, must depart immediately, or my +life is forfeited."</p> +<p>"Leave me, Edward?" replied Wilhelmina.</p> +<p>"No, you must go with me, Wilhelmina, for more than one reason; +the government have ordered the seizure of the persons to be made +in the night, to avoid a disturbance; but that they will not be +able to prevent; the mob are but too happy to prove their loyalty, +when they can do so by rapine and plunder, and depend upon it that +this house will be sacked and levelled to the ground before +to-morrow evening. You cannot go to prison with your father; you +cannot remain here, to be at the mercy of an infuriated and lawless +mob. You must go with me, Wilhelmina; trust to me, not only for my +sake, but for your father's."</p> +<p>"My father's, Edward, it is that only I am thinking of; how can +I leave my father at such a time?"</p> +<p>"You will save your father by so doing. Your departure with me +will substantiate his innocence; decide, my dearest girl; decide at +once; you must either fly with me, or we must part for ever."</p> +<p>"Oh no, that must not be, Edward," cried Wilhelmina, bursting +into tears.</p> +<p>After some further persuasions on the part of Ramsay, and fresh +tears from the attached maiden, it was agreed that she should act +upon his suggestions, and with a throbbing heart, she went to her +chamber to make the necessary preparations, while Ramsay requested +that Mynheer Krause would give him a few minutes of his company in +his room above.</p> +<p>The syndic soon made his appearance; "Well, Mynheer Ramsay, you +have some news to tell me, I am sure;" for Mynheer Krause, +notwithstanding his rebuff from the king, could not divest himself +of his failing of fetching and carrying reports. Ramsay went to the +door and turned the key.</p> +<p>"I have, indeed, most important news, Mynheer Krause, and, I am +sorry to say, very unpleasant also."</p> +<p>"Indeed," replied the syndic, with alarm.</p> +<p>"Yes; I find from a notice given me by one of his Majesty's +council, assembled this morning at the Hague, that you are +suspected of treasonable practices."</p> +<p>"God in heaven!" exclaimed the syndic.</p> +<p>"And that this very night you are to be seized and thrown into +prison."</p> +<p>"I, the syndic of the town! I, who put everybody else into +prison!"</p> +<p>"Even so; such is the gratitude of King William for your long +and faithful services, Mynheer Krause! I have now sent for you, +that we may consult as to what had best be done. Will you fly? I +have the means for your escape."</p> +<p>"Fly, Mynheer Ramsay; the syndic of Amsterdam fly? Never! they +may accuse me falsely; they may condemn me and take off my head +before the Stadt House, but I will not fly."</p> +<p>"I expected this answer; and you are right, Mynheer Krause; but +there are other considerations worthy of your attention. When the +populace know you are in prison for treason, they will level this +house to the ground."</p> +<p>"Well, and so they ought, if they suppose me guilty; I care +little for that."</p> +<p>"I am aware of that; but still your property will be lost; but +it will be but a matter of prudence to save all you can: you have +already a large sum of gold collected."</p> +<p>"I have four thousand guilders, at least."</p> +<p>"You must think of your daughter, Mynheer Krause. This gold must +not find its way into the pockets of the mob. Now, observe, the +king's cutter sails to-night, and I propose that your gold be +embarked, and I will take it over for you and keep it safe. Then, +let what will happen, your daughter will not be left to +beggary."</p> +<p>"True, true, my dear sir, there is no saying how this will end: +it may end well; but, as you say, if the house is plundered, the +gold is gone for ever. Your advice is good, and I will give you, +before you go, orders for all the monies in the hands of my agents +at Hamburgh and Frankfort and other places. I have taken your +advice my young friend, and, though I have property to the amount +of some hundred thousand guilders, with the exception of this house +they will hold little of it which belongs to Mynheer Krause. And my +poor daughter, Mynheer Ramsay!"</p> +<p>"Should any accident happen to you, you may trust to me, I swear +it to you, Mynheer Krause, on my hope of salvation."</p> +<p>Here the old man sat down much affected, and covered his +face.</p> +<p>"Oh! my dear young friend, what a world is this, where they +cannot distinguish a true and a loyal subject from a traitor. But +why could you not stay here,--protect my house from the +mob,--demand the civic guard."</p> +<p>"I stay here, my dear sir, why I am included in the warrant of +treason."</p> +<p>"You?"</p> +<p>"Yes; and there would be no chance of my escaping from my +enemies, they detest me too much. But cheer up, sir, I think that, +by my means, you may be cleared of all suspicions."</p> +<p>"By your means?"</p> +<p>"Yes; but I must not explain; my departure is necessary for your +safety: I will take the whole upon myself, and you shall be +saved."</p> +<p>"I really cannot understand you, my dear friend; but it appears +to me, as if you were going to make some great sacrifice for my +sake."</p> +<p>"I will not be questioned, Mynheer Krause; only this I say, that +I am resolved that you shall be proved innocent. It is my duty. But +we have no time to lose. Let your gold be ready at sunset: I will +have everything prepared."</p> +<p>"But my daughter must not remain here; she will be by herself, +at the mercy of the mob."</p> +<p>"Be satisfied, Mynheer Krause, that is also cared for, your +daughter must leave this house, and be in a safe retreat before the +officers come in to seize you: I have arranged everything."</p> +<p>"Where do you propose sending her?"</p> +<p>"Not to any of your friends' houses, Mynheer Krause, no--no, but +I'll see her in safety before I leave, do not be afraid; it must +depend upon circumstances, but of that hereafter, you have no time +to lose."</p> +<p>"God in heaven!" exclaimed Mynheer Krause, unlocking the door, +"that I, the syndic, the most loyal subject!--well, well, you may +truly say, 'put not your trust in princes.'"</p> +<p>"Trust in me, Mynheer Krause," replied Ramsay, taking his +hand.</p> +<p>"I do, I will, my good friend, and I will go to prison proudly, +and like an innocent and injured man."</p> +<p>And Mynheer Krause hastened down to his counting-house, to make +the proposed arrangements, Ramsay returning to Wilhelmina, to whom +he imparted what had taken place between him and her father, and +which had the effect of conforming her resolution.</p> +<p>We must now return to the widow Vandersloosh, who has arrived +safely, but melting with the heat of her journey, at the Palace of +the Hague. She immediately informed one of the domestics that she +wished to speak with his Majesty upon important business.</p> +<p>"I cannot take your name into his Majesty, but if you will give +it me, I will speak to Lord Albemarle."</p> +<p>The widow wrote her name down upon a slip of paper; with which +the servant went away, and then the widow sat down upon a bench in +the hall, and cooled herself with her fan.</p> +<p>"Frau Vandersloosh," said Lord Albemarle, on reading the +name.</p> +<p>"Let her come up,--why this," continued he, turning to the Duke +of Portland, who was sitting by him, "is the woman who is ordered +to be arrested this night, upon the evidence of Lieutenant +Vanslyperken; we shall learn something now, depend upon it."</p> +<p>The Frau Vandersloosh made her appearance, sailing in the room +like a Dutch man-of-war of that period, under full sail, high +pooped and broad sterned. Never having stood in the presence of +great men, she was not a little confused, so she fanned herself +most furiously.</p> +<p>"You wish to speak with me," said Lord Albemarle.</p> +<p>"Yes, your honour's honour, I've come to expose a snivelling +traitor to his Majesty's crown. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall +see now," continued the widow, talking to herself, and fanning +away.</p> +<p>"We are all attentive, madam."</p> +<p>Mistress Vandersloosh then began, out of breath, and continued +out of breath till she had told the whole of her story, which, as +the reader must be aware, only corroborated all Vanslyperken had +already stated, with the exception that he had denounced the widow. +Lord Albemarle allowed her to proceed without interruption, he had +a great insight into character, and the story of the widow +confirmed him in his opinion of Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"But my good woman," said Lord Albemarle, "are you aware that Mr +Vanslyperken has already been here?"</p> +<p>"Yes, your honour, I met him going back, and he turned his nose +up at me, and I then said, 'Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall +see; wait a little, Mr Vanslyperken.'"</p> +<p>"And," continued Lord Albemarle, "that he has denounced you as +being a party to all these treasonable practices."</p> +<p>"Me--denounced me--he--O Lord, O Lord, only let me meet him face +to face--let him say it then if he dares, the +snivelling--cowardly--murdering wretch."</p> +<p>Thereupon Mrs Vandersloosh commenced the history of +Vanslyperken's wooing, of his cur Snarleyyow, of her fancy for the +corporal, of his finding her with the corporal the day before, of +her beating him off with the brooms, and of her threats to expose +his treason. "And so, now, when he finds that he was to be exposed, +he comes up first himself; that's now the truth of it, or my name's +not Vandersloosh, your honour," and the widow walked up and down +with the march of an elephant, fanning herself violently, her bosom +heaving with agitation, and her face as red as a boiled +lobster.</p> +<p>"Mistress Vandersloosh," said Lord Albemarle, "let the affair +rest as it is for the present, but I shall not forget what you have +told me. I think now that you had better go home."</p> +<p>At this dismissal the widow turned round.</p> +<p>"Thank your worship kindly," said she, "I'm ready to come +whenever I'm wanted. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken," resumed the widow, +as she walked to the door, quite forgetting the respect due to the +two noblemen, "we shall see; yes, yes, we shall see."</p> +<p>"Well, my lord, what think you of this?" said Lord Albemarle to +the duke, as the widow closed the door.</p> +<p>"Upon my soul I think she is honest; she is too fat for a +traitor."</p> +<p>"I am of your opinion. The episode of the corporal was +delightful, and has thrown much light upon the lieutenant's +conduct, who is a traitor in my opinion, if ever there was one; but +he must be allowed to fulfil his task, and then we will soon find +out the traitor; but if I mistake not, that man was born to be +hung."</p> +<p>We must now return to Mr Vanslyperken, who received the note +from Ramsay, just as he was going down to the boat. As he did not +know what steps were to be taken by government, he determined to go +up to Ramsay, and inform him of his order for immediately +sailing.</p> +<p>He might gain further information from his letters, and also +remove the suspicion of his having betrayed him. Ramsay received Mr +Vanslyperken with an air of confidence.</p> +<p>"Sit down, Mr Vanslyperken, I wish to know whether there is any +chance of your sailing."</p> +<p>"I was about to come up to you to state that I have orders to +sail this evening."</p> +<p>"That is fortunate, as I intended to take a passage with you, +and what is more, Mr Vanslyperken, I have a large sum in specie, +which we must contrive to get on board. Cannot we contrive it, I +cannot go without it."</p> +<p>"A large sum in specie?" Vanslyperken reflected. "Yes, he would +secure Ramsay as a prisoner, and possess himself of the specie if +he could. His entrapping Ramsay on board would be another proof of +his fidelity and dexterity. But then Vanslyperken thought of the +defection of the corporal, but that was of no great consequence. +The crew of the cutter dare not disobey him, when they were ordered +to seize a traitor."</p> +<p>While Vanslyperken was meditating this, Ramsay fixed his eyes +upon him waiting for his reply.</p> +<p>"It will be difficult," observed Vanslyperken, "to get the +specie on board without being seen."</p> +<p>"I'm afraid so too, but I have a proposition to make. Suppose +you get under way, and--heave to a mile outside, I will then come +off in the syndic's barge. I can have the use of it. Then nothing +will be discovered."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken appeared to reflect again.</p> +<p>"I shall still run a great risk, Mr Ramsay."</p> +<p>"You will run some little perhaps, but you will be well paid for +it, I promise you."</p> +<p>"Well, sir, I consent," replied Vanslyperken. "At what hour do +you propose to embark?"</p> +<p>"About eleven or a little earlier. You will have a light over +the stern; hail the boat when you see it coming, and I shall +answer, 'King's messenger, with despatches;' that will be a blind +to your crew--they supposed me a king's messenger before."</p> +<p>"Yes, that will be prudent," replied Vanslyperken, who then took +his leave with great apparent cordiality.</p> +<p>"Villain," muttered Ramsay, as Vanslyperken shut the door, "I +know your thoughts."</p> +<p>We must pass over the remainder of this eventful day. Wilhelmina +had procured the dress of a boy, in which disguise she proposed to +elope with Ramsay, and all her preparations were made long before +the time. Mynheer Krause was also occupied in getting his specie +ready for embarkation, and Ramsay in writing letters. The +despatches from the Hague came down about nine o'clock, and +Vanslyperken received them on board. About ten, he weighed and made +sail, and hove-to about a mile outside, with a light shown as +agreed. About the time arranged, a large boat appeared pulling up +to the cutter. "Boat, ahoy!" "King's messenger with despatches," +was the reply. "All's right," said Vanslyperken, "get a rope there +from forward."</p> +<p>The boat darted alongside of the cutter. She pulled ten oars, +but, as soon as she was alongside, a number of armed men sprang +from her on the decks, and beat the crew below, while Ramsay, with +pistols in his belt, and his sword in his hand, went aft to +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"What is all this?" exclaimed the terrified lieutenant.</p> +<p>"Nothing, sir, but common prudence on my part," replied Ramsay. +"I have an account to settle with you."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken perceived that his treachery was discovered, and he +fell upon his knees. Ramsay turned away to give orders, and +Vanslyperken darted down the hatchway, and gained the lower +deck.</p> +<p>"Never mind," said Ramsay, "he'll not escape me; come, my lads, +hand up the boxes as fast as you can."</p> +<p>Ramsay then went to the boat, and brought up Wilhelmina, who had +remained there, and conducted her down into the cabin. The boxes +were also handed down, the boat made fast, and the conspirators +remained in possession of the deck. The helm was taken by one of +them; sail again made on the cutter, and the boat with a +boat-keeper towed astern.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XLVII"></a>Chapter XLVII</h2> +<h3>Which is rather interesting.</h3> +<br> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken's retreat was not known to the crew, they +thought him still on deck, and he hastened forward to secrete +himself, even from his own crew, who were not a little astonished +at this unexpected attack which they could not account for. The +major part of the arms on board were always kept in Mr +Vanslyperken's cabin, and that was not only in possession of the +assailants, but there was a strong guard in the passage outside +which led to the lower deck.</p> +<p>"Well, this beats my comprehension entirely," said Bill +Spurey.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"And mine too," added Obadiah Coble, "being as we are, as you +know, at peace with all nations, to be boarded and carried in this +way."</p> +<p>"Why, what, and who can they be?"</p> +<p>"I've a notion that Vanslyperken's at the bottom of it," replied +Spurey.</p> +<p>"Yes," said Short.</p> +<p>"But it's a bottom that I can't fathom," continued Spurey.</p> +<p>"My dipsey line arn't long enough either," replied Coble.</p> +<p>"Gott for dam, what it can be!" exclaimed Jansen. "It must be +the treason."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes," replied Corporal Van Spitter. "It is all +treason, and the traitor be Vanslyperken." But although the +corporal had some confused ideas, yet he could not yet arrange +them.</p> +<p>"Well, I've no notion of being boxed up here," observed Coble, +"they can't be so many as we are, even if they were stowed away in +the boat, like pilchards in a cask. Can't we get at the arms, +corporal, and make a rush for it."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! de arms are all in the cabin, all but three pair +pistols and the bayonets."</p> +<p>"Well, but we've handspikes," observed Spurey.</p> +<p>"Got for dam, gif me de handspike," cried Jansen.</p> +<p>"We had better wait till daylight, at all events," observed +Coble, "we shall see our work better."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"And, in the meantime, get everything to hand that we can."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"Well, I can't understand the manoeuvre. It beats my +comprehension, what they have done with Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>"I don't know, but they've kicked the cur out of the cabin."</p> +<p>"Then they've kicked him out too, depend upon it."</p> +<p>Thus did the crew continue to surmise during the whole night, +but, as Bill Spurey said, the manoeuvre beat their +comprehension.</p> +<p>One thing was agreed upon, that they should make an attempt to +recover the vessel as soon as they could.</p> +<p>In the meantime, Ramsay with Wilhelmina, and the Jesuits, had +taken possession of the cabin, and had opened all the despatches +which acquainted them with the directions in detail, given for the +taking of the conspirators at Portsmouth, and in the cave. Had it +not been to save his friends, Ramsay would, at once, have taken the +cutter to Cherbourg, and have there landed Wilhelmina and the +treasure; but his anxiety for his friends, determined him to run at +once for the cave, and send overland to Portsmouth. The wind was +fair and the water smooth, and, before morning, the cutter was on +her way.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the crew of the cutter had not been idle; the +ladders had been taken up and hatches closed. The only chance of +success was an attack upon the guard, who was stationed outside of +the cabin.</p> +<p>They had six pistols, about two hundred pounds of ammunition, +but with the exception of half-a-dozen bayonets, no other weapons. +But they were resolute men, and as soon as they had made their +arrangements, which consisted of piling up their hammocks, so as to +make a barricade to fire over, they then commenced operations, the +first signal of which, was a pistol-shot discharged at the men who +were on guard in the passage, and which wounded one of them. Ramsay +darted out of the cabin, at the report of the pistol, another and +another was discharged, and Ramsay then gave the order to fire in +return. This was done, but without injury to the seamen of the +cutter, who were protected by the hammocks, and Ramsay having +already three of his men wounded, found that the post below was no +longer tenable. A consultation took place, and it was determined +that the passage on the lower deck and the cabin should be +abandoned, as the upper deck it would be easy to retain.</p> +<p>The cabin's skylight was taken off, and the boxes of gold handed +up, while the party outside the cabin door maintained the conflict +with the crew of the <i>Yungfrau</i>. When all the boxes were up, +Wilhelmina was lifted on deck, the skylight was shipped on again, +and, as soon as the after hatches were ready to put on, Ramsay's +men retreated to the ladder, which they drew up after them, and +then put on the hatches.</p> +<p>Had not the barricade of hammocks prevented them, the crew of +the <i>Yungfrau</i> might have made a rush, and followed the others +on deck; but, before they could beat down the barricades, which +they did as soon as they perceived their opponents' retreat, the +ladder was up, and the hatches placed over the hatchways.</p> +<p>The <i>Yungfraus</i> had gained the whole of the lower deck, but +they could do no more; and Ramsay perceived that if he could +maintain possession of the upper deck, it was as much as he could +expect with such determined assailants. This warfare had been +continued during the whole morning, and it was twelve o'clock +before the cabin and lower deck had been abandoned by Ramsay's +associates. During the whole day the skirmishes continued, the crew +of the <i>Yungfrau</i> climbing on the table of the cabin, and +firing through the skylight, but in so doing, they exposed +themselves to the fire of the other party who sat like cats +watching for their appearance, and discharging their pieces the +moment that a head presented itself. In the meantime, the cutter +darted on before a strong favourable breeze, and thus passed the +first day. Many attempts were made during the night by the seamen +of the cutter to force their way on deck, but they were all +prevented by the vigilance of Ramsay; and the next morning the Isle +of Wight was in sight. Wilhelmina had passed the night on the +forecastle, covered up with a sail; none of his people had had +anything to eat during the time that they were on board, and Ramsay +was most anxious to arrive at his destination.</p> +<p>About noon, the cutter was abreast of the Black Gang Chine: +Ramsay had calculated upon retaining possession of the cutter, and +taking the whole of the occupants of the cave over to Cherbourg, +but this was now impossible. He had five of his men wounded, and he +could not row the boat to the cave without leaving so few men on +board, that they would be overpowered, for his ammunition was +expended, with the exception of one or two charges, which were +retained for an emergency. All that he could do now, was, +therefore, to put his treasure in the boat, and with Wilhelmina and +his whole party make for the cave, when he could send notice to +Portsmouth for the others to join them, and they must be content to +await the meditated attack upon the cave, and defend it till they +could make their escape to France. The wind being foul for the +cutter's return to Portsmouth, would enable him to give notice at +Portsmouth, over land, before she could arrive.</p> +<p>There was a great oversight committed when the lower deck was +abandoned, the despatches had been left on Mr Vanslyperken's bed. +Had they been taken away or destroyed, there would have been ample +time for the whole of his party to have made their escape from +England, before duplicates could arrive. As it was, he could do no +more than what we have already mentioned.</p> +<p>The boat was hauled up, the boxes of specie put in, the wounded +men laid at the bottom of the boat, and having, at the suggestion +of one of the men, cut the lower riggings, halyards, &c., of +the cutter to retard its progress to Portsmouth, Ramsay and his +associates stepped into the boat, and pulled for the cave.</p> +<p>Their departure was soon ascertained by the crew of the +<i>Yungfrau</i> who now forced the skylight, and gained the deck, +but not before the boat had entered the cave.</p> +<p>"What's to be done now?" said Coble. "Smash my timbers, but +they've played old Harry with the rigging. We must knot and +splice."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short.</p> +<p>"What the devil have they done with Vanslyperken?" cried Bill +Spurey.</p> +<p>"Either shoved him overboard, or taken him with them, I +suppose," cried Coble.</p> +<p>"Well, it's a nice job altogether," observed Spurey.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes," replied the corporal; "we will have a pretty +story to tell de admiral."</p> +<p>"Well, they've rid us of him at all events; I only hope they'll +hang him."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes."</p> +<p>"He'll have his desarts," replied Coble.</p> +<p>"Got for tam! I like to see him swing."</p> +<p>"Now he's gone, let's send his dog after him. Hurrah, my lads! +get a rope up on the yard, and let us hang Snarleyyow."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! I'll go fetch him," cried the corporal.</p> +<p>"You will--will you?" roared a voice.</p> +<p>The corporal turned round, so did the others, and there, with +his drawn sword, stood Mr Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"You d----d mutinous scoundrel," cried Vanslyperken, "touch my +dog, if you dare."</p> +<p>The corporal put his hand up to the salute, and Vanslyperken +shook his head with a diabolical expression of countenance.</p> +<p>"Now where the devil could he come from?" whispered Spurey.</p> +<p>Coble shrugged up his shoulders, and Short gave a long whistle +expending more breath than usual.</p> +<p>However, there was no more to be said; and as soon as the +rigging was knotted and spliced, sail was made in the cutter; but +the wind being dead in their teeth, they did not arrive until late +the next evening, and the admiral did not see despatches till the +next morning, for the best of all possible reasons, that +Vanslyperken did not take them on shore. He had a long story to +tell, and he thought it prudent not to disturb the admiral after +dinner, as great men are apt to be very choleric during the +progress of digestion.</p> +<p>The consequence was, that when, the next morning, Mr +Vanslyperken called upon the admiral, the intelligence had been +received from the cave, and all the parties had absconded. Mr +Vanslyperken told his own tale, how he had been hailed by a boat +purporting to have a messenger on board, how they had boarded him +and beat down himself and his crew, how he and his crew had fought +under hatches and beat them on deck, and how they had been forced +to abandon the cutter. All this was very plausible, and then +Vanslyperken gave the despatches opened by Ramsay.</p> +<p>The admiral read them in haste, gave immediate orders for +surrounding and breaking into the house of the Jew Lazarus, in +which the military found nobody but an old tom-cat, and then +desired Mr Vanslyperken to hold the cutter in readiness to embark +troops and sail that afternoon; but troops do not move so fast as +people think, and before one hundred men had been told off by the +sergeant with their accoutrements, knapsacks, and sixty pounds of +ammunition, it was too late to embark them that night, so they +waited until the next morning. Moreover, Mr Vanslyperken had orders +to draw from the dock-yard three large boats for the debarkation of +the said troops; but the boats were not quite ready, one required a +new gunnel, another three planks in the bottom, and the third +having her stern out, it required all the carpenters in the yard to +finish it by the next morning. Mr Vanslyperken's orders were to +proceed to the cave, and land the troops, to march up to the cave, +and to cover the advance of the troops, rendering them all the +assistance in his power in co-operating with the major commanding +the detachment; but where the cave was, no one knew, except that it +was thereabouts.</p> +<p>The next morning, at eight o'clock, the detachment, consisting +of one hundred men, were embarked on board of the cutter, but the +major commandant finding that the decks were excessively crowded, +and that he could hardly breathe, ordered section first, section +second, and section third, of twenty-five men each, to go into the +boats and be towed. After which there was more room, and the cutter +stood out for St Helen's.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XLVIII"></a>Chapter XLVIII</h2> +<h3>In which there is a great deal of correspondence,<br> +and the widow is called up very early in the morning.</h3> +<br> +<p>We must now return to Mynheer Krause, who, after he had +delivered over his gold, locked up his counting-house and went up +to the saloon, determining to meet his fate with all the dignity of +a Roman senator. He sent for his daughter, who sent word back that +she was packing up her wardrobe, and this answer appeared but +reasonable to the syndic, who, therefore, continued in his chair, +reflecting upon his approaching incarceration, conning speeches, +and anticipating a glorious acquittal, until the bell of the +cathedral chimed the half-hour after ten. He then sent another +message to his daughter, and the reply was that she was not in the +room, upon which he despatched old Koop to Ramsay, requesting his +attendance. The reply to this second message was a letter presented +to the syndic, who broke the seal and read as follows:</p> +<blockquote>"MY DEAR AND HONOURED SIR,<br> +<br> +"I have sought a proper asylum for your daughter during the +impending troubles, and could not find one which pleased, and in +consequence I have taken the bold step, aware that I might not have +received your sanction if applied for, of taking her on board the +cutter with me; she will there be safe, and as her character might +be, to a certain degree, impeached by being in company with a man +of my age, I intend, as soon as we arrive in port, to unite myself +to her, for which act, I trust, you will grant me your pardon. As +for yourself, be under no apprehension, I have saved you. Treat the +accusation with scorn, and if you are admitted into the presence of +his Majesty, accuse him of the ingratitude which he has been guilty +of; I trust that we shall soon meet again, that I may return to you +the securities and specie of which I have charge, as well as your +daughter, who is anxious once more to receive your +blessing.<br> +<br> +"Yours ever, till death,<br> +<br> +"EDWARD RAMSAY." +</blockquote><p>Mynheer Krause read this letter over and over again, it was very +mystifying. Much depends in this world upon the humour people are +in at the time; Mynheer Krause was, at that time, full of Cato-like +devotion and Roman virtue, and he took the contents of the letter +in true Catonic style.</p> +<p>"Excellent young man--to preserve my honour he has taken her +away with him! and, to preserve her reputation he intends to marry +her! Now, I can go to prison without a sigh. He tells me that he +has saved me--saved me!--why, he has saved everything; me, my +daughter, and my property! Well, they shall see how I behave! They +shall witness the calmness of a stoic; I shall express no emotion +or surprise at the arrest, as they will naturally expect, because I +know it is to take place--no fear--no agitation when in prison, +because I know that I am to be saved. I shall desire them to bear +in mind that I am the syndic of this town, and must receive that +respect which is due to my exalted situation," and Mynheer Van +Krause lifted his pipe and ordered Koop to bring him a stone jug of +beer, and thus doubly-armed like Cato, he awaited the arrival of +the officer with all the stoicism of beer and tobacco.</p> +<p>About the same hour of night that the letter was put into the +hands of Mynheer Krause, a packet was brought up to Lord Albemarle, +who was playing a game of put with his Grace the Duke of Portland; +at that time put was a most fashionable game; but games are like +garments, as they become old they are cast off, and handed down to +the servants. The outside of the despatch was marked "To Lord +Albemarle's own hands. Immediate and most important." It appeared, +however, as if the two noble lords considered the game of put as +more important and immediate, for they finished it without looking +at the packet in question, and it was midnight before they threw up +the cards. After which, Lord Albemarle went to a side table, apart +from the rest of the company, and broke the seals. It was a letter +with enclosures, and ran as follows:</p> +<blockquote>"MY LORD ALBEMARLE,<br> +<br> +"Although your political enemy, I do justice to your merits, and to +prove my opinion of you, address to you this letter, the object of +which is to save your government from the disgrace of injuring a +worthy man, and a staunch supporter, to expose the villany of a +coward and a scoundrel. When I state that my name is Ramsay, you +may at once be satisfied that, before this comes to your hands, I +am out of your reach. I came here in the king's cutter, commanded +by Mr Vanslyperken, with letters of recommendation to Mynheer +Krause, which represented me as a staunch adherent of William of +Orange and a Protestant, and, with that impression, I was well +received, and took up my abode in his house. My object you may +imagine, but fortune favoured me still more, in having in my power +Lieutenant Vanslyperken. I opened the government despatches in his +presence, and supplied him with false seals to enable him to do the +same, and give me the extracts which were of importance, for which +I hardly need say he was most liberally rewarded; this has been +carried on for some time, but it appears, that in showing him how +to obtain your secrets, I also showed him how to possess himself of +ours, and the consequence has been that he has turned double +traitor, and I have now narrowly escaped.<br> +<br> +"The information possessed by Mynheer Krause was given by me, to +win his favour for one simple reason, that I fell in love with his +daughter, who has now quitted the country with me. He never was +undeceived as to my real position, nor is he even now. Let me do an +honest man justice. I enclose you the extracts from your duplicates +made by Mr Vanslyperken, written in his own hand, which I trust +will satisfy you as to his perfidy, and induce you to believe in +the innocence of the worthy syndic from the assurance of a man, +who, although a Catholic, a Jacobite, and if you please an +attainted traitor, is incapable of telling you a falsehood. I am, +my lord, with every respect for your noble character.<br> +<br> +"Yours most obediently,<br> +<br>"EDWARD RAMSAY." +</blockquote> + +<p>"This is corroborative of my suspicions," said Lord Albemarle, +putting down the papers before the Duke of Portland.</p> +<p>The duke read the letter and examined the enclosures.</p> +<p>"Shall we see the king to-night?"</p> +<p>"No, he is retired, and it is of no use, they are in prison by +this time; we will wait the report to-morrow morning--ascertain how +many have been secured--and then lay these documents before his +Majesty."</p> +<p>Leaving the two noble lords to go to bed, we shall now return to +Amsterdam at twelve o'clock at night precisely; as the bell tolled, +a loud knock was heard at the syndic's house. Koop, who had been +ordered by his master to remain up, immediately opened the door, +and a <i>posse comitatus</i> of civil power filled the yard.</p> +<p>"Where is Mynheer Krause?" inquired the chief in authority.</p> +<p>"Mynheer, the syndic, is upstairs in the saloon."</p> +<p>Without sending up his name, the officer went up, followed by +three or four others, and found Mynheer Krause smoking his +pipe.</p> +<p>"Ah, my very particular friend, Mynheer Engelback, what brings +you here at this late hour with all your people? Is there a fire in +the town?"</p> +<p>"No, Mynheer Syndic. It is an order I am very sorry to say to +arrest you, and conduct you to prison."</p> +<p>"Arrest and conduct me to prison--me the syndic of the +town--that is strange--will you allow me to see your warrant--yes, +it is all true and countersigned by his Majesty; I have no more to +say, Mynheer Engelback. As syndic of this town, and administrator +of the laws, it is my duty to set the example of obedience to them, +at the same time protesting my entire innocence. Koop, get me my +mantle. Mynheer Engelback, I claim to be treated with the respect +due to me, as syndic of this town."</p> +<p>The officers were not a little staggered at the coolness and +<i>sang froid</i> of Mynheer Krause, he had never appeared to so +much advantage; they bowed respectfully as he finished his +speech.</p> +<p>"I believe, Mynheer Krause, that you have some friends staying +with you?"</p> +<p>"I have no friend in the house except my very particular friend, +Mynheer Engelback," replied the syndic.</p> +<p>"You must excuse us, but we must search the house."</p> +<p>"You have his Majesty's warrant so to do, and no excuse is +necessary."</p> +<p>After a diligent search of half an hour, nobody was found in the +house, and the officers began to suspect that the government had +been imposed upon. Mynheer Krause, with every mark of attention and +respect, was then walked off to the Hotel de Ville, where he +remained in custody, for it was not considered right by the +authorities, that the syndic should be thrown into the common +prison upon suspicion only. When he arrived there, Mynheer Krause +surprised them all by the philosophy with which he smoked his +pipe.</p> +<p>But, although there was nobody to be found, except the syndic in +the syndic's house, and not a soul at the house inhabited by the +Jesuit, there was one more person included in the warrant, which +was the widow Vandersloosh; for Lord Albemarle, although convinced +in his own mind of her innocence, could not take upon himself to +interfere with the decisions of the council; so, about one o'clock, +there was a loud knocking at the widow's door, which was repeated +again and again before it awoke the widow, who was fatigued with +her long and hot journey to the Hague. As for Babette, she made a +rule never to wake at anything, but the magical No. 6, sounded by +the church clock, or by her mistress's voice.</p> +<p>"Babette," cried the widow Vandersloosh, "Babette."</p> +<p>"Yes, ma'am."</p> +<p>"There's a knock at the door, Babette."</p> +<p>"Only some drunken sailors, ma'am--they go away when they find +they cannot get in."</p> +<p>Here the peals were redoubled.</p> +<p>"Babette, get up, Babette--and threaten them with the +watch."</p> +<p>"Yes, ma'am," replied Babette, with a terrible yawn.</p> +<p>Knocking and thumping with strokes louder than before.</p> +<p>"Babette, Babette!"</p> +<p>"I must put something on, ma'am," replied Babette, rather +crossly.</p> +<p>"Speak to them out of the window, Babette."</p> +<p>Here poor Babette came down to the first floor, and opening the +window at the landing-place on the stairs, put her head out and +cried,</p> +<p>"If you don't go away, you drunken fellows, my mistress will +send for the watch."</p> +<p>"If you don't come down and open the door, we shall break it +open," replied the officer sent to the duty.</p> +<p>"Tell them it's no inn, Babette, we won't let people in after +hours," cried the widow, turning in her bed and anxious to resume +her sound sleep.</p> +<p>Babette gave the message and shut down the window.</p> +<p>"Break open the door," cried the officer to his attendants. In a +minute or two the door was burst open, and the party ascended the +staircase.</p> +<p>"Mercy on me! Babette, if they arn't come in," cried the widow, +who jumped out of her bed, and nearly shutting her door, which had +been left open for ventilation, she peeped out to see who were the +bold intruders; she perceived a man in black with a white +staff.</p> +<p>"What do you want?" screamed the widow, terrified.</p> +<p>"We want Mistress Vandersloosh. Are you that person?" said the +officer.</p> +<p>"To be be sure I am. But what do you want here?"</p> +<p>"I must request you to dress and come along with me directly to +the Stadt House," replied the officer, very civilly.</p> +<p>"Gott in himmel! what's the matter?"</p> +<p>"It's on a charge of treasonable practices, madam."</p> +<p>"Oh, ho! I see: Mr Vanslyperken. Very well, good sir; I'll put +on my clothes directly. I'll get up any hour in the night, with +pleasure, to bring that villain--. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we +shall see. Babette, take the gentleman down in the parlour, and +give them some bottled beer. You'll find it very good, sirs; it's +of my own brewing. And Babette, you must come up and help me."</p> +<p>The officer did not think it necessary to undeceive the widow, +who imagined that she was to give evidence against Vanslyperken, +not that she was a prisoner herself. Still, the widow Vandersloosh +did not like being called up at such an unseasonable hour, and thus +expressed herself to Babette as she was dressing herself.</p> +<p>"Well, we shall see the ending of this, Babette.--My under +petticoat is on the chair.--I told the lords the whole truth, every +word of it; and I am convinced that they believed me, too.--Don't +pull tight all at once, Babette; how often do I tell you that. I do +believe you missed a hole.--The cunning villain goes there and says +that I--yes, Babette--that I was a traitor myself; and I said to +the lords, 'Do I look like a traitor?'--My petticoats, Babette; how +stupid you are, why, your eyes are half shut now; you know I always +wear the blue first, then the green, and the red last, and yet you +will give me the first which comes.--He's a handsome lord, that +Duke of Portland; he was one of the <i>bon</i>--before King William +went over and conquered England, and he was made a lord for his +valour.--My ruff, Babette. The Dutch are a brave nation.--My bustle +now.--How much beer did you give the officers? Mind you take care +of everything while I am gone. I shall be home by nine, I dare say. +I suppose they are going to try him now, that he may be hanged at +sunrise. I knew how it would be. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, every +dog has his day; and there's an end of you, and of your cur also, +I've a notion."</p> +<p>The widow being now duly equipped, walked down stairs to them, +and proceeded with the officers to the Stadt House. She was brought +into the presence of Mynheer Engelback, who held the office of +provost.</p> +<p>"Here is the widow Vandersloosh, mynheer."</p> +<p>"Very well," replied Engelback, who was in a very bad humour at +the unsuccessful search after the conspirators, "away with +her."</p> +<p>"Away! where?" exclaimed the widow.</p> +<p>Engelback did not condescend to make a reply. The officers were +mute; but one stout man on either side seized her arm and led her +away, notwithstanding expostulation, and some resistance on her +part.</p> +<p>"Where am I going? what is all this?" exclaimed the, widow, +terrified; but there was no answer.</p> +<p>At last they came to a door, held open already by another man +with a bunch of keys. The terrified woman perceived that it was a +paved stone cell, with a brick arch over it; in short, a dungeon. +The truth flashed upon her, for the first time. It was she who had +been arrested for treason. But before she could shriek she was +shoved in, and the door closed and locked upon her; and the widow +sank down into a sitting posture on the ground, overcome with +astonishment and indignation. "Was it possible? Had the villain +prevailed?" was the question, which she asked herself over and over +again, changing alternately from sorrow to indignation: at one time +wringing her hands, and at others exclaiming, "Well, well, Mr +Vanslyperken, we shall see."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XLIX"></a>Chapter XLIX</h2> +<h3>In which is related much appertaining to the "pomp and glorious +circumstance" of war.</h3> +<br> +<p>The arrival of Ramsay and his party was so unexpected, that, at +first, Lady Barclay imagined they had been betrayed, and that the +boat was filled with armed men from the king's cutter, who had come +on shore with a view of forcing an entrance into the cave. In a +minute every preparation was made for defence; for it had long been +arranged, that, in case of an unexpected attack, the women should +make all the resistance in their power, and which the nature of the +place enabled them to do.</p> +<p>But, as many observed, the party, although coming from the +cutter, and not badly armed, did not appear to advance in a hostile +manner. After waiting some time near the boat, they advanced, each +with a box on his shoulder; but what those boxes might be was a +puzzle; they might be hand-grenades for throwing into the cave. +However, they were soon down to the rock at which the ladder was +let down, and then Smallbones stood up with a musket in his hands, +with his straddling legs and short petticoat, and bawled out, "Who +comes there?"</p> +<p>Ramsay, who was assisting Wilhelmina, looked up surprised at +this singular addition to the occupants of the cave. And Wilhelmina +also looked at him, and said, "Can that be a woman, Ramsay?"</p> +<p>"At all events, I've not the honour of her acquaintance. But she +is pointing her musket,--we are friends," cried Ramsay. "Tell +Mistress Alice it is Ramsay."</p> +<p>Smallbones turned round and reported the answer; and then, in +obedience to his orders from Mistress Alice, he cried out, in +imitation of the sentinels, "Pass, Ramsay, and all's well!" +presented his arms, and made a flying leap off the rock where he +stood, down on the platform, that he might lower the ladder as soon +as Ramsay was up, who desired everybody might be sent down to +secure the boxes of specie as fast as they could, lest the cutter's +people, releasing themselves, should attempt an attack. Now, there +was no more concealment necessary, and the women as well as the men +went down the precipitous path and brought up the treasure, while +Ramsay introduced Wilhelmina to Lady Barclay, and, in a brief, but +clear narrative, told her all that had passed, and what they had +now to expect. There was not a moment for delay; the cutter's +people might send the despatches over land if they thought of it, +and be there as soon, if not sooner than themselves. Nancy Corbett +was summoned immediately, and her instructions given. The whole of +the confederates at Portsmouth were to come over to the cave with +what they could collect and carry about their persons; and, in case +of the cutter sending over land, with the precaution of being in +disguise. Of arms and ammunition there was sufficient in the cave, +which Ramsay now felt was to be defended to the last, until they +could make a retreat over to the other side of the channel. In half +an hour, Nancy was gone, and that very night had arrived at +Portsmouth, and given notice to the whole of the confederates. Upon +consultation, it was considered that the best disguise would be +that of females; and, in consequence, they were all so attired, and +before morning had all passed over, two or three in a boat, and +landed at Ryde, where they were collected by Moggy Salisbury, who +alone, of the party, knew the way to the retreat. They walked +across the island by two and three, one party just keeping sight of +the next ahead of them, and arrived without suspicion or +interruption, conducted by Moggy Salisbury, Lazarus the Jew, and +sixteen stout and desperate men, who had remained secreted in the +Jew's house, ready to obey any order, however desperate the risk +might be, of their employers.</p> +<p>When they were all assembled at the brow of the precipice, with +the exception of Lazarus, who looked like a little old woman, a +more gigantic race of females was never seen; for, determined upon +a desperate resistance if discovered, they had their buff jerkins +under their female garments. They were soon in the cave, and very +busy, under Ramsay's directions, preparing against the expected +attack. Sir Robert Barclay, with his boat, had been over two days +before, and it was not known when he would return. That his +presence was most anxiously looked for may be readily conceived, as +his boat's crew would double their force if obliged to remain +there; and his boat would enable them, with the one brought by +Ramsay, to make their escape without leaving one behind, before the +attack could be made.</p> +<p>Nancy Corbett, as the reader may have observed, did not return +to the cave with the conspirators. As she was not suspected, she +determined to remain at Portsmouth till the last, and watch the +motions of the authorities.</p> +<p>The cutter did not arrive till the evening of the second day, +and the despatches were not delivered to the admiral till the third +morning, when all was bustle and preparation. Nancy Corbett was +everywhere, she found out what troops were ordered to embark on the +expedition, and she was acquainted with some of the officers, as +well as the sergeants and corporals; an idea struck her which she +thought she could turn to advantage. She slipped into the +barrack-yard, and to where the men were being selected, and was +soon close to a sergeant whom she was acquainted with.</p> +<p>"So, you've an expedition on hand, Sergeant Tanner."</p> +<p>"Yes, Mistress Corbett, and I'm one of the party."</p> +<p>"I wish you joy," replied Nancy, sarcastically.</p> +<p>"Oh, it's nothing, Mistress Corbett, nothing at all, only some +smugglers in a cave; we'll soon rout them out."</p> +<p>"I've heard a different account from the admiral's clerk."</p> +<p>"Why, what have you heard?"</p> +<p>"First, tell me how many men are ordered out."</p> +<p>"A hundred rank and file--eight non-commissioned officers--two +lieutenants--one captain--and one major."</p> +<p>"Bravo, sergeant, you'll carry all before you."</p> +<p>"Why, I hope so, Mistress Corbett, especially as we are to have +the assistance of the cutter's crew."</p> +<p>"Better and better still," replied Nancy, ironically. "I wish +you joy of your laurels, sergeant, ha, ha, ha."</p> +<p>"Why do you laugh, Mistress Corbett, and what is that you have +heard at the admiral's office?"</p> +<p>"What you may hear yourself, and what I know to be true; there +is not a single smuggler in the cave."</p> +<p>"No!" exclaimed the sergeant. "What, nobody there?"</p> +<p>"Yes, there is somebody there, the cave has been chosen by the +smugglers to land their goods in."</p> +<p>"But some of them must be there in charge of the goods."</p> +<p>"Yes, so there are, but they are all women, the smugglers' +wives, who live there; what an expedition! Let me see:--one gallant +major, one gallant captain, two gallant lieutenants, eight gallant +non-commissioned officers, and a hundred gallant soldiers of the +Buffs, all going to attack, and rout, and defeat a score of old +women."</p> +<p>"But you're joking, Mistress Nancy."</p> +<p>"Upon my life I'm not, sergeant, you'll find it true; the +admiral's ashamed of the whole affair, and the cutter's crew swear +they won't fire a single shot."</p> +<p>"By the god of war!" exclaimed the sergeant, "but this is cursed +bad news you bring, Mistress Corbett."</p> +<p>"Not at all; your regiment will become quite the fancy, you'll +go by the name of the lady-killers, ha, ha, ha. I wish you joy, +sergeant, ha, ha, ha."</p> +<p>Nancy Corbett knew well the power of ridicule, she left the +sergeant, and was accosted by one of the lieutenants; she rallied +him in the same way.</p> +<p>"But are you really in earnest, Nancy?" said Lieutenant Dillon, +at last.</p> +<p>"Upon my soul I am; but, at the same time I hear, that they will +fight hard, for they are well-armed and desperate, like their +husbands, and they swear that they'll all die to a woman, before +they yield; so now we shall see who fights best, the women or the +men. I'll back my own sex for a gold Jacobus, lieutenant: will you +take the bet?"</p> +<p>"Good God, how very annoying! I can't, I won't order the men to +fire at women; I could not do so if they were devils incarnate; a +woman is a woman still."</p> +<p>"And never the worse for being brave, Lieutenant Dillon; as I +said to Sergeant Tanner, your regiment, after this, will always go +by the name of the lady-killers."</p> +<p>"D--n!" exclaimed the lieutenant; "but now I recollect there +must be more there; those who had possession of the cutter and who +landed in her boat."</p> +<p>"Yes, with forty boxes of gold they say; but do you think they +would be such fools as to remain there and allow you to take their +money--that boat started for France yesterday night with all the +treasure, and are now safe at Cherbourg. I know it for a fact, for +one of the men's wives who lives here, showed me a letter to that +effect, from her husband, in which he requests her to follow him. +But I must go now, good-bye, Mr Lady-killer."</p> +<p>The lieutenant repeated what Nancy had told him to the officers, +and the major was so much annoyed, that he went up to the admiral +and stated what the report was, and that there were only women to +contend with.</p> +<p>"It is mentioned in the despatches, I believe," observed the +admiral, "that there are only women supposed to be in the cave; but +the smugglers who were on board the cutter--"</p> +<p>"Have left with their specie yesternight, admiral; so that we +shall gain neither honour nor profit."</p> +<p>"At all events, you will have the merit of obeying your orders, +Major Lincoln."</p> +<p>The major made no reply, but went away very much dissatisfied. +In the meantime, the sergeant had communicated with his +non-commissioned officers and the privates ordered on the duty, and +the discontent was universal. Most of the men swore that they would +not pull a trigger against women, if they were shot for it, and the +disaffection almost amounted to mutiny. Nancy, in the meantime, had +not been idle, she had found means to speak with the boats' crews +of the <i>Yungfrau</i>, stated the departure of the smugglers with +their gold, and the fact that they were to fight with nothing but +women, that the soldiers had vowed that they would not fire a shot, +and that Moggy Salisbury, who was with them, swore that she would +hoist up her smock as a flag, and fight to the last. This was soon +known on board of the <i>Yungfrau</i>, and gave great disgust to +every one of the crew, who declared to a man, that they would not +act against petticoats, much less fire a shot at Moggy +Salisbury.</p> +<p>What a mountain of mischief can be heaped up by the insidious +tongue of one woman!</p> +<p>After this explanation, it may be supposed that the zeal of the +party despatched was not very great. The fact is, they were all +sulky, from the major downwards, among the military, and from +Vanslyperken downwards, among the naval portion of the detachment. +Nancy Corbett, satisfied with having effected her object, had +crossed over the night before, and joined her companions in the +cave, and what was extremely fortunate, on the same night Sir +Robert Barclay came over in the lugger, and finding how matters +stood, immediately hoisted both the boats up on the rocks, and +taking up all the men, prepared with his followers for a vigorous +resistance, naturally to be expected from those whose lives +depended upon the issue of the conflict.</p> +<p>Next morning the cutter was seen coming down with the boats in +tow, hardly stemming the flood, from the lightness of the breeze, +when Nancy Corbett requested to speak with Sir Robert Barclay. She +stated to him what she had done, and the dissatisfaction among the +troops and seamen in consequence, and submitted to him the +propriety of all the smugglers being dressed as women, as it would +operate more in their favour than if they had fifty more men to +defend the cave. Sir Robert perceived the good sense of this +suggestion, and consulted with Ramsay, who strongly urged the +suggestion being acted upon. The men were summoned, and the affair +explained to them, and the consequence was, that there was a scene +of mirth and laughter, which ended with every man being fitted with +woman's attire. The only one who remained in the dress of a man was +a woman, Wilhelmina Krause, but she was to remain in the cave with +the other women, and take no part in the coming fray.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_L"></a>Chapter L</h2> +<h3>In which the officers, non-commissioned officers,<br> +and rank and file, are all sent to the right about.</h3> +<br> +<p>About noon the <i>Yungfrau</i> hove-to off the cave, and the +troops were told off into the boats.</p> +<p>About half-past twelve the troops were in the boats all +ready.</p> +<p>About one Mr Vanslyperken had hoisted out his own boats, and +they were manned. Mr Vanslyperken, with his pistols in his belt, +and his sword drawn, told Major Lincoln that he was all ready. +Major Lincoln, with his spy-glass in his hand, stepped into the +boat with Mr Vanslyperken, and the whole detachment pulled for the +shore, and landed in the small cove, where they found the +smugglers' boats hoisted up on the rocks, at which the men appeared +to be rejoiced, as they took it for granted that they would find +some men to fight with instead of women. The major headed his men, +and they commenced a scramble up the rocks and arrived at the foot +of the high rock which formed the platform above at the mouth of +the cave, when the major cried "Halt!"--a very judicious order, +considering that it was impossible to go any further. The soldiers +looked about everywhere, but could find no cave, and after an +hour's strict search, Major Lincoln and his officers, glad to be +rid of the affair, held a consultation, and it was agreed that the +troops should be re-embarked. The men were marched down again very +hot from their exertions, and thus the expedition would have ended +without bloodshed, had it not been for the incautious behaviour of +a woman. That woman was Moggy Salisbury, who, having observed that +the troops were re-embarking, took the opportunity, while Sir +Robert and all the men were keeping close, to hoist up a certain +under-garment to a pole, as if in derision, thus betraying the +locality of the cave, and running the risk of sacrificing the whole +party in it. This, as it was going up, caught the eye of one of the +seamen in the boat, who cried out, "There goes the ensign up to the +peak at last."</p> +<p>"Where?" exclaimed the major, pulling out his telescope, "Yes, +by heavens! there it is--and there then must be the cave."</p> +<p>Neither Sir Robert nor any of the conspirators were aware of +this manoeuvre of Moggy's; for Smallbones, perceiving what she had +done, hauled it down again in a minute afterwards. But it had been +hoisted, and the major considered it his duty to return, so once +more the troop ascended the precipitous path.</p> +<p>Moggy then went into the cave. "They have found us out, sir," +said she, "they point to us, and are coming up again. I will stand +as sentry. The men won't fire at me, and if they do I don't +care."</p> +<p>Sir Robert and Ramsay were in close consultation. It appeared to +them that by a bold manoeuvre they would be able to get out of +their scrape. The wind had gone down altogether, the sea was as +smooth as glass, and there was every appearance of a continued +calm.</p> +<p>"If we could manage it--and I think we may--then the sooner the +affair is brought to an issue the better."</p> +<p>Moggy had now taken a musket on her shoulder, and was pacing up +and down the edge of the flat in imitation of a sentry. She was +soon pointed out, and a titter ran through the whole line: at last, +as the major approached, she called out,</p> +<p>"I say, soger, what are you doing here? keep off, or I'll put a +bullet in your jacket."</p> +<p>"My good woman," replied the major, while his men laughed, "we +do not want to hurt you, but you must surrender."</p> +<p>"Surrender!" cried Moggy, "who talks of surrender?--hoist the +colours there."</p> +<p>Up went the chemise to the end of the pole, and Smallbones +grinned as he hoisted it.</p> +<p>"My good woman, we must obey our orders."</p> +<p>"And I must obey mine," retorted Moggy. "Turn out the guard +there."</p> +<p>All the women now made their appearance, as had been arranged, +with muskets on their shoulders, headed by little Lilly, with her +drawn sword.</p> +<p>The sight of the child commanding the detachment was hailed with +loud cheers and laughter.</p> +<p>"That will do, that will do," cried Sir Robert, fearful for +Lilly, "let them come in again."</p> +<p>"They'll not fire first at all events," cried Moggy, "never +fear, sir. Guard, turn in," continued she; upon which, Lilly and +her squadron then disappeared.</p> +<p>"Upon my honour this is too ridiculous," said Lieutenant +Dillon.</p> +<p>"Upon my soul I don't know what is to be done," rejoined the +major.</p> +<p>"Moggy, we must commence hostilities somehow or another," cried +Sir Robert from within. Smallbones here came out with his musket to +release Moggy, and Moggy retired into the cave.</p> +<p>The major, who imagined that there must be a path to the cave on +the other side, now advanced with the determination of finding it +out, and somehow or another putting an end to this unusual +warfare.</p> +<p>"If you please you'll keep back, or I'll fire," cried +Smallbones, levelling his musket.</p> +<p>The major went on, heedless of the threat. Smallbones discharged +his piece, and the major fell.</p> +<p>"Confound that she-devil!--Are you hurt, major?" cried +Lieutenant Dillon.</p> +<p>"Yes, I am--I can't move."</p> +<p>Another shot was now fired, and the sergeant fell.</p> +<p>"Hell and flames! what must we do?"</p> +<p>But now the whole party of smugglers poured out of the cave as +women with bonnets on, and commenced a murderous fire upon the +troops who fell in all directions. The captain who had assumed the +command, now attempted to find his way to the other side of the +cave, where he had no doubt he should find the entrance, but in so +doing the soldiers were exposed to a most galling fire, without +being able to return it.</p> +<p>At first, the troops refused to fire again, for that they had to +deal with the smugglers' wives, they made certain of: even in the +thickest of the smoke there was nothing masculine to be seen; and +those troops who were at a greater distance, and who could return +the fire, did not. They were rather amused at the character of the +women, and not being aware that their comrades were falling so +fast, remained inactive. But there is a limit to even gallantry, +and as the wounded men were carried past them, their indignation +was roused, and, at last, the fire was as warmly returned, but +before that took place, one half of the detachment were <i>hors de +combat</i>.</p> +<p>All the assistance which they might have received from the +covering party of sailors on the beach, was neutralised; they did +not know how much the soldiers had suffered, and although they +fired in pursuance of orders, they would not take any aim.</p> +<p>For some time the soldiers were forced on to the eastern side of +the rock, which, as the reader may recollect, was much more +precipitous than the western side, where it was descended from by +the ladder. Here they were at the mercy of the conspirators, who, +concealed below the masses of the rock on the platform, took +unerring aim. The captain had fallen, Lieutenant Dillon was badly +wounded and led back to the boats, and the command had devolved +upon a young man who had but just joined the regiment, and who was +ignorant of anything like military tactics, even if they could have +been brought into play upon the service.</p> +<p>"Do you call this fighting with women, Sergeant Tanner?" said +one of the men. "I've seen service, but such a murderous fire I was +never in. Why, we've lost two-thirds of our men."</p> +<p>"And shall lose them all before we find out the mouth of this +cursed cave. The regiment has lost its character for ever, and I +don't care how soon a bullet settles my business."</p> +<p>Ramsay now detached a party of the men to fire at the covering +party of seamen who were standing by the boats in the cove and who +were unprotected, while his men were concealed behind the masses of +rocks. Many fell, wounded or killed; and Vanslyperken, after +shifting about from one position to another, ordered the wounded +men to be put into his boat, and with two hands he pulled off as he +said to procure more ammunition, leaving the remainder of his +detachment on shore, to do as well as they could.</p> +<p>"I thought as how this work would be too warm for him," observed +Bill Spurey.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short, who, at the moment received a bullet in +his thigh, and fell down among the rocks.</p> +<p>The fire upon the seamen continued to be effective. Move from +their post they did not, but one after another they sank wounded on +the ground. The soldiers who were now without any one to command +them, for those who had forced their way to the western side of the +rock, finding that advance or retreat was alike impossible, crawled +under the sides of the precipice to retreat from a murderous fire +which they could not return. The others were scattered here and +there, protecting themselves as well as they could below the masses +of stone, and returning the fire of the conspirators surely and +desperately. But of the hundred men sent on the expedition, there +were not twenty who were not killed or wounded, and nearly the +whole detachment of seamen had fallen where they stood.</p> +<p>It was then four o'clock, the few men who remained unhurt were +suffering from the extreme heat and exertion, and devoured with +thirst. The wounded cried for water. The sea was still, calm, and +smooth as a mirror; not a breath of wind blew to cool the fevered +brows of the wounded men, and the cutter, with her sails hanging +listless, floated about on the glassy water, about a quarter of a +mile from the beach.</p> +<p>"Now is our time, Sir Robert."</p> +<p>"Yes, Ramsay--now for one bold dash--off with this woman's gear, +my men--buckle on your swords and put pistols in your belts."</p> +<p>In a very short time this order was complied with, and, +notwithstanding some of the men were wounded in this day's affair, +as well as in the struggle for the deck of the cutter, the three +bands from Amsterdam, Portsmouth, and Cherbourg mustered forty +resolute and powerful men.</p> +<p>The ladder was lowered down, and they descended. Sir Robert +ordered Jemmy Ducks and Smallbones to remain and haul up the ladder +again, and the whole body hastened down to the cove, headed by Sir +Robert and Ramsay, seized the boats, and shoved off for the +cutter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_LI"></a>Chapter LI</h2> +<h3>In which the Jacobite cause is triumphant<br> +by sea as well as by land.</h3> +<br> +<p>The great difficulty which Sir Robert Barclay had to surmount, +was to find the means of transport over the channel for their +numerous friends, male and female, then collected in the cave: now +that their retreat was known, it was certain that some effective +measures would be taken by government, by which, if not otherwise +reduced, they would be surrounded and starved into submission.</p> +<p>The two boats which they had were not sufficient for the +transport of so numerous a body, consisting now of nearly one +hundred and fifty individuals, and their means of subsistence were +limited to a few days.</p> +<p>The arrival of the cutter with the detachments was no source of +regret to Sir Robert, who hoped, by the defeat of the troops, to +obtain their boats, and thus make his escape; but this would have +been difficult, if not impossible, if the cutter had been under +command, as she carried four guns, and could have prevented their +escape, even if she did not destroy the boats; but when Sir Robert +observed that it had fallen calm, it at once struck him, that if, +after defeating the troops, they could board and carry the cutter, +that all their difficulties were over: then they could embark the +whole of their people, and run her over to Cherbourg.</p> +<p>This was the plan proposed by Sir Robert, and agreed to by +Ramsay, and to accomplish this, now that the troops were put to the +rout, they had made a rush for, and obtained the boats. As for the +women left in the cave, they were perfectly secure for the time, +as, without scaling-ladders, there was no possibility of the +remaining troops, even if they were rallied, being able to effect +anything.</p> +<p>That part of the crew of the <i>Yungfrau</i> who had perceived +them rush down to the beach, reported it to Mr Vanslyperken, who +had gone down to his cabin, not choosing to take any further part +in the affray, or to risk his valuable life. Vanslyperken came on +deck, where he witnessed the manning of the boats, and their +pushing out of the cove.</p> +<p>"They are coming to attack us, sir," said Coble, who had been +left in charge of the cutter when Mr Vanslyperken went on +shore.</p> +<p>Mr Vanslyperken turned pale as a sheet; his eyes were fixed upon +the form of Ramsay, standing up on the stern-sheets of the first +boat, with his sabre raised in the air--he immediately recognised +him, panted for breath, and could make no reply.</p> +<p>The crew of the cutter, weakened as they were by the loss of +most of their best men, flew to their arms; Coble, Cornelius, and +Jansen, and Corporal Van Spitter were to be seen in the advance, +encouraging them.</p> +<p>"Gott for dam--let us have one slap for it," cried Jansen.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes," shouted the corporal.</p> +<p>Vanslyperken started up. "It's no use, my men--it's +madness--useless sacrifice of life; they are two to one--we must +surrender. Go down below, all of you--do you hear, obey my +orders?"</p> +<p>"Yes, and report them, too, to the admiral," replied Coble; "I +never heard such an order given in my born days, and fifty odd +years I have served in the king's fleet."</p> +<p>"Corporal Van Spitter, I order you below--all of you below," +cried Vanslyperken; "I command here--will you obey, sir?"</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes," replied the corporal, walking away, and coolly +descending the ladder.</p> +<p>The boats were now within ten yards of the cutter, and the men +stood irresolute; the corporal obeying orders had disheartened +them: some of them followed the corporal.</p> +<p>"It's no use," said Coble, "I sees now it's of no use; it's only +being cut to pieces for nothing, my men; but I won't leave the +deck." Coble threw away his cutlass, and walked aft; the other men +did the same, all but Jansen, who still hesitated. Coble caught the +cutlass out of his hand, and threw it overboard, just as the boats +dashed alongside.</p> +<p>"Gott for dam," muttered Jansen, folding his arms and facing the +men who jumped on the cutter's decks. Ramsay, who was first on +board when he perceived that the men were standing on the decks +without making any opposition, turned and threw up the points of +the swords of some of his men who were rushing blindly on, and, in +a minute all was quiet on the decks of the <i>Yungfrau</i>. Mr +Vanslyperken was not to be seen. At the near approach of the boats +he had hastened into his cabin and locked himself in; his only +feeling being, that Ramsay's wrath must cool, and his life be +spared.</p> +<p>"My lads," said Sir Robert to the crew of the cutter, "I am very +glad that you made no resistance to a force which you could not +resist, as I should have been sorry if one of you had lost his +life; but you must now go down below and leave the cutter's deck in +our possession. Perhaps it would be better if some of you took one +of your boats and went on shore to pick up your messmates who are +wounded."</p> +<p>"If you please, sir, we will," said Coble, coming forward, "and +the cutter is yours, as far as we are concerned. We will make no +attempts to retake her, at all events, for your kindness in +thinking of our poor fellows lying there on the beach. I think you +will promise that, my lads," continued Coble, turning to the +men.</p> +<p>"Yes, we promise that," said the men.</p> +<p>Coble then took the crew with him and pulled on shore to the +cove, on the margin of which they found all their men lying either +killed or wounded. Dick Short, Spurey, and nine others were taken +on board: those that were quite dead were left upon the sand. +Leaving only ten men on board the cutter, which, however, was +sufficient to cope with the few of the <i>Yungfrau</i> remaining on +board, had they been inclined to forfeit their word, Sir Robert and +Ramsay then returned with the rest of the party to-the boats, and +pulled on shore, for the rest of their assailants were not subdued; +about twenty of the soldiers still remained unhurt and were sitting +down on the rocks.</p> +<p>Ramsay, as soon as he landed, showed a white handkerchief on a +bayonet fixed to the muzzle of a musket.</p> +<p>"Sergeant Tanner," said one of the men, "there's a flag of +truce."</p> +<p>"Is there? I'm not sorry for it,--they are two to one even now. +I'll go forward to meet it."</p> +<p>The sergeant advanced to meet Ramsay.</p> +<p>"We might, if we pleased, oblige you to surrender or cut you to +pieces--that you must own; but we have no wish to hurt you--there +are too many good men dead already."</p> +<p>"That's true," replied the sergeant, "but it's one comfort you +have turned out at last to be men and not women."</p> +<p>"We have; but to the terms. You were sent to take possession of +the cave,--you shall have possession as soon as we are gone, if you +will draw off your party higher up this cliff and allow us to +embark without molestation. If you do not immediately accept these +terms, we shall certainly attack you, or you may do better if you +please--pile your muskets, collect your wounded men, bring them +down to the beach all ready to put into the boats, which, as soon +as we are safe, we will give you possession of--now is it a truce +or not?--you must be immediate."</p> +<p>"Yes, then, it is a truce, for I see no chance of better terms. +I am commanding officer, and you have the faith of Sergeant +Tanner."</p> +<p>The sergeant then returned, and when half way, called to his +men:</p> +<p>"Party fall in--pile arms." The soldiers, worn out by the long +conflict, and aware that they had no chance against such superior +numbers, gladly obeyed, and were now divided in sections of three +and four, collecting the wounded and carrying them down to the +cove.</p> +<p>Sir Robert and his men hastened to the rock--the ladder was +lowered, and all was on the alert for embarkation--Lady Barclay and +Lilly flew into his arms, while Wilhelmina hung on Ramsay; but they +allowed but a short time for endearment--time was too precious. The +luggage had all been prepared and the chests of specie were +lowered, the bundles thrown down, and, in a quarter of an hour, the +cave was cleared of all that they could take away with them.</p> +<p>The women then descended, and all hands were employed carrying +away the specie and luggage down to the boats. As soon as one boat +was loaded with the boxes of money, Lady Ramsay, Lilly, and +Wilhelmina were put in it, and one half of the men went with them +on board of the cutter where Coble had already arrived with the +wounded seamen. Ramsay remained with the other boat to embark the +women and luggage; when all was in, he called the sergeant, pointed +out to him the ladder, and told him that he might find something +worth his trouble in the cave.</p> +<p>"Is there a drop of anything to drink, sir? for we who are whole +are dying with thirst, and it's cruel to hear the poor wounded +fellows beg for water."</p> +<p>"You will find both water and spirits in plenty there, sergeant, +and you may tell your own story when you arrive at Portsmouth, we +shall never contradict you."</p> +<p>"The list of killed, wounded, and missing, will tell the story +fast enough," replied the sergeant; "but run up there, my lads, and +get some water for these poor fellows. Good-bye, sir, and many +thanks."</p> +<p>"Good-bye to you, Sergeant Tanner," said one of the women in the +boat.</p> +<p>"Nancy Corbett, by all that's wonderful!" cried the +sergeant.</p> +<p>"I told you so, sergeant--you'll never lose the name of +lady-killer."</p> +<p>"Pretty lady killing," muttered the sergeant, turning away in a +rage. Ramsay took the boats on board, and, as soon as they were +cleared, they were towed on shore to the cove by some of the +<i>Yungfrau's</i> men.</p> +<p>During this time the ladies, as well as the women, had remained +aft on deck, Vanslyperken having locked himself up in his cabin; +but Sir Robert now ordered his men to force the cabin door, and +take Mr Vanslyperken forward on the lower deck. When the door was +opened, Vanslyperken was found in his bed more dead than alive: he +was pulled out and dragged forward. The ladies were then handed +below, and, as soon as the specie had been put down, and the +luggage cleared from the upper deck, the women were ordered to go +down on the lower deck, and Mr Vanslyperken ordered to be brought +up.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_LII"></a>Chapter LII</h2> +<h3>In which a great deal of loyalty is shown to counterbalance the +treason of Vanslyperken.</h3> +<br> +<p>We must not, however, forget the syndic and the widow +Vandersloosh, whom we left in confinement at Amsterdam. We left +Mynheer Krause smoking his pipe, and showing to those about him how +great a great man always proves himself when under adversity. The +widow also, had she performed in public, would have been +acknowledged to have been a great woman. She could not but lament +the present, for she was on the floor of a dungeon, so she +occasionally wrung her hands; but she looked forward to the future, +and to better times, not abandoning herself to despair, but +comforting herself with hope, as might have been clearly proved by +her constant repetition of these words: "Well, well, Mr +Vanslyperken, we shall see."</p> +<p>That the night appeared long to both parties is not to be +denied, but the longest night will have its end, so long as the +world continues to turn round; the consequence was, that the +morning came as usual to the syndic, although the widow from the +peculiarity of her situation, had not the same advantage.</p> +<p>After morning, comes breakfast, in the natural order of mundane +affairs, and kings, being but men, and subject to the same wants as +other mortals, his Majesty, King William, sat down, and despatched +a very hasty meal, in company with his Grace the Duke of Portland, +and the Right Honourable the Lord Albemarle. History does not +record, as it sometimes does in works of this description, by what +viands his Majesty's appetite was stimulated; we must therefore +pass it over, and as his Majesty did on that occasion, as soon as +breakfast was over, proceed to business.</p> +<p>"Have you received information, my Lord Albemarle, how many of +the conspirators have been seized?"</p> +<p>"May it please your Majesty, I am sorry to inform you, that all +who were innocent have been imprisoned, and all who were guilty, +have escaped."</p> +<p>Upon this intelligence his Majesty looked very grave.</p> +<p>"How do you mean, my lord?" said he, after a pause.</p> +<p>"The conspirators have all received some friendly notice, and +the only two who are in custody are the syndic, Mynheer Krause, and +the woman who keeps the Lust Haus."</p> +<p>"And you put the syndic down as an innocent person, my +lord?"</p> +<p>"If your Majesty will be pleased to read this communication," +replied Lord Albemarle, presenting Ramsay's letter and enclosures, +"you will then be of my opinion."</p> +<p>King William took the letter and read it. "What Ramsay--he who +was attainted with Sir Robert Barclay?"</p> +<p>"The same, your Majesty."</p> +<p>"So near us, and escaped--but what credence would you place in +him?"</p> +<p>"Every credence, may it please your Majesty. I believe him to be +incapable of a lie."</p> +<p>"A traitor, like him!"</p> +<p>"A traitor to your Majesty, but most true to his Catholic +Majesty, King James that was. But if I venture to point out to your +Majesty, the enclosures prove that Lieutenant Vanslyperken's word +is not of much value. He, at least, is a double traitor."</p> +<p>"Yes, a little hanging will do him no harm--you are sure this is +his writing?"</p> +<p>"There can be no doubt of it, your Majesty, I have compared +it."</p> +<p>"You will see to this, my lord: and now to the syndic."</p> +<p>"He has, as your Majesty will perceive, been grossly deceived, +and suspected without reason."</p> +<p>"And the woman?"</p> +<p>"Was here yesterday, and fully convinced me that Vanslyperken +was a traitor, and that she was innocent. His Grace of Portland was +present."</p> +<p>"Well, my lord, you may give orders for their release; of course +a little surveillance will be advisable. You will justify the +proceedings to the council, this afternoon."</p> +<p>"But may I presume to submit to your Majesty, that the public +affront offered to the syndic should be repaired."</p> +<p>"Certainly--send for him," replied his Majesty, carelessly. "I +will receive him to-morrow morning," and his Majesty left the +room.</p> +<p>Lord Albemarle immediately despatched a courier with an order +for the release of the syndic and the Frau Vandersloosh, with a +note to the former, stating that his Majesty would receive him on +the following day at noon. But while this act of justice had been +preparing at the palace of the Hague, there were other acts, not +quite so justifiable performing at the town of Amsterdam.</p> +<p>The sun made its appearance more than an hour, before the troops +of the royal Guard. Mobs were collected in knots in the street, and +in front of the Hotel de Ville, or Stadt House, and the object of +their meeting, was to canvas the treason and imprisonment of the +syndic, Mynheer Van Krause. "Shame--shame,"--"Death to the +traitor,"--"Tear him to pieces,"--and "Long life to King William," +were the first solitary remarks made--the noise and hubbub +increased. The small knots of people gradually joined together, +until they formed a large mob, all burning with loyalty, and each +individual wishing to give a practical evidence of it--again were +the cries of "Long live the King!" and "Death to traitors!" to be +heard, with loud huzzas. A confused din followed, and the mob +appeared, as if simultaneously, to be all impelled in one +direction. At last the word was given, which they all waited for. +"To his house--to his house--down with it--death to the traitor!" +and the loyal mob hastened on, each individual eager to be first to +prove his loyalty, by helping himself to Mynheer Krause's goods and +chattels.</p> +<p>In the low countries, this species of loyalty always has been, +and is now very much the fashion. In ten minutes, the gates were +forced open--old Koop knocked down, and trod under foot till he was +dead--every article of value that was portable, was secured; +chairs, tables, glasses, not portable, were thrown out of the +window; Wilhelmina's harp and pianoforte battered to fragments; +beds, bedding, everything flew about in the air, and then the +fragments of the furniture were set fire to, and in less than an +hour Mynheer Krause's splendid house was burning furiously, while +the mob cheered and cried, "Long live King William!"</p> +<p>Before the courier could arrive from the Hague, all that was +left of Mr Krause's property was the bare walls. Merchandises, +everything was consumed, and part of the building had fallen into +the canal and choked it up, while fifteen schuyts waiting to be +discharged of their cargoes had been obliged to retreat from the +fury of the flames, the phlegmatic skippers looking on with their +pipes in their mouths, and their hands in their wide +breeches-pockets.</p> +<p>The loyal mob having effected their object, gradually retired. +It is singular, that popular feeling is always expressed in the +same way. Had the mob collected for disloyal purposes, they would +have shown their disloyalty just in the like manner, only it would +have been the Stadt House instead of that of Mynheer Krause.</p> +<p>But now there was a fresh impetus given to the feelings of the +mob. The news had been spread like wildfire, that Mynheer the +syndic had been proved innocent, and ordered to be immediately +liberated, and was sent for by his Majesty; upon which, the mob +were undecided, whether they should prove their indignation, at +this unjust imprisonment of their worthy magistrate, by setting +fire to some public building, or by carrying him in triumph to his +own house, which they forgot they had burnt down. Fortunately they +decided upon the latter, they surrounded the Stadt House with cries +of "Long life to our worthy syndic--prosperity to Mynheer Krause," +and rushing up stairs, they caught him in their arms, and carried +him triumphantly through the streets bringing him at last to the +smoking ruins of his own house, and there they left him; they had +done all they could, they had carried him there in triumph, but, as +for building the house up again, that was impossible; so, as +Mynheer Krause looked with dismay at the wreck of all his property, +the loyal mob dispersed, each feeling that he had been a little too +hasty in possessing himself of a small share of it. What a fine +thing is loyalty! Mynheer Krause found himself alone; he looked +with scorn and indignation upon the scene of violence, and then +walked away to an hotel, particularly disgusted with the loyal cry +of "Long live King William."</p> +<p>In the meantime, the door of the dungeon where the widow +Vandersloosh was incarcerated was thrown open, and she was informed +that she was no longer a prisoner. The widow indignant that she +should have been confined for her loyalty, raved and walked +majestically out of the Stadt House, not deigning to answer to the +compliments offered to her by some of the inferior officers. Her +bosom swelled with indignation, and she was determined to tell his +Majesty a bit of her mind, if she should obtain access to him; and +the next day she took the trouble to go all the way to the Hague, +again to see his Majesty, but his Majesty wasn't at home, and Lord +Albemarle to whom she sent in, was indisposed, and his Grace the +Duke of Portland was particularly engaged; so the widow had the +journey for nothing, and she declared to Babette, that she never +would put her foot under the palace roof again as long as she +lived.</p> +<p>But, although Madam Vandersloosh was not received at court that +day, the syndic Mynheer Krause was; when he sent in his name, Lord +Albemarle led the syndic by the hand to his Majesty.</p> +<p>"We have been too hasty, Mynheer Krause," said his Majesty, with +a gracious smile.</p> +<p>Mynheer bowed low.</p> +<p>"I regret to hear that the populace in their loyalty have burnt +down your house, Mr Krause--they were too hasty."</p> +<p>Mynheer Krause made another low bow.</p> +<p>"You will continue your office of syndic of the town of +Amsterdam."</p> +<p>"Pardon me, your Majesty," replied Mynheer Krause respectfully, +but firmly, "I have obeyed your summons to appear in your presence, +but will request that your Majesty will release me from the burden. +I have come to lay my chain and staff of office at your Majesty's +feet, it being my intention to quit the town."</p> +<p>"You are too hasty, Mynheer Krause," replied his Majesty with +displeasure.</p> +<p>"May it please your Majesty," replied Krause. "He who has been +confined as a prisoner in the Stadt House, is not fit to exercise +his duties there as a judge; I have served your Majesty many years +with the utmost zeal and fidelity. In return, I have been +imprisoned and my property destroyed, I must now return to a +station more suitable to my present condition, and once more with +every assurance of loyalty, I beg to be permitted to lay my +insignia of office at your Majesty's feet."</p> +<p>Mynheer Krause suited the action to the word. The king frowned +and turned away to the window, and Mynheer Krause perceiving that +his Majesty's back was turned upon him, walked out of the door.</p> +<p>"Too hasty," thought Mynheer Krause, "I am loyal and thrown into +prison, and am expected to be satisfied with the plea of being too +hasty. My house is burnt down, and the plundering mob have been too +hasty. Well--well--it is fortunate I took Ramsay's advice, my house +and what was in it was a trifle; but if all my gold at Hamburgh and +Frankfort, and in the charge of Ramsay had been there, and I had +been made a beggar, all the satisfaction I should have received +would have been a smile, and the excuse of being too hasty. I +wonder where my daughter and Ramsay are? I long to join them."</p> +<p>From which mental soliloquy, it will be evident to the reader, +that Mynheer Krause's loyalty had been considerably diminished, +perhaps thinking that he had paid too dear for the commodity.</p> +<p>Upon his return, Mynheer Krause publicly announced that he had +resigned the office of syndic, much to the astonishment of those +who heard of it, and much to the delight of his very particular +friend Engelback, who, the next morning set off for the Hague, and +had an interview with his Grace the Duke of Portland, the result of +which was, that upon grounds best known to the parties; for history +will not reveal everything, Mynheer Engelback was recommended to +fill the office of syndic of the town of Amsterdam, vacant by the +resignation of Mynheer Krause; and that in consequence of this, all +those who took off their hats to Mynheer Krause but two days +before, and kept them on when they met Mynheer Engelback, now kept +them on when they met Mynheer Krause, and pulled them off very +politely to Mynheer Krause's very particular friend, Mynheer +Engelback.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_LIII"></a>Chapter LIII</h2> +<h3>Trial and execution of two of the principal personages in our +history.</h3> +<br> +<p>We left Sir Robert Barclay on the deck of the cutter, the ladies +and women sent down below, and Mr Vanslyperken on the point of +being dragged aft by two of Sir Robert's men. The crew of the +<i>Yungfrau</i>, at the time, were on the lower deck, some +assisting the wounded men, others talking with Jemmy Salisbury and +his wife, whom they were astonished to find among the +assailants.</p> +<p>"Why, Jemmy, how did you get a berth among those chaps?"</p> +<p>"I'll tell you," said Moggy, interrupting: "when he was last at +Portsmouth, they heard him playing his fiddle and singing, and they +took such a fancy to him, that they were determined to have him to +amuse them in the cave. So one evening, they <i>kidnapped</i> him, +took him away by main force, and kept him a prisoner ever +since."</p> +<p>"That's carrying the joke rather too far," observed one of the +men.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>"But I am at liberty again now at all events," replied Jemmy, +taking the cue from his wife; "and if that chap, Vanslyperken, +don't command the cutter any more, which I've a notion he will not, +I shall enter as boatswain--heh, Dick."</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Short, who was swinging in his hammock.</p> +<p>"Well--when I found that Jemmy couldn't be found, that my dear +darling duck of a husband--my jewel, a box of diamonds (arn't you +my Jemmy), didn't I tear my hair, and run about the streets, like a +mad woman," continued Moggy. "At last I met with Nancy Corbett, +whose husband is one of the gang, and she told me where he was, +fiddle and all, and I persuaded her to let me go to him, and that's +why we both are here."</p> +<p>This was a good invention of Moggy's, and as there was nobody +who took the trouble to disprove it, it was received as not the +least apocryphal. But now Mr Vanslyperken was dragged past them by +two of the conspirators, and all the men of the <i>Yungfrau</i> +followed on deck, to see what was to take place.</p> +<p>When Mr Vanslyperken had been brought aft, his legs tottered, +and he could hardly stand. His face was livid, and his lips white +with fear, and he knew too well that he had little mercy to +expect.</p> +<p>"Now, sir," said Sir Robert, with a stern air, "hear the +accusation against you, for although we may be lawless, we will +still be just. You voluntarily entered into our service, and +received our pay. You were one of us, with only this difference, +that we have taken up the cause from principle and loyalty, and you +joined us from mercenary motives. Still we kept our faith with you; +for every service performed, you were well and honourably paid. But +you received our money and turned against us; revealed our secrets, +and gave information to your government, by which that gentleman" +(pointing to Ramsay) "and many others, had not they fortunately +received timely notice, would have perished by the gibbet. Now, +sir, I wish to know, what you can bring forward in your defence, +what have you to urge that you should not die the death which you +so traitorously prepared for others."</p> +<p>"Die!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, "no--no--mercy, sir--mercy. I am +not fit to die."</p> +<p>"Few are--but this is certain--that a villain like you is not +fit to live."</p> +<p>"On my knees, I ask mercy," cried the frightened wretch, +dropping down. "Mr Ramsay, speak for me."</p> +<p>"I will speak," replied Ramsay, "but not for you, I will show +you, that even if you were to escape us, you would still be hung; +for all your extracts of the despatches, I have, with full +explanation, put into the hands of the English government. Do you +expect mercy from them--they have not showed much as yet."</p> +<p>"O God--O God!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, throwing himself down on +the deck in despair.</p> +<p>"Now, my lads, you have heard the charges against this man, and +also that he has no defence to offer, what is your sentence?"</p> +<p>"Death!" exclaimed the conspirators.</p> +<p>"You men, belonging to the cutter, you have heard that this man +has betrayed the present government of England, in whose pay and +service he was at the time--what is your opinion?"</p> +<p>Hereupon, Obadiah Coble hitched up his trousers, and said, "Why, +as a matter of opinion, I agrees with you, sir, whomsoever you may +be."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott! yes, sir," exclaimed the corporal.</p> +<p>And all the crew cried out together, "Death--death!" which, +by-the-bye, was very mutinous.</p> +<p>"You perceive that you are doubly condemned as a double +traitor," said Sir Robert. "So prepare to die; the religion you +profess I know not, but the time you will be allowed to make your +peace with your God is fifteen minutes."</p> +<p>"Oh!" groaned Vanslyperken, with his face to the deck.</p> +<p>"Up there, my lads, and get a whip on the yard-arm," said +Ramsay.</p> +<p>Some of his party went to obey the order, and they were assisted +by the seamen of the <i>Yungfrau</i>. But while they were getting +the whip ready on the starboard, Jemmy Ducks was very quietly +employed getting another on the larboard yard-arm, which nobody +took notice of.</p> +<p>As soon as the whip, and the cord with the hangman's noose made +fast to it, were all ready, it was reported to Sir Robert by +Corporal Van Spitter, who stepped up to him with his usual military +salute. Sir Robert took off his hat in return. His watch had been +held in his hand, from the time that he had passed sentence upon +Vanslyperken, who still remained prostrate on the deck.</p> +<p>"It is my duty to inform you, sir, that but five minutes are +left of the time awarded to you," said Sir Robert to +Vanslyperken.</p> +<p>"Five minutes!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, jumping up from the +deck, "but five minutes--to die in five minutes," continued he, +looking up with horror at the rope at the yard-arm, and the fatal +noose at the end of it, held in the hand of Corporal Van Spitter. +"Stop, I have gold--plenty of gold--I can purchase my life."</p> +<p>"Kingdoms would not purchase it," said Sir Robert, +scornfully.</p> +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, wringing his hands, "must I leave +all my gold?"</p> +<p>"You have but two minutes, sir," observed Sir Robert. "Let the +rope be put round his neck."</p> +<p>This office was performed by Corporal Van Spitter. The corporal +was quite an amateur.</p> +<p>"Mercy, mercy," cried Vanslyperken, again falling on his knees, +and holding up his hands.</p> +<p>"Call upon Heaven for mercy, you have but one minute left."</p> +<p>But here an interruption took place.</p> +<p>A female made her appearance on the other side of the deck, +dragging, by a cord, the hero of our novel, Snarleyyow, who held +back with all his power, jerking his head to the right and to the +left, but it was of no use, he was dragged opposite to where +Vanslyperken knelt. As the reader may guess, this person was +Smallbones, who had tied on a bonnet, and muffled up his face, so +as not to be observed when he first went on board. Jemmy Ducks now +assisted, and the whip on the larboard yard-arm was made fast to a +cord with a running noose, for the hanging of the cur.</p> +<p>The sight roused Vanslyperken. "My dog!" exclaimed he, "woman, +leave that dog alone--who are you that dare touch my dog?"</p> +<p>The female turned round, threw off her bonnet and handkerchief +and exhibited to the terrified lieutenant, the face of the supposed +departed Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Smallbones!" exclaimed the crew of the <i>Yungfrau</i> in a +breath.</p> +<p>"God of mercy--help me, God of mercy!" cried Vanslyperken, +aghast.</p> +<p>"I suppose that you do come for to go to know me now, anyhow," +said Smallbones.</p> +<p>"Hath the sea given up its dead?" replied Vanslyperken, in a +hollow voice.</p> +<p>"No, it arn't, 'cause why? I never was a drowned," replied +Smallbones; "no thanks to you, though; but if so be as I supposes, +you be a going to be hung--as I'm a good Christian, I'll forgive +you--that is, if you be hung, you know."</p> +<p>Vanslyperken, who now perceived that Smallbones had been by some +miracle preserved, recovered himself.</p> +<p>"If you forgive me," replied Vanslyperken, "then pray do not +ill-treat my dog."</p> +<p>"I'se not forgiven him, anyhow--I owes him enough, and now I'll +have his account settled, by gum. When you goes up there, he goes +up here, as sure as I'm Peter Smallbones."</p> +<p>"Be merciful!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, who, strange to say, +forgot his own miseries in pleading for his darling cur.</p> +<p>"He be a convicted traitor, and he shall die, by gum!" cried +Smallbones, smacking his fist into the palm of his hand.</p> +<p>During the conversation, the time allotted to Vanslyperken had +long expired, but the interest occasioned by it had inclined Sir +Robert to wait till it was over.</p> +<p>"Enough," cried Sir Robert, "your time is too long expired. +Commend your soul to God--let the rope be manned."</p> +<p>"Now Jemmy, stand by to toddle forward," cried Smallbones.</p> +<p>"One moment--I ask but one moment," cried Vanslyperken, much +agitated, "only one moment, sir."</p> +<p>"For what?"</p> +<p>"To kiss my poor dog," replied Vanslyperken, bursting into +tears; strange and almost ridiculous as was the appeal, there was a +seriousness and a pathos in Vanslyperken's words and manner, which +affected those who were present like a gleam of sunshine, this one +feeling which was unalloyed with baser metal shone upon the close +of a worthless and wicked life, Sir Robert nodded his head, and +Vanslyperken walked with his rope round his neck over to where the +dog was held by Smallbones, bent over the cur and kissed it again +and again.</p> +<p>"Enough," cried Sir Robert, "bring him back."</p> +<p>Corporal Van Spitter took hold of Vanslyperken by the arm, and +dragged him to the other side of the deck. The unfortunate wretch +was wholly absorbed in the fate of his cur, who had endeavoured to +follow his master. His eyes were fixed upon Snarleyyow, and +Snarleyyow's were fixed upon his master, thus they were permitted +to remain for a few seconds, when Sir Robert gave the signal. Away +went the line of men who had manned the starboard whip, and away +went Jemmy Ducks on the larboard side, and, at the yard-arms' of +the cutter were suspended the bodies of Vanslyperken and +Snarleyyow.</p> +<p>Thus perished one of the greatest scoundrels, and one of the +vilest curs, which ever existed. They were damnable in their lives, +and in their deaths they were not divided.</p> +<p>By the manuscript records, found in the Jacobite papers, it +appears that the double execution took place on the 3rd of August +in the year of our Lord, 1700.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_LIV"></a>Chapter LIV</h2> +<h3>In which affairs begin to wind up.</h3> +<br> +<p>There are few people whose vindictive feelings are not satisfied +with the death of the party against whom those feelings have been +excited. The eyes of all on deck (that is all except one) were at +first directed to the struggling Vanslyperken, and then, as if +sickened at the sight of his sufferings, were turned away with a +feeling very near akin to compassion.</p> +<p>One only looked or never thought of Vanslyperken, and that one +was Smallbones, who watched the kicking and plunging of his natural +enemy, Snarleyyow. Gradually, the dog relaxed his exertions, and +Smallbones watched, somewhat doubtful, whether a dog who had defied +every other kind of death, would condescend to be hanged. At last, +Snarleyyow was quite still. He appeared nearly to have gone +to--"Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at +rest."</p> +<p>"He won't a cum to life any more this time," said Smallbones; +"but I'll not let you out of my hands yet. They say a cat have nine +lives, but, by gum, some dogs have ninety."</p> +<p>There was a dead silence on the deck of the cutter for a quarter +of an hour, during which the bodies remained suspended. A breeze +then came sweeping along and ruffled the surface of the water. This +was of too great importance to allow of further delay. Sir Robert +desired the seamen of the <i>Yungfrau</i> to come aft, told them he +should take their cutter to Cherbourg, to land the Women and his +own people, and that then they would be free to return to +Portsmouth; all that he requested of them was to be quiet and +submissive during the short time that he and his party were on +board. Coble replied for the ship's company--"As for the matter of +that 'ere--there was no fear of their being quiet enough when there +were more than two to one against them; but that, in fact, they had +no animosity: for even if they did feel a little sore at what had +happened, and their messmates being wounded, what was swinging at +the yard-arm made them all friends again. The gentleman might take +the cutter where he pleased, and might use her as long as he liked, +and when he had done with her it was quite time enough to take her +back to Portsmouth."</p> +<p>"Well, then, as we understand one another, we had now better +make sail," said Sir Robert. "Cut away that rope," continued he, +pointing to the whip by which Vanslyperken's body was +suspended.</p> +<p>Jansen stepped forward with his snickasee, the rope was divided +at once, and the body of the departed Vanslyperken plunged into the +wave and disappeared.</p> +<p>"They mayn't cut this tho'!" cried Smallbones. "I'll not trust +him--Jemmy, my boy, get up a pig of ballast. I'll sink him fifty +fathoms deep, and then if so be he cum up again, why then I give it +up for a bad job."</p> +<p>Jemmy brought up the pig of ballast, the body of Snarleyyow was +lowered on board, and, after having been secured with divers turns +of the rope to the piece of iron, was plunged by Smallbones into +the wave.</p> +<p>"There," said Smallbones, "I don't a think that he will ever +bite me any more, anyhow; there's no knowing though. Now I'll just +go down and see if my bag be to be found, and then I'll dress +myself like a Christian."</p> +<p>The cutter flew before the breeze which was on her quarter, and +now that the hanging was over the females came on deck. One of the +Jesuit priests was a good surgeon, and attended to the wounded men, +who all promised to do well, and as Bill Spurey said,</p> +<p>"They'd all dance yet at the corporal's wedding."</p> +<p>"I say corporal, if we only could go to Amsterdam instead of +going to Portsmouth."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes;" replied the corporal, and acting upon this +idea, he went aft and entered into conversation with Ramsay, giving +him a detail of the affair with the widow and of her having gone to +the Hague to accuse Vanslyperken, ending with expressing his wish +of himself and the crew that they might go to the Hague instead of +going to Portsmouth. Nothing could please Ramsay better. He was +most anxious to send a letter to Mynheer Krause to inform him of +the safety of his daughter, and he immediately answered that they +might go if they pleased.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott--but how, mynheer--we no have the excuse."</p> +<p>"But I'll give you one," replied Ramsay--"you shall go to the +Hague."</p> +<p>The corporal touched his hat with the greatest respect, and +walked forward to communicate this good news. The crew of the +<i>Yungfrau</i> and the conspirators or smugglers were soon on the +best of terms, and as there was no one to check the wasteful +expenditure of stores and no one accountable, the liquor was +hoisted up on the forecastle, and the night passed in +carousing.</p> +<p>"Well, he did love his dog after all," said Jemmy Ducks.</p> +<p>"And he's got his love with him," replied one of the +smugglers.</p> +<p>"Now, Jemmy, let's have a song."</p> +<p>"It must be without the fiddle then," replied Jemmy, "for that's +jammed up with the baggage--so here goes,"</p> +<blockquote>I've often heard the chaplain say, when Davey Jones is +nigh,<br> +That we must call for help in need, to Providence on high,<br> +But then he said, most plainly too, that we must do our best,<br> +Our own exertions failing, leave to Providence the rest.<br> +<br> +I never thought of this much till one day there came on board,<br> +A chap who ventur'd to join as <i>seaman</i> by the Lord!<br> +His hair hung down like reef points, and his phiz was very +queer,<br> +For his mouth was like a shark's, and turn'd down from ear to +ear.<br> +<br> +He hadn't stow'd his hammock, not much longer than a week,<br> +When he swore he had a call, and the Lord he was to seek.<br> +Now where he went to seek the Lord, I can't at all suppose,<br> +'Twas not on deck for there I'm sure, he never show'd his nose.<br> +<br> +He would not read the Bible, it warn't good enough for him,<br> +The course we steered by that he said, would lead us all to +sin;<br> +That we were damn'd and hell would gape, he often would us +tell,<br> +I know that when I heard his jaw, it made me gape like hell.<br> +<br> +A storm came on, we sprung a leak, and sorely were we tired,<br> +We plied the pumps, 'twas spell and spell, with lots of work +beside;<br> +And what d'ye think this beggar did, the trick I do declare,<br> +He called us all to leave the pumps and join with him in +prayer.<br> +<br> +At last our boatswain Billy, who was a thund'ring Turk,<br> +Goes up to him and says, "My man, why don't you do your work?"<br> +"Avaunt you worst of sinners, I must save my soul," he cried,<br> +"Confound your soul," says Billy, "then you shall not save your +hide."<br> +<br> +Acquaintance then he made soon with the end of the fore-brace,<br> +It would have made you laugh to see his methodisty face;<br> +He grinn'd like a roast monkey, and he howl'd like a baboon,<br> +He had a dose from Billy, that he didn't forget soon.<br> +<br> +"Take that," said Billy, when he'd done, "and now you'll please to +work,<br> +I read the Bible often--but I don't my duty shirk,<br> +The pumps they are not choked yet, nor do we yet despair,<br> +When all is up or we are saved, we'll join with you in +player."</blockquote> +<br> +<p>"And now we'll have one from the other side of the house," said +Moggy, as soon as the plaudits were over.</p> +<p>"Come then, Anthony, you shall speak for us, and prove that we +can sing a stave as well as honester men."</p> +<p>"With all my heart, William;--here's my very best."</p> +<p>The smuggler then sang as follows:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">Fill, lads, fill;</p> +<p class="i8">Fill, lads, fill.</p> +<p class="i7">Here we have a cure</p> +<p class="i8">For every ill.</p> +<p class="i7">If fortune's unkind</p> +<p class="i7">As the north-east wind,</p> +<p class="i7">Still we must endure,</p> +<p class="i7">Trusting to our cure,</p> +<p class="i8">In better luck still.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">Drink, boys, drink;</p> +<p class="i8">Drink, boys, drink.</p> +<p class="i7">The bowl let us drain</p> +<p class="i8">With right good will.</p> +<p class="i7">If women deceive</p> +<p class="i7">Why should we grieve?</p> +<p class="i7">Forgetting our pain,</p> +<p class="i7">Love make again,</p> +<p class="i8">With better luck still.</p> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i8">Sing, lads, sing;</p> +<p class="i8">Sing, lads, sing.</p> +<p class="i7">Our voices we'll raise;</p> +<p class="i8">Be merry still;</p> +<p class="i7">If dead to-morrow,</p> +<p class="i7">We brave all sorrow.</p> +<p class="i7">Life's a weary maze--</p> +<p class="i7">When we end our days,</p> +<p class="i8">'Tis better luck still.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>As the wounded men occupied the major part of the lower deck, +and there was no accommodation for the numerous party of men and +women on board, the carousing was kept up until the next morning, +when, at daylight, the cutter was run into Cherbourg. The officers +who came on board, went on shore with the report that the cutter +belonged to the English government, and had been occupied by Sir +Robert and his men, who were well known. The consequence was, an +order for the cutter to leave the port immediately, as receiving +her would be tantamount to an aggression on the part of France. But +this order, although given, was not intended to be rigidly +enforced, and there was plenty of time allowed for Sir Robert and +his people to land with their specie and baggage.</p> +<p>Ramsay did not forget his promise to the corporal. He went to +the French authorities, stated the great importance of his +forwarding a letter to Amsterdam immediately, and that the way it +might be effected would be very satisfactory. That, aware that King +William was at the Hague, they should write a letter informing him +of the arrival of the cutter; and that his Majesty might not +imagine that the French government could sanction such outrages, +they had sent her immediately on to him, under the charge of one of +their officers, to wait upon his Majesty, and express their +sentiments of regret that such a circumstance should have occurred. +The authorities were aware that, to obey Sir Robert would not be +displeasing to the court of Versailles, and that the excuse for so +doing could only be taken as a compliment to the English court, +therefore acted upon this suggestion. A French officer was sent on +board of the cutter with the despatch, and Ramsay's letter to +Mynheer Krause was committed to the charge of the corporal.</p> +<p>Before the sun had set, the <i>Yungfrau</i> was again at sea, +and, on the third morning, anchored in her usual berth off the town +of Amsterdam.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="Chapter_LV"></a>Chapter LV</h2> +<h3>In which we trust that everything will be arranged to the +satisfaction of our readers.</h3> +<br> +<p>The French officer who was sent to explain what had occasioned +the arrival of the cutter in the port of Cherbourg, immediately set +off for the Hague, and was received by Lord Albemarle.</p> +<p>As soon as his credentials had been examined, he was introduced +to his Majesty, King William.</p> +<p>"It appears," said his Majesty to Lord Albemarle, after the +introduction, "that these Jacobite conspirators have saved us one +trouble by hanging this traitor, Vanslyperken."</p> +<p>"Yes, your Majesty, he has met with his deserved punishment," +replied Lord Albemarle.</p> +<p>Then addressing himself to the officer, "We will return our +acknowledgments for this proof of good will on the part of the +French government," said his Majesty, bowing. "My Lord Albemarle, +you will see that this gentleman is suitably entertained."</p> +<p>The officer bowed low and retired.</p> +<p>"This is an over politeness which I do not admire," observed his +Majesty to Lord Albemarle. "Let that person be well watched, depend +upon it the letter is all a pretext, there is more plotting going +on."</p> +<p>"I am of your Majesty's opinion, and shall be careful that your +Majesty's commands are put in force," replied his lordship, as King +William retired into his private apartments.</p> +<p>The cutter had not been half-an-hour at anchor, before Obadiah +Coble went on shore with the corporal. Their first object was to +apply to the authorities, that the wounded men might be sent to the +hospital, which they were before the night; the next was to deliver +the letter to Mynheer Krause. They thought it advisable to go first +to the widow Vandersloosh, who was surprised at the sight of her +dear corporal, and much more enraptured when she heard that Mr +Vanslyperken and his cur had been hanged.</p> +<p>"I'll keep my word, corporal," cried the widow, "I told you I +would not marry until he was hung, I don't care if I marry you +to-morrow."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes, to-day."</p> +<p>"No, no, not to-day, corporal, or to-morrow either, we must wait +till the poor fellows are out of the hospital, for I must have them +all to the wedding."</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes," replied the corporal.</p> +<p>The widow then proceeded to state how she had been thrown into a +dungeon, and how she and Mynheer Krause, the syndic, had been +released the next day, how Mynheer Krause's house had been burnt to +the ground, and all the other particulars with which the reader is +already acquainted.</p> +<p>This reminded the corporal of the letters to the Mynheer Krause, +which he had for a time forgotten, and he inquired where he was to +be found; but the widow was too prudent to allow the corporal to go +himself--she sent Babette, who executed her commission without +exciting any suspicion, and made Mynheer Krause very happy. He soon +made his arrangements, and joined his daughter and Ramsay, who had +not, however, awaited his arrival, but had been married the day +after they landed at Cherbourg. Mynheer Krause was not a little +surprised to find that his son-in-law was a Jacobite, but his +incarceration and loss of his property had very much cooled his +loyalty. He settled at Hamburgh, and became perfectly indifferent +whether England was ruled by King William or King James.</p> +<p>Ramsay's marriage made him also less warm in the good cause; he +had gained a pretty wife and a good fortune, and to be very loyal a +person should be very poor. The death of King James in the year +following, released him from his engagements, and, as he resided at +Hamburgh, he was soon forgotten, and was never called upon to +embark in the subsequent fruitless attempts on the part of the +Jacobites.</p> +<p>As it was necessary to write to the Admiralty in England, +acquainting them with the fate of Mr Vanslyperken, and demanding +that another officer should be sent out to take the command of the +<i>Yungfrau</i>, a delay of three or four weeks took place, during +which the cutter remained at Amsterdam; for Dick Short and Coble +were no navigators, if they had wished to send her back; and, +moreover, she had so many of her crew at the hospital, that she was +weak-handed.</p> +<p>It was about a month after her arrival at Amsterdam, that every +soul belonging to the cutter had gone on shore, and she was left to +swing to the tide and foul her hawse, or go adrift if she pleased, +for she had to take care of herself. This unusual disregard to +naval instructions arose from the simple fact, that on that day was +to be celebrated the marriage of widow Vandersloosh and Corporal +Van Spitter.</p> +<p>Great, indeed, had been the preparations; all the ingenuity and +talent of Jemmy Ducks, and Moggy, and Bill Spurey, for he and all +the others were now discharged from the hospital, had been summoned +to the assistance of the widow and Babette, in preparing and +decorating the Lust Haus for the important ceremony, which the +widow declared King William himself should hear of, cost what it +might. Festoons of flowers, wreaths of laurel garlands from the +ceiling, extra chandeliers, extra musicians, all were dressed out +and collected in honour of this auspicious day.</p> +<p>The whole of the crew of the cutter were invited, not, however, +to feast at the widow's expense; neither she nor the corporal would +stand treat;--but to spend their money in honour of the occasion. +And it must be observed, that since their arrival in port, the +<i>Yungfrau</i> had spent a great deal of money at the widow's; +which was considered strange, as they had not, for some time, +received any pay. And it was further observed, that none appeared +so wealthy as Smallbones and Corporal Van Spitter. Some had +asserted that it was the gold of Mr Vanslyperken, which had been +appropriated by the crew to their own wants, considering themselves +as his legitimate heirs. Whether this be true or not, it is +impossible to say; certain it is, that there was no gold found in +Mr Vanslyperken's cabin when his successor took possession of it. +And equally certain it was, that all the <i>Yungfraus</i> had their +pockets full of gold, and that the major part of this gold did +ultimately fall into the possession of the widow Vandersloosh, who +was heard to say, that Mr Vanslyperken had paid the expenses of her +wedding. From these facts collected, we must leave the reader to +draw what inference he may please.</p> +<p>The widow beautifully dressed;--a white kersey petticoat, deep +blue stockings, silver buckles in her shoes, a scarlet velvet +jacket, with long flaps before and behind, a golden cross six +inches long, suspended to a velvet ribbon, to which was attached, +half-way between the cross and her neck, a large gold heart, gold +ear-rings, and on her head an ornament, which, in Holland and +Germany, is called a <i>zitternabel</i>, shook and trembled as she +walked along to church, hanging on the arm of her dear corporal. +Some of the bridges were too narrow to admit the happy pair to pass +abreast. The knot was tied. The name Vandersloosh was abandoned +without regret, for the sharper one of Van Spitter; and flushed +with joy, and the thermometer at ninety-six, the cavalcade returned +home, and refreshed themselves with some beer of the Frau Van +Spitter's own brewing.</p> +<p>Let it not, however, be supposed, that they dined +<i>tête-à-tête</i>; no, no--the corporal and his +wife were not so churlish as that. The dinner party consisted of a +chosen set, the most particular friends of the corporal. Mr Short, +first officer and boatswain, Mr William Spurey, Mr and Mrs +Salisbury; and last, although not the least important person in +this history, Peter Smallbones, Esquire, who having obtained money +somehow, was now remarkable for the neatness of his apparel. The +fair widow, assisted by Moggy and Babette, cooked the dinner, and +when it was ready came in from the kitchen as red as a fury and +announced it: and then it was served up, and they all sat down to +table in the little parlour. It was very close, the gentlemen took +off their jackets, and the widow and Moggy fanned themselves, and +the enormous demand by evaporation was supplied with foaming beer. +None could have done the honours of the table better than the +corporal and his lady who sat melting and stuck together on the +little fubsy sofa, which had been the witness of so much pretended +and so much real love.</p> +<p>But the Lust Haus is now lighted up, the company are assembling +fast; Babette is waddling and trotting like an armadillo from +corner to corner: Babette here, and Babette there, it is Babette +everywhere. The room is full, and the musicians have commenced +tuning their instruments; the party run from the table to join the +rest. A general cheer greets the widow as she is led into the room +by the corporal--for she had asked many of her friends as well as +the crew of the <i>Yungfrau</i>, and many others came who were not +invited; so that the wedding day, instead of disbursement, produced +one of large receipt to the happy pair.</p> +<p>"Now then, corporal, you must open the ball with your lady," +cried Bill Spurey.</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes."</p> +<p>"What shall it be, Madam Van Spitter?"</p> +<p>"A waltz, if you please."</p> +<p>The musicians struck up a waltz, and Corporal Van Spitter, who +had no notion of waltzing, further than having seen the dance +performed by others, seized his wife by the waist, who, with an +amorous glance, dropped her fat arm upon the corporal's shoulder. +This was the signal for the rest--the corporal had made but one +turn before a hundred couple more were turning also--the whole room +seemed turning. The corporal could not waltz, but he could turn--he +held on fast by the widow, and with such a firm piece of resistance +he kept a centrifugal balance, and without regard to time or space, +he increased his velocity at a prodigious rate. Round they went, +with the dangerous force of the two iron balls suspended to the +fly-wheel which regulate the power of some stupendous +steam-engine.</p> +<p>The corporal would not, and his better half could not, stop. The +first couple they came in contact with were hurled to the other +side of the room; a second and a third fell, and still the corporal +wheeled on; two chairs and a table were swept away in a moment. +Three young women, with baskets of cakes and nuts, were thrown down +together, and the contents of all their baskets scattered on the +floor; and "Bravo, corporal!" resounded from the crew of the +<i>Yungfrau</i>--Babette and two bottles of ginger beer were next +demolished; Jemmy Ducks received a hoist, and Smallbones was +flatted to a pancake. Every one fled from the orbit of these +revolving spheres, and they were left to wheel by themselves. At +last, Mrs Van Spitter finding that nothing else would stop her +husband, who, like all heavy bodies, once put in motion, returned +it in proportion to his weight, dropped down, and left him to +support her whole weight. This was more than the corporal could +stand, and it brought him up all standing--he stopped, dropped his +wife, and reeled to a chair, for he was so giddy that he could not +keep his legs, and so out of breath that he had lost his wind.</p> +<p>"Bravo, corporal!" was shouted throughout the room, while his +spouse hardly knew whether she should laugh, or scold him well; +but, it being the wedding night, she deferred the scolding for that +night only, and she gained a chair, and fanned and wiped, and +fanned and wiped again. The corporal, shortly afterwards, would +have danced again, but Mrs Van Spitter having had quite enough for +that evening, she thanked him for the offer, was satisfied with his +prowess, but declined on the score of the extreme sultriness of the +weather; to which observation, the corporal replied, as usual,</p> +<p>"Mein Gott, yes."</p> +<p>The major part of the evening was passed in dancing and +drinking. The corporal and his wife, with Babette, now attending to +the wants of their customers, who, what with the exercise, the heat +of the weather, and the fumes of tobacco, were more than usually +thirsty, and as they became satisfied with dancing, so did they +call for refreshments.</p> +<p>But we cannot find space to dwell upon the quantity of beer, the +variety of liquors which were consumed at this eventful wedding, +with which we wind up our eventful history; nor even to pity the +breathless, flushed, and overheated Babette, who was so ill the +next day, as to be unable to quit her bed; nor can we detail the +jokes, the merriment, and the songs which went round, the peals of +laughter, the loud choruses, the antic feats performed by the +company; still more impossible would it be to give an idea of the +three tremendous cheers, which shook the Lust Haus to its +foundations, when Corporal and Mistress Van Spitter, upon their +retiring, bade farewell to the company assembled.</p> +<p>The observation of Jemmy Salisbury, as he waddled out, was as +correct as it was emphatic:</p> +<p>"Well, Dick, this <i>has been</i> a spree!"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Dick Short.</p> +<br> +<br> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12558 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |